AVATAR.

I just saw "Avatar" in the biggest IMAX theater in S.E. Asia. It blew my mind!

The PEN Story

Congratulations, B!

Congratulations to my college roommate, Bridget, and her fiance, Kyle, who just got engaged! Here's to you!

"Turn Me Up"

The Dopeness

Download A Cool Stick's new album. I went to college with these guys and I'm confident they're going to continue to blow up. Check 'em out!

http://www.mediafire.com/?m24mtfgymmm

Biography: A Cool Stick is a Baltimore based Hip-Hop band that combines intelligent lyrics with live instrumentation. Their musical inspirations range from Jay-Z and Lupe Fiasco to Jason Mraz and Jimi Hendrix; their sound has been compared to The Roots, Asher Roth, and N.E.R.D.
The band began playing live shows in the summer of 2009. They have since worked their way onto the stages of well-known Baltimore venues such as Rams Head Live!, The 8x10, and The Recher Theatre. The band released their debut EP “ACOOLSTICK.com” on November 5, 2009.
The band consists of five members: Luke O’Brien (Vocals), John Fitch (Vocals/Keys), James Hughes (Guitar), Brian Aranda (Drums), and Brendan “Fuzz” Floyd (Bass).
Currently, A Cool Stick handles their production, recording, and promotion, without the guidance of a record label. For any inquiries, e-mail the band at acoolstick@gmail.com or contact Coleman T. Anderson at (201) 887-9090.

If you say "beer can" in a British accent, you'll sound like a Jamaican saying "bacon." Go ahead, try it out loud.

This image comes courtesy of my creative friend, Amy, whom I lived with in Negril, Jamaica. Looks like a Red Stripe ad, huh?

Wow! Lao!

A drive through the mountains of beautiful Lao.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

...the same boy had a massive stain down the front of his white uniform shirt. Pointing at the stain my friend says, "Get a little dirty today?" The boy said, in my favorite 8 year old asian accent, "ohhh....chocolate.....I love chocolate." Two minutes later he added, "and whipping cream."

It's Beginning to Feel a Little Bit Like Christmas in Asia

Thailand's idea of Christmas decorations. Love it.

Today I was practicing singing Christmas songs with some of my students which we will perform at a later date...after a beautiful rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" with the band, my friend asked one of the boys, "Hey, what happened to the part about figgy pudding?" to which the fourth grader replied, "Forget about it. You can sing that part at home."

Happy Holidays.