This is just because I'm bored out of my mind and the stuff I could write about needs more time and patience (and attention span) than I have at the moment. So here's something to entertain y'all.
He's wearing American Eagle! Oh Ricky, you've let me down. But he does look oh so gorgeous. Can't deny that.
27.3.06
Belated Five
1) Of the various cultures, ethnicities or nationalities you belong to, which most strongly do you consider yourself?
Due to the fact that my heritage is a little fuzzy, I'll go with the one that my family isn't even entirely sure about. That would be French. Really though I don't feel very connected to any of the cultures I'm connected to. Except maybe German. Obstinancy runs in the family.
2) Is there a culture you cannot claim heritage from but which you feel quite close to?
BRITISH. But you already knew that.
3) What's one language you wish you knew fluently?
I wish I could speak French. I also wish that I could just know it, not have to work at being fluent in French. I just want to know French.
4) If you could move anywhere in the world and be guaranteed a job, etc., where would you go?
UNITED KINGDOM. Absolutly anywhere in the UK. ^_^ But you already knew that.
5) If you had a time machine, and could witness any one event without altering or disturbing it, what would you want to see?
The first production of The Tempest. I would seriously love to watch the original cast of that play. Positively my favorite. Besides, it's the perfect spectator sport.
Due to the fact that my heritage is a little fuzzy, I'll go with the one that my family isn't even entirely sure about. That would be French. Really though I don't feel very connected to any of the cultures I'm connected to. Except maybe German. Obstinancy runs in the family.
2) Is there a culture you cannot claim heritage from but which you feel quite close to?
BRITISH. But you already knew that.
3) What's one language you wish you knew fluently?
I wish I could speak French. I also wish that I could just know it, not have to work at being fluent in French. I just want to know French.
4) If you could move anywhere in the world and be guaranteed a job, etc., where would you go?
UNITED KINGDOM. Absolutly anywhere in the UK. ^_^ But you already knew that.
5) If you had a time machine, and could witness any one event without altering or disturbing it, what would you want to see?
The first production of The Tempest. I would seriously love to watch the original cast of that play. Positively my favorite. Besides, it's the perfect spectator sport.
Funny Little Frog
Stuart Murdoch can read my mind. Either that or he knows what it feels like to be sadly obsessed. Anyhoo here are the lyrics to Funny Little Frog off of The Life Pursuit.
Honey, lovin' you is the greatest thing,
I get to be myself and I get to sing,
I get to play at being irresponsible,
I come home late and love your soul,
I never forget you in my prayers,
I never have a bad thing to report.
You're my picture on the wall,
You're my vision in the hall,
You're the one I'm talking to,
When I get in from my work,
You are my girl, and you don't even know it,
I am living out the life of a poet,
I am the jester in the ancient court,
You're the funny little frog in my throat.
My eye sight's fading, my hearing's dim,
I can't get insured for the state I'm in,
I'm a danger to myself I've been starting fights,
At the party at the club on a Saturday night,
But I don't get disapproving from my girl,
She gets all the highlights wrapped in pearls.
You're my picture on the wall,
You're my vision in the hall,
You're the one I'm talking to,
When I get in from my work,
You are my girl, and you don't even know it,
I am living out the life of a poet,
I am the jester in the ancient court,
You're the funny little frog in my throat.
I had a conversation with you at night,
It's a little one sided but that's all right,
I tell you in the kitchen about my day,
You sit on the bed in the dark changing places,
With the ghost that was there before you came,
You've come to save my life again.
I don't dare to touch your hand,
I don't dare to think of you,
In a physical way,
And I don't know how you smell,
You are the cover of my magazine,
You're my fashion tip, a living museum,
I'd pay to visit you on rainy Sundays,
And maybe tell you all about it, someday.
Now just pretend it's about a guy.
Honey, lovin' you is the greatest thing,
I get to be myself and I get to sing,
I get to play at being irresponsible,
I come home late and love your soul,
I never forget you in my prayers,
I never have a bad thing to report.
You're my picture on the wall,
You're my vision in the hall,
You're the one I'm talking to,
When I get in from my work,
You are my girl, and you don't even know it,
I am living out the life of a poet,
I am the jester in the ancient court,
You're the funny little frog in my throat.
My eye sight's fading, my hearing's dim,
I can't get insured for the state I'm in,
I'm a danger to myself I've been starting fights,
At the party at the club on a Saturday night,
But I don't get disapproving from my girl,
She gets all the highlights wrapped in pearls.
You're my picture on the wall,
You're my vision in the hall,
You're the one I'm talking to,
When I get in from my work,
You are my girl, and you don't even know it,
I am living out the life of a poet,
I am the jester in the ancient court,
You're the funny little frog in my throat.
I had a conversation with you at night,
It's a little one sided but that's all right,
I tell you in the kitchen about my day,
You sit on the bed in the dark changing places,
With the ghost that was there before you came,
You've come to save my life again.
I don't dare to touch your hand,
I don't dare to think of you,
In a physical way,
And I don't know how you smell,
You are the cover of my magazine,
You're my fashion tip, a living museum,
I'd pay to visit you on rainy Sundays,
And maybe tell you all about it, someday.
Now just pretend it's about a guy.
25.3.06
Saturday Morning/Afternoon
Pardon the following. My brain is totally freaking out about this. I need to get it out: HE'S COMING TO MY HOUSE!!! HE'S GOING TO SEE MY HOUSE!!!!! HE'S GOING TO MEET SOPHS!!!! OMG!!!!! AND HE'LL MEET DAD!!! AND EVERYONE ELSE!! THE DOGS ARE GOING TO ATTACK HIM!!!! AND ALEX IS SICK!!!!! ALONE, FOR TWO HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! O.M.G!!!!!!!
Anyway now that's all over with. Umm. I got KT Tunstall's cd and Missing Songs. Missing Songs is a "collection of B sides previously only available on limited edition singles". By Maximo Park. Because unlike the rest of the recording world (aka Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand etc) they love their American fans. Which I appreciate quite a lot. In getting this CD I have found out the following: Their demo versions of Graffiti and Once, A Glimpse are fairly different from their record versions. Which is really cool. Also they did a cover of a John "Sans the Beatles" Lennon song. Which is also pretty spiff. In any event I was happy we went to Borders yesterday. I like getting good music.
George Mason won their basketball game last night. I think last night was the first time I was actually excited about a basketball (or any other sports) game. We watched the whole thing. It was really quite exciting. Anyhoo that's all the news that's fit to print. Just remember: Loghman's coming to my house. I'll never be the same after this.
Anyway now that's all over with. Umm. I got KT Tunstall's cd and Missing Songs. Missing Songs is a "collection of B sides previously only available on limited edition singles". By Maximo Park. Because unlike the rest of the recording world (aka Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand etc) they love their American fans. Which I appreciate quite a lot. In getting this CD I have found out the following: Their demo versions of Graffiti and Once, A Glimpse are fairly different from their record versions. Which is really cool. Also they did a cover of a John "Sans the Beatles" Lennon song. Which is also pretty spiff. In any event I was happy we went to Borders yesterday. I like getting good music.
George Mason won their basketball game last night. I think last night was the first time I was actually excited about a basketball (or any other sports) game. We watched the whole thing. It was really quite exciting. Anyhoo that's all the news that's fit to print. Just remember: Loghman's coming to my house. I'll never be the same after this.
20.3.06
Riot Van
I only half know the lyrics to most of these songs. I only just figured out that Alex is saying "get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook." I thought he was saying "get off the bandwagon put down the amp plug." Fairly close I think. But in any event I'm only picking up half of what he's singing. I've figured out most of "Mardy Bum" and "A Certain Romance." I have the chorus to "Perhaps Vampires...". All in all I feel pretty spiff. Besides I make every effort to not listen to this particular CD on repeat or for that matter Kaiser Chiefs on repeat. I'm being kind of funny about my music at the moment. Why can't I just accept the rotation pattern? Why I can't I just accept that I'm an anglophile? Oh well, fighting the temptation to listen to Employment for the upteenth million time is fun. Besides, I have sooooo many CDs I could listen to instead. Yup. Like The Strokes. Or The Vines. Yup.
Boobie. I have to put my shit away now. Nighty-poo.
Boobie. I have to put my shit away now. Nighty-poo.
The Vines
Exploration is fun, if not slightly scary. Listening to the Vines after all this time is kind of like that. Thankfully I have no memories linked to any of the songs (so far) other than what I liked back when Highly Evolved came out. All of four years ago. 7th grade. Right. :thinks hard: Nope, no triggers. I still like slow songs better than fast ones oddly enough. I guess I sound (and feel) less ridiculous when I'm singing along. I sound (and feel) ridiculous when I sing along to the fast screamy songs. I'm not a screamer.
Feeling slightly ADD at the moment. So pardon the shortness of this entry while I wonder off into other activities.
Feeling slightly ADD at the moment. So pardon the shortness of this entry while I wonder off into other activities.
17.3.06
A Clockwork Orange
I think I've found my favorite movie. "A Clockwork Orange." Oh my God that was the best movie I've ever watched. It's like...I dunno and extremely violent version of Monty Python. Fuck it is so peverse. Oh but I love it. Malcom McDowell was fucking brilliant. Oh! Oh! And they used La Gazza Ladra during multiple scenes of violence! I laughed so hard. Fuck. That is definatly my favorite movie.
Quick Five
I'm just going to do these real fast. Have fun!
1) If you were to star in a movie, who would you want to be cast as your love interest?
:sarcastically: Jeeze I don't know. Maybe that rock star guy I'm always talking about. Maybe.
2) What genre of movie would you most like to star in?
Something between a drama and a romantic comedy. Like a Preston Sturges movie.
3) What song would you insist be on the soundtrack?
Oh cor. Dunno. Probably "Modern Way" or "Absolute Beginners." One of my favorites. Though it would be hard to pick, very hard.
4) What would you wear to the premiere of your movie?
GREEN!! Dark green, satin. Scoop neck and very long. Elegant. Green emerald studs. Simple necklace, probably silver. And my new ring.
5) Who would you thank in your Oscar acceptance speech?
Mums, Dad, Julian Barnes, Douglas Adams, the big hands of fate. Something like that.
1) If you were to star in a movie, who would you want to be cast as your love interest?
:sarcastically: Jeeze I don't know. Maybe that rock star guy I'm always talking about. Maybe.
2) What genre of movie would you most like to star in?
Something between a drama and a romantic comedy. Like a Preston Sturges movie.
3) What song would you insist be on the soundtrack?
Oh cor. Dunno. Probably "Modern Way" or "Absolute Beginners." One of my favorites. Though it would be hard to pick, very hard.
4) What would you wear to the premiere of your movie?
GREEN!! Dark green, satin. Scoop neck and very long. Elegant. Green emerald studs. Simple necklace, probably silver. And my new ring.
5) Who would you thank in your Oscar acceptance speech?
Mums, Dad, Julian Barnes, Douglas Adams, the big hands of fate. Something like that.
16.3.06
Entry Part 2 --- Math Class
There's one way to know whether there's a quiz or not. Check to see whether the overhead screen is down. If it is there's going to be a quiz. Fairly simple and easy to detect.
Today was one of those days. Bad allergies plus lack of enthusiasm makes this Nore tired. Physics had been spent reading The Truth because the actually class was extremely boring. In any event I wasn't really awake. Enter math class and there's the signs of a quiz. Not horribly excited, but more apathetic than anything. Too tired to care.
The screen goes and there before my eyes is an equation: x!/7k. First question: find k. I don't like to variable questions. I also don't like having only a vague sense of what the hell I'm suppose to be doing. I stare at the question for awhile, contemplate the fact that all probabilities must add up to one and what that has to do with the problem. Give up easily and start writing. The lunch bell rings and I stuff the mostly blank paper into my backpack. What's the point? Then, because fate had other plans for me, Mr. Sharp notices the lack of my name in the quiz pile. I tell him the truth. He reconfirms what I was thinking and makes me do the quiz. I start out, think I've got something and then get stuck. Mr. Sharp comes back, looks at what I've done and then goes through my notes, finds an example and tells me to look over what was done there. I look at the problem and do the quiz. Easy. Before everyone comes back from lunch I give it to Mr. Sharp who then says I need a kick in the butt. I get a kick in the butt. Rather literally too.
So, for the first time in my life, someone is giving me a fair shake at things. Someone, other than my parents and a few select people, believes in me. Not that this should come as some huge suprise but it feels nice. So whats the lesson at the end of the day? I know what I'm doing, if only I'd admit I know what I'm doing. 3 and half quarters and I still don't believe in myself. Amazing isn't it?
Today was one of those days. Bad allergies plus lack of enthusiasm makes this Nore tired. Physics had been spent reading The Truth because the actually class was extremely boring. In any event I wasn't really awake. Enter math class and there's the signs of a quiz. Not horribly excited, but more apathetic than anything. Too tired to care.
The screen goes and there before my eyes is an equation: x!/7k. First question: find k. I don't like to variable questions. I also don't like having only a vague sense of what the hell I'm suppose to be doing. I stare at the question for awhile, contemplate the fact that all probabilities must add up to one and what that has to do with the problem. Give up easily and start writing. The lunch bell rings and I stuff the mostly blank paper into my backpack. What's the point? Then, because fate had other plans for me, Mr. Sharp notices the lack of my name in the quiz pile. I tell him the truth. He reconfirms what I was thinking and makes me do the quiz. I start out, think I've got something and then get stuck. Mr. Sharp comes back, looks at what I've done and then goes through my notes, finds an example and tells me to look over what was done there. I look at the problem and do the quiz. Easy. Before everyone comes back from lunch I give it to Mr. Sharp who then says I need a kick in the butt. I get a kick in the butt. Rather literally too.
So, for the first time in my life, someone is giving me a fair shake at things. Someone, other than my parents and a few select people, believes in me. Not that this should come as some huge suprise but it feels nice. So whats the lesson at the end of the day? I know what I'm doing, if only I'd admit I know what I'm doing. 3 and half quarters and I still don't believe in myself. Amazing isn't it?
Entry Part 1 --- Scared Shitless
I hear birds chirping outside my window. It's March and about a month till spring break. Which means there's about a month till the end of the third quarter. I'm scared shitless of my recent behavior but silently determined not to let myself undermine me. The weather doesn't scream spring but I know it's around the corner. Trees have started blooming and my eyes are determined to kill me by sheer force of itchyness. Less than two months till my birthday. Everything is adding up to the end of school, which is only 3 months away. You'd be suprised how quickly 3 months can go by.
I'm scared of being a senior because I'm scared of going to college. I'm scared of graduating, moving away from my comfort zone. Everyone is looking to the summer while I look to the future, black and unknown. I've yet to conquer my demons and I know that if I don't do it soon acceptance letters and dorm rooms will be dancing in front of my face, tempting me to abandon what I've been working towards. God I'm scared of the unknown. I'm scared of next year. I'm scared of applications. I'm scared of not having anyone older than me. I'll be the oldest and God if I'm not scared. I'm scared of the rest of this year, scared that I might fall back on my old habits because I'm so scared.
Ridiculous to be thinking about all of this now, with 3 months of school left and another 2 and half months till school starts up again. Stupid is another way to put it. Freaking myself out before it even begins. But everyone keeps talking about summer, how excited they are about school ending. Everyone wants it to end while I'm holding onto the reminants of my childhood for dear life. Less than a 2 months and I'll be a legal adult. Why does anyone want to grow up?
No one can see the fear though. I'm good at hiding this stuff. But it's there, hiding behind my self assured grin. I talk about going to college, I talk about how excited I am about being a senior. What I really mean is that I'm excited about the theory, the idea, the concept of being a senior, of going to college. Actually doing those things? Being a senior? Scares the shit out of me. But I'll keep pushing. Keep hiding behind the smile I put on my face most days of the week. Maybe by the time it all happens I'll have convinced myself that it isn't so bad, so scary. Maybe.
I'm scared of being a senior because I'm scared of going to college. I'm scared of graduating, moving away from my comfort zone. Everyone is looking to the summer while I look to the future, black and unknown. I've yet to conquer my demons and I know that if I don't do it soon acceptance letters and dorm rooms will be dancing in front of my face, tempting me to abandon what I've been working towards. God I'm scared of the unknown. I'm scared of next year. I'm scared of applications. I'm scared of not having anyone older than me. I'll be the oldest and God if I'm not scared. I'm scared of the rest of this year, scared that I might fall back on my old habits because I'm so scared.
Ridiculous to be thinking about all of this now, with 3 months of school left and another 2 and half months till school starts up again. Stupid is another way to put it. Freaking myself out before it even begins. But everyone keeps talking about summer, how excited they are about school ending. Everyone wants it to end while I'm holding onto the reminants of my childhood for dear life. Less than a 2 months and I'll be a legal adult. Why does anyone want to grow up?
No one can see the fear though. I'm good at hiding this stuff. But it's there, hiding behind my self assured grin. I talk about going to college, I talk about how excited I am about being a senior. What I really mean is that I'm excited about the theory, the idea, the concept of being a senior, of going to college. Actually doing those things? Being a senior? Scares the shit out of me. But I'll keep pushing. Keep hiding behind the smile I put on my face most days of the week. Maybe by the time it all happens I'll have convinced myself that it isn't so bad, so scary. Maybe.
15.3.06
The Week in Review
Knowing full well I should be doing my homework (I will do it...just not soon) I'm going to write about my week thus far. Not that it's been the most interesting thing in the whole wide world, but I will anyway. Beginning with Saturday.
Saturday
District festival went well. Per usual Mr. Fore upped the ante during La Gazza Ladra which meant that during certain sections I was bs-ing my way through it. I was particularly pleased with Army of the Nile. I though that went off really well. Concertino went well, but I was kind of expecting that. I found out the scores today and we got a 2 on performance and a 1 in sight reading. The sight reading piece was fairly easy but I suck at sight reading so it doesn't really matter. Mind you I don't suck so bad that straight quarter notes are hard but anything too, too complicated comes out kind of rotten. Overall I thought we did a good job given the pieces we were playing and all that.
The mall expedition went well. Angel and I were born to be shopping buddies while Jackie and Irais were not. Angel and I wanted to go into every single clothing store Tyson's has while Jackie and Irais really didn't. In the end though I got a pen and a new ring. The ring is very pretty. It's silver with three light green stones in the middle. I like it a lot. I also figured out what size ring I wear. 7, for all you crazy people who are going to buy rings for me for my birthday. Anyhoos that was Saturday in a nutshell. Onto Sunday!!
Sunday
Not much happened on Sunday actually. There was church. George Timberlake did the sermon, and given that he's incredibly old it seemed to me that he rambled through most of the sermon. Martin Smith was the person in charge of the whole thing and I continued to realize that as much as I love British accents, Mr. Sharp has made them seem fairly normally which ruins the whole effect. Damn you Mr. Sharp! Also the choir I'm in performed a song. That went off very well. The congregation seemed to enjoy it and we got lots of compliments from the older choir. Other than that though not much happened. Sundays are fairly boring that way.
Monday
Felt really tired. School was boring. I continued obsessing over a man 10 years older than me. Sadly I've started realizing that it isn't good. But I'm usually quick to remind myself that there are plenty of people just as obsessed as I am. In any event I was really tired most of the day and nothing pops up in my mind as memorable. So onward!
Tuesday
Lets see. Yesterday. Well we got assigned seats in math but I stayed were I was before so that didn't really affect me. Eric suggested another philosopher I should read during music theory. During physics I showed off my wealth of knowledge about Greek myths by explaining the Greek myth about the seasons. I fairly certain everyone in that class thinks I'm strange, if they didn't think that before. Again I was really tired so other than what I pointed out the day is kind of fuzzy in my mind. My clarinet lesson went well. Did I mention I was tired?
Wendsday
Today. Tired, itchy eyes. I'm starting to remember why I hate having allergies. Mr. Vagts approves of my idea for my internal assessment in history which is good. Christ. I'm trying to remember the events of today and I'm having a hard time. Mind you not a lot happened today. Mostly I was just trying to stay awake. Did a good job of it too. Read Sam's 95 theses. Quite funny. "42. Answer is be 42." My request. Because the answer is be 42.
So thats it. Starting to get a headache for some reason. I'm off.
Saturday
District festival went well. Per usual Mr. Fore upped the ante during La Gazza Ladra which meant that during certain sections I was bs-ing my way through it. I was particularly pleased with Army of the Nile. I though that went off really well. Concertino went well, but I was kind of expecting that. I found out the scores today and we got a 2 on performance and a 1 in sight reading. The sight reading piece was fairly easy but I suck at sight reading so it doesn't really matter. Mind you I don't suck so bad that straight quarter notes are hard but anything too, too complicated comes out kind of rotten. Overall I thought we did a good job given the pieces we were playing and all that.
The mall expedition went well. Angel and I were born to be shopping buddies while Jackie and Irais were not. Angel and I wanted to go into every single clothing store Tyson's has while Jackie and Irais really didn't. In the end though I got a pen and a new ring. The ring is very pretty. It's silver with three light green stones in the middle. I like it a lot. I also figured out what size ring I wear. 7, for all you crazy people who are going to buy rings for me for my birthday. Anyhoos that was Saturday in a nutshell. Onto Sunday!!
Sunday
Not much happened on Sunday actually. There was church. George Timberlake did the sermon, and given that he's incredibly old it seemed to me that he rambled through most of the sermon. Martin Smith was the person in charge of the whole thing and I continued to realize that as much as I love British accents, Mr. Sharp has made them seem fairly normally which ruins the whole effect. Damn you Mr. Sharp! Also the choir I'm in performed a song. That went off very well. The congregation seemed to enjoy it and we got lots of compliments from the older choir. Other than that though not much happened. Sundays are fairly boring that way.
Monday
Felt really tired. School was boring. I continued obsessing over a man 10 years older than me. Sadly I've started realizing that it isn't good. But I'm usually quick to remind myself that there are plenty of people just as obsessed as I am. In any event I was really tired most of the day and nothing pops up in my mind as memorable. So onward!
Tuesday
Lets see. Yesterday. Well we got assigned seats in math but I stayed were I was before so that didn't really affect me. Eric suggested another philosopher I should read during music theory. During physics I showed off my wealth of knowledge about Greek myths by explaining the Greek myth about the seasons. I fairly certain everyone in that class thinks I'm strange, if they didn't think that before. Again I was really tired so other than what I pointed out the day is kind of fuzzy in my mind. My clarinet lesson went well. Did I mention I was tired?
Wendsday
Today. Tired, itchy eyes. I'm starting to remember why I hate having allergies. Mr. Vagts approves of my idea for my internal assessment in history which is good. Christ. I'm trying to remember the events of today and I'm having a hard time. Mind you not a lot happened today. Mostly I was just trying to stay awake. Did a good job of it too. Read Sam's 95 theses. Quite funny. "42. Answer is be 42." My request. Because the answer is be 42.
So thats it. Starting to get a headache for some reason. I'm off.
Thank You John Lydon
I'm no big fan of the Sex Pistols. Too much screaming for my delicate ears but one must respect the greats, even if you don't like them. So I say thank you to frontman John Lydon for the following quote about Green Day:
Kind of convoluted but basically it's a big diss. Yay for someone other than Avery agreeing with me!
"They're sticky tape on a duck's arse. They wouldn't have survived it" [the 1970s punk scene, we presume]. "We had to earn our wings.
"We made it easy for them to come in and nick things from us. Silly fat kids.
"It was hard times we went through for them to come and pinch our ideas."
Kind of convoluted but basically it's a big diss. Yay for someone other than Avery agreeing with me!
13.3.06
Sex and Rock Stars
"I fancy you with a passion...a rockstar too"-- "Still Take You Home" Arctic Monkeys
:sigh: It's all sex and made up personalities. Fantasies and make believe that gets me to sleep and passes away the boring hours of life. Sad? Maybe. True? Entirely.
"Cause you're starstruck, baby, starstruck... You know you're starstruck on me" -- "Starstruck" The Kinks
:sigh: It's all sex and made up personalities. Fantasies and make believe that gets me to sleep and passes away the boring hours of life. Sad? Maybe. True? Entirely.
"Cause you're starstruck, baby, starstruck... You know you're starstruck on me" -- "Starstruck" The Kinks
11.3.06
American Idiot
In this entry I talked about what I thought music was suppose to be like. I talked about how politicized Green Day has become within the last two years and how I didn't exactly disagree with them but how I just didn't want to listen to that kind of music. Right now I'm listening to Warning and thinking about old punk bands. What I think is interesting is that punk music has, as far as I know, been an outlet for bands to "bitch and moan" about politics. The Clash did it, the Jam did and from the one song I know by them the Dead Kennedys did it as well. But what they did was, in my opinion, different than what Green Day has done with American Idiot. The older bands made social commentary through veils of differing thickness. Some of the songs (California Uber Alles for instance) were more pronounced in their commentary while others (like Lost in the Supermarket) are less pronounced. The Kinks did an excellent of making social commentary without beating the listener over the head with their message. Green Day has taken the approach of not only beating the listener over the head with their music but also with what they say. From what I've heard they've made it pretty damn obvious what they think of Bush and the current administration and though I agree with their opinion of those two entities I personally think that beating teenagers over the head isn't the best way to get their votes. I don't have any better suggestions but I do know one thing: Teens don't like being treated like idiots.
Honestly though that's not my biggest problem with American Idiot. No my biggest problem is how much production went into the album. I think the most production I've heard in a song by the Clash are trumpets. Same for The Jam. Trumpets seem to a favorite amongest punk bands. Violins and synths and all the shit Green Day used on American Idiot is what really bothers me. Punk, as far as I can tell, is a stripped down, big guitars, lots of loud drumming, screaming kind of rock and roll music. With politics and social commentary. No violins. Maybe trumpets. So, in my opinion, Green Day has committed two offences: 1) beaten listeners over the head and 2) moved away from the original aesthetics of punk rock. Everyone was making a big deal about how great the album was. I personally like Warning better. Which is kind of why I bought American Idiot. :sigh: Too bad.
Honestly though that's not my biggest problem with American Idiot. No my biggest problem is how much production went into the album. I think the most production I've heard in a song by the Clash are trumpets. Same for The Jam. Trumpets seem to a favorite amongest punk bands. Violins and synths and all the shit Green Day used on American Idiot is what really bothers me. Punk, as far as I can tell, is a stripped down, big guitars, lots of loud drumming, screaming kind of rock and roll music. With politics and social commentary. No violins. Maybe trumpets. So, in my opinion, Green Day has committed two offences: 1) beaten listeners over the head and 2) moved away from the original aesthetics of punk rock. Everyone was making a big deal about how great the album was. I personally like Warning better. Which is kind of why I bought American Idiot. :sigh: Too bad.
10.3.06
Another Five
Since I've been lacking in the update department I thought I would do the Friday Five thing again. Needless to say I'm sorry about the past week or so. Life's been slightly hellish especially this week. Mr. Fore has completely gone off his rocker, I had a somewhat major project due in physics that was a bitch times 1 million (ever built a Rube Goldberg project?), I have Districts tomorrow which is Mr. Fore up the wazoo (aka hell) and I've just been so tired. Ugh. Anyway there are some upsides. I'm doing something with Jackie tomorrow night and the choir is performing on Sunday. Other stuff has been happening but I'll write about it after I do the five. It mostly has to do with Loghman. But for now I'll just answer these questions.
1) 10 years ago what did you think you would be doing now?
No. 10 years ago I still lived in DC and didn't think I would be leaving anytime soon. Though by this point we had put our house up for sale. But no, I didn't think I would be where I am now. I don't think anyone did.
2) Where do you think you will be in 5 years from now?
Hopefully in college. Hopefully at Hollins. But honestly I can't say for sure. It's odd how things can change in the weirdest ways and you end up at places and in situations you never think you'd be in. So, hopefully at college.
3) Do you live life one day at a time or look to the future?
A mix of both. Due to my precarious grade situation I have to think ahead a certain amount but I feel like if I look to far ahead I loose sight of what I want now and to me what I want now is far more important than what I'll want in 5, 10 years. Though it all impacts the other so I guess it has to be a mix. Not soley one view point over another. Life is to complicated for black and white. Besides gray is a pretty color.
4) Do you wish you could go back in time and undo something in your life?
Yes and no. I wish I had spoken up sooner than two years ago about my depression but it's hard to say what the impact would have been. I'm happy where I am and if going back and fixing my mistakes would put me in any other situation I wouldn't do it.
5) If you could send a message back in time and give a younger version of yourself some advice, what would it be?
Listen to Franz Ferdinand. Don't be tempted by the vending machines. And that's about it really. Oh and talk to Mums about being depressed.
Right. Loghman. How do I explain this? Loghman is a really good friend of mine. In fact he's one of my best friends I would say. He's from Iran and is Kurdish. He gets straight A's in every class and will bemoan any grade less than an A within an inch of my life. He's extremely polite and reads non-fiction. He puts up with my eccentricities very nicely and even vaguely remembers a couple of the bands I like. In general he's a really nice guy even if he does get on my nerves sometimes. Thing is he's been sending really obvious to anyone with half a brain signals that he likes me. As in ask me out boyfriend-girlfriend likes me. And I really don't feel that way. I think he's great and is really nice and all that good stuff but I can't see myself being with him. But I have a whole brain and so I've been getting his signals loud and clear. Now I'm no great Casanova or anything but I'm polite. I'm nice to him and I don't mind telling him stuff. I'll listen to him moan about his B's while I silently wring his neck for complaining and I'll reassure him repeatedly until I die from a nervous breakdown that he's a highly qualified student and that any college would love to have him in their student body. But on Wendsday when he let me wear his coat because I was cold a little alarm went off in my head. The alarm quietly poked at me saying "This getting serious. This isn't just being a good friend. This is getting serious." So, for me, it's awkward. Really awkward. And now I'm stuck. Oddly, I never thought I'd be in this position. So what do I do? Nod my head when Farber asks me if I'm sending signals and silently freak out about the possiblity of him asking me out. Though Dr. Farber would be really happy if I had a boyfriend. But its my life and...I guess we'll see.
1) 10 years ago what did you think you would be doing now?
No. 10 years ago I still lived in DC and didn't think I would be leaving anytime soon. Though by this point we had put our house up for sale. But no, I didn't think I would be where I am now. I don't think anyone did.
2) Where do you think you will be in 5 years from now?
Hopefully in college. Hopefully at Hollins. But honestly I can't say for sure. It's odd how things can change in the weirdest ways and you end up at places and in situations you never think you'd be in. So, hopefully at college.
3) Do you live life one day at a time or look to the future?
A mix of both. Due to my precarious grade situation I have to think ahead a certain amount but I feel like if I look to far ahead I loose sight of what I want now and to me what I want now is far more important than what I'll want in 5, 10 years. Though it all impacts the other so I guess it has to be a mix. Not soley one view point over another. Life is to complicated for black and white. Besides gray is a pretty color.
4) Do you wish you could go back in time and undo something in your life?
Yes and no. I wish I had spoken up sooner than two years ago about my depression but it's hard to say what the impact would have been. I'm happy where I am and if going back and fixing my mistakes would put me in any other situation I wouldn't do it.
5) If you could send a message back in time and give a younger version of yourself some advice, what would it be?
Listen to Franz Ferdinand. Don't be tempted by the vending machines. And that's about it really. Oh and talk to Mums about being depressed.
Right. Loghman. How do I explain this? Loghman is a really good friend of mine. In fact he's one of my best friends I would say. He's from Iran and is Kurdish. He gets straight A's in every class and will bemoan any grade less than an A within an inch of my life. He's extremely polite and reads non-fiction. He puts up with my eccentricities very nicely and even vaguely remembers a couple of the bands I like. In general he's a really nice guy even if he does get on my nerves sometimes. Thing is he's been sending really obvious to anyone with half a brain signals that he likes me. As in ask me out boyfriend-girlfriend likes me. And I really don't feel that way. I think he's great and is really nice and all that good stuff but I can't see myself being with him. But I have a whole brain and so I've been getting his signals loud and clear. Now I'm no great Casanova or anything but I'm polite. I'm nice to him and I don't mind telling him stuff. I'll listen to him moan about his B's while I silently wring his neck for complaining and I'll reassure him repeatedly until I die from a nervous breakdown that he's a highly qualified student and that any college would love to have him in their student body. But on Wendsday when he let me wear his coat because I was cold a little alarm went off in my head. The alarm quietly poked at me saying "This getting serious. This isn't just being a good friend. This is getting serious." So, for me, it's awkward. Really awkward. And now I'm stuck. Oddly, I never thought I'd be in this position. So what do I do? Nod my head when Farber asks me if I'm sending signals and silently freak out about the possiblity of him asking me out. Though Dr. Farber would be really happy if I had a boyfriend. But its my life and...I guess we'll see.
6.3.06
Worried About
I'm usually better about updating. Or at least in the past year I've tried to be better about updating. It isn't so much that things haven't happened, I just don't feel like updating. Which is something I should work on. Not feeling like doing things is always a bad sign with me. So I guess I'll try and force myself to update. Anyhoo I do have a story today. It's one of those sappy kinds of stories with no real ending. I'll get to the story now.
So I recently (last two weeks) told Loghman that I see a therapist. He took it in stride and hasn't been avoiding me like the plague or anything and since he's a really close friend I thought he might as well know, especially since he asked. So today he turns to me during lunch and says, "Your head thing has been worrying me." The reason he said "head thing" is because when I first told I started out by calling Dr. Farber a head shrinker. Loghman doesn't really know why I go to Farber's but he has some idea of why people go to therapists and such. Now why he knows this I won't get into, I'm polite like that. In any event he had certain ideas about why I go to a therapist and he just wanted to make sure the reason why I go isn't "pernicious" (his word, not mine.) He also wanted to make sure I lived for a long time. Like to be 100. Of course I told that yes I was fine (not entirely true but...what could I say?) and that I would live to be very old.
Odd thing is when I told Jackie why I go to see Farber she didn't really react. But Loghman has been worrying about this. Not exactly what I would expect out of him. He's a kind of hands off guy. Not really emotional/feely type. He reads non-fiction and listens to classical music. What really gets to me is the fact that there's someone else worrying about me besides my family. I fairly certain (though not entirely, empirically sure) that Jackie doesn't spend a lot if any time worrying about me. I've never had anyone outside my family actually worry about me. It's a nice, if highly unexpected, thing, to be worried about. I suppose I'll get use to it.
So I recently (last two weeks) told Loghman that I see a therapist. He took it in stride and hasn't been avoiding me like the plague or anything and since he's a really close friend I thought he might as well know, especially since he asked. So today he turns to me during lunch and says, "Your head thing has been worrying me." The reason he said "head thing" is because when I first told I started out by calling Dr. Farber a head shrinker. Loghman doesn't really know why I go to Farber's but he has some idea of why people go to therapists and such. Now why he knows this I won't get into, I'm polite like that. In any event he had certain ideas about why I go to a therapist and he just wanted to make sure the reason why I go isn't "pernicious" (his word, not mine.) He also wanted to make sure I lived for a long time. Like to be 100. Of course I told that yes I was fine (not entirely true but...what could I say?) and that I would live to be very old.
Odd thing is when I told Jackie why I go to see Farber she didn't really react. But Loghman has been worrying about this. Not exactly what I would expect out of him. He's a kind of hands off guy. Not really emotional/feely type. He reads non-fiction and listens to classical music. What really gets to me is the fact that there's someone else worrying about me besides my family. I fairly certain (though not entirely, empirically sure) that Jackie doesn't spend a lot if any time worrying about me. I've never had anyone outside my family actually worry about me. It's a nice, if highly unexpected, thing, to be worried about. I suppose I'll get use to it.
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