It starts tonight.
A few years ago, I bought a bunch of guitar video lessons off the internet that looked like exactly the type of help I needed. (They're called "Stevie Snacks" by a guy named Andy.) There's a bunch of them, and I got the two series that I thought would help me the most. I can play guitar. That's not an issue. My issue is that I'm not good ENOUGH. I have no idea what I'm doing outside of chord changes and a few bluesy riffs I've lifted over the years. And I'm now in the arena with people who are WAY better than me, and I don't like it. I needed help with knowing WHAT to play WHEN. Example: The chords are I-ii-V-IV :| I want to know why 'box 1' or the minor pentatonic scale sounds good over the I and V chords but not the ii. And I want to know how to get the TENSION or RELIEF of other scales to lay over the IV chord. Where's that come from? These videos are good about showing how to wrap your head around that. However, like most things, I never really got into the details, and just breezed though them without REALLY digesting them.
Tonight is the first night in a goal I'm gonna call "woodshedding."
I'm going through these lessons like I should have a year ago. 2 Lessons a week. One of the "5 Blues Boxes" series and one of the "Fretboard knowledge" series. Hopefully by the end of the lessons, I'll be noticeably better.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Before I die....
I saw this on a tumblr post today, and I thought it was cool enough to share. A condemned house in New Orleans gets turned into a public bucket list.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Thoughts on a Thursday
Two posts in one month?! Books for Christmas?! What the heck is that?
I'm still not quite back on the 'writing out a full text blogpost' wagon yet, so I'll keep it to another bulleted list.
I'm still not quite back on the 'writing out a full text blogpost' wagon yet, so I'll keep it to another bulleted list.
- TWLOHA is going to have a movie made on its origin story. Starring Kat Dennings (ha) from Nick and Nora. I'm sure JW will love that.
- Another perfectly dead-on comic from The Oatmeal. This one lauds the wonders of Sriracha (aka "Rooster") Sauce.
- Tomorrow is 3/11 Day. Be sure to stay positive and spread good vibes. And to listen to a lot of 311.
- With Charlie Sheen in the news so much this week, I found this particular Onion news article very amusing. By the way - the Onion is fake news, Nic.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thoughts on a Monday...
A few things notable today:
- A new blog post. Its true, they're now rare enough to mention within itself. Like an MC Escher drawing....
- Anyone remember my old post on DARPA's "Big Dog" project? It was a robotic dog/pack mule thing that you couldn't kick over. It was pretty terrifying. Well, guess what? Now they've modified it to stop carrying human's luggage and start chasing them down and killing them. Okay maybe its not programmed to kill.... yet. But it does see you as prey, and this metal machine can run faster than you. Meet "Cheetah-bot." Coming to a park near you!
- Another humorous post from The Oatmeal. This one ranks how much Oatmeal likes the Angry Birds, based on their in-game performances.
- A triumphant return to Pablos, my favorite skywalk eatery. Also planned for this afternoon - my triumphant return to the restroom.
Friday, February 4, 2011
The day music died.
No - its not about the Big Bopper. Its worse.
The White Stripes announced their break-up this week. To me - its worse. I'm not sure I've taken a band break-up this hard before. I've had relationship breakups that didn't make me this sad.
The White Stripes just kicked ass. That's really the best way to describe it. Raw fuzz, simple chord progression and song structure, simple drums, and just insane amounts of energy to fill that space.
The White Stripes announced their break-up this week. To me - its worse. I'm not sure I've taken a band break-up this hard before. I've had relationship breakups that didn't make me this sad.
The White Stripes just kicked ass. That's really the best way to describe it. Raw fuzz, simple chord progression and song structure, simple drums, and just insane amounts of energy to fill that space.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
2010 Book List
I didn't do nearly as well as I did last year. On top of that - I read more fiction and guilty pleasure books this year too. Last year I was on a classics kick and will probably go back to that in 2011. But it is what it is.... my 2010 Book List, in order of being read.
Eaters of the Dead - Michael Crichton
This book was a literary adaption of the ancient story of Beowulf. It was a very literal translation for the first half, then a bit more liberal with the ending. It follows the journey of an Arabic man who is riding with a group of people we now call 'vikings.' There's some great bits of history and culture in there with a story most people already know subtly woven in.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson
Most people have seen the movie, or recognize the HST costume... I'm a big fan of the movie, and knew that I'd eventually need to read the book it was based on. It was definitely better than the movie (even though the movie does thankfully stay very very close to the book). However, those moments of literary genius are more common in the book. The movie just has that one scene after the worst binge where Thompson wakes up in the god-awful mess and then bangs out an enlightening monologue about why all these children from the 60s are so... empty now. There are several moments like this in the book, and that's exactly what I was hoping for. Its crazy to think this guy actually did that. He really was some kind of mad genius.
How Starbucks Changed My Life -
A big-wig guy from an ad firm gets laid off and forced to find a job with health insurance at 70 years old. He finds that and more at a Starbucks. Sounds ridiculous, but actually was an interesting read. The old guy has some good points to make.... as well as a few that should have been common sense.
Trinity - Leon Uris
Oof. This one was AWESOME. And heartbreaking. But its hard to tell a story set in Ireland any other way. It was a long read, but totally worth it. There's so much Irish history woven in to a fictional story that you're learning about Ireland's past without even knowing it. And if you're actually Irish - its hard to read this and not come out with an anti-English/Protestant feeling.
A Confession - Tolstoy
Popular Russian writer struggles with being intelligent at the same time as wanting to believe in God. He has trouble making the two mesh. Some good arguments in here. I think the purpose of the book is how to look at faith in a different way so as to reconcile faith in God with modern cynicism. However, I personally thought the arguments AGAINST it in the beginning were much better than those posed at the end. Essentially, that's what this book was about - questioning intelligently. He did eventually come to the conclusion that faith and intellectualism could co-exist... Too bad the Catholic church had kicked him out for even asking the question in the first place.
His Dark Materials (series) - Pullman
This series was the first 'new' sci-fi/fantasy books I'd tried in over a decade. I liked these 3 books - the premise was different than anything I'd read before. So many sci-fi series are just rehashed or re-imagined from some other series. This one felt new. It came out about the same time as Harry Potter, and ironically - Potter took most of the flak for being 'anti-christian' with all its witches and magic.... Spoiler alert: THIS BOOK KILLS GOD. Like, no joke. They friggen kill God. Well, they basically euthanize him, but let's not split hairs. Its supposed to be a good thing, and the way the book is laid out, it is.... but still. Yikes. Pullman owes JK Rowling big time for taking the heat on that one.
The Duma Key - Stephen King
Standard King. Construction worker loses arm, marriage, and moves to Florida. Rediscovers painting. And a mysterious presence on the island (key) finds him. If you've read any King, this isn't anything new. But still a fun read, like all King. One of his better endings though. It has one.
Brave New World - Huxley
I've read this before, but didn't really remember it. Now I remember why. Its terrible. Great premise, great idea... hard to read. Moral: Differences, emotions, pain, struggle - removing them from our lives also removes our identity and purpose. A life without them is meaningless.
World War Z - Brooks
Ever read the oral histories of a war? Its single person stories of their experiences during a time of upheaval. This is another oral history, only for a fictitious zombie apocalypse. Sound like an easily forgettable read? Think again. This book hits HARD. Even though the accounts of human decency and showcasing the amazing things our race can do when put to the test are fiction - the emotional weight is real. I'd highly recommend it.
The Road - McCarthy
A young boy and his father are wandering a post-apocalyptic wasteland looking for.... well, anything. Food mostly. This one is a heart wrencher. What do you tell your kids when you're pretty sure everything's NOT going to be alright? Do you keep your morals and humanity and die slowly? Or throw morality to the wind and survive?
Towers of Midnight - Jordan
The next-to-last book in a gigantic series. Its sci-fi/fantasy but the story is so complex and unique that I honestly can't wait to see how it ends. I'd go into a synopsis, but it'd just sound silly.
Eaters of the Dead - Michael Crichton
This book was a literary adaption of the ancient story of Beowulf. It was a very literal translation for the first half, then a bit more liberal with the ending. It follows the journey of an Arabic man who is riding with a group of people we now call 'vikings.' There's some great bits of history and culture in there with a story most people already know subtly woven in.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson
Most people have seen the movie, or recognize the HST costume... I'm a big fan of the movie, and knew that I'd eventually need to read the book it was based on. It was definitely better than the movie (even though the movie does thankfully stay very very close to the book). However, those moments of literary genius are more common in the book. The movie just has that one scene after the worst binge where Thompson wakes up in the god-awful mess and then bangs out an enlightening monologue about why all these children from the 60s are so... empty now. There are several moments like this in the book, and that's exactly what I was hoping for. Its crazy to think this guy actually did that. He really was some kind of mad genius.
How Starbucks Changed My Life -
A big-wig guy from an ad firm gets laid off and forced to find a job with health insurance at 70 years old. He finds that and more at a Starbucks. Sounds ridiculous, but actually was an interesting read. The old guy has some good points to make.... as well as a few that should have been common sense.
Trinity - Leon Uris
Oof. This one was AWESOME. And heartbreaking. But its hard to tell a story set in Ireland any other way. It was a long read, but totally worth it. There's so much Irish history woven in to a fictional story that you're learning about Ireland's past without even knowing it. And if you're actually Irish - its hard to read this and not come out with an anti-English/Protestant feeling.
A Confession - Tolstoy
Popular Russian writer struggles with being intelligent at the same time as wanting to believe in God. He has trouble making the two mesh. Some good arguments in here. I think the purpose of the book is how to look at faith in a different way so as to reconcile faith in God with modern cynicism. However, I personally thought the arguments AGAINST it in the beginning were much better than those posed at the end. Essentially, that's what this book was about - questioning intelligently. He did eventually come to the conclusion that faith and intellectualism could co-exist... Too bad the Catholic church had kicked him out for even asking the question in the first place.
His Dark Materials (series) - Pullman
This series was the first 'new' sci-fi/fantasy books I'd tried in over a decade. I liked these 3 books - the premise was different than anything I'd read before. So many sci-fi series are just rehashed or re-imagined from some other series. This one felt new. It came out about the same time as Harry Potter, and ironically - Potter took most of the flak for being 'anti-christian' with all its witches and magic.... Spoiler alert: THIS BOOK KILLS GOD. Like, no joke. They friggen kill God. Well, they basically euthanize him, but let's not split hairs. Its supposed to be a good thing, and the way the book is laid out, it is.... but still. Yikes. Pullman owes JK Rowling big time for taking the heat on that one.
The Duma Key - Stephen King
Standard King. Construction worker loses arm, marriage, and moves to Florida. Rediscovers painting. And a mysterious presence on the island (key) finds him. If you've read any King, this isn't anything new. But still a fun read, like all King. One of his better endings though. It has one.
Brave New World - Huxley
I've read this before, but didn't really remember it. Now I remember why. Its terrible. Great premise, great idea... hard to read. Moral: Differences, emotions, pain, struggle - removing them from our lives also removes our identity and purpose. A life without them is meaningless.
World War Z - Brooks
Ever read the oral histories of a war? Its single person stories of their experiences during a time of upheaval. This is another oral history, only for a fictitious zombie apocalypse. Sound like an easily forgettable read? Think again. This book hits HARD. Even though the accounts of human decency and showcasing the amazing things our race can do when put to the test are fiction - the emotional weight is real. I'd highly recommend it.
The Road - McCarthy
A young boy and his father are wandering a post-apocalyptic wasteland looking for.... well, anything. Food mostly. This one is a heart wrencher. What do you tell your kids when you're pretty sure everything's NOT going to be alright? Do you keep your morals and humanity and die slowly? Or throw morality to the wind and survive?
Towers of Midnight - Jordan
The next-to-last book in a gigantic series. Its sci-fi/fantasy but the story is so complex and unique that I honestly can't wait to see how it ends. I'd go into a synopsis, but it'd just sound silly.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
30 days of truth (Day 13)
Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough days.
I recently (jokingly) told a friend that I would not give up 311 for her, and got a lot of flak about my decision. In my defense, the premise was not only did I have to give them up, I also had to give up EVER KNOWING THEM. And there was really no reason or warning to this thought-experiment, and quite obviously was posed just so I would give the obvious answer - so in my wisdom, I chose 311 over this friend. As a joke. Right?
I don't think people understand how much of an influence that one band had on me in high school, college, and still today... How many shows I've been to, memories of people and turning points in relationships that happened at those shows. Quoted lyrics, ideologies... Not having ever known this band would probably make me a completely different person.
The thing about 311 is that there's always a song for whatever mood you're in. Feeling down? Listen to Don't Dwell, Don't Stay Home, Beyond the Gray Sky, or Sometimes Jacks Rule the Realm. Or maybe you're feeling great and want something to get geared up? Omaha Stylee, Freak Out, Down, or F.T.B.S. will get you there. Wanna wind down? There's always Amber, Stealing Happy Hours, or Running. I could go on, but you get the idea.
I recently (jokingly) told a friend that I would not give up 311 for her, and got a lot of flak about my decision. In my defense, the premise was not only did I have to give them up, I also had to give up EVER KNOWING THEM. And there was really no reason or warning to this thought-experiment, and quite obviously was posed just so I would give the obvious answer - so in my wisdom, I chose 311 over this friend. As a joke. Right?
I don't think people understand how much of an influence that one band had on me in high school, college, and still today... How many shows I've been to, memories of people and turning points in relationships that happened at those shows. Quoted lyrics, ideologies... Not having ever known this band would probably make me a completely different person.
The thing about 311 is that there's always a song for whatever mood you're in. Feeling down? Listen to Don't Dwell, Don't Stay Home, Beyond the Gray Sky, or Sometimes Jacks Rule the Realm. Or maybe you're feeling great and want something to get geared up? Omaha Stylee, Freak Out, Down, or F.T.B.S. will get you there. Wanna wind down? There's always Amber, Stealing Happy Hours, or Running. I could go on, but you get the idea.
30 days of truth (Day 12)
Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.
My feet. You don't ever hear someone say, "Hey dude, sweet feet!" As a matter of fact, I don't think I've ever hear compliments given to anyone on their feet. Or their ears. Both two body parts that serve only functional purposes. They ain't much to look at when you really think about it. Go ahead, think about it. Not really any such thing as 'attractive' ears, huh?
Honestly, if I DID get a compliment on my ears or feet, I'd probably be creeped out.
Caboose OUT.
My feet. You don't ever hear someone say, "Hey dude, sweet feet!" As a matter of fact, I don't think I've ever hear compliments given to anyone on their feet. Or their ears. Both two body parts that serve only functional purposes. They ain't much to look at when you really think about it. Go ahead, think about it. Not really any such thing as 'attractive' ears, huh?
Honestly, if I DID get a compliment on my ears or feet, I'd probably be creeped out.
Caboose OUT.
Monday, December 6, 2010
30 days of truth (Day 11)
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Okay, guess I've got to make up for skipping the last one.
Ironically, the things I get the most compliments for tend to be the things that I also get the most grief for from different people. I guess that's me, though. Catalyzing. I get compliments on my hair a lot. I also have people asking me if I'm going for the 'mad scientist' look, or ask me, "so... when are you getting a haircut again?" Same story with the way I dress. Sometimes I get compliments, and sometimes people ask what the hell I'm wearing. I get grief for scarves a lot. Guess what people? They work really well. Plus, I think they're cool. I decided in college that scarves were totally worth the risk... in fact one co-worker that sits next to me on my team was in several of my PoliSci classes @ ISU, and he actually knew me as 'the scarf kid.' Its cool, I knew him as 'trench coat mafia.' Super cool (and crazy smart) guy. Anyways.
I used to get compliments on my wit, but I've lost a bit of that, honestly. You've got to have a foil to stay sharp with that.
I get compliments on my guitars and my Silvertone amp at shows quite a bit.
Okay, guess I've got to make up for skipping the last one.
Ironically, the things I get the most compliments for tend to be the things that I also get the most grief for from different people. I guess that's me, though. Catalyzing. I get compliments on my hair a lot. I also have people asking me if I'm going for the 'mad scientist' look, or ask me, "so... when are you getting a haircut again?" Same story with the way I dress. Sometimes I get compliments, and sometimes people ask what the hell I'm wearing. I get grief for scarves a lot. Guess what people? They work really well. Plus, I think they're cool. I decided in college that scarves were totally worth the risk... in fact one co-worker that sits next to me on my team was in several of my PoliSci classes @ ISU, and he actually knew me as 'the scarf kid.' Its cool, I knew him as 'trench coat mafia.' Super cool (and crazy smart) guy. Anyways.
I used to get compliments on my wit, but I've lost a bit of that, honestly. You've got to have a foil to stay sharp with that.
I get compliments on my guitars and my Silvertone amp at shows quite a bit.
30 days of truth (Day 10)
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Guess what, Downer List? I'm skipping this one. I didn't realize that this list should have been called, "30 days of wanting to cut yourself." I can think of a few people that I should probably permanently cut ties with, but that's just sorta mean. An eye roll here and there is bearable rather than having to deal with 'completely cut all ties' drama. I feel like that's just asking for more contact. And the one person I probably should let go, I'd rather cut my arm off than do that.
Guess what, Downer List? I'm skipping this one. I didn't realize that this list should have been called, "30 days of wanting to cut yourself." I can think of a few people that I should probably permanently cut ties with, but that's just sorta mean. An eye roll here and there is bearable rather than having to deal with 'completely cut all ties' drama. I feel like that's just asking for more contact. And the one person I probably should let go, I'd rather cut my arm off than do that.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Why people break up
This was an interesting post. A chart on the reasons people break up and another trending the times during the year that see the most breakups.
I like charts and graphs.
I like charts and graphs.
Monday, November 29, 2010
30 days of truth (Day 9)
Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
I had a few friends in college that I drifted from when we all moved. We've kept in loose contact, but I've been pretty bad about making the day trip over to see people. I'm trying to be better about that. They're great people and I don't want to lose them as friends.
And what do ya know, one of them just emailed me. Told ya - good people.
I had a few friends in college that I drifted from when we all moved. We've kept in loose contact, but I've been pretty bad about making the day trip over to see people. I'm trying to be better about that. They're great people and I don't want to lose them as friends.
And what do ya know, one of them just emailed me. Told ya - good people.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
30 days of truth (Day 8)
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Hmm, I think I should re-work this list. Some of these are sorta all about bitching. And I really don't think I have an instance of someone who made my life hell... I either get lost or get even, but either way, I don't just let it happen. I'm sure that if I let other people make suggestions for this post that I could get a few submissions. But really - I feel that you only LET people make your life hell, and there's always ways to get out from under that. So its hard for me to place blame on other people. I suppose I could go into people who I hated working with at work, but I tend to move on ASAP if I get into those situations.
Sorry. Crap post. Whomp-wah.
Hmm, I think I should re-work this list. Some of these are sorta all about bitching. And I really don't think I have an instance of someone who made my life hell... I either get lost or get even, but either way, I don't just let it happen. I'm sure that if I let other people make suggestions for this post that I could get a few submissions. But really - I feel that you only LET people make your life hell, and there's always ways to get out from under that. So its hard for me to place blame on other people. I suppose I could go into people who I hated working with at work, but I tend to move on ASAP if I get into those situations.
Sorry. Crap post. Whomp-wah.
Monday, November 22, 2010
30 days of truth (Day 7)
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Trying to whittle this down to one person might be tough... I'll just say that my mother and two older brothers have done a lot for me, both directly and indirectly.
Obviously, they've all given me a lot of direct support all my life... advice, phone calls, positive vibes, etc. But indirectly, they've made my life literally worth living for by just being themselves. There have been times in the past few years where I was so down that they were literally the only reason I could find to keep on going at all.
On a much less dramatic but no less truthful note: I sometimes also think that its worth living just to observe the unpredictable and wondrous event that is life on this planet. Crazy good or bad weather, the insane coincidences, the vastness of the universe, the newest gadget realized from a childhood sci-fi movie, the unpredictability of people... There's something existentially and fundamentally amazing about the fact that those phenomenon aren't unique to our lifetimes. People have been reveling in these things for centuries... Little feelings of amazement, awe, and understanding that appear in a flash and then gone even faster. Those moments are - in part - I think why we're all HERE.
Trying to whittle this down to one person might be tough... I'll just say that my mother and two older brothers have done a lot for me, both directly and indirectly.
Obviously, they've all given me a lot of direct support all my life... advice, phone calls, positive vibes, etc. But indirectly, they've made my life literally worth living for by just being themselves. There have been times in the past few years where I was so down that they were literally the only reason I could find to keep on going at all.
On a much less dramatic but no less truthful note: I sometimes also think that its worth living just to observe the unpredictable and wondrous event that is life on this planet. Crazy good or bad weather, the insane coincidences, the vastness of the universe, the newest gadget realized from a childhood sci-fi movie, the unpredictability of people... There's something existentially and fundamentally amazing about the fact that those phenomenon aren't unique to our lifetimes. People have been reveling in these things for centuries... Little feelings of amazement, awe, and understanding that appear in a flash and then gone even faster. Those moments are - in part - I think why we're all HERE.
Friday, November 19, 2010
30 days of truth (Day 6)
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
Man, um... I can think of lots of things I hope to never have to do.
Man, um... I can think of lots of things I hope to never have to do.
- Watch one of my children die before I do
- Kill someone
- Wonder how I'll get my next meal
- Meet a certain someone's future kids
- Fight a panda
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is a big deal. You hear about it all the time, but its actually a bit of a controversy. It hasn't been given out much in the past few scenes of war, due to the drop in "in-close" combat and - allegedly - increasing bureaucratic process.
However, today marks the first time a Medal of Honor has been awarded to a living recipient since the Vietnam War. And he's from Iowa.
Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta's actions are nothing short of action-movie caliber. Here's the official account. I'll break it down for you layman's style here:
Bunch of soldiers traveling down a road. A dozen taliban fighters spring an ambush - an "L" shaped ambushed, designed to separate a team off from the squad, and the squad off from the platoon. Its designed to kill everyone in a small area, then run. So there's 12 taliban fighters shooting rockets and machine guns at just his team.... from 20 FEET AWAY. So, imagine that.
Everyone in platoon is hit - even the medic is killed. The point man is Giunta's best friend, Sgt Josh Brennan. He's hit eight times. Eight. Giunta is 4th man back. The guy in front of him is hit 4 times. Giunta takes one round to his flak jacket, and another off his weapon strapped to his back. Its fucking RAINING automatic weapons fire. From 20 ft away, remember.
Giunta sees that his friend, Sgt. Brennan, is being drug away by two talibani fighters to who knows where. Nowhere good. Giunta leaves cover, runs into the effing middle of this, shoots one of the talibani and wounds the other who drops his team leader (and friend) and runs away. Giunta grabs Brennan by the body armor and drags him back to cover and starts administering aid.
Brennan eventually died of his wounds the next day, but Giunta's actions meant that the taliban were denied a possible ransom or execution, and Brennan's parents were able to have a proper burial for their son.
I heard Giunta's interview on NPR coming to work yesterday. He was asked if he was a "good soldier." He responded that he felt that he was "average. I'm mediocre." He didn't sound like the stereotypical heavy brooding soldier type. He sounded like a completely normal person. Thrust into a warzone. While he may not see himself as exceptional - this story is a tiny microcosm of the people serving our country. Normal people being asked to do extra-ordinary things on a daily basis. Shit like this happens so often that its just another day's work to them. Its a great image of how people rise to the occasion to do whatever it is than needs done.
Its a little late for veteran's day - but here's my contribution: Giunta (and others like you) - you should know that you're anything but average.
However, today marks the first time a Medal of Honor has been awarded to a living recipient since the Vietnam War. And he's from Iowa.
Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta's actions are nothing short of action-movie caliber. Here's the official account. I'll break it down for you layman's style here:
Bunch of soldiers traveling down a road. A dozen taliban fighters spring an ambush - an "L" shaped ambushed, designed to separate a team off from the squad, and the squad off from the platoon. Its designed to kill everyone in a small area, then run. So there's 12 taliban fighters shooting rockets and machine guns at just his team.... from 20 FEET AWAY. So, imagine that.
Everyone in platoon is hit - even the medic is killed. The point man is Giunta's best friend, Sgt Josh Brennan. He's hit eight times. Eight. Giunta is 4th man back. The guy in front of him is hit 4 times. Giunta takes one round to his flak jacket, and another off his weapon strapped to his back. Its fucking RAINING automatic weapons fire. From 20 ft away, remember.
Giunta sees that his friend, Sgt. Brennan, is being drug away by two talibani fighters to who knows where. Nowhere good. Giunta leaves cover, runs into the effing middle of this, shoots one of the talibani and wounds the other who drops his team leader (and friend) and runs away. Giunta grabs Brennan by the body armor and drags him back to cover and starts administering aid.
Brennan eventually died of his wounds the next day, but Giunta's actions meant that the taliban were denied a possible ransom or execution, and Brennan's parents were able to have a proper burial for their son.
I heard Giunta's interview on NPR coming to work yesterday. He was asked if he was a "good soldier." He responded that he felt that he was "average. I'm mediocre." He didn't sound like the stereotypical heavy brooding soldier type. He sounded like a completely normal person. Thrust into a warzone. While he may not see himself as exceptional - this story is a tiny microcosm of the people serving our country. Normal people being asked to do extra-ordinary things on a daily basis. Shit like this happens so often that its just another day's work to them. Its a great image of how people rise to the occasion to do whatever it is than needs done.
Its a little late for veteran's day - but here's my contribution: Giunta (and others like you) - you should know that you're anything but average.
30 days of truth (Day 5)
Day 05 → Something you hope to do in your life.
Hmmm... there's a lot of things I'd like to eventually get done in my life. Maybe I'll just use this post to lay down a quick bucket list.
Hmmm... there's a lot of things I'd like to eventually get done in my life. Maybe I'll just use this post to lay down a quick bucket list.
- Backpack around Europe for about 3 weeks. Amsterdam, Prague, Germany, Italy, Greece... however much I can fit in. Best case scenario would be going with about 4 other people. Won't be a cheap trip, but still.
- Get good at guitar. I know that most people give me attitude when I say that, but most people just don't get it. I'm not good at guitar. I'm an imitator, and I'm not very good at improvisational solo of any kind. I have no idea what I'm doing outside of chords. I know a few scales, but don't understand how to correctly apply them. I need to just break down and take a few lessons. I know what level I want to be at to be happy, and I'm not there yet.
- Find a good girl, get a dog, get married after a few years, have a kid or two a few years after that. All these stupid/ignorant people are breeding like rabbits, and I feel like I have a responsibility to mankind to procreate. Ha. I laughed as I typed that.
- Have the means to have a small guitar shop in a garage or something. Even if its just for me, I'd like to be able to build better and better custom guitars.
- Play at least one show (large or small) in LA, Seattle, New York, and Chicago.
- Grow a decent beard.
- Break 175lbs.
- Have a Vegas weekend. Not a classy one. A crazy Fear and Loathing-style binge of excess and debauchery. Might be harder to pull that off 40 years later, but I'll find a way.
- Sell a piece of my artwork for >$200. I feel like that's a good benchmark of "legitimate artist."
- Learn a martial arts form of some kind. Really, I'd even settle for Tai Chi.
Monday, November 15, 2010
30 days of truth (Day 4)
Day 04 → Something you have to forgive someone for.
This one is actually quite a bit harder - I don't really operate like this. I tend to blame myself rather than others in most situations. I guess I need to work on forgiving people their traffic transgressions, ha. I laugh, but its an honest statement. Not everything needs to become a 'teachable moment' on the road. Especially when I do stupid crap all the time.
I've mentioned that I relate to this guy before, but here's another comic from The Oatmeal that sums this up pretty well.
This one is actually quite a bit harder - I don't really operate like this. I tend to blame myself rather than others in most situations. I guess I need to work on forgiving people their traffic transgressions, ha. I laugh, but its an honest statement. Not everything needs to become a 'teachable moment' on the road. Especially when I do stupid crap all the time.
I've mentioned that I relate to this guy before, but here's another comic from The Oatmeal that sums this up pretty well.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
30 days of truth (Day 3)
Day 03 → Something you have to forgive yourself for.
I guess this is where the 30 days get a little heavy, but I said I'd do it...
When I got out of college, I had a really good girlfriend and to make a very long and complicated story short (and to avoid trying to make excuses) - I was petty and short sighted and elected not to move in with her and foolishly thought we had more time before we needed to think about getting married, when in fact I should have been giving her a ring right then. I wasn't ready to proverbially 'settle down.' Anyways, I sucked as a boyfriend and she left and it wasn't for several months until I realized exactly how much I'd fucked up. The kind of fuck up that you don't come back from. Especially knowing how much she enjoyed where she ended up and the amazing friends she'd made. You can't, in good conscience, ask someone to leave that much positivity to take a huge gamble AGAIN. Of course, I was in a pretty bad place this whole time, and DID ask her to take that gamble. I wasn't in good conscience, okay? Really, an argument could be made that the fact that I did ask her to do that showed that I wasn't really worth the gamble. A better person would let her go. That's really easy to say but much harder to do. Not having contact with her makes me feel dead inside, and every day is a brave face, a complete farce - pretending I'm okay with I'm totally not, hoping that eventually I'll fool myself into actually being okay. But I know its the right thing to do.
Anyways, its 100% my fault that she left to begin with, and I've considered myself a piece of shit ever since. Things probably have turned out for the better for her, so I need to work on forgiving myself for the choices I made just out of college. Lots of kids don't grow up fast enough, but hopefully most don't have to pay as big a price for it as I did. Its an easy mistake to make, and I think I've let it get to me long enough.
I guess this is where the 30 days get a little heavy, but I said I'd do it...
When I got out of college, I had a really good girlfriend and to make a very long and complicated story short (and to avoid trying to make excuses) - I was petty and short sighted and elected not to move in with her and foolishly thought we had more time before we needed to think about getting married, when in fact I should have been giving her a ring right then. I wasn't ready to proverbially 'settle down.' Anyways, I sucked as a boyfriend and she left and it wasn't for several months until I realized exactly how much I'd fucked up. The kind of fuck up that you don't come back from. Especially knowing how much she enjoyed where she ended up and the amazing friends she'd made. You can't, in good conscience, ask someone to leave that much positivity to take a huge gamble AGAIN. Of course, I was in a pretty bad place this whole time, and DID ask her to take that gamble. I wasn't in good conscience, okay? Really, an argument could be made that the fact that I did ask her to do that showed that I wasn't really worth the gamble. A better person would let her go. That's really easy to say but much harder to do. Not having contact with her makes me feel dead inside, and every day is a brave face, a complete farce - pretending I'm okay with I'm totally not, hoping that eventually I'll fool myself into actually being okay. But I know its the right thing to do.
Anyways, its 100% my fault that she left to begin with, and I've considered myself a piece of shit ever since. Things probably have turned out for the better for her, so I need to work on forgiving myself for the choices I made just out of college. Lots of kids don't grow up fast enough, but hopefully most don't have to pay as big a price for it as I did. Its an easy mistake to make, and I think I've let it get to me long enough.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Cooking up a storm
A shit storm...
How not to treat people.
I love this article. Especially the burn about how the 'Editor' and author of the pissy letter condescendingly rebuking the blogger on her writing skills misspells "offense."
Even better that this publication is now the focus of an all-out internet vitriol. Just because something is legal, doesn't mean you won't pay for it somehow.
How not to treat people.
I love this article. Especially the burn about how the 'Editor' and author of the pissy letter condescendingly rebuking the blogger on her writing skills misspells "offense."
Even better that this publication is now the focus of an all-out internet vitriol. Just because something is legal, doesn't mean you won't pay for it somehow.
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