Just started Doom 3. Scariest game I've played. Everything's dark and filled with angry monsters. It's creepy shit.
Also, discovered this band today. It's the DJ from The Bloodhound Gang and Troy Walsh. It's pretty good for hip-hop. The band is so obscure I had to write the last.fm page for them myself so if I gave a fuck about indie cred I'd be more excited.
----------------
Now playing: Federal Moguls - Paid To Party
via FoxyTunes
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Hey, you guys!
I want to get the two other piercings in my left ear before the year is out. Anyone wanna volunteer? I have all the hardware; all I need is a steady hand to push the needle through.
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Now playing: DragonForce - Fury Of The Storm
via FoxyTunes
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Now playing: DragonForce - Fury Of The Storm
via FoxyTunes
Friday, December 28, 2007
Short Story 2
Author's Note: I posted another short story a while back. This is the second one. It's obviously heavily influenced by 40K and is actually the first chapter of a novella I was writing in 2005 but gave up on. Enjoy!
----------------------------------------------------------
Age of Strife
Part 1 – Koskov’s Last Stand
To: Vice-Chancellor See’hroc, Mars High Court
From: Lord General Militant Milan Thaddeus Gryphonne, United Earth Space Fleet
Origin: United Earth Space Fleet Acheron-Class Supercruiser Devine Retribution
Target: Nergal-Class battlecruiser Red Horizon, Royal Mars Navy
...Timestamp... ...July 13. 9731... ...21:03:27...
...Loading...
...Loading...
...Loading...
Vice-Chancellor,
Just what is it you are trying to accomplish? Rebelling against the Union? Ludicrous! Not since the quickly-halted Scandinavian insurrection of 3720 has a group seceded from our great collective, and that was swiftly crushed. If you continue your barbaric machinations against us, the UESF will not hesitate to cease all food exports to the arid rock you call home. Lay down your arms and return your fleet to standby or suffer the godlike fury of my battleships. This little “incident” will get you nowhere. See’hroc, this is your last chance to stand down.
Lord General Gryphonne
Lord General Militant Milan Gryphonne
To: General Militant Milan Thaddeus Gryphonne, United Earth Space Fleet
From: Vice-Chancellor See’hroc, Mars High Court
Origin: Nergal-Class battlecruiser Red Horizon, Royal Mars Navy
Target: United Earth Space Fleet Acheron-Class Supercruiser Devine Retribution
...Timestamp... ...July 13. 9731... ...21:42:58...
...loading...
Lord General: It is you that must stand down. To take food from our beleaguered Homeworld is an insult that cannot be forgiven. You Earthers, who have already taxed us beyond our limits, are committing a crime against humanity that can only be answered in full war. Nearly seven millennia past you created us, and we were allies. Now you, the creators, will be stripped of your world by our Grand Fleets. The strife you are bringing upon your own heads will make you pray for Hell to take your wretched lives. The fleets of Anroth Sector are on the way to support us. Do not underestimate the children you have seeded the galaxy with. They are greater than even your mighty fleets.
See’hroc
* * *
Commander Viktor Koskov was a large man and ran his Rogue-Class destroyer Gangut II with an iron fist. In reality it was a titanium-neodymium servo fist, he mused, and ever since the boarding action that took his right arm in 9630 he displayed it with pride. If he could lose an arm for the Union and stay conscious long enough to kill twelve men, his crew could damn well do what was necessary.
“Engineer Tributz, cycle the drives!” He boomed in baritone Russian, “we’re going to Mars. And hurry! I didn’t invite you onto my payroll to watch you sit on your ass!”
Deep in the bowels of the 150-metre Gangut II the Johanson-Kuumar drive rumbled to life in preparation for the four-minute trans light voyage to Earth’s new nuisance. After the twenty-minute charging cycle, a large red rune appeared on the tactical holo-projector. Koscov’s polished finger set the jump in motion. Klaxons throughout the vessel wailed and the halls were bathed in red emergency lighting. Koscov returned to his command throne and strapped himself in. A series of creaks and pops issued from the hull as the taxing warp translation pulled the ship in all directions at once. A loud bang resounded through the hull and Gangut II was on her way.
* * *
Fleet Admiral Fahriq Kahn of the Royal Battleship Blu Moon was ready for war. The Anroth Sector navy was thirty-six hours away and he sat at the head of one of the largest ships within a million miles of Deimos. Earth would pay for its treachery.
“Ensign, repeat the scans. The infidels are coming and I want to be ready.”
“Affirmative.... Scans reveal nothing. Wait... damn!”
“Ensign?”
“A full UESF fleet has left earth. ETA six minutes... Sir, it’s Gryphonne.”
“Send word to the Horizon. Fire control, prepare the main batteries. I want the ion lances up in five.”
The Blu Moon exploded into life. Static electricity crackled across the hull as massive weapons powered up and solar sails unfurled. Inside the leviathan battle-ready klaxons sounded. The Blu Moon was ready, and nothing would stop her.
Throughout the Royal Navy enormous vessels crackled into life. Gunships readied their weapons; assault carriers disgorged their fighter-bomber clouds. In the bridge of the Red Horizon Vice-Chancellor See’hroc smiled. The thought of planetary genocide always brought a grin to his sharp features.
* * *
Another loud bang signaled the return to realspace. Gangut II readied her batteries and powered up the plasma sub-light drives. All around her the majesty of Gryphonne’s armada gleamed. Off in the distance was the great ruddy hulk of the Devine Retribution. The gold dome of her command bridge sparkled and Koskov’s barrel-like chest swelled with pride. He keyed the comm-link and summoned his squadron.
“Form on me. Go Delta II.” Almost as soon as the words left his mouth two Scimitar-Class gun frigates - the Hinter and the Vostok - and two Gunray-Class torpedo frigates - the Brigand and the Death Jester - formed on the Gangut II. The “Flying V” formation put each ship in a position to spearhead an assault and use every gun available. Always after glory, Koskov went straight for the biggest ship in sight. A small hologram of the target floated above the tactical display. Etched on the side, in tiny red letters, was “Blu Moon.” Capital Squadron Karamazov, led from the front by the Gangut II, shuttled menacingly toward the Blu Moon. Koskov winced as bright blobs of plasma flashed across his shields. Eight micro-nuclear torpedoes roared from the Gunrays and exploded across the Blu Moon’s hull. The form-fitting sleeve of energy absorbed the monstrous blasts, but fell under the pounding. This was Koskov’s chance. “Prepare for boarding! Fire the rail cannon! We’re commandeering this bitch of a starship and sending her to hell!” Again the klaxons wailed and Koskov’s laughter boomed across the bridge. This was war! The comm-link crackled to life and a mixture of screams and static blasted into the bridge. To port the Vostok rippled and melted. The profanely powerful reactor vaporized the Vostok and killed Koskov’s old friend Lieutenant Kierv. With a startling cry of pure fury, Koskov stormed from the bridge as the first slugs penetrated the Blu Moon’s mighty hull. He would suit up and kill every bastard in the traitor ship. Koskov ran to his personal quarters and carefully donned the suit of ancient servo-armor first worn by his grandfather two centuries past. With a soft hiss, he disengaged the locks on a locker under his bed. Within it lay one of the most valued heirlooms and weapons of the Koskov family: a five-thousand year old sword, sheathed in a crackling energy field that cut through flesh and armor like they were soft clay. Also in the locker was an equally unique pistol. Its rose petal barbs reduced flesh to a red cloud and formed lethal shrapnel on contact with a hard surface. He would win this day. Inside the boarding tube, Koskov whipped his men into a killing frenzy. His crimson servo armor turned the already imposing man into a frightful giant and the long bayonet on his combat shotgun let the troops know that he meant business. Their anger only increased when they heard of the battle raging outside. The Hinter and Brigand were crippled and pitifully retreating and the Death Jester was fighting for its life. Even the mighty Gangut II had suffered engine damage and was therefore grappled with the Blu Moon until death took them both. The boarding tube entered the prodigious hole in the battleship’s side and welded the entry hole shut. As soon as the locks engaged, a horde of fifty enraged soldiers and their captain stormed into the guts of the enemy. The hallway ahead was dark and smoke-filled. The men progressed violently toward the bridge while a small squad of expert scouts and engineers crept toward the enginarium. This ship would be conquered and retrofitted for the future victors. Koskov led the remaining forty men strait to the heart of the enemy battleship’s command deck.
* * *
Kahn looked at the holographic display in front of him. Borders. Damn. This problem was easy enough to fix. He reached for the defensive grid activator rune and heard a dull bang. The internal supercomputer had been damaged in the assault and instead of activating the grid backfired and shut down shield grids two and four. It seemed he would have to deal with this the hard way. A simple command had Royal Guard troops storming the breach.
* * *
Koskov exploded into a large gallery near the hull breach and ran directly into a squad of ornamental guards. “To hell with these sissies,” he thought. He called his men. “Let us show these animals that it takes chutzpah to run a starship!” Koskov met the guards head on, scything with his ancient sword. A man screamed as the ancient blade eviscerated him. A quick stomp to his head ended his pain. Another man was sliced cleanly in two, left shoulder to right hip. Blood exploded across Koskov’s armor. A shot with the pistol left one man in a mist of his own torso and the rest of the squad running. In the time it took his platoon to catch up Koskov had holstered the dripping heirlooms and grabbed his shotgun from the back holster. The nearest enemy tried to flee and was impaled on Koskov’s bayonet. The man looked down to see seventeen inches of polished steel protruding from his belly. A blast from the shotgun sent the man’s corpse to the floor and sprayed his guts across the walls. In less than thirty seconds Koskov had reduced five elite warriors to meaty piles on the floor. This was the life! Koskov ran gleefully toward the bridge, killing all the way. When he finally arrived on the bridge he was drenched in gore and bleeding from numerous wounds. Thirty of his men had died in the carnage of the assault and the remaining ten were ready for anything. They ran headlong to the top level and prepared to fly the hulk of the Blu Moon home.
* * *
Kahn turned around with a start. Running toward him was an avatar of death, coated in gore and followed by ten blood-soaked marines. This was it. He pulled the antique chainsword from its sheath and activated the engine. The razor teeth spun and roared as the baroque weapon reached combat speed. Earthers would die this day. Kahn raised his gilded pistol and exploded the skull of the nearest marine as shotgun blasts slew his Royal Guard. As the last of his hand-picked guards fell wetly to the floor, Fleet Admiral Fahriq Kahn ran toward the enemy. He swung the ornate chainsword into a man, tearing his guts out and spraying them across the floor. If they dared attack him, they would suffer to no end. A shotgun blast peppered his personal shield and he turned to face the annoyance. A marine had fired on him. Two shots from the pistol stripped away first his arm, then his head. What was left fell away onto the lower levels. He raised the pistol and looked around. His bridge staff had killed the other marines. All that was left was the bastard Koskov.
* * *
Commander Viktor Koskov ran toward the enemy captain. His sword flashed across the man’s shield, each hammer blow depleting the personal shield a little bit more. Then the man struck out with his sword. Koskov was not fast enough. The ornate chainsword entered his belly and exploded out of his back. Impaled by the still-spinning blade, Koskov fell messily in two. In the enginarium the team of specialists reviewed the combat data. Koskov was dead, their beloved Gangut II was a hulk of molten slag, and only they remained. Engineer-Sergeant Tributz walked to the main engine computer and hit a large green rune labeled “execute command.” Thirty seconds later the Blu Moon was consumed by a cloud of white-hot plasma as its reactors went critical. The ship’s vast dying explosion was so powerful that every ship within ten kilometers was vaporized along with her. The battle of Phobos was a ruin but elsewhere in Mars orbit battle still raged...
----------------------------------------------------------
Age of Strife
Part 1 – Koskov’s Last Stand
To: Vice-Chancellor See’hroc, Mars High Court
From: Lord General Militant Milan Thaddeus Gryphonne, United Earth Space Fleet
Origin: United Earth Space Fleet Acheron-Class Supercruiser Devine Retribution
Target: Nergal-Class battlecruiser Red Horizon, Royal Mars Navy
...Timestamp... ...July 13. 9731... ...21:03:27...
...Loading...
...Loading...
...Loading...
Vice-Chancellor,
Just what is it you are trying to accomplish? Rebelling against the Union? Ludicrous! Not since the quickly-halted Scandinavian insurrection of 3720 has a group seceded from our great collective, and that was swiftly crushed. If you continue your barbaric machinations against us, the UESF will not hesitate to cease all food exports to the arid rock you call home. Lay down your arms and return your fleet to standby or suffer the godlike fury of my battleships. This little “incident” will get you nowhere. See’hroc, this is your last chance to stand down.
Lord General Gryphonne
Lord General Militant Milan Gryphonne
To: General Militant Milan Thaddeus Gryphonne, United Earth Space Fleet
From: Vice-Chancellor See’hroc, Mars High Court
Origin: Nergal-Class battlecruiser Red Horizon, Royal Mars Navy
Target: United Earth Space Fleet Acheron-Class Supercruiser Devine Retribution
...Timestamp... ...July 13. 9731... ...21:42:58...
...loading...
Lord General: It is you that must stand down. To take food from our beleaguered Homeworld is an insult that cannot be forgiven. You Earthers, who have already taxed us beyond our limits, are committing a crime against humanity that can only be answered in full war. Nearly seven millennia past you created us, and we were allies. Now you, the creators, will be stripped of your world by our Grand Fleets. The strife you are bringing upon your own heads will make you pray for Hell to take your wretched lives. The fleets of Anroth Sector are on the way to support us. Do not underestimate the children you have seeded the galaxy with. They are greater than even your mighty fleets.
See’hroc
* * *
Commander Viktor Koskov was a large man and ran his Rogue-Class destroyer Gangut II with an iron fist. In reality it was a titanium-neodymium servo fist, he mused, and ever since the boarding action that took his right arm in 9630 he displayed it with pride. If he could lose an arm for the Union and stay conscious long enough to kill twelve men, his crew could damn well do what was necessary.
“Engineer Tributz, cycle the drives!” He boomed in baritone Russian, “we’re going to Mars. And hurry! I didn’t invite you onto my payroll to watch you sit on your ass!”
Deep in the bowels of the 150-metre Gangut II the Johanson-Kuumar drive rumbled to life in preparation for the four-minute trans light voyage to Earth’s new nuisance. After the twenty-minute charging cycle, a large red rune appeared on the tactical holo-projector. Koscov’s polished finger set the jump in motion. Klaxons throughout the vessel wailed and the halls were bathed in red emergency lighting. Koscov returned to his command throne and strapped himself in. A series of creaks and pops issued from the hull as the taxing warp translation pulled the ship in all directions at once. A loud bang resounded through the hull and Gangut II was on her way.
* * *
Fleet Admiral Fahriq Kahn of the Royal Battleship Blu Moon was ready for war. The Anroth Sector navy was thirty-six hours away and he sat at the head of one of the largest ships within a million miles of Deimos. Earth would pay for its treachery.
“Ensign, repeat the scans. The infidels are coming and I want to be ready.”
“Affirmative.... Scans reveal nothing. Wait... damn!”
“Ensign?”
“A full UESF fleet has left earth. ETA six minutes... Sir, it’s Gryphonne.”
“Send word to the Horizon. Fire control, prepare the main batteries. I want the ion lances up in five.”
The Blu Moon exploded into life. Static electricity crackled across the hull as massive weapons powered up and solar sails unfurled. Inside the leviathan battle-ready klaxons sounded. The Blu Moon was ready, and nothing would stop her.
Throughout the Royal Navy enormous vessels crackled into life. Gunships readied their weapons; assault carriers disgorged their fighter-bomber clouds. In the bridge of the Red Horizon Vice-Chancellor See’hroc smiled. The thought of planetary genocide always brought a grin to his sharp features.
* * *
Another loud bang signaled the return to realspace. Gangut II readied her batteries and powered up the plasma sub-light drives. All around her the majesty of Gryphonne’s armada gleamed. Off in the distance was the great ruddy hulk of the Devine Retribution. The gold dome of her command bridge sparkled and Koskov’s barrel-like chest swelled with pride. He keyed the comm-link and summoned his squadron.
“Form on me. Go Delta II.” Almost as soon as the words left his mouth two Scimitar-Class gun frigates - the Hinter and the Vostok - and two Gunray-Class torpedo frigates - the Brigand and the Death Jester - formed on the Gangut II. The “Flying V” formation put each ship in a position to spearhead an assault and use every gun available. Always after glory, Koskov went straight for the biggest ship in sight. A small hologram of the target floated above the tactical display. Etched on the side, in tiny red letters, was “Blu Moon.” Capital Squadron Karamazov, led from the front by the Gangut II, shuttled menacingly toward the Blu Moon. Koskov winced as bright blobs of plasma flashed across his shields. Eight micro-nuclear torpedoes roared from the Gunrays and exploded across the Blu Moon’s hull. The form-fitting sleeve of energy absorbed the monstrous blasts, but fell under the pounding. This was Koskov’s chance. “Prepare for boarding! Fire the rail cannon! We’re commandeering this bitch of a starship and sending her to hell!” Again the klaxons wailed and Koskov’s laughter boomed across the bridge. This was war! The comm-link crackled to life and a mixture of screams and static blasted into the bridge. To port the Vostok rippled and melted. The profanely powerful reactor vaporized the Vostok and killed Koskov’s old friend Lieutenant Kierv. With a startling cry of pure fury, Koskov stormed from the bridge as the first slugs penetrated the Blu Moon’s mighty hull. He would suit up and kill every bastard in the traitor ship. Koskov ran to his personal quarters and carefully donned the suit of ancient servo-armor first worn by his grandfather two centuries past. With a soft hiss, he disengaged the locks on a locker under his bed. Within it lay one of the most valued heirlooms and weapons of the Koskov family: a five-thousand year old sword, sheathed in a crackling energy field that cut through flesh and armor like they were soft clay. Also in the locker was an equally unique pistol. Its rose petal barbs reduced flesh to a red cloud and formed lethal shrapnel on contact with a hard surface. He would win this day. Inside the boarding tube, Koskov whipped his men into a killing frenzy. His crimson servo armor turned the already imposing man into a frightful giant and the long bayonet on his combat shotgun let the troops know that he meant business. Their anger only increased when they heard of the battle raging outside. The Hinter and Brigand were crippled and pitifully retreating and the Death Jester was fighting for its life. Even the mighty Gangut II had suffered engine damage and was therefore grappled with the Blu Moon until death took them both. The boarding tube entered the prodigious hole in the battleship’s side and welded the entry hole shut. As soon as the locks engaged, a horde of fifty enraged soldiers and their captain stormed into the guts of the enemy. The hallway ahead was dark and smoke-filled. The men progressed violently toward the bridge while a small squad of expert scouts and engineers crept toward the enginarium. This ship would be conquered and retrofitted for the future victors. Koskov led the remaining forty men strait to the heart of the enemy battleship’s command deck.
* * *
Kahn looked at the holographic display in front of him. Borders. Damn. This problem was easy enough to fix. He reached for the defensive grid activator rune and heard a dull bang. The internal supercomputer had been damaged in the assault and instead of activating the grid backfired and shut down shield grids two and four. It seemed he would have to deal with this the hard way. A simple command had Royal Guard troops storming the breach.
* * *
Koskov exploded into a large gallery near the hull breach and ran directly into a squad of ornamental guards. “To hell with these sissies,” he thought. He called his men. “Let us show these animals that it takes chutzpah to run a starship!” Koskov met the guards head on, scything with his ancient sword. A man screamed as the ancient blade eviscerated him. A quick stomp to his head ended his pain. Another man was sliced cleanly in two, left shoulder to right hip. Blood exploded across Koskov’s armor. A shot with the pistol left one man in a mist of his own torso and the rest of the squad running. In the time it took his platoon to catch up Koskov had holstered the dripping heirlooms and grabbed his shotgun from the back holster. The nearest enemy tried to flee and was impaled on Koskov’s bayonet. The man looked down to see seventeen inches of polished steel protruding from his belly. A blast from the shotgun sent the man’s corpse to the floor and sprayed his guts across the walls. In less than thirty seconds Koskov had reduced five elite warriors to meaty piles on the floor. This was the life! Koskov ran gleefully toward the bridge, killing all the way. When he finally arrived on the bridge he was drenched in gore and bleeding from numerous wounds. Thirty of his men had died in the carnage of the assault and the remaining ten were ready for anything. They ran headlong to the top level and prepared to fly the hulk of the Blu Moon home.
* * *
Kahn turned around with a start. Running toward him was an avatar of death, coated in gore and followed by ten blood-soaked marines. This was it. He pulled the antique chainsword from its sheath and activated the engine. The razor teeth spun and roared as the baroque weapon reached combat speed. Earthers would die this day. Kahn raised his gilded pistol and exploded the skull of the nearest marine as shotgun blasts slew his Royal Guard. As the last of his hand-picked guards fell wetly to the floor, Fleet Admiral Fahriq Kahn ran toward the enemy. He swung the ornate chainsword into a man, tearing his guts out and spraying them across the floor. If they dared attack him, they would suffer to no end. A shotgun blast peppered his personal shield and he turned to face the annoyance. A marine had fired on him. Two shots from the pistol stripped away first his arm, then his head. What was left fell away onto the lower levels. He raised the pistol and looked around. His bridge staff had killed the other marines. All that was left was the bastard Koskov.
* * *
Commander Viktor Koskov ran toward the enemy captain. His sword flashed across the man’s shield, each hammer blow depleting the personal shield a little bit more. Then the man struck out with his sword. Koskov was not fast enough. The ornate chainsword entered his belly and exploded out of his back. Impaled by the still-spinning blade, Koskov fell messily in two. In the enginarium the team of specialists reviewed the combat data. Koskov was dead, their beloved Gangut II was a hulk of molten slag, and only they remained. Engineer-Sergeant Tributz walked to the main engine computer and hit a large green rune labeled “execute command.” Thirty seconds later the Blu Moon was consumed by a cloud of white-hot plasma as its reactors went critical. The ship’s vast dying explosion was so powerful that every ship within ten kilometers was vaporized along with her. The battle of Phobos was a ruin but elsewhere in Mars orbit battle still raged...
Paranoia Sets In
I finally got around to restricting my Facebook profile. Made it more private, untagged myself from any photos that show me ignoring laws, etc. Figured it needed to be done before I started looking for a coop job. Last thing I need is a company Facebooking me and seeing a picture of Cameron hanging out with Jack.
40K today. Paintball fell through. Rescuing Jimmy from work. Probably gonna have Joey put in two more piercings. Should be fun.
----------------
Now playing: Jimmy Eat World - The Middle
via FoxyTunes
40K today. Paintball fell through. Rescuing Jimmy from work. Probably gonna have Joey put in two more piercings. Should be fun.
----------------
Now playing: Jimmy Eat World - The Middle
via FoxyTunes
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Over the Hump
I've heard that some people have to smoke several times before the THC hits them, and once it does it'll leave you more fucked up than you should be. Yeah, that's how it is. I'm one of those people. No longer immune to the ol' wacky weed.
Anyway, things keep going. I'm playing paintball in the morning with a guy I used to work with, Nick Rosenbauer. I'm playing 40K tomorrow night with the Joes and maybe Brandon. New Years Eve is the event at Emily's (And the Onyx Reserve is waiting.) and Meagan's got a party on the fifth. School starts the seventh, so things will calm down, but I have another party in Louisville on the nineteenth. The party never ends, boys and girls.
----------------
Now playing: Fall Out Boy - Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For my Sham Friends
via FoxyTunes
Anyway, things keep going. I'm playing paintball in the morning with a guy I used to work with, Nick Rosenbauer. I'm playing 40K tomorrow night with the Joes and maybe Brandon. New Years Eve is the event at Emily's (And the Onyx Reserve is waiting.) and Meagan's got a party on the fifth. School starts the seventh, so things will calm down, but I have another party in Louisville on the nineteenth. The party never ends, boys and girls.
----------------
Now playing: Fall Out Boy - Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For my Sham Friends
via FoxyTunes
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Occasional Music Blog
Went to the library. Grabbed four more albums. They are:
Bad Religion - "New Maps of Hell"
Tenacious D - "The Pick of Destiny"
Jens Lekman - "Oh you're so silent Jens"
The Go! Team - "Proof of Youth"
The bad religion album came out this year. Jens Lekman is indie pop love songs to put it simply. The Go! Team you'll have to MySpace. It's hard to describe them, but the name is perfect. They sound like a 70s action show gone right.
I'm also on a quest for Orson if you have any. Listen to my profile song on MySpace. Then check the band's profile. You won't be disappointed. Orson, Jens Lekman and The Go! Team were all introduced to me by Sarah's indie playlists. If you want those I'll happily give them up. They've got some bad music in them but for the most part it's a spectacular use of 2 gigs.
----------------
Now playing: Orson - Everything
via FoxyTunes
Bad Religion - "New Maps of Hell"
Tenacious D - "The Pick of Destiny"
Jens Lekman - "Oh you're so silent Jens"
The Go! Team - "Proof of Youth"
The bad religion album came out this year. Jens Lekman is indie pop love songs to put it simply. The Go! Team you'll have to MySpace. It's hard to describe them, but the name is perfect. They sound like a 70s action show gone right.
I'm also on a quest for Orson if you have any. Listen to my profile song on MySpace. Then check the band's profile. You won't be disappointed. Orson, Jens Lekman and The Go! Team were all introduced to me by Sarah's indie playlists. If you want those I'll happily give them up. They've got some bad music in them but for the most part it's a spectacular use of 2 gigs.
----------------
Now playing: Orson - Everything
via FoxyTunes
Another Year, Another Jesus Day
Well, that's it for the holiday. I'm sitting here drinking Alicia's last Key Lime Stewart's instead of the beer I intended to grab, updating for no reason. I've disowned the holiday and I'm dead serious about next year. I've also killed yet another crush. That's two just in December. Helps that I only saw the girl once and am not likely to run into her again soon. Meh. Hopefully I can keep them all at bay from now on. I won't turn down anyone I'm attracted to but I hate crushing with a passion. Ain't my style.
Anyway, peace out.
----------------
Now playing: Sufjan Stevens - Chicago
via FoxyTunes
Anyway, peace out.
----------------
Now playing: Sufjan Stevens - Chicago
via FoxyTunes
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
December 2008
Fuck Christmas. I'll have my own place next year. You guys wanna come over and celebrate Festivus on the 25th? I think this is the last time I'm celebrating this holiday. The old traditions are of a faith I hate and the new traditions are the evil side of an economic system I love.
Things that make Festivus better than Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/whatever:
-No presents. Instead you make a donation to a local charity in someone's name.
-No messy decorations. The aluminum Festivus pole is simple and has a high strength-to-weight ratio.
-The Airing of Grievances. No being nice. If you have a problem with somebody, you're expected to tell them so you can reach a peaceful resolution.
-Feats of Strength. The party doesn't end until someone wrestles the host to the ground. It's fun and promotes exercise and healthy competition.
Hell with Christmas. I choose a Festivus for the rest of us!
Things that make Festivus better than Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/whatever:
-No presents. Instead you make a donation to a local charity in someone's name.
-No messy decorations. The aluminum Festivus pole is simple and has a high strength-to-weight ratio.
-The Airing of Grievances. No being nice. If you have a problem with somebody, you're expected to tell them so you can reach a peaceful resolution.
-Feats of Strength. The party doesn't end until someone wrestles the host to the ground. It's fun and promotes exercise and healthy competition.
Hell with Christmas. I choose a Festivus for the rest of us!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Micro-Blog 34
Explosion of tiny updates!
Party tomorrow! Fuck yes!
I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow. This semi-long isn't working for me. I prefer super short.
I read Kaitlin's year-end blog post. I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. That might be the tumor, though...
I still plan to put that other ring in my ear. I tried to poke the hole myself the first time and it failed spectacularly. Any volunteers?
Party tomorrow! Fuck yes!
I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow. This semi-long isn't working for me. I prefer super short.
I read Kaitlin's year-end blog post. I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. That might be the tumor, though...
I still plan to put that other ring in my ear. I tried to poke the hole myself the first time and it failed spectacularly. Any volunteers?
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Models Should Envy Me
So I've been having fun for the last two weeks and only eating three solid meals a day. I probably get 3000 calories a day in of late, which is a great deal less than my normal average. I've lost five pounds so far. I can't figure it out. I'm sure it's got something to do with a whole lot gaming, smoking, not sleeping, driving too fast, etc.
I'm half bulimic. I binge and lose weight!
Kate Nash: Sounds kinda like Lilly Allen but in a good way!
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Now playing: Kate Nash - Mouthwash
via FoxyTunes
I'm half bulimic. I binge and lose weight!
Kate Nash: Sounds kinda like Lilly Allen but in a good way!
----------------
Now playing: Kate Nash - Mouthwash
via FoxyTunes
Friday, December 21, 2007
Captain... Revise the Logs.
Seems I was wrong about my immunity to ganja. Having only eaten it once before in a small dose, I assumed that being immune to the smoke meant I was also immune to the butter. Experience holds that the smoke has no effect on me, though, so I can still follow the data and claim to be half right. I ate rather a large quantity in the form of Trish's infamous baklava and ended up stoned as fuck.
----------------
Now playing: Streetlight Manifesto - Here's To Life
via FoxyTunes
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Now playing: Streetlight Manifesto - Here's To Life
via FoxyTunes
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Huh... It's worth trying.
Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net
----------------
Now playing: The Shins - The Past And Pending
via FoxyTunes
AAAAAHHHHHH!
I really like when this happens. Every time things reach a peak something fucks up. One of my friends breaks and my mood is demolished. Meagan whacking her head in November. Alicia and I fighting. Whatever the fuck Kraut did. This is getting out of hand. Where are my ass-whooping gloves?
God damn it all, people. If it's not too late for that shit I might talk to Fifthe just to get the stress relief. I am immune to awkward.
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Now playing: Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day
via FoxyTunes
God damn it all, people. If it's not too late for that shit I might talk to Fifthe just to get the stress relief. I am immune to awkward.
----------------
Now playing: Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day
via FoxyTunes
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Changing the Stats
Meagan had a party last night. Celebrated the wrap-up of "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila." As was appropriate, we had plenty of Montezuma as well as a case of PBR and a fuckton of liquor. Brandon showed up with Kevin, who made the party rather more enjoyable until he got way too plastered and for the most part the event went off without any major disasters. Some minor disasters, though. Kevin and Amanda upchucked, I drunkenly hooked up, and Kraut is inexplicably very angry at me. I've changed the stats on the previous post to keep things accurate.
Also, a few quick notes. The weather is relatively nice today. I'm happy about that. Joey's joined the blogosphere. Find him here. I think Alicia is venturing down here with movies sometime tonight. I've another epic party tomorrow. We'll see how that goes - people are likely to get really, really baked. Amber's in the post below now.
----------------
Now playing: Battle - Paper Street
via FoxyTunes
Also, a few quick notes. The weather is relatively nice today. I'm happy about that. Joey's joined the blogosphere. Find him here. I think Alicia is venturing down here with movies sometime tonight. I've another epic party tomorrow. We'll see how that goes - people are likely to get really, really baked. Amber's in the post below now.
----------------
Now playing: Battle - Paper Street
via FoxyTunes
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
2007: The Year in Review
This has been a long motherfucker of a year. Last year around this time when I stopped to think I came to the conclusion that I was living the high life. Things could only go downhill. God damn, was I wrong. Nineteen has been a triumph. I've seen the rise and fall of friendships, two cars, a musical adventure, and more changed opinions than I care to imagine. I may finally be coming into my own as a person and settling into the path that defines me forever. The year was anything but uniform, though. It's got three distinct parts and every one carried with it different lessons and arching changes.
The Year in Segments
I. January-June
This is the least influential of the parts and the one that is most like last year. I built three friendships and watched one fade and probably learned nothing the whole time. This was the age of the ska-punk and I spent it blasting ska and wearing denim. Kaitlin became a good friend and I got to know Nikki again. Alicia became the one real friend at UC and joined me in one misadventure in April that changed everything. I'll never forget the parts I remember. The downside is that Emily's prolonged absence caused the friendship to fade into the background. We can still talk about anything but almost never do. Aside from school, thats my one lament of 2007. I also experienced the last great runs with Angus and finally killed the poor bastard.
II. June-September
This short segment is a transitional period. It was the summer of shindigs. It was the change of cars and interests. I spent the summer growing used to the Jetta and learning to love indie rock. My goal was to get buried as deeply as possible in the local music and I think I only half-succeeded. Throughout it all was the work and the shindigs.
III. September-November
I leave out December because I think it's the transition into the next year more than anything. It doesn't fit into this year because the third segment is defined by one person through whom I've met more people had more adventures than anyone else this year. One night in late August I was abducted by Nikki and met the girl and from there things went weird. Meagan's introduced me to the whole NKU cadre and re-introduced me to coworker I never imagined myself hanging out with. This chunk was defined by parties, people, and a never-ending quest to get more tunes. It built to a climax and came to a screeching halt one Thursday night when Meagan lost six months. Everything felt different from there because so many people were affected in different ways. This is also the point where I decided I might have to change majors. I've since changed my mind on that but knowing it's a possibility scares me a bit. December is the turning point, though. After the accident I also ran out of time and money so the crush on Sarah (Yeah, you, if you still read this thing) died. The year is ending well regardless of the mini-disaster and 20 should be suitably spectacular.
The People in Review
I made a lot of good friends this year and nearly lost contact with some others. This, my friends, is the list.
Kaitlin Shupert - Kaitlin is and always will be the first person I invite to a concert. We really started talking early this year and she's distressingly like my mother sometimes, but I never suspected I'd actually get to know one of the younglings I ignored. Sometimes she's like a little sister to me, but the girl's usually mature enough so I can take issues to her and actually feel like I've done something. Unfortunately our schedules have clashed in the later part of the year and we don't talk as often as we used to.
Joseph Hanna - Joseph spent a summer a year or two ago where he almost lived at my house and since then we've nearly been siblings. This year Joseph brought his cooking skills to the fore. He built a permanent fire pit in the backyard and is a huge part of any party I throw. I know he fears we only use him for his food, but I vastly prefer Joseph to my own brother in nearly every respect.
Joey Kunzleman - Joey is a creepster supreme and almost scarily polite until you get to know him. Then he's more or less an average guy with some strange tastes. I got to know him pretty well this year and think sometime in the future a roadtrip may be in order. After one drunk dial this summer, I'd love to chill with the kid and his friends and get a little hammered sometime.
Nikki Greis - I went to gradeschool with Nikki and back then knew her sister better, but we re-met through Facebook last November and spent the first half of this year getting to know each other again. She was pretty shy at first and can be really mercurial, but I feel really grounded around her. I'm not sure why that is. She also introduced me to a lot of cool people. She's more popular and outgoing than she thinks she is.
Emily Wernet - I've told things to Emily that I've told to nobody else and during a short stretch at the end of high school I don't think I had a closer friend, but this year has been marred by us drifting apart. We're still great friends and probably always will be but our distance and busy schedules are keeping us from talking to the detriment of the friendship. I've had some unforgettable adventures with her in 2007, though. Who hasn't heard of the infamous drive to Louisville with Angus's hood in the back seat?
Brandon Stephens - Brandon and I have been good friends and partners in crime for about a decade now, and it seems like most of the shit we do is entirely superficial. While we'd like to have serious conversations, our personalities and methods for dealing with things are too different for them to take place often. Still, the man is a great friend and I can rely on him for damn near anything. Besides, it's always good to know a guy who really understands the meaning of "epic."
Meagan McNeilan - Nikki introduced me to Meagan sometime in August and we spent the next two months becoming exceedingly good friends. Talking through the night with her is usually a treat and she has a lot of good things to say if you can deal with someone with a harshly judgmental side. The friendship climaxed during two weeks in November. After she bashed her head and lost six months the talks mostly stopped. We're still really good friends and I'm damn happy about that but for me, her, and a lot of other people in the group I don't think things will ever be the same. She seems to have finished the year off on a high note, though. I'm really happy about that.
Sarah Leidy - I worked with Sarah for 7 months in 2006 and we never really talked. I met her again through Meagan and for a while we were running into each other constantly. The girl has an absolutely wonderful taste in music. Between that and how often I saw her during the last quarter of this year I managed to develop a pretty solid crush that I'm pretty sure everyone but her found out about. After Meagan got hurt I basically stopped running into her and then ran out of money, so I never actually tried to do anything about the crush. Oh, well. What's important is that I still run into her often enough to have picked up a good friend.
Ryan Williams - I first knew of Ryan as the guy Meagan was interested in but in October and November we actually started talking. Ryan is a really cool guy despite the occasional mopester tendencies and collects a lot of weird and interesting music. The man's a damn good drinking buddy and has a grasp on sarcasm like nobody I've met before.
Tommy Scott - Fifthe is another of the NKU gremlins I met through Meagan and is one of the more fun people I've met from that horde. He's a douchebag, something we have in common, and knows a good cigar when he sees one. He's also the source of more WTF moments than anyone I've found at NKU. Man shot? WTF, Fifthe, WTF...
Julie Cupp - Julie is almost an NKU-er and another of Meagan's awesome friends. I met her a few times at parties but we never really talked until her car got stuck on Meagan's hill and we had nothing better to do for most of a day. The girl's batshit crazy in all the good ways and has some interesting ideas about hair but it's a guarantee that things are brighter when she's around.
Alicia Zwiebel - Alicia is my one real friend from UC and I didn't know her real well until the spring break run to Michigan. We got way too drunk and she got the honor of hauling my blacked-out ass back from the frat party and became true friends on the way. It's really strange that I get along with someone so different in values and opinions but we manage to keep things going and take interesting perspectives along on our adventures to wherever.
Stephen Reynolds - Stevo is as good a friend as ever. That's what's remarkable about him. We rarely see each other and don't communicate often but every time we meet it's like we'd never parted. It's strange that we never see each other but the friendship never deteriorates. I'm not sure why that is, but I'm really happy about it. Stevo is cool as hell and might be the most real person I know.
Amber Cummings - She wasn't in the first run of this post because I never see her, but despite being in a permanent state of serious confusion she's only ever been nice to me. With any luck I'll run into her occasionally in 2008. Doesn't seem to have happened much in late 2007.
Jimmy Nichols - Another late addition to the post, I added him because I finally decided on the right term. Jimmy is like some kind of geek Jesus. The man has the ability for cruelty because it's required in good DMing but he may be the flat-out nicest guy I've met this year. Like so many of my friends he has a neat taste in music and is a virtual encyclopedia on many things science fiction and fantasy. One of the things I missed out on in 2007 was gaming a lot with him, but I'm sure I can rectify that in 2008.
The Year in Music
I started the year with something like five gigabytes of music. That's about fifteen hundred songs. I'm finishing the year with more than sixty gigs. This has been a huge year for music and the year when I really got into indie rock. Which albums hit me the hardest? I'll embed videos when I can.
Top Five Albums of 2007
5. The Lashes - Get It
Key Song: "Sometimes the Sun"
This album is indicative of my changing crowd and my changing taste in music. It's happy indie pop played by a bunch of scenesters. None of my friends got into the album but I'm still happy when it comes up on party shuffle. I bought the album on the strength of one single, "Sometimes the Sun" and fell in love with the whole album. "Sometimes the Sun"
4. DragonForce - Inhuman Rampage
Key Song: "Through the Fire and Flames"
This album is the theme of Angus. That piece of shit had more adventures this year to the epic wailing of DragonForce than I care to remember and the album will always remind me of the aforementioned drive to Louisville and rolling out of UC with the windows down and the stereo blasting. The album also blew out three of the speakers in that car. It's the first thing I reach for when I'm asked to play something epic and reminds me that life is still fun in the end.
3. Streetlight Manifesto - Keasby Nights
Key Song: "Keasby Nights"
This album is the anthem for getting to know Nikki and seeing them live twice this year was everything I hoped it would be. Their angry commentary on life and horn-heavy brand of ska is fun to listen and dance to and makes for good driving music. This is the album that narrated the early chunk of 2007. Streetlight only made one video, though, so nothing to link you to here.
2. Ben Folds - Songs for Silverman
Key Song: "Landed"
While Ben Folds in general was one of the artists I played most this year, this is the album that I played year-round. It's the background to a lot of adventures and a lot of long contemplations about life. It also participated in one of the weirdest moments of the year. "Landed" came up in party shuffle soon after I got iTunes and Sarah IMed me with the lyrics almost in realtime. Coincidences like that shouldn't happen. "Landed"
1. The Format - Dog Problems
Key Song: "She Doesn't Get It"
I really started listening to this album this fall and heard it about daily when I was getting to know the NKU crowd. It's happy indie pop that never gets unrealistic and is written by a band who has experience with hardship and parties. The key song is "She Doesn't Get It" because it's typical of the album as a whole - ironic and happy but tempered by just a bit of melancholy.
Other notable artists:
Jimmy Eat World - Jimmy Eat World is notable for being the driving music of April and was playing on the way to Ann Arbor whenever XM wasn't.
The Pinstripes - I saw them live several times in 2007 and have some good memories from the Poison Room and Bogarts. "Uh, yeah... she vomited on my shirt."
All The Day Holiday - I got their album from Sarah a couple weeks ago and it quickly became a favorite. It's really mellow and calm. I'd love to see them live.
Fall Out Boy - I never thought I'd listen to them and me from last year would kick my ass if he found out, but I really like From Under the Cork Tree. It's strange and witty and has some well-thought-out song titles. Aside from that it's just high-energy pop-punk that's fun to listen to.
A Year of Firsts
I tried a lot of new shit in 2007 and have some interesting statistics. This is the rundown.
Times laid: 3
Grand Adventures: 3 (Utah, NYC, Ann Arbor)
Jobs: 3
Cars: 2
Crushes: 3 (0 pursued, as usual)
First flight
First real college party
First time blackout drunk
First cigarette (I used to hold a huge prejudice in favor of cigars.)
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my Year in Review. I know I still have half a month of 2007 but this is more about me being 19 than it being 2007 so midway between the two is a good starting point. I'm interested to see how it ends, though I think the year peaked at the end of November. Peace out, bitches, and have fun with life. I know I will.
----------------
Now playing: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Impression That I Get
via FoxyTunes
The Year in Segments
I. January-June
This is the least influential of the parts and the one that is most like last year. I built three friendships and watched one fade and probably learned nothing the whole time. This was the age of the ska-punk and I spent it blasting ska and wearing denim. Kaitlin became a good friend and I got to know Nikki again. Alicia became the one real friend at UC and joined me in one misadventure in April that changed everything. I'll never forget the parts I remember. The downside is that Emily's prolonged absence caused the friendship to fade into the background. We can still talk about anything but almost never do. Aside from school, thats my one lament of 2007. I also experienced the last great runs with Angus and finally killed the poor bastard.
II. June-September
This short segment is a transitional period. It was the summer of shindigs. It was the change of cars and interests. I spent the summer growing used to the Jetta and learning to love indie rock. My goal was to get buried as deeply as possible in the local music and I think I only half-succeeded. Throughout it all was the work and the shindigs.
III. September-November
I leave out December because I think it's the transition into the next year more than anything. It doesn't fit into this year because the third segment is defined by one person through whom I've met more people had more adventures than anyone else this year. One night in late August I was abducted by Nikki and met the girl and from there things went weird. Meagan's introduced me to the whole NKU cadre and re-introduced me to coworker I never imagined myself hanging out with. This chunk was defined by parties, people, and a never-ending quest to get more tunes. It built to a climax and came to a screeching halt one Thursday night when Meagan lost six months. Everything felt different from there because so many people were affected in different ways. This is also the point where I decided I might have to change majors. I've since changed my mind on that but knowing it's a possibility scares me a bit. December is the turning point, though. After the accident I also ran out of time and money so the crush on Sarah (Yeah, you, if you still read this thing) died. The year is ending well regardless of the mini-disaster and 20 should be suitably spectacular.
The People in Review
I made a lot of good friends this year and nearly lost contact with some others. This, my friends, is the list.
Kaitlin Shupert - Kaitlin is and always will be the first person I invite to a concert. We really started talking early this year and she's distressingly like my mother sometimes, but I never suspected I'd actually get to know one of the younglings I ignored. Sometimes she's like a little sister to me, but the girl's usually mature enough so I can take issues to her and actually feel like I've done something. Unfortunately our schedules have clashed in the later part of the year and we don't talk as often as we used to.
Joseph Hanna - Joseph spent a summer a year or two ago where he almost lived at my house and since then we've nearly been siblings. This year Joseph brought his cooking skills to the fore. He built a permanent fire pit in the backyard and is a huge part of any party I throw. I know he fears we only use him for his food, but I vastly prefer Joseph to my own brother in nearly every respect.
Joey Kunzleman - Joey is a creepster supreme and almost scarily polite until you get to know him. Then he's more or less an average guy with some strange tastes. I got to know him pretty well this year and think sometime in the future a roadtrip may be in order. After one drunk dial this summer, I'd love to chill with the kid and his friends and get a little hammered sometime.
Nikki Greis - I went to gradeschool with Nikki and back then knew her sister better, but we re-met through Facebook last November and spent the first half of this year getting to know each other again. She was pretty shy at first and can be really mercurial, but I feel really grounded around her. I'm not sure why that is. She also introduced me to a lot of cool people. She's more popular and outgoing than she thinks she is.
Emily Wernet - I've told things to Emily that I've told to nobody else and during a short stretch at the end of high school I don't think I had a closer friend, but this year has been marred by us drifting apart. We're still great friends and probably always will be but our distance and busy schedules are keeping us from talking to the detriment of the friendship. I've had some unforgettable adventures with her in 2007, though. Who hasn't heard of the infamous drive to Louisville with Angus's hood in the back seat?
Brandon Stephens - Brandon and I have been good friends and partners in crime for about a decade now, and it seems like most of the shit we do is entirely superficial. While we'd like to have serious conversations, our personalities and methods for dealing with things are too different for them to take place often. Still, the man is a great friend and I can rely on him for damn near anything. Besides, it's always good to know a guy who really understands the meaning of "epic."
Meagan McNeilan - Nikki introduced me to Meagan sometime in August and we spent the next two months becoming exceedingly good friends. Talking through the night with her is usually a treat and she has a lot of good things to say if you can deal with someone with a harshly judgmental side. The friendship climaxed during two weeks in November. After she bashed her head and lost six months the talks mostly stopped. We're still really good friends and I'm damn happy about that but for me, her, and a lot of other people in the group I don't think things will ever be the same. She seems to have finished the year off on a high note, though. I'm really happy about that.
Sarah Leidy - I worked with Sarah for 7 months in 2006 and we never really talked. I met her again through Meagan and for a while we were running into each other constantly. The girl has an absolutely wonderful taste in music. Between that and how often I saw her during the last quarter of this year I managed to develop a pretty solid crush that I'm pretty sure everyone but her found out about. After Meagan got hurt I basically stopped running into her and then ran out of money, so I never actually tried to do anything about the crush. Oh, well. What's important is that I still run into her often enough to have picked up a good friend.
Ryan Williams - I first knew of Ryan as the guy Meagan was interested in but in October and November we actually started talking. Ryan is a really cool guy despite the occasional mopester tendencies and collects a lot of weird and interesting music. The man's a damn good drinking buddy and has a grasp on sarcasm like nobody I've met before.
Tommy Scott - Fifthe is another of the NKU gremlins I met through Meagan and is one of the more fun people I've met from that horde. He's a douchebag, something we have in common, and knows a good cigar when he sees one. He's also the source of more WTF moments than anyone I've found at NKU. Man shot? WTF, Fifthe, WTF...
Julie Cupp - Julie is almost an NKU-er and another of Meagan's awesome friends. I met her a few times at parties but we never really talked until her car got stuck on Meagan's hill and we had nothing better to do for most of a day. The girl's batshit crazy in all the good ways and has some interesting ideas about hair but it's a guarantee that things are brighter when she's around.
Alicia Zwiebel - Alicia is my one real friend from UC and I didn't know her real well until the spring break run to Michigan. We got way too drunk and she got the honor of hauling my blacked-out ass back from the frat party and became true friends on the way. It's really strange that I get along with someone so different in values and opinions but we manage to keep things going and take interesting perspectives along on our adventures to wherever.
Stephen Reynolds - Stevo is as good a friend as ever. That's what's remarkable about him. We rarely see each other and don't communicate often but every time we meet it's like we'd never parted. It's strange that we never see each other but the friendship never deteriorates. I'm not sure why that is, but I'm really happy about it. Stevo is cool as hell and might be the most real person I know.
Amber Cummings - She wasn't in the first run of this post because I never see her, but despite being in a permanent state of serious confusion she's only ever been nice to me. With any luck I'll run into her occasionally in 2008. Doesn't seem to have happened much in late 2007.
Jimmy Nichols - Another late addition to the post, I added him because I finally decided on the right term. Jimmy is like some kind of geek Jesus. The man has the ability for cruelty because it's required in good DMing but he may be the flat-out nicest guy I've met this year. Like so many of my friends he has a neat taste in music and is a virtual encyclopedia on many things science fiction and fantasy. One of the things I missed out on in 2007 was gaming a lot with him, but I'm sure I can rectify that in 2008.
The Year in Music
I started the year with something like five gigabytes of music. That's about fifteen hundred songs. I'm finishing the year with more than sixty gigs. This has been a huge year for music and the year when I really got into indie rock. Which albums hit me the hardest? I'll embed videos when I can.
Top Five Albums of 2007
5. The Lashes - Get It
Key Song: "Sometimes the Sun"
This album is indicative of my changing crowd and my changing taste in music. It's happy indie pop played by a bunch of scenesters. None of my friends got into the album but I'm still happy when it comes up on party shuffle. I bought the album on the strength of one single, "Sometimes the Sun" and fell in love with the whole album. "Sometimes the Sun"
4. DragonForce - Inhuman Rampage
Key Song: "Through the Fire and Flames"
This album is the theme of Angus. That piece of shit had more adventures this year to the epic wailing of DragonForce than I care to remember and the album will always remind me of the aforementioned drive to Louisville and rolling out of UC with the windows down and the stereo blasting. The album also blew out three of the speakers in that car. It's the first thing I reach for when I'm asked to play something epic and reminds me that life is still fun in the end.
3. Streetlight Manifesto - Keasby Nights
Key Song: "Keasby Nights"
This album is the anthem for getting to know Nikki and seeing them live twice this year was everything I hoped it would be. Their angry commentary on life and horn-heavy brand of ska is fun to listen and dance to and makes for good driving music. This is the album that narrated the early chunk of 2007. Streetlight only made one video, though, so nothing to link you to here.
2. Ben Folds - Songs for Silverman
Key Song: "Landed"
While Ben Folds in general was one of the artists I played most this year, this is the album that I played year-round. It's the background to a lot of adventures and a lot of long contemplations about life. It also participated in one of the weirdest moments of the year. "Landed" came up in party shuffle soon after I got iTunes and Sarah IMed me with the lyrics almost in realtime. Coincidences like that shouldn't happen. "Landed"
1. The Format - Dog Problems
Key Song: "She Doesn't Get It"
I really started listening to this album this fall and heard it about daily when I was getting to know the NKU crowd. It's happy indie pop that never gets unrealistic and is written by a band who has experience with hardship and parties. The key song is "She Doesn't Get It" because it's typical of the album as a whole - ironic and happy but tempered by just a bit of melancholy.
Other notable artists:
Jimmy Eat World - Jimmy Eat World is notable for being the driving music of April and was playing on the way to Ann Arbor whenever XM wasn't.
The Pinstripes - I saw them live several times in 2007 and have some good memories from the Poison Room and Bogarts. "Uh, yeah... she vomited on my shirt."
All The Day Holiday - I got their album from Sarah a couple weeks ago and it quickly became a favorite. It's really mellow and calm. I'd love to see them live.
Fall Out Boy - I never thought I'd listen to them and me from last year would kick my ass if he found out, but I really like From Under the Cork Tree. It's strange and witty and has some well-thought-out song titles. Aside from that it's just high-energy pop-punk that's fun to listen to.
A Year of Firsts
I tried a lot of new shit in 2007 and have some interesting statistics. This is the rundown.
Times laid: 3
Grand Adventures: 3 (Utah, NYC, Ann Arbor)
Jobs: 3
Cars: 2
Crushes: 3 (0 pursued, as usual)
First flight
First real college party
First time blackout drunk
First cigarette (I used to hold a huge prejudice in favor of cigars.)
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my Year in Review. I know I still have half a month of 2007 but this is more about me being 19 than it being 2007 so midway between the two is a good starting point. I'm interested to see how it ends, though I think the year peaked at the end of November. Peace out, bitches, and have fun with life. I know I will.
----------------
Now playing: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Impression That I Get
via FoxyTunes
Writing a Damn Book
I've been putting in an hour or so a day on a huge year-end post. It's got everything from a review of the year to the people who influenced me to the obligatory segment on tunes. It'll be the longest post I've written with the possible exception of the short story I posted in August and it features an analysis of what 2007 was to me. Any of you planning anything similar?
----------------
Now playing: The Format - Time Bomb
via FoxyTunes
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Now playing: The Format - Time Bomb
via FoxyTunes
Monday, December 17, 2007
Zoom!
I'm always going to smile when I get my car going fast enough to get it below normal operating temperature. The cooling system is too efficient and I'm driving too fast.
:D
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Now playing: Fall Out Boy - Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year
via FoxyTunes
:D
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Now playing: Fall Out Boy - Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year
via FoxyTunes
Sunday, December 16, 2007
See "Loop, Endless."
Definition for "Endless Loop."
Just when I think I've made my escape, another one comes to get me. The title is only a passing reference to what's going on. I'm keeping it deliberately cryptic. If I'm short on empathy or seem confused for a couple days, I have a reason.
Dammit. I'm sure I'll eventually find a way to stop this silliness.
I've had "All My Friends" more or less on repeat through YouTube. The song is the mood for this post. It's sad without being mopey and mellow without being depressing.
"You spend the first five years trying to get with the plan and the next five years trying to be with your friends again."
Just when I think I've made my escape, another one comes to get me. The title is only a passing reference to what's going on. I'm keeping it deliberately cryptic. If I'm short on empathy or seem confused for a couple days, I have a reason.
Dammit. I'm sure I'll eventually find a way to stop this silliness.
I've had "All My Friends" more or less on repeat through YouTube. The song is the mood for this post. It's sad without being mopey and mellow without being depressing.
"You spend the first five years trying to get with the plan and the next five years trying to be with your friends again."
Saturday, December 15, 2007
The Party Never Stops
Recap of the last two or so days:
Woke up at 8 AM Thursday. Went to Meagan's party, chilled, got a little buzzed, chilled, drove to AJ Jolly, literally chilled, nodded off, returned home at 6 AM.
Slept half the day.
Hung out with Joseph and Brandon, went to a party, hung out, faced some awkward situation, had some cognac, hung out some more, talked politics with geeks, made some friends, went on an adventure with Dora and Julia, didn't die in the snow, returned home at 2 PM.
Slept some more.
My brain is pulp. Tonight it continues with some 40K at my place.
I might go into more detail on some of this later, but the weird-ass sleep schedule has ruined my brain.
----------------
Now playing: All The Day Holiday - Take a Moment (And See What You Can See)
via FoxyTunes
Woke up at 8 AM Thursday. Went to Meagan's party, chilled, got a little buzzed, chilled, drove to AJ Jolly, literally chilled, nodded off, returned home at 6 AM.
Slept half the day.
Hung out with Joseph and Brandon, went to a party, hung out, faced some awkward situation, had some cognac, hung out some more, talked politics with geeks, made some friends, went on an adventure with Dora and Julia, didn't die in the snow, returned home at 2 PM.
Slept some more.
My brain is pulp. Tonight it continues with some 40K at my place.
I might go into more detail on some of this later, but the weird-ass sleep schedule has ruined my brain.
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Now playing: All The Day Holiday - Take a Moment (And See What You Can See)
via FoxyTunes
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Music Blog!
Installment two! First off, I saw this song on Jeph Jacque's music blog as his no. 1 song of 2K7. I've always been leery of LCD Soundsystem and while most of their stuff is highly annoying, this song really struck a chord. Just goes to show you that almost every band has a good song.
I also found out that Ben Lee, of The Bens, covered Against Me!'s New Wave. The whole album. While I prefer what I've heard from Against Me!, it isn't bad. You can find it here. If you scroll down you'll see a button where you can download the whole album free.
Went to the library today. Got "Strange and Beautiful" by Aqualung and "Odditorium or Warlords of Mars" by The Dandy Warhols. I think I'm gonna change my MySpace song to the title track from the Aqualung album.
If you look below, you'll see The Best Revenge. Any of you who have been to the Orange Cat with me should recognize it. Josh Elstro and an acoustic guitar sound good recorded and when you see him live he always has a good story to tell.
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Now playing: The Best Revenge - Assisted Living
via FoxyTunes
I also found out that Ben Lee, of The Bens, covered Against Me!'s New Wave. The whole album. While I prefer what I've heard from Against Me!, it isn't bad. You can find it here. If you scroll down you'll see a button where you can download the whole album free.
Went to the library today. Got "Strange and Beautiful" by Aqualung and "Odditorium or Warlords of Mars" by The Dandy Warhols. I think I'm gonna change my MySpace song to the title track from the Aqualung album.
If you look below, you'll see The Best Revenge. Any of you who have been to the Orange Cat with me should recognize it. Josh Elstro and an acoustic guitar sound good recorded and when you see him live he always has a good story to tell.
----------------
Now playing: The Best Revenge - Assisted Living
via FoxyTunes
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
DOOM
This will be stuck in your head forever. Kaitlin linked me to it a while ago.
Also, I quit my job.
Speaking of catchy tunes...
Now playing: Basshunter - Boten Anna
via FoxyTunes
Also, I quit my job.
Speaking of catchy tunes...
Jag känner en bot, hon heter Anna, Anna heter hon----------------
Och hon kan banna, banna dig så hårt
Hon röjer upp i våran kanal
Jag vill berätta för dig, att jag känner en bot
Now playing: Basshunter - Boten Anna
via FoxyTunes
Done
Finished. That's it. I give up.
First thing tomorrow I'm calling Crown up and telling them I won't be working anymore. It's that or go in and start shooting people. I fucking hate this job. I hate the hours. I hate the metal detectors. I hate the no hats no hoodies no cell phones rules. I'm done. Fuck this shit. They can take their $9.25 an hour and shove it.
Gates really let me down when they stopped hiring from Manpower. I'd have done that for a month with a smile on my face.
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Now playing: The Format - If Work Permits
via FoxyTunes
First thing tomorrow I'm calling Crown up and telling them I won't be working anymore. It's that or go in and start shooting people. I fucking hate this job. I hate the hours. I hate the metal detectors. I hate the no hats no hoodies no cell phones rules. I'm done. Fuck this shit. They can take their $9.25 an hour and shove it.
Gates really let me down when they stopped hiring from Manpower. I'd have done that for a month with a smile on my face.
----------------
Now playing: The Format - If Work Permits
via FoxyTunes
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The World Rejoices
I checked Brandon's blog. Then I checked the weather to make sure. Then I walked outside. It's damn near 70. Holy fuck in a bucket! Woo-hoo!
Happy birthday to me, indeed!
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Now playing: Smoking Popes - Megan
via FoxyTunes
Happy birthday to me, indeed!
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Now playing: Smoking Popes - Megan
via FoxyTunes
Pair of Tens
Happy birthday me! I'm not a teenager for once.
I hate my life, and this is 100% due to my job. I think I'm gonna quit soon. I'll give it one more week, but I spend 10 hours a day watching the clock.
I got 26 texts from 14 people. About ten of them were from Julie. You guys are awesome. Made all the unhappiness of the shift melt away.
So, uh... I'm twenty. Yep. I guess this is one of those milestones. One of the birthdays where I look back and think about shit. I'm a quarter to a fifth done with life, and nothing is the same as it was just a few years back. Hell, nothing is the same as it was one year back. I've met so many and done so much it's a wonder my head isn't spinning. I don't know what happened, but you guys are like family, so thanks for being there. It's been a long two decades.
----------------
Now playing: Streetlight Manifesto - One Foot On The Gas, One Foot In The Grave
via FoxyTunes
I hate my life, and this is 100% due to my job. I think I'm gonna quit soon. I'll give it one more week, but I spend 10 hours a day watching the clock.
I got 26 texts from 14 people. About ten of them were from Julie. You guys are awesome. Made all the unhappiness of the shift melt away.
So, uh... I'm twenty. Yep. I guess this is one of those milestones. One of the birthdays where I look back and think about shit. I'm a quarter to a fifth done with life, and nothing is the same as it was just a few years back. Hell, nothing is the same as it was one year back. I've met so many and done so much it's a wonder my head isn't spinning. I don't know what happened, but you guys are like family, so thanks for being there. It's been a long two decades.
----------------
Now playing: Streetlight Manifesto - One Foot On The Gas, One Foot In The Grave
via FoxyTunes
Sunday, December 09, 2007
The Rules
I work at a warehouse in Hebron on some sort of hybrid 2nd-3rd shift thing. This you know. What you don't know:
I'm not allowed to take my phone into the building. My breaks are at 9:00, 11:00, and 3:00. I'll usually run to the car to check my phone at lunch. I won't on the breaks because leaving the building involves a metal detector and procedures only slightly less strict than the average airport. Unless you have something important to say or an event to invite me to, don't text me while I'm at work. I don't appreciate going to my car to find six texts asking me what's going on. I'm at work. That's what's going on. Also, I get home at five and plan on sleeping until probably two. My phone will be on silent between the hours of five and two. I don't give a fuck if your mom fucked your dog and got AIDS and you want to tell me. I'm not picking up for shit.
Angry angry angry!
I'm not allowed to take my phone into the building. My breaks are at 9:00, 11:00, and 3:00. I'll usually run to the car to check my phone at lunch. I won't on the breaks because leaving the building involves a metal detector and procedures only slightly less strict than the average airport. Unless you have something important to say or an event to invite me to, don't text me while I'm at work. I don't appreciate going to my car to find six texts asking me what's going on. I'm at work. That's what's going on. Also, I get home at five and plan on sleeping until probably two. My phone will be on silent between the hours of five and two. I don't give a fuck if your mom fucked your dog and got AIDS and you want to tell me. I'm not picking up for shit.
Angry angry angry!
Friday, December 07, 2007
The Schedule
Got a job. I'm at yet another warehouse. My shift: Saturday-Tuesday 6:00 PM to 4:30 AM. I start tomorrow, which means I will miss my own shindig. The shindig is still on; I'll simply transfer host duties to whatever volunteers I get.
Just thought you'd like to know.
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Now playing: Jimmy Eat World - Work
via FoxyTunes
Just thought you'd like to know.
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Now playing: Jimmy Eat World - Work
via FoxyTunes
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Jebus!
Busy-ass day tomorrow. My list of shit to do:
Job interview thing at 9:00 in Union.
Organic Chemistry final at 1:30 at UC.
Taking the truck to Taylor Mill to get wood after the exam.
Returning the wood, moving it to the back yard.
Going to the Mad Hatter to see We Are The Fury free.
Chilling with Jimmy after the concert.
Getting as much sleep as possible before the shindig thing at 4 on Saturday. Joe's cooking fried chicken.
My brain's gonna melt.
----------------
Now playing: Basshunter - Utan Stjärnorna
via FoxyTunes
Job interview thing at 9:00 in Union.
Organic Chemistry final at 1:30 at UC.
Taking the truck to Taylor Mill to get wood after the exam.
Returning the wood, moving it to the back yard.
Going to the Mad Hatter to see We Are The Fury free.
Chilling with Jimmy after the concert.
Getting as much sleep as possible before the shindig thing at 4 on Saturday. Joe's cooking fried chicken.
My brain's gonna melt.
----------------
Now playing: Basshunter - Utan Stjärnorna
via FoxyTunes
Weekly (?) Music Blog
This'll usually just be a list of what I've picked up this week, but as a repository of music I should probably talk about it at least occasionally. This week's finds:
Color the Small One - Sia
Vapor Trails - Rush
Okonokos Double Live Album - My Morning Jacket
Classics - Ratatat
Wagonmaster - Porter Wagoner
The Execution of All Things - Rilo Kiley
Blind Melon - Blind Melon
Let's Get Out Of This Country - Camera Obscura
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Now playing: Ben Folds - Bitches Ain't Shit
via FoxyTunes
Color the Small One - Sia
Vapor Trails - Rush
Okonokos Double Live Album - My Morning Jacket
Classics - Ratatat
Wagonmaster - Porter Wagoner
The Execution of All Things - Rilo Kiley
Blind Melon - Blind Melon
Let's Get Out Of This Country - Camera Obscura
----------------
Now playing: Ben Folds - Bitches Ain't Shit
via FoxyTunes
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
The rain is malfunctioning.
I hate snow like Klansmen hate everyone who isn't in the klan. My thoughts about snow are similar to their thoughts about two gay Jewish black men getting married.
Let's lynch some snowflakes! If I get to work on global warming now maybe I can prevent winter next year.
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Now playing: Malajube - Montreal -40c
via FoxyTunes
Let's lynch some snowflakes! If I get to work on global warming now maybe I can prevent winter next year.
----------------
Now playing: Malajube - Montreal -40c
via FoxyTunes
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Holy Living Fuck!
GUYS! FREE CONCERT!
Jimmy told me about it. I'm going. The details: Friday, 8 PM, The Mad Hatter, We Are The Fury. Click on the band name to hear songs. Click on the venue name to see details. We should carpool! Did I mention that it was free?
Jimmy told me about it. I'm going. The details: Friday, 8 PM, The Mad Hatter, We Are The Fury. Click on the band name to hear songs. Click on the venue name to see details. We should carpool! Did I mention that it was free?
Disinterest Takes Hold
So apparently conversations are going down about how I haven't updated in several days. Don't believe me? Look at this. This is primarily because nothing of note has happened. I honestly didn't know you all gave a fuck when or if I updated.
You want the grubby details? I got some more music tonight. A few albums from Saalfield. Nothing remarkable. Went to Whitey's after chilling with Meagan, Sarah, Nikki, Chris, Shipp. This is the most action I've had since probably Friday, not counting a movie night with Alicia. I'll update frequently again when my life is less of a bore. I'm not bitching about it. If I get bored I just put up a semi-whiny away message and find a book or a meal. Meh. It'll pick up soon enough. I go to Manpower tomorrow and have an exam Friday. Monday is theoretically the start of my winter job.
Peace out, bitches. Below is maybe the best collaboration of all time.
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Now playing: David Bowie - Under Pressure (W/ Queen)
via FoxyTunes
You want the grubby details? I got some more music tonight. A few albums from Saalfield. Nothing remarkable. Went to Whitey's after chilling with Meagan, Sarah, Nikki, Chris, Shipp. This is the most action I've had since probably Friday, not counting a movie night with Alicia. I'll update frequently again when my life is less of a bore. I'm not bitching about it. If I get bored I just put up a semi-whiny away message and find a book or a meal. Meh. It'll pick up soon enough. I go to Manpower tomorrow and have an exam Friday. Monday is theoretically the start of my winter job.
Peace out, bitches. Below is maybe the best collaboration of all time.
----------------
Now playing: David Bowie - Under Pressure (W/ Queen)
via FoxyTunes
Saturday, December 01, 2007
IDEA
Hey, you guys! My birthday is December 11. So is this show. It's All the Day Holiday at The Gypsy Hut. Best birthday present ever: Find out if it has an age restriction. Otherwise it's free. I would like nothing better than to drag some of you along with me. I know Sarah'd be interested in a free All the Day Holiday show but I don't know which of my other readers would.
Also, I have an exam Friday but other than that my week is empty. If you can think of anything - even something as simple as chilling sometime - let me know. I feel like I haven't been hanging out with you wonderful people as often as I should be.
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Now playing: The Killers - All These Things That I've Done
via FoxyTunes
Also, I have an exam Friday but other than that my week is empty. If you can think of anything - even something as simple as chilling sometime - let me know. I feel like I haven't been hanging out with you wonderful people as often as I should be.
----------------
Now playing: The Killers - All These Things That I've Done
via FoxyTunes
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