Salvation

So been listening to a lot of good music lately. I have recently decided to rate all the music in my iTunes library. That's a lot of music, but it is fun listening through all the Foo Fighters song's and rating them. I got the idea after listening to Green Day's new album a lot, and most of the songs are 5 stars, but there are some 3 or 4's between them, so I needed to mark them. Back in the day listening to a CD I could remember the track number and then just play those tracks.

Went to see the new Star Trek movie the other week. A lot of lens flare. Everywhere. I think JJ Abrams has been playing with After Effects and went a but nuts. But a decent enough film. I don't really know the whole Star Trek story but I could tell who was who. And it was worth it to see Simon Pegg and his faux Scottish accent. Excellent. Lot's of explosions and action, and not too sci-fi so was quite surprised. Then I went to see Terminator Salvation. After T3 this had to do the business to bring the franchise back to the masses. And with McG and Christian Bale it has done the job. Action all the way really, but great action. It ties up a lot of story arcs and sets everything up for future movies. I would brush up on your Terminator knowledge beforehand though.

Going through a period of watching old horror movies. So The Exorcist, Amityville Horror, The Omen, Poltergeist etc etc. It's fun watching old movies and then seeing the remakes.

Started drawing again. Worked on an illustration piece last week which might go up on my site soon. Need a scanner and a printer to really get into it, and colour digitally. So soon. Also planning on doing some self-initiated work over the next year. Some corporate design for fake companies, music promotion for fake bands etc. Hopefully I can have a body of good work by the time I come home and maybe setup a freelance career.

Need to start running again. On my todo list.

21st Century Breakdown

The new Green Day is one of the best things to happen to music in 2009. Album of the year? Possibly. If you thought American Idiot was a masterpiece, wait until you hear the operatic performance of 21st Century Breakdown. Hit after hit after hit, the live show is going to go off!

House has finished for another season. And what a finale. House is off to the funny farm after trying to detox but actually getting totally cained for the whole episode, and then everything starts to come down around him. 24 is wrapping up nicely. One more season, and then a movie. It's time I think. Scrubs has finished with a very well shot episode. One of the best end's to a whole show I have seen. Handled very well for a comedy. And then I hear the news they are bringing it back for another season sans Zach Braff and the rest of the cast. No. Just no. After diving into The Mentalist only a few weeks ago the final episode will be upon us soon. One of my favourite TV characters for sure. And Lost. Well, if you know what's going on in Lost then don't tell me. Im happy with my version of events. Prison Break has been on a major hiatus and is back to wrap everything up before finishing for good. Shame really.

If you like Grand Prix then you should be happy with the season so far. Brawn GP are kicking ass and taking names. Persoanlly I thought Spain would be a season restart, but Ferrari and Mclaren are still struggling and Button is still going at it. Contender for the season? Too early? I don't think so.

Also if you like mountain biking then the UCI DH World Cup has just had round 3, and Steve Peat is leading the way overall, and setting a new record of 17 World Cup wins! Go Steve. You can watch it live on freecaster which is awesomeness all over.

Went to see Angels And Demons yesterday. As a film, it is a good one. Action, adventure, suspense, murder, all that jazz. If you have read the book then it will annoy you. Major parts have been left out or changed. It's a long book, but still. Terminator coming out next week. See how Christian Bale does playing John Conner.

If you like irreverant, witty banter head over to my mate Dave Cochrane's blog for a healthy dose of sarcasm.

I am Wolverine

Today I went to see the new X-Men film, 'X-Men Origins : Wolverine' and it's a beast! One of the better films that have been released of late. Going back to how Wolverine became, well, Wolverine. And it's much better than Hugh Jackman in lycra. Jeans and a check shirt all the way! But a really good story sticking close to the comic I imagine. It's well paced and the finale comes on quick without too much paff. It's too bad they couldn't have cast Liev Schreiber as Sabretooth in the previous films, but that would be breaking rules of time and space. But he really is a great Sabretooth, much better than the chump that played him in the other X-Men films. Much more switched on. A lot of questions are answered, and the cameos of the young X-Men is a good touch. Overall well worth spending the time to endulge in some ass-whooping.

May is squaring up to be a good month in some respects. It's my birthday! Green Day and Eminem release albums. Much anticipated. And most TV shows have their season finales. Lost, Prison Break, House, The Mentalist, 24. What will I do all summer?

Heads Roll Off

I haven't had much to say for the last while so I haven't posted anything. Deal with it.

But now I feel like writing something here. So here goes.

A lot has happened since the last post. I was in Glasgow for six months or so, working at Apple and being generally bored with it. Moved into a flat on the southside of Glasgow (sssh, don't tell anyone). Actually the southside is fine. What's the big deal! It's cheaper and kind of just as easy to get into town. In the six months I started to learn to skateboard, rode my bike some, climbed a few more Munros (check Steve's blog for info) and embarked on an ill-fated expedition to the West Highland Way. And now I have arrived in South Korea, where I will be for the next year. I am teaching English, which is rubbish, but being somewhere new and exciting is good. And it's a good base to explore Japan etc. So go read my blog all about my time in Korea here and enjoy my inane ramblings.

I guess I will keep this up to date with other life stuff, like my new website which is blocked in China! www.blackmintdesign.co.uk.

More to come I imagine.

Next Year

I think a lot of things will have changed. I am the process of changing right now. Trying to find somewhere to live in Glasgow until I move on again. Its a massive headache sometimes.

Was out riding the other day and I got a good run down the North Third, the new brakes are amazing and actually make me go faster. Go figure. But I hike up the fire road for another run, and right before the trail head I roll over some rocks and I hear 'pffffffffffttttttttt'. My rear inner tube had just exploded. What the!? I mean come on. Right as I was about to set off. So I had to hobble back down the fire road, cursing the whole way.

Yesterday was a nice day so my mum and I went for a walk around the lower half of Dumyat. It was good, not too warm, but warm enough and a nice gentle breeze. Was good to get out for a bit.

So I am off for a while, back at work on Friday. So will try and get some stuff done this week. Going to redo the website again so stay tuned.

That's about it.

The Vanishing

I have heard what I think personally is one of the best albums ever. It is by a band called Brand New, and the album is called 'The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me'. It is such a full and complete album, very technical with lots of winding guitars. But very easy to listen to. It is not an album full of radio-friendly one hit wonders, but more of a long-term investment. Think slight Modest Mouse but with tones of Six By Seven, but with a very current feel. Its good. Listen to it now.

I got some new brakes for my bike yesterday. A pair of Hayes 203mm mechanical disc brakes. They are absolutely killer. Will stop me on a dime no problem.

Going to view two flats tomorrow. One in Ibrox and one in Dennistoun. Both look good, so will hopefully get one soon. Will be nice to move into somewhere new and have some more space, and living back in Glasgow will be good fun.

Still looking forward to when Steve and I can hit up the West Highland Way. Need to wait for his leg to heal and for me to get some time off again. Might be doing some hills this weekend so can add them to the list.

Check this website out. It is for the new Truativ HammerSchmidt cranks. Very nice technology. An internal front derailleur system which allows you to shift without even pedalling and gets rid of the front mech. It blows my mind with how it works, but its good progress to getting rid of derailleurs for good.

When Your Heart Stops Beating

Well, the plan was to head off on the West Highland Way this morning, but Steve has tendonitis from his trek in the Pyrenees. So we are postponing it for another time. Which means I now have three days off, which is kind of nice. Will try and see The Dark Knight, go hiking, and do some biking.

Just got the +44 album, the project by Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus of Blink 182. Its a decent album, which I guess does the job. Found a new band after hearing a song by them on one of the display iPod's at work. Red Jumpsuit Apparatus have been around for a few years and have released a really good record. Power-pop-punk or something, not sure what to call it really. But good tunes. Finch are coming back soon with new material. Stay tuned.

That's it for now.