Thefunkylama Chronicles

2012-02-12T16:41:00.000-08:00

Recently I have found a site called Pinterest. Basically what it does is allows people to post images from anywhere on the net or their own images onto what are called boards, think a virtual Pinboard, and then share them with anyone. Apart from the obvious security issues (I found no other way to log in besides using Facebook and Twitter) and some strangeness about all that being public (as far as I know there is no way to make a Pinboard private) it is a great visual way to share images. It gives you a steady stream of images, in their own little boxes and allows you to immediately repin them. I like it because then I don't have to download more images to save them, or have a huge list of bookmarks. Personally I wish I didn't have to use Facebook to log in (I created a new account just for this purpose) but I love the layout and the easy nature of browsing the images. If you ever wanted to find something up and coming style wise or just wanted to look at cool pictures, Pinterest is the way to go, though it may be filled with hipsters.

Timbuk2

2012-01-30T16:46:00.000-08:00

So, I bike everywhere and that necessitates a bag to carry things in. I chuck my bag in the dirt and generally just need to have something big enough for my books for school and all the other junk I put in it. About 5 years ago I found the perfect solution a Timbuk2 Messanger bag. Let me tell you a bit about Timbuk2, they started in San Francisco, out of the love of a bike messenger. He supported the idea of making things simply, locally and to last. The swirl and three panel design are now the trademarks of Timbuk2 and the majority of the bags are still made in the USA, right in downtown San Francisco.
I love Timbuk2 because they are made in the USA and really stand up to everything I've put mine through. Also, they are super comfortable for biking and just running around town. I know not all the bags are made in the USA anymore (watch out of that if you want to buy one) but they are real quality for what you pay. The bags are designed to make sure you have a pocket for your pens, phone and can always find your keys. I even have a bag that is a transformer. Yes you read that last sentence right, a transformer, it goes from messenger style bag to a kind of strange looking but super comfy backpack. They supported artists by letting them paint bags to get their art out there and help raise money for charity. They have the best customer service. These bags will last me years and always keep me with the stuff I need and room to spare for groceries or whatever treasures I find while riding around town.

365

2012-01-26T17:46:00.000-08:00

So I have found a good way of remembering. Lately, I feel as though it is all a blur. It's hard to define the days as separate ones. I decided after reading about the 365 project that I would commit. A photo a day. Every day. For the next year. One year. 365 days. 365 photos. However, I will be taking these photos with film. I start today. They will be posted in batches of 24 once they are developed. Let us see how this will go.

Baking

2012-01-22T14:57:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been getting into cooking. Particularly into baking. Baking in college is probably not the best environment in where to start. You are always missing some device that would make your life super easy, the oven cooks too hot and there is never any room in the kitchen. Despite this I really enjoy it. I have attempted to make a cake for each month, to celebrate my dorm mates birthdays. It's been going pretty well, except I missed November...and technically put December and January together. None the less, I have learned a lot about baking. Especially making due with what you have and still turning out 100% from scratch cakes. I refuse to use pre-made frosting too which always surprises people. Whats the point of having a good cake if the frosting isn't that good or of the same quality? I really enjoy it, and if anyone has some epic or tried and true recipes for cake they are willing to share, please let me know. I would love to have some new ones.

Holiday Season

2011-12-23T14:12:00.000-08:00

Recently I have become hyper aware of all the stuff I have. Not intentonally mind you, but it does tend to build up and overwhelm me. I have the hardest time saying goodbye to it and letting it move on to another person. Yet recently I found a good idea that will allow me to remember the items I associate with certain memories, but no longer be tied down by them. I plan to take pictures of them. I know that may seam obvious, but I only just thought of it, I don't use these things so I might as well get rid of them. I finally am able to accept this choice and change.
In contrast, its nearing the holidays, and no matter what you believe in there is a sale somewhere and the supermarkets and other stores are packed. Everyone is in a rush and hurring different places. It makes me really appreciate that I planned ahead, even though I will know I will wrap all my gifts the night before Christmass. Honestly I love receiving gifts and giving people gifts. The one thing that drives me nuts is when I receive another little thing that I wont use or wear or doesn't have a purpose, or something I already have. This just ties me down and makes it harder for me to let it go. I would honestly prefer only a nice handwritten card from them. That means more to me. Remember the ideas behind the gifts and stop getting hung up on the objects. Its not nessisary and only continues our consumer culture. Maybe next year I will plan far enough ahead to make knitted things for everyone. Either way, I'm getting rid of the stuff that clutters my life and making a resolution to live simply while still being prepared for the zombie apocalypse.
Have a great new year.

Ps. I will, just for fun be tracking santa at http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html
and find the google holiday 'easter eggs' (let it snow, Hanukkah , Kwanzaa, Christmas are the ones I know)

Google+

2011-12-09T14:35:00.000-08:00

A while ago Facebook was alive with discussion, invites and debate over Google+ (called Google Plus) would become the new Facebook. Having joined recently in September, I have found that, while it currently does not have the user base to overtake Facebook, I enjoy it more. There are reasons behind this, the integration with youtube and google music for one is awesome. The community there is much more about sharing ideas, not just about each individuals life. Hang outs, while they may sound cliché are amazing. They have introduced me to a variety of people from all over the world. They bring new ideas and discussion. Google is up front about its security, or at least I feel so, it lets you know that the default is public, and that you can change that. It allows you to easily change who sees what, and these groups can overlap or not. The visual of Google+ is great, its clean and elegant and doesn't have the distractions or cluttered feeling of Facebook. Google+ ingrates with my contacts on Gmail seamlessly, and I can share documents on Hangouts with extras. Though it may appear to just be shinny, I think that it really will become better than Facebook and I plan on abandoning Facebook to use Google+ exclusively, or at least post only from Google+ and just have it forward to Facebook. The entier community there is what makes it worth it. I can even see it being used in schools. Google has really done it, but no one really seams to notice...or at least not yet.

Winter is Coming

2011-12-04T15:36:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about the HBO series called A Game of Thrones? Well, did you know that it's based off a book by George R.R. Martin? Its not a recent release but this book is one of the best fantasy books I have read in a long time. I feel as though it has a rather Lord of the Rings feel to it but is much more readable. What Martin does is create a world where summers last for years and winters can last for a lifetime. The characters are amazing and the settings are never overdone. I love the fast moving plot and variety of different threads that affect each other. There are five books in the series and I've already blown through the first one and started the second. They are awesome and even better than the series HBO is doing based on them. HBO does do a wonderful job and sticks to the book very well, much better than any movie I have seen based on a book. I can't wait to get back to reading it and for the next season of A Game of Thrones,which is due to come out in April. Hope you pick it up and read it too, either way 'Winter is coming'.

Wordle

2011-12-02T16:20:00.000-08:00

This was created with a web based program called Wordle. It takes text, finds the frequency of a word and depending on the frequency makes that word bigger or smaller in a graphical representation. Needs a fair amount of text to work but I think its awesome.

I selected lyrics from some of metal songs I enjoy and then let wordle do the rest.

College

2011-10-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

I have only heard that college will be so much fun as long as you apply yourself. This is true. However, there are a lot of points where you don't need to do anything, but it would be better if you did. Previewing the chapter your class is about to go over helps - but did you have to do that? No. So make sure you do - tell yourself its required and do and be happier for it. You'll enjoy it more. Also, turn off the computer, block facebook, and unplug. Otherwise you will never meet anyone. Come out of the closet/ cave that may be your dorm room and go sit on the steps and talk to someone. Say hello. You go to college - or at least I went to college - for more education. Because you wanted to. Don't waste it. You are paying thousands of dollars to be here and learn. So learn something. Make sure that you don't sleep through the class that costs some horrendous amount an hour. Just apply yourself - not just to the academics but to everything. Anything. If you made a choice to do it - make sure you give it your all. Never give less than 100% and go to bed early sometimes. With all the effort your putting in, your going to need to recharge sometime, best method is sleep. Yet never give it less than everything. Do it because you can. Why not? Your paying for it anyway, get everything you can out of it. Fun times and life goes fast.

Watchmen

2011-07-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

A while ago I read Watchman, which is a graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, that came out in 1986. I really thought it was an amazing graphic novel, bringing in a wide variety of ideas, conflicts, and other valuble things. It was also one of the first long graphic novels I have read and really got me into them. The writing style was very good and while I'm not the biggest fan for American comic drawing style, it really worked for this story. (Watch OUT SPOILERS BELLOW)

However, in 2009, the movie came out. There where certain things they changed, and taking away Dr. Manhattan's pants was one of them. I really did not appreciate that. Either way they also took out the giant tentacle-ly monster that appears in Manhattan, and made it a nuclear explosion. That changed the worlds view on Dr. Manhattan because he was the number one candidate for causing the explosion - even though he could have been blamed for giant tentacle-ly thing that should have appeared. Either way, it included great acting, amazing effects, and a unique feel to not only the filming but also the whole look of the film. The scene by scene camera angels where almost all from the graphic novel unless the plot deviated slightly. It was awesome.

Then I saw it in Blue Ray. Worst plan ever, that film had a dark tone that made some very deep shadows that you couldn't see into even on the big screen. Blue Ray eliminated the shadows and made there be more detail in some of the violence then I ever wanted to see. This got to the point where I had to stop watching it (and I hardly ever do that) and I never finished the Blue Ray version of the film.

Either way, an amazing graphic novel and an amazing film, both are very much worth your time.

Save the Pearl Street Pig of Boulder, Colorado

2011-06-21T07:34:00.000-07:00

Save the Pearl Street Pig of Boulder, Colorado

PLEASE HELP US SAVE THE PIG! Otherwise it might end up hidden in someone's house where no kids get to ride it and that would be horrible. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.

E Books

2011-06-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

Recently I started getting into E-Books, while interesting and very convenient because I can read them from my phone, not really my cup of tea. I think you really miss out on the whole idea of a book if you read them electronically and it's really a shame. However, there was one feature that I did enjoy, the fact that you could easily figure out how close you where to the end of the chapter and how much of the book you had left, in percentages no less. I have to say some of the selection of ones available for check out through the public library is pretty small, and I really don't want to pay for books I can get from the library for free. Also, the app that the library books can be read on and the mobile version of the site will not let you do a 14 day check out which you can do from your computer. Lame. None the less, good idea, needs some work. If I'm really desperate and the library isn't open I will use it. Otherwise I really rather have the real thing.

Neil Gaiman

2011-02-02T10:14:00.000-08:00

Neil Gaiman, author, illustrator, and inspiration. His works, like Garth Nix's are dark and unique. He is probably most well known for his work with the Sandman series of graphic novels. This work is a classic in the graphic novel realm, one that you must read over and over until parts of it make sense and the story strings itself together. Written in a series of short storys, he gives life to Death, Dream, Dispare, Desire, Delirium (who was once Delight), Destiny, and Destruction - actually personifying them as brothers and sisters to each other. One learns to love these strange mysteries of people - even though they aren't necessarily human - and becomes accustom to Gaiman's way of story telling them. By the end of the story you will not want to let them go.

Garth Nix

2011-02-02T10:07:00.000-08:00

A author of a variety of children's, teen, and adult books. His works are always slightly dark, and have a very unique style. Personally my favorite of his works has been The Abhorson Trilogy, which even though the target audience is teens, will be a story all can enjoy. It might be a little dark for smaller children, and use your best judgement when reading, necromancy may scare even the bravest. His works are amazing, and simply put, he is a genius.

Nanowrimo - Again

2010-11-14T09:06:00.000-08:00

Once again, it's that time of year. The time where we manage to or at least attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. Its not easy, but it tends to be fun. At least when you stay on track - about 2 thousand words per day. The hardest part has to be keeping up, and its annoying, and I'm currently not on track at all. I'm about ten thousand words behind or more. Its not good, and I'm having a problem with catching back up - and getting a plot that I can write more of. Thats not going so well. Not so well at all.

First Video Podcast

2010-06-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

The library is having us do video podcast's now...here is the first one.

Okay, over-hall time

2010-04-10T12:04:00.000-07:00

So, as no one, or just me might have noticed, I really suck at updating this, and it hasn't been updated in way too long. So lets pretend all that bad review stuff never happened and start with a cleaner slate. I will now post at least once a week, if not more. I will create more and further guidelines with myself on this, and probably end up have some special days, like Manga (Graphic Novel) Mondays and stuff like that.

Nanowrimo and Script Frenzy

2010-04-10T11:59:00.002-07:00

Every November, thousands of writers from around the world tell themselves that they can complete the impossible, and sit down together and celebrate National Novel Writing Month. In this month, these writers challenge themselves to write a 50,000 word or more novel in the 30 days of November. Sounds impossible doesn't it, but every year many cross the finish line. Surprisingly you only need to write about 2,000 words - or two typed pages every day. That doesn't sound too hard now does it? I for one have been participating in this since 2005, and won a few times, as well as having lost a few times. Nanowrimo is lots of fun, and even if you don't complete your novel you still have tried. I didn't win for the first three years, which was hard, but it makes wining so much more, and every year its a different story, a different struggle. I dare you to try it.

A similar event happens during April, a group of daring writers dare them selves to do the impossible again and to write a 100 page script, any type of script, in the 30 day's of April. This can be any kind of script, a screen play, a movie script, whatever, just as long as it is a script. I recently started Script Frenzy last year, and it was a blast, completely different from writing a novel. It was amazing and i was amazed by the fact that I managed to write an 100 page script, the first script i ever wrote, and none the less in 30 days. It was a blast, and I also, triple dog dare you to try it.

Both of these things are amazing, and you should try this, its lots of fun and you get to write and learn a lot about yourself and how you write and what your strengths and weaknesses are in writing. Its lost of fun, please give it a try.

Boy Meets Boy

2010-04-10T11:55:00.001-07:00

Boy Meets Boy - A simple novel where Boy does meet Boy in a Utopian city somewhere in the USA. If only the rest of the world could be that comfortable with who people are. This book was one of the first GLBTQ novels I read and I really loved it. It had artistic and convincing characters, plenty of back story, everything that I love in a good book. The only downside to reading Boy Meets Boy was the fact that I wanted the story to never end, and it kept making me compare the society I live in to this wonderful Utopian city that both the boys in the story live in. The story line, no matter how simplistic or classic is still unique, and makes this a wonderfully heart touching book, that I still love to this day.

Cut out and keep/ Threadbanger

2010-04-10T11:53:00.001-07:00

There are two web sites, one is called Cut out and Keep, which gives step by step written tutorials and user submitted tutorials, and Threadbanger which has user and more professional video tutorials. Both these sites have tutorials on nearly any craft project you can think of. All of the tutorials and videos allow you to view and then ask questions or post comments for free on them. These sites are very similar, and both have good tutorials, I personally like Cut Out and Keep because then I can print the instructions, but it's totally your choice. Check 'em out!

Digital Recoreders

2008-09-05T20:37:00.001-07:00

So, the teen space has this recorder they got to do podcasts on, which in itself is pretty cool. It makes them into an audio file you can edit on the computer and is really easy to use. The only problem with it is that it only says 'no memory' when you start to try and record. It doesn't make a beep or anything else apart from have 'no memory' flash on the small screen. So guess what I did, me being the smart person I am, didn't check and assumed it was recording. I managed to 'record' a very good podcast the first time. But there was no memory, so it didn't get recorded. Right now I'm about ready to kill that thing, but it was my fault. So I should be getting another podcast up soon, doing it from the computer at home, which by the way, has tons of memory.

NIN

2008-05-11T19:34:00.000-07:00

NIN,more commonly known as the Nine Inch Nails, recently released their new album titled The Slip. Unfortunately if you like holding the actual CD in your hands, it was not to be, for they released it only in digital format,with free download. Maybe you refuse to leagaly buy music so you use LimeWire, and then try to send money directly to the artist - don't worry NIN released this without the record company. here's the link http://www.nin.com/ so get going and download it if you want. I'll write some more later on what i think of the actual CD, it's still downloading.

Pandora

2008-03-09T18:14:00.000-07:00

www.pandora.com is a web sight that simply allows you to create your own radio stations. You can make them by genera,song, or artist. They have almost everything except for some J-pop/rock,Classical,and opera. The selection and variety is amazing. If you don't like having an internet window up you can download "PandoraBoy" from google for free. Pandora is a free service and is extreamly easy to use and opens up your ears to a wide variety of music. it allows you to name the stations whatever you want and see what other users are listening to.You can access your stations from anywhere that has internet access. As you might assume i am thefunkylama on Pandora. Hope to see you there.

Paramore

2008-03-09T17:58:00.000-07:00

Paramore. The closest word to this bands' name has to do with zoology (paramere). A punk/Rock/alternative mix with some of the uniquest music videos i have ever seen. In 2005 they released their first album "All We Know Is Falling" and released their second album soon after in 2007, its called "Riot!". Some of their best know songs, like Crushcrushcrush and Misery Buissnes are from this album. Hey, the library even has this one (but i have dibs on it first)! Please go check them out!

Beastly

2008-02-17T18:24:00.000-08:00

This book, titled Beastly, gives a new amusing twist to the classic tail of beauty and the beast. By involving other classic tails indirectly through online chatting in the book the author (who i currently don't remember the name of) causes the book, not to have the expected old fashioned feel, has one that is modern and brings life to a story that is often seen as dark. In addition instead of having the whole story told from "beauty's" view you get the story from the beasts view, giving you insight to why the beast is the way he is. the reader can really connect with both beast and beauty, as well as some of the other charitures that crop up throughout the story, allowing this to be a quick and captivating read.

What is this?

2008-01-04T07:23:00.000-08:00

Hey, this is now my awesome blog for posting reviews. If you have any ideas on what I should review, I'll be glad to hear them. I should to at least one review a week in addition to my podcast (which you can hear @ ) I will start by reviewing books that I have already podcasted on and then do things I haven't podcasted on. So, here I go.