Saturday, December 06, 2003

The Matrix thread I was referring to is here. It's not polished, but the ideas are better.

posted by Steve at 12/06/2003 02:19:15 AM (0 comments)

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra Concert
What do you get when cross rock, opera, gospel, and classical music? That was the question asked in 1996 when Paul O'Neil formed the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

I had been waiting a very long time for this day to come. I had no water at my house because they shut off the water to install a hot water heater. Also, they made me wake up like at 9 AM with all their hammering and swa cutting. So after lounging around a bit, I went to get a haircut.

I then played games, not soon later I got a call from Claire and I told her of the new plans. I took a shower and got ready then picked her up. There was so much traffic going to Universal. I have rarely seen that much traffic and this was at like 4:30!

We got parking really quick and then proceeded to eat at Gladstones. I have never been there so I was pretty excited. Seafood is great! I had a Pyramid Hefenweizen (sp?). It's one of my new favorite beers. Not too bitter. I had NY Steak and shrimp. The food was mediocre. Next time I am going to get more seafood. I have to assume that they would be better at that.

We walked around a bit. Made a few passes through the strip. Then went inside. The Universal Ampitheatre, if you've never been there, is one of the nicest venues ever. It is super clean. It is well organized, nicely lit, has concession stands, and friendly staff. We only waited in line for like 5 mins then we took our seats. We had awesome orchestra level seats. Row KK which sounds bad but it was super close.

The show started at 8:15. I've listened to the the cd's so many times. I never know the titles of any of the songs but I recognize them pretty easily. They played with almost no downtime between songs. There were no set changes, no intermissions etc. After about an hour they did a big introduction of the band. I thought "Wow, that was a short show. Pretty pricey!" Oh how wrong I was. They played for another two hours. Yes, a three hour concert. Ridiculous for the amount of money we paid.

Anyway, the concert was easily one of the best shows I have ever seen. It's just so hard to put into words. What's neat is they play stuff that you instantly recognize but they change it so much so it's like a new song. They played Flight of the Bumblebee, that evil chanting song that you always hear in the movies, and of course all the classic Christmas songs like Joy to the World, etc. It was really exciting when they'd start a song and you recognize it as some famous classical song. I am not good with names but you instantly get the "Oh my god, it's that song!"

The concert was really a story. They either had a poem telling the story or someone singing a song about it. The message was really positive and comforting. All the singers were very good. All had powerful voices and they all varied.

The stage effects were awesome! They had fog machines, lasers, flames, explosions, fireballs, sparks and fireworks. And everything was coordinated very well.

Oh, the lead violinist looked like Michelle Branch. She was really cute and SUCH a good player. And she plays with such passion. In one song she actually broke strings on her bow because she plays so hard. Extremely talented. Lots of solos of her doing stuff like Flight of the Bumblebee and some Beethoven classics I don't know the name of :(

Anyway, it's really hard for me to write about it. It was simply awesome. Anyone who has any appreciation for quality music and Christmas songs, owes it to themselves to attend one of these concerts. They said they would be touring again in Summer 2004. I know I'll be there, will you?

posted by sygyzy at 12/06/2003 02:18:23 AM (1 comment)

 Friday, December 05, 2003

This article is total BS! Anyone using the Matrix as an "indoctrination" tool would not know how to reload their weapon. And obviously the snipers did. I hope they hang the bastards.

BTW, if anyone is interested, I have an alternate script for Matrix Revolutions. It's not written perfectly, more like a summary, but you know what, it has replaced the real movie in my mind. It explains things a lot better and has several MUCH more satisfying plot twists.
-Steve

posted by Steve at 12/05/2003 10:56:57 PM (1 comment)

 Thursday, December 04, 2003

The Scotsman - Top Stories - Whisky of Mass Destruction - how the US spied on a tiny island distillery

Mr Reynier added: "We produce 16,000 cases a year, a weapon of mass drunkenness."

posted by sygyzy at 12/04/2003 04:32:34 PM (0 comments)

Guardian Unlimited | 'We're air force pilots, not mafia. We don't take revenge'

Some of the best pilots in the world, now asked to carry out missions that are very questionable. They are making a stand against it. Your thoughts?

posted by sygyzy at 12/04/2003 02:43:39 PM (1 comment)

The Wal-Mart You Don't Know

I really hate criticizing companies for being successful. That's what this world is all about - making it. But in this article, the author points out some really really questionable tactics by Wal-Mart. Check it out.

posted by sygyzy at 12/04/2003 01:34:35 PM (0 comments)

 Wednesday, December 03, 2003

Scary stuff.

Steve's Cool Link

I propose that the chick battle be changed to the 2 vote system. And also limited to ACTUAL chicks, not WWE wrestlers on estrogen supplements.

Edit by David: Steve, use the little link button at the top to make links. That way it does it mess up the formatting of the page.

posted by Steve at 12/03/2003 07:41:10 PM (0 comments)

Ted's Idea for How New Voting Should Be For Chick Battle Contests

PuffTedD: you get 2 votes
PuffTedD: and you have to choose 2
PuffTedD: different chicks
PuffTedD: so you vote for yourself
PuffTedD: but you also have to vote for another
PuffTedD: and the one with the most vote wins

I need your input (votes) on whether we should change to this method or keep our old one (we select a female judge each time to pick).

posted by sygyzy at 12/03/2003 04:11:45 PM (0 comments)

Quote
-------------------------------
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Don't some asian cultures have a tradition of burial at sea? Or am I watching to many movies?
--------------------------------------
You're confusing asians with vikings. Don't worry I do it all the time.

posted by sygyzy at 12/03/2003 11:52:28 AM (1 comment)

Look at what your resident artist painted!



You can too at the site. Just click on Create a Mr. Picassohead Now

posted by sygyzy at 12/03/2003 09:06:19 AM (0 comments)

 Tuesday, December 02, 2003

Today, I came in to the kitchen and saw this.



I couldn't help but crack up. I borrowed a camera and took some pictures to show you guys. The company party is this friday. If you are wondering what that is to the right, it's an average supply of soda we have for the employees. Of course you are not seeing what's in the half a dozen mini fridges throughout the offices, mine included.



*CLICK IMAGES FOR LARGER VERSIONS*

posted by sygyzy at 12/02/2003 10:05:54 PM (0 comments)

Yummy hair!

posted by sygyzy at 12/02/2003 09:39:53 AM (2 comments)

Happy Birthday Britney!

posted by sygyzy at 12/02/2003 09:12:26 AM (0 comments)

 Monday, December 01, 2003

???

"Reports that say something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know," Rumsfeld told a news briefing.

"We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know."

posted by Ted at 12/01/2003 03:12:15 PM (1 comment)

Roy Disney resigns, urges Eisner to follow suit | CNET News.com

posted by sygyzy at 12/01/2003 10:13:35 AM (0 comments)

AOL Instant Messenger Multiple Sessions
So AIM has this annoying new feature that will keep you logged in if you sign in from another location. The idea is great for people who have cell phones and such, that way they can always be connected. But it sucks for regular people who don't. Most of the people on my buddy list don't know what this is, so even when I am not online, they are IMing me. So I come to work and I have a shitload of messages. This poses a little problem since I don't to seem rude, like I am not replying to these people. What was nice is all the Happy Thanksgiving's I got. Awww :)

posted by sygyzy at 12/01/2003 10:11:01 AM (0 comments)

Hi guys, my name is Steve Napolitano. I've known David for about two years now, mostly through AIM, but we talk a lot that way. I read the blog pretty frequently, and think that maybe I could contribute a small something from time to time.

A little about me: I live in Anaheim, and graduated from Chapman University in May. I own a tutoring company, and am applying to law schools this fall. I love playing poker online, analyzing videogames (David tells me that I like talking about them more than playing them), writing stories, talking endlessly about the girls that haunt my life, hiking, guns, reading, watching good movies, and playing airsoft. I know a little something about computers, but probably nothing compared to you guys. You will find it impossible to offend me, and if I do it to you, I probably didn't mean to. Probably.

I guess that's it, so I will give a summary of my day. I woke up, and went down to the grand opening of an airsoft shop in Orange. Some friends own it, and I may be getting a part-time job there soon. I know I'll be hanging there anyways, so I might as well get paid. The owners even said they don't care if the employees drink beer. It was a bit disconcerting to see 8 year olds waving around replicas of firearms with absolutely no concern for gun safety or discipline whatsoever. Counterstrike alone is driving the store's sales through the roof, but they have a lot of education to do in the store too.

After that I went home, where my dad's continuing battle with his addiction to PGA Tour 2004 was raging. I only have 3 Xbox controllers now due to an earlier violent incident involving a missed putt and a taunting Canadian announcer. We played a match, and he beat me by ONE stroke. Faced with the prospect of being beaten at a videogame by my dad, I resorted to a tactic well known to all of us: excuses. I was playing a new character, but my dad's character had buffed up stats. That right there was enough to help my pride.

After that sad, sad incident, this girl I know named Jackie came over. She and I are training for the LA Marathon in March. She has quite a bit less training to go than I do. She suggested we go running tonight, and man, she absolutely kicked my ass (and looked good doing it too.) We did 4.3 miles, about a third of it uphill, and she just kept running. There really is no excuse for my performance except suckiness. Well, we're supposed to be doing the same thing tomorrow, so maybe I will get better at some point.

posted by Steve at 12/01/2003 02:00:31 AM (1 comment)

Today (Sunday actually) I went to church and then came home and had lunch. Then I drove back to SB. The drive was pretty quick except for a 5 car accident 10 minutes outside of downtown SB. That made things slow pretty fast. On the drive back, I thought about alot of stuff. Like how the sun hurts my eyes, how the girl in the ugly focus was pretty cute, and how complicated some people make their lives. I guess I might be guilty of that as well. I also thought about how hard it is to like someone that you are so conflicted about.

I got back and started backing up a drive so I could move it to my X-Box. While it was doing this I went to Trader Joe's and got some food for the rest of the week. Picked up some organicky happy veggie loving cereal. I also got some mint tea. Tea is yummy. I think I am going to give some to Female Jesus Christ.

When I came back I realized that I had backed up the wrong hard drive. So I had to do it again! This time, right. I made dinner and watched TV. My friends Colleen and Aaron came over to watch Alias. I am glad they did because it is oh so lonely here.

I paid off about a grand in bills. That sounds like alot but $700 was for rent! :) In a week, another grand of statements will come. Youch.

Tomorrow my Grado SR225's come. I cannot wait. I hope I am not late for work. We have meetings at 9AM on Monday and for some reason I haven't been able to wake up at my 7:30 alarm time for the last 10 days. So odd!

That's it for now. Keep it real. Peace Out.

posted by sygyzy at 12/01/2003 01:18:12 AM (0 comments)

 Sunday, November 30, 2003

Today (Saturday, even though technically I am posting on Sunday), I woke up at 10 but hit the snooze button all the way til like noon. Then I had some Vietnamese spring rolls for lunch. Clarissa called and said that her and her sister were running late for lunch so the movie will have to be postponed til 4.

Sometime around 3, I went to her house. Ted showed up to. Then after they ate, we all went to the Renaissance to watch Love Actually. Man, what a great movie. It kind of made me sad though. I think I can identify with alot of the situations in the movie. Not directly to all of them of course. i.e. I am not a prime minister nor do I have a wife to cheat on, but I am sure you know what I mean. Anyway, I have to get that DVD when it comes out.

After, we went back to Claire's. Then for some reason there was like a 3 hour delay before we left for dinner. Steph joined us and that was definitely a good highlight. We went to Versailles, a Cuban restaurant. I had garlic chicken and they gave me the whole bird. It was so much food. Definitely good though. Claire and Stephani had Sangria's. Apparently it was very weak since neither of them showed any signs of intoxication :(

Came home relatively early. 10:30. Pretty depressing. Tomorrow church, something random, then drive back to SB for Alias getogether. Woohoo.

posted by sygyzy at 11/30/2003 12:17:14 AM (0 comments)