DSC_0095
Originally uploaded by mubmurd11
Where everything else just seems so much more appealing...
But really I just don't want to go to school...
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
There are days like today.....
DSC_0095
Originally uploaded by mubmurd11
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
10 Bands Everyone Hates Me For Hating
I expect to get a lot of hate mail about this post. But I can take it, sticks and stones can break my bones, but your words will never hurt me. Hopefully you can just accept that my tastes are nothing like yours.
1. The Beatles - Let's get this one out of the way first. Do not like. I don't think I will ever understand their appeal. Across the Universe was good though.
2. Bob Dylan - I can barely get through one of his songs. His voice is just not what my ears enjoy hearing.
3. Leonard Cohen - see 2.
4. Alanis Morissette - Angsty women kinda creepy me out a little.
5. Bob Marley - I'm sure everything he did for pot smokers was clearly important, his music however is not my cup of tea.
6. Michael Jackson - Same as the Beatles, I will never understand what everyone likes about his music.
7. Kings Of Leon - They're just one of those bands that I skip anytime they come on my iPod. "Why do you have them on your iPod then?" you ask, and I'd reply "I'm still trying to give them a chance, like the rest of bands on this list."
8. The Rolling Stones - Don't know why, something about all these 'classic' artists just does not flow with me.
9. Measha Brueggergosman - Blah, can not stand this woman's voice. Stay in the opera theatres.
10. Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus - Now I'm sure you love whatever Miley does and you think she's great, but I do not.
Comments? Complaints? Who's in your top ten?
1. The Beatles - Let's get this one out of the way first. Do not like. I don't think I will ever understand their appeal. Across the Universe was good though.
2. Bob Dylan - I can barely get through one of his songs. His voice is just not what my ears enjoy hearing.
3. Leonard Cohen - see 2.
4. Alanis Morissette - Angsty women kinda creepy me out a little.
5. Bob Marley - I'm sure everything he did for pot smokers was clearly important, his music however is not my cup of tea.
6. Michael Jackson - Same as the Beatles, I will never understand what everyone likes about his music.
7. Kings Of Leon - They're just one of those bands that I skip anytime they come on my iPod. "Why do you have them on your iPod then?" you ask, and I'd reply "I'm still trying to give them a chance, like the rest of bands on this list."
8. The Rolling Stones - Don't know why, something about all these 'classic' artists just does not flow with me.
9. Measha Brueggergosman - Blah, can not stand this woman's voice. Stay in the opera theatres.
10. Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus - Now I'm sure you love whatever Miley does and you think she's great, but I do not.
Comments? Complaints? Who's in your top ten?
Once Again 3:30 Conquers All
I guess it's safe to say that 3 am has something against me. It just wants me to wake up and enjoy the rising sun and bask in all it's splendors.
This is not what I was doing @ 3:30 this morning when I woke up. I did however, finally watch "Millions". Hopefully my mother and my girlfriend will be grateful as they have both suggested I watch this movie for quite some time. It's nice little happy movie about a kid who finds 229 500 pounds of stolen money, this all happening as the Pound is being cut out of circulation for the Euro. It was fairly enjoyable, especially considering the time at which it was watched, so I was pleased. I would recommend it if you're looking for a lazy, cute, laid-back film.
In other news, the newest edition of the Martlet came out yesterday. Unfortunately my reviews did not make the presses. Perhaps we will see my name in print in the months ahead. Hopefully I can do more and more reviews in the upcoming weeks.
I have started to move out of my current place of residence preparing for the fall. The University of Victoria is pretty friggen stupid when it comes to their housing. We are asked to move out at the latest by the 23rd of August. Well that's fine and dandy. But school doesn't start until the 9th of Septermber, and I think the earliest we can move in is the 6th. SO. This leaves us with a problem. What are all the people who have lived here over the summer, and who are moving in again in the fall SUPPOSE TO DO FOR THOSE TWO WEEKS BEFORE SCHOOL? Hmm? Well fuck if I know, nor does the University, because clearly they don't care. So I am currently moving much of my stuff into my girlfriend's place so that I can keep it there while I go home. For my roommate, he might be able to move in early for a price of $40/night. I think this is pretty ridiculous.
Furthermore, UVic advising and registration sucks. I finally got my mark back in Math, a B (Yay), and this means I can become a fully enrolled member to the combined Music and Computer Science Program. For those of you who are confused, in my first year, I was a "PMUS" or a "Pre-Music and Computer Science" and I had to take all these first year courses to be recognized as a "MUSC" or "Music and Computer Science" person or whatever. So end of that sidenote, I am ALMOST fully into the program. Why you may ask? Because I have to re-register now. Which usually isn't such a big deal, but I have to pay a $15 late fee because I am enrolling late. Fuckin UVic, go suck it. So I went to the registration desk to figure out how to do this. Here at UVic, our registration help desk consists of a phone. You dial 8142, and get connected to the person who is going to help you. After you dial this number, you can hear the phone ringing. Not just from the speaker of the telephone, but the pyshical phone of the person you are about to talk to, ringing. Followed by the echo of hearing the person talk through the phone, and then their voice traveling to your other ear. I do NOT understand why this person can not just COME OUT, and sit down with you, and have a face-to-face chat, and help you. It makes me feel like I'm not all that important. This feeling is further instilled when the person 'helping' you, tells you to go somewhere else! Well that's just great, and a big fuck you too!
The only place I really feel welcome as a student is in the music department. Most of the teachers know you by name, the secretaries know you by name. Yesterday, I had to go talk to yet another secretary about my courses, and she wrote down my name, including my last, which I often get misspelled, correctly! Didn't even ask me! I was pretty impressed to say the least. So I always enjoy going to the music department and feeling kind of like I belong.
So once I had all this over and done with, I prepared for my night on the town. As you may remember, I volunteered for VEMF, the Victoria Electronic Music Festival. They were throwing a big party for all their volunteers and provided free food and booze (Yay!) Well, last minute, the location got changed, and this is what we got for instructions on how to get to this place:
Anyways, we have enough trouble finding this place, and it turns out it REALLY is in the back of an underground parking lot, my girlfriend was convinced this was the place they take us to die. And we get inside and it's a normal looking club like place. Great. We get wristbands, why? I don't know, they never served us any purpose. Stupid. So first things first, we head for the free booze, which was promised to be a variety of beers, hard liquors, etc. We get there, we have a choice between, beer, whiskey, and sangria. Great. I choose beer, my girlfriend, sangria. So that's all fine and dandy. Except everything's warm. And flat. So, logically whats next? Food. It consists of perogies, caesar salad and a variety of chips, crackers and dips. And it's cold. Off to a great start VEMF. After about a half hour and 4 shitty drinks later, we leave. On the way out, the doorman stops us to look through a peephole, he tells us that he has to make sure there's no cops on bikes around, natually we ask why. APPARENTLY, VEMF doesn't have a liquor liscence or something, so the entire event was illegal. Well that's even better. Clearly they know how to show their volunteers a good time.
Well, this is all for this morning. I think being up so early makes me cranky, this is one hell of a grumpy blog.
Later days,
- J
This is not what I was doing @ 3:30 this morning when I woke up. I did however, finally watch "Millions". Hopefully my mother and my girlfriend will be grateful as they have both suggested I watch this movie for quite some time. It's nice little happy movie about a kid who finds 229 500 pounds of stolen money, this all happening as the Pound is being cut out of circulation for the Euro. It was fairly enjoyable, especially considering the time at which it was watched, so I was pleased. I would recommend it if you're looking for a lazy, cute, laid-back film.
In other news, the newest edition of the Martlet came out yesterday. Unfortunately my reviews did not make the presses. Perhaps we will see my name in print in the months ahead. Hopefully I can do more and more reviews in the upcoming weeks.
I have started to move out of my current place of residence preparing for the fall. The University of Victoria is pretty friggen stupid when it comes to their housing. We are asked to move out at the latest by the 23rd of August. Well that's fine and dandy. But school doesn't start until the 9th of Septermber, and I think the earliest we can move in is the 6th. SO. This leaves us with a problem. What are all the people who have lived here over the summer, and who are moving in again in the fall SUPPOSE TO DO FOR THOSE TWO WEEKS BEFORE SCHOOL? Hmm? Well fuck if I know, nor does the University, because clearly they don't care. So I am currently moving much of my stuff into my girlfriend's place so that I can keep it there while I go home. For my roommate, he might be able to move in early for a price of $40/night. I think this is pretty ridiculous.
Furthermore, UVic advising and registration sucks. I finally got my mark back in Math, a B (Yay), and this means I can become a fully enrolled member to the combined Music and Computer Science Program. For those of you who are confused, in my first year, I was a "PMUS" or a "Pre-Music and Computer Science" and I had to take all these first year courses to be recognized as a "MUSC" or "Music and Computer Science" person or whatever. So end of that sidenote, I am ALMOST fully into the program. Why you may ask? Because I have to re-register now. Which usually isn't such a big deal, but I have to pay a $15 late fee because I am enrolling late. Fuckin UVic, go suck it. So I went to the registration desk to figure out how to do this. Here at UVic, our registration help desk consists of a phone. You dial 8142, and get connected to the person who is going to help you. After you dial this number, you can hear the phone ringing. Not just from the speaker of the telephone, but the pyshical phone of the person you are about to talk to, ringing. Followed by the echo of hearing the person talk through the phone, and then their voice traveling to your other ear. I do NOT understand why this person can not just COME OUT, and sit down with you, and have a face-to-face chat, and help you. It makes me feel like I'm not all that important. This feeling is further instilled when the person 'helping' you, tells you to go somewhere else! Well that's just great, and a big fuck you too!
The only place I really feel welcome as a student is in the music department. Most of the teachers know you by name, the secretaries know you by name. Yesterday, I had to go talk to yet another secretary about my courses, and she wrote down my name, including my last, which I often get misspelled, correctly! Didn't even ask me! I was pretty impressed to say the least. So I always enjoy going to the music department and feeling kind of like I belong.
So once I had all this over and done with, I prepared for my night on the town. As you may remember, I volunteered for VEMF, the Victoria Electronic Music Festival. They were throwing a big party for all their volunteers and provided free food and booze (Yay!) Well, last minute, the location got changed, and this is what we got for instructions on how to get to this place:
"The location we will be meeting at is in Bastion Square, behind the Yates St. Parkade. The space is new and not quite ready to open for the public, so we ask that you please not pass along the location to others at this time. Go to the parkade, look for the stairs into the parkade and look for the black door."
Anyways, we have enough trouble finding this place, and it turns out it REALLY is in the back of an underground parking lot, my girlfriend was convinced this was the place they take us to die. And we get inside and it's a normal looking club like place. Great. We get wristbands, why? I don't know, they never served us any purpose. Stupid. So first things first, we head for the free booze, which was promised to be a variety of beers, hard liquors, etc. We get there, we have a choice between, beer, whiskey, and sangria. Great. I choose beer, my girlfriend, sangria. So that's all fine and dandy. Except everything's warm. And flat. So, logically whats next? Food. It consists of perogies, caesar salad and a variety of chips, crackers and dips. And it's cold. Off to a great start VEMF. After about a half hour and 4 shitty drinks later, we leave. On the way out, the doorman stops us to look through a peephole, he tells us that he has to make sure there's no cops on bikes around, natually we ask why. APPARENTLY, VEMF doesn't have a liquor liscence or something, so the entire event was illegal. Well that's even better. Clearly they know how to show their volunteers a good time.
Well, this is all for this morning. I think being up so early makes me cranky, this is one hell of a grumpy blog.
Later days,
- J
Thursday, August 13, 2009
CD Review - Sights and Sounds - Monolith
Sights & Sounds - Monolith - Smallman Records 2009
http://www.myspace.com/sightsandsounds
Sights & Sounds are a group made up of a collective of previous bands, including Comeback Kid, Sick City and Figure Four. They cite influences such as Mew, The Police and Sigur Ros. They incorporate a mix of distortion, melody and aggression that has placed them in the "post-hardcore" genre with the likes of AFI, Funeral For A Friend and Secret & Whisper.
Monolith is a 13 track outting from Sights & Sounds which is a good representation of the entirety of their sound. You can tell right from the get go that each member of the band has their own style and each contribute accordingly. The vocals vary greatly from song to song giving a great amount of depth to the band. The second track "Shudder, St.Kilda" starts with a quiet whisper, and then breaks into a heavier section complete with screams and "whoa"s. The CD runs an hour in length, with 6 songs clocking in at over 5 minutes, seems quite long for bands of this kind, but the large amount of material is welcomed.
Each track has an overall similar sound, but a careful listener can easily distinguish from songs they may like or dislike. Track 6, "The Furthest Truth" is a more melodic track with harmoies from the two male vocalists, along with a reappearance by the female singer from the first track. The later tracks on Monolith step away from the heavier influences and more towards a lighter kind of pop-punk with a growly vocal line. Which really contradicts the post-hardcore catergorization. The CD is generally good, but nothing stands out to completely seperate them from the bands in which they sound so similar to.
Finishing their "Weight of The World Tour" with Misery Signals, Haste the Day and others in June, Sights & Sounds are getting their sound out and being seen. Monolith is a well rounded CD dwelving into just about everything from punk, to pop, to acoustic, to post-hardcore.
http://www.myspace.com/sightsandsounds
Sights & Sounds are a group made up of a collective of previous bands, including Comeback Kid, Sick City and Figure Four. They cite influences such as Mew, The Police and Sigur Ros. They incorporate a mix of distortion, melody and aggression that has placed them in the "post-hardcore" genre with the likes of AFI, Funeral For A Friend and Secret & Whisper.
Monolith is a 13 track outting from Sights & Sounds which is a good representation of the entirety of their sound. You can tell right from the get go that each member of the band has their own style and each contribute accordingly. The vocals vary greatly from song to song giving a great amount of depth to the band. The second track "Shudder, St.Kilda" starts with a quiet whisper, and then breaks into a heavier section complete with screams and "whoa"s. The CD runs an hour in length, with 6 songs clocking in at over 5 minutes, seems quite long for bands of this kind, but the large amount of material is welcomed.
Each track has an overall similar sound, but a careful listener can easily distinguish from songs they may like or dislike. Track 6, "The Furthest Truth" is a more melodic track with harmoies from the two male vocalists, along with a reappearance by the female singer from the first track. The later tracks on Monolith step away from the heavier influences and more towards a lighter kind of pop-punk with a growly vocal line. Which really contradicts the post-hardcore catergorization. The CD is generally good, but nothing stands out to completely seperate them from the bands in which they sound so similar to.
Finishing their "Weight of The World Tour" with Misery Signals, Haste the Day and others in June, Sights & Sounds are getting their sound out and being seen. Monolith is a well rounded CD dwelving into just about everything from punk, to pop, to acoustic, to post-hardcore.
Today In the News
I found this article on the globeandmail, I think this is a pretty cool picture. Accompanied by the subsequent viral photoshops.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/fame-seeking-banff-squirrel-storms-internet/article1250605/
Also, a signed copy of Hitler's "Mein Kampf" was sold on auction today for $35 000 (U.S)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/hitlers-infamous-manifesto-sold-at-uk-auction/article1250850/
Here's how to "unfriend" someone gracefully. I prefer to just block them on Facebook. Problem solved.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/family-and-relationships/how-do-you-un-friend-someone-gracefully/article1250583/
And here's one for my girlfriend, who keeps asking me how snakes, and frogs have sex. Or if they do. Maybe we can see this and learn!
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/rossellinis-lessons-on-underwater-sex-headed-for-toronto/article1248436/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/fame-seeking-banff-squirrel-storms-internet/article1250605/
Also, a signed copy of Hitler's "Mein Kampf" was sold on auction today for $35 000 (U.S)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/hitlers-infamous-manifesto-sold-at-uk-auction/article1250850/
Here's how to "unfriend" someone gracefully. I prefer to just block them on Facebook. Problem solved.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/family-and-relationships/how-do-you-un-friend-someone-gracefully/article1250583/
And here's one for my girlfriend, who keeps asking me how snakes, and frogs have sex. Or if they do. Maybe we can see this and learn!
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/rossellinis-lessons-on-underwater-sex-headed-for-toronto/article1248436/
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Homeward Bound and the Facebook Rant.
Hello internet!
Yes, it is official. I am travelling home to Calgary on August 27th, 9:00 am flight. I made the plans this morning and now it's all set. I'll be returning to Victoria on the 7th of September to start the school year on the 9th of September. I suppose I best go get my books now so I don't have to be rushing on those two days. Blah.
So it's even more official now. It's on Facebook. Facebook is a weird world of it's own I've found. Everyone these days makes the joke about relationships: "It's not official 'til it's on Facebook." Which I can see some truth value in, but don't fully believe it. I only recently changed my relationship status even though my girlfriend and I have been dating for almost 9 months now. She doesn't even have Facebook and we facilitate everything through me.
And when I say facilitate, I mean creep. Everyone who has a Facebook knows what I mean when I say creep. The checking people's profiles constantly, the staying on for hours hoping for something new, the viewing of pictures, seeing status updates but never commenting on it or making your presence known.
I do it. Ex-girlfriends, ex-friends, current friends, friends friends, people who add you who really shouldn't have because they are never going to talk to you but you still have anyway. I've found ways to find out that one of my old friends who fell out of my life in high school now has a tattoo on his back, and is still the complete douche bag I remember him being. I basically use Facebook to judge you on what you're doing(or not doing) with your life, kinda makes me feel better about my own! Knowing that I turned out better than so and so, and I'm actually a contributing member to society. (But, I know that there are some people with certain circumstances that affect what they are doing now, and this is not directed at you.) Via Facebook I don't even have to be in these peoples lives, but I still know what's going on in them. Hey! Kinda like this blog, which anyone can see! Anyways.
I also think it's a really bad thing in some ways. People in relationships go crazy on facebook. Hacking into accounts, viewing blocked profiles, seeing pictures of their ex with a new girl. It's a little ridiculous the lengths some people go to get back at, or spy on their exes, or even current boyfriend/girlfriend.
Furthermore, I think Facebook gives way for people to let go of friendships. I've had a few people drift farther away in terms of friendship. We rarely talk anymore, and when we do it's often just the standard questions and then conversation stops. Then the excuse comes up,"Just facebook me" or "check my facebook" and you don't even bother really talking to the person anymore, you just check their facebook and see how they're doing. I guess it goes to show you the people that really matter to you are the people who can maintain a friendship outside of Facebook.
I think it's weird that people just view you from a far and never comment on things. I've been trying to use Facebook more as what it's made for, commenting on stuff, kind of actually USING facebook rather than just watching everyone. Makes me feel involved in the bigger commuinty I suppose.
But then it makes you wonder who's viewing your profile and your pictures and such. Who creeps you on a daily basis? I know my profile is pretty restricted and only people who are my friends can see it. So not to many people can creep me. I think...
Facebook has given way to the instant world, where we know everything that's going on with everyone at anytime. It has it's good and it's bad. I've recently re-connected with a few of my old friends from high school, and it's nice to be in touch with them again. I also think Facebook provides a good way to network and promote yourself. Perhaps my future employer will see something on Facebook about me and be more inclined (or less inclined if pictures of me totally trashed at this party are up) to hire me. Applebee's is a huge supporter of Facebook, our resturaunt has it's own page, and they use it to connect with the employees, which I think is great, and an easy way to stay in touch and connected.
I think that's about all I can say on this topic. Hope you enjoyed! Leave me a comment on your thoughts about Facebook!
Later days,
- J
Yes, it is official. I am travelling home to Calgary on August 27th, 9:00 am flight. I made the plans this morning and now it's all set. I'll be returning to Victoria on the 7th of September to start the school year on the 9th of September. I suppose I best go get my books now so I don't have to be rushing on those two days. Blah.
So it's even more official now. It's on Facebook. Facebook is a weird world of it's own I've found. Everyone these days makes the joke about relationships: "It's not official 'til it's on Facebook." Which I can see some truth value in, but don't fully believe it. I only recently changed my relationship status even though my girlfriend and I have been dating for almost 9 months now. She doesn't even have Facebook and we facilitate everything through me.
And when I say facilitate, I mean creep. Everyone who has a Facebook knows what I mean when I say creep. The checking people's profiles constantly, the staying on for hours hoping for something new, the viewing of pictures, seeing status updates but never commenting on it or making your presence known.
I do it. Ex-girlfriends, ex-friends, current friends, friends friends, people who add you who really shouldn't have because they are never going to talk to you but you still have anyway. I've found ways to find out that one of my old friends who fell out of my life in high school now has a tattoo on his back, and is still the complete douche bag I remember him being. I basically use Facebook to judge you on what you're doing(or not doing) with your life, kinda makes me feel better about my own! Knowing that I turned out better than so and so, and I'm actually a contributing member to society. (But, I know that there are some people with certain circumstances that affect what they are doing now, and this is not directed at you.) Via Facebook I don't even have to be in these peoples lives, but I still know what's going on in them. Hey! Kinda like this blog, which anyone can see! Anyways.
I also think it's a really bad thing in some ways. People in relationships go crazy on facebook. Hacking into accounts, viewing blocked profiles, seeing pictures of their ex with a new girl. It's a little ridiculous the lengths some people go to get back at, or spy on their exes, or even current boyfriend/girlfriend.
Furthermore, I think Facebook gives way for people to let go of friendships. I've had a few people drift farther away in terms of friendship. We rarely talk anymore, and when we do it's often just the standard questions and then conversation stops. Then the excuse comes up,"Just facebook me" or "check my facebook" and you don't even bother really talking to the person anymore, you just check their facebook and see how they're doing. I guess it goes to show you the people that really matter to you are the people who can maintain a friendship outside of Facebook.
I think it's weird that people just view you from a far and never comment on things. I've been trying to use Facebook more as what it's made for, commenting on stuff, kind of actually USING facebook rather than just watching everyone. Makes me feel involved in the bigger commuinty I suppose.
But then it makes you wonder who's viewing your profile and your pictures and such. Who creeps you on a daily basis? I know my profile is pretty restricted and only people who are my friends can see it. So not to many people can creep me. I think...
Facebook has given way to the instant world, where we know everything that's going on with everyone at anytime. It has it's good and it's bad. I've recently re-connected with a few of my old friends from high school, and it's nice to be in touch with them again. I also think Facebook provides a good way to network and promote yourself. Perhaps my future employer will see something on Facebook about me and be more inclined (or less inclined if pictures of me totally trashed at this party are up) to hire me. Applebee's is a huge supporter of Facebook, our resturaunt has it's own page, and they use it to connect with the employees, which I think is great, and an easy way to stay in touch and connected.
I think that's about all I can say on this topic. Hope you enjoyed! Leave me a comment on your thoughts about Facebook!
Later days,
- J
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