Notice and Redirect

Hello folks. I am in the process of phasing this blog out. Why? Mainly, because I'm sick of always having to sign in and out of my email to write new posts. So yes, laziness.

But never fear, for I am still out there in the "blogosphere." You can find my new blog, starting with my observations from abroad, right here.

Enjoy.

Wrigley Field

The real question, I feel, is why am I not at Wrigley Field watching the Twins right now?

LIVE Classical Music Review and Discussion: Beethoven's Missa Solemnis

Well, the other night, I did what I promised myself I would do, and I went and heard the Minnesota Orchestra perform Beethoven's Mass in D Major (Missa Solemnis). Even better, Osmo Vänska was conducting, whom I had really wanted to see. And let me tell you folks, it was a tremendous performance.

Yes, I had to buy a full price ticket. Yes, I had to sit next to a weirdass in an undershirt who kept murmuring "bravo." Yes, I sat in the third tier. Yes, I have a crick in my neck that probably won't disappear for another week as a result. But Beethoven cures all ills. If he can suffer the most torturous irony of being a deaf composer, I can suffer a pain in the neck.

Having no one to go with, I decided to go alone. "The music would be my companion," I bravely told myself. Typically, I find music to be a most social activity. Some of my fondest memories in college and beyond consist of listening to music in community, be it live or on record. However, I think we can all recognize, that at times, music is most effective in solitude. Although the Missa Solemnis would undoubtedly be a brilliant piece to discuss, I decided to go to Orchestra Hall with the intent of (as much as possible), a solitary experience with the music. Which is convenient, since as aforementioned, I had no one to go with.

Music, as an art form, can be directed in many different ways. Much of what we listen to everyday is directed towards entertainment, towards popular gratification. Other forms, like perhaps jazz, are created with the end goal of the music itself. Art music, I suppose, music for the sake of music. However, as distinct and broad as these two categories are, I think there should be a third category. Music directed towards God, towards the Divine. And I suppose this third stream might be much more subjective than the other two, since people have many different ways of experiencing the Divine. When I think of this, my mind most directly goes to my experiences with the Luther College Concert Band. At the close of every concert, we would sing/play an arrangement of Bach's "Who Puts His Trust in God Most Just." Now, the band was composed of a great variety of people, who undoubtedly had many different beliefs. But in the playing of that song, something special happened, and we no longer played as we played the rest of the concert. Something spiritual occurred, be it an act of the band within itself, or the music being directed towards a higher purpose.

In my opinion, the Missa Solemnis must be the pinnacle of this "third stream" of musical direction. I wish I could adequately describe what I heard, the most perfect mix of chorale, orchestra, and solo voice. But alas, I cannot. However, it was, in a word, transfixing. I only wish I would not have been distracted by the visible musicianship of the orchestra and chorale, that I could have simply closed my eyes and listened to the music. Of course, that is not a feasible option at a live concert, since part of the experience is watching the vitality of the musicians. Such is life, always these decisions. Either watch the musicians and be distracted, or don't watch the musicians and be transported.

As an aside, isn't it interesting to juxtapose the vitality of the orchestra with the dullness of your typical classical music crowd? I think it's really a shame that the audience is almost solely comprised of old people... I mean, young people can appreciate good music as well. My solution? Do as the Twins do. $4 seats and $1 hot dogs. Add in some cheap beer, and away we go. Think of the fun you could have with Mahler.

Even more fun would be to watch Mr. Vänska. His conducting was absolutely fantastic, so full of energy and vigor. I was afraid at times he might poke out the eyes of some of the folks in the front row with his baton, the way he was waving that thing about.

Anways, for my own part though, I feel true "musical" revelation comes as a consequence of "listening," preferably solely with the ears. In a dimly lit room, perhaps with a glass of fine scotch, to be perfectly honest. Thus, I should very much like to get a copy of the Missa Solemnis, and listen to it at home. I think then, I'll gain a much greater appreciation for the music on an intellectual and spiritual level.

However, the appreciation I got the other night was significant enough for now. The power and intensity of the Mass truly is something to behold. I, of course, made sure to get a seat with a good view of the trombone section, and there were some really great licks for bass trombone in particular. It definitely made me long for my old friend...

Aside from the general intensity of the entire experience, I think perhaps the most superlative moment came at the end of the "Sanctus," where there was this enrapturing violin solo that carried over the entire orchestra and chorus. It was something else, to be sure, probably made more poignant by the fact that the MN Orchestra's concertmaster is retiring this year after some 20 years. And she played beautifully. Yeah, it was just wild.

So yes, I would highly recommend listening to the Missa Solemnis. Of course, it is somewhat of a task, being a good hour and 20 minutes or so of music. But it is also assuredly some of the most beautiful music you will ever hear in your lifetime.

In reading the program notes, what is so fantastic about Beethoven is not only his dedication of this piece to God, but also his unwavering faith in the strength of human relationships. I mean, if you have not listened to the Ninth Symphony, beknownst of its meaning, and not felt an incredible feeling about the state of humanity, I really don't know what is wrong with you. If you appreciated the ethical message of the Ninth, you must listen to the Missa Solemnis.

As was written by Beethoven himself upon the score, "From the heart - may it go again - to the heart."

Iowa City Recap/This Week

Hello internet friends. I've just recently returned from a long weekend trip down to Iowa City to visit some folks from college. I had never been to Iowa City, so it was nice to see a part of the country that I haven't been to before. And of course, I happily contributed to the local economy. You're welcome, owners of downtown eating/drinking establishments.

Iowa City is apparently the hipster capital of Iowa, which most likely explains all the tight-jeaned, PBR-drinking, and facial-haired self expression going on. If only I could be as interesting as those people. Damn.

Surely the lowlight for me was this free-form circus/band happening in the middle of the Iowa City art fair. When you can't tell whether they are hosting a gay pride parade or an anti-tax tea party, you know a problem is afoot. And it indeed was afoot. Very rarely do I find myself repulsed by musical expression, but I think that must be the only adequate term for that unhappy conglomoration of community art. I suppose that may be the hipster definition; "community art." I have no such qualms, and by the pretentiousness invested in me, I thus dub it "shit."

Really not much more to say. Good times were had, but I always have a good time with the Luther crew. Always nice to be with friends. My fun quota was fulfilled for, oh, I'd say a good couple weeks. Which would probably explain why this week seems so uneventful.

All year, I've been telling myself that I'm going to go hear the Minnesota Orchestra. And all year, I've found ways to avoid doing just that. But I feel this week, that must change. Tis' the season finale, and Beethoven's "Missa Solemnis" is being played. Anyone who knows anything about anything must then logically know that Beethoven is a god among mortals when it comes to music. I love Beethoven. Thus, it seems like I should probably attempt to get a ticket. I know I have a very provincial internet audience, but on the off chance anyone from Minnesota is interested in hearing some music, please, make yourself aware.

I had a messed up dream last night. I was trying to fly to Phoenix, but I had to first fly to Delaware. I don't know why I was headed to Phoenix. And all I had packed was a jar of peanut butter. That has to be interpreted somehow, right?

Anyways, back to reading about arbitration. It's really not that bad, but it's incredibly hard to stay motivated when there is no immediate class to hold me accountable. Maybe the whole idea of "summer responsibility" has just been eluding me the past 23 years.

TV Drug Ads

I was subjecting myself to the modern America's most effective form of torture today (namely, Twins baseball on Fox), and I really couldn't help but note the number of ads I saw for prescription drugs.

I did have to run to the restroom quite a few times after that beer the other day, maybe I really should contact my doctor about Flomax. Hmm.

The whole idea of advertising a product which is inherently out of your control is bewildering to me. There's this notion, that if I as a consumer/patient, read that two page ad in "Better Homes and Garden," I will somehow gain a more nuanced understanding of pharmacy and medicine than my doctor, who presumably has completed years of painstaking education. But of course, that makes perfect sense! It's amazing how much fine print they can cram into one magazine ad, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. They try to cover all this up of course, by adding that small caveat: Ask your doctor if (blank) is right for you. Really though, isn't it more like, "this ad has convinced you (blank) is indeed right for you, so why don't you just run it past your doctor for good measure?"

As a nominal cog in the American health care machine (yes, machine), the strange thing is that once people actually find out the true cost of some of these glamour drugs, they are much less likely to desire them. Let's say, hmm, Lipitor. Lipitor is excrutiatingly expensive, and there are a host of similar generic drugs that may work just as effectively. It's stunning to see how quickly one person's adamant devotion to Lipitor will change, once they discover their insurance will no longer pay for it, and they are faced with a $230 charge. Per month.

But of course, for the folks in the ads, $230 a month must seem like chump change. Have you ever noticed, how happy and decidedly middle class everyone in prescription drug ads are? I mean, shit, the Flomax guy is flying his own plane! The Viagra guy is about to get it on with his absurdly attractive middle aged wife on his own private island! And these people, they have such interesting lives. It seems like every other person getting Avodart or some such thing is an accomplished blues guitarist, or a Hollywood model maker, or a professional golfer. I mean, I like to think I have some interesting hobbies, but how can I hold a candle to a guy who's hand-carving a boat? Or four guys who are having an impromptu Viagra hoedown in a roadhouse (see video)?

I must admit though, the Viagra ads puzzle me the most. The thing I've never quite understood, is do these men really need it? Look at their spouses. As a virile man, I have a difficult time believing they have ED under those circumstances. Maybe she has a terrible personality, but everyone in TV drug ads have incredibly interesting personalities, so that can't be right. No my friends, what would really be an effective commercial would be to showcase the sorts of normal men who actually need Viagra for use with their normal significant others. Shockingly, they don't all have hard bodies, and their wives don't look like gracefully aging beach volleyball players. It's more like beer bellies contained in a worn Harley-Davidson t-shirt. I mean, if Viagra can work for HIM with HER, than it can certainly work for YOU! If that's not a nifty little jingle, than I don't know what is.

Point being, these ads are ridiculous. Kind of like the Twins' road record (5-16).

Twins MVB Guest Post

Yes my friends, that is a recent photo of the scoreboard at Target Field. I'm sure most readers may not relate, but that is tear-jerking to a Twins fan. When you've been watching baseball in a plastic bag your whole life, that scoreboard out in the blue sky is like a southwestern vista. Cannot wait.

Since we're on the topic, I had the opportunity to write a guest post for a Twins blog that a friend of mine from Luther writes. So, check out my thoughts on these current Twins as (gasp) Kirby Puckett's heirs over at Twins MVB! Should be up on Friday. Maybe not my best writing, but it's something, right?

The Post You Were Expecting

I've been trying to think of some sort of insightful, hilarious, tongue-in-cheek post regarding the end of my first year of law school. I've actually been done for about 6 days and 19 hours now. But alas, the dry hilarity that I had hoped for has not materialized.

But to boil the whole end of the year thing down into one word would be easy. Relief. It's a very surprising feeling to spend time with friends, or go to a Twins game, and not feel this overwhelming sense of guilt that I should be reading about the commerce clause. Ironically, my write-on project for the law review is about the commerce clause. Go figure. I really shouldn't complain though, the commerce clause isn't too bad. Now, if I had to spend my free moments thinking about negligence or the calculation of expectation damages, that would be a bummer.

What have I been doing lately? Well, I've been perfecting the art of spending money, for one thing. If only that was an Olympic sport or something. I also went to a couple ballgames over the weekend, which was fantastic. There's nothing more satisfying to a humble Minnesota baseball fan than having the Twins beat up on a first place team to a nationally televised audience. Even if it took place in a plastic black hole.

Speaking of plastic black holes, the other day, I saw an image of the "Twins" logo being raised onto the scoreboard at the new Target Field. This is actually going to happen. Wild.

Since I'm on the subject, I think Joe Mauer may be an alien. Or some sort of baseball android from the future. But he surely isn't human. Right now, he's hitting a home run an average of every 8 at-bats, or something freakish like that. Because I have some sort of nativist streak, the fact that he is a corn-fed St. Paul boy makes it even more satisfying. If the Twins do not sign him long term, I'm fairly certain the Metrodome is going to become the site of one of those Branch Davidian style mass suicides.

I've got nothing else. A large set of digital condolences to my friends in the Luther College Concert Band, who had their Japan tour canceled due to the H1N1 flu virus. I wish I could adequately express how terrible I felt last Wednesday, especially being fortunate enough to make this tour four years ago. I was really excited for them, and looking forward to the homecoming concert at Ted Mann. Sometimes life just throws a curveball, I suppose. But for the folks who have worked all year for this tour, that's small comfort. Keep on going LCCB.

I've got some quality albums coming up.

4

Only three more hours until freedom...

Album of the Week: Empyrean Isles

This is a very off the cuff album review. I've only listened through this album once, and it was while I was making Contracts notecards. But it was enough to blow my mind. And if it's good enough to blow my mind while I was only half cognizant, it's certainly enough to blow everyone else's mind. It is just some wicked modern stuff. Listen to it with "Maiden Voyage." Once I get another few listens in, maybe I'll have an actual review to post. But regardless, check this album out. Herbie's the man.

I have a confession to make. I went and saw Star Trek again today. The local theatre up here has tickets for only $5. I didn't know what else I was going to do all afternoon, and I felt like I needed to unload my brain. Especially since I spent three hours and 15 minutes this morning making Constitutional Law my bitch. So yes, I went, alone, and I refuse to apologize for it. In the aftermath, I also figured out how much it would be to put prescription lenses in my sunglasses, so really, the whole movie thing was just a quick stop prior to an essential errand.

Go listen to Herbie. I'll study contracts.

2

I wish I could declare the Twins' bullpen unconstitutional. This performance clearly is not rationally related to a legitimate end. It must be a pretext. Or maybe cruel and unusual punishment.

Damn it, there's no state action!

I guess I'll just have to get my constitution fix tomorrow at 8:30.

1

James Madison - "Property is everything to which a man attaches value and has a right."

Jean-Jacques Rousseau - "You are lost if you forget that the fruits of the earth belong to all and that the earth itself belongs to no one."

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon - "Property is the suicide of society."

Here we go.

Movie Review: Star Trek

So, in an effort to relax a bit before the start of finals, I went to see the new Star Trek flick with a friend of mine this morning. That's right, this morning. And let me tell you, the clientele for a Star Trek movie in the morning is everything you can imagine and more. No one was in their Starfleet uniform, but I don't think there were any women there. Mostly, it was single, mid 30's, balding, fat men. Plus myself and Corey. Fun times.

Now, I am not a Trekkie. Or a Trekker, if that's the name you prefer. But as many of you may know, I do have a certain, ahem, dark side when it comes to science fiction movies. I am not ashamed to say though, when I was a child, I used to watch Star Trek - The Next Generation. And I'll admit it, it was entertaining. In fact, I wouldn't mind watching it again. But point being, I am not a diehard Star Trek fan. And I still thought this movie was absolutely fantastic.

In a way, maybe not being burdened by Star Trek lore is a help, because you don't have to worry about being disappointed by anything. But as far as I can tell, this new movie stays true to spirit of the original. One really cool thing about Star Trek is the sort of utopian worldview it takes. That's not so prevalent in today's post-Cold War society, but can you imagine this in the 1960's? Black and white, American and Russian, men and women, human and aliens working together in harmony for peaceful exploration? What a great idea.

Anyways, to the movie. The acting is superb, and it's really striking how similar some of the actors and actresses look to the original TV cast. Spock especially, man, spot on. Spock and Kirk especially bring a very nice nuance to their roles. The conflict in Spock between his human emotion and Vulcan logic is really, really well done. Another really neat bit is the fact that Leonard Nimoy shows up! As, and you'll never guess, Spock! Yes, that's right, there are two Spock's in this film. And I know, it sounds sketchy, but it works out really really well. Nimoy brings an element of gravitas to the film that helps ground some of the more "out there" moments. Plus, he acts as such a poignant link to the noble history of this franchise. Well done.

As far as visuals go, this movie gets thumbs up. I always thought the Enterprise was such a cool looking ship, but to see it re-imagined in modern computer graphics, it takes it to another level. It's really such a graceful ship. It doesn't emanate aggression, or anything like that. Instead, it's more of an exercise in diplomacy and the importance of common understanding. Anyways, aside from sweet looking spaceships, the space battle scenes and other assorted space scenes just look fantastic as well. And there's a very striking, Alderaan-esque scene as well.

The story, I'll be honest with you, some parts of it I really don't know what the hell was happening. I know it was all a big excuse to create an "alternate reality" so they could make up this new story without destroying the entire past canon of the TV show. But in any event, it's an engaging story, and it works. Like I said before, the acting puts this over the top, and even makes some of the more ridiculous moments seem realistic. Kudos.

As an aside, I always thought "Live long and prosper" was such a legitimately great way to end a conversation. I mean, really, what a nice thing to say to someone. If it was socially acceptable, that's how I'd end all of my conversations.

As a further aside, I can do the Vulcan gesture with not only my right hand, but my left hand too. Suck on that bitches.

So yes, this movie is highly recommended. Even if you're not a science fiction fan, I think you'd be entertained by this film. It is smart, funny at times, visually stunning, and even emotionally resonant. A great reboot for a uniquely American pop institution.

Buying Food

I took my dad to the airport today, he is going to Europe for about three weeks. Ordinarily, I'd probably be extremely jealous, but (a) I'm going to London the end of June and (b) I don't think Europe is ready to deal with my father for 3 weeks. I wish him the best of luck. Watch out France, Belgium, England, and Portugal.

Anyways, I was left some money to go and buy food, which I did. And you know, I've often felt that I live in a state of arrested development. I read somewhere that adolescence in America lasts until age 26, which I don't doubt in the slightest. The funny thing, most of my friends are in the same sort of position. There must be something about liberal, college-educated young males stuck in this vacuum of grad/professional school that does something funny with their brain. Needless to say, I went grocery shopping at Whole Foods, because I've wanted to check it out. Plus, I wanted to have the experience of an entitled, urban, professional person who pretends/is socially conscious about their food supply. And of course, I do have a fondness for wandering around grocery stores. Check.

But I got home, and I figured out what exactly I had bought. Mind you, this is what I need to eat for like, two weeks.

1 - pita bread
2 - hummus
3 - 2 frozen cheese enchiladas
4 - a bag of black beans
5 - a single cup of yogurt
6 - a block of cheddar cheese
7 - some cereal

Anyways, I got back, realized what I had done, and then decided I needed to pick up a few more things. Plus, I had only spent half of my allotted food quota. So I went to Rainbow. Here's the list from there.

1 - Phish Food ice cream
2 - a bottle of Mexican coke
3 - a bag of rice
4 - a tub of salsa
5 - one lime
6 - a case of American coke

You might as well scratch the Mexican coke off the list, since I drank it while I studied for property.

Now to be fair, there is some food here. There's a bunch of frozen pork/chicken that I could grill, and I do have some chips for the salsa. I suppose there are some eggs, and some milk. But I was looking at what I had bought, and I thought out loud, "What the hell did you just do?"

So anyways, if anyone wants to have a gin and tonic sometime at my dad's house within the next two weeks, feel free to come on over. Just make sure you bring the gin and tonic. I will supply the lime.

Or if you have some cachasa, we could make caipirinhas. That would go better with the Brazilian feast I think I'm going to attempt on Monday after my property test.

Speaking of, if anyone has any ideas on how you would define property, and why you should care about it, feel free to let me know. I think a philosophical conversation of that sort would be helpful preparation.

I'm going to go have some salsa.

Scoop

Well, my plans to go hear McCoy Tyner were foiled thanks to registration. So instead, I took a couple hours to listen to a presentation by a guy from my dad's church, who happens to be Director of Stadium Operations for the Twins. He talked about Target Field, yada, yada, yada. I must say, a lot of the stuff he talked about, I had already gleaned from their website, but there were some interesting tidbits.

I think the most interesting thing has to do with next year's uniforms. I asked him if the rumors were true that the Twins were undergoing a uniform switch for the new ballpark. He said that the general home uniforms won't have significant changes (see white home pinstripes), but the road ones will. No more road pinstripes!

If only I could have remembered to tell him to ditch the vests. I can't think of anything more insulting to play baseball in.

If you haven't noticed, blogging will be slim for a few weeks here. Finals are approaching in a little more than a week. So, that's the deal.

Album of the Week: Live in Cook County Jail

Do any of you folks have those days where it seems like nothing is going right? Maybe the weather is dreary, maybe your coffee tastes like shit, maybe you don't have any money. Or maybe (and this seems like the worst), some woman is breaking you down. Well folks, put down the bottle, for I have found a better elixir. My cure? Sit down in a comfy chair, put on B.B. King's "Live in Cook County Jail," and let the blues soak away your pain.

If we're referring to the "blues" as the distinct sub-genre of African-American music that sprung up alongside of jazz and r&b during the 20th century, I'm really not that knowledgeable. One random day I was in HPB, and I was thinking I needed to buy some blues to play whenever I felt blue. I really think this need stemmed back from a Garfield cartoon I read when I was eleven or so, when Garfield said he liked to listen to the blues on rainy Monday mornings. But that's neither here nor there, bottom line, I saw this album, thought it looked interesting, and picked it up. Plus, I had been wanting to get into B.B. King for a while, so it all worked out.

If I was making up a list of the Newer New Seven Wonders of the World, B.B. King's voice would have to be on the list. It is, in a word, amazing. Simultaneously capable of a rich melodic tone and a soul-shaking growl, it is something else to behold. I've heard very few vocalists who have such intense, intense emotion in every single syllable that they utter. Listening to King's singing is akin to sitting out on a hot summer night and listening to a thunderclap, in that it absolutely forces you to pay attention to everything he is saying.

King accompanies his great oak of a voice with some serious business on the guitar. Neither he nor his band is messing around, there is some major league playing going on here. Once again though, the emphasis is on the emotional impact of the guitar playing. With seeming effortlessness, King makes Lucille bark and squeal in ways you rarely hear a guitar speak. His staccato single note playing has such force to it, such vibrato. If you like quality guitar music, this is essential listening.

What ties the music together though, is the intangible element of King and his band playing before 2,000 of the Chicago area's toughest criminals. I mean, you talk about the blues, you can't get much more bluesy than being stuck in jail. In comparison, it makes most of my troubles seem trivial. As such, there's an element to this album which is simply indescribable. A lot of times where you sit back and just go "oh yeah..."

So yes, purchase this album. It's something else.

As an aside for you men, everything you'll ever need to know about women can be found on "Worry Worry." Basically, apologize a lot, tell her you love her, and swallow your pride. Even if you have to lie. Thanks, B.B.

Simple Pleasures

I've seen a lot of bad baseball in my 23 year life, namely pretty much everything from 1994-2000. And as many can attest, even daunting adversity does little to quell my general optimism. However, when I went to the ballgame on Wednesday and witnessed a 12-2 destruction of my beloved Twins, I have to admit, I was hard pressed to last to the end. It took a lot of willpower to sit and watch the product on the field. The night certainly didn't improve after the game either.

And of course, Thursday's second consecutive thrashing was no consolation.

So as I listened to the Twins game at work tonight, I was crestfallen when the Angels took an 8-3 lead in the seventh inning. I thought to myself, "man, this sucks."

I still have serious issues with this team. Mainly their lack of consistency, their knack for terrible at-bats and impatience at the plate, the abominable bullpen performance, and their sloppiness in the field thus far. But I'll tell you what, nothing raises spirits better than a grand slam that puts you ahead in the 8th. Doesn't hurt when it completes the cycle. I ran inside my house, and turned the TV on as fast as I could, hoping to see what Kubel did at the plate. By the time I got the TV on, they were showing replays of the grand slam, and I started jumping up and down. I'm pretty sure I scared my dog away. But sometimes, after a stressful couple of days, that's what you need to do.

Now Twins, please repeat tomorrow. I'll be sure to sit in an even-numbered seat this time.

Happy Easter

People want to know why church attendance is decreasing in America. My answer? Rocket birds, or lack thereof.

Happy Easter everyone.

Production

Last night's season opener did not end with the result I had hoped for. Kevin Slowey better be ready to bring it when I'm there tomorrow.

Today I gave my final oral argument, effectively completing Legal Research and Writing I. The judges gave me some pretty intense questions, but what do you expect when you're trying to argue that it's okay for an attorney to sleep through part of a trial? Needless to say, a few verbal hiccups aside, it was successful. There's something about wearing a suit and arguing a case that makes you feel very lawyer-y. It actually was kind of fun. Probably a good sign, since this is the sort of crap I'm going to be doing for the next 40 years.

In addition, today I actually applied for a legal job. It's exceedingly unlikely that I will get it, since they want you to start on July 1, and I'm going to be gone in London until early August, but my legal research professor thought I should apply. So I did. The job is for a law clerk position with Target (yes, that Target). I would work in their legal department, helping to write case memorandums, research legal issues, draft some simple documents. It would be a sweet gig if I could get it, but like I said, extremely unlikely.

Oral argument is done. I took my socks off, turned the radio on, and maybe I'll go to HPB to celebrate. Tomorrow, I'll go sit with all the drunks in the college section at the Metrodome, have my dollar hot dog and my Summit, and watch Kevin Slowey toss a perfect game while the Twins become the first team in major league history to hit nine consecutive home runs. Sexy times.

*Correction - Anything positive I said about the Metrodome in my previous post, aside from the Twins' on the field success, please disregard. After watching the game last night from general admission, I've come to the conclusion that it is an irredeemable shithole. 2010 can't come soon enough.

Opening Day

Well folks, Monday is one of the best days of the year in my book. That's right, it's Opening Day for the 2009 Major League Baseball season. And of course, I will be there at the Metrodome, watching my beloved Twins take on the Seattle Mariners.

Who wins the World Series you ask? That's easy. Twins win it in 7. And I only say 7 because when the Twins win, they win in dramatic fashion.

That's part of the beauty of opening day though. Ask 29 other baseball fans that question, and you get 29 separate answers. Hope my friends, hope. If Barack Obama was a day, he would be baseball's opening day.

Of course, for Minnesota fans, this year has a special poignancy, since it is the last season that the Twins will play in the Metrodome. For people like myself, the Dome is the only way we've ever known Twins baseball. Which really is a shame, because the Dome is an absolutely horrific venue for baseball. So many things are wrong about it, from the plastic roof to the plastic field to the plastic garbage bag that masquerades as a right field wall. Of course, it is a big homefield advantage, but I think the inherent dignity of outdoor baseball easily trumps that advantage.

As much as we Minnesotans love to hate the Dome, we also have to admit that it has its quirky charms. For instance, being blown out of the doors after the game. Or Bob Casey's "Nooooo Smoookking" address. And if you were a kid growing up in Minnesota in the 1990's with a pulse, you of course remember the "KIIRRBBEEEEEE PUCKETT!" Going along with that, who could ever forget Kirby in Game 6, or Jack Morris in Game 7? Like it or not, the Twins and the Dome are inextricably linked.

I'll be the first one to line up for tickets to Target Field. In fact, I'm literally foaming at the mouth to get into the new ballpark. Because it is beautiful. Not convinced? Check it. Even with that little issue of no retractable roof, it is going to be an absolute cathedral to Minnesota baseball. If I have to sit through a blizzard to watch the Twins capture the 2010 World Series, so be it. My mom bought me a fantastic new Twins jacket for that express purpose.

But as much as I look forward to next spring, it's only appropriate to look back with fondness at the past. Yes Metrodome, you are a terrible stadium. But in the meantime, you've done an alright job.

Play ball.

Iowa

Today, the Iowa Supreme Court declared that the state's current ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, opening the way for gay couples in that state to marry. I, for one, welcome the Court's decision, and being a temporary Iowan for a good long while, feel a special twinge of pride at what I would consider a courageous decision.

However, I'm troubled by quotes such as the following by Iowa state representative Steve King

This is an unconstitutional ruling and another example of activist judges molding the Constitution to achieve their personal political ends. Iowa law says that marriage is between one man and one woman. If judges believe the Iowa legislature should grant same sex marriage, they should resign from their positions and run for office, not legislate from the bench.

Now it is the Iowa legislature’s responsibility to pass the Marriage Amendment to the Iowa Constitution, clarifying that marriage is between one man and one woman, to give the power that the Supreme Court has arrogated to itself back to the people of Iowa. Along with a constitutional amendment, the legislature must also enact marriage license residency requirements so that Iowa does not become the gay marriage Mecca due to the Supreme Court’s latest experiment in social engineering.

In my capacity as a budding constitutional lawyer/confused student, I've picked up a couple of things. First of all, this term "activist" puzzles me. To label someone "activist" is merely to say that you disagree with what they are saying. It's a meaningless term, wielded with incredible simplicity by opposing politicians, who do the public a disservice via their disingenuous linguistics.

Now, the Iowa court was interpreting their state constitution, which is most likely based on the federal constitution. I had an interesting exchange a while ago, where a conservative individual I knew asked me whether I interpreted the Constitution the "right way" or the "activist way." Apparently, the "right way" involves applying the plain meaning of the document as the founders would have intended it. And originalism is (surprisingly) still a somewhat accepted view of interpretation.

However, the most important case in American constitutional history, McCulloch v. Maryland, decided by Chief Justice John Marshall, makes the point that a constitution does not have the detail and complexity of a legal code. It is a document that is inherently meant to be interpreted. It is a document that the founders knew would act as a blueprint for ages to come. Accordingly, it would be foolish to impose upon 21st century America the socio-political mores of late 18th century America.

Another interesting aspect of the above quote is that Mr. King claims that the Court is attempting to mold the constitution to meet their own political agenda. Of course, he neglects to mention that the concept of marriage appears nowhere in the Iowa Constitution. The ban is a statutory scheme, enacted by the Legislature. One of the functions of the judiciary is to act as a check upon the passions of the people, represented through the Legislature. That is why Supreme Court justices are appointed for life terms, as the security of their tenure supposedly makes them immune from present passions in order to interpret the law fairly. The present ruling is not "legislating from the bench." It's fairly interpreting the law, as the Court should do.

There's so much unintelligent muck being thrown about by opponents of same-sex marriage, claiming that same-sex marriage will lead to the degeneration of the traditional family, the destruction of societal mores, etc. Apparently, the constitution is meant to protect against such moral degradation. However, you never hear opponents of same-sex marriage mention the importance of protecting the minority against a potential tyranny of the majority.

Let's consider the facts. By all accounts, gay couples in this country constitute a minority. If my memory serves me right, the Court's opinion said there were some 5,800 gay couples in Iowa, which is a state of several million. Those several million are for the most part, free to marry as they wish. Those 5,800 are not. Instead, they are hampered by a law expounding a traditionalist worldview that has been receding ever since the 1960's. Opponents of same-sex marriage wouldn't dare to say that the Supreme Court was incorrect when it struck down bans on marriages between different races. I think that is fascinating. Miscegenation laws long held sway in the American South. Similar to bans on same-sex marriage, they excluded a certain class of people from marriage based on an arbitrary distinction that came from traditional (racist) views. As attitudes changed in this country, the judiciary chose to reflect that change on a constitutional level by eliminating miscegenation statutes. My question to those opponents is, why is the present issue of same-sex marriage any different? Someone please explain it to me.

Using the favourite term of conservative commentators, to me, the more appropriate use of "activist" would be to refer to those who insist upon defining marriage between a man and a woman. This obsession that same-sex marriage poses some sort of threat to the rest of the country is a tired tactic of fear. When confronted by something they don't understand, instead of attempting to understand, the Right in this country has reacted by appealing to base motivations and fearmongering. It is very easy to demonize gay couples as heathens when you refuse to engage with them. It's very easy to convince folks that all gay people spend their days dancing rumba in mesh shirts when you don't show the reality of couples in committed relationships.

Now, I'm not gay, but I'm proud of this ruling. Why? Because it is relational to the American experience of attempting to create a more perfect union for the whole of our citizens. We suffered a long and dark night of slavery and segregation, which was tossed aside (still working on the rest of it though). We've made great strides in gender equalization. In my view, this is merely the next step. And as a person who has a few gay friends, I'm happy that they will enjoy the same rights that I do.

At least in Iowa.

Album of the Week: Sibelius Symphonies

I realize it has been a while since my last "Album of the Week" feature. Apologies. Frankly, I'm a bit stunned there hasn't been some sort of industry-wide collapse without the wisdom of my music picks guiding the fragile ears of America's record-buyers.

Record-buyers, not MP3-buyers. Remember that.

Anyways, I won't contend that this week's recommendation is anything but a cursory one. I was recently in a Half Price Books, and ran across a complete Sibelius symphonic cycle done by the Wiener Philharmoniker. Being in possession of a 50% coupon, I purchased it immediately for peanuts. And Tuesday, as I languished most of the afternoon away in a feeble attempt to understand the nature of Executive power under the Constitution, I literally listened to all seven symphonies.

Like I mentioned, I have only listened to these works through once, and not very closely at that. However, I'm fairly certain that even that cursory listening warrants a vehement thumbs up. This is exciting symphonic writing.

To add to my ineptitude this week, I'll admit I am very unfamiliar with Sibelius' work. My best knowledge comes from the stunning arrangement of "Finlandia" for trombone choir that I unfortunately had to play sophomore year. But I feel a kinship for Finland, for some odd reason. By default, maybe that means I feel a kinship for Sibelius. I think I knew this when against all my better judgment, I actually kind of liked that ridiculous trombone choir arrangement.

Bottom line, if you're sick of always listening to Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert symphonies, blah, blah, blah, check out Sibelius. He for sure has a distinctive style, and it is incredibly pleasing to the ear.

Maybe I'll write a better review once I actually know what the hell I'm talking about. But probably not.

Cesar Chavez Day

Today is Cesar Chavez Day, an official holiday in 8 states, but unfortunately, not here in Minnesota. For those of you not familiar with Mr. Chavez, he founded the United Farm Worker's union to fight for the rights of the largely Hispanic migrant farm workers in the 1960's. A devotee of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., Chavez led a non-violent movement to bring dignity to migrant farm workers, which spilled over to Hispanics in general. Pretty incredible, when you think that Chavez took a bunch of poor farm workers who were severely marginalized by society, and ended up forcing concessions from the huge California corporate growers.

Unfortunately, not many folks know about Cesar Chavez. Everyone knows about King, but Chavez gets kind of dusted into a corner. Usually gets about a paragraph in American history survey texts. Which is too bad, because he truly was a great man, someone to be respected.

I'd encourage you to sign the UFW's petition to make Cesar Chavez Day a national holiday here.

Si se puede!

Fun Times

I don't know what you losers do for fun. Check it.

Road Trip Recap

Hi folks. Haven't blogged much lately, since I've been on a spring holiday road trip, extending from Decorah in the south, Madison in the middle, and Milwaukee in the east. As is expected, it was a welcome diversion from the entity known as law school.

It's kind of redundant (and boring to others) to just recap what I did, but a quick rundown of the facts is probably in order. Got down to Decorah late Friday night, and spent a very sunny Saturday playing frisbee golf, playing trombone, and hitting favourite Decorah haunts. Such as the Mexican restaurant formerly known as Sabor Latino II and La Rana. Sunday, got up, had some breakfast, and hit the open road to Madison, with a slight detour to the New Glarus Brewery. Sunday evening and Monday was spent visiting friends in Madison, contributing heavily to the Wisconsin economy, going to Irish pubs, etc, etc, etc. Tuesday, headed off to Milwaukee, where we hit the art museum and (unfortunately) the Miller brewery. And Wednesday, a quick stop north of Milwaukee to pick up a trombone part, and back to Decorah.

It's probably too obvious to point out, but the real highlight was being able to spend some time with good friends from college. It seems to me that often times, distance and time starts to erode those friendships that formed at college. Which seems so odd, since they tend to be such intensely personal friendships. They're formed at a time of great personal growth, a time of close proximity, a time of common involvement in common interests. I suppose though, just as water carves canyons out of solid rock and stuff, time and distance does an equal job. And admittedly, I don't always keep up the best contacts with some of my college friends. But what I find most comforting, is the fact that most of my really good college friends have the same interest in keeping those friendships going. So even if we haven't talked for a while, or know what is going on, once we get together, it's like nothing has changed. And I feel extremely fortunate for that.

Of course, it's always nice to be in Decorah, I always tend to have a good time there. It's always a bit odd to walk around the Luther campus not in the student capacity, but the essence of the place is always the same. I don't think that changes. I thought it was great fun to be able to play some trombone in Sperati, which might be my favourite room on campus. And I'm proud to say, I won our second round of frisbee golf. My greatest respect to my crew and all... but suck it.

I had the opportunity to visit two friends in Madison, both of whom work at Epic Systems. One is a good friend from Nottingham, the other a good friend from band. It was very eye-opening to get a tour of the Epic facility outside of town. Words wouldn't really do it justice, but it was something else. I've never seen a workplace of such scale or, I don't know, themed buildings with treehouse conference rooms. No law offices I've been to have a theme.

Anyways, it's always so redundant to explain trips to people, because people get bored hearing about things they didn't experience. So I think I'll stop now. But it was a great trip, a welcome diversion, and a much needed pick me up.

Back to property...

Funny.

Too funny.

No work, jazz, travel, etc.

I'm at a Starbucks, the quintessential home of the blog. And for the first time in a long time, I'm not here poring over my property casebook or writing arguments for a brief. I'm just here, being leisurely and having some coffee. It feels great. Even better, "Freddie Freeloader" from Kind of Blue is on the muzak.

As you may have surmised, my appellate brief is completed, and the property quiz has been taken care of. As far as I'm concerned, there's now just a week long countdown until spring break. Of course I still have normal homework, but the stress/busyness level has been drastically reduced.

I'm going to hear the Luther jazz orchestra tonight, which will probably be sort of an out of body experience. Considering I played in that group specifically for a year and a half, and jazz at Luther in general throughout my tenure. But I'm really excited to hear them play, as well as visiting with Tony and some other friends in the group. It probably won't be quite like the Jazz at Lincoln Center orchestra who I heard play last week (with Wynton Marsalis!), but I suppose that's to be expected.

The anticipation got me thinking about the tour to Brazil last summer. Plus, I've been listening to a lot of bossa nova lately. Man, that tour was fun. One of the things I'll never forget about that tour was one of the first nights in Sao Paolo. We had played a gig or something, and our driver stopped at a gas station on the way back to our hotel. The folks in my room and myself were intent on celebrating being in Brazil, so we purchased some Brazilian beer, and some chips or something. We got back to our hotel, and we dragged a bunch of our room furniture out onto our little patio. It didn't overlook anything really, just the urban jungle that is Sao Paolo, but it was outside. Tom, the other jazz instructor came over with some cachasa, and we sat outside, talked jazz, and just had a great time. One of those things that isn't really significant enough to tell people about, but it was one of those simple pleasures of travel that often gets lost in the muck of everything else. So, in honor of tonight's concert, I'm sharing the story now.

Speaking of travel, I'm getting ready to purchase a ticket to London for my class this summer. It hasn't really hit me that I'm going abroad until I actually had to start searching for fares. I think British Airways is going to be the best deal. Which is incredibly convenient, since I love British Airways.

Anyways, my class ends on a Wednesday, and I think I'm going to stay in Europe until Sunday, in order to go on an adventure. I was thinking last night, where do I want to go? Here are the options.

1- St. Petersburg

I would kill to go here, but Russia seems the sort of place best tackled using the buddy system, and I'm flying solo on this trip.

2- Scandinavia

Maybe I'll go on a quest in search of my heritage. Or maybe just go to Finland. It is kind of expensive though.

3- Germany

Didn't see much of Germany, save for one semi-cognizant night spent in Munich.

4- France

Always an option, but I think it is best saved for a weekend excursion.

5- Remote Alpine Village Somewhere in Switzerland

I would like to have my photo taken with a cow on a brilliant summer day, high in the Alps, surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenes, with a Lindt bar in my pocket, wearing lederhosen, and have a man playing the alphorn behind me. Failure to accomplish any of these would be unacceptable.

6- Budapest

This is where I'm leaning. Just go a nice eastern European city, and chill for a few days. Drink coffee, listen to music, read pretentious books, etc. I'll probably have to save my appetite though, since I'll be in Hungary (pun).

If anyone has any opinions, please let me know.

I'm going to finish my coffee now. Later.

World Baseball Classic

I was planning on writing some sort of thing encouraging you folks to watch the World Baseball Classic, but it was turning out like crap.

This is exciting stuff, I'd recommend watching it. Especially since the US has a good team, and the Netherlands just ousted the Dominican Republic. It's competitive, it's good for the game, it's just fun to watch.

In the interest of coherence, I'll just stop here. I have more property crap to read anyways.

TROMBONE CONCERT! YES!!!!

Now is as good a time as any to plug my upcoming concert this Sunday. That's right folks, for an admission price of free (save that suggested freewill donation), you can listen to the Minneapolis Trombone Choir change your reality with hours of beautiful trombone music. For you fellas out there looking to impress your ladies, it's the perfect date night. And for you ladies out there looking for love, you must know that the overwhelming majority of trombonists are single.

Minneapolis Trombone Choir - 36th Annual Concert
Judson Memorial Baptist Church
41st and Harriet Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN

Sunday, March 8, 2009

7:00 PM

To add to the fun, we will also be joined by the St. Olaf Trombone Choir.

If you have never had the pleasure of attending a trombone choir performance, I'd highly recommend you come. Now, I realize trombone choir music is kind of a niche genre. Like sitar music. However, it has its own noble history, and we are playing some interesting pieces. A little Gabrieli, some jazz charts, an original piece composed for THIS VERY OCCASION, and a crazyass piece called "Osteoblast" that no one has any idea what's going on with. Don't forget that the trombone is the brass family's cello, and it produces a beautiful and robust sound. In the Renaissance, whenever a composer wanted to represent the Divine with music, that theme was always given to the trombone. Bottom line, no one's got shit on the trombone.

And seriously, if nothing else, the people watching will not disappoint. There's something about the trombone (and as a trombonist, I'm qualified to say this) that draws some of the most socially awkward people out of the woodwork. I saw this phenomenon at perhaps its peak at Luther, but I was happy to see that it replicates even up here in Minneapolis. In fact, at Luther, one of my friends was able to keep an "Awkward Trombone Player of the Week" game running for an entire year, without ever having duplicate winners. Really an impressive feat, I think.

So yes, make sure you put this down in your calendar. It's an event you cannot afford to miss.

As a special incentive, I have free backstage passes to whoever can identify the trombone player in the above photo. I will also be happy to pose for photos with the winner.

It don't mean a thing...

I had this dream where I was walking around and ran into Duke Ellington. He told me that he really liked my shiny shoes, and maybe we should go eat something other than a salad. So we did. He told me that maybe I should play his music so others could hear it. So I said I would.

This is an inside joke. It'd be great to be a part of one someday, wouldn't it?

In all seriousness, this quarter is fantastic. Put "Ellington at Newport," on your ipod, grab a steak and a mug of hot water, and buy "Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins" entirely with Washington D.C. quarters. It's the perfect way to celebrate.

Confronting Mortality

My grandma is not well. She's been in and out of hospitals and rehab centers the past few weeks. Heart issues, lung issues, etc. Apparently, she has two tumor-looking items in her lungs, which at her age, are manifestly untreatable. Needless to say, the prognosis is not good. At least she remains in pretty good spirits, considering the circumstances.

I'm not one to be too emotional in private. I can probably count on one hand the times I've been genuinely angry, same goes for extremely sad, to the point of it being externally noticeable. I typically try to run on a pretty even keel. With that in mind, I'm certainly not going to make any sort of melodramatic appeal in the public format of this blog. But as you can imagine, it's shitty, especially since I have a pretty small family in the first place. I don't have any siblings, and neither does my mom. I have an aunt and an uncle on my dad's side, as well as two cousins. And when you take into account the fact that my grandma has always been more of a part of my nuclear family than my extended, once again, it's fairly sad.

But then again, she kind of seems okay with getting out of here. It's no way to spend life, cooped up inside, not being able to do the things you once did. Being reliant on others for basic things.

In another twist to my weekend, I ended up spending an hour and a half of my Saturday afternoon sitting with my dog at an emergency pet hospital. It turns out he has a herniated disc, so he got some drugs and has been put on a strict regimen of "bed rest." Now I'm not one to go overboard on dogs as some do. I've never viewed my dog as some sort of child that I have to take care of, rather, he's more of a friend that just sort of hangs out all the time. I don't carry pictures of him in my wallet, or dress him up in dog sweaters or any of that nonsense. But it was very disconcerting to hear him yelp and gingerly walk around on his hurting legs. When I took him to the vet, he had this look on his face like he felt bad he was making me take him to get looked at (law school is insanely busy right now).

Like I mentioned earlier, it's a small family, and whether you want to admit it or not, the dog is part of it. We've had him since I was 12, and as my dad likes to say, he's been the "constant" in the ever changing seas of life. Doesn't ask for much, save some food, walks, and attention. He seems to be feeling better, and the vet indicated he should be good to go in a week or so. At the time though, it was very disconcerting.

It doesn't help that suddenly, my assignments at school have gotten extremely long and extremely involved. Add the stress that necessarily accompanies the minutiae of daily life, and it's been quite the weekend. Everything could be worse though, I suppose.

On a bit of good news, the Twins signed Joe Crede to play third base. I think this was a wise move. I told my grandma this on Saturday, she agreed. She was quite excited to watch a replay of Scott Baker's near perfect game on Saturday afternoon. See the previous post, add that story to it. Sometimes, an idiotic ballgame is just what you need.

Thank You Baseball Gods

Two posts in a day, I know, I know. I really do have better things to do, but this story demanded commentary. And I did do better things, I'll have you know. Just ask me about federalism and slavery.

I read tonight that Ken Griffey Jr. has decided to sign a one year deal with the Seattle Mariners. Of course, if you were a boy growing up in the 1990's and followed baseball, you will always regard Griffey as a Mariner. It just was the way it was. Those years with the Reds were like an abyss. No one really cared.

Now, no one can question my devotion to the Minnesota Twins. I dare anyone to try. It is 100%, tested by the fiery hell of the mid to late 1990's (Scott Stahoviak?), vindicated in that glorious 1991 season (I was in kindergarten) and the rejuvenation of the new millennium. But aside from games at the Metrodome (subject of a future sentimental post), the stadium I have made the most visits to are Seattle's Safeco Field. And if I recall correctly, I once saw Griffey play there in 1999. My great aunt lived in Seattle, and whenever we would go to visit her, I would make sure to catch a few games. And I'll admit it, I liked it. I liked watching baseball outside, in a beautiful stadium (one more year, one more year). And I always thought the Mariners had a cool logo.

What is so glorious about this decision by Griffey is the concept of loyalty. I don't know how many baseball fans are out there, but the sport has been ransacked by disgusting displays of pure financial gain and irresponsibility. I would point to John Smoltz as the most recent victim. Here's a man who has pitched for the Braves his entire life, more than 20 years. And now, in the twilight of his career, he goes and signs with the Red Sox. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Loyalty. Loyalty is key.

Kirby Puckett. Need I say more? Of course not.

This decision by Ken Griffey Jr. is a demonstration of loyalty, that most precious of intangibles. A decision, on his part, to forego the ease and convenience of playing in Atlanta to return to his spiritual baseball home. If I were a true Mariners fan, I would be crying with joy right now.

Sports are an irrational phenomenon. No one on the Minnesota Twins knows who I am. Absolutely no idea. They play baseball because it is their job. It's like waiting tables at Denny's, or selling life insurance. Major League Baseball is a business, and I posit that most players today don't have loyalty to their specific team, because of that same reason. What is best for me? That most American concept of individual self-determination. The irony, of course, is that baseball is not a game of individual self-determination. Sure, the individual players play important roles, but the prime importance is on the team, not the individual. Without quality defence, or players to get on base, or pitchers to get people out, the single MVP player is worthless.

Of course, the reality is that for the great mass of people who follow baseball, it is anything but a business. It's not a way of life, but for many people, their specific team is an intensely important part of their life. It's a personal thing, through and through. I think of my own family, my grandpa used to take my dad to Twins games at the Old Met. He got him into the 1965 World Series. And ever since I can remember, my dad has been taking me to Twins games. Every summer, we drive to Matt's, have a greasy burger, go park, walk to the Dome, buy a program, sit in the upper club, order a Coke in a souvenir cup (recently that has changed to Summit), get a Dome Dog, and watch the game. It's the quintessential American relationship. Father and son, baseball, yada, yada, yada. Whatever else you want to throw in, but it's also a relationship between the game and the individual.

I think that's why true fans of the game shower such love upon players who reciprocate that relationship. Those players recognize that important relationship. They get it. I daresay they understand an essential part of the game that is often times, in this day and age, limited only to those linked via goodwill and affection.

So cheers to you Mr. Griffey, on behalf of true baseball fans everywhere. You did a good thing.

Album of the Week: Raising Sand

As a general rule, I look upon cross-genre duet albums with a critical eye. One might say I'm automatically cynical even. So when I hear that Robert Plant, legendary rock god frontman of Led Zeppelin, is doing a cross-genre duet album, I am immediately cynical. And on a more personal level, somewhat internally wounded. For those of you familiar with the epic mastery of Led Zeppelin (and you better damn well be), the thought of Robert Plant doing some sort of nancy-pancy made to order bullshit is a thought almost too unbearable to comprehend.

When I looked and saw the second name on said cross-genre duet album, I must admit my hopes were raised a bit. I dried my tears and decided to give this a shot. I'm not typically one for making grandiose, broad, over-arching pronouncements on any particular topic. I think that is presumptuous and typically only gives one part of a story. But I feel comfortable in broadly stating that Alison Krauss has one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, voices I've ever heard. I have an album of her and Union Station, and it is fantastic. And damn can she fiddle.

It's hard to juxtapose in the mind or ear, Robert Plant's primal wails of Led Zeppelin yore with Alison Krauss' ethereal melodies. Thankfully, Plant turns off his rock and roll button, and puts on his folksy-country hat. And man, the result recorded on this album is something else.

As I indicated previously, I could happily sit and listen to Krauss sing out of a legal dictionary for days on end, and this album showcases her absolutely stunning voice. She could sing a phone book, or a dental manual, or explain your tax evasion in song form, and it would still be gorgeous. To hear her singing with Plant is initially kind of like getting punched in the ears, you have no idea that what you're hearing is real. Their two voices surprisingly blend with uncanny ease, but there's a haunting undertone to nearly all of it. It's like you can feel the tension between their styles, and both artist is consciously having to suppress themselves. Every once in a while though, you can hear some of that individuality come out in the open, bubbling up from the unconscious. I can't remember what track, but there's this one part where Plant sings a stanza, and he just kind of forgets where he is at the end, and he comes off sounding like he's ready to melt some faces with Jimmy, John, and John Paul. I heard one reviewer comment that this album has the feel of a courtship dance between the two performers. I overwhelmingly agree.

When you think about it, this record actually has a logical basis. American blues, which formed the basis of the Led Zeppelin sound and was instrumental in the development of bluegrass, is the common language of both Plant and Krauss. And Zepp always had a very strong interest in acoustic folk music. You listen at nearly all of Led Zeppelin III, or songs like "Battle of Evermore," and you'll hear that folksy sound. Similarly, you listen to Alison Krauss and Union Station, and you hear a very progressive strand of bluegrass. So I suppose, it's kind of like they're meeting in the middle.

My favourite track thus far is "Please Read the Letter." Interestingly enough, it was co-written by Plant and Jimmy Page (lead guitar for Led Zeppelin) for one of Plant's prior solo albums. I think it would have been really sweet if they could have brought Jimmy in to play some acoustic or mandolin on this piece, see how he would interpret it.

All in all, this is a pretty quiet album. Pretty standard bluegrassy instrumentation, being guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass, drums. Not all of the instruments are on every track though, so it remains a quiet album. That's one of the very odd things, hearing Plant sing so softly. You realize that he actually has a very pleasant voice. A great track to showcase that is "Polly Come Home," which is just mesmerizing. It's got this extremely somber guitar-drum background, which contrasts with these very emotional vocals. Another great faster piece is "Gone, Gone, Gone," which has some grant Plant-Krauss action. Here it sounds like Krauss is a little outside of her comfort zone, trying to keep up with Plant's more natural rock instincts.

Anyways, I'm not going through every track on the album, but they're all great. So in summary, if you're looking for a bizarre way to spend an hour or so, check out this album. But also, if you are looking for an hour of simply fantastic, interesting music, I would check this out. Highly recommended.

New Suit

GQ says a dark blue suit is the kind of suit that makes every man look good. Accordingly, in an effort to make myself look more like the competent member of the legal profession that I am, I recently put down some serious coin on a new dark blue suit. I picked it up today from the tailors.

It is badass.

It may have taken me nearly 23 years, but well-fitting clothes are a wise investment.

Excited.

I'm excited too. Spring training starts tomorrow.

I'm anticipating a good season.

Album of the Week: Bandwagonesque

Hi folks. Are you being crushed under the weight of work, research, and mental anguish? Are you sleeping little and stressing lots? Has coffee replaced blood as your predominant bodily fluid? If so, you need to chill out a bit, grab a scotch, and listen to Teenage Fanclub's "Bandwagonesque."

Just who is Teenage Fanclub? No frekkin' idea. I was talking music with this crazy dude at my dad's house party a few weeks ago, the dude was in his early 40's I'd say, had a huge ponytail, and played steel guitar in an old time honkytonk/rock fusion band. I told him he had to listen to "Kind of Blue" he told me I had to check out Teenage Fanclub. Behold, I left the party, was wasting time at a record shop, and I find the aforementioned album. So I bought it.

What I really like about this album is that it is a straightforward rock album, but it has little references to other styles. Definitely a grunge vibe going on, which probably makes sense since it was released in 1991. However, it does away with Nirvana style angst, and instead uses a much more melodic approach.

I don't want to call this is a pop album, because it's devoid of most all the bullshit that characterizes modern pop music. Really sparse instrumentation, pretty much guitar, bass, drums, but they get a quite rich sound. Listening to the album, you just get the sense that the group is using a very robust musical palette, if you get what I'm saying. It creates a great rock vibe, which I think is best described as even steven. You know, there are those other references, but for the most part, this album is just great melodies and great music presented in a very pragmatic rock format. It's not angry music, it's not super sad music, it's just music for that huge chunk of moderation left in the middle.

This group is Scottish, so of course, the lyrics have that British twinge to them, which I think really helps to add to a unique rock sound. I know I just said the album was one for that great mass of moderation, but I think if you check this music out, you'll agree that it is a distinctive moderation.

Bottom line, if you're sitting around and aren't looking to get super pissed, and aren't looking to wallow in self pity, I would check this album out. I bought it kind of on a whim, and I think it's fantastic music.

RED Card

I was at Starbucks this morning, poring over my property assignment and Sixth Amendment cases. I couldn't help but notice, there's currently a promotion at Starbucks where if you "purchase" a Starbucks RED card, Starbucks will donate 5¢ every time you make a purchase with it. This is the AIDS awareness program that Gap, Apple, and other trendy companies like to expound. Basically, it's a gift card, right? No different from any of the other gift cards, but this one comes with a 5¢ donation.

Now, I don't want to belittle or slander Starbucks, because frankly, I can't probably afford any more run-in's with them for fear of being blacklisted. And plus, Starbucks has long had my back as my preferred study/conversation/hang out spot. But I find this RED card odd.

Undoubtedly this is a worthy cause. But it seems to me to be a bit of a cop out on the part of Starbucks. Now, I went on their website and checked out their social responsibility page, and it seems fairly bulky. But basically, with this program, they're transferring any sort of moral culpability onto the consumer. If I were to go up to CEO Howard Schultz and say, "Well, how come you're not giving this amount to the RED campaign?", he could just turn around and say, "Don't blame us, people aren't using their RED cards." It just seems to me to be sort of a lame way to make a philanthropic statement. If you as a company want to make an investment in some sort of charitable cause, make an investment that you can fully stand behind. That seems like a more convincing show of social responsibility. Making your philanthropy that blatantly dependent on others doesn't quite convince me.

I think the best show of corporate social responsibility has to be Target, where 5% of their profit is automatically given back to the community. There's a set goal, a solid commitment of a certain percentage. I think other folks interested in being "socially responsible" should follow that lead.

New Phone, New Capabilities!

Hi folks. I purchased a new mobile phone today, which I suppose in itself isn't big news. However, this directly affects all of you, in that I can now send and receive up to 200 text messages each month! I've probably done like 10 of them today, showing off to folks that I could indeed do so, so this month's limit is now at 190.

Point being, I will now be available at times when a traditional call just would not be feasible. Like a noisy baseball game, or something like that.

Of course, I can also get email on this thing too, so feel free to use that if you don't feel like eating up my quota. Given the number of calls I receive on a regular basis though, I'm sure none of this will be a problem.

I still haven't quite figured the damn thing out, but I'm pretty sure it can control my car or fire a laser beam or something. I'm kind of hesitant to press too many buttons, because I don't really want to inadvertently start some sort of nuclear confrontation while trying to check the news.

Life is full of small challenges.

Beer of the Day: Boulevard Irish Ale

No particular reason why. It's really quite good, and it brings back a lot of good memories from T-Bock's in Decorah.

Winter in Notts

I found this photo on the BBC "Day in Pictures" feature, and of course I had to post it. Anyone who knows anything will realize why. Sorry the photo is so small, but you'll have to take up your objections with the BBC.

Profound Insights, Wisdom, Etc.

1. When you sit down and think about it, chicken fingers really sound like a pretty macabre food. No one wants to eat fingers of any sort.

2. Have you ever noticed that to a dog, the entire planet is literally a giant toilet? The more I thought about it, the more sense it makes. I mean, why limit yourself to a chunk of porcelain when you could use the Yosemite Valley? All natural, compostable, what's the big deal?

3. Whenever you order pizza, regret inevitably follows

4. When you have graduated from college, and you go try to spend Christmas gift cards at American Eagle, you will feel like a giant tool

5. I think the only good reason to watch the Super Bowl in the future is to check out the new commercials for the upcoming Twins season. Aside from going to parties that involve free Mediterranean food and free beer, but the party doesn't require that you actually watch the game.

Maybe this will be a new recurring segment, much like the "Album of the Week" feature. Feel free to add input, or your own profound insights.

Constitutionalism.

Hi folks, sorry about the recent lack of content. School has started again, obviously, and it is intense. I suppose that's what you sign up for though. Plus, I suppose I haven't lately felt very inspired to write much. I know society is descending into chaos without my album reviews, but you're just going to have to deal.

I'm listening to Horace Silver's "Song for My Father," and although I'm not willing to classify it as the "Album of the Week" yet, I would nonetheless highly recommend it.

I'm taking Constitutional Law this semester, and I have to say I do enjoy it. I've always had a bit of a soft spot in my heart for early American history. I think it'd be great to have dinner with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, so long as they wouldn't kill each other across the table. The Constitution is such a fascinating document, and there's just so much thought that went into it. Too many people nowadays just see it as the civic religion would have you see it, as some kind of infallible "Yay us!" sort of charter. The reality, of course, is much more complex. Anytime you proclaim that your goal is to achieve a "more perfect union," while simultaneously counting a black person as 3/5 of an individual, you know there are some serious issues.

It's interesting to see how conceptions of the United States as a nation have evolved throughout the two-odd centuries since 1789. If someone asks you your nationality, I'm assuming that if you're from the United States, you'll probably say that you're American. We're so used to conceptualizing the United States as a single entity, of which the states are more or less units of administration. However, go back to 1795, and ask a citizen of the US what their nationality is, they would probably say Virginian, or New Yorker, or something to that effect. You couldn't say Minnesotan, because it didn't exist yet. To the founding generation, the "nation" was a group of sovereign states who agree to be identified as a single entity. And there was a lot of genuine fear of what would happen if the single entity would grow to become larger than the sum of its parts.

A lot of these Constitutional issues from the late 18th/19th centuries seem so obscure to us in 2009, because the Civil War settled once and for all the issue of how the country would identify itself. Sure, I'm Minnesotan, but I'm equal parts American. The federal government is a tangible element, for better or for worse, in all of our lives. We don't worry so much on whether Washington is infringing on our rights as Minnesotans. If they do, we throw a little hissy fit about local government. More often than not, we want Washington to give use money, after our dumbass governor decided it would be a good idea not to raise taxes. Funny how you end up with a $5 billion budget deficit when you put a strangle hold on income...

I mean, I'm not fully employed or anything, so maybe I'm missing something. But I get paid for my job, I see how much money is going to taxes. And to be frank, it really doesn't outrage me at all. For the good of society, that money taken from me is going to provide health care to those who need it, or to fix our crumbling national infrastructure, or to buy a laser-guided tank. Now, I don't necessarily agree with the tank, but a lot of that money is going to admirable causes. There's this cult of individualism in this country that often times is taken to the extreme. Call it socialism if you want, but everyone in the NATION should be required to collectively raise the quality of life for all.

I digress.

Point is, I love Constitutional issues, because at the heart, it's really a question of how do we live in community as free individuals. What freedoms are willing to give away for security and the good of the whole, and what are we determined to keep for ourselves? Really tough questions, when you get down to it. For example, right now, I have the freedom to laze about all night and watch TV, should I choose. But I've also committed to giving up that freedom in order to join Hamline University School of Law. That community demands I give up some of my freedom in order to contribute productively to an end goal of thoughtful legal education. To live under a constitution of any sort necessarily demands this sort of tension in everyday life, the tension between freedom and responsibility.

Now that we've established that, I have to go brief some cases.

But for your viewing pleasure, here are a few fun-filled Constitution-related photos of my brief time spent in Philadelphia this summer.




Here is my senior paper, which talked about the persistence of anti-federalism following the ratification of the Constitution in 1789, with Independence Hall.



Here I am, with said senior paper, in front of Independence Hall.



Here is the room in Independence Hall where the Constitution was signed.

Cannot get enough.

Had to post.

I just had to post this.

Editorial: Mr. President

This man is now the President. I already feel better.

I cannot imagine holding the office President Obama now holds. Least of all in his situation. Before even assuming office, he has become iconic, a symbol of hope and optimism. He is a celebrity politician in an age of celebrities, towering over all of them. We, the people, have chosen him to help get us out of a shithole that seems as cavernous as that cave in Mexico that people BASE jump into. Stuck in two wars, the economy is going to hell, our standing in the world has diminished, etc., etc., etc. It's a challenge, a huge challenge with no quick fixes or magic words. President Obama cannot ride in on a unicorn, wave a magic wand, or sprinkle magic hope dust on the stock market. It is hard work, that will likely get worse before it gets better.

But I, for one, am willing to trust this man. I think he has the wisdom and leadership to help us get out of this. And for that which he lacks expertise, I think he has the same wisdom to consult others who do. For too long, the Executive has ignored the opinions of others and charted a course without regard to pragmatism. For too long, we have been subject to ideology. It's time for a new way, and I feel a lot better now.

People are cynical and frustrated at our politics, and rightfully so. Look at our situation. But the President was right in invoking Washington's words, that when our situation is dire, we need to rest on our hope and our virtue. I get kind of irritated with folks who always seem so negative, since I'm typically an optimistic person who prefers to see the better side of things. Of course Obama cannot heal all of our ills, I realize that. But it is no help to harbor defeatism at a time that calls for optimism and determination. We need this hope, we can no longer afford the slash and burn fragmentation of years past. Confronted with vast challenges, we need to hope and work towards that hope.

I really appreciated President Obama's bit in his inaugural address that talked about community service and common purpose. It has inspired me, for one, to find a place where I can help. There has to be something out there I can contribute to. He is right when he says that we want to be able to tell our children that we stood up to the crisis of our times.

Of course, this is a moment of great historical significance for our country. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of listening to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream Speech." To think that 46 years later, on the other end of the Mall, an African-American man takes the oath of office, it is simply incredible. Obviously this is a special moment for African-American's, especially those who fought for civil rights. But this is an equally proud moment for all Americans, regardless of color, class, or creed. We have shown the world that we are committed towards making the more perfect union embodied in our Constitution. Although the fight is not over, this is a reminder of the tremendous progress that has been made, and everyone in this country should be proud of what we have done. Nowhere else in Western society does a black man be elected President. Maybe it's a testament to our character, or whatever cliché you want to use, but I was overcome to the point of tears at the sight of it. We talk so much about justice and the words that all are created equal in stark contrast to our sordid history of race relations. The sight of Mr. Obama taking the oath of office was incredible.

The Presidency is a glorious burden, something to be bestowed upon great individuals who we hope will rise to the occasion. Sometimes they do, sometimes they do not. I'm hoping and praying that President Obama will be among those that rise. I think he will. It cannot be easy to have the hopes of 350 million Americans on your back, but if anyone is equal to the task, I think Obama is. God help him prove me right.