The Telescreen

2006-04-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

This is for a contest... so check out The Candy Blog when you have a chance.

PEACE!

2005-04-05T23:27:00.000-07:00

After a little over one year, I have decided to hang my hat up on the blog phenomenon. I've had three blogs over the years. It all began with "I Am the Head Crusher." After a time I created a new blog, "Fade to Black." Then I finally rested on this one. I had a nice run, posting an impressive 207 posts across my blogs on everything from Florida to Pants. While I'm sure I wasn't writing to the masses, I'd like to thank everyone who actually took the time to read everything I've written. From the bottom of my heart I am eternally greatful, because you were the reason I sat down and bitched for so long. So thank you, I appreciate it. These posts will always remain on the internet, so if you ever feel like looking back on my career please do. I'll miss you all.

2005-02-15T15:09:00.000-08:00

Diet, the Black Sheep in the Soda Family
In an effort to get healthier, about 4 weeks ago I made the switch to diet soda. Initially my intention was to have no regular soda whatsoever. But after a few days I realized that I cannot just give up regular soda all together. So instead of looking for the soda patch, which would regulary put doses of pure Coke into my system, I decided to give myself allowences. If I went out to eat, I can have a max of two sodas then I switch to water. If I go to a movie, I can have another coke.

This whole transition to diet soda has been difficult. I was so much of an advocate against this trend that I feel like I'm betraying all the diet soda haters out there. Like I have to tear up my picket sign that reads "Death to Diet!" and throw my sash into the fire.

But to be honest, it is the best thing for me. I used to consume soda by the case load, so this change will eliminate about 1,000 calories from my diet. I've already lost weight cause of it. I have a goal though, I want to help others avoid the awful diet sode. Believe me, on my quest for the drinkable diet soda I have had some awfulness in the mix.

Periodically I will review a diet soda, and let you all in on the soda without having to drink it yourself.

2005-02-09T08:45:00.000-08:00

The Face Book
I've found a new addiction, The Face Book. Face Book is a site like Friendster and MySpace but it only connects college students. I've found some people on this site that I never thought I'd see again, let alone speak to. But there they are, added to my friend list. This website has given me a few nostalgic moments as I reminisce about yesteryear. More people are using Face Book because of it's simplicity and it's shear size.

According to Kyle, our college wasn't one of the approved universities for a long time. That's why I didn't know this place even existed up until now. But now that I've found it I can't stop searching for people to add. It's a efortless pastime that can give me hours of fun.

Just today I found this girl I haven't talked to since Junior High, and now we're exchanging messages. C'mon, that's amazing!

Pretty soon I'm going to have to be going to FBA (Face Book Anonymous).

2005-01-31T07:56:00.000-08:00

It begins...
A new school semester has begun, and I come back to my blog to find it in disarray. I apologize for my absence during the winter break, but much has happened since my last blog post.

I have moved into a new house, and it's been 2 months now. My room is still the only room not fully unpacked, and our dog that has gotten even bigger has made a habit of eating anything that he can reach.

My mother has been dating a man named Chip, whose real name is Larry. I still don't know why he goes by Chip, but I guess if my name was Larry I'd probably do the same. I hardly know the man, but what I do know is that he's a hospital administrator, plays in the stock market, wrote a Twilight Zone episode, and is from the South. While my parents aren't fully divorced yet, my mother made two comments yesterday saying "this is long term, like marriage long term." So, it is possible that by Summer I could have a stepfather named Chip. I'm just glad I'm 20, so having a stepfather now isn't an enormous ordeal.

I haven't gone to the gym since winter break commence last December. This is something I hope to remedy as soon as I become comfortable with my classes. Although I'm not seeing a personal trainer anymore, I do have a 24 Hour Fitness membership and I'm gonna help Amanda and Kyle get into shape. But summer they'll both be able to bench press a VW Bug. Haha...funny mental picture...

Anways, that it for now. I'm just waiting for my first class at 9 AM. Until then, this is Michael Kaye signing out...

2005-01-13T21:08:00.000-08:00

How are we this evening. Anything fun or exciting happen?

2004-11-24T13:00:00.000-08:00

Time Flies So You Better Duck!
Ever wish you could speed through time just to get it over with? I've been feeling like that for the last couple weeks. I've been wishing that I could fly really fast around the world, but instead of turning back time to save Lois Lane like Superman did, I'd fly in the opposite direction to just get things over and done with.

School is coming to a close, and all my insane teachers decided to let loose there furry about that time. Papers, photography assignments, screenplays, 120 question finals are all the exciting things I have to look forward to. All this with less then 2 weeks of school left. I've never dreaded the end of school so much.

Why is it that professors decide that all the really hard stuff should be at the end? To me that doesn't make sense. There argument is "your college students, this is college work, you can handle it." But honestly, do they not realize that ALL the other professors think that way and so there going to give you the same work load? Teachers need to try and think that outside of his/her class, you have other classes not to mention a life you have to contend with. Sometimes I really think teachers think that your life is their class. Especially when I hear comments like "the only way you can turn this in late is if your dead or in the emergency room." Thanks a lot, what if my car breaks down on my way to school because someone put sugar in my gas tank? Or what if the night before I drank a really bad glass of milk and am throwing up the entire next day? Nope, those aren't "legitimate" reasons. Teachers need to stop acting like the light rises and falls at their command and start treating there students with respect and understanding. I'm not asking to be coddled or lead by the hand, but I just want teachers to really think before they assign tons of homework.

There should be some sort of committee that as a student you can go to and complain. Teachers have no sort of commander keeping them in line. There like cops who can't drive, but can't get tickets because there cops. You know you've seem them making illegal left hand turns and running red lights, but your the one who gets ticketed for that. Plus, do we really know if there is an emergency when there lights are flashing? I bet you some of the time they use that just to get around traffic. Damn cops...

In less then two weeks all this hell will be over and I can finally take a breath. But until then, looks like I'm going to have to put up with Professor Assholio.

2004-11-17T20:35:00.000-08:00

I got this off Simon's blog, it's kinda interesting. I'm surprised, I'm actually pretty normal. Well, according to someone who probably has about as much knowledge of the human psyche as I do.

Disorder	Rating
Paranoid:	Low
Schizoid:	Moderate
Schizotypal:	Low
Antisocial:	Low
Borderline:	Low
Histrionic:	Moderate
Narcissistic:	Low
Avoidant:	Low
Dependent:	Low
Obsessive-Compulsive:	Low
-- Personality Disorder Test - Take It! --

2004-11-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Poster
DarkHorizons has the first look at the poster for Tim Burton's version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The film, which is now in production, is based on the Roald Dahl book that inspired the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.In this new version, Johnny Depp stars as Willy Wonka along with Freddie Highmore as Charlie. Helena Bonham Carter, Noah Taylor, Missi Pyle, Annasophia Robb, and Christopher Lee also star in the film scheduled to be released July 15th.

Also, according to timburtoncollective.com a teaser trailer will be attached to prints of Robert Zemeckis' The Polar Express with Tom Hanks.

click to enlarge

2004-11-05T13:14:00.000-08:00

When Life Gives You Lemons, Throw 'Em Back!
Todays post on Kyle's blog was probably one of the most truthful and honest writings I've read in some time. Not only was it true, but to see my life and his boiled down to a 100 word essay always makes me laugh.

It is true, Kyle and I do live a Sienfeld life. Everthing we see, everything we experience, can all be boiled down to some comical observation. And I really don't think it makes us cynical or evil people, if anything it makes us even more honest and too the point then someone of the contrary. The fact that we're able to see the building blocks and actually break them down is something that I truly pride in myself.

In Kyle's post he pointed out specific examples of actual things we've discussed, and it made me want to talk about and explain other observations and conversations we've had.

For example, there was this disabled individual who Kyle, Amanda, Jennifer and I had a class with. His disability didn't come from the mind, he was all there. But he had some sort of physical handicap which forced him into a wheelchair. He loved to voice his opinion in class, even when it really wasn't valid or served any purpose. Hence this quandary of mine, is it ok for me to hate a disabled person? Really think about that statement, and think about my answer, yes it is ok.

Why not? Why can't I hate someone who is physically handicap? Leave out the mentally ill, that is a whole nother ball park. But the wheelchair and the crutch bound, it is ok to hate them. But there is also a line there. I'm not saying hate handicap people, sympathy away. I'm saying you should be allowed to hate a handicap person simply because there an asshole. This guy, he was an asshole. And he was an asshole because he was using his god given out. I bet you all his life no one has every criticized him because of fear or compassion of hurting his feelings. Like, oh just let him be, he has enough problems as it is.

If anything, to treat a disabled person differently flies right at the core of what there intentions are, to be accepted as equal. So in a sense, you should feel no remorse about cursing out or being mean to a handicap person. They want to play on the same level as you, so let them. I had every right to hate that guy in my class, and I don't feel guilty about it.

See, that is just another example of things to contemplate in life that no one ever discusses. We're so afraid of offended or hurting someone's feelings that we avoid these topics. But to be honest, wasn't that whole explanation I just gave funny and absolutely true?

In closing I'll leave you with another observation and thought I've had for you to think about. Think about it and take your comments to my tag board, because I really want to know and I want to either support of discredit you.

Do women have the right to be offended if a guy looks at their chest WHEN they're wearing a low cut top? Really think about that, it is a funny statement but if you REALLY think about it you will come to the same conclusion that I have. Which I'll save for when I see your comments. So...happy thinking!

2004-11-02T14:48:00.000-08:00

Where's Amanda?
Amanda went to a Rooney concert last July and happened to be there when they were filming it for there upcoming dvd release. Can you find Amanda amongst the crowd of Rooney fanatics?

If you give up, click here to learn elusive Amanda's location.

2004-11-01T13:04:00.000-08:00

When in "Misery," Eat a "Tootsie" Roll!
Halloween has come and gone yet again, and the city lies in ruins from the Halloween tricks. These past Halloweens were all interesting in their own right.

Two years ago Kyle dressed as Sherlock Holmes, and I dressed as his faithful companion Watson. It's funny that when I dress up as anyone foreign I always end up playing second fiddle; think Indiana Schwartz and Juan Carlos. Not that I mind in the least. The second runner up in films is always the comical one, the one that people want to invite to the parties. It's like frosted shredded wheat. In that scenario I'm not the drab wheat side, I'm the fun side that will give you diabetes!

That year, Kyle and I dressed in those wonderful costumes and went trick-or-treating in Porter Ranch. I unfortunately showed up at the coat tails of this adventure, and by the time I got there the treating houses were out of business. The few houses left made some comment about us being too old and offered us beer instead of candy. Holy crap! Great Idea #1: Beer flavored candy!

The following year I went to a frat party at UCLA with Kyle and his friends. I was dressed in a bowler hat, which I look oddly good in. One thing everyone says is I look great in hats. I don't know why, I just have a fantastic hat head. Bowlers, sombreros, beenies, they all look good on me. Kyle was in his old ROTC uniform from his high school days. People, let me tell you, if you want to attract the ladies on Halloween just wear some sort of uniform. They all came flocking to Kyle like pennies to UNICEF. Leeja was supposed to be a pirate of some sort, but she was more like a sluty pirate. No, she wasn't a wench. She was like that girl pirate that wants to be a pirate, but the other pirates won't let her play. So she sluts it up and they let her into the gang on only those merits. In the gang was also a cat (can we say DONE BEFORE) and I think the other ones were pirates to. To be honest, the costumes weren't very memorable.

This year I didn't want to really do anything. Trick-or-treating would have just been sad, I wasn't in a partying mood, and going to West Hollywood for that blow out seemed like such a chore. So instead I did the next best thing. I invited Amanda, Kyle, and Jennifer to watch some scary movies.

I spent the entire day with Jennifer and Amanda going to El Torito, feeding the ducks, showing them my new house, driving to the top of a hill to look at the view, going grocery shopping; you know the usual.

When it got darker I put out all of the snacks. We had spooky salt and vinegar chips which no one ate, gooey home made guacaholymoley which was a big smash, scary salsa which vanished into thin air, terrifying tortilla chips, batty baked lays, mystical mallomars which were a so-so hit, 3 kinds of sadistic soda, pus filled popcorn, and witchy waffer cookies. It was a satanic amount of food!

I put on the movie "Misery," starring Kathy Bates in her well deserved spine tingling Oscar winning performance. Jennifer jumped 3 times in the last 30 minutes of the movie which made me ever so happy. When the movie was over it was 7:00, and we decided to wait for Kyle since he was bringing Poltergeist and Rosy at 8. We ended up watching 1 episode of South Park and 1 episode of Seinfeld.

In that span of an hour is when all the trick or treaters that showed up. My highlight was two 16 year olds. One said he was a baseball player, the other was dressed as a woman. Might I add, the most ugliest woman I have ever seen. In question of what he was supposed to be, he said "I'm a hoe!" So there you have it.

When Kyle showed up I took Poltergeist and popped it into the dvd player. What what?!? Wait a minute...this isn't Poltergeist! It's Tootsie! That's right, Kyle brought "Tootsie" on accident in the "Poltergeist" box. So, we actually ended up watching "Tootsie." The last thing I thought I would be doing on my Halloween would be watching "Tootsie." But I did, and actually it ended up being fine. Not only is it a good movie but I have a funny story to tell every Halloween.

After the movie everyone left, and I felt wholly satisfied with my Halloween Night.

2004-10-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

Computer Persona Challenge Continued...
Remember my comments are in red and the screen names have been changed to protect the innocent.

My next target was Simon (SOSgy):

The Chatting AIM Bot - convoAttack started at 04:17 PM on 15 Oct 2004.
CoolStylezk(4:07:10): Hola Simon
SOSgy(4:07:22): yek?
CoolStylezk(4:07:33): oh damn it, i forgot to call my work today, ah oh
well lol [I was confused here because I wasn't sure what he was talking about. I think he was talking to someone else and this conversation came up.]
SOSgy(4:07:56): wha
CoolStylezk(4:08:11): u say some interesting things... lol
SOSgy(4:08:39): i wont say anymore... [still confused, because it sounds like they've been having a conversation before it even started]
CoolStylezk(4:08:50): i dont beleive u lol
CoolStylezk(4:09:58): please talk, i'll be good lol
CoolStylezk(4:11:01): where did u go? lol
CoolStylezk(4:12:09): u seem interesting, can we talk more?
CoolStylezk(4:12:18): :-p
SOSgy(4:12:26): who is this? [Finally! The REAL conversing begins.]
CoolStylezk(4:12:37): jennie 18/female/california
SSSgy(4:12:52): i know no jennies [Oh crap, I'm found out!]
CoolStylezk(4:13:01): lol ok
SOSgy(4:13:42): jennie who?
CoolStylezk(4:13:51): sorry i dont give out my last name
SOSgy(4:14:16): well "jennie", would you mind telling me how you got my
SN? [hmmm...maybe I've not been discovered]
CoolStylezk(4:14:25): you want me to tell you?
SOSgy(4:14:45): i wouldnt ask if i didnt want you to tell me [hahaha]
CoolStylezk(4:14:54): you want me to tell you?
SOSgy(4:15:12): my responses are limited...please try again
CoolStylezk(4:15:23): i think I am dehydrated lol
SOSgy(4:15:42): rbs? [I have no idea what rbs means, andI think the computer was confused as well.]
CoolStylezk(4:15:52): lol
SOSgy(4:16:03): bahaha
CoolStylezk(4:16:14): do you have a gf/bf?
SOSgy(4:16:24): who wants to know?
CoolStylezk(4:16:38): what do u think?
SOSgy(4:16:48): i think im bein played for a foo [Oh no, I guess my tom foolery was figured out. I'll get you next time SIMON!]
CoolStylezk(4:17:00): thats odd
CoolStylezk: You have been talking to a computer! One of your friends is
reading the whole conversation and laughing it up right now! GET EVEN!
Have the bot talk to all your friends by visiting chattingaimbot.com

--------------------

My next target was Elizabeth (Liz0516), Amanda's sister:

Krew4you93(12:29:25): Hey Liz
Liz0516(12:29:45): hi
Krew4you93(12:29:56): hows it goin?
Liz0516(12:30:04): who is this
Krew4you93(12:30:16): my name is matt
Liz0516(12:30:23): do i know you
Krew4you93(12:30:36): i found ure sn on my buddy list and I didnt recognize it, maybe we know each other somehow? lol
Liz0516(12:31:02): um i dont know any matts and i dont recognize ur screen name
Krew4you93(12:31:12): we can still chat anyways [good one computer!]
Liz0516(12:31:24): um ok
Krew4you93(12:31:41): that's good
Liz0516(12:32:16): why do u have my screen name
Krew4you93(12:32:27): what do u thikn?
Krew4you93(12:33:35): Please talk to me
Liz0516(12:33:49): i want to know why you have my screen name [uh oh, she's not going to let this one go]
Krew4you93(12:34:02): i would probably feel the same way lol
Krew4you93(12:34:33): :-p
Krew4you93(12:35:06): Your not talking
Liz0516(12:35:39): because you're not answering my question [yea, she's really not going to let it go.]
Krew4you93(12:35:52): r u online a lot?
Krew4you93(12:36:55): hello? i just want to talk to u for a bit
Liz0516(12:37:52): why are you and why do you have my screen name [damn girl, let it go]
Krew4you93(12:38:00): Your not talking
Krew4you93(12:39:09): u seem interesting, can we talk more?
Liz0516(12:39:12): and im not going to unless you tell me who r u .. i dont fucking play online mind gimes if u know me tell me who u r if u dont then bye [holy crap computer, run for your life!]
Krew4you93: You have been talking to a computer! One of your friends is reading the whole conversation and laughing it up right now! GET EVEN! Have the bot talk to all your friends by visiting chattingaimbot.com

--------------------

My next tagert was Melissa (DarkNightJade):

The Chatting AIM Bot - convoAttack started at 04:35 PM on 15 Oct 2004.
CupofTea4k(4:25:25): Hey Meliss, how rae you?
DarkNightJade(4:25:38): good who is this
CupofTea4k(4:25:51): I'm matt
CupofTea4k(4:26:54): is there something u want to know about me?
CupofTea4k(4:27:58): where did u go? lol
CupofTea4k(4:29:06): uh hello? why aren't you talking?
CupofTea4k(4:30:07): u seem interesting, can we talk more?
CupofTea4k(4:30:38): :-p [I thought she was ignoring me until...]
DarkNightJade(4:30:55): hi [Wait, didn't we already exchange hellos?]
DarkNightJade(4:30:59): umm who are you
CupofTea4k(4:31:05): what are u doin?
DarkNightJade(4:31:18): ring ring ring ring ring banana phone [wtf? is this person a computer to?]
CupofTea4k(4:31:28): ugh
DarkNightJade(4:31:41): that's a good song
DarkNightJade(4:31:44): anyway hi i'm melissa [Oh yes! She took the bait and is actually talking to a stranger!]
CupofTea4k(4:31:53): yep
DarkNightJade(4:32:00): have you heard it?
CupofTea4k(4:32:13): what about me?
DarkNightJade(4:32:46): what about me?
CupofTea4k(4:32:58): i've been wondering that for a long time lol
DarkNightJade(4:32:58): i mean you
DarkNightJade(4:33:02): huh?
DarkNightJade(4:33:04): :-) [Obviously Melissa is confused so to clear it up she uses a happy face.]
CupofTea4k(4:33:12): i odnt beleive u lol
CupofTea4k(4:34:20): is there something u want to know about me?
DarkNightJade(4:35:10): yeah who are you [Kinda late to be asking that question.]
DarkNightJade(4:35:15): where do you live [Woah, getting kinda personal there!]
CupofTea4k(4:35:24): i sure am not, but i dunno about u
CupofTea4k: You have been talking to a computer! One of your friends is reading the whole conversation and laughing it up right now! GET EVEN! Have the bot talk to all your friends by visiting chattingaimbot.com

Final though about the last conversation: When she was having this conversation I was IMing her but she wasn't answering. I guess a STRANGER was more important to her!

--------------------

More conversations to come!

2004-10-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

Observations and Quips
This morning I made a venture to the college bookstore on a quest for cheap headphones. My nice ones I got in San Francisco where I swear to god the guy ripped me off are kind of bulky, and I've grown tired of carrying them in my backpack. I was in this bookstore at 7:45 am, and I felt kind of odd going in to buy headphones.

As I sort of meandered in looking around, I waltzed over to the displays. Someone asked me if I needed assistance but I shied away at the thought of asking for headphones. Think about it, headphones = CD = music. I'm in a bookstore, and even though they sell other things then books, I felt like he would be offended if I asked for something that wasn't paperback. I found my headphones which were next to the magazine rack. I of course had to pick up an Entertainment Weekly, a true impulse buy.

As I made my way to the register I realized now would be a great time to get "The Da Vinci Code." Amanda, Kyle and I have discussed having our own little book club. We'd gather around, sipping our tea, eating cucumber sandwiches, and saying how sad it was Romeo and Juliet couldn't be together. I was thinking of a name for this club, and I think "Read Damnit!" is an excellent idea. Who wouldn't want to read after hearing that? We decided on "The Da Vinci Code" and gave a 3 week time limit that hasn't started yet.

Once I had my book, headphones, and EW in hand I went ahead and paid for my items. I paid with my credit card and the person looked at my ID which is perfectly normal. But I couldn't help but wonder what thief would be buying a hardcover book and a pair of headphones at 7:45 am in a university bookstore.

There have been a couple other things I wanted to mention that I've noticed so far today, but I won't go into too much detail. There is a trashcan in the computer lab that says for aluminum cans only. But you're are not allowed to drink anything other then water in the library. So unless you're able to find a can of water, seriously what's the point of this can?

Also someone held a door for me in the Science Building which surprised me since he could of let go and he would have been following door holding rules. Too bad it turned out the only reason he held the door was to hand me a flyer to vote, how tacky. So because he does a good deed to me I get to carry around something that I'm going to throw away moments later.

Finally, while writing this post the guy next to me asked if I'd watch his stuff which I nodded to. But how does he know I'm not a thief, what if wearing this CSUN sweatshirt if all part of my master plan. Maybe I'm that guy who stole that person’s credit card to buy a hardcover book and headphones.

2004-10-25T20:37:00.000-07:00

I Fooled You All!
Have you gotten a strange instant message from someone you didn't know, only to find out in the end they are a computer. Sound familiar? Well that means you have fallen pray to me, who discovered Chatting AIM Bot a short time ago. That's right, that was me! I was waiting for the right time to spring my confession...and...the conversations! That's right, those conversations you had with that stranger were saved on my computer and I had a big laugh reading some of them. I'll post some of them below with more to come, giving my comments on each conversation. I targeted quite a few people, so I'll post 3 a day. Any comments I made are in RED. How did you come out in my COMPUTER PERSONA CHALLENGE! Remember, I am not the one talking, it's a computer the entire time. By the way, the screen names have been changed to protect the innocent.

My first target was Michelle (roXgrLee):

The Chatting AIM Bot - convoAttack started at 02:00 PM on 15 Oct 2004.
ifiwerepoor88(1:50:25): Hey Michelle
CupofTea4i(1:51:41): Aer you still there?
CupofTea4i(1:52:44): u seem interesting, can we talk more?
roXgrLee(1:52:47): Who is this?
CupofTea4i(1:53:00): I'm matt
roXgrLee(1:53:14): Matt who?
CupofTea4i(1:53:22): n olast names
roXgrLee(1:53:50): This is prolly my OLD boss MATT [This is where I hit gold. Since she happened to know a Matt by coincidence, I got her hook line and sinker!]
CupofTea4i(1:54:02): tell me more about your work.
roXgrLee(1:54:39): ummm... why?
CupofTea4i(1:54:49): ugh
roXgrLee(1:55:02): and i am currently at work and might get in trouble by
my boss for being on instant messanger...
CupofTea4i(1:55:12): tell me more about ur work.
roXgrLee(1:55:21): I am a supervisor. [She continues talking at the risk of being fired?]
CupofTea4i(1:55:33): :-D
CupofTea4i(1:55:39): :-p
CupofTea4i(1:56:36): is there something u want to know about me?
roXgrLee(1:57:32): No. Not really.
CupofTea4i(1:57:42): is there something u want to know about me?
roXgrLee(1:58:08): Why do you keep on repeating yourself. and No. I don't
really want to know anything about you.
roXgrLee(1:58:10): :-)
CupofTea4i(1:58:18): i know, but i just want to talk, u seem interesting
roXgrLee(1:58:59): What is so interesting about me? there's nothing on my
profile about me. [This is about when she should of blocked the person.]
CupofTea4i(1:59:15): i dont remember anymore lol
roXgrLee(1:59:26): Righttt...
CupofTea4i(1:59:36): do you have a gf/bf?
roXgrLee(1:59:53): yes.
roXgrLee(1:59:58): a b/f [Woah, at first she didn't want to talk, and now she's giving out personal information!]
CupofTea4i(2:00:05): cool
roXgrLee(2:00:24): yeah he is :-)
CupofTea4i: You have been talking to a computer! One of your friends is
reading the whole conversation and laughing it up right now! GET EVEN!
Have the bot talk to all your friends by visiting chattingaimbot.com [This message comes up automatically after 10 minutes of chatting passes, and the conversation is over.]

------------------------------------------------------

My next target Amanda (ShyGirly16):

The Chatting AIM Bot - convoAttack started at 03:43 PM on 15 Oct 2004.
penguinz0wn80(3:33:40): hey Amanda
ShyGirly16(3:34:15): Hi. Do I know you? I'm sorry, if I forgot. :-P
penguinz0wn80(3:34:25): i dont mean to bothe ru but I found ure sn on my
buddy list for reason
ShyGirly16(3:35:05): Hmmm ok.
penguinz0wn80(3:35:19): ok
penguinz0wn80(3:36:26): please talk, i'll be good lol
ShyGirly16(3:36:37): What's your name?
penguinz0wn80(3:36:46): my name is stacey
ShyGirly16(3:37:17): Stacey from the Complete Savages taping and Hanson
concert? [Right here, I've got her hooked. What a pleasent surprise!]
penguinz0wn80(3:37:28): :-D
ShyGirly16(3:37:31): LOL
penguinz0wn80(3:37:41): haha
ShyGirly16(3:37:50): Don't do that!! hehe I get scared. LOL [Funny, the computer scared her.]
penguinz0wn80(3:38:07): lol
penguinz0wn80(3:38:53): :-p
ShyGirly16(3:39:02): So, how was it? I read the setlist somewhere and it
sounded great.
penguinz0wn80(3:39:13): Are you still there? [Since the computer had no way to answer the previous question, it just pretended like Amanda wasn't getting through. GENUIS!]
ShyGirly16(3:39:18): Yes
penguinz0wn80(3:39:26): ok
ShyGirly16(3:40:04): So, how was it? I read the setlist somewhere and it
sounded great.
penguinz0wn80(3:40:19): cool!
penguinz0wn80(3:41:21): uh hello? why aren't you talking?
ShyGirly16(3:41:37): I am, are my IMs not coming through? [Always blame your computer.]
penguinz0wn80(3:41:50): hmmm, what do you watn to talk about?
ShyGirly16(3:42:14): The SF concert :)
penguinz0wn80(3:42:25): lol your funny
ShyGirly16(3:43:01): :) TAYnks
penguinz0wn80(3:43:10): how old r u?
ShyGirly16(3:43:23): 21
penguinz0wn80(3:43:31): :-P
penguinz0wn80: You have been talking to a computer! One of your friends is
reading the whole conversation and laughing it up right now! GET EVEN!
Have the bot talk to all your friends by visiting chattingaimbot.com

------------------------------------------------------

My next target Genrick (MrMaroonedDivision). I don't actully know this person, but he's on my buddy list from along time ago via Kyle.

The Chatting AIM Bot - convoAttack started at 01:56 PM on 15 Oct 2004.
MuffinCheeseqk(1:46:40): Hey, how are you?
MrMaroonedDivision(1:46:50): hi, who is this?
MuffinCheeseqk(1:46:59): my name is stacey
MrMaroonedDivision(1:47:30): hello stacey.
MuffinCheeseqk(1:47:46): what r you doin?
MuffinCheeseqk(1:48:43): u doin ok overt here?
MrMaroonedDivision(1:49:32): i'm doing fine, thanks.
MuffinCheeseqk(1:49:44): you're welcome
MrMaroonedDivision(1:49:50): listen, stacey, i'm having trouble remembering
you... [He's not sure...maybe he knows Stacy. Or wishes he did!]
MrMaroonedDivision(1:49:54): where do i know you from, if at all?
MuffinCheeseqk(1:50:02): im not thati nteresting, lol
MrMaroonedDivision(1:50:46): hmm, okay
MuffinCheeseqk(1:50:55): that's good
MuffinCheeseqk(1:51:49): :-p
MuffinCheeseqk(1:52:03): u seem interesting, can we talk more?
MrMaroonedDivision(1:53:08): Stacey, I'm quite busy at this time
MuffinCheeseqk(1:53:08): please talk, i'l lbe good lol
MuffinCheeseqk(1:54:23): Are you still there?
MrMaroonedDivision(1:55:09): yes, i am here
MrMaroonedDivision(1:55:12): look, do i know you or not? [I love when people say there busy, but keep on talking. Funny.]
MuffinCheeseqk(1:55:19): thats good
MrMaroonedDivision(1:55:26): how did you get my username?
MuffinCheeseqk(1:55:37): i dont think that matters lol
MrMaroonedDivision(1:56:35): i think it does [If the conversation had progressed even further, I sense some foul language would have surfaced.]
MuffinCheeseqk: You have been talking to a computer! One of your friends
is reading the whole conversation and laughing it up right now! GET EVEN!
Have the bot talk to all your friends by visiting chattingaimbot.com

------------------------------------------------------

Well that's 3, I have many more to post. Check back tomorrow for YOUR conversation! HAHAHA!

2004-10-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

Betrayed!
I just wrote a rather long post and blogger lost it when I tried to publish...I am now very sad.

Me...sad...if I traveled back in time to my baby self, made myself cry, took a picture, traveled back to the future, and posted it on my blog.

2004-10-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

The Trigger Happy Student and the Bumbling Professor
My photography teacher did something that really made me question his sanity last Wednesday. Two students in my class had planned to leave sometime mid-class to work on some group project. They had devised a plan for one person to get up and leave, and then 10 minutes later for the second person to follow suit. I thought this plan was genuis, and I would have done it myself. If they had been seen leaving together, not only would that have been seen by the class as "odd" but the teacher would have noticed and remembered. That's what you don't want to happen when you leave class early, for the teacher to remember.

In my astronomy class I always wait for his back to be turned, this way I can leave with him none the wiser. But what these two photography escapees didn't realize, and had no reason to suspect was what the teacher would do.

The plan began, the first person got up and left. That went fine, the teacher may have noticed but didn't think about it. The second person though got trigger happy and screwed up. Not more then a minute passed before he got up and headed for the door. That was the biggest mistake, not waiting the 10 minutes. As he got to the door the teacher said "are you leaving?"

The class froze, not one of us thought the teacher would say anything. The person leaving looked beffudled and couldn't seem to find the words to answer. He said "uh...yea I'm going." I thought that was the end of it, but the teacher asked "why?"

That word was the main reason for the post. A teacher CANNOT ask and expect a student to say why they are leaving. It is really none of the teachers goddamn business. I was stunned to hear the teacher question a student leaving. This isn't high school, this is college! You shouldn't have to explain yourself EVER! What if I was leaving to use the restroom and he asked me "why?" Does he really expect me, an almost 20yo adult to say I'm going to the bathroom? Or what if I had a doctors appointment. Does he want me to announce to the class that I may be sick and I've just infected everyone?

The student sort of mumbled that he had a group project, to which the teacher said "your expected to be here the entire time, you should have scheduled it for later. But I'll let you go." That really took the cake, that last part right there. It's like, "Oh thank you your majesty for allowing me to leave this place of wisdom, I am forever in your debt." A teacher does not allow people to leave, they just leave. By saying that he is allowing you to leave, he is also saying that he has the power to make you stay which he really doesn't. He can't fail you. He'd be up in front of the disciplinary board in minutes.

If I was in his situation I would seriously have stopped it at the very begining by saying "you know what Professor Hitler, you have no right to ask me where I'm going. If I want to go dance around a tree or have an imaginary tea party you can't stop me, because you know why? I pay your salary, and don't give me any of that well I pay you with knowledge shit. You work for me asshole! So go back up in front of the class with your little pointer and do what your paid to do." Yea, that would have put him in his place.

2004-10-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

I Believe! But First I Need Some Proof
I hate in films when characters can't believe when they've already seen the unbelievable. This came up the other night when Kyle came over to watch "The Empire Strikes Back." Luke Skywalker is being trained by Yoda to use all of the forces potential. When Yoda asks him to use the force to retrieve the ship that Luke crash landed into the swamp, Luke says "you want the impossible" to which Yoda shakes his head and retrieves the ship to show how much of an ass Luke was being.

This bothered me, that Luke would say something like that to Yoda. Not too long before he had first heard about this strange "force" from Obi-Wan, even then he was skeptical. But he has seen the force in action; for god’s sake he even used it to blow up the Death Star. But now, he is saying that something about the force is "unbelievable." Holy crap shut up Luke! How can you say something like that when you’ve already seen things that you thought were impossible? This syndrome in movies and television is known as “Skully Syndrome.”

Named after Skully from the television show “X-Files,” this attribute to a character was something she was chalk full of. Skully had seen the craziest shit imaginable: aliens, ghosts, people that can turn into water, genies, and mythical creatures to name just a few. Yet she continued to say things like “this can’t be real, science would never allow this, blah blah blah.” What did she just say? The woman who herself was abducted by aliens is refusing to believe that something crazy can’t be true? What a load of bull-honkey! Yes, bull-honkey! If I had seen even one of the things she did, I would not be going around with that attitude.

Luke and Skully need to stop being pain in the asses and just fess up to things. You can't take one fantastical idea without the other; either believe or don't. So next time you are watching a movie and you see a character who has just gotten the ability to fly and thinks aliens are crazy talk, call a doctor because they've got "Skully Syndrome!"

2004-10-11T13:37:00.000-07:00

Seperated at Birth
John Kerry and Count Chocula

Notice the family resemblence?

2004-10-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

New Word
I learned a new word today, "misanthropic."

Misanthropic
adj 1: believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a sneering disbelief in e.g. selflessness of others [syn: cynical, misanthropical] 2: hating mankind in general [syn: misanthropical]

My screenwriting teacher used this word today to describe a character in the documentary film "Crumb." He used it and I wrote it down on my hand to look up later. There was something about the word I liked, it has kinda of a lyrical sound to it.

2004-10-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

The Cookie Jar Has Busted Open
Yesterday, a terrible event took place in my life. A record that I have held since April 3rd, 1989 was flushed down the porcelain tube...literally. That's right, your worst fears have been realized; I threw up.

April 3rd, Kindergarten, that was the last time. The only time before that was an incident where I ate a box of Sucrets (powerful throat lozenges) and I was forcibly made to throw up. But that last day, I remember it like it was yesterday. I was sitting on the top bunk in my bedroom, my younger brother Chris was sitting cheerfully on the bottom floor watching an animated cartoon show. Earlier that day, I had come home feeling quite ill. I was recuperating in my bedroom, watching the television from above. Suddenly I was hit hard with a whirl of nausea and I said "Chris I think..." and that was it. I lost it, right over the side of the bunk bed onto Chris' bed below. It was a terrible day, one I will never forget. Since then I vowed that never again would I be attacked by fits of nausea, I would fight.

Over the course of the next 15 years I would stupefy audiences with tales of my iron belly. Some people refused to believe that I could have held out so long, but I knew the truth. It had been that long, and I had done it without as much as a close call. But yesterday, all that hard work was dashed into the wind.

It was 12:33 am, and I was at the gym doing my normal routine. Breakfast and the gym go hand and hand, but I usually can get away with eating very minimally before. This time all I had was a yogurt, which suited me just fine. But at that precise time, I suddenly was swept over with a falling sensation. My head was spinning like a dreidel in a sandstorm, I had to sit. I have become dizzy before at the gym, usually it passes. But there was something different, something was lurking somewhere in the depths of my soul. My trainer Danika looked at me worried. I said I was fine, but those were words spoken too soon. I felt it, the buildup in the back of my throat, and I suddenly became very worried.

I hurried away into the nearest restroom. Still, I really didn't think I would go through with it. I thought it was just a temporary feeling that would go away the moment I was in the restroom. But as I knelt down as a precaution all hell broke loose.

I came out feeling much better physically, but mentally I was distraught. All that hard work, all that time, all those stories, all of my loyal followers, gone. I was a traitor to my own cause.

So begins a new chapter in my life, where I look upon that experience as one of learning. I will not falter, I will thrive. You may have gotten me this time, but you will never get me again!

You may have noticed a new section at the begining of the right collumn. That number will increase each and every day I have sustained myself automatically.

2004-10-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

Must See Media
Go look at the "Must See Media" section. It's a not to be missed. When you watch it, make sure to have to volume up for full effect.

2004-09-29T13:36:00.000-07:00

Give Me A Hand
There is this girl in my religion class who is really cute and I'd like to ask her out. The only catch is...she's deaf. Going to CSUN, there is a large deaf and hard of hearing community because CSUN has a whole department for it. I've seen people talking in sign language, and I've always felt left out. I want to be able to communicate if need be.

I've seen people who are deaf wandering around looking like they need to ask for some help, but they can't find anyone to ask. I'd like to be able to help out if I wanted to. I also don't want people who are deaf to have a free pass to talk about me just because I can't understand them. It's like someone speaking spanish right in front of you, and they keep shooting you looks. I want to be able to know what they're saying, about me or not. Another thing is the other day I saw two people, each about 30 ft away from each other, having a discussion in sign language! How cool would it be if I could talk to someone from across a room without other people telling me to stop yelling, or butting in on my converstation.

This girl is the driving force behind this entry and just another reason why I want to know sign language. If I knew how to talk to her, we could make some sort of connection. But because there is that language barrier, we can never have any sort of relationship which is just sad.

I'm going to a school divided by the ability to hear. In order to unite the student body I WILL learn sign language, and no more will hand gestures go unanswered!

2004-09-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

Guns and A Six Pack
I had a rather long conversation with my good friend Amanda today and we were talking about goals, mostly of which had to do with weight loss. I've probably lost between 30 and 40 lbs. since my jaw surgery of August 03. Since then I started working out. I did the gym at first two days a week, and then after a bit I did three, finally I worked up to 4, and then I even did the occasional 5. That is a lot for someone who didn't want to go to the gym to begin with and whose level of activity was pressing the channel button on the remote. My friend Amanda has lost over 40 lbs. since the beginning of summer, and you should see the confidence boost she's had. So kudos Amanda, great job! So goals, what are my goals?

With the weight loss stuff, I do want to continue to loose weight. Right now I have about 30 lbs. I'd like to shed. People who I tell this to always give me that look and the "but why, you're not overweight?" I've even been met with the comment of, "stop loosing weight, your wasting away." C'mon people, stop the bullshit. Have you looked at me lately? True, I am much better off then I was a year ago, but I could still stand to loose something more then vanity pounds. I don't like those comments that I'm a rail, because I'm not. When I hear that it just bothers me because either the person is blind or is lying to me because they want to be a nice person. There are the people who really honestly think I look fine, but the thing is I could look better. These comments don't really bother me when they come from people like Amanda. I know Amanda, and she is one of those see the good in people overlook the bad. So I respect what she says and take it to heart. But other people, they just piss me off. It is hard for me to believe that most people are Amanda, because let's be honest, that isn't the world.

The other people who bother the hell out of me are the skinny people who need reassurance that they are skinnier then you. It's like my sister Lauren asks me EVERY day "do I look fat in this?" I say no, so she turns sideways "right here" patting her stomach. I say yet again, "No Lauren, you do not look fat. Do you actually think I'd let you walk out of here looking like a total slob?" Then she says "are you sure?" What the hell, were you not listening to what I just told you? Once in a while she will be wearing something that might make her look wide or something, so I'll tell her honestly. Then of course I get the nasty look. Hey Lauren, you asked me.

There are many reasons why I chose to loose weight, some understandable and some just laughable. Health of course is an issue. I don't want to be 45 years old and have to get a triple bypass. Vanity is also an issue, because in our society the pretty people rise to the top. Then here comes the reasons that you can go ahead and chuckle at.

Abercrombie and Fitch...the store. This place is like a model runway. Kyle and I are always discussing this place and how uncomfortable we feel in it. It is the only store that I go into where I feel like I'm not good enough for it and the sales people are judging me or sizing me up. It's funny because I don't actually want anything from here, but it feels like a bridge to the beautiful people. So part of the loosing weight thing was so I could actually go into this place with my head held high and my trim, muscular physique showing through. 6 months ago, no way would you have seen me here. The furthest I ever went in was halfway, but when I got to the center I ran for the exit. It was like I was drowning and I needed to resurface and get some air. Nowadays I can go in here with a tad more confidence and make it 3 quarters of the way in, so I'm almost there!

Then the next reason for the weight loss only really became prevalent this past summer, water parks. There are two types of people that go here. The people who want to show off their body and the people who don't care about their body. But the people who usually don't care about their body are the large ladies in the bikinis, so we don't really want to see that. That's sad, but it's oh so true. So I would like to be able to go to a water park and just have fun and not be conscientious about what other people are thinking. I'm almost there; just give me until next summer.

So that's my weight thing. I'm still going, but I should reach my goal by the end of the year god willing. I'll see like a hot girl spill her drink at the mall and be like "hey, I'll clean that up for ya," and pull off my shirt so that I can use it as a towel revealing my 6-pack. I'll also be making lots of references to my muscles and skinniness. I can actually go "I should be illegal, because with this 6 pack (pointing to stomach) and these guns (pointing to biceps) I'm a whole lotta trouble" and not get laughed at.

2004-09-27T08:17:00.000-07:00

Check it Out
I suggest checking out the "Must See Movie" section of the blog, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

2004-09-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

My Day Finished
I'm just going to end the previous post quickly. I went to my screen writing class and along the way I was feeling parched, so I stopped by the vending machine to purchase a bottle of water. I press the water button and out it comes, problem is...it's frozen solid. Hmmm...so I had to wait 3 hours to drink a stupid $1 bottle of water. THE END! Ok now that post about my day is over.

2004-09-22T13:14:00.000-07:00

A Day in the Life
I thought that maybe I'd walk you through my rather bizarre day I've been having, since to be honest nothing is really screaming blog worthy to me. Although what your about to read I think you'll find an entertaining read, so don't hit that back button just yet.

The day began sort of odd. My alarm clock went off at 6:15 and I sort of sprang too life. Usually I wake up groggy, suddenly forgetting why I'm getting up in the first place. But this morning, my eyes just opened quick. It was if I had blinked, and that was it.

I could hear my brother Chris stirring in his room. This is usually what I do in the morning, just listen. He'll wake up, I'll hear his squeaky door open, and I'll hear the bathroom door shut. Then I'll hear the water start up and I can even hear the shower door opening and closing. This is when I begin my wait. I know I have a good 10 minutes before he's through, so I might just lie there or I might catch was miniscule time of winks I have.

The water stopped, and that was my queue to get up. So I got up, did the whole "getting ready" deal, let the dog out, fed him, put him back, and off to school I went.

Driving I like to listen to Mark and Brian on 95.5 FM. Still to this day I can't differentiate between the 2 of them. I think Brian is the one with the nasally voice, and Mark is the one who sounds like he needs cough syrup for his sort of raspy tone. They were talking about "must see tv" and what they were going to be watching. They ran down the top 10 shows of the week, and surprise surprise, a rerun epidode of CSI was #1. They beat out the series premier of "Joey" and the season premier of "The Apprentice." The only conclusion I drew from this was the people didn't feel like watching a constantly eating Italian guy without his friends, or watch a man who we all know wears a toupee but will never admit to the fact.

I ran through a McDonalds drive-thru for breakfast, after never eating at a McDonalds in 6 month because of the movie "Super Size Me." Parked in the CSUN lot two hours before my first class, and ate. After eating, I quickly regretted my decision and vowed to never venture back to the golden arches ever again.

The library at school opens at 7:45, so I can't really get onto a computer until then. So I have to usually wait about 30 minutes or so to search the web. I did my time, and the computer lab here I come.

On the lawn just outside the library, film crews are building a set for a Disney flick called "Sky High." The movie is set in a world where superheroes are commonly known and accepted, young Jeremy (Angarano), the son of Commander Stronghold and Jetstream, tries to find a balance between being a normal teenager and an extraordinary being. Can this film get anymore Disney? Well I guess it could, all it needs now is for two of the superheros to be the twins from "Sister, Sister" and they're set.

It's actually kinda neat to watch them building up walls along the side to match the already existing library. I even saw them setting up a stunt, where it looked like someone would be swinging from a crane.

Let's skip ahead one hour to my astronomy class. Astronomy class is in the campus observatory. The seats are intentionally reclined and have high backs because the point of the observatory is to stare at the curved ceiling and gaze at the stars. My teacher, Professor Choudhary, has a very thick Indian accent so I usually can only catch words in between words. He also does not use the ceiling which really bothers me. It's there, other school would kill to have it, and he's not using it. Oh well, I went to sleep and another hour passes.

I have to use the restroom, so I construct a game plan. I have already found the four bathrooms and ranked them in order ahead of time. I like to know which ones are the least used at certain times of the day, so that if need be I can go. I don't like my bathroom experience to be a communal one, I want to option to talk out loud to myself if I felt the urge.

First bathroom on my list, the basement library. TAKEN! This one is usually the best bet because no one ever goes down there. Next bathroom is also in the basement, but you actually have to go into the main entrance of the library to access it. TAKEN! Where to now?...I think things out quick, and rush up the stairs to the main floor and briskly walk to the farthest end of the library. Hmmm...many people back here studying, more then usual. I decide to take a chance. HOORAY! If that one was taken, there was only one other bathroom I knew of, but that one is in my reserve deck so there it shall remain.

Leaving the restroom, I need to go up to the 3rd floor computer lab. The escaltors are too far, so I decide to take the elevator. There are three elevators in different parts of the library, one of which you can only take to certain floors if you have "the code." This is because they open up at restricted library areas. I got into this one thinking that I could up to the fourth floor and go down. But once I got in, I realized that floor needed a code as well. OH NO! TOO LATE! The doors shut, and the elevator began to go up.

I just hoped that wherever it opened, the person who pressed the button wouldn't be library security who would shoot me on site. But the doors open, and it's just a little old lady. So I get out of the elevator and now am standing in a room with 3 doors, 2 of which will not open. The third is stairs, so I have no place to go but down. The 3rd floor door is locked, the 2nd floor door is locked, and about now is when I envisioned someone finding my skeleton a hundred years later and laughing at me for being a moron and dying in a stairwell.

Luckily, the bottom floor was unlocked. So after all that I just ended up taking the escalator.

This is getting kinda long...continuation to come later in the day....

2004-09-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

Going to Space on a Pogo Stick?
When I saw Razor scooters back in 2000, I was not surprised to see that someone had decided to modernize an old classic. What did surprise me was that they rolled into the world at such a fast incline, and just about everyone was riding them. People were actually spending a couple hundred dollars on something that had existed for the past 50 years.

Did people have some sort of brain fart? Does no one remember that scooters had been around for a really long time before the Razor? It was like people had never seen a scooter before and this thing rolling around was some new fangled invention? Really the only difference between then and now is that the newer versions were metal and smaller, but that was about it. But people were still picking up these scooters as status symbols, putting light up wheels on them so drivers could see them riding their scooter around in the middle of the night. Oh no, it wasn't for safety reasons, it was so the drivers would see the scooter and think the person was "chique."

Now I come to the real reason behind this post. When I first saw Razor scooters I remember saying, "what's next, a pogo stick that shoots you 50 ft. in the air?" I said this as a joke, thinking what a ludicrous idea that would be. But today I discovered that my jokingly said idea is becoming a reality. The "Flybar" will be hitting shelves this month, and many deaths will come along with it I predict. This pogo stick can launch a 200-pound rider nearly six feet in the air. My only question is what happens to the person when they come back down? It claims that the 18-pound aluminum rig comes with grippy foot pegs to help you nail your landings. But is it really that simple to land when you’re coming down from six feet? I recall jumping on a pogo stick and maybe getting a foot and a half off the ground. That return to earth was difficult enough, but to having you come launching down from 6 ft. or more is mortifying. I imagine people hitting ground and then flying off at some crazy angle into the street.

The whole idea behind the pogo stick was that you had some control. You're close enough to the ground where you can determine where you will land without injuring yourself. What happens with those 150 or even less pound people? They'll take off into space and never be heard of again.I dunno what will happen next in this crazy world of ours. The only thing I can think of that can't be improved on any more on is the hula-hoop, but who knows. Maybe next year you'll be seeing a metal hoop that can spin around you up to 88 mph sending you back in time. You heard it here first; I came up with the Time Hoop!

Look at this, he's about to bounce into a construction site. What fun!

2004-09-15T08:28:00.000-07:00

The 1st Post
History was made on Friday, November 08, 2002. I created my very first blog entitled, "I Am The Head Crusher" and the following was the very first post that I ever wrote.

Every day I wake at about 6:45 am, but I don't get up till around 7:02 am. Once in a while though I will oversleep because of my stupid alarm clock. I will be having a dream where this strange high-pitched buzzing sound is happening, and in the dream I can't find the source.

For example, I had this dream a little while ago where I was watching Crossroads (no I have never seen it and that movie being in my dream only made it more of a nightmare) with a large group of people in my home. One of the girls watching the movie was someone from the movie (not Britney), and she kept protesting that she had never seen the movie before. Anyways, so suddenly in comes this buzzing sound, which I gotta tell you bugged the hell out of me. So I get up and look for the source. I find three different wristwatches in 3 different places around the room. I wander around with these buzzing wristwatches asking people "Are these yours?" But of course no one wants to admit that the annoying buzzing sound is coming from their discarded watch. Finally, someone says that the watches belong to him. They take the watches; do some twisting of the dial things (I have no idea what there called) and the buzzing stops. I start to walk away, when very gradually the buzzing begins again. This is the point where I open my eyes, realize it was a dream, and shut off that annoying buzzer on my alarm clock.

2004-09-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

SITE UPDATE
I've selected the theme from "The Godfather" as the new music in my "Music of the Moment" section of my blog. If you somehow missed it, just scroll down and look off to the right. It's right under my "Must See Movie" section. You really should check out the music I put there, even if you don't think you'll like it. I always put a lot of thought into what music I choose, and it is always music from films. What can it hurt? Check it out!

2004-09-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

Be Kind, Or I Will Kill You
I unfortunately have terrible allergies. None of those crazy ones, like the people who can't eat wheat or use fabric softeners. Just the normal pollen and animal allergies that many people have. No one is to blame, well maybe God, but I manage.

Today though I bought one of those little tissue packets at school. You know what I'm talking about. It's small and rectangular, has about 10 tissues, and has a resealable flap that you can never reseal.

Since I have terrible allergies, hence the need for the tissues. So I used one not to long ago while walking, and this girl turned and gave me a look. Her eyebrows were raised and she just had this look like "ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!"

My immediate reaction was what most people would probably think, nothing. I just kept along my merry way. But I always think about things, and pick at them in my mind. This girl really bothered me after about 10 minutes.

I am a strong supporter of the "no blow, no knowledge" rule. There are these people who in the middle of a professors lecture will get up and just honk away on their shnoze. These are the people who deserve the looks, but not of disgust but of annoyance.

I on the other hand, and I'm guessing the majority of the free world would wait for a restroom, automobile, or even their home to come into play before doing their nose business. These places are confined and other people present, if any, probably wouldn't care. But when you're in public walking to a class, you should be aloud to blow your nose if you need to. I even did the discreet two tooter which I thought was perfectly fine. But oh, not for Ms. High and Mighty (she's not married, because who would want to marry her). She walks around with her nose held high, she NEVER needs a tissue. You know what else, her shit smells like freshly baked cinnamon rolls to, no fooling!

People like her disgust me because they think they're better then everyone else and they don't have to follow any rules of common decency or morality. These are the same shmucks who walk through a door while your holding it open without so much as a thank you very much. I always feel like saying, "excuse me your majesty, would you like me to spread rose petals while you walk as well?"

Everyone needs to follow the rules of life. Whether it be understanding the nose blower or saying thank you to the kind door holder. These are the things that separate us from the animals, and if you don't adhere to these unsaid rules then you're just as attractive as that ape at the zoo with the red ass.

2004-09-10T17:11:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from various trips over the summer. I used a snap and shoot because my digital is broken, so you'll have to endue the quality. I only pulled out the highlights, so if you want to see the entire set you'll have to visit my photobucket. I also shrunk them down so that the page will load quicker on your computer. To see the larger versions just click them.

Santa Clara
We went to Santa Clara because my brother found out about this theme park there that is owned by Paramount. The thing that is awesome is that they have a "Top Gun" roller coaster, and other rided based on Paramount movies that you never thought would ever see in ride form.

Great America Theme Park
The first photo is us ascending on the "Top Gun" ride, the second two photos is the ride "Drop Zone" (like the Wesley Snipes movie). The ride climbs to about 70 stories then drops straight down, hence the ride title and it's connection to the film. The next couple of photos were taken in "Boomerang Bay" which is somehow supposed to be connected to Crocodile Dundee.

The Winchester Mystery House
This stop was only made because I wanted to go here. In 1884 Sarah Winchester began building a house using funds from the impressive Winchester rifle fortune that she inherited. It is rumored and often believed that a psychic told her to build the house in order to appease the spirits killed by the rile that made her such a fortune. So she built a house like a maze, so that she could hide from the spirits that would come to haunt her. There are stairs to ceilings, windows that open to walls, and a door that opens to a 30 ft. drop to the garden below.

Tule Elk State Reserve
These pictures were taken at a rather rinky-dink little reserve on the way to Santa Clara. It was about 5 mi. off the freeway, and it was completely empty. The Elk were in the distance, so I was looking at them through a coin operated telescope. I wanted to get a good picture of the Elk, so I held the camera up to the telescope lense and shot. The first picture is what I got back, and I think it's pretty cool.

2004-09-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

Everything Has A Place, Even Bagpipes!
Sitting outside on the campus lawn, I assumed I would be sitting in silence. Many people were strewn about reading their text books, eating their lunches, and some even sleeping.

But one person wasn't sleeping, reading, or eating; they were playing the bagpipes. He was "piping" away, while everyone was going on about their business. He wasn't playing any songs, he was going through chords, maybe writing a song for all I know.

Some people ignored him while others were giving him looks, I just sort of looked at him in confusion. The bagpipes are probably one of the most interesting instruments that I have seen or heard played. Mainly because, well it's odd looking, and because you don't come across a bagpipe every day.

So that being said, I can tell you why bagpipes in this instance was not a good thing. This is a college campus, with people running this way and that hoping to catch a break. Sitting in the middle of a quiet area, and then to have someone suddenly pipe in bagpipes isn't as delightful as it sounds. It is hard to concentrate on a sentence, when you are hearing the key of G being held for consecutive minutes.

People who play the bagpipes in public only do it for 2 reasons. One, they want to show off because people are sure to look at someone playing the bagpipes. Or two, they're at an Irish funeral. My guess is the first one, since I didn't see any kilts or a casket.

Common sense and the bagpipes need to go hand and hand. This isn't a guitar or a flute, it's bagpipes. Bagpipes are loud, and in certain circumstances can be unpleasant to the ear.

So if YOU play the bagpipes, think before piping. Look around, take in your surroundings, think about the other people around you. I will allow one exception where you can play aloud around me in particular, even if I want peace and quiet. If you play "Danny Boy" I will think you're the cats pajamas.

2004-09-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

Music of the Moment
I felt like I should say something about the "Music of the Moment" section that is off to the right. The track "Holding Out For A Hero" on the Shrek 2 soundtrack is an example of taking an already released song and altering it to fit into a score.

If you haven't seen the movie, the Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders) is singing this song at a royal ball. While singing it cuts between her singing, the dance floor, and an action sequence where Shrek is trying to get into the castle. Surprisingly the song choice and the way it was altered was very effective, and I didn't even care for this song before it was Shrekified.

So if you listen to the track you should hear the song, plus the Shrek theme, and some action queues all in this one track. When the movie comes out on DVD rent it and watch the end sequence, then maybe you'll appreciate it differently.

2004-09-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

The Alphabet Will Set You Free
How people perceive me is something that I tend to think about a lot. So much so, that I might think something out ahead of time before I do it so not to make a fool out of myself. Who would of thought that a game of hangman could put me in such a tizzy.

In my screenwriting class, there is a person in front of me who has gotten into the habit of starting a game of hangman on the board before class. Of course the words are always film titles, since everyone in that class is a cinema-television major.

The first time he did the game, I got the name of the movie before he even had a chance to write any letters. I thought "hey cool, I'm establishing my film credibility." But I think today, I might have seriously screwed that up, and I am running franticly to repair the damage.

One person put a 3 word title on the board, and I knew right away it was "run.......something...run" Instantly I thought, I've heard the phrase "Run Spot Run," maybe it's that. So I said aloud, is there a movie called "Run Spot Run?" The moment I said it, I realized my huge mistake. Since I had said that aloud, everyone knew right away it was in fact "Run Lola Run" and I felt like such the fool. So now to save myself, I realized I had to get another one quickly as to reestablish myself.

The next person came up and put a 3 letter title, and the very first thing that popped into my head was "Pie." So without thinking I said that aloud, and then suddenly realized while everyone was telling me that the film I was thinking was "Pi," like 3.14. So now I felt even more the doofus. Now not only do I not know movies, but I do not know how to spell.

The rest of the game went on and I was spiraling out of control. I missed such titles as "The Abyss" and "What Lies Beneath." This innocent game turned into a war, fought between me and the devils game of hangman.

So now I must wait until next time, and I estimate I need to get at least 2 right before anyone else does if I want to get back my place on the film know-it-all pedestal.

This games central character is a man that is about to die by being hung, and his only salvation hinges on a couple letters. I identify with this man who is standing at the precipice of life and death. If I don't hurry and save myself with correct guesses, then I to will get the dreaded mouth drawn on and officially be dead.

2004-08-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

Oh, The Times We Live In
We are living in a technological age. This thought was in my mind today while I was standing outside in a sea of people. Watching them it is justifiable to assume that 1 in 3 people was using their cell phones, and probably 2 out of 3 at least own a cell phone. I also noticed that probably 1 in 7 was wearing some sort of music device, whether it be an mp3 player or a cd player. This time we're living in is much different then how things were 50 years ago.

This is where my train of thought was leading me, to a thought I had over a week ago while listening to people much older then myself talk about how things "used to be." Everything they were saying was nothing new to me, but since I happened to be trapped in a car with these people for several hours you can't help but really think about it.

One never owned a cell phone and never planned on ever owning one. The argument I hear with this is "well I managed without a cell phone for years, no reason I can't manage now." Give me a moment to rebut this statement. First of all, as I said we are living in a technological age. More and more people every day are attaching themselves to something electronic. To not do so yourself doesn't make you a martyr, it makes you ignorant. It is impossible to live in today's world off payphones and pagers, you need a cell phone; especially if you have a business. To not adjust with society would mean you will fall behind, and things will just be more difficult on you. To say that you don't need it because you manage is ridiculous, and I bet I can find something hypocritical about that.

Have you gotten your TB shot lately? Or even a tetanus shot? Years ago, people were dying from these diseases. But with the natural evolution of science, cures have been found so that we can all live happily ever after. To use these medicinal advances, and then go onto say that a cell phone is stupid and unneeded is very hypocritical. Now I'm not trying to say that a cell phone is on the same level as the vaccine for polio, but what I am saying is both have to do with technological advances. Both make things easier on life, so why can you accept one but not the other?

I do have a limit though to my appreciation of the cell phone in particular. These people who walk around with headsets making it appear they're talking to themselves just look stupid. I get the hands free idea, but I saw someone just sitting on the grass with one. They weren't driving or juggling kids, they were just sitting there. To not be able to muster up the strength to hold an odd ounce cell phone is just laughable. I will laugh at you if I see you wearing one of those headsets. That doesn't help anybody, and you're not moving with helpful technology, your moving with ludicrous technology.

See, so I'm not saying everything technology has to offer is a good thing. I'm saying that if something has benefits, and happens to be technology, just don't shoo it away because you're not familiar with it. Give that mp3 player a chance. You can hold thousands of songs on that little thing, and not have to tote around an abnormally large cd case! But the moment that mp3 player somehow incorporates kareoke, I'm going to be really pissed.

2004-08-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

WWJWD?
Tonight is the night that I wait an entire year for. Looking at the date you may be thinking, "it's not Christmas/Hanukkah/night(s) of presents...so what could it be?" Well boys and girls, tonight is THE JOHN WILLIAMS CONCERT SPECTACULAR! Ok, actually it's called John Williams: Olympic Fever, and it's at the Hollywood Bowl.

For all you people out there who listen to bad music and have no clue who John Williams is, he's a film score composer. Meaning, you know the music in E.T. and Star Wars? Well he composed that, literally came up with it out of thin air. Now I'm not talking soundtracks, where there are songs from P. Diddy and Missy Elliot, I'm talking no words just music. He is the guy who got you to be scared of a shark even before you saw it in Jaws, and the guy who made you cry like a little girl with his mournful and touching tunes from Schindler's List.

I've been getting pumped for each annual John Williams concert for the past 3 years. The audience is usually phenomenal. Where else can you go where someone in the audience will be yelling for him to play "Superman?" Although, there are those amongst the audience that do bother me some. Kyle has retold a tale of this one man who was sitting in front of him the entire show stonefaced. During each and every piece of music the man wouldn't smile, wouldn't clap, wouldn't even breathe. But at the end, when John Williams came out for an encore he yelled out "Schindler's List." There are people like this man in the concert, who are only going because of maybe ONE movie or because they go to the movies and figure "hey, I've seen movies, let's go!" But I really don't think you should go see him if you are one of these people.

Each and every piece of music that Williams has composed is original and outstanding. Never has there been a composer with such a memorable score repertoire, unless you go back to maybe Bernard Herman and the Hitchcock era. He has had his hits, but he has also had those pieces that the public has overlooked basically because the movie didn't do too well. Like "Sabrina" for example. No one remembers the score to that, unless you're me or Kyle. But that score can still hold up against and surpass some of the trash that comes out today.

So I know it's too late for you to go this year. But next year, if you are really serious about films and want to hear some great music, then think about going. His music has strengthened my film enthusiasm and keeps me on the track to becoming a director. To know that when I get into the business, I could be working with someone like Williams only makes me want to get there faster.

2004-08-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

Sneak Preview Alert!

If you see this from now on, that means this review is for an unreleased movie.

"Synergy"

Last night I went and saw a test screening of a film called "Synergy," director Paul Weitz's (American Pie, About a Boy) attempt to direct a film without brother director Chris Weitz.

The film revolves around middle-aged Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid), who is in charge of the sales division for a sports magazine. Life seems to be going smoothly for Dan. His wife (Marg Helgenberger) runs an efficient household, and his daughter (Scarlett Johansson) is an up and coming tennis pro. But when their company merges with a much larger, much hipper company, Dan is demoted and his life is thrown into the spin cycle. A new, younger and complete opposite version of him played by Topher Grace has now taken his job and is invading every inch of his work and family life. This film is about discovering what's important to you, and how even the wrong decision can turn out to be the right one.

The thing that writer/director Paul Weitz seems to do well is write characters. They could be the sexually frustrated teenage angst filled characters like in "American Pie," or the morally confused characters in "About a Boy." This film is not alone then with it's quirky counterparts. Still, I do think the absence of Chris Weitz affected the film and story. The film seemed choppy, and the characters never actually evolved into what Paul Weitz was obviously trying to accomplish. The problem was balance between the two main characters Quaid and Grace. Both people were supposed to be growing and changing, but by the end you only feel like Grace accomplished anything and Quaid was left in the dust. This was certainly not what was meant to happen. But because of editing and focus, you are certainly left feeling that way.

Still, I am hard pressed to say this is just your average popcorn flick. In fact I believe that it is an above average film when you look at all the wannabe good films out there right now. The film is well acted, and while the stories formula might be old hat, the way it is played out is certainly not.

Release Date: December 29, 2004

"Synergy"

(out of 4)

2004-08-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

Well, a start of a new blog era perhaps has occured. Being that school has started, and some of my free time will be spent in the computer lab, you most likely will be seeing more blog posts to titialate (hehe) your senses.

To start us off, how about some movie news from my good friends over at IMDB.

Lucas To Make 'Star Wars' Sequels?

Star Wars creator George Lucas could be poised to make three sequels to the original space opera trilogy, according to insiders at Lucasfilm. According to fan site Theforce.Net, employees at Lucas's company Industrial Light And Magic (ILM) have all been made to sign non-disclosure agreements to promise not to talk about the possibility of episode's seven, eight and nine being made. Now industry insiders are predicting the American Graffiti director will make the follow-ups, which pick up where 1983's Return Of The Jedi left off, despite insisting he would never be lured into filming them. A posting on the site says, "You didn't hear this from me, but you might be curious as to why everyone at ILM just signed NDA's saying that they will not discuss Star Wars episodes 7, 8, or 9. Since they're not being made, why the NDA's? Of course, since when has Lucas been consistent?"

--> My feelings towards this sort of news is very unenthused. With the terrible Episode 1, and the even worse Episode 2, why would I have anything to look forward to? If Lucas did make a 7, 8, and 9 he would seriously need to stop making shit. No really, because that's what he's been doing. Stay the hell away from the computer imagery which for some reason he thinks is the only way to make movies now adays and get back to you roots. You can have minitures that perhaps combine the smallest of computer details, but don't just screw it and have actors in front of blue screens the entire time and even, for gods sake!, an entirely computer animated character amongst real people. If Episode 3 is AS bad as I think it will be, then forget me looking forward to anymore. I would have given up on Lucas, and just wish that he would stay like a hermit in Skywalker Ranch.

2004-07-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

Please Be Kind at the Movie Theater
The other night I went to see The Bourne Supremacy at the Galleria. Where I was seated, a Japanese man was a seat away from me to my right. A seat away from him to his right were 2 women. Before the movie started, he stood up and walked away. I assumed he wasn't coming back, still you never know.

A woman and her daughter came over and just waltzed over to the seats, never even asking if they were taken. But as they passed I said, "I think these are taken." The woman ignored me, but her daughter told her mother that I said the seat she was about to take was taken. So she asked the women who said that there was a man there, but he just up and left. I said the same thing, but I also said I wasn't sure if he was coming back. Still, she sat down with her daughter. The moment she did this, the man reappeared.

He walked over to the woman and said "excuse me, this was my seat." She said, "I'm sorry you weren't here, so I took your seat." He said he told the two other women to save his seat, but they were claiming ignorance. He said "I went to the bathroom for a minute, can't you understand that?" She said "Sorry, but you weren't here. What do you expect me to do? You shouldn't have left." She also went on to say how you can't save seats. The she proceeded to stick her finger in the guys face and wave it around, as if to say "sorry, but I was here first." Which of course wasn't true.

It felt really odd, because I felt like I should say something. If some stupid woman was going to take my seat I would have pitched a fit, gotten the manager, done everything I could to ruin this woman's time. But, this wasn't really my place. I'm not going to stick up for a grown man. He just gave up and found a different seat, while everyone in the row was cussing at this lunatic woman. Then they started speaking in another language, I think making fun of the guy. Probably saying how much of a sucker he was.

Let me state this now, seat saving IS ok. It is the persons fault for not getting to the theater earlier, and you shouldn't feel bad because they have to sit in the front row. If anyone tries to take you seats, make a HUGE fuss. Don't worry, people around you will support you.

2004-07-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

Legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith has died at the age of 75 after a long battle with cancer. He passed away peacefully in his sleep Wednesday night (July 21st) at his Beverly Hills home, according to his personal assistant, Lois Carruth. This is truly a sad day for the film score world, he will be missed.

Please turn your speaker up, to hear a piece of music I believe to be one of his best. It's from Rudy, and aptly titled "The Final Game."

2004-06-28T14:03:00.000-07:00

Hearing the news the my beloved E.T. ride would be destroyed and replaced was very heartwrenching news. Even worse, it was to be replaced with a ride based on a movie that I found subpar to begin with. But with a kind of vane hope I ventured to Universal Studios yesterday to try out this new ride that had some rather large shoes to fill.

Arriving at the park, only for this ride, I was told the wait was 120 minutes. I stood in line which was the standard outside queue. Beige bars moving in a maze like pattern back and forth. Park employees were dressed in safari outfits, some strapped with ammo or carrying double edged axes. Mostly they look bored, hanging on bars and playing with their faux weapons. Since the line was anything but stimulating, I waited to get inside where it was sure to be more entertaining. If you'll recall, when E.T. the ride was in this location you waited outside but inside the line transformed into a forest.

However, the line inside was no better then outside. Just a corridor with hieroglyphics on the walls and dim lights. While E.T. smelled like a pine adding to the experience, this one had none whatsoever.

The ride itself seats I believe 16 in rows of 4. This part seemed suspiciously like the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland, especially with the Sala-esque (Arab speaking) man giving you directions. The ride commences, you go through a tomb where hands reach down from the ceiling. Had they not been 15 ft. at most from the top of my head, I may have been frightened. If anything, it seemed the mummies' came off as pathetic, trying to reach a prey incredibly out of reach. Then you progress and see a man on a screen eaten by scarab beetles that comes off as laughable. Still progressing, a mechanical mummy standing on a ledge yelling at us in an inaudible tone. Suddenly the ride shoots forward into darkness, and along with some slight turns and images on scrim (pulled cloth), the ride comes to a stop at a screen where you see some bugs. Then the ride shoots backwards, as if this is part of a story which I have yet to figure out. The mummy is yelling and is incredibly annoying. Finally the ride ends after 20 seconds, and you're left feeling confused, unenthusiastic, and beyond bored.

This ride is so uninteresting it has put doubts in my mind about Universal Studios and how they run their park. Who in their right mind would take away a perfectly good ride and replace it with something as uninspiring and univentive as this.

2004-06-10T22:24:00.000-07:00

Where's George?

I have been occasionally stamping my paper currency with the web address http://www.WHERESGEORGE.com. If you enter the serial number in their database, someone who receives the bill just might go to the web address on the bill. I have 27 bills in circulation, all varying in values. Out of those 27 I have had 3 hits. Today, I received notification of the 3rd, and the picture above it the proof. Interesting how someone received it in change at a casino. Who knows how many times this $20 bill traded hands. What stories could it tell?

2004-05-25T18:16:00.000-07:00

"People do crazy things in ads, like eat at Arby's!"
-- Marge Simpson

2004-05-17T23:52:00.000-07:00

alcheyhol
Guess what, I guess I lied about the last post. I don't know why I suddenly felt like posting, it could be because I'm on the verge of drunkenness. My sister decided to through a small party that turned into a large party tonight since my mom is out of town. I drank what was given to me, and now I'm feeling it. First was pineapple and vodka, then was sprite and some kind of apple vodka, and then ice cream with I think kahlua. About then I started to feel sick so I had to hold off. But since then I've had about 3 tequila shots and a Corona. This small get together really turned into a party, and just like out of a movie a drumset and guitars suddenly appeared and began playing. I'd say the highlight to that was "Paint it Black" by Rolling Stones, I love that song. So now I'm in my room on my computer while things are happening outside. I want to sleep, but how can I knowing there is a party outside. I can't tell if I'm drunk. Since I'm able to write coherently does that mean I'm not drunk? Funny thing is when I'm drunk I get really care free and don't mind acting like a fool. I'll talk to anyone and dance with anyone. Weird because that's not me. Alcohol really changes people, I'm just glad I don't get paranoid drunk. I think I'm blabbering. Is that a word, blabbering? I think it is. Anyways, I'm going back outside to drink something. Keep it real son.

2004-05-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

This week will be very hectic for me since it is the last week of school. So I just wanted to let everyone know that I will most likely NOT be posting anything knew until after the 26th. I will try and post perhaps and old blog posts, but that is the extent for now.

Thank you all, and please wait anxiously for a new post.

2004-05-12T21:27:00.000-07:00

The Movie Dictionary seems to get hits from a variety of different places. Most interestingly though, I noticed someone came from "Sandia National Laboratories, United States." I was very curious about this visitor so I had to delve further into where they came from.

I visited the web site for Sandia National Laboratories and was greeted with "Sandia National Laboratories - helping our nation secure a peaceful and free world through technology." Now why on earth would someone be visiting a movie theater dictionary when they're supposed to be saving the world?

Someone must be surfing the internet instead of doing their job. Which according to their site is "...a multiprogram lab, primarily doing national defense R&D, energy, and environment projects. The Labs' original mission of providing engineering design for all non-nuclear components in the nation's nuclear weapons continues today, but Sandia now also performs a wide variety of national security R&D work."

It's interesting the people who come to silly web sites. Today a nuclear safety division, tomorrow the world!

2004-05-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

This is a website I have been working which consists of terms that Kyle, my brother Chris, and I put together to describe things at a movie theater. You should really take a look, people tell me that they're really funny. Hopefully I'll be able to expand it and make the site look more professional. But until then, you can get some good laughs out of it. Just click the above picture to go there.

Here is an advertising button you are more then welcome to use. Just right click it and choose "Save As."
100x30

2004-05-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

Does anyone remember "The Concession Stand" blog I was running a little while ago through "Fade to Black." Well that blog is back and you better go. I put countless time and effort into writing those reviews just so you will be informed. I even had a couple guest reviewers just to keep it interesting. So please, try to just click the link above and check it out. Who knows, maybe you will be the next guest reviewer. Remember if you are a guest reviewer that could mean free candy, soda, or chips. I bet you're interested now.

2004-05-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

"One long action sequence that leaves you spent, rather than exhilarated."
-- Timothy Knight, REEL.COM

2004-05-07T08:38:00.000-07:00

or

How do you wear pants?
I think the way that someone wears a pair of paints is very important. It says a lot about your character, and automatically puts you into a social category. But I still don't really get some of these "pants wearer's" out there today. This morning, two guys were walking in front of me and they were very representative of the strata of pants wearing. The first had his pants low, to create the illusion that he didn't have a butt. I guess it's possible that he didn't have a butt, but for arguments sake lets say that he did. The second had his pants way too tight, like he just came out of the 50s. I'm not talking hippie, think cast of Grease.

Wearing the pants freaking low is something we all have come accustomed to seeing. In my private highschool with a dress code, that trend was running ramped. I knew too well what color my classmates underwear was, which was something I really didn't need to know. This brings up a good point, if you do make a point of sagging your pants you must wear boxers. At least boxers create the illusion that your wearing shorts under you pants. Briefs or "tighty whities" just don't cut it, because I don't like the idea that all that is separating me from you is a thin layer of cotton.

I myself have been known to "sag" a couple of times. But the difference between me and them is it is usually not by choice. Either I forgot a belt or misjudged the need for a belt. Both reasons you cannot blame me for.

Now as for wearing a tight pair of paints. You have to understand the tightness I'm talking about. I don't mean the "Oh I'm so fat these pants are so tight." I'm talking about the "I'm so lean so let me show off my tight lower quadron." Tightness is a tricky thing when dealing with pants. How tight is too tight? I say, that if you need to jump up and down to get into the pants then they are probably too tight. It is my opinion that some looseness is required when wearing a pair of pants. I don't get why I even have to explain this. If the pants make you walk funny, why would you want to wear them?

As pants today get lower and lower and tighter and tighter, I'm expecting some deaths. You're gonna have stupid people tripping over their pants and others suffocating to death.

I just don't get people...oh yes and by the way if you're still wondering about that second photo, I didn't really care to put up a picture of a guy in tight pants on my blog, hope you can understand...

2004-05-05T08:21:00.000-07:00

PLEASE TURN UP YOUR VOLUME
before scrolling down!

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!!!

What better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo then animated crap moving all around the computer screen while choreographed to The Mexican Hat Dance!

2004-04-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

Under Construction
I'm working on trying to personalize this blog area a little more with pictures and maybe a more efficient layout. So please bear with me while I go about fixing things through trial and error. Yes, I did notice that the logo at the top of the screen cuts off the right column. I will fix that when I have a chance.

2004-04-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

Chocohorror!
This morning, I spent some 10 minutes making a protein shake that my gym told me I should start drinking. It consists of 1 cup orange juice, 1/2 of a banana, protein powder (I have chocolate flavored). and ice. So now you can make your own if you like. I poured the concoction into a kiddie thermos and was out the door.

In my car this morning, while waiting until 7:45 like I usually do, I started drinking it. The ice created some sort of barrier, and the shake wouldn't come out. So I tilted the thermos up to try and shake it out while I drank. That was my biggest mistake. The contents came rushing at my face at high speeds, pouring down my shirt and on my pants. My arm and face was covered in chocolate liquid, and I was stunned.

What was I to do? I glanced around my car for some kind of napkin. Nothing. So I pulled a piece of paper out of my notebook and tried cleaning myself up with it. For future reference, paper is not good at absorbing liquids. All it did was spread the mess. I considered going home to change, but I thought "No I can't do that, then I will have trouble with parking." Then I thought, maybe I'll call someone to bring me a change of clothes, even if it's their clothes. But I thought "No, I don't want to be wearing someone elses clothes." So I go out of my car, and practically ran to the Music building to try and find a bathroom. All the way praying that no one would see me and think I was some slob. Because if I saw someone in my state I would think, "hobo."

Once I found the bathroom, I tried my best. I was wetting down my shirt, using paper towels galore. Even though I hate hand dryers, I was really hoping there would be one in here. But no, paper towels was the only thing I had so I made due.

After the appearance of chocolate was gone, I now had a large dark blotch on my shirt and pants. I tried to come up with some way to dry my shirt quickly. Maybe take it off and wave it around? No that didn't work. So I was forced to walk around wet this morning, trying to shield my pants with my backpack. I didn't want anyone to think I peed my pants, which everyone is afraid other people would think if they had a dark blotch on their pants.

So now I'm here on the computer, drying. Hopefully I'll be dry before my first class. God, what a WONDERFUL way to start my morning.

2004-04-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

Get a room, not an elevator!
This morning when I entered the elevator at school, a couple came in with me. As the elevator begins ascending to our destination, they start kissing. So in this 5x5 space, where you feel uncomfortable to begin with because you're in close proximity to silent strangers, I am forced to stand next to a couple making out. I swear to God, had I NOT been in the elevator they probably would have had sex in it. Immediately a scene from Fatal Attraction popped into my head, and I winced. I didn't really know what to do accept stand there quietly, looking down and to the left. As the doors opened I rushed out, hoping to cleanse myself of the uncomfortable feeling wafting over me.

Recounting my story to Kyle, he said I should have said something. But what can I say? "Excuse me; you're in an elevator for God's sake. Can't you wait till you get home! Not only am I uncomfortable just being near you to begin with, but you have the nerve to start making out?!? Shame on you and your generations of miscreants to come. A pox on thee heathens!" and then I should of stormed out. That would of been the perfect thing to do, because I would have made them as uncomfortable as they were making me.

2004-04-14T08:41:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to a market research in North Hollywood. What you say is a market research? Well I'll tell you. It's when a company brings together a group of people to test a product, whether that is new kinds of hot pockets, a new television show, and a new video game. By the way I have all of those. After the product is tested/viewed, your opinion is asked of by the company.

The market research I went on last night was for a new show coming out called "Countdown." Right off the bat I was feeling like what I was seeing was UPN material. The show is basically 24 meets Monk. A team called TRT something works to diffuse a bomb in real time. The squad is led by an ex-cop with a limp who uses a cane. He's quick talking, slick, and knows everything. For instance, what shoes you were wearing or the air speed velocity of an African swallow.

One major UPN hint was the absence of pretty much any name. The only person I recognized was the actor who is the principal on "Boston Public" and the woman looked very familiar but I couldn't place what I knew her from. The show had an already been done story line, corny dialogue, and crappy acting.

I was really hoping that I would watch the show and they wouldn't want to use me for a focus group. That has happened to me before, and the good thing about that is you still get paid. So during the show I was trying to show that I really hated it by keeping my hand held rating tool on double negative, and on the questioner at the end I was saying "Nothing could be done, this is crap, blah blah blah." I guess my disgust towards the show is what got me. I thought they wouldn't want to deal with me so they wouldn't use me. Oh well.

So I'm stuck in this room with maybe 8 other people, ranging from me most likely the youngest being me at 19 to the oldest being 50. Now everyone in this room is a complete moron. It is led by Marty to mediator who says he doesn't have any stake in the show. First thing he has us do is write down on a scale from 1 - 10 what we would give the show. Right then I felt awkward being the 1 - 10 scale is completely unworkable. So I was the only person in the room who gave it a 5 and from there everyone was giving it nines and eights. People had varying reasons why they gave it the coveted 9 which is the same as giving it 4 stars! One, the "chick (motioning in front of the chest in a curved fashion to imitate boobs) was hot and drove a fast car." Two, it was REAL life. Three, the action was so cool. I was the only one in the room who said flat out it was corny, the acting was bad, the story was just a combination of shows already been done before.

First of all, no show should have to rely on one woman's vivaciousness in order to sell it. You need characters that you can get involved in for a show to sell. Also, this show wasn't REAL life. That is just bullshit. There is NO ex-cop with a limp and a cane who knows what YOU had for cereal two days ago because you have a weak handshake. That is just ludicrous and stupid. There is also no hot "chick" that can diffuse a bomb without breaking a sweat or ruining her makeup. People in this group were completely stupid. This one person was saying how HE would change the show technically which really isn't any of his god damn concern. He was also using reasoning for his decisions like as if he knew the back stories of all the characters and like he knew the human psyche. What an asshole, I was so frustrated. But I finally got out of there feeling like I hadn't been taken over by Marty the mediator and I was $60 richer. So I made the money back I spent on the complete adventure of Mr. Bean, still well worth the $50.

2004-04-12T21:38:00.000-07:00

Random thought after being stuck behind someone while going home.

I don't think anyone who drives 20 miles under the spead limit with their right turn signal stuck on, should be allowed to have a bumper sticker that says "Impeach Bush!"

2004-04-08T13:39:00.000-07:00

Spring break is drawing to a close and what did I do? Absolutely nothing. That idea of doing nothing is something I find good and bad. If my spring break plans hadn't fallen through, then I would be doing something. But do I really want a lot of something? No I guess not, I like doing nothing sometimes. It gives me time to harmonize with Mother Earth and the yin and the yang while balancing my shakras. Ok I'm just bullshitting you. Still peace and quiet can be nice.

Oh! I did do something, I went to IHOP with my good friend Amanda. I like IHOP, yet I don't like pancakes. Quite the cunundrum indeed. To add to the complexity of my pancake dislike, I always get the Sampler which comes with two things I don't like. Ham (outside of bacon or sausage form) and pancakes! So I pay for two things that I don't even like. But I'm too lazy to order things seperatly, and I think in a way it makes me feel like I'm eating healthy by eating everything on my plate. But of course that's not true when I put syrup on my eggs. Hey! Don't knock it 'til you try it!

2004-04-02T08:21:00.000-08:00

Late Monday night of last week I did something really stupid. I slipped on an extention cord lying across my hallway. I sort of fell forward, and in an effort to catch myself I stepped on my left foot rather awkwardly. Placing all my body weight on that one foot, I heard a series of terrifying pops and cracks. I immediately jumped up and ran around, like that would somehow help the pain setting it. Since my foot didn't swell or turn black and blue, I figured I had just twisted something.

However since then, I have been forced to constantly limp because the pain in my foot is too great. After my accident I saw one doctor who felt around and said "we'll just give you some pain meds" and then disappeared. Those stupid pain pills did absolutely nothing. So the next day I went to see a different doctor who FINALLY ordered some x-rays. Nothing came up though, and he just told me to take tylenol. The end diagnose from both doctors was inconclusive. Neither one actually gave me a definite answer, and I was the only person who actually used the word sprain.

I really think they missed something. I don't think something that's nothing is supposed to last as long as this is lasting. Doing some research on the internet, I have decided that I probably tore a ligament. If by next Monday I'm still limping around, I'm going to have to go see yet another doctor.

That is the reason I have kind of vanished from the blog for a little bit. I just haven't been in the mood to post anything.

2004-03-23T12:56:00.000-08:00

Heilige Scheiße!
Director Wolfgang Petersen's u-boat masterpiece "Das Boot" will be released on DVD in it's original form on June 1st. The running time will be almost 5 hours!

Synopsis:
A detailed look into the claustrophobic and terrifying world of a German U-boat crew hunting ships from undersea. Gritty, realistic, and peppered with black humour, this is one of the few sympathetic portrayals of the war from the German side to be released in western distribution.

2004-03-15T09:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday in the AT&T Wireless store I got into an argument with my mom about cell phone talking and driving. She said, "men can't talk on the cell phone and drive, they can't multi-task." So basically she is saying that woman are better drivers then men. This is one statement I definitely don't agree with. Women are the worst multi-taskers when driving. They're putting on makeup, eating, TALKING ON CELL PHONES, smoking, dancing and singing to some Alanis Morissette or Jewel song. Whenever I have had a near miss with another vehicle it has always been a woman. But I'm not going to go as far as to say men are better drivers then women. I've seen plenty of asshole guys on the road that should get their license taken away from them. I tried to explain to my mother that driving is without gender bias, but she wouldn't have it.

I actually think that I am an excellent multi-tasker because I'm careful. If I'm listening to the radio and the cell phone rings, I turn down the radio. If I'm eating, I try to prop the food items so that in case I made a sharp turn nothing would spill. If I hear another person say that women are better drivers then men I'm going to get pissed off. Also, if I hear someone say women are smarter then men you'll get the same reaction. What the fuck, we get it. HAHAHA!

There is this ongoing joke between men and women that just won't go away. I don't need to take a stupid ass quiz or hear poll results about who is smarter. Who cares who is smarter! I'm tired of women traipsing around saying "ooh, I'm smarter then you cause I'm a woman. I'm woman hear me roar." La-de-da-fuckyou! Saying your smarter makes you stupid because that is just not true. I don't think Einstein or Newton went around going "I'm smart, look at me!" Smart people don't go blurting out how smart they are. C'mon think about it, I'm right. So stop all this crap now. We're equal all right, and that is the end of that deal!

2004-03-14T23:00:00.000-08:00

Seeing the trailers for this film, I thought that I might have a notion of what the twist of this film might be. Even so, I was hoping that I was wrong. Unfortunately I wasn't, and I do believe that is what soured my experience with this film. The entire film is about the twist, and to be let down when it finally comes is enough to turn a relatively good movie into a bad one.

Johnny Depp plays the lead character with all the talent he can muster. But it is not enough to save this film. Most of his scenes are of him sitting in a ratty old bathrobe talking to himself. John Turturro, who I think is also a fine actor, had a good portion of screen time but was hard to stomach with his bad southern accent.

The film does have its moments of good screen time. Some scenes are very well filmed and leave you feeling a little jumpy. But the film just can't shake this uneasiness it has. The film grows and grows and grows, then sort of fizzles off. I wouldn't recommend seeing this film in theaters, wait for the DVD. It will make more of a satisfying rental.

2.5

out of 4

I struggled with this rating because I wanted to give it 2, but I've given that to much worse movies.

2004-03-13T14:05:00.000-08:00

My life is rated PG-13.
What is your life rated?

2004-03-12T09:18:00.000-08:00

I had a dream the other night that I was in a huge grocery story and Kyle was trying to steal cough drops. There was also an extremely long line full of celebrities, supreme court judges, and press waiting to buy bread. Does this dream have any special meaning?

2004-03-08T08:44:00.000-08:00

I am in the library right now, and a moment ago I was speaking to Amanda. While conversing with her in a low voice, this person next to her kept giving me looks like I was disturbing his piece. It actually has made me rather pissed off. I felt like saying "sorry your majesty, please continue typing your document on the monumental reforms you will be implicating on your royal kingdom. I will be sure to pay homage in your wake." What a bastard! I hate people. What right does he have to make me feel like I'm being annoying. I am anything but annoying, this bastard is annoying with his wolfman hair and picnic table shirt. Why don't you go back to the carnival where you belong, FREAK! Not only that, but I'm not the only one talking but I get the looks. If he wants utter piece and quiet why doesn't he go back under the rock where he came from. That way he'll not only have his precious piece and quiet, but others won't have to come in contact with his freakishly bastard self.

2004-03-08T00:40:00.000-08:00

Click for larger version. You better do it!

I wasn't too interesting in seeing this movie, but you've gotta check out this poster. There is something about it that I really like. So much so, I might see the movie simply based on the poster. You don't see poster like this anymore, which is sadening to me. I think the last poster like this I saw for a new feature film was the Harry Potter poster for the first film. I'm curious if the guy who did the Indiana Jones posters had something to do with this one. God I love it.

2004-03-05T08:16:00.000-08:00

Tonight, starting at 4:30 PM, I will be watching the entire first season of The Sopranos. If my calculations are correct I will finish the first season by 4 AM. This is just the start of my plan to watch the 4 previous seasons of The Sopranos.

I'm doing this because I feel that I've missed The Soprano boat, and I'm left standing on the dock. I can't go a day without hearing something about this HBO show, and to be honest I'm tired of it. I have never seen a single episode, and that makes me feel like I'm missing something important.

It is quite an undertaking to watch 4 season of any show, especially one with hour-long episodes. But I think I can do it before next weekend. This Sunday however is the season premier of the 5th season, which I'll sure to be watching.

----

Have you ever seen something your entire life, then someone points something out about that something and you see that something in a whole different light? A confusing sentence I know, but this has happened to me. A little while ago, Jennifer pointed something out to me about the FedEx logo. If you'll notice, between the "E" and the "X" there is a rather large arrow pointing to the right. Now wherever I go I see this arrow, and I can't see FedEx for what it once was. It's like the word doesn't matter anymore, all I see is this arrow.

It's odd how words can affect someone so much. When I was watching the television show Roseanne, I completely blanked out. I saw the word Roseanne, but it no longer held any kind of meaning. It was like I had never seen the word before. I was really confused, and a little bit frightened. Had the show always been called Roseanne? I don't think I've ever really noticed the name of the show before. It was like a revelation; a veil had been lifted. Roseanne was the name of the man character, the person who played the character, and the name of the show. It was like I couldn't grasp the word and now it felt awkward. I sat in my room saying the word aloud, "Roseanne...Roseanne...Roseanne." I would be remiss to not mention, that Kyle had recently told me about experiencing the same exact feeling but for the show "Seinfeld." When it happens to you, you will start laughing because you finally realize what I'm talking about. It happened to me...it will happen to you.

2004-02-20T08:37:00.000-08:00

Unfriendster
There is a website called friendster where you can keep connected with all of your "friends." My friend Abby showed it too me, and for a while I was all for it. I'm probably responsible for about 10 people who have now become avid friendterters. But now...I am against it.

I was on it this morning, going through everyone's friendster profiles looking at all the friends they have. Friendster went from being a website where you keep in touch with your close knit of comrades, to a popularity contest. There are some people on friendster who have gone bezerk and apparently have over 100 friends. They'll be sure to advertise this to you. Bullshit, you don't have a 100 friends.

There is a difference between a friend and an acquaintance. A friend is not the person you bumped into on the street or said hello to in passing. A lot of people have tons of friends on there friendster lists like that. I even fell victim to the idea of friendster and how I need to go to the bottom of the barrel to put a few names on my list. I was even stealing Kyle's friends. Although I did make a rule that if I didn't meet them, then I wouldn't try to add them. Still...I shouldn't have to do that. Friendster is just there to make you feel bad for not having a million friends, when to be honest that's unrealistic. I honestly believe that on average a person has only have a few REAL friends. The rest can be called friends to, but there not on the same level. If you think you have 100 real friends then maybe you have 100 imaginary friends because that's just not possible. Sure you might know 100 people, but are they your friends?

I was contemplating this morning deleting my friendster profile. Wouldn't it be hilarious when people who have me on their lists notice the quantity of friends they had went down by one. People would be trying to meet strangers just to get up to their normal standing so they can sleep soundly at night.

2004-02-19T13:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a tough day at school. I overslept over 2 hours because I must of shut off my alarm clock while still half asleep. I really hate it when that happens. So I wake-up at 8:30 and I have a 9:00 class. I rushed as quick as I could to school, praying the entire way. I'm not kidding I was seriously praying to God that I would find a parking space. Low and behold, when I got to school I got a space relatively quickly with 10 minuted to spare.

Oversleeping is one of the things I dread will happen every morning. When it happens, for the rest of the day I feel rushed and off. I feel like I can't carry on a good converstation or if I'm forced to argue do a very good job.

After Philosophy, I went to the Sierra Center (the foodcourt) and waited for people to meet me. Today, it was mobbed because of the rain. Everyone who normally wanders around aimlessly around campus was now wandering around in here. Somehow I got a table and sat down. After a little while, an asian girl came up to me and asked if she could sit at my table. I hesitated for a moment, but for some reason I said yes even though I knew people were meeting me. This probably has a lot to do with my i-can't-say-no-complex. It was quiet, she did her thing and I did mine. But after a little while I started to feel awkward. I'm not used to sharing a table with someone and not say anything. So I just started talking to her about this and that. I really didn't want to though, because I didn't feel very witty today. I found out her name was Grace, she was a freshman with an undecided major. We talked about anime mostly, and she kept talking about her boyfriend. Which made me think of Kyle's post about boyfriends. There was a point where she said something about Japan, so I asked "so then your from Japan?" And she said yeah with like an attitude. Like I should of known she was from Japan or something because she's Asian. When she said that I said "You say it like I would KNOW your from Japan." Thank god Amanda and Jennifer showed up, because I didn't feel like arguing about this. But she decided that was her qeaue to leave. She asked me my name and she was gone. It was an interesting encounter, a very odd one actually.

Anthropology was boring as usual, and English went by quickly. In CTVA we watched a film called Roshomon. It was ok, a little long though. I was outa school a little after 5 with Amanda and Jennifer.

2004-02-13T08:20:00.000-08:00

Last night my brother Chris showed me this kick ass anime show called Naruto. It's basically about ninjas that fly and have magic powers, 'nough said. My interest in anime grew in my senior year in high school when my friend Abby lent me a Sailor Moon dvd. It sparked my interest, and I started to see more and even renting some on my own. One thing I learned really quickly was that there is really good anime and then there is really bad anime. I also started to develop a taste for a certain kind of anime. I'm not a big fan of anime where the characters have huge mouths and yell everything. I like the ones that have realistic looking characters and crazy far out stories. I'm not a fan of the ultra-violence too much. Anime seems to really get off on heads exploding and guts flying everywhere. I'm more a fan of the karate chop to the face kinda action. I'm still learning about anime, like how there is a difference between that and manga.

Which Naruto Character are You?
quiz by orangeday.net

2004-02-11T13:34:00.000-08:00

Michael Shirts
Do I really need this?
Sitting here at this computer looking around, I can't help but notice all the new "trendy" things people like to wear. More and more frequently, new styles emerge out of nothingness and as if from nowhere. I am constantly feeling bombarding with the idea that I NEED something because it is cool. I'd like to fit in just like the rest of the Von Dutch wearing hat people, but I even have my limits.

I'd like to think I have my own sense of style, which I'm sure others will continue to let me think. I've had my periods where I'll only wear one type of thing. For about a year in elementary school, I was always wearing Big Dog labeled clothing. After that, I had a period where for years I would just wear something that Kyle's family so ingeniously put "Michael Shirts." It's those getto-esque (I know I'll get called on that one.) almost plad shirts that you see many people wearing. Well I used to wear those a lot, so much in fact I wonder if people thought the only clothes I owned looked like that. They weren't out or in, they were always neutral.

One big thing that led to my gap in the fashion world was high school. I went to a private catholic school with a strictly enforced dress code. I had no real opportunity to wear clothes other then my khaki pants and polo shirts except on weekends.

I think college is the place where I finally am starting to get an appreciation for the cotton things in life; to a masculine degree of course. I'm finally in an environment where I'm able to take notice of what is cool and uncool. This is where the real meaning of this blog comes in. I just don't get some of these trends nowadays. Like those aforementioned Von Dutch hats. First I saw one, then two, then they just seemed to multiply out of control. Von Dutch spawned a revival of a trucker hat wearing society. Intrigued by this bizarre phenomenon I visited the Von Dutch website. There I found pictures of models who looked like they had been beat up wearing the Von Dutch items. So what am I supposed to think from this, if I wear Von Dutch I'll get beat up? Not to mention the prices, $85 for a trucker hat. As I recall, I used to get them for free in the mail, walking into stores, for use as a napkin, and to prop up tables. The sad thing is, people are actually shelling out this and more money to wear the label. I must confess, I bought one trucker hat out of temptation. But I didn't spend anything close to the cost of a Von Dutch hat.

Then there are these pants that make it looked like someone threw paint at you. These I really don't get. Is it cool to sit on a wet bench? I guess so, because I've seen hoards of these things everywhere.

I've noticed some other things recently, that are just starting to get big. Sandals for men are back in force, which I predict will lead to many more feet being stepped on. Girls are wearing things that look like they knitted it themselves, spending there own time on a scarf or a sweater. Any trend that you can think of from yesteryear is going to come back sooner then later. Be on the look out for bellbottoms, shoes with fish in them, leg warmers, leather jackets, and zuit suits.

2004-02-11T08:13:00.000-08:00

I have a bit of news to report, one is radio related and one is CSUN related. First let me start with the best news of all. Unfunny man Rick Dees has finally been let go from radio station 102.7 KISS. For years this man has filled the air waves with his perverted old man antics and bad jokes. Finally, he's being put to sleep so we all can be a little happier in the morning. Even though I don't listen to this station, I will never have to hear or see that ugly ugly man again. Unfortunately, this news comes with a bad side to it. Not much funnier man-woman, Ryan Seacrest, is rumored to be the one replacing him. Although I don't care for Seacrest either, with his highlighted eyebrows and pantyhose, he is an improvement from the horrible Dees.

Now for the worst news of all which only affects those CSUN students who drive to school. They are closing lost B3 later this month for a total of 18 months. That means that for the next 18 months, 881 students have to find somewhere else to park. If you park in any of the other parking lots or even on the surrounding streets you're going to have to make some more effort to get here. The CSUN bastards just love giving us the royal screw when it comes to parking. They give us a parking structure, then close down a parking lot. I know that this parking structure is for the good of the school and all that jazz, but couldn't they have figured out a more reasonable way to increase the parking. I find it hard to believe that this was their only option. We need a chapter of school set aside for parking issues, because these morons can't seem to handle to challenge.

2004-02-09T17:21:00.000-08:00

Cartoons, how do I miss thee

What has happened to children's television? The youth of today really don't have even close to the kind of groundbreaking television we had in the 80s and 90s. More then once I have been involved in the conversation about cartoon I watched as a kid. Do you remember a little show called "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?" With a rat sensei, pizza eating turtles, and the perfect villain this show is 10 times better then any of the crap on TV now. A place where everyone remembers the great shows is in early Nickelodeon's line up. They had "Are You Afraid of the Dark," "Salute Your Shorts," "Rocco's Modern Life," "Doug," and many people would kill me if I forgot "Ren and Stimpy." The show that started the kind of animation scene in the only Nick show I watch "Spongebob." Even the Disney channel was better back then. After the downfall of cartoons as we knew them, they started spinning out terrible shows. The Power Ranger's have gone back in time, gone to space, and gone to crap. The early years with the original yellow ranger and black ranger were the good years. They also tried "Are You Afraid of the Dark" where Tucker took over the reins of the campfire. That show was terrible, Alien tomagachies are NOT scary! The last show that I thought was fantastic, "Family Guy," was taken of the air for being good and now is back in syndication. Cartoons really need to be changed back to the old formula. Here I have a great idea! Hmm...some kind of animal...a dog has the ability to become human and turn into a ninja where he kicks ass fighting against the evil Pie Man! That is much better then anything else on TV.

2004-02-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

Last night I watched a very odd movie called "Heathers," starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. It's about a group of very popular girls in a high school who all have the name Heather, except for Winona whose name is Veronica. The girls are revered by the other students, and the girls play croquet all day. But Veronica and her new I hate authority boyfriend Slater have decided to start knocking off the Heathers and other popular people.

This film is very VERY 80s, which is quite apparent from the amount of times people say "It was very." Yes, "very" is the last word in that sentence. I suppose in the rockin' 80s very meant cool. Those crazy 80s, what were they thinking?

Heathers can best be described as a dark comedy, but the only reason I thought it was funny was because of how dated the time period felt. The movie felt jumbled and mixed up. There were parts where I was confused and wondering what the hell was going on. I don't like being lost in a film, which took some points away from this one.

2

out of 4

2004-02-07T11:32:00.000-08:00

"The year is 1984; the scene is London, largest population center of Airstrip One, part of the vast political entity Oceania, which is eternally at war with one of two other vast entities, Eurasia and Eastasia. At any moment, depending upon current alignments, all existing records show either that Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia and allied with Eastasia, or that it has always been at war with Eastasia and allied with Eurasia.
Winston Smith knows this, because his work at the Ministry of Truth involves the constant 'correction' of such records. 'Who controls the past,' ran the Party slogan, 'controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.'"

In a grim city and a terrifying country, where Big Brother Is Always Watching You and the Thought Police can literally read your mind, Winston is a man in grave danger for the simple reason that his memory still functions. He knows the Party's official image of the world is a fluid fiction. He knows the Party controls the people by feeding them lies and narrowing their imaginations through a process of bewilderment and brutalization that alienates each individual from his fellows and deprives him of every liberating human pursuit from reasoned inquiry to sexual passion.

Drawn into a forbidden love affair, Winston finds the courage to join a secret revolutionary organization called The Brotherhood, dedicated to the destruction of the Party. Together with his beloved Julia, he hazards his life in a deadly match against the powers that be."—from BarnesandNoble.com