Poison Ivy

Why hello there, I didn't see you, you startled me. Welcome in anyway, make yourself comfortable like. I hope you enjoyed my last long ass ramble about TV, I've not actually been able to bring myself to read over it, so if it's shit, then you'll know why and just have to excuse me. Not much has been going on in my life recently so I can't really give you any exciting, detailed stories, sorry. But I'm sure something will pop in my mind while I'm writing this.

I was walking to football earlier listening to my iPod, and I don't know what triggered it off but I just thought to myself, that I don't feel as creative as I once was. (I don't mean that in a footballing sense either, class is permanent ;)) (I hate it when brackets mess up my smileys). More like a few years back, I used knock one of these out for fun, I was banging out like 3-4 a week. And before that, I was posting poems on other sites and creating that way. I used to occasionally draw or paint, but I've stopped and lost everything. I don't know where it's gone, my mind is just not there anymore. I can feel myself slowly turning into mush. It's like they say, if you don't use it, you lose it. Well I think my mind has been stagnant for so long, that it needs to be retrained to regain former glory. The worst thing is, knowing I can produce stuff I'm impressed with and can look back proudly on, but then not being able to do so anymore when I want. It is very frustrating. Maybe I had more to say back then and everything's been said, or maybe I just have more things on my mind now, surpressing my creativity, I don't know.

Now I feel this post is starting to head down that 'deep' side, and I didn't really intend to go there. As much as I love it, and love reading your insight into human emotions and character, I feel that is a bit of a slippery slope right now. Mainly because every time I start writing like that, there is only one thing on my mind, which it will inevitably lead to. It's pretty much all I think about at the moment to be honest, when I want to, and even when I don't. I can't really help it. Regrets, doing things differently, having another chance, just being better.

Swiftly moving on before we all hang ourselves, I realised the other day that I miss the Uni lifestyle and the people there more than I even thought. Mo was invited to some girls birthday party in town, and wanted someone to go along with so asked me to come a few days before, and I said ok. I wasn't really too keen but Hassan also said he would come, and so would another friend, so I thought, ok it might actually be good. Comes to the Saturday and Hassan and his friend have had to go into Birmingham and are not getting back till around midnight time, and Mo still really wants to go, and I'm the only one left, so I feel guilty and say us two will go, even though I'd rather have stayed home and watched Boxing. But we went, the two of us into town, to this bar, which was actually quite busy. But it was pretty shit, and I felt like a total outsider for the whole time there. Hassan then text saying he and a friends were coming into town also, and would be going to this Asian type club, so we went to Maryland to wait for him. By this time I had already had a shit time, missed the Tyson Fury fight, and was hiding behind Mo from every taxi I saw in town, which were a lot! By the time Hassan and my other mate got to the club, I had enough of the night and wanted to go home to watch UFC and the Boxing, and Mo had to get up early for work the next day, so we decided to go home. Apparently Hassan and my friend ended up having a good night, but I couldn't help thinking back to my nights at Crewe. The pre drinking at someone house, no matter who or how many, always had a laugh and felt together and it was fun. Then spend the night together dancing away, having a laugh, and end by leaving together also. This was so hectic and disorganised, and the fact that it's in Leicester town, just put me off. The thing is I do actually want to go out, 'cause I'm so bored of sitting at home all the time. Hassan said we will start going out properly now, starting from this weekend, so we'll see if that materialises.

Anyway, what I've not really ever mentioned I don't think, but which has played the most major role during summer and the months since is Rap Battles. Probably because I know that the few of you who do occasionally read this, will have no interest in it whatsoever. However, when I've been spending 23 hours a day, confined to these colourful but boring walls, they have been the main stay of my sorry existence, occupying most of the hours. I don't really know how I got into battle rap in particular, but I know I started a couple years ago, watching this World Rap Championships which were from a few years earlier. So I spent a bit of time watching these, thinking they were the greatest thing I had heard, and then when I finished that, I just stopped. Over summer, I rekindled my interest, again I don't really remember what instigated it, but I'm glad it did. This time it's serious. Rap battles have been around for a few decades now, as anyone who has seen 8 Mile will know, but like everything, it has evolved and grown. Over the last few years especially, with new impressive leagues starting up in, America, Canada, UK, Scandinavia and even Eastern Asia. So as you may be able to tell, I've had a lot of catching up to do and a lot of time to do it in, which I have. As you'll probably be unfamiliar with it, each battle has slightly different rules, but all have a 3 rounds, a set time limit, and they and rapping prepared written bars. So it's not a couple of fools spitting meaningless one syllable rhymes, they are formulated, vicious barrages of lyrical genius. Rap battles are the most rawest, uncut, hardcore things you'll hear and definitely not for the faint hearted. So cold blooded, that's probably why I love it.

You might have heard me going on about it a bit on Twitter recently, and the fact that the whole Rap Battle movement sort of has a cult following, even though it's growing, they are not huge millionaire superstars with thousands of followers. Which means, they actually retweet and reply to your comments, with 2 who even started to following me. I know it's not that exciting for you, but in my world they are like Justin Bieber and One Direction. This sort of brings me nicely on to what else I wanted to mention, one of the more famous of these battle rappers has just released an album, and it it pretty fucking good. Especially a couple of tracks, which I've fallen in love with. I posted them up around a while ago, but in case you missed it, here they are again.

http://thesauruswins.bandcamp.com/track/no-sleep

http://thesauruswins.bandcamp.com/track/poison-ivy

It's quite funny, because the four songs that I'm kind of addicted to at the moment are these two and Video Game and Blue Jeans by Lana Del Rey. Yeah I know, a bit of a weird combination. Talking of LDR she has been doing some live shows around the place, which has led to videos of these live performances on YouTube. Because it's just someone in the crowd recording it on their phone or camera, the quality is not the best but it is not too bad either. From her other unheard songs, two have really jumped out at me, Born To Die and China Doll. I actually can't wait for an album to be released and hear her music properly.

 

Also, there are so many movies out or coming out soon in the cinema that I want to watch. Machine Gun Preacher, Tower Heist, Moneyball, 50/50. I need to step my game up. Also, before I forget, I watched a cute little movie the other day called Like Crazy. I think I kinda liked it but I really need someone to talk to about so I can fully make up my mind! It's an indie romantic drama type, a little bit sad, a little bit happy, without giving too much away. So yeah, if you have some time, I suggest you watch it and let me know what you think. I think it may be released here in like February time, and I can see it being on of those movies that people (girls) go crazy about. But you can watch it online, pretty good copy, so I'm giving you a head start, here is a trailer...

Thought/Quote/Lyric of the Day...

"I feel so alone every Friday night

You make me feel like home, so I tell you you’re mine

Don’t make me sad, don’t make me cry

Songs of love aren’t enough when the road gets though

I don’t know why

You make me laugh,

Let’s all get high

Road’s long, we carry on

Should you have fun in the meantime

Come and take a walk on the wild side

Let me fuck you hard in the pouring rain"

"Dearest diary, I'm here perspiring these tears that tire me

What once was crystal clear has nearly disappeared entirely,

and left me hurting, I must be incorrectly learning

If I lose every girl I love to some prick who's less deserving"

x

Video Games

So now that alot of my TV is back and underway, I thought it would be a good opportunity to talk about it. And for future reference, when I constantly go on about something, that's me recommending it, me liking it is a personal reference. Don't say you've not been warned! Depending on what's on at the time or what stage in the season the show is at, changes where I rank them, but at the moment it's something along these lines. In ascending order.

I started writing this post like a week ago, but have been back and forth on it since then. There's no real reason why, just kind of got half way through the list and thought, no one gives a shit, why am I still doing this! Lol. Like why don't I just post up trailers, and be done with, rather than all this effort. But then I realised this is what I love. I love yapping away about shit that no one else gives a fuck about. I don't even care if you don't care, I just like talking about my TV, even if it is to myself! :)

Rizzoli & Isles:
This is a crime based drama focusing on the life's of the two women leads, who are work colleagues and best friends, police detective Jane Rizzoli and Medical Examiner Mora Isles. Rizzoli is very tom-boyish and Isles is the polar opposite. Like most of the show I watch, this was my sisters recommendation. It's currently in a mid-season break of the second series. It has its captivating moments that make it worthwhile, most notably towards the seasons finales, but mostly it's just nice and watchable. It's still early in the shows life, I think it has potential, but don't think I'd shed a tear when it's time was up. However, it is nice to see two women leads, maybe a female perspective could get into it alot more. I'll still be watching it.

The Good Wife:
A Law based drama, which you can guess by the title, focuses around the life of the lead woman Alicia Floreck. The series starts with the fall out from her powerful politician husband's public affair. This impacts her relationship with her husband, the impact on her children, the start of her own career as a lawyer. The series is a few episodes in to its third season, and the show gets better with each one. There are quite a number of characters involved in the show, so there's plenty to love and hate. There's some very good performances in it, and it's taken America by quite a storm last year, winning various awards. It's pretty emotional stuff, and big issues being played with. Again it's with a strong woman lead, and maybe a woman might be able to relate to it more.

White Collar:
Another crime based drama, but unlike the others, this is not based around violent homicide cases, but instead as the title suggest, white collared criminals such as forgers and art thiefs. This gives the show a slightly lighter feel than some of the other, but it is still capable of producing some heavier, darker moments. The show revolves around the undeniably beautiful Matt Bomer as Neil Caffery, who is an convicted arts forger extraordinaire. However, the detective that has chased him for years and finally arrested his man when we are first introduced to the show, Peter, offers Niel a deal to work with the police as an expert in the field to help bring down other criminals of that kind, in exchange for a jail sentence. This leads to a very weird and interesting partnership and friendship between the two. This is one of the shows that I think my sister would rate higher in the list, and on another day, maybe I would to. It's currently on a mid-season break of the third season.

Leverage:
Leverage is another crime based drama, but these are no cops trying to solve a case. They are a team of five thiefs and grifters who help the innocent get back at the rich and powerful who have done them wrong. The team consists of a Hitter, Hacker, Grifter, Thief, and Mastermind (Timothy Hutton) as Nathan Ford. Sometimes the bad guys make the bes good guys. If anyone has watched the British show Hustle, it is basically the same format, but about 10 times better. It's on a lot bigger scale, more action, more drama, more character development. If you like that show, you will love this. Due to the nature of the cases the team are dealing with, (ie. not murder and homicide) it gives the show a lighter edge, and quite an uplifting feeling. All of the five characters have a major role to play and a few of the characters story lines intertwined with each other, which is always exciting. It is currently on a mid season break of the fourth season.

The Mentalist:
This is a crime based drama focusing around a team of four police detectives and a consultant in the shape of Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) aka The Mentalist. He is a hypnotist and body language expert who has a way of seeing things and dealing with people which is very different to the way the rest of the officers go about work. He reads people and goes on hunches, alot of the times getting in trouble with his police bosses, but on the most part, he delivers and stays as an essential part of the homicide solving team. He starts working with the police in order to catch the mysterious, elusive serial killer Red John, who murdered his wife and daughter before the show began. This brings a nice contrast into the show, as when Jane is dealing with a normal case, he is quite witty and funny, but when anything to do with Red John gets mentioned, he becomes very dark and vengeful. The show is a few episode into it's fourth season and I can truly say it's one that gets alot better. The first couple of seasons were watchable enough, but for me, it became repetitive and there wasn't much character development. However, the last season and the start of this have shook a whole lot of things up and it has drastically jumped up my rankings. Long may that rise continue.

Chuck:
Chuck is an action/comedy type situation. Even though, most of the other shows have funny, witty, light hearted moments in them, Chuck is the only one I would actually class as a comedy. It is about an average-joe computer nerd who accidentally installs the 'intersect' into his brain. The intersect is a government computer programme which holds all their secrets, as well as, enabling you to do whatever you focused on, i.e. martial arts, shooting guns, and whatever other stuff you have to do to take down bad guys. So this pretty much turned this regular nerdy guy into a super agent. He has a team of army veteran Casey and the gorgeous Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) who also plays his love interest to show him the ropes. These three are the main characters but there is a larger cast and some of the best characters on TV! This is more where the comedy side comes in. I can't talk about them all individually, but you'll just have to take my word for it. Something about Chuck is just instantly relatable and likable. Especially for me, with the whole Chuck/Sarah thing, him being a normal geeky guy, starting to fall in love for the first time with this stunning woman who is out of his league, and all the mishaps and awkwardness that comes along with it. It was a cool story the way it was done. It's currently in its fifth and final season. It was meant to finish after the fourth but due to fan pressure it was extended for a one more season, but I have just read that this one will only have 13 episodes, compared to the 20+ of the others.

Castle:
Castle is a crime drama based show. Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) is an award winning novelist, who starts working with the police in order to get an insight for his new crime thriller novel which he's going to base on a detective. That detective turns out the incredibly beautiful Kate Beckett played by Stana Katic. Similarly to The Mentalist, Castle becomes apart of a homicide detective team along with two other officers, led by Beckett. Castle and Beckett work well as a team, as she is tough, logical, and determined, whereas Castle is more theory based, throwing fantasy and wild stories about each case. From the very beginning of the show it is clear that there is sexual tension between the two, and as the show grows the chemistry only goes stronger. Without giving too much away, this slightly came to ahead at the end of season 2. Now I'm not very good with memory, and especially with all the stuff I watch alot of stuff gets mixed and confused, but the season 2 finale was one of 'those' moments, it was just so so sad. There relationship is one of the shows major pulling points, it is very well executed and continues to be done so, anyone who's into a bit of romance will love this. It's funny, because when my sister first told me about the show, I looked it up and saw Nathan Fillion and recognised him from TV and made my mind up that I didn't like him! But I gave it a chance, and oh my, how has this show changed that. It's currently in it's fourth season.

House:
House is a medical drama, and from all the stuff I watch is probably the most high profile and the one you've actually heard of. That is down to in no small part the pure awesomeness of Hugh Laurie who plays House. His Golden Globe winning performance in this show has not only made the show a massive hit worldwide, but also launched him into super stardom and the most recognisable character on TV. House is a diagnostician who takes on weird cases which nobody else can figure out but he enjoys the puzzle. He is also anti-social, rude, mean, unsympathetic, uncaring, obsessive and wild. As well as being a cripple and a drug addict. But he is the best at his job and the only one of his kind. But there is another side to this crazy doctor that most of the other characters don't get to see, but we as the audience have the privilege of doing so. There is pain, sadness, loneliness, and emptiness in his life. The show focuses on House's team solving cases, trying to save their patients, as well as, dealing with the personal life's of each of the characters. Since the success of the show, there have been other shows who have tried to imitate the House characters, (Not as well however) but when House came out, it was a breath of fresh air and unlike anything TV had seen. There was this genius of a man in a respectable position as a doctor, but he acted like one of the criminals you would see on a detective show. I remember sitting with my sister every Thursday night and watching it on channel 5 when it first came out over here in the UK. Ever since, I've been totally in love with House, the character and the show. This has been my favourite show and probably still is, but with the shock exit of Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) and Thirteen (Olivia Wilde) both main characters, the whole show has been left a bit up in the air. It is currently in it's eight, and possibly but hopefully not, final season.

Dexter:
Well I'm going to start by saying Dexter is a crime, drama, mystery, thriller, but is like no other show! Some shows take a while for you to get into and start to like, but I think I knew after the first few lines of Dexter that this was for me. Dexter Morgan is a Blood Splatter Analyst who works in the forensics department of Miami Metro. But he is also a serial killer. However, unlike most serial killers, he only goes after other criminals and killers. So there is always this moral issue of us liking him as a character even though he a murderer. As a child, his father who was a police officer saw this killer side in him and taught him a 'code' to only use it for good, and to not get caught. Ever since, his father has passed, but Dexter has lived to this code. An emotionless, meticulous, cold blooded killer. But he blends in with society and leads a 'normal' life. The show itself is very dark and graphic, with haunting voiceovers cutting through you like only (Michael C. Hall) voice could. Each season focuses on a big main baddy, who Dexter goes after, while killing other smaller murderers on the way. Unlike all the other shows which have like 20+ episodes a season, Dexter only has 12, every season. This means the show only lasts 3 months of the year with a 9 month break in between each season, this only adds to the excitement I think. Also, the network it's shown on doesn't have adverts so each episode is like 52 minutes long compared to 42. I know it's only 10 minutes difference but in TV that equates to a lot. Each episode just hits hard and a punch to the gut which takes all your breath away. And every episode of every season is like that, like a mini movie, it's unrelenting. It cult following has turned into a crazy fan base which keeps growing. The show is half way through season 6 and it is just as good as ever.