Navels, Pies & Revolutions Diaries

As a news junkie, I've woken up to the news on NPR every morning for two decades. In the last few years, I've started feeling more alienated from the stories - perhaps jaded, perhaps overwhelmed by the complexities of events and the continuous stream of horrors I'm bombarded with. I am often tempted to switch off, embarrassed by the juxtaposition of my 'easy' life in comparison. Instead, beginning 1.1.11, I started this video blog, (vlog). Partly to illustrate my disconnect and partly to share with those of you who may feel the same frustration. I've set up some simple rules: Shoot every day for 365 days. Edit and post whenever I have access to my computer. Footage is from my daily life. Audio track is of a story on NPR from that day. It is visualized at the bottom of the screen as it appears in Garage Band and recorded by Snapz Pro X. Length depends on richness of footage, but is limited to 90 seconds. Film with a small camera and edit on iMovie Since it's all about me, it is my "navel world". And because it is also about us and the "stories", I've thrown "pies" and "revolutions" into it. var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-22713120-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();

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The problem with television is that people must sit and keep their eyes glued on a screen; the average American family hasn’t time for it.

The New York Times, 1939

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"After A Year of Struggles, Obama Finds His Footing". Drinking hot chocolate in the Chill Out Lounge. 

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"Ron Paul Nears Top Of Iowa's GOP Presidential Polls". Last haircut of the year.

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"N.H. Voters Look For Calm Amid Economic Jitters". Wandering round Dubai DIFC.

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"Reversal On Health Mandate Came Late For Gingrich And Romney". Fountains at Burj Khalifa.

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"No U.S. Troops, But An Army Of Contractors In Iraq". Flying. 

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"Silent For A Night (Or Two) In Iowa, Candidates Keep Pace In Ads".  Packing. 

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"Sounds of Christmas celebrations from around the world". Google wishes the world a merry christmas. 

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"Syrian Violence Intensifies As Observers Arrive". Christmas lights.

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"With N. Korea In Flux, Neighbors Reassess Policies". Heavy crowds at Grand Central on the Friday before Christmas. 

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"Texas Schools Grapple With Big Budget Cuts". Heavy duty cleaning. 

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"In A Year Of Partisan Brawls, Congress Goes One More Round". Cooking Belgian endives.

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"North Koreans Honor Late Leader Kim Jong Il". Tree cleaning

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"North Korean Leader Kim Jong Il Dies At 69". Cooking some carbonnades. 

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"Former Envoy To Iraq Says Situation Still 'Very Fragile'". LISA holiday gathering. 

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"In Congress, Short-Term Compromise At 11th Hour". Watching TV.