Decisions

I am torn between various things that I can be doing right now:

1- I can go to sleep: It's way past midnight, but that never really stopped me from sharing some awake-time with the vampires. Having said that, I know that I need some quality sleep in my own bed after a couple of months of family reunions.

2- I can think about the stuff that keeps me awake: This mainly corresponds to the phone conversation that woke me up from blissful sleep in the first place. And what that conversation meant. A huge change might be coming and I'm not looking forward to it.

3- I could be watching an episode of "Deadwood" or Labyrinth of Passions: both intriguing propositions, but I may be too tired or distracted to watch anything.

4- I could write: Actually I am doing that already. What I specifically mean is to finish up the novel that I am yet to start. I have a feeling, though, that it would be intensely autobiographical and I hate biographies in general.

5- I could surf the net: It's easy, fun (well, sort of) and it can lead me to some uncharted territories.

6- Porn: Always a good option, but I'm not sure I'm in the mood for that either.

I'm screwed.

Peace.

Because I Can

Because I can, I compiled a list of my top 100 favourite bands. Because I am "between jobs", I can carry out tasks as fruitless as this without jeopardizing my so-called life. Because I can be a prick sometimes, this took me two days of intense internal debates whether Primus or Starsailor should make the top 100. Because there are so many bands that I like (I'm a whore like that), I decided to make a second list: the other top 100 favourite bands. Because I like a good spoiler, Primus ended up at the lesser list.

Because I started all the previous sentences thus, I will explain my method in a similar fashion. Because my computer is still being held hostage in the States, I used MyPod to compile the list of the bands that I like, a la Facebook thumbs up button thingy. Because the original was exhausting, I trimmed it down to about 174. Because I needed 100 bands, I took out 74 bands that sadly couldn't make it. Because I had a surplus of 74 rather very good bands, I added 26 to make a second list.

Because you have been reading thus far, I present you with my top 100 favourite bands, followed by the second 100. Because I still need to do other things in life, I only have an alphabetical list. Because I would want to perfect this fruitless exercise, I might actually put them in an order in the days to come. Because you can, watch this space.

Top 100 (because they are awesome)

AC/DC - Melbourne, Australia
AEROSMITH - Boston, MA
AGALLOCH - Portland, OR
ALICE IN CHAINS - Seattle, WA
AMORPHIS - Helsinki, Finland
ANTHRAX - New York, NY
AUDIOSLAVE - Los Angeles, CA
BAD RELIGION - Woodland Hills, CA
THE BLACK CROWES - Atlanta, GA
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY - Los Angeles, CA
BLACK SABBATH - Birmingham, England
BLUE OYSTER CULT - New York, NY
CAT STEVENS - London, England
NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS - Melbourne, Australia
CLUTCH - Germantown, MD
COHEED & CAMBRIA - Woodstock, NY
CHRIS CORNELL - Seattle, WA
COUNTING CROWS - San Francisco, CA
DEEP PURPLE - London, England
BRUCE DICKINSON - Worksop, England
DREAM THEATER - New York, NY
EUROPE - Upplands Vasby, Sweden
EXODUS - San Francisco, CA
FAITH NO MORE - San Francisco, CA
FLEETWOOD MAC - London, England
GREEN DAY - East Bay, CA
GUNS N'ROSES - Hollywood, CA
HEART - Seattle, WA
IN FLAMES - Gothenburg, Sweden
IRON MAIDEN - London, England
ISIS - Boston, MA
THE JAYHAWKS - Minneapolis, MN
JETHRO TULL - Blackpool, England
JUDAS PRIEST - Birmingham, England
KING CRIMSON - London, England
KING'S X - Springfield, MO
KITARO - Toyohashi, Japan
KYUSS - Palm Desert, CA
LED ZEPPELIN - London, England
HALUK LEVENT - Adana, Turkey
LINKIN PARK - Aguora Hills, CA
ZULFU LIVANELI - Ilgin, Turkey
LIVE - York, PA
LYNYRD SKYNYRD - Jacksonville, FL
BARIS MANCO - Turkey
MANIC STREET PREACHERS - Blackwood, Wales
MANOWAR - Auburn, NY
THE MARS VOLTA - Albuquerque, NM
MASTODON - Atlanta, GA
LOREENA MCKENNITT - Morden, Canada
MEGADETH - San Francisco, CA
METAL CHURCH - Seattle, WA
METALLICA - Los Angeles, CA
MEZARKABUL - Istanbul, Turkey
MFO - Turkey
MOTHER LOVE BONE - Seattle, WA
MOTORHEAD - London, England
MUSE - Teignmouth, England
NIGHTWISH - Kitee, Finland
NIRVANA - Seattle, WA
THE OFFSPRING - Huntington Beach, CA
OPETH - Stockholm, Sweden
OZZY OSBOURNE - Aston, England
PANTERA - Arlinton, TX
PARADISE LOST - Halifax, England
PEARL JAM - Seattle, WA
PINK FLOYD - Cambridge, England
PORCUPINE TREE - Hemel Hempstead, England
PURE REASON REVOLUTION - Reading, England
QUEEN - London, England
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE - Palm Desert, CA
QUEENSRYCHE - Seattle, WA
R.E.M. - Athens, GA
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - Los Angeles, CA
RAINBOW - London, England
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS - Los Angeles, CA
ROXETTE - Halmstad, Sweden
SCORPIONS - Hanover, Germany
SEPULTURA - Belo Horizonte, Brazil
SIMON & GARFUNKEL - New York, NY
SKID ROW - Toms River, NJ
SLAYER - Huntington Beach, CA
SMASHING PUMPKINS - Chicago, IL
SOUNDGARDEN - Seattle, WA
STARSAILOR - Chorley, England
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS - San Diego, CA
STRATOVARIUS - Helsinki, Finland
SYSTEM OF A DOWN - Glendale, CA
TEMPLE OF THE DOG - Seattle, WA
TESTAMENT - Oakland, CA
THERAPY? - Belfast, Northern Ireland
THR3E - Woodstock, NY
TOOL - Los Angeles, CA
URIAH HEEP - London, England
W.A.S.P. - Los Angeles, CA
WARRIOR SOUL - New York, NY
WEEZER - Los Angeles, CA
WHITESNAKE - London, England
YOUNG HEART ATTACK - Austin, TX
NEIL YOUNG - Toronto, Canada

The Other Top 100 (because They aren't that awesome)

3 HUREL - Trabzon, Turkey
ALCHEMIST - Canberra, Australia
THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND - Macon, GA
ALTER BRIDGE - Orlando, FL
AMON AMARTH - Tumba, Sweden
ANGEL WITCH - London, England
THE ANSWER - Belfast, Northern Ireland
ASTRA - San Diego, CA
AUDREY HORNE - Oslo, Norway
BAD BRAINS - Washington DC
BAYSIDE - Long Island, NY
BLACK STONE CHERRY - Edmonton, KY
BLIND GUARDIAN - Krefeld, Germany
BLUR - London, England
JOE BONAMASSA - Utica, NY
BRAND NEW - Long Island, NY
CAPTAIN BEYOND - Los Angeles, CA
CHILDREN OF BODOM - Espoo, Finland
CHIMAIRA - Cleveland, OH
CKY - West Chester, PA
ERIC CLAPTON - Ripley, England
CREAM - London, England
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL - El Cerrito, CA
CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX - England
PACO DE LUCIA - Cadiz, Spain
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE - Bellingham, WA
DEF LEPPARD - Sheffield, England
DEMOLITION HAMMER - New York, NY
DINOSAUR, JR. - Amherst, MA
DIO - New York, NY
DISTURBED - Chicago, IL
THE DOORS - Los Angeles, CA
DOWN - New Orleans, LA
EAGLE EYE CHERRY - Stockholm, Sweden
EAGLES OF DEATH METAL - Palm Desert, CA
FATES WARNING - Hartford, CT
FLOTSAM & JETSAM - Phoenix, AZ
FOO FIGHTERS - Seattle, WA
JOHN FRUSCIANTE - New York, NY
GIRLSCHOOL - London, England
HARDCORE SUPERSTAR - Gothenburg, Sweden
HAZY MALAZE - New Jersey
HEAD CONTROL SYSTEM - Norway & Portugal
JIMI HENDRIX - Seattle, WA
GLENN HUGHES - Cannock, England
MICHAEL JACKSON - Gary, IN
JET - Melbourne, Australia
GARY JULES - Fresno, CA
CEM KARACA - Turkey
KASABIAN - Bloby, England
KATATONIA - Stockholm, Sweden
THE KILLERS - Las Vegas, NV
KINGS OF LEON - Nashville, TN
KISS - New York, NY
KORN - Bakersfield, CA
LAMB OF GOD - Richmond, VA
LOVE - Los Angeles, CA
MAGNUM - Birmingham, England
MARILLION - Aylesbury, England
BOB MARLEY - Saint Ann, Jamaica
MEAT LOAF - Dallas, TX
MESHUGGAH - Umea, Sweden
THE MISFITS - Lodi, NJ
MOGOLLAR - Ankara, Turkey
MOONSORROW - Helsinki, Finland
MOSTLY AUTUMN -York, England
MOTLEY CRUE - Los Angeles, CA
NEKROPSI - Istanbul, Turkey
OASIS - Manchester, England
MIKE OLDFIELD - Reading, England
ONSLAUGHT - Bristol, England
ORDINARY PSYCHO - England
P.O.D. - San Diego, CA
PAIN OF SALVATION - Eskilstuna, Sweden
TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS - Gainesville, FL
PIXIES - Boston, MA
ROBERT PLANT - West Bromwich, England
PRIESTESS - Montreal, Canada
PRIMUS - El Cobrante, CA
PRINCE - Minneapolis, MN
THE PRODIGY - Braintree, England
PULP - Sheffield, England
RADIOHEAD - Oxford, England
RATT - San Diego, CA
RIGOR MORTIS - Texas
RISE AGAINST - Chicago, IL
RUSH - Toronto, Canada
SAVATAGE - Tarpon Springs, FL
SAXON - Barnsley, England
SKYCLAD - England
SOULFLY - Phoenix, AZ
STEVE MILLER BAND - San Francisco, CA
TESLA - Sacramento, CA
THE SWORD - Austin, TX
THERION - Upplands Vasby, Sweden
TRIVIUM - Orlando, FL
WILCO - Chicago, IL
WITHIN TEMPTATION - The Netherlands
WOLFMOTHER - Sydney, Australia

Because I just did.

IMAX - Is It Worth It?

After reading about Aziz Ansari's rant regarding the discrepancies between the real IMAX theaters and the fake ones, I couldn't help but agree with his comments. In recent months I have watched two feature films in IMAX format: Watchmen and Star Trek in two different theaters in two different countries. The Watchmen experience was actually pretty good - the screen was bigger than any of the regular theater screens I had seen until then. And the sound was immaculate as expected from the format. However, the experience wasn't the same with Star Trek.

Now, I've had some issues with the new Star Trek in general and the size of the screen had nothing to do with that. Nevertheless, seeing the screen not being that big was a bit of a disappointment. I guess I wasn't paying too much attention, but it looks like the chains can actually be ripping us off when they overcharge us for IMAX tickets.

A solution to this problem could be if the chains actually promote their theaters to be digital IMAX rather than film-based IMAX (the latter has the giant screens, while the former has only slighly larger screens). I would then be a very happy customer indeed.

Still, it wouldn't have helped Star Trek. Just saying.

Peace.

The Series of a Lifetime

We were expecting the amazing and amazing is what happened. We throw away the word around for a lot of things, but this is one of those things that truly and well deserves the "amazing" tag.

As a Celtics fan, of course I want the Green to prevail, but I feel priviliged to actually be a witness for this series of a lifetime. It is even suggested that the series should be extended. I want to go one further - let this series be independent of the NBA Championship. Let them play on and on until there are no more flagrant fouls to give or energy to spare.

I cannot wait for Game 7 - it is going to be a classic. However, I have a feeling - and I'm completely impartial here (!) - it's either going to be a repeat of what we have seen so far, or a repeat of Game 3. Actually, come to think of it, I think I would like the Championship more.

Peace.

What I've Been Drawn

As some of you might have already picked it up, I'm not much of a believer myself. The idea that a cosmic regulator never really sat well with me. Especially when you consider that once you give in to the notion of a creator, you take away your free will to a pre-destined life that you have no control of.

Life is strange, though. No matter how you seem to be incontrol of it, there are always things that happen beyond your control. I actually think failing is a much better option than accepting your "fate". When you fail, you learn from your mistakes and you make sure that the same thing never happens again. However, when life puts before you an undesirable circumstance, you have no choice but to wallow in misery.

That happened to me recently. Things progressed beyond my abilities to prevent them and I am feeling the consequences of that situation. More of that will sure to come my way. And here's my point: are these unforeseen circumstances pre-destined, or do they just happen?

It is very easy to succumb to the ignorant bliss of assigning all these to a cosmic saga, but I'm still not convinced. If this is my fate, and if my creator would rather have me go through these dire circumstances, what is the point? Why do I have to suffer to appreciate what I am assuming to be positive things that would come out of this? Can we all just live in peace and harmony?

If it's not destiny, or fate, then what is it? It is pure coincidence. There can be no other explanation. I would rather fail at something, but if I am destined to fail, then I don't want that. In that case I would rather have cosmic coincidence dictating my life than someone deciding for me.

Peace.

Something to Do

I am bored. It is Saturday night and I can't think of one thing to do. Yes, I am new in Portland and my social circle isn't as large as I hope it would have been by now. Regardless, I have always prided myself not to always depend on a social circle to enjoy life (read loner). The problem isn't the lack of people to do stuff with, or the lack of actual stuff to do - Portland offers both in abundance.

I think the main issue is that I am at a point in my life when my routine has become mundane. It is a sad state of affairs. I feel like there is a lot missing in my life and I can't seem to find the things to fill that void. I have no idea how this can be remedied in the near future, but bleak few weeks seems like the order of the day.

Well, I don't usually do introspective blogs such as this, but it is 6:12 pm PT, Saturday evening, the skies are clear ... and I need something to do. I am itching.

Peace.

Another Playlist

It's time for another Awesome Playlist - it was long overdue ...

(alphabetical by artist)

Walk This Way by Aerosmith: Because it's a  classic.

A Celebration for the Death of Man ... by Agalloch: Because I like to support local music.

Evolution 1 - The Bio Approach by Alchemist: Because I still haven't heard anybody like them.

In the Beginning by Amorphis: Because it takes me back.

S.S.C / Stand Or Fall by Anthrax: Because I love thrash.

Afterglow by Audrey Horne: Because I still find gems on this album.

Master of Confusion by Blood Ceremony: Because the '60s are, like, back ... man.


Inertias Cave by Cathedral: Because heavy-ass riffin' is awesome.

The Soapmakers by Clutch: Because they are simply brilliant.

Wasted Years by Damone: Because I never realized that this song had this much depth before.

Steal the Crown by Death Angel: Because old school thrash can re-invent itself.

Let Me out  by Electric Mary: Because it has a great groove.


Guardian by Fates Warning: Because I appreciate musicianship.

Lost in Confusion by Graveyard: Because I feel like I am lost in the space-time continuum.

We Are Finding Who We Are by King's X: Because they keep surprising me.

Hold Me up by Live: Because it reminds me how amazing they were once.

Bridge of Death by Manowar: Because they are here to blow our speakers.

Seabeast by Mastodon: Because I need to clean my ear cavity before their new album is out.

Watch the Children Pray by Metal Church: Because they defy all expectations.

Destroyer of Worlds by Onslaught: Because Brits can do thrash too.

Would? by Opeth: Because they do covers better than anyone else.

Enchantment by Paradise Lost: Because I can't stop playing it over and over and over and over again.

Shake Your Blood by Probot: Because Lemmy is singing.

Disco 2000 by Pulp: Because it is possible to write good pop songs.

Wizard of Gore by Rigor Mortis: Because thrash can be a versatile genre ... really.

Slaughter for the Sacrifice God by Skeletonwitch: Because this band deserves to get bigger.

She's Gone by Steelheart: Because he can sing, man.

The Frost-Giant's Daughter by The Sword: Because the riff ain't dead yet.


Swiss Grid by Turing Machine: Because music sometimes speaks louder than words.

Munki by Young Heart Attack: Because I still think these guys are the best band out there.