Define It

Do you ever think who and what the fuck am I??

I do.

It mainly occurs when I read other people's biographies on social media sites. I just saw one who described them as loving, caring, intuitive person and the like.

My main thought on that, without sounding like I'm being a total arse, is what makes you think you're the things you think you are?

I mean, I'd like to think I'm somewhat a decent person, someone who has a sense of humour and can be relied on. But it's not really up to me to describe myself. It's up to the people who are (un)fortunate to meet me.

For all I know, people may consider me an absolute twat who's only plus side is the lack of socialising I do. I don't really know what people think of me, but that's their right. And let's be honest here, they are a better judge of me than I am, considering I only see my own perspective while others see everyone else's.

Does that make sense? Does anyone read this blog? Not sure if any of those questions will ever get answered.

But the main one is when it comes to what I do. I've heard/seen people call themselves all sorts, just because either that's the thing they do most or they just can.

I mean, I can call myself a professional photographer, a director, cameraman, editor, translator, designer, compositor and writer. But I don't. Why? Well, just because I do those things (and by directing, I just tell people where to sit/stand so they are in shot and the like, nothing arty or anything like that) doesn't make me them.

You know that saying I live, therefore I am? It's either that or something like that, I don't know.

Back to the point; I'm not completely sure that's true.

Just because you live, doesn't necessarily mean that you're alive. Probably. This is all coming from someone who's only slept outside his home country for eight days, so I'm not the most knowledgable when it comes to life lessons.

Anyway, I think it's true. Just because I played a few games of cricket for Pontypridd, doesn't mean I'm a retired cricket player with a decent bowling average and a terrible batting average. It just makes me someone who used to play cricket.

And yes, for those who think that's a boring sport, I actually like playing cricket. Bowling can be both a stress reliever and a good way to make you think. Don't judge me, ya?

It's just that I see loads of people defining themselves as something just because they have an interest in it, when in all honestly they are either not good at it, or not as serious as they say they are.

That's why I hate it when someone asks me to describe myself to people. Unfortunately, where I work, we get a few young people in for work experience. And I have to say what I do. And I just repeat the same thing - I help out with translation, media and sometimes with moderating written content.

I have a problem defining myself, it seems.

There's only two things that I know I am, and that is a student and a male.

And that's the major one for me. I'm male, and I'm almost twenty one years old, a combination that usually results in someone describing themselves as a man.

But not me. Why? Mainly because I don't think I've done anything worthy of the title.

And no, I don't mean releasing my seed within a woman's baby chamber.

There's so many ways to define what a man is. And I don't think I'm any of it. Yet.

Maybe that'll change in decades to come. Maybe I'll be on my death bed, looking back at my past, and thinking that my younger self was just being an utter arse. So, nothing new there, then.

So, that was a blog post worth forgetting.

- I spent a few minutes trying to think of a way to end this by adding FIN into it, but I couldn't think of anything better than what I've just written. So yeah... FIN.

Diweddglo

So yeah, this is either the final or the final-but-one post of the year (hence Diweddglo being the title - which means something like to finish off... correct me if I'm wrong, Welshies...).

It's another year... wasted really...

Or was it?

To be fair, I have no clue. I'm not sure what to consider a waste or not. Is reading through countless blogs about design inspiration a waste of time? I don't know...

Well, here are the facts.

First off, I've gotten much better at playing the bass. I would say, well type, that I've improved a shedload since this point last year. I can actually play slap bass alright, maybe in the middle on the scale of awsomeness. I've ditched the pick also... sort of. I still need it to play fast songs like Hysteria (yeah, I know it's actually like eighty-nine beats per minute, but I can't fingerpick it at all), but on the whole, I've learned, at least the basics of, three bass playing techniques. So I suppose that time staying in my room with the bass wasn't such a total loss. Hehe.

But, on the bad side to that, I've still got next to no knowledge on theory. No clue whatsoever. I can only recognise the major scale (well, and the bebop, but that's because I use that constantly in the songs I made up... ah that too...). Only recently I actually understood the pentatonic scale and positions (I think...). Also, I've learned no more chords for the guitar. Woop for me. So guitar-wise, it has been a waste really. But then again, I only really want to learn enough to be a rhythm guitarist (y'know, just keep the rhythm and that shaite, well what the bass does then...).

The 'ah, that too...' thing I wrote in the last praragraph. I've written a hand-and-a-half-ful of songs. Even though most of them are songs-to-be. Only three or so are full blown songs, either finished or nearly finished. The thing is, they are totally different from each other...

The first one, which I called Acoustication is, well... an acoustic song. I think I've said about it before, because I remember writing that I feel that it sounds too middle-of-the-road-like. It's also got the only guitar solo that I can actually play. So yeah, that shows the dificulty of the song. Not only that, it's got a piano in it. Look at me, with the use of different instruments. =). It's about two and a half minutes long... though I might need someone's guiding hand with polishing it and that.

Second one is (for now) called Rather Scene. Balls. I tried to make a rock song, but ended up writing more like a emo-scene song. Not intentionally, I might add. Also, this and the previous song seems predictable. Y'know, even if it's the first time you heard it, you could still guess what would come up. Anyroad.

I'm halfway writing two bass things too. I wouldn't call them solos, so I won't. They are both slap bass. One is an intro idea to an album (well, we can all dream...) and the other would probably would just be a dud.

Sorry about the blabbering on... =).

I think my blogwriting's back.

LUCKY YOU.

Ahoyhoy, one thing I know I've wasted time on is... yeah, Guitar Hero. You know when you've wasted your life when you've four-starred Raining Blood, got your first FC on drums, guitar and bass (that would be Plug In Baby by Muse, which is on GH5) and, not only that, started singing also! Shit! I can't sing!...

Can I?

Obvliously, the answer is no. There's a reason why I write blogs. Nobody really wants to hear my voice. And anycaboodle, five-starring songs on hard vocals doesn't mean you can sing. It just means you've played on that song too many times.

*Insert extreme smilie face here*.

Anyboom. Schoolwise, I'd say I've prooved myself to be a failure of sorts. Maybe thinking too much about death and that shizz made me wonder if there was a point in studying for a place in Uni was worth it. I don't know. I believe my mindset's changed, well at least in the working stakes. I felt like utter shit, looking at my two D's and a C in my AS's. I felt people were laughing at me after I got kicked out of Art. To be fair, I don't care about that now. I'm not even bothered if people are better than me in Chemistry, Physics or Music Tech. As long as there is something I'm better than them at, I don't mind.

I say that, meaning that as long as I have some worth, like I'm not second best at everything. So people might come up to me asking about something. I know, who's ever going to ask me how to change the colour of someone's eyes in PhotoShop or how to do legspin in cricket? Eh, yeah...

Talking about PhotoShop, I'd like your opinion.

Y'know that logo idea and web design I showed you some posts ago? Well, I did a redesign. If you don't mind, could you critique them? =).


This is the webdesign...



... and this is the background I made for it...



The logo I used is exactly the same as I made in the other post. But if they decide to change the logo, I'll ask for a .png file of it and then do more designs.

And that's really it. Not much done this year. I've thaught way too much also, and don't you know it.

So yeah, just to make this longer (not really, I just haven't got anything else to do, so I'm just writing what I'm thinking...), predictions for next year (well, more like hopes).

1 - I will get two B's and a C in my exams, thus being accepted by Swansea Metrepolitain for Interactive Media Design.
2 - I'll start a band, or at least work with a lyricist/songwriters. Writing with other people should be fun...
3 - Dare I say it?... Could there be someone special during Two Thousand and Ten? I hope so, but I highly doubt it...
4 - Hopefully, will keep in contact with the school people that I actually like talking to. Shall be easier and harder once in uni... well once school's over.

So yeah. Bring on Two Thousand and Ten.

NEVER TWENTYTEN. Fuck off with the coupling number shite....

Anyways...

- Happy birthday World... Gareth says FIN.

Untitled...

I'll be honest with you. I've started this post two times. And I couldn't even think of a fuckrad title. Ah well, who cares? I don't. I used fuckrad as a proper word. Do you think someone who uses a swear word coupled with a shortened word cares about titles? No.... =).

Anyways. As it's "christmas", I'll begin with today's happenings...

Rage Against The Machine, an american band who specialises in rebel music, are the christmas number one, beating the X-Factor winner Joe McElderry (wrote McReary jsut now... must cut down on Grand Theft Auto IV playage...) to the post. Hanestly? I'm glad RATM are on top with Killing In The Name (such a happy song title for the festive time of year), simply because I prefer it to The Climb (too middle of the road for me...). It's also a good thing that the makers of the group on FaceBook made a donations page for Shelter, raising about sixty thousand (I believe) pounds, with the addition of whatever RATM are donating too. Good on 'em.

And talking about Rage Against The Machine... Well, Morello anyways. His new band, Street Sweeper Social Club, has brought out a new song, Promenade. (Sorry, I can only find it on Ultimate-Guitar.com, no-one's YouTube'd it yet).

I tell's ya, it's some funkyass shit. And the video too. Fuck aye and a packet of Fox's Glacier sweets.

In other news, d'you remember the website that's going to happen that I'm helping out with? Well, recently they've made some designs up. I asked them could I do a design of my own... and this is what I came up with...

My logo idea...



And the website design idea, thing...



As you might have guessed... the name they've gone with is Wicid. Don't ask me why. Anyways, the site should be live by January. Fuck.

Also in January, I have an interview with the University of Glamorgan. Woop. To study Creative Technology (Multimedia). And I have to make a portfolio. Great, I'm gazeeboed.

No other news on the other courses... but meh, I guess I'll have to wait 'till the new year.

So yeah, I shall leave you now.

- Om Nom Nom.... oh yeah.... FIN.

Death Of A D Stringed Encore....

Yep, no idea if the title actually makes sense there.

Basically, my guitar (well, my sister's guitar) has lost a string, a D string. Sob sob. And it's an Encore guitar...

So yeah...

Uneventful blog so far.

One question though... what's the weirdest music video you've seen?

For me... it's the new Rammstein video for their new song... 'Pussy'.

I would place a link here to the video... but if your parants or younger siblings aren't around... watch it. It's a funky tune. Just ignore the bandmembers banging some women... such is the joys of extreme music videos...

So yeah, it's one in the afternoon. How swell is that?

Not much else to say really. Muse's new music video's been released. It's not bad. Haven't heard all of it, just half. But I've liked what I've heard so far. Looks like Muse is doing it again. Woop. Paramore's new album'll be out next week (I think the twenty-nineth?), so not long now... hopefully the album'll follow Ignorance's vibe.

In other news. I have found my charger for my shaver. WOOP. Now all I have to do it charge the fecker.

Oh yeah, this past week was, what I shall call as the 'when's the next one?' week. Why? Z, your turn... sorry, shite joke there. Anycucumber, it's because on Thursday night, there was a party for the sixth form, and I stayed home, watching Mock The Week. Brilliant. Next day, I was the first to arrive at school. But as the trickles of drunkards arrived, the birth of the upmost dread came to be. Oh last night was SOOOOOO fun! I like drunk a WHOLE BOTTLE of J2O! I was totally gazeeboed!. Well, not like that. That's a major exaguration. But the idea applies.

But yeah, it wasn't as bad as I thaught it would've been, but then again the Chemistry class went to Cardiff Uni for some Chemistry learnage, so it wasn't as bad as other times. But that question always arrived. 'When's the next one? I wanna get ratarsed again'. Then the whole 'there should be one a month' suggestion appeared. Meh, not really going to comment on that. But yeah, since this year is the year of the eighteenth birthday, there's going to be a shitload of times when 'when's the next one?' will be repeated. Ah well...

So yeah, looks like the nex one might be roughly around the last week of October. I just hope that the week after's a half-term... I can only hope, right?

Back to something that will make you drone even further. GUITAR HERO. =).

Nah, only messing with you. I won't say anything about it. Apart from this, the next one should have Slipknot's Psychosocial as a track. That would be good, well I think that anyways. Do you?

Oh, look at me, asking my readers questions... how original am I?

This post seems short to me... so I'll make it that little bit longer with a video. And no it's not the Rammstein one. Also am I spelling Rammstein right?...

IT'S MOCK THE WEEK, BABY!!



=).

So yeah, goobdye!

- Finissimo.

Eight In A Row.

Lucky you.

This should be a short post.

Woop.

...

See you.











Nah, not really. It will be shorter. Well, in the amount of text there is compared to others. Anyways.

I've designed a website after looking at a tutorial on PSDTuts. So, enough text, here's the result.



So, what d'you think?

It's the first white design, as all of the others have been either black or a dark colour. Even though I've basically followed a tutorial on it, I'd like to think I could tweek it a tad more.

Nearly done. Yes, really.

Before I go, I'm with her on religion...


I'm out.

- Fin.

Fuck.

Well, now. That's a way to entice readers to... er... read...

Or, it's a way to discourage the people who believe swearing is like placing your tounge into Satan's grasp...

But, I assume your the first example, so if you're sitting comfortably... guessing you are now, let me resume.

Again, fuck.

And again, a wonderful way to entice readers...

What has struck in the lifeless world of this humanoid to enrich the merry monitors with four letters of cursage? Has grieve arrived at his door, or has disappointment rained down on his weary head? Or is it happiness that has filled the heart of stone to exhale a four letter word that is related to shagging?

Er... none of them, really. It's some word trickery that I have failed to cast on your humble self... let me explain...

F - Yaba Daba Doo.

If you aren't well educated in the world of cricket, one of England's best players is Andrew Flintoff, which his nickname is Freddie... see the connection?... Freddie? Fred Flintstone?... Yaba daba doo?... forget it.

Anyways, the fifth and final test of the Ashes finished. To my surprise - oh, and by the by, I'm starting from the beginning then to the end - England racked up a rather impressive first innings score of 300-odd, considering they were bowled all out for 102 in the fourth test, shocking. Then, they proceeded to do to Australia what the Aussies done to the English...

Australia, 160, all out.

I looked at that, thinking, 'someone must've missed out a digit before that'... 160! Jeeez... I'm not sure if that's worse than England's 102-odd all out in the fourth test.. Why? Well, England had their problems, like Freddie being out, and Pieterson, though he's going from bad to even badder. Though, I believe the Aussies had their problems, they still had their main batsmen (who are some of the best in the world, may I add). Then, England's second innings was over 300 declared, meaning they were 500 or so runs ahead. I can't remember a time when England had a better time to win the Ashes than this time, but aye, Australia was shy of a win by 197 runs. Gutting for the Aussies. Happy days for England, and Freddie. His last ever Ashes sees a win for England, nice knowing you, dude. =).

Oh, as well, I'm going to get the Ashes Cricket 2009 game soon, because I am a sad child who enjoys cricket and golf games on the XBox 360. =).

U - Unseen Footage.

This, dare I say it, is ironic. I'm probably wrong, in the definition of 'ironic'.

One word of advice, I have to ITV....

Please, stop putting on 'The X Factor' every night, it get's slightly on people's collective tits after the first show. I've had enough of, for one, repeats of the same show, on different channels, even though they've utilised the good old fasion of 'copycat-ism' and got ITV-Player, in which, I believe, holds the show for over a week? So why bloody bother? Then there's Xtra Factor. Again, this is repeated more times than the amount of series of X Factor put together. And this is the TV we're going to get from ITV until Christmas? The same digested drivel followed by the same digested drivel, only with added undigested drivel? Pathetic.

And it's not only the X Factor to blame. But yes, it's ITV.... Stop, please stop. Oh, how I beg of thee to stop showing highlights of a football match that you've shown live coverage of before the news started. I mean, I can't imagine a more idiotic thing in my life, and I've seen screenshots of the new DJ Hero. Why not stick it on one of the other ITV channels. Though ITV1's for the main shows. ITV2's your 'gossip and comedy' zone (which, BBC3's better... well, for the comedy anyways). ITV3's the drama side with ITV4 being added for, I presume, sport. There you go, put it on that fucking side. Oh, and by the ways, I'd be saying this if it was a Chelsea game also, or Arsenal... and definately Manchester United....

Anyways... on to calmer things...

C - 'Oh, The Light Brings The Olive Tree Into Perspective Soooo Dramatically...'

If you haven't guessed what it is yet, it's creativity... I know, I could just say it, but meh, I tried to make you think... guess I failed you...

Anywho....

I've had an urge to start making (or, should I say, 'attempt to make') desktop backgrounds for... well... desktops... er.... Ahem. Yeah, desktop background. I think they've started dubbing it desktopography. Oh yeah, soooo imaginative. I love the way they haven't used all the vowels... sooo post modern...

Anyways, I've tried doing some before, though they were only really for my use. Only because I kept putting CrazyDistortion on my name. I won't stop doing that though. Somewhere, be it small or the main thing in the piece, CrazyDistortion will be present on the work. Call it my calling card, or watermark. I only really started using CrazyDistortion for practicing typography skills (which, even though it's the easiest part of digital imagery skills, is my strongest section), like the thing I made for the bottom of my blog (I think it's still there). Though, I want to start doing ones with people... and that's where I'm stuck...

I figured, that if I was going to do this, it'll be better to use images of bands, famous people, or models that are royalty-free, than to ask people 'can I use this to make a wallpaper'. Because I've recently started to realise how much of a pervert I sound asking it. I mean, I find it easier doing images of girls (please, don't take that in the wrong way...), because... er... I dunno. It just seems more natural. If I do an edit of a male, it don't feel right. Especially if it's me. I've only edited like, three images of me. Ah well. Anyways, on I go with my thing. In a new paragragh... which will start....

Now. So yeah, the problem is, the only one I see possibilities for a desktop background is Hayley Williams from Paramore. Oh, that link on her name is to one of her that I done a while back. It's okay, just not really happy with how the text came out. Thing is, also, I bet if you say 'Paramore' to someone in the emo-scene scene (and no, I don't have a fetish for repetition, nor for repeating things), they'd say 'Hayley Williams' or 'Misery Business'. So, I feel if I do desktops of her, then I'm basically saying Paramore's a one (wo)man band. But, to be fair, the others aren't bad either. The drummer's not bad at doing his banging. Neither are the two guitarists and bassist. Now, it also makes me feel bad that I've mentioned the whole band, and only named the singer. I do (kinda) know the names of the other ones, I'm just unsure who plays what. Though I think Zach plays drums, with his brother playing lead guitar. And someone called Jeremy on bass... that's about it. Anyways. Anyone got any inspiration for different styles for my to try out? Or even different people to edit? Though, one thing I must mention...

I have a problem. Yes, problem is my middle name. So is 'meh'. Anyways. If any of you say 'MEGAN FOX!! OMGODZZZ I WANNA XYLOPHONE HER SOOO BADZZZ MEGALOLZZ', then, a, you need help making your Caps Lock key unsticky (may I add, stop wanking over her. Pervert... =P). And b, er... how do I say this without being bulldozed by a trillion daggers thrown from the readers eyes... er... No offence dudes... but she's kinda overated. And, to me, I don't really see the attractiveness other people can. I mean, yeah, she's pretty and all, but I wouldn't want say 'I'd tap that like a Van Halen solo'. And, I just realised that for the first time in my blog... I talkted about the attractiveness of a girl (well, a woman... y'know what I mean like). Weird...

Well, I think I went a long time on the subject of the letter C... and no, it's not the rhyming slang for James Blunt...

Last but not least...

K - 'Haha. Rofl. Epic Failzzz'.

Again, let me link it up for you...

Text speak > Talking to people > Having fun > Games > Online games > XBox 360.

No? You don't see it either... good.

Anyroad, it's about the joys of the 360. Well, I say joys...

I mean, not only can you create your own avatar on XBox Live (I've been verbally attacked by my sisters... they keep saying that it looks like a girl... I thought it matched my hair better with that hairstyle... ah well, not changing it...), but you can buy things for it with microsoft points?

*Epic jaw drop*

I mean, how many ways does Microsoft have to swindle people out of money? Grrrrrrrr. Ah well...

I do have another question... is it true that Sky (of some sorts) is coming to 360? I know that FaceBook, Twitter and Last.fm might turn up there, but will Sky TV? And if so, would it be for Gold membership users only? If so... I might get gold... YEY. Well, considering Sky TV is like twenty quid a month, and Xbox Live is £34 a year? And the ability to play online games? Result. =).

Oh yeah, have you seen the new PS3 Slim? Er... nice idea, but nah.... I'm okay with my (se)Xbox 360. =).

Well, well, well. And no, I'm not online after falling down a well...

That shall be the end of the post... and the well's also.... for now...

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

S'laterzzzz.

- Fin.

Critique Fanatique.

I'm a bastard. Yes.

I go on about things. This is also true.

Now, I'll tell you why.

I've had no comments about the designs I done for the clic thing.

So, this is another plea (again) on the images. And this time, no links needed. =).

Anyroad, firstly, this is the begining one, the first of two welcome pages. Only thing is that it's all in english, but meh, here it is...



Yeah, a tad big... onto my second bigg'un.

This is the multi-ligual one, thus, to my pain and misery, it's actually all in english... for now. But it's just to show what it will look like... here it goes...



I've just realised how rubbish the RCT's look, so unsmooth... But, that's not the logo. It's just RCT in Century Gothic font but slightly stuck together. How imaginative. It's the same RCT as the background... wich is loads of RCT's in different sizes and shades of grey.

Well, onto the home page... this is the home page (well, main content page). The english side of it... well, most of the info is on there anyways... =).



Yeah, sorry if the text's a tad blurry...

So yeah, please respond in a comment on here. I wanna know what people who might (though not sure exactly) use it when/if it's started before I send them to the 'clic' people.

Er. Nothing else to say really. The only thing I've done inbetween this post and the last one was watch Blackadder Goes Forth (best final episode ever) and Paramore's new music video. It's not that bad actually (I'm on about the song, the video's a bit quackers). But meh, this ends my image-mad post.

Thanks if you comment... =).

- Fin.

I Are Got Designs.

Today, I have made three designs for the Rhondda Cynon Taf site, which is linked to the Clic fandango.

They aren't complete, they're just a design I thaught about after seeing a site, then thinking, 'Ah, that might be good for the site thing'.

Anyroad, I would like your views on them. If you think their good designs, if their suitable for a website aimed at 11-25 year olds (similar sites areCardiff, Swansea, Newport and Ceredigion).

I've stuck the three designs in my PhotoBucket album made specially for the Clic work. So please, if you have enough time to waste at commenting on three pieces of web design attempts, then please feel free. I don't care if all you've got to say is 'man that is shit', as long as you state why, I'm fine with it.

So yeah, it's a short post, this is the only thing I wanted to ask you, my fellow travellors of the net, if you'd be so bold and to be so kind to critique my work.

T'would be very welcome.

=).

- Fin.