Facebook – B-Side (Plus Everything is the Best when Life is Awesome)

Pink Flamingo Dream is the name of the B-Side on the first single off Hooverphonic’s new album.

I wasn’t 100% behind the change in musical style.

Until I got this song.

And… now… I am.

I will never… ever… ever… say anything negative about this band.

I would marry the entire band if it meant I could listen to them for the rest of time.

GET YOU ASS IN GEAR, OCT 8TH!!!! HOW LONG AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT?!?

addendum to the endum
Uh, they updated the main site with the ability to listen to samples of the album, like they did with No More Sweet Music back in the day…

It is a good day to be a Hooverphonic fan…

EVEN MORE ADDENDUM 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one more
This is the best weekend I’ve had in a long, long, long, long time.

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SADNESS
They only have the first three tracks up.
But I hadn’t heard “Stranger” and I’m glad I did.

And if they had the whole album up… it’d kinda be a bad move in regards to marketing.

NOT THAT I CARE I’D BUY THE ALBUM TWICE ANYHOW…!!

The longest note ever
I just found four new live tracks someone recorded… I downloaded them from the forums…

Somedays – like this day for example – it is hard for me to not believe in Jesus Christ.

…when Oct 8th hits… you’ll never hear from me again.

I’m really hungry. Why is the caption I’m putting here…?

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Added September 1, 2016
What an annoying post.
I toyed around with shortening the long laugh sections (why TWO of them, Young Skyler?) but I determined that this was not the time to start editing posts, if I haven’t already.
Having said that, classic Hooverphonic albums were the greatest highlights of my college life and I really only got two during my time, following the band.
Having said THAT, I think it is hilarious and I’d said I would never say anything negative about the band. Google my name + Amazon and you’ll find me to be a liar.

Facebook – SHOUTING

Sorry for all the shouting at poker last night.

I was in need of soda and I had been having a real good night.

And Aliza… double sorry for all the blank stares. I was on some kind of good mood high last night.

…..MAGIC HAMMER!!!!!!!!!!

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Added September 1, 2016
Played Monopoly, Scrabble, and some Poker with Aaron, this girl we knew Aliza, Andrew Roger, and I think Ron Stahl? It went long into the night and things got… stupid.
No memory of what, specifically, “Magic Hammer” is in relation to, but you’ll note that I don’t care.

Facebook – Future Tense(s)

Sometimes talking to me results in amazing… uh, results (way to be redundant, Skyler…):

Skyler says: you heard of this movie?  http://www.empiremovies.com/movie/the-assassination-of-jesse-james-by-the-coward-robert-ford/5784/review/01

Justin says: hahaha what?

Skyler says: you heard of that movie? The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

Justin says: no

Skyler says: oh, well… if i was better at photoshop… the poster would say “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward HARRISON Ford… and Harrison Ford would be in the background ready to kill Brad Pitt.

that conversation was dated Sept. 11th.
Today I got this from Justin:

“GET OFF MY PLAIN!”

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Added September 1, 2016
One of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received. Hands down.

Facebook – Past Tense(s)

Sometimes my brother Zak gets in sync with me and I’m fun to talk to:

Skyler says: CANCER-ATTACK!!!!!!

Zak says: are you attacking me with cancer, or are you attacking my cancer?

Skyler says: I AM a cancer. July 5th!

Zak says: oh fuck

Zak says: it’s really frustating when you’re living in a building because it has an elevator, and then the elevator stops working the day you’re going to do your laundry

Skyler says: hahaha, i’m sure.

Zak says: because my room is on the top floor, and guess where the laundry machines are?

Skyler says: well they are heavy and big

Skyler says: so i’m sure they are on the top floor right outside your…. no! INSIDE your room!

Zak says: congrats.

Zak says: you’re a stupid piece of shit.

Skyler says: hey! i’m not stupid!

the original emo kid

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Added September 1, 2016
The weakest “Tense(s)” entry, but still solid.
Why does this one have a picture, though?

L&T of Skyler B – 3 of 5 of 5

Keep this sucker goin‘, eh? This time I’ll do video games. Keeping in mind that some of these aren’t going to be huge titles that you’ll have heard from, rest assured I play enough Half-Lifes and Final Fantasy games. I just figured I’d try to tell you about some games you maybe haven’t heard of. So:

5 Video Games You Should Probably Own

1) Parasite Eve

Squaresoft (before they became SquareEnix) put out this game, which was supposed to be the “cinematic RPG” and… well, it was. It featured plenty of CG and a film-like plot that made it feel like a big-budget science fiction/horror film, which rocked.

Dealing with enough medical mumbo-jumbo to make people’s heads hurt, PE’s plot involved mitochondria, tiny organisms that live inside each and every one of the cells in our body. And they’re under the power of an evil woman.

It mixed RPG elements with horror scenes much akin to the Resident Evil series. Also, as you can see in the video below… mutated rats and creepy women! Speaking of that video, its the intro to the game and I used to watch it over-and-over when I first got this game… Yeah, I had no semblance of a sane childhood.

(sorry, video ain’t workin’ right. here’s the link:)

People on fire, people melting, explosions, and giant freaky baby monsters with wings. Its a sure-fire winner.

2) Beyond Good & Evil

This is not a game about Nietzsche philosophy. Instead, its a game about a girl with a big stick and a camera.

Dealing with propaganda, journalism, and… well, aliens, BG&E is a very underrated Zelda-esque adventure game with enough heart and plot to win awards. Of course, no one played it and it died quickly and silently… but! It has a space whale! A SPACE WHALE!

Its short but sweet. And has really good animation. I’d give it a shot. You can get it for real cheap.

3) Silent Hill 2

This is one that maybe you’ve heard of, if not simply because there was a Silent Hill film a few years back that you may have seen.

This game will scare the poo out of you, no doubt. It is all about atmosphere and ambiance. Sound effects such as metal clangs and radio static will never be the same after you play this frightening and psychologically terrifying game.

Its long, its dark, and its got Pyramid Heads. You’ll know what I mean when you see them (or if you saw the movie… Yes, THOSE things!)

Without a doubt, this is the scariest story told in film or video game format that I’ve ever experienced. …’cept for maybe 28 Weeks Later, but that was less ‘scary’ and more ‘really bad.’

4) Shadow of the Colossus
Basically you go around and fight things that are THIS BIG:

5) Xenosaga series

There are three games in this series, each one more crazy than the last. Its an RPG about space-faring humans trying to solve the riddles of the universe. And also about strange lesbian relationships between an android woman and her designer. And life and death. But mostly about the lesbianism.

Deep rooted in philosophy (enough to make up for Beyond Good & Evil’s distinct lack of it), psychology, science fiction, and… well… Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalen… these games are beautifully organized and fun to play, so long as you’ve got money for all three and don’t mind some serious religious overtones from time to time.

………
Two more days of this then I’m done. WOO-HOO!
See you tomorrow!

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Added November 9, 2017
Phew! Finally got a new archival post added and the editing on it is a doozy! Can’t wait to see how this one turns out.
I’d recommend replacing the Xenosaga series with something like Undertale or Binding of Isaac (likely Isaac) and this makes a solid list of lesser known gems.

L&T of Skyler B – 2 of 5 of 5

To continue the trend (why I can’t I be this productive when its not ‘down to the wire’?) I have selected five books to talk at you about. I will also tell you that you should buy them all based on the covers I will provide you with. Get your debit cards ready (and hold on to them, for the love of God. I’ve either lost or destroyed enough of my own in the past month to know to KEEP. AN. EYE. ON. THEM.), and here we go:

5 Books You Should Buy and Read Because I Said So
1) “The Time Traveler’s Wife”
Audrey Niffenegger

This is a romance story. I’m ok sharing this with you. This is because this is a lovely tale of love lost to time (literally). The author weaves an elaborate tale of multiple versions of the main two characters (the lovers) as the male lead goes back and forth through time. It kind of sounds confusing, but let me break it down.

The male lead, Henry, can’t control when he’ll go back or where he’ll go back to, just that it will connect, somehow, to his wife Clare’s past. He will never go in any kind of chronological order and will only ever be confused as he tries to piece his own past with his wife together.

It is split up with time stamps so you know when in the timeline of the story it is taking place, and lets you know from whose perspective you are reading at all times. It is fascinating and fun to read this, because you are thrown about time nonstop yet have markers to help you find your place in the characters’ history. The only downside is it takes a long while to get through. But you won’t care.

There are few books about time travel and love that make me cry at the conclusion, but this one did. The ending had everything it needed and just a bit more. Read it because you like time travel. You know you do.

2) “Syrup”
Max(x) Barry

If I was going to die and I had to take one work of “slick fiction” with me to Hell… It would be Syrup. This book alone got me interested in writing, marketing, and being awesome. It is also a back stab story and has tons of cool word choice, and the way the book is split up into mini-sections within chapters (which makes it feel like you’re reading real fast), so you know I‘d love it.

The story is about Scat and 6 (yes, a woman named 6. Read to find out!) trying to sell ads (and more!) to Coca Cola. Yes, this book is also why I selected to be a Coke fan over a Pepsi fan.

Despite what Rachel Samson thinks (you’ll never really know who that is, so don’t pay attention to it), Max Barry is a brilliant writer and his wit is sharp. Pick this up if you like comedy. Or books. Or things that are good.

3) “Shadows of the Empire”
Steve Perry

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire is the rare example of a multi-medium media onslaught in the market of the same exact story. This was a book, a video game, an action figure line, and a graphic novel all at the same time. It was brilliantly done, and for once, all the parts were pretty cool as stand-alone entries into the Star Wars saga.

This book takes place between Empire and Jedi and has Dash Rendar to take the place of a frozen Han Solo. It features some other new characters and mentions Boba Fett at least twice, so it passes my standards test.

Its a quick read, as well, and worthy of a place among Star Wars fiction (haha! The thought of that just killed me… “Star Wars fiction”…).

4) “The Looking Glass Wars”
Frank Beddor

I read an article about a comic book featuring a character named Hatter M on ign.com one day and the concept of a reimagined take on Alice in Wonderland sounded so great I picked up the first issue of the comic. Turns out, the character was based on a book that dealt with the same topic, but was only released in the UK. So I ordered it. And read it. And loved it.

As stated, the book series (yes, series. The new one just came out!) takes place in Wonderland but is far more dark and sinister than the Disney version. Or the original version, actually. Its graphic, steam-punkish, and brutal. And sometimes, just plain mean.

Also, there’s the character of Hatter Madigan, or “The Mad Hatter” who follows a lost Alyss to Earth to find, protect, and bring her home. He’s got a hat that turns into knives, knives in his coat, knives in his wrists, knives on his belt, in his backpack, probably has knives for eyes. Who knows. He’s awesome, so that’s all you need to.

5) “Apathy (And Other Small Victories)”
Paul Neilan

You will hate yourself for laughing at this book. The main character should simply be described by the word “apathetic” in the dictionary from now on.

Entire pages of this book are quotable. The characters are stupid and funny and unsympathetic. You will wonder why you’re reading the book after you get halfway through because you will realize there is nothing to gain from this book, aside from an ache in your stomach from laughing too much.

Of all the books I’ve listed, this is the only one that has the word “Apathy” in the title. So… I don’t know… What I’m trying to say… Read these books! That’s what!

…….
I’ll be back again, tomorrow!

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Added June 20, 2017
That Paul Neilan hasn’t written a second book at this point will always make me sad. SAD, I TELL YOU.
This is a solid list of “favorite”books of mine but I would for certain get rid of “Looking Glass Wars” (since I never finished that final book) and possibly even replace “Syrup” with “Lexicon” though that’s up for debate.
I’d recommend “The Hike” by Drew Magaray at this point, though, because that book is fantastic.
Again, this list was just to take up space so I could get paid for meeting posting quota on my old Drake University blog. I was a real go-getter.

L&T of Skyler B – 1 of 5 of 5

So, in order to meet the required number of posts this month (hey, I had a real slow month. What can I do?) I’ve decided to make a post every day this week that will give a short review/rundown of five things in five different categories that I really enjoy that you probably don’t but should. So, today, to make it simple, I’ll start with movies (why not, huh?).

So, without further ado:
5 Movies That You Should Love Because I Said So
1) The Fifth Element:

Luc Besson, who always writes the same movies time-after-time (for examples, check out The Professional and then watch his latest film, Unleashed, both of which star incredible killing machines who end up finding out life is about ‘so much more’), did this movie called The Fifth Element to show people what life would be like in a future that was so awesome it hurt.

Visually this movie is stunning. You can’t lose. Colorful hair, clothes, architecture, aliens, transportation, locations, geography…. You can go on and on. There are few scenes as iconic as the shot of Leeloo jumping off that building and falling into traffic in recent movie history.

The story is simple, the characters are archetypal, and the script is tight. But there is something about the entire structure of the film that is so perfect that, well… it really can’t be described. Trust me. Watch the film. From the elaborate and fantastical reconstruction of Leeloo’s physical body to the shot of Bruce Willis getting cold-cocked with a trophy to the robot bartender… You can’t fail.

2) Mulholland Drive:

I can’t talk about this movie. Not because I don’t want to ruin it, but because I can’t. So rarely is there a movie so confusing… so astoundingly complex and needlessly so… that I not only find I can stand to watch it more than once, but that I end up owning, loving, and watching as many times as I can find people who haven’t seen it.

What starts out as an amnesia movie about two women in Hollywood ends up as so much more (in more ways than one) and has some great moments of humor, musical use, and human clarity that you will think it can’t possibly be contained within one movie. But David Lynch did it. I don’t know how.

Come for the lesbians, stay for the lesbians. And… the complicated and fun deconstruction and rebuilding of the movie you will find yourself forced to do at the film’s conclusion. Forced by yourself.

3) The Lost Skeleton of Cadavera:

So you get tired of all the big budget horror movies that are out there and you want to stay in and watch something a little more ‘in depth’ with the human side of horror. Well, forget that rubbish and check this movie, instead. Its about martians, scientists, evil scientists, living skeletons, mutants, and women made of five different forest animals.

Its not a serious movie and will do its best to show you that its not serious. But you will not want to stop watching it because it is that stupid and silly. For an example, take the following line spoken by one of the film’s main antagonists:
“I’ve always been hated by skeletons, even as a child!”

Yeah.

4) Disclosure:
 

He who says Demi Moore isn’t hot back in her prime is a liar. And this movie is great because not only is she hot, but she is also SUPER-hot for a majority of the film.

I love revenge and back stab movies, and this one is one of my all time favorites. Michael Douglas and Demi Moore go round and round (in more ways than one) in a corporate thriller that has everything the doctor ordered. So long as the doctor ordered copious amounts of intolerable subterfuge!!!!!!

Sexy, sleek, and dynamic, this movie has one weak moment of cybernetic tomfoolery that is mostly worthless but nevertheless furthers the plot. But at the end, when one of the main characters emerges the clear winner over the other… you will be so happy when you find yourself cheering that, well… You won’t care if you are wearing your pants on your head the entire time (spoken from experience that will not be detailed in any way/shape/form).

5) The World’s Fastest Indian:

I love movies about guys going for their dream. And Anthon… SIR Anthony Hopkins does just that, playing an old guy that just wants to run his motor bike on a speed run to go for the world land speed record.

Full of trials and more trials, this movie shows the power of a dream in ways that make me sad I haven’t gotten enough experience to really fulfill any of my own. This movie doesn’t really need any further explanation. Its just that good.

……..
And with that, I’m done. Check in tomorrow when I’ll do the same for books or video games or TV shows or something. I don’t know. I haven’t decided, yet.

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Added June 9, 2017
“Come for the lesbians, stay for the lesbians.” – This is the best review of Mulholland Dr. I could ever give.
I need to rewatch a few of these films.
This was also an insanely cheap way to hit my minimum post requirements for the month but, ah, well, it brought in the big* bucks!

*not really

Facebook – Present Tense(s)

I’m still not much fun to talk to, sometimes:
…paul says: One time I killed a man

…paul says: He tried to steal my slippers

Skyler says: you are a wonderful story teller

…paul says: I killed him with my slippers

Skyler says: one time i killed a man

Skyler says: he tried to steal my slippers

Skyler says: i killed him with my slippers

…paul says: …that was my story

…paul says: You just stole it

Skyler says: i liked it better when i told it

…paul says: It was exactley the same

Skyler says: mine had more conviction

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Added September 1, 2016
Double-ha!

Facebook – Tense(s)

Why I’m not always fun to talk to:

Steven says: I think my car is possessed

Skyler says: yeah?

Steven says: yeah

Skyler says: why?

Steven says: I hopped in this morning

Steven says: turn it on

Skyler says: you got mixed tenses

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Added September 1, 2016
Ha!

Facebook – Movie

I reread “Everyman” for the first time in a long while (“Everyman” being the movie script my older brother and I wrote a little over a year ago). I had chills and I laughed and I cried.

God damn it, Pete…. we did it.

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Added September 1, 2016
That script has so many solid ideas… Needs strong rewrite, but the concept is there.
The argument in the comments, though?