Best Albums of 2008 Part 1

10. Plants and Animals - Parc Avenue

9. Wale - The Mixtape about Nothing

8. Shearwater - Rook
7. No Age - Nouns

Eraser @ Yahoo! Video

6. Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea

We're going to Peru!

Beckie and I really wanted to go international on our next trip. We thought about Europe, Spain being the main destination, and about Buenos Aires. One day I'll return to that country I love so much and see things I haven't seen. But in the end, and for the best, we are going to Peru. Machu Picchu has always been a dream of mine and now it is a reality. We are heading out a few days after my last final and spending a week in Cusco and Machu Picchu. I haven't been out of the country since I was in Argentina, nearly 6 years ago. This is going to be an unforgettable experience. Oh, and yes, I will be reading Neruda's Las Alturas de Machu Picchu (The Heights of Machu Picchu) while on Machu Picchu. Cheesy but awesome.

Nephtali de Leon

Charlie Chaplin or Harold Lloyd?

So, as I watched City Lights in film theory class this afternoon I couldn't help but think not only of Chaplin but also of the other king of silent era comedy, Harold Lloyd. Dad introduced me to Lloyd's Safety Last a few years ago and I pushed it aside as just another ridiculous old movie from his extensive collection that includes Lloyd, Chaplin, and many others. Soon after, I saw it in a philosophy of film course and it slowly grew on me. The ability to dominate a camera like Lloyd without the help of sound and the many risks and stunts that he pulled off were truly amazing. As I looked back at my dad's forced screenings of the film, I appreciate his vision. If you've never seen a Harold Lloyd film, go and get Safety Last and enjoy. You may never see an actor take such risks for film again. Oh, and if you have time, rent something by Chaplin like City Lights or Modern Times.

The Killers (the movie)

So, I finally got around to watching Robert Siodmak's classic noir, the Killers. Overall, it was pretty good. It was dark, the acting was excellent (Burt Lancaster, Eva Gardner) and of course, there was a lot of double-crossing and death, staples of the genre. If you like film noir, this is definitely a must-see.

Tarkovsky's Art

If you ever doubted that film is an art then Andrei Tarkovsky will be able to persuade you otherwise. Takovsky's ability to create art through film is masterful. Long shots that let the viewer contemplate the image that is presented them, and the careful cinematography are what give Tarkovsky this ability to present his art. Here are a few of my favorite images from Tarkovsky's films.

I recommend all of his films, but here are my top 4.
1. Nostalghia
2. Stalker
3. Ivan's Childhood (probably the most approachable of his films)
4. The Mirror

Francis Bacon

A couple of Bacon's self-portaits. Bacon's dark, sometimes grotesque paintings show us the divided, introspective self of the painter. I really enjoy when a painting is able to tell a story and introduce us to the painter himself. That's one of the reasons I like Bacon.

To look at more of his work check out these two sites, www.artchive.com or www.artcycylopedia.com.

Enough Said

I wish it was this simple. One day, in an ideal world, party lines will be dissolved and politics will not be divisive. As for now, let's just pray that government can work together and accomplish something.

Favorite Albums of the Moment

Deerhunter's latest album, Microcastle, came out this week and I am totally entranced by it. Actually, I only have a few of the songs but the few that I have are playing round-the-clock. I desperately searched for the whole album this week and could not find it anywhere in Utah or Salt Lake counties. In the end, I had to order it online from the label. I can't wait to hear the entire thing.

I've had this album from the Lightning Seeds for awhile and for some reason, I'm not sure why, I've been listening to constantly for the past few days. "Pure" is one my favorite songs. Nice, simple, catchy pop.

The Big Sleep

Last Friday, the long week finally took its tole and because I was so exhausted, I fell asleep at 9:30. So, Saturday morning I woke up at 5:00AM. I'm not sure why, but I decided to stay up, not go to bed and watch a movie. I had recorded The Big Sleep the previous week and hadn't been able to watch it up to that point. This was the perfect opportunity. Plus, being dark outside helped with the ambiance.

If you enjoy film noir and haven't seen this movie, you should definitely check it out. The acting is superb and the cinematography is excellent as well. Even William Faulkner helped write the screenplay.

Other film noir movies I recommend:
The Third Man - Welles
The Maltese Falcon - Huston
Sunset Boulevard - Wilder
Double Indemnity - Wilder
Out of the Past - Torneur
and Many others

No, I'm not running for the Utah House of Representatives. Just thought it was funny to see my name on a political sign.

Boca 1 - River 0

Boca 1 - River 0
playing with 10 men (for the expulsion of Ibarra)
in the Monumental
putting River in last place in the table and watching them fall apart

= PRICELESS

the only thing better would have to been there

Poem of the Week

As I was reading Pedro Páramo last night I couldn't get away from the images of the fall and of death. It reminded me of one of my favorite poems of Pablo Neruda "Entrada a la Madera" - The Way Into Wood. So, I thought I would share it with anybody, if anybody, who reads this blog. I would rather have put it in Spanish but because of potential readers of the blog I thought English was appropriate for the occasion.

The Way Into Wood (The Selected Poems of Pablo Neruda. ed. Nathaniel Tarn p.114-115)

By the skin of my reason, with my fingers
with slow waters indolently swamped,
I fall to the imperium of the forget-me-nots,
an unforgiving air of mournfulness,
a decayed, forgotten hall
and a cluster of bitter clovers.

I fall into the shadows, to the core
of shattered things,
and I see spiders, and pastures coppices
of secret, inconclusive timbers,
pacing through soaked, uprooted fibres
at the living heart of matter and silence.

Oh lovely matter, dry-winged rose,
as I drown I climb your petals,
my feet are burning with fatigue,
I kneel down in your hard cathedral
thrashing my lips with an angel.

It is because I am myself faced with your colour of world,
with your pale dead shoulders,
your gathered hearts,
your silent multitude.

It is dying under your wave of odours
wrapped in autumn and resistance:
about to take a funeral journey
along the ridges of yellow scars:

I with my lamentations that have no genesis,
hungry, sleepless, alone,
threading darkened corridors,
arriving at your mysterious essence.

I see the course of your petrified currents,
the growth of frozen, interrupted hands,
I hear your oceanic vegetations,
rustling by night, engraved, intractable,
and I feel the leaves dying to the very core,
fusing their green materials
with your abandoned immobility.

Pores, veins, rings of sweetness,
weight, silent temperature,
arrows struck into your fallen soul,
beings asleep in your thick mouth,
shreds of sweet pulp devoured entirely,
ashes full of extinguished souls,
gather to me, to my limitless dream,
fall into my bed where the night falls
and fall without an end like broken water,
clasp me to your life, to your death,
to your submissive materials,
to your dead, neutralized doves,
and let us make fire, and silence, and sound,
and let us burn, and be hushed among bells.

Lost Coastlines

I saw this new video from Okkervil River a few weeks ago and am just now sharing it.  Their new album, The Stand-Ins, is definitely not as dark as their previous albums.  Will Sheff shows that he can incorporate his storytelling style to more pop-style songs.  If you haven't heard Okkervil River before, do yourself a favor and listen to this album.  It's never too late to start.

Who is Jacques Derrida?

So, for the past two weeks I've been trying to figure out Derrida and deconstruction. We read selections of his works for our Literary Theory course and had our discussion last night. Still, I can't quite grasp these ideas and the man behind them. Who is this man and what is trying to tell us? I guess that's what's interesting about it, he isn't trying to give us any type of theory or structured investigation but instead projecting deconstruction as a concept already in action within language and meaning. At least, that's how I understand it. And who knows if I even approach an accurate definition or understanding.

But, I guess I shouldn't worry concerning that the writings of Derrida are never understood after a first reading. Maybe after the second or even the third reading. Anyway, onto Foucault and The Origin of Things: The Archaeology of Human Sciences. Hopefully, his writings aren't as complex as those of Derrida.

These videos made my day!

So, Beckie and I were watching The Soup a couple of days ago and just about died laughing at these two videos. One of a ridiculous product called the Snuggie and the other one a video of, well, you'll just have to see it yourself.

Goodbye?

So, I've been thinking about my blog a lot recently. It's become quite a mess of music, soccer, and a bunch of randomness. I have made a new blog dedicated to one of my passions, football (soccer). I am thinking that this new blog will become my feature blog and that I may delete this one. I want a blog that is dedicated to just one theme and that way it becomes more centralized and not scattered. I figure that if I have photos or important things to share with the family I can just do it on the family blog. Any suggestions?

New Grizzly Bear Song

Grizzly Bear's album Yellow House is one of my all-time favorites. Thoughtful, smart, harmonious, experimental, different, and just really great. I just can't get enough of anything these guys put out. This is why I am excited every time I hear something new from them. They have previewed a couple new songs that they have been performing while on tour. The latest is the song Two Weeks being performed on the Letterman Show. Enjoy!

Anxiously awaiting

So, as I anxiously await Beckie's return from girl's camp, I realize again how ready and how tired of waiting I am for school to start. I'm happy about the opportunity and am excited about the possibilities. If only I could just close my eyes (like Borges above), and open them only to realize that school starts on Monday.

Man Man Takeaway Shows

#95.5 Man Man - A day at the races and A night at the opera
Uploaded by lablogotheque

Fourth of July

Beckie and I had a very nice Fourth of July weekend. We saw some family, had work off, and saw some amazing fireworks. On Thursday, we were able to see my sister who was in Utah for the holiday. We didn't have a ton of time but were able to go to dinner and then have them come over to our apartment and have the kids go crazy and jump all over us.


Friday was the Fourth of July, and being that we live in Orem, we wanted to watch the Stadium of Fire. There is a spot on campus that we have been to before and that was amazing. The fireworks are shot off from a field next to the stadium. There is a barrier for fallout that goes through Helaman Halls. We found a spot just on the other side of this barrier. The fireworks started a little later than planned but when they came it was well worth it. We were right next to the fireworks and in some cases, underneath them. We had a great time.

California Trip

Beckie and I got back from our trip to SoCal about 3 weeks ago. It was a nice break from the Summer grind and from work. It was nice to see some of Beckie's family in L.A. and in Vista. We arrived in Culver City (home to Aunt Cyn and Uncle Tim) early on Thursday afternoon.


The rest of our trip included:

Thursday - Arrive in L.A./Culver City, Santa Monica Pier, hanging out at home
Friday - Los Angeles, Hollywood, shopping at H&M (Beckie) and Amoeba (me), Garment District, Downtown, Fabric shopping, a short rest back in Culver City, the Getty Center
Saturday - Disneyland
Sunday - The Getty Center again, drive to Vista, hang out with the Grandparents
Monday - the beach, Oceanside, San Diego, Old Town, Balboa Park
Tuesday - Drove home

Disneyland was very fun. Tim, who works for ESPN, was generous enough to get us in for free to both Disneyland and California Adventure. We got on most of the rides we wanted to. The only exception was the Indiana Jones ride which, while we were in line, had to shut down for some unknown reason. We loved a couple of the rides at California Adventureland and went on them twice. We left the park exhausted but happy.


Another highlight of our trip was the Getty Center. The Getty Center rests on the hills near Brentwood overlooking Bel-Air. The first time we went was on Friday night. We tried to make it before sundown but by the time we got to the top it was too dark to see the Los Angeles skyline. It was super busy and there was definitely a party atmosphere. Earlier in the afternoon, No Age played a free concert at the center. We decided to go again on Sunday morning so we could take some pictures.









We drove down to Vista after leaving the Getty Center and were able to see Grandpa G, Nani and Papi and Beckie's parents who were in town visiting. We visited for awhile before some had to leave. Unfortunately, we forgot to take pictures of all of us. We also forgot to take our camera to San Diego the next day when we went to Old Town and Balboa Park. We did take a couple pictures of the beach in Oceanside though.

At Mount Zoomer

So, while Beckie and I were in California I couldn't pass up going to my favorite record store, Amoeba. I went to Amoeba for the first time last summer in San Francisco while visiting my sister and fell in love with it. It's nice to go to a record store that actually has what you're looking for, and not only that, but finding them many times used. I splurged a little bit and bought quite a few albums while there but for the past week I've been listening to just one, Mount Zoomer by Wolf Parade. Other cd's that I found that could not be found in Utah County include the following:

1. The Airing of Grievances by Titus Andronicus
2. American Water by Silver Jews
3. Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea by Silver Jews
4. B/E/A/T/B/O/X by Glass Candy
5. Midnight Organ Fight by Frightened Rabbit
and 6. anything by Los Piojos

Shan Foster

I heard about this video while Beckie and I were driving back home from a nice vacation to Southern California. Jim Rome highlighted the song and it's message on his Tuesday program. Shan Foster is heading to the Lakers and it seems like he is one of few that recognizes the great opportunity and blessing that it is. I'm not a Laker fan but this season I'll be cheering for him.