Not everything is strippers and booze and buckets of blood

It often happens that the real tragedies of life occur in such an inartistic manner that they hurt us by their crude violence, their absolute incoherence, their absurd want of meaning, their entire lack of style

My Top Tips:

Work on my story continues, at a snails pace admittedly, but it continues. Its strange watching this story evolve, I have mapped out the current chapter, and the next, although they only take up about a line each, so its not detailed. But everytime I sit down this story just kind of appears, I haven't thought it out, but still its showing up, with characters and intrigue and already I have decided it will be a trilogy, to start with, and know of a few scenes and trilogy long story arcs I will be including. Its filling in these finer points that is strange, because it is so unexpected.

12 New Commandments:
Commandment the Fifth: Be your own person.
This seems kind of strange, in a list telling you how to live life, one of the points is to ignore others advice and make your own life. I present this as the most important of any commandment. At the end of the day each person is themselves responsible for how thier life turns out. Whether they accept this responsibility or not is something entirely different.
This does not mean that you should ignore what everyone else says and go stomping off on your own path, although sometimes that's what's needed. Listen and learn from others, there is a lot of knowledge out there. At the end of the day its what you do with what you have learnt that matters. If you like something, despite protests from others saying you shouldn't, ignore them, similarly, if you find yourself doing things you dislike, but pretending to like them just to fit in, I would sugggest a change.
Its a hard one to qualify, because it is a self negating statement. Learn to live with yourself, because you will be together for the rest of your life.

These are getting harder to think up each time, maybe I should have limited it to ten. Or seven, actually five would be great.

Random Updates:

Listening to people talk about something, anything with passion, is a powerful force. The two examples I have are:
1) On Howard Stern, they were talking about a party at a pizza place. The way they went on about how good the pizzas were, as well as the company at the party. If you could listen to it and not want a pizza, you live a sad life.
2) Listening to the 1Up Yours Podcast (About games). Listening to them wax on about a game, (In this case Mass Effect). It definately put this game on my radar.

Baby-sat my cousins all weekend. Man it was fun. One is 1 y.o, the other is 3 y.o. Its wierd to see what they see as fun, the three year old wanted games that had the appearance of competition, but only so that he could say he is the winner. The games were to revolve around him winning, and if he didnt the rules were changed so he would. We never lose the desire to win, but when do we pick up the difference between a win that we deserve compared to just being given a win.
The 1 y.o just wanted me to lay down so he could sit on my chest and look at me, or jump in and disrupt what ever the 3 y.o was doing.
I think they made me sick. Damn them.

So the Writers Guild of America is on strike. From what I can gather, the writers want more residual money, from dvds and they also want to get money for 'new media' as in shows sold over the internet. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers is saying 'no dice' to the whole affair. Refusing to give any residuals for the new media and not willing to renegotiate on the DVD residuals. This seems ridiculus to me. The AMPTP has to realise that now is not the time to be without tv shows. Without new content thier cash source will dry up real quick. DVD sales might boom, as will NetFlix rentals and possibly video game sales, it will be really hard to get back some of the audience it loses.
if people who previously werent buying DVD's start to now, they will realise how annoying 'free'-to-air is with its constant interruptions. So again, the DVD sales go up, but if the ratings go down, then sponsers leave, and then you really lose money. Its a slippery slope, I think that when scripted tv does come back, it wont be bigger than ever, but rather it will face a tough few months before it has pre strike ratings. But then again people are stupid so im almost certain to be wrong.

Caught in the Web:

I have for a long time been fascinated with the original fairy tales. I think its crazy how the original stories told to children when they were created, yet are now deemed to upsetting.
http://www.cinematical.com/2007/10/24/cinematical-seven-the-horror-of-fairy-tales/

This is just .... a sign of the times i guess. Ashley Maddison is a dating site, for those already in a relationship. Its created to facilitate adultery. I find myself, although initially disgusted, now almost not caring. It is just the way society is heading, there is a market there and these people are just selling to that market. Reminds me of when my grandmother wondered what was wrong with people that they had to go online to find a partner, why they couldnt just go to the pub and find someone. That seemed like such a no brainer to me, why should your partner be confined to the people you could meet at any one spot on any one night. By going online you are able to find more people with similar interests. Im not saying that the current dating model is wrong, but from a coldly, logical stand point, it doesnt make much sense. Hell, look how many marriages end in divorce (Maybe because of Ashley Maddison, yessssssss, way to tie it all back Matty), surely that shows that the current methods are heavily flawed.

I love this story, there was a traffic incident between a guy and girl. I don't know who was to blame, but there was mutual aggression shown, and then the woman gave the 'little pinky' motion to the man. This worked, as he got so angry he threw a bottle at her car. Of course he got fined and so on.
I love it. The "No one thinks big of you" is perfect in terms of what it wants to do. It works on the best principle, hit 'em where it hurts. If they are 'insecure' this will really piss them off, which may cause them to slow down.

Just incase you watch Resident Evil and think, that'll never happen. Oh how wrong you are. I predict Zombies appear in 10-15 years. America, where they originate, is lost within 6 months, EurAsia within a year, England 14 months, Australia 16-24 months (Depending on the intelligence of the Zombies). New Zealand 15 months. I, of course, will take 50 women of my choosing and live on the moon for 20-50 years, preparing a repopulation for when the zombies eventually die off. Hmm, they will probably eat the majority of animals, so I guess eventually I will be a vegetarian, that and deep sea fish.

Top 3 Hits of the Week:
1. Bleed it Out - Linkin Park
2. Famous Last Words - My Chemical Romance
3. Head like a Hole - NIN

Babe of the day:

Scarlet Johanson

I don't have time for this, I have a rabbit to buy.

12 New Commandments:
Commandment the Fourth: Save / Invest your money.
Good or bad, money is needed nowdays. To live and take care of yourself and others you do need money. For most people it takes so long to get money, through work and what not, why would you not want to keep it, or use it to make more of it.
I am not going to outline a specific saving strategy, because they can be found ALL over the internet. Instead I am just going to say remember to save your money, learn to invest and take care with spending it.

Random Updates:

Went to the Marilyn Manson concert on the weekend. It was crazy. I arrived and saw a line but thought it wouldn't be that bad, so I went and got dinner and a coffee. Then I decided to join the line. It snaked past the Horden Pavillion, out to the street and up to the stadium. It was crazy long. But walking along it did give me a chance to see how everyone was dressed. It was a mix of people. All in black of course. Some going the whole way, huge leather boots, Mohawks, make up, all of it. Others were just wearing tour shirts and jeans. It was very cool seeing everyone getting in to it (this may be due to the fact that the majority of girls were wearing either lingerie, or short skirts/shorts with fishnets). Finally got in, bought a shirt, realised that a beer gut and a mesh shirt should never, EVER go together, then went in. Since I was by myself I decided that sitting down was out, I was going to get right in it. I managed to get about four deep to the left of the stage, right under the speaker. Waited for about an hour before he came on, but it was worth it. The concert was mind blowing, and being so close made it so much better. Especially for songs that people really got into "The Fight Song", "Dope Show", and of course, the finale "The Beatiful People". I went in thinking it would be a great show, and it was, despite the smallish stage, there was a lot happening and the majority of songs had there own set and or props.
One thing that seperated this concert was the lack of an encore. Not that he didn't deserve one (Ive never been to a concert people wanted to walk away from), but it was refreshing to see him come out and do his set, without the five minutes of an empty stage, but no house lights, waiting for the encore.
The other thing to say is that in the end, I am glad I went by myself. Going with someone who didn't like the music would have hampered the feel of the concert, and going with someone who would have wanted to sit would have made it in to a completely different concert. In the end, getting in their, moshing out and ruining my ears for the next two days was so better becasue I was by myself, not worse.
Having said that I am anxious about Linkin Park, I am going by myself again, but I'm sitting. Hmmm, maybe I could trade, or sneak down.

Linkin Park was this weekend. Man I update so regularly. It was crazy. To summarise, if you dont want to read the more extensive review, better concert, but because I was in a seat not as fun as Manson.
Another concert that I went to by myself. Doesn't worry me in the least. Got to the city about an hour before the doors opened with a mission, pizza, good pizza. Unfortunately it was at the Sydney Entertainment Centre which is in China town. Quickly abandoning the pizza idea, i looked for something. Settled on Oporto. Got inside and headed straight for merchandise. Didnt wait in line, kind of just snuck in the side, I know im a horrible person, got a shirt then headed for a beer. Got the beer, looked at the shirt, not the one I wanted. Damn Karma. Gupled down the beer, went back and lined up again. Got in and heard Chris Cornell, all right but not great. Turns out he has done quite a few songs that I know. Interlude, then it was time for the main show. Starts off with a white sheet covering the stage, three clashes of music coincide with the lights coming up from back stage, throwing a sillouette over the sheet, the first two were just of the stage (It was set up as two levels, drums and DJ up top, guitar and singers on the main), the third one you could see the band as well. A very cool way to start what would be a very cool concert.
They went through pretty much their entire collection of hits, from Hybrid Theory to Minutes to Midnight. Not just the stadium rocking hits, but some quiter pieces as well. I stood the entire concert (screw the people behind me). Just a huge amount of energy, and a great concert.

Caught in the Web:

Who doesnt love a good large scale robbery story, here are ten of the best.

http://www.wired.com/cars/coolwheels/magazine/15-11/ff_cannonballrun?currentPage=3

A great bit from Conan - An alarm goes off in the studio while taping.

There are some sites that I suggest. Mostly I stumble on these through Digg or Shoutwire, but they do provide good content, on almost a daily basis. They are:

Double Viking - A very male centric humor site, although this wouldnt stop everyone from enjoying it. Cool & funny lists & videos. Not specifically funny lists, but usually worth a read.

Cracked - Similar in the amount of funny lists and videos, although its target audience is much larger. Updated more regularly and generally better than Double Viking, much more focused on humor.

Snopes - Urban legends website. Not only will it keep you interested for months, but the forums are also full of crazy rumors and thoerys.

Right Thoughts ... Not Right Wing -

WallStreetFighter - Another blog that is updated regularly with interesting or funny articles, videos and photos.

Penny Arcade - Possibly the greatest web comic ever, also the articles are always entertaining and informative, and the podcasts are hilarious.

Digg - A social networking site, have talked about it before, users submit stories they find interesting, if they are good, they get dugg to the top. This collects stories from a lot of websites, including some of the sites listed above.

You just frigided your way out of a biscuit.

I found a list of 100 things to blog on. Not all of them are great but I will do some of them, starting now.

What I Spend Money On
Well I suppose the best way to break this down is to have recurring costs and non recurring costs, I will also include how I savce my money, just to show that I am somewhat responsible. For recurring costs:

• Two mobile phones.
• Board
• Health Insurance
• Income Protection Insurance
• Comics (I get certain titles each month so there is a set recursive cost). For non recursive costs:
• Food (Lunches at work)
• Transport (Train to & from gym)
  

For Non recursive costs I have:

• Dining Out
• Clothes
• Games
• DVDs
  
• Food (Coffee etc)
• Comics (Whenever I go to the shop I end up picking up a few extra things if I want to or not).
• Hotels (About once a month with Alana, we share the cost)
• Transport (fuel whenever i use the car)

For Investment/ Savings I have:

• Emergency Fund (this only gets a little each month, but it will build over time)
• ING Savings account
• Shares

Looking at it like this I do know where I could cut some expenses. In a year I will be down to one phone, I am on a contract I wont renew for my second). I suppose If i was to take on a loan for a house I would cut down on hotels, dining comics and games. I wouldnt eliminate these completely, but I would reduce the amount of money spent on them. As it stands I feel i put away enough each month (44% of my after tax income) to justify having fun with the money leftover.

12 New Commandments:
Commandment the Second:
Never allow yourself to be overweight. This is a polarising commandment, although only because people have taken a "if everyone else is, why can't I be?" approach to looking after themselves. Do not think of this as, I should go on a diet. Instead think I should live a healthier life, It must be a long term change for it to work. It is no more difficult to live a healthy life, however changing the way you think, changing from one lifestyle to the other could be difficult. This does not mean you have to spend all your free time at the gym. You just have to realise that some foods are once a week foods, and more importantly everyone should exercise, if not everyday, every second day. On that point there can be no discussion, you must exercise.
This commandment is not done to punish people, but to ensure that they live longer healthier lives. Do you want to spend your 'golden years' in and out of hospital because you have one of the dozens of problems associated with being overweight? I didn't think so.
Some easy ways to live a healthier life:

• Replace soda with water, or natural low sugar juice.
• Reward yourself with something other than food. Go and visit a friend, go for a walk, go to the zoo.
• Go for a 30 minute walk an hour after getting home. Get home, relax, have a cup of tea, what ever. Then go for a walk, use it as thinking time, go with a friend, learn something via podcasts.
  

Random Updates:

Cats like Fish
Big's a Cat
Big likes Fish

Thats a poem I made years ago. Its not really a poem, more like a bad exercise in logic. That might have been what it was intended to be originally. I can't remember. Big is from the Sonic games.
Another long weekend coming up. I don't have any plans yet. Im sure i will find something to fill the time *cough*HALO F'IN 3 *cough*. Yeah, I dont know, I might just hang out at home all weekend ;). Its not that I have been caught up in the hype for Halo 3 (which in my opinion has been lacking Down Under, compared to Halo 2). I ruh-heally want to see how it all ends.
You always here about unsung heros, and you're reading about another one right now. My entire life, I have been fighting a one man war against seasonal foods (Christmas Cake, Hot Cross Buns etc). Their numbers are many, but my appetite is large. Unfortunately it is rather a bleak period, Christmas still seems so far away. I suppose I will have to demand a thanksgiving lunch so I can get some turkey.

Caught in the Web:

Im sure this is old, but its just plain funny.

http://www.shoutwire.com/viewstory/104019/Secret_Societies

Reviews:

Prince of Persia Classic (X Box Live Arcade):

I remember playing Prince of Persia all those years ago. I remember vividly not being able to get past the third level, because that was where the 'splicer' traps appeared, and I could never master them.
When I fired this up on my xbox, I wasnt sure if it would still play as well as I remembered. After all there have been a lot of changes in gaming since then. Could a simple side on action game compete with interactive worlds like Oblivion? The answer is obvisouly no, but it doesn't try to. POPC simply tries to deliver an hours (Just the 1 hour) worth of challenge and fun, and on that it delivers big time.
This is a game that is easy to pick up and play. None of the puzzles, or enemies present enough of a challenge to cause someone to stop playing, but they are not so easy that you will run through it perfetly the first time.
King of Kings Recommendation: Get it if you want a quick gaming fix.

Kanye West - Graduation:
The first listen through of this, to be honest, was below expectations. This was because I was expecting something similar to his second album, with more stand out hits, thinking "Gold Digger" & "Touch the Sky" stuff that really blows you away with the beat. This cd does have some standout songs, "Stronger" obviously being the one that really stands out. After listening to it several times, I realise its excellence. The difference in the songs is strong enough to make each one stand out. Kanye uses his guests to his advantage, I love Coldplay (I own all thier CD's as in the actual CD's) but its still wierd to hear Chris Martin on a rap song (Having not heard Jay Z's Kingdom Come). Personal favourites include "Good Morning", "Everything I am", "Stronger", "Homecoming" and "Barry Bonds". Thats not saying the others are bad, thats just the ones I like the most.
The one thing that this CD really highlights is Kanye's lyrical skills. He's not quite Jay Z, and sure isn't Nas, but he is good and he is growing, especially with this CD.
King of Kings Recommendation: This is a CD that I would suggest for those who like music, not just those who like rap. It really is one of those CD's that could convert people to liking rap.


Top 5 Hits of the Week:
1. Ayo Technology - 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland
2. Homecoming - Kanye West & Chris Martin
3. Heart Shaped Glasses - Marilyn Manson
4. Will 2k - Will Smith
5. Although I dropped $100'000 - Paul Frees

Babe of the day:
Dita Von Teese - I realise I didnt post a picture last week. Correcting that now.

It is a blurred line that lies at the edge of Godhood and insanity. Guess which side of it I am on?

I bet 50 Cent is feeling pretty stupid right about now. He 'promised' to stop making individual CD's if Kanye's outsold his in the first week, and going by first day sales, it looks like he's going to have his word put to the test. In a suprise to no one, fiddy has already retracted that statement.
Staying on rap, how has Snoop Dogg been able to coast along, with this image of being a corner stone of rap, without releasing a decent song for the last who knows how long. Now Snoop has been on songs that have done well, but for the most part as a guest or with other people backing him up. I suppose looking back he seems to always be the second man, behind 2Pac, Dre and now Pharrell, Pussycat dolls and anyone else who needs some relaxed rhymes in the background.
Im not saying he's bad, he is one of the best at what he does, he just doesn't deserve the legend status that seems to be applied to him.

My Top Tips:

Get Halo 3. Its going to be the biggest entertainment premiere ever. Mark my words. This will blow Spiderman 3's opening weekend so far out of the water. Its so big, GameStop (American computer game shop chain) is firing employees on the spot if they open the boxes early. Its going to be HUGE.
Finish the Fight.

12 New Commandments:
A new feature. Like my top tips, but this will cause me to actually think things through, rather than short rants.
Commandment the First:
Drink Water. Starting the commandments off simple. Water is quite simply the most beneficial thing in the universe for the human body. The brain, skin, blood and digestive system all benefit from drinking water. Provided you don't over do it (2 Litres in 30 mins without a bathroom break would be over doing it), drink as much as you can. Even the best juices are high in sugar, and there is nothing worth drinking in soda's, but were all going to drink them any way. There is a lot that anyone can do to improve their lives, without a doubt the easiest is to drink more water.

Random Updates:

The long weekend has come and gone (Thank you APEC). Although I didn't go down to the snow, which was my plan up till the Monday starting the week, I didn't find myself wishing I was down there once.
I hung out with Alana all weekend, which as always was incredible.
I had a night of drinking with her brother, his friend and her cousin, which was one of the most fun nights i've had in ages. That night and the casino night, I don't go out a lot but each time its a lot of fun. Late night hide and seek is the greatest game ever.

If you cast your gaze to the top of the site you will see, AD's (Dum Dum Duhhhhhhm). Yes, in an effort to try and make a little money I have added Googles AdSense. Now i suppose I should just make something worth reading....yeah that'll happen.

Caught in the Web:

This is a great video, its 8 minutes long but its worth watching. Its completely inspired me to go to Africa. Some people watch as some lionesses grab a baby buffalo. I wont spoil it but ill just say there is also some crocodiles and a hell of a lot of action. Why the hell am I talking about it. This is the web of the future here it is:

Hit of the Week:

Teenagers - My Chemical Romance

Babe of the day:

Dita Von Teese