The Spandrel

Grandview "There is much artistry in the way the album is constructed, every detail is accounted for." [Promo]

2014-03-27T10:03:00.001-07:00

DISCLAIMER: I am going to fanboy pretty hard about this artist. But I completely believe the AT LEAST 90% of such praise is completely warranted. Ok, let's do this.

Grandview is a small time band out of Boston, MA. They are in the same touring group as The Color and Sound, The Dirty Looks, Pray for Sound and Somos (there's free music in some of these links). I have a friend in New York state who is into the local music scene (he's in a band up there) and this is how I was introduced to all these wonderful artists. But what inspired me to write this post is Grandview's newest release.

Now, while I love the indie pop music from The Color and Sound, the post-rock from Pray for Sound and the pop punk from Somos, Grandview takes these ideas and mixed them into something new. Now, maybe you're saying "Come on, indie pop punk emo alternative rock isn't anything new." And to that, I say "you are correct." But the new scope that Grandview creates on the genre(s) is a wonderful experience.

This is one of those albums you plug in and just listen to without doing anything else. Experience the lyrics and the emotion of the instruments. Considering this is their first LP, Grandview is already mature in a way few bands will ever be.

There is much artistry in the way the album is constructed. Every detail is accounted for. The album, entitled "Everything Between Paint and a Wall" starts with the song Paint and ends with the song Wall. The tracklist is constructed in such a way that you feel a spectrum of emotions in the correct order. And, while listening to it, I had the "repeat album" option on. Not only does each song flow seamlessly into the next, but there is a transition from the last track to the first track. This album transitions into itself. That's as impressive as The Dear Hunter's album Act I transitioning into his next release, Act II.

I find it a beautiful experience, and I hope you will at least give them a listen. You can stream the entire album on Grandview's Bandcamp Page. You can buy the 11-track album for $5, and this page also offers some free (or name your price) releases. Be sure to give those other bands a listen as well, I know you won't regret it!

Coca-Cola's Super Bowl commercial, and the media-driven culture war fad.

2014-02-04T08:53:00.000-08:00

Anyone watching the Super Bowl knew this was going to happen. Coca Cola's ad (below) features "America the Beautiful" sung in seven different languages. The artistic point of the ad, it's message, is simple: America is beautiful because we are a melting pot. But, as many of you probably know, that particular bottle of multicultural Coke was hard from some to swallow.

Glenn Beck has publicly stated that the ad is a political divider of the people:

"It's in your face, and if you don't like it, if you're offended by it, you're a racist. If you do like it, you're for immigration. You're for progress."

Fox News's Todd Starnes also weighed in on the negative side of what many claim shouldn't be a debate.

Coca Cola is the official soft drink of illegals crossing the border. #americaisbeautiful
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) February 3, 2014

So was Coca-Cola saying America is beautiful because new immigrants don't learn to speak English?
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) February 3, 2014

Yet, many say it's a beautiful and artistically done commercial. They believe Coke has no hidden agenda, they're simply bringing back "Buying the World a Coke." Of course, I lie somewhere in the middle. The marketers at Coke are very good at what they do. I think they wanted to stir the pot. Not because they are pro or anti-immigration. Because people would be talking about their advertisement. And look at social media and news publications now! All they want to talk about is how beautiful the ad is and how ignorant that Fox News is. So, Coke got their wish: press. But they've opened up a bigger can of worms.

All of the anti-conservative information you see above came from a New York Daily News article with so much spin it made me dizzy (if you get motion sickness, be weary of following the link). The focus of the article was bashing famous conservatives for disagreeing with the message of the advertisement. They, meaning author Ethan Sacks, named two contributors to Fox News and wrote what I have written above.

Clearly using what we can only assume is an ad he appreciates (lest he be called ignorant), Sacks attacks the right-wing media. He subtly, but effectively, wrote Fox News enough times in his article for us to know he's generalizing the feelings of Glen Beck, and a man who wrote "Dispatches from Bitter America" and projecting them onto an entire news organization.

It's a controversy, alright. People fighting on social media. News outlets using what they say is art to attack another. Racism, intolerance, melting pot, assimilation, hate, love, acceptance. Do we let immigrants in? After all, that's what this country was founded on. But "united we stand, divided we fall." Do we force everyone to learn English and use it in public, still allowing them to appreciate their native tongue, so we can stand together?

No matter what your beliefs are on all of this, it doesn't seem like the media is using the controversy to do anything good. All they want to write about is hateful tweets. And Coke can sit back and watch as their advertisement creates a culture war fad, driven home by the media. Hell, even I'm giving Coke free press by writing this. But no more, let's leave the faux culture war alone, and focus on real immigration.

In case you didn't know, an immigration deal is currently in the works. This is what we should all be reading, arguing about, and writing about: real immigration law with real long lasting consequences.

What you don't know about Phil Robertson (and what he actually said) [Feature]

2013-12-20T08:05:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I woke up to the biggest Facebook feud I've seen in years. This time, it seems someone has said something offensive about homosexuals, and it wasn't Chic-fil-A. Nope, Phil Robertson, one of the stars of the largely (and unnecessarily) merchandised television show, Duck Dynasty. And apparently, the man is also racist! And our freedom of speech is being taken away!

Now, because these outlandish claims were on Facebook and my guess was no one had read the actual GQ Interview, I went ahead and did my homework. And guess what I found out? Phil Robertson isn't too bright. But before I get ahead of myself, I want to go through the GQ article step by step.

The first, and possibly most, important thing Phil says in the interview is a quote that hopefully most people interested in the so called "scandal" have seen. It's the one about, without getting too anatomically specific, in what ways women are more desirable than men, and how illogical it would be to be homosexual.

“It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.”

So there that is. It's not necessarily a pleasant comment, but it's not anywhere close to the anti-Semitic tirades that Mel Gibson went on. However, this comment was apparently unprompted. I'm not sure if it can be attributed to bad journalism on the part of the article's author, Drew Magary, or if Robertson just said it out of the blue. But this quote seems to be what people are risking their Facebook social lives on.

Read more »

A Lot Like Birds (and nothing like fish) [Promo]

2013-10-15T10:50:00.001-07:00

A couple years ago, I went through a post-hardcore phase. I began listening to The Devil Wears Prada and We Came As Romans. I had friends introduce me to Memphis May Fire and Of Mice & Men (which I still believe are two of the best bands in the genre). But I've only recently stumbled on A Lot Like Birds. And I instantly loved them.

It's not a "Party Problem" it's a "Government Problem". [Feature]

2013-10-10T11:33:00.001-07:00

Today marks our 10th day in to the Federal Government's shutdown. And if you don't fully understand it and want to know more about it, the Washington Post has a pretty good article explaining it and it's effects. But I'm not here to discuss all of that in detail, I'm here to discuss the overarching source of our current crisis, and how the American people aren't helping.

As children, we learned fairly quickly how to blame others for the wrongs we had done. Little Johnny points the finger at Little Susie for the broken vase, and whatnot. This is what's going on in Washington. We as Americans have been complaining for years that the parties' polar actions are harmful, and they should get along. Compromise it's something we've wanted for a long time. Obviously we haven't reached that point yet, the government is shut down and millions of people are out of the job. People who, mind you, had as much say in the shutdown us voters did. But Representatives and Senators are still getting paid, thanks to convenient laws that guarantee their salaries no matter what shape our government is in.

Read more »

Who's Backing Up the Internet? [Feature]

2013-03-28T15:04:00.000-07:00

10 years ago this may have been a silly question to ask. But today the internet is a larger part of our lives than the television. We use it to see what's going on throughout the international community through various news applications and websites. It helps us to stay in touch with friends who are thousands of miles away. We listen to the radio and watch television on it. It helps us to find new entertainment, new charities to help, and allows us access to more information than ever before in the history of humanity.

Through the countless videos, pictures, statuses, and ideas posted to the many social networks, we as a race have successfully uploaded the human experience. And whether it's pictures of cats dressed like Hitler, or Mackelmore's new music video that supports gay marriage, we can use the internet to feel the entire range of human emotion.

So if we use the internet to get from point A to point B, and it's such a pivotal part of our every day lives, what happens if it all goes away? Some people worry about an information apocalypse, nothing short of the fourth Die Hard movie. While it seems laughable and highly unlikely (I mean if anyone ever did threaten to destroy all digital information, Bruce Willis would swoop in and save the day), it's better to be safe than sorry right?

In San Francisco, California stands the headquarters of The Internet Archive. Funded by Brewster Kahle, this nonprofit's goal is to collect as much of the internet as possible and store it on their servers. They have backed up millions of books and billions of web pages. The service is open for anyone to use.

And this isn't the only service out there! Do a quick search, and a bunch of them turn up! So there's no need to fret about the loss of an internet.

The Best Albums I've Ever Heard, Volume 1 [Feature]

2013-03-21T13:08:00.002-07:00

Music is is one of my passions in life. Evolutionary Psychologists and other professionals who study music call it "auditory cheesecake". They believe that the brain just naturally loves music, the sounds, the mathematics behind it, solving it's intricate complexities. Music is also one of the most relaxing things in the world. The song "Weightless" by Marconi Union has been studied by scientists at the Mindlab instutition. Listening to this song "induces a 65% reduction in overall anxiety". This is the equivalent to a day at the spa and a cup of tea.

Anyway, where was I? Oh, yes. I've listened to enough music now that I believe I can make a sound judgement on what the best albums are. In my library, at least. And I can't write about all of these albums in one article, and who knows what amazing masterpieces I've missed? So, this is The Best Albums I've Ever Heard, Volume 1.

LOVE by Angels & Airwaves
This double album has been rated one of the best produced in the world. It's concept? The connections we make in life are what define us. It's beautiful, powerful, fun, and feel-good. The music may not be complicated at it's core, but it's multi-layer instrumentation is masterfully executed in a way that makes this album fun to listen to time and time again.

Any Man in America by Blue October
I won't take too much time reviewing this rollercoaster of emotion, considering I already have in this publication: <http://thespandrel.blogspot.com/2011/09/any-man-in-america-blue-october.html>
But what I will say is that his divorce made the lead singer really take a step back and get some real perspective on his life, and all of his emotion was poured into this album.

CANINES by CANINES
This acoustic experiment from Joel P West is charming to say the least. He explores everything from homelessness to post-breakup depression, honesty and lies. Even though most songs are sad, they are so beautiful I cannot help but smile every time I listen to the album. It is an emotional ride that I am happy to experience over and over again.

Well, I think that's enough emotion for any one person to experience. If you want more amazing albums before I post Volume 2, feel free to shoot me an email. I'm always happy to share the magical work of others. And as a bonus, in each volume I think I'm going to include a few albums that are a bit happier, and are still some of my favorites.

Monster Monster/Monster EP by The Almost - Mostly fun albums, and I find it is amazing summertime music.

Let's Build Something to Break by After Midnight Project - A great and original rock album, strong and fun.

Aranda by Aranda - This self-title has a classic bluesy feel, amazing rock, the kind of music you don't really hear anymore. It helps that they have a sense of humor.

Homesick by A Day To Remember - While it's not my favorite post-hardcore album, this one is definitely hard to beat.

Wolfgun [Promo]

2013-02-05T20:20:00.000-08:00

I know that when I write a promotional, it doesn't really make a huge impact on the art that I talk about. And by that, I mean my Data Analysis class has taught me that my top ten most viewed articles have been viewed an average of 131 times. The median, however, is 74 because this set of data is skewed. And that's important. Here, just look for yourself:

I honestly don't know why my Falling In Reverse post has so many views. All the same, I'd like to share with you the one and only Wolfgun.

His debut album, Physics, was released in October of 2011, and I downloaded it the day of release. His unique techno style fuses 80's music with 8-bit sounds, creating a fun dance style music. The problem with trying to describe it is that his style is so unique, you just have to listen to it yourself to understand what it is.

Now not all of it is the best, but most of it is really good! I do have a few suggestions for songs for you to introduce you to his style. Thankfully, his entire discography is available for free on his Bandcamp page.

Burn - http://wolfgun.bandcamp.com/track/burn
The Woods - http://wolfgun.bandcamp.com/track/the-woods
Darkened - http://wolfgun.bandcamp.com/track/darkened

It's unique, and the musical equivalent of a hole in the wall. So please give him a chance, and if you enjoy it give him a donation! Or just take it for free. Some bloggers do that.

Wolfgun's Bandcamp Page.

Snapchat: The Sexting Sensation that's Sweeping the Nation

2012-12-07T17:16:00.001-08:00

Like Snapchat pictures, this post will be short and only available for a few seconds. Or, at least, short. I have no idea what the programmers behind the viral app had in mind when they released it, but I can tell you what it's being used for. Reports from the NY Daily News, Daily Mail, and- get this- the New York Times say that teens have been using the software to sext, at least a little more safely than traditional text message sexting. The idea is that the picture can only be viewed for a few seconds before it is deleted from both phones, and the company's servers. It also alerts a user if an individual takes a screenshot of said picture.

Creator Evan Spiegel claims the app was created to reverse the idea that everything posted on the internet should stick around forever. That it is supposed to encourage sharing and communication. I personally don't see the appeal. I've used Snapchat for its more platonic and "fun" uses, such as sending pictures that say "thinking of you", and funny faces, and I don't get it.

I guess there are people who find the platonic uses somewhat boring, and have graduated to using the software as a "vehicle for sexting." For some unknown reason, people have been lulled into a false sense of security, and have been sending each other suggestive photos. No harm no foul, right? It can last a maximum of 10 seconds, and then deletes itself. And the programmers have been kind enough to put code in that recognizes if a user takes a screenshot, and alerts the sender. Here's the problem with all of this:

1. Someone with quick enough reflexes can get a screenshot of your Snapchat photo.
2. Even if that app alerts you that the receiver took a screenshot, it's too late. That individual now has a compromising nude photo of you, and could post it online or send it to others.
3. The receiver can take a picture of their phone. This gives them a copy of the Snapchat photo, and the sender won't even be alerted.
4. There is a way on smart-phones to take a screenshot without the Snapchat application knowing. This is pretty self-explanatory.

There are several blog posts that end their already preachy article on sexting with commentary on a poor lifestyle choice with sending nude photos of oneself to another, blah blah blah. I'm not here to preach, we've all heard the guilt-trip speeches. I'm just to share the information. Do with it what you will.

"Life is about the stories we could tell." [Feature]

2012-10-22T14:58:00.004-07:00

I understand ahead of time if you don't want to read this. It is, after all, a recapitulation of my weekend. There is, however, an over-arching theme to my adventures.

My weekend essentially begins with one of the most interesting films I've ever seen. I took my mother out for dinner and a movie, and because we're both Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis fans, seeing Looper was no question. I will not even attempt to explain this movie, because I'm running low on aspirin and it's not proper to give your readers headaches. I will, however, highly recommend that you see Looper as soon as you can. It's interesting concept creates a new world for ones imagination to explore, and derive many fantastical situations that can exist here. Other movies that captured my imagination in a similar way are In Time, Limitless, and Source Code (all of which also come highly recommended). I suppose this story did take a tangent into a review, so this post can still count as one whose content is entertainment-related.

Saturday evening, my friend and I attempted GeoHashing, a "method for finding an effectively random location nearby and visiting it". We quickly decided we didn't want to creepily drive into a local residence for no apparent reason, so we defaulted to GeoCaching. We found a rock container hidden in a rock garden. The container stored a list signed by every person who had ever found it. Headed back towards my home, at about 10:00, I received a phone call from a dear old friend. "We're meeting at the high school and going to haunted houses." So, in the spirit of "why the hell not?", my friend and I hopped in the car and headed that direction. Due to countless failed attempts at preparation, we did not attend any haunted houses. We instead rode go-karts, played laser tag, and shot at each other with big foam balls. This is probably the most artistic story I've ever written. Staying out until 3 a.m. and walking through a Taco Bell drive through, we eventually made it home at 3:30 a.m.

The next day, we got up bright and early to go hiking and see an overlook. I taught a friend to waltz on said overlook. Because, why not?

Finally, the highlight of my experience. Which requires me to tell a short story about stupidity. My building has decided that no matter what the weather is doing, they will turn the heat on the same date every year. So, for the last two weeks, it's been a bombing 75 degrees outside, and the heat is still on. Long story short, I've been having trouble sleeping because of the heat. So, instead of sleeping, I drove to a local small mountain that overlooks my fair city. The lights of the town were beautiful, and with the windows down, I finally fell asleep. When I woke, the sight I saw was beautiful. The picture I took is in this post. The air was clean, cool and crisp, and the smells of fall were everywhere, along with a hint of rain. For a few fleeting moments of driving back to my building with my windows down, and Angels & Airwaves in my ears, I was so happy I laughed out loud.

The experiences I had this weekend were all because of a simple state of mind. This philosophy, while not necessarily classy or artistic, is aptly named. "Why the hell not?" Asking myself that question led me to one of the best weekends I've had in a long time. So, I implore you to ask yourself the same question more often in your life. Follow the "Yes Man Philosophy" more closely than your fellow man. You never know how straying from your daily schedule and trying something different may affect your life. Meet new people, smile at a stranger, do what others don't. Doing so can help you live your life to its fullest extent. After all, and this is my own personal quote, "Life is about the stories we could tell."

Why scaring us won't fix the environment (and what will) [Feature]

2012-06-21T13:08:00.007-07:00

I recently read an article discussing environmental change, warning us that if we continue our current consumption and pollution habits, fifty years from now these changes will be irreversible. So, what have we as humanity done to avert this crisis in the making? Nothing we haven't been doing since the dawn of the 21st century: Recycle, scrubbers on smoke stacks, buying local, hugging trees and whatnot.

So where do we go from here? Well, here's the problem with using these watered-down scare tactics to get people to go green... They don't work. If people truly feared for the environment, everyone would recycle, and we would turn all of the Hummers into green houses. But we haven't. For whatever reason, be it Americans love for their flat screens and Big Macs or the Chinese need for mass production, we cannot expect humanity to do what scientists consider is best for the environment. Instead, we have to trick them into doing it.

Volkswagen recently sponsored an experiment called The Fun Theory. The idea is pretty simple: Can we get people change their behavior for the better by making things more fun? Their diverse ideas including converting stairs into a piano and making recycling an arcade game, all to make us take the stairs or recycle. If one were to ask Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, authors of Freakonomics, how to get people to better care for the environment, they'll answer in the same way The Fun Theory did, and they'll say the same things I'm about to.

The trick is to provide an incentive to change our behavior. Businesses do it every day with coupons, buy one get one free sales, and other marketing schemes. The reason that works is because we save money, and this is especially effective due to the collective fear of what may continue to be a struggling economy. Why don't we buy electric cars? We know they're good for the environment, and most blue-collars would do anything to stick it to the lumbering oil conglomerates, but we don't. And why is that? The short is answer is because they cost too much. The long answer is because the rent is too damn high.

So how do we promote clean energy and help Captain Planet do his thing? We as the American people- and even as earthlings- have to overcome one of the most difficult obstacles we have ever faced: We have to convince the government to pass a law. And not some more EPA stuff, but financial law. And maybe I have a few ideas as to what could be done.

Subsidies. Ok, maybe one idea. Oh, and tax breaks. That makes two. The government currently publicly subsidizes nuclear power. Perfect, because a 2011 Union of Concerned Scientists report states that it would not be viable without subsidies. We know that subsidies work to get businesses started. And because I'm just a lowly journalist, I don't have a comprehensive report on what specifically needs to be done in order to save the environment, but I'm sure someone does. And anything that needs to be done can be achieved through subsidized programs, for example, the government buying scrubbers for a company. That way the buying business doesn't lose money, and the people that make scrubbers make a profit. The economy maintains growth, and the environment is a little better off.

Tax breaks can work in a similar manner. Let's say I can provide proof that I recycled my IBC root beer bottles this week. If I can provide proof that I did it (i.e. a receipt, just like one would get when donating to Goodwill), then I can get a tax break for it.

Obviously this is a very small-scale idea, but the implications of it can make a huge difference, especially when properly executed. Which, when leaving it in the hands of Congress, may mean enough pork to cause an environmental apocalypse.

The Dear Hunter [Promo]

2012-05-27T09:58:00.001-07:00

The internet has opened up opportunities for consumers to experience media outlets that have gone largely undiscovered by the public, either because major investors have turned them down, or that creative director of the media chose to stay independent. And while the significant role the Internet has played in the arts is a story for another day, we would have missed out on original and cheap entertainment without it (i.e. Minecraft).

Today's [Promo] is none other one of my favorite bands of all time, The Dear Hunter. This project, started so lead singer Casey Crescenzo could write and explore music that didn't fit with his other band, The Receiving End of Sirens. He explores many genres of rock through his already large discography of a demo, three EPs, and four full length albums- one of which is made up of 9 EPs totaling 36 songs- and he has Acts IV, V, and VI already lined up. His eclectic sound encapsulates progressive, experimental, alternative, electronic, and much more. When I attempt to introduce friends to new music, they ask me "Who do they sound like?" This is one of the few times, along with the Paper Tongues and Forgive Durden's Razia's Shadow, that I could not find any other artist that could compare to this artist's sound.

3D Printing, this is real. Google it. [News]

2012-03-26T18:36:00.001-07:00

The future is here. What with all of the recent advancements in technology, humanity currently has the technology to do almost anything. But today, we're going to analyze 3D printing, on an industrial and consumer scale.

I don't want to be a fan-boy, but this technology is truly miraculous. For those who don't know, it's a printer that doesn't print on paper, but create objects. The first ones would use liquid plastic to print figurines. Recently? Boeing used it to make an airplane. Which is nothing.

Just ask Anthony Atala, he'll tell you about printing a transplantable kidney. Or maybe you could read about the beating heart they printed.

If this thing takes off, industry would manufacture a lot of products with 3D printers. We see it now; NASA is developing a 3D printer that can be used in space. So, an astronaut breaks a wrench while working on the International Space Station. Instead of waiting for the next shipment of tools, NASA just sends the 3D printer file to their computers, and they print a new wrench in space.

The problem with this technology- if it hits the consumer base- is piracy. The Pirate Bay is already discussing sharing printer files on the Internet. So, instead of buying the proper print materials and buying rights to the print file for the newest running shoes from Nike... You buy the materials and pirate it. You could steal anything without even walking into the store.

However unlikely that may be, it is something for producers and consumers to consider.

All-in-all, no matter what may happen, this technology is useful, and just really cool.

Razia's Shadow [Promo]

2012-03-23T16:51:00.001-07:00

It's difficult to put the emotionally rewarding art that is Razia's Shadow into words. Forgive Durden was once tight-knit band, but its members were split into different paths by fate. But Thomas Dutton was not finished, for while they were touring with their album Wonderland, he had a thunderous masterpiece gathering within the clouds of his mind.

Steam Box [News]

2012-03-05T18:02:00.001-08:00

So the Internet has lit up with commentary on the "Steam Box", a rumored console from Valve that may or may not exist. Well, I'm going to look at some of the predictions and - assume they're true - speculate on what this means. It's one article that's pretty much all bologna, but that's okay.

The first major question is: Will the Steam Box become a major competitor? Can it hold it's own against the Big Three (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii), or will it become another OnLive? Well the rumors include that this beautiful little machine will run Steam and - hopefully - allow Steam users to upload previously purchased games to the console. It is also possible it will allow users to run other PC games, which may include EA's online system, Origin. But what does this mean for the market?

Read more »

Dead Space 3 Leaked! [News]

2011-12-19T15:06:00.000-08:00

While this news is not current, many people are still unaware of the leaked details of the Dead Space franchise's current project. There has been a huge leak from Visceral, including story details and a poster.

So what do we know? Isaac has crash landed on a blizzard planet (maybe Hoth from Star Wars? Or it could be Lost Planet...). He eventually meets up with Ellie, and learns that there are other survivors. We don't know much past that, aside from the enemy you'll be facing has been referred to as the "hive mind". Oh, and Isaac is still wanted, and there's a character called "Shadow Isaac".

Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows (D.R.U.G.S.) [Promo]

2011-11-06T05:00:00.001-08:00

The post-hardcore and metalcore genres have become very popular over the past couple of years, making it harder for a band to rise above the average sound. A few bands (such as We Came As Romans, Asking Alexandria, and Get Scared) have been able to establish a different and exciting sound. One of these is Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows, or D.R.U.G.S.

While they sound somewhat similar to Get Scared, D.R.U.G.S. uses more techno (including some dubstep) in their songs. Their debut self-titled album was released February 22, 2011.

[Opinion] - I really like this album, but at points it can be pretty disturbing. I recommend the music, but the messages can be a little rough.

Information Anxiety (Book) [Feature]/[Promo]

2011-10-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

Richard Saul Wurman calls himself an "information architect." He has led most of his career by reorganizing information, and interpreting it differently. He explains a lot of this in his book, Information Anxiety. While the book is outdated (1989), the concepts he shares are still applicable to today's society.

He explains the difference between and conversion of facts and/to information. He also talks about ways to solve problems, look at the world differently, and handle the tsunami of information available in today's Information Age.

While the book tends to be very boring, repetitive, and sometimes a resume of the author, the main themes are good and can really help those who read it, if they can weed through the garbage.

Alabama to over-fill Arizona's shoes. [News]

2011-10-08T19:16:00.000-07:00

Alabama has decided to one-up Arizona in the “scare illegal immigrants” department. A new law passed in Alabama has frightened immigrants there into a mass exodus. The law, allowing police to “question people suspected of being in the country illegally and hold them without bond, and let officials check the immigration status of students in public schools” obviously directly affects the lives of all immigrants in Alabama. The minute the Hispanic migration crossed state lines, the law became a national issue. Because these Hispanic families are more likely to have school-age children, this law will put stress on the primary and secondary education systems of the states surrounding Alabama.

If those moving into the other states really are illegal, then they will be inflating the unemployment rate. However, Alabama’s new law could in fact hinder them, and help surrounding states. With new people moving into a state comes more people buying groceries and other goods, thus boosting the economy and revenue for those states (especially Arkansas, because that's where it's been reported many of these people are moving).

Original article: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2096488,00.html

Super Smash Bros. U-niverse leaked! [News]

2011-09-28T16:12:00.000-07:00

Any Smash Bros. fan would probably flip out right now. Now, because this fact-sheet is in Japanese, we don't get any real depth of information out of it. What we do get is the name of the next Super Smash Bros. game. I'm not too thrilled with it, but I am a huge fan of the franchise, and have owned the previous three. I can't guarantee that this isn't a fake, but it looks pretty legitimate, considering the multiple logos and whatnot.

Wanna make a successful iPhone game? Make it about birds! [Feature]

2011-09-20T18:02:00.001-07:00

Let's face it, some of the most popular games for iOS are directly involved with avian affairs. Especially those who can't fly (I don't know why Americans love defective birds, but they do!). Arguably one of the most famous games of our decade (possibly up there with Pong and Pac-Man), Angry Birds, would be the most obvious app on that list. This may be unfair, because it also has Angry Birds Rio and Angry Birds Seasons. Either way, it's sold over 6.5 million copies. This puzzler, for those unfamiliar with it, involves launching birds of different species out of a slingshot. The goal is simple, kill all of the pigs on the level.

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Get Scared. This is a band too. [Promo]

2011-09-19T19:15:00.000-07:00

Soon after discovering Falling In Reverse, we found Get Scared. It's quite the band, to be honest. Again, there's not much information on this band. They have a music video out, for the song "Sarcasm". The single itself has a unique style. The pauses between screaming and heavy guitar provide a carnival-like sensation to the music. This, paired with fun lyrics, doesn't just occur in the single, but across the entire album. "Best Kind of Mess" was released this year, and again, no one has hard of it yet. There isn't even a Wikipedia page on these guys. Please check them out and support them, because they deserve it.

Broadway. The band, not theater. [Promo]

2011-09-15T17:27:00.000-07:00

Finding information on this band can be nigh impossible. They're so unheard-of, they don't have a Wikipedia page. What I do know is that they're pretty good, but their singles are phenomenal. While listening to the album, you'll find yourself smiling because of how good some songs are, but the other songs are so-so. It's a shame how many bands nowadays have "diamond in the rough" songs. The songs you should definitely check out are "The Last Saturday", and "Same Thing We Do Everyday Pinky". Both of these can be found on their most recent album, "Kingdoms". Give them a chance! Unless, of course, you don't like the post-hardcore genre. Then you should listen to Cat Stevens.

Chibi-Robo [Promo]

2011-09-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

I'll just start out being honest. When I was a kid, this is the game I wanted. I know, a little strange, a kid wanting a game where the point was the clean. But once I finally got it, Chibi-Robo proved to be a lot more than just scrubbing stains.

Literally translated as "Little Robot", this GameCube game had quite a few surprises for players. Although, it was developed by "Skip Ltd.", who hasn't done anything else worth mention. Playing as a tiny robot, you navigate your owner's house and earn "Happy Points", usually through doing chores. This can include picking up trash (which also earns you Moolah, the game's currency), scrubbing out stains, helping a family member, or taking care of the garden.

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Read it Later, the article storage service. [Promo]/[Feature]

2011-09-10T19:51:00.000-07:00

The information age gives us a lot of information to keep up with. But sometimes we find a good-looking article and we don't have time to read it at that moment. So, if we can't read it now, we can always... "Read it Later". While it's a simple system, it's pretty handy. You create an account, and then input the web addresses of the articles you want to put on a "reading list". You can even put a link in your bookmarks or favorites list that, when clicked, saves that current page to your list. When finished, you can mark it as read and keep it for later, or just delete it. Perhaps the most useful part of Read it Later is accessibility. Not only can you get to your list ( and your articles) on any computer with Internet, but you can also download the app for iPhone or iPad.