Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Friday Night Lights

In the past few weeks, an old friend, with whom I have lost touch, launched numerous rants on Twitter about the utter ridiculousness of sports. He criticized athletes, questioning the purity of their ambition; he also criticized sports fans, doubting their intelligence and openly ridiculing their passion. Yet, what my old friend does not understand, is that allure of sports goes far beyond who can run the fastest or throw the farthest or jump the highest. We are drawn to tracks, fields, arenas, and televisions around the country because of the great personal sacrifice that is required, the unforeseen excellence that can be achieved, and the profound community that can be experienced in the context of sports. It is by demonstrating these truths that Friday Night Lights ranks as one of the most compelling books I have read in quite some time.
To be certain, FNL is not a book about the blessings of high school football. Odessa, Texas is a rough, blue collar, racist town that treats its Permian Panther team as if they are gods...unless they lose. Still, the author, H.G. Bissinger, highlights everything that is good about sports. The players, at no small sacrifice to themselves, devote their lives to be a part of the Mojo magic. The Panthers bring life and a sense of community to citizens worn ragged by the boom-bust rollercoaster that is a subsistence supported by the oil industry. The team, full of scrawny, undersized West Texans, consistently wins in a state where everything is bigger and better, football maybe most of all.
Yet, when a sport and a team becomes the totality of an individual's identity and a community's only hope, the story never has a happy ending. Sports are meant to be enjoyed but they are not meant to be a mode of survival. Therein lies the problem for Odessa. The town feeds on wins. The boys who put food on the table are worshipped, and everyone else is ignored. It is a recipe for disaster, one which occurs frequently in the lives of the Permian players and their faithful fans. Rules are broken and lives are mangled in pursuit of the almighty win. Still, in spite of the wake of destruction left at the end of every season, as the scorching summer heat gives way to cool autumn evenings, hope springs anew in West Texas. This is the season Permian is going to state!
Beyond the dysfunction of a town whose hope is in football, Friday Night Lights is about one team and one season. Bissinger rides shotgun on a year long journey everyone hopes will end in a Texas AAAAA state title. And it is this aspect of the book - the punishing trap plays, the perfect spirals, the bruising blocks, and the last minute heroics - that I found most enjoyable. His fortuitous decision to follow the 1988 Permian Panthers pays off as the team enjoys a magical ride deep into the postseason. I'll let you figure out the ending for yourself, or maybe you cheated and watched the movie. Even so, this book is worth the read.

- Joel

Monday, December 27, 2010

Reading List

Santa was kind to my library this year. With so many new things to read, I had better finish Friday Night Lights soon. By the way, though you may have seen the movie or watch the television show, Friday Night Lights the book is worth your time. I think a book report is in order.

- Joel

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Photographer of the Day

© Stephane Suisse
Stephane Suisse. It's officially winter.

- Joel

© Stephane Suisse

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas

Each Christmas, instead of purchasing individual gifts, I take my family out to a fancy dinner on the Plaza in Kansas City. The tradition began nine years ago, during my freshman year of college, and has become one of my family's favorite evenings during the Christmas season. We are a family of six, and, while we have been blessed financially with more than enough to make for a good life, we rarely go out for fancy dinners; the tab has a tendency to quickly escalate with six mouths to feed. Beyond that, as we have grown older, family dinners with all six of us around the table are less frequent. Thus, dinners like these Christmas dinners are a rare gem each year. Yet, beyond the infrequency that makes these dinners special, I've found that, unlike most Christmas gifts, we actually remember them a year later. More than a steak or some potatoes, I'm able to give my family (and myself) a memory that endures throughout the years. Books are read and shelved; clothes go out of style; electronics break; gift cards are spent and discarded; but I can recall with pride the times we ate at Starker's, The Classic Cup, and Fogo de Chau. In a season where the fool's gold of materialism shines more brightly every year, it is not the things bought but the memories made with loved ones that truly satisfy.

May you be blessed with lasting memories this Christmas. And may you cherish the true reason for celebration, the gift that was given to us 2000 years ago.

- Joel

Friday, December 24, 2010

jj - Kills

jj, the mysterious duo from Sweden, have an unexpected affinity for American hip hop. Their love for top 40 beats is on full display in the new mixtape, Kills. If you like whispery female vocals floating over some of hip hop's most recognizable beats, you'll love this mixtape. A perfect way to "ghettofy" your Christmas Eve. Go here to download it.

- Joel

If you want a taste of what it sounds like check out one of the tracks below:

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Atlas Sound

Atlas Sound is Bradford Cox, the lead singer of the band Deerhunter. This is a Christmas song, kind of. It's more an Atlas Sound song that touches lyrically on Christmas. But I enjoy it. There is quite a bit of free music from both Atlas Sound and Deerhunter up on Bradford's blog, including four albums worth of demos. Merry Christmas.

- Joel

Monday, December 20, 2010

A tribute to Townes Van Zandt as played by Isobel Campbell and Willy Mason.

- Joel


Mac Attack

Susan Kare. Kare actually created these original designs for Apple back in the 1980's.

- Joel

Coldplay - "Christmas Lights"

I'm not yet sure how I feel about the song, but the video is pretty cool. Watch/download below.

- Joel

Coldplay - "Christmas Lights"

Sunday, December 19, 2010

White Christmas

White Christmas. Quickly becoming one of my favorite Christmas movies.

- Joel

Wall Art

I am fascinated by, and jealous of, people who can make something out of nothing. They possess the creativity to turn a ball of yarn, a blank page, or an empty wall into something worthy of attention. That isn't me. I'm the nerdy guy with the hyperactive brain. But I'm great with who I am, and I think that who I am helps me appreciate videos like this all the more. If you want to see the final product (you'll know what I mean if you press play), just fast forward to the end. However, it's how they got there that makes you appreciate the end result.

- Joel


Thursday, December 16, 2010

Haiti


Tonight I reunited with the team of folks with whom I went to Haiti. We ate great food, watched the requisite trip video/slide show, and got to bring all of the pictures home! I was struck again by the beauty of the Haitian people and their hope amidst incredible difficulty. These pictures tell that story, in my opinion.

- Joel


Wednesday, December 15, 2010

I can't get enough Christmas music right now. The Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack with Vince Guaraldi Trio is one of my favorites.

- Joel

Scarves

Shout out to Cassie, a wizard with some knitting needles. She made me an oversized navy cowl (she's wearing it above), which will become a part of my daily wardrobe this winter. Check out her stuff here.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

© Kevin Miyazaki
I'm really digging this photograph, especially with all the pins around Kansas City! Kevin Miyazaki is a stud. He's got a great blog and created the photo charity website collectdotgive.

- Joel

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The Beatles

The all-time best.

- Joel

Monday, December 13, 2010

Photographer of the Day

red pumps on red square. november 2010. Moscow, Russia © Allison V. Smith
Allison V. Smith.

- Joel

red square. november 2010. Moscow, Russia © Allison V. Smith

Sunday, December 12, 2010

If I go to law school I'm sure this cartoon will be my daily reality...hopefully I won't be the one asking the self-indulgent questions.

- Joel

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Photographer of the Day

© Christopher Churchill
Christopher Churchill. I find it ironic that his last name is Churchill and he has an entire dedicated to faith in America (all faiths not just the Christian faith). Here are some of his photographs that I enjoyed, not all from the faith series.

- Joel

© Christopher Churchill

© Christopher Churchill

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Haunting Party Christmas Tunes

My blogging has been noticeably absent in the past two weeks. I'm taking the LSAT on Saturday and most of my free time has been spent prepping. Tonight I took my 20th (yikes!!!) practice test. Needless to say, I haven't taken much time to blog. But I heard this Christmas album today and really enjoyed it. I think you will too - especially if you like Sufjan Stevens or Sondre Lerche. You can even download it for free at their bandcamp page. I especially like their rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".

Lots more blogging after Saturday.

- Joel


Monday, November 29, 2010

It's Christmas!

Thanksgiving is great, but Christmas-time is where it's at! Many things make the season special for me: Christmas lights, traditions, taking my family out to a fancy dinner every year, celebrating Jesus, and Christmas movies (Home Alone!!!) to name a few. Yet, I think Christmas music is the thing I enjoy most about the season (other than Jesus). I'll be dropping a number of my favorite tunes here on the blog in the days to come. Here are a few different takes on "Last Christmas", including the original classic by Wham!.

- Joel



Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thanksgiving

Christmas is my favorite season, but Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. My family, all 25+ of us, pile into the same house for 3 or 4 days and bust through a tradition list that continues to grow. Here are some of our traditions...

Turkey dinner (obviously)
Run a 5K Thanksgiving morning
Football (playing and watching)
Hearts (the card game)
Nerts (another card game)
Basketball at the rec center
Busting open a pinata (see photo above)
Passing out Christmas lists
Mexican dinner on Friday night (I do a backwards roll out of my chair at this meal. It's quite a sight)
Go to a movie as a family
Chex Mix
Chili supper on Wednesday night (which is tonight. I can't wait)
Video games
My uncle always reads our list of traditions
A round of frisbee golf
Celebrate my Aunt Mary's birthday
And the list goes on and on....

Happy Thanksgiving!

- Joel

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Kanye West

In light of how many tracks surfaced as a result of his G.O.O.D. Fridays project, Kanye must have enough material for three of four albums. The officially album, My Dark And Twisted Fantasy, dropped this week. As a result, I've spent an inordinate amount of time analyzing my current disposition toward Mr. West. In many ways, I don't like Kanye. He is arrogant, maybe the most arrogant personality in popular culture today. He often spews uncensored ignorance. He seems to be obsessed with porn. Yet, in a sincerely insincere culture, Kanye's authenticity and transparency are rare. He is insecure and he has issues, and he doesn't try to hide his shortcomings. In that regard, I can learn a lot from Kanye.

At times it's hard to prevent my frustration with Kanye's dark side from tainting my enjoyment of his music. But I can't deny that he puts out music unlike and unparalleled by anyone in the industry today. Musically, the man is a genius, and that is on display in his latest album. I appreciate the way he explores many of his fears and insecurities in this new album. Check out a few tracks below.

- Joel

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Haiti

A few more photos taken by one of the other team members.

- Joel



Friday, November 19, 2010

Haiti

I didn't have many opportunities to take pictures while I was in Haiti. To be honest, it felt a little insensitive to be gawking behind a camera at the unbelievable poverty. I took a few on my Holga, but not as many as expected. However, many of my teammates took quite a few photos, and I'll post them here as I get them. That's me (on the left) and two guys I work with who came on the trip. The children we spent time with were incredible. The girl in my arms was a total diva.

- Joel

The Man Who Never Cried

An old friend of mine from Austin, Bradley Jackson, is now officially a director. The Man Who Never Cried looks interesting. See more here. Too bad I live in Kansas City where they don't play independent films.

- Joel


Thursday, November 18, 2010

Danny MacAskill

I don't understand how this can be done on a bike.

- Joel

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Song of the Day

San Francisco band Girls didn't sound so psychedelic on their debut album last year. But I really like this track from the upcoming Broken Dreams Club EP.

Also, in light of what I experienced in Haiti, blogging seems so insignificant and superficial.

- Joel

Song of the Day

Talk about contrast: the poverty of Haiti and a song dedicated to an expensive piece of jewelry. But I'll admit that the beat is pretty sick. I really dig this song.

- Joel

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Girl Talk


Girl Talk's current reign as the most important (the only important one for that matter) dj/mashup king in the music world began in 2006 with Night Ripper. Yesterday he dropped his third album, All Day, which leans more heavily on classic and modern rock. I'm only a one third of the way in, but, like everything he does, I'm loving it. The best part is that you can download it for free from his record label. Check it out here.

- Joel

Monday, November 15, 2010

Haiti

I made it back from Haiti last night. The trip proved to be a powerful experience. 60 minutes ran a story about The Global Orphan Project, the group that organized my trip, and their efforts in Haiti. The story below (give it a few seconds to load) showcases the place I stayed and many of the children I had the opportunity to meet, including Renise, a 13 year old child slave who was raped, becaming pregnant, and banished to the streets by her former owners before the earthquake. It's a worthwhile news piece about an organization doing remarkable work in a broken part of the world.

- Joel

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Photographer of the Day

© Matthias Heiderich
Matthias Heiderich.

- Joel

© Matthias Heiderich

© Matthias Heiderich

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Gettysburg

I'm the nerd who ask for Lincoln at Gettyburg, a book examining the context and aftermath of one of the greatest speeches in American history, for Christmas. So naturally I loved this video. If you've never read the speech in its entirety, just click play and enjoy.

- Joel

Tennis

Tennis, the married musical duo from Denver, release their debut album in January. I really like their singer's voice. Very old school. Check out another song from the album below. Or watch a video where a guy skateboards being pulled by a car.

In other news, I go to Haiti tomorrow. It's been quite the hectic week, thus the blogging absence. But I'm bringing my Holga on the trip, so hopefully I'll return with lots of cool photos to document the experience. Not that anyone reads this blog anyway...

- Joel

Tennis - "Take Me Somewhere"

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Love Is All

My favorite song ("Love Is All") from one of my favorite artists of the year - The Tallest Man on Earth. Enjoy the sentimental Swedish vacation footage - kind of reminds me of the scene in Christmas Vacation where Clark Griswold watches old family videos in the attic (Christmas is coming!).

- Joel

Friday, November 5, 2010

Air Waves

Nicole Schneit, a Brooklyn-turned-Austin resident, makes music as Air Waves. I heard her song "Knockout" this morning and found it blogworthy. Listen/download it below. Check out a demo version of the song as well if you'd like to see how the song developed. Air Waves drops her debut album, Dungeon Dots, on November 30. The album artwork, shown above, is fittingly medieval.

- Joel

Air Waves - "Knockout"
Air Waves - "Knockout (Demo)"

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Bo

I can still remember fighting with my brother over the Bo Jackson card when my dad bought us a complete set of Topps baseball cards. I don't remember who won the fight but the consolation prize was the George Brett card. It was 1989. We were little. And baseball cards were the coolest.

- Joel

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Photographer of the Day

© Logan Caldbeck
Logan Caldbeck. This photo makes me think of my cousins' guestroom down in Southwest Kansas.

- Joel

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Ivy Mike

I'm a sucker for history. Yesterday marked the 58th anniversary of the detonation of the very first hydrogen bomb. Back in 1952, the United States detonated "Ivy Mike" off of the remote Marshall Islands in the Pacific. Though the US had tested and deployed atomic bombs in World War II, Ivy Mike was the first true hydrogen bomb. The mushroom cloud, seen above, rose to 57,000 feet in a mere 90 seconds, eventually peaking at 120,000 feet. Half an hour after the detonation, the mushroom covered an expanse 60 miles wide.

In other history making news, today is Election Day. Regardless of what party you support, I think you should get out and vote. We are lucky to have the freedom to elect our government officials.

- Joel

Monday, November 1, 2010

North Korea

I saw this video today and found it interesting. In some ways it demonstrates just how incredibly different North Korea is from the United States. Yet, at the same time, I found there to be an element of the video that showed the humanness of the Korean people; we really aren't that different.

- Joel

Saturday, October 30, 2010

The Assassination of Jesse James

It's no secret that I have fallen in love with Western films. I had the opportunity to watch a relatively new Western this week, and enjoyed it so much I'll be watching it again tonight with my uncle. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is set right in my backyard; Jesse James was born and lived in Clay County Missouri, not far from where I grew up and where my parents still live. The movie, starring Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck, examines the tail end of James' lawless career and his ultimate demise at the hands of a member of his own gang, Robert Ford. I found this film fascinating on a number of levels. First, the acting was top notch - both Pitt (as Jesse James) and Affleck (as Robert Ford) were nominated for a host of awards following the film's release. However, it's Affleck who steals the show, portraying Ford's ambition, insecurity, sleaziness, and cowardice to perfection. Furthermore, I found that the film provided an interesting take on the idea of celebrity. Some scholars argue that Jesse James was the first "modern" celebrity, his fame spanning the country. Though he was cruel and merciless, robbing banks and killing anyone who stood in his way, you find yourself saddened by his assassination. But it's interesting - why are we drawn to individuals whose actions we fundamentally despise? It seems the same holds true with today's celebrities. Finally, the scenery is incredible. Most Westerns leave me in awe of the beauty of America's landscape. This was no different (although technically it was filmed in Canada). Still, you don't have to enjoy Westerns to enjoy this movie.

- Joel

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Jeremy Messersmith

I came home today to my sister and brother watching the television show Chuck. I don't watch the show, but I did discover a new musician, whose song played as the episode concluded. Jeremy Messersmith hails from Minneapolis. His latest album, The Reluctant Graveyard, is fitting for anyone to discover in the month of October. Plus, he's doing like Radiohead and giving you the option to pay what you want for his music. Check out his website here and snag his albums here. For a taste of his smooth folk sound, listen to/download the track from Chuck below, or listen to his entire album below that.

- Joel

Jeremy Messersmith - "A Girl, a Boy, and a Graveyard"


Friday, October 22, 2010

The Morning Benders

The Morning Benders seem to have leaped onto the scene this year. People way cooler than me probably knew about them a few years ago. But normal people like me heard their name for the first time earlier this year. This week I revisited an album of covers they recorded a few years ago. You might like it too. Download it using the widget below. I've also included the tracklist below that...chances are I posted this a few months ago. I guess this gives you a second chance to make things right if you didn't download it the first time.

- Joel









The Bedroom Covers:
1. crying - roy orbison
2. mother and child reunion - paul simon
3. why dont they let us fall in love? - the ronettes
4. lovefool - the cardigans
5. i won't share you - the smiths
6. he's a rebel - the crystals
7. marie - randy newman
8. fools rush in - johnny mercer/rube bloom
9. temptation inside your heart - velvet underground
10. dreams - fleetwood mac
11. pull up the roots - talking heads
12. caroline, no- beach boys remix (bonus track)
12.5 why don't they let us fall in love? (live daytrotter version!)

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Stanley Chow

I finally had time to watch the Mad Men Season 4 finale last night. So much happened. Coincidentally, I saw these Mad Men illustrations on the Public School site yesterday as well. Stanley Chow (the illustrator) has a great style. Check out more of his work here.

- Joel

True Grit

In 1970 John Wayne won the only Oscar of his career playing Rooster Cogburn, an indefatigable U.S. Marshall hired to avenge the death of a young girl's father. This Christmas, the Coen Brothers, who won their own Academy Award directing No Country For Old Men, join forces with Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin to bring a new rendition to an old favorite, True Grit. I for one am excited.

- Joel

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Brazos

Last night I introduced my favorite music venue, The Bottleneck in Lawrence, KS, to my brother Cory. We made the trek to Lawrence to see one of my favorite bands of the day, The Walkmen. Other than the fact that the show didn't let out until midnight (and we had a 45 minute drive home), it was one of my favorite shows I've been to in quite awhile. The Walkmen do it right when you see them live. The surprise of the evening, however, was the opening act. The Walkmen are currently touring with Japandroids (my ears are still ringing from their set, and I will not be listening to their music any time soon), yet it was the third band Brazos, added late to the bill, that caught our attention. They hail from Austin, Texas and reminded us a lot of Local Natives. Check out a few tunes below. And go see The Walkmen if you have the opportunity.

- Joel

Brazos - "Day Glo" (link removed by request)
Brazos - "Tell" (link removed by request)

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Halloween

From the time I was six through the end of high school, my family decided not to celebrate Halloween. I guess technically it was my parents who made that decision, one in retrospect they admit to be a bit irrational. Thus, instead of playing dress up and overstimulating my system with sugar, I spent the formative years of my childhood eating pizza and swimming at the Holiday Inn Holidome every October 31st. While my parents' decision led to many awkward conversations as a kid ("You guys don't celebrate Halloween?!"), it's a part of my story I wouldn't change if given the opportunity. Although, I do wonder if the absence of Halloween explains my aversion to costumes in any setting and my fear of horror movies. I have slowly warmed to the holiday in recent years, though my Halloween-temperature still registers as "tepid". A big thanks to Ryan Gosling and Dead Man's Bones for easing my distaste for the spookiest day of the year. Check out a song and video below, both released this time last year.

- Joel

Dead Man's Bones - "My Body's A Zombie for You"



Monday, October 18, 2010

Alexander

Apparently Alex Ebert, better known as Edward Sharpe of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, likes to whistle. The standout track, "Home", by he and his Zeros (now featured on an NFL commercial) opens with that infectious whistling. So too does his new solo track, "Truth". Listen below.

- Joel

Alexander - "Truth"

Friday, October 15, 2010

Responsibility

Last Saturday, as my poor, defenseless automobile waited patiently in line for an oil change, my plans and my perspective were substantially altered. A fellow customer backed into my car leaving me with $1400 in damage. Fortunately, the employees at the garage witnessed the accident, took down (most of) the offender's information in my stead, and called me to inform me of what happened. Over the past week, I have worked with the other driver and his wife to get the money, or the insurance information, to fix my car. What began as a relatively friendly interaction turned sour, and complicated, when they were given the estimate of the damages. Suddenly, in their eyes, I was at fault for parking my car too far away from the building as well as a contributor to our nation's economic woes having purchased a "German" (actually I drive a Volvo and it took all my might not to respond, "It's Swedish, thank you!") automobile. Furthermore, I was informed that their sister was in the hospital, their insurance company was almost bankrupt, and their landlord was "getting her leg fixed". Thus, they aren't sure if they can pay for the damages - yet mysteriously they refuse to give me their insurance information.

My situation reminded me of a piece Nick Paumgarten wrote for The New Yorker back in January. Noticing a recent trend across the country, Paumgarten astutely observes, "You learn, at an early age, to own up to your mistakes and misdeeds; and then, apparently, at some later age, you learn to disown them." If nothing else, this whole situation is a fresh reminder that I need to be vigilant to take responsibility for my own mistakes. It's hard enough when others don't take responsibility for theirs.

- Joel

Read Paumgarten's article here.