a gthing science project

Posted by sam at March 26th, 2004

   I went and saw Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind tonight with Jesse and friends. It was a pretty interesting movie. It was written by Charlie Kaufman who also wrote one of my all-time favorites, Being John Malkovich. Incedently, there is a livejournal site for the movie - check it out!

   Eternal Sunshine is one of those movie you walk out of wondering if you liked it or not. After much contemplation, I decided I liked it. I was proud of myself, too, because I figured out the whole story very early in the movie (When I saw Elijah Wood working for Laguna, Inc.) - that’s right I had the whole thing pinned. I rank it up there with Being John Malkovich and can see that Kaufman is beginning to get a cult following (and rightly so!).

   I also made it down to the cardiologist today. The woman there did an echocardiogram (

Posted by sam at March 25th, 2004

   So I’ve been in Colorado for two days now. I rode the Greyhound out from Salt Lake and it took about 10 hours. Not too bad considering I didn’t need to drive, and I save money on gas and general auto wear and tear. The people on the bus were definitely interesting - I won’t go into detail.

   I went and saw a doctor today about my heart. He forwarded me to a Cardiologist to have some special test done. I’ll have more info tomorrow. Not interesting….

   In two unrelated events, I have discovered TechTV. How this eluded me in the past I have no idea. My Father just had DirectTV installed so I found it there, and last night I surfed to it…Somehow… Anyway, TechTV is just like slashdot except you can be so lazy you don’t even have to click your mouse. Even the commercials are cool. I think maybe I should get directTV at my place…

   I also came across thebroken.org - which I later learned is authored by some of the TechTV staff. They have a video hacker zine which is pretty funny. One of the more interesting features is an interview with Kevin Mitnick [search]. I always knew hacking and drinking 40’s somehow went together.

   Side note: textamerica took down my moblog. I accidently posted some pictures that I got off of collegehumor, and I can only imagine that’s why they took it down, although they didn’t send me any notification. Now I have to repost all my pictures manually. I’m not happy!

Posted by sam at March 23rd, 2004

   I still am having trouble why I didn’t hate our show last Friday more than I did. My band played at A.J.’s Deseret Lounge in Salt Lake. It’s not one of those hip bars where all the young college kids go - it’s one of those old fart bars where all the alcoholics go who have already ruined their lives long ago. It’s mostly desperate old men trying to get on the one chick in the bar - whose completely insane.

   There were not very many people at the bar, but we played just the same. Its smelled like a combination of cat urine, butthole, and beer. The “stage” was incredibly small. And, the crazy drunk chick kept blowing cigarette smoke in Danny’s face. They did, however, pay us $75 at the end of the night which was cool. We went to IHOP and bought $25 worth of food, but left our spoils for the night on the table for the crappy waitress (she probably never gets big tips like that - being a crappy waitress and all).

   There was one other good thing that happened. After one of our songs, this girl came up and wanted to buy our cd. We gave her a copy for free, of course. Then her husband tried to buy us a pitcher of beer. They came up after the show and gave us genuine praise. The girl told us we should consider moving to Seattle - where we “wouldn’t have to play in places like this.” It was enough to save the night.

Posted by sam at March 18th, 2004

   We played a show tonight at Kilby Court tonight. The night started off rough when they had apparently forgotten to put us on the list for this night. It got better as time went on. The Venue in question looks totally crappy. It’s in this shanty town area of Salt Lake and the “street” is lined with run down homes and weird warehouse buildings. The venue itself is modest, but does contain an outside area complete with a fire pit - which I think is pretty cool.
   We told everyone to be at the show by 8:30 at the latest because that’s when we were planning to play. Our first invited guests showed up at 8:40. fortunately, because of the booking mix up we were pushed to about 9:30. Everyone was there by then and the show went off without a hitch. For a crappy venue, it was a lot of fun. The sound wasn’t the greatest but I can see why more popular bands still play there - it’s just fun!
   Before the show I bought a new bass cab. This purchase was made possible by a random, unsolicited donation from my father which I received in the mail today. I put the new cab on the bottom and stacked my big 15″ on top - I now officially have a full stack and it’s totally sweet. Not only does it look cool, but I can hear myself tons better (Maybe just because the 15″ is level with my ear now). I’m going to complete the setup with a new head just as soon as I can sell my old 200 watt one. (You need it, you want it, give me some money already). It has a little problem with getting too hot and then degrading the sound. The new one, however, has a cool CPU fan in the back of it.

Posted by sam at March 17th, 2004

   I realized today I have a very real fear of success. You may be thinking; “Everyone wants to succeed - why would you fear it?” Well there are a lot of good reasons to fear success. Like, for one, the fear of failure. You can’t fear failure if you never succeed, right? The problem with a fear of success is that you can’t overcome it very easily. It’s like, you afraid to overcome your fear of success.
   Danny’s mom totally offered to pay for our band to get some real studio time. This is good because she has like a billion dollars or something. Speaking of a billion dollars - I wish I had a billion dollars. I really need to buy a new bass amp - and those aint cheap. Before I can buy a bass amp, I need to catch up on my tithing - and that aint cheap either! I’m so freakin poor. I think I should get a room mate so my rent will be cheaper….
   I’m going home for Spring Break for some much needed R&R. I’m also going to see some doctors out there because I’ve decided to continue with my hardcore Excersize program. Yeah, it might kill me, but am I really living as it is?

Posted by sam at March 16th, 2004

   I slept in today. The liberating thing about it was that I wanted to sleep in. When I make a plan of sleeping in, then follow through, there is no guilt - try it sometime. Even so, I’ve felt sick today. Driving up windy mountain roads didn’t help tonight, and I’m about ready to hit the hay.
   I finished Ender’s Game tonight and have been looking for a good time to start Speaker For the Dead. I’m also considering breaking out and reading something else. I have a lot of books on my hard drive that I can put on my palm pilot. Some of you maybe be thinking; “He read on a palm pilot? That’s totally weird”. Well, your right, it is at first - but then it becomes totally awesome once you get used to it. One thing I don’t like about books is you have to constantly change the way you hold it as you turn pages and work your way through the book. theres also the dry paper that I don’t like because it feels like a chalkboard or something.
   The band is doing well. We had practice tonight again but ended early due to a broken string. We’ve been working on some new material that I’m really excited about. I’m also excited to be getting a new bass amp soon. I HATE the one I have - it’s so muddy sounding.
   Anyway, I have stepped back the Excersize initiative due to health problems. I think the running is why I feel sick and have had a headache for a couple days now. I’m going to see a doctor here soon.
   Credit Cards: I called a few places today to see what they offered for credit cards. I want one with like a $50 limit so I’m not tempted to spend it. Nobody offers one that low - at least no one I talked to. I hate credit. I hate credit cards. I hate loans. I hate boston baked beans.

Posted by sam at March 14th, 2004

   Today was the Grand Opening at the paint store where I work. Woop-dee-do. All that means is that EVERYONE has to work, and the same amount of people come in as any other day. I kept busy pilfering the free candy. We had those chewy starburst-type jolly Rancher things. Let me tell you why those are evil.
   Those little candies are wrapped up just like a starburst, so you have to dig a fingernail underneath the paper to unwrap it. The only difference is, the paper on the jolly Rancher ones is super stiff and comes to a point. When I stuck my fingernail underneath it, it totally cut the skin underneath my fingernail. Now it’s all sore and it hurts to play halo.
   I got the entire week of spring break off. Best part is, I’m getting paid for it. I think I’m going to go to Colorado and see a specialist about my heart. Since I’ve started the “Excersize Initiative”, I’ve experienced some interesting side effects as my body rejects the inhuman torture of running. Mostly chest pain and dizziness. I hate going to doctors though, they never tell me anything useful and they always charge a buttload of money.
   The band is back from California so we are going to be practicing, recording, and playing some more shows soon. We have a little connection with a guy at Virgin records to whom we sent our cd. He said he got it today and was going to listen to it. He has a reputation of being very harsh so what he says will be pretty important - like Simon on that Startsearch reincarnation show. He doesn’t have to sign us or anything - he just needs to tell us it’s pretty good - or that we have a future. I’ll report more as developments ….uh….Develop.

[Excersize Initiative Report:] Went running yesterday. It’s still not getting easy, but my legs DO hurt less, and I’m less sick throughout the day. My heart problems, however, have increased. Go figure. I didn’t run today because I had to wake up too early for work.

Posted by sam at March 11th, 2004

   For the second time, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card has abducted my nights and held for ransom my sleep. The first time I was only a kid, but the book soon became my favorite sci-fi of all time. I read the entire series. Recently I suggested my girlfriend read it, and since I had a copy on my palm pilot (read: a legitimate backup of my forever lost paperback), I decided to read it again along with her. What an incredible book it is! There will even be a movie coming out in the coming years… It will be made by the same people who made X-Men 2, so I expect quite a bit from it. For those of you who haven’t read it, go buy it, already. It’s only like $6, for heavens sake.
   I miraculously found myself being productive today. I go to school from 10am to noon, then have work at 2pm, leaving a nice little gap of free time. I spent the time today fixing and cleaning up my car. For example, I’ve had no rear view mirror for months now, but I reattached it today. I also fixed my door, which wouldn’t open from the outside. Now that I have no girlfriend anymore, theres no one to climb in the passenger side and open my door from the inside for me.
   The crazy people at PETA (hours of fun to be had on their website!) are at it again. A while back they tried getting BYU to put up “Got Beer?” ads claiming that if the school administrator’s truly understood Mormon teachings, they would welcome the barly-based drink over the dairy-based one that “hurts all those poor little cows”. (Read a funny article on it here) Now they’ve put up a billboard in Salt Lake which quotes Mormon Scripture and twists it to their agenda. Oh PETA, what will you crazy people come up with next?
   Excersize initiative update: I didn’t run today. I stayed up too late last night reading, and I’m too sore from the first two days. It’s amazing that running 8 blocks has torn my body to shreds. Despite my day off, I am not giving up, and the excersize initiative 2004 will continue.

Posted by sam at March 10th, 2004

So as of yesterday, I am officially announcing that I will go running every (or nearly every) morning. You see, I realized something the other day. I was walking back to my car from class, and found myself out of breath. I realized; “Wow, I’m out of shape”. The combination of this and my desire to live a “happier, fuller life” have made me want to combat my laziness.

Having not broken a sweat in six months, I have found that running is more difficult then one would expect. After the first block, I feel great; “Ahh, the fresh air, the birds chirping, that El Camino spewing smoke into my lungs…” Then, something happens at about a block and a half - My chest starts hurting, my breathing tube starts to hurt, and my legs lock up in a spasm of “what the hell are you doing to us?!” You know when a foreign object enters your body, and your body immediately rejects it and attacks it? Well, my body thinks exercise is a foreign object and attacks it.

In running, I have found a new use for my minidisc player. It’s almost like I have an I-Pod or something! Only problem is, where to put the player? My shorts don’t have pockets, and my mindisc player doesn’t have a clip. What do people do? I’ve been wrapping a belt around my waist under my shirt, and attaching it to that with the belt loop. it works okay, but it seems the belt usually bounces loose (not having any pants pulling it back down to where it should be). Well, I’ll keep trying new things, and probably die before I get it figured out anyway.

I have realized surprising benefits to running. I seem to be more patient, more focused, and a hell of a lot more sicker feeling. More sicker! I talk good!

Posted by sam at March 9th, 2004

   This blog is an experiment in blogging. I’ve never done it before, except for site news blogs and such. I can’t imagine anyone being interested in what I have to say, but I guess I’ll take comfort in the fact that my thoughts are out there….Somewhere….and that if my mind is erased, it can be recalled from a remote location.
My band just finished recording a new song, and we will be putting it on the site soon. We’re currently trying to get shows anywhere we can. The Salt Lake area just isn’t that good for playing shows. In fact, we just dropped out of playing a battle in the bands because the person running it did not seem to have a good idea of what they were doing. I asked her; “Will you be micing us, or do we need to bring our own PA?”
   ”Oh we’ll have a mic there for you, but you need to bring your own amps.”
   Anyway, it was apparent she didn’t know what I was talking about. It was also apparent that there was a $25 entrance fee, 21 other bands, and they wanted us to play at 6pm. No thanks!
   The rest of the band is in California this week trying to get their hands on some old equipment from the mp3.com “going out of bussiness” stockpile, and also trying to get us some shows down there in LA. Hopefully we will also be playing some shows in Denver soon.
   I broke up with my girlfriend last night. I was satisfied with our relationship, for the most part, but she wanted at least a POSSIBILITY of it becoming something more than it was. SInce I was not willing to take the relationship farther, I felt it was unfair to her to keep it how it was. Furthermore, I saw it only as being MORE difficult as time went on to break up. Better to end it now…