lightning at dusk

#14 - Every single song by Owl City. Yes.

2012-02-10T23:11:00.002-05:00

I knew I wanted to get Owl City somewhere on my list of favorite 21 songs of my first 21 years. However, I realized I could easily fill the entire list with 21 Owl City songs. So I'm just going to take #14 to be every single song Owl City has ever recorded. I don't think there's a single Owl City song I don't like.

If I absolutely had to choose, here are some of my favorites:

Early Birdie

Shy Violet

The Saltwater Room

Alligator Sky

On The Wing

#15 - Lovely Day covered by Elan Trotman

2012-02-09T22:18:00.001-05:00

I have heard so many versions of this song in my lifetime. This one by far takes the cake. I absolutely love when wah wah guitar is used in smooth jazz.

#17 - Electric Daisy Violin by Lindsey Stirling; #16 - 当我们宅一块 by 羅志祥

2012-02-08T21:21:00.000-05:00

Due to the fact that I was so busy yesterday I didn't have time to update you on my favorite 21 of my first 21, you're getting two today! Two fer one, look at that deal you're getting there, folks.

#17 - Electric Daisy Violin by Lindsey Stirling
A dancing techno violinist. YES. Besides the music being so addicting, she looks like she's genuinely loving every single second of performing. That's what music should be all about.

#16 - 当我们宅一块 by 羅志祥
I always smile when this song comes on my iTunes. This is happy music.

Too tired/busy to do a countdown post today

2012-02-07T20:08:00.001-05:00

I'll do two tomorrow.

#18 - Sooner or Later by the Grassroots

2012-02-06T13:21:00.002-05:00

We're heading on over to classic rock for number 18. Sooner or Later by the Grass Roots needs to be about five hours longer. And the key change at 1:48 gets me every. single. time.

#19 - Indian Summer by Chris Botti

2012-02-05T14:41:00.002-05:00

Some people say smooth jazz isn't real jazz. I say it's the best kind of jazz. That's why Chris Botti's Indian Summer is coming in at number 19. I saw him perform it live when he came to the Community Theatre in Morristown (which I refuse to refer to as it's new name, the Mayo Performing Arts Center; it will always be the Community Theatre in my eyes), and it was definitely one of the best performances I've ever seen.

#20 - Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole

2012-02-04T17:06:00.002-05:00

My time in Hawaiʻi brainwashed me into loving tropical music. I always used to think it was just a stereotype that people in Hawaiʻi love Iz. But then I got there. Nope. They actually do love him. I heard him on the radio all the time.

link

21 songs

2012-02-03T19:56:00.000-05:00

My 21st birthday is coming up. Assuming I don't get run over by a bus à la Mean Girls, that's a quarter of my life.

First of all, holy crap.

Second of all, what have I spent a good majority of the first quarter of my life doing? Listening to music. No big deal or anything, but music is kind of a big deal. So to celebrate my birthday, I'm going to have a countdown of my top 21 songs of my first 21 years. One a day. Starting at number 21 and working down to my all time favorite.

So here we go!

#21 - Swing Life Away by Rise Against

Nothing screams "friends" more than this song.

"I've got some friends, some that I hardly know
But we've had some times I wouldn't trade for the world
We chase these days down with talks of the places that we will go
We live on front porches and swing life away"

New Year's, Univision-style!

2012-01-01T23:30:00.000-05:00

Did you all catch Anderson Cooper walking onto the Univision set??

Ringing in the new year Spanish-style with Don Francisco and Piolín is always the best.

Happy 2012, friends.

2011-11-14T19:32:00.000-05:00

I've mentioned before how I'm on a constant quest to find a smooth jazz radio station that survives longer than six months after I start listening to it. Well, I think I've found my next victim.

WGRV-LP The Groove is a small community-run station broadcasting from Melbourne, Florida. Despite the fact that it's a community-run low-powered station, apparently it's won a whole bunch of awards. I gave it a listen, and it's just like WLOQ (the last smooth jazz station that went off air because I started listening)! It's perfect! Happy happy happy.

But, alas, no smooth jazz station can survive once I start listening to it. It's bound to go out of business somehow now. Better enjoy it while I can.

I give it four months.

2011-11-12T19:35:00.000-05:00

Washed Out is officially one of my favorite bands now:

2011-09-13T19:28:00.000-04:00

I'm not ashamed to admit that I think My Little Pony is the cutest thing ever:

2011-09-11T19:22:00.000-04:00

Been here seven days. Had four fire alarms. This better not be like last year. Also, the alarms are so much louder in this building. My ears are literally still ringing from the alarm we had an hour ago.

Musing: If I can prove my hearing has been damaged by the end of the year, can I sue Rowan?

2011-09-04T23:26:00.000-04:00

I'm all moved in back at school, and now that I finally have electricity (both at my dorm and it came on at home this morning too, exactly one week after it went off), I'll update on some things, in no particular order:

I went into NYC with my brother on Friday. I'd like to mention that I successfully navigated the subway and all the streets on my own for the very first time ever. I feel proud of myself. We wandered all over. South Street Seaport, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, the new World Trade Center building, Time Square, Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center, The Met, Central Park, Museum of Natural History... It was a tiring day, but we had fun. Maybe I'll post some pictures in a bit, if I don't feel lazy.

MY DORM BEDROOM IS AMAZING. And it's all mine. All. mine. No roommates this year, just suitemates. The room is huge. And the door is so incredibly thick, when I close it, it blocks out every. single. noise. Yessss. I'll take some pictures or make a video once I finish setting it up.

Checked how many Japanese flashcards I have to do since my computer hasn't had power this entire week: over seven hundred. This will be fun to catch up with.

This song:

Six. days.

2011-09-02T20:09:00.000-04:00

Got a call from JCP&L this morning: "We're calling to confirm that your power has been restored!" *clicks light switch* Nope, still not on. Sigh.

Still no lights

2011-09-01T20:21:00.000-04:00

Five days without electricity. Really, Jersey Central Power & Light? We got a call from them today: "Your power will probably be restored by tomorrow [Friday] night. If not by then, then most likely over the weekend." So basically, that phone call told us nothing.

Generators are magical

2011-08-31T09:31:00.000-04:00

Thanks, Hurricane Irene, for knocking out our power. In just a few hours, we will begin day five of no electricity. This is not okay.

Hurricane coming, better stock up

2011-08-27T01:27:00.000-04:00

The supermarket was packed today. Total chaos. There is literally nothing on the shelves. I understand there's going to be a hurricane, but it's not going to be World War III or the apocalypse. Calm down, people. Usually, we have three or four cash registers open, and that's more than enough. Today we had all eighteen open and there were still giant lines at each one. Holy crap. They asked me to work a double shift. I didn't want to say yes because it was crazy there, but then I thought about how me not staying would mean even more work for my coworkers, most of whom were already working double shifts too. So I ended up staying. Now it's one in the morning and I'm finally getting home. Tomorrow's going to be even worse. Ugh.

I'M A RAVENCLAW!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-08-26T10:10:00.000-04:00

I can't even explain how happy I am! Ahhhh!

POTTERMORE.

2011-08-26T01:13:00.000-04:00

Books books books

2011-08-15T02:02:00.003-04:00

NPR held a survey that 60,000 people participated in to rank the 100 best science fiction and fantasy books. They just released the results. I'm totally reading every book on this list, no matter how long it takes me. I've already read a lot of them, but there are a bunch I've never even heard of too. 

I'm so glad to see The Thrawn Trilogy made the list. Definitely the best Star Wars EU books out there.

What is this magic?

2011-08-06T23:31:00.000-04:00

I just tried limeade (lemonade but with limes instead of lemons) today. I'm in love.

Harry Potter EU

2011-08-03T02:52:00.006-04:00

You know what I think needs to happen? The Harry Potter universe has to be opened up for writers to create their own stories within. I'm not talking fan fiction, I'm talking officially licensed books that stay true to the originals while adding their own stories. Like how the Star Wars expanded universe has been opened up for others besides George Lucas to write. George Lucas created the original background, then set it free for others to expand. Some of those books are actually almost as good as the original trilogy, and most are better than the prequel trilogy. I mean, there have been entire books written about Han Solo's children, Jacen and Jaina Solo, and their names were never even mentioned in the films. I think it would be cool for this to happen for the Harry Potter universe too. This magical world is just too ...well, magical to end after only seven books, even with Pottermore coming up. There are so many more stories that could be written about this these witches and wizards.

"After Star Wars was released, it became apparent that my story—however many films it took to tell—was only one of thousands that could be told about the characters who inhabit its galaxy. But these were not stories that I was destined to tell. Instead, they would spring from the imagination of other writers, inspired by the glimpse of a galaxy that Star Wars provided. Today, it is an amazing, if unexpected, legacy of Star Wars that so many gifted writers are contributing new stories to the Saga."
-George Lucas

Does this sound like a good idea? Or am I just crazy?

"You are magical"

2011-08-01T03:05:00.001-04:00

I am magical.
Oh my god.
I'm going to Hogwarts.
Oh my god.

So long, smooth jazz

2011-07-24T23:34:00.002-04:00

I just can't win with smooth jazz radio stations. 

So, a while ago, I found WLOQ Orlando. It was amazing. It was basically CD 101.9 (the NYC smooth jazz station that went off the air). It's been broadcasting smooth jazz for thirty-four years. And now, five months after I discovered it, it's being sold because the owners need money for a medical emergency.  

I've really gotten attached to the radio djs, after listening to the station for pretty much every day since I've found it. I'm really going to miss the LOQ Café with Robyn Austin, Smooth Ride Home with Brian Morgan, Lites Out Orlando with Alicia Kaye, the Concerts Under the Stars live from Baldwin Park. It probably sounds pathetic, but it's like I actually knew these people. It's like getting emotional when something happens to the characters on How I Met Your Mother. They're always there for you. 

They say there's a possibility that they may continue broadcasting the music online, sans the djs, but it just wouldn't be the same. I've already got all the songs on my iTunes. The djs make the package.  I'm recording their entire last week on air. Must archive all the things! 

Let it be known:

2011-07-15T02:55:00.000-04:00

That at 2:10am on July 15th, 2011, as the credits to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 rolled up the screen, my childhood officially ended.

Oh my god, it's over.

I don't think I could have asked for anything more.

WJF7

2011-07-10T21:27:00.001-04:00

I'm watching the World Juggling Federation championships on ESPN3 right now (it's still going on, if you have any desire to watch), and I realized I can totally do all the individual tricks these guys are doing. The only thing I can't do is string the tricks together into one continuous two-minute routine. I don't plan on ever performing, but it's cool to know that I don't have too far to go until I'm as good as the pros :D

DTS fistpump

2011-07-09T21:31:00.002-04:00

I'm down in Cape May with my family and our friend's family.

I had my shirt on all yesterday, and my stomach still got sunburned. How does that happen? Really, how is that possible? Am I really that white?

The friends and I went to the Wildwood boardwalk to go on rides today. The rollercoasters were meh, but the log flume was really good. And there were no lines, since it looked like it might rain all day so I guess most people stayed away. So when the log flume was over, we asked the attendant if we could just stay in the boat and go around again. She said yes, awesome. Then when we got back, we asked again. And again. And again. Eight times in a row, oh yea! Completely soaked by the end of the day, but so worth it.

Lightning storms are great. Lightning storms over the ocean are the greatest.

And yup, I'm still terrified of swimming in the ocean. I just can't do it.

So much Bollywood

2011-06-20T05:48:00.001-04:00

Just realized I can make a station devoted to Bollywood musicals on Pandora. Pretty sure I don't need to listen to anything else ever again.

Also, I saw the first firefly of the summer the other day. Life is good.

This seems bright and beautiful

2011-06-13T23:49:00.000-04:00

The new Owl City album just came out. I've only been counting down to this for the past few months. So happy. So so happy.

HOLY. CRUD.

2011-06-11T23:14:00.000-04:00

WHY HAVE I NEVER LISTENED TO DUBSTEP BEFORE TODAY OMG MY EARS THEY ARE IN HEAVEN

New SWTOR trailer!

2011-06-10T00:05:00.002-04:00

The team behind Star Wars: The Old Republic (the new mmorpg coming out soon) just released another trailer! I'm not actually into video games, but this trailer is a work of art. Some darn good lightsaber battling going on here. Also, blue double-bladed lightsaber (the mark of a Jedi Consular)? Best type of Jedi, in my opinion. Not that I know enough about Star Wars to know the distinctions between the Jedi types or anything...

link (You should totally watch it fullscreen instead of just in this little window. It's got amazing graphics.)

Also, if you haven't seen the earlier trailer, here it is. Favorite lightsaber battle of all time!

So much rain

2011-05-22T00:02:00.000-04:00

It's been raining for almost two weeks now. And weather.com says it's going to rain for at least ten more days. Oh well. So much for spending spring outdoors.

Welcome to Alcatraz

2011-05-21T23:29:00.002-04:00

Lost was one of my most favorite tv shows of all time. Since it ended, there's been a void in my life. No more spending hours thinking about the latest plot twist and what the next episode has in store. No more reading theories on internet message boards and discussing the craziest ones. No more hearing Sawyer's "son of a bitch." No more island. No more going back.

I think I might have found a replacement for Lost.

Well, not a real replacement. Nothing will ever completely fill that hole. But this show might ease the pain a bit.

link

Alcatraz. Another island. Mystery. Prisoners. Time travel(?). Jorge Garcia (Hurley!!). This looks promising. I think this could satisfy my need for another scifi thiller. It starts in 2012. Can't wait!

And please, for the love of all things sacred, please don't cancel it after three episodes, Fox.

I listen to too much music

2011-05-18T20:52:00.000-04:00

Let it be known: My 20,000th song that I listened to since I started using Last.fm to record my listening habits was Israel Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World! I totally didn't plan it that way (okay I totally did).

Another year down

2011-05-14T21:08:00.000-04:00

I just finished my sophomore year of college. I'm halfway done with school. Oh mah gah. Half of my brain can't wait for college to be over, while the other half of my brain is completely terrified of what's going to happen once I graduate. But whatever. That's future Ryan's problem. Now it's summer! Nothing to do but stay up late, listen to music, hang out with friends, ...and work. Lots and lots of work. Fun!

Things that have happened in my sophomore year:

Officially declared my majors to be communication studies and advertising.

Decided that public relations would be a better major than advertising because I can get an advertising job with a pr degree but I can't get a pr job with an advertising degree. Officially switched my majors to comm studies and pr.

Joined the intramural bowling league. Bowled a friggin' 207. WHAT UP.

Decided I don't like having roommates. (If any of my roommates find this: nothing against you! I just prefer to not have people making noise while I'm trying to sleep.)

Got my radio license.

Finally got a job.

Made it onto the honor roll. Good grades, oh yea!

Things that will happen next year:

I'll have a radio show once a week. Y'all should listen to it online. I'll post the link to the radio streaming website once it gets closer.

I'll be living in the brand spanking new honors dorm! ...If it's finished on time. It's still being built now. I have no clue what's going to happen if it isn't finished on time.

Hopefully a bunch more awesome grades. Yep.

78 MORE DAYS.

2011-04-28T15:32:00.001-04:00

I'm done with classes for this year. Now I just have one more paper that's due on Tuesday, and four final exams next week, none of which I'm worried about. And then this year is completely over! Coasting coasting coasting.

And now the big news: the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two trailer just came out! Feast your eyes upon this glorious video:

Let the countdown begin!

I've always wondered this...

2011-04-25T21:06:00.000-04:00

If you don't read XKCD, you totally should. Here's a recent comic from it:

(click to see larger!)

Semi-related to the comic, I've always been confused as to why the Star Wars universe used words like Y-wing and X-wing when their language is written in aurebesh [which I may or may not have memorized...]. Aurebesh isn't based on the Roman alphabet, so how did they know that their ships were shaped like Y's and X's and should be named accordingly? Oh, the things I think about.

So serene

2011-04-24T20:45:00.001-04:00

Look at this picture. Just look at it. Is this perfect? Or is this perfect?

via From Me to You

Crank that saxophone up to 11

2011-04-20T21:22:00.001-04:00

My roommate is currently blasting ...big band music? What? I'm actually enjoying the fact that he's blasting his music. So much better than the usual rap he cranks up all the way!

This was in my advertising textbook: "Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love, and got married. The ceremony wasn’t much, but the reception was brilliant." Hehehe

Dune: attempt number two

2011-04-20T21:15:00.000-04:00

I'm going to try reading Dune again. I tried during my freshman year of high school but just couldn't understand it and gave up half way. I need to give it another shot because I can't call myself a full-fledged science fiction buff until I do. Nerd mode: commence!

Wasting time and Google Mapping

2011-04-19T21:03:00.000-04:00

I spent a good part of tonight Google Mapping around Disney World. I always get a kick out of seeing the behind-the-scenes parts of it that the company never meant you to see. There's so much going on back there!

Here is a link to Disney World on Google Maps, if you'd like to try it out for yourself (be careful, it's addicting). And I don't usually advocate using Bing, but it's Bird's Eye map view is actually pretty spectacular. Here's Disney World on Bing Maps. Have fun and enjoy procrastinating!

I'm enjoying homework?

2011-04-18T21:11:00.000-04:00

I'm writing a research paper on whether Japan is handling its nuclear crisis correctly. It's the first paper I've enjoyed writing in years. Whoa!

I have the radio license!

2011-04-11T13:51:00.000-04:00

Guess who passed his radio license exam? This guy! I shadowed the show of a more experienced station member this morning. I just watched everything she did during it this time, but next time I'm going to start reading some of the on-air scripts. And the following weeks, I'm going to start taking over the board. By the end of the semester, I should be running her entire show on my own.

This college radio station is a whole lot different from the high school radio station I did before. This is just like a professional radio station. This is the real deal. It's so cool!

Next semester's schedule!

2011-04-03T21:00:00.000-04:00

I picked out my schedule for next semester, and it is amazing. I can't believe I got all the classes I wanted. Seriously, there was only one seat open in quite a few of them, and I got those single seats. Here's what I'll be taking:

public relations/advertising research
communication theory
basic public relations writing
publication layout and design
intro to communication studies
ethical issues in human communication

It'll be a tough semester, but I don't have a single class before 12:15! And no classes on Fridays again! And I'll be in basic PR writing with the same teacher that I have for intro to PR this semester. That's a good thing. He's great. I'm content.

More smooth jazz

2011-04-02T21:31:00.000-04:00

I just found a smooth jazz radio station based in Orlando that's even better than WJZW (the one I found in Washington, DC)! WLOQ is amazing! It's pretty much the same music, but this one still has on-air djs instead of just a computer playing music. Radio personalities will always be better than an automated system. Only problem is there's no way to stream the station through iTunes. But the web player is good enough, so I'm not complaining :)

My computer sounds like a jet engine whenever I play a flash video. Dumb fan that doesn't cool my computer when I watch Youtube grumble grumble grumble.

Stress overload

2011-04-01T21:33:00.000-04:00

Registering for classes and taking the radio license exam in the morning. Could a day get any more stressful?

A trip to advising

2011-03-30T21:35:00.000-04:00

I went to see my adviser today... He was my interpersonal communication teacher last semester. I'm really happy I got assigned him. He looked over the classes that I had picked out, and he said he wouldn't change a thing. Shweet. Also, one of the requirements for communication studies is three classes in related electives, but he said that since I'm double majoring with public relations, which is part of the school of communication, he should be able to sign off that I don't need the related electives. Three less classes until graduation, huzzah!

My whole future hinges on Monday...

2011-03-28T21:41:00.000-04:00

Holy crud, I just realized that whether or not I graduate on time comes down to picking classes on Monday. All the classes I need are prerequisites for later courses and if I don't get them it delays everything and ahhhh oh my gahd dfskhgfdjhfas.

A place to live!

2011-03-20T21:43:00.000-04:00

Guess what I just got? A single bedroom in the brand spanking new honors dorm next year! It's just being finished being built now and I'm seriously going to be the first person to ever live in the bedroom I get. I can't find any pictures of the rooms yet, but I'm going to go ahead and assume it's nicer than the bug infested building that I'm in now. And now I don't have to worry about finding someone else to live with off campus.

Things have been going in my favor lately. This is nice.

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

2011-03-08T20:46:00.000-05:00

GASP. dskfjhfljhagkdjshfgd

Of course, you're the Father of PR!

2011-03-07T20:51:00.000-05:00

We had a test last week in my public relations class. There were only a few questions, so each question was worth a lot. One of the questions was "who is known as 'the father of public relations' and why?" This one was worth twenty percent of the test. I couldn't remember the name at the time (it's Edward Bernays, I still have no clue what he did), so I put my professor's name and the reason I gave was "because he is awesome and is the best ever at public relations." I figured, hey, I can't be any more wrong than a blank answer, why not give it a shot?

Got it back today.

Full credit.

Oh yea.

Splash Mountain adds lap bars

2011-02-07T21:53:00.000-05:00

After a month long refurbishment, Splash Mountain recently reopened, with lap bars installed onto all the boats. Apparently, some guests felt they could get up and wander around during the ride, causing the entire ride to be shut down while cast members look for the guest. A few people always have to ruin it for everyone.

I'm not sure how much I like this new institution. I always thought it made the ride more exciting without them; the final drop down Chickapin Hill into the briar patch below felt so much more risky, as if you were going to fall out of the boat. Hopefully the new lap bar doesn't affect this feeling.

Another concern: load times. Now the cast members have to check every row before the boats leave. Shouldn't take too long each time, but added up over the course of the day? That could cause some longer lines. Disney says it won't affect the wait times, so I guess we'll just have to wait to see how it all works out. Fingers crossed for the best.

Now, there's the snow

2011-02-06T19:11:00.000-05:00

I escaped the rain of South Jersey for an excursion back home in North Jersey... Now, there was some serious snow there!

This was a gift given to us by a friend. It's an outdoor heater. Supposedly it blows hot air down onto people standing around it. Perfect for outdoor parties in the spring and fall! ...We've never used it. I've always thought it looks like something else...

It's a moisture vaporator from Star Wars! There's a whole lot more moisture around here than on Tatooine, though.

Bet you never noticed this on the Pirates of the Caribbean

2011-02-03T22:29:00.000-05:00

At the end of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction in Disney World, there's one of those moving ramp escalators that brings you up to the exit. Throughout the rest of the park, when there's a moving ramp, there are usually footprints painted on them so you can tell it's moving. But to fit in better with the theme of the attraction, the Pirates ramp has one foot and one peg leg painted on it! It's the attention to little details like this that make me love everything Disney does so much.

Advertising is fun!

2011-02-02T20:54:00.000-05:00

I'm really enjoying my advertising class. The way it works is a whole bunch of professors rotate doing a lecture once a week, and then we're all assigned a professor and we go to that same professor each week for a discussion. Today's professor was incredible. I wish I had her for my discussion group. She was this little old lady that's spent pretty much her whole life traveling and advising advertising agencies all over the world. She really knew her stuff. I hope she does another lecture sometime.

I could totally see myself going into the advertising field. It's so interesting. The professor today was telling us about where most of the big advertising agencies are located, and basically, all of them are in New York City, Chicago, Tokyo, and Sydney. It'll probably be difficult, but maybe it might actually be possible to get a job in Japan doing this? Or maybe I'll just stay here on the east coast. Or even Sydney would be cool. But living in Japan would be amazing. Time to really step it up with my Japanese studies. 日本語はＯＫです！

Rainpocalypse 2011

2011-02-02T17:05:00.000-05:00

While most of the northeastern United States is getting pounded by snow, here in South Jersey we're not getting a bit of it. It's just been raining. Not pleasant. But tomorrow I'll be heading back home to North Jersey for the weekend, so I'll be able to experience the massive amounts of snow first hand [assuming the roads are drivable, of course!].

Smooth jazz!

2011-01-23T20:57:00.000-05:00

My week just got infinitely better.

Backstory: You probably don't remember this, but there used to be a radio station in New York City called CD101.9 WQCD. It played smooth jazz. Basically, I grew up listening to only this station, and never listened to any genre but smooth jazz until about eighth grade. It was amazing. Then, about five years ago, the format was changed to top 40 (Now it's called WRXP: The Rock Experience, blerg) and the station went completely downhill since it's kind of impossible to compete with PLJ and Z100. I guess that could have been a good thing, because it got me to start listening to other genres, but it was also bad because, duh, then I didn't have any smooth jazz (this was before I actually started collecting music, so I didn't have any songs saved). Last year I found SmoothJazz.com, which was okay, but it pretty much only played newer smooth jazz, not the amazing classic 90's stuff. It's nice, but not quite the same.

Flashforward to now. I don't know why it took me this long to realize it, but last night I remembered that CD101.9 had a sister station down in Washington, DC that was owned by the same company. I found it while I was flipping through the stations when I went to visit my cousins down there years ago. I have no clue why that fact popped into my head after so long. But anyway, I went to search for it, and it still exists! It's 105.9 WJZW and turns out it doesn't play over terrestrial radio any more, but it's still broadcasted over HD radio and online through the website (It's also in iTunes in that Radio tab in the jazz section if you look for WJZW-HD2, in case any of you are interested. You probably aren't, but just in case). Works for me, and it still plays the 90's music along with some newer stuff! It's like my childhood all over again. I'm listening to songs I haven't heard in way too many years. Even some of the bumpers (those jingles in between songs that say the name of the station) are the same exact thing, except for saying 105.9 instead of 101.9.

Only thing I'm disappointed with is the fact that they don't play a Stevie Wonder song at least once every couple of hours. It's not that I particularly like his music, it's just that since he was on so often, my family always had contests to see who could shout "Stevie!" first whenever he came on. It was intense.

I know this doesn't sound important, but it really made me so much happier after these unenjoyable past few days. I am content.

Best knock knock joke ever

2010-12-22T21:00:00.000-05:00

Friend told the best knock knock joke ever:

Knock knock.

Who's there?

To.

To who?

No, to whom.

*chuckle*

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One review!

2010-11-26T19:49:00.000-05:00

(Here there be spoilers, yarggg)

The movie I've been counting down until for only the past six months has finally hit theatres! I may or may not have already seen it twice by now...

Things I approve of:

Dobby. As sad as I am that he was killed, he was so cute! Seriously, how could you not tear up at last a little inside when he said "Dobby is happy with his friends"?

Emma Watson actually acted a little better. Not much GASP gasping GASP and crying GASP in between GASP every other GASP word.

Luna dancing at the wedding. I will be incorporating that into all my future dancing.

Things I did not approve of:

They took out the part where Harry, Ron, and Hermione go into Luna's bedroom and see her drawing on the wall of all her friends. Now it doesn't look like Luna loves her friends as much as she does.

Not enough Luna. Always needs more Luna.

Harry zipping up Ginny's dress. Why??

The Harry and Hermione sex scene. Also why??

I'm kind of obsessed with Luna, if you haven't noticed.

Where'd the doorknob go?

2010-11-21T21:02:00.000-05:00

Somebody stole the doorknob to the only entrance to our building. It's impossible to get in without waiting for someone from the inside to come out. Stay classy, stay classy.

Dear Oilers,

2010-10-23T22:07:00.000-04:00

I know you aren't known for being a particularly good hockey team, but when you lose, could you at least not lose by five points? Seriously, five whole points! Come on, guys.

Your adoring fan,
Ryan

The last question was asked for the first time, half in jest, on May 21, 2061...

2010-10-03T18:48:00.006-04:00

It's not very often that you read a story that makes you totally rethink the entire world around you. Isaac Asimov's The Last Question is one of those rare stories. I just found it, and I truly believe it's the best short story I've ever read. Asimov himself has said it's his favorite work of his own. And even if you aren't a huge fan of science fiction, and you only read one science fiction story in your life, this needs to be it. So if you happen to have about fifteen to read this short story, I'd suggest you do. You can find it here. So yea. Go read it!

I bowled what?

2010-09-29T22:09:00.000-04:00

I bowled a friggin' 207 tonight! 207! That's the best score I've ever gotten. Ever. 207. 207!

My juggling, summer 2010

2010-08-18T22:14:00.000-04:00

So I just made a video of my juggling. Y'all should totally check it out (you might want to click this link to go to the website, the video player here is kind of small):

I speak a little!

2010-07-05T07:00:00.002-04:00

You know what I find funny (in a linguistic geek sort of way)? If someone is asked if they speak a language, and that person does know how to speak it, their response is almost always "a little" in whatever language is being asked about. "Un poco!" "Un peu!" "Chotto!" Try it out on someone sometime. Results guaranteed*!

*Just kidding about the guaranteed part, but there's a pretty good chance :P

Yann Tiersen = required listening

2010-07-04T01:20:00.002-04:00

I've listened to the soundtrack of Amélie countless times (quick sidetrack: anyone who hasn't seen Amélie yet needs to go see it. It's literally one of the best movies you will ever watch in your life. It's in French but there are subtitles and it is totally worth it). The score is written by Yann Tiersen, and I just recently went hunting for some of his other works. I wasn't expecting anything too great, cause, you know, no one could create two brilliant masterpieces, right? Boy, was I wrong about that one. I found the soundtrack to L'Absente, and it was equally as brilliant. In fact all of the rest of his stuff is amazing. Do yourself a favor and check some of his music out, pronto!

DCI competition

2010-06-29T22:26:00.000-04:00

Carolina Crown is simply amazing.

A couple friends and I went to go see the DCI competition, and despite the distance we had to drive to get there, we only got a little lost (and by "little," I mean "incredibly"). However, we were able to soon find our way back on track (and by "soon," I mean "after about forty minutes going every direction but the correct one").

Anyway, we only missed two corps, and they weren't any of the good ones so it didn't matter. The rest were mostly great shows, especially Crown and the Crusaders. Surprisingly, the Bluecoats were actually really good too. The only semi-disappointing show was Phantom Regiment. But whatever.

Final score: Crown - 80.5, Bluecoats - 79.9

I love this!

Bug bites? Nope!

2010-06-19T22:29:00.000-04:00

I don't get how it happens, but I never get bug bites. Spent hours outside tonight at Sarah's, and not a single bite. This is awesome.

Into the city!

2010-06-05T22:34:00.000-04:00

I love love love New York City. And Micmacs. And spending time with awesome friends, despite (because of?) the adventures we have (getting lost in Newark; not being able to open the doors to the train, and running off the train to get to a different door, only to watch the train pull away before we could get back on; attempting to fit three of us through through the metal turnstile in the subway at once because two of our tickets didn't work; etc.). Seriously, you guys are great.

I've been thinking about where I want to live after finishing school a lot lately. I know it's still [at least] three years away, but I don't know. I might want to live abroad in Japan, then move to Florida. Or maybe I'll just end up staying in New Jersey (or the city is acceptable, I could picture myself living there). Maybe I'll end up somewhere else, but who knows. Gahh, huge life decisions like this should not be happening yet!

Dear Lost,

2010-05-23T22:41:00.000-04:00

That was an amazing way to end an amazing six seasons. Thanks for everything.

See ya in another life, brotha.
Ryan

Things I have learned living in Hawaiʻi for a year:

2010-05-13T22:50:00.000-04:00

-Those shirts with the colorful flower patterns are called aloha shirts, not Hawaiian shirts.
-The real hula is so much more beautiful than the stereotypical version mainlanders think of.
-Do not refer to someone as Hawaiian. They're local.
-Hawaiʻi is NOT part of the United States. I saw only two American flags the entire year. Hawaiian flags are literally everywhere. And I have yet to meet any locals who refers to themselves as an Americans.
-Hawaiʻi has one of the largest homeless populations of all the states (if you include Hawaiʻi as a state, for argument's sake).
-...And one of the largest drug cultures.
-Pidgin is not mutually intelligible with English. Ho dis stay ono. You like try gedum yea.
-I can name the Hawaiian islands, and in order! Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui, Kahoʻolawe, and Hawaiʻi (Big Island).
-Even though there are only eight islands in the official state, the Hawaiian island chain actually consists of 137 islands.
-You can tell which island a local is from by their personality.
-At sporting events, even if you don't sing along with the Star-Spangled Banner, you WILL sing Hawaiʻi Ponoʻi.
-Mauka (towards the mountains) and makai (towards the ocean) and towards Diamond Head or Ewa are so much better for giving directions than north, south, east, west.
-Do not say "Back in the states..." It's the mainland.
-Spam. Oh my god, Spam. It's everywhere. And it's disgusting.
-Contrary what many dumb tourists believe, "mahalo" means "thanks." Just because all the McDonald's have it on their garbage cans, does not mean it is Hawaiian for "garbage." What idiot thought that one up?
-Speaking of garbage... it's not garbage, it's rubbish.
-Other things I will probably accidentally refer to using the pidgin term once I get back to the mainland: shoyu instead of soy sauce, slippas instead of flip flops, choke instead of a lot, pau instead of finished.
-I can now sing the color song. It's in Hawaiian and is taught to local preschoolers. I feel special. Thank you, Hawaiian Studies 107. That's about all I got out of that class.
-"Hawaii" is really spelled "Hawaiʻi". And that is not an apostrophe. That's an ʻokina. I don't think this font shows it, but it's actually a miniature 6 placed where an apostrophe would go. I kid you not, I have seen arguments started over this.
-However, "Hawaiian" is not spelled "Hawaiʻian." "Hawaiian" is an English word. "Hawaiʻi" is a Hawaiian word. The Hawaiian term for "Hawaiian" is "ʻōlelo Havaiʻi"
-I know how to really use "da kine"!

Thanks for a great year, Hawaiʻi.

How did that get there?

2010-05-10T22:51:00.000-04:00

I went to take a shower today and when I pulled back the shower curtain to get in, I found ...(drumroll, please) ...someone's mattress. Guys of Mokihana floor three, you never cease to amaze me.

To the top of Diamond Head

2010-05-09T22:55:00.000-04:00

I finally got to hike Diamond Head! I've only been planning this since ...spring break? It's just always been rainy or I've been busy with classes or something always. It was pretty awesome. Getting to the top and being able to look all around at the island and the huge ocean just makes you feel so small in comparison. I took a whole bunch of pictures, and you can check them out on my Flickr here.

I miss fireflies

2010-05-01T22:58:00.000-04:00

You know what I miss most about the mainland? Fireflies. They don't exist here. What's the point of having summer year round if there aren't any fireflies out?? (Well, beside the whole being warm all year thing, that's a good reason to have summer all year.)

Goodbye, rainy season

2010-04-23T23:01:00.000-04:00

I think the rainy season is finally over! It went from cool and raining every single day all winter (hah, I haven't used that word in so long), to being hot and humid and beautiful, all in just a few days. I walked to Walmart today... I could have taken the bus, but it was just way too nice out, and I had nothing else to do anyway. It was a nice walk.

I was also thinking about how cool it is that I know my way around here so well now. When I first got here, I could barely keep street names like Kapiolani and Kalakaua straight, now I'm like "Ha! I know the difference between Makaha, Makāha, and Makaʻaha!" It's almost as if those ancient Hawaiians created their alphabet just to annoy future tourists. I feel so local.

I give mad props to anyone who braves driving in downtown Waikiki. I was scared just trying to cross the streets. I can't imagine what it's like to be in a car in that mess.

In green Manoa Valley...

2010-04-21T23:09:00.000-04:00

We just had our last day of concert band, since the concert was Monday and now we don't really have any reason to keep going. The only thing left is the graduation ceremony, but the whole band isn't playing, just one of the six smaller pep bands. Even though only some people are going to be playing, the whole band practiced the graduation music. Now, usually I can't stand practicing graduation music, but there was one song that just blew my mind away. It was a medley of some generic graduation song, Amazing Grace, and Hawaiʻi's Alma Mater. It was beautiful. I really wish I had a recording of it.

^^ I wish I could find a version of the medley we did in band, but this is just the Alma Mater. I'm pretty much just putting it here so I can remember it looking back.

In green Mānoa valley our Alma Mater stands,
Where mountain winds and showers refresh her fertile lands;
The flag of freedom beckons above her shining walls,
To larger truth and service our Alma Mater calls.

Hawaiʻi, we have gathered within your wide-flung doors,
As sons and daughters claiming her freely offered stores;
Our loyal praise we tender, and pledge to hold thy aim,
Till ocean's far horizons shall hear thy honored name.

WELCOME ABOARD

2010-04-19T23:12:00.000-04:00

I've been on The Bus more times in the past week than I have the rest of the semester combined with all the rehearsals and everything at McKinley. We figured out that with my radio DJ voice, I can perfectly imitate the announcements made at each stop. The announcements are so funny. You can tell they recorded each word separately, and then just edited them all together, cause there are breaks between each word. "ALOHA ...WELCOME ABOARD ...ROUTE 80A ...STOPPING AT ...KEʻEAUMOKU ST ...AND ...MOʻILIʻILI ...TRANSFER POINT"

時をかける少女 / The Girl Who Leap Through Time Review

2010-03-27T08:31:00.002-04:00

I just got through watching 時をかける少女, or The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. An animated movie directed by Mamoru Hosoda, I've got to say, it's one of the better anime I've seen.

Makoto is just an average Japanese teenager. One day, she wakes up to find herself late for school. Riding her bike furiously to get to class in time, she ends up colliding with a moving train when her bike brakes fail to stop her on a hill. However, she wakes up to find she is not in fact dead, but was instead transported through time back to right before the accident. She soon found how this new gift (called a time-leap) worked, so she constantly repeats parts of her life to make things better for herself. However, she learns that while making her life better, these repeats could have negative impacts on those around her. When she discovers that she only has a limited amount of time-leaps, this creates a tough situation for her to decide how to use them; decisions that could affect her closest friends. I won't write much more about the plot in case anyone wants to watch it, but it is a great story that is very touching.

This movie has won multiple awards, and it deserves every single one of them. This animation is beautiful, and the plot is amazing. While none of us have probably been in a time-leaping situation, this really hits home with the relationships that Makoto holds with her closest friends. The ending is a bit sad, but it's one of those ending where you know everything will work out well eventually. So if you've got a free hour and a half, watch this movie. You won't regret it.

Asia-Europe Railway

2010-03-25T20:30:00.002-04:00

China already has an excellent high speed railway system within it’s own country, but now it may be looking to expand all the way to Europe. According to the South China Morning Post, this could include up to seventeen countries, with some negotiations already taking place.

China is willing to fund the entire project itself; instead, it is asking the participating countries to pay in natural resources. This would be a win-win situation for everyone. A ‘free’ rail system in exchange for resources that China is in great need of? Everyone benefits.

I see this as potentially breaking down many culture barriers. While there is the ability to fly to China from the rest of the world, taking a train is always much less of a hassle than negotiating airports. This could encourage more visitors to China from Europe, and vice-versa. Anyone have any thoughts on this, agreeing or otherwise?

Time Lapse

2010-03-24T22:38:00.000-04:00

I came across this video called Tokyo/Glow and I thought I would share it with you. It’s a time lapse of the Tokyo nightlife. We’ve all seen something like this before, right? …But there’s a twist. I wonder how much editing went into making this brilliant video?

Video credit to Nathan Johnston.

Watchers of Lost:

2010-03-15T18:37:00.000-04:00

Prepare yourself for the best picture you will ever see.

Double rainbow!

2010-03-05T17:20:00.000-05:00

Saw this outside my window today:

MST3K

2010-02-28T17:18:00.000-05:00

I've started watching Mystery Science Theater 3000. I don't know why I've never watched it before. For a science fiction B-movie lover like myself, this is pretty much the definition of awesome. And I thought I was going to have free time now that I was all caught up with Lost... ha, apparently not.

Waʻahila Ridge hike

2010-02-22T17:12:00.000-05:00

I am so sore. Our hike up Waʻahila Ridge was by far the most strenuous and most dangerous hike I've ever done. We started out in the parking lot, where we walked through a big gate. Immediately, we were in a dense forest of pine trees. We later came to each separate peak, each peak giving us better and better views of Manoa Valley as we got higher and higher up. There were parts where we were literally climbing up sheer cliffs, and parts where we were on all fours scrambling to grab a tree root before falling back down. And there were other parts where the we only had inches to either side of us otherwise we would fall into the valley below. The whole thing took about five hours, and I think the whole group (there were seven of us) really bonded. Nothing brings people together better than the knowledge that these could be the last people you ever see before falling to your doom.

Despite the dangers, the views we were rewarded with were so worth it. I've got a whole album full of pictures on my Flickr, if you want to check them out!

Excuse me now, I'm going to go collapse into bed.

Nostalgia attack

2010-02-16T16:52:00.000-05:00

How many of you remember this commercial from back when we watched Nickelodeon as kids?

Best. Commercial. Ever.

The tape is totally the reason I'm buying it

2010-02-15T16:20:00.000-05:00

I bought a bag of pretzels today, and on the bag it said "Free! Piece of tape to reseal bag!!" And attached to the back was, true to their word, a piece of tape.

Oh, Japanese companies, you make me chuckle.

Quietness... Haha, jk!

2010-01-22T16:04:00.000-05:00

My floor is always the loudest floor in the building. Nonstop noise, 24/7. Even during our "quiet hours." But for some reason tonight was different. Everyone's doors were closed, and no one was blasting music. Even Randy (roommate) was out so I didn't have to listen to him blasting South Park on his tv (I swear, he worships that show). So anywho, it was really relaxing, and at one point, I said out loud to no one in particular, "This is so nice!"

And right as I finished that sentence, the fire alarm went off.

Somebody up there hates me.

Chris Botti concert

2010-01-09T15:57:00.000-05:00

I came so close to shaking Chris Botti's hand. So close!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMP4Q5zNf2k

Here's to one last...

2009-12-31T15:47:00.000-05:00

OH-NINE!

Christmas decorations

2009-11-28T15:12:00.000-05:00

It looks like a hurricane went through campus last night. It was so windy. There are trees down everywhere.

It also looks like winter went through the cafeteria last night. I've never seem so many Christmas decorations go up in so little time. I guess people in Hawaiʻi make up for not having winter by overdecorating everything...

Possibly studying in Kobe this summer?

2009-11-21T22:01:00.001-05:00

I can't believe my first semester here is already almost over! There's only about a month left until winter break. It feels like I just got here.

I've definitely advanced with my Japanese from what little I knew when I first got here. Previously, we had only been using the polite forms of verbs, but right now we're working on learning the plain forms. Fun fun fun.

A sensei from the study abroad department came to our class yesterday to talk to us about a summer program in 神戸 (Kobe). I would love to do this, but I'm not really sure if I can right now. Here are the facts:
- It's open only to intermediate students (as in, those with one year of formal training only, no more, no less).
- It goes from June 6 to July 19. Probably a good amount of time for my first time living over there?
- I would take classes at 甲南大学 (Konan University). In one and a half months I would finish two Japanese courses that would take me all next year at University of Hawaiʻi.
- I would stay with a host family, so I would get the experience of actually living the culture, rather just staying at a dorm at school. And the host family lives on the outskirts of Kobe, so I'll get to experience the city life during school and more rural stuff when I go back to the family.

I think it would be a good experience. Any ideas on whether to do this or not? The application is due sometime in February, so I've got some time to decide...

Hello Lost. Goodbye free time.

2009-10-04T23:54:00.000-04:00

Oh god.

I finally watched the first episode of the first season of Lost on Hulu.

I think I just kissed my free time goodbye.

Well... I'm soaked

2009-09-25T23:50:00.000-04:00

Even though it drizzles for two minutes everyday here, today was the first time it rained more than just that. With perfect timing, it starting pouring right at the start of band, and we kept going despite it. I was completely soaked by the end, my flip folder is all wrinkly, and my charts are pretty much unusable now because the ink has smeared off it. Good thing my roommate isn't here, because I'm using the whole room to spread out my clothes and backpack and instrument and music and charts to dry them. Maybe I'll be able to salvage some of the charts?

First marching band show

2009-09-16T23:46:00.000-04:00

I has the videos of the marching band from the last game! I think we still have a lot we could fix, but for the first game of the season, I'd say we're off to a good start! (Feel free to watch them in the little video boxes right here, but I'd suggest you actually click the link on watch it on Youtube. It's in HD).

Pregame (The stands weren't that full at this point, but it was still awesome how much cheering there was) (The first minute is just us standing there waiting to start, go ahead and skip it):

Halftime (FIFTY THOUSAND PEOPLE!!!) (Oh, and the part where we stop playing and put our instruments down is when we do the moonwalking and pelvic thrusts and all that jazz. You can't really see it that well in the video, but let me tell you, it was awkward. The crowd loved it.):

My dorm on the island

2009-08-30T18:04:00.004-04:00

College has been quite an experience so far. Classes are going pretty well. Japanese class is pretty easy right now, since I've been studying it for a while already, but once we get past the basics, it'll start getting tough. As of right now, all we've been doing is learning hiragana, for those that don't already know it.

And now, I present to you: my first video! Here's a tour of my new dorm!

link

"Hey, Ryan!" "Huh?" "Yea?" "What?" "Huh?"

2009-08-19T23:30:00.000-04:00

Our first marching band show is all Michael Jackson songs. At one point, we all put our instruments down and start doing Thriller, and at another point, we're supposed to moonwalk. Don't know how that's going to work out.

We have one set where there are four Ryan's standing next to each other. Not very convenient when someone calls out "Ryan!" and four heads turn.

Pearl Harbor

2009-08-15T23:24:00.000-04:00

Went to visit Pearl Harbor today. It was weird. I've never been so proud to be an American than when I was standing in the memorial over the USS Arizona, and over the graves of over a thousand sailors that gave their lives for our country. Wow.

The Journey Begins!

2009-04-01T22:45:00.002-04:00

Well, it's official. Starting this fall, I'll be heading off to the University of Hawaii at Manoa to study computer science and Japanese. Because of the large Japanese population in Hawaii, it will be a great place to practice my speaking skills. I hope to study abroad in Japan sometime, and possibly teach English as a second language over there.

I might not update this very much until I get there, but check back often. Once I get to Hawaii, I'll start seriously writing on here. Keep looking forward to that update! I'm promise it won't be too long until it's here!

lightning at dusk

#14 - Every single song by Owl City. Yes.

#15 - Lovely Day covered by Elan Trotman

#17 - Electric Daisy Violin by Lindsey Stirling; #16 - 当我们宅一块 by 羅志祥

Too tired/busy to do a countdown post today

#18 - Sooner or Later by the Grassroots

#19 - Indian Summer by Chris Botti

#20 - Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole

21 songs

New Year's, Univision-style!

Six. days.

Still no lights

Generators are magical

Hurricane coming, better stock up

I'M A RAVENCLAW!!!!!!!!!!!

POTTERMORE.

Books books books

What is this magic?

Harry Potter EU

"You are magical"

So long, smooth jazz

Let it be known:

WJF7

DTS *fistpump*

So much Bollywood

This seems bright and beautiful

HOLY. CRUD.

New SWTOR trailer!

So much rain

Welcome to Alcatraz

I listen to too much music

Another year down

78 MORE DAYS.

I've always wondered this...

So serene

Crank that saxophone up to 11

Dune: attempt number two

Wasting time and Google Mapping

I'm enjoying homework?

I have the radio license!

Next semester's schedule!

More smooth jazz

Stress overload

A trip to advising

My whole future hinges on Monday...

A place to live!

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

Of course, you're the Father of PR!

Splash Mountain adds lap bars

Now, there's the snow

Bet you never noticed this on the Pirates of the Caribbean

Advertising is fun!

Rainpocalypse 2011

Smooth jazz!

Best knock knock joke ever

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One review!

Where'd the doorknob go?

Dear Oilers,

The last question was asked for the first time, half in jest, on May 21, 2061...

I bowled what?

My juggling, summer 2010

I speak a little!

Yann Tiersen = required listening

DCI competition

Bug bites? Nope!

Into the city!

Dear Lost,

Things I have learned living in Hawaiʻi for a year:

How did that get there?

To the top of Diamond Head

I miss fireflies

Goodbye, rainy season

In green Manoa Valley...

WELCOME ABOARD

時をかける少女 / The Girl Who Leap Through Time Review

Asia-Europe Railway

Time Lapse

Watchers of Lost:

Double rainbow!

MST3K

DTS fistpump