So I realised that I get visually overstimulated way too quickly, so I'm making an effort to bring that down a bit. Currently I'm busy downloading me some desktop backgrounds, and I'm noticing some trends.

I like photos that are going places.
I like photos that have history.
I like photos with interesting lighting
I prefer trees to flowers.
I do like flowers in macro where you can see every detail.
I like calm or moody photos better.
I favour greens and blues over reds and oranges (except sunsets/sunrise)
I generally prefer hills and rocks to beaches

So I have to pick whether I go with backgrounds that go along with what I like, or challenge me past them..

Never mind :)

Sometimes you're just in a particular mood, and only a particular one will do. Today, its off Grace Bawdens album.

Ok, so I have been trying to teach myself to draw, and I figured I'd share some of my attempts :)

Oddly enough, I think I would choose Autumn. I never used to like Autumn that much... It always used to be a reminder that summer was over, and it was going to be freezing soon.  But I love the huge variety of vibrant colours that replace shades of green, I love the crisp nights, the warm afternoons, and the tranquility. Its almost like the world is gently slowing down. It doesn't have to be creating little shoots, or springing into life.

Of course if it were the same season forever, it would get awfully boring! ;)

I know different languages do different things and have different meanings, but if my last name were Bull, I don't think I'd be having "Ole" at the top  of my list of names if I were to have a child...
ANYWAY.. I've been researching music as always, and found this guy last night. He was one of the earliest prominent musicians (violin) in Norway, and he was one of these people who could play everything he'd heard by the age of 5 and was performing with an orchestra at age 9.  However he was also the one who noticed Edvard Grieg at age 15 (Ole's brother married Edvard's Aunt) and apparently convinced his parents to get Edvard training because he had some talent. Well I agree, Thanks Ole Bull :)
This is one of the songs Ole Bull wrote.

This was in a newsletter that was delivered to my inbox last night...

"Never, in all our history of popular music, has there been such a plethora of composers - professional, amateur, alleged - as we have today. Responsible, of course, are those two fresh hotbeds, the coniferous cinema and the radio.

The merciless ether - by unceasing plugging - has cut down the life of a popular song to but a few weeks, with the result that anyone who thinks he can carry a tune - even if it's nowhere in particular - nowadays takes a 'shot' at music-making." 

George Gershwin, ranting in the New York World Sunday Magazine, May, 1930.

Ok, I feel really bad, because I post so infrequently even though I like writing so much.
So instead of making myself promise to try and do it more frequently, I'm just going to make myself start typing, and see whatever comes out. Hopefully I won't do too much ranting, but we'll see I guess.

Have just watched an awesome video by Andrew Bravener.. (http://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewBravener) and its the "open letter to youtube" one, if he's gotten all efficient and gotten another one up in the meantime. I totally couldn't agree more with what he's saying, and its disappointing how so many things which are people focussed turn into more moneymaking opportunities and ways for the big people to work with other big people because thats who we all want to see right? WRONG! Mostly, we want somewhere to belong, with people who understand and are sharing the journey with us. That has nothing to do with money or big companies.
I realise to some degree, money is a necessary evil, and there does appear to have been a goodwill gesture of revenue sharing.. but honestly? $8 for 250 000 views isn't really that much. I actually dislike advertising, pretty much always have. Its designed to be manipulative, and make you dissatisfied with what you have, but thats a whole other story, which its probably best not to get me started on.

I was almost inspired to make a vlog response to his post, but I'm not sure if vlogging is my thing, so I decided to blog while my brain worked it out. I did watch a bunch of responses to it though. I feel kinda stupid that I never know what to say, and theres no way I'm going to make a comment for the sake of making a comment or to get noticed. So I guess usually, I meekly click the like button and wish there was more I could do, because although I'm mostly a lurker and don't say much in many places at all, I really do enjoy watching content of others and reading blogs. But I know the silence is hard, when you aren't sure if you're talking to a blank wall, or whether anyone cares, or whether you have parsley in your teeth but everyone is laughing too hard to tell you... I guess it comes down to your reason to do it. And I think money and fame are made far too big a deal of, and quite simply are stupid reasons. Fame is fickle and can have a pretty big backlash, besides which if you're famous for- well no one really knows what you're famous for- you're not likely to be winning friends or fans, just attention.

I've been reading some books that were recommended on a site I saw once back in the distant blue yonder, specifically around online communities and the directions the trends are shifting, and I was fascinated. I never thought I'd be so interested by business books, User generated content is getting better (well some of it) and we now have the choice to support who we want to support rather than who we're told to support, that is if we can find them. I really wish there were solutions, but all of them are complicated, and require people who make decisions to choose people over money. I know, LOL.

Anyway, thats  enough for one post.

Just a short ranty post about annoying things on Youtube..

1. Get over Justin Beiber folks! Seriously, he wouldn't be anywhere near as popular as he is without the millions of people who feel the need to bring him up on every music video either saying how he rocks, or how this music shows how badly he sucks. Ignore it.  Let it run its natural course. Or go ahead.. keep promoting him. Just know that you're annoying.

2.Please... PLEASE don't post "like if you <insert completely unrelated or meaningless condition here>" Sure you may get likes from the other noobs, and for a little while feel uber important that so many people like your comment, but really they like it because you told them to. Why not instead try and write a comment that people want to like because its a good comment, then you can feel warm and fuzzy with good cause.

3. It is actually not necessary to comment on how many dislikes there are per video. Its not really as cool as you think it is.

4. If you don't like a video, seriously, you can stop it and move to another one. Thats one of the really cool things about the internet, no one else really cares if you like it or not. There is no reason to sit watching videos you hate simply to leave a miserable comment. Because sure, thats what I want to read when I'm watching the video of an artist I like.*rolls eyes* If you dont' have anything nice or constructive to say, just don't say it. Or post it in a ranty blog post like this. If the only way you can feel good about yourself, by putting others down, get a life and find something you're actually good at, rather than sitting at home criticising those who are out there doing stuff.


There are other things, but I'm feeling much better... </rant>

Lovely weather eh?

Hi. Seeing as I've been eating a lot of shapes of late to get me through my munchie stress cravings, I thought I'd share a little about what I found...

Good Flavour:



Good Shape:



Weird Shape:



Uh, probably don't eat this one...

all the way from Hong Kong...
isn't it cute??