“Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.”

Then, I remember what the same man wrote.

“I am dreading the publication, for it will be impossible not to mind what is said. I have exposed my heart to be shot at.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

Even the greatest fear their shortcomings. We should always keep this in mind.

Stay humble and passionate,
Jake

Woot.

While many ideas have come and gone through our heads, we could never find an idea we loved and/or had the money to accomplish. Two days ago, however, I had an idea. What if Drew and I just did something interesting? After all, isn’t that what good entertainment is about? Interesting characters… Interesting situations… Interesting dialogues… People don’t watch Jersey Shore because Snooki cured AIDS. They watch it because idiots who have money are interesting! Actually, idiots in general are pretty fascinating.

I found one of the alive cast members…

That’s not to say Drew and I will be/are idiots. We just want to be interesting. We want to meet new people, do new things, and maybe take some road trips along the way.

So, I came up with “Tomorrow, We Die”. It is exactly what it sounds like. It is a group of college kids who simply want to experience life, in its most pure form. From learning how to play instruments to skydiving, Drew Tenhouse and I will choose a new adventure each week to experience. It is something we have both the resources and time (No jokes, please?) to do. The videos will be posted on this site, as well as our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Tenrockstudios

I will be updating this site with tons of new articles this week! So, if you intend on reading about my mildly interesting experiences with retail customers or the top ten things I hate about Drew, stay tuned!

From everyone here at Tenrock Studios…
We thank you for reading, once again.

Also, Drew has no idea we’re skydiving.

Surprise!!!

See it.

Things I consumed during the film: orange Crush and Reese’s Minis. I feel this is important to note because the next time I see the film, I will think of orange Crush and Reese’s Minis. This “theater/food effect” started with Mouse Hunt and it hasn’t stopped since. -_-

You may be asking yourself, ‘What is ‘raccoon eyeliner’? I’ve never seen that color at the makeup counter at Walgreens!’ Well that’s probably because it’s not a color, it’s a fashion trend I don’t understand. Here’s an example:

From left to right: Avril Lavigne, a raccoon on the red carpet, Taylor Momsen

Slut.

Japanese box art for Heavy Rain

9. I will never be able to watch every horror film I own.
There are literally hundreds of them…almost one thousand. At the rate I’m going, I will never have time to finish them all. Eventually, I will have an entire week devoted to watching as many of these beauties as possible, but only God knows when that week will occur. On a side note, I finished my Freddy and Jason collections this week! I’m pretty excited about that, actually.

Fun times…

8. McDonald’s is bad for me.
 I am counting this one, despite the fact that I am well aware of it. The McDouble is the bane of my existence…and the McBagel will be the final nail in my coffin. I am trying to eat more healthy, but I’m not sure their salads are very good either…

Pretty much anything on the menu will kill you.

7. I am petrified of failure.
 This is not a fear that most people bring up in casual conversation. I love spiders, I’m fine being alone in the dark, and I can play Amnesia for more than ten minutes without having a seizure. However, give me a large task to do that hundreds of people are going to judge me for…and I will lose all composure. The greatest minds who ever lived have stated that failure is inevitable. For some reason, I’m having trouble accepting that. I am of at least average intelligence and I believe there is some very real talent in me. I just don’t know exactly what that looks like. You cannot make everyone happy. Some people love The Godfather. Some people find it boring. I guess I am just worried that no one will like the things I do. From the posts I write on this site to the upcoming film projects I’m doing, I am scared out of my mind, thinking of the reactions they might receive. So, I thank you for at least giving me a chance, whether you like my writing or not.

6. The “magic of Hollywood” died years ago.
Perhaps this makes me an elitist, but there is a certain something about old-school Hollywood that may be gone forever. Yes, fantastic movies are still being released. Every year, we see interesting, original films come out of that place…and yet, something is missing. I think, maybe, that it has something to do with media, ironically. The combination of paparazzi-style news and enlightenment via internet have tainted our view of film. It’s sort of like magic before the 1900′s. It was a thing of wonder and excitement…until everyone found out that it was fake. Then, it was dead. Forever.

I said, “Forever.”, right?

5. Mystery Science Theater 3000 is never coming back.
Some of you may not be aware of MST3K, but I assure you it was a popular show, in its time. It consisted of one human (Joel or Mike, depending on the season) and two robots (Servo and Crow) watching a bad movie…and commentating on it throughout. It made bad movies hilarious and horrible movies bearable. It lasted ten glorious seasons. While it could take you awhile to watch all ten seasons, all the shorts, and any other specials they had, that is simply not enough! Yes, we now have Riff Trax and Cinematic Titanic to present us with this beautiful art form, but the point here is exposure. How many people go to rifftrax.com or pay to see Cinematic Titanic live? NOT MANY! This little problem could be fixed, however, by bringing Mystery Science Theater 3000 back to television. They could even air old episodes to get the younger audience ready for the new seasons. Personally, I think this could work. At least give it a chance. Television lets me down a lot though. If Whitney gets picked up for a second season, I’m quitting cable for life.

Explain yourselves, NBC…

4. I’m not the funniest person in the room.
Let’s get one thing straight. I do not have self-esteem issues. I honestly think I’m a moderately funny person. (Less so when I’m tired.) I have a quick whit that, like most, occasionally works against the person using it. However, there are comedic geniuses out there that I will never come close to. Even the great Billy Crystal once said he could never be as quick as Robin Williams…and I personally think Billy is one of the best. My ego is much like the ego of any normal male. Often, I look around a room, assessing the other guys. Who has the most masculine chin? Do any of them have better hair than me? (Probably not…) This is a common practice among males, oddly enough.

As is this…

3. Scripts don’t just write themselves.
Some of you (hopefully) may be aware that I have been actively trying to enter the film world. More particularly, I would like to be a director. It seems easy, right? Write a script, find actors, film, edit, release. Easiest thing you can do in the course of a day! For some reason, I am having trouble with the first step. Obviously, I don’t hate writing. I rather enjoy it. So, these scripts should flow freely from my mind. Honestly, they are. An idea for a movie forces its way out of me about once every ten minutes. I even write these ideas down on paper. A week passes before I pick up that paper again…and when I do, it sounds like the worst idea in the entire world! Perhaps this is normal for writers, but it is more than crippling my would be talents. I cannot rely on others to help me write these scripts. Many people are willing, but I need to show myself and those around me that I am fully capable of forming an acceptable script by myself. That is what I plan to do this week. I may even post it on here, for evaluation purposes.

2. People like big words.
This is, by far, the most difficult one for me to accept. It is also a much broader topic than just large words. It is pretension, in general. (That one doesn’t count!) For the most part, the public is easily courted by big words and a fast tongue. (No sexual connotations, I promise.) Whether they are trying to explain how physics play a large role in rugby or how “coffee is the most artisinal bean”, these people are constantly trying to convince the world they have slept with Noah Webster, himself. I would be completely fine with this, if the world wasn’t so eager to support this lifestyle. They eat it up! Many of these pretentious “cool kids” (or so we’ll call them) are legitimately intelligent. The problem is that they want those around them to see and care how intelligent they are. If you can complete an order from McDonald’s without asking, “How much it is?”, most people will automatically assume you are of at least moderate intelligence. Basically, I am talking to these people directly. I want you to stop with these fake personas and just live, not caring how you sound to those around you. I guarantee that it will make you a happier person. Remember: Knowledge and wisdom are two very different things.

Irrelevant, but I am SO tired of this guy…

1. Nobody has any idea what they are doing.
From the beginning of life, up until about two years ago, I assumed people naturally became so good at a set task that it was second nature to them and required little-to-no focus. I was wrong. Many people in this world are very good at what they do and rarely have to question themselves. However, they DO question themselves. This was never a plausible situation to me, apparently. You go to school. You get a good job. You master that job, right? No! Nobody masters anything. Most of the wonderful things we do in this world are either by chance or have severe flaws. It is human nature to be flawed. That is what makes the fruits of our labor so much sweeter, is it not? When I first started working in retail, I learned very quickly that nothing is a perfect science. Dealing with customers is as subjective as it gets! People don’t always want the cheerful employee who chats with them about life and music. Sometimes, they want the stern, authoritative person who can get them out of the store as quickly as possible. It is all relative to the individual and his or her current situation. The same goes for anything else. Almost everything is relative. I would post my theories on the subject, but I’m fairly certain it has been well recorded already.

I’m not saying it was Einstein…
…but it was Einstein.

Not all of you can enjoy Single Dad Swagg.

It started around the beginning of my Freshman year of college. My friend Joe had been begging me to go with him to Burger King.  The only memories I had of ol’ BK were the ones from my childhood, when mom would forget how much we hated the place. I had tried a burger every once in awhile, but they were always burnt. Perhaps I just had an overwhelming bias in favor of clowns, but my siblings and I always preferred McDonald’s. I had told Joe this, but he persisted. He really wanted me to try this stuff. Being the mildly supportive friend that I am, I gave in one day. Like I always do, I opted for the chicken sandwich.

As tends to happen at fast food places (specifically Burger King), it took roughly twenty minutes for me to get my food. I grabbed the tray and headed to the table. Joe was already sitting there, eagerly awaiting my response. Sparing you some of my more personal dining mannerisms, I immediately fell in love with the sandwich! It was, of course, the legendary chicken tendercrisp. Never in my life has chicken had the effect it had on me that day. It changed me. I decided that I would try the best chicken sandwich from every restaurant in my immediate area and decide who would be crowned with my prestigious award: Best Chicken Sandwich.

Spoiler Alert...

First, I tried all the regular joints: McDonald’s, Hardee’s, Dairy Queen, Culver’s, Wendy’s, KFC, Popeye’s, Chic-fil-A, Sonic, etc. Then, I moved onto more expensive and/or lesser known restaurants like O’Charley’s, T.G.I. Friday’s, P.F. Chang’s, etc. Let it be known that I tried multiple chicken sandwiches from restaurants that had more than one, e.g., Premium Chicken Sandwich and McChicken.

What it really came down to were these three things:

- Who had the best chicken?

- Who had the best bread?

- Who added the best ingredients to that sandwich?

Basically, which one tasted the best? So, without further adieu… I present my top ten list of the best chicken sandwiches, from best to worst. (All of them were delicious, however.)

1. Double Down (KFC)
Words cannot aptly describe this sandwich. You just have to try it for yourself. If you want the same chicken for a lower price, I highly recommend the Doublicious, also. It’s less chicken, but it’s only $5 for the meal.

2. Tendercrisp (Burger King)
It changed everything and it is, to this day, my favorite item on BK’s menu…even beating out the Quadruple Stacker!

3. Asiago Ranch Chicken Club (Wendy’s)
Seriously, the best combination of condiments man has ever created. It is only topped by the Double Baconator for best Wendy’s menu item.

4. Chicken Finger BLT (T.G.I. Friday’s)
If you haven’t tried their chicken fingers, you are missing out. The way they bread them is so unique! If you have $100 just sitting around, please try these!

5. Chicken Strip Po’ Boy (Popeye’s)
Even the mild stuff is a bit spicy, but even I can’t complain. It’s the best Po’ Boy out there!

6. Chicken Sandwich (Chic-fil-A)
A bit of a cop-out, as far as the name goes. The experience is really what makes Chic-fil-A so memorable. Fast service, good food, and WAFFLE FRIES! The chicken is good, too. It’s just…WAFFLE FRIES!

(There was a tie.)

6. Southern Style Chicken Sandwich (McDonald’s)
Yes, I’m using this to point out something that nobody ever notices. The southern style chicken sandwich from McDonald’s is the SAME sandwich you get at Chic-fil-A. Most people will never admit that, however.

7. Chicken Club Toaster Sandwich (Sonic)
This is an interesting one. I don’t like having it this low on the list, but there are just so many good sandwiches out there!

8. Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich (O’Charley’s)
Expensive, but delicious.  There isn’t much to say about it, other than I think I prefer a hamburger from O’Charley’s.

9. Hand-Breaded Chicken Fillet Sandwich (Hardee’s)
Well, it’s good. It’s no Monster Burger, but it’s good. The breading is delicious, but the chicken tends to be a little dry, most of the time. Worth it though!

10. Crispy Chicken Sandwich (Dairy Queen)
Kind of boring. Nothing special, really. You’re better off buying some Tyson patties at the grocery store. Best when combined with bacon and slathered in ketchup…

…but isn’t everything?

Anybody that knows me knows that I have an obsession with instrumental music.  All in all it drives them crazy.  I love it.  I think the reason why i get so passionate about this genre of music is because there are very little to no words when it is playing.  I don’t want to hear how life sucks right now or how I could make things better.  That is what’s so great about this type of music.  It all comes down to interpretation.  Now, I can understand a lot of songs can have interpretation but not as much as just straight up music. (Definition of song and music.  One has lyrics.  One does not.)  Nothing will ever compare to listening to instrumental music when it comes to emotions going wild or I just need a breather.  It seems to have such a high impact on my life and at times I don’t even notice it.  I seem to be humming a tune when I am just standing around being bored or playing the music in my head when there is complete silence.  This type of music has such a big part of my life that it seems like my worries can be gone at times if I choose them to be.  Some of these bands will have audio from movies or TV shows that go along so perfectly with the tone they are portraying.  This type of stuff really gets you thinking.

Most times when I express my love for this kind of stuff I get the usual answer:  ”I listen to this when I sleep” or “I listen to this when I study”.  When I ask them if they do it outside of that I typically hear one answer. No. This always stinks to hear.  I feel like most people don’t give these bands enough of a try past the usual I need this music to focus on homework or something.  This music can make you even more awake then you were once before.  With interpretation you end up making all of these thoughts in your head spill out like I am doing right now.  It is something that gets your mind provoked and speaking.  I’ve never been more amazed by fans of a band when it comes to seeing this kind of music in a live setting.  Everyone gets into it with their eyes closed and their bodies moving.  Everyone seems to be at peace and that is what I love the most.  Everyone is there for one sole purpose. Music.

Finally one of the last things this music does to me.  It helps me get creative.  I can’t tell you how many times I have basically played a movie or life situation in my head because of the music playing.  I can see everything that would be happening in that scene and how the music guides the whole tone of that scene or the whole movie in general.  It seems like at times you can just make an entire movie off of some of these albums due to the way they all have this perfect blend.  They are telling a story without words.  It’s magnificent.

I could probably blab on and on about this subject but my grammar seems to be terrible this late.  I hope this gives you some sort of inspiration to be able to give this type of music more of a try.  Listen to it constantly and let your self become accustom to it. I hope this was a decent first post from me.  It is late and I wanted to try something out.

Bands to listen to: (post rock, post metal, whatever you want to call it genre)

1. This Will Destroy You
2. Explosions in the Sky
3. If These Trees Could Talk
4. Mogwai
5. Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Use audio from interviews and other media)
6. Maybeshewill (Use audio from movies)
7. Sigur Ros (Instrumental and lyrics.  They are so beautiful)
8. Caspian
9. 65daysofstatic
10. Sleepmakeswave

If you say, “No, Jake…that’s not true at all!”, you are lying to yourself. Whether the person you meet is ugly or beautiful…or just sort of a halfsy, you make sure to know if that person is worth talking to again…and on what level.

(+20 points for those of you who doubt me. You’ll need the points later.)

Here’s where I break it off. I will talk to girls first and guys second…extending to them the lessons I’ve learned and things I wish them to know as separate genders.

Dear Ladies,

STOP! Before you do anything else with your time…STOP! Think about the men in your life who really care about you. I’m not talking about your hawt new catch that just bought you a diamond-embroidered (read: cubic zirconium) necklace or that guy from your History class who flirted with you earlier because “what his girlfriend doesn’t know, can’t hurt her”. NO. I’m talking about the guy sitting next to you…the one who doesn’t try to touch you inappropriately…the one who talks you through every trial in your life…the one who wants to solve all of your problems, but doesn’t because he has at least an ounce of tact…the one who can read you like a book. So, change out of that mini-skirt/halter-top with the LONG neckline combo and into an outfit that leaves a little something to the imagination. While boys are attracted to skin and cleavage…men are attracted to studying habits and tact. Think about the last time you had a crush on someone. Was he the guy who talks too much in class, wears WAY too much cologne, hits on the teacher, and wears that ever-so-adorable pink polo? If the answer is “no”…you’re good to go. You have this whole “reality” thing figured out. (+30 points) If the answer was “yes”, then you have failed. You probably have a history of this.

I went there...

You’re not seeing the big picture. The guys who flirt with you (and your friends) constantly and make advances in ways you never even knew existed are the same guys who will eventually sit in their lazyboys every sunday, watch the big game, and yell at their wives to get them a beer. I mean, if you’re into that sort of “intimate” relationship, then go ahead…be my guest. If you want a real man who won’t abandon you, who won’t cheat on you, and who won’t ever let you open a door yourself…you need to look at the humble guys. “OMG, Jake!”, you may say. “Those guys are like really ugly and probably play video games and don’t even buy energy drinks!” Yes, you’re right. They DON’T care about their appearances, they DO play video games, and they DON’T buy energy drinks. Here’s the thing: That “nobody” you call a mutual friend probably cleans up a lot better than you think. Also, most gamers tend to have a more affectionate side. (That’s for you, Zach.) You aren’t looking hard enough. Since when do girls have to fight for the affection of men? Why can’t you just be worth it? Why do you have to degrade yourselves to please us? Why do you fall for these guys that will only cause you trouble? Don’t pretend you can’t see trouble coming. You are FEMALES! You know when something bad is about to happen. It is in your genes. You say girls are smarter than boys. Then start acting like it! Find a guy who would voluntarily watch Sleepless in Seattle with you…a guy who would cover your legs with blankets and not his hands…a guy who shows you love like you’ve never known before. If you keep falling for these cheap, brainless, too-tan-to-be-natural tools (I liked that one…), you’ll end up alone time after time. (+15 points for singing the Cyndi Lauper song.) My main concern here is this: You are looking for a man with passion…with strength…a guy who is accessible to you…a man who speaks his mind. You want a guy who is…and you girls never can stress this enough…”CONFIDENT!!!!!!!” Guess what, girls? Confidence doesn’t matter if he’s not willing to listen to you. Confidence is something everyone looks for in a mate, but you have taken it too far. You girls have become so shallow…so willing to accept the first thing you see. Who could blame you though? We’ve given you nothing but level of extroversion to play on. The more confident the guy is, the more girls will talk to him. How do you think Flavor Flav does it? I leave you with this thought: Don’t settle for what you see immediately in front of you. Actively seek a real man. Let the guys around you who aren’t quite “The Situation” know that they are one small life change away from being desirable.

Dear dudes,

This probably pertains to you:


If you have found yourself in ^this^ situation, you’ll find this interesting. Ladies aren’t going out with these “jerks” because that stud earring is appealing or because Axe smells good. (It doesn’t.) They date guys like that because they are CONFIDENT. Give a nerd a dating sim and he’ll love for a day. (Or until he beats it.) Give a nerd the ability to date actual girls and he’ll love for the rest of his life. (-20 points if you’ve actually played a dating sim.) I’m simply implying that you need to get your voice out there. If you are worried about sounding like an idiot, that’s ohkay. Every guy sounds like an idiot the second he opens his mouth. Don’t worry if the cute girl in the corner only laughs at buff guy’s jokes. Think of some better jokes to tell…or play off of his jokes. Also, I highly recommend this article: http://www.cracked.com/article_18670_5-widely-believed-dating-myths-science-says-arent-true.html See, girls love humor. The only thing they love more than humor is creativity. You can be the funniest guy in the entire world and not know how to create a good mood. If you can’t plan a fun date, write her a beautiful love letter, or interact with her ever-changing thoughts continuously, you’re screwed. Girls are less interested in appearance than you think. Ever watch the King of Queens? (Me either.) What I’m saying is…with some personal touch-ups and a few hours of Project Runway every week, you could have that cute brunette swooning over you and your out-of-shape, unappealing body. Don’t get me wrong. Girls appreciate self-respect (including appearance) just as much as we do. Keep that in mind. Most of us (self-aware nerd types) can look moderately attractive, given the right tools. I know what you’re thinking. “But Jake…how can I be fashionable and sexy? I am but a poor student with nothing to give but my Level 70 Druid!” (-20 points if you can name the game I’m most likely referring to.) Well…there’s not much I can do about your “special problem”, but I can tell you that interacting with the female race is a healthy and normal activity in today’s society. I tell you this as a once-introverted male. I have seen the light, my friends! Trust me. Those scary, muscly guys from Jr. High grew up…and guess what!…they’re just as dumb now as they were then. Only, this time, you can win! You can talk to these girls. You can make them feel good about themselves. You can be gentlemen and open doors and be charming. You can show them what a real man is. Just don’t get too close too quick or they’ll take you for something completely different…

Homework for the week:
Girls – Look around you and find these “gentlemen”.
Boys – Get confident and talk to that hottie in Spanish. Maybe even ask her what she’s doing this weekend.

Love and successful relationships,
Jacob