Snippets from Science

Monday, April 30, 2007

Awwwww yeeaahhhhhh

A weekend of victories!

Yesterday's recital in Philly was a success- we sang well, and had a great crowd. It felt really good to do an actual performance again. It lit a fire under my ass- I've been dragging my feet trying to find a location for a summer recital, but today is the day- I'm locking in a location here on campus.

Annnnnnnnnnd, Boccismo! won our semi-final game. Yes, it's true- we are now headed to the finals!!!!!!!!!! We are super excited, but also nervous; we're up against a team that knows the court pretty well. (We stuck around all day on Saturday to watch them play). Practice makes perfect- we'll be meeting several times this week to pin down the winning combination. Balls crossed...

Friday, April 27, 2007

The Plan

After Peabody, I knew I wanted to move to New York; I just wasn't sure when. By January of 2005, I announced to my family that I would be moving to New York the following year; they were not surprised. As the year progressed, my plan changed from a winter 2006 move to a spring 2006 move, and I had plenty of time to save money and give notice. It was, afterall, the largest moving decision I've made in my life. Moving to Baltimore from West Virginia (by way of Hanover) wasn't hard- it's only an hour away and I was familiar with the city before taking up residence. New York, however, was a horse of a different color.
Since I have been here for over a year, I now feel like it is home. The routine of commuting is now just part of my life, the long days and work hours, the expensive food and drink, the taxes- it's just life. I can honestly say there is no place else I would rather be right now. However...

My plan was, and is, that if by the time I am 30 years old I do not have the career I want in the United States, I will try my hand (or voice, I guess) across the pond. While being in New York is great for auditions, and I will say I've been pleased at the work I've been given in the past year, it's pretty much the most difficult place in the US to have a career. I would love to sing for some agents, and I plan to in a year or so, but that takes money. That also takes being in the right place at the right time. I did about 10 auditions last fall, spent a lot of money and time, and got nothing. Now, I'm not complaining- it's simply the way it goes. But I wonder, how many more years will I do this? Young Artist Programs are certainly not the only way to start one's career, and I have figured out that I'm really not interested in being a big fish in the New York choral scene; at least not for life. I've met some of these choral lifers, and for them, it's fine; for me, not so much.

In conclusion (wow, flashback to Music 34), I've decided that in 3 years time, I will move to Berlin for several months and try my hand at German and Austrian houses and agents. Now, a lot COULD in 3 years. I could get an agent here, I could get into a YAP. I could also marry a gorgeous philanthropist who will pay for my debut at the Met, but I don't want to get ahead of myself.

I sort of feel the same way I did 3 years ago: I know what's next, and even though I don't have it completely figured out just yet, I know where to start.

The Apartment

If you've ever been quick to judge (hello, everyone), you should read this.

lol start yur dai write

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

And the funniest one so far today:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket



OK, if you don't know who Matisyahu is, that might not be so funny. Personally, I think it's a scream.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Oh word

Every New Yorker can attest to this.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

For Alex

Ok, I'm not even close to giving up my smooth white Belgian ales or hefeweizens. BUT, I am sitting here, drinking an Arrogant Bastard Oaked, and I'm enjoying it. For you non-beer snobs, A.B. is an American Strong Ale- aka, not my favorite. I won't front; here's what Beer Advocate has to say about it:

"They don't call it Arrogant Bastard for nothing! The bitter hops and citrus are more intense in the flavor than the smell, but I think there needs to be a little more malt. Perhaps I've been spoiled by its maltier brother, Double Bastard. Despite that, you can taste the sweet flavor more as the beer warms up. It's awfully sticky as some of it spills around my lips. It's not my favorite of Stone's products, as this Bastard will attack even regular ale drinkers."

I'm gonna have to go ahead and agree that more malt would be preferable for me as well- I'm just not all about hops. However, I am gaining more and more appreciation for the stuff- as I will obviously recognize any well-crafted brew- hence my A.B. consumption this evening. So Alex, this one's for you.

Slowly but surely...

...she's finding her way. I'm happy to report that my lil sissy is applying for grad school in the fall!!!! For me, grad school was just a given- I mean, what else do you do after 4 years of studying classical voice? You study for 2 more! Or, two more after that, or maybe 3 more after that, school school school. Sometimes, I think people stay in school to avoid dealing with the "real world". My sister chose to live the life of a vagabond, moving around, not having a serious job, and sewing her wild oats. (And I can vouch for the wildness- she's already planned my strip club trip for my June visit.)
However, she has recently remembered that she actually does love playing the oboe, and she's a damn good player too, so why NOT go to grad school? She will have the opportunity to study with a great teacher (and we all know that is what it's all about), gain more experience, make some friends with whom she'll have more in common than love of PBR, and figure out if she wants to pursue performing full force, or on her own terms.

I have given her this advice: it's going to be expensive and very hard. But, the fact that you have chosen to pursue a career path where most people do not understand/fail/give up will be worth every penny. I truly believe that.

This one's for you, Phong

Here!

Monday, April 23, 2007

Word up...

...to all who came out for my birthday celebration. Barcade was a lot of fun, and the $5 beers made it even sweeter. My hangover finally went away on Saturday, around 11:00 PM.

Friday, April 20, 2007

O rly? Rly.

It's Caturday!

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

And my favorite:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Thursday, April 19, 2007

I ain't frontin'

I wasn't kidding when I sang Boccismo!'s praises. Friends, we are number 2 in the league. NUMBER TWO. We are the Monday night Number one, which means A) we are headed to semi-finals (natch), and B) we've been granted a bye on our first game because of our ranking. Also, we are playing a team that we have successfully demolished twice, but are also way cool dudes who may or may not know the scissor sisters. :)

I have to say, I'm pretty friggin' excited about our upcoming game(s). If (when) we win the semi-final game, we will head to the finals the following weekend, where all of Brooklyn Bocce will be represented. Needless to say, I'm extremely plussed.

Over and over and over and over and over

Today I turn 27. Tonight I'm seeing Hot Chip. I'm pretty friggin' excited- they can rock a house party till your hair turns gray.

Check it!

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Baybeez

More pictures of the nephew. I must say, as cute as he is, he looks pretty hilarious in these photos. Newborns always look drunk to me. Of course, my nephew is no exception.

Givin' back

Last summer, I decided that I wanted to volunteer for an animal shelter. I wanted to be one of those people in Union Square on Saturdays, who had the "adopt me" dogs. Well, last summer came and went and I was busy learning my way about New York, and didn't end up volunteering afterall. Well, I've already applied to be a volunteer here, and I've sponsored a cat. His name is Freckles. He's a rescue kitty from Hurricane Katrina, and he has feline leukemia. Sadly, the chances of him being adopted are slim, so I figure this is the next best thing. And, since my allergies wouldn't allow me to have him, this is pretty much all I can do.

I need to get it together before I start volunteering, because right now, I can't even look at the page without tearing up.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

VT

Although Virginia Tech was a HUGE rival of WVU (and I say was because we no longer play them in football), my heart goes out to all of the families and students suffering from this incredibly horrible tragedy. Watching CNN clips of eyewitness accounts is so frightening. Put yourself in the position of these students. What if this happened to you, in YOUR German class? Everyone around you- murdered. The shooter re-entering the classroom multiple times, just to kill more random students. It's amazingly tragic and awful.

I don't know anyone who perished in this tragedy, and although my brother was a Hokie, I have no other connection to VT. But, I find this event to be absolutely horrifying. Unfortunately, it will be all over the media for weeks, and people will grow tired of hearing about it because of being constantly reminded. However, that does not depreciate the severity of this situation, and I hope you will continue to keep the departed in your prayers.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Astoria Dinner Club

As much as some Manhattanites complain about the outer boroughs, I find it's mostly out of ignorance. For example: On Friday night, I was talking about my upcoming birthday party with my friend Adam and his roommate. Adam (who lives in the East Village) said he was excited and planned to bring a few people with him. His roommate asked where I was having my bash. I said, "Barcade." He said, "Where is THAT?" I said, "Williamsburg." He said, "Ugh. Brooklyn? Yeah, I don't go to parties in Brooklyn. In fact, I don't go to anything outside of Manhattan." "That's cool", I said "it's really not your scene. Plus, you're not invited." He smirked.
The fact of the matter is, going to Brooklyn or Queens (sorry, Bronx and Staten Islanders- but you really are farther out), often takes just as much time as it would to get to certain destintations in Manhattan. I think it's laziness. I know people who live in Manhattan who have no idea how to get to Columbia University. These are the same people who complain about having to take the subway 3 stops. Pathetic, right? Right.

That being said, one of the biggest supporters of the outer boroughs is my friend Jonathan. Although he lives in Manhattan, he's a true Brooklynite at heart (and should probably move there with the quickness). So, last night, Jonathan schlepped out to Astoria (and I do mean schlepped in that monsoon) to have dinner with me and a fellow Astorian, Andrew. Andrew and Jonthan are friends from way back, and since Andrew and I only live a few blocks apart, we decided it was time for Jonathan to put that outer borough support to use and come have dinner in our neck of the woods. We had a lovely evening, and decided that we would dine monthly in Astoria, referring to ourselves as the Astoria Dinner Club. I think Members Only jackets are in order...

Dear everyone who is complaining about the weather,

Yes, it sucks. Yes, it's a record. Yes, the commute was hell. But, believe it or not, we're all irritated by it, so it's not all about you, and kindly shut the hell up.

Thank you.

Love,
Me

Friday, April 13, 2007

Imus

A co-worker sent this to me. She's black, and wholeheardtedly agrees with the columnist, as do I. (Plus, Nakia granted me my black girl card years ago.)

Imus isn't the real bad guy


Instead of wasting time on irrelevant shock jock, black leaders need to be fighting a growing gangster culture.

By JASON WHITLOCK
Columnist
Thank you, Don Imus. You've given us (black people) an excuse to avoid our real problem.
You've given Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson another opportunity to pretend that the old fight, which is now the safe and lucrative fight, is still the most important fight in our push for true economic and social equality.
You've given Vivian Stringer and Rutgers the chance to hold a nationally televised recruiting celebration expertly disguised as a news conference to respond to your poor attempt at humor.
Thank you, Don Imus. You extended Black History Month to April, and we can once again wallow in victimhood, protest like it's 1965 and delude ourselves into believing that fixing your hatred is more necessary than eradicating our self-hatred.
The bigots win again.
While we're fixated on a bad joke cracked by an irrelevant, bad shock jock, I'm sure at least one of the marvelous young women on the Rutgers basketball team is somewhere snapping her fingers to the beat of 50 Cent's or Snoop Dogg's or Young Jeezy's latest ode glorifying nappy-headed pimps and hos.
I ain't saying Jesse, Al and Vivian are gold-diggas, but they don't have the heart to mount a legitimate campaign against the real black-folk killas.
It is us. At this time, we are our own worst enemies. We have allowed our youths to buy into a culture (hip hop) that has been perverted, corrupted and overtaken by prison culture. The music, attitude and behavior expressed in this culture is anti-black, anti-education, demeaning, self-destructive, pro-drug dealing and violent.
Rather than confront this heinous enemy from within, we sit back and wait for someone like Imus to have a slip of the tongue and make the mistake of repeating the things we say about ourselves.
It's embarrassing. Dave Chappelle was offered $50 million to make racially insensitive jokes about black and white people on TV. He was hailed as a genius. Black comedians routinely crack jokes about white and black people, and we all laugh out loud.
I'm no Don Imus apologist. He and his tiny companion Mike Lupica blasted me after I fell out with ESPN. Imus is a hack.
But, in my view, he didn't do anything outside the norm for shock jocks and comedians. He also offered an apology. That should've been the end of this whole affair. Instead, it's only the beginning. It's an opportunity for Stringer, Jackson and Sharpton to step on victim platforms and elevate themselves and their agenda$.
I watched the Rutgers news conference and was ashamed.
Martin Luther King Jr. spoke for eight minutes in 1963 at the March on Washington. At the time, black people could be lynched and denied fundamental rights with little thought. With the comments of a talk-show host most of her players had never heard of before last week serving as her excuse, Vivian Stringer rambled on for 30 minutes about the amazing season her team had.
Somehow, we're supposed to believe that the comments of a man with virtually no connection to the sports world ruined Rutgers' wonderful season. Had a broadcaster with credibility and a platform in the sports world uttered the words Imus did, I could understand a level of outrage.
But an hourlong press conference over a man who has already apologized, already been suspended and is already insignificant is just plain intellectually dishonest. This is opportunism. This is a distraction.
In the grand scheme, Don Imus is no threat to us in general and no threat to black women in particular. If his words are so powerful and so destructive and must be rebuked so forcefully, then what should we do about the idiot rappers on BET, MTV and every black-owned radio station in the country who use words much more powerful and much more destructive?
I don't listen or watch Imus' show regularly. Has he at any point glorified selling crack cocaine to black women? Has he celebrated black men shooting each other randomly? Has he suggested in any way that it's cool to be a baby-daddy rather than a husband and a parent? Does he tell his listeners that they're suckers for pursuing education and that they're selling out their race if they do?
When Imus does any of that, call me and I'll get upset. Until then, he is what he is - a washed-up shock jock who is very easy to ignore when you're not looking to be made a victim.
No. We all know where the real battleground is. We know that the gangsta rappers and their followers in the athletic world have far bigger platforms to negatively define us than some old white man with a bad radio show. There's no money and lots of danger in that battle, so Jesse and Al are going to sit it out.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Ryons continue to be huge

My nephew, Maxwell Louis Ryon, was born last night around 1:20 AM. That little sucker weighed in at 9 lbs 4 oz., and is 23 inches long. My brother said he looks like a toddler.

Pictures to follow, as soon as they are sent to me, but he does have a full head of dark hair, and is wearing a size 2T.

Monday, April 09, 2007

This dude read my mind.

From Overheard in NY:

Guy to group of teenagers after doors close on crowded train: You know, in this city we move in on the trains.
Girl #1: We're not tourists, you know.
Guy: Then you should know better.
Girl #1: Oh, just shut up.
Guy: Didn't your father teach you to act better?
Girl #2: Her father is dead.
Guy, after slight pause: Well, maybe that's why she's such an obnoxious little twat.

Robert made Peanut Butter cookies last night...

...and tonight, he's going to make this.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Top 40

It's been quite some time since I've willfully listened to Top 40 Radio. I don't always listen to music at work because, believe it or not, I get distracted pretty easily. As a result, I'm forced to hear my cube mate's radio through our thin partition. I'm not sure what she listens to- I think it's some internet "easy listening" shit, I'll tell you one thing- it's the MOST repetitive radio station I've ever heard. If I remember correctly, songs reach Top 40 status because they get tons of airplay, right? Yeah, well...I've heard "How to save a life" by The Fray twice a day, every day, for the last 2 months. (As I'm typing this, "Waiting Room" by Fugazi is on my college radio station, drowning out that piece of shit singer.) No wonder the mere THOUGHT of this terrible terrible terrible and irritating song makes me want to throw myself in front of the 1 train. That is how much I hate it.

Moreover, I don't know how Top 40 DJs can stand it. I know, from being on the radio once or twice in my day, that as a DJ you don't necessarily listen to the song as it's on air. But STILL. Don't they tire of playing the same bullshit music several times a day, every day? Ugh.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Multiple Choice

In keeping with the blatant chauvinistic theme of today's posts, I gave my sister the following quiz yesterday.

Which one do you pick?

Prison's finest:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Henry VIII:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Or shirtless dude who was in that one movie and also starred in an episode of Sex and the City:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket


Now, for me, it's a difficult choice. But in the end, Ratface and I chose the same man. (For the record, choice C would not have been in MY lineup, but my sister absolutely loves him.)

Tudor me

OK, I will admit, The Tudors isn't the best show I've ever watched, but the degree of hotness on this show is far too high for me NOT to watch it. Lemme 'splain:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket




You're welcome.

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Just when Boccismo! couldn't possibly be any cooler...

We fucking turn that shit AROUND. I couldn't write a better account of last night's game if I tried. (Also, I was rehearsing, so I SADLY SADLY SADLY missed this incredible night.) Bucket reports:

THIS IS BOCCISMO!

Congrats on a HUGE win last night. Boccismo! was in extreme crisis mode as 7:30 rolled around. Paul (that bag of cocks that was giving Brian such a hard time about rescheduling the game) was practicing for at least a good 20 minutes before the game started, lobbing his balls down the court and giving it a lovely texture resembling that of the fucking moon. Through holidays and a little bit of miscommunication, Boccismo! was down one player but still decided to take on The Readers even with a slight handicap. Two points into the game (our two points, by the way), Cockbag-Paul freaks out and says that we're breaking the rules and if we win the game with only three players then we forfeit the win.

FUCK. THAT. GUY.

As Lou remained seated (out of fury, hemorrhoids or fear of going Incredible Hulk on Cockbag), Saltlick stepped it up and debated it out with Cb-P. Jeff would have taken a car down but by this time it was already after 8 and time was running out for everyone. Eventually, after an emergency call to Cap'n, we picked up this lovely lass named Lori who had never played bocce before but was on a bowling league. Although she wasn't stellar, Lori held our ground and helped Boccismo! pave the way for a 7- 2 win in the first game. The second game came down to 6-6 with Saltlick throwing the final winning throw. Victory has never tasted sweeter.

Gianni tasted blood this week. The war was intense but (as if there were any doubt) Boccismo! emerged victorious.

Congrats all around.



Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Monday, April 02, 2007

Your weekly Unethicist dose...

In light of a recent, ahem, "scare" at the 33rd St. palace, this seems highly apropos. And hilarious.

Last summer, I visited friends at their chateau in France -- good company, excellent food, but a lumpy mattress full of bedbugs. Badly bitten, I said nothing, but I know I'll be invited back. How can I politely tell them about their infestation? Or more politely, must I remain silent and simply decline the invitation? -- Joan Shore, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

I forgot about the part in the Princess and the Pea where the Princess turned out to be a total twat. Ooh la-la, yearly visits to your friends' chateau in France. You know, even in spite of your gauche I'm-not-just-an-asshole-I'm-an-international-asshole thing, the fact that you got bed bugs would normally have put me firmly on your side because that is some bullshit (nice chateau, Scabies Depardieu), but that you can't even talk about it without the bourgeois complaint that the infected mattress was "lumpy"? Go le fuck your le self.

If I was in charge, we would chain you up and force feed you until your liver turned into human foie gras, like some kind of set piece from Saw VIII: Jigsaw Prends Paris.

Je hate you.

1 down, ? to go

Yesterday was the year anniversary of Robert's, Amanda's, and my move to this here city. I'm still waiting for that anniversary band Robert promised me, but I guess this whole living in sin thing is fine for now.

Needless to say, it's been a fast year. I feel accomplished, and I'm not leaving any time soon, so who knows what's next.