thinking ahead.

February 25th, 2011 § 3 Comments

sorry in advance.

i’m sure you’re all getting annoyed with how personal the site has become lately, and for that i apologize. not sure which direction i’d like to take it as far as concepts and topics go. i’d really like more writers.

anyway, i’ve been thinking a lot about what i want to do after i graduate. there aren’t a lot of jobs out there and even less for people who decided to major in political science and journalism [granted, it almost seems like i want to work for like the washington post or npr or something] but i remain hopeful that there is something out there for me once i leave the halls of wesleyan.

here is what i’m thinking…

a quick note: these are both for the long term and the short term.

teaching – it’s true, i hate kids. i hate kids that are younger than me and i hate kids my age. but i love english and i think i’d make a really interesting english teacher. if there is only one thing i’ve learned while at wesleyan, it is that there are an overwhelming [and depressing] number of 18-21 year olds that have no idea how to use the english language to convey thoughts. i mean, all of them can write sentences, but those sentences are terrible. i also think i might swear more than is allowed in public middle/high schools so i might need to teach at the college level.

i also thought about teaching journalism or government to high school kids. might as well contribute to the things i studied.

gamestop – this is a “if nothing else in my life works out and i have no other option” option. i mean, i do enjoy working at gamestop [for the most part] but i don’t want to be that guy who is in his thirties and is only an assistant manager or manager of a gamestop. now, if i working the corporate side and doing something like that, i’d hate myself a little less.

your reward for getting halfway through - a kitten.

journalist – this is something i’d really like to do. i kinda want to work for a newspaper but i really want to work for a magazine. i think working for like a music magazine [like alternative press] or a video game magazine [like gameinformer] would be totally legit. those are two things i’m really passionate about and know a lot about so making a career out of writing about them would be a really great way to spend my life.

author – this is the be-all-end-all career choice for me. to get paid to write novels would make me the happiest boy in the world. however, to do so, you need to be good at writing [i'm decent] and have an iron will in the face of publishers who will daily tell you that your book sucks. my will is that of wet cardboard when it comes to rejection. i also get frequent bouts of writers block…which sometimes last for months [like 12 of them in a row].

those are all the things i want to do. thats it. nothing else sounds interesting or fun and i didn’t just go to college for four years and pay almost $80,000 to do something boring and stupid.

that’s it for today.

- the lumberjack.

obama: two years after the “change”.

February 7th, 2011 § 2 Comments

i am still a liberal.

yes, i voted in the 2008 election for barack obama. i fell under the spell of his rhetoric and i fell in love with the platform of change he so boldly and staunchly planted himself upon. but i forgot the most fundamental piece of american political processes: the president can’t do anything unless congress says it is okay.

what do you mean?

the american president might as well be the british queen because they have no real power [well...they didn't have a lot until george w. bush decided to create power out of thin air] because of that lovely system of checks and balances. i think when our forefathers put the idea of that system in place, they were really banking for there not being a two party tug-of-war match that have our “rights” in the prize chest. unfortunately, they couldn’t see a couple scores in to the future to see what a monster politics have created.

back to the point.

i still think barack obama was the better choice over john mccain, mostly because joe biden saying things every know and then that make people feel uncomfortable is much better than sarah palin making us all look like backwoods morons that can’t read a map [or a book for that matter].

i was having a conversation the other day about republicans and democrats and we decided that republicans hate pretty much everything and the only thing that democrats hate are republicans. this is true.

what has obama done right?

well a few things:

  1. told us the war in iraq was over: that was a smart move because the general, non-military population thinks that the war in iraq is over. sadly, we’re still sending troops there for “training” and “security” purposes. look, just say it. they are combat troops that have strict orders not to get in to combat.
  2. waited for someone else to try to put a stop to “don’t ask, don’t tell”: also a smart move because while not fulfilling a crucial promise he made to the lgbt community during the election, he didn’t alienate any of his more moderate/conservative supporters who don’t like to think about gay soldiers.
  3. completely buckled against the communications industry regarding net neutrality: this was great actually, because it promotes capitalist ideas. think about it, paying more for internet because you use more of it makes perfect sense [not at all], especially when you think about how expensive it is now. this would completely lessen the burden people who only use the internet to look at porn and check email have people who use it for legitimate things like looking at porn, checking email, checking facebook, and playing online games.  [net neutrality is like a buffet: regardless of how much you eat, you pay the same amount. it all equals out at the end of the day.]
  4. massive stimulus package: this is the last and final one. this basically just gave the republicans a leg to stand on when they complain about big government spending. it also showed us all that countries like denmark and finland have the right idea and we should all switch over to a social democracy, but that won’t happen because it is a branch of socialism and most americans are stupid and think socialism and communism are best friends [they're not].

i’m done.

i don’t think i’ll vote again. not because of a specific reason, but mostly because no matter what you believe the person you vote for will do, it doesn’t matter because people that don’t want that will do everything humanly possible to ensure that the things you want don’t happen.

as always, comments and feedback are welcomed.

thanks for playing.

-the lumberjack.

most anticipated of 2011: music.

February 6th, 2011 § 4 Comments

this year is going to be magic.

if you’re like me and you’re constantly looking up when the next time good music will be coming to your ears, you know that 2011 is going to be a fantastic year. depending on what type of music you like, this year is either going to be great for you, or it will be lyrically boring. for me, it’s gonna be epic.

top 5 most anticipated.

1. downtown battle mountain 2 by dance gavin dance: i’ve seen them live, i have every single one of their albums, and jonny craig is back in the band. now i’m like a little kid waiting for the recess bell to ring so i can play on the jungle gym. they’ve released two songs so far – “the heat seeking ghost of sex” and “the robot with human hair pt. 2 1/2″ and both are musically spectacular. it sounds like craig brought a little of emarosa [his other band] with him and the two sounds mesh beautifully.

release date: march 8, 2011

2. codes and keys by death cab for cutie: i have a weird relationship with death cab, it seems that i can really only listen to their music when i’m in a period of soul-crippling depression, which is why i’m both excited and nervous for their upcoming album. i sort of feel like death cab is classic “broken up with” music. if you break up with someone, you don’t pop in some plans or transatlanticism, no, you put on some dr. dre or some lil wayne or some and you go out to the club [that was kind of a completely unnecessary side note that had no point. sorry]. anyway, the point is, death cab is releasing their first album since i was in high school and i’m nervous.

release date: spring 2011

3. soul punk by patrick stump: you have to give the man some credit – in four years, fall out boy went from being just another local band to something of a pop-punk powerhouse. sadly, good things never last forever, and in 2009, fall out boy went on indefinite hiatus. that being said, genius never sleeps. patrick stump is currently working on a solo album [and working on getting eerily way too skinny] entitled soul punk. i’ve heard a song off of it and it is actually pretty good, which isn’t any surprise at all. let’s see if “solo” was the way to go.

release date: february 2011

4. “upcoming 4th album” by the devil wears prada: it makes sense that the devil wears prada would go to the studio to record a new album, especially after the success of their latest ep, zombie ep, which was incredible, was about zombies, and came with a sweet t-shirt. details are sort of limited for this one, but when i know more – you will know more.

release date: summer 2011

5. the dudes by the lonely island: this might seem unrelated since all of my other choices were…well…legitimate musical experiences, but there is just something about comedy songs that doesn’t get old. i think their last album, incredibad, was really funny [especially since "i'm on a boat" is one of the greatest songs ever written"] and i’m really excited for this album.

release date: march 2011

i’m sure some of you won’t agree with my choices, but that is why they are mine and not yours. as always, feedback and comments are encouraged: tell me what your most anticipated album/artist is of this year.

thanks for playing.

-the lumberjack

heavy rotation – 2.2.11

February 3rd, 2011 § 1 Comment

i’m getting sick.

i have a really bad stomach bug at the moment and i’m afraid it might be turning in to something else. i feel a sore throat and a cough coming on, so it must be getting close to spring. in other news, i’m getting back on my exercise routine tomorrow, and i’m strongly considering becoming vegetarian. not sure though…kinda just tossing it around in my head.

enough with the chit-chat, let’s get down to business.

this week’s heavy rotation.

1. the king is dead by the decemberists: this is the sixth album by the folk masters…and i’m still not quite sure how i feel about it. i’ve probably listened to the full album like seven times and i’m just not in to it as much as i was in previous albums. the hazards of love was one of the greatest albums to come out of the past decade, and its a shame that this doesn’t come nearly as close. it has a very…country feel to it.

tracks to listen to:rox in the box” or “rise to me”

2. the devil and god are raging inside me by brand new: this album was written for me [not really] but you know those albums that just feel like every single track was written for you no matter what day of the year it is. every track off of this album is phenomenal. i wish i listened to brand new in high school because i’m sure it would have gone completely different.

tracks to listen to: “you won’t know” or “handcuffs”

3. folie á deux by fall out boy: listening to this album makes me cry. not because the subject matter is particularly dark or depressing, but because fall out boy broke up and i will never get to hear clever songs about whores or high school or relationships or being a badass [every song patrick stump writes is about being a badass. he can't help it]. there is a happy end to this story though, because patrick stump started a solo project type thing that i’m really excited about.

tracks to listen to: “headfirst slide in to cooperstown on a bad bet” or “west coast smoker” [also listen to the last 60 seconds of w.a.m.s.]

downtown battle mountain 2 - 3.8.11

4. downtown battle mountain by dance gavin dance: this album is perfect. johnny craig’s voice is like butter for the bread of my soul. the mix of singing to screaming is precise and the songs are just catchy. i love everything about this album. the best part? downtown battle mountain 2 comes out on march 28th. the kicker? jonny craig is back on the album [as well as some of the original dance gavin dance crew]. needless to say, can’t wait til march.

tracks to listen to: “lemon meringue tie” or “open your eyes and look north” or “and i told them i invented times new roman”

those suggestions should hopefully get you through the week. i’ll try to find some more music for next week.

as always, suggestions and feedback are always welcomed and encouraged.

-the lumberjack

my next post: either something about college or something about video games?

heavy rotation – 10.7.10

October 7th, 2010 § 3 Comments

what is heavy rotation?

heavy rotation is where i tell you what i’m listening to, why i dig it, and what tracks you should listen to. if i like doing this, i’ll make it a weekly thing. let’s see where it takes us.

this weeks heavy rotation:

1. illuminadio by chiodos: this should come as no  surprise to people that this is on the list. their new album is such a fantastic piece of music. i’ve probably listened to it eight times in it’s entirety since monday. it is the chiodos that was lacking from bone palace ballet.

tracks to listen to – “closed eyes still look forward” or “stratovolcano mouth”

2. the ocean and the sun by the sound of animals fighting: it took forever for this band to catch on with me, but after a few months [okay like a year] of listening to them occasionally and i finally enjoy their music. some of their songs aren’t great but for the most part i really like them.

tracks to listen to – “the ocean and the sun” or “the heraldic beak of the manufacturers medallion”

3. grand by matt & kim: in a bad mood? listen to matt & kim. really stoked about life? listen to matt & kim. want to listen to some good music? listen to matt & kim. they’re pretty much a wonderful duo of music genius. their music is dance-y and grand. [i made a pun]

tracks to listen to – “daylight” or “i’ll take us home”

4. for lack of a better name by deadmau5: if you love techno, this music will make your head explode. it is just a dude [joel zimmerman] who likes to make sweet techno beats that occasionally have lyrics. he wears a giant cartoon mouse head during his performances, so he has to be the coolest, right?

tracks to listen to – “ghosts ‘n stuff” or “word problems”

 

 

for lack of a better name by deadmau5

 

5. the suburbs by the arcade fire: before i begin, i used to hate the arcade fire. i thought their music was too indie to be good and i thought they were really over rated. but now…holy eff they are good. i don’t love every track, but i like the vast majority of their music library.

tracks to listen to – “rococo” or “wasted hours”

that is the list for this week. send me your suggestions and what not to theindielumberjack@gmail.com.

enjoy your day friends.

- the lumberjack.

my next post: it should hopefully be a review of the new jimmy eat world album.

@twitter.

October 5th, 2010 § Leave a Comment

welcome to the interwebs!

just made a twitter for the site. so if you’re tech-savvy and like to tweet about your life [like we all do], follow us!

we can tweet back and forth and have tons of fun with it.

(@indielumberjack)

my goal is to reach 50 followers by the end of the week. hooray lofty goals!

-the lumberjack

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