A-Rod Admits Use
Peter Gammons Reacts to A-Rod's Admission of Guilt
What an expressive interview. Thanks for taking the time to respond openly and honestly to the allegations, Alex. I hope the past is the past, and I see validity in many of the points you make.
As a fan of yours, and a fan of baseball, I also hope that we can clear things up and move things forward to get baseball where it needs to go. You are an integral part of the baseball that I follow.
8.2.09
Nottage Design: Transparent Pool Table
I'd love to see what it would play like in real life; as for now, I'm skeptical. BUT WOW, LOOK HOW COOL!
Anthony Hamilton
Apparently, there's a new Anthony Hamilton record! I'm very excited because his album "Ain't Nobody Worryin'" is one of my favorite albums. I love his soulful voice and also his gospel infusions in his lyrics. It's interesting to see how he uses the musical instrument of his voice on the many guest appearances he's done for other musicians. I'm hopeful that the new record comes close to the first two albums he's done. I will let you know what my thoughts are when I buy the record in the next couple of weeks.
DJ Revolution Feat Kbimean:
"Man or Machine" music video
Talk about an excellent idea for a music video. Man Vs. Machine at the Turntables! I don't believe I would have been able to think about doing a video like this, so my hat's off to the producer/director for the idea. And the music isn't bad, either! Check it out.
Talk about an excellent idea for a music video. Man Vs. Machine at the Turntables! I don't believe I would have been able to think about doing a video like this, so my hat's off to the producer/director for the idea. And the music isn't bad, either! Check it out.
Friday Night Lights:
Season 3 - Episode 4
Tyra has to be one of the most interesting teenage characters on television right now. I mean, talk about someone with issues: She was assaulted in Season two, she and Landry accidentally murdered the guy who assaulted her--which later was ruled self defense, she spent all of season one viewed as a floozy (sic) and became Coach Taylor's wife's project throughout the end of season two and the beginning of season three. A girl who is far smarter than the stereotypes her fellow classmates and even the vice principal places her under, Tyra has grown up in such a messed up home environment that she never honestly believes in herself.
I guess I'm focusing on her because I hate how badly she treats Landry when he's done nothing but support her and try to be there for her. You can see the internal conflict in Adrianne Palicki's face as she breathes life into the character of Tyra. You can see how she expresses that she (Tyra) knows the difference between right and wrong, the difference between what she should do and what she knows others expect of her; and yet, she still finds herself leaning towards making the bad decisions. It's so frustrating! I also like that "Smash" Williams is getting the tryout for Texas A&M, as it may mean that Gaius Charles's story arc is now complete. It will be interesting to see how this show transitions if all of the core characters go to college and it's still about the "Friday Night Lights".
7.2.09
Kent Rogowski: Bears
Bears by Kent Rogowski is a collection of Rogowski's photographs of teddy bears that he has unstitched/unstuffed and then restitched/restuffed and inverted. What's so interesting about this project is the ways the contours and stitchings alter the bear's 'historical topography'. Just as our 'scars' shape and define our appearance, those changes in the bear's appearance alter how we view the bear. Pretty cool, I think....
My favorite bear in the collection is the one shown above: Bear #45. I would love to have that one! Click on the picture to see the rest of the images
My favorite bear in the collection is the one shown above: Bear #45. I would love to have that one! Click on the picture to see the rest of the images
25 things about me:
1. I secretly like Kanye West's excessive confidence and internally challenge statements other people make about how his ego is off putting. I think it drives creativity and motivates an external expression of internal conflicts. Even so, I hate Naomi Campbell's excessive confidence. So I guess it's two-fold.
2. I have a strong interest in architecture and furniture and the reason why is really hard to explain. Simply, the aesthetics and scale move me in this really weird way.
3. I sometimes feel like I don't have enough empathy for others, even though so much in life moves me and captivates my mind.
4. I am excessively paranoid about the ways others view me. I struggled with this so much in high school that I tried very hard to irrationally adjust my social experiences so others would like me. Things are better now.
5. I grew up very much fighting the idea of adoption. It took me until I was a mid-teen to really love my family as "my family". I know now that the confusion and pain that I experienced has made me a far more expressive person emotionally than I ever could have been. Also, I know truly, deeply, that my love for my family is real.
6. I love cellos, violins, pianos, and any instrument with that kind of vibrant resonance. I hear those sorts of vibrations best, and am in awe of the feelings those vibrations elicit within me.
7. My favorite movie is 3-Iron (bin jip) and my favorite book is Flower's for Algernon. A theme present in each of these is the solitude we all experience. For some personal reason, it makes sense that each of these favorites contains the theme of solitude.
8. Something random: Whenever I try to sing a song in the car and there is a pause between verses, I always begin singing the next verse a couple beats before I should. This actually frustrates me.
9. I've always had trouble expressing how I feel to prospective partners. For some irrational fear that my parents may not 'like' or 'approve' of her. I've yet to have a girlfriend come home to my parents' house because of this. Sometimes, I feel that I wouldn't be a good enough boyfriend and question what their parents would think of me if I were to go to their parents' home. I've gotten better about detaching this irrational behavior from my decisions. My next girlfriend will see my parents' home and will meet my folks.
10. I've hated having pictures taken of myself but am secretly proud of many of the pictures that my friends have of me. I'm like, "look at me!"
11. I've been blogging lately as an excuse to collect my favorite sites or points of interest into one site. This is honestly so that others can see a bit more of myself, and so my mother and father can understand some of the interests that I may not fully explain to them. And to occupy time.
12. I like collecting music so I can listen to something that will get me out of any given mood. I'm very proud of my music collection and also love to share songs with friends.
13. One of my favorite sensations is the feeling of the cool side of the pillow against my face. Or the cool wind blowing against my skin. Or the feeling of being fully immersed in water.
14. I'm still using the same AIM name I had when I was 13. Rbarker358
15. My parents are my favorite people in life. The same is true for my closest friends. You've each shaped my life in so many unexplainable and significant ways.
16. You won't hear me sugar coat things. You'll get my honest opinions. I also like to discuss things with people so that I can hear an honest confirmation of the other person's point. It's cool to see what people do to back up their points. I don't like when people change their opinions if they conflict with the views of others. Mean what you say, Say what you mean!
17.I use ellipses in all of my AIM conversations (...blah blah blah.... blah blah blah....) Even when I'm not continuing a point!
18. If I could have a dream career, it would be beat composition in the music world, or as a chef in a High-class restaurant in New York City.
19. I wear headphones when I listen to music because I like the way the rhythms feel against my ears.
20. I like to help people to better understand things; but I couldn't see myself having a career as an educator. It would be a struggle as an every day venture.
21. I'm fascinated by the creativity of web developers, architects, musicians, engineers, and artists.
22. My memory is really random and sometimes so 'good' that people don't remember something that is so vivid in my mind. This leads to awkward dialogue sometimes, when I'll bring up an obvious memory and the other person will be like, "what"... I'll be like.. umm... did this really happen. and then like two minutes later, the person will be like... "Oh... that.... yeah!" Stupid memory. I tell you.
23. I love harmonies in rap music. Some musicians are seen as less than artistic or musical simply for existing within the rap genre.
24. I'm a dog person and will never be swayed into becoming a cat person. Dogs think everything is the 'best thing ever.' I'm very much the exact same way about many things. (When I was younger, whatever I was eating was the best--insert food--I'd ever had; the movies we'd watch were the best movies, the books I'd read would be the best book ever. It was actually quite cute.)
25. I am very hopeful that others view me as a good person despite any of my many negative qualities. Oh, and randomly, my favorite animals are the Narwhal Whale and the Platypus.
2. I have a strong interest in architecture and furniture and the reason why is really hard to explain. Simply, the aesthetics and scale move me in this really weird way.
3. I sometimes feel like I don't have enough empathy for others, even though so much in life moves me and captivates my mind.
4. I am excessively paranoid about the ways others view me. I struggled with this so much in high school that I tried very hard to irrationally adjust my social experiences so others would like me. Things are better now.
5. I grew up very much fighting the idea of adoption. It took me until I was a mid-teen to really love my family as "my family". I know now that the confusion and pain that I experienced has made me a far more expressive person emotionally than I ever could have been. Also, I know truly, deeply, that my love for my family is real.
6. I love cellos, violins, pianos, and any instrument with that kind of vibrant resonance. I hear those sorts of vibrations best, and am in awe of the feelings those vibrations elicit within me.
7. My favorite movie is 3-Iron (bin jip) and my favorite book is Flower's for Algernon. A theme present in each of these is the solitude we all experience. For some personal reason, it makes sense that each of these favorites contains the theme of solitude.
8. Something random: Whenever I try to sing a song in the car and there is a pause between verses, I always begin singing the next verse a couple beats before I should. This actually frustrates me.
9. I've always had trouble expressing how I feel to prospective partners. For some irrational fear that my parents may not 'like' or 'approve' of her. I've yet to have a girlfriend come home to my parents' house because of this. Sometimes, I feel that I wouldn't be a good enough boyfriend and question what their parents would think of me if I were to go to their parents' home. I've gotten better about detaching this irrational behavior from my decisions. My next girlfriend will see my parents' home and will meet my folks.
10. I've hated having pictures taken of myself but am secretly proud of many of the pictures that my friends have of me. I'm like, "look at me!"
11. I've been blogging lately as an excuse to collect my favorite sites or points of interest into one site. This is honestly so that others can see a bit more of myself, and so my mother and father can understand some of the interests that I may not fully explain to them. And to occupy time.
12. I like collecting music so I can listen to something that will get me out of any given mood. I'm very proud of my music collection and also love to share songs with friends.
13. One of my favorite sensations is the feeling of the cool side of the pillow against my face. Or the cool wind blowing against my skin. Or the feeling of being fully immersed in water.
14. I'm still using the same AIM name I had when I was 13. Rbarker358
15. My parents are my favorite people in life. The same is true for my closest friends. You've each shaped my life in so many unexplainable and significant ways.
16. You won't hear me sugar coat things. You'll get my honest opinions. I also like to discuss things with people so that I can hear an honest confirmation of the other person's point. It's cool to see what people do to back up their points. I don't like when people change their opinions if they conflict with the views of others. Mean what you say, Say what you mean!
17.I use ellipses in all of my AIM conversations (...blah blah blah.... blah blah blah....) Even when I'm not continuing a point!
18. If I could have a dream career, it would be beat composition in the music world, or as a chef in a High-class restaurant in New York City.
19. I wear headphones when I listen to music because I like the way the rhythms feel against my ears.
20. I like to help people to better understand things; but I couldn't see myself having a career as an educator. It would be a struggle as an every day venture.
21. I'm fascinated by the creativity of web developers, architects, musicians, engineers, and artists.
22. My memory is really random and sometimes so 'good' that people don't remember something that is so vivid in my mind. This leads to awkward dialogue sometimes, when I'll bring up an obvious memory and the other person will be like, "what"... I'll be like.. umm... did this really happen. and then like two minutes later, the person will be like... "Oh... that.... yeah!" Stupid memory. I tell you.
23. I love harmonies in rap music. Some musicians are seen as less than artistic or musical simply for existing within the rap genre.
24. I'm a dog person and will never be swayed into becoming a cat person. Dogs think everything is the 'best thing ever.' I'm very much the exact same way about many things. (When I was younger, whatever I was eating was the best--insert food--I'd ever had; the movies we'd watch were the best movies, the books I'd read would be the best book ever. It was actually quite cute.)
25. I am very hopeful that others view me as a good person despite any of my many negative qualities. Oh, and randomly, my favorite animals are the Narwhal Whale and the Platypus.
Amy Winehouse
Back to Black
I don't find Amy Winehouse terribly attractive, but she has intensely expressive eyes. Everything she feels seems to come out of them, geez. And her voice is pretty awesome, too. Check out her first album "Frank", a collection of her own stuff infused with jazz rhythms.
I don't find Amy Winehouse terribly attractive, but she has intensely expressive eyes. Everything she feels seems to come out of them, geez. And her voice is pretty awesome, too. Check out her first album "Frank", a collection of her own stuff infused with jazz rhythms.
Coraline
Very much looking forward to seeing this movie. Almost as much as I looked forward to seeing The Dark Knight in 2008. I absolutely love stop-motion animation. So excited to see the cinematic adaptation of Neil Gaiman's "Coraline", a dark, spellbinding story about a little girl's dangerous journey to rescue her parents from an alternate world.
Jefferson's Rules of Conduct:
Thomas Jefferson was a scientist, philosopher, inventor, gardener, reader, and wine lover. Jefferson's 11 Rules of Conduct were not always followed even by Jefferson.
Jefferson's Rules of Conduct are:
1. Never put off tomorrow what you can do today
2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself
3. Never spend money before you have it
4. Never buy anything that you do not want because it is cheap
5. Pride costs us more than thirst, hunger and cold
6. We seldom repent from having eaten too little
7. Nothing is troublesome that one does of his own volition
8. How much pain, never occurred events cost us
9. Take things always by their smooth handle
10. Think as you please, and let others as well, to prevent any disputes
11. When annoyed, count to ten before you speak; if very annoyed, count to 100
Jefferson's Rules of Conduct are:
1. Never put off tomorrow what you can do today
2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself
3. Never spend money before you have it
4. Never buy anything that you do not want because it is cheap
5. Pride costs us more than thirst, hunger and cold
6. We seldom repent from having eaten too little
7. Nothing is troublesome that one does of his own volition
8. How much pain, never occurred events cost us
9. Take things always by their smooth handle
10. Think as you please, and let others as well, to prevent any disputes
11. When annoyed, count to ten before you speak; if very annoyed, count to 100
Resolutions: A rare blog about me.
1. Read more: I've already completed step on of the 'read more' resolution by getting my library card. It's pretty exciting to have one again because I don't have to purchase books that I've wanted to read... and I have upwards of 14 days to a month to read them. Also, I'm still reading magazines and online media content daily--including ABC News and CNN.com and my various blogs of interest.
2. Exercise more: I'm well on my way with this one as well, as I'm examining my diet and I hear that is the first step. Also, I'm falling asleep at a more regular time and will attempt to make that a habit. I will be getting a membership to the local YMCA.
3. Volunteer more: I am going to throw myself into a cause this year and hopefully will benefit from the experience. I haven't taken the time yet to research a specific cause yet, but volunteering my time and energy is very important to me this year.
4. "Go Out" more: Just asking more, putting myself out there more, and getting more involved in the community. Each of those three things should give me more opportunities to "go out" with women. I shall see!
Sorry for the blog about myself! I don't usually post these!
2. Exercise more: I'm well on my way with this one as well, as I'm examining my diet and I hear that is the first step. Also, I'm falling asleep at a more regular time and will attempt to make that a habit. I will be getting a membership to the local YMCA.
3. Volunteer more: I am going to throw myself into a cause this year and hopefully will benefit from the experience. I haven't taken the time yet to research a specific cause yet, but volunteering my time and energy is very important to me this year.
4. "Go Out" more: Just asking more, putting myself out there more, and getting more involved in the community. Each of those three things should give me more opportunities to "go out" with women. I shall see!
Sorry for the blog about myself! I don't usually post these!
Library Card:
I now have a library card! I went after work on Thursday night and signed up for one. They didn't remember me, but one of the ladies remembered my name. I can't believe it because it's been at least six years since I've been in the library. I borrowed a book and a movie on the spot. I will be watching Vera Farmiga in "Never Forever" today. I'm pretty excited because she is one of my favorite actresses and because I'd never heard of the movie.
Currently reading: Here Comes Everybody by Clay Shirky
Currently reading: Here Comes Everybody by Clay Shirky
Movies:
Should have a disclaimer at the start of each 2-hour+ long movie:
"This movie is longer than two hours and may be a disappointment. It is highly likely that you will walk away from this movie complaining that the film, though thematically enjoyable, was so long that it ruined whatever good qualities it possessed."
Oh well.
"This movie is longer than two hours and may be a disappointment. It is highly likely that you will walk away from this movie complaining that the film, though thematically enjoyable, was so long that it ruined whatever good qualities it possessed."
Oh well.
3.2.09
Eidetic Memory ("Photographic Memory")
Posting that Arturo Toscanini video reminded me of his Eidetic Memory. It's something that actually has a clinical term ("Eidetic Memory": Marked by extraordinarily accurate and vivid recall, especially of images.) My brother has an Eidetic memory, and sometimes I think my father has an eidetic memory--especially when recanting stories he's read. I always wanted to have a photographic memory, and though my memory is sharp, I'm quite sure I couldn't get down to the most minute scale when trying to remember something, specifically an image or scene or something tangible. By the way, did you know that there have been studies to identify the likelihood that hypnosis increases the ability to respond to visual stimuli--i.e., intensely remembering an image? I wonder if there have been studies done to show how an eidetic memory can be used in the 'learning processes' of youth. Whether many perceived 'geniuses' simply had a genetic disposition for possessing an eidetic memory.
Photographic Memory
Photographic Memory
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