So, for my first time today, i tried.... ANCHOVIES. I found this recipe for anchovy sandwiches. It was part of the Soprano cookbook... and i was intrigued. I knew from tiny bites of fletcher's pizza once that they were extremely salty, but the fresh tomatoes and the melted mozza cheese combatted the saltyness nicely. Anchovies are simply too salty for pizza.... althlough it also has the tomatoes and the cheese... i don't know why. There was just something wrong about it. A sandwich, however, was fantastic. Yes.. I have decided i rather like anchovies, in the right situation.
Haha. Just thought you all should know. I'm doing my part to dispell the myth of gross anchovies, and the myth that anchovies belong on pizza haha.
Later addition: I take back everything i just said. Yes, the anchovies taste pretty good when you eat them but they make you feel nasty sick about an hour later. Ugh....
Friday, March 31, 2006
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Calgary!
So, it looks like we are on a roll here commenting has increased :). Then again, it's not hard to increase from a run of 0's. haha. Still.... lets see if we can keep this up people. I don't care if you just type one single letter... just put something. Especially all of you who are reading this and not ever commenting. I've been talking to some people and i was like 'what? you read the blog? i had no idea'. There are some people that took the link from my msn name, not from me telling them. I am happy you are checking this out, it would just be nice to see who all is reading this. I am curious.
So, a friend of mine jessica is pregnant. She is engaged, and yes they wanted this kid. I don't think it was an accident. Congradulations to Jessica.
Speaking of babies, my aunt debby had a baby boy. His name is Trey. He looks sooo cute in pics i have been sent. It is now official, at easter time ray and i will go to Calgary. I will meet the baby trey, meet kim's german boyfriend Thomas, see kim again, see my aunt and uncle again and go to ikea... all good good things in my book. Maybe i should go order the new ikea catalogue? That would be nice to have. It will also be nice to spend easter with family.
Marie, we need to set up a time to meet up in swift current or whatever. When are you traveling again? e-mail me.
Well, i should get going. It's a beautiful day today. Spring is definately on it's way. High of plus 7 today :). What a wonderful thing. I can't wait for all this stupid snow to melt. I love snow... in december and january. By now, i am sick of all the dirty dirty snow. I long to see the green of plants, and to start up again at the greenhouse... where i got a raise :). I do every year, but it always seems like a nice suprise. I wonder if my new greenhouse wage will cary over to the florist shop? I doubt it, but i can dream haha.
Time for a walk.
So, a friend of mine jessica is pregnant. She is engaged, and yes they wanted this kid. I don't think it was an accident. Congradulations to Jessica.
Speaking of babies, my aunt debby had a baby boy. His name is Trey. He looks sooo cute in pics i have been sent. It is now official, at easter time ray and i will go to Calgary. I will meet the baby trey, meet kim's german boyfriend Thomas, see kim again, see my aunt and uncle again and go to ikea... all good good things in my book. Maybe i should go order the new ikea catalogue? That would be nice to have. It will also be nice to spend easter with family.
Marie, we need to set up a time to meet up in swift current or whatever. When are you traveling again? e-mail me.
Well, i should get going. It's a beautiful day today. Spring is definately on it's way. High of plus 7 today :). What a wonderful thing. I can't wait for all this stupid snow to melt. I love snow... in december and january. By now, i am sick of all the dirty dirty snow. I long to see the green of plants, and to start up again at the greenhouse... where i got a raise :). I do every year, but it always seems like a nice suprise. I wonder if my new greenhouse wage will cary over to the florist shop? I doubt it, but i can dream haha.
Time for a walk.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Firefly :)
Your results:
You are Inara Serra (Companion)
Click here to take the Serenity Personality Quiz
You are Inara Serra (Companion)
| More than just a high paid escort. A companion is well educated, sophisticated and knows well how to comfort others.  |
Click here to take the Serenity Personality Quiz
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Mmmmm... Michael Buble (with an accent on the e)
Stupid blogger can't make accents.
Man, i swear, i am having an exclusive love affair with Michael Buble's music. I admit, after the CONSTANT radio play of 'Home' on the radio, i was sick of the stupid song. It is is a well written song but so very overplayed. Such is the curse of radio. I groaned when fletcher would play the cd, because he just wanted to hear the song.
However, monday night fletcher and i decided to have a wine and cheese night (actually, it wasn't wine because we can't stand the stuff, but it was pink bubbly ginger ale instead and we did use fancy wine glasses haha). Earlier, i had found wensleydale cheese with cranberry that was usually around 10$ on sale for 2$ at the grocery store because it expired in a week. So, we had magazines, cheese and drinks.... and i had fletcher bring over michael buble because it fit the mood. It was so much fun. Fletcher afterwards preceded to forget all 4 of his cd's here.
Fletcher, i don't think you realize what a monster you have created.
It was late at night the next night, and i needed some good music. The cd's were just sitting there, so i checked it out.... wow. It is just so nice :). Low lighting...twinkly lights and my floor lamp (mom's lamp with my gorgeous burgundy new lampshade), my computer and a nice game of cards. How soothing is that?
I just love michael buble's music because it's different than the other music i listen to. I will warn you....DON'T JUDGE HIS MUSIC BY 'HOME'. The rest of his music is not like that. Most of his music are standards. Some are soft, slow and crooning (but better than Home) but some are rollicking with a rocking trumpet section (but saddly he has no trombones haha). I also love michael because he chooses excellent standards to sing. These are songs that are sweet and sentimental, and completely 100% innocent. This is the kind of music you can show your grandmother (and i personally think my grandma inge would like it). Lately, the only good love songs are that crappy boyband pop shit. Mass produced crapp, all sounding the same. This is a GOOD love song. They are so sweet. It sings about feelings and all that stuff that girls just love haha.
I have put Michael's 4 cd's on my computer, and just pushed randomn. Since tuesday, i have been listening to nothing but michael. Such is my exclusive musical affair with Michael lol.... I hope ray doesn't find out... jj :)
Trust me, if you are at all interested check out this guy's website. http://www.michaelbuble.com/
Later addition: Michael's coolness has just increased further. He features a trombone solo, and a pretty good if short one, in his song 'Under My Skin'. Oh yeah! I love that. The only thing that would make him cooler is if he himself played it hahahaha. But then his coolness has gone down again, because he does not credit who did play the solo... that sucks. hmmm... bad form michael
Man, i swear, i am having an exclusive love affair with Michael Buble's music. I admit, after the CONSTANT radio play of 'Home' on the radio, i was sick of the stupid song. It is is a well written song but so very overplayed. Such is the curse of radio. I groaned when fletcher would play the cd, because he just wanted to hear the song.
However, monday night fletcher and i decided to have a wine and cheese night (actually, it wasn't wine because we can't stand the stuff, but it was pink bubbly ginger ale instead and we did use fancy wine glasses haha). Earlier, i had found wensleydale cheese with cranberry that was usually around 10$ on sale for 2$ at the grocery store because it expired in a week. So, we had magazines, cheese and drinks.... and i had fletcher bring over michael buble because it fit the mood. It was so much fun. Fletcher afterwards preceded to forget all 4 of his cd's here.
Fletcher, i don't think you realize what a monster you have created.
It was late at night the next night, and i needed some good music. The cd's were just sitting there, so i checked it out.... wow. It is just so nice :). Low lighting...twinkly lights and my floor lamp (mom's lamp with my gorgeous burgundy new lampshade), my computer and a nice game of cards. How soothing is that?
I just love michael buble's music because it's different than the other music i listen to. I will warn you....DON'T JUDGE HIS MUSIC BY 'HOME'. The rest of his music is not like that. Most of his music are standards. Some are soft, slow and crooning (but better than Home) but some are rollicking with a rocking trumpet section (but saddly he has no trombones haha). I also love michael because he chooses excellent standards to sing. These are songs that are sweet and sentimental, and completely 100% innocent. This is the kind of music you can show your grandmother (and i personally think my grandma inge would like it). Lately, the only good love songs are that crappy boyband pop shit. Mass produced crapp, all sounding the same. This is a GOOD love song. They are so sweet. It sings about feelings and all that stuff that girls just love haha.
I have put Michael's 4 cd's on my computer, and just pushed randomn. Since tuesday, i have been listening to nothing but michael. Such is my exclusive musical affair with Michael lol.... I hope ray doesn't find out... jj :)
Trust me, if you are at all interested check out this guy's website. http://www.michaelbuble.com/
Later addition: Michael's coolness has just increased further. He features a trombone solo, and a pretty good if short one, in his song 'Under My Skin'. Oh yeah! I love that. The only thing that would make him cooler is if he himself played it hahahaha. But then his coolness has gone down again, because he does not credit who did play the solo... that sucks. hmmm... bad form michael
Friday, March 24, 2006
And now, for something completely different...
Anyone catch the monty python reference? lol
So, another day off today. Man, i could get used to this. Walking outside in the beautiful weather, PUMPKIN BREAD, sleeping in, PUMPKIN BREAD, relaxing, PUMPKIN BREAD, visiting with people, PUMPKIN BREAD and just a general feeling of calm. Wow.... can anyone guess what the highlight of my day is?
After months of having the can of pumpkin waiting for me, and talking about it, i finally made pumpkin bread today. I had a good looking recipe for a while, and have been thinking about doing it ever since. I made a glorious pumpkin bread today. It tastes fantastic. I LOVE this bread :).
Gtg... time for more bread.
So, another day off today. Man, i could get used to this. Walking outside in the beautiful weather, PUMPKIN BREAD, sleeping in, PUMPKIN BREAD, relaxing, PUMPKIN BREAD, visiting with people, PUMPKIN BREAD and just a general feeling of calm. Wow.... can anyone guess what the highlight of my day is?
After months of having the can of pumpkin waiting for me, and talking about it, i finally made pumpkin bread today. I had a good looking recipe for a while, and have been thinking about doing it ever since. I made a glorious pumpkin bread today. It tastes fantastic. I LOVE this bread :).
Gtg... time for more bread.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
And the run has been broken...
So, today is officially the first school day in over a month that i have not been called at all to sub. I had a long run from Febuary 13th to March 20th where i was called every single school day to sub. And i took them all too, with the only exception of valentines day (florist shop), and one day because i was sick. Wow. That's a lot of subbing days :). I don't know why there was the sudden rush, but french teachers really are high in demand. Especially ones who are fluent in french and know what they are doing :). Thank god for French Immersion. It is probably the reason i got hired in the first place, and it is definately the edge that has given so many days of subbing. I know others from my program who were not so lucky.
So, i have turned in my form and got my references in for a full time position in the fall... I'm not sure how i feel about that. Part of me doesn't really want things to change from the way they are now. I am a very free person as it is. I live from day to day, getting as much work as i can get. As is, life is good. People always ask me why i am subbing, and feel sorry for me that i couldn't get 'a real teaching job'. Personally, i'm not sure i want things to change from the way they are now. I love being a substitute teacher. Not only does it allow me the freedom to have a second job at the florist shop (which i love because it is a nice break, and i love working with the cut flowers). Maybe this summer, i'll talk to gloria about getting some extra training in designing? That would be a neat thing to try. I don't have the time for it now, but i will in the summer... maybe if subbing is slow in early april or if the garden center slows down in june. I would really like to try my hand at designing, as making the arrangements is my favorite part of the job.
Secondly, i love subbing because it entails far less responsability than being a full time teacher. I admit, i am not sure i want to jump right in to teaching with both feet. I love being a teacher, but i would prefer to ease myself into it. Being a full time teacher entails long hours, meetings with staff and parents, planning, preparations... and so much more. As a sub, i more simply show up for the day. I do everything i can for the children while i am there, and then at the end of the day i leave it all at the school and go home. I like being able to live it like seperate lives, and not have my job affect the rest of my life. As a teacher, i know that i will not have as much of this separation.
I am glad i am a sub because i feel i need more experience in order to be the best teacher i can be. I would say of all the skills i need to work on, my classroom management is the weakest. I need to be more firm with students. If anything can teach me to do this, subbing can. As well, i can see new ideas, get used to different grades instead of the very very narrow focus from my degree (pre-k to grade 1 essentialy). I now teach anywhere from pre-k to grade 8, but mostly in the grade 3-8 area. This is a good experience for me.
Lastly, i am glad i am a sub because i simply feel i am too young to be jumping into a career. Careers are big adult things. I don't feel like i'm ready for that just yet. Maybe in a year, but not right now... I have spent my entire life going hellbent in school. I have been in school my entire life, and i won't be leaving school until i retire. Wow. From high school straight to university to subbing to a full time job.... that's a lot of school. I even did school in the summer twice (once in quebec, once as summer classes here). I feel i need to shake things up. My life revolves around either school or Unique (where i have worked since before i was legally allowed to work haha, and still work). Familliarity is nice, but change can be good too. Subbing is the closest to change i am willing to go (and NO for the last time i DON'T want to go teach overseas so people can just stop asking).
On the other hand, i can't wait to have my own class. I can't wait to actually get to know the kids in my class. My classroom management style is not as good as it could be because i have been told I am 'too trusting'(personally, i hate the idea of going into the classroom and assuming that it will go badly). I trust children, it is true. Then again, it also has been remarked that my strongest skill is building strong, lasting, caring relationships witht he students. I think that these relationships are at least partially built on the relationships i build with them from day one. Unfortunately, when subbing i am not around long enough to build a relationship with these students. So, chaos occasionally ensues... The teacher i respect more than any other i've met is my co-op teacher Bev. She is a very sweet, 50 year old woman who acts like a sweet old grandma. I love the way she teaches because she builds her classroom around caring attitudes. She has such a relaxed, loving feeling in her classroom that the children are comfortable to take risks in areas they would otherwise be afraid to try. I want a class like that. I love the way she teaches, and after interning with her for a semester i think i can say i'm quite good at it. Even if it doesn't always work for subbing, i don't want to become a suspicious, jaded, burnt out teacher before i have a classroom of my own. There's a saying among some teachers 'Don't smile till Christmas'... I really very strongly dissagree with that.
There is also the money that comes from teaching. I'm not exactly sure how much a teacher makes, but i am sure it's more than a sub. I know that a teacher doesn't make much, but i'm sure to a girl like me who has no university debts, children or financial responsabilities it will seem like quite a bit. It will also be nice to always know what will be comming. Instead of finding out the morning of, at 7 am, i will find out in august or even sooner what i will work for the entire school year. That is nice...
Wow.... this turned out to be a lot longer than i thought it would be. I am sure there are some of you who didn't actually read the entire thing and are just sort of skimming.... well bear with me. I mostly did this to work out my own thoughts. Haha. University has trained me to write out my thoughts in order to really figure them out. lol I guess i still do it. I still am not exactly sure what i want to happen... do i want a full time job or not? Both have their benifits and drawbacks. I figure i will just sit and wait. I have done my part, now my fate is in the hands of the school board. I have been told that all subs who apply get an interview. I will go to the interview and do my best. I will see what happends. If i get a offered a position, that is great. However, i will be careful as to what position i take. I know the schools around the city, i have subbed at pretty much all of them. I know where i like, and where to avoid. I will see what i am offered. I am not applying outside the city. I would rather stay a sub than leave my home.
So, i have turned in my form and got my references in for a full time position in the fall... I'm not sure how i feel about that. Part of me doesn't really want things to change from the way they are now. I am a very free person as it is. I live from day to day, getting as much work as i can get. As is, life is good. People always ask me why i am subbing, and feel sorry for me that i couldn't get 'a real teaching job'. Personally, i'm not sure i want things to change from the way they are now. I love being a substitute teacher. Not only does it allow me the freedom to have a second job at the florist shop (which i love because it is a nice break, and i love working with the cut flowers). Maybe this summer, i'll talk to gloria about getting some extra training in designing? That would be a neat thing to try. I don't have the time for it now, but i will in the summer... maybe if subbing is slow in early april or if the garden center slows down in june. I would really like to try my hand at designing, as making the arrangements is my favorite part of the job.
Secondly, i love subbing because it entails far less responsability than being a full time teacher. I admit, i am not sure i want to jump right in to teaching with both feet. I love being a teacher, but i would prefer to ease myself into it. Being a full time teacher entails long hours, meetings with staff and parents, planning, preparations... and so much more. As a sub, i more simply show up for the day. I do everything i can for the children while i am there, and then at the end of the day i leave it all at the school and go home. I like being able to live it like seperate lives, and not have my job affect the rest of my life. As a teacher, i know that i will not have as much of this separation.
I am glad i am a sub because i feel i need more experience in order to be the best teacher i can be. I would say of all the skills i need to work on, my classroom management is the weakest. I need to be more firm with students. If anything can teach me to do this, subbing can. As well, i can see new ideas, get used to different grades instead of the very very narrow focus from my degree (pre-k to grade 1 essentialy). I now teach anywhere from pre-k to grade 8, but mostly in the grade 3-8 area. This is a good experience for me.
Lastly, i am glad i am a sub because i simply feel i am too young to be jumping into a career. Careers are big adult things. I don't feel like i'm ready for that just yet. Maybe in a year, but not right now... I have spent my entire life going hellbent in school. I have been in school my entire life, and i won't be leaving school until i retire. Wow. From high school straight to university to subbing to a full time job.... that's a lot of school. I even did school in the summer twice (once in quebec, once as summer classes here). I feel i need to shake things up. My life revolves around either school or Unique (where i have worked since before i was legally allowed to work haha, and still work). Familliarity is nice, but change can be good too. Subbing is the closest to change i am willing to go (and NO for the last time i DON'T want to go teach overseas so people can just stop asking).
On the other hand, i can't wait to have my own class. I can't wait to actually get to know the kids in my class. My classroom management style is not as good as it could be because i have been told I am 'too trusting'(personally, i hate the idea of going into the classroom and assuming that it will go badly). I trust children, it is true. Then again, it also has been remarked that my strongest skill is building strong, lasting, caring relationships witht he students. I think that these relationships are at least partially built on the relationships i build with them from day one. Unfortunately, when subbing i am not around long enough to build a relationship with these students. So, chaos occasionally ensues... The teacher i respect more than any other i've met is my co-op teacher Bev. She is a very sweet, 50 year old woman who acts like a sweet old grandma. I love the way she teaches because she builds her classroom around caring attitudes. She has such a relaxed, loving feeling in her classroom that the children are comfortable to take risks in areas they would otherwise be afraid to try. I want a class like that. I love the way she teaches, and after interning with her for a semester i think i can say i'm quite good at it. Even if it doesn't always work for subbing, i don't want to become a suspicious, jaded, burnt out teacher before i have a classroom of my own. There's a saying among some teachers 'Don't smile till Christmas'... I really very strongly dissagree with that.
There is also the money that comes from teaching. I'm not exactly sure how much a teacher makes, but i am sure it's more than a sub. I know that a teacher doesn't make much, but i'm sure to a girl like me who has no university debts, children or financial responsabilities it will seem like quite a bit. It will also be nice to always know what will be comming. Instead of finding out the morning of, at 7 am, i will find out in august or even sooner what i will work for the entire school year. That is nice...
Wow.... this turned out to be a lot longer than i thought it would be. I am sure there are some of you who didn't actually read the entire thing and are just sort of skimming.... well bear with me. I mostly did this to work out my own thoughts. Haha. University has trained me to write out my thoughts in order to really figure them out. lol I guess i still do it. I still am not exactly sure what i want to happen... do i want a full time job or not? Both have their benifits and drawbacks. I figure i will just sit and wait. I have done my part, now my fate is in the hands of the school board. I have been told that all subs who apply get an interview. I will go to the interview and do my best. I will see what happends. If i get a offered a position, that is great. However, i will be careful as to what position i take. I know the schools around the city, i have subbed at pretty much all of them. I know where i like, and where to avoid. I will see what i am offered. I am not applying outside the city. I would rather stay a sub than leave my home.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Sopranoes Cookbook!
Well... now they've thought of everything. Cookbook 'written' by characters in tv shows... that's awesome.
Actually, it's not that suprising that the sopranoes would release a cookbook. Not only one cookbook, but 2! I swear, that show makes me so hungry! There was one episode where Carmaella (the wife of the main character) gets angry and throws her beautiful beautiful casserole in the garbage.... my stomach almost cried! haha. I wonder if it is actual food that they use in the show? I wonder who gets to eat it after? lol
So, i've surfed the net and found tome pretty good looking recipes. My favorite one i found was on my favorite food blog, The Amateur Gourmet . In case that doesn't work, the link is http://www.amateurgourmet.com/the_amateur_gourmet/. I love his blog because it not only has good recipes, it reviews cool new york restaurants, has fantastic pics and best of all is absolutely HILARIOUS! i love this site, and read it near daily.
So, the recipe i liked best was a recipe for rigatoni and sausage. Check out his step by step recipe, with pictures and even video (and random hilarious remarks) on his blog. It is here... http://www.amateurgourmet.com/the_amateur_gourmet/2006/03/sopranos_saucer.html
Well, i got to go. Talk to you all later....
Actually, it's not that suprising that the sopranoes would release a cookbook. Not only one cookbook, but 2! I swear, that show makes me so hungry! There was one episode where Carmaella (the wife of the main character) gets angry and throws her beautiful beautiful casserole in the garbage.... my stomach almost cried! haha. I wonder if it is actual food that they use in the show? I wonder who gets to eat it after? lol
So, i've surfed the net and found tome pretty good looking recipes. My favorite one i found was on my favorite food blog, The Amateur Gourmet . In case that doesn't work, the link is http://www.amateurgourmet.com/the_amateur_gourmet/. I love his blog because it not only has good recipes, it reviews cool new york restaurants, has fantastic pics and best of all is absolutely HILARIOUS! i love this site, and read it near daily.
So, the recipe i liked best was a recipe for rigatoni and sausage. Check out his step by step recipe, with pictures and even video (and random hilarious remarks) on his blog. It is here... http://www.amateurgourmet.com/the_amateur_gourmet/2006/03/sopranos_saucer.html
Well, i got to go. Talk to you all later....
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Picture Cloud
So, this is a cool link for any of you who have digital cameras. Picture Cloud is a website where you take a bunch of pictures circling around an object, and it creates a 3-D type scan of the object. It looks very easy to do. Kim or mom and dad or grandma, you should try this with your digital cameras. After you take pictures around the object, you load them in and it creates a moving scan around the object, as if you were walking around it yourself. How cool is that? I would do it myself if i had a digital camera. If you have a chance, please do this and post the link so i can see how it turns out. It would be a cool way to show how your place where you live looks, mom or kim. '
Someone try this.
Someone try this.
Mmmm... new music
So, I was talking to ryan, and saying "Ryan, I am very dissapointed with the radio in regina. I want to hear new music, not the same top 40 crap all the time". Ryan then directed me to a website called Pandora . For some strange reason, the link doesn't work. It is at www.pandora.com.
This website is hooked to the Music Genome Project, which is an online project that took contemporary music from all genres (except classical, strangely), and broke it down to 'genomes' or defining characteristics (such as 'strong guitar' or 'accoustic instrumentation' or 'vocalcentric aesthetic'). It says it does not group things by genre, but it has characteristics like 'country roots', 'twang in voice' or 'electronic roots', so they are often grouped by genre in general.
When you open the page, it asks you to type a name of an artist or song that you like. It then creates a playlist for you based on that original song/artist you choose. This is a fully legal (in the states) way to create your own interactive music radio station. It is interactive because with each song you can tell them if you like it or not. If you like it, they will narrow the specifications of what you like in characteristics. If you do not, they will remove it from the playlist and tweak the playlist to avoid some of the characteristics you often don't like. I love it! I especially love how there is no advertising. I loved live365 radio, but i hated the costant commercials. Pandora has ads for itunes along the side of the page, but that is very easily ignored. :) Also, for live 365 you have to download the player. For pandora, there is NO DOWNLOADING, you play it directly from the website.
As far as i can see, there are only three downsides. Firstly, you have to sign up for this. There is a anonymous trial when you first get there, but after some time you have to sign up. But, for a compulsive signer-upper like me (haha, that's so not a word lol), it's not a problem. Secondly, it isn't hooked up to messanger. I love how windows media player hooks up to microsoft messanger and shows what song you are listening to. It's great. Pandora doesn't do that, although it does show the song name on the top name of the page, so you can still see what song it is when the window is minimized. Thirdly, as a minor thing, it is only licenced in the states. They are very careful not to break copyright laws (you cannot make the player play a specific song, it is random like a radio station) but it is only licenced in the states. When you sign up you have to give a zip code. It's not really a big deal, since you can just make one up (mine is 90210 hahaha, the only one i know. For my american and soon to be american family, this is not a problem for you at all. And the rest of us can just make one up. They are very careful about copyright, and i'm sure that if they tried it would be legal here in Canada.
This is the greatest thing for me. I especially like it because i can station and genre hop all i want. Anyone who has been in a car with me knows i am a compulsive station hopper. I jump all over the place. I am shameless in my lack of station loyalty lol. In this, i can jump all over the place with the click of a mouse, no waiting. As well, i can show you guys what i'm listening too. I've created a 'favorites' page, and i can e-mail that to anyone i want or even e-mail my station. Here is the link if you are nosy or just curious haha. This is the eclectic types of music i like I'm loving this :)
If you check this out, make sure you leave a comment. Even if you hate it lol. Let me know what's up.
This website is hooked to the Music Genome Project, which is an online project that took contemporary music from all genres (except classical, strangely), and broke it down to 'genomes' or defining characteristics (such as 'strong guitar' or 'accoustic instrumentation' or 'vocalcentric aesthetic'). It says it does not group things by genre, but it has characteristics like 'country roots', 'twang in voice' or 'electronic roots', so they are often grouped by genre in general.
When you open the page, it asks you to type a name of an artist or song that you like. It then creates a playlist for you based on that original song/artist you choose. This is a fully legal (in the states) way to create your own interactive music radio station. It is interactive because with each song you can tell them if you like it or not. If you like it, they will narrow the specifications of what you like in characteristics. If you do not, they will remove it from the playlist and tweak the playlist to avoid some of the characteristics you often don't like. I love it! I especially love how there is no advertising. I loved live365 radio, but i hated the costant commercials. Pandora has ads for itunes along the side of the page, but that is very easily ignored. :) Also, for live 365 you have to download the player. For pandora, there is NO DOWNLOADING, you play it directly from the website.
As far as i can see, there are only three downsides. Firstly, you have to sign up for this. There is a anonymous trial when you first get there, but after some time you have to sign up. But, for a compulsive signer-upper like me (haha, that's so not a word lol), it's not a problem. Secondly, it isn't hooked up to messanger. I love how windows media player hooks up to microsoft messanger and shows what song you are listening to. It's great. Pandora doesn't do that, although it does show the song name on the top name of the page, so you can still see what song it is when the window is minimized. Thirdly, as a minor thing, it is only licenced in the states. They are very careful not to break copyright laws (you cannot make the player play a specific song, it is random like a radio station) but it is only licenced in the states. When you sign up you have to give a zip code. It's not really a big deal, since you can just make one up (mine is 90210 hahaha, the only one i know. For my american and soon to be american family, this is not a problem for you at all. And the rest of us can just make one up. They are very careful about copyright, and i'm sure that if they tried it would be legal here in Canada.
This is the greatest thing for me. I especially like it because i can station and genre hop all i want. Anyone who has been in a car with me knows i am a compulsive station hopper. I jump all over the place. I am shameless in my lack of station loyalty lol. In this, i can jump all over the place with the click of a mouse, no waiting. As well, i can show you guys what i'm listening too. I've created a 'favorites' page, and i can e-mail that to anyone i want or even e-mail my station. Here is the link if you are nosy or just curious haha. This is the eclectic types of music i like I'm loving this :)
If you check this out, make sure you leave a comment. Even if you hate it lol. Let me know what's up.
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