Friday Night Music

Friday night saw Nicole and I heading off to the Majestic for a concert. Well, to be more precise, I joined Nicole at the venue, as we were driving back from Algoma, and Nicole wanted to get there nice and early to get to the front; before staff got there even. So early she almost kind of sneaked in. Not that she needed to! Nicole secured us two free tickets, being on the guess list and all, after previewing the show for the Badger Herald. Special huh?!

I find the Majestic a neat little theatre. Plenty of seats, an upstairs balcony, looking down on a nice small stage, allowing the audience to get close. Cosy. And with toilets directly under the stage, what more could you want! Never having to miss a second of music, even if nature calls.

We went to the show excited about seeing Justin Nozuka. I saw him a few years ago in Manchester, when Damon Valentine, aka Nomad Jones, supported him. He has a full band behind him now, and his sophomore album has some great songs on it. Heartfelt ballads and catchy tunes. His band shined, particularly the guitarist/keyboardist. And yet, the show was a bit of disappointment. It almost felt as though the band didn't want to be there. They rattled through the first few tracks with barely a hello to the audience. The vocals for Justin were a little too low, so we couldn't hear his voice as well as we should have done over the band. And it just didn't feel as a good as his album, even though his voice did sound great live. Worst still, he did not know who Bucky was!

However, the night was made worthwhile because of the support act. Alex Cuba. I had never heard of him before, but I came away wanting to buy his music. Hailing from Cuba, it was just him, his guitar, and his tunes. He was almost like a Hispanic Newton Faulkner; beating and strumming along on his guitar, singing warming songs. The audience got to dance and clap, and watch Mr. Cuba entertain on stage, with his playing, his moves, and his great voice. He even got the crowd singing along on the song below. This video really doesn't do him justice. This song was a little faster, and more upbeat, and he really showed off his talents on the guitar.  If you ever get the chance, see him live!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEDyHfL3bII]

Oh, and I think I should grow some sideburns like the ones Alex has!

Bring those boys home!

Their rescue is in progress; the miners are coming out. It's gonna take over 2 hours per person though. 33 people in there means it's going to be a long process.

But still, that sense of euphoria those guys must get when they step out of the cage, in the open air, free at last. By gosh. In-Cred-Ible.

And they've got a lot to look forward to... newspaper interviews, TV shows, book deals. Hollywood calling?

An Assembly Messenger

The email was sent Friday, but I only received it today. I got a paid job! Success. Better keep it quiet though... and Englishman in an American job.

After lots of supportive and encouraging phone calls from my boss and other staff at work, singing my praises, the assembly Sergeant-At-Arms hired me to be on the page staff. A messenger, to run errands for representatives, staff various meetings, and do various other little tasks. At least, that's my impression of it anyway. I'm sure I'll learn all about it during orientation on Friday.

It's only part time, probably around 12-16hours a week, and only about $8.00, but it's so much better than nothing. And when the election is over, and things get busier, it will hopefully be more hours too. And who knows what it might lead to! Only time will tell, when the election is done, victory belongs to the Democrats, and lots of jobs open up in the Capitol. Here's to a big win!

 

P.S. I don't know if the flowerpot men ever made it over to the US, but I find it rather amusing whenever I send or receive an email from the Sergeant-At-Arms; his name is Bill, and I reply Ben...

Surveys

I've always enjoyed taking online surveys. I find them interesting, often times informing, and generally a bit of fun. I would probably be happy to do it for free, but thanks to lots of different websites, you can now get paid for taking surveys, usually in the form of rewards/gift cards etc.

I made £16 in amazon gift certificates from one, am at about £14 on Valued Opinions, and am only about 4 surveys away from a £50 cheque on You Gov. Though their surveys are very infrequent; trying to cheat me out of my hard earned cash.

Most websites send me survey's everyday, and I just subscribed to a number of American survey sites, for prize draws, sweepstakes, and rewards. So that's how I usually waste a large amount of time in the evening, answering questions on anything from financial products, to the amount of hair product I use, to previewing new films, to the most recent one I just completed, analysing my music shopping habits: this has been a long one!

On an entirely different note, I just ate a go-gurt... mmm so good. They are like frubes in the UK, tubes of yoghurt, which you can have frozen too! So tasty, and they bring back great memories of my childhood too. Fun times.

 

Smells Like Teen Spirit

Actually, it's more like American Spirit. American pride perhaps. One of the things I like most about America, funnily enough, is the patriotism which is so intrinsic in its population. Sure, at times it can be obnoxious and too in your face, and it may even appear arcane to some outside visitors, but I find something very refreshing about it.

Pledging allegiance to the flag, singing the national anthem before sporting events, voting to improve your country, turning out to see a head of state. Apart from the putting your hand on your heart and turning to the national flag, and hanging up flags outside of our homes, these could all be things which the British do too. Yet back home we just don't seem as patriotic as we should. I am proud of my country, and I know many others are as well, but we don't show it, we don't let those emotions out. We wouldn't turn out to see David Cameron, or even the Queen, as Americans turn out to see the President. And you would certainly never see me giving up my life to save Mr. Cameron. We sing the national anthem but we don't necessarily teach children the words. And I somehow could never see a political speech about the greatness of our country, about our pride and honour in it, about what we can do to make it even better in the world, invigorating the British population and stirring warm feelings inside, as a speech in the US does.

It is not just a pride in the country, but also a pride in the individual. Pride in achievements, in work, in life. And, in the case of teen spirit, pride in one's own school. School spirit is of integral importance to any campus in the US. Wisconsin is a great example, but the same is true of any college across the US, and any high school. Most likely any middle or elementary school. It's why schools have homecoming weekends, with alumni travelling back from across the globe. It's why college football matches draw in crowds of 80,000, plus thousands more TV viewers. It's why I own about 8 different Wisconsin t-shirts.

It's impossible to visit Madison, or even Wisconsin, and leave without knowing who Bucky is, or without noticing the school's colours are cardinal and white (not just any red). In Warwick, it was geeky to wear a school sweater. In Wisconsin its a necessity to be seen in something Bucky-esque on gameday. Anyone not wearing red or white or Badger themed gets abuse, as my roommate James will attest to. Warwick had one store devoted to school souvenirs, and even that only extended to a small corner of the shop. UW-Madison has the UW Bookstore, in multiple locations, along with who knows how many shops on State Street which carry Bucky stock. You name it, you can buy it emblazoned with UW-Madison. The range of products is simply phenomenal: Bucky underwear? Check. Bucky sleeping bag? Check. Bucky cookie cutter? Check. You might say its just another manifestation of capitalism, but I think it's really great to support your school, and be proud of where you go to, especially if it's a great school like Madison. Why not send Wisconsin Mom and Dad shirts home, or have a Bucky license plate on your car. Or, as is the case in our kitchen, a cardinal cooking apron!

These items really show that you care about the institution your are attending, and are proud to be a graduate from that University. Why not walk around in Wisconsin sweat pants and hoodies, and show off your school to the world.

A few weeks ago I found this spirit extending to supporting family members too. Organisations here have always been big on collective spirit, usually making t-shirts perhaps for all the patrons of a club. The same is true for families; I remember seeing many families sporting matching t-shirts on various trips to Disney for example, excited about their collective holiday. And in Madison, family members were wearing matching t-shirts a few weeks ago to show their support for a relative competing in the Ironman competition.

Man what a brutal event that is: a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, nicely topped off with a 26.2 mile run. Anyone who completes it is certainly an Ironman. And what keeps these people competing? Well I would think it largely comes down to the support and pride of family members, knowing that people are out there cheering you on, and seeing those home-made t-shirts along the route.

http://host.madison.com/news/video/vmix_e5f28f04-bf20-11df-90be-001cc4c002e0.html

This is a link to a nice little video of the Ironman in Madison, showcasing the city a little, along with little glimpses of the spirit which emanates from these supporters.