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
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Internet Infamy
Salutations Internet,
I hope you're having a good Tuesday and that all is right in your world.
Just an update for you, my computer is still in limbo, I was informed yesterday that when buying electronics with Mastercard or Visa, they will automatically double your warranty! So technically my computer is still under warranty and thus can be repaired for free! This is good news. Now we just have to wait for the paperwork to go through and then the repairs can begin. In the meantime, I am still relying on my girlfriend and computer labs to get my internet fix.
I was talking to my brother last night about YouTube and stupid videos and people gaining fame. I showed him a few videos of people from YouTube that I know about, sxephil (http://www.youtube.com/user/sxephil) and Boxxy (http://www.youtube.com/user/boxxybabee) and Fred Figglehornhttp://www.youtube.com/user/fred?blend=1&ob=4). The last two are teenage kids who have become famous for making videos on YouTube. "Fred" has to be about 14 or 15, pretending to be a 6 year old kid, is the most subscribed all time, most viewed all time (comedians) and even appeared and won a Teen Choice Award. I never really understood this guy's appeal, but I will give him credit for his determination. He's got t-shirts and hats and has bascially become a phenom in the internet world. And all this for just acting stupid and then speeding it up on a movie editor. Sigh. I don't understand why people love this stuff. It has no substance to it and adds nothing to your life. If your attention span has dwindled down to that of a 15 year old screaming at a camera for 3 minutes about his imaginary friends, then I think it's time you changed your lifestyle a little.
It makes me wonder about my own internet infamy. I've got a blog and I write about nothing of any importance to anyone, and yet I'm happy when I'm over 200 total views. Everyone is wanting the world to look upon them and show themselves off. I know that I am dropping my URL to all my friends and being like, "Hey, check out my blog." Some of them I sincerely want to read what I post here, because I don't get to talk to them often and they have a way to know what's going on in my life, but others, I just want to click and bump up my view count. And why? I don't really know, I don't think I'm going to become any international success with my great blogs about nothing. The time for that has past. Maybe if I had started a blog in 1999, when I was nine and still playing Pokemon and stuff, then my blog may have been successful, but jumping on the bandwagon now means no success will come of this.
And why is it that we're always looking for success from everything we do? I should just be happy if the 10 people that read this whenever I update it actually enjoy it. And I hope that you do enjoy it!
I've seen this picture before, and I think it's a really good representation of what the internet, and thus blogging has become. I've never been a fan of twitter or tumblr or whatever, I feel like that's just a quick way to get your two cents out and for everyone to see, "Oh hey look, So-and-so is doing this. I don't care." I appreciate blogs because it means the author and subsequentially the reader have to take time to read the blog.Also. Frick. There is some stupid girl in the lab who is on ICQ, (an instant messenger for those of you who don't know) and the stupid little "Uh-oh" sound that goes off anytime she gets a message is really friggen annoying. I just want to go over there and hit the stupid mute button on her keyboard. There it is again. Frick.
Anyways, sorry for the tangent. I find this really weird this whole blogging thing I've started. I found myself lying in bed last night, thinking of things to write in my blog tomorrow. Great amazing interesting antecdotes about my life that people will like. But, alas I can hardly remember any of them. (Although, Brother, what about "Engineering Ingenuity" for your blog name?)
Also! Here's another webcomic for your enjoyment! My girlfriend and I found this a long time ago and couldn't remember what it was called! But now we found it again. So I hope you enjoy this one as much as I do! http://eqcomics.com/ I've attached the first comic of the series for your viewing pleasure.
I think that's all for today, I've ranted and raved enough. I hope you enjoyed. I'm off to break that stupid ICQ girls keyboard.
Later days,
- J
Mac Letter
So as you may or may not know, I have been having troubles with my computer, so today I decided to send the Mac people an email and let them know I am not happy, this is how it goes:
So following that, they give you a nice little blurb saying:
Dear Folks at Mac,
I have been a fan of your products for about 3 years now, and I was very happy when I bought my first laptop, a refurbished MacBook Pro. I was very pleased with the idea of getting a refurbished computer, and the 30% off was definitely a plus. But within the year or using my computer, I have not been so satisfied with it.
Within the first ten days, I had to get the a brand new CD drive installed into the machine, leaving me without my new computer for two weeks. Within 6 months, I had to get my battery replaced, because my original one was part of a defective batch that had been recalled. And now, a year and a half later, my logic board has stopped working, resulting in my computer becoming completely un-usable. I am now waiting to repair my computer.
When buying a refurbished computer, I understood the risks that came with it, but I was fairly confident in the abilities of your people at Apple to provide me with a computer that would not have these kinds of malfunctions. I am now questioning whether my next computer will be a Mac, and that has to do with my poor experience in owning my own Mac. I hope that in the future when you are putting on the shelf, ready to sell, that problems like this will not happen. Defective batteries and improper CD drives should not be happening in a computer that has been certified by your staff as ready to be re-sold. I think it would be wise to the customer to know what has happened to their computer that made it refurbished in the first place.
Thank you for your time and consideration in reading my letter.
I hope this helps you in the future in better customer satisfaction.
Jason C. Stasiuk
stasiuk.jc@gmail.com
Victoria BC, Canada
So following that, they give you a nice little blurb saying:
Thank you for your feedback on the MacBook Pro.
We cannot respond to you personally, but please know that your message has been received and will be reviewed by the MacBook Pro Team. If we need to follow up with you on your ideas for improving the MacBook Pro, we will contact you directly.
We appreciate your assistance in making the MacBook Pro a great computer.
MacBook Pro Team
Apple
Well ain't that just great. They're not going to respond to me. Then whats the freaking point of even sending in the feedback? I'm becoming less and less enthused about Mac's support.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Your Turn!
Well because my computer died, I've resorted to one of my most hated past-times.
Reading.
What are some of your favourite books that you think I should read?
Let me know in a comment!
- J
Reading.
What are some of your favourite books that you think I should read?
Let me know in a comment!
- J
Sigh
So, here I am again. The Clearihue computer lab, sitting on an old Mac desktop with a full keyboard. I got the call this morning. My Miss Scarlett is dead. The video processing unit is shot and there is no display at all on it. All my data is fine as the hard-drive was not affected. But basically it costs me $1100 to buy a new one. So I'm looking to hock my old one for parts, I am currently looking on eBay how much I might be able to get for it. So we'll see!
On the bright side, this means I get a new one. But again, I'm looking at spending close to $2500 for it, which is money I don't have right now. Sigh. So for the next month I will be coming back and forth to UVic buildings to use their computers. Double sigh. I'm sure they're not going to like me coming in and out of here for hours at a time just to update my blog and such. Oh well.
I guess this means the album has been put on hold for another unforseen delay. Sigh. Maybe I'll go home and practice more. There's not much to be doing here without a computer. Maybe I'll get out and explore a bit. Convince my girlfriend to go to Sooke or something for a weekend. I really wish I could listen to music and review CD's but again, I need a computer for that. I need to go buy a discman or something ridiculous. Sigh, sigh, sigh. That seems to be all that I'm doing these days. Feeling sorry for myself. Blah.
Another note of positivity! I have beaten Tetris three times in the last two days! This being quite the feat for me considering I have never gotten past level 12 before this. Also, i have watched lots of movies, finished off "Undeclared." Started reading a book called "The Autograph Man." Might start a few others soon, depending on if I finish the others.
Man, without my computer, I feel so isolated. I don't get to read the news anymore. I just kind of exist in my own little bubble. The only things I really know of are within my bounds, UVic, my house, my roommates. Etc. It's kind of depressing. I don't have anything great and interesting to show you or talk about, because I don't know anything great and interesting happening in the world! SIGH. So, here's a comic I like. Click on it if you can't read it.
For those of you who don't get it, go read the Little Prince (Shout out to my girlfriend for reading it to me).
For those of you who like the comic, and don't already know it, go to http://www.xkcd.com
Thanks always for reading!
Later Days
- J
P.S. I just went on the globeandmail.com and found this article! I had read about it in the Times Colonist here in Victoria, and it's good to see that somebody tracked these people down. Good news for the day it is!
On the bright side, this means I get a new one. But again, I'm looking at spending close to $2500 for it, which is money I don't have right now. Sigh. So for the next month I will be coming back and forth to UVic buildings to use their computers. Double sigh. I'm sure they're not going to like me coming in and out of here for hours at a time just to update my blog and such. Oh well.
I guess this means the album has been put on hold for another unforseen delay. Sigh. Maybe I'll go home and practice more. There's not much to be doing here without a computer. Maybe I'll get out and explore a bit. Convince my girlfriend to go to Sooke or something for a weekend. I really wish I could listen to music and review CD's but again, I need a computer for that. I need to go buy a discman or something ridiculous. Sigh, sigh, sigh. That seems to be all that I'm doing these days. Feeling sorry for myself. Blah.
Another note of positivity! I have beaten Tetris three times in the last two days! This being quite the feat for me considering I have never gotten past level 12 before this. Also, i have watched lots of movies, finished off "Undeclared." Started reading a book called "The Autograph Man." Might start a few others soon, depending on if I finish the others.
Man, without my computer, I feel so isolated. I don't get to read the news anymore. I just kind of exist in my own little bubble. The only things I really know of are within my bounds, UVic, my house, my roommates. Etc. It's kind of depressing. I don't have anything great and interesting to show you or talk about, because I don't know anything great and interesting happening in the world! SIGH. So, here's a comic I like. Click on it if you can't read it.
For those of you who don't get it, go read the Little Prince (Shout out to my girlfriend for reading it to me).
For those of you who like the comic, and don't already know it, go to http://www.xkcd.com
Thanks always for reading!
Later Days
- J
P.S. I just went on the globeandmail.com and found this article! I had read about it in the Times Colonist here in Victoria, and it's good to see that somebody tracked these people down. Good news for the day it is!
"Three young men charged with poaching ducks that were swimming peacefully on a Saskatchewan pond and then posting their grim exploits on YouTube were expected to plead guilty Monday."http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/alleged-duck-poachers-to-plead-guilty-in-saskatoon-court/article1246940/
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Recall and Recap
Hello again interwebs,
How are you doing today? I hope that your Saturday was eventful and productive. Unlike mine. Being computer-less really does suck in today's day and age. So, I sat around and watched 3/4 of an entire TV series. Hurray.
But over the past few days, I've been thinking and I realized something really weird. Since moving here, almost a year ago, I've slept in seven different beds, had three different rooms, and yet, it still feels like home. It really makes me wonder what living somewhere else would be like. Don't get me wrong, I love being in Victoria, and I plan on staying here for as long as it takes me to get my degree, but I don't think I will ever fully live in Calgary again. It's just not the same, the only thing there that is materialistic that I don't have here is my drumset. And I still talk to all my friends, well those who are still my friends and were my friends, and I've become closer with my brother and even my parents. Just from moving away.
It makes me wonder what my brother is going to go through when he goes to Edmonton in the fall. Will he have like it the same as I do? Probably not, we all know Edmonton is dreadful in the winter time.
Hopefully computer will be up and running by Monday. I am dying of boredom here. My girlfriend has been grueling over a research paper, and spent 9 hours on it today, she's finishing other homework now. So I spent most of today hoping I'd get to hang out with her. I really hope there's some time for me in between all the volunteering and homework.
Any ideas for what I should do tomorrow or the upcoming week? I'd be finishing recording my album, but no computer. Maybe tomorrow I'll get my guitar and just practice.
I can't think of much else to say. Hope your day was better than mine.
Later days,
- J
How are you doing today? I hope that your Saturday was eventful and productive. Unlike mine. Being computer-less really does suck in today's day and age. So, I sat around and watched 3/4 of an entire TV series. Hurray.
But over the past few days, I've been thinking and I realized something really weird. Since moving here, almost a year ago, I've slept in seven different beds, had three different rooms, and yet, it still feels like home. It really makes me wonder what living somewhere else would be like. Don't get me wrong, I love being in Victoria, and I plan on staying here for as long as it takes me to get my degree, but I don't think I will ever fully live in Calgary again. It's just not the same, the only thing there that is materialistic that I don't have here is my drumset. And I still talk to all my friends, well those who are still my friends and were my friends, and I've become closer with my brother and even my parents. Just from moving away.
It makes me wonder what my brother is going to go through when he goes to Edmonton in the fall. Will he have like it the same as I do? Probably not, we all know Edmonton is dreadful in the winter time.
Hopefully computer will be up and running by Monday. I am dying of boredom here. My girlfriend has been grueling over a research paper, and spent 9 hours on it today, she's finishing other homework now. So I spent most of today hoping I'd get to hang out with her. I really hope there's some time for me in between all the volunteering and homework.
Any ideas for what I should do tomorrow or the upcoming week? I'd be finishing recording my album, but no computer. Maybe tomorrow I'll get my guitar and just practice.
I can't think of much else to say. Hope your day was better than mine.
Later days,
- J
Friday, August 7, 2009
Tragedy Has Struck!
My beloved Miss Scarlett has been taken from me! (For those of you who don't know, Miss Scarlett is what I call my computer.) Thus I am typing this to you from a shitty keyboard in one of the labs at my school. Blah. Hopefully it won't be too long.
I was thinking yesterday how much I really rely on my computer. It's kind of sad, but I think that's how our generation has become. And we're going to get much worse.
In other news, my roommate leaves for Toronto tonight, so I will be sad and lonely with no one to play video games with. Pretty sure I'm going to live with my girlfriend for the week. This is made even more sad by the fact that I have no computer. Had I still been equipped with my computer I would be able to record my new album! But alas, this is not the case. So I will be practicing my songs lots and getting them all down so that recording will come easy when it does happen!
Also. I just finished writing my math exam! Yay! Done summer courses forever! So that's good. I am going to celebrate by going and getting new jeans today. I think that I deserve them. Then we are going to Sidney to see off my roommate and have dinner. It shall be a good time. So hurray for that.
The girl from the Martlet (school newspaper I've done CD reviews for) emailed me yesterday, and said that everything was looking great! So this is good news. Sadly, with no computer, I can't start new CDs. Blast!
Umm...I'm not sure what else to report to you really. JuST B is still doing well, we need to think up new posts so that people actually continually go to it, hopefully we can do that more soon. Also! I'm up to 100 views! Yay for you guys reading this! Give yourselves a pat on the back from me!
I also changed the settings so anyone can leave a comment! So don't be afraid!
Anywho, I best be going.
Till next time!
- J
I was thinking yesterday how much I really rely on my computer. It's kind of sad, but I think that's how our generation has become. And we're going to get much worse.
In other news, my roommate leaves for Toronto tonight, so I will be sad and lonely with no one to play video games with. Pretty sure I'm going to live with my girlfriend for the week. This is made even more sad by the fact that I have no computer. Had I still been equipped with my computer I would be able to record my new album! But alas, this is not the case. So I will be practicing my songs lots and getting them all down so that recording will come easy when it does happen!
Also. I just finished writing my math exam! Yay! Done summer courses forever! So that's good. I am going to celebrate by going and getting new jeans today. I think that I deserve them. Then we are going to Sidney to see off my roommate and have dinner. It shall be a good time. So hurray for that.
The girl from the Martlet (school newspaper I've done CD reviews for) emailed me yesterday, and said that everything was looking great! So this is good news. Sadly, with no computer, I can't start new CDs. Blast!
Umm...I'm not sure what else to report to you really. JuST B is still doing well, we need to think up new posts so that people actually continually go to it, hopefully we can do that more soon. Also! I'm up to 100 views! Yay for you guys reading this! Give yourselves a pat on the back from me!
I also changed the settings so anyone can leave a comment! So don't be afraid!
Anywho, I best be going.
Till next time!
- J
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Respect Your Elders
I found this on the CBC Radio 3 blog today. Just now, thought it was worth sharing.
Thom Yorke, lead singer of the band Radiohead, wrote a song about a World War One Veteran named Harry Patch, who died earlier this month. Along the lines of the excerpt I found yesterday and added to the blog, I hope you enjoy his melodies and his lyrics.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8184000/8184802.stm
Thom Yorke, lead singer of the band Radiohead, wrote a song about a World War One Veteran named Harry Patch, who died earlier this month. Along the lines of the excerpt I found yesterday and added to the blog, I hope you enjoy his melodies and his lyrics.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8184000/8184802.stm
Oh Father.
Don't get me wrong, I love my dad. He's a great guy, definitely has his priorities straight, takes care of us, raised us well, provided us with every opportunity we ever needed and wanted, and spent countless hours being a father. Etc etc etc we love you Dad.
BUT, sometimes, the things he says are really ridiculous.
We're talking about my upcoming job at Applebee's, and here are a few of the things he asked me. Now, these may not seem that ridiculous out of context. But my dad HAS seen where I am going to work. And I have told him these things before.
He also has a habit of narrating to me what him, my mom, and brother have been doing, like so:
I don't know, correct me if I'm wrong, but this is a little weird. I hope my parents understand when I am less than enthused to talk to them sometimes. Anyone else got any weird parent stories?
Anywho, I need to be getting to bed, hopefully my sleep schedule will sort it out before Friday.
Later Days,
- J
BUT, sometimes, the things he says are really ridiculous.
We're talking about my upcoming job at Applebee's, and here are a few of the things he asked me. Now, these may not seem that ridiculous out of context. But my dad HAS seen where I am going to work. And I have told him these things before.
Dad
are you out in the open like at earls or joey tomatoes
Dad
do you have a head chef like in hells kitchen
Dad
did they tell you your hourly pay
He also has a habit of narrating to me what him, my mom, and brother have been doing, like so:
Dad
its been raining here in calgary steady for the past few days, michael did not work yesterday, but worked the afternoon today
Dad
connie and gordon, were in town today, visiting their son kevin, and went to supper with them at chianti's on 17th avenue, michael, and kevin's finance joined us
Dad
oh, no offers on the mazda yet, may have to lower the price
I don't know, correct me if I'm wrong, but this is a little weird. I hope my parents understand when I am less than enthused to talk to them sometimes. Anyone else got any weird parent stories?
Anywho, I need to be getting to bed, hopefully my sleep schedule will sort it out before Friday.
Later Days,
- J
The Beginning of the End.
Hello,
So the time has come. I am trying to study, obviously I am not doing a very good job. My math test is less than 48 hours away and I'm cracking open the books for the first time in about a week. It's so difficult to force myself to study for this test when I just want my summer to finally start. I haven't really had any REAL time off for almost a year.
The worst part is that this test is worth 60% of my mark in this class, one I NEED to pass to get anything done in the fall. On the brighter side, I do understand pretty much all of the concepts and I just need to do a bit of review of everything, I also did pretty well on my midterms in this class, so that bodes well for me. I just don't care anymore about this class. Just be gone Math 122, be gone!
I got a reply from the Martlet lady today, she said that everything looks good and that she'll be sending my reviews onto the editing and then back to me if I have to change anything. So this is positive. Perhaps I'll take another break from studying later and do another review.
Also! I want your feedback on my reviews or posts! Tell me what you think! If you are actually reading this that is. Just give me a sign!
I have my orientation for Applebee's tonight. The resturaunt I shall be working at in the fall. It'll be interesting to meet some of my coworkers and see what this place is all about. After trying so hard all summer to find a job, and now, at the end of my summer finally getting one, really sucks. So blah. It's even worse because our training got pushed back another week, and then we open on the 22nd, which is the same weekend that my brother comes to visit. So I'll have to see when my shifts are so that we can actually hang out for most of that time. I feel like I'm gonna get trained to work here, and then have to take the first two weeks off for vacation, since I want to go back to Calgary around the 27th of August.
Speaking of my brother, he just got an apartment in Edmonton for the upcoming school year as he's attending U of A. And my parents were up there co-signing for him or something or other, and they called me later yesterday evening, saying they felt bad about me living in my situation and my brother living in this 'palace.' And then my brother made this whole big deal about my parents making a big deal, and now it's my fault that I live where I do. I think my family needs to calm down and realize that it doesn't really matter to me where I live and if my brother and I are equal. I've gotten the short end of the stick before and I'm sure he has too, but that's not really something I want to bring up and get everyone into a big huff about. My living conditions may suck and I may not have all these luxuries that my brother is going to get, but that's fine with me. I'm surviving, I've got all that I need.
On another note! JuST Be, the fashion blog that I have started with my girlfriend and roommate is starting to really get going. We posted the link on our Facebook's, and got 120 views yesterday alone! Hopefully some of you reading this now either came FROM that blog, or will go to it after you read this one! http://jstb.wordpress.com I find it's hard to spread the word on blogs and get other people, that you don't know to read them. But hopefully more people will read both of my blogs!
I picked up some photos from Black's yesterday too! They're in the side on my flickr --> or on facebook if you are coming from there!
Anywho, I should really get back to studying my logic laws and converses, inverses, and contrapositives.
Later days,
- J
So the time has come. I am trying to study, obviously I am not doing a very good job. My math test is less than 48 hours away and I'm cracking open the books for the first time in about a week. It's so difficult to force myself to study for this test when I just want my summer to finally start. I haven't really had any REAL time off for almost a year.
The worst part is that this test is worth 60% of my mark in this class, one I NEED to pass to get anything done in the fall. On the brighter side, I do understand pretty much all of the concepts and I just need to do a bit of review of everything, I also did pretty well on my midterms in this class, so that bodes well for me. I just don't care anymore about this class. Just be gone Math 122, be gone!
I got a reply from the Martlet lady today, she said that everything looks good and that she'll be sending my reviews onto the editing and then back to me if I have to change anything. So this is positive. Perhaps I'll take another break from studying later and do another review.
Also! I want your feedback on my reviews or posts! Tell me what you think! If you are actually reading this that is. Just give me a sign!
I have my orientation for Applebee's tonight. The resturaunt I shall be working at in the fall. It'll be interesting to meet some of my coworkers and see what this place is all about. After trying so hard all summer to find a job, and now, at the end of my summer finally getting one, really sucks. So blah. It's even worse because our training got pushed back another week, and then we open on the 22nd, which is the same weekend that my brother comes to visit. So I'll have to see when my shifts are so that we can actually hang out for most of that time. I feel like I'm gonna get trained to work here, and then have to take the first two weeks off for vacation, since I want to go back to Calgary around the 27th of August.
Speaking of my brother, he just got an apartment in Edmonton for the upcoming school year as he's attending U of A. And my parents were up there co-signing for him or something or other, and they called me later yesterday evening, saying they felt bad about me living in my situation and my brother living in this 'palace.' And then my brother made this whole big deal about my parents making a big deal, and now it's my fault that I live where I do. I think my family needs to calm down and realize that it doesn't really matter to me where I live and if my brother and I are equal. I've gotten the short end of the stick before and I'm sure he has too, but that's not really something I want to bring up and get everyone into a big huff about. My living conditions may suck and I may not have all these luxuries that my brother is going to get, but that's fine with me. I'm surviving, I've got all that I need.
On another note! JuST Be, the fashion blog that I have started with my girlfriend and roommate is starting to really get going. We posted the link on our Facebook's, and got 120 views yesterday alone! Hopefully some of you reading this now either came FROM that blog, or will go to it after you read this one! http://jstb.wordpress.com I find it's hard to spread the word on blogs and get other people, that you don't know to read them. But hopefully more people will read both of my blogs!I picked up some photos from Black's yesterday too! They're in the side on my flickr --> or on facebook if you are coming from there!
Anywho, I should really get back to studying my logic laws and converses, inverses, and contrapositives.
Later days,
- J
3 AM and I are mortal enemies.
Good Friggen Morning,
I have decided that my entire sleep schedule is out of wack. I was up til 3:30 two nights ago, and last night I woke up at 3:06. I don't know what it is about that hour, but for some reason, my body wants me to be awake then. Grr. It does not make me a happy camper.
I have decided that my entire sleep schedule is out of wack. I was up til 3:30 two nights ago, and last night I woke up at 3:06. I don't know what it is about that hour, but for some reason, my body wants me to be awake then. Grr. It does not make me a happy camper.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
One for my lover.
So, I love my girlfriend. And I feel it is necessary to dedicate at least one blog to her. And all you out there reading this who are hating me for writing about her can go to our fashion blog and amuse yourselves there! http://jstb.wordpress.com
I continually find new things about her everyday that amaze me. Like just yesterday, I discovered her blog for the first time (see Brass Keys link on the side). I had no idea that she even kept a blog! It was really cool to see for the first time. I began scoping it out to see if there was any mention of me in it. And although there wasn't anything that directly referred to me, I saw things that she had always talked to me about, or mentioned to me. It was really cool that she was sharing this stuff with me, and those on her blog.
It's been really weird thinking about where I was a year ago, in Calgary, fighting with my parents, at camp, in an unhealthy relationship. And how far I've come from there. Brooke has been a big part of that I think. She really means a lot to me. I don't think I need to go into all the things about her that make her great, you just need to know that she is.
It's pretty awesome.
Later days,
- J
CD Review - Sick Puppies - Tri-Polar
Sick Puppies – Tri-Polar – EMI/Virgin Records
http://www.sickpuppies.net/main.aspx
One of the many acts to come out of Australia, Sick Puppies (heaven forbid, what a morbid band name) is the band best known for their song “All The Same” which accompanied the YouTube hit video for “Free Hugs.” This one video has over 47 million views and the song instantly became a hit. Sick Puppies are back with their newest album; “Tri-Polar” which was a Billboard Top 40 hit when it was recently in mid-July.
Those who enjoyed “All The Same” will probably not like the first track on “Tri-Polar” entitled “War.” Sick Puppies have developed and grown into a heavier, thicker sound. Filled with a driving guitar rift and lots of attempted screaming and growling, the track comes off much like a Papa Roach or Three Days Grace song. The second track, “I Hate You,” follows suit with the first straying even farther away from the original cute image associated with the band that provided the song for a Free Hugs video.
After two tracks of a heavy music, Sick Puppies gives us something new to try. With sweeping drum fills and more melodic chorus, “Rip Tide,” provides the listener with a lighter song, along the lines of Switchfoot and the pop rock of the radio and the Billboard Top 40. Unfortunately it quickly fades leaving the song seemingly incomplete. Right away we move into another track with distorted guitars and more screaming. Sick Puppies seem to be stuck to this new direction they have chosen, with blinders stuck on. You get sucked into hoping that they might provide with you with a softer track, as in “Odd One,” but the intro is misleading and it turns out to be just like every other song on the CD. On “Don’t Walk Away,” the distortion is turned down, and the dissonance between the acoustic and the bass line it the verse makes it a little hard to listen to, but not uncomfortable enough to turn off.
The entire CD seems shrouded with a dark tone that bleeds through into every track. They all start with a softer intro, and get you excited for something different, then come the heavy guitars, and then a chorus, and then it ends with a repeat of the soft intro. This becomes really irritating after about the fourth song. Some of the lyrics seemed very contrived and you get the sense that the band is trying so very hard to get the little “Parental Advisory – Explicit Content” sticker on their CD. Tri-Polar was a difficult album for me to get into. Most of the tracks are indistinguishable from one another. For those who enjoy this kind of rock, the likes of Seether and Trapt will enjoy this record. For those who enjoyed the Sick Puppies from the “Free Hugs” video, avoid this one.
http://www.sickpuppies.net/main.aspx
One of the many acts to come out of Australia, Sick Puppies (heaven forbid, what a morbid band name) is the band best known for their song “All The Same” which accompanied the YouTube hit video for “Free Hugs.” This one video has over 47 million views and the song instantly became a hit. Sick Puppies are back with their newest album; “Tri-Polar” which was a Billboard Top 40 hit when it was recently in mid-July.Those who enjoyed “All The Same” will probably not like the first track on “Tri-Polar” entitled “War.” Sick Puppies have developed and grown into a heavier, thicker sound. Filled with a driving guitar rift and lots of attempted screaming and growling, the track comes off much like a Papa Roach or Three Days Grace song. The second track, “I Hate You,” follows suit with the first straying even farther away from the original cute image associated with the band that provided the song for a Free Hugs video.
After two tracks of a heavy music, Sick Puppies gives us something new to try. With sweeping drum fills and more melodic chorus, “Rip Tide,” provides the listener with a lighter song, along the lines of Switchfoot and the pop rock of the radio and the Billboard Top 40. Unfortunately it quickly fades leaving the song seemingly incomplete. Right away we move into another track with distorted guitars and more screaming. Sick Puppies seem to be stuck to this new direction they have chosen, with blinders stuck on. You get sucked into hoping that they might provide with you with a softer track, as in “Odd One,” but the intro is misleading and it turns out to be just like every other song on the CD. On “Don’t Walk Away,” the distortion is turned down, and the dissonance between the acoustic and the bass line it the verse makes it a little hard to listen to, but not uncomfortable enough to turn off.
The entire CD seems shrouded with a dark tone that bleeds through into every track. They all start with a softer intro, and get you excited for something different, then come the heavy guitars, and then a chorus, and then it ends with a repeat of the soft intro. This becomes really irritating after about the fourth song. Some of the lyrics seemed very contrived and you get the sense that the band is trying so very hard to get the little “Parental Advisory – Explicit Content” sticker on their CD. Tri-Polar was a difficult album for me to get into. Most of the tracks are indistinguishable from one another. For those who enjoy this kind of rock, the likes of Seether and Trapt will enjoy this record. For those who enjoyed the Sick Puppies from the “Free Hugs” video, avoid this one.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Could you?
Could I do it too?
Could I put my life on the line?
To stand up for what I believe in.
It's like trying to speak to the deaf.
It's like trying to describe colour to the blind.
It's like teaching a mute to speak.
You'll never be able to understand it unless you've experienced it.
You can pretend like you know
Words from someone else might make it more clear.
And I know, you think you hear this every day.
But you don't.
For one day, out of three hundred and sixty five, you hear about it.
What about the other three hundred and sixty four?
Some of us don't even spend that ONE day listening to it.
We skip our assemblies at school.
We ignore the ceremonies on tv.
What if it was you?
What if you were in that situation?
You had to go over the top, of those dirty muddy trenches, to face a man, you have never seen before.
He's shooting at you.
Trying to kill you.
Could you do it?
If the answer is no, then at least give these men, who did.
They did it for you.
So you wouldn't have to later on.
Give these men, your respect.
Because they deserve it more than anyone out there.
These men, weren't men, they were boys.
It could have been me and my friends
It could have been. Me.
Going over there.
A gun in my hands.
Taught to shoot.
Taught to kill.
And they would have done the same.
Taught to shoot at me.
Taught to kill me.
What if it was?
What if my entire school, all the boys, we were one squadron.
And only 15 of us came back. Thats one class of boys.
What if I was one of those 15?
What would I feel?
I'd feel depressed that I survived.
And now, as these veterans slowly pass away.
So does Remembrance day.
What these men must have witnessed.
These boys.
I'm deaf.
I'm blind.
I'm dumb.
I know nothing of what they went through.
I can try to understand.
But I never will.
I can only
Imagine what I would have done in their position.
And personally...
I don't think I could have.
Could I put my life on the line?
To stand up for what I believe in.
It's like trying to speak to the deaf.
It's like trying to describe colour to the blind.
It's like teaching a mute to speak.
You'll never be able to understand it unless you've experienced it.
You can pretend like you know
Words from someone else might make it more clear.
And I know, you think you hear this every day.
But you don't.
For one day, out of three hundred and sixty five, you hear about it.
What about the other three hundred and sixty four?
Some of us don't even spend that ONE day listening to it.
We skip our assemblies at school.
We ignore the ceremonies on tv.
What if it was you?
What if you were in that situation?
You had to go over the top, of those dirty muddy trenches, to face a man, you have never seen before.
He's shooting at you.
Trying to kill you.
Could you do it?
If the answer is no, then at least give these men, who did.
They did it for you.
So you wouldn't have to later on.
Give these men, your respect.
Because they deserve it more than anyone out there.
These men, weren't men, they were boys.
It could have been me and my friends
It could have been. Me.
Going over there.
A gun in my hands.
Taught to shoot.
Taught to kill.
And they would have done the same.
Taught to shoot at me.
Taught to kill me.
What if it was?
What if my entire school, all the boys, we were one squadron.
And only 15 of us came back. Thats one class of boys.
What if I was one of those 15?
What would I feel?
I'd feel depressed that I survived.
And now, as these veterans slowly pass away.
So does Remembrance day.
What these men must have witnessed.
These boys.
I'm deaf.
I'm blind.
I'm dumb.
I know nothing of what they went through.
I can try to understand.
But I never will.
I can only
Imagine what I would have done in their position.
And personally...
I don't think I could have.
Lovers Mean More Than Friends.
You said Goodbye.
Because of a trust too soon,
the bond of a life long friend.
She laid the blame before I had the chance to try,
I wouldn’t have tried.
Lovers mean more than friends,
I would not argue that fact.
If a heart had to be broken it was always going to be mine,
lovers mean more than friends.
I would still say Hello.
Because of a trust too soon,
the bond of a life long friend.
She laid the blame before I had the chance to try,
I wouldn’t have tried.
Lovers mean more than friends,
I would not argue that fact.
If a heart had to be broken it was always going to be mine,
lovers mean more than friends.
I would still say Hello.
I'm glad I never said Goodbye.
Because my trust was too strong
To give up on my new found friend
She was wrong
She had no idea what was right for me
Everything you said was right for me
The beach, the car, the bed, the night
The places we went when the world was asleep
Lovers who aren't friends can never be
I'm glad I never said Goodbye.
To give up on my new found friend
She was wrong
She had no idea what was right for me
Everything you said was right for me
The beach, the car, the bed, the night
The places we went when the world was asleep
Lovers who aren't friends can never be
I'm glad I never said Goodbye.
CD Review - The Dreadnoughts - Victory Square
The Dreadnoughts – Victory Square – Stomp Records
http://www.thedreadnoughts.com/
“Victory Square,” the second studio album from the Celtic punk rockers The Dreadnoughts, who hail from Vancouver, is a swashbuckling-boot-to-the-face record. The quintet recently finished up a cross Canada tour and will be back at the end of August after they play in much of Europe. On their Myspace, they categorize themselves as folk, folk rock and punk, with the latter being the best description of what they really are. The Dreadnoughts could easily draw comparisons to Flogging Molly, Rancid, or the Cancer Bats. The Dread Pirate Druzil and Seamus O’Flanahan, two members of the Dreadnoughts bring the unique characteristics of their music, playing instruments such as a tin whistle, accordion, and fiddle.
The fourth track on the CD, entitled “Boneyard” gives you the best sound-scape of the Dreadnoughts. Filled with the fiddle sliding in and out of your right ear and the mandolin in your left, you’re surrounded completely by individual sounds. The bass line gives you the rocking motion of a boat and it feels like you could be tied to the mast of a pirate ship as the captain and his crew interrogate you, ready to make you walk the plank.
“Samovar” features an intricate layering of the mandolin and fiddle part, and you really see how the band incorporates the similar sounds together. While “Grace O’Malley” sounds like it could be a Great Big Sea song on speed. Most of the songs have a similar feel to them; drums that pound like machine guns, and a bass line that pulls and drags you along with the seemingly gypsy melodies of the fiddle and mandolin.
It is understandable after listening to the CD why The Dreadnoughts classify themselves as folk. A lot of the songs on this CD feel like they could sung downtown at Irish Times, with the entire bar swinging their pints in time. The Dreadnoughts provide you with a jigging good time, so grab a pint and sing away with the boys, “Ho Way!”
Video Game FML (College Humor)
http://www.collegehumor.com/article:1788659
On 07/17/2009 at 8:24pm - love - by Mario - United States (New York)
On 07/16/2009 at 1:15pm - misc. - by Link - Hyrule
On 07/15/2009 at 5:35pm - misc. - by Fox - Corneria
On 07/15/2009 at 1:32am - misc. - by Liu Kang - China
On 07/14/2009 at 4:13pm - misc. - by Toad - Mushroom Kingdom
On 07/13/2009 at 4:14pm - friends - by Diddy Kong - Kongo Jungle
On 07/13/2009 at 8:15am - friends - by Tails - Emerald Hill Zone
Today, I got through an entire dungeon, had fireballs shot at me, fought a giant turtle and the princess turns out to be in another castle. FML
I agree, your life sucks (53252) - you totally deserve it (3551)On 07/17/2009 at 8:24pm - love - by Mario - United States (New York)
Today, I found out you've got to be an adult to defeat Ganondorf. No big deal, right? Just gotta spend seven years sleeping in the Chamber of Sages. I didn't account for all the wet dreams. FML
I agree, your life sucks (26432) - you totally deserve it (14614)On 07/16/2009 at 1:15pm - misc. - by Link - Hyrule
Today, I failed an important mission because I had to keep saving my useless wingmen. FML
I agree, your life sucks (4442) - you totally deserve it (321)On 07/15/2009 at 5:35pm - misc. - by Fox - Corneria
Today, I found out I'll be fighting literally everyone in this tournament. There are no brackets, and if I lose even a single fight, I'll probably be thrown into a spike pit. FML
I agree, your life sucks (63242) - you totally deserve it (211)On 07/15/2009 at 1:32am - misc. - by Liu Kang - China
Today, someone shot me with a blue shell right as I was about to cross the finish line. There was no way of avoiding it, and the guy who shot it was in last place and had no chance of winning. He did it just to be a dick. I was punished for doing well. FML
I agree, your life sucks (41431) - you totally deserve it (1334)On 07/14/2009 at 4:13pm - misc. - by Toad - Mushroom Kingdom
Today, I spent 8 hours trapped inside a barrel. Finally my friend freed me...by throwing me into a wall. FML
I agree, your life sucks (41441) - you totally deserve it (743)On 07/13/2009 at 4:14pm - friends - by Diddy Kong - Kongo Jungle
Today, I almost drowned because my asshole best friend kept eating all the air bubbles. FML
I agree, your life sucks (91414) - you totally deserve it (141)On 07/13/2009 at 8:15am - friends - by Tails - Emerald Hill Zone
Hate.
So, I am pretty grumpy right now.
Sometimes I can't wait to get out of this place. To move out of this clusterfuck and just be done with these people. More specifically one person. One of our roommates moved out already, and I really want to. It's only three more weeks. Hopefully I can last that long.
It's really hard living with people you've never met before, and being the kind of person I am, see the archive for the "Supporting Cast" blog, I don't do confrontation very well. I would love to go out into the kitchen and yell at him for being a fucking pig and being so fucking disgusting and never cleaning up any of his shit, but alas I am too nice.
He came home from a trip to Vancouver yesterday and I cannot stand being around him for even one second. About fifteen minutes ago I walked out into the kitchen, the first thing I see is some kind of meat juice dripping down the side of our counter, followed by a plate on top of the counter soaked in whatever it is he was cooking. I look in the sink, which was empty a few hours ago after I had cleaned there, and there is a baking sheet, a used cutting board, a dirty frying pan, to mention a few things lying around. It's disgusting and I'm sick of it.
This guy likes to leech of everyone else and use everybody elses stuff. I am positive that he has stolen at least two of my tupperwear containers and put them in his locker. How do I know you ask? Well this weekend when he went away, I looked in his locker and saw them there, so I took them out and put them back where I had them, and today I came out of my room, and they're gone again. Later I hear him locking his locker. Hmm....
When my parents visited, they kindly bought me new dishtowels, dishcloths and bathroom towels, including a hand towel for drying hands. My roommate has used and abused every one of these since I've brought them out. The dishtowels, which have a general purpose of drying dishes and hands, have been used to wipe up spills, messes, and even used as oven mitts, getting burned. I cannot stand it. And then after they have been used to clean up shit, he'll leave them in a crumpled pile next to his dirty place which hasn't been put away.
Since living here, he has not: vacuumed the living room/kitchen, mopped the floor, cleaned the bathroom, cleaned the shower, taken out the recycling, taken out the garbage or taken out the bottles. He likes to give us heck about the fruitfly problem we had a little while ago, saying that "we have to keep this place clean" when most of the problem is his. Everyday I find something new in the sink. Today, I think it's squash, but there has been onion, cantelope and strawberries to name a few.
Does anyone think that I am being too harsh or too critical of this guy? Please let me know.
Thanks.
- J
Sometimes I can't wait to get out of this place. To move out of this clusterfuck and just be done with these people. More specifically one person. One of our roommates moved out already, and I really want to. It's only three more weeks. Hopefully I can last that long.
It's really hard living with people you've never met before, and being the kind of person I am, see the archive for the "Supporting Cast" blog, I don't do confrontation very well. I would love to go out into the kitchen and yell at him for being a fucking pig and being so fucking disgusting and never cleaning up any of his shit, but alas I am too nice.
He came home from a trip to Vancouver yesterday and I cannot stand being around him for even one second. About fifteen minutes ago I walked out into the kitchen, the first thing I see is some kind of meat juice dripping down the side of our counter, followed by a plate on top of the counter soaked in whatever it is he was cooking. I look in the sink, which was empty a few hours ago after I had cleaned there, and there is a baking sheet, a used cutting board, a dirty frying pan, to mention a few things lying around. It's disgusting and I'm sick of it.
This guy likes to leech of everyone else and use everybody elses stuff. I am positive that he has stolen at least two of my tupperwear containers and put them in his locker. How do I know you ask? Well this weekend when he went away, I looked in his locker and saw them there, so I took them out and put them back where I had them, and today I came out of my room, and they're gone again. Later I hear him locking his locker. Hmm....
When my parents visited, they kindly bought me new dishtowels, dishcloths and bathroom towels, including a hand towel for drying hands. My roommate has used and abused every one of these since I've brought them out. The dishtowels, which have a general purpose of drying dishes and hands, have been used to wipe up spills, messes, and even used as oven mitts, getting burned. I cannot stand it. And then after they have been used to clean up shit, he'll leave them in a crumpled pile next to his dirty place which hasn't been put away.
Since living here, he has not: vacuumed the living room/kitchen, mopped the floor, cleaned the bathroom, cleaned the shower, taken out the recycling, taken out the garbage or taken out the bottles. He likes to give us heck about the fruitfly problem we had a little while ago, saying that "we have to keep this place clean" when most of the problem is his. Everyday I find something new in the sink. Today, I think it's squash, but there has been onion, cantelope and strawberries to name a few.
Does anyone think that I am being too harsh or too critical of this guy? Please let me know.
Thanks.
- J
Similarities?
This is my roommate and me. According to his friend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlTE5j7aE
...I'm not so sure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlTE5j7aEf0
...I'm not so sure.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Raver's Delight
Good Morning, Afternoon, Evening to you.
It is just rounding noon here and I am quite exhausted. I spent last night with my girlfriend volunteering at the Victoria Electronic Music Festival. We were in charge of the door most of the night. It was an interesting experience for sure. Definitely makes me never want to run a club. I didn't really find any enjoyment in it at all.
Running the door involved taking money and giving stamps, not a very glamourous job, especially for a volunteer. It was kind of annoying, because as a volunteer, you don't really have any attachment to the association, so you don't have any reason to try hard or anything. There's no real reward. So we were very lax when it came to people and letting them in and such.
It was really interesting seeing the people who attend these kind of events and getting to talk to them a bit. Surprisingly the crowd was mostly older, but they were all still very good dancers! It was fun to watch for sure. And all of these people are incredibly nice too! I'm not sure if it had to do with any drugs they could have been taking, or something of the like, but anywho. My girlfriend and I were trying to figure out what these people did when they weren't raving. There was a high school teacher, a resturaunt owner, some students, business men. Well, this is what we assumed they were.
So other than that, the night was pretty uneventful. We volunteer again today, so we might see some of the people from last night again today! Which might be nice, but we shall see.
http://www.vemf.ca/
Along the lines of JuST B fashion, the fashion agency my roommate and girlfriend have started, I tried out our latest scarf as a belt thing yesterday, and I thought I looked pretty good. But hey, that's just my opinion. One drawback is that you have to constantly be tightening the scarf so it acts as a belt. I also found a new place to buy jeans! Hurray! I'm pretty stoked on this as I love jeans and it's impossible to find some that fit me AND look good. So this is promising.
I'm trying to contribute with photography things, as that is my area of expertise. So stay tuned for most posts along those lines.
In other news, one of my roommates moved out! He said he found a place not to far from here, so he's gone! It was definitely a surprise. Over the course of 4 months, May til August, I've had, 6 roommates. 4 have moved out as of yet. Good grief, do I smell bad or something?
I'm still wondering why I made this blog, and if I will ever find my niche in the interwebs. I find it so hard to find followers, or get myself out there. No one really wants to read just another blog by some guy in university. I'm sure it's been done before. It's hard finding something original to do in this big world, let alone get my name out there. I guess we shall see in time...
Maybe that means another CD review is in order. It's hard to tell if anyone really likes them, as no one comments or even reads for that matter. Oh well.
Later Days,
- J
It is just rounding noon here and I am quite exhausted. I spent last night with my girlfriend volunteering at the Victoria Electronic Music Festival. We were in charge of the door most of the night. It was an interesting experience for sure. Definitely makes me never want to run a club. I didn't really find any enjoyment in it at all.
Running the door involved taking money and giving stamps, not a very glamourous job, especially for a volunteer. It was kind of annoying, because as a volunteer, you don't really have any attachment to the association, so you don't have any reason to try hard or anything. There's no real reward. So we were very lax when it came to people and letting them in and such.
It was really interesting seeing the people who attend these kind of events and getting to talk to them a bit. Surprisingly the crowd was mostly older, but they were all still very good dancers! It was fun to watch for sure. And all of these people are incredibly nice too! I'm not sure if it had to do with any drugs they could have been taking, or something of the like, but anywho. My girlfriend and I were trying to figure out what these people did when they weren't raving. There was a high school teacher, a resturaunt owner, some students, business men. Well, this is what we assumed they were.
So other than that, the night was pretty uneventful. We volunteer again today, so we might see some of the people from last night again today! Which might be nice, but we shall see.
http://www.vemf.ca/
Along the lines of JuST B fashion, the fashion agency my roommate and girlfriend have started, I tried out our latest scarf as a belt thing yesterday, and I thought I looked pretty good. But hey, that's just my opinion. One drawback is that you have to constantly be tightening the scarf so it acts as a belt. I also found a new place to buy jeans! Hurray! I'm pretty stoked on this as I love jeans and it's impossible to find some that fit me AND look good. So this is promising.
I'm trying to contribute with photography things, as that is my area of expertise. So stay tuned for most posts along those lines.
In other news, one of my roommates moved out! He said he found a place not to far from here, so he's gone! It was definitely a surprise. Over the course of 4 months, May til August, I've had, 6 roommates. 4 have moved out as of yet. Good grief, do I smell bad or something?
I'm still wondering why I made this blog, and if I will ever find my niche in the interwebs. I find it so hard to find followers, or get myself out there. No one really wants to read just another blog by some guy in university. I'm sure it's been done before. It's hard finding something original to do in this big world, let alone get my name out there. I guess we shall see in time...
Maybe that means another CD review is in order. It's hard to tell if anyone really likes them, as no one comments or even reads for that matter. Oh well.
Later Days,
- J
Saturday, August 1, 2009
CD Review - Lady Sovereign - Jigsaw
Lady Sovereign – Jigsaw – Midget Records
http://www.ladysovereign.com/flash.php
“Jigsaw”, the most recent effort from Lady Sovereign, a self-proclaimed midget, is a record that is trying to keep up with the likes of Britney’s “Circus” and Lady Gaga’s “The Fame.” What separates Lady Sovereign from these pop icons, is the fact that in a few of her songs, she spits some mad rhymes. From the age of 14, Lady Soverign has been refining her craft, she has later worked with the likes of Jay-Z, Pharell Williams, and toured with Gwen Stefani and Metric. Coming in at a meager five feet and one inch, Lady Sovereign’s physical stature doesn’t take away from her performance on the mic.
Many of the tracks on Jigsaw are the highly produced, and highly stylized songs with lots of technical effects like in “Bang Bang” and “Let’s Be Mates.” The recent single, “I Got You On The Dance Floor,” doesn’t exactly make me want to get up and dance, but it wouldn’t cause me to make a b-line from the floor to the bar. It comes across as one of those songs you’d never notice was playing when you were out enjoying the club.
I was expecting most of the CD to be the same way, but I was pleasantly surprised when Lady Sovereign stops rapping, and starts to sing more melodically. On tracks like “So Human” and the title track “Jigsaw,” you get a good sense of the musical talent that Lady Sovereign possesses.
Unfortunately, the one song that will most likely be remembered on this CD is entitled “Food Play,” which starts with “This one is for the lovers out there/for those who like their food to enhance their mood for love,” in a typical low, Barry White like voice. But it gets worse from there, a song devoted entirely to food and sex. Which consists of a chorus which sounds like Alvin and the Chipmunks took over the Sunday Night Sex Show with Dr. Sue. The high pitched voices are backed with a vocal track recorded normally, which I think would have sounded better by itself.
Lady Sovereign puts out a valiant effort to crack into the rap/pop genre, but in this reviews opinion, she will have a hard time breaking into the American music world unless her CDs start supplying us with a British-English/American-English translator so we can figure out what she’s saying most of the time.
http://www.ladysovereign.com/flash.php
“Jigsaw”, the most recent effort from Lady Sovereign, a self-proclaimed midget, is a record that is trying to keep up with the likes of Britney’s “Circus” and Lady Gaga’s “The Fame.” What separates Lady Sovereign from these pop icons, is the fact that in a few of her songs, she spits some mad rhymes. From the age of 14, Lady Soverign has been refining her craft, she has later worked with the likes of Jay-Z, Pharell Williams, and toured with Gwen Stefani and Metric. Coming in at a meager five feet and one inch, Lady Sovereign’s physical stature doesn’t take away from her performance on the mic.
Many of the tracks on Jigsaw are the highly produced, and highly stylized songs with lots of technical effects like in “Bang Bang” and “Let’s Be Mates.” The recent single, “I Got You On The Dance Floor,” doesn’t exactly make me want to get up and dance, but it wouldn’t cause me to make a b-line from the floor to the bar. It comes across as one of those songs you’d never notice was playing when you were out enjoying the club.
I was expecting most of the CD to be the same way, but I was pleasantly surprised when Lady Sovereign stops rapping, and starts to sing more melodically. On tracks like “So Human” and the title track “Jigsaw,” you get a good sense of the musical talent that Lady Sovereign possesses.
Unfortunately, the one song that will most likely be remembered on this CD is entitled “Food Play,” which starts with “This one is for the lovers out there/for those who like their food to enhance their mood for love,” in a typical low, Barry White like voice. But it gets worse from there, a song devoted entirely to food and sex. Which consists of a chorus which sounds like Alvin and the Chipmunks took over the Sunday Night Sex Show with Dr. Sue. The high pitched voices are backed with a vocal track recorded normally, which I think would have sounded better by itself.
Lady Sovereign puts out a valiant effort to crack into the rap/pop genre, but in this reviews opinion, she will have a hard time breaking into the American music world unless her CDs start supplying us with a British-English/American-English translator so we can figure out what she’s saying most of the time.
Guten Tag
Hello again faithful readers, I hope your Friday night was a good one, and your Saturday is looking good as well, or was good, depending where in the world you are.
I have little to say today, but I feel this consistency is necessary for one of these things. My girlfriend, roommate, and friend have started a fashion agency, through the means of a blog, see link, http://jstb.wordpress.com/ , I am acting as the company's photographer, and thus I have adorned the nickname of "The Flash," we shall see where this leads! They are very excited about this blog! My fashion tip for the day is, "Belt scarfs are in." I'm actually wearing one as we speak. I'm gonna go downtown and see how it goes over.
We had a Cowboys and Indians themed party last night. It was pretty good but uneventful. That is all I really have to say on that topic.
I have reviewed another CD, Lady Sovereign's "Jigsaw," which I have posted just above this. So I hope you enjoy that.
Today is going to be a busy day, so I am off to do busy things!
Hope yours was good as well!
Later days
- J
I have little to say today, but I feel this consistency is necessary for one of these things. My girlfriend, roommate, and friend have started a fashion agency, through the means of a blog, see link, http://jstb.wordpress.com/ , I am acting as the company's photographer, and thus I have adorned the nickname of "The Flash," we shall see where this leads! They are very excited about this blog! My fashion tip for the day is, "Belt scarfs are in." I'm actually wearing one as we speak. I'm gonna go downtown and see how it goes over.
We had a Cowboys and Indians themed party last night. It was pretty good but uneventful. That is all I really have to say on that topic.
I have reviewed another CD, Lady Sovereign's "Jigsaw," which I have posted just above this. So I hope you enjoy that.
Today is going to be a busy day, so I am off to do busy things!
Hope yours was good as well!
Later days
- J
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Supporting Cast
Hello to all of you in internet-land. You probably only being Melissa since she's the only one who knows about or reads this.
Anyways, a few days ago, I ended up going down to the beach with my girlfriend and roommate (one of 3) and one other friend, we had a good time and they all enjoyed a few cigarettes and some wine. And then the drunk talks of starting a business together and having our own modelling agency started up, (thus coinciding with the increase of fascination with fashion in my household) and I realized that I never going to be the big star of whatever group I am in.
I have noticed I am definitely more of a behind the scenes person. I'm generally quiet, reserved and don't speak my opinion all that often. Thus I resort to internet blogs which no one reads to get out what I need to say. But that's beyond the point. I've did the grad film for our school, where I was behind the camera, I've done tech work, backstage work and even at parties I end up cleaning up after everyone. I usually go unnoticed.
Even in my house, I compare myself to the disgruntled mother who makes sure everything happens in such a way. The pots in our sink are piled up because no one is willing to do them, the trash is sitting outside of the bin, but it's open and in our kitchen, waiting for someone else (which probably will end up being me) to take it out. And it pisses me off. No one will clean anything on their own.
I know you're going to say, well just leave it and let them live in their own filth. Well then I will retort with, "then I have to live in it too" and I have a few OCD tendencies and thus I clean our kitchen on a rather regular basis. Maybe next week when my one roommate leaves to Toronto, I'll go stay with my girlfriend on a semi-permanent basis, and then I won't have to deal with this at all.
So I guess part of my personality, part of my life choices and part of my situation has made me the way I am. I am complaining about it, but I don't want to change it. I like being unseen sometimes, I don't need to be the shining star with the spotlight on me at all times. But it's nice to get some credit and be appreciated once in a while. I guess that's all I want.
That's my rant for today, in other news, Microsoft bought Yahoo and now their search engine "Bing" may provide some actual competetion for the giant that is Google. Also, Michael Phelps lost a race! The first time in four years since he's lost, and the guy throws a hissy fit. The german guy who won was apparently wearing an 'illegal' supersuit that makes swimmers more buoyant and streamlined, thus making swimming easier. He says that he won't return to the world competitions until "it becomes about swimming again." But apparently he just broke another world record, I guess things change pretty quickly. According to the Globe and Mail, swimming world records are being broke twice as often as they used to be since 2004, each having a life span of about 382 days.
Microsoft buys Yahoo
Michael Phelps Loses but then He Wins Again!
That's all for now,
Later Days
-J
Anyways, a few days ago, I ended up going down to the beach with my girlfriend and roommate (one of 3) and one other friend, we had a good time and they all enjoyed a few cigarettes and some wine. And then the drunk talks of starting a business together and having our own modelling agency started up, (thus coinciding with the increase of fascination with fashion in my household) and I realized that I never going to be the big star of whatever group I am in.
I have noticed I am definitely more of a behind the scenes person. I'm generally quiet, reserved and don't speak my opinion all that often. Thus I resort to internet blogs which no one reads to get out what I need to say. But that's beyond the point. I've did the grad film for our school, where I was behind the camera, I've done tech work, backstage work and even at parties I end up cleaning up after everyone. I usually go unnoticed.
Even in my house, I compare myself to the disgruntled mother who makes sure everything happens in such a way. The pots in our sink are piled up because no one is willing to do them, the trash is sitting outside of the bin, but it's open and in our kitchen, waiting for someone else (which probably will end up being me) to take it out. And it pisses me off. No one will clean anything on their own.
I know you're going to say, well just leave it and let them live in their own filth. Well then I will retort with, "then I have to live in it too" and I have a few OCD tendencies and thus I clean our kitchen on a rather regular basis. Maybe next week when my one roommate leaves to Toronto, I'll go stay with my girlfriend on a semi-permanent basis, and then I won't have to deal with this at all.
So I guess part of my personality, part of my life choices and part of my situation has made me the way I am. I am complaining about it, but I don't want to change it. I like being unseen sometimes, I don't need to be the shining star with the spotlight on me at all times. But it's nice to get some credit and be appreciated once in a while. I guess that's all I want.
That's my rant for today, in other news, Microsoft bought Yahoo and now their search engine "Bing" may provide some actual competetion for the giant that is Google. Also, Michael Phelps lost a race! The first time in four years since he's lost, and the guy throws a hissy fit. The german guy who won was apparently wearing an 'illegal' supersuit that makes swimmers more buoyant and streamlined, thus making swimming easier. He says that he won't return to the world competitions until "it becomes about swimming again." But apparently he just broke another world record, I guess things change pretty quickly. According to the Globe and Mail, swimming world records are being broke twice as often as they used to be since 2004, each having a life span of about 382 days.
Microsoft buys Yahoo
Michael Phelps Loses but then He Wins Again!
That's all for now,
Later Days
-J
CD Review - John Pippus - This City & Five Star Trailer Park - The Fight That Broke Your Heart
Here are my first two reviews for my school paper. I'm only allowed around 300 words, so it's hard to write what you want with so few words. I hope you enjoy!
John Pippus – This City - SOCAN
http://johnpippus.com/
John Pippus is a Vancouver born singer and guitarist who has put out an album entitled “This City,” he’ll also be appearing at this years Victoria Fringe Festival. According to his website, he’s been playing and singing since age of twelve and is finally putting out his first CD. It should be known that he was twelve when the Beatles were finally striking it big in America. So John is about the same age as my dad, who recently celebrated his 56th birthday at the end of July. This gives you the kind of idea of what I was expecting when I picked up his album.
Surprisingly on the first track “Some Days,” John’s age does not come through the headphones. He sounds like he could be fit amongst many of the boys with guitars like Damien Rice or Conor Oberst. But in later tracks you can start to hear his age catching up with him, almost whispering on tracks like “Little Things” and “Don’t Want To Think About That.” While listening to the gentle CD, the track “Yes We Can (Dreams)” comes out of left field and hits you upside the head. John starts rapping. This is definitely not something expected from listening to the previous tracks, and needless to say, my roommate can think up better rhymes than “We have WMD’s and ToysRUs/Endless strip malls and kids named Gus.”
Overall this is CD is well put together, but it’s lacking a few components. John’s vocals stay in the same range through all thirteen tracks and “Yes We Can” seems better suited for someone else. I was left waiting the entire CD for something new and astounding to happen. Maybe I can give it to my dad for a birthday present; he’d probably like it.
Five Star Trailer Park – The Fight That Broke Your Heart
www.fivestartrailerpark.com
The sextet from Toronto, Five Star Trailer Park delivers a record full of different stylistic and musical content. If Matthew Good and Gord Downie had a love child, this is what he would sound like. Nick Spence’s vocals are so strikingly similar to much of the rock music of today, but there is something that makes them distinctively different.
Each one of the twelve tracks on “The Fight That Broke Your Heart” gives a unique point of view of the band. The record really starts to kick off on the fourth track, “Goodbye Caroline” that had me singing along with the chorus while listening for just the first time. Right after that, the high-energy track “Aviator” is very reminiscent of Sloan or The Trews. The peaks and valleys of this CD reach it’s lowest point on “Last Train to Montreal,” a slow piano based track. This reflective piece has you swaying back in forth, imaginary lighter in hand. Directly afterwards Five Star Trailer Park picks it up again with “Leave The Light On.” “Station Girl” hits you with a hard guitar riff, which could be mistaken for something from the late 70’s.
All in all, Five Star Trailer Park put out a rock CD that can hold it’s own in the music world of today. They’ve incorporated bits and pieces each of their varying influences, and it comes through loud and clear on the record. I would love to see what they could do with a live show. “The Fight That Broke Your Heart” has tracks that you could listen to in any mood, and it will be the perfect companion to the highs and lows you go through.
John Pippus – This City - SOCAN
http://johnpippus.com/
John Pippus is a Vancouver born singer and guitarist who has put out an album entitled “This City,” he’ll also be appearing at this years Victoria Fringe Festival. According to his website, he’s been playing and singing since age of twelve and is finally putting out his first CD. It should be known that he was twelve when the Beatles were finally striking it big in America. So John is about the same age as my dad, who recently celebrated his 56th birthday at the end of July. This gives you the kind of idea of what I was expecting when I picked up his album.
Surprisingly on the first track “Some Days,” John’s age does not come through the headphones. He sounds like he could be fit amongst many of the boys with guitars like Damien Rice or Conor Oberst. But in later tracks you can start to hear his age catching up with him, almost whispering on tracks like “Little Things” and “Don’t Want To Think About That.” While listening to the gentle CD, the track “Yes We Can (Dreams)” comes out of left field and hits you upside the head. John starts rapping. This is definitely not something expected from listening to the previous tracks, and needless to say, my roommate can think up better rhymes than “We have WMD’s and ToysRUs/Endless strip malls and kids named Gus.”
Overall this is CD is well put together, but it’s lacking a few components. John’s vocals stay in the same range through all thirteen tracks and “Yes We Can” seems better suited for someone else. I was left waiting the entire CD for something new and astounding to happen. Maybe I can give it to my dad for a birthday present; he’d probably like it.
Five Star Trailer Park – The Fight That Broke Your Heart
www.fivestartrailerpark.com
The sextet from Toronto, Five Star Trailer Park delivers a record full of different stylistic and musical content. If Matthew Good and Gord Downie had a love child, this is what he would sound like. Nick Spence’s vocals are so strikingly similar to much of the rock music of today, but there is something that makes them distinctively different.
Each one of the twelve tracks on “The Fight That Broke Your Heart” gives a unique point of view of the band. The record really starts to kick off on the fourth track, “Goodbye Caroline” that had me singing along with the chorus while listening for just the first time. Right after that, the high-energy track “Aviator” is very reminiscent of Sloan or The Trews. The peaks and valleys of this CD reach it’s lowest point on “Last Train to Montreal,” a slow piano based track. This reflective piece has you swaying back in forth, imaginary lighter in hand. Directly afterwards Five Star Trailer Park picks it up again with “Leave The Light On.” “Station Girl” hits you with a hard guitar riff, which could be mistaken for something from the late 70’s.
All in all, Five Star Trailer Park put out a rock CD that can hold it’s own in the music world of today. They’ve incorporated bits and pieces each of their varying influences, and it comes through loud and clear on the record. I would love to see what they could do with a live show. “The Fight That Broke Your Heart” has tracks that you could listen to in any mood, and it will be the perfect companion to the highs and lows you go through.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Moral Victory
Hello you!
How are you doing today? I hope all is well wherever you are! Because things are going smashingly here.
As of 10:30 today, I am officially finished taking English for the rest of my life. As you probably don't know, I am not much of an English buff, I can hardly stand the stuff. So this last month has been quite the drag for me. But! Today! I am done! Hurray for me. This is a big accomplishment for me. Now I can focus on what I love.
In current events, the girl who was a 'puppetmaster' behind the murder of a 14 year old girl got sentanced to first-degree murder today. I've been kind of keeping up with this story and I personally agree with the verdict. You can read more on the link here. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/teen-gets-life-in-rengel-case/article1233643/
Yesterday was quite the eventful day I must say. Ever since my girlfriend got back from her vacation I've been noticing in myself how much she affects me. In a good way. I think I've been in a better mood overall! It's good. I really appreciate her and everything she does for me. And she's starting to come out of her shell more I think and making more new friends, but it's kinda sad that they all leave soon. Sigh. So yay for my girlfriend! Yay for me! Things are wonderful.
Also yesterday, I had a job interview @ an IMAX theatre in town. I'm not sure how willing I am to accept the job. I have another job lined up as a line cook with Applebee's later in the fall, so I don't think I need two jobs, but who knows. So we'll see how that turns out.
You know how I said I wanted to start reviewing CD's on here? Well I found an outlet to do it! I emailed my school newspaper and asked them if they had any CD's that needed reviewing, and lo and behold! They do! So I went over and grabbed about 12 and brought them back. I've already listened to two so far, and should be writing the reviews later this afternoon!
So stay tuned!
- J
How are you doing today? I hope all is well wherever you are! Because things are going smashingly here.
As of 10:30 today, I am officially finished taking English for the rest of my life. As you probably don't know, I am not much of an English buff, I can hardly stand the stuff. So this last month has been quite the drag for me. But! Today! I am done! Hurray for me. This is a big accomplishment for me. Now I can focus on what I love.
In current events, the girl who was a 'puppetmaster' behind the murder of a 14 year old girl got sentanced to first-degree murder today. I've been kind of keeping up with this story and I personally agree with the verdict. You can read more on the link here. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/teen-gets-life-in-rengel-case/article1233643/
Yesterday was quite the eventful day I must say. Ever since my girlfriend got back from her vacation I've been noticing in myself how much she affects me. In a good way. I think I've been in a better mood overall! It's good. I really appreciate her and everything she does for me. And she's starting to come out of her shell more I think and making more new friends, but it's kinda sad that they all leave soon. Sigh. So yay for my girlfriend! Yay for me! Things are wonderful.
Also yesterday, I had a job interview @ an IMAX theatre in town. I'm not sure how willing I am to accept the job. I have another job lined up as a line cook with Applebee's later in the fall, so I don't think I need two jobs, but who knows. So we'll see how that turns out.
You know how I said I wanted to start reviewing CD's on here? Well I found an outlet to do it! I emailed my school newspaper and asked them if they had any CD's that needed reviewing, and lo and behold! They do! So I went over and grabbed about 12 and brought them back. I've already listened to two so far, and should be writing the reviews later this afternoon!
So stay tuned!
- J
Monday, July 27, 2009
Fashionable People, Doing Questionable Things
Salutations,
Clearly I have nothing better to do with my time, and thus, I blog more.
The big thing around my house right now is fashion. My roommate has a friend who has a fashion blog, and together, with my girlfriend, find great pleasure in mocking each and every post that the authors put up. Granted some of their outfits are a little over the top and extreme, I don't believe that they're entirely that off the mark. I spent something ridiculous like 2 hours yesterday just looking at fashion lines for men with my roommate. I like to believe that I am a somewhat fashionable person, but I by no means try to be a trendsetter. So I enjoy watching people and looking at magazines to see what people are wearing, and then try and emulate that in what I have.
I read an article today about Apple iPod's have been catching on fire and burning people. And what's more, is that Apple is trying to cover it up. I can imagine that the negative publicity for Apple if these claims were to be true would be pretty astronomical. Maybe even as bad as the Dixie Chicks war bashing remarks. Click here for story. http://blog.inmusic.ca/inmusic/2009/07/did-apple-try-to-cover-up-ipod-fire-hazard.html
So I think for the blog to be useful, and to give me some kind of continuity, instead of just constant rants about my life, I am going to start trying to review a new album every week. This could become problematic if my funds start running out from buying CD's. I'm also going to try and go to more local music events here in Victoria and review those and those bands in the local scene! So comment and give me a few suggestions on albums you'd like to know about, I'll do my best!
I think that's all for now, stay tuned for more posts throughout the day, I'm out of my house for another three hours, so I've got nothing better to do!
- J
Clearly I have nothing better to do with my time, and thus, I blog more.
The big thing around my house right now is fashion. My roommate has a friend who has a fashion blog, and together, with my girlfriend, find great pleasure in mocking each and every post that the authors put up. Granted some of their outfits are a little over the top and extreme, I don't believe that they're entirely that off the mark. I spent something ridiculous like 2 hours yesterday just looking at fashion lines for men with my roommate. I like to believe that I am a somewhat fashionable person, but I by no means try to be a trendsetter. So I enjoy watching people and looking at magazines to see what people are wearing, and then try and emulate that in what I have.
I read an article today about Apple iPod's have been catching on fire and burning people. And what's more, is that Apple is trying to cover it up. I can imagine that the negative publicity for Apple if these claims were to be true would be pretty astronomical. Maybe even as bad as the Dixie Chicks war bashing remarks. Click here for story. http://blog.inmusic.ca/inmusic/2009/07/did-apple-try-to-cover-up-ipod-fire-hazard.html
So I think for the blog to be useful, and to give me some kind of continuity, instead of just constant rants about my life, I am going to start trying to review a new album every week. This could become problematic if my funds start running out from buying CD's. I'm also going to try and go to more local music events here in Victoria and review those and those bands in the local scene! So comment and give me a few suggestions on albums you'd like to know about, I'll do my best!I think that's all for now, stay tuned for more posts throughout the day, I'm out of my house for another three hours, so I've got nothing better to do!
- J
It's Only Right
Hello to you.
I really wonder who is actually going to read this. What does it take to the make a blog or an open diary or something like this 'successful'? Do I have to post three times a day and dedicate myself to my blog? That seems a little unnecessary in order to carry on a normal life. It's almost unfathomable to think of the people who become celebrities because of their blogs. I occasionally watch a YouTube channel - sxephil, and he basically reads the news and gives odd headlines. But I guess it's the way he spins it that makes him so liked. I also came across a blog not to long ago, called 'style rookie' about a girl named Tavi, I think, who is 13, and is already a fashion mogul! It's incredible what the internet has done for the world.
But at the same time. It makes me feel insignificant. I will agree that YouTube is a great thing for our generation and that it's making an entire new series of superstars. On the other hand, it takes away from the luster of being local and being great. No longer can you be the kid who's best friend's sisters aunt's cousin knows because he can play all of Stairway to Heaven. There's always someone on YouTube who can do it better, and is probably younger.
So if you've paid attention and actually read this far, then I congratulate you. I am impressed that my banter has maintained your attention span for so long. Thus, I thank you.
I think that because of YouTube it's cause people like me to try and stand out less, at fear of feeling inferior. So I try and take pride in the little things, like when someone has a picture I took as their profile picture on Facebook, or something I said as their status.
Like yesterday, I sent this girl I know an honesty box message, and it read:
I really wonder who is actually going to read this. What does it take to the make a blog or an open diary or something like this 'successful'? Do I have to post three times a day and dedicate myself to my blog? That seems a little unnecessary in order to carry on a normal life. It's almost unfathomable to think of the people who become celebrities because of their blogs. I occasionally watch a YouTube channel - sxephil, and he basically reads the news and gives odd headlines. But I guess it's the way he spins it that makes him so liked. I also came across a blog not to long ago, called 'style rookie' about a girl named Tavi, I think, who is 13, and is already a fashion mogul! It's incredible what the internet has done for the world.
But at the same time. It makes me feel insignificant. I will agree that YouTube is a great thing for our generation and that it's making an entire new series of superstars. On the other hand, it takes away from the luster of being local and being great. No longer can you be the kid who's best friend's sisters aunt's cousin knows because he can play all of Stairway to Heaven. There's always someone on YouTube who can do it better, and is probably younger.
So if you've paid attention and actually read this far, then I congratulate you. I am impressed that my banter has maintained your attention span for so long. Thus, I thank you.
I think that because of YouTube it's cause people like me to try and stand out less, at fear of feeling inferior. So I try and take pride in the little things, like when someone has a picture I took as their profile picture on Facebook, or something I said as their status.
Like yesterday, I sent this girl I know an honesty box message, and it read:
"You have a great personality and good tastes in music (In my humble opinion), but I think you need to step out of the shadows and stop following everyone else. Be you! No one sees this personality! Like the things you like, not what you're suppose to like because it's trendy. Step up and stand out. The diamond in the rough has to sparkle someday."
And today I noticed that the last line was her status. It gives me a warm feeling inside that you've actually helped someone and made them happier somehow. And that's pretty cool.
So this whole blog thing is kinda getting on my nerves; anytime I go to a new page, and then come back, I have to change my font size. Pain in the ass.
I think that's all I'm gonna say for now. My house is being filled with pesticides right now because my roommates are disguting and we have ants! Yay. So I am a refugee at my girlfriend's house. Thank goodness she likes me.
sxephil - http://www.youtube.com/user/sxephil?blend=1&ob=4
Tavi - Style rookie -> http://tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com/
Over and out.
- J
So this whole blog thing is kinda getting on my nerves; anytime I go to a new page, and then come back, I have to change my font size. Pain in the ass.
I think that's all I'm gonna say for now. My house is being filled with pesticides right now because my roommates are disguting and we have ants! Yay. So I am a refugee at my girlfriend's house. Thank goodness she likes me.
sxephil - http://www.youtube.com/user/sxephil?blend=1&ob=4
Tavi - Style rookie -> http://tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com/
Over and out.
- J
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