Your Opinion Is Wrong™

We finally got a decent micromaphone. After a lot of running around (by Catherine), we also have an XLR-to-1/4inch lead to plug the bastard into things.

Now let the proper recording begin!

Apparently, somebody called Juelz Santana holds the world record in rhyming the same word with itself the most times in a single song (38).

Now that's...

*pause*

What's a word that could be used in place of 'talented', but isn't anywhere near as flattering?

Ah, yes. 'Persistent'.

A Dude Who Shall Remain Nameless sms'd me:

"Whats the really smart guy that does astronomy and is in a wheel chair"

After telling him via sms that I had no idea what he was on about, he called me up, just after it clicked as to who he was talking about:

"Now, when you say "does astronomy", do you mean "is currently an astronomer" (as opposed to "is currently studying astronomy")? And when you say astronomy, would actually mean physics, thus actually intending to refer to him as a physicist?"

"I don't know, the guy who's really famous. Everybody's heard of him for doing something really good in astronomy"

After making fun of him for a few minutes, I eventually gave him the answer.

We have a bird now. His name is Nimbin. He actually belonged to my sister, but he'd gotten rather depressed since they'd moved (probably on account of being stuck in a cage in a small room that nobody ever walks into and has lousy natural light), so would we mind taking care of him?

After a polite way of saying "Bugger off, just move the stupid mutant parrot out into the back room where there's enough light and another damn bird to keep him company", we ended up with the bird. Just for a "few days". Of course, that means that for a few days we'll look after him, and after that, we'll also receive his stand. Sigh.

I also saw one of the most irritating things ever on the way home a few nights ago. A bumper sticker on the back of a ute that read "Australia: Love it or leave it". Glad that there are still people in this stupid country who are essentially closet nazis who only tolerate free speech if it's patriotic. Tellingly, said bumpersticker was on the back of a dark blue V8 (very possibly a transplanted V8) Kingswood ute.

I know I'm generalising unfairly, but I can see that person kicking up a stink when they get pulled over for driving a defective vehichle (which I'd be willing to bet that it was). Or speeding (which he was). Love it or leave it, right?

Went drum-hunting with Lucas and Catherine yesterday. We went into Sunbeam Factory Warehouse before we went into Allans (it was just next door, and they were tarring up the parking spots in front of Allans), since I'd parked in one of their spots, in front of which there were many, many signs implying many (many, many) courses of action that I'd rather not have happen to me should we park there (not being customers). My memory's a little hazy, but I think the threats went along these lines:

- "Your car will be locked to the ground with one of those things that got the better of Homer Simpson in that episode with the immigrant food vendor. You know the one we mean."

- "We will tow your car away. Since it'd have one of those clamps on it by this stage, we'll tow MOST of your car. The front axle will probably end up staying here...and if you're really unlucky, some of the gearbox. If your car has a CVT, let us know how much it'll cost to fix it."

- "We'll call the police. We're not sure what they'll do to you. They may fine you. They may just make you do work for no pay or bathroom break. They may even send you away for service in the French Foreign Legion for ten years. That's if we didn't already break your gearbox."

- "Jesus is watching you!"

We ended up parking there and going into the store to loiter. Lucas had the most fun I've seen anyone have in a store that sells kitchen appliances, and I mean anyone. The staff were shooting us curious glances constantly as we made our way around the store, from little penguin-shaped waffle-makers and turkey basters that looked like artificial inseminators to toasters and...more waffle makers.

When we finally made it into Allans (we're thinking of investing in one of those 20-dollar penguin thingies, but we'll think it over...it's just a lot to fork over, that's all) we spent about 10 minutes looking at guitars. We DID go to look at drums, but since Catherine and I were there, it's kinda hard to keep us away from them. We went upstairs to look at drums, which was kinda uneventful. Lucas kept getting looks from the staff (it's happening again! It must be the hat!), so he only ended up making noise with one of those midi-drum set things. But we've settled on a plan: Catherine is getting a digital delay pedal (!!!) and we're getting drums second hand. Unlike a guitar, a drum is (within reason) a drum. One rarely purchases a drum online, only to recieve it with two tuning heads that don't work, a temperemental volume knob and a bent fretboard.

Often, so I'm told, drums don't have any of these things to begin with. Pfft.

Cheapskates.

...since your last post, Anna! WOOOOO!!!

Although I get the feeling you ain't gonna read this message.

Went to the Best Gig Ever last night...Catherine and I had tickets to see Sigur Rós, who're supporting their latest album right now. We almost didn't go, because I waited almost two weeks after they started selling tickets, and they'd nearly sold out. This meant we were stuck all the way at the back, despite our attempts to sneak in somewhere closer...Regardless, throughout the first couple of songs and the last one, they played with a screen in between them and the audience with all manner of lights happening behind them (yeah, Tool style...but somehow better...probably because of the fancy curtain!) and a small video snippet projected onto it (again, Tool style...but better...). This meant that you'd see flickering shadows of the band members (usually just the ones who were playing anything) on the screen, sometimes three times their actual size. As a result, us suckers at the back didn't miss out too much on the visual spectacle. Hooray!

Speaking of Tool (three strikes? pathetic, obsessed fan alert!) I'm waiting on their new damn album...less than a month, now...to tide me over, I've picked up Pork Soda (Primusy goodness!) as well as Opeth's Ghost Reveries (Dream Theatre-with Death-Growling! More often than not, but not always a Good Thing) and one of Porcupine Tree's many, many, many, many releases (thinking it was a proper album when it turned out to be something else...but that's Porcupine Tree for you). I've also checked FSOL's website three times in the past 48 hours. Again, that must mean I'm a pathetic, obsessed fan.

Still coming up with music for Poweranimal. Actively saving for a drum set now...going to try to get cash for one in two month's time. Let's hope I'm not being optimistic. I know I've already saved enough Froot Loops to lure a drummer into playing for us. Hi, Lucas!

Unfortunately, my damn bass decided to quit on me. One pickup went out. Not to worry though, I have 5 more pickups on the thing, so it's not all bad. BWAHAHAHAAHAHAAAAA!!! I'm going to hack at it with a soldering iron later, I can see where it got broke.

Catherine bought the first season of The Simpsons. Here I was, thinking I'd seen it all and that I'd be able to recite the entire thing word-for-word. Guess again. I've forgoten quite a lot of the first season, apparently. There's more life in the Simpsons yet! (at least from my point of view)

Just finished reading VAS: An Opera In Flatland. Three words:

Totally
Wierded
Out.

I'm going to inflict this book on other people, now.

Saw Dr Strangelove for the first time on Tuesday, even though I know the most important parts by way of many small references from the Fallout series (many, MANY small references), The Simpsons (Homer sitting on top of an antique nuke with a cowboy hat...although I'm not sure I should trust my memory where The Simpsons are involved any more) and the Smurfs (just kidding). It was fun!