server..

So that server I was setting up I got working. Now it's time to buy a domain, set up php, and get people to join it. This is so much further than I got last summer.

Server.

Like last summer I've decided to try to create a World of Warcraft server. Not only because I have a small interest in playing the game, but because I enjoy the challenge of setting up the server. No one except me would potentially be on this sever, but the point is to practice the coding and server setup.

Photography

This is the first post on my photoblog: Link

Tomorrow I am supposed to be getting my first professional roll of color film in the mail. I am excited, even though it probably won't be too different than normal Kodak color film in the store. meh. Doesn't matter I'm still excited. It's just Porta-160VC (from Kodak). But that isn't as exciting as Infrared film:

:D

I'm getting Three rolls of this. It's Rollei ISO 400. One roll for determining exposures and experimentation and two for actual taking. For this I am so excited. Infrared is so surreal and exciting. I just hope that I can find enough subjects (and money for processing).

I will leave you with my most favorite picture of me ever:

Goth Kiddies

I should be writing my German paper, but I'm not. Mostly because I wonder why there aren't any "real" goth "kids" at Kennedy, let alone in Cedar Rapids. It seems that here everyone that looks like they're apart of today's counterculture are really not, and rather teenagers trying to fit in (poseurs, one might say). I would really hate to label these people this; it's mean and they've experienced it since they were in middle school and began to shop at Hot Topic. But really, there is no music scene here in Eastern Iowa, so the ultimate goal here is to get attention. They are not dressing as a part of the scene, there is none. (Disclaimer: not everyone is a poseur here, there are a select few who participate in the goth / metal music scene. And they have every damn right to participate)

Peoples' perceptions about goths have changed as well. With the emergence of the Hardcore musical genre into the mainstream lay-people believe that they are one in the same. They are not. This is important because the emerging teens of this time period do not know the difference and attempt to assimilate themselves into the culture they know nothing about. They know nothing about the music and fashion, the social interactions other than what MTV and Fuse spew out to them. This identity crisis causes people who wear "goth" fashion (from Hot Topic) to enjoy hardcore bands that are, other than their distorted guitars, very different than Metal and goth.

I think I'm done with my rant. It was mostly spurred on by my attendance to the nightwish concert.

I'm getting tired of this layout, I might change it again. Possibly to a 19^th century-grunge feel

Photo Essay

Off topic: Once I start blogging I can't stop. 3rd post this evening.

For a final essay of the school year Mr. Ayers is allowing us to do a little more when it comes to our essays. I am excited. There is no other way to describe it. I was never much of a writer, but all the writing I've had to do with year, has made me addicted to it. I probably have not improved much, but I have, however, learned to enjoy and look forward to the process. I have become more interested in the evolution of language (more than I already have been). Because I've had to type out papers I've become more interested in in typography and text layout. This this class has made me, a math nerd, enjoy and look forward to writing. I never though it possible.

Well, that was an unneeded tangent, but anyway. My essay. I plan to do a photo essay, on the day of a volunteer firefighter / paramedic. I will follow my father and his guy's around for a day. Taking notes and pictures. This will probably happen sometime next week.

After I skip school to invade the lives of the employees of the city of Hiawatha I hope my essay will be 500 - 1000 word with pictures from that day. I don;t know how it will turn out but it'll be an experience I wouldn't pass up.

Things I wanna be when I grow up:

A Doctor:


A Biologist:


A Photographer:


A Graphic Design professional (preferably a typeface designer):


A firefighter:


A programmer:


A Paperback writer:


A Kid:


A Linguist:


A Cat:


An Anthropologist:


A Musician:

The Hazards of Love. {Part Two of Three}

Part One: Here
Part Two:

"The Rake's Song"
Probably my favorite song off the album. It's catchy, funny, creepy, disturbing, and they rhythm make me want to dance in a trance like state. The lyrics, on the other hand, are plenty weird. It speaks of a man who was married then his wife died while giving birth. He then proceeds to plot the death of his children (and executes it).

"The Abduction of Margret"
A simple little song, mirroring bower scene in musicality. It is nearly identical except for the lyrics, making it, almost, a reprise. Here Margret is abducted. I really don't have much to say about this one :/ ... It's equally well written as the other songs, and powerful

"The Queen's Rebuke / The Crossing"
Powerful distorted guitars with the queen singing. Not, itself, impressive. However the vocal style of the Queen draws me in and makes. She sings in waves with a somehow beautiful low-alto/tenor voice that i can't get enough of. The Queen mostly just sings about William and his creation. Over all not really an impressive song.

"Annan Water"
I have no idea what "annan" means, nor does my dictionary. Ah, Finally an acoustic guitar. I have impatiently awaited for this moment, and - alas! - it has come. I really like this song as well. Where "The Rake's Song" is my favorite, this one comes close. I think it is because it sounds a lot like older Decemberists' stuff. And I don't want to "dance" to this one, but rather sing. VOCAL HARMONY! A new movement began, and well, this song has become my new favorite. (oh Lord, I am indecisive)

"Margret In Captivity"
This is just about nothing else than "Margret in Captivity." It's a little conversation. Once again, not very impressive.

"The Hazards Of Love 3 (Revenge!)"
Opens with the harpsichord theme from the wanting comes in waves, except on Electric guitar. It is sung by what sounds like children. I like this one a lot. It's really weird but I like it. It almost seems out of key. And there is a lot of synthesizer action making a lot of funky sounds. Mostly 19th century themes.

(Reprise of "The Wanting comes in Waves")

"The Hazards Of Love 4 (The Drowned)"
A New motive/theme. I like it a lot. It is very much like older works. This sounds nothing like the other "Hazards of Love" and i like it alot. Beautiful singing, and musicality. I really like the traditional Instrumentation. The Synthesizer and electric guitar get old after a little while. The steel guitar make me laugh a little and give this song a bluegrass/ southern / folk feeling.

Part 3 next Week.

Nightwish!

May I recommend to you the greatest band ever, Nightwish.

Well I went to a concert in Sauget (Illinois) and it was amazing. I wish I had brought my nicer camera, but I didn't want to ruin it. Here's the best picture I took with my crappy phone. :D


Anyway, It was a great concert, truly an once-in-a-lifetime experience.

For those of you who don't know Nightwish is a Symphonic metal band from Finland. So seeing them in the middle of the United States was amazing. The concert itself was not as "fun" as I expected, it was not every energetic (like pop concerts and "hardcore" concerts) I've been to, but it was just as fun. I think that the culture was truly the defining factor of the energy and how it was expressed at this concert.

Before I continue about Nightwish I'll post my tweets from the night:

Hey its a native american!
11:30 PM May 8th from txt

Chills.
11:04 PM May 8th from txt

Beautiful drum set
10:33 PM May 8th from txt

Oh god :)
10:32 PM May 8th from txt

7 days to the wolves
10:26 PM May 8th from txt

Nvm and it begins
10:22 PM May 8th from txt

-15 minutes til it starts......
10:15 PM May 8th from txt

They're testing sh*t!
10:03 PM May 8th from txt

4 minutes
9:56 PM May 8th from txt

10 minutes!
9:50 PM May 8th from txt

@benchsketch it'll probably go to 1 am
9:39 PM May 8th from txt

@benchsketch i'm tweeting this entire concert you might want to turn off updates...
9:34 PM May 8th from txt

They continually get better... And funnier
9:32 PM May 8th from txt

He's doing a bunch of elvis impressions lol
9:31 PM May 8th from txt

Such a wide variety of people... I think the normal looking people are here for the opener
9:23 PM May 8th from txt

Not bad for an opener :)
9:12 PM May 8th from txt

So the opening band is playing a metal cover of a johny cash song
9:11 PM May 8th from txt

I am so out of place here :)
9:06 PM May 8th from txt

Nightwish woot!
8:44 PM May 8th from txt

Mmm Nightwish! :)
8:12 PM May 8th from txt

I don't really want to explain it, but the opener was kinda a southern metal/rock deal, it was funny (as I said on twitter) but not wonderful. I'd say they were pretty good for an opener.

After they finished playing most of the normal looking people left and we were left with the goth people. :D These weren't Cedar Rapids goth, but rather St. Louis goth. Real, not "dirty kids," a part of the urban culture. I was my first true experience with this subculture, and I enjoyed it.

I really hope Nightwish comes back next year and I can go again, it was probably one of the best experiences of my life!

The Hazards of Love. {Part One of Three}

Here is my poorly written review of The Decemberist's newest album, "The Hazards of Love."



This CD opens with an organ playing a pedal tone (its a d) for almost a minute. Upon which a chord is built and a simple chord progression is played, setting the stage of the rest of the album. It ends with a PAC (but that doesn't really matter). And a small amount of dissonance leads seamlessly in to the next song.

The next song is stays in the same key and seems to not stray from an established "Decemberists" sound. It is entitled "The Hazards of Love (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle the Thistles Undone)." The bass is provided by a upright string bass. This song provides an introduction to the rest of the story.

And suddenly "A Bower Scene" starts; once again there is no transition and starts in the key of d. Margret, the main character (introduced in the previous song), is being spoken to and this being asked by her sister when her she will birth her child. And while she steadily gets bigger because of her sleeping with her lover, she runs off to the forest. The music gets "harder" at about a minute, foreshadowing later styles toyed with on this album. The music fits the lyrics, however, there is no specific reason why it does.

Transition in to forth movement is music like the middle section of the previous, and has a powerful bass line. This movement opens with a blues-y riff, that reminds me of the Band Maylene and the Sons of Disaster. ruining the portions of this song with the riff. This is the first scene to feature Margret, the Heroine. She has a wispy, beautiful soprano voice that I cannot get enough of. Margret enters the forest, and is lost so she calls out to the wild to clear her a path so she can get to her love, William (who is not introduced by name, but rather in the album art). She has grown weak and tired so she longs for her Love's embrace. William calls back for her. When William enters, the music changes and uses a slightly distorted guitar, probably suggesting his masculinity. This movement is entitled "Won't Want for Love (Margret in the Taiga)."

"The Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All)"
William begins this ballad like song, he speaks of laying down with Margret, not caring, and "wagering it all" to risks of love. Here he is showing his love for her. This song is written beautifully even though the instrumentation is simple and the chord progressions are, as well. This serves the purpose of a simple scene where there is only love.

"The Queen's Approach"
This instrumental opens with a simple banjo melody. it is soft an quiet, but elegant.

"Isn't it a Lovely Night?"
An accordion opens the song with a cheery melody who is then imitated by Margret. She is singing about the baby that is on it's way. William replies and they then sing together. This song is oddly moving and fits the older style of the Decemberists more, especially with the accordion. and the rhythms This song is my favorite so far and very moving, for me. It reminds me of the movie "Sweeny Todd." The Steel guitar, is strange, as well, but fits the song well and doesn't make it feel like a bluegrass song too much.

"The Wanting Comes in Waves / Repaid"
This opens with a harpsichord, with a simple repeating melody. This is a discussion between the Queen and William. (And I just realized I was probably giving too much a away, but since I've started I will continue.) The queen is the Mother of William, making William a prince. In this movement William is symbolized by the harpsichord. He is basically accused by his mother that rescued him from the world of men, of being ungrateful and wishing for the world outside the forest. The Queen is represented by distorted electric guitars, she has a alto voice, the suits her part well. She sings in a bluesy style that reminds me of some female jazz singers.

"Interlude"
I'm going to end this post with the interlude. I don't have much to say. It is an interlude, it serves it's purpose.

Atari

READ ME!

Twitter

I love the pointlessness of Twitter. It pleases my ADD ridden mind and my ever changing emotions. I like fads, and when this one is over my Twitter will lay abandoned to haunt me when I wish to get a job.

"But really, what is the point of twitter?" my friends ask. I don't many people know, and I, even as a user, do not really know. According to Twitter's website (link) twitter is:

...a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent messages... These messages are posted to your profile or your blog, sent to your followers, and are searchable on Twitter search.

There you go, it's a service that lets you keep in touch with people around you, in a timely fashion.

Well, I've heard it described that Twitter is merely a stalker engine, servings only stalkers who wish to find out what their "friends" are doing (even I, jokingly, have described it as such). I've used it this way (mostly to know what my father is doing, ;) ). But I've also used it to tell the world the pointless things I am doing. But I even use it when I want input, when I plan something, and to talk tech things with those around me.

Now, my friend (linked above) say that politicians using twitter no their job is immature. And I agree completely. I think that politicians can (and it may be beneficial for them to) have twitter accounts. But if they are acting as high school students texting "in class" and acting immature with useless texting that could affect their judgment on important matters, they should not. However, It may help politicians with gaining supporters, if they seem modern and actively update their twitter to communicate their feelings on some topics. And I like to know what is going on directly from the political field.

So even though my friend sees the pointlessness of Twitter and the misuse by politician as another fad and I see it as a useful tool, I completely agree. Twitter is pointless, a fad and definitely a passing trend. But I shall continue to use it to stalk my friends (and my father), to announce to the uncaring Internet that I am, in fact pooping, to look at pictures that photographers post, to check when my favorite web comic is updated, to check on updates on a series of TV shows that I once enjoyed, and to use it as it is supposed to be used, to communicate with my friends.

Photo Blog

Thinking about starting a Photography blog. I already upload to flickr, but If anyone that reads this is interested in a Photo blog, please, do tell me.

Typography: A conparison of Windows and Mac OS X (and linux)

As this year has progressed I have learned much about writing. Because we live in the world of computers I have learned much about the presentation of writing. In essence I have learned about typography.

Now really, typography is much more than just how the words look as a whole, but rather about the characters themselves. However I don't really intend to go into the character part of this art.

Typography as defined by Merriam-Webster:

ty·pog·ra·phy
Pronunciation: \tī-ˈpä-grə-fē\
Function: noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin typographia, from Greek typos impression, cast + -graphia -graphy
Date: 1610

1: letterpress printing
2: the style, arrangement, or appearance of typeset matter

Fist let me show you example of some text:


These simple glyphs are very fundamental in the appearance of a text publication. They are heavily supported by OpenType (which has a ton of other great features). OpenType was developed by Adobe and Microsoft. However none of the features that OpenType supports are supported in any Microsoft product. So when a person pays to have a well developed word processing program (for a simple non-designer, or a cheap person) they don't get features the the company helped develop. Odd, isn't it? On the other you you can pay Adobe $699 for complex design program and that has a steep learning curve and no one, except a designer, would need InDesign.

For someone who doesn't have money but wants their papers to look good, this causes a problem. Use Microsoft Word, OpenOffice.org (developed by Sun, open source, free),or some other generic word processing program; Save up and buy the program; or do the illegal and pirate the program (which is stupid).

Oh and there's TeX but that's a bitch to learn the coding and difficult to change the font from the default. The default looks like an old math textbook.

And that gets sort of annoying.

Blogging, As a Whole

[I don't really feel like doing on of my other topics right now, but, well, I just feel like writing. So here goes it.]

Since I fist became an active participant in the Internet I have enjoyed the concept of the blog. I've had countless (aka 3) angsty, pubescent, emo blogs. Earlier I've had blogs that act a a digital diary or journal, which no one, except I could read. And I've even had legitimate blogs, that have lasted a few days. I've coded a blog in PHP and hosted my own WordPress blog on my computer, with my own domain name. But these ventures into the blogosphere have been futile. This year I was excited to blog for AP Language, but alas, because it was required, I didn't want to do it. This third term I have realized that blogging helps me become more aware of the world around me and helps me better place my thoughts on paper when I physically write a paper; this makes me want to write and I never realized that I could enjoy blogging this much.

[to be continued...]

...

I have some posts I'm in the process of writing. I Hope to have them up each day next week.

Topics Include:

• Genealogy
• Typography
• An interestingly sexist article
• Gay Marriage (again)
• Views on Religion in relation to history and Human Evolution

(I'll cross them out when I do them)

Gay Marriage and Christianity

Well, Iowa Supreme Court, well done. Unfortunately I have no faith in Iowans to keep the ruling constitutional. By 2012 the constitution will be changed and the married couples will be devastated. How will the legality of the marriages work then? Maybe, if one makes this point quickly and tries to spread it throughout the state, this will be reason enough to convince the majority that even if it is "immoral" (or something) that it would be kind of an immature move. But really, who can convince those that have been convinced of their faith, that they so stubbornly defend?

Now the Religious Right (do you like how I used a term that would make me sound more Intelligent?) cannot be convinced unless the Bible says so. So really we can't do anything, but, dare I say it? Pray. Pray that people of all walks of life have the right to be in love, to raise a family, to be married. Yes, pray. What an odd thing to say. But really, as a Christian, one should love everyone, just as their holy book says. Even as I was in middle school I felt that, even though I believed that being gay was immoral, gays were people and had the right to be married. My logic was this: Maybe you murder someone, God lets you; Maybe hit your wife, God lets you; Maybe you go and think inappropriate thoughts about a woman, God lets you; the punishment of one's sins is death, not jail. It also occurred to me that, according to generally accepted theology, we are all sinners and we are all going to hell. Therefore being gay isn't any worse than thinking a girl is pretty.

Now, as I've matured, thought about morality and religion, and realized there was more to the world, I've realized that being gay is fine, if not good. Maybe dating a girl that considers herself to be bisexual has given me another outlook on life. So, I'm proud to be an Iowan, right now, and in 2012 I will vote in support of gay marriage if there is a proposition against it.

May I suggest the Film "For the Bible Tells Me So." I'm watching it right now, So I don't really know how it ends, yet. But it is a documentary with interviews of Christian families with gay family members. It seems to be supportive of the gay walk of life.

PS: I might write an Essay on this sometime... I'll link it here if I do.

Why I'm just like everyone else.

As spring break comes to a close and I've read some blogs here and there, I've realized something, no matter what social grouping one fits into, there are always people who believe that they are better and, ultimately, different. These people find some way to share it. With the "indie" kids this way is blogging. They do this without directly claiming their superiority (who would do that? no one is dumb enough to actually do this), but rather through their language and their witty humor, that isn't as witty as they think. Generally the posts talk about how some stupid fad on Facebook is sweeping the web and how if you participate you are nothing more than a tool. Reading blogs like this (and interacting with these people) put me in a sour mood and the thought has crossed my mind, on occasion, to write a counter blog post to one I see, even if they would never see it. And each time I have the urge to write about it I realize: Would I not be doing the same? So, because I realize I am a tool, I cannot help but to follow the trends of society, and I will not ever achieve having a career with more meaning than a job where I sit in a carpeted box typing all the day long, I am writing a post explaining that, I am average, insignificant, and too stupid to even know that I am.

Let me start by listing my wrong-doings:

• I actively participate in the online community of Facebook
• I like taking photographs, and therefore I am a photographer
• The music I enjoy is so main stream that it was popular in the 1700s, 1940s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and, dare I say it, the great period in music known as the 21st century
• I enjoyed Across the Universe thoroughly
• I've read all the Twilight books, and own them too
• I buy my clothes from the mall and have far too many shoes
• I don't find obscure music always wonderful
• I enjoy the Killers
• I drive a SUV thing
• etc.
• ...

Beginning with Facebook, and why I just like the general population when it comes to social networking: Since I became of age (about 7th grade) to get into social networking like MySpace, Xanga, LiveJournal, Bebo, Facebook, Gaia, etc. I had one. There was this cute girl, who had a LiveJournal, and I did what any other, normal, predictable boy would do: I got one of my own. Essentially I tried so had to interact with this girl, through whiny post about how my life sucks or my parents hate me more than other parents hate their children. I guess that's waht LiveJournal is for. Then I met some great people who had Xangas and well, I jumped on that bandwagon. Where I whined some more and my parent saw it and I started a new on to whine more. Facebook, though, what could be better than a facebook? It was like myspcae, but for people who existed and weren't losers. And I sure as hell didn't want to be a loser, so I did what everyone else did, I got myself one. And, from there, I whined (and still do) about how my life sucks, or something. I did those chain notes, eager for attention from those I look up to, carefully crafting my examples into fireworks (or something on the other end of the mood scale, like blood or something...). If there is something one can learn for this, it is that ALL social networking sites are for tools, who wish to get attention, be accepted, and well, be normal. They are all the same and I am not any more special than the girl who whines about her boyfriend in her status one minute and tells us of her undying love the next.

Maybe I'll write about picture and because I like them I am, in turn, a full blown photographer. Yep, I will. :D So what person doesn't like to shoot a few pics here and there with their nifty, pointy and shoot 8 mega-pixel digital camera? I know I do. I take pictures of my friends, my cat, may friend's cat, that scraggly dog down the street, some trees, maybe snow on those trees, I take pictures of my eyes, and my friends' eyes... Get the picture don't ya? And I even get good pictures sometimes. Therefore, I am a good photographer, I don't look at other's pictures I just know mine are better. And well because I wanted to be nifty and retro (like thrift stores and techno) I decided I'd take a class on black and white film photography. This would boost my coolness factor, I was sure. So I took tons of pictures, and I even got second place in a little contest we held. I've even upgraded to SLR (both digital and film) just to boost my novelty factor. And I continue to take picture to this day, but really am I a photographer? Hell yes, I take pictures and lost of 'em, and some even turn out nice.

I am far too lazy to explain more of the reasons why I am just like everyone else. Maybe I'll do more later. In conclusion (for now) even this post proves that I am like the font 'Helvetica,' I do not stand out, I am the same, I wish to be clean and accepted, and just like the rest of the people in the world. My failed attempts to be humorous and the sarcasm, the I pushed too hard, show that I am a tool.

Sexting

A dear friend of mine told me I should blog about sexting, and as I'm writing this I recieved a sext from my dreamy frind, Chris. Naw, he isn't so dreamy. But, anyway, sexting, why would you want to do it? What is the appeal of texting someone what you witn to do to them? Wouldn't it just be cheaper to call them? Maybe that they can do it in class, on the bus or subway, in public, maybe that's the appeal. But really who want to do it in public. Besides sexting has many definitions; it can be like phone sex, or it can be simply sending picture and stuff about what they're going to do later.

I don't really understand all the hype about it being so bad, other than teenagers are doing it. But, really, how are we going to learn if we don't make mistakes, and as a parent I'd almost rather my child have an inappropriate picture be sent around that to them having sex. But even then I guess that could lead to sex.

meh. Kids are stupid. We'll find ways to do stupid things with out too many finding out. We don't learn. WE are stubborn.

Read this!

Digitizing

Everyone enjoying the hideous css?

Edit:
So here is the new "theme." It is still undergoing some changes, but i hate Blogger's CSS and thus makes simple tasks difficult. Any suggestions?

The Internets

First I'll show you the image I will use to aid this post.

(You can click on it to make it bigger and the original is here.)

Xkcd is a great comic and I Read it religiously. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone, however this post is not specifically about Xkcd, or even the map. But rather a specific part of the map labeled, "Ocean of Subculture."

This ocean (in my humble opinion) is growing steadily larger. Here you can see some of the more common internet-culture sites and communities, like World of Warcraft and Digg, and less common communities, like 4chan and Fark(Fark isn't really, at all, in the same category as 4chan, but on this map it has s similar size).

Now 4chan, a disgusting website, is part of the lowest depths of the Internets. The Internet is kind of like the soil, made up of layers. At the top of these layers are the sites that you may visit daily: Google, News sites, Wikipedia, etc. Now, These sites generally are helpful in nature(or entertaining) and the people are generally mature. The comes the social networking sites, this encompasses a great deal of sites, ranging from mature to 12-year-old. These include, but are not limited to (in no particular order): Myspace, Facebook, Xanga, LiveJournal, etc. This layer of internet-soil also includes social news networking sites, like Digg and Slashdot. The people of these communities are generally like you and I, however, like always, there are outliers. These outliers bleed into the next level of soil which grows exponentially more immature (or mature, depending on how you view it). The layer is lass soil and more rocks and old debris that never will decay. This level is the level of porn. Because there are so many different types of pornographic content on the Internets, there is no room left for anything else in this layer. But this layer isn't the deepest. You, I, and my little sister can easily access porn of they so please, buy Internet's shovel, the search engine.

Below this hard layer of rocks and trash and junk, below the bedrock, is a Subterranean world of the super-nerd. The people of this level are immature, sex-crazed, satan-worshiping, racist, sexist, hateful people (God, I sound like a middle-aged, middle class, Religious conservative). Anyway, these people are not horrible people, they are smart, clever, creative, and more importantly they supply the internet with all things that make it. Their influence spreads to the Surface of the Internet, with things like LOLCATS, Rick Rolling, the face motivators, and other various memes. Remove this part of the Internet and the disgusting "culture" of the internet completely is destroyed; intellegent, hard working people of the world will not supply the internet with a a culture and the average Myspace/youtube user does not have the capibility to make a culture of their own. This culture, the overlords of the internet, define it and shape it how they please.

Finally in these deep depths of the thing one may recognize, on the surface, as the internet are sites where one may find Child pornography, beastiality, and things moredisgusting they you could EVER imagine. So for your sake, as well as your sanity, do not take a shovel to the topsoil of the internet and dig until you cannot dig any more, your intelligence and well your mind are at stake. But if you have the desire to corrupt yourself more than you can imagine, generally the *chans (4chan) are a good place to start (their urls in in .org)(and they are not, I REPEAT NOT, safe for work [or school]). Form there you will be disgusted and never want to ever see anything ever again. And never, even if you need a wikipedia for this level of the internet go to Encyclopedia Dramatica (which you can find on google).

"Layout" as it is called by Blogger

I'm currently working on a simple theme for this blog, so if, for at any time, you cant access this (like you want to anyway :P ), check back in a few hours of the next day.

"You ain't my bitch, nigga"

I don't have much to say other than that you should read this, it's real short and the audio is at the bottom.

Here ya go.

I have a feeling that someone will make a huge deal about this... Which makes me sad.

And one can totally see President Obama's white half when he says these these things, He sounds like a White person trying to be gangsta. :)

I really want to avoid real political discussion in this post so more random internet culture stuff. Not the bad kind either. ( except i get distracted...):"

Here is one:


On Digg a post was made with the frist image, with the title "Obama is kind of a dick (pic)" and The reply "Obama Is Kind Of A Hero. (PIC)"


And blogger made it tiny...

meow

Jaguar eating ayahausca
by ayadocs

"Om nom nom"

Even big cats have cat nip.

Apparently it affects humans as well. At the risk of making me seem a drug abuser; I wonder if it is legal in the good ol' United States.

Love is Blind

Love is Blind to Pretty Faces

Well, is it? If you have been in love or even just infatuated, have you ever noticed this?

Being a foolish teenager, I have had my fair share of infatuations. And I never noticed, but this article seems to be very true. Even now, in a relationship that is new in a way, and at the risk of sounding cheesy, I believe that I am beginning to observe this behavior in myself.

Before I finished the article I made some assumptions. That we do this to avoid "cheating" on our partner and to maintain stability in our lives. And I read on, we do, indeed, do this "to help men and women stay in monogamous relation­ship." And because its is an unconscious behavior, there must be a reason that it just happens. The scientists who found this hypothesized that monogamous relationships benefit humans.

I also, while not having any professional knowledge of human behavior, believe that this behavior is psychological, in the sense that if you tell yourself that you are "in love" that you will also partake in this behavior. However this sudo-behavior is a more conscious effort to force yourself into what you believe is love.

I cannot find much information on the evolutionary benefits of a monogamous relationship, however, if this is found please, enlighten me. :D

Why/What

I've always wanted to blog, but when I have to, what do I do but not do it.

I have a few goals for this blog. I intend to continue to write about books, music, and movies I experience. I hope to write about what bothers me, as any trendy blogger would do, as well as what I support and sympathize with. I intend to write about my Experiences with the Happy Chromosomes, so that I may be able to go back and remember what I have learned. And Eventually, if I get the courage, reply to other bloggers, if in agreement or not.

Disney Germany

Ah, Disney, I love you.
The realism in the video is amazing.
I especially enjoy the realistic representation of Nazi Germany.

Watchmen

First The Trailer:




and then the Apple trailer download: Link

OK, so I bought this wonderful graphic novel titled "Watchmen." I bought it because I have become interested in comic as of lately and an acquaintance recommended it to me. I had no knowledge that there was a movie being produced at the time, nor that there was even one in preproduction. However the next day, at school, I was enlightened by a large number of my friends. Many questions were asked if I was excited about the movie that would be coming out. They received looks of curiosity and confusion, as if a cat where staring at them when you've hidden their, little, toy mouse. A number of thoughts went through my head, a number of thoughts hoping that people wouldn't assume that I was just into it because it was a movie or that I was some kind of poser.

But on to the actual topic. Watchmen. What a wonderful book and, dare I say, novel. The story line is complex and has the depth of a Classical musical composition. It deserves to be hailed as one of the greatest graphic novels of all time, if not the greatest. At first I was utterly confused and had no idea what was going on. Then I realized that I was reading it like a comic book and not like a real story, with real characters that aren't simply superheros. I don't know what to say about this, it was so good and I am excited to see the movie and read it again in the near future.

Digg

Ah, the wondrous part of the Internet, known as Social News Networking, contains many well-known sites like Digg or Slashdot. These sites, once a portal to technology news and news generally pertaining to nerds, now have thousands of members, especially Digg. Normally i would say this would contribute to the diversity and types of news posted, however, it rarely does. It merely makes the average IQ drop to sub-100 levels.

Digg works by allowing Users to submit articles of, traditionally, tech interest, news, pictures, videos, pretty much anything that doesn't break the law (except in a few cases). These submissions are then voted and commented upon by as process known as "Digging." And Through the magical process known as the algorithm. submissions are then placed on the front page. Now the vast majority of people can see the articles that passed the test of digg, and the immaturity of the Internet floods the comments. Theses comments can also be "dugg."

Of all the things I could write about Digg, I choose comments. The comments, where the, Oh- So Noble, anonymous can speak their mind without fear or getting made fun of or criticized (if only they speak fact). But fact, is not fact on the Internet, and opinion becomes fact if the general majority favors it. Take, for example when Ron Paul was the internet's savior, he was the biggest thing on Digg and if you even mentioned another candidate you would be dugg down to the deepest depths of hell. But when the Ron Paul Craze was over, and it became even more clear that the God known as Ron Paul would not even receive the Republican Nomination, the once die-hard worshipers, decided that they would support the savior of the world, President Obama. Now that Obama was the object of their praise, any mention of Ron Paul became taboo. If you spoke his, once sacred, name you would be destroyed by being dugg down. One can see the problem with this.

On Digg, you MUST fit into with the vocal users believe is true. You cannot be a rational human, (at all) if you are a Christian. Now there may be truth behind this, however, in the minds of the crazy comm enters (aka trolls) all people are easily defined and stereotyped. (I suppose that statement makes me a troll as well). The only people who have any thread of rational thought, to them, are Liberals (and in-turn, atheists), and you are sub-human and moronic if you are not.

I have not experienced, for myself, the ridicule of saying something that isn't socially acceptable on digg. If i do comment, I have been intelligent enough to choose my words wisely and keep away from religion and politics.

Playing a Trumpet in an band

Playing your instrument in a Rock 'n' Roll band, sounds exciting, doesn't it? Maybe getting to do a recording or two or playing at a gig. No, it is scary as hell, Part of me is excited to do this, and the other part, wants to back out of the difficult task ahead, like I usually do. So now I have something new to blog about.

I have a few tasks... I have to attend the practices, I have to understand the songs and the keys, and I have to improv. The first two aren't too hard, but most of the songs are obscure keys (for me). One was even in C flat (for those of you who don't know, that's all flats).

I'm excited to do this but Since i don't have too much to write about as of right now I'll post some songs and videos of the Happy Chromosomes. (That's their myspace).

And I can't find which surprises me a bit, however if I do I will post them.

Perfect Symmetry

I just purchased the new Keane record. As I am not an expert of Keane Discography I cannot compare this album to anything but the CD I currently own, Hopes and Fears. Except that comparing the new album to Hopes and Fears is almost like comparing two vastly different things; one might even say that it is like comparing apples and oranges, but at least they are both fruit.

While I exaggerate the difference between the two, the earlier songs on the CD completely different than their previous records. They use synthesizers extensively in these, which they rarely did in their first album (Hopes and Fears).Because of this the mood is very different. And while the lyrics focus around love and stuff. Perfect Symmetry has a different personality, less "emo," one might say.

On this album even guitars are used which, once again is a departure from the original sound.

I am very happy that Keane has continued to evolve, even within the time span of only 3 albums. Especially with the success of their first album, it would be difficult to change their sound.

How adorable is this?
Normally while looking at videos online you find moronic, pointless, immature videos, but this! This is genius. This little girl is god. OK maybe not, but she still is pretty funny. :D
This video, how ever fragmented and "jaggy" is probably the best summary of the movie I've ever heard. I think this is because the little girl who has seen this only once (according to the info on the youtube page) knows only the important parts, rather than an adult (or teenager) who would look into the deeper message of the movie. Because they would do that the summary or review type thing would be far too in depth to accurately portray the awesomeness that is Star Wars.

Now there is this idiot, he has nothing to do with the cute little girl above, be he is, however, a complete idiot. I don't know really where to begin with him... His clothes, his glasses, his pierced nipple, his shirt that he doesn't seem to know how to button, or his crazy hat. But the reporter is an idiot as well. She doesn't seem to get that this kid isn't a little five year old who can be told to do simple things; he threw a god damned party with out his parents' knowledge. and not just some little party with a few "mates" but a huge one with hundreds of kids. So while the kid is completely moronic, the reporter is even more so to think that she somehow could magically get through to this teenager.

I'll leave this here for lawls...