New York City Lights

A couple of my friends that currently live in Brooklyn will be moving into a larger flat in May '08. After a few financial discussions with another friend of mine that lives in the NYC area, it has been determined that a move in May is definitely doable. It may mean living on a very tight budget, but I was already planning on doing that when I was going to take classes. It's also likely that another friend has connections to get me a job right away making roughly what I make now.

I know living in the city is going to be expensive, but I'll be able to do it. I'm not above living off water and ramen noodles.

Dress Up In You 07.17

The Cardigans cover The Boss's Downbound Train

The New Girls In Town

What's the best show on television that you probably aren't watching? No, it's not on premium cable channels HBO or Showtime. It's not even on regular cable channels such as FX. Surprisingly, it's on ABC and on Friday nights. Women's Murder Club was labeled a guilty pleasure before it even aired, and I'm not about to dispute that. It sounds like it belongs on Lifetime, but it's actually an engaging, entertaining series.

The only reason I even gave it a chance was because of my crush (yes, I said it) on lead actress Angie Harmon(she's gorgeous, and I love her raspy voice...very sexy), but it has turned out to be highly addictive. For the most part, the stories are not far-fetched and the main characters actually have a life outside of work. Okay, Inspector Lindsay Boxer's (Angie Harmon) life is work even when she isn't working, but I digress. In fact, the only complaint I have about the series is that of regular Cindy Thomas (played by Aubrey Dollar), the reporter. It's one thing to give her a photographic memory, but it's another to have her know every thing about every person involved in every case. And the girl is everywhere and apparently never has to go into the office for her actual job. I don't know when she has even had time to do her real job. I know, whenever pointless things like this occur, it's best to remind myself that it is only a television show. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't keep me up at night or anything. Besides, if I can come up with only one complaint, that's a good thing.

So next time you find yourself home on a Friday evening trying to figure out what to watch, flip over to ABC at 9:00/8:00c.

Dilemma

As I've stated before, my goal for this next year is to save up enough money to move to the NYC area by December '08 or January '09. I now have one thing standing in my way: School.

I've registered for classes at The Art Institute of Dallas. My intentions have been to attend here through December, move to NYC and then start up school six months later (once I am eligible for funding from the state). My concern has to do with credits and how many will transfer. While The Art Institute's NYC location is affiliated with the Dallas school, they are privately owned and are not structured the same. Therefore, I'm not able to find out which credits would transfer if I were to take classes here for the year.

If I did go here for the next year, I would be able to pump up my portfolio. Yet, on the other hand, I could just as easily do that myself and save thousands. And I would be able to move that much sooner.

Hmmm...I have a major decision to make and not much time to make it in.

**UPDATE**: I had a conversation with my former roommate who attended the same school (but in a different city) and he provided me with some very useful information. Including that his friend transferred from Chicago to Dallas within the Art Institute system but still had to take several classes over (and pay for them again). He and his friend both recommended that I complete the program in one place and avoid transferring. While I'm going to take the weekend to think on it, I am fairly certain that I am not willing to stay in Dallas through 2011 (the year that I would complete the program assuming I start in January). While it may sound as though I have made my mind up, I could still be swayed. My parents are coming up on Saturday, so I plan on getting their input (although something tells me that they won't be much help).

Past In Present 07.11

I was introduced to The Deuce Project during a trip to NYC over four years ago. While window shopping at the H&M in midtown, a song/video came on that I rather liked. It wasn't available just yet, but, you know me, I have my ways of tracking these things down. What I discovered upon listening to the set was a promising new band. Sure, the highlight was the track I overheard shopping, but they had potential. Unfortunately, they lasted all of one album. I don't know if they broke up or were dropped by their label (Maverick), but, regardless, they've left a pretty good impression. Below is the title track from their album Stone Cold.



Like what you hear? Check out more from them over on iTunes:



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A Little Kiwi Of Her Own

Congratulations go out to Parker Posey. The nominees for this year's Independend Spirit Awards have been announced, and she earned a nomination in the Best Actress category. The film, one of my favourites, marked her return to form and, thankfully, the industry noticed. She probably won't win, but I'm just happy the film received any kind of recognition.

Pissed Off Worser

This made me laugh, hope it does the same for you:

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A troublesome trio of transvestites allegedly laid siege to a Memphis McDonald's restaurant Sunday night, sparking a brawl with the restaurant's crew, according to reports.

Police said they were working on a more detailed description of three men dressed in drag who came into a McDonald's restaurant and started swinging.

Restaurant employee Martez Brisco was working the drive-through window when he reportedly got into an argument with the suspects. When Brisco ignored them tapping at the window, they came in.

"They come to the window, 'Tap, tap, tap.' I'm still ignoring them," Brisco told WMC-TV. "I guess that just pissed them off worser."

Click here to read the WMC-TV.com report.

The transvestites allegedly struck the manager with a tire iron, and when he swung back, the drag queens took off their stiletto boots, removed their earrings and prepared to attack. The manager, Albert Bolton, was covered with scratch marks after suspects clawed him with their fingernails.

Bolton grabbed a pot of scalding french-fry grease and hurled it at his attackers. One of the cross-dressers then smacked Bolton with a wet floor sign, sending him to the hospital in an ambulance, WMC-TV reported.

Before driving off, the three attackers smashed the drive-through window.

SOURCE

Put Your Records On 07.45

The Ting Tings is an electropop duo that hails from the UK. Since they are currently not signed, their work is only available at their concerts. Since they won't be hitting the US any time soon, I'm providing a link to download the song That's Not My Name if you like it.

Feeling Blue

My trip to NYC last month had me on a high because I was reminded after four long years why I loved the city so much. The trip last weekend has me feeling a bit depressed since I've been reminded just how miserable I am in Dallas. I guess it is just extra motivation to make sure I save up enough to move there in December '08 or January '09.

Past In Present 07.10

Texas is an immensely popular Scottish band fronted by Sharleen Spiteri (pictured). While their last album, 2005's Red Book, was a critic's darling and a return to form, it didn't fare as well as it should have. Every track off it was nothing short of brilliant, catchy pop that was guilty-free listening. My favourite song from them still to this day has to be the song that introduced not only me but also the US to them, Say What You Want (from their 1997 release White On Blonde). It was a top 40 hit and, to my knowledge, their only success on this side of the pond.



If you like what you hear, check out more from this artist over on iTunes:



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Put Your Records On 07.44

The members of Broken Social Scene seem to be having a rather successful go of it as solo artists this year. After Feist hit mainstream consciousness with a little assistance from Apple, Jason Collett is poised to release his latest set in the coming months. Here is the first single, Out Of Time, from the upcoming album, Here's To Being Here.



If you like what you hear, check out more from this artist over on iTunes via the links below:



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I've Got New York

I'm back in Dallas after four days in NYC! After a snowy start on Monday, the day ended with me landing in the hot city of Dallas. Thrilled to be back I was not. I won't get into the details of the trip, but, aside from the 24 hr. period with the guy I went to see, the trip was amazing.

Karma Police

During a trip to NYC last month, my mother and a family friend made everyone dine at Serendipity because they had recently watched the film of the same name. While we were there, the service was horrendous, the food was nothing to write home about and, quite frankly, it was just an all around poor experience. That being said, I wasn't heartbroken when I came across the following story (mind you, I was disgusted cause I actually ate food from that place):

Officials closed the restaurant Wednesday night after it failed its second inspection in a month. An inspector spotted a live mouse and mouse droppings, fruit flies, house flies and more than 100 live cockroaches.

"Both inspections revealed rodent and fly infestation and conditions conducive to pest infestation, including stagnant water in the basement," the department said.

People stand in line for hours outside the Manhattan restaurant, known for its extravagant and expensive desserts. Its $25,000 Frrrozen Haute Chocolate features top-grade cocoa, edible gold and shavings of a luxury truffle and was declared the most expensive dessert in the world by Guinness World Records. The eatery also offers a $1,000 sundae named Golden Opulence requiring 48-hour advance notice.

SOURCE

Dress Up In You 07.16

Meg Baird is so under the radar that she doesn't even have a Wikipedia page yet. Hopefully that will change with a little help from people like me exposing people to her music. Meg is a folk singer/songwriter whose debut, Dear Companion, is soft, delicate and rather depressing, but in the good way. Sprinkled throughout are covers of songs she has found to not lose their potency after repeat listens (who isn't sick of hearing Umbrella...ella...ella...eh...eh...eh). A prime example is the lead single, Do What You Gotta Do, which was originally brought to fame by Nina Simone. She's taken a different approach to it, slowing it down and, in line with my earlier remark, making it more depressing. But it's sad in a happy kind of way (if there is such a thing). It's all about loving someone so much that you realize you have to let them go. If it's meant to be, they'll come back.



Check her out on iTunes:



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