Daily Happenings of Nick/Zamic
TZU, Racing, and Starcraft Ep. 2
Aug 2nd
So this part is about the racing that has occurred as of recently. Well I wasn’t racing, I was just lowly crew, those who are forced to bow before the racer attitude for the weekend to make sure everything goes well. Not much to really describe however. Mostly just went through the motions. Torque wheels. Set tire pressures. Rush into pits when things go wrong. Attach empty energy drink to back of tailpipe. Oh yeah that was a little bit out of the ordinary. We had to replace the exhaust pipe, and the new one end up being to too short for regulation so our solution was the obvious one. Finish an energy drink. Cut out the bottom and the top. Hose clamp it to the end of the tailpipe. Genius right? Unfortunately it nearly ripped entirely to shreds the second we started the car, but luckily they didn’t end up inspecting it so we ended up being quite the lucky bunch.
Only other really notable thing was where we slept. So there wasn’t enough room in the RV for all of us, so of course the adults threw us, the teenagers, out to sleep in the trailer. Which smells like pine resin. Strongly. And amplifies the already 90 degrees, at night, heat. So we ended up sleeping outside, on mats or cots, only to realize that, in fact, the millions of bugs that had been plaguing the already blistering nights, do in fact bite. Though they had seemed harmless and simply annoying at first, but when we woke up with bug bites on our hands and feet, it became clear that they were in fact not annoying, but REALLY annoying. The worst part is that they aren’t the sort of bug bites that just go away and you don’t feel for the duration of their stay. They itch. Really bad. And if you even rub them they decide to dig in their heels and move in. Nearly all of mine are still kickin’. Can I get a woohoo?
Anyway as promised, finally, here is the dancer vampire zombie thing drawing! Oh and also here is another TZU song from the second album I have bought from them. Took a long time to grow on me but I know I absolutely love it now! Enjoy.
Dancer Zombie Vampire by ~Zamic on deviantART
TZU, Racing, and Starcraft Ep. 1
Jul 28th
So this is my new favorite band that I am telling everyone about, and just as all my other favorite bands they are a bit off the beaten track. TZU, pronounced T-Z-U, is an Australian hip-hop/rap group. It threw me abit at first too, and I still giggle a little when they say Australia and try to be gangster about it, but they are really are a great band. Sorry any Australians out there offended by that, but when I think crime or political strife, my first thought is not Australia. It isn’t even my second. Maybe the thirty second, but that’s a bit of a stretch. Anyway they are a great band and make sure to check them out. Unfortunately you can’t find much of their music on Youtube and the only music on their Myspace is remixes, which is rather disappointing. Adding to the difficulties if you live in the states like myself, getting their albums in anything other than digital form is far too expensive. If I remember correctly one album was $40 on Amazon. I would definitely suggest heading over to iTunes. Luckily for me I took the plunge and bought their album Smiling at Strangers. Great music and a lot of bang for your buck, 19 songs for 10 bucks. Unfortunately someone at iTunes goofed and all the songs are mislabeled, and finding the actual song names is a pain. Through all these difficulties they are worth the buy, if you like different music, and music that kind be trippy and relaxing, or heavy and bass booming, you really should check them out. They definitely deserve the support. So TZU you receive the Zamic seal of approval.
Now to explain the Ep. thing. I heard some words of wisdom from a friend of mine, telling me that they were going to chop up their blog posts because the average reader only has a small amount of time to committ to reading an article. That’s basically the nice way of saying that the average person browsing the internet has the attention span of a gnat. Now don’t think I’m not including myself in that, I am guilty of running into something good only to be turned away by its length. So since a lot has happened recently I have decided to split it into three parts, so keep checking into the site to see the next two! My drawing should also be done soon, just have to re-draw his forearm, and I’ve been far too brain dead since I got back from the track to do so. Anyway, this is Zamic, signing off.
Silly Technology
Jul 14th
The technology gods seem to have cursed me. First my xbox. Now my keyboard. Currently I am sitting in front of my desk, my laptop perched where my keyboard would usually sit with enough cords sticking out of it to make a fireman nervous. I have basically adopted it as my main computer until I get a new keyboard because of how annoying the point and click virtual keyboard on my normal computer is. Though to be honest, this time the failing was more on my part rather than on the technology. A few days ago I spilled some water. Thought only a few drops got on my keyboard so I simply wiped it off. When it totally died on me two days later I picked it up and it drained. Yes that’s right. It drained water. To those of you who aren’t too computer savvy, when your keyboard drains water, it’s usually a bad sign. So currently it is laying on the floor, face down. It served me well.
Though on the bright side after some UPS shenanigans where they never told Microsoft they had even shipped my Xbox, my Xbox is now currently being repaired. Woopee! Who knows if they are actually going to fix it this time or just send me a new one. Fingers crossed that if they send me a new one, it’ll be one of the slims!
So yeah not really much more to say, I apologize but mostly all that has been going on is my technology mishaps. And a lot of Mass Effect. Which in case you are wondering I have been playing on Ulaaran’s Xbox, which he is letting me borrow. He is such a giving soul when he gets addicted to Guild Wars. Unfortunately I won’t be able to end this post with a drawing. Yes yes I know you are just SO dissapointed, but my laptop has made it very clear that him and the scanner simply don’t get along. Rather than paying for appliance therapy I’ll just wait to scan it. Anyway look out for the next post, you’ll get to see a zombie/vampire/thing hanging off a wall! Yep. You are so excited.
Anyway I’ll just end it off instead with a link to my latest work on Protag. Enjoy.
Cough Drops, Plastic Beach and The Guild. Oh my.
Jul 9th
As I sit writing this, there is a good chance I will hack up a lung only to quickly stuff it down my gullet. Some people have bad sneezes. I have bad coughs. Scratch that I have terrible coughs. They aren’t little wimpy things that could be confused as an exhale of air. They are full out, body heaving, rip up my throat kind of coughs. It is just as fun as it sounds. Unless it is a really small cold that is basically my cough default. Today I’m not even sure why I’m coughing. I have actually now come to the conclusion that my lungs hate me. You heard me right. Or read me right I suppose. For the past few weeks, I will randomly have two to three hours of coughing at least one day a week. I don’t have allergies so that’s out. I originally thought maybe keeping my window open for hours on end with a fan pumping in air may have just literally filled my lungs with pollen to the extent of needing to cough regardless of allergies. But proved that wrong today. Window hasn’t been open in more than a day… Damn my spiteful body parts.
Anyway onto slightly less painful and annoying topics, just recently Gorillaz, no relation to the site, released another music video to compliment their album Plastic Beach. Now I love Gorillaz, and from what I’ve heard I love this new album, but I have been too lazy to get up and actually go through the process of buying it. But this music video may just make me get off my lazy ass. I was amazed when I first saw this music video, not just for the video itself because Gorillaz videos are always great, but by the song. Not to sound too namby-pamby, but I love this song ALOT. I have listened to it for hours on end and I still love listening to it. So for your viewing pleasure here it is, though keep in mind the story isn’t going to make much sense unless you have seen the previous video Stylo, so if you want to totally understand it, go watch it now. We can wait.
Good right? Now I know there will be at least some of you out there who will not like this. Some of you will even be Gorillaz fans. Well, previous Gorillaz fans. While looking through comments on these videos it seems that a lot of people think Gorillaz has gotten worse. Now for those of you who don’t follow Gorillaz you can probably just skip to the next paragraph, for those of you who have, enjoy the following rant. People. You clearly you do not understand the concept of a virtual band. If you ever thought a band that interchanges members with every album was going to repackage and re-release the same sound in every album, you were mistaken. And even with that aside, Plastic Beach is a great album, at least from what I have heard. Yes it isn’t as dark, there isn’t as much bass and there isn’t as much rap. But those aren’t bad things. They are going in a new direction. And the new direction is great. If you can’t open your mind up to new music go back to your generic emo rock and stop ripping on bands with actually creativity. As John Stewart would say, Zing!
So next, The Guild. By the way these are basically mini reviews. I will probably do my full thoughts of Plastic Beach when I get it, and this is just a short thing about The Guild. So first off, if you have never played an MMO you will probably not like The Guild. And if even if you do like it, you probably won’t be able to fully understand some of lingo and jokes. As someone who had poured a lot of time into the oh so famous game World of Warcraft, I quite enjoyed the series. The classic stereotypes are taking a little far but it’s good to know that the woman who is writing the script actually plays WoW. Overall it is filled with awkward moments, and moments that will make you roll on the floor laughing, and if you are like me you won’t be able to stop watching them till you’re done. And just as a special treat here’s the first episode.
So that’s basically it for today my internet friends, and below is the usual fare. Enjoy your weekend everybody, best wishes from Frantic Gorilla!
Silly Xbox
Jul 2nd
So I’ve been spending a lot of time relaxing lately, not the sort of relaxing where I get any work done, but the unproductive relaxing. You know the kind normally incorporating watching many mindless videos on Youtube and playing some sort of game system. As a proud owner of an Xbox I spent the better part of…Tuesday I believe, playing through the original Mass Effect, just for the hell of it. Unfortunately that was cut short by the fact that I seem to be cursed by the almighty gaming gods. The next day I start up my Xbox after taking about an hour break and it proceeds to give me the message “Open Tray” every time I put a disk in its unforgiving gullet. For those of you who don’t own an Xbox, that basically means not only is not loading the disk but it isn’t even recognizing there is anything in the tray.
Just for the kicker I had a nearly identical problem before, causing me to send it in for $100 because the warranty had run out. Ended up being a pretty good deal for me since they simply sent me a new Xbox along with a month free of Gold membership as some sort of apology. I was happy with the service but it left me uneasy about the hardiness of the Xbox. Don’t get me wrong I still love the damn thing, but having this happen again is a little more than annoying. Thankfully since it is actually a new Xbox it is still under warranty, so free repair for me, but I am finding myself at a loss in my free time. I mean it’s good for me, and it will get me to work more, but at the times where my brain is fried and I can barely think let alone do any sort of art, there isn’t very much to do other than stare at the wall.
Well as a consolation I actually have something to post today guys, if you’re interested that is. Check it out down below, this is a disgruntled gamer, signing off.
Tell the Inspector by ~Zamic on deviantART
A humorous Sci-Fi thing I am starting:
So…
Jun 15th
Been pretty slow round here lately. Sorry for the lack of posts…Not much really to write about. After doing that post about the Mass Effect Movie been playing ALOT of Mass Effect. New DLC coming out for it tommor…well today and been trying to finish a play-through before it came out. What can I say I’m a fanboy. Can’t really say that about any other series. I am not the sort of fan boy that clings to the game saying it’s perfect, it’s got it’s flaws just like any other game, but if you say that it is flat out fecal matter, you may need to prepare yourself for a fight good sir.
*Cough* Anyway, I’ve also been working on a story lately, so that’s also been consuming a lot of time. Yeah yeah I know it’s a cliche’ that the artsy kid in high school writes stories. Sue me. It’s not romantic stuff or anything so you can’t pull the “Oh you’re so emo” card on me, actually some of it is kind of adult. Not that kind of adult you pervert. Well there is a succubus but that’s not the point. I mean it’s kind of adult in it’s general theme and violence, yes there is a little bit of sexual stuff thrown in (how could you not have that if there is a damn succubus?), but it is hardly even there, and it’s not even close to the “Hubba hubba” sort of thing. To be honest been influenced by Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series quite a bit. If you haven’t heard of it, get the first book Storm Front, if you like magic, mystery, and down on their luck detectives set in Chicago, it is your kind of book. To wet your appetite here is the first episode of the TV series, that was unfortunately cancelled after one season. Damn it SciFi channel. And no I’m not being paid to advertise here, it’s just a really good series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frpIQird6Tk
Anyway now that I am done defending myself against your invisible attacks my oh so critical readers, I would like to again apologize for the lack of content. Ulaaran was dragged along to Sacremento for four days so hopefully you’ll be hearing from him. If he doesn’t decide to, well, you might just end up having to hear from your good old pal Zamic again. Haven’t been drawing lately so here’s another old one, and this time it’s a really old one. Night folks!
Angel Number Two WIP by ~Zamic on deviantART
The Wonders of Summer
Jun 11th
It’s nearly one o’ clock in the morning right now. I am wide awake. I’ve gotten work done on my now seven page work of literature, got a sketch I am rather proud of pumped out(which you shall see soon), and I’m still working. I’ll be waking up very late later this morning, and I won’t care in the least. I’ll be rested, relaxed and ready to work some more. Ready to refresh the part of my brain that has been dormant from school’s terrible grip. I won’t miss school, but I will miss summer. The late nights, the late mornings, the care free days, the free time. But for now I’ll count my blessings and get back to work. Wishing you all the best summer wishes this is Nick signing off. I’ve got work to do.
A Spirit by ~Zamic on deviantART
Also for anyone else up late, here’s a little late night motivation for you. Friend recommended this song and it has been doin me wonders.
Get Him to the Greek
Jun 9th
Now I’m not a movie critic. Great way to start a review eh? But yeah I’m not a critic, I tend to enjoy movies rather than hate them, so yeah I’m not as critical as a critic. Only movie I have really truly hated was the last Harry Potter. Terrible hashing of the book, absolutely awful. But anyway I’ve done one review on here before so, hell I thought I might as well do it again. Actually regret some things I said in my Avatar review so for anyone who read that one, liked or had problems with it, stick around till the end to see my look back at it.
So myself and a horde of teenagers went and checked out Get Him to the Greek last night. Now this isn’t an educated, swirl your martini at while having a good old time with the kids sort of movie, I’ll get that out of the way here and now. Though when the commercial advertises that it was made by the same people who made Superbad, that is a fair assumption. In comparison to Superbad, I actually found this movie considerably funnier. Superbad was a fairly good movie, who could forget McLovin’? But it was full of awkward humor. You know the humor I mean. If you don’t, go watch any Seth Rogan movie. Everyone has something they can’t stand in movies, mine is awkward humor. This movie has nearly none of it, all the laughs you are going to get are from well written lines or perverted jokes. Suffice it to say, if you don’t like dirty perverted humor, suggestive themes or any sort of nudity, this movie is not for you. In fact why are you even reading this? Anyway now that he’s out of here, the jokes in this are quite good and if you catch this with a group of friends as I did, you shall all be quoting it for a while to come.
Though oddly enough this movie is not all jokes. One of the characters is actually rather deep. There are lots of jokes about drugs, for instance the Jeffery, but really they delve into some of the harsh realities of drugs and the troubled lives of people in Hollywood. It’s not really as deep as a drama would be, but for the type of movie that it is, it’s quite good. Unlike most comedies of this type you actually learn to care about the characters. Anyway I am rambling on here so let’s get to the verdict.
Verdict: If possible catch it at night with a big group of friends, worth the full price for the experience with your friends. If you just want to be able to say you saw it and be able to joke with your friends who have already seen it, I’d say just wait to rent it, much more fun with friends.
Lookback: So I want to take back a few things I said about Avatar. Still very enthralling and absorbing but the plot…not…very…original. It’s practically an alien Pocahontas. Still a great movie, not entirely sure whether it deserves it’s throne for highest grossing movie of all time though. If it was only on the basis of special effects hell yeah, but the story is rather unoriginal. Sorry if I sounded like a fanboy in the original review, but I was blown away by it and wasn’t thinking entirely straight. Sets a new bar in special effects, not plot.
Summer? Really?
Jun 6th
That it is. But at least to me it sure doesn’t feel like it. It could be the bipolar weather that has afflicted the town where I live. Sunny one minute, stormy the next. It could be the amount of homework I was assigned this past year, somehow burning school into my mind. I can’t entirely be sure but what I do know is that it still feels like I will be going to school on Monday.
Just not having homework in and of itself boggles my mind. My brain just seems lost without something to hold it back. No deadlines just makes my head spin. Do you get the idea yet? I’ll make sure not to prattle on since I am already starting to repeat myself. My point is that this summer is just weird so far. Last summer it felt long over due, and I was ecstatic and ready to be a sophomore. This year I’m glad to be out of my horrific classes but it doesn’t feel like summer and I sure don’t feel like a junior. Who knows maybe it is just because it’s the beginning of the summer but it all just feels…odd.
Either way I am still entirely grateful for summer as I have already started to pick up my writing, and will hopefully be picking up my sketchpad soon enough. Still haven’t got a new drawing for ya guys, such a dissapointment huh? Anyway here’s another old one and enjoy the rest of your weekend, though there ain’t much left, everybody!
Three More Days
Jun 2nd
Three more days till summer, who would have guessed? I’m sorry but this article will probably be directed for teenagers about my age, to any older readers out there, hell use it as some nostalgia time or even just a look into what school is like for kids these days, or at least this kid these days. Three more days till freedom is more how I like to word it. Three more days till I get a break from what really isn’t school but is more of an endurance test. As someone who’s idea of living is drawing, writing, thinking, summer is like salvation. During the school year, especially this last one, not only do I not have time but it literally burns out my brain, making any creativity drain out of my ears. So I suppose you could compare my reaction to summer as that of a phoenix. Just as the last bit of my soul dies from finals, after a week of lying in bed I will emerge with much more energy and creative juices. So my summer will most likely be full of drawing, painting, writing so on and so forth, which I will hopefully share with you my ghost audience. By the way when I say writing I mean things like this or creative writing such as stories. Maybe I’ll do some short stories my long ones have never really quite worked out.
So three days. Three days. Be ready.
For my drawing for this post its just an old one, clearly haven’t had time to draw. Hopefully by next time I shall have a brand new one for you all to oogle at. That is sarcasm btw.
Cursed Soul by ~Zamic on deviantART