Category Archives for art

2011 SAINTS. A musical salvation.


2011 has been a very good year for music.  While it’s not over yet, I got a jump on my end-of-year mix because of the urgency of the task. I’ve been so saved by much of the year’s music in many ways. I’m also including a nod to some of the nice surprises from 2010, but the balance is all new, all this year.

I used to do a mix every year but haven’t for the last couple of years. I’m happy to be pressing again. This one investigates the qualities and battles of light and dark — inside.  We’ve got it all.

  1. Muppet Show Theme Song • OK Go • Muppets: The Green Album • 2011
  2. Wake Up Your Saints • The National • High Violet (Expanded Edition) • 2010
  3. Holy Holy • Wye Oak • Civilian • 2011
  4. Midnight City • M83 • Hurry Up We’re Dreaming • 2011
  5. Hair • Lady Gaga • Born This Way • 2011
  6. The Change • Evanescence • Evanescence • 2011
  7. Dear Rosemary • Foo Fighters • Wasting Light • 2011
  8. Stamp • The Rural Alberta Advantage • Departing • 2011
  9. The Bad In Each Other • Feist • Metals • 2011
  10. Lily (Director’s Cut) • Kate Bush • Director’s Cut • 2011
  11. Only If For A Night • Florence + The Machine • Ceremonials • 2011
  12. Keep Your Heart • TV On The Radio • Nine Types Of Light • 2011
  13. I Don’t Want Love • The Antlers • Burst Apart • 2011
  14. Perth • Bon Iver • Bon Iver • 2011
  15. The Rip Tide • Beirut • The Rip Tide • 2011
  16. The Devil’s Tears • Angus & Julia Stone • Down The Way • 2010
  17. Like Me • Chely Wright • Lifted Off The Ground • 2010
  18. Mercy Of The Fallen • Dar Williams • Many Great Companions • 2010

it’s time to light the lights
wake up your saints
for the blessed
city is my church
this is my prayer
screaming on the inside
you’re part of me you know you are
i will save you and i don’t need you
the good man and good woman
as we journey to thy sacred feet
you came over me like some holy rite
these words are not a bit profound
climb up the stairs
something faint
the waves and i
she’s my home
they’ll love you
we have some of them inside us

PS: hands-down the best musical show of the year and certainly in the top of all time: Beirut at the Independent. Thank you Victor.

This is how close we get to the brown bear at Woodland Park Zoo

Incredible. My daughter’s nose-to-nose while the bear chews a stick right now.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlKCYDf6t3Y%5D

Moments later, we watched in awe as the bear stunned a fish and then dragged it up to the rocks to enjoy a fresh sake feast. Crows followed on cleanup duty.

President Obama Defends Justice by Rejecting DOMA (via NCLR Blog: Out for Justice)

Saying that this is a courageous act that “will change forever the way that the nation views our community’s struggle for equality,” NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter blogged yesterday about the Obama administration’s decision to not defend DOMA’s Section 3. Minter minces no words about how important this moment is and anticipates this move will have ramifications in all areas of our lives.

Today in a conference call, Minter explained that although Congress can, if it wants to, intervene as a defender of DOMA, he was not concerned about that possibility. Apparently the prior official congressional record is full of appalling statements disapproving of “immoral and sinful” gay people. Congress can go ahead and try to litigate for DOMA on the basis of gay people being wrong, but when at last it is clear that this is the sole remaining — and discriminatory — leg such defense stands upon, we head towards the full light of day at last on this road to equality.

By Shannon Minter, Esq. National Center for Lesbian Rights Legal Director (San Francisco, CA, February 23, 2011)—Today brings momentous news from President Barack Obama and the federal Department of Justice about the discriminatory and offensive so-called “Defense of Marriage Act,” or DOMA. This morning, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that, at the urging of the President, as well as based upon Mr. Holder’s own assessment, the Department o … Read More

via NCLR Blog: Out for Justice