The Daily Adventures of Mercat

OH MY GOD I GOT A ONE ON MY PLAYING AUDITION! :D I don't know how that happened. But I am really excited. So January 2-4 I am headed off to Wyoming, where I still have to do a marching audition, but which I am not at all worried about. Marching, I love. Marching, I can do. (Their vis staff was not able to get to the camp, so we were done early and everything. It was lovely.)

Oh my god, I miss drum corps so much. I can't wait for next summer. Just need to do more pre-conditioning this time around, and I'll be good. Arm strength, ability to run... Especially since everydays in June will be a mile high and cold. Breathing block will be miserable. And it sounds like Troopers is big on running laps.

But I'm glas I made the choice I did... It was interesting to hear the guys at the camp talk about how vets would go off to the "good" corps for a year or so and then age out back where they had family. Basically, the impression I got from my audition at Phantom was right... They are mostly interested in winning, not in who you are. Apparently one of their friends was the center snare for Phantom--center snare--and the staff didn't know his name until several days into everydays. That's ridiculous. And not to say every winning corps is there, but it just makes me feel better about not going to Crown. I think it's insulting to get money out of camps for so long and waste my time, not to mention... that. So much a different type of family, it's not even funny.

As for my computer, UDit is completely useless. Every time I email them about a message I am getting (no matter how minor) their general response is a lame question about retrieving data I already gave them, and "if that doesn't help then bring it in". So once again, they proved completely useless and with several hours of programs that didn't work, I finally found the solution through Google (I ran the fake program name as well as the "trojan" name). Oh, I don't know if I got that far in explaining before--it turned out to be an adware file that only looks like a windows security message telling you that you have a trojan (mine was Trojan.Zlob.G, but the file itself was merman.exe) and recommends you download a removal program (Program Defender 2009). This is fake safety software that "runs" a diagnostic to find the issue and fails partway through, prompting you to upgrade. So then the hackers get your money. And the multitude of anti-spyware programs I now have downloaded got rid of the fake security program, but to get rid of the adware (the fake windows messages) you have to start your computer in safe mode, go to Applications, find the "Google" folder and delete the two fake files in it. (I was worried at first, but there's nothing else there--it's not actually a Google folder.) So, once again, UDit is a failure and I fixed my own computer simply with Google-fu.

And now, lots and lots of linkspam because I've been a terrible, terrible tab user lately. And no lj-cut because I am CRUEL.

I rather love this Neil Gaiman poster. And speaking of zombies, I just watched 28 Days Later, which is a pretty good movie but feels... incomplete, somehow. But it did remind me of watching Sean of the Dead, which I somehow connected to that from the fact that I finally got my Phi Rho paddle, and I thought it looked like a cricket bat, and Christine and I somehow determined we are going to play cricket with my paddle and bouncyballs. Yesss. I miss Nookball a lot, haha.

This may be the saddest PostSecret ever. Not the most depressing, but one I could never understand... That's a sort of compromise I could never make, and it must be terrible to be in fear of something that other people think is so great about life. Wow, that was a really concise version of what I think and probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense... Maybe I'll expand upon it more later. I don't know.

Harrison Ford doing J. J. Adams Comedy? I'd be up for that. He's really entertaining with dry humor.

Daniel Craig wants Moneypenny and Q in the next Bond movie. EXCELLENT. Craig should be my new best friend. I want Q back and I think they should keep John Cleese. He can do srsface just fine.

The interesting source of phrases such as "in the limelight". Cool beans.

FSM nativity, pirates included. I love it. (The displays of FSM lights are awesome, too.)

I am totally doing this in my room. Now just to find tables...

This freedom-of-religion article showed up on my friendslist somewhere. I've had that sitting around but today I randomly stumbled upon an article discussing it (and atheist messages) which I think is really interesting. Another article about atheism where I think the more interesting topics are unrelated--digital ghosts and older people's mentalities. My dad said he read an article about the testing of older folks, and that it's not the idea that "old people are grumpy" but rather, they lose the ability to censor themselves, so to speak. Which is interesting in contrast to the idea that they are like children.)

A really interesting article about the "anti-wedding" which I may have posted when I was talking about feminism. It has a lot of good points. Sorry about the awkward formatting, the link to the actual article was really messy.

Thylacines can open their jaws up to 120 degrees... That's so, so disturbing.

The octodress. Is it not amazing? As creepy and fucking disturbing as ocotpi are, they are really cool as a deocrative element. (However, when they decide to take over the planet, we are doomed.)

This is some pretty cool art with lamps and such in nature. Awesome.

I forgot about this Pushing Daisies soundtrack that was coming out! SO MANY SONGS, I LOVE IT

Pretty cool article about major movie studio logos. I forget what the original reason was that this was so fascinating... Some tidbit I can't remember at the moment.

Pretty cool old "music video" from 1928.

I like these alternative Christmas Tree ideas.

Someone commented on Betty Page's death calling her "spectacularly singular"... I don't know why, I really like that phrase. And it's true.

So tonight I went out to dinner with my parents and grandparents and my aunt and uncle, and we got to talking about Facebook and the fact that my dad has one to keep in touch with people, and then of course my grandparents being my grandparents we started arguing about the morality of employers checking the Facebook profiles of potential employees. Of course I just gave them my solution--lock your damn facebook. But it's interesting what some people might think about what's on your profile, and different points of view on that. And talking to some people, it's weird to have parents on facebook. I was just looking back at an older post from when dad joined, and I said "WHAT" like it's weird but I think moreso it was just unexpected. Laura apparently didn't friend him, but she, who knows, might have something to hide. (Partying, probably.) I don't necessarily want dad to see my excessive cursing or the fact that I'm no longer Catholic (not that he'd necessarily see "pastafarian" and "church of heathus christ of ledger-day saints" not as humor only), but you know what? Laura's cursed in front of him, he knows we watch shit-for-tv or movies sometimes, I don't care so much. I don't curse in front of him or my grandparents, that's good enough for me. But other people talked about having family finding out about photos on facebook that they didn't want their parents or others to see, and you know what? I don't really get it. If you're worried, make it private, friends-only. If you're concerned about your little brothers and sisters showing your parents... Here's a grand idea: don't do anything in your life you wouldn't be proud of. If you make mistakes, admit they were mistakes and move on, but if something is a concern to your image, don't do it! I don't understand why that's so hard for people... I mean, from peers to politicians, what's so difficult about making good decisions? About thinking things through... Honestly.

Oh my god there is a hilarious skit on Robot Chicken about the construction of the Raiders temple. IT IS AMAZING. Hopefully it will be up on youtube superfast.

OH MY GOD. THEY CAN TAKE IMAGES OUT OF YOUR BRAIN NOW. You have no idea how long I have been waiting for this sort of technology to get started... I want to record dreams like crazy.

Whew, I think that's everything for now.

Hm... I actually have the initiative to post tonight. I think because it's more of a linkspam and also I'm trying to make my internet time more efficient so I waste less time on it. (Now, I use "waste" as a turn of phrase, because I feel that it's just like reading for me, and I think I learn a fair amount online.)

ANYWAY.

Gah! It just started raining again. DAMMIT. Plz to be stopping raining! I want to dooo stuuuuff. (Well, not now, but, tomorrow and stuff!) Although I am enjoying the cool weather.

The people in the room... below me, I think... are watching some horror film, and it is fucking LOUD. Not really a problem as it's only 9 pm, as opposed to the jerks up stairs who pick up the drumsticks at 11 and go until two.

I'm kind of sad. Hawaii is really starting to feel like home to me, in the sense that I'm getting more familiar with it and less nervous about doing stuff. I mean, I was comfortable here pretty quickly, but I'm starting to be less nervous, saying hi to people who are only acquaintances and riding the bus by myself and stuff. =( I mean yeah, I am PSYCHED to get home home and be with everybody and see Indy IV (and The Fall... PLEASE GOD let the Neon or Little Art Theatre pick it up!), but I do think I will have left a small piece of my heart here. (I think I would like to live here, but maybe only on occasion. I don't think I could stand being so far away from everything for very long, in the sense that I like to travel around. I mean, if I had to, yeah I would have no problem living here. MINUS THE FACT THAT ALL THE AIRLINES ARE CLOSING GODDAMNIT)

SO LET'S GET DOWN TO BWEEZNESS.

Bond--> Quantaum of Solace? Personally it sounds like they're trying to hard with that title, but then again maybe there is some required amount of Cheez(tm) that you need in a James Bond film; Moonraker and Die Another Day had it in the plot, and this one's trying to cram it all into the title so the movie itself doesn't suck? Maybe. I dunno. Just a theory. Anyway, Amy Winehouse doing the music? Should I even know/care about/like any of her stuff? In general I don't listen to the cRap on the radio today (uh, "hip-hop" and "pop" these days aren't much better), but seriously. Amy Winehouse? Granted, I have not had a TV since the end of January, but everything I've seen about her in the news boils down to this. Grammy, drunk, jail, drunk, maybe drugs? And more drinking. Plus her eye makeup is FUCKING SCARY. And her hair. (WHAT IS THAT?!) So I'm really hoping "no", at least until someone provides me with evidence that she doesn't suck.

"Nora Roberts Inspires Indy Bookstore." Now, what I want to know is this: 1) Did they mean "Indie" and not only that but 2) did they miscapitalize "inspires", "indy" AND "bookstore"? You'd think people who wrote about books would know that sort of grammar rule. I think I learned that in first grade when we started having writing competitions.

Well hello, FSM. You're looking delicious today! (Also: these people are eloquent and have a good point. They are very good at expressing the "whole point" [the REALISTIC point for those of you with no funny bone] of Pastafarianism without resorting to ridicule or sarcasm. Many wins were had.)

Tangent: Hmm, methinks my English skills are devolving with me being here in Hawaii. It's either the lack of work I'm doing, or maybe it's me spending too much time on a certain lulzy website. But I'm struggling to come up with the right phrases that I usually use. ("Phrases" is not what I wanted to say. I also was trying to come up with the word "conducive" two minutes ago but decide on "encouraging.") This isn't a huge problem except that my internal train of thought has a certain rhythym/meter/flow to it that forgetting words just fucks right up. Oh, grammar.

Also: IE WHY ARE YOU FROZEN. I know I hate you but please unfreeze so I can watch videos again. =( Anyone with Firefox skills out there? I can't watch videos/flash in firefox anymore because it is soundless and freezes after two seconds. And now back to your regularly scheduled linkspam.

In light of the fact that lots of people I know are getting tattoos, I have to point this out. Barring the fact that they prove UV ink to be really super safe, it will probably be the closes I'll come to a tattoo.

I don't have a link for this, but Maggie Gyllenhal is looking RAD in replacement of Krazy Katie Holmes. Holmes was just so... blah... in that role. (Blase... where are my accent shortcuts when I need them...) Other than Indy IV and The Fall this could be one of the biggest things I'm looking forward to (movie-wise) this summer. IF ANYBODY FINDS OUT IF THE FALL IS PLAYING ANYWHERE IN OHIO I DEMAND TO KNOOOOOOOOOOW

44 days until Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull! DISCUSSION TIME~~ (Those tildes make it sing-songy. Because I said so, that's why.) Right on. SO. I've seen a lot of "all movies are these days is sequels! Blah blah blah whine bitch whine" (and hey, sometimes I am on that front, too). BUT. Everyone saying that Indy IV is just the first of a new trilogy (OR, the in-between for Indy and Mutt trilogies) is kind of pissing me off. Um, and scaring me.

Yeah, Mutt's character looks cool. But he just can't be Indiana Jones, and I think if you take that character away from it there wouldn't be so much of a universal market. Just sayin'! I mean go for them if they'd go through with something like that but I don't think I'd be too pressed to care other than seeing/buying the movie. Basically what it boils down to is that Indiana Jones is the summation of all the people who've worked on it, and a lot of it came from Ford. Good comparison: everything Johnny Depp did to create (Captain!) Jack Sparrow and create a character that would be interesting. (Not that Ford really redirected the story at all waitaminit minus cutting the sword fight I ALMOST forgot that for a second.) So, yeah.

In other Shia news, someone on the Indy forum I read started calling him LaPoof because of his hair. I lol'd. Also, there's a new video about his stuff on the site, and it's pretty interesting. You'd be hard pressed to get me to admit this in general, but I watched it twice and giggled like an idiot every time. Basically proof I'm going to love this movie no matter what.

And based off of that, I had a premonition of my upcoming post immediately after the movie comes out: It will be something like "*GLEE!*" in a significantly larger font.

Ohhh geeez exciiiitemeeeeeent

A disney thingy from the talented wolfsbane124:


She's a cat, and she's a pirate (kinda) and she's cool. Yup.

Anyway, after pregame when we were in parade rest for the tunnel, I saw some random girls taking pictures of my on their camera phones since I was standing stock still in parade. Yeah, I'm cool like that. Halftime was ok, postgame not too cool. I had a headache and was really pissed at the drumline (have been all week, and I'm sorry for it) and pissed because everyone was just making fun of me and the freshmen won't behave, and my friends are depressed left and right and I'm sick. Ugh. I'm not one to complain, but today just kinda sucked.

On a another note, HAPPY FRIDAY! And so I present to you a pirate song:

What do you do with a drunken sailor?
What do you do with a drunken sailor?
What do you do with a drunken sailor, earl-y in the mornin'?

Put 'im in the scabbars with a hose-pipe on 'im,
Put 'im in the scabbars with a hose-pipe on 'im,
Put 'im in the scabbars with a hose-pipe on 'im, earl-y in the mornin'.

Yeah. That's about all I have to say. King's tomorrow, w00t!

I almost forgot some stuff. Tomorrow is Friday (a holiday for all you Pastafarians, www.venganza.org), and Twin Day for spirit week this week we're trying to get a HUGE group dressed as pirates. (OK, at least Pat and I are.) We also want to arrange aspaghetti dinner, and I need to make a FSM blonde "dreadlock" wig, since we're Pastafarians...haha.

SEPTEMBER 19th IS INTERATIONAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY! YEAH! (A cool holiday whether or not you're Pastafarian.) ...I gotta get me a cool pirate costume.

Yup. Saturday I'm "19." The directors keep screwing up the date on the schedule and it's my birthday for the third week in a row. Rawk! Yup, I think that's all. =^n.n^=

This link= best thing ever.

The Religion of the Masses

Seriously, it's so entertaining (and not to mention, a clever idea). I want a tshirt! Haha.

Anyway, September 19th is talk like a pirate day... and share FSM with the WORLD! =^n.n^=

(Tell me if you all want to get together and have a pasta dinner in honor if Him...lol.)