Do you love disappointment? Try Sports!

June 18, 2010
Last night was as hard as it comes to be a fan; Game 7 loss to the Lakers, collapsing in the second half and reminding Beantowners of our dour pessimistic hard-loss character. It is always hardest to lose when winning is closest, in a game or in a season, and almost makes me wish they had blown their chances months ago so I could have avoided all the recent trauma... But I guess its more about the thrill of potential victory than victory itself that makes sports fun. How else could it be that people continue to invest their time,…

World Cup!

June 13, 2010
Football fever! The greatest tournament in the world has returned and my eyes are glued to the TV. I have been watching excessive hockey and basketball playoffs, as well as plenty of baseball recently, but these games seem insignificant compared to the global stage of the quadrennial soccer tournament. The simplicity of the sport makes for great viewing, placing the athleticism of the competitors in focus and the game structure, two uninterrupted halves, limits our exposure to the dreaded corporate advertising that dominates American sports; how glorious to feel like a fan instead of a consumer! The games are being…

Love Is No Laughing Matter

June 2, 2010
Our Lifetime Movie is complete! Our amazingly talented group of friends, led by director and editor Michael Civins, wrote and starred in our very own Lifetime-channel inspired movie. It is the story of Rebecca, a girl in an abusive relationship, finding her voice as a stand-up comedian. I play Charles, the wheelchair-bound "sit-down" comedian who spreads the wings of Rebecca's dreams... Love Is No Laughing Matter

Rhapsodic Love

June 2, 2010
In the month that I have subscribed to it, Rhapsody has improved my life two main ways; in class, whenever a student mentions a song, I can almost always cue it up immediately and create a lesson around it (they believe I am a sorcerer) and in the car, where i can drive for hours and never hear a song I've heard before. My six hour drive home from the Cape seemed shorter for my playlist, which was built from albums in the "New This Week" section, including Jack Johnson, LCD Soundsystem, Black Keys, Band of Horses and The National.…

Cape Cod

May 31, 2010
Tennis, Golfing, Boating, Beaching, Cocktails, Croquet, BBQ, Family and Friends make for a quintessential Cape Cod long weekend. Despite the haze and burning smell from the Quebec forest fires, the air still has that sea-salty sweetness to it and brings me back to the summers of youth, spent engaged in all aforementioned activities for months at a time... Today I am lucky to find one or two weekends a year to spend in Osterville, but every day there is a master class in relaxation. This Memorial Day weekend's tasty tease of summer has whet my appetite for the next few…

Delivering Happiness

May 23, 2010
Caitlin sent me a link to an interview with Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com discussing his upcoming book. She wrote this note: This interview reminded me of you because you're happy and enjoy spreading happiness to others. That's why I love ya!! That is probably the nicest compliment I've ever gotten! What else is there besides happiness? It is the only real currency... all else is just a means of achieving it. And who better to spread this message than one of the richest men in the world? He gets it; he has accomplished more in the technology and business…

Saric’s House

May 16, 2010
Mt. Holly is a typically beautiful Vermont retreat, and nestled among the mountains and forests and fields is the recently purchased home of Sarah and Eric (Saric). It is anti-Brooklyn. Peace and tranquilty reign and life thrives in all shapes and sizes; it is actually possible in this country setting for humans to feel a part of the natural order rather than its oppressor. I appreciate what the city offers and need it in my life, but the occasional escape to an outpost of serenity is vital to my sanity. Congratulations Saric on your amazing property and thank you for…

Oil!

May 14, 2010
On April 20, an explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico caused a massive leak a mile below the ocean's surface. It was clear then that we were witnessing an historical catastrophe, and now, three weeks later, the oil continues to flow unchecked into our environment. Estimates of the damage have varied from bad to horrendous, and now there is video of the underwater oil geyser spewing forth its toxins into the environment. It is devastating. Having failed to contain it with a giant structure lowered to the seabed, BP admits that it's arsenal to stop the…

Freakonomics and Moneyball

May 13, 2010
I was an Economics major in college and anytime I tell people that they find it funny--probably because my job is playing music with kids instead of making money with money. I never had any interest in joining the corporate workforce but still found Econ the most interesting department at Middlebury. It incorporated so much about humanity, from history to psychology to our core values. The focus was usually money, but the how and why made the topic endlessly engaging. Stephen Levitt is an economist who brings the study into new realms; he sees the discipline as general tools to…

Jonsi

May 13, 2010
Video is the new light show in concerts. While seeing Phish's lights is an unparallelled experience, a great video show is compelling in ways that lights cannot be. Jonsi, in his solo break from Sigur Ros, performed with one of the most innovative video concepts I've ever seen. Using six projectors on multiple screens combined with a stunning set, the effect was magical. The crowd was awed by the technical wizardry (literally oohing and aahing), as well as the extreme dynamics of the beautiful music. Jonsi's voice is unique and the music he creates is perfectly suited for his ethereal…