Right now you could go to the movie theater and see New Moon if you wanted to. Well, it’s probably sold out – but in theory you could. You don’t care about seeing New Moon but something tells me you will, just to keep your head up high as an American. Last week we gave some love to the Wolves for Team Jacob. This week we’ll give Team Edward a shot – Vampire Mixery away!

Vampires Mixery [zip]
MP3: Antsy Pants – Vampire
MP3: Vampire Weekend – M79
MP3: Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s – Vampires In Blue Dresses
MP3: The Builders and the Butchers – Vampire Lake
MP3: Noah and the Whale – Devil Town (Daniel Johnston Cover) [For "Vampire" Lyrics]

Let’s play Guess How Many Times Mallory Cried Today. Any guesses? It’s pretty low so far, but it’s not even 5:00 yet. First, I cried during a retirement party at work for a woman I don’t even know that well. But she gave such a kind and wonderful speech and so of course I cried. And of course I was sitting directly next to where she was standing, so I was in all of the pictures. And of course my co-worker looked at me at the end and said, “Are you crying?” And he obviously doesn’t know me well enough yet because the answer is always yes, yes I am crying. Then also, I watched the video on this post. I love M79 and I love mommy bloggers (whatever, it’s true) and I love adorable blonde-headed children, so there were tears here too. It’s okay. I’m sensitive. I embrace it.

Kathleen and I have been such bad bloggers lately, we know. But what do you do when you run out of time to blog as much as you want? Quit? Hell no! Endure the anger of your friends and constantly feel guilty? Well, I guess so. That’s what’s going on for now. We love us our little blog, and I guess that means that infrequent posting is better than no blog at all. I don’t want this to be permanent, but grad school is hard this year. I’m having one of those drowning-in-my-own-life moments. But hopefully it will pass, and then maybe you people can stop reading whatever other lame blogs you read when ours isn’t hoppin’, and all will be right in the world. In the meantime, thanks for bearing with us!

[Posted by Mallory]

Don’t care what the hipsters say; I still like this band.

I’m not that much of a classist that I can’t dig something even if it does come from Columbia.

Hai.

Ieeju. Skatos. Šoks [meli]. Rēcu. Taisu scrēnšotus. Taisu blogu augšā.

Paldies par hintu PeterB no http://not.evil.lv/

Edit: atcerējos par linku uz M79 spied te

Possibly the longest one ever. No training on Monday makes that a 5-day vacation. Yay! The bad news is that my evil stomach is acting up again and I’m stuck at home waiting it out. I feel like a bum all over again. The stomach has to get in tiptop shape soon because my cousin’s debut is coming up (read: tomorrow) and I’m part of the 18 shots. Perfect timing, Mr. Stomach. Behave because I have to at least tolerate one shot without vomiting.

Anyway, there was nothing better to do but watch youtube videos, and I found the acoustic version of Lady Gaga’s Poker Face. Since I don’t watch MTV or listen to the radio, I didn’t know any of her songs until Julie and Liz used Poker Face in our group presentation. Her music isn’t normally the kind that I would listen to (and it probably never will be), but I’d reconsider if she did more songs like this. This version really took me by surprise. She can sing. Really. I like it better than the original one. I’m playing it right now :-p

Here’s a video of a revised version of Vampire Weekend’s Walcott. Live strings! Compare and contrast with the original one.

And here’s another one from the same performance because I love Ezra Koenig’s eyebrows. That, and M79 is so good I could rave about it for days.

Hooray for long weekends.

I have been in the interactive strategy industry now for over 13 years. I’m currently at M79 Studios Inc., and when it comes to marketing and strategy I’ve heard it all and seen it all. Sometimes the concepts are great, but mostly they’re not so great. I’ve learned a tremendous amount from the great variety of strategic ideas I’ve seen, heard, or had the opportunity to craft and implement. Once in a while I come across an idea that rocks me to my strategic core; an idea that if applied to the right company and right strategy will accomplish all the right things. This time around, that idea is the ARG, and I’m not talking about pirates here.

ARGs, or Alternative Reality Games are highly interactive games that use the real world as a platform. These games often cross media formats and mix several game elements (both interactive and traditional) to tell a story. In some cases the story/game outcome can be affected by the participant’s ideas or interactions. Wikipedia has a comprehensive entry on ARGs covering their history, some examples and common terminology. ARGNet is a great place to take a look at live ARGs.

Why do I think this is a great strategic tool? Because it accomplishes several needs that many companies wish to satisfy. ARGs facilitate conversation and support sharing between participants (or customer if you will) and encourage community. Most importantly, they encourage tremendous customer traction and engage the customer for vastly prolonged periods of time.

I have known about ARGs for a few years now, and a couple of years ago I had realized their great potential as a strategic and marketing tool in the Internet space. However, I believed that ARGs were ahead of their time; I didn’t think that the general public would adopt them. Well, I believe their time has come. With the ever growing popularity of reality TV (like Survivor), social networks (Facebook, MySpace, etc.) and the emergence of MMORPGs (like World of Warcraft), customer interaction and experience has evolved to a place where the ARG can thrive.

So why bring it up now you ask?

In a word, Twitter. Twitter may be that great enabler that brings ARGs into pop culture. Admittedly not everyone has a Twitter account yet, but unless something changes in a big way most will. So feel free to steel this and sell it! Just tell them Tom from Cowfarts sent you.

I’m not revealing anything new here really. Companies like Audi, GMC, and Microsoft have crafted and applied ARGs to their online marketing and website strategies and were very successful in improving their customer experience. However these examples were used to speak to a more tech savvy demographic. What I’m daring to say is that the general population is ready for the ARG and Twitter may just help push that ball along.

My favorite example to date was executed in the spring of 2005; The Art of the Heist (aka Art of the H3ist) was an Alternate Reality Game created to promote the Audi A3. This promotion engaged 500,000 participants for 6 months and managed to hold their attention (on the website) for an average of 20 minutes per visit – that’s simply outstanding, when is the last time your website did that? I loved this promotion because as part of the game there were a number of real-life participants/players, who were called in, on various occasions, to different places around the United States, where they would attempt to retrieve an SD Card from inside an Audi A3. The media attention and word of mouth served to attracted more participants as the ARG evolved. McKinny (Art of the H3ists creator) has a website that sheds more light on the Audi A3 ARG, as well as provides a glimpse at the creative execution of the game. You can also get more info on Wikipedia on the Art of the Heist.

I have recently had the privilege to work on strategies for some great clients that included online promotions (like Nikon Canada, Maple Leaf Foods, Centura Brands, and Chairman’s Brands), that only began to converge on the ARG concept. That said I’m itching to start getting my feet wet on a bold ARG strategy, aren’t you?

I’m interested to hear what everyone thinks of the application of ARGs as a strategic online marketing tool and where and how you think they may evolve. Are we still afraid on ARGs?

Tom Tentoglou

V.P. Strategy & Client Services

M79 Studios Inc.

As I sprinted toward the M79 bus this morning, fistfuls of snow flew in my face. I blinked the flakes out of my eyes and forged ahead, big boots flying.

“What, you was playing in the snow?” the bus driver asked as I boarded, then burst into hysterics. “The collar!” he shrieked, pointing at my snow-caked jacket.

Actually, I would like to play in the snow. So he wasn’t far off.

It’s going to take a little time
While you’re waiting like a factory line
I’ll ride across the park
Backseat on the 79
Wasted days you’ve come to pass

So go, I know you would not stay
It wasn’t true, but anyway
Pollination yellow cab

You walk up the stairs
See the French kids by the door
Up one more flight
See the Buddha on the second floor
Coronation rickshaw grab

So go, I know you would not stay
It wasn’t true, but anyway
Racist dreams you should not have

No excuse to be so callous
Dress yourself in bleeding madras
Charm your way across the Khyber pass

Stay awake to break the habit
Sing in praise of Jackson Crowther
Watch yourself along the arch of glass

W tym roku zamiast dwóch oddzielnych list dla polskich i zagranicznych utworów postanowiłem zrobić jedną, ale za to na dwadzieścia pozycji (wtedy były dwie po dziesięć). Nie sugerujcie się za bardzo kolejnością – każda z tych piosenek jest dobra, poza tym parę niezłych numerów znalazło się poza listą. Wniosek nasuwa się sam – to był bardzo udany rok pod względem kompozycji.

20. Płyny „Dalekie są kraje”

Ten numer kojarzy mi się z latem (wtedy go poznałem). Płynom udało się za pomocą dźwięków zobrazować prażące, letnie słońce.

19. Drivealone „Heaven Or Mexico”

Utwór zbudowany na bazie ścieżki udostępnionej przez Xiu Xiu. Jakże piękny utwór. Jeśli nie czekacie na płytę Piotrka Maciejewskiego, która ukaże się niedługo, to po wysłuchaniu „Heaven Or Mexico” jest duża szansa, że zaczniecie.

18. Fleet Foxes „White Winter Hymnal”

Padający śnieg, dzieci lepiące bałwana, Święta… Jednocześnie piosenka krusząca wszelki lód w sercu.

17. Kolorofon „Zapałki”

Panowie! Proszę, utrzymajcie ten poziom na debiutanckiej płycie!

16. Kings of Caramel „If Piesio could sing”

Nie znajduję słów, które by w pełni oddały charakter prześlicznej kompozycji zamykającej album trójmiejskiej formacji.

15. Cut Copy „Nobody Lost, Nobody Found”

Dobrze widzicie – nie “Far Away” czy „Hearts on Fire” (choć ten wypłynął już w 2007 roku), ale „Nobody Lost, Nobody Found” wybrałem do tego zestawienia. Po kilku już miesiącach od premiery „In Ghost Colours”, to właśnie tego numeru aktualnie najlepiej mi się słucha i tylko to zadecydowało o takim wyborze. Płyta trzyma niesamowicie równy i bardzo dobry poziom, więc ciężko znaleźć na niej zdecydowanego lidera.

14. Those Dancing Days „Run Run”

Przecież nie ma czegoś takiego, jak gen popu, więc jak to jest możliwe, że właśnie w Szwecji powstają takie perełki? Jest tyle państw na świecie… Piosenka z (życzliwą) dedykacją dla wszystkich, którzy zapomnieli co to jest młodzieńcza beztroska.

13. Fleet Foxes „He Doesn’t Know Why”

Jeśli ktoś ma wątpliwości, że powstają jeszcze zespoły, które mają dobrą hierarchię wartości (w pierwszej kolejności – muzyka, w drugiej – pozostałe rzeczy), powinien posłuchać Fleet Foxes. „He Doesn’t Know Why” wraz z całym debiutanckim longplayem artystów z Seattle równa się triumf muzyki.

12. MGMT „The Youth”

„The youth is starting to change / Are you starting to change? / Are you? / Together”. Czy MGMT zdają sobie sprawę z tego, że gdyby nagrali na „Oracular Spectacular” dziesięć takich numerów, jak ten, byłby to album wybitny?

11. Neon Neon „Belfast”

Najbardziej refleksyjny moment na „Stainless Style”, ale jaki to przebój zarazem. Melancholijny klimat wzmaga myśl, że lata 80 już nie wrócą i wszystko to, co powstaje w muzyce z inspiracji nimi jest tylko odbiciem tamtej epoki. Póki jednak tak udanym, jak w tym przypadku, jestem za.

10. Vampire Weekend „M79″

Prawdopodobnie pierwszy numer z bardzo dobrego LP nowojorczyków, który przykuł moją uwagę. „Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” też świetne, ale w tym przypadku sentyment wziął górę.

9. Black Affair „It’s Real”

Gdyby nie Łukasz Błaszczyk, który pisał o Black Affair na Screenagers pewnie by tego numeru w ogóle tu nie było. Solidna dawka electropopu.

8. Sam Sparro „Black and Gold”

Szkoda, że na debiutanckim albumie Australijczyka nie ma ani jednego tak mocnego momentu, jak „Black and Gold”. Byłaby czołówka roku.

7. Animal Collective „Water Curses”

Najbardziej oryginalny zespół XXI wieku? Najlepszy? Pewnie wiele osób nie ma co do tego wątpliwości. Lada moment „Merriweather Post Pavilion” trafi do sklepów i będzie się działo. Pomiędzy jednak ostatnim „Strawberry Jam”, a ósmym – dziewiątym (zależy jak liczyć) albumem pojawiła się EP-ka „Water Curses”, a na niej ten miażdżący numer. Panowie nagrali specjalnie oddzielny materiał, który ma swój koncept i umili tym samym słuchaczom oczekiwanie na najnowszą płytę. I jak ich nie lubić?

6. The Virgins „Rich Girls”

Ten numer pojawił się co prawda już w 2007 roku, ale w innej wersji. W tej brzmienie jest o wiele lepsze (z resztą, mowa o piosence z longplaya, tamta pochodziła z enigmatycznej EP-ki), „Rich Girls” swego czasu bardzo się zachwycałem (chociażby w recenzji na blogu) i ten PRZEBÓJ ciągle mi się podoba wcale nie dużo mniej, niż przy pierwszym odsłuchu.

5. Hercules and Love Affair „Hercules Theme”

Tak lubiany, singlowy „Blind” mnie nie zachwycił, ale „Hercules Theme” jak najbardziej. Żaden inny numer na „Hercules and Love Affair” nie sprawia mi tyle radości, co ten oldschoolowy hit.

4. Juvelen „Don’t Mess”

Poprawcie mnie, jeśli się mylę, ale zdaje się, że ten numer nie był jednym z największych przebojów zeszłorocznego lata w dyskotekach? Cóż, większego parkietowego growera nie słyszałem, bo miejsce drugie, to już jednak rzecz na wielkie festiwale.

3. Tigercity „Mallory”

Czegoś takiego nie pamiętam. „Mallory” znajdzie się zapewne na podobnych listach w różnych serwisach, blogach etc., a przecież ta perełka nawet jeszcze nie ukazała się na żadnej płycie! Wersja, o której mowa została zagrana (i nagrana) dla radia XFM London i naprawdę nie wiem, czy, a jeśli tak, to czym będzie różnić się od wersji albumowej. Wiem natomiast jedno – jeśli długo oczekiwany album Tigercity będzie prezentował poziom „Mallory”, to recenzenci z przyjemnością odkurzą te najwyższe z ocen.

2. MGMT „Kids”

Możecie się zastanawiać, dlaczego umieściłem w tym miejscu „Kids” skoro wyżej zachwycam się „The Youth”? Cóż, o ile tamten utwór ma w sobie pewien „ciężar gatunkowy”, o którym mogę dyskutować, o tyle „Kids” jest dla mnie jednym wielkim pociskiem emocjonalnym, o którym ciężko mi debatować tak po prostu. Ja go chłonę. To tylko pozornie beztroski, taneczny utwór – spójrzcie na słowa piosenki. MGMT niemal wykrzykują młodość w „Kids” z wszystkimi jej charakterystycznymi cechami. Ten utwór pojawiał się już na wcześniejszych wydawnictwach MGMT, ale w innych wersjach, poza tym mam wrażenie, że dopiero w 2008 roku na dobre zaistniał w świadomości większej grupy odbiorców.

1. British Sea Power „Lights Out For Darkers Skies”

Led Zeppelin „Stairway To Heaven” – Guns’N'Roses „November Rain” – British Sea Power „Lights Out For Darker Skies”? Przesadzam? Nie chodzi tu oczywiście o pokrewieństwo w prostej linii. Czemu jedne utwory wchodzą do muzycznego kanonu, a inne nie? Wyobraźmy sobie przez moment, że „Lights Out For Darker Skies” zostało nagrane w latach 70. Czy byłaby jedną z tych kompozycji, którą uwzględniałoby się w konstruowaniu list wszechczasów? Możecie uznać, że to bezpodstawne rozważania, bo nie byłoby „LOFDS” gdyby nie zespoły, które poprzedziły British Sea Power. Można jednak przypuszczać, że nie byłoby też Guns’N'Roses gdyby nie Led Zeppelin, a Led Zeppelin gdyby nie [tu znawcy klasycznego rocka niech wstawią odpowiedni ich zdaniem zespół]. British Sea Power „Lights Out For Darker Skies” – najlepszy jak dla mnie utwór w 2008 roku, jeden z najlepszych w XXI wieku.

Gracias a Franz Ferdinand, The Strokes y Radiohead no me he matado en la carretera estas Navidades. Pero a lo que voy, hoy os dejo mi top 10 actual para rupturas saludables. Aunque es tan bueno que se puede escuchar sin rupturas de por medio. El orden poco tiene que ver, aviso.

1.- Life in tecnicolor II, Coldplay. Porque la versión con letra es 1.000 veces mejor que la inexplicable pista instrumental del Viva la Vida! Maldito marketing!

2.- M79, Vampire Weekend. Porque todo lo que tocan estos chicos lo convierten en algo místico y perfecto. Y este tema tiene un algo especial.

3.-  This is how you spell “Ha, ha, ha, we destroyed the hopes and dreams of a generation of faux-romantics”, Los Campesinos! Porque son divertidos hasta decir basta. Y eso nos vale.

4.- You’ll find a way, Santogold. Porque tiene su puntito punk y orgulloso.

5.- Neighborhood # 2 (Laika), The Arcade Fire. Porque es una obra maestra y le levanta la moral a cualquiera.

6.-  Let Down, Radiohead. Porque el disco en sí te abstrae de cualquier cosa que no sea la angustia finisecular. Y la estamos en el siglo XXI.

7.- Tonight I have to leave it, Our Ill Wills. Porque están a medio camino entre The Cure, Prefab Sprout y Deacon Blue.

8.-  Is this It, The Strokes. Porque This is It. Y punto.

9.- Fluorescent Adolescent, Arctic Monkeys. Porque son elegantes y cañeros. Cuánta clase les puede sobrar a unos niñatos de veintipico.

10.- La Revolución Sexual, La Casa Azul. Porque algo de música española había que poner. Y porque preconizan una ruptura muy saludable.

M-79 Grenade Launcher Test

IMAGE SOUCES AND MORE INFO

World Guns

Gary’s U.S. Infantry Weapons Reference Guide

M79 grenade launcher From Wikipedia

“There have been a series of brutal bomb attacks against the supporters of the PAD, who are mostly women, the elderly and children.” 

It was hopeless to expect any official protection or proper investigation of the attacks. “Nothing had been done about the grenade attacks!”

Tuesday August 26, 2008 15:30

PAD storms Government House     

Bangkok Post

03:20 am  30 October 2008

Makawan Bridge near Government House

Six volunteer security guards were injured from a bomb thrown at People’s Alliance for Democracy rally site at the Makawan Rangsan Bridge.

Bangkok Post

A man was found killed behind the Metropolitan Police head office at 5:30 am Thursday. The man was identified as Sangwian Rujmora, 46, a resident of Bangkok’s Phra Khanong district. He was shot once at his left eyebrow and was hit by hard objects over his body.

The Nation

03:25 am 20 November 2008

Government House

24 PAD Injured by Morning Bomb Attack, 1 Dead

One protester was killed and 26 other were injured when a bomb exploded inside the Government House complex in front of the main stage of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, just a day after the so-called ceasefire during the royal cremation period.

The guards speculated that the bomb might be fired from behind the Civil Service Commission head office or from a building of the office.

Jenjit Kladsakorn, 48, died upon arrival at hospital from a neck wound caused by shrapnel.

2:10 am  22 November 2008

Misakawan Intersection outside the Government House

Bomb Attack at PAD Injures 8, 2 Critically

Two unidentified men on motorcycle shot an M-79 grenade at the PAD gathering near Misakawan intersection. Eight protesters were injured, one brain-dead, after two assailants launched a grenade at them at the Misakawan Intersection outside the Government House

The two critically injured men are 33-year-old Ekapol Sahawat, with wounds to his back, arms, and legs; and 22-year-old Anupong Samerpark, with blunt-force trauma to his forehead causing hemorrhaging to the brain

A taxi driver who was parked in front of the First Area Army headquarters said he saw four teenagers on two motorcycles park their vehicles behind the Metropolitan Police headquarters on the Education Ministry side. One of the teens wore a white t-shirt and one of the motorcycles is a red Honda Nova. Then, he heard a loud bang and saw a red fireball land where PAD volunteer guards were sitting. Next, an explosion happaned and he saw the group of teens fled in the direction of the Wangdaeng intersection.

Before the explosion happened, witnesses noted a white BMW car drive around the explosion site a couple of times.

3.40 am  24 November 2008

ASTV headquarters

4 Bombs at Banglampu Area, 2 Targeting ASTV Office

The first bomb hit a police kiosk at the Banglampu intersection. About five minutes later, another bomb went off close to a small park area on the Sib Sam Hang Road, close to the first bomb site.

Simultaneously, two bombs exploded in the Chaopraya River, behind the ASTV headquarters on Phra Arthit Road.

PAD volunteer guard who was on duty at the ASTV headquarters said he heard a gunshot from the opposite side of the river. All of the guards then crouched low on the ground while keeping their eyes on the opposite side of the river. They saw a bright light like a firecracker which caused a loud explosion in the river.

A second bomb was then shot from the same location a few seconds later. It fell into the Chaopraya River, a few meters away from the Manager speedboat, docked behind the ASTV headquarters.

09.00 pm 25 November 2008

Suvarnabhumi closed

 Nation

Late Wednesday 26 November 2008

Don Mueang airport closed

Protesters have blocked the entrance to the terminal of Don Mueang Airport

Supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) started massing at the old Don Mueang airport , aiming to prevent ministers from flying to Chiang Mai in the north to meet Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat

The prime minister returned from a summit in Peru, landing in Chiang Mai on Wednesday evening, soon after the powerful army chief urged the premier to call new elections to end six months of turmoil in the kingdom. Somchai refused, and called a cabinet meeting

04:30am 26 November 2008

Suvarnabhumi Airport

Nation

Three explosions were heard outside the outbound passenger terminal of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 4:30 am. The explosion sounds frightened the protesters as police vehicles rushed to the scene.

Police said two grenades were fired from an M79 launcher.

06:30am 26 November 2008

Don Muang Airport

The Nation

An explosion  happened at Don Muang Airport, where protesters led by the Peoples Alliance for Democracy were rallying. The figure of injured protesters at Don Muang airport was still confusing.

Channel 3 reported that two were injured but Channel 9 reported that five were injured, two severely.

Channel 3 added that a grenade was also launched at the protesters but it did not explode.

09.00 pm, 27 November 2008

Somchai addresses the nation  to declare state of emergency at Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi

01:50 am , 28 November 2008

ASTV head office

ASTV bombarded with grenades, gunfire

Assailants fired two M79 grenades against the ASTV head office early Friday morning, apparently trying to blow off satellite transponder dishes on the roof.

The assailants arriving on a long-tail boat also fired assault rifles at the back of the head office building for about five minutes before speeding off to the direction the Pin Klao bridge.

The explosions of the two grenades shattered the glass windows on the fourth floor.

The bullets and explosions also damaged the window glasses from the first to the third floors as well.

During the attack, a new announcer, Natthawut Mitmark, ducked for cover and his hands were cut by broken glasses.

Meanwhile, s series of gunshots were heard near Don Muean Airport where protesters led by the People’s Alliance for Democracy were occupying. Over ten gunshots were heard at about 4:50 am in an area in front of the airport.

PAD guards said they saw a man in a black pick-up truck firing into the air. Then at 6:30 am, dozens of gunshots were heard again, sending PAD guards to run around to check the incident.

11:50 pm Saturday 29 November 208

Government House

Bomb exploded inside Government House, ASTV station and Don Mueang Airport

The bomb, reportedly M79 type, exploded just 200 metres away from the main stage inside the Government House. It was fired outside the rally ground from a similar direction of the recent attack at the site.

There were another explosion at ASTV station on Phra Arthit Road at  00.15 on Sunday morning, just around 25 minutes away from the attack at Government House. Two bombs are reportedly exploded at the ASTV office. Witnesses also heard the gunfire lasting about 10 minutes. No injury was reported

Later on at 3:55 am, a bomb exploded near a bunker made of tyres at the Don Mueang Airport. The explosion occurred at the main entrance to the passenger terminal. Before the explosion occurred, about 7 gunshots were heard from the direction of a warehouse deeper inside the airport compound.

03:55 am 30 November 2008

Don Muang Airport

The Nation The explosion caused turmoil inside the terminal where protesters were sleeping. They woke up and ran in panic.

A bomb exploded near a bunker made of tyres at the DonMueang Airport early Sunday. The explosion occurred at 3:55 am at the main entrance to the passenger terminal.

Before the explosion occurred, about 7 gunshots were heard from the direction of a warehouse deeper inside the airport compound. Noone was injured in the explosion

00:15 am Tuesday 2 December 2008

Don Mueang Airport

1 killed, 22 injured in bomb attack at Don Mueang

An assailant fired a grenade into the inbound passenger terminal building of the Don Mueang Airport early Tuesday.

The grenade, believed to be an M79, pieced broke a glass window pane of the terminal and exploded inside the terminal.  Kriangkrai Piayu, a guard from Nakhon Sawan, said he saw a man waling on the Don Mueang Tollway when he heard the explosion. The man then sped off in a vehicle.

The attack came after the PAD deserted and ended its occupation of the Government House for security reasons, saying it would be safer for protesters to rally at the Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports.

Premier Somchai Wongsawat, speaking from Peru where he is atteding the Apec Summit, was only provoking another angry outburst from the anti-Thaksin camp when he said the latest M79 attack on protestors at Government House early yesterday was “just an ordinary crime case.”

“I would also like to know who did it,” he said, conveniently ignoring the fact that the use of M79, a grenade-launcher, is considered illegal in peace time, no matter who uses it. At least seven protestors of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) were injured, one of them seriously (shown in the picture).

This was the second attack of its kind in three days. One person was killed and 23 injured in a similar attack early Wednesday. Police have been unable to identify the people behind the daring attack.

There was little doubt that the series of attacks was aimed at frightening PAD away from holding a mass rally on Monday at Parliament House in what they have described as “the ultimate war” to topple the Somchai government. Today (Nov 23), the pro-government elements are holding their own rally under the theme of “Today’s Truth” at Wat Suankaew to counter the PAD.

If the premier says it’s just an “ordinary crime,” then you can be sure that more “ordinary crimes” will certainly follow.

Either he is fantastically naive or inexcusably malicious

Musings from Thailand

The temperature in New York City has appeared to drop somewhere between 10 and 50 degrees this week. There have been a lot of upturned collars and people saying “Phew! Cold out there!”. Mostly, however, this change in climate has meant the reintroduction of my old friend, Winter Nick.

Winter Nick comes to our apartment like clockwork every year. He is a very charming young man who dresses better than I, in a long herringbone coat and any of his many scarves, and who refuses to leave whatever enclosed structure he may be in unless it is utterly necessary. I expect to find him to be waiting outside my door with a large suitcase full of DVDs and thermal underwear any day now.

Hopefully, Winter Nick and I will be able to work together this season, as we’ve gotten better at doing over the years. I really would appreciate if he not sleep so much and get out of the house more in the coming months. Last year Faryl and I chipped in and bought him a fancy Ralph Lauren parka which made him more amenable. We’ve kept the coat in a plastic storage box in the closet marked “WINTER”. This week I’ll pull it out and leave it on a hanger so that Winter Nick will know that even though it’s cold out regular life may continue in a city that can be frigid enough in July.

I’ve also bought some instant coffee packets to keep at work. The warmth of the mug and the lift of the caffeine serve to keep Winter Nick going, and now he won’t have to leave the building to get his comfort liquid. I’m sampling some right now, having never tried it before. It’s surprisingly good, and includes the added bonus of feeling that you’re doing an assignment in 7th grade chemistry class again. I think Winter Nick will enjoy it.

On the whole we are excited about our new friend’s arrival. He is a wistful, sensitive man who enjoys watching Northern Exposure reruns on DVD (He has the 3rd and 4th seasons, but says the other ones don’t have as much gravitas to them.) and thinking about the bigger questions in life. Hopefully, he’ll want to do some blogging as well.

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Now then:

May we discuss pop culture for a minute? Just a short minute, as I find it to often be an ephemeral subject. I’ve found myself enamored with a band. This has happened before, but not since I was a teenager has the band been so “of the moment”. 

I generally try to avoid things that are happening NOW, mostly because my desire to be up on what’s hip has become outweighed by my desire to not feel suckered or sold to.

That being said:

SERIOUSLY folks. This band can do no wrong. I don’t care if in 5 years I feel about them the way I feel about The Smashing Pumpkins now. This is all I want the music gods to be giving me right now.

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Thanks to everyone for the supportive and complimentary words on the blog. I’m glad you’re enjoying reading it as much as I’m enjoying writing it.

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I realize this is a preemptive strike on my part, but I am already very, very very, totally over excited about the new season of Lost coming in just three short months. I simply cannot stop myself from reading spoilers about it and thinking about all of the great pizzas and friends that will accompany the new and thrilling episodes. I am simply an open book when it comes to this show!

I attended the FBMG machine gun shoot at Global One over the weekend.  It was pissing-down rain but I still had a good time.  I didn’t shoot much, I was enjoying watching everybody else.  Besides I’ve already shot a PKM before.  I did shoot a M79 grenade launcher a few times, that’s something I haven’t done before.  These are shots of the PKM’s, Barrett .50, and Tannerite going boom.

Fun but wet.

We’re pleased to announce The Anti Hype’s weekly Muxtape! We’ve previously covered Muxtape, so I won’t go into details. All I’ll say is you just have to click on a song and your weekend starts, easy as that. It will updated every week with new tunes and remixes. Our first playlist is: Melodies perched on a Beat. Check it out and tell us what you think. Click here for a tracklist.

1. MGMT – Kids
2. Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head – Me + Yr Daughter
3. Frase+Bri – 8hr Crush
4. Vampire Weekend – M79
5. Apes & Androids – We Don’t Understand You
6. David Guetta – Love is Gone (Radio Edit)(RadioFG)
7. The Ting Tings – Great DJ (Calvin Harris Remix)
8. The Cardigans – Lovefool (MR GASPAR Mix) Foucault Re-Edit
9. Mason & Princess Superstar – Perfect (Exceeder) [Club Mix]
10. Cut Copy – Lights And Music [Boys Noize Happy Birthday Remix]
11. Daft Punk – Harder Better Faster Stronger (Deadmau5 Edit)
12. Public Enemy Vs. Benny Benassi – Bring The Noise Remix (Sfaction Edit)

So I finally decided to try out Vampire Weekend’s debut self titled album after weeks of buzz both from word of mouth and across the blogospere. I finally caved when I saw them on Uncrate.

Sound wise they are partially orchestral (ala Polyphonic Spree), have vocals that resemble Kings of Leon-meets-The Fratellis and a hint of Foals in there too (possibly in the percussion department and frenetic guitar in the song A-Punk).

The problem with overhypeing something is that it often leads to its own detriment. An example of this in the film world was the new Indiana Jones movie, it wasn’t the quintessential ending to the series that was being promised. It was good, at best it was as good as one of the originals but it wasn’t anything amazing. I feel the same way about VW. Don’t get me wrong, I like some of there stuff, but I was expecting the next Apes & Androids or something based on the buzz. The thing about Apes & Androids is that they weren’t nearly as hyped in the beginning, possibly do to their very “distinct” sound and bizarre performances at gigs in NYC. A&A’s rise seemed more gradual and natural as opposed to VW which felt more forced. Leading to my conclusion of them having an image bigger than their sound, they seem… empty or like they are missing something.

But that’s not to say the band is bad. Not at all, I see a lot of potential. My favorite tracks from the album are Mansard Roof and M79. The first has a very interesting and fun beat. Seeming almost carribe in percussion at parts but then using more classic instruments throughout. M79 then has a surprising intro as the band uses a harpsichord and violins/violas. Again the use of these classical instruments in a new way is giving this band a distinct flavor that look forward to hearing more of in the future.

I’d like to know what you guys think. Am I being too hard on them or is there weight to my argument? Please leave a comment with you thoughts and possibly other examples of overhype.

-Alx

MP3| Mansard Roof – Vampire Weekend

MP3| M79 – Vampire Weekend

MP3| A-Punk – Vampire Weekend

Historia de las Constelaciones

LEPUS – LA LIEBRE

Mitología e Historia

Lepus o la liebre representa al animal de caza que caza Orión con la ayuda de sus perros (Canis Major y Canis Minor). Fue puesto en el firmamento por Hermes debido a su gran fecundidad y velocidad.

Características

Lepus, se trata de preciosa constelación situada al sur o a los pies de Orion y por tanto bastante fácil de identificar en los cielos invernales del hemisferio norte y las calurosas noches veraniegas del hemisferio sur. Cruza el paralelo de los 20º de latitud sur y se halla a unos 20º al sur del ecuador de la Vía Láctea. Es rica en estrellas brillantes y cúmulos globulares. Tiene unas dimensiones de unos 270º cuadrados.

Lepus limita al norte con las constelaciones de Orion y Monoceros, al este con Eridianus, al sur con las constelaciones de Caelum y Columba y al oeste con Canis Major.

Estrellas Principales

Alfa, a; denominada Arneb, de magnitud 2,59 y color amarillo se halla en el centro de la constelación. Dista 1280 años luz de la Tierra, es una supergigante 12000 veces más brillantes que el Sol.

Beta, b; denominada Nibal, de magnitud 2,84 y amarilla se halla a unos 3º al sur de alfa, dista 159 años luz de la Tierra, y es una estrella 150 veces más brillante que el Sol.

Gamma, g; de magnitud 3,60 y color amarillo se halla en el sector occidental de la constelación. Es una estrella próxima al Sol del tipo solar que se halla a 29 años luz de nosotros.

Delta, d; de magnitud 3,78 y color anaranjada. Dista 112 años luz de la Tierra y es unas 30 veces más luminosa que nuestro Sol. Se halla a 2º al oeste de gamma lepi.

Otros Objetos

M 79, precioso cúmulo globular de magnitud 8,40 de 9′ de arco de diámetro, se halla a 42.000 años luz de la Tierra.