So, I'm now down in Byron Bay, having driven up then coached down the east coast of Australia. Here's some hints and tips for those wanting to do something similar.
Don't hire a van, they're small, uncomfortable, awkward to find places to park, and less sociable
Budget well
Book as you go, listen to other travelers and get recommendations
Don't trust travel agents - especially in the UK, they have no idea what they're booking you into
Don't stop everywhere, there's no need
CAIRNS
If you want to party, stay at Gilligans - it's like freshers week all year round
All the hostels are cheap and offer free food, don't think you're getting a bargain, they all do it!
Book onto lots of trips/activities, they are great fun and a brilliant way to meet people
Book through your hostel, most people do, so you'll meet people from your hostel
Don't get trapped, it gets old after about a week
Do the great barrier reef, white water rafting and bungee jumping
MISSION BEACH
This place is tiny, so go if you want to chill.
The full moon party was apparently shit
AIRLIE BEACH
Airlie is like a mini Cairns, but everyone is heading off to the Whitsundays, so don't stay long unless you like making new friends every night
WHITSUNDAYS
Beautiful, must see part of the east coast
If you want to drink and party, book onto the clipper,(ratio may be very bad) if not, most of the other boats will do. (good ratio)
Boomerang was a professional sailing boat if that's what you want - though little sailing happens
TOWN OF 1770
Scooteroos are pretty much the only thing to do here, so don't stay long
Very chilled
HERVEY BAY
Gateway to Fraser Island, don't stay longer than you need, no-one else does
RAINBOW BEACH
Like Hervey Bay, but with a nicer beach
FRASER ISLAND
You must do this.
Do a two night camping trip, you'll make amazing friends, meet awesome people, and get to drive a bad-ass 4x4 around in sand. Try not to have sex in the sand, it's not good (wait till you get home on the last night)
NOOSA HEADS
I have no idea what's here, or why people go...
BRISBANE
It's a city, a small one, with not much to do and lots of Germans
Nice to settle, maybe
SURFERS PARADISE
This is a city, not a cool beach town
Good for partying and the beach
BYRON BAY
Small town, but popular with travelers, stoners and hippies
Don't stay in the YHA, it's too strict on noise/alcohol
Try all the bars, some are tacky and naff, others are tackier, others are kinda boring
Hard to find work here!
15/12/2011
04/11/2011
pupfresh:
Apparently an artist only makes 8 cents on a 99-cent iTunes download.
The detailed breakdown shows that for every 1,000 iTunes downloads sold, a UMG-signed artist gets paid $80.33. And that’s after the label collects on a 25% ‘Container Charge for Audiophile Records,’ as well as a 15% ‘Net Sales Deduction.’
With major labels abandoning the CD-format next year, it really looks like the world will be ending in 2012.
me:
This is the best thing i’ve ever heard. I’ve known the stats about artist pay for a long time, and the end of the cd was always going to happen. However this is not the death of music, this is the rebirth! This will be the end for artists in it for the money, no more horrible suedo punk and rock bands in it for the girls! We’ll still have disgusting pop artists who will be funded through endorsments and sponsorships, but we’ll lose the vile faux-alt music that has been destroying our culture for so long. Music will be made by musicians who WANT to make music not money! It will bring forth a new DIY era where the smaller labels will be in control of quality music, bands who play music because they want to, not to get paid. It will also help to usher the music subscription model, a time when a monthly fee is paid, just the same as sky tv, or internet, that will give you access to as much music as there is (like spotify does now) and artists will be paid based on amount of plays. If like itunes it will be possible for unsigned bands to add themselves, then it open up the market for small bands to finally have a stake in the earnongs. For too long the music industry has been run on greed, just like most of the capitalist world. With ‘alternative’ culture becoming more and more mainstream its been hard to know the difference between those that give a fuck and those that don’t. Soon the time will come that bands will be popular based on quality, rather than marketing. Dinosaurs will die, long live the DIY
Tumblr killer my punctuation - sorry
Apparently an artist only makes 8 cents on a 99-cent iTunes download.
The detailed breakdown shows that for every 1,000 iTunes downloads sold, a UMG-signed artist gets paid $80.33. And that’s after the label collects on a 25% ‘Container Charge for Audiophile Records,’ as well as a 15% ‘Net Sales Deduction.’
With major labels abandoning the CD-format next year, it really looks like the world will be ending in 2012.
me:
This is the best thing i’ve ever heard. I’ve known the stats about artist pay for a long time, and the end of the cd was always going to happen. However this is not the death of music, this is the rebirth! This will be the end for artists in it for the money, no more horrible suedo punk and rock bands in it for the girls! We’ll still have disgusting pop artists who will be funded through endorsments and sponsorships, but we’ll lose the vile faux-alt music that has been destroying our culture for so long. Music will be made by musicians who WANT to make music not money! It will bring forth a new DIY era where the smaller labels will be in control of quality music, bands who play music because they want to, not to get paid. It will also help to usher the music subscription model, a time when a monthly fee is paid, just the same as sky tv, or internet, that will give you access to as much music as there is (like spotify does now) and artists will be paid based on amount of plays. If like itunes it will be possible for unsigned bands to add themselves, then it open up the market for small bands to finally have a stake in the earnongs. For too long the music industry has been run on greed, just like most of the capitalist world. With ‘alternative’ culture becoming more and more mainstream its been hard to know the difference between those that give a fuck and those that don’t. Soon the time will come that bands will be popular based on quality, rather than marketing. Dinosaurs will die, long live the DIY
Tumblr killer my punctuation - sorry
Why Blog?
I got asked the other day why I write a blog and a journal... I was a bit lost really...
I have lots of different profiles and places on the internet, all that I use in different ways and for very different purposes
Journal - my personal notes, nothing really interesting and mostly written when I've got bored of reading and have nothing else to do. Documenting where I am, what I'm doing, how I feel. Sometimes it gets a bit emo and serious, but I'm usually too lazy to write in it.
Blogger - most of my rants and thoughts that I want people to know go here. Again I'm pretty lazy, and I only know of three people reading them (Alan, Tom and Rhianna - hello!) But I like to put down in writing these little rants that I have. It was supposed to be about music and all that, but there's too many people doing that better, so it's just what I want.
Tumblr - cool stuff I see on tumblr, this is more for me than anyone else - a collection of the best stuff I find online. Mostly snowboarding videos. Occasionally I get a pang of politics or the need to rant to a larger audience, so I post shit on there. I like to tell people what to listen to as well.
Twitter - well.... I don't get this anymore, the only good things are links...
Facebook - it's a promotions tool, so have lots of friends so you can promote to them, or ask favours! It really is a good way to keep in touch, but don't take it too seriously. Also, very good for checking out girls/stalking/perving... It's kinda nice to see what others are up to as well, if you care...
Hotmail - well, that's my email...
Not sure why I wrote this, but I'm sure someone will read it... maybe
I have lots of different profiles and places on the internet, all that I use in different ways and for very different purposes
Journal - my personal notes, nothing really interesting and mostly written when I've got bored of reading and have nothing else to do. Documenting where I am, what I'm doing, how I feel. Sometimes it gets a bit emo and serious, but I'm usually too lazy to write in it.
Blogger - most of my rants and thoughts that I want people to know go here. Again I'm pretty lazy, and I only know of three people reading them (Alan, Tom and Rhianna - hello!) But I like to put down in writing these little rants that I have. It was supposed to be about music and all that, but there's too many people doing that better, so it's just what I want.
Tumblr - cool stuff I see on tumblr, this is more for me than anyone else - a collection of the best stuff I find online. Mostly snowboarding videos. Occasionally I get a pang of politics or the need to rant to a larger audience, so I post shit on there. I like to tell people what to listen to as well.
Twitter - well.... I don't get this anymore, the only good things are links...
Facebook - it's a promotions tool, so have lots of friends so you can promote to them, or ask favours! It really is a good way to keep in touch, but don't take it too seriously. Also, very good for checking out girls/stalking/perving... It's kinda nice to see what others are up to as well, if you care...
Hotmail - well, that's my email...
Not sure why I wrote this, but I'm sure someone will read it... maybe
26/10/2011
Be nice to fundraisers, they're people too!
Having come to Oz, the easiest job to get is fundraising, with no experience needed and a friendly outgoing personality, I found it easy to get started in the job. However, i used to think of it as selling your soul, to work on the streets and beg for money for a charity. And, well, I still do! It's a shit job but it pays. Thankfully I'm travelling lots with my team so that's a positive, otherwise I'm sure I'd have quit be now!
Here's some advice for those of you that hate us, because we hate ourselves enough already, so we don't need you guys making us any worse
If you don't want to talk to us, just say no thanks, we don't need a long winded excuse because we just don't care about your sick dog...
Don't ignore us, we're dicks, but we're still people, and if you ignore we want to kill you/ourselves
Don't pretend you're on the phone, we can tell, you're a dick.
Don't pretend to deaf, you're a massive dick
Don't stop just to 'cheer us up' if you're not going to sign up, then move on so we can find someone who will
We're not out there to scam you, and we have to be super friendly, so be friendly back, it's only polite :)
The job is pretty demeaning, and depressing. We know you hate us, butnit's our job and as much as we can take endless rejection, it does get old fast!
EDIT: if you're single and cute, give us your number, most people (boys and girls) doing this are single!
Here's some advice for those of you that hate us, because we hate ourselves enough already, so we don't need you guys making us any worse
If you don't want to talk to us, just say no thanks, we don't need a long winded excuse because we just don't care about your sick dog...
Don't ignore us, we're dicks, but we're still people, and if you ignore we want to kill you/ourselves
Don't pretend you're on the phone, we can tell, you're a dick.
Don't pretend to deaf, you're a massive dick
Don't stop just to 'cheer us up' if you're not going to sign up, then move on so we can find someone who will
We're not out there to scam you, and we have to be super friendly, so be friendly back, it's only polite :)
The job is pretty demeaning, and depressing. We know you hate us, butnit's our job and as much as we can take endless rejection, it does get old fast!
EDIT: if you're single and cute, give us your number, most people (boys and girls) doing this are single!
16/10/2011
ermmmmm
I was going to write a blog post yesterday, but I have already forgotten what it was going to be about...
Fundraising perhaps, and my experience with it so far. Well, it's hardly a job to be proud of, but it pays well enough and thanks to free accommodation I'm saving loads of money. Plus I'm getting to travel lots too, off to Port McQuarie later today after one night in Sydney. Last week we were in a small town called Terrigal which was right on the beach and the hostel had free surfboards so we managed to get a bit of surfing in, although the waves were tiny!
I'd actually recommend it to people looking for work here, it gives you a chance to meet some pretty cool people as well.
Looking forward to travelling more, and hopefully finding some more girls!
Fundraising perhaps, and my experience with it so far. Well, it's hardly a job to be proud of, but it pays well enough and thanks to free accommodation I'm saving loads of money. Plus I'm getting to travel lots too, off to Port McQuarie later today after one night in Sydney. Last week we were in a small town called Terrigal which was right on the beach and the hostel had free surfboards so we managed to get a bit of surfing in, although the waves were tiny!
I'd actually recommend it to people looking for work here, it gives you a chance to meet some pretty cool people as well.
Looking forward to travelling more, and hopefully finding some more girls!
17/09/2011
Talk to strangers!
last night i had the best time yet in sydney, all thanks to a stranger!
after finding out as much as i could about alternative nights out here, i was still seriously lacking in someone to go with, so after drinks with the work guys i headed to scary canary, the bar attached to the hostel i’m staying in, where they play the same horrific and generic house shit every night, just like nearly every venue in sydney actually. thankfully i know a few people there, and i’m soon in the smoking area taking in lovely lungfuls of second hand smoke, and chatting to a german friend, from this i get chatting to some lovely swedish girls, then some nice finish girls too. i convince the swedish girls to come check out this club with me, but for some reason these two german guys end up tagging along as well (total cock block!) and when we get there, they totally bail on me :( after a bit of joking around, they still bail… but i clocked a guy with stretchers on the walk up, so heading back that way i find him ‘nice strectchers’ i say. it turns out the guy hasn’t been in sydney long but is staying with his brother, and is from adelaide. anyway, we get on so well, and are talking music all, so when we bounce from the bar they were in i lead them back to the club, only to find out there’s only 70 people in there and it’s $10 to get in… we bounce on, heading for the other night i’d heard of, after losing the brother we find this place, on the gay side of oxford street, wander in and it’s free, thanks to the box office being shut! get in and boom! it’s sweet dubstep and shuffle tunes, so i learn to shuffle and we have a great laugh. so glad i made that step to say hi! especially as i finally have someone up for hitting the cooler places in town with me, someone who has a clue about music! we’d be out tonight, but he’s broke :( so while it’s easy to meet people in the hostel, these guys just ain’t my style ya'know what I'm sayin'?
after finding out as much as i could about alternative nights out here, i was still seriously lacking in someone to go with, so after drinks with the work guys i headed to scary canary, the bar attached to the hostel i’m staying in, where they play the same horrific and generic house shit every night, just like nearly every venue in sydney actually. thankfully i know a few people there, and i’m soon in the smoking area taking in lovely lungfuls of second hand smoke, and chatting to a german friend, from this i get chatting to some lovely swedish girls, then some nice finish girls too. i convince the swedish girls to come check out this club with me, but for some reason these two german guys end up tagging along as well (total cock block!) and when we get there, they totally bail on me :( after a bit of joking around, they still bail… but i clocked a guy with stretchers on the walk up, so heading back that way i find him ‘nice strectchers’ i say. it turns out the guy hasn’t been in sydney long but is staying with his brother, and is from adelaide. anyway, we get on so well, and are talking music all, so when we bounce from the bar they were in i lead them back to the club, only to find out there’s only 70 people in there and it’s $10 to get in… we bounce on, heading for the other night i’d heard of, after losing the brother we find this place, on the gay side of oxford street, wander in and it’s free, thanks to the box office being shut! get in and boom! it’s sweet dubstep and shuffle tunes, so i learn to shuffle and we have a great laugh. so glad i made that step to say hi! especially as i finally have someone up for hitting the cooler places in town with me, someone who has a clue about music! we’d be out tonight, but he’s broke :( so while it’s easy to meet people in the hostel, these guys just ain’t my style ya'know what I'm sayin'?
12/09/2011
A first-timers guide to Australia
First up, know why you're going, is it a holiday, or do you want to work?
If you're doing a holiday, then make sure you book up as much as you can, you don't want any empty days, seriously. You can explore most of the cities in a single day by foot so you'll soon get bored of wandering around if you've got too many days to kill. Book everything from the UK, it gets very expensive very quickly out here, but you'll get a good deal and be able to plan it all nicely with the tour operator in the UK. You need to know what you want to do, but it's all pretty much the same stuff that everyone else does. Bungee Jump and Skydive, Snorkeling at the great barrier reef, Fraser Island and Whitsunday, Sydney attractions, Byron Bay, Bondi Beach... etc just work out what you can afford and do as much as you can. There's about 20 different options and easily 100 operators all selling the same shit, so just go with what your operator suggests. Remember it's a holiday, so make the most of it.
If you're planning to work here then it's a whole different story. I'd recommend not doing any of the suggested intro packages (they're usually pretty shit), but instead book yourself a week or two at a reasonable hostel and prepare for some boring days... Try to fly in on a sunday or monday, so you've got the whole working week to get yourself sorted. There's a lot of stuff you need to get prepared:
Phone - head to Vodaphone, or any of the other shops and get the cheapest you can find
Bank Account - easy enough, make sure you have your phone first though! You can't get paid until you have an aussie bank account.
Tax number - this stops you paying too much tax, there's about 1000 ways to get this, so it shouldn't be too hard.
RSA - This is required if you want bar work, and is a bit pricey, but get it asap.
RCG - This allows you to work somewhere that has gambling, which a lot of bars do, so it's pretty useful
Other qualifications - depending on what sector you want to work in, there's probably a certificate needed, it's a ballache, but if you arrived at a good time you can get it sorted pretty fast.
Once all that is sorted you can start the job hunt, this is also a ballache but remember, the aussie minimum wage is around $20 an hour, so the price of a beer doesn't seem to so bad then! You can save the hassle of getting certificates if you go for farm jobs, or fundraising. Farm jobs are usually miles away, but offer free accomodation and if you do them for 3 months you qualify for a second working visa.
Bear in mind that Australia is expensive! Cheapest beer I've seen is $5 which wasn't even a full pint, and a Big Mac meal is $7, which works out at about £5. So it's expensive, until you start working, then it really seems quite cheap. But when you first get out here, you'll be draining your bank account a lot quicker than you might think - so avoid the expensive stuff until the end of your trip.
Finally, whether on holiday or working, take a friend! It's pretty scary moving cities in the UK, but when you consider that you'll have no-one to go to the pub with, no permanent place to live and no job it's really easy to get homesick. If you are alone, then stick with it, you do meet people and make friends pretty quick, but when you're sleeping in a room full of strangers and running out of money it's pretty lonely.
If you're doing a holiday, then make sure you book up as much as you can, you don't want any empty days, seriously. You can explore most of the cities in a single day by foot so you'll soon get bored of wandering around if you've got too many days to kill. Book everything from the UK, it gets very expensive very quickly out here, but you'll get a good deal and be able to plan it all nicely with the tour operator in the UK. You need to know what you want to do, but it's all pretty much the same stuff that everyone else does. Bungee Jump and Skydive, Snorkeling at the great barrier reef, Fraser Island and Whitsunday, Sydney attractions, Byron Bay, Bondi Beach... etc just work out what you can afford and do as much as you can. There's about 20 different options and easily 100 operators all selling the same shit, so just go with what your operator suggests. Remember it's a holiday, so make the most of it.
If you're planning to work here then it's a whole different story. I'd recommend not doing any of the suggested intro packages (they're usually pretty shit), but instead book yourself a week or two at a reasonable hostel and prepare for some boring days... Try to fly in on a sunday or monday, so you've got the whole working week to get yourself sorted. There's a lot of stuff you need to get prepared:
Phone - head to Vodaphone, or any of the other shops and get the cheapest you can find
Bank Account - easy enough, make sure you have your phone first though! You can't get paid until you have an aussie bank account.
Tax number - this stops you paying too much tax, there's about 1000 ways to get this, so it shouldn't be too hard.
RSA - This is required if you want bar work, and is a bit pricey, but get it asap.
RCG - This allows you to work somewhere that has gambling, which a lot of bars do, so it's pretty useful
Other qualifications - depending on what sector you want to work in, there's probably a certificate needed, it's a ballache, but if you arrived at a good time you can get it sorted pretty fast.
Once all that is sorted you can start the job hunt, this is also a ballache but remember, the aussie minimum wage is around $20 an hour, so the price of a beer doesn't seem to so bad then! You can save the hassle of getting certificates if you go for farm jobs, or fundraising. Farm jobs are usually miles away, but offer free accomodation and if you do them for 3 months you qualify for a second working visa.
Bear in mind that Australia is expensive! Cheapest beer I've seen is $5 which wasn't even a full pint, and a Big Mac meal is $7, which works out at about £5. So it's expensive, until you start working, then it really seems quite cheap. But when you first get out here, you'll be draining your bank account a lot quicker than you might think - so avoid the expensive stuff until the end of your trip.
Finally, whether on holiday or working, take a friend! It's pretty scary moving cities in the UK, but when you consider that you'll have no-one to go to the pub with, no permanent place to live and no job it's really easy to get homesick. If you are alone, then stick with it, you do meet people and make friends pretty quick, but when you're sleeping in a room full of strangers and running out of money it's pretty lonely.
23/08/2011
sex
Hello to the two people I know that read this...
This post was inspired by a rather rediculous post I saw online, that said "If a man comes during sex it's normal, if a woman comes is exceptional" or something similar, I'm paraphrasing.
I'm sure you know me well enough to know that I disagree! It all comes down to effort, and dominance. Men come because they are the ones putting the greater percentage of effort in, and are in charge of positioning. If a girl wants to enjoy herself more, she must be more active, either putting in as much effort, or changing the position into one which works for her. I know most guys would not complain about this! I only remember being with one girl who was totally assertive, in fact, she was pretty damn pushy as well, insisting she was on top and grinding away in a way that did nothing for me. I was happy to oblige though, knowing that she was enjoying it, and well, things would continue on afterwards.
Perhaps girls should stop worrying about how good the boy is, and work on making it work for them!
Also, what's the deal with the toilet seat thing? Putting the seat down takes practically 0 effort, while lifting it is more work (physically speaking, it's obviously not a big deal) but I've never heard a bloke moaning about have to lift the thing!
I've had a few bits n pieces to write about for a while, but I seem to have forgotten the others...
This post was inspired by a rather rediculous post I saw online, that said "If a man comes during sex it's normal, if a woman comes is exceptional" or something similar, I'm paraphrasing.
I'm sure you know me well enough to know that I disagree! It all comes down to effort, and dominance. Men come because they are the ones putting the greater percentage of effort in, and are in charge of positioning. If a girl wants to enjoy herself more, she must be more active, either putting in as much effort, or changing the position into one which works for her. I know most guys would not complain about this! I only remember being with one girl who was totally assertive, in fact, she was pretty damn pushy as well, insisting she was on top and grinding away in a way that did nothing for me. I was happy to oblige though, knowing that she was enjoying it, and well, things would continue on afterwards.
Perhaps girls should stop worrying about how good the boy is, and work on making it work for them!
Also, what's the deal with the toilet seat thing? Putting the seat down takes practically 0 effort, while lifting it is more work (physically speaking, it's obviously not a big deal) but I've never heard a bloke moaning about have to lift the thing!
I've had a few bits n pieces to write about for a while, but I seem to have forgotten the others...
30/05/2011
Awesome Days 2
Slam Dunk,
Offered tickets on thursday, found someone to go with who sorted us a car to get down and then comes one of the most awesome days! Getting stuck in traffic and having to keep switching the engine off to keep it cool, listening to one chilli peppers song on repeat because it was the only good song in the car, not having to queue at all, free afterparty tickets, sunshine so we can rock the shades, and then so so many bands!
Failsafe - still awesome!
The Famous Class - actually terrible
This Time Last Year - not bad I suppose...
Goldfinger - a very pleasant surprise, but cut short
Bury Tomorrow - still shredding
Lost Boys - great show
While She Sleeps - missed my favourite song, but still loved the set
VersaEmerge - caught a song or two and was impressed, plus super hot singer
Blitz Kids - didn't play my favourite song! But signed by my friends at hassle, good job boys
MC Lars - rammed the smallest room and killed it
Francesqa - kinda boring tbh
Dance Gavin Dance - 3rd time that week and still blew me away in the top 5 bands now
Less Than Jake - great to see them again after so long, and really good to get nostalgic, plenty of awesome old ones from my youth
Deaf Havana - lead was wankered, but still sang great! Seriously impressive response from the crowd, singing it all back
We Are The Ocean - seriously good these days, props to those boys
These aren't in order btw, just the order I remembered them! Missed Lower Than Atlantis, The Skints and The King Blues, but I can live with that.
Ended up buying Far Q by LTA for the drive home and selling our afterparty tickets, pretty sweet really.
Such a good time, and so impressed by the festival. After last years problems getting around they really got smart and sorted it all out. There was no issue getting around, plenty of space for all the merch and food stands, and best of all, the sound quality was amazing in every room! Loved every second!
Offered tickets on thursday, found someone to go with who sorted us a car to get down and then comes one of the most awesome days! Getting stuck in traffic and having to keep switching the engine off to keep it cool, listening to one chilli peppers song on repeat because it was the only good song in the car, not having to queue at all, free afterparty tickets, sunshine so we can rock the shades, and then so so many bands!
Failsafe - still awesome!
The Famous Class - actually terrible
This Time Last Year - not bad I suppose...
Goldfinger - a very pleasant surprise, but cut short
Bury Tomorrow - still shredding
Lost Boys - great show
While She Sleeps - missed my favourite song, but still loved the set
VersaEmerge - caught a song or two and was impressed, plus super hot singer
Blitz Kids - didn't play my favourite song! But signed by my friends at hassle, good job boys
MC Lars - rammed the smallest room and killed it
Francesqa - kinda boring tbh
Dance Gavin Dance - 3rd time that week and still blew me away in the top 5 bands now
Less Than Jake - great to see them again after so long, and really good to get nostalgic, plenty of awesome old ones from my youth
Deaf Havana - lead was wankered, but still sang great! Seriously impressive response from the crowd, singing it all back
We Are The Ocean - seriously good these days, props to those boys
These aren't in order btw, just the order I remembered them! Missed Lower Than Atlantis, The Skints and The King Blues, but I can live with that.
Ended up buying Far Q by LTA for the drive home and selling our afterparty tickets, pretty sweet really.
Such a good time, and so impressed by the festival. After last years problems getting around they really got smart and sorted it all out. There was no issue getting around, plenty of space for all the merch and food stands, and best of all, the sound quality was amazing in every room! Loved every second!
Awesome Days
i finished uni on tuesday and have had the best fucking time since! tatto, snowboard, london and some of the best shows i’ve seen.
serious props to:
piers for my ghost, rob, scott and tereza for board times and maccies, lucy and maisie for tumblrlols on the ‘snow’, regents park gardeners for the roses, chloe for food, dgd, nasin and sleeps, rob, charlottw, scott g, rudy and matt for acw chilling times, don broco, the dangerous summer, the james cleaver quintet and yashin for music, dance gavin dance for the sickiest shows, particularly jonny craig, matt mingus and eric lodge who chilled with us at nasin, ryan and amar for drinks, and ross for being awesome, nina for posh lunch, elle for the thunder storms and cheap lunch, uxia at dgd(2), the cute merch girl for dgd and the jcq for cheap shirts, mike of lta for being drunk, rhianna for sleeps and good times, leo for posh breakfast and ellie for pint o’ prawns twenty minutes later, and the ifpi for not changing a bit.
and now, party times with the aston snow crew, work with the a&b lads and slam dunk with awesome lost boys!
fucken love my life :d
serious props to:
piers for my ghost, rob, scott and tereza for board times and maccies, lucy and maisie for tumblrlols on the ‘snow’, regents park gardeners for the roses, chloe for food, dgd, nasin and sleeps, rob, charlottw, scott g, rudy and matt for acw chilling times, don broco, the dangerous summer, the james cleaver quintet and yashin for music, dance gavin dance for the sickiest shows, particularly jonny craig, matt mingus and eric lodge who chilled with us at nasin, ryan and amar for drinks, and ross for being awesome, nina for posh lunch, elle for the thunder storms and cheap lunch, uxia at dgd(2), the cute merch girl for dgd and the jcq for cheap shirts, mike of lta for being drunk, rhianna for sleeps and good times, leo for posh breakfast and ellie for pint o’ prawns twenty minutes later, and the ifpi for not changing a bit.
and now, party times with the aston snow crew, work with the a&b lads and slam dunk with awesome lost boys!
fucken love my life :d
15/05/2011
Why girls hate guys, and why guys can't be with girls.
Setting aside the whole notion that we're all still too closely related to animals, and therefore are much more prone to wanting several partners, here's why guys don't want to be with girls, and why girls hate them for it:
Girls are boring.
And why is that? Because the majority of girls that I know only do two things: Work and drink. This doesn't interest me. What I look for in a girl is the same as what I look for in a friend (with the exception of attractiveness which is rather more important with girlfriends) which is someone who will excite and inspire me. Someone who will be enthusiastic about the things I enjoy. Someone who will help me to live a more enjoyable life, and to experience new things.
For example, my friend Tim was brilliant, not just because we could play in a band together, or that we could go to the pub until 3 in the morning on a Tuesday just because. But he inspired and taught me new things, he introduced me to Mountain Biking, something I always wanted to try, and thanks to him I did, he taught me how to play Mah Jong (the real version) he introduced me to some amazing music, Behold... The Arctopus and Soulwax mostly as well as taking me to see Roni Size. Thanks to him I experienced so much more.
Ina also helped in many ways, getting me to listen to much more jazz and funk, getting me more involved in the working of computers and gaming more, and teaching me a lot about people.
It's rare that I've met a girl who can inspire or has encouraged me to try new things in such a way, which is a great shame. While I may be arrogant, I am humble enough to know that I do not know everything, and I would like to learn. Whether a girl teaches me how to cook (I really know so few girls that are any better than me!) how to rock climb, or encourages me to do something I've always wanted to do, like a bungie jump or a skydive, it doesn't matter what, but it matters that she would have pushed me to do it.
I'd like a girl to have her own opinions and tastes on things, whether these are similar to mine or not doesn't matter, so long as it's a sincere and passionate belief, and not a shallow formed and ill-informed opinion. I'd like a girl to challenge me as well.
I don't want to be held back, as much as I love a chilled out night in watching films, I don't want that all the time. But I also don't want to organise everything all the time. I need time home alone, out with friends, with a girl and out with a girl. But to organise all this would piss me off. So a girl needs her own life, I don't want to be her life, just a big part of it.
And you know why girls hate guys?
Because they don't want to settle for some boring girl! And we're to blame for that apparently. Guys have been taught as they grow up that in order to get the girl we need to be cool, funny, successful and confident. We're told that we should do things that make us seem cooler, look better and offer a better package to a girl. We're told that we should do all the work to earn a place next to a girl. On top of all that, we do more stuff because we actually want to, it's fun!
What does the girl have to do? Be Pretty. That's all their told. But it's wrong, guys don't want you just because you're pretty. We've worked hard on all the aspects of our lives, we've got it all sorted. So now we can girl the girl, and if we can get you, we can get more. Why should we choose you? What can you offer other than a pretty face?
So, there's a few girls I know that have more than just work and drink in their lives. Some rock-climb, others go to the gym, some snowboard, some surf. But none have ever thought to encourage me.
Maybe I'm just getting the wrong girls, maybe all the good ones are taken. Maybe I just need to meet more people and this is a horrifically incorrect sweeping statement. But please, if you're a girl and you do more than just drink and work, please let me know! Then give me your number.
Girls are boring.
And why is that? Because the majority of girls that I know only do two things: Work and drink. This doesn't interest me. What I look for in a girl is the same as what I look for in a friend (with the exception of attractiveness which is rather more important with girlfriends) which is someone who will excite and inspire me. Someone who will be enthusiastic about the things I enjoy. Someone who will help me to live a more enjoyable life, and to experience new things.
For example, my friend Tim was brilliant, not just because we could play in a band together, or that we could go to the pub until 3 in the morning on a Tuesday just because. But he inspired and taught me new things, he introduced me to Mountain Biking, something I always wanted to try, and thanks to him I did, he taught me how to play Mah Jong (the real version) he introduced me to some amazing music, Behold... The Arctopus and Soulwax mostly as well as taking me to see Roni Size. Thanks to him I experienced so much more.
Ina also helped in many ways, getting me to listen to much more jazz and funk, getting me more involved in the working of computers and gaming more, and teaching me a lot about people.
It's rare that I've met a girl who can inspire or has encouraged me to try new things in such a way, which is a great shame. While I may be arrogant, I am humble enough to know that I do not know everything, and I would like to learn. Whether a girl teaches me how to cook (I really know so few girls that are any better than me!) how to rock climb, or encourages me to do something I've always wanted to do, like a bungie jump or a skydive, it doesn't matter what, but it matters that she would have pushed me to do it.
I'd like a girl to have her own opinions and tastes on things, whether these are similar to mine or not doesn't matter, so long as it's a sincere and passionate belief, and not a shallow formed and ill-informed opinion. I'd like a girl to challenge me as well.
I don't want to be held back, as much as I love a chilled out night in watching films, I don't want that all the time. But I also don't want to organise everything all the time. I need time home alone, out with friends, with a girl and out with a girl. But to organise all this would piss me off. So a girl needs her own life, I don't want to be her life, just a big part of it.
And you know why girls hate guys?
Because they don't want to settle for some boring girl! And we're to blame for that apparently. Guys have been taught as they grow up that in order to get the girl we need to be cool, funny, successful and confident. We're told that we should do things that make us seem cooler, look better and offer a better package to a girl. We're told that we should do all the work to earn a place next to a girl. On top of all that, we do more stuff because we actually want to, it's fun!
What does the girl have to do? Be Pretty. That's all their told. But it's wrong, guys don't want you just because you're pretty. We've worked hard on all the aspects of our lives, we've got it all sorted. So now we can girl the girl, and if we can get you, we can get more. Why should we choose you? What can you offer other than a pretty face?
So, there's a few girls I know that have more than just work and drink in their lives. Some rock-climb, others go to the gym, some snowboard, some surf. But none have ever thought to encourage me.
Maybe I'm just getting the wrong girls, maybe all the good ones are taken. Maybe I just need to meet more people and this is a horrifically incorrect sweeping statement. But please, if you're a girl and you do more than just drink and work, please let me know! Then give me your number.
Advice to Bands
This is some advice I sent in an email out to a guy whose son I saw play on Friday night:
" Before going on stage send one member to speak to the soundman, and tell him that you're about to go on, and that you'll put a thumbs up once you're all ready to play. Then, all walk on stage, quickly check everything is working - and I mean very quickly, one quick strum of a guitar and tapping the mic is enough - do not play anything else! Once you know everything is working fine, put the thumbs up and the soundman will bring the music down. The quickly introduce the band and the first song and get straight into it.
Plan the set all the way through, including points when you're going to talk, and play it all the way through in order at least 3 times every practice. This way you'll always know what song is next.
Work on playing some songs back to back with no, or very little pause.
Make sure you say the band name very clearly at least three times during the set, once at the start, once in the middle and once at the end. Don't worry about mentioning the myspace/facebook everyone will already assume you're on there.
Prepare a good joke, so if you need to fill some time between songs you've got something to rely on. Talk slowly and clearly and with confidence, if you're not sure what you're saying, don't say anything!
Make sure you're enjoying yourself on stage, and work on movement. If you look bored, the audience will be! Try to get as involved as possible. Watch videos of other bands and watch what they do onstage, and try to emulate that. Practice this at rehearsals every time you play through the set. The singer especially needs to be strutting and moving a lot more, he's the focus and centre of the band and should act it.
As for getting better gigs, play every rubbish gig that comes along, but play everyone with passion and enthusiasm. Even if it's just to the same friends and family, and the other bands, if you can impress them then do it! There's no such thing as a pointless gig. Work on playing a seamless set with loads of confidence.
As for getting bigger shows in the future, make sure the boys have got that professional edge, then using your PR email address start emailing promoters and other bands. Act as though you are a booking agent, this will make the band seem more professional and will give a good impression to promoters. Find bands that are similar that are playing in the next 3 months or so and ask if they have arranged support for those bands. If there are slots available put the boys forward to play the shows.
If someone else in charge of booking, then get them to set up a new email address especially for it (but forwarded to their normal email address so they don't miss the replies) As a promoter, getting an email from joey-182@hotmail.com asking if his band can have a gig is not a good start!
If the boys are really serious about the band, get a good logo designed and have stickers made up - lots of them! then give them out and stick them everywhere! Give them to friends, and hand them out at every show, and just stick them everywhere. The band members should always have stickers on them, to stick everywhere they go, and to hand out to people they meet.
Finally, get a website and email server. This can be a total pain in the ass, but it's worth it! Using a tumblr.com blog page, you don't have to worry about designing a page, and you can have all the info you need on there. Then using Godaddy hosting, get a domain name and email address package. Having a .com really makes the band look a lot more professional, as does sending emails from that domain."
" Before going on stage send one member to speak to the soundman, and tell him that you're about to go on, and that you'll put a thumbs up once you're all ready to play. Then, all walk on stage, quickly check everything is working - and I mean very quickly, one quick strum of a guitar and tapping the mic is enough - do not play anything else! Once you know everything is working fine, put the thumbs up and the soundman will bring the music down. The quickly introduce the band and the first song and get straight into it.
Plan the set all the way through, including points when you're going to talk, and play it all the way through in order at least 3 times every practice. This way you'll always know what song is next.
Work on playing some songs back to back with no, or very little pause.
Make sure you say the band name very clearly at least three times during the set, once at the start, once in the middle and once at the end. Don't worry about mentioning the myspace/facebook everyone will already assume you're on there.
Prepare a good joke, so if you need to fill some time between songs you've got something to rely on. Talk slowly and clearly and with confidence, if you're not sure what you're saying, don't say anything!
Make sure you're enjoying yourself on stage, and work on movement. If you look bored, the audience will be! Try to get as involved as possible. Watch videos of other bands and watch what they do onstage, and try to emulate that. Practice this at rehearsals every time you play through the set. The singer especially needs to be strutting and moving a lot more, he's the focus and centre of the band and should act it.
As for getting better gigs, play every rubbish gig that comes along, but play everyone with passion and enthusiasm. Even if it's just to the same friends and family, and the other bands, if you can impress them then do it! There's no such thing as a pointless gig. Work on playing a seamless set with loads of confidence.
As for getting bigger shows in the future, make sure the boys have got that professional edge, then using your PR email address start emailing promoters and other bands. Act as though you are a booking agent, this will make the band seem more professional and will give a good impression to promoters. Find bands that are similar that are playing in the next 3 months or so and ask if they have arranged support for those bands. If there are slots available put the boys forward to play the shows.
If someone else in charge of booking, then get them to set up a new email address especially for it (but forwarded to their normal email address so they don't miss the replies) As a promoter, getting an email from joey-182@hotmail.com asking if his band can have a gig is not a good start!
If the boys are really serious about the band, get a good logo designed and have stickers made up - lots of them! then give them out and stick them everywhere! Give them to friends, and hand them out at every show, and just stick them everywhere. The band members should always have stickers on them, to stick everywhere they go, and to hand out to people they meet.
Finally, get a website and email server. This can be a total pain in the ass, but it's worth it! Using a tumblr.com blog page, you don't have to worry about designing a page, and you can have all the info you need on there. Then using Godaddy hosting, get a domain name and email address package. Having a .com really makes the band look a lot more professional, as does sending emails from that domain."
11/05/2011
Selling stuff again
Trying to make some space and/or making some money.
22" computer monitor £70
2x wireless mice £5 each
flow snowboard bindings £40
FSU 154 snowboard £20
Nitro 156 snowboard £70
2x Yamaha HS50M speakers £50 each or £80 pair
Evolution Mini MIDI keyboard £20
Heavy Duty effect Case 60x40 £15
6U amp Stagg flight case £20
Sound recording books £5
BMX stunt pegs £5
Speed Demon skateboard £15
Sennheiser Wireless Unit £40
22" computer monitor £70
2x wireless mice £5 each
flow snowboard bindings £40
FSU 154 snowboard £20
Nitro 156 snowboard £70
2x Yamaha HS50M speakers £50 each or £80 pair
Evolution Mini MIDI keyboard £20
Heavy Duty effect Case 60x40 £15
6U amp Stagg flight case £20
Sound recording books £5
BMX stunt pegs £5
Speed Demon skateboard £15
Sennheiser Wireless Unit £40
01/05/2011
Fixie vs BMX
Fixie:
Look like a hipster -1
can't free wheel -1
faster +1
good excercise +1
lightweight +1
BMX
Look like a gangsta +1
slower -1
good excercise +1
lightweight +1
small +1
Look like a hipster -1
can't free wheel -1
faster +1
good excercise +1
lightweight +1
BMX
Look like a gangsta +1
slower -1
good excercise +1
lightweight +1
small +1
26/04/2011
Bioshock
Well, I'm playing Bioshock, it's pretty cool. The combat is varied and challenging, and the tasks haven't got so repetitive that I'm bored yet, even if all I'm really doing is going one way then the next to click 'A' on different things.
The plot has kept me interested, which is probably the only reason I'm still playing it, but I have now got to the point where I just want it to end. It's alright, but I'm definitely getting to the end of my patience with it. There's only so many dark and gloomy levels I can trudge through without wanting to just throw it down and go outside (which is actually a much better way to use my time!). Well, I like it, I'm kinda glad I've played it, but I won't be buying the second one anytime soon.
I'm a bit lost as to why it was billed as such a revolutionary game. To me it just feels like a fairly standard FPS, better than most in that it doesn't have anything glaringly wrong with it. But is that all it takes to make a great game? No blinding errors? Wow, time to get into game design!
The plot has kept me interested, which is probably the only reason I'm still playing it, but I have now got to the point where I just want it to end. It's alright, but I'm definitely getting to the end of my patience with it. There's only so many dark and gloomy levels I can trudge through without wanting to just throw it down and go outside (which is actually a much better way to use my time!). Well, I like it, I'm kinda glad I've played it, but I won't be buying the second one anytime soon.
I'm a bit lost as to why it was billed as such a revolutionary game. To me it just feels like a fairly standard FPS, better than most in that it doesn't have anything glaringly wrong with it. But is that all it takes to make a great game? No blinding errors? Wow, time to get into game design!
Sexism
meinhof:
The only problem i’ve had this weekend whilst playing shows with Ravachol was a bit of sexist misogyny thrown into the mix - in London when we got to the venue a pair of older guys made a couple of lewd comments to me, which is fine i guess, it happens, but when we played our set, someone actually grabbed my ass which wasn’t cool. i couldnt do anything about it as i had my back to them and was mid song and i was also a bit shocked as it was unexpected. I would like to think that it was a one off thing as i didnt think there was that sort of behavior apparent in the community of people i am involved with. Its interesting though as i read a debate about girls in music (the sort of screamo/hardcore scene i guess) recently and though there’s not as many girls as there are men, some men seem to think we are equally represented and have fair and non sexist treatment, i think it was implied that sexism phased out a few years ago, but i dont believe thats true at all. i think that it definatly exists, and the fact that i was effectively “groped” during my third show, technically our first proper show as the first two were in a private gallery and a house show respectively, is proof of things to come maybe? Does a woman have to be a tough cropped haired androgynous female to not get treated like a cow at a cattle auction? we dont need to be poked, touched or prodded. im right there, you can see me, i exist.
Girls get a hard enough time as it is, we dont garner quite as much respect as the men doing the same things, people will always ask the man i’m with a question that should have been asked to me, if a man is doing something then its “manly” and “normal”, if a girl is doing it its “cute” or “different”. If a guy is running a DIY label or promoting shows or Playing in a band then its normal, you know, but when a girl does it its twee. A girl that buys records - garnered her music taste from her boyfriend. A girl at a show - probably there to find a new boyfriend/try it on with the band. A girl in a band shirt? - belongs to her boyfriend. I know this is a bit of a blanket assumption but i think a lot of people feel like this, and a lot of girls experience this. We dont get a completley fair deal, no matter what any man tells you. For every few guys that are awesome i meet there is always going to be one that thinks as your a girl your not quite capable of whatever it is that your doing. and then every now and again a stray sexist, like the anti girls on tour brigade. HELLO!? this isnt spring break, not every girl you meet is a “slut” and its a disgusting way to think about it.
This is a subject very close to my heart and i have, for many years, hated the way girls are pitted against one another, we are made to compete with each other for attention, by the media, by society, by sheer nature of finding a mate and having the best display of feathers. its bad enough, but then add in the men that add to this difficulty of being female by keeping us just below the respect level.
There are a lot of girls in the country doing a lot of hard work behind the scenes, in front of the scenes, girls who own the keys to the venues you play at, making sure you get fed at shows, making art and music and writing, girls putting out records, promoting shows, making your merch. I hope soon men realise this and give us a bit more credit that doesnt involve groping us or telling us if we are aesthetically acceptable to them.
dont get me wrong, i love the “scene” im part of, i get to meet so may wonderful people but there a few that ruin it for me a little or are a little ignorant to what its like being a girl in it all.
My reply was too long to fit…
I agree with this somewhat, there’s definitely still sexism, not just in the alternative music scenes, but everywhere, but this is from the minority of men. There are a few girls in my area promoting shows, and they’ve earnt the respect the deserve because they put on great shows. And that’s the difference; having played crappy shows put on by both boys and girls I don’t care about the gender, just the ability to actually do what they do.
One of the biggest problems facing girls in the scene is that for each girl with decent music taste, committed to going to shows, supporting local music and all that jazz, there’s two more (at least) that are there because their boyfriend is in the band. I find it so frustrating that it’s so hard to meet a girl who’s actually getting involved and has some dedication rather than some trendy who just likes boys with tattoos.
Respect where respect is due, but it has to be earned - if your band is awesome, if your shows are packed out, if you zine is sick. Whatever you do, it’s gotta be good, else there’ll be no respect for it.
It all comes down to credibility, it’s got to be earned, male or female
The only problem i’ve had this weekend whilst playing shows with Ravachol was a bit of sexist misogyny thrown into the mix - in London when we got to the venue a pair of older guys made a couple of lewd comments to me, which is fine i guess, it happens, but when we played our set, someone actually grabbed my ass which wasn’t cool. i couldnt do anything about it as i had my back to them and was mid song and i was also a bit shocked as it was unexpected. I would like to think that it was a one off thing as i didnt think there was that sort of behavior apparent in the community of people i am involved with. Its interesting though as i read a debate about girls in music (the sort of screamo/hardcore scene i guess) recently and though there’s not as many girls as there are men, some men seem to think we are equally represented and have fair and non sexist treatment, i think it was implied that sexism phased out a few years ago, but i dont believe thats true at all. i think that it definatly exists, and the fact that i was effectively “groped” during my third show, technically our first proper show as the first two were in a private gallery and a house show respectively, is proof of things to come maybe? Does a woman have to be a tough cropped haired androgynous female to not get treated like a cow at a cattle auction? we dont need to be poked, touched or prodded. im right there, you can see me, i exist.
Girls get a hard enough time as it is, we dont garner quite as much respect as the men doing the same things, people will always ask the man i’m with a question that should have been asked to me, if a man is doing something then its “manly” and “normal”, if a girl is doing it its “cute” or “different”. If a guy is running a DIY label or promoting shows or Playing in a band then its normal, you know, but when a girl does it its twee. A girl that buys records - garnered her music taste from her boyfriend. A girl at a show - probably there to find a new boyfriend/try it on with the band. A girl in a band shirt? - belongs to her boyfriend. I know this is a bit of a blanket assumption but i think a lot of people feel like this, and a lot of girls experience this. We dont get a completley fair deal, no matter what any man tells you. For every few guys that are awesome i meet there is always going to be one that thinks as your a girl your not quite capable of whatever it is that your doing. and then every now and again a stray sexist, like the anti girls on tour brigade. HELLO!? this isnt spring break, not every girl you meet is a “slut” and its a disgusting way to think about it.
This is a subject very close to my heart and i have, for many years, hated the way girls are pitted against one another, we are made to compete with each other for attention, by the media, by society, by sheer nature of finding a mate and having the best display of feathers. its bad enough, but then add in the men that add to this difficulty of being female by keeping us just below the respect level.
There are a lot of girls in the country doing a lot of hard work behind the scenes, in front of the scenes, girls who own the keys to the venues you play at, making sure you get fed at shows, making art and music and writing, girls putting out records, promoting shows, making your merch. I hope soon men realise this and give us a bit more credit that doesnt involve groping us or telling us if we are aesthetically acceptable to them.
dont get me wrong, i love the “scene” im part of, i get to meet so may wonderful people but there a few that ruin it for me a little or are a little ignorant to what its like being a girl in it all.
My reply was too long to fit…
I agree with this somewhat, there’s definitely still sexism, not just in the alternative music scenes, but everywhere, but this is from the minority of men. There are a few girls in my area promoting shows, and they’ve earnt the respect the deserve because they put on great shows. And that’s the difference; having played crappy shows put on by both boys and girls I don’t care about the gender, just the ability to actually do what they do.
One of the biggest problems facing girls in the scene is that for each girl with decent music taste, committed to going to shows, supporting local music and all that jazz, there’s two more (at least) that are there because their boyfriend is in the band. I find it so frustrating that it’s so hard to meet a girl who’s actually getting involved and has some dedication rather than some trendy who just likes boys with tattoos.
Respect where respect is due, but it has to be earned - if your band is awesome, if your shows are packed out, if you zine is sick. Whatever you do, it’s gotta be good, else there’ll be no respect for it.
It all comes down to credibility, it’s got to be earned, male or female
20/04/2011
Cracks
Did you ever notice the cracks in the wall
they weren't here when we met
they've nearly reached the floor already
be careful before we end up buried again
we'll end up buried
beneath the rubble of each other
we'll end up buried
buried again
I see those crack are still there
you painted over them
with fresh promises and cheap gifts
it's not enough, we'll end up buried again
perhaps it's time we fled
nothing can hide these flaws in our walls
lets flee before we end up buried again
these cracks in the walls
these cracks in our hearts
these cracks in the walls
will split us apart, and bury us beneath
so before we suffocate in the rubble
let us leave
leave it all and never speak again
they weren't here when we met
they've nearly reached the floor already
be careful before we end up buried again
we'll end up buried
beneath the rubble of each other
we'll end up buried
buried again
I see those crack are still there
you painted over them
with fresh promises and cheap gifts
it's not enough, we'll end up buried again
perhaps it's time we fled
nothing can hide these flaws in our walls
lets flee before we end up buried again
these cracks in the walls
these cracks in our hearts
these cracks in the walls
will split us apart, and bury us beneath
so before we suffocate in the rubble
let us leave
leave it all and never speak again
Reviews!
I've been writing lots of reviews, go read them at brumlive.com I should probably re-post them here, but I'm too lazy to do that at the moment.
Vegetarian
Well, if you didn't know, I went vegetarian for lent this year. I think I did pretty well, I last 23 days or something. I believe I could've lasted longer, but a snowboarding holiday to France seemed impossible without some meat. I have to admit that I didn't try that hard, but I did look a couple of times for the 'V' symbol on the french food, and it's no-where to be seen!
I was a bit of a cheat veggie anyway, I made the same food as before, but I used quorn mince or chicken as a substitute. I was surprised that it made no noticeable difference to my health, I didn't feel weak thanks to the lack of protein, or healthier thanks to the higher vegetable intake. I felt pretty much the same the whole time.
I must confess to one slip-up (one that I know of anyway, there may have been more) when I ate some rocky-road, which contains marshmallow. Marshmallow having gelatin in of course.
I would've like to have finished the 40 days, but maybe I'll try again next year.
I was a bit of a cheat veggie anyway, I made the same food as before, but I used quorn mince or chicken as a substitute. I was surprised that it made no noticeable difference to my health, I didn't feel weak thanks to the lack of protein, or healthier thanks to the higher vegetable intake. I felt pretty much the same the whole time.
I must confess to one slip-up (one that I know of anyway, there may have been more) when I ate some rocky-road, which contains marshmallow. Marshmallow having gelatin in of course.
I would've like to have finished the 40 days, but maybe I'll try again next year.
05/04/2011
When I Move...
Wherever I move to, I'm going to form a band like The Skints. It's fat dirty raggae, punk, dub, hip-hop, ska stuff, and I fucking love it. It's not cool, it's not trendy, but it's great.
Think: King Blues, Rancid, Sublime, RX Bandits, Capdown + Dub. Pure win.
Think: King Blues, Rancid, Sublime, RX Bandits, Capdown + Dub. Pure win.
30/03/2011
Why you should have sex on a first date. (girls)
I know the dating thing in this country is pretty much a history lesson now, but even if the 'date' is just meeting them with your/their mates at a club, or the oh-so-obvious come round and 'watch a dvd', it still pretty much applies.
1) If they're the kind of guy who is just after you for sex, then why hold out? If that's all he's into, then it's all he'll be into after two more dates. All you're doing is getting more attached to him, so it'll hurt more when he uses you and moves on. Go for it straight away, enjoy it while you can and the whole thing is over with much quicker.
2) You don't want to go on a whole bunch of dates and find out he's shit in bed.
3) No-one thinks it's slutty any more, people do it all the time, so just relax. So long as your date wasn't a quick snog against the wall at some dirt club then I think you'll dodge the slut thing.
4) It's fun, and if this is the guy you spend the rest of your life with, that's one more time you've had sex!
Most importantly, don't use sex as a tool in the relationship. If he's a great guy (which he must be if you like him) then he can probably get laid when he wants, so it's not that special. It can't be used to make him commit, it's essentially bribery, which is manipulation. And who wants a relationship which is based on that? Do you really only want to go out with a guy who only agreed to get laid?
You're setting yourself up for a fall...
1) If they're the kind of guy who is just after you for sex, then why hold out? If that's all he's into, then it's all he'll be into after two more dates. All you're doing is getting more attached to him, so it'll hurt more when he uses you and moves on. Go for it straight away, enjoy it while you can and the whole thing is over with much quicker.
2) You don't want to go on a whole bunch of dates and find out he's shit in bed.
3) No-one thinks it's slutty any more, people do it all the time, so just relax. So long as your date wasn't a quick snog against the wall at some dirt club then I think you'll dodge the slut thing.
4) It's fun, and if this is the guy you spend the rest of your life with, that's one more time you've had sex!
Most importantly, don't use sex as a tool in the relationship. If he's a great guy (which he must be if you like him) then he can probably get laid when he wants, so it's not that special. It can't be used to make him commit, it's essentially bribery, which is manipulation. And who wants a relationship which is based on that? Do you really only want to go out with a guy who only agreed to get laid?
You're setting yourself up for a fall...
12/03/2011
The Man I Would Have Been
What kind of man would I be
If I had the oppurtunity
to start it all over again?
to live life all over again?
Start from the start
hit the reset button
and take a step back to try again
Would I plan every step or just throw myself in
Would I work more or party harder
would I make the same choices
or become a whole new person
Would I hit the bottle at a young age
get fucked up every day
or stay sober and do the office thing
could I become a rocket scientist
or save peoples lives
or stay at home waiting for the phone to ring
Would I plan every step or just throw myself in
Would I work more or party harder
would I make the same choices
or become a whole new person
Would I plan every step or just throw myself in
Would I plan every step or just throw myself in
Throw myself in
Throw myself in
I'll never know
I'll never fucking know
If I had the oppurtunity
to start it all over again?
to live life all over again?
Start from the start
hit the reset button
and take a step back to try again
Would I plan every step or just throw myself in
Would I work more or party harder
would I make the same choices
or become a whole new person
Would I hit the bottle at a young age
get fucked up every day
or stay sober and do the office thing
could I become a rocket scientist
or save peoples lives
or stay at home waiting for the phone to ring
Would I plan every step or just throw myself in
Would I work more or party harder
would I make the same choices
or become a whole new person
Would I plan every step or just throw myself in
Would I plan every step or just throw myself in
Throw myself in
Throw myself in
I'll never know
I'll never fucking know
Take A Step
Also used for a Towers song
---------------------------------------------------------------
I spread my wings
a take the step
the air rushes through my ears like I've never heard before
The sites you see are more beutiful
the smells so much more breath-taking
the sounds lift you up
and the feeling sets you free
the irony of only feeling alive
in the seconds before you die
if only it could last
the last few days have been my favourite
my dreams of dying are the best i ever had
everyone I met glowed with love
everything I touched seemed to glisten with life
the irony of only feeling alice
in the seconds before you die
if only it could last
---------------------------------------------------------------
I spread my wings
a take the step
the air rushes through my ears like I've never heard before
The sites you see are more beutiful
the smells so much more breath-taking
the sounds lift you up
and the feeling sets you free
the irony of only feeling alive
in the seconds before you die
if only it could last
the last few days have been my favourite
my dreams of dying are the best i ever had
everyone I met glowed with love
everything I touched seemed to glisten with life
the irony of only feeling alice
in the seconds before you die
if only it could last
It's a long way back to Kansas
These lyrics were actually used for a Towers song recently - something I've been meaning to post since I finished actually. May do that soon!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
so concentrate
and focus on the path ahead
don't get distracted by scenery
it's not pretty
place one foot down the next in front
travel the distance in time
in time you'll make it there
your destination is your humanity
the path might be long a tough
but focus son and you'll make it there
take steps to make it your own
take steps to make it yours
so concentrate
and focus on the path ahead
don't get distracted
by the scenery
it's not pretty
your destination is your humanity
your destination is your destiny
--------------------------------------------------------------------
so concentrate
and focus on the path ahead
don't get distracted by scenery
it's not pretty
place one foot down the next in front
travel the distance in time
in time you'll make it there
your destination is your humanity
the path might be long a tough
but focus son and you'll make it there
take steps to make it your own
take steps to make it yours
so concentrate
and focus on the path ahead
don't get distracted
by the scenery
it's not pretty
your destination is your humanity
your destination is your destiny
I Know If You Know
I don't even know if you know
but I can't go on thinking you might
I'll empty my mind of all thoughts
so I can understand all of yours
We'll share your problems between us
put the wieght on both our shoulders
and carry them together
We'll carry your problems together
I'll live me life for you
give my life for you
I'll leave with you now
and never look back
we'll build up a new life
start brick by brick
it's time we made it fresh
and time to hit reset
so pack yout things
we're leaving now
Bye Bye sexy girl
but I can't go on thinking you might
I'll empty my mind of all thoughts
so I can understand all of yours
We'll share your problems between us
put the wieght on both our shoulders
and carry them together
We'll carry your problems together
I'll live me life for you
give my life for you
I'll leave with you now
and never look back
we'll build up a new life
start brick by brick
it's time we made it fresh
and time to hit reset
so pack yout things
we're leaving now
Bye Bye sexy girl
Whether
Here's the thunder here's the rain
the flash that lights you face
as we sit in the darkness
waiting for a trace
a trace of the morning light
to awaken our hearts
give hope back to this fight
as our life together re-starts
you hold my hand in the darkness
I tell you all will fine
you hold my hand in the darkness
The sun will soon shine
The fire has long since died
the warmth has nearly left us now
but hope we still have
and strength somehow
you hold my hand in the darkness
I tell you all will fine
you hold my hand in the darkness
The sun will soon shine
the flash that lights you face
as we sit in the darkness
waiting for a trace
a trace of the morning light
to awaken our hearts
give hope back to this fight
as our life together re-starts
you hold my hand in the darkness
I tell you all will fine
you hold my hand in the darkness
The sun will soon shine
The fire has long since died
the warmth has nearly left us now
but hope we still have
and strength somehow
you hold my hand in the darkness
I tell you all will fine
you hold my hand in the darkness
The sun will soon shine
Couple things...
First up, I've been writing reviews again. They're available to read online at brumlive.com. I'd appreciate some feedback on them as I know I'm not the greatest writer ever.
I've also been writing some song lyrics, they're not amazing, but I like them. I tend to just get the first line when I'm doing something (washing up or taking a leak seems to be when I'm inspired!) and then write the song along that theme. They're all a little cliche, but I'm working on it! I may go back and edit them, or I may just be lazy and leave them. Let me know what you think!
I've also been writing some song lyrics, they're not amazing, but I like them. I tend to just get the first line when I'm doing something (washing up or taking a leak seems to be when I'm inspired!) and then write the song along that theme. They're all a little cliche, but I'm working on it! I may go back and edit them, or I may just be lazy and leave them. Let me know what you think!
10/03/2011
Bayonetta
I finished Bayonetta tonight, and it's a perfect example of what annoys me so much about so many games.
The gameplay is fantastic, really great fun, and the first levels really got me hooked. It was easy and intuitive to get a handle on, so kicking my way through angels just rocked. And the new bad guys they added worked as well, although it got kind of annoying when you'd be introduced to a new guy, then 2 minutes later you'd be fighting him again, then again in another two. It just ruined the specialness of those characters.
What really brought the game down in my eyes was two main things:
Firstly a truly horrific plot, one that I could not follow in the slightest, and really just messed you around. Add to this the LOTR length cut scenes near the end, I was sorely tempted just to skip them, after all I didn't care what was being said any more. A game plot should keep you hooked into the story, but this one just kicked you out part way through, which pissed me off
Secondly, the simply stupid bosses that appeared in the last half of the game. Instead of challenging by way of actual skill, they made it challenge by luck of the draw. After getting my ass handed to me over and over again by one boss, I mashed away at the buttons and barely took a scratch. The semi-final boss fight is a bit of a piss take as well, almost impossible to hurt him without taking damage before or after. And as for the one hit kills button mashing in the actual final boss, that should just be removed - it doesn't add anything to the game other than a lame way to make that fight last longer.
Oh and as for all the super fast quick time events, they can fuck off too, it's not a challenge to hit a button at the right time, so why include so many? The player just has to re-do the section and hit the button. The amount of times I had to do that because I'd put the controller down for the cut-scene.
Great gameplay seriously let down by shitty bosses and a shittier plot.
The gameplay is fantastic, really great fun, and the first levels really got me hooked. It was easy and intuitive to get a handle on, so kicking my way through angels just rocked. And the new bad guys they added worked as well, although it got kind of annoying when you'd be introduced to a new guy, then 2 minutes later you'd be fighting him again, then again in another two. It just ruined the specialness of those characters.
What really brought the game down in my eyes was two main things:
Firstly a truly horrific plot, one that I could not follow in the slightest, and really just messed you around. Add to this the LOTR length cut scenes near the end, I was sorely tempted just to skip them, after all I didn't care what was being said any more. A game plot should keep you hooked into the story, but this one just kicked you out part way through, which pissed me off
Secondly, the simply stupid bosses that appeared in the last half of the game. Instead of challenging by way of actual skill, they made it challenge by luck of the draw. After getting my ass handed to me over and over again by one boss, I mashed away at the buttons and barely took a scratch. The semi-final boss fight is a bit of a piss take as well, almost impossible to hurt him without taking damage before or after. And as for the one hit kills button mashing in the actual final boss, that should just be removed - it doesn't add anything to the game other than a lame way to make that fight last longer.
Oh and as for all the super fast quick time events, they can fuck off too, it's not a challenge to hit a button at the right time, so why include so many? The player just has to re-do the section and hit the button. The amount of times I had to do that because I'd put the controller down for the cut-scene.
Great gameplay seriously let down by shitty bosses and a shittier plot.
24/02/2011
My Audience
Seems to be mostly Russian! Hello Russians :)
Also hello to the USA, you're in second place
Even Canada is doing better than the UK - which is where I live!
Oh well, if someone wants to offer me somewhere to stay in these countries I'd love to travel. So if you're some kind of crazy super fan, then let me know ;)
Also hello to the USA, you're in second place
Even Canada is doing better than the UK - which is where I live!
Oh well, if someone wants to offer me somewhere to stay in these countries I'd love to travel. So if you're some kind of crazy super fan, then let me know ;)
Gig Reviews
I've been getting back into my gig reviewing, for Brumlive.com
Head over now and look for my name, there should be a few recently.
Any advice on writing - please send it my way, I'm no Shakespeare!
Head over now and look for my name, there should be a few recently.
Any advice on writing - please send it my way, I'm no Shakespeare!
18/02/2011
Some people hate me...
Awesome, so why are they nice to me in person?
I don't hang out with people I don't like, and I don't have reason to complain about these people. As far as I know, I've done nothing wrong, except maybe pulling a girl they wanted!
Also, there's some people that think I drink :S Sober for 7 years, but apparently faking...
Idiots
I don't hang out with people I don't like, and I don't have reason to complain about these people. As far as I know, I've done nothing wrong, except maybe pulling a girl they wanted!
Also, there's some people that think I drink :S Sober for 7 years, but apparently faking...
Idiots
18/01/2011
Games!
I've been reading quite a lot the last couple days, mostly about the psychology of computer games. It's a field I've found fascinating, and today I met a subject I feel quite strongly. Inspiration here and here
Game difficulty!
Now, one thing should be made clear - I am not good at video games! I am a casual gamer! Despite playing them so much through my teenage years, I only ever finished a couple of games, 007 Goldeneye and Perfect Dark, on my N64, oh, and Lylat Wars, but never the hardest route.
I owned lots more, but I never had the patience to get all the stars, or the skill to get the best time.
And since then the only games I've actually completed are Call Of Duty, and Dragon Age. I got bored of Oblivion twice before finishing it.
I rarely find a game that engages me enough to actually pull me in make me want to play, I'll happily buy a game, and let it sit there for months, I don't know why. I need something that is immediate enough to get me involved before I get bored of plot crap, but enough depth to make me take the next step.
Dead Space plays well, but the 'scary' atmosphere just annoyed me, and the seemingly endless tasks of go here, get that, put that there, bored me, and with no real plot I doubt I'll ever play the game again. To top it off, I found out that I'm only on chapter two of eleven or something! I cannot be arsed to wade through a game, especially with so far to go.
Dead Rising pissed me off pretty early, my players level wasn't high enough to beat any of the bosses, and I stubbornly refused to restart and go through all those quests again. In the end, I relented, blasted through the first quest with ease, and found the game quite fun, it even has enough plot to keep me happy. My gripe here is the length - I'd be quite happy to have finished it already!
All the Final Fantasy games bore me now, before I even reach any action. Although IX did draw me in well enough for a good few run-throughs.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is I'm picky, anything that pisses me off gets binned, anything that bores me get's binned.
So, I need mildly involving plot, lots of rewards, nothing too challenging, and breathers and of course - genuinely fun gameplay!
Damn, I'm a game bitch!
Game difficulty!
Now, one thing should be made clear - I am not good at video games! I am a casual gamer! Despite playing them so much through my teenage years, I only ever finished a couple of games, 007 Goldeneye and Perfect Dark, on my N64, oh, and Lylat Wars, but never the hardest route.
I owned lots more, but I never had the patience to get all the stars, or the skill to get the best time.
And since then the only games I've actually completed are Call Of Duty, and Dragon Age. I got bored of Oblivion twice before finishing it.
I rarely find a game that engages me enough to actually pull me in make me want to play, I'll happily buy a game, and let it sit there for months, I don't know why. I need something that is immediate enough to get me involved before I get bored of plot crap, but enough depth to make me take the next step.
Dead Space plays well, but the 'scary' atmosphere just annoyed me, and the seemingly endless tasks of go here, get that, put that there, bored me, and with no real plot I doubt I'll ever play the game again. To top it off, I found out that I'm only on chapter two of eleven or something! I cannot be arsed to wade through a game, especially with so far to go.
Dead Rising pissed me off pretty early, my players level wasn't high enough to beat any of the bosses, and I stubbornly refused to restart and go through all those quests again. In the end, I relented, blasted through the first quest with ease, and found the game quite fun, it even has enough plot to keep me happy. My gripe here is the length - I'd be quite happy to have finished it already!
All the Final Fantasy games bore me now, before I even reach any action. Although IX did draw me in well enough for a good few run-throughs.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is I'm picky, anything that pisses me off gets binned, anything that bores me get's binned.
So, I need mildly involving plot, lots of rewards, nothing too challenging, and breathers and of course - genuinely fun gameplay!
Damn, I'm a game bitch!
15/01/2011
Tattoos
I keep thinking of great ideas, but forgetting them again! so here's a little list...
Left forearm - "I Am All You've Ever Wanted" lyric from Brand New, because I love this band, and I love the arrogance of it, I kinda suits me as I'm sure a lot of people would agree.
Left Elbow - need to finish off the sun, and add a load more little bits to fill all those gaps - I want it quite dark in the end
Left Stomach - I need a filler for my sign, a dystopian/ruined city ideally
Chest - another quote on the left side to match the first, then them both put into scrolls, then between them an old style clock, but with numbers replaced with compass points, the hands pointing to 10 past 12. More to be added to this eventually, but that's all I know for now
Right arm - a sleeve design by Alex CF based around his wildemere comic series.
Back - lyrics from another song in the bottom left, then at the very bottom a city scape, possibly New York, with reflections in the water, the shore line being about the level of where my trousers normally sit. The reflection will show the darker side of the city though, with dark shit going down n tingz
Left calf - a page from DMZ my favourite comic series by Brian Wood.
That would leave me pretty covered, although I do want knuckles, hands and neck tats as well, just not sure what yet!
Left forearm - "I Am All You've Ever Wanted" lyric from Brand New, because I love this band, and I love the arrogance of it, I kinda suits me as I'm sure a lot of people would agree.
Left Elbow - need to finish off the sun, and add a load more little bits to fill all those gaps - I want it quite dark in the end
Left Stomach - I need a filler for my sign, a dystopian/ruined city ideally
Chest - another quote on the left side to match the first, then them both put into scrolls, then between them an old style clock, but with numbers replaced with compass points, the hands pointing to 10 past 12. More to be added to this eventually, but that's all I know for now
Right arm - a sleeve design by Alex CF based around his wildemere comic series.
Back - lyrics from another song in the bottom left, then at the very bottom a city scape, possibly New York, with reflections in the water, the shore line being about the level of where my trousers normally sit. The reflection will show the darker side of the city though, with dark shit going down n tingz
Left calf - a page from DMZ my favourite comic series by Brian Wood.
That would leave me pretty covered, although I do want knuckles, hands and neck tats as well, just not sure what yet!
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