Chumdinger

Thanks Matt for sending this over. It starts out with this quote:

I had always felt life first as a story- and if there is a story there is a storyteller.
- G. K. Chesterten

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oavhdsGu4Hg&hl=en&fs=1]

This sign was spotted today on one of the expressways in Thailand. We probably should be reminded of this too. Here’s what it says:

“…the prosperity of the country means the lasting prosperity of the people of the whole country” – Royal Guidance given on July 20, 1967 – “…advocation of sustainable economy”

Check out what these folks in New York are doing to investigate and document the sex trafficking industry in Southeast Asia:

The Blind Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and improving the quality of life for sex trafficking victims in Southeast Asian by providing access to rehabilitation services, quality education and innovative economic opportunities.

http://www.theblindproject.com

Back in the day, people were in real authentic community with each other… in that, I mean they knew those around them, were involved in each others lives, celebrated in the good time, and helped each other during the bad.

Mainly because people were isolated to smaller areas. Before cars, they walked. Before telephones, they talked to those around them. Before suburbs, they lived in closer proximity. Before computers, televisions, video games… you get the idea.

Now, we’re all busy. In our cars, driving everywhere, stuck in traffic, wearing bluetooth headsets. We’re spread out all over the city living very isolated lives in comparison. Having that same sense of community is pretty difficult.

I think it’s easy to maintain relationships with a handful of close friends and family members. You know, those that really truly know us. Or as Mark Brewer puts it, those that “will pick you up from LAX”.

But what about everyone else? You know, those that may not be your best friends but are more than acquaintances. Or even the strangers around us?

Social networking sites like Facebook have made it a little easier, finding friends old and new, staying connected through photos, emails, and status updates. But who wants to sit in front of their computers all day? Messaging, chatting, emailing, blogging… (not that there’s anything wrong with blogging).

But a proliferation of new technologies promises to change all that.

The iPhone – It’s changing the way we use our phones. Now, we have the internet at our fingertips, the web made mobile.

Facebook – It’s going mobile too. A light version you can take with you on your web enabled phone. Even if you have a regular mobile phone, you can now receive SMS updates when friends post on your wall, send you a message, etc… and you can respond back via SMS messages as well. Ok, let me back up a little. Here’s a little bit about Social Networking in Plain English:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_KF7TYKVc&hl=en&fs=1]

Twitter – It’s microblogging, but really it’s updating your status or writing whatever you want in 140 characters or less though your mobile phone. Friends can follow what you’re up to, and in turn you can keep up to date on their adventures. Here’s a brief explanation of Twitter in Plain English:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o&hl=en&fs=1]

Brightkite – It’s location based social networking. Like Twitter, Brightkite allows you to microblog your status via mobile phone but with photos too. It allows you to “check-in” at your current location, and geotag your photos with your current location, and without needing GPS.

And with the iPhone soon to be adding automatic geotagging to photos taken on it’s camera, it’ll make it even easier.

But who wants to manage all these different sites. And does anyone expect all of your friends to sign up for each and every one?

This is where the simplicity lies. Brightkite works with Twitter, and Twitter works with Facebook, and Facebook is now mobile so you don’t have to be in front of you computer. So all one has to do is send one update and all the different platforms talk to each other.

And how does all of this techno stuff help to build real authentic community? In which people and involved in the lives of those around them, and interact with each other face to face?

Here’s Part 2

It seemed like an almost literal answer to their prayers. When two New Zealand pilots ran out of fuel in a microlight airplane they offered prayers and were able to make an emergency landing in a field — coming to rest right next to a sign reading, “Jesus is Lord.” 

“My friend and I are both Christians so our immediate reaction in a life-threatening situation was to ask for God’s help,” Stubbs told The Associated Press on Wednesday.” 

Read the rest of the article…

Ok, maybe not the best title. Anyway, I was hanging out with Will & James this past weekend and they introduced me to Duffy. Well not personally, but to her music on YouTube. She’s a talented British singer-songwriter with a retro country/soul edge to her. 

Her second single from her debut album went to #1 in the UK. And Universal Music Group just released her album here in the USA last week. If you haven’t heard of her before (like me), I’m sure you will soon. 

But there seems to be what Will calls a “dumbing down” in creativity for us Americans. Here’s the proof. Take a look at the first video for “Mercy” released in the UK. It has a sophisticated retro, smokey vibe to it, with creative use of slow motion and fire. 

Compare that to the American version, which is slicker and more polished, but lacks that special something… the original soul, you could say. 

Compare for yourself and let me know if you agree or disagree:

Here is the UK video of “Mercy” (Polydor Records)… make sure you watch the last half:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMx1jt1KPG0&hl=en&fs=1]

and here is the US version (Unversal Music Group)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QSm5f1eiIk&hl=en&fs=1]

So if you’re like me and eat out more often than you should, here’s a sober reminder of what we really putting in our mouths. 

One of the worst things you can order at Chili’s is their Awesome Blossom (or Outback’s Blooming Onion equivalent). It packs over 2700 calories and over 200 grams of fat. 

Even if you spit it with 3 friends, it’s still 900 calories and 67 grams of fat per person. If you split it with 4 friends… ok, you can do the math. 

Here’s what the folks at Men’s Health had to say about it:

“It takes a special talent to turn a single oversized onion into the fat equivalent of 67 slices of bacon, but the line cooks at Chili’s manage this horrific feat with the help of a thick batter, a calorie-loaded dipping sauce, and a vat of bubbling fat.”

So I spent $10 at Costco and bought the book Eat This, Not That! 

It’s a good read. An eye opener really, and an interesting look at what America eats. 

A milestone was reached today. Construction of the 160+ story skyscraper in Dubai surpassed the height of the previous tallest man made structure, the Warsaw Radio Mast at 2120 feet tall. When finished, the Burj Dubai is expected to be a whopping 2680+ feet tall.

Lets put this into perspective. That’s over half a mile high! About the height of 3 Eiffel Towers. Or 2 Empire State buildings.

On one hand, I’m impressed with man’s ability to create an engineering marvel, but on the other hand, is this a modern day tower of babel?

Here’s the Wikipedia article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Dubai

And an image from Skyscraper.net: