Octo-"burrrr"

Yup it got colder, and with very little warning. I'm actually about to peace-out of the LRC in the library, seeing as it's almost 1130 in the PM. But I haven't posted forever let's be quite honest. All I really have to say is that things in my life, family and school especially, aren't the greatest right now, but I haven't been this happy and at peace in awhile. It's fabulous.

Also just to ruin the spirit of this post, have you ever seen kids who are racing around campus between classes on their bikes? Have they ever been coming right at you from some funny angle and made it so you awkwardly didn't know which way to walk as to avoid some unfortunately collision with aforementioned weird biker dude? Whenever this happens, I really want to go and tackle a biker and see him fly of his silly bike. But then I feel bad because he probably doesn't have a helmet. Is this very sadistic of me or is "biker tackling" an urge anyone else has ever felt?

Happy BDAY to my mom yesterday. Could that have been more belated and lame? Only if I had posted it tomorrow.

H-DUB in the HB-Double Hockey Sticks

My mood right now could be well categorized by the following songs:



So as you can probably guess studying in the Lib is going incredibly well.

Also, as much as Chris Brown has become the brunt of every abusive boyfriend joke ever used (ok, I guess those jokes are relatively few), I still kinda like this video:

Nice to meet you, SR. Year

.

I couldn't think of a good post title for the life of me, and I dont feel much up for creativity, so the title of this post is indeed a period. My week at home in california + 3 day Santa Cruz vacation is over at 1130AM tomorrow morning, and my blogging hiatus is up in approx oh say 5 minutes and 13 seconds. Depending on photo upload time. See whenever I come home I always feel weird, which is I'm sure so cliche, but the Roseville CA that I knew growing up is just a very different one now that I'm back here. Anyway, I always have time to rummage through things in my room when I'm home, and tonight I came across some old photos. This is also entirely cliche but I love looking at old photos. And by old I actually just mean high school, but now that I've been graduated for 5 years, those are now old. Do you ever look back at pictures and think, "whoa wait, that was me?" And not just because of your totally awesome/awful haircut. Sometimes looking at pictures surprises me, like I see things in myself that I never expected; memories since forgotten. Since pictures apparently tell a thousand words....








For your viewing pleasure. And those miller light cups were only used for water. We were at school. No alcohol. Promise promise promise.
Can I throw in at the end of this post that I fell in love with vinyl here in CA? This is my first record:

And while I used to scoff at the idea of buying records, I think it's great now because A)it comes with a free digital download of the entire album B)you get a very trendy record and large album artwork C)I have no sweaty palms about the legality of my music acquisition. Win Win Win. See ya tomorrow Provo.

#4: Police Beat

Provo is the most wonderful place. Every once in a while someone gets shot at Smith's, but usually you just get to read in the paper about more common "crimes":

And my personal favorites...

like it. #3

Thank you Steve Carrell, for doing what was begging to be done after Lebron James' "the decision." And for being funny in seasons 1-4 of the office. And that one time you were on anchorman.

Things that make me happy #2

School House Rock. I remember watching these all the time as a kid, and I love them. I'm not quite sure why I dig 'em so much, they're just 3 minute rediculous soungs about, well, all kinds of educational things. And I usually eschew such things as "educational entertainment." But why cant school be more like popping a bag of popcorn and watching a kid unpack his adjectives? (one of my favorites)


And I'll follow with one of the most awful school house rock songs ever. Who approved this one?

Things that make me happy #1

Delicious sacrament bread. I feel like usually people submit the cheapest kind they can find to be distributed to the congregation. On those rare Sundays however, when you see a tray full of dense, delicious, you-know-a-grandma-made-this-by-hand bread coming your way-I am filled with joy. As a side note, I once had crackers for the sacrament in Italy. Needless to say quiet reverence was abandoned for loud crunching and awkward attempts to keep it quite. Happy fourth of July weekend!

PS-expect this one to fill the radiowaves verrrry soon. The newest from Kid Cudi. Sounds like he's been listening to 90's Weezer records for this song's inspiration-anyone agree?

July

Pursuit of Happiness - the sequel

Does anything inspire happiness more than a blue tobias? Probably not, but I've decided to go on a little thought ramble about this whole happiness business anyway. I think it all started when I was writing my talk for last sunday, and I had an open topic so I basically thought about everything, including my own life. This summer has been much much different than last summer, but so good all the same. I've been called a "wanderer" before, and I will admit that I do love to explore. I just think there is so much to see in the world and I get so curious, I just like finding new cool things!

With that said, back in highschool, my friends and I were those goofy-tie-wearing-oddities that always dreamed of walking the rain soaked streets of London and being in an indie band. For some reason, that was always our dream life, where we would be truly happy. After highschool, one of my best friends actually went off to live that life; I instead went to Provo Utah. I have to say, my freshman year was kind of humbling. Don't get me wrong, I had tons of fun freshman year (as my grades will attest to) but somehow it didn't live up to the carefree adventurousness (you heard me) of my senior year and the summer after. During that time, and then again in my mission, I learned so much about happiness though. Something I've believed in very strongly is that happiness isn't about where you are and the cool amazing things you're doing. Even though we always held on to our indie dream in London, would I have been happy there? It might have been exciting and new and interesting at first, but that kind of happiness is so fleeting. I think the secret to sustained happiness is learning to make the most of the situation we find ourselves in. Oh yikes that felt very bloggy making that bold. Oh well. Anyway, I've been thinking about that a lot lately. Now that I've been here at BYU for two years since coming home for Italy, I kind of feel like I'm ready for a transfer or something, ya know? Like I should be going out and exploring the world and doing exciting things and having 4.5 trillion new pictures to put up of myself on facebook, and yet, I trudge up to campus everyday and study for the MCAT. And you know what? I am so happy. So go ahead, turn on your favorite song, make the most of where you are and who you're with, and be happy.

So Good

Goodbye May

I wish I had the next big thing to blog about, but sadly it's just not so! The new Faded Paper Figures album is now available on itunes, and I'm getting plenty of good vibes from it early on. Maybe a slight sophomore slump, mostly because I have a hard time picking out the extremely accessible singles which made their first CD Dynamo so good. But there is still plenty to enjoy here, including one of my favorites, "Small Talk." (although the ringing at the beginning is a little much on the ears at times)

Now I undoubtedly should have liked her before, but Alicia Keys is really really good. It wont let me embed this one, so you'll just have to follow the link to watch her music video for "Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvjuEsfdiT4

Besides that...um...I hate the lakers and hope the Celtics destroy them. Provo is finally getting warmer..I ran 4 miles today and it felt great! I have a job interview tomorrow and need some prayers and best wishes. And if you want to start those right now for my MCAT date on July 16th, I don't think it's too early at all.
K bye!

Sacramento Kings Roster Analysis

After my Sacramento Kings dropped to the #5 overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft, I immediately started mulling over all the various possibilities of picks we could use to improve our team for the 2010-2011 season. (If this post sounds at all mundane and boring, I'm sick right now and am feeling incapable of wit..hopefully that'll change in the next couple days!) Anyway, my very strong basketball opinion is that to have a championship team, it's important to have great players that FIT their roles on the team. Look no further than the Boston Celtics for an example of what I mean. Sure, they have great talent, but their players aren't out of position at all, they're great at filling their roles. Rondo is an amazing passer and an excellent defensive force at the point, ray allen is an incredible outside shooter playing shooting guard, paul pierce is sort of a do-it-all guy that can drive to the hoop and finish with his size, but can shoot from outside, pass and rebound as well. KG isn't what I'd consider a prototypical 4, but he has good low post moves, rebounds and can play good defense with his excellent size. Perkins is just a beast down low with his big frame, he's giving Dwight Howard a lot of trouble. With that in mind, I look at the King's Roster and see very few absolutes. Obviously Tyreke is a star, but I'm still not sure where you play him. I feel like his game is better suited for the 3 spot, but I think he stands out more as a point guard. I personally think Udrih is a more pure point guard, but we'll keep Reke at the point for now and look at the Kings roster and see where their needs are:

Point Guard- 1)Tyreke Evans 2)Beno Udrih

Shooting Guard- 1)Francisco Garcia

Small Forward- 1)Omri Casspi 2)Donte Green 3)Andres Nocioni 4)Ime Udoka

Power Forward- 1)Carl Landry 2)Jon Brockman 3)Sean May

Center- 1)Jason Thompson 2)Spencer Hawes

What I like:
Reke at the point, regardless of style of play, will be a favorable matchup almost every night. I like Casspi as the starting 3 assuming he can sustain his play for the entire season. I think Jason is a quality starter, whether at the 4 or 5.
What needs work:
I think an upgrade needs to be made at shooting guard, Garcia's a great guy but not an elite player in the NBA. I think Landry is an amazing player, but I worry that he's reached his potential and wont be able to give 20/10 like I'd (maybe selfishly) like to have from the power forward position. Maybe I'm just missing Chris Webber a lot right now.

Now I'm assuming we wont land John Wall, Derrick Favors, or Evan Turner since we're at the 5 spot, but out of the remaining players, I love Wesley Johnson and Ekpe Udoh. Although I think Omri Casspi could be a great starting small forward for us, I think Johnson is going to be a star in this league with his length, outside shooting, AND ability to get to the hoop. I think that outide shooting is really what the kings need to compliment Tyreke's game too. I like that Udoh is defensive minded, and although he draws comparisons to Jason Thompson, I would love to see if those two could play next to eachother with Landry coming strong off the bench (as he did in Houston and as Lamar Odom does for the Lakers). Cole Aldrich could be an option at center with Thompson moving to the strarting 4 position, although I have way too many nightmares about him being the second coming of Greg Ostertag, especially since both of them came out of Kansas. I dont want any part of DeMarcus Cousins. The guy has sick talent, but with a young roster of hardworking kids trying to improve on two consecutive dismal seasons, you dont want to have any distractions or anyone not buying into the winning, hardworking tradition. I also would pass on Al-Farouq Aminu. He gets a lot of comparisons to Luol Deng, and if that's all he aspires to, he's not worth the number 5 overall pick. As sleeper picks, I like Daniel Orton out of Kentucky, who I think would be hungry to go out and prove himself after playing behind Cousins at Kentucky. I also hear good things about Ryan Richards out of England, another big man who has impressed at the NBA draft combine. At the end of the day, I really hope Wesley Johnson falls to us at the number 5 overall pick, cant wait for the draft!

My life in May

I've been so delinquent...

Which probably doesn't matter, not thaaaat many lives depend on my blog. But I still feel bad about it. So for lack of time and inspiration, which music video do you like better for Kid Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness?"

You Heard It First....

And some of it is really hard to post about.

Part 1:


Harvey Unga is not playing for BYU next fall. Unga, one of the most accomplished backs in BYU history, withdrew from school today along with BYU basketball player Keilani Moeaki, both for violations of the Honor Code.

As much as I'm bummed about BYU losing my favorite player, I'm not gonna complain at all about Unga being an idiot. Apparently he and Keilani were engaged two years ago and have been on and off since then. A couple years ago when I worked at an on campus restaurant, Unga was one of the nicest customers we had, which came in stark contrast with other fairly lame football players that would come in. I have a lot of respect for Unga for having withdrawn as opposed to trying to hide it or pretend that it's not important. Harvey Unga is a class act and has always represented BYU well. I wish him the best in his future and hope that he can take care of his personal issues quickly.

But this fall is sure gonna suck without him.

Part 2:


I hate that this is part two, because it, to me, is very news worthy. So sometimes I look up random people's email addresses online and email them, never expecting a response. Like when I emailed gloria allred because she's so disgusting and I asked her if she would accept a copy of the Book of Mormon (no response to that one). To be honest I never really expect anything out of it, I just do it. I guess it's kinda like how I take surveys sometimes when 1 in a billion people could win prize money. I never really expect results but the incentive is still there? Well last weekend, while I was absolutely giddy about Faded Paper Figures, I checked out their website and noticed it hadn't been updated for awhile. I was really nervous they were maybe one and done after their 2008 album Dynamo, so I copied the email address for them posted at the bottom of the page and emailed them.

Lo and behold, the next morning their was an email in my inbox from "John."-assistant professor of english at Yale University, and guitarist in the band Faded Paper Figures. Ok too good to paraphrase, here it is:

Dear Ross,

Thanks so much for writing. And listening and spreading the word! We do have plans for new stuff, in the *very* near future. Our second album will be out May 25th. We are kind of behind on our webpage updates, as you can see though. Should get around to that soon too.

West coast tour will be end of July beginning of August. That's about all we have planned for now, but there could be more.

Hope all is well with you,
~John.


--
R. John Williams
Assistant Professor of English
Yale University
Linsley-Chittenden Hall, Room 420


Three cheers for humanity. And cool people. And the fact that it's finals week and I've been sick since last sunday but hopefully getting better.

Please buy FPF's new album at the end of May and support three real cool people instead of some other uninspiriing egocentric pop act. I'll be one of the first in line.
-Roscoe

Faded Paper Figures

I'm usually not one to start raving about a band until I've spent a lot of quality ipod time with them, but after hearing only three songs, I have a very good feeling about the second coming of The Postal Service, "Faded Paper Figures." They definitely have a more natural, less studio produced sound than the postal service, but this particular song could slide in seamlessly on the 2003 album "Give Up" and no one would think twice. This music video makes me very happy.

Goodbye. and now Hello.

goodbye...

Goodbye made-to-order breakfast every morning at the hotel. Goodbye having time to exercise everyday. Goodbye family for another few months or so, our time together is always way too short! Goodbye "pincer crabs that pinch at your sandals" at Newport Beach. Goodbye warm sand and gentle ocean breezes and running on, aforementioned beach. Goodbye Shadowpines and Flowerwood, the streets we visited and where I grew up when I was little. Goodbye earthquake that we felt all the way from Mexico. Goodbye putting on shorts before even looking outside. Goodbye 70 degree sunny Orange County.

and hello...

Hello stop lights that aren't on sensors (I've had the light change on me three times in the last day when no one else was in the intersection!) Hello grungy apartment and no toilet paper (which interestingly ran out when I left last thursday...) Hello physics and molecular biology tests that I hardly studied for. Hello waking up at 8AM and walking up all 124 steps to campus. Hello roommate that snores (like right now). Hello gray skies and an inch and counting of snow. Hello finals in a week and a half and MCAT in 6.5 weeks. Hello empty food cupboard. Hello Provo, UT.

My favorite song of the trip: "Lover, you should've come over"-Jeff Buckley (Even though I'm fairly strongly against the word lover ever being used. ever.)

and just to finish off this post on a high note, albeit an extremely fun and silly one...."Breaking up"-Rilo Kiley; A song I've wanted to post for a bit now but felt it would be inappropriate. I simply cant get enough of this.

-ross

Discovery.

Two quick notes, while I'm grading papers...

1) This is a fabulous article. I haven't even finished it but I think it deserves reading:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/235560

2)New collaboration of Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend and Wes Miles of Ra Ra Riot called "Discovery." Catchy, but you know this will get excessive rotation at Pac Sun, Urban Outfitters, etc etc etc. There's a long silent part at the end I'm sorry!

Amore mio come faro'?

So these days I spend many a late night in the uncomfortably warm LRC in the Library, either studying MMBIO or grading Italian papers...which gives me a great chance to listen to excellent music right? Lately I've been listening incessantly to two of my favorite vocalists, Laura Pausini and Regina Spektor.

Let's be honest, there is nothing indie about either of these two: Pausini has been one of the biggest names in the Italian and Latin music industries for the last decade, as she releases almost all of her records in Italian and Spanish. And if you're an American and still haven't heard of Regina Spektor, you probably live in a barn. And it might be in the middle of north dakota/wyoming/nebraska/idaho/montana. Anyway, some listen to music to get pumped up, others listen to dance, to pass the time as you drive, to make you laugh, or to be inspired. These songs, to me, are simply beautiful. And there's not much else to say to better explain that. Some guys apparently did a little video slide show for each of these songs, hope ya like 'em!

Oh about me, you ask? Why I'm doing well. I'm going to california next weekend and I couldn't be more excited. I guess for me right now life feels like I'm on the brink, of what I'm not sure. But hopefully it's something even better than I could ever imagine it to be. K bye!
Laura Pausini-"Cinque Giorni" (Five Days)

Regina Spektor-"Braille" --please excuse her language at 3.08!

-Roscoe

A Marvelous Month of Music

Hasn't it been? Frightened Rabbit, a band I admit I know very little about, recently released their new cd "The winter of mixed drinks." I haven't heard a track yet that I haven't liked a lot. My favorite so far is called "Swim Until You Can't see Land" and it is just so catchy and endearing, I encourage all to love it with me. I'll post the music video up here, but I really dont like it. I'm sure it was fun to shoot, and fun for all those groupies standing around with flashlights, but it hurts my eyes. And my brain. Just push play and go check your facebook or something :)

-Ross

Ted Leo

Oh hey guys, thanks for the birthday surprises! My 23rd birthday was a week ago, and I would have been satisfied with the fact that James Mercer came out with some new material, but it didn't stop there. Ted Leo and his pharmacists released their 7th(?) full length album last monday, and it's gonna get some major movement going at live shows. Their latest work, "The Brutalist Bricks" might not have the same sugary, joyous effect that "Tyranny of Distance" and "Shake the Sheets" had on me, but what it lacks in catchy sing-a-longs, it makes up for in non-stop power pop bliss. This is the perfect album for a summer drive with the windows rolled down. (I'm sure they planned to release it then, but they put in some extra hours to get it finished when they heard it was my birthday. Of course.) There is a lot to sink your teeth into with this album, so it's hard for me to know what song to feature, but I think I've got it. "One Polaroid a Day" is one of the catchier songs on the album, although he sings it in an uncharacteristically low voice on the album. This live acoustic version is in his usual style of singing. Amazing.

Broken Bells

Who's performing on Letterman's The Late Show tonight? James Mercer you say? Normally I would be so so thrilled about that and start singing about "gold teeth and a curse for this town"...but this is no performance of a new song by The Shins, this is for the debut of James Mercer's collaboration efforts with Brian Burton (AKA Danger Mouse) for the new group "Broken Bells."

Don't hold your breath.


All the reviews I've read so far keep saying, "I just need to give this one a few more spins this weekend and see if it grows on me..." I'm just not buying it. Their first single "The High Road" is a fairly catchy song, although it sounds nothing like anything the Shins have put together. After that I listened to a couple more tracks and quickly put it away; I refuse to challenge the infallibility of Mercer that has been so time tested over the years.

Have a taste of The High Road and then just keep praying the shins can finish a new album with their new band members. Or maybe they can just make amends with the old ones and get back to the magic that was Chutes Too Narrow and basically everything the Shins wrote up.

-Ross

p.s. can anyone explain this music video to me? Mercer stealing a remote control from a little kid? I was so surprised when that little altercation didn't turn into a light saber duel.

Humble Songs

You ever have times when life seems complicated and less dazzling and fulfilling than usual? When I'm mired in times like these, discovering new music that I like always gives me hope. I've listened to so much over the years, it amazes me that I can still stumble upon songs that inspire me. The current inspiration:

"Su questa Panchina"-Jacobo Ratini

Obviously this song is more meaningful if you understand Italian, but regardless its a cutsie little video and a simple but beautiful song. Ratini recently performed at the Sanremo music festival last weekend. This song embodies the simplicity and optimism that I love about life. And makes me want to go back to Italy so so bad.
"Ho voglia di avere qualcosa che ho perso"

"Hero"-Regina Spektor

I know this song isn't new, but it's so good. And I love that it's just a bonus track from Regina's breakthrough 2006 album Begin To Hope. Fitting huh?

"White Sky"-Vampire Weekend
Check out my previous post about this song to listen!

"Shove"-Angels and Airwaves

I listened to "The Adventure" by A&A right before my mission to Italy in 2006. I never thought they'd get big, but wow was I wrong on that one. I used to consider A&A a guilty pleasure, but who cares if I'm throwing all my indie cred to the wind? I find this song so very catchy

Just keepin it simple :)

HOPE

-Ross

Tebow/Allred extravaganza

Awww shucks. I really should be doing homework. I'll admit I took a quick break though, and stumbled upon the news of Tim Tebow's soon-to-air ad speaking out against abortion. I also became acquainted with the biggest opponent to the airing of the ad, Gloria Allred. Whether you agree or disagree with what Tebow is supporting, you HAVE to agree with his freedom to get up and say what he believes, especially when the view isn't particularly popular with people of his age group and fame. So i immediately set out to find out more about Mrs. Allred and found her very own websit bearing her name and a picture of her flexing in triumph.

Very cute, allred. Anyway, I figured there were a thousand other people looking her up to tell her how awful she is, so as I started writing her an email to try and convince her of the error in her ways I instead changed course. 180 degrees. And I offered her a Book of Mormon. I kind of figured she would be more offended by that then any kind of awful names I could call her anyway. Women, is that really your champion? Yikes. Overbearing as you may be, power to ya' Tim Tebow and family.

Just Squeeking by, Underneath a White Sky

I think half of my posts start with something like "turns out I'm a horrible blogger.." so I'll have none of that, but the last time I wrote was summer of 09, which has long come and past. I refuse to get discouraged; even though Sophomore Skyline has no foreseeable future or direction. Oh and now I'm getting paid to blog for the Italian Department at BYU, so even less attention is going to be devoted to the S Skyline (which probs should be updated to Junior Skyline, but thats just not working for me). I'll be blogging for La Vita Blu, and posting about all kinds of fun Italian musings and discoveries, including restaurant ratings and rankings, opera's, concerts, and italian movie screenings. I'm actually kinda pumped for all this. I've also been working on some revisions to lavitablu that can be seen at

lavitablu2.blogspot.com

Give me some feedback! It's all very tentative at this point.

Anyway, if there's one thing I never feel stupid talking about, it's music. And although Kei$ha's been waking up feeling like p. diddy, I'd much prefer to wake up under a beautiful white sky. And not just because it snowed a ton tonight, but because I finally fell in love with Vampire Weekend even though they've been the buzz of the indie world since their self titled album released a few years back. No music video yet, so you just have to stare at this wide eyed girl that graces the cover of their new album "contra" as you listen to this song:




Sorry it doesnt quite fit on there, let me know what you think!
-Ross