a blog about a lot of things

Recently started back listening to entire albums. It's cause they can fit onto the new phone. Didn't listen to much. So it's a limited sample size. Even more limited cause I usually check Pitchfork, NME and Rolling Stone a lot. But how else am I gonna find bands like Yuck and The Weeknd? Not on local radio, for sure. 15. Fucked Up - David Comes to Life why: A rock opera about a love story set in 1970's and 1980's England. Winning concept. But even if you forget the concept, the energy and excitement of the music is enough to make this album an excellent listen. 14. Yuck - Yuck why: Easy to listen to, a total throwback to the early 90's guitar rock. All the fans of the shoegazing era will be impressed.Loud and quiet alternating guitar effects give the high tech mixed with melody vibe. 13. Jay-Z/ Kanye West - Watch The Throne why: A very eclectic album, each track is something else altogether. Kanye's superior musical ability with Jay's exceptional lyr...

I was thinking about going to see Coldplay live. And then, following from that, I was thinking of what songs I'd want to hear most (if I got to control the setlist). This is that list. -Usually on the Viva La Vida Tour they did around 25 songs. So that's the number I'm going with. In order of Album release, not order to be played in From Parachutes 1. Yellow 2. Shiver From A Rush of Blood to the Head 3. The Scientist 4. God Put a Smile Upon Your Face 5. Clocks 6.Warning Sign 7. A Rush of Blood to the Head From X&Y 8. What If 9.Fix You 10.A Message 11. The Hardest Part 12.Swallowed in the Sea From Viva La Vida 13. 42 14. Lost ! 15. Lovers in Japan 16. Viva La Vida 17. Violet Hill From Mylo Xyloto 18.Hurts Like Heaven 19. Charlie Brown 20. Paradise 21. Don't Let it Break Your Heart 22. Us Against The World Encore Set: 23. Wedding Bells ( Non-Album ) 24.Amsterdam ( from A Rush of Blood to the Head) 25. Glass of Water ( From Prospekt's March EP)

There are some books you can read in one sitting. The ones you don't feel like putting down and you can't wait to get back to. I'm not including novel series in this, because those are a whole other thing and if I did I'd be forced to fill the list with Ian Fleming and Tom Clancy Novels. I'm going with books published after 1960 as well. I'm only allowing books I managed to finish in a week. Only novels, no short stories and poetry, memoirs, non-fiction etc in no particular order : 15. Portnoy's Complaint - Phillip Roth - 1969 - USA Quick Summary: Comedy, sexual frustration and self-consciousness. Portnoy's Complaint is one long monologue to a therapist about different stages of his life. This could get depressing but thankfully his life is hilarious. 14. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro - 1989 - UK Quick Summary: Mostly flashbacks of a butler from the time preceding World War II, in which his master was heavily involved in appeasement. The inte...

I don't really rate bands unless they're great in concert. So I'm making a list of who I want to see in concert. Only rules are they must be still together and still touring (have had a tour in the last five years or one upcoming). Unusually, this list is in order. I'm not giving too much justification. Just one live video of the band. 15. Adele http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c753SCmy614 14. Muse http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ggNOb2oFn8 13. Arcade Fire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtbrY6QrgPw 12.Mumford and Sons http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsjo15AgTaU 11. The Kooks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iffz77kial4 10. Andrea Bocelli http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcrfvP11Hbo 9.The Cure http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkeDzUVq1BM 8. John Mayer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJzGtzGydtQ 7.Eric Clapton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtLhPeLB9bA 6. Elton John http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EtCrHBq7Ds 5. U2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWBKBkEJQRk 4. Snow Patrol http://www...

penne con funghi/ pasta pomodoroi (variation) – Pasta with mushrooms and tomatoes pasta 1. Boil water till rolling boil 2. Throw in pack of Barilla penne pasta 3. Add salt to taste( maybe a teaspoon) 4. Add a few drops of olive oil 5. Stir occasionally 6. When pasta floats to top, give it 3 minutes 7. Remove, strain and douse with cold water. Mushrooms 1. Dice one large onion 2. Sautee in olive oil (don’t fry till it gets brown, allow some crispness to remain) with basil and oregano 3. Fry two cloves of (grated) garlic together with the onions. 4. Add in chopped mushrooms (and possibly tofu, if desired). 5. Add dried bell peppers and paprika. 6. Allow mushrooms to fry 7. Lower heat to med-low 8. Add half can of Hunt’s diced tomatoes (or dice tomatoes yourself?) 9. Add parmesan cheese (grated) to taste Finale 1. Combine pasta and mushrooms in large pot on med-low heat ...

The (potential) Impact of Real Madrid on Youth Development in Germany The success story of youth development in Germany is evident from one glance at last year’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Thomas Müller finished the tournament with five goals and three assists and was awarded the Golden Boot to go along with his Best Young Player award. Mezut Ö zil and Sami Khedira impressed enough at the World Cup to secure multimillion dollar moves to Real Madrid. They aren’t the only stories but they do stand out. Another fact that stands out is that these players are all under twenty-five. How does Real Madrid have anything to do with the German youth? Right now, there’s not that much. But Real have shown interest in Nuri Sahin and if the rumors are to be believed the deal is done. Sahin, though German born, is a Turkish international and his form has no impact on the German National Team. But he plays for current Bundesliga champions, Borussia Dortmund; who have five current German intern...

So there's this thing called the 30 day song challenge. ( https://www.facebook.com/pages/30-Day-Song-Challenge/120874111270003?sk=app_4949752878 ) . I decided to edit it up and see if it works for books. It worked somewhat with only minor slips. So I figured I'd give it a second try and see what happens. Original :day 01 - your favorite song Edited as : day 01 - your favorite poem (This isn't set, it varies a lot ) - Do not go gentle into the good night - Dylan Thomas http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/do-not-go-gentle-into-that-good-night/ day 02 - your least favorite song Edited as : day 02 - Your least favorite poem - The Lady of Shallot - Lord Alfred Tennyson http://charon.sfsu.edu/tennyson/tennlady.html day 03 - a song that makes you happy Edited as : day 03 - a poem that makes you happy - A Silly Poem - Spike Milligan http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-silly-poem/ day 04 - a song that makes you sad Edited as : day 04 - a poem that makes you sad - A Dream...