Song of the Day - The Morning

The Weeknd was introduce to me by a Tween, lol.  just kidding, a good friend during the summer.  If you haven't heard of him yet, you may so in the near future.  This Canadian-born singer's got two albums out, GET THEM.  They are really good, the lyrics are great.  I like this slow jam.




The fact that this is the official video is highly suspect.

Song of the Day - Bittersweet Symphony

I once heard a story and I cannot remember who told it to me.  It's the story of a local radio station DJ playing this song once.  then he played it again. And then again.  Then again and again and again, eventually locking himself in the station and playing it over and over until people started to wonder what was going on and authorities were alerted.  It's a powerful song.  I can only imagine what this man awoke from and what sparked it.  He inevitably left the station and was interviewed by a morning DJ from the same station the very next day.

Song of the Day - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

This song made it on my running playlist.  I have not heard it since I was about 17 or 18.  If you have not either.  Take a listen to it.

Listening to it now makes more sense.  This is a song that should be listened to every ten years.

Song of the Day - Love you more

Makes me feel good today

Song of the Day - I got you dancing

She's British and fun. And Lady before Gaga.

Song of the Day - Duet

This song makes me want to disappear; maybe just drive away. It really is that easy.

Song of the Day - Jump

Life's going to drop you down like the limbs of a tree

Song of the Day - I believe in a thing called love

lol.  I love it!

Song of the Day - No Surprises

Honest.

Song of the Day - Gone Till November

Ironically I will be here til November :)

Sign of the Day

I can;t get over it!

Take away all the miseries of the world-

HARA HARA AMARANATHA GANGE (2x) 

KASHI VISHWANATH GANGE     

KASHI AMARANATHA GANGE KASHI 

VISHWANATHA GANGE (2x) 

HARA HARA GAUTAMI GANGE (2x) 

KASHI VISHWANATHA GANGE 

KASHI GAUTAMI GANGE KASHI 

VISHWANATHA GANGE (2x) 

GAUTAMI GANGE HARA HARA 

NARMADE HARA HARA 

JATA SHANKARE HARA HARA 

PARVATI PATE HARA HARA 

Song of the Day - Hot Dog

hahahaha.  I crave hot dogs these days and I heard this on the way to work.  It's perfect! Especially after working out and going to a club!

Important Video of the Day

Important Video of the Day -   The beginning of this video is the world we live in.  Look down at your lunch today, and think about what warehouse it came from.  

The rest of the video is what we should be doing and places like Chipotle have done.  Yes, McDonald's gave them their start by investing in them, we all make mistakes, but they have been solo and franchised-owned since 2006.  They are one of the first chain restaurant to offer all CLEAN FOOD.   

This is not to be preachy, it's out of genuine care.  You will do what you will, but you don't have to give anything up, you don't have to be on a crazy diet, you just have to know where you're food is from and who is making it

Also, I'm not a parent, but I will be someday soon; pay attention to what you feed your children.  You wouldn't shove shit in your mouth just because you are in a hurry would you?  So don't do it to them.  

Thanks Mom.   And Thanks Reed.

Song of the Day - Hush, Hush, Hush

Hush Hush Hush was a song written in 1995 by Paula Cole.  It was on her "This Fire,"  album.  It was always hauntingly beautiful.  It always reminded me of winter and as I took it and made it a personal soundtrack with a different it wasn't until looking beyond myself that I was able to listen exactly to what she was saying.  


At first I thought it was about gay man who comes out "late in life,"  realizing he has missed so many chances to be himself.  It wasn't till later that I realized rather than being a deeper meaning all the time, it was right in front of my eyes; it's about a young man dying of aids.  


I've heard a couple of stories like this, especially from some of my older friends who lived through during the 1980's, finding a new and fearless sexual liberation then succumbing to a then new and relatively unknown epidemic.  In between the sexually promiscuous, were many who just wanted to finally feel what they have never felt, what was to them the right kind of love; only to all in one shot be diagnosed and die within weeks.  That was the reality.  Just talk to someone who lived through it, someone whose family would keep their distance because of the ignorance.  


I remember watching news reports when I was younger, I attribute that to my father, an emigrant who left his country at 16, had three kids before he was my current age and with a high school education level.  I would watch the news with him and without him.  Without him I would see news reports on AIDS.  Come to think of it, if you were born by 1980 your life was affected by aids because it was everywhere; it's like a pestering cousin, sibling, icon, trend, system of government, etc...


It's something to think about, especially in an affluent developed western country, where the virus that causes AIDS is now more a luxury than the epidemic that it is in Africa and most underdeveloped countries.  Why?   What would gay people from the 1980's say to the gay people of today?  Would we all get along?  Hush, Hush, Hush.





Long white arms
Losing their strength and form
Sixty year man on twenty year old skin
Skeleton, your eyes have lost their warmth
Look to your father for some support

CHORUS:

Hush hush hush

Says your daddy's touch
Sleep sleep sleep
Says the hundredth sheep
Peace peace peace
May you go in peace

Cruel joke you waited so long to show
The one that you wanted wasn't a girl
All your life you kept it hidden inside
Now when you step
You stumble
You die

Chorus

Oh maybe next time
You'll be Henry the 8th
Wake up tomorrow, alexander the great
Open your eyes in a new life again
Oh maybe next time
You'll be given a chance

Hush hush hush
Hush...

Song of the Day - Try Again

Memories!  Awe Aaliyah.  Imagine what she would have done.  It will be 10 years on the 25th. since she passed away.

this song has been in my head all morning.  This and "Walking on Broken Glass," by Annie Lennox.  I chose to share this one; this one is happier and more motivating.

:)

Training, working, editing DMW and the practice of Tonglen

Yikes!  I've neglected my blog while I've been focusing on what was a rough week.  I am officially running the NYC marathon in November after 5 years of waiting :)

I'm thinking of dedicating each training day run to a runner who is no longer with us, or runners who cannot run....

I'm overworked and need a vacation but in due time....

The only thing that has been coming to mind recently is the Tibetan word "tonglen."  It is a word taught to me by Joan Halifax in 2006 which means giving or taking.  It's a breathing practice where you visualize yourself taking in the suffering of others when you inhale and on showering happiness and success on the exhale.    It's kinda like "out with the old in with the new,"  except it's more "in with the bad, out with the good."

Song of the Day - Elephants

 A little pain today with Rachael Yamagata

SOng of the day - incoMplEte

I've always felt a closeness with Alanis I think because she is a Gemini.  Whenever I'm down I listen to her, whenever I'm happy I listen to her and it's almost like she's been through something and she knows how to articulate it well.  I rarely find myself saying, "This songs about me!"  but sometimes with Alanis you feel that way.  If she's been through a break up, you're damn right you're going to feel it in her music, all the crazy emotions, etc...  

I love her and I think the gift of Alanis that a lot of consumers will never get is that we had the privilege of watching her artistically grow in front of our eyes and that's when people stopped listening.  They preferred her to be as miserable as she sounded on her first album; almost like it makes people happier to know someone else is just as or if not more miserable than you are.  

This song is so good.  I won't say more as she can say it better, I can only offer an interpreation

My Muse for today

Today was brought to you by David and Goliath :-)

Always a fascinating story.  I remember being afraid of it when I was a kid.  

Song of the Day - Tell Me This Night is Over

I have a very special place with this group, especially this song.  I was introduced to The Ark in 2002 by the late Dino de Laurentis' nephew, Edoardo.

Edoardo De Laurentis kicked sand in
in my roomate's face while at the
Jersey Shore...lol

He came to the states to study film in Princeton and the NJ Film Commission hooked us up.  He was such a blast and had good taste in music but he was such a pain in the ass, lol.  Keep in mind this was 2002.  He must have been 18 or 19.  Also keep in mind he was Dino's nephew...Dino produced some of Hollywood's biggest movies.

I barely kept in touch with Edo and not sure if he would remember me but I did continue to follow The Ark and their music.  Fun, but dark most times.   The lead singer, as a friend points out is "very androgynous...I don't trust androgynous people...lol"  Either way his lyrics are moving.  If you haven't heard of them and you like glam rock / intelligent pop / ballads check them out.  They've been around for a minute, but of course, they are not as marketable as Adam Lambert would take more credit.

Tell Me This Night Is Over, sticks out today, it popped into my head.  I used to feel this way a lot in my mid-20's:

"I hope that someone's gonna come and tell me this night is over, cause I wanna start living my life before I get much older."

In true moments of despair it was an anthem.  I can remember feeling stuck somewhere and knowing you could do more if more was available or presented itself.  It's funny cause I never knew they made a video for it.  I'm glad they did

Song of the Day - Naci Orishas

I have been talking to a German photographer friend who wants to go to Cuba and take pictures of Old Havana before Cuba becomes the next Puerto Rico, an island that looks exactly like the U.S. (no offense but it's true).  He gave me his concept and told me he didn't know a lot about the island and would need an interpreter as well as locals.  Well,  I started thinking about it and it didn't take long for me to come to the conclusion that I will be joining him.  Also 90% of my family still lives in Cuba so we're set for the locals.

This is a pretty big decision considering I really had my heart set on going with my father, but that douche went last year and didn't let me know.  He went with his mom, so I get it, but still I always envisioned going there with him and the family of course.  But I realize more and more that I will see more, have more freedom to wander around alone and get lost in thought.

I don't agree with the leadership of the island, but there are not too many things I agree with politically anyway as I've learned more and more through the years, but I'm over judging where I'm going based on whose in power.  I think it's time for me to go.

I found this CD in my car today and was playing the Orishas, they are a Cuban Rap group I started listening to when I was 20.  Their first CD is amazing; this is off their 3rd which is great as well, but it was such an interesting time in life when their first disc came out that I have nothing but good memories.  The songs that I would like to share off that album do not hav videos, but this video is a great idea of community that exist in households that I grew up in.

Cheers

Song of the Day - Burial

This band is amazing.  Up until recently I never had a visual for their intelligent music, then I said, "Oh let me see if that have anything on youtube,"  as if they wouldn't!

I have a fascination with India.  My next project will be a personal one where I would visit places in the world with a lot of spiritual energy, be it religious or just ancient.  I may not believe in certain sects of spirituality or religion, but they most certain cannot be denied.  Their energy or the energy that people bring to these places either visiting or among the inhabitants cannot be denied as well.

I wish to go be a part of these places at least for a moment in time.  This video makes me feel good.  It makes me feel like I am already there.  The lyrics are great as well.  The concept is a bit pompous but hey, why not, lol.

Song of the Day - (No) Happy Ending

I just got back from a funeral that I was not looking forward to going to, only because it was a sudden loss and a young life.  I am at a personal place with life and death but everyone grieves differently, so it's hard to comfort when everyone has their own way, but this was a bit more close to home.

I think about death a lot, not to be morbid just because no matter how we get to that point, it is inevitable that we will.  I know that if I didn't wake up tomorrow or something happened I can say that I have done everything within my current means to be happy and fulfilled (can you say that?  If not than look into that.) BUT that doesn't mean there isn't more for me to do.

I've had this song in my head since last night.  I use to apply it as many people use songs, to identify with a break-up or a temporary someone leaving your life but yesterday I found a new and more constructive way to interpret it.  It fits well with one of the best things I heard this past weekend while watching "the Princess Bride" (Classis) "Death cannot stop true love, it can only delay it for awhile."

Mika - Happy Ending.

Asshole of the Day - This dumb bus driver!

Thanks for joining me on my website blog!  I have an "Asshole of the Day Blog"  coming real soon.  For now I figured I could post here and I figured I can post here so I can give you a better walk through of my experience with assholes.    As always, I don't purposefully look for these people, nor do I want them in my life, however when they appear, they need to be marginalized.  

So I found myself on one of those buses today again, you know the ones my father used to tell me that when I got on, "the driver would see the size of my nose and ask me to pinch one nostril so other people had air to breathe too."  I was late to work again, but all for a good reason, at least in my opinion.  So I get on the bus and was excited because there were only two other people on the bus and it looked like it was going to remain that way.  I got started on my emailing from my phone, to make my boss think I'm already in the office and the bus makes a quick stop and then swerves, then comes the beeping and the cursing.  

So the bus driver had caught off a cab.  The cab came so close to him that after they shouted and the bus driver one the shouting contest, the ballsy cabby starts banging on the bus' rear view mirror, which INFURIATED the bus driver, so instead of being nervous like the Asian couple behind me, I scrambled for my phone so I can record some of it! (That's right I'll be recording these assholes from now on if I have enough forewarning of an upcoming asshole moment!)  

The Bus Driver

So...the cabbie hits the bus' mirror and speeds off into a RED LIGHT!  I was like, IT'S ON!  The bus driver jumps out of the bus and runs over to the cab and starts hitting the window, which the cabbie has now rolled up!  the light turns green, the cabbie punches the gas, and the fat bus driver runs back to his bus.  but on the way in he pulls a bigger asshole moment, telling the bus driver to, "Suck My Dick,"  then..."You Faggot."  

Well that just about did it for my ride....

There are reasons for me being late, and they usually start with some asshole