Thursday, September 28, 2006
I guess I should start off this post saying that I plan on discussing tonight's episode of Grey's Anatomy so if you haven't watched it yet, don't read on.
The one problem with watching the dvd of a tv show for most of the week and then watching a new episode on tv, when the credits come on for the new episode, you reach for the remote to skip past them. Also, you become shocked when the show goes to commercial and there are actually commercials instead of going right back to the show.
I like the way season three of Grey's Anatomy is going. They had to find a way to keep the Meredith/Derek (I'm not calling him McDreamy. Sorry.) thing from coming to a definitive conclusion. Love it or hate it, it's the main story line. Whether or not they end up together will be a question until one or both of them leaves the show. Katherine Heigl is attractive even when she's all depressed and puffy, but it'll be nice to see her back to work. When Dr. Bailey said that she had gone soft, I thought she was going to become tough again by punishing Izzie for what she did.
On the other hand, we got to see Callie in her underwear. I find her more attractive ever episode. She's not up to Izzie level, but right now I rank her well above any of the other women on the show. I hope they keep her around. Now she's living in the house with O'Malley and the other girls. I want to live there. I'm still amazed that she's played by the same actress who played Rose the cashier in You've Got Mail.
Watching season two of the show, I find it hard to believe that Chandra Wilson did not win the emmy for her performance. If I remember right, "The Nazi" was originally supposed to be played by a white man. I can't see anyone else playing that role.
On a different subject, I found out recently that the guy that the John Lymon character on The West Wing was based on is the brother of the guy that Ari Gold from Entourage was based on. It'd be cool if Bradley Whitford could make a guest appearance of Entourage.
Speaking of Brad Whitfords, when did the other guitarist for Aerosmith start looking like Neil Young. I noticed at the concert last weekend that while Joe Perry hasn't seem to age, Brad Whitford is looking liked he aged enough for both of them.
And while we're on the subject of music, I have a free download from iTunes and I'm not sure what to get. Any suggestions?
Apparently this is Banned Books Week. Here's a column about it from one of my favorite columnists.
The one problem with watching the dvd of a tv show for most of the week and then watching a new episode on tv, when the credits come on for the new episode, you reach for the remote to skip past them. Also, you become shocked when the show goes to commercial and there are actually commercials instead of going right back to the show.
I like the way season three of Grey's Anatomy is going. They had to find a way to keep the Meredith/Derek (I'm not calling him McDreamy. Sorry.) thing from coming to a definitive conclusion. Love it or hate it, it's the main story line. Whether or not they end up together will be a question until one or both of them leaves the show. Katherine Heigl is attractive even when she's all depressed and puffy, but it'll be nice to see her back to work. When Dr. Bailey said that she had gone soft, I thought she was going to become tough again by punishing Izzie for what she did.
On the other hand, we got to see Callie in her underwear. I find her more attractive ever episode. She's not up to Izzie level, but right now I rank her well above any of the other women on the show. I hope they keep her around. Now she's living in the house with O'Malley and the other girls. I want to live there. I'm still amazed that she's played by the same actress who played Rose the cashier in You've Got Mail.
Watching season two of the show, I find it hard to believe that Chandra Wilson did not win the emmy for her performance. If I remember right, "The Nazi" was originally supposed to be played by a white man. I can't see anyone else playing that role.
On a different subject, I found out recently that the guy that the John Lymon character on The West Wing was based on is the brother of the guy that Ari Gold from Entourage was based on. It'd be cool if Bradley Whitford could make a guest appearance of Entourage.
Speaking of Brad Whitfords, when did the other guitarist for Aerosmith start looking like Neil Young. I noticed at the concert last weekend that while Joe Perry hasn't seem to age, Brad Whitford is looking liked he aged enough for both of them.
And while we're on the subject of music, I have a free download from iTunes and I'm not sure what to get. Any suggestions?
Apparently this is Banned Books Week. Here's a column about it from one of my favorite columnists.
Monday, September 25, 2006
One thing I forgot to post about. I went into Philly saturday before the concert and saw this movie being filmed on the lawn beside the building holding the Liberty Bell. I didn't see any of the stars, but it'll be cool when I see the movie, either in theatres or on cable, I'll be able to recognize the scene I saw shot. The scene I saw filmed started on the sidewalk in front of the lawn with two guys walking and talking and then panned up and over to show a line of FBI agents in blue windbreakers searching the lawn. One had a metal detector, which had me wondering why only one of the many agents had one.
I had to catch the subway back to Jersey. If I had the time and motivation, I probably could have gotten in the scene. They had people pushing people out of the shot, but not many and as long as I didn't look at the camera and walked with the flow of pedestrian traffic in the shot, I probably could have made it in the background for a second. As it were, I sat and watched and was about a yard out of frame and I only watched a few of the many shots they took.
I watched Heroes tonight. I say it was good with the potential to be great. It was mostly introduction of characters with some hints about the future plotlines.
The second episode of Studio 60 showed no drop off of quality. Amanda Peet's character improved over the first episode. I am liking the interplay between her and Steven Weber's character. I also really liked the scenes they gave D.L. Hughley. But where was Jeannie in the first episode and why is she only listed as being in one more episode?
I had to catch the subway back to Jersey. If I had the time and motivation, I probably could have gotten in the scene. They had people pushing people out of the shot, but not many and as long as I didn't look at the camera and walked with the flow of pedestrian traffic in the shot, I probably could have made it in the background for a second. As it were, I sat and watched and was about a yard out of frame and I only watched a few of the many shots they took.
I watched Heroes tonight. I say it was good with the potential to be great. It was mostly introduction of characters with some hints about the future plotlines.
The second episode of Studio 60 showed no drop off of quality. Amanda Peet's character improved over the first episode. I am liking the interplay between her and Steven Weber's character. I also really liked the scenes they gave D.L. Hughley. But where was Jeannie in the first episode and why is she only listed as being in one more episode?
Sunday, September 24, 2006
I first moved to New Jersey at the beginning of summer two years ago. Yesterday was the end of summer. So I've worked and/or lived within easy travel distance of an amphitheatre for three summers and never been to a show there. Now I'm going to two of them one week apart. I went to see Aerosmith and Motley Crue last night. Next Saturday, I'm going to see Farm Aid. Here's an interesting article about holding Farm Aid in a crime-ridden city.
Back to last night's concert. I sat on the lawn. For those around Pittsburgh, the theatre is smaller than Star Lake. The lawn is definitely smaller with a wall around the top of it. Motley Crue used alot of lights and smoke. Whenever they turned on enough to see the guys on the stage, all you could see was smoke. At one point, trying to get a cheer from the crowd, one of the band shouted "I can't hear you!" The guy next to me shouted back "We can't see you!"
Aerosmith put on a better show, even playing two old songs I hadn't heard live before, S.O.S. (Too Bad) and Seasons of Wither. They stuck to old stuff. The newer stuff they played was mostly from their old album, so basically it was old stuff too. The only hit they played that was a hit in the mtv era was Crazy. The songs were great and the performance was great, but short. The set, including the encore break which had a short cartoon playing, lasted only one hour and twenty minutes. Apparently, Steve Tyler has had throat problems recently so he can't do the length of show he has in the past. Also, Joe Perry took the mike twice which I always like cause he does great blues. He does have four solo albums, not including a greatest hits. On the way out of the theatre, I heard one kid complaining about that, though. He actually said something like what kind of professional lead singer lets the guitarist take over. I wanted to explain to him that it's common for other band members to take a song or two. Keith Richards and all the members of the Beatles all sang lead at one point. I didn't say anything, though.
Finally, here's something if you have some time to kill. Introducing BumperBall!
Back to last night's concert. I sat on the lawn. For those around Pittsburgh, the theatre is smaller than Star Lake. The lawn is definitely smaller with a wall around the top of it. Motley Crue used alot of lights and smoke. Whenever they turned on enough to see the guys on the stage, all you could see was smoke. At one point, trying to get a cheer from the crowd, one of the band shouted "I can't hear you!" The guy next to me shouted back "We can't see you!"
Aerosmith put on a better show, even playing two old songs I hadn't heard live before, S.O.S. (Too Bad) and Seasons of Wither. They stuck to old stuff. The newer stuff they played was mostly from their old album, so basically it was old stuff too. The only hit they played that was a hit in the mtv era was Crazy. The songs were great and the performance was great, but short. The set, including the encore break which had a short cartoon playing, lasted only one hour and twenty minutes. Apparently, Steve Tyler has had throat problems recently so he can't do the length of show he has in the past. Also, Joe Perry took the mike twice which I always like cause he does great blues. He does have four solo albums, not including a greatest hits. On the way out of the theatre, I heard one kid complaining about that, though. He actually said something like what kind of professional lead singer lets the guitarist take over. I wanted to explain to him that it's common for other band members to take a song or two. Keith Richards and all the members of the Beatles all sang lead at one point. I didn't say anything, though.
Finally, here's something if you have some time to kill. Introducing BumperBall!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Here's a useful tool, in case you're out drinking and want to know approximately what your blood alcohol content might be, and the bar you're at has internet access. (It's too bad the list doesn't have shots of vodka in it.)
Courtesy of Intoximeters Inc.
The Drink Wheel
Courtesy of Intoximeters Inc.
The Drink Wheel
On-Line BrAC Calculator
About
Disclaimer
About the Drink Wheel
The Intoximeters Inc. "Drink Wheel"1 is a form that you can fill out. Upon completion we will instantly compute your estimated blood/breath alcohol concentration ("BAC") based on the information that you have provided and return that estimate to you. It is presented as a public service to Intoximeters web site visitors. Its primary purpose is to provide useful information about the responsible use of alcohol.
Why is it called a "Drink Wheel"?
We call it the "Drink Wheel" because it is based on various paper and cardboard BAC calculators that are given out in alcohol awareness programs, some of which are in the form of a wheel that you can spin around to calculate your estimated BAC based on what and how much you have had to drink.
Disclaimer
It would be extremely foolish for us
to pretend that our "Drink Wheel" can tell you what your BAC actually is, first because it would open us up to an incredible amount of potential liability and second if it really did work accurately there would be no need for anyone to buy the instruments that we make and sell.
A person's actual BAC is dependent on many complex factors, including their physical condition (body composition, health etc...) and what they have recently ingested (including food, water, medications and other drugs). This site includes a more detailed discussion of the Pharmacology and Disposition of alcohol in humans.
The results that are generated are rough estimates of an average healthy person's BAC assuming typical beverage sizes, recipes and alcohol content. The BAC estimates generated by the Drink Wheel should not be used to infer anyone's fitness to work, drive or perform any other task or duty.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Okay, I believe I posted about it before, but this summer I got the pilot episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip from Netflix. I loved it. Aaron Sorkin is three for three in creating tv shows.
It's now available online here. The streaming isn't really good. Despite my having a 100Mbps, I was stalling on the Medium (320kbps) speed. But it's better than nothing, although waiting for the tv show to air might be better than this. Best right now would be, if you have Netflix, get it from there.
(Note: The video feed is now working good, so either the site was simply clogged or hitting pause immediately and waiting a while fixes it.)
It's now available online here. The streaming isn't really good. Despite my having a 100Mbps, I was stalling on the Medium (320kbps) speed. But it's better than nothing, although waiting for the tv show to air might be better than this. Best right now would be, if you have Netflix, get it from there.
(Note: The video feed is now working good, so either the site was simply clogged or hitting pause immediately and waiting a while fixes it.)
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Here's the wikipedia page for those who don't get the 1337 reference.
1337 wager on Jeopardy
I have a bunch of things I want to post about, but I've worked over 110 hours in the last two weeks and then went home for labor day weekend, but I'll get a post up soon, but until then, I couldn't resist trying to post a video clip, so here's a CMU student having some fun on Jeopardy.
I have a bunch of things I want to post about, but I've worked over 110 hours in the last two weeks and then went home for labor day weekend, but I'll get a post up soon, but until then, I couldn't resist trying to post a video clip, so here's a CMU student having some fun on Jeopardy.
