Ramble On

Amsterdam - Day 1

2009-05-21T02:59:00.004-04:00

Yesterday marked the beginning of the ten days that I will be spending in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, and Ouederkerk aan de Amstel, a small village just south of Amsterdam. My first flight went well, landing in Philly just in time for me to get to the next terminal. I got an aisle seat, and there was a lady sitting at the window seat, and no one in the middle. (Score for more elbow room.) For the 8 hour plane ride, the extra space was much appreciated. They served dinner almost right after take off, and I was pleasantly surprised by the vegetarian option that I had selected. The regular meal was pasta or chicken, but the veg heads got a small spinach salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing, melon and pineapple with coconut flakes, a wheat roll, and a rice dish with artichoke and asparagus. Combined with the bag of Chex Mix that lasted me the whole flight, I was surprisingly satisfied for the duration of my aviation. I proceeded to draw, read, play Spore, Scrabble, and Super DX Ball, work on some lyrics, work on my portfolio a little, and sleep for about two hours. The inflight movie was some "true story" starring Greg Kinnear and I think Liv Tyler about an inventor who gets screwed by the big auto companies. Oh, the irony of in-flight cinema.

The town of Ouederkerk is, for the most part, untouched by corporate greed or capitalism. It's akin to a breath of (very) fresh air to not be bombarded by logos and advertisments asking you to buy something. I know it'll be different once I venture into the city, but c'est la vie.

For lunch, we walked to a nearby outdoor cafe where I drank a nice, cold glass of beer outdoors and had delicious goat cheese with honey and spinach sandwiched between two crispy pieces of foccacia. Today, my quest is to have frites (french fries) with delicious Dutch fritesauce (mayonnaise, essentially)!

After walking around town for a bit, I took a nap to catch up with my body, and now I'm all set to go. We orded Chinees (Chinese) for dinner, and it was completely unlike anything I've had in America. Delicious, fresh, vegetables, and super thin noodles. The egg rolls were default vegetarian (score!), unlike at home, where you have to ask for them. Kroepoke (shrimp crackers) were not quite what I'm used to, a la Grandma's home cookin', but sufficient none the less.

We sat outside and drank beer for the rest of the night. The cheaper beer here, Jaeger, is 4.8. That's the good beer at home. It's so tasty and, I hope you're sitting, it's 7 euros for a crate (that's 24 of them for you folks back home). To recap, 24 tasty bottled brews that are 4.8 % for approximately $8.50. Yeah, I know you're jealous.

This leads me to my next wide-eyed envy of the Dutch way of living: recycling. In the town Ouederkerk, you pay for the recycling bags you buy, as well as the trash bags you buy, and for the bags you use at the grocery store, etc. It's an incredibly effect way to get people to think about what they're consuming. The fees accrued from selling the bags the town uses to provide its trash service to the people. Also, the bottles and crates techincally belong to the brewery. You pay a deposit for the crate and bottles, and they get recycled thusly.

Oh yeah, did I mention it's super cheap?

River Day

2009-05-02T23:49:00.003-04:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cwallis

Check it out!!

Cold War Kids - "Loyalty to Loyalty"

2009-03-19T14:11:00.005-04:00

Cold War Kids - Loyalty to Loyalty

The cold war isn’t over yet for these kids, and thankfully so. Loyalty to Loyalty, the Cold War Kids’ sophomore album, is dripping with their original flavor. The album displays the same minimalist, bare-bones jams their 2006 debut CD Robbers & Cowards was famous for, while simultaneously carrying the band into a new era. However, fans can sleep well knowing the Kids haven’t given anything up. Loyalty prominently displays one of the Cold War Kids’ many fortes: manipulating dynamics. Tracks such as “Against Privacy” and “Avalanche in B” improve upon the best moments from Robbers. Lead singer Nathan Willett’s fragile vocals soar over riffs and beats branded with that signature flow-of-consciousness feel. Jonnie Russell’s guitar is as random and rhythmic at the same time as possible, and Matt Aveiro’s drums have a tribal tinge that reinforce Willett’s raw emotion. Then, when least expected, a track like “I’ve Seen Enough” sneaks into your eardrums. It begins with a luring, hypnotic piano beat and soon explodes into a full-force rock song big enough for Kings of Leon, but still captures the raw originality of the Kids. On “Welcome To The Occupation”, Willett closes the album singing about the growing burden felt by those who speak out against social injustices, crying “Whistle blowers gotta get outta school/They don’t want poets, they want pigeons on a stool.” Loyalty has proved the Cold War is here to stay. Ronald Reagan must be rolling in his grave.

The Prof.

2009-01-27T15:15:00.001-05:00

2009-01-26T11:30:00.004-05:00

Time Is Now- Professor Greenhouse

Come to these shows!

Jan 30th - The Green Room - Kent, OH

Feb. 6th - The Outpost, Kent, OH

Feb 20th - KSU Rathsekller

Mar. 7 - JB's, Kent, OH

Prof. Greenhouse/BSU!/Hayden Calling/Saint Ohio @ The Grog Shop - Dec. 17

2008-12-07T19:11:00.003-05:00

2008-12-07T19:07:00.002-05:00

Dylan soothes the troubled soul.

SSDP Conference Photos

2008-11-24T15:05:00.002-05:00

Best. Weekend. Ever.

VH1 & End The Drug War!

2008-11-22T23:39:00.005-05:00

Are you kidding me VH1? Kid Rock on Storytellers? I'm pretty sure Kid's Rock story consists of nothing but white trash misery and talentlessness of the highest degree.

Today was a long day. We woke up at 8 a.m. after about four hours of sleep, dragged ourselves downstairs and forced ourselves to eat breakfast. We hiked over to the University of Maryland Stamp Student Union for a day of speeches by people that have long been waging a war on unfair drug policy.

We got to see a great debate between Kevin Sabet, founder of Students Taking Action Not Drugs, and Kris Krane, executive director of SSDP. Needless to say Kevin wasn't eye-to-eye with us on everything, but Kris presented his arguments very well and with a lot of respect. We played the top game, as some say, and it just goes to show that this thing we're fighting is unjust. Valid arguments based on sound and reason cannot be argued against, and if so only from a purely perspective standpoint.

We listened to experts speak on the topic of religion and its role in the fight against the drug war, SSDP going global and its effect in the UK and Canada, in which Mr. Tree presented compelling evidence for the argument that the United States' presence and eradication of the major cocaine cartels in South America is only making the problem worse. The way he explained it is that if you were to smash a cockroach, or in this case two, it would splinter into one hundred little cockroaches. An uncountable number of smaller distributors have picked up the clients of the major drug cartels taken down by the U.S. Drug War.

We also heard about the mayor of a smaller town outside of College Park in which just several months ago the mayor of the town was a firsthand victim of the Drug War. His house wasturned upside down by a SWAT team, he was forced to stay kneeling with his hands bound behind him in his underwear, and the entering SWAT was "startled" by the presence of his two dogs so they shot them. Innocent animals with no malicious thought, only instinct, got between the state and their desire to present a crack-down-on-drugs image and take the easy way out in enforcing drug law. Unfortunately, this is the world in which we live.

Lunch was free and delicious and vegetarian. I bought an SSDP shirt and picked up lots of great literature on medicinal marijuana and drug reform and some cool stickers. We spent some time in the hot tub and chilled real low key tonight.

Like I said yesterday, it's great to see the incredible potential of what everyone here can do. None of us have any excuses that could get in the way of pushing our chapter to its maximum potential.

End the Drug War!

I'm goin' down to Washington, D.C.

2008-11-21T22:33:00.005-05:00

So here we are, in the capital of our nation, walking the halls of Congress, lobbying our congressional representatives to change drug policies that are outdated, unfair, and biased...and it feels so good.

It's incredible to be here with so many people that have the same passions and same view points about changing the same things as you do. It's incredible to see the effect that just one day has had on so many people. Washington, D.C. is a wonderful place, and it would be even more incredible if it wasn't overrun by greedy, lying, seething rats that have only money on their mind.

We walked by some official Capitol Police blockades that were in place for the Presidential Inauguration. I wonder what the future holds. It is indeed exciting to be alive and witness history being made, but we cannot let that blindfold us and forget about our struggles of the past. Our struggle for justice on all fronts for all people cannot be forgotten because we have reached a milestone in race relations in America. Our struggle for the end of all kinds of bigotry and ignorance cannot be forgotten simply because we have been promised change.

I've taken a lot of great pictures with the new camera. I've got some of the Capitol, Union Station, and various other D.C. eye candy.

Also, while waiting for the train today, I saw some really bad ass freights.

Oh and quick shameless plug, this Saturday is a show at The Nervous Dog in Akron with Hayden Calling and Blast Shields Up! Good stuff. Dec. 17th is going to be one hell of a show at the Grog Shop with the same two bands from above and (hopefully) a pretty cool band called Saint Ohio.

Things are looking up, you see? Things aren't going to be so bad.

Canon Digital Rebel XSi

2008-11-19T17:26:00.004-05:00

Our backyard.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-19T15:57:00.001-05:00

Nov. 29/Prof. Greenhouse/Hayden Calling/Blast Shields Up!

2008-11-17T18:19:00.003-05:00

Check it.

2008-11-17T12:38:00.001-05:00

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

J.R.R. Tolkien


Found here.

2008-11-05T20:56:00.001-05:00

Listen to Nick Drake.

History

2008-11-05T16:51:00.003-05:00

Our President. (The scanner made it look all smushed.)

OBEY

2008-11-03T20:42:00.003-05:00

The Rux

2008-11-03T11:03:00.002-05:00

Thanks for everything dudes. See you soon.

Jeff Tweedy just called me

2008-11-03T09:52:00.001-05:00

Jeff Tweedy from Wilco just called me to remind me to vote! Man, what a nice guy. How did he know that I've been riding a Wilco wave recently?

Work and school, work and school, work and school, work and school....

2008-10-30T23:58:00.004-04:00

Listen to that.

Read this:

http://www.alternativereel.com/includes/top-ten/display_review.php?id=00080

(especially #10, 8, and 4.)

The right to choose...

2008-10-17T00:33:00.002-04:00

I thought this was a significant advancement in the worldwide struggle for a woman's right to choose:

http://feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswirestory.asp?id=11339

Check it out.

Change

2008-10-14T04:11:00.003-04:00

In my short time as an organism of this species I belong to on this planet that we have named Earth in this universe, there are very few things that remain the same. Things are constantly changing. Everything. Every little thing you thought would be the same forever will probably change some time in your life. Changes occur whether you know it or not, like it or not, want it or not, and you better be ready for them. As I stated above, there are few things that I know will stay the same.

1. I will always love music. The genres and artists may change, but it is unlikely.

2. I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever be in the military. The draft, Uncle Sam, and his entire army can't stop me.

It's 4 a.m. Full Metal Jacket is on HDNet: uncut, unedited, and HD.

Get Money

2008-10-01T20:47:00.002-04:00

Just an ad I modified in class.

Osama Bin Bush

2008-10-01T16:09:00.001-04:00

Money for jobs and education!

2008-09-29T18:56:00.002-04:00

Not for war and occupation!

Such were the chants heard at today's 2nd Annual Kent State Anti-War Committee Rally and March. The rally was good, but the march was better. We marched from the plaza in the middle of campus, then down one of the main roads running through campus and backed up traffic for about a quarter mile.

We then stood in front of the ROTC building and chanted and yelled some more and taped anti-war pictures on the front door. Then we lined Main St., opposite several police cars, and continued to spread the good word.

We were met mostly with peace signs, waves, smiles and honks. Some people, however, don't enjoy peace as much as the rest of us and gave us the finger but never had the audacity to look at us.

Most of the police cars left, and we started to sing "Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye" and they pulled the paddy wagon around just to scare us. The only cop car that stayed the entire time was the one with a male cop driving and a female cop in the passenger seat video taping us. They were parked in the Wendy's parking lot. Then, ingeniously, two brave souls took a large banner across the street and stood directly in the way of the video camera. We continued to chant and sing protest songs and other songs and being merry. Below are the pictures I took with my phone because I forgot my camera. Enjoy!

Stumbling

2008-09-22T18:39:00.002-04:00

I actually stumbled upon the same list that I had posted a couple days ago but in a more complete form. Here it is:

Black teen pregnancies? A 'crisis' in black America.
White teen pregnancies? A 'blessed event.'

If you grow up in Hawaii you're 'exotic.'
Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you're the quintessential 'American story.'

Similarly, if you name your kid Barack you're 'unpatriotic.'
Name your kids Trig and Track, you're 'colorful.'

If you're a Democrat and you make a VP pick without fully vetting the individual you're 'reckless.'
A Republican who doesn't fully vet is a 'maverick.'

If you spend 3 years as a community organizer growing your organization from a staff of 1 to 13 and your budget from $70,000 to $400,000, then become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review,create a voter regstration drive that registers 150,000 new African Amerian voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor,then spend nearly 8 more years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, becoming chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, then spend nearly 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of nearly 13 million people, sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you are woefully inexperienced.
If you spend 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, then spend 20 months as the governor of a state with 650,000 people, you've got the most executive experience of anyone on either ticket, are the Commander in Chief of the Alaska military and are well qualified to lead the nation should you be called upon to do so because your state is the closest state to Russia.

If you are a Demoratic male candidate who is popular with millions of people you are an 'arrogant celebrity'.
If you are a popular Republican female candidate you are 'energizing the base'.

If you are a younger male candidate who thinks for himself and makes his own decisions you are 'presumptuous'.
If you are an older male candidate who makes last minute decisions you refuse to explain, you are a 'shoot from the hip' maverick.

If you are a candidate with a Harvard law degree you are 'an elitist 'out of touch' with the real America.
If you are a legacy (dad and granddad were admirals) graduate of Annapolis, with multiple disciplinary infractions you are a hero.

If you manage a multi-million dollar nationwide campaign, you are an 'empty suit'.
If you are a part time mayor of a town of 7000 people, you are an 'experienced executive'.

If you go to a south side Chicago church, your beliefs are 'extremist'.
If you believe in creationism and don't believe gobal warming is man made, you are 'strongly principled'.

If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.
If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years with whom you are raising two beautiful daughters you're 'risky'.

If you're a black single mother of 4 who waits for 22 hours after her water breaks to seek medical attention, you're an irresponsible parent, endangering the life of your unborn child.
But if you're a white married mother who waits 22 hours, you're spunky.

If you're a 13-year-old Chelsea Clinton, the right-wing press calls you 'First dog.'
If you're a 17-year old pregnant unwed daughter of a Republican, the right-wing press calls you 'beautiful' and 'courageous.'

If you kill an endangered species, you're an excellent hunter.
If you have an abortion you're not a christian, you're a murderer ( forget about if it happened while being date raped)

If you teach abstinence only in sex education, you get teen parents.
If you teach responsible age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

It can be found here: http://www.blah3.com/article.php?story=20080912193911820&mode=print

Oh, Buddha...

2008-09-22T17:52:00.002-04:00

If you hurt an innocent person, then you are only hurting yourself, just as dust thrown into a wind is blown back in your face. - Buddha

Found here : http://www.amidabuddha.org/news/19Sep2008.html

I also acquired two new pens recently. They're awesome and they make me want to write a whole lot.

My throat still hurts but my sickness is going away.

Kent State SSDP has it's first meeting Monday October 6th! Viva la revolucion!

Truth...

2008-09-17T11:47:00.005-04:00

http://www.grizzlybay.org/SarahPalinInfoPage.htm

Just some real information on Gov. Sarah Palin.

"It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself."
- Thomas Jefferson

Election '08!

2008-09-17T11:47:00.001-04:00

My friend Nora posted this on facebook and, although I do not support any specific candidate for president, I found this extremely amusing and scarily real.

* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're
"exotic, different."

* Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, a quintessential American story.

--------------------------

-------------------------------------------
* Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.

* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well
grounded

-------------------------- --------------------------------------------
* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

* Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.
-------------------------- --------------------------------------------
* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become
the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter
registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12
years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State
Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become
chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee,
spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a
state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving
on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's
Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city
council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000
people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000
people, then you're qualified to become the country's second
highest ranking executive.
-------------------------- --------------------------------------
* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education,
including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the
fiber of society.

* If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with
no other option in sex education in your state's school system
while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant , you're very
responsible.
-------------------------- ------------------------------------------
* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position
in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner
city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's
values don't represent America's.

* If you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one
DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to
vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated
the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely
admirable.

Productivity...

2008-09-15T11:01:00.002-04:00

So the apocalypse came last night.

Well it wasn't really the apocalypse as described in various religious text, but it was a pretty bad wind storm. Short bursts of 50-mile-per-hour winds that knocked over trees and shit all over the roads and sidewalks. Of course, one of the things it knocked over was our cable/internet.

So being the resourceful gentleman I am, I chose to bring my computer to class and am writing to you now from Intro to Mass Communication, since the desk is big enough for my computer and the classroom has great WiFi access. Hopefully all is back to normal by the time I return home.

It has been raining a lot.

Watch this: http://leap.cc/cms/index.php?name=Content&pid=28

2008-09-13T23:44:00.000-04:00

http://poetryfoundation.org/journal/feature.comic6.html

Very awesome poem/comic. Check it out.

2008-09-10T10:07:00.001-04:00

My iPod

2008-09-09T22:37:00.002-04:00

knows me, I swear.

While on shuffle on the way home tonight, I had it playing through all of my Belle & Sebastian. It played my most favorite B&S songs together and it did that on more than just one occasion.

I feel as if there is some sort of human-technology boundary that we've broken.

Or it could just be in my head.

Protest!

2008-09-05T12:30:00.002-04:00

http://www.radikal.com.tr/Default.aspx?aType=GaleriHaber&Date=02.09.2008&ArticleID=896715&PAGE=27

Great collection of pictures of the protest from the RNC. I wish I could have been there.

No!

2008-09-05T11:20:00.002-04:00

I woke up at 7 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep so I got up at roughly 7:30, ate breakfast, showered, checked my email and drove out to Akron to get my new shoes (they're sweet).

I refuse to succumb myself to the hangover dead. I will not laze around like a zombie and whine all day and clean up the mess from last night and piece together memories.

That's all I have to say.

2008-09-03T15:33:00.001-04:00

http://www.ifyoumakeit.com/video/defiance-ohio/hair-pool/

I love that band and furthermore this is a new song. The website I just found today actually and is a pretty cool collection of "intimate" acoustic sessions and whatnot. Good stuff.

Keep on keepin' on.

Don't leave the light on...

2008-09-01T21:40:00.003-04:00

Today I cooked breakfast with a special someone, went on a bike ride, gave thumbs up to some picketers picketing, bought a xylophone (pictures of which I shall post later), got an umbrella, some composition books and some tupperware, bought a C harp and two sets of guitar strings, did some homework and made some buttons while listening to a lot of Belle & Sebastian.

Happy Labor Day!

Turn left or get shot

2008-08-27T15:46:00.002-04:00

Just some stuff. The last might move from page to skin, but I'm not sure yet.

Rain rain go away.

2008-08-27T12:53:00.002-04:00

So I'm sitting in the hall of the Art Building, waiting to get a seat for my terribly enthralling extremely exhilarating Art History 1. And I'm wet because it's raining outside. It's not too bad but bad enough that a ten minute walk turns into "Where the hell is the damn building?" and "I wish I had a fucking umbrella."

I ordered some Simple Shoes off of their website today. They are made from completely sustainable material such as car tires and hemp and organic cotton. I can't get a picture of them on here so I'll take a picture when they come in the mail. I hope they come soon. My poor poor Chucks just can't do it anymore.

Also, NoSweatapparel.com also has some really good deals of shoes that support union workshops and not sweat shops (and look like Chucks but aren't).

Good times.

Touch the sky...

2008-08-24T12:55:00.003-04:00

Moved in to the new townhome the other day. Things are going pretty good, but there are always some bumps in the road when it comes to new transitions to new situations and what not. However everything is settled and moved in and a new life is beginning. Classes start on Monday.

I have a couple drawings in my sketchbook that I haven't put up yet.

I am the Michael Phelps of Mario Kart!

2008-08-20T11:39:00.002-04:00

I told Angel that would be the title.

I sort of moved in most of my things last night into my new place in Kent. Pictures will come soon. I also did a couple more drawings in my sketchbook but my scanner isn't set up yet and we won't have internet until Saturday.

More to come!

Just a little more...

2008-08-17T19:38:00.004-04:00

Just a few more pictures from Wanterstock. That's all.

(P.S. - In case you folks didn't know, you can click on the pictures to make 'em bigger.)

Join the Marines!

2008-08-16T23:40:00.004-04:00

(but don't really.)

Today was Wanterstock 2.0 in Seville, OH in Adam Wanter's barn. The turnout wasn't as high as expected but good times were still had by all. There are some pictures up there. Saint Ohio played a great set, I am very much a fan. The kid yelling at me to join the Marines while I was playing, not a fan. Sorry Johnny America, go back to wrestling practice with the rest of your ignorant in-breeds. Oh and I might be playing this Friday at the Nervous Dog Coffee Bar & Roaster in Akron, OH with Overcoming the Trial and Blast Shields Up! so come out if you don't have anything else to do.

Audrey got me a vegetarian cookbook and sketchbook for my birthday as well as some other stuff. Here is the first drawing from the sketchbook.

All in good fun...

2008-08-15T15:51:00.004-04:00

Found that here. I thought it was good for a laugh.

Move-out-of-one-place-into-another day is soon!

2008-08-13T21:11:00.003-04:00

Insert Here by Chris Wallis

A Statement of Strawberry Flavor by Chris Wallis

The Olympics

2008-08-13T01:34:00.002-04:00

This is a summary of the Olympic coverage by the media:

Phelps, Phelps, Phelps...swimming, Beijing, Phelps, Phelps, Beijing, USA, Gold Medals (by Phelps), Phelps, Michael Phelps, Bob Costas, some other sport, oh and how awesome is Michael Phelps?

For real.

Revolution is all around!

2008-08-11T04:22:00.001-04:00

It really is!

Today I read some more of The Strawberry Statement and revolution is abound! The things I would do if I could be on that campus in 1968. Also, Angel and I watched Persepolis, a very well animated film about a girl that survives a revolution and a war in Iran and struggles to deal with the state of her homeland and her identity. Excellent film! It was only released in select cities before but now it is on DVD everywhere so go watch it!

I also listened to Houses of the Holy by Led Zeppelin on my way home from Angel's house. This album I will listen to until I'm 100 years old.

I bought some new music from iTunes the other day (thanks Uncle Rick!). The first album being Bedouin Soundclash's 2004 release Sounding a Mosaic. Great reggae/dubrock with some acoustic tones and good lyrics.

The second is The Black Keys debut The Big Come Up. Great Midwestern bluesy-duet-dirty-rock. And no, I don't just like them because they happen to be from Akron. They're great musicians and were a perfect compliment to the next album I bought...

The Complete Recordings of Robert Johnson, king of the Delta blues. This collection of his recordings is great, encompassing everything he ever put down on tape in the few short years before his death. If you get a chance, listen to I Believe I'll Dust My Broom.

Also, as I was listening to my new collection of Robert Johnson (who supposedly sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads to play guitar like he did) on my way to work on Saturday I noticed I was behind an older bus, teal-blueish in color. I thought it was a nice vintage bus of a cool color and failed, until I was almost at work, to notice what was emblazoned on the back of the bus in large orange script: CrossRoads. I wish I could've gotten a picture. It's good to know at least somebody's lookin' out for me. Thanks Bobby.

Oh, and in case anybody cares, Russia invaded South Osettia the other day and is currently at war over control of the small country with Georgia (no, not peaches and Ray Charles Georgia), another small country that lies to the south. The last death toll I heard was 1500 people and Georgia seems to be withdrawing. You can read a little more about it here. Too bad we live in a war desensitized culture that doesn't even seem to flinch at the idea of people losing their lives over imaginary lines and ideals and all these intangible things that, at the time of death, don't mean shit.

Testify!

2008-08-08T23:28:00.000-04:00

That's right, I said it.

My day was okay but very jam packed, and work was shit. I guess that's why true Communism never works because no one barely wants to do what they are supposed to do let alone any extra work. But I did get to snag most of a German Chocolate cake. Mmm.

I broke my Kanye West boycott tonight. After nearly two months, I listened to Late Registration on part of my way home from work. I'm not mad at you for Bonnaroo anymore, Kanye. I think there was maybe some egotistical outlandishness on your side and some bad planning on Bonnaroo's side and some miscommunication on both sides, but it's all water under the gold-plated bridge. You're still my homeboy, Ye.

I began reading The Strawberry Statement today because I finished Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Very exciting.

Today was also a gorgeous day and I wish I could have done more things outside. Hopefully it's as nice tomorrow.

Responsibility

2008-08-06T15:44:00.002-04:00

I saw the new trailer for Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince today!! You can watch it right here. I can't wait for more trailers to come out and of course for the film. I should probably read the book again.

I'm spending way too much money on my car but hopefully after this it will all be over except for routine maintenance. I would much rather ride my bike everywhere I went.

I got my student ID today as well and while I was on campus I got that sickening feeling of being stressed out and having papers due and the summer being over. Bummer.

When you wanna get down, down on the ground...

2008-08-03T15:08:00.005-04:00

Well the weekend is ending, and a new week beginning. Less than a month until I move out and in to our new place at Kent. I didn't work all weekend but somehow managed to stay busy.

Friday I biked to the eye doctor's downtown to get my sweet new prescription sunglasses (which were just old ones that I got new lenses for). Angel and I also went on a 7 mile bike ride on Towpath in the Cuyahoga Valley and it was beautiful! We saw two Blue Herons and got bike on a nice, easy path next to a river.

Saturday I went to the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club and got to follow Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh for their first three holes. Then at night it was my Mom and Mike's first Luau party and I was selected to cook. It was a good time but the highlights of the night were drunk middle agers, cornhole, and tai chi lessons.

And today I am doing nothing.

Oh! My George Bush mask came the other day! To be used for...well, you'll just have to see.

"And when my friends got me into tai chi I got into...uhh..like I realized that the Beatles were the greatest thing!"

The Harvest

2008-07-30T15:18:00.002-04:00

Thought I should post this because it's just really good:

http://www.dshed.net/harvest/

Watch it and you'll see.

Oh, and Wanterstock 2.0 is on August 16th, so if you don't have anything better to do come out and support local music! It's also free.

Oh vinyl, how I love thee!

2008-07-29T21:51:00.001-04:00

Good finds while record shopping today.

The first to grab my eye was The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan by...well you know. The spine is cracked and there is some other cover wear but the record seems to listen just fine. Some of my favorite Dylan songs are on this record such as A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, Girl From the North Country, and Don't Think Twice, It's All Right. Score! (Upon further listening Don't Think Twice, It's All Right has some scratches in it which make the song skip and subsequently make me look like an idiot when I'm singing along, but the sheer awesomeness of the song make it okay.)

The next would be Street Legal by Bobby again. This record is mediocre as far as Dylan goes but the opening track, Changing of the Guards, will forever remind me of Luis Morales, 823 Turner Ave., among other things.

The next record I bought was Slowhand by Eric Clapton. It's a timeless album, and one of his first after separating from Derek & the Dominoes I believe. And it was only a dollar!

The only new album I bought was I'm Wide Awake It's Morning by Bright Eyes. It came with a free mp3 download, which is one reason why I have so many new LPs. There are so many I want to get still! Anyways, this album is great, continuing my as-of-late Bright Eyes kick.

I successfully managed to not make brownies tonight, but it isn't my fault. The oven wouldn't heat up. But when it does, those are going to be some delicious brownies! I also succesfully rode my bike to the store today without half killing myself and succesfully paid off one of my credit cards today. Sounds like it was a succesful day, huh?

Or the Paris of the South...

2008-07-27T21:34:00.002-04:00

I've been listening to Cassadaga by Bright Eyes a lot recently and have discovered an entirely different side to the album. Before, I received the album just as part of the Bright Eyes' library. However, after listening to the album over and over and over again, it has become it's own beast. It has taken on a sort of folk-rock-country-alt-country feel collectively with each song being independent and different in its own right. All the tracks together and in order meld perfectly and completely to form Cassadaga. I previsouly thought that Conor Oberst's voice was on the border of too "emo" for me, but after listening more closely, I realize that he makes it his own very successfully. When he wants to, Oberst can have a good voice, as in he can sing well and very well at that. If you don't like Bright Eyes or maybe haven't thought about listening to it before and you feel that you are such a person that appreciates music, listen to this album. Otherwise, you're missing out. Oh, and the vinyl/cd package is very very cool, so go out and buy it and support your local record shop.

I drew a picture of Ginsberg (again) last night but couldn't quite seem to get his eyes right.

Crash!

2008-07-27T12:46:00.004-04:00

And that is exactly what I did this morning.

Today is a beautiful day! So I decided to ride my bike across town to the bank. While taking this leisurely ride to the bank, I came upon a part of the sidewalk that didn't quite agree with me. I raised my handlebars to get up the sidewalk and when I came back down, disaster! My front wheel went haywire and I flew maybe a foot or two over my handlebars. I used my hands to block my headphones and my head from being damaged but managed to get some nice cuts and sprain my right hand. Pics from the damage below via cell phone. Fortunately for me and my semi-broken bicycle my mom and Mike were in town and came and picked me up. All is well and hopefully nothing comes up that is worse. Now for portabella mushroom burgers!

Bummer!

2008-07-25T15:23:00.001-04:00

Man, what a bummer. Only $25 to see some awesome bands in an awesome city with an awesome girlfriend and some awesome friends and they're alllll sold out. I guess shit happens, right?

Angel and I watched Meet Bill last night. Aside from the so-so acting, the movie was pretty great. Bill, played by an overweight Aaron Eckhart, is stuck in a dead end life with a wife who is having an affair and a job he hates and blah blah blah. The movie progresses as Bill's student partner who he is supposed to mentor sets him free, albeit via a joint or two of White Widow. I would recommend it, and if you can get through some of the cheesier parts, it's not half bad.

We also watched Be Kind Rewind featuring the talents of Danny Glover, Jack Black, and Mos Def. It wasn't too bad, considering the last Jack Black movie I watched was School of Rock. In the film, Jack Black becomes magnetized and erases all the videos in the store, and so him and Mos Def (and eventually almost the entire cast) have to recreate all the films as they rent them and it turns out to be a huge success! Until a very angry Sigourney Weaver fines them for copyright infringement and they owe like a trillion dollars. They then make their own movie and the day is saved, sort of, because their building still has to be demolished and Danny Glover still has to go live in the projects, but they go out with a bang screening their original film that they created for the entire city.

All for now.

I gots a fever!

2008-07-23T02:08:00.000-04:00

For counterculture icons that is!

Tonight I downloaded Timothy Leary's Turn on, Tune In, Drop Out speech recorded in New York in 1966 that I stumbled upon. Awesome find. I got it here. I also drew a picture of Allen Ginsberg.

Cheers!

Boycott Beijing!

2008-07-22T17:09:00.001-04:00

And I mean it too. Nothing should stand in the way of human rights. Granted, the United States has many of it's own human rights issues to straighten out (did someone say Guantanamo Bay?) but boycotting the Beijing Olympics would at the very least be a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, there is too much Olympic fever to stop that train now, so the only thing that each one of you can do is ignore the Olympic Games like they aren't even happening. Paste magazine had a special Olympic advertisment with some bands recalling their "favorite" Olympic moments. It wasn't too bad until at the end I saw 3 Doors Down staring back at me. I guess if you were a washup band with no talent and depending solely on if the mainstream will swallow you back up for your livelihood you could ignore human rights too, right? I guess some people will do anything for fame, money, etc., etc., etc.,...

Visit boycottbeijing08.org.

Any wattage lower than the sun...

2008-07-19T20:07:00.000-04:00

What a past few days!

Thursday Angel and I went up to Cedar Point and being the champions we are hit every ride in the park we wanted to. The new (as of last year) Maverick was phenomenal. In my opinion, the best ride at the park. When we were done there we went to the Knight's Inn in Sandusky and crashed on a massive king size bed and watched The Who on Vh1's rock honors. Talk about rock n' roll. Friday we got up at 9, had a filling continental breakfast and went to Soak City. We had an awesome time on the water slides and, well, got soaked. As well as badly sun burned. We then went back to the Knight's Inn and ordered some Cameo's white pizza without chicken and mac and cheese triangles and then crashed. We came back today.

Today I went on a bike ride down to my grandma's house. It's about two miles or so I believe. I listened to Spoon's GaGaGaGaGa the entire time. It was a great ride but I was completely and utterly exhausted when I got back to my house.

Oh yeah, I bought a bike! It is a 1990-ish Trek Antelope 800. It is black with neon green lettering. It was only $100 and is still pretty much brand new. Now I just have to switch the seat with my old bike so I can get the gel seat.

I did a painting of Dylan today but don't think it is good enough to post.

I also stumbled upon this. Crazy.

Oh. My. God.

2008-07-18T01:02:00.003-04:00

Holy shit. The Who on Vh1 Rock Honors. Fucking incredible. I shall type more later.

Late night...

2008-07-17T03:22:00.000-04:00

Indeed it is. And I'm going to get about three hours of sleep before heading off to Cedar Point for the next few days! It's going to be a good few days.

I've discovered recently that, as cliche as this may sound, you have to believe in yourself more than anyone else believes in you. That is where it all begins and that is where it all comes from and that is where it all comes back to. You cannot let other people tell you anything.

I've decided that I'm going to paint something for the new place that I'm moving to in just about a month, but I haven't quite decided what it will be yet.

This has been sort of a boring blog post but I wanted to get one in before I left for a few days and I don't really have any pictures to share right now, except for maybe this one

oh, and this one too...
And one last time... (ain't she pretty?)

Later skaters.

2008-07-13T02:00:00.000-04:00

http://freedomlovingrepublicans.com/

Visit. Laugh. Enjoy.

Vanished from my hand...

2008-07-13T01:14:00.002-04:00

Today ended well, much better than it had begun but not nearly as good as last night. All my friends had come up for my birthday party and they are all very, very much appreciated, and even more so is Angel for throwing the whole shindig (even if she made everyone sing me happy birthday.) Everyone was safe and nothing too bad happened so all in all I do believe the party was a success!

And thank you to everyone who wished me happy birthday and all that. It was extremely nice of everyone. Birthdays always give you a chance to recount your friends.

Going to work today wasn't fun, and it's going to suck tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after, and after that, and so on and so on...it's making all the days run together and become almost meaningless. But I did draw a picture of Mr. Zimmerman that I believe is the best thing I have ever drawn (which isn't saying much).

His lips make him look he was in KISS and the centering of his face needs work but other than that it isn't bad I don't think.

I need to make time to watch that Woody Guthrie DVD I bought. It's on the floor staring at me.

Oh! I almost forgot! The show at The Nervous Dog went well. I did okay by me, Hayden Calling played a good set, and the rest of the show I spent in the parking lot discussing the current and past trends in the music business. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures of Hayden Calling or anyone else, but someone took pictures of me, and here they are:

The girl in the last picture = 100% uninterested.

Oh, how awesome Joan Baez sounds with Dylan on "Mama, You Been On My Mind" from The Bootleg Series Vol. 6: Live 1964!

Read This Now!

2008-07-11T15:43:00.004-04:00

Everyone reading this and everyone you know should read THIS:

http://nightweed.com/printableusavotefacts.html

The website has sources to back up all of its claims. Most importantly it leaves the connections to be made by YOU. This is something that slipped through the fingers of the sheepish lazy minded American public and is going to continue unless there is a very very significant change.

WAKE UP!!

Revolution!

2008-07-10T14:21:00.001-04:00

I just like the sound of the title.

I didn't post yesterday because I just didn't have anything to say. Everyone has days like that and I'm sure I'm entitled to one, let alone as many as I want.

Last night was spent listening to records that one of my friends hates and the rest of my friends like and drawing. This is what happened:

(it's okay I guess, George Harrison sort of looks like a woman.)

Regardless, my friends are my friends and there is nothing that can change that. I've been a bastard of a friend for far too long and I've missed some really good times with some really good people at my own expense. That ain't gunna happen no more.

Tonight is the show at the Nervous Dog, it starts at 7. I'll probably post pictures tomorrow before heading off to my official birth-day par-tay. Wooo!

2 decades ago, in a hospital not that far away...

2008-07-08T18:16:00.002-04:00

I was born! Darn-tootin' today's my birthday, which is perfect timing for the Woody Guthrie DVD I got today entitled This Machine Kills Fascists. Two and a half hours of documentary folky goodness. Mmmm...

In other news, the storm outside is threatening to blow half of this town away, so I may just get struck by lightning posting this. I'm risking my life for this blog!

No but seriously. What a week! Yesterday, Angel and I had our one year anniversary. Today, my birthday. Tomorrow, I don't have to work which is exciting enough. Thursday I, or rather Professor Greenhouse, will be opening for Hayden Calling, Box the Stars, and Overcoming the Trial at the Nervous Dog Cafe in Akron so if you happen to be in the area you should come on out! The facebook event page would be right...oh where is it...umm...oh here it is. Friday is my birthday par-tay so I will most likely post some pictures up of that.

Now it's time for a delectable vegetarian birthday dinner (veggie lasgana and fruit tart!).

Crying like a fire in the sun...

2008-07-07T15:31:00.000-04:00

My books came today! Both promise to be a very good read. They are The Strawberry Statement by James Simon Kunen (thanks Steph!)

and the other is Anarchy! An Anthology of Emma Goldman's Mother Earth

Both promise to be very good reads. However, I have to finish Alice in Wonderland first. Oh man.

I also bought a brand new Hohner harmonica holder (that really is the official name). It does a much better job than the wire hanger I was using before but I'm still sad to see the wire hanger go. I'll probably keep it for a while because I'm a pack rat like that.

I listened to a lot of Rage Against the Machine yesterday, and a lot of Bob Dylan to calm me down today. Now I am at a happy medium. And now I have to go to work.

2008-07-06T17:42:00.000-04:00

In the calm nite sky, eternal youth appeared by Chris Wallis

Oooh! Aaaah!

2008-07-05T17:40:00.001-04:00

Fireworks were last night. Had a better time after however with some cool people. Most of the night went like this:

And what I've been working on? Well here it is:

Ta-da! Just some stencil work on canvas I did for Angel.

Off to go paint.

You sent me to Toledo...

2008-07-04T16:33:00.000-04:00

For old times sake.

Cue patriotic music now...

2008-07-04T16:19:00.000-04:00

Hey all,

On this day celebrating that rebellious nature of our forefathers that brought our country to fruition, I thought I would post...a picture I drew at work on the back of a ticket.

Now I am going to celebrate this great nation's great holiday cuz I ain't no Commie.

Viva la revolucion!

The words are the same...

2008-07-03T01:51:00.000-04:00

and that's the important part." - Robert Zimmerman

Anyways,

Today I got sort of finished on something that I've been working on but can't quite reveal it yet. Oooh mystery! Pictures to come very soon. I did so while severly rocking out to the Simon and Garfunkel and Van Halen LPs I got yesterday.

It's funny, now that I have a blog I thought that I would have more to say, but I've been a bit dry lately.

And I thought I should post this:

Muto - An Ambiguous Animation Painted on Public Walls
http://www.blublu.org/sito/video/muto.htm

This Is...A New Blog!

2008-07-01T18:03:00.001-04:00

Indeed it is.

Today was a beautiful day. Went to Square Records with Knick and Steph and bought four vinyls for $20.75.

The first one is This is Johnny Cash released in 1969 on Harmony, a division of Columbia. Some really good Cash and an awesome cover of Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right".

The next one and the only new record I bought was Against Me!'s 2005 Fat Wreck Chords release Searching for a Former Clarity. An awesome two disc set with one vinyl being black and one vinyl being white. Needless to say great album.

Up next is Simon and Garfunkel's Bookends, which begs for an Almost Famous quote. Good buy, it was only $3.00.

Track 3, side one...Finally, Van Halen's sophomore release from 1984 it's...1984! This cd was the first rock n' roll cd I bought that I had to hide from my mother. Now I have the vinyl and can listen to all my favorite tunes tinted with that rich, vinyl flavor.

That's all for now, more to come.

Folk the government!