I bought a satchel bag when I was in Rome last year and have been using it ever since, but I'm thinking, maybe I should get some sort of back up. Love this one for sure.
I remember when I bought my pair of Doc Marten's in London, in the bag I found a CD, and since I was studying abroad and didn't have a computer with a disc drive or a CD player I wasn't able to listen to any of the songs until I was back in the states in December and one of the songs on there was a cover of The Buzzcock's song "Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't)" by the band the Noisettes, which I did like, but never invested more time into looking for more music by them, until now. Their music is fun and exciting, but I found out their lead singer Shingai Shoniwa is a total inspiration. Her clothing and hair is the best and I love how she performs on stage. She's always wearing these really colorful outfits and I love them all. Wikipedia has this to say about her:
Shingai Elizabeth Maria Shoniwa(first name pronounced shing-guy; born on 1 September 1981) is an English singer of Zimbabwean descent and best known as the vocalist and bassist for the UKindie rock band Noisettes. Her first name, Shingai, means ‘be strong’ in the Shona language. Critical response to Shoniwa's performance has largely been positive. Rolling Stone magazine said that "Shoniwa is a living, breathing manifestation of the rock & roll spirit, with a voice that is equal parts Iggy Pop and Billie Holiday." In her stage persona, Shoniwa looks like what the New Yorker called "an African supermodel", and she frequently performs in bare feet while wearing face paint or fur hats on stage. - Wikipedia
Pretty awesome I think. I would love to see them play live. Check out their video for "Sister Rosetta (Capture the Spirit)" and "Don't Give Up."
Totally awesome, right? Here are some photos of the beautiful Shingai Shoniwa.
Of all the bands that are "newer" in a sense (compared to mostly 70's and 80's music) The White Stripes have to be one of my favorite bands. When I first watched Under Great White Northern Lights, the White Stripes documentary, I was totally sold. I've always been a fan, but that movie sold it and I wish I had been able to see them live because they're live shows look amazing, but compared to the highest price I've ever paid for a show ($25) then I'm sure they're show would of been a little bit outta my price range. Anyway, here's a song for that documentary movie, one of their lesser known songs called "Let's Shake Hands."
First and foremost I have to mention that my grandmother is from England, so you would think that I would know the way to brew a proper pot of tea, and unfortunately that is not the case. My grandmother and I have shared a few cups of tea over the years, but she never told me if there was any way that a person should brew a tea. I just asked for the tea, she went into the kitchen, and magically she would come back with some great tea. (Needless to say I'm going to question her next time I call or see her.) So I never knew there were so many ways to brew tea until today. I've always thought that there was only one way to brew tea, you either take a tea strainer or a tea bag, pop it in the mug and pour hot water into it, let it sit for a minute or two, and bam, you've got tea, but boy, was I wrong! I've been watching lots of proper ways to brew tea videos on youtube today and I thought I'd share some of them with you. I'm currently on a mission to brew a proper pot of Chinese tea, but I suppose I need some more tea supplies to make that happen... not to mention the proper Chinese tea. Duh. Anyway, check out these videos, they're pretty neat.
(Just realized that I apparently brew my tea just like the video "How to make tea the English way" video, so apparently my British roots have shown themselves somehow!)
Original or new, I love Tron. It's one huge geek happy land of blue and I'm totally into it, as I'm sure all my readers are, which is why I thought of this new list of Top 5 Reasons, because at the end of the day, who wouldn't want to be on the grid?
Me in my true Yori form inside the Grid.
BEING A PROGRAM: Now, I know, this doesn't sound all that exciting, by the sheer fact that when you are on the grid, unless you're a user and have somehow been put on the grid, then you are a program, but being a program has it's perks too. Don't think that programs are all boring just because they're controlled and made by the users. Programs are what make up our world wide web, and where would we be without the www? Not here, reading about being in Tron, that's for sure. You'd probably be out doing something important or improving you're mind by reading some fantastic book, but more than likely you'd be sleeping or eating, and this blog is probably got a 50/50 chance of being better than that, so I say yay for the programs.
IDENTITY DISC: Not only is an identity disc a cool accessory, but it tells you're entire life history, and that means you have to remember less and less, and be able to fill that brain with more important tasks, like being a program for instance. Your identity disc can also be used as a weapon, and everyone on the grid could use a good weapon when used in...
THE GAMES: Yes, the games are deadly, but who doesn't love a good gladiatorial fight now and then? (Other than the programs who actually have to play in the games...) The games are exciting and fun, when you're not playing in them, but when you are watching. Everyone, even programs, need some good wholesome entertainment, and the major benefit about the games is no blood, so it's fun that the whole family can enjoy.When the games aren't your cup of tea there is always...
LIGHT CYCLE MATCHES: Original or new, you know that the light cycle matches are the major tourist attraction when visiting the grid. Split second decisions keep you alive or the exact opposite of alive, and who doesn't love that kind of tension? The benefit of being a program and competing in a light cycle match... well it's clear isn't it? It's bragging rights when you get back home to all your program friends and family!
CASTOR: (played my Michael Sheen) is by far my favorite Tron character ever, original and new. Who wouldn't want to visit the Grid just to spend time with this guy??
Mondays are Top 5 Reasons days, so stay tuned for more.
One thing I have to give to this author is his imagination is beyond amazing.
I've known about Seth Grahame-Smith and his writing (or re-writing? I'm not too sure what you would call it) of Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice just adding a the zombies and ass-kicking to it all. I actually have a copy of his book (signed too, by the way for a zombie competition me and my friend were in where we won second place, unjustly robbed of first place, but I'd rather win signed books than an x-box any day), but to this day I have still not read it. I feel like to read a classic (even a re-written classic) like Jane Austen you really have to be in the right mind set to concentrate on everything that way you don't loose any of the details that she adds. But, since reading AL: VH I will defiantly be reading his zombie book soon (plus I can't pass up a zombie book, can I?).
This book from beginning to end was an exciting turn of events. From finding out which famous character from the past are actually vampires (no, really, they have to be, right?) to the very end when you think you know what will be the outcome and find a twist to it all, it is a really fun read.
Obviously from the cover either you are disgusted by the blood and then consequently even MORE disgusted by the severed head on the back cover, or you're looking at it thinking, "Totally awesome!," and you're going to go out and pick yourself up a copy immediately (at your local mom and pop shop, hopefully). When I saw it I was in the, "Totally awesome!," category and ate up the entire whimsical re-fabrication of the past. I mean how awesome does the title sound on it's own?
Luckily Aaron had bought a copy of it and it was in the house, conveniently after finishing Coraline and placing the book back into the shelf the book that first drew my attention was this and I thought I'd give it a try, since I hadn't given Grahame-Smith's other book (signed copy, did I mention that yet?) a try.
In the end I would suggest this book for lovers of great fiction stories. I'll admit that in the beginning I was worried that my own previous knowledge of Abraham Lincoln and his life would be tainted and I would start to intertwine my truthful knowledge with some crappy fiction about vampires, but I can assure you this never happened. I enjoyed every minute of this book and suggest you do the same.
Also, a movie based on the book is in the works and is scheduled to come out sometime next year, and to that I have yet again to think, "Totally awesome!"
Aaron first introduced me to this French musician that I instantly fell in love with. I don't know a single thing about the French language nor have I ever had any desire to learn about the language, but his music is wonderful to me. I love the rhythm of his voice and the sound of his guitar together. I honestly have no song that I prefer to any other of his, so if you are interested in other language music I highly suggest you check out Georges Brassens. This song is titled "Les Copains D'abord" which means, "The Big Chill."
Lyrics in French:
Non, ce n'était pas le radeau
De la Méduse, ce bateau
Qu'on se le dise au fond des ports
Dise au fond des ports
Il naviguait en pèr' peinard
Sur la grand-mare des canards
Et s'app'lait les Copains d'abord
Les Copains d'abord
Ses fluctuat nec mergitur
C'était pas d'la litterature
N'en déplaise aux jeteurs de sort
Aux jeteurs de sort
Son capitaine et ses mat'lots
N'étaient pas des enfants d'salauds
Mais des amis franco de port
Des copains d'abord
C'étaient pas des amis de luxe
Des petits Castor et Pollux
Des gens de Sodome et Gomorrhe
Sodome et Gomorrhe
C'étaient pas des amis choisis
Par Montaigne et La Boetie
Sur le ventre ils se tapaient fort
Les copains d'abord
C'étaient pas des anges non plus
L'Évangile, ils l'avaient pas lu
Mais ils s'aimaient tout's voil's dehors
Tout's voil's dehors
Jean, Pierre, Paul et compagnie
C'était leur seule litanie
Leur Credo, leur Confiteor
Aux copains d'abord
Au moindre coup de Trafalgar
C'est l'amitié qui prenait l'quart
C'est elle qui leur montrait le nord
Leur montrait le nord
Et quand ils étaient en détresse
Qu'leurs bras lancaient des S.O.S.
On aurait dit les sémaphores
Les copains d'abord
Au rendez-vous des bons copains
Y avait pas souvent de lapins
Quand l'un d'entre eux manquait a bord
C'est qu'il était mort
Oui, mais jamais, au grand jamais
Son trou dans l'eau n'se refermait
Cent ans après, coquin de sort
Il manquait encore
Des bateaux j'en ai pris beaucoup
Mais le seul qu'ait tenu le coup
Qui n'ai jamais viré de bord
Mais viré de bord
Naviguait en père peinard
Sur la grand-mare des canards
Et s'app'lait les Copains d'abord
Les Copains d'abord
Lyrics translated with Google translator:
No,it was notthe raft Of the Medusa, this boat Spread the wordto the bottomports Sayat the bottomports HesailedinDad'cushy On the mainpondducks S'app'laitandtheBig Chill The Big Chill
Itsfluctuat necmergitur It wasnotliterature No offense to thecaster Thecaster Her captainandmat'lots Were not childrenofbastards Butfriendsofcarriage TheBig Chill
They werenot friendsof luxury SmallCastor and Pollux Peopleof Sodom and Gomorrah Sodom and Gomorrah They werenot friendsselected ByMontaigne andLa Boetie On the stomachtheybangedhard The Big Chill
They werenotangels either The Gospel,they hadnot read But theyallloved each other'sVoil'soutside Everything'sVoil'soutside John, Peter, Pauland Co. It wastheir onlymantra Theircreed, theirConfiteor TheBig Chill
At the slightest touchof Trafalgar It'sthe friendship thattook thequart It was she whoshowed themthe north Showed themthe north And when theywere in distress Qu'leursthrowingarmS.O.S. It looked likesemaphores The Big Chill
The appointmentofgood friends Wasnot oftenrabbits When oneof themwas missingon board Thathe was dead Yes, but never, ever Its holein the watern'seclosed One hundredyears later,coquin de sort Itstill lacked
ShipsI havetaken many Butthe only oneeverheld up Whohave nevertacked Buttacked Fatherincushysailing On the mainpondducks S'app'laitandtheBig Chill The Big Chill
