This video is incredible. Give it a minute to warm up.

To see more videos like it, check out ThruYou.

When Prop. 8 passed in California in November of 2008, I felt some pretty mixed emotions. On one hand, I was proud of my country and America’s ability to move beyond the deep roots of racism that have colored our history. Early in the primary, I didn’t think Obama could win. I am grateful that he proved me wrong. And he’s proven yet again that anyone can grow up to be The President of the United States.

But on the other hand, Prop. 8 passed the same day in California. It deeply saddened and angered me as a gay man and an American citizen. It’s incredible that a whole class of citizens can have their rights stripped from them by a simple majority vote. “We voted. You don’t count.”

I am still very sore with this issue. Yesterday, the NYTimes wrote about Prop. 8 Maps, a mash-up of Prop. 8 donors and Google Maps. I looked at it for about an hour last night. I clicked on people’s bubbles and read their names, their occupations, and the amount they donated. I just couldn’t help but wonder why my happiness was so threatening to them. They’re donations felt so personal. My relationship with my boyfriend is so threatening to these complete and total strangers living literally across the country that they were willing to donate hundred and thousands of dollars.

Anti-gay legislation has reached hysterical new heights: it’s complete maddness when a grandmother cannot adopt her own granddaughter.

Anyway, the analysis of Prop. 8 that I read after is passed said that it didn’t threaten the marriage of the couples who were married before Prop. 8 passed. But now Ken Starr wants to nullify those marriages. The world is full of war, disease, hungry, strife, pollution, and ruin. If anything, the world needs more love and happiness. It’s unbelievable that Ken Starr and his friends would advocate the destruction and annihilation of other people’s love, happiness, and marriage. This isn’t about an abstract concept of marriage and the definition of one combination of eight letters. It’s about husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, parents and children. Kenn Starr and his friends want to break the bonds of love that hold us together as a family, a people, and a nation.

I would just like to urge people to be their own advocate. If you see something wrong, say something. Sign a petition. Donate your time, skills or money. But don’t wait for someone else to save the day.

As Edmund Burke said “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

Honestly, I’ve heard worse songs and seen worse videos, but Mark Gormley underlines the importance of stage presense in a way that I have never encountered before. He is so awkward it makes me uncomfortable.

Mark Gormley doesn’t have any of the charm BJ Snowden exudes.

Speaking of charm, let’s talk about “A Cause Des Garcons” by Yelle. Yelle is my newest favorite French rapper — sorry, MC Solaar. This song is so infectious and I could watch the Tecktonik dancers all day.

Okay. This is amazing.

1) “For the blast blasted blubber beyond all believable bounds…” Is this guy like the archetype for Kent Brockman, or what? Damn the blogs, I’m miss old-school journalism.

2) Who thought dynamiting a whale carcass would clean up the mess as opposed to merely spread the mess around?

3) I love that people have to run from falling pieces of whale.

I found three great bands this week.

First up is School of Seven Bells. I love the band’s name. The rhythm of “Iamundernodisguise” mesmerizes me.

From Alpinisms:

“Iamundernodisguise”

Ladyhawke dusts off the musical idioms of the 80s and shows us why we loved them again.

From Ladyhawke:

“Crazy World”

Photo by thepiratehat

She Keeps Bees might sound a lot like Cat Power at first blush, but She Keeps Bees is definitely worthy of more attention than that. Nests is full of great bluesy songs, especially the super sexy “Gimme.”

From Nests:

“Gimme”