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February 26, 2009

Reflections on the Oscars...

I didn't do as well as I would have liked, but I got 17 predictions right, however, one that I didn't pick correctly was the prize for Best Picture. I thought Prop 8 was going to push for a surprise finish for MILK, I guess those dogs from the slums of Mumbai were more powerful than I thought they were. I lovedthat Kate Winslet won...she's pretty great. I was watching the interviews with the press after the show and Winslet talked about how her mom won a pickeled pepper contest in her hometown before Christmas and now she won her own contest. I thought that was pretty funny.
P.S. Did you see the Slumdog girl? Not ugly. I heard that she will probably be the next Woody Allen muse, which obviously worked well for Penelope Cruz. Speaking of which, VIVA ESPANA!!! Two years in a row a Spaniard has won an Oscar...in fact, Cruz is the first espanola to win. Que bueno! Check out her time in front of the press:

I think it was a less-than-great year for the movies, with the exception of the Dark Knight. Why, again, was that movie not nominated for Best Picture? At least Heath Ledger was honored...he was great, legendary even.
I was watching with some friends and we all felt that the Hugh Jackman/Beyonce song and dance was pretty horrible. However, the opening of the show was funny and surprisingly entertaining!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 9:28 PM | Comments (0)

February 22, 2009

Robyn Acoustic Style

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 5:29 PM | Comments (0)

Hope for Change

I heard an awesome sermon today by our associate pastor, Greg Johnson, based on Phillipians 4:10-23. It got me thinking about how I live...always trying to heal frustrations and/or anger and/or sadness with whatever will get me through the day. I have been reminded of how often I turn to coping mechanisms instead of Jesus in my quest to live a life honoring God. Paul was in prison a majority of his life, and yet he never stopped looking to the Lord for healing. Peter died a brutal death on a cross, and yet his devotion, albeit had a rocky phase, was true. We American Christians don't know what it's like to suffer like those persecuted under Nero; we still have tough situations though, if not in church, then in our daily lives. Maybe you've lost your job and no one else is hiring. Maybe you're single and tired of going home to a lonely house. Maybe you've been married for 20 years and things aren't near what you had dreamed they would be. Maybe you're a college student about to graduate and have no idea what to do with your life. Maybe your good friend finally lost their two-year battle with Cancer. Maybe you've been to drug treatment programs five times but can't stop the addiction. Maybe you were sexually abused as a child over and over again and are just beginning to deal with that reality. Wanting to fix each of these situations and make them better is normal. We're human beings meant to live in a world with our eyes opened wide to the splendor of God's beauty, and yet we've been brought into a selfish world of tears, hate, sadness, and pain...in a word, hopelessness. We have to sense that things aren't as they should be. I guess the question is, "Where is that devotion that our church fathers had when the going gets tough?"
I think the difference is that we aren't used to sitting, praying and simply hoping for better times. We want to fix it, to take it to the store and get the problem worked out...sometimes, often times, that's not possible. Simply put, we want life to change for the better. Although as believers we know that going out for Martinis, buying that new DVD with all the extras, getting great seats to a Cardinals game, buying swanky shoes or a great bag won't help matters for long, we still buy into the lie. Maybe someday I'll wake up from my "coping cloud" and realize, this is a hard world to live in...it's not gonna change on this side of Heaven. It's time to stop putting so much stock in, as Greg put it, the "If only's..." of life. You know, "If only I got a raise," "If only I could get that well informed doctor," "If only I could get the bad people out of my life;" we all have a solution for dealing with life that doesn't involved Christ. Paul brings awareness of our hope and gives us confidence to move forward with optimism. He encourages with assurance, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Just so you know, "All things," is not about Michael Phelps winning eight gold medals, or Beyonce's triple threat of singing, acting and dancing...IT"S ABOUT ENDURANCE PEOPLE! Despite Paul's situation at the time, being in want, hunger, and having need, he continues to persevere. Paul says that in whatever situation, even in abundance and plenty, his contentment lies in the hope of the riches of God's glory. It is with this same confidence that I choose to live.
My new job has been a blessing beyond what I could have predicted, however, it's been tough. Every week I see people wounded by the fall, hurting themselves and others, some not even aware of their own downfalls, and yet the Gospel is still real. There will be a day when fierce anger will not be a part of one of my kids' lives, I look forward to the day when sexual abuse will not wreck the memories of another kid, I have hope and expectation that another one of my kids will be able to think for themselves intellectually, and not have to rely on other adults to survive. Each of these cases and many, many more have the possibility of being made anew through Christ Jesus. I can't even imagine what purity from the Father looks like, but I know His original intentions were good for all of us, and He longs to make things right, just as we long to be unscathed and complete. Recognizing that living in a fallen world will only be livable when I accept that change and hope are found in Him who provides

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 5:28 PM | Comments (3)

February 18, 2009

And the Oscar Goes To...

Who will they go to?

Here's my own thoughts...

Best Picture- MILK
Actor/Lead Role- Sean Penn, MILK
Should Win: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Actress/Lead Role- Kate Winslet, The Reader
Should Win: Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Actor/Supporting Role- duh...Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Actress/Supporting Role- Penelope Cruz, Vicki Cristina Barcelona
Although I love my Spaniards, Should Win: Viola Davis, Doubt
Best Animated Feature- Wall-E
Best Art Direction- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Cinematography- Slumdog Millionaire
Best Costume Design- Australia
Best Directing- Slumdog Millionaire
Best Documentary- Man on Wire
Best Documentary Short- The Conscience of Nhem En
Best Editing- Slumdog Millionaire
Best Foreign Language- Waltz with Bashir
Best Makeup- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Music (Score)- Slumdog Millionaire
Best Music (Song)- Jai Ho, Slumdog Millinaire
Best Short Film (Animated)- Lavatory Love Story
Best Short Film (Live Action)- New Boy
Best Sound Editing- The Dark Knight
Best Sound Mixing- The Dark Knight
Best Visual Effects- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)- Slumdog Millionaire
Best Writing (Original Screenplay)- MILK

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 8:00 PM | Comments (7)

February 4, 2009

Paul's Boutique Turns 20!

It was on this day 20 years ago that Beastie Boys' legendary album, Paul's Boutique, arrived on shelves and changed the world of hip hop as we know it today. Seriously, the guys sampled so much in their masterpiece of an album that it would be too expensive to make today. Although sampeling is nothing new in today's music world, but back in the late 80s it was just on the horizon. They took a chord from here, 5 words out of the middle of a Romones' song there, and made an album that was way ahead of it's time.
When the album came out everyone was shocked at how musically advanced it was and the innovation it took to produce such a project. There's a reason Rollingstone placed Paul's Boutique at #156 in their list of the top 500 albums of all time!
If only hip hop today could come close to "Shadrach," "Hey Ladies," and "Egg Man." What a great album! Congratulations! Beatie Boys are one of the few bands left for me to see on the road...maybe one day I'll go and hear, "Shadrach, Mishac, Abednego!"

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 9:48 PM | Comments (1)

February 3, 2009

Sweet Chicken Nuggets: Vol. 6

J-Crew Apparently Unaware of Recession

I really like J-Crew, however, they just opened a store in New York that is to be considered "high end" as they say. Jeans can be purchased for $300! Awesome!

PASTE Turns 50

PASTE Magazine just came out with their 50th edition! The Indie magazine features the top 50 moments, in case you're wondering, #50, Paste Magazine publishes it's 50th issue...#1, the first issue of PASTE runs off the printing press...pretty interesting I think.

Kelly Clarkson Breaks Record!

Congratulations to Kelly Clarkson! This past week she broke a record on the Billboard Music Charts for having the highest jump to #1. In the chart's 50 year history no one has ever jump as far as Clarkson did...#97 - #1! P.S. Ironically, the song, My Life Would Suck Without You, kinda sucks.

Cardinals Baseball One Month Away!!!

Oh ya, now that that other sporting event is over, the wait is on till our Red Birds return to the playing field. March 5th will be the first game at Spring Training! Aren't we all ready for another year after last season? One month away!!!

Stuff White People Like!

I work in an office that is 80% African American and many of them are comfortable talking about racial issues out loud, which makes for a fun experience. Last week I had eaten half an apple scone and couldn't eat anymore. I therefore go up front to see if anyone wanted the rest...I couldn't find a taker. Finally, one of the women, who happens to be black, says to me, "A scone? What's that? Is that something white people eat?!" I gave a chuckle and responded with, "I don't know?" Which was true, I didn't know if it was something white people eat. After getting turned down by 4 or 5 black women a white woman walks around the corner and asks, "What are ya'll talking about?" I respond, "It's a scone, you want the rest?" Her response, "Ooh, I love scones! Absolutely!" I guess scones, are indeed, something white people eat.

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 11:38 PM | Comments (2)

Kaldi's Christmas Party!

A few weeks ago Kaldi's had their annual Christmas Party and since I had been there pretty much to whole year, I got to come...it was good times!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 11:19 PM | Comments (2)