- 06:54 Welcome to the new life, same as the old life. post.ly/GktH #
- 07:26 A few clips from my favorite Simpsons episode of all time. post.ly/Gl1H #
- 10:30 Working from home today, and jamming the Delfonics. Thank you, Jackie Brown. #
- 10:39 Working in Publisher 2010. The Ribbon is a hugely welcome addition. #
- 13:26 I favorited a YouTube video -- Never a Year Like '09 - JibJab youtu.be/eKYe1KiwywE?a #
- 15:12 Pretty sure a horrible headline involving a &quo t;strong air defense" will be made about this game. My poor Coogs. Ugh. #fb bit.ly/4KMu10 #
- 19:53 Ten years ago, I was a claims adjuster badly in need of adjustment. A correction I wouldn't find until the decade was almost over. #
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In 1999, the doomsayers predicted the end of the world as we know it - in the form of computers all over the world crashing because of the so-called millennium bug. It never made sense to me, I mean if it were a problem, couldn't you just change the date ?
I spent the New Year's eve in Vietnam, away from civilization. The next day, nothing changed. Not even an incident. All that scare were for thing. But it wasn't all for nothing, the Y2K bug inspired quite a few things - among them, music, televisions, and books.
WHO'S AFRAID OF Y2K?
geometrid.co.uk ♥ myspace.com
There was a period when I tracked down all the projects that were related to Belle & Sebastian, including The Gentle Waves/Isobel Campbell and Looper. Looper was was basically B&S's Stuart David and his wife, Karn, who actually met via penpalism (as told by their song, Impossible Things).
They did garner a bit of fame through "Mondo '77", a really great catchy "binary"-video gamey song (it's been featured in Vanilla Sky, video games, and anti-drugs commercials). But unfortunately, their third (and final?) album, The Snare did not have any really catchy songs. The ruder and darker themed album was due to David's book The Peacock Manifesto (whos character also appears on the cover and songs of The Snare).
Anyway, in 1999, Looper released a double A-Side called Who's Afraid of Y2K? and Up A Tree Again, which I picked up, among other singles, at a Flaming Lips show (Looper was opening up for the band).
Both are excellent songs, although there were two remixes of "Up A Tree Again". I normally don't like remixes, but these were pretty different from the original album (which actually sounds pretty stale compared to these upbeat mixes). The "singles mix" of "Up a Tree Again" was interesting to say the least, focusing mostly on the "la-na-na-na" section and DJ-scratches, while the Chocolate Layers remix was pretty much only the "la-na-na-na" section.
Looking back, I suppose "Who's Afraid of Y2K?" song was a bit of novelty. Ironically enough, the song was awashed in electronic quirks and beats - all the things that Y2K would've destroyed supposedly.
Currently, Looper's on hiatus. I haven't heard much in terms of a new David novel or Looper release. Most of the recent releases were made free on their website, geometrid.co.uk.
BRAVE OLD WORLD
dccomics.com/vertigo
I thought the concept behind this William Messner-Loebs-written Vertigo mini-series was interesting enough: a group of computer hackers working on a solution to the Y2K bug at the end of 1999 - only to find themselves in 1900.
The series explored some interesting concept, like what would you do, if you had all this computer/understanding of technology, only to be trapped in a world that still operated via candlelight? The women in the comics had it worst, let's face it, women didn't exactly have freedom back then. And if you were doing something strange, you're a witch and killed, etc.
So what's the group to do to try and back to 2000? They had to build a computer, by "inventing" their own technology.
Like I said, a very interesting concept. It sort of got a bit boring towards the end (by the last issue, I didn't really care for the characters so much).
Vertigo comics has yet to collect this in a trade, I suppose after the Y2K fiasco, it probably wouldn't be worth reading. I mean, we all know as fantastic as going back in 1900 would be, it didn't happen - just like the Y2K didn't happen. Still, if you want to re-live what it was like, or what Messner-Loebs was thinking back in 1999.
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR Y10K
Chances are, I'll be dead, so I wouldn't care so much what would happen. Wikipedia thinks it's a problem, but I suspect by the year 10,000, that our computing technology would be so advance, it wouldn't amount to anything.
Until then, have a great New Year. Take care of each other. I'll see you in 2010.
12/31/2009 22:29:36 ♥ vu (
) ♥weheartmusic.com♥twitter.com/weheartmusic♥news.weheartmusic.com
I could not let December end without commenting on one of my least favorite teams of the NFL, the notorious Philadelphia Eagles. Much like a moth dancing around a flame, the Eagles are always drawn near the NFL playoffs trying to be relevant in an increasingly AFC dominated NFL.
So, what's my gripe this time around?
Well, we all know that Philadelphia Eagles have no understanding of:
- How NFL Overtime Works
- How NFL Clock Management / Timeouts Work
- How NFL Challenges Work
Now we have a new item to add to the list. Apparently the Philadelphia Eagles have no understanding of the word "courage"...
The players of the Philadelphia Eagles have awarded Michael Vick the team's Ed Block Courage Award. "I've had to overcome a lot, probably more than one single individual can handle or can bear," Vick said of the honor. "You take a look at what I've been through, you ask certain people to walk in my shoes, they probably couldn't do it. Probably 95 percent of the people in this world -- because nobody had to endure what I've been through, situations I've been put in, situations I've placed myself in."
Yes, because no other convict has ever left prison to work at a job before Michael Vick. I can only imagine the amount of courage, soul searching, and intestinal fortitude that it took for him to return to regular practice, run a couple of plays a game, and then collect a two million dollar paycheck.
Sources:
- Donovan McNabb Didn't Know NFL Games Could End in a Tie
- NFL overtime rules? Don't ask McNabb
- Does Anyone Else Think Andy Reid Should Be Fired Immediately?
- Eagles-Cowboys: How One Call By Andy Reid Could Have Changed The Outcome
- Eagles-Cowboys Recap: Andy is #1
- Reid gets a little foggy on decision-making
- Michael Vick Wins Courage Award
- Michael Vick Doesn't Deserve a Courage Award
- Vick's Courage Award Sparks Controversy
- 20:38 @swanny We'll have to have a game. My top score is 94! #
- 20:40 Just been to see Nine with @adders and Dr T. Considering I hate musicals was really good, apart from Kate Hudson, should've been Winslet #
- 20:41 @rhino75 That's true a defeatist attitude at the start is not a good sign. #
- 21:03 Glad I recorded Jonathan Ross while I was away: Rihanna's shoulder pads and learning that you can get sat nav with Eddie Izzard's voice. #
- 08:18 Can someone please explain jet lag: I'm alternating between good and bad nights sleep. Feel most out of sorts this morning as a result #
- 08:39 Please to discover that my AtoZ goes out as far as Bromley. Now need to find my Barbour and wellies as it's virtually rural innit ;0) #
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#Poem (for a marriage): http://ping.fm/gamCV
Jaj, de sokat áztam-fáztam (Yay, I've Been Freezing: http://ping.fm/6W9BI #music #song
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- 12:49 @hprocksoff I had no idea there was a legacy edition of this record. One of my favorite records ever. #
- 21:48 Whatever the facts, Leach's public statement is refreshing in its candor and its bite. Much better than Tech's so far. bit.ly/83OZMt #
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Who did you meet this year who had a big impact on your life? Did you reconnect with any old friends? Who was there for you through it all?
This is definitely a question that is food for thought and not a quick answer.
Ok. Well in my working life then I'd have to say our new editor has had a big impact mainly because he seems interested in what I do and has re-awakened my creativity.
And personally then I think it is more a case of who has left my life because that has had the biggest impact. There are many people that I have met that have had an impact in some way though, for example meeting Polly who is a Twitter follower and followee and fellow avid theatre fan was great fun and we are meeting up again to go and see something in January.
Meeting the girls in Thailand was also fun and a bit inspirational as it showed me some new possibilities in my life and for similar reason's Vincent who gave some sage
advice.
I did reconnect with an old friend, Anna, whom I used to work with, which was great but need to make a bigger effort next year.
And my friends were there for me when I needed them the most. Jen for these reasons I've already posted but I have to also mention, Kate who has been my lunch time listener and adviser, Chris* who is always at the end of the phone offering sensible advice and making me laugh even when not having the best of times herself, Francesca my neighbour who is just a breath of fresh air and valuable wine buddy and last but not least Nadia who keeps me sane at work and instinctively knows
when not to hug me as it will set me off. And yes she does have a (toy) gun in her hand, how do you think she keeps me sane?
Oh and I mustn't forget Adam who is always the fount of
good sense.
I'm very lucky.
*Sadly can't find a digital pic of Chris so that is something else I need to sort out in 2010
It appears that Picklez's dream of portraying Snarf in the upcomming Thundercats movie are at an end. Warner Brothers has pulled the plug on the movie based on the 80s animated series Thundercats. Given the recent films, Transformers and G.I. Joe, I can only assume that this is a good thing.
Warner Brothers say "Thundercats, No"?
