Greetings reader, don’t want to sound grotesque in any way but I’m not feeling best at this very moment writing. I’m just kind of glad that I don’t live in Japanese waters. If I did I’ll most certainly be hunted because after gorging my way through another one of my mammoth lasagnes I feel a cross between Mr. Blobby and Moby Dick. Ugh! Should’ve followed the rule of not eating anything bigger than my head.
Well onwards, or rather backwards in perspective, on the past week. I think I share a universal relief for the Chilean miners and unquestioned admiration for their rescuers. ‘Tis nice for once to actually see a large scale ‘good news’ story as opposed to Sally the cat that outsmarted Carol Vorderman in a sudouku-off at the NEC. Unsurprisingly that didn’t happen, (I’d of paid good money to see that though) but you get my point that the only good news stories are pointless little ditties on local TV. Another good news story this week but nowhere nearly as well publicised was the completion of the drilling of the Gothernberg Tunnel in Switzerland. It now holds the record for the longest underground tunnel in the world at 58km, and like the Chilean miner’s story shows that humanity can achieve incredible feats. X Factor doesn’t count to being on of those feats. On the contrary, I think Furbies have got a damn-sight more talent (arguably more brain power) and career potential than the contestants on that sad, sad excuse of entertainment. I know that ITV has been sold to the Americans and good riddance, to be honest I’d let them have it for free and keep Cadbury’s thank you very much. I’ll settle with good old aunty beeb.
So my week, seemed like a speedy blur, in fact I can recall exactly what I was wearing last time I was doing this. Primark ‘lounge pants’ and a Ben Sherman dressing gown. Sad I remember that? Yup! Good news finally on the Film Tech module. We can now finally get access to the films we need to do our project instead of relying on the crap system on DVDs being passed around. Hallelujah! Bad news, can’t put them on my Seagate hard-drive. All because I primarily use it with my Mac, and so formats itself to OS X that in turn make the Windows XP machines we have Avid on become like Alzheimer patients. In short, incapable of determining any sort of memory spare on my HD. Not amused.
Last week I took delivery of a new iPod 4th gen, oooohhh my god it’s sexy. (Can you tell I’m a gear slut yet?) Now thankfully that wonderful physique can be kept pristine with my new protector case (now you can tell cant you...). Over the course of the last week I’ve been testing out it’s potential as productive tool, by taking down lecture notes on it with a bluetooth keyboard. The results, it’s great! Thus I can now take that in without risking my Mac when travelling under pedal power. One other FANTASTIC trick with the iPod our Live Performance group was introduced to, was it’s ability to transmit OSC data over a Wi-Fi network. How does this relate to music says the little voice in your head. Well OSC stands for Open Sound Control, a protocol of data that’s been invented within the last 6 years or so. Utilising a Wi-Fi network, with the network host being your computer (as opposed to a hub/router plugged in the wall), you can control parameters from your iPod. These parameters can be anything from software/hardware synthesisers to the structure of your song and other global settings. It’s just another way for techy freaks like myself to foam at the mouth and have sleepless nights conceiving of it’s possibilities.
The Live stuff is coming along nicely, though I think I’ve performed a form of Chinese torture upon myself by trying to backward engineer the songs of my set. Agh! It’s close to mind rape! Thankfully for those who are moderately concerned about my health, don’t worry I’m taking a break from it to regain some sanity. While I say that, I happen to be listening to Wouldn’t It Be Nice by the Beach Boys that happened to feature quite prominently in 50 First Dates, a film that deals with loosing your mind. I only know that because it happened to be the only thing worth watching on the box while devouring my lasagne. Coincidence is a funny thing. Tangent aside, I’m taking a break from that project for a little while as I’m waiting for a DVD containing some source material which should arrive next week from the States. Besides it’ll free up some time to get on with some other on-the-side recording projects and voluntary work. The voluntary work is at the local youth club getting kids involved in engaging with music in some way, it was supposed to start this week but hopefully should commence this week forthcoming. Again outside of university, the Ocean Diver course is starting for us rookies in the club, first lecture was this week and was simply outlining the structure and what you’ll get out of being a BSAC member. I think everyone, including the lecturer were relieved when 10pm came round as that meant pub time!
Right before I wrap this all up there’s a couple of last things. I learnt yesterday the importance of checking to make sure you have everything with you at all times. This is especially true with KEYS. Yesterday I decided to take a trip into town, only to realise after a while I’d forgotten my keys. OK so I didn’t use the car, can’t be that bad? Um... I need a key to unlock my bike chain. Crap. It dawned on me that I might of left them back in the garage, meaning I had to walk ALL the way back home. Thankfully the keys were there, then walk ALL the way back into town to get my bike. Sigh. Again not amused with myself.
Song of the week! Goes to.... Television Man by the Talking Heads.
Now as my very last point for this week. I never expected this blog to gain a global audience, however I have at least 3 or 4 overseas visitors, or so my stats says. So hi to the small group in the US. And I’m pretty sure I know who my Swedish follower is, so hi to you too. The other thing I didn’t expect this blog to do was get other people interested in blogging. A good friend of mine has recently messaged me saying she’d like to start a blog herself (and who's also become my first follower on here *smiles*). Yes it’s a good way of venting annoyance amongst other emotions in a productive, if in a self-indulgent fashion. However I’ll leave you with a quote from Andrew Marr about what he said about bloggers this week, “A lot of bloggers seem to be socially inadequate, pimpled, single, slightly seedy, bald, cauliflower-nosed, young men sitting in their mother's basements and ranting.”
Ta ta.
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