grumblegrumble

I know this unit is all about the internet and everything but right now I can't help resenting that. I'm struggling with my assignment, not because I have left it to late or because I don't know what I'm doing but because I live on res and the internet is shit here. Normally I don't really get affected when the network has a spaz but today for some stupid reason, of all days, my internet is the one struggling. ARGH!!! I just hope I get my assignment done in time. So far it's taken about 5 times the normal rate to do anything. I will pull my hair out.

Why the hell is StoneWeek the last week of semester? Stupid idea.

Crap weekend. Lost my flash drive containing some of my data visualisation assignment and some of my visual narrative animation. Dang. Then I busted my knee. Last time I was in my knee brace it was because of a snowboarding stack, this time it is because I nearly dropped a piece of ginger at the markets and stepped funny to save it. Two obviously hazardous environments.

I'm over the distress I was feeling last week about my assignment, despite losing some of the work. Just getting on with it now as best I can, attempting to figure out Google Docs and stuff. Vince Noir and the Kings of Leon have been my companions.

Study study study now. Meanwhile everyone else is outside getting on it and enjoying the balmy night. Bitches. Whatever uni will be all over next week at which point my summer of music commences, with a bit of house hunting on the side. 6 concerts and festivals in the next month and a half. Brutal. Can't wait.

I wonder what I'll do with this blog when I'm finished this unit? Is it just gonna sit here forever?

Deflated

Just finished the week 14 tute. I spent about 15 minutes talking to Michael about my data visulalisation. I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed now. He gave me some great ideas for comparisons and stuff, and was very encouraging and enthusiastic, however I don't know if I have the skills or knowledge to pull it off. I know I could just stick to my simple plan and still do ok but I don't want the person marking my assignment to think "Jeez, she could have done so much more with this." Inadequate would be an appropriate way to describe my current state of mind.

Time for a brew methinks.

Talent Envy

You may have heard of multimedia artist Emma Hack. And when I say mulitmedia I mean she uses bodies and animals to display her work.
Check her out. The stuff she does is insane.

Sound Waves, ahoy

So a mentioned my favourite singer songwriter Josh Pyke a couple of posts ago (so much for daily posts...eep). Big big fan I am, but that's kind of beside the point. I just found this picture, which was taken near Balmain on Friday, in google news Captain Pyke, the salty dog, was filming for the video clip for his new single 'Make you Happy'. Apparently the SS. Maton is almost an exact replica of Josh's favourite guitar, and was made especially for him by Maton. Can't wait to see the film clip. Rad.

cinematic anticipation

OK so I am feeling pretty guilty at the moment because I didn't go to the lecture this morning. But I am sick and I didn't sleep very well last night so it wasn't entirely because I am a bludger.

I got my marks back for an essay that I truly believe was the worst I have ever handed in. I got a credit. Very suprising.

So on another completely seperate note I cannot wait to see 'Burn After Reading', I love the Coen Brothers, O Brother Where Art Thou is a steady favourite of mine, and I really don't think they can do much wrong. Their new one looks just as good!

Off to my tute now.

Return to the fold

OK so I have been pathetic at maintaining this blog over the past few weeks. I am well aware of this so to make up for it I'm going to attempt daily posts this week to try compensate for my slackness (I'm also well aware that 'slackness' is bad grammar, but I will not conform to the constrains of conventional language, and also I'm too lazy to find another word).

So as you might have noticed, in the 'for watching' box on this page I have been viewing 'Clark and Michael'. It is an Internet 'mockumentary' series about two guys who are trying to get their tv series made. Funny as. Written, directed and starring BFFs Michael Cera (Arrested Development, Juno, Superbad) and Clark Duke (the best thing in the show 'Greek'), its silly, random and the root of all procrastination. I think the opening credits are quite possibly the best. Ever. Makes me laugh everytime. The series has a bit of a cult status and features loads of guest stars, paricularly from Arrested Development.
It's the only net based show I have ever watched. I have always steered clear of them because I had the idea that if the show was so good it would be on TV, but I can see why Clark and Michael works on the internet rather than TV. The length of the episodes aren't really suitable and the humour is quite...offbeat. I think it would polarise people and TV is all about ratings, where as the internet alows you to pick and choose for yourself. It's something to think about; the opportunities the net provides in terms of the variety of entertainment.
I rarely ever watch tv anymore, I download or buy the dvd of any series that I'm interested in and watch them whenever I want on my computer, which means I don't miss anything and I don't have to follow the schedule of a TV guide. And most of my friends are the same so I wonder what is going to happen to regular network television stations.
I first got thinking about it last semester when I was researching for an essay on the effects the internet has had on the music industry, and I came across this article.

I'm pretty chuffed at the moment because my favourite singer/songwriter Josh Pyke has just released his second album 'Chimney's Afire' (named after an expression used by whalers back in the day - after harpooning a whale and causing blood to spray out of its blowhole they would cry 'Chimney's Afire'!), which I purchased on saturday with the last of my money. Luckily it is a beautiful record and was well worth the sacrifice of doing anything really exciting over the long weekend. Mr Pyke is a lyrical genius, and I suggest you all check him out, but the main reason why I'm mentioning him is because of the art work on his new album. It was created by the Sydney art collective Greedy Hen, who have also made the film clip for his current single 'The Lighthouse Song' and the Panics' 'Don't Fight It'. It's all collage and puppetry, really lovely stuff. I really like their work, its a mix of the whimsical, sinister and folk imagery. Like a fable or something, but a little off kilter.

Really enjoyed the lecture last week, though I really question the reasoning behind introducing such a dangerous procrastination tool to a class coming up to final assignments and exams. 'We Feel Fine' is now my favourite website. It's like you can hear in people's heads or something.

Apparently, according to Microsoft Word, slackness is a word. And if I say it and you know what I mean why shouldn't it be a word? Thats how words are made.

Thats all for now
B.