Austin City Limits Festival

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

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

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)

the bats under congress avenue bridge

It sounds really gross but the Congress Avenue bridge, which spans the Colorado River (not The Colorado River but a smaller one), is host to the largest urban bat colony in the United States.  Just a few blocks from my apartment, I took a walk on one of the cooler nights in the past month to get a glimpse of these bats, which emerge at or around dusk to hunt for their insect food.  I tried to watch them earlier in August at the BatFest 2008 but it was on the First Street bridge and too far away to see them fly away as night approached.  While this impromptu visit did not garner the results I wanted (see this picture) I did see them silently fluttering under the bridge, thousands of them on the hunt.  Honestly, I was a bit scared and worried about the 'ew' factor but it is a matter of pride, this daily event of Austin.  I will go again so that I can witness that impressive swarm.

Ike heads toward Austin

The coast has evacuated and though Austin will probably only catch the edge, Ike has caused some major upheaval in the past few days. Football games have been rearranged, Austinites are talking about tying down furniture, and we are praying that we do not get the winds but only the much, much needed rain. From a superior site, www.stormpulse.com, here is a current satellite of Ike making its way toward Houston.

Moribito and Naruto Shippūden movie

I have a quite a bit of anime on my plate these days.  Between adult swim, netflix, netflix watch now, anime tv channel, scifi animonday and host of other places to watch, keeping up can be a bear.  Of all of these, one almost escaped my notice and I am glad that it did not.  Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit is currently running on adult swim's Saturday night lineup and the last episode that aired made me fall in love with it.  Several fight scenes ensued that were amazingly directed and the story was set up so well that I was completely enraptured.  The butt kicking female fighting hero has pledged to save the spirit possessing hidden strength finding prince in a beautifully animated series.  It is the first anime in a while, save for Naruto, which leaves me wanting more.

Speaking of Naruto, the new Naruto Shippūden movie trailer has been blasted at the beginning of the new episodes and boy does it look great.  Enjoy.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

a capital living

I have lived in five state capitals so far in my life.  By lived, I mean either with my family, in school, or renting and earning wages.  Interestingly, I have only lived six different places and the one which is not a state capital is the one where I was born and lived only little more than a year.  Of the other five, all of them were a place where there was no professional football, basketball, or hockey team, though one of the places now has a hockey team and that same one developed a professional soccer team while I was inhabiting.  Of them, two of them are above 700,000 population and the other three were about 350,000 or less.  I have visited each of their capitol buildings, driven amongst their landscapes and as such, have gotten lost on their crowded highways.

Maybe it is because I have moved into its center or maybe because I have had the time and the ability to enjoy its atmosphere but Austin is by far the most enjoyable capital that I have lived. Its lazy culture and lively music make it a contradiction yet comfortable in the state where it resides. Its state capitol, one of my life's little pleasures, is the best in the country and epitomizes the unofficial state motto by being larger than our nation's capitol. I see the changes planned for this city and look forward to watching it persist and better itself. There is so much to do, you can not do it all and there is so much for your general enjoyment that it makes you wonder why anyone would criticize about anything, besides the weather of course.  While I do not participate in its politics or understand its drive for being the biggest or most independent, the city has captured me with its romantic Texan history and landscapes.  I will never be a Texan and have no desire to become one but I feel more settled than I have in some time and that is a comforting thought.

Trudi Canavan

When you send someone a postcard on postcrossing.com, you take a look at their profile to see what kinds of cards they like and their hobbies, etc.  In the last batch I sent, I found a kindred spirit, an anime lover and a Harry Potter fan.  She lives in Germany and her profile mentioned Trudi Canavan so I looked up the author and immediately put the first of her Magician's Guild trilogy on the library hold list, which is becoming increasingly long.  Well, I fell in love.  The story revolves a young girl who lives in the slums of Kyralia.  She inadvertantly magically throws a stone at the magicians as they try to purge the city of these dwellers each year.  As Sonea thrawts the Magician's Guild time after time, she, herself, is thrown into danger as her powers become more and more uncontrolable.  The story is simple but the characters very rich.  I could not put the book down and I am now immersed in the second. You have to love postcrossing.

my favorite so far

TH-10759
Originally uploaded by snshn98
Chiang Mai, Thailand. The umbrellas are the most adorable thing.

the perfect trailer

I love trailers. This one has the perfect mix of music, action, and imagery. Have fun watching this sucker.

the white knight, the joker, and the Batman

I have been listening to the score for several weeks now but I just saw the movie this weekend.  The Dark Knight was classic superhero but definitely with a more twisted villain than anything that has come before.  While it is star studded, Heath Ledger made this film the ratings garner that it is.  I have said it before, I love the darkness and the broodiness of Batman.  Bale plays him a little too cheery for me sometimes though but the sacrifice and evidence about what he had become by the end of the film was definitely known.  Ledger, on the other hand, is a spot on Joker.  He never falters as the crazed lunatic and we know that he will not kill Batman because it is too much fun playing around with him.  I like how he wants us to know his many scar stories, he revels in them and the terror he can create.  Harvey Dent was also pretty perfect.  We see the bright white knight he was before the tragic dual personalities took over his soul and his mind.  It seems more likely that we will see him again rather than the Joker, given Ledger's death.

The score has more of the same themes we heard in the first movie, only with this lovely James Newton Howard twist.  It is definitely a Media Ventures now known as Remote Control Productions work with its electronic undertones  I have read that The Joker theme, especially, was recorded with orchestra and then resampled with electronics.  It makes for a difficult listen but a good theme for the tragic character. The third track "Harvey Two Face" takes on the Howard I know and love at the end with a big douse of the Dent theme in all its glory. It has grown on me with each listen.

Besides the really good movie with the really good music, I was blessed with the trailer for the next 007 movie and, in my opinion, it is one of the best trailers I have seen. Truly, this franchise has been lifted into an even better direction than with Brosnan if the trailer is a sight to behold. http://www.007.com/

my love for M*A*S*H

I was looking through the old posts, certain that I would have mentioned M*A*S*H.  But I never had and I absolutely love the show.  I still watch the reruns, over and over, especially any with Colonel Blake or Colonel Flagg, both having the epitome of comedic timing.  The show was amazing, the perfect blend of comedy, tragedy, and friendship.  Before medical dramas were the norm, this show blasted you with 'meatball' surgery without all the fast talking jargon and it feels more real than anything on television these days.  Some of my favorite scenes are when Hawkeye or one of his cohorts plays the pun.  The actors are of the highest calibre, the writing unspeakably tight, and the characters unforgettable. With memories of my dad, this show prevails and will probably keep doing so, at least for me, for a very long time. 

chaos of unpacking

Yes it has been a month since the actual move but being the obsessive person that I am, I have to organize rather than just unpack.  Things have to be observed, recorded, and then put in their place.  My extensive soundtrack CD collection is going to be the last thing that gets done because I have to upgrade the storage.  Therefore the boxes get moved from unfinished section to finished section and back again.  The boxes just could not hold out today and the bottom of one finally opened.  The beautiful chaos had to be recorded.  Luckily, the CDs survived and there was nothing beyond slightly cracked cases.  One of them just happened to be a Danny Elfman signed copy of Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride but thankfully a case can be swapped very easily.  Note to self and all others planning for a move: tape box bottoms securely!

the Brits can tell a story

Two British series ended their seasons this week on American television.  Both of them left open questions as to what was going to happen.  The first, Robin Hood, played the emo card and killed Marian, effectively killing what made this series.  Lucy Griffiths was an excellent Marian, beautiful yet spunky.  I enjoyed her performances with Jonas and she was always an integral part of the story.  In my opinion, it seems unlikely that this series can keep its audience without the main drive of Robin.  Doctor Who, on the other hand, took the lonely route, erasing Donna's memories of the Doctor and leaving him yet again traveling through time and space, alone.  That last scene, with him entering the Tardis from the rain, knowing full well that he had within him the power to destroy worlds yet missing the human element that grounds him was very special.  Apparently, this series does not return until 2010 under new direction.  I eagerly and worrily await to see how the Doctor copes with losing another leading lady.

happy endings end

around the world

Now I have received eight postcards from around the world. I have added them to flickr to share with postcrossing.com and now you can enjoy. This is so great!

anyone got a frying pan?

I know that it is July in Texas but this is awful. And August, the hottest month of the year, is still a week away.

simply beautiful

A little rougher, a little snarkier, what a gorgeous trailer.

My mother, the cat lover

Have fun, mom!

http://blogoscoped.com/files/stripes.html

Avatar returns and then ends

How excited am I that Avatar: The Last Airbender returns this week?  A week long run of new episodes every day with a two hour finale on Saturday.  Well, since this is it, the end of Avatar, my excitement has no bounds.  Though, I typically get too excited and my anticipation outweighs the actual product.  But because it is Avatar, I am hoping that is not the case this time.  Make sure you watch Nickelodeon this week!

The Force Unleashed

The saga continues as Darth Vader takes on a secret apprentice.  This game looks amazing combining the things I love about Ninja Gaiden and Star Wars into one piece.  Take a look at the trailer to drool over the graphics and fun that can be had. 

http://www.lucasarts.com/games/theforceunleashed/

God love Joss

I love Joss Whedon.  I have since Buffy the Vampire Slayer the movie.  He is hilarious in person, hilarious in his writing (http://www.drhorrible.com/plan.html), yet poignant in both aspects as well.  The man is pure genius when it comes to the video medium.  And here he goes again.  Straight out of the writer's strike, Joss puts on an internet extravaganza starting July 15.  Make sure you watch, it is going to be so much fun.

Teaser from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog on Vimeo.

In the midst of my packing craziness

Macgyer Gets Lazy 

Is that Jet Li?

I would not have thought that Jet would make an appearance in this film but there he is. I am a big fan of this series but am apprehensive at the missing Weiss and lack of Jonathan. They made the movies actually funny. Still, it is pretty nice looking.

Clermont-Ferrand, France

How appropos that my first post card was from France. Caroline writes in French and describes the beautiful view of the volcanoes. I am so loving this postcrossing thing.

I love postcards

I love postcards and the stamps that come on them. My collection spans two photo albums. I mentioned this in my French class a few weeks ago and one of my classmates told me to sign up at postcrossing.com. This is a place where you send and receive postcards from all over the world. It maps them, tells you how long it takes to get to its destination, and even has some pictures of cards that are sent. Boy was this ever the best thing. The first thing I did was head to our local tourist shop and buy $10 worth of post cards and then to the post office to buy $0.94 stamps for international postage. Then I sent out five cards which is the limit. I just received notice that my first card was registered in Finland. I can not believe how happy it made me feel. Imagine my delight when I will receive my first card. You have to try this.

http://www.postcrossing.com/

Bleach: Memories of Nobody and other anime movies

Viz Media decided to release Bleach: Memories of Nobody, a movie based on the famous anime, for two days in the United States. I was lucky enough to live in a city where it was being shown. As part of the promotion, there was a neat little introduction with interviews of the Japanese and American staff and actors about the anime and the movie. It started with one of the animators just sitting down and drawing Ichigo... fantastic. The movie itself was funny and fun. Best of all it was on the big screen where Ichigo, Rukia, Renji, and Byakuya come to life.

I have also watched a few other movies of late. Origin: Spirits of the Past was great, almost Miyazki-like only with a weaker story. The characters were great, the animation beautiful, and the music stupendous. Unfortunately, you can not find the soundtrack in the US but I have been listening to the opening and ending songs on repeat for a few days now :) 5 Centimeters Per Second was also another beautiful movie. Filmed in three parts, the inner thoughts of two friends is voiced over some of the most graceful images I have ever seen. Definitely a must see.

huzah, only 97 on Thursday

It happens every year. I know the entire country, with the exception of the Northwest, is under a heat wave and it is only June. But down here we have been dealing with it since the beginning of May and when the 10 day forecast is 97°F or higher and three sequential days hitting 102°F, my head explodes. We will not get any release probably until October.

what to read

While my Harry Potter in French continues, sometimes I need a break. But it is always a question of what to read. I enjoy children's literature, Harry Potter being a prime example but I also adored Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. I've read His Dark Materials and was thinking of rereading Anne of Green Gables since it is the 100th anniversary. But I did some research to find out what experts, or so called experts, think is the next Harry Potter. Two series popped up. The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer and Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan.

First, Twilight. A teen vampire love story. That about sums up the extent of it all. Now, it takes quite a bit for me to start something, a book, a movie, whatever and then stop. I have to know the end whether cheating and and reading the end or finishing the book in its entirety. But this, I just could not continue. It is really quite boring and not as intriguing as it sounds. A teenage girl, love at first sight, and the drone of her lovelorn desire to give up everything for the vampire that she loves. This is not the kind of story that I wanted. I wanted plot, details, and characters that draw me not push me away. It is too bad, I could use a good love story.

On the other hand, The Olympians series is intriguing. With other worldly qualities, Percy enters his adulthood as the son of a Greek God. Action and character growth, finally some fun with a sense of humor. It is still not Harry Potter but it engaged me enough for me to finish the first book and want to get the next. The series was actually referred to me by a friend at work as his son loves it enough to get the author's autograph (Rick Riordan is from nearby San Antonio, TX). I could not pass up a referral from a nine year old.

Both of these will hold me for a while but next up is the New Jedi Order series which proves to be a chore to read knowing what happens to some pretty important characters. Still, its Star Wars and hard for me to resist.

friendly games

How fun is the summer of even years? While the USA is befuddled with basketball rehashes and political questions, Europe goes to bat. There is nothing like a cup to bring football lovers to their feet. For twenty days, Europe and the world watches and waits to see who makes it to the end. The official site is quite good with widgets to add to iGoogle and a custom page for anyone who signs up for a free account. Well done, UEFA.

The US Men's team also gets some good practice against number one Argentina in an interntaional friendly. Good clean fun, all of it.

the title cards

As I was catching up on anime, Bleach and Naruto: Shippūden, I was again floored by how much I love the title cards to Bleach. These are the flashed images which tell you which episode it is. They can come at the beginning, middle, or sometimes even the end. They are all different and may or may not relate to the episode itself. The better part of the episodes have a card but some two part episodes do not. It is just a little touch of unexpected pleasure when they appear. Of course, being the obsessive that I am, I decided to find them all. Below is my tribute. I realized when collecting them all that beginning with episode 168, the show is now wide screen. My favorties are 39, 89, and 159.

Hisaishi at the Budokan

Well, I will not make it to Tokyo for this concert in celebration of Miyazaki's July premier of "Ponyo on a Cliff". But the fliers are out and despite the absence of Chihiro, they are fantastic.

ewaste

I do not feel I do enough as far as recycling goes. My apartment does not have a convenient way to dispose of paper, plastic, or glass and so I tend to be lazy and just throw it away. So since I am moving in a month or so, I decided to do something good with all that electronic equipment I had stashed away. Phones, cameras, mp3 players, cords, power adapters, VCRs, you name it and I had it and it was time to declutter. Fortunately, there are ways to appropriately recycle this ewaste.

One good place I found was Recycling for Charities. They take wireless phones, PDAs, ipods and digital cameras and either sell them back to companies, through online auctions, donate them to other charities, or dispose of them properly meaning their parts are safely smelted to be used for other consumer or industrial products. This 501(c)(3) uses the money for further environmental protection. None of the ewaste is thrown back into landfills reducing dangers from lead, beryllium, arsenic, mercury, antimony, and cadmium. I work with this stuff so I know what lies in every transistor and contained in circuit boards sold to the average consumer. I feel better already.

But there is more. Office Depot has a program called Tech Recycling Service. While most store recycle ink jet cartridges, cell phones, and computers, Office Depot goes a step further and does most any kind of electronic equipment you can name. All that stuff I listed above which fits in a $5 prepurchased box, which covers the 100% recycled cardboard and the shipping, is sent to be stripped for its raw materials (glass, copper, aluminum, etc). The boxes are then recycled and the loop starts over again. I did not research enough to find out what happens to the left over materials but was unhappy to read that 50-80% of supposedly recycled ewaste is sent to China. I am going to trust Office Depot to do the correct thing but I am keeping an eye on them.

How do you say airbender in French?

In learning a language it is necessary to have both written and audial exercises. To practice my French, I have been listening to Harry Potter and some podcasts on the web. As much as I love Harry, I have been absorbed in his story for ten years now. And the podcasts, while interesting, just do not keep me that interested.

Providentially, I was watching my "Avatar: The Last Airbender" DVD sets, listening to commentaries and savoring the art and story that never ceases to amaze me. While doing this, I found that the series is dubbed in French and the voices are fantastic, very close to the originals. Furthermore, they match the animation closely which is interesting given that the English is recorded prior to the animation. This means the French was probably ADR and the voice actors did a great job of it. Now I have something to keep me interested and get lots of French exposure. Incidentally, "Firefly" is also dubbed in French.

FYI, the last airbender translates to le dernier maître de l'air in French.

Batmanime

I have always been a Batman fan because he is all broody and dark. "The Batman", the animated series never pulled me as much because he is a bit lighter and happier. Without much advertisement, another Batman hits the market in July. This time it goes the way of AniMatrix and moves directly to DVD. Take a look at the fantastic anime influenced trailer. This is definitely already on my netflix list.

gambit, thank goodness

For a minute I was disappointed but he showed up if only briefly. It is a fairly substantial trailer even though the art is slight and the movie tie in is evident.

now it is July 14, baby

Can I just say... Aang bending fire.

"I'm ... weak" says Naruto

My my, Naruto Shippūden is a treasure to behold. Not only a creative phenomenon but a classy one at that. The first episode is so amazing, Naruto and team frantically searching for Sasuke only to find he is way more powerful and just as resigned to his future as ever. Then we learn that is a flash forward. It takes 50 episodes to reach that moment, 50 fantastic episodes full of action, treason and more Naruto determination. He has come such a long way and in episode 51 when he finally finds Sasuke, he is treated like dirt by the one person he most wants to change. Sasuke is impressive and cold, bent on killing his brother and not caring one iota that Naruto and Sakura have spent the past three years looking for him. It was incredibly heart breaking. In the end, Sasuke left and Naruto collapses, an overwhelming grief stricken expression on his face, crying, claiming that he failed yet again to bring Sasuke back and that he is weak. A tear jerker of an episode and represents the calibre of anime that this show has become. I laugh at the dramatic moments, those slow moving camera movements that takes 10 minutes just to pan up to the face of the character you have been waiting to see, the cuts back and forth of the faces and his impact but in fact, I relish every second. My heart stutters with anticipation because it gets better and better.

getting caught up

Thanks to Netflix immediate watch and SciFi's Animonday, I have finally finished the anime I have been watching for a while

Tactics
A sub par story about a priest like man who destroys spirits and monsters. The climatic ending was not even enough to rank this average. Seriously, it was just on for noise.

Noein
A bit confusing near the end but a touching story of friendship and defying destiny. Some nice digital graphics to go along with it. I would recommend it for some good science fiction and character moments.

GunXSword
I love Netflix's Watch Now feature. I have had this on my list to watch for a while but have debated putting it in my queue because it is a lot of discs. The Watch Now feature allows me to watch it anytime and not six or seven episodes at a time. The premise of Gun Sword is mecha based and though I am not a mecha fan, the protagonist is a whole bunch of fun. From the creators of Cowboy Bebop, it did not have that epic feel but came pretty close. Van of the Dawn can control a big armor which stays in orbit around the planet until he calls for it which is often given that everyone seems to have their own armor. Van's sole purpose in life is to kill "The Claw", the man who murdered his fiance. Along for the ride is Wendy, an innocent yet determined girl bent on finding her brother and some others Van begrudgingly picks up along the way. It is mostly light with some okay fighting scenes. Again, a good recommendation for a well rounded series.

Next up: Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo and Mushishi some of the top rated anime available on Netflix's Watch Now.

Lex Luther finally comes to "Smallville"

I have to admit, I am a closet "Smallville" fan. Sometimes the plots get way too dramatic or silly but it is fun to watch a young Clark contend with his powers and use them for the greater good. The writers and creators of the show have really taken liberties with the story line but have still managed to bring in great characters like the Flash, Green Arrow, Lois, Jimmy, Perry White, Martian the Manhunter, and Supergirl. The relationship between Clark and Lex has been different from the start. They became friends, they have loved the same girl, they have become enemies, and they have lost their fathers. This most recent development was unexpected and has made the past few crazy years a thing of the past. The man known as Lex Luther has finally come to "Smallville" and his new sick and evil ways are a blessed anticipation for a show in its sixth season with renewal for a seventh. Let us hope that the whiny Lana is permantly out of the picture and Lois steps up to bat. It is going to be a fun ride.

say it isn't so

No Avatar until June 2008 in the USA. That's right, folks. At the NY Comic Con, the final trailer for the third and last season of Avatar: The Last Airbender informed that it will not air in the US until June 2008 even though Volume 3 of Book 3 DVD set will be released prior.

On a similar note, the live action movie release, directed by M. Night Shyamalan now titled The Last Airbender so as not to conflict with James Cameron's future release of Avatar, is set for July 2, 2010.

image album

For those of you who do not know, an image album is a prereleased album for a Japanese animated film which comprises musical sentiments the composer produces based on initial sketches of the film. In most cases, the music morphs into the official album but sometimes not. The image album for Howl's Moving Castle, in my opinion, is better than the official album but it is the opposite for Spirited Away. The release of Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea is sometime this summer but the image album, but the incomparable Joe Hisaishi has already been compiled. Oh to get my hands on that abulm. There is a lengthy review over at GhibliWorld.com though. It is too bad we have to wait so long in the states.

http://www.ghibliworld.com/ponyo_image_album_review.html

soccer frenzy

How great is it to have soccer back in full swing.? With Beckham scoring his first MLS goal and the returning champs, the Houston Dynamo having an exciting opening home game against FC Dallas. I decided to drive to Houston this weekend to partake of the game, enjoying the residents stopped for bluebonnet pictures with their kinds on the way. It was a cloudless day and I had forgotten my sun screen. How lucky was I that they were giving away orange hats to the first 10,000 fans.? It still did not stop my arms from burning though. Though Onstad was hurt in the first ten minutes and the MLS rookie keeper let two slip by, the Dynamo came through in the end to tie 3 - 3. It was tremendously exciting and reminded me why I love the game in the first place. It is great that ESPN2 is showing double headers on Thursday, HDnet is showing games on Saturday, and Fox Soccer Channel is rounding it out even showing the CONCACAF cup. If you are not watching, dig in because it is the best game around these days.

the music of avatar

Yes, more Air Bender music news. A fantastic interview with Jeremy Zuckerman and Benjamin Wynn over at soundtrack.net. A must read for Avatar fans.

http://www.soundtrack.net/features/article/?id=252

do you mux?

My little brother showed me this very simple yet very cool site where you can make your own mix tape. You upload up to 12 songs, each having to be 10 MB or less. Then you have your own playlist from anywhere and the interface is so effective. While my brother's is funky and probably has taste, mine is soundtrack based. One of the best parts is to discover what others are listening to and maybe find a new favorite. Loads of fun and just so simple.

Hisaishi

I am a huge Joe Hisaishi film score fan. I love his work on Miyasaki and Kitano films. My Mononoke Hime album is definitely in my top five favorite film scores. So imagine my disappointment some months ago to find that most the albums in my collection were bootlegs. You can not imagine the lengths some people go to make it look like the CD you are buying is legitimate. If not for the missing serial number on the back of the disc and several sites devoted to the subject, I would never have known. Thankfully, there are reputable sellers out there and after some contemplation, I decided to replace them with the real deals. Using a Japanese site which exports to the states, I now have honor in my beloved collection.

bluebonnets

By far, my favorite season is winter. I love the cold and the snow. And there is no comparison to fall in the northeast with its colorful leaves. I always enjoyed spring, too, in North Carolina with the wildflowers that bloomed among the highways. Well, there is no winter in Texas and fall is just a immeasurable time between summer and the cooler climates. Spring, though, is definitely growing on me. The weather is still slightly cool and the humidity not quite reaching summer highs. The winds pick up and I can open my windows to catch the breeze though I think I am finally developing those 'Texas allergies'. Add to that the bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas. Their seeds were spread along the highways of Texas by Ladybird Johnson in the mid 1960's and have since returned every spring. They start as little bits of violet in the grass and then become a blanket of blue. Here is one picture along the drive I make to work everyday.

The Inheritance ... cycle?

I enjoyed Eragon. Paolini's world was full and fun with lots of action and meaningful characters. Eldest was not as good. The story slowed and had too much drama. Only in the end did I feel any kinship with the first novel. Now Paolini decides to break his trilogy into four books because he felt some morality portion needed more exposition. This does not bode well for my taste. Brisingr is set for a 20 September 2008 release in the states. If you go onto the amazon site you can find a statement by the author defending his decision. I will read Brisingr and hope I am pleasantly surprised.

once, the movie

Of late, my Netflix choices have been bitter disappointments. So I moved a few of the higher rated ones to the top and was pleasantly surprised by this amazingly beautiful and simple film. A musical, technically and in the truest sense, it revolves around an Irish street musician who meets, writes, plays, and records with a Czech immigrant street urchin. The songs were written by the actors who had collaborated briefly before the film. The scenes are long and shot without cuts and the one song where she (the characters are unnamed) just walks home singing her lyrics to his music was beyond perfect. There is nothing more brilliant that being surprised by a movie. because it happens so little these days. I have since bought both the DVD and the soundtrack. Make sure it is added to your list.

avatar's end title music

Whenever I catch "Avatar: The Last Airbender" on television, I watch all the way until the end. Nickelodeon is good at playing the credits without voice overlay and you can hear the end title music in all its glory. I got tired of waiting for them to show the latest episodes so after downloading I was ecstatic to hear that very music in the newest Avatar episode. Aang learns about firebending and that theme plays a major role in the episode. This show just gets better and better. Hurry up already with the new episodes!

en français

I am starting the fifth Harry Potter book in French this week. What a joy to read these in a different language, especially one that takes great care and pride in translation. I am reading it with my professor who is a long time fan of the books and a new reader. It is like reading them for the first time all over again. First, because the names are structured from the meaning of the English original and I have to learn so much vocabulary just to get through a page. Second, because the new reader does not know nor want to know anything. It is so difficult for me to keep my mouth shut but so fun to think of all the clues we pick up on as we read. It is amazing that these books still give me so much pleasure.

The final book was just released in French and I have yet to buy it because of the expense. I can only imagine waiting that long to read it in your own language.

more anime

I wanted a few more words about some anime I caught recently. By the way, I updated my anime list link to my public link on anime news network. It is easier to keep up to date.

Naruto (post Sasuke's traitorous exit but prior to Shippūden)
After episode 135 (wow that's a lot of episodes), the Naruto anime moves into filler episodes which are created separately from the manga. They still follow the search for Sasuke but team up different members of the Leaf Village in that search. They are less than steller, animation and plot wise relying on silly jokes and leaving little action that is not new or different. I watch them because I do not get enough from my limited Shippūden exposure. I do enjoy seeing characters, though, that you would normally not see.

Air
I took advantage of netflix's 'instant watching' to take an anime off my want to see list. Air was beautiful and extremely funny. The story of a boy and a girl, one searching for an angel, the other slowly fading into that girl. A terribly melancholy story but between the drama is exciting writing, flowing music, and again beautiful animation. It is something that I would watch again because it was short and concise. I have the movie version on my list and I hope it lives up.

Basilisk
I just started this anime but do not look forward to watching it. A Romeo and Juliet story filled with death. Still the ninja and sword fighting pull me like no other. It deserves a chance.

Chevalier D'Eon
This is on Anime Network on my Time Warner Cutting Edge on demand channel. Another really beautiful anime set in the period of the French Revolution. It is loosely based on the real D'Eon de Beaumont with a fantasy flair. The action leaves little to be desired and I am actually not a fan of any of the characters or the plot. But I watch it still to find out how it ends.

Noein
I love a good dimension travel story. This one is a fabulous run on SciFi channel's Animonday. It is fabulous because they are not afraid to kill characters and still retain dignified grief. I love the main guy, very powerful and the guardian of Haruka, the only one able to see the other dimensions. I am about halfway through and only get annoyed at the fact that the children can wonder around so freely. I enjoy everything else about it and will continue to watch enamored.

Oh, Ichigo

"Bleach" is back and my favorite episode aired on adult swim last Saturday. Ichigo appears in all his glory to save Rukia only to have the one of the best face offs in any anime with the ever stoic Byakuya Kuchiki. Oh, and they play the song. Ichigo is so bad ass in these next few episodes having attained bankai , his unforeseen cape bilowing and weilding his zanpakutō over head like a toy. I am eager to watch them again with English dub to revel in the beautiful animation and fantastic twists.

While "Bleach" was off screen, I caught two other animes on adult swim. "Blood+ "has almost finished its run. I was intrigued by the buffy-like premise, a girl using her blood sword to kill these monsters. But the action is few and far between replaced by drawn out family drama. I do enjoy the characters, when they are not whining, and the various groups surrounding the monsters' creation. The best part of this anime is the music, composed by Mark Mancina released on two albums. The second anime was "Death Note." This horror and psychological anime has excellent animation. I am only half way through but not enjoying a teenage boy using a notebook to kill people just because he can. Still, I can not stop without knowing the end so I will continue to watch.

here comes the sun

Well it happened. Summer has hit Texas. Today reached 95 degrees and I managed to resist turning on the AC. I am making note of the date so come October I can tell you how long summer really was.

12 Angry Men

I came home, exhausted from sickness and playing catch up all week to find a classic on Turner Classic Movies. 12 Angry Men was on my must see movie list and now that I have finally watched it I find it difficult to explain my amazed impression. A clean, simple, black and white film centering on 12 men in a room debating the innocence or guilt of one boy. The performances were natural, each man getting up and moving around, the nervous energy waifing off the screen. Fonda used his steely eyed grace to try and convince the men but only convinced me that there was no one better chosen for the role. The weather was its own character moving from sweaty tension to a release of rain. They say they don't make them like they used to and this is the one that fits that rule. A character piece, and simple plot, and yet a winner in every respect. Thank goodness I can scratch it off my list but it is a proud moment that I have.

cloning in 3D

Speaking of Star Wars, the 3D CGI animated series "Clone Wars" is scheduled to premiere at the end of 2008 after a feature film lead in on August 15. The trailer peaks my interest with its action sequences and gritty characters. This is not the sleek and shiny animated shorts that kept me entertained between sagas but has more weight, more depth. Not much is known about the film release but the series has a pretty good trailer.

http://www.starwars.com/video/view/000478.html

The Adventures of Lego Indy

Whoever said Legos are for children never played Lego Star Wars. The game, while just plain fun, is also clever and durable as there are tons of secrets to unlock and achieve. The tongue in cheek details to every character makes me laugh out loud every time. So when I read more Lego games were coming, my expectation and anticipation went sky high. Lego Batman and Lego Indiana Jones are in the making and looking at the video, it looks to be a blast.

a strike of luck

I watch too much TV. I know it. So when the Writer's Guild of America went on strike, I actually cheered. In a month where I am usually glued to my beautiful set and dependent on that lovely DVR for extreme sweep action, I actually finished a book and did my taxes early. Even with the strike, though, my appetite for television has become downright particular. I do not do the reality thing nor do I put much into sitcoms. My taste for the legal drama is dry and the teen drama, acidic. I tend to veer toward high production dramas with either witty writing or appealing relationships. And, of course, scifi and anime which consume more than most. Now that the strike is over and Spring TV starts to unveil, my DVR will fill again. No worries, though. There is nothing better than stepping into someone else's shoes for a long while.

still alive

My new favorite song on repeat these days is "Still Alive" by Jonathon Coulton. It is the title song, or portal song as they call it, to Half-Life 2, the popular console and PC game. It is a tongue in cheek blast at the research facility that turns normal people into crazed zombies. The lyrics make the song.

la bruyère

In the two years or so since I have been taking French at the Alliançe Française d'Austin, my name has been the cause for discussion several times. Heather is not a French name nor does it have an equivalent. However, la bruyère, which is the French word for the flower, is very common in French culture. Last evening, my French teacher and friend, gave me a lovely potted Heather because we discuss it so much. Heathers are found throughout Western Europe and in parts of northeastern North America and Siberia but are native to Ireland, Scotland, Scandinavia, Russia, and northern North America. Their colors are usually pink or mauve in nature but can range from white through pink and purple and even into shades of red. They typically bloom in late summer but blooms spread from July to November. Though their flowers may turn brown in winter, they are an evergreen branching shrub. They need acidic soil and are a traditional remedy used in Swedish herbal medicine. The word, Heather, is of Scottish origin, presumably derived from the Scots word Haeddre. But what is in a name, anyway?

Updated with a picture for my brother

My Neighbor

Sure it is in Japanese but who does not love Totoro. I love the fact that someone loved him enough to erect his statue.

http://www.nagasaki-np.co.jp/kiji/20080116/10.shtml

Persepolis (2007)

I do not know Marhane Satrapi, the Iranian born, French educated graphic novelist and children's author. Her work looks amazing though and this film has already won several film awards including being nominated for the Golden Palm at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. It opened Christmas day in the US with limited screenings. So far, I have not heard whether it will expand but it is on my Netflix list already. Make sure you at least watch the trailer.

imdb link

get lost

The TV show, "Lost", is a piece of work, both artistically and literally. The amount of detail and information in the show is not lost (ha!) on the audience either. The current publicity stunt uses something called a viral technique. Advertisements are placed on buses, billboards, and even commercials which look real but, in fact, represent fake products and services. For example, Oceanic, the airline in which the survivors of flight 815 crashed onto the island, has several commercials and billboards over the US. In fact, they have a website which has been apparently hacked by another fabricated character, Sam. You should visit http://www.flyoceanicair.com/ and then follow the hackers site to continue the game. It leads to some interesting information about season four, which premieres the first of its only eight episodes January 31, 2008. I enjoy the connections and things that people figure out as well as the beautiful images and music that make this show so special. Have fun digging.

quarterly search

I have a few sentimental possessions. I listed a few of them in my horcrux list. Another which fast moves up the list is my state quarters collection. 2008 is the last year for the state quarter releases which started ten years ago. I have been collecting both mints since then. Yesterday I received a quarter (thank you Chipotle) which reduced my number of missing quarters to six not counting the ten for 2008. Collecting them has been a blast because my mother and I would trade every time we traveled to see one another. Also, friends I did not know collected them would vie for the quarters when we paid cash at dinner or the movies. I have a list of missing quarters in my wallet in case one pops up in the grocery. I am currently missing:

• 2005 West Virginia (Philidelphia Mint)
• 2006 South Dakota (Philadelphia Mint)
• 2007 Washington (Philadelphia and Denver Mint)
• 2007 Utah (Philadelphia and Denver Mint)

If any one has one of these and can spare the $0.66 (a quarter plus the $0.41 stamp), I would be most appreciative to complete my collection.

Is ravelry a word?

I have discovered bliss. This site manages to capture everything that is good and geeky about knitting and crocheting. Details abound. I can upload photos of my projects along with the pattern, the yarn, down to the types of needles used. It is still in beta and you need an invitation but it kept me occupied for several hours and added too many projects to my list.

Ravelry and my site

worth as many words

I love photography. Not the actual taking pictures part because I do not have the eye for it. But I enjoy captured images, most of them evoking laughter, surprise, amazement, empathy, or some other emotion. The links below, especially Time's amazing images are some of my favorites to visit.

http://www.time.com/time/picturesoftheweek/

http://fantasygoat.livejournal.com/

where's the fire?

Now that the first ten episodes have aired on Nickelodeon, the third and last season of "Avatar: The Last Airbender" is in full swing. I have not been ecstatic about the Fire Book but there have been exceptional episodes and still makes me laugh out loud. But Aang and gang are alone in the fire nation and their powers and friendship are growing. Now Aang, the Avatar, has returned and I sincerely hope that he learns some firebending soon because both Azula and Firelord Ozai are very powerful and manipulative. I will not spoil anything for those reading but I was happy with the other fire nation characters in The Day of the Black Sun. I am eager to see it all play out.

in search of a skull

Well, it is not the Indiana that we knew but the image of an aging Harrison Ford illuminated from the back, whip, leather jacket, hat and surrounded by cobwebs gives me hope. More at canmag.com

all will be revealed

So I love Batman. The whole brooding hero thing is all me. Plus, the guy has no powers . What is more sexy than a caped crusader who can fight like a ninja. It is the best of both worlds. That being said, I was not a fan of Batman Begins because it was too dark (not thematically but the film was actually too dark). And the editing was atrocious, à la Bourne Supremacy, where the choreography was lost. Don't get me wrong, the look and feel of Gotham was superb and Bale was spot on. Plus, Gary Oldman as Gordan makes the entire film. I just wanted something a bit cleaner with more detail. I hope they take this into consideration when they release The Dark Knight. I love the fact that it isn't "Batman 2" or "Batman Returns" or some other silly second movie title. Instead it feels like it is another story. If you have not glanced lately, take a look at the promotion. It is already big.

update: the cards are now gone and the joker is fully creepy
http://www.empireonline.com/heiscoming/

and if you can't wait that long, here is a sneak peak: The Joker

complete the set

Gosh, so much going on and not enough time to blog. I was happy to hear today that NBC has picked up "Life" for the rest of the season. I love this drama and hope that it continues for a while. I completed two soundtrack sets this past week. One was the fantastic game series, Halo by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori. Now that Halo 3 has been released for Xbox 360 (I still have not played it yet!) the story and its score are complete. The soundtracks are an amalgamation of drama and action with a nice electronic blend, except in 3 the themes have been rerecorded orchestrally and with a choir. I love the themes and can not wait to hear it with the game. And last but certainly not least, I received the final installment of Howard Shore's The Lord of the Rings The Complete Recordings which is a five disc version of The Return of the King. How wonderful to finally hear the portions of the score which were not on the soundtrack in all their glory; that little violin at the end of the lighting of the beacons, the fellowship theme sung by choir on the side of mount doom, and the little breathers which hint at each and every theme with only a few notes. These soundtracks have given me hours upon hours of listening and have changed my interpretation of the story through the dissecting of every motif. However, it is not over. A book about Shore's score is still to be released and I look forward to its analysis.

legano, ni legano, is gray area

Cutting Edge quote there. Too bad I had to miss the goal of the season last night. If you are looking for good soccer, head over to Twellman's

www.MLSnet.com

Big damn heroes

I did not start out liking Naruto. The anime focused on the young ninja who was whiny and annoying. Plus, his main strength is his determination and not his ninja ability and to me, this is boring. I like my heroes special, strong, moody. Which brings me to Sasuke who was just that. Meanwhile, Naruto grew stronger and Sasuke grew jealous. So Sasuke goes off to seek power and revenge. Naruto goes after Sasuke to bring him home. The bitterness between them, despite their previous camaraderie, was felt in their last meeting when they both fought to kill. Now, it seems, Naruto, is a top notch anime which has improved both in character and animation. I can not wait to see how things work out.

Which brings me to the end of the Bleach run on adultswim for a while. They have switch to Death Note, another interesting anime. But the thing that bothers me is that they stopped right as the Soul Society arc gets really good. The big hero scene (I do love my heroes) when Ichigo shows up and brings his bankai. The big scene is that much more enjoyable because he shows up dressed to kill with his big ass Zanpakuto and stops Rukia's death with the best line, "Yo!" God, how I love Bleach. I hope it comes back soon. Meanwhile, I will open my mind to other anime and try Death Note.

Let's talk 2007 Fall TV

It is not the most stellar season. Frankly, I feel there is something missing. After thinking about it, I found it was the lack of a fast talking, witty, pop culture reference show à la "Buffy", "Gilmore Girls" or "Veronica Mars". Without this kind of writing, TV feels empty. Sure a show like that never reflects real life or true situations but hey, what television show does? Still, in a dimly lit room somewhere, Joss is writing the 'next' show that makes me all giddy and fanatical. Anyway, a girl can dream. But even with the dismal season, there are a few good eggs in the basket. Let's take a look

"Chuck" - A less charming rip off of "Jake 2.0" with Betty's beau Christopher Gorham, "Chuck" plays the shy geek card against an energetic Alec Baldwin and typical blond spy, Yvonne Strzechowski. Even the geekiness is less than par with encoded images having been downloaded into Chuck's brain. At least Jake had some powers, this guy just decrypts images leaving the audience to witness flashes on the screen and a 'doh' moment when Chuck tells pretty blond what it means. So far the plots are weak and the chemistry superficial. There is potential. I like the brother and sister relationship and the fact that Chuck and his friends are part of the 'Nerd Herd' computer fixit guys who work at a place called 'Buy More' which is next to a 'Weinerlicious'. That's two shows that have made generic names for typical American commercialism and have to say, fun stuff. But the action should pick up or the writing should improve quicke because both are just average and can not sustain this show as quality television. Next to Adam (please oh please throw a toaster at someone every episode!), Zachary Levi has got it down as Chuck. He is such a lovable geek.

"Reaper"- Which leads us to the other geek show. Even though it is on The CW, "Reaper" provides more entertainment and plot than "Chuck" has so far. The premise is this: When Sam was born his parents sold his soul to the devil and now he must work as a bounty hunter and send escaped souls from hell back where they belong. It seemed doomed from my point of view but both the devil and Sam have proved me wrong. The devil is played by Ray Wise and does he ever fit the part. His every scene is fantastic and his motives are still very unclear and the mystery adds points in my book. Sam works for 'The Work Bench', TV's version of Home Depot or Lowe's and though he has no focus, plays the ever wavering bachelor very well. There are a few problems, specifically an average boy - girl scenario. 'He likes her but will not tell her his secret' just drives me crazy. It was a nice twist that she did not go back to school and an unexpected move is always a plus. I like his friends too, though I wish we had more of Ben and less of "Sock".

"Pushing Daisies" - If one show was to scream novel, this is it and is my pick of the season. A fanastical and visual journey into the world of reanimation which has the look and feel of a Burton film. And please, the chemistry between our 'touched' hero, Ned and undead Chuck (who names their kid Charlotte Charles?) is boiling over. I can imagine that the ever changing ways of them touching without actually touching is going to be the thing with this show. The audience is swept into the lives of its characters intertwined by little details given in the form of a narrator, the ever fantastic voice of the Harry Potter audio novels, Jim Dale. In fact, the narration and the scene formation culminating in the character looking directly at the camera reminds me a lot of Amélie. With a fantastic cast (again I beg for Kristin Chenoweth to sing in every episode) and an even more enchanting plot, "Pushing Daisies" is here to stay.

"Life" - That being said, my next favorite new show is "Life" and it all has to do with Damian Lewis. Lewis plays Crews, an LAPD policeman who was accused of murdering his business partner, wife, and son when DNA evidence, 12 years later, acquitted him. He was released, promoted to detective, and awarded some billions of dollars for compensation. So the plot, while fairly droll, has some potential in that the crime is still unsolved and the audience gets pieces every episode. His partner also catches my interest and she has done well trying to understand and deal with this confounding man who has a house but no furniture (I love the zen) and keeps company with a known embezzler (a brilliant Adam Arkin). Lewis, my newfound love, steals the show. With a piercing stare and a love for life, the character Crews and the actor Lewis go hand in hand. It must be the mystery or the scars beneath the surface. Whatever it is, it draws me. If you have not seen "Band of Brothers", netflix the sucker and enjoy the ride. He has only improved with age and "Life" is the little known secret of this year's premieres.

Look Ma, no hands!

I detest needles and anything having to do with doctors or blood. I can count the number of times that I have been stuck with a needle and NOT fainted without any hands (zero!). So imagine my apprehension when some insurance that I am buying said they needed to draw blood. I basically spent three weeks worrying about it. But things worked out fine. It turned out to be a great day with temperatures just hovering under 60 degrees. This alone made my day. The nurse came to my house which also put me at ease. She hummed and only had to prick me twice. I lay there with my arm over my eyes and felt only little nausea. But the best part, no fainting. Banner day for me.

Kettle Corn

I do not know who created this tasty treat but it happens to be the best stuff on earth. Kettle Corn is a perfect blend of salt and sweet and just happens to be the basis for the title of my blog. Usually I have to wait for some festival that has a stand and buy the largest bag they have but I found a fantastic recipe which is easy and tastes just like you buy at a fair. For my pot, you need just a little more oil or you burn the corn. Try some, I guarantee you will love it.

Kettle Corn Recipe

Oh, and here is a little history http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kettle_corn

Hello Halo

So I have played the first and second on two different consoles. I have yet to tackle the third, deterred by the price. But I love the Master Chief and the entire story. This advertisement is awesome, simple yet effective in its emotion, and utterly enjoyable. I can not wait to finish the story.

Victor victorious

I had not watched a netflix movie in weeks due to my trip to Italy and my mail being stopped. Finally receiving them this week, I was able to enjoy, again, what I love so much. Watching the kind of movies I like in the comfort of my home. This weekend, one disc in particular gave me perfect enjoyment and that was The Best of Victor Borge. Victor Borge (1909-2000) was a talented pianist and comedian. He combined his love of music with the most fantastic gags. But after all the hilarious stunts, the sheet music gag, the opera singer, the duet, and the inflationary language, the man sat down and did what he is best at: playing the piano. The man was pure genius on the keyboard. If you have never watched him, put it on your netflix list now. You will not be disappointed.

Life goes on

I have not blogged in a while. However, when I tried to pick something to blog about, I found there was a lot going on in my life. There was the whole trip to Italy where I spent a day in Venice and a day in Milan. Oh, and there was the work part of the trip too. Perfect weather and perfect food culminated for a rather perfect trip. Then there is the matter of playing Doom 3 on my Xbox 360. Oh how it reminds me of the good days when my brother and I would play for hours in front of the computer. I have to admit that I had low expectations of the game but am enjoying it immensely. ID has done a wonderful job of updating the demons and story for a scarier, most excellent first person shooter but never sacrificing what made it a great game in the first place. I wish my brother was around to experience the multiplayer. Then there was the series premiere of Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 3. The first episode of the most anticipated season of fire bending was a little less than fantastic but the second was back to its old form, hilarity with magnificent heart. Was there ever a funnier brother than Sokka or a more tortured character than Zuko? Please someone start watching this show so I can share the love. Nevermind that the Buckeyes are kicking butt, that Beckham will continue to be on the disabled list until the end of the season, or that hockey starts today. I will not blog about the premiere of the 2007 Fall TV season of which nothing has sparked intense feelings as yet. I will not speak about my excitement at seeing the Macy's Day Parade in New York City this year. No the one thing in my life which seems to have made the most impact is that two of the only people I knew when I moved to Austin are now moving away. In this time of an unsteady job and a more unsteady life, it saddens me to lose two good friends. Something like that makes you realize that life is short and friends are scarce. Make sure you appreciate the ones you have.

In need of a doctor

In its greatest episode yet, "Blink" had very little of the doctor in Doctor Who. Mostly it was about Sally Sparrow (great names in this show) and how the lonely assasins, the weeping angels, stole the doctor's time travel box and how Sally had to get it back to him, losing several friends in the process. The story was nothing truly novel but I find it is the characters, themselves, in this series that capture my attention. Most of them are never one dimensional and their humor is usually spot on. The doctor always finds himself in the greatest of situations and the fact that he time travels is aways appealing. I have not seen the previous versions of Doctor Who but, in my opinion, David Tennant is the best. Catch up on this show by watching the first season online at Netflix.

A king of an album

It is official. The release of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King the complete recordings is Tuesday November 6. 5 discs: 4 CDs and one DVD; 3 hours and 50 minutes of music total. I can not wait.

http://www.howardshore.com/news/pressreleases/lotr-rotk.html

DCI 2007

If you have never seen a drum and bugle corps competition, you are missing out. If you have never seen the Drum Corps International World Championships, then tune to ESPN2 on September 25 and 26 for the rebroadcast. Forget that these kids, ages 13-22, march and play at the same time. Forget that they train and practice hours, days, weeks at a time in mid summer, sleeping on gym floors and eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Forget the anxiety of competition, the lasting friendships, and the pleasure of performing in front of thousands, six judges, and friends and family. Forget all that and sit back and enjoy something so unique and very fun. The visuals, the music, and the technique all combine to create amazing performances and ESPN2 has the top 11 corps to vie for the world champion. My favorites were Carolina Crown's horse show and The Cavalier's Billy Joel Show. They only show about 5 or 6 minutes from each show but it is probably the best part. I would not have minded seeing the whole show of the top three though.

Season One

Target had this set for under $40 which is pretty good for a six disc set. The packaging is nice, with comic rendering and not a lot of flash. I like the understated logo of this series, a world surrounded by light signifying the eclipse and the impending doom.

I immediately watched my favorite episode, the future one where all the twists and turns occur. I watched with audio commentary which, I have to say, was a bit much because the actors were talking too much to distinguish anything. I watched un-aired pilot with creator/director commentary as well and was happy to hear they cut the terrorist story all together. It was too much and would not have captured me as easily. Then, I moved on to the score extra. I have not been a big fan of this series' music. It is too ethereal for me. But after hearing them talk about the mixture of instruments to try and pull together all the story lines, I had more respect. Then, to prepare for the upcoming season finale, I watched the last episode. Without having the rest of the season to feel the building anticipation and fear of Skylar, it was hard to get into it. However, the one character who never fails to capture admiration is Peter Petrelli. Milo just oozes compassion. But without the antics of Hiro and Ando, Claire and Noah Bennet's underlying suspicion, or Skylar's evil looks (though there are plenty in the finale), it was hard to feel like it was something great. If you have not seen the trailer, search YouTube and be disappointed that Peter has no mention. September 24 can not come fast enough.

Fly Away Home

In 1996, Fly Away Home hit theaters. A quirky movie about a girl, her dad, and the geese they taught to fly. I love this movie. It hits all the emotional high points of the father daughter relationship. Also, the geese are characters unto themselves and they are utilized so well in the movie. Some of the images of Anna Paquin in the fields with those geese are breathtaking and the quiet loneliness she plays after her mother's death, to me, is very poignant.

Most of all, of course, is the score. Well before Mark Isham's rise to fame for his work on Crash, Fly Away Home is a splendid use of acoustic instruments, solo violin, cello, marimba, and accordion. He develops just beautiful themes for flying, the geese, and Amy's mother. In particular, the flying theme is one of my all time favorites. The album for this is impossible to find as there was only a promotional album created. I am lucky to have a bootleg but it contains other songs from some of Isham's other works. Still it is worth it for the track, "First Flight". But if you are interested, the Special Edition DVD has isolated score with some small breaks for Isham's commentary.