list #23: happy things

Happy things I've experienced this week:

1.  Splitscreen: A love story.  This video was shot entirely with a Nokia cellphone. It makes me want to go out and be more creative. (Thanks to Danielle for letting me know about it.)

2.  This year, the American Cancer Society has had some of the biggest names in art and entertainment join together to help create a world with less cancer and more birthdays, including Justin Beiber, Lady Antebellum and Jack Black (LOVE his video), to name a few.  I'm honoured that ACS has also invited me to be one of the judges of their Create More Birthdays Contest & Sweepstakes -- something which, having lost two friends to cancer in the last two years (one of them my sweet friend Jen), I can surely get behind.  (To be clear, I'm fully donating my time to participate.)  If you're in the United States and make music or art (as a singer, musician, artist, photographer, etc.), they're inviting you to submit your work, interpreting the theme "create more birthdays."  If you win, you'll have the opportunity to have your work showcased on a national scale.

If this sounds like something you'd like to participate in, read more about it here and submit your work here.

3. As you know, I've got travel on the brain these days, and the playlist that I made for July reflects this.  It's the weirdest playlist I've made in a while, but also one of my favourite -- it features music from Scarlett Johannsen (who knew she was a singer?), famous Kenyan band Yunasi, and of course, Digital Underground (because why the heck not?). I loved putting it together, I hope you enjoy it as well.

4.  And speaking of travel, I'm particularly loving my friend Ernest's thoughts on "what is past is prologue."  Read his words, and I guarantee you'll start daydreaming about romantic times in far-away places as well.

5.  And speaking of great writing, please read these words by my friend Jenijen.  Jen lost her father last week, and her outlook on his time with her is so heartwarming -- really -- that it may totally transform your view on life and death.

6.  Finally, I can't stop watching this old video of James Brown shilling Japanese noodles.  Seriously, this puts a smile on my face every damned time.  (Thanks to Mike for passing it along).

And with that, have a great weekend, folks.  For those of you who are American or are in the United States, Happy Independence Day.  Have fun and stay safe -- I'll be back on Tuesday.

Image:  Photographed with my Nikon D300 and vintage 50mm lens.  aperture 1.4, shutter speed 1/100, ISO 500.

Song:  Get up I feel like being a sex machine by James Brown