Dawn Of A Decade

Yes. I'm going to do a repeat of what I did this time last year with my Diweddglo post. How must you have waited eagerly for this.

As you know from the other thirty seven blog posts I've written this year, this year is what you could call a Wicid year. No, not in the manner as in "it's been a well ace year, wicked bruv," no.

Since the twenty seventh of January this year, I've been helping out with Wicid, and since late February I've been the sub-editor for the site. Since then, my year has been kind of run by Wicid. I've written shitloads of stuff for it, with about under a third of everything I've written going up to Clic. Since Clic don't allow any type of drivel up to the site, this must mean that I have something good about me when I write. Though, I don't really understand what is good about it. Fuck, I don't even think I have a good writing manner. I just write how I speak. That's why there are some terrible grammatical mistakes.

But, it has made me question something. Am I actually good at writing? I really don't think so. The only reason I have this blog is to vent out some opinions that I don't have the confidence to do in the real world. That's why I'm unsure about the Dear World series that I write for Wicid. Is there any point in me carrying on writing it when all it does it just give my opinions and feelings on the most pointless subject matters? No idea.

One thing that I've just realised is that I hate Winter. Why? Because it feels like it brings shrouds of doubt and pessimism into my life. I mean, I was looking at all the fireworks displays from countries that are already in 2011, and the only thing I can think of is "we were in an economical crisis not long ago, why are they wasting money on celebrating the entrance of 2010?".

And this brings me to another point. I need a new outlook on life. For the past few years, I've seen the world through monotonous eyes. Either it is, or it isn't. I can't really describe what my outlook on life is at this moment, bit all I can say for sure that even though I can see happiness and all that everywhere I look, all I can think of is the depression that grips this world, the hatred that fills it and the devastation that is left in it by bastards of it.

See? Now, I know that people may see me as a twat. A big fucking twat who belittles everyone that doesn't see the same way as I do. That is not true. I just have an odd view on life. I wish I can change, but I probably won't. Fuck.

In other news, the one thing that this year has shown me is that I bloody well want to start a band. I keep saying this, but I really hope that I actually do something happens with it. Currently, I'm either in one band or two. Not sure exactly what the situation is really, all I know that I'm at least in one band with Burt and Michael (who is my cousin on my mother's side, I'm only stating that since I have two cousins called Michael), and I am the bassist.

The first possible one is with Burt's lady friend as a vocalist, and the possible name of the band is something like MGBG or something like that. No idea what genre we're aiming at, mind. The last possible one would be Michael's current band, Levin Street. There's been some issues with the bassist and the singer. So, me and Burt's might fit in as a bassist and lead guitar respectively (I guess that the current guitarist will take a rhythm role and maybe a vocalist line).

So, I'm in a band (possibly) as a bassist. Now all I need is two more bands as a rhythm guitarist and a drummer (though I may be in another band with Burt and Calum in a band for metal-style music). Happy days.

Sorry that I cannot keep my blogs in a more straightforward manner, I have the need to explain myself all the time.

Anyway, one thing that got me thinking recently was my fellow blogger, RuhBuhJuh, and this post. He goes on about being average. One thing that got me thinking was the point about where he mentions that another fellow blogger (though, he doesn't blog much these days), Snefru7, and his natural ability with the guitar.

It got me thinking, and I know this might sound egotistical of me. Do I have any natural talent?

I can't answer that, to be honest. I mean, I taught myself everything that I'm novice at, which is Photoshop, bass guitar, guitar and drums. So, if teaching yourself something counts as a natural talent, then I might have a small talent. Granted, I taught myself all these at least a year ago. Hopefully I'd teach myself some more things this year.

But in every other manner, I have no talent. I had to work rather hard to get up to the level that I am at everything I taught myself (which is novice level). I used to be good at mathematics, and now that's gone down the shitter. Fuck. RuhBuhJuh gave me something that will hopefully stay with me for a while. And that is what, I hear you cry. Well, I know that I'm (less than) average, I just hope I can do stuff that will make my less average than others.

Right, I'm not going to bore you further. Well, just a little further. I gave myself four targets last year, which I failed miserably. So, I'm going to give myself some more targets for this year. Yeah, I'm sad. These are mainly for me really, like a documentation of my failure. Lovely. Ah well, here's the targets (well, hopes really) for 2011...

1. Do well in university. That's a given.
2. Get better at all instruments. I'll make a detailed list of what level I'd like to get at the instruments of choice.
3. Improve my Welsh. Right now, it is at a shocking level compared to my fiends in my year at school. I want to keep my ability of speaking Welsh, fact.
4. Save money. I haven't done too badly this year, I just need to do more.
5. Do better when helping out with Wicid. All I've done really is write a lot of articles and edit some of the article in the back end. Maybe I could be more involved somehow.
6. I'm not even going to bother having a 'could there be someone special in 2011' one here. Obviously there won't be anyone. Ah, forever alone. Ha.

Right, that is it. Another year of blogging done. Fuck.

But yeah, I hope you lot have a good year this year. See you on the other side.

- Last of the summer FIN.

Heaven Help You Catch Me When I Fall

Don't ask about the title. No idea why I called it that.

I want to ask your advice.

How can I make myself not look like a drug dealer in photographs?

I mean, look at this... And if you hadn't guessed, I'm the one wearing the grey hoodie...

As you can guess, I didn't take the photograph, so this photograph belongs to
the one who took the image, who is called Angharad Price. I think...

I look like I've just scored a hit, and eyeing down some pimp who won't give me more drugs. I mean, look at me. If you can handle looking at the hideousness that is my face for longer than three seconds. I really look like I'm high on drugs.

My thought is that my pictures look like I'm high on wacky-backy all the time because I'm a clean boy. I do not delve into alcoholism nor do I jump into drugs. Doubt that's the fact. Ah well.

Seriously, all my photos look like that. Well either that or what my display picture looks like on Facebook and Twitter. Or, for those who cannot be arsed to visit the links, here it be.

Ah, finally a face that a mother could
love...

See? Isn't this a better picture of me? As you cannot see my faux drug-filled face. Nice.

This is one reason why I hate having my photograph taken. I either look high or pissed. Or both. Or if someone's pissed on me. Well, you get the picture. And even if I do have my photo taken, my first instinct is to stick my arm out and show you the finger of dread. Or, my photographic finger.

Ah, I am glad that I'm one of these people who can take the piss out of themselves and everyone can agree on it. Lovely.

In other news, I have none. Apart from the fact that I broke a plate about ten minutes ago. I tried to microwave a pizza. Well, I did microwave a pizza, I just tried to cut it with a pair of scissors, and then the pizza and the plate decided on going on a business trip to have a discussion on how to waste people's time with the floor. It was a successful meeting. Shit.

Well, I shall leave you for the time being. I have to finish two essays, two websites and a CD cover before the holidays end. Lovely. Not only that, it is likely that I'll write something either later or tomorrow to "review" my year. God, don't I sound like a prick...

- Have you heard the news that you're FIN?

Death Of A Better Man

I'll be honest with you, I have no idea what I'm doing.

I don't mean for writing this blog, I mean in general.

I've finished university for the year. As in, the first term of university has been and gone. What do I have to show for it? A Macbook, a Web Premium suite for the Mac and the newest Guitar Hero game. Yes, it is a lovely thing.

Luckily I have finally finished the miserable module named Video Production. We finally gave in the final video project last Thursday, meaning all that's left is the dreaded evaluation essay. I mean, what am I supposed to write about? God, this module has just been one enormous patronising pain in the arse since the beginning.

The first day I went in to the lecture, I knew it wasn't going to be a fun module. One of the first things he asked us was who hasn't used a camera before? Because I had no idea what type of camera he meant - a camera they use in television shows, one that records on tape or one like a camera phone - I put my hands up. Then he asked me why I decided to do this module. He asked the same about who's edited video before. Again, I stuck my hand up (as the only editing I've done is on Movie Maker). He asked the same question, why are you doing this module?

I had the urge to go on a mad one. Well, not a mad one, more like a rather polite yet assertive one. First off, I didn't chose to do this module, it was more like an annoyance more than anything. Second of all, since this is the first year of the module it means that it's more of an introduction than anything else, so it is to be expected that most of us hadn't used cameras or edited video before. Grrr.

I'll be honest, I really do not understand why some people can be an artistic snob. Okay, I understand when they go in about the colours and all that jazz, but not when they compare the light to a passage from the dictionary. It makes no sense.

Meh.

In other news, I have three extensions for different assignments. Since my lecturer's wife gave birth to a baby, I have an extension that I badly needed for Internet Technology and Media for Applications. The other is because of the snow. Lovely.

So yeah, a few weeks after beginning university and all I have to show for it is a few assignments and a story about going to Hooters for the first time. Nice.

One thing I noticed mind, is that there's hardly any difference between university and school. In my class, there's a definite split between the popular people and the others, quite like the split that was in my year in school. There are lessons (even if they are called lectures, they are still lessons of sorts). The only major difference for me is that you have less time in university (seventeen hours in university compared to about thirty in school). Other than that, it's all the same. Maybe it is because I live at home.

So yeah, a term of university down, and I'm at that point in the year where I'm somewhat cut off from the world. As I see Christmas and the New Year just as an excuse to get urinated, I just stay away from it all, meaning that I lose touch with people who I actually like. Sometimes I hate my train of thought. Hang on, most of the time. Grr.

In other news, I kind of realised that the only reason I went to university is to avoid going into full time work. Well, that's not completely true. I did want a good education, but also I just saw it as the next stage of life. Since everyone in the sixth form were going on about going to university, so I did. I followed the higher education crowd. Maybe, it would've been a wiser decision to go to collage first and then university. Why? I don't feel mature enough for university. I still don't think I am.

I'll be honest, I apologise for the rather shite blog post. I shall leave you now.

- Devil May FIN

Eight And Twelve

You may be wondering, why I called this blog post Eight And Twelve, yes? Thought not. Anyway, it has something to do with binary.

In a four-bit binary code, what is eight symbolised as? Well, its 0100. And what a coincidence, this is my hundredth blog post.

And it is at this point, that I would like to apologise for all the crap that you've had the misfortune to grace your screen. One hundred posts in under two years, there's something sad about that fact, yes?...

So, you might have guessed what twelve is about? Yes, binary again. Twelve in binary is 1000, which leads me to the news that in December, I hit 1,000 views since I started the Blogger In Draft thing late June. That's mad, that. Thanks to everyone who has taken their time to read this blog. I know that most of them have decided to stop reading my dreary posts, but thanks to those anyway. =].

One thing that happened recently, that I'm not sure that I mentioned, is that I was the joint winner of Clic's Best Overall Contributor award, along with a girl from Neath Port Talbot who laughed quite a bit while taking photos of people. The reason I won this is because I do a lot for Wicid, being sub-editor, looking after Wicid's social networking accounts and writing shitloads for the site. I've written eight Dear World articles (which I cannot be arsed to post), with half of them going up to Clic, so they must be good.

Not only that, but out of the seven that has been made live on Wicid, they have had over 1,500 views. Not bad, considering my writing skills aren't the best thing. Not sure if they take Clic views into account also, but who cares? =].

In other news, I had my first assignment back. It was for Video Production (the shit one, y'know... Documenting a Space). The module leader talked to me about the film, saying that I documented a place, not a space. Grr. I thought they were the same thing. Anywho, he also told me that I was too cautious with my filming. I was filming the Taff Trail, maybe if I filmed the inside of Al Qaeda's base, that would still be too cautious for him. Ah well, I still passed the assignment, mind. I had to get 40% to pass, I got 53%. I'm not bothered about the relatively low mark, as this is a really dull module. But on the plus side, we do get to watch music videos like these...







This is what the group assignment is about. We get to fuck around with all these things. No, we're not allowed to use music, its the whole visual thing. But yeah, I didn't realise how good Vermillion was before watching these videos. Brilliant.

In other news, I wrote an essay on resistors, and I'm expected to write an essay on sound. Lovely. I've also written an essay about file types, and I shall let you know how bad I faired when I have the results.

I shall leave you now, as it's twenty to one, and I have to wake up early for something or other.

Fair the well, fellow humanoid.

- I'm just a FIN machine.

Book/Face

For some bizarre reason, someone has decided to change their Facebook display picture to a cartoon from their childhood. The reasoning? To raise awareness of child abuse.

First things first, how does this raise awareness of child abuse? So, just because you changed your display image to Pikachu, does this mean a child in poverty has finally stopped "walking into doors"? No.

You may be reading this and think, fuck, Ga, it's for a good cause. Yes, it is for a good cause, but there are endless adverts by the NSPCC that has more of an impact on people than some people changing their display pictures to a cartoon character for two cocking days.

See, I don't understand these things. Since when was changing a display picture to something else, or changing your status to a chain-letter-like thing, will help in raising awareness of any charity? I thought, and forgive me if I'm wrong, that if you support a charity strongly, the least you can do is give the charity something. I know its an extreme train of thought, but surely that's a better way to support a charity than changing a display picture?

Though, on a lighter note, it has given me one of the best laughs I've had in a long white.

Many of these changes of display pictures are rather typical. The girls who love Disney changed their pictures to Disney princesses, while others who were fond of Saturday morning television changed their pictures to characters from programs like the gang from Recess or someone from Fairly Odd Parents.

While one person, who had the same thought as me about it being a pointless exercise, also changed their display picture.

But what to?

Well, to this...



Yes, she changed her display picture, to help raise awareness of child abuse to an image of Pedobear.

I laughed so hard at that. Best thing that happened today.

Right, I shall leave, before someone attacks me for accepting child abuse just because I didn't change my display picture. If you are said person, look at my current display picture on Facebook or Twitter. That is my reply to you.

=].

- Na, na na na, na na na, na na na na na na na, na na na, na na na, na na na na na na na, na na na, na na na, na na na, na na na, na na na, na. FIN FIN FIN FIN FIN FIN FIN.

Lovely

I went to Hooters, today.

The only reason I went was because someone from university turned to me and someone else saying I want to go to Hooters. So we did.

I'm not going to go on about what I think of Hooters, nor am I going to go on about the females there. All I will do is map out the forty minutes or so.

The obvious place to start is the beginning, so that means walking to Hooters. For some reason, Dan (the guy from my course) was really wanting to go to Hooters. Why, I do no know.

So, when we walk in, me, Dan and Maria (a girl from university). We are welcomed with the choir of voices singing us to our seats. Er. Not really. It was a burst of Welcome to Hooters as the girls were doing their stuff.

When I walked in, I'll be honest with you, the first thing I noticed was that the music they were playing was pretty epic. I mean, the first song they were playing was this...



Forgive the fact that it is a Guitar Hero video. They have disabled embedding on the official video. But anyway, this song is a funky song. Brilliant.

They did play Lady Gaga's Just Dance, which isn't bad, to be fair. But the thing that clinched the fact they play good music is this...



Man, that is a pretty epic song. No idea why, its just one of my favourite songs. It is pretty epic.

The second thing I noticed is that there was a hell of a lot of televisions in there. The first thing that was on the tellies was an American football game between the Patriots and the Steelers. The Patriots won, mind. Then I found out how crap England did on the first day of the Ashes. England, all out for 290? Whoa, you're going to struggle to win the first test now. England will need a miracle.

And as I thought all this, Dan was ogling the girls, and Maria was looking at anything but the girls.

I've never felt more of a man and less of a man at the same time. I've never been more interested in sports than I was at that moment in time. But, as people may think of men as being more interested in barely clothed women than sports, I felt like I kind of let the side now. Well, no I didn't. I just felt really odd there.

Even when one of them served us, I either kept eye contact with one of the the numerous televisions, or the Clic pen I was holding. It was green. Only when the girl asked me what I wanted, I looked at her. And even then, it was her face that was in my vision. She wasn't bad looking, to be fair. She was rather surprised when I said I didn't want to order anything.

One thing I found bizarre was when the music suddenly changed to the YMCA, and the girls all just started dancing. No idea why that is. Though, I thought it was rather odd that a woman came into Hooters pushing a baby push chair things. Whoa, it seems like they start them off early, eh?

So yeah, that was my first experience with Hooters.

- Grand Theft Auto: FIN Andreas.

Is There Anyone At Home?

Come on now.

I know you're feeling down.

But I can ease the pain, and get you on your feet again.

Relax, I'm not going to do a post about Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb, though I must admit that I've been playing it on guitar and singing. I can't sing, but there's something about playing that song, among other songs, that make you want to sing.

Anyways, I thought I'd update you on some of the things I've done since the last post.

The first thing is that I've done my first two assignments for university. Weren't as bad as I thought it was, though I now have a hatred for Final Cut Pro. Fuck, just realised I'm supposed to write the 'development of my video production skills' as my last assignment for one of the courses. Poo. Ah well.

I have, for some reason, began to write a series on Wicid. The series is called Dear World. I got the idea from what David Mitchell does with his Soapbox, though with my articles it's more like a letter to the world (as in the planet itself, not its people). I would've done it as a series of videos, but since I have the face for radio and a voice for books I just decided to do articles of it. Happy days.

Anyway, the thing I was going to do with the Dear World articles is to practice my comedy writing (though I know I have no skill in writing comedy). Now, four articles in, its turned into a more of a series to question the world around me. No idea why though. Two of them have been featured on the Clic website (which covers all of Wales), so the series must have something about it for that to happen.

The first one I've written is on Guitar Hero. I question why people think games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band are crap. This is one of the two Dear World articles that have been up on Clic.

The second one, on the same week as my birthday, is about death. Yes, for some reason, on the week of my nineteenth birthday I decided to write about death. Lovely.

Last week's instalment is about my thoughts on drink and drugs. It just discusses my relationship with drugs and alcohol. Such a different thing that I thought I would be writing about.

Finally, my latest article is about God and religion. I just question religion as a whole. This is the other article that has been put up on Clic, the very same day as I stuck it up on Wicid, in fact. So one of the editors must've liked it enough to think it's good enough for Clic.

Also, there must be a translating ninja on Wicid, since the two articles that have not been up on Clic have been translated to Welsh. Granted, the one's on Clic automatically get translated, but the ones that have not been featured on Clic have been translated to Welsh. I'm not complaining, mind. I like the fact that Clic and its websites use the Welsh language. But, if you fancy reading those articles in Welsh, you can read them here, here and here. There is no Welsh version for the artilce about God, since it has only been set live today.

But yeah, Dear World is a new series of mine, with a new (hopefully) every Monday. If people start to hate the idea, I shall stop, but until then, happy days. =].

In other news, I have a Macbok now. I got it so I could do more for longer (ha, sounds rather sick to me), and to end up being a replacement laptop for my dying one. Ah well.

Also, I'm still looking for someone to help me make a band with my music. I may be in a band with my cousin Michael, Burt and someone who lives close to Burt, but what I mean is that I'd like to be in a band that'd play the style of my songs. Not saying Grrr, I should be the sole music writer, I just want to be in a band that plays the same genre as I do. Even though I have no idea what genre I am. And no, I am NOT emo.

I will leave you now, as I have a sneeking suspision that I'm supposed to be doing something now. Not only that, I haven't installed a dictionary for Firefox yet, so this post might be rife with mistakes. Ah well.

- I throw my hands up in the air sometimes, singing FIN-O, got to let go.

Faking It

I just saw the end of a show on the BBC. It was about GCSE students preparing for, and attending, their prom.

I had one thought all the way through the time I watched...

I'm so glad I didn't go to my prom.

Yes. That's right. I believe that my non-appearance at my year's prom night was an advantage for both me, the other prom night goers, and the economy.

One thing that shocked me in the show was the amount of money some people spend on prom stuff. About five hundred quid? Doesn't that seem... I don't know... way too much for one day? Well, except for weddings and the like, that's an understandable occasion for spending large amounts of money for a day.

Granted, five hundred pounds is not considered a large amount of money these days. People seems to flutter that amount of money every week. But to me, its rather a lot.

Luckily, as a human being with testicles and a penis in my trousers, I wouldn't have needed to spend that amount of money on clothes, make up and travel.

Being me, like I am most of the time, I'd look for the most reasonably priced suit (not tuxedo, not a fan of those if I'm honest with you). Not in an attempt to be extraordinarily in being tight with my money, I just didn't (and don't) see the point in throwing away money for something I'd wear once.

Not only that, it cost something on the lines of thirty quid for a meal and some drinks. That seems a lot. But then again, this is from someone who finds ways on getting Pizza Hut for less.

Another reason why I'm happy with the fact that I didn't go to the prom is, well, the whole social thing. I haven't kept the fact that I don't go out and drink a secret. I don't thrive in situations that demand me to make conversation for conversation's sake. What's the point in that? That's one reason why I stay quiet for the majority of the day. If I have nothing of worth to talk about, I'll be quiet. If I have something to ask someone then I'll talk then, or if someone asks me a question.

A great example of this is of me attending my cousin's parents' vow renewals. The service was rather long (but then again, I'm no Christian, and I found the service rather sexist, but that's just my opinion), but when everyone went to eat food was the point where I became undone.

I ended up doing what I've done in every party I've been to. Sit in one spot, watching the others doing what 'normal' people do. My cousin called me normal, when I told her that I wasn't hungry and I only eat when I'm hungry. She was the first person to call me normal for this thought of mine. Anyceremony, everyone was talking to each other, either about the whole marriage thing or some other subject. Me? I just sat in one place.

I also have a thing about eating in public. Yes, I've done it before, but only on some occasions that I do this. One of these occasions is if I'm hungry. Another of these is if I feel comfortable where I am and who I am with. There are other things, but I can't be arsed to go into them deeply.

I also hate the fact that the word arsed is considered wrong by Firefox. Even arse results with the red squiggly line under the word. Ah well.

The final reason, though there are other reasons that I cannot remember properly at this moment in time, is the attention. Yes, I know I wouldn't have a lot of attention, all I know is that I'd have at least a number of people come up to me and try to get me to drink alcohol or to go up and dance. I say no. They either come back with why not?, what a twat or something like that. So what if I'm a twat for having these thoughts on the subjects in question. I'd rather be a twat and remembering what happened than wasting money by drink all night and then forgetting what you did in the morning in the unwelcoming grasp of a hangover.

Oh, I love the sober life, I really do.

Anyway, I know how much this blog post must make me sound like a right wanker who is tight with his money and needs therapy to rid me of abnormal thoughts. Oh, and a little disclaimer, I'm not trying to offend in my posts. If you do get offended, forget about it. What happens when you do get offended? Nothing. You don't suddenly fall pregnant to a giraffe, neither will you lose your genitalia. It's just a thing that goes away after a certain amount of time.

- Let the bodies hit the floor. Let the bodies hit the floor. Let the bodies hit the floor. Let the bodies hit the.... FIN.

Pretty Vacant

I'll be honest, this has been a slow month for this sorry blog. Not that many of you have noticed. Ah well.

The obvious thing to talk about is the fact that I no longer spell obvious with an l in between the v and the i. It's a small victory for me.

The other thing is university. Its going rather well, to be fair. I'm no longer going for the Welsh version of the Video Production module as it would mean that I would have an eleven-hour day on Mondays next term. And that's not something I want. I rather value my free mornings. =].

Internet Tech's going well. That, Media Tech and Graphics are going really well. Learned how to do a basic webpage, even if it is just a page that says Free Nelson Mandela. Anywho, its progress.

Electronics is a bitch. We've started on building the stylophone. I've nearly burned my hands multiple times as I failed miserably at soldering, and in the lectures all we do is talk about electrons and that, and those lectures are every three weeks. Lovely.

In other news, I have the new Guitar Hero. Its not a bad game, to be fair, though some of the stuff in the game makes sense to me. They made Money For Nothing way longer than it really is, which means playing it on the drums slowly turns into a chore, but that's one small thing. Its a cracking game, to be fair. Could be the hardest band-games (out of the main line of games, as in not GH:Metallica and GH:Van Halen and the like), not sure if its the best Guitar Hero though. Pretty close though. Ho hum, that's the end of that then.

This is just a post that updates you about what's happening in me life thus far. I've kind of ignored my blog (shame on me...) and done a few posts onto Wicid. Either about Stuart Cable's cause of death being revealed, James Blunt and his tactic to make the Taliban to surrender or about Pontypridd YMCA's centenary celebrations. So yeah, lovely.

That'll do for now, pet.

- I want you, to be, left behind those empty FIN.

Walk Of Life

For some reason, this is the only thing I can think of to open this blog. I was going to do the whole 'caring blogger', but then again, you might not think I'm sincere. But yeah, since I've written this paragraph, I've got an opening one. Win win.

Did that make sense to anyone? Probably not. But yeah. Hi. =].

Well, I've actually started the modules of my course. And this is what this post is about. =].

I have six modules for this year (though, for each term I only have to study five, if that makes sense).

I'll start with the most boring one, Video Production. You guessed it, I'll be working with video in this module. But, for some bizarre reason, I have to submit all my work in as MiniDV tapes, which (I believe) would make it harder to work with. I don't know, but I thought working with a digital file would be better than a analogue one (if that is the name of what MiniDV tapes are). Anyfinalcutpro, if you haven't guessed what program I'd be using, I'd be using Final Cut Pro. I've had no experience with it, so that should be interesting.

I have two videos to film. The first one is called Documenting a Space, which sounds like a bitch to do. I have to film a space. That's it. Oh, not only that, I have to record sound too. But, I can't move the camera. No music. No voice-overs. No zoom. Nothing like that. So, I'm rather restricted in what I'm supposed to do with it. Crickey. I'm not entirely sure what the other video is about , all I know is that I'll be working in a group. Nice. But, there's a way to do this module in Welsh, which would be lovely.

I knew this was a BSc degree (Bachelor of Science), but I didn't realise one thing about my course. I have a module in Electronics For Music And Media. The first thing we learned? Ohm's Law. Get in. But then, yesterday, we had to solder. Fuck. I really am crap at soldering. It doesn't help when the fumes affect my asthma. But yeah, we had an hour of trying soldering, but I was shite at it. I mean, I nearly burned myself, and that would've been the first time. But, on the plus side, the first project we're doing for Electronics is to build a stylophone. Oh, happy days.

On the plus side, Internet Technologies looks like a very good module to do. I've already know basic HTML. Not only that, we're learning a bit on the history of the web and other stuff. Bonbon. That module does look like the most interesting out of the five (thus far), the other two being Media Technology For Applications (where we'll be learning about video, flash and some graphics) and Computer Graphics Technology And Integration (which I'll be using PhotoShop, Illustrator and After Effects. Get int). I don't have Radio Production until next term, but I'm not really looking forward to that. Eep.

Well, I shall call another post about university done. Hopefully I will find something in my life not education-related to write about.

But until then.

- Come FIN With Me.

We Should Never Be Afraid To Die

I know.

I know.

I know you want me. You know I want you... And all that with that song.

Anyways, I know what you may be thinking, why have you got a post title like that when you've mentioned in your past posts that you don't want to die? Well, the simple answer is that it is connected to something in some way. Maybe something to do with gherkins, maybe not. But if you are sitting comfortably, then I shall begin.

The first thing is that, well, I'm officially a university student. Yeah, that's mad, man. I am now (well, next week, but keep up) studying BSc Creative Technologies at the University of Glamorgan.

Obviously, this past week was actually Fresher's week (why do they call it freshers? We've been alive for about eighteen years, don't you think we're past our sell-by date?). Monday was the enrolment to the Atrium, and the day I met my fellow course buddies, if I may be cringe-worthily horrid in the use of my words for this sentence.

There were a few things that made me think that the first day in university would be a bad day. The first one was, the night before, my mother put the clothes I was to wear on the first day on the line to dry. But, it rained (cue endless oh no!!'s said in the voice of that Family Guy person), and me clothes were all wet and full of water. Oh darn it. But then again, my mother managed to dispatch of this troublesome molecules of liquid.

The next sign showed it's weary head as I arrived at Pontypridd train station, I had my rail-card (which makes me look like a drug dealer), but for some bizarre reason, they didn't accept it. Argh. The reason? I couldn't use it before 10pm, unless the ticket cost over £12. Admittedly, it was an extra £1.80 to my train ticket, but since I was not warned of this time limit thing, I was rather startled.

I arrived at the Atrium, not sure what I was doing. And after a bit of waiting around, I met my course leader. One of the first things he said was that he has been told that he looks like Peter Griffin from Family Guy. Lovely. Other than that, nothing else really happened. Well, I lent someone a pen but that's it.

The Atrium was closed on Wednesday, since some electrical problem happened. Oh, and on Tuesday (why did I swap them around? No idea, sorry) all I did was to hear about the Welsh Opportunities speech and then went up to Burt's room for a bit. Not a bad room he has there.

Yesterday was an actual day of meeting everybody (except for a few) in the course. They are all a good bunch of people, to be fair, thought no Facebook friends as of yet. Ah well. But, for some reason, there are only three people doing the Multimedia strand of the course (which only comes to life next year). Me and two others. Lovely.

Also yesterday, I had my timetable. I have Wednesday's off, with the possibility of having Friday's off too. Ah, a three day week, what a lovely thought. Add to that the fact that the earliest I have to be in uni is 1pm, that's a winning formulae, I think. =].

In other news, there is no other news. I am still looking to make a band, but then again I'll have to see for myself if anyone's interested in joining me on the roud to music.

Also, I am really sorry for the many posts recently about university. I honestly have nothing interesting to talk about, but if I do, I will let you know.

Oh, and if you really must know why this post is named what it is? Well, it's from the song Uprising from Muse, and here's a video of them performing this song on Later with Jools Holland...



And, you might have noticed in that song, the lyric 'We Should Never Be Afraid To Die' is there, so yeah, that's it. Well, that and the fact that this song is on the new Guitar Hero and I would like to get that game. =].

- The answer, my friend, is FIN.

Can Anybody Tell Me What To Do?

Today is Friday. Well, for me it is anyway. Maybe in some area in the world it still may be Thursday, or even levelled up to Saturday. But for me, it is a Friday.

So, what is so significant about this Friday?

Nothing really.

Well, not for me.

For others, for example a handful of my friends, it's their last chance for them to prepare themselves on their journey to their university. But then again, some may have already gone to their educational destination, while others have to wait longer until they can move in to their accommodation.

Nevertheless, its the last days of preparation until the day that university starts. And I'm nearly ready. I have my student railcard (that doubles up as a discount card) thanks to NatWest. According to Student Finance, my course is ready to be paid for. And luckily for me, that is nearly it. Have to get some things, yeah. But then again, compared to what other people need to get, I'm sorted, thanks to the fact that I'm living at home. And that'll save me money in the long run. Even if I travel on the train everyday, I'd still be spending roughly half as much as someone who'll be paying for accommodation and food. That's the advantages of living at home. =].

In other news now, and I have decided that I would like to be in three different bands.

Why three? Well, to cut a long story short, I can 'play' three instruments. The bass guitar, the guitar and the drums. Okay, most guitarists can move to the bass guitar with relative ease, but the bass was my first instrument I learned (if you ignore the fact that I learned bass songs on my sister's acoustic guitar as I waited for Christmas for a bass).

But, for some reason, the first instrument I played on in front of a crowd (ie, more than twenty people) was the drums during the school Eisteddfod (yeah, the one where I lost a drumstick halfway through the song). I have no idea how or why that was the case. Well, that was a bit of a lie, I know why it was the case, since the drummer who was supposed to play couldn't do it for some reason (I forgotten the reason), and they asked me to go from playing the bass to playing the drums for the song, and they got a new 'bassist' instead.

It has only been recently that I've played bass in front of people, during Jam Night up in the Bush Inn somewhere in Church Village or wherever it is (someone correct me on this. =]). The most recent one was last night, when we played a five-song set. Certainly that was the longest I've played, even though it was a mere half an hour (roughly). But I made so many howlers during that setlist (I feel odd calling it a setlist for some reason...) compared to the two times I played drums in front of people. But I guess the numerous cock-ups will lessen as I improve my playing. And I'm guessing that'll take a long time.

To be fair, I know my guitar playing is well below par. I mean, it has only been recently that I could manage to play the C major chord. I thought it was supposed to be one of the easiest chords to play, and I found it hard. I still do. And don't get me started on barre chords. I am shite at them tenfold. So why do I want to be in a band as a guitarist? Well, I'm not sure to be honest with you, maybe as a rhythm guitarist?...

But yeah, I'd like to start (or be involved with) three bands with three different instruments, but in different genres too. Not sure what genre to what instrument though. I'll have to work on that.

But alas. I shall release your eyes from the hypnosis, known to many as my blog, and allow you to carry on with your day. I will keep you up to date once I begin university.

=].

- FIN the motherFINer, FIN the motherFINer, FIN the motherFINer, he's a FINing motherFINer. (No idea what I'm on about? Clicky clicky here). =].

Into The Abyss I Will Run

I would like to begin by saying that this is my ninety-first blog post. Ninety-one posts in just over two years. That is rather mad. I may not post as often when I begin the road to science bachelorism, but then again, its me. There's a big possibility that I will.

Right, so what is this abyss? Well, its obvious, isn't it? Yes, I'm going to have intercourse with my long-term girlfriend tomorrow for the first time, and she has warned me that she has been compared to a wizard's sleeve. Ha, I fool you. I have no girlfriend, and I'll never have intercourse. Oh, what a web of laughter I have threaded in front of your very eyes indeed.

No, the abyss I am talking about is university. Okay, it is not an abyss, it's not an infinite amount of time, nor is it that I am going to be stuck in the atrium of education for a lifetime and a third (see what I did there? Brilliant...). But since I had a Disturbed song in my head, it kind of linked...

I just remembered (well, not just remembered, but go along with me) that I don't need much in the subject of stationary for my course. While some need endless books, countless pencils and the odd thing and that. But with me, from what I remember from the interview for my course, all I'd need is an external hard drive. That's it. A block of portable memory. Hey, I could probably get away with having about ten percent of the hard drive for my other stuff (ie, music, my songs I've done, ect) and the rest for university. Bonza, I'm a-ready. =].

Okay, it's obvious that I'd need more than a hard drive for my studies. I would need things for writing notes and that. Maybe I'm supposed to draw designs for stuff before I actually computerize them. Who knows. But there's something that has made me question my choice of course...

For this question, I shall take three specimen (well, they are friends, but carry on).

- Specimen one is studying French.
- Specimen two is studying History.
- Specimen three is studying Chemistry.
- And then I am studying Creative Technologies.

Okay, looking at those four courses, my course does sound, and I quote from a friend here, rather epic. But there is one thing that might separate my course from the other courses.

Take the first specimen. French. In three years, whatever they are studying will still be relevant in ten years. Bonjour will always mean good day, and bonbon will always be a goodgood name for a biscuit. In History, you can't change the past. Whatever happened centuries ago will always be that. In chemistry, a chemical reaction between sodium chloride and magnesium oxide will be the same in ten years as it will be in ten days...

But, what about the web? What about graphics?

During my interview day, the course leader stated that I (and the other students in the course) will learn how to code websites in the first month of studying there. But what are the chances of another coding technique that will make CSS, HTML and other types obsolete? Compared to the other courses that I listed above, I am studying a relatively young course, so it is susceptible to change. I mean, look how the look of websites have changed over the past ten years.

But, it kind of makes me happier that I've decided to study a young course. Why? Well, the tutors of the courses named might be somewhat set in their ways. Everything is set for them, and all they need to do is rewash their material for the next year and the next set of students. When, for my course, everything could change in a matter of months. I mean, look at how smartphones have landed onto the scene. Okay, there are some things that I could well study (such as basic radio and video) will more or less stay like that for a good few years, but there will be vast changes in this digital world. And I'm going to study it. Get in.

Oh, and before I carry on, I was not trying to belittle, or to make fun of those specimen who are studying Chemistry, French or History. I only used them as examples.

In other news, MKII is on her way to her baptism, and she said she's fine with me not going. I just hope MkII doesn't get the hump now.

Oh, I also have a new song up on my SoundCloud. =]. Its called Black Box, and it is the first one in a while where I have written the solo to. If you fancy it, could you listen and let me know what you think of this song? Especially the solo. =].

Song Six - Black Box. by CrazyDistortion

Well, that's it really.

- Run away, run away. Out of FIN.

Land Of Confusion

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Foot In Mouth Disease

Over this bank holiday weekend, I was up in Pembroke Dock (that's in Pembrokeshire, fact fans). Why? Because it was those happy days with the people from Clic and the other sites like theSprout, Swoosh and YoungFlintshire. Well, other people went too, from counties that have no site yet, but since they have no site yet, I cannot link them here. Ah well.

But yeah, young people from all over Wales collected in Pembroke Dock to have a residential. This was my third one. the first one being up North Wales, where some people from Newport decided they didn't like me for some reason. The second was in Cardiff Bay, where I was punished with cups. But this was a weird one.

To be fair, I realised my insanity would take over the moment I got out of my father's car to get on the Clic bus, with one of the people who tormented me with the cups of dread from the Cardiff Bay showing me the fact that she brought a cup to this one. Joy. Not only that, an eleven year old girl (I think that's her age) attacked me as we were waiting to pick some other people up.

Yes. I got attacked by a young girl. With plastic forks. Happy days.

But alas, we arrived safely at the place. Nice place, to be fair.

Nothing really happened in that Friday, other than the dreaded icebreakers. I'll be honest, I don't understand icebreakers. I can't really describe some of the icebreakers, or how it made everyone look like they're attending a mental institute (no offence intended to people who have any sort of experience with mental institutes). On the Saturday, we actually got into the whole 'doing stuff for Clic', which went alright. The music activity didn't go well though, as I took my bass and I had no idea what to do over the chords Paul (a guy from Anglesey) played (damn you, capos...). But alas, I figured out what he was playing and just played the bass notes. That's the joys of the bassist, eh?...

So, why have I named this post Foot In Mouth Disease? Well, basically, y'know that young girl who attacked me on the bus on the way to the place with forks, well on that Saturday she decided to attack me again. This time with her feet.

Well, most of the time she was jumping on me and Elin (the cup tormentor from Cardiff), but other times she was messaging my face with her feet. But I think we got away with a little of that girl's evilness, as she was off attacking Dan most of the time.

But yeah, it was an alright residential, to be fair. Also met someone else who is off to the Atrium too. Woop. But yeah, roll on the next one, eh?

Edit - if you are bored or have a fetish for deja-vu, then feel free to read this article that I've written for Clic about the residential. I've added more to that one, so it'll feel more like semi-deja-vu. Happy days...

So, in other news. It's MkI's birthday on Friday. She'll be twenty-five and she wants to go out for food. So, it's a chance for people to watch us eat, and judge us for what we are eating. Not only that, MkII and MkIII are both being baptised in September. MkII one week, MkIII the next. I'll be honest, it seems to me that they are only getting baptised to please their boyfriends and their families. I, in all honesty and sausages, do not want to go to either of these baptisms. I'd feel like a fake. I'd feel like the whole situation is a fake. I'd feel that my sisters are fake.

But, before I go, I'd like to wish Rhys Bowen Jones a happy birthday, as he has finally turned eighteen, right before Sarah Thomas turns nineteen. So yeah, happy birthday for you two dudes. Don't die too soon, yeah? =].

Whoa, there's a load of links in this post, eh?

- Just one cornetto, give it to FIN.

A Year Has Past Since I Wrote My Note

In the past few weeks, two things have happened that have stapled the reasons why I despise those two aspects of my life.

The first thing is food. For some bizarre reason, I became sick after eating a small amount of the food my mother made me for the evening. It wasn't badly cooked. Neither was I eating too fast. But I was sick. Twice. This has happened numerous occasions before. I have no idea why it happens. I wish I did. But then again, if I knew why that happened, I'd know more facts about my despicable body. Happy joyous times.

Secondly is sleep. Last night, I went to bed at about twenty past midnight. I woke up roughly an hour later. I found myself waking up, feeling all paranoid. Okay, I've had worse nights where I was physically shaking because I thought the writing on my walls were moving (I'll stick some photos up here in a new post if anyone either doesn't believe me or just wants to see the walls of my room). My mother thinks it is a lack of vitamins. How can a lack of vitamins do things like that to someone?

Yes, I know. I can't get away from food or sleep. I need both to live. but, by fuck does it annoy you when something like eating and sleeping turns on you and buggers up with your brain...

This part's just a filler for the next part, consider this the in-post interlude. I aplogise for the lack of ludes. But, for some reason, I've started to get into the music by the Police. I've been playing to this song for a while, as I murder both bass and vocal parts of this song. Such a good song, man...



But alas, I shall carry on.

Y'know that they say that everyone has a novel in them? Well, I think that's what people say. I've heard that saying before. But we're not here to discuss the origins of sayings (oh, and by the by, sorry if this post seems rather... shall we say, meh). Any-mr-potato-head, I don't think I have a novel in me. But I will say this. I do want to try my hand at writing comedy. Yes, that last sentence may well be one of the funniest things I've ever written. Damn, I've peaked too early...

But yeah, I wouldn't say no to writing something that people would consider comedy. It's the only genre that I can probably do. Every time I try to write serious stuff, I always cock it up with something funny. I don't even put it in, thinking it's funny. An example of this was when I had to write a 'letter to Jarvis to give my thoughts and opinions on the new school building' for my English GSCE coursework. I wanted to emphasise how narrow the corridors were. So what did I compare them with? Yes, umbilical cords.

I used umbilical cords in a comparison to the corridors to emphasise the claustrophobic feelings of those long pathways to individual hell-holes others may call classrooms. And I thought this was normal.

My English teacher told me I had to re-write it, as it was 'too funny for a letter'. Okay, I'm not piling everything on something I wrote three years ago, but it has got me thinking...

Are some people automatically attracted to one genre of writing than the others, in the case of writing?

Obviously, the answer is yes.

If you were to write a short story about cheese, and could take it anywhere you'd like, there's a massive chance that there's a hint of your natural genre in that text. Saying that, I have no idea about writing. Yes, I have this blog and I write a few stuff for Wicid (with a handful of them actually getting onto Clic), but they are just some stuff I write. Granted, it has my style of writing, but it's just that, a style of writing. Nothing in this blog (or the posts on Wicid for that matter) that I write isn't meant to bring you down in a barrel of laughs (and neither does it seem to succeed in that case).

I'm not saying about me writing pilots for comedy sketches. Neither am I thinking about doing stand-up (which, if I had the confidence and the material, I would consider, but as I have the natural comedy style and timing of a pig that's been circumcised with a coat-hanger, I think not). I just want to do some writing that people would at least chuckle. Maybe a written version of David Mitchell's Soapbox, where I just write opinions in a hope that someone will not just find humorous, but like it enough to come back an read newer posts again and again.

I'm not saying that's what David Mitchell's Saopbox is like. I actually like the vlog-type things he does. Like this one.



Well, that's me done for this time.

- One, two, three, four. I declare a FIN war.

Alive And Kicking

Before you think But the Saturday morning show was actually called 'Live and Kicking', it has nothing to do about that, nor has it to do with this song, by Nonpoint.



Obviously, that song is not to everyone's taste. But yeah, hi. =].

This post has to do with this little called examination results. I know it's late, but yeah, I'll carry on regardless. =].

On the day of resultness, which was yesterday (Thursday the nineteenth, fact fans), I woke up at roughly half five in the afternoon. Ha, fooled you, it was actually the morning. I will spare you the details which are pointless, like the fact I went downstairs and saw my mother watching tellie, 'cause she couldn't sleep for some reason.

When the clock struck six, I logged into Edexcel's results page. And a shroud of doubt filled me, like helium filling a balloon... Overall? I had a D in Music Technology.

Shite.

I needed at least a C to get into university.

So, I was worried at what the other two subjects - Chemistry and Physics - had in store. But, just in case the worst came, I looked at the available courses at Glamorgan University on the clearing pages.

And you know that balloon simile that I said before? Well, nothing has changed to that yet. But, I will say that I saw my course, Creative Technologies (Multimedea), appeared in the list of courses available through clearing.

What could this mean? Did I get in? Did I miss out and my place on the course up for clearing? Who knows...

Well. I do. Since, in a vain hope (I thought), I tried to log into the UCAS track section at about half six. And after two attempts, I got in. And guess what it said...

Congratulations! Your place at University of Glamorgan, Cardiff and Pontypridd (G14) to study Creative Technology (Multimedia) (HP63) has been confirmed.

And at that moment, the helium escaped from the balloon with great excitement (I am really crap at similes, aren't I?). I, with at least a D to my name, have gotten into university. I'm going to Glamorgan University, baby.

Though I know I was into university, I still wanted to know what I got in Chemistry and Physics. But alas, I had that letter that looks like a B but without the middle support. Yes. I had a D in both Chemistry and Physics.

I am, a D student.

Granted, I took (apparently) two of the hardest subjects you can take. And I took a subject that the school didn't even allow until two years ago (and apparently, D was the highest grade out of our Music Tech class, but I'm not sure if this is correct). But, as you hear your friends getting high grades, it does question your intelligence.

That said, I don't think I'm clever. I've been told I'm clever a handful of times. I honestly don't think I'm clever. Okay, I'm not thick, but I at least hoped for one C in my A level results. But at least I didn't relive the image I had when I was in year eight.

What was that image? It was me, aged eighteen, running from the Neuadd (this was before I knew of the new school) in tears because I failed miserably in my exams. Granted, the sky was grey and everyone was laughing at me in that image, and I was taller. But that image was not relived, like a freaky deja-vu moment. I walked out of school rather happily, to be fair.

But, I had three D's in my subjects, and as a D works out to be sixty UCAS points. So, three sixty's are 180. And even if I did get a pass in Key Skills, I'd still be under the needed points by at least fifty, and the fact that my course was in clearing, it got me thinking.

Did I get into that course, because hardly anybody tried for it?

To be fair, I have no idea what the answer to that question is. My parents keep telling me that the interview was the place where I sold it to Glamorgan, that I am actually not bad at knowing stuff. But I don't know. Damn, why can't I remember the right stuff for exams?...

Hang on, I don't have to worry about that now...

But yes. In three (or four, possibly) years, I will (hopefully) become a Bachelor of Science, with a degree in Creative Technologies (Multimedia). Who knows what will change in those three years. Maybe the course name will change to Creative Technologies (Production), or maybe the word in brackets will disappear totally.

But, all I know is, I'm going to study something that really interests me. Yeah, Chemistry, Physics and Music Technology, but stuff like web design and typography really interest me. Granted, people call me sad when I know the difference between Verdana and Trebuchet fonts. But who cares?

- Oh Nemo, you have a really small FIN there...

Dead Man Walking

I know. I know. I bring so much happiness in my blog titles...

So, how've you been?

Well, I'm not bad. But, I will tell you, it seems that I'm shaping up better than other people.

If you didn't know by now, tomorrow is the A Level results day (or, as I like to call it, the day of three letters. A day where we, as past key stage fivers, discover if we managed to pass the exams and sail through on the sea of opportunity to the dock of knowledge and wisdom we usually call university.

Some people, like my friend RuhBuhJuh, are panicking over the results. Either losing sleep over their unknown future, or just feeling jittery about the whole situation.

But, for me, and with many a-blog post here...

It's just another day.

I know, I might change my blog tagline to Another day, another failed blogger as I use those same four words in that same order over and over. I've said it about Christmas, about my birthday, and now A level exam results. Okay, some things in my lifetime won't be just another day. I might get married (that is, if I lose all hope in finding a wife normally and end up buying a Russian bride who won't put out until I marry her, only to have her stolen away from me by some Chinese dude who learned to speak Russian for her love... hang on, that's an episode of American Dad...). That wouldn't be just another day. Neither would be the birth of my children (yeah, I thought the same thing...). Or, and I hate to say it, the death of someone close. Other than those potential events, everything else is just another day.

But this post was not supposed to be about me and my never ending use of that four word sentence.

Yes, I am somewhat nervous about what the three letters will turn out to be. All I know is that I have about twenty five percent chance of getting a vowel in my grades, with 99.99% of that quarter being an E or lower. But then again, I can't see myself earning anything over a C grade in my subjects. But these are just my thoughts and predictions for tomorrow.

Tomorrow starts at six in the morning, while others have to wait until the anti-six (ie, nine) before even thinking of having the grades in their hands. Why six? Well, Edexcel (the examination board whose behind giving Rhydfelen the choice of doing Music Technology for an A level) release their exam results at six in the morning.

Six...

Yeah, sure, I'll be up by then. Fuck, I was up at six this morning without anybody calling me. So, chances are that I would be up at about four, five tomorrow. Hey, maybe even earlier. I have no plan for if I stay up all night tonight (other than watching endless shows of the Peep Show, Mitchell And Webb Look and A Bit Of Fry And Laurie). Neither do I know what I will do if I see the grades on the screen to be lower than the C. I'd be kind of gutted, I admit. But, what then? Do I slow-walk to school, further lowering my expectations of what I had in the other subjects?

No idea. But what I do know, is that I'd probably be updating this blog. Not necessarily on this post, bit on a two-for-one post. Either one post on pre-nine-thirty and post-nine-thirty (both are in the morning), or one continuous one, though I would publish the post before I go to school to collect my results. Then I shall update it with the news of the other results and if I got into university.

So... expect tomorrow to be a hectic day for blog posts. I apologise in advance.

I shall leave you now, as there's nothing else I could say. My ankles hurt from walking from a meeting for Wicid yesterday , so I find it hard to play drums a bit. Yeah, my life's a bit dull, yeah? I'm also going on another Clic residential at the end of this month. Such lovely information for you. =].

But yeah, sounds cheesy, but if you are waiting for exam results, I hope your results are what you are hoped for. =].

- I FINished ze blogpost, ya?

Break It Down.

Today, I was looking back at the past blog posts, and I stumbled upon the post named Diweddglo, which was written before the Earth had it's two thousandth and tenth birthday. It had four 'hopes' there...

And it got me thinking...

How close am I to them.

Let's revisit them, shall we?...

First one was about the exam results, and my hope that I would get into Swansea Metropolitan University to study Interactive Media Design. This was also before the open day when I went to visit the university. If I haven't said before, it doesn't seem like a good university. To me, for some bizarre reason, the building felt like the old Rhydfelen, but without the soul. The tutors sounded bored out of their skulls, and the only flicker of happiness from the people in the university was the image of a land that time forgot (otherwise known as Swansea itself). Now, I'm not calling Swansea a shitehole. But, it must say something about a university when nearly everyone looks bored and looks like they want out, right?

Luckily, I went to the Atrium for Creative Technologies and Music Technology. I won't bore you with the details of them, but I received offers from both courses. Music Technology for 300 points, and Creative Technologies for 280.

As out of the two Atrium courses Creative Technologies was my first choice, it made no sense for me to make a course that required more points to get into as an insurance, nor did it make any sense to go to a university where the tutors were counting down the days to retirement. So, I went for the Creative Technologies as my first and only choice.

And, about the grades I'm expected, you're better off looking at this post...

The second hope, which was to start a band, or at least work with a songwriter, I'm not sure where I am with that. Nick (who I know from school, if you didn't know) asked if I could be the bassist for his band (or possibly, bands). But, as nothing has really happened yet, I'm still not sure what will arise from his proposition. I still really want to work with a lyricist, even if we become like the band Gorilaz and just exist as animated characters. But, I'm still looking for a wordsmith of sorts...

There's no point talking about the third one. I can't see any chance of finding someone this year. Maybe next year (or decade), Ga?...

And the last one, keeping in contact with the people I like after school finished. I have done that, sort of. Be that meeting up if a pub for Jam Night or seeing some of them during the Wicid meetings. But, lets see what'll happen after September, shall we?...

I also have a question for you. With some things, parents can pass certain traits to their offspring. I remember, during a GCSE Biology lesson, me and my friend were having a discussion, which ended up with him asking the teacher (who was Mr Porter) if gambling was in people's genes. And he said they were. I know (well, I think I know but I'm not sure) that the possibility of certain illnesses is increased if the parent has that illness (for example, some cancers, mental illnesses, others).

So, my question is this. Well, not this, but you know what I mean...

Is alcoholism hereditary?

Answers (or thoughts) are welcome in the form of a comment, a Twitter mention or a passing comment on the street in real life.

But yeah, that is it for now. If I get a why are you asking if alcoholism is hereditary? question sometime, I may elaborate in blog form at a later date. But for now. Au revoir.

- And next on BBC One, The FIN Show...

Alone

Before I get on with this, this has nothing to do with loneliness. I couldn’t think of a better title. But, it does have a link to me…. Yeah, you thought you got away with not getting SoundClouded here… but you were wrong. MWAHAHAHAHA…

Anyways, this is my A Level coursework for Music Technology, called Alone. It’s supposed to reflect the lyrics, and their pretty depressing (lyrics can be seen by clicking the info thing on the side, then clicking the name of the song). And as you can hear, this isn’t really depressing… it’s rather happy. Which is different to the sound people would expect from me, since they kept playing Em9 (guitar chord, for those not in the know) since it (somehow) looks like the word emo. But yeah, here it is. Credit for the solo goes to Adam Hill. =].

A Level Music Technology Coursework - Alone (No Vocals) by CrazyDistortion

And that, my friends, links to what I actually wanted to discuss. And what many a seven- or eighteen year old does not want me to discuss.

Yes, that right.

I’m going to talk about sex.

Nah, I jokes. It’s actually about the exam results.

Cue said seven- or eighteen year olds leaving blog…

I shall continue regardless. I've only thought recently that there's nine, ten days left until I see the three letters of fate that will decide... well... my fate. If I see BBC, then I'm in. If I see anything below a C, then I will live out the one thing that I dreaded since sitting in one of those cabins in the old Rhydfelen.

But, what are the chances of the Atrium taking me if I've failed to earn 280 points? Not good, I believe. But, what do I really need? Do I need 280, or do I need 250?

During the AS year, I did ICT as a basic skills thing (it's sgiliau allweddol in Welsh, though I have no idea what the correct translation to English is, sorry). I have no idea if I passed or not. If I had, I would've had either 20 or 30 UCAS points. If not? Nothing. The only way I have any idea if I did pass or not is if someone else who did ICT Skills has passed. Why? This short course thing is decided by the fact that if one person fails, then everyone fails (or, so I'm told). But, if someone did get a pass in that course, then I would've banked 20 or 30 points. A thousand huzzah's and several packets of tuna to celebrate.

So, what does that mean? If I pass, it means that I now need 260 points to complete the 280. That's two C's and a B in gradespeak. That seems more realistic for me than B-B-C.

But, looking back, I can't see me getting anything better than C-C-D (ie roughly what I had in AS). Basically, I did terrible in the fourth modules in both Chemistry and Physics (earning an E and D in them exams respectively). I did rather well in the Physics practical exams (both the resit and the A level exams), gaining about four more marks in the resit and getting one mark from full marks in the second A level exam. That, when you see who is in my Physics class, is something of an accomplishment... Even in Chemistry, where I shake constantly and unsure of what to do next, I still managed a B for the AS coursework. That is pretty good. And considering that I seemed to do well for the A level coursework in Chemistry (I hope), then that might be my C and D...

But Music Tech might be either my saviour or my downfall. In one sense, I felt that my exams I sat this year went far better than the exam I sat in AS level. The coursework went so much smoother as well. No fuck-ups in the recording song. The MIDI piece sounded much better. Though, I think that the two songs I wrote for the two courseworks (AS and A Level) were, and I hope this doesn't sound big headed and obnoxious, pretty funky indeed. The song I posted at the top of this post was my A level coursework, while this song (a version of No Angel by Dido in the genre of 80's Rock, which I also failed in) sounds rather decent considering it was one of the first songs where I wrote a whole song...

By the by, here's the track.

AS Level Music Technology Coursework - I'm No Angel. by CrazyDistortion

The exams, on the other hand, they felt much better. They felt like I knew the stuff. But, in the A level Music Tech one, the computer buggered up more times than Elton John has. Ha. But, ignoring that cock-up, they went well.

And, that's where the problems begin...

Every exam that I have found remotely good, I did shite at it. Look at CH4 and PH4 earlier this year, I found CH4 (Chemistry 4) much easier than PH4 (Physics 4). But, I managed a D in that Physics paper and an E in CH4. See where I'm staring to worry? I've only found one (well, maybe two) exam(s) hard (not saying I found the others easy, I found the other exams better than shite). So, I will only probably do decent in those exams (funnily enough, both exams in question are the Physics exams). That's not a happy thought, to be fair.

And, sure enough, on the day I will see many people, including many of my friends, celebrating at the fact that they have gotten what they want. I, on the other hand, will probably hide my sadness with a mute smile, as I wonder where I went wrong. Or, I may join in with them. Who knows.

But, let me just add this for the joys of the Welsh language. Even if there is little or no Welsh in this video. But who cares, when it's a sketch from Mitchell And Webb Look? =].



- Why not try our new Mc Chicken FINgers...

Every Little Thing Is Gonna Be Alright.

Sorry. I must begin with this...

May I present to you, Alright, by Skindred...



Sorry, I had to. Such an amazing song. It's bands and songs like these that make you want to make a band just to try to create the eargasm such as they created. Either that, or the thought of you not being able to create that double rainbow of a song. Meh...

Anyways, that had to start with that. It's going downhill from here.


If you didn't know, I have three older sisters. This blog is about two thirds of them.

If you didn't know already, Rosie and Lowri (who I shall call MkII and MkIII respectively throughout my blogging life, and just to be fair, MkI is Emily, the oldest sister) are religious.

Yes.

You read that right, reader.

Religious.

I'm not here to belittle any religion, nor am I here to support any. The mere fact of this surprise statement is that I (along with my sister) were brought up in a rather atheist household. We had no God to worship. No religious guidelines to live our lives through. It's only since MkII and MkIII met their now boyfriends (otherwise known as BfII and BfIII) that they have turned to religion. Both have entered into relationships with Christian men.

And, for some reason, it seems to me that they have competitions on how Christian they are...

What do I mean? Well, quoting bible passages is the main one (I'm sorry, but I cannot give any examples), but recently a new competition has arisen...

The competition on who can get most excited about getting themselves baptised.

Yes, they both want to get baptised. It makes no sense to me if I'm completely honest. But I've only now just realised that I have other family members who are Christian, mainly my cousin and her family. so if she (or her family members) read this, please don't take offence (well, this could be a plea to any Christian who reads this, on the off-chance that there is anyone reading this). But needless to say, like my endless stupidity, I shall continue...

As you might have guessed, I do not believe in the same God as any of the main religions. Saying that, I do not consider myself religious. Just because I believe that there could be a God somewhere does not mean that I worship him/her. I'm a science person, someone who can understand scientific discoveries, be that for good or not. Such as the Big Bang. There's a theory (I believe, either it's a theory, actual fact or something I just made up) that the reason for the Big Bang is the pressure (or heat, or something like that) between the dust, small molecules and crap was too much. This resulted in a - you guessed it - a massive bang, renamed the Big Bang 'cause they thought it would sell more books that way.

But, what made that happen, if nothing existed before the Big Bang?

Maybe there was a God, and he/she placed all the resources needed for life and did something to create the Big Bang. Maybe he sacrificed him/herself to create the bang and thus, creating life. Or maybe he/she lit a fart and thus creating the bang.

Well, that is assuming that there is a God.

If there is no God (and a few of my friends would agree that there is no God), then what made the bang? Was it too much pressure? Too much heat? Too many failed attempts at a Rubix cube?...

I've just realised how off the road I've gone. I was going to have a mini-rant (mint, if you will) about how my sisters had Christian contests. And I've ended up talking about God and such. What made me go off the road so far?

Ah well. I'm not sure I want to go to either of my sisters' baptism. It doesn't seem like them. It kind of feels like their only doing it to please their boyfriends and their possible future in-laws. Oh, how my sisters would kill me if they read that.

But to be fair, I don't think that if I had a religious girlfriend (I know, imagine me with a girlfriend... never going to happen...), I don't think I'd have a baptism seven months down the line. Sure, I'd respect her thoughts, feelings and other stuff. But I can see a problem with having a girlfriend who believes in different things to me. There'd be arguments and the like. So, yeah... what am I on about now? God, this is worse than my Twitter account recently...

Ah well, Y'know what they say...

Every little thing is going to be alright...

- Na na na na na na na na, na na na na na na na na BATFIN.

Play Your Cards Right, And You'll Be Rewarded With A Hobnob...

I'll be honest, I've been looking at the Create Post thing for ages, just thinking of a title. Yeah, I might be the only person who does the title even before they know what they are writing about. But now I've overheard a quote, it's well good. =]. I'll admit, it's from Coronation Street, me mother is watching it. Please don't judge me.

Anyway, I've resorted to saying 'anyway' instead of 'anykerfuffle' and the like. Also, just now I was forced, by my parents, to perform for my sister's boyfriend. What did this performance involve? Well, solving a Rubix cube. He didn't believe that I could do it. I did it. He was impressed. I did two patterns. He was further impressed. But it was not the mere act of solving the six sided puzzle was the main event. It was the creation of a new being that was the highlight of the two minute-odd act of moving twenty-six small cubes into position...

As I was in the act of solving the cube of colours, my sister (MkII, if you were wondering) asked her boyfriend (let's call him BfII, meaning 'boyfriend two', as all my sisters have boyfriends) something. And the subject of chastity belts accrued. At that moment, BfII looked at the cube, and gave birth to a thought...

What about a Rubix cube chastity belt?

Perfect.

What a way to stop your children from relentless bonkage. Attach a Rubix cube to a chastity belt, which if fixed releases the belt. But as it's rather hard to solve quickly (especially for people who haven't tried it before), it will ruin the mood, and the possibility of the act where the male inserts his penis into a female's vagina will not happen.

And, according to BfII, I'd be good at it. The solving the cube, not wearing a chastity belt. I mean, it would be a rarity. Such a rarity that I would probably forget how to solve the cube that I'll end up as a victim of the cube, not the conqueror of the cube (and coincidentally, the girl).

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is it.

Goobdye...

- FINNIF.

Red Flag

If you're thinking Yey, he's got a title for his blog from a Billy Talent song... Yeah, I didn't. I just glanced at my door, where I have, hanging with pride and honesty, my Welsh flag. But I couldn't call it Red, White and Green Flag 'cause that would be a stupid title (Ahem...). And if I called it Welsh Flag you might assume that this would be a an overly-patriotic post on how Wales is being crippled by the British 'empire' and how we should rise up and be thankful of our Welsh language.

Yeah, I think I've lost some of you already.

I shall continue, if I still have you, that is. Heh, reminds me of my first date, that...

Anywho, I've actually started this post because I read a blog which overused the word 'ass'. Yes, it's a rant post.

Maybe it's because I live in Wales (or the United Kingdom... yeah, it's not really that united, isn't it?...), but I take the word 'ass', and instantly think 'donkey'.

Why? Because it does mean donkey.

If you want to say your bum, your buttocks, it's ARSE. See? ARSE. Bugger the fact that the spelling thing that I have on my internet browser says that it's spelled wrong. It's not. Why? Because. Yeah, you just got told. Booya.

Another thing that got me thinking was a Family Guy episode yesterday. Y'know, the one where Brian's ex was marrying a guy? Well, he says in it "I could care less". That hit me there, right there (if you can't see me through this blog, I'm pointing at my left leg). I shall refer to David Mitchell for my reasonings...



Maybe I shouldn't use a comedian person thing to argue my point. But I have. So yeah. Hi there.

I have ranted a bit here. I shall rant some more. This time, on cocks.

Yes, I live in a house. A terraced house. The problem? The neighbours on both sides are cocks (and you thought I was going to talk about cockfighting...).

Allow me to elaborate...

To the left of my house (if you were outside my front door, facing the house), there is a family. They aren't bad, apart from the father. He seems like the type of person who if you don't do what he wants, he'll do it anyway. Do it without even thinking. This happened recently. He asked my father to chop down the trees behind the house. My father said okay, in a minute. But, a few moments later, I hear my mother cry (as in shout out loud, not sobsobsob). She saw the man next door starting to hack the trees randomly. Not good. But, unlike the other neighbour, he apologised and helped out to fix it.

The right neighbour (well, the bitch neighbour from hell) is just interested in short-term gain. Why do I think that? Well, considering that she had her loft converted illegally and the fact she took down a fence thing that held up a fire escape and now that if a fire was to start in my house then nobody could go through that way. Shit, that was a long sentence. But yeah. If there was a fire downstairs right now, we would not be able to use one way out since the floor thing that's there would break and we'll break a leg or our sense of well-being. And today, she cut the hedge that is inbetween us, but she's cut the hedge on our side also. And adding the whole 'her daughter smokes and chucks all the butts on our roof' thing, then yeah...

To be honest, I have no idea why I wrote all that. So, to compensate, here's a picture of Pikachu...



So, with that bombshell...

Goodbye.

- Father FIN.