Shit I See On Netflix- Cashback (2007)

Netflix became available in Canada in September of 2010.  At that time I was excited to see what it had to offer, so I subscribed fairly quickly after that.  The pickings were slim at first, but they were enough to keep me going for a couple of months before I ended my subscription.

Just a little while ago I decided to give Netflix another try, and was pleasantly surprised with the selection.  There are many excellent films and TV series available for viewing, and I think I’ll continue to subscribe to the service.   What I like about Netflix is the fact that there are a number of truly excellent films I end up watching that I probably would never have come across elsewhere.   It’s worth the small monthly charge for that reason alone.

Cashback is the 2007 debut feature film from director Sean Ellis.  The plot centers around a Ben Willis (Sean Biggerstaff) an art student who is dealing with a recent breakup.  As a result of the breakup Ben develops a case of insomnia which prevents him from getting any sleep at all.  Ben decides to use his new-found free time to take up a night shift at his local Sainsbury’s (a British supermarket).  His egotistical “big fish, small pond” boss and classic slacker co-workers add to this film’s quirkiness and lightness.  Ben soon discovers that he has a unique ability to freeze and restart time although the film leaves the actual technicalities of this purposefully vague.  This allows Ben’s art to flourish and he soon develops a new love interest in the form of Sharon (Emilia fox).

The film is light, quirky and intelligent.   It does take a little while to get into it, but once you do you’re hooked.  The cinematography is stunning, and the acting is convincing.  It was quite enjoyable to watch.  I give it an 8/10 and highly recommend that all of you watch it.

Planet Waves NS Pro Capo Review

I’ve used a few different kinds of capo.  Most of my experience has been with the standard trigger design, but I have used the strap on kind as well.  A few weeks ago I lost the trigger design capo that I have been using for years, I wasn’t to upset because I had never been happy with it.  You see, the standard trigger design capos tend to have too much tension which can really affect the accuracy of your intonation.  I always found mine adequate for acoustic guitar, but just horrible on electric.

I picked up the Planet Waves NS Pro Capo from my local music shop while I was on my way to a jam session.  It’s first duty was to hold down the fourth fret of my open-G tuned telecaster for a play through the Rolling Stones’ “Tumbling Dice”.  I was immediately impressed with its performance.   It was easy to put on with one hand, you just put it over the neck at the desired fret and tighten the knob until the strings stop buzzing.  This allows you to apply just the right amount of tension to the strings, therefore giving you accurate intonation.

The capo is sleek-looking and very light.  I didn’t even notice the extra weight on my neck.  It also seems very durable, but only time will be able to tell for sure.

I would recommend this product to any guitarist who wants an affordable, easy to use and very precise capo.

Why I bought an iPhone: A Story of Impulse Purchases and Addiction

In order to truly understand why I bought an iPhone we must start about two years before my purchasing decision.

I was in search of a simple cell phone to keep in contact with my family, friends, and colleagues easier. After not so careful consideration I settled on Rogers as a carrier. Looking past the smart phones I spied a cheap Sony Erickson flip phone; 0$ on a 3 year contract. I was sold. It was a simple cellphone with a built-in mp3 player, and low-res camera. The sales consultant graciously gave me the details of the contract. I listened and signed where he told me too. I drove home that day happy that I had taken a step towards easier communication. There was one thing I didn’t think of as I walked out of that store. What if the phone broke before my contract was up.

One day it happened, I flipped open my phone and all I got was a blank white screen. The phone was past its one year warranty by a few months and at that time I did not feel like buying a new phone.

A few months passed without my cellphone. I wasn’t completely devastated without it, I could have managed. What I wasn’t managing well was continuing to pay a $40 dollar bill every month for a mobile plan I couldn’t use. Another few months passed and I caved.

On impulse one day to drive to the local Rogers store to get a replacement for my defective phone. I was determined to get a cheaper phone like the one I already owned, preventing an increase in my contract period. While standing in line waiting for help I spied my soon to be object of desire across the room, my plan to purchase a cheap phone went out the window.

I walked out of the store that day with an iPhone. I now had a more expensive cell phone bill, a longer contract and the makings of an addiction.

Sony MDR-V150 Headphones Review

It finally happened, the headphones I’ve been using for the last two years broke.  I was listening to one of my favourite live albums, the Rolling Stone’s “Get yer ya yas out” (1970) and half way through the nine minute long performance of “Midnight Rambler” I lost the entire right channel.  Now don’t get me wrong, I love the stuff going on in the left channel on that tune, particularly Mick Taylor’s guitar work, but losing Keith Richards’ guitar part was unbearable.  After jiggling with the wire for a while trying to get the right channel to kick in, I decided to concede defeat and buy a new pair the next day.

I had been planning on purchasing a new set of headphones in the near future, but these broke at an inconvenient time finance wise and I had to go for a cheap set to hold me off until I can afford a nicer pair.  After careful consideration of my budget ($20 CAD) I decided on a set of Sony MDR-V150s that happened to be on sale where I work for $17.49 CAD.

Sony advertises these headphones as “Studio Monitor Headphones” and while they look somewhat like a set of studio monitors, the sound quality isn’t near high enough for that purpose.  They are however well suited to everyday use for non-audiophiles.

I found the bass a little weak, but a quick tweak of my EQ helped a bit.  The Highs are excellent for a set at this price.  I honestly wasn’t expecting much out of a $20 set of headphones.

Overall, I found these headphones adequate for the time being.  They will certainly make a great backup set when I finally get some extra spending money.