This movie was extremely well made. It's a psychological drama of sorts, and I had it all wrong halfway through the movie (which is to say, it mislead me perfectly). I thought I was so smart when I noted several things that were happening that many average movie-goers would not normally notice (in my opinion) but then out of the blue, the real story suddenly came out perhaps 2/3 of the way through the movie, and I was taken completely by surprise. I like it when a movie can do that to me, a "well trained movie-goer". :-)
Go to the movie, and just try and figure out what's actually going on, and who's really the one doing what. I'll bet you are wrong once it's revealed!
2005-09-25
MOVIE: The Corpse Bride
I was really looking forward to this movie, but was disappointed (due to my own hype over it).
It was a "nice" movie, but that's it. I found myself nitpicking things constantly for some reason. The animation was great (much more fluid than The Nightmare Before Christmas). The story was OKAY. The detail put into visual versus audio aspects of the movie were poor in this anal person's opinion.
Go see it, but try to see it during a matinee or with passes or something.
It was a "nice" movie, but that's it. I found myself nitpicking things constantly for some reason. The animation was great (much more fluid than The Nightmare Before Christmas). The story was OKAY. The detail put into visual versus audio aspects of the movie were poor in this anal person's opinion.
Go see it, but try to see it during a matinee or with passes or something.
2005-09-24
Five Years Of "Blogging"
I just realized I've now been keeping my journal online for five years. Whoa! That's a lot of thoughts and dreams shared.
2005-09-20
Why Men Die Younger
(found on Rooster Teeth's web forum today...)
Do you know how tough it is being a man...?
If you put a woman on a pedestal and try to protect her from the rat race, you're a male chauvinist.
If you stay home and do the housework, you're a pansy.
If you work too hard there is never any time for her.
If you don't work enough, you're a good-for-nothing bum.
If she has a boring repetitive job with low pay, this is exploitation.
If you have a boring repetitive job with low pay, you should get off your butt and find something better.
If you get a promotion ahead of her, that is favoritism.
If she gets a job ahead of you, it's equal opportunity.
If you mention how nice she looks, it's sexual harassment.
If you keep quiet, it's male indifference.
If you cry, you're a wimp.
If you don't, you're an insensitive pig.
If you make a decision without consulting her, you're a chauvinist.
If she makes a decision without consulting you, she's a liberated woman.
If you ask her to do something she doesn't enjoy, that's domination.
If she asks you, it's a favor.
If you appreciate the female form and frilly lingerie, you're a pervert.
If you don't, then you can’t be straight.
If you like a woman to shave her legs and keep in shape, you're sexist.
If you don't, you're unromantic.
If you try to keep yourself in shape, you're vain.
If you don't, you're a slob.
If you buy her flowers, you're after something.
If you don't, you're not thoughtful.
If you're proud of your achievements, you're full of yourself.
If you don't, you're not ambitious enough.
If she has a headache, she's tired.
If you have a headache, you don't love her anymore.
Do you know how tough it is being a man...?
If you put a woman on a pedestal and try to protect her from the rat race, you're a male chauvinist.
If you stay home and do the housework, you're a pansy.
If you work too hard there is never any time for her.
If you don't work enough, you're a good-for-nothing bum.
If she has a boring repetitive job with low pay, this is exploitation.
If you have a boring repetitive job with low pay, you should get off your butt and find something better.
If you get a promotion ahead of her, that is favoritism.
If she gets a job ahead of you, it's equal opportunity.
If you mention how nice she looks, it's sexual harassment.
If you keep quiet, it's male indifference.
If you cry, you're a wimp.
If you don't, you're an insensitive pig.
If you make a decision without consulting her, you're a chauvinist.
If she makes a decision without consulting you, she's a liberated woman.
If you ask her to do something she doesn't enjoy, that's domination.
If she asks you, it's a favor.
If you appreciate the female form and frilly lingerie, you're a pervert.
If you don't, then you can’t be straight.
If you like a woman to shave her legs and keep in shape, you're sexist.
If you don't, you're unromantic.
If you try to keep yourself in shape, you're vain.
If you don't, you're a slob.
If you buy her flowers, you're after something.
If you don't, you're not thoughtful.
If you're proud of your achievements, you're full of yourself.
If you don't, you're not ambitious enough.
If she has a headache, she's tired.
If you have a headache, you don't love her anymore.
2005-09-19
Eleven Rules Of Life (a fable attributed to Bill Gates)
The music teacher at my kids' Middle School gave out a copy of these rules and attributed them as "supposedly coming from Bill Gates". I recognized them right away, and thought I'd post a link to them here (they are NOT from Bill Gates, by the way).
One of my favorite items is #11:
Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.
One of my favorite items is #11:
Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.
2005-09-18
Jaci Velasquez
Jaci is a singer who I have really, really liked over the years - a Christian singer (predominately) of latin decent who has released albums in both English and Spanish. She also happens to be quite beautiful (that always helps for a "fanboy" as apparently I am one).
I just noticed online that her marriage only lasted 2 years (2003-2005) which is really unfortunate. I hate to hear about divorce with any couple. Hopefully it won't have a negative impact on her long-term musical career...
I just noticed online that her marriage only lasted 2 years (2003-2005) which is really unfortunate. I hate to hear about divorce with any couple. Hopefully it won't have a negative impact on her long-term musical career...
2005-09-16
Love Hurts
It is incredible to me when love makes people say and do really stupid things. It's happened to me, repeatedly over the years. It just happened again with myself and someone very special. Comments made about who is demanding what from our relationship right now, made in error, which I find near-impossible to ignore... but will do so.
Relationships can be very draining. Even the lack of a relationship (and the attempt to keep any such relationship down) can be emotionally crippling.
Why couldn't I just choose to be gay... (sigh) Oh, that's right. Never mind.
Relationships can be very draining. Even the lack of a relationship (and the attempt to keep any such relationship down) can be emotionally crippling.
Why couldn't I just choose to be gay... (sigh) Oh, that's right. Never mind.
2005-09-14
MOVIE: The 40 Year Old Virgin
Um... okay.
This movie was VERY funny, but also VERY vulgar. If you can work around that fact (do not bring the kids, I don't care how open minded you are) then you'll probably enjoy it. I did. It had an absolutely HILARIOUS ending (thank you, 1960's and 1970's).
This movie was VERY funny, but also VERY vulgar. If you can work around that fact (do not bring the kids, I don't care how open minded you are) then you'll probably enjoy it. I did. It had an absolutely HILARIOUS ending (thank you, 1960's and 1970's).
Why Men Are Happier
(my mother insists on forwarding spam and other goody-goody emails to me constantly; this one was pretty funny, so I thought I'd share it here)
Men are just happier people -- What do you expect from such simple creatures?
Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be president.
You can never be pregnant.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress $5,000. Tux rental $100.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original color.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
Your belly usually hides your big hips.
One wallet and one pair of shoes, one color for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 20-25 minutes.
No wonder men are happier.
Men are just happier people -- What do you expect from such simple creatures?
Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be president.
You can never be pregnant.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress $5,000. Tux rental $100.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original color.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
Your belly usually hides your big hips.
One wallet and one pair of shoes, one color for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 20-25 minutes.
No wonder men are happier.
High School Reunions
As I journey through my 37th year of life, I look to the future, which next year means my 20th high school reunion. Er, reunions.
My parents moved us from Duarte to Monrovia (California), which is the city "next door", during the latter half of my junior year. The result is that the end of my junior year, and my entire senior year, were spent at a private school (which also happened to be the church I had gone to since I was a kid - Calvary Road Baptist Church).
So - I am an alumni of Calvary Road Christian Academy (now "Baptist Academy") but still feel strong roots to my original Duarte High School. I especially missed band (in all it's forms) as my new school was not big enough to have a band. In fact, my class (of 1986) to date is still the largest graduating class ever - 8 people. Whoa!! (ahem)
In any case, I am now planning on attending the reunion for DHS (I did not know about their 10 year reunion, else I would have attended that in 1996), and I also find myself currently in a position of trying to plan a reunion for CRCA.
Planning a reunion for 8 people after twenty years is rather daunting. I think it's going to be an extreme situation -- either a huge success (6+ people) or a dismal failure (possibly 2-3 people). We'll see as time moves forward. Two of the "CRCA Eight" live here in Florida now, and most of the other six I have no clue (as of this evening) where they live. I have ways to get ahold of them (not the least of which is through members of my childhood church itself).
A Yahoo group for Duarte High alumni is also available here.
My parents moved us from Duarte to Monrovia (California), which is the city "next door", during the latter half of my junior year. The result is that the end of my junior year, and my entire senior year, were spent at a private school (which also happened to be the church I had gone to since I was a kid - Calvary Road Baptist Church).
So - I am an alumni of Calvary Road Christian Academy (now "Baptist Academy") but still feel strong roots to my original Duarte High School. I especially missed band (in all it's forms) as my new school was not big enough to have a band. In fact, my class (of 1986) to date is still the largest graduating class ever - 8 people. Whoa!! (ahem)
In any case, I am now planning on attending the reunion for DHS (I did not know about their 10 year reunion, else I would have attended that in 1996), and I also find myself currently in a position of trying to plan a reunion for CRCA.
Planning a reunion for 8 people after twenty years is rather daunting. I think it's going to be an extreme situation -- either a huge success (6+ people) or a dismal failure (possibly 2-3 people). We'll see as time moves forward. Two of the "CRCA Eight" live here in Florida now, and most of the other six I have no clue (as of this evening) where they live. I have ways to get ahold of them (not the least of which is through members of my childhood church itself).
A Yahoo group for Duarte High alumni is also available here.
2005-09-08
Hurricane Age (Of Empires 3)
Central Florida is shutting down as quickly as possible with the POSSIBLE threat of a tropical storm ("Oephelia" I believe) coming on Friday.
More importantly, the demo to Age Of Empires III is now available! Get it!
More importantly, the demo to Age Of Empires III is now available! Get it!
2005-09-05
A Friendship Ended (Long Ago, I Guess)
A friend from high school, who disappeared for over a decade and then suddenly reappeared and wanted to have a very different friendship (including no discussion of the time we had lost) has decided that we are no longer to be friends.
I'm sad. Fortunately his departure is technically long-standing, so it was more of a glimmer-of-hope that we'd found each other again, then the dull thud as the door closed again. Still, I'm sad.
Life goes one. Minus one friend. Goodbye Mike.
I'm sad. Fortunately his departure is technically long-standing, so it was more of a glimmer-of-hope that we'd found each other again, then the dull thud as the door closed again. Still, I'm sad.
Life goes one. Minus one friend. Goodbye Mike.
Love Phones
Call me old-fashioned, but I think Cell Phones are great devices for those have a need to get in touch with you when you are not at home... not a device for creating relationships (or ruining existing ones already on the rocks) and not a device for kids still in their pre-college school years except perhaps for the occasional long trip for emergency purposes.
Just an observation. I'm still on course for living on a desert island sometime in the future, I think... or joining the Peace Corps...
Just an observation. I'm still on course for living on a desert island sometime in the future, I think... or joining the Peace Corps...
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