Window in the Skies

U2 has released a second video for their latest single, "Window in the Skies" that features an amazing new technology that can turn 2-D photographs into 3-D images. I've seen a demonstration of it before, and this is the most fun utilization I've seen.

As for the song...I'm a pretty hardcore U2 fan, and it's tough to pick favorites. But my immediate feeling about it was and still is that it's got to be one of the best songs they've ever written. I'm completely in love.

Video 1:




Video 2:

Holiday e-Cards from (RED)...and MEEEE!

You can now send (RED) holiday greeting cards, including my design, which follows the same theme of the (RED) video I made a few months ago.

Merry Christmas too all our American friends, and Happy Christmas to everyone else. ;)

Christmas Crafts

Just call me Lil B Stewart.



Gift boxes, to be filled with I have no idea what.



For 2 year-old niece: A french bulletin board with a matching bag for chalk boards and chalk.





Detail of french bulletin board.



"No-sew" fleece blanket for my niece. You just take 2 pieces of fabric and tie them together on all the sides, but I did sew one side to avoid tickly necks!



Clove orange for that Christmasy smell in the kitchen! Aaahhh so lovely!

ONE fun, ONE run

Hey, I just wanted to make a quick note and give a shout-out to the new visitors coming in from ONE.org. I wish I had some sort of welcome present to give you! If anything, I just want you to know how glad I am that you're interested in ONE and encourage you to get involved. If you haven't already signed the ONE declaration, sign it. It takes like 2 frickin' seconds and it's the least you can do, ya know? You won't get any spam or anything like that, I pwomise.

Check out my "Special Links" section on the right, and check out (RED) or read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Another thing you can do is wear a wristband and show your support. I support (Product)RED as well, so I like to double up:



The (RED) bracelet is just made from the little cloth tags that come on the INSPI(RED) t-shirts from the GAP.


Also of note is a film that ONE supporter Matt Damon is narrating called Running the Sahara.

Excerpts from RunningtheSahara.com's Overview of the Film (via ONE.org):

"The film will be an up-close character-driven documentary that delves deep into the culture of the Sahara through the eyes of three individuals undergoing a life-altering experience. With them, we cross six countries: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya and Egypt. On a daily basis, the film interacts with the locals, accept their hospitality, and learn about their lives and the challenges they face."

"Each runner brings his own unique story and motivations, but all unite around a love for Africa and a profound desire to make a difference in the lives of the people of the Sahara in the best way they know how - by risking their lives running coast-to-coast across the Sahara Desert to prove that the impossible is possible? and in the process bring the viewers into a unique relationship with the Sahara and its people."

Learn more at RunningTheSahara.com.

Another SA masterpiece

The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny

Other people have tried to pass this cartoon off as their own, but I'll have you know it was made by forum members at somethingawful.com, pretty much the best forum community on any of the Internets. As demonstrated herein.

Prayer for the Athlete

Again, it is with nervousness that I post anything of a religious nature. But I couldn't call myself an honest blogger if I shied away from it.

I have always wondered why Christians didn't take more of a hint from Buddhists and Hindus and other yoga-practicing religions, on the idea of the integration of prayer and physical work, exercise and breathing. After all, the bible does say that God "breathed" life into us at creation, and that our bodies are "temples of the Holy Spirit." It only seems natural that we integrate prayer into our everyday physical activities. They are, after all, rituals. In fact, if we are mindful as we do them, then the acts indeed do become prayer themselves.

Mother Teresa said:

"There is always the danger that we may just do the work for the sake of the work. This is where the respect and the love and the devotion come in - that we do it to God, to Christ, and that's why we try to do it as beautifully as possible."

It is with her inspiration and with the inspiration of yoga philosophy, I felt the
need to write a prayer for the athlete:

Dear God,

Thank you for this day
and a healthy body through which
to experience the world and do your will

My body is a gift from God
Lord help me to nourish and protect it
and keep it holy and pure

My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
In prayer I labor every day
In prayer I breathe in and out
In prayer I make love to my spouse
In prayer I endure the pain of the human condition
In prayer I conquer temptations of the flesh

Lord thank you for legs to carry me
And arms to carry each other
Holy Spirit fill me and guide me through this day

Amen.

Security issues for Iraqi schools

The CBS Evening News reported today that to date 171 school professors have been murdered by insurgents and over 2,000 have quit their jobs due to death threats and other security fears. Insurgents have threatened to murder teachers, even bus drivers, and abduct students, forcing many schools to close and the overall attendance to decline.

I had no idea this was going on. Of all places, at least the schools should be safe. At least. Something must be done. But what?

World AIDS Day and 2 of my favorite companies

Google and (RED) have a lot in common. Two great ideas, with fantastic people behind them, brilliantly executed.

That's why I am madly in love with them both. Completely smitten!

Like Bono, I'm an ideas person. I really, really LOVE great ideas. And like me, and like Bono, the people at Google know a great idea when they see one.

That's why it came as no surprise to me that Google endorsed (RED) yesterday for World AIDS Day. I, however, didn't find out about it 'till this morning when I read (Blog)RED because I have a personalized homepage and don't ever see changes on the main Google page.

According to googlified.com (they have a screen grab), "this is the second time Google promotes non-Google products on their homepage."