| Quote of the Week |
| "History does not always repeat itself. Sometimes it just yells "Can't you remember anything I told you?" and lets fly with a club." - John W. Campbell |
| You Are Currently Listening to: |
"One Winged Angel" by The Black Mages
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| Fellow Blogmates |
| Caitlin Joe Taryn Beth Marissa Steve Katie Nicole Breanna Ruby Kim Alysha Colleen Grace Jacquelyn Leann Lee Stephanie The Big M
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| Current Mood As Of: |
| 01/08/07 5:33PM - A-OK. |
| Favorite Bands & Songs |
My Top 3:
- Iron Maiden
Sign of the Cross
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Blood Brothers
Fear of the Dark
New Frontier
- Dream Theater
Take the Time
The Glass Prison
Home
Octavarium
In The Name of God
- Judas Priest
Between the Hammer & The Anvil
Painkiller
Lochness
Hellrider
Cathedral Spires
- Megadeth
Holy Wars
Scorpion
Hangar 18
- Vader
Angel of Death (Thin Lizzy Cover)
Dark Transmission
Epitaph
- Iced Earth
Attila
My Own Savior
The Reckoning
- Symphony X
King of Terror
Sea of Lies
Of Sins & Shadows
- Arch Enemy
Lament of a Mortal Soul
Nemesis
Shadows & Dust
- Liquid Tension Experiment
Paradigm Shift
Acid Rain
Another Dimension
- Anthrax
Indians
I'm The Man
Caught in a Mosh
- Stratovarious
Soul of a Vagabond
Eagleheart
Speed of Light
- Nevermore
Final Product
Enemies of Reality
I, Voyager
- Rush
Spirit of the Radio
YYZ
Free Will
- Queensryche
Empire
Revolution Calling
Operation Mindcrime
- Corrosion of Conformity
Stone Breakers
King of the Rotten
Paranoid Opioid
- The Black Mages
Zeromus
Clash on the Big Bridge
Maybe I'm a Lion
- Vomitron
Ghostbusters
Contra
Eye of the Tiger (Survivor Cover)
- Stemage
Metroid Theme
Brinstar
Ridley
- Van Halen
Hot For Teacher
Jump
Panama
- Faith No More
Land of Sunshine
Midlife Crisis
Epic
- Mr. Bungle
Squeeze Me Macaroni
Air-Conditioned Nightmate
Goodbye Sober Day
- Metallica (Pre-Black Album)
Battery
Master of Puppets
Blitzkrieg
- Armored Saint
Reign of Fire
Hanging Judge
Warzone
- Pantera
Mouth For War
Cowboys from Hell
Domination
- Alice in Chains
Them Bones
Man in the Box
Rooster
- Opeth
The Moor
The Leper Affinity
Harvest
- Living Colour
Cult of Personality
Go Away
Money Talks
- Testament
Electric Crown
Over the Wall
Alone in the Dark
- Mastodon
Blood & Thunder
March of the Fire Ants
Hearts Alive
- In Flames
Embody the Invisible
Trigger
Dialogue with the Stars
- The Iron Maidens
- Esqarial
- Blind Guardian
- Slayer
- Guns N' Roses
- Dead Kennedys
- Queen
- Racer X
- Rhapsody
- 4Front
- Children of the Bodom
- Sepultura
- The NESkimos
- The Advantage
- Dire Straits
- Motorhead
- Fate's Warning
- Therion
- Soundgarden
- Spinal Tap
- Stormtroopers of Death
- GWAR
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| Get "Cuckoo!" |
| Thursday, November 30, 2006 |
I really enjoyed reading and acting out "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" in class. I always enjoy reading plays aloud in my classes, because the readers can really bring more life into the characters. I enjoyed my role as Chief Bromden although I wish I could've used a Native-American accent to enhance his dialogue, but I can't do that. The story itself is incredible and I really want to see the movie in full now. The whole acting the play out experience was excellent because it really felt realistic.
One of my favorite parts of the play was when McMurphy (acted out by Joe) befriended my character, Chief Bromden and finally made him open up and reveal that he really isn't deaf or mute. I liked the use of the children's poem in their dialogue, with its reference to the title of the play. After they recite it, Chief Bromden finally laughs. This whole scene just makes me feel great, because here's a man who actually cares about a man who is deemed an outcast by all the other patients.
All in all, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is a very realistic play and I highly reccommend to anybody. It has its humorous moments, its serious moments, and its depressing moments. It's a masterpiece. |
posted by Patrick @ 7:50 AM  |
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| Being Sick is AWESOME [/sarcasm] |
| Wednesday, November 29, 2006 |
Ugh. I got a cold on Monday and it's turned into something worse. Runny nose, coughing, drowsiness. It's awful. It's even worse enduring it in school. I refuse to be absent. Two reasons. One, I'd hate to have double the homework, and Two, I have NEVER been absent in my days in High School (Only one Tardy, 0 Absences from Freshman-Senior). I want a perfect attendance, so that everybody can turn to me during Graduation and call me a dork. =P
So some people say "Stay Home! You're going to get other people sick!" Survival of the Fittest, I say! Just kidding. Since I'm sick I've made sure that I don't come into direct contact with people. I'm gonna feel bad for whoever uses my keyboard after me when we go to the media lab. Oi!
On an entirely happy and exciting note, my mother will be coming back from Poland today! Her plane will be landing around 7PM I believe. There was fog around Poland but everything seems A-OK. I'm excited to see her again, she was gone for ten days. She went to Poland because her brother (my uncle) passed away on November 18th (Saturday). He had been suffering from Leukemia since around August when he was diagnosed. It was a very depressing weekend and week in general for me afterwards, but I'm glad he's in a better place now. He was the most hard-working man I've ever known, and was such an amazing person. My mother told me that over five-hundred people attended his funeral, and there was even an orchestra playing for him. He was a well-respected man. So Rest in Peace, Wujek (Uncle) Janusz. I, and my whole family will miss you. |
| posted by Patrick @ 1:45 PM |
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| Heavy Metal |
| Sunday, November 26, 2006 |
Here's a subject I love to talk about and educate people of. The definition of "heavy metal," taken from wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_%28music%29
"Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that emerged as a defined musical style in the 1970s, having its roots in hard rock bands which, between 1969 and 1974, mixed blues and rock to create a hybrid with a thick, heavy, guitar-and-drums-centered sound, characterised by the use of highly-amplified distortion. Out of heavy metal various subgenres later evolved, many of which are referred to simply as "metal"."
I began my journey in listening to heavy metal (and rock) in seventh grade. My brother introduced me to various nu-metal bands like Slipknot and Mudvayne, which I grew fond of (I regret ever liking those bands, now). I was then introduced to more classic heavy metal bands, like Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, and the like. I was often criticized for my musical tastes, as I had abandoned the pop, techno, rap, and pop punk music you can find on MTV and the radio. In November of 2002 I got my drumset, which pushed me deeper into music. As time passed, I was introduced to the heavy metal bands I have come to love now. I finally realized that bands like Slipknot didn't hold a candle to bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, etc. I pried deeper into the genre and explored the sub-genres of heavy metal. Death metal, power metal, progressive metal, thrash metal, it went on and on. My first concert was the prog metal tour of Dream Theater, Queensryche, and Fate's Warning in 2003. Then came an Anthrax Reunion tour in 2005, which was recorded for DVD. I then saw Judas Priest a week after, and then the Gigantour which prominently had Dream Theater and Megadeth. After Gigantour was Dream Theater again in 2006, and the last concert I've been to was Iron Maiden a month ago.
Anyway, ever since I became a "metalhead," I've found endless amounts of people who got the wrong idea about the genre. What they have seen of heavy metal is the nu-metal found on TV (and nu-metal is not a real heavy metal genre at all) and are therefore led to believe that metal consists of a vocalist incoherently screaming, screeching, and growling in the midst of repetetive guitar chords. THAT. IS NOT. HEAVY METAL!
So why do I love metal? Well, for one, heavy metal vocalists, guitarists, bassists, drummers, and keyboardist are amazingly talented. Take John Petrucci of the progressive metal band Dream Theater, for example. His guitar solos aren't just a hodgepodge of notes. There's some thought put into it. The man is able to take a rather complex classic Chopin piece and play it perfectly on guitar. Then there are metal vocalists with well-endowed voiceboxes. Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden and Rob Halford of Judas Priest are two vocalists that come to mind. They have a wide vocal range and are able to produce very unique sounds.
Alright, so you get the point. They're talented. But there's something else about metal that grasps me. Many metal songs are able to send chills down my spine. Others can really help invigorate me or get my adrenaline pumping. And it's an incredible feeling. Just like other music, heavy metal can instill various emotions, even happiness. Themes presented in metal are various as well, and are not always mythological or fantasy-like.
Anyway, to get the whole gist of heavy metal, you just really have to give it some time and make an effort to listen to some bands. The Wikipedia article can also help you out. I'd personally reccommend a these bands to those who're curious:
Metal (Various)
Iron Maiden
Judas Priest
Iced Earth
Armored Saint
Racer X
Motorhead
Black Sabbath
Ozzy Osbourne
Progressive Metal
Dream Theater
Queensryche
Fate's Warning
Symphony X
Shadow Gallery
Liquid Tension Experiment
The Black Mages
4Front
Thrash/Speed Metal
Megadeth
Metallica
Pantera
Corrosion of Conformity
Anthrax
Nevermore
Slayer
Death Metal
Vader
Arch Enemy
Vomitron
In Flames
Opeth
Testament
Mastodon
Children of the Bodom
Sepultura
Power Metal
Stratovarious
Blind Guardian
Rhapsody
Dragonforce
Therion |
| posted by Patrick @ 3:52 PM |
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| Creative Writing Prompt # 182 - Custom ATM |
| Thursday, November 16, 2006 |
"If an ATM could be custom created for you, what would it spew out instead of money?"
Well, well, well. This one's neat. If I had my own ATM machine, it'd be a machine located inside my room that could shrink and turn invisible at my command (for portability and safety measures). Its high-tech voice recognition would determine my voice and allow me to use it. I would name my ATM the "PTM" or "Pat Teller Machine." It has the ability to talk via robotics and offer me advice, jokes, and reminders. It can also act as a telephone and universal instant messenger. It can formulate anything I want it to. Yes, I mean anything, from auroras to zeppoles. For example..
Pat: "Hey PTM, give me a vanilla milkshake."
PTM: "Sure thing, boss."
It'll also be entirely customizable, with different voices, color schemes, and more. The PTM would be the most advanced concoction of circuits known to man. And it would be all mine. |
| posted by Patrick @ 7:51 AM |
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| My Who Am I Narrative Story |
| Tuesday, November 07, 2006 |
Lola started her jog in front of her house. I asked myself as to when I should pop into her view and tell her what her conscience really needs! I let out a snicker as I swished my miniature red tail around.
“What a perfect occasion to mess with her head, on the mean streets of Beachwood” I whispered to myself. I let out a giggle afterwards. She was always thinking about her future, that Lola. So, my game plan’s this: since she has so many interests, this “jack of all trades” of sorts, I’ll start muddling her head with her various interests. I snickered again. Then I began guffawing.
“Not so fast, twerp!” shouted the angel. The petite entity with her feathery wings floated into my view. I groaned. “I won’t let you do that to Lola! She’s still got a year to decide on her college and her future plans…”
“Buzz off, toots! I can do whatever I want!” I shouted back. At that moment Lola stopped at the intersection for a breather. She bent her small, thin frame over as she took in a couple of breaths. Her ponytail came undone and dark brown strands of hair fell over her eyes. She rubbed her white arms and gave out a heavy sigh. The exhale came ebbing out of her nostrils.
“I won’t let you do that to her! Stop!” the angel cried. A sinister smile appeared on my lips as I lifted by red pitchfork and hurled it straight into Lola’s conscience.
“Lola, this is your conscience speaking!” I exclaimed delightfully. “You’re an athletic girl and you’re in great shape, you should look to doing it as a career! Oh, but wait, scratch that. You’re a clever writer, you know? Do it, a writing career! Ah, gosh darn it, what you really want as a future job is an artist! You’re a real Van Gogh!” Lola stopped dead in her tracks as the thoughts raced through her mind.
“Devil, you condescending fool! How dare you?!” the angel shrieked. I didn’t hear whatever else she screamed at me because I was having the time of my life. I laughed immensely. The cherub darted over to the pitchfork that was stuck into Lola’s conscience, and tried prying it out.
“Yeah, good luck with that.” I told her. “Anyway Lola, drawing just won’t cut it. Horseracing is the way to go! Think Seabiscuit! No, wait! What about the hobbies you’ve loved so much? NASCAR? Poetry? Biking? There’s your future career!” The angel gave up on trying to tug out my pitchfork, so it then called out to her.
“Lola! Please don’t stress over it! You’ve still got a year to decide! Please, just go back to your daily exercise!” Lola nodded to herself and resumed her jogging. At this I grew furious. I lunged at the seraph and seized her arm and hurled her to the ground. She began to tear up, but I didn’t care. Lola stopped again in her tracks and put her hand to her head. Her ache reverberated against the walls of her conscience.
“That’s it Lola, you feel that pain?” I said. At that instant I felt a jolt. Lola began crying out in frustration. The angel got back up on her feet.
“You see what you did? You…monster!” The angel pushed me to the ground and sat next to Lola’s conscience and hummed a calming, soothing tune. The pitchfork slowly clattered to the floor. I grunted and just sat there, smug like a thug. The angel said to the girl,
“You remember that quote you love? ‘Let your feelings flow.’ There now. Go on with your life.” Before Lola resumed her jog, she said aloud, “I’m okay.” And she went on as I hung my head in shame. |
| posted by Patrick @ 6:31 PM |
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| My "Sound" Story - Saloon Shoot-out |
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Three aces. That’s all it’ll take for Buford to win the big bucks at the Shiny Steed Saloon. He stared at the two cards he had in his hand right now. Two bright red A’s, in my hand right now, he thought. Just that one more, damn! The dark, suspicious man sitting across from him sneered as he examined his own cards. There’s no way in hell your getting out of this game with my money, Buford thought.
“Alright, partner, dra - ” Buford’s last word was drowned out by the loud bang of a colt revolver. Right then and there he hit the deck. Not long after that several more gunshots whizzed back and forth within the saloon. Buford didn’t have a clue as to how many guns were firing, but it was almost deafening. One bullet managed to barely clip the bottom part of Buford’s ear. As the firing continued he crawled under his table. To his shock he saw the dark, suspicious man lying motionless on the dusty wooden floor. His eyes were wide open and were staring into Buford’s soul. He was dead alright. Buford was relieved to notice that the firing had suddenly ceased.
“HOLD YOUR FIR - ” but whoever shouted that immediately yelled out and hit the floor with a thud as the shooting commenced, again. Buford shook his head, tipped over his own table to use as barricade, and yanked out his single-action revolver.
“It’s show time, ladies!” Buford guffawed as he stood straight up and let loose. He could hear the bullets pound into the flesh of the adversaries. Within ten seconds all was quiet, and Buford holstered his pistol. He was alone in a sea of lifeless bodies. |
| posted by Patrick @ 8:16 AM |
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| Journal Entry 11/02/06 |
| Thursday, November 02, 2006 |
| So yesterday was a bit frustrating for me. Physics Lab Report + Idiotic Beowulf Presentation + Pat's Mind = A-BOMB EXPLOSION. I think I'll feel so much better once that horrendous SAT is out of my way on Saturday. I pray that it's the last time I'll ever have to take such a craptastic standardized test. Despite the frustration I experienced in homework yesterday, I still enjoyed being dressed up in my superhero outfit. I dressed up as The Hurricane from the WWE. 'Twas fun! I think I'll dress up in the getup again and have a photo taken. I seriously can't wait for the Thanksgiving season to come, it's going to be so much fun. November 19th is the Wii Launch (YES!), November 23rd is Turkey Day, and November 25th is my brother's birthday. November is going to be a very happy month for me, and not a happy month for my wallet. That's about it, I guess. All you need to know is that this is going to be one of the most exciting months I've experienced in a long time! |
| posted by Patrick @ 7:46 AM |
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