ESPN killing it

We saw these commercials the other day, one is new and one is old... and both are entertaining. Too bad I still can't watch regular season NBA games.

Restrepo

Earlier in the summer I read "War" by Sebastian Junger. Yesterday on demand, I saw the documentary that Junger released and that compliments the book. I gained respect for the book because of the mass chaos that goes on and Junger's ability to get that down in words. The documentary is called "Restrepo". It was really intense and the first real footage of combat in Afghanistan that I have seen. The news does not show combat like this. I don't want to go too much into the story but it is about a group of soldiers that are positioned in the most remote and dangerous part of the war, the Korengal Valley. 90% of all the fighting in Afghanistan happens in this one small area. Really good documentary and if you have on demand, National Geographic has it. Here is a trailer.

Movie Scene: A River Runs through It

This movie was on TV today and it reminded me of one of the first posts we did on the blog of great movie scenes. A "River Runs through It" is a great movie and book by Norman Maclean. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in nature and a good story. It is about two boys growing up fly fishing in Montana. Here is the ending scene, which is the last couple pages in the book that are incredibly well written.

Jebidiah Likes Smoothie Song

Don't expect any lyrics, you won't hear any. However, this is one of the most amazing songs I have heard in a while. For all the instrumental lovers out there, you will truly enjoy this song. Enjoy!

"Nickel Creek" - Smoothie Song"

New Mumford song

Saw this song at a Mumford & Sons concert a week ago. It is not out yet but this is the best version we found on Youtube. Should be their next big hit. (song starts at 1:24)

Cool Commercials

Recently I have seen a few commercials on TV that I think are pretty cool. I saw this Levi's commercial today and here are a couple others. As much as I dislike commercials, there are some talented marketing agencies out there that create great images for a brand.



Another Levi's commercial that uses a Walt Whitman poem. A little older but still very cool.



Jameson commercial

Quotes

I have known the Kerouac quote for a while, but the one from Plato was shown to me today and I think they go well together. A call to action for change of any sort.



"A hero is born among a hundred, a wise man is found among a thousand, but an accomplished one might not be found even among a hundred thousand men." -Plato

· "Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round heads in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. But the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." - Jack Kerouac in On the Road.

Hip Hop Monday

Shake, as he is called, is what I still enjoy about hip-hop. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy Cudder and the rest of them...but it's up-and-coming artists like this that make hip-hop great. This first song is a perfect example of how two different genres of music can "collide" and create one great song. This is The Incomparable Shakespeare featuring Adelle, "Hometown". The transitions are chilling and the lyrics are fresh and real. Give it a listen, it won't disappoint. Enjoy.

The Incomparable Shakespeare ft. Adelle - "Hometown"



Song number two is called "Wonderwall." It is a mash-up, which sometimes means less creativity, but listen again to the lyrics and transitions...Insane! Enjoy.

Music

I have had these two songs by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam in my head the past few days. Vedder wrote the soundtrack to the movie "Into the Wild". It is a fascinating true story about a college grad that decides to just take off and live off the land. Great book by Jon Krakauer too. I highly recommend both, here are the two songs. The lyrics in "Society" are very cool, and Vedder also throws in a guitar riff from a famous Bob Dylan song (starts at 1:48 mark) if anyone can pick up on it.
"Hard Sun"


"Society"

Quote

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race"

-Calvin Coolidge, Former Governor of Massachusetts and President of the United States

Quote

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attitude of the strong" -Mahatma Gandhi


A wise man.

Back to the Blog

Haven't been here in a while. I decided a good way to start revisiting the blog would be to post some important quotes I come across from time to time. Those of you who know me know that I am a big believer in a good quote... whether it is a funny movie quote or powerful words from someone in extraordinary circumstances. I think there is tremendous power and truth in quotes that survive to be passed on to others. No one is forcing these quotes on us, "we the people..." are the ones that decide to keep their flame alive. Here goes nothing. I will start today off with two that have come to me recently through similar sources... first one from one of my personal inspirations and the second from a former US President, who made his share or mistakes but continues to do a lot of good. I found it on another blog and I have added his book to a list of things I want to read.

Also, I just listened to Avett Brothers "Head Full of Doubt/Road (Heart) Full of Promise" again. Great song, powerful lyrics, one of the best I have seen in a while. Check them out here


"Passion is kind of an important word for me whether its playing sports or whether its just living or whatever you are going to do in my opinion you should be passionate about it or else... why do it?"

Pat Tillman

"I learned a lot from the stories my uncle, aunts, and grandparents told me: that no one is perfect but most people are good; that people can’t be judged only by their worst or weakest moments; that harsh judgments can make hypocrites of us all; that a lot of life is just showing up and hanging on; that laughter is often the best, and sometimes the only, response to pain."

— Bill Clinton in his autobiography, My Life