Jesus For President

"The distinctly kingdom question is not about how we should vote but about how we should live. The decision we make in each future election is no more important than how we vote every day. We vote for companies, for people, and we put money toward 'campaigns.' We need to think of the faces behind the scenes. Who are the masters and Caesars that we pledge allegiance to by the way we live and through the things we put our trust in? We vote every day with our feet, our hands, our lips, and our wallets. We are to vote for the poor. We are to vote for the peacemakers. We are to vote for the marginalized, the oppressed, the most vulnerable of our society. These are the ones Jesus voted for, those whom every empire had left behind, those who no millionaire politician will represent."

Just finished this book. you should read it too.

born into brothels

Just watched this movie and I would highly recommend it. It was joyful and heartbreaking at the same time. Director Zana Briski goes to Calcutta to photograph prostitutes and ends up starting a photography class for the children. they are all given their own cameras and seem to really love the class. The documentary captures both sides of the story though. One scene shows one of the beautiful kids taking/developing pictures while the next shows the same kid being beaten physically or verbally. Difficult to watch at times. These kids are just like any other kids. They goof around, laugh, smile, and just be kids. The problem is the environment/circumstances in which they have to try and do this. Briski joins many others in getting to the root of the problem by attempting to provide them with education to secure a brighter future. This I agree completely with. However the film did draw criticism on the degree in which the children's lives were actually improved. Many of them were accepted into boarding schools and not allowed to go, taken out, etc. This is understandable as some families just aren't ready. but not trying is what should draw the most criticism. the joy that Briski and her photography class brings is undeniable. 

This film made me think of an organization called Dalit Freedom Network. My friend Liz went to India with them and I tried to go with them this summer but it unfortunately didn't work out. They work with the lowest of the low (in the caste system). 

And Jesus spoke often of the lowest of the low saying things like, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Its weird writing about this having never been there and all and maybe I'm just one of many spectators. but I know there has been and still is something stirring inside of me.  

Craig's list

So one of my friend's friend met Craig. I think it's important that people recognize that Craig is a real person and that the list is his. This is the reason for my use of the apostrophe s. The apostrophe is lacking in the url for one of two reasons: 1) apostrophe's are illegal in urls or 2) Craig is a very selfless person. So don't forget to appreciate Craig the next time you use his list.

Anyways, I have been spending a fair amount of time on Craig's list the past few days because we lost that house I mentioned before (briefly stated our current landlord screwed us with a bad reference) and we suddenly needed to get rid of a bunch of stuff. Two funny things though, I thought there was 3 but now I can't remember.

1) In all of my previous craigslist experiences the person always ended up buying whatever I had that they were interested in. This lady came to look at my dresser and took a hard look at it, opened the drawers a few times, and then was like, "I'm gonna pass." maybe you had to be there but it was just SUPER awkward.

2) I posted some super crappy patio furniture in the free stuff section that I was just really hoping someone would pick up. I included a picture in the post and got this e-mail from someone: "Do the 4 chairs and table match? and are they in good condition. Sorry I don't mean to be rude just curious." Maybe I'm an ass but I just thought it was comical that someone thought a matching patio furniture set in good condition would be on craigslist free stuff.

But yeah I'm home now and it feels great.

a few things

I've been about to blog the past few days but then didn't. so here's a sampling of things that I was going to say:

1) Summer. I finished my last final on Friday and am officially on summer and am pretty amped. Just taking care of a few things in san diego and then I'll be cruising up to the santa cruz mountains. I haven't been home since Christmas really (except for like 2 days for Luke's 21st) and I am homesick. I can't wait. And then I'm leaving for Europe on the 27th. Spending 5 days in Paris, 4 days in Belgium (Rock Werchter), 8 days in Italy and 3 days in London. all with my lovely sister. I can't wait.

2) Braddigan. I went to see Braddigan (formerly of Dispatch) the other night and it was great. It was actually a benefit concert for a non-profit called Love, Light, and Melody (lovelightandmelody.org). Part way through Braddigan started talking about the organization and their involvement in Nicaragua. He's very passionate about the people living in extreme poverty over there. What he was saying really resonated with me. This isn't perfectly quoted but its as best as I can remember. "Where's poverty when you go over there and all they can do is smile. Where's poverty when they will give you the only seat that they have. And then where's wealth over here when we can't figure out what to spend all our money on." He went on to say how he believes (as do I) that the whole thing is very backwards. America is living in "poverty" so to speak. I really want to go to India again. 

3) I really enjoy genuine people. This guy who crashes at our place all the time is very genuine. Our lifestyles are pretty different but he always greets me with a smile on his face and is down to talk for a few minutes. And today after we were talking he was like man we gotta stay in touch when you take off. Don't know if you'll ever see this dre but you are a good guy. This makes me think of a quote that Liz gave me one time.

"The gift of presence is a rare and beautiful gift. To come-unguarded, undistracted-and be fully present, fully engaged with whoever we are with at that moment. Have you noticed in reading the Gospels that people enjoyed being around Jesus? They wanted to be near him-to share a meal, take a walk, have a lingering conversation. It was the gift of his presence. When you were with him, you felt he was offering you his heart. When we offer our unguarded presence, we live like Jesus."   

4) happy birthday liz!

 

walking/running and bicycling

wow am I seriously writing a blog with my last final in t minus 60 minutes? of course.

got the house a block from campus and a roommate! problem solved. I'm pretty stoked that it worked out. I'm still trying to get a job set up but have a few possibilities.

I've been thinking this for a while and just was reminded of it when I read Luke's facebook status (you're stoked to be in my blog bro). "Luke Carson is stoked too move in with Lippy!! and commute on bike to the depot!" I really want to get a job where I can  walk or run or bike to work. Especially run. I want to start exercising consistently and running to work would be perfect. I'm hoping with the location of the new house that this can happen (if I end up in San Diego for the summer). alright I must study/cram. ttyl.

on repeat

when I started writing this I had a flashback of my cousin blasting "Bleed American" on repeat several years ago. haha. 

here are a few songs that I'm down to listen to on repeat right now.

not the best quality but you get the idea.

The regular full band version is better but this one is still pretty tight.

I'm always torn about repeat though. and I actually rarely do it. because then you get tired of a great song and thats just bad news.

new My Morning Jacket

I was originally gonna write about the new My Morning Jacket cd but I changed my mind. I will say two things though. 

1) listen to "Touch me I'm going to scream Pt. 1"  and "Touch Me I'm going to scream pt. 2"

2) the pitchfork review of this album is crap

ANyways. I'm listening to and really enjoying At Dawn right now. If you haven't listened to it please do. Jim James' vocals are very great in it. And its a very relaxing cd.

Relaxing is what I'm doing currently. I have two more finals but different things are stressing me out a little. One is housing. I'm moving out of Solana Beach and looking at this pretty sweet house that is a block away from school. And I've been getting pretty amped on the possibility of living there. but there are complications.

1) July 1 lease - only 1 of our 4 guys is going to for sure be in sd over the summer

2) need one more roommate and possibly a few subletters for the summer   

3) and there seem to be multiple serious parties going for the place

so this is stressing me out. housing in general is just stressful. and going into my last year at ucsd I kinda want to have a legit housing situation. and after living far from school I would love to live close.

next thing is my summer plans when I get back from europe in July. I was planning on not working this summer but turns out I will for sure have no money. I'm trying to make a short internship happen in either northern or southern cal and try to save up some cash. I want to be in santa cruz but it depends on where I can line a job up. this is stressing me out a little since I leave for London in a little more than 2 weeks. I guess no work would be great though. maybe this isn't stressing me out anymore. 

and I'm sure Europe planning will start to stress me out as well but its not at the moment. I guess there is just too much I want to do over the summer. young life camps. adventures. family. friends. vintage faith. surf. read. relax. but who am I to complain. I'm super lucky to be able to do the things I do. 

so here's your chance. try to persuade me to do one thing or the other. I'm a pretty popular guy and I'm sure many people would like me to be where they are. 

this might be my longest blog so far. if you read it I will give you a high five next time a see you. just make sure to remind me.

much better things to do.

Finals start tomorrow and guess what, I feel like I'm not ready. I decided that this feeling is inevitable so I'm saying don't study. Here's a list of better things to do (kind of in order):

- surf

- go to the pub 

- go to a concert (the submarines thursday night at beauty bar)

- sleep in 

- eat ice cream

- play guitar

- plan summer vacation 

- blog/facebook chat/distract people who are trying to study  

So please let me know if you would like to join me in any of these activities.  

   

 

Barack Obama Music Festival

I feel like this is the trendy thing to say but I'm down with Barack. and so are a slew of great bands/musicians including Arcade Fire, M. Ward, Andrew Bird, Conor Oberst, and now BOB DYLAN! 

In a recent interview with London's The Times Dylan said: "Well, you know right now America is in a state of upheaval. Poverty is demoralising. You can't expect people to have the virtue of purity when they are poor. But we've got this guy out there now who is redefining the nature of politics from the ground up...Barack Obama. He's redefining what a politician is, so we'll have to see how things play out. Am I hopeful? Yes, I'm hopeful that things might change. Some things are going to have to."

So I came up with a great idea. Hopefully someone from the Obama campaign reads this. A Barack Obama music festival in DC featuring the folks above and whoever else. I'm pretty sure it would be game over. keeping my fingers crossed.

1 year anniversary

I'm pretty amped because this month is the one year anniversary of when I decided to start making monthly playlists on iTunes. Except for some reason I am missing a July '07 playlist which bothers me when I think about it but whatever. a solid 11 playlists and counting is not bad. I just think I'm gonna be pretty stoked if I still have these playlists going years from now. Even going back to a playlist from like 6 months ago is cool. 

I don't know what the term is but I'm super musically associative. so going back always sparks up memories, emotions, pretty much whatever was going on at the time. pretty refreshing. you should do this too and we can trade!

 

sarcasm

One of my friends used to always get frustrated with me in high school and be like "Mike, I can't tell the difference from when you're joking or being serious." And I tend to be pretty sarcastic. perfect, right? I may end up saying something ridiculous in this blog. you are forewarned. isn't this poster great?

carbon footprints...

they are playing "call me" by Blondie right now in the coffee shop that I'm at. What a great song.

Anyways, I was looking up some directions on Google yesterday and noticed a new feature.

So when you get the directions you asked for you have a choice between "drive" directions and "public transit" directions. The public transit directions come with information on how much it costs vs. driving (which is significantly cheaper, no surprise). I just thought this was really cool.

I have become a pretty big fan of the bus this school year, living farther than most from school. With the free bus sticker I rarely drive. And I think everyone should hit up public transit when they can. Go green and save money with the ridiculous gas prices. it makes sense. action needs to be taken on behalf of the environment and this is a pretty simple way. 

and I really wish the government would take action to improve public transit where it is less developed. I showed this picture to my roommate and he was was like geez that would take FOREVER. and its true - the above example adds almost an hour to the trip. it definitely depends on the situation but losing a some time is obviously inevitable. 

I am an expert by no means on this subject but I would be stoked if:

1) more people start using public transit 

2) major efforts were made to improve the system 

Meeting somewhere in the middle would be so great. thoughts?

The Cure

Tomorrow night I'm going to what may be the most epic concert I've seen. The Cure is playing at Cox Arena and I have two tickets. It's kinda gnarley going to a show thinking that it will the one of the best you've ever seen. And its also gnarley going to see a band that you've grown up listening to. The Cure, R.E.M., The Smiths, U2, I started listening to from a real young age (not by my choice or anything, my parents just love those bands). Now I love these bands though. And from what I've heard the cure still has it despite their age; they've been throwing down 3-3.5 hour sets! ridiculous. anyways, this is my favorite. and I will probably put pictures on facebook.

hi

so here's the typical first blog.

yeah so I'm starting a blog. never thought I'd do this but here I am... 

I started changing my facebook status like every day/multiple times a day and decided maybe this would be a better idea. 

I have a common name. so when I tried to get mikemitchell.blogspot.com I knew it wasn't gonna happen. they gave me some nice suggestions though. mitchell-mikemitchell.blogspot.com was a pretty sweet one. not. does anyone actually ever use the suggestions? sorry but I think i'll pass on mmitchell522321124435454@gmail.com.

I'm sure when ucsd saw my name they were thrilled. how are we going to jumble up this guys name to get a semi-readable ucsd e-mail address? they decided to go with my first name initial, middle initial, and last name minus the last two letters. mjmitche. perfect. some of my friends get a pretty good laugh out of my ucsd e-mail so i made it my url. 

stay tuned and feel free to comment. and if you haven't already start your own blog so I can read it.