- I collect many things. All of them nerdy.
- Our TiVo dominates the evening.
- I've a blog and a twitter, but the twitter's been more busy of late.
- I like to write, but only for fun.
- I've worn a bunny suit.
- The first thing I remember drawing was the Lone Ranger.
- I can walk home from work in around 30 minutes.
- My feet have fallen arches.
- I could spend all day at a Barnes & Noble and not get bored.
- There are two cowlicks in my hair.
- My birthday is the day before my sister's.
- I'm very good at remembering faces, but terrible with names.
- JJ Abrams is my personal hero.
- My palate is terrible, so I cook by smell.
- I cook breakfast every Saturday, with no plans or recipe at all.
- If someone gave me a box of Nutter Butters, I'd eat the whole thing.
- I've been to a comic book store where the owner looked exactly like Comic Book Guy. Actually, I think most of these stores have at least one.
- A door jamb gave me a concussion.
- The only food item I will not eat is an olive.
- I believe the only way to make good tortillas or beans is with lard.
- My favorite books would hardly qualify as "literature."
- I disrupted an entire movie theater when I was younger while watching ET.
- I enjoy stupid puns and word games.
- I wouldn't mind paying almost $100 for a good bottle of tequila.
- Someday I hope to perfect my hamburger recipe. Complete with In-N-Out style bun.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
25 Things!
25 Random Things. I don't have much to say, but because it was requested of me...
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Precedence
Never before have we seen a day like yesterday, for on January 20th, we inaugurated our 44th president of these United States, Barack Obama. It was momentous, truly a day that I'm sure many of us will tell our children and grandchildren. The future remains to be seen, however, but I remain hopeful, for it was Mr. Obama who told us to choose Hope over Fear.
The last 8 years have been a tumultuous time for us as citizens. Thinking about all that's occurred, it's hard to imagine the horrors that have been set upon us as citizens, but also the global horrors that have reared their ugly head. Much has changed in 8 years and now it's time for a different sort of change. I believe that we've taken Mr. Obama's promises to heart. For me, I'm encouraged that he's been very frank in the language of his speeches. He does not promise sunshine and flowers, but envisions a difficult path we must ready ourselves for. We've always known that he is a different kind of politician, but in this I feel we share a common ground with our new president. His journey through the cratered political landscape will also be troubling.
Let's suppose for a second that everything comes up roses. The economy makes a 180-degree turn, the country is victorious in its war on terror, and we are able to regain the good will of the global community. Let's suppose this is the future that Mr. Obama can guide us through. Regardless of his political affiliation and regardless of our own political or sociological views, shouldn't this be a future we should all strive for? I imagine that there are dissenters out there, ready to scrutinize every single word, every bill set in motion, and every single appearance, and I guess this is human nature. We take great pride in our freedom of speech and holding the government accountable of these promises will always be a part of this for the majority. We can all dream of this perfect world, but I know that this is impossible.
So wherever we are and whatever our situation, I am strangely proud of the position we find ourselves in today. I do find it odd to have some sort of national pride, but maybe that's what the last 8 years has done. Through this, however, I will continue to hold onto that hope and look forward to seeing what this new administration will bring.
The last 8 years have been a tumultuous time for us as citizens. Thinking about all that's occurred, it's hard to imagine the horrors that have been set upon us as citizens, but also the global horrors that have reared their ugly head. Much has changed in 8 years and now it's time for a different sort of change. I believe that we've taken Mr. Obama's promises to heart. For me, I'm encouraged that he's been very frank in the language of his speeches. He does not promise sunshine and flowers, but envisions a difficult path we must ready ourselves for. We've always known that he is a different kind of politician, but in this I feel we share a common ground with our new president. His journey through the cratered political landscape will also be troubling.
Let's suppose for a second that everything comes up roses. The economy makes a 180-degree turn, the country is victorious in its war on terror, and we are able to regain the good will of the global community. Let's suppose this is the future that Mr. Obama can guide us through. Regardless of his political affiliation and regardless of our own political or sociological views, shouldn't this be a future we should all strive for? I imagine that there are dissenters out there, ready to scrutinize every single word, every bill set in motion, and every single appearance, and I guess this is human nature. We take great pride in our freedom of speech and holding the government accountable of these promises will always be a part of this for the majority. We can all dream of this perfect world, but I know that this is impossible.
So wherever we are and whatever our situation, I am strangely proud of the position we find ourselves in today. I do find it odd to have some sort of national pride, but maybe that's what the last 8 years has done. Through this, however, I will continue to hold onto that hope and look forward to seeing what this new administration will bring.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Poutine to Go
We always seem to ring in the new year or use our winter break to go someplace more, um, winter-like than Southern California. We kinda went to the extreme this time around and headed to the great white north for some French Canadian goodness in Montreal. The Quebecois were friendly, robust, and also quite... French! Luckily, there wasn't much of a language barrier, but I did manage a "bonjour" here and there.
Most notable: the food. I don't think I've ever consumed so much gravy in my life. Unbelievable, actually, but awesome. Also, the public transportation was great, the weather wasn't as terrible as advertised (save for the unusually icy steets), and the sights were incredible. We would go back, but there are way too many places in this world we haven't quite been to yet.
Until then, all we have are the pictures and the memories. Here's to 2009!
Most notable: the food. I don't think I've ever consumed so much gravy in my life. Unbelievable, actually, but awesome. Also, the public transportation was great, the weather wasn't as terrible as advertised (save for the unusually icy steets), and the sights were incredible. We would go back, but there are way too many places in this world we haven't quite been to yet.
Until then, all we have are the pictures and the memories. Here's to 2009!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Happy X-mas!
The blog has been neglected, but it will never be neglected over the holidays. Most people take this time to reflect on the events of the past year, but I want to take some time to wish everyone the best for the future, a very Merry Christmas, and an excellent New Year!
See everyone in 2009!
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Rock the Vote!
In the spirit of the day, I will re-post something I wrote approximately four years ago regarding the 2004 election. If you will, here's the original text. Get out and vote!
Several times throughout the last few days, I've heard arguments from both sides of the political spectrum attempt explanation of the electoral process and how we now have G-Dubb as prez for the next four years (FOUR years!). It comes down to a couple of simple issues that I've consistently seen:
1. Kerry is not a strong candidate for president.
2. Bush makes people feel like their moral values are safe.
I'll accept the first tenet because I was never fully comfortable with Mr. Kerry from early on during the primary elections. Mostly, I was surprised that he came so strongly out of left field to steal the primaries from more viable candidates, but in the end, he was it, and we had to accept that as fact. His rhetoric towards the end of his presidential campaign became much stronger, but unfortunately, it appeared to be too little too late. For what it's worth, I believed in what he had to say: that he could empower the economy, become a champion of the middle class, return our civil liberties to what they once were, and heal our standing within the international community, but unfortunately, the majority (yes, it is an official majority) of the country didn't hear this side of his message and instead saw an untrustworthy and weak-minded candidate.
Now, the second idea, that Mr. Bush makes people feel their moral values and lives are protected is not a lot of hogwash. It's no surprise that middle America finds his down-home demeanor and devotion to faith reassuring. We out on the west coast and northeast of the country may think differently, however. While many of us may have seen the economy, the international spectrum, and the war overseas as the biggest issues, many outside of these states saw gay marriages, stem-cell research, and abortion as abominations of faith that should be gutted and thrown overboard. Forget that people with different sexual orientations should be allowed civil liberties, forget that many adults suffer daily from debilitating disease, and forget that violent sexual crimes can lead to unfortunate choices, but remember that our country was founded by what else, Puritans. Is it any surprise then that moral values were the highest rated deciding factor in this election?
Ultimately, I like to believe we all wanted our moral values protected. It can be argued that those of us in the blue counties (check out the purple map to get an idea of what I mean) were thinking of others while those in red counties thought of themselves. I'm not trying to say that there's less compassion in the south and Midwest than in other regions of the country, but isn't it what drives these issues. Do we not want others to have the same rights we do, or are we more concerned that their rights will infringe on ours? I like to think that it's a little of both for everyone.
I'll end by posting what the newly elected Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama said at the Democratic National Convention:
It's my country, and your country, let's make it work for us.
Several times throughout the last few days, I've heard arguments from both sides of the political spectrum attempt explanation of the electoral process and how we now have G-Dubb as prez for the next four years (FOUR years!). It comes down to a couple of simple issues that I've consistently seen:
1. Kerry is not a strong candidate for president.
2. Bush makes people feel like their moral values are safe.
I'll accept the first tenet because I was never fully comfortable with Mr. Kerry from early on during the primary elections. Mostly, I was surprised that he came so strongly out of left field to steal the primaries from more viable candidates, but in the end, he was it, and we had to accept that as fact. His rhetoric towards the end of his presidential campaign became much stronger, but unfortunately, it appeared to be too little too late. For what it's worth, I believed in what he had to say: that he could empower the economy, become a champion of the middle class, return our civil liberties to what they once were, and heal our standing within the international community, but unfortunately, the majority (yes, it is an official majority) of the country didn't hear this side of his message and instead saw an untrustworthy and weak-minded candidate.
Now, the second idea, that Mr. Bush makes people feel their moral values and lives are protected is not a lot of hogwash. It's no surprise that middle America finds his down-home demeanor and devotion to faith reassuring. We out on the west coast and northeast of the country may think differently, however. While many of us may have seen the economy, the international spectrum, and the war overseas as the biggest issues, many outside of these states saw gay marriages, stem-cell research, and abortion as abominations of faith that should be gutted and thrown overboard. Forget that people with different sexual orientations should be allowed civil liberties, forget that many adults suffer daily from debilitating disease, and forget that violent sexual crimes can lead to unfortunate choices, but remember that our country was founded by what else, Puritans. Is it any surprise then that moral values were the highest rated deciding factor in this election?
Ultimately, I like to believe we all wanted our moral values protected. It can be argued that those of us in the blue counties (check out the purple map to get an idea of what I mean) were thinking of others while those in red counties thought of themselves. I'm not trying to say that there's less compassion in the south and Midwest than in other regions of the country, but isn't it what drives these issues. Do we not want others to have the same rights we do, or are we more concerned that their rights will infringe on ours? I like to think that it's a little of both for everyone.
I'll end by posting what the newly elected Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama said at the Democratic National Convention:
Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America—there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.
It's my country, and your country, let's make it work for us.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Legendary Foods
So I have this monster list that I want to make of all the legendary eats out and about in Los Angeles. For example, an In-N-Out double double, animal style or a bowl of spicy ramen from Orochan. If anyone has any suggestions, they are most welcome.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Fall Tivo Craziness
OK, so there aren't many new shows this year, but there are plenty of shows we are watching. Believe me when I say there's no possible way we can watch all of these all the time.
Comments:
Lost is not on the schedule yet and neither is 24 or Reaper. Here's the breakdown:
ABC - 6
CBS - 1
NBC - 9
Once again, the NBC comedies push it all over the edge, but there are a lot of procedural dramas on here. What that says about us, I'll never know. If I do a follow up, maybe I'll end up splitting it up between G and Myself. That would probably be more revealing.
Mondays
CBS
Samantha Who
NBC
Heroes
Chuck
My Own Worst Enemy (hasn't premiered)
CW
Gossip Girl
Tuesdays
Fox
House
Fringe
CW
90210
Wednesdays
ABC
Pushing Daisies
Private Practice
Dirty Sexy Money
NBC
Lipstick Jungle
Fox
Bones
Thursdays
ABC
Ugly Betty
Grey's Anatomy
NBC
My Name is Earl
Kath & Kim (hasn't premiered)
The Office
30 Rock
ER
FX
It's Always Sunny in Philadpelphia
Bravo
Project Runway
Sundays
ABC
Brothers & Sisters
CBS
The Unit
Fox
Family Guy
Comments:
Lost is not on the schedule yet and neither is 24 or Reaper. Here's the breakdown:
ABC - 6
CBS - 1
NBC - 9
Fox - 4
CW - 2
Basic Cable - 2
Once again, the NBC comedies push it all over the edge, but there are a lot of procedural dramas on here. What that says about us, I'll never know. If I do a follow up, maybe I'll end up splitting it up between G and Myself. That would probably be more revealing.
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Last Book of Summer
My reading has slowed considerably with the advent of the TiVo box, sitting passively underneath the television, it is a time-suck of productivity and I often find myself struggling to "catch up" with the shows that I haven't been watching consistently. We've made a concerted effort to "take back the night" in essence and omit the television from the bedroom, removing our two single-tuner boxes with a dual-tuner box for the front room. This gives us more flexibility, but most of all, it gives me an excuse to try and settle down my brain before drifting off to sleep by picking up a book and reading. Via this great experiment, I've finally finished one of Chuck Palahniuk's novels that I've received (quite some time ago, I might add), "Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey."
It's about a years old now, and it's been quite some time since we saw Mr. Palahniuk do a reading, but it's safe to say this has to be his strongest effort in a while. Compare it to "Haunted" and "Survivor" this is on par with "Choke" as one of the novels that really defines him as an author. Typically, it's shocking in places, but moreso than with "Haunted" the shock value is dialed back in favor of characterization. Graphic at times and alarming at others, it's very Palahniuk, but it never seems out of place or gratuitous, it's mostly textural. It gives you a sense of grittiness and maybe even adds a bit of reality to the story, as unreal as it can get.
Summarizing the plot would be a disservice, but the themes of family, generations, and a bit of science fiction thrown in really thrash the reader's brain. With the first science fiction sort of element thrown in offhandedly, I was a bit taken out of the setting that had been established, but hindsight really shows that it was a necessary evil. It seems as if the book had been a series of two stories thrown together, but towards the end, it serves its purpose, even as Mr. Palahniuk throws in his third major element. It's not subtle, but it's effective. There are a few narrative tricks that the author employs to accomplish this, but none are more effective than that of the oral histories being relayed. You always get the sense that each snippet is unreliable, but compiling them all is just one piece of a delicious puzzle.
Any complaints I might have could stem from the author tending towards an essay style of writing and philosophizing, which again, is typical. Many times, I felt there was a distance between the reader and the page, as if being the "interviewer" wasn't enough to draw me into the story, but perhaps this was intentional. I do give him credit for being able to convey scene and tone via the varying viewpoints, but I would have enjoyed more of the longer passages if there were any to be conveyed.
What's most interesting to me is that there are two purported sequels in the works. I'm not sure how successful these will be, as "Rant" itself left a lot to be revealed at the end and its discovery was part of the fun. Being able to reveal new mysteries may be difficult, but I am more than willing to see where Mr. Palahniuk is headed.
Read it. Hardcover if you will.
It's about a years old now, and it's been quite some time since we saw Mr. Palahniuk do a reading, but it's safe to say this has to be his strongest effort in a while. Compare it to "Haunted" and "Survivor" this is on par with "Choke" as one of the novels that really defines him as an author. Typically, it's shocking in places, but moreso than with "Haunted" the shock value is dialed back in favor of characterization. Graphic at times and alarming at others, it's very Palahniuk, but it never seems out of place or gratuitous, it's mostly textural. It gives you a sense of grittiness and maybe even adds a bit of reality to the story, as unreal as it can get.
Summarizing the plot would be a disservice, but the themes of family, generations, and a bit of science fiction thrown in really thrash the reader's brain. With the first science fiction sort of element thrown in offhandedly, I was a bit taken out of the setting that had been established, but hindsight really shows that it was a necessary evil. It seems as if the book had been a series of two stories thrown together, but towards the end, it serves its purpose, even as Mr. Palahniuk throws in his third major element. It's not subtle, but it's effective. There are a few narrative tricks that the author employs to accomplish this, but none are more effective than that of the oral histories being relayed. You always get the sense that each snippet is unreliable, but compiling them all is just one piece of a delicious puzzle.
Any complaints I might have could stem from the author tending towards an essay style of writing and philosophizing, which again, is typical. Many times, I felt there was a distance between the reader and the page, as if being the "interviewer" wasn't enough to draw me into the story, but perhaps this was intentional. I do give him credit for being able to convey scene and tone via the varying viewpoints, but I would have enjoyed more of the longer passages if there were any to be conveyed.
What's most interesting to me is that there are two purported sequels in the works. I'm not sure how successful these will be, as "Rant" itself left a lot to be revealed at the end and its discovery was part of the fun. Being able to reveal new mysteries may be difficult, but I am more than willing to see where Mr. Palahniuk is headed.
Read it. Hardcover if you will.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
9/21/08
So what's new? Oh yea! I'm now 30! That's interesting, maybe? I don't feel any different, of course, but someone pointed out the other day that people turning 30 seem to be more sentimental. I suppose that's true. Who knows. I never accomplished what I wanted to by now, but I've realized that it's OK. There's plenty of time left in my life, so why not take the opportunity now, while I still can. My only wish is that I could actually focus. There's too much that I enjoy doing and not enough time in the day, or self-motivation, to do it all. Let's recap:
Sentimental enough?
5 years ago at 25: Grace and I were enjoying our first year together. I'd just changed jobs and also had just moved into the Hawth.
10 years ago at 20: Stuck in school. Burnt out by Junior year and exhausted. Wondering why the heck I'd even decided to be an engineer.
15 years ago at 15: Freshman year in high school. Not many friends, but the ones I made, I've kept.
20 years ago at 5: Wasn't in kindergarten yet. I don't remember a thing except running around the pre-school playground like I was raised by monkeys.
10 years ago at 20: Stuck in school. Burnt out by Junior year and exhausted. Wondering why the heck I'd even decided to be an engineer.
15 years ago at 15: Freshman year in high school. Not many friends, but the ones I made, I've kept.
20 years ago at 5: Wasn't in kindergarten yet. I don't remember a thing except running around the pre-school playground like I was raised by monkeys.
Sentimental enough?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tweet-a-riffic!
In case you didn't know, I can be found at:
My Twitter Address
Other than that, the blog has been pretty silent. Hope to rectify that soon. Work/Classwork willing.
My Twitter Address
Other than that, the blog has been pretty silent. Hope to rectify that soon. Work/Classwork willing.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Touché Tourneau
Things I have learned while watch shopping:
The fools at Watch Gear don't know a darn thing.
People like to refer to their watches as "timepieces."
The difference between a "Crown" and a "Bezel."
How to pronounce Jaeger-LeCoultre.
The middle-ground is small. Panamanian landing strip small.
Sales is about more than knowing your script and saying the name of your client often.
How to appear to know at least a couple things about watches without knowing anything.
More to come.
The fools at Watch Gear don't know a darn thing.
People like to refer to their watches as "timepieces."
The difference between a "Crown" and a "Bezel."
How to pronounce Jaeger-LeCoultre.
The middle-ground is small. Panamanian landing strip small.
Sales is about more than knowing your script and saying the name of your client often.
How to appear to know at least a couple things about watches without knowing anything.
More to come.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Foodie Weekend of Bliss
I'm going to preface the next post by saying that G and I just had the best weekend of eating ever. So good, it deserves a list!
Friday:
Dinner at Joan's on Third consisting of turkey meatloaf with chipotle ketchup and the most divine corned beef sandwich. Corned beef, cabbage, and melted gruyere, all on a buttery, toasted rye.
Dessert at Toast. BANANA PUDDING!
Saturday:
Fresh thai chicken lettuce wraps and a farmer's market salad poolside for lunch. Dinner was a prawn and avocado amuse bouche followed by dungeness crab cucumber rolls and crab spring rolls, an heirloom and burrata salad, prime rib and a bleu cheese/potato tarte, and the most tender and delicious breaded pork tenderloin.
Sunday:
Double-double animal style for lunch. Later that night we had our Summit House dinner starting with the Summit House salad, a tomato-based fresh seafood chowder, the Prime Rib (!), prawns stuffed with crab, creamed corn, all finished off with an English trifle. Gah.
I'm drooling just thinking about it.
Friday:
Dinner at Joan's on Third consisting of turkey meatloaf with chipotle ketchup and the most divine corned beef sandwich. Corned beef, cabbage, and melted gruyere, all on a buttery, toasted rye.
Dessert at Toast. BANANA PUDDING!
Saturday:
Fresh thai chicken lettuce wraps and a farmer's market salad poolside for lunch. Dinner was a prawn and avocado amuse bouche followed by dungeness crab cucumber rolls and crab spring rolls, an heirloom and burrata salad, prime rib and a bleu cheese/potato tarte, and the most tender and delicious breaded pork tenderloin.
Sunday:
Double-double animal style for lunch. Later that night we had our Summit House dinner starting with the Summit House salad, a tomato-based fresh seafood chowder, the Prime Rib (!), prawns stuffed with crab, creamed corn, all finished off with an English trifle. Gah.
I'm drooling just thinking about it.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Late-Breaking Comic-Con Post
Ah yes. Comic-con. That bastion of nerd mayhem and geek mania. It's inevitable that I make it here every year, given that I'm of a deep nerd pedigree. Let me count the ways. Comics, check. Genre films, check. Science fiction, check. Vinyl toys, check. No wife in tow this year, I took the trip with a few good friends of mine for one day only, the last day. What did we encounter?
* Mr. Cameron Stewart, a fine gentleman and accomplished illustrator of my favorite Vertigo work of the last year, "The Other Side."
* A broken Clairvoyant Cat at the Adult Swim booth. Unfortunately, I never got to see the darn thing in action.
* The cast of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia showing the first episode of the new season during their panel.
* Giant Bart Simpson and Homer Simpson statues.
A slightly overweight Biker Scout.
* Becky Cloonan, Vasilis Lolos, and Fabio Moon. Missing was a one Mr. Gabriel Ba. These illustrators are now Eisner Award winners and comickers of high caliber. Inspirations, really.
* A helpful group of sales reps at the Munky King booth. Great toys, but I've been holding back on the vinyl purchases for a while now.
* A massive Capcom display of Street Fighter IV goodness. Oh, and the Street Fighter tribute book. An excellent catch.
*Bill's friend Alex at the Sideshow Booth. Said, "Hi." in the middle of the mayhem and chatted long enough before being swallowed by the mob.
* A giant crowd of collectors and enthusiasts.
Not much else really as we spent the abbreviated day scrambling to see all we could see, which for me wasn't much since most of the artists headed home after Saturday or were limited in their appearances. Oh, and some of the exclusive stuff I wanted to buy was sold out.
Regardless, it was a fun time. I always enjoy taking the train down there, but I would recommend not leaving San Diego that Sunday via train. It was almost standing room only and I was lucky to have a seat. Next year will be better planned, I anticipate. Shoot, I should be buying my tickets already!
Friday, August 01, 2008
Summer Movie Malady - Weeks 6 - 8
It's been quiet lately. On the blog, I mean. Let's change that.
Week 6 - Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Guillermo Del Toro returns with Mike Mignola's baby. Hell-baby, I guess. This time around, there's no fuss of an introduction. Instead we are treated to the loveliness of a father-son moment in a super-relevant bedtime story and then thrust headfirst into a world filled with strange magic. The fairy are the focus this time, not the elder gods nor the mad monk, Rasputin. Visually, this film is Del Toro's. Mignola's is a world with black shadows and giant gorillas, Del Toro's is all fire, wonder, and misshapen trolls. There is mutual respect amongst creators, but I sense disappointment in most interviews with Mignola. In itself, that is disappointing. The movie is anything but as it is fun, visually stunning, and really a universe apart from the source material.
Overall Score: 3.5 stars
Week 7 - The Dark Knight
How do you top one of the best superhero movies of the decade? You make a better one! The same team that brought you Batman Begins decided to up the ante this time, craft a more complex tale of a city with criminals gone wrong and bring their hero to his knees. You can't respect this movie for its stars without mentioning the ubiquitous performance of Heath Ledger. He embodies the Joker, wholly. It's gripping whenever he is onscreen and the backstory of Harvey Dent is no slouch either. The visuals are keen and the action is truly unmatched by most movies seen this year. For my money, I give Iron Man the upper hand, but this is a very, very, very close second. Second viewing?
Overall Score: 4 stars
Week 8 - Step Brothers
If you've seen Talladega Nights, you've seen Step Brothers. Difference is, Step Brothers is more about men unwilling to grow up and the inherent rivalry between new siblings than rivalry between close friends. It's still funny, though, and enjoyable, but still not even close to the epic madness of Anchorman. I give Will Ferrel props for making a movie that is not a "sports comedy" but I feel they needed a few extra supporting cast members to keep the comedy more fresh. I will never look at a drum set the same way ever again.
Overall Score: 3 stars
Week 6 - Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Guillermo Del Toro returns with Mike Mignola's baby. Hell-baby, I guess. This time around, there's no fuss of an introduction. Instead we are treated to the loveliness of a father-son moment in a super-relevant bedtime story and then thrust headfirst into a world filled with strange magic. The fairy are the focus this time, not the elder gods nor the mad monk, Rasputin. Visually, this film is Del Toro's. Mignola's is a world with black shadows and giant gorillas, Del Toro's is all fire, wonder, and misshapen trolls. There is mutual respect amongst creators, but I sense disappointment in most interviews with Mignola. In itself, that is disappointing. The movie is anything but as it is fun, visually stunning, and really a universe apart from the source material.
Overall Score: 3.5 stars
Week 7 - The Dark Knight
How do you top one of the best superhero movies of the decade? You make a better one! The same team that brought you Batman Begins decided to up the ante this time, craft a more complex tale of a city with criminals gone wrong and bring their hero to his knees. You can't respect this movie for its stars without mentioning the ubiquitous performance of Heath Ledger. He embodies the Joker, wholly. It's gripping whenever he is onscreen and the backstory of Harvey Dent is no slouch either. The visuals are keen and the action is truly unmatched by most movies seen this year. For my money, I give Iron Man the upper hand, but this is a very, very, very close second. Second viewing?
Overall Score: 4 stars
Week 8 - Step Brothers
If you've seen Talladega Nights, you've seen Step Brothers. Difference is, Step Brothers is more about men unwilling to grow up and the inherent rivalry between new siblings than rivalry between close friends. It's still funny, though, and enjoyable, but still not even close to the epic madness of Anchorman. I give Will Ferrel props for making a movie that is not a "sports comedy" but I feel they needed a few extra supporting cast members to keep the comedy more fresh. I will never look at a drum set the same way ever again.
Overall Score: 3 stars
Thursday, July 17, 2008
MP3-A-Palooza
I had this huge post written up and then realized it was ridiculous. Lists are always better than forcing people to read. I think this is at least 7 months of backlog, which is insanity within itself. Thank you Amazon.
- We Are Scientists - "Brain Thrust Mastery"
- Judgment - Buy it
- The Go! Team - "Proof of Youth"
- Judgment - Borrow it
- Hot Chip - "Made in the Dark"
- Judgement - Buy it
- The Magnetic Fields - "Distortion"
- Judgement - Skip it
- Weezer - "The Red Album"
- Judgement - Skip It
- The Mars Volta - "The Bedlam in Goliath"
- Judgement - Borrow it
- Radiohead - "In Rainbows"
- Judgement - Buy it
- Blonde Redhead - "23"
- Judgement - Buy it
- Duke Spirit - "Neptune"
- Judgement - Borrow it
- Gnarls Barkley - "The Odd Couple"
- Judgement - Buy it
- The Raconteurs - "Consolers of the Lonely"
- Judgement - Borrow it
- Queens of the Stone Age - "Era Vulgaris"
- Judgement - Buy it
- Vampire Weekend - "Vampire Weekend"
- Judgement - Buy it
- The Rapture - "Pieces of the People We Love"
- Judgement - Skip it
- Death Cab for Cutie - "Narrow Stairs"
- Judgement - Buy it
- Beck - "Modern Guilt"
- Judgement - Buy it
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Coldplay in the Hood
It hasn't gotten old. 4 different shows (one at the VZW Amphitheater, one at the Bowl, one at Staples, and one at the Forum) and it hasn't gotten old yet. I would venture to say that it's gotten better every single time, but Coldplay are just a fantastic band to see live. It could be the sweeping scale of the music or it could be the affable demeanor of frontman Chris Martin, but most likely it's just because I enjoy their music. If that makes me more pop, then indie street cred be damned.
A rundown of the setlist:
Life in Technicolor
Violet Hill
Clocks
In My Place
Viva La Vida
42
Yes
The Scientist
Chinese Sleep Chant
God Put a Smile on Your Face
Square One
Speed of Sound
Trouble
Lost
Strawberry Swing
Yellow
Death Will Never Conquer
Fix You
Lovers in Japan
Reign of Love
Encore:
Death and All His Friends
That's quite a set actually. It gives me some opportunity to comment on their new album also. The reviews are in and their mixed, but so far I have to say it's one of their most accomplished works. Sure, Viva la Vida is very reminiscent of their trademark sound and Violet Hill doesn't work for me at all, but the rest of it really stretches their artistic limits. Some of it isn't so successful (see: Violet Hill), but where they stretch, they stretch well (see: 42). I like to refer to a few of their songs by obvious influences and touches in the presentation, but hearing them live really doesn't do nicknames any justice. 42 might be their Radiohead-ish vein, but it's a sweet little piece of music. Lovers in Japan could be considered their U2 track, but the execution is decidedly Coldplay. At first listen, I wasn't in love with it, but I can now safely say, after a few listens, that it stands up to be a gem. All this, of course, is backed by their sweeping performance in front of thousands at the Great Western Forum.
See them again? I would, in a heartbeat.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Summer Movie Malady - Weeks 4 & 5
Clearing out the queue yet again.
The Incredible Hulk
Ang Lee's movie was better. Yes, I'll say it again. Ang Lee's movie was better. The acting, the inspired motion capture animation of the director's own movements, the storytelling techniques. Ang Lee's movie was better. I don't care that there was more action, I don't care that Ed Norton lent more star power to the leading role of Bruce Banner, the first one was much better. What was wrong with it? Liv Tyler was decent, but no match for Jennifer Connolly. William Hurt was good as always, but the gravitas of Sam Elliot made Thunderbolt Ross more vulnerable and human. Tim Roth was an excellent villain, but I prefer my Emil Blonsky more Russian and my abomination more reptilian. Yes, I'll say it again, Ang Lee's movie was better.
Overall Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Wall-E
Pixar continues its dominance of the computer generated animated feature. It's sad that their success has relegated 2-dimensional hand-drawn animation to television, but their success has bred some of the most memorable films of the last decade and a half. What makes them so amazing, however, is not their fish-out-of-water formula, but their dedication to quality character and artistic ingenuity. Wall-E is an animated film unlike any other. The introductory 30 minutes are devoid of any proper dialogue, the main character has a limited vocabulary, and action takes a backseat to beauty. What's surprising is that it all works. There is more pathos in Wall-E than in most of the year's dramas combined. The amazing part remains that the entire audience (the majority of which included young children) was engrossed in the story. Suffice it to say, I loved it, loved it, loved it. Surprisingly romantic and socially relevant, the film does not pander nor talk down to the audience. It's true to the heart of its story and even loaded with enough themes to even inspire the slightest bit of controversy. The animated short, "Presto," an excellent introduction prior to beginning the film, was just an appetizer of what was to come, for that hour and a half running time, I was immersed.
Overall Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The Incredible Hulk
Ang Lee's movie was better. Yes, I'll say it again. Ang Lee's movie was better. The acting, the inspired motion capture animation of the director's own movements, the storytelling techniques. Ang Lee's movie was better. I don't care that there was more action, I don't care that Ed Norton lent more star power to the leading role of Bruce Banner, the first one was much better. What was wrong with it? Liv Tyler was decent, but no match for Jennifer Connolly. William Hurt was good as always, but the gravitas of Sam Elliot made Thunderbolt Ross more vulnerable and human. Tim Roth was an excellent villain, but I prefer my Emil Blonsky more Russian and my abomination more reptilian. Yes, I'll say it again, Ang Lee's movie was better.
Overall Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Wall-E
Pixar continues its dominance of the computer generated animated feature. It's sad that their success has relegated 2-dimensional hand-drawn animation to television, but their success has bred some of the most memorable films of the last decade and a half. What makes them so amazing, however, is not their fish-out-of-water formula, but their dedication to quality character and artistic ingenuity. Wall-E is an animated film unlike any other. The introductory 30 minutes are devoid of any proper dialogue, the main character has a limited vocabulary, and action takes a backseat to beauty. What's surprising is that it all works. There is more pathos in Wall-E than in most of the year's dramas combined. The amazing part remains that the entire audience (the majority of which included young children) was engrossed in the story. Suffice it to say, I loved it, loved it, loved it. Surprisingly romantic and socially relevant, the film does not pander nor talk down to the audience. It's true to the heart of its story and even loaded with enough themes to even inspire the slightest bit of controversy. The animated short, "Presto," an excellent introduction prior to beginning the film, was just an appetizer of what was to come, for that hour and a half running time, I was immersed.
Overall Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Commencement 2008
I like to do this every year as kind of a tribute to my school, but also as an inspiration to myself. Commencement is one of those times you really feel like there is a golden opportunity right outside your door and over the years, that opportunity seems more and more tarnished. To re-polish that shine and re-live that non-jaded-ness, I re-visit the commencement speeches and each has been as equally golden as the years before. Last year, Steve Jobs spoke of finding what it is that you are passionate about. This year, the speaker was the most famous of syndicated TV mavens, Oprah Winfrey. Although her speech wasn't as powerful as Mr. Jobs', it was still effective. Let's take a look at a few of her talking points.
Oprah's opening remarks mostly concerned her goddaughter and graduating senior, but the heart of her speech is summarized in this statement. Superficially, life is a series of lessons, but what I take away from this is that we are meant to be prepared for these lessons. Not just prepared, but active in finding solutions for the "full-blown crises" that arise in our lives. Specifically, Oprah proceeds to talk about three lessons she's learned in life:
Feelings. This one is perhaps the most simple of all, but also the most difficult to deal with. Her point in this lesson was that you shouldn't be afraid to let your emotions dictate your decisions. Pointedly, doubt is what drove her to make many decisions, imploring each graduating student, "Even doubt means don't." Of course, if every decision was this easy, we'd all be incredibly happy. But why not follow our emotions? I tend to agree with her, in most senses, what we feel with our gut ultimately leads to the right decision the majority of the time.
Oprah continues:
This passage is in reference to the difficulties that she has had starting her new all-girls' school in Africa. Unfortunately, failures are a fact of life, for everyone. I've come to terms with this in my own way, but it doesn't make me less afraid. Her statement that you must learn from your failures is key. What does it teach us when we fail? More importantly for me, what does one learn about one's self and one's goals? Oprah herself has already established her own goals, but this has lead to much more than being a television personality:
This is especially significant, because the overall message of her speech is about service. In essence, she claims that you can find yourself through service. You can find your happiness, you can find your "greatness," and you can define your success. She mentions a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, and this is only a portion,
I believe this is a powerful message to the graduating class and perhaps even to those of us in search of something more. Many of us are wide-eyed and looking for our potential. Some of us have found it, but others are constantly searching, but utterly impotent in the fear that we do not have what it takes to succeed. Oprah claims that none of this matters. As long as we have the love and devotion not only for our craft, but for our world, we should be able to succeed at anything.
Again, I believe that the school has picked well in providing a wonderful parting note for all those who have passed through its halls. For all the people who have achieved more than they could hope for, it is a confirmation, but for those still looking, it is a catalyst. Here's to them!
"The world has so many lessons to teach you. I consider the world, this Earth, to be like a school and our life the classrooms. And sometimes here in this Planet Earth school the lessons often come dressed up as detours or roadblocks. And sometimes as full-blown crises. And the secret I've learned to getting ahead is being open to the lessons, lessons from the grandest university of all, that is, the universe itself."
Oprah's opening remarks mostly concerned her goddaughter and graduating senior, but the heart of her speech is summarized in this statement. Superficially, life is a series of lessons, but what I take away from this is that we are meant to be prepared for these lessons. Not just prepared, but active in finding solutions for the "full-blown crises" that arise in our lives. Specifically, Oprah proceeds to talk about three lessons she's learned in life:
"The three lessons that have had the greatest impact on my life have to do with feelings, with failure and with finding happiness."
Feelings. This one is perhaps the most simple of all, but also the most difficult to deal with. Her point in this lesson was that you shouldn't be afraid to let your emotions dictate your decisions. Pointedly, doubt is what drove her to make many decisions, imploring each graduating student, "Even doubt means don't." Of course, if every decision was this easy, we'd all be incredibly happy. But why not follow our emotions? I tend to agree with her, in most senses, what we feel with our gut ultimately leads to the right decision the majority of the time.
Oprah continues:
"And what I've found is that difficulties come when you don't pay attention to life's whisper, because life always whispers to you first. And if you ignore the whisper, sooner or later you'll get a scream. Whatever you resist persists. But, if you ask the right question—not why is this happening, but what is this here to teach me?—it puts you in the place and space to get the lesson you need."
This passage is in reference to the difficulties that she has had starting her new all-girls' school in Africa. Unfortunately, failures are a fact of life, for everyone. I've come to terms with this in my own way, but it doesn't make me less afraid. Her statement that you must learn from your failures is key. What does it teach us when we fail? More importantly for me, what does one learn about one's self and one's goals? Oprah herself has already established her own goals, but this has lead to much more than being a television personality:
"Be a part of something. Don't live for yourself alone. This is what I know for sure: In order to be truly happy, you must live along with and you have to stand for something larger than yourself. Because life is a reciprocal exchange. To move forward you have to give back. And to me, that is the greatest lesson of life. To be happy, you have to give something back."
This is especially significant, because the overall message of her speech is about service. In essence, she claims that you can find yourself through service. You can find your happiness, you can find your "greatness," and you can define your success. She mentions a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, and this is only a portion,
"You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love."
I believe this is a powerful message to the graduating class and perhaps even to those of us in search of something more. Many of us are wide-eyed and looking for our potential. Some of us have found it, but others are constantly searching, but utterly impotent in the fear that we do not have what it takes to succeed. Oprah claims that none of this matters. As long as we have the love and devotion not only for our craft, but for our world, we should be able to succeed at anything.
Again, I believe that the school has picked well in providing a wonderful parting note for all those who have passed through its halls. For all the people who have achieved more than they could hope for, it is a confirmation, but for those still looking, it is a catalyst. Here's to them!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Netflix Profiles Gone Awry
Last night, under the warm blanket of a pre-equinox evening, I received an email notification from that purveyor of red envelopes, Netflix, declaring that they would be eliminating the profiles feature from their service. For the uninitiated, the profiles feature was a fantastic way for any Netflix household to allocate discs amongst family members so everyone could rent whatever they wanted with no argument or hassle. Under the new guidelines, ratings and individual account statistics would be merged together under the main profile and no doubt, havoc would ensue.
Let's look at it this way. Grace and I definitely have differing movie tastes and while there is overlap, it would be increasingly difficult for us to find movies to watch together if I was the only person choosing movies for the queue. Yes, it is easy for me to give her access to the main profile, but it is awful convenient for us to have the separate queues rather than have a constant shuffling of DVD priority. I can understand that not every netflix member does this, but for those who do, this is an awesome feature.
There are a couple of claims Netflix has made to justify this move. The customer service email attributes it to the development of new features. Specifically, there is nothing mentioned so we are supposed to take a leap of faith and accept that we will love these new features, whatever they are. The second claim I have read is that the profiles feature was cumbersome and confusing to certain users. Perhaps it was deemed superfluous, but there's no way to know this unless there is data from Netflix to back this up. Perhaps only 10% of members are utilizing the profiles feature, but the blog posts and comments I've read so far tell me this can't be.
My conclusion is that it is possibly a cost issue. With each new account there is the possibility of 4 or more profiles being added to the system. Maintenance, architecture, who knows what, I'm sure is affected by this multiplication. Add to this the potential move from physical rental to high-definition streaming and you end up with a lot of moveable data clogging up the works. I'm hardly qualified to make this sort of assumption, but it could be a possibility.
The overall feeling of that initial e-mail is disappointment. We love our Netflix account. Every time one of those red envelopes comes in the mail we actually get a little excited, especially if it's one of "our" movies. I don't know if I'll take the extreme action of leaving the Netflix fold, but unless they come up with a better explanation, I may have to.
Let's look at it this way. Grace and I definitely have differing movie tastes and while there is overlap, it would be increasingly difficult for us to find movies to watch together if I was the only person choosing movies for the queue. Yes, it is easy for me to give her access to the main profile, but it is awful convenient for us to have the separate queues rather than have a constant shuffling of DVD priority. I can understand that not every netflix member does this, but for those who do, this is an awesome feature.
There are a couple of claims Netflix has made to justify this move. The customer service email attributes it to the development of new features. Specifically, there is nothing mentioned so we are supposed to take a leap of faith and accept that we will love these new features, whatever they are. The second claim I have read is that the profiles feature was cumbersome and confusing to certain users. Perhaps it was deemed superfluous, but there's no way to know this unless there is data from Netflix to back this up. Perhaps only 10% of members are utilizing the profiles feature, but the blog posts and comments I've read so far tell me this can't be.
My conclusion is that it is possibly a cost issue. With each new account there is the possibility of 4 or more profiles being added to the system. Maintenance, architecture, who knows what, I'm sure is affected by this multiplication. Add to this the potential move from physical rental to high-definition streaming and you end up with a lot of moveable data clogging up the works. I'm hardly qualified to make this sort of assumption, but it could be a possibility.
The overall feeling of that initial e-mail is disappointment. We love our Netflix account. Every time one of those red envelopes comes in the mail we actually get a little excited, especially if it's one of "our" movies. I don't know if I'll take the extreme action of leaving the Netflix fold, but unless they come up with a better explanation, I may have to.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Oh, the Humanity!
I'm re-posting this again, for reasons which shall go unspoken. Different sport. Same feeling.
The Loser
A television washes a blue light over a barren den.
The game long over and his mates long gone, Craig thought about retiring to the oversized twin bed upstairs and shutting it all down. After several seemingly epic hours of stunned silence from the captain's chair, it was about time.
With the strength of Ajax, Craig peeled himself from the leather sleeve of his seat, stumbled towards the stairwell in a vertigo funk, and leaned on a caramel plaster wall laden with ancient trophies. Cold weather still gave him a dull ache in his knee, but with the room spinning there were other pains to come. An empty bottle of Wild Turkey told him as much and the sea-torn battle in his stomach proved it. A soft chuckle burst through his lips as he spotted Tucker lapping up the bits of party left on the bamboo floor. Numbly, a curt "Tucker!" got the dappled greyhound loping away.
Seven games it had lasted, of which the last being the most excruciatingly anxious back-and-forth contest he'd seen all year. Seven games totaling more than 100 goals ending in one champion, one cup lifted, and hopes shattered. He'd almost thrown the television out the window when Todd Bertuzzi scored the go-ahead goal on a cheap shot power play in the third period, but the game wasn't over. It wasn't until triple zeroes hit the score board that his guests strained and yelled to keep him from going foaming mad.
A last stair cast an evil grin upon Craig's feeble attempt to ascend. Just a few more bedward lurches to salvation laid before him. Steeling himself and ignoring gravity-challenged eyelids, Craig attempted to focus on the feathery pillows, the heavy fleece blanket, and the thought that next season, things would be different.
Next season there would be new players, maybe some more new rules, and there would be no more team from British Columbia for his team to deal with in the finals. Next season, Craig would be married happily, living in a lakeside cottage along a golden coastline surrounded by glittering rocks and crystal, blue water. Next season, there would be no whiskey and no tears. There would be jubilant celebrations spilling into the frozen streets of Aurora, there would be embraces for everyone, and a gallant ticker-tape parade. Headlines would scream, "The Cup is OURS!" and previous seasons' disappointments would be locked shut in the drawers of forgotten memory.
All this Craig dreamed as he lost his fight with consciousness. The final step cackled with glee as an alcohol-swollen body thumped each redwood stair with the occasional crack of bone in flight.
When they found Jigsaw Craig twisted across his polished floor the following morning, the television was in a test pattern, cold pizza sat alone in a crowd of empty silver bullets, Tucker was licking Craig's broken jaw in sympathy, and he had nothing on but the stained and tattered jersey of a losing team.
Gurgling through the assault of canine saliva, one could make out in strangled English...
"Next season..."
The game long over and his mates long gone, Craig thought about retiring to the oversized twin bed upstairs and shutting it all down. After several seemingly epic hours of stunned silence from the captain's chair, it was about time.
With the strength of Ajax, Craig peeled himself from the leather sleeve of his seat, stumbled towards the stairwell in a vertigo funk, and leaned on a caramel plaster wall laden with ancient trophies. Cold weather still gave him a dull ache in his knee, but with the room spinning there were other pains to come. An empty bottle of Wild Turkey told him as much and the sea-torn battle in his stomach proved it. A soft chuckle burst through his lips as he spotted Tucker lapping up the bits of party left on the bamboo floor. Numbly, a curt "Tucker!" got the dappled greyhound loping away.
Seven games it had lasted, of which the last being the most excruciatingly anxious back-and-forth contest he'd seen all year. Seven games totaling more than 100 goals ending in one champion, one cup lifted, and hopes shattered. He'd almost thrown the television out the window when Todd Bertuzzi scored the go-ahead goal on a cheap shot power play in the third period, but the game wasn't over. It wasn't until triple zeroes hit the score board that his guests strained and yelled to keep him from going foaming mad.
A last stair cast an evil grin upon Craig's feeble attempt to ascend. Just a few more bedward lurches to salvation laid before him. Steeling himself and ignoring gravity-challenged eyelids, Craig attempted to focus on the feathery pillows, the heavy fleece blanket, and the thought that next season, things would be different.
Next season there would be new players, maybe some more new rules, and there would be no more team from British Columbia for his team to deal with in the finals. Next season, Craig would be married happily, living in a lakeside cottage along a golden coastline surrounded by glittering rocks and crystal, blue water. Next season, there would be no whiskey and no tears. There would be jubilant celebrations spilling into the frozen streets of Aurora, there would be embraces for everyone, and a gallant ticker-tape parade. Headlines would scream, "The Cup is OURS!" and previous seasons' disappointments would be locked shut in the drawers of forgotten memory.
All this Craig dreamed as he lost his fight with consciousness. The final step cackled with glee as an alcohol-swollen body thumped each redwood stair with the occasional crack of bone in flight.
When they found Jigsaw Craig twisted across his polished floor the following morning, the television was in a test pattern, cold pizza sat alone in a crowd of empty silver bullets, Tucker was licking Craig's broken jaw in sympathy, and he had nothing on but the stained and tattered jersey of a losing team.
Gurgling through the assault of canine saliva, one could make out in strangled English...
"Next season..."
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