Pages of my Notebook

Wednesday 31 August 2011

What Is Happening To Music?

I was looking over my posts and I realized: My slogan is Lifestyle. Opinion. Reviews. Links. A Typical Notebook. The problem is, I haven't had very much opinion in the past few posts. So this is where I am going to make a change.

Go on to the iTunes store. Look at the Top Charts. What do you see? Yes, you see a numbered list of songs. And it is an achievement to be on that numbered list of songs. But what is behind that numbered list of songs?

For one thing, it's autotune. Autotune. The deadly tuning technology. The deadly tuning technology that tells a genuinely untalented person they can be on that numbered list of songs. Note I did not say that all the artists on the Charts are untalented, in fact many have a wonderful passion and talent for music, but anyone feels can wail into a microphone, autotune it, and voila, they are the artists of tomorrow. Which is what is happening.

Sure, not all artists use autotune. Most of them do. But if they don't, they usually have loud background music covering up their voices. I am not saying that all artists with a backing track to their song are terrible. But the main part should be the singing and meaning of the lyrics rather than a deafening beat. And at this time of writing, the number one album on the charts is called Nothing But The Beat. See what I mean?
I am going a little bit off topic here, but why is so much music about music? Have songwriters run out of ideas? But music should not be all about, well...music. If you know what I mean.

Sorry for that slight interruption. But I thought I would add that in. So, as I was saying, the number of people saying "Oh, my favourite song is..." and that song just so happens to be the most bought song in the country- has undoubtedly increased. Which means more and more people have a quick check of iTunes before they leave the house, remember number 1 or 2, and if anyone asks- just repeat the name of the song that is number 1 or 2. So musical talent has not only become exploited through a lot of modern music, but music is becoming less judged on quality than on it's rating on the charts.

To summarise, I am not a hater of modern Pop/Rap music. In fact, I actually like it. And there are some very talented artists out there, that are being recognised for the wrong reasons. But I think that music is being exploited, when it is there to be enjoyed, or as a form of art. Sorry that this post has been so negative. Thank you for reading.

Cari.

Monday 29 August 2011

GoApe!

Today I went to GoApe!
GoApe is a chain of high rope courses, which has 27 different locations.
You start off with a 30 minute safety brief, a quick turn on the practice course and you are left to your own devices! The parks have 5 sites (including the practice one). I will point out the Highlights:

Highlight #1. The Scenery
The place that these courses are set in are breathtaking. Plus, you get to Zipwire through (and sometimes above!) the beautiful area.

Highlight #2. The Rings
Although this part is optional (as are all the obstacles rated Extreme), I took this route and never regretted it. Around 8-10 rings hang from ropes, and you have to try and get across by stepping through them. It might be slightly frustrating, but you will love it.

Highlight #3. The Tarzan Swing
I don't think anyone would leave this out if they were pointing out the highlights of GoApe. It may seem terrifying at first glance, but once you are off the platform (and possibly screaming) you will have the time of your life. There is a Huge drop, so you will feel like you're flying. At the end, you are flung into a giant rope net, which you then climb up. There is an alternative if you can't bring yourself to step off the platform, as this is another Extreme rated activity.

Highlight #4. The Wobbly Bridge
Although this isn't too difficult, it is great fun trying to run across- before falling off to one side! Challenge your friends or relatives to see who can run across the wobbly bridge the furthest without falling off. GoApe is still a great activity to do on your own, so try to not hold on when you go across or attempt to run across without falling off!

Highlight #5. The Net
Another obstacle which is moderately easy, I liked the net because it was an activity that you could just swing in mid-air and enjoy the view down through the ropes. Alternitavely, you could run across really fast and fall to the sides with the nets there to push you back up!

Highlight #6. The Zipwires
I decided to put this at the end because at the end of every site, there was a zipwire to take you back to the ground. The zipwires are breathtaking, yet they only last a few seconds. Look down and you'll see the striking scenery, look ahead and you'll see the great height you have just stepped from, or encouraging family and friends waving down at you!

I would undoubtably reccomend GoApe, even if you are scared of heights as it may help you conquer your fear. It is an astonishing experience guarenteed to take your breath away. Be sure to bring  camera!

Click Here to visit the GoApe website.

Cari.

Saturday 27 August 2011

The Smurfs

Yes, you can find a review of The Smurfs' App at something along the lines of Apps.com (click the link for a proper technology site review), but read mine anyway. Compare it. But I am doing more than the app. This may turn out to be a Lo-ong post.


The Smurfs' Movie
Hopefully I shall be going to see the Smurf's Movie soon (I'll write a proper review for that.) But my friends (who have seen it) say it's:
Quotes:
"Amazinggg," via Skype
"Great," in Conversation
"Awesome," in Conversation


So i'm guessing, it's going to be terrible. Not!
It will probably be really awesome. I technically haven't read the online reviews but i'll take my friends' word for it.


The Smurfs' App
Brilliant Graphics, Planting/Harvesting Crops, Awesome Little Blue People walking around- It has to be The Smurfs' App. The time it takes to grow crops ranges from just 30 seconds to 24 hours, so it will be pretty flexible in contrast to your busy, busy schedule. Crops take the same amount of time as it took to grow them to wither in case an addition to your To-Do List pops up, but a notification is availible to inform you when your crops are about to wither. At level 14, you unlock Flower Boxes and seeds, and as you level up, the amount/type of seeds you can plant increase. Plants on Magic Shrubs take from 24 to 120 hours to grow, byt they never wither. There are also a selection of games availible at various levels, and they are very addicting! I would definetly reccomend this App.


The Cartoons/Comics
Retro, dating back from the late 1950's. The figurines were also invented a year later. You can still see some episodes on YouTube of the smurfs, click Here to watch one. They feature Gargamel, an evil wizard, along his sidekick cat, Azreal, as the sworn enemies of the Smurfs.


Click on the Links:
Smurfette
Greedy Smurf
Brainy Smurf
Farmer Smurf
Baby Smurf
Clumsy Smurf
Handy Smurf
Painter Smurf
Papa Smurf
Lazy Smurf
Grouchy Smurf
Vanity Smurf
Jokey Smurf
Hefty Smurf
Gargamel & Azrael
Alternatively, you could always go to the Smurfs' Website


Feel free to express your opinion on this post. I appriciate your feedback.


Cari.

PS:I Used Smurf Colour :-)!!!!!

Special Guest Feature

From Didi:
Aloha.
About me:
I live on the earth, and am probably not your next door neighbour. I eat cookies and other stuff. Vegetables and me had an argument when I was in third grade so unfortunately I dont eat much of that.
But I'm happy. So that paid off. I like cookies, candy, and things that go bump in the night. I do not like my sister. I am not your typical person because my eyes are bright pink and my face is green and blue striped. Don't tell anybody, but I actually have orange hair. But I dyed it Purple. I like onions.

WHICH OF THE ABOVE FACTS IS NOT TRUE?

a) Vegetables and me had an argument in third grade
b) I live on the Earth
c) I have bright pink eyes and stripy skin
d) I like onions.




Yes, you got it right!! I dont like onions! *

Didi!


I am responsible for the sentence "From Didi"
C@r1
I am not holding any liability for the comment below.
Cari (the normal way)







*-This probably isnt true. Probably.

Welcome to Cari's Notebook.

Cari's Notebook is a Lifestyle Blog. It includes different aspects of a Lifestyle, and you are free to comment on it. Before I go, I would like to give credit to my friend Didi for helping me with the name. I look forward to reading your feedback.

Cari, The creator of Cari's Notebook.