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Help! Call for Ideas!

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:19:35 GMT

So I'm taking a silly art class that I need to graduate. I cannot think of any ideas for this project:

I need to make a wearable form that both aids the body in some way and restricts it. It doesn't have to work, it just has to be conceptual. One example we were talking about in class that 'is ok' (meaning she wasn't really into it but it fulfilled the basic requirements) is something that enhances the vision but goes over your ears to 'restrict' your hearing.

Any ideas?

What It Feels Like For a Girl

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:24:13 GMT

A short film by one of my favorite people - Hannah Williams. Do share!

What she is saying is very true. I think you'll agree.

missed.

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:58:59 GMT

I hate the Apple store.

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:48:37 GMT

The first time I got my macbook pro fixed due to a malfunctioning CD drive, when I picked it up they had snapped the plastic seam and my computer was not staying shut. They ended up having to replace the entire keyboard and I had to wait for the part to come in.

I was having problems with my screen waking up after sleep and my isight camera did not work all the time. I was out of warranty so this repair would cost me $310. I came into pick this one up and the screen was not right so they said they'd replace it. They did it very quickly and also gave me half off the $310 which was very nice. The original fixed had cleared my computer, but that was not an issue as I have a back up. I haven't had time to reimage the computer until this evening. I turned it on and when I spun it around to plug in my hard drive I noticed something peculiar. Behind the apple logo, on the inside of the computer, is a sticker. A what? (the Genius asks me on the phone) A sticker. Maybe a price tag or a part number. Illuminated very nicely by the soft glow of the Apple logo is a sticker.

I'm furious and frustrated. The part that bothers me the most is that when I turned it on at the store to see if the screen was ok the back of the computer was facing three or four employees and its OBVIOUS something is wrong there and nobody said anything. I don't feel I should have to inspect my computer for ridiculous things like broken binding or stickers on the inside. Things that those so called 'Genius' people should look for. This isn't about platform, I love my computer, this is about quality of customer service and it is really lacking.

/not proofread.

Emmy Running

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:15:15 GMT

Emmy Running
Originally uploaded by Surrock

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:47:52 GMT

Flickr!

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:21:38 GMT

can't sleep

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:20:51 GMT

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:40:42 GMT

Peter and I saw Wall E last night. It was amazing.

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:14:39 GMT

I made $2.13 today.

Tuesday I made $11.87.

Pizza Party

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:04:46 GMT

http://www.verbatimband.com/pizzaparty/

"A half hour of free music recorded in one weekend."

Enjoy.

Back from Iceland

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:58:29 GMT

I'll talk about the trip and wedding later - but have you seen this? It is a theremin shaped like a baby's head. The eyes glow red and it can be yours via this ebay auction.

The Icelandic band TRABANT (myspace) was using one of these on a new years television program. They were just as creepy and weird as the concept of a decapitated baby head theremin with glowing red eyes. We watched the entire performance because we only had two channels.

Enjoy this video of their song "Emotional" which is much better than "Nasty Boy".

Iceland

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:44:39 GMT

The next part of this adventure is called " Erin goes to Iceland ".

The main reason is that we're going to a wedding. Going to some hot springs and New Years celebration will also be fun.

This will be the third year we've spent New Years with the Marl gang. I think I enjoy the weather of the cruise a bit more.

I finally got the photos off the camera but haven't had a chance to sort through them. I'll be back on the third and finished with major traveling so I'm sure they will get put up.

10 pm + 5 hours

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 03:11:33 GMT

I think I'm hungry.

We got back from Rome on the evening of the 24th so here is a little update about Rome.

At 3:30am a car picked us up for the airport. We flew Ryanair from Stansted airport. Ryanair is the cheapest thing possible with no assigned seats and no classes. Stansted is basically the commuter airport a little further out than Heathrow.

I decided not to sleep on Thursday evening since there was no possible way I could wake up and function at 2 am so I napped on the plane. The flight to Rome is about 2 hours, though you lose an hour due to the time difference. I fell asleep but woke about an hour from Rome feeling miserable. There were several failed attempts to go back to sleep until we landed at the airport in Ciampino, which is a 45 min car ride from the city of Rome. As we were going through security and accounting for baggage I continued to feel more ill.

We then had to take a coach to the train station in the center of Rome. During this hour and ten minute ride I tried my hardest to keep myself together. I'm going to say that I'd rather drive a car in London - which is pretty crazy - than anywhere near Rome.

After being released from the hell that was the bus we then walked to our hotel which was on Via Del Corso. The room was not yet ready, and we knew it wouldn't be, and after dropping off our bags and getting a recommendation for a restaurant I soldiered on. I really like Italian food but the forces of nature were just not having it. I tried to eat some soup but only sprite and bread that tasted like saltines were agreeing.

When the room was ready I was allowed to collapse/curl up in my bed while the family wandered around Rome. I believe that they went to trevi fountain, the spanish steps, and the pantheon while I was comatose in the hotel room. When they came back my mom had gotten me an ice cold sprite, a slice of pizza, and some mint chocolate chip gelato. The pizza still wasn't happening.

The next morning we got up at about 6 am (midnight EST) , had some breakfast, and went to the Vatican. I believe I have some nice photos. I was still feeling a little iffy. The weather wasn't too bad - it was warmer than London despite some occasional light rain. After the Vatican museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica we got some lunch.

Lunch gets its own paragraph. My mom loves this book by Rick Steve. He is some guy that writes travel books that every american/canadian buys (or rents I saw a few of those) before they go somewhere. It has suggestions on where to eat when visiting a certain attraction and all sorts of things in it. For lunch we went to this pizza place by the Vatican and it is not a lie that the only people who spoke Italian in the whole place happened to be the people who worked there. I saw at least two couples/groups walk in carrying the blue Rick Steve's Italy book. The food was ok. I was able to eat some pretty plain pasta.

After lunch we walked around for a while, the family took me to all the places they had seen the night before, and I checked up on Emmy since she went to the vet. Then it was dinner time. For dinner we had another Rick Steve's adventure but only one other family there had the book to my knowledge. The place was great. I found my food to be a little salty but that may have been because I was still not 100% well.

After dinner we retired to our hotel room and called it a night - this is about when I felt the cold overtaking the stomach flu. I suppose all that walking around in damp, cold weather did not help.

Another early morning and we were off to the coloseum and palatine hill. Both places were very interesting and pictures will be forthcoming. I dislike how they won't let me go to all the places in ruins. I'd be much happier exploring. The coloseum was first.

Our search for lunch on this day took us to a non rick steve's or any other tourist book place near the coloseum. On the way there I saw some gypsies being arrested because they tried to snatch some huge indian guy's bag but he grabbed them as they ran away and held them until the police came. There is also a photo of this. Oh, and for lunch I had a really good margherita pizza.

Then we went to palatine hill, which is where the emperors' would build their palaces. We walked through a good portion of it but soon I really needed to go back to the hotel and lay down. Mom took me back while dad and Lauren stayed out.

When they got back we went to dinner at a pizzeria where we were the only people who spoke english. It was interesting - seemed to be the neighborhood pizza place where everyone knew the waiters and cooks. I think I may have liked the pizza earlier in the day better but I was also feeling worse at this point.

The next morning I was allowed to sleep in, thankfully. After a good sleep went back to the fountain to see it in the day time and go inside the pantheon since the first time a service was being held. Shortly after we had a car come to take us to the airport for our return flight. All I'm going to say about the car ride was I'm really glad we made it to the airport in one piece.

That was Rome and I promise I'll get around to posting some photos since they are much more interesting.

I just yawned and the muscles in my neck cramped up. Weird. I think I should sleep now, considering it is 3 am here in London. I think I've fallen back into the 'no sleep schedule' from 2000 - 2006.

* this entry has not been spell checked and/or proofread.

Happy Christmas

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 13:15:57 GMT

UMBC Football - Undefeated.

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 01:46:39 GMT

How does a school have a homecoming without a football team? However this happens we had a bonfire and bbq since its homecoming weekend here at UMBC. One of the school's neighbors called the fire department because they thought the top floors of a building were on fire. Here is a video.

After wards we had an outdoor showing of Transformers. I had attended* with some friends and had a lot of fun. Tomorrow there are fireworks and Saturday night we're all going to see Jim Gaffigan.

Sometime this weekend Kitty and I are going to go to the Baltimore Book Thing and I'm going to get free books to read - yay!** We are also going to shoot photos. Eventually we want to do some urban exploration / documentation - anyone know of some cool abandoned sites?

Next weekend there are many Halloween parties. I'm not sure If I can top my costume from last year:

I like it here. The classes are a bit painful but I think they would be anywhere. Overall I'm very happy with the way things are going.

I'm taking a short break from actual content

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:43:34 GMT

This is a 'designer hybrid' dog called a 'Chug'.
Is it called that because it is a mix between a Chihuahua and a Pug OR because its only cute when you chug its weight in beer?

Greetings from Pittsburgh

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:01:15 GMT

I'm in PA helping my sister move and visiting friends until the 10th. I also have family from IL coming for the weekend.

On Wednesday I went to Baltimore and Kitty helped me look for a place to live (a big thanks to her!). I found one: A nice 50's style house very close to UMBC with lots of room. We're at the end of a road that has a handful of houses surrounded by wooded areas. I'm happy with it. I'm relieved I found a place and Katherine said she liked it. I can move in on the 26th.

Happy 7-11!

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:47:22 GMT

In honor of today's date, 7/11, participating stores should be giving out free slurpees. Last year we went on a city wide search in Pittsburgh* for free slurpee. For those of you in Frederick, MD here is a list a 7/11s that might be giving out the delicious sugary beverage:

East Street by the car detailing place - however I was told last year they don't participate
Jefferson Street on the way to the CVS and Dollar Tree shopping center
Rt. 40 by the Fed Ex and Starbucks
Liberty Town on the main road or around the corner from that Gen Next place
Over by Ft. Detrick

Thats all I can think of for now, tell me if I missed one or if you know which ones are participating.

*In Pittsburgh your best bets are the one in downtown nearest the convention center and the one in the Northside by the Subway with the drive thru.

The Future

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 03:38:23 GMT

This is my friend Jeff.

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 03:35:24 GMT

Ana Ng

Mon, 14 May 2007 18:23:04 GMT

Peter, Christian, and I were at a friend's engagement party on Saturday night. On a whim, Christian decided to stay in town for the night, so we cruised over to the studio. We called up Max and Doug and came up with an idea:

"Ana Ng"

Performed by Fly or Die and Verbatim

Written by They Might Be Giants

A cover of the They Might Be Giants classic, which is my favorite. Recorded on a late Saturday night by Verbatim and Fly or Die.

Crystallize

Sun, 06 May 2007 15:59:20 GMT

I'm home for summmer now and that obviously means:

New Picturestore hot off the presses:

"Crystallize"

Picturestore is:
Totally Awesome
Freaking Sweet
Radical, Dude
Trapper Jackson

It has also been added to the myspace: http://www.myspace.com/picturestore

Be ready ladies and gents - there are a lot of filters.

More Picturestore

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:23:59 GMT

I updated Peter's LJ so I'm just copy and pasting them to mine for those who aren't his friend:

Picturestore's follow up to the number one jam-track:

"Glowing Edges"

Picturestore is:
Max Lollar
Trapper Jackson
Peter Hassett
Erin Surrock

Written and recorded in 2.5 hours @ Blue Noise Studios.

If you'd like to play along at home, here are the chord changes:

C-G-F#-C-A-B-C

C--F#-B-G-A-Y

Remember guys, no more freeze king,
Max & Erin

Another Picturestore track, just in case you were already bored with the first two.

"Gaussian Blur"

Picturestore is:
Max Lollar
Trapper Jackson (in Boston by phone)
Peter Hassett
Erin Surrock

Don't forget to check out the new MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/picturestore

Also written and recorded in 2.5 hours @ Blue Noise Studios.

(Just Erin. Max went home.)

Picturestore - Bevel and Emboss

Sat, 28 Apr 2007 23:29:17 GMT

Picturestore's debut track:

Bevel and Emboss

Max Lollar
Trapper Jackson
Peter Hassett
Erin Surrock

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