Six days ago there was an earthquake in the Greater Los Angeles area that has come to be known as “The 2008 Chino Hills Earthquake.” That’s a filthy mouthful of a name for a natural disaster that didn’t actually cause any damage, but the collective feeling of self-importance runs high in the desert. I’ve neglected writing about this because frankly there’s been nothing much worth noting. However, I did discover—thanks to a gigantic wiki entry on the subject—that there is a 5 percent chance this most recent quake will be followed be something quite a few orders of magnitude larger.

I think most Angelenos are playing the odds on this one—and so am I.

Living in an earthquake zone is risky business. The field of plate tectonics is still at an incipient stage, and forecasting earthquakes with any sort of accuracy remains an impossibility. It is also impossible for scientists to guess the size of an earthquake, time of the strike notwithstanding. That means that every one of us living on this fault zone is playing a game of chance with geologic time. Chances of course being that none of us will ever see ourselves disappear in a devastating conflagration of glass, concrete and blazing automobiles.

When living in a fault zone, however, it’s sometimes hard to dismiss the nagging question that calls to you (always at the most inappropriate time): “What if an earthquake struck now?” It’s traditional to imagine being trapped in a subway or hermetically sealed in an elevator, but there are other more awful positions one could potentially be caught in: struggling to balance a cookie sheet pulled fresh out the oven; on the top rung of the ladder, stretching that final inch to paint the gutter; or underneath a car, changing the oil. With the right amount of quaking and shaking, any activity could become fatal.

I think that deaths from meetings between earthquakes and compromising situations are the most common type of quake-related fatality. These unfortunate accidents are surely more numerous than cases where falling debris crushes someone or when a building implodes, consuming those within. I have a feeling that most earthquake injuries are highly unglamorous.

Which is a scary thought, because once you concede the fact that an earthquake could present itself at any time and at any magnitude, it follows that it could happen, when—as they say—you least expect it. So I’ve come to walk around expecting earthquakes.

When I’m stepping off the bus. When I’m at the urinal. When I’m sitting on the fire escape staring off at skyscrapers. I’m often—but definitely not always—expecting an earthquake. So when an earthquake event actually occurs, I’m rarely surprised. The 2008 Chino Hills earthquake, however, came out of nowhere.

I was on the phone with Megan. She was located at our posh, K-Town digs and I was at work ten miles west in Santa Monica. Our pleasant late-morning chat was cut short when Megan broke off mid-sentence: “Ohmygod! Is that an earthquake?” No less than 5 seconds later I was feeling the ground move up and down as she screamed hysterically into my ear.

During an earthquake thoughts flow from panic into fear and finally awe. Just as I began to wonder how much worse it was going to get, everything stopped. Like all earthquakes, it ended just as startlingly as it had begun. It was as almost as if there had never been an earthquake. I struggled with my short-term memory to maintain a grip on what had just happened, to pull in something tangible, but it all fluttered away.

Megan was still on the phone, still in some state of panic. She took a shower to calm down but was tormented with aftershocks that rattled the tub playfully.

In Los Angeles, earthquakes are always somewhere on the mind. There’s no getting around the fact that under this city lie a series of doomsday faults that could at any moment explode with inexorable fury. It’s terribly fascinating that people—myself included—choose to make our homes on the Pacific Rim. At least I’ll be out of Los Angeles by September: I would prefer to weather an extinction-level event in the halcyon environs of Monterey County than try and endure in this crowded, festering metropolis. I have no doubt that denizens here would eat the stragglers alive. Here's hoping that the 2008 Chino Hills earthquake wasn't the canary in our coal mine!

brett at 02:23 AM on August 05, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Saturday was the day that just kept giving. Though tainted by the painful sting of two dozen photos shot sans memory card, July 12th--my sister's twenty-fourth birthday--revealed Los Angeles to be a city brimming not only with garbage, but with extraordinary surprises. Starting our day on something of book hunt, Megan and I scribbled down a list of independent sellers and headed out the door and into Hollywood sometime around noon. During our trip we found a fully-stocked costume shop, a gallery featuring works culled directly from the pages of Juxtapoz, an all-import Japanese clothing store dubbed "Pop Killer," and a Larchmont Village coffeeshop that offered apricot-flavored tea and a curbside view of LA's finest plastic surgery.

Today was one of those days to explore without a map.

When, at the entrance to one store we recognized that our destination wasn't actually a typical used bookseller but a specialty, West Hollywood queer interest shop, there was little choice but to enter and have a look around. In one corner of the bookstore William Shatner's autobiography was displayed prominently. Though I considered picking up a shirt that read, "Brokeback Since Wayback," I ultimately was unable to justify the purchase.

To add to this already surreal scene, on the drive home we cruised beneath a billboard blessed with a Kaws piece.

At home my California ID had arrived in the mail along with a few early birthday cards for Megan. My dreads are down in the photo so that whenever I cut them off I'll have something truly substantial to show the doubters. Though it's a bit novel, owning a California driver's license feels dangerous. There's something foreign and lost and completely unforgiving about that flimsy yellow piece of plastic. On the bright side I'll no longer have to make small talk with any cashier or bouncer who gets smart about my home state.

The evening ended with a trip to the library and HK Super, the greatest market in all of Los Angeles. Only four miles east of Hollywood, these Korean grocers manage to fiercely undercut the competition: miso paste, for example, costs two dollars per tub, a discount of nearly five dollars on natural food retailers like Erewhon, the most overpriced joke of a lifestyle store I've ever seen (after checking a few pricestags I understood why the place was so empty). In addition to reasonably priced food, HK Super boasts an enormous "Welcome to Los Angeles" graffiti mural incorporating freeways, wildstyle and an alien. It's also two blocks from our apartment.

I took a few more pictures and will try to keep up with things a bit better for the rest of the summer. Though this city can be shitty, poor circumstances are no reason to neglect the camera--I only wish I could turn my lens on the ghetto bird and end up with a decent shot.

brett at 02:35 AM on July 13, 2008 | Permalink

Los Angeles doesn't seem like much of an art town. Megan and I went down to the MOCA to check out the opening of Measuring Your Own Grave, a mid-career survey of painter Marlene Dumas.

This was one of the more overpowering exhibits I've seen in a long time, but with the gallery nearly completely devoid of patrons, Megan and I had the entire afternoon to lazily stroll through and take everything in. It was almost shocking to see a gallery so empty, but then again, Los Angeles has been a constant suite of surprises for us.

brett at 12:07 PM on June 30, 2008 | Permalink

Finally, after eight days in a single-room Santa Monica hotel, I've got the keys to our new spot: Gramercy Tower.

If you can't tell, this pic isn't of the apartment; it's of the view. Now time to unpack and settle in. I think a beer might be in order this evening--I've earned it.

brett at 09:49 PM on June 23, 2008 | Permalink

When it was snowing in Lincoln this February, I was able to laugh in condescension. For all of us transplants living in Monterey, white, cold days were only a chilly Midwest memory--here, the mercury never dips low enough to permit even a single snowflake. What that means, however, is that the other end of the temperature spectrum is also absent. On May 12th, when the first hints of Summer heat are starting to warm cornfields in Nebraska, the Monterey Bay is stuck in an eternal Spring.

I know, it sounds awful. And that picture makes life in the bay look like torture, eh? Really, it's not so bad, but just once I wish the temperature would climb above 70-or-so degrees. As nice as it is to see a new variety of plants come into bloom each week (it's really, really nice), I am starting to miss my favorite part of nature: the four seasons. What is Summer without Winter, and what is Spring without a bit of snow?

I'll be back in Nebraska on May 28th and will stick around until about June 15th. Let's drink and barbecue and ride bikes and stay up all night. I want to make the most of the Midwest sun before heading to Los Angeles for a few months of work. Speaking of Los Angeles, Megan and I found an apartment in Hollywood, where we'll be living during my internship. It's on the top floor of a seven-story building, has a view of downtown and is four blocks from the subway. Should be an adventure!

Also, more pics of Monterey's eternal Spring can be found on Flickr.

brett at 07:12 PM on May 12, 2008 | Permalink

Yesterday Megan and I went to Big Sur with our good friends Elliott, Jasara and Tara. After taking a 5 mile hike we found ourselves perched on a giant cliff overlooking the Pacific. We spent most of the afternoon there, just staring out at the ocean and taking things easy.

With lazy, thermal-riding hawks floating high above, and the incessant barking of 50-plus sea lions carrying up from below, the scene couldn't have been better. There's a few pics on Flickr, but none that do complete justice to the awesome beauty we were privileged to enjoy.

brett at 09:01 AM on April 21, 2008 | Permalink

Spring has hardly begun and yet I have already registered for the fall. I'm not quite out of the drudgery that is core graduate coursework, but I'm nearly there. Here's what's on the plate for September 2008:

• International Environmental Law & Politics
  
• Quantitative Methods for Environmental Science & Policy
  
• Natural Science Foundations for Environmental Policy
  
• International Economics
  
• Current Issues in Japanese Media I

Also, I hope stating this doesn't jinx me, but I have an interview next week for an environmental policy internship in Santa Monica--if I'm successful, it would mean a summer full of Southern California sun. Wish me luck.

brett at 06:05 PM on April 16, 2008 | Permalink

A few weeks ago my Bianchi San jose was stolen out of our carport. It was sad to see her go--the bike was a beautiful, baby blue single-speed--but I didn't let it get me *too* down, and used it as an opportunity to make another "investment."

I had the Bicycle Shop in Santa Cruz hook me up with a custom built Bianchi. I selected most of the parts and had them build me a single-speed from scratch. Thing rides as clean as it looks (I also bought a super-duty lock to match). More pics on Flickr.

brett at 11:53 AM on March 19, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)

It's raining again. I don't mind it so much, though, especially when there's so much to do indoors: see Monterey's historic Golden State Theater and their sci-fi film festival! Next to the kabuki theater in Ginza, this is one of the sweetest places I've ever seen a show put on.

This weekend Megan and I managed to catch showings of Mad Max and Blade Runner. I'm very disappointed that I missed Robocop, though.

While I was exploring the balcony bathroom, Megan decided that she would hide outside and scare me. She had planned a terrifying leap--accompanied by scream--but upon execution, Megan found that it wasn't me whom she had frightened, but some other guy who simply happened to leave the bathroom before me. From what I understand, Megan and this man just looked at each other in confusion, completely speechless.

Other things happening in my life include summer internship applications (wish me luck, Washington DC or bust), rain, sciatic nerve pain insanity, the return of music to my life, and yes, school. In the next few weeks will come spring break, Megan's parents, and then Eric. Before long it will be summer and I'll be heading to destination unknown for a bit more work and play.

brett at 02:14 AM on February 24, 2008 | Permalink

And I don't mean to boast. But from the Lincoln Journal Star comes this gem of a lede:

A winter storm rolled over Nebraska on Tuesday, shutting down the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and area schools while grinding life to a frozen halt.

Last week's non-stop rain was a bit annoying, but I'm nowhere near a "frozen halt." Tomorrow it's going to be 60 degrees.

brett at 01:07 AM on February 06, 2008 | Permalink

It's been raining here for about a week. The sun is out now, but it's chilly and will probably rain again before long. When the clouds have parted, permitting a bit of warmth through to the surface, the respite from precipitation has been fleeting. I'll walk to the post office soon, but whether I'll come back to campus wet is anyone's guess.

Saturday, in Santa Cruz, things started out in a similar fashion: with the sun shining on us during a walk down store-lined Pacific Avenue. We browsed boutiques for shoes and books and shelves full of kitchenware we would never purchase. When the rain finally came--right at sunset--we ducked into a small coffee shop for shelter.

Santa Cruz is a quaint place, and like most of California epitomizes the variety that the state has become known for; in California, to be normal is different, and so everywhere one looks there is a strange, variegated version of humanity staring back. Nothing is ever as it seems, and the biggest surprises always come after making a hasty assumption about someone else out on the street.

At La Vie we ate raw vegan for supper, then skipped through puddles to a movie. For a late night snack we went to Saturn Cafe, an all-night vegan greasepit that is half Highway Diner, half Holiday Skate World. Next door was a hookah bar with live DJs. In Santa Cruz, a mere thirty minutes from Monterey, things are comforting.

The drive home was dark, coastal and rainy. The morning brought sun, but with the afternoon came moisture for the endless fields of artichokes, romaine and spinach that ring our community. Today is sun and slow evaporation; and now I'm out the door.

brett at 12:07 PM on January 28, 2008 | Permalink

My classes are shuffling around a bit. I've dropped the Global Politics course in favor of something much more essential to my plan of study.

IP542: Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
The purpose of this course is to develop competency in economic theory as it relates to environmental problems. We will highlight public policies that influence (both directly and indirectly) the environment and natural resource use, and analyze their economic implications. The emphasis will be on identifying and assessing the appropriate economic tools for addressing current environmental issues. Students will learn how to “think like an economist,” which is essential for conversing intelligently about the world’s major environmental problems and developing practical, efficient, and just solutions.

So there's that. More to come.

brett at 12:56 PM on January 25, 2008 | Permalink

The Monterey Institute is incredibly environmentally conscious: we not only have regular recycling bins on campus, but also more than a dozen battery-recycling boxes as well. There are multiple conservation-related clubs, and a highly progressive plant-based food nitiative at the cafeteria.

There are also timed lights in the library bathrooms. When you enter, you can set them to turn off in ten, twenty or thirty minutes. It's a nice gesture toward saving energy.

Today, however, I walked into the restroom in the William Tell Coleman Library and neglected to push the light-timer button; indeed, they were already on. Moments later, while standing with my fly down at the urinal, I was engulfed in darkness--and I mean total pitch-black nothingness. Have you ever been in a darkened restroom? (There are no windows)

I felt my way along the tiled wall and exited, reminding myself that next time I enter a lit restroom it would be prudent to give the timer an additional click. At least I wasn't on the toilet.

brett at 02:47 PM on January 24, 2008 | Permalink

It's time to conquer the mentally dead.

Become awake and chop the heads off these snakes, the snake inside yourself that be the first head you take.

brett at 03:48 PM on January 21, 2008 | Permalink

It's pretty much all core courses. But you have to start somewhere, I suppose.

IP503: Policy Analysis and Communication
This course introduces students to the theory and practice of policy analysis and provides initial professional training in communication of policy options to internal and external audiences. Students will be introduced to the stages of the public policy process, including agenda setting, formulation, implementation, and evaluation. Students will also develop basic policy analysis skills, including problem definition, stakeholder identification, summarization of current policy, development of policy options, elaboration of criteria for selection, and recommendation of course of action. These concepts are illustrated by examples of policies on global issues including but not limited to security, trade, human rights, environment, development, migration, and other topics. Students will demonstrate the competencies developed through this course by preparing policy memos for internal policy communication, writing op-eds for external policy communication, and giving a presentation or briefing on a policy issue.

IP505: Global Politics
The course introduces students to key analytical concepts and normative views such as balance of power, unipolarity, multipolarity, unilateralism, multilateralism, etc., and major theoretical perspectives for analysis of international politics, as well as the major international events of the past century that have shaped the international system. Students will learn ways that international actors, including sovereign states and non-state entities such as multinational corporations, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations, exercise power to pursue goals and influence international outcomes. Students will also learn how international institutions, norms, and structures of governance affect the exercise of power and other forms of influence and shape international outcomes. Students will also be introduced to some contemporary issues of national, international, and human security, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and terrorism, as well as issues of globalization, food security, the plight of the LDC’s, and human rights.

IP504: Data Analysis and Research Methods
Quantitative analytical skills used in public policy analysis, program evaluation, public administration and non-profit management. Topics include descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, simple multivariate regression analysis, and graphical presentation techniques. Exercises use SPSS to analyze international and comparative policy relevant data sets.

WKS517: International Opportunities in Sustainable Agribusiness and Agricultural Development
Contrary to the images the word may conjure, *Agriculture* offers vast opportunities for exciting careers in the international arena. Organizations in the public, nonprofit and private sectors aggressively seek highly educated people with strong backgrounds in trade, trade policy, public policy, environmental policy, international business, logistics and commerce, conflict resolution, policy law, third party certifications (social and environmental), EIA, border security, food safety and security, human security, linguistics and much more. Throughout the industry there is serious drive to attract the best and brightest from the higher education system and the demand for talented people in all the above fields is high and the compensation commensurate. This seminar will assume a very open format, tailored to the backgrounds and interests of the students who sign up for the class by first covering the breadth of opportunities in international sustainable agriculture followed by greater focus on areas of interest. The seminar will rely heavily on student involvement and guest appearances by major leaders in the industry who will share their experiences and recommendations while getting to know the students in the class. This will be fun, high energy and a great networking opportunity for students interested in learning more about international opportunities in the industry.

JS341: Aspects of Japanese Society
This is an advanced Japanese language course that is designed to further develop oral and written communication skills through the study of various topics of current Japanese society. The students will read written texts, watch/listen to authentic TV programs/tape conversations, engage in group and class discussions, use the language in the actual research in interview, questionnaire, and email survey, and present the findings of their research formally. Through these activities, the students will enlarge their vocabulary, including the knowledge on the kanji compound words as well while deepening the understanding of current-day Japan. Another focus of this course will be put on developing writing proficiency and grammatical accuracy, which will be accomplished through language exercises in class and as homework assignments, frequent writing excercises, and writing up a research paper with multiple drafts.

So this is it, my spring semester. Nothing too fancy, though I am looking forward to the sustainable agriculture workshop and the Japanese society course.

brett at 06:37 PM on January 20, 2008 | Permalink

So this is the new spot. It's not actually all that dive-y, but by Monterey standards I've come to understand that it represents the lower class--or at least the 40-year-old locals.

"Wow, you're born the same year as my son," the bartender told me before handing over a Sierra Nevada. I guess this is the place.

brett at 05:36 PM on January 20, 2008 | Permalink

Today, Megan and I took the 17 Mile Drive along the Pacific Coast.

It pretty great, but depressing in some ways. It seems as if the most beautiful parts of the California coast are reserved for rich people and their golf courses.

brett at 09:30 PM on January 19, 2008 | Permalink

I finally live in a place where the guy who doesn't recycle is the object of ridicule and disdain

There are vegan faculty here.

Carpooling is the norm, not the exception.

If you only speak two languages you're considered deficient.

I'm living downtown again (it's just a different town).

Donkey's Tail on my balcony*.

Mostly though, I'm just relishing the intellectual climate here; earlier today, I attended an orientation session on the environment, presented by a bonfaide eco-terrorist.

People want to get shit done, and I'm on board.

brett at 01:06 AM on January 18, 2008 | Permalink

Haters step off. I made the switch from black to tan, or as Megan said, "Sand and surf."

That's right, baby blue and tan. As Kia Shine said, respect my fresh. (And as a short aside, my bike is now within 200 miles of the city that it's named after. San Jose, baby.)

brett at 01:02 AM on January 18, 2008 | Permalink

Look at the Jellyfish in the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Another world, indeed.

What I don't understand is how this aquarium--one of the top in the world--can preach conservation and yet sell dead fish directly across from the live tanks. The aquarium smelled fishy, but mostly due to the salmon that were roasting in the sundry restaurants, not due to the living sea creatures.

You are not a conservationist if you kill animals for food.

brett at 09:54 PM on January 17, 2008 | Permalink

It's all of the goodbyes left unsaid that mean so much when you're sitting there alone wondering.

brett at 01:54 AM on January 15, 2008 | Permalink

Well, this could be the most ridiculous news item of the Winter. Meet 2008's Green Car of the Year!

Yes, 2008's Green Car of the Year is actually an SUV. A 5,000 pound V8-powered SUV that can carry 8 passengers and tow 6,000 pounds. It gets about 21 miles per gallon in the city. Green car of the year, indeed. All I can really do is shake my head in wonderment at the strange place I live.

brett at 10:39 AM on November 27, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hi there. I'm trying to update my entire contact list before I leave Nebraska, so if you're reading this and you are my friend, then you owe me an e-mail. Send me any contact info you'd like: your mailing address, phone number, e-mail, AIM, etc. I'd really appreciate it. Hook me up.

brett at 09:40 AM on November 16, 2007 | Permalink

It's Halloween again! Such a fine holiday. Megan and I carved jack-o-lanterns. A caravan of us are going up to Omaha for a concert tomorrow. I went to a nice little costume party the other day.

Sorry about the poor picture quality, but you get the idea: this is the non-haunted house that we live in. I personally think it looks haunted, but Megan and others have assured me that it is spirit free. Perhaps this Halloween we might receive a visitor that will change their minds? Who knows.

brett at 12:03 PM on October 30, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Looks like I'm leaving Nebraska. I've been sort of keeping this on the hush, just because things with graduate schools have been prone to failure for me (for about a year now), but I am happy to finally report that I have been accepted to my first choice US school, the Monterey Institute of International Studies, and I'll be in Monterey, California by mid-January 2008 to begin classes.

I'd be lying if I said I'm not excited, but I'm also a bit nervous, scared, terrified, etc. I guess my life can't get too much crazier, so I might as well take the plunge.

brett at 02:59 PM on October 24, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (4)

My parents finally went out and bought that puppy they've been talking about for years. It's cute, and hopefully will inherit a decent name (though that's not really up to me, since I named our last dog, Licorice).

Isn't that cute? I thought so, too. He's only 8 weeks old, so there's a lot of growing to do (and house-training). It's cool to have a dog back in our family again.

brett at 08:27 AM on October 09, 2007 | Permalink

This is just in case you haven't seen me in a while.

(But just for your information the 'stache is gone now. Though I will grow a beard back for the winter.)

brett at 10:17 AM on October 08, 2007 | Permalink

I finally got around to taking pictures of the new apartment at 16th and F street. Don't ask me about why I moved, it's a tremendously long and stupid story that is still unfolding.

That's my bedroom. It's gigantic. There's a lot of nice features to this house besides the massive bedroom with walk-in closet and fireplace, though. For example, there's the 2000 square feet of total floor space, the balcony, south-facing windows, massive kitchen, new appliances... the list goes on. Plenty more pictures on Flickr.

brett at 05:47 PM on September 17, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Wow, last night provided Lincoln with one hell of a storm! Downtown was absolutely hammered with rain, hail and 60 mph gusts of wind--all incredible to see--for a good 20 minutes. Thankfully no funnel clouds decided to descend on us.

When the clouds first rolled in, I was dumbfounded by their speed and rotation--really, it was like no cloud I had ever seen before, and they loomed so low! It was one of the few times that I, with my meteorology 101 training, actually thought we might be in store for a tornado! Lucky for us, just hail and wind hail blowing off the roof of Duffy's directly into my huge windows.

Man, just look at the size of that thunderhead! Can you even spot the capitol in that photo? It's there, try and use it for size reference against this massive cloud.

brett at 08:46 AM on August 21, 2007 | Permalink

If you haven't already heard, a former Lincolnite and old friend of mine, Alex Svoboda, has been a victim of police brutality in Rhode Island while protesting this week. Alex was an ubiquitous figure when in Lincoln who was always inspiring, happy and willing to help those who were in need. Alex is one of the few people about whom I can say I have never heard speak a disparaging or hateful remark. Unfortunately, while following her goals of helping others she has had her leg violently broken by police and might not be able to use it ever again.

Yes, it's as bad as it looks. The long story short is that she was at an IWW march of approximately 30 people in Rhode Island, when police decided to attack her, saying that he drum stick (which she was using to bang on a jug) was threatening them. Honestly, after reading all of the media coverage of this event, and seeing the photos, I don't have much to say. The photographs truly speak for themselves, and this seems to me to be a clear cut case of excessive force, brutality and reckless law enforcement. Alex is still in the hospital, and seeing photos of her like this--such an old, dear friend, completely splayed out and broken--is heartbreaking.

In a literal "insult to injury," she is also being charged with three felonies for assaulting a police officer--probably the most ironic, ludicrous and absolutely disgusting thing I've ever heard: Alex would never harm anyone, let alone pull a "felony assault on a police officer."

Here is one article on the event that makes it clear the police are eschewing any blame and going into full damage control mode. If you'd like to see the rest of the gruesome pictures, they can be found here. The site with the photos, supportalexsvoboda.blogspot.com is also a good point for finding out how to donate money to Alex (who is still hospitalized) and bring this atrocity to the attention of people who can do something about it.

brett at 01:02 PM on August 16, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

This week, our sales team is in town, so we had a big company party at a coworkers house. It was catered, and I was astounded to find that the woman who cooked all of our food was a vegan herself. This meant that I was able to gorge myself on every course, right down to the cake.

I had a surprisingly nice time, and got to meet some of my coworkers who I haven't really sat down and talked with before. I stole a few of the pictures taken at the party and have posted them on Flickr.

brett at 09:03 AM on August 09, 2007 | Permalink

On Saturday I decided to take a major bike ride out to Roca, Nebraska, using the Jamaica North Trail. I rode the trail last week with Megan, though we didn't go so far as Roca. This week I was eager to do a bit of exploring on my own in the hot, humid weather.

All in all it was a fantastic ride, though the trail does become a bit spooky after you pass Saltillo Rd. There's really no one out there, save for a few hardcore bikers and some strange, downtrodden looking miscreant type people just meandering along at their own pace. It's very bizarre to be out on a crushed-limestone bike trail in the dead heat of noon, then see a fully clothed pair of men walk by slowly--literally miles from any city. I like to invent stories about what they are doing. Usually I imagine that they are traveling by boxcar.

brett at 08:45 AM on July 23, 2007 | Permalink

Nothing like an end of the (fiscal) year party at work. We had a wonderful barbecue in the breezeway behind our office, today.

This is Eric and I applying condiments to two massive Tofurky not-dogs. Lunch was packed with vegan goodness, and plenty of beer. Nothing like starting the Fourth of July week with four beers at work over lunch.

brett at 01:37 PM on June 29, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

A long story short: I won't be going to Japan. I've run into major financing issues due to bank tangle ups, scholarship hold-ups, and disappointments from groups as diverse as the US government, UNL, Waseda and banks nationwide. No amount of planning could have foreseen what has happened. So anyway, everyone will get to see my smiling (or more likely, frowning for a while) face here in Lincoln until I figure out what's going on.

brett at 01:38 PM on June 06, 2007 | Permalink

Today was possibly one of the busiest, hungriest most tired days that I've had in recent memory. I'll spare you the details, but to make a long story short I spent about 8 hours in a small town 100 miles from here recording video footage for something we're putting together at work. The drive home was absolutely excruciating, especially considering I knew what was waiting in the mail for me at home.

An acceptance letter from Waseda. Specifically from Waseda's Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies. People always seem to say that moments like these are similar to having a heavy weight removed from one's chest. It wasn't exactly like that, but I'm feeling absolutely electric, and really, just happy to have all this anxiety finally gone.

Update: For those who know nothing of Waseda, here's some info from WikiPedia.

brett at 05:43 PM on May 30, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (7)

And Homer's is officially done. The doors are locked, the shades are pulled, and the inventory looks to be basically liquidated.

What this means is that now, in downtown Lincoln, there is no longer a new record store. There are a few used outlets (Spindle and Recycled Sounds) that are still in operation, but nowhere is there a CD shop selling this week's new releases. That is pathetic. Blocks from a college campus, there is nowhere to buy new music. Nowhere within walking distance. This also means that soon, construction will start--just below my sleeping quarters--on another sandwich shop.

This is not an improvement to downtown Lincoln.

brett at 11:19 AM on May 20, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Last night there was some great clouds moving through the Lincoln area. Radar showed a massive storm headed our way, however we only got a slight downpour lasting 10 minutes, followed by some neat lightning.

It looked much cooler than it actually was. After I snapped this photo I thought that we were going to be in for a hell of a storm, but alas, Spring thunderstorms seem to be the things of sweet childhood memories and little more. I sort of tried to take a panoramic picture of the clouds, but I think I failed.

brett at 12:12 PM on May 15, 2007 | Permalink

Well, Homer's is finally moving out. I guess the lease expired in November, but there are finally some new tenants who are ready to move in and take over.

So what this means is that I now have a new basement neighbor, Erbert and Gerbert's sandwich shop. I guess it's a small Midwestern chain, but judging by their website, they don't look very promising, especially considering that within one block there is a Jimmy John's, Subway, Doozy's, Planet Sub, Great Wraps and Pita Pit. Another sandwich shop? Whatever.

Check out the Journal Star article for a tiny bit more information on the move.

Also, in other downtown news, the revamped State Theater is slated to open this Thursday (according to the rumors I've heard). We shall see how that turns out... when I checked on Monday they had yet to lay the carpet or install the sound system. Oh, and it looked unpainted. Good luck, carpenters!

brett at 09:01 AM on May 15, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (4)

This weekend I had a chance to interview the Orlando based Sol.iLLaquists of Sound, one of the best new hip-hop acts--no, one of the best new musical acts--in the country. I was blown away by their jazz ringed, drum-and-bass infused rap music, a patchwork of styles held together by two female vocalists, but I was even more blown away by the foursome when I spoke with the group's producer, DiViNCi.

The four not only make music together, but they also live together in a house outside Orlando, are vegan, and consider themselves married by choice. They do nothing but make music, and are currently signed to a three album deal with Epitaph Records

Anyway, the show will certainly be the best hip-hop show in Nebraska this year. Not only is it at the Waiting Room, it's only 10 dollars, and will showcase a group that has some serious fire and passion in their music--as well as intelligence. They speak on all things, be they political, social, or even related more simply to the relationship between oneself and the divine. Plus, I hear that DaViNCi plays his MPC (a sampling machine) in the same manner as Yo-Yo Ma plays the Cello.

Don't miss it! May 13th, 9 p.m., Omaha, Nebraska. For some more elaboration on the group, see my article in this Thursday's Reader.

In other weekend news, I planted some more basil, propagated a philodendrum, a coleus and three jade trees. I bought a french press and some candles from a few garage sales, enjoyed the thunder and lightning, had a slow dinner with Megan at the Oven, went to a couple nice parties (one of which ended in a wet escape from police as Ryan and I descended three stories down a fire escape into ankle-deep floodwaters at 2 a.m.), watched Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and did a huge amount of cooking including: whole wheat pizza with pesto and tomatoes, gypsy soup, drunken noodles and more.

Also: I'm on my feet (foot?) again. But only barely!

Finally: congratulations Chia and Adam on your distinguished release from the wonderful institution that is the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, the psychology and mathematics departments respectively. Good luck in the future.

brett at 09:28 AM on May 07, 2007 | Permalink

If you haven't been over to Zach and Melissa's Japan blog, you should definitely check it out. It's crazy to see them going through many of the same experiences that I went through when first traveling to Japan!

They also have a nice Flickr photostream going on. It's almost up to 300 or so photos, and there's some very interesting stuff in there. Go peep it. (The photo above was stolen from their page.)

brett at 10:46 AM on May 03, 2007 | Permalink

Here's a photo of my ankle, complete with ice and Ace bandage and bruising and all sorts of pain. Looks lovely, doesn't it?

So there it is. Disgusting bloated flesh that will keep me from doing most of my fun activities for at least a month. But even now, only about 48 hours later, I'm feeling significantly better, so here's hoping this heals quickly (but even if it does, that still doesn't solve the problem of what will surely be some ridiculous hospital bills).

brett at 10:34 AM on May 01, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sunday at approximately 2 p.m. I suffered a major ankle injury while playing soccer. I've never had any kind of sports related injury before. This is terrible. This is one of the most terrible things I've ever experienced. This means: I won't be running the marathon Sunday, I won't be doing any Spring bike riding, I won't be playing any more soccer for the entire season, I'm in major emergency room debt, I won't be able to walk to the Farmer's Market this Saturday, I won't even be able to walk two blocks to work.

This is just nasty. I heard the tendons and cartilage rip. The noise was so loud that the guy standing next to me--who didn't see my fall--turned around completely and said, "What was that noise?" ... It was the sound of my Spring being completely ruined. Shoot me now.

brett at 08:29 AM on April 30, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

I submit to you two pictures, one taken yesterday, and one taken more than 2 and a half years ago. See if you can spot the difference in the photos:

August 2004

April 2007

Quite a change, I'd say. My hair is finally growing, and my dreadlocks are finally becoming mature. A shame it took them this long, but I suppose in the case of tangled-hair, patience is a virtue.

brett at 10:07 AM on April 26, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)