KAT, NEW OBJECTIVE

childish gambino meets s

edit: also,

Some more unbiased reviews

Radiohead

The King of Limbs

My suggestions:

[Little by Little] [Feral] [Give Up The Ghost]

The follow-up to their successful In Rainbows, Radiohead continues to be a tour de force in experimental rock and deviating away from the standard in The King of Limbs. The bottom line is, if you liked In Rainbows, you’ll probably like this. It’s like an extension of Rainbows as in it’s even more weird, spacey shit. Which is fine, because I’m into that kind of thing.

“Bloom” sets the tone with its chromatic piano and weird… sounds. I’ve always wondered how these sort of songs are made, with the offbeat drums and seemingly random sound effects. There isn’t really any melody; just harmony. Especially for “Feral.” It’s totally immersive and makes sense but doesn’t make sense simultaneously? I’m going to stop trying now.

But I’m really proud of how Radiohead evolved from Pablo Honey to this. It must have been a glorious musical journey for them, as they have really strived to constantly modernize their sound and develop a unique voice. They’re not afraid to take chances either, and KIL is the living testament to that. Sometimes I wish that some bands would revert to their original sound, like in the case of Coldplay, after being overproduced into the ground following a big break or making an unwise musical decision (in my opinion, anyway). But Radiohead, just keep on doing whatever you’re doing.

Also, if you haven’t seen Thom Yorke in “Lotus Flower” yet, you’re welcome.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

I’m With You

"Hustle here, hustle there, hustle me bitch and you best beware."

[The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie][Look Around]

RCHP was probably my second most anticipated album this year, because I’ve noticed in their previous albums that there’s basically two-three songs that are really worthwhile and the rest is just… filler.
I’m With You was no different, with “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie” and “Look Around” as the only two songs on the entire album that made me want to move physically to the music in awkward, jerky motions. The rest of it was sort of boring. Unsurprisingly, RCHP hasn’t changed much. I’m not saying they’re bad, it’s just how they roll. They’ll still be one of my favorites of all time and Flea will always be a master of slap-bass. (Dose bass lines mang)
But you’re better off getting a “Best of” album from them once they inevitably retire in a few years.

~One sentence reviews~

Coldplay Mylo Xyloto

-Coldplay is so, like, 2008.

Foster the People Torches

-Another band that’ll only be remembered for one wildly popular single.

"Indie" albums of 2011

“Indie” is a futile way to describe a particular band; it only indicates their status in regards to record companies. However, among youth, it seems to harbor some sort of reverence, not for its politically correctness, but for its non-conformity  from mainstream music. I used to ignore most bands that were self-labeled “indie” because they all started to sound the same after a while, and lacked luster. But the tables have turned in recent years and independent bands have started to gain prominence. Arcade Fire took a Grammy last year (well-deserved, too) and Mumford & Sons are nominated in some major categories this year.

Here are my thoughts on some of the indie rock albums released in 2011.

Mumford & Sons

Sigh No More*

My picks:

[Little Lion Man] [The Cave] [Thistle and Weeds]

Mumford & Sons is primarily a folk group, with lots of emphasis on acoustic instruments like the banjo. I used to have very low tolerance for folk, but this album has great charisma, soul, and strong narrative lyrics. The vocalist doesn’t simply sing; he tells stories and cajoles and reprimands. What strikes me the most are the lyrics- they rhyme flawlessly and flow like poetry. It is poetry. And sometimes lyrics seem like something taken from the Bible (“plant your hope with good seeds, don’t cover yourself with thistle and weeds, Rain down, rain down on me”** “For you were made to meet your Maker”) or a potential maxim (“In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die. Where you invest your love, you will invest your life”).

My first impression of the album though, before I started paying attention to lyrics, was that it was sort of repetitive in terms of sound. It all sounded the same after a while, and the album sort of seemed to drag on. I guess it’s because I’m not very familiar with folk music, and it’ll probably grow onto me after a few listens. Overall, I think Mumford & Sons has a lot of potential, even though I’m not crazy about them. They appeal to the heart and have a very solid, genuine sound.

My Morning Jacket

Circuital

[Circuital] [Outta My System][Slow Slow Tune]

Circuital opens with a fanfare in “Victory Dance” with a smooth transition into their single, “Circuital” (go figure). I was starting to get excited this was going to be a rock-opera type thing but I was sorely disappointed, as each succeeding song was just its own entity. Did MMJ get lazy, or was that on purpose?

Anyway, the rest of the album was relatively happy, with a potpourri of sounds with upbeat backup choruses, sentimental acoustic pieces, cute rebellious tunes (“They told me not to smoke drugs, but I wouldn’t listen, never thought I’d get caught and wind up in prison”), and even a full brass section in “Holdin On To Black Metal.” MMJ seems to have a sense of humor too, as they break the fourth wall and directly address the listener in “Slow Slow Tune” (“You, somewhere in the future listening, I hope the present is glistening, with notes that ring so true, this slow slow tune”). And yes, it is a pretty slow song.

The only really attractive piece in this album is its namesake, “Circuital.” It’s sophisticated and catchy and interesting, unlike the other songs in the album. In fact, “Circuital” and “Victory Dance” sound entirely different and detached from the other songs, which is odd. It’s almost an insult to put these two songs in the same album as the others because the rest of the album just gets progressively worse and more shallow. Maybe it’s just my own taste (I tend to prefer darker music) but I think MMJ was sort of confused as to the direction of Circuital when they were making it.

Airborne Toxic Event

All At Once

[Changing][Half of Something Else][All I Ever Wanted]

Airborne Toxic Event is a pretty new band, having just debuted on the radio (KROQ) this year? Last year? I stumbled upon them when a classmate told me the band had a female violinist in its ranks, and downloaded All At Once. For a debut, it has some promise, but as a record it is disappointing. Their catchy single, “Changing,” is cute but very elementary in terms of how sophisticated the music is. In general, I think that the band is trying to imitate other rock bands instead of creating something new or creative or innovating, even with a violinist. It doesn’t have to be experimental or avant-garde or anything, as long as you don’t sound like generic shit. I’m probably being too hard on them; I’m sure it takes a lot of time and experience to find a foothold and mature as a band.

Also something that bugs me a lot is how some songs start with the drummers rapping their drumsticks together four times. And this isn’t just limited to ATE, plenty of bands do it, and it just annoys me because this should be routine in rehearsals, not on recordings. You shouldn’t have to be reminded of the tempo of a song in a recording studio; you should’ve played it together enough already to know how the song goes. Surely there are more creative ways to initiate a song.

The Black Keys

El Camino

[Lonely Boy][Run Right Back][Gold On The Ceiling]

This was the most anticipated album this year for me. The Black Keys is a band that you really can’t criticize; their music is rollicking fun, and the band members are totally lovable. It’s like trying to condemn Jimi Hendrix. Who doesn’t love Hendrix? How can you not like the Black Keys? Speaking of Hendrix, the essence of his music is sort of similar to BK. Or vice versa.
El Camino is classic feel-good American rock (sex, drugs, and violence- woo!), and the Black Keys avoid being generic by throwing in some fun, bluesy guitar riffs and vocals, and even a dash of house-influenced synths. To be honest, I can’t really pinpoint the success of their music- it’s totally relatable and familiar but fresh at the same time. Talent, I guess.

 There isn’t really a difference between El Camino and last year’s Brothers, except they are more famous now. It’s the same head-banging (it does get a bit tiresome after a bit) song after song in a disconnected fashion. But who cares? I love the Black Keys oh yes I do

Also, is it just me or does the singer remind me of Amy Winehouse’s voice? Listen to Lonely Boy. Couldn’t you just imagine it replaced by Winehouse’s voice? If only she was alive… they’d make a sick collab.

* Included this because it was recently nominated for Grammy’s and I thought it was still relevant even though it was released in 2010 in the U.S.

**All lyrics may not be accurate; I typed them out as I was listening to them so there may be errors. :x

Sound of San Francisco

                                                         

I've been poking around SF lately (they hire some really great artists to play with the symphony). If I could rank the major cities in terms of livability, it would be something like this:

1) Philly

2) SF

3) LA

4) NYC

Outdated ad :3

Also, I'm basing this off of my experience in their downtown areas, not suburban. Philly and SF have a great amount of things to do and see in the city center. NYC is overdoing it and downtown LA is pretty much barren compared to the others. Musically though, I prefer Philly and NYC, simply because their halls are better and the student subscription to the Phil Orch is a really nice deal (as in like $1 to see the best orch in the world in concert). Although I haven't attended many operas, I think SFOpera also has a pretty good program- I saw their "La Boheme" on the telly one night and it was fantastic. There was this one scene where a guy sung beautifully to his coat... you can only find this kind of stuff in Italian operas mang.


Anyway, I used to think that SF was pretty posh compared to the more ghetto Philly and NYC, until I almost stepped in dog crap in Chinatown. It depends on the specific neighborhood too, I guess. 

Also, there is pretty much no variation in the Chinatowns of each metropolis... they all start to look/seem the same after a while haha.

I don't know what my mum was doing.

The day after Black Friday, I had a rehearsal and a Gil Shaham concert in the area and consequently spent an entire day there. My parents and I visited Pier 39 and walked around. It was the same old tourist hubbub, with generic gift shops spammed every few meters.

Then, on a whim I decided to hike up one of the infamous hills. At first, my mum was reluctant, but the sense of fulfillment when we got up there (albeit half-dead) was satisfying. It also had a better view of Alcatraz than down at the pier! 

Mi madre

Also, I saw one family in a car approach the apex of the hill, and all the kids in it started screaming as they drove down the slope as if it was a roller coaster. Heh, tourists.


Afterwards, we sought a public space for me to fiddle a bit in, and we stumbled upon a relatively peaceful dog park. A husky was mildly interested in Bach. :3

I'm alive!

Before I say anything, can you believe that my procrastination habits are so bad that I procrastinated making this post just now? I probably opened up this window half an hour ago, only to chat with strangers on turntable. Anyway, I guess it's sort of a given that I've been busy whenever I have a hiatus. I just got back from a Xmas gig, and it's actually my first paying job! About 50-60 bucks an hour to sightread random holiday songs- notbad.jpg. However, it does take up quite a bit of time, and right when my teachers realize that finals is in a week and they better start catching up on work. I'm staying afloat though. I had a catapult project last week, and mine kind of failed- it was 2.9 m away from the target. But oh well, I have a solid A in Physics (and yes I needed to flaunt that).

Le Trebuchet

It was fun though, and 'twas one of the rare moments in my life where I was handed a drill and expected to know what to do with it. 
Oh, I also passed my Chinese SAT II's with minimal reading experience. I must bask in my academic glory.
On that note, I'm going to get some equally glorious sleep. That's been hard to come by lately, so I'll continue this ramble later. Before I go though, condolences to those who suffered property damage from those winds last week. You Arcadia folks went through a lot lately- first that death threat nonsense and now this? Thank God no one was hurt.





^This Arcade Fire dump is for Jason. I know, at first listen they're bland and generic but I gave them another chance and listened to their rock opera, The Suburbs, in one sitting. The sound is sort of hard to describe- it's deep, hopeful, and full of youth. For some reason, I think it captures modern American youth perfectly (or at least me). You can tell that they worked really hard on it too, and it's quite a convincing record. It won a Grammy anyway, so... it's good. Give it a try.

...

Political cartoon

This was for a satire project in Eng. Thanks to Jason & Eric for your advice!

according to this

one of christopher marlowe's plays features a character who turns invisible in order to punch the Pope.

why do we like shakespeare so much again?


Honestly, my procrastination is getting so bad that I'm actually studying for quiz bowl instead of doing homework

What is this I don't even

LOL

ON AN UNRELATED NOTE I AM PLAYING HOOKY TOMORROW
SUCK IT

motivation to play your sax

here you go kat

You guys=happiness

Hellooo readers! I apologize for the delayed post, as I've been quite busy since I got back. I haven't even completely unpacked yet lolol.

Thank you all, for those of you that made the effort to see me during my brief trip to LA. It was an absolute joy to see you guys again and laugh and be amongst my own kind, and I was very, very happy. It was fantastic.

But now I'm back to the push and pull of school. I hate high school. Instead of going on another one of my rants about my current repertoire and rehearsals and filling you in on menial details about my classes (let's admit it- it bores you and it bores me), here's a bit of dance-able music: 

DANSE OR DIE

funniest thing ever

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/22300

okay, not that funny, but i saw the title and knew i had to click on it. it was hilarious to me at the time

know your limits

women.

jason hates on the media (again)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/15002820

The first bit makes it seem like an extremely serious problem up until it mentions people trying "to use a 'gravity gun' to pick up food." At that point, I had this little niggling feeling that, when the study was being performed, the subjects were joking and/or describing one specific moment where everyone involved at the time knew it was a joke and the context of the situation using an imaginary gravity gun in real life was completely clear ("Hey, what if I had a gravity gun right now and could shoot this trash into that trash can over there?" *pretends to shoot*).


Then I got to the little anecdotes at the bottom, and what do you know, it's stuff that people commonly say all the time, and none of it results in anything happening other than in the person's mind. If you challenge me on that, think about it: the chick who talked about GTA IV wouldn't be able to tell her anecdote if she had been arrested for punching everyone and stealing their cars. Everything else was pretty harmless and ordinary too- "It's a running joke that we all carry on looking for snipers and going to grab a launcher if you see a bird, or going for the stab button if someone is in your way." 


Now, this article itself is slightly more balanced and didn't involve the actual subjects, even including a spiel about how not every gamer carries around a constant rage-boner and loses the distinction between real life and fantasy, but it gives some insight into the study- specifically, the effect of "GTP" might not be as great as the researchers who coined the term think it is. People compare their past experiences with what they're going through at the moment. It's induction and we all do it. Thinking about that one time you were playing a violent game while you're presently riding on a crowded subway shouldn't be treated as any differently from thinking about that one time you watched a violent movie while you ride that exact same subway. Sure, gamers are exposed to more violence than non-gamers, but there are tens of millions of gamers out there in the world who prove that people who play video games and commit acts of violence don't do it because they play lots of violent games, they do it because of actual mental issues. Likewise, there are millions of criminals out there who prove that lack of restraint exists even without video games.

dun bam bam bam DUM

The intro to this song makes me want to get out onto the streets and put some BC Era invaders to the sword

wow

http://zoomquilt2.madmindworx.com/zoomquilt2.swf

Also, discovered crack

raindrops keep faaalling on my head

During today's ten-minute thunderstorm I had the sudden urge to run outside and sing this song.

Then I realized I didn't have a ukelele. Or singing talent.

Tahoe/Reno in Photos

haha herp 

idk lol

 

"mum what are you doing"

car show! 

sicmewcamp

whoooooooo

Rick Perry's Transcript

http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/61684192

It might be unfair to judge him based on grades at Texas A&M, but I still have one huge question:

How is Rick Perry a governor?

I mean, on that transcript it looked like he was more trying to be a farmer, with all those animal and chemistry classes. Maybe a vet? The few politics-related courses he took, he completely tanked in:

B in Comp&Rhetoric
C in Public Speaking
C in Comp&Rhetoric again
B in Business Law
C in US History
A then C in World Military Systems
D in Principals of Economics

Out of all four years of college. This is almost as bad as electing as governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who built his political platform off of "I'm famous and in action movies you loved."

Also, most damningly, he got a D in Shakespeare :3

for the memories

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3jFTzhdZF4

But I liked "Break Your Heart" D:

when string instruments tell you to bugger off

I have very little tolerance for the actual song, a song about as annoying as expected from the same guy who sang "Crazy", but this version just makes me feel all warm inside

RIP Mrs. Sweeney 2011

http://blogs.ausd.net/sweeney/

For the past couple of weeks now, every time I rode past Hugo Reid Primary on Michillinda, I noticed an announcement on the roadside board saying something about "Mrs. Sweeney" and "Farewell". This interested me, as I had Mrs. Sweeney as my 5th grade teacher and assumed she was retiring.

Today, I told a friend about it, since we were in Mrs. Sweeney's class together six years ago and I wanted to visit her or at least contact her. He checked the Hugo Reid portion of the AUSD website, then sent me the link.

Mrs. Sweeney died.

A teacher I remember for being excessively loud and energetic died, and weeks passed before I found out about it.

I can't say I have much more than fragmented memories about her, but the ones I do have are huge:

I remember she brought her new puppy to school every day and kept it in a cushioned pen by the door because she was afraid to leave it home alone.

I remember hearing that she was one of the meaner teachers, but then realizing that those rumors were just a result of her loud and commanding nature, but in reality, she was one of the most fun teachers I've ever had.

I remember she showed some of us a video of some asian kids lip syncing to "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys (She laughed and pointed out the guy in the background who was just playing video games obliviously).

I remember a rapping stuffed frog she brought into class one day that played for several minutes straight (I think it was http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diiL9bqvalo ?)

I remember she told me to work on my handwriting, saying that penmanship was going to follow me for the rest of my life.

I remember she pointed out to me very briefly the rules of when to spell out numbers in writing and when to transcribe them as numerals while checking one of my essays, a memory that comes up every time I'm about to write a number down on paper.

I remember her laugh that almost sounded harsh and sharp at first, but soon became a daily part of our lives.

I remember candy, the original Sid Meier's Civilization, Oregon Trail, special Mensa math problems, and all these little things that make me consider her one of the best teachers I've ever had.

I'm going to miss Mrs. Sweeney, but not as much as all the future students who will never have the chance to learn from one of the best, most unique, and most wonderful teachers there will ever be.

42

I was practicing this morning when I started pondering about life and money. The question I’m posing is: Does a view of money as the root of everything imply pessimism? That was my understanding at first, because I thought that committing oneself solely for the purpose of gaining wealth, consciously or unconsciously, was materialistic, and that riches doesn’t necessarily lead to happiness (unless you’re a hedonist). That was until I figured that almost everything I do sooner or later leads to monetary gains, mainly for myself or my parents. For example, I work hard on music so that I can hopefully do well in my lessons (to make lavish music fees worthwhile), procure scholarships (to save money), and eventually land a job in the recession-battered field of music (and provide money for elderly parents). Like my parents, I’m constantly thinking of ways to save money, to earn money, and to invest in projects that will hopefully bring about- you guessed it- MOARE MONIES. (However, there is a combination, one that plagues timeless literature and tragedies, which I’ll hopefully never tamper with- love and money. E.g., my vln teacher encouraged me to find a “rich husband,” as he thinks that women should not be the main provider of income in a household. Although that can be seen as sexist and somewhat demeaning to me musically, from a purely logical standpoint it is reasonable, and that is where I clash and disagree with others the most. I tend to appeal to pathos and ethos. I know that many women out there wed for material gain, and that can be seen as reasonable because if one lacks money-making skills, why not marry someone who has money, and thus live a more comfortable life? But that’s something I cannot associate with at all, simply because I like to think with my heart rather than my mind. This tendency has shaped many of my views, from abortion to religion, as well as part of who I am.)

Digression aside, my point is that if you think about it a certain way, the root of anything significant in the world could be exploited by material gain! I used to have this very idealistic mindset that the meaning of life was love and peace (again, neglecting logos), and as long as you have pure goodwill in your heart and exploit that for the good of others, you will live and die happy. I’m not saying that viewpoint is now void, but it is immature to think that’s the single solution to living. After all, the source of things we take for granted like food, shelter, and health care is provided by money, which can lead to saying that money brings about contentedness, if not happiness (with the exception of vagrants who are satisfied with their lifestyle). However, limiting your life purpose to that can also turn out terribly wrong, but I think that it takes a level of maturity to be frank about money and realize that without blowing it out of proportion. (Balance is key!) I suppose there is no definitive answer to my question, as it depends on how each individual views life.

I've wasted half my summer

on youtube... gaming commentaries, mainly. I call it the poor man's way of experiencing games- which is watching 'let's plays' instead of getting a console.

But now I'm banning myself from any kind of gaming-related procrastination until all schoolwork is completed. Feel free to rat me out if you catch me on Steam or something, because oftentimes I need a friendly slap to stay focused.

Also relevant:

Oh, Roger

vid

british pop/rap heh

"i've got this DEVILISH flow of rock and roll"

boop

Of course I'd upload a screenshot of me pwning my opponent and not the 3545345 other rounds where I lose the game.

lol idk, saw this on a sculpture @ UPenn

Don't mind that, just a demon child (with a halo of stray hairs) nomming some royal palm dates aka the best nommage in the world

Grad ceremony had to be relocated inside due to rain. :c

This is me being a poser in front of Curtis :V

I’m giving my graphics card a rest from portal and thus- a wild post appears!
Yeah, I’ve been trying to speed through portal 2 but it’s so darn long and it keeps on crashing, even with a new graphics card. :c I think it’s a bug.

Anyways, I haven’t been doing much since my last post aside from a few exceptions. I attended my sister’s graduation in Philly, although the highlights of that was sleeping through monotonous speeches by Important People at the ceremony and helping my sister move out of her apt… Which aren’t really highlights at all but I did have (probably) the best food EVER at Alma de Cuba, a sleazy little restaurant that serves the world’s best appetizers. Highly recommended if you’re in the area (the royal palm dates are to DIE FOR). I also saw Gil Shaham w/ the Phil Orch at the Kimmel Center, and uh I died. Shaham’s Walton Vln Concerto was so beautiful and absolutely impeccable. That plus Holst’s The Planets instilled a sense of euphoria in me that I don’t think even recreational drugs can replicate. Also, Mr. Shaham has this funny little habit of having a facial expression of :D onstage. He was so adorable.

Speaking of classical music, I’ve been up to some of that on my own, surprise surprise. I’m finishing up Scherzo Tarantella (aka scratchy tarantula) and a Wieniawski etude-caprice, which have been giving me headaches that have incapacitated me to write any JnK posts. & Thanks to my teacher, I’m back to playing chamber music, and this time in a STRING QUARTET. I’m super excited for our upcoming season as I’ve always wanted to play in a chamber string ensemble and decent violists were so hard to snag back in LA. Yay!

On another digression, I got my permit! Driving is becoming more of a cinch to me by the day and I love my ride- a pimpin’ ’99 Corolla that shakes and sputters whenever I brake and roars like an airplane taking off when driven on the freeway. :D

Also, I persuaded my dad to get me an iTouch (4g! 64gb!) so I finally have room for all my music with some space to spare for a few apps, so if you have Words with Friends- challenge me to a duel @ iamaviolin!

Hmm, I’d also detail you guys on my plans for the summer but I’m afraid I’ll bore you to death. So goodbye for now, I’m going to have another go at this wickedly confusing test chamber.

I hope it doesn't seem strange

but I feel obligated to post this:

http://www.pottermore.com/
this:
http://www.thedeadbolt.com/news/1000400/jk_rowling_to_unveil_new_harry_potter_project.php
and this:
http://www.youtube.com/JKRowlingAnnounces


Been waiting for the countdown since last week :P

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13852872

more digital photography

I've taken exactly 0 pictures that I've actually used in my digiphoto projects so far. This is more like design class.

I am aware the picture is tilted, i placed the basic picture i started with (treble-bass clef heart stolen right from kat's avatar) tilted and for some reason just kept going instead of fixing it early on:

musicians pictured in no particular order:

ithzak perlman, yo yo ma, roger waters, the beatles, rhcp dude whose name i dont recall, biggie smalls, simon and garfunkel, kenny g, michael jackson, eric clapton, michael buble, chris martin, daft punk, bruno mars, katy perry, taeyang, jay chou, flo rida, slash, axl rose, and my chemical romance

I don't remember which two songs I ripped the sheet music from but they're both found on imslp.org. Reasonably sure one of them is by Sarasate.

Line quoted from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, first line of the book

lol digiphoto

pictured here: what i waste my time with from 7:50 to 12:10 every weekday at AEF:

I won't pretend this is good

ahs yearbook 2010-2011

Above^ my blog co-writer

Who, incidentally, lives in northern california (arcadia high being a SoCal school)

WHOOPS

leslie and judy tagged my board :C

Reasons why I haven't been posting lately

• Because everything is freaking due on May 31st
• Portal
• Terraria
• Yogscast videos
• I am incredibly lazy
• tumblrs like these

free music

http://www.thinkwithportals.com/music.php

<3<3

I'd probably post my opinions on gay marriage in conjunction with the vid, but that's a story for another day.

Amazing video though

the business letter that got me a 1/5 on the cahsee

1000 High School Dr.

-rest of heading goes here-

To whom it may concern,

It has come to my attention that changes should be made for the betterment of this school.

Thank you for your attention.

Erinaceously,

Almaden Quicksilver

This post was supposed to be published over a week ago but Blogger botched up and didn't save my post. Luckily I had a copy of it on Word so here you go!

Long overdue post on my hike from spring break:

It turned out to be quite lovely, even though I was totally exhausted at the end of 4 miles.

...hey, it was a steep trail!

some historic sites on the hike. bottom left used to be a schoolhouse for the kids of miners.

first time seeing wild poppies; wildflowers are exquisite

these spikey weeds/cacti(?) caught my interest- what in the world are they?

found some on my lawn too.

trees+fungi

(fun-ji lolol remember, tanya?)

IN OTHER NEWS...

• Apparently you haven't been to a school rally if you are attending AHS. The rallies here are actually PEP rallies, in which students scream their heads off and chuck stuff around and yell a lot and are bedecked in school colours (as opposed to the highly efficient and organized AHS rallies consisting of just one performing arts group after another with ADD transitions and a mild crowd wearing whatever).
• I just lost the game.
• A Farewell to Arms is undescribably awesome. Hemingway would be like, my idol if I was into nihilism and lost generation and code hero stuff.
• All minecraft art is cubism.
• Nujabes is fantastic. dubstep only sounds good at raves. the Strokes are alive. Eet is delicious. Etienne de Crecy is mind boggling. Wolfmother is the next best thing.
• Apparently, all choir music is about alcohol, God, or sex.
• Post about Philly trip coming soon (aka never)
• I USED TO LIVE INSIDE MY MOMMY