As the calendar turns and reveals a new year, it’s a good time for looking ahead, evaluating the past and journaling the present. In terms of that latter category, I think I’m a little slow on finding Switchfoot’s latest project, Hello Hurricane, but I have to say it’s on constant rotation these days.

Incidentally, if you love Switchfoot and you don’t know about Fiction Family, check em out. The band is fronted by Jon Foreman and is quite a bit folkier than Switchfoot. Apparently the project was at one point going to be released by Hear Music, the label that puts out music you buy at Starbucks. That didn’t happen after all, so it’s now available on iTunes. After a brief scan it doesn’t have the stylistic appeal of the Jon Foreman solo projects for me, but I appreciate Jon’s songwriting quite a bit, so I’m sure I’d dig it if I gave it more time.

Here are a few other projects I’m listening to lately:
MuteMath – Armistice
Owl City – Ocean Eyes
Sarah Blasko – As Day Follows Night
Mario Spinetti – When You Say My Name

Tell me what you’re listening to in this new this decade.

Thanks again to my friends at Boundless. They do some really thoughtful stuff over there, including a webzine, blog and podcast.

I found this sign at the cash register of a local restaurant here in Hong Kong. I thought it was an interesting and creative (and even reassuring) response to the current economic downturn. I Googled “financial tsunami coalition” and found a bit of news on this interesting development. Personally I think it’s a great idea and serves to give some peace of mind to a lot of people in this difficult time.

In case you want to participate, this year’s FAWM.org is still under construction. Should be live in the next few days, I’m guessing.

However, whether or not the site is live, I’m writing 14 songs during the month of February. I’ve been trying to get as many people as possible to join me this year. Are you with me?

If you have to spend some money, please spend it on someone who needs it a lot more than me. My favorite organization at the moment is the Dalit Freedom Network. DFN is about helping provide basic necessities and opportunities for people on the lowest rung of the Hindu Caste system in India–the Dalits (AKA the Untouchables).

You can give money to start a bicycle rickshaw business for a Dalit or you can just make a donation and let them spend the money where there’s the greatest need. See the catalog here.

In the meantime, check out this video.

Make a difference this year. Somewhere.

Island ECC is my church here in Hong Kong. Check it out if you’re in the neighborhood.

Merry Christmas!

I actually felt like a little kid watching this, for the first time, probably, since the days when it was a daily routine to see it. And I think it also reminded me why I like just about any movie with Morgan Freeman.

I think this is the first time since I was a small child that the idea of making cars seemed exciting again. Not that each part of the process is fun. It’s not. My dad worked in a department that manufactured springs for awhile. I can’t even tell you where in your car you’d find any springs, but my dad took care of their production for at least part of his time there.

The conversation got me thinking about job satisfaction and attitude, though. What is your job? What is the bigger plan that you’re a part of? Is it possible that it’s more exciting than you think? To me, process and big picture are satisfying concepts.

Most of us probably aren’t in our dream jobs. We might not be doing that one thing we feel like we’re made for. But how are you passing the meantime? Are you longing for what’s next or making the most of the present?

Here’s my advice. Don’t ignore today because you’re waiting for something better. After all, maybe you’re really in an exciting job and someone just needed to remind you.

Don LaFontaine was an institution of the industry and he passed away a couple days ago at age 68. As a audio production professional and even as a movie fan, I found this guy’s voice inspiring on a couple different levels.