President Obama was chosen as the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize this year. Some question whether or not he has done anything deserving enough of this high honor quite yet. True he shows promise, but the award shouldn’t be anticipatory of the future success he hopes to have while in office. What are your thoughts on this matter? I’d love to get differing opinions.
Google Doodles: The Barcode
Anyone who has visited Google today may have noticed a giant barcode on the top of their screen. No, Google is not selling itself to the highest bidder. It is recognizing the invention of the barcode, which is celebrating its 57th anniversary. The story (which I have linked to) is actually somewhat interesting if you like reading about random things such as this that no one seems to care about. Something to think about when you purchase that stick of gum or diet soda today.
Memphis (and the music) Lives in Me
Memphis is in New York now, on Broadway to be exact. This is the next great musical to hit the stage this season. It stars an outstanding cast of both old pros and rising stars. These talented performers sing and dance in a magical way, and take you to a time and place where life wasn’t easy but the music sure was smooth. It is fascinating to see how one person uses the power of music to break down barriers in a way no one thought possible. All he wants to do is make the music he loves accessible to everyone, but it becomes much more than that. It’s something you should see for yourself. The show is currently in previews with opening night scheduled for Monday, October 19th. So grab a friend and take them down to Memphis for a night of music and thrills they won’t soon forget.
Coming Soon To A Theater Near You: CMJ
CMJ is almost upon us and everyone is buzzing about what’s to come. Schedules have finally been posted. Follow the title link of the day (in case you haven’t noticed I try to link you to something with each post) and start thinking about what you want to go see the most. I haven’t looked at the whole schedule yet but I am already excited about Jukebox the Ghost playing Bowery Ballroom on October 20th. What is everyone else looking forward to the most?
And the Gold Medal Goes To…
Rio has been chosen to host the 2016 Olympics. Other contestants included Madrid, Chicago, and Tokyo. While it would have been good for America if Chicago won, this will be the first time a South American country has hosted the Olympic games. Can’t complain about that, now can we? Personally I am excited about London hosting the Olympics in 2012. I can’t think of a better excuse to finally knock London off my list of places to visit (besides the fact that I have friends there). Now I just need an Olympics in Germany and Australia and I’ll be all set.
Pay It Forward
Ever hear that helping others makes you feel better and doubted it? If so, here is an example for you. There was an autism bake sale at my school today. Normally I would walk passed these things without notice, but I was feeling fairly good already and it is a cause I care slightly more about so I stopped to give a donation. I wasn’t thinking about buying sweets so much as helping the cause. The woman thanked me greatly and said to take five items from the table. Now there was no way I was going to be able to eat all of those sweets, so when I got to the cafe we have on campus and found two of my friends I immediately went to their table and offered to share my goodies. One girl thanked me and said it would be great for her dessert. My mood improved even more. I continued my day with uplifted spirits and even found class less boring than usual. All because of a table of baked goods and five dollars. Who says you don’t get anything out of giving?
Things To Do Tonight in New York
Hey everyone!
You have two great options tonight in terms of shows you can go to.
Option 1 is Alyson Greenfield at Banjo Jim’s on the corner of 9th Street and Avenue C, which is free. Alyson is awesome and everyone should experience her at least once. (Trust me, after you meet her once won’t be enough). Her set is at 7, which would make you only slightly late for…
Option 2, which is Stephanie Carlin, Kari Spieler , Nick Howard and Emily Hope Price at 303 Grand in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This show is brought to you be TM Promotions so I will be working doors and taking pictures for the evening. Stop by and say hi. Only $5 cover plus free PBR. What more could you ask for?
Whatever you end up doing tonight remember to have fun and stay safe. have a good weekend everyone!
your friendly neighborhood blogger : )
Happy Arthur Guinness Day
For those of you who may not know, today is the 250th birthday of Arthur Guinness, the Irish brewer who delivered Guinness beer unto us. In celebration of this historic day grab some friends and buy yourselves a round of Guinness. And while you’re at it go ahead and chat about the history of Guinness, which has been linked to above. Maybe even go on the website and download a Guinness screen saver. Anything to show the world your love for Guinness beer.
The Lightning Strike
Lightning struck Beacon Theater last night when Snow Patrol electrified the stage with their energetic performance. They gave quite a show, using every element imaginable as part of their act. For starters, there was a projector that wrote out a list of cities on the tour, ending with New York and a huge red heart, showing their love for this city.
Another impressive part of their setup, their equipment included two drum kits and four keyboards. On several songs a band member would switch between two different instruments (drum and keys, keys and guitar). Their use of lighting was also exquisite, adding an extra element to their show instead of just being noise that had no real purpose. It really seemed to match the music as it progressed.
The best part of their show was their stage presence though, especially the lead singer. He really engaged the crowd and even had them participate during “Shut You Eyes”. There was laughter and excitement throughout the night which was due in large part to him.
The band played approximately 1.5 hours with a 3-song encore. Set list was as follows:
If There’s A Rocket tie Me To It
Chocolate
Hands Open
How To Be Dead
The Golden Floor
The Finish Line
Somewhere A Clock Is Ticking
Make This Go On Forever
Run
Shut Your Eyes
Chasing Cars
Crack The Shutters
Take Back The City
Open Your Eyes
Encore:
The Lightning Strike (What If This Storm Ends?)
Run
You’re All I Have
Happy Birthday H.G. Wells
Anyone notice the space invasion that has been taking over Google? For those of you wondering what that was about, they are celebrating H.G. Wells’ birthday which is today. He would have been 143 years old. Wells may be one of the most influential science fiction authors of all time. His greatest work, War of the Worlds, brought UFOs to earth (Which Orson Welles really did with his radio broadcast based on the story) and grabbed the attention of the world. Other notable works include The Invisible Man and The Time Machine among others. This is definitely an author who deserves some recognition. Kudos to Google for making it happen.