Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Wanderings



"The desert is for poets, prophets and madmen" -Matthew Sincell (until I can find the proper source)

I will write on this later, as it rings incredibly true for many of us.

For now, some pictures from a Utah journey to the southern desert in April of 2011 will have to hold you over...























Monday, June 27, 2011

Muntay


Ugh bummer, two Monday covers back to back...which of course means I was lazy and didn't give you kiddos anything else to nibble on during the past week, sorry for that. I've been trying to catch up on my Brazil preparations before I ship off and am definitely starting to feel overwhelmed. On top of document/book gathering for my classes down there, I've been trying to get a grasp for the language so I don't head off completely in the dark. Headway is being made, but that's about it.


Interestingly enough though, over the past week I've added a number of songs to my covers cache, and actually found myself with options this Monday. The one that stuck out for me today was actually a recommendation by my friend Lange. Originally I hadn't even heard the song being covered, "The Suburbs" by Arcade Fire, but after listening to it and then comparing it with the cover...the compilation is pretty awesome. Take a listen for yourselves and see if you can get behind it! Mr. Little Jeans covering Arcade Fire's "The Suburbs"...enjoy beezys.

Monday, June 20, 2011

mndy cvr


Anotha Monday, Anotha Dolla...or in my case anotha attempt at stretching that dolla so it lasts another week, though that's ERRONEOUS to the task at hand.

Today's cover pushes the definition of 'cover' to the brink. I've chosen to highlight Tupac's "Do for Love" which samples the beat and the chorus from Bobby Caldwell's "What You Won't do for Love" (pictured at right). While it can be argued that this is merely a sampling of beat and chorus with different verses, it was his birthday.. give him a break! And ladies and gentleman, less we forget, it is TUPAC we are talking about.. 'rules' don't apply.

I remember convincing my freshman-year English teacher (Ms. Freeman) to let me do my end-of-year project on a famous poet on Tupac, arguing quite admirably that he was a poet for an extreme minority that previously had very little representation. Using this song, "Dear Mama" and "Brenda's Got a Baby" I was able to establish Mr. Shakur as a legitimate street poet that shed light on the shortcomings of our economical, political and social systems' reach in South Central LA.. Pretty genius way to get an A I thought. My research consisted of listening to music outside while everyone else poured over pages of Emily Dickinson in the library.

Tangent's aside, here's today's cover AND original, as some may not be familiar. Enjoy beezys.



Original


For those of you who just can't get past my bending of the rules....Here ya go. Yeah that's Boyz II Men AND MC Lyte covering the exact same song...it doesn't get more legit than that



ballerdash

Sunday, June 19, 2011

If you're not from Boston... you're not from Boston. Welcome to Titletown U.S.A. Go Bruins, jump on the bandwagon...it's fun

(The only picture that exists from this night)

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

I'm Sorry Ms. Jackson

Whoaaa finally. Just two months later that's all. After enough procrastination to put my usual self to shame I've finally compiled a little amateur video of my first trip to Jackson Hole in late March (the week before closing?!).


I was fortunate to live with another adventurous heart in Park City by the name of Matt and we both decided to make the 4.5 hour trek north to some of the hallowed ground of steep freeskiing, Jackson Hole...at the ungodly hour of 5am. We spent 3 days skiing some pretty amazing terrain and snow, and soaking up a local atmosphere that only Jackson, Wyoming can provide, chock-ful of music, hearty meals and people who are as crazy, if not crazier, about skiing as us.

The video isn't the highest quality, but I definitely think my editing is getting a little better. The overall goal of throwing this together though is to give you guys a peak at the journey I wish you could have joined us for!

Cheers Matt.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Covers on Mondays

Not much to say about today's Monday Cover. Somewhere floating around the vast blogosphere sat this brilliant number, just waiting to be plucked up by yours truly. By means I can only describe as divine intervention it ended up in my lap, ready to go, ready for your ears. I guess that's the way it works sometimes. I give you the Trinity Orchestra (from Ireland) and their coverage of some of the Daft Punk album "Discovery". Enjoy.


Friday, June 10, 2011

Sunglass Effect Eh

Here's one for the bros. I know I promised I wouldn't generate anymore fashion posts after my 'hipster glasses' tirade, but this is an epidemic that extends beyond fashion.

With the warm weather comes a drastic change in city attire, the most appreciated being the switch from baggy sweatshirt to sundress, thank you June temps and humidity. The least appreciated however, is the return of the sunglasses. And no, I'm not talking about regular eyewear to keep the sun's rays at bay for days (see what I did there?), I'm talking about the goggles taking up half of your face that have somehow been deemed 'high fashion'. Besides taking over most of the face, they have created a condition in males everywhere: The Sunglass Effect.

I first discovered that I suffered from this in high school, but it has become more malignant as time has gone on, and I figured something should be said. It's not as much a condition as a victimization by optical illusion really, but it needs to be curbed. Sunglasses these days hide key portions of the face and leave the rest up to imagination, a dangerous tool. Let me explain.

Someone can approach you wearing glasses and, with your mind filling in the blanks, you paint a picture of what this person looks like. After spending hours with said 'imagined' person she removes her glasses and instead of Heidi Klum you have Heidi Watson, the girl with the crazy eyes and the bad breath that sat behind you in third grade. Game Changer. You have just been bit by the Sunglass Effect.

Sadly we've all done it, and will likely do it again. It's the way we're wired and the evil sunglass wearers are banking on it. To everyone who insists on rocking these half face masks: Have mercy. Until then I'll be wearing a beanie and ski goggles just to return the favor.

Cheers.



Sunglasses can make this...


...out of this. Yikes spikes.


Even Urban Dictionary knows what's up: SUNGLASS EFFECT

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Phishin'

Another hot mugtastic week in Bostonia and I'm slowly settling into a routine. The only problem with routines is, well, it's predictable. Wake up, eat, run, clean (highly optional), work, eat, Bruins, sleep. I don't like it, it's too comfortable. So comfortable in fact, that I nearly passed up a chance to go to my first Phish show.

Luckily, my friend El Derr cut through my monotony cocoon and yanked me out, saying that Phish was "something you have to experience". And damn, I guess he had a point.

Just rolling into the Comcast Center parking lot you could tell you were in a foreign, but fantastic scenario. Tents upon pop-up campers upon more tents that would put a Moroccan bazaar to shame. People walking around shirtless, painted, glittered (I was in the latter bunch thanks to the discovery of glitter cream?) and most importantly everyone smiling. Not a single unhappy soul in the place, a true microcosm of jubilation. Some people had dreamed for years about seeing this show, had probably sold countless family heirlooms to purchase tickets, and here I was, a ticket-holder by fortune.

Though I felt a little guilty, I definitely made the most of my Phish experience (no not the illicit drug use part), trying to soak up every minute detail, even bringing my camera along. Me, El Derr, and some of his friends from home met up with some school friends and got to bask in the Phish lot weirdness/greatness for a couple hours before the show, easily some of the best people-watching I've done, and that's saying a lot. I'm a pretty habitual people-watcher, observing is my game.

After an awesome show, (Derr's right you have to experience it for yourself), the school of Phish fans migrated to the parking lots where we were able to watch the Nitrous Mafia battle the cops for an hour or so while enjoying the launching of 20 or so floating lanterns, a very cool, peaceful and surreal end to our night.

Moral of the story and something I've preached all along, though sometimes I need a friend to help me remember once and a while: Don't settle, take chances, life is too short for routine. So your gamble didn't pay off this time? So what. You went for it. More than most of us can say at any one time or another.

Good looks Phish.

Selling beer from a scooter-propelled wagon in the parking lot..


Artists doing what they do...hocking their art


Stayin cool in the parking lot


The freshest trio in the history of trios... high octane high-5s on the right


Every ship needs a masthead..

Workin on my base tan




flashing. lights. great light show to accompany great music


part of the motley phish crew


A phone's attempt to capture the throng of phish-heads, instead I got a creepy beard portrait


MORE FROM PICS COMING!!

Monday, June 6, 2011

Dumbday Cover

Despite the weather being absolutely beautiful, and the city awakening from its spring hibernation, today's Monday cover arrives on a somber note.

My cat passed away in rather tragic circumstances this past weekend, in a way that neither pet nor owner should ever have to experience. I feel awful for both sides on this one, and I also am sad to lose someone that, for 12 years, has been a part of my life in one way or another. For those of you asking if I really just eulogized a cat, my cat, the answer is yes.

Snickers was good to all of us, and on top of being a great pet gave me a chance to see kittens born firsthand, something everyone should get to see at least once. With my 'cat lady'-esque ode I'd like to attach a cover. Seems fitting to unleash the one-woman cover machine Cat Power on a day like today. I had another cover on tap, but life intervened and this was the most appropriate. Though most of her covers are solid, I found her rendition of Oasis' "Wonderwall" to tickle my fancy in particular today. Without further ado, enjoy beezys.




If I've posted this already (not sure) please forgive me in my old age....i'll make it up to ya

Also check out her take on David Bowie's "Space Oddity", I really wanted to post this one but turns out she only recorded it for this commercial and only did the 30-second bit, BLAST!


Thursday, June 2, 2011

-I thought you said it was an electrical fire? -Yeah that's what I said totally electrical

Yesterday a slew of strong storms swept across the state. Alliteration aside, by the time they made their way into Boston it was late and the dark had long ago banished the sun westward. Needless to say, it was the perfect theater for a lightning show, and boy did we get one. I was able to snap a couple pics that came out OK, which is pretty excellent considering that I just guessed at a low aperture and controlled my shutter speed manually (which I think might be the best bet for lightning photography). Hope you like some of them, my camera was dead during the first half of the extravaganza so I missed a ton of good ones (a likely story I know, but it's true!)

It got me to thinking though, that being a lightning photographer is on par in the photo world to being a meteorologist in the science world. The most imperfect and random skill in a field that requires precision and accuracy. I need to find a job like that. Meteorologists can be wrong 8 times out of 10, but if they get that one Nor'easter correct, people forgive all those other 'Tornado Warning' blunders from the season before. Same goes for lightning photography. A photographer can sit there for hours holding the button down to extend his shutter just right and maybe catch a bolt in that 30 second window (that's literally what you have to do) and if he catches it, BOOM, magazine cover. Nevermind the miles of film he wasted beforehand, THIS guy is a creative genius with an amazing lightning photo! Yeah sign me up for that gig. I need something where I can be wrong over half the time and not get chastized for it, and then when I finally do get it right, I get hoisted up like I made the game-winning shot. Haha imagine if that's how if worked in print journalism...a journalist can dream right?

Anyways, enough ranting for one day. I've been holding stuff off because I like to move sequentially, but it's taking its toll on this blog. My trip to Jackson Hole circa early March is holding me up big time. Hopefully that will be done soon along with some last licks from Utah and some East Coast adventures to the mountains, NYC and beyond. Wish me luck, and keep reading...once in a while at least.

Tchau (That's my extensive brazilian portuguese at work).





Kinda feeling this angle

rain on the lens but check out the streaks!