Long Week

While I celebrated my spring break this week by working all five days. Yeah, I know.
I know some of you may have been anxiously awaiting my journal about the Memory Championships, well I did not make the afternoon so it would not have been very interesting. I will post more details when I can but I have been actually very busy this week and really haven't had the time to post. I wanted to put something up though. Hopefully next week I can post up a couple things. I also have a very interesting story that made me laugh out loud as I was telling it. It is quite embarresing but it is too good not to post. I will post that soon.
But for now I am heading down to AC for St. Patty's Day party and gambling tomorrow. I am very excited. The clock can't tick the last half hour of my day away fast enough. So check back next week for more updates.

Things of Note

So this Saturday is the USA Memory Championships. I have to be there at 8AM and hopefully will be competing till around 5:30PM. I previously said it would be broadcast live on HDnet which is owned by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. However, I was just informed due to some satillite issues they will be taping the event and running the tape on April 11th. I will keep everyone updated on that as I find out what is going on.
All that being said I plan on keeping some kind of running journal of the event and will post it up here if I find it to be mildly interesting. So look for that.

An interesting story: I got a call yesterday and the first thing I heard was "This is not a sales call; don't hang up" so this intrigued me and I stayed on the line for a couple more seconds at which point I realized it was a sales call. At this point I said, "You are a liar, this is a sales call." The caller responded "No it's not a sales call, don't hang up." And I hung up.
Not amused? While I am, of course I am very easily amused.

Couple Music Related Notes

Some music news and other related music stuff that probably only interests me:

I went to Best Buy yesterday and picked up 2 CDs. Strangely enough, both were re-issues. I picked up the re-issue of Say Anything's "... is a Real Boy." It is the original release with a bonus disc "...was a Real Boy." The bonus disc has seven fairly solid songs. I haven't given all of them a full listen yet, but it starts off with an amazing song "Wow, I Can Be Sexual Too." It is a song about phone sex, and it is damn catchy. And on top of all that goodness it was produced by Ariel Rechtshaid of the now defunct band "The Hippos". It was only 12 bucks for 20 songs, great deal, I strongly suggest it.
The second CD I picked up was Streetlight Manifesto's interpretation of "Keasbey Nights". Some of you may know that the band Catch-22 released "Keasbey Nights" in 1998. Well after the release of that classic album the band mostly disintegrated. I am not sure of the whole story, but the members that left Catch-22 formed a new super-ska band Streetlight Manifesto. And apparently SM had often been asked to play songs from "Keasbey Nights" and they would always decline however they finally put out the album. It sounds very similar to Catch-22's original release, especially because it is the same singer. Some of the verses changed slightly as well as the guitar work. The drums are amazingly stellar. However, it is extremely similar to the original release. If you are a big fan of Catch-22 or Streetlight Manifesto I would suggest picking it up otherwise just listen to the original.

In other news, I just found out that The Early November's upcoming triple disc "The Mother, the Mark, the Path" is going to be delayed... and perhaps delayed a long time. TEN did suggest it is possible an "accidental leak" could happen soon.
Also, I got my hands on the new Taking Back Sunday 4-song sampler and I am very excited for the new album. April 25th can't come soon enough.

That is it for now I think. I got a couple more updates coming so keep checking back.

Things On My Mind

I have some stuff on my mind, and felt like posting, so here I am.

"Crash" won best picture last night. I have been saying all along that Crash is not as good as the hype and I still feel this way. I felt the racism issue was definitely too forced. There was some excellent scenes, and amazing acting but the movie as a whole left me, well, feeling like it wasn't that good of a movie. I feel that people have become fascinated with the movies utilizing non-linear storylines and the intermingling of a multitude of them. Then at the end it all ties together and the audience feels like they just watched a very deep and thoughtful movie and they understood everything. In reality, the way it is done in Crash is shoddy with an over the top message being beaten into our skulls. All in all, I thought Crash was okay, but definitely not Oscar-worthy.

In other news, Pat Tillman's death is being re-investigated. Some higher level officials feel that Tillman's death was a result of negligent homicide. Now, I have two feelings about this, first off, when I heard that it was friendly fire that killed Pat Tillman the first thing I thought was "Isn't that negligent homicide?". And secondly, and by no means to I mean to demean the death of a brave American hero, who sacrificed a lifestyle that many dream of to defend this nation, but if this was any other soldier, would the American public be making such a big deal? In my opinion to keep the investigation going is a waste of resources.

Some other things that might only interest me:
1) I managed to spill my drink before, but somehow the only place that got wet, was a small spot on my forehead. I am not sure how this is even physically possible.

2) I was processing an application for a person who's name was Andrew Jackson. I was than saddened to see a personal check attached instead of a wad of twenty dollar bills.

3) I picked up Coke's new soda "Vault". I was curious and I am still drinking it. It tastes very similar to "Surge" which was released several years ago and tastes very similar to Mountain Dew. It is supposed to kick like an energy drink, but I don't feel energized at all. And there are no ingredients from energy drinks in here, I think they just kicked up the caffeine levels.

4) And lastly, at least for now: Arrested Development is getting closer to getting picked up by Showtime. It was reported by several media outlets that the show was in fact picked up, but it is just rumors at this point, I will report any updates as I come across them.

Bonus: 5) Two hours of 24 tonight. I am excited. Last week's episode was very intense.


And if there is anybody out there reading and wants me to write about anything just leave me a comment.

Top Ten.

So, I was really bored at work and realized I haven't posted to my blog in awhile. Approximately one week to be exact. Yeah think about that last phrase, I know I am. Anywho I figured I would redo my top ten bands list from last week that got destroyed somehow, it was so depressing. So here it is my:
Top Ten Bands

10) The Starting Line: Great band that makes great pop-punk. I have seen them live 7 times which is more than any other band. Released a solid pop-punk album in "Say It Like You Mean It" then evolved into a mature rock band with their latest "Based on a True Story". They are set to record a new album in two months and I am anxious to see where their next album will take them.
Songs to Check Out: Artistic License, Ready, Given the Chance, Best of Me

9) Don't Look Down: Like the Starting Line, started as a PA pop-punk band and really evolved with their last effort "The Fear in Love". Beautiful dueling guitars throughout and hooks galore, it is a shame they haven't released anything since.
Songs to Check Out: Fast Forward, Last Breath, Follow

8) 311: 311's S/T was the first CD I ever bought and it is still one of my favorite albums. They have produced a series of solid CD's since then but nothing with the mainstream success. If nothing else they are awesome for putting on a huge concert on March 11th in New Orleans (their hometown) every year to celebrate 311 day. Thier 2004 concert is on DVD. You should pick it up. It contains over 64 tracks. Yeah that is nuts.
Songs to Check Out: Flowing, You Wouldn't Believe, DLMD, Livin' and Rockin'

7) Less Than Jake/Reel Big Fish: I really couldn't decided which of these bands to leave off the list, so they both make it. Both of these bands I first started listening to Sophomore year in HS and really got into with the ska movement. Both of these bands have survived by evovling into a more straight out rock and roll act. And amazing live shows for both bands.
Songs to Check Out(LTJ): Automatic, Johnny Quest Thinks We're Sellouts, Short Fuse Burning
Songs to Check Out(RBF): Beer, Dateless Losers, The Setup (You Need This)
6) Say Anything: Max Bemis who wrote and recorded everything on his debut full length album "...Is A Real Boy" except the drums, did this whole album when he was only 18 years of age. Now, at 20 and recently out of a mental institution Max is going on tour and I can't wait to catch Say Anything in all it's glory. He is able to mix crunching guitars with beautiful harmonies and powerful melodies and his lyrics are so brutally honest you can feel it. The vocals drip with emotion from the second the album stops. The only reason Say Anything is not higher up on the list is they have only released one album.
Songs to Check Out: Alive With The Glory of Love, Admit It!, Wow, I can be Sexual Too, Belt, I Want to Know Your Plans

5) Taking Back Sunday: They are so high on my list mainly on the power of their debut album "Tell All Your Friends". Unfortunetly, they had some band issues and ended up losing two original members. Their new music I still enjoy greatly, and can't wait for their new album in April, but it is not the same. However, TAYF is more than enough to get them to #5 on my list.
Songs to Check Out: Cute Without the "E" (Cut from the Team), Great Romances of the 20th Century, Little Devotional, Timberwolves in New Jersey, The Union

4) Zebrahead: To the band that is huge in Japan. I am not really sure why they are not bigger over here in the US. But they make great rock and roll music with some sweet vocals laid over the top. One of the first bands I ever heard to utilize the dual vocalists. Also, the first and only band I know to have a music video on Playboy.
Songs to Check Out: Playmate of the Year, What's Going On? Hello Tomorrow, Into You

3) Jimmy Eat World: I have only recently gotten really into these guys but they make amazing music. I know most of you know them from everyone's favorite overplayed hit "The Middle" but their music is fairly different from that radio-friendly hit. Another band I can listen to all of their CDs all the way through to. JEW comes in at #3 not only for their amazing music but also for the longetivity. They have been making music for almost as long as the #2 band on this list.
Songs to Check Out: Lucky Denver Mint, Cautioners, Futures, Goodbye Sky Harbor

2)Blink 182: I am sure most of you have heard of this trio. Unfortunetly they are indefinite hiatus, and I don't know if I will ever be able to enjoy thier live show again because of the animosity that exists between Mark and Tom. Very sad indeed. But these guys paved the way for punk rock to move into the new millenium in the mainstream. They were my favorite band until #1 came along and knocked them off.
Songs to Check Out: Dammit, Here's Your Letter, Stockholm Syndrome, Every Time I Look for You, M+M's, Wasting Time

1) New Found Glory: My favorite band, as soon as I popped thier S/T into my car I knew I was hooked. That CD single-handedly kicked me out of my rap/hip-hop phase. I can listen to all their CDs all the way through. There really isn't any of their songs that I will skip if it comes up. Best pop-punk band of all-time. They are the yard stick by which all future pop-punk bands are measured.
Songs to Check Out: Better Off Dead, Truth of My Youth, 3rd and Long, At Least I'm Known for Something