I love Halo 2. That is a fact. The new maps for Halo 2 are awesome. Each one brings something different to the table, and allows for even more multiplayer goodness. As of now, I haven't figured out how to get my XBOX online for some multiplayer gaming. (I can only system link with another XBOX because I modded mine and will not be allowed on XBOX Live)

But, I am going to make it work with something called XLinkKai. Basically, this is program is a piece of tunneling software. It allows me to share my computer's internet connection with my XBOX. I use the software to trick my box into thinking it is connected to another XBOX via systemlink, and can then play any systemlink game over the internet with other XLinkKai users. Not every game is supported, but Halo 2 is!

When I get this to work, I will report back . . .

Hello again! I just got back into town, after spending the weekend down in NY with my Mom and the family. I am very tired now from the drive, but wanted to blog briefly so as not to lose another whole day.

This weekend, in addition to seeing the family and nailing down my plans for grad school, I saw two new movies - Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and Wedding Crashers. Both were fun movies, but I must recommend one over the other.

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory was good. The production value was very high, and many of the characters (both main and supporting) were exceptional in their parts. Tim Burton is an absolute genius, and his directing style seems to perfectly fit the style of the story that Roald Dahl wrote. The movie was only soured for me in terms of plot. Without saying too much, roughly 2/3 of the way through the movie the plot deviates sharply from both the original Gene Wilder movie and the book that both films are based upon. I really don't want to go into too much detail here, as I think anyone who is reading this would probably like to see it for themselves. I will just say that I would have gone a different way with the latter part of the movie, and leave it at that.

Wedding Crashers is much different. First of all, let me say that I didn't really look into this movie much before I went to see it. I wasn't expecting much - I just wanted to see a comedy with Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn. I just assumed it was a PG13 affair, with some raunchy humor, and of course some great Christopher Walken bits. Was I wrong! First off, the movie is rated R, and let me say there is plenty of T&A in the movie, right from the get go. The humor is over the top, but almost always on the mark. And, the plot, while a little lacking in the middle, is helped immensely by the improvisation I'm sure both main actors used. I was laughing my ass off through much of the movie. And, as a final little teaser, I just want to say that there is an excellent cameo towards the end. I won't give away who, but will say that the cameo totally seals the deal on this funny, funny movie.

I recommend both movies. But, I recommend Wedding Crashers more than Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I always like to see matinees, to save the money on ticket prices, but will say this - Charlie is much better if you are paying matinee price to see it, but Wedding Crashers would be a good bet regardless. Until tomorrow . . .

I was thinking about something earlier today, in preparation for seeing the new Willy Wonka picture tomorrow. Where are all the great authors I remember as a child? I've read almost every Roald Dahl book, and they were all incredible. The same with authors like Asimov, Stephen King, and Philip K. Dick. I read so many books when I was younger - I devoured them.

I would find an author I liked, and get every book I could. The same with music. I liked one Barenaked Ladies album, so I bought the rest. I liked one Ben Harper album, so I bought the rest, and so on. It was great to find myself suddenly immersed in so much new stuff - be it books, or music, or even movies. But it was too much too fast. What was I to do when I read all the books by a particular author, or had heard all the albums from a particular artist?

I found myself in a strange realization - There was a finite amount of new material, and eventually I could find myself having exhausted all of a given source. Like overfarming a parcel of land, I wasn't spreading myself out enough. I started reading the various Star Wars novels set before and after the movies. There were dozens of books. And, in the span of several years, I read them all. I got used to reading so many of them one after the other; that, I felt let down when I picked up the newest book, read it in just a few days, and then had to wait months for the next book. It was a strange feeling.

I am going through the same now, with tv shows like 24 and Lost. It is great to be able to watch so much of these shows, especially in a row. I know that I am experiencing them differently than a first time watcher. I don't have to wait a week for the next episode. But, as I ravenously watch my way through the 4 seasons of this show, I can't help but know that the end of the latest season is coming up soon. This 'on-demand' media craze of late, has me leaning in two directions.

Being able to access and entire season's worth of tv at my leisure seems to fly in the face of the current tv programming paradigm. Why wait each week for a new episode, and have to schedule myself around a tv schedule at all? With Tivo, DVD collections, and the internet, I make my own tv programming. I know I'm not the only person who skips live tv in favor of watching shows on my time. It would seem that the current 'on-demand' culture would almost spell the death of innovation in media and the arts. The movie industry is definitely hurting, with reports of sales drops at theatres all over fro months on end now. Big-name blockbuster movies can't even seem to prop the industry up. And, the new fad of having almost 10 minutes of commercials followed by a similar amount of previews doesn't make it any better.

For myself, I see it as a slap in the face. I already paid for a ticket (which has gotten pretty expensive as it is), but even so I have to sit through ads so the studios can make even more money. No wonder, people don't go to the movies anymore. The fact that the studios are releasing movies onto DVD only months after theatre release doesn't help either. Every change the studios enact to better the situation, only seems to be another nail in the coffin, as it were. But, even with all this, I don't think it's the end of creation in media. I just think the middleman is about to be cut out.

I think the pilot of the new show Global Frequency is an excellent example, The show has never aired on tv, and yet still has a large following. Why do we need tv studios airing content 24/7, when we can get it ourselves. Instead of shooting individual episodes for weekly airing, maybe studios will instead shoot several at a time for immediate release onto DVD or digital release straight to the consumer. The home experience for movies is oftentimes more compelling than the theater too. With people owning flat-panel plasma displays in excess of 50 inches for less than 5 grand, why even bother with the movies? Throw in a theater-style popcorn maker, and a distinct lack of forced ads, and your own home could beat a movie theater any day.

Our IPODs let us choose our own music, and the order (or lack thereof) in which we listen to it. The internet changes the way we get our news and information. And DVD has changed the way we watch tv shows and movies. I love it. I love being in control of my media, and can only imagine what great things are coming next.

Sorry to all of you - I didn't really have a point when I started this post, and I'm not sure I found one by the end either. Oh well, I guess there's always tomorrow's post . . .

There's a funny thing about writing. I procrastinate when I'm thinking about doing it. But, once I actually start, I find it quite hard to stop. As if, once I start releasing the thoughts from my brain, the flow is never-ending.

I enjoy writing for one simple reason - I love to read. And, when I create a story, I enjoy seeing where my characters are going to go. When I write, it is almost as if my conscious mind is unaware of what is coming until it's on the page (or screen). It is almost as much fun for me to write a new story, as it is to read a story from one of the great authors. Oftentimes, I find myself pleasantly surprised by the ideas that spew from my mind.

I use my writing as a cathartic, therapeutic tool as well. I write stories about time traveling to the past, to examine issues regarding mistakes and correcting them. I write stories about time traveling to the future, to envision moving beyond problems in the now and towards a better tomorrow. I write stories about situations other than my own, to do just that - envision a life other than my own. This doesn't mean I don't want to live my life, or that I'm generally unhappy with the situations of my life (although I could do with a better job and more money ;) - like everyone), just that I like to imagine and dream. It's why I play videogames. It's why I see movies. And, it's why I write.

I am a dreamer.

I wouldn't be who I am if I didn't write. Not everyone writes. Some people paint, some people sculpt, and some people work out. The point is, that it is my sincere hope that for all of you out there, that if you haven't found what helps you yet - that you will soon.

And now, I am going to watch another episode of 24 season 2 (only 6 to go!)

Just a brief post for today, actually a question to ponder really. And, here it is:

If all I want to do is feel like I have accomplished something, then why does doing absolutely nothing all day feel so damn good?

Any thoughts on this one . . . ?

24 Season 2 Update: The crisis has been averted, but a new one has arisen in its place. The country is still very much in danger. Kim is danger (when isn't she though) for completely separate reasons. And, Jack Bauer is still a bad ass mofo. I'll say it again . . . BEST SHOW EVER. That is all.

I will be the first to admit that I'm stubborn and more than a little lazy. I'm kind of unique in that I can stubbornly refuse to accept new things, while being an early adopter of others. I waited for 13 hours outside a Best Buy to get a PS2 when it first came out and I have the new PSP (which I got on the first day of release). I've followed shows like Smallville since before they even aired to the last episode of the most recent season.

But, I have been slow to accept other things of the same kind, as well. I didn't get an XBOX until well over a year and several price drops later. I didn't start watching 24 until the 3rd season, and I've only watched one or two episodes of Lost. As good as being an early adopter is, I've found that waiting is sometimes better. Waiting to watch the first 2 seasons of 24 until now means I get to watch all of the episodes at once (or at least several at a time - even I can't sit in front of the TV for that long), experiencing on my own time and at my own speed. Having just finished the first season of 24 I have to admit it is one of the best shows I have ever watched. Watching all of the episodes at once makes some of the drama and suspense feel overly staged/manufactured. But still - awesome!

I have to admit that I would have loved watching this show from the beginning, and as much as I enjoy watching the first season now, I think it would have been fun to see it when it was new. So, in the spirit of learning that perhaps I should have adopted this trend a little sooner, I want to share some of my favorite new shows from this past year that some of you may have missed. (Still don't know if anyone is reading this, because there aren't any comments . . .)


Without further ado, here are my picks from last season/this season of tv:

Grey's Anatomy: Just what everyone needs, another medical drama. But, this mid-season show is really very good. It involves a few young new doctors and the hospital they work in. All of them have just finished medical school, and find themselves now on the lowest rungs of a completely new ladder. Beyond the setting and the tone (which is serious but lighthearted at the same time), the cast is top-notch. Sandra Oh (from Sideways and Dancing at the Blue Iguana), Katherine Heigl (from Roswell and Under Seige 2), and Patrick Dempsey (do I really have to tell you what he's been in???) are the big names in the cast, but everyone is truly phenomenal. Watch the 9 episodes from this past spring, and get ready for great things from this show in the fall.


Numb3rs: Again, this new show treads on very familiar ground - the cop drama - but it does so in a new way. The focus is always on how math can be applied to solve whatever problem occurs that week. I know how that sounds, but the show is truly excellent. The cast is full of big names, and the plots and presentation are superb. The main characters are 2 brothers, one an FBI agent the other a math professor, and their retired father. Rob Morrow (from Northern Exposure and Quiz Show) and David Krumholtz (from Ray, 10 Things I Hate About You, and Slums of Beverly Hills) play the two brothers, and Judd Hirsch (of Taxi and Independence Day) plays their dad. The supporting cast also includes Sabrina Lloyd (from Sliders and Sports Night) and Peter MacNicol (from Ally McBeal and Ghostbusters II), and don't get me started on the weekly guest stars - Lou Diamond Phillips and Doogie Howser! (sorry, I meant Neil Patrick Harris) Check out some of the excellent shows from this past year while you're waiting for this season to start off with a bang.


Global Frequency: This one isn't exactly a show you could watch. It's an unaired pilot for a show based an a comic book. It has been released on the internet, and is making big waves even though it was never actually shown to a tv audience. If you can find it (can't tell you how here - but feel free to email me for more info) it is a quite enjoyable show, and appears to have a lot of potential - if the studio execs ever really give it a chance . . .

Why Life = Suck



As I left for work today, I found out (much to my chagrin) that my tire had gone flat overnight. But, with a quick call to AAA, all was made right again. Or Not. First I was informed that my AAA membership had expired, and unless I renewed by credit card over the phone, they wouldn't come to help me. So I plunk down some money, and the tow truck comes by about 40 minutes later. At which point, I found out my new car did not come with a spare tire! So, the guy was nice enough to tow me to Sears Auto to purchase a replacement.

The man at Sears sold me a new tire. Except, they didn't have my exact tire in stock. So, I bought a slightly smaller tire for now, and ordered the correct one (which should arrive in a few days). All in all, I guess it could have been worse - at least I'll end up with an almost full-size spare tire when all is said and done. To better illustrate my day, I will use mastercard logic:

Renewing my AAA membership so someone would tow my car: $54 Dollars
A new tire slightly smaller than the old one: $87 Dollars
Another new tire, but in the correct size: $104 Dollars
A bag of pretzels and a Pepsi while I waited: $2 Dollars

Spending almost a quarter of my paycheck the day after I get it: Priceless

I was going to talk about some new computer games and 24 today, but I am still feeling bitter, so I'll leave those for tomorrow I guess . . .

The Not-So Fantastic Four . . .

Well, I saw the Fantastic Four movie earlier today, and it was not as good as I had hoped. It definitely wasn't Dolph Lundgren - Punisher bad (not by any means), but definitely not up to the same level as Batman Begins either. The effects were awesome, the characters looked great, and the action sequences (the few that were anyway) were handled well. But, the overall plot was somewhat lacking and much of what there was was overly contrived and what I liked to call 'hollywood-ized' by the studio.

In the first Batman movie, the only real problem I had with it was the plot line that intimated that the Joker was the one who killed Bruce Wayne's parents. It's not the way the comics went, and it felt like something to neatly tie the whole movie together, to bookend it if you will. It was obviously a mistake, since it was fixed by the events in Batman Begins. The Spider-Man movies had a similar situation regarding Peter Parker's webshooters (or lack thereof). In the comics, Peter developed a web-fluid and the wrist mounted devices to use it. It allowed for plot twists, like running out of fluid at a key moment or not having his web shooters on him when he wasn't planning on suiting up, etc. etc. The movies have the webs as something he secretes from behind his palm, organically, and it has always bothered me. Similarly, in Fantastic Four, Dr. Doom was not only included in the accident which gave the four their powers, but he was also given powers himself. Doom never had any superhuman abilities (except for the whole magic angle they oftentimes went back to), instead relying on his intellect, his armor, and his many robots and devices/weapons. It just irks me I guess, when something is clearly set up to help round out the story of a movie, while at the same time flying directly in the face of the original works the movie is based on.

Regardless of all that though, I enjoyed the movie. I think some of the actor choices were excellent. Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm/The Thing works great, Chris Evans really epitomizes Johnny Storm. Human Torch, and I can't help but like Jessica Alba as the Invisible Girl (It could just be that she is smoking hot . . .) too. As bad as rottentomatoes rates it, and as bad as some people are reviewing it - I have to admit that it was fun. Unlike some movies I've seen that make me feel like I wasted my time, I enjoyed this one. It was a fun summer movie, and that's all there is to it I guess.

Well, since I committed to writing something every day, and I'm always on the web - I thought I should try and combine both together.

As blogs go, I don't yet know what I want to make of mine. I'm sure I'll add some interesting links I find in my travels (everybody else seems to), talk about current events (or at least the events that are current to me), and basically give my opinions about anything and everything (somebody must want to hear my views and - wait - I don't even know if anyone will read this . . .)

For today, I guess I'll focus on some music. Recently, my Ipod died and I got a new 30 gig photo model. I have had to replace most of the music I once had, as I kept forgetting to back up the files on there until it was too late. (Bad Joe!) And, since the player is relatively empty (at least until I get around to re-ripping just about all of my CDs) I have started looking for new music to add to my collection. Two albums in particular have really stood out - Jamiroquai's Dynamite & Flipsyde's We The People - they are really good, and I recommend both. The Jamiroquai has a great funky electro-disco vibe on several songs (I think the first track "Feels like it should" is my favorite right now), while the Flipsyde album infuses some great latin/spanish guitar into their hip-hop sound (check out "US History" and "Someday" to see what I mean . . .)

I guess that's it for day one. Tomorrow I'll talk about the new Fantastic Four movie I'm going to see, and maybe some video games as well . . .