My Sister Vs Me At The Doctors

Remember the story I put up about my sister and her blonde moments? Well I thought I'd add to it by extending the incident she had at the doctors.

Today I got my blood taken for the first time. It was basically this:

I got asked a bunch of questions and then I was asked to roll my sleeve up. I know this is probably a bit biased in my favour because I'm used to having needles scratched onto my skin (I have 9 tattoos and 7 ear piercings. I also had my nose and eyebrow pierced a long time ago. My sister only has 2 ear piercings). Anyway the doctor stuck the needle in my arm and I barely blinked. All I felt was a tightness in my arm, although now it feels like I have been punched in the arm.
But I didn't make a fuss or anything...

Unlike my sister who was pinned down, blackmailed and restrained just to draw a little bit of blood from her arm. I wasn't there at the time but I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at the time just to watch because she is quite stubborn when she doesn't want something done to her. However she did embarass my mum.

And one of the strangest things to have happened to me in the doctos surgery was this:

Me watching my blood fill up the vials: "Bet that was easier than getting blood out of my sister."
Doc: "Your sister? Who's that?"
*At this piont I said her name but we'll keep her anonymous because I know she probably at some point in her life will read this and then I will "mysteriously vanish"*
Doc: Ahhh yes I remember her. We had to pin her..."

Yeah I actually joked about my sister. With my doctor. While he was stealing my blood. During a serious appointment.

And I'll leave it at that. Although I won't because I'm basically stalking my sister, just waiting for her next blonde moment.

Alcohol - Good Or Bad?

Is alcohol a good or a bad thing?

No I'm not going to take this seriously. But for me, being completely wasted is very bad and I really hate vomiting the contents of my stomach up. I'm also a complete embarrassment...

But that bit before getting really drunk, the part that makes me chatty is really good because I'm confident and more social and that is a good thing as I get on with everyone, regardless of who they are.

The downside; I get sleepy.

What I'm really wanting to say is when your the sober person and there's a wasted person nearby, alcohol becomes awesome.

For example...

"Alcohol is awesome."

One Of The Many Ways To Help Cure Boredom On The Computer

We've all had that moment when we're sitting at the computer or laptop and suddenly we're struck with total boredom. It's that feeling when you have nothing else to do but refresh your Facebook or Twitter page. So instead here's one way of curing computer boredom without being naughty (keep it clean people)

Note: It does involve music...

Well upcoming/new bands that I've discovered through my computer and here are three bands that have really stood out for me.


THE DEFILED

Why You Should Check Them Out:
They have fast become one of my favourite bands. They supported Murderdolls in February through the UK and are about to hit the road again in May headlining their own "13 - Lucky For Some" tour. Their debut album "Grave Times" was released on February 14th (I now have it and it is awesome!!) and it was also released with Metal Hammer.

They Sound Like...:
They sound like a mix of Devildriver and Bullet For My Valentine (with much bigger balls). So straight up metal.

Who Are They??
They are a London based band consisting of:

Stitch D - Lead Vocals and Guitar
The A.v.D - Programming, Keys and Backing Vocals
Curse - Guitar
J.C - Drums
Vincent Hyde - Bass

Check Out:
If you're going to listen to them, then check out "The Resurrectionists" which was the first song I heard. Trust me it is damn good.
Or you can listen to "Call To Arms" their most recent single.
Their EP is well worth a listen as is their debut because it is just awesome. (I'm not biased - honest)



ACEY SLADE & THE DARK PARTY

Why You Should Check Them Out:
For those who might not know, Acey Slade is mostly known for playing lead guitar for Murderdolls back in 2002. He has also played stints in Dope, Wednesday 13 and fronted Trashlight Vision. I discovered this band through Spotify and became hooked pretty quickly. They toured the UK last September and released their debut album "Dark Party" in 2010.

They Sound Like...:
Well they remind me of The Cult (actually they covered "She Sells Sanctuary"). Their sound is a mix of goth/punk rock mixed with electro. And it is very catchy.

Who Are They??
They are based in New York and consist of:

Acey Slade - Vocals and Guitar
Andee - Guitar
Matt Kepler - Drums
PerC - Bass and Keyboards.

Check Out:
I'd advise you listen to "She Brings Down The Moon" before you watch the video because it is a slightly strange video. The song is very good though. I'd also recommend you check out "Sugarcum" and their version of "She Sells Sanctuary" which is really good.



ROMEOMUSTDIE

Why You Should Check Them Out:
I only found out about these guys because they are supporting The Defiled in May so I thought I'd check them out. I'm glad I did because they are really good. Their debut album "Hardships In Season" was recently released with Metal Hammer. They also have upcoming shows in April before hitting the road with The Defiled.

They Sound Like...:
RomeoMustDie have a similar sound to The Defiled but it has less of a Devildriver feel and more of a Hatebreed feel. Again I'll compare their sound to BFMV with balls (and I am a BFMV fan!!) So they are a mixture of thrash metal and hardcore.

Who Are They??
They are as UK based band and consist of:

Adam Frakes-Sime - Vocals
Paul Fletcher - Guitar
Aaron Darling - Guitar
Ben Frost - Bass
Will Romain - Drums

Check Out:
I'd advise you to listen to "Let Them Hate" because it is an epic tune and I am currently listening to it as I write this. For the fourth time in a row...



So for those suffering from computer boredom, then here's a few new bands who should impress many of you.

"It's Like You Need To Pee-Pee, But You Don't Need To Pee-Pee"

My family is strange. That's a statement which just leaks out truth.

There's 10 of us (yes I know) and sometimes we argue like Hell and cannot stand each other. But in general we all get along (I'm talking kids here). Out of all the kids, there is one who will make you laugh so much. What's even funnier is she doesn't mean most of what she says or does. For example:

"Birds don't have eyes."
I think that's why she ran away from the bird in the bush. Not that she thought it was some insane rapist/killer after her.

And:

"I have leukaemia."
"Don't you mean ANAEMIA?"
That happened after a doctors trip which involved a blood test which in turn involved pinning her down and blackmailing her.
She doesn't have anaemia.

And why she'll never be a doctor:

"I don't have an appendix."
"Yes, you do, everyone does."
"Well I don't."
"You know what an appendix is, don't you?"
"Erm...."
Of course she didn't, she thought it was something only guys had.

She's there to make life a hell of a lot funnier. She has done so much more but I won't go into detail because she's going to hunt me down for this as it is.

The other child who is heading the same way as the above example is 4 years old. Recently she scared a little boy off who was pointing out flaws with the 2 year old sister.

It went like this:

"Mummy that girl looks like a boy... Look mummy, her hair is weird. She looks so weird... Mummy"
*Enter my four year old sister who walked right up to him, glared and yelled...*
"OI!!"
The child may have cried , we'll never know because my mum dragged her off before she hit him.

What does this have to do with the title? Well, the other day we were driving to my grandma's house. To get there we drive down a hill which has one of those dips that used to make me spew instantly in the car. The ones that lets your stomach chill with your brain for a few seconds. Anyway, the 4 year old and the 2 year old were sitting in the back of the car, we went down that hill and all my mum and I heard from the mouth of the four year old was:
"It's like you need to pee-pee, but you don't need to pee-pee!!"

Like I said my family is strange. But they make days seem a lot more fun!!

Actually what I wanted to do was repeat the story 'cause I haven't stopped laughing since we drove down that hill!!

Japan

I just want to say that ever since I saw the news footage of the earthquake that struck Japan on March 11th I've been keeping up to date every day since; whether I'm watching the news or reading numerous sources from Twitter or Facebook.

But by doing this I realised something. Mainly through Twitter I've discovered how useful the internet actually is for quickly spreading information around. Okay, so some of it isn't actually true (for example the numerous rumours of the deaths of many Japanese celebs) but the majority of it is factual and follows many links to news pages (like CNN, BBC News and all the others).

Through Twitter people were also able to contact their loved ones who were affected by the disasters and show their love and support for Japan and send links for donations.

Google has a small link at the bottom of its page which has proved useful for donating and finding people. It also has a direct link into a Twitter feed. The only downside to Google is when you type in "Japan" the third most searched is just disgusting and shows that many people really need to get a grip.

See what I mean about how useful the internet (or just Twitter) is?

I just want to finish by saying my thoughts are with the people of Japan. RIP to all those who tragically died when the disasters struck.

Kinder Eggs Are So Depressing...

These things are depressing. Why? Well let me explain...

Kinder Eggs are milk and white chocolate eggs. They are a stable part of a kid's childhood and diet. All children love chocolate, that's no secret. So, here's what a Kinder Egg looks like once opened...

There it is in all its glory. An egg made of milk and white chocolate. If you don't find that impressive then you should see what is in the middle of that egg of chocolate glory...

A little yellow capsule rests inside a Kinder Egg. And if your child isn't already bouncing off the walls after cramming chocolate down their throats, then when you hand them this little capsule they will be. For once they have opened the capsule (or get you to open it because those things are damn hard to open) then inside is a "toy"

My little sisters recieved this:

And this:

The one directly above was easy to "build" for her as all I had to do was blow it up, like a Chinese lantern. The downside of that "toy" was less than five minutes later she was in tears because it has deflated and she had managed to rip it beyond repair.

The other "toy" required me to build it. Now, I'm no expert in joinery, in fact I do my best to keep away from anything that resembles a hammer, saw or screwdriver because I know I'll end up in hospital with some horrific injury.
Anyway I built it for her. It took me roughly half an hour by following the instructions. In the end I became so frustrated that I handed it to someone else. That and I couldn't take her whining about wanting her "doy".

Here's what it looked like built up:

Three minutes later we were back at square one.

How depressing can they be? Your child gets to stuff their face with chocolate which keeps them quiet until they are done. They also get a free toy which will also keep them quiet for a while.

But the downside of this is; chocolate will make your child hyper (trust me a chocolate and coca-cola combination fed to my sister is like setting a bull off in a china shop), therefore they'll probably destroy your house.
Another downside of a Kinder Egg is that the "toy" will test your paitence and your ability to clip microscopic pieces together. This "toy" will then break in less than an hour. If it doesn't then chances are the dog will eat it, you will stand on it whilst barefoot or it will be hoovered up. Your child will not even miss it.

But the most depressing thing about a Kinder Egg was watching your friends/siblings recieve a "cool toy" while you get a crappy jigsaw!!

And that ruins a kids childhood.

The Thrills!!

I've only been to Alton Towers twice and both times I went with the school I attended. I left in 2010 but that hasn't stopped me asking if they would let me go back with them. They won't. Anyway I've decided to show you why I love the rides at this place so much, and why I would give my right arm to go back there.

First of all the rides. Well that is the reason people go to this place afterall. So the top rides you should not miss are:

Nemesis!!

Nemesis is located in the Forbidden Valley. I took a ride on it the second time I went to Alton Towers. It happened to be a sweltering hot day and being Scottish means I'm not exactly used to the glorious sunshine. The queue for that ride also happened to be a 2 and a half hour wait. Trust me on a hot day like then, standing at the loop (pictured above) is the best place to be for when the ride passes you, the backdraft is just bliss. Anyway Nemesis is an inverted roller coaster and it opened in 1994. It is one of the parks most popular rides and has claimed worldwide fame. Nemesis tells the story of a 2 million year old creature and the roller coaster itself is the actual creature, complete with rivers of blood red water which you sail over. As you enter the roller coaster you are greeted by the monster. Sometimes it speaks to you and sinister music plays as you take your seat. The harnesses come down and you take off. The ride pulls a max G-Force of 4.0, with speeds reaching 40 MPH. For me I only remember seeing the ground (and sky when we went around the loop) as my head was thrust downwards the entire time; no matter what I did I couldn't lift it. Either way, a 2 and a half hour queue was worth the quick thrill.

Air!!

Air is one of my favourite rides. It opened in 2002 in the Forbidden Valley. It's a fun, thrilling ride and it makes you feel like your flying. The entrance to the ride is based around an airport, where you can leave whatever bag you are carrying and there are terminals. But that's not the interesting part of the ride. Oh no. As soon as those harnesses clamp you in, the ride tips and your staring at the concrete ground. And off it goes. It creaks slowly upwards and your lying their (holding tightly)  watching concrete, grass and rocks pass below you. All your thinking is that you hope nothing goes wrong, or your going down for a fatal faceplant. But once that fear vanishes you fly along the rollercoaster, reaching speeds of 46MPH and a G-Force of 3.5.

Submission!!

Submission is in the X-Sector at Alton Towers. I've only been on this ride once. It's fun but the name really says it all. It throws you upside down and instantly you can feel the blood drain from your feet and race to your head. It's painful. When you get off your dizzy. And your head throbs. Your feet also feel empty.

Th13teen!!

This quickly became another of my favourites. I knew to expect the drop in compete darkness and that is what I was excited for. This ride is in the Dark Forest and it's a lengthy walk to its entrance. But that's okay the spooky decorations that litter the forest will keep you occupied while you wait. Once inside you have to walk up and down stairs (sometimes in the dark so you have to be careful not to fall into the person in front of you). The walls are covered with writing and a fence surrounds you. Once on the ride you take off and head towards the first drop, which is a 60 foot drop. You reach speeds of 41MPH. That's not the exciting part. At the end the ride stops in a dark room. There's a flash, you drop 2 feet. There's a pause. Another flash. The track then freefalls 5 meters and throws you backwards up the track where you come to rest in front of 2 statues. That drop leaves you will such an adrenline rush, it's like being high.

Oblivion!! 

The daddy of all rides. The best ride at Alton Towers. No matter how scared you might be, Oblivion is worth the ride. Located in the X-Sector, it opened in 1998. The ride has maximum speeds of 68MPH and is the third fastest ride in the UK. As you enter the ride you are greeted by television screens where "The Lord Of Darkness" is seen telling you the ride is safe and there's nothing to fear. Does this relax you? Well, he then turns into his alter-ego "The Lord Of Light" who warns you of your death if you choose to ride. At the top of the ride, you board. Your harnessed in (and this is something your glad for). If you're like me then you hold on tight as soon as you can. By this point (my third time riding it) I had butterflies in my stomach. The first time I rode it I was visibly shaking. Anyway, this ride is cruel torture as it very slowly takes you up to the top and slightly over the edge. The it stops. Your hanging at the edge of Oblivion's 150 foot drop. Below you is a black hole. It feels like your suspended there for hours. Then suddenly it jerks and you plummate downwards. The feeling of weightlessness is just amazing, I get a kick out of this ride! When you get off you'll be shaking. Adrenline will be pumping through your veins. And I gaurantee you'll go back for more.

Rita!!

The speed queen. Located in the Dark Forest and reaches speeds of over 62MPH. I've never ridden in and I really want to. The only doubt I have is that each time I've been to Alton Towers Rita has broken down. Is that a sign? I'm not superstitious, so one day I'll ride it.
Enterprise!!

This is one ride I don't want to go on. I've learnt my lesson from rides like Waltzers. Anything that spins will make me vomit. And not just a little. I will vomit a hell of a lot. Never again. Enterprise is also located in the X-Sector alongside Oblivion and Submission.

Ripsaw!!

Again another ride I really wanted to go on. Gotta be quick though because the queues for this ride soon become the length of 10 single decker buses. Ripsaw opened in 1997 and is located in the Forbidden Valley. This ride tests your luck as it squirts jets of water randomly while your being tossed around in the air. It looks fun and would look even more fun if the queues weren't so long!

The Runaway Mine Train!!

This ride is fun. I went on it twice. It makes you giggle and yelp with laughter. You don't get much of a thrill from it, but if your a kid (or an excitable teen) you'll love it. This ride is located in Katanga Canyon.

Of course Alton Towers has many, many more rides and attractions such as Hex, Dual, Sonic Spinball and more. But for those who aren't so keen on thrills, it is a beautiful park with open grassy areas and walks through forests.

And these things are scary! If you get too close they talk to you and if you're me, you scream and run leaving anyone who was there at the time in laughing fits.

These are at the entrance/exit of the park which looks like a street as it is full of stalls, shops and restaurants. There's a lot more features like this placed throughout the park.

Of course Alton Towers is not just for thrill seekers, as I've already mentioned. Take your kids along to Mutiny Bay which is based around a pirate them. The rides and attractions are aimed at children.

But really, Alton Towers will fuel your need for an adrenline rush. Especially if you ride Oblivion.

Epic Albums Of That Year (Or The Ones I Can Remember)

I'm a music freak. I can sit with headphones on listening to music on my ipod, computer or phone or listen to Cd's all day long. I still buy Cd's (when I have money). I spend hours memorizing songs, albums or information about my favourite artists. I read/watch every interview their involved in, follow them on Facebook/Twitter and whatever else, (the scariest thing is I don't have a Twitter). I watch all their videos whether its a live performance or a music video on You Tube. You could say I have a slight obsession with music, and yes, I have damaged my hearing - I have that wonderful ringing in my ears, tinnitus right?- with my constant need to blast music out loud, mainly through earphones/headphones which would make it worse. The last concert I was at didn't help my hearing either, in fact it may have damaged it more!!

I began to get obsessed with music at 11 years old (the summer of 2004). I know compared to most music lovers I had a late start, but the funny thing is I can't remember my life before discovering music. How did I do it? Well it was through the trusty radio. I was messing around in the kitchen when Green Day's "American Idiot" came on. Something in me clicked. I turned the volume up and listened. That same year I discovered Slipknot.

So now I'm going to force myself to pick my favourite album of the year, from 2004 until now (2011). This is going to be very, very hard for me and is going to take a very long time, but here goes!!

2004
2004 was the year I discovered music, as I've already mentioned. As Green Day were the first band I got into and "American Idiot" was the first album I bought then it only seems right that it is my album of 2004. With huge anthem songs such as "American Idiot"and "Wake Me Up When September Ends" and the epic 9 minutes, 8 seconds masterpiece that is "Jesus Of Suburbia" which tells the story of a teenager growing up in what I assume is the slums. That is a song that many teens can relate to. "Are We The Waiting?", "St Jimmy", "Give Me Novacaine, "She's A Rebel", "Extraordinary Girl", "Letterbomb", "Homecoming" and "Whatsername" all carrying on the story of Jesus as he becomes St Jimmy, the rebellious young punk who Jesus kills in "Homecoming Part 1" (That's just my take on the album!!) Just thinking about the album plays the tale in my head which is something I love about this album. Of course we can't forget the party and the hangover songs of the album which are "Holiday" and "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams". In my view "American Idiot" was the album of 2004, it stole the limelight and marked Green Days return. Now years down the line it's still recognized as a classic album and in tens year time it still will be.

2005
Now I was a music freak!! "American Idiot" changed my life in 2004. My interest in music grew and I gradually began to discover more and more bands (most of the metal genre). One of the bands I discovered, who quickly became one of my all time favourites were Orange County metallers Avenged Sevenfold. In 2005 they released their third album "City Of Evil." It had clean vocals, Guns 'N Roses meets Iron Maiden guitar riffs, some epic drum solos and amazing artwork within it. The biggest songs from the album came in the form of opening tracks "Beast And The Harlot"and "Burn It Down" which beautifully flow into each other. "Bat Country" is the punk anthem of the album, taking inspiration from the novel "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas" by Hunter S. Thompson. "Seize The Day"and "MIA" are the real tearjerkers and who could leave out the song that stands out the most? "The Wicked End" complete with orchestral instruments, the kind you would expect in a film (for some strange reason "Harry Potter" comes to mind and I'm not a "Harry Potter" fan, if anything I found those films utter crap) "Strength Of The World" is the longest song on the album, in fact it is 9 minutes, 15 seconds of pure genius. Trust me the songs on this album may be long, Iron Maiden inspired, but they are damn good!

2006
Now I had to make the choice between A7X and Wednesday 13 for the 2005 album. For some reason (probably because it's so late at night that I'm doing this) my brain has decided not to think of any 2006 albums. After 5 minutes it remember that I have a copy of "Fang Bang" lying on the table beside my bed. So "Fang Bang" by Wednesday 13 rocked my 2006. And how could it not? It's a fun album! It has tongue-in-cheek humour as all Wednesday 13 albums do and it features tracks such as "Happily Ever Cadaver" which deals with necrophilia and cross dressing. There are also the songs which pay tribute to horror movies such as "Til Death Do Us Party" and "Haddonfield". And for those who say the tattoo blog, yes "Faith In The Devil" is one of my favourites and therefore makes this album even better! UK fans were also treated to a bonus track; a cover of Motorhead's "R.A.M.O.N.E.S". To sum it up this album is fun, funny and certainly worth a listen to!

2007
This is another year that I'm struggling to choose an artist for. I decided to settle on the woman with one of the greatest and most unique voices I've ever heard. Otep Shamaya has vocals to kill for! In 2007 Otep released "The Ascension". Her voice never fails to occasionally freak me out (just listen to the track "House Of Secrets" and you'll see what I mean) I'm actually jealous of her amazing voice. "Eet The Children", the opening track, sends shivers down my spine every time I listen to it. It's a song which leaves many people arguing over its meaning, whether it be cannibalism or abortion. On each song on the album, Otep shows her vocal skills, whether it be by screaming, singing or raging, she does it well and that it why "The Ascension" is an amazing album and it is why I have included it in my countdown.

2008
This year marked the return of my favourite band of all time. Slipknot. In 2008 they released "All Hope Is Gone", another calmer album that their first 2 in terms of lyrics and vocals. More singing less screaming. That didn't stop songs such as "Dead Memories", "Sulfur" and "Vendetta" being catchy as ever. In fact it didn't stop "Psychosocial" becoming the next 'Knot anthem (if you ever see them live then this song is a killer!) ".Execute" is the opener and what an opener! Ending with the line "All freedom is lost; All hope is gone". Then "Gematria (The Killing Name)" blasts out straight away. That one is again one of my favourites! "Snuff" and "Child Of Burning Time" are very slow and personal songs. They're a beautiful songs. Another set of tearjerkers. As is "'Til We Die", which is a song with a true message about the mighty nine. This is hopefully not the last we here of Slipknot. I for one will be devastated if they do call it a day. And for all those reasons combined (the immense songs, the fact that it was still in my Cd player in 2009 and the band's unknown future) is why I have chosen "All Hope Is Gone" as my album of 2008.

2009
2009 was another year where I'm torn between 2 totally immense albums. But I have to pick one so after much thought (and I mean much) I have decided to choose Devildriver's 2009 release "Pray For Villains". I waited so long to hear this album after catching them at Download that year. And I wasn't let down. With such monstrous songs it's very difficult for me to pick a favourite! I couldn't if you put a gun to my head and forced me to. The whole album left me longing for more and the special edition even comes with a cover of Iron Maiden's "Wasted Years". An amazing cover of an amazing song. I can't say anymore other than listen to the album!! You will not be disappointed!

2010
This was easy. After hearing about the Murderdolls return at the beginning of 2010 there was only one album I longed for. (I actually said "I need this!" when they announced their tour!) As soon as it was released on the 30th August (UK) 2010 I bought it. I'd been waiting very impatiently for it and it was totally worth it. Wednesday 13's voice is at its best, deep and razor sharp. The song's are heavier with more guitar solo's. Just listen to the intro of "My Dark Place Alone" and you'll hear what I mean! "Chapel Of Blood", "Bored Til Death", "Pieces Of You," "Homicide Drive"... I could be hear all day listing my favourite tracks. So as I said with the Devildriver album, just go and listen to "Women And Children Last." Like the Murderdolls live shows, it's a fun album made for you to party to! I won't lie, typically nearly every song has some form of the word "fuck" in it, which is also like a Murderdolls show. This is the reason why it has TWO parental advisory stickers on it. But listen to it! I urge you! Listen to the special edition! And if you are a fan of Motley Crue then songs "Bloodstained Valentine" and "Drug Me To Hell" feature Mick Mars! But seriously. Listen. To. It. (I'm not being biased here 'cause I'm a huge fan...)

2011
Okay we've caught up with the present date. How can I pick an album for 2011? It's only March!! Well I can. The Defiled released "Grave Times" on Valentines Day. I won't lie, I got a free copy with Metal Hammer and I'm totally skint at the moment so the free copy will have to do! But it hasn't left my Cd player since (well maybe once for the above album). Again this is an album that I cannot single out any song because they are all immense. "Call To Arms" is the lead single and what a lead single it is! Everything about that song is sheer brilliance! And it's even more brilliant if you hear it live! I have the song "Metropolis" replaying through my head as I type this. The version I have isn't the full length album so I know I'm missing out on the extras (one day I will get it!) but one other thing that really made me choose this album is the rework of The Defiled's triumphant song "The Resurrectionists." Trust me this is another album that is worth a listen to. You will not be disappointed.

There we go. However these are just a few of the albums that have really stood out for me. I'm a huge Slipknot, Murderdolls, Wednesday 13 (and anything he's involved with, including Bourbon Crow) and A7X fan so every one of their albums is special to me. Other albums such as Rammstein's "Mutter" or Dope's "Felons And Revolutionaries" and "Group Therapy" are just examples of my all time greats. Hell if you've got time then I'd advise you to check out Pinkly Smooth's "Unfortunate Snort" EP/album. That is a stroke of genius.

I could go on and on for days just talking about music. It's a huge part of my life and through it I've learnt to survive when I feel at my worst. In a way, music both changed and saved my life. And given me tinnitus...

Circle Of Win!!

I spent Saturday night drinking and watching a movie that made my brothers and cousin "wonder" about my movie tastes. No matter how much I explained how classic this film was, they were still convinced it was "sick."

But this isn't a rant. Whilst boozing and watching the movie I realised it was part of, what I call, a "Circle Of Win". For example...

Saturday night I watched this...

Yup. Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange". Based on the novel by Anthony Burgess. I love the film, but I think it misses the point of the book. The book deals with moral choice, whilst the film deals mainly with violence. But that doesn't stop it being a work of genius!

Anyway this film plays an important part in my "circle of win" as it stars Malcolm McDowell as the main character Alex.

Okay the film is 40 years old (created in 1971 which I learned on Saturday too!) So here is a more recent picture of Malcolm McDowell.

I just want to say that I do still find him creepy. If you ever watch "A Clockwork Orange" then you will see what I mean about him, for Alex has a very, very creepy smile. But that is the opinion of a person who was freaked out by Disney films "Bambi" and "Beauty And The Beast" as a child.

So Malcolm McDowell starred in "A Clockwork Orange" in the early '70's. In 2007 he played Dr. Sam Loomis in the remake of Halloween One and Halloween Two. Here's the win; both those films were directed by shock horror metal legend Rob Zombie.

Yes that is a win!! Rob Zombie also directed an episode of "CSI:Miami" in which he also cast Malcolm McDowell.
The circle of win doesn't stop there however as from 2010 till current Rob Zombie has had this dude as his drummer...

You have to know who this guy is. Voted the best drummer of the past 25 years by Rhythm Magazine's readers (I voted a least a hundred different times heehee). Even if you don't the mask has to give you a big clue. Currently Rob Zombie's drummer and guitarist for Murderdolls but most famously known as the drummer for Slipknot; Joey Jordison. Therefore win!!

Right back to the circle of win. Joey Jordison is drummer for this epic (this makes them a win because I called them epic) band...

And they are well known for scaring single minded parents (including mine) with their image and music. To date they have sold over 14 million records worldwide and have a faithful following of fans called "Maggots". I saw them when they headlined the UK's Download Festival in 2009 and I'm currently begging for a ticket to Sonisphere festival.
In September 2009 Slipknot released their single "Snuff" which was accompanied with a short film directed by P.R Brown and Shawn "Clown" Crahan (Slipknot's percussionist).

And here is where we hit full circle. Care to guess who was featured in the video for "Snuff?"

Yup. And the circle of win is complete!!