// Favorite album of the year (so far) - Bon Iver's new self-titled album is a masterpiece. Get it now if you haven't already.
// Favorite live performance(s) - Bon Iver was on the Colbert Report this week:
He was also on Fallon:
// Best show on TV this week - Without a doubt, the Colbert Report. This week he was his first summer music week, and the guests were stellar. Bon Iver (as mentioned above), Florence and the Machine, Talib Kweli, and the Black Belles, AND Jack White. It was phenomenal. Catch all the videos here.
// FINALLY, a real trailer - The Muppets.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Why I Need This
Yesterday Reluctant Runners went live (created by the great Tripp and Tyler, of trippandtyler.tv), and I can't tell you enough how much I need this site. But here are a few.
// Why I needed to start running anyways: When Beth and I returned to the states, we frequented Chic-Fil-A probably every day. Multiple times. Not only that, but because the spicy biscuits and sandwiches were introduced while we were in Moscow, I was enticed but couldn't choose between it or the original. So I bought both. For nearly two weeks, every morning I devoured an original and spicy chicken biscuit. And an orange juice, to be more healthy.
But I knew I couldn't continue this. I knew that if I wanted to eat every delicious meal at many incredible restaurants that I had missed over the two years, I was going to have to exercise without completely exploding.
// Every single day I think of dozens of reasons not to run. Literally every time I'm supposed to run. For instance, this morning. Here were some of the many thoughts that rushed through my head to prevent me from running:
"My phone's dead-- I should wait until it's charged. I'd probably better not run today"
"It's later than I wanted to wake up, by the time I'm finished half of my morning will be gone."
"It's looking cloudy today-- it might rain. Better not run."
"I'm out of chocolate milk, I won't have anything to drink after my run."
Needless to say these are as mindless as they sound. It's that period when I'm barely awake, so anything I say sounds like lunacy-- but makes a great deal of sense to me at the time.
// Speaking of chocolate milk. One inspiration to actually commit to jogging was this article. This gives me a great excuse to be fully stocked of one of the most amazing beverages in existence. And it gives me great relief while running to know that at the end of the torture there's chocolate milk waiting for me at home.
// No music = no run. This is an absolute. If something's wrong with my iPod or it's not charged, I just don't run. Period. The music is what keeps me going.
If you're a runner who's not the runner type, please do yourself a favor and check out ReluctantRunners.com.
// Why I needed to start running anyways: When Beth and I returned to the states, we frequented Chic-Fil-A probably every day. Multiple times. Not only that, but because the spicy biscuits and sandwiches were introduced while we were in Moscow, I was enticed but couldn't choose between it or the original. So I bought both. For nearly two weeks, every morning I devoured an original and spicy chicken biscuit. And an orange juice, to be more healthy.
But I knew I couldn't continue this. I knew that if I wanted to eat every delicious meal at many incredible restaurants that I had missed over the two years, I was going to have to exercise without completely exploding.
// Every single day I think of dozens of reasons not to run. Literally every time I'm supposed to run. For instance, this morning. Here were some of the many thoughts that rushed through my head to prevent me from running:
"My phone's dead-- I should wait until it's charged. I'd probably better not run today"
"It's later than I wanted to wake up, by the time I'm finished half of my morning will be gone."
"It's looking cloudy today-- it might rain. Better not run."
"I'm out of chocolate milk, I won't have anything to drink after my run."
Needless to say these are as mindless as they sound. It's that period when I'm barely awake, so anything I say sounds like lunacy-- but makes a great deal of sense to me at the time.
// Speaking of chocolate milk. One inspiration to actually commit to jogging was this article. This gives me a great excuse to be fully stocked of one of the most amazing beverages in existence. And it gives me great relief while running to know that at the end of the torture there's chocolate milk waiting for me at home.
// No music = no run. This is an absolute. If something's wrong with my iPod or it's not charged, I just don't run. Period. The music is what keeps me going.
If you're a runner who's not the runner type, please do yourself a favor and check out ReluctantRunners.com.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Weekly Discoveries
// Favorite Song - This band and song has just blown me away.
Listener "Wooden Heart" from Nathan Corrona on Vimeo.
// Favorite Album - Josh Garrels' new album just came out this week. It's fantastic and FREE. Get it here!
// Favorite Studio Performance - Arcade Fire stopped by Sound Opinions and recorded a couple performances.
Arcade Fire perform "Sprawl II" on Sound Opinions from WBEZ on Vimeo.
Arcade Fire performs "We Used To Wait" on Sound Opinions from WBEZ on Vimeo.
// Another Parody Trailer of a Movie I'm Looking Forward To:
// Favorite Gregory Brothers Tune:
Listener "Wooden Heart" from Nathan Corrona on Vimeo.
// Favorite Album - Josh Garrels' new album just came out this week. It's fantastic and FREE. Get it here!
// Favorite Studio Performance - Arcade Fire stopped by Sound Opinions and recorded a couple performances.
Arcade Fire perform "Sprawl II" on Sound Opinions from WBEZ on Vimeo.
Arcade Fire performs "We Used To Wait" on Sound Opinions from WBEZ on Vimeo.
// Another Parody Trailer of a Movie I'm Looking Forward To:
// Favorite Gregory Brothers Tune:
Monday, June 13, 2011
Cover Me
*Man, I'm cutting it close here with my attempts to get this posted before the end of Monday. Hopefully in the future it'll be up sooner in the day.*
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Weekly Discoveries
// Favorite song - This new single from Beirut:
// Favorite parody trailer -
// Favorite parody music video -
// Favorite parody trailer -
// Favorite parody music video -
Monday, June 6, 2011
Cover Me
**Ever Monday I'm going to post a cover song I've enjoyed lately. Hope you like the first one.**
Admittedly I've never heard of this artist, but her cover of Kid Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness" is incredible.
Admittedly I've never heard of this artist, but her cover of Kid Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness" is incredible.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Weekly Discoveries
// Favorite Cover - of Montreal's spot-on, but still great, take of the White Stripes.
Of Montreal covers The White Stripes
// Show I'm most looking forward to - Breaking Bad, hands down, is my favorite show right now.
// Other Favorite Cover - Sufjan Stevens does REM:
// Favorite Sites - LiterallyUnbelievable.org and ThisGuyStoleMyMacbook.tumblr.com
Of Montreal covers The White Stripes
// Show I'm most looking forward to - Breaking Bad, hands down, is my favorite show right now.
// Other Favorite Cover - Sufjan Stevens does REM:
// Favorite Sites - LiterallyUnbelievable.org and ThisGuyStoleMyMacbook.tumblr.com
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Between a Sacrifice and Vacation
Upon telling family, friends, and co-workers about our upcoming work in Moscow, we had mostly two basic responses:
WOW! What a sacrifice!
or
Have fun on your vacation!
In reality, of course, it was neither of those things.
Beth and I could never really think of it as a sacrifice. Because, honestly, we wouldn't have done it if we didn't think we would have enjoyed it. We both fell in love with the city years before, and were elated that we would be living there.
And, although this goes without saying, life in Moscow most certainly wasn't a vacation. Anyone who has been to Moscow for more than a couple weeks will know this. Moscow is definitely more European than most of the rest of the country, and pretty international, but getting around and getting by can be difficult at times.
You see, if you're on a short term trip to possibly anywhere (meaning you're only there for a week or two), there's a strong likelihood you're going to get the special treatment. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, just not a good barometer for actually living there. Many times people who host groups in the countries or cities they live in, they tend to go easy on them -- for the most part. They naturally want you to like and enjoy the place. And even if you have difficult work to do, you probably knew what you were getting into.
I digress. Sorry about that. I'm just trying to say that living anywhere that isn't your home culture is probably going to be pretty hard at times. There will be days where it's a blast and you think it couldn't be better, and there will be days where you collapse in the snow and want to give up (there will probably be more of these days, by the way). Either way, as long as you shake off your American sense of entitlement, an adventurous attitude, and have the long term in mind, every day will be worth it.
WOW! What a sacrifice!
or
Have fun on your vacation!
In reality, of course, it was neither of those things.
Beth and I could never really think of it as a sacrifice. Because, honestly, we wouldn't have done it if we didn't think we would have enjoyed it. We both fell in love with the city years before, and were elated that we would be living there.
And, although this goes without saying, life in Moscow most certainly wasn't a vacation. Anyone who has been to Moscow for more than a couple weeks will know this. Moscow is definitely more European than most of the rest of the country, and pretty international, but getting around and getting by can be difficult at times.
You see, if you're on a short term trip to possibly anywhere (meaning you're only there for a week or two), there's a strong likelihood you're going to get the special treatment. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, just not a good barometer for actually living there. Many times people who host groups in the countries or cities they live in, they tend to go easy on them -- for the most part. They naturally want you to like and enjoy the place. And even if you have difficult work to do, you probably knew what you were getting into.
I digress. Sorry about that. I'm just trying to say that living anywhere that isn't your home culture is probably going to be pretty hard at times. There will be days where it's a blast and you think it couldn't be better, and there will be days where you collapse in the snow and want to give up (there will probably be more of these days, by the way). Either way, as long as you shake off your American sense of entitlement, an adventurous attitude, and have the long term in mind, every day will be worth it.
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