Country Singer Rissi Palmer Talks About Her Faith

I used to not tell people that I was country music fan but now I proudly embrace all of my music tastes. I never liked the "my dog got ran over and my wife left too" style of county music but I definitely enjoyed listening to artists like LeAnn Rimes and Shania Twain when I was younger.

I discovered Rissi Palmer last year on MySpace and her catchy "Country Girl" song had me hooked. She's been getting press all over the place: The New York Post, People, Ebony, CNN and in a recent interview with Christianity Today, Palmer talks about the importance of her faith.

"Every night I pray for discernment, more than anything else, more than having a hit record or anything. I just pray that God will give me the power of discernment. I think that's where people go right and go wrong is in their decisions in this industry."

She's got that right. There are plenty of wrong directions in the entertainment industry. Too many young women get caught up in fame game and end up falling apart in the process (i.e. Britney Spears & Lindsay Lohan). It's sad. However, it's refreshing to know that music artists like Palmer are out there trying to be a light.

Watch Palmer's "Country Girl" music video, it will make you smile.



[Hat tip to LaShawn Barber]

Tyra Banks asks: "Do Light-Skinned Blacks Have It Easier?"

Tyra Banks isn't the first person to pose this question and she surely won't be the last.

Our country has questions like this ingrained in the fabric of our society and one look at our past serves as a clear reminder why. But this is exactly why it's important to have more minority voices emerge and make their way into public discourse so we can tackle our tainted perceptions and aspire towards something better.

In the picture above, Tyra talks with two sisters as the dark-skinned sister shares the hurt she felt over being seen as less favorable than her light-skinned sister. While her light-skinned sister got all the attention and compliments she wondered when it was going be "her turn" to be considered beautiful. Her pain is real like many other dark-skinned women who live with the wounds of racism in our country.

As a light-skinned woman I cannot deny that there isn't a certain privilege that is associated with fair-skin. Yes, I have reaped some benefits from my genetic make-up but I didn't ask to look the way I do, God made me that way. However, God did give me a choice on how I would define myself in this world.

I can't speak for all light-skinned people but I must point out that our struggles and hardships come in a different form. It's not that one is better than the other because we are all equal in God's eyes. Jesus didn't die for "just" white people or "just" for black people. He died for ALL people.

Sin doesn't have a color line, it invades people of every ethnicity and every skin hue and sometimes it rears its ugly head in the shape of racism and prejudice. But when good people stand up to it like Tyra did on her show it's a step toward healing and a step away from all the negative mess.

[Hat tip to the Tyra Banks Show]

Tia Mowry Married

With all the bad news that makes the headlines it's pleasant to hear something that makes you smile. Case in point: Tia Mowry got married over the weekend.

You probably remember her best as the "brainy" twin from Sister, Sister. Re-runs of that show still play daily and it's nice to catch an episode when I can. She's still one of my favorite actresses.

Mowry married a fellow actor, Cory Hardict, from ABC Family's Lincoln Heights. She looks beautiful in her wedding gown and I wish her all the best in her marriage and career.

Lastly, I'll leave you with a quote by Mowry from a 2005 Today's Christian interview:

"Jesus Christ wants everybody to see that whether you're rich or poor, a doctor or a janitor, God sees us all the same and looks at our heart."

[Hat tip to MySpace Celebrity]

Indie GoGo - A New Way to Do Film

MySpace revoultionzed the the music industry connecting bands with millions of fans. Music artists like Colbie Caillat, Kate Voegele and the oh-so-annoying Soulja Boy were propelled into mainstream spotlight and became household pop culture names. Now, Indie GoGo, a new social networking site, is looking to create that same type of buzz around independent filmmakers.

Their concept is similar to that of MySpace but with a little twist. Indie filmmakers create profiles for their projects and fans create profiles to connect with the filmmakers who fit their taste. But here's where things get interesting, fans can donate money to help the filmmaker reach their budget goal. So for the price of a DVD, you can help a filmmaker become that much closer to getting their film made. Indie GoGo has dubbed this new type of filmmaking: "DIWO" a.k.a "Do It With Others".

IndieGoGo also offers some cool widgets to promote the films you support on your website or blog.

All kinds of film genres are available from quirky dramas to action flicks to documentaries and everything in between. And even if you decide not to give a single dollar, I'm sure indie filmmakers are happy to get new fans who appreciate their artistic vision.

[Hat tip to Mashable]

Band Spotlight: Mono

Mono is a Japanese band and their music is so beautiful and soul-stirring it doesn't need any lyrics.

Their guitar melodies tells stories all by themselves, leading you toward deep reflection while massaging your mind with lingering notes and well placed crescendos. Bands like Mono are exactly why the repeat button on your iPod or CD player was created because you can listen to their songs over and over again and still want more.

If you enjoy Mono then check out their label mates on Temporary Residence Limited.

Playing the Guitar

I've wanted to learn how to play the guitar for a long, LONG, time and now I'm finally turning that dream into a reality.

I have a natural ear for music and my experience of being in orchestra from elementary to high school definitely makes the transition smoother. I printed out some tabs from my favorite music artists like P.O.D., Starflyer 59, Coldplay, Miley Cyrus and Kelly Clarkson and I'm doing my best to move my fingers like the pros do. I'm also learning the theme song from Friday Night Lights, the way Explosions in the Sky plays that song is amazing! Learning how to play the guitar is easy, hard and fun all rolled together. And that's the cool thing about it.

What about you? What instrument have you been yearning to play???