A Different Trailer Experience

Dedicated to: The Times When Taking Something Literally Can Make Your Day

Most of the time when I plop down to get some work done, I love listening to relaxing music because it helps me concentrate. This morning, I decided to listen to some Esperanza Spalding (totally deserved the "Best New Artist" award in this year's Grammy Awards) on YouTube. I clicked on my browser tab to pick some of my favorites and, all of sudden, opening up YouTube reminded of something my brother once shared with me and I just HAVE to share it with all you awesome readers.

There's a dude on YouTube, whose username is "Tobuscus," that decided to do literal renditions of trailers through voice-overs. These trailers include movies and video games. The results are hilarious. All of his trailers are always titled as "LITERAL (insert movie or video game)."

Now, below is the "literal trailer" he did for a video game called Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. Believe me, you do not need to be a video game fan to understand his game trailers, because it's not the content of the trailer that is humorous, but the way he executes his voice-overs. Without further a due, enjoy :)

HILARIOUS, I know.

Here is one of his non-video game trailers:

Well, if these trailers had you laughing until you started hyperventalating, then be my guest in checking out more of this dude's stuff.

As always, I try to keep this blog a place to grab a laugh or two from work. Thanks for reading (and watching in this case) as always.

...JEFF BRIDGES.... :)

Why are We Playing This?!?

Dedicated to: Those Who Understand the Meaning of Playing in a Symphony

Do you know what a symphony is? It's a group of musicians that consist of orchestral players (violins, violas, celli-plural for cello, bass) and band players (winds, horns, percussion, etc.). What kind of music is considered symphonic? Well, usually it's the old-school stuff- Mozart, Respighi, Tchaikovsky, etc.

With any kind of music, especially symphonic music (in my opinion, of course), it paints some sort of unique picture in each person's mind. Sometimes, the picture is so clear that almost everyone feels what the composer had intended for the listeners and musicians to feel. For example, in Beethoven's famous 5th symphony:

The anger, frustration, and then the feeling of relief and success can be clearly felt as the piece progresses.

In the past year, the quality of my college symphony has....well....lost some musical taste. For all you musicians, part of our repertoire for our next concert is Copland's piece (ugh, for string players, I know). Another featured piece was actually written by a fellow student/musician. Don't get me wrong, I totally respect those that can actually write music because of its difficulty, but sometimes people just need to make the decision that maybe that particular piece of music isn't a good idea to play. Now, this amateur composer is a percussionist. In short, the entire piece sounds like a percussionist's piece but in different instruments- go figure. Anyways, I'm not writing about this to complain how much the piece sounds like one sporadic melody with strange themes, but the picture that it paints. My stand partner, a fantastic guy with a sense of humor, also agrees with on this just to clarify that I might not be as insane as I thought.

Yes, this is Charlie.

That's right, cavemen.

Basically, here is the moving story that appears in my mind when we play the piece: some cavemen come out of, well, a cave, and stare into the rising sun. Then....BAM! Fire is discovered, and they dance around like frenzied animals. All of a sudden, the scene changes and they are skipping through daisies. Out of a rainbow that appears out of nowhere, a unicorn appears. The cavemen gape at the mystical animal, then, Larry, I'm just going to call this particular caveman, chases the unicorn in attempt to eat it. Yes, awkward. The story ends with the unicorn disappearing and the cavemen standing about thinking "wtf." The End.

I hope this illustrates why I do not like the piece of music. Makes the entire cello section seem like cavemen banging on their instruments. Attractive, I know.

<sigh> Oh well, that's all for now. Got a test tomorrow, perhaps I will feel more civilized in the morning.

A Dash of Rain and a Little Coffee

Dedicated to: Lovers of Little Things

I was walking down the sidewalk toward the bus stop (college campus transit). A small Dunkin' Doughnut coffee in one hand, and my other hand in my pocket. I don't even like coffee, but I guess today is an exception. Taking an easy stroll with my iPod, absorbing the rain falling lightly from a gray sky, while heading towards class.

OH CRAP.

I see the bus charging down the street at the speed only appropriate for a Daytona 500 race. With only seconds to catch the bus, I began running/jogging with my coffee.

*Picture this: Asian girl with a coffee in one hand (nearly splashing out), iPod wires swinging around crazier than a group of chimpanzees, and cutting off a local elementary school bus while crossing the crosswalk. Oh yeah. I'm  cool.

Boarding the bus, the driver smiles a smile only reserved for those that run after his bus. One of my favorite bus drivers, he slightly shakes his head in a knowing way, shuts the doors, and guns the bus. I will not be late.

The day was only starting, and I couldn't help feeling good about it. The rain is spiritually cleansing, letting the week start anew after Spring Break, and most important of all, washing away the pollen.

*Side note: I started thinking about this randomly in the past few days. Isn't spring sort of like Nature porn? Let me explain. During the spring, you've got millions of flowers mating, essentially, on a microscopic level. We are inhaling sperm. Awkward? Yes, very. It's cool though, I love Nature, Nature has the right to get it on once in a while. That sounded wrong....okay, anyways, I digress.

Feeling renewed in a way, I go on with my day. I'm not sure how this week can get any better.

Fair Winds and Following Seas

Dedicated to: James Lee

I will honor my first official post to a good friend of mine. Let me tell you about James. James is the type of guy who would have your back in a flash and support you no matter how many times you fail in your endeavors. In other words, he's the kind of guy you would want to be with if there was ever a zombie invasion - dependable, loyal, friendly, and a guy that knows how to work a shotgun.

About a week ago, James left for Marine boot camp on Paradise Island (psh, bullcrap, it's actually Parris Island). His date to leave was actually about three weeks later, sometime in April. Except, perhaps due to some drop-outs, he had the opportunity to ship off early to try and earn one of our nation's greatest honors - to be a Marine. Now, if you ever get to meet this kid as a Marine, he would not be your typical Jarhead. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that all enlisted Marines are like this, but the stereotype is that they are individuals who are fiercely loyal, but aren't the brightest crayons in the box (please excuse the cliche). James on the other hand, is not only street-smart, but quite intellectual at the same time. I had tried to convince him to try and become a Marine officer instead, but he insisted he wanted to experience the life of an enlisted Marine before even trying/think about an officer commission. In summary, he'll be a badass Marine in approximately 12 more weeks.

Why am I talking about this? Well, I think his story is an example of dreaming a dream and living that dream. How many people can say that they had a dream, and is living it? I can definitely say that I'm not even close, yet. What I admire most about James is his ability to pursue his dream no matter what it takes. After nearly two decades of his life, he is finally opened one of his life's doors and walking down that path.  Me? Well, I've just started and I haven't even reached my door.

Back in our senior year in high school, James wrote a message in my yearbook that I would never forget. He wrote something on the lines of "...hey Saph, you are a great friend and a Marine at heart.  I've always been a bit envious of your boldness and don't ever change. Maybe we can salute each other one day." This message will always stick with me, because I couldn't help thinking, why would he be jealous of me? Sure, my personality is a bit blunt, yet humorous, but why would he be jealous of me? When I thought about this later, I finally figured it out. I've always been a driven person and not shy to express my personal dreams and aspirations. I'm going to help save the world one day, maybe I'll work for the FBI, military, State Department, or in the private sector. Maybe, I'll even become the Secretary of Defense and then change "Defense" to "War" 'cause it sounds more badass...yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Where the hell did I get these ideas? I guess much of my personality has to do with this craziness, but I can't help thinking about choosing to spend the rest of my life in a career to help those who can't help themselves. The point is, now I think the feelings James had about me are now reversed. I'm envious of James's freedom and courage to make his own choices.

Do I ever want to become a Marine one day? Maybe yes, maybe no. Who knows, time is always changing along with people's minds. But, I don't believe we could ever change the parts of our personality that makes up the essence of who we are. Point of the matter is that James thought of a dream, went through some personal hardships, but now is on his way to achieve a major portion of it. James, along with a few other of my really close friends, is like a sibling to me. My little brother has finally unfurled his wings and on the path in becoming a Marine - to become somebody because he chose to be somebody. In about 12 weeks, he's going to earn his eagle, anchor, and globe. One day, when I can spread my wings, James will be one of the people I thank. But for now, I don't think it'll hurt to do some of that thanking now.

James, if you ever get around to reading this, thanks. Semper fi little brother.    

Only the Beginning

First off, I would like to state that this is my first official blog. With social networks like Facebook and Twitter taking off in our generation, I decided I would reserve my extraneous thoughts to something a little more old school. Secondly, I've decided that this blog will be more like a commentary. I'll do my best to keep my personal issues off of my posts, so with that being said, comments are greatly welcomed (friendly and appropriate of course, and if critical, please keep it constructive :) ). Lastly, besides finding a way to record these extraneous thoughts, why blog in the first place? I've always been inspired by those who can express humor and sarcasm in their writings. I hope that this blog will become a place where people can check up on once in a while and make their day a little better, with a good chuckle or laugh.

Posting habits: My goal is to post at least once a week. Each post will be dedicated to something or someone. I believe that putting a purpose to a post adds a little more meaning.

As always, thanks for checking out my blog. Live long and prosper, may the Force be with you! That's right, I'm a bit of a geek, I guess you are just going to have to get over it :)