Happiness is Chips


Updates on this bad boy may become a bit sporadic (or just uninteresting) for the next week or two or three. Exams being the main reason. I want to pass my classes.

Also, I've been feeling really happy lately, and haven't got much to say. Except sentimental stuff about how I'm grateful and stuff. But Thanksgiving's come and gone.

I'm sure you've got good things going on anyways.

Check out my favorite teacher of all time's website! Mr. Gleason taught me for all four years in high school, which were also his first as an instructor. His artwork is displayed on his site, it's fantastic. Funny how you can tell that he's an optimistic and energetic guy just by looking at his paintings.

-Brian

Round 3 (Fight)


This weekend has been an improvement on the last two. Seeing Rosie Thomas on Thursday night (read about it here) was great, and things just got better on Friday. After the snow, we went back to Princes Street to shop, which of course was a treat. Later that night a big group of us kids went to the gardens and had the most magical of nights. It was surreal, we went on a ferris wheel and looked down upon the lights of Princes Street and the festival in the gardens below. After which we went ice skating - my first time. It was difficult and made me sore, but the funiness and loveliness made it very worthwhile.

I've got a photo album of the festivities for you!

When we came back to the flat we watched The National play on a show called "Later with Jools Holland," a strange and awesome program consisting entirely of bands playing in a huge circular room. A couple of crappy bands were on too, but it's fine when THERE ARE NO COMMERCIALS!

Saturday I woke up, had James iron my clothes (thanks buddy!), and set off to my Thanksgiving celebration. The venue was very fancy, in one of the two Apex hotels in the Grassmarket. Everybody looked nice and festive, and even though there were complete strangers from other universities Sure enough, I was seated right beside the guest of honor! The food was good, although I wasn't able to stuff myself as I would have back home. Afterwards we had a ceilidh, it was cramped but people had fun.

I want more snow. I want Anne to visit! I was thinking, she'll be the first familiar face I've seen in months. Kinda crazy.

-Dream Team

The First Snow













I can't tell you how amazing it feels, maybe you already know. It's beautiful outside. As soon as it started Mark and I ran outside and started throwing snowballs, and my glasses broke! The frame broke and a lens fell out, but I think some superglue will do the trick.

I put in my contacts and we walked to Princes Street. We saw the fair start up for the holiday season, with the ferris wheel and the ice skating and the market with cute little house-booths where we got crepes for breakfast.

I think Mark couldn't have been more right when he said, as we were walking along the street, "I just can't stop smiling. For no reason, I just smile." Best morning ever.

-Team Snow

Thanksgiving

I got a phone call yesterday from the director of the UC Study Centre. He asked me if I would mind being seated with the dignitaries and guests of honor at the Thanksgiving feast on Saturday. I am honored! I'm not sure why he chose me, and now I'm going to be nervous about it. The US Consulate General of Scotland will be one of the guests. That is impressive!

Edinburgh has a football team. American football.

You know who isn't feeling the love right now? The guys who run the cafe below us. They are convinced that our drain from the kitchen sink is leaking into/onto their restaurant. So we were ordered to stop using it, which poses a problem, as all of our plates and cutlery are dirty from last night's taco feast. Oh well, I suppose it's easier to let them sit and have an excuse than it is to clean that massive mess.

Taco Night went pretty well, it simultaneously relieved/intensified my homesickness. Which isn't too bad. I'm so good that even though we had no tongs, my chopsticking skills enabled me to fry the shells.


I'm thankful for everything I've got, and everything I've got going for me. That sounds trite, you'll have to forgive me, but it's honest. I am infinitely lucky to be where I am, living and learning in a beautiful city, with the love of friends and family behind me. So thank you!

All of my love,

Brian

P.S. James, did you see this?

Round 2 (Fight)


Today was part two of Productive Week. I woke up at 8:30, entirely of my own volition. I went to the computer lab and worked for a good three hours before class, and I'll do it again tomorrow. Only instead of having class afterwards, we'll play soccer. And then I'll make tacos for everyone & their mother - wish me luck, I don't know what I'm in for.

Proof of spontaneity:

9:30-11:30pm a friend and I are lost in conversation, completely losing track of time. Aside from that, all is quiet and peaceful.

11:30-11:45pm a billion things happen, all rapid-fire, as soon as we step out of the flat. It involves drunk kids, getting sick, an angry taxi driver, the police on the telephone, angry restaurant owners, university servicemen, and an RA. Overwhelming(ly funny).

Around the w.w.w.:

Diesel Sweeties tells us about geography! Catchy slogans for each state. I like: South Carolina: We Do Have A Distinct Cultural Identity If You Bother To Pay Attention
New Jersey: (That was the joke)

Slate's weekly poem is up. It's one of the best so far, a bit uncomfortable to read. But the highest recommendation.

eMusic has a 50 free mp3 (!) download trial period, with no strings attached. I got about four full albums and a bunch of rare tracks today, and I'll never have to pay. Also recommended, obviously (really, there's no gimmick).

-Away we go

Crisis In Darfur


Congratulations, James. It's your birthday. We love you & I miss you.

Boy, do I feel ill today. Exhausted and woozy, the latter a result of looking through a messed-up microscope at a spinning slide. The former a result of waking up at 7. Tomorrow I'm waking up early again as well so I can be a good student and utilize the computer lab before class. But, I will go to bed before midnight tonight, for the first time in ages, so it won't be so bad!

Anne is coming in less than two weeks! I am excitement.

Thanksgiving feast is on Saturday! I am excitement.

I talked to my sister yesterday for 50 minutes, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I have been playing guitar so much that my fingers have some really cool calluses! I am proud.

Everybody should read Will Sheff's (of Okkervil River) wonderful article on Neutral Milk Hotel. It is evident in his band's recordings that he's been affected by NMH, and he articulates well the importance of their epic In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.

Pretty good, huh? Now read praise for Sheff's journalistic/critical talents.

I got some assignments back today. Barely passed one, did well on another.

-That's the way we get by

Georgia Font, Normal Size, Italic


James is addicted. To baking. Today he made treacle scones in the afternoon, which turned out nicely. Later he made a delicious apple crumble, worthy of the pages of Modern Baking magazine indeed.

But hey! I made spaghetti bolognese with chili pepper sauce! I'm cool too, yeah!

Tomorrow is Monday. Actually today is Monday. Damn it.

Helluva update, kid.

-Verdana Font, Normal Size

P.S. I want this shirt. So... buy me it. For Christmas, Thanksgiving, whatever. It's only 10 dollars. And when you do (because I know you, and I know you will) make sure to click here to get to the site. It gets me $3 toward my next purchase there. And who wouldn't want to give me $13? Thanks guys.

Said, Women are Winning the Tournament of Hearts (Somebody's Gotta Lose)


I watched my first football match since I've been here, it was a big one: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona. Mark's into soccer so I went with him to watch at the Pleasance, the student union bar just up the street. It was radicool, as I got to see Ronaldinho, Mark's idol, score two goals in style. And I saw the young wonder, Messi, play, although he didn't manage to score. He just turned 18, and is being hailed as the next Maradona. And finally I got to see this Beckham guy play, apparently he's not too special, just a good passer and good looking. It was an easy 3-0 win for Barcelona, fun to watch.

Give me time to think lately, and I begin to get upset with myself. With my laziness and this fractured lack of direction that's been me recently. It's stresses, again, from odd and conflicting angles, leaving me frayed yet motionless - a mess of thought. I need motion now, to have some momentum going into these mental blocks. Some motivation and some encouragement, somthing constructive, some confidence.

STOP WHINING


-I love you to the max.

The Emo Diaries, Chapter 1,242,639


-I miss my sister

In Which Brian Manages to Leave Edinburgh


James and I left for Glasgow on the 7:00 train last night on what would prove to be a mini adventure. Perfect. We arrived just before 8 at the Queens Street Station, in the Glasgow city center. It was lit up and beautiful outside, clear and cold. Not the part of the city I hear/am warned so much about. The venue, the famed King Tut's Wah-Wah Hut, was a 15-minute walk away, and we arrived with plenty of time.

The National's show was absolutely enthralling, read about it here. I got the "Abel" 7-inch, which I didn't even know existed, as well as a pick and a VIP pass from a band member. Not a pass for myself, but one that fell off of his jeans halfway through the set and I later picked up. We even had an accidental interaction with the band when we were lost in the beginning, and walked into the soundcheck pre-show, where we were mistaken for interviewers. Cool.

The show ended at 11:50, 20 minutes after the last train home. We had a place we could stay, quite far away at the University of Glasgow. We took a taxi to the dorm where James' friend lives, even though she told us she wouldn't be there. This is where it got surreal. The buildings were white cider block and looked like prison cells inside. That scared us. We let ourselves in to her hall, like we were told, and hung out in a strange and empty kitchen reading their magazines (haha, quasi-porn and National Geographic were the selection) and starving (our dinner was a pint of Guinness). Finally we decided to sleep, because she wasn't coming home that night. So we slept in somebody else's bed in a strange city, woke up at 8 and caught a taxi back to the train station. Never having seen James' friend, or really anyone for that matter. When we left there was frost on the ground, it was so cold.

It felt good to get out and not know exactly what to expect, to let things unfold and roll with it. We've been desperate for some spontaneity around here. And today when I got back I went down to the King's Buildings to do work, and saw frost on the groud here too. Our first frost! It's loverly, and cold.

-Yay!

Quick Friendship Update


Yesterday we brought our kitchen table downstairs and prepared/ate a community dinner! What did we eat? Potato, turnip, and the wonderful mixture of pig lung/oats/pig liver/other things known as haggis. And, boy, was it good! It was probably so easy for me to try because I was with a bunch of Brits who love the stuff. Glad I did, and even more glad I liked it.

Oh my GOD I've been playing a lot of guitar lately.

The last train home from Glasgow is 11:30, think we'll make it? The National will be amazing.

Where should we (my flat) go this weekend? We're desperately seeking adventure but have monetary problems. Mark is insisting we go to his home in Greece after new year's for the remaining ~7 days, and, well... how do you say no to that?

End-of-year list season is quickly approaching. My FAVORITE time of year.

-Time for class

I Know Where I Want to Go

I've got my tickets to see The National in Glasgow on Thursday. That's the good news.

The bad news is that, once again, my travel plans are falling through. My friend Anne will go to Dublin in two weeks, where I planned on meeting her along with my flatmate(s). Unfortunately, Nick just learned of a mandatory field trip for his architecture class on that very weekend. This would be the second time a field trip has ruined my plans. Nay, my dreams. C'est la vie. Something will come through.

Exams here are everything, and there is only one per class per term. It's just a sort of mega-final, and it is daunting. The terms here are short, only 11 teaching weeks in a semester, so the exams are only a few weeks off, which scares me to think of. Once again, school here is no good. And I say that having four day work weeks.


I took a walk to Princes Street (pictured above in a stolen image) today in search of the tickets. Every time I go there I feel happy. It's the city's long street with incredible (incredibly expensive) shopping, and it's always bustling with people, although it never seems overcrowded. On one side of the street is the shopping, and on the other are the gardens and the castle. It's amazing as it is, but in the winter apparently things are lit up and there is ice skating in the gardens. I can't wait to see that, and get a lump in my throat because it's just gorgeous. Hopefully by then I'll have remembered to buy batteries for my camera.

As I am your personal gateway to the glory that is Slate, allow me to fill you in on recent articles of interest. Because you couldn't do that for yourself.


It's college week, and it's not as interesting as it sounds. Although this article on the books which famous people loved in college is kind of cool. I didn't know Tom Wolfe wrote The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. Probably because I'm only aware of him as a little old man who dresses in white suits and promotes I Am Charlotte Simmons. Based solely on the covers of the books listed, I would like to read James Agee's A Death In The Family.

And "Tuesday" is synonomous with "Poem of the Week," so here she is. The poem's called "Steelhead" and it's written by Dave Lucas. I really like it, the imagery is graceful and fluid while still being forceful. It's about the relationship between a fisherman and his capture, and it's got some beautiful lines:

"...the education of the angler,
who lets out the line, then
pulls back, the give and take
of two odd lovers, until
the moment
when he jerks back,
when the water gives up
its silver cache.
And then the hollow drum
of fish
on boat..."

-b

Nighttime/Anytime


First things first: Our latest Sedimentology professor (there's a two week cycle of instructors) has a terrible combover. It's sad. He's tall and thin and wears oversized sweaters, and his hair is constantly coming undone. I ask myself, "Why?" And then I laugh.

I'm still in a news-drought here, there's been a lot of guitar picking and Nintendo playing and general uselessness in the flat lately. People here are becoming stressed with the onset of exams and assignments, and the atmosphere's dimmed considerably. I really don't like the school system here, even if the academic year is a lot shorter than back home, and it's because I haven't got the self-control to manage my time responsibly. And I'm usually pretty good (or good enough) at that.

What's up with Mehmet Okur's domination this season? 22 points, 10 rebounds, 45% from three is more than I would have hoped for from a 6-11 Turkish guy. No offense, Hedo Turkoglu. I miss basketball.

I have a site meter on my music blog, and the Russians keep visiting. Like, 9 times a day. I don't know either, I hope I'm not in trouble.

-It's All Right

I Keep Yawning

We made it to the Farmers Market this afternoon, and it was cute. Not too big, but nice nonetheless. I was expecting it to be similar to all the markets I've been to in the past, with loads of fruit and vegetables, but was surprised to find so much meat being sold. Then I realized, fruit and vegetables don't grow in Edinburgh like they do in California. Sheep and cows are farmed here as opposed to apples and oranges. I got some good cheese.

A woman stopped James and I in the market who I recognized from before, asking us for help buying butter. James identified her as a Hare Krishna, so I guess that's what she was. Whatever the case, I didn't offer to help her, and I felt bad and justified at the same time. In her spiel she said she couldn't do certain things, and it sounded like she meant working, so she had to rely on others to buy her essential foods. I am torn by this - I disagree with her philosophy, but am not sure that's reason enough not to help her. I don't see what she does to deserve my money is what it comes down to, in my mind. She is capable, but it's almost as if she's refusing. That doesn't make sense. It's okay, the butter booth was closed anyhow.

Why do beggars make me think so hard and feel so bad? It's frustrating. Is "beggars" PC? Cause that's what they do.


Unrelatedly, I like jeans. Slate dissects the designer jean culture, and I have the urge to shop at Princes Street (price range: $$$-$$$$$). Somebody buy me the Lucky Nashville Slims (above).

And finally congratulations to Val, and thanks for the kind words in the email! It was good to hear from her - hopefully I'll see her soon.

-brian

Plans

If you ever want to go someplace with me, or James for that matter, don't let me plan it. Because things fall through. Today we showed up at the bus station an hour after we decided it would be a good idea to randomly go to Inverness for the weekend. So much for spontaneity. There wasn't a chance we could get on the bus, and we were sent back home disappointed, our bags still embarrassingly ready for adventure atop our backs. Feel sorry for us.

And now we're home bored. This is the first weekend I haven't really looked forward to since I've been here. There aren't any fun events on the horizon, and I want to get out of the city.

Next week my friend's making us haggis, neeps, and tatties! It doesn't get more Scottish than that.

Around the world:

Slate catches on.

Dan shouts out.

Paul Shirley is awesome.

Paul played for the Phoenix Suns last year as the team's 12th man, meaning the end of the bench. While his skills on-court were limited, his literary prowess shone through in his NBA-sanctioned weblog, "Paul Shirley's Road Ramblings." Shirley's biting humor earned him a legion of fans, although not the type a pro baller may wish for. He was cut from the team this season, but picked up by ESPN as a journalist. Hmm, a tall gangly white guy with a penchant for cynicism and self-deprecating wit... that doesn't sound familiar at all!

-Hoop Dreams

Advanced Apologies

For not having the most interesting things to write lately. It's not that my life's been boring, in fact quite the opposite - it's just that right now I'm in the thick of it, and am not going to write it out.

The mp3 blog's on elbo.ws, which feels pretty neat for such a minor accomplishment.

Okay, I've got a story. Today while eating lunch with a friend, her ex-boyfriend, whom we had been laughing about, appeared out of nowhere and sat with us. And I can say I've never met a more self-absorbed ass in my life. There wasn't so much as a hint of irony in his presentation. The first thing he told us was how he had bought some Armani trousers for an obscene amount, and how good they felt on him. Then he talked about his designer shoes, which "weren't just shoes, like everyone else has." Then he talked about how his ass looks good, and explained that it's okay to admire one's own posterior, but only if it's a good one. And he wasn't done there. THEN he talked about the crocodile skin Armani jacket planned on buying for 800 pounds ($1600), and how when he was in the shop trying it on, all eyes were on him, and even the manager came out and told him he looked better in it that the "guys from Milan in the catalogue." According to him, only 3 of these jackets exist in the country (meaning the UK, not just Scotland, mind you).

I could hardly contain my laughter. It was a whirlwind of pompousness!

I miss my family!

Anyone have any plans this weekend? Because I want some.

-(Who is) The Drizzle

Buonanotte Suckers

Finished my essay! It was dreadful. It kept me awake at night. Seriously. The Role of Humans and Climate on Late Pleistocene Megafaunal Extinctions. DON'T YOU WANT TO READ IT!

It's really bad, but good enough.

So, is it not time to celebrate?

I haven't been on the Intranet enough lately to find cool stuff that isn't related to woolly mammoths. So here's my makeshift blogging (ie going to Slate):

How to tornado-proof your mobile home.

Drug dealers, do you trust your significant other with your stash?

And finally, the weekly poem, "Gravity" by Brian R. Lutz. Hey, that's almost my name! This one's kinda cool.

Wow, that was irrelevant.

-Carry on

UPDATE: Bows + Arrows has begun

Cabin Fever

I slammed my fingers in the door. I am typing with one hand. Why is this a problem, besides the fact that they throb like none other? Because I have an 8 page essay to write. Like, now. And my Microsoft Word is broken on my computer so I have to use James'.


I was so glad to see this. It's a Slate article on Calvin and Hobbes, my favorite comic of all time. It's a slideshow as well! I won't bother trying to explain the significance of the strip, because chances are you know for yourself. Somebody buy me the new anthology they mention, surely I deserve it.

My flatmates are playing our new Super Nintendo at the moment. Or SNES as they call it here (not S-N-E-S, but SNES). Awesome.

I'd better get back to work. I'm really wondering if I'll make it this time. C'est la vie.

-cliche

Blogging Yeah Not Studying Yeah

Got my care package today!

It contains:

Jelly Belly Sours! Did you know they're making Jelly Belly Sport Beans? They must energize you in ways that pure sugar just can't. Just like I can't take seriously jelly beans passing themselves off as "portable power for endurance athletes, weekend warriors and sports enthusiasts of all types."

Grapeheads!

Sports Illustrated 2005-2006 NBA preview issue!

Flannel sheets!

My capo!

The Best American Short Stories (2005 edition), edited by Michael Chabon (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay)!

Corn tortillas (Taco Tuesday, anyone?)

A wonderful photo album filled with awesome pictures, some of which I'd never seen before!

Speaking of photos, here are some pictures of this weekend from Mark's broken camera:

party eye tricks!
party eye tricks! (The goof's drinking Budweiser!)
Our Brave Explorers atop Arthur's Seat for fireworks
I was cold!

BONUS: Party eye tricks video!

My friend Maizi loaned me a movie called Spun. It stars Jason Schwartzman, among others, and it's about drugs and stuff. I really don't know. I hope it's good!

I've got a LARGE essay due on Thursday afternoon. I am on study lockdown. I hate it.

-Brrrrr(ian)

I been busy baby, yeah I keep busy...

I created another blog, Bows + Arrows, but it might be a while until I get it started.

Last night I saw Tim Fite and Buck 65. They're both weird and exceeded my expectations. Color me: IMPRESSED.


After I got back I met up with my homeboyz and girlz at the base of Arthur's Seat to set off some FIREWORKS! That's right! And not just lousy sparklers (although we had some of those too) - we're talking ROCKETS! We shot them over the loch (lake, or in this case swan pond) and they exploded just like the real ones! The last rocket I set off was my favorite kind, too, the type that explode and look like weeping willow branches floating in the wind. That made me happy. Sorry for the lack of pictures, Mark broke his camera a couple nights ago (very sad) and mine needs batteries.

Oh yeah, and the reason for the fireworks throughout the city was Guy Fawkes Day. Whatever, dudes!


The National Basketball Association season has begun! And I'm glad to say that last night, in Philly's first win, my number-one-favorite player Kyle Korver finally came through. I like Kyle because he is a goofy white kid who shoots threes. A bit of a success story too, as he was the penultimate pick in the draft a few years ago and has somehow made it into the starting rotation (alongside the likes of Allen Iverson). Anyways, in their first few games Korver was dead cold from the field, and apparently getting booed by the hometown fans. But last night he scored 15 (3/5 from three!) and racked up 9 assists.

If you're familiar with Pitchfork, you might recognize William Bowers as a regular writer. Apparently he's also written for a bunch of other mags, but the point is he's got a cool mp3 blog, Puritan Blister (same name as his Pitchfork column, see?). It seems he used to write funny things in each post, but lately it's just been music.

- Breaking every heart in New York City

I Am

Last night I saw Explosions In The Sky and Four Tet. Explosions put on a good show, their dynamic compositions lend themselves well to a live show. They played so hard they wrecked a guitar, and they played so well they were able to keep rocking even without it. They got so LOUD it was awesome.

Four Tet is one of those guys who is cooler than you'll ever be. Effortlessly cool. He just walked up to his laptop-mixing-station-table with a backpack on, eating an orange, and composed songs on the spot. Got us all dancing and glitch-twitching, it was very different from what I expected, which was a mellow and melodic set. And by different I mean better.

I bought a little length of red lights on a string, kind of like Christmas lights. It's so tacky hanging there in my window, that it's actually really pretty.

I went to a party last night and got too drunk. It's because I was uncomfortable, and although I didn't do anything too embarrassing I knew the whole time I was doing something I didn't want to, and shouldn't. Uncomfortable and upset for reasons I won't go into, reasons I can certainly deal with in better ways. And I woke up today ashamed, and realized that I can do better, be stronger than that.

I might start a music blog separate from this one.

-On To You

Through and Through

I am not paying 20 pounds for applying posters to my wall with White-Tack. We had a flat inspection and James and I got in trouble for having the poster tack on our walls, when it's only the blue variety (Blue-Tack) that leaves marks. Stupid insptectors. Apparently they'd rather have us use pins, which obviously leave holes. I am not paying 20 pounds.

I've been listening to a few songs in particular lately, Imogen Heap's (listen here) gorgeous "Hide & Seek" and all the Constantines (songs here) tracks I've collected.


I think David Raposa missed the point when reviewing Heap's album, Speak For Yourself and in particular with his comments on "Hide & Seek."

"The black sheep of the bunch, "Hide and Seek"-- aka That Song From "The O.C."-- best exemplifies the strengths and weaknesses of this album. The track consists of nothing but a Vocoder and her voice singing stuff about crop circles and sewing machines. It's gorgeous, it's impressive, it's grandiose, and it's barely there at all-- just Heap's voice darting and divebombing, making itself scarce, disappearing into itself."

He's right, it is a beautiful piece, and her voice does stretch and thin as well as swell and build. So what's the problem? I'm not sure. I mean, it is called "Hide & Seek" after all, so the darting and disappearing just may be intentional. I know it's all personal preference, but his argument comes off as weak. I don't think Heap would sound as good with her vocals pressed to the front of the song constantly.


As for The Constantines - wow. Blue-collar hard-luck Canadian rock. It's visceral and intensely urgent, like if The Boss made music while on fire. And beyond the burn of the music, the lyrics are just as awesome. "Soon enough/ Work and love will make a man out of you" ("Soon Enough") is timeless. Apparently their latest, Tournament Of Hearts, is a bit more tension and a bit less release than their previous two albums, but from what I've heard it stands up just as well. And hey, did you know that Dawn got to see them open for The Hold Steady? And that I'm not jealous/resentful in the least? Did you know that?

I'm off to celebrate my neighbor's birthday! Wish I had more to say, but things have been all mixed-up in this young heart of late.

-Through and Through

Of Angels And Angles

I had the best Halloween ever. I was dead sexy. James and I were both dressed as angels (my costume was designed for girls age 8-12), but he actually looked like a woman. See for yourself!




Okay coolest find first:

The Hold Steady's Separation Sunday is one of my favorite albums. Not even of this year, but overall. And after I found this NPR article, I managed to become even more impressed with the band. The articles take three Hold Steady songs, two from Separation Sunday, and explain the myriad allusions in the lyrics. The religion-rock 'n' roll parallels are awesome and well-executed, helping make the Separation Sunday storyline powerful and complex. It's like Lolita, it's so dense! Could this be the most literary band out there? I think so. And they rock as well! Go here to download some songs.


A few years ago when I raided Epitonic in search of new music, I came across a David Dondero tune called "Rosary." I liked it, but never heard anything more from him until recently. He's signed to Conor Oberst's Team Love label, and his new album South of the South is available as a free and legal download from their website. I don't know why. It's really good, too, so if you were cynical enough to wonder, "Is it worth it?" then the answer is YES. He sounds a lot (exactly) like Bright Eyes, in a good way (not as warbly-wobbly).


If you are unsatisfied, go here and download Explosions In The Sky's mini-album legally and very freely. They said it was okay, honest. Or at least Chromewaves said that they said that it was okay (good enough for me, you too!). Yeah, I'm seeing them THIS FRIDAY!! no biggie...

Lastly, Slate's poem of the week updates today. This one's good.

-x