Mid Day Thoughts

• Wataburger puts crack in their meat (just like McDonalds puts crack in their coke).
• Back to working out... sheesh.
• Ok, life goal thing I talked about eariler. Might possibly maybe being interested in owning a movie theater.
• I wonder why there were never forsale signs on the GC movie theater in the Toys R Us parking lot at Ridgmar. It's still sitting there empty after all those years.
• The last movie I saw there was Blade Runner Director's cut.
• These black dudes just kept talk and talking during the whole movie.
• I loved going to the 7th street theater off Camp Bowie. I can't believe they knocked it down. It was sooooo retro.
• The last movie I saw there was The Little Mermaid.
• The last move that played there was The Haunting (see pic).
• I am thinking a Tavern Movie Theater is going to be the only way a movie theater will work in the future. Beer = Money.
• I'd like to rent out theater screens for amateur made movies.
• Decatur Wallyworld was not THAT packed on Black Friday. Not like the Burleson one.

Monday Memory Dump

• Watching old video of NASA, it's hilarious to see them 'light up' inside mission control with all that high tech equipment.
• Thanksgiving was good, no shopping on the day after = great.
• Got the septic problem fixed with help from father in law. It was a clod of soap and hair.. gross.
• Got the electrical problem hounding us for two months fixed with the help of the father in law again. It was a short in some little connector under the house.
• I can't believe people would be waiting at 3 in the morning for a store to open.
• I got some great Blu-ray deals online though.
• My illness settled in my chest this weekend so now I am coughing.
• I always thought that was a strange term 'settled in the chest', but when it happens to you that's about the best way to describe it.
• I am having to medicate one of the cats twice each day. Man does she hate it! I have to practically wrestle with her.
• Saw Seven on Saturday night. That was a good movie. Was thinking it was more of a horror movie for some reason.
• I think I have decided on a BIG life goal for the next 3 years. I will tell you all about it later.
• Watched Angles and Demons yesterday. Ehh, it was ok. I liked the book better but don't we always like the book better.
• Saw some of the Rockette's Christmas show on PBS. I can't imagine spending good money to go see that.

Wednesday Memory Dump

• Still sick. I did sleep better last night though.
• One of the cats has uninary infection, time to medicate.
• Did a little more cleaning but didn't feel like much more than that.
• Watched Inkheart last night. The movie just shouldn't have been made. It has too many plot holes to make sense. I enjoyed the book though.
• Does 'Inkheart' and 'The Mummy' actor Brenden Frazier EVER age? I think not.
• Going to try and fix the plumbing today with the Father-in-law.
• Got paid a day early... needed that!
• I have my shopping cart on Amazon full of Blu-Rays. Will see if the price changes today, tomorrorw, or Friday.
• Just spent an hour figuring out a printer jam issue. Not a jam but a whacked out sensor.

Transformers 2 Movie Review

Have you ever been itchy for a movie to be over?
I have.
Godzilla (the U.S. one) and this robotic turd in the water pipe.

What I didn't like about this movie:

1.) Language. This movie was crude. Robots don't talk like that.
2.) Robots that look like humans. I don't even want to begin the hour long bitchfest about how a human-like robot does not even make sense in a Transformers movie. If she could do it why in hell wouldn't all the other transformers do the same???
3.) Humping dogs and robots.
4.) Plot lines so blatant I expected to see Michael Bay staning with a sign that said: 'here comes a plot line'.
5.) Did I mention the language?
6.) Robot testicles.
7.) The Matrix of Leadership was a kick ass device, not a wicker-work coffee table sculpture.
8.) Who the hell was the Fallen? What a waste. Now if you want an ultimate villan bring on UNICRON (just wait until the 3rd movie for that one).
9.) Parachutes with the autobot symbol painted on it? Sheesh!
10.) Michael Bay = Camera moving so much you get motion sickness.
11.) Urban thug autobots with gold teeth.

12.) Robots so generic looking you often forget who you are looking at (the franchise's biggest fault).
13.) Bizzare ending. Michael looked at the clock and said: 'Oops, movie is out of time. End it here.'

Ok, enough already. If you are remotely interested I'm sure it's ok to watch Trasformers 2: Revenge of the BoxOffice.

P.S.
This is what the Matrix of Leadership should be like...
and yes, along with that radical music too!

Tuesday Memory Dump

• Got ANOTHER sinus infeciton yesterday. Feel like crap now.
• Watching Cosmos episode where Carl talks about 'evil mankind'... barf.
• When driving home I saw the local pack of chihuahuas and their new buddy, a piglet. Man I live in the country.
• Forgot my cel phone at home... how o how will I survive?!?!
• Got Poo? NO. Apparently after spending a crap load of money (pun intended) it's not the septic thats the issue. It's some plumbing under the house. ugh.
• Tried sulfuric acid on the drains, that stuff is LETHAL. Still no workie.
• Cleaned the house last night for T-day. Still more to do tonight.
• Have to refill the 5 gallon water bottle today. We can't drink New Fairview water, too nasty. Then again, isnt all tap water nasty?

Star Trek Movie Review

I watched the new J.J. Abrams Star Trek this weekend and have a few comments.

Of course I am being nit picky but that's what makes it fun!

The movie is good. It's action packed and filled with decent acting and very good special effects.

With that said let the fun begin...

1.) Too many halogen lights. Has the distance future learned that LEDs suck as a light source? I realize it was an artistic thing but it was annoying to have that light glare in every scene.

2.) Like every movie made now-a-days the camera moves too much. It's wayyy better than Roland Emmerich or Michael Bay but still...

3.) The plot was waaaayyyyyy too convoluted. The movie was clearly built around a premise (the crew) and the plot came later.

4.) Was it just me or did the engine room of the Enterprise look like a brewery with a few computer monitors spread about?

5.) You mean to tell me that there were NO ships around Earth when Nero shows up? How many Star Treks does that make were Earth is left without even one ship that can defend the planet?

6.) If the 'red matter' was so powerful and could create a black hole when ignited WHY O WHY did they have to drill into the core of a planet to use it? Just drop it on the planet and go. Oh well, the whole drill thing makes for more excitement.

I still enjoyed it thoroughly and I am sure I will buy it or get it for Christmas so I can nitpick over and over again.

Monday Memory Dump

• Septic is full. You have poo??? Call Ledoo!
• Listened to Prairie Home Companion yesterday. Just because you can get on the radio and sing DOES NOT mean you should... sorry Garrison. Either that or get a auto-tuner.
• Yesterday I saw at least 10 4-wheelers on the back of trucks going and coming on 287.
• I don't care for their parent company but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Rosa's Cafe (off 35 at Western Center).
• I replaced that toilet was moaning about last week. It lived up to it's unpleasantness.
• Chased a possum off the back porch last night. I'm sure they are under the house tearing it up again.
• I love lists (as I have said before) but I can't stand the list you see on websites like: 10 of the best custom homes, 15 of the worst mid-air accidents, etc... I guess they make these list so people will know they will be quick and easy to look at (in our 'I want it now' society).
• You know that most gas stations don't make money off their gas, they make money off the crap in their stores. Well think about QT, they must be making a killing!
• I finished Transformers 2 and Star Trek and I will post reviews later.

This Week's Star Gazer

Friday Memory Dump

• I saw someone sprinting from the hospital yesterday and someone chasing them, then 2 sheriff's vehicles show up soon afterwards...
• Had some Dr. Pepper cake. More like chocolate but it sure was good!
• Almost done with Transformers 2. Still not impressed. I actually stopped to go watch an old episode of MASH.
• The MASH finale is STILL the most watched TV show of all time.
• The actual Korean war lasted 3 years, the show lasted 11!
• The camp announcer that you hear in every episode was never actually shown.
• There were 3 spin-offs to MASH: AfterMASH, WALTER, and Trapper John, MD. Although Trapper John was actually a spin-off of the original MASH book.
• Now you know all about MASH.
• Have no idea what to do this weekend.
• There is a lot of 'passing the buck' in my work.
• Having to fix a leaking toliet tomorrow... ugh.
• New Fairview needs a cat ordinance, they are taking over!
• Will anyone ever rent the space out above Kusin's in New Fairview?
• I think that guy (who owns Kusin's building) built all of it from the money from Oil or Gas on the land.
• The Dairy Queen in Rhome es no bueno. I used to be scared to eat in there, it's very nasty.

This IS real, I remember hearing it on the radio

I took this from Blake's MW2 page

Thursday Memory Dump

• While browsing Blogger accounts it seems that anyone with a camera touts themselves as a photographer.
• Frito Burrito at Sonic is made of the stuff of life!
• It's gonna cost 20 bucks to clean a comforter that the cat peed on.
• I bought some 100 calorie right bite fudge cookies... man there is a LOT of wasted packaging there.
• Irish Spring ran out so I had to use the wife's oatmeal soap. Not too happy about that.
• I need to take 'real' vacations. I don't really care to but I am guess someday I will regret the fact that I didn't.
• Looks like I will be going to Boston (again) for training next May. Not sure how I feel about it at the moment.
• If you are trying to cut back on sweets then suddenly you notice how good something sweet that you didn't think was all that great, you know you are on the right track.
• I am sure that last statement made several dead college grammar professors roll in their graves.
• I have only developed a liking for Tabasco sauce in the last 3 years. I used to hate it. Well, it still stinks but it does add some kick to foods.
• Had a fanstastic idea for a story yesterday involving time travel. Now I have to see if that particular idea has been done already.

Mid Day Thoughts

• Everyone is in a panty-bunch over the Sarah Palin Newsweek cover photo. I think the caption is FAR more offending. Also, shes a looker!
• Someone made a good point about overweight people. Unlike alcoholics who are told to just stop drinking, an overweight person can't just stop eating. Its like telling that alcoholic that they need to stop getting drunk but they still have to drink a little each day to stay alive.
• I am testing a weird 'sealed' mouse (sealed in rubber to keep germs out). It's very unusual.
• I am talking about a computer mouse, not some S&M inclined rodent.
• How do you irritate a God denouncing scientist: ask them exactly how evolution works. Don't take generalities, ask them to tell you exactly. It's basically just a 'magical' as religion because they can't explain it. Watch their head spin off.
• How do you irritate a God denouncing scientist: ask them 'if God is supposed to be the All Knowing Supreme Being, how is it that he is not smart enough to have created evolution?' Watch their head explode.
• If religion was man-made it was the most ingenious creation ever. It's very basis can counter any argument against it. All powerful being = trump any argument.
• Can you remember the 1920's? You can't but you know what you have seen about the 20's. When you try to think about that fact that you didn't exist you mind starts eating itself.
• Sorry if I'm being esoteric this afternoon.

Star Gazer - November 16th - 22nd

Here you go. This is so great.

G.I. Joe - The Movie

Ok, I thought I must say more than a one-line blip about watching this movie so here we go.

Facts:

1.) I grew up on 80's G.I. Joe.
2.) I had no high expectations about this movie going in.


I finally got around to seeing G.I. Joe - Rise of Box Office this weekend on DVD. I enjoyed it. It was full of what you would expect from a summer blockbuster, lots of explosions.

My gripes:

1.) Plot holes so big you could drive Optimus Prime though them:

• So the team stopped the last batch of Nano machines by sending them into space then just dropping the whole thing. Hello!? They just left them out there to reek havoc on anything in the atmosphere (after hyping up the danger of the little buggers).
• How does Cobra so easily break into the SUPER HIGHTECH G.I. Joe HQ?!
• How does G.I. Joe so easily break int the SUPER HIGHTECH Cobra HQ?!
• The NeoVipers don't scream because they feel no fear or pain. But they sure screamed alot when getting blown up and stuff.

2.) Characters:

• The Baroness should have just been a bad guy and not some goodie goodie one under someone's control. She is a hot bad-guy and should have remained so.
• Duke (and this is my biggest annoyance with the movie) was a wigger.
• Cobra Commander should have been a different character, more mysterious, less dorky.

3.) Technology:

• The technology where things just form (aka the cowcatcher on the front of the cobra hummer in the Paris chase scene) sucks. I hate this effects and several moview use it. It looks too alien and 'magical'. The same effects can be seen in the 1989 Batman (the batmobile) and the newer batman. Armor that just forms out of nowhere pushes unbeliviable a little too far.
• Product placement: Cisco hologram technology.

That's pretty much it. It was a wild ride that I expected it to be. I liked the Doctor character. He was just hovering on the verge of realism and fantasy.

I must admit I am liking G.I. Joe - Rise of Sequel better than Transformers 2 (too serious).

Mid Day Thoughts

• I am watching Cosmos (from the 70's) and it looks like they had some pretty high end motion tracking special effects (for the 70's at least).
• I am a fan of the late Carl Sagan's enthusiasm.
• This Carl Sagan video enthralls me.
• Bought a lottery scratch off on my birthday hoping for some cosmic luck, no dice.
• Had an examination with a surgeon for a possible hernia, lets just say I now have no secrets from the doc.
• Bought radiator leak stuff repair powder. I wonder if it will work...
• There is a birthday snickers bar on my keyboard just staring at me...
• I don't need it.
• I will eat it.
• Thought a big bill payment was due this pay period, I was wrong. Yippie!
• Hoping to get my Super Beetle running properly this week.
• Had some Coke from McDonald's that WASN'T Spectacular (for the first time). It is always sooo good from there. That's what makes McDonald's the biggest fast food place, they are consistent with their food (99% of the time).
• Where would we be without spellcheck?
• A freeze warning tomorrow... sure, ok.
• It would be cool if local news stations HAD to tell you how accurate their weather prediction was from the previous day.
• Have you seen that one weather woman on channel 5 who's head is HUGE?
• The Decatur Hospital's foundation is having another New Year's Eve party. First time in 3 years (I think). Might go.
• I don't drink so many parties are pointless. I just don't care to do drink. What's wrong with me?!
• Am I the only person who breaks out in hives at having to sit through commercials.
• I don't watch much TV. The Food Network makes my eyes bleed.
• I like channel 13's British Comedies though.

Tuesday Memory Dump

• Pretty quite Birthday yesterday.
• Winstar slots are too tight = no fun.
• I guess Winstar has to pay for all that new construction somehow.
• I was trying out a new Star Wars slot and lost my 10 bucks. Then right when I pressed cash out the machine awarded me 4.50. It's like the machine felt bad for taking my money and tried to make it right by giving me some back at the last minute.
• Daytime television = brain melt.
• I love making lists of things. Makes me feel so 'on top of things'.
• People in Wise County drive like they are in NASCAR.
• The movie Contact is fantastic.
• Finished 99% of all outdoor projects for the year (and it's cleanup) right before the cold hit.
• Now for 5 months of being trapped inside.
• Been stuck playing Tropico 2: Pirate Cove for a few days now.
• Here is a fun/quick flash game involving my favorite period of time. Middle Ages.
• Starting to finally watch Transformers 2. It's messing with my eyes (all the effects).
• Cryboys lost this weekend = don't care.

Mid Day Thought

• Ate lunch at Stevens Street Grill in Bridgeport. Pretty good.
• National gaming day is tomorrow. Need to break out the Axis and Allies.
• FB post brought up the fact that my dad was on that TV show Bowling for Dollars in the 70's. Te he.
• I guess changing the name of the Doctor's Hospital in Bridgeport to Community Hospital was to boost business. As we all know the word 'Doctor' = 'expensive'.
• The first time I spent any time in Bridgeport was when I went to a 6 week Ham Radio License course. Now everytime I go there that's the first thing I think of.
• About to rejoin the Science Fiction Book Club. I do that about once every other year.
• Just learned last week that Gary Numan (the song 'Cars') is very Dark/Goth Electronic.
• I am the only person I know that loves (or even likes) the group Madness.
• As of this coming April my TV show will have been on for 6 years.

Ok, back to work, break is over.

Friday Memory Dump

• I'm sitting infront of the ham radio waiting for the Friday check in.
• Did you ever notice in horror movies the really scary houses you remember are symmetrical in design (1428 Elm St, Amityville, etc)?
• I'm getting QST radio magazine every 2 weeks! Yikes, I have never gotten a biweekly subscription before.
• I subscribe to Wizard, QST, and ToyFare.
• I used to subscribe to Renaissance. It was wayyy too expensive.
• I am asking for a subscription to Hot VWs for Christmas or Birthday.
• Birthday is Monday, Winstar here I come!
• I think I really enjoy reading SciFi short story collection books more than anything else.
• I really like quick, short stories.
• Heather Hays on Fox 4 News really needs to do something with that hair.
• I am currently rewatching my MASH Dvds. I am on season 3.
• Going to eat at El Rancho Grande (North Fort Worth) tomorrow. Excellent place.
• I think carbon taxes/credits are ridiculous. I think they are simply a new way the people can be taxed and the government can get away with it.
• Call of Duty Modern Warfare sold 310 million dollars worth in the first 24 hours. That kicks the crap out of any big budget movie.

Mid Day Thought

A Nightmare on Elm Street jumped the shark with part 4. They were doing fine until then. Freddy was still mostly scary and they finished him off (by burying his bones). After that there was no reason for him to come back. It became total crap.

Now, Wes Craven's New Nightmare was a FANTASTIC concept (and mostly pulled off). I think it could have been better given the premise.

Freddy Vs. Jason could have been THE GREATEST MODERN HORROR MOVIE OF ALL TIME but it just didn't work out. The plot was somewhat solid, the playthough sucked.

The new Nightmare movie coming out next year look like crap. I'm sorry to say I'm not that excited. It looks to be VERY cliche. Also the makeup doesn't look scary, just sad. Who knows, maybe it will be great!

• My bank is currently having a total meltdown and I was denied at the grocery store. That is sooo embarrasing.
• It is so nice outside. It's days like today that make me wish I were a groundskeeper or something.
• I have spent all day trying to figure out software licensing for one program. TEDIOUS.
• 90% Halloween at Wally World!
• There was a Star Wars ATST toy exclusive at Wally World too. New design, cool. $40, not cool.

Memory Dump - Thursday

• It's payday, yay! Won't my creditors be happy!?
• It's payday, yay! Time to go to the bank and see if they have any interesting coins.
• Sorted my 'coin collection' this morning... not so much 'collection'.
• A lot of recently purchased silver rounds in the collection. Ofcourse I would buy when silver is at it's all time high.
• A lot of heavy fog on the way to work today, makes for SLOW driving.
• Someone was driving too fast in New Fairview and failed to stop at the 2264/407 stop sign. I am guessing it was the fog's fault. Saw the truck about 60 feet in the field across the road.
• Me purchasing stock for some company = company soon to go bankrupt. Never fails. Bye bye Disney.
• Netflix Transformers Revenge of the Fallen is still sitting at the house, unwatched... I keep meaning to watch it...
• Played some Tropico 2: Pirate Cove last night. I love how they call the need to see the Wenches in the brothels 'beauty aids'.
• The music for the game is very catchy.
• The wife told me Jane McGarry from NBC5 was doing a live news commercial promo last night and she was caught off guard, not realizing she was live and was making some interesting comments. She doesn't mention it in her blog though. I guess that would make her look unperfessional. Jane's Take
• I NEED to get back the gym ASAP. It's that time again. Time to convince myself to get off my ass and do it.

Too much???

This is the night vision goggles from Modern Warefare 2's delux set.