An Update, I suppose

I have been absolutely obsessed with this song. I absolutely love love love love all of Lady Gaga's demos, listening to all the sounds she played around with while she was still finding her feet in music and this has got to be my favourite one. Plus, whoever put all those movie clips of Marilyn to the lyrics did a perfect job.
Then I guess it's this one. You can count yourself a real Gaga fan if you get the references to two other demos of hers! I guess I'll give it away next time, if anyone's interested. I love the kind of Disney feel to this song, I don't know what it is about it, probably the beginning?

Well, I guess it's time for an update of my own life, for the three - if that - of you that read this blog. I recorded my solo performance for music today, a version of 'Feeling Good' that I was very pleased to say I had arranged myself. That is, it was a big mash-up of lots of other versions that boiled down to me and a piano. That's all well and good until you have to justify everything with the paperwork I have to submit. Awesome...!

Other than that, I've been reading a LOT of Vertigo. Basically anything on the 'After Watchmen' list, I've been hunting down. And a friend of mine is feeding my Fables addiction with his collection. Success! I love James Jean's cover art work, I'm thinking that I need to get some prints from 'Storybook Love' made, if they don't already exist.

I think that's pretty much it. I've been shaken by no earthquakes, overrun by no power-crazed dictators, so I've nothing to whine or moan about at all. Just thought I'd keep the consistency of this blog going for as long as possible!

Yes.

I came across this the other day. I was in a Media Studies lesson, and I was meant to be working. Well, give a girl access to the internet and inevitably one thing is going to happen: shopping.
Well, I'm hooked. After work tomorrow, I'll finally have enough for the computer I've been saving for, and then some left over. Then, by the end of next week I'll have enough (hopefully) for a good Diana set. Then I'll be snapping away. I love digital photography, but (I think) I'm in love with the idea of analogue. It's gorgeous and the whole process just fills me with excitement!
In other news... I'm currently obssesed with Watchmen. And I mean obsessed. I've become one of those people that SOLEY talks about one thing. And for me, that's Alan Moore. Recommending his works to my friends - and people who aren't even my friends! - has been driving them crazy. I read The Killing Joke in one sitting the other day, and normally I'm a very slow reader.
In other Dork News, I bought issue #1 of DC Trinity the other day, after having bought #2 - 12 in Orbital (London) and sifted through the comics for a good hour to find the right one. Then I bought 14 and 15 from eBay and I'm just waiting for the right moment to get #13, #16 and #17. (After that, I think I'll just buy the graphic novels!)

I think that's pretty much all for the moment. I should be studying - God KNOWS I should be studying - but in all honesty I'm just putting it off. What an awful attitude!
Kate x

Look Alive Sunshine...

Well
It sure has been a while! ;)
I've been up to lots.
Guys and Dolls went wonderfully, if you were wondering and/or cared. (!)
I can't believe how quickly this year has gone, I know that's a cliched thing to say. But I'm not kidding when I say that I feel like it's still last December.

It's weird. Time goes so quickly!
Obviously, I have been hooked on Danger Days (the new MCR album) I adore it!
Obviously, I am fairly biased. I rarely HATE albums, and even rarer is it for me to say that I hate an album that was made by a band that has been fairly consistent in my musical tastes. You know, that's true: since I was about 10, my music tastes have obviously grown and changed, but there is always this core set of bands and artists that I come back to time and time again, that never fail to disappoint.

Perhaps that's the reason I have been listening to a LOT of the 'pumpkins lately? I'm getting back into my old favourites?! Well, thanks, Danger Days!

The snow has been AWFUL(ly exciting) of late. It took us two and a half hours to get back from [instert the town I work in]! Usually it takes 15 minutes! ¬_¬ I'm meant to be going into the city tomorrow - I REALLY WANT to get to Orbital this weekend. FINGERS CROSSED IT'S OKAY!


Went to see GAGA on Thursday. She was utterly amazing. Ripped the head off a santa doll and moved me to tears at least three times.
"SURPRISE! You're at a POP SHOW and the bitch can SING!" <3
Much love for the GAGAloo.

That's all really. I leave you with an old picture of last year's Christmas cake. Peace!

NA NA NA

KILLJOYS MAKE SOME NOISE!


Louder than God's revolver and twice as shiny.

Catching A Tiger

I have been listening to Lissie so much lately! I have listened to 'Catching a Tiger' at least six times today, all the way through! That's more than Jeff Buckley's Grace, which I listened to a heck of a lot through the summer. I just love her!
Another thing I have been listening to a LOT lately is the Guys and Dolls CD my music teacher gave me on Monday. It's just over a month now until my night... I am so excited! This really is a FUN time! Although it's really intensive and busy, I have been leaving school at 5, 5.30 every day plus lunchtimes rehearsing.
If anyone is wondering, the whole thing is going really well, if I say so myself. We've yet to do an entire run through - we've just been going through scenes in this really disjointed way. I'm just so excited to get it looking like a real production - something that Adelaides the world over would be proud of.

On another note, it looks SO foggy outside my house right now because of the fireworks all the way through tonight and last night! Under the street lights you can actually see all the smoke floating around. All I'm going to say is, I'm glad my neighbours always do lame fireworks - it stops me going out in the cold to watch them!!

Katie x

Post 101

Hello everyone (anyone? Who reads anyway!)
This is my 101st post! Wonderful! And on Gwen Stefani's birthday! ;)

I've been neglecting my blogging duties. Fear not - I have good reason: I've been cast as the understudy for Adelaide in my school's production of 'Guys and Dolls'! I am really grateful and excited. I had never even auditioned before in my life and I got understudy.

The even better news? They are dedicating the second night to the understudies! For one night only, I get to be the star of the show! That is so exciting.
Thing is, the girl who got the main role is really good. Accent, singing, everything. So while I am actually kind of honoured that I got to be an understudy when she is really rather good, I am hoping and praying and working hard so that I can do Adelaide justice on the night. I have until December 8th (that is my night) - exactly 30 years to the day that John Lennon was killed!?
Showbusiness moves on, and so must we.
Adeiu!*

*I have to speak like that now I'm a 'stawwwwr' darlink!

Find Me?

I'm on Tumblr now too!
I'm not sure what it has that Blogger doesn't but hey, I love trying new things :)
Fear not, I won't abandon blogger... ;)

Wow. If this is real...

Then it's very worrying.
Where else could that money have been spent? Shame.

I love looking at those 'World Statistics' sites. Although I take their numbers with a pinch of salt sometimes, it's humbling to be flicking through a site and watching the 'deaths this year' toll rise and rise while you sit their in your comfort eating carrot cake. It's even worse for the 'suicides this year' section. So sad. That link is just one that I found. I'm sure if you googled World Statistics you would find some pretty interesting things...

Have a look at the whole page. Particularly the 'Days of Oil left' section. ¬_¬

We All Know An Annoying Orange...

...For a lot of people, it's me! ;)

HEY! HEY APPLE!

There's a reason that has over 27,000,000 views!

Monterey Sea Otters

I was fairly restricted yesterday - I won't go into details, but I was very sick! - and I stayed in bed most of the day. Sleeping most of the day wrecked my sleeping pattern so I started watching this documentary about otters on BBC. I couldn't believe how intelligent those creatures are! And how human their maternal qualities were - the way the mothers taught their pups to swim and feed was heartwarming!

Anyone in the UK? Have you seen this advert on the TV lately? It looks excellent! Although I'm pretty sure it was their intention, this TV show looks very 'Orwellian'. *applaud*

Exciting times!

Hey look!

I love 'I Write Like'! It's such a cool idea if you want to improve your writing. You just paste in some of your prose and away you go!

I write like
Stephen King

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Addicted to hate?

I had no idea this kind of hatred still festered in the world.

I can't even put into words how disgusted I am. Let's just hope that the next generation is not as ignorant as these people.

That girl thinks she's the queeeeeeen of the neighbourhood....

...I got news for you:

SHE IS! *rocks out*

Sure, I could be talking about pretty much anyone when I say that! But, in actual fact, I'm talking about the genius that is Sarah Maple.

She protested against the continuing use of the Page Three girls last year, leaving her own, modified 'Page 3' version of herself. It's well worth a watch, even if you're in favour of page three.

¬_¬

Oh yeah, and enjoy Bikini Kill up there ^_^
Kathleen Hanna's out 'enjoying the sunshine' so she won't be blogging for a while *disappointed face*... I suppose I should follow her example haha!

BUT why do that when Keri Smith has recently (ok, about a month ago - I just didn't get around to mentioning it) updated her site and it's pretty darn cool! There's a nifty little feature which allows you to draw what's right in front of you... quite fun and interesting to leaf through the gallery, I must say!

We put on a great performance of 'Don't Stop Believing' on Thursday for the school show. Our other vocalist was conviniently sick (...a bad case of the mysterious 'man-flu'? I think not, haha)so I had to take over and use all my charm to win over the crowd.
Well... judging from the reaction afterwards,from both people I knew (and HAD to flatter me) and people I didn't, it worked! *punches air*.

Onwards! ^_^

Bombs Away!

Is your local area in desperate need of a perk-up? Why don't you try this!?

It's an idea that I'm going to credit to that blog, but Keri Smith suggested it in the Guerilla Art Kit, and Liz Christy coined the term 'seed grenade' in 1973 at the start of the Guerilla Gardening movement.

BUT aerial reforestation was used in the 1930s after forest fires in Hawaii; it's also widely used in Africa.

Enjoy!

Don't just talk the talk...

...walk the walk!
Obviously loads of people love to think they care about the environment (myself included, I think!) but how many of us actually ACT when we're given a list of things we could do TODAY?
I challenge you to do ONE OF THESE THINGS EVERY DAY FOR A WEEK.

...go'n, it's a dare ;)

1. Bike, use public transit, carpool to work, drive slower, keep your tires inflated
One-third of all traffic is commuters. Use alternative transportation when possible. If you must drive, go slower with proper tire inflation. It saves both fuel and tires, and lowers emissions. It also saves lives.
2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Compost
Reusing packaging material saves more energy than recycling. By avoiding extra packaging, you save both energy and landfill space. Yard and kitchen waste (leaves/grass/vegetable scraps) are 30% of trash. Reduce this amount by composting. Also be sure to re-use plastic bags, or better yet... refuse plastic bags when you really don't need them.

Conserve water
Don't let faucets run. Never water your lawn at midday. Place a brick in old toilets. Take low flow short showers. Run the dishwasher only when it is full. Let grass grow longer. Plant native or drought-tolerant garden plants.

Quit smoking
Second-hand smoke is a major indoor air pollutant and health hazard. When you quit, both you and your family will lead longer and healthier lives.
Don't use pesticides/herbicides on your lawn
Along with nitrogen fertilizer runoff, these are major water pollutants.

Keep your cat indoors
Domestic cats kill over one billion small birds and animals every year (1 outdoor cat averages 40 kills per year). They upset natural predator/prey balances and eliminate ground nesting birds.

Eat less meat/eat more local and organic foods
Feedlots are a major source of organic pollution. Tropical forests are cut to raise beef.

Lower your thermostat in the winter. Raise it in the summer
Wearing a sweater in the winter and short sleeves in the summer saves energy and reduces pollution.

Dispose of old paint, chemicals, and oil properly
Don't put batteries, antifreeze, paint, motor oil, or chemicals in the trash. Use proper toxics disposal sites. Never buy more than you need.

Consider the environmental costs of major decisions and purchases
When relocating or changing jobs try to live close to work. Compare efficiency when purchasing new cars or appliances. Buy fewer things. Choose products with lower energy inputs.

Volunteer/Lobby for the Environment
Work locally and globally to save natural places, reduce urban sprawl, lower pollution and prevent the destruction of wilderness areas for timber and oil.

Plant a tree with a child
Take a walk in the woods, or plant trees which store CO2. Teaching our children to love and care for the planet is the most important thing we can do to insure the future of humankind.

Wash dishes by hand in a basin, and then use the dish water for outdoor gardens.

*If you quit smoking, you'll save money.

**If you stop eating meat for a while, you'll save money! Products like Quorn are versitile, healthy and cheap compared to a slab of meat! Give it a go.
Edit: that's talking from personal experience and family-member experience.

Don't Stop Believin'

Did I ever tell you about my new years' resolution?

I was going to write a song a day.

It's going pretty well. I was starting to wane around mid-January, by which time all my other resolutions had gone out of the window (For example, I'd bitten my nails down to my knuckles again!) and decided that I wouldn't be too hard on myself: a verse or two a day would do well.

Of course, most of them have been terrible, inspired by movies I saw and liked (Paranormal Activity, anyone?) and most of them don't have melodies or anything. But I fully believe that, like a lot of things creative, you really can (in most cases) learn to get better.

And, because I've become a little obsessed with exercise (ZUMBA!!!) to the point where I have so much energy I skip the steps two at a time, I will compare songwriting to building muscle. First off, you have to burn off the fat. It's hard work, and you don't really see results quickly. Then, you start to thin out (that's the stage I'm at now. It's getting better - not so many real stunners, as yet), and then you develop a muscle that you can enjoy! ^_____^

I checked out some books on Pop Art a few weeks for a little more of a boost. I just like to feel I'm being productive.

update: you want a photo? ^___^

Currently....

I've become obsessed with Fancy Dress! I want someone to organise one so I can go as a Strawberry Daiquiri, or maybe I could go as a Peacock, or a bottle of Champagne, or perhaps Rum? The possibilities are endless.

...And then there's the matter of a wig! ;)

Also, attention Gaga Monsters:
I AM IN LOVE WITH THESE!

Kay, update over. Chew on that. ;)

Oh, yeah, and...

Some songs I haven't been able to get enough of!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR8Ia6vyV5Q
Last of the American Girls - Green Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIeCrj_Gn6A
Fooled Me Again Honest Eyes - Lady Gaga. (For anyone still in doubt of her talent!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG-R6gr_his
Love and Money - The Network

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htts3jbEeLk
Si te vas (If you leave) - Shakira

Oh, boy, I could go on forever. Just thought that would start y'all off. :)

Philanthropy

In a charitable mood? These are some charities that you might not have heard of but should give a go:

• Soles4Souls is a charity that donates worn shoes to some of the poorest people of the world.
• The Barefoot Foundation is Colombian pop star Shakira's charity, which aims on brining education to the poorest children of the world so they can lay the foundations of their future.
• Help For Heroes raises money to support the families of, and troops who have been injured in combat. It's a really good cause because, whether you agree with the war or not, those men and women are out there almost all year round and I think we're starting to take that for granted.
• The National Resources Defence Council aims to raise awareness about our environment and the world's resources. And, with representatives like Green Day and Sheryl Crow, they're likely to have crossed your radar in the past few years.

Just a few suggestions of some that you could check out. It's money honey.

The Next Gaga Installment :D

It has arrived. Gaga. Beyonce. Telephone Hair. Prison. Cops. Murder. Dancing.

Cannot wait for the next installment in The Fame Monster story! :D

If you are as excited as I am about Telephone, click here, it's a good link. ;)

Went to see the little Gagaloo last month at the O2. It blew my mind to the Fame Ball and back.

(Image courtesy of here)