Insta-ghetto-gram

I don't have an iPhone. I don't even have the iPod touch that has a camera (it was $70 more but now I think it might be worth it), yet I wanted to join the Instagram cult. What's a girl to do?

Ghetto rig it.

Here's what I do:

1. Take picture with terrible phone camera. I have a Palm Pre, I like it but the camera leaves much to be desired. Two words: fixed focus. Ugh. An incredibly cute baby counteracts the terribleness of the camera. If you do not have one, one will be provided for you. Wait, no, that's something else entirely.

2. Email photo to myself from the phone.

3. Check email on iPod touch. This is usually done at home, since that's where I have WiFi.

4. Instagram it up!







If you want to follow me on Instagram, my username is OhBuoyancy.

On (not) stealing music

There are countless ways we justify it: The artist doesn't get much from CD sales anyway, all of the money goes to the record companies and production costs. They make their money from live shows and other merchandise, not CD sales (do you even buy the other merchandise or go to shows? For all of the artists you like?). It's like when your friend copied their tape for you or like making a mix tape (who ever said that was legal?)

It's not about laws for me and it's not about where the money goes. It's about doing what's right. Over the last year I've started to feel strong convictions over a few things*, one of the being my music collection, most of which was acquired by less than ethical means. So I deleted it. To be honest, I kept a few things that are OOP (out of print) or that I didn't see available for purchase online from a US seller.

I've purged my music collection a few times before, like when I stopped listening to any music that was not influenced by Christ. This time was much more drastic; I went from 737 albums (yes, albums) to 138. Actually 138 includes a few that I've purchased since the purge. My collection previously wouldn't fit on my old 60GB iPod, it is now only 7.37GB. Wait, that's weird, I had 737 albums and now my music takes up 7.37GB.

Deleting most of my music has really helped me realize what music I really enjoy the most, what I miss the most. I made a list of what I had and what I really wanted to buy but now I don't even think I want all of that, I just don't miss some of it like I thought I would.

Here's what I'm lovin' these days and links to an album by them:
JJ Heller, I just bought her newest album Deeper
Mason Jennings
The Civil Wars
The Innocence Mission
Denison Witmer
Page France
Sleeping at Last
Carlos Whittaker
Brown Feather Sparrow

I'm really missing Ray LaMontagne too, but I haven't bought any yet.

It's hard, but Pandora helps.

(*) "a few things" also includes eating pork and shellfish, what I wear, and a third thing that I'll write about once I've figured it out.

I love reading blogs

I love reading, I also love reading blogs.

I've noticed lately that my taste in the blogs I enjoy has changed quite a bit; I think it has to do with becoming a mom. I had previously noticed that most of my readers (or commenters, at least) were male and most of the blogs I read were what could be considered "guy blogs." My Google Reader was filled with blogs like Gizmodo, Lifehacker, WiiNintendo, and Mental Floss, plus some personal blogs, and quite a few food blogs (okay, a ton of food blogs). While I still subscribe to some of those, I've noticed lately that the majority of the blogs I read are either "mommy blogs" or blogs about simplifying your home/life.

Since my tastes have changed since I've last highlighted some blogs I enjoy (at least I think I've done this before), I wanted to give an updated highlights post.

Blogs I love:

• Soul-Junk: If you've never heard the music of Soul-Junk, you need to now. I've been reading this blog for years, it is filled with music, artwork, and thoughts on Bible scriptures. The Biblical posts remind me of the posts I wrote for my first public blog, Farewell To Tomorrow.


• Young House Love: I started reading this blog thanks to my friend Ashlyn, it is written by a young couple with a love for DIY home-makeovers and decorating. I'm pretty sure Shawn is tired of my starting sentences with, "on the Young House Love blog...


• Small Notebook Blog: This is one of many simple living/home tips blogs I enjoy.


• Smaller Living: Ditto.


• Simple Mom: and again.


• Mindful Momma: Ditto, with an emphasis on green living.


• Lifehack: Basic life tips, organization, getting things done, being focused, being happy. Not a mommy blog.


• Nat the Fat Rat: A personal blog, a bit mommy blog and bit random. I found this blog thanks to my friend Sara, whose blog is...


• The Sara Ochs Blog: I'd say Sara's blog is mostly a mommy blog, her posts always make me laugh, or cry, but mostly laugh.


• Inspired to Action: Tips for moms from a Christian perspective, though I think this blog can be very useful for those who are not moms as well.


• Passionate Homemaking: I think the title pretty much sums this one up, it's another simple living/homemaking blog. This one features more food posts than the others.


• Smitten Kitchen: Speaking of food, Smitten Kitchen is my favorite food blog. Not only are there tasty recipes but the photos are absolutely amazing!

What blogs have you been reading lately?

Notebook?

I love this!

Noteboek from Evelien Lohbeck on Vimeo.

Rock Square Butts

Matchmaker, matchmaker

What would you do if you saw someone you knew on match.com? An ex? Someone you went to school with?

One night Amy and I were browsing match for just these types and find them. Amy finds an ex and I find this guy I went to school with.
During my first stint at GCCC there was a guy in my radio classes, JP we'll call him, 'cause that's his name. JP liked attention I guess, he talked with a fake Australian accent, we all knew it was face, yet he still went on insisting it was real. Occasionally, when he would slip up and not accentuate words enough, or at all, and someone would call him on it, he would just say he'd been in the states so long that the accent comes and goes. Then we would talk about him behind his back, good times. Don't get me wrong though, other than this weird reach for attention, he could be a really nice guy when you spoke with him one-on-one.

Maybe a couple weeks later after finding him on match.com, Amy and I are on a quest for pizza and stop at Gumby's, which seemed to be the only pizza place open after 10 on a Friday night, weird. We go in and I immediately recognized the guy behind the counter and he clearly recognizes me because he begins to speak in a well out-of-practice fake Australian accent. Gumby's just has a tiny lobby—it's not a dine-in restaurant, so we're cornered. I don't let on that I know him and don't have an opportunity to say to Amy, "this is that guy." So he slips up on a word and Amy calls him out, he shrugs it off. I'm having such a hard time trying not to laugh. When I get the chance, I text Amy and it's good I did because she thought he looked familiar and almost asked him how she knew him.

So we leave and we're both cracking up as we walk back to the car. Of course, we're talking about him and there he is standing behind the building talking to a coworker. I don't think he heard us and the laughter resumed with added hilarity once we were safely in the car.

The Pros

Much bigger room with a full size bed.
Only one roommate.
My own bathroom with a tub, not just a tiny shower stall. I've never had a bathroom all to myself.
Ceiling fans.
We haven't used the A/C or heat at all since I've been here.
Windows that open.
I'm on the top floor, which is also the second floor.
No elevators, I hate elevators.
My own secure wireless network (no special login for the internet so FON works).
Having more friends close by. Amy is less than 10 minutes away, that's closer than when we both lived in Panama City.
Quiet.
A lot of walking - campus is huge, I need the exercise.
Parking is a beast - this is a pro because it's my only complaint and if that's so than I'm doing pretty good. Plus I think it's getting better or maybe I was getting there too early.
I like being an English Lit major.
I had to choose a minor and had a hard time choosing but went with history. I'm currently taking 20th Century Russia and finding it very interesting.
Beautiful.
Winter exists!

Fortunate Accidents

I took a wrong turn today on my way back home (after signing a lease in Tally!). I knew the road I was on would still take me where I needed to go so I didn't turn around and I was glad. Traveling down this road was so serene and beautiful; it was through one of those few hilly areas of Florida that make you forget you're in Florida as the road goes up and down and all you can see is trees. It was also at that perfect time of day where the winter sun is in just the right place to give everything an amber glow. On one part of the road where there's a small bridge over a creek there was a group of people off to the side of the bridge around a bonfire that appeared to be roasting marshmallows; very peaceful.

Many people would be annoyed that they took a wrong turn and let it ruin their whole day through their attitude. Months ago I may have been the same way, but it's so much easier to not let things like that be a big deal. This turned out to be a good thing. I was being annoyed by a car on the interstate who kept going faster, slower, faster, slower (cruise control is there for a reason, use it!) which is how I ended up distracted and took an exit that looked similar to mine, but was one too early. Because I didn't let taking a wrong turn upset me it ended up being a fortunate accident. Not only did I get away from a bad driver, I also go to see another beautiful part of God's creation.

Christmas Photo Essays

Check out these Christmas photo essays from TIME.

Crazy Christmas Traditions - Photo Essays - TIME.

It Happened on Christmas Day - Photo Essays - TIME.

Christmas Sing-Along

Ah Christmas music, some love it and would listen to it all year long, some can't stand it, some are indifferent.

I like Christmas music but only around Christmas time. When the radio stations and stores start playing it before Thanksgiving I find it a bit annoying.

That being said, I do have 16.7 hours of Christmas music in my iTunes library and wanted to share just a few of my favorites with you. (please note there is audio embedded in this post, if you are reading this in a RSS reader you may need to click over).

1.
[audio:http://ohbuoyancy.net/wp-content/uploads/08-the-friendly-beasts.mp3|titles=The Friendly Beasts|artists=Sufjan Stevens]
Sufjan Stevens - The Friendly Beasts : This song is just cute and sweet and I love it. Johnny Cash's version (titled "The Gifts They Gave") is also worth a listen.

2.
I don't think I ever watched a full episode of The O.C. but I know it had some good music and the Christmas album is great with tracks such as:
[audio:http://ohbuoyancy.net/wp-content/uploads/01-the-christmas-song.mp3|titles=The Christmas Song|artists=Ravonettes] Ravonettes - The Christmas Song and
[audio:http://ohbuoyancy.net/wp-content/uploads/05-rock-of-ages.mp3|titles=Rock of Ages|artists=Ben Kweller]

3.
This album has its good and bad but it's the best of the "Happy Christmas" series if only for this track alone.
[audio:http://ohbuoyancy.net/wp-content/uploads/08-do-you-hear-what-i-hear.mp3|titles=Do You Hear What I Hear?|artists=Copeland] Copeland - Do You Hear What I Hear?

4.
While I like Conor Oberst, there are only two Bright Eyes albums I can tolerate, Digital Ash in a Digital Urn and "A Christmas Album."
[audio:http://ohbuoyancy.net/wp-content/uploads/06-little-drummer-boy.mp3|titles=Little Drummer Boy|artists=Bright Eyes] Bright Eyes - Little Drummer Boy

5.
Christmas classics to most people bring up thoughts of Frank Sinatra or Bing Crosby, but for me it's Dolly. This is the Christmas music I grew up with.
[audio:http://ohbuoyancy.net/wp-content/uploads/07-hard-candy-christmas.mp3|titles=Hard Candy Christmas|artists=Dolly Parton] Dolly Parton - Hard Candy Christmas


6.
[audio:http://ohbuoyancy.net/wp-content/uploads/3-11-happy-christmas-war-is-over.mp3|titles=Happy Christmas (war is over)|artists=John Lennon] John Lennon - Happy Xmas (war is over) I don't know what it is about this song, but I love it.

7.
I just realized there are several volumes of Christmas with the Rat Pack, the one I have is mostly Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. I just got it last year, but it's already a staple.
[audio:http://ohbuoyancy.net/wp-content/uploads/20-a-marshmallow-world-live.mp3|titles=A Marshmallow World|artists=Frank Sinatra] Christmas with the Rat Pack - A Marshmallow World

Bonus: [audio:http://ohbuoyancy.net/wp-content/uploads/05-christmas-song.mp3|titles=The Christmas Song|artists=Denison Witmer]

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs? Or does Christmas music make your ears bleed? Let me know in the comments.

For a full list of the Christmas music in my iTunes library read on

An Asthmatic Christmas

Check out Asthmatic Kitty's Christmas page.



It has Christmas goodies from Sufjan and others including an e-card, games, ornaments to color, videos, and 8-bit (Nintendoesque) Sufjan Christmas ring tones.

New My Brightest Diamond video

via Stereogum.

Very creative, I love it.

Multimedia Something-or-other

Ah, it's cute. I love octopi!

Multimedia Monday: Me in a mask

I don't remember where I came across this site, and sure there are other similar sites out there, but there's something special about FaceYourManga.com. First of all, I can't decide if the title even makes sense, "FakeYourManga.com | Shake Yourself!" Um, okay! The rest of the site follows suit. It appears that they've used good ol' babelfish for their translation into English instead of a professional. Not that that's a bad thing, it's an appealing quirk that I find quite amusing.

FaceYourManga lets you create your own manga style avatar which you can then purchase for what I think comes out to be less than $3US. Right now the only size I see is 15cm x 15cm that you print yourself, but it makes it sound like there will be other sizes available. You can also view avatars created by others on the site and there is a voting system that currently seems to serve absolutely no function. I gave myself 5 stars 3 times on the same avatar, there were no fireworks. Maybe once the "Community" and "MyFace" portions of the site are running voting will have some significance. It's still fun for now though.

It's also amusing that a cat is the only mask, the males should at least get a dog mask. I mean, come on. It's very Holly Golightly though, don't you think:


And why do only males get the thumbs up? I don't know, but they sure seem to like using it, just check the gallery.

If you make one, show it to me! Either upload it online somewhere and post the link in the comments or you can email it to me (AvantReeseATgmailDOTcom) and I'll upload it for you.

Multimedia Tuesday: Making You A Mix

(This post is best viewed here)

Those who follow me on twitter already knew, this week Multimedia Monday had to be Multimedia Tuesday. I'm having some medical issues and found out yesterday I'm going to have to have more tests done, so I wasn't really in the mood for posting. If I hadn't already started this post before this week I probably wouldn't make it at all because it's really hard to think about anything right now. I have reviews I need to write and emails I need to answer, but those things probably won't get done until this weekend at the earliest. And if you're the sender of one of the emails I need to answer or if I haven't responded to your comment on this site, I'm really sorry!

Anyway, on with the show!

Sorry if you expected this week's multimedia post to be about the Olympics, it is not. I am not afraid to be the first one to admit that as a kid the Olympics were my very least favorite thing on television. They took over everything, all of the good shows were put off and postponed, leaving me with nothing to watch while I ate my happy meal on a bed sheet thrown on the floor no more than two feet from the TV.

So while I did enjoy this photo essay of the opening ceremonies on TIME.com, I'm not going to let the Olympics take over another multimedia opportunity.

This week I've made you (yes, you!) a mix. This is something I hope to do again in the future, so please let me know what you think. All of the tracks in this mix are songs from albums released in 2008 that I've been enjoying lately, for a full and regularly updated list of my favorite albums of 2008 check out my list on Lists of Bests. If there's an album you think should be represented here but is not, let me know what I'm missing in the comments.

Multimedia Monday: Shark Week!

You should already be aware that this year's "Shark Week" on Discovery channel started yesterday. In honor of this great event (yes, I love Shark Week!) I'll be posting a few times this week about the shows that air. This multimedia Monday is all about the Shark Week website, it has videos, games, pictures, interactive guides; let's just say this post is very geeky but very awesome nonetheless.

Anyone living in Florida, or even someone that visits it often has to be somewhat interested in sharks. I mean, how could you not be given the stats?
I'm a little disappointed this chart doesn't have 2007. While 2007 was supposedly a low year for shark attacks, Florida had 32, highest in the world, followed by Hawai'i, which had seven. That's a big difference.

While I don't play many online games, Discovery keeps advertising their "critically acclaimed" Shark Runners game so I had to play it to see what all the hype was about. The goal is to track down sharks and collect data on them, but the cool thing is is that it is using real sharks and their real movements, taking advantage of GPS tracking. But then when I got to the part of the site where I realize that the game is going on all the time and it's going to email me alerts giving a certain amount of time for me to log back in a do something, I decided this was something I didn't want to get into. If you want to try it out, let us know what you think in the comments.

I did try some other games, though some of them aren't really games, like voting for the coolest shark? I guess voting is a game for some people...I actually prefer other games on discovery.com that are not part of Shark Week, like Life or Death: Lost at Sea. Basically you're given sets of three items to choose from and you have to choose the right items that will keep you alive, it's tricky.

While Discovery does have great pictures on the site, like this one:

if you want something high enough resolution for a wallpaper or if you want a shark screensaver, NationalGeographic is your best bet.

The best parts of the website are the interactive features, like the dive, and the pictures. But really, I think the site could have been better. I especially don't like that they don't have an option to embed their videos (though the videos are great), and the commercials before them are extremely loud compared to the actual video.

As for the shows though, what I've seen so far is awesome. I love MythBusters anyway and the Shark Week Special that aired last night was not to be missed (if you didn't see it, it airs again Wednesday). See a clip of the robotic shark they created here.

I'm also looking forward to Dirty Jobs tomorrow night. Mike thinks they should have monkey week.

For more Shark Week, see the official Discovery.com site.

Multimedia Monday: Missed

I missed multimedia Monday yesterday, so here are some things you may have missed.

John Mayer had a TV show, appropriately titled "John Mayer has a TV Show." Watch John Mayer talk to his fans undercover in a bear suit, discuss country and hip-hop music, and talk about boobies. (while it is censored for cable, it's still on the PG-13 side)

John Mayer Has A TV Show (VH1 )
by Cehcw

While you may know that actress Scarlett Johansson released a Tom Waits cover album, you may have missed the fact that it's actually pretty good. And that's coming from a trained vocalist (you may have missed that I'm a trained—or as we say, tamed—vocalist as well, bonus!) who is very critical of fellow female singers. Listen to "Anywhere I Lay My Head" here.

You've probably heard it a thousand times without even realizing it, the Wihelm Scream is probably the most commonly used sound effect. Here's a compilation:


And now, the final and most fantastic thing you may have missed. There is now an official release date for Woven Hand's upcoming album, "Ten Stones." September 9 it is!

You're thrilled I can tell. More info and a song on the Sounds Familyre blog.

Multimedia Monday: PSA-Water

I've actually been meaning to write about the water crisis for several months, but have put it off repeatedly. Today I found this video on Virb°, it's a public service announcement from Charity:Water, that puts everyday Americans in the situation (to an extent, that is) that many in Africa face daily; it pushed me to make this Multimedia Monday's post on water. (If you're viewing this post in a feed reader, click over to see the video.)

Other videos, photos, and media on the Charity:Water website are worth your time as well.


One of the things that I wanted to post when I originally decided to post about the water crisis was this photo essay from TIME, which includes photographs from the book Blue Planet Run: The Race to Provide Safe Drinking Water to the World. Right now you can download the book for free, in pdf form, from that Amazon page. Though, if you can afford to, you can purchase the book from Charity:Water and $70 of the purchase goes to the charity.


While Charity:Water is a great organization, I know more, and feel more strongly about giving to Blood:Water Mission (yes, the charity started by members of Jars of Clay). Blood:Water exists to provide sustainable water sources in Africa by building wells with emphasis on reducing the HIV and AIDS epidemic. Check out the site for information on what they've already done, what they're doing now, and how you can help.

Multimedia Monday: Parkour

Parkour or l'art du déplacement, translated as "the art of displacement" is an activity in which participants or "traceurs" perform daring moves to get from one place to another. They use a combination of gymnastics and martial arts in what often resembles the stunts in chase scenes of action movies. Now that description may make it hard to view parkour as a form of art, which is why you have to see it.


There's something special about viewing these stunts as still images as opposed to live action; I think it adds a certain tranquility and really shows that it is an art. Check out the rest of this photo essay from TIME. You can see that the traceurs take their art seriously planning out the moves and noting precautions they need to take.

Of course there is also some pretty awesome live action videos of parkour online.

parkour from dave keissar on Vimeo.

Though do be aware when searching for these videos that you will find some pretty lame ones as well. Actually, you'll find mostly lame ones on video sharing sites, but do a google and you'll find some good parkour sites like American Parkour.

More info about parkour on Wikipedia.

I used to be into freestyle walking, which is somewhat related to parkour, anyone remember that craze?

Multimedia Monday: You, Me, Dancing

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Watch this, then go to WheretheHellisMatt.com for more videos and to read the story behind them. (I must thank Joshua Longbrake for bringing Matt back to my attention.)

I would love to do something like this. Come to think of it, I would do pretty much anything involving travel if someone paid my expenses. Anyone need an experienced writer to travel the world writing, photographing, and videographing her experiences?

Now the song this makes me think of, Los Campesinos - You! Me! Dancing


There's no way I could have a "dancing" post without mentioning Brandtson's "Nobody Dances Anymore," which spawned many fan-created videos.

What gets you dancing?