Random Useless Trivia for your Tuesday

United States General Ambrose Burnside served during the American Civil War...and had wicked sideburns. In fact, he is the reason they're called "sideburns." It's a play on his name. (See picture at left for proof.) True story.

Yummy Words

In reading ultra-pretentious works required for my degree or in searching through various Thesauri for cool synonyms--because I just can't use the same word again--I've found some fun (or in my description: yummy) words that I jot down on sticky notes for future use. Try them out sometime:

sempiternal = eternal

wraith = ghost/shadow

confluence = coming together at one point

ostensibly (OK, I know this isn't "way out there," or anything, but I just like the way it sounds) = outwardly appearing as such

quondam (I'm a sucker for Latin words) = former

maelstrom (love this one!) = state of confusion

inexorable = unyielding/relentless

inane = ridiculous

cacophonous = disharmonious

stymie = block/frustrate

Happy Wednesday! :)

Musical Magic and a Flash Back

So, this year for Christmas, in addition to an Achmed the Dead Terrorist doll (which I love), I also got from my brother an iTunes gift card. Ah!! Magic in plastic form! I'm a bit of a musical addict, I'll admit. I clean to music, I work to music, and most importantly, I write to music. It really does not matter what I'm writing, I have to have it. So, here's a few to check out:

I realize it's been out for a few months, but I finally got around to getting the new Muse album: The Resistance. Naturally, it's awesome and their musicality is amazing, but I think I still like Black Holes and Revelations better. But, I usually have to listen to Muse a few times to really get into their albums, so I'm not giving up on it yet, and there's still not anything negative to say about the album; it's exactly what I expected: more musical magic from Muse! :) Everyone knows they're amazing; that's not anything new.

But, I purchased two albums that I HAVE to tell you about!! This borders on moral imperative status, people!

First, run, don't walk to your nearest iTunes program/music store and get For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver. ZOHMYGOSH!!! It's amazing. Someone said that it makes them want to lay back in the grass and watch the clouds go by. I agree! There's something very otherworldly about his voice. He supposedly recorded it in a secluded cabin in the woods, and that isolation translates into chords and harmonics in a...you guessed it...magical way!!! I realize it's been out for a while, but I just discovered it, so there you go!

A warning: make sure you sample it first. I love just about every kind of music and this album could be depressing for some. It kinda reminds me of a male version of Jewel's early work, but even that description is inaccurate. There's not much out there like that. So, check it out before you purchase.


Second, check out Dan Black's brand new album: UN. If you subscribe to iTunes, his first single, Symphonies is the free music download from last week (pretty sure you can still get it today, Monday). If you like this track, you'll love the rest on the album. The songs are upbeat and nice to listen to. There's a kind of hope in a lot of the tracks that is pretty much non-existent in a lot of the stuff that comes out today. My favorite quote? "Life is life/Dreams are dreams/and I'm floating/Somewhere in between" from Life Slash Dreams. How can you not like that?

And in other media, I stumbled across this clip from In Living Color on YouTube. If that doesn't take you back!! If you haven't seen Francis Ford Coppola's version of Dracula, you won't be able to appreciate how well Jim Carrey mimics Gary Oldman, but the clip is of him, and Jamie Foxx as "Wanda." It's so wrong and so hilarious. Enjoy!!



Happy Monday!

Album pics courtesy of: http://muse.mu; http://www.jagjaguwar.com/onesheet.php?cat=JAG115; http://www.danblacksound.com