Fender vs. Gibson

After watching a lot of guitar-related videos on the Internet, I have noticed that people can get into long debates over which guitar is better - Fender or Gibson. I guess it's just the whole "fanboy" mentality we see with the videogame console wars going on right now. I think these arguments are pointless, as Fender and Gibson are kind of on opposite sides of the guitar spectrum.





There is no denying that both are great guitars and that they have been the choice of many guitar legends over the years. They each have their own set of advantages and disadvantages.

With a Fender guitar, you have great tonal flexibility. You can produce sounds ranging from Clapton blues to grungy rock like Nirvana. Fat Strats, with the added humbucker, can make achieving the latter a little easier. You do not need a great amp or tons of effects pedals to get your desired sound from a Fender. Fender guitars are also considerably lighter than Gibson guitars, making them easier for carrying around to gigs.

Gibson guitars are made of sturdier material than Fender guitars. This adds to their weight, and they can be a hassle to carry around. They also tend to be more expensive than Fender guitars. With a Gibson guitar, however, you get a much fuller rock sound that no Strat(even with a humbucker) can quite match. It is a better choice if your focus is on hard rock/metal guitar playing.

Personally, I like Fender guitars. I play a lot of bluesy rock, so the Stratocaster was a perfect fit for me. But at the same time I recognize that there are times when a Gibson would be much more appropriate. Many guitarists own both, and use one or the other depending on the situation.

Steve Jobs Dead at 56

Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple Inc., passed away earlier today. He was only 56 years old. After a long fight with pancreatic cancer, his condition was only getting worse as the days passed by. After permanently stepping down as CEO of Apple, it was clear that he had no intention of going back. Everyone knew it was coming, but that does not make his death any less tragic.

Jobs reinvented the way technology was used in society by creating an ever-improving line of computers, tablets, portable music players, and of course the iconic iPhone. These products are some of the most recognizable in the world. It is no surprise Apple grew to become one of today's leaders of technology, and much of its success would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication Jobs had for his work. Even as cancer began to take its toll on him, Jobs continued this hard work until the last minute.

He may be gone, but he left a legacy that will surely be remembered for many years to come.

RIP Steve Jobs (Feb. 24, 1955 - Oct. 5, 2011)

Apple Unveils New iPhone 4S

Earlier today, Apple unveiled the fifth update of the iPhone. It comes with new features such as a faster processor which will increase speed by at least 33%, a 8-megapixel camera, and an improved antenna.

All of the changes made were internal. It looks exactly like the iPhone 4. This was a big disappointment to people who heard rumors of a completely redesigned iPhone 5.

Goats: The Funniest Animals on the Net?

This goat's unusual "maaaaah" makes it hard to fit in with his peers.



This is what happens when your farm is too close to a field of marijuana.

Today's Music

Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry - all titans in today's music industry. I hope this whole hip hop/dance music craze is just a temporary thing. Some of it's alright, but what happened to rock and roll. Kids today are completely blind to the music of the 60's, 70's, 90's, and a little bit of the 80's. Great bands that deserve to have their music heard are being forgotten.

I know a lot of it is just bandwagon appeal. People want to listen to what their friends are listening to. Unfortunately, it works the other way, too. They don't listen to music that their friends don't listen to. Peer pressure... it's a real bitch.

Another problem is YouTube and other social media sites on the Internet - the main reason people like Justin Bieber are where they are today. The site has provided artists with a free easy way to spread their music to millions of people around the world. Older artists have missed out on this opportunity.

Comic Con 2011

Yep.  It's that time of year again.  Comic Con is back again, and it's bigger than ever.  Movies, TV shows, celebrities, and of course comics - it's all there in one place.  If you are lucky enough to be there in person, I salute you as you trek into the madness that is Comic Con. 

However, if (like me) you aren't able to make the trip out to sunny San Diego, do not fret.  G4 has you covered with an unprecedented 3 days of live coverage.  It's not the same as actually being there, but it's the next best thing.  Plus you don't have to worry about catching a severe case of nerd flu.

Psych

Psych is a TV series on the USA Network.  I've been watching it since it started back in 2006.  It's really funny, and the characters have great chemistry.  If haven't already checked it out, I recommend you do so.  It's an awesome show.  The next season starts in October, so you have a little time if you want to catch up with some of the earlier seasons.

Alison Haislip Breakout!

You may know Alison from her work on G4, or maybe her recent work with the hit show The Voice on NBC.  I have been a huge fan for many years, so I decided to create a videogame for her.

Alison Haislip Breakout takes the girl you all know and love and combines it with the classic game you all know and love.  It's a fun game for everyone, especially if you are also a fan of the wonderful Alison Haislip.

Download Game

Google Les Paul Doodle

Okay.  This might very well be the coolest Google doodle to date.  This interactive doodle commemorates Les Paul's 96th birthday and allows you to play actual songs.

You can play by moving your cursor over the strings or by using the keyboard.  Although the doodle is no longer displayed on the Google home page, you can still use it at http://www.google.com/logos/2011/lespaul.html .  Good work, Google!

E3 2011 (continued)

Okay... so I realize now that the program doesn't actually begin until 3:00 p.m., which is about the time I get home from school.  Even so, I won't b able to watch as much as I want to, because I'll be busy studying for finals.  Yes.  I'm a good student, so I actually study.  Meh.  That's really all I've got to say.  I'm really tired right now...  it's 2:30 in the morning.  Off to bed now.

E3 2011

As a video game aficionado, I can't hide my excitement for the E3 Expo that's being held from June 7-9.  In case you don't know, the E3 Expo is an annual convention that provides an outlet for the big names in the gaming industry to showcase their products.  Unfortunately, you must be a professional in the industry to attend.  The general public can watch it on the G4 channel or streamed live at http://www.g4tv.com/.  Anybody who plays video games should check it out.  You never really know what to expect.  The next revolution in gaming might be just around the corner.

Usually this event would fall during my summer break.  However, due to a crazy amount of snow days, the end of the school year has been pushed all the way back to June 8.  That means I'll have to record the first two days of material.  It's a minor inconvenience, but I love complaining about things.

My First Blog Post

Okay... so I'm kind of new to this whole blogging thing.  I guess I'll start off by introducing myself.

My name is Jordan Cecil.  However, people reading this probably know me by my screen name, Jrdn110 or Jordan110.  I use both depending on availability issues.  I reside in Bloomington, Indiana, home of Indiana University.  I am currently a Junior in high school.  I'm a hard-worker, and enjoy challenging myself to do better each and everyday.  Academics are very important to me and my family. 

In my spare time, I enjoy listening to music, especially rock.  I'm not a big fan of the crap that's always being played on the radio nowadays.  I would love to see a revival of classic rock.  I took up playing guitar about four years ago, and now I play in a local rock band called Transient Void.

I've been playing video games since I was a kid.  I still remember those days playing Pokemon Yellow on my Game Boy Color (I still have it in my room).  I was always a big fan of Nintendo growing up.  I own a Game Boy Color, a Game Boy Advance, a Game Boy Advance SP, a Nintendo DS, a Nintendo 64, a Gamecube, and a Nintendo Wii.  I broke the Nintendo trend when I bought an Xbox 360 a couple years ago.  As you can see, I own a lot of gaming systems.  I always liked the Pokemon games.  The Mario Kart and Super Smash Brothers franchises are both great, as well.  I love games like Left 4 Dead, Call of Duty, BioShock, and Portal.  To be honest, I don't think I have ever purchased a game that I didn't enjoy.  If you want to add me as a friend on Xbox, my Gamertag is Jrdn110.

I'm not sure what I'll be posting here, but it will probably be related to music or technology, two big parts my life.