Zune vs. iTunes

Simply put, the Zune music software is far superior to iTunes.

The problem was, Apple flooded the mp3 player market a few years ago with the iPod. I myself never cared for the iPod. Because of this, everybody is stuck using iTunes to organize their music. Problem is, iTunes sucks. Why would I want iTunes to make a separate copy of every song I have in my library, and turn it into an inferior AAC file? I don't. I don't buy single songs, and I don't do playlists. I buy full albums and listen to full albums. And if I'm gonna spend the money, I certainly don't want to download the album in a stripped down AAC version file. I prefer to buy CD's, rip them onto my computer in .wma lossless format, full CD quality. I want to take all my music with me, so I put them on my Zune and take them with me, all 50G of my music right there in my pocket, in full CD quality. I don't waste time with cheap "standard issue" headphones, I pay good money for a nice pair of inner ear, noise isolating earbuds. Through these earphones, I can clearly hear the difference in sound quality.

Now, the Zune software is only compatible with one digital music player, the Microsoft Zune. I prefer the interface much more over the iPod, personal preference. I paid only $250 for my 80 gig Zune, and love it. (As a special promotion, I even got my favorite Brand New lyric engraved on the back, for free).

The controls and interface within the Zune software is very easy to navigate and use, much more so than iTunes, and it doesn't try to control my whole computer like iTunes wants to. The "now playing" screen is amazing, with multiple animations. The newest version, pictures of the band fade in and out, with text overlaid with info about the song, the album, the band, etc. It even shows up with the number of plays that particular song has had by all registered Zune users. The Zune network is a community of music lovers, all connected by the music they love.

Now for purchasing music. iTunes has one option, you pay $.99 per song, or however much for the album. You may do the same through Zune, but they also offer a subscription model. For $15 a month, you can download as much music as you want, and have the media usage rights as long as you subscribe. For people who listen to a wide array of music, this is perfect. Also, the software is compatible with more audio file types, so it will gather and play all your music, whether its wma, mp3, wav, or AAC, as well as multiple picture and video formats. It gives more freedom than iTunes does, and it doesn't make a separate copy, like iTunes does.

Microsoft is much further along in the software functionality and features. In the most recent iTunes update, many of the "new features" were features that Zune has had for 2 years. But iTunes isn't "catching up," microsoft is pushing its Zune music software much further than any other music organizing software on the market, and they continue to be on the edge of development. Zune users are very happy, and very satisfied, with very few complaints, (the software runs a little slow if you have an old computer). I hear many complaints about iTunes, and even with a great system and the newest update, my iTunes still runs fritzy and slow. I am forced to put up with iTunes to sync my iPhone. It is a great phone, I love it, I always say it was the best purchase I ever made. However, when it comes to music, I still us my Zune, and always will. Nobody is even close.

November

Again, the month of November was primarily spend hunting for jobs. After the economy crashed, it became much harder to find employment. I have been working on getting a job at DirectPointe, for a couple different positions. Right before thanksgiving, I had an interview as a Network Operations Specialist. It went well, and I was invited back for a second interview, but because of the holiday, it hasn't happened yet. I am confident, and Clayton says I have a good chance.

The weekend of the 8th I drove up to Idaho for 2 weddings. My cousin Ace got married in Mud Lake, and my buddy Dave was married in Idaho Falls. Also, I stayed with some close friends in Rexburg. It was a little hectic juggling my schedule, but it was a great weekend. Spent time with my cousins, which was great, it had been a while. I fell in love with girl that was waiting tables at Applebees. She was cute, and she was wearing a Peyton Manning jersey, which was almost everything I've ever wanted in a girl. Problem is, I didn't even talk to her, cause I'm a big giant puss. So that's that. Anyway, the trip was fun, good to see family.

My birthday was pretty low key this year. No big party or anything. I went out to Tucanos for lunch with my roommates, then just kinda relaxed the rest of the day, watched a movie. I didn't ask for any gifts, because my parents have given me lots of money in the last couple months to help me weather the storm until I get a job and can pay my own bills again. It was still a pretty good birthday, and I still got gifts.

For thanksgiving, I wasn't going to be able to go home, because I couldn't afford it, and wasn't sure if I would have a job by then and have to work. But on the wednesday of, my brother told me he would pay for my gas to get home if I would watch his kids for a couple days while I was there. I accepted, packed my car and was on my way. I drove all the way home, good weather the whole way, and got there around midnight. I stayed at my brother Tyler's house for the weekend. Thanksgiving was great, the whole family was together. I had a great time. I babysat my nephews Alex(3) and Aiden(1o months) all day Saturday. It was enjoyable, harder than I thought it would be. I was up a couple times in the night with Aiden, but not for too long. I planned on leaving pretty early to drive back, but didn't hit the road until about 9:30am. Not 6 miles down the freeway I blew a tire. So I lost about and hour and a half while Walmart put a new tire on. They're the only tire place open on Sunday. So then I had to drive fast the rest of the day (not like I wouldn't have before). I made it back to Provo around 11:30, and went to sleep, I was exhausted, and sore. It was a really great trip though. I love spending time with family and friends. I got to play football, eat turkey, and go to a concert. Good weekend. Long drive though.

October

So the whole month of October was spent job hunting. I applied at many different places, but didn't hear back from them right away. The first bite I got was with a company that specializes in installing window coverings and treatments in hotels. It paid well, lots of travel, good company. I interviewed with them and worked one day, but then I heard back from all the other places and had 5 other interviews set up, so I put that job on hold. My dad tried to get me a job at a semiconductor place in Orem, great pay, great schedule, great company. I interviewed with them and it was very promising, but then all of a sudden it went cold, and they didn't hire me. I had all but signed a the papers at Sundance as a lift operator, but I think they wanted more references. They didn't hire me. Everything else went cold as well, except a for a possible job at DirectPointe.

Besides the job hunt, not too much else happened in October.

Catching Up

So, alot has happened since my last post, a decade ago. Abridged version: In the spring, I was suspended from BYU until Fall 2009 for bad grades. I worked all summer as a Manager at a full service carwash and detail shop. I worked 6 days a week, 10-12 hours a day, and did nearly everything there. But then it all went sour and the place went bankrupt and closed its doors leaving me unemployed. Instead of avidly looking for a job, I decided to play instead. On a 4-wheeling campout at Little Sahara in central Utah, I jumped off a quad and messed up my knee. After x-rays, exams, and and MRI, I found out my Lateral Meniscus was torn beyond repair. My parents offered to fly me home to Washington for the surgery and recovery for a month. So I had the surgery the first week of September at Providence Medical Center in Portland. The recovery was rather easy and quick. I'm flying back to Utah on the 30th, because I have to be at a Yellowcard concert that night in Logan. Might not be the greatest idea since I'm still in recovery, but oh well, I have a reputation to keep.

Balloons and Bribes

I got home from work tonight around 7:30. Our FHE group meets on the lawn across from my house, so they all see me pull up and I am forced to join them. I got there just in time for the activity, water balloon tossing. It stayed in control for about 18 seconds before people were throwing them at each other. When that got old, we started looking for other targets. We decided that a mother pushing a stroller would be heartless, and that a moving target on a motor scooter would be dangerous. Then a pizza delivery car approached. Everybody had the exact same immature smile as I did, but I was the only one with the intent to actually carry out the act. Eric dared me to do it and placed the water balloon in my hand. It was rather perfect: the wind up, the release, the timing. Right in the center of the windshield, perfect. I prematurely thought that the fun was over. Then the driver slammed on the brakes and came to a skidding, screeching stop. From all the way down the street we heard the shout, "what the f*** do you think you're doing!!!" It was a deep, manly voice, but we soon realized it was a woman, a very angry woman, mid 20's. Jared was the only one who had my back, everybody else acted like they had never even met me. Before I could apologize, she and Jared were arguing about the funniness of the act. Jared was convinced that it was pretty funny, and she was vehemently adamant that it was in fact, not funny at all. She ranted about how that was her delivery car, and that she didn't appreciate the water balloon. Jared tried to point out that water was actually harmless, and would have no effect on her windshield. She was so mad that she was twitching and ready to fight. I butted in and told her that it was me that threw it and that I was apologetic. She accepted my apology but was still pissed that Jared was smiling still. By now she realized that she wasn't gonna make any headway with us, and left to deliver her pizza's. As Jared and I returned to the group, we were not greeted friendly, and I could tell that I was now a big A-hole in the eyes of many of the people in my ward. Not that I'm too worried about that though. Again, I thought that this was the end of the story, but I was false. About 15 minutes later, a Provo City Police car pulled up in front of us. I was the first to approach him, with Jared right beside me, and Eric close behind. Still, nobody had our backs. The officer asked us if we had been throwing water balloons and Jared quickly responded that we had not. Then the officer pointed out that our clothes were wet. I said, "oh, well I work at a car wash and I get wet. Hey, do you want a free car wash? I got a free car wash pass right here just for you. Can I get in trouble for that, is this bribery or something?" He said no, and said that he would like the free car wash. I said "yeah, I don't need you rollin around with a dirty squad car, all dusty, with these flashing lights covered in bugs and junk. That is a public safety issue, officer, I just can't have that. I won't allow it," and I handed him the card for a free wash. I told him where we were located and he was grateful. He almost forgot all about the water balloon incident. He said "oh yeah, were you guys throwing water balloons?" We told him that we had indeed been involved in some water balloon activities that had gotten out of hand and escalated into an unfortunate automobile-water-ballooning. He told us that they had received a call that we had almost caused an accident, and that it was dangerous. Jared said shockingly, "that does sound dangerous." We apologized for the unfortunate turn of events, and he thanked me for the free wash and went about his business. I was so "in the flow" while talking to him, that I didn't even realized that I had bribed him until after he left. And then I was even more excited. I informed all the onlookers that I had bribed him with a free car wash and he was satisfied. My fellow ward members opinion of me turned from looking down on me to looking up to me. It was a great personal victory. I can't wait for him to come into the wash tomorrow so I can share the story with my coworkers.

Censorship

The previous post, "Utter mockage," has been removed in an effort to prevent strife.

Yellowcard & Vegas!!

This story is long, and goes back a couple weeks, so I'll try to be as concise as possible. But it is possibly the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.

Yellowcard is just about to wrap up their all-acoustic tour. When they kicked off the tour in Salt Lake City about a month ago, we were there. It was one of the best concerts I'd ever been to, and it was awesome. So awesome in fact, that we decided to drive to Boise last week to see them play again. I, being in the 99th percentile of Yellowcard fans, was right there in the front row (I had to pay some kid and his girlfriend to let me have their spot on the rail). I sang every lyric to every song with everything I had. Sean, the violinist, recognized us and gave us a shout out for being awesome. One of their songs, Dear Bobbie, is a love song from Ryan Key's grandpa to his grandma. Ryan had asked his grandpa to write a letter to her, after 60 years of marriage, and that letter sort of created this song, Dear Bobbie. The song is awesome by itself, but on the album version, you can hear Ryan's grandpa in the background, reading the letter between verses. It has become one of my new favorites. So at the show, while they were playing Dear Bobbie, I was reciting all the words from his grandpa's letter. I didn't think anything of it, but apparently I had made an impression. When the show was nearing the end, I called out to Sean and asked him if I could have the set list, and he said maybe. So after rocking out with everything I had to the last song, and the 2 encore songs, they were done. I felt satisfied and fulfilled as a fan, I had come, I had sang, and I was happy. Then as they gave their bows, Sean leaned over and gave me the set list, it was so awesome, I thought it couldn't get any better. So I stood and held it up and bragged for a little bit, and as I turned around to leave, the band manager tapped me on the should and asked, "Hey, were you reciting the words to the letter in Dear Bobbie?" and I said yes. He had heard me all the way from back stage. So he gave me a sweet Yellowcard guitar pick. That was the icing on the cake for me. I had the set list, and now a guitar pick with the YC logo on it. Life was great. So we made our way to the merch table to have them sign the set list for me, and I had also brought all my CD booklets to get signed. As I was talking to Sean and Mendez, and they signed the set list, Sean said "hey man, look behind you." When I turned around, Ryan Key was standing there, waiting for me, and he was holding up the guitar pick he had played the show with. "Here, I saved this just for you," he said. I couldn't believe it. Ryan Key, who is in my mind a god of music, had saved the pick he played the show with and gave it to me and said "thanks for singing along." I was ecstatic and dumbfounded. I couldn't believe it. I thanked him a bunch, had him sign the stuff for me, then we left. I was on cloud nine, I didn't think anything greater could happen to me at a concert. (Also, after the show this really hot girl came and gave me hug and said I was awesome, that was pretty cool too).

That night, we left Boise just after midnight and got home at 5 am. I was exhausted and couldn't walk or talk for 2 days, but it was totally worth it. So worth it, that I bought tickets for Vegas show a week later. Lots of people told us we were ridiculous, and some even said we were stalkers. Roadies, yes. Groupies, I wish. Amazing fans, for sure. But not stalkers.

We left Provo yesterday at half-past noon. Me, Justin, Jared and Todd. As usual, we started our trip by listening the the song line-up for the show, for Yellowcard and the Spill Canvas. I had made some awesome T-shirts to wear to the show, but they didn't ship in time (even though I paid extra for it) so I didn't get to wear them. We got to Vegas about 4:30, local time. We cruised the strip first. It was incredible. I hadn't been to Vegas since I was 8 or 9 years old, so I was pretty amazed and impressed. It took us a while to locate the House of Blues, then we realized it was inside of the Mandalay Bay casino. So we parked near there and walked in. I was pretty nice, I felt under dressed. We got inside the venue a little earlier than we had wanted but it wasn't too bad. The show started at 6, and it wasn't even at 1/4th capacity. The first band, Treaty of Paris, has become one of favorite new/upcoming bands. They put on a really good show, and I think we were the only ones singing along. The next band, PlayRadioPlay!, really bother me. I wasn't excited to sit through another of their sets. And they acted even gayer than usual. So that was painful, but after them, the Spill Canvas came on and played a really good set. By now the place was packed. When they finished, we made our way towards the front. I was about the 3rd person back on the right-center of the stage, right in front of Sean Mackin. When they came on, we screamed for Peter, the cello player they got special for this acoustic tour, and he recognized us and smiled, then Sean recognized us and gave us a thumbs up. The show was amazing as usual. A few songs in, Ryan Key recognized us and said "hey, you guys have been to a show already, huh," and we all yelled that this was the 3rd (of this tour, my 6th time all together). So we were our usual selves, singing loud every lyric to every song.

Here comes the amazing part....

When it came time to play Dear Bobbie, Ryan stopped and looked around. "Alright, we got our friend here, where's he at.....there he is (pointing to ME)! I forgot your name dude, what is it?....Travis? Travis. Everybody, this is Travis (me in about the happiest possible state of being). Travis was at one of our shows last week." Then he explained how Dear Bobbie had come to be, talked about his grandparents married for 60 years, and how the letter his grandpa wrote evolved into the song Dear Bobbie. "When we played Dear Bobbie at that show, Travis recited all the words to my grandpas letter. (cheers, harrahs, etc.) So Travis (looking right at me), this is for you." It was possibly the most amazing recognition I had ever gotten. As a fan, I think that is the highest recognition, to have your favorite band give you a shout-out, and dedicate a song to you. The sad thing was, I was so overcome with joy, that as they played the song, I forgot the words to the letter, and fumbled it. It was okay though, Ryan Key knows my name and dedicated a song to me, so yeah, amazing.

After the show, as we were walking out, random people were saying hi to me, calling me name, cheering for me, it was pretty cool. We made our way out to the merch stand. I thanked Ryan Key as much as I could, told him how much it meant to me. He thanked us for making the trip, and singing along. Then I thanked Mendez, told him how awesome he was, then I went and talked to Sean. He's so cool. He just chills and talks to people. All of them seemed so cordial and friendly, not so far removed from their fans like alot of bands are. I got some pictures with them, talked to Peter the cello player for a while, then left, as happy as I could possibly be.

We hung out in Vegas, gambled a little, I came out on top by $15. Then at 2:00 am, we left and drove back to Provo, getting home this morning about 8 am. I'm exhausted, slept til 1:30, I can barely move, and my throat is too sore to talk, but it is totally worth it. I told Justin he'll probably get sick of me telling the story, because I'm gonna tell everybody I know. Not often does your favorite band give you personal recognition and dedicate a song to you.

So yeah, that's possibly the coolest thing that's ever happened to me.

Worse than I though

A couple weeks ago, I started to get a cough. I didn't have any other symptoms so I thought I was just fine. After about a week it got a little worse. I had gone to a concert and lost my voice (when the Spill Canvas played "the Truth"), which left my throat inflamed. The next night, I was doing some painting and accidentally inhaled some bleach fumes, and burned my throat. So the cough continued, but I thought it was from the bleach burn. The next weekend, I was in Phoenix for a wedding, and the dry, polluted air made me cough alot. When I got home, the cough seemed to get worse, and it had moved down into my chest, and it became a wheezing cough. I decided to go to the doctor on Monday for it. I expected him to tell me it was something going around and that was it. (I was worried because I had been around some people with Bronchitis and Strep the last week). When I explained what was going on, they put me on a nebulizer and ordered a chest xray. The xray showed a bunch of fluid in my lungs, and the doctor told me that I had Bronchiolitis, and that if I didn't get it taken care of soon, it would evolve into pneumonia. He told me that I had caught the virus that was going around that lasted 14 days, but because I hadn't done anything about it, and I was more vulnerable, that it caused Bronchiolitis. So he wrote me 5 perscriptions, and gave me a doctors note excusing me from school for the next 6 days. He also retroactively excused me from any absences incurred in the last 10 days due to the illness. So I got all my drugs from the pharmacy and came home, thinking it was a little excessive, but I did everything he told me, because I don't really need to get pneumonia.

So I have been taking all these drugs for the last couple days, and feeling a little better, but any physical activity sends me into a wheezing coughing fit, so I'll just have to relax for the next couple days.

It's a good thing the new Rainbow Six Vegas 2 game came out this week to keep me occupied. The Rainbow Six franchise is my favorite of any video game, and the new one does not disappoint. Maybe I'll take a few minutes on the side to catch up on my homework.

To the Younger Generation of Music Fans, You Suck!

Going into last Friday night, I was assured that I was in the top 10% of Yellowcard fans, based on my own standards. Any person who calls themself a "fan" of a particular band should have a familiarity with the band's music, past and present. I have a problem with people becoming fans of a band because the local radio DJ says they're good, and they heard some songs on the radio. If you go into a Yellowcard concert and stand there looking confused when they play Rough Draft, Sureshot, Rock Star Land, Cigarette, and Avondale because you've never heard them before, you are NOT a fan. I don't care how many times you heard Ocean Avenue and Lights and Sounds singles on the radio, you are NOT a fan. When Ryan Key comes out on stage by himself and plays possibly the greatest song he's ever written, Rough Draft, and you stand there staring in confusion cause you've never heard it before, you should lose your spot at the edge of the stage, cause you do NOT deserve it. We, in the top 10%, sang EVERY line to EVERY song, while you stood there, resting your arms on the stage, just watching. And when I asked you for a chance to stand at the stage for ONE song, you deny me my EARNED right to be there. I have been a loyal Yellowcard fan since One For the Kids was a new album, when you were in elementary school; I have purchased every album, while you just downloaded a couple of radio hits, or copied a CD from your friend; I have faithfully been to as many Yellowcard shows as I have been able to (4), this was your first cause your high school buddies convinced your mom to let you go; I know the history and names of all the band members, you just know them as the guys with the violin player. In short, you don't deserve to stand there with all your high school buddies on the edge of the stage, while me and my top 10% have to stand a few feet back. If you came to watch, go sit on a bench in the back, I came to rock and sing along to my favorite band, of which I am a loyal and true "fan." Being friends with a band on MySpace doesn't make you a fan. Take some time, do some research and be familiar with a band before you claim to be fan. I am all about spreading the fan base, and sharing my favorite band with others, but don't disrespect, or even start to think that you have anything close to my passion for their music.

To my vindication, after the show, Ryan Mendez (lead guitarist) personally thanked me for singing along to EVERY song.

So next month, when I drive to Boise to see the same show (it was that good), be prepared for the concert, you'll enjoy it better, and the rest of us might even show you some respect.

"I'm finding my own words, my own little stage, my own epic drama, my own scripted page; I'll send you the rough draft, I'll seal it with tears, maybe you'll read it and I'll reappear. From the start it was shaky and the characters rash, a nice setting for heartache where emotions come last; all I have deep inside to overcome these desires are friendly intentions and fair-weather smiles."
Learn it, love it, live it.

The End....for now.

Don't Expect Too Much

One of my favorite says goes like this: "If you have low expectations, you'll never be disappointed." Now, although my title isn't as creative as a Big Juicy Van, and my posts not as fancy and introspective as "Sky Rockets in Flight," I will still try to deliver entertaining postings for the few people who will actually read this on a regular basis; namely my mom, my roommates, and the dude who has the boring job of moderating peoples blogs for content (sorry dude, your life sucks).

I like to think that I have a lot of valid things to say, but as always, I'm probably slightly less cool than I think I am.