Ska for the Skeptical

I’ve never been skeptical, but some of you might need a little nudge.

Here’s a great introduction to one of my favourite kinds of music, including MP3s. I got into the second-wave (ie. British) of ska music around 1980, listening to bands like The Specials, The (English) Beat, The Selecter and Madness. I generally despise the third-wave (ie. Orange County) ska bands like No Doubt and Reel Big Fish, but here’s a chance to check out the origin of the music as well as its evolution. When I describe it to people, I say it’s like reggae you can dance to.

(via boingboing)

Dear Dr. Dobson

Dear Dr. Dobson is a really useful resource for Christians who oppose the anti-gay agenda of Dr. James Dobson’s Focus on the Family. It’s part of the larger Soulforce organization, which looks pretty cool.

And of course there’s my other favourite “family” website, PFLAG.

NOTE: I’m posting these links as a resource for anyone who might be interested in this perspective. I’m not interested in engaging in an argument about whether homosexuality is a “sin” or not. I’ve disabled comments on this entry for that reason. Sorry…

Born Into Brothels

Kids With Cameras
Photo by Zana Briski

On Tuesday night, Brooke and I went to a screening of Born Into Brothels, which has been nominated for an Oscar in the Best Documentary category.

Photographer Zana Briski has been documenting the lives of prostitutes in Calcutta’s red light district since 1997, and became very interested in the lives of the children there. Most of them have very few prospects and many of the girls are expected to follow their mothers into the business. She began teaching the kids photography and then decided to document their work and lives in a film. The result is stunning, heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time. The images themselves are beautiful and the children’s charisma and real talent jump from the screen. The best part of this film is that it is actually helping to change the lives of its subjects. Briski started Kids With Cameras, a non-profit organization which is selling books and prints of the children’s photographs to fund their educations. The project is so successful that it’s being expanded to several sites, including Haiti, Cairo and Jerusalem, and a school is being built in Calcutta with the proceeds.

Don’t miss this film if you get a chance to see it. Even if you can’t see the film, visit the website and have a look at the images. And please, consider helping.