Peter Gabriel Revisted

Remember when I professed my love for Peter Gabriel?

I still do...

Check it.

Outer Space

I saw the movie "Adam" recently (read: a while back when I wrote the first draft of this) and certain points were loaded with information about space that the protagonist spouted off with ease. All of the terms he used flew right over my head/went in one ear and out the other. This is when I again remembered how crazy wicked outer space is.

The universe once again entered my life after a morning of looking at pictures taken by the Hubble Telescope. After a few minutes of "Oohing" and "Ahwing" (that is how I decided to distinguish the painful/relaxing "Ahh" from the cutesy "Aww") over some spectacular new discoveries, Intensity and I stumbled upon a website for the University of Cape Town's Astrophysics and Space Science Programme which includes course information for their Masters program(me). Shit's crazy looking. Seriously.

We then realized that outer space is something that neither of us would really understand. I mean, there are a lot of topics that I'll never know much about like poultry science or financial studies (someone's gotta do it). But astronomy?! Cool stuff.

Keep up the good work,astronomers, physicists, and astronauts.

Not cosmonauts, though. Right everyone who saw David Cross?

Soon after our revelation, Intensity and I came across RateMyTurban.com and were quickly distracted.

(Don't read this: If the universe is constantly expanding, what is it expanding to? Mind fuuuck. Told you not to read this.

Now not even a turban-wearing baby will be able to erase it from your thoughts)

Kids With Cameras

I think the hardest thing about photography is capturing unabashed human emotion (which is why I almost never take pictures of people).

Often sought after but difficult to attain, only people with a thirst for life will find it.

This is why I adore the children of Kids With Cameras.

Sure they live in less than desirable conditions, but they understand life and the emotions that come with it more than I ever will.

They are examples of pure triumph on a planet that has forgotten them.

And armed with only a basic camera, they are setting out to share their story with the world.

(Top to bottom: Cairo, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Calcutta, Jerusalem, Calcutta, Jerusalem, Haiti)

These photos and many more breathtaking works can be found at Kids With Cameras, along with information about the organization.

Some pieces are available for purchase with proceeds going to programs which will held educate these talented kids. So if you have $200+ to drop on a print, by all means, please do.
They certainly deserve it.

Hot Air Balloons

There is something totally awesome about hot air balloons. Think about it: huge flames are filling delicate sheets of colorful fabric with hot air to lift them into a clear, blue sky. And only clear blue skies because if it's crappy outside, you cannot fly a hot air balloon.

Temperamental, just like me. Love it.

My love of hot air balloons began as a child in Lake Zurich, IL, quite possibly the classiest of the northern Chicago suburbs. Or not. But in the summer we lived there (yes, singular, just one summer), a couple hot air balloons landed in the yards and park of our neighborhood, which was incredibly exciting. We got to check the balloons out as they deflated and talk to the hot air balloon pilots - which, seriously, how awesome do you have to be to fly hot air balloons? Pretty flipping sweet, if you ask me.

Upon consultation with the one and only John Ash, it has been confirmed that hot air balloons are a pretty extreme and alt form of transportation. That's all the support I really need to legitimize my love of hot air balloons.

I think John Ash might be the HRO or hypemachine of transportation methods. Or maybe not. I'll have to Think About It.

Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)- Vertical Horizon

A blast from the past, this oh-so excellent song came up on random on my iTunes.



Although the cheesy lyrics proved moving during my freshman year of high school, they still manage to make me think, mostly of my awkward nerdy years. Those were the days. At least I had better musical tastes than all of the other kids in my school. I am slightly ashamed that I had such a fondness for this song, however, it could have been much much worse ie Insane Clown Posse or Dashboard Confessional.

Cheers.

Diane Sudyka

My hero, Charles Darwin, as depicted by Miss Sudyka.

I've said before that if humans were capable of flight, I would be the Usain Bolt of the sky. Perhaps this wishful thinking is what has led to my adoration of the super-talented Diane Sudyka. Not only is she a phenomenal artist, she volunteers at the Chicago Field Museum of Natural History working with feathered friends (albeit dead feathered friends).
Be still my heart.

Did I mention she's worked alongside Andrew Bird? She created the cover for the deluxe version of his latest release, Noble Beast and some gorgeous tour posters.
Here's a little insight into the collaboration.
Are you jealous yet? Because really, I would give my left foot to talk to Andrew Bird about microcosms.

It is hard for me to not plaster this post with pictures of her breathtaking artwork so I'll limit my pictoral additions to her renditions of a few of my favorite birds.

She has a website, a blog, and a store. Visit, read, buy.

Peter Gabriel

A couple weeks ago, after finally downloading "Down to Earth" (you know, the song from the Wall-E credits), I got to thinking about Peter Gabriel.

At the time, I came to the conclusion that Peter Gabriel is experiencing a renaissance. Think about it, Vampire Weekend name-dropped him last year in one of the catchiest songs of 2008 - and better yet, Gabriel covered it himself. With Hot Chip. There was his so-so cover of The Magnetic Fields' "Book Of Love" for some terrible movie with Richard Gere, but I'm going to choose to ignore that. And of course, the previously mentioned song from the Wall-E credits.

And, lest we forget to give Say Anything credit for the most famous Peter Gabriel moment of all time, Ione Skye pulled an awesome and slightly cougar move and married Ben Lee. Not totally relevant, but come on, the being-wooed-by-John Cusack-with-a-boombox-playing-"In Your Eyes" thing? Can't ignore that.

(because FOX is a brat, I can't share that epic 80's film moment with you, so I'm going to settle with a live version without a boombox but with some sweet threads.)



But I thought about it some more, and I don't think Peter Gabriel ever went away.
Genesis might have gone away, taking Phil Collins with it (thank God. Collins can stay away forever.) But Gabriel. Oh, Peter Gabriel. He stuck around, stuck it out through the long, hungry winter.

And he's here to stay.