How can people be this horrible?

A few months ago I read an article about a church that was going to protest a funeral of a soldier who passed away in Iraq. I was immediately sickened to my stomach that a group would promote their agenda in this type of atmosphere. Well, they haven't stopped. The Westboro Baptist Church will be picketing President Gordon B. Hinckley's funeral promoting their doctrine of anti-gay, anti-semitism, anti-christian, anti-catholic, anti-mormon, anti-black, anti-america, and pretty much anti-everything. In a way they are anti-God, even though they would deny this. And it's not just being anti or against but it is a deep hate for these people that they claim God expresses as well. I can't believe that people actually think like this. This type of religous fundamentalism is one of the reasons people are denying religion completely here in the United States in the whole world. Read about them here and see for yourself. It's truly scary what people are capable of these days.

Diego Maradona apologizes for "Hand of God" goal

In 1986 Argentina won the World Cup with brilliant play from the greatest player in the history of soccer, Diego Maradona. His infamous "Hand of God" goal in Argentina's game vs. England, which he hit a ball in with his hand but was not seen by the referees has been the disdain of England for over 20 years. This article here tells about Diego's apology to the people of England.

The videos here are of the "Hand of God" and also another goal in that same goal which is the greatest goal ever made.

Poetry Night

Tonight, the Instituto de Estudios Vallejianos is sponsoring an event of poetry and dancing. Like once before, I've volunteered to recite a poem, in Spanish of course. I'm reciting a poem by Chilean poet and former BYU professor, Gonzalo Rojas. I'm not usually one who likes to get in front of groups, but this has become sort of a way to help me overcome this fear of speaking in public. It helps that it is only a couple of minutes and I will have it memorized. Hopefully, things go well tonight.

My blog's namesake

I've been asked a couple of times the meaning of my blog title or where I got it from. I thought I would make a post out of it. Anyway, when I started this blog, last january I was listening quite a bit to a band called Grizzly Bear from Brooklyn. Their newest release, Yellow House came out in 2006. I found out about the album a little late through a best of the year list in a magazine.

I immediately fell in love with this album. The folk and electronic influences were evident. Some describe it as psych folk, a blending of folk and psychedelic rock, originated in the 1960's. Grizzly Bear is put into this category although other genres are evident as well. My favorite song on this album is "central and remote". Other great songs include, "little brother", "knife", "easier", etc. Here is a video for "central and remote".

Fifteen Unreleased Beatles recording surface

For the millions of Beatles fans out there, there is something to look forward to. Unreleased tracks. These tracks come from some of their earliest recordings. Read the article here.

Hawk and the Hacksaw Take Away Shows

The Take Away Shows website is definitely one of my favorites. Candide music being played through the streets of Paris. I love the feel, the look and the randomness. It makes the music so much more alive. Playing music through the streets, the artists make music part of the scenery. Children dance innocently to the noise and parents watch on happily. It seems like a nice change to the sometimes drub motions of everday life. Here a few videos that I really liked by the duo of Hawk and the Hacksaw. The text below comes from the description on the website and describes the experience through those that were there.

"Paris often made us despair. Gray, cold, flawless, she lets the music wash over her, with at best, indifference, and at worst, contempt. As if wondering, what the hell are they doing here, on my path ? Then, despite the cold outside, the gray sky, this lazy cottony Sunday suddenly proved itself to be a nice surprise. Paris was alive with kids. Jeremy Barnes and Heather Frost, an accordion and a violin, were the ones leading the camera : slowly, slowly, take your time, let the autumn colours leave their mark on you, give some time to the scene to set up, to the kids to meet and stop before us. Slowly, slowly

For me, this first video really gets started at 4:50, when Jeremy Barnes kneeled down in front of the kids and, after letting a few notes echo, playing one or two fugues to gather his momentum, he eagerly started a melody which mingled perfectly with his surroundings. Gosh, this is Paris, both fantasized and real, the two facets banging together. In thirty seconds, Barnes, Frost and all the kids around them knocked out the so-called typical Amélies of a certain insufferable cinema. Look, this is real, this is a public square, in Paris, on a Sunday afternoon. Look, there are kids looking, and they know how to listen to music, unlike us. For eight seconds, from 5:51 to 5:59, there’s nothing to choose between these kids and those from the late century. What faces, what street urchins.

A Hawk and A Hawksaw are paradoxically disturbing : just like Zach Condon (from Beirut), they have been smitten by Balkan music, its exuberance, and went off looking for it. But if Zach throws himself into it on trust, a bit like one jumps from a bridge, our duet goes for it with a more musical and well-considered approach. Also, their ability to draw a certain form of abandon and freedom from this music, in order to create a flood of notes surging onto us, comes from them hardly ever smiling. No, they don’t take their music too seriously ; they are simply unobtrusive to let their music get the leading role.

This specifically, is the paradox in these videos : unlike some others take away shows, here, you’ll find joy in the sound and also in the eyes of people we passed by. Not particularly on Heather and Jeremy faces. That is why we hardly ever invite people to witness the shows, because our aim is that music would attract people who did not expect it. This is true here, more than ever. We should start the Square Sessions, every Sunday, with kids."

Africa Cup of Nations

Some of the top clubs in England and in the rest of Europe will be missing some of their stars these next few weeks. Ghana is hosting the Africa Cup of Nations the next 3 weeks where Africa gets to show off the world-class soccer talent that they are known for. The favorites include Nigeria, The Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and of course, the host nation Ghana. Didier Drogba (below) will be playing for the Ivory Coast.

ASU 99 - Cal 90

The Sun Devils are back! Last week the Devils made it to the top 25 for the first time in nearly 15 years. Last week they beat the University of Arizona and last night Cal. They are tied atop the conference with a 4-0 conference record and a 14-2 record overall. Thanks to the improved play of junior Jeff Pendergraph and the freshman class that has come in and proved themselves, the Devils are looking at a very successful season. Read the espn article from the game.

Revamping the blog

Excuse the mess. I'm making some big changes to my blog and am taking a few days to do so. My amazing wife is helping me with all the html and the others things needed to improve it. For now, check out my new picture links and enjoy. Thanks

Top Ten Albums of 2007

As the end of the years comes, so do the best of the year lists. Here is my own. The best albums of 2007.




10. Boxer by the National





9. Ga Ga Ga Ga by Spoon





8. Neon Bible by The Arcade Fire




7. The Stage Names by Okkervil River





6. The Flying Club Cup by Beirut





5. Mirrored by Battles





4. Random Spirit Lover by Sunset Rubdown





3. Person Pitch by Panda Bear





2. Kala by M.I.A.





1. In Rainbows by Radiohead


Others to consider: Emerald City by John Vanderslice, Rise Above by Dirty Projectors, A Place to Bury Strangers by A Place to Bury Strangers, Untrue by Burial, Strawberry Jam by Animal Collective, From Here we go Sublime by The Field, Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem, Fort Nightly by White Rabbits, The Sheperd's Dog by Iron & Wine, The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse by The Besnard Lakes, Friend EP by Grizzly Bear, Marry Me by St. Vincent...

Futbol Argentino!

This week has been a crazy one in Argentine Soccer. Juan Roman Riquelme, the second greatest player every to play for Boca Juniors has returned again to his homeland and to the club of first love. The midfielder for the National team has expressed his desire to return to Buenos Aires to his family. It's a great day for Boca Juniors, and all of argentine soccer.


Also this weekend, Lanus soccer club won it's first Argentine championship. The small club in south Buenos Aires was created 92 years ago and finally has a trophy.

Democracy in Action

Let's just say that our prayers were answered. There's a lot of things to do right now but this is a huge step for Venezuela and for democracy in Latin America.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7126308.stm

New Website - Check it out!

Have you ever wondered what it would sound like to hear one of your favorite bands walking through the streets playing music or just jamming in their apartment? Well, I've found a website that does just that. The Take away shows website gives us a glimpse of various musicians walking through the streets of paris playing for all to hear. http://www.blogotheque.net/takeawayshows/

Here is a an example. Beirut. If you've never heard of Beirut, you should check them out. They're great.

Favorite new Radiohead song

As we all know, Radiohead released their latest album digitally through their website available for whatever price you wanted to pay. Excellent. The album will be available in stores on December 31st. They have been releasing various webcasts of songs from their new album, In Rainbows. We get to see Radiohead in a close, intimate setting. This song, Reckoning, is my favorite from this album. Here is the webcast of their performance.

A couple of new music videos

Just thought I would put up a couple videos that I've seen recently by two very talented female artists. The first is Bat for Lashes and the other is Annie Clark (the singer for St. Vincent). I especially like the smooth, simple voice of Annie. Judge for yourself.

Joy Division

So, recently I've re-discovered the post-punk band Joy Division. I always knew who they were and was familiar with their music but in the past couple of weeks I've had a new found appreciation for their music. What helped spur this is the release of a movie on the life of Ian Curtis and Joy Division. It is also the 30th anniversary of their first album Unkown Pleasures, which is being re-released. Joy Division helped pave the way for the alternative bands of the 80's. After the suicide of Ian Curtis, the remainder of the band members founded New Order. Enjoy these two videos.

Fall Semester 2007 - 1st half

So, the semester is half done. I've been super busy and for that reason I haven't posted any blogs recently. The semester has been great so far. I'm enjoying my classes a lot. Yesterday, I was able to teach in my Elena Garro class. It went very well. I talked about themes in two short stories, Busca mi Esquela and La Culpa es de los Tlaxcaltecas. This Elena Garro class has definately been my favorite. It's a small class (12 students) where everybody participates. Plus, the subject is very interesting. In my Nobel Prize course we've read Borges, Marquez, Neruda and Asturias. We're starting Octavio Paz next week. I started my applications and will hopefully finish them before the end of the semester. Besides BYU, I'm also applying to ASU and Arizona. BYU is the ideal choice, but we'll have to wait and see.

Back to School

This entry is a little late but I thought it was worth posting anyway. Two weeks ago, I started school again. I've decided to go back and study Latinamerican Literature. This semester I'm taking 4 classes, 3 graduate courses and a teaching instruction course. I've really enjoyed the first couple of weeks so far. I'm surprised that my Spanish hasn't worsened from not being in school for about a year. I'm taking a class about the Nobel Prize authors from Spain and Latin America and a class dedicated to the Mexican author, Elena Garro. I'm especially enjoying the Elena Garro course. In the next couple of weeks I will also be taking a one week course dedicated to Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. It's going to be a taught by a visiting professor, Sara Poot Herrera from UC-Santa Barbara. I'm excited about that.
I was really nervous coming back to school this semester but I feel much better. I like my courses and my professors. I also know a few people in my classes which makes things a little easier. While in the library last week, I saw a few kids taking practice LSAT tests and I didn't miss it at all. I've made the right decision in not choosing law school but instead doing something that I'll really enjoy.

Okkervil River Concert

This is a video from the Austin, Texas band, Okkervil River. Beckie and I saw them play on Wednesday in Salt Lake. There's nothing much better than 8$ concerts, especially from bands you really enjoy. We had a good time listening to the passionate lyrics and playing of Will Sheff and bandmates. We recommend their latest cd, The Stage Names, along with their previous album, Black Sheep Boy.

The Final Mouse Update

Yes, this is the final mouse update. You know what that means, the mouse is dead and the carcass has been found. There are a few more things worthy of mention. On Tuesday, I got to work around 12 because I had class in the morning. My boss tells me that Nathan, the technician had come earlier to look at the printer more, and that upon removing more of the components, found two live mouse babies. I was totally grossed out. The babies were still alive and in the trash can. I couldn't do anything except throw them out into the dumpster.
On Tuesday, a smell of death started to permeate through the back. The mouse was dead. But, we could not find it. Finally, a co-worker found the dead mouse in the adjacent room to my desk, where we have the cleaning supplies and tools. We got rid of it and the smell was soon gone. I was thankful for that. I thought that was the end of the mouse saga until today.
The technician came again this morning to replace a few wires that had been chewed on by the mouse. He took apart more of the printer and made a discovery, and hopefully the last discovery we'll have. A dead mouse baby. It had this very distinct stink to it. Very gross.
The mouse saga is over, well, until the next mouse comes along and decides to have offspring inside our printer. A very odd couple weeks and I'm glad it's over. Maybe I can now start doing my real job.