Word of the Day: Ambient

Soooooo I had an epiphany. I've decided that Fridays will be saved for my word of the day post. I used to do this on Myspace all the time but I stopped after a while. I would think of a word, give the definition, and then go the flickr.com and find a fun picture by typing that word into the search box. So, get used to it. It's my fun Friday thing to do. Ok, sooo todays word is...ambient.

Ambient:
 /ˈæmbiənt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [am-bee-hunt] Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1.
of the surrounding area or environment: The tape recorder picked up too many ambient noises. The temperature in the display case was 20° lower than the ambient temperature.
2.
completely surrounding; encompassing: the ambient air.

photo by http://http://flickr.com/photos/garry61/

If I had a radio station

http://flickr.com/photos/idletype/

So I was flipping through an independent newspaper today called "The Oregon Commentator" (website here http://www.oregoncommentator.com/) Anyway, inside the paper there was a faux application for the local campus radio station. One of the questions on the application was "What 100 artists would you play if you were in charge of the radio station?". It got me thinking...what would my ideal radio station would be? I've put together a list of artists I would play if I was a DJ (my mom always said I'd make a good DJ). I've searched my iTunes and I'm aiming for 100, but we'll see how I do. I don't think I have what the radio station would be looking for but, hey, it's my radio station, so they can suck it.

• Aimee Mann, Al Greene, Alison Krause
• The Allman Brothers, Ani Defranco, Anthony Hamilton
• The Arcade Fire, Arlo Guthrie, The Avett Brothers
• The Beatles, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Beth Orton
• The Black Heart Procession, The Black Keys
• The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Bob Dylan
• Bob Marley, Bon Iver
• Buddy Holly, Bunny Wailer, Cat Stevens
• CCR, Cheap Trick, Citizen Cope
• The Clash, Coldplay, The Counting Crows
• CSNY, Damien Rice, DMB
• David Bowie, Death Cab for Cutie, Derek Trucks Band
• Disco Biscuits, The Doors, Dropkick Murphy's
• Elvis Costello, The Evens, Explosions in the Sky
• Fiona Apple, Flogging Molly, The Fugees
• G Love George Clinton, Gogol Bordello
• The Grateful Dead, The Hackensaw Boys, Hot Hot Heat
• Imogen Heap, Incubus, Iron and Wine
• James Brown, Janis Joplin, Jeff Buckley
• Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, John Prine
• Johnny Cash, Joni Mitchell, Jose Gonzales
• Kings of Leon, Led Zeppelin, Lucero
• Martin Sexton, Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis
• My Morning Jacket, The New Pornographers, OCMS
• Otis Redding Ozzy Osbourne Paul Simon
• Ray Charles, Ray LaMontagne, Remy Zero
• Rilo Kiley, The Rolling Stones, The Roots
• Ryan Adams, Rusted Root, Sigur Ros
• Sufjan Stevens, Umphrey's McGee, Van Morrison
• Water Tower, Stringband, The White Stripes

I think I'm in the 80's. Not bad, not bad, so let's add these for fun. I'm determined to hit 100!

Elton John, Jenny Lewis, She and Him, M Ward, Santana, Neil Young

The Band, ELO, Wu Tang Clan, Widespread Panic, Ulrich Schnauss

Soundgarden, Rufus Wainwright, Radiohead, Rat Dog, moe.

12:30 pm Wednesday

photo by philippe

This photo is called "The Road to No Regret". I wish I was on it. 

Dear Ken,

I read an article today by Ben Gibbard in Paste magazine that sums up my life PERFECTLY. What I did for Kesey and Eugene Ben Gibbard for Jack Keroauc and Big Sur. The song's about how he followed Jack Keroauc's spirit to Big Sur, and what it felt like to be there. It felt good to hear those words and those concepts. I'm not alone, I never was. We're out here world, don't ignore us. Celebrate us for what we are because at the end of the day we don't know what we're doing. Anyway. I wanted to put these lyrics somewhere where I could read them. At this moment in my life I am living in this song.

I descended a dusty gravel ride

Beneath the Bixby Canyon Bridge

Until I eventually arrived

At the place where your soul had died.

And barefoot in the shallow creek

I grabbed some stones from underneath

And waited for you to speak to me

And the silence, it became so very clear

That you had long ago disappeared

I cursed myself for being surprised

That this didn't play like it did in my mind

All the way from San Francisco

As i chased the end of your road

'Cause I've still got miles to go

And I want to know my fate

If I keep up this way

And it's hard to want to stay awake

When everyone you meet

They all seem to be asleep

And you wonder if you're missing your dream

You can't see your dream

You can't see your dream

You just can't see your dream

Dream, dream, dream

And then it started getting dark

And I trudged back to where the car was parked

No closer to any kind of truth

As I must assume was the case with you.

Thank you, Ben Gibbard, thank you.

I Dream'd in a Dream

photo by http://flickr.com/photos/radiospike/

I dream'd in a dream I saw a city invincible to the attacks of

the whole of the rest of the earth,

I dream'd that was the new city of Friends,

Nothing was greater there than the quality of robust love, it led the rest,

It was seen ever hour in the actions of the men of that city,

And in all their looks and words.

-Walt Whitman

Here's to today

How about today you...

*Smile a little bit bigger

*Laugh a little bit louder

*Listen a little bit better

*Love a little bit stronger

*Try a little bit harder

*Apologize a bit less(er)...I had a trend, man.

This is you. This is your day. Look up, love that sunshine. Is it raining where you are? Make your own sun. You are a big bright ball of energy today. Don't walk into your life, run in, sprint, bounce. You are in charge of where you want to be and who you want to be. I've got a good feeling about today. Out with the old, in with the new. Brush that hate off 'yo shoulders and let that negativity run down your back. This is your life baby, what's your dream?

Vincent Gallo is attractive

My favorite pioneer of indie films. My best friend Alissa sent this picture to me...I have no idea where she found it, probably just a google search.

If you've never seen a Gallo film you probably should. It's an experience. I saw his film Buffalo '66 (which he also wrote and directed) because my friend Lindsey told me to and I haven't looked back since.

He reeks of glitter infested grit. Very, very talented, and not too bad to look at, if I may be so bold.



Kisses, enjoy your Saturday.