I bid thee farewell...

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“I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” 33 And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” 34 And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

Nature, my friends, is straight crazy.

An undersea volcano erupts sending plumes of steam, ash and smoke up to 100 metres into the air, on 18 March 2009 off the coast of Nuku'Alofa, Tonga.(BBC, photo taken by Dana Stephenson/Getty Images)

"Yeah, there'll be peace on my soul one day...reconciled I'll be on my way."

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons [1] of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Song of the Week

Happy Holi

Hey UCLA fans and rest of the PAC 10...

"I am all the days you choose to ignore"

1.5 million

200,000

650,000

5,000

"11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not repay man according to his work? "
-Proverbs 24:11-12

I got Swagga' and a Sore Throat...

This past weekend I was heeeeeeeeeeeeeeckka sick. For three days I layed on the couch, hydrated, probably destroyed half a rain forest with the amount of tissue I used, and lived on a strict diet chicken noodle soup, oatmeal, and carrots and apples. I slept and watched alot of TV. Being sick also gave me the excuse to watch 4hrs straight of Sunday nights Grammy Awards. On any other year I would have settled for staring at a wall before watching the Grammy's but this year... Radiohead, Coldplay, Paul McCartney, and Robert Plant were performing...Heck of a lineup right? I thought so...and on went my night. Here are some of the observations I made in between sips of a cranberry juice

Though being a Coldplay fan and already knowing this...I was again blown away with how well Coldplay play's live events...and more re-blown away by how charming Chris Martin is every time he talks. I swear if Chris Martin and I sat down to a cup of Refresh Starbucks Tazo Tea and he told me moon doesn't exist I might just take his word for it.





Bono is a crazy old man




Even though I try really hard tell my self the opposite...that Estelle song with Kanye is the catchiest little song I've ever heard

Even though I wanted to applaud MIA while performing on her due date...I was also was honestly holding my breath that we would not see the first on-stage birth. I've never seen anybody so pregnant in my life...

I give in...Paul McCartney is AWESOME...Coachella here I...

I'm sorry Taylor Swift and Miley fan's...I'm just really not sooold on this gig...

I also can't stand the Jonas Brothers. I'm sick in tired about hearing about how young and talented they are. Ok you got the young part. The talent though.....there really is none!! Almost every time I see them perform they're singing over a recording and most of the time not playing their instruments.Usually talent has something to do with DOING SOMETHING WELL if at least DOING SOMETHING AT ALL. Until I can actually see them performing live music all on their own...I'm won't be sold. Then again..I probably still wont be.



Stevie Wonder is the man

Al Green has a high voice

Radiohead has the best live performances maybe ever...they showed that last night. It was really weird seeing them on TV though...Let alone at the Grammy's.




"Sweet Caroline" makes me sooooo happy. I was literally singing the song with Neil last night during the performance. Sweet Caroline!!!!! BA BA BA!!!

Robert Plant has an incredible voice for being almost completely deaf,extremely old now, and for living through the Led Zep days...(most of you know what I mean by this.)



I've come to the conclusion that I love hip hop. hate the content, love the sound.

Speaking of which...How does Lil' Wayne make his voice sound like it does

By the way...Jennifer Hudson gots pipes! ahem...she sings really well.

Woooooooooa!

"Don't think twice it's alright"

I love browsing through music photography. Here are a handful of my favs.





Dylan



Maya & Santi



Régine Chassagne of Arcade Fire



the rest of the Arcade Fire



Santogold watching John Lennon



The Walkmen



Sigur Ros

Thousands of people have lost their livelihoods, possessions, homes and family members…everything. Please help us help Gaza. (from the UNRWA)

"17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. 19 Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 10:17-19)

"Is it a dream? Is it a lie? I think I’ll let you decide."

It's amazing how tomorrow's inauguration has become such a big deal. I never remember really anybody talking, or for that matter, actually getting excited about a presidential inauguration ceremony in the past elections. It is a kind of big deal though, tomorrow...is basically the first day of the Obama era, which means all the marketing campaigns, posters,Arcade Fire performances, and well...the talk is all over. Its time to see if Obama actually walks what he talks...and if America can really come together.

One thing is for sure in the coming years...things are going to get reeeal interesting.They're will be many instances and opportunities for us as individuals to stand up and for what we stand for. Politics will not always and never will be the complete answer to the problems and injustices of our world, but what we need to realize is that plugging into the political system, individual citizens standing up for what they stand for and believe in by plugging into that system,can get things done.If people want change in Darfur, in American civil rights, in a flawed system, in Gaza, they're are going to have to be willing to work for that change themselves, whether that's using the system or creating their own.

Obama won't be the Messiah. He does, however, have the opportunity to do great things in the years to come. Only time will tell...

Thanks everyone for praying for my family and I during the flood. The water is officially back where it's suppose to be thankfully. My last couple days of vacation home were spent helping the fam clean up our property, which was a huge blessing for my family (having an extra body around is always a plus). Though the flood is over, prayer is still needed. In wake of the flood there will probably be a pretty hefty financial burden on my parents. Pray for my parents trust in the Lord's faithfulness, pray that "the bank" and FEMA would should mercy and understanding, and finally pray that this whole circumstance whether to the extreme best outcome or the extreme worst outcome...would bring my family closer to God and strengthen their faith.

"If it keeps on rainin' the levee's gonna break"

This week I traveled home to my humble abode in Snohomish,WA . It's great to be back to spend time with friends and family that I haven't seen in over a year. What has been unwelcome news though for my family and I is the fact that we are on the verge of the biggest flood in Washington state history. I spent my first day back ready-ing some goat and chicken temporary living assignments...this is not what I expected coming home. I ask for your prayers...my family has gone through a lot this year and this flood could mean more financial burden. I will keep you all posted...

Top 10 Sounds of the Year: A Review

1. Jose Gonzalez" In Our Nature"
2. M.I.A "Kala"
3. Beirut "The Flying Club Cup"
4. Coldplay "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" and "Prospekt's March"
5. Sigur Ros "Takk..."
6. She & Him "Volume One"
7. Pearl Jam "Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003)"
8. Cat Power "The Greatest"
9. Radiohead "In Rainbows"
10. Bob Dylan "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan"

1. Jose Gonzalez "In Our Nature"

Well, here it is, number 1. "In Our Nature" has been a favorite soundtrack to my everyday roamings and drives around Riverside the past few months. Jose Gonzalez, in my opinion has one of the most soothing yet radical voices in the biz. I love his writing and his folksy multi-cultural sound. My favorite quality about his music though is that I can relax, get inspired, or if need be…get pumped in listening to "In Our Nature." His music is simple yet make’s some strong statements…just like me…haha…well…you get the idea.

1. Teardrop
2. Killing for Love
3. Down the Line

2. M.I.A “Kala”


This album was one of my favorite finds of the year. Yes, Maya can get racy at times and you should listen with wisdom, but I’ve never listened to any musician who is so blunt and honest about the reality of social and political issues around the world.

This album has probably one of my top 3 favorite songs of the year, “Bird Flu” (maybe we’ll have to have a top songs of 2008 list later). Whenever I hear this song, it brings me back to the hills of Northern India; we did a lot of dancing there with the local’s haha. It’s probably the most lively song I’ve ever came across. If you’re not one for dancing, you will be after one listen of this song. “Hussel” paints an interesting perspective on our current “illegal-immigration debate” and “20 dollar” is one of the best depictions of 3rd world injustices and life-style I’ve ever heard in a song. “Paper Planes” is the song you’ve probably heard of. Either way…if you’re one for dancing around your apartment at random hours of the night, love different sounding music, love world beats, and extremely bright colors…M.I.A is an artist you must get to know.



1. Bird Flu
2. 20 Dollar
3. Hussel