light & (darkly)

In photos: 10 best South Africa moments + some.

My ten favorite South Africa moments in photos:

1. Khayelitsha. Being my third trip to Africa, I was hardly shocked at the poverty that can be found in particular areas; however, something you will absolutely never get used to is the astounding optimism of the people who live there. The resilience. The will to continue on in the face of overwhelming odds. It’s amazing. Don’t let the shantytowns fool you–the people living inside are as colorful and bright as the tin panel walls that shield them.

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The D700 Meta-review. (Spoiler: It’s awesome.)

3,000 photos and 3 weeks later, I feel ready to say how I really feel about the camera…

The Nikon D700 is (nearly) everything you could possibly want in a camera. It is full frame, ISO25k capable, rugged, weather sealed, and takes gorgeous photos. The sound of its mirror slap and shutter can only be compared with the singing of angels. Images turn out so sharp they look more real than real life. Sometimes, I just turn it up to ISO 25600 and use it as night vision. As far as I’m concerned, this is the Chuck Norris of cameras.

I could go on and on, but I could never do it the full justice of professional reviewers.

So here’s the quick meta-review:

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Review: Guitar Sounds Great. I’m Still No Good.

So after begging online for a while setting up a special “Save Matt’s Sanity Fund“,⁽¹⁾ I got a guitar about a month or so ago…

Specifically, the Rogue Grand Concert Cutaway Acoustic Electric in Natural for a whopping — wait for it — 99 bones. That’s right, for less than what it cost to fill up your gas tank these days, I got me a sweet guitar.

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1. Thanks again for everybody who pitched in. You guys are awesome and this is just one of the many times you’ve all been too generous to me. Thanks. [↩]

It’s Always Funny on FX.

I’ve found my Arrested Development replacement…

…and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is officially it this season… It’s been pretty funny in the past but I woudn’t give it AD status — until now.

Dennis: Let’s have a board game night! Chinese checkers, I got, um—
Charlie: Well, that’s kind of foreign.
Dennis: I got—I got Clue, you know. We could solve a mystery together. We could—
Charlie: Complicated stuff there.
Dennis: What about Connect Four? Connect Four’s a fun game.
Charlie: Lot of counting.
Dennis: It’s … not that much counting. It’s just one, two, three, and then four.
Charlie: But a lot—a lot of times you gotta count that much.
Dennis: Not that many times. If you get it once, you’ve won the game.

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Tomorrow: Wearing nothing but a smile.

First, I am happy to report that the student health building at NYU is much nicer than the one at SDSU. And that’s saying a lot because the new building at SDSU was pretty classy. Also, the staff is much nicer and the whole process a little bit easier.

That said, they didn’t see me today despite my “urgent” status. I do have an appointment tomorrow though. Exciting.

However, going there today did reminded me why I don’t like going to the doctor. I always end up naked. I don’t know why, but it happens. Sometimes, I feel like I’m better off just walking in naked.

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Jon Stewart: Seriously Short In Person.

I finally got to see a taping of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart last week and I’ve gotta say — he’s really short in person. We also got a relatively unimportant (and a bit boring) guest. Nevertheless, I still think Stewart is a titan of a comedian and I’m going back December 12th. It was that fun.

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All things (good and bad) end.

New York University.

Now that I’m closing in on the end of my first graduate level course at NYU, I can give a more accurate assessment.

As a bit of a disclaimer, let’s be clear that my baseline is SDSU — despite it’s reputation, a wonderful school but not exactly a high caliber educational institution by any measure.

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Coldplay releases album. EMI hits jackpot.

After giving the new Coldplay album, Vida La Viva Or Death And His Friends, a thorough (if a bit low-128kb/s-quality) listen, I’ve come to conclude that this album is going to be on the iPods of little pop kids everywhere within a matter of weeks.

Despite the (pretty accurate) accusations that Coldplay is just a less talented Travis or how they seem to really like to steal hooks and lines from Radiohead and U2 or that this may be the stupidest album title ever conceived, the one thing you have to give Coldplay is that they’ve got their formula down to a science…

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Skeptic buys carginogen-free container. Saves earth.

I caved. I bought a Sigg 750mL bottle and I’m loving it.

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Intellectual Stimuli.

The Catcher in the Rye

I just finished reading (for the first time) The Catcher in the Rye and I must say, Salinger is a genius. Sheer genius. Sure, sure, it’s one of those books you are supposed to read in high school, but I never did. I never read a single book in high school. I was lucky enough to be in high school during the advent of the interwebs, Spark Notes, and Cliff Notes. Who needed to read actual books?

Good thing too. I don’t think this is a book I could have fully appreciated in high school. In fact, I’m not even sure why it is mandatory reading at most schools. Kids are too young to fully appreciate the depression, the sexual confusion / perversion, and the overarching theme of protecting innocence.

(More after the jump.)

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