Paris is not in my top 3!
Monday, Jul. 31, 04:33 PM
I am by no means exaggerating when I proclaim Rhonda and Eric's grilled steak, zucchini and potato salad (my Top 3 Greenberg-BBQ platter) to be superior to Paris. This past weekend was a magnificent weekend of contrasts for me – in quiet public ways and amplified private ways. Maybe in the way only a Gemini can; or maybe a mixed Guyanese-Bajan can; or maybe a confused God-fearing-ecofeminist can, I thrive on those contrasts. And not even so much the actual contrast as the lessons that can be learned from witnessing them intersect.
One of those intersections is easily illustrated in the comparison of two recent music videos by two powerful (depending on your perspective) women in society....
Sarah McLachlan's "World on Fire" and Paris Hilton's "Stars are Blind".
World on Fire spends its 4 minutes illustrating the alternative benefits of a music video budget ($150,000); in a world where mothers work all day for the same amount of money I make in the time it took me to type this article – just to send their sons to school.
Stars are Blind spends its 4 contemplating the cosmic scale involved in earning Paris Hilton's beach-perfect companionship and adoration – "real love" as she calls it.
A contrast of even greater proportions on any scale, is the 12,000 reviews on iTunes that Stars are Blind has received so far, compared to World on Fire being reviewed a whole 17 times to date. Well, perhaps that's perfect. Because more and more on this planet, it feels like our last hopes are coming down to 17's having to make a difference against 12,000's.
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One of those intersections is easily illustrated in the comparison of two recent music videos by two powerful (depending on your perspective) women in society....
Sarah McLachlan's "World on Fire" and Paris Hilton's "Stars are Blind".
World on Fire spends its 4 minutes illustrating the alternative benefits of a music video budget ($150,000); in a world where mothers work all day for the same amount of money I make in the time it took me to type this article – just to send their sons to school.
Stars are Blind spends its 4 contemplating the cosmic scale involved in earning Paris Hilton's beach-perfect companionship and adoration – "real love" as she calls it.
A contrast of even greater proportions on any scale, is the 12,000 reviews on iTunes that Stars are Blind has received so far, compared to World on Fire being reviewed a whole 17 times to date. Well, perhaps that's perfect. Because more and more on this planet, it feels like our last hopes are coming down to 17's having to make a difference against 12,000's.
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Jesus-for-Jews-for-Jesus
Friday, Jul. 28, 05:24 PM
Wow, talk about viral marketing.
How on Earth the latest Summer campaign for JesusforJews was able to throw a wrench at Julia and I so quickly is beyond me.
These Christians have apparently caught on to the latest trick in advertising and marketing – when you need a fresh angle all you have to do is...
reverse the words in your name...
Oh, also ditch the old-fashioned bible-font, and add some hip NYC subway graphics, and you're on your way to a marketing campaign that no one can refuse!
One question though – when does the Jesus for Jews for Jesus campaign launch?
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How on Earth the latest Summer campaign for JesusforJews was able to throw a wrench at Julia and I so quickly is beyond me.
These Christians have apparently caught on to the latest trick in advertising and marketing – when you need a fresh angle all you have to do is...
reverse the words in your name...
Oh, also ditch the old-fashioned bible-font, and add some hip NYC subway graphics, and you're on your way to a marketing campaign that no one can refuse!
One question though – when does the Jesus for Jews for Jesus campaign launch?
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Comparing Apples and Rices
Thursday, Jul. 27, 04:53 PM
Wednesday night was a great opportunity to catch two dreamy performances at Central Park's SummerStage concert. Opening with Damien Rice, and followed by Fiona Apple – the park was filled with unadorned ethereal vocals and musicianship. Julia and I camped out on this little hill of grass behind the stage. And for the hour or so, the melodies bounced through the trees just passively enough to make it seem like the city had switched to some enlightened society of music listeners who had made it law for contemplative soulful minor chords to always accompany pedestrians on their midtown commute home.
I don't know what it was – maybe running into Yayoi Kobayashi (oops, I mean Mrs. Yayoi Pellerin), and her new husband, on the same patch of grass, or maybe meeting up with Julia's friend Sonel and her boyfriend Matt – that made the evening feel so omnipresent and perfectly in harmony. As if this was the way weekday evenings should be spent every week.
Old friends, new friends, a park, an Apple, some Rice.
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I don't know what it was – maybe running into Yayoi Kobayashi (oops, I mean Mrs. Yayoi Pellerin), and her new husband, on the same patch of grass, or maybe meeting up with Julia's friend Sonel and her boyfriend Matt – that made the evening feel so omnipresent and perfectly in harmony. As if this was the way weekday evenings should be spent every week.
Old friends, new friends, a park, an Apple, some Rice.
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The Apple of my i
Tuesday, Jul. 25, 11:06 AM
It was only a matter of time before I posted an entry about my favorite company in the world – Apple.
No particular event in my life has prompted this entry, but there is a browing sense within me that I can't ignore. It seems to me that slowly and surely, more people are awakening to Apple as a creator of innovative, solid, beautiful, meaningful, educational and inspiring experiences. A recent article in this vein – about the application iCal can be found in Wired magazine. But throughout the past year, Apple has proven its genius beyond just one elegant detail of iCal.
From the introduction of "cool white" into the visual sense of the planet; to the meteoric rise of the Apple i -brand. From the announcement of the first video iPod; to the expansion of iTunes to include a growing library of movies and television programming from every major network. From natural synergies with the likes of a href="http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipodyourcar/" target="_blank">BMW (and now almost every major automaker), Motorola, and most recently, Nike; to slugfests with major music industry labels to protect their level playing field pricing on iTunes . From consistently raising the bar of innovation with new Mac software; to quickening a pace of PC/Windows assimilation that was already leaving Microsoft in the dust and stumbling towards obsolescence. All of these developments have been playing out like an epic Greek drama, complete with tragedy, redemption, ceremony, deities, villains, heroes, and even chorus (that's my role). And it has been quite an act.
Stay tuned for what promises to be a fabulous show.
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Miss Uranus loses to Miss Puerto Rico
Monday, Jul. 24, 09:55 PM
When approached for comments after losing a crown which seemed certain to be hers – Miss Uranus broke into a flood of tears and heartfelt protest, which cannot be repeated here... there was no translator available. Scandal continued – when immediately after Miss Uranus bounced of the stage Miss Puerto Rico fainted.
There really are no words for the spectacle that is the Miss Universe Pageant (produced and owned by Donald Trump).
Without wanting to insult the many women of the pageant who are probably very beautiful in ways that the pageant could never do justice to – I mostly direct my comments to the people who first established and continue to sell this event to our society...
1) I would like to see proof that the other worlds in the Universe actually declined an invitation to the pageant.
2) On what grounds were "Miss Galaxy" and "Miss Solar System" rejected as a name for the pageant?
3) Donald Trump is not allowed to spend any further money on Miss Universe while any of his new properties fail to meet New York City's Green Building Initiative standards. Standards that are beautifully embodied in residences like the Solaire in Lower Manhattan, which was the first environmentally sustainable residential high-rise in the U.S.
Other links for Green building:
NRDC.org
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There really are no words for the spectacle that is the Miss Universe Pageant (produced and owned by Donald Trump).
Without wanting to insult the many women of the pageant who are probably very beautiful in ways that the pageant could never do justice to – I mostly direct my comments to the people who first established and continue to sell this event to our society...
1) I would like to see proof that the other worlds in the Universe actually declined an invitation to the pageant.
2) On what grounds were "Miss Galaxy" and "Miss Solar System" rejected as a name for the pageant?
3) Donald Trump is not allowed to spend any further money on Miss Universe while any of his new properties fail to meet New York City's Green Building Initiative standards. Standards that are beautifully embodied in residences like the Solaire in Lower Manhattan, which was the first environmentally sustainable residential high-rise in the U.S.
Other links for Green building:
NRDC.org
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Microsoft looking for another window
Friday, Jul. 21, 06:35 PM
Microsoft has announced that before the end of 2006 (probably for the holiday season) it will take on the daunting task of launching a device to rival Apple's iPod. "Zune" will be a media device player that will also work seamlessly with an online service similar to iTunes.
HAHAHAHahaa! My goodness... WHAT on earth is a Zune???
C'mon Microsoft, how do you plan on making a dent into the culture, genius and cachet that has become the realm of Apple and iPod? How can you even hope to create an experience that has won fans the world over for it's cool and simplicity factor? From the get-go, the name "Zune" makes absolutely no sense on a consumer level next to Microsoft's other lifestyle offerings – MediaCenter, XBox, Origami, et. al. Compare that to Apple's consistent, easy-to-understand positioning – iMac, iBook, iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes, iPod. If you have a game console called XBox; why not name your media or music device XMed or XClip?
The very announcement of yet another hopeful Microsoft product, while its long-awaited new operating system Vista still only delivers delays and cutbacks, seems to confirm the eminent doom of Zune. Bill, Steve, or whoever is in control out there in Redmond, have we learned nothing from the cunning mysterious, last-minute, surprise events that have become synonimous (if not predictable) with Apple's new product launches? Apple has set a new benchmark for creating hype – and even more important – getting everyone else to believe that hype by delivering on it.
Microsoft's inability to quicken pulses, satisfy hopes, execute the obvious, and empathize with the intangibles of organic elegance and basic consumer perception is what persists at Microsoft and holds back the lumbering giant from ever becoming a star, idol or icon. But ya gotta love how they keep trying
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HAHAHAHahaa! My goodness... WHAT on earth is a Zune???
C'mon Microsoft, how do you plan on making a dent into the culture, genius and cachet that has become the realm of Apple and iPod? How can you even hope to create an experience that has won fans the world over for it's cool and simplicity factor? From the get-go, the name "Zune" makes absolutely no sense on a consumer level next to Microsoft's other lifestyle offerings – MediaCenter, XBox, Origami, et. al. Compare that to Apple's consistent, easy-to-understand positioning – iMac, iBook, iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes, iPod. If you have a game console called XBox; why not name your media or music device XMed or XClip?
The very announcement of yet another hopeful Microsoft product, while its long-awaited new operating system Vista still only delivers delays and cutbacks, seems to confirm the eminent doom of Zune. Bill, Steve, or whoever is in control out there in Redmond, have we learned nothing from the cunning mysterious, last-minute, surprise events that have become synonimous (if not predictable) with Apple's new product launches? Apple has set a new benchmark for creating hype – and even more important – getting everyone else to believe that hype by delivering on it.
Microsoft's inability to quicken pulses, satisfy hopes, execute the obvious, and empathize with the intangibles of organic elegance and basic consumer perception is what persists at Microsoft and holds back the lumbering giant from ever becoming a star, idol or icon. But ya gotta love how they keep trying
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The road to a Smarter car
Thursday, Jul. 20, 03:12 PM
*data courtesy www.fueleconomy.gov
I put together this image of oversized SUVs and ultra-efficient cars to illustrate and imagine the potential for our nation's roads if we ever decided to take over-dependence on gasoline seriously.
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GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS (per year)
3 Hummers = 31 tons
4 MINIs = 25 tons
4 Prius (not shown) = 14 tons
6 SmartCars (electric) = 0 tons
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So apparently Toyota has reversed its reversal - and found its way back onto the road toward electrics and true-hybrids.
Rejoice!
Toyota had seemed to be making fabulous strides forward in emissions reduction when it introduced its Toyota Prius hybrid car – and thankfully that progress seems to be back on track.
When you compare Toyota's efforts to US automakers continuing to make lazy legislation and persisting to be the odd-ball in the march to smarter technology – as shown by the arrival of the new cute and tiny electric DaimlerChrysler SmartCar in the U.K. (while even the gasoline version still remains absent in the U.S.) – it becomes more horrifying and obvious that the problem seems to be with us the American people, plain and simple. And not with alleged economic concerns or some phantom costs of technology!!! What is wrong with us?
See if you can make any clear and actionable sense out of our President's position on energy consumption and conservation.
Also, a description and breakdown of vehicle Emssions Standards.
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This is what an Ecofeminist looks like
Wednesday, Jul. 19, 11:46 AM
I'm a little angry mixed with confused mixed with inspired.
It started with not having a change of clothes when I stayed over in Long Island a couple weekends ago. Julia gave me this great t-shirt – bright fuscia pink with bold white words "This is what a Feminist looks like". Of course me being me, I didn't want to wear such a bold statement without possessing more substance on the subject. So the last couple of weeks my research into feminism led to discovering a branch of feminism known as Ecofeminism.
I also received a book titled "Ecofeminism and the Sacred". I had no idea that there was a movement that articulated the state and woes of humanity and nature so richly and competently. The fact that ecofeminism is not more at the forefront of political and social discourse is what gives rise to my anger and confusion.
Deep down I have thousands of words and images brewing – in need of emittance. But right now the flood of perspective is a little overwhelming.
Something needs to done and said and sang and echoed. But by whom? And when? And at what cost?
Websites related to Ecofeminism:
Women's Voices for Earth
Eve Online
Ecofeminism News
Boston Ecofeminist Action
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It started with not having a change of clothes when I stayed over in Long Island a couple weekends ago. Julia gave me this great t-shirt – bright fuscia pink with bold white words "This is what a Feminist looks like". Of course me being me, I didn't want to wear such a bold statement without possessing more substance on the subject. So the last couple of weeks my research into feminism led to discovering a branch of feminism known as Ecofeminism.
I also received a book titled "Ecofeminism and the Sacred". I had no idea that there was a movement that articulated the state and woes of humanity and nature so richly and competently. The fact that ecofeminism is not more at the forefront of political and social discourse is what gives rise to my anger and confusion.
Deep down I have thousands of words and images brewing – in need of emittance. But right now the flood of perspective is a little overwhelming.
Something needs to done and said and sang and echoed. But by whom? And when? And at what cost?
Websites related to Ecofeminism:
Women's Voices for Earth
Eve Online
Ecofeminism News
Boston Ecofeminist Action
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My Angel Wears Banana Republic
Monday, Jul. 17, 10:29 AM
So what do quesadillas, jazz, Meryl Streep, sun-tan lotion, a bottlecapper and a Crobar all have in common?... They were all part of my great weekend.
When a weekend starts off with listening to live jazz at the Kitano you know it's gonna be a good weekend! The Kitano really knows it's jazz and just for good measure they throw in some pretty good quesadillas with a chipotle dip.
The Devil Wears Prada is a good movie and worth watching on the big-screen. Not for any mind-bending special effects or the such; but seeing Meryl Streep pull-off a flawless performance of a risky and tricky character is quite a sight to behold and deserves all the vertical and horizontal attention a movie-screen offers.
Unfortunately, Crobar's performance for Topher's birthday night, was not as flawless. Stef's friend did his best to party the night away at one of NYC's premier party spots – but Crobar was not up to the challenge. We had fun in the hip-hop room and the main dance floor, but the music never reached that next level of funk and groove that keeps you going for hours.
My favorite part of the weekend though was going to Lido Beach with the BFF Crew (Julia, Lauren and Allison). I'm a simple man, the ocean, the sand, Julia in her yummy Banana Republic bikini, that's pretty much all I really need to enjoy a Sunday afternoon. Sure, I could throw in the BBQ wings, Guinness, and Ralph's Apple Crumb ice; but that's really just bonus stuff
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When a weekend starts off with listening to live jazz at the Kitano you know it's gonna be a good weekend! The Kitano really knows it's jazz and just for good measure they throw in some pretty good quesadillas with a chipotle dip.
The Devil Wears Prada is a good movie and worth watching on the big-screen. Not for any mind-bending special effects or the such; but seeing Meryl Streep pull-off a flawless performance of a risky and tricky character is quite a sight to behold and deserves all the vertical and horizontal attention a movie-screen offers.
Unfortunately, Crobar's performance for Topher's birthday night, was not as flawless. Stef's friend did his best to party the night away at one of NYC's premier party spots – but Crobar was not up to the challenge. We had fun in the hip-hop room and the main dance floor, but the music never reached that next level of funk and groove that keeps you going for hours.
My favorite part of the weekend though was going to Lido Beach with the BFF Crew (Julia, Lauren and Allison). I'm a simple man, the ocean, the sand, Julia in her yummy Banana Republic bikini, that's pretty much all I really need to enjoy a Sunday afternoon. Sure, I could throw in the BBQ wings, Guinness, and Ralph's Apple Crumb ice; but that's really just bonus stuff
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Feeling kinda blewish
Thursday, Jul. 13, 12:47 PM
Last night I was hanging out with Julia and Lauren and Stef — just a night watching movies. Glory Road was a great "feel good" basketball movie by Walt Disney Pictures about the cinderella story of the Texas Western Miners winning the NCAA Championship with the first all-Black starting lineup in NCAA basketball.
And there was also the NYC premier of Blewish Entertainment's "July 4th Weekend" home-movie... you put a whole bunch of work into producing a cool home-dvd with soundtrack + title screens + sound-fx, et cetera; then burn several dvds. Only to realize afterwards that you left out scrolling credits at the end and a perfect opportunity to overlay a penguin clip onto Stef's Jeopardy scene, grrr. There's always something that you forget to do when the doing is made so simple and enjoyable I suppose. Why couldn't dvds be wi-fi enabled so I could just wire the revision straight to the individual dvds now? C'mon Apple, get workin' on that.
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And there was also the NYC premier of Blewish Entertainment's "July 4th Weekend" home-movie... you put a whole bunch of work into producing a cool home-dvd with soundtrack + title screens + sound-fx, et cetera; then burn several dvds. Only to realize afterwards that you left out scrolling credits at the end and a perfect opportunity to overlay a penguin clip onto Stef's Jeopardy scene, grrr. There's always something that you forget to do when the doing is made so simple and enjoyable I suppose. Why couldn't dvds be wi-fi enabled so I could just wire the revision straight to the individual dvds now? C'mon Apple, get workin' on that.
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Summer in full swing
Wednesday, Jul. 12, 07:23 PM
Volleyball season is upon us again, and being on two teams should be quite an experience. SpongeBall SquareSets of NY Urban Volleyball league and Playas of BigCity Volleyball league have been so kind to let me join their rosters this Summer. So far SpongeBall is off to a great start with a 3-0 record and Playas is off to a shakey start with a 0-3 record — but I expect that to improve drastically as the team coalesces.
STAY TUNED on this page for score and match updates.
Karate at SEIDO has taken a fabulous turn and Julia recently decided to give it a try — having her smiling face glowing in the dojo may turn out to be the best and most satisfying surprise of the Summer... at least that's what the odds in Vegas are listing
And to continue the athletic theme... World Cup football (also known as soccer in America) concluded this past weekend. Italia upset France in a final that was decided by penalty kicks (5-3). There's nothing quite like seeing the East Village pubs overflowing with folks cheering at every approach or corner kick. Especially when those cheers are in French and Italian. ZiZou, many think that you let France down — but we feel your pain — or perhaps Marco Materazzi of Italia is feeling a little more pain
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STAY TUNED on this page for score and match updates.
Karate at SEIDO has taken a fabulous turn and Julia recently decided to give it a try — having her smiling face glowing in the dojo may turn out to be the best and most satisfying surprise of the Summer... at least that's what the odds in Vegas are listing
And to continue the athletic theme... World Cup football (also known as soccer in America) concluded this past weekend. Italia upset France in a final that was decided by penalty kicks (5-3). There's nothing quite like seeing the East Village pubs overflowing with folks cheering at every approach or corner kick. Especially when those cheers are in French and Italian. ZiZou, many think that you let France down — but we feel your pain — or perhaps Marco Materazzi of Italia is feeling a little more pain
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America is perfect, and as proof...
Wednesday, Jul. 05, 04:40 PM
I think my favorite quote from the July 4th weekend was from Newsday: where several interviewed NYC residents were quoted as saying... "My favorite thing about America is the opportunity to do and be anything you want EXCEPT be a criminal or break the law of course." And guess what the one thing these people would change about America was? "Absolutely nothing!" They think it's fine just the way it is. "So far, so good" one 81 yr. old woman was quoted as saying.
Well thanks to the red, white and blue, I had the opportunity to spend my weekend with a slightly less brain-washed crew. 3 days in Long Island, spending quality time in Long Beach, Lido Beach and a BBQ at Lauren's place, conversing on topics such as penguin mobility, video camera LED specs, gymnastics, culinary techniques, etc. Top that Newsday Granny!!
Stepping out of character in honor of the star-spangled weekend, I lugged around a digital video camera to captured some the days' moments to remember the grandeur a little better. And sufficiently in character, I've published an edited version of the video at Apple's iTunes music store. Enjoy
Besides celebrating the Independence of this perfect nation in the arms of my girlfriend – there were plenty of other fireworks to go around. Courtesy of luminous souls such as Sam (when she wasn't watching World Cup), Nanna (and her 7 foot tall tales), Gunny Scarfo, and the man the myth the legend, Mukesh Vasvani.
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Well thanks to the red, white and blue, I had the opportunity to spend my weekend with a slightly less brain-washed crew. 3 days in Long Island, spending quality time in Long Beach, Lido Beach and a BBQ at Lauren's place, conversing on topics such as penguin mobility, video camera LED specs, gymnastics, culinary techniques, etc. Top that Newsday Granny!!
Stepping out of character in honor of the star-spangled weekend, I lugged around a digital video camera to captured some the days' moments to remember the grandeur a little better. And sufficiently in character, I've published an edited version of the video at Apple's iTunes music store. Enjoy
Besides celebrating the Independence of this perfect nation in the arms of my girlfriend – there were plenty of other fireworks to go around. Courtesy of luminous souls such as Sam (when she wasn't watching World Cup), Nanna (and her 7 foot tall tales), Gunny Scarfo, and the man the myth the legend, Mukesh Vasvani.
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