chapter five

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Welcome Morgan Danyel Brooks














Finally, Morgan has arrived...and isn't she cute?! Congratulations to the proud parents, Ana and Danyle.

Here are the stats:

Born - Friday, September 8, 2006 @ 6:41 pm

Weight - 7 lbs. 13 oz.
Length - 20 inches long
Hobbies - napping, posing for photo opps, lounging on the couch with Daddy, shopping with Mommy

Your Birthdate: September 8

Watch out Donald Trump! You've got a head for business and money.
You'll make it rich some day, even if you haven't figured out how yet.
A supreme individualist, you shouldn't get stuck in a corporate job.
Instead, make your own way - so that you can be the boss.

Your strength: Your undying determination

Your weakness: You require an opulent lifestyle

Your power color: Plum

Your power symbol: Dollar sign

Your power month: August

HMMM.....lucky! This baby's already set for life. Bachelors in Business by age 16....MBA by 18...multi-billion global corporation by 21st birthday. So Morgan, let me design you a nice house, or your corporate headquarters!

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Music obsession for the time being....gypsy punk



So I really enjoyed the soundtrack from Everything is Illuminated. Turns out the actor who plays one of the main characters is the lead singer for a band called
Gogol Bordello, who sings the song "Start Wearing Purple" at the end credits. Gogol Bordello is a somewhat weird but audibly pleasing (to me) fusion of punk and Eastern European gypsy music, hence the name gypsy punk. Eugene Hutz, the lead singer (great mustache) is originally from the Ukraine and the band was formed in New York City. You can read about them on Wikipedia.

I've been without a music obsession for a while. Before I started grad school, I was getting reaquainted with the Beatles, I've always been obsessed with New Wave and 80s, then the whole indie rock stuff (which I still love), Rolling Stones, punk (the original GOOD stuff), Brazilian musicians, etc etc etc. So, on top of all that music I am adding gypsy punk. I think it's so fresh and fun and all-around good stuff.

So here is the video for "Start Wearing Purple." Kinda kooky eh? I love it :)

Here's a link to another band from the Everything is Illuminated soundtrack from Russia called Leningrad. You can download their songs for f-r-e-e. Everybody likes that!