I'm just here for the music

Free Camera Obscura concert at Fountain Square. If you don't go to Fountain Square Friday evenings for the rest of the summer, you're missing out. Just saying.

Fringe: Weird, Like You

I went down to OTR last night for a nice Fringe Kick-Off Party, which featured the Art Academy of Cincinnati along with a couple bands (saw Messerly and Ewing, and if you've never seen an electric ukulele played before, you're missing out). Basically it was as much fun as I've ever had downtown, and it cost all of five bucks. Fringe might be one of my new favorite things about Cincinnati, and all I've seen is the opening act.

Also, Camera Obscura, free concert at Fountain Square on Friday. I'll be there.

So sue me

New Avett Brothers album came out the other day; I think it's great. Other reviews are good as well.

It's nice to see them get some mainstream recognition, even as I resort to being an indie snob (I liked them BEFORE they were big).

In other news...I was reelected to the student government association, this time as dorm president of West Quad. It was a close race. I auditioned for and got a smallish role (Ross) in Macbeth, which will be performed the fourth weekend of October (the 23 and 24). BMR is chugging along as always; Chorale features a new director and an interesting new direction.

That's about it.

Oh, and I cut my hair. And when I say this, I mean REALLY cut it. Like this:


So yeah. Anyway, just getting that picture up took 20 minutes. Stupid old camera and stupid lack of drivers. Good thing I keep a backup Yahoo account around for spammers.

School is Fun Now

All through high school, classes were something I usually regarded with apathy. I was going to learn regardless, but I wasn't necessarily going to enjoy it. Now, though, I look forward to my classes. Not only am I going to learn something, but I'm going to enjoy learning it. Take physics. In high school, physics sucked. I'm not naming any specific reasons, but take my word for it. In college, physics is pretty awesome. The professor is enthusiastic, and the class pays attention. No card games are involved.

After a few days of classes, I'm enjoying being back on campus. It's odd that a good chunk of my friends have graduated, but I'm dealing. I've taken a part in a week-long production of Grease, as Sonny (beg pardon if you don't know who that is; I didn't either, having never seen the play or the movie). Suffice to say that I'm not John Travolta (or Olivia Newton-John).

A friend is directing a production of Macbeth this fall that I may try out for as well. As always, I will be doing BMR; I will be running for dorm president next week. I'm working for the bookstore and for the school radio station this year, as music director for blues, country, gospel and soul. I now receive CDs from less well known artists with personal notes enclosed.

On to some less related issues...

iTunes has introduced "Genius Mixes," which as far as I can tell is an attempt to order shuffle by genre. Which is unfortunate, since iTunes assigns genres fairly inaccurately.

Enough for now. I'm happy enough listening to the Beatles sing "Sie Liebt Dich."

Summer winds down

Finished working today. This marks the first summer I have not worked two jobs. It also marks the first summer I wasn't making minimum wage. I'm moving up in the world!

I now have until September 3rd before I head back to Maine; classes start September 9th. Plans are not concrete, but do include a trip to Chicago for the last four days of August. Go Megabus!

The usual bitching about my fantasy squad: hitting is on fire; my pitching staff is having a meltdown. Which is frustrating, considering the quality of the pitchers I have. So it should turn around...hopefully. I'm not excited about a third-place finish.

For the next week, before heading to Chi-town, I am planning on doing a lot of reading, and a lot of sleeping. Also some general hanging out, and definitely hitting Jungle Jim's before leaving. Once I get inside, I can still forget that the outside is horribly like a strip mall.

I have far too many books to read. I finished "Fool," the latest from Christopher Moore. If you haven't read it, and enjoy King Lear, read it. If not, pick up "The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal." It's hilarious. Next on the agenda is "Shadow and Light," a noir mystery set in Weimar Berlin. One of the characters is Fritz Lang. Need I say more?

I'm also perpetuating my love of war histories with "The Day of Battle," the second of Rick Atkinson's fantastic trilogy about the North African/European theater of World War II. This one's about the battles for Sicily and Italy, and is a fascinating read. To me, at least.

I also plan on rereading Italo Calvino's "If on a winter's night a traveler," because it's a great read. Just sayin'.

Anyway, that's it from me. Enjoy some music, on me.

And the winner is...

I have found my replacement for Seeqpod. It won't serve the searching function, but it will give me a chance to hear all sorts of new music. And I can download that music. So I'll stop pining for Seeqpod (momentarily), and give this a try. And possibly create some of my own mixes.

Go Phillies!

Seriously, f*ck the Rays. This is the only time I will mention the ALCS until at least the beginning of next season, if ever again. F*ck the Rays, and all I have to say of the catcher situation is that of Varitek, Kevin Cash and David Ross (seriously? Ross?) I would much rather have Tek and Cash. Anyway, go Phillies. I'm dubiously claiming the right to cheer for them (born in Philly!)

In other news, apparently Sarah "Maverick" Palin's threads cost a bit more than she let on. Remind you of anything? Next thing we know she'll be having a tell-all during the next Olympics.

Also, I'd like to point out that Andrew and I were Mavericks long before the Republican machine stole the term. Go Princeton debate! I still throw down the sign all the time (see above). If I see McCain and Palin doing a secret handshake that in any way resembles ours, then I'll know for sure something's fishy.

One last note: Orgo is cruel and unusual. Homework over reaction types that we haven't covered in class is just too much. Bleah. SN2 and SN1 have been learned. E1 and E2 await...and then more. Whee! Also, bacteriology rocks. Looking forward to either immunology or virology in the future. And at some point, macrobiology. Tufts was on campus today (a guy from the - get this - Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine). Hehe. Aside from scaring the crap out of me (82 admitted out of >750 applied!), it was pretty interesting. Also, I think I may go abroad after all. Now to find a program that fits my interests. Scotland or England would be fun...

Last note (for real this time!): Food would be appreciated if sent from home. Perhaps in exchange for NYT crossword puzzles? They're mostly Thursday and Friday because I do all the others, but I've managed to get doubles of some of those. We're talking about maybe a dozen to fifteen puzzles...we could make a deal, I feel. And now...music!


SeeqPod - Playable Search

It's almost Halloween

The year goes on, sometimes crawling, sometimes racing. I have another round of tests in the next two weeks; it's very strange to think that the semester is close to half over. It still doesn't feel like I've been here very long, although I wouldn't mind going home for a bit. Just a bit, though. Three months at home takes more time than this to wear off completely.

Heard "Gone" from Golden Smog in the dining hall today, and was a little bit excited to hear it there. A sampling of music from the so-called "supergroup." And a little bit extra. Daniel out.


SeeqPod - Playable Search

haHa!

The first halfweek of classes is over and done with, and I am pleased to report that everything is under control. O-chem seems manageable, even if it is reputedly difficult (an understatement?). Bacteriology should be fun, and I'm happy to finally be doing real labs rather than the intro stuff. Italian...I can understand words in context. It's an immersion course, and I can understand the teacher almost all of the time. Writing is a different story. And the Sparta seminar meets for the first time next Tuesday...more on that later.

I'm working at the bookstore again. Fun.

Oh, and Cake and the Winterpills are playing here October 3rd. So, you know. More fun

From Camp Colby

So Mates of State is coming on Saturday. Which came as a pleasant surprise. I forget who will be opening for them, but it should be a great show. Now if only they could get Wilco up here...

A precedent has been set

Since someone else already did it, I figure I might as well...I'm tired of studying anyway, and it's better than a long winded rant on whatever comes to mind...so here. Enjoy, nitpick, suggest new stuff...I'm going to bed with my notebook under my pillow (hoping for osmotic learning).

You know you're bored when...

Today was quite possibly the most boring day I've ever had at Colby. It's a Monday, which automatically makes it bad, but it's also the second to last day that students are allowed to be on campus. The college is virtually empty - of around 2000 students, I estimate about 200 or less to still be on campus. Aside from the friend I'll be riding to Portland with tomorrow, there are about ten people I actually know left here. That being said, I spent the day (since I woke up at 10) on my computer. Aside from lunch (ate alone), saying goodbye to the last few stragglers I know leaving today, making popcorn, and dinner (with a friend), I've been holed up in my room listening to the local classic rock station and playing various computer games. I even sunk so low as to try the Survivor computer game Austin loaned me. I gave that up after I got voted out in the third tribal council. (Austin, by the way, is the resident reality show fanatic. He's currently hosting the campus Survivor game I think I mentioned in a post last month. I'm participating, so I can't tell you what's going on. You'll have to wait for it to all come out on Youtube.)

Other than computer games, I spent about ten minutes packing for the trip tomorrow. How did I make my packing time that short? Easy. I simply shook out the contents of my laundry basket over my empty bag. I'll be doing a rather large load of laundry on Wednesday.

I was just reminded of my love for the Sox...if you're a Red Sox fan, check this site out.

Because I'm feeling random: the song I'm currently listening to? The Grand Duel, Parte Prima, from Kill Bill. Thanks to Seeqpod and Mr. Dusch for the tunes. Next up on the playlist is the theme from Jurassic Park. I do so love John Williams. After that, I'm thinking the theme from Shaft.

While you're at it, check out this video. And this one. And finally, this one. No, I'm not going to embed them. I'm too lazy right now to do that.

Now for some Allman brothers...then House of the Rising Sun. And then possibly a movie...either Airplane or Munich. They're very, very different. I'm not sure. I watched Saving Private Ryan and Miracle last night with a few friends, but they're all gone now. I'm not sure if I'm up to watching Munich alone...I might have to move away from the window.

For now, goodnight. I'll probably post again when I'm sitting in the Portland Jetport for hours and hours tomorrow. I need to find some headphones.

In the brief time I have...

Today's post is going to be quick; I have a bio lab in ten minutes. Might not get around to posting for the next few days; exams are creeping up, and I have two in the next week. Just a quick reminder: I hate calculus. However, I do have time to heartily recommend Seeqpod to anyone who has not already discovered this wonderful musical equivalent of Google. It's completely free, completely legal, and the only drawback is that you need an internet connection to play your tunes. Best of all, as far as I can tell, Google hasn't bought it yet. Don't get me wrong, I love Google, but there are these little things called monopolies that Google is getting close to. I have the same love-hate relationship with Microsoft...a little more hate than love, though. That's all for now!