Jonathan's Favourite Things: Anti-Slavery Links

I realised today that I have visited several anti-slavery or anti-trafficking websites this week. So I have put together a list of these sites:

If you are not familiar with the issue of slavery, please go to one or two of these links. This is important for everyone to be aware of.

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"Unslaved" article at Relevant Magazine

Picture Credit: Relevant Magazine

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The Anti-Slavery Quiz

Picture Credit: AntiSlavery.org

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The Slavery Footprint Lifestyle Test

Picture Credit:

Media Voices For Children

I would love your feedback in the comments section. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Jonathan

Jonathan's Favourite Things - E.S. Posthumus

E. S. Posthumus is a "band" - really a pair of composer brothers who create epic orchestral music. Think music from the Lord of the Rings or Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks, but composed purely for your enjoyment. I own their album Cartogropher. The remix disc is the best and the more purer form of their work. 

Many of their songs have been licensed to be used in movie trailers, because of the escalating nature of the music. 

E.S. Posthumus on YouTube.



Picture Credit: E.S. Posthumus

Owl City - Melbourne Concert Review

Owl City – The Midsummer Station tour
The Corner Hotel Melbourne
18th November 2012
Over 18s show

 

It was with great anticipation that I headed to see Owl City live in concert. Like so many of us, my introduction to the band was through the overnight success of 2009’s Fireflies. At the time, I bought their album Ocean Eyes, but I felt like many of the songs were a bit bland and sounded quite similar to each other.

However, 2012 has been the year of happy bubble-gum pop, with Carly Rae Jepsen’s Call Me Maybe topping the charts here in Australia and elsewhere. Jepsen also teamed up with Owl City for Good Time, a simple, fast-paced pop tune about the life of a partier. It seems Owl City has found its feet in writing and production.

As soon as Adam Young – who is Owl City – stepped onto the stage, he was smiling. His physical performance which consisted of happy-go-lucky movements and fist-pumps was a cheery part of the good-natured fun. The live band did not disappoint, with the electronic accompaniment of Owl City’s albums successfully arranged for keyboard, drums, and a guitar or two.

Young sang songs from his last three albums – occasionally giving us a medley with just a taste of some of their more notable songs. He slotted in Fireflies at the halfway mark, giving the overjoyed crowd a good opportunity to sing along. This was a trend that, thankfully, continued throughout the rest of the night.

Having sung the “last song,” the band retired to chants of One More Song! This encore was obviously planned because Young had not yet sung Good Time, his most recent radio hit. The song went off –and it was very, very fun!

Owl City, to me, means innocent, wide-eyed wonder at the world around us, catchy sing-a-long hooks and a lot of joy. The crowd loved the performance, while supporting act Sinead Burgess was a little off kilter, though her genuineness and cheeky audience participation fit with Young’s. My anticipation paid off and I’m glad my expectations were exceeded.

I give this concert 4 out of 5 stars: Excellent and not to be missed.

Owl City's Official Website

Owl City's Myspace

Jonathan's Favourite Things - Amazing Grace

This movie tells the story of William Wilberforce, a great man from the 19th century who almost single handedly brought down the slave trade in trhe British Empire. Highly inspirational, there is a moment near the end which gives me the tingles and makes me realise I could change the world.

I learned from Wilberforce's story that if someone passionately stands for a cause and perseveres, working at it for a lifetime, it is possible to change things. Wilberforce was inspirational. His struggle to keep on going is portrayed thoughtfully. The character of his wife Barbara (Romola Garai) helps him to rediscover his passion for helping the slaves.

Romola Garai created the look for her character with collaboration with the filmmakers. The striking red hair was her idea. For a movie, this works spectacularly, and along with her sparky personality gives us an immediate reason to like her. The Barbara and William's marriage is portrayed as supportive, devoted and strong. What a great example of old fashioned commitment to your spouse.

Director Michael Apted (The World is Not Enough, The Chronicle of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader) makes a period piece which appears somehow modern. The characters are vibrant, varied and well defined. The political drama surrounding the abolition of slavery is well played, with comic relief provided by Lord Fox (Michael Gambon).

This is a fine film, one that not only inspires us to action, but is worth watching over and over again.

Go to the Amazing Grace Website.
Or at imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454776/