salty sweet

Desplat does Harry Potter

2010-11-08T13:58:00.001-06:00

The Harry Potter film franchise, in my opinion, has died its slow death. I was so angry at the last film, I vowed to not see the next films in the theater. In fact, I may wait until the second part gets to DVD before even watching the first part. Along with its death came the murder of its soundtrack. Half-Blood Prince was simply so awful, no offense to Nicolas Hooper, I did not even buy it. That is saying a lot for a girl who buys soundtracks like they were cookies.

All of that being said, I decided to listen to Alexandre Desplat's tour and was proven once again that film music is my love. Desplat added wonder back into the score. He added deep, dark tones that brought forth emotion. The score is not riddled with themes but I feel a sense of hope again. Maybe the score can even convince me to actually go and see the movie.

Sherlock!

2010-11-08T13:51:00.000-06:00

I love when I find show gems. This one comes in the form of PBS Masterpiece Classic a part of the PBS Masterpiece series, aired three 90 minute episodes of this stellar series on Sundays and has it available for online viewing in its entirety.

"Sherlock" is a modern retelling of Sherlock Holmes and his faithful sidekick John Watson. One would think that bringing Sherlock into modern day would kill the effect of Holmes, the genius investigator. After all, who needs Holmes when computers and CSI do all the work. But the series uses this to its advantage and the flash of technology we see in the show is so understated and brief that we are still enamored when Holmes does his thing. And boy, does he do his thing and do it well. Benedict Cumberbatch has charisma in spades and his Sherlock is fast, superior, and fun. The final episode of the three was a great study into his mind and emotions highlighting the amazing relationship of Sherlock and Watson, played by Martin Freeman. Simply put, the extraordinary duo completely make the show and I am reminded of the better years of the re-envisioning of "Doctor Who".

"Sherlock" is slated to air new episodes in the Fall of 2011 and it will be really hard to wait that long.

psych

2010-09-12T11:50:00.000-05:00

Okay, there are a lot of shows which make me laugh out loud. But Pysch is, by far, the best. With its quick quips and pop culture references, the dialog never stops. The characters are quirky and the premise is just plan fun. The romance aspect is subtle and very satisfying. And the episodic nature means a contained hour of laughter and happy ending. Finally, the best part, the opening credits including its opening theme song is often changed to match the plot of the episode, including a bollywood version, a chinese version, an a capella version, and the list goes on. The fact that the creators deem these little details makes it all the more entertaining. Oh, and one other thing, there is at least one pineapple in each episode. Thanks to http://psychpineapple.com/ you can find all of these.

On a similar note, kudos to USA networks who use their quirky show characters for promotion in commercial crossovers. I never tire of the fun aspect of this.

evolution of naruto and ichigo

2010-08-21T09:55:00.001-05:00

I have had a chance to catch up on some good anime, Naruto: Shippuuden and Bleach thanks mostly in part to my long stay in Taiwan and crunchyroll. Anyway, both have come very far and though I know most have abandoned Bleach for its awful filler stories but the remerge with the original story has been fun in its usual drawn out, multi episode craziness. Both Ichigo and Naruto have gone through significant changes, tremendously increasing their strength and surviving the battles mostly unscathed, though Ichigo did die (again) at one point. But I still enjoy the characters, especially Naruto where I feel we have finally come to a denouement years in the making. Since I have caught up, I have also updated the Bleach title cards with a lovely slide show if you want to sit through all 277.

chinese tones

2010-06-19T11:24:00.003-05:00

I head to Taiwan in a few weeks. So I am self teaching myself a bit of Chinese. In this language, it is all about the tones, inflecting the voice to go up, down, or up and down. This is terribly difficult for me who puts a lot of natural inflection in my voice when speaking. It is a constant battle of repeating exactly what I heard and not raising my voice to indicate a question. Thank goodness no one is in the car listening to me.

2010 World Cup

2010-06-19T11:04:00.003-05:00

Oh how I love soccer, the beautiful players playing the beautiful game. This year's cup has been a bit strange. England has drawn for both of its opening games. Spain lost its first game. Germany lost its second game. And the US actually has a chance of making it to the next round. Apparently the African teams want to show off their chests as all of them are wearing tight fitting shirts. ESPN just figured out that they should put the team colors on the ever present score bar. And finally, the universal sign for "that was a nice pass but I missed it" is a thumbs up. I look forward to second half of group stage.

driving to the end of Texas

2010-06-19T10:41:00.005-05:00

After my mother pointed me toward a performance of The Secret Garden in Corpus Christi, TX I decided to drive down and quench my need to see it again. For those of you who do not know, Corpus Christi is on the southeastern coast of Texas, an inlet on the Corpus Christi Bay in from the Gulf of Mexico. I drove down IH-35 to IH-10 and finally to IH-37 (a highway on which I had never driven) all the way to exit number 1, seemingly the end of Texas. It was hot but I walked along the bay for a little while. The show was good for what it was able to do but there was no live orchestra so timing was an issue and the scene changes were choppy so they provided a lot of distraction. I always viewed them as happy narrators of the story but maybe I had forgotten how very creepy the ghosts of the story were. In the end, the show was not great but it did fill a gap and it was fun to drive to that part of Texas.

Star Wars in Concert

2010-06-19T09:28:00.008-05:00

I know it does not say much to be a Star Wars fan these days but I am one. I used to watch the movies over and over again on a worn out copy video taped from television. I know the characters, have read books in the extended universe and have played the video games. I would say I am an above average fan.

That being said, I am a geek for the music. I own the Original Soundtrack Anthology and can sing almost every note by heart from both the original and prequel films. I count them as one of my top five favorite soundtracks, probably top three. So I was lucky to have been paying attention when I saw that the touring Star War s in Concert was coming to Austin and on my birthday. I bought myself a floor seat and had little expectations give it was in a basketball arena.
Boy was I surprised. First, there was an entire exhibit in the halls prior to the concert itself complete with costumes and props from the movies, picture taking opportunities with a live stormtrooper and R2D2, and the highlight, a copy of the original hand written score. I bought myself an R2D2 tote bag and went to sit and listen to the warm up.
While waiting, there were intermittent sound effects being played over the speakers: Darth Vader's breathing, Chewbacca's growl, a tie fighter fly by. And this was my first hint that the sound was going to be amazing. The orchestra complete with full choir were on a riser and the size was enormous since there are a large number of unique instruments needed for some of those eccentric sounds of Star Wars. Surrounding the orchestra were, what I imagine, speakers on stands but they had bright circular lights which we learned later could change color and added an impressive effect to the show. The high definition LED screen was centered above the orchestra in such a way that there was no bad seat. I have since read it is the size of an IMAX screen and built especially for the touring concert.

The opening was perfect starting with the "20th Century Fox" theme and the "Main Titles" as every Star Wars film does. We are introduced to Anthony Daniels, who played C3PO and was the narrator of the even. He was perfect, expressing the exact dramatic tone and joking about the intelligence of Threepio and his impact on the saga. The first half contained the main themes and also music from the prequels and though the prequel films are less stellar than the original films, the music is definitely a strong rival. While the music plays, images and sometimes full scenes from the movies are played on the screen, sometimes with dialog but most of the time without. I have to say, I am a sucker for the slow motion image combined with the sweeping orchestral score. Needless to say, this concert made my heart swell. The second half contained mostly the original film music and added a laser show. The lights, the film images on the huge screen, and above all, the sound. For an arena that was not built for sound, I felt like I was in a theater with THX. I could hear all the instruments perfectly and there was no distortion or high timbre echo. It was without a doubt, amazing and completely made my birthday.

end of an era

2010-06-19T07:04:00.009-05:00

Two incredible tv series came to an end this past May. Two tv series which changed the face of television. Both had novel storytelling, astronomical production values, and memorable characters. Both captured the audience for multiple seasons and created ample fodder for the water cooler. Both have been at the top of my favorites list since they began.

No one character has held my attention for so long as Jack Bauer. Sutherland's portrayal of the John Wayne of terrorism kept me involved in every "24" season. When he was on the screen I screamed yippee ki yay and when he was not, I cringed. The plots were typically unbelievable and I honestly lost track of them not because of their complication but because I did not care. The show's signature premise of events happening in real time became second hand at the end and someone, somewhere must have a list of the number of times Jack was shot, stabbed, tortured, or killed. But his heart was true, his patriotism unbending, and his strength beyond words. It was fitting that he wavered at the end and that Chloe was his anchor back to the Jack we know and love. There were other characters through the years for which I also had some love namely Chloe, Tony, Aaron Pierce but I will miss Jack above all. Goodbye.

The phenomenon of "Lost" was great to say the least. The intertwining of flashbacks, flash forwards, and flash sideways to life on the island was clever and entertaining. That and the characters were either love-able or hate-able. I enjoyed the ending episodes though I cried when Jin and Sun died. The end was satisfying, answering most of the questions with fantastical yet believable elements and closing the circle with the return of most of the main characters. That was my favorite part even above the heaven and redemption portions. I will miss the characters and beauty of the show. Goodbye.

The one thing I will miss most of all is the beautiful, thematic music of Sean Callery's "24" and Michael Giacchino's "Lost". Not many shows get full season soundtracks but both of these have had multiple soundtracks released and I proudly count them in my collection and frequently heard. With these I can relive the shows forever.

that crazy gemini thing

2010-06-19T06:58:00.003-05:00

No posts since April. That is so not good for me. I use this blog as a way of getting those nagging thoughts out of my head. Being a gemini, thoughts flitter and fling often enough and about several different topics. As such, I am going to have several posts in a row to try and calm that crazy gemini thing of mine.

tvotomy

2010-04-16T08:17:00.001-05:00

"I watch a lot of tv." It seems I use that sentence a lot and lately watching it has become just that, a chore. For a show to be of interest to me it has to have two things, good characters or a good premise. Shows with both of them are not to be missed. I think the best example is the upcoming premiere of "Doctor Who" where the main character is just too fun and the extended plot is never dull. For me, a similar story could be said of many of the scifi shows that I watch but also shows like "Mentalist" or the reasonably unknown winter run of "Human Target". When a show starts out with good characters but then draws on and on, I lose all interest and patience. Added to this is the fact that when I DVR, I have to watch it so it is cleared from the list. (that whole checking off the list thing). So I have dropped several popular shows because I just can not stand the characters or stories anymore and this has made my DVR attention span very happy. Goodbye "Desperate Housewives", "Brothers & Sisters", "Parenthood", "Grey's Anatomy", and "V". "Flash Forward" is definitely on my short list too.

On a similar note, "Ugly Betty" ran its series finale on Wednesday. I came to enjoy this show even when the story lagged because of Marc and Amanda who never ceased to make me laugh. The ending was fitting and touching. I enjoyed its four years and do not regret sticking with it.

Mimacs à tire-larigot

2010-03-14T08:20:00.002-05:00

Non stop shenanigans, that is basically the title and it was a lot of fun. A new level compared with Amélie, Jeunet takes an orphan, mixes him with a circus of quirky people, and comes out with a colorful piece of cinematography with Dany Boone leading the charge. I must say SXSW was lucky to have Jeunet but I was even more lucky to be able to get in and see the film in the beautiful Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin. I am now eagerly awaiting the DVD so I can watch it again and catch all the information and fun antics placed on the screen. If you see it showing near you, go see it. You will not be disappointed.

on repeat: Green Bird and ELM

2010-03-14T08:18:00.001-05:00

I have some obscure soundtracks. The official Lucas Arts soundtrack to the game Grim Fandango comes to mind. Typically these soundtracks tend to be my favorites. With a little bit of my bonus I went ahead and purchased all the soundtracks to the anime "Cowboy Bebop", exporting them from Japan so I know they would not be bootlegs. On the second soundtrack are two of my very favorite tracks of all time. It is the part in the anime, some of the best anime can deliver, where Spike is falling out of the church window and remembering his past life in episode 5, The Ballad of the Fallen Angels. The breaking glass, the falling rose petals, the sepia tones and the song Green Bird has no equal. Solely voice and piano, this haunting melody fits the perfect scene with perfect music. The language is kind of made up or from an interview with Kanno Yoko, a mixture of English and Latin. The actual lyrics can not be found. After that track, and I am not sure why but the pairing is delicious, is a funny song call ELM. It does not bring the vivid images of the anime but I love the simple and fun La La La. They are on repeat so I can enjoy over and over both the song and the memory of my first time with this anime.

requiescat in pace

2010-01-30T07:39:00.006-06:00

The subject of this post has roots in too much Assassin's Creed 2. But the sentiment is still there. I am by no means a J. D. Salinger fan but I remember reading Catcher in the Rye in high school. More than that, I remember enjoying it and that is something to be said for a girl into math and science and one who dreaded English classes. When I heard that he had died, I dug out a piece of paper I had hidden in one of my prized possessions, an small Italian missalette which I think was owned by either my grandfather or grandmother. Tucked away in this small treasured book was a folded piece of loose leaf ruled paper dated 28 May 1992 on which are quotes, complete with page numbers, that I enjoyed from Catcher in the Rye and that I had rewritten several times in order to make my lousy handwriting legible. I list them here as tribute to someone who gave me some joy in boring literature classes. Thanks.

You can't stop a teacher when they went to do something. They just do it. p.11
You take a very handsome guy, or a guy that thinks he's a real hot-shot and they're always asking you to do them a big favour. p. 27
You take a really smart girl, and half the time she is trying to lead you around the dance floor. p. 70
You don't always have to get too sexy to know a girl. p. 76
... but he looked like the kind of guy that wouldn't talk to you much unless he wanted something off you. p. 78
They [fish] get frozen right in one position for the whole winter. p. 82
Do you happen to know where they [ducks] go in the winter time? p. 82
People are always ruing things for you. p. 87
I said I knew He picked them [Disciples] but that he picked them at random. p. 99
Catholics are always trying to find out if you're Catholic. p. 112
Every time you mention some guy that's strictly a bastard - very mean or very conceited and all - she'll tell you he has an inferiority complex. p. 135
You take adults, they look lousy when they're asleep and they have their mouths way open, but kids don't. Kids look all right. p. 159
What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff... I'd just be the catcher in the rye. p. 179
Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody. p. 214
I have a kid sister that's only in the goddam fourth grade. You're about as good as she is and she can dance better than anybody living or dead.

the good doctor

2010-01-06T19:56:00.007-06:00

After three seasons, "Doctor Who" gets a new face. I have watched the revamped series since the debut with Christopher Eccleston. The premise is wonderful, creating memorable episodes yet keeping you interested in the greater story. Above all, the doctor character makes the show and Eccleston was pretty good. But I adored David Tennant. He always seemed to relish being the doctor and his portrayal was spot on, having a little too much fun in the average person's misery but always saving the day. In his heartbreaking parting, the beautiful and bittersweet relationships he has seen ended were captured in lovely unspoken scenes. The end of the era and the beginning of a new one. I am wary that the new doctor can live up to the best doctor the show has seen.

on repeat: creeque alley

2010-01-06T19:56:00.005-06:00

I love the Mamas and the Papas, their folksiness, harmonies, and fun lyric - rhythm combinations. This week is their "Creeque Alley" a biographical song which is enormously fun with which to sing along. The rhyming Zally golly and sophmore Swathmore are just too much fun not to sing at the top of my lungs. Check it out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creeque_alley

the last of the airbenders

2009-12-03T07:29:00.001-06:00

If you did not know, I am a huge fan of the animated series, "Avatar: The Last Airbender". It is such a well developed story and has very impressive art. So I was happy to hear that Shymalan is directing the film. I am not so keen on his writing the film as his last few attempts have left little to be desired. But it clear from the trailer that the look of the film will do the series justice. I want to see more bending to make sure it feels right but so far I am happy. 2010 can not come quick enough.

on repeat: a not so grim fandango

2009-12-02T11:14:00.004-06:00

As the holidays roll in and my repeats will be consumed with my favorites I have taken some time for another favorite. The score to the Lucas Arts game, Grim Fandango by Peter McConnell. The byline of this album is big band, bebop, and bones and there is no better description. Jazzy with a Spanish flair, I have tried to find other albums that have grabbed me so but have yet to be successful. The entire album is a pleasure to listen to but my favorite track has to be "Ninth Heaven". With memories of trying to solve puzzles with my brother and mother and the fact that I named my computers and local network from its characters, Grim Fandango, holds a very special place in my heart. The score only serves to fill it with joy over and over again.

monk

2009-11-28T11:49:00.004-06:00

I have watched all eight seasons since its inception. I loved Tony Shalhoub in Big Night and on "Wings". And while the plots are mostly predictable, the attention to whatever phobias and disorders Monk possess in each and every episode has put it at the top of my need to watch first list since 2002. The classic example is the first episode of season two. Monk substitutes in a school. He starts the class by writing his name on the board and the episode spends at least five or six minutes on Monk making sure that his letters are even and perfect. And the show continuously devotes that time. There are times when it is downright hilarious and times when it is not so funny but the continuity is welcome. "Monk" is coming to an end and I have been waiting for a lovely tribute from USA network, one of those montages put to music. Alas, nothing because USA decided to go for the celebrity send off. I could not live without my thanks to a beloved show. Thanks, Monk. It has been grand.

love that german castle

2009-11-28T11:48:00.002-06:00

Fun stamps received this week from postcrossing.com. A German castle and the holiday stamps have begun.

movie quotes

2009-11-18T16:38:00.000-06:00

I read an old bulletin board post of mine. Since it was a list of quotes I love, I thought I would share.

Buffy: Does the word, 'duh' mean anything to you?
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

NASA Director: This could be the worst disaster NASA's ever faced.
Gene Kranz: With all due respect, sir, I believe this is gonna be our finest hour.
Apollo 13 (1995)

Winston Zeddemore: Ray, when someone asks if you're a God, you say "Yes"!
Ghost Busters (1984)

Kent Mansley: Hey there, scout! Kent Mansley, I work for the government.
The Iron Giant (1999) - love you, Kent!

I will go there and back again - from "In Dreams"

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Spot Conlon: I say... that what you say... is what I say.
Newsies (1992)

Lady Eboshi: What exactly are you here for?
Prince Ashitaka: To see with eyes unclouded by hate.
Mononoke Hime (1997)

Willow: See this acorn? I'll throw it at you and turn you to stone!
Madmartigan: Ooh, I'm really scared. Help! There's a peck with an acorn pointed at me!
Willow (1998)

Sorsha: What are you looking at?
Madmartigan: Your leg. I'd like to break it
Willow (1998)

Red: I hope...
Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Captain Malcolm Reynolds: Dear Buddha, please bring me a pony and a little plastic rocket...
Serenity (2005)

Jayne: You know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with until you understand who's in ruttin' command here...
"Firefly" (2002)

Hipolito: We pass the time of day to forget how time passes.
Le Fabuleux destin d'Amelie Poulain (2001)

Mathilda: Is life always this hard, or is it just when you're a kid?
Léon: Always like this.
Léon (The Professional) (1994)

Mathilda: I don't wanna lose you, Leon."
Léon: You're not going to lose me. You've given me a taste for life. I wanna be happy. Sleep in a bed, have roots. And you'll never be alone again, Mathilda.
Léon (The Professional) (1994)

Leeloo: Leeloo Dallas mul-ti-pass.
The Fifth Element (1997)

David Huxley: When a man is wrestling a leopard in the middle of a pond, he's in no position to run.
Bringing Up Baby (1938)

Tracy Lord: Oh, I'm such an unholy mess of a girl.
C. K. Dexter Haven: Well, now, that's not conversation.
The Philadelphia Story (1940)

volunteer dream

2009-11-18T13:53:00.000-06:00

I do not do much volunteer work. I tutor eight grade math and help out with my sorority's foundation. But I found something I really enjoy, libraries. My local public library is looking for volunteers to reshelve books and for me, this is an organizational dream. Hopefully they will have need of me and I can relish the time in a place that I love.

on repeat: Secret Garden

2009-10-20T20:55:00.003-05:00

"Mary Lennox, for as long as you will have us, we are yours, Colin and I, and this is your home, and this, my lovely child, is your garden!" ~ Archibald Craven, The Secret Garden, winner of the 1991 Tony Award for Best Musical plus five other Tonys.

Oh, my brother is really going to hate this one. I fell in love with this broadway show when I first saw it in 1992 in New York City. The enchanting story and the harmonious score combined with the amazing voices of Mandy Patinkin and Rebecca Luker as Archibald and Lily are the perfect fit for one of my favorite childhood novels. After hearing and seeing it only once, I begged a friend to make me a copy on two cassettes which I played endlessly to its utter demise. I continue to play The Secret Garden on roadtrips or whenever I become depressed. It is such a lovely tale with such a great ending that it never fails to pick me up. With the most recent purchase to replace a former scratched CD, it has been on constant play in my car. My only regret is that I have only seen this show once. Frequently checked online, the show never seems to be playing near me. Hopefully, I shall see it again.

beautiful chinese stamps

2009-10-11T11:14:00.002-05:00

Some recent additions

on repeat: running to stand still

2009-09-13T08:57:00.000-05:00

"Running to Stand Still" on U2's Joshua Tree. How can you not love Bono singing "la la la de day" and lyrics like "cry without weeping, talk without speaking, scream without raising your voice"? I love the ups and downs of this simple song mimicing the frustrations of a heroin addict.

that's quite a complex

2009-09-07T22:10:00.001-05:00

So what do I do on a four day weekend? Instead of the other five things that were on my list, I got involved in Shadow Complex, a very impressive game available for a $15 download on Xbox Live Arcade. After finally beating it, I would have paid $50 for this game. Shadow Complex takes 2D gaming to a new level, having 3D images and even 3D combat but the ability only to move up, down, right, or left. It is called 2.5D and it was so much fun.

The story is supporting material for Orson Scott Card's Empire novels, the original "Empire" and the upcoming sequel, "Hidden Empire". Jason is pulled reluctantly into some faction, called the Resurrection, who wish to 'liberate' San Fransico. In essence it is military first person shooter and while I typically do not like games which shoot actual people (aliens fine, bugs even better) the faceless victims did not bother me over much.

Besides the beautiful graphics, there are two other things about this game that make it prime. First, as you gain experience by doing normal things: running, jumping, shooting, etc you level up and your precision increases. By the end, shooting is so easy, you can spend the time you need to do the second fun thing: find all the stuff. The map is rendered in colored sections showing doors, locked or necessitating a weapon and as you move by computer terminals, secret doors, shafts, and other wonderful things for which to search, packs to carry more weapons like grenades and missles, armor portions so you can jump higher or run faster. These are just some of things, the map is immense and there is a lot of backtracking to find all the goodies.

The only thing that bothered me somewhat was the re-rendered enemies even after a save room was hit. But because killing became so easy at the end, this was not really a big deal. There is a lot of play time in this little game and well worth the wasted time to play it. Along with Splosion Man, I am very much enjoying Xbox Live Arcade, finding the smaller games easier to manage and feel like it is money and time worth spent.

on repeat: gershwin and beethoven

2009-08-25T17:44:00.004-05:00

I finally got rid of some old records and not having a record player for a year, this was overdue. But there were two records which were incredibly hard to give up. Thankfully, they have been remastered on CD and I found them on half.com for a steal. The first is Beethoven's Seventh Symphony with André Prévin conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. I adore the Allegretto of this symphony. Its tragic, meloncholy melody bouncing from bass to violas, from violin to brass all accompanied with a unrelenting counterpoint. I listen to it over and over again anticipating its marchlike tread and loving every note.

The other record is Gershwin's Greatest Hits. Now I love the Gershwins, George especially. This album has three epitomizing piano pieces and each played by some of my favorite people. Leonard Bernstein plays "Rhapsody in Blue", Oscar Levant plays "Three Preludes", and André Prévin plays the third movement of the "Concerto in F". There are others on the CD but these three get played over and over again so that my love for the piano never ceases. Thank goodness I found both of these wondrous CDs.

prounce it oo-boon-too

2009-08-25T17:26:00.004-05:00

Speaking of gadgets, my next purchase is going to be a netbook. But because I work for a company who is entering the market with ARM and Linux support, I decided to reduce the cost by going the non-Microsoft route. But before I can do that, I have to make sure I can do everything I want on it. Enter Ubuntu, the easiest to install and fastest up and running Linux operating systems out there. It does everything for you so that with failure to like, you can still go back to that Microsoft machine. But you will like it. It is fast, secure, customizable, and has all that you need in clean, simple formats including productivity, web, music, video, and imaging. Of course, you have to learn a little unix but that is the fun part. The biggest issues I had were setting up the network, not getting my wireless to work but just getting it to see all the other wireless items on my network. The other issue was financial software. This is the only actual software that I use that is not online and I worried that I would have to stick with Quicken. Well, I found kmymoney2 which does all that Quicken does with a pretty easy learning curve. I am still ironing out the issues but so far, I find it a viable replacement. So long Microsoft.

the gadgets and me

2009-08-25T17:26:00.000-05:00

I admit it. I am a geek and I love new gadgets. But I have had two gadgets for quite some time that I believe are some of the best investments I have made. The first is my Synology DS207. This network access server proves its worth time and time again when I access this baby from my pc or linux system, my xbox 360, and now play through DLNA compliant using my bluray player all through a wireless connection. There is nothing better than not having to fiddle with large hard drive systems when you can install up to a TB standard hard drive into a box which holds two of them. Synology has loads of systems which can hold two, four, even 10 hard drives. And they provide the software, web access, and all the assistance in setting it up and having it run without trouble. I love it beyond words.

The second gadget I only got recently when I set up my new home system. My receiver with hdmi switching is a bit finicky in that sometimes the video does not come through. I have to turn on another device then switch back to get it working correctly. Enter Harmony all in one remotes and specifically the Harmony 550. This baby does everything with such customization that I put all my other remotes in a box, never to frown at them again. I need this one and my xbox 360 game controller from now until the end of time.

coming home to the asylum

2009-08-10T16:41:00.003-05:00

I have to say it looks deliciously fun. Click here for HD version

le tour de france

2009-07-08T17:54:00.001-05:00

I live in a pretty active city. All of these crazy people who love to do outdoorsy stuff like ride bikes for miles at a time, even in this heat. However, it is hard not to at least learn about it. Enter Le Tour de France. Hundreds of miles of impressive sportsmanship upon the luscious landscape of France. It is hard not to like it. Plus I can watch video or read headlines of the events in French and feel like I am practicing. Finally, the color is yellow, my favorite. It is who is wearing the yellow jersey that passes as news and with the bright sun keeping me indoors these days, Le Tour is a welcome relief.

journey of natty gann

2009-06-23T08:57:00.003-05:00

1985: John Cusack, Meredith Salinger, and a beautiful wolf. A very sweet movie about a girl looking for her father and finding adventure along the way, The Journey of Natty Gann, does not disappoint in emotion nor in music. I have had snipets of this score probably since my university days. Finally, finally, it has been released in a 2,500 limited edition from Intrada Records. Words do not express the wonderful themes from James Horner in his prime. I ordered it straight away.

anyone want to fry an egg?

2009-06-23T04:16:00.000-05:00

I know it is usually July when I start to complain and that the heat wave has spread across the country but this is ridiculous.

deux ans avec Harry

2009-06-20T19:25:00.007-05:00

It was two years ago, almost to the day, that I started Harry Potter in French. Today, I finished the last book with a sense of accomplishment as well as sadness that once again, Harry Potter has come to the end.

There are two reasons that I began this journey. The first and foremost is that I adore the Harry Potter series, its characters, the wonderment and fantastic story telling that each scene emits with each word. Not only that but rereading again, in any language, only serves to relive those favorite moments of mine.

The second reason was improve my French. With each read came comprehension, vocabulary, the ability to answer questions both written and orally. There is no substitute for this amount of learning and the fact that it was with books that I enjoy immensely only helped to enhance the experience. The French translation is beyond impressive. The fabricated names and spells were creative and sometimes better than the original English. And no detail was left out or glossed over.

So it is with a bitter sweet memory that my days of Harry Potter in French are over. I know that I will return once again in the future. Maintenant, au revoir Harry et merci pour tous les souvenirs.

anime songs on repeat

2009-06-15T19:32:00.000-05:00

Okay, here is where my very bizarre fancy for anime and geeky love of languages rear their ugly heads. On repeat this week are five anime songs of which I am learning the words, the Japanese words that is. One is from Miyazaki's Spirited Away called "Itsumo Nando Demo" which translates to "Always with You". I already know this song by heart and in learning it, learned how to make the sounds from the romaji translation. From there I went on to learn the "Princess Mononoke Theme Song" and the "Tatara Women Work Song" from Miyazaki's Mononoke Hime. However, with my recent purchase of Origin: Spirits of the Past soundtrack, I want to learn two more songs sung by Kokia, a popular pop artist and opera trained Japanese singer. The first is the opening song called "Chouwa Oto (with Reflection)" and is very fast with complicated vocals. The second is "Ai no Melody" which is just very very long. But I am eager to be able to sing without the words in front of me so I can hear it over and over in my head alone. Only then will my heart be satisfied.

shonen sunday anniversary stamps

2009-06-14T10:20:00.000-05:00

The latest stamp from my postcrossing.com trading. This is Pro Golfer Saru, a Shonen Sunday weekly manga part of the 50th Anniversary of Japanese Comic Books for Boys collection.

I take the plunge into blu ray

2009-06-14T08:18:00.000-05:00

Another birthday rolls around. Every year I typically splurge on something. This year was no exception. My home theater has been lacking for some time. The only true HD that I see on my beautiful 42" plasma is through the cable box. Even my xbox 360 is connected through component and not the hdmi of which it is capable. I also run most of the audio through my boring DVD player so that it will play on its cheap speakers.

Well, it was time for an upgrade and I went the whole way up. I chose the Sony DA2400ES which is an upper mid range receiver with four wonderful hdmi inputs and 7.1 capability. I chose Energy 5.1 Take Classic speakers but am still debating how to hook up the rear speakers because there is no place to hide wires in my apartment. I am considering the Rocketfish wireless rear system but have decided to put that on hold though it is on sale at Bestbuy. Finally, I chose the LG BD390 blu ray player which has internal wireless capability so I can stream from my network server and even from netflix watch instantly.

I also bought my first blu ray disc. Sword of the Stranger which will be released this Tuesday. Finally, I splurged on an imported CD of Origin: Spirits of the Past which has two of the best songs that I listen to over and over.

all songs considered

2009-05-30T08:40:00.000-05:00

It has been a while. Summer is rolling in and I have to get up even earlier so that I can walk around Town Lake when it is still comfortable outside. This morning, as I was listening to my regular podcasts, the NPR's All Songs Considered kept me fully entertained. It is so difficult to keep up with music and in Austin, with all the musicians trying to find their place, it is even more so. Still, this podcast is a great way for an introduction to recent music and this show was one of its best. It is a compilation of listeners and followers of the blog's favorite lesser known bands and a song is played from each the owner of the show deems worthy of time. Every band was one for which I would have gone to buy the CD, or at least downloaded a song or two. It made the walk fast and fun and I highly recommend the show.

ponyo in august

2009-05-12T09:01:00.001-05:00

Just in time for a cool dip, Miyazaki's Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea hits US theaters in August. There is no end to my excitement over this.

mad world

2009-05-07T09:14:00.000-05:00

On repeat this week is Roland Orzabal's "Mad World", the song in Donnie Darko. The score for this movie is twisted, as you can imagine, but the song is very repeatable. The melody is so simple, the lyrics even more so, and Gary Jules does a beautiful job on the vocals. I just can never get enough.

stamps from russia and china

2009-05-03T10:50:00.001-05:00

I do not collect them but I love getting them. My correspondents take note and some even comment. The man in the Russian stamp is Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut and the first human in space.

"can you help me with my computer?"

2009-04-28T14:57:00.001-05:00

http://supportdetails.com/

Very slick and very useful.

lost fathers

2009-04-20T20:51:00.001-05:00

Being a devoted Lost fan, I can not believe it took me this long to figure out the father theme that has splattered this series since its inception. Here is a list of dysfunctional fathers that I could come up with...

Jack's (and Clarie's) father, Christian Shepherd
Walt and his father, Michael
Hurley's father, David who left him when he was young
Jin's supposed fisherman father
Sun's organized crime father
Desmond's wife's father, Charles Widmore
Ben's father, Roger Linus
Mile's recent father revelation, Dr. Pierre Chang, director of the Dharma Project
Sawyer adopts the name of the man who conned his mother, a sort of father figure
Sayid's father, who was shown to be disappointed with weakness
Kate, who killed her abusive step father, later revealed to be her real father
turns out I forgot John Locke (I claim selective amnesia) who's father found him late in his life, got his kidney and then disappeared. He was later killed by Sawyer at the request of Locke himself. Sheesh, no wonder I wanted to forget (thanks, Christine!)

podcasts

2009-04-09T13:42:00.000-05:00

I listen to a lot of podcasts. What is not to love, abundance of free mp3 to pass the time while working out and on any topic you can name. For me it is all the anime, movies, tv, gaming, and french I can get and you can set it up to update itself and fill up your ipod by just plugging the darn thing in your computer. Seriously, how easy is that? One podcast that I would like to introduce to the world is one called movies you should see. A podcast based solely on films and hosted by four Brits. All types of movies ranging from whichever just won the Oscar to classic film such as 12 Angry Men. It is not technical but just prose on what works and what does not, the characters, setting, music, and mood. I enjoy their banter and their opinions, mainly because they say brilliant a lot. Whatever your tastes, this podcast is one I make sure I listen to every week. Check it out.

so inviting

2009-04-04T18:30:00.004-05:00

I have lived downtown for almost eight months now. For all that time, I have not had anything to sit on and enjoy the balcony with its amazing view. I guess I was waiting for the patio furniture to go on sale. Well the lovely weather beckoned and so I now have two lovely chairs and a table for reading or watching the city. Now that things are complete, my media cabinets are delivered and stocked and the patio now sports a tomato plant, all are invited to come and spend some time in Austin, the live music capital of the world. By the way, that is Elora, my orchid, on the table. The leaves fell and part of the upper stem died. I clipped the stem and opened the roots to air. Hopefully that and the slight drop in the temperature for the next few nights will allow it to bloom again. Note to self to take it out of the light in the morning!

spring break in Los Angeles

2009-04-04T18:19:00.004-05:00

I have been remiss in talking about my vacation with my brother in Los Angeles. I always assumed that LA was too flashy for me but honestly, it is much more down to earth. Of course, we braved the traffic to head downtown and see the hot spots in Hollywood. But then we drove up into the hills, Beverly Hills that is, and my mouth dropped at the gorgeous palm tree lined roads and wonderfully landscaped mansions. There is the flash. But after that, our time was spent at the Santa Anita race track where I actually won $2 on Lucius Antonious. I lost it on the the next bet though. We also visited the LA county Arboretum where we walked among the peacocks and explored the natural wonders of the world: flowers, trees, shrubs, all types. The track and the arboretum were just a walk away from my brother's home so it all felt extremely relaxing. I can not forget though that my amazing brother exceeded all of that by purchasing tickets to the opening game of the LA Galaxy. Obviously, that was the grandest part.

found my team

2009-04-04T17:15:00.003-05:00

My love for soccer knows no bounds. That is to say it knows no state boundaries. I watched the Seattle Sounders play today on Fox Soccer Channel. They seemed to walk all over Toronto FC beating them 2-0. I have had a hard time getting behind the Houston Dynamo simply because they have been very inconsistent. But Seattle looked glorious in their bright green kits sporting xbox 360 live sponsors. I may have to support the new expansion team this year and forever more.

want a taco?

2009-04-02T14:52:00.001-05:00

someone must really like tacos, this is a study in taco journalism and is a list of all the taco trucks and taquerias in Austin

View Larger Map

bright lite

2009-03-29T16:09:00.002-05:00

pretty neat commercial...

more stamps

2009-03-17T19:20:00.005-05:00

These are awesome! The first is from Thailand and the second from The Republic of China.

I watch the Watchmen

2009-03-17T19:17:00.001-05:00

I managed to see Watchmen and read its graphic novel. I have to say that I really liked the ending in the movie more than that of the novel. Mostly because it made a bit more sense and had a bit more relevance to the present and perhaps to the time period of the novel. Other than that though, the novel was stellar. The amazing juxtaposition of time and the little threads of minor plot elements was fantastic. The art was, at least in the novel I read, not overly impressive but the images and classic comic book rendition made up for it. Speaking of images, the film did a wonderful job of capturing those images. Because I had read it just prior to seeing the film, I recognized almost every scene as being one in the novel. A particularly powerful attention to detail that was not lost on this observer. That and the choreography of the fights was another pleasant surprise. Too many films these days use editing to chop the fights into so many tiny pieces that the choreography and, in my opinion, merit of the fight is lost. There were many more fights in the movie than in the novel and each one was well done and enhanced the characters. The only minor drawback is that these fights were put to lyrical songs and not original score but it worked well so I can not complain too much. I very much liked Rorschach, behind the mask and not. Of all the many and I mean many characters in the novel, I thought his betrayal was the best. A fantastic film of a fantastic novel and one not to be missed on the big screen. Thanks, Greg, for making me go see it in the theatre.

cable series

2009-03-17T18:59:00.000-05:00

With the upcoming end of Battlestar Galactica, I came to realize that about a third of my episodic television subscriptions are on cable television. TNT, TBS, SciFi, USA, AMC; basic cable stations all have shows which have some how or another grabbed an audience and managed to grab me as well. I have spoken to Mad Men and BSG previously but here are a few other shows that I watch for other reasons.

The Closer is, by far, one of the best shows on cable television. The humorous combination of the smart southern belle chief of a special police force of smart but cracked group of detectives. Every time Kyra Sedgwick says "for heaven's sake" with a heavy accent or deliciously savors a piece of chocolate, it shows you that the characters are very deeply rooted in this show. Each one is detailed and centered that you know how they will react to everything that is thrown at them. That and they get the job done... well except for the one that got away. I adore this show and its stellar cast.

Psych is a closet favorite of mine. It is light on the plot and characters, but along with Monk, another favorite, the attention to detail allows these two characters to solve the crime. But Psych makes me giggle. All those little pulp culture references make up for the loss of shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and West Wing. It is usually the first show on my DVR that I watch because it is light and fun.

A new show this season, Leverage, took me by surprise. Part Ocean's Eleven, part Alias, part Hustle with some Robin Hood thrown in, I could not get enough. In this show, it is the set up, the con which drives me to watch. This little band of thieves is coming back next season and I can not wait.

I gave up on a few like Saving Grace, Damages, and the jury is still out on Trust Me. But new seasons of the above and shows like My Boys make up for some of the poor choices on basic television.

I would be remis if I did not mention the end of Battlestar Galactica once again. This show has raised the bar and the creativity of both science fiction and non science fiction cable series above and beyond what Stargate accomplished. The lingo alone has permeated the average frackin' household audience. It is beautiful, well written, well acted, and well composed by Bear McCreary. The all in one package for the scifi geek and the perfect combination for anyone who wants good television. Despite the loss of beloved Galactica, both ship and show, and despite the long and arduous journey to Earth and beyond, the growth and emotions of the characters will live on. So say we all.

a spurt of anime

2009-03-05T06:19:00.001-06:00

I go through spurts. Watching movies, anime, reading books, knitting, gaming. All the things I love make it difficult to spend quality time with each so I have to break it up. These past few weeks, it has been anime. I have caught up with a few shows that have not been great but have managed to satisfy the recent dearth.

I rented Chrono Crusade from netflix. The strange combination of Christian themes and killing in 1920's New York can not seem strange in the Japanese genre. Nuns, priests, spouts of god fearing language seem to resonate in anime. This particular one tells the story of a girl and her childhood devil trying to save her brother from an evil devil who, in turn, is trying to take over humanity and become immortal. While it resorts to silly antics intermittently, brother - sister plot is sweet. Rosette, a cross shooting gun in hand, deals fine with the evil devils but can rely on the devil, Chrono, to turn and wipe them out at the cost of time on her life. I have about three episodes left but I would recommend it. The art and music are average though I really like how the bullets turn into white crosses when they hit.

I had begun Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo through netflix's streaming on the computer. With a bit of time this weekend, I managed to finish the series through my xbox (did I mention how much I love that!). This show was just plain strange. A futuristic loose retelling of Dumas' famous novel, the art in this show will either make you cringe or blow your mind. It layers these photoshop patterns onto the digital anime so when the characters move, their clothes and hair kind of don't. At first, I thought something was wrong with the video. I guess I got used to it but it was sometimes very distracting and sometimes pretty neat. Above that aspect, I was not totally in love with the show. The characters were rather boring and a theme of revenge was taken to very alarming levels. I enjoyed the original novel for what it was but could not take the changes made to the characters.

Partaking of more netflix - xbox streaming, I started Saiyuki. Saiyuki is the story of four guys, one a buddist monk, the other three devils who have their dark powers inhibited. I have read it is based on the historical story A Journey to the West, also called Monkey which makes sense because that is what the little one is called a lot, in jest of course. This show is very well written, or should I say well translated. The fight scenes are not very good, however. It burys the action with still shots which I hate. But so far, I enjoy the humor and character relationships enough that I continue to watch with anticipation and with 50 episodes in the first season, it better be good enough.

81st Annual Zilker Kite Festival

2009-03-05T05:43:00.005-06:00

How can a kite festival not make you smile? It was chilly, sunny, cloudless, perfect. I managed to actually get a bit of a sunburn watching kids and adults try to keep their kites in the sky. I could never capture the amazing beauty of hundreds of kites glittering the blue but I did take a few pictures, the best of which was a Tie-Fighter trying to take flight with help from its owners.

There was, of course, two main rings hosting competitions and exhibitions. I was around for the Indian Fighter Kits where the little kites without tails chop off the long tail of the head kite. All around, it was a wonderful spectacle and my second visit to one of Austin's best events.

seal of approval

2009-02-26T21:20:00.002-06:00

One of the best parts of getting postcards through postcrossing is the stamps. I love seeing the different designs, landscapes, languages, colors, everything. Below is a scan of my lastest from Finland. Is not the shape awesome? What about those cartoon peoples in purple and turquoise? Adorable, I wish I knew what it meant.

wait for it

2009-02-24T19:07:00.000-06:00

So worth the 27 seconds. Du beau foot!

cute as a button

2009-02-15T20:05:00.005-06:00

Just returned from Coraline and the second movie in a week for which I have ventured to the theatre. This one was definitely worth the price of admission. There is, of course, the mention of the beautiful imagery and the creative vision of Gaimen's book. The wonderful plot, the amazing characters and their charming characteristics, even the minor ones combine for an entertaining ride. Coraline is so well established with her stubborn smirk and childish determination. The house is perfect and the other mother brilliantly creepy. I only know Bruno Coulais from his music for Les Choristes but his score for Corlaine is definitely on my list of things to buy. But beyond all that, beyond the fact that outright it is a very good film and a high quality piece of art, above all is the phenomenal 3D depiction. Nothing compares to the visuals that this technology can output. It blew me away and just made everything so vivid. With eye popping color and detail it is no wonder there were three trailers in 3D even before the movie started. This is definitely one you should see in the theatre. I am glad I went and paid what I think is an outrageous amount for a 2 hour span of time. Rooting for Coraline with 3D goodness was worth every penny. Go see this movie!

Serei no Moribito (Guardian of the Spirit)

2009-02-15T10:25:00.000-06:00

There have been so few anime that have come along in the past year which have been anything special. Serei no Moribito is one of them. I talked a small bit about it in an earlier post but that was just the beginning. Cartoon Network's adultswim only ran the first 10 episodes before they had to take it off the air because the rest had not yet been released. So I went ahead and downloaded the rest because I was eager to see how the story ended. The best thing about this anime is the fight scenes. The spear wielding protagonists are amazing fighters, it is fast and the acrobatics are exquisite. I have not seen anything this beautifully drawn or directed before. But even beyond that, the story is tight, the characters extremely developed, and the evolution well paced. I have to admit that I thought there would more traitorous activity but the ending was still very satisfying. I await its complete release on DVD because this one is definitely going to be part of my collection.

Speaking of collections, I added Noein and Origin: Spirits of the Past to mine. They were both on sale at rightstuf.com.

the last airbender has a release

2009-02-10T10:11:00.015-06:00

Now that Avatar has been dropped from the title, M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender release date has been set for July 2, 2010. Most of the main cast has been also signed, Aang, Zuko, Katara, and Sokka., with a noticeable non Asian cast. No Appa yet. The biggest and greatest news is the fact that James Newton Howard, a longtime collaborator with Shyamalan, is signed on for the score. Yippee!

the key to success

2009-02-09T11:25:00.015-06:00

I use the keyboard for most of my daily computer needs. I hate the mouse, I hate having to move my hand away from the keyboard to use the mouse. Most of all, I hate programs that do not support keyboard shortcuts. So today I found a keyboard shortcut that I did not know existed and it totally made my morning. When you press control-o to open a file in any windows based program, it never opens to the location you want. You can easily start typing in the default box position your location starting with c:\. However, today the dialog opened to a location and I wanted to just go up one folder. So I typed ".." in the box and pressed enter. 'Lo and behold the dialog went up to the parent directory, just as expected in unix. I love finding new keyboard shortcuts.

Sword of the Stranger

2009-02-08T08:02:00.030-06:00

This past Thursday, there was a one night showing of Sword of the Stranger in Austin. The film, created and produced by BONES of "Full Metal Alchemist" fame, is about a ronin who meets a boy and his dog on the run. The bloody battles between China and Japan are ever present as the Chinese main character can fight like the devil. He meets his match while pursuing the boy but the stranger does not draw his sword, plagued by his past. It is very appropriate that I just rewatched "Rurouni Kenshin" because this movie plays very similarly. The art was good, if not great at times with amazing cinematic shots of thrown knives and sword play. The music was also good, if not great at times with distinct Chinese themes. I would say the plot and characters were average but the end had great satisfaction. I was glad that I went to see it.

Ugly Betty

2009-02-08T07:13:00.039-06:00

So I watch a lot of TV. Way too much TV. I could go on for hours about the many layers of "Battlestar Galactica", the humor of "The Big Bang Theory", and the adorable, sturdy Jack Bauer. But today I want to catch up on "Ugly Betty" because the show has definitely grown into something special. This year Betty tried living in the city and along with that effort came the shallow Amanda. I absolutely love the relationship that developed between the two of them. They come to a mutual understanding and a sweet friendship. The other relationship that develops is that between Betty and Marc, this one more professional. Both competing and making into some special editor program creates something akin to mutual respect. Marc and Amanda, the fantastic duo that make this program worth watching, are still the sneaky, snarky beautiful people who make Betty, the not so ugly, appreciate what she has and make the watcher appreciate the contrast. Above all of that, though, this show is about family. Betty manages to balance her life and her family and when they cross, pulls the show down to earth. You can not fault its formula or the fun result. Every time Betty shows up with a crocheted set of bright blue earmuffs, I smile and laugh. There can be no better way to brighten and already gleaming show.

Wolverine and the X-Men

2009-02-01T09:22:00.004-06:00

My little brother (hi Erich) and I used to watch Saturday morning cartoons. Instead of the "Smurfs" though we watched such personal classics as "Batman: The Animated Series", "Spider-Man", and "X-Men". He was the comic buff and I was the tv buff. Since then, our love of animation and anime has only grown to which this blog attests. He is still more of a lover of animation and I am still more of the lover of television but it works, even across our long distance.

Wow, sentimental gobblety gook aside, a new X-Men show has come to the playing field. "Wolverine and the X-Men" takes a slightly different twist; Professor X is not present. Something or someone attacked telepaths. It is not clear what happened directly after but both Prof. X and Jean Grey are lost. Rogue has defected to the Brotherhood and Emma Frost is working with Wolverine and the X-Men to defend mutants against the mutant registration act. Prof. X does show up in the doomed future doing his best to give the X-Men in the present guidance to prevent that doom.

The show does a good job of mixing main characters and side characters. My love, Gambit, shows up in the fifth episode all cajun and badass. Emma is a nice change and Scott is less whiny than usual, though not much. The art is good, the music not as good. I have never heard of the composer, Dean Grinsfelder but it has some potential, it is very orchestral. I have seen the first twelve episodes, only three have aired in the states. I await the return of the Phoenix but while I do so, it is fun to watch loads of infamous Marvel characters make their appearance.

meant to be

2009-02-01T09:16:00.002-06:00

On repeat is Squirrel Nut Zippers' "Meant to Be" from their album, Hot. I love her voice with its twenties flare.

300 posts

2009-02-01T08:45:00.011-06:00

I just noticed I have 300 posts on this blog. I do not have kids, nor anything serious to write about so it is mostly silly nonsense. Still there is something to be said about getting thoughts down. So thanks for reading if you do and thanks for not leaving after you read this.

Heather

Hisaishi's Ponyo

2009-01-26T17:40:00.005-06:00

Studio Ghibli released Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea in Japan in 2008. While still not released in the US (let's hope for the rumored June 2009), the soundtrack can be imported. The glorious Joe Hisaishi and Hayao Miyazaki pairing is continued and I had a chance to hear the score in its entirety. Hisaishi is at the top of my list of best composers ever. I have all his scores and I place Princess Mononoke at the top of that list with Spirited Away a close second. Maybe I still need a couple more listens but I was not as in awe as I usually am with his scores. The themes are not well developed and it sounds like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro put together. The orchestrations were wonderful, full and romantic, at times reminiscent of Anne of Green Gables by Hagood Hardy. For me, it does take a few listens for things to grow on me but usually Hisaishi comes right away. How very disappointing.

definitely dark

2009-01-26T17:22:00.002-06:00

I got a hold of the audio versions of the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. I am now on the second book and have fallen in love with the Gunslinger. He is just my kind of character, dark, tough, the faulted hero and expert killer. After the first book where most was in Roland's world, this book is now in our world and the contrast is very appealing. New characters arise, ones also with faults but somehow the right pieces to fit Roland's heart, however made of steel it is. I so enjoy the intelligent dialog and Frank Muller's reading is excellent. I especially like his Eddie Dean, that New York accent just brimming with sarcasm. Audio books are a great way to pass the time in long drives but these books are the best way.

finally brisingr

2009-01-26T17:08:00.001-06:00

Paolini's Brisingr. I finally got around to reading the more than 700 page tome, dreading it after the ever boring Eldest. But Brisingr was devoid of moony Eragon and fraught with wonderful Eragon - Saphira banter. I love their relationship and after this book, it is even more coveting. Not to mention numerous battles and little of the politics that I detest. The title was more apropos, clever even. All the races were involved and Eragon has grown into an admirable rider. The inheritance is further explained and while there is not the intrigue of Harry Potter, the series is still a wonder to read, rich in its world and detailed in its landscape. I look forward to the final book, finally eager to once again become part of Alagaësia.

Himura Kenshin the battousai

2009-01-12T14:52:00.000-06:00

So I had plenty to do this weekend. Instead of doing it, I put in the first season of "Rurouni Kenshin", the anime based on Himura Kenshin's time as a wondering samurai, pledging his sword for good to attone for his deeds as the manslayer, battousai. This year marks 12 years since this anime was created but the story holds. While the art dates itself, the man has no equal. Kenshin is my epitomic hero, one with a sword fighting for good and along the way attracts friends and foes. The red hair, cross scarred white knight captured my heart again for a few hours, taking me away from reality. How much more can you ask for?

Beat that prince!

2009-01-11T08:46:00.003-06:00

It took me longer than expected, which is a pleasant surprise. But I finally beat Prince of Persia, my wonderful Christmas gift (thanks Mom!). This was a great game. Loads of acrobatic fun, Elika and Prince banter, with puzzles and light seeds to find. The scenery was gorgeous and the music awesome. I had such a blast. Now if they would just release Inon Zur's soundtrack...

BTW, they are making a movie based on the Sands of Time game. Mike Newell, who's directing credits include Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Donnie Brasco, and couple of "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles" is signed. The film is in production with Jake Gyllenhal as the prince.

my eyes on repeat

2009-01-04T17:06:00.005-06:00

"Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog" has been released on DVD. Did you know it made Time's top 10 tv series of 2008? I suggest buying the $9.99 thing exclusively on Amazon because it is hilarious and there is 45 minutes of commentary which is sung too. Fan-freakin' tastic. I own the soundtrack too, of course. It is funny, I am not a fan of Nathan Fillion's songs however much I loved him in "Firefly". But Neil Patrick Harris definitely makes the series and the songs. The song that Penny and Billy sing called "My Eyes" is on repeat this week. Evil inside of me is on the rise...

Felicia Day, who plays Penny, is also on a web series called The Guild about a bunch of online gamers. Also incredibly funny though you have to sort of understand the culture. Just lookup any slang you do not know.

Update: Dr. Horrible commentary lyrics are now available.

THE congregation

2009-01-01T08:48:00.000-06:00

Even those of you who are not into soundtracks should be impressed by the congregation of composers that Hollywood Reporter gathered. A good article about how film scoring has changed.

Holiday Cheer

2008-12-18T11:29:00.001-06:00

According to Time Magazine, Austin is ranked number nine in their Top Ten Places to Find the Most Holiday Cheer. I was happy to see Mystic, Connecticut on the list as well as NYC. I actually stopped by 37th Street last night to see the beautiful yet very Austin ecclectic lights. I will not be able to get to Zilker for the Trail of Lights this year though. There is always next year.

a gamey Christmas

2008-12-17T08:01:00.007-06:00

My life is fairly crazy right now, finishing up at work before the holidays and shopping for said holidays. But in all that craziness, I managed to feed my soundtrack habit. The game, Gears of War 2, just came out this year and on the weekend after Thanksgiving, Gamespot had a 2 for 1 sale so I picked up the original Gears of War. Man, is this game ever fun. Lots of shooter action, gore, and what is more genius than killing bugs, the bane of my existence. With the release of Gears of War 2 came the release of its score by one of my favorites, Steve Jablonsky. He came onto my scene with his score to Steamboy, a better than expected anime movie and score. He is recently known for his score to Transformers and is signed on for the sequel. I find it lovely when some of these composers delve into other mediums. Giacchino comes to mind scoring television, animated features, and games. Jablonsky's score to GOW2 is excellent but I also picked up the score to the original by Kevin Reipl and it also has some wonderful tracks, "Jacinto Prison" being one of them. I picked up a few other game scores, Too Human by Steve Henifin which is haunting and Mass Effect by Jack Wall and Sam Hulick. I hear Myst 3 in Wall's Mass Effect so it was worth it in my mind. It is going to be a good holiday.

a musical twelve days

2008-12-10T08:06:00.001-06:00

Ha!

is anyone listening?

2008-12-07T13:49:00.002-06:00

Um, Santa Claus? Gamespot giftcards welcome.

the pixar phenomenon

2008-12-07T13:35:00.004-06:00

Every time a new Pixar film is released, I say to myself that it will not be as impressive and charming than that of the previous film. I said it at Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles and with each, I was pleasantily mistaken. Note that I did not mention Cars because I did not like it very much. Well, I did not even go see Wall-E in the theatre. It takes a force of nature to make me go to the theatre these days. So I was happy when it showed up in my mailbox the week it was released on DVD. Again, I am so glad I was mistaken. What an utterly enchanting film. I love how the first 20 minutes not a word was spoken (except in song of course). I fell in love with him and this simple yet effective film. Thank goodness I keep being wrong.

where is it?

2008-12-07T13:30:00.000-06:00

Did you ever lose something and ask yourself, why can't I find it? I was being a couch potato on my day off, crocheting a blanket for my friend who is having a baby. It is due soon and I am seriously behind. I finished a section and went to get a drink. When I sat back down, I could not find the crochet hook. I pulled up the couch pillows, looked under it, even went back to the kitchen to see if I left it there. I could not find it. I figured it would turn up, my apartment is not that big and there are not a lot of places it could have been. After two days, each of which I pulled up the couch pillows again, I still could not find it. Then I got really nasty. I have been meaning to clean the slip covers on my couch so I pulled all of them up. The hook finally turned up but I lost two days and now have couch in disarray. What a waste.

dealing the cards

2008-11-29T14:59:00.002-06:00

Whoohoo!

a candle's fickle flame

2008-11-25T16:15:00.004-06:00

This week's song on repeat is Cake's "Never There". The rhythm and lyrics of this song made me go out and purchase all their albums. They have been a favorite of mine for a while now. If you listen closely you can hear the beep beep of a phone being dialed during this song. So much fun.

a scarred prince

2008-11-25T16:01:00.000-06:00

I love the Prince of Persia games. I love the acrobatics of it all. In its new revamped form, the Prince looks a little worn but all the more fun.

parade or bust

2008-11-25T08:21:00.002-06:00

I have no idea why really but I love the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Last year, I was actually at the parade as you can see from my Tom the Turkey picture. This year, I have a few friends running the 5 mile Turkey Trot here in Austin to benefit Caritas. Unfortunately this interferes with my parade schedule. I think I have it figured out where I can watch old Tom make his debut, head out to cheer my friends a few blocks away, then head back in to make sure I get a view of Santa Claus. It might just work out. Now if it only was not going to be a high of 81 degrees, my holiday would be perfect.

ma orchidée

2008-11-23T12:53:00.000-06:00

Remember Elora? Well look at her now.

new xbox live experience

2008-11-23T06:56:00.001-06:00

My xbox 360, and everyone else's of course, has gone through a significant upgrade in its operating system. The user interface has been revamped making themes more impressive, if I ever get one. The blades are gone but can be found in the easy xkey where you can easily get to your games, the main point of the console. The best thing about the revamp, streaming Netflix. With my upgraded Live Gold subscription (13 months for $39), I can watch anything Netflix streams with my unlimited account. I have begun 30 Rock season 2 and its streamed in beautiful HD. I guess it is safe to say, liking the new experience.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;redtwotwo.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Legend of the Seeker

2008-11-13T07:20:00.001-06:00

From the producers of "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and "Xena: Warrior Princess", a new syndicated show premiered a few weeks ago. "Legend of the Seeker" is a live action show based on the Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind. I have read at least the first book of this series and enjoyed it but did not have time to continue. The premiere was actually pretty good, keeping you involved while giving plenty of story exposition and introducing the world. I like that it is not campy like Hercules and Xena and though the acting is not stellar, I have enjoyed the episodes so far. It is nice to know that TV is still willing to risk syndication to tell a good story.

finally, a snowy one

2008-11-03T20:13:00.001-06:00

From Finland. Is it not the most gorgeous thing?

From postcards

i love this show

2008-11-03T08:01:00.003-06:00

My proclamation once again for this amazing show. A Shikamaru centric episode which shows that Naruto: Shippūden can do both action and dramatic episodes with beauty and grace.

living in the city

2008-11-03T07:21:00.003-06:00

Here is a list of things that I like about living in the city:

halloween - I am not a big fan of this holiday but the city makes it worthwhile. The city shuts down Sixth St, the main drag. With Austin being a college town and having a stellar night life, the costumes come out in swarms. It was fun watching all of that on such a beautiful night. I am eager to experience Christmas in the city.
festivals - There is always a festival or event. This weekend was the Day of the Dead festival, hosted by Mexic-Arte. The decor was awesome. Then there was the Texas Book Festival where authors and publishers host book signings, sales, and entertainment. I picked up a copy of the The Texas Hill Country: A Food and Wine Lover's Paradise who's author and photographer were very excited and signed my copy. More on my fascination with the Hill Country later. Sunday was the Race for the Cure and the route goes right by my building.
walking - To the gym, to the grocery, to the library, and around Lady Bird Lake. I have been debating getting a bike but why when I can get most anywhere with my own two feet. With the nice weather these days, it is a shame to not spend as much time outdoors as possible.
the capitol - Seriously one of my favorite buildings of all time. I get to see it every day, walking to the gym. This weekend, I took time from the book fair to sit and read under one of its beautiful trees.

just in time

2008-10-29T18:36:00.000-05:00

Two days before I was going to chuck Time Warner, KXAN and my local NBC affiliate are back on the air. Just in time for sweeps, though no new Chuck or Heroes this week, I now can watch in beautiful HD some of my favorites. Too bad, I was looking forward to getting more preferred HD channels. I guess I will wait and see if it is still worth it until the beginning of the year.

madison ave and her men

2008-10-28T07:30:00.000-05:00

Last year, American Movie Classics (AMC) created a television show called "Mad Men". From a third rate network, the show took the summer season by storm. The second season ended this past Sunday. Almost every aspect of this show is impressive. The production is at the top of the list, making perfect visualization of the early sixties culture. The plot and premise center around an advertising agency on Madison Ave and highlight the social part of the business just as much if not more than the actual business itself. And the characters. You can almost feel each one slowly committing that opening song suicide with every drink, affair, and lie. The show is a wonderful blend of amazing television. That is why is so hard for me to say how much effort it takes for me to watch it.

Maybe it is the time period. I did not grow up in the sixties and find it very difficult to even try to think they way they do. In the show, Marilyn just died, the Cuban crisis is just warming, men are expected to look pretty and sleep around, and girls are meant to look pretty and say nothing. The characters have a drink in their hands one out of every three scenes so it is amazing how they got anything done. That being said, the advertising part of the show really draws me. Don, especially, makes it look all too easy but the rest of the team's suave business savvy is outweighed by their closed minds. The costumes are wonderful, gallant men wearing hats and most women sporting the Jackie look. But it hurts to watch the women dressed in stockings and heels all the time and showing their big hips. And then there are the characters. Not one of them connects with me. It feels as if they are all living a lie and Don works on a slow spiral into nothing. If I have one fault it is that I need a hero and there is not a character on the show which can be called a hero.

So why the long commentary? I just think it interesting that I continue to follow this show. I know I do not like it but I also know that it is very good television. I know that I will be depressed but I continue to get involved in its characters. I believe that I have found its purpose, to experience a maddening time through the eyes of the men on Madison Ave. And after the finale of the second season, I felt it a little more cohesive. Finally some good decisions were made rather than ones that helped Don get through the day. The agency has taken center stage and Don has reconciled what he wants from his family. I can not believe that I wonder how things will change when all the lies come out.

bowl and cup

2008-10-26T12:18:00.001-05:00

A friend at work is a thrower, that is she makes pottery. She is taking a class and I asked for a small bowl to eat my oatmeal at work. The amazing part of what she gave me is the shapes. They both also have some great colors, the deep royal blue. Thanks, Nicole.

my orchid

2008-10-26T10:41:00.003-05:00

I do not have a very green thumb. And I typically stay away from caring for living things. However, when I lived in North Carolina someone gave me an orchid. And for some reason, or maybe because I left it alone, it flourished. For reasons I will not go into, I could not bring it to Texas but I told myself that I would get another one. I see them in the grocery stores but worry about investing.

Yesterday, I was at the Farmer's Market listening to the New Orleans Jazz Band of Austin and saw an orchid vendor. She told me that lack of water and non direct bright light is essential to keeping the orchid alive and well. She said that since I get direct morning sun, I could come home from work and put it outside. It would eat up all that light and I would only have to water it maybe once every two weeks. Well, the yellow green one drew me. It still needs a pot and a stand but for now Elora, as I have named it, has a new home.

postcrossing pictures

2008-10-17T07:42:00.001-05:00

I have not received any extraordinary postcards recently but my favorite site just got better by adding photos in your respective profile. No more flickr for me. Here is mine if you want to see what I send and receive.

drop those articles

2008-10-17T07:35:00.000-05:00

For the better part of ten years, I have been working around people whose first language is not English. It has always fascinated me to listen to them speak in their native language. The weird thing is, that when I am around them, I tend to speak English like them. I drop my articles and typically use the present tense when other tenses should be used. One of these days, I will not speak correctly at all.

death of the seasons

2008-10-13T06:26:00.000-05:00

Two of my most followed anime finished their respective seasons this past week, the eighth of Bleach and the third of Naruto: Shippūden. Bleach was on a non-manga story line so it was fine with me. I was not very attached to the characters and the eventual death, even voluntary, was neither impressive nor touching. Naruto, however, hit hard. First, I knew what was going to happen because I read way too much. Second, the person who killed this character was extremely scary. Third, as in typical anime fashion, the build up was unbearable. Seriously, I was balling by the end only to have my boss' boss call me about work. Talk about bad timing. Anyway, it goes to show how more powerful Naruto is, killing off a major character while Bleach has to resort to one that is not part of the normal story line. I will work through the grief and move to the next episodes. Still, I know of more major character's death in Naruto before the end of it all. I am really not looking forward to that one.

I want my NBC

2008-10-10T18:56:00.001-05:00

Because of a dispute between the local NBC company, KXAN, and Time Warner in Austin, the channel has been removed from the lineup. This means no "Life", "Heroes", "Pushing Daisies", or "Chuck". The link shows you how to get these shows through nbc.com Everything except "Pushing Daisies" is available but usually the day after. It is not the easiest to hook up my pc to the tv so watching on the big screen comes by downloading and watching on my xbox. Eitherway, I do not get these shows in HD.

But after visiting my sister and finding that she gets way more HD channels than I do, I am seriously considering moving to another company. In Austin, in my area only Time Warner provides cable. I would have to move to Dish Network or Direct TV. I could also use an antenna but my tv does not have an internal antenna so an external one would be pricey. I also signed a stupid two year contract with Time Warner and the fees for canceling is going to be about on month's worth of service. It is reasonable to say that I am disappointed and hate having to go through the effort of researching and hooking up a different system. After the work is done, though, it looks like Direct TV is the winner.

state quarters comes to an end

2008-10-05T15:00:00.000-05:00

Speaking of states, 2008 is almost over and that means that the ten years of state quarter releases also comes to an end. As of this post, I had about six plus the ten for 2008 left. I have since received one of the earlier quarters and three of 2008 so I still need 12. But the Alaska coin just went into circulation! Hey, if you find these, cough them up would ya? I hate to have an incomplete collection.

2005 West Virginia (Philadelphia Mint)
2006 South Dakota (Philadelphia Mint)
2007 Washington (Philadelphia and Denver Mint)
2007 Utah (Denver Mint)
2008 Oklahomo (Philadelphia Mint)
2008 New Mexico (Philadelphia Mint)
2008 Arizona (Philadelphia Mint)
2008 Alaska (Philadelphia and Denver Mint)
2008 Hawaii (Philadelphia and Denver Mint)

Now onto $1 presidential coins and $10 presidential wife coins.

Austin City Limits Festival

2008-10-05T09:28:00.007-05:00

Austin has two major music festivals, though there are several smaller ones in and around the Austin area. South by Southwest (SXSW) , which is also a film and music festival, is held in March and The Austin City Limits (ACL) is held in September. The ACL is a full blown music festival spanning a motley of music types, over 130 bands on eight stages across Zilker Park and drawing 65,000 people. So why would I, resistant to loud music, the heat, and crowds of people attend this event? Well one should always try new things and this, especially, should be experienced. Also, I live very close to the event itself now and taking the shuttle was too easy to pass up.

Well, it was hot and very dusty as we have not had rain in a while. And sometimes there were so many people that we could not move. But since I had prepared both physically and mentally while taking advantage of the shady areas of the festival, I was not miserable and I did not even get burned. Highlights of the festival for me were Swell Season, Raconteurs, Blues Traveler, and a new favorite Belleville Outfit. The locale was the best part, a scenic view of the city and Barton Springs just across the street. My trusty wrist band getting me in and out with no problem. Something signicant about this festival was the amount of effort into being green. There were recycle bins everywhere there were garbage bins for those necessary bottles of water. They encouraged others to collect recyclables and gave prizes for full bags. All the vendors were encouraged to sell food which did not require utensils and utilized biodegradable or recyclable containers. The food was fantastic, a choice from the popular local restaurants rather than just burgers or pizza, though of that it was good too since it was all local. It was all very impressive.

I am not saying I am going to do this every year and having just returned from another trip, my exhaustion level was pretty much at a peak. But having done it once and really enjoyed myself and the music is enough to appreciate it and seriously consider another offer of a three day ticket.

partners in math

2008-10-01T17:00:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I am pretty good in math. I am not sure I am such a good teacher but I heard it takes practice. And I do not have a lot of experience with children unless you count my intermittent time with my nieces, who are probably the greatest kids on earth. Add all of that up and it does not make me a very good tutor. However, I have always said I should give back what I could. So this year, I signed up with Partners in Math, part of the larger Partners in Education program in Austin. Every week, several of us from around the city go to our respective elementary, middle, and high schools and work with groups to help them with their math. It is helpful that you have the same students every week, that you are in a group of about three kids, and the teacher is in the room with you and prepares the activity. My first lesson was just an intro lesson where we got to know each other but I am not sure I did so well. I hope, with practice, to be a better guide.

another one off the list

2008-09-24T13:37:00.000-05:00

I am not sure why but I love state capitol buildings. I love buildings in general but old ones with arches and rotundas just take my breath away. While visiting my sister, we took a trip to Richmond to visit the Virginia State Capitol. Designed by Thomas Jefferson and the place where democracy was first established, history just filtered out of this beautiful French based structure. With its yellow interior walls and landmark confederate roots, I wanted to just sit and bask in its southern glory.

I may not have a real list but I could probably start one.

Columbia, SC
Raleigh, NC
Columbus, OH
Austin, TX
Nashville, TN
Charleston, WV
Atlanta, GA
Richmond, VA
Lexington, KY (only from the outside as it was closed when I went to visit)