Because I haven’t written here lately…

Blogging is a funny old thing: my desire to partake this funny old business comes and goes, like therapy, for example. (I’d like to stress that this is just an expression, not a common expression because I have just invented it now, and it doesn’t make much sense anyway, but the important thing is that at this time I am not consulting a professional for help.)

Back to the point, this post is nothing particulary insightful, but I thought I’d summarise some recent changes as the new University year dawns.

The transition from comfort and ease of homelife to the subcultural domain that is halls of residence is never an easy one, and many a student has gone through this process. But each one is different, with my “journey” coming in the form of five train journeys, three heavy bags, two pub quizzes and the obligatory freshers events.

I find myself caught between two worlds: the quirky, oft said to be “featureless” East Anglia and the Industrial heartland of Lancashire. I “experienced” the oddity that is village life and the cut-throat world of village politics (I’m not being sarcastic here) where just about the most interesting thing (except for the silly gossip and bitching that goes on) that happened was the re-tarmacking of the carpark.

Anyway, the summer was quite uneventful, but I did enjoy my last night in which there was a pub quiz at the local village club (which was called “quiz and chips” night, where everyone gets a portion of chips, but the one with a sausage in it wins a prize. I know, sounds dodgy.) These pub quizzes are dangerous entities, bringing out peoples competitive sides, destroying friendships, fracturing families… like Monopoly.

And yes, I was as bad. I said I’d be happy in the top three, but we came second, and that… hurt. We had a good team, with a mix of ages etc. However, on the night I didn’t put it quite so well, rather (talking to this middle-aged woman on my team that I didn’t know too well, who was very knowledgeable) said “We have a good team… last time i did a pub quiz we were too young” which obviously went down like a lead baloon. Honestly, I meant it as a complement - I cannot wait until I am older and have a greater wealth of knowldge and “wisdom”.

The next morning, 5 am, I was off, carting three heavy bags to the train station ready for a four-legged train journey, got to the station, looked at the moniter, train cancelled. Then a frantic rush to another train to make the changes in time to make further connections. As a very well-off nation, I fail to understand why we cannot have an organised rail network, whereas when I travelled through war-scarred eastern Europe for a month I only had one noticeably late train, for a faction of the price if you buy your ticket on the day.

Going into halls is like a box of chocolates; yer never know who yer gonna get. It’s a scary and odd process as no matter who you get, you have to work it out somehow. It’s a unique situation (well except for prison maybe)  and it’s rewarding and frustrating at the same time, nevertheless worth a try.

Then, just the usual catching up with old faces and meeting new ones. I went to a really bad pub quiz last night (one round was soley about “herbs”?)

Anyway, I wouldn’t expect anyone to read this, I know I wouldn’t. I do know there are blogs even more tedious than this particular post. Oh, well, enjoy, I suppose. Better you than me…

New facebook: The Big (and tedious) Debate

What has it been… 10 days or so since New Facebook was launched, and seriously, the “fallout” is the definition of melodrama. Come on, do you ever watch the news? The economy is apparantly collapsing, bread will cost £5 a loaf (pressumerably the equivelent of 30 Euro-cents) and ALL the old people will be frozen to death, only to be defrosted and resuscitated  two hundred thousand years from now and “poked” at, is the New Facebook really your biggest worry? You must either have incredibly perfect and lovely lives or have tedious and unimaginative ideas for what to bitch about? (I suspect the latter)

Yes, I was a little “wierded out”  (to use an American High School phrase) by New Facebook, was unconvinced, but, with about three minutes of messing around, figuring out where everything goes and am now fully comfortable with it. If you can’t yet navigate a website as simple as Facebook properly yet, maybe you shouldn’t be allowed to use the internet, fill out forms, or do anything restricted to the over eights…

To look at it objectively for a moment. There was one feature that I found a bit annoying, which was how on the home page, when you moved the mouse over a name or, for example, a group said person has joined, and you can’t click directly on the link, instead presented with a useless list of some kind (the way I use facebook is look at the updates, see a name and think, “Ah, I haven’t chatted to <insert name in a while, I’ll say ‘hey’ and ask what they’ve been up to?”). They have got rid of that I believe, at least it has gone from mine anyway.

However, its single greatest achievement is solving a problem I mentioned in a previous post, “Facebook Fopars”, namely having to scroll through those awful lag-inducing  applictions, putting them safely away somewhere else so people can endulge their insecurities without killing my computer.

So, to sum up, if you don’t like New Facebook, quit moaning or go use Myspace (good luck with that…), no-one likes empty threats.

Clint Eastwood is my “Homeboy”.

I’d like to take a moment to celebrate a hero of mine. It’s rather odd though, because he is not  (in my eyes) a hero really because of any outstanding achievements, or particluar talent (he isn’t the greatest actor in the world), rather his on-screen “coolness”.

I think most people have this – a person or object that makes them feel young and giddy, that makes you feel good simply by what it represents, that makes you smile and gives you butterflies in your stomach (though I dislike that phrase). For some it’s a car, musician, book, sportsman, item of clothing, in fact, just about anything. It is, to you, the essence of cool, but also much more. For example, someone who considers a certain car the unsurpassable essence of cool would not be able to identify any real empirical fact why it makes them feel like they do, but would reply something like, “It’s just everything about it, the look, the sound, EVERYTHING!”

For me, it is Clint Eastwood, specifically in the early days (I think I’d add Leone’s Spagetti westerns in general as well, as they create the same effect). I consider other actors to have ”more” talent, such as Robert De Niro for example, but no other actors makes me react in the same way as Eastwood in the Spaghetti Westerns, and other films (i saw the film “Where Eagles Dare” the other day, in which he was effortlessly cool). I think it’s partly in the body-acting: the slow but purposeful movements, and, of course, the “squint”, with the coined popular phrase being “stage presence”.

It is completely irrational behaviour to celebrate an on-screen figure in such a way, but it is not the the object (or person) per se, rather the way it frees you from the rational, thinking world, making you feel young, making you happy for no intelligible reason. This usually has some connection to ones youth, as for me it takes me back to a fresh-faced sixteen year-old, discovering (with glee) the all time greatest anti-hero properly for the first time.

I’ll leave it to you to decide just how amazingly awsome this is!!

Update

Seems I haven’t been too active on this blog, but I haven’t given up yet. I still find it quite odd why I (and indeed anyone) does this whole blogging thing, as discussed in my first ever post, it is an egotistical endevour.

On a personal level, I have gained a few things from this blog so far: 1 - Well, stroking ones ego is inherently enjoyable. 2 –  It’s a nice stressball. We all like a good rant, and a blog is a perfect place to vent your annoyances on the world without inflicting your rage (though I like be more eloquent than the standard explitives)  on unsuspecting passers by. 3 – You may have noticed I’m not the best proof-reader, especially when using a computer, but it gives me some practice on a skill I am lacking in.  

Anyway, I do have a few ideas for entries, as well as continuing a project of writing about the travelling I did in June. Also, in a few short weeks, I’ll be moving a whole load of my stuff back to Uni “up Norf” by means of 4 (that’s right) trains and meet a new group of flatmates, which will be interesting and terrifying.

Some best kept musical secrets

By some of the posts about music in the past few weeks, you might assume that i’m a bit of a music snob, but i actually have a huge range of musical tastes, from Stevie Wonder to System of a Down. However, I think it’s a bit sad that we just accept what Radio 1 says is the best music out there: there is better stuff out there than the James Morrisons of this world.

A positive outcome of this .com era is that the rise of itunes and music downloads has made a greater variety of music; no longer are we restricted to the stock of HMV, which is great. b+Below are a number of artists who have (probably for the best) not been consumed by the Radio 1 machine, overplayed and doomed to annoy us with catchiness until the end of time.

Also, if anyone wishes to share their own best kept musical secrets, feel free to do so.)

Ane Brun – Melodic Norweigen songstress proves that Skandinavia isn’t all about masked death metal Anti-Christ’s (Everyone sing “Hard Rock Hallelujah!!”)

Nick Harper – Virtuoso guitarist, skilled showman (I’ve seen him twice and he’s just great) and an ego befitting any rock star. It’s real marmite music, but I like marmite. I think the best discription of him is something like a “hyperactive Jeff Buckley.”

Regina Spektor – A big star in America but as far as I know, not so here in the U.K. I think she’s a rare case of truly originality, with great lyrics and melodies.

Frank Turner – The guy who introduced me to Frank Tunrer said the song below is like the “anthem for him and his friends” and I can see why. Honest British musicianship.

Franz Liszt: Hardest rocking mo-fo of the 19th Century!!

As mentioned in a previous post, I’ve been discovering some fantastic classical music, particulary the virtuoso pianists of the 19th Century. I aquired a few CDs of Chopin and Liszt pieces, and they are just astounding.

Franz Liszt was definitely the 19th century equivilent of a thrash metal shredder: an “olden-day” Slayer. Especially with solo piano, his pieces are so dynamic and exciting. Markus Groh, who plays on the CD I’ve got, conveys it well, particulary with the loud sections, building up to a barrarge of crazy and dynamic sound (I believe it is called a crescendo) 

Famously, Franz Liszt’s Hunagrian Rhapsody is used on a number of cartoons, such as in the film, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”, which the first time, as a kid, I came across the piece (every one knows the tune, I’m sure). I even loved the song then.

Above is an older Bug Bunny cartoon, which is gloriously dark for a children’s cartoon. Enjoy.

Oh dear… X-Factor is back.

Yes, I’m afraid it is. Once the topic came up at the dinner, I had to bite my lip almost until it bled, as not to scream and upturn the table. As far as British TV goes, there’s a few examples of dumbed-down, lowest common demoninator (I’m desperately trying not to be a snob here, but I’ve failed) TV that I cannot abide (DIY SOS comes to mind: it tries to convey humour when it just isn’t there, and don’t you just wanna punch that Nick Knowles guy) but I am physically unable to watch X-factor without heaving.

People (too) often say, “Well, I only watch the auditions” as if that makes it okay, but that is the part of the programme that I find most destructive. Yes, the contrived quick money-making scam of the elimination stages and public voting, running up to Christmas, together with the absolute tedium of it all, is unbearable enough, but the audition stages are, in my opinion, so destructive for the follwing reasons:

It’s the lowest form of wit. “Bad singing” outdoes sarcasm and farting for this title, and the amount of youtube hits those sort of clips get show that it is a highly infectious disease. However, saying that, I must admit that I find Jordan and Peter Andre’s duet, singing “A Whole New World” on  Children In Need (I think) a few years back side-splitting, but I think the difference is that it is a less contrived, more spontaniously awful/funny. Also, it exploits people (usually working class) who genuinely think they’re talented for a cheap laugh, whereas the Jordan example is only mocking a rich and famous person, desperately trying to prolong their career. But in recent years, the “bad singers” often are there to play to the cameras on purpose for their slice of fame, thus subverting the purpose of the show (apparantly to discover new and talented pop singers), whereas it clutters the charts with novelty nonsense (eg Cheeky Girls).

 It fuels our obsession for judging. the whole show and genre is formulated so we can engage in petty gossip, passing judgement on other people. It is natural aspect of the human psyche to do this, but I believe that these programmes bring out this unflatteringly judgemental side of us.

It breeds false hope. It makes it seem deceptively easy to make it in the music industry by showing a cut down, easy ride route to stardom, which is why there is rarely a healthily long career (I’m aware of cases when they have been more fortunate) for these artists, who fade into obsurity once the hype dies down, meaning it can squander an indivduals only chance of a sucessful career for a quick buck and a cheap thrill.  

It’s just panto, without the drag. The pantomime villain (Simon Cowell etc) and empty cheers/jeers from the audience, based on a judges’ reaction to a performance are not only tragic but support dillusion and a simple black/white view of the world. Often, the judges are right in the criticism, as professionals, but are greeted with jeers, which supports the notion (to kids, as it is a family show) that criticism is negative, while praise is good, but this obviously leads to dillusion.

Classical music and the Class/Age wars.

People often tell me, “the appreciation of classical music is a definite sign that you’re getting old”, but why should that be the case? Am I doomed to middle-age at the not so tender age of 21, with senility looming by 30? Some who know me personally may respond with a resounding “yes”, but despite that, some people question why I like “classical music”.

It has, no doubt, been identified with the older members of society as well as being accociated with the upper-middle class, for reasons that is quite obvious so I won’t get into. However, specticles such as the BBC Proms, I believe, has made it innaccesable, even taboo, amongst us peasants. For example, the pomposity of “in jokes” and traditions: I remember watching a clip (on Room 101 I believe) from the Proms where a Cello player plays a mournful, minor-key piece, to which the crowd of toffs are handed hankercheifs and they proceed to “fake cry”.

Anyway, I digress. Basically, I urge any of the young folk out there to shake off any of those preconceptions, because there is some superb music out there, great for relaxation or as an accompianment to other tasks, such as writing or cleaning.

 

Also, just because you like “classical music”, it doesn’t mean you have to like all of it, as there are a huge variety of styles (after all, it has a history far longer than “popular music”.) For instance, my discovery of classical music came from learning to play piano over the summer. I like Beethoven a lot, while I can’t understand Mozart at all (they are extremely different), but I have become obsesssed with the Romantic period, esspecially Frederic Chopin, whose genious is beyond explaination. I’ve been fairly successful at learning the Nocturne I’ve “You-tubed”, as well as a few others of his, all of which are a absolute joy to learn and play. 

Just give it a try. Don’t worry, it won’t make you a 70 year-old aristocrat… I promise.

Facebook Fopars

By this I mean the social connotations and potential problems that arise from particular functions and applications of the social networking website. There’s a fine line between using it to assist in your social life, but can easily become your social life. It has also manifested a number of tricky virtual-social situations that can do your rep (as the kids say) a lot of harm. Firstly, let me point out that Facebook, when used properly, is a fantastic way of keeping in touch, and the best site (compared to myspace) to have a safe environment to keep up with your friends. Circumstances often change whereby friends drop “off the radar”, but  facebook gives you a chance (if you want to, that is) to stay in touch. Also, it is very useful to me, on a personal level, as it allows me to keep up with folks from Uni during the long summer break, so we won’t feel like strangers when we meet up again. But, as mentioned, there’s a number of dangers, nuisances and potential fopars to contend with:

Updates. Why would anyone care if you “feel tired” or “feel hungry”? Then go to sleep or have something to eat! that level of self-indulgence is ridulous. The update tool is great for humourous quips or more worthy information your friends may take an interest in (eg. letting them know you got home safely after a long trip.) This stems from the need to be famous in this “Big Brother Epoch”, but it’s worse than that; it’s the ambition to be famous for nothing… for being “tired” or “hungry”.

Useless, irrelevant applications. On trying to scroll through a friends mess of applications, “what colour is your personality”, “what does your name say about you” and “Zombie Vampire Hunters” to reach their wall to send them a message, my computer lags, grinds to a halt, gasping for air amongst all the crap, which was when I thought, “Screw this, I can’t be bothered”. So, all the extra tat prevented me from contacting said person, defeating the whole object of social networking.

“Compare People”. This application is evil. I actually checked it once and was horrified how it worked, basically ordering people from best to worst in different catagories, such as “rather date”, “best fashion sense” and “smarter”. The following may sound harsh but I mean it: anyone who uses this are not unlike the Nazi’s (“most Arian?”… “rather execute?”)

“Poke”. The most stupid thing ever. When someone “pokes” me a want to kick them in the groin.

Friends who aren’t really your friends. I got a friend request from someone who goes to my Uni, who knows some of my friends but I swear I’ve never met them in person. What am I to do? What if I reject their request and I bump into them one day… awkward to say the least.

Relationship Status. I once observed the “in a relationship”/ “single” of a particular person change and change back in a single day. At which base should the status be changed? At which decible level of an argument do you revert to being “single”?

Birthdays. Am I not a good friend if I don’t write happy birthday on their wall? I just don’t, unless I have another, more intereting statement to make. During my last birthday, it took until about 12.15am for my first, “heart warming” happy birthday message to get through, and I don’t even know them that well. Sorry if that sounds mean, but I don’t think birthdays are a big deal.

Life imitating art… 24 and Senator Obama

I have the first four series of 24 to keep me occupied over the summer and am currently at the early stages of season three. What struck me from the first series, watching it for the first time a few months back, is how it somemwhat pre-empted the political climate in America today i.e the progression of Senator Obama, the first black man to have a serious shot at the Whitehouse. It didn’t, however, take a great stretch of imagination to predict this senario, as it is the 21st century after all, but Obama and fictitious Daviid Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) no doubt share a number similar mannerisms, charisma and rhetoric, and although I’m not sure if the programme refers to particular parties, Palmer strikes me as a full-blooded Democrat.

Furthermore, it was reported a few days ago that the F.B.I thwarted a planned assassination attempt on Obama, mimicking, to a degree, the television programme.

So what have we got to look forward to if we are to trust our new Nostradmus? Well, I won’t give it away, but it sure is exciting. I’m looking forward to watching the third and forth series’ of “The Future”.