HeiBlog

August 18, 2004

Jump Start

Filed under: Fun little bit — Tyler @ 10:51 pm

I was on my way to work this morning, walking to the T stop, when traffic on a street I walk down was backed up. It’s just a side street through a residential area, but a lot of people use it as a connection between Commonwealth Ave and Beacon St. Normally there is no traffic on it. As I got closer some people seemed to be a bit agitated, yelling out of the car at a car that was double parked.

A woman had pulled along side another car and was giving her a jump start. There was an open parking space next to her car as well as one in front of the car being jumped. The guy in mini-van behind the double parked car was just fuming and the fellow from the car behind him was actually out of his car, yelling at the two women. By the time I was near enough to hear he was threatening to call the cops. I looked at the available space and I swore that there was enough space for the mini-van to pass. When asked if he had tried, the mini-van drive gave no response.

Deciding to intervene. I told the irate car driver to calm down and that I was going to have the one woman pull around, so everyone could pass. As we got the cars shut down and cables unhooked (the two woman had hooked the two batteries together directly, very unsafe), the guy in the van decided to pull around. He’d been stuck there for 5 minutes fuming. While I was hooking things up again I had to wave three other cars by, people just needed to be reassured that there was enough space to pass. “Rush, rush. Got to get to work.”

I give the women the run down on what to do. “Drive it around for at least 30 minutes before you shut it off …” They thank me for my help and one woman kindly informs me that my fly was down.

August 14, 2004

The world is full of idiots

Filed under: Rant — Tyler @ 11:33 pm

I stopped by work after my day on the islands to set up some reactions. Unfortunately I hit the end of a Sox game when I was walking home. Not to slight Sox fans, but intoxication, sporting events, and mobs just don’t seem to bring the best in humanity. For instance, take in the intersection of Yawkee Way and Boylston St. This is normally a busy intersection and a nightmare after a game, even with Yawkee Way being closed now during games. The light was flashing yellow, people were trying to cross the stress, know body knows if they should go or not, and there is a lot of honking. Then I see a cop very leisurely walking toward the intersection. The next intersection on Boylston is even more fun; no light, no closed cross street (people trying to turn left), and tonight no cop.

As I am walking over toward the Landmark Center I cross in front of a car trying to exit a garage. I’m about 30 ft past the car and a passenger calles out to me from behind, “You should watch that backpack, might be a bomb in it.” Where the hell did that come from? I was wearing my yellow day-pack. Guess the that combined with my boots and slight sunburn makes me look suspicious. I can only hope that the ass was drunk. I just walked on.

Boston Harbor Islands

Filed under: Outing — Tyler @ 11:12 pm

Since today had such wonderful weather and tomorrow will be crappy courtesy of Charley, I spent the day out at the Boston Harbor Islands. Many of these islands are part of a state park that are accessible by ferry. If you haven’t been out take a boat from Long Wharf to Georges Island and then a water taxi to some of the other islands. They make up a truly unique park.

I’d not been out to Georges Island before so I decided to visit Peddocks and Grape Island. Peddocks island is one of the largest islands and is billed as the most diverse in types of landscape. One side consists of the ruins of Fort Andrews, in use from about 1906 through the 40s. The other side is mostly summer cottages. Grape Island is uninhabited and is heavily covered in vegetation. If you like you can camp on Grape Island with a reservation.

I had a wonderful day, despite having a little sunburn. Even bumped in to a fellow student of mine on the boat to Grape island, small world. Here are some photos if you would like to have a look.

August 7, 2004

The iTunes Music Store is evil

Filed under: Normal boring stuff — Tyler @ 10:51 pm

I’m not writing a review about the iTunes Music Store (that’s already been done). I am writing to warn you that it will introduce you to new music that you want to buy, music that will stick in your head for hours. I was just browsing innocently the others evening and clicked a link on the iTMS front page for a band called Metric. The music is too catchy, kind of nuevo-New Wave (some Electronika, good rifs, and just good bass lines) with slick lyrics. Ended up buying the CD and it’s been my head for about 3 days now, damn Canadians. Might just be a passing thing, but they got my cash (damn consumer tendencies, I am an American after all). Smart of Apple to sell their music portal as a venue for independent music.

A new nickname

Filed under: Interesting bit — Tyler @ 10:04 pm

The Chinese researchers and technicians have been calling me this for months, “Lei Feng.” When I asked them who that was they answered that he was a model Chinese citizen, selfless and always giving to the community. Ends up the Communist Party in China used him for propaganda material. Most are not sure if this soldier in the People’s Liberation Army ever existed, but he was held up as an example during the Cultural Revolution. He always helped his fellow soldiers and took time for the community.

Now the Chinese call me this because of my helpful nature. Not sure how I feel about being a model citizen, from Communist China in the 60s (always thought I was in the wrong place and time). But, I defiantly sure I don’t want to die like this guy. He was killed when a truck backed into a pole that then hit him. Bummer. Fortunately I don’t look anything like him.

August 2, 2004

This House is on Fire

Filed under: Outing — Tyler @ 11:50 pm

I caught a fabulous concert given by Natalie Merchant this evening in Sanders Theater at Harvard University. If you are a fan of her music and have not been to a live performance I encourage you to go if you have a chance. She gives a marvelous performance and always has a tremendous band behind her. I saw her two years ago at Harbor Lights (yes, I know it’s the FleetBoston Pavilion now, but I have my reservations about corporate naming when they did not build the damn thing, but that’s another post under the “Rant” category) in a double show with Chris Isaac. She is much, much better in a small venue. The more intimate space reflects her refreshing genuineness. No flash, no smut, just pure artistry and creative expression.

The Sanders tickets were more, but well worth the price. I had bought two tickets, but after a series of friends that could not go and two people from Craigslist that bailed on me, I finally sold to ticket to a guy who although appreciative enough to offer me a joint didn’t really seem to enjoy the concert all that much. He problem and loss (didn’t even stay for the triple encore, but I am getting ahead of myself).

A Tibetan woman named YungChen Lhamo opened the concert. She offered some Tibetan traditional songs of inspiration and prayer. A gorgeous voice, open and haunting. I’d only ever heard Tibetan monks perform such intonations. A female voice adds another dimension. Not all the audience was that receptive to her, but at the very least she did raise some awareness.

Merchant and her band played a 7 song set drawing most from her latest album “The House Carpenter’s Wife”, “Tigerlilly”, and “Motherland” (some of my favorites such as St. Judas included). Add in a 10,000 Maniacs song and that was an amazing set. After much ovation she came out for another 5 song set ending in “This House is on Fire” from “Motherland.” During this song Merchant held up a flag with a peace sign. The message was clear and the audience understood. Leave it to her to make a clear, quite statement. Let’s hope thought it’s not prophetic. After what we thought was the final set, the band comes out for a double encore. Very generous!

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