Websites That Take Up Way Too Much of My Time

I am a Generation Y baby, born in the 1990s but a child of the 2000s. I had no choice in this matter, obviously. If I would have, I would have been a teenager in the early '90s- listening to Nevermind, wearing Doc Martens, and dying my hair with Manic Panic. But tis not so. I've grown up in the years of Beyoncé, high heels, and hair extensions. Not to mention the internet. Sure it existed back in the good old '90s, but...not really, ya know? Not the way we know it. Angela Chase from My So-Called Life didn't have the option of Facebook stalking Jordan Catalano. Kurt Cobain didn't get to go on Twitter and announce tour dates and "communicate" with fans (not like he would've if he'd had the chance, it's effing Kurt Cobain). Matilda Wormwood didn't get to order her books online on Amazon. Nope. They wouldn't understand our obsession with the internet.

It isn't our fault. We've grown up with it. It's hard to remember a time when there weren't computers in school and people actually had to write letters instead of sending emails. The same way our parents' generation had television, we have the internet. It is the cross which we must bear.

Sure, it's great. It has done so much for medicine, news reporting, and other aspects of life. But, my god, it has also done a lot for the grown of procrastination and wasted time in our society. Here's a few websites that have contributed to my own personal procrastination:

The mother of all social networking sites. MySpace never knew what hit them.

1. Facebook
MySpace was just the beginning. It had nothing on Facebook. Who would've thought that "staying connected" would be so much damn fun? Making statuses, tagging photos, updating your relationship status (yup, hasn't happened for me yet), liking random pages with titles such as "The feeling you get when you understand something in math class" (a good feeling, I must admit), annoying the shit out of people by poking them, writing a nice, cute "About Me", and starting drama by not commenting on a post someone made on your wall? So enjoyable. Addicting, even. Why? The world may never know...

2. eBay
This also comes to another point I'd like to make. Not only have I wasted time on the internet, but I've also wasted money. CDs, shoes, band shirts- I love 'em. And eBay's got a ton of 'em. Not a good combination.

3. Youtube
The Lonely Island SNL digital shorts alone have taken up like 3 hours of my time this week. Here's my favorite ;)

4. Wikipedia
I look things up constantly. What's that song that was the themesong of Freaks and Geeks? Wikipedia. ("Bad Reputation") What's that second book in the Twilight series? Wikipedia. (New Moon) Who is that guy who made all those people drink cyanide-laced Kool-Aid? Wikipedia. (Jim James)
Thank you, Wikipedia, for giving me so much useless knowledge.

5. Urban Dictionary
I don't think I could have ever went on if I hadn't figured out the meaning of "nbd". Urban Dictionary, thanks for explaining random words and phrases that I wouldn't have known otherwise. Kudos to you.

6. Pitchfork Media
Music news and reviews about bands I actually care about.

7. Sleeveface
As a music fan fanatic, I find this site to be extrememly enjoyable and interesting.

8. Picnik
Photobucket is sooooo 2007. Today's amateur photograph editor should use Picnik. Not only can you make your favorite photo of you and your dog look like it was taken in the '60s, but you can also make it look like you have white teeth and a zit-free complexion. Who could ask for more?

9. Damn You Auto Correct!
Today's goofy website of choice. Love it.
Here's a choice favorite:

Hahahaha dildos.

10. Awkward Family Photos
 I love these. The make some of the photos my family has taken look normal.

I feel like I should add Blogger to this list as well, since I just spent like 2 hours making this post. :P

Well, now I'm gonna go do something slightly more productive and make supper.

Deuces.

-tjms

28 May 2011

<3

My Dream Concert Lineup

OK, so it's been awhile since I made a strictly music-related post, and the music nerd inside me just won't stand for it any longer. So, here it goes.

I've been thinking about concerts a lot lately, since I'm still on a high from one I went to 2 weeks ago and because I'd love to see about a bajillion more.

For this post, I'd like to share my dream lineup for a concert. And since this blog is titled "Live in Dreams" after all, I am going to include bands that it would be impossible to see in real life. Why? 'Cause I can.

Nirvana
Here's one that I could never see in real life. You know, because Kurt Cobain is all dead and whatnot. And Nirvana is just not Nirvana without Kurt Cobain.

Their set at the Reading Festival in 1992 was particularly kick-ass.

Radiohead

My favorite band. I must see them before I die. Or before they get too old to tour. Whichever comes first.

True Love Waits = Eargasm

The Stone Roses

Especially if it's like their epic rave-like show at Blackpool in '89.

"I Am The Resurrection" was the best moment.

Elliott Smith

So quiet, beautiful, and moving. Oh Elliott, why'd ya have to go?

Ramones

Gotta love their short, powerful punk songs.

My Bloody Valentine

I'm not sure if I'd be able to hear afterwards, but it'd totally be worth it.

I mean, come on, this is loud and it's not even live!

Jimi Hendrix

Preferably he would set his guitar on fire during his set.

Belle & Sebastian

I feel like their concert would be very chill and enjoyable. And very sing-alongable.

The Doors
I dig Jim Morrison, what can I say?



M.I.A.

I just love her. And she'd bring diversity to the mainly all-rock concert. Plus, her clothes would be awesome!

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

I've seen them and they are amazing!!

It's really difficult to get a good picture at a concert. Just sayin'.



The Smiths

Because I love Morrissey in all his androgynous glory.

and finally...

Iggy Pop and The Stooges

Seeing Iggy stage dive, bleed, and throw peanut butter into the crowds? Crazy but SO. EPIC.

Hey, their 3rd album wasn't called Raw Power for nothing!

So, there ya go, folks. The perfect concert lineup according to yours truly.

Who would be at your dream concert?

-tjms

11 May 2011

*Insert quote here because I cannot think of one*

<3

We were only freshmen...the end of my first year of college

Whew. That went fast.

I finished my first year of college yesterday. How is that even possible? It just seems like yesterday that I was laying in my tiny dorm room bed on that first night, sweating profusely from the lack of air conditioning, and nervous about what would lie ahead for me in college.

Let me tell you, this past year has been one of the best of my life. College so far, for me, has been 10x better than high school. Sure, you still have to get up and go to classes and everything, but college gives you a lot more freedom to do what you wanna do. After all, the goal isn't a diploma, the goal is to figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life.

To celebrate the ending of a fantastic school year, I want to dedicate this post to anything and everything freshman year.

First off, I'd like to say that I've grown a lot as a person and a student during these past nine months. I've learned a lot. Such as:

1. The Freshman 15 really exists.
Eating in a dining hall where no one is stopping you from eating another helping of mac and cheese and in which there are many unhealthy options to consume can cause an increase of poundage. Late night snacking while studying also doesn't help.

2. Living in a dorm room is a major adjustment.

The dorm room that I shared with Meredith, the best roomie ever!

I had a very spacious room to myself at home, where I could make multiple messes and not worry about how it affects anyone else. In a dorm room, though, you must learn to control the messy person inside of you and clean up after yourself. It is also a major adjustment to share a bathroom with 14 other girls. But, alas, you get used to it.

3. Some college classes are intense...
Hello...Western Civ, anyone?

4. ...And some are not.
Two words: Human Communications. (Loved that class, btdubs)

5. You'll meet people unlike anyone you've ever met in your life.
For better or worse.

6. You will live for the weekends.


During the weekdays, classes, homework, and other responsibilities will get you stressed. The weekends are the time to let loose and have a little fun. Except for Sundays. Sunday is the worst day of the week. You've had your fun on Friday and Saturday, now you've got to do the homework you've been putting off. Blech! 

7. You will hear a lot of Ke$ha songs.

Again, for better or worse.

8. You'll miss home at first, but you will most likely get used to it- and (gasp!) begin to like it.
Homesickness occurs no matter how old you get. But you'll get used to having to be away from your mom's cooking, your pet, and free laundry. And hopefully you'll begin to like being able to do what you want to do and stay up as late as you want.

9. Getting up early never gets any easier.

I had to get up at around 8 AM every week day this semester. It never got any more enjoyable.

10. You will learn things about yourself that you did not know before.
Whether it's from being away from home, taking different kinds of classes, or meeting new people, you'll begin to find out things about yourself that you did not know before. I learned that I do not want to be a Psychology major. I've also learned that nothing makes me happier than giving an ass-kicking speech. And I believe that I've also learned to loosen up and be more willing to open up to people.       
 

OSU= My future college

                                                                                               

 One major decision that I came to during my Freshman year of college is that the college I went to was not right for me. There are many reasons why. But one thing I want to make clear is that it has nothing to do with people that I've met. I've met some of the nicest, funniest, most amazing people in my first year of college. And we will all remain best friends, I'm sure of it. <3

Next order of business. Okay, so anyone that knows me knows that I'm a huge music fanatic. There are many songs that will remind me of this year. Including:

Taio Cruz- "Dynamite"

AKA "The Ashland Song". They played this at Orientation, and I had never heard it before. Therefore, I will always associate it with beginning college.

B.o.B. featuring Rivers Cuomo- "Magic"

Three words: FOAM DANCE PARTY.

Pink- "Raise Your Glass"

"We were airborne!"

Ke$ha- "We R Who We R"

I think I heard this song approximately 967 times during Freshman year.

 "Backing Up" and "Bed Intruder Song"
"Do you wanna go somewhere and watch it??" BAHAHA.

Cee-Lo Green- "Fuck You"
So many memories with this one.

Willow Smith- "Whip My Hair"
CAUTION: Excessive whipping of hair may cause neck pain

Asher Roth- "I Love College"
My college experiences thus far have not been equal to Mr. Roth's, but tis a funny song anyway.

Edward Maya- "Stereo Love"

Lady Gaga- "Judas"

Matt & Kim- "Daylight"
This song single-handedly helped me get through studying for Stats.

And anything by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

I recently saw The Pains and met the lead singer, Kip Berman. One of the best nights EVER!

   

Oh! and, of course, Rebecca Black's "Friday" and it's spoof "Saturday"

"IT'S SO FUN!"

All in all, I'd say that Freshman year has been the most kick-ass year of my life. I wonder what Sophomore year will have in store for me...

-tjms
6 May 2011
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

<3