Well, just in case tomorrow is hectic, and I don't get around to it...
I won't be posting any new posts here for about a week.
VACATION TIME! WOOHOO!
I'm headed west again to see family and go to the Third "Bay Area" Maker Faire in San Mateo, CA. To see some photos from last year's events, check out my flickr set here.
Looking forward to just chillin and soaking up those California vibes.
There's a small chance I might blog from the road, but I kinda doubt it.
So have a good week, and I'll post when I get home.
Cyen out.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Awesome Geek Photo
So as a self proclaimed geek/nerd, one of the things I've come to realize over the years is that there are degrees of nerdom/geekdom. What one person considers "You are a total geek" can be totally different from another person's definition. Over the years, I've taken conscientious steps further and further into the geek-lifestyle, only to learn that just when I think I can't possibly get any more nerd-ish, there is someone out there more nerdy/geeky than me.
What I love about this photo, is the sense of pride you see emanating from "Tron Guy". I'm certainly not ready to take this step and make my own tron suit, but I applaud "Tron Guy's" decision to do this.
Tron Guy's Website: http://www.tronguy.net/
Link to Scott's flickr page
Thanks for sharing the photo under creative commons Scott.
This photo is licensed under a Creative Commons license. If you use this photo within the terms of the license or make special arrangements to use the photo, please list the photo credit as "Scott Beale / Laughing Squid" and link the credit to laughingsquid.com.
Movie Review - The Visitor
Yep, another movie review here.
Took a gamble and went to this "artsy" indy film tonight. I enjoyed it to a certain extent, but at the same time I think the film could have been better. (My friend fell asleep during this one, so I know at least one person who didn't like this one ;)
The Visitor (imdb)>
view the trailer here. (note, after time, this link to the trailer won't work anymore).
What I liked most about this film was that it was a story. I am finding that I enjoy movies that are based upon a story, and it doesn't have to be a complicated story either. Just tell me something about a person or a place and I'll listen/watch and probably enjoy it.
It was a slow movie. No car chases, no explosions, etc... But sometimes you need movies like this (well, I do anyway).
What mostly drew me to give this movie a chance was that it was directed by Tom McCarthy who also directed one of my all time favorite movies called "The Station Agent" (imdb).
The Visitor was a story of an older man named Walter (A professor at a college) who has fallen into a rut in life. Just going through the motions everyday, and not really "living". (I wished the movie focused more on this line, but not so much). Then, for work reasons he goes to New York City. While there, he meets up with a man, Tarek, who is from Syria, and his girlfriend from Senegal. The man, Tarek, is a drummer (on a Djembe). As Walter starts to emerge from his everyday life he takes an interest in the drum music, and starts to build a relationship with Tarek. Then we learn the problems involved...
Spoiler alert - you might want to stop reading if you don't want to know more about this movie.
>>>
still here? good.
We learn that Tarek and his girlfriend Zainab, are in this country illegally. Tarek ends up getting arrested and then gets put in a detention center. The movie then starts to get a little political and attempts to show some of the "injustice" regarding how a person of illegal status is treated. I noticed a lot of "not so subtle" background images during the filming (images of the American Flag, the Statue of Liberty, the Twin Towers, etc...).
Overall, I liked the story and the acting. But, I felt Walter was just a tad bit too stiff for the role. It felt "forced" that he liked music.
I didn't like the way the film ended either, but I won't go into that.
Bottom line: I can't recommend this movie to just anyone. The dialog was a little stiff and the political message was a bit much, but if you want to see a neat story, then go ahead and rent this one.
One final note:
I SO want a Djembe now!!!
I had half wanted one before, but after seeing and hearing one on the big screen I want one :)
That's a common symptom for me when I see a movie. I tend to get absorbed in a movie then come away thinking "I could do that" or "wouldn't it be neat if I tried ___" - I'll have to wait this desire out, cause I really have no room in my apt for a Djembe, and it's not like my area has a lot of drum circles I can visit. Oh well.
Took a gamble and went to this "artsy" indy film tonight. I enjoyed it to a certain extent, but at the same time I think the film could have been better. (My friend fell asleep during this one, so I know at least one person who didn't like this one ;)
The Visitor (imdb)>
view the trailer here. (note, after time, this link to the trailer won't work anymore).
What I liked most about this film was that it was a story. I am finding that I enjoy movies that are based upon a story, and it doesn't have to be a complicated story either. Just tell me something about a person or a place and I'll listen/watch and probably enjoy it.
It was a slow movie. No car chases, no explosions, etc... But sometimes you need movies like this (well, I do anyway).
What mostly drew me to give this movie a chance was that it was directed by Tom McCarthy who also directed one of my all time favorite movies called "The Station Agent" (imdb).
The Visitor was a story of an older man named Walter (A professor at a college) who has fallen into a rut in life. Just going through the motions everyday, and not really "living". (I wished the movie focused more on this line, but not so much). Then, for work reasons he goes to New York City. While there, he meets up with a man, Tarek, who is from Syria, and his girlfriend from Senegal. The man, Tarek, is a drummer (on a Djembe). As Walter starts to emerge from his everyday life he takes an interest in the drum music, and starts to build a relationship with Tarek. Then we learn the problems involved...
Spoiler alert - you might want to stop reading if you don't want to know more about this movie.
>>>
still here? good.
We learn that Tarek and his girlfriend Zainab, are in this country illegally. Tarek ends up getting arrested and then gets put in a detention center. The movie then starts to get a little political and attempts to show some of the "injustice" regarding how a person of illegal status is treated. I noticed a lot of "not so subtle" background images during the filming (images of the American Flag, the Statue of Liberty, the Twin Towers, etc...).
Overall, I liked the story and the acting. But, I felt Walter was just a tad bit too stiff for the role. It felt "forced" that he liked music.
I didn't like the way the film ended either, but I won't go into that.
Bottom line: I can't recommend this movie to just anyone. The dialog was a little stiff and the political message was a bit much, but if you want to see a neat story, then go ahead and rent this one.
One final note:
I SO want a Djembe now!!!
I had half wanted one before, but after seeing and hearing one on the big screen I want one :)
That's a common symptom for me when I see a movie. I tend to get absorbed in a movie then come away thinking "I could do that" or "wouldn't it be neat if I tried ___" - I'll have to wait this desire out, cause I really have no room in my apt for a Djembe, and it's not like my area has a lot of drum circles I can visit. Oh well.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Bell Shooters "not guilty"
So, this morning I woke to my clock radio to hear a very sad news item (one of many)...
The police that shot a man while in his car 50 times were found "not guilty".
The case brings up all sorts of questions, one of which is racism (though some of the police men were also black). To me, from what little facts I've heard on the case, it is not a case of racism, but more on police brutality, and the abuse of power.
To be fair, I was not there, and I know how difficult a policeman's job is to make split-second decisions. That being said, there just appears to be something wrong here where an UNARMED man gets shot about 50 times while he's sitting in his car.
My condolences go out to the family of Mr. Bell, and to the community as a whole who must now deal with this issue.
(on a side note regarding the media's role in this story... this article by the Associated Press, is quick to point out things like: They were at a "seedy strip club", they were drunk, the credibility of his friends, etc... These all sound like "excuses" to me, and detract from the real issues here. In other words, if it were a white male, in front of a bank, who just got done working, then the story would be a tragedy. Shame on you Assoc. Press.)
The police that shot a man while in his car 50 times were found "not guilty".
The case brings up all sorts of questions, one of which is racism (though some of the police men were also black). To me, from what little facts I've heard on the case, it is not a case of racism, but more on police brutality, and the abuse of power.
To be fair, I was not there, and I know how difficult a policeman's job is to make split-second decisions. That being said, there just appears to be something wrong here where an UNARMED man gets shot about 50 times while he's sitting in his car.
My condolences go out to the family of Mr. Bell, and to the community as a whole who must now deal with this issue.
(on a side note regarding the media's role in this story... this article by the Associated Press, is quick to point out things like: They were at a "seedy strip club", they were drunk, the credibility of his friends, etc... These all sound like "excuses" to me, and detract from the real issues here. In other words, if it were a white male, in front of a bank, who just got done working, then the story would be a tragedy. Shame on you Assoc. Press.)
ColorWars2008?
So, I'm still not entirely sure what this website is about, other than I know it's run by Ze Frank (a really funny and talented dude). But, it appears they have run this as a contest, and I was just looking at some of the submissions and they are both cool and -i gotta say- a little creepy too.
Basically, take a photo that was taken a long time ago of you as a kid. Then take another photo today, trying to match the same photo. Makes me want to break out the ol' photo album and see what I could do. What amazes me is that in many of the photos, these people managed to somehow capture the same clothes that they wore. Neat stuff...
Check out some of the submissions here.
Or see the winners here.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Blue today
So I have to admit, I'm a little down in the dumps today over the defeat of Obama in the PA Primary. I'm trying not to let it get me down, but I had my fingers crossed that he would have pulled a win out. Listening to all the political pundits put each of their spin on it is enough to make your head spin. I'm hopeful that Obama is still in the lead over Hilary, and that he'll be able to maintain that lead. But I'm not encouraged by my own past record of never picking the guy that wins. I might just go to the George Castanza model if Hilary wins the nomination, and I'll vote for McCain.
So, in related news...
I learned a few days ago, that a good friend of mine has almost the complete opposite political beliefs as I do. I'm stunned because I always thought we had similar outlooks on life. But here's the thing that's been bugging me... He's a conservative Christian too... I can't seem to get my head around the idea of these Conservative Christians and how they justify their political beliefs with the teachings of Jesus? I don't mean that as a slam, I just don't understand.
I was hoping I might be able to pick my friends mind since I don't know any other Republicans, but I also don't want to jeopordise our friendship by getting into arguments/debates about politics all the time.
I was going to email him about a topic like torture. I went online (I think it was on wikipedia) and saw a statistic that 66% of Republicans support Torture. This blew my mind.
If any republican's out there find this post, please post in the comments if you're willing to discuss this with me.
So I've been thinking of a question lately (probably not an original thought)...
If Jesus were alive today (you know what I mean), do you think he'd be a Republican or a Democrat?
Anyone willing to touch that loaded question with a ten foot pole? :)
Well, I'll close with a half-hearted cheer - Go Obama :)
So, in related news...
I learned a few days ago, that a good friend of mine has almost the complete opposite political beliefs as I do. I'm stunned because I always thought we had similar outlooks on life. But here's the thing that's been bugging me... He's a conservative Christian too... I can't seem to get my head around the idea of these Conservative Christians and how they justify their political beliefs with the teachings of Jesus? I don't mean that as a slam, I just don't understand.
I was hoping I might be able to pick my friends mind since I don't know any other Republicans, but I also don't want to jeopordise our friendship by getting into arguments/debates about politics all the time.
I was going to email him about a topic like torture. I went online (I think it was on wikipedia) and saw a statistic that 66% of Republicans support Torture. This blew my mind.
If any republican's out there find this post, please post in the comments if you're willing to discuss this with me.
So I've been thinking of a question lately (probably not an original thought)...
If Jesus were alive today (you know what I mean), do you think he'd be a Republican or a Democrat?
Anyone willing to touch that loaded question with a ten foot pole? :)
Well, I'll close with a half-hearted cheer - Go Obama :)
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