Gamers Are Cultured
Today (Sunday) was perfect beach weather: clear skies, not too humid and breezless. Naturally I spent the whole day sitting indoors working on my big Media assignment. However, I did finish the 35-page monster today- I have no idea how long it was supposed to be, but they’re academics. It’s their job to read.
After I edit the essay tomorrow, it will be over. That is, except for the presentation next week. And except for marking 34 First Year English exam essays.
I’m looking forward to the second half of the week. Paul will have handed his Honour Project in by then so he should have returned, at least partially, to his happy joker self. He’s a hermit grump when he has stressful academic work to do.
We’re going to the Barnyard Theatre on Thursday evening for the Mainport Africa Christmas function. Paul does tech support for the company and naturally I am doing the girlfriend leech thing and tagging along. I really find it amusing that the company is so good to its employees. Not only is the evening’s entertainment free, so is the food and drinks, and transport has been arranged for people intending to get smashed.
I just think back to Evil Corp last year. Granted we did have a very nice free lunch at the Hops & Barley, but our Christmas treat was a tin of crunchies each, of which only the chocolate-coated ones were vaguely palatable. Yahoo!
But I digress. Although I have done no socialising at all in the past week, on Saturday evening this week Paul and I, along with G and Shirley, glammed ourselves up in evening gowns and suits, and went to the Durban Pops. The Durban Pops is an annual music event hosted by the Kloof Rotary Club and Miladys. Inspired by the famous Boston Pops, the Durban Pops is an evening of classical music for the masses. Famous classical music pieces, as well as samples from operas and old musicals are played along with classical music renditions of pop songs. These are performed by the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra as well as assorted guest soloists.
The conductor’s name, for the record, is, rather unfortunately, Richard Cock.
I’ll admit I didn’t know as much of the music played as in 2004, but some of the known pieces included an Abba Medley, Caravans, the Can Can, the Pink Panther film theme, the Habanera from Carmen, Kenny G’s Going Home and a Grease Medley.
Classical music played by a live orchestra is amazing. I admit I switched off for a while fantasising about a Movie Themes Only event, and the orchestra performing John Williams’s Star Wars theme, followed by pieces by James Horner, Danny Elfman, Howard Shore, Harry Gregson-Williams and, of course, the brilliant Hans Zimmer. Now those are my composers.
Shirley, G, Paul and myself were probably among the youngest people there. I just thought it was cool though that our tastes are so eclectic. Shirley listens to all kinds of music, G and myself have an especially fondness for film scores, and Paul, regardless of how much he raves about KillSwitch and Ill Nino, actually listens to the Classical Chill Out double CD when he is working on his PC. So I think it’s proof that we techy pop culture sponges do have more depth than people often give our generation credit for. Our tastes are diverse, and we can appreciate cultural products that are over 25 years old.
Ultimately, apart from buffet guzzling, where we had to perfect the art of stacking 10+ snacks in a single upturned palm, I felt we were very good representative of our kind.
In other bits ‘n’ pieces:
1) Buy the December issue of PC Format.
2) These past few weeks I’ve been watching the Sunday episode of South African Idols. Normally I just watch the 30 min voting results show on a Monday. Anyway, the final is coming up next Sunday and I feel the need now to resort to a little grandstanding.
Vote for Nicky. No contestant has impressed me as much as this teenager from the Orange Free State. She has the most amazing voice, especially when singing ballads. Besides, she gets my vote alone for singing Evanescence’s ‘My Immortal’, and admitting she listens to metal before she goes onstage to perform.
Karen can not win. She is an accomplished singer but she is so dull. She has about as much personality as that mole on her upper lip.
Think about the X-factor, South Africa.
3) Westlife are amazing. Now that is X-factor!
4) We have a new alarm system with an expensive outdoor sensor. And it turns out that fat geckos like to slither over, presumably warm, outdoor sensors and set the alarm off.
5) Anyone who wants to go in for Ash’s bday present, needs to contact me.
After I edit the essay tomorrow, it will be over. That is, except for the presentation next week. And except for marking 34 First Year English exam essays.
I’m looking forward to the second half of the week. Paul will have handed his Honour Project in by then so he should have returned, at least partially, to his happy joker self. He’s a hermit grump when he has stressful academic work to do.
We’re going to the Barnyard Theatre on Thursday evening for the Mainport Africa Christmas function. Paul does tech support for the company and naturally I am doing the girlfriend leech thing and tagging along. I really find it amusing that the company is so good to its employees. Not only is the evening’s entertainment free, so is the food and drinks, and transport has been arranged for people intending to get smashed.
I just think back to Evil Corp last year. Granted we did have a very nice free lunch at the Hops & Barley, but our Christmas treat was a tin of crunchies each, of which only the chocolate-coated ones were vaguely palatable. Yahoo!
But I digress. Although I have done no socialising at all in the past week, on Saturday evening this week Paul and I, along with G and Shirley, glammed ourselves up in evening gowns and suits, and went to the Durban Pops. The Durban Pops is an annual music event hosted by the Kloof Rotary Club and Miladys. Inspired by the famous Boston Pops, the Durban Pops is an evening of classical music for the masses. Famous classical music pieces, as well as samples from operas and old musicals are played along with classical music renditions of pop songs. These are performed by the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra as well as assorted guest soloists.
The conductor’s name, for the record, is, rather unfortunately, Richard Cock.
I’ll admit I didn’t know as much of the music played as in 2004, but some of the known pieces included an Abba Medley, Caravans, the Can Can, the Pink Panther film theme, the Habanera from Carmen, Kenny G’s Going Home and a Grease Medley.
Classical music played by a live orchestra is amazing. I admit I switched off for a while fantasising about a Movie Themes Only event, and the orchestra performing John Williams’s Star Wars theme, followed by pieces by James Horner, Danny Elfman, Howard Shore, Harry Gregson-Williams and, of course, the brilliant Hans Zimmer. Now those are my composers.
Shirley, G, Paul and myself were probably among the youngest people there. I just thought it was cool though that our tastes are so eclectic. Shirley listens to all kinds of music, G and myself have an especially fondness for film scores, and Paul, regardless of how much he raves about KillSwitch and Ill Nino, actually listens to the Classical Chill Out double CD when he is working on his PC. So I think it’s proof that we techy pop culture sponges do have more depth than people often give our generation credit for. Our tastes are diverse, and we can appreciate cultural products that are over 25 years old.
Ultimately, apart from buffet guzzling, where we had to perfect the art of stacking 10+ snacks in a single upturned palm, I felt we were very good representative of our kind.
In other bits ‘n’ pieces:
1) Buy the December issue of PC Format.
2) These past few weeks I’ve been watching the Sunday episode of South African Idols. Normally I just watch the 30 min voting results show on a Monday. Anyway, the final is coming up next Sunday and I feel the need now to resort to a little grandstanding.
Vote for Nicky. No contestant has impressed me as much as this teenager from the Orange Free State. She has the most amazing voice, especially when singing ballads. Besides, she gets my vote alone for singing Evanescence’s ‘My Immortal’, and admitting she listens to metal before she goes onstage to perform.
Karen can not win. She is an accomplished singer but she is so dull. She has about as much personality as that mole on her upper lip.
Think about the X-factor, South Africa.
3) Westlife are amazing. Now that is X-factor!
4) We have a new alarm system with an expensive outdoor sensor. And it turns out that fat geckos like to slither over, presumably warm, outdoor sensors and set the alarm off.
5) Anyone who wants to go in for Ash’s bday present, needs to contact me.
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