Finals Suck

Word from JackJohnsonMusic.com on Jack's new album:


Jack will be touring Australia, New Zealand & Europe in 2008!! Check out the Shows page for more information...

"Sleep Through The Static" hits stores in the US on February 5th. Here's the track-listing:

1. All At Once
2. Sleep Through The Static
3. Hope
4. Angel
5. Enemy
6. If I Had Eyes
7. Same Girl
8. What You Thought You Need
9. Adrift
10. Go On
11. They Do, They Don't
12. While We Wait
13. Monsoon
14. Losing Keys

Also, because 99.999% of us missed the greatest reunion of the this and last century, here's a couple videos of the monumental occasion.






Lastly, I saw the Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There last weekend and I have to say I was unsure of it at first. I believe I was expecting a normal Hollywood story of his life a la Walk The Line or Ray, however after getting over this realization within the first half-hour (it's two and a half hours long) I was quite pleasantly disappointed. I really think it was one of the best music-based films I've ever seen, it was so refreshing in a way that I can't even describe. Alas, the soundtrack was possibly the very best part of the film.

Jack Johnson, Stephen Malkmus, Los Lobos, Sonic Youth, Jeff Tweedy (amazing), Black Keys, and my personal favorite, Jim James & Calexico performing one of the best Dylan tunes ever: Goin' To Acapulco. It was a show stopper, the entire scene featuring this song--not to mention the fact that Jim and Calexico were in the damn movie to perform it--was by far the best 10 minutes of the movie based on this part alone for myself.

Finals week is upon me (and most everyone in the nation) and I must get back to studying for Microbiology and Physics tomorrow and Thursday respectively. Thankfully

It's too damn hot outside....

So, to cool off I'll have a little confessional:

I think I'm in love.

And not just some minuscule fluttering of the heart--i mean drop-dead heart stopping in love with this girl. Now I'm no fan of pop music or anything that is anywhere near the over-produced junk that pollutes the FM waves. Yet, I do have a very delicate soft spot for all things English: especially the women and the music.

What happens when you get both of those things together in a nice poppy feel-good album!?

Lily Allen-bliss that's what!

Damn good album--I still can't get over "LDN" though...oh it's the best summer song in a long time.

Lily Allen - LDN

The best news today is credited to Andy Gadiel and his Phish Blog. A video of Trey playing with DMB at the SPAC center in NY on the 14th of the month:



Good to see 'ol Red rockin' out still after all that's occured this past 9 months. Trey's latest solo album The Horseshoe Curve, a complete instrumental record liken to Seis de Mayo has proven to be one of his best solo releases second only to the 2001 self-titled release. Trey's original solo band (for the most part) returned for this compilation of winding jazz and rock compositions based mostly on a relaxed, congruent feel that seems to stem from the first track, "Sidewalks of San Francisco."

Hope to hear from Trey sooner this next time around and hopefully he's still doing good and has kicked the habit. Much love, Trey.

For tonight I've got Lily and this vid of Trey with Dave to keep me satisfied.

Apparently, NASA has discovered extra-terrestrial life.....

and apparently, that extra-terrestrial life is the Empire's most powerful space station:

"We got Death Star! We got Death Star, knock 'em out the box Luke"

Home and Again

So...after a long, whirlwind summer at good 'ol Berea, I'm finally home for some much needed--and wanted--R & R.

A little background: I spent this past spring's semester in BIO 313 Experimental Zoology with Dr. Ron Rosen and turns out I did pretty well and I enjoyed the course immensely; I've never had a zoo course and never really studied parasitic and animal physiology and pathologies. Come the end of the term, Dr. Rosen asks me to study with him this summer on his life's work: the parasite Proterometra macrostoma. Cool beans, right? Right! Spent most of the summer gaining quite a bit of knowledge and experience not only in parasitology but also in research and lab work. Spent a total of 10 weeks: June 11 to August 17 researching and to no surprise I was glad to be done with it. As much as I loved it, enjoyed the comradery I was quite ready to rest for a week before this fall semester begins (which is next Wednesday the 29th FYI).

I suppose I'm looking forward to this semester, I'm rested from academics, missing my Berea kids (whom all are doing great things too this summer), and quite ready to get my med school regiment back online. I've never been so set and resolved on something like my passion for med school. I've spent quite a bit of my thoughts and learning focused on this ultimate position...however, only just recently have I really contemplated not getting into med school or the like. Likely I'll also apply to the D.O. school in Pikeville and try out some Vet schools possibly, but if those don't work out I suppose I'll find my way to grad school and do some biochemistry or microbiology degree.

Though I've found my biggest problem is the reality that I am in love with everything and want to do and try everything; piloting, sailing, mechanic, fly-fishing, yachting, languages, cooking fine foods, wine making, beer brewing, guitar, electronics, computers....to say the least.

Maybe I should just stick to one thing?

......

Oh, hell no.