VaughNet

I have no idea where I picked this up at, but something tells me it will be all over the radio this summer. Little Boots, a.k.a. Victoria Hesketh, hails from Blackpool via London. I would call her music a sort of pop-electronica, but she is capable of any number of genres. She was on the British Pop Idol a few years back, formed a Jazz trio, did some big band stuff around Europe, and finally formed the band Dead Disco.

Her first full-length solo album, Hands, will be released on June 2nd. The first single, “New In Town”, is pretty damn catchy. It’s been far too easy for far too long to slag off pop music. Quite honestly, there wasn’t much that didn’t deserve it. With so much of the trendy, so-called, indie music sounding the same, I welcome a little bit of legitimate music from the pop side of the aisle. There is some credible stuff out there, but it isn’t likely to be found on the Top 40 lists… for now.

My brother and I drove up the Virgin River Gorge from the Nevada to the Utah side. I have managed to mess with the video just enough to screw it up. The music is “Nothing to Worry About” by Peter Bjorn and John.

http://www.vimeo.com/4889589

It looks like I might end up in London for a couple of weeks in the end of July. One of those weeks will be spent working, so it might as well be anywhere else, but I’m planning on staying on for an extra week afterwards to check out one of the places that I have wanted to visit for the longest time.

In preperation for my visit I have started to read two recommended books. London: A Life in Maps by Peter Whitfield is published by the British Library:

Whitfield reads historic sketches and detailed plans as biographical keys to this complex, sprawling urban center, and his in-depth examination unearths fascinating insights into the city of black cabs and red double-deckers. With engaging prose and astute analysis he also expertly coaxes out the subtle complexities—of social history, urban planning, and design—within the rich documentation of London’s immense and constantly changing cityscape.

I felt this was a good pick because London seems to be one of those cities defined by it planning, or lack thereof. With such a rich history it is only natural that such history would leave its print on the city hundreds of years later.

The second book on my list, London: The Biography by Peter Ackroyd, is meant to be a wholly separate approach to understanding the city. Ackroyd looks upon the city of London as a living, breathing entity and approaches the city’s story as such.

I’ll be sure to post a review when I’ve completed the reading of each and I’ll surely have some good stuff upon my return from the mother country.

I am not a very artistic or creative person; or at least, it is not something that comes naturally. That being said, I love art and creative endeavors of all types. Rather than actually creating anything myself, I spend most of my time looking at things created by others. Luckily, I know a few people that are exceptionally talented and amazingly kind.

One such individual is Trevor Shaw. He is one of the nicest guys that you’ll ever meet and is talented even beyond his own recognition. He was kind enough to let me sneak off with a small ink and watercolor piece that I thought was pretty cool today. Trevor does paintings, sculpture, and functional pieces. If you would like to get in touch with him, please let me know and I’ll get you the details.

I’m in the process of redoing a few things around VaughNet land and as a result, I’ve had to take down all of the old stuff to make room for the new stuff. Don’t worry though, because that new stuff of which I write will be fantastically awesome… or something.