| Date: | 2004-07-28 13:28 |
| Subject: | Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster. |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  see Mez's last post... |
Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster.
I admit, I have a soft spot for Rock n' Roll documentaries (I refuse to call them "Rockumentaries" because it makes me think of This Is Spinal Tap and sends me in to fits of pants pissing laughter). It doesn’t matter if I hate a band or not, I love a sneak peek into their world.
To me, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster shed new light on the weird ass release that was St. Anger. I've heard this album all the way through - but not in one sitting. It was so sparse and "heard that before" that I never paid very much attention to it as a whole. Although it is hard to sympathize with REALLY rich rock stars and their "creative problems", I'm surprised this album got finished.
It's amazing to sit there and, if you read between the lines, learn that 99 percent of the BULLSHIT that Metallica has faced has spawned from the extremely over-inflated ego of one Lars Ulrich. From Dave Mustane to Jason Newstead Lars effectively pushed aside and made enemies with practically anyone who stood against his own idea of what Metallica was, is and ever shall be.
James broke the news to Jason that he was not allowed to play in any other band but Metallica... after Lars planted the bug in James' ear.
Lars kicked Dave Mustaine out of Metallica instead of suggesting he go to rehab... then spent the next 15 years heckling Mustaine and Megadeth to the point of harassment.
James walks off to rehab and tries to get his life together and Lars does little more than whine and mope about how nothing is going right and it's all James' fault.
The 1 percent of bullshit that Lars is not responsible for is Cliff dying (and yet I still feel, deep down inside, that Lars secretly wished for that to happen because there is no fucking way that Cliff would have let the band go in the direction it did after "...and Justice for All").
The only one who really doesn't put up with Lars' crap and sees through the endless stream of bullshit is his dad, a skinny, crusty, old Danish hippy (one of the best parts of the film is Lars playing one of the new demos and his dad, hating it, tears it apart).
Besides the bullshit, the movie has it's touching moments; mostly to do with James cleaning himself up and trying to get his life on track. It's amazing that he didn't just give in completely to his excesses but that's just who he is. When he tells the inmates of San Quinton Prison: "I have chosen to live" you know he fucking means it.
Kirk, always the odd man out in the band, looks lost through most of the film although does seem concerned about the bands future. At least he is the only real centered member; to the point that the few times James made any contact to the outside world while in rehab, he called Kirk. Lars asks why he would not call him Kirk simply says "Because he's pissed at you for not understanding."
Bob Rock and the therapist that the band was paying $40,000 a month (yes, that’s the price) seem like outcasts. None of them really trust the therapist as it seems that he keeps finding excuses to hang around. Rock, I'm sure, is hanging on to Metallica for dear life as his days as THE Heavy Metal producer are long gone. He's just there for the job.
I could go on about this but instead I will end with this: If you hate Metallica, it's still a decent watch. A little long perhaps at two hours and 20 minutes but interesting enough even if it's just more fuel for your hatred.
If you love, or once loved, Metallica then this film answers some questions about the stark blandness of the new album along with the state of the band, how they got where they are and what the future may hold for them.
Personally, I see it more as a two hour and twenty minute apology from the band (with Lars crossing his fingers behind his back) for their crap over the past three or four years...
... and they're this close to being sincere.
| Date: | 2004-07-20 20:42 |
| Subject: | So... |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  !!!!!! :-) !!!!!! | | Music: | Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk |
Well, I know where to begin. That would be the home of The Mez - and Dan's un-birthday party.
( 'cos it's fucking long... )
| Date: | 2004-07-18 12:11 |
| Subject: | :-) |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  :-) |
Yesterday my boi and I went to see Spiderman 2.
w0w.
Simply amazing.
'nuff said.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
More of an update type update coming soonish. This is turning out to be an aweseome weekend :-)
Driving in the car Friday night. Bouncing back and forth between Chez and The Bear.
Chez: Steve Miller
The Bear: Nickleback
Chez: 2nd song of a Steve Miller "doubleshot"
The Bear: crappy commercial.
Chez: damn Steve Miller is still playing.
The Bear: more crappy commercials
Chez: commercials.
The Bear: "... and now, brand new Van Halen!!!!"
-=doubletake=-
Van Halen??
The song starts. Tara and I sit there smoking and, in the end LAUGHING OUR FUCKING ASSES OFF. 80's music in the 80's did not sound this LAME.
To Van Halen. The 80's are over. Get used to it. Die already.
To ALL the radio stations in Ottawa: Don't fucking ever play that song again.
savvy?
Friday, July 2, 2004 around 7:30pm
Hound: "Oh!! You bought a 28 of Canadian too?"
Me: "Yuppers. Can't go wrong with that."
Hound: "Awesome!! We'll have more than enough beer for tonight and tomorrow considering we have 56 and others brought beer too!"
Saturday, July 3, 2004 around noon.
Hound: "Holy crap!! There's only like 15 bottles of Canadian left??"
Me: "Yah - and not too much of anything else either."
Hound: "We shoulda known better I guess..."
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Awesome welcome party:
Beers, drums, guitar, didge and a roaring infernno fire. Poor Jaysin. Poor, poor Jaysin - although the impromptu drumming/singing was brilliant; "ERECTION !!!! FUCKING HARD AND THAT MEANS MONEY FOR THE THERAPY JAR!!!". Fireworks in the fire. Beer, beer and more beer.
Party hard 'till 3 or 4 in the morning, then sleep.........
Saturday began with the mad search for a cup of coffee. Half a bagel and a turnover for first breakfast and 2 hamburgers for second breakfast. Relaxing under the shade of the apple tree. Into the booze again at 3 or so - Paintball at sunset with yours truley racking up the most frags of the day. Ribs for dinner. Fireworks then fungus... followed by rolling burning things, copious amounts laughter, and more inside jokes than anyone would care to know about... all taking place by the skin roasting falmes of Hades...
I could go on but instead I will end with the following:
Awesome time. Period. Thank you to Denise and Hound for another incredible weekend. Thnaks to all the peeps there for helping make it excellent.
And...
most of all...
Goodbye and good luck to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) panzerboy who is leaving for Calgary.
I'm going to miss you d00d!
1) People fucking suck. Not all people, but some.
2) LJ is fucking slow and cranky. If you have a paid account, big deal. Don't tell me not to bitch about LJ because I don't have a paid account. What's the use of giving money to something that works this shitty?
That is all.
Max Payne 2 is by far the COOLEST fucking game I have ever played and will remain so until Doom 3 comes out sometime this summer.
As you were.
| Date: | 2004-06-23 18:03 |
| Subject: | Day One. |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | O-tay! | | Music: | Flood - Slides (Yes blankboy: That means YOU lol) |
So my boss came up to me at the end of the day and asked: "So what do you think of your first day here?"
I looked at him and said: "This has to be the most undewhelming first day I've ever had in my life."
And I meant it.
What a cool place. What a cool job this is going to be. There was none of the usual stress waves eminating from the building as you'd find in other workplaces. The people there are laid back, easy to talk to and, for the most part, foul mouthed.
I was show to my "desk". I had to stop from touching it and asking "You mean this is mine, as in it's going to be here tomorrow? In the same spot?" I have cubicle walls that I can hang pictures on (and I have to get on that because the only pic I have up there now is my Convergys pass, lol).
Training was cool today as well. The product is very cool and pretty straight forward - well for me anyway. So far I can't how a customer would fuck shit up. Then again I never understood how the residential customers I used to talk to could fuck up turning on thier computers.
The only complaint I have is the company's use of Lotus Notes. I mean GAH! The Mez said it would take me a bit to get used to it. I guess. As much as I don't like MS Office at least it makes more sense than Lotus. But, in the end, it's not worth starting a revolution over. So Lotus notes it is :-)
And if you thought Mesners mp3 collection at home was large, his archive at work is pretty impressive as well ;-)
| Date: | 2004-06-21 08:35 |
| Subject: | Well... |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  mmm - coffee |
An excellent Friday was a prologue to an excellent weekend.
A trip to the Weirdo Center for Father's Day gifts and a new wallet for myself turned into a crazy shopping spree; four pairs of pants, two sexy shirts, a sweater, a jacket and a pair of shoes later I am fully prepared to head to my new job (although I still need a wallet and methinks I may wander out this afternoon to see what I can find in that department).
It's strange, for the first time in my life I'll be working at a place that I actually want to dress nice for. Tara is worried that Mez is going to turn me into a Metal shirt, beer drinking hardcore boi... I think Mez should be more concerned about me turning him into a red wine sipping, Ella loving, GQ elitist ::grin::
Anyways...
Saturday night headed over to Juice's to format his computer (although I hate to tell him, the system I could build him for around 350 clams would trounce the shit out of his current one - but I understand if he doesn't want to pony up the dough yet). Good times as the computer did it's partition/format thing, just sat around and shot the shit with Juice as we haven't really spoken in over a year ...
Came home to dinner and wine and conversation and tried watching the Dave Chapelle Show ... on that I have no real opinion. Chapelle is OK, but both Tara and I are waiting for it to get really funny. So, he has moments, but not enough to warrant buying the set of DVD's.
Sunday was Father's Day with my boi. He and I joined the Tucker clan for brunch at Nickles (worst coffee EVER!!) and then headed off to see Harry Potter. Kailen sid he enjoyed it more than the first two (and this I agree with) but asked me a few questions about the story as he has not yet read the book. I tied a few things up for him story wise and he was cool with that.
Came back and played Quake 3, natch, and pool in the new games room downstairs then dropped him off with my ex. Was a good afternoon - and I'm glad that this new job understands what the fuck weekends are so I can actually plan things with Kailen and not have to worry about what days I'm working and all that crap that goes with employment at a full-on call center.
Hopped a bus and met Tara at her Dad's place for beer and burgers with Tara's Grandfather and his girlfriend , Tara's dad and his crazy crazy CRAZY wife then came home.
Sipped some wine, checked out more Chapelle then drifted off to sleep.
And that is that.
| Date: | 2004-06-19 15:30 |
| Subject: | Awesome. |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | :-) | | Music: | Radiohead - Kid A. |
Two full racks of ribs and a huge pile of chicken wings and a few cobs of corn devoured.
Two and a half cases of beer and six king cans of some weird, Mexican beer drunk.
An evening/late night of stories, laughs and awesome friends.
Balconville was rocking last night.
Mez, Dan, Katie, Michelle, Anna and Juice: Thanks for coming!
Had an awesome fucking time!! You all rule.
Three cowboys are sitting around a campfire, out on the lonesome prairie, each with the bravado for which cowboys are famous.
A night of tall tales commences.
The first says, "I must be the meanest, toughest cowboy there is. Why, just the other day, a bull got loose in the corral and gored six men before I wrestled it to the ground, by the horns, with my bare hands."
The second chimes in, "Why that's nothing. I was walking down the trail yesterday and a fifteen foot rattler slid out from under a rock and made a move for me. I grabbed that snake with my bare hands, bit its head off, and sucked the poison down in one gulp. And I'm still here today."
The third cowboy remained silent, slowly stirring the coals with his penis.
So I got bored for a minute and headed off to the Star Wars website to see what's up with Episode III. I'm kinda pissed because practically everything on the site that tells you anything good you have to pay for. What??? ummm, yah.
Anyways...
I tripped accross a Star War g33k form and the question of the day is:
What's going to be the first thing the newly suited Darth Vader will say?
There were a few, typical answers like: "Leave them to me" and "What is thy bidding my Master"
But then there were the peeps who were having fun:
"I look wicked in black. awesome, thanks palps!"
"Where is my wife?"
"Who's blacker now Mace??"
and my favorite:
"ksshh haaaaa ksshhh haaaaaa does this mask come with a built in bong? kssshhh haaaa, you better hope for my sake ksssshhhh haaaa that it does ksshhhh haaaaa.
sweet it does! kssshhhhhhhhhhhh ksh......ksh...........ksh....yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah"
SO...
What I want to know is what YOU ALL think the first thing Darth Vader will say in the new movie ...
And please, no serious answers.
| Date: | 2004-06-17 09:29 |
| Subject: | So... |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | ecstatic | | Music: | Tomahawk - Detroit bootleg |
I GOT IT !!!!!!!!
Next Wednesday, in the morning I might add, I start at the workplace of _descending_.
Needless to say I'm completely freaked out :-)
| Date: | 2004-06-16 11:46 |
| Subject: | More waiting ... |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  ... | | Music: | Probot |
Well, I got my three references in - now I wait.
la la la la ....
Soon I will know :-)
Have fun!!
(Note to lumpy_lia: This may not be for you.)
| Date: | 2004-06-15 10:30 |
| Subject: | GAH!!!! |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | eep. |
I am officially, totally paranoid.
:-\
Thanks for all the luck everyone...
So far this is the scoop. He wants to "check my references so he can get me in there ASAP."
Exciting - as that basically says that I have the job - just as soon as I call your referneces.
Slight problem here as I found out this afternoon ...
Reference one is a woman I have done web and video work with before (shut up all you dirty minded fuckers, NOT that kind of video web work). She said sure, no problem.
Reference number two is the man, the awesomest, the one and the only, _descending_ who I obviously cannot use as a reference since he works there...
Reference number three is no longer working at the school I was a teachers assistant at and I cannot get ahold of her.
Gah.
Luckily I managed to get a hold of one of my old supervisors from the animation studio and he said sure ...
Now I just need one more - preferably a supervisor/manager.
Ah vell ... my fingers are still crossed and Im waiting for a call from a third person as I like to let references know that they might be getting a call.
| Date: | 2004-06-14 10:39 |
| Subject: | Here goes ... |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | freaked... | | Music: | Interpol: Turn On The Bright Lights |
About to hop a bus for Interview number two.
A tad nervous and a lot stoked.
So with that...
| Date: | 2004-06-11 22:03 |
| Subject: | =) |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | ecstatic |
Go go Gadget GAP PANTS !!!!!
2nd interview: Monday @ 12:30.
|
:-\