I certainly could never have anticipated, upon reading the title of this short Vimeo submission, that three and half minutes could be so simple, engrossing and disturbing at the same time. At once a seemingly upbeat soundtrack yet searing indictment of the treatment of the working-class.
I was pleasantly surprised at the execution of the animation and at having to endure a sense of pathos at the end. Who says poignant messages can't be wrapped in an animated film the length of a pop song?
Okay, this version is really just me and four vocal tracks. Just in case someone orders this removed from Youtube, feel free to rip it to your heart's content.
Great original song by the Barenaked Ladies. Great show. Tom Waits (impersonated).
Not knowing a whole bunch about the band Faithless, I happened upon this track while watching a festival broadcast on HDnet and was hooked. Now that I've heard all three distinct versions below and read the lyrics, I love this track even more. Give Faithless a try and let me know which version you like best - unless you're like me and find it hard to decide.
Mass Destruction (Faithless)
Whether long range weapon or suicide bomber Wicked mind is a weapon of mass destruction Whether you're soar away sun or BBC 1 Misinformation is a weapon of mass destruction You could a Caucasian or a poor Asian Racism is a weapon of mass destruction Whether inflation or globalization Fear is a weapon of mass destruction
My dad came into my room holding his hat I knew he was leaving, he sat on my bed told me some facts, son. I have a duty, calling on me You and your sister be brave my little soldier And don't forget all I told ya Your the mister of the house now remember this And when you wake up in the morning give ya momma a kiss Then I had to say goodbye
In the morning woke momma with a kiss on each eyelid, Even though I'm only a kid Certain things can't be hid Momma grabbed me Held me like I was made of gold But left her inner stories untold I said, momma it will be alright When daddy comes home, tonight
Whether long range weapon or suicide bomber Wicked mind is a weapon of mass destruction Whether you're soar away sun or BBC 1 Misinformation is a weapon of mass destruction You could a Caucasian or a poor Asian Racism is a weapon of mass destruction Whether inflation or globalization Fear is a weapon of mass destruction
Whether Halliburton or Enron or anyone Greed is a weapon of mass destruction We need to find courage, overcome Inaction is a weapon of mass destruction Inaction is a weapon of mass destruction Inaction is a weapon of mass destruction
The skin under my chin is exploding, again. I'm getting stress from some other children. I'm holding it in, we taking sides, like a politician an' if I get friction we get to fightin'. I defend my dad he's the best of all men an whatever he's doin he's doin the right thing. It's frightenin but it makes me mad, why do all of these people seem to hate my dad?
An' if that ain't enough, now I've got these spots. I go to sleep every night with my stomach in knots. and whats more I can hear Mama next door explore the radio for reports of war. and all we ever seem to do is hide the tears, seems Daddy been gone for years. But he was right, now I'm geared up for the fight an he would be proud of me if Daddy came home tonight.
Whether long range weapon or suicide bomber Wicked mind is a weapon of mass destruction Whether you're soar away sun or BBC 1 Misinformation is a weapon of mass destruction You could a Caucasian or a poor Asian Racism is a weapon of mass destruction Whether inflation or globalization Fear is a weapon of mass destruction
My story stops here, lets be clear This scenario is happening everywhere And you ain't going to nirvana or farvana You're coming right back here to live out your karma With even more drama than previously, seriously Just how many centuries have we been waiting for someone else to make us free And we refuse to see That people overseas suffer just like we Bad leadership and ego's unfettered and free Who feed on the people they're supposed to lead I don't need good people to pray and wait For the lord to make it all straight There's only now, do it right. Cos I don't want your daddy, leaving home tonight
Three amazing examples of how the Canon 5D has helped to bring brilliant video, by creative minds, through a compelling website to my desktop and to my eyes. I remember, as a child, wondering in awe at travel magazines of exotic places. Now the web has taken its place, but not through grainy, jumpy, family shot video. Instead, it's become HD to me. And the attractions have never been greater.
The podcast I attempted four different times trying to find a groove and couldn't. Perhaps my most incoherent ramble ever. I apologize humble listeners. Suffice to say the podcast has little to do with Hallowe'en. Instead it is a reflection of my true horror at losing my rhythm.
A long (no, I really mean it - LONG!) podcast which encompasses a talk that I gave on October 26th, 2010 at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. There were questions at the end which I did not gain permission to use others voices, so (instead of assuming) I just chose to edit the questions out and leave the answers. The questions were hard to hear anyway as they did not get up to microphones.
The first question [from a faculty member] concerned the threat to traditional and accepted written language when short-hand and catchy acronyms become part of the communication process.
The second question was a supplemental to the first around the the quality of in-depth thought and expression when communication gets reduced to short social interactions.
The third question was more about what Prezi was all about, but it served to launch me into a final statement on how I gave permission for the university to post the talk on their website and for anyone to remix or otherwise use the words to spread the message.
The link to the Prezi visuals I used during the talk can be found by clicking here.
It's been two years since I first found one of the most terrifying and bizarre stories I'd ever read or heard about. Everyone who follows my twitter feed knows that I'm a sucker for bizarre articles, but when I found a link appear in my newsfeed to Tanzania's Albino Genocide, I was immediately dumbstruck.
I don't know what inspired me to make a lovehatethings post out of it, but, in retrospect, the topic held some gravitas. To date, that initial post has been read over 23,000 times, and I've received numerous emails and comments about it. I've since maintained a bit of a watch on the subject of albinos in Burundi and Tanzania being slaughtered and dissected for parts because some witch doctors believe it is magic.
I still shake my head to this day.
I am not an albino, nor have I ever been to Tanzania or Burundi, nor do I have ANY tie whatsoever to the cultures involved suffice to say this: the human race is fucked up beyond belief when I'm still reading about ANY nine year-old being dismembered for ANY reason whatsoever.
This blog is often about pop culture minutiae and mindless drivel that sustains me from one day to the next. I am often loathe to be too serious, lest someone take me for someone who really gives a damn about hair care products, cereal boxes, Steve Jobs' foibles, or some new cool tilt-shift video clip from Vimeo.
I am not often moved to violence, more prone to expressions of disbelief and frustration, so perhaps Bruce Cockburn best expresses what I'm thinking when I keep hearing stories like this for the ongoing lifetime of this blog. And perhaps, out of all the things I've claimed to hate, they all pale in comparison to this.
I want to raise every voice -- at least I've got to try. Every time I think about it water rises to my eyes. Situation desperate, echoes of the victims cry. If I had a rocket launcher... Some son of a bitch would die.
