Seven 9s and 10s

The Beach (by Subaru) Holy crap I giggle and snort every time...

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:56:23 -0500

The Beach (by Subaru)

Holy crap I giggle and snort every time the hound destroys the sand castles.

The entire series of Subaru commercials is entirely entertaining.

I had a productive lunch.

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:04:00 -0500

I had a productive lunch.

GPOYW

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:41:00 -0500

GPOYW

"The Bridge" By Edwin Friedman

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:48:00 -0500

GPOYW:

tj:

There was a man who had given much thought to what he wanted from life. He had experienced many moods and trials. He had experimented with different ways of living, and he had had his share of both success and failure. At last, he began to see clearly where he wanted to go.

Diligently, he searched for the right opportunity. Sometimes he came close, only to be pushed away. Often he applied all his strength and imagination, only to find the path hopelessly blocked. And then at last it came. But the opportunity would not wait. It would be made available only for a short time. If it were seen that he was not committed, the opportunity would not come again.

Eager to arrive, he started on his journey. With each step, he wanted to move faster; with each thought about his goal, his heart beat quicker; with each vision of what lay ahead, he found renewed vigor. Strength that had left him since his early youth returned, and desires, all kinds of desires, reawakened from their long-dormant positions.

Hurrying along, he came upon a bridge that crossed through the middle of a town. It had been built high above a river in order to protect it from the floods of spring. He started across.

Then he noticed someone coming from the opposite direction. As they moved closer, it seemed as though the other were coming to greet him. He could see clearly, however, that he did not know this other, who was dressed similarly except for something tied around his waist.

When they were within hailing distance, he could see that what the other had about his waist was a rope. It was wrapped around him many times and probably, if extended, would reach a length of 30 feet.

The other began to uncurl the rope, and, just as they were coming close, the stranger said, “Pardon me, would you be so kind as to hold the end a moment?” Surprised by this politely phrased but curious request, he agreed without a thought, reached out, and took it.

“Thank you,” said the other, who then added, “two hands now, and remember, hold tight.” Whereupon, the other jumped off the bridge.

Quickly, the free-falling body hurtled the distance of the rope’s length, and from the bridge the man abruptly felt the pull. Instinctively, he held tight and was almost dragged over the side. He managed to brace himself against the edge, however, and after having caught his breath, looked down at the other dangling, close to oblivion.

“What are you trying to do?” he yelled.

“Just hold tight,” said the other. “This is ridiculous,” the man thought and began trying to haul the other in. He could not get the leverage, however. It was as though the weight of the other person and the length of the rope had been carefully calculated in advance so that together they created a counterweight just beyond his strength to bring the other back to safety.

“Why did you do this?” the man called out.

“Remember,” said the other, “if you let go, I will be lost.”

“But I cannot pull you up,” the man cried.

“I am your responsibility,” said the other.

“Well, I did not ask for it,” the man said.

“If you let go, I am lost,” repeated the other.

He began to look around for help. But there was no one. How long would he have to wait? Why did this happen to befall him now, just as he was on the verge of true success? He examined the side, searching for a place to tie the rope. Some protrusion, perhaps, or maybe a hole in the boards. But the railing was unusually uniform in shape; there were no spaces between the boards. There was no way to get rid of this newfound burden, even temporarily.

“What do you want?” he asked the other hanging below.

“Just your help,” the other answered.

“How can I help? I cannot pull you in, and there is no place to tie the rope so that I can go and find someone to help me help you.”

“I know that. Just hang on; that will be enough. Tie the rope around your waist; it will be easier.” Fearing that his arms could not hold out much longer, he tied the rope around his waist.

“Why did you do this?” he asked again. “Don’t you see what you have done? What possible purpose could you have had in mind?”

“Just remember,” said the other, “my life is in your hands.”

What should he do?

“If I let go, all my life I will know that I let this other die. If I stay, I risk losing my momentum toward my own long-sought-after salvation. Either way this will haunt me forever.”

With ironic humor he thought to die himself, instantly, to jump off the bridge while still holding on. “That would teach this fool.” But he wanted to live and to live life fully. “What a choice I have to make; how shall I ever decide?”

As time went by, still no one came. The critical moment of decision was drawing near. To show his commitment to his own goals, he would have to continue on his journey now. It was already almost too late to arrive in time. But what a terrible choice to have to make.

A new thought occurred to him. While he could not pull this other up solely by his own efforts, if the other would shorten the rope from his end by curling it around his waist again and again, together they could do it. Actually, the other could do it by himself, so long as he, standing on the bridge, kept it still and steady.

“Now listen,” he shouted down. “I think I know how to save you.” And he explained his plan.

But the other wasn’t interested.

“You mean you won’t help? But I told you I cannot pull you up myself, and I don’t think I can hang on much longer either.”

“You must try,” the other shouted back in tears. “If you fail, I die.”

The point of decision arrived. What should he do? “My life or this other’s?”

And then a new idea. A revelation. So new, in fact, it seemed heretical, so alien was it to his traditional way of thinking.

“I want you to listen carefully,” he said, “because I mean what I am about to say. I will not accept the position of choice for your life, only for my own; the position of choice for your own life I hereby give back to you.”

“What do you mean?” the other asked, afraid.

“I mean, simply, it’s up to you. You decide which way this ends. I will become the counterweight. You do the pulling and bring yourself up. I will even tug a little from here.” He began unwinding the rope from around his waist and braced himself anew against the side.

“You cannot mean what you say,” the other shrieked. “You would not be so selfish. I am your responsibility. What could be so important that you would let someone die? Do not do this to me.”

He waited a moment. There was no change in the tension of the rope.

“I accept your choice,” he said, at last, and freed his hands.

#JoyforJulie

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:24:25 -0500

frageelay:

When I read of Julie’s news about the cancer overstaying its welcome this morning, I had myself a good cry. I got mad. I prayed. And then I thought about this incredible community here and how much we all adore Julie. We may not hold a magical cure for cancer in our hands, but we can direct a laser beam of joy and happiness and love her way, and I absolutely believe to the very core of my being that doing so is a worthwhile endeavor.

I wrote this week at Makearoo about ‘happycacheing,’ a term I coined for sites, people, music, images, movies, videos that make each of us happy. A spank bank for joy, if you will. Thinking about Julie today, I thought: what if we created a cache of happiness and joy and love for others, too?

So here’s what I propose: Whenever you post something inspiring/silly/happy/joyful that you think Julie would like, hashtag it with ‘#joyforjulie.’ It can be a post you made just for her or something you were going to share anyway that fits this theme.

That way, after a sucky round of radiation treatments or whenever she has a few moments to chill or just needs a laugh or a hug from one of us, she can click her very own hashtag and feel the joy and love and hopeful energy radiating from this community. Who knows; maybe some of it will zap those misguided, overachieving cancer cells. And if you think about it, anyone clicking that hashtag might feel better clicking through those posts, so the joy spreads outward like ripples on a pool. I know Julie will love that, too. She’s kind of awesome like that.

Do it! Reblog, share the love, spead the #joyforjulie. Thanks, humans!

steelopus: Philip Glass / Robert Wilson - Einstein On The Beach...

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:51:42 -0500

steelopus:

Philip Glass / Robert Wilson - Einstein On The Beach - Knee 5

8:05 for August 5th

Philip Glass isn’t for everybody, but he’s a hero of mine. This is a beautiful piece of art.

This is the final piece from his 3+ hour-long masterpiece. Text by Mr. Samuel Johnson.

Finally she spoke:
“Do you love me, John?” she asked.

“You know I love you, darling.” he replied.
“I love you more than tongue can tell. You are the light of my life, my sun, moon and stars. You are my everything. Without you I have no reason for being.”

Again there was silence as the two lovers sat on a park bench, their bodies touching, holding handls in the moonlight. Once more she spoke.

“How much do you love me, John?” she asked.

He answered:
“How much do I love you? Count the stars in the sky. Measure the waters of the oceans with a teaspoon. Number the grains of sand on the sea shore. Impossible, you say. Yes and it is just as impossible for me to say how much I love you.

“My love for you is higher than the heavens, deeper than Hades, and broader than the earth. It has no limits, no bounds. Everything must have an ending except my love for you.”

There was more of silence as the two lovers sat on a park bench with their bodies touching, holding hands in the moonlight. Once more her voice was heard.

“Kiss me, John” she implored.

And leaning over, he pressed his lips warmly to hers in fervent osculation.

Happy 75th birthday to Philip Glass!

Ben Folds Five - Missing The War (Live - Sessions at West 54th)...

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:13:00 -0500

Ben Folds Five - Missing The War (Live - Sessions at West 54th) (by looper12xx)

I really need to get a piano back into my life.

In my happy place. (Taken with Instagram at Veterans Memorial...

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:06:00 -0500

In my happy place. (Taken with Instagram at Veterans Memorial Park)

Rick’s McDonald’s Birthday Party! (Taken with...

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:00:00 -0500

Rick’s McDonald’s Birthday Party! (Taken with Instagram at McDonald’s)

The Shins - Simple Song This is so freaking great. The textural...

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:06:51 -0500

The Shins - Simple Song

This is so freaking great. The textural elements (and the overall mix) are amazing.

8 year old The Mini Band guitarist Zoe Thomson working on...

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:32:26 -0500

8 year old The Mini Band guitarist Zoe Thomson working on Stratosphere by Stratovarius. (by leowestby)

Start it and I promise you won’t be able to look away. It’s less than 2 minutes long.

The best part of this video is seeing her smiling. She’s clearly having fun, and that’s what music is all about.

TW Walsh - Struggle And Strife I broke ground on a brand new...

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:42:53 -0500

TW Walsh - Struggle And Strife

I broke ground on a brand new life
Same love, same hate, same fear, new struggle and strife

Aerosmith - Back In The Saddle

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:30:05 -0500

Aerosmith - Back In The Saddle

Back In The Saddle (by steelopus) GPOYW

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:53:49 -0500

Back In The Saddle (by steelopus)

GPOYW

The Rentals - Please Let That Be You

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:08:42 -0500

The Rentals - Please Let That Be You

"There was pus embedded inside your tonsils, so... it's a good thing we took them out."

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:48:34 -0500

-My surgeon, to me, at my post-op check up.

I think I can safely say I’m the only person on the planet who heard those words spoken in that sequence today.

“David Bazan discusses guitars after living room...

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:37:47 -0500

“David Bazan discusses guitars after living room show”

Remember four months ago when David Bazan played a show in my living room - otherwise known as one of the greatest nights of my life?

After the fans had left, he popped his head into my guitar room where he and I proceeded to have this nice 15+ minute conversation about guitars, which my friend Saby (thankfully) captured on video. The light is weak and the audio is quiet, but I’m glad this exists. It’s a great memory that I’ll carry through my life - talking shop with my favorite musician, in my house, with my guitars.

Bullets

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:52:00 -0500

Thank you to all of you who sent good wishes during my recovery.
There is no good way to lose 20 pounds in only fourteen days. Ask me how I know.
Two weeks is a stupid amount of time to spend almost completely alone.
Nearly ten years after it’s release, I finally SOPA’d* and watched City of God tonight. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
That girl whom I’ve taken quite a liking to has a derby bout in Ottawa tonight and I’m not there with her. Normally this would sadden me, but the bout will be streamed live on the web so thanks to the magic of satellites I’ll get to watch her kick some Canuck ass.
I haven’t shaved in three weeks and this is now officially the longest facial hair I’ve ever had.
On Monday I’ll return to work after two weeks away and that’s going to be some kind of nightmare.
I haven’t had any caffeine since the surgery, 15 days ago. I’d like to keep that up, but I worry I’ll relapse once I’m back to work - as I won’t have the luxury of just napping when I feel tired rather than trying to stimulate myself.
My thermostat has been on hold at 71ºF since the surgery and I still have moments every day where I’m freezing and unable to warm up.
I am terrified to receive my next gas & electric bill.
Laundry. So. Much. Laundry.
Tony Royster Jr. should be a household name for every music lover, especially drummers. Click that link. Please. Skip to 2:55 if you’re impatient.
I’d rather be blind than deaf, but really I’d rather be neither.
I’ve been free of all pain meds (including OTC stuff) for six days and counting. My throat is still somewhat uncomfortable when swallowing, but entirely bearable. Yawning, however, is torture.
Life is much more enjoyable when you know there is someone out there thinking about you as much as you are thinking about them.

I'm in need of laughter.

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:11:12 -0500

Now accepting recommendations for funny movies.

Go!

(?)

steelopus: KODAK. (Taken with Instagram at Rochester,...

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:04:11 -0500

steelopus:

KODAK. (Taken with Instagram at Rochester, NY)

Nothing will take this away.