Journal
Sometimes a movie review comes along that sells me on a film before I have even had the chance to see it. Primer is one of those movies. Made for a mere 7 thousand, not including prints and promotion of course, it holds it's own production value wise with the big-budget block-busters. I have a soft spot for Indies, especially because I am excited about the ways in which new technology can free people creatively and in business to do what they want if they just go and do it. Call it my own "American Dream", a belief that I find fleeting at best.
Also intriguing is that the filmmaker is a Christian, pronouncing that his faith had a direct impact on the themes of the film. I like the way that he uses his faith to inform his art rather than using art as a platform for his faith. I'm probably sounding like a broken record by now stating my distaste for Christian music and movies because of their sub-par production values and their way of glossing over any part of life with easy answers. This is the type of movie that makes you think.
Besides working, friends and the girlfriend, my time as of late has been taken up by trying to launch my own eBay consignment company. It has been a great learning experience so far. The main thing that I have learnt is that starting any business, no matter how simple, is a huge time sinkhole. This is especially true of me, as I like to research every little last thing and end up getting distracted in the process. Here is a bunch of things that I am looking into as of right now:
#1) Accounting software for a mac. This is harder than it might seem. There are plenty of options out there, but I am looking for something that is very mac-centric, meaning that it will integrate well with things like my Address Book, iCal, OS X etc... The big name software (Filemaker, Quickbooks, MYOB) seems to be horrible. The other options that I am looking into include iBiz, Studiometry and Money. See the discussion at Hicksdesign for a good synopsis of the problem.
I just finished writing my last exam of the year and it feels amazing. No more homework, studying and procrastination. Now I have time to do what I want (which was the problem all along). Maybe I will actually get around to building this site, fine tuning the posts and actually putting up something of use.
As for school, the last stretch was a handful: two nights with no sleep, 27+ hour binges of work, a ton of early morning exams and even a denile of washroom privalages (let us not go there). Hopefully the GPA does not fall too far off the charts! At least this last exam was a bit of a bird-walk compared to the others.
After over 2 years and over a hundred mind-numbing posts, I finally bit the bullet and paid for hosting and moved myself over to a beautiful WordPress powered blog. Maybe, just maybe, things will be a bit better here...no promises!
Unfortunately, the comments and a few little things got lost in translation. I'll see what I can do to fix all of that soon.
I like articles like this. They make me feel a lot better about myself. Oh, and I made it through the paper hell stage. Two of them are C level (maybe if that!), but they are done. Gone. Now I can actually be productive, doing what I want to do!
Plagiarism is tempting at this time of year.
Actually, that's a lie. However, that is not to say I have not
imagined that "wouldn't it be nice" scenario about term papers more
than a few times...
Rather than plagiarize academically, I'll do it here where it doesn't
matter. I've got to keep this thing chugging along somehow in the
midst of a scary school workload! Enjoy the Pitchfork review of the
new (NEW!!) Radiohead (RADIOHEAD!!) in all of its bootlegged glory.
Rick
Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood
[ft. the Nazareth Orchestra]: "Arpeggi"
genre: rock/IDM
On Sunday, Jonny Greenwood and Thom Yorke performed a song called "Arpeggi" backed by the Nazareth Orchestra. By Tuesday, thanks to rabid Radiohead fans and a bevy of YouSendIteers, this performance was available to, and heard by, anyone who could click a mouse. There's something amazing and crass about the way an unreleased demo or an album advance or a live track can be downloaded and uploaded and passed on to an exponentially expanding circle of strangers. In some cases, taking advantage of this unbounded access is like seeing your parents put Christmas presents under the tree for the first time.
Alright,
First, thanks for all the Sabbath feedback, I'm enjoying it. Klammer,
you weren't kidding around about that Stars album! I'm loving the
retro keys, strings and the female vocals aren't hurting either.
Next, today's issue features Damien Jurado, who just so happens to be
playing with the always interesting In Medias Res. The show is at
Trinity of all places. There are a bunch of us going already, so if
you like what you hear, tag along. "Lion Tamer" and "Letters and
Drawings"(thanks Jer!) are attached.
Lastly, Thursday heads off what could easily become a concert binge if
Alright, since In Medias Res is playing tonight, I thought now would
be a great opportunity to pass this link along:
http://www.amoaudio.com/media/
These files are all off of AMO Audio's site. A bunch of you might
remember Adam and Matt from high school; this is their home-recording
studio's site. Apart from the 30 second demos, The new redone version
of "Idee Fixe" is great and the full version of "We Are Everywhere" is
a good listen. The song always stuck out to me when they played it
"And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in
it he had rested from all his work which God created and made."
Genesis 2:3, KJV
This is my Sabbath Issue. And I'm not talking about the Ozzy Osbourne
kind. I'm taking this issue of "MP3 March" (or was that April?...)
off and leaving the music to you, oh faithful readers.
Here is your simple assignment: Send me some music that you are into
that might not be common knowledge. This could be links, MP3's, band
While Iron & Wine is fairly well known within the crowd that I am
sending these emails out to, I don't think that any of you have have
yet to hear anything of his new EP, the Woman King.
Like his previous three releases, the sound has slowly evolved and
stretched. This release still maintains the warm feel of the last
albums but adds much instrumentation and layers. The layered
percussion would seem at home on a Simon and Garfunkel record (think
of Cecelia or Mrs. Robinson).
Although evolving, I find the EP to be a bit of a rehash of previous
