Remember "Bad Day" by the Canadian musician Daniel Powter? It is a happy, positive-sounding song about having a bad day and was a massive hit back in 2005/2006. "Bad Day" was the biggest single in the United States in 2006, it charted in numerous countries, was the most played song in the United Kingdom during the 2003-2008 period, and earned Powter numerous nominations and awards.
Despite the enormous success of "Bad Day", every single that Powter has released since has flopped. None have reached the Billboard Hot 100, and outside the United States they have struggled to chart...and when they did they reached abysmal positions. His lack of chart success after "Bad Day" was remarkable enough for Billboard to declare him the top one-hit wonder of the 2000s, a feat in itself, but not one that any musician wants to be saddled with.
It is a shame that Powter's work since "Bad Day" has been unsuccessful, but it is even more of a shame that he turned to substance abuse for a period stemming from difficulties handling his sudden fame and being burnt out from constantly having to sing "Bad Day". Fortunately, he has since recovered and moved on from the habit, and is now engaged and has a daughter who is four months old, but it is still saddening and disappointing that he did have an addiction to alcohol and drugs for a time.
Powter is currently working on a new album and has recently released a new single titled "Cupid". Time will tell if his new work will elevate him out of one-hit wonder status, but I hope it does. In the meantime, we can listen to "Bad Day": it is still a brilliant song six years later, will certainly put you in a good mood when you hear it, and will remain in your head for days afterwards (when my brother and I were listening to Heart Cambridge last year, it was the first time we had heard "Bad Day" on the radio frequently since 2006, and that did please us).
Friday, 15 June 2012
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Lovely red rose
I found a picture my brother recently captured of a red rose in our front yard. The picture is absolutely lovely...I definitely had to post it (with his consent as always, of course, it is his image after all!):
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
End of the hospipe bans
Before I turned my computer off last night, it was good to read that most of the remaining hosepipe bans are being lifted today. There has been a significant amount of rain for the United Kingdom since the bans came into effect, and several places have flooded while others are at risk of flooding. Parts of London and the southeast of England will still be under "in drought" status, but here in Northamptonshire and the rest of the nation the hosepipe bans will be ending.
This does not mean that we will resume our previous rate of water consumption. No, if anything the hosepipe ban has taught us to be more economical in the areas where we use water, such as the shower: I now average about three minutes in the shower, down from more than six pre-hosepipe ban. Unfortunately, it does mean that some people will go back to obsessively washing their cars, but we will keep to our work of ensuring we do not use too much water.
It is a relief that the majority of the bans will not be in effect until or beyond Christmas, as had been mentioned a few times in the news. Hopefully with some more rain the remaining in drought areas will soon join the rest of the United Kingdom.
This does not mean that we will resume our previous rate of water consumption. No, if anything the hosepipe ban has taught us to be more economical in the areas where we use water, such as the shower: I now average about three minutes in the shower, down from more than six pre-hosepipe ban. Unfortunately, it does mean that some people will go back to obsessively washing their cars, but we will keep to our work of ensuring we do not use too much water.
It is a relief that the majority of the bans will not be in effect until or beyond Christmas, as had been mentioned a few times in the news. Hopefully with some more rain the remaining in drought areas will soon join the rest of the United Kingdom.
Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Frog with a hat
Similar to "Mug with a hat", this is my ornamental cowboy frog with that same Jubilee hat. I was not planning to post this image, but someone else liked it and thought it was cute so I changed my mind:
Monday, 11 June 2012
About the "Who's On Heart" competition
For the past few months the Heart radio stations have been holding the "Who's On Heart" competition. In a nutshell, people have to guess the three celebrities saying the words "who's", "on", and "heart" (a different celebrity says each word) to win cash prizes. The competition has been immensely difficult, and a series of clues have been given to help speed up the process.
At present, only one name has been uncovered; a lady named Katie O'Brien correctly guessed Tina Turner as one of the three and she won £5,000 from her answer. If someone guesses a second question they will win £20,000, and if someone guesses all three they will win £60,000. From what I understand, even though Tina Turner has already been guessed, people still have to say her name to win the £60,000.
With the clues and incentives, about two months ago a list of all the wrong guesses was revealed on the Heart website, and the £50,000 jackpot was increased to £60,000. It was announced this morning on Heart that the prize for guessing a second name was increased from £10,000 to £20,000; in addition, the woman who says "heart" is apparently an actress, the person saying "on" is a man, and Tina Turner says the word "who's". This last clue was a surprise, as nearly everyone assumed "who's" to be said by a man, and the voices were always thought to be two men and one woman, but it is actually two women and one man. However, when my father first heard the three voices he did state that "who's" sounded as though it was being spoken by a woman, and it seems he was right on that.
In reading a few online discussions about the competition I was unsurprised but still disappointed to see that some people are angry/bored that it has gone on for such a lengthy amount of time, have "given up" on it, or just believe that it is rigged. I think it has been a fascinating competition so far, and the recent release of information only makes it all the more interesting. Anger at the competition because no one has identified all three celebrities is both pointless and unnecessary.
A list of all the incorrect names can be found here, and a clip of the voices is here.
At present, only one name has been uncovered; a lady named Katie O'Brien correctly guessed Tina Turner as one of the three and she won £5,000 from her answer. If someone guesses a second question they will win £20,000, and if someone guesses all three they will win £60,000. From what I understand, even though Tina Turner has already been guessed, people still have to say her name to win the £60,000.
With the clues and incentives, about two months ago a list of all the wrong guesses was revealed on the Heart website, and the £50,000 jackpot was increased to £60,000. It was announced this morning on Heart that the prize for guessing a second name was increased from £10,000 to £20,000; in addition, the woman who says "heart" is apparently an actress, the person saying "on" is a man, and Tina Turner says the word "who's". This last clue was a surprise, as nearly everyone assumed "who's" to be said by a man, and the voices were always thought to be two men and one woman, but it is actually two women and one man. However, when my father first heard the three voices he did state that "who's" sounded as though it was being spoken by a woman, and it seems he was right on that.
In reading a few online discussions about the competition I was unsurprised but still disappointed to see that some people are angry/bored that it has gone on for such a lengthy amount of time, have "given up" on it, or just believe that it is rigged. I think it has been a fascinating competition so far, and the recent release of information only makes it all the more interesting. Anger at the competition because no one has identified all three celebrities is both pointless and unnecessary.
A list of all the incorrect names can be found here, and a clip of the voices is here.
Sunday, 10 June 2012
The 2005 me on phones (2)
As a follow-up to my post on my 2005 opinion on mobile phones, there is one other point worth mentioning on the subject,
A few weeks ago, for the first time ever I received a text while having dinner, and as was expected my phone alerted me about the text. I was slightly embarrassed by my phone going off in the middle of the meal (I had forgotten to switch it to vibrate), but everyone just laughed and carried on eating. I checked the message and responded after we had finished.
I saw the funny side of this, because I used to really dislike it when someone's phone went off during a meal, regardless of whether the person answered it or not. In all fairness it does depend on the situation: in that particular case my phone went off but I did not respond until after dinner was finished (only a few minutes away); I think I would have received objections if I had texted back while others were still eating. Since then I have received a few more texts during mealtimes, and in most cases I respond immediately after finishing.
Unless I was expecting something important (not general chit-chat), I would not answer an actual call during a meal. I would not want anyone whom I was speaking to in person and having dinner with to feel as though they are less worthy to talk to than someone on a phone. This is not something that has happened to me, but I have heard about it being done to others.
It a nutshell, I am no longer bothered by a person who frequently (but briefly) checks their phone or receives a text/call when speaking. The former is what I do with my phone and the latter has happened to me...it would be hypocritical to be offended when someone does something that I do!
A few weeks ago, for the first time ever I received a text while having dinner, and as was expected my phone alerted me about the text. I was slightly embarrassed by my phone going off in the middle of the meal (I had forgotten to switch it to vibrate), but everyone just laughed and carried on eating. I checked the message and responded after we had finished.
I saw the funny side of this, because I used to really dislike it when someone's phone went off during a meal, regardless of whether the person answered it or not. In all fairness it does depend on the situation: in that particular case my phone went off but I did not respond until after dinner was finished (only a few minutes away); I think I would have received objections if I had texted back while others were still eating. Since then I have received a few more texts during mealtimes, and in most cases I respond immediately after finishing.
Unless I was expecting something important (not general chit-chat), I would not answer an actual call during a meal. I would not want anyone whom I was speaking to in person and having dinner with to feel as though they are less worthy to talk to than someone on a phone. This is not something that has happened to me, but I have heard about it being done to others.
It a nutshell, I am no longer bothered by a person who frequently (but briefly) checks their phone or receives a text/call when speaking. The former is what I do with my phone and the latter has happened to me...it would be hypocritical to be offended when someone does something that I do!
Saturday, 9 June 2012
An updated game of "Run Off"
I previously wrote about how my brother and I now play Run Off using the 2010 Census rather than with the game's native 1990 Census. A recent game of it was played over two days, and I took a picture of the board on the night we had to stop. This is what the game looks like under our method of playing:
Note all the pieces of paper to highlight the new census figures. They look annoying but they actually are very useful and give us the opportunity to play using the modern census. This was what the game looked like at the end:
The game ended at 272-266, with my brother narrowly winning. It should be noted that if we had played using the 1990 Census, my brother worked out that I would have won, and with an even slimmer margin at 270-268.
Friday, 8 June 2012
Mug with a hat
Here is a picture of the hat I was given at the Jubilee; I placed it on a mug to ensure that a significant amount of the hat was in the image and so the flash did not wash out all the colours by reflecting off the hat:
I think this photograph turned out well. On an unrelated note, I will have a follow-up to yesterday's post either tomorrow or the day after: I have been busy this afternoon and only have time to post this.
Thursday, 7 June 2012
The 2005 me on phones
As I have written about previously, during the last Christmas season I received a mobile phone. When I was first given the phone I did not anticipate on using it much; however, for the last few months I have found my phone to be extremely useful, with texting and its stopwatch being the two features I use almost daily. In addition, I have my phone on me almost all the time, as people who have my number know that it is the quickest way to contact me.
This is a huge contrast to the 2005 me...a person who mocked mobile phones and declared that he "would never text because it was stupid". He saw little reason for people to need anything other than a landline, and he never wanted his own mobile phone. If you told him that one day he would not only be texting with other people but also be constantly carrying his mobile phone around with him, he would likely not have believed you; and if you had given him a phone he would have been highly offended.
It should also be noted that where he lived he was outside the range of the local cell phone towers, and thus, any such phones did not have service. It is possible that this factor had an effect on his opinion.
Okay, I will stop referring to myself in the third person now, but the Andrew of 2005-2006 was a vastly different person to who I am today. I am glad I moved on and grew beyond what I used to think about mobile phones and texting (as well my opinions on an array of other topics, but that is off-topic): after all, they are another form of communicating with people, and texting is a brilliant medium for sending a short message to somebody when you need to contact them quickly but would rather not disturb them with a phone call (not to mention that texting back and forth with someone is fun in itself).
Even eight months ago I still did not really have a use for a mobile phone (but I was not hostile to them or to owning one), but now that I have one it is hard to imagine not having one again!
This is a huge contrast to the 2005 me...a person who mocked mobile phones and declared that he "would never text because it was stupid". He saw little reason for people to need anything other than a landline, and he never wanted his own mobile phone. If you told him that one day he would not only be texting with other people but also be constantly carrying his mobile phone around with him, he would likely not have believed you; and if you had given him a phone he would have been highly offended.
It should also be noted that where he lived he was outside the range of the local cell phone towers, and thus, any such phones did not have service. It is possible that this factor had an effect on his opinion.
Okay, I will stop referring to myself in the third person now, but the Andrew of 2005-2006 was a vastly different person to who I am today. I am glad I moved on and grew beyond what I used to think about mobile phones and texting (as well my opinions on an array of other topics, but that is off-topic): after all, they are another form of communicating with people, and texting is a brilliant medium for sending a short message to somebody when you need to contact them quickly but would rather not disturb them with a phone call (not to mention that texting back and forth with someone is fun in itself).
Even eight months ago I still did not really have a use for a mobile phone (but I was not hostile to them or to owning one), but now that I have one it is hard to imagine not having one again!
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
The orange moon
I took this picture the other night of the Moon while it was full; what is fascinating about this particular image, however, is that the Moon was orange during that night:
It may have been caused from some fires (the smoke), but regardless it is spectacular to see an orange Full Moon!
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
Jubilee street party images
Here are twelve photographs that I took of the Diamond Jubilee street party, where both myself and my brother were in attendance yesterday afternoon. All images were taken with my main camera:
We arrived at the party around its starting time, and this image was taken shortly afterwards. At this point there were several clouds in the sky, and it had rained a little over a couple of hours before; the weather got better as the afternoon progressed.
The weather had improved substantially by this shot: the sun was out and the dark clouds had almost entirely moved away by then.
Cake time! There was a delicious selection of muffins, cupcakes, and pieces of regular cakes; as lovely as it all looked I decided to have only one piece of cake, though!
A perspective looking "down" the table. Between 200-300 people were expected at the event but there was room for 600 if necessary. I would guess that there were around 250 people there.
Now a perspective looking "up" the table.
Another perspective looking up the table.
This is at roughly three-quarters the way up the party. Some people decided to place their chairs on the corner!
I was standing in a similar position to where I was in the previous image, but looking down again. Note that some people have party hats...I was given one, too (still have the hat)!
I had to post a picture of the piece of cake I ate during the party; since this was at the Jubilee, I think it can be described as scrumptious!
This was taken when I sat down; in this picture I am looking up the table, and behind me were only a few people and empty seats (the end of the party was approaching).
Similar to the previous picture, just significantly more zoomed it.
At slightly past 5:00 in the evening the party came to a close, and this was one of the last pictures I took of the event. In this image the chair are in the process of being folded and taken away.
As for some of the events that took place at the party, a game called "pass the parcel" was played, there was a fancy dress contest and judging, and there was a raffle, but for the most part people just talked and ate; in addition, throughout the party there was music playing (which turned out to be an important piece of pass the parcel, for whenever the music stopped the parcel was opened).
Both my brother and myself are glad we attended, and we are honoured that we were a part of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in some form (it was our first Jubilee, as we did not celebrate her Golden Jubilee ten years ago).
As for some of the events that took place at the party, a game called "pass the parcel" was played, there was a fancy dress contest and judging, and there was a raffle, but for the most part people just talked and ate; in addition, throughout the party there was music playing (which turned out to be an important piece of pass the parcel, for whenever the music stopped the parcel was opened).
Both my brother and myself are glad we attended, and we are honoured that we were a part of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in some form (it was our first Jubilee, as we did not celebrate her Golden Jubilee ten years ago).
Monday, 4 June 2012
Jubilee street party
I have recently come back from a street party celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. I have not yet had time to sort through the pictures I took this afternoon, but when I do I shall be posting a few of them here.
Sunday, 3 June 2012
Two years
My family and I have now been back in the United Kingdom for two entire years. This is the first June in a few years where we are not in the process of moving: in June 2009 we were making preparations to return to the United Kingdom, in June 2010 we returned here, and in June 2011 we were moving from Cambridgeshire to Northamptonshire. It is a relief to not be currently worrying about moving.
Another difference is that June 3rd for those past three years has been a sunny/cloudy day, whereas today it has been raining. My brother and I went out for a walk earlier, despite the continuous rain, as I have managed to take a walk every day for this past week and I was not going to stop today. I have found in interesting that the week began with hot weather and now its cold outside; hopefully some warmer weather will return soon.
The past couple of years have not exactly been perfect for us, but we are still relatively "new" to this country and there are plenty of things we have to do/are still working on. In the immediate future we do have quite a few things to look forward to this coming summer, and I will be sure to write about them here.
Another difference is that June 3rd for those past three years has been a sunny/cloudy day, whereas today it has been raining. My brother and I went out for a walk earlier, despite the continuous rain, as I have managed to take a walk every day for this past week and I was not going to stop today. I have found in interesting that the week began with hot weather and now its cold outside; hopefully some warmer weather will return soon.
The past couple of years have not exactly been perfect for us, but we are still relatively "new" to this country and there are plenty of things we have to do/are still working on. In the immediate future we do have quite a few things to look forward to this coming summer, and I will be sure to write about them here.
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Winning the (chocolate coin) gold medal
I have done it! Before the Olympics have even started I have a gold medal! I feel so pleased to have received it, and it really made my day. I thought it was very tasty, too, as it was made of chocolate:
The "medal" was one of two chocolate coins Dad picked up at work yesterday.
Friday, 1 June 2012
"Sitting Down Here" - Lene Marlin
A couple of weeks ago my friend Jenny, as a part of her Song of the Day series, posted on her blog about the song "Sitting Down Here" by Lene Marlin. Jenny wrote that it is one of those songs that you would recognise when you hear it, and sure enough, when I listened to the track I knew that I had heard it somewhere before although I could not recall where and when I had first heard it.
I have listened to "Sitting Down Here" several times since Jenny posted the link! It is a beautiful song and Marlin has a really lovely voice. As I honestly do not remember where I first heard the track, I am glad I was re-introduced to it. I had a look on Amazon.co.uk and the album that "Sitting Down Here" comes from, Playing My Game, is available for purchase there.
I recommend checking out Jenny's Song of the Day blog series: she has posted some great songs from/given spotlight to artists that a lot of people have likely not heard about before.
I have listened to "Sitting Down Here" several times since Jenny posted the link! It is a beautiful song and Marlin has a really lovely voice. As I honestly do not remember where I first heard the track, I am glad I was re-introduced to it. I had a look on Amazon.co.uk and the album that "Sitting Down Here" comes from, Playing My Game, is available for purchase there.
I recommend checking out Jenny's Song of the Day blog series: she has posted some great songs from/given spotlight to artists that a lot of people have likely not heard about before.
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