May 2009 Archives

[Moozik: Nine Inch Nails - In This Twilight]

The other day someone asked me if I'd ever done the cheese rolling thing.

Them: You're from England, have you ever done that cheese rolling thing?
Me: Er what cheese rolling thing would that be then?
Them: You know, that one they do in England, down that hill.
Me: ??

Every once in a while I'm reminded that while I'm from England, I'm not automatically an expert in everything that goes on in England. This would be one of those times. In fact over the years I've had to explain that I'm also not an expert on Castles, Polo, MI-6, or Benny Hill but that's another blog post for another day.

So obviously I had to go and find out what cheese rolling thing they were talking about. I must admit, shame on my nation that I am, I've never heard of the Cooper's Hill cheese roll in my life. But there you go. No matter of course, and as it turns out, absolute nutters we Brits are.

I'd certainly have a good laugh watching them in person. Watching with beer obviously.

Again, all credit to Big Picture for some amazing photos. Go have a peek at them.

[Moozik: Pixies - Planet Of Sound]

Remember back in the good old days when you'd buy something and you'd get a tiny receipt in return? Good times they were. Yesterday I went to Home Depot to buy a tiny pack of screws and a diet coke.

I really don't think they've wasted enough paper on that receipt to be honest. What I want is a receipt that I can use to wrap a present with. I'm sure in a couple of years I'll have my way.

[Moozik: Underworld - Moaner]

Recently I've noticed that I don't post here anywhere near as often as I used to and wasn't really sure what to put my blogger's block down to. Well, until yesterday that is. Dan wrote an interesting post that linked to something Simon wrote about the impact Twitter has on your blogging. Go read both, I'll wait.

There are some good points in there. Maybe Twitter does indeed eat away at those creative flashes of inspiration you have throughout the day. For me personally, I'm finding it so much easier to post random thoughts to Twitter than compose a lengthy blog post. I wonder if that will continue and for how long?

[Moozik: Rammstein - Mein Teil]

There are two things that I learned rather quickly when I moved to Phoenix. Firstly, it's bloody hot in the summer, and secondly along with that heat, come some impressive storms. Every year in the summer, we experience what's known as the Monsoon Season. Typically this means high humidity, high winds, dust storms, rain, and all kinds of thunder & lightning goodness. It's really a sight to see.

Usually the Monsoon Season starts towards the end of June and lasts until about September ish. This week though we got a little sneak peek of what's ahead.

High winds downed quite a few trees and there was a decent amount of thunder which pleased me no end. (er, the thunder I mean, not the downed trees obviously) Low clouds meant that we couldn't see the lightning forking its way through the sky but it lit the clouds up quite nicely. Picture us glued to the window watching from the comfort of the sofa.

[Moozik: Thomas Dolby - Airhead]

It's Sunday, been a busy week, feeling lazy, so random photos from the past week for the win I feel.

Invisible Man Mows My Lawn

She Trying To Tell Me Something?

Chewie Never Leaves My Desk

Never Leave Home Without It

Stargate Found In Phoenix

Lost In A Forest

[Moozik: Nine Inch Nails - Ruiner]

Last night I went to my first ever American High School graduation ceremony. It wasn't your typical graduation ceremony. Well, everyone was all dressed up, diplomas were handed out, you know - that kind of thing. But what made this one a little different was the police presence. I'm told American graduations don't usually involve the police ;-)

The organizers didn't do a very good job of anticipating how many family members would show up for each student. There were close to 300 students graduating and the auditorium was only setup to hold about 1200 audience members. So assuming you took a conservative estimate and allowed for 5 people per student, that still means an overflow of 300 people that can't get in. And 5 might even be a little on the low end, I mean there were 11 of us in our group alone.

Obviously when it comes to family members graduating, when you're told you're not going to be let in, things can get a little heated. And get a little heated they did. We were sitting by some locked doors at the back of the auditorium and could hear people pounding on them to be let in. Pounding and screaming actually. So the organizers did what they thought was best. They called the cops to keep the peace.

It made for a rather entertaining night all in all.

[Moozik: Depeche Mode - Ghost]

You remember back in the good old days when you'd pop into a record shop for a decent browse right? Good lord I spent so many hours and so much money when I was younger. Nowadays there aren't many places left where you can actually spend some time doing that. Which is why I love Zia Records in Phoenix.

Excellent selection of music, posters, t-shirts, stickers, DVDs and yes actual vinyl records. The staff actually know something about the music they sell unlike the typical Best Buy teenager. They're friendly and funny. I love going into this shop.

If you happen to be in Phoenix, go check them out.

Do you have any decent music shops near you?

[Moozik: Orbital - Kein Trink Wasser]

Before I moved to the US I spent a couple of years in Italy. Got used to real Italian pizza and absolutely loved it. Loved it. The best Italian pizza I've had since I've been here comes courtesy of Pizzeria Bianco. If you're ever in Phoenix you must try it. Well, if you're prepared to wait for two hours for a table.

This weekend though, we stumbled across a pizzeria that deserves a big honorable mention: Grimaldis.

Pizza was amazing, service excellent, staff friendly and funny. And did those leftovers ever taste good straight from the fridge the next day? Cold pizza, yum. Yeah, I'm good like that.

[Moozik: Combichrist - All Pain Is Gone]

As I was leaving work last night my car decided it wouldn't start. I love that don't you? Really makes your day. Had to be towed of course and spent the better part of today at the mercy of a mechanic.

One thing I regret now that I'm older is not learning about engines when I was younger. Sure I can happily sit in front of Perl code all day long programming this that and the other. Engines though? Yeah, not so much. Brain surgery is probably easier as far as I'm concerned.

Them: needs a new wibble because your frobnosticator has gone bad.
Me: wow really? (trying to make it sound like I've any idea what they just said) Ok, go ahead.
Them: cheers (cha-ching)

[Moozik: Depeche Mode - Peace]

• I'm taking the fact that my ears ring when I get out of my car as a sign that I could possibly be listening to music way too loudly again. Still, who doesn't love to rock out while driving? Safer than texting right? I really hope that they come up with some kind of cure for deafness in the next 10 years or so.

• Why do some people insist on continuing their phone conversations in the public toilets? As classy as that may be, please don't. I really don't want to hear you ask your wife to water the plants and argue about how much beer you drank the night before while I'm, er, well you know.

• "I'm leaving anger in the past with all the shadows that it cast." Peace by Depeche Mode is, by far, the best track on Sounds of the Universe. So far anyway. Of my most listened to tracks of the past 3 months, Sounds of the Universe now has 3 in the top ten.

• Ok, so this is related. Go watch Marty's remake of Depeche Mode's Wrong video. Genius I tell you.

• Now that the move is all done with, this means no more commuting on the freeway. Woohoo. Here in the US when your commute does not involve a freeway they say you're taking the "surface streets". Don't ask me why, I just live here.