The Creative App

Well, here it is, I am finally finished with my creative application.

How Does It Go?

Two weeks ago, I had no idea. But I've drafted, sketched, redrafted, and resketched
multiple ideas until I finally came up with one that I think works.

I've yet to add some text at the top. I'm thinking "Sometimes... with a leap of faith."

I wanted something from an altered perspective, that wasn't immediately "gotten."

The child is on a 3ft diving board, completely safe with water wings, life vest
and even a snorkle. But in his mind, he is hundreds of feet in the air, about to go off the board.

How does the child go? With an absolute leap of faith.

I tried to capture that emotion and that fear in my answer.

That's why I named it "When 3 feels like 300."

I've been there. I've faced a molehill but seen a mountain.

I had a great semester, Thanks Dr. Griffin.

Hope you had a good break.

If I Could Have Any Super Power

If I could have any super power, it would be telekinesis.

To score, or to set ablaze... that is the question.

Think about it: having that power, means you essentially have all the other "cool" powers that everyone always names.

Want to fly? I can move myself, with my mind, and fly.

Want to set things on fire? I can move the air around an object so fast that the friction causes it to burst into flames.

Want to have super strength? Mind over matter, I can move anything.

I am not sure what I would use my powers for however. I can easily see the perks of super-villainy. Infinite money, infinite infamy, infinite power. Then again, being the world's constant savior would be pretty amazing too. Infinite glory and the respect and thanks of the world.

Plus, think of how much time you could save if you could move things around with your mind. Screw getting up for that coffee. I'll use my mind and just operate everything from afar. Forget lifting weights, I'll be stronger than you'll ever be by just thinking about it.

... Uh oh.

I can't have telekinesis anymore. I just realized what I would become. And it's not a hero. Even worse, it's not even a villain.

I just telekinesis'd the shit out of those snacks.

Guess I need to find a new power!

Andre Johnson and Cortland Finnegan

The Texans played the Titans this past weekend, and one thing everyone is talking about is the fight that broke out between Andre Johnson and Cortland Finnegan. Andre Johnson is a very level headed receiver. He's calm, calculated, and trust worthy. Cortland Finnegan is a dirty little worm. What's interesting is that these two guys have a history of going at it - Johnson usually pushed into action by Finnegan. But watch that video I linked and make no mistake - Johnson got REAL scary, REAL quick.

REAL scary.

Both players were fined 25,000 dollars. No suspensions. Guys have been fined more over rough tackles.

Why the lack of suspensions?

I think because Cortland Finnegan is quite a dirty player. He loves getting into it with anyone and usually goads the people who he is defending into small shoving matches. Andre Johnson, relatively speaking, was defending himself. Maybe not himself, but at the very least his pride. You can only let a small dog nip you in the hell for so long before you turn around and punt it across the yard. Finnegan didn't get suspended because getting your ass kicked on national TV is a much worse punishment.

Maybe Johnson should have been suspended, after all, he was on top throwing punches into Finnegan's head. Then again, I'm biased.

Go Texans. Go Johnson.  

The Best Way To Buy Wine

I have figured it out.

Forget winerys, forget vineyards, forget Wine Officianado Magazine.

I have found the secret.

The key... is finding a good price to logo ratio.

The lower the price, the better, but if the logo is stupid or lame, then the Wine will be lame guaranteed.

You have to have a balance between price, and how cool the logo looks.

Take my new favorite "cheap" wine: Toasted Head.

Yes.

Price? $12. A little steep, I know. 

But did you see that label? That's a bear. Spitting fire. I was sold after I heard there is a bear on the label, but the fire thing just seals the deal. Even the name sounds pretty cool. I feel like this is the working man's wine. Nothing fancy. Just a bear and its fire spewing roar. It's my current favorite.

A close second?

Lucky Duck.

Duck... Duck... Duck... Duck... G-Duck...

$5. Sometimes its on sale at Walmart for around three bucks. And the logo? That's a duck wearing a beanie, guys. The only thing that would make it better is if it was a bear breathing fire.

Give these two guys a shot next time you're in the budget booze section of a grocery store.

Or try it out yourself. I'm telling you, you can never go wrong with a strong price to label ratio.

Trust me.

A Brief Bucket List

I will keep this reasonable.

1. Sky Dive - one of my pledge-brothers did this and said it changed his life. I'm not afraid of heights, but I am afraid of flying. Maybe jumping out would conquer that fear!

2. Do a front flip off a high dive - Front flips are the best. This is a fact. Jumping off a high dive is easy, however doing a front flip off of one requires the pinnacle of dexterity and grace. Over shoot and you land on your stomach, and die. Under shoot and you land on your back, and die. Hit it just right, and everyone cheers and tells their children's children about you.

That guy has got it. I can feel it.

3. Drive really fast reverse, then throw it in drive as I swerve, then end up going forward again. Effectively a 180 degree turn, but at a much faster speed. I want some super-car to do those moves in. 

4. Catch a deadly snake, Crocodile Hunter (RIP) style. - Any snake, as long as it is venomous. Could be in the sweaty jungle of Asia... although I'd rather it be in a red-neck back yard.

5. Go Deep Sea fishing - Fishing is fun, deep sea fishing is more fun. I want to catch a huge marlin or some kind of shark. I want to feel the full strength of the fish, not just its weight. I want to have to work for my catch.

6. Be the Mini-gunner in a Huey Chopper - Maybe I've been playing Call of Duty too much, but I have to have this on my bucket list. I want to control the turret in the side of a Huey chopper and mow down trees somewhere in east Texas. Oh, and Fortunate Son by CCR is playing. Think Vietnam, but not pointless and against trees.

Some folks are born silver spoooooon in hand. Lord, don't they help themselves, nawwhhh!

7. Participate in a Riot - as long as I believed in the cause, I think the intensity and flood of human emotion would be unforgettable. The pinnacle of human-group mentality. What a rush of adrenaline.

8. Go to a Rave - Oonst oonst oonst oonst oonst taaaa oonst oonst oonst oonst oonst TAAAA! Almost speaks for itself. I have no interest in taking a bunch of crazy drugs, I just want to experience the music with hundreds of other people. Similar to #7, the adrenaline in the middle of the group would be amazing.

9. Go to a Horse Race, bet big, and win - I've never cared about horses, but I'll be the first to admit I was rooting for Zenyatta when it (he or she?) raced and ended up second. I'd love to go to some big venue horse race, place an outrageous bet, and come home in the money.

10. Drive a Nissan GTR - This is my baby. One day I will own one - that's when I know I'll have made it. It's still a long ways off, but I'm working on it. It's my dream car. And the best thing is: It's an achievable dream car.

Schwing!

More to come.

Many, many more to come.

So A New Cartel Has Moved Into Tijuana.

And they built a half mile long tunnel between a house in Mexico and a warehouse in San Diego. This is the wild part: during the bust they recovered more than 20 tons of marijuana. Twenty tons? forty thousand pounds? That's outrageous!

The tunnel was build with expert engineering: it was ventilated, it had electricity, and it even had a little railway track designed to cart around the 20 tons of marijuana. Apparently, this is evidence of a new cartel coming in to Tijuana: the Sinaloan Cartel. According to the article, they are expanding their turf and beginning to bully the previous reigning gang: the Arelleno Felix crime family.

Isn't it wild seeing life imitate art? I would have expected to see this kind of stuff in a movie involving Cheech Marin, Al Pacino, and Christian Bale (As user, dealer, and buster, respectively)

You can't have Cheech without Chong

Unbelievable. And it happened on Thanksgiving day.

Happy Thanksgiving, Cartels of Tijuana. If I ever visit, please don't kidnap me.

If I Could Be Anywhere In The World Right Now...

Where would I be?

I would be in Aberdeen, Scotland, at the beach during high-tide with a cup of hot chocolate. Not the US kind either... I'm talking the kind with cream and a stick of chocolate stuck right in. I want to run along the concrete barrier. I want to hear the waves crash the barricade. I want to build castles in the cold and see how long they survive the water's violent nature.

This is the clearest I have ever seen this beach. Usually gray skies mar it all.

I miss Aberdeen. The opportunity arose to go back this winter break, but I had to pass. I've got to work in order to pay for school. Damn financial aid always throws a hissy fit whenever I don't have a steady job. Maybe one day I'll go back there for good, and not have to worry about coming back to the United States. 

Hey, maybe one day I'll pick up my things, move there, and start a little boutique with a few close friends that designs advertisements for local companies. Who knows, maybe even start up an agency. I'd be with my family at the very least. I've got some creative relatives that's for sure. Thirty years from now, if Reece+Rayne is a big name, this is where it all began - right here in this blog. 

I can't wait.

The Human Centipede

The Human Centipede Trailer

WARNING: Do not watch the Trailer I just linked, unless for some reason, you are intrigued by the rest of this blog post. I watched it and it freaked me out for a few days. It's the most bizarre, but maybe scariest horror movie ever conceived.

....

Spoiler alert...

I've never seen The Human Centipede. But I did see the trailer and i nearly wet myself. Here's the premise with some heartfelt commentary:

Two attractive girls' car break down. (Nice.)

They wander around, and find a suburban community or something. (Okay... typical slasher flick action going on)

Some german dude answers the door. (Germans are always up to no good in horror movies.)

He even looks crazy. Note the background...

Uh oh they're kidnapped! (Uh oh!)

German guy turns out to be a mad scientist of sorts. (Called it.)

German guy reveals his master plan: he wants to make a human centipede. (Uhh... what?)

By sewing three people together, mouth to butt, and then breaking their legs. (Okay, what the.......)

Girls put up a struggle and try to flee (Thank god.)

It's implied that they fail. Final scene in trailer briefly shows the... "centipede" (What the $%@#)

I can't believe that this is what horror movies have come to. I feel like this is the legacy that movies like Hostel and SAW 3 through SAW Whatever leave behind: scare the audience with gratuitous gore and violence rather than tension and story elements.

I miss movies like Psycho and the exorcist. They're so old, but they've stood the test of time. Even Michael Myers in the original Halloween movie was pretty scary. Corny, but still scary.

These days its just horrifying acts of violence on sexy people.

The Human Centipede? Hostel? SAW? Come on Hollywood, give us some creativity.

...

... I guess The Human Centipede is pretty creative...

Come on, ya'll know what I meant.

So The Beatles are finally on iTunes

About damn time.

Acquiring Music Rights! YEAH!

To be honest, I am surprised it has taken this long. iTunes, especially in the last three years, has exploded. What used to be a support program for Apple's iPod has now become a full fledged cash flow for Apple. Buy songs, movies, TV shows, etc. Hell, you can even rent them. That's what is killing stores like Block Buster and Hollywood Video. Netflix no doubt hurts the rental stores, but the complete integration of Media Player (MP3 player no longer fits, these things can now download movie wirelessly from a 3g network...) and iTunes destroys them.

Apple continues to release some pretty impressive products. My girlfriend just got set up with Apple TV, and I was blown away. My sister just got the iPhone 4 and I was impressed.

Let me be honest, I am not an apple fan. I think I made that clear in my last series of blogs. I find their stuff to be overpriced, underpowered, high in style, but low in value. But Apple TV was impressive. I rented and downloaded several episodes of family guy in about ten seconds. All from my girlfriend's TV.

I guess... and I hate saying this out loud... I'm warming up to apple.

AGHHGHGHGHGAHHGHGHHGHGHGgHhg....

Hell, I'm typing this on a sweet MacBook Pro. I manage all my music with iTunes. I'm debating getting Apple TV. Lately, my PC has just been an absolute pain. I have a solid sound system rigged to it with a monstrous sound card. But a few days ago, SOME cord, SOMEwhere has either jiggled loose or fallen out and I can't find it. Now the sound comes out tinny and weak. I die a little inside every time I hear it.

Oh well...

Maybe it's time I started mixing on my MacBook.

A Thanksgiving Dinner To Partially Remember

My mother is Scottish. Extremely Scottish. She has kept her accent despite years of being in this country, and not once has she forgotten her culture and heritage.

This was the first Thanksgiving since my dad passed away, and instead of having the traditional dinner at my cousin's place in Houston, we joined our family friends that live over by SMU's campus. My mom was charged with bringing a desert, and she decided to make her famous rum cake. Rum cake is an extreme understatement. It should have been called Handle-of-Rum Cake.

Looks harmless enough...

I kid you not, I almost needed a chaser for every bite I took. It was outrageous. With every bite someone took, glances were exchanged that just screamed "Are... you serious?" Someone's son snuck a piece of the cake while everyone was making the desert table run and had to run to the bathroom after tasting it. Even my "uncle," a devout believer in the drink, was making faces at how strong this cake was. 

Everyone was hammered. 

Dinner was awesome. 

It's been my favorite Thanksgiving. I just wish my dad could have been there, he would have been double fisting rum cake slices. 

HAPPY BELATED THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

And happy holidays.

Fun Blog Time: Five Cars I Would Drive If I Were An A**hole.

1. Mercedes AMG Black

schwing!

I have $300,000 to spend on a Mercedes. Obviously I am going to get the outrageous 700 hp carbon-fiber-head-to-toe'd AMG Black edition. I'm going to race all of my friends around the streets of Dubai and talk about how much carbon fiber my car has. That makes it lighter. Therefore it's faster. Therefore I am faster than you are. My rims are oversized because they can be. Does it make the car faster? No. But it makes my car look cooler. So yeah, actually, it does make the car faster.

2. Lamborghini Reventon

I have a million dollars to drop on a car. Screw the kids going to college. My car costs a million dollars, they don't need to go to college. My car looks like its from the future - I dress like I am too. Do you like my tail lights? Me too. They're the best. They make the car aerodynamic and cool looking and all the women love me when I drive this car. Not only because its a Lamborghini, but its also cost a million dollars. It has one exhaust. That's because both headers feed into one tube, creating a trifecta of exhaust ejecting power. This makes it fast. Sometimes it shoots flames. When it does shoot flames, everyone in a two mile radius spontaneously orgasms. Except for me, because I'm going so fast I'm outside the two mile range. That's my only complaint. Oh, and that it doesn't come in neon green.

3. Green Lamborghini Murcielago

Yes, I just answered your question before you thought of it. Yes, you are correct. It IS faster because its green. You see those green lips around my black rims? Faster. Green butterfly doors? Faster. Green neon actually shoots out from under the car when its on. That makes it faster too. And I actually need the butterfly doors. I have a really hard time not looking cool when I get in or out of a vehicle, so the doors are a nice touch because they take some of the focus off of me and onto the car. Which is green. Look at me. Now at the car. Now back to me. Actually, just look at me. I'll get in the car in just a minute. I just have to figure out how to work these doors...

4. Porsche Carrera GT

First off, it's a Porsche. Porsche. "Por" "shuh". Not "porsh," get some class. And then get a half a million dollar car. Maybe then I'll invite you on our Pacific Coast highway drives. Maybe, but only if you have an amazing car. Is this a hard top or a convertible? How should I know? I just drive it like a prick on the highway, I don't actually know anything about it. All I know is that my super blonde wife loves the feeling of wind in her hair when I overtake you at 150mph on the shoulder. Don't go 80 in the passing lane is all I'm saying. If you're not passing someone, just move over. And if you are, still move over because you won't ever pass me.

5. Ferrari Enzo

This car cost me $700,000. It was no big deal though. It's red, it's a ferrari, it has butterfly doors, and its a ferrari. I only drive this when I wear my ferrari hat, watch, and custom made leather racing gloves. I don't race though. I would never take this thing to the track, what the hell are you thinking? Enzo? Track? Pffffffffft. I take my girlfriend out to the fanciest restaurants in this thing. She tries to get out of the butterfly doors, but she's only been able to legally drink for two years or so now - I guess she is just inexperienced. Whatever, I'm sure I'll find a new one soon enough that'll be able to get in and out of my ferrari without hurting herself. And its red. I wish it was green. But red is a close second. Unless this thing came in yellow. Then red would be a close third. 

*I had fun writing this blog - It's all a joke. 

A Tale of Two Cities

I am so sick of Texas.

I was born in Dallas, raised in Houston, and am now currently back in Dallas for school.

I am so sick of Texas.

But I love Texas, don't get me wrong. But, just as Tupac and Biggie Smalls battled it out over East and West, I too feel some struggle as to where I want to end up.

There's a war inside my mind.

Both west and east coast sound tremendously appealing. Obviously, I am referring to LA and New York here. I'm just sick of being stuck in the middle. Both cities have opportunity for Advertising. Both are capitals of not only commerce, but style, music, and culture. 

But...

Personally, I feel more drawn to LA. I like the fashion, I absolutely love the weather, and what can possibly beat having the beach just a little closer than the mountains? Throwing a football on the beach is only slightly more achievable than ripping down a blue-black on a snowboard. I've only visited LA twice, but both times were amazing. You feel like you're right in the center of it all. Celebrities, cars, women, business - it is all swirling around in a vortex of awesome everywhere you go. 

I've never been to New York, but I have a good feeling that it has a certain swirling vortex of its own. I've heard nothing but good things (except that people are kind of rude there), and I could see myself working for an agency there. I like the idea of a fast-paced life. I like the idea of working in the city, punishing deadlines, big campaigns, big people, and delivering something that knocks the city on its ass.

Then again....

I think I'd like to work for Wieden + Kennedy in Portland. 

So I guess it's...

North side, mothaf***as!

Lance Armstrong and the Doping Allegations

Early in September, Lance Armstrong was all of a sudden accused of taking steroids. The legitimacy of his seven tour de France wins was immediately called into question. Does he deserve all seven? Did he cheat? What of his legacy? Is he no longer the greatest bicyclist to race through the French countryside?

Lance Armstrong's legacy won't be his seven victories - and it sure as hell won't be these doping allegations.

This is what matters...

No, Lance's legacy will be Livestrong - his charity that donates money for research and offers support for Cancer victims. Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor himself, created the charity in the late 90's to help and better the lives of those struggling with the disease he was lucky enough to beat.

Just take a look at that website. Beyond cancer-related material, it offers fitness advice, "dares" to stop bad habits (Smoking, for example) and other lifestyle ideas. It's an all around self-improvement site, as well as a place to receive help and support with cancer.

So please, let's be honest. Does anyone except bicyclists really care about the tour de France? Steroids, no steroids, all the steroids, whatever. I sure don't care. What I do care about is the fact that his organization helps support the fight against a pretty brutal disease.

That's what matters. And ultimately, that's what will be remembered.

Gun Laws - AKA Um.... wut?

A few weeks ago, I was watching cops with a few buddies of mine. It was a pretty exciting episode where they raided an armed-and-dangerous drug dealer's house. They waited until he wasn't home, broke down the door, and went through his entire place. They found pounds of marijuana, a few pistols, and then an AK-47.

The cop casually picks up the AK, cocks it (or something, I don't know a lot about guns), ....de...uh...cocks it, then started to laugh. He turns to the camera, does his best action-hero stance, and says "Yup... there's not a doper in this city who doesn't have one of these!"

I found that hard to believe. How could every drug dealer in the city have something as outrageous as an AK47? I can see a pistol, sure, but an assault rifle? You've got to be kidding me - what a one-liner to say just to impress the TV audience.

I was OH so wrong.

Type in AK47 into google. The first website that comes up is wikipedia, giving a very thorough history of the gun and its creator. The very next website is Atlantic Firearms.

The first thing that caught my eye? SALE! SALE! SALE! AK 47! $379!

..... WHAT?

AK47, THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY NINE DOLLARS? And it even has a bayonet slapped on under the barrel.

I couldn't believe it. I poked around the site a little further, and found Uzi's and Sniper Rifles all for sale too.

You give them a credit card, wait a few weeks, and they ship an AK47 to your nearest "authorized" gun shop where you pick it up.

Granted, it is semi-automatic; as in it can not keep firing if you hold the trigger down. But for lack of a better way to put it, it's still a fucking AK47.

No wonder "every doper in the city" has one.

Personally, I find this to be a little extreme.... Pistol for home defense? Sure. Shotgun to shoot skeet? Sure. Rifle to hunt? Sure.

AK47 to... to.... uh.... to...?

You've gotta be kidding me.

Danielle Osteria's: My First Time At a Nice Italian Restaurant

My parents took me to nice restaurants when I was little. I'd like to think I'm not a complete amateur when it comes to fine dining.

But the other night I took my girlfriend out to a restaurant called Daniella Osteria's over in Up Town. It was this authentic Italian place with live music and phenomenal food. I was trying to be romantic, and splurged a little bit on a bottle of wine. Two minutes later, they bring out a bottle of some white wine (I don't know a single thing about wine) and the waiter pours a sip in my glass.

Think, Remington, think... What do you do next.

I sat patiently waiting for him to either finish pouring, or serve my girlfriend first, or something. I had NO idea what I was doing. All of a sudden it hit me: I am supposed to sip it, then approve, then smell it, then wave something at my face, then wait for the waiter to pour my girlfriend a glass.... or something in that order. 

I grabbed the cup, watched him wince as I held it wrong, drank it all, then said... "Uh... yeah, yeah, this is good. This one will work." Then I stared at him. He simply nodded, poured my girlfriend a glass, poured me a glass, and left with the bottle. 

My girlfriend, far more cosmopolitan than I, couldn't help but laugh at me. I felt like I was back with Ms. Manners or something. She gave me a lesson in fine Italian dining right there on the dinner table. 

"Hold the glass like this."

"Sip it, swirl it, smell it, sip it."

"Don't hold white like that, that's how you hold a red."

"Remington, don't use that fork."

"Remington, that's a napkin, not a bandana."

.....

I did that last one just to piss her off.

In all seriousness though, Danielle Osteria's was amazing. The service was awesome (I ended up confessing to my waiter that I had no idea what I was doing), and the food was even better. I had this pasta fish thing.

 Next time you're in Osteria's, and you're confused on what to order. Just ask for the pasta fish thing, they'll take care of you.

I highly recommend it. Just make sure you know what you're doing.

My Notebook / Journal....

is my cell phone.

Every other day in my advertising classes (and even in some of my creative writing classes) I am advised to carry around with my a small journal or notepad to jot down ideas. To be honest, I used to think this idea was stupid. I felt like an idea that was truly great would not, and could not, be forgotten. Who has the time or space to carry around a journal?

Do you know what I do have the time and space to carry around?

My cell phone.

I have this notepad app on my Epic that lets me just type whatever I want in, then save it for future viewing. I actually used this feature the other night when our second creative project was due: the Creative Brief. I was in charge of making the ad for my group's client, Spencer's Gifts. I had spent hours thinking of advertisements and creative ways to promote Spencer's. Two days before it was due, I had exhausted my mind and body during a busy day of work and i was just laying down in bed when all of a sudden I had an idea.

A good idea.

I whipped out my phone, opened up notepad, and at 1:37AM on November 3rd, typed the following:

"Spencer's Gifts: typical antiquey collectibles in a row with the 4th of five some kind of outrageous collectible that you could only grt from spencrrs"

Satisfied, I fell asleep.

The next day at work, I made this:

Peter Griffin can rest on my mantle anytime.

I also took that picture with my "notepad."

Only thing i can't do with it is draw or sketch.

...

Damn, guess I really do need to start carrying a journal.

The Current Trend of Music: You Can't Remix a Remix

The record scratch is typically credited to an artist named Grand Wizard Theodore. He really opened the door for hip hop and urban music in the late seventies / early eighties when he realized that he can sample, mix, and scratch previous songs to create new beats and progressions.

In the early eighties, Grand Master Flash started sampling the bass grooves of disco and funk tracks and then rapped over them. One of his biggest hits was called Superrappin'. It used the bass progression of "Seven Minutes of Funk" by The Whole Darn Family. This started the trend of rap groups sampling classic songs and gave way to the likes of Run DMC sampling "Walk This Way" or A Tribe Called Quest sampling "Walk On The Wild Side."

They sampled Lou Reed's classic and made it their own

If  you ever have time to check out a song on YouTube, listen to "Can I Kick It?" by a Tribe Called Quest. If you like Lou Reed, or like "Walk On The Wild Side," you'll love the early 90's hip hop re-visioning of Reed's level-headed bass. 

My point is, early hip hop (80's stuff, "old school") was built off the failing rhythms of funk and disco. Many hit rap songs of the early 90's include the riffs from rock and roll classics. Even Eminem, when he first came onto the scene, ripped the first verse from Dido's song "Thank You" in his song "Stan." Every new blossoming of creativity was built upon the whispers of the past. 

These days, sampling has evolved (or devolved, depending on your view) into Mash Up. On Youtube, type in any hit song, then remix, and you will find a dozen DJ's trying to make their name by combining it with some other hit song. Tupac with Phil Collins. Biggie Smalls with Miley Cyrus. Pink Floyd with Jay Z. 

There are even Mash Up artists becoming more famous than their inspiration. Greg Gillis, AKA GirlTalk has made his name by combining the hits of numerous decades of music. Don't get me wrong, GirlTalk is certainly talented. It takes vision to combine Biggie Smalls with Elton John. But, there is nothing new happening. It is software and a MacBook Pro.

GirlTalk in action

Mash Ups are merely the past being combined with the past. There is no "new school" being brought in to compliment the old. If all you are doing is putting together the past with the present, all you can hope for is the present - there is no hint, no nod, and no grasp for the future. No boundaries or limits are being pushed let alone sought. 

...

On the flip side though, GirlTalk plays a helluva show. If you ever get a chance to see him play, TAKE IT. You won't be dissapointed.

So I Turned 21.

On October 30th, 1989, I was born.

On October 30th, 2010, I turned the ripe old age of 21.

When I turned nineteen and twenty, I didn't feel a difference. I went to bed nineteen, and woke up twenty - simple as that. There was no milestone.

Turning twenty-one has been unbelievable. Lucky for me, my girlfriend had a sorority formal that night, and I was whisked away on a bus to House of Blues downtown to experience my new found freedom.

Alcohol is interesting. Like golf, it is a cruel, cruel mistress. Perfectly sober, a 12 dollar drink is outrageous. After a few drinks however, a 12 dollar beverage is meaningless - just an occasion to throw it on the credit card and worry about it tomorrow.

MasterCard's got this round!

For the first few days, all I thought about turning twenty one was "Hey, I can drink legally now."

My God, was I wrong. Not only do I feel more mature, but I feel like everyone looks at me like I'm more mature. People expect more - and rightfully so. I am no longer a teen. There is nothing I legally can't do.

Except rent a car, I think you've got to be 25 to do that. But come on now, who cares about that?

These folks do.

My 21st birthday was awesome. I had people I didn't know buying me drinks, and I was wearing a full Scottish-style kilt for the formal. I'm sure I looked ridiculous. But I felt amazing. It was an honor turning 21 wearing my traditional garb. I'm sure all of my family back home would be very proud of me. 

Then again, they've been drinking since they were 18, no one cares about a 21st birthday over there. 

That just means you're old. 

The Evolution of My Childhood Dreams

For the longest time, when anyone would ask me "what I wanted to be when I grow up," I would always respond with entrepreneur. My parents taught me that word when I was a little kid, and I think they drew more pride from hearing me pronounce such a difficult word than me actually wanting to start my own business one day.

That dream ended when I opened up a brand new Nintendo 64, and fell in love with Mario, Donkey Kong, and The Legend of Zelda. I wanted to design video games. I wanted to program and create the biggest, most badass titles ever to rock a console. I wanted guns and I wanted explosions - and I wanted to link them together in beautiful story with no plot holes or cliches.

... what does that say now?

Let me tell you something, programming is hard. REALLY hard. I was already bad at math and logic - And programming is the epitome of everything I hated in school. 

So I adapted...

If I couldn't design the video games on a technical level, maybe I could design the story and overarching themes and feel!

So I decided I wanted to become a writer. I took creative writing classes where I wrote short stories and some poems and even attempted a play. I wrote all the time. I did well in my classes, and my stories were pretty creative, but overtime I just burned myself out. Everyone told me I was this great writer and had to pursue it as a career and I guess I became overwhelmed. Since elementary school, in the comment section of my early report cards, teachers pointed me in the writer's direction. I still enjoy it, but I quickly lose interest these days. I guess it was a high school thing. 

Speaking of high school things, for about a year I wanted to be a professional golfer. Golf team was going well, I had hit an all time low with my handicap (4) and I wanted to do my Dad proud (he was really into golf). But the more I tried to practice and take it seriously, the worse I got. Golf is a cruel, cruel mistress. To this day, I play the best when I don't go to the range, don't think about my swing, and just have fun with whoever I'm playing with. Grip it and rip it works the best for me. But that attitude doesn't lend itself to team play, and my dreams of out driving Tiger Woods quickly fell apart. 

Besides, he's got enough to worry about without me breathing down his neck.

Then I saw Spiderman 2 and for about twenty minutes thought about being Spiderman. 

Except I think I would use my powers for super-villainy. Not genocide super-villainy, but more like failing-at-robbing-banks-while-yakkety-sax-plays kind of super villainy. Cartoon villainy. 

After almost five semesters at college however, I don't think I have any more Childhood dreams. I have grown-up dreams. I have found my love. I want to combine my love for video games, with my love for writing, with creativity and passion. I want to design campaigns for video games. Its a combination of all my childhood loves and goals.

And I can even play golf with clients. 

Doing the bull dance - feeling the flow - Working it... working it.

...I'm not sure where Spiderman fits in there though!