Something Irish This Way Comes

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

The Home Stretch Playlist: Thursday, Jan. 29

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

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

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

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

Songs of the Year, 2008

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

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.

(Photo credit: Luke N. Vargas. 2007-2009. All Rights Reserved)

Scrubbing the Deck

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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