You're a slave to money then you die

Further to my last post about cynical cash-ins, I see that the predictable Christmas Greatest Hits compilations have started to appear. Travis, The Verve and Placebo are all releasing "Singles" compilations, all with the now mandatory "previously unreleased" track or two and tie-in DVD. Again, it's difficult for me to see the appeal, but I dislike most of the work of said groups (Urban Hymns was, however, an integral part of my teenage years, which I refuse to apolgise for, despite the cringe factor now), perhaps if Radiohead were releasing a compilation - this seems a rather unlikely proposition - I'd be slightly more considerate, although I do already have all their albums; perhaps the DVD would hold more water with me.

Did you say, no this can't happen to me?

Just back from lunch with (the rather nice) Helen at the rather nice Howie's restaurant in Dundee. It was great to have an hour and a half of relaxing and eating satisfying food; satisfying rather than over filling. My days of thinking of a massive plate of food as enjoyable eating are nearing an end. Perhaps this is what growing up is about; quality over quantity. Perhaps this should be more relevant in the things I choose to spend my time on. I am amazed at how quickly this week has passed and how many things still remain to be done. How many things I would have done; still I don't want to plan every second of my time. What kind of a life is that? (I thrive on danger).
Music of the day:
Jeff Buckley - Grace. I see that an expanded version of this album has just been released. Now I like the original version of the album and I think he was a good singer - perhaps a little grandiose at times (maybe this is merely a reaction to the number of pale copy-cat voices - Matt Bellamy J'accuse (quote from Punk icons NOFX - "I think Radiohead would be really good if they were good. Because when they have a good song it’s really nice, and there’s like two per album. I think Muse is way better than Radiohead, way better. Better songwriting." It's always good to see some intelligent criticism out there)) - but do we really need to hear any more "previously unreleased" material? The words "cynical cash-in" spring to mind. I can't really see myself buying a new version of an album I already own (although I hear they're going to re-release Pavement's Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain much in the way they did with Slanted & Enchanted [thanks Ross]), but maybe some people are more obsessive - in saying that if there was a 10 year anniversary edition of The Bends with something significantly new, it would be hard to resist.

(Just in case - the danger thing was a joke).

The car is on fire and there's no driver at the wheel

I am still attempting to get over my cold...every time I think it has gone it comes back in a different form, first it was the sore throat, then then the cough and now a stuffy nose. Not that it's keeping me from anything, but just a general lethargy. Some day I will 'score' some time to do something a little more creative. Haven't quite had the 'what am I doing here?' moment that all 4th years go through just yet but I can feel it niggling away just under the surface.

I open up my wallet and it's full of blood. Post-apocalypticism was once again brought to mind while I was watching Shaun of the Dead last weekend; mostly indirectly as said film was very amusing and filled me with a somewhat sadistic desire to wap Zombies with cricket bats. Rather it reminded me of 28 Days, another Zombie film (somewhat alluded to as "bollocks" by the end of SOTD); it isn't a particularly original or interesting film save for the first scenes where this bloke wakes up from a coma to a completely uninhabited London. I don't know why the thought of being that person frightens me, but it does. Perhaps it's the completely unlimited possibilities for why everyone has buggered off (maybe they don't like me or I smell too much etc.) or just having to cope on my complete lonesome. Would I believe that this was as it had been "predicted" Biblically?

Ahem. It's not like I'm pre-occupied with these thoughts but it's interesting to ponder them even for several seconds.

Hello Monkey Children

Nothing much to say really. I had a nasty cold over the weekend tied in with a traumatic (in several senses) mouth ulcer.Also remembered how frustrating recording something in your room on your own is (well in my room on my own). Today was quite long, but reasonably edutaining (ah the Game of Medicine). I have gained a passion for (a limited amount of) 70s music over the summer, consisting mainly of Neil Young, Elton John and Nick Drake. I tried Tim Buckley too but he was just a bit too er...medieval (anyone want to buy a CD?) Bjaaarrk? Definitely odd winter music. Missing the electronica undertones (not electronica Undertones - Teenage Glitch), but perhaps I shall learn to love the choral ones.

Nonsense.

Some days are better than others

Zooropa, that forgotten U2 album, is reasonably good, I think. It's never really grabbed my attention in the way that Achtung Baby or Pop have; War is also another favourite of mine (the album rather than conflict). I can take or leave the others. A brief unrequested opinion on the self-proclaimed "world's greatest band" or whatever rubbish Bono's been talking recently. In saying that, however, I appreciate his campaigning for awareness of Aids in Africa and previously during the "Drop the Debt" campaign.

Films recently watched (at the DCA, possibly the best cinema in Scotland/Northern Ireland , if not, inner most regions of the solar system):
Sunday - The Motorcycle Diaries - road movie cum pseudo-documentary; various South American people shine; beware romanticising of Che Guevara.
Monday - Collateral - Tom Cruise's trademark wooden acting is an advantage in this suspense thriller (beautiful shots - reminiscent of Lost in Translation).

I was going to comment further on the above, but it's suffice to say that both are worth watching, if not in the DCA then at your local movie emporium.

And further to the above - Star Wars on DVD; little more needs to be said.

I listened to Elliott Smith's eponymously titled album last night before sleep. It's one of those albums creates an almost suffocatingly intimate atmosphere; his pronunciation of the lyrics, every syllable almost, (especially in Needle in the Hay) give the impression he is undergoing a kind of self-exorcism. The swearing seems so sincere that you want to join in and the extreme minimalism of the production only serves to reinforce this tension. The world is out to screw you up, it says; and who am I to disagree with that?

Goodnight brian brain

Seemingly finished, although I reckon I could have done with a bit more work on it. Oh well, if only I hadn't....[insert moderately remorseful but generally not bothered remark here].
It probably all be guff in the morning and I'll have to rewrite it in half an hour, but isn't that the joy of university?

what I used to be will pass away and then you'll see

Aaah! I just can't kill it off. Die curriculum outcomes. Feeling nervous about something, but I can't quite work out what it is as yet...this is a common feeling for me, perhaps it's just the coffee come down. Zombification to use a well-worn phrase.

Avoidance syndrome

I have lots of work to do for tomorrow. Why am writing here? Because of what I like to call (but probably subconsciously stolen), "Avoidance syndrome". If I start it then I'll have to stop thinking about all the other things I'd like to be doing. Not sure how to be more disciplined, ah well, stuff that. Here are some of the things I'd rather be doing:

1. Sleeping. I am quite tired after last night and the previous week's ?musical efforts.
2. Eating. I can think of many and various tasty meals to be ingested, all of which take time and effort to prepare.
3. "Rocking the world" or at least doing a wee bit of recording. I enjoy writing songs, taking time to construct each part then screwing it up until it's somehow less listenable (this is what some people call "singing").
4. Playing frisbee. It's been a while since a threw a disc in anger. The fresher's fair is tomorrow, which I'll hopefully attend in order to recruit some bright-eyed, bushy tailed, Freshers.
5. Travelling to somewhere warm and sunny. This should have been first on the list. I wouldn't be tired, hungry or thinking about anything else if it were nice and warm. Perhaps this is merely a hangover from not having seen the sun much this summer and then waking up to find it's winter again. Ah well, I like winter when it's not wet.

Enough enough enuff.

To die is gain

Gig. Set list:
Rocker
Stand Tall/Riff song
Belong
53
Christmas Tree
Acoustic song, which sounded great.
Then long amalgam of different songs: Imagine/Face Down then Lord you have my heart.

Reasonable performance. Personally I thought the rocker and stand tall and Christmas tree were good. 53 was patchy and Belong sounded a bit off tonight - but this is merely my own performance and possibly lack of ability to hear the overalll sound. It will be interesting to see if anything further comes of this current group after the Season Collective gig and Dingers experiment (The Action Verbs??) were partially abandoned. We need a rhythm section. Any takers? Thanks.

Bear with us while we sort out the problem

You may find a few nasty missing links (hm, I wonder where the ape-man had got to) but they should be sorted out with the passage of time. Thanks.

Maybe it's time for a change

As you may have noticed, I have changed the layout of the site - currently to a default blogger one, but hopefully I'll get a bit of a chance to change it. I'll have to update my links also so if you have a blog to which you would like me to link, send me the address or something. Nice one.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I hate you, Tomorrow!

Well that was a bit negative, but I do dislike musicals.

Anyway, this week is proving to be a bit hectic. As usual I have left all my work for my end of block hand in till the last minute, which is unfortunate. Almost finished one of the parts of it. Unfortunately with the gig tomorrow (yes, playing with "Sow" tomorrow at the Fresher's week event in Sessions) and the practices...before I go on with this obvious excuse I'll have to admit that I have spent a bit too much time looking at blogs this week. A-henyway, I realise that often inadvertantly obfuscate whatever I'm trying to say, but this is mainly due to a misunderstanding and rather it is nonsense in the first place.

So there. Ha.

Did you ever wonder where that short Russian bloke went?

Broken Sounds
yes, it's Ross Thompson. I wondered what had happened to him. Well I was actually looking for 5 dollar soul stuff, but by happy coincidence came upon his blog. It's actually very amusing. I shall link to it in my exponentially increasing links section.

The Ark Life

A thought provoking article
Christian Sub-Culture
Perhaps more relevant in the US, but the same culture of separation threatens to engulf UK Christians.

UK Ultimate
New University season starting soon, hurray. Looking forward to a bit of disc-chucking.

The Wolf and the Lamb

"Once upon a time a Wolf was lapping at a spring on a hillside, when, looking up, what should he see but a Lamb just beginning to drink a little lower down. "There's my supper," thought he, "if only I can find some excuse to seize it." Then he called out to the Lamb, "How dare you muddle the water from which I am drinking?"
"Nay, master, nay," said Lambikin; "if the water be muddy up there, I cannot be the cause of it, for it runs down from you to me."
"Well, then," said the Wolf, "why did you call me bad names this time last year?"
"That cannot be," said the Lamb; "I am only six months old."
"I don't care," snarled the Wolf; "if it was not you it was your father;" and with that he rushed upon the poor little Lamb
and
..WARRA WARRA WARRA WARRA WARRA..ate her all up. But before she died she gasped out

"Any excuse will serve a tyrant."

Aesop must have met George.

Hit the neds

Everybody Come Down

"The feeling is bad, the feeling is bad"

Apparently Eddy Grant's "I don't wanna dance" was no.1 on the day I was born.

I don't know this song. Perhaps I should feel some kind of bond with it...or not.
Unfortunately the poor children born today will have Nelly as the no. 1 (well at least it wasn't JoJo).

"Whatever you do, don't drop the Baby"

In preparation for my night shift on the Labour Ward I have compiled a list of tunes (and if were to own an iPod I may have made this into a playlist):
+ Don't Drop the Baby - Low
+ Cry Baby Cry - The Beatles
+ Newborn - Elbow
+ Up All Night (Frankie Miller Goes to Hollywood) - Counting Crows
+ Only Takes A Night - Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
+ Sleep Comes Tomorrow - David Kitt

Any other ideas? Comment below:

Collating Sufjan Stevens interviews for the masses

Read brothers and sisters!
Sufjan Stevens: Pitchfork Interview

It returns!

(ignore the semi-nasty sunburst job).
Well hopefully it will be back up to 100% health (I wish people could be measured on a percentage scale)

We Haven't Been Told, We Have Been Loved

Half-Handed Cloud
A great quote: "It sounds like a really smart Sunday school class on a sugar high let loose in a music store"

Do you?

This guy is asking to be beaten up, but it is quite amusing including the random statistics.
You Have Bad Taste in Music

Sufjan

The third album by the now Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist combines post-rock rhythms, traditional instrumentation and a knack for tugging the heart strings to write moving and honest stories about abandonment, history and tourist attractions in Michigan that transcend the borders of his muse.

30th October
The Venue, Edinburgh

Another "cool but weird" medical story

Man grows new jaw in back

Standing for 6 hours

Was in Gynae Theatre today. It was fairly interesting but also tiring.
However some good news.
There's a new Delgados album out next month:
Hurrah

[Listening to: Union Forever, The - The White Stripes - White Blood Cells]

Stethoscopic

3M™ Littmann ® Electronic Stethoscope Model 4000
Poncy

[Listening to: Night Falls on Hoboken - Yo La Tengo - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out]

50 miles a day for 2 months? Insane.

[Listening to: Night Falls on Hoboken - Yo La Tengo - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out]

Free Fantasy Football

The smell of the turf, the green green grass of home...
BBC Fantasy Football
Contact me if you want to start a Friends league

[Listening to: Night Falls on Hoboken - Yo La Tengo - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out]

BBC NEWS-Many doctors prone to stress
Suggests that personality type is important and that if you are a stressed medical student you will be a stressed doctor.

Audioscrobbler

In case you're wondering what I've been listening to or am currently listening to or in fact why the moon is not made of cheese. Enjoy.

[Listening to: Nice Dream - Thom Yorke - Bridge School benefit 27/10/02]

Back in the 'hood

Or Dundee/Scumdee as I like to call it.
A fairly uneventful journey, lots of swollen rivers and combined harvestered fields.
Flat is much as it was.
Nice to get my music/computer back.
Only 1 day of freedom remains...run for the hills, for the hills!

[Listening to: Old Folks - Miles Davis - Love Songs]

Quote of the day

The Trojan horse has been wheeled into the ward, now the Greek warriors leap out and start pillaging and plundering, and sacrificing unfortunate goats to Zeus; with luck, they'll also help out by making a few beds.

Ethics/smethics.

The ethics of medical education
Interesting article given my impending 4th year.

A lifetime of temporary relief

A 3 CD compilation of rarities from Low. Better than most band's released records. I am enjoying this very much (only listened to CD 1 so far)

T-8d till start of term

Danielson Famile/Br. Danielson
New music; Sufjan Stevens plays on the record; Pixies inflected folk-rock? Very enjoyable.

Rastering
Despite the crass innuendo this is pretty cool, hopefully I can do a few things to brighten up my room.
T-9d
Dave

Acoustic 'Creep' Flash Animation
This is very well done, must have taken ages to do. An interesting version of Creep, quite poppy.
Nevertheless.

Hello
I just got my blocks for next year. Everything is in Dundee save the Medicine 1 block which is in Wishaw (near Glasgow) in May next year; at least I got 1 out block. Apparently the hospital was only opened in 2001, so it can't be that bad. Getting slightly nervous about the new term now, looks like a lot of organisation...

Metacritic
One of my favourite sites for film and other reviews; based on very scientific metareview principles or find a review to suit your prejudices. Enjoy.

Location: Belfast; and others.
Activity: Various. Work: Typing up patient medical records/summarising computer records. Also: various gardening type activities (hedge cutting/fence painting etc.).
Leisure: Playing frisbee, walking, watching films, listening to music, i.e. the usual (+getting sunburnt).
Films recently watched:
The Beautiful Life (1999). A great wee Italian comedy set during WWII; at times quite dark and hought-provoking.
Delicatessen (1991). This is also a black comedy, based in a post nuclear-holocaust France. Some parts are, as my brother called it, "Very French" (i.e. slightly odd) and not quite as good as that other well-known French comedy Amelie, but still good. A nice style to it, but of course.
The Ladykillers (1955). The original film upon which the recent Coen Brothers film is based. Again, quite a dark film but very funny in places. Alec Guinness is a great actor. I haven't seen the re-make but seems to have gained mixed reviews.
Mystic River (2003). A good film. Not entirely original; mafia-esque intrigue, with many twists and turns. Well acted.
Capricorn one (1978). Saw this on TV late one night. Very poor production values. Maybe this kind of thing looked good in the seventies but just looked like a very cheap made-for-TV movie. The acting is diabolical, save Elliott Gould (Ocean's 11 among others) who is ok. Decent enough idea for a film: faked Mars landings but poorly executed.

Anyway, having bored you with that, here's what I've been listening to recently:
Neil Young: After the Goldrush. I was interested in this after hearing Thom Yorke's cover of the title track. The album is actually pretty good in a 70s folk-rocky way.
Tim Buckley: Tim Buckley/Goodbye and Hello. Bought this with the above in a buy one, get one free job. Interesting, but weird. Need to listen to it more.
Sufjan Stevens: Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lake State. Good, a bit different to Seven Swans. Again, more listening is needed.

Hope everyone reading this is doing something fulfilling with their lives. Let me know.

Dave.

I'm not dead, just very very tired.

Just finished my photosensitive epilepsy SSC. It was interesting, but as usual I left all the work till the last minute and had some late nights, but it's all good now.

Dave.

[Listening to: You're Mine, You - Art Tatum - The Tatum Group Masterpieces, Vol. 1]

"If it makes you happy, that's ok"

Article on Mission Weeks
Interesting; reflects many of the things that were seen during our mission week this year. Unfortunately give no answers.

[Listening to: Almost Here - Unbelievable Truth - Almost Here]

Washington Hillbillies?

Life after the oil crash?
Sensationalism or future warning?

[Listening to: Almost Here - Unbelievable Truth - Almost Here]

Confidence inspiring?

BBC News - Doctors 'should not wear denim'
I think it's mostly females that dress less formally, but that's just from the students; most of the doctors are fairly formally dressed.

[Listening to: I Don't Know What I Can Save You From - The Kings of Convenience - Quiet Is the New Loud]

Esso:Disagreeing with the inevitable.

Esso: still creating the world's toughest energy challenge: climate change

Fair Trade Café

Oxfam plans Fair Trade Cafés
The only thing is that Dundee will never have one. We don't even have one pleasant coffee shop.

The end is nigh here

Exams over for another year (me hopes).
Seemed to go ok, but only the results will tell. Not entirely wanting to do resits.
Anyway out for Ewan's birthday tonight, then home tomorrow.
May sleep now.
Dave.

Apologies for making you listen to this, but it underlines the meaninglessness of corporate rock.
'Nickleback - How You Remind me of Someday'

[Listening to: Wake up Dead Man - U2 - Pop]

Capgras' syndrome

AKA: The illusion of doubles.
The delusional belief that a person (or persons) close to the schizophrenic patient has been substituted for by one or more impostors.

Don't say that I don't educate you.

3 down...2+1+3=6 to go.

Hurrah.
Exams looming but it is still just an unconscious pre-occupation rather than a ever-present fear. Hopefully I'm learning some stuff with the work I'm doing, but you can never be sure. Ophthalmology was actually quite interesting.

A system for classifying animals

First 6 Categories:
1. Animals that belonged to the Emperor
2. Embalmed ones
3. Ones that are trained
4. Suckling pigs
5. Mermaids
6. Fabulous ones

- Relayed to me via the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties, 6th Ed. p313.

Seemingly I now have commenting (www.haloscan.com) features but I'll see which monkeys comment. Need to change the font.

Internet Radio

Hosting for Shoutcast streaming. Looks quite fun. I don't think there'd be anyone to listen to my radio station if I had one. Also not sure about the legalities of it. Not too expensive for a poor quality stream.
Screaming Host
But perhaps you have more friends with broadband access!

Work avoidance!

The internet was invented so people could waste all of their time.
so here's another site for games
Arcade Pod

Sufjan Stevens: Seven Swans

Sufjan Stevens
I bought this album today. It's very good. Subtle melodies and warm instrumentation as well as great lyrics.

Dundee4Christ
'Resurrection Day' event tonight.

Subservient Chicken
This is weird....clever perhaps...disturbing if it were real.

Hello me

How are you?
I am good.
That is nice.

This is amazing:
Japanese dude plays mario brothers on guitar

[Listening to: Come Together - The Beatles - Abbey Road]

Another quiet day

[Listening to: And So the Talking Stopped - The Delgados - Peloton]

Who would steal a rabbit like this?

[Listening to: Beat A Drum - R.E.M. - Reveal]

Ta-daa!

Isn't she lovely?

The gospel according to an old rocker
Quite a good article on Rick Wakeman, seems to say some sensible stuff.

A take on Donnie Darko
Just watched this film again tonight with Helen; well made and thought-provoking.

The clam before the storm

Handed in the Record of Achievement today - seems all good...getting an early night tonight - a big day tomorrow:
Watch this space for more news.

I am, unfortunately, just beginning to realise that completing this Record of 'Achievement' is merely the start of my troubles. I have a heck of a lot of other things to read, revise or organise. (any help would be appreciated).

Getting there, getting there

Getting closer with every word of rubbish I write.
Can't play guitar because of sore finger (probably just as well).
Alas melaton are no more...

[Listening to: Périphérique - Melaton - promo]

Find out if your pet desert rat will be affected by that local airport.

[Listening to: From Every Sphere - Ed Harcourt - From Every Sphere]

New album is interesting....back to an older vibe.

[Listening to: Our Mutual Friend - The Divine Comedy - Absent Friends]

Wiki, better than blog?

Almost Cool Music reviews
A good site for checking out some 'different' (electronic and other cool stuff) music

Powell admits Iraq evidence mistake
Typical

[Listening to: Scatterbrain - Radiohead - Hail to the Thief]

What is the plural of virus?

This is a great song:

[Listening to: American Motor Over Smoldered Field - A Silver Mt. Zion - This is our Punk Rock]

We do believe it ends right here

Drugs, drugs, drugs!

[Listening to: Download - Super Furry Animals - Radiator]

Night

Too late to be doing RoA
Bed
Gettting up too early
stupid finger bleeding

Trogdor

[Listening to: Eternal Life - Jeff Buckley - Grace [UK]]

Linky link

[Listening to: Falling Star - Melaton - Falling Star EP]

Apparently I'm Galadriel...I want to do that scary..."Instead of a Dark Lord..." bit

[Listening to: God on Your Side - Booley - Bathroom Floor]

Kicking Kings rugby game
Classic wee game, my best is 7...not very good, but I have better things to do!

[Listening to: Capture the Flag - Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It in People]

Stupid Record of Achievement go away

[Listening to: Hello Goodbye - The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour]

Finally got that sorted, it should stay like this for a while....well until I get bored. Right back to work.

[Listening to: There Are Words - David Kitt - Small Moments [UK]]

Ignore the other monkeys

Just testing different things...hopefully the thingontheroof blog will be updated....if it isn't, it will disappear and that will be fine.

[Listening to: The Bridge of Khazad Dum - Howard Shore and Suzana Peric - The Lord of the Rings- The Fellowship of the Ring]

Link to thingontheroof blog

Ah the late Elliott Smith. This is the music that is getting me through my Record of Achievement.

[Listening to: Bled White - Elliott Smith - XO]

From now on my posts will include what I'm currently listening to...which is quite cool.

[Listening to: Once Around the Block - Badly Drawn Boy - Hour of the Bewilderbeast (03:44)]

01W Eddie's new Blog space with added photos (and less monkeys).

Mr. Picassohead
I'd forgotten how much time you can waste on the internet just doing silly things. I should, however, really go to bed now. Half of the patient record (almost) done. I can't face any more tonight. Getting up again in 5 and a half hours may not be the best thing...

constellation
Possibly the best record label in the world. If only I had more money...

British National Formulary
I've been spending far too much time looking at this page

Soon to be the home of the famous Season Ceilidh Band
Playing at a venue near you this weekend (if you live in Dundee).

www.onewatt.blogspot.com

Grr. Record of Achievement is annoying. Why can't these things write themselves? It's touch-and-go whether I'll get it finished in time. Lots of reason to listen to music though. 'Highlights from the Messiah' at the moment. Bleugh...(dirty monkey).

Sestatic Cognitiatives
Amusing.

BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Six Nations | Ireland stun England Amazing from the Ireland

The Death Clock - When Am I Going To Die?
Everything is meaningless under the sun