Short

I'm at home at the moment, contemplating the ins and outs of songwriting. What makes a good song is obvious when we hear an especially good or bad one, but writing one seems to be a different matter. And that concept of good or bad is solely based on opinion, which doesn't help me because I like a lot of things that everybody hates.

I may have hit a wall.

Congratulations, Excitement, and General Bollocks

There are two main things I want to touch on here, and I'm not sure right now if this is going to be another blog of epic proportions.

I have a rule for myself on here, and that is that I will never fear who will read what I write. Thats not saying I'll call my boss a dickhead, or randomly insult people, but I'll tell it like it is. I just wanted that out of the way before I potentially cause offence.

My summer at home left a bad taste in my mouth, largely because of the comparison to my first year of university. Upon my return I found I had significantly outgrown some of my friends, and best friends at that. But the real downer was that, aside from my own problems, one of my closest friends began to significantly alienate the rest of us. At this point I will say that this didn't happen for no reason, he went through a particularly difficult time and I don't know many people who would have reacted better given the situation. Things began to get better, but after a heated confrontation that left me in tears of anger and woe. Even at his own leaving do he disappeared to try and score with some girl. After my last post I hesitate to use the term Bro's Before Hoes, but at this point it was the last time we would see him, and it hurt.

So at this point I will say congratulations this friend, a fresher at Derby University, on his new relationship. Lord knows he's had a rough time of it in the last few months and this new girl is probably exactly what he needs. So, honestly, well done. And don't freak out if you read this. In all seriousness I love you like a brother, and I will always wish you the best.

Also, I had a lot of great times during the summer, great friendships got better, and the Reading Festival fucking ruled. It wasn't all emo and bollocks.

On a lighter note, Sunday is fast approaching. Open mike night is beckoning and now Morton and I have a set list and keep accidentally finding harmonies in the songs. I'm having a great time jamming with him, and now that yet another musical venture has opened itself up to me I feel like I'm 17 again, only with less crap and depression.

Until next time...

Hello Again, and Bro's before Hoes

Year 2.

Well, I expected to have visited and added to my own blog a lot more than I have, but such is life that it throws a lot at you at once, and co-incidentally I completely forgot I even had a blog in the first place. So now I return, hopefully with more to give.

Well, thats not strictly true. I'm going to reduce the length of each blog considerably, unless there's something I really, really want to talk about. For now I'll say this, the new flat and flat-mates are great, and despite people's urge to take the piss more than last year, I'm enjoying things so far. Having my girl here too is somewhat of a blessing. I won't have to go home to see her, as I was compelled to do pretty much every weekend last year, and that will hopefully bring me out of my shell a bit, help me experience life, the university and everything a whole lot more.

For example, going home last year meant that I did pretty much no washing, hell I visited the laundry room twice last year and one of those times was to watch the big TV and eat pizza. I went there last night, and succeeded in doing most of my laundry. Go me.

Now, as I mentioned before, I'll only write a heavy blog if I have something I want to talk about. Brace yourselves, whoever ends up reading this, because this is one of those times.

"Bro's before Hoes" is a rule that us lads have about nights out in general, and hell, I probably didn't need to tell you that at all. This rule has been the bane of my life this year, I actually wouldn't have mentioned it if I thought it didn't need clarification. The fact is, men use and abuse this rule often, and just freakin' break the damn thing at times.

I think the word "rule" is actually a little misleading here. "Bro's before Hoes" is not a rule per se, its more a system of working out whether you're wasting you're time. For example, if you're in a club and you start flirting with someone, and nothings really going anywhere, a man's friends will usually utter the words "Bro's before Hoes" if they want to leave. Now, what this should do is trigger a mechanism in the brain that lets you know that, well, nothings really going anywhere, and you'll leave with your friends, and maybe a phone number if you're lucky or persistent.

Now, I'm not saying that drink doesn't factor into this because it does in a pretty big way, but nine times out of ten this works, or it doesn't even need to be said. There is another use, to stop you doing something monumentally stupid, but I would sooner label that common sense.

So that's pretty clear right?

Its also quite a useful way of spotting whether or not you're being an idiot or an inexcusable dick, which applies to both the subject and the wielder of the rule. This usually occurs when someone who frequently breaks the rule decides to start preaching. It also occurs when the obvious fact is that your flirting is getting you nowhere. Depending of persistence, friends will usually stick around, but don't take them for granted. Seriously. Not two months ago I left a club with my friends because our other friend had decided we were nothing more than guards for his drink while he needed to pee and unsuccessfully flirt.

And for the love of Pete, don't say the words "Bro's before Hoes" if someone is with their girlfriend and you want to leave. I mean, come on!

Anyway after that ramble I'm exhausted, mostly because it's half past three in the morning. Apologies therefore if I'm being incoherent. My thanks go to Morton for saying he was updating his blog on Facebook and reminding me that I had one. Take care.

Back!

I want to apologise to my two followers for my out of the blue hiatus. It's been like three months and I guess I have a few things to update.

I got a short film with my friend, which was a remake of Black Button, the Youtube sensation. I enjoyed that, the director was a great guy to work with and hopefully next year I'll be in more. Over summer, my friend is filming a kind of comedy pilot about a band. I would be playing a stoner drummer. Apart from my need to learn drums it should be a pretty kick ass experience, and seeing as my friend is an aspiring director I imagine ot will be pretty well done. The new Skins? Maybe. I'll get on to Skins later...

My reasons for my break in blogging are simple. I had very little free time to blog in the first place and my internet at home sucks major balls. The wireless has been going wrong and I had to jack in with a cable to get anything to work. Now that my lack of a third term has led to an abundance of not a lot to do, I can blog, hang out with old friends, spend time with my girlfriend and actually earn some money. Go me.

There haven't been that many good movies out lately that I felt the insane need to blog about either, until Star Trek came out a couple of weeks ago. My friend Karl and I got our nerd on and went to see it the day it came out and I thought it was great. I've seen it twice now, like Watchmen, and to be fair I don't do that a lot. I won't review Star Trek like I did with Watchmen, my reviewing hat will go on when I get onto Skins and maybe Scrubs later on. Thats my new thing, reviewing. I may even go on Youtube to do it, or better still in some kind of podcast, which I plan to do in my second universtity year as part of a radio show. Whether that comes to fruition or not remains to be seen, but regardless I'll probably say something about those shows in the blog.

Thats all I really feel like saying right now, so see you soon folks.

Wading In On Watchmen

Watchmen has had an interesting effect on movie audiences. I'll get to it in a moment, because I haven't blogged in a few days, so I will begin with Andrew Davies. He is the second person I saw at Cultural Exchanges. As an aspiring writer, I desperately looked forward to listening to him describe his inspirations and creative process and how he goes about successfully adapting novels such as Bleak House and Pride and Predjudice. He was a very interesting person to listen to, I encountered the same feelings when I saw Lemn Sissay do his thing. Andrew Davies could have talked for hours and held my attention and I have been trying since then to get a copy of his television miniseries A Very Peculiar Practice.

Anyway, onto Watchmen. It is very rare that a movie seems to be made especially for me, but this was. I have tried my best not to let that effect my evaluation of this film. It is 1985, and the world is on the brink of nuclear war. We begin with the murder of former masked hero The Comedian. The near insane vigilante Rorschach investigates the murder, and begins to uncover a much more sinister plot, whilst trying to convince his former allies that they are in danger.

This film won't do as well as it could at the box office because of it's 18 rating, and by toning down the gore it could have gotten away with a lower rating and pulled in more of a teenage audience. However its maturity works well and this is the first real attempt to explore the darker side of masked heroes. The graphic novel is viewed a fantastic piece of literature and I really want to read it to see if it has been adapted well by Zack Snyder. The run time for this is just over two and a half hours, and I didn't feel it, which for me is a first. It kept me gripped throughout and I liked the way the film looked; the cinematography was incredible.

In terms of performance, the cast pretty much delivered on all fronts. I found Malin Ackerman (Silk Spectre) a little too one note, but that aside the casting was fantastic. Jackie Earl Haley and Jeffrey Dean Morgan were mesmerising as Rorschach and The Comedian respectively, whilst Patrick Wilson and Matthew Goode gave good performances and Nite Owl II and Veidt. Billy Crudup gave a very interesting take on Dr Manhattan, one of the highlights of the film was the exploration of his back story. Indeed, the exploration of the characters' pasts was where the film really excelled, in particular those of Rorschach and The Comedian.

The ending, which has been changed from the graphic novel, has divided audiences. I feel that it was a solid adaption which brought a lot out of the characters and brought the film to a satisfying climax. The only things I would have changed were the second to last scene, which was pointless, and the score. Aside from the opening credits where Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A'Changin'" was played, the song choices were clumsy and failed to add to the atmosphere. An orchestral score would have been far superior. Also, I would have liked to see more of Moloch. This is a film to watch at the cinema, so far it is the best film to come out this year.

I recently purchased a book of graphic novels about zombies in an effort to be more of a "comic" person. The ones I have read so far have been amazing. I think the next thing I get will be the Watchmen graphic novel, so I can compare.

On a negative note, all has gone quiet on the short film front. Oh well...

Lemn Sissay

Apparently I have to review this talk. How do you review a talk?

Lemn Sissay is very cool. Cooler than a cucumber in an icebox. In the Arctic. In a polar bear's fridge/freezer. Alongside the mammoth task of being cool he is also a strikingly unique poet. I have not encountered any work like his before, in particular his poem about music. I wanted to buy his new book but due to my current money crisis I was tragically unable to. However, I will be borrowing my two friends' copies of Listener for as long as I am able, or as long as I manage to scrape together the funds to purchase a copy for myself, as well as copies of his previous works.

Sissay's talk overran by around twenty minutes, but I could have listened to him speak for hours longer. A small talk, and as such incredibly intimate, this is arguably the best way to experience performance poetry. I am so glad I went to see this talk because it has really opened me up to an artist I had not encountered before. I want to see a longer talk from him, and I think I will get that by heading to the Edinburgh festival.

It made me completely forget that Charles Dance wasn't going to attend. And I was really looking forward to seeing Charles Dance.

New Layout

Hey people, don't worry. You are on the right blog, I just changed the layout. Its all blue and stuff! I took a little constructive criticism and did my thang.
Apparently I have a lot of washing up to do. I didn't realise, I kept thinking I only had one plate and bowl, so i should probably get that done. See ya!

Plays, And The End Of My Uni Journey

I will begin by saying hello to my first follower, hopefully the first of many. Bear with me, I haven't had time to check who you are yet, but I am thankful.

My biggest worry as a student, aside from money, is where do I go from here? It is the question that plagues my mind day and night. My subjects are somewhat selective when it comes to a career, and although I think if I commit myself I am more than capable of achieving what I want to achieve, my marks in one subject are continually low. This is demoralizing to say the least, especially since the praise for my work from my peers has been high and welcome. Maybe my tutor just doesn't like me very much.

Tonight, I went with some friends to see a play performed by some third year students called Testing the Echo. The play contained several interwoven stories based on a group of people trying to become UK citizens. Needless to say, it blew my head off. The set up was fantastic and a brilliant second half brought the plot full circle. I admit that after the first half I was a tad confused as to wear it was going, but the actors delivered performances that made their characters seem very believable and emotional. And in doing so, they answered my question.

I want to be an actor, and I didn't think that my course was taking me in the right direction. Now I see that quite possibly it is. Add to this the possible beginnings of my resume and I could be on my way. I may well be in a short film that is being shot over the next few weeks. Updates on that will be posted soon enough.

For now, good night. See you on the other side.

Videogame Nostalgia

I remember a gaming experience that I treasure, that I return to now and again to play for hours at a time. This game is currently on the Playstation 2, and by god it was difficult to get my hands on it. I had to go to three different retail stores to find it, and when I finally succeeded the copy I bought was pre-owned and the last one in stock. The game - Fahrenheit.
Or if you're in the US or Canada - Indigo Prophecy.

I warn you, this is a bit reviewy.

This game has possibly the most engrossing storyline of any videogame. The story takes place a couple of years in the future, and is told from the perspective of three main characters. It begins with a violent murder in a diner, and as the murderer you have to cover your tracks before the policeman in the diner goes to the bathroom. For a significant portion of the game you have to avoid the police as you struggle to prove your innocence, all the while plagued by visions. As well as this, you also play as two police officers tracking the murderer down, investigating the motive and investigating several previous unsolved cases that are inexplicably linked. There are moments of horror and thrilling chases, and every moment of climax is brilliantly executed and action packed. Fahrenheit is as well scripted as any movie.

In terms of gameplay, this plays out like an interactive movie. The control system is simple enough to pick up quickly and yet it offers enough challenging moments to keep you hooked. Graphically, this pushes the PS2 to its limits. The opening cutscene is breathtaking and bloody. There are countless moments where you will sit back and say to yourself "oh man, that was awesome". There are hours of fun to be had with this game, there are so many minigames and side stories that will keep you entertained.

A next gen version of this game would look astonishing, and the game creators Quantic Dream are currently developing a sequel, as well as "spiritual follow up", Heavy Rain. These will be fantastic if this game is anything to go by.

I can't wait.

Ramblings Of The Philosophical Sort

Communication is very important. I am a firm believer in verbal communication, and I believe that it is the most mature thing to do, voice your problems if you have them. The thing people do not realise is that other people are more mature than you think. Everyone is guilty of this. When humans are boiled down to their components, we are fully capable of taking criticism and using it to adapt and better ourselves. When this is realised, we become much more open people.

If that seems overly cryptic or pompous, it's because blogging is a dangerous game. I know of bloggers who have been fired for posting their blogs, and what prompted the above splash of verbal diarrhoea is an issue that may offend people I know. For the moment I am simply Sossij, in the same way that to many ordinary citizens of Gotham City Bruce Wayne is simply Batman. Those who know my real identity are few and far between.

It is difficult to know how much I am free to reveal in these early fleeting stages. I have been told that I revealed far too much information in my first blog post, whereas all anyone will gather is that I'm a student and I like the guitar. Heres another piece for you: I'm a film geek. I stayed up until six in the morning last night watching the Academy Awards and I'm tired as hell. It wasn't a bad result, aside from the obvious lack of nominations for The Dark Knight. It was the best film of 2008 and deserved to be recognised at least for direction and screenplay. Heath Ledger won for Best Supporting Actor though.

This raised an issue amongst the gathered audience: would he have won the award had he been alive? The answer is yes. Yes he would.

Look at how much I revealed there. Ooo, I've gawn mental!

I like ying yangs. Where did that come from?
The design is brilliant. It always reminds me of the battle of good vs evil, and how humanity is never black and white. There can never be a truly good or evil man or woman, even Hitler found love with Eva Braun.

See you on the other side.

Post 2

My man-flu is relenting, although I am still finding it difficult to get a decent nights sleep. I believe I have managed a meagre six hours this week. I have struggled to stay awake during the day and at night I feel terribly giddy. At least I'm not being sick! I haven't had much drink in the last 2 weeks, partly due to man-flu, but mostly due to an attempted health pledge. I am trying to be healthier and I'm sort of succeeding too.

My significant other is coming to stay for a couple of days, then we're heading back to my hometown. I'm looking forward to seeing her again, she will take my mind off coughing. Being in love is fantastic, but I don't want to use any cringeworthy cliches to describe it. I will settle for telling you that it is awesome. There you go.

I didn't get to see Slumdog Millionaire in the end because the queue was much too long and we missed a chunk of it. The lads are watching it online at the moment but I want to experience it in the theatre. Instead I saw Bolt, a rather amusing disney film about a dog. Worth it.

In a rush, so I'll update soon. See you on the other side.

New Frontier

...and I struggled, blinking against the brightness, into the world. Of blogging.

I'm doing a lot of new things lately. Yesterday I created an account on Twitter, and was promptly followed by Barack Obama. Needless to say I was deeply honoured.
A little later on I'm going to see Slumdog Millionaire, which appears to be winning pretty much every award possible. That hasn't really influenced my decision, I wasn't that keen on Benjamin Button which everyone seemed to be raving about. It has, however, prompted me to try and find the short story by F Scott Fitzgerald.
I'm still plodding through Odd Hours by Dean Koontz. I don't enjoy it as much as the previous books in the series, but I'm not entirely sure why this is. I suppose I'm waiting for the twist that seems to occur in every Odd story, none of which seem to top the first.


Apparently, it is now illegal to photograph policemen in the UK.
Wha...?
What if you photograph someone dressed as a policeman, post it on the internet, and people think it's a real policeman? Or what if you photograph a policeman off duty? What if you photograph an undercover policeman? Will he arrest you and blow his cover, or reluctantly turn the other cheek? What if a policeman takes a photo of himself, then accuses you of taking it? Bastard!
I find myself wondering how many people have become victims of this law, how many tourists are behind bars because of their itchy shutter-fingers. It is disturbing how paranoid our government is right now.


I'm going to start gigging soon. My guitar is yearning for an audience other than my flatmates through the wall. I don't think that my next door neighbour cares, she seems to be awake in the early hours, just like me.
Thats one thing that most uni folk have in common: insomnia. When you live in Liberty Park you don't really have a choice. The podium floor echoes with drunken song on most nights, and there is the occasional scuffle or shouting match.

Short blog I know, but I'm a slow typer, and I also have possibly the worst case of man-flu known in history. I'm having to juggle typing and coughing at the same time. Anyway, au revoir, I'll see you on the other side...