Well it's the end of the world tomorrow, so I won't be seeing any of you again.
Actually it's just the rapture tomorrow, the end of the world (and universe) isn't until October 21st, so I guess I still have to go to work on Sunday.
Oh, well.
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Now playing: Metallica - Nothing Else Matters
via FoxyTunes
Friday, May 20, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
THOR
We went and saw the latest superhero movie last night.
The general consensus is good, everyone seemed to enjoy nearly every aspect of the film.
Kenneth Branagh seems to have been able to shine directing a big action film and bring out the 'Shakesperian' drama of the characters.
To my thinking all the actors did an admirable job with their characters, everyone really seemed to live in their roles without too much mugging or self aware performances one fears in 'comic book' movies.
The story itself is quite good; bringing the main originating themes of the Thor title to life in the limited time allowed in a single feature. Fathers and sons! Sibling rivalry! Friendship and honor! Power paired with humility and responsibility! All vast themes well represented inside quite a good action story.
The production design and special effects are also worthy of mention. In a day when it is 'easy' to depict vast alien landscapes and larger than life action the vista of Asgard and combat with frost giants really come to life. There just isn't any part that you point to and think 'reality ends here' the CGI and practical effects meld very well with the live action parts.
Thumbs up all around.
----------------
Now playing: The Black Angels - Call To Arms
via FoxyTunes
The general consensus is good, everyone seemed to enjoy nearly every aspect of the film.
Kenneth Branagh seems to have been able to shine directing a big action film and bring out the 'Shakesperian' drama of the characters.
To my thinking all the actors did an admirable job with their characters, everyone really seemed to live in their roles without too much mugging or self aware performances one fears in 'comic book' movies.
The story itself is quite good; bringing the main originating themes of the Thor title to life in the limited time allowed in a single feature. Fathers and sons! Sibling rivalry! Friendship and honor! Power paired with humility and responsibility! All vast themes well represented inside quite a good action story.
The production design and special effects are also worthy of mention. In a day when it is 'easy' to depict vast alien landscapes and larger than life action the vista of Asgard and combat with frost giants really come to life. There just isn't any part that you point to and think 'reality ends here' the CGI and practical effects meld very well with the live action parts.
Thumbs up all around.
----------------
Now playing: The Black Angels - Call To Arms
via FoxyTunes
Friday, April 22, 2011
flat.
I have terrible luck driving.
It has to be luck, because it couldn't be MY fault.
Over the past year or so I've gotten several speeding tickets, the gas pedal connection broke, and I've just had a flat tire from running into a curb. Looking at that list it seems the only one I couldn't have avoided was the gas pedal, that just failed because it was it's time to go.
But I swear it wasn't my fault. It's all just bad luck.
----------------
Now playing: Jonathan Coulton - I Crush Everything (Demo)
via FoxyTunes
It has to be luck, because it couldn't be MY fault.
Over the past year or so I've gotten several speeding tickets, the gas pedal connection broke, and I've just had a flat tire from running into a curb. Looking at that list it seems the only one I couldn't have avoided was the gas pedal, that just failed because it was it's time to go.
But I swear it wasn't my fault. It's all just bad luck.
----------------
Now playing: Jonathan Coulton - I Crush Everything (Demo)
via FoxyTunes
Friday, April 15, 2011
Vision
Recently there has been some speculation on how I might spend my tax return money.
Well, unless I successfully get some or all of it back from my insurance provider, much of it will have gone toward a new pair of glasses!
And, for those of you who feel the need for more fodder with which to ridicule me, they have bi-focal lenses.
They are taking some getting used to.
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Now playing: Devo - Planet Earth
via FoxyTunes
Well, unless I successfully get some or all of it back from my insurance provider, much of it will have gone toward a new pair of glasses!
And, for those of you who feel the need for more fodder with which to ridicule me, they have bi-focal lenses.
They are taking some getting used to.
----------------
Now playing: Devo - Planet Earth
via FoxyTunes
Friday, April 8, 2011
Tax Season
Did you know it was tax season?
I finally did my taxes last week. This year, for the first time, I went to a storefront tax service. I usually do my taxes online. It turns out that I would probably be better off continuing that practice.
It cost me nearly one hundred and eighty dollars! Some of that was a processing fee for them to take all the other fees out of my refund. Most of it was because I had a single extra piece of paper other than my W-2 form. I understand that these are tax professionals and its a VERY seasonal business, but damn!
Next year I think I'll stick to e-file.
(I did get my refund today. I think I'll buy some more Girl Scout cookies.)
----------------
Now playing: The Beatles - Taxman
via FoxyTunes
I finally did my taxes last week. This year, for the first time, I went to a storefront tax service. I usually do my taxes online. It turns out that I would probably be better off continuing that practice.
It cost me nearly one hundred and eighty dollars! Some of that was a processing fee for them to take all the other fees out of my refund. Most of it was because I had a single extra piece of paper other than my W-2 form. I understand that these are tax professionals and its a VERY seasonal business, but damn!
Next year I think I'll stick to e-file.
(I did get my refund today. I think I'll buy some more Girl Scout cookies.)
----------------
Now playing: The Beatles - Taxman
via FoxyTunes
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Source Code
Saw a movie last night.
It was called 'Source Code'.
It was okay.
Fine, I'll elaborate a little.
Spoilers!
Scientists think they are projecting a mostly dead soldier into a quantum echo of a terrorist attack. They do this over and over again so that he can find the terrorist and prevent future attacks. He decides this is no way to live and convinces himself that he can save the victims. He succeeds because it turns out he's not being projected into an echo of the same event but into the same event in a series of alternate universes. Then he goes off to live his new life with a girl he met on the train.
Although I liked this film, there are two problems I find. How could a scientist who actually uses the words 'alternate reality' in the film not realize he is sending our hero to alternate realities? And how am I supposed to feel about our hero permanently erasing the guy he jumps into and living out his life?
Well, I did enjoy the film. Even though it turns out it's about emotional conection and freedom of choice and 'doing the right thing' instead of Action Man Fights Bad Guys! Why doesn't anybody make those kinds of films anymore?
----------------
Now playing: Dance of the Dream Man [Instrumental]
via FoxyTunes
It was called 'Source Code'.
It was okay.
Fine, I'll elaborate a little.
Spoilers!
Scientists think they are projecting a mostly dead soldier into a quantum echo of a terrorist attack. They do this over and over again so that he can find the terrorist and prevent future attacks. He decides this is no way to live and convinces himself that he can save the victims. He succeeds because it turns out he's not being projected into an echo of the same event but into the same event in a series of alternate universes. Then he goes off to live his new life with a girl he met on the train.
Although I liked this film, there are two problems I find. How could a scientist who actually uses the words 'alternate reality' in the film not realize he is sending our hero to alternate realities? And how am I supposed to feel about our hero permanently erasing the guy he jumps into and living out his life?
Well, I did enjoy the film. Even though it turns out it's about emotional conection and freedom of choice and 'doing the right thing' instead of Action Man Fights Bad Guys! Why doesn't anybody make those kinds of films anymore?
----------------
Now playing: Dance of the Dream Man [Instrumental]
via FoxyTunes
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Dreams
I don't often remember my dreams. So it's particularly strange that I've remembered two over the last couple of nights.
1) I am at work trying to finish some very important task on our system, each time I try to log in to a position it locks up and reboots. For some reason I always move on to another position never checking back to see if any of the previous ones have finished their reboot. (in the dream this is normal) Meanwhile Leonard Nimoy is behind me talking to some of my co-workers and loudly impugning my ability to take out the trash. I proclaim that I take out the trash just fine.
Then it's time to wake up.
2) I am waiting in a gym with many other people, we are all military and are there to begin testing for some special forces type training. For some reason the first test is to run to the top of the bleachers without setting off a motion sensor hidden there. We never actually do this test. While we wait I amuse myself by sliding around on one foot without kicking off anything but by force of will. No one seems impressed. Then I step out of the room for a second and when I return everyone is eating. Then suddenly they are all outside running and I am left with the instructors. I privately talk to one of them and resign from the program as I'm getting out of the military in a few days...
Then it's time to wake up.
There is some pretty freaky stuff going on in my head. Anybody into dream interpretation?
----------------
Now playing: Trevor Jones - Dark City
via FoxyTunes
1) I am at work trying to finish some very important task on our system, each time I try to log in to a position it locks up and reboots. For some reason I always move on to another position never checking back to see if any of the previous ones have finished their reboot. (in the dream this is normal) Meanwhile Leonard Nimoy is behind me talking to some of my co-workers and loudly impugning my ability to take out the trash. I proclaim that I take out the trash just fine.
Then it's time to wake up.
2) I am waiting in a gym with many other people, we are all military and are there to begin testing for some special forces type training. For some reason the first test is to run to the top of the bleachers without setting off a motion sensor hidden there. We never actually do this test. While we wait I amuse myself by sliding around on one foot without kicking off anything but by force of will. No one seems impressed. Then I step out of the room for a second and when I return everyone is eating. Then suddenly they are all outside running and I am left with the instructors. I privately talk to one of them and resign from the program as I'm getting out of the military in a few days...
Then it's time to wake up.
There is some pretty freaky stuff going on in my head. Anybody into dream interpretation?
----------------
Now playing: Trevor Jones - Dark City
via FoxyTunes
Monday, April 4, 2011
Someone mentioned content?
It has been brought to my attention that the lack of content on this blog has become cause for concern.
Whatever.
Anyway, Copyright!
It's a complicated issue, but the original intent of copyright was to protect a creative person from having their work stolen, re-purposed, or diluted by the actions of others. Now we have corporations as the 'legal' originators of artwork. Be it movies, music, illustration, writing or whatever. I think this is wrong.
I'm all for business' being allowed to make a profit and if a creative person wishes to collaborate with such an organization so be it. But the idea that a work and derivations of it can be held by the organization, esentially in perpetuity, just doesn't sit well with me.
I think there should be a moaratorium on copyright in the neighborhood of the date of publication +50 years. That way the actual originator as well as any partners or distributors he chooses to collaborate with can make their profit but after that others can distribute the work without being labeled 'Pirate'!
I don't know if this would solve any problems, but it would make me feel better.
----------------
Now playing: Garbage - Only Happy When It Rains
via FoxyTunes
Whatever.
Anyway, Copyright!
It's a complicated issue, but the original intent of copyright was to protect a creative person from having their work stolen, re-purposed, or diluted by the actions of others. Now we have corporations as the 'legal' originators of artwork. Be it movies, music, illustration, writing or whatever. I think this is wrong.
I'm all for business' being allowed to make a profit and if a creative person wishes to collaborate with such an organization so be it. But the idea that a work and derivations of it can be held by the organization, esentially in perpetuity, just doesn't sit well with me.
I think there should be a moaratorium on copyright in the neighborhood of the date of publication +50 years. That way the actual originator as well as any partners or distributors he chooses to collaborate with can make their profit but after that others can distribute the work without being labeled 'Pirate'!
I don't know if this would solve any problems, but it would make me feel better.
----------------
Now playing: Garbage - Only Happy When It Rains
via FoxyTunes
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Root Canal
I've had a problem with one of my molars for years now.
I recently got Dental Insurance and finally had a root canal done. I curently have a temporary crown on it and go back in a couple weeks for the permanent one.
It's nice to be able to chew on both sides of my mouth again...
I recently got Dental Insurance and finally had a root canal done. I curently have a temporary crown on it and go back in a couple weeks for the permanent one.
It's nice to be able to chew on both sides of my mouth again...
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Friday, September 11, 2009
Again with the NorVa
For my birthday Keith bought tickets to see the Reverend Horton Heat.
Pretty cool!
The show got off to a rocky start when we found out the opening act (Nashville Pussy) canceled. Don't know why. Anyway a local band took the stage for a little set, they were okay.
Then, after a short interval, The Reverend and his band came on. I was pretty unfamiliar with the songs as I don't own any of their albums (I do now, I got one at the show). But it was a pretty good show. A little thing at the beginning with the sound. I could barely hear that he was singing much less what the lyrics were. But by the third song I could hear fine and could even follow along with most of the words. Which is a pretty neat feat as I was hearing them for the first time.
They did a lot off their new album, which took a decidedly 'country' tack, but played a wide selection of older stuff, which was more the 'rockabilly' I expected. All of it was good.
They actually brought out one of the crew to do the singing on a cover of Motorhead's "Ace of Spades". Apparently a lot of appearances on this tour are with Motorhead... go figure.
A pleasant suprise for me was that after the show the band was available to sign stuff. I got all three signatures on my copy of the new album.
sweet.
----------------
Now playing: Reverend Horton Heart - Ain't No Saguaro in Texas
via FoxyTunes
Pretty cool!
The show got off to a rocky start when we found out the opening act (Nashville Pussy) canceled. Don't know why. Anyway a local band took the stage for a little set, they were okay.
Then, after a short interval, The Reverend and his band came on. I was pretty unfamiliar with the songs as I don't own any of their albums (I do now, I got one at the show). But it was a pretty good show. A little thing at the beginning with the sound. I could barely hear that he was singing much less what the lyrics were. But by the third song I could hear fine and could even follow along with most of the words. Which is a pretty neat feat as I was hearing them for the first time.
They did a lot off their new album, which took a decidedly 'country' tack, but played a wide selection of older stuff, which was more the 'rockabilly' I expected. All of it was good.
They actually brought out one of the crew to do the singing on a cover of Motorhead's "Ace of Spades". Apparently a lot of appearances on this tour are with Motorhead... go figure.
A pleasant suprise for me was that after the show the band was available to sign stuff. I got all three signatures on my copy of the new album.
sweet.
----------------
Now playing: Reverend Horton Heart - Ain't No Saguaro in Texas
via FoxyTunes
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