Morning addendum

So I recently took my OCA (Oxford Capacity Analysis) or personality testing through the Church of Scientology. Here are a couple of links to give some background on the test. http://www.xenu.net/archive/oca/oca.html http://www.scientology.org/oca.htm

I was called back to review the results with an expert. For the most part I agreed with the test and felt that it adequately expressed how I currently felt about myself. It seemed about as effective as a Myers-Briggs, Birkman, or Kolbe test in terms of measuring ones personality.

We didn't discuss the results long because my expert wanted to dive right in and get me to get involved in several courses. It appears that this test is a gateway into the program and the myriad costs of the program. The church is run very much like a business and you are coaxed into programs with expensive price tags.

Needless to say, I declined her offer. I did appreciate the fact that she wasn't too pushy. She gave me a few reccommendations and left it at that. I have no intentions of becoming an L Ron Hubbard (by the way, his picture was everywhere and his name was on everything) disciple anytime soon. But I did in the very least quench some curiosity that I had about them.

Becoming what?

In church we recently had a lesson regarding change and resolution. I know, you’re thinking what is this theme doing in August? This is the type of discussion reserved for January and misguided goals. But the reality is this is a reality that needs to be faced early and often. There is no way to determine how we are doing relative to our goals unless we are measuring how far we’ve gone and how close we are to attaining them. Alright, enough Tony Robbins. Time to move on.
There was quote that really stuck with me. It reads as follows:

“Life must always be becoming, never being.”

I’ve read it several times and I completely agree with it. It’s what gets me up in the morning. It’s what provides the prodding guilt when I get complacent. It should be the raison d’etre of everyone. Anyone who isn’t moving is falling back. This isn’t new to anyone, so I’ll leave it at that.
The fun and challenging thing is determining what the “becoming” is. I imagine that it is different for everyone and depends on values, tastes, and interests. For me I’ve been able to determine what my “becoming” consists of. There is a little bit of everything. I’ve got the obvious choices that define my character and determine my career trajectory. Then I have the hobbies and worthwhile activities that bring a little additional satisfaction to my well being. All in all, these things comprise the essence of who I am.

The First annual under appreciated list

Let's face it, everyone loves lists. They engender animated discussions. They cause dissent. If I am casually watching TV and I see a promo for the 100 most beloved dogs in cinema history, I will probably watch. I don't know why, but we are drawn to them. So here is my list ....

The 2007 Ryan Jensen list of things that are overlooked and under appreciated

1. Comedy Movies- (The Cable Guy) This dark comedy that features the acting talents of Jim Carey and an under appreciated Matthew Broderick. It was written by Ben Stiller, who at the time was full of some very fresh ideas. It also showcased performances by then "unknowns" Jack Black and Owen Wilson. Completely overlooked. An honorable mention goes to Anchorman for giving us some of Will Farrell's finest moments. The movie was lacking in parts but there were some completely memorable one-liners. I had no idea what San Diego meant in German.
2. TV program- (CBS Sunday Morning) This is my chance to feel like I am a cultured and sophisticated part of society. This, PBS, and NPR are often my only chance to stay abreast of what is going on in areas outside of news, gossip, and sports. It is so refreshing to wake and not be greeted by politicians who berate one another.
3. Music- (Oingo Boingo) I think that the mainstream success of such 80's hits as "Dead Man's Party" and "Weird Science" obscured the far better material in the Boingo anthology. They were fresh, they were pure energy, their lyrics were quirky and envelope pushing. We enjoy your musical scores Mr. Elfman, but we sorely miss your rock sensibilities.
4. Song- (Made Up Love song #43- Guillemots) This is an absolutely sparkling love song that carries a heartfelt and carefree frivolity. It just sounds so pure and innocent. A great song that deserves recognition.
5. Virtue- (Fidelity) We live in an age where no respects the commitments they've made to one another. As one who has been personally affected by infidelity I can speak very strongly to the fact that it is a lost virtue.
6. Super Hero- (Green Lantern) Hats off to a dude who has to save civilization and fight bad guys with only a lamp. That takes true courage.
7. Candy- (Toblerone) While this candy might be considered a higher end specialty treat, I say that it deserves a place amongst the everyday bar. It does a perfect job of balancing the delicate ratio between creaminess and crunchiness.
8. Actor- (Don Cheadle) Just take a look at the roles that he has played over the last decade. He has moved seamlessly from comedy to drama and everything in between.
9. Beatles Song- (Two of Us) Such a simple and pure song that seems to reflect the joys of friendship during a time when the Lennon-McCartney partnership was coming to a close.
10. Clothing- (Cargo Pants) The male answer to the Capri pant. It is versatile, comfortable, and its ability to hold excess items is legendary.

This is just a start. Maybe I will post more later. Maybe you can post a few items that you don't feel get the necessary recognition.

The Flight of my Fancy

I’ll be the first to admit that there has been a void in my life ever since Fox prematurely pulled the plug on Arrested Development last year. That was the type of show that only comes around once every 3 or 4 years. It was my reason for watching TV, ray of laughter to bring sunshine to my otherwise monotonous life.
With its departure I pretty much accepted the fact that I wasn’t going to receive satisfaction from the TV for at least 2 years. There just isn’t anything to get excited about. Sure there are decent shows like “Office”, “30 Rock”, “Ali G” and “Scrubs” but they just didn’t have the same ability to get me into an excited conversation at the water cooler. I resigned myself to the fact that the few hours spent watching TV a week would be spent experiencing only moderate joy.
So I gave up a lot of TV (something that is fairly easy when you only have 4 channels) and I engaged in other pursuits. I wrote songs. I read books. I became more social. I took up photography. I even learned to knit….ok it didn’t go that fair. Well you get my point. TV just wasn’t the same.

That all changed three weeks ago.

I was in a casual conversation with a friend when he mentioned a great new show on HBO that he was watching called “Flight of the Conchords”. Knowing that great TV is hard to come by I let his recommendation fly in one ear and out the next. The next day on the radio my favorite personality put in a huge plug for the same program. Two endorsements from two trusted sources within 24 hours. Maybe there was hope. The deal was sealed no less the 14 hours later when we were having dinner with a couple from our neighborhood. Not more then 15 minutes into the conversation the husband brought it up. I was now committed to giving this show a chance. He was ready to share and already had a burned copy of the first 4 episodes for my viewing pleasure.
I have to admit that it took a couple of viewings before I truly got the hang of the brand of humor. It is the dead pan stuff that really resonates with the young, educated crowd to which I belong. The humor isn’t exceptionally complex but it has appeal to the refined senses.
Now there will never be a replacement for “Arrested Development”. I am fine with that. But I have also realized that there is more then one way to generate a laugh. From what I have seen of this show I strongly believe that it has the potential to be the “it” comedy for the foreseeable future. Hats off to my two new favorite Kiwi’s, Bret and Jemaine.

For the ignorant, here is the link- http://www.hbo.com/conchords/

Observations from a drug screen

I recently decided that I needed to invest in my community by doing some service. I wanted something out of the typical realm found in church. After a little bit of research I selected the Washington Street Foundation. (http://www.wsfkids.org)

I recently met the kid I will be tutoring and he is top notch. He is in fifth grade and has an incredible zeal for life. This should be a rewarding experience indeed. But before things begin I must pass through a few things to ensure that I am not crazy. One of those things was submitting to a drug test. Here are a few observations from my recent visit.

• All in all it seems like a simple task, right? Pee in a cup and then have some dude in a lab coat look at and confirm that I haven't been smoking doobies or something.
• Like any vestige of the Health Care industry there was a boring waiting room, a crowd, and a long wait. The only thing that made this scene slightly different was the sight of 15 grown men gulping down water and coffee in hopes of preventing stage fright once their time came to deposit their speciman.
• I camped into my seat and scanned the coffee table for a magazine. My options were either." Deciding that I wasn't that desperate I decided to read over the shoulder of the gentleman next to me who was reading the sports page.
• After 20 minutes I was summoned to the front. I was surprised that things were moving so quickly. That amazement was soon extinguished as the real reason for the summons was revealed. I needed to sign a new battery of forms. After 20 more minutes I was called up again. Yep, more papers to sign. All this for a little pee?
• By now the room is really full and no one has been summoned. And to my amazement, no one is surprised or complaining. We've just come to expect this kind of inefficiency.
• After an hour I was finally called. I was sent back with a lady nurse who asked me to empty my pockets. In a robotic and monotone manner she walked me through the drill. I had 4 minutes to take care of my business.

After 90 minutes my routine task was finally completed. I went about my about my daily routine. Sometimes it takes a crowded and long morning in a smelly waiting room to recognize how grateful you are that the rest of your life runs efficiently.

The Secret. What secret?

We were recently swimming at the house of a friend of a friend. The house was fairly nice and we were soon escorted around. I’ve learned that people really love to show off their toys and prized possessions; I don’t mind obliging. My favorite spot to visit is typically the office or study. It gives me some interested insights into the true nature of the inhabitants.

This place was no exception. It didn’t take long at all before I was able to get a solid read. The place was littered with the latest “self-help”, “get rich”, and diet books that currently were flooding the market. The types of books that teach you how to look great, make a ton of money, and influence people…that sort of thing. And much to my unsurprised a copy of “The Secret” (www.thesecret.tv) held a central spot along the sparsely populated bookshelf.

Next to the copy of the book was a bulletin board. The board was covered in several pictures. What were they? There was a big picture of a BMW. There was a picture of a very physically attractive female. There was a large mansion that looked like it would have fit in right off of Sunset Blvd. And then there was a homemade check for $1,000,000 that was made out to the owner of the house.

Once again this didn’t surprise. A year ago the only place that you could find a copy of “The Secret” was in a new age book store. Now it is a best seller and can be found anywhere from a grocery store to a Costco. The premise of the book is so simple that it is baffling. The “Law of Attraction” has been a closely guarded secret throughout the ages and is responsible for the success of the leading figures in history. It has only recently been publicly available.
What is this law and what does it teach? Basically, keep a positive attitude. Think positive and you will attractive good things. The same goes with bad thoughts. The big example used in the book and DVD is something like this. Wake up in the morning and believe that you are a millionaire. These consistent thoughts will attract money to you. Do you understand the mass appeal now?

I can’t help but draw a correlation but this book and the whole Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) culture. Both talk about an easy and attainable path towards finding happiness. I’m certainly not against the desire for improvement. But I do have a hard time with claims of grandeur and then vague descriptions on how to attain it.

I definitely believe in fulfillment and thinking positive. I don’t know anyone who isn’t. But I am against the notion of a quick buck because I don’t think that it’s realistic. I can dream all I want of having the perfect house and body but nothing will happen until I draw up a specific plan and then actually get off my canal to achieve it.

This book is successful because it taps into the essence of our culture. We all want the good life but we want the easiest road to it. Our vision of the good life is incredibly shallow and our idea of how to get it is way too lazy and unrealistic.

Whoa….I just noticed that I was standing on a soapbox. That’s enough preaching for one night. I’ve got to run over to the car dealership and drool over the new BMW 540.

The rediscovery of Ryan

I’m currently in between work right now. This presents a great opportunity to take advantage of hobbies and pursuits that typically get left behind by bills, work, and daily crap. As it currently stands I have about 1 ½ days a week that I don’t have to devote to grown up, responsible activities. Here are some of my latest endeavors.

· Kundalini Yoga- I like to discover things that are off the beaten path. The Sikh temple that occupies my neighborhood is one such place. The local Sikh community is somewhat interesting in that half off it comprises the real, turbaned Sikhs from India and the other half is a group of bohemian hippies who have latched on to the teachings. This dynamic is pretty interesting and makes for some great yoga. I typically go once or twice a week and I find that it supplements regular exercise very well. (http://www.yogaphoenix.com/) Plus I get to be taught by cool cats like Sevak. (Pictured left)
· Scientology fun- I like to seek out things that are somewhat new and different. This keeps things fresh and helps me be somewhat informed and objective. Scientology has been constantly hacked from the media; I am interested to see if it is warranted. This week I intend to take a 45 minute personality test at the local offices. I really have no idea what this lead other then a chance to take a peak at a religion that inspired John Travolta to make one of the worst pieces of cinema in the last 20 years. If anything the experience will make for some interesting dinner conversation.
· Photography- I recently purchased a Canon Rebel and taking photos has never been the same. Phoenix is full of nice day trips that provide many get back drops from which to test my burgeoning skills. I have taken a somewhat artistic approach and prefer landscape and architecture as my primary subjects. You can visit http://picasaweb.google.com/ronifer to view some of my recent stuff.

Why do I love the Phoenix Library?

I have a few friends who question my regular habit of getting work done at the local library. They insist that there are weird people there and that it’s too noisy or crowded to get things done. My retort is simple and straightforward. By getting out of the house it formalizes whatever work I was pursuing and I get free internet. Plus, where else am I going to have the opportunity to be harassed by a deranged man while reading.

My own Bluth Boy Adventure
(But minus the other boy and with a girl friend)

We recently found ourselves in Southern California again. We were staying just outside of Laguna Beach, minutes away from the Bluth residence. (For the novice and ignorant: The Bluth family are the key protoganists in the best television program of the last 10 years- Arrested Development) We had a little time to kill so I decided that we needed to get a frozen banana.

It only took us 10 minutes to find out that the show wasn’t filmed in Orange County, where it is supposedly set. It was rather filmed in the more economical and convenient location of Marina del Rey and Culver City, just west of LA. What the heck, let’s make the trip.

The easiest spot to visit would be where the banana stand was located. According the the flirty lady at the Marina del Rey information booth it was at fishermans wharf. Sure enough, she was right. We went over there, took some shots, and talked to a few people who were around during the shooting.

The visit was great but it still hasn’t filled the void created when the show left the air over a year ago. I have all three seasons on DVD but it sucks not knowing that there won’t be anything fresh, I was particularly hoping to see who would go with Lucille to Mother Boy XXXI. Nonetheless it was a good run and in closing I will include a few favorite lines from the series. Feel free to post a few of your own.

Gob: Hey, guy. They tell me you're the actor who plays Marta's brother, Tio. Spanish actor: Como? Gob: Oh, you're gonna be in a coma, all right.

--
Michael Bluth: Do you know what they do to people who commit treason? George Sr.: First time. Michael Bluth: I've never heard of a second. George Sr.: I got the worst [bleep] George Sr.: -ing attorneys.

--
Michael: I burned it. Down to the ground. George Sr.: There was money in that banana stand. Michael: Well, it's all gone now. George Sr.: There was $250,000 lining the inside walls of the banana stand. Michael: What? George Sr.: Cash, Michael. What the hell did you think I meant when I said... [strangles Michael] George Sr.: [yells] There is money... in... the banana stand. Prison guard: [George Sr. quickly takes his hands off Michael] No Touching. George Sr.: No touching. Prison guard: No touching.

--
Steve Holt: I've made a huge mistake. Gob: I know the feeling. I had you. I'm your father, Steve Holt. I can't hide from it any more. Steve Holt: I won't forget this... Dad. Gob: [swallows roofie] I will. I will.

--
Narrator: In an effort to "hip" up his act, Gob had briefly introduced a puppet. [Gob is acting as a black puppet named Franklin in front of the family] Gob: [as Franklin] Can I tell you something, my man? Gob: [as himself] Sure, Franklin. Gob: [as Franklin] You are one cool [bleep] Gob: . Speaking of mothers, let me give that oatmeal some brown sugar. [the puppet 'kisses' Lucille] George Sr.: Get off my wife, you bastard. [strangles Franklin] Gob: [as Franklin] What's the matter with you? Gob: [in the present] Franklin said some things Whitey wasn't ready to hear. Michael: Gob, weren't you also mercilessly beaten outside of a club in Torrance for that act? Gob: He also said some things that African-American-y wasn't ready to hear either.

--
Michael: What do you think of when you hear the name, "Sudden Valley"? George Michael Bluth: Salad dressing. But I don't really want to eat it. Michael: What about, "Paradise Gardens"? George Michael Bluth: Yeah... I can see myself marinating a chicken in that...

--
Buster: Mom is becoming a little controlling. Michael: What tipped you off? When she locked you out on the balcony again? Buster: That was half my fault. I thought I saw a Graham Cracker out there. Michael: You baited the balcony? Lucille Bluth: Prove it.

--
Lucille Bluth: Did that Mexican girlfriend of yours kick you out? Gob: She's not "*that* Mexican," Mom, she's "*my* Mexican." And she's Colombian or something.

--
Michael: [discussing evidence that links George Sr. to Saddam Hussein] If this information was so damaging, why didn't you just shred it? George Sr.: Well, Saddam owed us money. Michael: And you didn't realize that he wouldn't pay? George Sr.: Your mom had a good feeling about him.

--
Lindsay Funke: Barry, did you talk to a doctor? Barry Zuckerkorn: I did. I have poison oak. Do you believe it? How the hell did I get that? [Cut to a shot of a rest area] Lucille Bluth: She was talking about George. Barry Zuckerkorn: Oh, he's the same. Look, I guess we should decide on who's going to speak for the family. I would, but I have Laker tickets. [Cut to a shot of the rest area]

--
George Michael Bluth: Don't you always say "family first"? Michael: Yes, I do. But that is not a family. Okay? They're a bunch of greedy, selfish people who have our nose. And Aunt Lindsay. George Michael Bluth: She's not my real aunt? Michael: Not her real nose. Got a picture of her when she was 14 in a swimming cap. She looks like a falcon.

--
Lucille: Buster. Thank God you're back. There's no shame in being a coward. Buster: A coward? I'm not a coward. Would I coward have THIS? [holds out a stuffed seal] Lucille: What the hell is that? Buster: These are my awards, Mother. From Army. The seal is for marksmanship and the gorilla is for sand racing.

Getting our red lights turned on

The Police (Dodger Stadium)

June 23rd, 2007

Ever since the Police announced their reunion tour in February I toyed with the idea of seeing them live. Their music left a big mark on my teenage years and I was always told that they generated a great energy live. The deal was sealed when my very persausive friend held out some good tickets in front of my face. Not one to turn down a good concert, nor a chance to be with friends; I decided to go. After all, this could be the only time that I ever get a chance to hear "Invisible Sun" live.

So I set out with three life long friends to the sunny and mild clime (relative to Phoenix) of Southern California. We would spend the day at the beach and then pass the evening at the concert. Our expectations weren't too high; the real treat was listening to the songs with the same kids that made them special to me.

The evening didn't get started with the band that we'd hoped. That can be blamed on the bumper to bumper gridlock that we were subjected to for about two hours. My heart goes out to the poor people who have to deal with LA on a regular basis. I mean, 25 miles in two hours? The insanity. We were stuck on this elaborate concrete labyrinth and every route we took was frought with Toyotas and Hondas. Luckily our dash board navigation system helped us find a surface street that shaved 30 minutes off the tail end of the drive. With our spirits bouyed we parked our car in the red light district and made the trek up to Chavez Ravine, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Since it is LA every thing was behind. We were suprised that we only missed the first half of the Foo Fighters performance. I kind of feel bad for the band. You are a grammy winning band and you are playing in front of a half full stadium of people who came to see some old guys sip geritol and play hits from 25 years ago. I did enjoy the three songs that we heard and I didn't feel too bad because I've already seen those guys live.

It was time to start the show. With our $6 dodger dogs in hand we prepared for the grand entrance. Finally the lights dimmed and our experience commenced. I believe that they started off with "Don't Stand". I'm not certain because I was distracted by the gossiping, pot-smoking chicks behind us. There were alot of those kinds of people around. The Police are "in" right now. Being "in" attracts that kind of crowd.

The band played through hit after hit without changing instruments or making stops. Pretty suprising considering their age. They sounded fairly tight and kept the songs basic. I noticed that they changed the key and tempo of many songs. I didn't mind too much but I believe that some nearby purists were upset. Too be honest, I wasn't exceptionally impressed with the new arrangements. Sting still managed to get the crowd to sing the chorus on just about every song.

The concert ended after approximately two hours. Long enough to cover most hits but too short to delve into some of their obscure stuff. My expectations were met. I wasn't expecting to be blown away and I wasn't. But I did enjoy my time and the company. Now I can say that I've seen the Police. I do hope that this is only a one time tour and that they don't milk a few more milllion dollars out of fans for years to come. In my opinion you are only entitled to one "greatest hits" tour. I would feel completely ripped off if they keep touring without any new material. Damn, the Stones, Neil Diamond, and the Eagles for setting such a bad example.

Fiddlin' with my dreams

Awhile back I set a goal to perform some of my music live. My singing teacher, knowing that my confidence was as shaky as an octogenerian on Viagra, reccommended that I try a local spot called the Fiddlers Dream. (www.fiddlersdream.org) It is a local spot that specializes in acoustic music for performers of all levels.

Jodi and I checked it out last night. Here are a few thoughts......

• It is run and operated by the "Friends of the Quakers" or something. As expected it was a very welcoming and docile environment. It's great, my music could suck but I would only get cheers. The majority of the attendees were middle aged hippie/folksters who preached inclusiveness and a good time. Unfortunately, since no alcohol or drugs are allowed, they had to get high on the music. There was also a mix of middle aged average joes who just can't put their guitars down and a few young kids wanting to test their stuff out, heckle free, before going in front of more brutal audiences.
• This is the perfect place for an NPR piece. It could focus on the small enclaves of authentic folk that still thrives in a world of strip malls and blogs.
• It literally looked and felt like a glorified clubhouse. It was behind the church and probably holds no more then 40-50 people. The quarters are pretty tight. There is a little concession stand in the back, serving a few flavors of coffee.
• Most people attending were performers, the remaining few most likely the immediate family. Tonight was "open mic" night. Your name is put in a hat and selected at random. You are given eight minutes to perform two songs.
• I really enjoyed the breadth of the performances. While everything was acoustically based, many styles were reflected. Each piece was unique and reflected the tastes or eccentricities of the performer. We had spanish, blues, blue grass, power ballads, country, and a lot folk.
• I noticed that the best guitarists never sang and that the worst guitarists were the song writers. I would fall somewhere in the middle. There were only three songwriters or of the eight people we watched.

All in all a great evening. I look forward to doing this but hope that I will be able to get in front of a bigger audience. I'm glad that places like this are still around. They add a little positive color to our communities.

Phoenix living at 110 degrees

Living in Phoenix presents a few unique challenges. Most residents agree that one of the bigger drawbacks to calling the "valley" home is the living conditions during the summer months. Right now we are in the midst of our second consecutive week of 110 + heat and there appears to be no relief in sight. (Damn those people who live in moderate climates!)

This problem is somewhat exacerbated by the way that we handle our indoor air conditioning. Most people over react by super cooling anything. We're talking temperatures in the sixties! So you can pick your poison by either contracting hypothermia in your local mall or by suffering heat stroke outside. I'm sick of curling up in the fetal position and waiting for October to roll around. So how does one deal with this?

• Suck it up and play golf. There are some great deals if you are willing to deal with the prospects of having a club melt. Some clubs run all you can play specials for like $10.
• Watch movies. Just make sure that you bring a jacket because those things are cooler then most meat lockers.
• Get out of the state. It only takes one summer to truly understand the migratory patterns of the large retired population in Arizona. I'm suffering in this heat while they are quietly sipping their metamucil outside of their cabins in Minnesota.
• Get out of town. There are some somewhat cooler destinations (Prescott, Globe, Payson, Flagstaff) within a few hours of hear. The higher the elevation the better you are.
• Think of December. There is a reason why so many people have chosen to live down here. We will scoffing at all of those northerners as they deal with their snow shovels and moon boots.
• Reup that membership to the local club. Trust me you don't want to run, jump, or skip in this weather. Burn your calories indoor.

My Summer Music

For the past couple of summers I have gotten pretty ambitious about bolstering my musical library. With the aid of shadowy Russian P to P networks, emusic, Itunes, and the old venerable music store I have compiled my summer 2007 collection. And they are....

1. Arcade Fire, Neon Bible- I was first introduced to them during a recent U2 tour. Their unique and textured sound has grown on me. While their music might be a little dour for my tastes I cannot argue with the way they arrange their music to give it a full body. ( I hope that description isn't only reserved for wine) This disk, while not quite as good as their first, is still worthy of a download.
2. Bright Eyes, Cassaga- First things first, hats off to the people who created the disk. Their encoded messages and spectral decoder should inspire people to actually go to the store and purchase the disk. I don't believe that the music of Bright Eyes is exceptional, but that's not the main attraction. It's most definately Conor Oberst. His strange command of the english language really brings these songs to light. I've only listened to this album a couple of times but I feel that it will grow on me.
3. Beatles- I recently viewed the anthology DVD's and my love for this band was renewed. Since I had only previously owned these albums as cassettes I went out about everything post Rubber Soul. I don't need to say anthing that hasn't already been said. The White Album is still my favorite because it just covers so much ground. Love also provides a fresh take on many of the beloved classics.
4. Paul McCartney, Memory Almost Full- Speaking of the fab four....Paul was always good at writing pop music and this is no exception. I've only given it a couple of listens but so far so good. "Dance Tonight" has a care free happiness that seems paramount to most McCartney songs.
5. The National, Boxer- Like Arcade Fire they do a great job of creating a textured sound, and I do like their lyrics better. While not quite up to par with Alligator it is still nonetheless superb.
6. The Shout Out Louds, Very Loud- Another great Indie band. Their songs are catchy but a few songs blend together. They have some incredible percussion that really add a unique element to their sound. I also like their straightforward song titles.
7. Voxtrot, Voxtrot- I found about these guys on emusic. They are out of Austin and have been garnering alot of praise lately. I am still getting into their music but they do remind me of the Strokes. I will have to listen to some more stuff before I feel comfortable offering an opinion.
8. Ryan Jensen, Making Sense of Somethings- Here's to hoping. Maybe next summer I will make the list. Until then it is back to the studio.

I am still missing a few albums. I have quite a few friends who love the new Wilco. Hopefully I will get that shortly. I am looking forward to the upcoming Austin City Limits so that I can find a few canidates for 2008. Happy listening.

Self Portrait- 6/13/2007

The Band of Brothers

So I subscribe to Netflix. I’ve got about one free night a week to devote to pursuing care free frivolity. Since I don’t have cable or internet at my house I figure that this is my best shot at getting entertainment that I actually care about. I typically go for a comedy, documentary, or some big budget movie that I wasn’t willing to pay $10 in the theatre to see. This time I broke rank and tried something new, I decided on “The Band of Brothers.”
I don’t casually watch shows like “Saving Private Ryan”, or “Patton”, or even “Lord of the Rings”. They are exceptionally rewarding but very consuming. I know that if I am going to watch one of these shows it will require a lot of attention and I will be very affected. It’s a lot easier to watch Fletch on a Wednesday night instead of a show depicting the horrors of war.
It seems like the closer you get to experience the extremes of life the more affected you become. The “Band of Brothers” chronicles the actions of the 101st Airborne’s Easy Company during the European invasion of World War II. It has most of the same elements of most war shows- the battle scenes, the drama, etc… But the part of the show that really got to me? The human element.
Through the course of the show- 10 episodes- you get to really know the characters wearing the fatigues. You see them as humans, for better or worse. This allows you to relate to them. It makes you wonder how you would have responded in such dire circumstances.
Let me describe one of the more poignant scenes. It came from the end of the war and the last episode. By this point the 101st was occupying the last German stronghold and the war was all but over. The Germans were being round up and set into POW camps. As expected there were scenes of US troops taunting and mocking the defeated Germans, and who can blame them. This was right after the concentration camps were discovered and I am sure that the US feelings of hatred towards the Germans were only amplified. Despite being defeated most of the Germans still marched in order and carried a semblance of dignity.
One of the defeated generals asked permission to speak to his troops, it was granted by the commanding US officer. His wounded and dispirited troops stood at attention as they were addressed. The general then spoke words that really put things in perspective. The US forces had an interpreter there as well and were similarly affected. The general, almost in tears, shared his gratitude and honor for having served with such men. He said that this experience forged within them eternal bonds of brotherhood. My heart broke and at that moment I wished that I could have been there to hear that speech in person.
The movie did such a good job of humanizing the war. War isn’t a “Risk” board with two opposing forces hungry to occupy territory and resources. War is good men being compelled by either a good or bad cause to do extraordinary things. The poor men, both Allied and Germans, were far from the decision makers that brought them there, but they were nonetheless the ones shedding blood. They did it because they believed in their cause.
These men became infinitely better people because of how they responded to these difficult circumstances. Sometimes I wish that we had a similar refiner’s fire to force me into extraordinary things. We live in relative peace and prosperity, far from these horrors. But you can’t help but think that we’ve forgotten these sacrifices. And in doing so, we’ve lost some of our capacity to become a better people. For that reason I won’t soon forget watching “Band of Brothers.”

Mr 85%

I'm an "ideas" guy. I like to think in big, broad strokes and paint a wide and expansive panorama. I'm not one to really enjoy getting mired down in details. They say that the devil is in the details and I've always figured that I never much cared for him. This has been both a blessing and a curse for me. I like to start a lot of things but often times I don't take the idea to fruition.

Until now......

I have started a few projects that are very important to me personally. I want to record and an album and eventually perform it. I also have a book idea that I would like to present to a publisher. And finally, I want to become a decent photographer. I don't necessarily need to taste financial sucess or outside validation for these projects. I want to do them mainly for myself. These are very personal to me and I would feel like such a shmuck if I didn't finish them.
I've decided that I am going to break character and ride these waves to the shore. I am the only one who has a vision for these things that are germinating in my head. If I don't see them through then I have just wasted a lot of time and a lot of myself.

Sedona-Jerome: Memorial Day 2007

There are like 10-12 perfect weekend getaways that are only 3-5 hours outside of Phoenix. You suck if you don't take the time to enjoy some of our surrounding beauty. Ever since I got my new camera my desire to travel has increased ten fold. A good camera and some imagination changes everything.

Anyways, we decided on doing both Jerome and Sedona since they are so close to each other. Future trips will include: Bisbee, Hauvusapi, Canyon de Chelly/Monument Valley, Sagauro National Park, South Rim, Snow Flake, and the Chiraquawais. We also need to make it over to Santa Fe to do some painting. I've learned that weekend jaunts to regional locations are the best ways affordably to utilize free time.

We went up with another couple that we know. They have been taking some photography classes so I was hoping that some of their education would rub off on me. (You can be the judge of that) We decided that two days was more then enough time to visit an area, enjoy its cuisine, and capture some moments.

Among the highlights:

• Watching the large "biker population" enjoy their leisure at Bisbee.
• Watching the hippies and the bikers peacefully coexist at Bisbee.
• To really see how vast and wide open some of this country is. The Verde Valley is beautiful and had me wondering why everyone chose to settle in Phoenix and not there.
• We visited the Airport Vortex in Sedona. We tried but felt nothing. It does, however, attract quite an ecclectic crowd at sunset. We were in the company of a group of Japanese people perfecting their meditations, an older hippie playing a guitar, some Indian tourists, some young hippies in search for meaning, and a bunch of people that looked just like us. We probably spent an hour or so up there...it was just so relaxing.
• Visited Slide Rock state park. That is quite the working class attraction, very cool. Nature provides some pretty cool and cheap diversions. There were scores of people up there who brought picnics, chairs, and radio to enjoy the day at this natural water park. The Oak Creek has literally carved a smooth path through the sandstone and river bottom that is very much like a water slide.
• And no trip to Sedona is complete without the requisite visit to Tlaqueqapuque. The ambiance, architecture, and shops are unrivaled. I never buy anything there but I always make sure that I visit.

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How 'bout those Jazz

I have watched more basketball this past month then I have for the last 5 years. I guess my viewing habits can be directly correlated to the success or failure of the Jazz. Since I haven’t had cable for the past year, (It’s incredible what one is able to accomplish without such distractions. Take my word.) I never was exceptionally motivated to watch anything…until now.
Both the Jazz and the Suns are doing very well and my interest is piqued. I am especially pleased with the Jazz. Their grit and teamwork can make even the bluest collar NBA purist giddy with excitement. You add that with the fact that their expectations were so low and you’ve got something special. Every win past the 1st round has been like an extra scoop of gravy upon my dinner plate of sports interest.
There’s something about this team. Maybe it is how well they play together as a unit. Maybe it is because they anonymously go about their business without striving for accolades and Gatorade commercials. Maybe, it’s because they look like a bunch of misfits who somehow found a home in Utah, a bad news bear sort of thing. It doesn’t matter to me because they’ve got my full support, not withstanding the heavy powder blue uniforms.

Trying to make music

About a year ago I decided that I was going to do two things that were very new to me: write music and write some memoirs. At the time I was going through some difficult challenges and this seemed like the only way that I could truly express myself. Plus it was a whole lot cheaper then working through my issues with someone who was going to charge me $90 an hour.
Since then I have made some great strides forward but I still feel compelled to follow through on what I started. I have some ideas, both musically and through writing, that I want turned into tangible works. I don’t know whether or not there is an audience for these things. I do know that I want to do them for myself and to hopefully complete a chapter of my life.
I have written approximately 17 songs during the past 15 months. Some have reached the point of completion while others are still abstract ideas. I have played some countless times in front of my mirror. Others won’t come to life without the necessary accompaniment. Either way I’ve started something that I want to finish.
Ultimately my goal is to record these songs and eventually perform them live somewhere. Right now my major obstacles are the time constraints of my cousin/producer and the fact that my voice sounds more like a monotone choir boy with hay fever then an artist willing to pour out his guts. My sound, both musically and lyrically, is also still in its nascent stages of development. To the outsider looking in this endeavor sounds more like a pipe dream. Either way, I am going to see this through. Yesterday I spent some time recording music. While the session only yielded two very rough tracks, there were still some magical moments. You know, moments when you start to hear the song performed the way that you hear it in your head. These moments are still few and far between, mainly because we are only able to do this once every other week at the most.
This project wouldn’t mean as much to me if I didn’t feel that I had something to say. If these were just standard songs about the minutiae of live and memories on the farm then I don’t thing that I would feel this drive. For some reason this music, in some regards, represents a critical passage of time in my life. If I don’t record this then I, in essence, lose a valuable page on my scrapbook. Anyways, I am going to plug forward. Shortly I hope to have a few things that I won’t be embarrassed to share. Maybe some of this stuff can resonate with someone. If not, I will be satisfied that I at least put words and music to the impressions of my heart.

Ode to my guitar

I recently splurged and bought myself an electric guitar, a Paul Reed Smith McCarty to be exact. This purchase was a long time coming and was a reward to myself for such a hellish past year.

I must admit, however, that I am unfamilar with the intracacies of an electric guitar/amp and the vernacular of the rather insular guitar community. I am a bread and butter acoustic kind of guy. Almost all of the stuff that I have written and performed has been on the same old Takemine accoustic guitar that I have had since I was an awkward teenager.

This guitar opens up so many possibilities for me. There are so many textures and sounds that we previously beyond the reach of my old set up. This is very exciting. But at the same time these possibilities can be overwhelming. Why?

Things are far more complex. I don't understand the subtle nuances of tone. I listen to friend discuss the ringing tone of the Stratacaster versus the earthier sound of a Les Paul and I say what? I can't tell the difference. I don't understand words like "play" and "axe" and "shred". I don't know when I want to turn down my gain or employ my "humbucker". This will take quite some time before I can master playing an electric.

The real magic will come when my knowledge catches up with my creativity. I have so many ideas right now but I can't truly make them tangible until I understand my pallet, my limitations, my playing field. Hopefully over the next few months I will make strides forward. Until then my neighbors will have to deal with the shrill sounds that penetrate my walls.