RIP Michael Jackson

So the amazing performer Michael Jackson passed away yesterday. I feel a little strange about it, but mostly nostalgic. I think it's a shame that he passed away, living such a "painful" life, despite being successful on the surface. I'm sad I never got to see him in concert as I've always wanted to. Anyway, I'm just going to post a clip of something I thought was pretty cool about him too: he was a master beat boxer! A lot of people focus on his singing and dancing, but this part of his art was pretty cool too. Say what you will about his crazy persona, the man was musically talented. I hope one day we find out what the hell went on in his life and what made him kinda mentally unhealthy. There's this really great clip of him beat boxing for Oprah, but it seems the harpo team has removed them :(



Update: found the video on google videos:

Michael Jackson Beatbox

"stay here forever" -Jewel

I think this song is so cute and catchy! Jewel just posted it on her web site, saying it's a new song she's been working on while she was in Los Angeles. I've transcribed the lyrics below:



"Stay Here Forever"
Been staring at the ceiling
Laying here dreamin
Wastin the day a-way
World's flying by our window outside
But hey baby, that's okay-ay

This feels so right, it can't be wrong
So far as I can see where you wanna go
Baby, I'll do anything

Chorus:
Cause if you wanna go, baby let's go
If you wanna rock, I'm ready to roll
And if you wanna slooow down
We can slow down together
If you wanna walk, baby let's walk
Have a little kiss, have a little talk
We don't gotta leave at all
We can stay here forever
Lay here forever
Ooohhh

If you wanna see that Italian tower (?) leanin
Then baby we can leave right now
If that's too far, we can head in the car
And take a little trip around town
They say that California
Is nice and warm this time of year
Baby say the word and we'll just disappear

Chorus:
Cause if you wanna go, baby let's go
If you wanna rock, I'm ready to roll
And if you wanna sloooow down
We can slow down together
If you wanna walk, baby let's walk
Have a little kiss, have a little talk
We don't gotta leave at all
We can lay here forever
Stay here forever
Oooh!

Bridge:
Take me for a whirl
Just a boy and a girl
Lettin go of it all
Holdin onto one another
Or there's a whole world to discover
Right here under the covers

Chorus:
Cause if you wanna go, baby let's go
Or if you wanna rock, I'm ready to roll
If you wanna sloooow down,
We can slow down together
If you wanna walk, baby let's walk
Have a little kiss, have a little talk
Oh we don't gotta leave at all
We can stay here forever
Lay here forever, oooh
Let's stay here forever
Oooohhh mmmmm
Oohh
Oh

California Supreme Court upholds Proposition 8

I know many many blogs have analyzed the Court's decision that came down today. Click here to download the Court's 185 page opinion. I haven't read through it much. But from what I gather, the court made a sound decision given the support the parties presented to the justices. :(

I don't have much to say that is different from the many many people who have already commented. I DO want to express how while I'm sad about the holding, I can't blame the judges for their opinion. They could only go with what the law allows them to do and they did that. They considered each side's opinion and then made a conclusion based on precedence and the law. It shouldn't have any reflection on whether or not the judges are for or against same-sex marriage. Many people are expressing how disappointed they are in the judges, but I don't think people should be disappointed in them. The judges made the decision once before to uphold same-sex marriage (please see In re Marriage and the opinion of the case that prompted Proposition 8 to be on the ballot!), so it's not like they are explicitely against the idea. But it would have taken a very compelling argument to convince the judges to allow for an overturn of a voted initiative to amend the California Constitution. It was essentially a very slim chance the judges would (radically) hold otherwise.

I also don't agree with those who are saying things like "Shame on California. I thought California was above this / further than this / etc." Well obviously it isn't; otherwise Proposition 8 would never have been passed in the first place.

I think rather than blame the judges, we should educate people about the issues (like it's not a preference? the world won't end, children will not become immoral, it's not "Holy Matrimony" that people seek, but rather EQUAL RIGHTS that "marriage" [the legal term] provides) and eventually get people to support a new initiative in the future to "amend" the Constitution.

Jewel @ the Roxy, hosted by Perez Hilton

So Jewel teamed up with Perez Hilton this past Mother's Day to throw a special CD release party for Lullaby. It was super cool because it was at the friggin Roxy!!! I believe the last time she played the Roxy was something like 1996. Needless to say, I was ecstatic for the show. I got there about 1.5 hours early and was among the first 20 people or so. We ended up about 3 persons back from the stage. I'm still uploading videos, but here is the setlist and a few photos.

Setlist:

01. Somewhere Over The Rainbow
02. Near You Always
03. Passing Time
04. Last Dance Rodeo
05. Everything Breaks
06. Carnivore
07. Down So Long
08. Sometimes It Be That Way
09. Stephenville, TX
10. Hands
11. Life Uncommon
12. Circle Song
13. Cowboy's Lament
14. Raven
15. Shape Of You
16. Rosy & Mick
17. Good Day
18. I Do
19. Standing Still
20. intuition
21. Foolish Games
22. You Were Meant For me
23. Who Will Save Your Soul
24. Angel Standing By
25. Chime Bells

unknown flower

My mom asked me to take photos of these flowers she has. She doesn't even know what kind they are, but she told me they only bloom once a year! So yeah ... they're pretty big and colorful.