Life is good.
And what I meant is I REALLY want one of these this summer:
3.04.2008
I really want to do water sports!
I sit with a humble glass of Almaden Rhine.
Life is good.
And what I meant is I REALLY want one of these this summer:
Life is good.
And what I meant is I REALLY want one of these this summer:
2.17.2008
Dreaming.
If I were...
a plant, I'd be a sunflower.
an animal, I'd be a leopard. Or some kind of fast cat. Maybe a jaguar.
an object, I'd be a lamp. Imagine all I'd see?
a celebrity, I'd be Kate Hudson. Understated and sweet.
the President, I'd make healthcare and college free somehow. If other countries can do it, we can.
a money bill, I'd be $10. Not as common as $1, but affordable for almost everyone to have.
a dessert, I'd be vanilla ice cream over a fudge brownie, because it's just the right combination of hot and cold.
a food, I'd be an orange. Sweet and refreshing, even in the winter.
an article of clothing, I'd be a scarf. Wrapping around to keep someone warm, and oh so cute!
a holiday, I'd be Christmas. Warm, comforting, happy and bright.
a season, I'd be summer. Since I'm already Christmas, I figured I'd crash some waves, now.
a sport, I'd be volleyball. The only sport you play on the beach.
a day, I'd be Friday. Let everyone look forward to their weekend.
a place, I'd be Disneyland. Fun for all ages!
a plant, I'd be a sunflower.
an animal, I'd be a leopard. Or some kind of fast cat. Maybe a jaguar.
an object, I'd be a lamp. Imagine all I'd see?
a celebrity, I'd be Kate Hudson. Understated and sweet.
the President, I'd make healthcare and college free somehow. If other countries can do it, we can.
a money bill, I'd be $10. Not as common as $1, but affordable for almost everyone to have.
a dessert, I'd be vanilla ice cream over a fudge brownie, because it's just the right combination of hot and cold.
a food, I'd be an orange. Sweet and refreshing, even in the winter.
an article of clothing, I'd be a scarf. Wrapping around to keep someone warm, and oh so cute!
a holiday, I'd be Christmas. Warm, comforting, happy and bright.
a season, I'd be summer. Since I'm already Christmas, I figured I'd crash some waves, now.
a sport, I'd be volleyball. The only sport you play on the beach.
a day, I'd be Friday. Let everyone look forward to their weekend.
a place, I'd be Disneyland. Fun for all ages!
1.10.2008
There's no business if there's slow business.
Big stuff happening in the music industry.
Since I work in it, I try to pay attention to what's going on.
There's a constant fight between artists and big labels, and it's gotten to a whole new level recently which has potential to entirely change the business. It should be concerning to anyone who works in it, and well, come to think of it, anyone who is a music consumer.
Earlier this month, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, who recently parted ways with long time label, Interscope, published a blog-like report on his experimental release of Saul Williams' "Niggy Tardust." The entry can be found here: http://www.nin.com/
Basically, after following Radiohead's model of a self-serving band who were one of the first to ditch their major label and NOT join another, Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor produced and released Saul's album to fans who were given a choice to pay $5 in contribution for the hard work that was involved, or for those who didn't want to contribute, they could get it for free.
Unfortunately, Trent perhaps believed in the good of mankind all too much, and was disappointed when a mere 18% of fans chose to pay the affordable $5 contribution. Saul's album made only $141,610, which he would have to distribute accordingly to all of those involved. Had everyone who got the album paid the requested $5, Saul's album would have grossed $772,245. Interesting. I guess that's what you get for expecting the best from people. Good news: Saul grossed a bazillion times more money than he would have signed with a major label.
Only one problem with NIN and Radiohead's doings--perfect for already famous bands, but unless they lend helping hands to the underdogs, these business models virtually incinerate your average artist. NIN acknowledges this. Radiohead, I don't know. All I know is that Radiohead was charging a whopping 75-or something British pounds per concert ticket. About $150 US.
I found another disheartening article here: http://www.arancidamoeba.com/mrr/problemwithmusic.html. It's not credible and not reporter-style, but it does highlight, in detail, the extremely common contracted deals between major labels and your typical rock band. The numbers are correct, which I won't bother detailing in this blog, but the attitude perhaps isn't.
I've heard many artists say, "Who cares about the industry! Music should be free, and real musicians believe that!" I beg to differ. Usually, who I hear this from are starving musicians, who don't have anything to lose. For musicians who have already made a living off of their passion, or for music industry workers who receive paychecks to support their family with their industry jobs, it's a different story. Of course they care. And of course they want some income.
Music is consumable, right? -Just like paintings, furniture, cakes, dress pants, and none of these are free. Musicians are spending just as much time on their art as any of the other manufacturers, so why should they be any different? I hear this all of the time, which aggravates me: "X band made $3 million dollars already from their music. They don't need more. They shouldn't bitch that people are getting their music for free." Are we supposed to determine whether or not a musician deserves to make income past X amount of money they've thus far earned? Unless we're appointing a music God, I don't think that's our job.
There are great advancements due to technology, but what comes with those advancements are extreme fallbacks. Digital downloads have the potential to wipe out the industry. The only thing we're relying on here is the moral conscious of the common folk. Would you bet your money on that?
Since I work in it, I try to pay attention to what's going on.
There's a constant fight between artists and big labels, and it's gotten to a whole new level recently which has potential to entirely change the business. It should be concerning to anyone who works in it, and well, come to think of it, anyone who is a music consumer.
Earlier this month, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, who recently parted ways with long time label, Interscope, published a blog-like report on his experimental release of Saul Williams' "Niggy Tardust." The entry can be found here: http://www.nin.com/
Basically, after following Radiohead's model of a self-serving band who were one of the first to ditch their major label and NOT join another, Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor produced and released Saul's album to fans who were given a choice to pay $5 in contribution for the hard work that was involved, or for those who didn't want to contribute, they could get it for free.
Unfortunately, Trent perhaps believed in the good of mankind all too much, and was disappointed when a mere 18% of fans chose to pay the affordable $5 contribution. Saul's album made only $141,610, which he would have to distribute accordingly to all of those involved. Had everyone who got the album paid the requested $5, Saul's album would have grossed $772,245. Interesting. I guess that's what you get for expecting the best from people. Good news: Saul grossed a bazillion times more money than he would have signed with a major label.
Only one problem with NIN and Radiohead's doings--perfect for already famous bands, but unless they lend helping hands to the underdogs, these business models virtually incinerate your average artist. NIN acknowledges this. Radiohead, I don't know. All I know is that Radiohead was charging a whopping 75-or something British pounds per concert ticket. About $150 US.
I found another disheartening article here: http://www.arancidamoeba.com/mrr/problemwithmusic.html. It's not credible and not reporter-style, but it does highlight, in detail, the extremely common contracted deals between major labels and your typical rock band. The numbers are correct, which I won't bother detailing in this blog, but the attitude perhaps isn't.
I've heard many artists say, "Who cares about the industry! Music should be free, and real musicians believe that!" I beg to differ. Usually, who I hear this from are starving musicians, who don't have anything to lose. For musicians who have already made a living off of their passion, or for music industry workers who receive paychecks to support their family with their industry jobs, it's a different story. Of course they care. And of course they want some income.
Music is consumable, right? -Just like paintings, furniture, cakes, dress pants, and none of these are free. Musicians are spending just as much time on their art as any of the other manufacturers, so why should they be any different? I hear this all of the time, which aggravates me: "X band made $3 million dollars already from their music. They don't need more. They shouldn't bitch that people are getting their music for free." Are we supposed to determine whether or not a musician deserves to make income past X amount of money they've thus far earned? Unless we're appointing a music God, I don't think that's our job.
There are great advancements due to technology, but what comes with those advancements are extreme fallbacks. Digital downloads have the potential to wipe out the industry. The only thing we're relying on here is the moral conscious of the common folk. Would you bet your money on that?
1.03.2008
12.21.2007
Family
SUCKS. Especially mine (and I'm NOT referring to my immediate family, like my brother, Mom, Dad, and my new hubby). I'm talking about my entire extended family. I'm not sure why, but every time I think or talk about any one of them, I feel my blood temperature elevating to dangerous levels. Like boiling.
Well, I guess I do know why. ALL OF THEM are blood-sucking, money-hungry, back-stabbing, selfish, egotistic, lying, materialistic motherfuckers. I just wish I had the balls to say that to their faces. Instead, I sit here at my lovely desk, sipping on some cheap Merlot which thankfully, mends the painful urge to rip out and feed them their own colons.
The hardest part, though, is seeing all of them repeatedly and having to put on a "happy" face, for lack of bigger balls, which I mentioned above. If I was moving out of state, I would gladly pick up the phone and spend half a day (because that's all it's worth) telling all of them what giant pieces of shit they are. I just think they are SO self-involved that they wouldn't be bothered by it.
I've come to a conclusion that makes me happy. They can't be happy. How could such miserable, awful people be happy? It's just not possible. They are probably drowning in their own moral filth. Their personality droppings. Their bad attitude feces and their cold-hearted clots. I wouldn't be happy just for the sake of seeing other people unhappy, but I would be happy to know others are unhappy for justice's sake. And whoever the DA is in this case, thank you for bringing such thrilling justice to a group of undeserving people.
By the off-chance that any one of my lovely relatives would come across this homage, please take this into consideration: as you sit reading, pondering to yourself and stupidly developing the conclusion that 'she couldn't be talking about me--it must be everyone else,' I beg to differ. It is you. It is every single one of you with no exception.
But, considering it is the holiday season, I love Christmas and I feel like giving (something none of you can possibly conceive), you are deserving of something.
Each other.
Well, I guess I do know why. ALL OF THEM are blood-sucking, money-hungry, back-stabbing, selfish, egotistic, lying, materialistic motherfuckers. I just wish I had the balls to say that to their faces. Instead, I sit here at my lovely desk, sipping on some cheap Merlot which thankfully, mends the painful urge to rip out and feed them their own colons.
The hardest part, though, is seeing all of them repeatedly and having to put on a "happy" face, for lack of bigger balls, which I mentioned above. If I was moving out of state, I would gladly pick up the phone and spend half a day (because that's all it's worth) telling all of them what giant pieces of shit they are. I just think they are SO self-involved that they wouldn't be bothered by it.
I've come to a conclusion that makes me happy. They can't be happy. How could such miserable, awful people be happy? It's just not possible. They are probably drowning in their own moral filth. Their personality droppings. Their bad attitude feces and their cold-hearted clots. I wouldn't be happy just for the sake of seeing other people unhappy, but I would be happy to know others are unhappy for justice's sake. And whoever the DA is in this case, thank you for bringing such thrilling justice to a group of undeserving people.
By the off-chance that any one of my lovely relatives would come across this homage, please take this into consideration: as you sit reading, pondering to yourself and stupidly developing the conclusion that 'she couldn't be talking about me--it must be everyone else,' I beg to differ. It is you. It is every single one of you with no exception.
But, considering it is the holiday season, I love Christmas and I feel like giving (something none of you can possibly conceive), you are deserving of something.
Each other.
12.10.2007
Divinity
Two questions my Dad has talked to me about ever since I was a little girl: what happens after death and how can space end?
I used to stand outside at night and look up at the sky; thousands of twinkling stars, but what is beyond that? He always told me that the idea of people not existing after death and that space is not infinite were two ideas that were absolutely inconceivable to the human mind, and anyone who disagrees has a lethal combination of ego, stubbornness and misinformation.
To this day, those ideas still perplex me, and I am no closer to disagreeing that they are indeed inconceivable. There is no scientist, Pagan, or religious enthusiast who can tell me that there is nothing after death because the human mind is incapable of picturing itself as non-existent. There is no astrologist who can tell me that there is a blockade in space, because how can it end?
When I was younger, I started linking those two questions together. Space cannot end just like the mind cannot end, as the mind doesn't have the ability to imagine things as so. Humans don't have the brain capacity to understand the idea of something stopping. We are not divine.
I used to stand outside at night and look up at the sky; thousands of twinkling stars, but what is beyond that? He always told me that the idea of people not existing after death and that space is not infinite were two ideas that were absolutely inconceivable to the human mind, and anyone who disagrees has a lethal combination of ego, stubbornness and misinformation.
To this day, those ideas still perplex me, and I am no closer to disagreeing that they are indeed inconceivable. There is no scientist, Pagan, or religious enthusiast who can tell me that there is nothing after death because the human mind is incapable of picturing itself as non-existent. There is no astrologist who can tell me that there is a blockade in space, because how can it end?
When I was younger, I started linking those two questions together. Space cannot end just like the mind cannot end, as the mind doesn't have the ability to imagine things as so. Humans don't have the brain capacity to understand the idea of something stopping. We are not divine.
12.06.2007
Bitch Fights
I'd like this post to be about women, and how much more catty, back-stabbing and egotistic they are than men. Many women value themselves by how attractive (both physically and in any other ways) they are to men. All other men. I know several women, or rather, girls, that behave like this. They are constantly competing with other women to be the prettier, sexier female. And, many of them behave as though they are easy, in front of men, to get their "approval."
My question is, do they honestly believe that these men think they are special? Does having a man want to have sex with you mean you're better than the other girl(s)? And, why are these GIRLS allowing these men to choose for them? Why don't the women behave with more confidence and choose the men? It makes my blood boil when I see these girls act ditsy, as if it were "sexy" to get the attention of a man. I think it far sexier and alluring when a smart, attractive woman is able to hold a normal conversation with a man about anything, withought coming across ditsy. Do these men actually figure that these ditsy girls will be good in bed? Hmm. Now, what about the smart girls? Perhaps they have the self-confidence to be quite the star in the bedroom.
I guess I am deriving a point. The men who fall for this dumb act from girls are dumb themselves, and probably won't be any good in bed, either. I suppose all is right in the world, after all: ditsy girls will have bad sex with dumb men, and smart girls will get fireworks in the bedroom, and will have the confidence to not kiss and tell about it.
My question is, do they honestly believe that these men think they are special? Does having a man want to have sex with you mean you're better than the other girl(s)? And, why are these GIRLS allowing these men to choose for them? Why don't the women behave with more confidence and choose the men? It makes my blood boil when I see these girls act ditsy, as if it were "sexy" to get the attention of a man. I think it far sexier and alluring when a smart, attractive woman is able to hold a normal conversation with a man about anything, withought coming across ditsy. Do these men actually figure that these ditsy girls will be good in bed? Hmm. Now, what about the smart girls? Perhaps they have the self-confidence to be quite the star in the bedroom.
I guess I am deriving a point. The men who fall for this dumb act from girls are dumb themselves, and probably won't be any good in bed, either. I suppose all is right in the world, after all: ditsy girls will have bad sex with dumb men, and smart girls will get fireworks in the bedroom, and will have the confidence to not kiss and tell about it.
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