I was listening to the radio today and I was kind of taken aback by someone saying that recycling was useless and functioned only to make us feel good about ourselves. I'm not sure if it was regular talk radio, sports radio, or just a spot on some random station (don't ask me; I don't remember, and I'm going to blame my work hours for it), but in any case, their reasoning was that it still uses a ton of fossil fuels and therefore isn't worthwhile.

Well, I disagree. I'm not going to argue that recycling uses a lot of power (I learned that from playing Sim City), but that really isn't the point. I thought the point was to reuse the resources that go into the actual products, thereby lowering the need for harvesting new raw materials, which in turn will reduce the need of using those same precious fuels for that particular job. Plus, it reduces waste. I'm not sure why this bugs me, and maybe the fact that I've not cut my hair all summer has put some sort of hippie aura about me, but I think it's important to know that recycling is an important thing.

Or maybe I'm just ignorant.

I Have Writer's Block

...and my mind is overflowing. There's a lot that I want to say and I have not the time, nor the creativity right now to do so. It sucks and I don't like it; I'm an English writing major, for crying out loud! Oh well. I guess I just have to get this week over with and get back to the grind of blue-collar, physical labor until the summer's end. Maybe during that time my mind will free up.


Poop.

Awesome purchase

The complete works of Edgar Allan Poe for eight bucks? Yes please!

New Favourite Thing Ever

If you've not seen this show before, you should. It's one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

Excellent Day

First, I slept in and had breakfast with Timothy. Always good.

Second, we went to the baseball game where I saw the guys play some of their best ball of the season. Even though they lost, it was fun to watch.

Third, we watched the MSU - UConn game in JJ's room. However, I didn't get to see the whole thing because...

Fourth, I briefly saw my parents and sister, then went to a gun show with Michael, Taylor, Sam, Jared, and Erin. It was awesome! There were so many cool guns and knives and stuff! It's also kind of funny to see the complete antithesis of liberal America in there. There was this Finnish girl with us and I think she was a little bit horrified. I feel like my neck is a little redder because of it. Not to say that there's not a part of me that loves it...

Fifth, we went out and played frisbee golf which I don't think I've done since last fall. I still suck, but it was a lot of fun. Good times.

Now, I'm sitting at my computer, contemplating watching a movie and then church in the morning. It's been a good day. :D

It just hit me

Spring break starts tomorrow at one forty-five p.m. I wasn't really excited before, but now that I'm not sick, I think it's going to be AWESOME!!!!

I cannot stop listening to these albums...

The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place. Sheer beauty produced by one of the best, most underrated bands in the world. This is perfect for both background study music or intent listening. It never gets old and has more than twice as many plays as any other CD in my music library. I can always listen to this, no matter what.
Armchair Apocrypha. Any time I listen to Andrew Bird, I'm automatically transported into a cerebral world of irony and beauty. The music on this particular album matches his wonderful lyrics perfectly; it's just solid. It's a unique listening experience, too, and I can't seem to find a mood where I don't want to listen to it. Another album I can always fall back on, this CD will be stuck in my stereo for a long time.
At Dawn. Oh, my gosh, its close to country! It doesn't matter, though, because My Morning Jacket here makes some of the most solid, catchy, enjoyable songs I've ever heard. I can't explain why it's so good, but it has a sort of lovelorn, sadly content feel that makes it irresistible. It's a well-balanced album, too, running the gamut from acoustic guitar or banjo-only songs to full-blown classic rockers. I love it.
Little by Little. Harvey Danger snuck up on me with this one. When I first heard it, I really liked it at face value, but recently, its true brilliance has hit me. Musically, it is full of indie-pop gems, and Sean Nelson's voice is to die for. War Buddies is one of the smartest protest songs I own, and Little Round Mirrors may be one of the three most perfect pop songs I've ever heard. This is essential, and it's a shame it isn't better known. For now, I'll continue my addiction to this wonderful little band.
The Moon and Antarctica. I don't know what it is about Modest Mouse, but I just "get" them. I normally have a bit of an aversion to swearing in music, but Isaac Brock's lyrics are so down to earth and relatable that I find myself not minding the profanity. I'm still not sure whether that's a good thing or not, but nonetheless, I absolutely love this CD. The music is organic, yet cerebral, beautiful and edgy. It's probably their most meandering album (which is really saying something for a band that always has at least 15 songs on a full-length CD), but it's supremely addicting. Like I said, it strikes a chord with me, and it doesn't get old.


Also of note:
Centuries Before Love and War by Stars of Track and Field
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco
The Lonesome Crowded West by Modest Mouse
Cotton Teeth by The Snake The Cross The Crown
The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me by Brand New
Redeemer by Norma Jean

I should write something here...

Maybe later.

English Project (Tim's Gonna Hate It)

I don't know how I cranked this out in two days, but I'm pretty happy with it.

Weird mood

Ever have that feeling of a sort of contented melancholy?
Like you're kind of down now, but you know it'll get better?
And then you smile at yourself for being so foolish?
The sadness makes you look around?
And time slows?
And somehow the world's beauty comes into sharper focus?
When two seconds ago you felt lonely, but now it's 'my me time'?
Small things become important?
Perspective returns?
And then you smile at yourself for being so foolish.