"If you want to be free, there is but one way; it is to guarantee an equally full measure of liberty to all your neighbors. There is no other." - Carl Schurz

"The saddest epitaph which can be carved in memory of a vanished liberty is that it was lost because its possessors failed to stretch forth a saving hand while yet there was time." - George Sutherland
"Whenever a separation is made between liberty and justice, neither, in my opinion, is safe." - Edmund Burke

Friday, August 18, 2006

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

R.I.P., my computer

Some time yesterday my computer died. Surprisingly even to myself, I'm not freaking out. Intuitively, I feel that this is a blessing and an opportunity. I will start my full-time job next week so I should soon have the means to buy a new computer that will better suit my needs.

The podcast is on indefinite hiatus until I buy a new one computer or, barring that, get the current one repaired. I will still blog regularly when I am on campus and from Michael's place. I am not going to list everything I listen to, since I can't podcast. I will probably write music-related posts periodically though.

The biggest bummer is that I cannot acquire any music. Well, I could, but I only listen to music on my iPod and I currently have no way to transfer new music to it. That, more than any other factor, makes acquiring a new computer a major priority.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

paleunderweight podcast 23

Now available.

  1. Antony: "If It Be Your Will"
  2. Girl Talk: "Bounce That"
  3. Metallic Falcons: "Disparu"
  4. The Knife: "From Off to On"
  5. O Yuki Conjugate: "False Prophet"
  6. Mugison: "Salt"
  7. My Robot Friend: "Swallow"
  8. Os Mutantes: "O Relógio"
  9. The Essex Green: "Elsinore"
  10. The Pipettes: "It Hurts to See You Dance So Well"
  11. Deerhoof: "Heart Failure"
  12. Mogwai: "R U Still in 2 It"
  13. Sean Hayes: "Politics"
  14. Blackout Beach: "The Reticent Burglar's Den"
  15. Centro-Matic: "The Fugitives Have Won"
  16. CSS: "Alala"
  17. Rufus Wainwright: "Everybody Knows"
  18. White Whale: "The Admiral"
  19. Mew: "Special"
  20. Tones on Tail: "Burning Skies"

Michael gets a new diva

Michael and I did not get to see the Leonard Cohen documentary this weekend because he is ill (Michael, not Leonard). Now we are aiming for next weekend.

Michael listened to the LC mix I made him and found, not surprisingly, that it was not his cup of tea. He did appreciate the effort I put into making it for him, though, and appreciated that I was sharing with him something important to me personally.

This morning, Michael was showing me some old yearbooks from his goofy-looking-adolescent years when he found a Cher tour souvenir book. He proceeded to gawk over several dozen pages of costumes that collectively cost more than the Apollo program. Then we discussed the baffling phenomenon of gay men and their divas. I acknowledged that I collect divas, too, albeit ones that aren't necessarily as obvious for the part as Cher.

I was astonished to find that, though he knew of her, Michael had never heard any of Björk's music. I went online and showed him a few videos, including the one for "All Is Full of Love", directed by Chris Cunningham. Michael got goosebumps. He watched it five times in succession. He loved the video, but he also loved the music! I should have known that the best way to expose Michael to good music was through a diva!

I have made Michael a CD of some of my favorite Björk tracks. Like LC, I left out some great songs, partially because I only wanted to use one CD-R and partially because I want Michael to be able to discover great tracks on his own, if he so chooses. I also did not include any material from The Sugarcubes, Kukl, or any of her bands before her most recent solo albums. I didn't include any tracks from her eponymous 1977 album of children's songs because I have never been able to find an affordable bootleg of it.

Here is the tracklist:

  1. All Is Full of Love (single version)
  2. Hyper-Ballad (Brodsky Quartet version)
  3. Scatterheart
  4. Jóga
  5. Enjoy
  6. Oceania
  7. Human Behaviour
  8. The Modern Things (Family Tree version)
  9. Domestica
  10. Bachelorette
  11. Come to Me
  12. My Spine (Evelyn Glennie version)
  13. Unravel
  14. In the Musicals
  15. Desired Constellation
  16. Immature
  17. Triumph of a Heart
  18. The Anchor Song

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Good news

Today I was offered the Library Specialist position in my department. This is the job I wanted most so there was much rejoicing when I received the call.

I am on day two of a diet of my own creation that will hopefully put a halt to the uncontrolled weight gain I have experienced over the past four years (155 to 218 lbs., as of my last doctor's appointment). If I'm faithful to this plan, maybe I will begin losing some of the weight.

I devised this diet from the NutritionData website. I am paying special attention to getting enough fiber, calcium, iron and protein - things that dieters often don't get enough of. I am also attentive to the complementarity of amino acids. My daily intake (for the moment) consists of a Green Delicious apple, 100g of swiss cheese, one can of tuna, one bunch of raw broccoli, one bunch of raw spinach, about one teaspoon of lemon juice, four slices of whole grain bread, eight slices of lean oven-roasted turkey breast and lots of water. This is more than complete in most nutritional areas and low in calories, fat and cholesterol. The only drawback is that the sodium is a little high, but still much lower than how I usually eat. If I get bored with this menu, I can change it whenever I wish, provided I research the nutrition first.

Today I have been listening to the original Broadway cast recordings of Rent and Avenue Q (how stereotypical!), neither of which I intend to include in this week's podcast. I am also listening to a random playlist of music from the previous two weeks to assist me in track selection.

That's all for now.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Wednesday's listening

  1. Cibelle: The Shine of Dried Electric Leaves
  2. White Whale: WWI
  3. Excepter: Alternation
  4. Tapes 'n Tapes: Insistor EP
  5. Os Mutantes: Os Mutantes

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

GRE postponed

I am postponing my GRE and hence my application to U of A.

I was prepared to pay for the exam yesterday, but I hesitated. I went home and thought about it. I was thinking about paying for it today, but I was still reluctant. I finally decided that it just didn't feel like the right time yet. I only knew the exact application deadline about a month ago. I have been rushing to prepare and just not giving myself enough time. Right now I could afford the exam and application fees, but it would require me to scrimp on necessities for perhaps the next month. I think if I wait until I am working full-time, I will more easily afford it and I will have a fuller C.V. to submit with my application.

Today's listening:

  1. O Yuki Conjugate: The Euphoria of Disobedience
  2. The Knife: Silent Shout
  3. Sean Hayes: Big Black Hole and the Little Baby Star
  4. Mew: And the Glass Handed Kites
  5. Blackout Beach: Light Flows From the Putrid Dawn
  6. Dirty on Purpose: Hallelujah Sirens