Monday, May 26, 2008

sniffle, sneeze, cough

So after a work week filled with sore throat and sinus headache my weekend has kicked off with my sinuses kicking into high gear. Nothing like a runny nose and lots of sneezing to make for a fun time. I don't even have any sinus stuff at home to assuage it. I should run out and get some, but I'm too lazy.

So what is new, you ask? Not a lot. I read Christopher Buckley's Boomsday, which is fantastic. It's filet mignon worthy. That's the same guy who wrote Thank You For Smoking, which I need to read, but the movie was excellent. Boomsday is about how when the baby boomers retire social security is going to be up shit creek. That is to say how younger people, like me, are going to be paying for the convalescence of the boomers and it's going to break our backs. The book is great satire and manages to be hilarious despite the sad topic.

I'm also reading the new Chuck Palahniuk, Snuff. I was afraid someone at work was gonna ask me what I was reading and I'd rather not have to get into it, since it's about a 600-man gangbang film. Yes, Mr. Palahniuk never fails to tackle the most awkward situations. So far it's good, but it hasn't grabbed me the way some of his other works have. Still entertaining, tho.

Trip and I watched Shoot em up tonight and it was absurd in the extreme. Leave all hope of plausibility at the door and enjoy it for it's silliness. Lots of shooting and smartass lines, also more than one death by carrot. I shit you not. I would not judge Paul Giamatti's career by this movie. Go with Big Momma's House instead.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Excuse me miss, but do you like dragons?

File that title under failed nerd pickup lines.

So for the past week or so I have dug deep into my very own cave of nerdom. Yes, I'm usually down that particular rabbit hole, but I've been spelunking even more than usual. Jill and I went to see Iron Man last week and it was good. We both enjoy Robert Downey Jr. (for somewhat different reasons I think) and he proved to be excellent. I'm saying it was a foot massage movie, it could of been higher, but the lack of a proper villain kinda put me off. Also I may be reaching my fill of super hero movie franchises.

On top of that I have continued to plow through episodes of Battlestar Galactica, which continues to impress. It's doing some good social commentary and has some great effects. I'm through season 2.o and am waiting for Netflix to get me the first part of season 2.5 so I can get off this cliffhanger they've left me on.

I also read Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. A nice graphic novel from the 80s that does a nice job of commenting on the culture then (some of which is still true today) and making for an entertaining Batman comic. Also Batman and Superman fight! Always a draw.

And of course I've been playing many video games. I traded Gabe my old mountain bike for his PSP. Yes, I know the fat guy shouldn't be giving up exercise equipment for more video games, but really it'd been hanging in the storage area for years. Why not let Gabe actually put it to use?

But yeah, I've been playing loads of stuff on that. God of War: Chains of Olympus is awesome, especially if you love Greek mythology. I'm digging it a lot. I'm also playing Jeanne Darc, which is a turn-based strategy game, which is a game type you either love or just don't get. No real middle ground on those.

So yes, my nerd level is high. I may have to get a pocket protector if things continue like this. Ohh in sports nerdiness (which is more socially acceptable), the Penguins are one win away from the Stanley Cup finals! Hell yeah, Crosby and Malkin getting it done.

Friday, May 09, 2008

true incoherence and randomness

So I've been banished from the digital realm the last few days. Turns out my router has some kinda problem. Of course, I had to figure that out for myself, since the people at Comcast tech support are too dumb to convert oxygen into carbon dioxide. I think they must do the opposite. That's right, they are so dense I'm positing them as plant life. Sad really.

But anyway, I gotta get a new router, which kinda blows since I seems like I just bought one. I guess it's been a few years. Time flies and then you have to replace your electronic equipment. Also I gotta say, I'm not sure I can survive without the internet anymore. Life seems so vapid and empty. I'm used to being able to look up any fact, no matter how obscure, on a moment's notice. Also no email, no news, no podcasts... it's unbearable. I'd hook it straight into my veins if possible.

Had a bear of a night at work last night. Lots of thunder, lightning and tornado action. Warning beepers going off everywhere, equipment failing basically shit hitting the fan. Fortunately I wasn't at the helm for all of this. I was just a bystander who tried to help mostly by being unobtrusive and going about my everyday duties while the building collapsed around me (metaphorically speaking).

What else is new... Trip and I got good and drunk Sunday evening. We went with a quatro de Mayo celebration, getting a jump on everyone else. It all started when I realized how good margaritas are while at MiRanchito. Of course, this was something I already knew, but it was a rediscovering of lime-y deliciousness followed shortly thereafter by a quality tequila buzz. So when we got back to Trip's place I mixed up a coupla margaritas there too for Trip and myself. I actually mixed four of them and used half a fifth of tequila in those. I got rip-roaring silly.

I also got to hang with Kevin some on Tuesday evening, as he returned from visiting Langdon in the hospital in Winston Salem. (Here's a shoutout to Langdon to get well soon.) We watched some tv, including the ever-popular Hell's Kitchen. We shouted PETROZZA!!! quite a bit and had a good time.

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Let's start a war

I know, I know. I haven't updated in a while. I'd say I've been busy, but really I'm just lazy. There is also the fact that I haven't done a whole lot of interesting stuff either. Basically just working, watching tv and playing games. We're in sweeps now so work requires a bit more attention and effort. Got to run a NASCAR race last night, which actually went pretty smoothly. But it was a pain.

I saw the Harold and Kumar sequel and it's good. If you liked the first one, you'll appreciate the second. I was amused. I'm saying this movie has potential, but it will need to bear repeated viewings to get up that high. filet mignon

I also started Netflixing the first season of Battlestar Galactica. Yes, I know I'm a huge nerd. No arguments here, but it's pretty good. I'm a coupla discs in and I dig it. I like the Firefly-esque space camera work i.e. the outer space cg shots look like they were shot by an actual camera, not just a god mode view that keeps everything centered and in focus. It adds to the level of immersion. Also the concept of humanity creating artificial intelligences that want to kill them is interesting. What would make them come to the decision to genocide their creators. Hoping this is explored in depth. There is also the nostalgia factor as I always dug the old school cylons oscillating eye when I was a kid.

Alright, that's enough for now. I'm going to bed, it's been a long week.