Goodbye Blogger, Hello Tumblr.
http://dontdoitkid.tumblr.com/
It's been real.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
No, you are not being green by purchasing that bag. You are being an idiot.
This is going to come off as one of those times where I sound arrogant, egotistical, and self righteous. Usually I try to restrict these traits, but this is too important to be humble over. Best case scenario - I make a lot of people mad, and they start to think about what I'm talking about. Worst case scenario - Apathy.
I had my last biology lab today, and our topic was on ecosystems, human impact on climate systems, the environment, and every other topic that you would expect to be coupled in there. Let me get this strait - there is a hell of a lot that I still want to learn. I'm a sophomore political science student who has only a basic knowledge of the science behind all of that, but I'd think that I'm at least well educated enough to differentiate between making a difference and making myself feel like I'm making a difference. In class we had a discussion about the most important issues regarding climate change, and how we can help to fix this issues. Alright, good start. Going around the room, we had people shout out things like "global warming", "climate change", and "desertification". All valid points. What I lament, however, is that no one seemed to buy into the theory that I proposed - that the basis of ALL of these problems is rampant population growth and overpopulation. This was met with little response, and we continued on our way. Fine by me, it's just a class. But then things started to concern me. We started talking about the ways that we can help the environment and pitch in to do "our part", and I finally all but lost it. Why? The responses that came from people were beyond concerning. Buy organic. Go green. Ride a bike. Buy a hybrid car. Use reusable grocery bags. We're dooming ourselves by keeping this attitude.
Wait, what?
At my last college I wrote a thesis about the dangers of greenwashing. Wikipedia (yes I'm citing it, deal with it. If you want to call me out for that then you aren't getting the bigger picture) defines this as "The deceptive use of green PR or green marketing in order to promote a misleading perception that a company's policies of products (such as goods and services) are environmentally friendly." To learn more about it, check out this article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing. In order to better understand the issue I'm going to expand my interpretation of Greenwashing to include the marketing of products that actually do benefit the environment as well, because both practices lead to the same effect. You are being lied to. The new global craze of "green" may be the nail in the coffin if we don't stop it. Why? Think about it for a second. Everyone wants to help - I believe that at heart, people are generally good willed and want to try to help when they can. The extent to how much help we can provide, however, is debatable. We seek instant gratification for everything we do. We want to see the results of our work, because lets face it: What's the point of working for something without a definitive income?
Anyway, corporations latched onto the green fad and ran with it. Boy was that a smart decision. Believe me - the bottom goal of these companies is to make profit. Anyway who believes otherwise is wrong. This is because the goal of any firm is profit maximization. In fact, a corporation is legally obligated to maximize profits wherever possible; to do otherwise would essentially short change investors and shareholders of profits, which would in turn cause the corporation to lose support possible fail. But first, before I continue -
To every person that has every said "down with corporations!" - do you know what a corporation is? Here's a cheat sheet to basic business that I learned while in micro economics.
I had my last biology lab today, and our topic was on ecosystems, human impact on climate systems, the environment, and every other topic that you would expect to be coupled in there. Let me get this strait - there is a hell of a lot that I still want to learn. I'm a sophomore political science student who has only a basic knowledge of the science behind all of that, but I'd think that I'm at least well educated enough to differentiate between making a difference and making myself feel like I'm making a difference. In class we had a discussion about the most important issues regarding climate change, and how we can help to fix this issues. Alright, good start. Going around the room, we had people shout out things like "global warming", "climate change", and "desertification". All valid points. What I lament, however, is that no one seemed to buy into the theory that I proposed - that the basis of ALL of these problems is rampant population growth and overpopulation. This was met with little response, and we continued on our way. Fine by me, it's just a class. But then things started to concern me. We started talking about the ways that we can help the environment and pitch in to do "our part", and I finally all but lost it. Why? The responses that came from people were beyond concerning. Buy organic. Go green. Ride a bike. Buy a hybrid car. Use reusable grocery bags. We're dooming ourselves by keeping this attitude.
Wait, what?
At my last college I wrote a thesis about the dangers of greenwashing. Wikipedia (yes I'm citing it, deal with it. If you want to call me out for that then you aren't getting the bigger picture) defines this as "The deceptive use of green PR or green marketing in order to promote a misleading perception that a company's policies of products (such as goods and services) are environmentally friendly." To learn more about it, check out this article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing. In order to better understand the issue I'm going to expand my interpretation of Greenwashing to include the marketing of products that actually do benefit the environment as well, because both practices lead to the same effect. You are being lied to. The new global craze of "green" may be the nail in the coffin if we don't stop it. Why? Think about it for a second. Everyone wants to help - I believe that at heart, people are generally good willed and want to try to help when they can. The extent to how much help we can provide, however, is debatable. We seek instant gratification for everything we do. We want to see the results of our work, because lets face it: What's the point of working for something without a definitive income?
Anyway, corporations latched onto the green fad and ran with it. Boy was that a smart decision. Believe me - the bottom goal of these companies is to make profit. Anyway who believes otherwise is wrong. This is because the goal of any firm is profit maximization. In fact, a corporation is legally obligated to maximize profits wherever possible; to do otherwise would essentially short change investors and shareholders of profits, which would in turn cause the corporation to lose support possible fail. But first, before I continue -
To every person that has every said "down with corporations!" - do you know what a corporation is? Here's a cheat sheet to basic business that I learned while in micro economics.
Firm: A business organization that employs resources to produce goods or services for profit. A firm normally owns and operates at least one “plant” or facility in order to produce.
Proprietorship: A business owned by one individual who makes the business decisions, receives all the profits, and is legally responsible for the debts of the firm.
Partnership: A business owned by tow or more joint owners, or partners, who share the responsibilities and the profits of the firm and are individually liable for tall the debts of the partnership.
Corporation:A legal entity that may conduct business in its own name just as an individual does; the owners of a corporation, called shareholders, own shares of the firm's profits and enjoy the protection of limited liability.
Corporations themselves are not some evil, corrupt entity. The people that run them might be, but the very structure of a corporation is not at fault. Simply put, the corporation exists be maximize profit, and this is what it is required to do. All of the talk you hear about corporate corruption is a result of owners trying to maximize profit and cut costs by immoral and illegal means. That's another part of economics that people forget. When we say maximize profit, we mean so in the legal sense. In this day in age it may be more profitable for companies to cut back on these back alley shortcuts, but that's a different story.
ANYWAY...
As I was saying, businesses were smart enough to pick up on the green fad, and I commend them for this. Any of us would have done that in their position - so says rational man theory. It's a smart move to, because it's obviously working for them. Sadly. it's not working for the environment. Consumers leave these stores with their green products thinking that they've made a difference. This, held relative to NOTHING ELSE, is good. But nothing is relative. In a larger context this becomes a problem because that gratification that people crave is fulfilled. People leave with the feeling that they've done their part for the earth, and that is exactly what businesses want them to feel. This is a huge problem because a lot of the concern for the earth stops there. We've somehow fallen under the false belief that if "we all do a few small things" then we will be able to make a difference. Those who believe this tend to underestimate how drastically fucked the entire planet is. As of now at least. Behold - graphs!
Tip of the iceberg.
These are things that nobody wants to hear. Going green, even as an entire country, will certainly lesson our impact, but our impact will still be massive beyond all comprehension. It just would happen to be slightly less massive. My point here is that society has the wrong idea about how to change things. Making a change here or there won't stop this. We should still do these things because they are right, and because we care for posterity (oh how I miss my Environmental Ethics class right now). Ultimately though, society itself needs to change.
What sort of change is needed is well beyond me. Seriously, how the hell would I know? Luckily, that's beyond my point. To assert a "solution" so all of this would be arrogant and egotistical, even more me. There is something, however, that I do know very well: Every revolution, whether political, cultural, social, or religious, started off with the spread of information. Our most difficult adversary is fear of information and the everyday ignorance that we currently face. There's no point in trying to find the solutions when a majority of the world's population doesn't understand the problems. I know in my heart that we have within us the capacity to combat misinformation. Perhaps I should retract my previous statement saying that it's useless for everyone to do their part. Perhaps everyone needs to do their part, but their part is to make every possible effort to educate themselves about what is happening. Before action can be taken we should work to come to a specific understanding. Go out and find this information: It's out there, waiting. Books. Documentaries. Observation. Discussion. The earth is begging for us to break out of our stupor. The phrase goes "ignorance is bliss", but it is at last time to find a different kind of bliss. Don't take anything told to you for granted. Fight Ignorance. Question Authority. Embrace Equality. To do your part is to question everything you've ever known, and to learn about these problems individually and independently. Where we go from there is uncertain, but perhaps the information we will soon learn will show us the way.
Summery: Don't be an idiot, go read books on climate change/population growth and educate yourself.
Monday, December 6, 2010
What the BCS game means to me.
I've seen an awful lot of insult and generally rude comments flying since Uconn clinched the Big East and the BCS bid with the victory over USF Saturday night. First of all, I would tell those people to read this article (not that anyone reads this blog anyway, nevermind people who are jumping at the chance to talk trash about my university) http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-jacobs-uconn-south-florida-column-20101205,0,1224266.column?page=1&track=rss.
I think the last few sentences sum up what all of us here at Uconn have been thinking.
"If UConn goes to the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma as originally thought, that will bring the no-humidity mocking. There will be so much dry humor at the Huskies' expense. So have it, North and South, East and West. But hear this much: These Huskies and a state that has come to believe in them know the real story."
I understand that we have an 8-4 record. I understand that we aren't BCS ranked. Yeah, we had a few embarrassing losses in the beginning of the year, the loss of a starting string quarterback, and numerous other set backs. Apparently, that's all that matters for most people out there. Nobody seems mention how we fought our way through a one game season, winning five strait games that included some incredible victories against Pitt and West Virginia. Nobody seems to mention the unfathomable amount of work that Edsall and the players put into this season. It might not matter to other people, but it matters to everyone here at Uconn, and everyone that has ever supported the team.
Look at me. Two years ago I completely hated sports. Until I joined marching band I had no clue how football actually worked. Now I'm practically addicted. I'm sure a huge part of that comes from being in UCMB (yet another reason to join marching band!), but regardless - I now know what it's like to be emotionally invested in a game. All I've been reading is talk of how we are going to get utterly destroyed, and I'm almost laughing. We've played pretty damn well as underdogs before. No one can really how this game will turn out. All I now is that when it comes down to determination and drive, Uconn can't be beat.
On another note - reason #32 why you should join UCMB: Paid vacation (er.. I mean bowl trip) to Arizona for five days. Five star hotel with suites. Getting to attend the most significant Uconn football game in history, all without paying a cent. I couldn't be more excited. I won't have a voice for a week after I return, but it'll be worth it.
I think the last few sentences sum up what all of us here at Uconn have been thinking.
"If UConn goes to the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma as originally thought, that will bring the no-humidity mocking. There will be so much dry humor at the Huskies' expense. So have it, North and South, East and West. But hear this much: These Huskies and a state that has come to believe in them know the real story."
I understand that we have an 8-4 record. I understand that we aren't BCS ranked. Yeah, we had a few embarrassing losses in the beginning of the year, the loss of a starting string quarterback, and numerous other set backs. Apparently, that's all that matters for most people out there. Nobody seems mention how we fought our way through a one game season, winning five strait games that included some incredible victories against Pitt and West Virginia. Nobody seems to mention the unfathomable amount of work that Edsall and the players put into this season. It might not matter to other people, but it matters to everyone here at Uconn, and everyone that has ever supported the team.
Look at me. Two years ago I completely hated sports. Until I joined marching band I had no clue how football actually worked. Now I'm practically addicted. I'm sure a huge part of that comes from being in UCMB (yet another reason to join marching band!), but regardless - I now know what it's like to be emotionally invested in a game. All I've been reading is talk of how we are going to get utterly destroyed, and I'm almost laughing. We've played pretty damn well as underdogs before. No one can really how this game will turn out. All I now is that when it comes down to determination and drive, Uconn can't be beat.
On another note - reason #32 why you should join UCMB: Paid vacation (er.. I mean bowl trip) to Arizona for five days. Five star hotel with suites. Getting to attend the most significant Uconn football game in history, all without paying a cent. I couldn't be more excited. I won't have a voice for a week after I return, but it'll be worth it.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
An incomplete checklist (A
Upcoming plans/things I want to accomplish
- Train harder then I've ever trained in my entire life. Tough Mudder is on May 8th. The team has already been created, so there's no going back now.
- Finish Infinite Jest. This will be the 5th time I've started it, since I usually get derailed around page 300 or so.
- Gain some momentum on the music projects I've been working on. I've got lots of raw material/rough recordings, but that doesn't really get me anywhere.
- Backpack. A lot
- Try and finish out a few of the short stories that I've made progress on this semester.
- Keep living life as it's been so far. This last semester has been the best four months of my life, and things are only going to get better.
Probably going to come out with a long winded entry later on, about end of the semester/general thoughts/WE ARE GOING TO A BCS BOWL type things. Yup. That is all.
(Edit.) I've been listening to The Forecast a lot lately.
- Train harder then I've ever trained in my entire life. Tough Mudder is on May 8th. The team has already been created, so there's no going back now.
- Finish Infinite Jest. This will be the 5th time I've started it, since I usually get derailed around page 300 or so.
- Gain some momentum on the music projects I've been working on. I've got lots of raw material/rough recordings, but that doesn't really get me anywhere.
- Backpack. A lot
- Try and finish out a few of the short stories that I've made progress on this semester.
- Keep living life as it's been so far. This last semester has been the best four months of my life, and things are only going to get better.
Probably going to come out with a long winded entry later on, about end of the semester/general thoughts/WE ARE GOING TO A BCS BOWL type things. Yup. That is all.
(Edit.) I've been listening to The Forecast a lot lately.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Snowboarding Season
Mt. Snow is open. Snowboarding season has begun.
I've been waiting for this. Anyone that knows me knows how much I love snowboarding season. In the eight years I've been riding I've never found anything as exhilarating and liberating as snowboarding. For those of you that don't ski or ride - you really should pick it up. For those that do - you know exactly what I'm talking about. Hitting that first run right off the lift after waiting three months is unlike anything else. Over the past year I've gotten to experience seeing Dave Matthews Band live, watch everyone rush the field after we beat West Virginia, and play in front of 109,000 people at the University of Michigan. Those were all awesome experiences, but nothing compares to being able to carve your own way down the mountain. When you're boarding you are completely free from everything. Free from worry, free from judgment, free from all concern. It's important to be aware of the world and it's happenings, but sometimes it's critical to let go of everything. Consider it "self work" if you must. Call it anything, but to me, it's something that keeps me grounded. When I ride I find my own way down the mountain. My line is unique, my turns our mine, and I'm free to move however I want. No one can hear me yelling to myself; my voice quickly dissipates in the winds that singe my face. No one can judge me; I ride faster than anyone who would waste their breath with unconstructive insults. The world is within my grasp. From the top I see more life than most people experience in a month, and that moment is indisputably mine. I love everything about life, and it's moments like those that give me reason to continue living optimistically. Moments where we feel as alive as we'll ever be. Moments where nothing can stop us. This is why I snowboard. It's an artform, an expression of life; my own personal zen. It's been too long, and I can't wait to get back.
I've been waiting for this. Anyone that knows me knows how much I love snowboarding season. In the eight years I've been riding I've never found anything as exhilarating and liberating as snowboarding. For those of you that don't ski or ride - you really should pick it up. For those that do - you know exactly what I'm talking about. Hitting that first run right off the lift after waiting three months is unlike anything else. Over the past year I've gotten to experience seeing Dave Matthews Band live, watch everyone rush the field after we beat West Virginia, and play in front of 109,000 people at the University of Michigan. Those were all awesome experiences, but nothing compares to being able to carve your own way down the mountain. When you're boarding you are completely free from everything. Free from worry, free from judgment, free from all concern. It's important to be aware of the world and it's happenings, but sometimes it's critical to let go of everything. Consider it "self work" if you must. Call it anything, but to me, it's something that keeps me grounded. When I ride I find my own way down the mountain. My line is unique, my turns our mine, and I'm free to move however I want. No one can hear me yelling to myself; my voice quickly dissipates in the winds that singe my face. No one can judge me; I ride faster than anyone who would waste their breath with unconstructive insults. The world is within my grasp. From the top I see more life than most people experience in a month, and that moment is indisputably mine. I love everything about life, and it's moments like those that give me reason to continue living optimistically. Moments where we feel as alive as we'll ever be. Moments where nothing can stop us. This is why I snowboard. It's an artform, an expression of life; my own personal zen. It's been too long, and I can't wait to get back.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Late Night Conversations
Track Listing- "Seating Subject to Availability" - 3:54
- "These Lights" - 2:49
- "Helping Hands" - 2:34
- "Fade In, Fade Out" - 2:29
- "Whiskey's Dead You're Next" - 3:50
- "Late Night Conversations" - 4:09
- "APR" - 3:32
- "Exorcise Demons" - 6:20
- "Sleep Tight Tonight" - 6:03
- "Losing Signal" - 2:3
I got this feeling I can't shake
Tonight.
So I'll call you, for the hundredth time
Just asking for a reply.
We'll fight the good fight, the good fight.
Waiting up
For the phone to ring off the hook.
I've waited so long to hear
Goodnight until sunrise.
I know - not exactly the most eloquent writing, but I didn't get into this band for their lyrics. It's simple, but it's real. This band now is what Dashboard Confessional was to me for my junior year of high school - that guilty pleasure band you listen to over and over again while hoping for a return text at 12:30 in the morning. "Seating Subject to Availability" and "APR" are two other standout songs that sold me on this album, but what it really comes down to is the entire feel that the album gives off. It's something to listen to when you want to "feel" rather the "appreciate" what you are listen to, if that make any sense. Trust me - listen to the track "Late Night Conversations" and it'll make perfect sense.
Oh, and I made travel pep band at Uconn. Baller. Now I need to figure out some new goals to set for myself. Life is good.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Phase I complete
It's not quite the end of the first semester, but for all terms and purposes it might as well be, academics aside.
In short, I've accomplished just about everything I wanted to do. This semester was all about a second start, a chance to redirect where my college career is going and to get myself integrated into a new school. After spending the entirety of last year learning about what type of person I am, I spent this semester learning about what kind of person I am at Uconn. Things, as they say, are good. Eight months ago I made a list of all the clubs, activities, etc that I wanted to at uconn and it essentially consisted of UCMB, Pep band, SSDP, UCOC, Honors Program, and Uconn short films club. With the exception of Pep Band (find out about audition results next week), I'm pretty will involved with all of these, which is exactly where I wanted to be.
So where to from here? Next semester is all about moving outward. I'm still working out, still working to make new friends and make a name for myself here, but my "efforts" are going to start heading in a more outward direction. I want to spend more time working with community service organizations, more time developing leadership skills, pretty much just spending more time helping people in general. I'm incredibly fortunate for getting to have a second chance at uconn, and I can barely begin to express how happy I am here. It's time to start paying it forward - not to anyone or any group in particular, but to my community in general. One phase of college has ended (the start, you might say), and another beginning. Above all else I've learned that you should take every opportunity, make every connection, and always find a reason to try something new. Never make excuses to get out of something that you might enjoy, just because you are afraid that it might be different or that it's new. You never known how things will end up.
Heading home for the first time since August 15th - will be sure to write again. But for now, it's time for some Uconn basketball.
In short, I've accomplished just about everything I wanted to do. This semester was all about a second start, a chance to redirect where my college career is going and to get myself integrated into a new school. After spending the entirety of last year learning about what type of person I am, I spent this semester learning about what kind of person I am at Uconn. Things, as they say, are good. Eight months ago I made a list of all the clubs, activities, etc that I wanted to at uconn and it essentially consisted of UCMB, Pep band, SSDP, UCOC, Honors Program, and Uconn short films club. With the exception of Pep Band (find out about audition results next week), I'm pretty will involved with all of these, which is exactly where I wanted to be.
So where to from here? Next semester is all about moving outward. I'm still working out, still working to make new friends and make a name for myself here, but my "efforts" are going to start heading in a more outward direction. I want to spend more time working with community service organizations, more time developing leadership skills, pretty much just spending more time helping people in general. I'm incredibly fortunate for getting to have a second chance at uconn, and I can barely begin to express how happy I am here. It's time to start paying it forward - not to anyone or any group in particular, but to my community in general. One phase of college has ended (the start, you might say), and another beginning. Above all else I've learned that you should take every opportunity, make every connection, and always find a reason to try something new. Never make excuses to get out of something that you might enjoy, just because you are afraid that it might be different or that it's new. You never known how things will end up.
Heading home for the first time since August 15th - will be sure to write again. But for now, it's time for some Uconn basketball.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Solution
Life is about doing whatever it may be that makes you happy, save anything that negatively effects. Seriously, I've been working at trying to listen to my conscious and my body and what the try to tell me, and the last three months have been some of the best of my life. It's not like there was any one pinnacle moment that made all the difference. Everything. This is what life should be. I like where this is going.
More later.
More later.
Monday, November 1, 2010
This Week
This week might be the busiest week of the semester thus far. In no particular order, I have to work around:
Regular Classes
UCMB Rehearsal
Getting everything set for the UCOC trip I'm leading on Friday-Saturday
Filming for Frontier
Pep Band game on Thursday Night
SSDP Tuesday Night Game
Pep Band Audition Practice
An hour work out everyday
Studying for a huge biology exam on friday
Which leaves me with no time for anything.
In other words, things couldn't be better. Life is short. Don't let a second go to waste.
Regular Classes
UCMB Rehearsal
Getting everything set for the UCOC trip I'm leading on Friday-Saturday
Filming for Frontier
Pep Band game on Thursday Night
SSDP Tuesday Night Game
Pep Band Audition Practice
An hour work out everyday
Studying for a huge biology exam on friday
Which leaves me with no time for anything.
In other words, things couldn't be better. Life is short. Don't let a second go to waste.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Rule #25. Someone's gotta do it. Why not me?
I said before that I'd try and write an entry every time I had another realization from the "Principles for a Young Life" list that Kinsella gave me three years ago. This one came about rather quickly, and I realized it after literally saying "Someone's gotta do it. Why not me?" Think about that for a second. We've all been brought up on principles of stepping out, on being leaders, and on making an example that others should follow. Maybe I've sort of taken this for granted after all these years, having grown up in a town where it's so common. At a school as big as uconn you're bound to see a lot of great leaders, but there's even more masses of people walking with no particular destination in mine. This is how we make things happen. This is how we make a name for ourselves. I hear thoughts left and right about "tradition" and "knowing your place" within whatever groups, clubs, and the school in general, and I get it. I understand where that comes from, but you know what? Fuck that. We have a surprisingly finite of time here, and I see no reason why I should waste a single second waiting for things to fall into place, or for things to work themselves out. Maybe I want to be the one that work things out, or the one that gets things going. Could I fuck up? In all probability, yes. Does it matter? Not in the least bit. I love going out and having a good time and doing the weekend thing, but every Sunday night I get that itch in the back of my mine that makes me want something more concrete, and I'm not going to wait around to find it.
I've been trying to keep this entry relatively abstract, based on a number of lessons I've both observed first hand and learned about through friends, because I really think this applies to everyone out there. If you want something then go out and get it! We see that phrase pasted on motivation ceiling tiles in the infirmary or on feel-good websites that we find on stumbleupon, but I say lets fucking do it! You don't have to know what you're doing or be confident that everything will work out in order to go out and try to get something done. We pay too high a price (and I mean this literally, as in money) for our time here to sit and be escorted. Go out and get whatever it may be that you want. It could be a job, a leadership position, a girl, fame, anything. It doesn't matter. Go get it.
I've been trying to keep this entry relatively abstract, based on a number of lessons I've both observed first hand and learned about through friends, because I really think this applies to everyone out there. If you want something then go out and get it! We see that phrase pasted on motivation ceiling tiles in the infirmary or on feel-good websites that we find on stumbleupon, but I say lets fucking do it! You don't have to know what you're doing or be confident that everything will work out in order to go out and try to get something done. We pay too high a price (and I mean this literally, as in money) for our time here to sit and be escorted. Go out and get whatever it may be that you want. It could be a job, a leadership position, a girl, fame, anything. It doesn't matter. Go get it.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tough Mudder
November 21st, get pumped. They call it a combination of a marathon, an iron man, and a navy seals training course. Perfect, right? Already working on putting a team together, be sure to let me know if you're interested. I've found that the easiest way to keep yourself motivated in fitness is to have events like these to look forward to and to push yourself towards. This one in particular is going to be one hell of a race. It makes the triathlon we all did last summer seem like nothing. Probably because, it comparison to this, it was nothing.
I'll update once I get plans/training schedule/have a roster of who is going.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
A few things I've learned from my weekend.
A few things I've learned this weekend.
1) Don't hope for anything specific when it comes to going out for a night. All you can really plan on is having a good time, and that's pretty much it. I ran in to tons of people who were out to meet girls, to find the sickest party, or to try to make themselves known as "that guy" that goes way over the edge. I think that planning for all of these things is what makes them all impossible to achieve. After a year of college, I'm finally learning that you can't plan for things to happen... you can just plan for the way things will go. As I learned from the movie Blow last night - "Life passes you by while you're making grand plans for it".
2) "It is what it is" - Rule #2 on Kinsella's principles of a young life that he sent me two years ago. I think that I'll start posting these rules whenever I come to learn them myself, for this, like everything else, is one long and absurd fucked up journey through the best years of our lives. This one refers to making the best out of whatever you have. Last night would be a perfect example of that. Went out to carriage, lost...everyone, saw all my friends get lucky and leave, and ended up walking back alone. But then, walking back, I met a bunch of people on my floor for the first time, and ended up hanging with a lot of them in our room until 2 or 3 in the morning. At the end of the night, despite everything that had or hadn't happened, we still had all of our closest friends chilling on our futon, watching Blow and eating old popcorn. It is what it is. It's not about the people you meet for the first time and go head over heels in your endeavor to make a good impression. It's about those that help you drag back your friends when they are having trouble stumbling back to your dorm and stopping to go a leak every three seconds. First lesson learned. Many more to come.
- Connor
1) Don't hope for anything specific when it comes to going out for a night. All you can really plan on is having a good time, and that's pretty much it. I ran in to tons of people who were out to meet girls, to find the sickest party, or to try to make themselves known as "that guy" that goes way over the edge. I think that planning for all of these things is what makes them all impossible to achieve. After a year of college, I'm finally learning that you can't plan for things to happen... you can just plan for the way things will go. As I learned from the movie Blow last night - "Life passes you by while you're making grand plans for it".
2) "It is what it is" - Rule #2 on Kinsella's principles of a young life that he sent me two years ago. I think that I'll start posting these rules whenever I come to learn them myself, for this, like everything else, is one long and absurd fucked up journey through the best years of our lives. This one refers to making the best out of whatever you have. Last night would be a perfect example of that. Went out to carriage, lost...everyone, saw all my friends get lucky and leave, and ended up walking back alone. But then, walking back, I met a bunch of people on my floor for the first time, and ended up hanging with a lot of them in our room until 2 or 3 in the morning. At the end of the night, despite everything that had or hadn't happened, we still had all of our closest friends chilling on our futon, watching Blow and eating old popcorn. It is what it is. It's not about the people you meet for the first time and go head over heels in your endeavor to make a good impression. It's about those that help you drag back your friends when they are having trouble stumbling back to your dorm and stopping to go a leak every three seconds. First lesson learned. Many more to come.
- Connor
Monday, September 13, 2010
Something to live by
Something my very close friend Alan Kinsella told me the other day -
- "Don't let college get the best of you. Get the best of IT"
I feel like that happens to a lot of people here. We're here for 4 years. Maybe an extra semester or so, but the same basic length of time. I'm learning very quickly that time will fly by if you don't get out there and seize every possible opportunity that you can. If there is ever a choice between watching tv by yourself and meeting someone new, make sure to make the right choice. I spent an entire year making the wrong choices, and I'm starting to see how much better everything is when you trust our intuition and just run with it. I've met people doing laundry, longboarding, leaving my door open and blasting LOST on my TV... more ways than i can count. and I've been here two weeks. Imagine how much life experience I'll get out of just this semester. More than I can possibly fathom. It all falls on taking the time get yourself out there, and avoid falling into the rut of routine. NEVER let that happen. This is what I'm going to keep telling myself.
- "Don't let college get the best of you. Get the best of IT"
I feel like that happens to a lot of people here. We're here for 4 years. Maybe an extra semester or so, but the same basic length of time. I'm learning very quickly that time will fly by if you don't get out there and seize every possible opportunity that you can. If there is ever a choice between watching tv by yourself and meeting someone new, make sure to make the right choice. I spent an entire year making the wrong choices, and I'm starting to see how much better everything is when you trust our intuition and just run with it. I've met people doing laundry, longboarding, leaving my door open and blasting LOST on my TV... more ways than i can count. and I've been here two weeks. Imagine how much life experience I'll get out of just this semester. More than I can possibly fathom. It all falls on taking the time get yourself out there, and avoid falling into the rut of routine. NEVER let that happen. This is what I'm going to keep telling myself.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
I think it's an addiction
I have the strangest problems. I've never struggled with drugs, alcohol, eating, etc. But you know what I can't get out of my head? Grades. Seriously, I have these absurd standards that probably won't even end up helping me. It's 4.0 or bust, and I mean that. Some people compete in Athletics, others compete in Music.. I get wrapped up in the ego trip i get from getting better grades than other people and working harder than them. I know. That makes me an asshole. Someone once told me that it's only because I'm trying to prove to people that I'm ok because I think that I'm not. I suppose he was probably right, but it doesn't exactly solve this. Maybe it's because I have no real concept of what grades it takes to get into law school, or what sort of work is required to get these grades at uconn. I don't really know. All I know is that I can't wait (academically at least) for 1st semester to end, so I have a better idea of how I function as a student. Because right now I'm still doing that whole library-from-7pm-to-2am thing.
I know, I've been writing about really boring shit lately. I suppose thats because life has literally consisted of marching band and schoolwork since I moved in. Next weekend (the one with the 18th I mean) is completely free though!
- Connor
I know, I've been writing about really boring shit lately. I suppose thats because life has literally consisted of marching band and schoolwork since I moved in. Next weekend (the one with the 18th I mean) is completely free though!
- Connor
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Sometimes
I think I'm bi-polar. Not in the "upset-happy-upset-happy-eat 10 cheeseburgers way", but in the "I can't really focus on a single objective" way. Maybe that's ADHD? Or some other condition that I obviously don't have but like to pretend I do to justify my horrible attention span? I read through what I wrote last night and I don't think I could get in that mood again if I tried. I love how things jump around so much. Last night I wanted to change the world, right now I just want to change my clothes and watch a movie.
That last sentence represents the single greatest facet of humanity.
That last sentence represents the single greatest facet of humanity.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Why I wish I was like doctor house.
You know what would be totally sweet? If we all had the power to turn into Dr. House whenever we wanted to. It wouldn't have to be for medicine persay, but rather a quick transformation that changed us from relaxed and careless to a quirky, detail coveting genius who was really really really really good at whatever they were doing. I know it's lame (but isn't everything?) but sometimes I get like that when I'm studying. Seriously, you should try it. I set myself up in a way to allow myself to get completely enveloped by my work, to a point where I synchronize all of my thoughts with it and just get in the fucking zone. Most of you will think I'm crazy, but those of you who've been where I've been know how cool it is to be the Micheal Jordan of writing history papers. You'll spend hours coming up with nothing and then WHOA! Perfect argument after perfect argument seems to flow from your pencil as if you're doing nothing. As someone who enjoys (to a certain degree, let's be realistic here) schoolwork, I try to get in that zone as much as possible. After all, I didn't sign my entire extended family up for a lifetime of college debt just to come here to party and chill all day.
That part's just extra.
That part's just extra.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Something different.
Ten months of worrying whether or not this transition would be worth it was all but answered in 10 minutes.
Let's do this, Uconn. Glad to be here at last.
Let's do this, Uconn. Glad to be here at last.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
180° SOUTH
I just finished watching 180° SOUTH. 
It was like watching the part of me that is my hopes, dreams, and imagination separate from my body and than leave for six months to make this documentary. I mean this was it. This was the real. Watching this film brought me back to some of the best moments of my life. It was like I was standing on the edge of Bond Cliff or Mt. Zealand again, miles and miles away from the nearest road or other mark of civilization. It was like I was summitting Mt. Katahdin after four years of impatient waiting and anticipation.
Therein lies the problem. While I was remembering and reflecting upon this high points of my life, the people in 180° SOUTH were living them, day by day. They weren't just on a weekend section hike or on a quick two pitch climb. They were living with nothing but vague destinations and a concrete understanding of what makes life worth living.
I've teetered back and forth between the points of grasping and rejecting this concept. There have been days where I was more than ready to drop everything and go. Maybe I'd finally hike the AT, maybe I'd drive out to California. Who knows. People might say that these impulses are rash and irresponsible, but I argue that the only thing rash about it is that we have so many physical and temporary barriers that prevent us from doing it. We are used to lifestyles of comfort, of security, low risk living coupled with mediocre reward. I'll admit that I get pretty well settled into that as well... But everytime I hit the trail I get that itch again. I get that nagging at the back of my head that says "just go for it! What's stopping you? What is really stopping you?" Sooner or later I'm gonna start listening to that voice. Sure, sure, might as well get college out of the way first, but once that's done...
"The best journeys answer questions that in the beginning you didn't even think to ask."
- Jeff Johnson
It was like watching the part of me that is my hopes, dreams, and imagination separate from my body and than leave for six months to make this documentary. I mean this was it. This was the real. Watching this film brought me back to some of the best moments of my life. It was like I was standing on the edge of Bond Cliff or Mt. Zealand again, miles and miles away from the nearest road or other mark of civilization. It was like I was summitting Mt. Katahdin after four years of impatient waiting and anticipation.
Therein lies the problem. While I was remembering and reflecting upon this high points of my life, the people in 180° SOUTH were living them, day by day. They weren't just on a weekend section hike or on a quick two pitch climb. They were living with nothing but vague destinations and a concrete understanding of what makes life worth living.
I've teetered back and forth between the points of grasping and rejecting this concept. There have been days where I was more than ready to drop everything and go. Maybe I'd finally hike the AT, maybe I'd drive out to California. Who knows. People might say that these impulses are rash and irresponsible, but I argue that the only thing rash about it is that we have so many physical and temporary barriers that prevent us from doing it. We are used to lifestyles of comfort, of security, low risk living coupled with mediocre reward. I'll admit that I get pretty well settled into that as well... But everytime I hit the trail I get that itch again. I get that nagging at the back of my head that says "just go for it! What's stopping you? What is really stopping you?" Sooner or later I'm gonna start listening to that voice. Sure, sure, might as well get college out of the way first, but once that's done...
"The best journeys answer questions that in the beginning you didn't even think to ask."
- Jeff Johnson
Friday, July 2, 2010
Indifferent
We're halfway through summer, and it's turned out to be pretty much what I expected: A myriad of drinking, certain herbal drugs, and watching way too many bad movies.
It's not like I'm trying to be above any of that: believe me, I'm not. I have no problem doing it, for the most part. We engage recreationally once in a while and at the end of the day everything is totally fine. We're in good health, young, and we've got the world ahead of us. The world and all of it's opportunities is at our disposal. But maybe that's the problem.
I've got two sides pulling at me. Part of me, the more balanced and perhaps sane side, is content with this wait. It knows that waiting is what we have to do sometimes. Soon enough I'll have schoolwork, internships, paid positions, marching band, and a million other programs that I'll be climbing my way to the top in. The other half of me doesn't quite agree with this. It's impatient. It's the side that drives me to compulsively compose 3 hours of music without stop, paying perfect attention to detail and striving for perfection. It's the side that hates all the drinking and hates all the fun nights we have, not because of health reasons or regretful decisions, but because of the opportunity cost of the lost time that comes with it. Could I be working towards a more efficient goal here? What else could I be doing with my summer? I'm split between a triathlon training program, 1.5 hours a day of trumpet practice, and a decent paying job, which by all means should be more than enough. It's not that I need to fill the physical void that time seems to leave throughout the summer. It's that I need to be moving. I'm moving horizontally instead of vertically; moving, just not in the right direction. Of course, I'm not moving in the wrong direction either. We're all just moving, letting ourselves become one with the fast fleeting days of summer and rolling in and out with tides of time. I guess that's why I'm so sick of it. I want challenge. I want to be able to sit back at the end of the day and say "well, I made the best out of this day, and look where I am not" and then simply smile and relax. That's what I'll never understand about myself. After all, who ever thought that the biggest inhibitor could be freedom itself?
It's not like I'm trying to be above any of that: believe me, I'm not. I have no problem doing it, for the most part. We engage recreationally once in a while and at the end of the day everything is totally fine. We're in good health, young, and we've got the world ahead of us. The world and all of it's opportunities is at our disposal. But maybe that's the problem.
I've got two sides pulling at me. Part of me, the more balanced and perhaps sane side, is content with this wait. It knows that waiting is what we have to do sometimes. Soon enough I'll have schoolwork, internships, paid positions, marching band, and a million other programs that I'll be climbing my way to the top in. The other half of me doesn't quite agree with this. It's impatient. It's the side that drives me to compulsively compose 3 hours of music without stop, paying perfect attention to detail and striving for perfection. It's the side that hates all the drinking and hates all the fun nights we have, not because of health reasons or regretful decisions, but because of the opportunity cost of the lost time that comes with it. Could I be working towards a more efficient goal here? What else could I be doing with my summer? I'm split between a triathlon training program, 1.5 hours a day of trumpet practice, and a decent paying job, which by all means should be more than enough. It's not that I need to fill the physical void that time seems to leave throughout the summer. It's that I need to be moving. I'm moving horizontally instead of vertically; moving, just not in the right direction. Of course, I'm not moving in the wrong direction either. We're all just moving, letting ourselves become one with the fast fleeting days of summer and rolling in and out with tides of time. I guess that's why I'm so sick of it. I want challenge. I want to be able to sit back at the end of the day and say "well, I made the best out of this day, and look where I am not" and then simply smile and relax. That's what I'll never understand about myself. After all, who ever thought that the biggest inhibitor could be freedom itself?
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Here we go again...
It's been about a month since I finished my 90 day ordeal with Tony Horton. You know, this guy:
That's done. History. Time for the next level.
Trust me - I remember how bad things got when I was doing P90X. My eating habits got veryyyyyy unhealthy, and pretty much everything about me started to get out of wack. I know, I know. But this is going to be different. I'm in a much better place mentally right, and I'm really ready to do this. I've maintained 90% of the results I got with P90X in the month following it's closure, but I want to push myself further. I'm talking something like 6, 7 percent body fat. Something I've never even come CLOSE to in my life. This will hurt. This will suck. Hell, I'll probably end up puking a few times. But that's what it takes, and I couldn't be more excited.
See you in 60 days...
- Connor
That's done. History. Time for the next level.
Trust me - I remember how bad things got when I was doing P90X. My eating habits got veryyyyyy unhealthy, and pretty much everything about me started to get out of wack. I know, I know. But this is going to be different. I'm in a much better place mentally right, and I'm really ready to do this. I've maintained 90% of the results I got with P90X in the month following it's closure, but I want to push myself further. I'm talking something like 6, 7 percent body fat. Something I've never even come CLOSE to in my life. This will hurt. This will suck. Hell, I'll probably end up puking a few times. But that's what it takes, and I couldn't be more excited.
See you in 60 days...
- Connor
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Radical Face - Ghost
Radical Face - "Ghost"March 2007
Morr Music Records
Track listing
- "Asleep on a Train" - 2:01
- "Welcome Home, Son" - 4:48 (Emeral Cooper on piano and Mark Hubbard on snare drum)
- "Let the River in" - 5:07
- "Glory" - 6:13 (Alex Kane on bass)
- "The Strangest Things" - 4:26 (Alex Kane on bass)
- "Wrapped in Piano Strings" - 3:38
- "Along the Road" - 4:18
- "Haunted" - 4:44
- "Winter is Coming" - 4:24
- "Sleepwalking" - 4:43
- "Homesick" - 3:44
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Connor: 1, Tony Horton: 0
I did it. Holy freakin crap, I actually did it. Despite all the complaining, bitching, and breakdowns, I managed to survive and successfully compete P90X.
So what can I say? First of all, I owe an incredible thanks to everyone that helped me out on this. And not just the people who worked out with me and helped me going day to day (Anthony, Dano, Patrick, etc). I'm sure many of you probably got real fed up with my complaining and talking about it constantly. I realize this. Please not that, despite your annoyance with me, you were doing me a huge service. There were several points where I was ready to quit, b/c I wasn't satisfied with the results I was seeing and I felt alone in what I was doing. So all that bitching I did was sort of my way to get through it. Yes, I know it wasn't the most mature thing I could have possible done, but hell - it worked, didn't it?
Results! This is the fun part. I regret that I won't be able to post my day 90 pictures right away, because I lost my camera at spring weekend and need to post new ones. but I think the changes from day 0 to day 60 are still pretty significant.
And by the way:
Weight last October (before I started GRAB workouts): 186 lbs
Weight at the beginning of P90X: 175 lbs
Current Weight: 154 lbs
That's right. 32 lbs. Gone. I also lost about 6 or 7 inches on waist overall, and tonnnnssss of fat everywhere, which means I need to to get all new clothes. But I'm not complaining. Afterall, this isn't the end. I've definitely set up a lifelong mission here. I'm done with all the fast food, junk food, and late night binges that I used to have. And trust me, I had that pretty bad. I've learned a ton about the way metabolism works, about the way what I eat and do effects my health, about pretty much everything (thanks again patrick).
So here are the pictures. Don't laugh at the poses. I just did what Tony Horton told me to do.
Day 0
Day 30 (ish)
Day 60 (ish, more like Day 70 or so)
And now a Comparison Shot:
So that's that.
It's certainly an interesting way to look back on my freshman year. I mean let's face it, overall, it's been not much short of a disaster. Everyone knows my whole thing with Gettysburg (see an earlier post for that) but aside from that I've been dealing with the fun situation of having nobody to hang out with, mood swings, frustration with the failure to get a job, depression, etc. But I've countered it with therapy, more school, music, and what you've seen on the above. So what. My first year of college wasn't what I expected. I didn't make a million friends, I didn't fall in love, I didn't find my calling. But I found myself, and I finally began to accomplish what I've wanted to do throughout my entire life. Am I there yet? Not even close. But after many, many, MANY failed attempts, I finally got on the right track. And I owe that to all of you.
So overall? Not a bad freshmen year, all things considered.
So what can I say? First of all, I owe an incredible thanks to everyone that helped me out on this. And not just the people who worked out with me and helped me going day to day (Anthony, Dano, Patrick, etc). I'm sure many of you probably got real fed up with my complaining and talking about it constantly. I realize this. Please not that, despite your annoyance with me, you were doing me a huge service. There were several points where I was ready to quit, b/c I wasn't satisfied with the results I was seeing and I felt alone in what I was doing. So all that bitching I did was sort of my way to get through it. Yes, I know it wasn't the most mature thing I could have possible done, but hell - it worked, didn't it?
Results! This is the fun part. I regret that I won't be able to post my day 90 pictures right away, because I lost my camera at spring weekend and need to post new ones. but I think the changes from day 0 to day 60 are still pretty significant.
And by the way:
Weight last October (before I started GRAB workouts): 186 lbs
Weight at the beginning of P90X: 175 lbs
Current Weight: 154 lbs
That's right. 32 lbs. Gone. I also lost about 6 or 7 inches on waist overall, and tonnnnssss of fat everywhere, which means I need to to get all new clothes. But I'm not complaining. Afterall, this isn't the end. I've definitely set up a lifelong mission here. I'm done with all the fast food, junk food, and late night binges that I used to have. And trust me, I had that pretty bad. I've learned a ton about the way metabolism works, about the way what I eat and do effects my health, about pretty much everything (thanks again patrick).
So here are the pictures. Don't laugh at the poses. I just did what Tony Horton told me to do.
Day 0
Day 30 (ish)
Day 60 (ish, more like Day 70 or so)
And now a Comparison Shot:
So that's that.
It's certainly an interesting way to look back on my freshman year. I mean let's face it, overall, it's been not much short of a disaster. Everyone knows my whole thing with Gettysburg (see an earlier post for that) but aside from that I've been dealing with the fun situation of having nobody to hang out with, mood swings, frustration with the failure to get a job, depression, etc. But I've countered it with therapy, more school, music, and what you've seen on the above. So what. My first year of college wasn't what I expected. I didn't make a million friends, I didn't fall in love, I didn't find my calling. But I found myself, and I finally began to accomplish what I've wanted to do throughout my entire life. Am I there yet? Not even close. But after many, many, MANY failed attempts, I finally got on the right track. And I owe that to all of you.
So overall? Not a bad freshmen year, all things considered.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Nope
Ok, so I'm laying off the drinking for a bit. Still down to party, but spring weekend was definitely eye opening.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
10 Inexpensive Short Notice Summer Ideas
Last summer was awesome, but you have to admit: We really didn't do much. Well, there was Katahdin and North Caroline, but between those two events there was just a lot of hanging around South Windsor, doing absolutely nothing. And since I'm sitting in a 3 hour sociology class, I'm going to come up with a huge list of stuff for us to do this summer! I'll try to include week long epic things like NC and long hikes, but I'm also going to try to come up with a bunch of 1 and 2 day trips that will either be free or very cheap. So anyway.
1. Block Island, Rhode Island.
Description: Block Island is a small island off the coast of Rhode Island. It's beautiful when the weather and nice, and it's got a good mix of shopping, beaches, and sight seeing to do.
Length: Day Trip or possible over night if we choose to camp somewhere near the island on the night before.
Distance from South Windsor: 3 hours 18 minutes / 111.49 miles. I'm pretty sure that the time includes the Ferry Ride.
Expected Costs:
- 11 $ for Round Trip Ferry Ticket
- Food
- Gas
- Shopping $$
Things to do:
- Shopping (That's you, Sarah George)
- Biking (There are some hills that are a few miles long. It's really quite incredible)
- Longboarding
- Hiking
- The Beach
2. The White Mountains: Franconia Range,
Littleton, NH.
Description: One of the two "epic" hiking areas in NH, with the other being the presidential range near it. Doesn't even need a description.
Length: 1 really really long day, 2-3 days if we choose to backpack or camp at a campground near there.
Distance from South Windsor. 3 hours 39 minutes / 218.76 miles
Expected Costs
- Gas
- Food
Things to do:
- Hike (probably the loop we always did in high school)
- Backpack?
- Awesome picture sessions?
3. Watch Hill Beach
151 Bay Street Westerly, RI
Description: We've been here twice before (after prom and after reception), but there's a lot there that we haven't checked out yet. We've yet to be there during the open season though...
Length: 1 Day
Distance from SW: 1 hour 36 minutes / 78.29 miles
Expected Costs
- Parking (Either 5$ or 20$ per car, dont' remember.)
- Food
- Gas
Things to do:
- Go to the Beach
- Explore the Fort there
- Explore the town! This is something that we've actually never done, and I want to go there sometime during the summer so that we can go when everything is open. We'd have to leave really really really early for this.
4. New York City
Description: Come on. It's NYC. Enough said.
Distance from South Windsor: 2 hours 34 minutes / 125.16 miles. That, however, is if we drive. You can get round trip train train tickets though...
Length: 1 Day, possibly more? If anyone has any family in the area than that could be a possibility, but I'm down for a get there early and leave real late type of day.
Expected Costs
- Train Ticket (20-30 Dollar Round Trip)
- Food
- Shopping Money
Things to do
- Longboarding in Central Park!
- Concert?
- Explore the city
- Walk around and find stuff to do
- It's NYC, I don't think we even really need a reason, do we?
5. Build a Trojan Horse
Description: Ok, I know this sounds like pretty much the dumbest idea you've ever heard of, but I totally want to do it.
Distance from SW: We can do this one at home!
Length: This is probably a multiday project. But an awesome one at that.
Expected Costs: Materials. Probably no more than 5 to 10 $ per person.
Things to do: Ok, now I know this idea sounds strange... but that's why it's awesome! Here's what I'm thinking. I don't know how yet, but we could build a wooden frame out of wood we buy/find/have in my basement. PVC pipe could also be used. Sounds like a lot but it really wouldn't be. After that we'd have to acquire a ton of cardboard to actually make the horse look like... a horse. I'm sure we could find that by going around to stores and asking for supplies. Sure, the horse would probably look awful, but hey this will still be awesome. I know it sounds dumb, but I think it would be way cooler, and definitely way more memorable than sitting around playing video games in my basement for a few days or something.
6. Dart Hill Park Cookout or Possible Pig Roast?
Description: Get everyone together and do a cookout at Dart Hill Park. Or at Wichkam park! If we got enough people (20 people at 5$ each) we could try to pull off a pig roast at somebodies house... maybe invite families or something? I feel like that would be a cool thing for us to do.
Distance: Home
Length: 1 Day
Expected Costs: 5 to 7 $ for food and stuff
Things to do: It's a cookout. You cook. Out. and then you eat. The End. Roll on snaredrum. Everybody laugh.
7. Lake Compounce
Description: This is probably the most expensive thing on there, but I love this place. And it's awesome if you go for the entire day... Boulderdash at night is sick.
Distance From SW: 40 minutes / 27.48 miles
Length: 1 Day
Expected Costs: 35$ for tickets, money for other things if you feel the need.
Things to do: Ride roller coasters. All day long.
8. Camping!
Description: Let's go car camping! I know how much some of us love to backpack, but I figured if we do this than we'll have a chance to relax and include more people who aren't inclined to pooping in the woods for a week and eating gross noodles all the time.
Distance from SW: Variable. There are tons of great places to go, but there are a couple free campgrounds that we could hit up within 45 minutes driving distance.
Length - 2 to 3 days
Expected Costs: 10-15$ Per Person for Food.
Things to do: Play music, build fires, sleep outside under the stars, cook food, find lakes, go swimming, pretty much anything.
9. Newport, RI
Description: This place is sick. A lot to see, a lot to do.
Distance from SW: 2 hours 2 minutes / 91.15 miles
Length: 1 long day, possibly spread over two days.
Expected Costs:
- Gas
- Food money
- Shopping money
Things to do:
- Check out the mansions
- Cliff walk trail
- Walk around the town and check out shops and stuff
- Longboard!
- Beach (is there a beach there?)
10. Go Cliff Jumping
Description: I'm sort of sick of going to the same place, so I want to go try to find all (or at least some of) the best places in CT to go cliff jumping. After all, the trip and adventure to get there is more than half of the fun anyway, right?
Distance From SW: >1.5 Hours
Length: 1 Day (Multiple Times)
Expected Costs: Gas. That's pretty much it.
Things to do: Find Cliff. Jump off Cliff. Repeat.
I know we've had some good places that we've been going , but I want to find some new places to hit up. It'll give us more opportunities to see more places and make the most of our summer.
11. Ultimate Frisbee (College Version)
Description: Play Ultimate, but actually follow any sort of rules/plays/anything.
Distance from SW: In SW
Length: All Summer?
Expected Costs: None
Things to do: So I know we play ultimate all the time, but I really want to play the way some of us have played in college. I know some people are going to complain and say we're being "stiff" about it, and that we should just go with it, but eh. I
I'll continue to update this throughout the end of the semester, as I'm hoping to get 20-30 things on here, and while we don't have to do all of them, I want to try to do a lot. I want to actually do stuff this summer. Yes, I know we'll all be working and busy this summer, but I think some people have been over thinking how busy they will be. Also, most of these are free or very cheap, so there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to do some. We've got from roughly May 15th to August 15th - Thats 90 Days. Even if you work 80 of those days (which is totally unrealistic in every sense), that's still 10 days, 10 possible trips. Let's make this happen!
Keep checking for more updates!
- Connor
1. Block Island, Rhode Island.
Description: Block Island is a small island off the coast of Rhode Island. It's beautiful when the weather and nice, and it's got a good mix of shopping, beaches, and sight seeing to do.
Length: Day Trip or possible over night if we choose to camp somewhere near the island on the night before.
Distance from South Windsor: 3 hours 18 minutes / 111.49 miles. I'm pretty sure that the time includes the Ferry Ride.
Expected Costs:
- 11 $ for Round Trip Ferry Ticket
- Food
- Gas
- Shopping $$
Things to do:
- Shopping (That's you, Sarah George)
- Biking (There are some hills that are a few miles long. It's really quite incredible)
- Longboarding
- Hiking
- The Beach
2. The White Mountains: Franconia Range,
Littleton, NH.
Description: One of the two "epic" hiking areas in NH, with the other being the presidential range near it. Doesn't even need a description.
Length: 1 really really long day, 2-3 days if we choose to backpack or camp at a campground near there.
Distance from South Windsor. 3 hours 39 minutes / 218.76 miles
Expected Costs
- Gas
- Food
Things to do:
- Hike (probably the loop we always did in high school)
- Backpack?
- Awesome picture sessions?
3. Watch Hill Beach151 Bay Street Westerly, RI
Description: We've been here twice before (after prom and after reception), but there's a lot there that we haven't checked out yet. We've yet to be there during the open season though...
Length: 1 Day
Distance from SW: 1 hour 36 minutes / 78.29 miles
Expected Costs
- Parking (Either 5$ or 20$ per car, dont' remember.)
- Food
- Gas
Things to do:
- Go to the Beach
- Explore the Fort there
- Explore the town! This is something that we've actually never done, and I want to go there sometime during the summer so that we can go when everything is open. We'd have to leave really really really early for this.
4. New York CityDescription: Come on. It's NYC. Enough said.
Distance from South Windsor: 2 hours 34 minutes / 125.16 miles. That, however, is if we drive. You can get round trip train train tickets though...
Length: 1 Day, possibly more? If anyone has any family in the area than that could be a possibility, but I'm down for a get there early and leave real late type of day.
Expected Costs
- Train Ticket (20-30 Dollar Round Trip)
- Food
- Shopping Money
Things to do
- Longboarding in Central Park!
- Concert?
- Explore the city
- Walk around and find stuff to do
- It's NYC, I don't think we even really need a reason, do we?
5. Build a Trojan Horse
Description: Ok, I know this sounds like pretty much the dumbest idea you've ever heard of, but I totally want to do it.
Distance from SW: We can do this one at home!
Length: This is probably a multiday project. But an awesome one at that.
Expected Costs: Materials. Probably no more than 5 to 10 $ per person.
Things to do: Ok, now I know this idea sounds strange... but that's why it's awesome! Here's what I'm thinking. I don't know how yet, but we could build a wooden frame out of wood we buy/find/have in my basement. PVC pipe could also be used. Sounds like a lot but it really wouldn't be. After that we'd have to acquire a ton of cardboard to actually make the horse look like... a horse. I'm sure we could find that by going around to stores and asking for supplies. Sure, the horse would probably look awful, but hey this will still be awesome. I know it sounds dumb, but I think it would be way cooler, and definitely way more memorable than sitting around playing video games in my basement for a few days or something.
6. Dart Hill Park Cookout or Possible Pig Roast?Description: Get everyone together and do a cookout at Dart Hill Park. Or at Wichkam park! If we got enough people (20 people at 5$ each) we could try to pull off a pig roast at somebodies house... maybe invite families or something? I feel like that would be a cool thing for us to do.
Distance: Home
Length: 1 Day
Expected Costs: 5 to 7 $ for food and stuff
Things to do: It's a cookout. You cook. Out. and then you eat. The End. Roll on snaredrum. Everybody laugh.
7. Lake Compounce
Description: This is probably the most expensive thing on there, but I love this place. And it's awesome if you go for the entire day... Boulderdash at night is sick.
Distance From SW: 40 minutes / 27.48 miles
Length: 1 Day
Expected Costs: 35$ for tickets, money for other things if you feel the need.
Things to do: Ride roller coasters. All day long.
8. Camping!
Description: Let's go car camping! I know how much some of us love to backpack, but I figured if we do this than we'll have a chance to relax and include more people who aren't inclined to pooping in the woods for a week and eating gross noodles all the time.
Distance from SW: Variable. There are tons of great places to go, but there are a couple free campgrounds that we could hit up within 45 minutes driving distance.
Length - 2 to 3 days
Expected Costs: 10-15$ Per Person for Food.
Things to do: Play music, build fires, sleep outside under the stars, cook food, find lakes, go swimming, pretty much anything.
9. Newport, RIDescription: This place is sick. A lot to see, a lot to do.
Distance from SW: 2 hours 2 minutes / 91.15 miles
Length: 1 long day, possibly spread over two days.
Expected Costs:
- Gas
- Food money
- Shopping money
Things to do:
- Check out the mansions
- Cliff walk trail
- Walk around the town and check out shops and stuff
- Longboard!
- Beach (is there a beach there?)
10. Go Cliff JumpingDescription: I'm sort of sick of going to the same place, so I want to go try to find all (or at least some of) the best places in CT to go cliff jumping. After all, the trip and adventure to get there is more than half of the fun anyway, right?
Distance From SW: >1.5 Hours
Length: 1 Day (Multiple Times)
Expected Costs: Gas. That's pretty much it.
Things to do: Find Cliff. Jump off Cliff. Repeat.
I know we've had some good places that we've been going , but I want to find some new places to hit up. It'll give us more opportunities to see more places and make the most of our summer.
11. Ultimate Frisbee (College Version)
Description: Play Ultimate, but actually follow any sort of rules/plays/anything.
Distance from SW: In SW
Length: All Summer?
Expected Costs: None
Things to do: So I know we play ultimate all the time, but I really want to play the way some of us have played in college. I know some people are going to complain and say we're being "stiff" about it, and that we should just go with it, but eh. I
I'll continue to update this throughout the end of the semester, as I'm hoping to get 20-30 things on here, and while we don't have to do all of them, I want to try to do a lot. I want to actually do stuff this summer. Yes, I know we'll all be working and busy this summer, but I think some people have been over thinking how busy they will be. Also, most of these are free or very cheap, so there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to do some. We've got from roughly May 15th to August 15th - Thats 90 Days. Even if you work 80 of those days (which is totally unrealistic in every sense), that's still 10 days, 10 possible trips. Let's make this happen!
Keep checking for more updates!
- Connor
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Addicted to Bad Ideas
The World/Inferno Friendship Society
"Addicted to Bad Ideas"
2007
1. Peter Lorre Overture - 4:45
2. With a Good Criminal Heart - 2:55
3. "M" is for Morphine - 3:01
4. ...and Embarked on a Life of Poverty and Freedom... - 3:32
5. Ich erinnere mich an die Weimarer Republik - 4:13
6. I Just Make Faces - 2:45
7. Everybody Comes to Rick's - 2:05
8. Cathy Catharine - 2:49
9. Thumb Cinema - 3:23
10. Addicted to Bad Ideas - 3:14
11. Heart Attack '64 - 2:40
This is going to be a hard one to pin down. First of all, I'm very mixed about this band. I happen to love this album, but the other three that I've listened to thus far ("Just The Best Party", "Red-Eyed Soul" and "The True Story of the Bridgewater Astral League") haven't really clicked with me yet, if you know what I mean. Regardless, however, this album is one of my favorite fucking albums of all time. Seriously.
World/Inferno Friendship Society is a very odd band. It's a mash up of punk, dancehall, ska, and cabaret influences, and somehow it all comes together to form an amazing and dark concept album (I promise, I'll write about more albums on here than just concept albums, but that's the way it's happened to work out so far). I've never seen them live, but apparently their shows are absolutely nuts and very Pink Floyd-esque, with Pyrotechnics, extravagant numbers and upwards of 15 people on stage at any one point in time. Check them out here if you want more info on them http://bit.ly/9iij51. Anyway, Addicted to Bad Ideas is about the life and career of Peter Lorre, which you can read about here, since I'm too lazy to post a bio on the guy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Lorre. As I've said before, a lot of the songs have a darker tone to them than the other World/Inferno albums, but I believe that this is what makes this album so great. It even starts off with an overture of the themes from most of the songs! That sort of screams "concept album!", doesn't it? The horn and reed combos in some of these songs are a real plus to this album, and these are exceptionally notable on the songs "And Embarked on a Life of Poverty" and "M is for Morphine", two of the darkest songs on the album. Please take note though! This shouldn't in any way prevent or stop you from listening to this album - it's an incredible album, and when listened through from start to finish it proves to be quite moving. If you are looking for a more traditional World/Inferno sound, check out the song "I Just Make Faces" (The vocal breakdown is absolutely amazing in this one), and "Cathy Catharine" - you'll get the familiar fast paced feel that other albums have, though I love the feel on this album the best. Lastly, we have "Addicted to Bad Ideas", my personal favorite song on the album and one of my favorite songs, ever. It combines an incredible emotion with an ambiguous message ("Because I can, cause no one can stop me") and really serves as the climax of the album. This is the way it's done. Seriously.
Also, about to pick up the new Streetlight cover-album. I'll write about that later on.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
How to tell whether or not you've succeeded financially in life.
If you've made enough money to have this in your house, then you've succeeded.
Seriously, this is something I NEED to have when I get my own place. Not want. Not hope. Need. Although I'd have to draw the line somewhere before my place turned into Pee-Wee's Playhouse.
- Connor
Friday, March 26, 2010
The Dear Hunter (Acts I, II, and III)
Alright, so I'm starting to get a decent idea of what I want to do with this thing, musically speaking. I'm not going to attempt to be totally comprehensive and cover every genre and every chart topping album. There's plenty of other people out there that do that. Instead, I'm going to stick with posting reviews and promoting my favorite albums and artists, in the hopes that more people will listen to them. And trust me word on these. If I've taken the time to write about it, then chances are I've been listening to it quite a bit. Anyway...
So who's heard of the band The Dear Hunter? A friend of mine showed me them about a year ago, and they've been my favorite band ever since. Why? Well first of all, the lead singer and brainchild behind the group is Casey Crescenzo, former lead singer of The Receiving End of Sirens (commonly written as TREOS). TREOS is an entry for another day, but they are a post-hardcore & experimental group (3 singers is never a bad thing.
Ok, maybe I lied a little bit.
Anyway, after TREOS broke up (although I've heard word that there will be reunion shows coming up this may??? anyone know anything???) Casey went on his own way and start working on his side project that he had started developing while he was still with TREOS. First of all, you have to understand this guy. It's like Paul Bunyan, Pavarotti , and Jesus all combined into one awesome musical genius.
+
+
=
Yup, Casey is pretty much the most awesome man on the planet. Without a doubt. Seriously, I can't stop listening to The Dear Hunter. One of the reasons why I love them so much is because all of their music is based around the same concept. Currently, they are three acts through a six act epic tale of a mysterious individual named The Dear Hunter, who so far in the story has had a pretty rough life for him. I wouldn't say that these are concept albums in the traditional sense, as they don't use leitmotifs and repeated themes, but why split hairs, right? I can't count how many times I've sat down to do homework and listened through all three acts back to back to back.
Act I: The Lake South, The River North
Track Listing:
1. "Battesimo Del Fuoco" - 1:56
2. "The Lake South" - 1:43
3. "City Escape" - 5:56
4. "The Inquiry of Ms. Terri" - 5:56
5. "1878" - 7:02
6. "The Pimp and The Priest" - 6:00
7. "His Hands Matched His Tongue" - 6:00
8. "The River North" - 4:03
*Plot Spoilers Ahead* Yes, there is a plot to this music. In fact, that's what it's all about. Like I said before, through this music we get to hear the story of The Dear Hunter, and it is one hell of a story. Act I is only an EP, but that doesn't mean that it is any less impressive than the other two acts released so far. When listening to this music, I recommend sitting down or doing something that allows you to listen uninterrupted for the length of the three albums, or at least one act at a time. The Dear Hunter isn't the type of band that is going to try to find a "hit single" in their album (though I think that nobody should really be doing that anymore, it lessons the attention paid to the entire album), and you shouldn't be trying to find one either. There's such a wide variety of instrumentation here, and you really can't think of as anything else but the opening of a truly epic story. How cool would it be to be born with something as cool as "Battesimo Del Fuoco" playing? There are some great instrumental segments on this album, particularly with "The Lake South" and "1878". And of course, you have to love the awesome chorale on t portion of "The Pimp in the Priest". Trust me, it's awesome. So anyway, after an
album full of encounters from evil pimps and repeated attempts to get away from a not so great childhood home, we get to act II.
Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Concerning Ms. Leading.
Track listing:
1. "The Death and the Berth" - 0:38
2. "The Procession" - 4:59
3. "The Lake and the River" - 9:29
4. "The Oracles on the Delphi Express" - 4:18
5. "The Church and The Dime" - 4:57
6. "The Bitter Suite 1 and 2: Meeting Ms. Leading and Through the Dime" - 6:06
7. "The Bitter Suite 3: Embrace" - 7:46
8. "Smiling Swine" - 4:45
9."Evicted" - 3:44
10. "Blood of the Rose" - 3:48
11. "Red Hands" - 6:07
12. "Where the Road Parts" - 4:29
13. "Dear Ms. Leading" - 4:28
14. "Black Sandy Beaches" - 4:13
15. "Vital Vessle Vindicates" - 7:09
I don't even know where I'd begin describing Act II. After a brief funeral (literally), the album kicks off with "The Procession" and "The Lake and The River". If you aren't hooked already than...well I don't know what to say, except to keep listening. The story is a bit easier to understand here (though overall The Dear Hunter is much easier to understand than some of the Coheed albums. I get the fact that there is a story behind those, but I have no clue what it is..), and you can definitely tell by some of the song titles. I mean I'm pretty sure that all of us know that "The Bitter Suite 3: Embrace" isn't about playing scrabble late into the night, and "Red Hands" isn't about painting your hands red in kindercare class. Speaking of Red Hands, I dare you to try not to listen to that song on Repeat. As the best known song The Dear Hunter has, it's spread around quite a bit, and justifiably so. The emotion is intense, and I'm sure a lot of us can relate to what is being said there (I'm not going to go that far into spoilers, sorry). Act II is a story of finding love and losing love, trust and betrayal, and an eventual departure for bigger things. It's a work of art that many of us can identify with. That's a good thing too, because Act III takes that feeling and basically curb-stomps it.
Act III: Life and Death
Track Listing:
Yeah, you're not going to find any anthems in this one. The Dear Hunter goes to war in Act III (literally), and all sorts of messed up stuff happens. You know, the usual with war... Poisonous gas attacks, killing your brother, evil tanks, the whole bunch. While the last album was a coming of age story in a way, Act III is about the loss of innocence. Well, I don't know how innocent The Dear Hunter was before (he's really got to lay off the prostitutes...), but all things held relative of course. There are some really epic songs in this one ("Mustard Gas", The Thief"), and there is a new intensity to The Dear Hunter's sound that we haven't heard before. Things get really trippy towards the end (I'm not going to reveal that part though), and I'm really curious what Act IV will be about. Act III is darker, bolder, and louder than any of the previous Dear Hunter works, and it makes this known right away. If anything, I wish that act IV would come out sooner, because I can't get enough of these guys. They've been my favorite band since I first started listening to them, and for many damn good reasons. Go listen. Now.
That's all!
So who's heard of the band The Dear Hunter? A friend of mine showed me them about a year ago, and they've been my favorite band ever since. Why? Well first of all, the lead singer and brainchild behind the group is Casey Crescenzo, former lead singer of The Receiving End of Sirens (commonly written as TREOS). TREOS is an entry for another day, but they are a post-hardcore & experimental group (3 singers is never a bad thing.
Ok, maybe I lied a little bit.
Anyway, after TREOS broke up (although I've heard word that there will be reunion shows coming up this may??? anyone know anything???) Casey went on his own way and start working on his side project that he had started developing while he was still with TREOS. First of all, you have to understand this guy. It's like Paul Bunyan, Pavarotti , and Jesus all combined into one awesome musical genius.
+
+
= 
Yup, Casey is pretty much the most awesome man on the planet. Without a doubt. Seriously, I can't stop listening to The Dear Hunter. One of the reasons why I love them so much is because all of their music is based around the same concept. Currently, they are three acts through a six act epic tale of a mysterious individual named The Dear Hunter, who so far in the story has had a pretty rough life for him. I wouldn't say that these are concept albums in the traditional sense, as they don't use leitmotifs and repeated themes, but why split hairs, right? I can't count how many times I've sat down to do homework and listened through all three acts back to back to back.
Act I: The Lake South, The River NorthTrack Listing:
1. "Battesimo Del Fuoco" - 1:56
2. "The Lake South" - 1:43
3. "City Escape" - 5:56
4. "The Inquiry of Ms. Terri" - 5:56
5. "1878" - 7:02
6. "The Pimp and The Priest" - 6:00
7. "His Hands Matched His Tongue" - 6:00
8. "The River North" - 4:03
*Plot Spoilers Ahead* Yes, there is a plot to this music. In fact, that's what it's all about. Like I said before, through this music we get to hear the story of The Dear Hunter, and it is one hell of a story. Act I is only an EP, but that doesn't mean that it is any less impressive than the other two acts released so far. When listening to this music, I recommend sitting down or doing something that allows you to listen uninterrupted for the length of the three albums, or at least one act at a time. The Dear Hunter isn't the type of band that is going to try to find a "hit single" in their album (though I think that nobody should really be doing that anymore, it lessons the attention paid to the entire album), and you shouldn't be trying to find one either. There's such a wide variety of instrumentation here, and you really can't think of as anything else but the opening of a truly epic story. How cool would it be to be born with something as cool as "Battesimo Del Fuoco" playing? There are some great instrumental segments on this album, particularly with "The Lake South" and "1878". And of course, you have to love the awesome chorale on t portion of "The Pimp in the Priest". Trust me, it's awesome. So anyway, after an
album full of encounters from evil pimps and repeated attempts to get away from a not so great childhood home, we get to act II.Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Concerning Ms. Leading.
Track listing:
1. "The Death and the Berth" - 0:38
2. "The Procession" - 4:59
3. "The Lake and the River" - 9:29
4. "The Oracles on the Delphi Express" - 4:18
5. "The Church and The Dime" - 4:57
6. "The Bitter Suite 1 and 2: Meeting Ms. Leading and Through the Dime" - 6:06
7. "The Bitter Suite 3: Embrace" - 7:46
8. "Smiling Swine" - 4:45
9."Evicted" - 3:44
10. "Blood of the Rose" - 3:48
11. "Red Hands" - 6:07
12. "Where the Road Parts" - 4:29
13. "Dear Ms. Leading" - 4:28
14. "Black Sandy Beaches" - 4:13
15. "Vital Vessle Vindicates" - 7:09
I don't even know where I'd begin describing Act II. After a brief funeral (literally), the album kicks off with "The Procession" and "The Lake and The River". If you aren't hooked already than...well I don't know what to say, except to keep listening. The story is a bit easier to understand here (though overall The Dear Hunter is much easier to understand than some of the Coheed albums. I get the fact that there is a story behind those, but I have no clue what it is..), and you can definitely tell by some of the song titles. I mean I'm pretty sure that all of us know that "The Bitter Suite 3: Embrace" isn't about playing scrabble late into the night, and "Red Hands" isn't about painting your hands red in kindercare class. Speaking of Red Hands, I dare you to try not to listen to that song on Repeat. As the best known song The Dear Hunter has, it's spread around quite a bit, and justifiably so. The emotion is intense, and I'm sure a lot of us can relate to what is being said there (I'm not going to go that far into spoilers, sorry). Act II is a story of finding love and losing love, trust and betrayal, and an eventual departure for bigger things. It's a work of art that many of us can identify with. That's a good thing too, because Act III takes that feeling and basically curb-stomps it.
Act III: Life and Death
Track Listing:
| 1. | "Writing on a Wall" | 1:38 |
| 2. | "In Cauda Venenum" | 5:29 |
| 3. | "What It Means to be Alone" | 4:49 |
| 4. | "The Tank" | 4:39 |
| 5. | "The Poison Woman" | 4:51 |
| 6. | "The Thief" | 5:01 |
| 7. | "Mustard Gas" | 4:13 |
| 8. | "Saved" | 4:41 |
| 9. | "He Said He Had a Story" | 3:39 |
| 10. | "This Beautiful Life" | 4:05 |
| 11. | "Go Get Your Gun" | 3:15 |
| 12. | "Son" | 2:16 |
| 13. | "Father" | 3:25 |
| 14. | "Life and Death" | 5:45 |
Yeah, you're not going to find any anthems in this one. The Dear Hunter goes to war in Act III (literally), and all sorts of messed up stuff happens. You know, the usual with war... Poisonous gas attacks, killing your brother, evil tanks, the whole bunch. While the last album was a coming of age story in a way, Act III is about the loss of innocence. Well, I don't know how innocent The Dear Hunter was before (he's really got to lay off the prostitutes...), but all things held relative of course. There are some really epic songs in this one ("Mustard Gas", The Thief"), and there is a new intensity to The Dear Hunter's sound that we haven't heard before. Things get really trippy towards the end (I'm not going to reveal that part though), and I'm really curious what Act IV will be about. Act III is darker, bolder, and louder than any of the previous Dear Hunter works, and it makes this known right away. If anything, I wish that act IV would come out sooner, because I can't get enough of these guys. They've been my favorite band since I first started listening to them, and for many damn good reasons. Go listen. Now.
That's all!
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