Saturday, February 26, 2005

I'm the same as I was when I was six years old

Not a bad day I suppose. I hooked up with Trip and Kev and we had dinner and then retired to Trip's for some Halo 2 action with Corb. That was fun. Kev had to go and play with his band, Joe Washrag and the Cosmic Spatulas, and left fairly early, but it was a good time.

After he left we watched more Wonderfalls. I highly suggest anyone with a slightly absurd romantic comedy sensibility check this show out. It gets better and better.

Despite a pretty nice day, I'm feeling depressed. I was gonna rant about my lack of goals and directon and the general meaninglessness of all actions... Oh and my inability to affect the world in any real way, that too, but I think I just won't. Not right now.

Thursday, February 24, 2005

Try the new WhatchaMcCarcuss sandwich at Krustyburger

So I spent the evening doing something I didn't want to...watching reality tv. Trip did let me watch the Christina Ricci guest appearance on Joey, so I can't complain all that much. You know I am finding here less and less attractive as she moves more toward conventional leading lady and away from weird goth chick. What can I say, I likes em pale.

Anyway watched the cursed Apprentice and Survivor. It's so easy to get caught up watching beautiful people argue. Especially survivor where they all wear next to nothing. I'm going to try and continue my resistance and not succumb to the reality.

We also watched The Simpsons where Marge's sister Patty came out and was gonna marry a woman. There was a lot of talk about one of the characters coming out and I don't think Patty was the top pick. Hard to say why in retrospect.

Nothing else new going on, really. I'm reading Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Prodigal Son. It's not bad, got a cool concept so far. I've always enjoyed the Frankenstein legend. It's a good story that doesn't really paint society in a positive light overall. Well that's how the original worked out, we'll see if this new take on it stays true.

bad apple spoils...

I've been entirely too slack today. I got up at a reasonable hour tho...well reasonable to me anyway and watched 24 Hour Party People (another loaner from Kev). It was interesting. A movie about Joy Division, New Order and the Happy Mondays, more or less. Since I'm a big fan of two of those bands (the first two for the record) I enjoyed learning some of the lore. It wasn't a laugh a minute tho and moved slow in some places. I'd say +1 chainmail overall.

After that I moved on to my usual position in the WoW world. I managed to get roped into doing this instance with a group that I didn't know all that well. Most of the time I stick to my guildmates, because they aren't morons. This experience reinforced that concept in a big way. It's amazing how one asshole can ruin everything.

I think I hear my bed calling me.

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Fear and loathing got the best of him


Hunter S. Thompson died yesterday at his own hand. This undoubtedly makes the world a lesser place. While I don't personally prescribe to his drug-fueled, gun-toting philosophies, he was someone who refused to live by anyone's rules but his own. You've got to respect that. Posted by Hello

Monday, February 21, 2005

Venus in furs

Now listening to: The Velvet Underground and Nico

Well I applied for a job or two today and may try to continue that habit until I actually end up with one. I also dropped off my stuff to get my taxes done. I definitely need that cash and hope it comes out to be a decent amount. Here's to hoping for a windfall.

After taking care of that business I had some time to kill before Trip came home and we could play video games/watch tv so I parked my care in a random parking lot and read. I finally finished the third of Asimov's Foundation books. I know it sounds sad to just sit in a parking lot and read, but honestly it's kinda peaceful. Nobody bothers you and no phones ring. I dunno, maybe I'm just trying to put a positive spin on how pathetic my life has become.

Anyway once I arrived at Trip's we watched some quality tv. I watched the premier of Robot Chicken Sandwich, which is the new surreal action figure show on adult swim. It wasn't bad, although it's not gonna really reach a broad audience. It's pretty much an exercise in the absurd, which I enjoy.

We played a little Metal Arms, which Trip picked up this weekend. It's pretty good. Having played only a little bit I know there is still a lot to figure out, but it was fun. We switched to Halo 2 after a bit and that was fun, except for the morons teaming up in what is supposed to be a free-for-all game type. The sad thing was I still ended up second even with them cheating. You gotta suck pretty bad to cheat and still lose.

Anyway I topped the evening off with the penultimate episode of Deadwood. That show is honestly one of the best things on. Characters with depth, interesting plotlines and wonderfully real dialogue. If you don't mind hearing the word cocksucker as though it were a congenial greeting, I recommend it highly.

I now retire to Azeroth and all it's trappings.

Sunday, February 20, 2005

So I'm the the asshole in the place

I have to admit I'm an asshole. Through my extreme poorness and inability to get a job I have become "that guy." The guy who is a burden on his friends because he never has cash. If they want to go out they have to spring for him too. I hate it. I feel bad, but what can I do?

I've been stressing out lately because of it and the fact that my creditors are calling me. It all sucks. You'd think having no job would be relaxing, but it's all I can think about Now I feel guilty for everything I do that's fun, because I feel like I don't deserve it.

I'm gonna go apply for a coupla McJobs tomorrow (in the Generation X sense, not actaull working for Ronald). Hopefully I can land a low pressure clerk-type job and start to move toward the edge of this abyss I'm currently wallowing in.

Bobbing along in my barrel

So I haven't updated in a while. I have no real excuse other than the sheer mundunaity of my everyday life. Of course, if you were concerned with that you'd have stopped reading a long time ago. Honestly I didn't do much this week after Monday. I watched Deadwood with Trip and several episode of Wonderfalls. I played a metric buttload of WoW (now a hair shy of level 56) and watched crap tv.

Today I finally managed to break from the drudgery a bit, as Trip and I hit G-boro. Had some Chinese food for lunch, which wasn't bad. I watched Trip shop for a bit and managed to stave off my own consumerist instincts. We went to see Sideways, which was really good. I'm baffled that Paul Giamatti didn't get a best actor nomination. He's so good at playing characters that aren't really great people, but he makes you empathize with them somehow. I'd rate Sideways at Filet Mignon.

We then returned to Trip's pad and watched Brandon Hopkins defend his middleweight title for the 20th time. The fight wasn't overly exciting, with Hopkins controlling the entire fight and winning more on technique than slugging the other guy. Impressive in it's efficiency, but not entertaining.

I'm not the biggest boxing fan, really. All the scandal and different titles and general shadiness of the sport turn me off. That said, I do enjoy the rich history of boxing. I love watching old fights and documentarys on old fighters. I really want to see the PBS movie on Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champ. He's a hero of mine.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

better lucky than good

Now listening to: The Eels (Rotten World EP)

Kevin loaned me a movie called Intacto several months ago and I finally got around to watching it today. It was about exceptionally lucky people that were capable of stealing other people's luck and using it for themselves. It was an odd film overall, but not bad. It had slow pacing at times, as foreign films often do, but didn't drag too much. It also had Max Von Sydow, who is a great actor in my book. I mean if only for Strange Brew, he's a genius. Anyway Intacto gets a +1 chainmail for it's efforts. Now if I can only get it together and watch the other stuff Kev loaned me.

Anyway I'm now trying to develop the luck stealing talent. I'm not sure if it's gonna work out, but I could stand some good luck.

Roses and indigestion

Well I spent all yesterday delivering flowers. It wasn't that bad, honestly. I've had worse jobs. Everybody is usually happy to see the flower guy and you're surrounded by nice smells all day.

Plus most of the time is spent driving around listening to cds. I was in Corb's Jeep so I was plenty comfortable in that. My soundtrack for the day included The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fugazi, The Pixies, The White Stripes, The Rolling Stones, The Eels, Sleater-Kinney and Modest Mouse. So I was rocking for much of the day.

My only problem at all was that I saw way too much a.m. I was still up at 3 a.m. and had to be at the shop at 8 a.m. I was fine until about 2 p.m. when it started to rain and I was just beat. I managed to survive to the end, but it was a struggle.

Not sure what my plans are today... I may just stay in and relax, a.k.a. my normal life at this point.

Saturday, February 12, 2005

The Great Wave of Kanagawa


I bought a print of this painting at the Met years ago. I stumbled across it today and it seems to accurately represent the feelings I have about life these days. So I hope you guys enjoy and relate somewhat. Posted by Hello

Pigbenis

Got up early today and went to work... don't get too excited. I was there for 20 minutes and then left and spent the rest of the day watching tv with Trip. We watched L.A . Confidential, which was pretty good. I'd say +1 chainmail.

We also watched a lot of G4 and the end of Along Came Polly. The we played a bit of classic Halo, which is still fun. After fetching some Taco Bell, we watched some more of the series Wonderfalls. Man do I love that show. The lead character, Jaye, is my ideal woman. I know I have a lot of ideal women, but what can I say, there are acceptable parameters which several jaded, disaffected brunettes fall.

On Friday I had dinner with some of my family, which was both pleasant and painful at times. My aunt Yvonne, who is a faithful reader (that's three!), mentioned her love of Charlie Daniels' Devil went down to Ga, which amused me at the time, considering my post Super Bowl comments. Come to find out, she hadn't read that and seemed a little put off by my comments in an email. Let me say that I honestly do think that is a decent song, pretty good really. But it's the only thing they every let the man play. Can't they just let him rest or explore some new territory? Is that too much to ask.

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Faint glimmer

Now listening: high quality emo

Soo tonight Trip did me solid and took me out to Red Lobster. It was quite nice. I have been depressed the last coupla days and needed a bit of a pick me up. Thank you Trip for providing it.

You know I really have to thank my friends for being cool. They keep me going when everything else seems to be stacked against me (like now). I can't tell you how good it is to have people I trust to commiserate with or help me think about something else.

I know I can be difficult, moody, insulting and generally a bastard, which makes it all the more amazing that these people keep me around. Anyway thanks to all the people who put up with my shit and keep coming back for another handful. It is greatly appreciated.

Monday, February 07, 2005

Superstition ain't the way

I don't like to be a superstitious person. I'm not a big believer in that sort of thing, by and large. But around the beginning of the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, it occurred to me that the Eagles couldn't win. Not because they aren't talented or played exceptionally poorly. Simply because I was rooting for them.

When things get to a major stage, a la the Super Bowl, my support and active participation is a guarantee that defeat is the order of the day. It's played out in major football games, presidential elections and even at the Oscars. I don't really think of myself as a born loser, but I do tend to be on the minority side in most things.

After the game, which was close, but not particularly well-played I thought. Well, Tom Brady played well and Deion Branch, but that shouldn't come as a surprise. Trip and I watched The Simpsons, which wasn't really my fav. episode, and then American Dad, which was Family Guy, Take 2. I gotta tell you, I wasn't impressed. While I don't have the loathing that Trip does for it, I can't say it's good.

Speaking of less than stellar, how about that halftime show. Now I know music history and completely understand the way the Beatles changed it for all time. I understand how integral Paul McCartney was to that process at the time and how Paul, John, George and Ringo are a veritable Mt. Rushmore of rock and roll. That said, come on... how is he still relevant? I know the NFL was all concerned about the whole boob flashing thing, but really, why not just march a orchestra out and have them play Beethoven.

I know I shouldn't complain, it could have been the horrible country/trailor park girl Gretchen whatever that played in the pregame...yesh. I thought country divas were at least supposed to be hot, that's the only reason I can stand any of them at all. Also note to country music people, let Charlie Daniels not play Devil went down to Georgia for a while. Give the man a break.

Sunday, February 06, 2005

A rose by any other name

So Corb took me out for dinner and theatre last night. (I told him ahead of time I wasn't putting out, so there was no confusion.) We went to Averett and saw their production of The Complete Works of Wllm Shkspre (Abridged). Which was pretty good. I like the play, but it suffered from some college theatre problems. Still not bad.

The only problem I really had is that Corb is too well known in the local drama circles and I end up stranded and alone while he chats with any and everyone. This is especially bad when we are alone, because I look like his bored boyfriend. (I'm always hyperaware of the gay thing in a theatre.)

Visiting a college always makes me long for the good ole days of mycollege years. Although being forced to listen to some of the conversations of college students makes me wonder if I was that vacuous. I honestly don't think so, but I could be a bit biased.

Friday, February 04, 2005

Genghis Ghandi

So nothing new, just doing my thing. I have a job for one day, woo. On Feb. 14 I will be delivering flowers. I expect this to help me wallow in the depression I always feel as a singleton on Valentine's Day. But at least I'll be making money, so that's something.

Yesterday we had another blast of snow, which was pleasant. I spent the day playing video games, as usual. I finally hit level 50 in WoW, which was a bit anticlimactic. Nothing especially new. Perhaps I just haven't found it yet.

Tonight I'm hoping the gang gets together for a little Halo 2 action at Trip's. I'm looking to run some hos.

Wednesday, February 02, 2005

We shall overcome


The penguin revolution has begun! Penguins will over run the streets and fill them with the blood of the unbelievers! Posted by Hello

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

I'll pwn your ass back to the Stone Age, noob

I'd like to take a moment to address the topic of shit talking. In particular, boasting after winning at video games. It has come to my attention that some of my compatriots think I talk a lot of shit while gaming. I disagree. I admit to talking some shit after a win, hell why else play the game other than bragging rights?

The simple fact is that growing up, talking shit was much more pervasive than anything I do now. In high school, hanging with Mike, Adam and Nick, I learned what shit talking was for real (I'd also note that my brother Gabe is quite an expert at the fecal discussion as well). Mike will occasionally still bust up some shit talk about how he used to school me at tennis. That talk made a natural progression to video games during my college years, when Techmo Bowl was king.

So I know real time shit talk, I've a long history with it. That said, what I now do is low grade at best. I honestly censor myself over half the time, because I'm afraid of offending fragile sensibilities. But occasionally I have to let one fly, so they know who the man is. (It's me, dammit.)

Seldon crisis at hand

I'm gonna have a discussion of the genius of Isaac Asimov. I am re-reading the first couple of Foundation novels, the first of which was published in 1951. The books are about a man in the extreme future (Hari Seldon) who has put together complex mathematics in such a way as to predict the direction a society will take and how it would be necessary to circumnavigate problems. This is called psychohistory.

Seldon discovers his society is failing and takes measures to create a small bastion of civilization in an universe growing ever more barbaric. He plots the path of this outpost (Foundation) so as to minimize the "Dark ages" and have mankind return to a better civilization on a much faster timetable.

What makes this story interesting is that our protaganist dies within the first chapter or two and we follow the society along it's path and get to see the pressures they face and the evolution of Foundation. It's a really well put together story.

What I find interesting is that Asimov predicted the success of micronization well before our society took part in it. In 1951, the nation, and in fact the world, was just emerging from the biggest war of all time, consumed with big cars, huge national projects and pretty much big everything.

Asimov noted that while the big mindset works, it is the small things that ultimately change society. America certainly proved this to be true. One need only note how pervasive the small computers of today are to see it live and in action. The fact that he saw that society would go this way is astounding to me.

Many people make fun of science fiction and the people who are fascinated by it. But those people end up shaping the future, simply because by looking toward it.