skrapnel

This is amazing.  These guys soaring through mountains remind me of flying squirrels.  I want to do this some day.

I don’t like ads that clutter our public spaces. Being exposed to so much advertising waters down the visual arts.  It’s also intrusive and doesn’t do anything to help lift the human spirit.  The new ad from the campaign “Life is for Sharing” from T-Mobile is the exception.

Capturing the spirit of the Flash Mob phenomenon pioneered by groups like Improv Everywhere, T-Mobile creates a surreal scene in the Liverpool Subway station when over 300 people dressed as normal folk break into dance.  Since flash mobs are frequently photoed, videoed and shared online, T-Mobile’s messaging “Life’s for Sharing” resonates with a younger demographic accustomed to sharing viral videos with their friends.

Secretly filmed, the Life Is For Sharing ad begins when the Liverpool Street Station’s tannoy suddenly belts out LuLu’s 1965 hit Shout and a single dancer busts a move.

But as the the amazing scene unfolds a further 350 undercover dancers, positioned amongst regular commuters, burst into a larger routine.

Gradually more covert players join in with the stunt until eventually nearly the whole station is dancing in sequence.

Celeb Choreographer Ashley Wallen took the dancers through an intensive 80 hour rehearsal to ensure they nailed the performance as they could only film a single take.

via T Mobile Liverpool Street Station flashmob ad storms YouTube – National News – News – Click Liverpool.

I love looking at the smiles on the bystanders’ faces.  Caught up in the moment, you can imagine the joy and excitement they feel. The video makes me happy to be alive.

Are you a Star Wars fan?  Do you miss Jerry Springer?  Then you’ll love Ackbar!  In today’s episode, Ackbar reveals the results of paternity tests.  Who’s your daddy?

I love Animal Collective.  To me, they are like an updated, not-so-sleepy-still-interesting version of Can.  That’s why I can’t believe they broke Top 20.

And three weeks after the vinyl version was an instant sell-out, didgeridoo-loving trio Animal Collective will hit #13 with their critic-magnet Merriweather Post Pavilion album, which sold of 24,700 in its first week out in CD format.

via Taylor Swift Tops Chart For Eighth Week – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News.

Panda Bears’ solo album, “Person Pitch,” was totes a futuristic, post-pop version of the Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds.”  Not surprisingly, the new single,”My Girls,” reminds me of what pop music might sound like in Brave New World.  Plus, I’m a sucker for Panda Bear’s lyrics/vocal stylings:

Is it much to admit I need
A solid soul and the blood I bleed
With a little girl, and by my spouse
I only want a proper house

I don’t care for fancy things
Or to take part in a precious race
And children cry for the one who has
A real big heart and a father’s grace

I don’t mean to seem like I care about material things like a social status
I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls

The video for their current single, “My Girls,” is a little too Blue Man Group meets iPod commercial for me, but the song rocks. Check it.  What do you think?

Those cooking shows always make everything look so easy: Veggies cut and in pretty prep bowls; liquids measured; casseroles come out of the oven beautifully golden brown.  Funny how it never turns out like that in real life.

In the sketch, below, the MadTV  writers take the pre-packed cooking show and put it through their surrealist lens.  Stephnie Weir‘s facial expressions are amazing, and her timing couldn’t be better.  That’s probably why I laughed so hard my face hurt when I watched it last night with my housemates.  Yup, deep, boisterous guffaws that warmed up my spirits and made me forget about the gray winter weather.

Hope it brightens your day, too!

Funny or Die does it again with this kick-a video of their visit to DC for the inauguration.  Catchy tune, kitschy poses–it’s like playing “Where’s Waldo” with celebrities.  I especially love how they got everyone from Usher and Sarah Silverman to Newt Gingrich and Pat Buchanan to participate.

Watching this video of Barack and Michelle dancing their first dance at the Neighborhood Ball gives me chills.  I don’t know whether it’s a combination of Beyonce’s voice and the amazing song, the First couple smiling and dancing cause they’re actually in love, Beyonce humbly crying at the end, or the crowd chanting “O-BA-MA.”

Beautiful song. Beautiful couple.  Beautiful moment.  Enjoy!

Each year when I was a kid, my mom and I would march in the MLK Day parade through downtown Dallas.  Walking hand-in-hand with our black brothers and sisters, we would sing old gospel spirituals and smile with the crowd.  We’d get to the final destination, watch some  footage of MLK’s speech and hear some new sermons.  I even met Jessie Jackson a few times.

I never understood racism.  My schools were mixed. Mom had several close black friends and so did I.  I was never taught to hate, but I knew that’s what we were marching against.

On Election night last year, those marches came flooding back to me.  When it was announced that Obama had won, I called my mom.  I couldn’t speak; I was crying so hard.

When I’d finally pulled myself together, I said: “This is what we marched for, Mom.  This is why we did it.  Even after all those marches, I never thought I’d see this in my lifetime.  We did it.  We conquered hate.”

“Yes, we did!” she said. [UPDATED: Was asked to post a pic of Mom. Here we are with one of her friends during her last visit to SF. Click to enlarge.]

It’s been just over 40 years since MLK gave his famous speech.  We read it every year in school, but it’s even more powerful if you can hear it.  That’s why I was excited to find this complete video footage of the “I Have a Dream” speech.

Watch it and remember the dream of America: a place where everyone has an equal chance to success.  A place where everyone can live free from hate.  A place where everyone can aspire to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

What’s your story?