Week 23, 2006

Thought of the Week:

“Serendipity. Look for something, find something else, and realize that what you've found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for.”

-- Lawrence Block

What did I think I was looking for?

Items of note:

• Happy Birthday [various people]!
  
  
• Happy Kwanzaa... I mean, Convocation [various people]!
  
  
• I'm so happy for you, Bobo. We is all growed up now :D
  
  
• Sunday: Boyz II Men @ Plush was filled with nostalgic goodness.
  
  
• I think you're right [hidden]I don't trust it[/hidden]
  

Quotes:

• On short term relationships:
  B: "It's better to end and move on quickly than to drag something out that you know is not going to work"
  J: "Exactly."
  B: "That's the perspective that doesn't make us sound like the dogs we are, so that's what I tell people."
  
  
• On coming home early:
  B: "I had work, ladyfriend has an exam tomorrow"
  M: "The only exams i know of are high school finals. You dog, you!"
  B: "Dude, midterms."
  M: "Suuuuurrre"
  
  
• On charts and graphs that should finally make it clear:
  K: "That is why i'm all for monogamous love but polygamous relationships"
  C: "I think I just had a 'eureka' moment."
  
  
• On did they really just say that?
  b: "And they're like, 'Don't let her go! After she's done with you I want her!'"
  
  
• On what I really want, [hidden]I think... oh shit I don't really know.[/hidden]
  B: "I want us to be great friends."
  
  
• On so many levels of wrongness at stag parties:
  D: "So there were 3 piles of 'toys' to choose from..."

Animator VS Animation

Been a while since I linked something.

Awesome flash animation titled "Animator VS Animation". Check it out.

http://www.theintarweb.org/content/Fun%20Stuff/Animator%20Vs%20Animation.swf

Why don't I listen to my own preachings?

Don't you hate it when you say something to reject another's hypothesis, but on closer examination what you said actually supports them and makes their argument stronger?

What am I getting at? I'm trying to force new experiences into the mold of old ones. We are of our own mold. To try and force us into another is a fruitless endeavour. I'm sorry I keep trying to do this.

Those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it? But what if you want to repeat the past? Where's the implied problem there?

I shouldn't need to spell it out for you, but I will still outline it:

• The variables are never all the same,
  
• Unique opportunites are not leveraged,
  
• Lack of growth

Quotes make people (me) sound smart.

"The most important revelation about the past stems from the realization that it is not important to try and get rid of it, but to realize that we are already, by definition, rid of it. We need not be convinced of the importance of living in the present, but instead realize that we inevitably live in the present, and the only thing to id is to face it. ... Whether we like it or not, we cannot escape the present. The only reality is now."

--George Lawrence-Ell (The Invisible Clock)

Completely off topic

Limits suck when they are there to restrict and confine you.

Limits are good when they provide focus and structure.

The limit this year is 10.

[counting on my fingers]

Oh wait... I mean 11.

I won't be your crutch.

Crutches come in pairs; there's only one of me.

Upon closer inspection

Ever listen to a song thinking it's about one subject, only to find out upon closer inspection that it's the complete opposite of what you thought?

Enter: Nothing Better by The Postal Service.

I thought it was a lovey-dovey song.

(Male part:)
"Tell me am I right,
To think that there could be nothing better,
Than making you my bride,
And slowly growing old together."

It's actually a breakup song.

(Female part:)
"Don't you feed me lines
About some idealistic future.
Your heart won't heal right
If you keep tearing out the sutures."

Later in the song:

(Male part:)
"I know that I've made mistakes.
And, I swear I'll never wrong you again."

(Girl part:)
You've got a lure I can't deny
But you've had your chance, So say goodbye.
Say goodbye.

When I realized this, I had the largest grin on my face. I don't know why.
I think I was laughing.

Yeah, I'm a bastard. I know.

Oh the things you discover when stuck in traffic on a Friday morning.

On another note, if you're so inclined, get the Styrofoam remix of Nothing Better off the We Will Become Silhouettes album. Ooh, and the Iron and Wine cover of Such Great Heights is coolio acoustic version of a great Postal Service song as well.

Expectations

Rant

They are always there. There to be lived up to, there to be graded against, and sometimes there to be forever out of reach.

You say you want to have no expectations?

Expectations are built on past experiences. Even simple things such as When you walk, you expect the ground to hold you. When I open my eyes in the morning, I expect to be able to see. After all, that's what happened every day before.

If this is the case, is 'having no experiences' the only way to have 'no expectations'?

Or does having no expectations mean to not rely on past experiences to define new ones?

--

Anti-rant

Using past experiences to define new ones is a fact of life. How would society function if the near future and every action is utterly and unequivocally put in a state of flux?
Dude murdered 17 women. But that shouldn't be taken into account of what he'll do in the future.

Yesterday I paid for food with a paper bill with the '10' symbol on it. Can I really expect to do the same? i.e. get food, use paper for goods/services trade, believe everybody values and interprets the '10' symbol the same way?

Common expectations provide a structure and stability necessarry for us to function. To idolize 'no expectations' is to idolize chaos.

--

Anti-anti-rant

Glib responses aside, but underlying point is not to ignore past experiences absolutely, the point is that you should strive to find the unique qualities and offerings of new experiences.

It is these unique qualities that make it worth while. It is these unique qualities that make us seek out new experiences. It is these unique qualities that motivate us.

(See what I did there? I tied it back to the blog title. Hooray for on topic posts!)

Videos: Ireland and Sand Sculpting

Finally got around to uploading some videos from my stint in Ireland. Pictures still aren't up yet, but I'm on the verge of giving in to a Flikr Pro account, so maybe soon.


Edited together clips of street performers I came across in Dublin. It was the St Paddy's Day weekend, so apparently there were more buskers than usual.
(link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S9qNiaVu3w)


Edited together an Oasis medley from a great cover artist I heard at Fitzsimons in Dublin. I know the video says it was St Paddy's Day, but actually it's the night AFTER St Paddy's. I'm too lazy to edit and re-upload.
(link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_4gxmi9_ng)


Percussion on the streets. The audio from the camera really doesn't capture it all and the poor bass response of the camera masks some of the subtler beats. This drummer went on for what seemed like 45minutes without any stop. Then he started again after a 5 minute rest. He kept on switching the beats, some were similar, but none were exactly the same.
(link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWEc2rqk1uA)

The following vids are from the "2006 Tournament of Sand Sculpture Champions" at Harrison Hot Springs. I've some pictures too, but haven't uploaded them yet. I think the videos make much more of an impact, especially for 3-dimensional art pieces like these.


"Hide and Peek" (yes, I have a pic of us playing hide-and-seek around the 'hide and peek' sculpture...)
(link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPhr4gcaF5s)


"Princess Power" (yes, I have a pic of me trying to slay the dragon... i mean going at it from behind... i mean... dang, that just came with out kinds of wrong didn't it?)
(link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVG86c3fzCk)

People like to think in threes

One. Today's the second day I've recently found myself heading unconsiously into Delta as I'm driving from Richmond. First, what is there for me in Delta? Second, it's a hell of a long detour I have to take to get back on track. Third, at least this time I didn't try to walk.

Two. Been having weird dreams lately. First, I'm not your buddy. Second, it's scary how easily that could have happened. Third, I'm serious, that's really not funny.

Three. It's not happening. First, I'm being honest here. Second, move along, nothing to see. Third, stop it, seriously; see, this is what I mean.

What's the name of this blog these days?

"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." ~Milton Berle

"Even when opportunity knocks a man still has to get up off his seat and open the door" ~Anonymous

"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." ~Alexander Graham Bell

"Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them." ~Orison Swett Marden

"Don't be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams." ~Anonymous

Prison Break season finale sucked donkey balls

Honestly, in comparison to how the show started, the finale was dreadful. (Although Haywire + red helmet + "look ma, no hands" = thumbs up)

Review to come.

Maybe... if I get around to it.

Good news?

I wouldn't say it's "good news", but the news isn't as bad as originally thought.

It's not a cancerous tumour. I'm a little iffy on the translation, but I think it's this.

How the docs can confuse a liver fluke with liver cancer, I have no idea. Although I have a sneaking suspicion that a good chunk of the info I got was hyped up paranoia on behalf of my family.

I suppose that shows how much they care. But I can't help thinking that this is just another example of how... ahh screw it; now's not the time for a rant.

Get well soon.

Poetic license biznitches!

Twisted ankle,
Twisted logic.
soccer and excuses

Misled Anglo,
Misled ethnic.
fake accent

Hope-fed uncle,
Hope-fed bioptic.
cancerous future

Doing my part

shamelessly stolen from Karen's blog:
--

karaoke party, round 1. fight!

Wanna see last night's 5-hour karaoke binge?

Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/horcubee/sets/72057594118626271/

Video clip mania:

Round 2 will be next Thursday at our place [note: this is Karen's place, not mine]. Karaoke mike-o-matic. 2000 songs. 30-person cinema. Projection screen and surround sound.

How can you miss this?

I'm getting restless...

... this can lead to no good.

Reliability and Good Standing

Like a house of cards that takes care and time to build up, one slip up can ruin it all.

Crud, I didn't even start on the second story of my house...

Have to make sure my next effort is positioned on firmer ground.

Apparent contradictions

Yes, I said I didn't like Napolean Dynamite that much because I didn't appreciate the fact that "a lot of the humour seemed forced and as like it's making fun of the pathetic and socially inept," which apparently contradicts my prior actions.

First off, where do you get off comparing the hard of hearing to the pathetic and socially inept? (Hooray for changes of subject and boomerang attacks!)

Secondly, note the use of "forced" in my wording. Napolean Dynamite seemed to go out of its way to say, "hey, look how funny I am" whereas the sign language interpreter was hilariously funny unintentionally.

This might lead one to say that I have a sadistic streak that enjoys laughing at the misfortunes of real people.

I say it's just that I have a knack of finding the humour in real life situations.

I'm special like that.

(Yes, now I'm going out of my way... but let's not turn this post into an analysis of self-deprecation)

Movie Reviews (Not from a plane!)

I actually don't go too far off-topic this time around.

Two sentence and partial phrase review of About a Boy and Crash:

Part-way through one made me disappointed in myself.
Part-way through one made me disappointed in others.
Fuck nuts.

About a Boy (thumbs up)
Yes, I can see the parallels. It's scary. But it's not always that way. I don't have the English accent or the barrels full of money to fall back on.

I think Rachel Weisz played her part well. It was just a bit part, but very complementary to the plot, characterization, and film overall. Although I think it would have been better had she been left out of the resolution. But I guess they wanted to end on a happy-fun-joy-joy note.

I dunno though... the kid seemed like a total dweeb to me. Sweet kid. But a total dweeb.

Crash (thumbs up)
Racism is a central theme, but the message seems to be condemn the act, not the people.

The main characters are complex: the ones introduced with racial beliefs and acts end up showing redeeming qualities or moments, and even the ones who appear to have the strongest moral compasses will end up make compromises or poor judgement calls.

It's one of those movies that tries to make you think, but doesn't go to lengths to cram its own moral lesson down your throat.

The dialog was well written as well, I thought.

Brokeback Mountain (meh)
Pacing I thought could have used some help. Run time is 2h 14m. Most every scene could have been shortened by 2 to 4 seconds... the movie seemed to drag on.

Also, I really didn't like Jack. I could appreciate the character, just didn't like him. (Yes, I can see the parallels there as well. Shut up.)

I liked the movie a lot more after they left Brokeback mountain the first time. Up to that point it was a nice-ish

The love story itself I don't think was that well developed. Hard to understand how such deep emotional attachments could survived after 4 years of separation and no contact whatsoever.

Or wait... maybe I can. No... no... I really can't. It's the continual contact that makes it hard. If I could just go cold turkey for 4 years...

Napoleon Dynamite (meh)
I was told by multiple people that this would be a movie I would love. That this just screamed "Bruce's sense of humour".

I don't really like this movie.

It's not that I dislike it, I just don't think it's that good. A lot of the humour seemed forced and as like it's making fun of the pathetic and socially inept. I can see why people would think I would love this movie.

Napoleon's dance scene, however, was 4 different kinds of awesome!

--

Darn it, I need to watch a testosterone filled flick (no, I don't mean Brokeback Mountain again).

(C) Marvin Gaye has the answers to all your problems

"Hey dude, been hearing some rumblings. When you gonna pop the question?"

"I dunno..."

"But you ARE going to, eventually, aren't you?"

"Do you think it's right to promise to spend the rest of your life together with someone not because they're 'the one' but because they're 'the only'?"

"Bullshit. Unless you're the last two people alive, she's not 'the only'."

"You know what I mean."

"No, I don't actually. Do you mean she's the only one who laughs at your horrible jokes? The only one who knows you intimately and appreciates you? The only one you're comfortable with sharing thoughts, feelings, and passions with?"

"No, I mean the only one who will do the McNasty with me."

"Oh... this conversation just took a turn for the worse didn't it?"

"The worst part is that it's more like pity lovin' rather than that Marvin Gaye sexual healing lovin'."

"Oh that's a wicked cool song."

"Well, more self-pity. It's like mutual masterbation... not pitying the other person, but trying to feel better about ourselves."

"Baaaby, I can't hold it much longer // It's getting stronger and stronger // And when I get that feeling // I want, sexual healing..."

"I don't think it's very healthy, but... maybe part of me doesn't want to end it."

"Makes me feel so fine // Helps to relieve my mind..."

"It's like I'm caught up in this loop I can't get out of."

"Get up, get up, get up, get up // Let's make love tonight..."

I should end it... I know I should."

"Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up // 'Cause you do it right..."

"Thanks for the talk, man"

"Sexual Healing is something that's good for me // And it's good for me and it's good to me // My baby ohhh // Come take control, just grab a hold..."

More about me

Spent hours fiddling around with the design and layout of this blog... then lost it all.

Screw it.

I'm just going to add a couple items to the "Links" list in the sidebar and call it a day.
(Hooray motivated underachievement! Wait... what's the name of this blog nowadays?)

For the RSS inclined who can't be bothered to actually visit this blog, here are the links I added:

• My Froogle Wishlist
• My Life's To Do List

(Yes, I really do plan on wrestling an alligator one of these days)