Mot

Leave me a message saying "Resistance is futile!" and I'll give you five questions to answer.


1. Why are you so fat?

Better question: Why aren't you fatter. Either way and truthfully it's been a running joke that has gotten way out of hand, to the point of fact. Both my friends at school, and my friends at home started calling fat around the same time*. (*note: they, for the most part do not have any contact with each other) But lately it's gone of the charts, as people that aren't in on the joke, have started calling me fat. For example, my great aunt, my boss at work, one of my teachers. Of course, they were all joking about it, but apparently it's just one of the jokes everybody is in on. And it's awesome.

2. Only child. Awesome/Awesome?

Awesome. Kind of. I didn't have to share stuff, which made me really self centered, something I'm still trying to break.

3. Why the bass?

(Short answer aka lie)I've never quite figured that one out. (Long answer aka truth aka technical mumble jumbo) It's been proven that people prefer different pitch ranges, some people love high pitches, others love lower pitches. I'm one of the latter to an extent. It's more of the roll bass plays in a band setting that I enjoy about the instrument. I've pretty much stopped playing bass when I'm by myself because I would rather write music, which is much easier on an instrument that has a higher pitch range, such as piano or guitar, but I do not want to play those instruments when there are other people to play them. I feel in control of whats going on when I play bass with people, which isn't a completely accurate description of the feeling, but combining it with satisfaction is about as close as I'm going to get. 

4. Phil Ken Sebben, give one reason why he is The Man.

On the first day god created light. On the second day he created the oceans and the skies. On the third day he separated the ocean from the land and created fruit bearing trees, grass, and plants. On the fourth day he created the sun, the moon, and the stars. On the fifth day he creates the sea creatures and the birds and tells them to procreate. On the sixth day he created man (Adam), in his image, and from him women (Eve). On the seventh day he rested, and while he rested he placed his hand down on Michigan, creating that land form (also his nether region landed on Florida, but this has generally been omitted information). 

The first time Adam saw his reflection in the water the words "Ha ha! picture perfect." escaped his mouth. He knew not why.

5. If you could have any sexually transmitted disease, which would it be? 

The best one.

http://www.ksweddings.com/aidra_ernest/


Best wedding EVER.

Reply to this meme by yelling "Words!" and I will give you five words that remind me of you. Then post them in your LJ and explain what they mean to you.

From Jess:

1. Rhode Island

It's currently the place I reside 2/3rds of the year, and I'm not too happy about it. Sure I have met some great people there (including one really amazing girl) but I've found that the majority of people in Rhode Island are angry, stressed, and just like to be mean. Also it's the smallest state in the nation yet it takes forever to drive through. The road system/layout is god-awful I'm only about 20 miles south of Providence, but if I drive through RI to get there it takes about 40 minutes, where as going into Mass. and back into RI takes only 15 minutes. Stupid right? Thats all I have to say about Rhode Island. Besides, oh it sucks.

2. Anime

I honestly haven't avidly watched an anime in a long time. I'm just out of the loop, and honestly adolescent and immature fangirls and fanboys turn me off to the culture. I'm not saying I don't enjoy it anymore, I do, it's just the majority of people that are enthusiasts about it turn me off.

My parents once said to me "I can't wait until you grow out of this Japanese animation phase crap and move on to real movies." To me it's not the fact that its Japanese or animated that draws me to it, the writing and stories are generally better quality that american movies or tv shows, and of course the artwork that is the animation is sometimes great, and that doesn't detract from the appeal.

However my favorite animes would have to be (not in this order): Samurai Champloo, Paranoia Agent, Cowboy Bebop, Akira, Dai Mahoe Touge, FLCL, and Excel Saga. Of course that's not an exclusive list, those are just ones I wouldn't pass up watching.

3. Bass

A word meme for me without bass in it? Of course not! So yeah bass was my forth instrument and hands down my favorite. I have noticed that I have started to prefer composing music when I'm by myself so I've started to play guitar and piano more out of the necessity of it. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy playing bass as much, because I do, it's just more fun for me to play bass in a band scenario.

I have two bands right now, one at school called "City" and one here in Maine called "To the Sky". I play guitar in the first band, and we primarily play songs that I write. In the later I'm playing bass, and having the most fun I've had playing music in a long, long time. Currently I own two basses, a Warwick Fortress One that has been modified to be fretless and have an ebony nut, the second is a Gibson G-3 circa 1975. I must say it is a very strange feeling owning an instrument that has existed for longer than I have.

4. Hair

Hair... Hair... hm... I have it. I have lots of it. Although I continually fear I'm balding, even though no one in my immediate family has ever been bald. I've been growing my hair out since sophomore year of high school, coincidently about the same time I started playing bass, (I had wanted to do both for a long time, but Andy really inspired me r.i.p.). I'm not a big fan of having my hair short, yes it makes many things easier, its not as hot in the summer time and its not as heavy, but long hair just looks better. Not past my shoulders though, then it's too long.

5. DDR

"WHATS DDR?!" (mumbling from crowd "who's the idiot that doesn't know what ddr is?... oh it's Tom, nevermind")

I first encountered DDR at a friends house in middle school, I liked it, but couldn't remember what it was called so I didn't play for a while after. I finally purchased it and began playing like a mad-man. It was great exercise, although it didn't teach me anything about dancing (Too this day I still don't care for dancing, but I will still play DDR). My love for DDR came and went, I now only occasionally play at the beach. I still have my $100 pads, but I sold my games. I have no qualms about spending hours playing that game and spending all my money on the arcades at the beach. Its still a brilliantly fun game, I just have no ambition to play it... In the Groove (or expert DDR for 1337 people OMG) made the game so stupidly hard that I just quite, no more desire to play it.

See those last three sentences? yeah, thats me rambling. In short, DDR: came, saw, played, loved, played, loved, promptly lost all desire to play when I got In the Groove.

NEED

Literally a quote from thursdays/fridays (not sure) Portland Press.

"What's going on on the Internet is a cacophony of sexualized fantasy talk, all the time."

Looks like I just hit on you.

It looks awesome. Unfortunately I don't own a japanese wii

Fetish Pikachu! Probably one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. NSFW link.

http://kotaku.com/5164065/call-him-pikachoo-man

Stolen from eighty bajillion people on facebook. I'm not posting it there because I don't want everyone and their mother to be able to read it.

Basically, write 25 things about yourself, and for everything you write, "tag" someone. I don't have 25 friends on LJ so who ever can see this counts twice (or more!)

1. I'm a hypocrit. Sometimes. I will point these out.

2. There are few things in life I truly love, Music, Heather, and my friends.

3. I am a shy person, however, I am also a social person. I always wish a stranger would just come up and talk me because I won't ever go to them.

4. I hate being detached from friends. I feel as if I'm losing a connection with them.

5. I get (mildly)depressed easily, even though most people will never see it. However, when I do get depressed, I feel pathetic and make myself cheer-me-up.

6. I am terrified of being incompetent or being thought of as incompetent. But, I also hate being the person who is asked what to do all the time.

7. It makes me sad when people feel they are unattractive. Be proud of yourself damnit. (I don't consider myself handsome.)

8. I can sit for hours on end with nothing to do, and have a brilliant time.

9. Even though I'm a musician, when I'm completely alone I generally prefer silence over music.

10. People that have "role-models" and "heroes" that are athletes and musicians disgust me. Even the concept of a role model makes me sick, even though I have them. My role models are Andrew Boucher (RIP), and my Pepere.

11. I simultaneously love and hate the internet.

12. I hate what American culture is today, and how it affects our generation. I long for civilization to loose it electricity, to loose the ability to record music, to stay up after dark. Even though I'm a night owl.

13. I can't stand it when someone tells me that they have no hobbies, or interests other than partying and booze.

14. When people tell me they don't believe in global warming I get outraged.

15. As much as I hate stereotyping, I stereotype all republicans as people that don't believe in global warming.

16. Fall and Winter are my favorite seasons, and even though I love to ski and I love snow, the world is the best when there are no leaves on the trees. Everything is just so bare and unprotected, its beautiful.

17. I almost always feel in-adequate. So I work as hard as I can to not feel that way, then once I don't, I give up.

18. I am easily addicted to things, which is why I don't drink, smoke, do drugs. I'm afraid I will get into a cycle I can't break.

19. My one year of football only taught me a couple things, most importantly, if you don't get nervous about something you don't care enough.

20. I do not consider myself smart, and I can get insulted when some I consider smart(er than me) doesn't know the write answer/way to do something.

21. I do not believe in ADD or ADHD. I believe that it is a lack of parenting (either because of a diagnosis of it, or because the parent doesn't teach his/her kid to control themselves) resulting in lack self discipline that people call an illness.

22. My brain wanders all the time, often in the middle of conversation, which leads to some odd topic switches.

23. Addiction is not a disease. It is a lack of will power.

24. I've never wanted to be "popular" and have tons of fake friends. I just worry about not being remembered after I'm gone.

25. Organized religion is a farce. Nothing but a brainwashing attempt by a select few to control as mass amount of people and to gain unbelievable power. However, I am NOT an Atheist, I am Agnostic, if you don't know the difference, educate yourself.

Kids breaks guitar hero point record, big deal right?

Apparently, it was a big enough deal to CNN, which had the article posted on it's front page, and in several other sections.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2009/02/09/hernandez.tx.real.guitar.hero.kdaf

Can't there be something more important going on that some kid getting 800,000+ points in a video game?

Christ.

So for the steampunk group I'm going to compose some music, a character piece for each person and a ships theme. The character pieces will all be fairly short, but I want to get an opinion from each person on what they think steampunk music would sound like (what kind of sounds would it have? Would it be classical? Jazzy? Rock n' Roll? You tell me!), and your position on the ship, doesn't matter if your crew or a passenger.

I'm already starting to develop some basic ideas for parts. But I'd really like to be able to write it so each person, once I can record it, will have some sort of attachment to it. Or something like that.

So yeah. Let me know. But take your time, I'm not in any rush, I've got till Portcon.

Oh and if there is anyone on the ship that I don't have on my f-list direct me to them, or them to me, so I can get their opinions.

http://kotaku.com/5141355/competitive-starcraft-gets-uc-berkeley-class

UC Berkeley teaches a class in the art of playing starcraft? 3 credits to study starcraft? Count me in... if I went to UC Berkeley.

I understand it is six albums, but it was impossible for me to choose 5, let alone six, there are so many jazz and classical albums/pieces that aren't on here,



As they are on the image: They're out of order because I'm lazy, and was using paint.

TL: Bear Vs. Shark - Right Now, You're in the Best of Hands. And If Something Isn't Quite Right, Your Doctor Will Know in a Hurry.
TM: Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
TR: Paul Simon - Graceland
BL: Cursive - The Ugly Organ
BM: Stan Gets and João Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto
BR: Madvillian (MF Doom/Madlib) - Madvilliany

Favorites 1-6:

1. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
2. Bear Vs Shark - Right Now, You're in the Best of Hands...
3. Stan Gets and João Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto
4. TR: Paul Simon - Graceland
5. BL: Cursive - The Ugly Organ
6. BR: Madvillian (MF Doom/Madlib) - Madvilliany

Now I have to admit, there are 5 or 6 other local albums that I dearly, dearly love, but couldn't find a decent image of the album art online, so I chose not to list them in the meme for this reason. However, here are the albums not included:

1. Cambiata - Into the Night
2. Cambiata - To Heal EP
3. Are You a Fox? - Release the Hounds EP
4. Chase Hill - Unreleased EP
5. In the Arms of Providence - I Left My Voice-box in a Seaside Town

Also, Miles Davis should have and easily could have dominated my top 5/6 albums easily.

So I've decided to join the steampunk group for portcon (since I can't make AB), I was talking to Mick about what a steam punk musician would have for an instrument, he suggested accordion, unfortunately accordions start at $150 used, so they're out of the question. Kind of.

What I'm wondering is if there is anyway I could buy a crappy kids toy piano, and modify it to make it look like an accordion? Or I might just use the piano (steampunk keyboard/mini organ?).

But yeah, if anyone else has any ideas it'd be nice to hear them.

Need to get my mind off some school things so heres my stealing of Heathers game thing:

1. open your itunes.
2. put it on shuffle.
3. post a picture of the first fifteen artists that come up. ignore repeat artists.
4. have your friends guess who they are.

( for those of you playing the game )

So yeah, I get to see the Dear Hunter and Thursday tomorrow in Connecticut with Heather, which I'm super excited about.

What I'm not excited about is the group that I worked with all year in one of my classes screwing me out of 4 points on my final grade. Which doesn't sound like a lot, but when it's the difference between getting a 1.6 or a 2.0 in the class it's a big deal. Especially since my overall GPA needs to be above a 3.0 for my scholarship. Luckily I currently have a 3.4 but still. Guess I'm just freaking out. Alot.

Happy Turkey, and remember, Cooking Mama Kill's Animals.

Just a friendly reminder.

So tonight Heather, I, and our friend Brian went to see Tom Gabel (the lead singer of against me!), I've scene Against Me! twice, and Heather way more times than I have. Since Against Me! came out with their most recent CD they barely play any of their older stuff. Tonight, Tom Gabel played pretty much every song I've ever wanted to see them play.

Set list (of what I can remember) from what I can remember.
-Bob Dylan Dream #25, 36, 48
-Random Hearts (off his new solo CD)
-Walking is Still Honest
-Reinventing Axel Rose
-Amputations
-Harsh Realms
-Joy
Wagon Wheel (never thought I would hear that played live. Old Crow Medicine Show/Bob Dylan Cover)
-Anna is a stool pigeon
-8 Full Hours of Sleep
-Pints of Guinness Make You Strong
-Armageddon
-We Did it all for Don
Encore-ish thing
What we worked for
Baby, I'm an Anarchist

Basically, it was the most intense punk show I've ever been to. Funny thing is? It was all acoustic, just one man and a guitar. Heather has some videos of it, maybe I'll try to upload them at some point.

http://kotaku.com/5094386/peta-beats-a-dead-horse-asks-for-veggie-cooking-mama

PETA RESPONDS! HAHAHA.

Laughing my ass off? Double Check.

http://www.peta.org/cooking-mama/index.asp?c=pcmgb08

Oh PETA.

http://www.buycostumes.com/Pokemon-Mudkip-Fleece-Child/18774/ProductDetail.aspx

From Tom.
That is all.