Invisible Children • part 1

When I started to blog I made the decision to not blog about films. Watching movies is one of my favorite things to do. I watch somewhere between four and six movies a week on average.
Sometimes way more. I've been known to have marathon Saturdays where I'll watch six movies in a day. I didn't want to blog about films because that would be all that I do and it would rob time from watching more films. Besides, there are already a ton of blogs that already do that. There is nothing I can say about films that AICN hasn't already covered.

So why make an exception? Why blog about this film?
Because this is more than a film. This is a movement. I sat down with Michael to watch the film that many people had told me I needed to see. For those who don't know me real well, the way I'm wired is to be completely counter-cultural. I have no idea why I am this way. I just always have been. So the more people told me I needed to see this film the more uninterested I became. It was all over myspace and youtube for the last year. Another contributing factor to not seeing this film was I didn't know how to get a hold of it other than purchasing it from their website or tracking down a screening and crashing it. Recently my friend Ben purchased the film and had a screening party. I was bummed because I had a previous engagement. He lent me a copy after the party. Now I had the film in my possession and no more excuses. I wanted to watch the film with Michael since I know it would encourage and inspire both of us to dig in and push on with the band's drive for global change.

The first 25 to 30 minutes could definitely be chopped down. It almost seems like a homemade version of Jackass. They could lose the whole puking montage, the shot of the chicken getting it's head cut off in a sawing motion, and the snake killing sequence. The introduction to the characters is so disconnected from the rest of the entire film. I almost didn't want to continue to watch save for the fact that my friend Ben recommended it and said it was powerful. He was right. After getting though the first chapter or so the story that the filmmakers stumbled upon is incredibly moving and heart wrenching (in a good way) There were things I have never seen before that would never make the nightly news because of their graphic nature. However that doesn't mean that it doesn't exist in the world that we live in.

Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls & Rooibos Tropica

After enjoying this tea for a few weeks I decided I should finally write a blog about it. When I went to make some I realized that I didn't have enough. D'oh! I had to make a trip out to the Mall of America to pick up more of this delicious tea.

Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls
A Flavored/Scented Green Tea
Contains 5-10% of caffeine content in relation to an average cup of coffee.
The leaves are hand rolled into the shape of a pearl.
According to Teavana: may help to prevent cancer, lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar level, good for digestion, prevent cavities and aging.
While some of that my be true and some wishful thinking, the smell of this tea seams to bring a sense of relaxation and kind of calm healing.
The stresses of life seem to melt away when you smell this tea.

Rooibos Tropica
A Rooibos | Red Tea
Contains 0% of caffeine content in relation to an average cup of coffee.
Rooibos Tropica is a blend of green rooibos, strawberry, peach, sunflower, cornflower petals, and orange peel.
According to Teavanna: improves digestion, good for skin and allergies, high in vitamins and minerals, high antioxidants.

Review:
This tea has a tendency to go fast. I probably drink this tea more often than the other teas I have. When infused, the Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls unfold, slowly releasing a rich and smooth fragrance and flavor of fresh jasmine. The smell reminds me of the day in India when the ladies made strands of fresh jasmine and put them in their hair. There is something very calming and soothing about this tea's aroma. I wish I could have my entire house smell like this tea all the time. The smell translates to the taste as well. This is a smooth fruit and flowery tea that goes down easy and warms and relaxes you from the inside out. This is a wonderful stress reliever. The other thing I enjoy about this tea is watching it during the steeping process. The Pearls float at the top when the water is introduced. As they soak the water in they slowly open and sink to the bottom. It's like watching a time lapse of a flower opening. When the tea is ready they leaves look like a small patch of grass.

Frankenstein

I just finished listening to Mary Shelly's Frankenstein on audiobook.
I have a hard time reading books for several reasons.
Some of the heavy hitters are I'm slightly dyslexic, after a page or two my eyes wig out with astigmatism, I'm a little A.D.D. and I have a hard time finding time to sit down to read.
Solution: Audiobooks. Love 'em! I can put on an audiobook while I'm at work doing low brain activity stuff like Photoshop and simple After Effects projects.
I can let my imagination go nuts for a few hours at a time and I can plow through an audiobook in a couple days. I think it took me almost a year to read through the Lord of the Rings books and a week and a half to listen to the audiobooks.

I've had Frankenstein in my to-listen-to list for a while. I've just been working on some projects that I wouldn't be able to multitask very well.

As a kid I was familiar with the pop culture Frankenstein from television and movies. There was everything from Mel Brook's Young Frankenstein to Fred Gwynn's Herman Munster to Franken-Berry cereal. I had seen the film Mary Shelly's Frankenstein directed by Kenneth Branagh back in 1994 and the classic Boris Karloff Frankenstein (1931) directed by James Whale on television when I was a kid. I think it was one of those Sunday afternoon scare-a-thons hosted by Elvira around Halloween.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a dark and tragic tale that sucked me in.
There are some wonderful themes that were never quite captured in film format.
(or breakfast cereal format either)
I enjoyed the dramatic roller coaster of Victor and the Monster.
I enjoyed how themes crisscrossed. You meet Victor when he's creating the monster. You are scared of his character. He's truly a mad scientist bent on his experiments to unlock the mysteries of life itself.
By the end of the story you are very sympathetic for the hell he has created for himself.
When you are introduced to the Monster you are sympathetic towards his character. Before he becomes self aware and educated he is a selfless kind creature who's first act is to do anonymous charity work for a family who is living in poverty. After he is rejected, hurt, and educated of what he is and how ugly and cruel the society of man is, his second act is to have revenge on his creator. He begins killing those who are loved ones of his creator.
There are a lot of elements and themes that you can pull out and compare to life today which goes to show how great of a writer Mary Shelly was since it was written way back in 1817.

Music Rising

The Edge (of U2 fame), Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz and producer Bob Ezrin have created a great organization to get instruments back into the hands of professional musicians, whom have lost their livelihood in the wakes of Hurricane Katrina. When the campaign was first launched in November 2005 the focus was to replace lost or destroyed instruments to professional musicians so that they could regain their livelihood. Music Rising Phase II will concentrate on rebuilding music programs in churches and schools and will be administered by The Gibson Foundation with assistance from Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and All Congregations Together. I could tell you more but I'll let The Edge do it.


So yeah, you could help by purchasing a guitar
and how cool would that be?
But I know I don't have an extra $599.99 just laying around. I did however find a way to help out and get something cool. If you look at the photos on the bonus content of our Bomb EP you can see me sporting a Music Rising T-shirt. They only run about $30 plus shipping. You can order one at the U2 shop. All proceeds will go to Music Rising.



In the music video below U2 and Green Day joined forces and coved the song "The Saints Are Coming" by The Skids. The video depicts some powerful imagery of what they think should have happened after Hurricane Katrina. Enjoy.

Forgotten Communities

The videos say it best. I'll stop typing and let you watch them.

Oxfam America part 3

World Trade could be a powerful force for reducing poverty if poor people could sell their products at a decent price. What's stopping them? The gross injustice of the World Trade System. I experienced this first had last year when I traveled to Chennai, India. You'd see a farmer selling his fruit in the market with his family. Two feet from him would be a vendor selling fruit out of a crate with Dole and Chaquita stamped on the side. I took the image below in Chetpet, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.

The video below continues to follow Chris Martin on his video diary through Ghana, Africa.

Crash Effect my not yet have the success of Coldplay but we do share the same values when it comes to social justice, indigenous and minority rights, and global trade.
I realize the gravity of the following statement and also want to declare that Crash Effect has the vision, motivation, and drive to come alongside bands like Coldplay and U2 and hopefully pick up where they leave off and carry the torch even farther. As I mentioned in Oxfam America part 1, 10% of all income right off the top is donated to charity. This is really what drives us as a band. The music is almost secondary. Almost. We use our music as a platform to help educate and donate. Our big goal is to eventually increase the percentage of giving to charity. We also do our best to create products that are organic and sweatshop free. If you purchase a shirt you are supporting the band and good causes as well.
I encourage you to look before you purchase when it comes to clothing. I am as guilty as the next person when it comes to owning clothes that were made and sold unfairly. What I can tell you is that now that I have been educated I will investigate what is behind that name on the tag.

Oxfam America part 2

Oxfam Ireland and Make Trade Fair teamed up and sent Coldplay's Chris Martin to Africa to see firsthand the extreme poverty endured by so many and how fair trade in these areas can improve the lives of those who live and work there. We will continue to follow Chris in the next blog entry.
I also enjoy the look on Simon Pegg's (Shaun of the Dead / Hot Fuzz) face when Chris opens the video. Simon is a hilarious guy and it's funny to see him go "oh, I need to put on a serious face immediately"

Along the same lines as the video above. The video below goes after the mother of coffee chains herself, Starbucks. What I can't figure out is why the Empire chose to take action (Vader himself was representing) and not the Rebels, the Wookies, or the Ewoks. I think they should get off their furry little asses and help make a difference. All joking aside. There is a great message here. Hopefully Starbucks will take action and lead the charge for other coffee chains to take suite.

Oxfam America part 1

Crash Effect donates 10% off the top of all income to a
rotating list of Charities.
All income from album sales, shows, merchandise, etc.
10% right off the top is donated.
Each band member has a charity of their choice that they have picked. Oxfam America is my charity of choice.


Oxfam America is committed to creating lasting solutions to global poverty, hunger, and social justice. They are a non-profit organization that works to end global poverty through saving lives, strengthening communities, and campaigning for change.
Oxfam America works on the scene, helping people gain the hope, skills, and direction to create a new future. Issues that they are currently working on are helping people make a living, natural resources, peace and security, equality for women, indigenous
and minority rights, and global trade.

Oxfam America is involved in great campaigns that I highly encourage you to check out to get educated and involved with.