thinglets: Having the Baltimore Clap is Painful

via vimeo.com

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?

thinglets: Three Faithless Weapons of Mass Destruction

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

thinglets: Camera + Website = World

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.

lovehate podcast 212: The LHT Hits Lakehead

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.