Quitting the Smokes: Day 2

Well, this is Day Number 2 off the cigarettes, and I'm doing alright. Slightly edgy, this morning when I woke up I unconsciously took a cigarette out of the pack, but then realized, "hey, I don't smoke anymore." I can already feel my chest and my lungs starting to open back up. I didn't cough as much brown mucus as usual.

Anyway, I remember the 1st time I quit which lasted 2 years, it couldn't have been worse timing. The 1st day after I quit, I got laid off from job, which obviously shot my stress level up a notch, but I got through it. So this time I think it will be even easier.

I read a book, a pretty famous book called "Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking" and that's how I quit the 1st time. I don't actually remember why I started again, I think I was pretty depressed, then I met this girl around that time who smoked, so I think I had one of hers, and then before I knew it, the fucking chain started again. The psychology of this book is really interesting. Anyone struggling to give these stupid things up should consider reading this book. It IS easy to quit smoking, but it's easy to start too. Just stick with it.

Anyhow, I hope I won't have to read this damn book a 3rd time. Cheers!

AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

Well, it appears that my computer is almost fried. I tried running DiskWarrior and it stalls in the middle of running and I have to restart. Called the Disk Warrior company and they said the hardrive is probably fucked. So there's not much I can do except erase the drive and re-install everything.

What pisses me off is that why these things have to happen at such bad timing? Anyway, it's not totally dead yet, it's still starts up and works, but it's slow starting up and it constantly stalls for 5 to 10 seconds when doing the simplest commands and the rainbow-colored "waiting" wheel spins.

It seems like my voice has crapped out too after just 1 rehearsal with Epidemic Cause. I guess I should get some vocal training or something. If we ever had to do 2 or 3 nights in a row and I fucked my voice up, that'd be no good. So I have decided to quit smoking. I did it before for 2 years, so I can do it again. Smoking cannot be helping my voice, that's for sure. So it's time to give these things up.

Drinking? Weeeellllll, don't know if I could ever quit completely, but I should cut down, that's probably a hindrance to my voice too.

Anyway, there will be no updates to the site in the next few weeks. I'll be busy getting this damn computer back up and running smoothly.

Epidemic Cause

Had my first rehearsal with Epidemic Cause last night and it went pretty well, but I haven't used my voice like that for awhile, so I'm pretty hoarse today. Have to be careful not to blow my voice before the Memorial gig for Kengo on March 4th at Namba Rockets, which I'm really looking forward to.

I was kind of stumped on what to play on guitar last night, so I really have to spend some time listening to the MD's and work out some guitar parts and also decide where vocals should go and where guitar should go. I desperately need to buy some decent gear to use to, I was using a cheap Zoom effects box for guitar last night and it sounded like tin. Shingo gave it to me a few years ago, but it just doesn't cut it. But I DID buy a KAOS PAD 2 from the guitar player from EC, Shingo, so I'm psyched about playing with that. He sold it to me for 10,000 yen. Fucking cheap!!!

Anyway, I think it's going to be an interesting ride. I think the Epidemic Cause site needs a re-design too, so I may do that in the near future if Shingo wants to change it.

That's it for now, I'll post some more detailed info about the gig soon plus a flyer.

Cheers, cats...

some kind of cash grab

Let me first say that I used to be a pretty loyal Metallica fan. I think I started to lose interest after the black album. I think even on the black album, they lost the fire a bit. But when "LOAD" came out, that was the first nail in the coffin. Since then, they promptly began to suck more and more. I never heard "RELOAD" or ST. ANGER" and I'm quite certain I don't need to either.

Then I watched "SOME KIND OF MONSTER" without really knowing much about it at all. This movie confirms how fucking lame this band has become. Lars and James continually whine throughout the whole movie. Kirk Hammett is the only one who has anything remotely sensible to say in the movie. It's pathetic that they have to pay a personal therapist 40,000 bucks a month to tell them absotely nothing. Every time I see his face and hear him talk in the movie, I want to crush his skull.

I think in a way, Bob Rock is responsible (in no small way) for Metallica going down the toilet. Bob Rock is the most fake excuse for a human being I've ever seen and he's a totally over-rated producer. Does he even realize how full of himself he really is? I don't think he does. I couldn't believe seeing Bob Rock playing bass in the studio with them. It was too painful.

Metallica should call it quits. It's clear they have no ideas anymore. I just cannot believe that this is the same band that put out "Kill em all" and "Ride the lightning". Even original member Dave Mustaine is in this movie, and he does nothing but whine.

In short, this movie was obviously nothing but a cash grab. It won't be long before the various greatest hits packages and floods of re-issues hit the shelves.

Happoshu vrs. "Real" Beer

Well, this is a debate that started mainly with my friend Kelly Churko a long time ago. First of all, I'll explain what Happoshu is and why it's different from "REAL" beer. OK, Japanese beer companies produce "Happoshu," which is basically sparkling low malt beverage. The tax for Happoshu is much cheaper than "Real Beer" tax, so obviously happoshu is cheaper than beer. For example, a six pack of happoshu is around 750 yen (about 8 bucks Canadian I guess), a six pack of "Real" Beer is roughly 1,100 yen (around 12 bucks). For that reason, Happoshu has become very popular in Japan, especially with people who can drink a ton of beer, like myself. Happoshu classification occurs when an ingredient other than malt, hops, rice, corn, kaoliang, potato, starch, or sugar is used, or if the malt ratio is less than 67%.

Anyway, to me, certain brands of Happoshu are not much different than "Real" Beer. On the top of my Happoshu list is KIRIN and SAPPORO, they both taste fine to me. Actually, they taste better than any of Asahi's "Real" beers. Personally, I don't like and of Asahi's beer, including their Happoshu, which is pretty rough to swallow the first few cans.

On the other hand, some people, like Kelly, disagree strongly with me and say that Happoshu is pretty much piss. Anyway, that's just his opinion. Kelly is more of a connoisseur of beer than I am. He buys beer for the taste. To me, the most important thing about beer is the kick you get from it, meaning, that warm fuzzy red-faced drunken feeling of bliss where nothing really matters but anylyzing King Diamond lyrics and laughing hysterically at Gentle Giant's music, while imitating the singer, or after a few more cans, making the 'ol "in-out in-out" gestures on the couch upside down.

OK, I DO realize that "Real" beer is better than Happoshu, none of you have to tell me that, it's made using better ingredients. But hey, drinking Happoshu keeps it real. I'm proud to be a Happoshu drinker. So go to a kids park and crack one open NOW and start shouting insults at the kids and their moms like "You used to work for ME!!!!!!! Now look at you!!!" while your ass crack is hanging half out. Then whip it out and take a piss all over yourself, swearing insessantly. This is Osaka, so it's probably a normal occurance, and they'll just look at you for a second or two, then turn around and go back to what they were doing. Anyway, exercise your right to drink in public! If you're a Canadian, then FIGHT for the right to drink in public...

Metal up your ass!!!

I just found these photos by chance surfing around one day. I have no idea who the people are in the pictures or where they were taken but they sure are funny. Long live METAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kengo R.I.P.

I was surprised to hear the tragic news yesterday from my friend Shingo Tomimitsu that the singer from his band Epidemic Cause, Kengo Shimamoto, died on January 3rd, 2006 this week. He was not only a great vocalist, but a great person and I wished I had gotten to know him better than I did. My condolences to his family and friends everywhere. His unique personality and talents will be greatly missed. R.I.P. - May you finally be at peace, wherever you are.

Happy New year!!

Haven't posted anything in a week or so. I've been in Okayama on holidays. Pretty relaxing but I got bored after 3 or 4 days. I got some really nice photos while I was there, some of which I'll post soon. I'm also going to start working on a few more movies for the movie page, so check back in a few weeks for some new stuff. If you haven't checked out the site already, please do and please leave your feedback and comments. I hope 2006 is a good year for everyone. I feel it's going to be a good year for me. Anyway, here's my top ten lists for 2005.

Spins

Allan Holdsworth - I.O.U.
Tim Berne Science Friction - The Sublime and
Magma - K.A.
Naked City box set
Fantomas - Suspended Animation
Caroliner Rainbow - Cooking Stove Beast
Toru Takemitsu - Filmworks Vol. 1-6
Hafler Trio - Mastery of Money
Ronnie Milsap - 40 Number 1 Hits
Atheist - Unquestionable Presense

Movies

Red Beard - Akira Kurosawa
Ugetsu - Kenji Mizoguchi
Eraserhead - David Lynch
Hannibal Brooks - Michael Winner
Return of the King - Peter Jackson
Early Summer - Ozu Yasujiro
The Thing - John Carpenter
Once Upon a Time in America - Sergio Leone
Kwaidan - Masaki Kobayashi
My Own Private Idaho - Gus Van Saint

That's it for now. Have a great New year!