Look Where Technology Has Brought Us

They watched it all unfold, halfway across the globe, in real time.Wow. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeA33hE8XfE&]

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"There was quite a bit of silence."

I think all in the room understood the gravity of what they had asked those SEALs to do.

-B

The Best American Idol

I got an email advertising this clip from YouTube tonight. Let's clear up a few things first: she sings the heck out of this. While she may be criticized for where she chooses to take breaths, it is beautifully and masterfully sung.

Watch the clip (it really is very good):

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLLMzr3PFgk&]

However, along with this clip, within the email...was this proposition:

"PLEASE watch and listen to the attachment of Carrie Underwood singing her heart out on "How Great Thou Art", I first saw it on T.V. last Friday night and she brought tears to my eye's and the audience to there feet, and I'll bettcha God heard her in Heaven cause if you watch her closely as she sings, she was singing to Him........."

The thing is, the song is great. Carrie is great. It is well done by both her and Vince.

But I wonder if this song, in this context, is being performed as a hymn or simply as a spiritual song. Is there a difference?

I don't doubt that she was singing to "Him" but I wonder if the applause from that crowd was for God, or Carrie, or both.

An honest question, I'm not sure how I feel about it.

No matter who the applause and praise was for..."I bettcha God heard her in Heaven." I'm pretty sure God hears everything. Especially words sung in praise to God.

-B

Give This Guy A Job!

A dear friend shared this relatively-unviewed piece of gold with me. A real gem, if I do say so myself. I'm calling it now...viral before the end of the year.

Quality, quality work.

Evidently this guy needed a job and so he made a visual resume. The first time I watched, I stopped it at 7 seconds. Don't make that mistake. Watch the whole thing through.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnNjJ422DPU&]

-B

I Had To Jump...

...off of the GaGa train. First, it was this.

Then her new single, "Judas" came out. I don't know exactly how I define "antichrist" but I'm starting to believe that GaGa is getting scary close.

I've  sifted through these lyrics over and over trying to find a different way to interpret it. Can't. Do. It.

She mixes all kinds of stories centering around Jesus to point to (I think) the fact that she is in love with some sort of sin. I get that. But I think it was poorly timed with Holy Week (I'm sure that's exactly why they did that) but I think she has mixed a few too many things with a story I'm not positive she has complete understanding of.

Proof point: "In the most Biblical sense, I am beyond repentance."

Hopefully someone can enlighten my interpretation of the song. I'd like to a hear a non-biased interpretation that finds her point among the trash mixed in.

I choose not to post the lyrics.  Find them yourself.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAWpkZSCMXU]

-B

Apple Employees: It Gets Better

A contribution to the It Gets Better campaign by employees of one the best, most thriving companies in the world. Masterful, masterful work.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWYqsaJk_U8&]

If being gay is still thought of by some to be some sort of conscious decision to go against "God's will," I don't know how to respond to those people.

I look into the eyes of these people as they tell stories and share feelings about how they felt like they couldn't be loved or accepted. And then, the turn of joy when they admit what they deal with and embrace it. That, my friends, is the love and joy that I think Christ was talking about.

For all out there who are struggling with who they are, just hear them well: you'll be able to discover who you are and it will get better.

-B

How Hard Is It To Get Into PS22?

PS22 choir singing at the Lincoln Center for an Eric Whitacre event. Singing the arrangement of "Daniel" from one of the last videos I posted. Personally, I think this soloist is much better.

Interesting to see their teacher playing on what looks like at least a 9 foot Steinway grand piano standing up trying to play/direct.

If you get to the end of the song, you'll see Eric Whitacre's visit to the green room. Seems like a cool guy.

If you didn't already know, Whitacre is a big fan of YouTube and different ways for choirs to interact with each other. I think it is particularly interesting that PS22, who have a different approach to choral singing (specifically in younger children), and Eric Whitacre, who has a different approach to choral arranging and is becoming fairly progressive with the use of technology to move the art form forward, are together here. I'd love to see Eric work with these kids and the fruits that would come from this work. As far as I'm concerned, there are big talents here.

Still love the arrangement.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECa1ITTG_as&]

And oh yeah, how hard is it to get into PS22? Evidently...pretty hard.

-B

Stop The Bullying

When P!nk's song "Perfect" released, I knew it'd be huge. In P!nk's music video, she tells the story of a cutter, someone who is depressed about who they are and where they are. The idea of the song is that whoever you are, you are beautiful and perfect. The video tells the story in a graphical way. I really enjoy following Ahmir on YouTube. They are an R&B group that does a lot of covers and posts them on YouTube. Phenomenal singers.

This video, a cover of "Perfect" uses the words of the songs to speak out not about a woman who isn't good enough, but rather about children who are being bullied in our communities. It stretches out and includes racial and ethnic backgrounds.

It's well done and pleads with the emotions of the viewer.

What I love so much is the phrase that came up at the credits, "Bullying is a learned behavior." Because of that, I believe bullying to be entirely preventable.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gliHyklHr6c&]

Those bullied must be taught to speak up. Both for themselves or others. Those who bully must be taught that their self worth does not come from their humiliation of a classmate.

Once our culture learns to treat each other with respect, dignity, and love, we will find that our true sense of self worth comes from a higher source and not from any comparison here on earth.

People deserve to be treated like people.

That's true in oppressive countries. That's true in countries without basic amenities. That's true in areas with hate crimes. That's true in our churches.

And it is definitely true in our nation's schools.

If our children learn this behavior, they might never unlearn it.

I've been bullied. And I've bullied. If one thing is true, it's that this isn't just a problem with our children. It's a problem with our culture. And it's our problem. And we've got to own that. Immediately.

Stop the bullying. Now. StopBullying.gov

-B

It's Your World, I Just Live In It...

"You're asking me to undo 75 years of instinct in a moment!  That is not easy!" [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdkqULZ2onA&]

Yeah, this is more fun than writing a paper.

-B

Charlie and The Apple Factory

Quality work done by College Humor. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSaqKalBnHE&]

The point, though, makes me think: what is it that defines a product? While the video is meant as humor, and probably nothing else, it strikes me that many in the world think like this.

They write off people like me as "fanboys" and "obsessed" and "brainwashed." I thought the clip with Bill Gates was perhaps the funniest part, but was simply untrue. They don't make the same stuff Apple does. Because if they did, the market would react to their stuff in the way the market is beginning to react to Apple's iOS devices. Microsoft didn't sell Zunes. But it wasn't because the Zunes sucked (alot of people liked the software) but they didn't buy them because the ecosystem of a music store, app store, and iTunes integration simply wasn't there. Zunes have progressed since, but not enough. Microsoft has dropped the product line. The product was more than the...product. Though Apple shows their iPods off more, that doesn't mean they are the same as Microsoft's products.

I suppose that Apple pays attention to showmanship more than other companies do, in fact I submit that THAT is what separates Apple from the rest. I view it as a consistent attempt to create a better product and display it in a way that counts. However, showmanship can be seen right through by the general public if the product itself sucks. In fact, the press would probably laugh at you. This happens to Apple from time to time with products that aren't as well put together as others, but it happens rarely.

On the other hand, many other companies are attempting to improve their showmanship and style in order to compete with a growing Apple market. Their products will have to, at some point, stand for themselves. I think it will only be at that point that it will start to challenge Apple's emotional ties and energy.

As I stood in line for iPad 2, it occurred to me: there is only ONE company in the world that can make that many people wait in lines for that long several times a year...Apple. Try to name another one.

In the end, though Wonka was eccentric and the factory was crazy, they still made the best candy in the world. If they didn't, Charlie wouldn't have wanted any part in it. In order to make it funny and make their "point", College Humor had to focus on the eccentric aspect. If they hadn't, you'd have seen right through it and realized that the metaphor was almost completely parallel. (And that's a good thing)

What showmanship.

-B

UPDATE: Can't watch it? Blame YouTube. And watch it here.

Why I Like Apple

A lot of people ask me why I like Apple so much. They ask constantly. I often have trouble thinking of everything.

I like their commitment to product excellency. I like their commitment to product simplicity. I like the fact that they focus on different things than other tech companies. I like their story. I like their unique and innovative approach. I like their leadership, especially Steve Jobs. I like their understanding for people, in real situations and places. I like their commitment to the environment. I like their simplicity in general. I like their products. I like them.

This new ad for the iPad 2, titled "We Believe," kind of sums all of this up, I think.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyEpaPEbjzI&]

-B