Quotation of the year

Last month, 300 students enrolled in the remarkable distance running mentorship program, Students Run Philly Style, and their families gathered for a night to honor all they have accomplished in the past year, including the completion of the Philadelphia Marathon. That evening, Charles Dickens Sr., the father of the runner featured in this Inquirer article, had this to say about his son’s involvement in Students Run Philly Style:

“I need to let you know, and I need to let this entire city know, that because of this program, I can sleep at night. I know that my son is safe…safe from the bullets, safe from the danger on the street, because he is with caring mentors, who have dedicated their lives to his well being.”

That pretty well sums up why I do what I do. I hope you'll take a moment to witness these incredible kids and their mentors, supporting them by cheering on race day, and by considering a contribution. It makes all the difference.

Best Albums of 2008 - an idiot's list

Here you go, my favorite albums of 2008.

1. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
2. Sigur Ros - Meo Suo I Eyrum Vio Spilum Endalaust
3. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
4. Metaform – Standing on the shoulders of giants
5. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
6. David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
7. Dr. Dog – Fate
8. Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter III
9. Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer
10. Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple

Notable by its absence - Bloc Party – Intimacy. I found this to be a misnomer.

Honorable Mention (cause I’ve only heard 1-2 songs on it so far, so can’t totally judge):
Drive by Truckers: the song Opening Act might be my favorite of the year. I guess I’m a lil bit country. The crescendo of that song begins, “As I’m driving North and the sun is rising over a Technicolor horizon”, which is the most perfect lyric I’ve heard in a long, long time.
Deerhunter: the song Nothing Ever Happened is my current favorite song.
MGMT: Kids is an awesome song. There’s at least 2 other tracks on here I like, so maybe I should get around to listening to the whole thing.

The God You Suck Award: Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend. Hatehatehate. Runner-up: Portishead. I heard “Machine Gun” about 500 times this year, and hate that song so much it kept me from listening to anything else on what I gather is actually a good album.

Thanks, Jose

I see problems down the line
I know that I’m right.
There was a dirt upon your hands
doing the same mistake twice
making the same mistake twice

Come on over and be so caught up
its not about compromising.

I see problems down the line
I know that I’m right
I see darkness down the line
I know its hard to fight.
There was a dirt upon your hands
doing the same mistake twice
making the same mistake twice.

Come on over be so caught up
its all about compromise.

I see problems down the line
I know that I’m right.

Don’t let the darkness eat you up

Holiday Wishing

Courtesy of Philebrity, I present the holiday gift that every Optimist secretly yearns for this year.