Miss ‘Why?’, And The Nerd (That I Am).

Good evening everyone.

What is it about certain nights that no matter what you do, things just get crazier and crazier? I have had sick co workers, angry people threatening to sue, and a wide array of other problems to deal with (I don’t want to go into much more detail than that, as I have promised to stop whining here). I have not had much time to get through any homework, so that should occupy most of my time here tomorrow (this is my vein hope that tomorrow will be better)…

On a completely different note, we have a new Miss Utah. Apparently they have a new one every year, through a pageant of some sort. I did not even know that they were looking for a new one. Here she is, our new Miss Utah:

Can someone explain to me exactly what Miss Utah does? What does holding this particular crown mean? She is majoring in psychology, and wants to have a career working at a home for teenage girls (I am going to take the high road here and not make the dirty jokes that are gushing through my head now). Do we even need a ‘prettiest girl in the state’ contest? (this really is about that, let’s face it: the “talent” portion means nothing)

Why don’t they have a Mr. Utah? Do they have a Mr. Utah? If they have a Mr. Utah, does he have to marry Miss Utah? Can I hide under that lip of hers if it rains? So many questions…

That’s enough of that crap. Any way, I have been so pre occupied looking forward to The Dark Knight that I am getting stupid with nerdy delight. It's a level of 'geeking-out' beyond any other I have had in years- seriously, this might be a problem. It’s sad when I am more attracted to these pictures:

Than this picture:

In fact, that will do it for me tonight. Now it’s back to all the craziness that this evening at work has to offer….

T

Now You Got My Number…

Good evening everyone.

Just a quick thing this evening, and just for fun (but kinda creepy). I found a thing on some other blogs that assigns you a number, and gives the personality you have based on the results of a basic quiz. This is me:

You Are 5: The Investigator

You're independent - and a logical analytical thinker.
You love learning and ideas... and know things no one else does.
Bored by small talk, you refuse to participate in boring conversations.
You are open minded. A visionary. You understand the world and may change it.
At Your Best: You are sharp, inventive, and creative. You have the skills to lead the world.
At Your Worst: You are reclusive, weird, and a bit paranoid.
Your Fixation: Greed
Your Primary Fear: Being useless or incompetent
Your Primary Desire: Being competent and needed
Other Number 5's: Bill Gates, John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, Bjork, and Stephen Hawking.

Note the other Number 5’s. Cool…

T

Movie Mania Season (A.K.A. Bad News For Me)

Good afternoon everyone,

I thought that I would just check in today with a quick thought. Actually, a quick thought and some news on The Cinema Project (possibly disappointing).

I started The Cinema Project to do a little bit of a different kind of movie review. I wanted a review that judged movies on an ‘It is what it is’ basis. I wanted to create a critique for the Joe Moviegoer. Moreover, I hate the normal movie critic, because they almost always judge good movies to standards that usually do not apply. They look for the high minded and deep types of things that simply do not belong in some movies. I know that makes me come off as a champion for the uneducated, but allow me to explain: if you go see an action movie, or a gross out fart joke movie, there is obviously not going to be a lot of depth to them. The basis for The Cinema Project is to not look for those types of things where they simply are not, and not to try and read any deeper than the movie was meant to be read.

There are a few critics that do take this into account, and judge the movies on that basis. The thing that you should do is find a critic with similar tastes as you, and listen to what they have to say. Always take it with a grain of salt however. Because every ones tastes are different, and beuaty is in the eye of the beholder.

I bring this up because I was reading a local newspaper, and reading the movie review section. The critic pretty much pissed all over Hellboy II, and I had given it a good rating. The reason he gave it such a poor grade was because he said it was too commercialized, and he thought it was tame compared to the first ome. Granted, I also thought the first one was better, but I like to judge each individual movie in its own merit, even sequels. He did not ask: does it deliver what it promises?

I hope that you all find some use in my page, that is if you have taste as bad as mine (kidding).

There was also a bit of developing (bad) news on this front as well: I may not be able to attend a lot of pre screenings for a while. As most of you know (now everyone I guess) I have to rely on some one else to get me into these. Unfortunately, because it is summer blockbuster season, they want more and more seats for promotional tickets, and are cutting down on the number of guests that the press can have. So, basically, I will have to try and ‘win’ tickets through whatever contests that are going on (fat chance I am going to play those), or see it on opening night. So if you are relying on The Cinema Project as a bit of a ‘heads-up’, it will come a little late. It will not be every time however, just now and then until this season is over. I am still hoping for The Dark Knight this Wednesday, but due to the news yesterday, it appears to be a coin toss at this point… *sigh*

T

All in a Days Work

Good afternoon everyone,

I am on a very tedious shift at work today. It's busy and slow at the same time. Allow me to explain: it is steady enough that I can't do anything else that is productive, but I have lots of time to do little things. So what did I manage to accomplish during this time? Well, here you go:

*sigh*... If only I had the time to actually do homework today. That would have been useful...

T

Sabbath Day-Break

Good afternoon everyone,

Well, today I do not have a lot to do with the exception of homework. And in my seemingly endless amounts of free time here at work, I am sure to get that done. Also, I have recently opened this blog up to comments, buy popular demand. Well, not really, I originally did not have them because I was, and still am, too lazy to moderate them. So if you leave one, there is a strong chance that I may never get around to reading it. No hard feelings though. Like I said before, I’m just too lazy. Or busy… yeah, that sounds better. But for the most part, I really enjoy doing this (actually it’s just the typing) blog, and most of the people that I started it for do not read on a regular basis any more, so I have decided to have a little more fun with it- just doing what I want to really. Things like the ‘Checklist’ will become less and less frequent, because that was for the “People who I don’t see on a daily basis”, and I don’t think they are reading on a ‘daily basis’. So actually, you might think this blog has gotten less interesting- because, well, I am a person who thinks math is fun…

Any way, I really am going to post more of what I am doing in school, as opposed too just bitching about the classes, professors, homework, etc… so be prepared, or curious, whatever suits your fancy.

Also, with today being the Sabbath, I think that it is about due time for a reading from the Book of St. Anthony:



I got-eth nothing.

I am not-eth feeling the flow of the Divine Muse.

Meaning-eth, I shall not have much of interest to present-eth unto you.

In fact, I think-eth that is it-eth.

Amen.

That will do it for me today folks. Please be sure to keep track on The Cinema Project, I will have a review of Hellboy II: The Golden Army up either Tuesday night, or Wednesday afternoon. Ciao!

T

Born (Again) on the Fourth of July

Good afternoon everyone.

Happy 5th of July, National Hangover Day. Granted, this is usually reserved for the 1st of January, or everyday at 4 PM if you are Bubbles. But today is unique, it is the only day where waking up hung-over in a strange bath tub with your shirt on backwards and confetti in your underwear is considered Patriotic. But seriously folks, I was making my usual rounds and errands this morning before work (coffee, grocery store etc.), and every one who I encountered on my pre-work odyssey seemed to be hung over and tired, even at 10 AM. That is why I have dubbed today National Hangover Day, in the Land of the Free and Home of the Headachy and Nauseous Brave.

Now to the details of the 4th. Earlier in the day, From Russia with Love stopped by, and had a very lazy morning doing almost nothing. That is exactly what I have been needing by the way, living the busy life that I do. We spent most of the morning watching this show on MSNBC, with Chris Matthews that was a sting operation where they caught old guys who tried to meet young girls in online chat-rooms for disgusting reasons. It’s quite sad really, how many people they get, but hilarious at the same time. More entertaining than COPS if you ask me.

At about 3:30, From Russia with Love hat to go to work, so I packed up my camera and went picture taking. I headed over to see what Sandy City had planned, and took pictures of the celebrations. Those pictures are up on the PHOTOGRAPHY blog (link on the right) if you would like to check them out (I know, I know. They are not my best, and for waiting as long as most of you have for new updates there, that has to be a little disappointing).

After that, my brother had got back from his cruise and was doing a little barbequing, so I had him fry me up some Bratwurst. Then not a lot happened until I met up with From Russia with Love again after work to watch the fireworks outside The Mayan (a decent view from the parking garage, considering we really didn’t have enough time to go anywhere better). Here are some pictures of the fireworks and setting (not great, that’s why I didn’t put these on the photo blog):


Then we went and stopped by a party that was going on. These people were not really my friends or her friends, but friends of friends. That made it really lame, so we did not stay long.

Then it was back to my place. We busted out my dad’s telescope, and looked at a really bright star that she was curious about. Turned out it was Jupiter. Really cool actually, because my dad’s telescope has enough resolution to where we could actually see the cloud rings (not red spot though), and a couple of the moons. W tried to take pictures (I knew it wouldn’t turn out that great because we didn’t have any kind of mount or any means of steadying the camera, but it’s still awesome). Any way, here are our shots of Jupiter (if you believe me):

Having the day off was just what the doctor had ordered. Not that doctor, who gave me the skin cream. But my rash is a little better! So, All in all, I feel like a million bucks today (just a little tired, and a tad off the top of my game). But good none the less! (see, I can do an entire post without whining!)

T

Independence Day

Good afternoon everyone.

Today is the 4th of July. Not one of my favorite holidays (but still a day off of work and school). Don’t get me wrong, I’m not being ‘Anti-America’ or anything, but it’s just the normal celebrations of fireworks and such I find a little boring. Sure fireworks are pretty, but I don’t think that they should be the center of the day. After all, it is Independence Day, the day that the Rebels and visionaries of the New World declared independence from The Crown. That is a lesson to take to heart on this day. To remember what we stand for as a nation, which is Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Important thoughts in these times, given the current political climate and economy woes.

Also on this subject, one of the most recognizable symbols of our country is the Statue of Liberty. Every one knows where it came from (France), but not everyone knows the story of the words on it (you know the “tired, hungry huddled masses” thing). Basically, after we got the thing, there was a fund raising effort for the Statue of Liberty for who knows what, and a woman named Emma Lazarus was asked to contribute a poem to help the effort, and part of the poem was inscribed there. So, all, I will leave you to your celebrations (with or without fireworks) with the poem in its entirety. So, here you are, The New Colossus, by Emma Lazarus:

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

~ Emma Lazarus [1883]

That’s all folks! Happy Independence Day!

T