I'm a fucking 1000 dollar bills

Saturday, June 27, 2009

On Michael Jackson

I will preface the following post by saying that the loss of any human life is sad and emotional. That people are hurt regardless of who they are and what they do. This is by no means saying that we should not mourn someone who has died. Except maybe if that person is a serial killer, or pedophile, or like Hitler or someone.

Anyways, my friend told me about Michael Jackson dying and I wasn't shocked as much as other people were. I was like "really? That's fucked up" and then I shrugged and moved on. Then I went home and went on facebook and went on Digg and all these people were like "OMG! MJ!!! NOOOOOOOO!!!!" People went apeshit! Inviting me to groups?! Telling me to update my status page for the memory of Michael Jackson? Putting up pictures of MJ, putting up videos, putting up how Eddie Murphy and Dave Chappelle made fun of him, that time he was on the Simpsons, that time he was on Motown's 25th anniversary, stuff like that. Understandable I guess. But what bugged me is that people seemed actually depressed, like so down. And people who are like in early 20's, people who didn't even grow up listening to MJ. His last real decent album was "Dangerous" and I dunno that Free Willy song. That's when I was kid, and I'm fucking old. Why are you so depressed about it?

Ok that's not fair because a lot people can listen to "Thriller" later on in life, and yeah he did influence a lot of music today. That's cool, but he hasn't done anything of artistic value since that greatest hits album he made, and all those statues. Artistically he was done, he really had nothing else to give. The movie equivalent is like if Al Pacino died. Yeah he did the Godfather and all those awesome movies in the seventies, but he hasn't done a decent movie in like 15 years. So yeah it's sad that he died, but we move on.

People will problaby will say "Oh, you're not even an MJ fan, this is why you feel this way" and I will say two things to those people. First, I am a big Jackson fan, he did amazing music back in the day. Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad are still amazing albums. STILL. I don't know what Usher would do without MJ. Same with Justin Timberlake. Secondly, I am a much bigger Beatles fan, and I when George Harrison died I felt the same way as I do now with MJ. Yeah it was sad he died, but I didn't go on and listen "Here Comes The Sun" in tribute. I think I will feel the same when McCartney kicks the bucket too.

To be honest I was more shocked and broken when Heath Ledger died because that guy was in the prime of his career. I was like "No, is Dark Knight finished??" and I was sad that I wasn't gonna see him in the third Batman which he was supposed to be in. That was sad. Yes it sounds selfish, but I think this is why people were much more depressed when Cobain died, or when Tupac and Biggie died. These guys still had some potential for something bigger. It's like the movie "A Bronx's Tale" when the dad says that the worst thing in the world is wasted potential. This is what that was. We will never know if Ledger's Joker in the third Batman could be better. We will never know if Jimi Hendrix would still be playing amazingly today. We will never know how many more Nirvana albums could come. That's instantly more shocking.

Again, don't get me wrong. Someone dying that people loved is always sad and yes tributes should be in order, but seriously guys....seriously.
10:30 PM
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Wednesday, June 03, 2009

On The Aftermath


Ok, so this adventure I have been having with this mystery girl is not as interesting as you people might think it is. That and it's also very perplexing and confusing, and sometimes a little high schoolish. So I'm not going to mention it in this section, until there is a definitive in the matter. Actually, I have been talking a lot about this issue to other people that I have exhausted my typing hand about it, and all the possibilities and scenerios have been played out in my head. I will talk about it when the dust settles, or else it becomes confusing and a little whiny really. Just bear with me.
12:59 AM
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On Quinn and Renney

There is a huge appreciation for the new coaches that the Oilers unveiled. They are experienced men, with a lot of coaching cred and a lot of leadership potential. The main thing that came out of it so far is the importance of networking and the ability to surround yourself with quality people. Without Steve Tambillini not knowing these men from thier old playing days and even old coaching days, they would not trust Tambo. They wouldn't trust themselves to have a coaching tandem. They wouldn't come to the most northern NHL city to coach for three years in -30 degree weather. To coach a team that finished in 13th place last year. Tambo also showed a lot of humility in hiring a man who was a GM before, and who has had a lot of success before. Those are important features to have if you want to lead a successful team.

I emphasize the word team here because a lot of people get caught up in thier own jobs that they don't realize that they are part of a team too. Most of the time they drown in the theory that they have to look out for themselves and themselves only. When in fact if you look out for the whole, and that lies in line to what you are doing, then it will make your job easier and make you look like a winner. Tambo knows that he can't just hire an inexperienced coach to lead his team from the duldrums, and he could've gone the preferable route for him and just hire one of those men and people would've been happy. But no, he goes out and gets the most of what he can, without fear that those people will show him up and without fear that they might take his job, especially someone like Pat Quinn. He's fearless because he feels that Quinn and Renney will make the team better and thus make his job easier and therefore make him look like a genious. That takes guts and foresight, and as a fan of the Oilers this has been a big shining light in what has been a dark year.
12:33 AM
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Monday, May 25, 2009

The Friend Zone

The common theory is that there is a limited time in between when you meet someone and when you can ask them out. You have to do it soon, or else you enter that awful area called "The Friend Zone." I don't know the exact science but it's something to do when they call you like a brother/sister is when you can say you have bought realty in the zone. In my case it's usually when the girl stops waiting for you to make a move and just becomes an acquaintance, a friend of a friend. In that sense though if you still choose to embark on that quest, it can become easier than the other direction, a full fledged friend. One that thinks you're awesome, but in another way. Thinks you're the world, but not like that. Thinks you would make an awesome boyfriend, but not for her. You know this because every time you make a move, she looks at you in a weird "aw that's so cute" way. The same way you act when you find a pet that's trying to act like people.

This happens to me way too often, even though I try to be aggressive or more outright in my appeals, this still happens. Most of the time though it's that old adage of you don't know what you want until it's right there in front of you, or something like that. But recently I have found myself that I can break this theory, that someone can outdo this Friend Zone. I have known and have admired this friend for a long time. Someone who if I were to ask 16 year old Ridley to draw me the girl that I would want to date, she would be very close. But I never paid attention to her until after we spent some time apart. She left the country for a bit, came back to work where I work, then I moved locations and I missed her again. Then I came back, and after I had to shed a couple of unfortunate incidents I saw her in a new light. Like a dumb romantic comedy.

So I started poking around to see if there was any interest in me, in that process we regained our closeness that we had before. We went out many times, we took pictures together, we went to dinner, we had movie dates, we basically did everything except be a couple. Now I found out that she really does have some feelings for me, but she's scared that she would lose my friendship in the process. Which I find weird, because she knows indirectly that I do share those feelings, so why not take the chance? That's what relationships are all about right? Taking chances?

I don't know the answer to this, but I'm going to find out soon. Wish me luck, and hopefully at least I can shed of this theory once and for all.
3:46 PM
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Saturday, May 23, 2009

Focus Attack Dash Cancel

Ok, I've been playing a lot of Street Fighter IV recently, mostly trying to find a way to Focus Attack Dash Cancel properly with an XBOX 360 controller. It's hard ass! I'm actually thinking of getting a PS3 just so I can play SFIV properly. But you know who inspired me to start actually trying some more difficult moves? This kid from Japan, this Yakuza looking kid who is the undisputed champion of Street Fighter, Daigo Umahara. In Street Fighter circles he's simply known as "The Beast." Just recently he took on the Korean, US, and Japanese champions and beat them all. His Ryu is simply a technical machine, just like The Detroit Red Wings. Well coached, well executed, well adjusted, he would've won three Stanley Cups himself if powerplays were executed with a simple quarter circle hard punch.

But for reals, I want to be like that. Street Fighter is one of those games that everyone has played once in thier life, and I believe that I will whoop all your asses one day. Also because I'm not that good at NHL 09, and that's what everyone else plays.

I also wanted to say that bangs on girls are a great new development of the summer of 09 that I approve of. Especially if they belong on my eternal weakness, blonde girls. Keep up the good work out there.
11:58 AM
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Thursday, May 21, 2009

The Past

Much time has passed since I updated this blog, and really no one pays much attention to it. Only a select few followers of my old, old, old blog. Which is great, this is exactly what I wanted. Writing on this blog and on any forum on the net is fucking dangerous, it got me in so much trouble. So why don't I quit like a bad acid trip? Because I love it so.

I started re reading stuff I wrote back in like 2004, 2005, 2006. When I was completely caught up in myself and tracking everything I did, and you know what? I enjoyed it. I felt free, I felt like I had some talent, I even made myself laugh. Like "did I actually write this? Oh Ridley, you're such a funny asshole." The good thing is that I'm at a point where my past is not going to haunt me anymore. I've exercised those demons that crippled my independent spirit. My life is different than the guy that sat in front of the computer writing to you almost every day. Three, four years ago.

Three years ago I went to England to teach unruly kids basic Grade 7 math. In that time I shed the young carefree everything was going my way Ridley, and became the man that I am now. That period, those 9 months were the hardest , easiest, best, and worst days of my almost 30 year old life. I now characterize my life in two sections, pre and post-England. Like the difference between Ernesto and Che Guevara.

The problem though is that one of the theories that I now have is not to live in the past. "Push things forward" was my own personal motto. My career was always been to teach, but now I teach people in a different way. I'm more of a mentor, a leader, than a guide. I stand to be an example, and to be the one who corrects instead of critique. I tell them that you're allowed to make mistakes "but you can only make them once." I learned this lesson from my father, once when i locked my keys in the car and he had to bail me out. He told me "don't worry, everyone locks their keys in the car. But they only do it once."

I learned my mistakes, but I know I will still make them. I hope I only do it once. The past is not for re living, it's for examining. So I won't promise anything except that I will try to write as much as possible. I will keep the music thing to a low (I have another blog for that), but that always sneaks in. But I will write about myself again, to be an example. Because in truth that's what I always loved doing. And sometimes, I can be a bit funny.

So I hope we can still be friends, and I hope you still come around to visit. I would love to see you back. Let's push things forward.
12:26 AM
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Sunday, April 13, 2008

The Fu-Funk

Today we hit an unprecedented 23 degrees above the brrrr, AND I had a day off. So I had to go outside, come on it would've been criminal. I went to my uncle's cabin the boonies of Alberta to celebrate the birth of my 12 year old cousin. I, of course, gave her some CD's so I can save her from her eventual descent to hideous music that everyone goes through when they are a teenager. My sister said she listened to the Jack Johnson CD and she really liked that, so that's what she got from her. I gave her the Strokes' second album and the Juno Soundtrack because they were both 2 for 25 bucks. I hope to save her soon and bring her to the light side, I already successfully saved my cousin Jose, and I hope to be like what my dad was to me. A sage, a wise old music sage.

But this is not what I was going to write to you about. Ok so I did all that and today I went to lunch with the parents (at IKEA which is pretty good for lunch for some reason), then I went to pay Erin for the Radiohead tickets ...wait hold on..

...I GOT RADIOHEAD TICKETS!! After all that fretting my best friend came through in the clutch, and now me and my sis and my roommate and my cousins are ALL going to Vancouver to see them. YAY! So excited I can't even explain....

Ok, so because of that and seeing her and then playing the first street hockey game of the season it became a pretty awesome day. You know what was my soundtrack of the day? Baby Charles. This band is a Fu-Funk band whatever that means. I think it's just a modern funk band, but I felt like I was in the movie Superbad. Driving down to the Whyte Ave, with the windows down, sun shining in my face, looking and feeling awesome. I had a spring in my step the whole day and I owe it all to this perfect record to play. All this guitar funk, and singing, and happy cool vibes. I didn't know if I was in Edmonton or some cool place in California. Anyways if you ever have one of those days, please acuire this album and you will also feel as awesome as I did.

If you can't find her album for some weird reason, then check out Quiet Village's Silent Movie. It's not as funky or happy stepping, but it's a great sampling instrumental record. These british blokes take some old Motown and 70's records and mash it up to create some more 70's sounding and Motown records. Very cool, and very cinematic sounding. It's not something to dance to, or cruise to, but it's music to relax and preferably smoke some weed with it, or like talk nonsensical stuff with at 4 in the morning.

I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor -- Baby Charles

Circus of Horror -- Quiet Village
11:00 PM
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Work out Muzak

Today I was going to take a small break from the GOAT List to express my excitement over getting Radiohead tickets for the upcoming concert in Vancouver. I'm already going to Vancity to see Jack Johnson with my sis and cousins and the Radiohead thing basically fell into my lap by the ever musically reliable Erin. I already saw Radiohead in the same venue about three or four years ago, I don't remember the exact date, but I do remember it was absolutely amazing. Radiohead is one of my favorite bands of all time (I'm sure many of you share the same feelings), and you bet your ass that at least two songs will make the GOAT list. So today I was going to write about how excited I am for this summer and August in particular so I can go to these concerts and go see Vancity and the mountains with my fam and Erin. The presale was today at 11am, and I was there credit card in hand ready to go! I reloaded the page and it took a bit, it was 11:02 when i processed the information. That is when I got the fateful information: No tickets available. Two minutes, two fucking minutes it took for the presale to sell out. This has never happened to me, I have done the presale many many times, never have I seen one sell out in two minutes. It might've been even earlier, since at 11:02 is when I got the message after entering the info and shit, and that's when I looked at my clock in horror. So now I'm exasperated, sad, and anxious to try my luck tomorrow with the dreaded general sale. There will be more tickets then, but I'm scared. Two minutes? That shook my core. But mark my words readers, I will be there, oh yes I will be there.

To get the feeling of desperation and anger out of my system I took the bus to the gym to get some rage out on the treadmill. During my workout I started thinking about first how awesome the penguins are, and that they rocked the Senators today. Second, I tried to figure out what was the best type of workout music. Personally I know some songs that help me get energized and help my workout because of it's repetative nature, fast beats, and long duration. The longer the song the longer my workout will be, because I will be concentrated on that song. The best type of music for working out in my books is electronic music, especially for doing cardio stuff. Weights and general muscle stuff belongs with hip hop. The best cardio songs are generally 130 beats per minute (pretty much the standard for electro/house music) and along repetative beat. Hopefully something that starts slow and builds and builds. Two great examples are Simian Mobile Disco's "Sleep Deprivation" and Underworld's "Cups." "Cups" especially since it's like 11 minutes long and it starts with a simple violing and ends chaotically. "Sleep Deprivation" is great too because like "Cups" it starts slow and then builds. It is also exactly 5 mins long. So repeat that three times and you have a good steady 15 minute workout. Or just play "Cups" and "Sleep Deprivation" back to back. Actually that whole Underworld album "Beaucoup Fish" is great for working out. Except that slow ass song in the middle, uggh.

When lifting weights and doing general muscle manly stuff (and this applies for girls too, being all sweaty and sexy and stuff), hip hop is the best. Big heavy beats, and bad ass lyrics should be a must. Stay away from the R.Kelly and just general R and B and you'll be fine. Maybe some old school Wu-Tang, or just Ghostface Killah's "More Fish" especially the songs "Blue Armor", "Street Opera" , and "The Champ" are great. You just want to feel like destroying armies when lifting weights. Rap music does that for me. Death From Above does that too, but that's more for when doing coke.
10:26 PM
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Friday, April 11, 2008

GOAT List: Until The End Of The World -- U2


I love U2. Ok let’s change that, I love old U2, new U2 kind of bores me. I don’t get it, especially when I hear that their new album is a “reinvention” and that they are “back” to what they were before. I don’t know what that means. For me U2 starts at the song “New Years Day” and ends with the album “Pop.” In between is some of the greatest popular rock music of that time, of one generation. Rock wise no one touched them, their albums were amazing (Joshua Tree, Rattle and Hum, Achtung Baby, Zooropa, and Pop) and their shows legendary. Even songs they did for movies that blew were amazing (Hold Me, Kiss Me for Batman Forever). Their fucking greatest hits album was amazing. This where this song comes from, right in the middle of that era. I don’t think this song was ever a single, and some people might dispute it but for me “Until The End of The World” musicifed everything that U2 was about during that age. Achtung Baby is quoted as being about love, and this is what this song is about. Stupid, stupid love. It has a great guitar riff from an in form Edge, amazing lyrics by Bono, and crazy instrumentation by the rest of the band. The many times I listen to this song and I still don’t know what it means, it still has that air of mystery. Is it a crazy girl? Or are we the crazy ones for not seeing her truth about the end of the world? Or does it even matter because it’s about this guy who is obsessed with this girl who only cares about the world, just like Bono sings at the end “I’ve reached out for the one I tried to destroy, but you, you said you’d wait til the end of the world.” This song also serves as a metaphor for the band, the girl being Bono and U2, and the singer is us the fans. “Everyone having a good time, except for you, you were talking about the end of the world,” is that political? Or is it obsession? I feel this way about girls sometimes. Then I feel an awesome Edge guitar solo. It’s a fantastic pop song that sucks you in at every listen, and U2 even knew this because they included it in their Greatest Hits compilation. It’s so good that it’s the only U2 song I need in the GOAT list, because this song IS U2. Well the one that I know and love.
11:02 PM
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Thursday, April 10, 2008

GOAT List: Persiana Americana -- Soda Stereo

One of the facets that has shaped the way I listened to music was my dad's favorite artists. He was always the one who would play these bands at home and it either steered me to or away from it. Early on it was away, but now I see what the fuss was all about. This song recollects all the things that I hated before but now are part of my musical landscape. The 80's, Spanish music, pop music. Back then I never understood my dad's fascination with this band, but now, well now I see the light. If this song was made in English, it would be an 80's staple just like all those one offers. You would hear it in a weird movie and go "Oh yeeeaah, I love this song" but alas, you problaby would've never heard it if I hadn't brought it up. Not unless you lived in South America in 80's, because there it's a classic. So is this band, who recently had a very successful reunion tour. Ok, back to the song. Well it's protypical 80's, lots of synth, lots of beat, lots of harmonizing, catchy as hell. If it wasn't in Spanish it would've been made by Depeche Mode. The lyrics talk about a guy spying on a girl through blinds, because for some reason 80's band love to talk about creepy things like that. But it's the tone and the structure, the singing, the repeatable chorus, the very 80's everything. It's not cheesy, but it could be. No, it's not cheesy, it's a classic, a forgotten classic. It belongs.

Persiana Americana -- Soda Stereo
11:18 PM
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