RandomMuch

February 16, 2010

Thank you Zac Brown.

Filed under: Music — Tags: , , — Arturo @ 10:56 pm

When I was a wee lad, my parents had a diverse record collection.  And I’m talking actual vinyl.  That’s those big, black, plasticky thingies that mom and dad have collecting dust in the basement, for those scratching their heads.  And when I say diverse, I mean DIVERSE.  We’re talking from Mazz to Stevie Wonder.  Earth, Wind and Fire to Santana.  Van Halen to Herb Alpert.  And I went through them all.  Now I am not a music savant that’ll name dates and albums and song titles and artists like Rain Man spewing facts.  But my music appreciation is a little more developed than most people.  When my friends weren’t around, I was listening to Kenny Rogers.  And when I got older and found my own taste in music, I strayed from my roots a little.  But when I heard things like Achey Breaky Heart and people calling it Country music, I was slightly offended.  As a result I abandoned Country music as a lost cause.  Then the other night, my wife and I were watching the Grammy’s.  I have lost my faith in those too, I mean come one, Eminem was nominated at least twice for Album of the Year.  I like Eminem, but seriously?  Album of the Year?  Anyway… During the night we kept hearing about two artists in particular.  Lady Antebellum and Zac Brown Band.  So I decided just for my musical expansion, I’d see if the Grammy’s still had some credibility.  I got the Zac Brown Band album, The Foundation.

I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed.  I haven’t enjoyed listening to Country music like this in MANY years.  I always saw Country music as some of the best story telling in music.  And Zac Brown Band delivers just that.  I felt like I was hearing someone tell stories of growing up and living in rural Georgia.  I’ll admit that there has always been a small part of me that wished I had grown up a stereotypical Texan.  And this album resurrected that feeling in me.  I even joked with my wife that I want to buy a cowboy hat to wear while I drive and listen to this album.  Which I plan to do often.  This album has your typical, structured songs, but it also has the fun, knee-slappers that make this a well rounded album.  With a song title like “Sick ‘Em on a Chicken”, you have to expect something interestingly funny.

Over the past few months, I am finding a new fondness for music and one of the things I enjoyed most was finding new music that I liked.  I am SO glad I found Zac Brown Band, and I look forward to finding more music to appreciate and spread the word about.  Give the album a try, I recommend it.

–

AC

Orale vato. I Like Sherlock, Holmes.

Filed under: Movies — Tags: , — Arturo @ 4:18 am

Sorry, I had to.  For those that don’t get it, it’s a cholo joke.  And not a very good one.  But it’s almost 3 in the AM and I am trying to crank this one out so I can get a couple hours sleep and go home.  I’m at work, FYI.  So… As stated here and there, mostly a couple posts back, I am not much of a reader.  I wish I were.  One of the things I’ve always wanted to read were the stories of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  Sherlock Holmes is one of those things that if I hear about it, I perk my ears up and pay attention.  So when I heard a movie was coming out I was VERY interested.  Then I found out that Robert Downey Jr was the lead and I gasped.  Not cause he’s a bad actor.  Not at all. But because I have this theory, that when actors are given great roles in movies, there is a clause in the contract that says that they have to appear in some crap movie afterwards.  That way, a movie that otherwise would bomb at the box office, will have a chance because people will want to see whatever they come out in next.  Keanu Reeves came off The Matrix Trilogy and did Constantine.  Will Smith had Independence Day and Men in Black and then did Wild Wild West.  Sandra Bullock did Speed and then The Net.  Edward Furlong did Terminator 2, then does Pet Cemetary 2.  You get the point.  So seeing how Bobby had Iron Man and The Soloist, I was a little skeptical.  Let’s see how it did.

Sherlock Holmes is directed by Guy Ritchie.  Starring Robert Downey Jr from Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, The Soloist, and Only You.  Jude Law from Alfie, Enemy at the Gates, and The Talented Mr. Ripley.  And Rachel McAdams from The Time Traveler’s Wife, Wedding Crashers, and The Notebook.  Sherlock Holmes follows the fictional world’s second best detective and his sidekick Watson as they battle a mastermind and his plan to rule the England and maybe even the world.

The bad: I don’t really like movies where the plot pulls you this way and that way, and then this way again.  You have to pay extra close attention just to keep up.  This movie felt that way for some reason.  Almost like it was trying too hard to seem intelligent.  Another thing that I kind of liked but got a little too much was all the explaining.  Yes, Sherlock is the second best detective in the fictional world(that’s right, SECOND).  Yes, he’s smarter than almost everyone around him.  And yes, we know he notices things that no one else does.  But explaining his method of deduction and overall reasoning every other scene got a little boring.  And his long-winded monologue at the end was drawn out more than it should have been.  This last one is more nit picky.  I am a big fan of everything steampunk and I was REALLY hoping there would be some cool steampunk in this movie.  But alas, my hopes were dashed.  Also, the fact that Holmes and Watson were both major ass-kickers was a bit far-fetched.  They could’ve at least given some insight as to why they both know mixed martial arts in the 19th century.

The good:  It was very much Sherlock Holmes.  I think they did a great job showing the volatile relationship between Holmes and Watson.  I like how it only introduces Professor Moriarty, setting up some killer sequels.  I like Bobby in this film although they did make Holmes seem too much like Dr. House.  I always saw Holmes as a sophisticated detective and this movie made him seem more like a shut-in, alcoholic who happened to be a genius.  Almost like Tony Stark’s great great grandfather.  Coincidence?

Over all, I liked the movie.  I know I seemed to complain more than I praised, but I’m weird like that.  I would recommend it to almost anyone.  At the very least as a “worth checking out” flick.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

–

AC

P.S.

And I don’t care how silly I sound, but Batman is THE greatest detective in the fictional world.  Ask any one.

Daybreakers? More Like Daybroken.

Filed under: Movies — Tags: , — Arturo @ 3:38 am

This is part two of my movie review trinity.  I’ll transition in to this review by stating, as I did briefly in the intro to my New Moon review, I have had a bit of a fascination with werewolves and vampires since I was a kid.  I try my best to try all things vamp or wolfy when it comes my way.  I even watched Twilight for crying out loud.  So, When I heard about Daybreakers, I was somewhat interested since it was coming off as a different take on the vampire lore.  Let’s use that as our springboard and jump in, shall we?

Daybreakers is directed by the Spierig Brothers.  Starring Ethan Hawke from Training Day, Gattaca, and Alive.  Willem Defoe from the Spiderman Trilogy, Shadow of the Vampire, and Platoon.  And Sam Neil from Jurassic Park, The Piano and The Hunt for Red October.  This is an alternative look at a world where vampires exist.  They no longer live in the shadows like animals, but are actually the dominant species on the planet.  They farm humans for blood and are running short.  As a result, they are looking for alternative food sources and possibly a cure.  Let’s go.

The bad:  When I first thought about writing this review, I thought I was gonna have a lot to say in this section, but I now realize there isn’t much.  The main thing is the constant nudges like, “Get it?  Cause they’re vampires living human lives?”  There’s a few instances, but I don;t care to remember, but the perfect example is they put blood in their coffee.  The story isn’t that great.  They should have used the talented actors they have in it, but fell short.  The ending seemed like they were trying to hard to MAKE you feel something, not sure what.  In the end, I was wishing I could have my 100 minutes back so I can watch something else.

The good:  It has good actors in it.  It’s shot pretty well.  There is a decent car chase scene where they’re trying to get away while avoiding the sun.  The premise behind the cure is a nice touch.  I think that’s the best part about this movie.  It was just outweighed by crap surrounding it.

In the end, if you want to see vampires living among us, watch True Blood.  It’s hard for me to say cause I really don’t like that show, but it certainly is better than this movie.  If I have to say one good thing about Daybreakers, I’ll gladly watch this over any Twilight film.  Yeah, I said it.  F Twilight in its A.

–

AC

I Just Won The Superbowl, I’m Going To Zombieland

Filed under: Movies — Tags: , — Arturo @ 3:02 am

Over the past week or so, I have managed to get in some good TV time.  I’m sure my wifey is chuckling while reading this because she’ll say I spend TOO much time in front of the TV.  But I really don’t watch TV.  I put on movies all the time, but I rarely watch them.  I do, however, spend too much time on my Macbook.  The only time I don’t have it in my hands is when I am asleep, eating, or playing a video game.  But I think I’ve done pretty good lately with watching some TV.  I should be reading more, but it is difficult for me.  I think I have a reading disability, no joke.  So anyway, I will be hitting you with three, yes three, reviews.  The first of which being Zombieland.

Zombieland is a comedy horror directed by Ruben Fleishcer.  Starring Woody Harrelson from such movies as No Country For Old Men, Indecent Proposal, Natural Born Killers, and White Men Can’t Jump.  Jesse Eisenberg from Adventureland and The Village.  Emma Stone from The House Bunny and Superbad. And finally, Abigail Breslin from My Sister’s Keeper and Definitely Maybe.  It is a prototypical zombie movie.  The plague has already happened and this is a funny look at how to survive in a zombie infested world.

The bad:  I don;t have too much to complain about.  I did not particularly like the cameo in this movie.  Many will disagree, I’m sure.  But I have never really liked this actor and wasn’t too thrilled when he made his appearance.  At least it was a short appearance.  No reason to ruin it for those who haven’t seen it, so I’ll leave it at that.  The other thing of note was a joke that they bring up pretty frequently and I believe had a couple mentions in the trailers.  But they just seem to abandon it towards the end.   And I think there was a good place for it to come to a head.  Other than those two things the rest is open to criticism.  It’s pretty straight forward and doesn’t try too hard.

The good:  I think the “Rules to Surviving Zombieland” approach was a great idea.  It sets it apart within the genre.  And let’s face it, there are TONS of zombie movies as of late.  I really enjoyed watching Jesse Eisenberg.  I think he pulls off this character better than Michael Cera does in EVERY single role he plays.  Granted I have not seen Youth in Revolt, but he plays the same exact character in every movie, and it’s not even a great character  to boot.  I can’t stand the kid, I’m sorry.  Great for him that he’s making a career out of it.  But Jesse Eisenberg pulls it off WAY better, IMO.  Woody Harrelson is always a pleasure to watch.  And his character is funny as hell.  Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin pull their weight nicely, making this a well-rounded movie.  It has just enough gore, just enough laughs, and even just enough touching moments to make it not just a good zombie movie, but a good movie in general.

It may not be for every one, but if you like zombie movies, comedies, or both… I think you will enjoy Zombieland.  I say 4 out of 5 stars.

–

AC

February 10, 2010

Happy St Valentine’s Day? Bah Humbug

Filed under: Personal Thoughts — Tags: , , — Arturo @ 2:24 pm

Valentine’s is upon us once again.  The holiday that has no true origin and is not in honor of any ONE man or woman.  As you can plainly see from this intro, I am opposed to this holiday and in true RandomMuch fashion, I will explain why in boring length.  ;)

First off let me say that I am not, in any way, against romance.  I know you might have read my other post, How unrealistic can romance really be?, and think that I am.  Let me say that I do make every effort to make sure that my wife knows I love her and not just on holidays and special occasions.  But I fail to see why Valentine’s Day has become a woman’s holiday.  A romantic holiday should not be only about women.  Women should be putting in just as much effort on this day.  And making sure you’re wearing sexy underwear or even lingerie is not enough.  That’s like having a treat in your pocket for a “good dog”.  We men have to make the plans.  We men have to make the reservations.  We men have to go buy the jewelry and chocolates, and flowers, and cards, and teddy bears.  We men have to go out of our way to make it a special day FOR YOU.  what do you women have to do?  Try your hardest not complain about the little things we men might have gotten wrong.  This should be  shared holiday.  Men deserve just as much attention and consideration in the relationship.  And this holiday is just solidifying the idea that relationships are purely for women.  It seems more and more that men are simply another accessory for women to manipulate to make them look good.  Women don’t want a date, they don’t want to show up alone.  Women don’t want a partner, they want to seem desirable.  Women: Do not treat us like objects and then turn around and complain that men objectify women.  You want equal rights?  Learn the concept first, decide if you are willing and/or able to accomplish selflessness and then talk to us about equality.  And sadly, since Valentine’s is all but a lost cause, women are moving on to anniversaries.  What’s next Christmas?  In typical woman fashion, birthdays aren’t enough.  They have one day that is ALL about them, but noooooooo… They want MORE.

Oh, and here’s a word of advice to men.  If you are still willing to participate in this bastardization of an otherwise romantic holiday, may I suggest not blowing your wad on one year.  Women are incapable of regression.  By that I mean, you absolutely cannot give a woman champagne for a week and then tell her you have to downgrade to wine coolers the next.  THey’ll smile and say it’s OK, but inside they will cussing you out and planning your death.  So, if you plan to be in a long relationship, take it slow.  Each year, add on to the last, slowly.  Cause if every new thing is compared to the last or the best.  And if the first year you dated, you went all out, every subsequent year after that will be held up nest to it and compared with that same little magnifying glass thing that jewelers use to inspect diamonds.  Trust me when I tell you that women are just as shallow, and just as clueless as ot what TRUE romance is.  Be yourself, and if they like you?  Great.  Otherwise, stop trying to impress a woman that has her eyes focused on the shiny things.  She’ll never see you for what you’re worth… Unless you’re bedazzled in REAL diamonds.

–

AC

P.S

I forgot to mention, if you REALLY want to celebrate Valentine’s Day properly, consider that the holiday is more of a collection or orgy of saints being honored.  So in reality participating in an orgy or maybe just enjoying many different partners is a better way to keep in the tradition.  Naughty Catholics always find a way to make it sexual.  </sarcasm>

February 4, 2010

Google: with them or against them? Choose soon.

Filed under: Tech — Tags: , , — Arturo @ 9:04 pm

I’ve read the comments for a few years now, how Google may be the NWO(New World Order) in its infancy, but this is the first time that even I got a cold chill.  This is big.  This may sound like a whole lot of blah blah blah to most, but quantum computing is a major deal.  Beware the Google.

http://www.physorg.com/news184533633.html

Could Google be the codename for Skynet?  (Sorry for the tacky Terminator reference, LoL)

–

AC

January 31, 2010

Open Challenge to Google: Please take Apple and it’s iPad down.

Filed under: Tech — Tags: , , , — Arturo @ 11:19 pm

So now that the hoopla is simmering down a little, let’s take a look at the iPad.  Plain and simple, it is an iPod Touch for sasquatches.  Rant all you want that the iPhone OS is OSX Light, but the iPad is NOT a tablet PC competitor.  No way, no how.  I read an article about how tablet PC makers are concerned that they cannot compete with Apple’s price point for the iPad.  They can’t put out a tablet PC cheap enough to compete with the iPad?  I say, “WRONG”.  If I see the iPad sitting next to a Sony Vaio tablet PC and the difference is $200 more for the Sony, I’m going with the Sony.  Come on!  A tablet PC or a huge iPod Touch?  Hmmmmm?  Easy choice for me.  IF they can make it only $100 more, even better.

Then it hit me.  If Google can put a decent alternative to the iPhone(I did NOT say iPhone killer), then why can’t they compete with the iPad.  Think about it.  They went to HTC for the hardware to run their Android software and we got the Nexus One.  It is in no way an iPhone killer, but spec for spec, it hangs with the iPhone really well.  Honestly the ONLY advantage that wins it for Apple is the App Store.  And maybe the GUI is smoother, but that’s more of a matter of preference.  Other than that, they match up well.  Now, what if Google goes to some smaller PC hardware company like Asus or MSI and works something out to put the Chrome OS on a tablet?  How awesome would that be?  Forget the high price for putting Windows on it.  I think they could manage to make it for $100 more than the iPad or even match the price.  I believe that tablet will KILL the iPad.  I will GLADLY pay up to $200 extra, just to have a Google Chrome tablet.  I’m sure they’ll have a camera.  I’m sure it will have an SD card slot or USB slot.  Can you say movies a la carte?  No more being tied down to iTunes.  And the coup de grace, at least for me, this hypothetical tablet will support Flash.  So rather than Internet Light, we get the FULL web.  Apple can paint as pretty picture as it would like, but tons of people noticed the blue lego icon when Steve-O pulled up the New York Times website.   For those of you who don;t know what that means, that’s what you’ll get on you iPad every time you go to a website that has a video which requires Flash to play.  Which is A LOT of them.  Not a problem for the Google tablet running Chrome OS.

PLEASE Google, hear my cries.  If anyone can bring Apple to its knees, It’s you.  I will gladly drop my Macbook and iPhone if you put out a tablet.  I’ll get the Nexus One.  I’ll get the Google tablet.  I’ll buy a desktop PC running Chrome OS.  I swear it.

–

AC

January 28, 2010

iThink the iPad makes iSad… kind of.

Filed under: Tech — Tags: , , — Arturo @ 12:54 am

So, the iSlate is in fact outted. Only… it isn’t an iSlate. It’s an iPad. I personally think “iSlate” was a better name, but that’s why Apple employees have a cool job and I write a blog that few people read. *frown* I have read that this was probably one of the most anticipated launches of all time. I personally think the iPhone was more anticipated. But maybe that was just me. But whatever the case may be, or the name for that matter, it is official now. So let’s look at it, on paper, and see what I think.

So for the price of $499-$829 you get:

1Ghz Apple A4 processor, 9.7 inch widescreen, 1024 x 768 resolution, 16GB-64GB flash storage, 10 hour battery life, built-in speakers, microphone, WiFi, Bluetooth, with video and audio playback and optional 3G($14.99 for 250MB or $29.99 for unlimited).

More detailed specs HERE.

So, what does this all really mean. Let’s do this like my movie reviews… the good and the bad.

The good: Very portable at 1.5lbs and measuring 9.56 x 7.47 x 0.5 inches. You get all your favorite apps and usability of your iPhone/iPod Touch with a much bigger screen. Movies will be much more fun to watch. Books will be much easier to read. Websites will be more interactive than before. It is an iPhone/iPod Touch with more screen to play with, and for a low starting price of $499.

The bad: That is all this thing is… an Ipod Touch on steroids or an iPhone on steroids without the phone functionality. That’s pretty much it. It runs the same OS(operating system) as the iPhone/iPod Touch. Just like those devices, it has no optical device(CD/DVD player), no USB port, no SD card reader, and NO FLASH support. Like those devices, it is NOT the real web. It is Web 0.9 at best. If it doesn’t support Flash, it is not the real web. I’m sorry, but it isn’t. Sure, HTML5 is upon us and should be iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad friendly. But it’ll be a long time, if ever, before HTML5 completely overtakes Flash. And until then, many websites will still require Flash to function and unless Apple loosens the strangle hold, we will never have the FULL web on these devices. If the sound is anything like my 13″ Macbook Pro, which I doubt if it’s that good, it’s not good enough. My speakers are awful. I have to raise the volume almost all the way just to get decent sound for music and movies. Sometimes even full volume isn’t good enough. This thing doesn’t even have a camera. The iPhone has a camera. And I’ll bet my bottom dollar, that we see a camera on the iPod Touch by Summer. But the iPad didn’t get one from jump? Come on!

In the end it is a cool device. The potential for this product, future Apple products, and future competitor products is huge. But it is not the product I had hoped for. Granted that if it did run a full OS, like OSX, it would require a better processor, stronger graphics card, and more storage which would jack up the price. Making it more difficult for most people to get. But, it feels almost silly to covet this product so much, when it’s little more than HUGE iPhone/iPod Touch. Maybe since I am considering getting rid of my iPhone, this will be nice to have along with a regular cell phone. But when I have my iPhone 3GS and my 13″ MBP sitting side by side, I fail to see what I would use this for. I can definitely see how many people could use this product. My wife could use this to help teach her students. Our good friend who doesn’t have an iPhone and loves reading books could use this as an eBook reader. My best friend could take this on his out of town trips, instead of his netbook. But people like me that have an iPhone and MBP, I just don’t see the need. Don’t get me wrong, I would LOVE to get my paws on one. Simply because I love technology of ALL kinds. And maybe that;s why I am so disappointed. I was actually hoping for a product that would make me feel like I had to have it…. NOW. And all I can muster is, “I’ll get one later, if I have a few bucks to spend.” But for now, I’ll just have to hope that my family, friends, and readers take up a collection and get me the 16GB with 3G for my birthday.

–

AC

P.S.

Don’t be surprised if I end up getting one soon. I love tech too much. LoL.

P.P.S.

After a couple days of pondering some more and answering questions for my non-geek friends, I hve come tithe conclusion that until the iPad gets Flash support and a camera, I will not be getting one. I will gladly accept one as a gift, but since that won’t happen, I will wait patiently. I may consider just having my MBP modded. http://www.axiotron.com/index.php?id=modbook

January 26, 2010

OOPS! iSlate is outted early…

Filed under: Tech — Tags: , — Arturo @ 11:27 pm

Sorry Apple, but the cat is apparently out of the bag.  It seems that a certain CEO has had a MAJOR faux pas.  Forward to about 2:50 and here the Appley goodness just spew out the poor guy’s mouth…

http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?play=1&video=1396376379

–

AC

January 25, 2010

Abortion… Don’t talk about it.

Filed under: Personal Thoughts — Tags: , — Arturo @ 10:17 pm

OK, so I happened to Stumble Upon this article.  It’s an interesting look at the abortion issue.  And I will agree that the subject is something not to be discussed.  You either agree or you don’t.  Much like religion and most politics.  But I do take issue with three things about this article.

One: The author has the word “abortion” in there 7 times.  Abortion this, abortion that.  BUT… we cannot give our opinion on abortion?  You can use abortion as your corner-stone to make a VERY wide generalization about women’s rights, but we cannot counter that one point?  Really?  That’s how you debate?  Rant about something specific, but we can only counter with  simple yes or no answer to the only question YOU decided?  FAIL!  A debate is two-sided and open to any point.  What this person wrote was a rant and a bad one at that.

Two: So, basically the author says that if you think abortion is wrong then you are also saying that women are second class citizens.  I cannot think that abortion is wrong AND believe that women deserve full equal rights.  FAIL!  I see the conundrum, but the black and white attitude is so lame.  Along with the right to be a FULL equal citizen, I HAVE to give the right to kill a child at will?  NO.  Basically a woman can let it out of her pants at any time, get pregnant, and then choose to erase her mistake.  I don;t think so.  Which brings me to my last problem with this article.

Three: Another argument the author makes is that men have EVERY right to his own body.  He can do with it as he sees fit, ALWAYS.  So a woman can choose whether or not to have a baby, but men can’t.  A woman does not need the consent of the father to kill a child.  And if the woman decides to keep the baby, the father can not CHOOSE whether or not to pay child support.  Don;t get me wrong, I am in no way condoning men skipping out on their responsibilities.  But it is a double standard.  The woman should have the right to choose, but the guy HAS to accept her decision?  And pay accordingly?  FAIL!

I totally agree that women have it rough.  And having been raised by three beautiful, strong, independent women, I am very sympathetic to women’s feelings and opinions.  But I don’t have agree with them.  And I REALLY disagree with this one’s article.

–

AC

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