Uncover the Grail

Keep 'Em Coming!

2011-11-09T23:48:00.001-05:00

I learned recently that the Owen Wister Review out of the University of Wyoming will be publishing two of my poems this coming spring.

Having spent a large portion of this past summer working on a cattle ranch in the Northeast part of the state, I'm pleased that my true Yankee roots successfully took a backseat to the currents I tapped into while immersed in an overwhelming Wyoming lifestyle of what felt like another age.

For my non-existent collectors out there, you can order a copy of the journal here. Otherwise, I'll post a picture of the cover upon the issue release.

Permafrost, Vol. 33

2011-11-01T14:59:00.001-04:00

My poetry appears in the most recent edition of the University of Alaska Fairbanks' journal, Permafrost (Volume 33).

Check out the stunning cover by painter Lisa Ballard:

And here's my poem, nestled right before a great piece by fiction writer Don Peteroy:

July

2011-07-20T19:18:00.001-04:00

Off the Coast, Spring '11

2011-05-14T16:09:00.002-04:00

My poetry appears this month in the Spring '11 issue of Off the Coast, Maine's International Poetry Journal.

Since I am not included in the issue's online sample, you'll have to head over to the journal directly (here) to buy a copy. If you happen to live in Maine, head to Gardiner, Brunswick, or Eastport/Calais to pick up the journal from a local bookshop.

My poem is reproduced below:

Happy summer!

"Victory-Osama" Day?

2011-05-02T23:52:00.002-04:00

I hailed a cab last night at 10:45pm, after hearing from a friend via Facebook that a speech from Obama was forthcoming. I asked the cabbie to turn on WNYC, the local public radio affiliate, and rolled down the windows.

Times Square was quiet when I arrived around 11pm. Besides crowds leaving comedy clubs, restaurants, ending (or in the middle of) bar-hopping, and couples posing for photographs with the flashing signs, Times Square was no different than usual.

It took a few moments before I could notice anything. Which photographers were here to await the crowds they sensed would be arriving? For some time I could spot no official news crews, just people with cameras who heard the news and wanted to see what New York had to offer up in response to the night's news.

That sense of waiting, an awkward anticipation for something, anything, was what defined last night in New York.

I scanned the hundreds of digital advertisements and scrolling bits of text in Times Square but found little reference to the news I had heard broadcast over the radio. I wasn't foolish enough to expect a V-E day celebration, but heck, even the Metropolitan Opera and the recent royal wedding have been televised live to Times Square.

Inevitably the reporters showed up, and they came before the crowd started to gather in earnest. But the crowds waited. They waited until a television crew turned on their lights and pointed the lens at a man holding a small American flag. Just as quickly a handful of those on hand would rush over, hoist their iPhones and begin photographing the photographers.

I waited for two hours for this pattern to change.

Times Square was a vacuum. So long as you had an American flag, a handmade sign, or were willing to toot a horn or parade around with a Grateful Dead denim sweatshirt with a "God Bless America" patch sewn on the back, you could count on winding up in the national papers today.

What does it say about us?

Probably, that many more New Yorkers think themselves to be photographers or reporters in their own right than merely a spectator, a citizen caught up in a spontaneous eruption of emotion, but I wonder about what else.

A quick survey of opinion pieces today, particularly on liberal aggregators like the Huffington Post, reveals a number of articles condemning any celebration on the part of Americans at last night's news. For practical purposes in the war on terror, the quest for peace, or the long road to being left alone, the death of one man means little. So too, death is hardly a moment for exultation.

What I heard in Time Square last night, however, hardly seemed like celebration in earnest. Instead, I felt an awkward sigh of relief settling in around me, manifested occasionally in cheers, but often in simple conversation between strangers. Like the uncertainty surrounding the long-term impact of bin Laden's death, the hundreds I shared Times Square with last night couldn't decide exactly how to respond. The media captured the yelling and the repeated chants of U-S-A, but the scene was more complex than that.

In time will come answers, and with time the crowds seen last night — their moods shifting between uncertain silence and coarse shouts — will come to reflect the true opinion of this country on what has happened, and likely what the future will bring.

April

2011-04-01T02:18:00.000-04:00

March

2011-03-03T18:23:00.000-05:00

February

2011-02-20T22:37:00.002-05:00

Night of the Hefeweizens

2011-01-20T20:26:00.001-05:00

November

2010-11-03T16:58:00.002-04:00

Dig Site

2010-10-15T23:53:00.004-04:00

I'd be cursing myself if I posted what my goals are these last months of 2010, but by the end of November I'll have completed two creative projects and cast my dice for the first time in the arena of creative writing.

For the first time in years, I've landed in a place I'd like to stay in for the foreseeable future. Whether or not my foray into writing submissions is fruitful this time around (and the odds are certainly stacked against me, to the tune of a 99% likelihood of failure), I'm comforted by the notion that the streets I walk this winter will be the ones I'll be skipping down if and when the stars align in my favor in the coming years.

I've picked a site. It's time to dig—

September, 2010

2010-09-22T00:41:00.002-04:00

Away Until August

2010-07-03T08:15:00.003-04:00

Two weeks ago I left the US for a six week trip to India. Follow my journey at:

http://www.thenewhumanism.org/

To Nainokanoka, Tanzania, 2003

2010-05-09T11:32:00.002-04:00

May

2010-04-30T00:01:00.005-04:00

Presidential Prints

2010-04-27T11:06:00.001-04:00

The year at Hopkins is coming to close, and while cleaning up my Hard Drive in preparation for exams and term papers I stumbled upon my '08 campaign photo galleries.

Back home, the walls of my room are still empty, a full six years after moving houses, painting the walls, and arranging my furniture with the purpose of opening up wall space to hang artwork.

The solution: save up some cash, contact my favorite print shop, and display my favorite shots of our wonderful President.

Diving Back In

2010-04-19T10:56:00.003-04:00

Time to transition out of the "recovery" phase from last week's hospital visit and time to move on to the pressing business at hand: stacks of books I'll need to condense into term papers.

October.

2009-10-08T18:00:00.001-04:00

Inspiration, Archived

2009-08-25T19:48:00.000-04:00

How can you justify restricting yourself to Wikipedia's 3,000,000 pages, StumbleUpon's selected websites for surfing, or browsing through Flickr photographs when the Library of Congress maintains a collection of 138,000,000 historic items including 1.2 million digital images to peruse online?

Whether viewing the Library's existing collection categories (such as Civil Rights Era photographs, one seen above) or searching through images of my home town from the 1930's, finding a trail through American History is much easier than I'd previously thought. Talk about a good resource for historical inspiration...

In the Land of U2

2009-07-21T10:30:00.002-04:00

It's been over three weeks since I last updated here, and boy have things changed in that time!

Goodbye London and Hello Amsterdam. It's night two of U2's stand at the Amsterdam ArenA and I'm burning up in the Dutch sun in the queue of thousands that has been waiting outside the stadium since last night.

The band's first gig last night was a solid show, but I'm moving from the balcony to the football pitch for what will likely be a much more energetic experience--20,000+ were waving and jumping together last night in the standing areas, and I don't want to miss out on that Amsterdam atmosphere tonight!

My digital camera broke a few months ago and I haven't replaced it...no pictures for a while :(

Happy Summer! Boy I can't wait to hop in the car and drive around New England with the windows down and jump in random lakes...ahhh....

Running Out of Time

2009-07-03T11:10:00.000-04:00

I've only got a few weeks left here in London before I hit the road following U2 around until the beginning of August. In a year dominated by changing scenary and drastically different living situations London has been a period of relative stability. I'm working 10-6, finding time to excercise, cook, travel, and (most importantly) stay rested enough to rinse and repeat for over two months now!

This past Wednesday was course registration for classes this fall. I only had two evenings (of 60 minutes each using the free Pret-a-Manger WiFi!) to piece together my schedule, but I'm so pleased that I pulled everything together and was able to get into the five courses I was most interested in. Looks like a history/IR/english semester ahead. And even better, no classes until 10:30am and Fridays free; it's hard to complain about 5 months of long weekends!

Planning on taking this weekend light, although the all-day festivities on Oxford Street tomorrow might draw me outside for an afternoon/evening (+ late night) of food, drink, and dancing. It's nearly impossible to resist sometimes.

Off to forge through the last two hours of work!

London Nights

2009-06-20T13:27:00.005-04:00

A Little Perspective, Please

2009-06-12T10:14:00.001-04:00

The right for average folks to cast votes and elect representatives is a key part of the democratic process, but it can do more harm than good when the public is uninformed.

I'm not about to claim that the British public don't have their facts straight (although recent election victories by the British National Party and the UK Independence Party as well as sensational reporting in major London newspapers on recent political stories are a worrying trend), but I was blown away by the cost to the city of London of the recent 48 hour transit strike of £100 million.

Compare that to a few hundred Members of Parliament charging at maximum £20,000-£30,000 at any point over the past four years, and you begin to see how easy it is to lose perspective on political and economic issues.

Much of the money in the MPs epenses scandal was designated for services and charges that allowed MPs to better serve their constituents, and the vast majority of that was legal under the rules that govern Parliament. Although the public has the right to be upset by these expenses, these funds were expected under the old system, and the existence of a few million pounds of money blocked out for MPs was no secret.

On the contrary, Mayor Johnson's budget for the city of London did not take into account an additional £100 million for a transit strike and not one single citizen was able to voice their opinion about this money being spent or not spent.

Dollar figures (or Pound figures) shoudn't dictate what is right and wrong in government. If that's how we did things there would be nothing stopping each elected official from spending £10/day on candy bars and DVDs. We should, however, be conscious about how serious an issue the expenses scandal was and balance it with the damage that could be done to the county when fascist, racist, anti-semitic, homophobes are elected in the name of "reform."

Bill Richardson and Santa Fe Protective Services: Some Stories Have Wheels

2009-06-09T05:50:00.002-04:00

In light of news that more developments in the Bill Richardson/Sante Fe Protective Services story are soon to be published, I have decided to re-post an article I wrote on the case nearly two years ago.

[Below is a revised version of a post I began writing shortly after my encounter with the July 4th, 2007 "Bill Richardson Hummer." I am leaving all the tenses in their original form—I was going to publish this story in early August, 2007]

This story began a month ago. It started quickly—with a keen eye and a few clicks of a camera—and was soon published on this very blog. Shortly after the post went online a handful of other bloggers caught on, most of them using the photos I took:

The Daily Background(with updates HERE)

The Politico's Ben Smith

Green Mountain Politics1

Along with a fair number of visitors at this and other blogs who were displeased with Richardson's actions were a few (some angry) Richardson people who cleared up the situation as quickly as they could. I checked in with the sources who were also carrying the sources and followed their lead by taking down what I had originally written. A month out, I still can't put down the story, so here I am again.

New Hampshire campaigning is a lot like New Hampshire itself—big flashy things stick out in the presence of rolling hills and pleasant landscapes. I was equally surprised to see a shiny black Hummer show up at the small-town Amherst Fourth of July parade with a trailer of Bill Richardson for President equipment in tow. I was all the more surprised to spot New Mexico plates on the vehicle, as well as the logo for "Santa Fe Protective Services." That name sure didn't sound like "Joe's Hardware" to me, so I committed it to memory.

Below is the logo for Santa Fe Protective Services from their website...it's a match.

Light research into the company didn't turn up any direct explanation for its presence at the event--the company wasn't receiving money from the Richardson campaign and there was no mention of the Governor on their web page. I did, however, find the following listed on the company's "about us" page:

Christina Moya isn't on Richardson's staff either, but finding her name on the page began to unravel a complicated plot much more detailed than the response Richardson's campaign gave after the Hummer story broke: that the car was simply that of a supporter. Personally, I think of supporters as families in minivans or guys with old cars and bumper stickers that follow a candidate around and hold up signs. "Supporter" takes on a new meaning here.

Christina Moya is the daughter of Mr. Walter "Butch" Maki, a New Mexico businessman and recent home-buyer in New Hampshire.

Who is Butch? Check out the following articles:

(Business Wire, Jan. 5, 2005)

Walter "Butch" Maki, a former helicopter combat soldier in Vietnam, served as long-time district director for Congressman Bill Richardson, and formed professional relationships with New Mexico's federal, state, and local political and grassroots leaders.

(Albuquerque Journal, Feb. 11, 2007)

(Santa Fe New Mexican, Jan. 28, 2007)

So...Maki is a lobbyist and former aide of Bill Richardson, but what proof is there of Maki receiving any recent benefit from his relationship with the Governor? Well, here's one possibility that sticks out (from the Santa Fe New Mexican on March 3, 2005):

The [New Mexico] House approved the bill on a 56-6 vote without almost no debate.

One provision could provide some financing for a startup company that is negotiating to buy Qwest's telephone lines on the Navajo reservation. The company, Sacred Wind Communications, plans to use wireless technology to expand telephone service on Navajo lands.

A quick search of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission's website yields a searchable database of corporations operating within New Mexico. Using the search, Maki's name appears next to two corporations, one of which should sound quite familiar...

Sacred Wind—the company contracted under Richardson's administration.

Maki's ties to Richardson, as well as many members of New Mexico's political elite, undoubtedly helped him secure millions of dollars in government contracts during Richardson's time in office.

It's not corruption when a business has very good relationships with politicians and can get terrific government contracts. It's America.

[So did I overreact last year when I put up photos of "Bill Richardson's Gas-Guzzling Hummer" online? Yes, but was there more behind this "supporter's" vehicle than I was initially told (or angrily commented about) by Richardson's campaign? You tell me.]

Hell Breaks Loose

2009-06-06T06:50:00.000-04:00

I've been here for over a month, and in that time I have learned my way around so much of London, picked up all the needed vocabulary and not sound appalingly "touristy," but despite working in govenment here it's taken longer to comprehend just what is going on in British politics now.

Take a look at the following headlines from this morning's Telegraph, the newspaper that's been leading the charge on the MPs expenses scandal:

"Labour suffers humiliating election defeat"

"Hangdog Prime Minister looks like he's had his day"

"Gordon Brown looked worse than ever at his press conference: exhausted, isolated and nearing the end of his tether"

"[Brown] pushed to the brink by resignations, expenses and calls to quit"

"How much more proof of his utter unsuitabiltiy to lead a party of a government does Mr Brown need?"

Put simply, the London rags make American media look like journalism at its best, and we know that's hardly true. But instead of dwelling on that, let's dig in a little bit and think about what the biggest issues are in Great Britain and the subsequent actions taken by the media and the voting public.

The Situation:

The economy is and has been in crisis for some time, although recent indications show that relief may be on its way. Britain is plagued by the issue of knife crime, a serious issue that undercuts the ability of the Government to maintain the best public safety. Labour popularity is at its very lowest levels and Gordon Brown, although most certainly not abdicating his post anytime soon, is facing a growing wall of opposition. Finally, after weeks of newspaper revelations detailing MP's expenses, the rules for members of the government need to be reformed.

The Media & the Public:

Instead of presurring PM Brown to do more on the economy or criticise the proposals he's made in the past weeks, the British media has devoted no less than 80% of its attention to MP's expenses scandal (to the tune of 15 page spreads every morning for two weeks—I struggle to remember the last time the American media has had the attention span to run the same story repeatedly like that). Lead by the Telegraph, media coverage of expenses runs much more like McCarthyistic witchhunting than true investigative journalism. Media ethics have flown out the window as junior reporters usually assigned to celeb columns or minor features are asked to pull together a feature on specific evidence of "government corruption" and, their appetite whetted for a big story, so-called reporters publish private addresses and misinterpret the crucial details of expenses files.

Faced with constituents calling for their heads and outlandish media reports attacking their ethics and ability to represent the voting public, many MP's and ministers have been forced to step down from important posts or resign come the next election.

Which brings me to the wide gap between what is happening and what should be happening.

MP's that have broken the rules (bear in mind that MP's are allowed to expense many of the things they claim for, and when they sought approval from the Parliamentary Pay office most of their claims were approved) and flagrantly cheated the system should be asked to step down, and if they refuse, sacked by Gordon Brown.

Instead of learning from their mistakes and being forced to face tougher, more vigilant constituents, the voting public will vote out of office hundreds of Labour MP's in favor of Conservatives or Liberal Democrats and then forget about the expenses scandal and the reasons that wanted "change" in the first place. These news MP's will have tremendous leway to do whatever they place, and once the public has forgotten about the expenses scandal, the same practices that people complain about now will begin again, only this time (likely) under the Tory Government of David Cameron.

Borrowing the failed aspects of the American "democracy first" system where those who have done wrong are sacked symbolically while the underlying problems continue without reform, the British public are thirsty for blood and blinded by their right to voice discontent with a vote that's much harmful to the public good than any expenses claim.

Simple Listening Rules to Live By

2009-06-01T10:29:00.001-04:00

I'm surprised I haven't taken up more space on this blog reviewing the music I come across. The ever-evolving journey of musical discovery is for me what diving into a new book is like for some: the first time experiencing a spectacular world (it's like Harry Potter for your ears!)

Cell phone off, distractions put aside, head phones on, and let an album play out right in front of, and if you're lucky, all around you.

I have found but a few golden rules to ensure a proper CD listening experience before diving in:

1) Environment: Many people are so caught up in themselves that it's impossible to "turn off" and imagine for a moment that the world will in fact carry on without you for a good 90 minutes; besides from doctors on call, firefighters, and other emergency service workers, you've got a problem if either you or your mate's lives begin to fall apart if you can't go an hour without returning texts. If you are unable to explain that to your friend, time to befriend someone who's got a better grip on reality.

2) Musical Setup: Headphones vs. Speakers is always a contentious debate. With the proper speaker setup (5.1 Surround, etc.) you're sure to experience the closest possible recreation of what the band intended you to hea; no matter what music you care for, you can be assured that the band didn't mix their music to sound good on iPod bud headphones or laptop speakers. But if you're more concerned with drowning out ambient noise instead of trying to cover it up, headphones are your weapon of choice. If you're willing to shell out $160 for HeadRoom's BitHead headphone amplifier + crossfeed device (to recreate a surround sound-like depth field). I go for headphones.

3) iPod/playback settings: The last thing you'll need to fix before diving into your new album are the settings you've got on your iPod (if you're not running from a CD player or deck). First off, head to your preferences pane on iTunes and ensure that you haven't got Crossfade enabled--there's nothing worse than missing the final blessed seconds of a track for the "continuity" or flow of two different songs blending together like the work of a crummy radio DJ. Second, check that you've selected all the songs in the album and labled the album as "gapless": a number of groups these days don't stop playing between tracks, and you can avoid the hiccups in playback with this one simple step. Finally, make sure you've got every song on the album in the right order (aka AVOID THE SHUFFLE FUNCTION)...the band has put the songs in the order they think compliments the music the best, so don't ruin it by hopping around from track to track!

The Schedule

2009-05-29T18:31:00.005-04:00

Eight concerts so far this May and a busy June + July ahead!

1 June — Ondine (The Royal Ballet)

3 June — Third Day

9 June — Piotr Anderszewski

16 June — James Blood Ulmer

23 June — Dredg

27 June — Michael Franti and Spearhead

30 June — Maria Joáo Pires (Philharmonia Orchestra)

1 July — Lenny Kravitz

8 July — Social Distortion

20 July — U2

21 July — U2

24 July — U2

25 July — U2

Joy

2009-05-29T10:50:00.000-04:00

Aldo Ciccolini turns 84 in August. A master interpretor of French piano works, Ciccolini took the stage at Royal Festival Hall on Wednesday night with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the London Philharmonic's rising star guest conductor, trailing behind respectfully. Most artists struggle to maintain their mastery late into their lives; if you closed closed your eyes as Ciccolini began his performance you heard the notes of a virtuoso in his prime.

On the plate for the elder pianist was Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, an effortlessly resonant work composed at the piano as Rachmaninoff worked his way out of a sustained period of depression.

I hardly consider myself to possess a trained ear for classical music, but it was hard to deny the magic that emanated from Ciccolini's piano. Following three encores (no less standing ovations—hard to come by in this city), Ciccolini returned to the stage, took his place in front of the piano and capped off his performance with a stirring rendition of Schubert's Kupelwieser Waltz.

As the audience shuffled out of the auditorium the handkerchiefs and napkins were out in full force; Ciccolini brought the Royal Festival Hall, and me, to tears.

Hand in Hand

2009-05-23T17:29:00.002-04:00

Civilized Britain:

Uncivilized Britain:

Eisenhower in Grosverner Square

2009-05-19T19:40:00.004-04:00

There ought not be a prouder moment for Americans in London than the sight of the monument honoring Presdient Dwight D. Eisenhower. Next to the American Embassey at Grosverner Square rises the figure of Gen. Eisenhower, leader of Alllied Forces against one of the world's most formidable enemies.

Challenged. Matched. Defeated.

Only 60 or so years ago the future of the world was in jeopardy. Can you believe that?! We grieve about the war in Iraq and some sweat over the fear of terrorists occasionally targetting a few hundred folks in isolated incidents; imagine an enemy around every corner, and what seemed like a never-ending wave of tanks, bombers, and soldiers conquering France, breaking down the door in Russia, and relentlessy bombing the city of London. Entire cities were destroyed and death tolls were in the millions.

Gen. Eisenhower rose to the occasion and guided the armies of the freedom-loving world to victory in one of the greatest of wars in history.

If I never return again to pay proper thanks:

Mr. Eisenhower, thank you.

Here Comes the Rain

2009-05-16T05:24:00.000-04:00

Tamil Protests at Parliament: It's Gettin Noisy

2009-05-12T04:13:00.001-04:00

I've gotten used to the sounds of Tamil protestors outside work for the past two and a half weeks, but yesterday a few thousand broke through police barricades and shut down traffic around Parliament for most of the day.

Off to work! Eager to see what the scene is like outside today...

Notting Hill, Swans, and a Leaked Album

2009-05-09T16:21:00.001-04:00

I spent the better part of today reclining in Kensington Gardens with my headphones and the leak of the brilliant new album by California prog-rockers Dredg. Aside from the endlessly entertaining sight of small children feeding bread to beefy British swans, the melody of "Quotes" and the haunting bass groove of "Down to the Seller" have laid the foundation of a Saturday worth remembering.

London has been magnificent so far. Friends from work, a few friends from the flat, and such a lively scene at the pubs at night...how lucky.

14 Sunsets, 84 More

2009-05-07T19:10:00.000-04:00

And as the brightness drains from the sky the buildings themselves light up. Energy moves from storefronts to apartments, and underground clubs, rooftop terraces, and hidden restaurants fill up. All the while the busses run past 24/7. Even if I've passed out on occasion, not to make a noise, they keep chugging along, letting out a burst of steam as the breaks release and they continue down Oxford St.

The 14th sunrise is just around the corner.

The Most Eventful Walk to Work

2009-05-05T17:30:00.000-04:00

The morning commute to work (The Central line to Bond St. connecting to the Jubilee line to Westminster) is exciting enough, but as I rounded the Treasury building this morning I couldn't help but see:

Keep up the good work, London!

The View (Work Edition)

2009-05-02T16:02:00.000-04:00

Out the window from #1 Parliament Street.

Not bad, I say!

A Few Days On

2009-04-28T17:43:00.000-04:00

Four nights of sleeping through the sirens, shouts, and street lamps of Oxford Street and all engines are running strong.

Highlights so far:

A view from the Fourth floor of the Parliamentary office looking out over Westminister Palace and the constant flow of tourists that pass by down below.

Passing through the belly of the beast—walking through the corridors of the House of Commons directly underneath Big Ben and slipping in to watch sessions in the chamber.

Sharing lunch tables with MPs and Lords...and watching some of them drop their trays in the cafeteria.

Realizing that I've already got a routine (it's incredibly comforting in a big city): two trains to work, the same security process, the commute home, the trip to the grocery store, and back home. Rinse and repeat. This is home for now.

[going to try and transfer pictures from the phone to the computer]

24

2009-04-23T17:07:00.000-04:00

And just like that I'll be kissing Watertown goodbye for quite some time. Even then, when I return home to Massachusetts in August there will only be a few weeks before classes begin for me this fall. It's a strange thing realizing that this next day might be the last in which I completely "live" here in the house I have spent the last five years.

Visits home from school are just...well, visits, and the longest vacations aren't long at all. Even summers, the one relic of childhood that lingers throughout the college years, are consumed with volunteer work, classes, and jobs, otherwise known as the the things you try and do to prove you're no kid anymore.

But there's one thing I have taken from the past few months: you can teach in the poorest, furthest, land-locked nation, you can learn, love, and contribute while still being a kid at heart.

If taking time off is a crime, I'm guilty. But with my plea I maintain that nothing does the mind and body better than reassessing needs, dreams, and priorities before moving on to the heavy lifting.

The lifting begins next Monday at Westminster Palace in London.

Two Articles

2009-04-19T03:42:00.004-04:00

Two opinions on where we might be headed as a country. I'm planning on expanding upon these articles soon, but Peggy Noonan and Rich Karlgaard present some brilliant reading here (Noonan's considerably more immersive, enlightening, and exciting to think about):

Goodbye Bland Affluence by Peggy Noonan

Will Americans Turn Inward? by Rich Karlgaard

The Last Beautiful View

2009-04-14T02:41:00.002-04:00

I paused to snap a morning shot of Salt Lake City before boarding my flight back to Boston. The airports don't have backdrops like that back East. To think of it, there aren't many pieces of scenery in this corner of the woods anything like Montana, Utah, and Idaho.

A new adventure soon, but spending some time away from my home turf was such a blessing.

The Long Road Home

2009-04-09T00:09:00.001-04:00

I've still got three wake-ups till I kiss Montana and the Rockies goodbye, but the packing has begun and I'm not looking forward to leaving.

Off to find rope to tie up my army surplus pack!

Weir Creek Hot Springs, Idaho

2009-04-05T16:33:00.003-04:00

The Week Ahead

2009-04-03T13:23:00.004-04:00

Just over a week before I'm back home in the Northeast, driving around, lapping up the sunshine and enjoying weather in the high 50's.

Snow and an Exciting Development Rolling In

2009-03-30T00:15:00.001-04:00

It's been snowing for nearly 24 hours without pause and the totals are in feet, not inches.

Meanwhile I've begun work on a new project (secret for the next few days) and can't wait to start unveiling in within the coming days!

Stay tuned!

The Spicy Sauce

2009-03-27T00:26:00.000-04:00

The Philipsburg Flags and Flowers Spaghetti Dinner.

Hard to go wrong.

Wild (and beautiful) Weather

2009-03-26T04:32:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was snow, sun, snow, sun.

Today promises more of the same.

At the Movies

2009-03-25T19:39:00.001-04:00

There was no movie more classically (modern) American than Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino to match the 1930's grandeur of the Washoe Theater in Anaconda, Montana.

Birthday Time

2009-03-24T19:49:00.000-04:00

Not mine, but it's enough of a reason to hit the bars of Philipsburg on a snowy Tuesday evening.

Be back tomorrow!!

Bring on the Stimulus Money!

2009-03-22T14:07:00.000-04:00

I'm planning some road-tripping and camping at some National Parts around the Northeast this coming summer. After finding what I thought was the best rural camping option in Upstate New York I was distraught to see that due to the financial crisis a number of NY state parks and campsites are closed for the 2009 season.

With hundreds of millions of dollars heading to New York and surrounding states for infrastructure improvements, I hope recreation areas get a nice slice of attention and funding.

4:02 AM

2009-03-19T01:22:00.001-04:00

It took a night of fitful sleep and nightmares of missing out on the pre-sale window, but at 4:02 AM this morning I got my tickets for U2 in Dublin, Ireland this coming July 24th.

Breathing easy.

Snowed In

2009-03-17T20:34:00.000-04:00

The snow keeps coming and coming. Frankly, I couldn't be happier.

The smell of shredded barbecued beef wafts through the lodge.

Heaven on earth...well, actually in Montana.

Weeks 1 + 2

2009-03-15T00:16:00.003-04:00

27 miles from town. Philipsburg, Montana.

Some (Upcoming) Stressful Mornings

2009-03-11T20:33:00.002-04:00

Looking to grab pre-sale tickets for three U2 dates in Europe this summer is going to be stressful.

My window of opportunity for tickets opens at 10AM on a few days over the coming week. 10AM...local to the country of the concert. For Dublin, Amsterdam, and Paris that will be VERY early in the morning out here in Montana.

But if anything was worth it...!!

Diving In

2009-03-10T22:03:00.002-04:00

I started slowly last week with Schumman's Symphonies No. 1-4 and Hector Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. Now with Rough Guide's classical music reader I'm ready to take the sounds I'm interested in and explore them fully.

A similar decision to jump into opera last March has taken me from first-time listener to well-versed in works from Massenet to Adams to Wagner.

500 years of extraordinary compositions from around the globe can't be wrong. Here goes...

The Most Important Hour

2009-03-09T12:02:00.001-04:00

Don't say another thing about the economic crisis (whether you're a fan of the Obama administration or not) until you spend 59 minutes learning about what's really going on.

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1285

There's the link. Use your lunch break. It's free.

Preparing for Summer

2009-03-08T13:41:00.003-04:00

5 years between albums and five months until the shows begin in Europe.

With a Lonely Planet guide in my hand and Google Maps open and charting the distance between hotel and stadium the fun is just beginning.

Tour dates are announced tomorrow morning—an exciting day indeed—and I'm crossing my fingers that the time I've planned for U2 concerts in Europe takes me to some cool and new cities!! Crossing my fingers for Berlin or Dublin!

Applause for Sen. Dorgan (D-ND)

2009-03-07T13:38:00.001-05:00

Update: And down it comes...and keeps coming!

2009-03-05T12:05:00.001-05:00

With a steady wind out of the Southeast the flakes are starting to come down hard. There's no such thing as an accurate weather forecast for this area, but one website put the projected snow total between 2-9 inches.

I'm hoping for a lot--it would be a great weekend for some snowmobiling!

A Good Dusting

2009-03-05T00:05:00.001-05:00

Two days in a row, hoping for a third.

Food

2009-03-03T22:59:00.001-05:00

That's not me, but those are the ramen noodles that I loaded up on before arriving here on the ranch.

An easy lunch, but not healthy enough.

So, the goal for the next week is for me (the guy who can't cook at all) to start making my own meals and switching away from soups-in-a-can and instant noodles. Throw in working out 4-5 times a week and maybe I can move an occasionally unhealthy lifestyle to one much better.

The Land Out Here

2009-03-01T21:45:00.000-05:00

I'm here outside of Philipsburg, Montana spending some quality time in a delightful library/cabin. There's no heat besides the wood-fired stove I've been feeding for the past few hours.

With me is "The Legacy of Conquest: The Unbroken Past of the American West" by the eminent western Historian Patricia Limerick. Her aim is to elevate Western history to a status alongside that of other regional studies of America. Southern history, she argues, has been long respected by historians and academics because of the gravity of events that occurred in the region—the legacy of slavery, the Civil War, emancipation, and reconstruction to chose highlights. Because "conquest," the primary force driving Western history is seen as more haphazard and much less relevant in a 21st century context, the study of the American West doesn't receive nearly enough attention. Limerick sees things differently.

Reading her thoughts alongside my own, it's easy to see that the expansion, culture, and present day condition of the West is indeed relevant. As much as the Eastern United States has been used as a case study for public policy, the West looks to hold just as many clues on how to create a better America for the future.

I kicked off my first full day here with a nice bird-watching hike down a cross-country skiing trail. After around two hours of wandering I stumbled across little more wildlife than one squirrel upset with my intrusion into his territory. With an unpretty warning noise no more intimidating than a squeaky door he let me know I wasn't welcome, so I let him be and moved on.

This evening I was warned of the risk of mountain lions in the area, so I doubt I'll head out again without a knife and bear mace, or at least not walk alone. There is some mean wildlife out there after all.

I can't wait to see it...from afar.

New Arrival

2009-02-26T10:23:00.002-05:00

Only two more days before I leave the Boston area behind for quite some time, but just this morning a pair of Tufted Titmice popped in to visit the feeders outside. Slowly, very slowly, new birds seem to be showing up and frequenting the backyard as their feeding spot. A few weeks back a handful of Northern Cardinals (a male is pictured above) discovered the newly purchased Cardinal feeder.

With Spring just around the corner I'm crossing my fingers that a new influx of Bluebirds, Robins, or Finches will stop by.

Time will tell...

Big Sky Country

2009-02-23T16:51:00.004-05:00

A new destination. This time (starting Saturday) it's Montana until the end of April.

Political work in the Rocky Mountains? It could be worse...

5 Years

2009-02-20T10:29:00.002-05:00

Waiting for the new U2 album has been a long, occasionally-exciting, but mostly unpleasant experience. Finally, two mornings ago I woke up and signed onto my favorite fan forum and was delighted to hear the album had leaked. I sent an email to a fellow fan and got my hands on the eleven tracks of No Line on the Horizon within minutes.

My play count for the new disk is now racing past 250, but the excitement of new music is fresh...and there are still two weeks left before the album hits the airwaves in full rotation.

Sometimes patience pays off. Sometimes 5 years of waiting is well worth it.

What is it about the wilderness? The winter? America?

2009-02-17T23:20:00.000-05:00

This morning I finished Through Howling Wilderness, a historical narrative of Benedict Arnold's winter trek up Maine's Kennebec River with a regiment of colonial militia. Scores died in the cold, inhospitable wilderness before they even entered Canada. It's hard to imagine any part of modern day America in which three weeks of walking would yield no traces of civilization; try a few hours.

It must have been the time I spent in the mountainous wilderness of Lesotho that made me appreciate these stories of geographical desolation. Since returning home in December I've been exciting myself with the prospect of a cross-country rail journey, a future journey up the Appalachian Trail, or a road trip up to Maine to visit some of the places Benedict Arnold's expedition passed through. After returning my library book I picked up Henry Knox: Visionary General of the American Revolution. Knox is famous for leading a grueling overland journey from Fort Ticonderoga to Dorchester Heights, Massachusetts in which his colonial forces dragged heavy cannons to aid the Siege of Boston.

From one adventure to the next, another story of the challenges of America's incredible geography and those who toiled across it.

Recovering to Rigoletto

2009-02-12T22:20:00.002-05:00

The snow has been melting rapidly the past few days and the warm weather descending on Boston seems to promise a mild Spring ahead.

It's been a relaxing world to return to after traveling and the stress of some tedious medical tests. Aided by the live MET radio broadcast of Rigoletto tonight this recovery is all the more peaceful.

Surprising.

2009-02-10T21:06:00.003-05:00

Results from 4 of the 8 mystery disposable cameras:

From 2002 to 2009.

Three states and South Africa.

From 5000 ft. up.

A grandfather who has since died.

Disposable Cameras

2009-02-10T16:24:00.002-05:00

I had the 8 disposable cameras from my bedside table taken to CVS this afternoon.

Some of the cameras look ancient—hopefully the pictures I get a peak at later this evening bring back some great memories I may have forgotten about.

Down to the City

2009-02-07T11:15:00.004-05:00

From Upstate to the city, it's time for a long weekend in New York!

The Heartiest Laugh

2009-02-04T22:25:00.002-05:00

This is funny, right?

Waste?

2009-02-03T18:27:00.000-05:00

The GOP has released their list of "wasteful" expenditures in the Obama administration's economic stimulus package. Read it HERE.

I gave them a look this morning and although I admit many of provisions the Republicans mention are a bit of a stretch (and rather "porky"), I was disappointed to see GOP leaders giving up some great measures of real economic stimulus in the name of partisan politics.

But take a look at some of the measures they selected:

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.

• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.

• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.

Maybe it's just me, but I think having less waste sitting around, having an American automaker receive a bunch of orders, greater internet access for all Americans, thousands of construction jobs to turn old buildings "green" and clear forest brush, and kids having summer jobs are all good things...

...why don't the Senators and Congressmen voting against the stimulus see things the same way?

A Music Junkie's Best Friend: Making Music

2009-02-01T22:52:00.014-05:00

There's been a guitar sitting around the house with two broken strings (a result of overly enthusiastic "air" guitaring a while back) for years. I decided to string it back together, fire up GarageBand, and see what I could do.

The result was...well, very little; I can only play one chord, and even that one's pretty shaky.

However, if there was ever a perfect way to transition away from Guitar Hero and towards actual music-making, this is it.

We'll see where it leads...

Something Irish This Way Comes

2009-01-30T23:08:00.000-05:00

The video for U2's new single, "Get On Your Boots," is pretty awesome. Yes, very awesome.

The Home Stretch Playlist: Thursday, Jan. 29

2009-01-29T11:23:00.006-05:00

It's Thursday morning and you've only got one more wake-up ahead of you before the weekend—that is unless your college revelry begins tonight, in which case jam along even louder. To celebrate the conclusion of this week (and special ones in the future) I've put together a short list of songs to get you through these last few days. Enjoy.

1) The irresistible melodies of Kyle Andrew's pop masterpiece

2) A sampling from Common Market's through-composed hip-hop release, Tobacco Road

3) Danish indie rockers Grand Avenue channel Snow Patrol...in the best possible way

4) Paul McCartney merges Beatles magic and his never-ending ebullience into a radio-ready tune
[30 second sample only]

Exhausted/Rested

2009-01-27T07:54:00.000-05:00

Back in Boston for a little while and feeling a nice bounce after a weekend in New York. No cell phones, good food, the perfect time to grab a schedule and set a course for the coming months.

A few days back I purchased a second bird-feeder for the yard and have been enjoying the new avian arrivals — among them a pair of Northern Cardinals and a dozen or so Black-capped Chickadees — that are starting to give the swarms of House Sparrows (above) some competition for food.

February is just around the corner and I'm finally diving headfirst into work/possible new political projects; I'll keep the binoculars around, too.

Measuring Success

2009-01-25T16:22:00.005-05:00

There's no doubt that most Obama-supporters are applauding his performance this first week, but I recommend that each of us pick one thing—whether it be a town construction project that's been on hold for 10 years or a confusing tax form—and check up on at least once a year.

Because of the way we hear about new government actions on the news it's easy to forget that we shouldn't applaud new policies until we see real improvement; Obama's new plan for economic stimulus through public works projects isn't doing any good unless ground is broken and construction workers have jobs.

Barack Obama has pledged to modernize the American internet experience through greater broadband access and an improvement in public access to government records and news (there's more about that HERE ), so I've chosen the website of the Massachusetts Legislature as my benchmark for Obama's success, I would like to see if things change at the following page:

Other states have more impressive online presentations (like Tennessee, below), and it's normal to have different standards around the country, but a nationwide effort led by the Obama administration to modernize government internet services would yield change in Massachusetts.

Choose the Change You Want to See. Watch For It.

Upstate

2009-01-24T12:05:00.002-05:00

Out of Boston for the next three days and retreating to Upstate NY for some r&r.

Songs of the Year, 2008

2009-01-22T00:10:00.001-05:00

Music means a ton to me.

To clarify that statement, I've listened to (at the very minimum) 16,058 songs over the past calendar on my laptop. That figures to around three hours of straight listening each day.

I listen to all sorts of music.

On that one, I regularly listen to opera, rap (from mainstream to underground), classic rock, "adult alt," regular old rock, folk, reggae, and christian/gospel. I've yet to tackle jazz, though I presume I'll begin listening to it at some point.

I'm usually not up to date on what's popular.

I am frequently passionate about the music I stumble across, but I don't go to college (a big music-sharing network), listen to the radio, or watch television.

If you're still interested in my top songs of 2008, here goes:

1) Catcher in the Rye (listen HERE)
— Guns N' Roses

Before I begin, I was never a Guns N' Roses fan before I heard their new album, Chinese Democracy. Somewhere along the line I had been exposed to "Welcome to the Jungle," "Paradise City," and the other greatest hit staples, but it would be my repetitive (near constant) exposure to Chinese Democracy during last year's travels in South Africa that brought 'Catcher' to my attention.

Most notable in the nearly 6-minute rocker are two guitar solos (performed by Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and Robin Finck) that forcefully jolt the track into different gears; as much as the solos stand out, however, it is their unique ability to gel smoothly into the tempo and tune of 'Catcher' that provide the song with an immediacy unmatched on the album. Where Axl Rose has amped up his songs across all registers, resulting in a largely overblown mishmash of so-called rock masterpieces, it is the evenly distributed fervor of Axl and his guitarists here that sustains the thrill through the whole track. Put simply, "Catcher in the Rye" benefits beautifully from Rose's flare for the dramatic and doesn't fall victim to the over-orchestration that plagued the majority of Chinese Democracy.

2) Champions of Nothing (listen HERE)

— Matthew Good

Unlike Axl, Good's idea of orchestral decadence is felt deeply through a two-minute loop introduction featuring moaning guitars and the droning of a female voiceover "try again"—appropriate for the concept of Good's album: Hospital Music—one that permeates the entire track with ominous, raw, undertones. It is not until a full 6:30 has transpired that Matthew and band kick the song up a level and build upon the earlier tune. If Good's lengthy recovery from severe bipolar disorder and a resulting hospitalization forms the backbone of this song, he's been on an extreme ride. Like the breathing musician at the end of the song, I find myself having experienced a great deal from a listen of "Champions."

3) Hey Ma (listen HERE)

— James

It's hard to distinguish the comically-radiant Riverdancesque tone here from James' haunting images of September 11th and fallen soldiers in an expansive yet unfocused tirade on the notion of war: (please don't preach me forgiveness/you're hardwired for revenge) Tucked within a pop-rhythm and rock progression is a fierce vocal performance that delivers a heavy blow of lyrical gravity (we were choking on the smoke and the dust/and the lives that were lost). The sarcasm that bleeds out of James' anti-war boast stirs an uneasy feeling.

4) Can It Be (Half a Million Dollars and 18 Months Later) (watch HERE)

— Murs

Building upon a well-handled Jackson 5 sample Murs (the LA underground mc) lays down a strict track that tumbles through his thoughts on the current political landscape/economic struggles and his difficult career and quest for recognition.

5) Flesh Colored Canvas

— Dead Confederate

Imagine Kings of Leon rewriting and recording their earlier hits—with longer jams, more delicate vocals, and a more upfront presence...you're starting to understand Dead Confederate's recent album, Wrecking Ball. Buried at the ninth spot on the album is the twelve-mind journey that is "Flesh Colored Canvas." Roaring up in fits of drum and strum-laden fervor, the twelve minutes is bundled into smaller sonic experiences, each one laced with disaster but somehow holding onto a core melodic progression. A hybrid of the dynamic progression of 03's Explosions in the Sky (listen here at ) and the resilience of Young's "Cortez the Killer," what surges ahead here is a sound to be reckoned with.

Change Arrives

2009-01-20T11:06:00.002-05:00

C-SPAN is a surreal sight this morning.

Families in Tennessee, Kansas, Texas, Wyoming, high school science classes, American history teachers, ministers, young and old have been calling in to express their best wishes to the incoming Obama family and administration.

In Washington D.C. our nation is performing one of the most formal, elaborate, and visually stunning ceremonies on Earth. Nearly 500 miles north in Boston the focus of many has shifted—millions watch the inauguration at schools, homes, and offices—but life continues, as it should, and as it will.

At 10:15 AM EST I switched on C-SPAN and direct my gaze towards Washington D.C. Later this afternoon I'll drive to Home Depot and mix paint colors. By then Barack Obama will be the President of the United States of America, and beginning the long and unenviable task of protecting our nation is a time of great domestic and global need.

On the television I see millions of spectators, celebrities, flags and police cars, but behind it I see a brave man doing what so few are willing and even fewer are capable of doing: assuming the greatest responsibility in the world. To understand this moment is not just to be in Washington, but to be a citizen at this moment on Earth.

May God bless Barack Obama, his family, and his administration.

Scrubbing the Deck

2009-01-19T21:31:00.000-05:00

Another day, another project around the house. I've been complaining about the shoe marks on the back stairs for years. So, what better time to fix them up a bit?

There's nothing SoftScrub and 'Atrium White' paint can't fix.

New Boots

2009-01-19T16:59:00.003-05:00

As a U2 fan I've had a very exciting day.

Early this morning (2:10 AM to be precise) I was one of the first fans to snatch up the group's new single, "Get On Your Boots," when iTunes jumped the gun and released the song before its highly anticipated Irish radio premiere.

The download lasted 4-5 seconds and, a full hour before I anticipated hearing the first notes of the song over the radio, the drum roll and gritty guitar opening of 'Boots' roared out of my speakers.

On first listen I was underwhelmed; I expect a lot from these guys...too much.

But it has been my growing appreciation of the tune that's got me excited for the full album coming this March. U2 is not merely a band that puts out records, they're a group that excels during live performances, in remixes, and every subsequent time you pick up their CDs.

Curious for a VERY different U2 jam and the kind of tune you won't catch on the radio these days? Check out the new single.

The Opportunity of a Generation

2009-01-17T00:45:00.000-05:00

Barack Obama's historic victory was due in large part to the tremendous effort of America's youth in their roles as campaign staffers, volunteers, and as the thousands upon thousands of students who attended Obamas' rallies. The Democratic Party happily foresees a future of campaigns aided by inspired young politicos, but instead we must encourage bright young minds to join the ranks of a wide range of public service/government jobs.

The current energy around Obama's election and a looming boom in public service projects presents a unique and rare opportunity to invest in our nation's future, from the bottom up.

Taking interest in a temporary Census Bureau job in 2010 after hearing a news report, it became clear to me that massive government-related employment projects not only serve to put people into work temporarily, but for inspired and forward-thinking citizens to begin potentially life-long careers in jobs at local, state, or federal govt. levels. Think beyond construction jobs and Census volunteers you realize how many rich and constructive government careers could be created in all levels; our nation's scientific, mathematic, linguistic, music, and arts institutions would be rewarded with filled positions across fields previously in need of new talent.

A brief look at the career of Woody Guthrie reveals a Dust Bowl boy's career follow a creative path around the volatile circumstances of American government and economic forces in the early to mid 1900's. The output of the caring, if at times critical, patriot was sustained by projects related to his interactions with government-run programs, including a stint as a songwriter for the Department of the Interior and as a witness to the monumental public works projects of the Pacific Northwest (that's where all those dams came from!).

History shows us that even critics of "government's undue power" have a dramatic ability to advance civic agendas such as public health, public works, culture, and education.

The opportunity is upon us. Our economy faces troubled water, but the American spirit has rarely called so passionately for change. While Barack Obama and future 'next-gen' American leaders advance progressive political agendas, let us also step up and find a part to play.

The Winter Cleaning Renovation, Pt. 2

2009-01-16T17:10:00.001-05:00

I've just had a breakthrough day on the renovation project. After removing the nails from the wall and stripping the last of the aluminum ceiling reinforcements I'm starting to get a sense of the space I'll soon be working with.

I loaded up the car with the dozen or so ceiling panels and aluminum scraps and travelled around Watertown and Cambridge dropping off the pieces at the appropriate recycling and construction waste sites.

On the way home I couldn't help buying paint samples and envisioning the room's new color palette.

Time to get creative!

Bush Enters History

2009-01-16T16:43:00.000-05:00

I spent ten minutes this morning watching President Bush's farewell speech. It only took me a few of those to realize that the majority of the accomplishments (or "accomplishments" to those of you who can't avoid sarcasm when talking about the President) Bush listed are in fact what history will remember him by.

Changes enacted by the Bush administration that many of us overlook—the new Department of Homeland Security, to name one—are in fact institutions and government policies that will continue in the Obama administration and for decades to come. Rather than disregarding the Bush years as a dark period into which Obama will restore order and harmony through a thorough cleaning, we should remove Bush himself from the picture and consider the changes over the past eight years at face value.

Conceived by the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, the Department of Homeland Security was seen as a safeguard against further, future intelligence failures. The agency that was once an embarrassment to the Bush administration now serves as a great opportunity for future improvement of our defense and intelligence agencies.

On a less tangible level, Bush has also written his long-term policy legacy. Now clearly visible are Bush personal convictions with regards to the war on terror, America's role in spreading democracy around the globe, AIDS relief, and the importance of faith-based charities. Ten, twenty, or fifty years from now those attitudes will place alongside Eisenhower's warning against the "military-industrial complex" and other major philosophical/political precedents.

Bush's speech may have afforded leftist pundits like Arianna Huffington a great and final opportunity to hold failures above the President's head, but it was Bush who revealed the most about his legacy last night.

Changing News Sources?

2009-01-15T16:19:00.003-05:00

Check out the first report by Fox News' brand new White House correspondent, Major Garrett:

After pinning Fox as one of the few stations that wasn't capable/didn't care to pull back old footage and expose problems with President Bush, they've become quite good at finding inconsistencies in Barack Obama. All in all I'm happy that reporting like this is being done by Fox—not just because the report did show something important and newsworthy—especially when other news outlets are spending most of their time in pre-Inauguration hype mode.

Good work, Major.

This Collection

2009-01-15T15:02:00.002-05:00

After stripping down the styrofoam ceiling earlier I deemed myself fit to clean the closet as well. I brought back a bag worth of t-shirts from South Africa. Combine those with piles of shirts from the Republican National Convention and my travels around the mid-Atlantic last year and I realized I had more shirts to sort than I thought.

I only keep about 90-100 shirts "on display" at once, and many of those rarely make it out of the stack. You would be embarrassed to wear a homemade U2 shirt or Madonna concert tee, wouldn't you?

As boxes of unwearable keepsakes from the past few years go into storage, these shirts offer immediate reminders of music interests, trends, and attitudes back to middle school. The only rule is that each of the 100 shirts must fit me; everything too small (or in the case of my XXL phase in eighth grade, too large) is folded up and put in a separate closet. The old shirts ain't going anywhere soon.

Instead of combing through eBay in twenty years searching for "vintage" shirts, I figure I should save the effort and hold onto the old ones. If saving old books (most of which you won't get around to rereading) is so accepted, the ability to step back into the spirit of a shirt acquired at a special part of your life seems reasonable. Each time you bought a shirt you screened everything from size to color to message to fit; that's a lot of interesting decision-making to consider some years out.

Right now I'm wearing a brand new orange t-shirt adorned with a large cartooned Baltimore Oriole logo. Soon to be my new team in my new adopted town. When I don't feel like wearing it all the time, I know it'll add some wonderful color to the middle shelf.

All Clear

2009-01-14T23:31:00.000-05:00

This week of fitful off-and-on work is over. No more cleaning and no more boxes. The reward is a serene cleanliness and the ability to start from the ground up on a new room.

Empty spaces make the best cinemas.

The Winter Cleaning Renovation, Pt. 1

2009-01-14T18:34:00.008-05:00

It has been a change coming for quite some time. Ever since I started covering the presidential election back in early 2007 I've been aware that once an election ends political blogs have to "restructure" or lose many of their readers. Maintaining "The Political Courier" was one of the biggest projects I have undertaken; thousands of miles driven, hours of homework skipped to travel, photography, and write about in over 500 posts in nearly as many days. What a blast I had.

Now it comes down to a box.

This has been my day, these three boxes.

In order, my political memories and paraphernalia, a collection of tests, quizzes, high school yearbooks, etc., and a box for "misc. items of interest."

Between these three boxes are 90% of what I will bring with me from the high school years as I prepare for college/consolidate my things in anticipation of moving off on my own one day.

I spent some time thinking about the title of that last box, "Things that Mean a Lot to Me." While the school box and political box contain the items that the most people know about, the majority of the experiences and memories I carry with me on a daily basis are in that extra box: letters, photo albums, sketches, my first learner's permit. There are countless stories worth telling buried in that box.

What began as a quick office cleaning has evolved into a formidable renovation project as I am to convert this pale yellow office into a brick-red, antique-filled, cozy library. I'm hoping to strip the awful styrofoam ceiling panels down tomorrow and get a look at the original roof that's been hiding under there for countless years.

Off to continue cleaning and sorting!

Not the Best Time

2009-01-10T09:04:00.001-05:00

In the 14 degree cold of this chilly Boston morning I am subjecting myself to an unnecessary burden: a haircut.

Without my messy and overgrown crop the winter chill will soon be that much more of a hassle.

I'm counting on a 1pm HD Broadcast of La Rondine live from the Met to cheer me up. Besides, I can always just wear a hat.

That Elusive Balancing Point

2009-01-10T05:00:00.001-05:00

Let me pick an argument...

"The Welfare State," for example.

The sides line up as big-government liberals and freedom-loving conservatives. Presented as bitter rivals the middle ground is shrouded from view.

But we sometimes agree. We concede that it's hardly ideal for society to spend excess resources pulling along those who can not contribute back, but the suggestion of cutting them off completely is a dangerous position to hold. Likewise, it's hard to defend a culture in which failing schools are thrown millions and millions more dollars to "turn things around" and we propose to buy our way out of the downward spiral of economic recession. Our opposing sides can never agree.

So is there an issue—be it human rights or humanitarian aid or fair trade (these being goals of a social democracy)—on which a solid consensus has been formed? The bitter division between governments, non-profits, politicians, and so-called experts on each issue would suggest not.

I used to think that the right leader, the right generation, or the proper education could lead a society or individual to arrive at that state of balance, but that harmony doesn't seem possible. As a citizen in this social democracy I like it that way.

Who I Am

2009-01-10T03:03:00.000-05:00

Speaking to you is:

- a 19 yr. old male
- the graduate of a new england prep school
- one of those people taking a gap year before college
- somebody interested in all of that "liberal arts" business
- a witness to the process that gave us our new president
- a person hoping to find some answers myself in talking aloud, online