Category Archives: Uncategorized

Dec 12 2007
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Uncategorized

I know, it's the Wachowskis

I haven’t really been excited about going to the movies lately.

By “lately,” I mean “last couple of years.”

And by “last couple of years,” I may actually mean, “a decade.”

Well, there was Serenity, but that was it.

That may change. The latest Speed Racer trailer has me pretty excited to watch the movie, for several reasons.

First is the look of the movie. It’s utilizing a lot of high quality CG which looks amazing in the trailer. The actors filmed primarily in front of a green screen, like 300, but the backgrounds and the overall “look” of the film already has me hooked. The fantastic racetracks, the cartoon look of the smoke, the speed lines, all of it point to visual direction that is updating and modernizing Speed Racer, while remaining true to the source. This could all change once the actual movie is released, but the trailer holds a bit of promise.

Second, the casting seems perfect. I remember watching the series on television, and just looking at the comparisons of the cast with the animated versions, I feel like they’re spot on. Christina Ricci as Trixie is genius. Emile Hirsch looks like Speed. John Goodman as Pops, Susan Sarandon as Mom are great choices. Even Matt Fox as Racer X. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that that monkey chimpanzee they got for Chim Chim is pretty close as well. I’m not saying that all primates look alike, but damn.

Third, I could watch Christina Ricci all day.

All in all, I would rate my excitement for the movie as, “cautiously optimistic.”

I’ve got a entirely different rating for Christina Ricci.

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Dec 04 2007
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No one to talk to

So I’m walking home on a weekday.  I miss the light at Albemarle and Nebraska so I have to wait a little while.  An older gentleman comes up to the same light and starts talking to me.  Not elderly, just older.

“Did you know those houses go for around one point nine million?  That’s ridiculous.”

I nod.  “Yeah.”  The houses are huge, but right on the corner of a pretty busy intersection with lots of traffic.  I wouldn’t turn it down the house if it was given to me, but if I had one point nine million dollars hanging around, it’s not exactly the house of my dreams.

“That’s the problem with this city,” he continues.  “There’s no one I can talk to, it’s people who live in houses like that or welfare mothers.  Nobody like me.”

“Uh, yeah.”  The light still hasn’t changed, and there are a few more cars waiting for the left turn.  Slowly, I’m disliking the direction that this conversation is going, and I decide to ignore the guy.

“And they’re the ones that keep having babies!  The welfare mothers!  You know, I’ve got two almanacs at home.”

The derailment of  his train of thought jars me internally, but I keep watching the traffic light.

“It’s the same problems with all those other countries in the world.  They’re having babies faster than we are.  Especially those Muslims and Asians.  They’re like cockroaches.”

This is the point in the conversation where, for the first time, I look at the man directly.

We make eye contact for the briefest second.

And he stops talking.

Tagged
Nov 13 2007
Uncategorized

Awkward!

Entering the men’s room I took a quick survey and got the lay of the land. The two urinals were already occupied, leaving the stall to do my business in. I didn’t really want to wait, so I walked into the stall and lifted the seat.

About midway through, I detect some movement behind me. One of the other guests has entered the stall and has already closed the door behind him. He’s an older gentleman and I’m not really sure about what the hell is going on. He hasn’t turned around yet, and I’m not sure if he knows I’m here.

You know, urinating.

“Uh, hi there.”

I consider my self defense options. I’m leaning towards rear kicks, but I’m not done with my business yet. I also consider urinating on the guy but I horrify myself with the thought that perhaps, that’s what he wants.

He looks terrified as he turns around and manages a quick “I’m sorry!” as he exits the stall with haste.

“I’m almost done,” I call after him. I’m trying to make it less embarrassing. I don’t think I’m succeeding. I exit and we both avoid eye contact as he goes straight for the stall.

I guess he just really had to go.

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Aug 24 2007
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360 Watch '07: The Conclusion

Well, I got my 360 back from Microsoft yesterday. Well, to be more accurate, a 360. Instead of repairing my old one they just sent me a new unit. And it certainly looks new. Has a manufacturing date of August 2007, and all of the protective plastic is still on the console.

They even gave me a month of xbox live for free.  Although I would have preferred points since I’m already a member of xbox live.  I guess it’s the thought that counts.

I’ll give it a try this weekend and see if it’ll crash out or fail on any of the games that I experienced problems with. So I expect to get some Dead Rising, Lost Planet, and Overlord time in. I just hope that I remember how to play those three games.

Total time out looks like it was ten days after I got the cardboard coffin from Microsoft.

Aug 05 2007
Uncategorized

I think this may be my killer app

This strip basically sums up one of the main reasons I would purchase a PlayStation3, and one of the reasons why I remain on the fence.

I bought the 360 for the social element. Now that mine’s in the shop—well not technically, I guess the box to send it to the shop is on its way here, so it’s sitting here being a big, broken piece of plastic and metal in my entertainment center—not that I burn with a dislike for Target’s warranty policy not unlike that of my preference to avoid Lapsang Souchoung tea—(this is a lot of em dashes) I look upon this strip and think, “You know, you’ve had that PlayStation 2 since 2000, with nary a disc error.”

As I sit here, I consider the wisdom of extolling the virtues of a piece of hardware that has not failed yet, but as you are here reading it, I suppose that I have made that decision already, and the die is cast.  On the other hand,  I went through about three PlayStations.  One of them I had to play with the unit upside down, so that discs would read.

Eye of Judgment is certainly an apt title.  I would most certainly by judged by others if  I bought a PlayStation 3 to play a collectible card game.

On the other hand, I played Magic: The Gathering so I’m already used to being judged.

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