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Droogs
dove95 |
1st January, 2010. 10:07 pm. End-of-Year Survey, 2009
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Started, edited, formatted, and published an online literary journal.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make resolutions, but my goal for the working out was pretty successful. I'm going to strive to reach that goal this year too.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I can recall.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
I was pretty upset that my coworker had to put her dog down :(
5. What countries did you visit?
None.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More time for personal reflection and writing.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 1, 2009--Ringing in the new year with a fabulous band, My Morning Jacket.
November 15, 2009--Not going there :p
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being successful with my online lit journal.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Gaining five pounds from last year.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope, not really.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I have no idea really. Maybe the sapphire ring?
12. Where did most of your money go?
Music, eating out, concerts, movies, traveling, presents
13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Sam coming out in March for the NJ con. Seeing Mom and the concerts we've seen together. Going back to Illinois for visits.
14. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Phoenix: "Lisztomania"
Bat for Lashes: "I Sleep Alone"
anything Taylor Swift released
15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Happier.
Older or wiser? Wiser.
Thinner or fatter? Really about the same, despite gaining five pounds.
Richer or poorer? Poorer.
16. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing!
17. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Eating out/ordering food for lunch.
18. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent Christmas Eve with Jay and his family out in Long Island and spent Christmas Day with family/friends.
19. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I'm still in love... and I definitely developed a few new crushes too.
20. How many one-night stands?
None. Woohoo!
21. What was your favorite TV program?
Supernatural, 30 Rock, The Office, House, Glee, and The Simpsons (sorry, it has to be more than one!)
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a harsh word (I say that every year), but I'd say I don't appreciate how some coworkers led me to believe they were my friends when they were talking bad about me (and others there) behind my back.
23. What was the best book you read?
I really liked Lisa Dale's It Happened One Night
24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I feel kinda meh about this answer, but it's the best I got right now: Bat for Lashes
25. What did you want and get?
To start and publish the online lit journal :)
26. What did you want and not get?
Meet more girls. You women are tough!
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Skills Like This
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
A group of friends and I got together for my 32nd b-day. We had dinner at Ten East in Bayonne.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A more-mainstream grocery store nearby.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Same as last year: Whatever I want.
31. What kept you sane?
Facebook, LJ, music, work, and Jay.
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jared Padalecki. Still. Hugh Jackman too.
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
Meh...
34. Who did you miss?
Nathan.
35. Who was the best new person you met?
RoseTQ (not her real name) and Thom (I might tell you about him later.)
36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Sometimes you need a goal or a personal deadline to get some things done.
37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"I just can't find the strength to pull you up." Not sure why, but it works for the mood I've been in.
Current music: Imogen Heap - Canvas.
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dove95 |
1st January, 2010. 9:11 pm. Top Ten Albums of 2009
2008 Top Ten Albums
Images courtesy of http://www.rateyourmusic.com.
10. OneRepublic: Waking Up
This Ryan Tedder kid is going to go far. I try not to like such radio-friendly music, but this band really impressed me live. With just two listens of this album, I know it's already one of my faves of the year.
9. Monsters of Folk: Self-titled
At Jay's nudging, we got this album. I wasn't really familiar with any of the artists except Jim James (from My Morning Jacket). For some reason, this stuff just works. I hope they put another album out in a few years.
8. Tori Amos: Midwinter Graces
This album transcends being a holiday album--Tori's revitalized herself with Abnormally Attracted to Sin, but especially with this one. I could probably listen to this year-round.
7. Dead Man's Bones: Self-titled
Not sure if I admire this just because Ryan Gosling is totally into this or if the choir kids make it. Either way, I'm quite fond of this album--it's great to play in the autumn!
6. Venus Hum: Mechanics & Mathematics
Since downloading this album from Amazon a couple days ago, it's already been played four times. This is the band you're not listening to but should! Great pop, electronic stuff!
5. Rodrigo y Gabriela: 11:11
Really, how different can two acoustic guitars sound after a while? Apparently, different enough. I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed their sophomore effort--quite possibly more than their debut!
4. The Decemberists: The Hazards of Love
For whatever reason, I normally am not fond of rock operas. But this one just works. It hasn't left my iPod since I got the download from Amazon.
3. Butterfly Boucher: Scary Fragile
Dude, I've been DYING for this album to come out. Seriously, I spent just as long waiting for this one as I did for Imogen Heap's Speak for Yourself. Butterfly makes such smart pop music that's so much fun.
2. Ingrid Michaelson: Everybody
Okay, so Ingrid sings the word "love" in this album like, 6,000 times--so what? What's wrong with love? I just can't be depressed listening to this album... sooo good!
1. Imogen Heap: Ellipse
I swear I'm not biased in picking this. I've listened to this album over and over and over before it was released and even more when I had my official download. At first I thought, oh, this just sounds like Speak for Yourself, except for a few songs. But the more I've gotten to embrace it into my psyche, I love it more and more. I listen to it about every other day.
Honorable Mentions:
Bat for Lashes: Two Suns
Neko Case: Middle Cyclone
Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Current music: Peter Gabriel - I Grieve.
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ben_templesmith |
31st December, 2009. 1:09 pm. 2009 is over, hello 2010
Alright, it's going to be a longer entry...so to sweeten the deal, here's a peek at the cover for CHOKER Issue 2! Ordering info in the next previews to come.
Well it's almost ( or maybe as you read this already is, ) DONE. 2009 was a bitch of a year for many of us, not that I'm sure it didn't have some high points as well. Michael Jackson died, thus providing us with the biggest opportunity to make bad jokes in history. Rush Limbaugh and Richard Cheney, sadly, decided to stay with us.
First and foremost, I want to thank all you guys who read me online and more importantly, choose to know my work. Without you I am nothing.
2009 for me was a mixed bag for me. At one point, I was almost completely burned out as I was being asked to do far more than I could handle really. It was an episode that really made me examine where I'd come from and where I was going. The business side of what I do ( which apparently not many artists do really think about? ) and to start taking some firm steps in the right directions now I have the opportunities to do so. It was a dark time, with the light of a brave new world at the end...and that's what 2010 will be all about.
I got my first real break from deadline stress in 6 or 7 years with a month or so off and it was fantastic to recharge the batteries. I traveled the world. To places both new and familiar. Brazil was an absolute blast and I hope to go back. The UK, well, I've realized where my actual spiritual home is. At some point, I'm moving to the UK to live for awhile, that much is certain! My first New York Comic-con was also a highlight. Not only did I meet so many awesome people I now keep in touch with, it's the best con I've done in a long time. On to Chicago ( also put on by Reed Exhibits ) and NYCC again next year!
2009 was the year of Groom Lake ( I'd always resolved to work on something with Chris Ryall as I loved Zombies vs Robots so much! He's a talented bugger he is ) and of course, the year something I actually wrote apparently got a movie option, with Welcome to Hoxford. So I guess I can consider myself some sort of actual "writer" now.
Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse is going through a lot of growing pains. 2009 saw the first Deviant Edition released ( or hardcover, to the boring types ) and it basically sold out pretty damn quick! Good news is that 2010 will see Wormwood volume 2 get the same treatment. Volumes 1 and 2 also finally got yet more reprints, ( volume 1 had it's 6th I think, 7th if you include a special printing for a book club ) as it's extremely hard to keep in stock, apologies to you all. Not my fault! It's something I've been trying to fix to little avail. The new printings are already well below what they started with, so I was told, so get in quick if you need to order some. Other than the V2 Deviant Edition, no new Wormwood books will be on the horizon for me til some stuff is sorted out with the publisher.
I also got 2 covers into a "covers of the decade thing," which, considering I'm not exactly a big cover artist guy, is rather spiffy!
Last but not least, some of my stuff has made it to the Sony PSP ( Sony, who I'm honoured to say really dig Wormwood ) and iphone...if stuff isn't already out, it will be early next year.
So on to 2010 I say. Where we'll see how CHOKER, my new book, written by the force of nature that is Ben McCool will be coming out from Image comics, who've supported it in amazing ways so far. Be on the look out for issue 1 late February.
The new year will see a dedicated online store for all sorts of stuff of mine finally go live, over at www.templesmitharts.com, including a bunch of original art, prints, t-shirts and phone skins and stuff... plus hopefully some online/convention exclusive books I'm going to do up all myself.
And yup, if you don't know where to find me, here's a quick list of where I'm at. I tend to get around and have finally succumbed to the horror that is Facebook. ( Since I get a lot of responses there from my twitter feed! ) Infact, I've started the FANCY PANTS group for all my stuff. Expect actual fancy pants memorabilia and SPACE SQUID stuff exclusively for it too.
Have a great new year guys. Welcome to the decade.
Facebook- me
Facebook- the Ben Templesmith Fancy Pants group
Blogger
Myspace
Deviant Art
Tumblr
Twitter
Flickr
And, as ever, send questions, compliments and notes of damnation to: contact@templesmithartsdotcom
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enterlinemedia |
30th December, 2009. 7:55 pm. final reviews of 2009 coming on Dec 31st
I have three DVD reviews to finish writing and a review of THE ROAD to put up on the site.
Then I have content to write beyond that (2010 DVD reviews, 2009 DVDs and Movies Review articles, 2010 movie preview).
Going home to make dinner and finish rewatch of the new RED DWARF: BACK TO EARTH before finishing the reviews.
So what are your favorite DVDs and movies that came out this year?
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