"Safer Communities Together"

Well this new youtube hit has a kiwi cop using a bit of humor to warn a young man going to get a pie at the BP station in the early morning.
The use of the NZ police slogan "Safer Communities Together" was used very well.

Enjoy and remember ALWAYS BLOW ON YOUR PIE

All Blacks Shine In The Land Of The RIsing Sun

This afternoon as everyone was thinking the All Blacks cleaned up the Bledisole Cup 4-0 over a lackluster Wallabies side.

The game that was played in Tokyo as a match to hopefully spread the international game into Asia.

The game was mainly a warm up test for the end of season tour into the Northern Hemisphere but with each tran-tasman battle there was no love loss.

Both sides fielding a nearly full strength sides although some of the Australian's were out with injuries because they are all big pussies.

After a close first half which ended 13-16 to the australians the All Blacks rose to the challenge as they always do playing their best football when they needed it. A clinical perfect kicking game from Dan Carter secured the game which finished

32-19 To The Mighty All Blacks.

The Prodigy Video Part One

If you like the previous video of The Prodigy rocking out at the Rock am Ring heres the link to the first part which really shows how many people were shoved into the arena.

Its also nice to see the whole crowd jumping and the few groups of people starting a proper pit in a DANCE music show

Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaxZPP-lRN0&feature=related

Words From John

"Its Like I'm in the fourth dimension, and somebody is asking me to describe it verbally. and thats what the fourth dimension is all about, no words, no symbols, no images, all pure real energy and vibrations. And if i thought about how cruel the world this is, i would probably just commit suicide after a while if thats what i spent my energy thinking about. I would definitely not having any strength left to create music" J. Frusciante

The Germans & The Scottish Do It The Best By Far

One of the best known music festivals in Europe and the world being the German Rock am Ring being held every year or so. This concert draws in many thousands probably within the hundred thousands each year.

This year they welcomed back the Scottish pioneer's of dance music "The Prodigy" and they didn't disappoint with an amazing set including all their old and new hits.

This video although long and will take a while for some of you to load (looking at you Brandon) is absolutely amazing to see both the band with amazing lighting and the hundreds of thousands of Germans going off.

Just imagine what it would have been like right in the middle of that crowd.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkeLw_Sre-g

Its a must watch, it gave me goosebumps

Getting In Touch With The Red Neck Within Me

Well in this part of Expanding your octaves with James Hastings, we are going down south, where people like to sit on their porch with a shotgun, like to pick cotton and incest is not frowned upon.

Yes thats right bluegrass.

Now i've been listening to quite a bit of bluegrass lately especially Hayseed Dixie that plays some really cool covers of songs. I know this genre of music isn't for everyone and can come really annoying but while listening to one of their albums i came across something miguel and conrad will enjoy. They do a bluegrass cover of I Believe in A Thing Called Love.

I find it very cool and quite funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AocdvOAEeFM

My Back And Its Amazing Adventure

Well as i know everyone at school today would have done absolutely nothing except cry in the corner because I wasn't there.

I was planing to come to school today, that plan was crushed this morning when i couldn't get out of bed without causing myself a lot of pain and discomfort. Then when it came to walking and moving my body my back didn't think that was a good idea either so i just took some painkillers and went back to bed with a heat pack on my back.

This evening i went to the physio as my back hadn't got much better through the day and it turns out after a session of the physio managing to find the points that hurt a lot and keep poking them and a small session of electroshock therapy.

He told me that i had damaged the muscle that connects my ribs to my pelvis badly causing pulling and deep spasms and extreme pain.

So hopefully tomorrow i will be back at school unless my back stiffens up again tonight as i'm back at the physio tomorrow afternoon.

WJCC Vs Whitfords Week 1

This morning marked the start of the regular season of the 56 over form of the game.

This game we were playing Whitfords, who knocked us out last year, in the semi-final. So we were out for revenge and hopefully a better result than last week. The main difference this year is that we are playing turf (like you see on the TV, but not that good) instead of astro-turf like usual. This meant playing cricket takes a whole different approach. For one you have to wear spikes when bowling to stop yourself sliding across the cress and if you fall over its painful trust me. Also unlike astro-turf, turf can have uneven bounce that can fool the batsmen but at the same time when the ball hits the ground it loses some of it pace more than it does on concrete. So overall it works out pretty even to both sides but you have to change the way you bowl and the way you bat and set your fields etc.

So back to the game...

Turns out we were bowling first, i didn't mind either way as i looked like it was going to be a clear day and the only weather was a strong breeze pushing across the pitch. I opened the bowling, hesitantly as the pitch was very soft underfoot once you got past the rock hard cap and i didn't trust my spikes completely. I bowled well in my first spell without reward with both batsmen playing themselves in and building a platform. After my first 5 overs i had gone for just around 17 or so runs which was good. Unfortunately the batsmen continued their slow scoring with one of our first chances just dropping short of myself at short cover by about 5cm or less.

Finally we made a breakthrough with a good caught and bowled from Matt that got our heads up again, and with cricket you get one wicket, you usually get 2 as they normally fall in pairs.

The next breakthrough came when Michael bowled the inform batsmen. Only a few overs later the next wicket came with help from yours truley. Bowled by Mickey once again, the ball was pushed firmly through the covers slightly in the air. To the amaze of my team and most of all myself i managed to get down low and dive to the left and hang on, to the ball that was only a foot off the ground at the most and to my left.

The next wicket came shortly after when Michael picked up his 3rd wicket and by then it was time for the second drinks break and a well deserved rest. The team was in a good position especially after Whitfords managed to get such a good start.

The last session was an eventful one, as i became a ball magnet which i didn't really want at all. The last session saw me drop a relatively easy catch that i should and would have taken any other day to my left. The last session also brought 2 wickets for our leg spinner Ras who bowled well, especially to Koby who was aiming to tee-off.

As the game came close to the end, around 15 overs to go. I was brought back into bowl my second and final spell, my aim in this spell was not to try to take wickets although that would be nice to but to slow the scoring down and try to build pressure so the batsmen would make a mistake. I was in my third over of my spell when i accidently pulled on too short while i was trying to bowl a cutter. The batsmen saw this mistake and pulled it straight out of the middle of the bat, but straight to the square leg fieldsmen which took a good catch, which brought up my first wicket of the season. That was the last ball of my over so i didn't get to bowl to the new batsmen being Mehul.

So my next over, captain and i had a plan for Mehul because he is a very quick bowler and likes to bowl a fair few bouncers, but the thing about cricket is that cricketers have long memories and if you dish it out, your going to get it back. So first ball he faced i bowled a bouncer which wasn't the greatest but it did its job as it tempted him into the pull which he just popped up for a simple catch to Ras. So he got a first ball duck which i found very amusing and will give him shit in maths of course.

After my last over i finished with figures of 2-24 off 9 overs which i was very pleased about.

Unfortunately i was still a ball magnet to my disgust as i dropped another catch on the boundry but i knew i wasn't going to catch it, as it was hit quite loopy shot that i had ran into to try to stop from long on. At the time i thought it would drop before it got to me but it was a floater and i ended up in the annoying no mans land, where you either have to go 150% or pull out and look like a tool.

Being the amazing natural agile athlete i am :P i decided to do the first option which proved to be a not so good option. Because i ended up being probably a good meter short of the ball and i decided stuff this i'm going to dive. In the end i managed to get a hand to it but it bobbled out as i ended up crashing to the ground at a many hundreds kms rolling quite hardly on my shoulder and making my whites anything but.

That was probably only with 3 overs to go and Whitfords ended their innings at 178-7 after 56 which was alot less than we expected them to score so a big hand to our side as we all bowled well and fielded well except for me.

Unfortunately being the luckiest person in the world i of course came away from the game with one rather bad injury. It occured either in my second spell of bowling or while i was trying to take the diving catch, I think i have either pulled a muscle or torn the cartilage between my ribs on my left side of my back. So this afternoon i had been on painkillers and a heat pack on my back but unfortunately it didn't help. So if it doesn't get better either by tomorrow morning or tuesday i think i might go to the physio and see what he can do.

So with that news i'll see how i feel about playing indoor on firday because i can hardly walk at the moment let alone run etc, but hopefully i will recover quickly.

PS: I would appreciate no touching of the back tomorrow as it hurts alot CHEERS :-)

On Be Half Of Jesus & Myself

I AM WISHING EMERSON A SPEEDY RECOVERY

My Top 25 Most Played

I thought i might share with you the top 25 most played songs on the COMPUTER, not my iPhone but what is most played on the computer

1. Werwolves Of London- Warren Zevon

2. Invaders Must Die - The Prodigy

3. By The Way - Red Hot Chili Peppers

4. Suck My Kiss - Red Hot Chili Peppers

5. Stargaze - Xavier Rudd

6. Food In The Belly - Xavier Rudd

7. Under The Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers

8. Energy Song - Xavier Rudd

9. No Woman No Cry - Xavier Rudd

10. Don't Forget Me - Red Hot Chili Peppers

11. Problems - Salmonella Dub

12. If You're Into It - Flight of the Conchords

13. Get Acquainted - Gotye

14. I Could Die For You - Red Hot Chili Peppers

15. Plugged In - Evermore

16. This Is The New Shit - Marilyn Manson

17. The Power Of Equality - Red Hot Chili Peppers

18. Aint That A Bitch - Johnny 'Guitar' Watson

19. This Is The Place - Red Hot Chili Peppers

20. Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers

21. Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes

22. Messages - Xavier Rudd

23. Better People - Xavier Rudd

24. Good Time Bad Times - Led Zeppelin

25. Liquid Serenade - Lee 'Scratch' Perry

The Newest Venture

For all those that have not heard, on Tuesday or Wednesday we (the family) bought a house in West Leedeerville, which is pretty much walking distance from all the leedeerville shops and restaurants.

Dont worry everyone, i'm not moving to leedeerville. So far the plan that i have managed to decipher from my parents is that we would rent it out for a few years and maybe depending which university i get into, we may move down there or i may stay up here.

But i'm not that informed so i dont really know whats going on because i also heard that after renting for a while we may bowl the house and build a new one.

So theres the latest news on james' doorstep

Double Religion

The Most Boring Spam Message Ever

We all get it (although being with gmail i dont get a lot of it); we all hate it, how many times do these people think we need to send money to Nigeria or need to last longer in bed or need cheaper internet.

Well this afternoon checking my emails i came across a spam message and it only said

Hi

Canadian Pharmacy Service

With a link to the website.

I think if they want us to spend our money on their products which they are never going to send to us, they should at lest try a bit harder than this

Flipped It Around

Now as i'm one of those wacky kinda guys i have decided instead of posting another sunset this week, i'm going to post one of my few and only sunrise photographs

Please enjoy this sunrise pic with Angkor Wat in the background on January 1st 2009. I got to see the sun come up for the first time in the year over one of the ancient wonders of the world

Opening Game Of the Season

After a long winter, this morning marked the start of the season, a hopefully successful season because i'm sick of getting to the semi finals and grand final and losing.

Today we opened our season with a One Day Game against Balcatta those who are not familiar, usually we play 56 overs (dont ask why 56 because i have no idea) each side which is spread over 2 weeks so one side bats one week and then bowls the next week unless you bowl them out quickly. This stops us from playing from 8am to 6pm instead we play only from 8-12 avoiding the intense heat as much as possible. Although its still bloody hard when its 44" like last year and your running around the ground throwing balls, but the good thing about being the opening bowler is in those conditions you can tell your captain that your not going to bowl.

Well since today was a one day game it was 30 overs each and we were playing at the show-grounds and we were aiming at a score around 120 which would be a winning score on the slow outfield.

Compared to previous years we didn't have our strongest side as we had lost a few good players over the break and gained a few that have never played cricket before (Its going to be a long season). But we also picked up a good player although he's a twat.

We batted first i think we won the toss, i wasn't concentrating much and we were off to a good start after 11 overs we were 66/2 but after that we had a major collapse. Your's truly was batting at number 6 with is a few spots higher than last year and i wasn't looking forward to batting.

My batting performance left a lot to be desired and it can only get better, i scored a modest 0 but within that time 2 of my companions had departed from the other end and i was feeling rather nervous. So by the time it was over and it was 6 down by then i decided after about 4 dot balls to get off the mark; because i go through a routine when batting which is; not to get out first ball (completed), scored a run (Failed).

I was facing a terrible bowler who just bowled pies that if we were in a better situation or near the end of the innings i would have tried to hit for boundaries, but since i was just getting my eye in i decided to try to just push the ball into a gap near mid wicket as there was a fielder out on the boundary. So i tried to go down and roll my wrists over this ball and end up being there to quickly and got a huge leading edge (which is just hitting the ball with the side of your bat not the face). This edge ended up going up in the air and thats the whole "DAM IT" moment as your jogging down to complete your run, but i thought it had just lobbed to the fielder but infact it just kept going and ended up going about 3/4 of the way to the boundary so 45m or so and ended up being caught by a great catch. I was rather annoyed because i hadn't meant to hit the ball in the air and since it came of the edge, if i actually tried to hit it hard i would have gone for 4 or 6 easy, but there all buts.

The highlights of the batting on our side was to see Steve hit a huge six that nearly cleared the white fence of the showgrounds.

So we had to defend 83 off 30 overs, possible, but very unlikely.

I bowled the first over wasn't the greatest over as it was more of a warm up over for the season. I bowled 3 overs overall troubling one batsmen in particular with some absolute jaffas if i say myself with some late swing and pace that left him prodding at most of them. I got an edge on my second over that was put down at first slip, a relatively easy chance for one of our best fielders. Dont know my figures but they were acceptable for the first game of the season.

As the game progressed we picked up a few wickets and the game was in the balance by around halfway but after drinks they got a partnership together and started making a few runs. They managed to get our 83 with 3 overs to spare, which is a good bowling performance for our small target.

The low lights of fielding were

The heat that was a bitch later in the day

Dropping a catch around half way that was smacked straight out of the middle to me at short cover where i just got my hands infront of my body just in time to protect my stomach and my man bits. I got my hands to it and nearly took it which would have been a pretty good catch as i had probably half a second to react.

Dropping another catch. Now this one was in the last over and i really wanted to go home and the ball was yet again smacked in my direction i had a little more time to react but it didn't help that someone had parked there red car right behind the ball as i picked it up really late and ended getting nothing on it except for my hip bone that took the full force of a leather ball going very fast.

So i'm going to have some nice bruises on my hands and hip for tomorrow from the first game.

Highlights:

giving the bowler that got me out, extreme trouble when i was bowling to him, where i was going to say "thats called a bat your holding, you use it to hit the ball" as he couldn't get anywhere near the ball.

Seeing Steve once again bowl a bouncer going at full pace so 100km + and seeing the batsmen wearing it straight on the shoulder and feeling the pain.

So hopefully next week is better and we can get a good result or i just get some runs or a few wickets

Summer Is Here Finally

And now i want winter back, its too hot.

Well today i had the idea of getting some sun on my legs to try to turn them any other colour than Pasty White.

Well i had to get up an ungodly hour on a saturday morning to get ready for my driving lesson that was scheduled for 6.45. It was good because there were no one else on the road except for James "The Stig" Hastings.

even at 6.15 when i got up it was in the 20's and by the time i got back around 8 it was getting rather hot.

But the whole point of the story is that my planned failed as i ended up falling a sleep on the couch for most of the morning and afternoon and when i did go out for dinner i realised it is just far too hot here

Psychedelic Stoner Doom Metal?

Now one if not my weirdest album and artist selection for this segment.

The relatively new band called OM who are classed as "Stoner Doom Metal", "Psychedelic Rock" and "Experimental Rock".

Now personally since i dont know all these genres i would class them my self as Heavy Metal crossed with Trance music.

Now i know that this will not be for everyones taste as it is so unusual but after a while you sort of zone out and become somewhat hypnotized by this music. Because of this sort of trance that it puts you into i found that it is really good for doing homework or studying as there isn't many lyrics and its a pretty solid rhythm, as well as the songs going for a while each.

There most famous live show was in Jerusalem in 2007 where their show went for around 5 hours in length as well as their album "Pilgrimage" being voted by mojo the best underground album of the year in the same year.

Now i would not recommend this for everyone but for those people with an open mind and people who would like this type of music i'm making a guess here and Miguel would be one that may like this although its not that heavy nor fast but is like i said like dance music that has a solid rhythm going for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG_QOmjP4VU

Enjoy or just hate it immensely but i like it as i can fall asleep to it.

Traveling Back In Time

Tonight we are traveling back in time back to the 70's where the world was first introduced to people who generally rebelled against the authorities; The Punks.

And what was the main driving force behind this movement; Music

And one of the major bands fueling this movements; The Sex Pistols

Arguably one of the most influential groups in history of music in the way people acted and how they made the world form the 70's to the one we live in today.

Never Mind The Bollocks-Heres the Sex Pistols is probably one of the greatest punk records ever made, not necessarily because of the music but its message from it that really said to rebel against the police and government and the Queen.

With songs such as Bodies which is about abortion, Anarchy in the UK which really explains itself as well as a dig at their old record companies in EMI.

But their most famous song throughout the UK was God Save The Queen which is amazing because it was banned in the UK for the way they described the queen.

One of their most famous acts was to play God Save the Queen down the Thames river and coincidently it was the queens jubilee celebration which ended them being arrested along with their young record company boss Richard Branson.

The sex Pistols managed to become very famous even though you could not buy their albums in stores because they were banned and people ended buying them out of Richies Boot.

So its a must to listen to the Sex Pistols even if you dont like punk music but just to listen to the music that changed the world because without the first punk rockers we wouldn't have the people we have today.

Did I Ever Tell You...

I Went to school in Thailand for one day

It was a big difference than what we have in New Zealand & Australia

Also Did I Ever Tell You

I Worked behind a bar in Thailand as a Bar man as well as a DJ

And finally did i ever tell you i climbed a temple that had 1237 steps varying in height and gradient everytime to reach the top. It was very hard

Thought I Might Share This With You

http://raptorjesus.blogspot.com/2007/05/dfgdfgdfg.html

I searched for this a long time a go and followed it but it has been a long time between his posts and they were very deep and meaningful posts

New Zealand Tops The List Once Again

This time for having the best attractive and prestigious form of English outside the UK.

Well we all knew it didn't we and it was not long before the BBC realised it as well.

"The kiwi accent has been rated the most attractive and prestigious form of English outside the UK in a BBC survey.

Respondents from throughout the UK completed an online survey rating the prestige and social attractiveness of 34 different English accents.

The kiwi "fush and chups" came seven places ahead of Australia's "sex and Seedney" - and nine ahead of the American accent in terms of attractiveness.

Scottish and Irish accents topped the list of preferred British accents.

Professor Allan Bell, Director of AUT's Institute of Culture, Discourse and Communication says the high rating for New Zealand English probably reflects the fact that it is relatively close to the prestige British accents.

"On the social side, it seems to represent generally positive British attitudes to New Zealand and New Zealanders."

He says the fact the British rate New Zealand English so highly is ironical, because studies of New Zealanders' attitudes show they are often very negative about their own accent and prefer British English.

"It looks like the post-colonial cringe is now entirely outdated."

New Zealand English rated highly on both attractiveness and prestige.

It was the 6th most socially attractive accent, placed above the Queen's English (7th) and well ahead of Australian (13th) and American English (15th).

'Standard English', Scottish and Irish accents topped the list.

New Zealand also ranked high (7th) on prestige, again above Australian (11th) and American English (8th).

The Queen's English got the highest ranking for prestige.

Respondents from throughout the United Kingdom completed an online survey rating the prestige and social attractiveness of 34 different accents of English.

Well i guess thats why everyone just loves us and never starts wars with us because we can just persuade them not to with our prestigious and attractive sexy voice.

And if you think i made all of that because you think i'm that much of a lonely boy check the news website.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10602759&ref=digg

Personally i usually check the NZ herald when ever i'm logged in to the computer labs as it offers a view of events in todays world in one of the most omniscient ways as New Zealand isn't really tied to any other countries. Also its fun to see how cold and rainy it is where i used to live

See you later got to get some

Fush & Chups Bro

Bad Publicity is Best Publicity

Slowly but surely as we begin to slowly get our stuff together we are just getting the wheels in motion to get Here's To You out in the public for hopefully consumption into the ear canal where vibrations are then turned into sounds which is the music we made.

With CD baby doing a wonderful job releasing it on the web outlets such as amazon and iTunes and record stores in the city such as 78's and Da da's have our product thanks to hand delivery.

I was going to go into a simile like an animal where all the legs need to be working together but i decided not to as it may be in bad taste and because the drummer knows where i live.

But one of the biggest push is something we are going to do relatively soon which is to send our CD to an organisation that in turn sends out CD's to all of the radio stations within the state. We are aiming to push "All For Fun (Legless...Again) out at the start of the year as there is a break during November & December for the company, and then hopefully Cedarlee (Radio Edit) out a month or so after that.

Depending on the reaction (If any) we get to the different singles it will probably decide what songs are going to be singles on the next album. Because after all, All for fun is about drinking and having fun which may cause some people to become annoyed with this as its not "responsible". Where in this case we may even get some publicity although maybe for the wrong reason its still publicity and probably the best type of publicity because people are going, oh i have to listen to this "wrong song" which will get our name out there.

But fortunately we have enough songs to put as singles if Cedarlee gets a response compared to All for Fun where there songs such as Age Vs Milage and Dig Quickly as well as Lay me down and What Price Love.

But the way we are looking at it is that if we get publicity we can take the approach of saying "Stuff you media, up yours" and release "The Legless Arms" (get it because its a pub but it's the legless arms, that was my dad's idea) as well as Reefer What You Sow (Which is obviously about drugs)

But for all of you that dont have a CD and thats quite a few of you, i remind you can either buy it from me which is easier and cheaper i add or from city record stores that i have mentioned about or from iTunes etc.

Help a friend why dont ya :P

Speaking of Thumping Bass

With The Prodigy coming again next year and myself not going to be able to go unless i get a fake ID (Wink) i have decided to go on a drum and bass/dance/techno music way for a while on

Expanding Your Octaves With James Hastings

My First recommendation is from the band that probably is a huge creator of the type of dance music we have today and the ones that Conrad happily dances down to and that is the weird pairing called Daft Punk

These pioneers of dance music have made their names throughout the world by their unusual dress on stage often wearing complete space suits while mixing on stage.

Their latest album Alive is a live album which is very good to listen to although one of the requirements when listening to it is you have to have your bass so loud that your desk or car vibrates when the bass and synths kick in.

Heres a link of just the audio of the opening tracks from their album, there are video ones but the quality isn't that great so here you go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ4368jkF9o

Writing Music

Well as the holidays are coming to the end i have just had a good idea that i could have done.

I'm going to write what i play in the band in notation to the best i can so probably wrong in every sense.

I've always liked the way music looks when written and looks like your "properly professional" (thats how gangsta i am) so i thought i will spend probably hours of my life trying to do it.

This will also help me with reading music properly because after all I play is kept in my head, so having it written down would be a good thing.

It would also be fun to see what i actually play, because when ever i look at music it just makes me WTF.

So when i've finished one of my simpler songs may i ask music readers preferably Emerson or Matthew or Annie since you can play piano to proofread it for me.

Cheers but it is likely to fail immensely

Spongebob Sick Pants

Everyone loves spongebob squarepants because its so funny.

Well obviously someone had a story that didn't get produced by the shows producers

Warning some content may be unpleasant for some

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A41m1nVD_w

If Only I Was 730 Days Older

I would be 18 and would be able to go to the Future Music Festival to see "The Prodigy" and many more.

Changes In The Beach

All of you might remember this amazing photograph that we took in Thailand

This was taken before the tsunami and i have just discovered another fantastic photograph from the exactly same spot probably 4 years later. After the tsunami.

See you can see the changes the tsunami did make to the beach with the beach itself probably being a good 4ft lower as well as the water lapping in from a different direction

The Crowd Erupts

As James gets his maiden century in blogging

Safety First

I'm going through all my photos of my holidays and finding the photos that are obviously dangerous or doing something that wouldn't be allowed to do in Australia.

But remember people SAFETY FIRST

i wasn't that flash with scorpions but snakes were fine

But this guy didn't mind geting friendly with them

Professional In action here with correct equiptment all set up

Just because its illegal

In Laos we were driving a car when we meet this family. We then discovered the major part of whether you are being hijacked or not, which way the 12 year old boy is pointing the gun in the back

But you get used to riding in back of utes even if you are over 6ft

Going down the isle with Brad

And finally when lighting fireworks remember to have a stable base

Then get the hell out of there quick sharp

Starting the Week With..

two more amazing sunsets.

Both in Thailand

I Hearby

Copyright the name

Drop Turtles

That name can be purchased off me for a fee that will be negotiated.

P:S Your going to wake up with a drop turtle on your head

Stumbling

While on my boring search of the internet i stumbled upon this blog.

http://facesinplaces.blogspot.com/

I then realised it was on blogs of note but its a really good blog

check it out

I Wish I Practiced A Bit More

Expanding Your Octaves With James Hastings has returned once again to share with you music that i listen to that you may not be familiar with or dont know about.

This editions is a very well known artist that all of you should have heard some of his songs through out your life.

Ben Harper is a solo artist who has a very laid back approach to life and music and that i conveyed through his music as it comes under a very bluesy and easy listening music style.

His most famous songs probably include "steal my kisses", "Diamonds on the inside" and "Burn one down".

His album "Live from Mars" is a great live album to anyone who just wants to sit down and relax while listening to music.

Another reason i do like Ben Harper as he plays lap steel guitar very well and if only i practiced a billion times more although that still wouldn't happen because 0 x 1,000,000 is still 0. I would love to play lap steel like it.

heres on of his songs that has awesome lap steel in it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O--1kilzvxY

Also my dad said if i got really good he would buy me one of these lap steel guitars, lucky for him i wont get to that standard. This is probably a good video to watch if your unfamiliar to this instrument

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0_hnGLR-jY

Wishing cant do any damage can it

If Ever Going To The Amazon

Well today after watching nearly all of Bathurst which did come down to the last lap and was exciting an unfortunately Murphy couldn't get a podium after he drove like a machine for the last 10laps and missed out by 0.004 seconds.

After that i came out into the lounge room to watch a natural geographic documentary about animals in the amazon.

And i learnt a very valuable lesson that i will share with everyone.

NEVER pee into the amazon river because it can prove very dangerous with a very small fish which i cant remember its name which is very similar to a leech where it survives on blood. The only difference is that this fish can find its food by the smell of urea which comes from the fishes gills so it swims in there and it has barbes on the back so it come swim backwards until its had enough blood.

You probably can see where this is going, but this small little parasite fish thing has been known to throw itself out of the water while a human male is urinating because of the urea content. Well as you probably expect that it can only go one place and the barbes on it body make it near impossible to remove even after its feed on blood because then it has grown in size and can not retreat through the opening.

So to avoid this very painful and sometimes fatal experience never pee into the amazon

Awesomeness

Well awesomeness doesn't really explain this.

Its more like what is created when Awesome has a baby with Epic and then that baby it times to the power by outstanding and then goes and has a family with exceptional.

Comes out in under a month.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8toHfZm6jNE

My Goal Keeping

I have only just found a way to describe how bad my keeping was

I DID A BEN FOSTER

Album You Need To Here Before To Die

Well after a long break between segments heres the latest section of expanding your octaves with James Hastings. How Exciting.

This following album is said to be one of the greatest albums of all time and one that everyone should listen to at least once in your life.

Well for all you music types which is all of you who read this i'll give you a few clues to who this album is by.

Well first of all it is by one if not the greatest band by many peoples standards that ever lived and played music.

Know Yet, I assume not.

This band was and still is extremely popular but touring is impossible as some band members have departed and leaving the other members still playing music and meeting people that can leave you completely stumped. And you can just end up following train tracks listening to your own voice.

Some people who realise who the band is by now. If not heres some more.

When the band toured worldwide they bought with them a mysterious fever that affected everyone especially the woman. This fever was so common where ever they went it was named after the band.

You Must Have It By Now. If Not Shame on You.

This Album has no actual name and is usually called by the colour of the cover that it is keep inside.

For all who dont know it, i hope you go gently weep in the corner. There you go final clue.

It is of course...

The Beatles White Album

It is a must listen to even if you dont like the beatles as this is a lot different than their usual stuff and is a lot less lovey dovey.

Because the album doesn't have a name as such it can be quite hard to find as it is either known on websites as unknown or just the white album.

Hopefully most people got that before i told you if you didn't i'm very disappointed in you, especially you Jano if you didn't know it.

As for the answers for the clues i'll explain them,

The Beatles = Awesome

People that leave you stumped= Paul McCartney's late wife that had a missing leg or foot

Following the train tracks= Ringo Star's job as a voice in Thomas Tank Engine

Beatle Fever

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Please give the album a listen as its awesome, specially the opening song.

Also i would like to know when you figured out who i was talking about?

Key's Of Instruments

Could people please inform me which keys these following instruments are in. Would be greatly appreciated

Trumpet:

Saxophone:

Clarinet:

Trombone:

Guess What's Happening on Sunday

BATHURST 1000

Thats what i'm talking about

Go Greg

And i'm going for a driving lesson that morning too so i'm going to be driving like i'm going down the essess at 150km

Sub Clauses

With the recent opening game from both Epic Fc & The Awesomes playing tonight and both doing well with Matthew scoring his first goal of his indoor career as well as Blaise scoring on debut.

The Awesome's won their game 3-2 against the opposition.

But with the game, James Hastings' management has discovered some sub-clauses that should be noted by either side needing a fill in or replacement for the game. His management released this after the game

2.1.6) At no point will James Hastings play in the position of Goal Keeper ever again during the indoor soccer season. (Sorry Guys)

3.7.01) James Hastings would also prefer to play when there is a sub available which was a clause that WJCC enforced to try to reduce chance of injury. Plus James isn't very fit as when under current contract with WJCC he runs most of 75m at a time and not very fast or 14passes for 6 times in a row.

But if both these sub-clauses are meet he would be grateful to play anytime. Sub-Clause 3.7.01 is not a necessity but a preference.

Who Needs The Moon Anyways

I'll tell you who need the moon WE DO, the human race does to control the tides etc.

So what have our lovely friends decided to do, Shoot something into it a 2.3 million tonne satellite to be exact at 5,600 miles per hour into the moons surface which is equal to 2 tonnes to TNT.

WHAT THE HELL.

They say its to discover what really is in the moon but really they want to smash something into it at high speeds, dam those red necks.

Plus i have a few problems with this being an opinionated person i am, what gives them the right to shoot stuff at the moon, they dont own it, its not their land. what if something goes wrong and the moon is somehow seriously damaged and can prove very costly to earth's life as we know.

In fact who has the right to the moon anyway, not any of us, not earth at all, its not our territory. So whats next is America going to declare war on the moon because they usually start wars by wanting whats under the surface.

Dont believe me http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/oct/07/nasa-moon-spacecraft-crash-water

Personally i think the moon should stay the way it is without man made objects being shot into it because what happens when the Americans find out they have no room for their nuclear weapons there gonna think we can shoot them at Canada and the moon.

Jeez America pisses me off sometimes, dont they realise the rest of the globe hates them

Been Recruited

Straight off the press

Former Epic FC player and still avid supporter James Hastings has been approached early this morning by management staff of "The Awesome" another team within the same league.

James Hastings left Epic FC at the end of last season as he already had a binding contract with WJCC about trying to play out the season uninjured.

After long negotiations with "The Awesome" management and Hastings' manager as well as WJCC letting their squad member be exempt from any contract violations James Hastings' management has allowed James to play this Friday on behalf of the Awesome.

Details are still sketchy about the negotiations with fees disclosed with only the small part of the contract shown to the public that James requests that he would acquire a lift there as well as a lift home after the game.

James Hastings had this to say after the news was out; "Well it came as a surprise to me this morning when i got the news they needed me. I was a little anxious at first as i had prior arrangements as well as being bound into the WJCC for this season. It will be great to get back into the swing of things, but overall fitness may be a problem".

When asked whether he was deserting Epic FC he had this to say; " Oh God no, i would go back to my old team anytime this season at a drop of a hat but the Awesome management and I have been friends for a while now and it seemed like I could them a favour and you never know when it can come in handy"

After many times i can not upload my videos

EB Game Idiots

Well this evening i went into lakeside which i dont normally do on a thursday night because everyone makes me angry.

The only reason i went was to pick up my new slim line ps3 that i had paid for earlier that day.

I was doing the trade in deal, where you trade ur old playstation in and then pay a smaller cost for the new one.

I had already put down a $50 deposit on the day of Elissa's party with as matthew calls him my "lady friend" or as i prefer to call him Brandon.

So i went back this morning and after i had to argue with the guy that i had put down at $50 deposit so that i only need to pay $100 but he still charged me $200 then i had to get refunded on a gift certificate which was a pain in the ass as i ended up with a novel of receipts of what the guy had done wrong.

So i went down there tonight thinking it will be five minutes swap over BUT GOD NO, they told me that i still owed them $356 even though i had paid $3 over the sum needed. Mainly because they put a game cost onto the price plus more shit.

So i got to the point where 20mins later i was going to say Stuff the game and $3 just give me the playstation that i have bought.

But eventually i got out of their with a game i didn't want but a new PS3 so i'm happy. Plus a bonus is that the game isn't my type of game so i can take it back for a full refund within 7 days, get a new one, so really the trade in only cost me $50

I'm going to go play it now

The Beautiful People

For some unknown reason i've had some troubles uploading my videos probably because they are too big.

but here is another one of toms "The beautiful people" which was his last song

Marilyn Manson Videos

As I know no one really wants to see them but i like to think there may be one person in the whole blogosphere that does.

Unfortunately because my videos are quite good quality they take an extremely long time to load so please be patient peeps

MM Vids Intro

Well good afternoon

For the people watching these videos please be aware the quality isn't great as they are done by phone and digital camera and should have the sound down at the start to stop deafness if it is too loud.

If anyone suffers from epilepsy you SHOULD NOT watch these videos, i dont want people dyeing while viewing my blog

Enjoy the opening (thanks to tom for this video)

James Has Expanded His Wardrobe

Well as the title blantly suggests i got some new clothes.

My English Laundry, Jimi Hendrix and Fender clothes came in the mail this morning so i'm happy and might try some of them out next time i see all of u folks.

Speaking of that whats happening with this picnic, is it on or off or in between

Videos

When i tried uploading videos i realised it will take yonks and will upload them tomorrow

Pictures Speak Thousands Of Teenage Suicides

Oh i know that title is really bad but Marilyn Manson does get blamed for nearly all of the school shootings in the USA.

Heres some photos of the night:

Blurry, but tom, Miggy & Connie in their sissy chairs

Second Song; "Pretty as a ($)" ($)= Swasticka

Crowd giving some of it back

MM in spotlight

Twiggy on the Right

I would say he's the most famous anti-christ living today

Thats ME

Heres some photos mainly for the lights

And the awesome DB9 I saw in Subi that night

Laterz Videos up soon

SURVIVED!!!

Well as the title suggests i did survive the concert.

Overall it was a pretty good concert well it had its pros and cons.

First of all the crowd was absolutely shocking (typical Perth crowd) there wasn't even a really big mosh pit although most of the people there were older and there were sections where people did get into it. There was a group on the stairs which got into it even though they were in the sitting section.

Because it was a relatively short concert as he came on 30mins before he was scheduled which made me think he was sick and at the end it was obvious he was going to come back on but the crowd gave no response so he obviously thought stuff it.

The people watching was a highlight seeing the 40+ guys with big platform boots and eye makeup on rocking out.

The first song he played "We're From America" sounded absolutely shocking as he was terribly off key and i thought fuck this is going to be shit. But he and the band definitely got a lot better as the night went on, with only a few hic-ups with twiggy having a guitar die on him and a few wrong changes either late into chorus' or verses. But Manson's voice was a lot better than last times as he actually mainly just sang and wasn't lying on the ground so u couldn't see him.

As i was on the ground section and the rest of the boys were on the seats behind me they probably had such a different concert with different sounds etc, on the ground i thought the sound was alright with the bass absolutely thumping you every song. But what the guys said was that his mic was very low and guitars were too loud but you couldn't really notice it on the floor but you could tell his voice wasn't 100% after recovering from swine flu.

But definitely the highlight would have been "The Beautiful People" and the amazing lights that accompanied the band through out the show which offered a great view of him and the band as well as the crowd.

But if he does come back i would probably go again but would have to stand again and get up near the front to really get the right atmosphere.

I have a few photos and a couple videos but will see if the sounds alright and will post them up here.

Oh and the band that opened for him "Fear of Comedy" were unusual as the band didn't look like rock stars and the singer was very jack blacky/ tenacious d like in him manner and voice. But he enjoyed him self and thats what mattered. Who also seemed to love the Wildcats as well as the wheel cats

And by the way guys the chick that was on cruchtes got pulled out near the end but it was still a good effort to stay at the front of a MM concert with a broken leg.

Because after all we are the beautiful people

Here's To You Demo 4

Just got the newest demo of the new album.

The edition to this demo is the introduction of Rob on lead guitar and it sounds pretty amazing

Tonight Moshing May Cause Death

Well tonight Marilyn Manson is performing in Perth and like any responsible people my father and I are going, more for the people watching than the music. But this time we are not sitting down we are in the standing area and if its like last time the whole standing area is going to be packed and jumping so Conrad, Miguel, Tom you may be lucky but last time there were still people moshing on the setting so good luck.

Hopefully its going to be a good show with his band back together after a long break which included the Eat Me, Drink Me album, but just recently MM was diagnosed with Swine Flu so hopefully he has recovered because he cant sing with a perfect throat how is he supposed to sing with that kind of illness.

Although most of you reading this dont like his music, his new album is still quite mellow but still has a few of the heavy sings. but what most people dont know is what he is actually like behind his stage "Persona" and infact he is a very intelligent, articulate man who just conveys his views through music and some people take an extreme view on it, like there is on every topic.

If you have some time spare watch this four part interview about his new album

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfjsl3TzJkw

So hopefully i will still be alive by tomorrow, but if i dont I Love You All :P

Wish Me Luck

Aleglass Vs Nirvana

Well as bought to my attention by Miguel last night that All For Fun (Legless...Again) sounds very similar to a rift by Nirvana "Been A Son".

Now i played this song before i feel a sleep at the studio to David who write most of the music and he said that it is similar but not the same as the notes are not the same as well as the timing of the notes are not the same.

But we are also very greatful and somewhat surprised that this shows that you have actually listened to our music and know about the music and thank you.

So expect our people to talk to Nirvana's people

:P LOL

Ben Foster

Hes my new hero and when i keep at school i just want to be just like him and keep just like him so infact i would do nothing and stand there.

Studio This Past Weekend

Well for all of you that i know, i was once again in the studio this weekend.

This weekend was for the main purpose of rob putting down his tracks and then trying to get a mix of that as well as everything else we did.

As usual Rob was his amazing self, placing down some face melting solos and fills that just astound you because no one can do that so well.

Well then we disappeared to go to Mr Loo's house and that following morning after a decent 8 minutes sleep my dad picked me up to go to the studio once again.

Because i was so well rested i dont actually know what happened down there today and how much we got down because i was in a state comatose in the corner with the drummers vag pillows

I'm On Time For The First Time #3

So it seems that Miguel has said that he has outdone all of my sunset photos with just one photo.

Although that is a nice photo that is only one photo and i go for the more consistent good photos which will see James prevail of course.

Tonight i bring you not 1, not 2 not 1587 but 4 sunset photographs because i have just become bored of the waiting for the whole week.

This one taken in Laos which is a land locked country so one of our few photos that the sun is not setting into the ocean

This one is taken in Ao Nang in Thailand as the fishermen come in after a long dad of fishing

Taken also on Koh Lanta Thailand

Although not very bright or clear, i only chose this photo because of the very rich, deep colours in the sky. Also for the fact that this was taken in Cambodia with the sun setting over Vietnam

Enjoy another week

Attention Brandon!!!

Ahh Brandon i forgot to tell you last night that it may be a good idea to back up all your game data on the ps3 to an external hardrive.

I just did mine after i'm growing more and more anxious that my playstation will break down any minute.

So you would probably need around 20-30 GB of space to transfer all the data but its really easy as you only need to go into system settings and then back up data

Great Quote

While listening to U2 Miss Sarajevo live from milan

which is a great song with an amazing solo performance by Bono not in english by in Italian

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euGFdZ5UUuI

Check it out because its amazing.

But what really touched me was the quote at the start of the song where he dedicates the song to the victims of the london bombings and later says that he hopes

"We (The Human Race) Do not become a monster to defeat a monster"

This was of course about terrorism but it can always revert back to everyday situations

Photoshop for MAC

I do believe my dad may have downloaded a small part of photoshop for the MAC and he has done some quick work on some of the band website which is a slow moving project at the moment.

But here are some of those pics that look good for the small amount of time he has spent on photoshop because after all there is "no need for violence".

The Bands Mug Shot

Sticking It To The Man

Arguments

Arguments:

Its not about you being right and the other person wrong.

There about making sure you win even if you know your wrong.

Studio Photo's

I just realised although i had spent long weekends down in the studio i haven't posted some of the pictures that we took.

But we haven't finished just yet, this weekend Rob is coming down to record his parts and for all those who were at the CD launch you know that its going to be an enjoyable weekend.

For the people who weren't there heres a simple equation for you

Rob + Guitar = Amazing = Epic = Good Music

But here are just a few photos but i have to find where some of the other ones which means i'm just going to ask my dad where they are.

There always has to be a drummer picture and heres our

I guess it was a long day. Jeff Beck Signiture range guitar by the way if you were wondering for all u rocking people out there

The answer was yes it was a long day

Acoustic Bass Time

Percussion section

Slide Time, hard because i hadn't picked the thing up in around 3 months because i usual practice soo hard. until the early hours of the morning

Dell Boy with all his majic machines that make us sound millions times better than we actually are

And finally this was a posed shot, i dont actually sing like this, we did this to mimic the old music videos like do they know its christmas when all the singers put fingers in their ear

Enjoy with more to come shortly