If you find yourself trapped in the middle of the woods without electricity, running water, or a car you would likely describe that situation as a “nightmare” or “a worse case scenario like after plane crash or something.” many people refer to it as “camping.”
When people begin talking to you about camping they will do their best to tell you that it’s very easy and it allows them to escape the pressures and troubles of the urban lifestyle for a more natural, simplified, relaxing time and it's fun. Ha! Lies I tell you! Lies! Nothing could be further from the truth!
In theory camping should be a very inexpensive activity since you are literally sleeping on the ground. But as with everything in American culture, the more simple it appears the more expensive it actually is. (less is more.. expensive)
Camping is a multi-day, multi-step, potentially lethal activity that will cost you a large amount of both time and money. Unless you are in some sort of position where you absolutely need the friendship of a person who enjoys camping (petty thieves, hobos, business men who like to look like they have time and money to go enjoy the out doors, families with 5 or more children, boyscouts), you should avoid camping at all costs.
The first stage of camping always involves a trip to an outdoor equipment store like REI, Bass Pro Shop, or Outdoor World. These stores are well known for their abundance of such customers and their extensive inventory of things for white people to buy and only use once. If you are ever tricked into going to one of these stores, you can make those people who like camping (aka 'campers') like you by saying things like “man, this Kayak is only $1200, if I use it 35 times I’ve already saved money over renting.” Note: do not actually buy the kayak.
Next, campers will then take this new equipment and load it into an SUV or another multi-person vehicle with a Thule or Yakima Roof Rack. Then they will drive for an extended period of time to a national park or campsite where they will pay an entrance fee and begin their journey. It is worth noting that white people are unaware of the irony of using a gas burning car to bring them closer to nature and it is not recommended that you point this out. It will ruin their weekend.
Once in the camp area, campers will walk around for a while, set up a tent, have a horrible night of sleep, complain loudly, walk around some more. Then get in the car and go home. This, of course, is a best case scenario. Worst case scenarios include: getting lost, poisoned, killed by an animal, and encountering an RV. Of these outcomes, the latter is seen by true campers as the worst since it involves an encounter with the wrong kind of campers.
Conversely, any camping trip that ends in maiming death at the hands of nature or requires the use of valuable government resources for a rescue is seen as relatively positive in this culture. This is because both situations might eventually lead to a book deal or documentary film about the experience. (or atleast a very redundant, over told story that ought to be avoided at all costs)
Ultimately the best way to escape a camping trip with such people is to say that you have allergies. Since those who can afford to make time for camping and their children are allergic to almost everything, they will understand and ask no further questions.
:takes a bow:
(note รก bene: My dear Boyscout Brothers (Ben, Willie, Chan-Chan, Josh, Timothy, to whomever else who found contempt at this) , I love camping. Really. I promise. This is merely the out-put of a rare funny moment...)
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Psychology of Music
Goodness, it has been a long time since I have last blogged.
[Me:"I've been too exhausted and busy to attend to you, surely you can handle that for a few days, or rather months!" My blog: "Excuses, excuses. I feel so very hurt that you neglect me as you do. I shall have to make you do something about that." Me: "Is that a threat?" My blog: "Yes, now get to work!" ::battle of wills takes place, girlish slap fights, name calling and nasty looks procede:: Me: "All right! Alright already!"] Dear world, I *cough* humbly apologise for my cruel abuse of my 'precious, abused, neglected, and orphaned' blog :: tones dripping with sarcasm, glares at the strong willed blog::
My blog has been.. rather abused as of late, but I have very little to talk about. So I'll go back to a familiar topic: Music and Poetry. [::sticks tongue at blog:: nana nana booboo! ::feels childish, and obviously doesn't care::]
I have been listening to a wide spread of music as of late. A variety of alternative punk, country, swing, classic Disney tunes and metal and emo core. No, that wouldn't be because my mood has been swinging like a pendulum, but rather there's nothing that could change it. And sheer curiousity. Ive been a bit blue lately... but that's not what this blog post is about. Its about the psychology of music
Lets start with music.
I find that depending on the key signature, and the literal notes of a song, it can sway ones emotions, as assisted by a pre-existing mood, to an extent.
I have experimented (read: rationalised) listening to drastically emotional songs to see how I subconsciously react. I worked this for about the past 4 or 5 months.
I spent a week listening exclusively to Owl City and Sailship and was entirely bubbly and cheerful without trying. I couldn't help it! Not only are the words happy, but the music is in a major chord with few to no accidentals. Its light-hearted. Its cheerful It is happy music.
Next I moved on to Alternative/soft rock such as Fleet Foxes, the Avett Brothers, The Goo Goo Dolls , Coldplay, Lady Antebellum and Jon Foreman. I felt, on most days rather passive, slightly morose and apathetic, but not entirely sad, and that was possibly caused by the memories tied to those particular songs. I looked at my own transpositions of a few of the songs and noted that they were mostly in minor keys, with few accidentals, not inherently sad music (read: notes in and of themselves) but with mellow tenancies. It was the lyrics I supposed that caused my subtle mellowness. Curiously, I felt slightly weak in strength after the first five days. That puzzles me.
I moved next wordless string quartets. Primarily The Section Quartet, The Sisters of the Road, Apocolyptica, Haggard, Escala, Mike Marshal and The Vitamin String Quartet. Why a quartet? No particular reason. I just like the sound of the quartet above that of a soloist. Hehe ^.^. Note that the two I listed first, and listened to most are electric, rather punkish (Ok, sorry, I didn't expect you to know that right off the bat...). I broke this week into three parts. Haggard, Escala, and the Vitamin String Quartet in the first third of the week, bringing about a creative, gentle, musical mood in me. The next two days were entirely the Sisters of the Road and Mike Marshal for their swingy, folk feel. I had to dance to them. Again, not happy music, but this music causes me to be happy for it resonates with my soul. It is my very favourite go-to music. (Much like EK and bagpipes, Ceeweera and the Beatles, or, um, or... ok. skip that. ) The third portion of the week was the Section Quartet and Apocolyptica. It was punkish as I already stated. It made me feel slightly angsty, moody, temperamental. I hate how much I loved it.
Ill go with three more examples of music I played with.
I had a metal/screamo week too. I listened to bands like Underoath, Plea for Purging, Bullet for my Valentine, Eyes Set to Kill, Alesana and whatever else Pandora gave me. I had nightmares. No joke. I like that kind of music when i am angry at myself, or when I am exercising. I have learned that I shall never, or ought to never listen to it on a mere whim. End of story.
Then I had an Irish Punk week that lasted much more than a week. Flogging Molly, The Dubliners, The Chieftains and Gaelic Storm were my constant flow. Yep! I found myself full of energy, restless, pumped and wanting to fight for something. The words and instruments were more the cause of this example. When I transposed them to violin I did not get the same effect. I shall be playing more!
Finally I went to bands such as Bright Eyes, Eisley, Augustana, Avett Brothers (again... I REALLY like them), Iron and Wine, Regina Spektor, Between the Trees, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum Secondhand Serenade. This was rather confusing to me. I loved the music, the words and everything, though I could not identify a consistent emotion even after inspecting the chord patterns. I do not identify a negative effect so I shall listen to these primarily =).
These are only a few of the 'sets/systems' that I sampled. But these were the most prominent reactions that I saw and recorded.
I can now say I have observed an unobvious trend in myself, made it more apparent and blogged about it. Mission Accomplished? I think so!
[Me:"I've been too exhausted and busy to attend to you, surely you can handle that for a few days, or rather months!" My blog: "Excuses, excuses. I feel so very hurt that you neglect me as you do. I shall have to make you do something about that." Me: "Is that a threat?" My blog: "Yes, now get to work!" ::battle of wills takes place, girlish slap fights, name calling and nasty looks procede:: Me: "All right! Alright already!"] Dear world, I *cough* humbly apologise for my cruel abuse of my 'precious, abused, neglected, and orphaned' blog :: tones dripping with sarcasm, glares at the strong willed blog::
My blog has been.. rather abused as of late, but I have very little to talk about. So I'll go back to a familiar topic: Music and Poetry. [::sticks tongue at blog:: nana nana booboo! ::feels childish, and obviously doesn't care::]
I have been listening to a wide spread of music as of late. A variety of alternative punk, country, swing, classic Disney tunes and metal and emo core. No, that wouldn't be because my mood has been swinging like a pendulum, but rather there's nothing that could change it. And sheer curiousity. Ive been a bit blue lately... but that's not what this blog post is about. Its about the psychology of music
Lets start with music.
I find that depending on the key signature, and the literal notes of a song, it can sway ones emotions, as assisted by a pre-existing mood, to an extent.
I have experimented (read: rationalised) listening to drastically emotional songs to see how I subconsciously react. I worked this for about the past 4 or 5 months.
I spent a week listening exclusively to Owl City and Sailship and was entirely bubbly and cheerful without trying. I couldn't help it! Not only are the words happy, but the music is in a major chord with few to no accidentals. Its light-hearted. Its cheerful It is happy music.
Next I moved on to Alternative/soft rock such as Fleet Foxes, the Avett Brothers, The Goo Goo Dolls , Coldplay, Lady Antebellum and Jon Foreman. I felt, on most days rather passive, slightly morose and apathetic, but not entirely sad, and that was possibly caused by the memories tied to those particular songs. I looked at my own transpositions of a few of the songs and noted that they were mostly in minor keys, with few accidentals, not inherently sad music (read: notes in and of themselves) but with mellow tenancies. It was the lyrics I supposed that caused my subtle mellowness. Curiously, I felt slightly weak in strength after the first five days. That puzzles me.
I moved next wordless string quartets. Primarily The Section Quartet, The Sisters of the Road, Apocolyptica, Haggard, Escala, Mike Marshal and The Vitamin String Quartet. Why a quartet? No particular reason. I just like the sound of the quartet above that of a soloist. Hehe ^.^. Note that the two I listed first, and listened to most are electric, rather punkish (Ok, sorry, I didn't expect you to know that right off the bat...). I broke this week into three parts. Haggard, Escala, and the Vitamin String Quartet in the first third of the week, bringing about a creative, gentle, musical mood in me. The next two days were entirely the Sisters of the Road and Mike Marshal for their swingy, folk feel. I had to dance to them. Again, not happy music, but this music causes me to be happy for it resonates with my soul. It is my very favourite go-to music. (Much like EK and bagpipes, Ceeweera and the Beatles, or, um, or... ok. skip that. ) The third portion of the week was the Section Quartet and Apocolyptica. It was punkish as I already stated. It made me feel slightly angsty, moody, temperamental. I hate how much I loved it.
Ill go with three more examples of music I played with.
I had a metal/screamo week too. I listened to bands like Underoath, Plea for Purging, Bullet for my Valentine, Eyes Set to Kill, Alesana and whatever else Pandora gave me. I had nightmares. No joke. I like that kind of music when i am angry at myself, or when I am exercising. I have learned that I shall never, or ought to never listen to it on a mere whim. End of story.
Then I had an Irish Punk week that lasted much more than a week. Flogging Molly, The Dubliners, The Chieftains and Gaelic Storm were my constant flow. Yep! I found myself full of energy, restless, pumped and wanting to fight for something. The words and instruments were more the cause of this example. When I transposed them to violin I did not get the same effect. I shall be playing more!
Finally I went to bands such as Bright Eyes, Eisley, Augustana, Avett Brothers (again... I REALLY like them), Iron and Wine, Regina Spektor, Between the Trees, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum Secondhand Serenade. This was rather confusing to me. I loved the music, the words and everything, though I could not identify a consistent emotion even after inspecting the chord patterns. I do not identify a negative effect so I shall listen to these primarily =).
These are only a few of the 'sets/systems' that I sampled. But these were the most prominent reactions that I saw and recorded.
I can now say I have observed an unobvious trend in myself, made it more apparent and blogged about it. Mission Accomplished? I think so!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Be braced for musical nerdiness
Last night I went to Inception with my dear brother Tim Pierce and my mum. I enjoyed the movie very much and we discussed it quite extensively after. One thing we neglected to discuss, though we would not have had time to do so as completely, was the music. I might be the only one who noticed... I certainly was not awake enough at the time to clearly verbalise much of anything much anyhoo.
I, being a musician, was intrigued by the key the scores were in. For some time now I've been doing what you could call an independent study on the musical theory and style on music used particularly in movies, and the effectiveness of the music in movies (and in general) for manipulating emotions. I have found this quite fascinating. Inception however threw a curve ball at me. Most of the music was a major key (non musically theoretical translation- happy (read not scary or depressing) or exciting music) especially in the scenes with the most intense action. This surprised me. More frequently, the music in intense scenes is a minor key (nmtt- eerie, scary, sad or tense music) with few or no accidentals (nmtt- notes that don't fit the key). But in Inception, in the most mind bending, contemplative moments was C minor chuck full of accidentals, which perplexed me because it would have made more sense to write it in E major.
Throughout the movie, there was a wonderful sense of symbolism. Musically, I wondered if the accidentals, breaking of rules of musical key signature, had anything to do with the characters breaking the rules of reality. You'd have to see the movie to understand.
I'd love to dialogue with any of you about this :) or any of the movie for that matter.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Oh dear =/
:: blow, sweep sweep, dust:: My my! There really is a blog here under all this dust. Poor neglected thing. I'm sowwy dear; I will forget you no more. Oh! You look half starved. I know this is no valid excuse but I have been to busy doing school, music and protecting myself from small bits of metal (hehe... Ask me later) to feed you those wonderful little thoughts you enjoy.
I know it ben a while since I've last posted. Nothing blogworthy of note. No amazing ' I've never thought o it that way' moments, no 'haha wow that was stupid' moments to be shared (or at least none that I'm allowed to post (Love you Carmen <3)).
Well, I am going off to Training Minds Ministries debate 'camp' in Colorado Springs in a bit here. Gonna see my cousins and grandparents while I'm out there :). I'm really excited. Yep, I'm one of those nerdy (not geeky. Difference) people. But I think you, my faithful readers know that. I sure hope you know that =P.
This summer has been rather a bit of a disappointment really. So I look foreword to having tremendous amounts of fun out thattaway. I'll be missing the first day of school and the first day of orchestra. Oh well. Nothing in life is free (unless you're my mum. Are you my mummy? ;])
I'm really not looking foreword to the number of people going off to college from Axis who I have been just getting to know. And all the graduating seniors from NCFCA :(. ::sigh::
I do think that's all for now.
I'll post more as soon as I have something to say.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod
I know it ben a while since I've last posted. Nothing blogworthy of note. No amazing ' I've never thought o it that way' moments, no 'haha wow that was stupid' moments to be shared (or at least none that I'm allowed to post (Love you Carmen <3)).
Well, I am going off to Training Minds Ministries debate 'camp' in Colorado Springs in a bit here. Gonna see my cousins and grandparents while I'm out there :). I'm really excited. Yep, I'm one of those nerdy (not geeky. Difference) people. But I think you, my faithful readers know that. I sure hope you know that =P.
This summer has been rather a bit of a disappointment really. So I look foreword to having tremendous amounts of fun out thattaway. I'll be missing the first day of school and the first day of orchestra. Oh well. Nothing in life is free (unless you're my mum. Are you my mummy? ;])
I'm really not looking foreword to the number of people going off to college from Axis who I have been just getting to know. And all the graduating seniors from NCFCA :(. ::sigh::
I do think that's all for now.
I'll post more as soon as I have something to say.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Another one of my Deep Thoughts... and my FAVOURITE MOVIE. IN ONE POST!
"My name is Doug. I have just met you, and I love you." "...and I love that man there like he is my master. " " I hide under your porch because I love you." "You are my friend and I love you."
Doug the Dog is a perfect example of how God wants us to love others. He loves. And loves. And loves some more on top of that. Doug loves this grouchy old man, for no apparent reason. He continues to love him no matter what Carl says or does to him. Carl despises Doug and ignores him, nigh on abuses him. Doug continues to show love to the loveless old man. I wish I could love like Doug. To love no matter what others do to me. To love without fail. To love like a dog. I wanna love like a dog. There I said it. I WANT TO LOVE LIKE A DOG!
I find it easy to love people. It is the way I am. I enjoy loving people. But when it comes to loving no matter what someone says or does to me, I find my limits. I find it harder to love when I feel hurt by someone. Should I just choose to stop feeling hurt? Ignore what other people say that hurts me? Maybe. Should I continue loving them even when I want to hate them? Certainly. Another time when I find it hard to love is when I don't feel loved myself (which, to keep things clear, is very infrequent). But when I make myself love people particularly when it is hard, I find that it is the time I feel most... humm how do I say this without sounding selfish? loved back. Love is like a liquid. a magical liquid where the more you pour out of your cup the more you get put back into it (with interest =] ). If that makes sense.
(This is not gonna be one of those posts where I give you a thousand things to think about at once. I promise)
How about loving someone when they reject you? Now that's fun. No, really, its really hard. But it pays off in the long run. I can't really share an example but trust me. It does.
I have to go but I will leave you with this thought. LOVE LIKE A DOG!
Doug the Dog is a perfect example of how God wants us to love others. He loves. And loves. And loves some more on top of that. Doug loves this grouchy old man, for no apparent reason. He continues to love him no matter what Carl says or does to him. Carl despises Doug and ignores him, nigh on abuses him. Doug continues to show love to the loveless old man. I wish I could love like Doug. To love no matter what others do to me. To love without fail. To love like a dog. I wanna love like a dog. There I said it. I WANT TO LOVE LIKE A DOG!
I find it easy to love people. It is the way I am. I enjoy loving people. But when it comes to loving no matter what someone says or does to me, I find my limits. I find it harder to love when I feel hurt by someone. Should I just choose to stop feeling hurt? Ignore what other people say that hurts me? Maybe. Should I continue loving them even when I want to hate them? Certainly. Another time when I find it hard to love is when I don't feel loved myself (which, to keep things clear, is very infrequent). But when I make myself love people particularly when it is hard, I find that it is the time I feel most... humm how do I say this without sounding selfish? loved back. Love is like a liquid. a magical liquid where the more you pour out of your cup the more you get put back into it (with interest =] ). If that makes sense.
(This is not gonna be one of those posts where I give you a thousand things to think about at once. I promise)
How about loving someone when they reject you? Now that's fun. No, really, its really hard. But it pays off in the long run. I can't really share an example but trust me. It does.
I have to go but I will leave you with this thought. LOVE LIKE A DOG!
Friday, July 2, 2010
I'M ALIVE
I know you all are insatiably curious. It's my birthday. I'm on my way back from Awanita. I'm facing a 18 hour bus trip. Wedged between Cakestraw McCraw Master of the Cotton-Eyed Robot (Cougs/Josh/my colourblind little brother and pillow) and Teddy Bear, in front of Mr. Cupcake, behind Jaws and across from Spanky, we all sit watching Peter Pan. Again. It's the official Pipeline movie and gives way to the official chant (as aforementioned in previous post). My pink teddy bear Chai has become an object of much lust somehow. Everybody wants to cuddle with him.
There are pixie sticks.
On a different note, you would be amazed how much junk about 20 girls can bring to camp. It is truely frightening. Also frightening is the number of unaccounted-for cuts, bruises and minor abrasions I can find on me. I am surprised however that I am not worse off. We were deep in the mountains of North and South Carolina. Lots of steep inclines and slipery rocks Put it together. Oh and there's an ice cold lake at the bottom of the hill that my 'cabin' was on. Just think on that. We had to walk just about a mile up and down hills and around the mountian to the mess hall. I think we all lost weight. And gained scars. Oh, and there were two trips to he hospital. Yes. Two.
I'm very bored. I've slept on Josh, Bailee and Maison, I've read in my Bible, in Sophie's World, Jeeves in the Offing, and the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxcy. My head is on Maison's pillow on her lap, I am laying across my seat, slung across the aisle and my feet are on Josh's lap. I feel nausiated.
It's amazing how much one particularly short boy with hysterical bed head can rattle off semi useless and astoundingly random information.
It's been an emotional, teary week and I am drained. I may post more later.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPodq
There are pixie sticks.
On a different note, you would be amazed how much junk about 20 girls can bring to camp. It is truely frightening. Also frightening is the number of unaccounted-for cuts, bruises and minor abrasions I can find on me. I am surprised however that I am not worse off. We were deep in the mountains of North and South Carolina. Lots of steep inclines and slipery rocks Put it together. Oh and there's an ice cold lake at the bottom of the hill that my 'cabin' was on. Just think on that. We had to walk just about a mile up and down hills and around the mountian to the mess hall. I think we all lost weight. And gained scars. Oh, and there were two trips to he hospital. Yes. Two.
I'm very bored. I've slept on Josh, Bailee and Maison, I've read in my Bible, in Sophie's World, Jeeves in the Offing, and the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxcy. My head is on Maison's pillow on her lap, I am laying across my seat, slung across the aisle and my feet are on Josh's lap. I feel nausiated.
It's amazing how much one particularly short boy with hysterical bed head can rattle off semi useless and astoundingly random information.
It's been an emotional, teary week and I am drained. I may post more later.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPodq
Location:Bus
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The revenge of Cougs, Care Bear and Sparky the Owl
Ok. This post is written from a bus, a bus full of hyper middleschoolers on the way to camp. It's way loud. Were singing VBS songs. It's also 7 am. We've all been up since 5 or earlier. Earlier in my case. We all have settled on our nicknames, some new made up for some antic this morning, some older with intricate backstories. We have Skittkes, Cougs and Care Bear and Sparky the Owl(me). Shorty has an ipad 0_o. I was dubbed Cougs' honourary 'mommy' by his sister to keep him in line and to make sure he doesn't get too high on pixie sticks and Five Hour Energy. Or at least make him share :). Spike went with a brigh green, sparkly Mohawk. We rock. Go for awesome coloured hair! Alex (yes. It's a nickname with a very intricate backstory) is brave and sitting between Cougs and Care Bear. I admire her strength. Sawyer is being a human 'Bopit'. Lots noise here. Polkadot is texting Tutu and they're sitting together. SJ and Highliter aren't here and that's depressing. Cici is somewhere. I really don't know where. Everybody is chanting "I do! I do! I DO believe in fairies!" every hour in the hour. Pipeline tradition and official chant. I think that's all for now.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod
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