Soundtrack: “Autumn Cannibalist” by Die Manequin
Let’s talk about romance. Real romance.
People in our wonderful little American culture have a seriously skewed view of what romance is. Most American men think romance is being old-fashioned and doing “cute” things to make a woman think you care about her. And women... the average American woman’s view of romance is so varied that it's no wonder we men are left dazed and confused.
Here what I believe the true definition of what true romance is: it is demonstrating to the other person in a relationship that this relationship you are is meaningful. Which means that there is no right way to be romantic, but plenty of wrong ways.
One thing that many people seem to be confused about is the fundamental differences between men and women when it comes to our senses. Sexually speaking, men are turned on by sight and women are turned on more by touch. That doesn't mean there are exceptions or other variables involved, just that in general the sexes work that way. Back to romance, men are almost right on the “cute” things. Not so much cute, though, as little things that demonstrate how you care about a girl. You do care about her, right? Right?
The thing that I think is killing romance is that everyone wants to be single and have fun. That doesn’t work. Oh sure, it may work for a little while, but the second you see a girl walking around with another guy, you get jealous. Unless she’s a prostitute, but we won't get into that. Romance is supposed to work in a sense of being in a deeper relationship. A relationship that will lead to a life-long union, whatever that may be. Traditionally it is marriage, but some people never officially tie the knot and end up being “life partners” or whatever.
I am willing to bet you are asking “so if romance is doing something that shows I care about a woman, how do I know what to do?” That's the hard part. That is where you, mister, need to find out how you can properly demonstrate this. And that is called commitment. Oh yes, the dreaded “c-word”. Please don't ask me how commitment works, though. I seem to be attracted to women who are deathly afraid of commitment in any shape. Ah, woe is me.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Well Now.
Soundtrack: “Muzzle” by The Smashing Pumpkins
Well, I have realized very recently that I need to either win the lottery or to get a new job.
I'm not counting on the lottery.
This is so damn annoying.
Well, I have realized very recently that I need to either win the lottery or to get a new job.
I'm not counting on the lottery.
This is so damn annoying.
Monday, January 22, 2007
I Grow Old, I Grow Old...
Soundtrack: “Dirty Harry” by Gorillaz
Not physically old, but old in the sense that time is starting to creep up on me and I'm not certain if I'm going to be out of school by the age of 30, much less ever.
But whatever. I'm going to enjoy this next year of my life as much as I can. In a little more than two week I'll be 26, and I think that's a good age. I only want two things for my birthday: the love and adoration of my friends, and a tattoo. The love and adoration part is more important, though.
For quite some time now I have been wondering if pop culture's recent obsession with remakes, sequels, and retoolings will ever stop. From glib cover versions of classic songs to movies that are simply trite remakes of great films, the wonderful media machine that is Hollywood and the recording industry is churning out tired but familiar sights and sounds to the masses. And we are eating it up. All I have to say is, “What is wrong with you, people?!”
I think we are on the verge of seeing something new. People will only take the 80’s hair rock rehashes for so long before they discard that for something new and exciting. But will this new thing really be new? Grunge and alternative beat the hair bands before, but they fizzled out quickly. Now alternative describes performers like Hootie and the Blowfish and Jack Johnson, which is ironic since the Alternative tag represented the music underground.
Here's how I see it. Music, and other media for that matter, is like a funnel. There is a ton of stuff on the surface, far too much for anyone person to completely process. As the music industry processes everything, it's funneled towards the tip of the funnel, which represents the Consumer. Everything eventually becomes more pop-oriented as it passes through the funnel. The stuff that is most accessible to the largest common denominator is the stuff that makes it through the neck of the funnel.
So no matter how esoteric music gets, it will eventually become watered down more and more each year until it becomes pop drivel. There's nothing we can do about it, that is just the way it is. If you love music, you'll take it as it is and just grin and bear it. There's always the stuff on the other end of the funnel, after all. It just takes some sifting.
Not physically old, but old in the sense that time is starting to creep up on me and I'm not certain if I'm going to be out of school by the age of 30, much less ever.
But whatever. I'm going to enjoy this next year of my life as much as I can. In a little more than two week I'll be 26, and I think that's a good age. I only want two things for my birthday: the love and adoration of my friends, and a tattoo. The love and adoration part is more important, though.
For quite some time now I have been wondering if pop culture's recent obsession with remakes, sequels, and retoolings will ever stop. From glib cover versions of classic songs to movies that are simply trite remakes of great films, the wonderful media machine that is Hollywood and the recording industry is churning out tired but familiar sights and sounds to the masses. And we are eating it up. All I have to say is, “What is wrong with you, people?!”
I think we are on the verge of seeing something new. People will only take the 80’s hair rock rehashes for so long before they discard that for something new and exciting. But will this new thing really be new? Grunge and alternative beat the hair bands before, but they fizzled out quickly. Now alternative describes performers like Hootie and the Blowfish and Jack Johnson, which is ironic since the Alternative tag represented the music underground.
Here's how I see it. Music, and other media for that matter, is like a funnel. There is a ton of stuff on the surface, far too much for anyone person to completely process. As the music industry processes everything, it's funneled towards the tip of the funnel, which represents the Consumer. Everything eventually becomes more pop-oriented as it passes through the funnel. The stuff that is most accessible to the largest common denominator is the stuff that makes it through the neck of the funnel.
So no matter how esoteric music gets, it will eventually become watered down more and more each year until it becomes pop drivel. There's nothing we can do about it, that is just the way it is. If you love music, you'll take it as it is and just grin and bear it. There's always the stuff on the other end of the funnel, after all. It just takes some sifting.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Fifteen Blows To The Back Of Your Skull
Soundtrack: “No Surpises” by Radiohead
Among the many different projects I am working on is the resurrection of an old band. One of the songs we started working on but never really did anything with was a cool and laid back version of Radiohead's “Climbing Up The Walls”. I love that song, in fact it is probably my favorite Radiohead song. It's about a mental institution, but it really strikes a chord in my life. Yeah, I feel just a little insane, sure, but it's more of what Thom Yorke sings in the chorus:
And either way you turn
I'll be there
Open up your skull
I'll be there
Climbing up the walls
I am not sure why those four little lines mean so much, but they do. And once I figure it out I'll let you all know. But that might be a while.
In the meantime, enjoy an amazing live performance of the song from the Glastonbury Festival 2003.
Among the many different projects I am working on is the resurrection of an old band. One of the songs we started working on but never really did anything with was a cool and laid back version of Radiohead's “Climbing Up The Walls”. I love that song, in fact it is probably my favorite Radiohead song. It's about a mental institution, but it really strikes a chord in my life. Yeah, I feel just a little insane, sure, but it's more of what Thom Yorke sings in the chorus:
And either way you turn
I'll be there
Open up your skull
I'll be there
Climbing up the walls
I am not sure why those four little lines mean so much, but they do. And once I figure it out I'll let you all know. But that might be a while.
In the meantime, enjoy an amazing live performance of the song from the Glastonbury Festival 2003.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
In Memoriam
Soundtrack: The Art Of Drowning by AFI
Dedicated to the memory of Nathan George. Rest in peace, friend.
Darkness
Sunny disposition aside,
Black nail polish doesn't fool anyone
Melancholy eyes aside,
You don't need to become them to save them
Open up the cold
Open up your bottle
Open up your skull
Let the darkness in
Bootstomping aside,
You persuade towards the digital
Melancholy prayers aside,
This time it's become personal
Open up the cold
Open up your bottle
Open up your skull
Let the darkness in
Your quest aside,
How has it come to this demise?
Your smile aside,
Did you die alone and shivering?
Open up your heart
Let the light in
Dedicated to the memory of Nathan George. Rest in peace, friend.
Darkness
Sunny disposition aside,
Black nail polish doesn't fool anyone
Melancholy eyes aside,
You don't need to become them to save them
Open up the cold
Open up your bottle
Open up your skull
Let the darkness in
Bootstomping aside,
You persuade towards the digital
Melancholy prayers aside,
This time it's become personal
Open up the cold
Open up your bottle
Open up your skull
Let the darkness in
Your quest aside,
How has it come to this demise?
Your smile aside,
Did you die alone and shivering?
Open up your heart
Let the light in
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Public Warning
Soundtrack: “Love Me Or Hate Me” by Lady Sovereign
It was the first day of classes today and I almost started off on the right foot. Almost. First off, I slept through my alarm this morning and missed my first class. Then I figured out I registered for the wrong English class... after I went to the class. So I need to work on those two things and I'll be back in the swing of things. Cake.
One of my classes is Web Design I. It is sure to be a fun class despite the fact my teacher doesn't really know the software. Yes, you read right. He will be learning alongside the class. He's a cool guy, too, which means I get to do whatever the hell I want. Booyah. I think I am going to take the opportunity to make it an independent study type situation. I already know the ins and outs of CSS, I know HTML like the back of my hand, so why not learn something I don't know? I know that Flash is going to be covered, and I'm fine with that, but I want to learn something other than just Flash. Quite a few somethings.
One of these somethings is databases. Especially SQL and the like. I have come to a point in my web design career that is one of those brick wall points. I can see over the wall, and I know that there is a way over. But I have not yet acquired the information necessary to get over the wall, and that is where this class comes in. So I am naturally excited. Once I am up over that wall it is all over, bitches.
Another thing I have discovered is that the class I have on Mondays and Wednesdays is two blocks from my house. I live off of Bruce Randolph and Humboldt and the classroom is on Martin Luther King and Humboldt. The only thing that would make it better is if I did not have to work on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Or if the class was on the Auraria campus, because I would not have to trek all the way down to the Tivoli on campus and then trek all the way back “home”... before heading to my internship on 14th and Ogden. Too bad I don't have a car. Oh well.
It was the first day of classes today and I almost started off on the right foot. Almost. First off, I slept through my alarm this morning and missed my first class. Then I figured out I registered for the wrong English class... after I went to the class. So I need to work on those two things and I'll be back in the swing of things. Cake.
One of my classes is Web Design I. It is sure to be a fun class despite the fact my teacher doesn't really know the software. Yes, you read right. He will be learning alongside the class. He's a cool guy, too, which means I get to do whatever the hell I want. Booyah. I think I am going to take the opportunity to make it an independent study type situation. I already know the ins and outs of CSS, I know HTML like the back of my hand, so why not learn something I don't know? I know that Flash is going to be covered, and I'm fine with that, but I want to learn something other than just Flash. Quite a few somethings.
One of these somethings is databases. Especially SQL and the like. I have come to a point in my web design career that is one of those brick wall points. I can see over the wall, and I know that there is a way over. But I have not yet acquired the information necessary to get over the wall, and that is where this class comes in. So I am naturally excited. Once I am up over that wall it is all over, bitches.
Another thing I have discovered is that the class I have on Mondays and Wednesdays is two blocks from my house. I live off of Bruce Randolph and Humboldt and the classroom is on Martin Luther King and Humboldt. The only thing that would make it better is if I did not have to work on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Or if the class was on the Auraria campus, because I would not have to trek all the way down to the Tivoli on campus and then trek all the way back “home”... before heading to my internship on 14th and Ogden. Too bad I don't have a car. Oh well.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
I Give Up
Soundtrack: “Conditional” by Living Sacrifice
I am done with reaching out to people. It is far too exhausting, and I really need to take some time to focus on forging a better me. Plus, people suck. They just do. The only people I can trust are my close friends. They are the only people who give without a thought of return. Sorry if all of this sounds emo and whiny and Livejournal-ish. I'll stop now.
The internship has been going well. I am working on some fun projects at the moment. One in particular that I like the best is an internet radio station. I am currently developing an identity system for the station, once it is done I will post the end result.
The poem du jour is a bit of an anti-corporate rant. You'll see why when you read it... and props to those who can pick out the various literary references.
Death Of A Salesman
It’s five minutes past four in the morning
I can’t seem to sleep
So I’ll take some NyQuil and some Quaaludes
And in the morning we’ll kill Nanny
After all these years
We end up worth more dead than alive
After all these years
We realize that life is a lie
White shirt
Fancy shoes
What’s worse?
Life or death?
That girl over there is pretty cute
She’s snorting cocaine
From a diamond-studded pocket mirror
Walk into a jungle and come out rich
After all these years
We end up worth more dead than alive
After all these years
We realize that life is a lie
White Shirt
Fancy suit
Be careful
Watch your back
This party could be better
This party should be better
This party could be killer
This party is all filler
I am done with reaching out to people. It is far too exhausting, and I really need to take some time to focus on forging a better me. Plus, people suck. They just do. The only people I can trust are my close friends. They are the only people who give without a thought of return. Sorry if all of this sounds emo and whiny and Livejournal-ish. I'll stop now.
The internship has been going well. I am working on some fun projects at the moment. One in particular that I like the best is an internet radio station. I am currently developing an identity system for the station, once it is done I will post the end result.
The poem du jour is a bit of an anti-corporate rant. You'll see why when you read it... and props to those who can pick out the various literary references.
Death Of A Salesman
It’s five minutes past four in the morning
I can’t seem to sleep
So I’ll take some NyQuil and some Quaaludes
And in the morning we’ll kill Nanny
After all these years
We end up worth more dead than alive
After all these years
We realize that life is a lie
White shirt
Fancy shoes
What’s worse?
Life or death?
That girl over there is pretty cute
She’s snorting cocaine
From a diamond-studded pocket mirror
Walk into a jungle and come out rich
After all these years
We end up worth more dead than alive
After all these years
We realize that life is a lie
White Shirt
Fancy suit
Be careful
Watch your back
This party could be better
This party should be better
This party could be killer
This party is all filler
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Coin Slots Are For The Weak
Soundtrack: Donnie Darko
Two things that made yesterday awesome:
1. I drank enough coffee to kill a small horse.
2. I discovered that Pop Tarts are extremely flammable.
The reason for the extreme coffee consumption yesterday is simple. I started training for my new job yesterday. I'm working at the coffee shop in the Tivoli Student Union at the Auraria campus. It used to be called The Daily Grind, but that went out of business so now it's Cimarron Café. I like Daily Grind better.
Coin Slot
Don't go out tonight
The darkness is sharp knives
My soul is begging you
Don't leave your birdcage
They watch with cat's eyes
They mean to do you harm
They stare at your plumage
And lick their dry lips
The coin goes in the slot
Ring the bell and jackpot
You light up and go to sleep
Coin slots are for the weak
The coin goes in the slot
Wrap your tears in this loss
Light me up and go to sleep
Coin slots are for the weak
Don't be weak
Don't do the easy thing
Display your supple fur
Wrap your vines around him
Don't drag you down alone
They watch with bated breath
They mean to do you harm
They stare at tiger stripes
That wrap around you
The coin goes in the slot
Ring the bell and jackpot
You light up and go to sleep
Coin slots are for the weak
The coin goes in the slot
Wrap your tears in this loss
Light me up and go to sleep
Coin slots are for the weak
Don't be weak
Two things that made yesterday awesome:
1. I drank enough coffee to kill a small horse.
2. I discovered that Pop Tarts are extremely flammable.
The reason for the extreme coffee consumption yesterday is simple. I started training for my new job yesterday. I'm working at the coffee shop in the Tivoli Student Union at the Auraria campus. It used to be called The Daily Grind, but that went out of business so now it's Cimarron Café. I like Daily Grind better.
Coin Slot
Don't go out tonight
The darkness is sharp knives
My soul is begging you
Don't leave your birdcage
They watch with cat's eyes
They mean to do you harm
They stare at your plumage
And lick their dry lips
The coin goes in the slot
Ring the bell and jackpot
You light up and go to sleep
Coin slots are for the weak
The coin goes in the slot
Wrap your tears in this loss
Light me up and go to sleep
Coin slots are for the weak
Don't be weak
Don't do the easy thing
Display your supple fur
Wrap your vines around him
Don't drag you down alone
They watch with bated breath
They mean to do you harm
They stare at tiger stripes
That wrap around you
The coin goes in the slot
Ring the bell and jackpot
You light up and go to sleep
Coin slots are for the weak
The coin goes in the slot
Wrap your tears in this loss
Light me up and go to sleep
Coin slots are for the weak
Don't be weak
Monday, January 08, 2007
Well. Maybe Things Are Getting Better
Soundtrack: “She Bangs The Drum” by The Stone Roses
Yeah, I know there has been no activity on my end for quite some time. Apparently nobody really cares that much, which is fine with me. I don't care all that much either because all I am concerned about is getting my shit together. And, well, it is.
Today was the first full day of my internship and things went really well. I did three business card comps as well as a poster comp in a mere 6 hours. That's not half bad.
The main reason I haven't shown my face around here is that up until today there has been no reason to do so. Don't get me wrong, I have been doing things, but I would rather not report on stupid and uneventful situations in my life. Some people say that bad news is better than no news, and I suppose that is true to an extent, but on the other hand I'm getting tired of writing bitchy posts on how much the world sucks. There's already enough of that on MySpace.
Yeah, I know there has been no activity on my end for quite some time. Apparently nobody really cares that much, which is fine with me. I don't care all that much either because all I am concerned about is getting my shit together. And, well, it is.
Today was the first full day of my internship and things went really well. I did three business card comps as well as a poster comp in a mere 6 hours. That's not half bad.
The main reason I haven't shown my face around here is that up until today there has been no reason to do so. Don't get me wrong, I have been doing things, but I would rather not report on stupid and uneventful situations in my life. Some people say that bad news is better than no news, and I suppose that is true to an extent, but on the other hand I'm getting tired of writing bitchy posts on how much the world sucks. There's already enough of that on MySpace.
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