Seriously, can we get some new outfits please? This could be anybody.

After the success of last year’s TLC Camps, I was asked to come back and be a part of not one, but three TLC camps this year, and couldn’t be more excited. The first camp has come and gone, but here were some highlights of the first weekend. (Names changed for privacy).

The goal is to offer life-changing paths, build hope, friendship and memories for these at-risk teens.

The next two dates are Jul 31-Aug 2 and Aug 28-30. I’m again setting a goal of raising $400, which covers the cost of one kid going to camp. Chip in and help make a difference in the life of a teenager.

You can give online here:

Also, I can’t post photos of the kids for legal reasons, but to the right are some photos on flickr of the band for the first weekend.

Teen Leedership Camps Promotional Video

http://teenleadershipfoundation.org

UPDATE Camp was fantastic, and while I didn’t quite meet my $400 goal, over $200 still went to TLC. Awesome!

I recently discovered the gaping void blog.

Here’s one of my favorites:

Amazing.

This week I re-watched Fight Club. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen it, but realized in the middle of it that one of the reasons I like it is because it forces me to question the reality that surrounds me. I like movies that do that because I think we all need it every once in a while.

There are so many messages fed to us, so many lies repeated continually that we begin to believe them. I need to buy this to be happy. That is what I need to do with my life. This is success.

If we don’t stop every once in a while and take a good hard look at ourselves and the decisions we’re making, and why, it’s easy to have our priorities upside down.

Stop. Question. Challenge. Think.

I love music and I love going to shows. I also hate paying ticketmaster fees, but it’s much easier to find a ticketmaster show than it is to hear about a show at the bar down the street, and this has frustrated me.

The idea of thesqueakerbox started forming when I thought, what if there was a place online where you could find local and indie shows as easily as you can find the big bands?

So I made one. Nothing too fancy, just local shows. Sign up, follow the bands that you like, and get an email when they add a show near you.

I hope you like it.

http://thesqueakerbox.com

http://letmegooglethatforyou.com

where have you been my whole life?

Dear Barcelona,

I showed up to the Detroit Bar on Tuesday night with little expectation, having never even heard of you before I arrived, but from the moment you started playing, I was impressed.

What I immediately noticed and appreciated was your level of musicianship, not to mention what went on when you weren’t playing (but I will). Your posture from stage was inviting and sincere instead of pretentious, you looked like you were enjoying yourselves, and your transitions went smoothly. Your combination of musical excellence, showmanship and professionalism really separated you from everyone else. (I also liked the light inside the kick, it added an aesthetic that fit your style)

Then I went to your booth to buy a cd. You guys shook my hand, talked to me for a bit, thanked me for coming, gave me a free poster, and were as sincere off stage as on. You simply did everything right. Thanks for an amazing show, you’ve won a fan here.

Jared

Here’s a great way to “give thanks” to God this Thanksgiving – buy a pair of shoes for someone living in a third-world country. If you sign up for the Soles4Souls “50,000 Pairs in 50 Days” Campaign, you can share the Gospel of “good news to the poor” for just $5.

Here’s how it works:

Go to 50000shoes.com.
A $5 donation buys two pairs of shoes. Everyone that’s reading this has $5, and everyone has 2 minutes. From start to finish, donating is literally three clicks. No fluff. No hassle. Anyone can donate.

Spread the word.
Use the widget code on the landing page to post a link on your blog. Email everyone you know. Join the facebook group. Ask your friends to do the same!

Win a trip.

Besides the fact that the blogging world can literally impact 50,000 people before the end of the year, one person (and their guest) will be chosen at random to hand-deliver the shoes they purchased on a Soles4Souls trip to Mexico. Imagine handing someone their first pair of shoes… ever.

Do the Math.
If 500 people influence 10 people to donate, and those people influence 5 more, that’s 50,000 pairs of shoes ($5 buys 2 pairs).

Get Started.
Sign-up at http://50000shoes.com/, donate your $5, and start spreading the word.

For more on this campaign, read this article by my friend Jeff Goins : Shoes, Social Media, and Justice