here's my first review of other video... funny that this isn't even from the internet. A buddy of mine made this for his animation class, his first stop-motion film... just some silly fun. Thanks Jackson.
music is the Beatles, film made by Jackson Emmer
brief thoughts on the first day of classes.
music is ten years ago by richard galliano and michael portal.
time is 2 min.
this... was only the beginning of the 2006 Convocation address. Bennington's finest.
music is autentique and the time is 1 minute.
wandering around north bennington last night... whenever there's wind rolling in, I get excited inside... like all the atoms that make me up are suddenly charged. Love it. Apologies for the shaky camera.
music is darling ukelele by jolie holland. time is :55.
despite being in VT for two weeks now, I'm just settling in. still some things to do but my room is feeling a bit more like home... I'm always struck on how certain objects can create comfort when one is uprooted and floating.
music is black eyed dog by nick drake. time is 2:20.
inspired by Gene Kelly's American in Paris, I went a-searchin'. Put on some music for my brother and I to pack to. He left for DC this morning... sniff... I'm off to VT tomorrow... so it goes, so it goes.
music by george gershwin, performed by duke ellington. time is less than 2.
so I made that long post about my aunt and cousin's cats that I sat for. Apparently, their dog, Tulip, was jealous that she wasn't on the internet. So when Ani and Janet came for dinner tonight with some of my other family, we got to show off some of her star potential.
music by john mccutcheon. time is 2ish.
the gunks are only an hour fifteen from my town. if only I had been in better shape.
music by charlie hunter & leon parker, time is 1:30
at play with my family (on the fourth of july) and with my computer. Just fiddling with some filters. Terrible, I know... but fun sometimes.
My whole family rocks.
music by coral, time is 1:20
a record breaker. And my gal Tiggy knows it.
music by Chad & Jeremy, time is :42
For the long weekend I cat-sat at my aunts in Boston. I was saving this song for a little movie about my cat... but I hung out with the kitten too soon. This is long, a bit uneventful, not very artistic... but hey, it's damn cute. I'll get back to my artsy stuff soon enough.
music by jane's addiction, time is 4ish
NOTE: Beware of high frequencies in the post! It IS on purpose... perhaps a poor purpose. Maybe I'll change it soon. But... I'm busy...
Apologies for the absence. The only thing I can assure you of is that I have, in fact, been quite busy. And with that business comes a lack of time... due to my lack of time I decided not to post individual clips of what I've been up to. Montage, here we go.
We have included here (in the vid order): Bennington College's graduation, tennis with my dad and brother, and afternoon hike with my parents and sister when she visited from SF, my friend Jon's graduation party in NYC (he's the one in blue), Ashley's brother's bike race in Fitchburg MA, the Old Songs Festival with lots of amazing music and dance). my family's summer dinners on the deck, and lunch at work.
time is 4 min.
last, last monday I helped my brother, gabe, move from his three-year home in brooklyn to a three-month stint at the good ol' home on the range in new jersey, then on to DC. May be bittersweet for him, but I'm thrilled cause I get someone to bug the hell out of me all summer. it was a hot day and driving a u-haul in nyc ain't cool but we had fun of it.
a delayed post with poor audio. apologies.
music by beulah.
time is 1:30... I think.
apologies for the length between posts. Aside from the exciting weekend this post is about, I began my summer job this week. For now we'll just leave it at boring.
As for the weekend though. I was up in VT again to see PJ's senior concert... I was surprised with this day trip up to Burlington... for no other reason than to go. I drove four rowdy kids the 2.5 hours there and back... Amy, Alana, Pj, and Hans... and I didn't regret a moment of it. It was really a great way to be back at Bennington (note that I wasn't actually there) and spend time with people as, once again, everyone goes their own way.
burlington has a piece of my heart... we'll see where that gets me. Apologies for the larger file size.
music by boom bip & nina nastasia
time is 3:40
two days ago, I went to the botanic gardens in my town with the other Jo and Elena. Hadn't been there in a while... there's nothing like visiting old favorite spots, finding new ones, being silly with the other jo, and getting out in the sun.
I also posted a little diatribe... or something... on my written blog regarding my deal with videoblogging. What I wrote is not set in stone or even a complete sample of my thoughts... I just had to get something out. Read it here. Hope it enlightens somewhat.
music by boom bip
time is 2:30
so I'm in new jersey for the summer... this will be the first time I've spent more than two weeks in new jersey since I left for college in vermont. I certainly have mixed feelings about being here, but I'm really looking forward to dusting off my own cobwebs and sorting through my life and getting some fresh perspective.
first project: take my room, which I painted when I was 16, and make it less cluttered, more sophisticated, and more sellable for when my parents sell this house (no time soon). Before/After photos will be posted on my Flickr once the room is put back together.
This is just something of a resolve. A mantra. A promise. Not meant to be deep, or anything profound. Just on my mind.
By the way, this Blog of Note thing on blogger was pretty cool... shocking, I didn't realize why I was getting so many comments and so many hits for a while. Thanks for watching though. I hope I'm showing you something interesting. Please comment, offer suggestions and insight. Always appreciated.
music by the yoshida brothers
an important part of last week's return to vermont was catching up on all that had happened in the Bennington bubble while I was gone. I went out for a drink with Alana and Amy. Sure the news was interesting to hear sometimes but I just enjoyed watching... this is a little remix of our conversation.
I'm amazed at how life can push and pull from all sorts of directions. It was nice to catch up with them again, this just pulls a little towards the ridiculous side... it's always there.
background music by dave douglas five
time is 1 minute
on my trip up to Vermont I stopped in on Jonathan and Becca's ballad tutorial with John Kirk and you bet I got a treat. I loved hearing them sing, it made me realize how much I missed American music, despite loving traditional Irish stuff... there's something gutsy and raw about this stuff. I better get to sing with these guys more before they graduate.
homegrown music.
Tuesday, I went up to Bennington for the opening of the Senior Visual Arts Show. It was, firstly, nice to be driving again and nice to put the ipod on master shuffle and hear stuff that's been sitting in my memory for years.
more posts about this trip to come.
music by nick drake, sufjan stevens, paul simon, tori amos, alanis morrisette, john hartford, ali farka toure, clifton chenier and his red hot louisiana band, ashley macisaac, abdou guitte seck, joe henry, patsy cline, & sam bush.
and we're back to manageable file sizes. time is 1:49
I arrived home on Friday, after 13 hours of travel, passing through Reykjavik (I'm going back there some day!), and I was up for over 24 hours. But now I'm here, in new jersey... with my parents and my cat and my brother home for a couple months before moving to DC.
I've done lots the last few months... changed, grew and all that jazz. I saw a lot, I thought a lot (what else is new), and I created a lot too. I'm living at home for the summer, and I suppose it's my choice. I'll be working some boring job to pay back loans and pay the gas (I cannot believe it's so high here), I'll be trying to travel on the weekends, music festivals, friend visits, hikes, and climbing trips. Despite the seeming dullness of it all, I'm excited. All the things I accomplished since January inside myself and out have some potential this summer. They have potential to come into their own, I suppose.
I've got plans and finally the energy to see them through.
We ended our trip at the base of the Eiffel Tower, ate our bread and cheese breakfast and then I began my trip home.
so many more adventures to come. so much more to see.
music by the killers
our second to last destination. Zurich was a beautiful city, clean, and a nice mix of modern and old... not to mention the Alps (the clouds weren't helping out in those shots, apologies). We almost didn't have beds which wouldn't have been good, but all worked well. We had a long day there on Thursday because we were taking a night train to Paris... visited lots of chocolate shops and saw some really cool parks. The two new ones I shot were ones that Charly knew all about... they're still really growing in but urban renewal is great.
music by paul simon
Next stop was Venice... unfortunately our amazing weather didn't hold up and we had only the afternoon we arrived without rain. The following day was full of downpours and my sick self didn't want to get worse so we limited our exposure. It was surely an incredible city though... if only the tourists... I can't say that since I was one, but it is pretty amazing how many tourists there are... it's really unbelievable. Also the number of pigeons... there's a shot in the video of the pigeons in Piazza del San Marco, it was really a sight to behold.
more random music by rod stewart
Ljubljana was one of my favorite cities... perhaps my favorite. Not being much of a city-person, it fit me well in its smallness, cozy-ness... and hey, it had a market every day. It was like the outdoor center of Slovenia and southeastern Europe. Again, we hit it on a Sunday when most museums and shops were closed but that didn't stop us from enjoying the beautiful weather. I'd go back there in a second, despite being a small city, to tour around the Slovenian countryside... the train ride was just a tease. Go there now before it goes to the euro (in 2007) and gets touristy.
music by do make say think.
On our way out of Vienna, we stopped for a few hours in Graz, Austria. Charly had wanted to see some architecture... it was a strange city, very old but it had some crazy buildings. The two shown are the modern art museum (also known as the blob) and a ampitheater/restaurant/playground in the middle of the river.
the clip at the end... there was this bouldering wall alongside the river, and as you see, we were having some fun. There was a flash, I asked "did you just take a picture", Charly said, "no", and I went on climbing. Then we heard the loudest clap of thunder I have ever heard. Just one. That's when I jumped off the wall and fell into Charly. Not an earthquake, but we did get caught in a brief storm. Crazy. Would be more effective with the sound, but I messed the clip up.
music by belle & sebastian
more wonderful weather in Vienna. It's a beautiful but strange city. I suppose I expected it to look less new... but were only a few of the old buildings that were spared in WWII. I loved the trams... a fresh-air subway. We wandered the city, went to museums and gardens. You see the courtyard outside of the KunstHaus (art museum) with big red lounging things, the Schoenbrunn castle gardens (and labyrinth!), the Haus der Musik (a fun interactive sound museum), and the Kunst Haus Wien, a Gaudi-esque building housing the paintings and prints of Franz Hundertwasser... a very cool guy.
music by badly drawn boy
we headed over to prague... it was quite a trip, trains and buses and more trains... Prague was beautiful though. Again, wonderful weather. We wandered all around, even hit a couple museums. I'd most certainly go back, there was this statue on the Charles Bridge (the one with all the people on it) that all the tourists were taking their picture in front of... and so many parks to see. I'd love to see it in the snow... oh and that's a peacock by the way.
music by rodrigo y gabriela
We stayed one more day in Munich, which happened to be May Day when everything was closed. We did get to see a labor party rally and some political puppetry. We did get a beautiful day in the park though.
just a note about the music... this isn't the usual way I do it. The choices are a little random, I just had fun with it.
music by calexico
we arrived in Munich nice and early and ran to catch a train to Fussen, Germany to see the Neuschwanstein Castle, a fairytale castle, dedicated to the opera of Wagner, and swans, which inspired Disney's Cinderella castle. Quite a sight... and how about the snow?!
music by manitoba
finally! here they are! I'm back in the U.S. with a fast connection and lots of things to show. The files are sort of large, sorry for that. First up...
We began in Amsterdam. I arrived early and found out quickly that it was no ordinary Saturday... it was Queen's Day: everyone wears orange and everything is closed. Despite the insane crowds and having to carry my pack around all day, it was quite an experience. I loved Amsterdam and would love to go back, I didn't get to ride a bike along a canal like I had planned... then we headed to our sleeping car for our ride to Munich...
music by of montreal
hello from green, green, and more green Ljlubljana, the Slovenian capital. We left Vienna yesterday morning for Graz, Austria. We got caught in a brief rain shower and wandered the streets for a few hours until our train into Slovenia.
The ride through the hills was unbelievable. It reminded me of Colombia, in its lush green, and Italy in the architecture of the landscape. After a long trip and wandering through the streets trying to find the hostel, we found it... and it is unbelievable! The most comfortable accomodation we've had for sure.
The city is small but cozy and vibrant. Being Sunday, there wasnt much to do so we took a lazy day, spent lots of money on dinner and are calling it a night before our trip to Venice tomorrow.
I recommend Ljubljana to anyone... I'm certainly coming back.
Still no way to upload but the videos are made and waiting...
greuss gott...
that means hello god... which is how germans/viennese greet each other... the things you learn.
After a day walking around Munich (with nothing open) we went on to Prague... Simply crossing the border was something amazing. The transporation was a little spottier, things got more chaotic... we couldn't find our hostel because of so much construction in the city. But we finally arrived... and it was something else! The sky opened up and the setting sun put just the right light onto the city. It was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined! We wandered and found a little Dali exhibit, had a Czech pilsner, some goulasch and did our best at understanding. On Wednesday we toured the palace gardens, found more parks, and fixed our own dinner in the hostel.
Yesterday we arrived in Vienna, to another beautiful day. The city is surprisingly modern, apparently being rebuilt a lot after the war (we found that out at an architecture museum). We went the die Hause der Musik and played with a bunch of interactive exhibits about sound and music... a total blast. Today we went to see more palace gardens, wandered around a garden maze, saw an awesome exhibit of this guy.... Hundertwasser... kind of Keith Haring meets Gaudi... and hopped on and off the tram to our hearts content.
Tomorrow we go to Graz for the day then the night in Ljubljana.
So I have a few video postcards ready and on my laptop but haven't gotten a way to put them online yet. They may just have to wait until I'm back in the U.S. Apologies.
and the adventure continues...
so here´s mz updates for now. typing on a german kezboard is difficult. forgive.
I arrived nice and earlz in Amsterdam onlz to find out that it was Queens Daz and the countrz was virtuallz shut out and and everzone was partzing ni the streets. I lugged mz 60lb backpack and 20 lb dazpack around with me and saw the streets before thez )and the beaztiful) canals became flooded with people wearing orange, drinking heineken, and dancing the daz awaz.
I met up with Charly around 4 and we wandered some more, eating waffles and taking photos. I loved Amsterdam, I just wish I had been ther eunder other circumstances... like luggage places being open.
We took a night train to Munich, arriving and dropping our bags at the hostel and getting a smoked salmon sandwarich and taking off for Fussen to see the Neufschawnstein castle... the fairytale castle built for Wagner and used for the basis of Disneys castle. Beautiful snow Alps and incredible views...
checked into the hostel, then went to find a beerhall. We ended up wit this place that was nearly as authentic as zou could get. We squeezed bnext to a middle aged couple and chatted the night away. Food was poozenschnitzel (turkey schnityel), more lox, noodles, and icecreem... oh zeah... and their own lager made 100 feet awaz.
Todaz is a bank holiday and everzthing is closed... except this internet shop. Bad timing I suppose, but its a beautiful daz, nice for walkign around. Tomorrow we take off for Prague... as it all unfolds.
I have tons of photos and footage, but havenät had the time to put anzthing together, I will get on that on the 6 hour train tomorrow and upload as soon as possible.
cheuso from munich.
click here to download
been coughing a bit... feeling a tickle in my throat... I've got to blast this cold before I leave and put my body in overdrive for two weeks of travel... so I drink this wonderful toxic colored water... as much vitamin c as 10 oranges... we'll see...
music by do make say think
time is 1:15
click here to download
as part of my Arts in Ireland survey we're learning how to play the bodhran (with a feada over the a). This was our final class... 12 bodhrans a fiddle, a banjo, and a guitar... what a site.
this is my first post where I've used only the original audio... you can't really show a music lesson without it I suppose. Not my style but I'm trying new stuff and I'm documenting. You guys need to see some real Irish stuff.
something is up with my compression settings that make the audio sound pinched... like a robot... if anyone knows... let me in on it.
slainte.
music by us and the time is 1:30
when was the last time you saw me in make-up? it's definitely a rare occurrence. but I felt for my last saturday night in Dublin, I should play dress-up a bit. perhaps it paid off... I was offered a drink for the first time ever tonight... I was also attacked about US foreign policy... the power of make-up.
rare occurrences... going out and make-up. the rarity makes it interesting.
music by tom waits time is 2:20this is what I've been doing for the past few weeks... no longer working at Comhaltas, extenuating circumstances. Today was my last day working with Michelle Maher, ceramic artist. It was an incredible time, though short. She's so cool and fun and has lots of great art in her head. It's a little big... sorry.
One week to go!
music by beulah
yesterday was not only easter sunday but the 90th anniversary of the 1916 rising. there was a military parade through the centre of Dublin... people didn't know what to think about it. Neither did I.
music by imogen heap time is :16
p.s. that's a camera that he's holding... not a gun. though there were lots of a guns around.
dublin suburbia = ice cream truck?
p.s. I'm using premiere finally... be patient while I play with the toys.
audio is for real, time is :12
spring has finally gotten to dreary dublin... for real... I hope.
music by sufjan stevens time is :30
been feeling like I've been hiding behind my camera... saying I'm camera-shy is still miles from the truth. I thought that if I put myself front and center I could figure something out. Don't know if it worked. But here's a jazzy-cut piece with shots of my face...
music by iron and wine time is :26
a trip to the local late shop for some movie refreshments.
music by ratatat time is 1:48
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last night we went to the local ceili. It was a strange relation of contra-dancing but still lots of fun. People three times our age were dancing circles around us! The best part was when these 100+ people broke for tea and biscuits after sweating up a storm... ahh... ireland...
check out the footwork!
music by the tulla ceili band time is 1:56
if my whole life is spent waiting, it's not a very fun life, is it? I need to work on this.
and more of my feet.
music by simon & garfunkel time is 1:16
a brief depiction of my st. patrick's day spirit. Funny thing, we didn't see much of the parade, but we did notice that most groups in the parade... were American, playing good ol' Johnny Sousa.
music by the Irish Rovers time is :26
this was my lunch break on Thursday. Just a block from my job. On the way back it poured...
music by regina spektor time is 1:38
here's the last of my videos... the quality is pretty terrible so I might repost soon enough. I numbered some of the highlights and I explained them here.
The video really doesn't do the place justice. I'll work on that.
Ciao bello!
music by Feist time is 3:11
tuesday was Carnavale in many parts of the world, including Sora, Italy. We painted our faces (I was a cat... surprise, surprise) and went down to see the festivities. All sorts of bands, all sorts of costumes (lots of cross-dressing teenage boys), and some crazy floats. The most impressive thing was the importance of the shaving-cream fights. It was impossible to keep yourself completely clean because there was some kid lurking behind an unsuspecting grown-up ready to get you. It was a lot of fun! The festivities went on into the night... but we went to bed to get ready for a full day of work on Wednesday.
music by rosemary clooney time is 1:00
for my spring break I spent a week on a farm on the outskirts of a village called Pescosolido, near the town of Sora, an hour and a half east of Rome, Italy. It was quite an experience, had it's ups and it's downs. But it was such a beautiful location, just on the edge of the Abruzzi mountains, that it was hard to get too upset about some of thr idiosyncracies of it all.
I've made three videos, this first one is footage of the farm and the inhabitants of the farm. I had the wonderful company of two other helpers, Matilda and Jay who make guest appearances along with the dog, Felicita (the white one, the other dog was the neighbors and really annoying), the donkey Concheta, lots of goats and sheep, and some chickens too. I had all sorts of tasks, refinishing old wagon wheels, chiseling signs into rock (you can tell by my handwriting), and waiting ceilings.
music by bob dylan time is 2:12
