To My Seniors....

Seniors,

It's not likely that you'll remember me 10...15...20 years from now, but remember this:

1. Surround yourself with positive people. There are going to be some people that want drama just for the sake of drama. Avoid them at all costs.

2. Own your mistakes. You'll make a million wrong decisions in the next few years. Own it. Mistakes will shape you into who you'll become.

3. Understand the how. It's easy to "I know the answer", but to understand how something works is true knowledge. As Neil deGrasse Tyson says, "Knowing how to think empowers you far beyond those who only know what to think." 

That thing atop your shoulders is the most complicated thing in the known universe. Use it.

So that guy in the coffee shop or in the quad next year who is pontificating about religion, the government, or social issues might sound interesting, but be wary. He might be a ding dong....and is probably a philosophy major.

4. Be good to others. You might have been a big fish in a small pond here at GHS...Expect the opposite next year. You will meet others that are smarter, better looking, tougher, etc. Starting now the playing field is level, which means an ounce of humility will go a long way. Treat others with respect, regardless of your initial impression is of them.

Just know that, for many of you, high school will have been the easiest part of life for you. All those tests, long nights, drama....it was easy. Time to grow up.

I said for most of you it was easy. For those that struggled and knew of true hardships over the past four years, know this: You are better because of it. And, in many ways, you're a step ahead of the others because you made it. Best of luck to you all.

- Bott

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: IT GOES ON."
                                                                    - Robert Frost

Bott's Book of the Week- Mortality by Christopher Hitchens

.

I owe Christopher Hitchens. His writing is clear and visceral. He was an inspiration to anyone who felt bullied into following the norm. Hitch (and a few others) were the driving force behind a lot of my writings and my love of non-fiction. Before reading further, you should know a little about Hitch. His true field was journalism and his writing kept that ethos in tact until his last moments. His polemic nature made people hate him but respect him and granted, not everyone saw the appeal of his antagonistic writing, he made you think and could get a rise out of even the most solemn man. He was an outspoken critic of politics and religion. A self-described anti-theist, he debated nonstop in hopes to shed light on falsehoods and controversies. That said, here's my disclaimer: Hitchens is not for everyone.

This book chronicles Hitchens' diagnosis of esophageal cancer and the subsequent writings that stemmed from his diagnosis. Rarely do you get an author of such magnitude able to write knowing that the end is so near. Some things are borrowed from other Hitchens works, but if you've never read (and you should), you'll be able to see it within the context of the overall book.

It's hard. It's hard for one who has never read Hitchens in that you'll be enamored with his mastery of language and angry at yourself for not knowing about his bibliography beforehand. It's hard for those that have read Hitchens previously because you'll notice another tone. A sometimes softer tone. He still, in his sardonic way, fights the good fight against those who refuse to acknowledge the failures of their beliefs, but there's the sense of end. 

“To the dumb question ‘Why me?,’ ” he writes, “the cosmos barely bothers to return the reply: Why not?”

It's almost unfair to be this good at turning a phrase. On his cancer, he says:

"This alien can’t want anything; if it kills me it dies but it seems very single-minded and set in its purpose. No real irony here, though. Must take absolute care not to be self-pitying or self-centered.”

It's a short read, a powerful read, a worthwhile read for anyone. He drank, smoked, and lived life "burning the candle on both ends." But he lived. Whether it was attacking Al Sharpton on national television or shielding Salman Rushdie during the fatwa against him after The Satanic Verses, he kept his sense of self. He rubbed me the wrong way on many occasions and was terribly stubborn, but we lost him too soon. Those against him claim that the almighty robbed him of his voice with cancer of the throat. They evidently never read his writings, as his most prolific work (like Mortality) was inked on page after page of stinging verse and prose. If anyone truly wanted to rob him of his voice, they would have taken away hands- the pens and pencils- typewriters- computers. They would have taken away, slowly and painfully, his ability to put pen to paper. Even so, something tells me Hitchens would have found a way to speak. 

Bott's Book of the Week: The Humans by Matt Haig - A quick and quirky read!

Us humans are funny creatures. We really don't know how goofy we are, how strange we act, and how pompous we sound until we look at it from an independent lens. In The Humans by Matt Haig, that lens is owned by an alien and what he sees disgusts him....at first. 

Andrew Martin, a math professor from the very prestigious Cambridge University, has proven something called the Riemann Hypothesis. This hypothesis in the wrong hands could be catastrophic to the universe and guess what- humans are "the wrong hands." Martin must die, for he knows too much. He is replaced (so to speak) by an alien whose objective is to blend in and destroy those who know about the hypothesis. Blending in is a little difficult at first...sure, he's found wandering naked along a road, but how hard could it be to be human? 

The alien, whom I'll refer to as Martin now, is mortified by our mannerisms, food, and our obsession with violence. As he talks to people and finds those with knowledge of the Riemann Hypothesis, he begins to learn about us...and like us. Moreover, he begins to learn about belonging and love. 

The Humans is slightly philosophical with a touch of humor and runs the gamut of emotion. There's a sense of loss in Martin's voice and Haig does a wonderful job of looking at humans from a different perspective. I loved this book and it's a quick read for sure. It's not your traditional science fiction novel so those that don't tend to hit that genre will be happy they picked it up. It's a beautiful, heartwarming story!

The Humans

Bott's Book of the Week: The Stranger by Albert Camus

This is not a new book; however, anyone who wants a story that is more off the beaten path, give The Stranger a go.  

Written by Albert Camus and originally published in 1942, The Stranger tells the story of Meursault, an Algerian who is more than a little disconnected with life. We begin at his mother's funeral. For most of us, this is a somber moment that will often lead to reflection (at the very least). Meursault on the other hand doesn't care. Not even a bit. His actions are more aligned with a sociopathic egotist than a grieving son. He refuses to see the body and decides to smoke and have a cup of coffee right in front of the coffin. Why not, right? It's only your mom's funeral.

To boot, he runs into Marie, an old friend and former co-worker and he decides to leave and well...have some fun. Turns out he really doesn't care about her much either! So at this point we can paint Meursault with an apathetic brush- he's listless at best and has little to no sense of altruistic behavior. AAANNNDDD it only gets worse...

His buddy Raymond wants revenge. Meursault helps him. Meursault's lady friend wants love. He doesn't reciprocate. His moral compass isn't pointed north or south, but I doubt its existence at all. This leads to the watershed moment- a murder. Meursault kills a character, "The Arab" who is trailing Raymond and plotting his own revenge for what Raymond did to his sister. The Arab's run in with Meursault is tragic for both characters. Meursault shoots him and although the first bullet would have been enough, he fires again and again. 

This, of course, lands him in jail and although his lawyer assures him of a quick and easy trial. The judge finds Meursault as a cold, lifeless, emotionless human who shows no regard for the sanctity of human life. He is sentenced to death....

Throughout his conversations with the priest that visits him, we see Meursault descend deeper into the nihilistic vision he has perpetuated throughout the novel. Here's the thing, we're all Meursault. At some point we encounter a hardship that makes us want to just sip coffee in front of a coffin...ok bad analogy, but it's true. The great part about Camus' writing is he takes us into a world that we might not recognized ourselves as inhabiting until we see Meursault's actions and live through his antics. Not that we take it as far as he did, but Meursault's assault on God and the paradox of the meaningless universe at the very least makes us think (even if we disagree).

The Stranger can be depressing to some and absurd to others. There's nothing wrong with either so long as the you attempt to expand the character's purpose.

Bott's Review of the Week - Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey

Ok so it's not a book....well it kind of is. You see, back in the day there was an astronomer named Carl Sagan. He was an author as well as a champion of inquiry and wonder. His book Cosmos was published in 1980 and was a 13 chapter tour into the workings of the universe. It accompanied the miniseries whose 13 episode arc had me hooked from the first time I saw it on the terribly rendered VHS tapes I found laying around my aunt's house.

Even in fuzzy, poor audio, 1970's style hair, Carl Sagan delivered speeches on the origins of life, the vastness of space, and beauty of dying stars that were so eloquent I couldn't help but want to read more. I was thrilled when I heard Cosmos was coming back to TV and even more elated when I read that Neil deGrasse Tyson would be hosting it. Tyson himself is the author of many books and is probably best known now for hosting NOVA Science NOW on PBS and his guest roles on The Daily Show and Colbert Report. Anyone that has had Mrs. Pollack this year knows that I am a huge fan of NDT as I delivered a riveting speech in Mr. Tyson's voice during a debate.

Needless to say....I was not disappointed! For me, it was nostalgic and new all at once. This episode was more of an introduction entitled "Standing Up in the Milky Way" but it gave a bit of a snapshot into what's to come. It was a blend of visual elegance and animated shorts. This episode's animated feature centered around Giordano Bruno and his quest for the infinite. Bruno is quite well known and a bit of a hero in the world of cosmology in that his idea of an infinite universe was panned by the church who, in Bruno's time, was the authority on creation.

The most powerful part of the show was the cosmic calendar. Now, this has been told and done before, but I can't stress enough how much I love this comparison. The idea is to take the entire existence of the universe, all 13.8 billion years, and compress it into a calendar. I won't go through each month, but it makes the point that humans show up at 12:53 on December 31st. Our first writings, at 12:59:47- What does this mean? We are young, we are new. The universe has existed and will continue to exist without us. And while that may seem like a depressing idea, Cosmos will take us through a tour of the galaxy that will make question everything, including why we are here and what we should do with time we have. I can't wait for next week!

#geek

The Power of "I Don't Know"

I am slightly information obsessed. I suppose that's appropriate as an information scientist. I want to know and learn as much as I absolutely can, but this wasn't always the case. My patience and understanding have evolved over the years to the point where I am completely comfortable admitting that I may not know something. This wasn't an easy transition and is complicated by the fact that I want others to know or at the very least perceive me as an intelligent person. This commenced in high school and now, 14 years later, I feel like I can finally say "I don't know" without fear.

This partially stems from the notion that "I don't know" means something completely different to me now than it did 5 or 10 or 15 years ago. Recently, I had a conversation with one our seniors at GHS and he (who shall remain nameless) told me that he liked to argue almost for the sake of arguing and, moreover, had a real problem with admitting defeat whilst engaging in debate. He, like myself in high school, is under this odd 21st century perception that freely admitting ignorance about a topic removes himself from further discussion of that topic. I get it, I really do. When discussing politics or religion or history or science, it's tough to say those words- but I'm here to tell you IT'S OKAY! Why? Because here's what "I don't know" really means...

It means "I haven't discovered that yet."

It doesn't remove you from the conversation, it gives you an opportunity to discover something new. I know that everything is immediate today. If a response isn't given in 30 seconds and it's over 140 characters, it might as well never happen. We move on. We're done. What's the next topic? It's almost as if that when no response is given, those that last spoke win. There's no time to say, "You know, I don't know. Can I get back to you?" They're done with you. And let me assure you, that's okay.

The conversations, the true conversations that you have now will not only lay the foundation for further debates, but they will give more to talk about in the future. You don't know everything. You never will. But using "I don't know" as a springboard to further research and understanding will open your mind. And I can almost guarantee that if you do revisit a conversation with someone after the fact (and after you've learned more on the topic), it will benefit you both.

We are born not inherently good or evil, but inherently ignorant. It's human nature to yearn for knowledge as well as acceptance. But you are not validated by "likes" and retweets. In the end, validation comes from your own sense of self worth and discovery. Whether it's said out loud or a simple thought in your head, "I don't know" should not be the end of the conversation, but rather the starting point.

Bott's Book of the Week: The Future of the Mind...It's about your brain (that thing inside your head)

Michio Kaku is one of my favorite theoretical physicists. The fact that I have a list of favorite theoretical physicists is either a.) sad or b.) awesome. I'll go with the latter. This book discusses the most powerful thing in the known universe: Your brain. 

The book is broken into three sections and I can't tell you how much I appreciate that as a reader. Kaku is known for his research based analysis and most of this book centers on the what the future may hold for brain research. But the first portion lays the foundation in that it presents what is happening now in the field. It also gives a very pedestrian and quite thorough overview of how the brain itself works. 

Then we get weird...... 

Part 2 of the book discusses telepathy, telekinesis, and the coolest part- memories. This is of particular note because of the topic of Alzheimer's. Implanting memories is something that you might read about in a dystopian novel, but Kaku argues (and the research is out there), that uploading memories could be something that is very real in the shockingly near future. I love this idea, especially when applied to information. I was (and still am) terrible at math. If you put a check on the table at a restaurant, it will take me an inordinate amount of time to calculate the tip. I try my best to understand the complicated math whilst reading about physics and quantum theory, but I missed the boat on the numbers game. Now imagine if you're struggling in a subject like I was with math. Wouldn't it be great to simply upload whatever you needed to learn? Ancient Greek philosophy? Biology? Any language?

HOWEVER, the idea that intrigues me is I could upload any information to my brain and have it stick as a memory. This could be applicable to any information in any subject. What does that mean for the future, though? Are we talking about turning the human mind into a computer? In a sense, it already is. The brain has, that we know of, a limitless amount of space and can store massive amounts of memory. 

On the third and final front, Kaku blends the human mind with the universe. How might everything that he spoke to in parts 1 & 2 coalesce to alter our destiny. Could we use our mind to reach across the universe? What does the altered state of consciousness mean to the definition of reality as we see it? This book is a great read, but just a warning- you may have to devote some major time to it. It took me a while because of the subject matter and terminology. 

So many questions....so much information....so many possibilities....so much suave hair

  

Look at that hair....LOOK AT IT!

Bott's Book of the Week: The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History

Ahh humans...We're pretty awesome, right? We make cool stuff, we drive cool cars and, most of all, we kill things. Elizabeth Kolbert's book The Sixth Extinction is an incredible read that sets the stage for our ultimate downfall at our very own hands. 

There have been five mass extinctions throughout the history of life on earth. These extinctions are considered "mass" as they wipe out nearly all life on the planet. The first may have been caused by rapid temperature changes that led to glaciation. Others also had to do with climate change as well, as rising temperature changed the chemistry of ocean waters, thus leading to what we now call "the great dying." The extinction we're most familiar with happened at the end of the Cretaceous period roughly 65 million years ago. This killed three quarters of all life on earth including our friends, the dinosaurs.

Today, we're in a bit of pickle. It's not an asteroid coming at us (yet), but the enemy is within the walls; us. Kolbert's book details the drivers for climate change and the effect of having and sustaining our massive global population. It's scary.

And then there's the ocean. Our wondrous water that covers 70% of the earth...and is turning into ACID! Ok well, not really. But the rate at which it's going downhill for our oceans is alarming. Our oceans are 30% more acidic now than in 1800 and expected to be 150% more by the end of the century. Great news isn't it? Oceans are teeming with life and slight changes in water temperature or variations in chemistry have terrifying consequences for our ocean life. This might not sound significant, but Kolbert's book has a greater underlying thesis: We are all connected.

 That said, we are the masters of our own demise and we kind of don't care- I suppose that's the sad and hilarious part about it and Kolbert handles it with mastery. She's very funny, sarcastic, sardonic, and writes with some wonderful irony. 

She writes that she's not "anti-human," but there's a edge to her writing that makes me feel guilty. Don't get me wrong, I love that. I love that a book, especially a non-fiction book, can elicit such emotion. It makes me want to learn more, read more about ocean acidification, global warming, pollution, disease. Any book that can accomplish that is well worth the read. In a nutshell, be worried- Maybe not today, but your children and grandchildren are going to an uphill battle. Might as well face it with a sense of humor. 

Bott's Book of the Week: Her: A Memoir

Woah....Ok so the last memoir I read was a graphic novel and I really missed some of the more detailed imagery that a well written "book" provides. Not that graphic novels don't take the writing seriously (See Maus), but the images are provided for you and that leaves a little less to the imagination. I can conjure up some incredible images in my own mind from a really well written novel or, in this case, memoir. Her does not disappoint. 

I stumbled upon this story while listening to the radio on a drive to Pennsylvania and immediately grabbed a copy when I returned. The interview was with the author Christa Parravani, a Guilderland High alum if I'm correct, and it was heart wrenching. The book evokes every emotion imaginable. It tells a tragic story of identical twins who, despite obstacles and borderline poverty growing up, emerge as budding writers and artists until the unthinkable happens. Cara, Christa's twin is raped. As you can understand, there isn't a ton of good things that follow. Cara cannot come back from this traumatic event and ultimately turns to drugs. When Cara dies, Christa is sitting in traffic in NYC and learns from their estranged mother over the phone. Despite the fact that since the rape they've grown apart, Parravani paints the picture that twins, no matter how distant, are never really that far apart. 

Christa becomes increasingly depressed. She starves herself and becomes addicted to pills. She writes that she's nearly schizophrenic, seeing her sister when she looks in the mirror instead of herself. Before pushing herself to the brink (through a divorce as well), Christa re-emerges as a confident writer and pushes herself through words to tell this powerful story. I love memoirs, especially about people...real people and I am a sucker for tragedy. I'm not sure what that says about me as a person, but books like this make me think I'm onto something nonetheless. Read this book.

  

Bott's Book of the Week - Lying by Sam Harris

I'm reviewing a non-fiction book this week...WAIT, don't hit the little red X in the corner yet...It's about a very person topic. Lying. We all do it. Some do it everyday. But is it all that bad? I mean, what if you tell your significant other they look great with that new haircut when they really look hideous/terrifying? Sam Harris argues that even these little white lies have an affect and erode our moral fiber.

Harris is a brilliant writer. The book is only 108 pages which make it a quick and thought provoking read. My favorite part is that  I went into this book feeling like a semi-honest person and came out feeling a little betrayed by my own sense of morality. That alone made it a great book for me. Harris kindly offers "advice" as to how to become a more honest person as well. He helps to define the fuzzy area of what constitutes a lie or just simply avoiding the truth (a type of lie he argues). 

I'm trying really hard to think of a lie I told that wouldn't be too embarrassing, but for some reason my mind is only going to places would compromise what most of you think of me. Anyway, I strongly suggest going to YouTube and watching a Sam Harris debate as he is a phenomenal off-the-cuff speaker and one of my idols when it comes to debates. He makes a great case in this book for never lying again and although I can't say that's going to happen, I'm certainly going to think twice before I say, "You look great in that dress." or "I love your hair, get it cut like that forever!" After all, when you lie, you have to remember that lie which makes a false memory within the framework of your own mind...Who has time for that?

Bott's Book of the Week: Winger by Andrew Smith

I must be asked 30 times a day, "Do you have anything like John Green?" This is the closest I've come in a while. I love realistic fiction and, moreover, I really enjoy Andrew Smith's writing in his novel Winger. I picked up this booked just I saw the cover and thought, "Who punched Neil Patrick Harris in the face?" It's not NPH but it is a great read.

Winger tells the story of Ryan Dean West. He's 14 years old and already a junior at a boarding school for rich kids. Intellectually, he's way ahead of his peers. Physically, he's still trying to catch up. He's good enough to make the rugby team at the wing position and this earns him the nickname Winger. What he endures because of this is a beat down day after day from his teammates and roommate, but I loved his perseverance. He's small but refuses to give up. The book has drawings that tell a more graphic version of what Ryan goes through on a daily basis. 

What I found surprising about this book was its humor. There were parts (like the aftermath of a crazy party) that had me laughing for quite a few pages. Then there is the emotional perspective. Ryan is falling for his bully roommate's girlfriend which, if you've never known that type of torture, provides the vehicle for some serious emotion and hilarious dialog. Despite being twice his age, I almost looked up to Ryan. The kid has moxie, a real sense of fight. He could have backed down a thousand times in this novel, but didn't and I love that about him. 

So if Looking for Alaska or Absolute True Diary of a Part Time Indian is your jam, check this out for a surprisingly in depth and humorous read. Parties. The girl you want but can't have. Sports. This book has it all.

Book of the Week Podcast: The Program by Suzanne Young

CLICK HERE to hear Mr. Bott's review of The Program by Suzanne Young

Bott Jams Volume 2

**NOTE** My book of the week will now be on a podcast starting this week. I'll throw the link on this blog by Friday.

I've been given some feedback on my music selections from last week's posts. Most of it was shock that I, a librarian, would ever entertain the thought of listening to "that type of music." I laugh most of the time I hear that because, in my opinion, growing up in the early to mid 90's during the height of metalcore and indie rock was the best time for music...Forget the Beatles, I had Botch. You can have Pink Floyd, I had Pavement. It wasn't the most popular music, but if you had a good group of people who knew had access to a decent record shop, you struck gold.

My parents never listened to music around the house. My dad played some Frank Zappa on occasion, but other than that I was on my own. My cousins were older and in high school already by the time I hit 12 years old and were hanging out with guys in bands that were playing a mix of metal (think old thrash metal) and punk rock. They used to practice on the other side of town and I hung out with them once or twice and got to browse through their catalogs of old records and tapes (yes tapes). Before I knew it, I was hooked. One thing I need to clarify, just because people play loud, screamy music doesn't mean they're evil.

From metalcore I graduated to some indie rock bands that played catchy and above all interesting music. Music that I couldn't find on the radio (aside from say, Nirvana). So that's a really brief summary of why I dig the music I do. Work for your music. Go on the Internet and search for good bands. Go to shows (more on that next week). I found good bands in 1993 and there was no Internet.

Now for the music:

Instrumental Music:
Explosions In The Sky- My favorite instrumental band. Beautiful music that at times can be crushing and they always illicit emotion. Probably the loudest live show I've ever been to.
Godspeed You Black Emperor - Weird and always dark, Godspeed makes for a really interesting show and each one of their albums ebbs and flows through a range of dissonance and melody.
Russian Circles - Chicago based band that is heavier than the previous two I mentioned with a much more drive background of rock influenced instrumentals.
Pelican - Heavy, downtuned, and sometimes confusing. Their first EP was disgustingly heavy and blew out a speaker in my old car. Since then, they've been a little more structured in the music and that works to both their advantage and disadvantage at times.
Mogwai - By far the eclectic band on this list. They do have some vocals in certain songs but for the most part they are instrumental; heavy when they want to be and melodic most of the time.

Explosions in the Sky


Noise Rock/Just Noise
Lightning Bolt: I love this band. I saw them once in Manhattan and before the opening act played their last song, LB (who were set up in the middle of the floor amidst the crowd) just started playing...LOUD. Looking up their song Dracula Mountain on YouTube.
The Melt Banana - I honestly don't know what to make of this band. It sounds a little like throwing instruments down a flight of stairs. Some noise, some grindcore, some synth, lots of confusion.
Daughters - They're from Canada. They're done now, but their first album featured all screaming. Their next two, none. So I don't know if they're metal or noise, but they are strange fo sho. Hit up The Locust while you're at it

Lightning Bolt


Rap/Hip Hop
Aesop Rock - NOT ASAP ROCKY - Aesop Rock is a dude who can throw rhymes like crazy and raps stories with feverish fluidity.
Blackalicious - I know, hilarious name. But seriously, they rap the alphabet...How can you beat that? Two dudes who throw rhymes in multisyllabic format. It's a win.

Aesop Rock

For the Indie Crowd:
The Shins: Wonderful musicians with a knack for hooks that will have you singing along ALL THE TIME.
Pavement: First heard this band in the 90's. A little quirky, grooving guitars, and influenced bands from Weezer to Bright Eyes.
Bright Eyes: Speaking of which, Conor Oberst writes a lot of music. That's one of the things that irks me about Bright Eyes; the shear volume of songs he puts out. I can't keep up, but their catalog is wonderfully eclectic. Sometimes quiet, sometimes loud, always interesting.
Balance and Composure: So they're not really "indie" - in fact, I might classify them as a little grunge- but I love this band. It's easily the most interesting, fluid rock band I've heard in years.
The Appleseed Cast: Solid band, sometimes instrumental and always influential. They are a bit harder than Explosions in the Sky and when you throw in the haunting vocals it makes for a phenomenal and since unmatched combination.

The Shins

HONORABLE MENTION:
3 bands here: The Deadly (Philadelphia), Burning Love, The Bronx. All 3 of these guys are punk rock machines. Their stuff will make you tap your feet and want to see them live. The Deadly is since defunked, but their album "The Wolves Are Here Again" is from Pluto Records and you can buy it for like 2$.





Disclaimer: These recommendations are personal views and not associated with any entity other than Mr. Bott himself.

Bott Jams Volume 1

I've had a ton of conversations regarding music with GHS students so I thought I would share some of the music I'm currently listening to and some bands I think you guys/gals should check out.

Metal/Hardcore: I've been jamming to the harder stuff since I heard Minor Threat and Black Flag back in 1993. Since then I've been obsessed and have seen too many shows to count. My top bands in this genre rarely change and they're a bit older. Most of the stuff coming out today I just don't like
Listen to:
- Turmoil - Philadelphia metalcore that just rips
- Terror - Hardcore music with face-melting riffs and an insane live presence.
- Between the Buried and Me - Epic metal songs that mix melody and technical styles
- Every Time I Die - Big riffs, great lyrics, and getting better with age
- Converge - Best...band...ever


Turmoil's "The Process Of"


Post-Hardcore: I cringe when I hear this word. Asking Alexandria is not screamo. They're just terrible. Here are a couple screamo bands I've listened to for years:
- Circle Takes the Square- chaotic, melodic, and wonderfully mysterious
- Braid - Love love love this band. They are still the best in terms of song structure in this genre.
- You & I - If clean vocals are your thing, don't listen. But phenomenal builds and crushing guitars
- City of Caterpillar - Speaking of builds...this band does it best. Look up their live shows on YouTube and you'll see what I mean.


(city of caterpillar)

Indie Bands: For the more rock oriented folks, these bands are not necessarily radio rock. But definitely more accessible than some hardcore bands:
- mewithoutYou - rock meets rhythm and absolutely incredible vocals. They are, I guess, considered "christian" but don't let that deter you.
- Future of the Left - I'm not sure where to put this band because they're so weird and quirky. I dig their style and their street cred in the rock genre can't be topped.
- Q and Not U - Math rock from D.C. Spastic, but their odd timing keeps you guessing without being pretentious.
- Minus the Bear - I think everyone knows this band. Cross referenced with legendary hardcore band Botch and post rockers These Arms Are Snakes, MTB is the most listen-able(?) band on this list.


(mewithoutYou)

Punk Rock: My first love. Since I happened upon Black Flag back in the day, I haven't looked back:
- Black Flag - Just listen...NOW
- Minor Threat - Ian MacKaye (frontman: See Fugazi) made me love punk rock. He coined the term "straight edge" and has influenced almost every band I've listened to since.
- Find Him and Kill Him - Fastest band ever and is just raw punk rock. Listening to them is like hearing a tornado.
- Kid Dynamite - Having grown up in PA, Kid Dynamite was the punk band everyone wanted to emulate in my town. They could be fast, but also throw in a melody or two that even made your girlfriend tap her feet. Great great band


(Minor Threat)

***Honorable Mention*** Balance and Composure - I'm 3 songs in to their newest and it's awesome. I'll issue an update soon.


There are tons more and I'll update occasionally. Feel free to tweet me some suggestions (books or music) @MrBott1 or throw me some bands when you see me. One more thing, being a librarian I can't help but mention a book here, so for my "Books on Music" pick, it's Journals: Kurt Cobain: A great look into one of, in my opinion, the most incredible and troubled minds in music.

Bott's Book of the Week: My Friend Dahmer...yeah...that Dahmer

So Jeffery Dahmer is a real American horror story. From 1978 to 1991, he was responsible for the murder of 17 men and boys in the great Milwaukee area. But it didn't end there, throughout the course of his trial it came to light that he consumed his victims.

Now...having said that...Why would anyone want to read a book about a serial killer/rapist? First of all, it's not necessarily a biography about Dahmer himself. It's more along the lines of how the author, Derf Backderf, shared a relatively normal high school friendship with this would be murderer. Backderf's art is straight up creepy; but it paints Dahmer in an almost sympathetic light. According to Backderf, Dahmer was a goofball. A kid who didn't fit in and someone who by all accounts was looking for guidance during an impressionable time in his life.

I hate that I felt sympathy for anyone who committed such heinous crimes, but that's what this book does. It makes the reader a.) Uncomfortable because we know the outcome b.) A little angry. I say that because, and Backderf says as much, "Where were the damn adults?" Now, Backderf's book is not without its flaws. He admits to being a bit of a bully and then contradicts himself as saying he was a friend. Still, the book is a quick and quirky read. Something that I don't want to visit again.

Ugh...The Red Sox...Plus Book of the Week!

You must know something about me. I am a die hard Yankees fan. So when The Red Sox, a team I've loathed since I was 2, clinched a spot in the World Series, I was a little dismayed. Especially since my Yanks are at home on the couch or golfing. They'll play the Cardinals and probably win which will put me in an even worse mood. Then, to top it all off, the first student I see this morning is wearing a Sox hat and telling me about how she had seats in center field for the game....Go Cardinals!

Music- Currently I'm listening to Nick Cave & Warren Ellis' stuff, old Nirvana B-sides, and I spin Converge's Jane Doe on the way home from work everyday.

Books- I just finally finished American Lion which is the story of Andrew Jackson in the White House. Dude was harsh...Rumor has it that, in a duel, he allowed the other man to shoot first uncontested so he himself could get off a clean shot. 

Now for your Book of the Week

The girl on the cover is dead. Well...sort of. Her name is Tegan and she's 16, just trying to make it by like every other teen in the year 2027. Things are starting to come together for her, too. She's got a hot date, good friends, etc. That's when tragedy strikes. A sniper's bullet find her head and drops her like a hot potato. DEAD. And then she wakes up. Weird right? How did she survive? 

As you can ascertain from the cover, she was frozen. She wakes up 100 years later as Australia's newest celebrity: The Frozen Dead Girl! The book gradually lets the reader think that the government froze her for scientific reasons, for good. But as you read, you realize that the government might not have the best intentions for young Tegan and Tegan realizes that the future isn't exactly what she had expected.

This was a good, good book. Not great, but good. The reason is wasn't super was because the middle was super slow. They do give you clues as to what's going to happen, but it's so few and far between that it couldn't keep my attention through the entire novel. The ending more than makes up for it, though and the characters drive the story once it finally gets going again.

Bott's Book of the Week + A Couple Library Things...

Tough loss on Friday, Dutchmen. What did Shakespeare say? "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves." You'll get them next time.

On the library end of things- Quotation books are out in the library for those that need a good yearbook quote. Don't make it something from a song, please. Those are always the worst. I can't tell you how many of my classmates quoted a song that now everyone makes fun of- make it something good. Might I suggest Shakespeare, Voltaire, Hobbes, Locke, etc.

NOW for the Book of the Week:

A Pig, A Movie Star, and A Small Town Girl.

Mr. Bott's Book of the Week: This Is What Happy Looks Like

This book had an interesting story and after reading a TON of fantasy and science fiction, I needed a little fluff. Yes...this book is fluffy. It has love, humor, and a pig. In fact, that's how this whole thing started. Graham is a movie star. Like a real, live movie star. Ellie is not. These two should have no connections other than Ellie seeing Graham on the big screen; however, Graham sends an accidental email to Ellie about his pet pig. Ellie is, needless to say, shocked. 

What's even more shocking is that Graham takes a liking to the response Ellie sends. Wouldn't you know it....these two hit it off over emails. They tell each other life stories and experiences and soon Graham starts to think that Ellie's hometown in Maine would be the perfect place to shoot his new movie. That's where things get a little complicated. Can Ellie and Graham survive a real life meeting? 

Before I answer that (which I won't because that would ruin the ending), this is not a book I'd normally pick up. It's lovey...I'm not. It's fluffy...I'm not. But I very much enjoyed the emails between Ellie and Graham. They were funny and light and at times I forgot that Graham was a "movie star" because Ellie brought him back down to earth with her small town charm. This is also a very quick read because the emails make up a good portion of the book. It's not without its faults, though. I think Jennifer Smith is a great writer and I liked her previous novel but I don't see her writing that life changing novel for students like John Green's Looking for Alaska. I have to be in the mood to read lovey dovey stuff. It just so happens I was this time.

Mr. Bott's Book of the Week- Girl, Stolen- This might not end well...

I am always up for a good thriller, the only problem is I have been lured into these kind of books before. It starts out at the speed of light and then slows toward the middle of the book and eventually loses me before the inevitable twist at the end. Girl, Stolen by April Henry was a wild ride from the start and continued throughout the entire book. It's a pretty thin novel, too which was perfect for me to read while my son took his naps.

Sixteen–year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of a car while her mom fills her prescription for antibiotics. Before Cheyenne realizes what’s happening, their car is being stolen. Griffin hadn’t meant to kidnap Cheyenne, but once his dad finds out that Cheyenne’s father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes—now there’s a reason to keep her. How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare? Because she’s not only sick with pneumonia—she’s also blind.

Strengths of this novel: The characters- I am really impressed with Cheyenne and her resilience through the entire ordeal. She's blind, yet the imagery the author gives through Cheyenne's viewpoint creates of a sense that she's stronger than her captor. She also draws on Griffin's (her captor) emotions and elicits sympathy from him which she then uses to her advantage. I love how smart and resourceful she is. It makes me wonder how I would react in the same situation. 

Another strength is the length of the book. It's small which keeps the story moving. I wish more authors would take a cue from Henry in that regard. As I mentioned, too often I've been drawn into a daze of wordiness that lulls me to sleep (and I've read Tolstoy and Tolkien). Her real strength is not how many words she uses, but how she uses them. 

The only weakness is why Griffin chooses to keep her. Her father "very powerful"...Nothing new there. Other than that it's hard to find many things wrong with Girl, Stolen.

4 out of 5 Stars

Hello Guilderland! Bott's Book-o-da-Week & More

Sorry for the delay in posts. It's been a busy, crazy month here. I am excited to join Guilderland Central School District as their new high school librarian! I have been transitioning nicely and meeting teachers and students. DISCLAIMER!!! I can barely remember my own name sometimes, let alone 1800 students/teachers, so forgive me if I ask you your name 20 times.
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Ok, now on to my book of the week! I have said it before that I am sick of dystopian fiction. Since The Hunger Games came out and blew up the world every few months we see another book cross the desk that has, "similar to The Hunger Games" in the description. I stepped back for a bit and read a bunch of non-fiction, a TON of zombie fiction, and everything John Green ever wrote. So when I picked up The Silenced by James DeVita, needless to say I was hesitant.

I had to give it a shot and I was VERY pleased. 

The Silenced tells the story of Marena, a 16 year old girl whose country has recently come under the rule of the Protectorate, a totalitarian government created by the Zero Tolerance Party. Emphasizing homogeneous thinking and personal appearance, the Protectorate restricts basic rights and freedoms and the idea of individuality is strictly forbidden.

The Protectorate describes this philosophy of Zero Tolerance as, “there is no room for YOU anymore, there is only room for US.” 

Citizens are moved from their homes and settled into re-adaption communities to help them embrace the new order. Children are required to attend classes at training facilities to be schooled in this new “right-thinking” and any resistance results in behavior modification or neutralization. Marena’s own mother was neutralized for speaking out against the ideals of the Zero Tolerance Party.

All of this suffocation, in combination with her mother's downfall, ignite her passion and resolve to rise up against the Zero Tolerance Party. This book is partly inspired by true events from WWII and a group of German students called the White Rose resistance group.

It is a fascinating look at how the past can predict the future and even though there is certainly some repetition here from other dystopian novels, The Silenced stands on its own.

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 This is one book of many that I have on the dock to review. If you have any suggestions for me, you can email me at bottb@guilderlandschools.net or stop by the library to see me any time!

Welcome Back! Who Has Coffee?

GOOOOOOOD Morning everyone! Welcome back to all those who have joined us in the past and to all those who are new to SCLA, good to have you!

I will start book of the week next week as it will be our first full week. I read about 50 books this summer and I'm actually having difficulty choosing a favorite. Anyway, let's start with the library hours: This year we are looking at 8-3:30; however, if you need to schedule time after or before school to use a computer, you MUST let me know ahead of time. I have a son whom I must pick up everyday and letting me know that you need extra library time as I'm headed out the door might be tough. I will definitely try to work with you as much as possible.

The library is open for lunch most days unless I have classes scheduled. Look for the open/closed sign on the library door. Book circulation will start in 2 weeks (likely) as I need all new students loaded into my library system. Returning students, I might be able to work something out with you if you want a book sooner.

Computers are up and ready to go....

Bott had his gallon of coffee.....

Let's do this....