Music Monday #13 - Gravity

Get the song here:
Sara Bareilles - Gravity (Megaupload)
or here:
Sara Bareilles - Gravity (Mediafire)

On today’s Music Monday I’d like to present a song by Sara Bareilles to you. She’s currently all over the airwaves here with her song Love Song, but the song I’m particularly taken by is Gravity. I must’ve heard it several months ago in some movie soundtrack or other (Loving Annabelle, I think), and I liked it so much I wrote down what I could catch from the music and googled it afterwards. I believe Gravity was first on her 2004 album Careful Confessions, which - as I’m writing this - is only available used for $150. However, on her current album Little Voice, Gravity is track number 12. As of now, that album is only $9.99. Enjoy the song and comment!

—
Sara Bareilles - Gravity

Something always brings me back to you
It never takes too long
No matter what I say or do
I’ll still feel you here ’til the moment I’m gone

You hold me without touch
You keep me without chains
I never wanted anything so much
Than to drown in your love and not feel your rain

Set me free, leave me be
I don’t want to fall another moment into your gravity
Here I am and I stand so tall, just the way I’m supposed to be
But you’re on to me and all over me

You loved me ’cause I’m fragile
When I thought that I was strong
But you touch me for a little while
And all my fragile strength is gone

Set me free, leave me be
I don’t want to fall another moment into your gravity
Here I am and I stand so tall, just the way I’m supposed to be
But you’re on to me and all over me

I live here on my knees as I try to make you see
That you’re everything I think I need here on the ground
But you’re neither friend nor foe
Though I can’t seem to let you go
The one thing that I still know
Is that you’re keeping me down

____
See also: Sara Bareilles website] and Sara Bareilles on YouTube.

Video Saturday #17 - Puppets

Today’s Video Saturday is about puppets. If you don’t care about the topic, at least watch the very last video in article. If you do care, let’s get started with a puppeteer that was performing on Las Ramblas in Barcelona.

It’s a dancing and singing skeleton! Neat!

The world famous ventriloquist Señor Wences! ‘S alright!

Another cool ventriloquist, Kevin Johnson.

Damon Scott and Bubbles, the Puppet Monkey. This one is kind of odd.

This is by young director Kiri Davis, and it’s originally from MediaThatMattersFest.org. I once saw something about this on the news in the US and then went on to search for it online because I was very impressed. There’s also an interview with Kiri Davis on YouTube, or rather a snippet of her talking about the documentary.

That’s all for today, please do comment!

Books I’ve Read

I would like to point out to you that I now have this ingenious site with all the books I’ve read. Actually, that’s not quite true. I’ve read a lot more books in my life, but the pictures on this site are of all the books that I had a) already read and b) with me at home when I made this site. So it doesn’t include any library books or any books that I borrowed (well, except for two that I used a screenshot for) or any of the books that I gave away afterwards.

From now on I want to add a picture of every book I’m reading (and preferrably mark when I read finished reading them), and if I give them away afterwards or only borrowed them to begin with, I will mark them with a yellow border. Let’s see how long I will stay enthusiastic about this project. ;)

So the link of the site is above, right below the red banner, or if you’re too lazy to scroll up, just click on this link to the list of books I’ve read. Comments?

Linkage #8: Inside Scientology

>>> Inside Scientology <<<<

Janet Reitman wrote a very interesting article on scientology for Rolling Stone Magazine. It’s called Inside Scientology and it’s very comprehensive and answers a lot of questions you might have about scientology. I already referenced this article in my post about Hollywood Undercover by Ian Halperin, which is number three on the list of my most successful blog entries. (Right after Umbrella by… Tegan and Sara? and Monster.)

Anyway, enjoy.

Music Monday #12 - Jet Pack

Get the song here:
Jill Sobule - Jetpack (Mediafire)
Jill Sobule - Jetpack (Sendspace)

On this Music Monday I would like to introduce you to the very cool Jill Sobule. I suppose her most famous song is I Kissed A Girl, which is on her self-titled album. However, I would like to bring to you a different song you might not know yet. It’s called Jetpack (off of her album Underdog Victorious), and I think it shows some of Jill’s wit and her fun lyrics. I think the only instrument is her guitar, nothing fancy, just supporting her voice.

Her lyrics are often sarcastic, like the song Mary Kay about Mary Kay Letourneau or the Happy Song About Global Warming (see below).

You can find out more about her on her Official Website (which uses entirely too much flash), Jill Sobule’s Myspace Page or the Jill Sobule Wikipedia entry.

Also, don’t hesitate to check her out on YouTube:

A Happy Song About Global Warming

I Kissed A Girl

———

Jill Sobule - Jetpack

If I had a jetpack the first thing that I would do
Is fly above the gridlock and come to you
I’d peek into the windows on 5th avenue
To see how the other side lives
And if I had a jetpack I would strap it on
I’d get out of this one room and I’d be gone
To where there are real houses and big front yards
If I had a jetpack

I’d take you up with me
at least we’d both be free
Past the statue of liberty
In my jetpack

If I had a jetpack, I’d fly over the bridge
I’d wave to all my friends who thought I’d never rise again
I’d fly over the stadium to watch my team win, watch my team win

And if I had a jetpack, I’d bust into your door
Take you by the hand to the Jersey shore
And underneath the moonlight, you’d want me even more
Cause, I’d have a jetpack

I’d take you up so high
If I dropped you, you would die
But I want you by my side, in my jetpack

I don’t have a jetpack, I don’t even have a car
I just have this token and a head full of stars
I wish you didn’t live up town so far
cause I don’t have a jetpack

Linkage #7: Business Cards

Business Cards - A Set on Flickr

This is a Flickrs set of business cards, meaning it’s gazillions of pictures of very creative business cards for your viewing pleasure. This is, of course, especially fun to watch with the Piclens Firefox Add-On. Enjoy!

Linkage #6: Block Posters

http://www.blockposters.com/

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Boy, it sure would be nice if I could have a huge poster of myself on my wall”? No? Well, me neither, but the good thing about BlockPoster is that you can make a big poster out of anything at all! Your favorite movie star, the best photo you took on your holiday in Iceland, a macro shot of your foot. Your options are limitless! All you need is the photo and a way to print it. You can decide how big you want it, and BlockPosters.com will calculate and make you a PDF. Print the PDF, stick the different sheets on your wall, and voilà!

There’s also a cool gallery on the Blockposters.com site.

Video Saturday #16 - The Daily Photo

It’s Video Saturday and today we’ll look at some videos of people that took a picture of them every day for years. I should do that. But I’m lazy. It seems to be more men than women doing it, but if you dig long enough, you can find almost anything on YouTube.

This is JK’s Daily Photo Project and I like it because he goes from a
nerdy-looking guy to a handsome looking guy to a hobo. It’s funny
how you can see his hair grow and stuff. There’s also a
6 minute version of this.

This is called “9 months of gestation in 20 seconds.

Michael takes a photo of himself every day for a year.

This guy supposedly took a picture of himself every day
for 17 years. He does get bald eventually, so maybe it’s
real. Wow.

And here’s artist Ahree Lee taking a picture of herself for
three years. This is only the first minute, but you can
watch the whole three minute film at AtomFilms.

This is called “Seven Months of my life” and it’s notable because
this guy was actually a little creative so you don’t JUST see
hair growing and stuff.

This is called “Amanda takes a photo of herself everyday for
1 year” and she’s shown here between the ages of 14 and 15.
It’s really good already, but if she keeps this up, that’ll be one
amazing video by the time she’s, say, 18 or so.

Last but not least we have this little video called “Beard Growth”,
which is actually quite neat once you sit through the boring
40-second intro.

Well, I hope you enjoyed today’s videos. Leave a comment and have a nice day!

Music Monday #11 - Quiet Little Boxes

Get the songs here:
Malvina Reynolds - Little Boxes (WEEDS theme song)
Malvina Reynolds - Quiet

On this Music Monday I bring you Malvina Reynolds. According to the Wikipedia, she was born on August 23, 1900, and died March 17, 1978. She was an American folk/blues singer-songwriter and political activist.

Like many people, I first heard one of her songs when Weeds came on TV. Her popular song Little Boxes has been used as the title song for that show.

Malvina has a fascinating voice and her lyrics can make you think and I like that. So without further ado, here are the lyrics to her songs Little Boxes and Quiet.

———

Malvina Reynolds - Little Boxes

Little boxes on the hillside
Little boxes made of ticky-tacky
Little boxes on the hillside
Little boxes all the same

There’s a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they’re all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same

And the people in the houses
All went to the university
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same

And there’s doctors and lawyers
And business executives
And they’re all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same

And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school

And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same

And the boys go into business
And marry and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same

There’s a pink one and a green one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they’re all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same

————–

Malvina Reynolds - Quiet

I don’t know much about much
And what I don’t know I don’t say
And when I have nothing to say
I’m quiet

When there’s occasion to holler, I’ll buy it
I can make noise with the best
But most of the rest of the time I’m quiet

I’ve made mistakes in the past
Things that I blush over yet
But I hardly ever regret
Having been quiet

I have a TV at home
And I do truly enjoy it
I can just leave it alone
And it’s quiet

I’m not unsociable, no
People are fine in repose
Somehow my favorites are those
Who are quiet

Quiet’s a wonderful sound
Sweeter than oboe or fiddle
Someday I’m going to be found
In the middle of quiet

Sing me a song of the sea
Soft as the breath of a breeze
Sing me to sleep and then please
Keep quiet

If you still want more Malvina Reynolds, check her out on amazon.com or see this YouTube video of The Little Red Hen:

Video Saturday #15 - Cleaning

Once again Video Saturday is on a Sunday. This time because I started tidying/cleaning yesterday and it took me a while. Cleaning can be so gratifying that I decided to make cleaning the topic for this week. Maybe it’ll inspire you to tackle your messy room and make it all nice and tidy.

A room that cleans itself.

And another one.

Three days of cleaning in 103 seconds.

And a different take on the whole thing. Original.

So, do you feel like cleaning now? Comments, anyone?