Friday, April 27, 2007
Ray! Ray! UVa?
So I was doing my typical run through my frequently visited websites, checking out headlines on CNN and under the Education section, I see the following article title: “University apologizes for using slaves to build school.” Of course the first thought that immediately came to mind as I was clicking on the link to read the article…probably UVa. http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/04/25/university.slavery.ap/index.html Yep. Hey, at least they are moving in the right direction and its only 2007!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Track and Feel
Let me tell you how good it feels to be back in the Track and Field environment. Think of your least favorite job….got it? Now, imagine the coldest day of your life….ok? Imagine every dream you have ever had of falling…you know those ones that jerk you awake in the middle of the night in a cold sweat? Alright, put them all together with being stung by a swarm of bees in the middle of an episode of American’s Next Top Idiot Who Isn’t Smarter than a 5th Grader but Thinks That By Singing on America Idol They Will Get Them On Real World/Road Rules Physical Challenge (good ol’ Double Dare). Now think of the exact opposite of all of that and you have what it feels to be back inside the oval.
Track is so familiar to me that it almost feels like yesterday I was fighting back the butterflies while warming up for my next race. Its like a second skin or a warm comforter, or being back in the house you grew up in and knowing every little creek made in the floorboards so you can make it from your room to the back door without making a sound. Yet this time it is different…almost better. I am coaching and not competing. Trust me, I miss the competing, but not everything that comes along with it. I see the anxiety of the faces of my runners and I am thankful for just being a coach – much less stress. Being out and around the track again just reminds me why I am going through all this other crap. This, and teaching, is what I believe I am meant to do, it is what I know best, and what will benefit me, and the future generation of runners mutually, the most. After spending afternoons outside in the sun and nature with mostly good natured and eager youth revolved around sport/running, I have no idea how I can spend my mornings answer phones in a windowless, florescent light aura cubical maze, vertigo inducing environment that drains any life or happiness you might have had prior to 8:00am. It will all be over soon enough and I can make this education/coaching thing a permanent gig.
Track is so familiar to me that it almost feels like yesterday I was fighting back the butterflies while warming up for my next race. Its like a second skin or a warm comforter, or being back in the house you grew up in and knowing every little creek made in the floorboards so you can make it from your room to the back door without making a sound. Yet this time it is different…almost better. I am coaching and not competing. Trust me, I miss the competing, but not everything that comes along with it. I see the anxiety of the faces of my runners and I am thankful for just being a coach – much less stress. Being out and around the track again just reminds me why I am going through all this other crap. This, and teaching, is what I believe I am meant to do, it is what I know best, and what will benefit me, and the future generation of runners mutually, the most. After spending afternoons outside in the sun and nature with mostly good natured and eager youth revolved around sport/running, I have no idea how I can spend my mornings answer phones in a windowless, florescent light aura cubical maze, vertigo inducing environment that drains any life or happiness you might have had prior to 8:00am. It will all be over soon enough and I can make this education/coaching thing a permanent gig.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Maroon and Orange and Blue
Thoughts from a UVa grad on recent, horrific events at Virginia Tech:
I would be remiss if I did not make some kind of commentary on the events that occurred on Monday. As many of you know or felt directly, the tragedy on the campus of Virginia Tech has affected everyone, not only here in the Commonwealth, but across the country and world. I don’t know why, but it hit home even more while I was watching the Spanish language cable station here in Richmond and they had a news story about one of the victims, whose father lives in Peru. Add that to the fact Gov. Kaine watched events unfold in his attempt to return from Tokyo and one can see the far reaching effects this has had into world communities. Everyone has gone through some kind of educational institution and felt safe and secure while attending classes or freely walking through buildings, libraries, lawns or drill fields. I can only hope that this feeling continues and that such events that happened on Monday and at Columbine are isolated. Millions of students, faculty, and staff members attend or work in thousands of educational institutions around the country everyday without incident, showing that the social structure is in place. Most people are good and caring, we can only hope that those who wish to do harm to themselves and/or others will be helped before acting on violent tendencies.
Being an aspiring educator, events that occur at schools and universities, no matter what scale, weigh heavy on my mind. Educational institutions are here to foster learning and promote intellectual interaction, but also aid in social maturing and diversity. When a small few shatter that environment of fostering…things like that should not happen. The victims were as diverse as the Virginia Tech community, coming from all backgrounds and locations. Dear friends of my mine attended Virginia Tech and I know feel deeply affected by the images and stories that flash everywhere you turn. And although the storied rivalry between Tech and UVa is well documented (and I still hope that this will not suppress the spirit of competition) the tragedy has been felt by Hokies and Cavaliers alike. I, for one, cannot escape what it must have been like to be in that engineering building or dorm. But I see hope in the efforts being made across all campuses in Virginia. The victims and their families are what matter…and things like that should not happen. On this day of remembrance we should not forget the victims, not only of this tragedy but those who are dying needlessly throughout the world – 9/11, The Tsunami, earthquakes, Iraqi civilians, and the daily victims of other murders and accidents…things like that should not happen.
As for the future, I can only hope that time will heal. Wounds do form and scars take their place as a constant reminder. We will not forget but will move on. Virginia Tech will be the constant, upstanding institution is has always been. The students, faculty, staff, and alumni will forge on with the grace and respect it has always had throughout this state and country. And I can say with confidence that when Tech is ready, the University of Virginia will be there to face them in the field, on the track, and in the arenas of sport with the respect and sportsmanship we have always had toward them.
Now I hope that I may return to my regularly schedule blogging of humor (or not so humorous), commentary and social observations that you have come to know.
I would be remiss if I did not make some kind of commentary on the events that occurred on Monday. As many of you know or felt directly, the tragedy on the campus of Virginia Tech has affected everyone, not only here in the Commonwealth, but across the country and world. I don’t know why, but it hit home even more while I was watching the Spanish language cable station here in Richmond and they had a news story about one of the victims, whose father lives in Peru. Add that to the fact Gov. Kaine watched events unfold in his attempt to return from Tokyo and one can see the far reaching effects this has had into world communities. Everyone has gone through some kind of educational institution and felt safe and secure while attending classes or freely walking through buildings, libraries, lawns or drill fields. I can only hope that this feeling continues and that such events that happened on Monday and at Columbine are isolated. Millions of students, faculty, and staff members attend or work in thousands of educational institutions around the country everyday without incident, showing that the social structure is in place. Most people are good and caring, we can only hope that those who wish to do harm to themselves and/or others will be helped before acting on violent tendencies.
Being an aspiring educator, events that occur at schools and universities, no matter what scale, weigh heavy on my mind. Educational institutions are here to foster learning and promote intellectual interaction, but also aid in social maturing and diversity. When a small few shatter that environment of fostering…things like that should not happen. The victims were as diverse as the Virginia Tech community, coming from all backgrounds and locations. Dear friends of my mine attended Virginia Tech and I know feel deeply affected by the images and stories that flash everywhere you turn. And although the storied rivalry between Tech and UVa is well documented (and I still hope that this will not suppress the spirit of competition) the tragedy has been felt by Hokies and Cavaliers alike. I, for one, cannot escape what it must have been like to be in that engineering building or dorm. But I see hope in the efforts being made across all campuses in Virginia. The victims and their families are what matter…and things like that should not happen. On this day of remembrance we should not forget the victims, not only of this tragedy but those who are dying needlessly throughout the world – 9/11, The Tsunami, earthquakes, Iraqi civilians, and the daily victims of other murders and accidents…things like that should not happen.
As for the future, I can only hope that time will heal. Wounds do form and scars take their place as a constant reminder. We will not forget but will move on. Virginia Tech will be the constant, upstanding institution is has always been. The students, faculty, staff, and alumni will forge on with the grace and respect it has always had throughout this state and country. And I can say with confidence that when Tech is ready, the University of Virginia will be there to face them in the field, on the track, and in the arenas of sport with the respect and sportsmanship we have always had toward them.
Now I hope that I may return to my regularly schedule blogging of humor (or not so humorous), commentary and social observations that you have come to know.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Happy Slapping
So the French are considering a law to stop what they call “happy slapping.” It prohibits the filming and posting on the internet videos of real, actual violence, such as fights and police brutality. This type of law is worrisome for a few different reasons. First, France is not China, and China shouldn’t even be like China, so this type of move totalitarian effort by a governing body needn’t be taken lightly. I do not condone the use of violence and certainly frown upon the posting of it on the internet for humiliating purposes, but what it does is protects the rights of citizens and provides useful evidence for the public to make personal and informed judgments. Secondly, where does it end? If the government looks to control the information citizens see, hear, or can even talk about, then that’s like putting the car in reverse while going 65 on I-95. I’ve never tried it but I know we all have considered throwing that gear shift to that red ‘R’ while sitting in the passenger seat of our friend’s ’82 VW Rabbit and I can’t imagine it would be good for the transmission. It is the age old question of who is going to police the police. James Madison felt very strongly about a system of checks and balances and it should be citizens’ right to expose brutality by police or even other citizens in an effort to curtail unnecessary violence in the future. If the government can watch us with cameras, wire taps, and/or surveillance, then we should be able to do the same in the public realm. Lastly, restricting the posting of such videos on the un-policed internet is just another segment of the ongoing debate on internet regulation. As grey as an un-selectable link, the internet has become a virtual community without law or governance, but with all the dangers. Where do we draw the line between freedom/privacy and control/safety? By the time regulations are place by states or the national government, technology has changed and moved on.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Mood Swings
Mood Swings…it sounds like a ride you would find at an amusement park for hippies, right there between the Black Light Haunted Cave and the Grateful Dead-Drop – “freefall from 20 stories while never leaving the ground.” I am not sure what causes us to go from happy jubilance to locked-in-our-room-shut-ins burning candles and listening to easy listening 80’s music (Good ol’ Michael Bolton). Speaking of which, anyone notice the recent run of Office Space on TV? Classic. But not even a movie like Office Space can break us out of the doldrums of depression, yet, some days not even torrential downpours can knock us off cloud nine.
So how can we swing so far so fast? One moment you are cracking up at a David Cross joke about picking up women from a garbage truck, the next we are huddled in a corner of a dark room listening to Yacht Rock classics like “Rosanna” or “Sarah” (“no time is a good time for goodbye” - so powerful because its true) or some other song with a girl’s name as the title. Is it a chemical imbalance? Mental abuses during adolescence? An affinity for riding the emotional roller-coaster backwards at night with no lights, upside-down wearing a soaking wet bathing suit and t-shirt because you thought it would be a bright idea to ride the splash-down water slides so that you could freeze your butt off while on your 60mph trip into emotional oblivion because you want the additional pain?
Should we all become emotionally numb like all the extras in every 1950’s sci-fi flick that took place in a monotone uniform-wearing future? Well that’s not the answer. Should we avoid over-the-top drama that is portrayed in a Telemundo soap opera? Probably a good idea. But sometimes rational thought doesn’t help in emotional situations. The ‘snap’ analogy or ‘switch’ that some analysts use to describe emotional breakdowns aren’t just snazzy catch words.
Mood Swings…sounds like a dance club the Big Bad Voodoo Daddies would play at – “express your free spirit and defiance of the Great Depression through the art of dance.” As quickly as it takes to throw your partner over your head and pull them through your legs while spinning them 18 times, a person’s mood can shift with a single phone call, a bad burrito, or an alarm clock. It can be your partner wanting to sit this one out or preferring to do the hop, or can-can instead of the swing.
Mood Swings…sounds like a sports bar dedicated to baseball, tennis, and golf – the only sports that will put a swing back in your step, with the help of alcohol consumption, large TV screens, and surrounded by highly emotional and devout fans who are always on the verge of full out brawl. A mood is emotionally charged with events that include an individual’s invested interests. So a drop of a putt, a 9th inning game-winning home run, a well placed drop shot can make or break a person’s day or mood. Why do sports control our emotional strings like a tightly strung racket? Maybe this is what separates (generalizations forthcoming, be warned) men from women. A sports team winning is like buying new shoes, there, that should make it more understandable. Now guys, come with me to page 2…
Ever felt like punching a wall or giving high five to anyone within a 30 foot radius after a touchdown? Then you know what I am talking about, it isn’t just a game, it is status amongst your friends, its bragging rights for a whole year, its pride, and to proudly to exclaim THIS IS MY SCHOOL/TEAM AND WE ARE GOOD!
So there you go, mood swings…it sounds like…well, I think you get the point. So on those days that everything seems dreary and glum, as if the sun will never shine again, remember that the pendulum will swing back, continuing the cosmic balance of fate. The sun will remain unwavering, we just have to wait for the world to turn, and it will. News channels flash images of death, despair, accidents, and tragedies because they make better stories and keep viewers transfixed. But daily, society progresses and builds, people recover and even grow stronger, victims are remembered and future ones are saved by the formers’ sacrifices. When acts of violence seem senseless and unsettling, acts of kindness will prevail.
So how can we swing so far so fast? One moment you are cracking up at a David Cross joke about picking up women from a garbage truck, the next we are huddled in a corner of a dark room listening to Yacht Rock classics like “Rosanna” or “Sarah” (“no time is a good time for goodbye” - so powerful because its true) or some other song with a girl’s name as the title. Is it a chemical imbalance? Mental abuses during adolescence? An affinity for riding the emotional roller-coaster backwards at night with no lights, upside-down wearing a soaking wet bathing suit and t-shirt because you thought it would be a bright idea to ride the splash-down water slides so that you could freeze your butt off while on your 60mph trip into emotional oblivion because you want the additional pain?
Should we all become emotionally numb like all the extras in every 1950’s sci-fi flick that took place in a monotone uniform-wearing future? Well that’s not the answer. Should we avoid over-the-top drama that is portrayed in a Telemundo soap opera? Probably a good idea. But sometimes rational thought doesn’t help in emotional situations. The ‘snap’ analogy or ‘switch’ that some analysts use to describe emotional breakdowns aren’t just snazzy catch words.
Mood Swings…sounds like a dance club the Big Bad Voodoo Daddies would play at – “express your free spirit and defiance of the Great Depression through the art of dance.” As quickly as it takes to throw your partner over your head and pull them through your legs while spinning them 18 times, a person’s mood can shift with a single phone call, a bad burrito, or an alarm clock. It can be your partner wanting to sit this one out or preferring to do the hop, or can-can instead of the swing.
Mood Swings…sounds like a sports bar dedicated to baseball, tennis, and golf – the only sports that will put a swing back in your step, with the help of alcohol consumption, large TV screens, and surrounded by highly emotional and devout fans who are always on the verge of full out brawl. A mood is emotionally charged with events that include an individual’s invested interests. So a drop of a putt, a 9th inning game-winning home run, a well placed drop shot can make or break a person’s day or mood. Why do sports control our emotional strings like a tightly strung racket? Maybe this is what separates (generalizations forthcoming, be warned) men from women. A sports team winning is like buying new shoes, there, that should make it more understandable. Now guys, come with me to page 2…
Ever felt like punching a wall or giving high five to anyone within a 30 foot radius after a touchdown? Then you know what I am talking about, it isn’t just a game, it is status amongst your friends, its bragging rights for a whole year, its pride, and to proudly to exclaim THIS IS MY SCHOOL/TEAM AND WE ARE GOOD!
So there you go, mood swings…it sounds like…well, I think you get the point. So on those days that everything seems dreary and glum, as if the sun will never shine again, remember that the pendulum will swing back, continuing the cosmic balance of fate. The sun will remain unwavering, we just have to wait for the world to turn, and it will. News channels flash images of death, despair, accidents, and tragedies because they make better stories and keep viewers transfixed. But daily, society progresses and builds, people recover and even grow stronger, victims are remembered and future ones are saved by the formers’ sacrifices. When acts of violence seem senseless and unsettling, acts of kindness will prevail.
Friday, April 13, 2007
MY LIST: April
April’s artists: Josh Ritter, Joshua Radin, Joshua James (The 3 Joshuas)
Sorry for the belatedness of this post, my 2 jobs and school are really getting in the way of these important things, you know what I mean?
I title this the 3 Joshuas for obvious reasons, but I group these three artists together because of their relative similarities in music and small discography. This blog is named after a Joshua Radin song, Sundrenched World, the opening track on his beautifully tragic debut album: We Were Here. Some of you may know Joshua Radin as Zach Braff’s buddy who gets his songs put on his shows like Scrubs and movies such as Garden State and Last Kiss starring the actor/director. However, Radin’s music speaks for itself, all it needed was a little exposure. A mellow and mostly acoustic series of 12 tracks paint a picture of melancholy and hope mixed together like a collage. The album weaves from one track to the next with string backings and vocals that crescendos and dims even within the same words. The lyrics typically revolve around a young man’s angst in love and in his own skin. Accompanying the vocals are catchy guitar melodies that set the tone of the songs even if separate from the theme of the lyrics. This album has no standout songs but each song is an enjoyable listen for relaxation and introspection.
Song that will change your life: Sundrenched World
Other tracks that you must listen to: Winter, Everything’ll Be Alright, Closer, Today
Hidden tracks: Someone Else’s Life, These Photographs, Only You
Joshua James is my most recent discovery, thanks to iTunes free downloads – they can surprise you every once in a while. James’ debut album: The Sun is Always Brighter (no, I did not get it for the sundrenched theme) begins with a very catch and upbeat spin on the typical love song. Again, a mostly acoustic album, James incorporates percussion and piano to back his more lighthearted playing style over Radin’s picking melodies. I’m still getting to know this album and a few songs have caught my ear the initial listening, others I will have to give a little bit more time before judging. The style ranges from up tempo to waltz-y tragic. What separates James from Radin is the greater range of overall music presentation, however each does well in their respective styles and desired emotional aims. James’ vocals are more rustic, for a lack of a better adjective, than Radin’s smooth ebb and flow vocals. James reminds me of a male Patty Griffin if you are familiar with her long catalog of work. Joshua James is a good middle man leading to our final Josh in this music fix.
Song that will change your life: FM Radio
Other tracks that you must listen to: The New Love Song, Soul and the Sea, Today,
Hidden tracks: Lord, Devil, and Him, Abbie Martin, Commodore
Josh Ritter has been around longer then our previous two Joshuas and is a more polished musician from his folksy roots to mainstream airplay. Ritter’s early work clearly shows the influence of the Bob Dylan genre - low, vocally driven tunes that weave tales of down home characters leaving out lives and jobs in Middle America. Accompanies by the occasional harmonica, Ritter would walk the guitar along with his stories to produce folk tales reminiscent of Dylan and Adam Brodsky. Where I discovered Josh Ritter was through a live EP he released with 4 songs from his Hello Starling and Golden Age of Radio albums, and they blew me away. Slightly transformed from the album version, the live EP exposes the greatness of Josh Ritter and the significant transition from that folksy self-titled debut album. Hello Starling and Golden Age include foot tapping, crowd clapping, and sing-a-long tunes that define Ritter’s stage presence. Now I see he has a live album that was recent released, I guess I know what my next musical purchase will be – its never-ending. Ritter’s most recent studio album, The Animal Years, continues Ritter’s evolution as a song writer and willingness to define and redefine his musical style, without losing his folk upbringing. Each album includes those toe-tapping, lyrically savvy wonders as well as the down-home ballads. Each subsequent album expands Ritter’s growth as a song writer and experimenter, shifting back and forth from acoustic and clean electric guitars to a wide variety of backing instruments, Ritter is growing a loyal fan base. Just do a quick search on youtube and you will find a plethora of live concert videos and a few music videos. This is an artist you should definitely check out.
Song that will change your life: Thin Blue Flame
Other tracks that you must listen to: Girl in a War, Wolves, Golden Age of Radio, Man Burning, Kathleen, Snow is Gone
Hidden tracks: Harrisburg, Bone of Song, Monster Ballads, Lillian, Egypt, Leaves and Kings, Peter Killed the Dragon
Sorry for the belatedness of this post, my 2 jobs and school are really getting in the way of these important things, you know what I mean?
I title this the 3 Joshuas for obvious reasons, but I group these three artists together because of their relative similarities in music and small discography. This blog is named after a Joshua Radin song, Sundrenched World, the opening track on his beautifully tragic debut album: We Were Here. Some of you may know Joshua Radin as Zach Braff’s buddy who gets his songs put on his shows like Scrubs and movies such as Garden State and Last Kiss starring the actor/director. However, Radin’s music speaks for itself, all it needed was a little exposure. A mellow and mostly acoustic series of 12 tracks paint a picture of melancholy and hope mixed together like a collage. The album weaves from one track to the next with string backings and vocals that crescendos and dims even within the same words. The lyrics typically revolve around a young man’s angst in love and in his own skin. Accompanying the vocals are catchy guitar melodies that set the tone of the songs even if separate from the theme of the lyrics. This album has no standout songs but each song is an enjoyable listen for relaxation and introspection.
Song that will change your life: Sundrenched World
Other tracks that you must listen to: Winter, Everything’ll Be Alright, Closer, Today
Hidden tracks: Someone Else’s Life, These Photographs, Only You
Joshua James is my most recent discovery, thanks to iTunes free downloads – they can surprise you every once in a while. James’ debut album: The Sun is Always Brighter (no, I did not get it for the sundrenched theme) begins with a very catch and upbeat spin on the typical love song. Again, a mostly acoustic album, James incorporates percussion and piano to back his more lighthearted playing style over Radin’s picking melodies. I’m still getting to know this album and a few songs have caught my ear the initial listening, others I will have to give a little bit more time before judging. The style ranges from up tempo to waltz-y tragic. What separates James from Radin is the greater range of overall music presentation, however each does well in their respective styles and desired emotional aims. James’ vocals are more rustic, for a lack of a better adjective, than Radin’s smooth ebb and flow vocals. James reminds me of a male Patty Griffin if you are familiar with her long catalog of work. Joshua James is a good middle man leading to our final Josh in this music fix.
Song that will change your life: FM Radio
Other tracks that you must listen to: The New Love Song, Soul and the Sea, Today,
Hidden tracks: Lord, Devil, and Him, Abbie Martin, Commodore
Josh Ritter has been around longer then our previous two Joshuas and is a more polished musician from his folksy roots to mainstream airplay. Ritter’s early work clearly shows the influence of the Bob Dylan genre - low, vocally driven tunes that weave tales of down home characters leaving out lives and jobs in Middle America. Accompanies by the occasional harmonica, Ritter would walk the guitar along with his stories to produce folk tales reminiscent of Dylan and Adam Brodsky. Where I discovered Josh Ritter was through a live EP he released with 4 songs from his Hello Starling and Golden Age of Radio albums, and they blew me away. Slightly transformed from the album version, the live EP exposes the greatness of Josh Ritter and the significant transition from that folksy self-titled debut album. Hello Starling and Golden Age include foot tapping, crowd clapping, and sing-a-long tunes that define Ritter’s stage presence. Now I see he has a live album that was recent released, I guess I know what my next musical purchase will be – its never-ending. Ritter’s most recent studio album, The Animal Years, continues Ritter’s evolution as a song writer and willingness to define and redefine his musical style, without losing his folk upbringing. Each album includes those toe-tapping, lyrically savvy wonders as well as the down-home ballads. Each subsequent album expands Ritter’s growth as a song writer and experimenter, shifting back and forth from acoustic and clean electric guitars to a wide variety of backing instruments, Ritter is growing a loyal fan base. Just do a quick search on youtube and you will find a plethora of live concert videos and a few music videos. This is an artist you should definitely check out.
Song that will change your life: Thin Blue Flame
Other tracks that you must listen to: Girl in a War, Wolves, Golden Age of Radio, Man Burning, Kathleen, Snow is Gone
Hidden tracks: Harrisburg, Bone of Song, Monster Ballads, Lillian, Egypt, Leaves and Kings, Peter Killed the Dragon
Breathe
A momentary respite of calm and sanity. A Friday. The end of a week, beginning of a weekend, an escape from the Monday through Friday monotony of American society. Maybe I spoke too soon. I should have limited my respite to Friday mornings. I before I know it, I must leave. How can days go by so fast and yet seem so long?
Anyway, to those of you who actually read this thing, I apologies for my failure to more regularly update but until I can institute the 30 hour day, updates may be less frequent then I would like. Don’t worry, my next update will get you your music fix…hopefully later on today, because if it doesn’t happen today, it might not happen until next month. Hope all is well in your world.
Anyway, to those of you who actually read this thing, I apologies for my failure to more regularly update but until I can institute the 30 hour day, updates may be less frequent then I would like. Don’t worry, my next update will get you your music fix…hopefully later on today, because if it doesn’t happen today, it might not happen until next month. Hope all is well in your world.
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