I’ve been full of stuff to do (read: trying to direct a short film), so I thought I’d break away from the stress and create a little “digital mixtape”– one big MP3 full of a few songs– to make me think ahead towards summer. It’s a little experiment to see how something like this would work out. Of course, you should tell me what you think of it (the music and its medium).

I’ve flanked both the beginning and end with Vampire Weekend, a band my friend John (right) just introduced me to. Supposedly you can’t mention their name in Brooklyn lest a thousand hipsters attack you, proclaiming that “it’s so last summer when it was a pirate pre-release download. It’s nothing since it’s hit the blogosphere!” Also inside is a little bit of George Brassens, a crazy French artist whom I love and reminds me of my good friend Michele. I’ve tossed a couple of other randoms in there that I hope you’ll enjoy.

As far as my personal summer is concerned, I’m hoping to be in NYC interning at some production company. I’m really excited for that.

So, here’s your mixtape:

[audio:summer2008mixtape.mp3]

Download (MP3, 37.6MB): Summer 2008 Mixtape

Here’s the song list, in order:

Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows - Lesley Gore
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - Vampire Weekend
J’ai rendez-vous avec vous - Georges Brassens
Hi - Psapp
15 Step - Radiohead
La première fille - George Brassens
My Rollercoaster - Kimya Dawson
Franny Glass - Will Stratton
Voices - Jon Brion
Nantes - Beirut
Let Me Tell You About My Boat - Mark Mothersbaugh
Oh! You Pretty Things - David Bowie
Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend

What I thought to be kind of a fun way to spice up the home screen on the iPhone thanks to the recent iPhone 1.1.3 Firmware Update.

View a little more information on the Flickr page.

I’ve been interviewed about ten times from all sorts of different media outlets, including local Boston television, radio, and newspaper media, The New York Post, and a few others (which haven’t gotten anywhere).

However, none of them really seem to paint the exact picture I made. So, I thought, since the media can’t really get a full grasp as to what happened, I thought I’d explain a little. So, here goes.

In response to…

…the situation on the bus.
The way this whole thing got started was when I posted the very same e-mail I sent Peter Pan about my experience. What I said in there I believed to have happened and included my feelings about the situation. I never felt physically threatened but instead just felt annoyed and cheated out of an early ride home. He was punishing an entire busload of passengers because of one of them who happened to complain about his driving. While this is very immature, it wasn’t some sort of act of kidnapping or terrorism or any shit like that, in my opinion. A lot of what he’s said in the media he didn’t inform us (I.E. the stop he could’ve made and didn’t). The driver in question was actually relatively nice to me as he suggested I get on his bus which was leaving a good half an hour earlier than my original bus.

…the swing of the media.
In all of the interviews I’ve given, I’ve told all that I can remember from the event. Of course, they ask me what I think about the situation, and I think they’re disappointed when they find that I didn’t feel physically threatened. When they take the things I’ve told them, they take only the parts that interest them out. For example, today I was interviewed by Channel 7 WHDH Boston, and they asked me a series of questions. Repeated three times was the question “how did you feel about the situation?” as though the answer I had given wasn’t interesting enough. They asked me what I felt should happen to the driver, and I basically said what I’ve said here a few times: He was being silly and immature, but I didn’t feel threatened really. They (or whomever) can interpret that as they may and do what they think is necessary.

…the possibility of the bus driver being fired.
This is one of the top things people either question or tell me their opinion about. “What do you think should happen to the driver?” In response to this question, I leave it completely up to the bus company. I feel what he did was wrong, but I personally don’t believe this is something to lose his job on. In The Boston Globe recently, they stated that “Bryant said the story of the bus ride, which has been reported by other media outlets, has unfairly characterized him as a ‘monster.’ ” I really couldn’t agree more. Again, was he in the wrong? Yes. Was he being immature? Yes. Should he be fired? It’s up to Peter Pan.

…the picture in the Boston Globe.

Let’s not talk about that.

If you’re wondering what you need to get that special Brian Moore out there, then I have the answer for you.

That’s right. It’s a mini doughnut maker. Yes, it will make me fat. Yes, it’s unhealthy. But by buying it for me, you would most likely get a constant supply of doughnuts as well, as I think I’d love you so much that I’d do such a thing.

Meanwhile, a more substantial post will come in the near future once I get a little more unbusy.

After getting request upon request upon request to add Facebook applications, I finally found one that has proved to be interesting. It’s called the Compare People app, and it does just that: compares people. Basically, anytime you go to the application, you get 50 matches of two of your friends on Facebook, and you tell them which one is, for example:

• more likely to win in a fight
• has a better taste in music
• more fashionable
• hotter
• someone you’d rather kiss

And the list goes on and on. The ratings all get tallied up, and in the end, you are awarded certain placement within your group of friends (and, privately, with your entire networks).

I just discovered this interesting application, so I had yet to see where my fellows on Facebook had placed me. When I looked, I was understanding, surprised, startled, and humbled. Here are some of the best:

The ones I assumed/hoped I could win

I spent a good deal of time perfecting profile pictures. It’s a hobby, right?

The ones I assumed I would lose

Yes. They’re all 0%— for a reason!

The ones I was greatly flattered by

I was actually told this first one the other day, and I don’t really get it, but I’m flattered nonetheless. However, some of these make absolutely no sense. Am I friends with four deaf people? Four odd-taste people? And who in their right mind called me cuddly? Have you seen how bony I am?

Finally, the ones that were out of the blue

The first one is just kind of odd. As far as the second one is concerned, I didn’t think that pre-schoolers could join Facebook, add this application, and get compared as such to me. And the last two– how the hell didn’t I win those? Huh?

This application really makes you think. Hard. About why you’d be such a great father, and how you can become crazier to clench the award.

I leave you with the following. Clearly I am the best father figure in all of Apple, Inc:

I just don’t get it…

I think I know what I want for Christmas.

And by Christmas I mean saving up to get it when it comes out. Wowza.

I was looking through my photos in Lightroom the other day, reminiscing about the different things I’ve done and experienced over the past year and a half or so, when I just started holding down the right arrow key. I zipped through all of my photos, revealing my last year or so in just a couple minutes. Little animations and cool effects appeared as I did it; things I wouldn’t've noticed before.

Anyway, enough outlining it– here’s the video.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Of course you have all heard by now that Paris Hilton was arrested, charged, and put into jail after being caught twice driving while under the influence. After being in jail for a short period, they pulled her out and into house arrest, letting her hang out at home instead of jail.

Let me say, I was pissed. She, being the spoiled little Hilton heiress, got off easy with special treatment. Luckily, the judge was pissed too– he never said she could leave. So, the judge brought Paris back in, pulling from her house crying (see image above).

Now my friend Megan’s Facebook status says “Megan is feeling kind of bad for Paris.”

Megan, I love ya, but take a look at it this way: I feel bad for her, but in the way I may feel bad for my 5-year-old brother Ian if he were to get punished for destroying some precious family heirloom. But, in this situation, she’s some 20 years older, a ho, and instead of breaking a family item, she drove drunk. I mean, come on. She deserves it.

In other news, the Worldwide Developers Conference is on Monday for Apple. I’ve been Jonesin’ for an iPhone for a while now, and this will start to seal the deal a little more. However, more importantly, Leopard is probably going to be out for the occasion with a few new features.

All in all, I believe this post solidifies that I am a dorkilicious nerd.

Oh, and do me a favor. Keep a lookout here for me and see if you find anything worthwhile for about $1200 or so. Thanks.

My running path.

It’s something I thought I’d never do. I talked about it frequently and the iPod + Nike thing was catching my eye, but I just never had the willpower to actually get out of my chair, put on a pair of sneakers and shorts, and go running.

But, thanks to the help (read: peer-pressured convincing) of a pretty little lady, I did it. I ran and walked and ran and walked for a grand total of 2.6 miles. Doesn’t sound like much, but when you’re… athletically challenged, it means quite a bit.

What would I say in the end? It was fun. The last time I had run more than a block was probably four years ago in Sophomore high school gym class. With that as my last memory, I wasn’t too excited in the beginning, but after I had gotten a hang of it, I had a good time– it helped to have a friend with me. Aches and pains suddenly appeared on my body within the first 20 minutes or so, but even that felt good. It was nice to know my muscles were still alive (but for how much longer, we don’t know).

Whatever the case, it feels all the more excellent lying in bed to go to sleep whilest typing away on the laptop. I think I may try this again sometime soon.