Man I'm a slacker. I take so long to update my blog.
I can't eat at Subway, and I love sandwiches. When I worked in lawn maintenance the Foreman of the crew loved eating veggie subs from Subway. Needless to say we ate there multiple times a week. But that is not really why I can't eat there anymore. It has more to do with the smell that people get on themselves when they leave Subway.
I first noticed it when I was working at the bookstore. There was a Subway near by and my co-workers ate there often. After they took their lunch break, I would be working next to them, that is when I would ask "What is that smell?" It turns out every time someone I worked with ate at Subway, they would have an odor that followed them around, and it wasn't gas.
It got to the point I could tell if someone had eaten at Subway just by the smell they brought with them. I started noticing it in bookstores, library's, and restrooms across the city. The last time I ate at Subway, I had a low-carb wrap. When I left I had that "Eat Fresh" odor on me. That was the last straw. No more Subway for me.
Which leads me to this, unless there are no other sub restaurants in your town, there is no reason to eat at Subway. If you have a Publix, Larry's Giant Sub's, or a Hogan's Heroes near by, you will get a better sandwich and no extra odors.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Get Me to The Office on Time!
Right now it's 9:35 am in the morning on Thursday. I was told yesterday, by my brother and father, to be at the office by 9:00 am, "So, we can get an early start." Well, here I am, writing a blog with no one around to get me to do work. My brothers not here. My dad is not here. Its just me and my blog hanging out. This is not the first time this has happened. As a matter of fact, I can't recall a time when I was told to be at the office at a certian time, and the people who told me to be there were also on time. But thats O.K. becuase I have recieved 8 or so calls this morning from my brother, dad, and our secretary telling me "I'm on the way", "I'm running a little late", or "I be there in a bit". Yeah! Now, I am finishing this post, and it is 9:44 am, and my dad just pulled in.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Jolt n' Make Cook with the Furnace or Mute Material which I Wrote or Blogging for the Sake of Blogging 2
Wow long title today.
Just to let everyone know, "Jolt n' Make Cook with the Furnace" is "Shake n' Bake" translated to French translated back to English. Babel Fish is great!
It's raining like a freak today, but the sun is still outside and I'm feeling fine. I get to go on a date tonight with my fiancee, and it's going to be great. I am going to eat some spicy food that will leave my intestines in a jumble. The best part is that I get to go out to eat with a woman who does not care if I spend twenty minutes in the bath room leaving an odor that permeates the strongest of air fresheners.
I also just checked out the new TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) trailer. Oh so sweet. After watching it I realized the genius of doing a Ninja Turtle's Movie in CGI. Now the can make Leonardo do all kind of crazy crap, without the restriction of a heavy turtle outfit.
My A/C is broke in my van and it's unbelievably hot outside. After I get home, I look like I did a butt load of work. When all I really did was make phone calls. Hot mini-van makes me stink as well.
Well, this blog isn't going that great.
In conclusion, uhh... I got nothin'. Have a good day!
Just to let everyone know, "Jolt n' Make Cook with the Furnace" is "Shake n' Bake" translated to French translated back to English. Babel Fish is great!
It's raining like a freak today, but the sun is still outside and I'm feeling fine. I get to go on a date tonight with my fiancee, and it's going to be great. I am going to eat some spicy food that will leave my intestines in a jumble. The best part is that I get to go out to eat with a woman who does not care if I spend twenty minutes in the bath room leaving an odor that permeates the strongest of air fresheners.
I also just checked out the new TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) trailer. Oh so sweet. After watching it I realized the genius of doing a Ninja Turtle's Movie in CGI. Now the can make Leonardo do all kind of crazy crap, without the restriction of a heavy turtle outfit.
My A/C is broke in my van and it's unbelievably hot outside. After I get home, I look like I did a butt load of work. When all I really did was make phone calls. Hot mini-van makes me stink as well.
Well, this blog isn't going that great.
In conclusion, uhh... I got nothin'. Have a good day!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Madden NFL 07 and Babel Fish
Please stop e-mailing me, you imaginary people. I know it has been a week since I blogged for yo ace. So what? I'm busy!
But I'm back now, and just in time for Madden 07.
Usually, the first thing I do with my brand new copy of EA Sports annually pro football release is to play one game against my friend Nesto. He picks the Falcons, I play as the mighty Bucs. When Nesto and I play each other, I normally win 75% of the time. Most of the time by a slim margin.
This year was no exception.
I am getting ahead of myself. If you didn't guess already, Madden release at 12:01 this morning and Nesto was the first one in line to buy our copies. Last night/this morning makes my fourth midnight video game release I have been to (Halo2, NCAA Football 06, NCAA Football 07, and Madden 07.) Last night was by far the most fun I have had at one of these functions. It is a special thing to find a small store filled with video game/NFL dorks. I dorked out for an hour with other fellow Madden fans. That was great fun, but there was a woopin' that needed gettin' done... I think that was the worst sentence I have ever written.
After snatching up our games, we headed over to Nesto's, booted up the XBOX, and fired up the HDTV.
We picked our teams, and we were off.
The Falcons won the coin loss and elected to kick. That's when the Bucs did the unthinkable. They went three and out and punted away to the Falcons. Mike Vick was efficient and scored quickly through the air. After the extra point and ensuing kick-off, the Bucs learned from there first possession, and promptly went 3 and out again. The Falcons scored quickly again, making it 14-0. The Bucs were able to rebound and tie the game up before halftime. You know what? I'm just going to skip ahead, because I'm lazy and you don't really want to read a recap of two dudes playing a video game.
It was the 4th Quarter and the Bucs were down by 3 scores, Falcons had control of the football. Ronde Barber was quiet most of the game until he intercepted a pass that he returned for a touchdown. The Falcons had the ball after the kick-off. Vick made the mistake of throwing it in Barber's direction again, Ronde returned another INT for a TD. The teams were knotted up. Somehow, and I don't remember how, the Bucs scored another touchdown in the forth quarter to take the lead. Not to worry, because Vick came right out and tied it up with a scoring drive of his own. It was time for OT.
Now, I have never had a score like this in Madden, specifically against Nesto, but going in to OT it was 70-70.
The Bucs won the toss and elected to receive. Chris Simms added to his already huge 400 yard game and drove his team down for the winning touchdown. The Bucs retained the title.
Those of you who are still reading, I thank you for humoring me. I know what I wrote today was boring and dumb. But this is "DUMB STUFF I WROTE!" What did you think you were going to get? A Pulitzer Prize winning essay?
BABEL FISH
Babel Fish is a translation tool you can use for free. It is great fun to take a blog and translate it from English to German, then from German back to English. Below is the very same blog you just read, translated in such a fashion.
Stop please e-mail I, you conceited people. I know that it was one week, since I for yo As blogged. So which? I am busy! But I back now am, and straight quite-show to make you 07 moved. Normally annually profuse ball release a play friend Nesto mean approximately to play the first thing, which I do with my brand-new copy I/O of the sport, are. He selects the falcons, I plays as the powerful Bucs out. If Nesto and I play us, I normally win 75% of the time. Most the time by a thin side edge. This year was not an exception. I receive before me. If you not already estimated, make this morning moved for release with 12:01 and Nesto was first in the line to buy to our copies. Last night/this morning forms means fourth midnight video game release, which was I (Halo2, NCAA football 06, NCAA football 07 and make 07.) moved yesterday evening was by far most fun, which I had had with one of these functions. It is a special thing, to a small memory to find filled with videogame/NFL dorks. I dorked one hour long with other companion moved make out fans. That was large fun, but there was woopin ', the necessary getane gettin '... I think, which was the worst sentence, which, I had at all written. After we snatched up our plays, we precede more rueber to Nestos, loaded up the XBOX, and up the HDTV fired. We selected our crews and we were out. The falcons won the coin loss and select, in order to step. That is, when the Bucs did the inconceivable. They went to three and out and stocherten away to the falcons. Mike was efficiently and fast counted by air Vick. After the point of extra and the following Kick off the Bucs learned there from the first possession and went immediately to 3 and out again. The falcons fast again counted, it 14-0 forming. The BucsWAREN in the situation to recoil and the play before half time to bind above. They know, what? I am fair going jumping over in front because I am lazy and you would not like to really read a recapitulation of two Gecken, which played a video game. It was that 4. Quarter one and the Bucs were down by 3 notches, falcons had controlling of the football. Ronde gentleman hairdresser was calm at most of the play, until he intercepted a run, which he returned for a Touchdown. The falcons had the ball after the Kick off. Vick made the error of it in the direction of the gentleman hairdresser again throws, to ronde returned others, which are for a TD INTERNAL. The crews were geknotet above. Somehow and I remember as, did not count the Bucs another Touchdown in far quarters, in order to take the line. Do not worry themselves, because Vick came to the right out and with a counting drive of its bound it above. It was time for OT. Now I never had a notch, as this was going inside, specifically against Nesto moved to make, but, inside to OT, it 70-70. The Bucs won throws and selects, in order to receive. Chris Simms added its already very large 400-Yard-Spiel and drove its crew down for the attractive Touchdown. The Bucs kept the title. Of you, that are calm measured value, I thank you for the giving way I. I white that which I wrote today was boringly and mutely. But this is "MUTE MATERIAL, which I WROTE!" What did you think you were to be received? A Pulitzer Prize attractive attempt?
But I'm back now, and just in time for Madden 07.
Usually, the first thing I do with my brand new copy of EA Sports annually pro football release is to play one game against my friend Nesto. He picks the Falcons, I play as the mighty Bucs. When Nesto and I play each other, I normally win 75% of the time. Most of the time by a slim margin.
This year was no exception.
I am getting ahead of myself. If you didn't guess already, Madden release at 12:01 this morning and Nesto was the first one in line to buy our copies. Last night/this morning makes my fourth midnight video game release I have been to (Halo2, NCAA Football 06, NCAA Football 07, and Madden 07.) Last night was by far the most fun I have had at one of these functions. It is a special thing to find a small store filled with video game/NFL dorks. I dorked out for an hour with other fellow Madden fans. That was great fun, but there was a woopin' that needed gettin' done... I think that was the worst sentence I have ever written.
After snatching up our games, we headed over to Nesto's, booted up the XBOX, and fired up the HDTV.
We picked our teams, and we were off.
The Falcons won the coin loss and elected to kick. That's when the Bucs did the unthinkable. They went three and out and punted away to the Falcons. Mike Vick was efficient and scored quickly through the air. After the extra point and ensuing kick-off, the Bucs learned from there first possession, and promptly went 3 and out again. The Falcons scored quickly again, making it 14-0. The Bucs were able to rebound and tie the game up before halftime. You know what? I'm just going to skip ahead, because I'm lazy and you don't really want to read a recap of two dudes playing a video game.
It was the 4th Quarter and the Bucs were down by 3 scores, Falcons had control of the football. Ronde Barber was quiet most of the game until he intercepted a pass that he returned for a touchdown. The Falcons had the ball after the kick-off. Vick made the mistake of throwing it in Barber's direction again, Ronde returned another INT for a TD. The teams were knotted up. Somehow, and I don't remember how, the Bucs scored another touchdown in the forth quarter to take the lead. Not to worry, because Vick came right out and tied it up with a scoring drive of his own. It was time for OT.
Now, I have never had a score like this in Madden, specifically against Nesto, but going in to OT it was 70-70.
The Bucs won the toss and elected to receive. Chris Simms added to his already huge 400 yard game and drove his team down for the winning touchdown. The Bucs retained the title.
Those of you who are still reading, I thank you for humoring me. I know what I wrote today was boring and dumb. But this is "DUMB STUFF I WROTE!" What did you think you were going to get? A Pulitzer Prize winning essay?
BABEL FISH
Babel Fish is a translation tool you can use for free. It is great fun to take a blog and translate it from English to German, then from German back to English. Below is the very same blog you just read, translated in such a fashion.
Stop please e-mail I, you conceited people. I know that it was one week, since I for yo As blogged. So which? I am busy! But I back now am, and straight quite-show to make you 07 moved. Normally annually profuse ball release a play friend Nesto mean approximately to play the first thing, which I do with my brand-new copy I/O of the sport, are. He selects the falcons, I plays as the powerful Bucs out. If Nesto and I play us, I normally win 75% of the time. Most the time by a thin side edge. This year was not an exception. I receive before me. If you not already estimated, make this morning moved for release with 12:01 and Nesto was first in the line to buy to our copies. Last night/this morning forms means fourth midnight video game release, which was I (Halo2, NCAA football 06, NCAA football 07 and make 07.) moved yesterday evening was by far most fun, which I had had with one of these functions. It is a special thing, to a small memory to find filled with videogame/NFL dorks. I dorked one hour long with other companion moved make out fans. That was large fun, but there was woopin ', the necessary getane gettin '... I think, which was the worst sentence, which, I had at all written. After we snatched up our plays, we precede more rueber to Nestos, loaded up the XBOX, and up the HDTV fired. We selected our crews and we were out. The falcons won the coin loss and select, in order to step. That is, when the Bucs did the inconceivable. They went to three and out and stocherten away to the falcons. Mike was efficiently and fast counted by air Vick. After the point of extra and the following Kick off the Bucs learned there from the first possession and went immediately to 3 and out again. The falcons fast again counted, it 14-0 forming. The BucsWAREN in the situation to recoil and the play before half time to bind above. They know, what? I am fair going jumping over in front because I am lazy and you would not like to really read a recapitulation of two Gecken, which played a video game. It was that 4. Quarter one and the Bucs were down by 3 notches, falcons had controlling of the football. Ronde gentleman hairdresser was calm at most of the play, until he intercepted a run, which he returned for a Touchdown. The falcons had the ball after the Kick off. Vick made the error of it in the direction of the gentleman hairdresser again throws, to ronde returned others, which are for a TD INTERNAL. The crews were geknotet above. Somehow and I remember as, did not count the Bucs another Touchdown in far quarters, in order to take the line. Do not worry themselves, because Vick came to the right out and with a counting drive of its bound it above. It was time for OT. Now I never had a notch, as this was going inside, specifically against Nesto moved to make, but, inside to OT, it 70-70. The Bucs won throws and selects, in order to receive. Chris Simms added its already very large 400-Yard-Spiel and drove its crew down for the attractive Touchdown. The Bucs kept the title. Of you, that are calm measured value, I thank you for the giving way I. I white that which I wrote today was boringly and mutely. But this is "MUTE MATERIAL, which I WROTE!" What did you think you were to be received? A Pulitzer Prize attractive attempt?
Monday, August 14, 2006
Totally Dorky Complete
It's no secret that I am a complete dork total. I like comic book movies and science fiction novels. If you were to ask me about any of the new superhero movies that are coming out in the near future, I could most likely tell you who is directing it, what films that director has made in the past, and who is staring in it. I know a lot of stuff about video games too. I read most of the game reviews that show up on Gamespot.com and IGN.com. I should really find something else to spend my time researching.
I could read up on astro-physics, computer networking, or the anatomy of Shake n' Bake. Does it do me any good to know this stuff about movies? I don't think so, it just makes me look like a complete dork total.
Most of my friends spend hours each week playing World of Warcraft. Then, they feel the need to let me know about all the boring stuff they did in the game. I don't care what level your paladin is. What the hell is a paladin anyway?
A couple of days ago, I was dorking out on the phone with my fiancee. Some how I got on the topic of my favorite video game, NCAA Football 07. I talked about all the stuff you could do in dynasty mode. How when your players graduate you can export them to your hard drive, (memory card if you don't own a XBOX) then draft them in that years copy of MADDEN. I just went on and on. That's when she pointed out to me that I was a dork. It's true, I am the type of guy who stays up till midnight the day before the release of MADDEN just to be one of the first to own a copy. I am a complete dork total. Who am I to make fun of World of Warcraft freaks?
You might find yourself wondering why I use the phrase "complete dork total". Well, that would be a reference to a thirty minute movie that only 7 people have seen (all of which were introduced to the movie by me) called The Blair Thumb.
What you haven't heard of it? I am not surprised.
As you could guess, it is a spoof of the film The Blair Witch. The Blair Thumb was created by a guy named Steve Oedekerk. Oedekerk is, in my opinion, the funniest comedy writer in Hollywood. Only a handful of people share my opinion.
Back to the reference. The three main characters are in a tent in the woods. When out of nowhere they are attacked by a shark. Thats right a shark in the woods. After the incident, Stressy (the girl in the group), tries to explain to Vic and Jish (such an odd name) that it was not a shark. To which Vic replies "It was totally sharky... complete". That is great comedy writing if I have ever heard it.
I mean, I am not even quoting the movie correctly. Totally Dorky Complete? You have to admit that is really lame. I can't hide from it, I am totally dorky complete.
I could read up on astro-physics, computer networking, or the anatomy of Shake n' Bake. Does it do me any good to know this stuff about movies? I don't think so, it just makes me look like a complete dork total.
Most of my friends spend hours each week playing World of Warcraft. Then, they feel the need to let me know about all the boring stuff they did in the game. I don't care what level your paladin is. What the hell is a paladin anyway?
A couple of days ago, I was dorking out on the phone with my fiancee. Some how I got on the topic of my favorite video game, NCAA Football 07. I talked about all the stuff you could do in dynasty mode. How when your players graduate you can export them to your hard drive, (memory card if you don't own a XBOX) then draft them in that years copy of MADDEN. I just went on and on. That's when she pointed out to me that I was a dork. It's true, I am the type of guy who stays up till midnight the day before the release of MADDEN just to be one of the first to own a copy. I am a complete dork total. Who am I to make fun of World of Warcraft freaks?
You might find yourself wondering why I use the phrase "complete dork total". Well, that would be a reference to a thirty minute movie that only 7 people have seen (all of which were introduced to the movie by me) called The Blair Thumb.
What you haven't heard of it? I am not surprised.
As you could guess, it is a spoof of the film The Blair Witch. The Blair Thumb was created by a guy named Steve Oedekerk. Oedekerk is, in my opinion, the funniest comedy writer in Hollywood. Only a handful of people share my opinion.
Back to the reference. The three main characters are in a tent in the woods. When out of nowhere they are attacked by a shark. Thats right a shark in the woods. After the incident, Stressy (the girl in the group), tries to explain to Vic and Jish (such an odd name) that it was not a shark. To which Vic replies "It was totally sharky... complete". That is great comedy writing if I have ever heard it.
I mean, I am not even quoting the movie correctly. Totally Dorky Complete? You have to admit that is really lame. I can't hide from it, I am totally dorky complete.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Hitting the Pre-Season Slump
It happens every year in early August. Pre-Season Football!
As August was approaching, I found myself having, what I would call, a case of football withdrawal. When the season ends in February I get all sad and when the summer rolls around I get the shakes. "What am I going to watch on Sundays?" Lucky for me I met my fiancee this past football season. I was enjoying my time with her so much I forgot about not having football to watch.
But now it is August, and I have started looking into the Bucs rosters. I also started my fantasy football league. Well, needless to say, now I am looking forward to football season. It is just around the corner and I think we (the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) are going to have a great season. Not to mention the fact my fiancee likes football too. I love watching games with her, it just makes football season that much better!
I was really excited yesterday to watch a pre-season game between the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams. Around this time of year I will take any football I can get. Except that every year I get reminded that pre-season football is boring.
Indianapolis kicked the ball first. Since pre-season games are meaningless, the Colts decide to kick an onside kick right off the bat (the Colts recovered the football). Peyton Manning only got one series, in which he drove down the field like he was playing against a high school team. But, after that it was a yawning good time. The Colts signed Shaun King this off season and I wanted to see him play, but it was halftime at 10 o'clock. That's my bed time! I don't gots time to watch a football game that nobody cares to win!
I got an idea! Why don't they give the winning team a free ice cream party after a pre-season game? Then they can force the losing team to eat WHATABURGER. I bet the teams would play hard then. I mean eating at WHATABURGER would keep your football team from playing at full strength for weeks.
There are still some teams I would really like to watch this pre-season. I don't know how much of Reggie Bush we are going to see this season. I would love to watch him play in an exhibition game. The same goes for Matt (that quarterback from USC who's name I can't spell) and Vince Young. Of course, a chance to watch the Bucs would be great as well.
As August was approaching, I found myself having, what I would call, a case of football withdrawal. When the season ends in February I get all sad and when the summer rolls around I get the shakes. "What am I going to watch on Sundays?" Lucky for me I met my fiancee this past football season. I was enjoying my time with her so much I forgot about not having football to watch.
But now it is August, and I have started looking into the Bucs rosters. I also started my fantasy football league. Well, needless to say, now I am looking forward to football season. It is just around the corner and I think we (the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) are going to have a great season. Not to mention the fact my fiancee likes football too. I love watching games with her, it just makes football season that much better!
I was really excited yesterday to watch a pre-season game between the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams. Around this time of year I will take any football I can get. Except that every year I get reminded that pre-season football is boring.
Indianapolis kicked the ball first. Since pre-season games are meaningless, the Colts decide to kick an onside kick right off the bat (the Colts recovered the football). Peyton Manning only got one series, in which he drove down the field like he was playing against a high school team. But, after that it was a yawning good time. The Colts signed Shaun King this off season and I wanted to see him play, but it was halftime at 10 o'clock. That's my bed time! I don't gots time to watch a football game that nobody cares to win!
I got an idea! Why don't they give the winning team a free ice cream party after a pre-season game? Then they can force the losing team to eat WHATABURGER. I bet the teams would play hard then. I mean eating at WHATABURGER would keep your football team from playing at full strength for weeks.
There are still some teams I would really like to watch this pre-season. I don't know how much of Reggie Bush we are going to see this season. I would love to watch him play in an exhibition game. The same goes for Matt (that quarterback from USC who's name I can't spell) and Vince Young. Of course, a chance to watch the Bucs would be great as well.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Blogging about Blogging
I haven't been blogging very long, only just a few months. In the months that I have been blogging I've made some observations.
I write my blog through blogger.com. This site offers a much better blog composing system than myspace.com. It is pretty easy for me to get my blog to do what I want it to do. I just have a few little problems.
First, blogger.com will crash on occasion without notice. That is a problem for me. What if I am writing my life story and all of the sudden I can't save or publish my blog? That's when I have to copy and paste it into a word document. Ok, so it is not that big of a deal, easily worked around.
Secondly, not really a problem, more of a funny observation. I am addicted to spell check. I do it all the time. The spell checker on blogger.com is great, it catches all kinds of stuff I don't know how to spell correctly. But, there is one word it keeps telling me that I am spelling wrong. Frankly, blogger.com has no business telling me that the word "blog" is not a word.
"What 'blogging' isn't a word. Well fine blogger.com, that must make blogger not a word. You stupid web site. I hate you. No wait blogger.com, come back I didn't mean it."
Imaginary Audience
If you have read my blog at all you know that I write like I am talking to a large audience. It is not that I have a large group of people read my blog regularly, I just pretend that a lot of people like to read my blog. I imagine them being so disappointed on the days I don't update it. I mean they are so faithful, they write me imaginary e-mails saying "Hey, where is my daily dose of sarcasm and amazing humor."
Then I have to write them back saying "I'm sorry, I find it hard to sit down and write something new everyday, but check back tomorrow."
That's when I get e-mails from people saying "Who are you? I don't read your dumpy blog please stop send me messages like I do."
Yes, I enjoy having so many adoring imaginary readers.
I write my blog through blogger.com. This site offers a much better blog composing system than myspace.com. It is pretty easy for me to get my blog to do what I want it to do. I just have a few little problems.
First, blogger.com will crash on occasion without notice. That is a problem for me. What if I am writing my life story and all of the sudden I can't save or publish my blog? That's when I have to copy and paste it into a word document. Ok, so it is not that big of a deal, easily worked around.
Secondly, not really a problem, more of a funny observation. I am addicted to spell check. I do it all the time. The spell checker on blogger.com is great, it catches all kinds of stuff I don't know how to spell correctly. But, there is one word it keeps telling me that I am spelling wrong. Frankly, blogger.com has no business telling me that the word "blog" is not a word.
"What 'blogging' isn't a word. Well fine blogger.com, that must make blogger not a word. You stupid web site. I hate you. No wait blogger.com, come back I didn't mean it."
Imaginary Audience
If you have read my blog at all you know that I write like I am talking to a large audience. It is not that I have a large group of people read my blog regularly, I just pretend that a lot of people like to read my blog. I imagine them being so disappointed on the days I don't update it. I mean they are so faithful, they write me imaginary e-mails saying "Hey, where is my daily dose of sarcasm and amazing humor."
Then I have to write them back saying "I'm sorry, I find it hard to sit down and write something new everyday, but check back tomorrow."
That's when I get e-mails from people saying "Who are you? I don't read your dumpy blog please stop send me messages like I do."
Yes, I enjoy having so many adoring imaginary readers.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Kid's Movies
I have been known to enjoy a good kid's movie.
This may come as a shock to most people, but I was once a kid myself. And as a kid I watched a lot of cartoons. When I was under the age of 10 I watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Silver Hawks, Thundercats, Transformers, and all other kinds of great cartoons. I loved the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, I even liked the one with Vanilla Ice.
I also enjoyed a great deal of the Disney movies, Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, and my favorite Jungle Book.
Well, as it turns out, there is a slew of classic cartoons being remade into movies. The main 2 being Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Transformers. And yes, I have every intention on seeing both of them.
The Ninja Turtles movie is going to be created in CGI. From what I have read online the creators are going back to the roots of the show, back to what made it great in the first place. I am really looking forward to what they are going to do with it.
On the other side, the Transformers movie looks like the makers are taking more of a gritty realistic approach. I would guess the Transformers themselves will be computer animated, but it seems like there will be live action actors. Most likely the real footage, mixed with CGI.
I don't know much more about these two movies right now, but I am believing that said films will bring a stop to the steaming piles of crap that have been coming out of the computer animated kid department as of late.
The last great kid's movie, I believe, was The Incredibles.
Not since then has there been a children's movie worth seeing.
The one saving grace for this summer may just be Monster House. I have read a few reviews, one by Orson Scott Card, all of them say Monster House is the best kid's movie to come along in recent memory. I am excited to see it.
But if you, the pretend faithful reader I have made up in my mind, are wanting to see a great kid's movie that both you and your kids will enjoy. Might I suggest Nanny McPhee? Me and my fiancee have seen it multiple times, and I enjoyed it every time. The kids are well casted, the screenplay is flawless, and the acting is top notch. And since it is not in theatres, you will most likely be watching it on DVD. In that case I would suggest you watch it twice, once as the film was shown in theatres, and once with the director and kids commentary. You won't be sorry.
This may come as a shock to most people, but I was once a kid myself. And as a kid I watched a lot of cartoons. When I was under the age of 10 I watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Silver Hawks, Thundercats, Transformers, and all other kinds of great cartoons. I loved the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, I even liked the one with Vanilla Ice.
I also enjoyed a great deal of the Disney movies, Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, and my favorite Jungle Book.
Well, as it turns out, there is a slew of classic cartoons being remade into movies. The main 2 being Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Transformers. And yes, I have every intention on seeing both of them.
The Ninja Turtles movie is going to be created in CGI. From what I have read online the creators are going back to the roots of the show, back to what made it great in the first place. I am really looking forward to what they are going to do with it.
On the other side, the Transformers movie looks like the makers are taking more of a gritty realistic approach. I would guess the Transformers themselves will be computer animated, but it seems like there will be live action actors. Most likely the real footage, mixed with CGI.
I don't know much more about these two movies right now, but I am believing that said films will bring a stop to the steaming piles of crap that have been coming out of the computer animated kid department as of late.
The last great kid's movie, I believe, was The Incredibles.
Not since then has there been a children's movie worth seeing.
The one saving grace for this summer may just be Monster House. I have read a few reviews, one by Orson Scott Card, all of them say Monster House is the best kid's movie to come along in recent memory. I am excited to see it.
But if you, the pretend faithful reader I have made up in my mind, are wanting to see a great kid's movie that both you and your kids will enjoy. Might I suggest Nanny McPhee? Me and my fiancee have seen it multiple times, and I enjoyed it every time. The kids are well casted, the screenplay is flawless, and the acting is top notch. And since it is not in theatres, you will most likely be watching it on DVD. In that case I would suggest you watch it twice, once as the film was shown in theatres, and once with the director and kids commentary. You won't be sorry.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Terry Bisson
In June of this year I started reading a lot more short fiction. The reason for this was the start of Orson Scott Card's online short fiction magazine, Intergalactic Medicine Show. It featured great stories from some established authors like David Farland and Card himself. IGMS also had a number of stories from upstart authors as well.
After finishing both issues of Card's magazine, I went in search of other sources of short fiction. I picked up the June 2006 issue of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Most of the stories were barely mediocre, a few gems here or there, but for the most part I was unimpressed with what I was reading.
My next purchase was the July 2006 issue of Asimov's Science Fiction. Asimov's proved to be a better magazine. Two stories stood out. One by an author named Tim Pratt called Impossible Dreams which I talked about in a previous blog, and Nanos Comes to Clifford Falls by Nancy Kress.
After making a trip to the library, I checked out a copy of Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the Century, edited by Orson Scott Card. I didn't read most of the stories because a lot of them were in Future On Fire and Future on Ice, two short story anthologies also edited by Card. Oh by the way, if you didn't know, Orson Scott Card is my favorite author.
The story I did read from Masterpieces was Bears Discover Fire by Terry Bisson. A great story the won the Hugo and Nebula awards for Mr. Bisson. Later, I was looking through a short fiction anthology I bought used about 9 months before and read a Bisson story called Hole in a Hole.
Having enjoyed both of the stories I read from Terry Bisson, I got on Amazon.com, and bought 3 of Bisson's short fiction collections.
Currently, I am two thirds of the way through In The Upper Room and Other Likely Stories. I enjoyed nearly every story in the collection.
On a return trip to the library, I checked out The Pickup Artist by Bisson. Terry creates a future where the classic pieces of art (being film, fiction, paintings, and music) are being destroyed to make way for new artists to create art.
The protaganist becomes attached to a Hank Williams record and tries to find a way to listen to it. While he is doing so he gets caught up in some goverment stuff that I don't care to waist my time writing about. Anyway, Him and this teacher drive cross country running in to about 5 different clones named "Bob", get them selves shot at a bunch of times, and then go driving again.
Yeah, is it as boring as I am trying to make it sound? Good!
So, I made the desision to just read his excellent short fiction... uh... after... I read just one more of his novels called Talking Man.
Besides having some of the worst cover art I have ever seen, Talking Man also has just as thrilling of a story as The Pickup Artist.
So, this guy named Williams goes to a junk yard to get his windshield fixed on his Ford Mustang. Then Talking Man comes out and puts mud on Williams' windshield and the window is magically fixed. Then Talking Man's daughter Chrystal gets shot at, and Williams and her go driving for a long time.
Yep, in Terry Bisson novels there is a lot of driving.
I'm not going to say that I won't read another Terry Bisson novel, chances are I will. I am very loyal to the authors I like. Terry Bisson is a great writer, I just haven't read a good novel from him yet.
After finishing both issues of Card's magazine, I went in search of other sources of short fiction. I picked up the June 2006 issue of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Most of the stories were barely mediocre, a few gems here or there, but for the most part I was unimpressed with what I was reading.
My next purchase was the July 2006 issue of Asimov's Science Fiction. Asimov's proved to be a better magazine. Two stories stood out. One by an author named Tim Pratt called Impossible Dreams which I talked about in a previous blog, and Nanos Comes to Clifford Falls by Nancy Kress.
After making a trip to the library, I checked out a copy of Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the Century, edited by Orson Scott Card. I didn't read most of the stories because a lot of them were in Future On Fire and Future on Ice, two short story anthologies also edited by Card. Oh by the way, if you didn't know, Orson Scott Card is my favorite author.
The story I did read from Masterpieces was Bears Discover Fire by Terry Bisson. A great story the won the Hugo and Nebula awards for Mr. Bisson. Later, I was looking through a short fiction anthology I bought used about 9 months before and read a Bisson story called Hole in a Hole.
Having enjoyed both of the stories I read from Terry Bisson, I got on Amazon.com, and bought 3 of Bisson's short fiction collections.
Currently, I am two thirds of the way through In The Upper Room and Other Likely Stories. I enjoyed nearly every story in the collection.
On a return trip to the library, I checked out The Pickup Artist by Bisson. Terry creates a future where the classic pieces of art (being film, fiction, paintings, and music) are being destroyed to make way for new artists to create art.
The protaganist becomes attached to a Hank Williams record and tries to find a way to listen to it. While he is doing so he gets caught up in some goverment stuff that I don't care to waist my time writing about. Anyway, Him and this teacher drive cross country running in to about 5 different clones named "Bob", get them selves shot at a bunch of times, and then go driving again.
Yeah, is it as boring as I am trying to make it sound? Good!
So, I made the desision to just read his excellent short fiction... uh... after... I read just one more of his novels called Talking Man.
Besides having some of the worst cover art I have ever seen, Talking Man also has just as thrilling of a story as The Pickup Artist.
So, this guy named Williams goes to a junk yard to get his windshield fixed on his Ford Mustang. Then Talking Man comes out and puts mud on Williams' windshield and the window is magically fixed. Then Talking Man's daughter Chrystal gets shot at, and Williams and her go driving for a long time.
Yep, in Terry Bisson novels there is a lot of driving.
I'm not going to say that I won't read another Terry Bisson novel, chances are I will. I am very loyal to the authors I like. Terry Bisson is a great writer, I just haven't read a good novel from him yet.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Alvin Maker
Over that past few months I have been reading the Alvin Maker series by Orson Scott Card. The fantasy series spans 7 books, one of which has yet to be released.
Seventh Son
Red Prophet
Prentice Alvin
Alvin Journeyman
Heartfire
The Crystal City
Master Alvin (not yet released)
I didn't read these straight through. I read a few books and short stories in between some of the volumes of the Alvin Maker series. Mainly because I didn't enjoy being stuck in the same world for that long, and me and my fiancee went to the library, and I checked out 4 other books. Plus, I have been reading those silly sci-fi magazines.
The Tales of Alvin Maker series is set in an America where the revolutionary war didn't happen. As you might have guessed, being a fantasy series, magic works in this America. A lot of the magic is wrapped up in gifts that people are born with called "knacks". Mostly "knacks" are really just people being unnaturally skilled at something. Some are great at building things, others have incredible memory, and Alvin Maker can do just about anything.
Alvin is a "Maker", a man who is gifted at making things. His main opposition is in the form of the "Unmaker", who is not really a man, but more of an entity. The Unmaker is the destroyer of all things. When Alvin makes something he sets the Unmaker back in his work for ultimate destruction.
Sounds good, right?
Ok, maybe I don't make it sound that good, but as with most of Cards books, the characters are really well developed. It is hard not to enjoy the world that has been created, and even harder not to relate with all the well drawn characters. Card leaves very few characters unexplored, and it seem as if all of them play some major role in the over all story.
When I was reading the series I found that after Red Prophet, the best of the series, the story slows way down. When Alvin is young he learns some basic things about himself and his knack, and is involved in a war between the Reds and the Whites. After the war he moves to the town of his birth to be come a prentice blacksmith.
From Prentice Alvin to Heartfire, Alvin spends most of his time searching for where to build the Crystal City (a city he saw in a prophecy that he must build), learning how to be a maker, or getting arrested.
If it were not for Card's excellent writing style and his top notch character development, I would have stopped reading it a while ago. Even though I am a little relieved to be done with the series, I am still looking forward to the final installment.
Mistakes
Just a quick note. In my Stealth! Who Needs Stealth? blog, I said that you played as Sam Fisher and a clone of Sam Fisher. Well that was a mistake. You actually play as two other spies that have no names. I don't feel like going back and correcting that blog just I will just tell you here.
Seventh Son
Red Prophet
Prentice Alvin
Alvin Journeyman
Heartfire
The Crystal City
Master Alvin (not yet released)
I didn't read these straight through. I read a few books and short stories in between some of the volumes of the Alvin Maker series. Mainly because I didn't enjoy being stuck in the same world for that long, and me and my fiancee went to the library, and I checked out 4 other books. Plus, I have been reading those silly sci-fi magazines.
The Tales of Alvin Maker series is set in an America where the revolutionary war didn't happen. As you might have guessed, being a fantasy series, magic works in this America. A lot of the magic is wrapped up in gifts that people are born with called "knacks". Mostly "knacks" are really just people being unnaturally skilled at something. Some are great at building things, others have incredible memory, and Alvin Maker can do just about anything.
Alvin is a "Maker", a man who is gifted at making things. His main opposition is in the form of the "Unmaker", who is not really a man, but more of an entity. The Unmaker is the destroyer of all things. When Alvin makes something he sets the Unmaker back in his work for ultimate destruction.
Sounds good, right?
Ok, maybe I don't make it sound that good, but as with most of Cards books, the characters are really well developed. It is hard not to enjoy the world that has been created, and even harder not to relate with all the well drawn characters. Card leaves very few characters unexplored, and it seem as if all of them play some major role in the over all story.
When I was reading the series I found that after Red Prophet, the best of the series, the story slows way down. When Alvin is young he learns some basic things about himself and his knack, and is involved in a war between the Reds and the Whites. After the war he moves to the town of his birth to be come a prentice blacksmith.
From Prentice Alvin to Heartfire, Alvin spends most of his time searching for where to build the Crystal City (a city he saw in a prophecy that he must build), learning how to be a maker, or getting arrested.
If it were not for Card's excellent writing style and his top notch character development, I would have stopped reading it a while ago. Even though I am a little relieved to be done with the series, I am still looking forward to the final installment.
Mistakes
Just a quick note. In my Stealth! Who Needs Stealth? blog, I said that you played as Sam Fisher and a clone of Sam Fisher. Well that was a mistake. You actually play as two other spies that have no names. I don't feel like going back and correcting that blog just I will just tell you here.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
It's Time for Fedge to Complain
"For serious this time" said Fedge.
I am getting all kinds of worn down. I need a break. I'm not talking about a break in the sense of taking time off or away. No, what I need is something to get me set on the right track. Every time I force something, or try to make something happen I get stuck. I simply just can't get the ball rolling.
You are probably wondering what the crap I am talking about.
My Job/Career.
Ever sense I was a kid, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. I knew I wanted a wife and kids, and to make good money. But as to how I was going to make that money, I did not know.
Most of my dreams were of me in some sort of entertainment. It might be acting or writing, but something that was along the lines of story telling. I have story ideas, but I just haven't written any of them. I think I am passable as an actor, but I feel I have a lot more ability in voice acting.
I have been doing voices and playing with puppets and toys for a long while. It started on my computer with my sister making little shows with puppets on our PC video camera. I take that back, it started before that.
I remember being in high school playing around with a video recorder making short films. Most of the time it was just fun. But, some of the time I think a lot of the stuff we did was really funny.
This past Sunday I did a skit with a puppet and a friend of mine. It wasn't just for kids church this week. We did it in front of the whole congregation. I have been told that a lot of people there said it was really good. Not only that but I also was in a skit with 3 other guys. My buddy Mark stole that show. Mostly because he dressed up like a girl and wore lipstick.
After church that Sunday I felt really good. I couldn't wait to do it again.
I love doing this stuff, if I could do it professionally I will have found what I wanted to do when I grow up, and that is act like a kid.
Are these just hopeless dreams that everyone has, or is there something to this.
I don't want to be a huge Hollywood actor, I just want to love what I do. Or, at least have a job that gives me time to explore my dreams as possible means of income.
To sum it up, I just want to enjoy my work. I don't want to hate Mondays. If I just dislike them I think I can live with that.
I am getting all kinds of worn down. I need a break. I'm not talking about a break in the sense of taking time off or away. No, what I need is something to get me set on the right track. Every time I force something, or try to make something happen I get stuck. I simply just can't get the ball rolling.
You are probably wondering what the crap I am talking about.
My Job/Career.
Ever sense I was a kid, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. I knew I wanted a wife and kids, and to make good money. But as to how I was going to make that money, I did not know.
Most of my dreams were of me in some sort of entertainment. It might be acting or writing, but something that was along the lines of story telling. I have story ideas, but I just haven't written any of them. I think I am passable as an actor, but I feel I have a lot more ability in voice acting.
I have been doing voices and playing with puppets and toys for a long while. It started on my computer with my sister making little shows with puppets on our PC video camera. I take that back, it started before that.
I remember being in high school playing around with a video recorder making short films. Most of the time it was just fun. But, some of the time I think a lot of the stuff we did was really funny.
This past Sunday I did a skit with a puppet and a friend of mine. It wasn't just for kids church this week. We did it in front of the whole congregation. I have been told that a lot of people there said it was really good. Not only that but I also was in a skit with 3 other guys. My buddy Mark stole that show. Mostly because he dressed up like a girl and wore lipstick.
After church that Sunday I felt really good. I couldn't wait to do it again.
I love doing this stuff, if I could do it professionally I will have found what I wanted to do when I grow up, and that is act like a kid.
Are these just hopeless dreams that everyone has, or is there something to this.
I don't want to be a huge Hollywood actor, I just want to love what I do. Or, at least have a job that gives me time to explore my dreams as possible means of income.
To sum it up, I just want to enjoy my work. I don't want to hate Mondays. If I just dislike them I think I can live with that.
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