2.08.2009

The Crew of Flight 1549

We are only in the second month of 2009 and already so many amazing and unforgettable things have happened. One of the craziest was the crash-landing if American Airlines Flight 1549 in the Hudson river. 

Here are the first interviews with the pilot and crew of the plane on 60 Minutes. I will have to convince myself that all flight crews are so well trained and quick acting to be able to get on another commercial flight after this story, but in the end this is a story of triumph and hope, which is something we all need right now. 


This is the interview with the rest of the crew about what it was like in the main cabin during those harrowing 5 minutes between take-ff and landing in the river. 

This video clip shows the reunion between the crew and passengers a few weeks after the crash. This will make you cry and want to hug all the people you love!

Chiara Clemente's OUR CITY DREAMS





The film looks at 5 female artists (Kiki Smith, Marina Abramovic, Nancy Spero, SWOON, and Ghada Amer) living in New York City. These women are some of the most important living artists we have right now, so if you want to see them in their element and talking about their work go see this film!!

Here is the interview with Chiara on the STYLE FILE BLOG.

It's only running until the 17th of February, so get over there!! 

*** Also, I just found out that Chiara will be doing Q&As after a few of the showings with some of the artists in the documentary. If I was in town I would go to both of these! I'm so jealous of anyone that makes it to either of these. I'm sure it will be very cool.

- Thursday February 12th: Chiara and Marina Abramovic will take questions following the 6pm showing.

- Tuesday February 17th: Chiara and Ghada Amer will take questions after the 6pm showing.

KIPP - Knowledge Is Power Program

This morning I was looking at the TED conference videos and watched a great lecture that Bill Gates gave about which world issues he thinks are the most important and what his charitable organization is doing about them.

The lecture is wonderful and the Q&A afterward is equally worth watching.
Here are the links for both:

One of the main focusses of his lecture is education and the importance of cultivating excellent teachers in America. He talks about the incredible KIPP schools and what they are doing to revolutionize the way the public school system is teaching under-served children who usually fall through the cracks and don't make it to college, or even out of highschool. If you think you've heard it all before, think again and watch their VIDEO and read this INTERVIEW with one of the founders, Mike Feinberg. This school is actualizing the promises that America was founded on. If you haven't already heard about these schools, I promise you this will be one of the most inspiring things you read about this year.

Anyone who has children or who cares about education in America should read the interview. If you want to read more about Mike Feinberg and his KIPP Co-Founder Dave Levin, I have included a book about them and their experience starting the schools in the "What I'm Reading Now" section of my bookstore. The book is called Work Hard. Be Nice. How Two Inspired Teachers Created The Most Promising Schools in America.

This is a cause and organization that I will be keeping up with and supporting from now on and I really hope these videos and interviews will inspire you to do the same.

2.06.2009

Woody Allen's honest life of crime

Woody Allen may have no desire to be a good man, but he is a funny man, and I find if you are funny most people will forgive you just about anything.  

Here is a clip from a 1970 interview he did where he jokes about early aspiration toward a life of crime. It's a very short clip, but you really should watch it. I guess he really wasn't kidding about keeping it in the family. I guess he's never really joking, which is hilarious and very very frightening! 

Here is another interview that Woody actually conducted with the Reverend Billy Graham, also in the 1970's I believe. If that's not a brilliant pairing I don't know what is. A nihilist/atheist and an evangelical minister. It goes without saying they are great together.

I also found a book of interviews with Woody Allen that came out in 2007 and included it in the book store. The interviews and conversations were conducted over a 36 year span with Allen's biographer Eric Lax, and are all centered around his thoughts on filmmaking. It might not be for everyone, but for all his sins and short comings Woody Allen is a fantastic filmmaker in my opinion, and I'm sure these conversations are fascinating. 

2.02.2009

David Cross

David Cross makes me cry with laughter every time I see something he does. This man is hilarious! 

Sorry Lenny Kravits...


I also added the DVD box sets of Arrested Development and Mr.Show to my book store. If you haven't watched these shows you are missing out.  

Christina Tosi's New York





T Magazine has a great section called The Insider, that profiles "emerging tastemakers it the fields of fashion, design, food, travel and the arts." 

Last week they asked pastry Chef Christina Tosi (of Momofuku fame) to list some of her favorite things about New York City. 

It would have been nice if they asked her more food questions as it's always fun to hear about what chefs are eating, but her yearly Neil Young ritual was quintessential New York. 

Every real New Yorker has had at least one moment like that, where you feel as if something is there or happening just so you can experience it, even if there are a million other people around. Makes me think of coming over the Brooklyn Bridge at night. Gets me every time. 


** Just found this other interview with Christina where she does talk about the food she makes! Here's the link to the New York magazine interview. 

* Photo credit: EunJean Song