I've missed you. I know we only had a little time together, but I really felt like we were getting to know each other.
Let's get reacquainted. My name is Gurfastic, and I hate most of the shit Hollywood saddles our population with. Check THIS out. Went to see Iron Man last week with DJSkram. I was not disappointed. I'd heard that it wasn't well directed (not true). John Favreau did a great job in my opinion. If there was anything I didn't dig, it was the fact that there wasn't really enough KICKIN' ASS scenes. I mean, he like builds the thing, kicks serious ass in it for like 4 minutes once, and that's pretty much the only non-busted fight scene you get.
Granted, they were basically setting up the sequel, so there's that...
I think my next door neighbor is a vocal coach for the Met. Except that she's in the next building over. But our buildings touch. And so like I can hear her singing, or coaching all day, and she has to hear me practice. Two nites ago, they were working on the hot water pipes in my building till midnite, and it sounded like they were drilling somewhere... it was loud. She opens her window and yells, "Hey Fuckers! Shut the Fuck UP!". Kinda funny, considering she's like 80.
I heard that this new Indiana Jones movie involves Area 51. Why is it that everything George Lucas touches turns to shit lately? And wouldn't Speilberg have like overruled him on that, having still some grasp of what a good movie is?
And I'm spent.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
A blast from the past
Anyone who knows me can tell you, and anyone who's read anything I've ever written in this space can probably conjecture, that I'm not really ever "serious" about anything. Take for example my college entrance essay. This is what I wrote as part of my application for an East Coast Music Conservatory. The topics to address were, "Why have you chosen your particular field of study? What are your goals in your field?" Knowing full well that nobody actually reads these things, here's what 17-year-old Gurftastic (at that point, most of the 'tastic was yet to 'tast) wrote to a potential place of higher learning:
The Mystical World of the Classical Trumpet Player
If I had to give one reason why I’ve chosen classical trumpet performance as my field of study, I’d have to say it is for the women* (*original word, "chicks", ed... I think my mom made me change it... it was for college, after all!). There’s nothing quite as alluring to the feminine of the species as responding to the query, “You play the trumpet… do you play jazz?” with the conversation stopping, “No, I’m a classical trumpet major.” This is usually followed by the question, “Oh… what do you want to do with that… play in a band or something?”
Now of course I am just joking. However, our society today puts so much emphasis on popular genres of music, it is frightening to think of the dwindling market available for classically trained musicians. Across the country, orchestras are going bankrupt, or shortening their seasons. Many of the leading “second tier” orchestras in the country are forced to play pops concerts to support their highly undersold classical series. While my parent’s generation, which grew up with the Beatles, still relaxes and relishes the classical experience, it is difficult for me to imagine the young professionals my age EVER listening to classical music (unless it is some cheesy compilation CD they use to impress their “educated” friends). This is truly scary, for the future of classical music is in serious jeopardy.
That all being said, my reasons for choosing the trumpet are simple. It’s my voice. It’s the only way I have found that I can truly express myself. And I’m lucky… I get to sing out my emotions every day of my life. There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as that moment when the last note of a piece is sounded, and the entire ensemble finally releases that mental energy which has been so strongly concentrated on a common goal, and everyone realizes how great everything just sounded.
As for goals… there better be some orchestras still around by the time I finish school, because I imagine I would quite enjoy playing in one. While I love teaching, and imparting the knowledge I have gained through my studies, I do not see this as the main focus of my life… at least not soon. I do hope to teach at some point, but mainly as a corollary to my work in a symphony orchestra. And no, I don’t play jazz.
Hmmm. Pretty good stuff. As you can see... the beginnings of the 'tasticity...
The Mystical World of the Classical Trumpet Player
If I had to give one reason why I’ve chosen classical trumpet performance as my field of study, I’d have to say it is for the women* (*original word, "chicks", ed... I think my mom made me change it... it was for college, after all!). There’s nothing quite as alluring to the feminine of the species as responding to the query, “You play the trumpet… do you play jazz?” with the conversation stopping, “No, I’m a classical trumpet major.” This is usually followed by the question, “Oh… what do you want to do with that… play in a band or something?”
Now of course I am just joking. However, our society today puts so much emphasis on popular genres of music, it is frightening to think of the dwindling market available for classically trained musicians. Across the country, orchestras are going bankrupt, or shortening their seasons. Many of the leading “second tier” orchestras in the country are forced to play pops concerts to support their highly undersold classical series. While my parent’s generation, which grew up with the Beatles, still relaxes and relishes the classical experience, it is difficult for me to imagine the young professionals my age EVER listening to classical music (unless it is some cheesy compilation CD they use to impress their “educated” friends). This is truly scary, for the future of classical music is in serious jeopardy.
That all being said, my reasons for choosing the trumpet are simple. It’s my voice. It’s the only way I have found that I can truly express myself. And I’m lucky… I get to sing out my emotions every day of my life. There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as that moment when the last note of a piece is sounded, and the entire ensemble finally releases that mental energy which has been so strongly concentrated on a common goal, and everyone realizes how great everything just sounded.
As for goals… there better be some orchestras still around by the time I finish school, because I imagine I would quite enjoy playing in one. While I love teaching, and imparting the knowledge I have gained through my studies, I do not see this as the main focus of my life… at least not soon. I do hope to teach at some point, but mainly as a corollary to my work in a symphony orchestra. And no, I don’t play jazz.
Hmmm. Pretty good stuff. As you can see... the beginnings of the 'tasticity...
Fuck you CNN
What happened to you, CNN? You used to be... well cool is definitely the wrong word, but maybe I'll say, "not infotainment". Thankfully those days are behind us though. The top story right now? Will GTA IV potentially keep people from going to the theaters this weekend to watch IRON MAN. Yes. That is the TOP story. There is NOTHING ELSE GOING ON ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHETHER OR NOT A FUCKING MOVIE WILL LOSE SOME OF IT'S OPENING WEEKEND REVENUE BECAUSE WHAT'S BEING CHARACTERIZED AS THE BEST GAME OF ALL TIME HAS COME OUT AND POTENTIAL YOUNG (male) AUDIENCE MEMBERS ARE GOING TO SIT AT HOME STEALING VIRTUAL CARS TO FUCK, AND THEN RUN-OVER THEIR VIRTUAL HOOKERS IN, RATHER THAN PAY 30 BUCKS TO GO SEE A MOVIE WITH A TUB OF POPCORN. Thank you, CNN for reporting the news. Like the fact that... This Just In: Can Obama Shake the Wright Scandal? Didn't that happen like MONTHS ago? I'm pretty sure that was like a long time ago. So really the only reason you think he can't is because you won't let him? Or how about this tidbit, "Grannies Kiss Obama, Dance for Clinton". Honestly. Is it any wonder that I read Google News? Aside from the fact that I'm a little scared at just HOW benevolent Google actually is, I do feel a bit like, ya know, bashing myself in the anus everytime I mistakingly think, "Hmmm, I wonder what's on CNN's front page right now". Fuck it. I'm out.
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