Man, I love shark week!

I know it is ironic in that I am a total hydrophobe and can't sit through any movie involving the ocean (ie The Abyss, The Perfect Storm, etc), but shark week truly is the highlight of my summer. Sharks truly are amazing animals. That is all I need to say about that.

Music this week will be provided by a band called UFO. They were prominent in the late 70's/early 80's. They ended up disbanding and the guitar player/leader started his own project called the Michael Schenker Group. MSG played a lot of the UFO stuff in their live act. In fact, tonight's anthem - written in the 70's - I long thought was a MSG tune from the 80's. So here you all go, one of the songs that assisted in the invention of what would become 80's metal, "Lights Out":

The Dark Knight = \m/

Kristin and I got to go out for a few hours today. Most of it was errand related, but the morning culminated in a 12:35 showing of the new Batman movie. I am not the type to use spoilers in my postings, so I won't. I would like to point out a few things though (these are objective undisputable truths):

1. Yes, it does live up to the hype. Exceeds it in some cases.
2. Yes, Heath Ledger is the best Joker ever...even Nicholson. That being said, the Joker of 2008 as compared to the one of 1989 are so different from eachother it is unfair to make a comparison. Anyway, Heath Ledger was so good, it is actually quite sad that he died. Watch the movie. At the end you will see why I say this.
3. Christian Bale continues to be the best Batman ever.
4. Aaron Eckhart played the role of Harvey Dent beautifully. And the way he looks as Two-Face is like something out of a horror film. You may not want the kiddies to watch the last 45 minutes of the movie.
5. This movie would have been rated R had the director/producers not chosen to cut away during scenes that would have been worthy of the Saw franchise. Yeah, the Joker is pretty sick.

So far, this is the best comic book movie I have ever seen. Most of the time, one forgets that they are watching a live-action comic book. That is the genius of the writing. There is even a visit from an old friend from Batman Begins.

Leaving the movie, I wonder if they will cast a certain villain, or if they will go another route. The end of the movie leaves that option open. I will let you all see the movie first.

The anthem this week is "Alone" by Suicidal Tendencies. This song is amazing. I was in a band once that was going to cover this song, but none of us were capable. At the time, I was not able to play anything Robert Trujillo played. Instead, we played an older tune called "Pledge Your Allegience". In any case, enjoy this tune. I know I have on many occasions in my day.

Suicidal Tendencies - Alone


Actually, it does not appear that I can embed this one. Please click on the link up top. It will take you to the video.

Save the date

This morning I got the news from Mike and his wife that Jeff is engaged to be married. His blog linked at right (Love, Life, and Chaos) was how they found out. This evening at training, Jeff gave me a "Save the Date" in probably the most unique fashion I have ever seen one. It is a refrigerator magnet. So to Jeff and his intimate female acquaintance, I bid a heartfelt congratulations. Jeff has told me on several occasions over the course of our friendship that he would really like to find a meaningful romance, and settle down. Well, it seems he found it, and I am happy for him.

The timing is perfect too. He is getting married the day after Kristin and my 10-year anniversary. We were trying to figure out a relatively inexpensive domestic trip, and Jeff has provided us with our plans. And he says there is no God...

In my last post, one Joe Mullins challenged my challenge to the existence of the atom. I found the image of what he was talking about as well as an example of gold. Take a look: Sodium Chloride (which are sodium and which are chlorine?)

Gold

These images mean that the atom may exist, but these may not be atoms. But then they may be. In fact, they probably are. The images are blurry though. And are these encased by literal electron shells? OR...what if there are no electrons? What if there are no protons or neutrons, but rather the atom is an orb of perfect energy that serves the purpose chemistry has designated for it? Then isotopes would be imperfect atoms of varying radioactivity levels as opposed to having different neutron counts. Ah the possibilities...

I also don't think oxen exist. I have never seen an ox. I have seen large cows, but never an ox.

Three things we take for granted

1. The atom: Have you ever seen an atom? Has anyone? How do we know they really exist? In fact, there are many ideas as to the model of the atom (though we typically think of the Bohr model). All these ideas and nothing substantive to back them up. Yet, we all accept the concept of the atom as truth.

2. The United States of America: We are the best country on the planet. Always will be. Even if Obama is elected president, we will still be the best country on the planet.

3. Life: What are you doing with it? Do plan for your future? If you don't have a retirement fund started by the time you are out of college, then clearly you don't. My advice would be to start now. Whether you are 20 or 40, start saving now.

That completes this installment of "Things We Take For Granted".

On to music. I heard a song today that really got me thinking that there are some cool bands that have emerged within the last ten years that slipped through the cracks and got mainstream fame. That band is Disturbed. The song the station played was one I haven't heard in a while, but was the first tune of theirs that turned me on to them (it may be the first song of theirs I ever heard for that matter). I remember thinking how impressed with the vocals I was. So this week's anthem is off the "Believe" album, the song is "Prayer".

Rock Band 2

Seppy asked a question on my last post that I felt the answer was worth a separate blog posting. He asked me what I thought of the RB2 track list.

Before I answer that question, I would like to first state how ghey it is that Harmonix is even bothering with a new game. The downloadable content feature is so awesome, they should have just continued with that instead of releasing these next 80+ songs on a separate piece of software. What really blows is that though the dlc is compatible for transfer, the disc content is not. So what about the great tunes on RB1? You won't be able to play them on RB 2 to make your ultimate custom setlist. So yeah...ghey.

That being said, they are apparently improving the playability which has been the game's biggest downfall (in that it is just shy of terrible) - and the only reason I won't buy it. So the improvement will be good. Also, the new drum kit has an expandable platform to add more cymbals. Thay may or may not be good. It will only be good if the software recognizes them as the cymbal triggers for regular game play outside the big rock ending. Oh, and the drums do serve as a stand alone electronic drum kit. So expect them to come out with an uber expensive brain in the not too distant future.

So here is the setlist:

Artist Song Title Decade
1. AC/DC Let There Be Rock 1970s
2. AFI Girl's Gone Grey 2000s
3. Alanis Morissette You Oughta Know 1990s
4. Alice in Chains Man in the Box 1990s
5. Allman Brothers Ramblin' Man 1970s
6. Avenged Sevenfold Almost Easy 2000s
7. Bad Company Shooting Star 1970s
8. Beastie Boys So Whatcha Want 1990s
9. Beck E-Pro 2000s
10. Bikini Kill Rebel Girl 1990s
11. Billy Idol White Wedding Pt. I 1980s
12. Blondie One Way or Another 1970s
13. Bob Dylan Tangled Up in Blue 1970s
14. Bon Jovi Livin' on a Prayer 1980s
15. Cheap Trick Hello There 1970s
16. Devo Uncontrollable Urge 1980s
17. Dinosaur Jr. Feel the Pain 1990s
18. Disturbed Down with the Sickness 2000s
19. Dream Theater Panic Attack 2000s
20. Duran Duran Hungry Like the Wolf 1980s
21. Elvis Costello Pump It Up 1970s
22. Fleetwood Mac Go Your Own Way 1970s
23. Foo Fighters Everlong 1990s
24. Guns N' Roses Shackler's Revenge 2000s
25. Interpol PDA 2000s
26. Jane's Addiction Mountain Song 1980s
27. Jethro Tull Aqualung 1970s
28. Jimmy Eat World The Middle 2000s
29. Joan Jett Bad Reputation 1980s
30. Journey Anyway You Want It 1970s
31. Judas Priest Painkiller 1990s
32. Kansas Carry On Wayward Son 1970s
33. L7 Pretend We're Dead 1990s
34. Lacuna Coil Our Truth 2000s
35. Linkin Park One Step Closer 2000s
36. Lit My Own Worst Enemy 1990s
37. Lush De-Luxe 1990s
38. Mastodon Colony of Birchmen 2000s
39. Megadeth Peace Sells 1980s
40. Metallica Battery 1980s
41. Mighty Mighty Bosstones Where'd You Go 1990s
42. Modest Mouse Float On 2000s
43. Motorhead Ace of Spades 1980s
44. Nirvana Drain You 1990s
45. Norman Greenbaum Spirit in the Sky 1960s
46. Panic at the Disco Nine in the Afternoon 2000s
47. Paramore That's What You Get 2000s
48. Pearl Jam Alive 1990s
49. Presidents of the USA Lump 1990s
50. Rage Against the Machine Testify 1990s
51. Ratt Round & Round 1980s
52. Red Hot Chili Peppers Give it Away 1990s
53. Rise Against Give it All 2000s
54. Rush The Trees 1970s
55. Silversun Pickups Lazy Eye 2000s
56. Smashing Pumpkins Today 1990s
57. Social Distortion I Was Wrong 1990s
58. Sonic Youth Teenage Riot 1980s
59. Soundgarden Spoonman 1990s
60. Squeeze Cool for Cats 1970s
61. Steely Dan Bodhitsattya 1970s
62. Steve Miller Band Rock'n Me 1970s
63. Survivor Eye of the Tiger 1980s
64. System of a Down Chop Suey 2000s
65. Talking Heads Psycho Killer 1970s
66. Tenacious D Master Exploder 2000s
67. Testament Souls of Black 1990s
68. The Donnas New Kid in School 2000s
69. The Go-Go's We Got the Beat 1980s (interesting, but not enticing)
70. The Grateful Dead Alabama Getaway 1980s
71. The Guess Who American Woman 1970s
72. The Muffs Kids in America 1990s
73. The Offspring Come Out & Play (Keep 'em Separated) 1990s
74. The Replacements Alex Chilton 1980s
75. The Who Pinball Wizard 1960s
76. Abnormality Visions 2000s
77. Anarchy Club Get Clean 2000s
78. Bang Camaro Night Lies 2000s
79. Breaking Wheel Shoulder to the Plow 2000s
80. The Libyans Neighborhood 2000s
81. The Main Drag A Jagged Gorgeous Winter 2000s
82. Speck Conventional Lover 2000s
83. The Sterns Supreme Girl 2000s
84. That Handsome Devil Rob the Prez-O-Dent 2000s

Here are the songs I think are worth a damn:

Artist Song Title Decade
1. AC/DC Let There Be Rock 1970s
4. Alice in Chains Man in the Box 1990s
5. Allman Brothers Ramblin' Man 1970s
11. Billy Idol White Wedding Pt. I 1980s
14. Bon Jovi Livin' on a Prayer 1980s
15. Cheap Trick Hello There 1970s
18. Disturbed Down with the Sickness 2000s
19. Dream Theater Panic Attack 2000s
20. Duran Duran Hungry Like the Wolf 1980s
30. Journey Anyway You Want It 1970s
31. Judas Priest Painkiller 1990s
32. Kansas Carry On Wayward Son 1970s
38. Mastodon Colony of Birchmen 2000s
39. Megadeth Peace Sells 1980s
40. Metallica Battery 1980s
43. Motorhead Ace of Spades 1980s
48. Pearl Jam Alive 1990s
51. Ratt Round & Round 1980s
54. Rush The Trees 1970s
61. Steely Dan Bodhitsattya 1970s
62. Steve Miller Band Rock'n Me 1970s
63. Survivor Eye of the Tiger 1980s
65. Talking Heads Psycho Killer 1970s
67. Testament Souls of Black 1990s
75. The Who Pinball Wizard 1960s
78. Bang Camaro Night Lies 2000s
79. Breaking Wheel Shoulder to the Plow 2000s

Bang Camaro has never done wrong near as I can tell, and it is great to see the Breaking Wheel back in these games. They had a great instrumental in GH1.

After triple checking my list, I can safely say I wipe between my buttocks with the other songs. Needless to say, I don't like enough of the songs to even bother with this game. I may not with the new GH game either, so who knows? If the DLC remains relatively affordable and it continues to be awesome, then the game would be worth buying. I will wait it out. I think I'll let Mike buy it and I can judge from there...that is, after he has unlocked enough crap so I can avoid having to play Alanis and Smashing Pumpkins...

Has it really been a month? *edited*

I finally have time to post on here, and I come to find I have been MIA for a month. Amazing. It seems as though it has only been a couple weeks.

My time from the blog is certainly justifiable. Since I am not in school at the moment, I have taken the last few weeks to really concentrate on writing my political/war epic. In fact, the other day I wrote something so poignant, I nearly brought myself to tears. One of these days I plan to post an excerpt. I am not sure how I will do it though. On one hand, I am proud of what I have come up with and I want to share it. On the other hand, if even one of the major characters names are mentioned in whatever I do share, then the story I am telling is blown wide open. Anyone with a knowledge of Egyptian history will be able to figure out where I am going. If they are a faster writer than I, they could write this incredible story before I do. Though another author already has, it seems his books on the subject are based in either outdated or nonexistent theories. Plus, I think I will tell the story a little better.

Anyway, I haven't been up to much else. I recently got promoted to the next rank at the dojo. That was awesome. My next graduation will include a demo. Oh, and one of the instructors asked me to assist him in his demo he is putting on for all the senior instructors at the forthcoming festival in Dayton, OH. It was actually quite an honor to be asked to do this. He must have a lot of faith in my ukemi (recieving) since we will be doing it on a thinly carpeted floor. The best part is that I get to show the senior instructors how well I can recieve (this is a big deal in the art) while I am still in my kyu ranks. Oh, I should probably mention that I will be going to festival this year. Finally, I will have an opportunity to meet one of my childhood heroes (still is, but for different reasons), Stephen K Hayes. There will be about ten of us going to represent the Phoenix Quest Center. This is a major difference to last year's four. The best part is that all of us going are friends brought together by similar minds. It is awesome to be a part of an organization that not only teaches solid self defense, but is probably the best non-church social network I have ever been a part of.

Though I have a myspace account, I never use it. I do go on occasion to see if anyone that I keep up with solely through that medium emailed me. I come to find just today that three different bands that I guess Ekosphere either played with or saw Ekosphere play a show had sent me messages asking if I was looking for a musical project and if so, I should come and check them out. The bands are pretty solid, but they do lack something I would be looking for. Though I am all about getting a project together, I have to be picky. Right now, there is the occasional gathering of the Bumpus Hounds, which certainly has its utility, but I am looking to get into something electronic. I am really reconsidering getting a group together that is driven by capitalism. I am not looking for a record deal, but rather a series of weddings, dances, corporate events, etc that will pay good money to have a band. I have done everything that I can do musically. I have beenin almost every type of musical project imaginable. From Jazz ensebles to Prog metal and everything in between. All for (except for the Cooperstown deal and a couple high school gigs) about 30 people and 0 cash. I have proven to myself I can do certain things and am thus satisfied. There is only one other option I would consider at this point, and only Mr Bahr knows about it. That I would do to prove to myself I can arrange such a thing...and would do it for free. Anyway, the answer to the three bands is: thanks, but no thanks.

Work is going well. I am already enjoying the priveledges associated with my employment such as my retirement contributions, my free interest-bearing checking account, and my day and a half of PTO per month I get to see pop into my pay voucher.

The awesome news keeps rolling in for me as I have discovered that GCU will be offering a BS in Finance. This should roll in no later than January which means I won't have to take the accounting route (many of you know I planned to get my MBA in finance anyway, the BS just makes sense). However, if for some reason the finance thing doesn't go through, then I will continue with the accounting. Either way, I will get to work with money and take a front row seat to watching the greatest show on earth: capitalism.

Since it has been a month, I need to choose an anthem that bleeds \m/. This week, I was exposed to some of the new Metallica stuff, and I have to say it brought me to tears. What a comeback from the crap of Load/Reload, and the poor production quality of St Anger! It is like unto a throwback to the black album, but with progressive undertones. Still, the 80's material is much better. I believe that this September will be the first time I will have bought a Metallica album since 1991! It's about time guys. You still have balls. To that end, they make the anthem spot. The only warning I have to issue comes from the vocals. They are not as awesome as they once were, but James is pushing 45 (at least) by now, so let's give him a break.In fact, I won't even post any of that. Rather, I will post their instrumental (save for James singing "Hey-Yeah" for about five seconds). The song is called "Ecstasy of Gold". It is the best new song anyway.



EDIT: Mike has made me aware that the anthem is an older song. That just goes to show how out of the Metallica loop I have been for the last fifteen years or so. Load was so depressing, I wrote them off. Sounds like they did have one shining beacon of hope before the St. Anger crap. Anyway, the anthem remains, but I should putin one of the new songs so you all know what I mean. I chose the one with the best vocals, "Throne of Ivory" is the song title.

Thanks for correcting me, Mike.