2008 was a strange year for music. While a good year, ultimately it doesn't live up to the standard that 2007 set. For me, 2008 has been an "out with the old, in with the new" year for music: several bands and artists I have liked for a while (Death Cab, Jenny Lewis, Of Montreal) put out less-than-stellar albums, while most of the albums on my best-of list are by bands who are relatively new, or who I discovered recently. (Most of which I was turned onto by my friend James.)
So, with that out of the way, here is my list of Best Albums of 2008:
1. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
2. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
3. Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight
4. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
5. Deerhunter - Microcastle
6. Portishead - Third
7. Sun Kil Moon - April
8. The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
9. M83 - Saturdays = Youth
10. The Dodos - Visiter
11. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Lie Down in the Light
12. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
13. Deerhoof - Offend Maggie
14. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
15. The Walkmen - You & Me
16. Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
17. Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak
18. She & Him - Volume One
19. The Black Keys - Attack & Release
20. Tilly & the Wall - o
21. Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
22. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
23. Nomo - Ghost Rock
24. Beck - Modern Guilt
25. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
I'm working on putting together my 2008 mix cds. I'll post those when I have them finished. Until then, have a happy new year.
31 December 2008
30 December 2008
Dear Arkansas,
Do us a favor: if you're going to have a separate, lower speed limit for tractor trailers, have lanes just for them. We're sick of driving 55 in a 70 in the left lane as one truck spends half an hour trying to pass three others. It's not like you don't have room to do it, since there's miles of barren nothingness on either side of the interstate.
If that proves too costly, at least fix the potholes. Seriously. We've driven on some unpaved roads that are smoother than I-40 in West Memphis.
Sincerely,
Your neighbors.
If that proves too costly, at least fix the potholes. Seriously. We've driven on some unpaved roads that are smoother than I-40 in West Memphis.
Sincerely,
Your neighbors.
24 December 2008
... the secret of durable pigments, prophetic sonnets, the refuge of art.
To ring in the (almost) new year, I decided to go with a new title and new layout for my blog. The original title was meant only as a placeholder, and I never really liked it all that much in the first place. Too dramatic. And I grew terribly bored with the old layout, everything all brown and smooshed together. Let me know what you think of this -- I don't know if it's permanent or not.
Oh, and happy christmas evening.
Oh, and happy christmas evening.
17 December 2008
According to the Roman Calendar
It's been a month today. I don't know if I've ever been so happy being single. There have been some rough patches, sure, but for the most part, I'm happy.
15 December 2008
The Journey, part 2.
I'm in Beckley now, hanging out with Ixi. The drive today was less eventful than yesterday, even though there's a lot more to see in Tennessee than in Oklahoma or Arkansas. Unfortunately, I saw mostly orange road cones and tractor trailers and cars going 65 in the left lane. I swear, after having no road work at all yesterday and very little traffic, it seemed like once an hour one of the lanes was shut down today and there were so many trucks. But at least I made it safely. And ultimately, the drive wasn't too bad.
I had a scary moment about five or ten minutes after I got back on the interstate this morning: I saw a black dog run across the road about 100 yards ahead of me. It scared me, but I was thankful that there were no cars at that moment. Then right before I got to that spot, a beagle ran out of the median where the black dog had come, crossed the left lane and then froze in the right lane where I was driving. I barely had time to react. I swerved to the right onto the shoulder at 70 mph, and the car behind me swerved to the left into the other lane, which was luckily clear. I hope that little dog made it. I thought for sure I was going to hit it. Normally, I would have been pretty upset if I hit a dog (which I never have), but now that I have a dog, I would have been devastated.
I had a scary moment about five or ten minutes after I got back on the interstate this morning: I saw a black dog run across the road about 100 yards ahead of me. It scared me, but I was thankful that there were no cars at that moment. Then right before I got to that spot, a beagle ran out of the median where the black dog had come, crossed the left lane and then froze in the right lane where I was driving. I barely had time to react. I swerved to the right onto the shoulder at 70 mph, and the car behind me swerved to the left into the other lane, which was luckily clear. I hope that little dog made it. I thought for sure I was going to hit it. Normally, I would have been pretty upset if I hit a dog (which I never have), but now that I have a dog, I would have been devastated.
14 December 2008
The Journey, part 1.
After checking out the weather forecast, I decided to take a southern-route through Arkansas, Tennessee, and Virginia, instead of the northern-route through Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. I made it past Nashville before stopping for the night, so I should be in Beckley sometime tomorrow afternoon.
The drive so far has been good, though incredibly dull. Seriously, there’s nothing in Arkansas. It’s kind of like Oklahoma in that way. It didn’t help that it was a gray, overcast day; I don’t think I saw the sun once. But at least it didn’t rain much. And no wintry mixes.
Ixi has been incredibly good so far. It took her a few hours to settle down, but once she did, she slept most of the rest of the drive. Getting her in and out of the car was a challenge because she did not want to jump up or down. Now she’s staring and growling at her reflection in the full-length mirror in our room in the Comfort Inn in Lebanon, TN.
Other random musings from the day:
Why is it that turnpikes are always the crappiest roads? If we have to pay tolls to drive on these roads, wouldn’t you think they’d be in at least decent condition? To get from Stillwater to Tulsa, I drove on the Cimarron Turnpike, which has to be one of the bumpiest stretches of highway west of the Mississippi. Then as soon as I exited onto OK-51, which has no tolls, the pavement became smooth and looked new. Then past Tulsa I took the Muskogee Turnpike, and literally as soon as it became a toll road, the pavement was all grooved and crappy. What does my $3.25 pay for?
One of the tollbooth ladies was sweet and gave Ixi a treat.
The woman working the counter at the hotel also gave Ixi a little bag of treats. This dog is making bank. And with the way my mother’s going to spoil her over the next two weeks, she’s going to come home morbidly obese. All the other dogs will laugh.
I stopped for lunch at an Arby’s in Clarksville, Arkansas. The girl running the register was named Panther, according to her nametag. I wanted to say, “No shit? Your name’s really Panther?” but I figured she gets that several times a day.
Somewhere in Arkansas, I saw a sign for Toad Suck Park. I wonder what the story is there. Really, how do you come up with that name? Was Frog Blow Park taken?
James made me six data CDs of new music, so I had lots of good tunes to keep me company. Thanks James.
High-speed wireless my ass. This is the. Slowest. Connection. Ev.er.
I should have asked Panther if she has a sister named Puma.
More tomorrow from West-By-God.
The drive so far has been good, though incredibly dull. Seriously, there’s nothing in Arkansas. It’s kind of like Oklahoma in that way. It didn’t help that it was a gray, overcast day; I don’t think I saw the sun once. But at least it didn’t rain much. And no wintry mixes.
Ixi has been incredibly good so far. It took her a few hours to settle down, but once she did, she slept most of the rest of the drive. Getting her in and out of the car was a challenge because she did not want to jump up or down. Now she’s staring and growling at her reflection in the full-length mirror in our room in the Comfort Inn in Lebanon, TN.
Other random musings from the day:
Why is it that turnpikes are always the crappiest roads? If we have to pay tolls to drive on these roads, wouldn’t you think they’d be in at least decent condition? To get from Stillwater to Tulsa, I drove on the Cimarron Turnpike, which has to be one of the bumpiest stretches of highway west of the Mississippi. Then as soon as I exited onto OK-51, which has no tolls, the pavement became smooth and looked new. Then past Tulsa I took the Muskogee Turnpike, and literally as soon as it became a toll road, the pavement was all grooved and crappy. What does my $3.25 pay for?
One of the tollbooth ladies was sweet and gave Ixi a treat.
The woman working the counter at the hotel also gave Ixi a little bag of treats. This dog is making bank. And with the way my mother’s going to spoil her over the next two weeks, she’s going to come home morbidly obese. All the other dogs will laugh.
I stopped for lunch at an Arby’s in Clarksville, Arkansas. The girl running the register was named Panther, according to her nametag. I wanted to say, “No shit? Your name’s really Panther?” but I figured she gets that several times a day.
Somewhere in Arkansas, I saw a sign for Toad Suck Park. I wonder what the story is there. Really, how do you come up with that name? Was Frog Blow Park taken?
James made me six data CDs of new music, so I had lots of good tunes to keep me company. Thanks James.
High-speed wireless my ass. This is the. Slowest. Connection. Ev.er.
I should have asked Panther if she has a sister named Puma.
More tomorrow from West-By-God.
13 December 2008
Done!
I just submitted final grades, so now I am officially done for the semester. It's ridiculous how relieved I feel since I didn't realize I was stressed in the first place. Mentally, I've been done for more than a week. But now it's official, and I feel so free.
And then tomorrow I get to start the sixteen-hour, 1,000 mile drive home to Beckley. With a dog who has never been in a car for more than an hour. And it looks like the entire way home, I'll be driving through a "wintry mix," which is the dumbest term for weather patterns I've ever heard. Should be an adventure.
And then tomorrow I get to start the sixteen-hour, 1,000 mile drive home to Beckley. With a dog who has never been in a car for more than an hour. And it looks like the entire way home, I'll be driving through a "wintry mix," which is the dumbest term for weather patterns I've ever heard. Should be an adventure.
10 December 2008
Milk
Tonight I went to Oklahoma City to attend a special advanced screening of Gus Van Sant's film Milk about the life of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician elected to public office. I believe the film starts this Friday. Go see it.
Usually, I'm a little turned off by biopics because of the lack of engaging narrative, but Milk not only has a strong narrative arch, it has the steady building level of conflict necessary for any successful plot. If you're familiar with the story of Milk's assassination (which I was going into it) you can feel it building to that moment. And if you aren't familiar with the story, have no fear -- I didn't reveal anything about the ending that isn't revealed in the opening scene of the movie, which shows actual news footage from after the murder.
The performances are poignant and Oscar-worthy. Sean Penn plays one of the greatest parts of his career, and he has played a lot of brilliant characters. Josh Brolin makes Dan White, Milk's conservative antagonist, both inherently sympathetic and frightening. Emile Hirsch and James Franco (who I've never liked in a movie until this one) both shine in their supporting roles as members of Milk's activist circle.
Van Sant's direction, which, as always, becomes somewhat overwrought, works well in the context of the film, though at times becomes a little distracting. And there are a few overly-sentimental moments, but I think Van Sant is making a conscious decision toward sentimentality because of the political ramifications of the film.
And ultimately, that's why you must see this film. While it will garner a lot of Oscar buzz (and should win numerous awards, including at least the nomination for Best Picture if not the award itself) the political implications of this story make it noteworthy, especially with the recent Proposition 8 debacle in California. Milk's story is a cornerstone of the gay rights movement, and in this era of ever-growing moral backlash toward homosexuals, this is an important and powerful film. See it as soon as you can. And if you want company, I will be glad to see it again.
Usually, I'm a little turned off by biopics because of the lack of engaging narrative, but Milk not only has a strong narrative arch, it has the steady building level of conflict necessary for any successful plot. If you're familiar with the story of Milk's assassination (which I was going into it) you can feel it building to that moment. And if you aren't familiar with the story, have no fear -- I didn't reveal anything about the ending that isn't revealed in the opening scene of the movie, which shows actual news footage from after the murder.
The performances are poignant and Oscar-worthy. Sean Penn plays one of the greatest parts of his career, and he has played a lot of brilliant characters. Josh Brolin makes Dan White, Milk's conservative antagonist, both inherently sympathetic and frightening. Emile Hirsch and James Franco (who I've never liked in a movie until this one) both shine in their supporting roles as members of Milk's activist circle.
Van Sant's direction, which, as always, becomes somewhat overwrought, works well in the context of the film, though at times becomes a little distracting. And there are a few overly-sentimental moments, but I think Van Sant is making a conscious decision toward sentimentality because of the political ramifications of the film.
And ultimately, that's why you must see this film. While it will garner a lot of Oscar buzz (and should win numerous awards, including at least the nomination for Best Picture if not the award itself) the political implications of this story make it noteworthy, especially with the recent Proposition 8 debacle in California. Milk's story is a cornerstone of the gay rights movement, and in this era of ever-growing moral backlash toward homosexuals, this is an important and powerful film. See it as soon as you can. And if you want company, I will be glad to see it again.
09 December 2008
Jack Frost can bite me
File this one under "what the?!"
Yesterday Stillwater had a high temperature of 71. Yes, that's right, 71 degrees Fahrenheit. Even late last night it dropped only to the 50s. Nice, right?
Imagine my consternation when I walked the dog this morning in the freezing flipping cold. At this moment, 12:21 pm CST, it is 30 degrees outside; with the wind chill, it feels like 17, and it is always windy here. The high for today is 32, and they're predicting around an inch of snowfall.
Snow I can deal with. But a temperature swing that drastic in a twenty-four hour span? I hate Oklahoma winters already.
Yesterday Stillwater had a high temperature of 71. Yes, that's right, 71 degrees Fahrenheit. Even late last night it dropped only to the 50s. Nice, right?
Imagine my consternation when I walked the dog this morning in the freezing flipping cold. At this moment, 12:21 pm CST, it is 30 degrees outside; with the wind chill, it feels like 17, and it is always windy here. The high for today is 32, and they're predicting around an inch of snowfall.
Snow I can deal with. But a temperature swing that drastic in a twenty-four hour span? I hate Oklahoma winters already.
08 December 2008
Semester in Review
I can't believe it's been over four months since I posted on here. Sorry gang. I hope some of you will see that I've updated and start reading again, as I will try to start posting more frequently.
Well, my first semester as a Ph.D. student is almost over. I only have to finish grading these papers, these terrifying papers that just won't grade themselves, no matter how much I plead with them. I also have to put the finishing touches on an essay that's due Wednesday and that I've had done since last Thursday. And then just sit two exams on Wednesday and grade those finals. So the end is in sight. I thought this would be a good time to review the semester, both good and bad.
The Good
1. I got a dog. A fluffy white dog with floppy ears.
2. I made a lot of great friends. I haven't made so many close friends in such a short period of time since my freshman year at Shepherd.
3. My fiction workshop with Toni went really well. I got a great story out of it, one of the best stories I've ever written, I think. I really like Toni, and think she will be wonderful to work with over the next five years, and I feel good about the fact that she will most likely be my adviser.
4. My Critical Theory and Pedagogy course also went remarkably well. I learned a lot about teaching and it made me reflect on my own teaching methods, which I think is going a long way toward making me a better teacher. Dr. Brooks is also a great professor, and I hope to have classes with him in the future.
5. The classes I taught both went well, and I'm impressed with the caliber of students at OSU compared to the students I've had at the other three schools where I taught.
6. I passed my German exam with reading knowledge. Now I just have to pass the French exam sometime in the next few years, after I relearn French.
7. I became an Assistant Editor of Cimarron Review, our national literary journal.
8. I got a job as the Assistant Director of the Writing Center, starting in January. I'm pumped about this new job, and it fulfills some of my teaching obligations, so I won't have as many papers to grade in the future.
The Bad
1. I lost my girlfriend. A relationship I knew would never go anywhere and had really started a holding pattern. But still. Did it have to end with such animosity?
2. I learned that one of the amazing friends I thought I'd made was really a parasite. And a douche. Which I guess makes him a paradouche.
Overall, I'd say it was a good first semester. Even though Erika and Sleazy ruined a few weeks of it, the good far outweighs the bad. I'm looking forward to next semester. I'll be taking another fiction workshop, this time with Jon Billman, who is an amazing writer and a very nice guy, and Intro to Graduate Studies, which, from what I've heard, sounds like the hardest class we have to take here and one that, no matter how hard you work, you get no higher than a B. I'll be working in the Writing Center part time doing administrative work and then I'll be teaching one course of English 1213, our equivalent of 102, which is research based. Oh yeah, and I have to take my First Year Exam, which determines whether or not I get fully admitted into the program, in February.
Overall, I'm happy with my program, and I feel like this is where I should be at this point in my life. So what could I possibly complain about? Except this mountain of papers that still aren't grading themselves.
Well, my first semester as a Ph.D. student is almost over. I only have to finish grading these papers, these terrifying papers that just won't grade themselves, no matter how much I plead with them. I also have to put the finishing touches on an essay that's due Wednesday and that I've had done since last Thursday. And then just sit two exams on Wednesday and grade those finals. So the end is in sight. I thought this would be a good time to review the semester, both good and bad.
The Good
1. I got a dog. A fluffy white dog with floppy ears.
2. I made a lot of great friends. I haven't made so many close friends in such a short period of time since my freshman year at Shepherd.
3. My fiction workshop with Toni went really well. I got a great story out of it, one of the best stories I've ever written, I think. I really like Toni, and think she will be wonderful to work with over the next five years, and I feel good about the fact that she will most likely be my adviser.
4. My Critical Theory and Pedagogy course also went remarkably well. I learned a lot about teaching and it made me reflect on my own teaching methods, which I think is going a long way toward making me a better teacher. Dr. Brooks is also a great professor, and I hope to have classes with him in the future.
5. The classes I taught both went well, and I'm impressed with the caliber of students at OSU compared to the students I've had at the other three schools where I taught.
6. I passed my German exam with reading knowledge. Now I just have to pass the French exam sometime in the next few years, after I relearn French.
7. I became an Assistant Editor of Cimarron Review, our national literary journal.
8. I got a job as the Assistant Director of the Writing Center, starting in January. I'm pumped about this new job, and it fulfills some of my teaching obligations, so I won't have as many papers to grade in the future.
The Bad
1. I lost my girlfriend. A relationship I knew would never go anywhere and had really started a holding pattern. But still. Did it have to end with such animosity?
2. I learned that one of the amazing friends I thought I'd made was really a parasite. And a douche. Which I guess makes him a paradouche.
Overall, I'd say it was a good first semester. Even though Erika and Sleazy ruined a few weeks of it, the good far outweighs the bad. I'm looking forward to next semester. I'll be taking another fiction workshop, this time with Jon Billman, who is an amazing writer and a very nice guy, and Intro to Graduate Studies, which, from what I've heard, sounds like the hardest class we have to take here and one that, no matter how hard you work, you get no higher than a B. I'll be working in the Writing Center part time doing administrative work and then I'll be teaching one course of English 1213, our equivalent of 102, which is research based. Oh yeah, and I have to take my First Year Exam, which determines whether or not I get fully admitted into the program, in February.
Overall, I'm happy with my program, and I feel like this is where I should be at this point in my life. So what could I possibly complain about? Except this mountain of papers that still aren't grading themselves.
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