Friday, February 24, 2012

top 5 of the week for 24 february 2012

1. belle and sebastian - get me away i'm dying


2. trailer trash tracys - candy girl


3. here we go magic - tunnelvision


4. bon iver - blood bank


5. kurt vile - jesus fever


Friday, February 17, 2012

top 5 of the week for 17 february 2012

1. porcelain raft - despite everything


2. olivia tremor control - a peculiar noise called train director


3. the soft moon - total decay


4. tape deck mountain - p.i.


5. braids - lemonade

Thursday, February 16, 2012

a post that isn't about music

One thing that I haven't discussed yet is my mad love for Mass Effect. Bioware has done a bang up job with the series so far. The final installment, Mass Effect 3, is ready to launch in less than 3 weeks. I couldn't be anticipating a game more.

I set aside playing Mass Effect 2 for awhile. Wanted to get through other games in the library and then Xbox Live games like Bastion, Orcs Must Die, and recently The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile had caught my attention. With Mass Effect 3 dropping so soon, I'm devoting my free hours (the few I have in law school) to finishing up Mass Effect 2.

I don't know about you, but I'm a firm fan of femShep. My Mass Effect character was a femShep and I've continued her career in Mass Effect 2. I play her as a Paragon, tough but fair on her allies and only soft with Liara T'soni. I've become invested in her personality and her story. I'm glad the demo and some of the promotional materials will highlight femShep as a viable story path. She's a solid female character.

Some might argue that she's just a clone of the male Shepard career path. That's probably true. And that's what makes her such a compelling female character. Her sex organs don't dictate her horizons. She can be the tough as nails, ass kicking soldier (mine is) instead of some female stereotype. She wears the same armor as male Shepard, carries the same guns, and earns the same respect and reactions.

Currently, facebook is running a Mass Effect 3 contest. You can earn all kinds of cool stuff, including avatar gear, for participating. The most recent goal is to hit a certain number of downloads of the demo in order to unlock a special ME3 avatar shirt. So be a pal and download the demo on XBLA.

In an upcoming post, I'll preview some of the features coming to ME3 that I'm most excited for.

Pre-order Mass Effect 3 now and receive a special item, the M55 Argus Assault Rifle, and a $10 Amazon gift card.

While you wait for my next installment, read this article arguing the Mass Effect universe is the most important sci-fi universe ever. Does that mean MMO?

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

special top 5 - valentine's day edition

A special Valentine's Day edition of the top 5. Mostly songs about romances that don't work out but one semi-happy song did manage to slip in there.

1. neon indian - fallout


2. music go music - light of love


3. radio dept. - the worst taste in music


4. magnetic fields - i think i need a new heart


5. cloud nothings - even if it worked out

Friday, February 10, 2012

top 5 of the week for 10 february 2012

After last week's dedication to pyromania, I decided to make this week's playlist an ode to mental illness.

1. sonic youth - schizophrenia


2. deerhunter - agoraphobia


3. rolling stones - 19th nervous breakdown


4. jimmy hendrix - manic depression


5. of montreal - a sentence of sorts in kongsvinger


BONUS : Here's a bonus video about a man with a love of fire.

talking heads - burning down the house

Friday, February 3, 2012

top 5 of the week for 3 february 2012

Today is my brother's birthday. Happy 32nd, brokowski!

When we were kids, we were fascinated with fire. So here's a themed top 5 about the flame.

1. sonic youth - incinerate


2. raveonettes - ignite


3. johnny cash - ring of fire


4. st. vincent - paris is burning


5. animal collective - fireworks

Thursday, February 2, 2012

express review and coupon code

Hi folks!

Still flushed with all that Christmas cash? Need new dress clothes? You should take a look at express.com. Right now their website is offering free shipping on orders over $125. And to sweeten the pot, I'll give you the current coupon promotion code: 1029. That gives you $50 off $150 or $25 off $75. Not a bad deal.

I love express men's dress clothes. Express has chosen a more modern, European cut to their line. Unlike most men's dress shirts, the 1MX shirts are a slender, body forming fit rather than the loose, flouncy style popular with most other brands. And right now they are on sale at buy one get one half price.

Express suits are simply the best. Again, emulating the European style, their jackets are shorter and the shoulders are cut to accentuate your natural shoulder line rather than make you look like a linebacker and feel like you're carrying air bags on your shoulders. The pants are no pleats and tapered with much narrower leg openings than your typical suit pants. Overall, the suits cut a manicured, sleek impression, especially when combined with a 1MX shirt.

Right now I'm particularly fond of the photographer's cut in black. I ordered it with the above coupon (code 1029). I needed a new suit after wearing the same one 3 days in a row to the Georgia capitol. Which is a grey suit from express in the old producer cut, still available.

I may only be a legal intern but I feel confident when I wear a suit from express. I don't feel like a kid swallowed up in my dad's suit like I do in suits from other places. I know I look good and that translates into confidence, maybe even a little swagger. And swaggers an important part of the job. It reminds me that I've done the work, I've got the grades and experience, I belong here, too.

But that may just be my fashion bias. I like to look polished, tight and angular. It fits my slender body shape well. And after talking to a few young ladies, I know they appreciate the look, too.

No, this wasn't paid for or sponsored by express. I just wanted to let you know their are alternatives if you're tired of the same old American cut. These shirts and suits will definitely make you stand out in the crowd of black and navy jacket'd associates. But YMMV.

overstock.com deal on livingsocial

Hi folks!

It's me again. Thought I'd let you know about a promotion at overstock.com that's going on for the next 2 days. You can get a $20 gift card for only $10 through livingsocial. Follow this link to take advantage of this deal.

Overstock has a little bit of everything. I buy a lot of presents through them thanks to the wide selection and the cheap shipping deals. I've bought my last 3 sets of 1000 thread count sheets from them at bargain prices You should definitely check 'em out. Overstock, that is. Not my sheets. I don't even know you.