Markus Schulz: German transplant DJ in Miami
Markus Schulz was brought to the U.S. when he was 13 years old and presently lives in Miami, which is also the home of the Ultra Music Festival. Schulz has wound up in DJMag’s top ten poll of DJs for the fourth year running and has released three albums under his own name as well as a number of mix compilations. Like another world-famous DJ, Armin Van Buuren, Schulz is also well-known from his radio program; his unique style is a blend of the house and trance genres.
His latest album is called Scream and features 23 tracks (including the four bonus tracks), 12 vocal and 11 instrumental. Its sound diverges somewhat from the genre with an unusual toughness and has gotten Schulz the nickname of “Unicorn Slayer” from his audience. The Scream album also features a cover photo of Schulz making a screaming face that has become iconic among his fans.
Markus Schulz comes from a musical background with his father being a drummer, though Schulz says that he got his strong self-discipline from his stepfather. He believes that while his musical talent may be due to his father’s genes, his successful career is due to what he learned from his stepfather. Thus far it has been a stellar career, with Schulz constantly touring and traveling to and from EDM hotspots around the world, including Ibiza, Brazil and the UK.
His present tour is all about promoting the Scream album, as well as an LP by his Dakota alter-ego. The Dakota name is one of the many alternate names he has used throughout his career. The music created under this pseudonym has been helpful in expanding his audience.
Belgium’s Dead Rat’s Ball
Each year in early March, the city of Ostend, Belgium celebrates a three-day festival that brings together drinking, parades and some of the most brilliant costumes that you’ll see anywhere. The festival is known as the Dead Rat’s Ball, though the ball is but one part of the event, albeit the most famous. Activities begin on the first Friday in March and continue through the weekend, each day bringing its own set of entertainments.
On Friday, the festivities begin with a small carnival parade, culminating in the ritual burning of the Tjannie Carbon (a ritual straw doll). From there, a massive pub-crawl begins and people set out with the intention of drinking their fill and having as much fun as possible. Saturday consists of a variety of events, including the popular clog-throwing event. On Sunday, there is the main carnival parade and then the arrival of night brings the ball for which the event is named.
The highlight of the festival is this costumed ball and it brings people from all over to show off their sometimes extravagant costumes. Held at the Kursaal Casino, it begins around 9pm, though the party doesn’t really get started until later. Often, the ball will continue well into the morning hours, with partiers stumbling home only after the sun has come up. In recent years, the ball has attracted more than 5000 people, all partying at once. Prizes are given for the best costumes and masks and the ball features about a half-dozen bands along with more standard DJed music.
People of all ages and from all walks of life come to the Dead Rat’s Ball. For families, the daytime activities can be fun. For the young or younger at heart, the drinking and partying is the main draw. Either way, anyone and everyone is welcome and there are few better places to experience the nightlife of Belgium while meeting some of the most interesting people you’ll ever come across on your journeys. A must-attend event for people who love the unique and aren’t afraid to party 'til dawn.
Blood bricks
Oh sure it may keep you dry and warm, but the masses of hungry predators siting outside the front door licking the walls to death may be an inevitable problem. What am I rambling about you ask? Well it's simple good sirs! Blood bricks. Moreover, bricks consisting of cow's blood.
One architecturally savvy individual with a knack for finding uses for what is considered the largest waste product: Jack Munro Has found a way to take cow's blood, mix it with sand and a few things, and bake it at a low 160 degrees to create bricks! Yes, the bricks are apparently waterproof, and by all accounts, are completely up to code.
While it's a novel way to approach a problem of waste management- to which he should be applauded- I personally am one who is less than impressed, or grossed out, overall. Humans have learned to make things out of all sorts of crazy byproducts. Blood being used as a bonding agent for bricks hardly seems to be outside of the norm.
Brick making is an art thousands upon thousands of years old, and each region has their own way to go about making them. Some more durable than others, but the creativity was there. Too many people forget to that many of the dyes in older clothes came from human urine or some form of fermented animal carcasses. With a cow producing roughly eight gallons of the red stuff while on the way to being made food, I can't imagine the idea hasn't been applied elsewhere in the world before.
The Stuttgart Beer Festival
Twice each year, the city of Stuttgart celebrates one of its oldest beer drinking traditions - Cannstatter Volksfest, known by most as the Stuttgart Beer Festival. The larger of these two events takes place from late September to mid-October while another, smaller version of the festival happens in spring. The main event is spread out over two weeks and features beer, carnival rides and parades. It’s an atmosphere that’s not just for beer drinkers, but can be entertaining for the entire family.
First held in 1818, this festival was put together to celebrate a successful harvest after many years of famine in the region. Since that time, it has seen more than 160 incarnations, leading up to its present day state of fame. An estimated 5 million people now come to Stuttgart to take part in the festival and it has become the second largest beer event in the country.
In typical German fashion, the festival begins with the tapping of the barrels. From there people can enjoy beer from one of the seven large tents, each capable of holding anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 people at one time. The festival features around 70 brands of beer and each tent is completed by music and dance performances to keep drinkers entertained.
Aside from the drinking, there are many other things to do while at the festival. There are carnival rides, haunted houses, parades with floats, music and dancing, a hot air balloon race and a grand fireworks display set to music. And, of course, there is a wide variety of food to accompany all that drinking as well as a market to pick up souvenirs. People everywhere, both locals and tourists, dress up in traditional clothing to help celebrate the event and create its festive atmosphere.
If you plan on attending the Stuttgart Beer Festival, make sure to reserve your tent space ahead of time. They fill up pretty quick and you may get crowded out if you wait too long. And if you prefer the smaller crowds, check out the spring festival instead. Either way, come alone or bring the whole family, because this festival has something for everyone.
Throw out dice for rings
It's always nice when you see that people are still able to come up with good ideas now and then. Putting a new spin on something traditional or a revamp on how to approach something completely. I should rephrase that: it's nice to see people come up with these ideas and actually make progress when it comes to sharing them with the world.
That alone is a difficult task. Kick start projects are a good way to get out there. Basically you present your project and receive donated funds. It's a nice way to get the cash generated to produce something. If there is one thing that could use a revamp, it's the gaming world.One annoying aspect of gaming, more so tabletop is the need to lug around a box, or bag or tub of dice. Not only is there a good chance you don’t have enough of a certain die (IE, you roll 5 d/20- but only have 2 20 sided die, so have to opt for multi rolls) or the die bounce off the table, under furniture and the likes and its a pain.
Yet Dice rings seem like a good alternative. They come in several die types- are made out of stainless steel and spin. They would also be great for my need to fidget with things constantly. There also seems to be a selection of other various "chance-based” rings as well, such as rock, paper, scissors so it's definitely something worth checking out. Makes me wonder how I can load these rolls- er- I mean, I never cheat.
Google rejects your politicos and replaces it with cats.
Not long ago, there was a horrible invention that rocked the world called the Internet. Through this evil device misinformation, half-baked quazi-philosophy and a great many other things found their way to the minds of those of lesser stock-creating legions of followers whom then clung to every word as if it were undeniable truth.
Heroes such as fact check arose to eradicate the darkness, and though they battle on, the overwhelming masses continue to only grow, developing platforms known as “social media sites” to weave their spells of anti-erudite logic. The good high born of the land had no choice but be witness to the tainted nonsense that was until Lord Google rose from his throne and said enough was enough.
To combat the growing issue, Google unleashed an extension for their Chrome browser that turns political threads that find their way onto your Facebook wall or Twitter feed into images of cats. It is a well known fact on the Internet that the best defense against stupidity is a picture of a cat doing something adorable.
Sadly the “Unpolitic.me" is only for Google chrome, those using other browsers will still have to endure the onslaught. I will say- honestly- that when it comes to the land of the web anymore, I really, really can't help but picture a healthy population being “ that guy.” You know, the ones who have been around since the dawn of time with the wood signage tied to their back and front screaming about the end? It's sort of like that. Big difference being the “end is nigh” guys in the bronze age and up tended to use complete words and less semi-L337 or lol cat.
Robo Mickey
It's the oddest damn thing. You find yourself talking to someone about something completely asinine and random, then at some point in the same day, something related to that earlier conversation pops up. This conversation was along the lines of "messed up cross over marketing things.” This would be odd things like “Star Wars Transformers" and other such things. Sure enough later that very day (within an hour actually), I stumbled on this lovely gem.
What we are seeing is Tmaashii Nation's teaser image for "CHOGOKIN KING ROBO MICKEY & FRIENDS." If you don't know what that is, don't feel bad. The picture above should be more than enough to tell you. Long story short: it's a Mickey based Voltron.
Or Mega Zord, or any of those other five million robots that form up with another robot to make an even bigger robot. Before anyone can fall over laughing at what would obviously be one of the foreign knock-offs I have written about in other blogs, let me make you even more confused. This is officially licensed Disney.
Everybody knows Disney is in it now to battle oversized monsters that attack us. I mean who's going to be there to save us all when the evil King Louie unleashes his monkey-naughts to try and steal all our fire? Once he gets fire, his next phase will to try and be like you. Now the questionably epic toy will be first previewed at a Tamashii Nation 2012 event this October 26th to 28th, but you will have to wait until March to get your hands on it.
Denny's cashing in on The Hobbit
Oh, look at that: another movie tie-in by a company in a vein attempt to win over the masses. Will it work? Well OBVIOUSLY it does or they wouldn't continue to keep doing it. The Hobbit is coming out soon enough and naturally, it's time to start the marketing. Just as the title suggests, it's Denny's and a Hobbit themed menu ( for a limited time, mind you) because eventually the age of Hobbits will pass and the time of land whales will return.One thing I'm pondering: How can someone have second breakfast when they serve breakfast all day? It's not really “second” breakfast when the “first” breakfast never technically ended. Am I over thinking this whole thing? Most likely. I will say though that the Radagast's Red Velvet Pancake Puppies actually sound bloody amazing.
By that I mean, they “sound amazing,” which is a big difference from actually being amazing. Also keep an eye out for things like Shire Sausage and Seed Cake French Toast. Sadly there really is nothing Gollum though, he has a keen distaste for cooked things, but he loves his juicy fish. Of all the films to plug, I can't nag them for picking poorly.
I mean Peter Jackson turned Lord of the Rings into epicness and can ride that wave to build up The Hobbit. It's not like the time everyone was trying to plug the Americanized Godzilla. See and this is why this blog covers fails and flames things, all so I can mention the U.S. Godzilla in the same setting as The Hobbit and get away with it.
Full-scale Falcon
Chis Lee is officially in my books the single most brilliant person on the face of the planet (though considering my outlook on the average population of the planet, that may not really be that much of a feat). However, he has won my favor for one reason alone. The magnificent SOB is building a full scale “Yes, he's doing both inside and outside” replica of everyone’s favorite pile of junk Corellian YT-1300: the Millennium Falcon.
So far Chris has only completed the cockpit command console and one of the turrets, but expects the project to take him the next 5 to 7 years to complete. The design they are going off of comes from the DK Ultimate Collection blueprints, which many turn to for most of their geeky need to know specs for SW based craft.
I'm glad he's only expecting it to take five years or so, because he apparently has no clue I'm going to abduct him and have him create a full scale (and fully operational) imperial class Star Destroyer. I bet you thought I was going to say Death Star didn't you?
Naaagh I learned my lesson about those. I have kids, the moment it's done, one of them will come and blow it up. And yes, for those who were curious, he is indeed married. Once more blowing out stereotypes. Now the true test comes with keeping that up while building the Falcon. That and keeping the Mynoks from chewing on the power couplings.
College Stats & Stuff for the SEC (Week Eight)
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE [Scores] [Standings]
Best Wins:
- Florida got a major boost with at 44-11 smackdown of former Gator head man Steve Spurrier and South Carolina. The Gators are now in command of the East Division.
- LSU is on the edge after losing to Florida, but it stayed afloat with a narrow 24-19 win over surprising Texas A&M.
- And it may have come against struggling Auburn, but Vanderbilt got its second SEC win of the year with a 17-13 win.
Stats Smorgasbord:
- Ladarius Perkins of undefeated Mississippi State has moved to the top of the SEC rushing list after four 100-yard games in his last five. He had 125 yards on 20 carries as the Bulldogs went to 7-0 with a non-conference win over Middle Tennessee.
- Right behind Perkins is future Heisman candidate Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M. He has more than 700 yards rushing and is on the verge of getting 2,000 yards passing, after just seven games. He'd be flying up the list if he weren't a freshman, and if Collin Klein of Kansas State weren't doing the same thing for the undefeated Wildcats.
- Alabama remains No. 1 in the nation in total defense, allowing under 200 yards per game (195.7 to be exact).
- And we've been noting every week that the Tide's A.J. McCarron keeps putting up mistake-free stats, keeps leading the conference (and now the nation) in passing efficiency, and keeps getting shut out of Heisman buzz. Well, the last part is finally changing.
Football Factoids:
And here's proof
- ESPN Heisman Watch: 4. McCarron; 10-T. Manziel; 12. Texas A&M defensive lineman Demontre Moore. Manziel's stock dropped a bit after the Aggies' loss to LSU, while McCarron and his interception-free season keeps sneaking up the chart.
- SEC in the AP poll: 1. Alabama; 3. Florida; 6. LSU; 12. Georgia; 13. Mississipi State; 17. South Carolina; 22. Texas A&M.
- SEC in the BCS standings: 1. Alabama; 2. Florida; 6. LSU; 10. Georgia; 11. Mississipi State; 13. South Carolina; 20. Texas A&M.
- The Tide puts its undefeated record on the line against fellow unbeaten Mississippi State, with the Bulldogs at No. 11 in the BCS.
- Florida-Georgia is alway an epic contest, though Georgia's a bit tarnished after losing to South Carolina, which, in turn, got thumped by the Gators. But this week gives the Dawgs a chance to get back in the SEC East picture.
- Arkansas was left for dead, but now has two straight conference wins. They go for three against Ole Miss.
- Missouri still has no SEC wins, but they ought to get their first when they play host to Kentucky.