I think it's about time...

...that I get my act together and start blogging again.  After losing touch and claiming I would be back time and time again I decided enough is enough.  I originally wanted to start fresh with a new blog on wordpress.  I got as far as choosing a layout, name, url, etc. and nothing more.  That was almost half a year ago and I never posted anything on it.  This blog you're now reading has been too long in the making to abandon it all together.  Instead, I decided to come back with a crispy minimal layout facelift and start it up again.  As I have said before, I have no idea where my blogging will take me but I am going back to my original intentions of posting things I love, things I find that I want to share, and updates worth ranting about.  I hope you enjoy and stay tuned.  Tell your followers to follow me.

MISSING

I bet you have noticed my extended absence from this blog as of late and I bet this is not the first time you noticed me leave this blog for a period of time.  I can explain.  A lot of it has to do with life in general.. I have been extremely busy this semester not only with school but also with job/internship hunting and other life stuff.  As graduation gets closer, although it is still a year away, I start to get more wrapped up in the real world.  As a result, I have devoted most of my online time to cleaning up my Facebook (it was already professional but it didn't hurt to do some fine tuning), building a more advertising and job oriented Twitter network, and starting a LinkedIn profile for even more networking.  After realizing how all of these social networking sites can be used as tools to get jobs and meet people in my industry/field, I started neglecting my casual opinionated blog.  I am in a pickle of sorts.  I have had this blog for quite a long time so I don't want to flat out delete it because it is fun to look back on but at the same time I'm not sure how I feel about potential employers seeing my zany opinions.  A lot of what I write or post on here might come across completely different or badly to someone who does not know me at all and for the most part I don't care, that's part of what makes blogs cool.  On the other hand however, I don't want to make a bad impression on the people who matter.  What to do, what to do...

Sure I could just make my blog private instead of public but thats no fun.  I hardly have any readership as it is with my blog being wide open to everyone.  If I make it private I will probably never write on here again.  At least when it is public I have an excuse to post these pointless ramblings.  I'll figure it out but if you have pointers let me know.

Lil Wayne makes 9 music videos in 48 hours

Apparently Lil Wayne is heading to prison for weapons charges... news to me.  In real "gangsta" fashion he had a "going away party" at some trendy urban nightclub in his honor.  A lot of rap industry "greats" were in attendance to wish Weezy off.  It looked more like a celebration than anything else.  I always thought it was a strange idea for people to have going away parties prior to being thrown in jail.  You're going to jail... sure, it might seem like an appropriate time to live it up before being locked up but you committed a crime so why are you celebrating?  Most of the people at Lil Wayne's party probably don't even care but were just hungry for publicity.  It's really annoying to me when celebs get convicted and it turns into such an entertainment spectacle.  The same thing happened with T.I. except rather than just having a party, he got a show on MTV documenting him "trying to do good things" before being locked up.  It's not entertaining.  You committed a crime, you're going to jail, deal with it.  You already have millions of dollars so quit trying to get last minute publicity.  If you are so worried about being forgotten then you probably haven't been doing things right during your career.  In that regard, I also find it interesting that Lil Wayne spent this past weekend making a total of 9 music videos.  9 videos?  It's kind of sad that a prison sentence is what it took to create such a work ethic.  Just serve your sentence, learn from it, and move on.  Ditch the spectacle.

This rant has been sponsored by Einstein Bros

Believable yet fake Justice track dominates Internet

As I'm sure many of you know, one of my favorite bands, if not most favorite, is the French duo known as Justice.  A few days ago I was browsing my favorite music blogs and stumbled on a track that was supposedly released by Justice.  The track titled, "The Beginning Of The End", turned out to be a hoax created and sent by a hacker who fabricated a fake email account (promo@edbangerrecords.com) and sent it to numerous blogs.  What has ensued is endless commentary and debate about the issues of validity with the Internet as well as misinformed opinions regarding the return of Justice and their quality of work.

Granted, this hoax does have a sound similar to Justice productions but it shows no progression if it were really their work.  To be honest, it sounds like something they would make on a lazy Sunday in 2006, twenty minutes after deciding to make music for a living. Even the work on their first album surpasses the quality of "The Beginning Of The End", and their most recent real work, "Planisphere," is far more complex and stunning than this fake.  It's unfortunate to read blog comments and see people who actually think this was a true Justice release just because the Internet said so (before Ed Banger and Justice made a statement to correct this).  Just because there are certain elements reminiscent of a Justice track does not mean it was made by them, more importantly it certainly does not mean Justice is easy to replicate.  This hoax was a good attempt but would have required a lot more work to truly compare.

On the plus side, all this talk has moved Justice into the number one spot as the most blogged about band according to the aggregator, Hype Machine.  This has kicked Phoenix out of the number one position, something I'm sure causes added chaos and debate with different fans and groups of web surfers.  I think it really says something about Justice when a fake track can be released and it can stir up the Internet community to such an extreme. Cannot wait for the next album.

†

To hear the fake track and get a dose of satire on this topic, check out my favorite blog for culturally relevant sarcasm here.

I'M BACK

After a long break while abroad in England for 4 months I am now slowly returning to my online ventures (Twitter, blogger, etc.). Before I go on, let me bring you up to speed with a few things. First of all, if you were unaware of my lackluster sister blog "Robert in Europe!", you can check it out here. I tried to showcase a little bit of what I was up to across the pond but the posts soon ran thin as my schedule became more demanding. You will also notice that the last few posts indicate some technical issues I was faced with near the end of my stay in England as my computer screen fried. Once my screen went out I could no longer upload photos onto my computer to be transferred to the web. I am in the process of finding and purchasing a new laptop so when that happens I will put some closure on the Euro blog and move forward with more posts here. I currently have my half-fried computer hooked up to my TV but it makes things more of a hassle than normal so until the new comp arrives you will just have to continue to wait patiently.

It is now the new year, better yet, the new decade. I have one more week of freedom from today before heading back to school. I am pretty indifferent about moving back to campus. I still miss England a lot and am not a big fan of being back in the U.S. but that is a story for another day. This move also marks my first time living off campus in an apartment. I am in my 4th year of school now at the age of 22 so I have been beyond ready to live on my own and finally feel like an adult at school. The major stress factor is money. This is an issue for all students but the mixture of going for broke in England, having to buy a new computer, pay rent, and pay off expenses from last summer is going to be rough. It will be an interesting transition back to reality. It is going to be an interesting year for friendships, new beginnings, life choices, changes. Cheers to it all.

As usual, if you want to stay connected with me you can follow me on Twitter here. and if your randomly stumbled on this blog, be sure to add it, follow it, and spread the word!

ETA: One Month

English tea gets me hyped

Want to see what I have been up to in the UK?? Check out my other blog at http://eurorobosphere.blogspot.com/


Just another weekend in Scotland, no big deal haha

Set Me Free

Off to England I go, only about 9 hours until I need to be to the airport. Just found this video and thought it fit my mood. Good song, good effects, goodnight.

One week until I leave the country!

I cannot believe I only have one week left here in the states before heading off to England for 4 months. This summer has been so hectic that I have just wanted my departure to get here ASAP so I can leave this place but now I am wishing I had more time ahead of me! I am not even taking extra time off from work, I will be working this whole week and then busy all day Saturday so that only leaves me with two free days before leaving! It's so crazy how fast the summer went and how much has happened in the past 3 months. I feel like I am so beyond out of time right now, there are so many people I want to make sure to hang out with during this next week... It is going to be really hard being that I work until 9pm everyday but I'll be trying my hardest. I also have plenty of preparing and such to do, what a week it will be! Anyway, I have another blog fired up at http://eurorobosphere.blogspot.com/ for my trip abroad. It is very bare right now but I will be updating it with a new template and posts as soon as I get overseas. I will still blog on this blog but most, if not all, of my Europe related happenings will be discussed at the new blog. Stay tuned!

Pepsi design fail? Coke design win?

I found this and got a laugh out of it.


Maybe it's just my graphic design side coming out but I think it's humorous that Pepsi keeps trying to reinvent their logo so much while Coca-Cola never has. I will give Pepsi credit to their most recent logo update however because it is pretty darn sleek. Also, if you never noticed, the white ribbon on the new Pepsi logo actually comes in different sizes depending on the product it is placed on (regular on Pepsi, thin on Diet Pepsi, and bold on Pepsi Max). Creative!

Where are you Robert?

I haven't blogged in a bit thanks to recent events and personal happenings that I would rather not share via the Internet, at least not for now. Let's just keep it simple and say I have a ton to do and a ton to figure out within the next month before leaving for England. Until then I will be trying to accumulate as much money as possible from work. This also means I will most likely be blogging a lot less for the next few weeks as I try to keep my priorities straight. I don't expect to give it up for good since it is a good release/time waster/outlet to keep my mind off things bothering me. Also, if things go as planned I will be launching my next blog shortly before leaving the U.S. and it will be dedicated solely to my experiences abroad. Thanks gang, and if you have nobody else to pray for, pray for me :)

'BOU FIX

I have come to the realization that Caribou Coffee causes a drug-like reaction in my body. I have always been a fan, more so during the summer because their line of "Coolers" make for the perfect summer drink. Yesterday before work I bought a medium caramel cooler and I must say, it really made my work day more bearable. I have been extremely sick of work lately because I have been getting scheduled 6 days a week working 3pm-9pm shifts whereas I normally work 5 days a week with 1pm-9pm shifts. One day off per week is a drag but yesterday I was definitely bringing my "A game". I pounded out at least 30+ projects in the time I was there and gave my supervisor next to no chance to micromanage me as he usual does. I was in a good mood, energized, and time went by fast. I blame you Mr./Mrs. Caribou cooler.

Makes me wish they were more like 3 bucks or something rather than $4.60. I would definitely buy them all the time if it meant better, more enjoyable work days. I have a hard time believing this is all just a result of caffeine intake because I have never really been affected much by it over the year. Rather, I think it is a combo of the delicious taste, whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and icy texture that makes it so uplifting on a summer day when you would much rather be doing something else other than stocking fruit and vegetables at Cub Foods for 6-8 hours. Oh and yes, I am drinking another one as I write this... it went perfect with a short cruise on the outskirts of town in this weather!

One Night

These are probably the only interesting facebook/myspace bulletin formats left haha. Put the iTunes on shuffle and answer the questions. Some make sense some don't, try it!

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?

Boi!

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Rockin to the Beat

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?

Merry Making At My Place

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?

Hands of a Stranger

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Work is Never Over

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Da Funk

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

Antonia

WHAT IS 2+2?
Tight Jeans

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Complications

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Frontin'

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Be Alright

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Trapped Under Ice

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Digital Love

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Gangsta Bop

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Element of Danger (very fitting lol)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Rock Number One

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

Is You

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

What A Job

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
The Bottom

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Dr. Carter

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Encore

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Waters of Nazareth

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Your Glass House

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Fly Away

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
24's (Lol)

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Live Your Life

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Favorite Flavor

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?

Doomed Now

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
One Night

More Ed Hardy filth

I was reading my fave French blog which mostly caters to English speakers with a few exceptions and I found this alarming post from Busy P, the main man behind Ed Banger Records. Read the last few lines in English if you fail at French. Courtesy of
http://blog.coolcats.fr/

Ed Hardos!

communiqué
Paris, le 2 juillet 2009 à 22h45
L’homme d’affaires et styliste français Christian Audigier annonce qu’il va acquérir la dernière demeure de Michael Jackson à Los Angeles, dans le quartier de Holmby Hills.
Cette propriété appartient actuellement au CEO de Christian Audigier, Monsieur Hubert Guez, et était louée par Michael Jackson depuis quelques mois et pour les 6 prochains.
A l’échéance de cette location, Christian Audigier achètera cette propriété dans le but de garder intacts “les moments précieux qu’il y a partagé avec Michael Jackson”.
Par ailleurs, Christian Audigier, ami de Michael Jackson, souhaite racheter ce bien en souvenir du “King of Pop” afin d’en faire un lieu dédié à la mémoire de la star.

For our english friends, to make it short. The guy who is responsible for the horrible Ed Hardy trend got enough money to buy Michael Jackson’s house.

Of all the people who could claim MJ's house as their own, why does it have to be Christian Audigier?

An update on 'brain picking'

I wrote a post awhile back about how I have wanted to get a tattoo on the inside of my arm but am debating it because I don't know if it is meaningful enough, etc. Read the post here if you have not yet. Today I was reading one of my favorite blogs called The Hipster Runoff. This blog pokes fun at the "hipster" culture, something that goes hand in hand with most of the music I like. All of the posts on HRO satire something one way or another and take some pretty funny stands on the topics at hand. You kind of need to be up on the "culture" to begin with or else most of the terminology and sarcasm will go way over your head but I found a pretty funny post today that goes well with my previous tattoo posting. Check it out here after reading mine. It made me laugh, it might do the same for you.