The Bullog

finished the week

2011-10-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

I have successfully made it back to my house and am now in bed. That was definitely the hardest week I've had of school yet. Its 12:21PM... I have three hours to sleep before work and I feel completely content with that! haha. Content with pulling off the unthinkable week and cheating death.

I am a little upset though. I'm sure I did really well on my midterm today. I got to the very last problem, read it, had a sigh of relief because it was a question I knew I how to answer 100% correctly and I had a moment of relief that the week would soon be over. I was halfway through mentally sorting what I would put down as an answer and they called out that there was 5 minutes left of the exam and I just lost everything. Completely mind blank. Went from complete lucidness to suddenly drooling over my paper until I had to turn it in. Man that was a bizarre feeling.

Ride the Spiral

2011-10-03T22:04:00.000-07:00

Long boarding is a fun hobby that I took up a couple years ago towards the end of high school. It became an event that a lot of social activities revolved around at the time. "Hey lets go long board Provo canyon." "Hey lets go long board around campus." "Lets go long board the stadium parking lot." "Lets go long board around BYU and see if we get caught."

Long boarding for the first time isn't that hard. Humans can adapt pretty quickly as figuring out how to balance isn't too hard... learning how to turn isn't too hard, but learning how to stop? That's a different story. Long boarding is set up so that your cranium is in the least inertial stable position and you have no brakes. If you find yourself in an uncomfortable position, travelling too fast down a hefty hill you have a few options. You can attempt to drag your foot, changing the center of gravity of your body over the one foot on your board and slowly placing your other foot in a position to create friction with the asphalt (not too fast or else you'll eat it). You can slam your foot down in a "reverse" pumping action, slowly chipping away at the growing acceleration you've managed to pick up with the force of gravity, or you could ride your board into a patch of grass and "run" out the momentum. All of these options are relatively tricky unstable maneuvers and bring mass potential to totally eat it on the asphalt.

The first time you truly eat it on the asphalt will change how you ride forever, but you eventually figure out that sometimes in those moments where you want to bail, if you just stick it out a little longer you'll end up alright. Getting too fast? just ride it out and you'll be able to carve it out later. Getting speed wobble? Just lean into it. But sometimes if you ARE going too fast, trying to slow down ends up disastrously anyways... all you can do is ride it out.

Other times there are just unforeseen obstacles. A crack in the road, a hole, a rock, a branch, gravel, water or even ice. Your wheel catches it just right and you find yourself in a world of hurt.

Why do we even long board?

Sometimes I feel like life is like bombing one major hill. At this very moment I'm going way too fast, and at times I get these moments of panic. "COLTON... WHAT ARE YOU DOING... YOU NEED TO BAIL... YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN" but I know if I try to put my foot down or bail I'm going to eat shit and die. All I can do is lean into it and hope there isn't any unforeseen obstacles in my path. Its exhilarating in a way, but part of me is scared shitless. (my apologies for the big boy language)

One of the lyrics from my all time favorite album is "Ride the spiral to the end, we may just go where no ones been". I remember the exact moment I listened to the album all the way through as a moment that was as much of a spiritual moment as I've ever had. As corny as it is to place any form of music in that position. The album is about living and life. Its dark and heavy, its music is "evil" in an overly mormon sense. Its realistic, the lyrics are written by a guy who has a significant amount of trauma but it also has a very positive message ingrained in it. Life is hard, parts of it can be messed up in its most raw and realistic form, but there is also a lot of potential for positivity.

But I digress. I'm putting my head down, I'm leaning into it. I'll either have one hell of a ride or I'll go out in a smoldering wreck of flames, and there's no better way to go.

A rant as if my rant actually mattered (with some slight big boy language)

2011-09-24T14:43:00.000-07:00

This blog post was inspired by a blog post written by my amazing sister. Who keeps up the most amazing, genuine, and truthful blog. http://erinsheffield.blogspot.com/2011/09/message-in-bottle.html

The concept and emergence of blogging and social media is a topic that I have always found somewhat interesting. I've never considered myself a part of the blogging world, I've only really done it to keep up with family members and friends a far. Blogging isn't really something I consider a big part of my day to day life, but you stumble upon any random blog and you don't have to go far to see the stereotypical projected image of perfection. The everyday crafty mormon mommy, the self proclaimed artistic fashion connoisseur, the amateur professional photographer, and the narcissistic opinion writer. All self marketed conceptions of how the blogger wants people to perceive themselves floating around on the interwebs for all to see. It baffles me when I see a blogger with hundreds of followers... all eager to hear about how such and such went to this coffeehouse today, bought this dress, crafted this project, and used this hair product. Hundreds and hundreds of people on a chain, waiting to live their life vicariously through this projected image of perfection, and a blogger at the end of it...seeking validation by providing this service to the hundreds and hundreds of people on their chain. Its an interesting concept. A world where everyone everywhere can be heard and admired.

But it is all kind of sad and shallow. A sick sad little world and I'd like to think it was something that I was above... but I'm not. I may not be a top notch avid blogger, but I do have a Facebook page. I have the self marketed embodiment of how I want my entire entity to be perceived all conveniently reduced to a sad single page for all of my "friends" to see. 446 friends to be exact... but these people aren't my friends. They aren't even my associates. I probably only have 9-10 good friends, and 20 people I associate with socially. Add another 20 people I associate with for work, and 20 members of my close and extended family. 10+20+20+20=446.

Its hard not to feel like a tool at times. Here is my page... here is the one picture I set as a "profile picture" that I think is the best picture that embodies how I want to be perceived. If you search my other pictures you will see some pictures of me in exotic places, as I want to give the perception that I am a diverse interesting human being who has traveled the world. Here is a picture of me playing guitar, that'll look good for the ladies. Here are pictures of me partying and having a good time with my friends....I should probably untag myself in the pictures of me during the summer I added a few extra pounds after an emotional breakup with a longtime girlfriend. Here are some videos from youtube of bands that I think are great, but you probably won't like them... you probably won't even play them... but for some reason I feel they are good representations of what kind of person I am and what my personality is, why else would I post them? Here is my school and work information... I am studying to be an engineer... I am "smart"... I am doing things with my life... I will have money and be a suitable partner for the opposite gender.

Just look at all the young Mormon wives who flaunt their husbands like possessions and keep their bridal pictures as their profile picture even two years after they've been married, as if that was the pinnacle event their existence has had to offer... but I digress.

...I would delete it all, but people you know who delete their facebooks tend to be emotionally volatile or kind of neurotic generally right? I don't want to give that "impression"... oh lord why do I even care about giving that impression? Colton you used to have it so together, where did you go wrong? You used to be about rock n roll and sticking it to the man... refusing to fit any mold... you read Thoreau's Walden and Emerson's essay on Self Reliance like its your Bible but you can't even delete your own Facebook page.

Truth is, life is hard. Life sucks sometimes. I work 30 hours a week at a part time job where I get paid peanuts for doing the same repetitive action day in and day out, 10 hours a week in my research lab where my superiors give me relatively unimportant projects just to keep me happy and where I have to pull in my own funding, and am taking 16 credit hours of demanding engineering coursework where 20% of my classmates are on prescription amphetamines and the professors are more concerned about their research and egos than your individual success or learning. That's 56 hours a week without studying and homework factored in. Damn that is crazy.

Truth is, I get depressed and discouraged at times. Truth is my day to day activity looks relatively the same. Truth is I may have traveled the world but all on Daddy's paycheck (who doesn't brag about his LEGITIMATE accomplishments and amazing feats on his facebook page). Truth is I get anxiety. Truth is I feel awkward talking to girls. Truth is I party and socialize with my friends... where I hear the same shitty songs played over and over again so loud that you can't have any sort of meaningful conversation and reintroduce myself to the same intoxicated people over and over again. "Maybe I should go up to my room and study or play guitar... no I don't want to be the 'recluse'"

Give me something that is real. "Dear blogging world, today kind of sucked." Instead of "lalala today the world was all flowers and sweets. I made these amazing cookies for my social gathering and they turned out so delicious. I am the perfect mormon mommy, there is nothing challenging about parenting at all because my children are completely perfect."

Give me something that is real. Damnit. Give me something past the marketed facade of your imaginary life. "Dear blogging world, today I chambered a round and put a gun in my mouth to blow away my neuronal activity known as my mind, I could taste the metal and gun oil on my tongue, but chickened out because of the thought of the recoil breaking my teeth." ....That would be a blog I would want to read --actually not really because that would be way too depressing haha-- but imagine 200 followers a day, thinking "damn... I thought my life was hard... I suddenly feel better about myself" instead of "I wish my life was more like Mormon Mommy Bot 3000"

Of course, I am being facetious.

Truth is, life is hard. I love it. I love my life. I would rather it be hard than live in a state of dull homeostasis. The day I am sitting in equilibrium with my surroundings is going to be the day I die and am in the casket rotting. Growing up you have this misconception that someday in your life you will suddenly "know" everything. After all your parents "know" everything. The lightbulb turns on and you will suddenly have it figured out, such as the notion you emerge from high school or college a developed fetus with no more things to learn and everything set in stone. Or the notion that "I'm married... life will be easy now" or "I have a job, life will be easy now". Life will constantly try to antagonize you. People will try to antagonize you. I REVEL in this antagonistic force. Bring it on.

Truth is, I work a whole lot and I am damn busy... but truth is, I am pulling it off just fine. I like to think that I'm doing it better than you could do it. Truth is, I get depressed or discouraged, but I get over it. Truth is, I feel awkward around girls, but I still date and talk to some pretty fine ladies and get by just swell. Truth is, my major can metaphorically be likened to consensual sodomy, but I am in the 70% percentile... which isn't too bad. Truth is I can be frustrated with my research lab, but there are still some really cool things going on in there and things I wouldn't otherwise be learning. Truth is, my friends listen to shitty music at parties but they are a smart and intelligent group and a great group of guys. I wouldn't trade my coalition for anything else.

Truth is life is hard, but it is hard for everybody.

Life is what it is. Take the ball and run with it.

As an after note, at times I wish we could go back to the 90's... preinternet days (along with fantastic music by the way). It is an interesting thought that upcoming generations will not know what it is like without internet. At times I feel frustrated with the idea of social media, but just as with life...I take the Ayn Rand approach and just acknowledge that it is what it is and its not going away.

Final stretch

2011-04-08T09:29:00.000-07:00

I have two-three weeks left before finals and I'm looking down the final stretch of my craziest semester yet. 18-19 credits of difficult classes plus 15-20 hours a week at a lab a week are taking its toll haha. My eyesight is diminishing, my stomach and chest are getting flabbier, and my wrists are slightly carpal tunnel-ish... BUT I am doing well in my classes. I am feeling happy and good about life despite being so busy. The one thing that surprises me is how well I am doing in my Physics 2 class. I haven't gone to lecture or discussion since February. I just cram and do as many problems a week before the exam and I'm getting 15-20 points above the curve on every exam. Part of me feels bad because I actually would like to know the material... but I am way too busy in my other classes to fully devote myself... and the other part of me feels like I am cheating death in a way. I just hope it doesn't come up to bite me in the rear if I don't do as well on the final or something.

I am signed up for a few classes this summer. I have to take statistics. If I take it from the bioengineering department instead of the Math department I get to take two less track engineering courses than I would otherwise be required to take...which is almost a no-brainer-like decision... BUT every single person who has taken the bioengineering statistics course has strongly advised me to avoid it based on 1: the teacher does not know the material, 2: your GPA will suffer, and 3: you will not learn statistics. Therefore, it has been decided that I, Colton J******, will be taking statistics from the Math Department this summer as opposed to the Bioengineering dept. (I hope the Bioengineering Dept. stumbles upon this and makes the appropriate changes.) As an engineer/hopeful M.D, statistics will be valuable to me when I conduct research, so I would rather learn it now while I am in school.

Work is going well. Out of discretion for the people who donate their bodies to science, I don't really feel comfortable blogging specifics about what I do, but I am tasked with processing and dissecting body tissues for experiments. It has been a very interesting and educational experience! With the government shutdown, part of our lab may be getting shut down, so it'll be interesting to see what happens. But I was tasked with designing and constructing a table for a large 200+ pound saw out of material we have around lab, so I'll have something to do. I'm building it out of this stuff called 80/20, its like an industrial grade aluminum erector set... should be a good project.

I've been trying to get into some philosophy in my spare time. I've been reading Thoreau and Emerson, Gailbraith, Veblen. Recently I've been delving into some Nietzche. Interesting guy. We read some of The Geneology of Morals in one of my classes. It was a good book, I'd like to read the rest of it sometime.

craziness

2011-02-21T22:19:00.000-08:00

Its been a pretty crazy past couple of weeks. My days have honestly been one big blur of waking up early, going to school, going to work, going back to school for a lab/study session, getting back around midnight or writing up lab reports till 2 in the morning, and repeat...but I am doing well in my classes so far! I got a 104 out of 112 on my organic chemistry exam, and a 90 out of 100 on my biomaterials exam. Only 12 kids in the class got in the nineties on the biomaterials exam, and there are some pretty dang smart kids in there so it felt good to do so well. The professor was calling out names for everyone to pick up their exams, and when I grabbed my exam he told me he was impressed with my essay response and that I did a good job. Cool!

I feel in the zone when it comes to my coursework. The only class I am not doing fantastic in is Physics...but I'm not doing bad by any means.

I have acquired a lab position! Finally! The doctor was very pessimistic and skeptical in the interview and it didn't seem like I was going to have any chance at the position, but he said he would try me out "ONLY" because I had previous experience haha (Thank you Val!). He also informed me that if I sucked he would let me go but that comes with the nature of any job I suppose so it didn't really shake me up at all.

The position has been interesting and educational so far. On my first day of work I was tasked with helping to "rearrange a freezer". The freezer they were talking about was full of human legs! They informed me what was in the freezer beforehand but my heart still skipped a beat when I opened it up. I felt like I was Dexter Morgan for a second moving around plastic wrapped body parts. Granted the tone is very serious and respectful though, as these were donated by people for scientific purposes.

I am excited I get to gain exposure to dissecting body parts and help prepare them for various orthopedic testing (stress/strain type of stuff). I also prepare any body tissue/part for the crematory after we are done running the tests by removing any sort of implant or screws we may place in them. The other day I dissected the L5 and sacrum out of a chunk of back. Very cool and very educational. Tomorrow I'll be dissecting some shoulders.

It is a relief to have a little more stability in my day to day schedule.. although a 15 hour lab position makes 18 credits all the more difficult. My major is cool, my job is cool, my life is cool... just a tad bit busy I guess. I don't really have anything to complain about.

I've taken a liking towards the writings of Thoreau. Here is a small excerpt, and although it is random and really has nothing to do with anything I have written about in this post I figured I'd share and close with it rather than just post it later.

"I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. We may waive just so much care of ourselves as we honestly bestow elsewhere. Nature is as well adapted to our weaknesses as to our strength. The incessant anxiety and strain of some is a well-nigh incurable form of disease. We are made to exaggerate the importance of what work we do; and yet how much is not done by us! or, what if we had been taken sick? How vigilant we are! determined not to live by faith if we can avoid it; all the day long on the alert, at night we unwillingly say our prayers and commit ourselves to uncertainties. So thoroughly and sincerely are we compelled to live, reverencing our life, and denying the possibility of change. This is the only way, we say; but there are as many ways as there can be drawn radii from one center. All change is a miracle to contemplate; but it is a miracle which is taking place every instant."

woo

2011-02-16T11:06:00.000-08:00

104/112 on my O chem two exam, and 90/100 on my senior level Biomaterials class exam. So far so good.

So Busy continued

2011-01-28T11:40:00.000-08:00

My roommates attempted the 11 challenge the other day, I was not in attendance because I've been so busy. For those of you who don't know, the 11 challenge is this food challenge at this buffalo wing joint here in SLC called "The Wing Coop". Now I've never been to Buffalo, New York, but the Wing Coop's wings are the best damn wings I've ever tried haha. They have a whole spectrum of sauces to choose from, traditional sauces, sweet sauces, spicy sauces. My favorite being the "intermediate" sauce and "loco lime" sauce. Mmmm.

Anyways, at the top of the spectrum are their spiciest sauces. The very spiciest being the "11 sauce". Its pretty much a concentrated habanero sauce, similar to Dave's insanity sauce if you have ever tried that but a few heads higher in the spicy scale.

For the 11 challenge you have to eat 11 '11 sauced' wings in 11 minutes, and doing so you get a t-shirt and your picture on the wall.

Its one thing to try a spoonful or toothpick of a spicy sauce, but a whole different thing to eat 11 wings drenched in the sauce. I tried the challenge about a year ago and found myself on the brink of passing out. I got 5 wings in and then my body started rejecting anything I put down. The spiciness is not just a mental thing... its physical and my body had had enough. I have a couple friends who have managed to pull it off though.

So anyways, the wing coop manager decided to up the anty with the 11 sauce, and now makes it with ghost peppers instead of habaneros. Ghost peppers rank around 850,000 scovilles (Tabasco sauce is 2000 scovilles) and it is the 3rd hottest pepper in the world behind the Naga Viper and the Dorset Naga. About 100-200 people have completed the old 11 sauce challenge... but as to date no one has completed it with the new ghost pepper sauce.

My roommates got 5 wings in, and have been lying around in discomfort for the past two days. Needless to say, I think they've lost their aspiration to keep eating spicy foods. I made a pork curry last night with rice, and put a small small small small amount of the 11 sauce in it (probably like 1/4 of a teaspoon?). The curry is hot! but has still retained its flavor. Its pretty good actually, I don't know if I'll ever try the 11 challenge again though, the human body isn't meant to eat that amount of something that spicy.

So Busy

2011-01-24T22:14:00.000-08:00

I have been extremely busy... so much to do.

But I'm feeling good about life. I am very grateful I have the opportunity to go to college, I learn things everyday I otherwise wouldn't. Biomedical Engineering is a very interesting major, but bone crushingly hard.

My roommates have all gotten into eating extremely hot things and trying extremely hot sauces. The other day we tried the current hottest sauce in the world. Rated at 750,000 Scovilles... which is over twice as hot as a habanero pepper. I would compare trying it to getting kicked in the teeth and beaten while you were on the ground but I felt like I was a stronger person when I was done haha. I cried every tear I had, sweat a gallon of sweat, lost feeling in my face, felt pain in my teeth, and had every limb tremble. I actually think it put me into shock. And that was just from dipping a toothpick into the sauce. The experience was pretty crazy but also a strange endorphin rush at the same time.

Its interesting that even though the hot sauce was extremely hot, it still had a really good hot sauce flavor. Seems like if you were set on producing the hottest hot sauce in the world that flavor wouldn't really matter.

I'm thinking maybe I will try the 11 challenge at The Wing Coop again after a couple more weeks of training.

New Semester

2011-01-10T09:16:00.000-08:00

Well I layed out my clothes, packed a lunch, and set my alarm last night... the new semester is here! I woke up early and hit the bikes at the gym. 30 minutes on the bike isn't much but its a good starting point, 15 minutes of a good pace, 5 minutes of sprints in intervals of 30 seconds, followed by 10 minutes of riding. Biking sure isn't as fun when its indoors and on a stationary bike, but I'm feeling good about myself. I packed all my shower gear and showered amongst all of the old wrinkly old men in the locker room, which is too much information I know, but one has to wonder why the heck their are always old wrinkly old men in locker room showers.... especially in the wee hours of the morning at a University. They must live there or something.

Funny thing is with all the preparation things still manage to go wrong. We're all victim to the law of Entropy I suppose. I packed a nice outfit to wear after I worked out but neglected to bring any pants so I'm wearing a nicer outfit with workout sweat pants.

I went to my first class and found out the location of the class was changed to another building across campus, upon arrival found out it was changed back to the original spot. Its been one of those days haha but my outlook is positive and I'm excited for the new semester.

I would like to get more involved this semester. I'll find myself humoring the idea of maybe starting a non-profit organization (usually in odd times of mild sleep deprivation ), perhaps one that assembled care packages for soldiers overseas or something, but I have no knowledge on how to go about doing something like that so I'll have to look into that further haha.

Have a good Monday!

Happy New Year

2011-01-04T23:38:00.000-08:00

Well thank you everyone who contributed to the awesome holiday season. 2010 turned out great for me. Highlights of the year definitely being going out to Iowa for the summer and doing research with Dr. Sheffield and finishing the fall semester with an A- in Organic Chemistry!

I have high hopes for 2011. Most of my resolutions for the year are geared towards bettering my life and furthering my career and transition to adulthood. I am very confident I have gained major status, I am just waiting for the letter to come through the mail.

-I have done a lot of thinking about who and where I want to be. One of my major resolutions is I have decided I need to put more emphasis into looking the part of engineering student/pre-med student. A "fashion makeover" into adulthood per se. I am going to get my hair done later this week to look a little more professional (albeit still long), and I hope to maybe start wearing more professional clothing to school instead of the usual grunge t-shirt and jeans. The kids in my major are very bright, and most are ~25 years old with wifes and families. They are serious, I am serious, but I'll need to put more effort to compete.

-Get a job/lab position. I have been working very hard on this. Having major status will definitely help now. I applied for an undergraduate position at the Utah Artificial Heart program that I want so badly the other day, I hope I get it. Overall I just want to immerse myself into something. I want to read up on everything about it and try and contribute the best I can. Whether it be research or an internship.

-Physical fitness. I know its cliche... but I have been planning this for awhile now. I hope to join the U of U's cycling team later this spring. I need to put good time in on the bike and build up my aerobic threshold and leg strength. I'm also taking a swimming class to build up my swimming abilities. (anyone else see a possible triathalon in the future??....probably not for awhile at least haha). Jeremy Cleek and I have committed to doing Lotoja this September and I am going to see that I will be ready for it.

I am very grateful I have the opportunity to be living right now in this moment and for the opportunities that I have had, and I want to wish everybody a Happy New Year!

...and I am excited for this spring semester. Bring it on!

Christmas list continued.

2010-12-01T21:53:00.000-08:00

Here is everything I could ever want that I could think of.

1) Books. I love books, I would like to get some of Ralph Waldo Emerson's texts or Thoreau, and maybe a copy of Faust by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe. Perhaps my own copy of "the Long Walk". I've also enjoyed Robert Greene's books ( I have 48 laws of power and laws of seduction already). Buy me books!
2) Sweatpants. My waist size is 32ish, I like 'em on the looser end of things.
3) Moccasins/slippers. My shoe size is 9.0-9.5ish-10ish. 9.5 usually works best.
4) One of those cheap $15 laptop desks you can find at walmart
5) You could get me cds- Disraeli Gears by Cream, any actual Beatles albums will be nice too (no greatest hits please... and I already have Sgt. Peppers).
6) Shirts- perhaps some western shirts and/or flannels (a little dressier than t-shirts but still casual)
7) T-shirts
8) I wouldn't mind another pair of cowboy boots
9) xbox live... unfortunately they just raised the price to from $49 to $60 a year :(
10) A guitar slide (I have a brass one... I'm not a fan. I would like to try a plastic one or something softer than brass.)
11) a cigar stomp box would be kinda fun (~$15 bucks)
12) I wouldn't mind to expand my nimble xbox game collection.
13) Guitar gear, the only thing I "really" need is a compressor pedal (I have my eye on the Electro harmonix soul preacher, $100 dollars new, ~$60 on ebay). It kind of stinks to have to pay that much for a pedal that doesn't really do anything drastic... but they do make you sound pretty nice. I would like to someday own the Devi Legend of Fuzz pedal, Guitarfetish Greenie distortion, Buddy Guy Wah pedal. Guitar fetish has those cheaper tuner pedals (~$30), it would be nice to have one for the bass now that Mike is home from his mission.
14) Gym bag... I could REALLY use a gym bag
15) Biker Jerseys, and/or shorts

Christmas

2010-11-25T12:26:00.000-08:00

I always have a hard time remembering what I want for Christmas. What's funny is that throughout the year I'll have plenty of candidates come to mind, but I always seem to forget once it comes to be this time of year.

This year I would really like a gym bag. I am looking to go out for the cycling team, if I had a gym bag I could change and shower at school and save a lot of time travelling back and forth. I could also use a bike jersey or another pair of shorts.

I could use some clothes, tshirts and maybe some nicer shirts. I've been wearing my running shoes around most of the time and I wouldn't mind a comfortable pair of non-running shoes to wear, maybe some skate shoes or sneakers.

There's always guitar equipment to be had. A compressor pedal would complete my pedal board, I really like the Electro Harmonix Soul Preacher compressor pedal. Other pedals that I would like someday are the Devi Ever: Legend of Fuzz pedal, and perhaps the guitarfetish greenie distortion.

I'll update the list as the days go on.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

break

2010-11-19T11:32:00.000-08:00

Well I am in the library taking a break from my physics homework. The semester has kind of entered into that final crunch that happens... only a few weeks left. It went by quick, but I think I have done exceptionally well. At least I hope so... at least well enough to get into my major.

I was able to convince the school to take my two years of a foriegn language from junior high, so that is a relief. I was able to hand them a sealed and signed copy of my transcript so that they could check it off and ironically the transcript didn't have my name anywhere on it... just my student ID... so they couldn't use it. Just my luck. They did however waive the hold on my account until next semester so I'll be able to worry about it later.

Next semester will probably be my craziest semester of my college career. Because certain classes are only taught in the spring, and in order to progress in the major at a reasonable time, my counselor has me down for taking well over 20 credits next semester. I have whittled it down to 18-20 credits. My schedule is Physics II for engineering, Organic Chemistry II, Biomedical Biosignals and Analysis, and Computational methods. I have decided to forego the labs and another engineering course for another semester. Honestly I feel like I can do it, bring it on. I am more stressed about trying to get into my major.

This semester I am in a foundations of Business class. I have enjoyed it immensely. My professor has been one of my favorite professors thus far, and doing a little research on him I have found out that he is very well esteemed and a highly liked Professors at the University, and I can see why. The class counts as a Humanities credit along with a Behavioral Science credit, and is a business class, but it plays out more like a philosophy class with a "get it done" and be-all-you-can-be type of mentality. I have really enjoyed having the opportunity to read philosophical texts from the likes of Thoreau, Emerson, Veblen, and Gailbraith.

He stated in class the other day that he will be teaching a class next semester on the fundamentals of power, and he will be using one of my favorite reads "The 48 Laws of Power" by Robert Greene as the textbook.
I was very intrigued because I have enjoyed his class already enough as it is, and I can only imagine how awesome this class in the spring will be based off of the book and his teaching style. I asked him about it and it turns out it is an easy A solely graded on attendance... and it fits perfectly in with my schedule... AND it fulfills one of my needed Gen Ed. credits... excellent!!!

Physics II will be my most difficult class I imagine, Organic Chemistry is always a difficult subject but I enjoy it, and Computational methods is an engineering based computer programming type of class. It'll be difficult but its not like they teach it like it is a weed out type of class. I'm not sure what Biosignals really entails.

They shouldn't be too hard.... I have the 5000 level engineering courses to look forward to for being hard.

Thief

2010-11-18T09:24:00.000-08:00

Yesterday somebody smashed out my next door neighbors window (which is about 10 feet from my window because we're in a condo complex), and proceeded to steal all of their laptops, tvs, xbox, cameras, ipods, etc.

On the way out he smashed several car windows in the parking lot and stole several more things.

Luckily, the upstairs neighbors called the Police when they heard the window break and the Police caught him walking about a block a way. He had over $10,000 dollars worth of stolen stuff with him!

Its scary knowing this guy probably definitely scoped out our condo before choosing our neighbors. I don't know what made him choose theirs over ours (both of our windows are on the ground level and tucked back behind from view of the public.) Also, my friend had his $1000 mountain bike stolen a couple weeks back from our complex so I wonder if he was the same culprit.

All I can say is that they are extremely lucky they got all of their stuff back! They hadn't had any of their serial numbers written down so they would have lost all of it for sure even if the cops did eventually catch the culprit.

tattoo

2010-11-14T11:30:00.000-08:00

I really like old school traditional tattoos, this one is pretty scandalous but it caught my eye. I really like the roses and especially how they incorporated the white within the roses.

The only part I am not sure about is the wheel in the bottom... I'm not sure what the symbol-logy would be for that, but I'm also not sure what I would change it to either if I had a choice.

If I had a job and a more stable budget I would probably find myself with another tattoo... I would really like to get Grandpa Pigeons old swallow navy tattoo with "Merline" in the banner, maybe add some roses and a little more old school tattoo themes. I feel really sad I was unable to attend his funeral or have a chance to say goodbye to him, I still haven't really grieved even though I have tried, and I feel like a little needle pain would be beneficial.

bwah

2010-10-31T16:42:00.000-07:00

I've been pretty stressed the past few weeks. Here is a quick outline of my stresses.

Retaking some classes in attempt to receive the almighty "major status"

and I'm not doing that MUCH better than the first time I took the class.
being a junior and a pseudo-sophomore provides for some interesting situations.
I've got the same grades as a couple of friends in the major... they just gave them major status because their ACT scores were near flawless. And in one case they wanted more girls for the major. Just let me into the major dangit!

Feeling like I'll be in school forever...

Wondering how the heck I'm going to take 20 credits of engineering, chemistry, and physics courses next semester like my advisor has advised me to do, and yet I'll still graduate late.
Trying to figure out how to fit 2 foreign language courses into my already full schedule before the U gets mad at me....because I chose to fill my high school classes with AP classes and not intro to Spanish classes. (I took two full years of a foreign language in junior high but that doesn't seem to matter...).

Failure to find and acquire a lab position.
Failure to have a job/running low on savings

Having to mooch off of parents and friends to fill up the gas tank really stinks
Eating Raman everyday wreaks havoc on my digestive track

Relationship issues

Girls are annoying.
and stupid.

Realizing I do better while in a relationship.

breaking up and getting back together makes a mockery of my "manhood" and I don't want to do it. But part of me does.

Got Medical school on my mind.

I need to find extracurricular activities and leadership positions

I want to join the U's Cycling team... but I'm nowhere near conditioned enough

I have a hard time waking up earlier to bike an hour a day
It's cold outside...

Need to break down and find some volunteer opportunities.

Music

I've been in the worst writers block ever.
Making music holds a lot of weight to my self esteem
My bassist finally got home from his mission, and my drummer doesn't want to drum anymore!

what the heck!!!

After finally acquiring nice gear and guitars... other aspects of my gear are deteriorating and dying.
I don't have the time for any of it anyways.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said a man has worth only when he produces more for society than he receives. I feel like I'm just a mooch. Something like finding volunteer opportunities isn't even that hard, but when you're also trying to find a job and worry about all the other stuff it just continues to slip my mind.

I need to just man up and get her done.

I have had a few moments of "light" and cheer the past few weeks though. I got a 92 out of a 100 on my last organic chemistry exam... Maybe I'm not doing as bad as I thought. Who knows.

Tattoo

2010-10-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

I have a tattoo on my upper left shoulder. I got it when I was 18 years old. It didn't really hurt that bad, and took about an hour to needle in. The best I can explain the feeling of getting one is like having someone rub and dig into a pretty bad sunburn. Actually, it just feels like a vibrating needle jabbing your skin... if you can imagine that.

I didn't give my tattoo a lot of thought. In fact my Dad chose the tattoo and the place it was going to be tattoo'd out for me. He informed me he was going to do something like it, and asked if I wanted to come along. It seemed like my Dad and I were in conflict with each other for a good part of my teenage years, in a lot of ways getting a tattoo together was kind of our burying the hatchet moment. Things have been great since then. It was a positive father-son moment, and the fact that I have a permanent reminder of that memory is just a bonus.

I hear a lot of people say they would never get a tattoo because they are permanent and they would either regret it or think it was "less cool" later on life. I haven't experienced either of those thoughts. I think everyone fantasizes with the idea of getting of tattoos, but its easy to fall back on the same old excuses to getting one.

As you can imagine, some people reacted negatively towards me getting a tattoo... but all is well. My sisters started talking to me again after a few weeks and my Mom still loves my Dad. I'm sure some of the people from high school who were sure I was a heathen (even before I was one) see pictures on facebook and stand confirmed in their judgments, and I have to wonder if perhaps it was the reason the Mission President in Iowa refused to shake my hand when I went up to greet him.

But I love my tattoo, it is a part of me and will always be a part of me. You can't take IT or the memories away from me. Sharks are such graceful beautiful animals, seeing them in real life just makes you feel so small and meaningless in the grand cosmos of time. They are the perfect representation of strength and efficiency.

"Strength, Perserverence, Endurance" My Dad will key in to tell me what it represents.

and I am glad to share something permanent with such an honest and person of integrity.

Boyd K

2010-10-06T21:45:00.000-07:00

There's a lot of tumultuous talk revolved around Boyd K's general conference talk going around on Facebook and the school place.

I kind of feel impartial.

However, I am bothered somewhat, and this is why I'm bothered.

Boyd K. stated that people are not born gay, and that it is a choice to be gay... and in conflict with the church.. and I suppose one could imply subsequently in conflict with God.

What bothers me is people will take this as doctrine. People will take this with their blinders on and say that the holy word has been spoken, and that's how it is.

So when good ol' Boyd said those words, were they the words of God? or the words of Boyd? ...I think they were the words of Boyd.

Yet... the word has been spoken. Carefully executed to stick in the minds of thousands of people after the prop 8 spectacle...even though other apostles have said exactly opposite of what Boyd said.

So here we go... and now I have to watch embarrassingly as I see dozens of people eager to not hide their "candle under a bushel" blindly side with Boyd's heavy words.

I just have a feeling that the church will steer further and further away from the words of Boyd twenty years down the road... much like they have with Bruce R. McConkie and his more controversial words.

Thoughts?

guitar rig.

2010-10-03T10:45:00.000-07:00

I think a funny aspect that all guitarists and musicians face is the seemingly ever constant battle with gear... or the apparent lack of gear in a lot of cases I guess. It's the perfect Man vs. Machine scenario... trying to overcome the physical material world in order to bring in a piece of the transcendental.

I was looking back through some pictures of my high school band Concubine and was taken back by memories of plugging my guitar directly through a PA system because I lacked an amp, something coming un-soldered in your one and only guitar or having a string break, duck taping the speaker of a keyboard amp because plugging a bass into it was just too much for it to handle, having your ONE and only cable die out on you mid show and being rendered incapable to play any longer, or having a 9V battery die in one of your effects pedal and not being able to afford another for a few weeks.

Now I have a nice tube amp, more guitars than I can ever play, a pretty nice bass amp, a pedal board that powers my pedals from an everyday outlet, a big box of guitar strings, and a pile of backup cables waiting for me. I am ready for almost any disaster that can arise.

Yet... the battle still continues. My amp has a mysterious hum sound... this input jack doesn't work...this guitar needs some re-soldering... I should upgrade the pots in my amp...my $200 deluxe wah pedal is not working... my distortion pedal could be upgraded... I need more velcro to fasten my effects pedals to my board... something seems to be wickering out my overall tone... I don't know how I like my tone knobs set on my amp... the amp is too loud... the amp is not loud enough... I wonder if a compressor pedal would be a good addition to my effects board?... which compressor pedal would I even want?... why do I have to spend 100 dollars on a compressor pedal?....today I am really good at guitar.... man I really suck guitar why do I even play?.... I should re-tolex my amp... I should wire LED's into my amp... I am missing a screw... I am missing a nut and bolt...

and thus it goes. The ever constant battle with gear.

Automated Voice Machines

2010-09-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

Over the past few months I've had to deal with several automated machines. More so than the usual amount it seems. I'm pretty sure there is no better way to waste your time than with dealing with automated voice machines. A two minute problem generally equates to approximately 15 minutes as you proceed to fumble through the various options and buttons only to be put on hold for even more time....time of your life that you will NEVER get back. You may even be so unlucky to finally get through to an operator only to find out that THAT operator cannot solve your problem.... only to be placed on hold once again.

and thus the cycle continues.

Luckily I have discovered a method to drastically shorten your time dealing with these inconvenient pieces of technology. Here is a typical example of how my dealings with automated machines used to go, a long slur of crap when all you really want to do is talk to an actual human being.

Voice Machine: For english press 1.

Me: One.
Voice Machine: Para espanol.. press 2.
Me: ONE!
Voice Machine: Please hold
Me: ..... .......
Voice Machine: for billing press 1, for customer service press 2.
Me: 2
Voice Machine: Please hold
Me: ...... ..... .... ..... ....
Voice Machine: Please enter your ID number
Me: ***** ***** *****80192092...3..4..3...2.394....1193....888840
Voice Machine: you inputed *..*...*...*...*... .*...*...*...*...*.......*...*....*....*....*...8...0....1...9...2...0...9....2......3..4..3...2.394....1193....88.8..8...4...0.
Is this correct?
Me: YES
Voice Machine: For this press 1, for that press 2
Me: ONE!
Voice Machine: Please hold...

.... and on and on and on.

Let me show you how I now deal with situations involving automated voice machines.

Voice Machine: For english press 1.
Me: "@!@##@!!@#!!@#@!***** string of swear words*****!!@##@!!@#"
Voice Machine: Please hold while I connect you to an operator.

It is a convenient and effective method because even if you aren't the type of person that would normally do that, you can cower behind the safe confines of your phone.

So there it is, my fast and effective method to getting what you want. Don't give away my secret to too many people though... I don't want it to stop working.

Thank You Very Much

2010-09-22T23:40:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how flattering a "blog" thanks would be, but I would like to extend my gratitude towards the Sheffield family anyways for all they have done for me over the summer of 2010. I'm planning on sending plenty of thank you cards in the near future but I would just like to vocalize my thanks at this moment in time. I really enjoyed my time in Iowa. I feel like my departure was a little sudden and I did not get the chance to say my goodbyes properly.

Thank you for being such hospitable hosts, thank you for the housing and all of the meals that you guys gave me, thank you for making me feel at home when I was so far away, and thank you for all of the great discussions and conversations.

THANK YOU Val for giving me the chance to gain some lab experience in your awesome lab, for going out of your way to give up your time, funds, and space to a lowly inexperienced undergrad so that I could have a such a great learning experience, and for the exposure to your research. I can't thank you enough for the experience you have given me. I really wish I could continue working for you throughout the school year. I'd like to thank you for the free medical advice for my throat (turns out I have Acid Reflux disease too btw)...the pizza Tuesdays, and for that killer deal on my Trek Madonne!

Thank you Grandma Jane for giving me a nice warm bed... and a tv! I really enjoyed our discussions (even our slightly heated ones haha), and you gave me a lot of wise insights that I took into my life. Thank you for sharing your healthy meals (I lost 24 pounds over the summer!) and thank you very much for your hospitality and concern.

Thank you Kristen for keeping an eye out for me and inviting me to family functions! I really felt like a part of the family. Thank you for all of the great discussions and wisdom as well. Sorry I never really opened up about the church, I could tell you really wanted to know (in due time I suppose), and sorry about the little landscaping debacle at the end.

Thank you Erin, I love you so much. I miss you and I treasured the time I was able to spend with you. Thank you for pulling the strings and getting my wisdom teeth out, and thank you for being a great example and friend to me. Our conversations and hangouts were my favorite parts of summer. I feel like your paragraph should be longer, but I don't know what else to say haha.

Thank you Abe for being a good brother and mentor, thank you for giving me advice on school and being my biking buddy. Thank you for helping with my desire to learn and be exposed to the medical track and academia. Thanks for being such a good activities planner and keeping that list of things to do constantly coming. Our road trips probably would have never happened if you weren't there planning them. Also, I would like to thank you for the letters you write to me on occasion.

Thank you Dr. Mercuende for giving me the opportunity to shadow you. You gave me some great insights and exposure into the world of orthopedics. You didn't treat me like I was just a young stupid undergrad...you treated me as if I was a resident on your staff and divulged and explained everything to me. I learned a lot of medical and anatomical things that I otherwise wouldn't have learned and I really appreciate that.

Also, thank you to Isaac and Aaron, and send my greetings to the girls.

Bullog

2010-09-22T09:15:00.000-07:00

I read a study a few weeks ago that related our new found obsession with electronic social networking ties and the apparent loss of focus and memory amongst our generation. It stated that just the mere desire of "wanting" to check your facebook or something such as your phone for a text message can occupy up to 60% of your cognitive processing ability of your brain... crippling your ability for deep meaningful thought and possibly even brain development.

I found the article interesting as over the summer I felt like I was constantly attached to my phone or computer staying in touch with friends or family while I was several states away. I have actually felt like I have a harder time putting my thoughts together or even words in the past year or so than I did say... when I was a new high school graduate. I actually feel like my brain has de-generated in some ways haha. Perhaps the dulling drone of texting and facebook checking has limited my brain from "connecting the wires" and having any meaningful growth.

Funny because in another article, I read that people who check there facebook often are 10% more productive (its funny how for every study or article posted there's always another study that says the complete opposite). I guess I would suppose this is because checking their facebook will give them that "temporary" relief to wanting to check it, thus purging their brain of that 60% distraction.

If you don't use it you'll lose it. The article speculated and pondered what consequences this will have when we are all older and we reach an elderly age... if you don't keep your brain sharp it'll degenerate.

So, I have tried to make an effort to cut down my meaningless facebook time, and less than meaningful text conversations. Instead of droning my brain to something dull perhaps I'll read a book instead and stimulate it. I have also thought that perhaps I need to put my thoughts into words more often as well... I don't get to write a lot of papers in my major... but perhaps I can blog more or write in a journal.

The article mentioned that going on hikes, and spending time in nature actually had a small noticeable effect in the opposite direction. Maybe a complete separation from the world of technology grounds us.

St Louis!

2010-07-21T19:08:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Abe, Isaac, and I went to St. Louis to catch the Cardinals/Dodger game. I really enjoyed seeing a new city and venturing out. St. Louis is awesome! I really had a blast and loved every minute of it despite the intense heat. It was the hottest I have ever been just sitting down somewhere and I had to cave in and buy a $6.50 cent lemonade before I had a heat stroke. I'm pretty sure between the humidity and the sweat every inch of my body was covered in moisture.

One of my goals of the trip was to enjoy a delicious ball park hot dog. We found one for sure... one that was wrapped in bacon, baked beans, and covered with carmelized onion rings. I'm still craving it... it was one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten.

The trip made me miss baseball alot. Busch field was awesome, and it was a great game. It would be fun to try and make my way through the famous ballparks in the future. Sorry my pictures are unorganized and sloppy.. i'll have to have somebody show me how to make my blog all fancy.

Mormon Funeral Vent

2010-04-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

A few months ago my friend passed away after a long 8 year battle with Leukemia. I attended his funeral with my friends.

I've been thinking about it a lot... and if I ever pass away before my time let it be known that I DON'T want to have a mormon funeral. I won't be dying anytime soon, but just let it be known.

I hated how the talks were given "sacrament meeting" style by people who barely knew Thomas. I hated how the newly appointed bishop took a large portion of time to comfort the crowd more than reflect on Thomas's amazing life. I ESPECIALLY hated how some random general authority who had absolutely no connection to Tom's family or ward came to give more of the same that the bishop and the youth speaker had to offer, and I disliked how the service was performed in the same place that people play baseketball in on the weekends.

However, I DID like how his family gave some remarks and reflections. I did like how his brother read the final letters from his friends who were on their missions. I enjoyed the musical numbers performed by family and friends.

If you ever have to plan a funeral, have it at a respectable place where friends and family can reflect positively on my life. I don't want anyone who isn't my family/friend to have any say in how the funeral will be arranged. Bishop's aren't my friends, they are more of "co-workers", and I don't even want them to "approve" the musical numbers. I don't even want any talk of comforting while the service is in place. Let everyone do that in their own free time, and if you think that's what funerals are for than don't even come because you are being a selfish little bastard... I won't be worrying about anything while I'm in the casket so neither should you haha.

Oh and speaking of my casket, I'd like a profile of my face done and the top of my casket to look something like this... just a little more relaxed.

And if you guys don't have a good time then I am going to roll over in my grave and haunt you.

Oh, and bury me with my guitar.

phew... haha.

How do you keep an Elephant tied down?

2009-12-30T10:08:00.000-08:00

How do you keep an elephant tied down?

When the elephant is a baby, you tie him to a stick in the ground and he will not be strong enough to pull away. After awhile, the elephant doesn't try anymore because he knows he is stuck. By the time the elephant is an adult, he just believes that the stick holds him in place- even though at this time, even though the elephant is more than capable of breaking away.

PETA rages war gainst the U

2009-11-17T11:05:00.000-08:00

An undercover PETA agent got a job in the bioengineering labs at the U and posted an article on the PETA website last week on how the U treats animals unethically.

Anyways, there have been PETA protesters holding signs at the U for the past couple days. There are signs that say stuff like "The U tortures animals!" people yelling "Dr. such and such drills holes in the skulls of homeless animals!" from their PETA soapboxes and blown up pictures of animals with the neural implants all over the place. Its kind of crazy.

I agree that animals should be treated with respect, but I also doubt that any of the protesters have actually been inside the labs. I haven't been inside them myself so really I have no idea if the lines of that which is considered ethical has been crossed, but I do know a little about the research from a few of my classes.

The neural implants (the "electrode array") researched at the U are part of a joint effort with MIT. The electrode acts as an interface between neurons and electrical components and has actually allowed amputees to control a robotic arm with their brain power for a short period of time (the brain eventually scars over the chip rendering it useless after a few weeks). Its funded by the Department of Defense and the technology is intended for use by disabled veterans or any amputee for that matter.

Today while I was at the bus stop I watched as protesters would approach students with questions. "DiD you KnOw that the U tOrtUres animals?!" (thats what they really sound like haha its kind of funny), but i just had to sit there and ponder what I would say if I was approached by one of these rampant college students. I doubt they would actually ever approach me because the weak only prey on the weak, but I figured the first thing I'd ask them is if they've actually seen or been in the labs. In my head the protester would than proceed to preach the principles of faith..... but thats just kind of how my sense of humor works. The second thing I would ask is if they actually knew what was implanted in the animals skulls and what they were for. Thirdly, I would go on to ask who they thought was paying for it all, and finally I would top it all off by "admiring" their bravery for "indirectly" taking on the military industrial complex. It's a shame none of the naked PETA protesters came out to protest.

2009-11-06T14:54:00.001-08:00

Always set to work without misgivings on the score of imprudence. Fear of failure in the mind of a performer is, for an onlooker, already evidence of failure.... Actions are dangerous when there is doubt as to their wisdom; it would be safer to do nothing.

Baltasar Gracian: 1601-1658

2009-11-01T20:48:00.000-08:00

"One should not be too straightforward. Go and see the forest... the straight trees are cut down, the crooked ones are left standing."

Kautilya, Indian Philosopher, 3rd Century B.C.

Kenny's Photo

2009-10-21T22:38:00.000-07:00

I ordered some prints of pictures to send out to one of my friends who is on a mission a little while ago and was really impressed with the service and quality of a local place I did it through, so like a good blogger I thought I would share, and I guess I will urge you all that we should try and support the local small businesses that are good at what they do in these tough times (they are the ones hurtin right now after all).

Photography has made the transition to the digital world, which is pretty awesome, but in some ways it is kind of inconvenient. Rarely do I ever find myself looking through my vast collections of photo albums on my computer, and half the time I even forget they are there. That's not even mentioning the chance of getting a computer virus and losing them altogether.

Making the transition from digital to physical prints has always seemed like a tricky process to me. It seems as though all the new printers have these "nifty photo print/camera ports" on them, but the ink is expensive and inpractical, and even with the nice photo paper.... they just never seem up to par.

Kenny's Photos on center street in Orem offers very high quality prints at very convenient prices. They have even set up a way to upload your pictures straight from your computer onto their website http://kennysphoto.com/. You aren't just limited to the standard size either, they have several options (anywhere from 3x5 to 30x40). Log on to their website, upload any amount of photos you desire, choose your desired options and presto chango (and an hour later).... your pictures are ready to be picked up (or if your non-local they can ship it to any address).

The website and the options were extremely clear and easy to navigate through, the pictures were very high quality, and the staff is very friendly and helpful. Kenny's Photo is the shiz. They even make custom calenders for only 19 dollars (scuba calender anyone?). Anyways, if anyone would like to have physical copies of any of their digital photos, Kenny's Photo is a great way to do it, and its not too hard on the wallet as well.

The Crow and the Sheep

2009-10-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

A TROUBLESOME CROW seated herself on the back of a Sheep.

The Sheep, much against his will, carried her backward and forward for a long time, and at last said, "If you had treated a dog in this way, you would have had your deserts from his sharp teeth."

To this the Crow replied, "I despise the weak and yield to the strong. I know whom I may bully and whom I must flatter; and I thus prolong my life to a good old age."

Aesop,

6th century B.C.

THE TWO HORSES

2009-10-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

Two horses were carrying two loads. The front Horse went well, but the rear Horse was lazy. The men began to pile the rear Horse's load on the front Horse.

When they had transferred it all, the rear Horse found it easy going, and he said to the front Horse: "Toil and sweat! The more you try, the more you have to suffer."

When they reached the tavern, the owner said; "Why should I fodder two horses when I carry all on one? I had better give the one all the food and cut the throat of the other; at least I shall have the hide." And so he did.

FABLES,
Leo Tolstoy,
1828-1910

The Snake, The Farmer, and the Heron.

2009-09-27T18:56:00.000-07:00

A snake chased by hunters asked a farmer to save its life. To hide it from its pursuers, the farmer squatted and let the snake crawl into his belly. But when the danger had passed and the farmer asked the snake to come out, the snake refused. It was warm and safe inside.

On his way home, the man saw a heron and went up to him and whispered what had happened. The heron told him to squat and strain to eject the snake. When the snake stuck its head out, the heron caught it, pulled it out, and killed it. The farmer was worried that the snake poison might still be inside him. The heron told him that the cure for snake poison was to cook and eat six white fowl. "You’re a white fowl", said the farmer. "You'll do for a start." He grabbed the heron, put it in a bag, and carried it home where he hung it up while he told his wife what had happened.

"I'm surprised at you", said the wife. "The bird does you a kindness, rids you of the evil in your belly, saves your life in fact, yet you catch it and talk of killing it." She immediately released the heron and it flew away. But on its way, it gouged out her eyes. Moral: When you see water flowing uphill, it means that someone is repaying a kindness.

-AFRICAN FOLKTALE

update sept. 5

2009-09-05T19:20:00.000-07:00

Well I am now two weeks into my third semester of college. I'm taking physics for engineering, Calculus 3, Organic Chemistry+ O Chem Lab, and a required engineering course.

Physics has been the most demanding class so far... its kinda hard hahaha. O Chem is a little challenging. My biggest complaint is the professor is pretty new and has decided he wants to incorporate all this new "technology" in his classes... things like making us buy 80 dollar "clicker" radio transmitter things so we can answer polls and quizes electronically in class... thats not too bad my biggest complaint is instead of writing on the chalk board he writes on one of those electronic midi pads in a microsoft paint type program. He writes out whole sentences on this thing and it just seems like it takes forever haha. He also has to switch inputs several times a class and its just really slow paced.

Calculus 3 has been probably the craziest class thusfar. My prof. is a woman from Poland.... Its kind of funny how none of the math professors at the U speak english. The class feels very overwhelming when I'm actually there haha, she speaks very softly into the board she's writing on... AND stands in front of what she writes as well. Its pretty crazy and I don't really understand anything when I'm in the class but when I go home and look at my notes I can get a general sense of whats goin on.

I've applied for several jobs... a couple on campus jobs, a blood lab, and alot of restaraunts. No luck thus far but I imagine something will open up. I signed up for a program to donate plasma at the U, I can cover my rent that way haha. I'm gonna keep applyin and I'm also keepin my eyes open in hopes an internship or lab position will open up.

I kinda had this mohawk thing goin on from the summer haha but I realized that every other guy at the U did the exact same thing. By now its kind of become this mullet looking thing, which is funny to see.... the mullet is IN.

I started shaving mine off the other day but my clippers died haha so i kinda had this buzzed top look with mullet back (wooo yeah), I stopped in at this little old school type barber shop by the U and had Kent the barber trim it up. I kind of like the old barber type setting and had a nice conversation with Kent haha so I will probably be going back to the same place for my haircuts in the future.

With the success of our football team last year, all of our tickets immediately dried up, and I wasn't able to get tickets this year. I'm pretty bummed about it, especially as I watched the hundreds of people park in front of my apartment complex and walk up to the stadium the other day. I'm hoping I'll be able to pick up a few tickets and go to at least a couple games this year.

Back to work and school (kind of)

2009-05-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

Well I am back to work for the summer landscaping. I started last thursday, and have yet to not work less than 12-13 hours a day. Its been pretty tough. I guess we as a company plant over 96,000 flowers every year just in the month of May.

I've also started up my online Calculus 3 class... I hope it won't kick me in the butt haha. The whole idea of taking a math class online is kind of a sketchy thing to me but I think I'll do fine on it.

I'm also hoping to be ordering some parts pretty soon for my guitar build this summer. I have decided to build a "modern" style telecaster. It'll be fun, I'm thinking a creamy white color with black pickguard, vintage tinted maple neck, and all black hardware (i'll be doing black locking tuners on the headstock). I've also been lookin at doing some cool stuff electronically such as adding a distortion preamp or effects within the guitar.

Vintage Fender Paintjobs explained...

2009-04-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

I found this webpage and found it to be really interesting as a guitar enthusiast and also as one who is interested in relic'in guitars.. The writer is a professional fender refurbisher and he has found out the number of the vintage fender colors and where they came from (what car brand incorporated them). He also explains the process (pre-work approach etc.), woods, and undercoats that fender would use that authenticators use to confirm authenticy of vintage guitars.

I think its interesting that fender would use the same colors that were available on cars of the day. (i.e. "Sea Foam green" was a color used on 1956 Buicks, and the infamous "fiesta red" was a color exlusively used on 1956 T-birds, which the owner of fender drove and decided to incorporate on his guitars).

I also found it interesting how he talks about certain guitars having a reject "sunburst" paintjob beneath the solid color, or the use of a white primer (or lack of) depending on how rushed the paintshop was.

I would like to build a frankenstein (part by part) telecaster this summer but haven't decided if I wanted to make a modern "graffiti"-like guitar (I want to put a collages of comic book/vintage posters over the body and put a clear coat over it) or try and reproduce a classic telecaster (probably in one of the vintage looking "surf" colors. I'm thinking a sea foam green or blue.)

Heres the link to that page: http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fenderc.html

Rock!

2009-04-23T15:03:00.000-07:00

As you all know, I enjoy playing music alot. The other day my mom convinced me to sign my band up for the Big Ass Show which is like a music festival type thing they do every summer. This year they are taking applications from local bands. Judges will narrow it down to 20 groups on monday, and then after radio play and voting, 7 bands will be chosen to play on the main stage with big well-known bands.

Today one of the DJ's from x96 who decides who makes the 20 bands contacted me to ask if I had any live footage of my band. I would think that could be taken as a good sign... but its too bad I don't have any video footage haha. Austin's girlfriend Summer said she may have some video footage on her computer but will have to wait untill tonight to check.

So I've been thinking all of you guys should get more involved with my friend's music. A bunch of my friend's parents and families know alot of my songs and are way into my tunes haha.

Here are their myspaces:
http://myspace.com/victoriautah
http://myspace.com/seaofsoundmusic

Here's my page just for kicks:
http://myspace.com/preacherutah

Got an A on my engineering semester research project!

2009-04-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

Today I gave my 15 minute presentation on my semester long research project and got an A! I am pretty excited about it as the professor is very unforgiving and doesn't give out very many A's. Out of the other 5 groups who had given their presentations so far, he basically spent all of the time tearing them apart afterwards. With ours, he was thouroughly interested in our topic and had alot of good questions.

It was an interesting feeling giving a scientific-like presentation to 100 people in a room, alot different then say...playing music, but once I got into it all nervousness went away and I was able to present our ideas clearly.

My group's topic was "Using Car Headlights in Leiu of Laser Light in Surgery" and was about using concentrated light from xenon arc lamps (lightbulbs used in car headlights, HD televisions, projecters etc.) as an alternative to conventional surgical lasers.

To do this they had to figure out a way to concentrate the light to the same intensities as a conventional laser. Two Israeli scientists were able to do this with the use of a parabolic (bowl shaped) mirror that reflects the light to a smaller mirror that then reflects the light down a fiberoptic cable. The technology was originally developed with using concentrated sunlight instead of xenon arc lamps but with certain advances in arc lamp technology, using artificial light was then able to be used. (you can imagine how inconveniant it would be for surgeons to have to cater to the weather).

I would go further into how this works... but I am pretty tired of talking about this subject and never want to talk about it again haha.

whooo

2009-03-24T22:05:00.000-07:00

D. C. Jackson:

Born May 3, 1990

Sun: Taurus

Moon: Virgo

Mercury: Taurus

Venus: Pisces

Mars: Pisces

Jupiter: Cancer

Saturn: Capricorn

Uranus: Capricorn

Pluto: Scorpio

N. Node: Aquarius

S. Node: Leo

Chiron: Cancer

Trying to Rock St. Georgeo

2009-02-20T08:02:00.000-08:00

Right now were in the process of trying to book a St. George show during spring break. It would be really cool to play a show outside of Utah County to people who have never been exposed to us before. I hope it goes through, they already have several bands lined up for that weekend (someone will usually always drop out **cross your fingers**).

I've stopped recording for awhile. I've been too liberal in spending my money and recording has costed more then I had initially expected. Matt's going to be turning in his papers for his mission soon. I don't really know whats going to happen then. There are plenty of replacements as drummers but Matt has such a unique pulse that has been a crucial part of our sound.

I've been trying to figure out my summer plans. I need to get through Calc 3 and differential equations before I can apply for major status. The normal time to apply is after fall semester of your second year, so if I wanted to apply then I'll have to take Calc 3 during the summer and diff. Equations during the fall. I'm thinking I may work during the summer and take Calc 3 at UVU. I'll have to look into it more. I also need to start looking for a summer job.

School is crazy this semester. I've put much more effort in my studies and I'm still doing average on my test scores. It's quite frustrating.

Everyone should go to http://www.myspace.com/victoriautah and check out my buddy Austin's band. Especially listen to the song "Christmas". Austin had all of his musical buddies record guest solos. Mine is the first one, (there are still a few mixing issues that need to be fixed but I think its pretty rocking). Aaron Southerland is the 2nd solo, Austin's is third, and Skyler solos during the last chorus.

You can check out my space as well, http://myspace.com/preacherutah

Live recordings

2009-02-11T07:56:00.000-08:00

My band played a show at the Velour in Provo in december. Upon showing up they offered that they could record the tracks off the soundboard for a very conveniant price, we would just have to mix them down afterwards.

We thought it would be a really cool idea to record it as it may have been our last show (skyler was leaving on a mish but was eventually sent home due to medical stuff haha), and we could dedicate the show to Mike Garlick and send it to him while he is on his mission.

Haha well it must have jinxed us because it was probably the worst show we've ever played... and its all down on tape. We did have one really good song though. We decided we would suprise and honor our friends from the band Mirrim by doing a "Preacher" rendition of one of their rockin songs... unfortunately the recording cut out for a whole verse.

Well I posted some of the recordings on the myspace so you could check them out if you'd like. Http://myspace.com/preacherutah

Victoria

2009-02-03T20:00:00.001-08:00

Possibly my favorite local band... perhaps I am biased. They've been recording an EP and are in the final stages of mixing. www.myspace.com/victoriautah. Everybody check them out and buy their EP when it comes out lol. I had a guest solo on it.

haze

2009-01-23T17:57:00.000-08:00

Man the inversion is really bad here in Salt Lake! Its been making me somewhat sick and groggy. Today I looked out the window and couldn't see 10 feet in front of me. There was like a hybrid fog/haze mixture that had engulfed the whole valley.

My friend Austin and his band "Victoria" are releasing an EP within the next month. I am really excited to hear it. Out of all of my friends that are musicians Austin has the best chance to make it a career. He's the best guitarist AND musician/songwriter I know (I am amazed at the songwriting capacity of this kid (they're not just decent songs too they are way rockin!). He's got to have 50-60 songs to his name... I have like 30). If anything he could be a studio guitarist.

Well I had the honor to record a guest solo on one of their songs. I made my way to the house I was given the address to where they were recording... knocked and was graciously led to the basement.

I was expecting to find a scrappy ghetto recording set up that everyone records on haha, but the basement was full of probably like $80,000 dollars worth of recording gear! It was really cool to record in a "non-scrappy" way haha.

My solo project is doing really well (http://myspace.com/preacherutah). I have like 3 songs left to finish writing and record. They are turning out well (probably some of the best songs I've ever written). Unfortunately, although I have been pretty good about saving my money, recording has just costed too much and I realized that is where all my money has gone. I am going to have to stop for awhile.

Skyler came back from his mission so we're planning on playing some shows in the salt lake soon. Maybe trek down to St. George during the summer. I would like to establish a fan base at least once in my lifetime outside from people of my high school.

Well that is all I really have to say for now.

my laptop broke

2009-01-22T21:04:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone.

The other day I was on my laptop in the Union after eating lunch when I decided to make the trek back to my dorm. I put my laptop in its padded backpack and made the trek back. 10 minutes later I opened my laptop in my dorm to find its screen was broken.

Unfortunate and quite annoying :(. My only guess was that the bus ride must have been really bumpy (which it was more so than normal) but I don't know how it could happen with my padded laptop backpack in the chair next to me and in my lap.

Luckily they'll fix it and I'll have a backup untill then.

Btw I am quite impressed with Obama's decision to shut down Guantanomo bay and "officially" banning torture. I am disgusted by the pictures and reports (Murat Kurnaz's story is somewhat disturbing) from there and Abu Ghraib.

I'm hoping to see Gran Tarino tommorow.

well...enough said.

Colton is tired of the cold weather

2009-01-21T07:51:00.000-08:00

I don't really have anything to talk about, but I said I would be better at blogging more often so I guess this will just be a "free-write".

Its some exciting times I guess with the inauguration and all. The U's marching band was supposedly featured at the parade but I had to go to work before they came on which was pretty lame. I also missed just about everything else because of class haha. To be honest I am a little disapointed Obama is going to continue the Patriot Act. So much for change.

Aw well. No big deal. Our tv in my dorm room died over the break, but we finally found another one over craiglist for a decent price (plus a 2 inch upgrade). Sanity has been somewhat restored.

We have to do a semester research project in my Biochemical Engineering class, my partner and I our doing it on "the use of conventional lightbulbs instead of lasers on brain tumors." Haven't done too much research on it yet haha so I can't tell you that much about it but supposedly they've found a way to "pinpoint" or filter (filter's not really the word I'm looking for) the light to such a specific area that it has the same effect as a laser (I'm guessing its more cost efficient and a little safer). I am curious if any of you science wiz's have anything to say on the matter.

The 2nd season of Flight of the Conchords started on sunday. Exciting stuff.

I went to a popular middle eastern restaraunt on 9th east 9th south the other day. Its called Mozza, its pretty good. I had a fulaphel? something like that. It kind of reminded me of a greek gyro filled with indian food. Pretty good and decently priced.

My friends and I are going to try and get a reservation to Havasupai right after the semester. (I think there is a 2 week break between spring and summer semester.) If I want to apply for my major this fall I'll probably have to do summer semester. Applications for my major are only done in the fall, and If I miss it i'll have to wait another year and subsequently tack some extra time to my 4 year degree.

Well thats all for now.

blog blog blog

2008-12-09T20:34:00.000-08:00

As alot of you know, I eat in the cafeteria or "Heritage Center". Its actually very good food, and doesn't seem like a cafeteria.

Well within this cafeteria there is a water dispensor with a whole bunch of banners a signs around it. "Reap the benefits of Ionic Water!" "Charged water! healthy!" and who knows, a lot of stuff like that. At times there's a line of thirsty students just waiting to reap the benefits. I usually skip the line and just fill my water cup with the fountain drink things.

I don't really know what "IONIC water" entails. My roomate and I question its benefits and what exactly "ionic" water is. I imagine that it refers to it being a little more charged (having an extra proton or lack of one) to one side then the other (...even though water is already polar?).

I doubt "Ionic water" is negatively charged because H2O already has two hydrogens and one oxygen. So I imagine its an addition of a proton. Adding a proton is essentially just adding another hydrogen making H30. So is ionic water just essentially acidic water? Your stomach fluid is already acidic, I doubt that the addition of an extra hydrogen ion has any health benifits.

I'd like to here the science wizzes two cents.

thought I would post

2008-12-07T23:11:00.000-08:00

just some random thoughts.

For some reason that video link wouldn't work. Go to youtube and search "hitler BYU" and watch "Hitlers reaction to BYU's loss" or some video along that lines. I think its hilarious, whoever put it together is very good.

Also, Finals are coming up, I'm not too worried but everyone is freaking out. One kid today bought like 8 energy drinks in preperation at the little store thing at the heritage center. I'm not worried, I have plenty of time to space out my studying, and my engineering class is pretty much wrapped up now. I don't know, seeing all these people freaking out is making me wonder if I should be freaking out as well.

Also, I think hell will be alot like college.

Maybe, heaven will be like high school.

Pick your poison.

Ive been watching this guy on youtube who is quite funny. He posts like a 5-6 minute video blog everyday (mon-fri 5:00pm eastern time). He talks about the news and stuff. At first I thought it was pretty lame, but by the end of the video I was laughing my head off. I'm suprised he does it everyday... and he's also been doing it for like a year. He gets like 150,000 views for each video every day. Its crazy. Search "sxephil" if your interested in checking him out.

To be honest, Im not really looking forward to the holidays. I know the whole carol singing is like everyones highlight, but I've come to not like it. Just throwin out the truth. I also think that in someways christmas has been blown up to great proportions (kind of like our national mortgage situation lol). 50 years ago it may not have been a problem but nowadays its like buy! buy! buy! Giving and recieving presents is awesome, but sometimes it seems like its just become such a financial burden/expectation for everybody. I kind of hate how everything turns into a big marketing scheme as well.

theres my random probably illogical spiel for the next little while ( I only did it in an attempt to blog more often when there is nothing to blog about).

hahaha funniest video on youtube right now

2008-12-01T22:15:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6CROOR2QN8.

Christmas

2008-12-01T07:58:00.001-08:00

well I guess its that time of the year already.

I heard people talking about not knowing what to get anyone for Christmas so I thought I'd post some ideas for everyone of some stuff I wouldn't mind getting in case any of you out there have no idea. All in all, the gifts I enjoy most are those that I can find useful for a long period of time.

1) Some money for recording would be really nice
2) I like the new revised Burberry Brit for men
3) Someday I would like to get a cheap used fender telecaster that I can beat up and make look old.
4) maybe a 12 string acoustic
5) my own camping pad thing for sleeping on
6) maybe like a backpacking tent
7) I always like cool t-shirts
8) maybe like seasons of family guy or robot chicken
9) Roughnecks - the starship troopers chronicles - the complete campaigns DVD
10) Guitar picks (medium to heavy .73-1.0) Dunlop Ultex picks with the rhinos are my absolute favorite.

Some Good Albums

2008-11-21T08:23:00.000-08:00

Degradation Trip- Jerry Cantrell
Jerry Cantrell was the guitarist for Alice In Chains, one of the big 4 bands from Seatle during the 90's. He played a huge role in their sound, and wrote alot of their material. Jerry Cantrell and Layne Stayley their singer combined to make a very formidable music force. Unfortunately Layne overdosed on heroin. Jerry's solo stuff is widely unknown and his album Degradation Trip is in my mind probably THE most underrated album out there. Its definately the best album you've never heard.
Listen to: Bargain Basement Howard Hughes, Pig Charmer, Spiderbite, Hellbound, She Was My Girl

Lateralus- Tool
I don't really know what to say. Lateralus is a 79 minute masterpiece. Each track on the album flows together perfectly. As a musican, everything from the vocals, lyrics, time signatures, flow, energy, guitarwork, drum instrumentation, just EVERYTHING haha is just out of this world. Listening to Lateralus all the way through is an experience within itself. Everytime I do I notice something new. Whereas most albums get boring and overused with excessive listening, Lateralus just keeps getting better. I guess I could compare it to reading the Book of Mormon or something haha.
Listen to: Everything... or The Grudge, Lateralus, Schism, Parabol, Parabola, Disposition, Reflection, Triad

Jimi's Blues- Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix only had two years of fame... but within that fame he cut hundreds of recordings. He would just sit in the recording studio and jam with his band live. A small fraction of these are available to the public. "Jimi's blues" being one of those available, a compilation of blues done by Jimi. I love Jimi's take on the blues. His pulse and style is just so unique, unmatched by anyone (yes... not even stevie ray in my mind... but he was amazing too). This album is just so raw, Jimi at his simple greatness.
Listen to: Hear My Train a comin', Catfish Blues, Jelly 292, Mannish Boy

The Fragile- Nine Inch Nails
The Fragile is NIN's third studio released album. Often hailed as their best, but likewise their worst selling album. If you don't know about Nine Inch Nails, you have to realize that its a one man band, with everything written by Trent Reznor. They are the biggest contributers/pioneers to the "industrial" genre. Its amazing what he could do back then. Industrial relies alot on looped tracks of sounds/instrumentation/percussion etc. For example, lets say one wanted to have a rythym made up of shotgun blasts, drill noises, and something breaking. Trent would record all of these onto tapes, loop them into fairly complex rythyms, record guitar, synths, and vocals over the top of them... and come out with a song. All of this done before the likes of Garage band and digital recording were around. I like Trent Reznors experimentation with softer instruments in this album and the more dynamic approach he took.
Listen to: The Wretched, We're in this Together, The Day the World Went Away, Into the Void, Where is Everybody?

Superunknown- Soundgarden
Just an awesome album. Chris Cornell's amazing vocals, Kim Thayil's unique rockin' approach on guitar, Matt Cameron's (current pearljam drummer by the way) solid odd time signature drumming. Every song on this album is good, many songs you've probably heard before (black hole sun for example.) Just buy it.
Listen to: My Wave, Black Hole Sun, Fell on Black Days, Spoonman, 4th of July, The Day I tried to Live.

Zeitgeist- Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins broke up a while ago, and when a reunion was announced I was skeptical because the only original members would be Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlain. I didn't think their new album Zeitgeist would be as good as there old stuff. Well my drummer Matt came over one day and was like "Dude! check this out!" popped in the cd, and I was sold on its opening song. Its way too rocking of a cd. I love how the cd was mixed, perfect balance of guitar, drums, and the vocals pierce through them so well.
Listen to: Doomsday Clock, 7 shades of black, Tarantula, United States

Rated R- Queens of the Stone Age
This is Queens 2nd album. My bassist Mike Garlick introduced it to me. Its a fun little album. Josh Hommes structuring/producing of songs is quite unique. Its fun to listen for all of the little things, as the songs are rarely just guitar/bass/drums/vocals.
Listen to: Feel Good Hit of the Summer, Lost Art of Keeping a Secret, In the Fade, Lost My Headache.

Black Sabbath self-titled- Black Sabbath
This was Black Sabbath's debut album. It was supposedly recorded and mixed in two days. Tony Iomi the guitarist is the man. Black Sabbath was "evil" back in the late 60's... and yeah they were pretty evil I guess when you realize everybody else was singing like the beatles and hippies. Tony Iomi would downtune his lowest string from E to C# (supposedly to make it easier for him to play with his stubs he had for fingers). He lost a good portion of his fingers in a factory accident in his teenage years. The key of C# just has a certain aggressive aura about it, I've written several songs in that key that just don't have the same "ballsy" feeling when played in any other key. The drums also stand out in this album as well. Kudos to the drummer.
Listen to: Black Sabbath, The Wizard, Wicked World

Physical Graffitti- Led Zeppelin
... Just buy it.
Listen to: Boogie with Stu, Wan Ton Song, In my Time of Dying, Custard Pie, Kashmir

Ok Computer- Radiohead
Radiohead has been pretty popular for a long time. Their songs aren't really mainstream but very good nonetheless. I have most of their albums, and I think as a whole I like Ok Computer the best. I like how Radiohead uses different techniques to go about writing songs, their incorporation of drum machine type stuff along with samples is pretty sweet and listening to them makes me want to incorporate some of the same stuff in my music.
Listen to: Paranoid Android, Airbag, Lucky, Karma Police

Pinkerton- Weezer
I used to be a big Weezer fan back in my early music days. Ive kind of developed a love/hate relationship now though, they have kind of sucked lately. They used to be awesome! haha well Pinkerton was their first album, and my favorite. Very catchy melodies.
Listen to: El Scorcho, No Other One, The Good Life, Why Bother, Pink Triangle

With Oden on Our Side- Amon Amarth
I've really gotten into Viking metal haha. Its just so absurd and crazy that its fun to listen to out of novelty. Amon Amarth is a way sweet european band that sings about epic viking battles, the viking afterlife, and various other norse mythologies. Their singer has huge beard and walks around without a shirt and carries a battle ax. "SWORD IN MY HAND... AX AT MY SIDE.... VALHALL AWAITS ME...WHEN I DIE!" It provides for some good xbox playing music.
Listen to: Valhall Awaits, Asator, Loke's Treachery

Dethklok self titled- Dethklok
Dethklok is a band that was made by a bunch of studio musicians to make fun of metal... consequently they became the number one selling death metal album of alltime. They sparked the show metalocalypse after them. The show is only decent but the music is the bomb haha. If they had a serious singer they could be one of my favorite bands.
Listen to: Briefcase Full of Guts, FaceFisted, Murmaider, Bloodrocuted

Audioslave Self-titled- Audioslave
Audioslave... a combination of Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden... the ultimate superband. Their first album is my favorite. Chris Cornell shows he can still rock, Tom Morello and the rest of Rage shows they still rock. Audioslave rocks.
Listen to: Cochise, Show Me How to Live, Like a Stone, Gasoline, Shadow on the Sun

Evil Empire- Rage Against the Machine
Evil Empire was Rages second album. In alot of ways I think its the rawest. Tom Morello took more of the role of "DJ" with his guitar sounds and Zach de la Rocha makes the album sound like an 80's gangster rap album that rocks.
Listen to: Bulls of Parade, Vietnow, Revolver, Snake Charmer, Down Rodeo, Without a Face

Our Love to Admire- Interpol
My friend listened to Interpol, and their catchy drum-guitar riffs were pretty addicting. I heard they were releasing this album, and I made the jump and purchased it. I put it in my cd player and couldn't find anything I liked about it. I seriously thought it was possibly the worst album I have ever spent money on. A couple months later I put it in again... and fell in love with it.
Listen to: No I in Threesome, Rest My Chemistry, All Fired Up, Pioneer To The Falls.

Try- John Mayer Trio
John Mayer can really play when he wants to. This is a live album he cut with Peter Palladino on bass and Steve Jordan (my family and I saw Steve Jordan drum with Eric Clapton).
Listen to: Gravity, Vultures, Another Kind of Green

Raising Sand- Robert Plant and Allison Kraus
The whole world is waiting on Robert Plant to finish up his tour with Allison Kraus so Led Zeppelin can get together... but the stuff Robert and Allison are doing together is actually really good! We watched them play on some tv show, and my dad being a fan of Allison Kraus purchased the album. Its a really good album. Their guitarist plays on some freakin old guitars played through like a really small 5 watt amp or something... provides for some interesting guitar tones. I enjoy the drumming as well, just really simple. I've enjoyed Robert Plant and Allison Kraus's stuff, but part of me is like "come on Robert Plant, play a reuniting tour with Led Zeppelin you old bastard."
Listen to: Rich Woman, Gone Gone Gone, Stick With Me Baby

Sky Valley- Kyuss
Kyuss was Josh Hommes (from Queens of the Stone Age) first band. They never really got big but they are huge on the underground. Kyuss is just a good ol' rockin band. They would haul generators out into the desert and hundreds of people would show up for free shows. Sky Valley is a 9 song album in 4 tracks album.
Listen to: Space Cadet, 100 Degrees, Gardenia, Supa Scoopa

Cruel Melody-Black Light Burns
Black Light Burns is Limp Bizkits guitarists side project. There is a couple lame songs, but overall Its actually quite good! Pretty catchy, kind of a mix between Queens of the Stone age and Nine Inch Nails.
Listen to: Lie, Cruel melody, Coward, The Mark

A Crow Left of a Murder- Incubus
My favorite Incubus album. I love their guitarists style, the whole band is good overall. I've been kind of upset with them after seeing them live however though because they played a really short set.
Listen to: A Crow Left of a Murder, Agoraphobia, Beware! Criminal, Sick Sad Little World, Pistola

The Bedlam and the Goliath- Mars Volta
Crazy band... but good. Crazy 18 year old drummer.
Listen to: Goliath, Agadez, Ouroboros

Core- Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots first album rocks my socks.
Listen to: Dead and Bloated, Sex Type Thing, Wicked Garden, Plush, Creep, Piece of Pie, Crackerman

One Day Remains- Alter Bridge

Possibly the most rocking new band out there. They are actually Creed's band with a new singer. They rock!

Listen to: Find the Real, One Day Remains, Metalingus, Watch Your Words

8 of my favorite things

2008-11-13T07:42:00.000-08:00

8 shows I watch:
1. Dexter
2. Sons of Anarchy
3. The Unit
4. Family Guy
5. South Park
6. Robot Chicken
7. That 70's Show
8. Metalocalypse on occasion

8 Things I did yesterday:
1.Woke up early
2. Went to Chemistry
3. Went to Calculus had a quiz
4. Went to Electrical Engineering class
5. Studied
6. Went to work and raised 600 dollars for the college of engineering
7. Watched south park and sons of anarchy
8. facebooked about a billion times

8 Places I love to eat:
1. Betos
2. Happy sumo or that new "sushi ya" place
3. Betos
4. The Pie
5. Hooters
6. Hard Rock
7. Betos
8. Betos

8 Things I look forward to:
1. Jamming with Preacher
2. Recording
3. writing new songs
4. my upcoming EP for Preacher
5. New dexter episodes
6. Tool's upcoming album in 2012 haha
7. Finishing my electrical and mechanical engineering projects.

8. the day all of my chem lab assignments are completed.

8 Things on my wish list:
1. a 12 string guitar would be fun to mess around with
2. to finish recording my new songs darn it lol

3. a hot blonde german trophy wife

4. a record deal would be nice
5. a sandwich?

6. unlimited funds for travel

7. betos?

8. Health and longevity I guess

8 people I tag: the same people erin did

in 2005...a monster was born

2008-11-07T18:37:00.000-08:00

In 2005, I wandered into my friends basement to see what all the hype was. It was that night I was introduced to the popular cultural phenonemon... Guitar Hero.

It was a great game, being a guitarist and having finger coordination I was naturally good at it.

It was a great concept, we just wished they had better songs.

A little while later, Guitar Hero 2 was released... which was like guitar hero 1 BUT ACTUALLY had some songs on it by bands we liked lol. We were excited to see tracks by Rage Against the Machine, Black Sabbath, Pearljam, and Stone Temple Pilots... all bands that we thought "ah imagine what guitar hero would be like if they had songs by such-and-such..." type of stuff back when we played guitar hero 1.

We began hearing rumors of Guitar Hero 3... tracks by rockin bands such as Queens of the Stone age, Muse, Audioslave, and things such as a chance to play as the character Tom Morrello from Rage Against the Machine or Slash from Guns n roses (not to mention the songs were ACTUAL songs by the bands and not covers made by a cheap studio band).

They seemed to devise the perfect game besides the fact that they didn't have any Led Zeppelin tracks on it (Led Zeppelin would never sell out). It came out about a year ago, and I admit I still haven't played a single song on it.

Lately, its seems like I'll be having some conversations with some kids about music or bands I like. They'll respond with "oh I love Tom Morrello he's an awesome guitarist!" "Jimi Hendrix? yeah he's a way good guitarist!" or "Oh yeah Queens of the Stone Age!" "I know them!".... when really all they know is one song by the band that they've "five starred" on guitar hero.

A little while back I had the opportunity of meeting and getting my guitar signed by Chris Cornell, the singer from Soundgarden ("Black hole sun... won't you come and wash away the raiiin") and Audioslave. He's definately one of my alltime favorite singers, and on the list of
true "Rockers" he's definately been established. When I looked amongst the small group of people who were also getting stuffed signed with me, I was blown away to see 5 or 6 people getting their guitar hero "guitars" signed by Chris Cornell. Of ALL the things to get signed by Chris Cornell!

"Well Gee-willy Elvis... thanks for coming back from the dead... will you sign my guitar hero paddle?"

Now there is Guitar Hero THIS... Guitar Hero THAT... Guitar Hero Mobile phone... Guitar Hero deluxe fender edition guitar....Guitar Hero special "Kiss" edition... and not to mention "Rock Band" a slightly better guitar hero copy. Guitar Hero is cashin in, and it seems as if its tainting good rock n' roll in the process.

The upcoming Guitar Hero is even rumored to feature some Led Zeppelin songs, and even some songs by the "mother-of-anti-sellout" bands, TOOL. I don't think the first time a kid should hear Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, or Tool should be in the half comatose state of finger twitching senselessness.

I guess what I am trying to say is that as happy as I am that good bands are gaining recognition into the mainstream, I also pray to the gods of rock n roll that Guitar Hero doesn't butcher the music that myself and the few rockers out there love and hold dearly.

The quest to link my ipod up to the TV

2008-10-04T16:11:00.000-07:00

Well for the past 3 weeks or so, Ive been attempting to figure out how to link my ipod up to the tv. I have a ton of movies and tv shows on my ipod and it would save us alot of money to not have to rent movies or what not, plus its a good thing to watch when we are all bored.

First I bought a chord that goes from the earphone jack to the 3 RCA cable (just the standard RCA video camera type cable) type of thing. It didn't work so I checked it up on the internet and I guess that Apple made it send through the "red" cable instead of the "yellow". Tricky tricky... but it still didn't work on my ipod. So I purchased another chord that connects to the bottom of the ipod and then to the RCA cable.

That still didn't work, and upon further reading I found out that Apple put a glitch in the 5th generation ipods that will prevent them from transmitting videos without buying their brand name $50 "block" thing. Well I thought that was pretty lame, but found one on ebay for 15 bucks.

That likewise did not work. I was furious.

Well the other day, my friend Britn and I played around with it untill we finally figured a way around the system. What we have to do is put it in the block untill we can get the ipod to start the process of transferring the video (on all the other chords it says "plug into input device" and never starts transferring the videos)... for some reason it doesn't transmit the video to the tv through the block thing but will get the ipod to start functioning as if it were. So then we paused the video, and took it out of the block and plugged it into the usb/RCA cable and it projects onto the tv.

Three weeks, and 20 dollars worth of cables later we finally cracked the mystery.

I was tagged... don't really know what that means

2008-09-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

Well despite my current dislike for the blogging phenomenon, I decided to check my families blogs out of lack of better things to do. Well my sister "tagged" me and I don't really know what that means but I'll just do what she did.

Six things about me:

1) I am anti-social. I wear earphones not only because it provides good music but voids any awkward situation that may come up when sitting on a bus or public place. I grow my hair long so I can hide behind it. I am not anti social amongst friends however.

2) I feel uncomfortable in large social situations. When I go to clubs, parties, or even to just the mall I feel uncomfortable. Its just too designer, too impersonal, and too material of a world for me. Everyone is just trying so hard for something that has little worth or difference in the long run. I would much rather enjoy a situation amongst a group of close friends.

3) Music is the greatest thing ever. I am a rocker and will always be, but my guilty pleasure is 70's soul/funk/gospel music (Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Barry White, The Bar-Kays). I am also secretly a fan of techno music and disco/dance tunes/artists (Jamiroquai, Daftpunk, justin timberlake is okay). I would in many ways like to write dance tunes, I think to have someone dance and express oneselves in the form of dance to one of your songs would be the ultimate form of flattery (just not so much in clubs where things are soo designer lol jk), but being a musician would be my dream job. I don't think it could get any better than touring the country doing something that you love, with the people you love doing it with, and with no real place to really go home to... and getting paid for it. I think that I add enough to the musical spectrum and am just different enough musically that I could get signed if I were to put enough energy into it, and probably got out of utah. But then other times I feel pretty worthless as a musician... much more so as a singer. I think "who would want to listen to me sing?" and from a record labels standpoint "who would want to hear this on the radio?" So why don't I get a singer? I just can't imagine anyone else singing my songs. I can't imagine just being a guitarist either, I write my guitar parts based on my singing.
------3b) (off-topic) Utah County's local music is pretty much the worst thing ever by the way haha. Its either a bunch of emo bands with 3+ guitarists and the typical singing, or a returned missionary who decided he wanted to buy a guitar when he got back. Both of which have an excess amount of fans (if the majority of the people like it... does that make it the good music?). If you don't believe me go to a local show on any given night. There are a few good bands out there however. I enjoy this band called For Fairweather (they are a chill acoustic chick band that Concubine actually played a show with... Theyre actually doing quite well now and touring with Jason Mraz or so I hear), and of course there is Gulosh and Mirrim (who are both temporarily disbanded unfortunately). I was somewhat relieved when I walked by a local venue here in SLC and heard some good music pouring out of it, perhaps I will give some a try.

4) I kind of believe that despite our capabilities as humans to be very individualized, we still have tendencies to not be individuals and follow the crowd or certain ideologies not based on actual belief but only on the desire to believe. (back to my "musical" reference of whether or not if a crowd follows it makes it right) I believe that in many ways the spectrum is grey... not black and white, and I also believe that everyone has a role to fill here on earth, but if that person is no longer there/wasn't there in the first place then that role is filled by another. I don't know I find myself having this dark orwellian perspective of things every once in awhile.

5) I have a huge secret desire to travel. To backpack, or maybe even cruise the country/world on a motorcycle. If money was no limit, then that is exactly what I would do. Well... actually if money were no limit I would spend it on cars, motorcycles, and houses... and then travel the world.

6) I have beautiful toes. Unlike my family's demise of Feogigantic-phalangious, I was blessed with beautiful toes. They are are all of good proportions, and people often comment on how beautiful they look, I should be a toe model. Just kidding. I didn't know what to say for my sixth topic. Ummm Jessica Biel is my favorite actress. I am pretty frugle, but not at the same time. Example: I have a hard time spending 30 dollars on something I can use and would be of worth, but then I'll blow that same amount on food in a two week period going out to eat and have nothing to account for it. However I have been a little less frugle ever since I got an Ebay account. I find myself spending alot more money on tshirts, posters, etc that I otherwise would have never spent if it weren't for ebay.

You guys stink at blogging lately

2008-09-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

Ive lost all motivation for blogging now because of your lack of enthusiasm for the blogging phenomenon.

What Im Listening to Now

2008-09-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

Well ive been listening to alot of cool stuff lately, trying to find some influences for my new solo project. (check it out at http://myspace.com/preacherutah).

Im on a huge Radiohead tangent.

Check out their albums:

-In Rainbows (2007)

-OK Computer (1997)

and I also have Pablo Honey, and Amnesiac but haven't listened to them extensively. 2+2=5 off of their Hail to the Thief Album is likewise amazing.

Jamiroquai:

I love Jamiroquai, I just bought all 8 of their studio albums off of ebay for 5 bucks.

Check out the singles:

-Runaway

-Supersonic

You've probably heard

-Virtual insanity

-Canned Heat

Jerry Cantrell's solo project:

Jerry Cantrell is the guitarist/songwriter for 90's grunge band Alice in Chains (one of my favs). Unfortunately Layne Staley their singer died (he is an amazing vocalist... or I guess "was"), but Jerry Cantrell's solo stuff is in my mind what Alice in Chains would be if they were still around. Unfortunately it goes widely unnoticed.

Listen to:
Degradation Trip (2002)

Various techno songs:
haha check out the video "Benny Benassi - Satisfaction" on youtube

Colt is sick right now

2008-09-10T21:38:00.000-07:00

being sick and having college is no fun

Elections

2008-09-10T08:45:00.000-07:00

Well being 18, I am now eligible to fulfilling my civic duty and voting. I haven't decided who to vote for yet... Ive spent considerable time reading both candidates policies/plans, and to be honest I can't really like either candidate.

-Some Thoughts-

1) I like how Obama has a plan to win the war in Iraq and have full power handed over to the Iraqi government by 2010 (I don't see this as losing the war as many people think for some reason) as opposed to Mccains plan to just "linger" there. Give the Iraqi government some deadlines to step it up themselves and take control, you can't baby democracy... especially when babying them costs $1,000,000,000,000+ dollars a year. Make this war seem like less of an "occupation" and more of what we claim it to be.

2) I believe we should endorse stem-cell research. The republican standpoint of "absolutely not!" is outdated and drastically limiting the capabilities in medical and scientific advances. Not to mention forfeiting the US's position as being a capable competitor in the world of science. Where China and Europe have continued their advancement into a new technological age, we have been left behind based off of religious stigma in the political parties. Granted, I do not agree with the death of unborn fetuses, but significant data has been taken that stem cells may be available from other sources eventually.

3) I don't like how Obama is anti-gun, or his push for a socialistic United States. People talk about how great it would be to have all of these universal features, but I bet once they start having to pay for them out of their paychecks they'll begin to question. THAT or maybe a socialistic free enterprise government will turn out to be a better government.

4) Although very qualified for the job, Mccain is old as dirt... the man was born in 1936. Not to mention he's already had cancer. Maybe Sarah Palin will be the first female president.

5) Who's heard of Sarah Palin before the election? Not that that is a bad thing (I personally hate the notion that one politician is better than the other based upon time spent in office or more so on what family they are from... the Kennedy family is practically American Royalty), but sometimes I feel he chose her not so much based upon qualifications but more so for the strategy of pulling in certain votes from a certain "unspecified" voter pool (she did however take third place in the 1984 Miss Alaska Pageant, and has a cool nickname of "Sarah Barracuda").

6) This picture of John Mccain is not unlike how us Jackson's smile.

7) It bugs me how people claim Obama is a "terrorist" or muslim based upon his middle name. First of all, he's christian but I don't even see why that should even matter. You were all freaking out when people criticized Mitt Romney for being Mormon, so stop being hypocrites.. and racist. Let a man worship how he may please.

Our New Favorite Show

2008-09-03T15:37:00.000-07:00

Well our cable is limited up here, but the other day we were switching through the channels and stumbled upon one of our new favorites. Its entitled the "Jose Luis Sin Censura Show" and its on a spanish channel.

Its pretty much like the hispanic version of Jerry Springer, but much much more entertaining. We don't really know whats going on but for some reason like random people will come down from the audience (like they are going to ask a question or something) but instead they come down to brawl. Sometimes they have random buckets of water fall on people as well. The Jose Luis guy just provokes it all, they'll bring some guys pissed off girlfriend out (with awesome mexican polka "entry" music and all) and he'll show everyone a video of the guy cheatin on her. Fighting and hair pulling follows... followed by random people from the audience who come in and join in on the brawling.

I found some clips on youtube, im not sure how to add them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaPKrEX16y8

new tattoos

2008-08-25T15:19:00.001-07:00

So I went out over the weekend and blew my savings on some ink. I decided to start on my outerthigh/crotch region and this is what I got.

Well you know what they say, the needle is addictive. Later I went and got this fine piece of art on my left shoulder

I didn't like how the other one turned out so I thought I'd get it again on my upper back/shoulder.

Let me know what you guys think I want to here your opinions.

Goodbye Concubine (Sept. 15 2007- Aug. 16, 2008)

2008-08-20T09:31:00.001-07:00

(Group shot... look how sad we are haha)

We had our last show last Saturday (Aug. 16, 2008). We wanted it to be free for our fans so we played it in Tyler Swain's backyard (rockin backyard by the way). He has this porch thing that really transmitted the sound far, plus a really long backyard. He lives behind that old church on 8th south by the mall, and I guess people were saying they could hear us all the way from like 4th east. It was a really good show and we also sold a couple more albums. We played all the stuff off our album, a couple old ones that we haven't played since last year, and a couple new ones... oh and some Marvin Gaye "lets get it on" by popular request. Plus a guest solo by Austin Cross on Mudd and a drum off between Matt and Tyler Swain on Lix. We had a good showing despite most people being off to college or moved out, and we sold a few more cds.
(Matt Hansen... So hot right now)

(Rockin)

(Brian Card... one of our most loyal fans and Tyler Swains dad)

Life is just different without Concubine though.

Off to Belize

2008-07-31T21:27:00.001-07:00

Sorry Erin and Abe. I hope you guys don't feel like total losers why we are gone.

...maybe next year.

Cell Phone Woes

2008-07-30T21:22:00.001-07:00

I have had my cell phone for about 2 and a half years I believe, and it has served me very well. But the other day the screen decided to die on me.

So I went to the phone store to see if they'd get me another phone (after all... I recieved a text stating i was eligible for a free upgrade or something like that.) After waiting in line for 30 minutes it was finally my turn to be helped. I stated my problem, and they immediately began showing me all of these new phones. The lady began showing me all of these really fancy phones (phones i would never have use for... p.s. who watches tv on their phone?) after awhile I asked if these were the phones I would be able to choose from for free or if would I have to pay the difference...

It turns out I have to just buy a new phone.

I left that store and went home.
That LG Venus phone did catch my eye though.

My Million Dollar Idea

2008-07-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

While I am out landscaping, I have the opportunity to visit alot of restaraunt/gas station type restrooms. It seems the new trend is automatic sinks... they're much more sanitary, and conserve water I guess.

Well automatic sinks suck. It always takes an extra ten seconds of your life to figure out the right position your hands have to be to engage the water, then another ten seconds after you lather the soup to turn it on again, and then another ten seconds to turn it on again because it doesn't run long enough to rinse all the soap off the first time.

What someone should do is invent a sink that is sanitary (no hand contact needed to engage the water), somewhat water efficient (doesn't use a knob or valve that is constantly on), yet more practical than the dang motion sensor sinks everybody is using now days.

I give you.... a very poor drawing of my idea.

What your looking at is a sanitary yet non-motion sensored sink. To engage the water flow, all the user has to do is lean up against the pad, which of course is upholstered with classy fine italian leather as you can see by my drawing (don't worry there would be many styles to choose from). This pad/valve will work much like a drinking fountain would work. The further you push it in, the more the water comes out, thus being somewhat conservative, sanitary, and easy to operate (we're living in a user-friendly world).

The only obstacles I can see is that it involves more integration into the countertop, and obese people may find it hard to engage the water and reach the sink. (perhaps a special handicapped version can be made... extra long faucet?)

That is my million dollar idea.

Any questions/comments/investors?

Its official....

2008-07-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

We released our album yesterday at our official CD release party. Its soo nice to finally have it done, but kind of sad at the same time (because it kind of symbolizes the end of Concubine). But I am very satisfied with the way it turned out, and very proud of our achievements. When we first started out the thought of releasing an album never crossed my mind, and its still a little hard to believe. Now if we only had a label sign us and distribute it on a national level haha.

I would love to give it to you all for free but I have a lot of costs that I have to try and make up so I can't.

My two cents on the latest craze

2008-07-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

When you can ride your bike with no wheels, then i'll be impressed by your retarded song.

Thats all I have to say
-Amen

AP scores

2008-07-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

Got them in the mail yesterday.

Got a 3 on the AP Music Theory test (which was the hardest test Ive ever taken)
and a 2 on English Language (darnit lol)

U of U here I come

2008-07-04T11:21:00.000-07:00

Last week I was able to attend the U of U's overnight orientation for the Engineering, Science, and Geology type majors! I was able to spend a day with the coolest major ever's department (biomedical engineering), tour campus, and register for my classes. However, I came out feeling somewhat overwhelmed. The Biomedical Engineering department gave us an outline of what our schedule should look like if we wanted to graduate in 4 years. Its 15 credit hours a semester of advanced calculus and science classes, and 17 credit hours on some semesters. To add to the pressure, I than learned that if I wanted to do Pre-Med, I would have to add a whole other set of classes to my already busy schedule... plus I'll have to redo all of my AP classes.

....not to mention the extra classes required for the honors college.

One recurring theme I heard while I was up there was all of the nightmare stories of General Chemistry (a class for almost all incoming freshmen) and the proffessors that apply to that theme. Apparently a C grade in general chem is absolutely the best thing that could ever happen haha. I would really like to keep my scholarship.

Im registered for 15 credits, like they suggest, but I think Im going to drop a class and start out with 12, and then make it up later in the summer. My major is very exciting, they were showing us stuff where they implant a bionic arm on chimps with these little microchip things, and the chimps can actually use the bionic arm via brain power. The only problem is that the tissue scars over the chips, and renders the bionic arm useless after a couple of weeks.

I wanted to take a EMT paramedics course, but I guess its a summer class. I would still like to take it, I think it'll look good on my resume plus be educational in my prospective field. I'll probably take it next summer along with a few other classes while I work.

Ive been tempted to buy a longboard or maybe even a mountainboard to get around campus. it would be fun to ride down the mountain, and then shuttle back up to the dorms after classes. I can bowl in the bowling alley for a buck a game haha so Im pretty sure i'll be spending the time im not studying or working in there. My buddy and I were talking about making a team.

I went to "The Pie" before orientation... and it reallly does live up to its reputation. Everyone talks about how its the best pizza in utah, and ive always thought "it can't be that much better... its just food"... but it was.

Im excited, the campus just felt right. I can honestly say that I liked the diversity from that of Utah county (not sure if thats good or bad thing lol). Im excited though, Im pretty sure I'll do fine. Plus, it would be easier to switch out of Biomedical engineering if things turned sour then if I were to try and switch into it.

Concubine's Album on my mind

2008-06-18T18:31:00.000-07:00

Well the time I have spent with my band for the past nine monthes have been some of the most memorable moments of my high school years. We know our time is limited (Im moving up to Salt Lake in August, and Mike heads out on his mish in september), and we've just been trying to do the best we can with the circumstances given.

My bandmates and I have an awesome connection musically. We have a very "open" writing style. I'll come up with a riff, show it to the band, and they do their thing and it works out perfectly. It is literally effortless and beautiful. I've never had to tell my bandmates what to play, every part is all original by each bandmember. In nine monthes, we've written around 18 complete original songs, performed in a dozen shows or so.

We decided back in January that we should try and release our own album to just to "commemerate" our connection and time together I guess. We're good friends with Jake Judd, a seminary teacher at Orem High who's favorite hobby is producing and recording. He heard we we had something going on and had some new gear he was willing to try us out on. While we were there we somehow conned him into recording an album with us, and he gave us a pretty sweet deal.

Jake has some sweet gear, and our recordings sound absolutely awesome. The only problem is that we can only get to Jake's place every other week or so because he is a busy guy, so recording is taking a bit longer than expected. Which can be a little frustrating because what once was having the album out by April soon became "the end of the school year" to mid-june... to eventually before the band dissolves. Instead of working on new material I sometimes feel like were being held back. I originally planned on getting an album out by may (phase 1 o f concubine)... start off with new stuff (phase 2 of concubine) and maybe even get another album out before we were gone.

Now its summer, and were all workin men. We have 4 more songs to record, and 5-6 weeks to do so. Things will work out though.

Check out my Review Blog

2008-06-14T13:18:00.001-07:00

I converted my "Listening for the non-rocker who wishes to become a rocker" blog to an all exclusive "Colt's Reviews" blog. I will hopefully be posting reviews of Movies and Albums that I have the chance to become acquinted too. The link is on the left. Check check ch-check it out.

Getting Back to My Roots

2008-06-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

So Ive been working hardcore at my new landscaping job. Its at "Elite Grounds L.C." (L.C. being "Landscaping Contractor"). Its not only my first fulltime job, but my first legit job altogether

I report to work at 7:00am, load up these giant Izuzus depending on the particular job of the day (anything from flowers, bark, sod, mulch, topsoil, lawnmowers, etc.) then drive out to the worksite. Elite Grounds has several managers, each with a certain specialty or area that he manages. The crews my manager manages generally work up in Midway, but we also have several clients in Salt Lake, AF, and Provo. I've worked up in Midway 80% of the time. Alot of the Midway houses we do work at are guys who obviosly have boo-koo bucks. Were talking bout houses with baseball fields in the back yard, BMX courses, 1/4 mile long driveways, Houses over man made lakes with waterfalls, and acres and acres of land. I was on a crew that mowed Johnny Miller's (the golfer) house, and I weed-whacked for 4 and a half hours straight. The worst job by far though is planting flowers. On my second day of the job we filled the whole Izuzu with flowers, and proceeded to plant them for a 13 hour day. Ive gotten used to the work though and have grown to enjoy it (haha not that I am eager to ever do any form of yardwork again), but all of the people I work with are awesome, and my boss is a way nice guy as well.

However I do wish I spoke spanish, as I am the only one who does not. Everybody is either hispanic or an RM from a spanish speaking country. Most the time the directions over the walky-talkys are even given in spanish, "*beep* Jason...go ahead.... donde como se blah blah blah blah.... alrighty sounds good" As everybody goes and starts working and I kind of just follow and try to see what everybody is doing.

school

2008-05-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

So 3rd term flew by quick and was suprisingly very easy... same with 4th term... up till now. Im going crazy. I don't know if I more than the "usual" busy load you have or if its just that and a combination of senioritus.

I have a million things to do.

yeah... my dog wears pants

2008-04-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

Concubine Chronicles Day #105

2008-04-23T19:01:00.000-07:00

Heres a acoustic version of Mike's newest song "Preacher". It rocks... the video? not quite so much haha but no worries... its just a sample.

ummm I have really disliked lacrosse this year

2008-04-20T19:27:00.000-07:00

I have practice tommorow, and I am dreading it somewhat. Lacrosse just hasn't been fun this year, it actually sucks most of the time. I wish I could use the time to work with my band as we only have so many more weeks left before summer.

Luckily there is only three more games.

Colt's Blog of suggested listening for the non-rocker who is attempting to become a rocker and thus become cool at the same time blog

2008-04-19T14:53:00.000-07:00

Hey I started a new blog with my suggested listenings/reviews of favorite albums or new albums that come out etc. There is a link to the left of my page that'll take you there so check it out and enjoy!:D

Brainstorming for my birthday list

2008-04-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

Things I would like to get for my birthday...
cowboy boots (preferably some I could maybe wear to work this summer and stuff)
A pair of chuck taylors (size 9) (I kind of like the white or blue ones)
FM Transmittor for my Ipod (so I can listen to it in my car. Preferably one that doesn't use batteries and I can just run it off the car)
Stone Temple Pilot tickets (June 11th at the E center)
Nine Inch Nails tickets (Sept. 2 at the E center)
Mars Volta tickets (May 19 at the Salt Air)
Bowling Shoes + Bowling Ball for my bowling team (i generally use a 12 pound ball because its easier on my wrists when I spin it)
A Digital camera would be nice.
Maybe a camcorder.
I never have had a guitar amp.
(my PA system has worked fine up till now, maybe just an additional speaker)
Guitar cables
Mini Guitar cables
T-shirts (maybe some cool ones I can wear at shows or just some band shirts (size M or L))

Mustache May

2008-04-14T16:18:00.000-07:00

So Mustache May is coming up, and me and my friends are making our preparations. Mustache May is a great celebration of manliness and brotherhood thats celebrated worldwide...all great men have had mustaches... so I encourage all of you to take part in the festivities as well.

yay!

2008-03-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

I recieved a full ride scholarship to the U today in the mail! Its nice to have my hard work pay off and to be able to make the fam proud.

You Make Colton Sad...

2008-03-08T17:39:00.001-08:00

Nobody has left my blog any comments or love for a super long time

Mike my metal loving bassist

2008-03-08T15:59:00.001-08:00

Well in my band Concubine, its nice because im not the only one who writes songs or sings in the band. Mike my bassist takes over quite often and writes really cool songs that alot of people like.

Well, Mike hasn't really recieved formal training for guitar or bass, and is basically self taught, but I didn't have him join the band for his skill level of playing, but more for his creative unique flavor he adds to the band, which I feel nobody else could add. Mike has really picked up on the theory in the past several monthes however, and I personally think his bass playing adds something that I or nobody else could ever manage to add if we played bass.

So, what I was originally going to talk about is... Mike loves metal, and in a way he has kind of converted myself I would have to say. Mike would come into a jam session and be like, "Doood (thats how he says it) ... I just wrote a rockin song, check this out." ----plugs in guitar---- distortion on------ vvwbom vvwbom bumm bumm -- vvwbom vvwbom bumm bumm BUMMM--- and thus forth all of these evil metal riffs would explode from his guitar. At first me and Matt would look at eachother like "are you serious?" But in an effort to have enough songs for our first show we learned one of his lighter songs "Scar". (which is not really a metal song, but significantly different than the songs I write.... We have a recording of it at http://www.myspace.com/heavenisfullofconcubines). It turns out that his song was the favorite amongst the crowd, so we let him take a little more of the reins, and he brought in another new song ("Crowd Pleaser" a song that is is purely evilll). At first I didn't really like the song, it was really long, and the riffs were relatively predictable (Ive always tried to be unpredictable in my song writing), and the riffs were riffs that are generally boring to play on bass (i take over on bass in mike's songs). But.... I gave it a spicy bass part (I tryed not to play the same thing that Mike was lol), and once the song came together I suddenly became converted to its evil nature. It now has to be one of my favorite songs that we play in our shows.

Haha, Mike's slightly converted me to metal, and its become something I enjoy listening too. Its not my favorite...its not like a part of my soul that I feel like alot of other music is, but it is more of a comical or humorous type of listening. Now don't get me wrong, Im not hatin on metal or any of its music, just sometimes I have to laugh or chuckle while listening too it because you know that these guys are serious about the music they play. I can't imagine being a musician and being like ---- okay guys, im writing some lyrics help me out.... "By volcanoes shadow, by Oden's great ax..... okay what rhymes with that?.... by Thor's great mad hollow, there's no time to relax"... oh ok that sounds good, now you play really fast and you play double bass pedal throughout the whole thing. ----

I would almost love to be a metal musician, because its fun to write and play. Imagine getting paid to tour the country, wearing some sort of evil demon costume everynight, and pretending to be totally serious about the music you play. haha "YO WE'RE HEAD-HUNTRESS! THIS ONES CALLED UNIDENTIFIED CORPSE AND ITS OFF OUR NEW ALBUM 3-INCHES-OF-BLOOD!"

That previous section is all aimed towards the cheesy metal... bands maybe like Amon Amarth, or other "Viking Metal" type bands. There is some really good metal out there however. Mike has introduced me to Black Sabbath, and they are easily becoming one of my favorite bands. I consider them to be like the pure metal, the good stuff. There is also the crappy metal that I can't stand listening to. In fact, I categorize metal as being in three different sections. Good metal, Crappy Metal, and Cheesey metal.

Good metal being bands like Black Sabbath, and maybe like Megadeth- on some of their songs-. (many consider Led Zeppelin to be a metal band, but their style of music as being more of a hard interpretation of the blues. haha sorry I guess this is becoming a music lesson) Crappy metal.... bands like Slipknot, Lamb of God (haha sorry to some of my friends for saying that) But basically all the bands that play gay music. And cheesy metal, Viking metal bands such as Amon Amarth, Apocolyptica (haha four super serious cello players that play death metal), and Lordi (there music lies in the crappy metal genre haha, but I can't resist laughing when I see them dressed up in their costumes--- plus there singer carries around a giant ax that happens to be his microphone...and fire shoots out of it...but yeah).

So the reason I wrote this was Mike came over today to rock and showed us a new song, which happened to be very metal-ly lol, and it reminded me of my first reaction when he showed us "Crowdpleaser", and how my perspective of music has changed since then.

So there's my ode to metal music, some of it makes me laugh, Black Sabbath is the bomb, and alot of the other stuff is just crap... amen

Headed to Idaho for the Weekend

2008-03-06T17:57:00.000-08:00

Well every year, Coach Steele takes all of the seniors to his cabin in Lava, Idaho for one last time to commemorate all of the time and effort they spent in their four years of football. Its normally in December but this year it is this weekend. I am excited, as most of my best friends are all on the football team, and I have alot of memories of all the times we spent at the cabin.

Every year, the team heads up to the cabin for a Unity Camp. Its basically like a Hell week, cept you don't go home between practices lol.

Every morning, you wake up and Coach Steele will send us out on a 4-8 mile run through the mountains. When we finish we eat breakfast, followed by a 3 hour practice, followed by lunch, followed by another 3 hour practice, followed by dinner, followed by a light practice. Then we have a little team night (kinda like family night but on football terms haha) and then the rest of the night is yours to sleep or chill, only to wake up the next morning and start it all over. Its not too bad though, I'd prefer Unity camp over the actual Hell week which is actually the very next week.

Even though unity camp kind of sucked, it was still very fun at the same time. I guess the same can be said for my experience in football... even though it sucked and I didn't really like it most the time... I still miss it and wish I could go back on some days.

The best part about this weekend is we don't have to bother with all the hard stuff we had to do at unity camp lol. We can just enjoy our time.

An Addition to the Shrine

2008-03-02T16:58:00.000-08:00

My friends have been getting caught up in my whole shrine thing, and have been making additions of their own lol.

So the school has been having their student council elections and all of that fun jazz going on, and one of the kids that is running happens to be the little brother of a very attractive/very popular girl... which he exploited in his campaign by posting an attractive picture of her on one of his posters.

Well the poster has been the talk around the boys of the school, and when my friends told me about it I jokefully said "oh thats my picture now... thats totally my picture." I was of course kidding, and had no bad intentions.

So school gets out the other day, and I recieve a text from my buddy Hammy, "operation --------- was a success... meet me by such and such room" (Hammy has many operations), so I meet him not knowing what to expect. Well Hammy happened to have an offering for the man-cave/bandroom/shrine haha.

Elections were over and I guess he saw the little brother going around and taking down his posters.... Hammy took initiative.

The funniest part about it is Ive literally heard like 6 kids (including my bassist) talking about how they wanted to take the said picture but somebody beat them to it lol.

CONCUBINE my love

2008-03-02T16:16:00.000-08:00

Well my band recorded a song yesterday after three weeks of cancelling appointments lol. We want to get a demo cd out before the end of the school year, and we've decided we'd probably need to record at least one song a week to accomplish our goals, but we've been too busy. We don't have time to jam anymore. Mike does track, Matts been tied up with stuff, and I just signed up for lacrosse despite not really wanting to play. But we'll make it work haha. We've been jugglin between writing new songs, preparing for gigs, and recording old songs.

But yeah we finally recorded again, it was a pretty fun session. The elements of the song weren't really set in stone so we kind of added stuff as we went, so I got to throw in a bunch of cool whammy pedal stuff in. There are some parts of the song that I felt could be better, haha but you can never get a recording perfect (at least in our circumstances). I guess we are our worse critics as well because we know what the song it supposed to sound like, but its no big deal. You can check it out on our myspace page.

http://www.myspace.com/heavenisfullofconcubines

We've been discussing what we want to name our first album, and also discussing what elements we want in it and such. Some ideas for the name that have come up are stuff like "Evil Jock Concubine" "A Recollection of Years" and a bunch of random ones that can't come to mind. The band will be forced to disband at the end of summer as everyone heads out on their missions, so our demo cd is pretty much going to be a collection of our accomplishments and achievements in our short reign of being a band together. An ode to our lives and our high school years I guess.

We may have to release a double cd just to fit all of our stuff on it.

I personally want a picture of a hot chick incorporated somewhere on the album. I originally wanted one on the cover, but now im thinking it would be cool to have one maybe on the back and we could have the tracks listed around her in an arch or something. We'll probably have our winged bomb logo as the cover.

It could be cool to have some sort of cheesy 80's metal band album cover like with an armored skeleton wielding a sword thats bursting out of a volcano and there would be like dragons flying around in the background or something. That could be cool, but then people might think we were some sort of death metal band and would be repelled to listening to us.

A smorgasborg of new music

2008-02-23T13:49:00.000-08:00

So recieving an 80 gig ipod has really opened up some doors for me lol. Ive gone around to my friends and filled it up with all the music that Ive always wanted but never been able to buy. Ive been spending a short period of time each day listening to the new albums and trying to rate the good songs so I can remember to come back to them later to further study and enjoy them lol. I also got several movies on there as well for those long airplane rides.

Well under request of Mike Garlick, my rockin man on bass in Concubine, Ive assorted a collection of black sabbath (about as evil as you can get for 1968) and have began listening to them. I like it quite a bit, its very good.

So far the stuff Ive enjoyed most is probably my complete collection of Queens of the Stone Age albums. Ive liked them alot off and on through the years, and already have two of their albums, but their older stuff is extremely good. (especially their hard to find debut self-titled album... its prime).

Erin and Amby could probably get into them if they listened. Abe too maybe. Maybe I can introduce Russel to take a step into the dark side (the cool side by the way) and burn him some cds.

Well I don't think this post ever really resulted to anything besides my ramblings and poor grammar, but I thought I'd give everybody a quick update.

Our Shrine

2008-02-16T14:31:00.000-08:00

So my band "Concubine" is doing pretty good right now, we have approx. 15 of our own songs, and about 4 on the way. We've played several shows and we're establishing a pretty good fan base. Of course to accomplish all of this, hours of practice has been required, and a product of all of this productivity within our band room is that it now smells horendous everytime we enter its grounds.

Me and Mike think that it is Matt our drummer's fault. He can get pretty stinky. The stench is a product of the 1000s of calories he burns each jam session because of his amazing drumming abilities, but these drumming abilities are crucial to our band so getting rid of him is out of the question.

So we changed our focus from "what is causing this?" to "how can we combat this?" and the answer that came to us was to set up a shrine to Nelly Furtado.

So i went out and purchased a nice poster of the spoken individual, and we strategically placed incense around her image, which we burn in her name upon each jam session. The smell is gone, and we also have added incentive to enter the band room now. I have noticed that the envirement in our band room is a little friendlier and one of comradreship since we added the new addition, it has also helped our creative processes and inspired us to all find girlfriends... which means new potential song ideas. We've always thought that we really just needed new amps if we wanted to improve dramatically, but it turns out that we were all wrong.

Girl troubles

2008-02-16T10:22:00.000-08:00

Well I was just informed the news that our prom is officially in like 3 weeks, and I had no idea. Well, alot of people know... that these kind of things take alot of mental preparation for me.

First of all, I have to find a compatible girl who would not feel crushed or sympathetic t0 going with me.

Second... I have to figure out a lame (but cute) way to ask her to the prom. (girls may say that they would prefer the old fashioned way of guys just asking them face to face, but once they start talking with their friends on how cute of a way "johnny-asked-susy"....they begin second guessing your lack of creativity.)

Third... have to plan the date.

So, i've never taken a girl to a dance that I've actually liked. They've all just been girls ive asked for the sake of going. Well I don't want it to be that way for my last prom.

So there is this girl i think is a cutie, and we talk every once in a while, but not sufficiently that it wouldn't be totally random if she suddenly found a "montage of affection" on her doorstep asking her to the prom. I really have no reason to associate with her... I have no class with her, i only run into her in the halls when I am hunting her out (i don't naturally bump into her on a normal day), and none of my friends know any of her friends (i know its a tricky situation)....so for the sake of making it not random, ive been putting together a little scheme.

So I was placed in a new seminary class... and lo and behold shes in the class with me. So I would usually just sit by her and start associating with her, but I just so happened to get the only seminary teacher in the school that makes a seating chart. Well we sit on oppisite sides of the room.

So the other day, Mr. Seminary teacher announces that we will be getting a new seating chart the next period. Seeing that opportunities are arising, I make I move after school and have a little talk with my seminary teacher.

I arrive in class the next period, and what do you know? The computer just randomly sat us next to eachother... wow it must be God's will. Now if she recieved a puzzle that involved putting my name together, she would be able to say "oh colt jackson.... he sits next to me in seminary," not "colt jackson... who the heck is that... where is my yearbook."

So things are working out pretty good, but it just so turns out that somebody beat me to it.

hmmm....

New Redesigned Ducati Monster...Boo!

2008-02-16T09:26:00.000-08:00

on top: the new Ducati Monster 696 boo!

on bottom: the old Ducati Monster

Well Ducati released a new redesigned version of their Ducati Monster for their 2008 lineup. Im not quite sold on it, I think I prefer the older style of the bike. In fact, despite the new gas tank I think it is quite ugly and I am disapointed that Ducati would do such a thing.

Well I guess a good thing that would come of it will be that all of the new 2007 models will start showing up on Ebay for a good price.

Ipod

2008-02-15T15:54:00.000-08:00

I remember it being the summer of 2003 when my eyes first beheld the sight of an Ipod. I was in the Florida Keyes enjoying my time at a summer science camp. I had just previously stepped into the world of technology when I had recieved my first walkman for my birthday a month before, but my fellow (very rich) comrades at the camp had a whole new device implemented for the use of their musical enjoyment, they had.... the brand new ipod.

This new device fascinated me. Never before had I thought it ever possible to hold all of your music in the palm of your hand. This device was perfect for people like me, and i desired to have one.

It was not untill a year later that I saw any ipods as it seemed that Utah was a little more behind than any other state, but then there seemed to be a great ipod harvest in Utah and everybody was getting them. My friends would proudly purchase each new ipod they released. I remember when one friend proudly showed the brand new Ipod Photo, with color screen and the ability to view photos only for them to release the new Ipod Video three months later... which he also got.

My love affair for the Ipod would continue... I wanted it, but just could not have. I only dreamt of the day when my ears would come in contact with those sweet white earphones.

My friends all had Ipods, and than my family started getting Ipods. My family got a 30 Gig Ipod Video, but it would spend its life sitting on the counter, or in the drawer. I felt bad for the thing, it was meant for so much more, but we eventually bought a speaker system for it and it began recieving more love.

Well 6 ipod generations later (....approx. 2 years lol), I finally have an ipod in transit from the ipod factory to my house. I think that the wait will be worth it, because I will be recieving a brand new 80 gig Ipod video in the mail within the next few days. I've witnessed my friends blow money on the newest ipods only for Apple to release a more improved ipod a month later, but I don't think Ipod can release much better of an Ipod than the one I have coming real soon in the future. I guess they can release the Ipod Touch the price of a standard ipod, but I could care less if I had an ipod with a touch screen. The 80 gig Video seems to be the pinnacle of Ipods success.

Colt Jackson Man of Mystery

2008-02-15T15:51:00.000-08:00

Well I finally outsmarted the machine and figured out how to make one of these blogs. It was a good 3 month battle, but I came out victorious. I don't even knwo what to talk about now that I have one.