Gasping Under Water

Soak it in England

I'm leaving today.

See you in Sweden

call just to hear you breathe

The backyard of the estate

I don't remember the last time I had a proper vacation where I wasn't necessarily obliged to do anything.  This might actually be the first.  Tom's family has been gracious and extremely welcoming and I am in a great debt to them.  Our manor/castle/vacation estate is located very close to Wales, but still resides in England.  It is absolutely beautiful.  So much so that I am not even going to attempt to describe it here.  I would not do it justice.

The kitchen holds an old-timey hob/oven called an Aga.  It is distinctly British, although it is rare to find one still in use.  Rob, Tom's dad, asked me if I had ever heard of it before.  I said that I would have to take a picture to even describe it.  The appliance is constantly on and burns oil to stay hot.  There are two hobs, one hotter than the other, that have lids to close when not in use.  The roasting oven did a good job cooking the christmas turkey.  As a funny side note, Tony Blair came under fire for attempting to "write off" an Aga service as a work related expense.

 La-Z-Boy

I have yet to experience such a thing called a meat raffle, but Rob and Sue assures me that they exist.  I don't think they are as common as they once were. To my understanding, one is expected to spend some time on a Friday evening at the local pub socializing with neighbors and colleagues.  At some point during the evening a raffle is held for the prized meat.  Should you be lucky enough to win, you have the honor of taking home the Sunday joint.  As Rob put it, "This country used to know how to live..."

Thumbs up for wet feet

  Sometimes I tire of the "capital city" tours.  When traveling Europe, it is very easy to get sucked into the convenience of tourist infrastructure which only large cities can provide.  Hereforeshire is not a large city.
While in Hereford we stumbled into an amazingly stereotypical British lounge for lunch.  If you were to ask an American to describe a typical English dining scenario, it would be very similar to the Green Dragon Inn.  It was a very stuffy drawing room populated by a crotchety old woman spewing tea on herself, a man in a matching green tweed suit making indistinguishable comments and a cranky group that contained a member with the most boisterous (and annoying) British laughs I have ever heard.  Even my adoptive English family commented on the hilarity of the situation.  It was so surreal I looked for hidden cameras.

You wouldn't know me when the pressure kicks in.

Buildings and cars

It has been about 5 years, but I have finally made it back to London.  Not much has changed.  People are still rude, Brits are still a minority and the streets are still dirty.  It was good to be back.
In preparation for the 2012 olympic games the city has now constructed signs and maps that indicate where you are in relation to other major attractions.  Odd that city officials hadn't thought of this extremely helpful public service earlier.  Now I am able to think of this city in terms other than the tube map.
I had initially intended to buy a "flight" on the London Eye, but it was closed due to cold weather.  I think it was about 4ºC, which didn't seem very cold compared to Malmö.  But apparently it has been England's coldest December in 100 years (since 1910 - 100 years exactly).

Attempting to visit Piccadilly and Oxford Circus 2 days before christmas was a big mistake.  Even though the city revamped the bus system in terms of requiring a ticket before boarding, it was still an incredibly slow means of transport.  Regent street was a mess, but I randomly heard a girl end her phone conversation with "Hej, hej..."  I asked if she was Swedish, but no dice.  Finnish - burn.  

Adverts for products I don't use or consume

I noticed a new feature in several places around the city (which appeared to be funded by HSBC) where you could "hire" a bicycle from a rack and pedal it around the city.  Then when you are finished, simply return it to the closest bike rack.  I thought this was a great idea, except for the fact that I didn't understand how to unlock a bike.  In replace of a coin slot there was a key pad.  Apparently you must obtain a key code somehow to use this feature.
You are half way there London.

Squeaky doors and leaky pipes

I went to see my old neighborhood before I boarded my train to Leicester.  It has actually undergone very rapid urban renewal and a rather welcome degree of gentrification.  Woodgreen seems like a decent place to live now.  I doubt I would consider moving back there, but it would be nice if that neighborhood had cleaned up 5 years earlier.
 

Something like a phenomenon

Turn into the skid.

If you had walked out my apartment this morning chances are you would have assumed the Zombie Apocalypse had reached the shores of Sweden.  Despite the uncanny likeness to the walking dead, the old swedish people that inhabit my neighborhood (or perhaps I inhabit theirs) do have a pulse.  I am consistently impressed when I see some old Swede with a walker trudging through feet of snow.  Happens all the time.      

I considered taking the bus for a few seconds while I was dusting the fresh snow off the ride.  I decided against it.  

I have been preparing for my Odyssean journey to the netherworld of David Cameron, PG tips and Harrods.  It looks like they called in the military so they could open the airport just for me (I might have to revise that depending on my flight status tomorrow morning).  Don't worry, I'll eat some mushy peas and fried toast for all of you.  Thanks to my brother for the totally metal winter apparel.  It is black like my heart. 

Your face was smiling as it hit the ground

Sometimes it is the little things in life that make you feel alright. 

I've contemplated going back to the US for a week because I found a cheap ticket.  Turns out that the price wasn't enough to sway me.  I found a good root beer though, so life isn't terrible.  

Also, I can see that someone from Croatia reads this on occasion.  Send me a message and invite me over for coffee.  I would love to see your country.  

Praha non-stop

Despite my better judgement, I agreed to meet several people in Prague (Praha) for a weekend get away.  This is one of those instances where when people ask "How was Prague" you just shake you head.  Not because it was a bad trip - quite the opposite - just incredibly exhausting.  Ondrej's family's apartment is currently vacant, so 7 of us squatted there for 4 days.  On the last night I was lucky enough to grab a mattress, which my spine was thankful for.     

Christmas market next to the clock tower 

Prague is an incredibly beautiful city.  I wish I woke up before noon to actually see more of it in the daylight.  I only ever saw Charles Bridge in the dark.  As you travel out to the periphery of the city the architecture leans toward Stalinist functionality, but the old town is impressive.  

We skipped the cultural crap.  For one reason, it was the off season and several things were partially closed.  Also, getting 7 people to agree to anything is a waste of time.  Plus it was bitterly cold for a few days.  We did manage to walk up 270 stairs to a spire in the cathedral located in the castle.  It was a nice view if not a little windy.

Ondrej (tu madre) and Slurms

  I have a new found appreciation for the Czech language.  After struggling to learn a Nordic dialect, I was exposed to a language that has nothing to do with English.
It was harsh, impatient and sexy.  Ondrej was key to avoiding uncomfortable situations.   Don't worry Emily, I didn't call anyone a goat.

And "penis" is russian for.......?

Although the "Budget" brand is probably available in several other european countries, it is a representation of the Czech condition.  While Prague has become a haven for ex-pat hipster doofus pretension, the Czechs manage to avoid concern for appearances.  For instance, they except the fact that the majority of the population are complete alcoholics.  Also the prevalence of the socks/sandals combination did not go unnoticed, a fact that Ondrej came to embrace. Beer is cheaper than water, the trams are late, green vegetables don't grow in czech soil, fanny packs are acceptable and the czechs don't care.
It was refreshing to be in a place where, despite the flaws, the system functioned.  People didn't give a shit.  It works just fine.

You had to drag spines into this!

  This sleeping bag was surprisingly comfortable after getting home from the clubs at 5am.  I also was extremely grateful for the green apple hand soap that washed the smell of cigarettes out of my hair.  Squat or GFTO!

Soundtrack to my life

To be my friend you must be highly opinionated about music.  My brother just wrote an exemplary blog post about songs that have influenced his life - for better or worse.  It was very revealing and heartfelt.  I was amazed at how personal music can become.  I owe it to him to write my own list.

1.) Green Day - "Burnout"
Dookie was the first tape I remember buying when I was 12.  As a child I always was drawn to the idea of "counter-culture".  Seeing the band members with dyed green hair spoke to my inner rebel and started my love affair with music.  Despite the fact that I never listened to another Greed Day album, this one probably still ranks in the top 50.

2.) Marilyn Manson - "Sweet Dreams"
Although I am embarrassed to admit to liking Marilyn Manson, I still respect him as a performer.  He was about attitude rather than music and I loved that as an awkward 13 year old.  I think my parents were proud that I listened to Marilyn Manson rather than watered down christian rock (which is what my friends listened to at the time).

3.) Anti-Flag - "New Kind of Army"
Once I hit high school my taste in punk became more refined and turned slightly political.  The attacks on the Wold Trade Center had happened and the Patriot Act was passed. I was left questioning the unwavering blind patriotism that was sweeping the country.  This band opened my eyes to dissent.  Also, the album cover gave me inspiration to shave my head into the best mohawk ever.  Mom was angry.

4.) Dead Kennedys - "Police Truck"
This is my homage to a band that existed before I was born.  As a general rule I don't listen to music that was written before my time but if you like punk, you have to pay respect.  I found this album at the only record shop in Cortez.  Amazingly enough, it was still in business the last time I passed through.

5.) Punk-O-Rama - 7
Possibly one of the best punk compilations ever made.  I'm sure that someone will disagree, but for me, this album had it all - fast drums, catchy guitars - love songs.  A great album, start to finish.  This was the last year Epitaph Records was worth a shit.  I remember smoking weed with Marco during lunch and listening to it on repeat.  

6.) Hot Water Music - No Division
This album reinvented the wheel for me.  My brother had come home from college for the weekend and played this album for me.  At first, I didn't understand it.  Songs didn't follow the verse/chorus - verse/chorus structure that I was familiar with.  After a few spins it defined my life for several years.  I remember driving home late at night from my crappy job selling popcorn at a movie theater and listening to this album with the windows down, even in cold weather.

7.) Dismember - "Dreaming in Red"
Although I had passively listened to a variety of metal due my brother's influence, this was the first song that honestly caught my attention.  It had melody, aggression and was incredibly catchy.  Too bad I've never heard another Dismember song I liked.

8.) Strung Out - An American Paradox
I first saw Strung Out when they were touring for this album.  It was the first real show I had been to after moving away to college.  It was also the first real mosh pit I had ever experienced.  I remember lying to Jason and telling him I knew "of" Strung Out.  In all honesty, I had no clue.  They are a great blend of catchy punk melody with very technical guitar riffs.

9.) Tool - Lateralus 
For a few months, I listened to nothing except this album.  After seeing these guys live with English Tom and his roommate (also named Tom, but a complete dip-shit) I couldn't get enough.  Once I quit doing drugs I no longer had the patience for this band, but I can still appreciate their talent.

10.) Iron Maiden - "Run to the Hills"
My first taste of cheesy, epic, guitar heavy, over the top vocal awesomeness.  I used to try and play along with the drums.  I feel like despite the fact that these guys are now 50 something, several of my younger friends have a strange affinity for them.  It is a guilty pleasure that I don't feel guilty about.

11.) American Nightmare - Background Music
I hated my first semester of college and seriously considered dropping out until I met Clint.  I remember him standing outside the dorms looking like he was about to mug me when he commented on a shirt I was wearing.  We became friends and he introduced me to American Nightmare, a band with the saddest lyrics I've ever heard, sung in the most hostile way imaginable.  When Clint screams he reminds me of American Nightmare. This album convinced me to stay in school.  Hardcore died when this band broke up.

12.) Minus the Bear - Highly Refined Pirates
My first serious girlfriend introduced me to this band.  She told me that she would listen to this album with her ex-boyfriend while sniffing pills.  She was a charity case.  After she broke my heart I continued to listen to this album whenever I felt sad and lonely.

13.) Champion - "Promises Kept"
Once I decided to become straight edge, this band gave me the strength and aggression I needed to truly commit.  Also it is one of the only tough-guy bands that I can stomach.  Xed up fists and sing-alongs or GTFO!

14.) Shai Hulud - "Scornful of the Motives and Virtues of Others"
It took me a few years to like Shai Hulud.  I didn't have the patience to listen to them.  But when I reached a particularly unhappy and frustrating point in my life, this song played in my head constantly.  Some of the most thought provoking lyrics ever written as well as the inspiration for the name of Matt's band came from this song.  Shai Hulud might be the musical definition of cynic, but anyone who likes this band is a friend of mine.


15.) City and Colour - Bring Me Your Love
Despite being considered "emo", Dallas Green has one of the best voices I have ever heard.  His songs are simple enough to be widely appealing, but uniquely interesting.  Strangely enough, people with entirely different musical tastes can agree on this album.  Dax and I for instance.  I think this album also prolonged my second serious relationship by a few months.

16.) A Wilhelm Scream - Mute Print
I discovered this band during a particularly depressing winter.  My brother and I were living in a shitty basement apartment.  We were both working jobs we disliked and I was stuck in a stagnant relationship.  We saw A Wilhelm Scream open up for Strung Out and they blew us away.  Their "fuck off" attitude was exactly what I needed balls up and move on with my life.    

17.) Miles Away - Rewind Repeat
I love this band because no pretentious hardcore douche knows of them.  I would crank up "Brainwashed" and shout along while on the way to the gym.  

18.) Strike Anywhere - Exit English
This band personifies my feelings toward politics exactly.  Especially in the era of hope and change.  Rather than operating in a broken system, it represents an outright refusal to participate.  Not out of apathy, but out of reason.  Different faces, same system - its true.  Fuck you.  

19.) Al Green -"Lets Stay Together"
Last year I spent Christmas with my girlfriend's family.  After the festivities died down, my girlfriend's mother said, "turn off this christmas shit and lets put on something classy."  Having never really been a fan of "classy" music, this song held a certain significance that I could never put my finger on.  It is sexy and elegant and slow enough that even I can dance (poorly) to it.

20.) Chuck Ragan - "The Boat"
Perhaps I am growing up and am not as impressed with blazing solos as I used to be, but this is the first acoustic album that ever meant anything to me.  His vocals carry a certain weight that makes you want to pick up a hammer and build yourself a house.

21.) Jónsi - "Sticks and Stones"
This song represents one of the best and worst summers of my life.  It is incredible how fast time passes.

22.) The Flatliners - "Flithy Habits"
The Flatliners make me want to be in a band again.  Their music is dirty, loud and unpretentious.  It fits my personality well.  Sometimes, before I go to bed, I play air guitar to this song in my underwear.

23.) Crime in Stereo - "Sudan"
This is the song that inspired me to quit my job, sell a bunch of my crap, fuck up my relationship and move across the world.  It represents the complete disillusionment I had with the way my adult life was unfolding. I don't want a wife and kids with a house in the suburbs, working a job I hate.  Fuck that.  I hope anyone that reads this has the courage to stand up for themselves and say "I want something more than this."

24.) This Will Destroy You - "Quite"
When I packed my bags and moved my things, I had several regrets.  But the decision to actually move was never one of them.  Late at night I would lay on Christian's spare cot and listen to this song to help me fall asleep.

25.) Russian Circles - "Versus"
If there was ever a "song" a girl and I shared, this would be it.  I still listen to this song almost every day, and it still reminds me of you.  It is romantic and heartbreaking at the same time.

Sorry for the lack of pictures on this one.

Bart get to sit up front because he is a good guy at sports

It has been snowing on and off for about a week, which is apparently quite unusual for Malmö.  The ocean currents tend to keep Skåne's climate rather mild despite its Northern location.  Although I read that the North Atlantic Oscillation is negative this year.  That means that all the cold arctic air is floating down from the north.  There are only 2 good things to do in cold weather.  Honestly I haven't been doing either of them, and most people I know can only manage to get one of them accomplished.

We went to see a hockey game the other night.  The arena in Malmö is incredibly nice, but there were very few fans in attendance.  Perhaps the lack of fan revenue is the reason that  advertising was on every conceivable surface.  

Should you ever attend a hockey game I would recommend attending with a Canadian.  They are invaluable when it comes antidotes about fans getting killed by rogue pucks, brutal eastern european hockey league fights,  and explaining what the hell icing actually is.  Thanks Justin.

*side note.  The Swedish hockey league does not allow fighting.  If you drop your gloves then you are ejected from the game.  snooze.

Due to the recent media fallout from the whole Wikileaks fiasco I've decided not to pursue a career in diplomacy.  It appears that international espionage isn't what it used to be.  Instead I have decided to try out for my local terror organization.  The opportunities for a terrorist conspirator seems like a relatively viable option in todays cutthroat job market.  And getting a salary paid in virgins is always an attractive option.  Although I am a little concerned about the lack of life insurance and 401K options.

A great place to get rich, have kids and die.

The Danish coast

The semester is coming to a close and I am desperately dredging motivation from deep within my black soul to finish strong.  After sipping on a Vitamin Well (sweden's answer to vitamin water), listening to a few songs from crime in stereo -off the good album- and watching the creepy girl at the library across from me pretend not to stare, I've decided it has been a pretty good semester.  I've made some good friends, learned a few words in a new language, and did my best to avoid responsibility at all costs.  Now I'm psyching myself for a long fucking winter.  In the words of this Iraqi dude in my course "You fucking American, what were you thinking coming to this fucking country in the winter?  You came for this shit (as he points at the snow on the ground)?"  To which I responded, "Yeah, why not?"

  

I was on a mountain

The city is quiet when it snows.

I've been listening to HWM's Caution for a week straight.  I bought that album my freshman year of college (with Tom if I remember correctly).  I forgot how much I like it.  I think my parents even have a copy of it floating around their house so I can listen to it when I come home for visits.  I don't see them nearly enough.

I still eat ham sandwiches for lunch

Sweden is an expensive country.  Especially when you buy quality clothing.  But it is the little things in life that make you happy. Yesterday I bought a pair of wool long johns so my junk will no longer freeze to my saddle on those long and cold rides home.  So far it has been one of the best purchases since the How Water Music album mentioned above.

I'm doing my best not to turn this into a conceded "bike blog".

Yesterday I rode to the Kallbadhus (cold bath house).  Despite my preconceived notions, it is not where gay men find dates.  At least not on a Thursday morning.  I was the youngest person there by 25 years at least.  Yes, I sat in a sauna that was 85ºC.  Yes I jumped - naked- in the mercilessly cold sea.  Yes, I will go again next week.  Very European. 

 
    

Anarchy in the UK

Getting psyched for the UK.

Britain better prepare itself.  Less than one month and I am coming to terrorize the (mean) streets of London and (polite) street of Leicester before settling down for a nice, relaxing christmas in a Welsh cottage.


Poppadoms and Vindaloo or get the fuck out!

I'm back FROM the future

A constant running joke for about a month has been the theme of time traveling.  It has been used in many contexts - but 2 main ones keep reoccurring. 1.)  getting blacked out drunk and waking up in "the future" with no recollection of previous events.  As in "holy shit, it is Wednesday morning?  What happened last week?  Where am I, how did I get here?  Why is my underwear on backwards?"  And so on...
2.) wasting your life on meaningless and trivial tasks only to find yourself significantly older and lamenting the disappearance of your lost youth.  Ex. - "holy shit, I'm 38!  How did that happen?"

The dark and sloppy weather has contributed to several recorded cases of mild schizophrenia.  I'm not sure how contagious it is but I am keeping my cool and have been washing my hands several times a day in hopes of not catching it this winter.  I hate being sick/fucking crazy.  

After having experienced the first "snow" of the season, I am not necessarily dreading the winter.  It was just cold enough to freeze the rain and sting you eyes when riding through it.  Although I am thinking about making the trek to see the northern lights, in which case I might need to consider investing in a clothes that prevents me from dying of exposure.

Helsingborg bikes.  Apparently. 

Spin me into the future Windmill!

Driven by a cheap travel ticket and boredom of Malmö, a few of us did the Öresund Runt.  Basically you get 2 days to travel the Öresund. We did it in one. 

Attempting to get people to travel together is always a bad idea, but amazingly enough everything went smoothly considering it required motivating several hungover students (especially Bree) to get out of bed before 10am on a Saturday.  

Helsingborg is a nice town.  It was sunny.  Although the Colombian guided beach walk was marred by relentless Scandinavian wind, the sea is nice. I assume that it is much more interesting in warm weather.  We did see a pretty crucial dude kayaking.  He didn't make it very far.

Sometimes I wish this lazy planet would hurry up and shift it's axis.  Its like the sun is slowing dying and you are forced to watch it wane into nothing. I'm willing to risk a retina burn rather than wear sunglasses.     

Drawn like moths to the flame, the North Americans just couldn't say no to a castle. Originally built to protect against the Danish, the castle now serves as a viewpoint to observe boats used to ferry cheap Danish beer across to Swedish shores.  A very symbiotic relationship.

 

After a short discussion and the realization that indecision would cause us to miss the Louisiana Modern Art Museum, Ondrej and I deserted everyone and sprinted to the ferry.  I thought we cut it close, but apparently the girls delayed their ferry by holding the doors open.  Hilarious.  It was a short ride and a nice break.  We were sent a postcard from heaven as we sailed to Denmark. 

  Louisiana, one of the few art galleries I've been to that allows photography, was in a really strange place.  I don't even remember the name of the Danish town where it is located.  It just seems like some bedroom neighborhood of Copenhagen that happens to have a world class art gallery.  The place was right on the sound, which made for a nice stroll around the sculpture gallery.  Apparently the wind doesn't blow in Denmark.  

We eventually met up with the girls in Copenhagen, where some other friends were already spending the weekend.  

After a long day of travel, several falafels and a session of heavy drinking with a group of Lithuanians, Ondrej had enough.  Despite his Czech upbringing, I have yet to see him give in to the urges of the socks/sandals combination.  

The calming collective

I ride by this damn tree at least twice a day.  For about a week I've told myself I would take a picture of it because it is one of the few things that  has color in this gray city.  Today I took a picture of all the leaves on the ground.

I booked my tickets to the UK for christmas.  It will be nice to be there again, if only for a week.  I've missed being called a yank.  I will be spending the holiday with Tom and his family.  I've known Tom for 8 (!) years now. I will be friends with Tom my whole life, despite only seeing him occasionally.  He speaks the queens English.

The ride is getting character.  By "character" I mean "rusted and thrashed".  Even the u-lock is showing its age.  We'll see how the slicks handle the ice.

Some jerk stole the lights off my bike while I had coffee with Kathi.  She lives in the hood apparently.  Also, she thinks it is funny when I refer to distances in "blocks".  She thinks it sounds very ebonic.   Luckily the Malmö police were too busy looking for the serial immigrant-assisian (google it) to give me a ticket for riding around without proper safety precautions.

Calm

I'll show ye....

So I have come to find out that the majority of people lurking this blog is not the intended audience.  Not that I'm upset, but I am surprised that the people who give a shit about this thing is my new found friends.  With that in mind, I wanted to provide an introduction to my native habitat.

Colorado is located in the central west.  A little over 1/3 of the state is flat and, from all accounts, uninhabitable.  The rest of the state is beautiful due to the mountainous terrain, copious amounts of sunshine and legalized medicinal marijuana.  It is also where residents from California and Texas move when they retire. Fuckers.  I grew up near the 4 corners (in the southwest) and subsequently moved to Fort Collins in the northern front range.  Both are nice places.
Places to avoid:
Indian reservations
San Luis Valley
Anything east of I-25

No this picture is not photoshopped.  Almost a double rainbow. Whoa.

Colorado has nice mix of fundamental religious kooks (colorado springs), hippies (boulder) and good-ole-boys (virtually any small ranching community).  Denver, the capital is pretty large and home to a dog food manufacturing plant.  I think around 2 or 3 million people live in the metro area.









South Park does exist, although it is only the name of a county (similar to Skåne) with no actual town named after it.  I've met several people that claim the show is modeled after their town, but I never believe them.  Honestly I would never claim that I grew up in the town that inspired South Park.  Your home town would seem pretty fucked up.

Mountains close to my parents house

Sworn to the dark

Words cannot begin to describe the spectacle that is good black metal.  As promised, I brought a camera to document (with blurry photos) the fact that I indeed saw Watain in all their glory.  Aside from a Gwar show I have never seen so many props on stage.
Initially not many people were there, which worried me.  Sweden couldn't possible disappoint me with a poor turnout on a friday night for a black metal show.  But, thankfully, the place filled up as the opening acts trudged on.  Finally, after Destroyer 666's set was cut short because their drummer broke both(!) bass drum heads they began to set up Watain's circus.  It took 45 minutes.

If you look closely, you can see hogs heads on pikes.

Basically the whole stage was set on fire in various ways.  There were large pitchforks that were somehow attached to a gas source spouting flames the whole time.  Candles burned in every conceivable place (including the eye sockets of rotting hogs heads).  And there was a burning alter with a goat's skull   to pray to.

The guitarist looked like kind diamond

 The set started with a ceremonial baptismal of each band member, and a few brave (or stupid) metal dudes with blood.  It smelled like a butcher shop the whole time.  Watain opened with the only song I am familiar with.  Then it was nothing but the darkest, most unforgiving brutality known to man.

Notice the 6" nails on the bass players gauntlet

About halfway through the band lit two large urns of kerosene.  I checked to make sure where my nearest fire exit was and continued to bang my head.  They ended with a venom cover.  Pretty fitting.  I would recommend never attending an event such as this.  The strobe light gave me seizures, the burning crosses coated my nostrils with soot and 90 minutes of blast beats gave me a heart palpitation.  Pretty neat.