Thoughts for 2.28.18

1. First dates are like job interviews. You go in, and you ask a bunch of questions. You're nervous, and want to make sure that you come off as someone who isn't crazy. It's pretty high pressure, and I think I get some anxiety from it.

2. I love listening to William Elliott Whitmore on vinyl. I feel as though his music is made to be heard off of a record. The sound is so much richer.

3. I got tickets to Radiohead, We Are Scientist, and Punch Brothers. I'm really looking forward to all of the shows, but none as much as the Punch Brothers. They are playing Orchestra Hall, and the show should be after the release of a new album. I think Punch Brothers might be my second favorite band of all time. Only the Beatles are higher.

4. Got a new video kit at work for my department to use. I'm really excited. I think the fact that I have a complete video kit in my office will allow me to become more proficient with video production.

5. Moby has a new album out on Friday, and I'm looking forward to hear that as well. It should be a more traditional release for him, which I'm looking forward to hearing.

All of the President's Men

I just finished reading "All of the President's Men" by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward. It chronicles their investigation into the Watergate break-in which would ultimately lead to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

The book is incredible, and should be required reading for any prospect journalism student or broadcasting student. The parallels from 46 years ago to the present is uncanny. What's the saying, "Those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it". This book maybe exhibit A for our current political atmosphere.

Random Thoughts for 2.20.18

1. I've almost finished time-coding my interviews for the next episode of my podcast "The Looking Glass". I'm really blown away by the content that I have on these interviews. I knew they were good, but I didn't realize how good they were. Should make for an interesting program.

2. Additionally I've mapped out the overall format structure of the episode.

3. I'm trying to cut down on the purchase of books. I'm doing this for two reasons. 1. I'm running out of space on my bookcase. 2. I want to utilize the library more. Libraries are magical places. They are home to unlimited opportunities, and I need to spend more time in them. When I go to a random neighborhood in Chicago, I think I'm going to try and find its library, and spend a few minutes in them.

4. I'm writing this blog entry while listening to a new folk group called "I'm With Her". It is very smoothing music.

5. It really rained today. Rainy days are my favorite days to do radio. I always get the feeling that people are more willingly to turn their radios on for longer periods of time on rainy days.

6. My friends Tony and Missy bought me a Ghostbusters pillow. It's pretty dope.

Mozart in the Jungle Season 4

www.amazon.com

If you are looking for a new show to binge watch, I cannot recommend Mozart in the Jungle enough. Over the past few years, it has slowly become my favorite show on television. Its balance of comedy, drama, interesting and complex characters, along with a great classical music soundtrack make the show irresistible and refreshingly different from a majority of the shows currently on television.

In a modern television world where every show is dark, full of anti-heroes, and overly complex, Mozart in the Jungle basks in sunshine. That being said, the show does have its "darker" moments, but they are well within limits. The show doesn't take its audience to dark places just for the sake of going dark. We go to dark places because a character has taken us there, and this journey furthers the plot along.

Season 4 of Mozart in the Jungle dropped last night (February 16th), and I've binged the entire season. It's funny, heartfelt, and full of surprises. Please, take a chance on this program. I promise you, you won't be disappointed. Not only will you experience a wonderful television show, you'll also experience wonderful classical music. The show has made me a fan of it.

Making a List

I was recently reading the liner notes for Moby's record Innocents. In every album he has released, Moby usually includes an essay in the liner notes, and for Innocents Moby's essay was a list of random things on his mind. I really liked it, and thought it would be fun if I did something similar.

1. I find myself being more drawn to analog technologies. Writing in notebooks, talking on the phone, reading physical books, writing letters, and of course listening to records. I feel like I'm spending too much time on my phone or computer, and that it's effecting my general happiness. But I feel much more connected to life when I do things in an "analog" way.

2. Which makes me think, should I get rid of my phone? I like the idea of having an old school flip phone, so that you were forced to talk to me, or I to you.

3. But texting is very convenient, and I feel like I would miss that a lot. How do you strike a balance?

4. I'm currently reading "All of the President's Men" about the Watergate scandal, and how the Woodward and Bernstein's reporting forced Nixon to resign. I feel like in current political environment, this would be an appropriate book to read. I'm a chapter in, and I'm already hooked.

5. I've been watching a lot of Star Trek recently. Growing up, I was more Star Trek than Star Wars, mainly because more Star Trek movies and TV shows were being released during that time period.

6. I wonder if Star Trek is generating any new fans? It seems like everyone is fans of Star Wars, but you never hear individuals discussing Star Trek. Is this part of nerd culture still too nerdy? If so, I'm okay with that. I still like it.

7. I'm writing this blog while listening to the soundtrack of Ghostbusters II. It's glorious with its 1980s hip-hop.

8. I'd love to write a critical essay at some point, and see if I could get it published.

9. What would I write about? Maybe I would argue that you should become fans of Star Trek.

10. I liked this blog entry. I think I might try and do this style of entry once a month.