If it's too loud, turn it down...

Last night I went to this concert on campus; Phantom Planet/Secret Machines. If I had to sum it up in one word, that word would be loud. I'm sure it didn't help that they moved an outdoor concert into a basketball gym because of the rain.

But look, don't get me wrong, I've been to my share of loud concerts, but they had Phantom Planet, what one might describe as indie-style party rock mic'ed up like they were Molly Hatchet or something. It was so loud, that you couldn't even really hear anything, paradoxically... Two of our friends left like within 2 minutes of arriving.

I sound like an old man, I know, but since we were surrounded by 18-year-olds (the highest proportion of fans seemed to be high schoolers and freshman) I felt like one too. Oh well... Phatom Planet ended up being okay, after killing off my midrange hearing, it got a lot better. I saw them back at USC, and have casually followed them since then.

In other news, the milk steamer on my espresso machine is now officially dead! I guess that's what I get for buying a $30 espresso machine. But I regret nothing!

The Mysteries of Pittsburgh

Hey this is great:
Apparently, they are making a movie based on the book, "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh" by Michael Chabon. This is a book that I have read recently, and enjoyed at least a fair amount, if only for the neat descriptions of Pittsburgh. (I still get that "Hey I know that place!" kind of feeling when I read books about places where I live. See "Less Than Zero" and "Liquor" for further proof.)

Anyway, the big question is whether or not they will film the movie in Pittsburgh. There are of course tons of money issues, and lots of posturing and back and forth. What it boils down to is whether or not the studio can get workers cheaply enough, or whether or not the city will be willing to give the studio even more incentives. But in a perfect world it would be filmed right here in the good 'ole Burgh. I would love to see CMU's steam plant (otherwise known as the Cloud Factory) as a central character in a Hollywood movie.

In other news, because of this Carnival thing, it's absolutely dead around here. How am I supposed to get work done when I know that everyone else is enjoying themselves so thouroughly?

Eww....

This morning I have a nose bleed. Nothing really happened, I just sort of started having one. I feel like that friend we all had when we were little who was always having some kind of nose bleed, like the slightest thing would set my nose off...

Anyway, this is only a point of interest because it is surprisingly hard to work when you have a nose bleed. I have to keep going back and forth to the bathroom because I can never get enough tissue. The funniest part was when the UPS man walked into my office (Without knocking I might add!) and I was sitting at my desk with a wadded up tissue stuck in my nose. I felt a litte dump.

Alma Matter

Today I was thinking about how my high school had an Alma Matter, and how this is probably not a common thing. This idea had never struck me before, so here it goes (I'm singing in my mind):

In the south-land's fairest city,
Reared against the southern sky,
Proudly stands our Alma Matter,
As the years go passing by.

Onward ever we are watchful,
Truth and honor will prevail.

...this is the line I forget...
Newman school we proudly hail.


And then if you were really cool, you'd replace 'hail; with 'fail.' Niiiiiice!

Don't change your plans for me

This town is nutZ!
I was minding my own business, scooting down Forbes, when I notice a tiny shindig taking place on Pitt's campus, near the base of the Cathedral of Learning. 'What the hey,' I say as I roll down my window, 'might as well see if I know the band.' Would you beleive, Ben Motherloving Folds was giving a concert, right here? It wasn't even listed on his own tour schedule!
I take the only reasonable course of action, which is to immediately park my car and run to the concert, ignoring all other promises and responsibilities.
It was worth it, woth even flying Hans Solo. It was the first time I heard any of the songs from 'Songs for Silverman' played live. Niiiiiiice!

Ladd

Have you seen this? People in Pittsburgh are hilarious and goth.

Bootleg Image Recognition

I have seen the past of image recognition. It is ugly and looks like this: