Life after application

It's interesting...I had expected my current life excitment to differ now that my grad school application was finished...though, I hadn't expected the weather to become this bad.

It's so bad to the point that you can't even call it "bad weather". I officially rename this crisis to "imprisonment". That's right, imprisonment. I haven't left the house in nearly 7 days. A WEEK. This is crazy.

Anyway, it's been bitter cold the last 2 weeks and just yesterday we got a whole ton of snow dumped on us. 3 feet of snow. This isn't even remotely close to what some parts of the US have gotten and are still currently getting, but still I invite you to view the fruits of my labour.



In 2.5 hours, I managed to dig my car out of the snow and shovel straight out to lone plowed lane on the street. According to my neighbour, I am a man. Hahaha...because I shoveled all the snow instead of wussing out and using a snowblower. Despite the snow, it was a rather beautiful day. One of the first crystal blue skies that I've seen all winter long.



On another note, I have to admit that despite all the ridiculous social online network programs that have been out there I've finally succumb and have been sucked in by Facebook. At first I just shot it down like so many of the previous "keep-in-touch" websites in the past. Sites such as "Friendster" and "WAYN", have all been flops in my opinion. But I do have to admit that it's definitely been able to successfully reconnect people who haven't been in touch for years. I've been randomly running into friends from highschool that I haven't seen in almost 8 years. It's been great catching up with old friends, but eventually I think it's just a matter of time until it flops too. I mean, just think about it...what happens when you've finally caught up with everyone from your past? Start catching up with old enemies?

Okay I'll just get right to my picks of the week...

YouTube Video of the Week: Pinball Number Count



Remember this little number? Haha...okay that was lame. But really, does it ring up any memories? For me it was burst of nostalgia. I was suddenly sent back in time when I was only 6 years old and watching Sesame Street at the children's nursery just a couple streets from my house.

News Story of the Week: The Police Reunite!



Following the 49th Grammy Awards, the Police announced that they were reuniting for a comeback tour after twenty years of hiatus. The funny thing...is that Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland were all in favour of a reunion a long long time ago. What took Sting so long to come around? Sting claims that one day he just woke up and decided to bring back the band. I claim...that he probably finally realized that now was the time to cash in on the baby boomers and their money. Ticket prices for the reunion shows range from $60 to $225. How do you like them apples? I'm sure Sting definitely does.

Soundbyte of the Week: Cansei de Ser Sexy



Really weird how I found this band. I was just looking through YouTube and after another useless video had finished, one of the "recommended director" videos was simply called "CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above". And right from there, I was hooked. In a nutshell, they're an electro-rock band from Brazil, and are garnering a large indie following. Their name, "Cansei de Ser Sexy" is actually portuguese for "Tired of being sexy". And instead of just repeating everything that I got from wikipedia, I'll just stop right here.

Yeah it's been a pretty slow week. I really hope things pick up soon. I think I'm beginning to lose my mind.

And now we play the blame game

Ah jeez...2 posts in less than 24 hours, this is a new record, even for the Geneva blog...but hey, I can't help it...it's something that's gotten under my skin.

New reports regarding the ridiculous Boston bomb scare...
"Bomb Scare: It's No Cartoon"
"Turner Broadcasting apologizes for Boston sign scare"

And for a completely unbiased news coverage of the story, wikipedia is always the source to go to: Wikipedia - Aqua Teen Hunger Force - Bomb Scare

Well if you read the above articles, I guess you don't have to read this because it's just reiterating some points. Apparently, the much of the paranoia was ramped up because several Boston radio stations began to broadcast "around-the-clock" coverage of the "mysterious packages". And then as soon as the other news affiliates got wind of it, what were simple light pixel boards (like the ones you see at on video screens at stadiums)



...became suspicious circuit-board-like bombs via a "broken telephone" fiasco.

Boston radio station execs defended their coverage, claiming that the police action was the primary reason for bringing down commerce in the city to a standstill.

The director of the "Project for Excellence in Journalism" in a statement claiming that the reporters had excessively speculated about bombs and terrorism, "If you have no evidence that anything bad has happened...you shouldn't run the worst-case scenario".

And just to make this story even more ridiculous, the promotional light-boards prank had also been set up in 10 other major metropolitan cities in the US. And in none of those cities were there a city-wide panic and shutdown. One woman had commented on Boston's response to the "crisis" as "silly and insane" and added, in contrast to the other cities, "We're (Boston) the laughing stock".

After all of these comments have been made, Boston officials are still holding Turner Broadcasting responsible for $500,000 in law enforcement costs.

And when I hear this last statement, it almost seems to me that the Boston officials are in total denial about how absurd and ridiculous that they and the entire city responded to this hoax and are just attempting to divert the blame in the direction of an easy scapegoat, who is willing to apologize and accept fault, and that is Turner Broadcasting.

I really do hope that this entire fiasco will lead to amazing ratings and newfound television success for Turner Broadcasting and the Adult Swim Network's show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force".

Hell, I personally will be looking for episodes to watch now that I've seen all the commotion this promotion has caused.

No more back pain

It's finally over...as of Monday, January 29th, 2007, I finally submitted my graduate school application.



Four months of grueling photography and terrible lighting conditions, mulling and debating over multiple design theories, facts, and styles, is now finished and it feels as though a gigantic weight has been removed from my back.

I probably lost more sleep than I realize...as indicated here by the sunrise on the morning of my completion and my submission.



But whatever...it's all finished...and on the bright side I can now use my completed portfolio to apply for jobs now.

If you're curious as to what I've managed to create...just hit up the following link: Alan Teo - Design Portfolio [2007]

Outside of the application...I've pretty much done nothing.

I did however purchase a new pair of shoes...a successor to the podiatric throne of my well weathered Pumas...introducing my new Timberlands...



And that's pretty much it... =)

Oh yes, and my collection of interesting links that I've accumulated over the past 2 weeks...

YouTube Video of the Week: The (Conan O'Brien) iPhone



Honestly, it's a sickening feeling to see how retarded people are fawning over the new iPhone. Because if you go to Japan, they've got phones over there that are far superior to the iPhone and have been around for years already. In fact, Japanese cell phones are able to be used to pay for purchases at the store, where you just simply let the cash register scan the back of your cell phone for a microchip that subtracts payment from your cell phone credit.

Not to mention the size of the iPhone. Look at how huge that thing is! If you click on the picture, the enlarged pic is actual size. That thing is larger than the largest cell phone at the moment...which is probably the Motorola RAZR.

Is it just me, or does the iPhone not even really impress on aesthetics? It doesn't even look like a cell phone. Moreso like a remote control for your TV or stereo. I can't imagine that having such a device would upgrade your status or style level. It looks more like a toy that would just make you look like a huge nerd.

Anyway...following the press release of the iPhone, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" released this...hilarious comedy sketch...

News Stories of the Week: "Two Charged in Stunt Joke After Release"
This is quite possibly one of the most retarded stories I have ever read.

I just don't get it. I mean how could you possibly think that a light board that is depicting a cartoon character flipping the bird at you...



...could possibly be construed as a terrorist bomb threat? Since when do terrorists openly alert their victims to their "surprise attack"? I mean if a light pixel board is interpreted as resembling a bomb, then what's the difference between that and someone leaving their old TV or VCR outside their house on garbage day? Anything remotely resembling an electronic device could be a bomb! So does that mean that we should start freaking out if people start getting rid of their old computers and television sets? And you know, bombs aren't always necessarily in electronic devices! I'd be more suspicious if someone left a briefcase in the middle of a train station, than compared to a light board with cartoon flipping me the bird!

Instead of charging the two guys who created the advertisement prank, why not charge the idiots who completely overreacted and called in the bomb threat to the police? Their overactive imaginations are the cause of this ridiculous situation!

No offense intended to my dearest American companions, but it's retarded scenarios like these that make me relieved that I don't live in the paranoid infestation of the United States.

And finally, I'm telling you just can't make this stuff up. Just read the following article: "Police use stun guns on greased, naked student"

Soundbyte of the Week: Aries Spears Freestylin'
Okay, this isn't really a sound clip. But it kinda is because you don't even need to watch it to be in total awe of Aries Spears.

Okay folks, that's it for now...time to go start applying for some jobs.

Lates...