Tomorrow, tomorrow; I love you, tomorrow…

Tomorrow’s going to be a pretty fucking awesome day!

Andrea, Julia, Johnny and I are going to school to get textbooks and whatnot. (I should add – why are textbooks so unrealistically expensive?! Honestly, I’m already paying upwards of $5,000/year for tuition, and now I’m being asked to drop close to another $1,000/year for textbooks I’m probably only going to use once?! I understand scholarships, and I understand the work that goes into them – but to those of us who didn’t get scholarships, how are we expected for afford that? I’m lucky – my parents are paying for my first degree. But I can’t move out [if I do, my education is no longer paid for], and even if I did I wouldn’t qualify for a student loan due to my dad’s income. For students out there who are not eligible for a student loan/their parents won’t pay for their education, life must be extremely difficult. I’m amazed people get degrees before they’re 30.) Anyhoo, textbooks tomorrow! I’m so excited! Also, my brother is going to Vancouver (thank goodness! He has been so annoying lately) and I’m going to be dog-sitting/quitting smoking at Andrea’s house while she’s in BC.

In other news, Jon Stewart just (metaphorically) pissed on the face of some dude who wrote a book about Dick Cheney. I need to turn off the Daily Show and the Colbert Report and start watching CBC – I’m feeling a little…. less Canadian. I suppose it never hurts to be informed, though. I still watch CBC documentaries and the Hour occasionally; but to be honest, Canadians aren’t interesting. I suppose that what’s foreign and unknown is more interesting than what’s local and being shoved down my throat at every commercial break, whenever I turn the radio on, and whenever I decide to pick up a news paper.

That tangent reminds me – some fucking douchebag is running for premier (or something, I wasn’t giving devoting much attention is his direction). He figured he would let Albertans know that our humble province was built on “a strong Conservative point of view” and that if “any new Albertans refused to follow in those Conservative footprints, they might as well go back to where they came from”. AKA my province was ‘built’ by rednecks who would rather stone the gays than make any sort of realistic (and needed) progress.

Oh, just to give you some more insight into the whole Alberta redneck situation – Stephen Harper’s constituency was SW Calgary. I live in SW Calgary, Harper has his annual Stampede Breakfast appearance at Hull Home (a detention centre for several of Calgary’s Courtney Love’s) which is literally down the street from my house. My dog is part of Pals (a therapy dog organization); my mom and dog went down to Hull Home for the breakfast, and both met our ‘noble’ PM.  I guess his security guards spazzed over the idea of his majesty being near an over-sized rottweiler – sissies.

How the hell did I get into this political talk?

I’m going to bed.

Music stuff

Here are some of the bands/artists that I enjoy a whole bunch:

 
Dan Sartain – if you’re cool with rockabilly and enjoy the feeling of your brain exploding from awesome riffs and a voice born straight outta hell, you’ll love him.

Mirah – we wont even talk about what an indie rock hearthrob Mirah is, what’s important here is that her tunes are catchy, her voice is sweet and her ability to perform is unbelievable.

Neko Case – I dont know if you have ears, but if you do you definitely need to check out Neko. Her voice is unreal. Neko’s also part of the New Pornographers – but her solo stuff is almost twangy country. A true delight for the ears.

The Tragically Hip – yeah, I’m Canadian, but that has nothing to do with my love for this band. Gord Downie’s solo stuff is excellent as well, and I’m pretty sure most of you have a pretty good idea who these dudes are.

The Constantines – easily my favorite Canadian band. The Cons are from Geulph, Ontario – and to say the least, they will blow your mind. Bry Webb’s voice is gravely and Springsteen-esque; paired with heavy guitar, pounding drums and the undertones of synth. Seriously, check them out.

Del Tha Funkee Homosapien – if you like hip hop, you know this dude. Genius is all I can say, really. Have you heard of the Gorrilaz? Deltron? Kid Koala? All linked to this guy, folks.

Gift of Gab & Blackalicious – again, if you know hip hop, you know this dude.

 That’s all for now!
 

It’s late

However, I have something important to share with you! I have the NEW Josh Ritter album! The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter is easily one of the best albums I’ve had the pleasure of listening to – ever. I’m so stoked on this album that I’m going to do something I’ve never done before – review it. I’m all about reviewing movies, but when it comes to music I usually find reviews to be really biased. There’s no doubt about it, I’m being one hellofa hypocrite at the moment. I’m very much biased when it comes to Josh Ritter; but trust me, this album is brilliant.

In my opinion, Josh seems to be exploring more musical options. Rather than having primarily acoustic based songs, this album incorporates all sorts of instruments and experimental sounds. Don’t get me wrong – the acoustic is not gone, it’s still very much there. With that said, if any average Joe were to compare Historical Conquests with Hello Starling the variation would be very obvious. From what I’ve noticed, I would say this change was concieved in last year’s album The Animal Years. This new ‘Josh Genre’ is fucking brilliant, and I’m so excited about what else he has in mind for his loyal listeners.

Here’s the track listing:

1. To the Dogs or Whoever
2. Mind’s Eye
3. Right Moves
4. The Temptation of Adam
5. Open Doors
6. Rumors
7. Edge of the World
8. Wait for Love 
9. Real Long Distance
10. Next to the Last Romantic
11. Moons
12. Still Beating
13. Empty Hearts
14. Wait for Love (you know you will)

I cannot find a single flaw with this album, and I really dont think a flaw is a possibility. Even the most pretentious of music fans will be acknowledging the talent and over-all greatness that is embodied in Josh Ritter. This is a probably a shitty review, and I’m cool with that! All you need to know is that this album is worth a listen and Josh Ritter is definitely deserving of praise and congrats! Before I go I’ll leave you with some links…

 

Josh Ritter’s Official website – this site also has samples of the new songs, tour information, biography and pictures for the ladies.
The Promo video for Josh’s new album – this video features the song “Rumours”.
Josh Ritter’s Backstage Recordings – songs that Josh has covered (mostly) with friends! Note: the dude that covers Motley Crue’s Home Sweet Home is easily one of the most babe-a-licious dudes ever. Needless to say, this website is fucking excellent – and I’m not just saying that because I also love the Silver Jews, Townes Van Zandt, Motley Crue, and Jill Barber.

The Animal Years Videos:
Lillian, Egypt
Girl in the War

Hello Starling Videos:
Bright Smile

Live Videos:
The Temptation of Adam – this is on the new album, and live in some dude’s appartment
Mind’s Eye – also on the new album, and in juans basement
To the Dogs or Whoever – also, new album, and again in juans basement
Stuck to You (The Science Song) - this is not really live, but it’s definitely one of his best songs
Kathleen – this song’s on Hello Starling

I should add, I have met Josh ritter and the aforementioned babe Iain MacDonald (Josh’s tour guitar guy). He played here last February with a local songwriter (Dave Simpson), and I was so impressed I had to shake his hand. Josh is really gracious and it’s not unusual to find him shaking hands with his fans after a show. I was terribly excited and likely embarassed myself, however, Josh was exceptionally grateful and one of the friendliest people I have ever met. I wrote a letter to him afterwards, thanking him for such a wonderful show and for taking the time to have a meet and greet. He responded, on a post card from Idaho. It was one of those “Holy shit” moments – it’s not often at all you send ‘fan mail’ and get a legitimate response. I was very, very, very pleased; needless to say, I have liked him more and more since. So really, readers – if you’re going to buy an album this year, make it The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter.

oh news!

I heard back from the Humane Society…. I’ll be attending the orientation night on the 4th (which is also my first day back to class) and I’ll begin volunteering after that!

SO excited!

Folks,

I’m currently sprawled on my family room floor, watching the food network, and waiting for something interesting to happen. The likelyhood of something interesting happening is very slim, though I’ll keep my hopes up. Who knows?

Andrea came over today during her lunch break – she’s really sick with some sort of cold. I’m not suprised, there was ice on my car this morning. Ice – in August! I definitely have a love/hate relationship with this city.

I’m not too sure if Ontario will be any better, with those pesky ice storms and whatnot. Ahh well, at least Trent offers grad degrees in Anthropology and I’ll be able to escape the grip of the praries. I will miss the mountains, I will miss the people I’ve gotten to know over the past twenty-something years, and I will cherish the memories of this city. One thing I wont miss – this city’s inability to function during rush hour and/or construction zones. Oddly enough to most annoying construction zone (Glenmore trail – the only way to really get to school) will be completed when I move in 2008. Ah well, that’s life.

I fucking love this shit:

(taken from www.pbs.org)

	A Mutation Story:
	A gene known as HbS was the center of a medical and evolutionary detective story that began in the middle 1940s in Africa. Doctors noticed that patients who had sickle cell anemia, a serious hereditary blood disease, were more likely to survive malaria, a disease which kills some 1.2 million people every year. What was puzzling was why sickle cell anemia was so prevalent in some African populations. How could a “bad” gene — the mutation that causes the sometimes lethal sickle cell disease — also be beneficial? On the other hand, if it didn’t provide some survival advantage, why had the sickle gene persisted in such a high frequency in the populations that had it? The sickle cell mutation is a like a typographical error in the DNA code of the gene that tells the body how to make a form of hemoglobin (Hb), the oxygen-carrying molecule in our blood. Every person has two copies of the hemoglobin gene. Usually, both genes make a normal hemoglobin protein. When someone inherits two mutant copies of the hemoglobin gene, the abnormal form of the hemoglobin protein causes the red blood cells to lose oxygen and warp into a sickle shape during periods of high activity. These sickled cells become stuck in small blood vessels, causing a “crisis” of pain, fever, swelling, and tissue damage that can lead to death. This is sickle cell anemia. But it takes two copies of the mutant gene, one from each parent, to give someone the full-blown disease. Many people have just one copy, the other being normal. Those who carry the sickle cell trait do not suffer nearly as severely from the disease. Researchers found that the sickle cell gene is especially prevalent in areas of Africa hard-hit by malaria. In some regions, as much as 40 percent of the population carries at least one HbS gene. It turns out that, in these areas, HbS carriers have been naturally selected, because the trait confers some resistance to malaria. Their red blood cells, containing some abnormal hemoglobin, tend to sickle when they are infected by the malaria parasite. Those infected cells flow through the spleen, which culls them out because of their sickle shape — and the parasite is eliminated along with them. Scientists believe the sickle cell gene appeared and disappeared in the population several times, but became permanently established after a particularly vicious form of malaria jumped from animals to humans in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. In areas where the sickle cell gene is common, the immunity conferred has become a selective advantage. Unfortunately, it is also a disadvantage because the chances of being born with sickle cell anemia are relatively high. For parents who each carry the sickle cell trait, the chance that their child will also have the trait — and be immune to malaria — is 50 percent. There is a 25 percent chance that the child will have neither sickle cell anemia nor the trait which enables immunity to malaria. Finally, the chances that their child will have two copies of the gene, and therefore sickle cell anemia, is also 25 percent. This situation is a stark example of genetic compromise, or an evolutionary “trade-off.”

Yikes

I got insanely drunk last night, the most inhebriated I’ve been in a while. I managed to lose my camera, give myself a swollen lip, make a 2 hour phone call to Toronto on my cell phone, and offer to drive my friend to school because he had knee surgery.

I’m pretty sure my camera’s in Andrea’s car, I hope i can afford my cell phone bill, and as for the other things – it happens!

Just some thoughts…

I’ll be totally honest – the first hunk of 2007 was not as blissful as I imagined it would be. I entered the year with hopes of new possibilities, achievements and friends. Though it didn’t quite turn out that way at the beginning – things have definitely improved recently. I’ll add, that might be the understatement of the century!

I wont go into great detail, it would be boring and I’m not particularly interested in dwelling on the past. All that matters is – I’ve grown up some more, I’ve had more opportunities, I’ve seen more things, I’ve had more experiences, and I’ve met some really incredible people. It’s been a fucking phenomenal summer, and I can’t wait to get back to school.

In other news, I applied to be a volunteer at the Calgary Humane Society – I’ll let you know what happens there! I would love, love, love to volunteer there!

That’s all for now, my laptop’s dying… I’ll do another post sometime.

Shannon