Something I'd like to see in music...

This year has been the first real year I have ever truly paid attentions to music festivals in the United States and across the world. Before 2011, I had never heard of Coachella, Glastonbury or Splendour in the Grass. I had only heard of Woodstock and Lollapalooza but never gave them much thought. And thanks to Pandora and Hype Machine, I've discovered new music like Foster the People, Two Door Cinema Club and Florence and the Machine and rekindled my love for Coldplay and Foo Fighters. As I explored new music, I ran into tour information and was intrigued by these festivals.

I was really excited earlier this year when Youtube ran a live stream of Coachella, Vevo had one for Bonnaroo and Virgin Mobile Australia ran one for Splendour in the Grass. This weekend, Youtube is again streaming from Lollapalooza.

Unfortunately, there is a drawback as either there is no replay option or there is only one replay offered. It was a real struggle to stay up early hours to see Coachella or Splendour and it's a shame that I can't replay a performance whenever I want.

My Roku offers me a lot of services, from Netflix, Hulu, Crackle, Pandora, but it would just be amazing if there was a service that deals with live performances and major musical events. I'd like to have the ability to sit back and watch all of Splendour in its glory, I'd like to see the the grandeur of Glastonbury, the fireworks and light shows and everything else, I would love to have this experience. And I'm sure I'm not the only one here.

And I'd be willing to pay for it.

I am unlike any critic you've read...

A few months ago, I said that don't like being labeled a critic, and yet, people still think of me as one. But perhaps it's because I am the most unusual critic. And I have a wide and unusual taste in music. I enjoy the classic works by Beethoven, Mozart and Tchaikovsky.

As for music from the 20th century, I will always cherish Johnny Cash. I'll give props to the musicians of his early years, Patsy Kline, Buddy Holiday and Elvis but Cash was by far my favorite.

The 1960s is a decade I'd like to know more about, but from the soundtracks of movies set during those years, especially Vietnam movies, I liked what I had heard. Some notable favorites include The Beatles, The Doors and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

The 1970s is perhaps my least favorite decade of music. Had I been alive, I would have absolutely hated disco. But from this decade, came some of my favorites songs. The Who and Pink Floyd are on my playlists. And who could forget Sid Vicious's rendition of Frank Sinatra's "My Way"?

But of course, my absolute favorite song is an American classic. "American Pie" by Don McLean!

The 1980s is a time I can barely remember, and it would not be until my late teen years where I fully appreciated it. I would have to devote another article just for this decade, from A-ha to Men at Work on down to Wham! But I would have to say, The Cure's 1987 single "Just Like Heaven" is one of my all-time favorites from that decade.

The 1990s was the decade I went from a child to a teenager. And like the 1980s, I would have to write a separate article. But off the top of my head, it was the Alternative Rock scene that spoke to me. I would stay up past my bedtime to watch Alternative Nation on MTV (back when MTV still played music videos) and I had been exposed to The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Sponge but my all-time favorite 1990s band comes to us from Tempe, Arizona. Their debut album, New Miserable Experience, was one of the first cassettes I ever had!

As for music from the year 2000 on to today...I'm sure many will say that today's music is nothing compared to those of the past. And to a point, I'll agree. I could name off all the bands and artists I could do without, but it'd take me into 2012 to finish.

But I can say, that in recent years, I have become a fan of several bands. Particularly in the Indie Rock scene. But for now, I will end this musical carousel with one of my most recent favorites...I am talking about...Coldplay!

So, that should cover my wide arrange of taste in music. I'm sure it's some that people will recognize, some will loathe and some will be in shock to how I can enjoy such noise. I can't really explain it. Like I said before, I hate being called a music critic because music is something for each individual personality. I can't stand modern day country music and heavy metal rock and 1990s R&B are two genres I found myself avoiding. But I know that there's a lot of people out there who love it. And I will respect that.

As for me, I can only tell you what the music reminds me and why I particularly like it or don't like it. I can't flat out trash an artist and I will never do that. It's your choice whether you want to watch the videos I post or buy the album. I am only here to introduce you to the artists, videos and songs.

Music Spotlight: Grouplove

Very few times has a new song played on the radio and I didn't change the station. It happens a lot. The first time I heard "Shake Me Down" by Cage the Elephant, I turned it off. It was only a few days later where I heard the rest of the song, did I not only embrace it, I bought it on iTunes. When I first heard "Colours" by Grouplove, I was hooked from the start.

They are based out of Los Angeles, California and the members are Christian Zucconi (Lead Vocals and Guitar), Hannah Hooper (Vocals), Andrew Wessen (Guitars), Ryan Rabin (Drums) and Sean Gadd (Bass).

In an interview, Zucconi and Hooper met in New York City and would go on to meet the other three members in an art residency on the Greek island of Crete. From there, they planned their music and upon returning to the States, recorded their material at Rabin's home studio.

They appeared at SXSW 2011, The Carson Daly Show and have opened up for Florence and the Machine and Cold War Kids. They are currently set to appear in the UK in May for the NME Radar Tour with Anna Calvi.

Their self-titled EP has 6 songs on it and has been meet with positive reviews. For me, they remind me of The Pixies and Modest Mouse. After listening to "Colours" for a dozen times, I cannot wait for more from Grouplove.

Music Critic? Not me!

Recently, I was with friends, driving through International Drive with "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros playing and the idea came up that I should become a music critic. Although flattered, I'm not sure I would enjoy having that title. I do not believe in music critics.

I do love music and I've been told I have a unique taste. I actually didn't get into music until around 1994, anything else I had heard was just through kids singing pop tunes on the school bus. So, "Whoomp there it is", "Baby Got Back" and "Jump Around" were songs I had heard second hand. By middle school, I was aware of pop music and enjoyed it, but it wasn't until MTV's late night Alternative Nation and VH1's Crossroads that exposed me to the alternative scene. The Smashing Pumpkins, Hootie & the Blowfish, Goo Goo Dolls, Weezer, Dave Matthews and Gin Blossoms were some of the first musical acts I had ever gotten into. In fact, it was "Molly" by Sponge as the first song I ever recorded on video tape and played over and over again.

And over time, my interests would grow, with Counting Crows, Bush, No Doubt and The Wallflowers. Around high school, I made my way into Prodigy, Moby, Fatboy Slim, Daft Punk and other techno and electronic artists. No, I was never into the rave scene, but I did enjoy the music. I might be the only guy who can jam to Trance Power without being inebriated. During my last years of high school, I also enjoyed emo rock like Saves the Day, The Get Up Kids, Dashboard Confessional and The Starting Line.

While in college, I started to get into indie rock acts such as The Shins, Bloc Party, Postal Service and Deathcab for Cutie. I also became a fan of Coldplay and Jack Johnson.

In recent years, I usually find out about music through video games, television ads, Youtube and Pandora. These days, my iPod is usually set to Phoenix, TV on the Radio, Vampire Weekend and MGMT.

So, I know I have an usual taste in music that spans over several genres and brands. One thing that is not on my iPod is country music. I could never get into it. Many times, I just want to drill a hole into my brain when I hear it. Although I do enjoy Johnny Cash and I dug Lady Antebellum before "I Need You Now" became radio overkill. But, I do know that country is popular, my father and several friends can't get enough of it. That is one reason why I know I cannot be amusic critic, for I do not have an open mind for all music like I do with movies and television.

The other reason is that I actually hate music critics. It's my personal belief that no one person can really critique or judge music to the point that it becomes “Don't listen to the Paper Tongues, but do listen to Britney Spears!”. Just like how I can't really push people who hate techno... listen to Cut Copy or Chemical Brothers. Electronic beeps and repetitive lyrics are not music to some. But its the lifeline to others.

Everyone has different tastes in music. Green Day is not The Sex Pistols. Ace of Base is not ABBA. Oasis is not The Beatles. Edward Sharpe is not Johnny Cash. Justin Timberlake is not Elvis. And no one should compare or critique any of those musicians. It just cannot be done.

What I can do is...report on music.

I can tell you about the band, their history, their songs, their albums, where they've come from and where they're trying to go. I can't sway anyone to go out and buy the album or see them in concert. But I can at least introduce you to them, give you a Youtube link and the rest of up to you.

So, let's start tonight. The band is called Foster the People. They are an indie rock band out of Los Angeles, California. The band consists of Mark Foster (vocals and keyboard), Mark Pontius (drums) and Cubbie Fink (bass and backing vocals). They started back in October of 2009. They gained popularity through The Hype Machine and SXSW. At the moment, they only have an EP out, with 3 of their songs available for iTunes purchase. Their upcoming album, Torches, will be released on May 24, 2011.

Their current single, "Pumped Up Kicks", is a song I first heard on 97X out of St. Petersburg, FL. It has a very catchy beat but with somewhat dark lyrics. It reminds me of "Jamie's Got a Gun"by Aerosmith, another popular and catchy song with very dark words. Regardless, it's a song that I have come to love and I play it as I drive out in my car. They are currently on tour as we speak and are scheduled to appear that the 2011 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (April 15, 16 and 17) in Indio, California. . I will leave you with the Youtube video.

Sweden has given me such great inspiration

During the past few months, I've come to realize just how much I really do enjoy Swedish entertainment.

Music:

One of my favorite songs of all time comes from Peter Bjorn and John with their 2006 hit single 'Young Folks'. It was off of their album, Writer's Block. It is a very catchy tune and if I could whistle the tune, I would! In fact, the whistling in the song did remind me of the 'oriental rift'. The female vocals were provided by Victoria Bergsman.

Literature:

In recent years, it's a shame that Stieg Larsson is no longer alive to see just how his Millennium series has caught on like wildfire. 'The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo,' 'The Girl Who Played with Fire' and 'The Girl Who Kicked a Hornet's Nest.' The series follows the dark journey of Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist. It deals with very dark subjects such as rape and incest. Larsson had witnessed a gang rape as a teenager and it affected him for the rest of his life and may have fueled his inspiration for the Lisbeth character.

Cinema:

Larsson's Millennium series also gave rise to the trilogy of movies. They captured the dark atmosphere of the stories quite well. But my favorite Swedish movie is actually the 2008 horror film Let the Right One In, which is based off of the 2004 John Ajvide Lindqvist novel by the same name. It is a vampire movie that is basically what Twilight is not. It is a love story, but simplified between a boy and who he thinks is a girl. It is innocent yet harsh. And I was in a complete state of awe by the end of the movie. The U.S. remake Let Me In was good, but I still preferred the original.

The past:

One can't forget about the past with Sweden. Seven Nobel Prizes in Literature came from Sweden. Cinematic artist/filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, actresses Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman all made their impact in movies. And who could forget the 4th best selling musical act in pop music...Abba. The band was before my time, and I still enjoy a little Dancing Queen from time to time.

In conclusion, I just wanted to share my recent love of Sweden and everything this great nation has given the world.

Review: The Battle of Algiers

I've recently watched the 1966 Italian war movie 'The Battle of Algiers', which recreated the events of Algerian War (1954-1962), which was the war between the occupying French forces and the Algerian FLN. It was directed by Gillo Pontecorvo and the cast was made up of mainly unknown actors and actresses, many of the extras were Algerians. The film starts in the Casbah during November 1954 with a great introduction to Ali la Pointe, a convicted criminal who would become a guerilla leader for the FLN. It would display the first signs of resistance as guerillas murdered French police officers in broad daylight and women hid bombs in their purses and left them in public places. I'll admit, for a 1966 movie, these acts shocked me, and I'm certain it shocked the audiences decades ago. After the chaotic scenes of terrorism, the French call in the Paratroopers, who are led by a man who had seen action during World War II, Indochina and the Suez Canal.

The Paratroopers dominate the Casbah, going door-to-door, hunting for guerillas, using methods of torture such as electrocution and burning, which again, I'm sure stunned the original audience. What was omitted (perhaps for production costs) were the so-called Death Flights, where paratroopers took the arrested out to sea by helicopter, weighted them down and threw them into the water. The main story would end when the Paratroopers were able to hunt the guerillas down to the last man. However, 2 years later, the new uprising began and this time, the French could not keep this resistance down. The film ended where the French asked over a loudspeaker, what is that the Algerians wanted. The answer...to paraphrase...'Independence...Pride...Freedom!'

It was a beautiful resistance film, even if the rebels were part of a group we do not idolize. Speaking of which, it became hard to identify who the heroes and who the villains were, but I think that's where Pontecorvo was taking us...to show that in these circumstances, there are clear cut definitions of heroes and villains.

Today, another North African nation is undergoing its own rebellion...Libya. And perhaps one day, we may get another critically acclaimed film about their uprising.

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Charlie Sheen...

I was going to save this rant for Where is My Remote but I feel I must strike this issue while it's hot. And the issue is...Charlie Sheen.

Before Sheen's outburst, Two and a Half Men was one of the most top ten watched television shows this season. And amidst the drunken and domestic violence at home, it looked like CBS was going to stand by one of their top ratings contenders no matter what. Much like how WWE chairman Vince McMahon would stand by any wrestler caught with steroids...as long as they were a top drawer for the company. It was the same with Sheen, the guy could have gone on and slept with hookers left and right and he'd still have a home with CBS.

But...things obviously changed when Sheen turned on creator Chuck Lorre. He showed anti-Semitic views as he referred to Lorre as Chiam and Hymie. Then, had the nerve to say that he was the show.

No no no no...Charlie Sheen...let's get facts straight. Without Chuck Lorre's comedic genius...you would not even have a show. Turn back the clock before Two and a Half Men...you had just ruined Spin City for everyone, and your movie career was far removed from your prime time in the 1980s. You were a Mighty Ducks movie away from becoming like your brother, Emilio Estevez.

But, just to keep score, let's skim through Mr. Sheen's career over the years, shall we?

1984...'Red Dawn'...a pop culture icon where high school students repel a Soviet Invasion of America. Sheen played the younger brother of Patrick Swayze. It also starred C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson and Jennifer Grey. Trivial Pursuit players should always remember 'WOLVERINES!!!'

1986...a quick reunion with Jennifer Grey at the police station scene in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'. But, in the same year, he would star in the eventual Academy Award winning movie about Vietnam, 'Platoon'. It was his first lead role and evidence in time that the man could act. He was also in a personal favorite of mine, 'The Wraith' where he played a vengeful spirit killing street racers in his super turbo charged car.

1987...Sheen would star in the movie that flat out defined the greediness and veneer of 1980s's Corporate America...'Wall Street'.

1988...He played in 'Eight Men Out', about the 1919 Chicago Black Sox Scandal, along with John Cusack and John Mahoney. Afterwards, he was in a young ensemble cast alongside his brother, Emilio Estevez, Keifer Sutherland and Lou Diamond Phillips, as the movie put a spin on the legend of Billy the Kid. Despite being #1 at the box office, historians slammed it as being the most historically inaccurate Billy the Kid movie.

1989...After being incriminated in Eight Men and dying in Young Guns, Sheen took a comedic turn with 'Major League', as Ricky 'Wild Thing' Vaughn. Tom Berenger, Wesley Snipes and Corbin Bernsen co-starred.

1990...He once again played in a movie alongside Emilio, as an oddball garbage pick-up crew in 'Men at Work'. Then, he played opposite Clint Eastwood in the police movie, "The Rookie". One would think it would have been a success...except it opened in the wake of 'Home Alone'.

1991...Sheen was in the action movie spoof 'Hot Shots'.

1993...He was in the sequel to Hot Shots and The Three Musketeers.

1994...Skydiving with a Ferrari was the only part I can recall in 'Terminal Velocity', as well as kidnapping Kristy Swanson with a candy bar in 'The Chase'. And finally, he wrapped up the year in 'Major League II', which lost to D2: The Mighty Ducks at the box office.

1996...a mediocre alien movie, 'The Arrival'.

1997...he played opposite Chris Tucker in 'Money Talks', which had its moments.

1999...he played himself in 'Being John Malkovich'.

2002...he killed Spin City.

2003...Scary Movie 3...

So, an appearance in a God awful parody franchise was where his career was at before Two and A Half Men hit its stride and saved his career. He is no longer the young upstart actor he was in the 1980s...and I really do not see anymore Academy Award material headed his way...Two and a Half Men was all this man really had. I imagine much of the show's success fuels his hooker and drug addictions.

So, what happens to the show?

Honestly, Chuck Lorre and CBS have every right to pull the plug and cancel the show entirely. I would understand if Lorre said 'I do not want to work with this man, ever again!"

However, if these are the final weeks of the show, I would hope that after nearly a decade...CBS, Lorre and Sheen can agree to terms to give the audience a proper send off. Nearly a decade, it's almost expected. Because I feel if this story abruptly ends without closure...it'll have as much syndication expectations as Shasta McNasty. Okay, that was a little rough...but, after Roseanne won the lottery, the show lost its credibility with me and I can no longer enjoy the reruns of Roseanne because of how crappy the show ended. And the same will go for Two and a Half Men if it comes down to that.

As for Sheen...a message...Don't ever think you make the show. You might be out there on the screen, you might be pulling in the ratings...but without the writers, without the creator...You'll find yourself sitting next to Emlio, thinking 'What the Hell happened?:

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Hollywood's Bust and Sleeper Pick

Those are terms I've borrowed from fantasy football. A bust being someone drafted with high expectations but being an utter disappointment and a sleeper being someone who unexpectedly obtains success and recognition. I bring these terms up because I've found a Hollywood Bust and a Hollywood Sleeper pick from a 2009 movie.

Jennifer's Body

It starred Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried. I never actually watched it, nor do I intend to. If it's eye candy they're trying to target me with, I'm fine with just the DVD cover. As for the plot, from what I've gathered, Fox is a flag girl/cheerleader who is killed during a cult sacrifice and comes back as a flesh eating demon. Her friend, played by Seyfried, tries to put a stop to her murderous rampage.

It was written by Diablo Cody, the same writer who gave us the 2007 Academy Award winning movie, Juno. It was Cody's first completed screenplay and she won the Oscar for it. So, why didn't lightning strike twice for Cody?

I can only think of one thing. The Hollywood Bust(no pun intended)...Megan Fox.

I'll admit, Fox is a very attractive young woman. But that's where my compliments end. She is not a leading actress. Plain and simple. Her time on Transformers was heavily overshadowed by giant robots and explosions. Yes, the image of her bending over the engine of Bumblebee was somewhat memorable...but it certainly was no Ursula Andress rising out of the water in Dr. No. And Fox's body cannot compensate for her irritating voice, her mediocre acting skills and should I even mention her life in reality? I'll peck at it. The tattoos...a few tattoos here and there can be alluring, but when she's trying to compete with a 1930s circus sideshow act...it's ridiculous. But even more annoying, is her attitude. She's not part of the third Transformers movie because of it. And I'm glad. Reports said this girl was incredibly rude and offensive on-set, and very ungrateful towards Michael Bay. Before Michael Bay came along, the only real movie in Fox's credits were 'Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen' with Lindsey Lohan. I unfortunately did see that movie...I wish I didn't. And a few single episode appearances on shows like 'What I Like About You' and 'Two and a Half Men'. For better or worse, the Transformers movies put her name on the damn map. And she had the nerve to bite the hand that fed her a fame she would have never have received from anyone else. Ungrateful and undeserving.

The Hollywood Sleeper...Amanda Seyfried

When compared to a girl who is of Irish, French and Native American descent, it was hard for me to see Seyfried as super attractive. But, that no longer matters. Seyfried doesn't need to look like Megan Fox to win over the box office. She started her career in 2000 on As the World Turns for 27 episodes and 3 episodes on All My Children afterwards. She would also play the murdered friend in 'Veronica Mars', a fairly successful but short lived show. Seyfried also landed a lead role in HBO's 'Big Love' series. Her first movie role was in 2004's successful comedy 'Mean Girls'. Oddly enough, another Lindsey Lohan movie. She had a supporting role in 2005's 'Alpha Dog' and her first leading role in 2009's 'Mamma Mia!', which, despite mediocre reviews, became the highest-grossing musical film of all-time.

2009...Fox and Seyfried starred in Jennifer's Body. Despite expectations of young men lining up to see Megan Fox...the film opened at #5, proving that without giant robots, Megan Fox cannot draw in a crowd.

Since the movie...

Even though she's still made several 'hot' lists, Megan Fox has only completed two movies. 2010's 'Jonah Hex', which opened at #7 (did Josh Brolin have gambling debts to pay off? Was he this desperate for a role??) and Passion Play, a film to be released this year, and from what I've heard, is going to make Hex look like MacBeth.

As for Amanda Seyfried, she has defined the Hollywood sleeper...an unexpected rise in her career. In 2010, she starred opposite Channing Tatum in 'Dear John', which knocked 'Avatar' out of first place. She also played a lead role in the erotic thriller 'Chloe' and the moderately successful 'Letters to Juliet'. This weekend, she puts a new take on the old fairy tale, 'Red Riding Hood'. And set for release this October, is a science-fiction movie called 'Now', where people pay to stay alive, literally buying time.

So basically, Fox is pretty much like Carol Alt right now, just making the magazine hot lists, while Seyfried actually has an acting career. And I've seen most of Seyfried's movies, she can act and she can hold my attention. In 2004, if you were to tell me the ditzy blonde in 'Mean Girls' was going to be the lead, I would have snickered. But now, when I see someone playing a small or supporting role, I'll keep my eye out for them.

As for Megan Fox...if she actually had talent, she could have been the next Wonder Woman or Lara Croft, she could have been the next Angelina Jolie. But now, she's well on her way to becoming the next Denise Richards.

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My take on Persepolis (2007 film)

Persepolis is a 2007 animated film based on the graphic novel of the same title. It's based on the true story of artist/writer Marjane Satrapi and her struggles during her teenage years in the worst time to be a teenager...1978 Iran.

The story uses real stylistic black and white animation, much like the graphic novel. The plot also does a great job filling the audience in on the 20th century history of Iran, from how the Shah came into power, the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and the Iraq-Iran War of 1980-1988. But the main focus of the story was on Marji, the innocence of her childhood, the dark realization of the new regime, her young rebellious teenage years in Tehran and her preparatory years in Austria, her return to Iran for college and beyond. There were a few odd moments, for better or worse, her grandmother's remarks on her height and Marji's rendition of 'Eye of the Tiger'. But what made up for that was the life lessons for Marji and how to never deny who you really are and to seek freedom. My only real complaint was about the DVD. The original version was in French, but it does give you the English option, which led to the problem that some of the French lines do not match English subtitles. And I understand the poignant relationship between Marji and her grandmother...but I felt the ending could have been so much better. Regardless, I see why it had been nominated for Best Animated Feature, but it lost to Ratatouille.

Persepolis took a character and a dangerous background with dark history and blended them beautifully.

My rating: 10/10

The trailer:

What other thing interested me was that there is an uprising all through the Middle East and North Africa and it reminded me of this movie.

Enjoy!

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A song that I've really grown to love in the past few days.

It's by a band called Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. 'Home' has been featured in an NFL commercial and I think a movie soundtrack. They're not a true country western band, but the lead singer grew up listening to Johnny Cash and Patsy Kline. And they're played on David Letterman and were at Bonaroo.

And I normally do not like anything that resembles country western but this song has won me over and I just feel so much inspiration from it.

The Plot Book

I recently read an article through the Twitter feed Advice to Writers about the plot book vs. the writer's notebook. All this time, I thought I kept things in a notebook when it turned out, I've been keeping a plot book since 2005. I found out I am a fairly organized person, a real 'a place for everything and everything in its place' kinda guy...well, in writing at least.

Can't say the same for my closet. Haha.

I know some people who can just hit the keyboard and spew forth chapter after chapter. And I can honestly say, I can't do that. I can't blindly charge into a story.

I look at writing like I'm an architect. I'm setting out to build something. A story, with characters that need to be cared for, with dialogue reserved just for them and a setting that is as carefully crafted as a Michelangelo sculpture. As an architect, I'm really trying to strive for beauty as well as near perfection...but most importantly, as an architect, I need my work to stand on its own.

Therefore, I live by the plot book. I'm currently on my third one. And it's been a real trial and error process, as my first plot book, despite having so many ideas, was just all over the place...I wrote notes within other notes, and I would now need several hours to sift through the garbage to get to the gold.

Now, as I work on my third, I've gone to the trouble of splitting it into sections and numbering each page. I've got a section for plot ideas, a section for names I would consider for characters, places, things, I've got a section for notes and a section for miscellaneous items like title ideas. And it is a nice small size, something I can throw into my pack and go.

So, using a plot book, I intend on keeping all my ideas on paper, with possible chapter-by-chapter steps and guidelines. It will also record my thought process as well.

Years ago, as an art student, an instructor tried the same method with drawing and painting and I remember groaning, going how much I just wanted to immerse myself into a project and not think. Now, I see why he devised that plan. And the same has applied to my writing.

If you can dive headfirst into writing a story, more power to you. But if you're struggling to get through, then I highly recommend the plot book. Just a few dollars at any Target!

Starting Over

Okay, I decided to restart my blog for the third time. I'm not really sure what or how but I'll figure it out over time. Basically, I'm starting over based on the advice that a blog should just reflect who you are. And as much fun as it was, giving out advice, I found that I wasn't following it myself.

So, if this blog is a reflection of me...then let's just start with the basics and not-so-basics...

1: I used to want to be an artist...for the longest time too...only in recent years did I find out I had a deeper passion for writing.

2: Despite not being into art, I would like to get back into it, but just for me. I would like to have an online art gallery in the future.

3: I'll admit...I have so many regrets...but what guy doesn't? I just try to let go of the past...so what happens when the past won't let go of me?

4: I'm addicted to Twitter...but Tumblr confuses the hell out of me.

5: I have a very unique taste in music, as I seem to like bands and acts that nobody has really heard of...for the most part, I love Indie Rock and 1990s Alternative Rock. Bands like the Gin Blossoms, Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Sponge, all rest on my iPod playlist. I also love acts like Phoenix, Matt & Kim and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

6: Speaking of music, if anyone remembers the annoying song "Blue" by Eiffle 65...I actually enjoyed the album and wish they had selected anything else other than that awful song. Funny how that works, it's the same with Vampire Weekend, I don't like their single but I enjoy the rest.

7: Back to the regrets thing...even though my life hasn't turned out the way I had hoped...I am thankful for the people I've met, the friends I've made and the family that I have left.

8: I tend to mask my emotions, it's an old habit and now, I can't seem to stop it...some see this as me not being myself and I apologize.

9: I love cars and yet, I'm still learning about them. I've learned more about driving from the anime 'Initial D' then from anyone else.

10: I know I have a problem with social media addiction and I know I need to put an end to it...what a time to restart my blog, huh?

11: At times, I wonder what my life would be like had I pursued my interests in law, marine biology, criminology, history, graphic design or even teaching...but then I think, I probably wouldn't have had as many ideas if I went down those pasts.

12: I always wondered about being a drummer...but time playing Rock Band pretty much killed that fantasy.

13: I hate how smart phones have taken over so many people my age and have reduced us to chimps stuck in a digital loop. What happened to the days when men worked on cars?

14: I've been to Boston twice, and I left my heart there.

15: Honestly, I feel like the little boat in The Perfect Storm...at the part where that giant wave is about to engulf it. But...can't really explain it, I still feel optimistic.

16. Get to know me. I'm pretty amazing.