Well, it's the new year. How nice. Only a year until utter destruction.
I spent my New Year's Eve with a 2 litre bottle of Diet Coke and a bowl of onion rings in my hands and a cheesed off look on my face. Why do we celebrate the turning of one year into another? I just don't get it. I know most people just use it as an excuse to get wasted, but I just cannot bear the fireworks and nearby house parties. They give me a damn headache.
So yeah, it's a new year, so I should have some resolutions. I think I have one big one that I don't really have an option to fail, which is to do well at my exams. I NEED to do well, or I can kiss a place at a halfway decent university goodbye. I want an A in Biology, an A in Drama, an A in Psychology and anything above an E in Chemistry. I will do this. I don't have a choice, I WILL do this. To do this, I'm going to pack my Xbox away and get rid of all distractions, hopefully I actually will this time, as I've unsuccessfully tried to get rid of my Xbox and all it's stuff about 7 times.
Other than doing well in school, I want to carry on losing weight. I will not go to the chip shop near school for lunch at all this year. In the past month or so, I lost a little bit of weight, but the Christmas and New Years break has fucked things up considerably, I mean, pigging out with barely any exercise? Nah mate. Not good. I'm going to finish some coursework for school tomorrow morning and then go for a run.
...
Honestly.
That's another thing, mornings. My sleep pattern is so disrupted it's like the San Andreas Fault having a geological shit fit. I have not been to sleep earlier than 5AM in the past few weeks, and that's not out of a lack of trying. I've often spent a good 6 hours in bed trying to doze off. I've tried having baths before bed, drinking Horlicks, Christ, I'd have a bath IN Horlicks if I thought it would help. It's evil. And as a result of this, I've been sleeping in until about 1PM. You'd probably just pass it off as teenage laziness, but if you knew me, you would know I do not sleep later than about 10AM without a very good disruptive factor. It's pissing me off because it means I get less than 5 hours of daylight, which is the most depressing thing I've ever had to go through.
That's pretty much it, I want to do some other stuff this year that I haven't done, like going on holiday with friends like the normal 18 year old does, maybe start the damn vlog that I wanted to do last year.
-sigh-
I am so not doing any of this. Pass the cheesecake.
12.27.2010
Christmas isn't always shit because turkey is a great building tool
WAHEY! Christmas was actually good this year. Arguably the best one yet.
I think this year was a testament to how much I've grown up (or had to grow up, depending on your outlook) in the past year. Responsibility and bad surprises are a great tool for making someone act their age, in my opinion.
Obviously, it was nice getting presents, everyone likes that, but for the first time in my life, I actually enjoyed giving gifts far more than recieving them.Yeah, I really loved the new speakers, Costa syrup kit, new Converse, bath kit and band shirts, but giving my brother his Sonic poster and crayons or giving my Mum her Frankie Boyle book was much nicer. It's the very first year I've actually bought things for everyone, but I really liked it, so I'll probably be doing it again.
Oddly, I actually got less presents than last year, but it felt more meaningful as a lot of the presents were more personalised and thought about, like, the syrup kit is much more personal and has more of an "aww thanks" factor than an Xbox or something like that.
Other than the gifts, it's been really good, as my sister and her boyfriend came to our house for Christmas Eve, which is always fun. It was especially nice this year as they didn't have to rush off like they do most years. They live in Kent, so it's a good 2 and a half hour drive to ours, which then ties in with other visits to other parents and friends. They usually come to us first, and then have to rush to the other side of the city and then to the coast to visit some other people, but we were second to last this year, which meant they could have a really nice chat over some ham and ginger sandwiches (our Xmas Eve tradition) without having to worry about the time.
We also had some other family over for Christmas dinner which made a change as it is usually just the 5 of us. It gave a really nice atmosphere as we didn't have to descend to bickering amongst each other as we usually do. The Christmas dinner itself was really good too, as it was the first time we made it all ourself, as my grandparents would usually do the turkey and the gravy as we never had a big enough oven, but we did this year and we all helped AS ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY HERPDERP.
We had no major blow ups either, last year it was my brother calling us all cunts for not letting him do something, and the years before it was probably Dad being a prick because of alcohol. Anyway, it's been nice.
And of course, we now have sevel billion tonnes of turkey left. Let the turkey curry commence. I'm actually really looking forward to it. I may make a house out of it, I mean, they've made a country out of it.
...
I'm so sorry you had to read that.
Anyway, I'd love to know how you people's Christmases were, hopefully peaceful and not too crazy.
Right, time to plan out Bank Holiday Monday's Sale Attack.
I think this year was a testament to how much I've grown up (or had to grow up, depending on your outlook) in the past year. Responsibility and bad surprises are a great tool for making someone act their age, in my opinion.
Obviously, it was nice getting presents, everyone likes that, but for the first time in my life, I actually enjoyed giving gifts far more than recieving them.Yeah, I really loved the new speakers, Costa syrup kit, new Converse, bath kit and band shirts, but giving my brother his Sonic poster and crayons or giving my Mum her Frankie Boyle book was much nicer. It's the very first year I've actually bought things for everyone, but I really liked it, so I'll probably be doing it again.
Oddly, I actually got less presents than last year, but it felt more meaningful as a lot of the presents were more personalised and thought about, like, the syrup kit is much more personal and has more of an "aww thanks" factor than an Xbox or something like that.
Other than the gifts, it's been really good, as my sister and her boyfriend came to our house for Christmas Eve, which is always fun. It was especially nice this year as they didn't have to rush off like they do most years. They live in Kent, so it's a good 2 and a half hour drive to ours, which then ties in with other visits to other parents and friends. They usually come to us first, and then have to rush to the other side of the city and then to the coast to visit some other people, but we were second to last this year, which meant they could have a really nice chat over some ham and ginger sandwiches (our Xmas Eve tradition) without having to worry about the time.
We also had some other family over for Christmas dinner which made a change as it is usually just the 5 of us. It gave a really nice atmosphere as we didn't have to descend to bickering amongst each other as we usually do. The Christmas dinner itself was really good too, as it was the first time we made it all ourself, as my grandparents would usually do the turkey and the gravy as we never had a big enough oven, but we did this year and we all helped AS ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY HERPDERP.
We had no major blow ups either, last year it was my brother calling us all cunts for not letting him do something, and the years before it was probably Dad being a prick because of alcohol. Anyway, it's been nice.
And of course, we now have sevel billion tonnes of turkey left. Let the turkey curry commence. I'm actually really looking forward to it. I may make a house out of it, I mean, they've made a country out of it.
...
I'm so sorry you had to read that.
Anyway, I'd love to know how you people's Christmases were, hopefully peaceful and not too crazy.
Right, time to plan out Bank Holiday Monday's Sale Attack.
12.18.2010
MERRY FRIGGING WINTER LIGHT FESTIVAL. Also life.
Why would someone be offended by referring to the formerly Pagan holiday on 25th of December as Christmas? I don't get it. Our local council is actually referring to it as "Winter Light Holiday", what? It's not even a festival of lights! Diwali is a festival of lights, and that can be called a light festival, but Christmas? It's about Jesus and presents and getting ridiculously smashed on Christmas Eve.
...
Okay, you need friends for that last part, so that isn't happening for me, but that's beside the point.
It just irks me. If you're gonna try and not offend anyone, then at least take the humorous approach.
Merry Christannakwanza! Shit works.
Life has been pretty cool lately. You know that audition? I only bloody got a part. Anyone who has seen Noises Off will get this, because I'm playing Selsdon. I Thoroughly look forward to breaking into a house with a great pause.
I also made some really cool stuff for school. In biology, we were challenged to bring in biology related confectionary, the others brought in gummy teeth and stuff but I went for it big time.
Picture this, a madeira cake, with chocolate fingers round the edges and Rolos on top. What biological molecule do you get? That's right! A phospholipid bilayer! I really wish I had gotten a photo, but we ate it too quick. It even had white chocolate drops on the side for the cholesterol and the entire science department came to have a look. It was awesome. For people how aren't or haven't done A Level Biology, this will make no sense to you. In lieu of this, here is a picture of a kitten to compensate.
Anyway, it was a badass cake, and it tasted fantastic.
That's pretty much it, so here are a few more genius quotes from real life, the internet and TV that made me smile.
"I am given 2 otters doused in turpentine every time I go into Sports Direct. I thought they were slippers at first." Vic Reeves on Shooting Stars, bamboozling an American presenter.
"Well drama won't work on the gays! It's like Gaytorade, it rebalances their electrolytes!" Jenna on 30 Rock (still very addicted XD)
"NO. IT OK. DON'T BE CRY!" Liz on 30 Rock.
"It's OK, these car things have brakes, so it's fine." I think it's funnier if I don't give the context. Let your imagination run wild.
<4, it's better than <3 by 1.
...
Okay, you need friends for that last part, so that isn't happening for me, but that's beside the point.
It just irks me. If you're gonna try and not offend anyone, then at least take the humorous approach.
Merry Christannakwanza! Shit works.
Life has been pretty cool lately. You know that audition? I only bloody got a part. Anyone who has seen Noises Off will get this, because I'm playing Selsdon. I Thoroughly look forward to breaking into a house with a great pause.
I also made some really cool stuff for school. In biology, we were challenged to bring in biology related confectionary, the others brought in gummy teeth and stuff but I went for it big time.
Picture this, a madeira cake, with chocolate fingers round the edges and Rolos on top. What biological molecule do you get? That's right! A phospholipid bilayer! I really wish I had gotten a photo, but we ate it too quick. It even had white chocolate drops on the side for the cholesterol and the entire science department came to have a look. It was awesome. For people how aren't or haven't done A Level Biology, this will make no sense to you. In lieu of this, here is a picture of a kitten to compensate.
Anyway, it was a badass cake, and it tasted fantastic.
That's pretty much it, so here are a few more genius quotes from real life, the internet and TV that made me smile.
"I am given 2 otters doused in turpentine every time I go into Sports Direct. I thought they were slippers at first." Vic Reeves on Shooting Stars, bamboozling an American presenter.
"Well drama won't work on the gays! It's like Gaytorade, it rebalances their electrolytes!" Jenna on 30 Rock (still very addicted XD)
"NO. IT OK. DON'T BE CRY!" Liz on 30 Rock.
"It's OK, these car things have brakes, so it's fine." I think it's funnier if I don't give the context. Let your imagination run wild.
<4, it's better than <3 by 1.
12.14.2010
I AM FUCKING SHATTERED
My God. I am so damn tired.
I have been on the go all day. The week has not been kind really, sleep-wise. I have not gotten to sleep before 4 o clock at all since last Wednesday, despite the best efforts of Horlicks, cocoa, reading, 30 Rock and a leetle bit of vodka in said Horlicks. I have typed 10000 words in the past week in essays, notes and reviews for schoolwork, which has been a real bummer. So, the combination of working more in one week than I have all year mixed with a little bit of insomnia has really driven into the ground lately.
And no, it's not letting up any time soon either.
Tomorrow: 2 nativity performances and an essay due in. I know a nativity doesn't sound like a lot, but it's a 3+ hour fucking nativity run with lots of holding odd stances and movement. It's a lot more tiring than it sounds honest. I had one show tonight and I ache so bad.
Wednesday: Noises Off Audition which only happens if my damn bus runs on time. If it doesn't I'm gonna scream. Although, I really hope I get a part because I haven't been in a school show since 2007, which gets me down a little. I love doing school shows.
Thursday: (Hopefully) Noises Off Recall and probably lots of physical theatre in Berkoff lessons.
Friday: Chemistry exam, with a little respite from watching Star Wars in Biology. It's totally relevant to protein synthesis and respiratory quotant. Totally.
Then we have 2 weeks off for Christmas, which I'm just gonna sleep through.
So yeah, I'm gonna go collapse and hope that Season 4 of 30 Rock has downloaded.
Did I mention that my chemistry teacher looks like Tina Fey? Probably, I'm waffling. Rock Band is a little boring since my Mum started playing it, mushrooms don't belong on pizza, why were my parents drinking buddies with my friends parents? Wahhhhhh.
...
Nope, it hasn't.
See you all in the morning.
I have been on the go all day. The week has not been kind really, sleep-wise. I have not gotten to sleep before 4 o clock at all since last Wednesday, despite the best efforts of Horlicks, cocoa, reading, 30 Rock and a leetle bit of vodka in said Horlicks. I have typed 10000 words in the past week in essays, notes and reviews for schoolwork, which has been a real bummer. So, the combination of working more in one week than I have all year mixed with a little bit of insomnia has really driven into the ground lately.
And no, it's not letting up any time soon either.
Tomorrow: 2 nativity performances and an essay due in. I know a nativity doesn't sound like a lot, but it's a 3+ hour fucking nativity run with lots of holding odd stances and movement. It's a lot more tiring than it sounds honest. I had one show tonight and I ache so bad.
Wednesday: Noises Off Audition which only happens if my damn bus runs on time. If it doesn't I'm gonna scream. Although, I really hope I get a part because I haven't been in a school show since 2007, which gets me down a little. I love doing school shows.
Thursday: (Hopefully) Noises Off Recall and probably lots of physical theatre in Berkoff lessons.
Friday: Chemistry exam, with a little respite from watching Star Wars in Biology. It's totally relevant to protein synthesis and respiratory quotant. Totally.
Then we have 2 weeks off for Christmas, which I'm just gonna sleep through.
So yeah, I'm gonna go collapse and hope that Season 4 of 30 Rock has downloaded.
Did I mention that my chemistry teacher looks like Tina Fey? Probably, I'm waffling. Rock Band is a little boring since my Mum started playing it, mushrooms don't belong on pizza, why were my parents drinking buddies with my friends parents? Wahhhhhh.
...
Nope, it hasn't.
See you all in the morning.
12.09.2010
Real Science and Odd Loudspeakers: The Plan of a Good Day
Today was quite a good day actually. I got 4 miles up on my pedometer which was a very nice outcome.
Firstly, if you follow my Twitter, you may have seen a few posts about commuting, which may seem a little odd, seeing as I don't actually have a job.
By commute, I mean "go to chemistry". That sounds weirder to be fair, but it makes sense. My school has 4 students doing A2 science and a massive excess of Biology teachers (about 9). We only have one chemistry teacher, who is also my biology teacher, who only does AS chemistry. So we have to go to another school for it. The school made a deal with a school about half an hours drive away on the other side of the city, which I'm cool with because the teachers are really good and friendly and the equipment is excellent. Also, one of my teachers looks like Tina Fey which makes me giggle sometimes.
Anyhoo, today was good because 2 of my travelling companions weren't in. This may sound mean, but one of them goes to a different school that's on the same route and she get's dropped off first. When she isn't in, we can leave a lot later because we can save about 10 minutes by taking an alternative route. The other is one of my chemistry buddies, he's usually always there, but he's on a Uni open day, so he got to play with chemicals all day anyway.
The issue when all 4 of us are in, is that our taxi is just too small. Kathryn gets in the front, because she gets dropped off first. Then me, Tatianna and Logan get in the back. Me and Logan are not small people at all and Tatianna gets the tiny middle seat, bless her. This is all in a Peugeot 406. People + bags + coats in the cold = negative room. So me and Tatianna had a lovely non cramped journey, which obviously set they day up well. We also were on time for the first time in ages, as we are normally about 15 to 30 minutes late to lessons due to idiotic taxi services that don't have taxis in the area. Surely the point of a taxi is to be in my area when I need it? Nope, that would be too helpful.
So we get there on time, and we're told a) well done on being on time, and b) that we're doing a new topic. This sounds ok until the teacher says that we are starting transition metals and ligands. Let's admit it, that doesn't exactly sound exhilarating, but then a shopping trolley FULL of chemicals is wheeled into the class. We literally stare at this mass of bottles and jars, made of all these different bright colours. We were told the best way to learn about transition metals is to play with them and try and work out how the reactions work.
You know how science looks on TV, with bottles of red, yellow, green, blue and pink stuff in them? That's what we did. We made bright bottles of joy, as I called them. It really was the best chemistry less on I've had, mainly because I understood it first time around, which for a topic like ligands is very rare. I can easily do equations with mono and bidentate ligand on complexes, which sounds mighty impressive.
It was made all the sweeter, knowing that Logan had missed the funnest lesson in the year. He gloats about getting As and me getting Ds, but I know I've been a REAL scientist today.
Waiting for the bus home, I'm at the stop and a Severn Trent van goes past (Severn Trent is the area water provider, for you non Coventrians). Tatianna and I hear this shouting and we assume it's a scrap metal wagon or a very optimistic political canvasser. But no, it's a tannoy on the top of the Severn Trent van saying that water will be disrupted for the next 4 hours. All of a sudden, almost in unison, about 10 old ladies come out of their houses to figure out what's going on. I'm talking to them all explaining, as they all didn't quite get it. Glad I could help is all I could say. It was strange to say the least though, not something you see everyday.
When I get home, Mum asks whether I can watch my ill brother for a while so she can get some milk or something from the shops. I joking say on the way out whether she can get me a Burger King on the way home, knowing full well she won't do it, as we don't really eat fast food other than on days when the cooker is broken or someone has had a birthday or something. 2 hours later, she only bloody comes home with a Whopper meal for my dinner. WHAT. She said it was because I meant it when I asked for it, which I didn't, but I have a sneaking suspicion that she couldn't be bothered to cook.
Haha, joking about not being bothered, but I certainly wasn't complaining. It was a nice treat which carried on the good fortune of the day.
She also brings me home some blank DVDs. Why you ask? I was uber pissed off yesterday because I couldn't find DVDs for burn an ISO of Windows for my Boot Camp folder. She overheard and picked me some up. Aint she a doll?
Boot Camp ended up working with Steam in tow and my BluRay of Inception arrived too, so I watched that. Gonna watching it again after writing this actually. It is very good.
Basically, everything has been perfect, and seeing as though it has just turned midnight, I am claiming Wednesday, December 8th 2010 to be one of my most perfect days.
Quotes of the day from everyone that mattered:
"Sorry dear, you just walked past the taxi, he's just waiting for Tatianna" School secretary on my trajectory straight past the taxi. The woman is an organisational powerhouse and wonderful person to boot.
"This is concentrated HCl, so you'll need goggles. And if you have a cold, get a lungful of it, it'll sort you right out." My chemistry teacher on the medicinal effects of H+ ions on chesty coughs.
"Thankyou dearie, I thought he was talking about those bloody Lib Dems" A lovely old lady commenting on the loudspeakers.
"Of course I was going to get you a Burger King, it's no trouble, you asked for one after all!" Mum.
Going to a pantomime after school tomorrow, thus proving you are never too old to enjoy Hansel and Gretel.
Firstly, if you follow my Twitter, you may have seen a few posts about commuting, which may seem a little odd, seeing as I don't actually have a job.
By commute, I mean "go to chemistry". That sounds weirder to be fair, but it makes sense. My school has 4 students doing A2 science and a massive excess of Biology teachers (about 9). We only have one chemistry teacher, who is also my biology teacher, who only does AS chemistry. So we have to go to another school for it. The school made a deal with a school about half an hours drive away on the other side of the city, which I'm cool with because the teachers are really good and friendly and the equipment is excellent. Also, one of my teachers looks like Tina Fey which makes me giggle sometimes.
Anyhoo, today was good because 2 of my travelling companions weren't in. This may sound mean, but one of them goes to a different school that's on the same route and she get's dropped off first. When she isn't in, we can leave a lot later because we can save about 10 minutes by taking an alternative route. The other is one of my chemistry buddies, he's usually always there, but he's on a Uni open day, so he got to play with chemicals all day anyway.
The issue when all 4 of us are in, is that our taxi is just too small. Kathryn gets in the front, because she gets dropped off first. Then me, Tatianna and Logan get in the back. Me and Logan are not small people at all and Tatianna gets the tiny middle seat, bless her. This is all in a Peugeot 406. People + bags + coats in the cold = negative room. So me and Tatianna had a lovely non cramped journey, which obviously set they day up well. We also were on time for the first time in ages, as we are normally about 15 to 30 minutes late to lessons due to idiotic taxi services that don't have taxis in the area. Surely the point of a taxi is to be in my area when I need it? Nope, that would be too helpful.
So we get there on time, and we're told a) well done on being on time, and b) that we're doing a new topic. This sounds ok until the teacher says that we are starting transition metals and ligands. Let's admit it, that doesn't exactly sound exhilarating, but then a shopping trolley FULL of chemicals is wheeled into the class. We literally stare at this mass of bottles and jars, made of all these different bright colours. We were told the best way to learn about transition metals is to play with them and try and work out how the reactions work.
You know how science looks on TV, with bottles of red, yellow, green, blue and pink stuff in them? That's what we did. We made bright bottles of joy, as I called them. It really was the best chemistry less on I've had, mainly because I understood it first time around, which for a topic like ligands is very rare. I can easily do equations with mono and bidentate ligand on complexes, which sounds mighty impressive.
It was made all the sweeter, knowing that Logan had missed the funnest lesson in the year. He gloats about getting As and me getting Ds, but I know I've been a REAL scientist today.
Waiting for the bus home, I'm at the stop and a Severn Trent van goes past (Severn Trent is the area water provider, for you non Coventrians). Tatianna and I hear this shouting and we assume it's a scrap metal wagon or a very optimistic political canvasser. But no, it's a tannoy on the top of the Severn Trent van saying that water will be disrupted for the next 4 hours. All of a sudden, almost in unison, about 10 old ladies come out of their houses to figure out what's going on. I'm talking to them all explaining, as they all didn't quite get it. Glad I could help is all I could say. It was strange to say the least though, not something you see everyday.
When I get home, Mum asks whether I can watch my ill brother for a while so she can get some milk or something from the shops. I joking say on the way out whether she can get me a Burger King on the way home, knowing full well she won't do it, as we don't really eat fast food other than on days when the cooker is broken or someone has had a birthday or something. 2 hours later, she only bloody comes home with a Whopper meal for my dinner. WHAT. She said it was because I meant it when I asked for it, which I didn't, but I have a sneaking suspicion that she couldn't be bothered to cook.
Haha, joking about not being bothered, but I certainly wasn't complaining. It was a nice treat which carried on the good fortune of the day.
She also brings me home some blank DVDs. Why you ask? I was uber pissed off yesterday because I couldn't find DVDs for burn an ISO of Windows for my Boot Camp folder. She overheard and picked me some up. Aint she a doll?
Boot Camp ended up working with Steam in tow and my BluRay of Inception arrived too, so I watched that. Gonna watching it again after writing this actually. It is very good.
Basically, everything has been perfect, and seeing as though it has just turned midnight, I am claiming Wednesday, December 8th 2010 to be one of my most perfect days.
Quotes of the day from everyone that mattered:
"Sorry dear, you just walked past the taxi, he's just waiting for Tatianna" School secretary on my trajectory straight past the taxi. The woman is an organisational powerhouse and wonderful person to boot.
"This is concentrated HCl, so you'll need goggles. And if you have a cold, get a lungful of it, it'll sort you right out." My chemistry teacher on the medicinal effects of H+ ions on chesty coughs.
"Thankyou dearie, I thought he was talking about those bloody Lib Dems" A lovely old lady commenting on the loudspeakers.
"Of course I was going to get you a Burger King, it's no trouble, you asked for one after all!" Mum.
Going to a pantomime after school tomorrow, thus proving you are never too old to enjoy Hansel and Gretel.
12.07.2010
Music, Machines, Self and Society
I'll do this one in order.
Music
I'm seeming to branch out my music tastes a little more at the minute, rediscovering half the stuff I used to listen to as an immature little kid. It's worrying that half the stuff seems oddly shameful, yet I love it.
Missy Elliot. Yes, I used to own a CD of hers and I really enjoyed listening to it again.
Kylie was a bit of a blast from the past too, which was nice. I even used to have a live DVD of her. What can I say, I was a flaming straight, now I'm not either of those.
I picked up Janelle Monae's album too, which is greatly deserving on The Times's Best Albums of 2010 list. It's so varied, there's blues guitar, soulful vocals and piano and great soft RnB stuff. It's a joy to listen to. And Cee Lo Green is tremendous too. The Lady Killer is a great listen, which I'd highly recommend. Obviously Cee Lo led to Gnarls Barkley, which was the first ever artist I downloaded a song from. It's all still as fresh as ever, especially Necromancer, Gone Daddy Gone and Smiley Faces. I'm really glad I have gone on this kick, because it's nice to have a change from autotuned vocals and synth and guitars and double bass.
Other stuff that I really enjoyed listening to was the remaster of NIN's Pretty Hate Machine. It amazes me that Trent Reznor could have made a record 20 years ago, let alone one that sounds so amazingly modern and inventive today. Amon Amarth, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Anthrax and Cradle of Filth all got a lot of airplay on my Spotify too, especially Lord Filth's new album, Darkly Darkly Venus Aversa. It's blunt, but melodic at the same time somehow. Dunno how, but it's just such a good blend of harpsichord and growls. Noice.
Machines
By machines, I mean computers. They've done lovely and loathsome things the past few days.
Lovely things include my discovery of Crossover Pro for Mac. This beautiful piece of code meant I could load up Steam on my iMac.
What's that I hear you say? Steam is already on Mac?
Yeah, I know, but guess what? Only a tiny percentage of only the newest of bestselling games get ported for native use on Mac. Basically, I'm talking 75% of the stuff in the Black Friday weekend Indie Packs and most of the other sale items. The Pulse Pack was music game based, and had Bit Trip Beat, Audiosurf, The Polynomial, Rhythm Zone and Beat Hazard. Only Polynomial and Bit Trip work on Mac. And I had already bought Bit Trip the week before. Still got Polynomial for less than what i should have paid for it though, which is nice. I accepted this, but after investigation, it means that I can use Crossover to install Steam as a Windows program and have all my games playable! WAHOO! Audiosurf is very good, although I used to play it a lot on my old computer and I haven't tried the rest, but I'm sure they are good. That's the nice stuff.
Now the nasty stuff.
I CAN'T FUCKING DO BOOT CAMP.
I have no non ISO versions of Windows, and copied ones don't work. It's annoying because I'd install Steam on that partition and there would be no need for Crossover. Oh well.
Oh and because my computer messed up an order on Etsy, the secret Santa gift for my friend in chemistry will be late, which is bad because it's glow in the dark soap with the plutonium symbol on it. And it's smells REALLY good.
Self
Pretty weirdly, it turns out I hadn't taken my mattress out of it's plastic packaging for the past year and a half. You'd think I'd notice it but you clearly don't know me well enough to realise that I actually could be that stupid. Anyway, taking off the polythene makes a bed MUCH more comfy. And my sheets stay on a hell of a lot better, which means I'm sleeping a lot better, so I shouldn't be blogging as crankily.
Also, I'm making an effort to lose some weight, with a view to lose at least 3 stone by the end of 6th Form. Just for some reference, I am pretty damn fat. I'm not 6 foot, and my trousers are all between 36 and 38 inches, mainly because of my thighs being the same width as shoeboxes. I dare not weigh myself because I know I'll be horrified at the result, I know for sure it will probably be over at least 15 stone, which is NOT healthy, hence 3 stone. This means healthier eating, more excersise and less time spent watching Fringe, Criminal Minds and Bones. Foodwise, I'm cutting out fried food altogether, cutting chips to once a week, making my own school food instead of nipping down the corner shop and getting crisps and coke, and greatly increasing my fruit and veg intake. You know that whole 5 a day thing? I'm lucky to get 5 every fortnight if I'm being utterly honest. I'm gonna try and walk the first 3 bus stops of all of my journeys and do some running at weekends instead of spacing out in a comfy chair playing Rock Band.
In addition, I had a lovely chat with my biology teacher about my current studies.
I do Biology and Chemistry at A2 (these exams determine your university, pretty much) and Drama and Psychology at AS (half of your A2 mark, but easier). Chemistry is a no go area really, as I've never got above a C in anything that actually mattered in it. I only really took it to spite my school arch enemy, as he had to do 3 extra AS courses, so I only took 2 to win the theoretical pissing contest. Drama and Psychology are pretty much guaranteed As at AS level and hopefully As at A2 as well because I love them passionately and they are really enjoyable lessons to be in.
Biology is the only one that actually matters to me, because it's what I want to do at university, and preferably a good university. I had a discussion concerning my AS grades and how they affect my prospects this year, as they are worth half the total score.
I got a C last year, which surprised everyone, including the teachers as I had never dropped below an A all year. Needless to say, I'm retaking an exam, and it looks like I will have a very high A if mock exams are to be believed. I asked what my chances of getting an A overall would be, taking into account my mock results and what she thinks of how I'm doing at the minute. I am statistically, the best in my class by about 20% in all exams and topics which pretty much points to an A in my upcoming A2 exam. She then drops the bombshell...
"You want an A? Oh. You'd have to retake another exam to get an A, and we'll only do that if you can get an A or borderline A/B in your next exam. Otherwise it's impossible."
-______________-
I now have to work my balls off to utterly guarantee an A in my Biochemistry and Control exam, or I can kiss an A goodbye. Let's assume I do get an A in the next exam. This makes me upcoming exam timetable like this:
January Exams in red, June Exams in blue.
Biology x 5 (AS Unit 1, Unit 2, A2 Unit 1, A2 Unit 2 and A2 Assessed Practical Exam)
Chemistry x 4 ( AS Unit 1, A2 Unit 1, A2 Unit 2 and A2 Assessed Practical Exam)
Psychology x 2 (AS Unit 1 and AS Unit 2)
Drama x 3 (Written Exploration Notes, Externally Moderated Small Cast Play and Assessed Monologue)
Yeah. Lovely.
Speaking of Drama, I'm going to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Not just going to it, performing a 4 day run of an original play with a group of other drama students. Yeah, I'm crapping myself. Although, I am the only person on the trip allowed to legally drink.
You know, when in Rome...
Society
I love factual TV shows, especially BBC ones like Horizon and Panorama. This changed when Panorama made a big boo boo.
Try and guess what irked me...
"Are videogames causing addiction in kids and should we be more strict with games?"
Yeah, pretty much the whole thing. They completely biased it against the entire videogame industry, which incidentally is larger than the British film and music industry. They also have a presenter who covers pretty much every demographic area of the UK. He's a concerned black single (from what I could gather) father with a son and daughter who play videogames. He interviews clearly messed up individuals with addictions to games.
One is a World of Warcraft player who got kicked out of university because he played for 20 hours a day. One was a Modern Warfare "addict" who did nothing but play and another WoW addict who got violent when he was deprived of his sweet orc love. They completely glossed over the fact that there are tens of millions of gamers who aren't addicted and presented these people as the norm. They clearly had addictive personalities and had general lack of people skills which parents put down to the games. One mother was scared that giving her son the internet and a copy of WoW led him to being a violent person when it was taken off of him.
NO. Your son is just a little shit. Just because you are a perfectly aspirational middle class family doesn't mean you kids can't be twats. He's clearly got some kind of lack of social skills as he said he only played it because he was bored. What else do they expect him to do? The presented actually physically trolled the kid, by asking "Why don't you do things normal teenagers do? Get a job, get some friends, get a girlfriend, just do what normal people do!"
I think you'll find that this is just bullying a clearly underconfident teenager who filled holes in his life with things that could substitute friends, like games and quests.
Another gaping flaw was the MW2 guy said that his advice to other addicts was to go out and get smashed at the weekend with your mates. I'm seeing slightly bad logic here. If you feel the need to intoxicate yourself to replace something, that's not having fun. That's called withdrawal medication. If you need to be drunk to deal with a lack of video games, there's obviously a deeper seated addiction issue here.
The alcohol bit leads me on to the general gripe with society and us teengagers. We just can't do it right.
When we go out and get drunk, we get called yobs and chavs and sources of antisocial behaviour. When we stay in and do other things, like gaming and studying, we get called addicted to games and overaspirational with no social skills.
One of the heads of the British Entertainment Commission (or something like that), summed it up perfectly.
"Videogames are just vilified because people don't like change. Just like people looked down on energetic dancing in the 30's, rock music in the 50's and 60's and TV in the 70's. It will move on to something else in ten years and it will just be another thing that we got used to."
This man is smart. This man can use his breadbin instead of blindly labelling a whole tribe of people for liking something they don't understand.
Music
I'm seeming to branch out my music tastes a little more at the minute, rediscovering half the stuff I used to listen to as an immature little kid. It's worrying that half the stuff seems oddly shameful, yet I love it.
Missy Elliot. Yes, I used to own a CD of hers and I really enjoyed listening to it again.
Kylie was a bit of a blast from the past too, which was nice. I even used to have a live DVD of her. What can I say, I was a flaming straight, now I'm not either of those.
I picked up Janelle Monae's album too, which is greatly deserving on The Times's Best Albums of 2010 list. It's so varied, there's blues guitar, soulful vocals and piano and great soft RnB stuff. It's a joy to listen to. And Cee Lo Green is tremendous too. The Lady Killer is a great listen, which I'd highly recommend. Obviously Cee Lo led to Gnarls Barkley, which was the first ever artist I downloaded a song from. It's all still as fresh as ever, especially Necromancer, Gone Daddy Gone and Smiley Faces. I'm really glad I have gone on this kick, because it's nice to have a change from autotuned vocals and synth and guitars and double bass.
Other stuff that I really enjoyed listening to was the remaster of NIN's Pretty Hate Machine. It amazes me that Trent Reznor could have made a record 20 years ago, let alone one that sounds so amazingly modern and inventive today. Amon Amarth, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Anthrax and Cradle of Filth all got a lot of airplay on my Spotify too, especially Lord Filth's new album, Darkly Darkly Venus Aversa. It's blunt, but melodic at the same time somehow. Dunno how, but it's just such a good blend of harpsichord and growls. Noice.
Machines
By machines, I mean computers. They've done lovely and loathsome things the past few days.
Lovely things include my discovery of Crossover Pro for Mac. This beautiful piece of code meant I could load up Steam on my iMac.
What's that I hear you say? Steam is already on Mac?
Yeah, I know, but guess what? Only a tiny percentage of only the newest of bestselling games get ported for native use on Mac. Basically, I'm talking 75% of the stuff in the Black Friday weekend Indie Packs and most of the other sale items. The Pulse Pack was music game based, and had Bit Trip Beat, Audiosurf, The Polynomial, Rhythm Zone and Beat Hazard. Only Polynomial and Bit Trip work on Mac. And I had already bought Bit Trip the week before. Still got Polynomial for less than what i should have paid for it though, which is nice. I accepted this, but after investigation, it means that I can use Crossover to install Steam as a Windows program and have all my games playable! WAHOO! Audiosurf is very good, although I used to play it a lot on my old computer and I haven't tried the rest, but I'm sure they are good. That's the nice stuff.
Now the nasty stuff.
I CAN'T FUCKING DO BOOT CAMP.
I have no non ISO versions of Windows, and copied ones don't work. It's annoying because I'd install Steam on that partition and there would be no need for Crossover. Oh well.
Oh and because my computer messed up an order on Etsy, the secret Santa gift for my friend in chemistry will be late, which is bad because it's glow in the dark soap with the plutonium symbol on it. And it's smells REALLY good.
Self
Pretty weirdly, it turns out I hadn't taken my mattress out of it's plastic packaging for the past year and a half. You'd think I'd notice it but you clearly don't know me well enough to realise that I actually could be that stupid. Anyway, taking off the polythene makes a bed MUCH more comfy. And my sheets stay on a hell of a lot better, which means I'm sleeping a lot better, so I shouldn't be blogging as crankily.
Also, I'm making an effort to lose some weight, with a view to lose at least 3 stone by the end of 6th Form. Just for some reference, I am pretty damn fat. I'm not 6 foot, and my trousers are all between 36 and 38 inches, mainly because of my thighs being the same width as shoeboxes. I dare not weigh myself because I know I'll be horrified at the result, I know for sure it will probably be over at least 15 stone, which is NOT healthy, hence 3 stone. This means healthier eating, more excersise and less time spent watching Fringe, Criminal Minds and Bones. Foodwise, I'm cutting out fried food altogether, cutting chips to once a week, making my own school food instead of nipping down the corner shop and getting crisps and coke, and greatly increasing my fruit and veg intake. You know that whole 5 a day thing? I'm lucky to get 5 every fortnight if I'm being utterly honest. I'm gonna try and walk the first 3 bus stops of all of my journeys and do some running at weekends instead of spacing out in a comfy chair playing Rock Band.
In addition, I had a lovely chat with my biology teacher about my current studies.
I do Biology and Chemistry at A2 (these exams determine your university, pretty much) and Drama and Psychology at AS (half of your A2 mark, but easier). Chemistry is a no go area really, as I've never got above a C in anything that actually mattered in it. I only really took it to spite my school arch enemy, as he had to do 3 extra AS courses, so I only took 2 to win the theoretical pissing contest. Drama and Psychology are pretty much guaranteed As at AS level and hopefully As at A2 as well because I love them passionately and they are really enjoyable lessons to be in.
Biology is the only one that actually matters to me, because it's what I want to do at university, and preferably a good university. I had a discussion concerning my AS grades and how they affect my prospects this year, as they are worth half the total score.
I got a C last year, which surprised everyone, including the teachers as I had never dropped below an A all year. Needless to say, I'm retaking an exam, and it looks like I will have a very high A if mock exams are to be believed. I asked what my chances of getting an A overall would be, taking into account my mock results and what she thinks of how I'm doing at the minute. I am statistically, the best in my class by about 20% in all exams and topics which pretty much points to an A in my upcoming A2 exam. She then drops the bombshell...
"You want an A? Oh. You'd have to retake another exam to get an A, and we'll only do that if you can get an A or borderline A/B in your next exam. Otherwise it's impossible."
-______________-
I now have to work my balls off to utterly guarantee an A in my Biochemistry and Control exam, or I can kiss an A goodbye. Let's assume I do get an A in the next exam. This makes me upcoming exam timetable like this:
January Exams in red, June Exams in blue.
Biology x 5 (AS Unit 1, Unit 2, A2 Unit 1, A2 Unit 2 and A2 Assessed Practical Exam)
Chemistry x 4 ( AS Unit 1, A2 Unit 1, A2 Unit 2 and A2 Assessed Practical Exam)
Psychology x 2 (AS Unit 1 and AS Unit 2)
Drama x 3 (Written Exploration Notes, Externally Moderated Small Cast Play and Assessed Monologue)
Yeah. Lovely.
Speaking of Drama, I'm going to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Not just going to it, performing a 4 day run of an original play with a group of other drama students. Yeah, I'm crapping myself. Although, I am the only person on the trip allowed to legally drink.
You know, when in Rome...
Society
I love factual TV shows, especially BBC ones like Horizon and Panorama. This changed when Panorama made a big boo boo.
Try and guess what irked me...
"Are videogames causing addiction in kids and should we be more strict with games?"
Yeah, pretty much the whole thing. They completely biased it against the entire videogame industry, which incidentally is larger than the British film and music industry. They also have a presenter who covers pretty much every demographic area of the UK. He's a concerned black single (from what I could gather) father with a son and daughter who play videogames. He interviews clearly messed up individuals with addictions to games.
One is a World of Warcraft player who got kicked out of university because he played for 20 hours a day. One was a Modern Warfare "addict" who did nothing but play and another WoW addict who got violent when he was deprived of his sweet orc love. They completely glossed over the fact that there are tens of millions of gamers who aren't addicted and presented these people as the norm. They clearly had addictive personalities and had general lack of people skills which parents put down to the games. One mother was scared that giving her son the internet and a copy of WoW led him to being a violent person when it was taken off of him.
NO. Your son is just a little shit. Just because you are a perfectly aspirational middle class family doesn't mean you kids can't be twats. He's clearly got some kind of lack of social skills as he said he only played it because he was bored. What else do they expect him to do? The presented actually physically trolled the kid, by asking "Why don't you do things normal teenagers do? Get a job, get some friends, get a girlfriend, just do what normal people do!"
I think you'll find that this is just bullying a clearly underconfident teenager who filled holes in his life with things that could substitute friends, like games and quests.
Another gaping flaw was the MW2 guy said that his advice to other addicts was to go out and get smashed at the weekend with your mates. I'm seeing slightly bad logic here. If you feel the need to intoxicate yourself to replace something, that's not having fun. That's called withdrawal medication. If you need to be drunk to deal with a lack of video games, there's obviously a deeper seated addiction issue here.
The alcohol bit leads me on to the general gripe with society and us teengagers. We just can't do it right.
When we go out and get drunk, we get called yobs and chavs and sources of antisocial behaviour. When we stay in and do other things, like gaming and studying, we get called addicted to games and overaspirational with no social skills.
One of the heads of the British Entertainment Commission (or something like that), summed it up perfectly.
"Videogames are just vilified because people don't like change. Just like people looked down on energetic dancing in the 30's, rock music in the 50's and 60's and TV in the 70's. It will move on to something else in ten years and it will just be another thing that we got used to."
This man is smart. This man can use his breadbin instead of blindly labelling a whole tribe of people for liking something they don't understand.
12.01.2010
Killing Joke is awesome, working is not so, snow is shit.
I bought Absolute Dissent by Killing Joke this week. Oh my God it is utter ecstasy. I've never enjoyed every second of an album so much, Fire by Electric Six is close, but this is something else.
Other things, I have successfully ballsed up an entire classes work by not typing 3 sheets of paper. I tried distributing the stuff I typed up on Facebook, but I highly doubt people will use it.
I also did some makeup like the drama nerd I am. I basically got someone in my drama class to just let me work on her face, with a massive box of theatre makeup. She looked FAHHHHHHBULOUS. Well, maybe, she looked like what she was meant to look like, so I see it as a success.
It's also fucking tipping down snow. What the fuck? I don't want a winter ass wonderland thanks very much, I'd rather be able to actually go places, yeah?
Kids round here are real pussies though, I got hit in the back of the head with a snowball on the way out of school, thrown by a little ginger kid. Nothing against gingers, but he was, it's a fact. Anyway, I'm not exactly tall, I'm not even 6 foot I don't think, so he's thinking "Haha, look at that little fat kid, he must be like Year 8 or something, I'll lob one at him!" Keep in mind that as a 6th Former, I can war my own clothes, so that tells people I'm older. I'm wearing black jeans today and I have a longish button up jacket, so I don't think I'm clearly a 6th Former.
Anyhoo, I get hit and I take my headphones off, turn round and ask him what he think's he's playing at. He sees my trainers, t-shirt and goes "Fuck, you're 6th Form!" and runs out the school gates. I'm left there with a slightly chilly neck and a smile on my face knowing that some kid is now scared of me. Which is how 6th Formers should be seen.
Kids at out school have no respect, when I was in year 7 or 8, I wouldn't even look at a 6th Form student, but now these little chavvy shits will actively try and get a rise out of us because it's funny. They'll steal our footballs, thrown rubbish and snowballs into our shiny cared for common room and tell us to get the fuck out their way when they kick a tennis ball straight into your temple. Because walking across the playground to go to lesson makes you a pussy faggot if you interrupt their game of "Let's hurt some girls with balls and force".
I worry for these kids too, one of these days, in the big bad world, they are gonna end up pushing past a person with some kind of chemical instability and get stabbed. I'd love to care really, but I don't. It's just adding a little chlorine to the gene pool.
I also hit a revelation today, courtesy of my own mother. Mum follows me on Facebook, and up until recently this wasn't an issue, she could even be funny every now and then. Until I asked her to let me unfriend her because in the next few years, there are sure to be countless things said on there that she shouldn't know and pictures involving drinking that she shouldn't see. When I explained this all to her, I was expecting either a "What's going to be happening then? Something you want to tell me? Is this why your grades are falling?" or a "Yeah, OK. No problem, I understand".
Instead, she comes out with this, word for word.
"Don't bother, you need friends for that kind of stuff,."
And on that note, I'm gonna leave it. My life is great.
Other things, I have successfully ballsed up an entire classes work by not typing 3 sheets of paper. I tried distributing the stuff I typed up on Facebook, but I highly doubt people will use it.
I also did some makeup like the drama nerd I am. I basically got someone in my drama class to just let me work on her face, with a massive box of theatre makeup. She looked FAHHHHHHBULOUS. Well, maybe, she looked like what she was meant to look like, so I see it as a success.
It's also fucking tipping down snow. What the fuck? I don't want a winter ass wonderland thanks very much, I'd rather be able to actually go places, yeah?
Kids round here are real pussies though, I got hit in the back of the head with a snowball on the way out of school, thrown by a little ginger kid. Nothing against gingers, but he was, it's a fact. Anyway, I'm not exactly tall, I'm not even 6 foot I don't think, so he's thinking "Haha, look at that little fat kid, he must be like Year 8 or something, I'll lob one at him!" Keep in mind that as a 6th Former, I can war my own clothes, so that tells people I'm older. I'm wearing black jeans today and I have a longish button up jacket, so I don't think I'm clearly a 6th Former.
Anyhoo, I get hit and I take my headphones off, turn round and ask him what he think's he's playing at. He sees my trainers, t-shirt and goes "Fuck, you're 6th Form!" and runs out the school gates. I'm left there with a slightly chilly neck and a smile on my face knowing that some kid is now scared of me. Which is how 6th Formers should be seen.
Kids at out school have no respect, when I was in year 7 or 8, I wouldn't even look at a 6th Form student, but now these little chavvy shits will actively try and get a rise out of us because it's funny. They'll steal our footballs, thrown rubbish and snowballs into our shiny cared for common room and tell us to get the fuck out their way when they kick a tennis ball straight into your temple. Because walking across the playground to go to lesson makes you a pussy faggot if you interrupt their game of "Let's hurt some girls with balls and force".
I worry for these kids too, one of these days, in the big bad world, they are gonna end up pushing past a person with some kind of chemical instability and get stabbed. I'd love to care really, but I don't. It's just adding a little chlorine to the gene pool.
I also hit a revelation today, courtesy of my own mother. Mum follows me on Facebook, and up until recently this wasn't an issue, she could even be funny every now and then. Until I asked her to let me unfriend her because in the next few years, there are sure to be countless things said on there that she shouldn't know and pictures involving drinking that she shouldn't see. When I explained this all to her, I was expecting either a "What's going to be happening then? Something you want to tell me? Is this why your grades are falling?" or a "Yeah, OK. No problem, I understand".
Instead, she comes out with this, word for word.
"Don't bother, you need friends for that kind of stuff,."
And on that note, I'm gonna leave it. My life is great.
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