Yeah, sorry. I only went and set up a Tumbelog today. Have to say, I like it a bit more than this one, and will probably use it a lot more.
Go and have a look here, follow me on that one instead, it will be much better like.
Wednesday 26 May 2010
Tuesday 25 May 2010
Albums that I want to get but can't be bothered buying
There are a few records that I want to get/would quite like to hear. Annoyingly though, they are all either too expensive for me to want to buy legally, and impossible to find online. I don't know if I should just compromise and pay for them like a good boy or just give up hope. Anyway, the ones I want are thus:
MGMT - Congratulations (purely for curiosity's sake. The first album is OK and I just want to see how much of a mind-fuck this is in comparison)
The National - High Violet
The Baseballs - Strike!
The Soft Pack - S/T
I'm sure there were more. Maybe it's just that I haven't bothered trying to find the others. I should try harder I think. But I can't be bothered as of late. I'm sleepy.
MGMT - Congratulations (purely for curiosity's sake. The first album is OK and I just want to see how much of a mind-fuck this is in comparison)
The National - High Violet
The Baseballs - Strike!
The Soft Pack - S/T
I'm sure there were more. Maybe it's just that I haven't bothered trying to find the others. I should try harder I think. But I can't be bothered as of late. I'm sleepy.
Friday 21 May 2010
Female Artists
On my last.fm page (user: mattme24 since you ask) in my top 50 artists, there is only one female act. That being Regina Spektor. At number 49. I should probably listen to some more female musicians. As a result. Got Laura Marling on right now. Will see how it goes but I kind of want to listen to the latest Gorillaz record too.
Friday 7 May 2010
Average Joe
It has dawned on me today that I don't really know if I have ever actually been good at anything. I know that I don't suck at everything I do, but there is a constant mediocrity. A feeling that I am just average. A B-grade student, never really getting anything like consistently good marks.
I kind of worry this realisation has dawned on my tutors too, where rather than marking me for what I've actually done, they look at my past marks (pretty much in or around 61ish) and just give me a mark based on that. Any feedback is all good, but nothing really indicated why I am unable to get anywhere near a 1st.
Fucks sake
I'm just feeling sorry for myself.
I kind of worry this realisation has dawned on my tutors too, where rather than marking me for what I've actually done, they look at my past marks (pretty much in or around 61ish) and just give me a mark based on that. Any feedback is all good, but nothing really indicated why I am unable to get anywhere near a 1st.
Fucks sake
I'm just feeling sorry for myself.
I voted yesterday.
It was the first time that I had done so. I felt really grown up and informed as I sneered at the BNP and Tory candidates and checked the ballot. Although it looks like my vote may well have been for naught, it was still an experience.
Wednesday 28 April 2010
Last.fm Comments
The comments people leave on Last.fm are quite funny to read.
Most of them are over the top, elitist comments from people who must try so hard to look cool and alternative that I doubt they get much else done. The fact that so many of them are just stupid and often wrong is also quite funny.
A large amount of these comments are based around the tags that Last.fm has for bands. Examples being whether Panic! at the Disco has an exclamation mark or not, and whether Green Day are really a punk band anymore, or if they ever were. It's all irrelevant arguments that don't really matter, so long as people enjoy the music.
What I find truly unbelievable is that people will go so far out of their way as to go on pages for bands they dislike, and leave a comment saying how shit they think they are. It just seems a bit inane and unnecessary. Nobody needs to know if you think that Oasis are shit. A lot of people think that, but they don't bitch about how crap they think they are on the band's page. It's just not worth it.
However, the reason for writing about this now, after having last.fm for a few months (username = mattme24 if you want to add me up), is that I saw that Warsaw had a page. Warsaw being Joy Division before they changed their name to Joy Division. On their page, there are people leaving comments saying that either a). They were better before they changed their name, or b). That they were a shit Joy Division rip off. Both comments are equally retarded. The band were around for a very short period of time, only documented on a couple of bootleg albums, in which they play songs that Joy Division went on to play and very little else. How they could be better then, before they had the name change, I don't quite understand.
Seriously, I think people try too hard to look alternative. It's kind of sad really.
Most of them are over the top, elitist comments from people who must try so hard to look cool and alternative that I doubt they get much else done. The fact that so many of them are just stupid and often wrong is also quite funny.
A large amount of these comments are based around the tags that Last.fm has for bands. Examples being whether Panic! at the Disco has an exclamation mark or not, and whether Green Day are really a punk band anymore, or if they ever were. It's all irrelevant arguments that don't really matter, so long as people enjoy the music.
What I find truly unbelievable is that people will go so far out of their way as to go on pages for bands they dislike, and leave a comment saying how shit they think they are. It just seems a bit inane and unnecessary. Nobody needs to know if you think that Oasis are shit. A lot of people think that, but they don't bitch about how crap they think they are on the band's page. It's just not worth it.
However, the reason for writing about this now, after having last.fm for a few months (username = mattme24 if you want to add me up), is that I saw that Warsaw had a page. Warsaw being Joy Division before they changed their name to Joy Division. On their page, there are people leaving comments saying that either a). They were better before they changed their name, or b). That they were a shit Joy Division rip off. Both comments are equally retarded. The band were around for a very short period of time, only documented on a couple of bootleg albums, in which they play songs that Joy Division went on to play and very little else. How they could be better then, before they had the name change, I don't quite understand.
Seriously, I think people try too hard to look alternative. It's kind of sad really.
Thursday 1 April 2010
A week of Radioactivity: Day Four
So, they have to keep me in another day.
Naha! April Fools!
Yes, it is the first of April today, which means it is April Fools Day. Something that I royally fell for, thanks to Emma, but more on that later on.
I started the day fairly early today. Waking up before the nurses woke me up, which somehow felt wrong. It’s like waking up before your alarm goes off. Felt I had to stay in bed until they said hello. So after a trip to the loo, I did just that. Staying in bed till about 8ish, after they asked what I want for breakfast. So eventually, I clambered out of bed to collect my breakfast, and sat and watched some of the second series of Heroes. From memory, the second series was a bit shit in comparison to the first, but on second viewing, it has actually been pretty enjoyable. Less ‘eehh?’ and more ‘Aaah’, it seemed to make more sense.
In the midst of enjoying this, I got scanned again, to find that my radiation levels have dropped to a safe enough level for me to go home. But with hospitals never being that straight forward, I had to stick around till 3ish to have my scan, and this didn’t include the wait for a prescription. So it was back on to Heroes, after my daily shower and my cheese sarnie for lunch. No snack box today though, seeing as I was leaving, I probably didn’t need one today, but it would have been nice, got a bit peckish throughout the day.
Then a shocking thing happened, I went for my scan early! Rather than be typically late, the scan happened earlier than anticipated. Meaning that by half past three I was waiting for a prescription to go home. Fantastic stuff.
Getting a scan at hospital isn’t half strange though. Lying down as a huge camera moves all around you taking lovely pictures. At least it wasn’t an MRI scan, which is the equivalent of lying in a giant, noisy, plastic coffin.
Anyway, after the scan, I sat in the ‘Day Room’ of the ward and waited for my prescription, and my mum to pick me up. And that was that. A few days sitting on my arse watching Heroes and being supposedly Radioactive was over. So I suppose I’d better do some work now. Bugger
Oh yeah, that April Fools joke. Got a text from Emma this morning saying: ‘I’ve broke my leg! Fell down the stairs this morning. Just in hospital now waiting for someone to come and do my cast. It sucks. Xxx’. Now, considering I didn’t know it was April Fools Day today, I was more than just a little bit shocked, and completely fell for it. Made her feel guilty afterwards though, so I suppose it evens out a bit at least.
Naha! April Fools!
Yes, it is the first of April today, which means it is April Fools Day. Something that I royally fell for, thanks to Emma, but more on that later on.
I started the day fairly early today. Waking up before the nurses woke me up, which somehow felt wrong. It’s like waking up before your alarm goes off. Felt I had to stay in bed until they said hello. So after a trip to the loo, I did just that. Staying in bed till about 8ish, after they asked what I want for breakfast. So eventually, I clambered out of bed to collect my breakfast, and sat and watched some of the second series of Heroes. From memory, the second series was a bit shit in comparison to the first, but on second viewing, it has actually been pretty enjoyable. Less ‘eehh?’ and more ‘Aaah’, it seemed to make more sense.
In the midst of enjoying this, I got scanned again, to find that my radiation levels have dropped to a safe enough level for me to go home. But with hospitals never being that straight forward, I had to stick around till 3ish to have my scan, and this didn’t include the wait for a prescription. So it was back on to Heroes, after my daily shower and my cheese sarnie for lunch. No snack box today though, seeing as I was leaving, I probably didn’t need one today, but it would have been nice, got a bit peckish throughout the day.
Then a shocking thing happened, I went for my scan early! Rather than be typically late, the scan happened earlier than anticipated. Meaning that by half past three I was waiting for a prescription to go home. Fantastic stuff.
Getting a scan at hospital isn’t half strange though. Lying down as a huge camera moves all around you taking lovely pictures. At least it wasn’t an MRI scan, which is the equivalent of lying in a giant, noisy, plastic coffin.
Anyway, after the scan, I sat in the ‘Day Room’ of the ward and waited for my prescription, and my mum to pick me up. And that was that. A few days sitting on my arse watching Heroes and being supposedly Radioactive was over. So I suppose I’d better do some work now. Bugger
Oh yeah, that April Fools joke. Got a text from Emma this morning saying: ‘I’ve broke my leg! Fell down the stairs this morning. Just in hospital now waiting for someone to come and do my cast. It sucks. Xxx’. Now, considering I didn’t know it was April Fools Day today, I was more than just a little bit shocked, and completely fell for it. Made her feel guilty afterwards though, so I suppose it evens out a bit at least.
A week of Radioactivity: Day Three
Bloody hell, I can go home tomorrow.
I don’t quite understand it, but this treatment seems to have flown by. Especially considering the mind-numbing boredom I suffered last time I was in hospital. Mind you, that was before I had Heroes.
Once again, I was woken up at around 7 in the morning, after what was a surprisingly easy nights sleep. I did wake up a lot, but then found it strangely easy to get back to sleep, once I put a jacket on that is. T’was a bloody cold night.
Anyway, once I had woken up properly, one cup of tea and bowl of cereal down me, I watched some more Heroes. Getting closer to the end of the first series. However, seeing as I don’t think I’ll be here long enough to watch all of the second, I didn’t want to finish the first too early and get into that as well, so I paced it out in between reading some more of Mr Smith’s book, which I reckon I can finish while I’m in here, and even doing a few sudoku puzzles and doodling in my Moleskine as well. Not what I bought it for, but by God doodling on sketchpad paper with a Parker pen feels strangely satisfying.
I had another reading/scan thing to see how radioactive I was today, and after yesterday’s big drop, I was expecting a much smaller drop this time, but what did I get? It went from 1000 down to 340. Again, I don’t know what the unit is, and I don’t know what a ‘safe’ level is, but these drops must be a good thing, surely?
After various phone calls from Emma, Dad, and my Grandma I continued watching Heroes, eventually finishing the 1st series just after tea time. Now, if you have never watched this programme, go out and buy it, because it is brilliant. With an intricate plot and superb characterisation, not to mention a load of super-powered people and cameos from Stan Lee and George Takei (Sulu to those Trekkies reading). I fucking love this show, and it is going to be very hard not to watch the two following series when I should be doing work in the next couple of weeks.
With that finished, I read a bit more of Smith’s book, and watched the Arsenal/Barca game on the small TV they gave me. The second half of which was one of the more exciting games I’ve watched as a neutral in quite a while. Although I think that Barca easily have what it takes to beat Arsenal in the second leg.
And so that was today. For me, it was fairly uneventful. Not so for other people though, as my dad finally has got another job, after what must have been well over a year out of full time employment. In Preston too, no less. Confirming the fact that that place is the centre of the universe. From great news to very sad though, as my Auntie’s cat Frankie, whom they have had for as long as I can remember, passed away, to the obvious distress of my cousins and most probably my Aunt and Uncle too. I can only imagine what it must be like for the. Admittedly, I am not really a ‘pet’ person, but I know that they obviously were, so my condolences go to them.
It doesn’t look like I have harped on nearly enough today as I have done in the past couple of days, but then, there isn’t really much new to report. Such is the routine of hospital life. Tomorrow will probably be a bit more interesting, as it will involve (hopefully) the whole detoxification process, along with a CT scan type thing, prescription gathering, and going home. What fun that will all be.
Goodnight to you all.
I don’t quite understand it, but this treatment seems to have flown by. Especially considering the mind-numbing boredom I suffered last time I was in hospital. Mind you, that was before I had Heroes.
Once again, I was woken up at around 7 in the morning, after what was a surprisingly easy nights sleep. I did wake up a lot, but then found it strangely easy to get back to sleep, once I put a jacket on that is. T’was a bloody cold night.
Anyway, once I had woken up properly, one cup of tea and bowl of cereal down me, I watched some more Heroes. Getting closer to the end of the first series. However, seeing as I don’t think I’ll be here long enough to watch all of the second, I didn’t want to finish the first too early and get into that as well, so I paced it out in between reading some more of Mr Smith’s book, which I reckon I can finish while I’m in here, and even doing a few sudoku puzzles and doodling in my Moleskine as well. Not what I bought it for, but by God doodling on sketchpad paper with a Parker pen feels strangely satisfying.
I had another reading/scan thing to see how radioactive I was today, and after yesterday’s big drop, I was expecting a much smaller drop this time, but what did I get? It went from 1000 down to 340. Again, I don’t know what the unit is, and I don’t know what a ‘safe’ level is, but these drops must be a good thing, surely?
After various phone calls from Emma, Dad, and my Grandma I continued watching Heroes, eventually finishing the 1st series just after tea time. Now, if you have never watched this programme, go out and buy it, because it is brilliant. With an intricate plot and superb characterisation, not to mention a load of super-powered people and cameos from Stan Lee and George Takei (Sulu to those Trekkies reading). I fucking love this show, and it is going to be very hard not to watch the two following series when I should be doing work in the next couple of weeks.
With that finished, I read a bit more of Smith’s book, and watched the Arsenal/Barca game on the small TV they gave me. The second half of which was one of the more exciting games I’ve watched as a neutral in quite a while. Although I think that Barca easily have what it takes to beat Arsenal in the second leg.
And so that was today. For me, it was fairly uneventful. Not so for other people though, as my dad finally has got another job, after what must have been well over a year out of full time employment. In Preston too, no less. Confirming the fact that that place is the centre of the universe. From great news to very sad though, as my Auntie’s cat Frankie, whom they have had for as long as I can remember, passed away, to the obvious distress of my cousins and most probably my Aunt and Uncle too. I can only imagine what it must be like for the. Admittedly, I am not really a ‘pet’ person, but I know that they obviously were, so my condolences go to them.
It doesn’t look like I have harped on nearly enough today as I have done in the past couple of days, but then, there isn’t really much new to report. Such is the routine of hospital life. Tomorrow will probably be a bit more interesting, as it will involve (hopefully) the whole detoxification process, along with a CT scan type thing, prescription gathering, and going home. What fun that will all be.
Goodnight to you all.
A week of Radioactivity: Day Two
Why do hospitals insist on waking you up so fucking early? After a fairly decent nights sleep, once I eventually got comfortable that is, I got woken up by the sound of ‘DO YOU WANNA CUPPA TEA MY LUVVER?’ at around quarter past 7. My lack of response was taken as a no, so I grabbed a little bit more sleep until about 20 minutes later, the place seemed to spring to life, as I got asked what I want for breakfast (Rice Krispies, since you ask) and got offered another cup of tea, this time I took it. What did I do then? Well, I stuck on some more Heroes. Getting through the third disc of series one. Feels like I’m flying through this (if you’ll excuse the pun) so I did wonder if I would end up getting through the whole 7 disc 1st series in a day and a half, not stopping to think that the whole series is around 42 hours long, making it a mathematical impossibility. Nevertheless, I gave it a shot.
Anyway, after said disc was finished, I thought I better have a shower, seeing as it had been instructed that I have one every day. It was a pleasant shower too. Not too aggressive or powerful, but not as if someone was gently tipping a faulty watering can over my head, รก la my house in Huddersfield. Naturally, I took my time, seeing as days have a tendency to drag when you aren’t doing anything other than sit around on your arse all day.
When I got out, dried and dressed, the radiologist woman, Sue, was at the door, wanting to scan me to see just how radioactive I am today, having had over 12 hours for it to flush through my system. Giving me a tape measure to make sure I was stood a metre away from her, she scanned me with this thing, and said that the level had gone from 3400-ish to 1000, which is obviously pretty good. Probably not good enough to allow me to go home tomorrow, but then, I’m not expecting that anyway.
So, with the shower and the scan being the two main things to do today (I know, exciting stuff right?) I had to find something else to do. Rather than just watch some more Heroes, I thought I’d have a bit more of a read through Kevin Smith’s book, as I was intrigued to see how the story of Jason Mewes’ addiction problems panned out, it had made very interesting, if at times difficult, reading previously, but it obviously ended up with a happy ending, given that Jay is still alive and well, when it looked like it was going to go so differently.
THEN, I decided I’d watch some more Heroes, just as my cheese sarny arrived along with my ‘snack box’ for the day. Yum yum. This became interspersed with phone calls from Emma (albeit by accident…), Steve and my Nan, who was with my two cousins, meaning I got passed around the room to have short conversations with each of them about school and stuff. Although it was strange when my eleven-year-old cousin asked “Is the work harder at university? Or easy because you know more about it?” It kind of caught me off guard, because it’s a difficult question. It is obviously hard work, but then, the enjoyment behind some aspects of it, and the background knowledge behind others, does make certain elements sort of easy. He probably thinks it’s all a piece of piss now though. Ah well, he’s got plenty of years left to learn otherwise.
One other thing that was of particular highlight today was that I found an Internet connection! Huzah! After the disappointment of being told that there wouldn’t be any Wi-Fi in this place, I scanned the area and found an unprotected connection, and it worked! I do feel bad though, that all I did was sit on Facebook until the connection went. But by that point, it was teatime anyway, so it was a good way to pass the time, which is all I have to do really. I had a lovely pasta and chicken meal, with a chocolate pudding for afters, and began to settle in to some more Heroes, before my dear old mumsie showed up with some squash for me, seeing as I have to consume copious amounts of liquid to help ‘flush the radiation through me’.
After her brief visit, which was spent talking from either side of this lead panel, I sat back to watch some more Heroes, until we reach this point. Where, at quarter to ten, I’m rather tired after what has proven to be a surprisingly eventful day. Nonetheless, I think I may go to bed and try to sleep. Something which took a while last night, hopefully it wont again tonight.
Although the fact that I’ve just sneezed about 7 or 8 times in a minute probably won’t help.
Bloody hospitals.
Anyway, after said disc was finished, I thought I better have a shower, seeing as it had been instructed that I have one every day. It was a pleasant shower too. Not too aggressive or powerful, but not as if someone was gently tipping a faulty watering can over my head, รก la my house in Huddersfield. Naturally, I took my time, seeing as days have a tendency to drag when you aren’t doing anything other than sit around on your arse all day.
When I got out, dried and dressed, the radiologist woman, Sue, was at the door, wanting to scan me to see just how radioactive I am today, having had over 12 hours for it to flush through my system. Giving me a tape measure to make sure I was stood a metre away from her, she scanned me with this thing, and said that the level had gone from 3400-ish to 1000, which is obviously pretty good. Probably not good enough to allow me to go home tomorrow, but then, I’m not expecting that anyway.
So, with the shower and the scan being the two main things to do today (I know, exciting stuff right?) I had to find something else to do. Rather than just watch some more Heroes, I thought I’d have a bit more of a read through Kevin Smith’s book, as I was intrigued to see how the story of Jason Mewes’ addiction problems panned out, it had made very interesting, if at times difficult, reading previously, but it obviously ended up with a happy ending, given that Jay is still alive and well, when it looked like it was going to go so differently.
THEN, I decided I’d watch some more Heroes, just as my cheese sarny arrived along with my ‘snack box’ for the day. Yum yum. This became interspersed with phone calls from Emma (albeit by accident…), Steve and my Nan, who was with my two cousins, meaning I got passed around the room to have short conversations with each of them about school and stuff. Although it was strange when my eleven-year-old cousin asked “Is the work harder at university? Or easy because you know more about it?” It kind of caught me off guard, because it’s a difficult question. It is obviously hard work, but then, the enjoyment behind some aspects of it, and the background knowledge behind others, does make certain elements sort of easy. He probably thinks it’s all a piece of piss now though. Ah well, he’s got plenty of years left to learn otherwise.
One other thing that was of particular highlight today was that I found an Internet connection! Huzah! After the disappointment of being told that there wouldn’t be any Wi-Fi in this place, I scanned the area and found an unprotected connection, and it worked! I do feel bad though, that all I did was sit on Facebook until the connection went. But by that point, it was teatime anyway, so it was a good way to pass the time, which is all I have to do really. I had a lovely pasta and chicken meal, with a chocolate pudding for afters, and began to settle in to some more Heroes, before my dear old mumsie showed up with some squash for me, seeing as I have to consume copious amounts of liquid to help ‘flush the radiation through me’.
After her brief visit, which was spent talking from either side of this lead panel, I sat back to watch some more Heroes, until we reach this point. Where, at quarter to ten, I’m rather tired after what has proven to be a surprisingly eventful day. Nonetheless, I think I may go to bed and try to sleep. Something which took a while last night, hopefully it wont again tonight.
Although the fact that I’ve just sneezed about 7 or 8 times in a minute probably won’t help.
Bloody hospitals.
A week of Radioactivity: Day One
So, today I check in to hospital for my first (and hopefully last) dose of Radioactive Iodine treatment. It is pretty much as straight forward as it sounds. I go in to hospital, take some radioactive iodine capsule, and sit in my own capsule (well, a lead lined room) for a few days while the radiation hopefully kills off any of the bad stuff that may still be kicking around inside me. It comes after two weeks of not taking any pills and of being on a low iodine diet, which basically means I can’t eat fish. Oh no. The not taking pills was a bit of a concern, after jokes that ‘I need those to live’, I did actually wonder what not taking them would be like, and it proved to be fairly uneventful. I just got a bit more tired a bit easier, and had the odd headache here and there. Other than that I was fairly fit and healthy, and in fact, got more work done than I seem to have done the entire term previous.
But now, alas, I am sat here, with not much to do for the next couple of days, other than see how far in to the 3 series of Heroes I can get, with maybe a light smattering of Star Trek thrown in here and there. It wasn’t simple getting started though, oh no.
After being told that they wanted me here for about half past nine in the morning, we left Trowbridge in the pre-dawn light of around ten to 8, wary of the rush hour traffic. Traffic that only really hit once we reached the outskirts of Bristol. However, we still got here at around half 9, on time it would seem. But then, nothing in a hospital is ever on time, is it? A short wait in the main reception led to a long wait upstairs, with thoughts of ‘is this where we are supposed to be?’ rattling around my, and my mums head. After around an hour, we asked, only to find that we were there that long because nobody knew that we were there. Because we didn’t think to tell the nursing staff, after telling two different receptions, that we were. Obviously it was our fault. A quick blood test later (only jabbed me twice this time, wahay) and we went off to yet another ward, this one though, was where we were actually supposed to be. Once there, we waited in the Day Room (complete with X-Box, big TV and pool table) until further notice. During which my blood pressure and weight were taken, and I was treated to a lovely cheese sandwich. After being there, again, around an hour, I was told I could move into my quarters and begin to get settled.
After not expecting much, it was a nice surprise. Although the typically uncomfortable hospital bed, complete with itchy sheets and plastic pillows was in tow. At least I had a window though. After being told the ropes by one of the nurses, mum left for work, and I was left to my own devices. I figured it wouldn’t be long until the radiologists came and shot me up, so didn’t want to get too settled, instead just sitting around reading Kevin Smith’s suddenly enthralling diary ‘My Boring Ass Life’, which seems to have gotten really interesting after a few months of what appears to be a fairly boring routine. Should have guessed it from the title really. Time passed and nobody came in to see me, apart from nurses asking what I want for my tea, (I had a rather nice pizza and chips, unlikely for a hospital I know, special treatment, clearly). I wondered again if they’d just forgotten about me, but at around 5 o clock, the radiologist came with a very securely protected dose of my radiation. We went over what is going to happen, both while I’m here and further on down the line, before she gave me my pill, which involved opening several lead lined boxes, unscrewing a pot, fixing a pill in a tube before passing it to me to knock down my throat and wash down with plenty of water, and then she made a dash for the door, leaving me to glow in peace.
So there we are, as I write this, I am radioactive. I don’t think that I am glowing, and I can’t see through the walls just yet, but then, they said that wouldn’t happen (damn!). Indeed I don’t really know if I’m feeling any side effects yet, other than feeling tired and thirsty, which is what they said would happen. And they are usually right about things like that aren’t they? In my radioactive state so far, I’ve watched two episodes of the first series of Heroes, read some more Kevin Smith and pissed a lot, which they encourage. Flushing it through quickly, see? The time now is 20:16. I’m not really sure what I’ll do now. Maybe crack out some more Heroes. Watch that Russell Howard’s Good News, if that is on tonight, and go to bed. Doesn’t sound too bad does it? I’ll write another one of these tomorrow to see if there are any changes, but it will probably be more of the same. Not that I mind too much right now. Let’s just hope they don’t go for the tactics they had over in Bath and wake me up at 6 in the bloody morning asking if I want a brew!
Oh, and I saw the Leeds line up (thank you Emma!) and other than Blink headlining (expected) and Modest Mouse being there (odd, but hopefully they’ll be at Glasto too) it doesn’t look too inspired, so I can’t say I mind too much about missing it. That is, as long as Blink have a UK tour in the pipeline in the near future!
But now, alas, I am sat here, with not much to do for the next couple of days, other than see how far in to the 3 series of Heroes I can get, with maybe a light smattering of Star Trek thrown in here and there. It wasn’t simple getting started though, oh no.
After being told that they wanted me here for about half past nine in the morning, we left Trowbridge in the pre-dawn light of around ten to 8, wary of the rush hour traffic. Traffic that only really hit once we reached the outskirts of Bristol. However, we still got here at around half 9, on time it would seem. But then, nothing in a hospital is ever on time, is it? A short wait in the main reception led to a long wait upstairs, with thoughts of ‘is this where we are supposed to be?’ rattling around my, and my mums head. After around an hour, we asked, only to find that we were there that long because nobody knew that we were there. Because we didn’t think to tell the nursing staff, after telling two different receptions, that we were. Obviously it was our fault. A quick blood test later (only jabbed me twice this time, wahay) and we went off to yet another ward, this one though, was where we were actually supposed to be. Once there, we waited in the Day Room (complete with X-Box, big TV and pool table) until further notice. During which my blood pressure and weight were taken, and I was treated to a lovely cheese sandwich. After being there, again, around an hour, I was told I could move into my quarters and begin to get settled.
After not expecting much, it was a nice surprise. Although the typically uncomfortable hospital bed, complete with itchy sheets and plastic pillows was in tow. At least I had a window though. After being told the ropes by one of the nurses, mum left for work, and I was left to my own devices. I figured it wouldn’t be long until the radiologists came and shot me up, so didn’t want to get too settled, instead just sitting around reading Kevin Smith’s suddenly enthralling diary ‘My Boring Ass Life’, which seems to have gotten really interesting after a few months of what appears to be a fairly boring routine. Should have guessed it from the title really. Time passed and nobody came in to see me, apart from nurses asking what I want for my tea, (I had a rather nice pizza and chips, unlikely for a hospital I know, special treatment, clearly). I wondered again if they’d just forgotten about me, but at around 5 o clock, the radiologist came with a very securely protected dose of my radiation. We went over what is going to happen, both while I’m here and further on down the line, before she gave me my pill, which involved opening several lead lined boxes, unscrewing a pot, fixing a pill in a tube before passing it to me to knock down my throat and wash down with plenty of water, and then she made a dash for the door, leaving me to glow in peace.
So there we are, as I write this, I am radioactive. I don’t think that I am glowing, and I can’t see through the walls just yet, but then, they said that wouldn’t happen (damn!). Indeed I don’t really know if I’m feeling any side effects yet, other than feeling tired and thirsty, which is what they said would happen. And they are usually right about things like that aren’t they? In my radioactive state so far, I’ve watched two episodes of the first series of Heroes, read some more Kevin Smith and pissed a lot, which they encourage. Flushing it through quickly, see? The time now is 20:16. I’m not really sure what I’ll do now. Maybe crack out some more Heroes. Watch that Russell Howard’s Good News, if that is on tonight, and go to bed. Doesn’t sound too bad does it? I’ll write another one of these tomorrow to see if there are any changes, but it will probably be more of the same. Not that I mind too much right now. Let’s just hope they don’t go for the tactics they had over in Bath and wake me up at 6 in the bloody morning asking if I want a brew!
Oh, and I saw the Leeds line up (thank you Emma!) and other than Blink headlining (expected) and Modest Mouse being there (odd, but hopefully they’ll be at Glasto too) it doesn’t look too inspired, so I can’t say I mind too much about missing it. That is, as long as Blink have a UK tour in the pipeline in the near future!
A week of Radioactivity
This week, I've been having some Radioiodine treatment as the second part of the cure for last years ailment. Given that I'd probably be sat around doing fuck all for 4 days, what better thing to do than blog about how boring it was? You probably won't read all of it, hell, you may not even care. But thanks anyway, enjoy!
Monday 22 March 2010
The Rather Hip Art Scene
I have undertaken a new project which has, for the most part, moved me away from here a little bit.
A couple of friends of mine, and myself, have created a Word Press account to write articles and reviews and that of music from the Yorkshire/North West area. It's going well so far, we have plenty of articles going up and more to come with every show we go to, but obviously, things can always be better.
If you know any up and coming artists in the North West/Yorkshire area that could do with some coverage then let me know. Would be great.
And while you are at it, check out the site! Leave comments and the like. I, and the other writers, will love you for it!
Ta
The Rather Hip Art Scene
A couple of friends of mine, and myself, have created a Word Press account to write articles and reviews and that of music from the Yorkshire/North West area. It's going well so far, we have plenty of articles going up and more to come with every show we go to, but obviously, things can always be better.
If you know any up and coming artists in the North West/Yorkshire area that could do with some coverage then let me know. Would be great.
And while you are at it, check out the site! Leave comments and the like. I, and the other writers, will love you for it!
Ta
The Rather Hip Art Scene
Thursday 25 February 2010
I've not posted anything for a while...
So...err...hello.
I'll post something new in the next few days. I feel bad for all my one followers who have been checking to see, well, nothing.
I was going to use apathy as an excuse, but I can't be bothered.
Arf arf.
I'm here all week.
Goodnight Seattle, we love you.
I'll post something new in the next few days. I feel bad for all my one followers who have been checking to see, well, nothing.
I was going to use apathy as an excuse, but I can't be bothered.
Arf arf.
I'm here all week.
Goodnight Seattle, we love you.
Wednesday 6 January 2010
My New Years Resolution
On my iPod at the moment, I have 5985 unplayed songs. That is starting to feel a bit ridiculous. I have 15 days, 10 hours, 37 minutes and 36 seconds of music that I haven't even listened to. It is my resolution to reduce this dramatically, maybe even fully, by the end of the year. Will it last? Will it fuck!
Tuesday 5 January 2010
2009
On a personal level, 2009 has been quite a shit year, for my whole family. Brother graduated university, but has since been in and out of mind-numbing factory jobs. Father got made redundant at the start of the year, and has only recently got back into work. Mother broke her ankle on her first day back at work in January, and later got made redundant too. Me? Well, it was all going so well, until a diagnosis of thyroid cancer spoilt it all. A month or two of prods and ‘mm-hmms’, and a nine-hour operation later, I seem to be doing better, which a kick ass scar to boot, but still, you can see that 2009 was a bit of a downer.
Elsewhere though, it appears that 2009 has been a pretty good year, with some excellent music coming out. The likes of Gaslight Anthem, White Lies and The Dead Weather emerging with brilliant albums and an exciting future ahead of them, while bands like Doves and Green Day return with excellent new albums, after a prolonged absence. One of the best albums of the year though, in my opinion anyway, would be Arctic Monkeys’ 3rd album, ‘Humbug’. With a more developed, mature sound, the band has gone from strength to strength. The decision to employ Josh Homme as producer has invariably led to misguided claims that it sounds ‘just like Queens of the Stone Age’, where in reality, there is more of a likeness to what The Fall would sound like if they were, well, good.
2009 has also been a year in which blockbuster movies have dominated. The likes of ‘Transformers’, ‘Terminator Salvation’, ‘2012’, ‘Star Trek’ and more recently ‘Avatar’ have been big hitters at the cinemas. However, it was also a year that saw the truly brilliant ‘Watchmen’, an adaptation of arguably the best graphic novel ever written, and the ever-so-lovely ‘(500) Days of Summer’ grace our cinemas too. The latter being one of the sweetest stories of heartache I have ever seen. Both of which had fantastic soundtracks too.
We have seen some sadness this year, as it seems more than the usual amount of ‘famous’ people died. The likes of Michael Jackson, John Hughes, JG Ballard, Les Paul and, well, Jade Goody, left us this year. However, the biggest loss, for me anyway, was the inevitable split of Oasis. It was always going to happen, but it still came as a huge shock to me. All I can hope is the rumoured solo projects do well, or conversely do so badly that it forces them to reconcile and reunite. We will just have to wait and see.
All I can hope on a personal level, is that 2010 brings much more of the good things in life, good music, good films, and a lot less bloody hospital appointments.
Elsewhere though, it appears that 2009 has been a pretty good year, with some excellent music coming out. The likes of Gaslight Anthem, White Lies and The Dead Weather emerging with brilliant albums and an exciting future ahead of them, while bands like Doves and Green Day return with excellent new albums, after a prolonged absence. One of the best albums of the year though, in my opinion anyway, would be Arctic Monkeys’ 3rd album, ‘Humbug’. With a more developed, mature sound, the band has gone from strength to strength. The decision to employ Josh Homme as producer has invariably led to misguided claims that it sounds ‘just like Queens of the Stone Age’, where in reality, there is more of a likeness to what The Fall would sound like if they were, well, good.
2009 has also been a year in which blockbuster movies have dominated. The likes of ‘Transformers’, ‘Terminator Salvation’, ‘2012’, ‘Star Trek’ and more recently ‘Avatar’ have been big hitters at the cinemas. However, it was also a year that saw the truly brilliant ‘Watchmen’, an adaptation of arguably the best graphic novel ever written, and the ever-so-lovely ‘(500) Days of Summer’ grace our cinemas too. The latter being one of the sweetest stories of heartache I have ever seen. Both of which had fantastic soundtracks too.
We have seen some sadness this year, as it seems more than the usual amount of ‘famous’ people died. The likes of Michael Jackson, John Hughes, JG Ballard, Les Paul and, well, Jade Goody, left us this year. However, the biggest loss, for me anyway, was the inevitable split of Oasis. It was always going to happen, but it still came as a huge shock to me. All I can hope is the rumoured solo projects do well, or conversely do so badly that it forces them to reconcile and reunite. We will just have to wait and see.
All I can hope on a personal level, is that 2010 brings much more of the good things in life, good music, good films, and a lot less bloody hospital appointments.
Sunday 3 January 2010
Top Gear is actually shit.
Someone had to say it. It really is fucking awful. If you like I'll tell you why...
In all honesty, you have to admit, cars are boring. Does anyone really know what horsepower is good to have? If a car can do 0 to 60 in 5 seconds, is this good? Considering you'd never be in a situation in your everyday routine where this would be helpful. Because you all know, you really wouldn't.
Why is watching a complete wanker (more of which later) speeding around a racetrack in a fancy car good? You'll never get that car, you'll never go on a track with it, you'll never be able to drive like that.
If it is supposed to be a show reviewing cars, why does it not mention anything of cars that people can actually afford, and that you would drive around in to go to work/do the shopping/cart various children around? Oh wait, because it would be boring (like all cars are). Instead we see whatever 'super car' go 'like a squirrel with adrenaline injected into it's testicles', or some other ridiculously stupid metaphor.
It is presented by a total prat. I really don't see what is so funny about Jeremy Clarkson. He is a stupid, arrogant bigot. He knows nothing about anything. Other than how much he likes the sound of his own voice. For someone who is a 'petrol head', he actually does not have a clue about anything to do with cars. All he 'knows' is how to hit things with a hammer, and insult the French/German - a petty disliking, that the whole nation could probably do with getting over.
So there you go. Don't agree? Then watch it, and think about all these points, you will see that I am right. I saw a Facebook group campaigning that the show shouldn't be cancelled (and as we all know, Facebook really can change the world....). I for one, really hope that it does. Because it truly is fucking shite.
In all honesty, you have to admit, cars are boring. Does anyone really know what horsepower is good to have? If a car can do 0 to 60 in 5 seconds, is this good? Considering you'd never be in a situation in your everyday routine where this would be helpful. Because you all know, you really wouldn't.
Why is watching a complete wanker (more of which later) speeding around a racetrack in a fancy car good? You'll never get that car, you'll never go on a track with it, you'll never be able to drive like that.
If it is supposed to be a show reviewing cars, why does it not mention anything of cars that people can actually afford, and that you would drive around in to go to work/do the shopping/cart various children around? Oh wait, because it would be boring (like all cars are). Instead we see whatever 'super car' go 'like a squirrel with adrenaline injected into it's testicles', or some other ridiculously stupid metaphor.
It is presented by a total prat. I really don't see what is so funny about Jeremy Clarkson. He is a stupid, arrogant bigot. He knows nothing about anything. Other than how much he likes the sound of his own voice. For someone who is a 'petrol head', he actually does not have a clue about anything to do with cars. All he 'knows' is how to hit things with a hammer, and insult the French/German - a petty disliking, that the whole nation could probably do with getting over.
So there you go. Don't agree? Then watch it, and think about all these points, you will see that I am right. I saw a Facebook group campaigning that the show shouldn't be cancelled (and as we all know, Facebook really can change the world....). I for one, really hope that it does. Because it truly is fucking shite.
I got a Gamecube for Christmas...
And it is fucking awesome. After only playing on it for an afternoon, it officially kicks ass. Takes me right back to the days of Tony Hawks, Kerrang compilation albums and New Found Glory.
I just need to decide if that is a good thing or not...
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