No, not really. But I am tring to expand my reader base through sensationalist claims.
Hey.
How's it going?
You new here?
You might want to check out some of my other posts as long as I have your attention. I really do hate the administration, you know.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
My Top Ten Favorite Rock Bands
1. Radiohead
While the appeal of their more experimental albums is debatable, I've loved just about everything that they've put out. It is said that Eskimos have over 100 different words for our word "snow". I think Radiohead manages to do the same thing with sorrow - every subtle variation seems to have its own separate song.
Favorite Album: The Bends
Favorite Song: Street Spirit (Fade Out)
2. Failure
Perhaps the least mainstream entry on this list, Failure is one of those bands that surfaced when alternative music was in full swing in the mid-Nineties. They possess a really unique sound - a combination of heavy guitars, creative feedback, and the unique vocal stylings of the lead singer, Ken Andrews. He has almost hollow quality to his voice that lends it an eerie echo.
Favorite Album: Fantastic Planet
Favorite Song: While I think new listeners will get a good feel for their musical style without delving into unfamiliar territory by listening to their cover of Enjoy the Silence, I first gravitated to Failure through their abrasive radio hit Pitiful
3. Tool
Dark, brooding, music. Everything about this band seems to be rich with hidden meaning. The lead singer's soft, understated voice contrasts sharply with heavy guitars while controversial lyrics hide deeper meanings, all without sacrificing satisfying musical composition. Often, I will find that I have listened to a track again and again, only to stop and pay closer attention to the lyrics and be shocked to hear what I had missed.
Favorite Album: Ænima
Favorite Song: Sober
4. Alice in Chains
It's a shame lead singer Layne Staley died of a heroin overdose, but if you were listening carefully to Alice in Chains' lyrics, you could see that coming. Alice in Chains had this interesting way of alternating between a full length hard core album and a shorter EP on the lighter side. Both stylings were absolutely great, though.
Favorite Album: While it's not a full length album, I'd have to say Jar of Flies. If I were to pick one of the full length albums, I'd go with Dirt
Favorite Song: Would?
5. Pearl Jam
I didn't really appreciate Pearl Jam as much as many of my friends during their heyday in the early years, but at some point I looked back on over 10 years of favorites, and realised they all came from the same band.
Favorite Album: Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991 - 2003. Like I said, it was a over a decade before I began to appreciate them. By that point, I could get all of my favorites.
Favorite Song: Corduroy
6. Ozzy Osbourne
After I got old enough to look past the false associations between Ozzy Osbourne and devil worship, Ozzy had already come and gone from the mainstream. Still, I was surprised to find how many of his songs I'd loved without knowing it. I know Sabbath came first, but I've liked the solo stuff better.
Favorite Album: The Essential Ozzy Osbourne. Another collection. I don't feel like I'm cheating.
Favorite Song: Mr. Crowley, although I remember trying to convince my Mom that there was a song about Perry Mason.
7. Modest Mouse
They've got this fresh indie feel to them that's kind of like a rock/folk mix that makes me smile. I have a feeling though, that any description I could come up with insult the hardcore fans of this band.
Favorite Album: Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Favorite Song: Although Float On was the hit that brought the band to my attention, I've come to really like Cowboy Dan for it's title character's views on life.
8. Foo Fighters
I took to Foo Fighters more easily than I did to Nirvana, which I find surprising. Perhaps it's the lighter tone, I don't know. There certainly seems to be more energy in their music, whether that's happy energy or angry energy.
Favorite Album: Foo Fighters (self-titled)
Favorite Song: Exhausted, the last track on the aforementioned album. Great use of feedback and static.
9. Rush
Familiar story by now. Great band comes to my attention decades after their prime. Unique vocals on the lead singer. Some great guitar riffs.
Favorite Album: Rush Chronicles. You wait long enough, they put all the hits on a two-disc set!
Favorite Song: Subdivisions
10. Filter
A long time ago, when alternative music was still big, this band used to be at the top of my list. I guess I'm not as angry as I used to be.
Favorite Album: Short Bus
Favorite Song: Hey Man, Nice Shot
While the appeal of their more experimental albums is debatable, I've loved just about everything that they've put out. It is said that Eskimos have over 100 different words for our word "snow". I think Radiohead manages to do the same thing with sorrow - every subtle variation seems to have its own separate song.
Favorite Album: The Bends
Favorite Song: Street Spirit (Fade Out)
2. Failure
Perhaps the least mainstream entry on this list, Failure is one of those bands that surfaced when alternative music was in full swing in the mid-Nineties. They possess a really unique sound - a combination of heavy guitars, creative feedback, and the unique vocal stylings of the lead singer, Ken Andrews. He has almost hollow quality to his voice that lends it an eerie echo.
Favorite Album: Fantastic Planet
Favorite Song: While I think new listeners will get a good feel for their musical style without delving into unfamiliar territory by listening to their cover of Enjoy the Silence, I first gravitated to Failure through their abrasive radio hit Pitiful
3. Tool
Dark, brooding, music. Everything about this band seems to be rich with hidden meaning. The lead singer's soft, understated voice contrasts sharply with heavy guitars while controversial lyrics hide deeper meanings, all without sacrificing satisfying musical composition. Often, I will find that I have listened to a track again and again, only to stop and pay closer attention to the lyrics and be shocked to hear what I had missed.
Favorite Album: Ænima
Favorite Song: Sober
4. Alice in Chains
It's a shame lead singer Layne Staley died of a heroin overdose, but if you were listening carefully to Alice in Chains' lyrics, you could see that coming. Alice in Chains had this interesting way of alternating between a full length hard core album and a shorter EP on the lighter side. Both stylings were absolutely great, though.
Favorite Album: While it's not a full length album, I'd have to say Jar of Flies. If I were to pick one of the full length albums, I'd go with Dirt
Favorite Song: Would?
5. Pearl Jam
I didn't really appreciate Pearl Jam as much as many of my friends during their heyday in the early years, but at some point I looked back on over 10 years of favorites, and realised they all came from the same band.
Favorite Album: Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991 - 2003. Like I said, it was a over a decade before I began to appreciate them. By that point, I could get all of my favorites.
Favorite Song: Corduroy
6. Ozzy Osbourne
After I got old enough to look past the false associations between Ozzy Osbourne and devil worship, Ozzy had already come and gone from the mainstream. Still, I was surprised to find how many of his songs I'd loved without knowing it. I know Sabbath came first, but I've liked the solo stuff better.
Favorite Album: The Essential Ozzy Osbourne. Another collection. I don't feel like I'm cheating.
Favorite Song: Mr. Crowley, although I remember trying to convince my Mom that there was a song about Perry Mason.
7. Modest Mouse
They've got this fresh indie feel to them that's kind of like a rock/folk mix that makes me smile. I have a feeling though, that any description I could come up with insult the hardcore fans of this band.
Favorite Album: Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Favorite Song: Although Float On was the hit that brought the band to my attention, I've come to really like Cowboy Dan for it's title character's views on life.
8. Foo Fighters
I took to Foo Fighters more easily than I did to Nirvana, which I find surprising. Perhaps it's the lighter tone, I don't know. There certainly seems to be more energy in their music, whether that's happy energy or angry energy.
Favorite Album: Foo Fighters (self-titled)
Favorite Song: Exhausted, the last track on the aforementioned album. Great use of feedback and static.
9. Rush
Familiar story by now. Great band comes to my attention decades after their prime. Unique vocals on the lead singer. Some great guitar riffs.
Favorite Album: Rush Chronicles. You wait long enough, they put all the hits on a two-disc set!
Favorite Song: Subdivisions
10. Filter
A long time ago, when alternative music was still big, this band used to be at the top of my list. I guess I'm not as angry as I used to be.
Favorite Album: Short Bus
Favorite Song: Hey Man, Nice Shot
Porn Sword?
Don't click on this link... yet:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/22/porn.sword.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
At work today, I received this link in an instant message from a coworker that will remain nameless. As is the case with every link I'm sent, I scan the URL real quick to determine what kind of link I'm going to, a whether or not this is something I should go check out at work.
Immediately, something jumps out at me. You probably see it too.
porn.sword
Now, I think to myself, what the hell could this be about? I look at the domain - it's CNN. It must be a real news, then. And it must be appropriate because CNN is not exactly known for it's inappropriate content.
So, I invite you to do the same. Ponder the ineffable mystery of the porn sword. What do you think this story is about? Open your mind and let it wander ... where does it lead you?
Take another minute...
OK. Click on the link.
Read.
Not quite what you expected, was it? Funny, of course, but likely way different from what you had in mind. What kind of story did you envision? Please feel free to comment.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/22/porn.sword.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
At work today, I received this link in an instant message from a coworker that will remain nameless. As is the case with every link I'm sent, I scan the URL real quick to determine what kind of link I'm going to, a whether or not this is something I should go check out at work.
Immediately, something jumps out at me. You probably see it too.
porn.sword
Now, I think to myself, what the hell could this be about? I look at the domain - it's CNN. It must be a real news, then. And it must be appropriate because CNN is not exactly known for it's inappropriate content.
So, I invite you to do the same. Ponder the ineffable mystery of the porn sword. What do you think this story is about? Open your mind and let it wander ... where does it lead you?
Take another minute...
OK. Click on the link.
Read.
Not quite what you expected, was it? Funny, of course, but likely way different from what you had in mind. What kind of story did you envision? Please feel free to comment.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
My Dark Master
Since I have begun playing The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the Wii, I have come to accept a new master in my life.
Her name is Midna. I met her soon after I began playing the game. After a short introduction where I was introduced to my life as a ranch hand, I was ambushed by some sort of goblin, knocked unconscious, and sucked into a dark realm of some sort, where I turned into a wolf. Here is a video of our encounter:
She floats through the air, and speak in a sort of hollow gibberish that I can understand. She teases me mercilessly, she promises that she will help me escape my wolf form and rescue my friends if I will only accept that I am now her bitch.
Which I accept.
And then she proceeds to ride me like the jackass I am.
I do what she says, I go where she tells me. I listen to her make fun of me and tell me I should be smart enough to figure out this part by myself. Obediently, I obey her every whimsical beck and call while she yawns and stretches out on my back.
What a fascinating character! I have grown quite fond of Midna throughout the course of my adventures. The way you interact with her through the story is like being led by the nose by a very powerful, dark, spoiled, mischievous and playful little child.
I can never quite shake the feeling that her intentions don't have a sinister edge to them, but she does help me out quite a bit in return. When the way forward is not clear, she glides forward to show me places to jump where I can find sure footing. After a while, all the taunting and "You gotta do what I say" drops off a bit and it feels like a strange buddy flick - the stoic hero and the dark child partnered up to save the world.
I feel like I am following her lead but also that I am her guardian at the same time. She reacts with fascination at events that don't seem to phase me.
You may be thinking, the first person perspective is a little much for a blog post about a character in a video game, but if you know me well enough by now, you'll know that I take these things very seriously. I like to completely immerse myself in each gameplay experience, and little touches like this are what makes the difference between a fun game that I pick up and play and put away and a game that I remember years later like a favorite bedtime story.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Wiiblogging
This post is being written from within my wii, with my little wiimote.
Using beta version of Opera browser for Wii.
Blogger's default editor won't work here so I'm manually editing HTML.
Slow?
Yes.
Painful?
Yes.
Freakin' sweet anyway?
Hell, yeah.
Using beta version of Opera browser for Wii.
Blogger's default editor won't work here so I'm manually editing HTML.
Slow?
Yes.
Painful?
Yes.
Freakin' sweet anyway?
Hell, yeah.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Let this day be forever hallowed across the land...
... for this day, my Wii has come home.
Of late, my otherwise peaceful slumber has been disturbed by fevered dreams, to which I rise with a start, bathed in sweat and wild-eyed, gasping as I hear myself utter, only with a ghost of a breath:
"Wii."
Now, the time for jubilation has come! It is finally here! My very own.
My... precious.
Now, if only the big screen wasn't being repaired at the moment, I'd really have some fun.
Of late, my otherwise peaceful slumber has been disturbed by fevered dreams, to which I rise with a start, bathed in sweat and wild-eyed, gasping as I hear myself utter, only with a ghost of a breath:
"Wii."
Now, the time for jubilation has come! It is finally here! My very own.
My... precious.
Now, if only the big screen wasn't being repaired at the moment, I'd really have some fun.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Words fail me...
I don't think I've seen anything more beautiful in my entire life.
Words fail me.
Reno thinks it's retarded, but I cried a little. This kind of vision is what all men should aspire to.
Words fail me.
Reno thinks it's retarded, but I cried a little. This kind of vision is what all men should aspire to.
New domain!
Just a quick note. This blog is now hosted at http://www.rabbert.com. Anyone tired of remembering the old address can remember this simple domain. Hooray!
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