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It’s better to let her tell the joys of our new kitchen shelving thanks to the annual sale at the Container Store. She also has pictures of the new bicycle I bought her for her birthday-Christmas present.
Maybe this should be called Poop-pourri! For the last few weeks I have converted the cats over from clay and wheat-based litter to pine. My friend Mark (Millard) converted his cats earlier and recommended it. At first it’s a bit of work since you have to mix it in with what they’re used to so they don’t freak out and start going elsewhere.
Now all the clay and wheat are gone and it’s nothing but pine. Personally, I think it’s working out better because I don’t smell the ammonia, the dead giveaway cats live in your home. On the downside, I think the cats are protesting by leaving their number two on the surface because they can’t bury it to their satisfaction (my guess). But I’ll keep it up since I only have to clean out the solid waste in the litter boxes every morning. After about a week, the boxes are predominantly sawdust so I empty it out of waste, remaining pine pellets and the sawdust goes into my compost pile.
If you have cats, consider Feline Pine because it seems to last longer than clay litter, smells better and it’s predominantly biodegradable.
It’s nice to see Wizards finally doing a 180 on publishing adventures since all the other companies that were good at them bailed (Fiery Dragon, Mal Havoc and Necromancer). Traditionally they’re financial loss leaders but to me they are necessary to keeping a game viable even if only one out of six players purchase them. All the legendary adventures (for better or worse) go for a hefty price tag on eBay. The future is in PDFs, then you can print the maps.
Anyway, Wizards has recently produced two for September. One in the traditional format and style; the other, in a newer, flashier yet more disposable package.
The first is Fane of the Drow. Yet another series of battles with D&D’s rather overused nemeses, the Drow/Dark Elves. For $15, the plot is thinner than Baldur’s Gate on my PS2. The energies for this were spent on the two double-sided maps perfect for miniatures, namely the D&D brand. Even the booklet detailing the opposition suggests which minis best suit the monsters or NPCs. Too bad the drow priestess is a “rare” from the rather lousy Harbinger line. All NPC stats are laid out in the new format from DMG II and Dungeon magazine which I find easier to read. The fodder monsters such as troops just get a reference to which monster book to use (that’s fine with me, it means more space for important details). As a player of 24 years, I was thrilled to see that it makes reference to Erelhei-Cinlu which means the default setting for this is Greyhawk. No matter, it’s mainly four maps for DMs to have really impressive looking battles to entertain the players with. The DM will have to fill in the gaps on how the heroes travel between those encounters.
Despite being set in Faerun, Sons of Gruumsh is the more traditional, straightforward module like 1982’s The Hidden Shrine of Tharizdun. Instead of the heroes stumbling across a hidden temple, they must either sneak into an orc mountain stronghold or they can take the frontal assault method. The former strategy is probably wisest because everyone in the region knows there is a horde hiding out in that fortress thanks to a new orc warrior unifying the fractious tribes. Why the players are undertaking such a dangerous venture is where the module disappoints (much like many in the FR line); they’re hired to rescue key citizens in the nearby city. Almost as bad as the worst, overused cliche…the heroes meet in a tavern. Doesn’t matter though, any DM with a fraction of Monte Cook’s creativity will generate a stronger story. I bought it without hesitation because the orc problem integrates into my campaign with little effort. The $10 price tag also cinches it. And whenever my friend Laz does the maps, well, I’m always sold. This one shares Fane‘s suggestions for minis. Sadly, it also recommends the rare mini of an orog warlord from the current Angelfire line to represent the bad-ass leader of the orcs. Unlike the earlier module though, NPC stats are still presented in the old, clunky, paragraph format so it will take a bit of homework to get the adventure ready.
The Bottom Line: Both are oddly designed for four players with 4th level characters so the DM can adjust the opposition accordingly. Sons is guaranteed to end in a TPK with a group who kicks in doors first, avoids flanking last. Fane is only worth buying if you have plans for the colorful maps and enjoy designing the gaps in the module to get a more coherent plot. Personally, I don’t see many people playing the mini-based game around Austin anymore so it’s a pretty expensive set of skirmishes. Now Sons is right on target for the price and detail. This is what Wizards should focus on more and not pricey map/threadbare/combat-only folios or the long, windy event modules that were 100+ pages, appeared once a year and involved some kind of political upheavel in Faerun.
Well it arrived earlier this week (or last, depends upon when you read this). I upgraded too and all I can tell immediately is the change of the interface. There are other features explained officially at www.apple.com/itunes such as preventing objectionable content from playing for children and organizational stuff. I’ll have to play with it more to see if I notice any difference.
Should you upgrade? Most likely because Apple is unlikely to resolve anything ugly you encounter in version 4 point anything.
Rock Swings – Paul Anka & The Day After Yesterday – Rick Springfield: Two old favorites take their best shots at cover albums. One in the vein of Pat Boone, the other in the great tradition of David Bowie’s Pin-ups. First is Paul Anka’s re-arrangements of pop and rock standards from the last 25 years with a large band. Think Brian Setzer Orchestra for the sound and style. And of course, he provides the world with yet another version of “Smells like Teen Spirit.” Well, at least you can understand the lyrics when he’s singing. Still, this type of rethinking with songs has been done to death but Paul Anka succeeds where others would just languish in kitsch. I think it’s his past career of performing and writing hit pop songs for others unlike the Britney Spears of his day. The album really works when he covers much older songs such as Spandau Ballet’s “True,” Van Halen’s “Jump” (seriously) and Billy Idol’s “Eyes without a Face.” It feels pretty stretched with more recent hits from the 90s: “Black Hole Sun” just doesn’t connect and “Tears in Heaven” fails because it’s a crappy song to begin with.
Meanwhile, Rick Springfield released a collection of songs: he liked, was influenced by, or by his own confession, wished he wrote. He unfortunately commits two major sins with his cover album. He includes one of his own new songs and all the arrangements aren’t very different from the original hits. I was curious to hear what Rick’s take was on “I’m not in Love” versus the Tori Amos version. Instead it comes off like 10cc with Rick’s vocals. On the upside, it’s not a disappointing karoke collection. There are a couple surprises: a duet of “Broken Wings” with Richard Page (the lead singer of Mr. Mister) and the Church’s “Under the Milky Way” which is a personal favorite of mine. This collection isn’t perfect yet it certainly fares better than Annie Lennox’s Medusa.
Both albums are enjoyable without being smarmy. They’re sincere in different ways. Definitely staples for fans of Coverville. As for the average music listener? Only if he or she are fans of these artists.
Similarities (only in style):
Paul Anka: Brian Setzer Orchestra.
Rick Springfield: Angie Aparo.
Recommendation: Only buy if you love collecting covers or you’re a completist for these artists.
Waiting for the Sirens’ Call – New Order: I have great memories of these guys in college despite their rather unimpressive live show. Then they didTechnique which really sucked and followed it up with Republic which had only two memorable songs. By the time Get Ready arrived, I expressed zero interest. Then I heard “Krafty” on musicchoice.com at the coffee shop, it was quite a strong single, somewhat reminiscient of “Regret.” But I had been burned by them before since “Regret” was the lead single to Republic. Thanks to the guys at Cheapo, they had a copy of this and New Order seems to have regained their mojo on what made them likable because the likable songs don’t stop at the first single. They keep up the momentum with “Waiting for the Siren’s Call,” “Jetstream” and the danceable “Guilt is a Useless Emotion.” It’s not quite low-life but they’re forgiven for this release and I’m at least open to their next release should they do one more often than every eight years.
Similarities: Gus Gus, Garbage, Information Society, Rooney.
Recommendation: Worth Buying.
Normally I don’t do the movie titles in caps (that’s reserved for José) but it’s part of this title’s presentation, mainly to catch that four in place of an ‘a.’
Don’t let the plug about the director’s involvement in Snatch or Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels films scare you. Those are movies by Madonna’s current husband, Guy Ritchie, who suffers from sexually transmitted fame. He has nothing to do with this one, which is why it’s not so hyper and trendy smelling. This puts the UK/EU’s organized crime into its proper place: ugly, dangerous, violent, murderous and filled with treachery.
The story is about an unnamed drug dealer (XXXX) who has made all the right moves without having to be involved in the unsavory parts (see the last sentence of the previous paragraph). Now that he has made his fortune, he plans to walk away. HA! As the British say, “in for a penny, in for a pound,” because the ruling Mob bosses decide when one is through. I feel it’s a dig at the more rational people (myself included) who think drugs are easy money and one can extricate himself later on, as if the narcotics trade were stock options. It could be if there weren’t psychopathic killers involved. Then again, the profit wouldn’t exist neither.
So the protagonist is on the verge of retirement when the man above him (thus the title of the film) calls in a favor which has to be honored. Then the wheels-within-wheels plot gets going as he has to juggle finding a runaway daughter, peddle a million hits of ecstacy and avoid former Serbian soldiers wanted by Interpol.
I feel that director Matthew Vaughn does an adequate job making this all credible, even when the story takes deviations, much like real life. But most people will probably be turned off or puzzled by all the subplots taking place alongside the primary three objectives. Plus the only recognizable actor (to Americans) in this is Colm Meany from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine who plays an Irish enforcer. I think he has a contract which gives him first dibs on any Irish characters in Irish, Welsh, English, Canadian and American films.
Rent this if you liked LA Confidential or crime movies with true anti-heroes. If you’re bigger on Carl Hiassen, Dave Barry or Elmore Leonard’s stories (Get Shorty), I give it 50-50. If you don’t like either or you think Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie rock at this, then you’ll be disappointed.
Due to the fun, relaxation and general laziness, I forgot to post that Sunday was the fourth anniversary of closing on this house. Despite how big that mortgage payment can be, it beats the crud out of renting and the move which accompanies apartment living every year. Only $108,000 to go.
For some annoying reason, the blog got knocked out through a restart (or at least that’s the correlation of events).
Thanks to the ingenius Adam Knight (co-worker and D&D player in my campaign), I got it up again without a reinstall.
Steve 2, Blojsom & Mother Nature 0.
This movie was way too long. It was two hours and six minutes that felt like an eternity. This is the type of movie you have to be in the mood to see. It’s somewhat shocking and a little depressing. If it’s based on actual events, we don’t know but Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz once again prove my saying that, “Actors gotta’ eat.” Wait until video for this one. This way you can pause it, get a snack, go to the bathroom and watch the movie in your own terms.
This movie was nominated for Best Foreign Film but it should have been nominated for Best Picture. While having a similar subject matter as Million Dollar Baby, the movie follows the real-life story of Spaniard Ramon Sampedro, who fought a 30-year campaign in favor of euthanasia and his own right to die. The movie is beautifully directed by Alejandro Amenabar (The Others and Abre Los Ojos which Vanilla Sky is based on). The movie is in Spanish with English subtitles. This movie is a must see for any movie buff. Check it out.
While I was a little skeptical going into the movie. I found myself laughing out loud more than a few times. Why was I skeptical, well, we all have seen the previews of movies that appear to be funny and when we go to the theater we realize all the good gags have been ruined and shown to us in the previews. This movie actually has a plot; we get to know nerdy 40-year old Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell). Andy works at an electronics store with his fellow loser co-workers. One night while playing poker the guys find out Andy has never had carnal knowledge of a female, their mission becomes to get him laid and hilarity ensues. Catherine Keener and Paul Rudd are great in their supporting roles. Check this movie out, it delivers laughs as promised.
In honor of my upcoming vacation with José (aka the Hoser), I have changed the colors (or theme)to the colors on the famous sign on the south side of the Strip. You should know, it’s the Welcome to Las Vegas sign you see on TV and in the movies. It has only been there since 1959 and with all the construction, it isn’t really on the edge anymore.
Now to figure out where that darned purple line is coming from in the css files. If you need any bets placed, let me know before you go.
She surprised me last night by ringing the doorbell at 9 pm, awakening me from my Ny-Quil-induced stupor.
It’s great she’s back. Her older cat Wicca, begs to differ since she went right to her growling and hissing at Molly, Miette and Nemo.
I have an automatic prejudice against any movie starring an ex-member of SNL because let’s face it, 90% of them suck and even the ones that were allegedly good, I still found to be unfunny and annoying. But I think we’ve been going through a Renaissance of decent, low-brow comedies worthy of renting; Dodgeball and Team America readily come to mind.
Will Ferrel and his supporting actors do excel in a low-brow send up of local news in the 1970s, allegedly the last decade of public decadance in America. Decadance? People smoking in the work place, drinking hard liquor with lunch without being branded a boozehound and mucho casual sex before AIDS and herpes spoiled the party. The jokes and plot work out better than the similar time-capsule comedy The Wedding Singer because the story is really more centered on the time period. Sandler and Barrymore’s unconvincing chemistry could be set in any time period, 1985 is just stage dressing. In Anchorman, the 70s are essential to the jokes and story. How? Mainly through the core plot, news teams and news rooms were mainly a boys only club, now some uppity woman has the nerve to think she can be a TV reporter or even try for the anchor position! Try setting that premise in a later time period and no one will buy into it.
So is it funny? Usually. Not fall down, roll on the floor funny. More of an amusing humor with numerous catch phrases for the office clowns to mimic later. Especially the lines from Steve Carell’s retarded weatherman. Most of the humor centers around Ferrell and the exaggerations and absurdities he specializes in (my favorite is the flute solo at a jazz club). There are a string of cameos which brought a chuckle too, you’ll have to see it to recognize them (an ongoing trend in comedies for the last few years that I’ve actually enjoyed). I was also glad to see Christina Applegate having a major role in this movie. After a decade of being typecast on Fox, she will always have an uphill battle to be cast as anything other than a slut. Here she gives an effective comedic performance, usually as the foil or straightman, I mean straightperson, as the female reporter who turned the world upside down on the newsmen.
My hatred of ex-SNLer’s movies still stands but I grant this one a favorable rating because Ferrell made a genuinely clever movie, not a 10-minute sketch stretched into a 90-minute flick.
Robert Moog died Sunday. His most famous invention being the Moog organ which could be really awesome in the right hands. Last year, there was a documentary about him. I didn’t get to see it (hopefully, I can rent it) but I scored the soundtrack which was a double CD set. The first CD contained new material by bands that still use the Moog organ (synthesizers have since taken over) such as Moog Cookbook. The second CD was a collection of famous pop songs done with Moog organs: New Order’s “Blue Monday,” ELP’s “Lucky Man,” Gary Numan’s “Cars,” and Devo’s “Mongoloid.”
