death spawns life

I don't know why I find this article fascinating. I never really thought about what happens to things after they die in the ocean. I always thought that whales would float to the surface, apparently they don't. The deeps of the ocean are a fascinating place (not to mention creepy). There's just so much of it and so much we don't know about it. What lurks down there? Why am I always so curious but yet fearful of the sea? It's like watching sharks on TV, freaks me out, but yet I can't seem to turn the channel.

former tossing absorption in thought and tummy and the secondary

Wow. So Tanya Donelly just recently released a new CD (this past Tuesday) called Whiskey Tango Ghosts. It sounded pretty good from the samples I listened to at the borders the other day (but I found out about the new album before that though, just forgot to mention it here). Anyway, I never even knew she had a solo career going. This is apparently her second album. Ex-singer of Belly? How could I miss this.

On other things, I caught a sneak preview of Collateral last night, thanks to Du (and Nam since he was the one who got it from Du). The movie was great. Tom Cruise can make quite a menacing villain at times, especially at the end when he jumps onto the train and comes in through the back. The movie goes full circle pretty well too. There's a lot of things in the movie that happen by chance, much like life. So you should go and give this movie a chance too, it'll be worth your while.

it seeks revenge

Batman Begins again. Let's hope this will revive the defunked series (no thanks to the last 2 movies). There's a trailer available now for it. It's not much, but it's looking good.

On the music front, check out The Butchies. They're sort of punk poppish. You can sample some of their songs off Amazon. Try Make Yr Life (their most recent album) and Are We Not Femme? (their previous album). I actually seem to enjoy Are We Not Femme a little more from the samples. However, Make Yr Life, has a remake of The Outfield's "Your Love," which is absolutely superb. Anyway, enjoy.

nevada?

Went to NV last night up in San Francisco. Everyone always seems to ask about how the crowd was, but frankly I don't go clubbing enough to really notice the differences. People say SJ and SF clubs are different, seemed pretty similar to me. One of Sylvia's friends seemed to always attract guys who like to sneak up to girls and start freaking/dancing with them (there's a term for guys like that, but for the life of me, I can't remember). It was odd though (although admittedly she was the only one there without a date) because she was the only one who kept on having that happen to her. So the rest of us had to constantly shield her from those guys by acting like barriers. They're quick and good with that. I'd be too oblivious to it all.

On other notes, I finally got a permanent position offer. I took it of course, as there's nothing else. Now I can finally quit Comerica (which means I can actually go out on Friday nights now). Oh the joy.

But I think too many good things have been happening to me lately. Something bad is bound to happen. I worry about equililbrium. No one deserves to have it good all the time.

Anyway, Duke University is apparently giving free IPODS to incoming freshmen class next year. How lucky of them.

revolutions per minute?

Another music recommendation. This one has a lot of bang to it. She's RPM. I assume it has some sort of connotation to revolution but I have no idea what it really stands for, so whatever. One thing is for sure though, her entire promotion rides on her rebellious, anti-establishment image. Her songs are fairly typical nonconformist rants (as oxymoronic as that sounds, I'm pretty sure you know what I mean though), but there are some decent songs in there (referring to her most recent album, Irrational Anthem) when she's not trying to be all against the world. If you want to compare her, I'd say she fits in some where between a wannabe-early-days-Alanis and non-teenage-angsty-Avril. Some stand out songs include: "Don't Be You," "Liquid You," "Talk You Down," and "Happy Song."

recognition by other people of some characteristic or ability

So I've recently found out about another decent musical talent. They're called The Reputation. They sound like some other band, sort of, but I can't quite pinpoint it. Either way, why should we label another band in comparison to another anyway? On the other hand, it may be helpful to know what type of music they seem to perform... So I suppose you can call it power punk pop? Anyway, the band is fronted by former Sarge frontwoman, Elizabeth Elmore. She does all the songwriting, which is above the average in terms of lyrics, and can sing quite well too. You can get a free (and legal) download of their first single, "Face It" from their most recent album, To Force a Fate. You can also sample their other songs at Amazon. So why not check it out?

This also posted at Blogcritics.

the results of a full day of work with no actual work

You know it's a dull day at work when you see me post twice in one day when all previous days I post nothing.

Anyway, I've been spending a few moments listening to random music on Amazon.com. I was listening to Alexisonfire, particularly their new album, Watch Out. It's alright, if a tad on the dull side, much like my day, but there's a song on the album that I absolutely love, if for nothing other than the title. It's called "It Was Fear Of Myself That Made Me Odd." Brilliant.

I was a better man with you as a woman than I ever was with a woman as a man

I saw Tootsie last night at Santana Row. Quite an entertaining movie. Dustin Hoffman sure can act pretty darn good as a woman even if he wasn't pretty as one. I believe he once said this after making the movie:

"Talking to my wife and I said I have to do this picture and she said why and I said because I think I'm an interesting woman when I look at myself on the screen, and I know that if I met myself at a party I would never talk to that character because she doesn't fulfill physically the demands that we are brought up to think women have to have for us to ask them out. She said what are you saying and I said there are too many interesting woman that I have not had the experience to know in my life because I have been brain washed and... that was never a comedy for me. It was not what it felt like to be a woman; it was what it felt like to be someone that people didn't respect for the wrong reasons."

Quite sad, especially since it's so true. I, like everyone, am guilty of this. Who knows how many great and wonderful people I've missed the chance of knowing thanks to my judgmental nature? Regardless, despite being aware of this, I'll probably not change because I won't be able to get over the hump of initial impression and that is truly sad.

Oh and what is up with San Jose weather now, a chilly night in mid-July?

ghostly avoidance

I saw Haunted Mansion over the weekend. It was pretty lame. There were some funny moments, but otherwise, it was stupid.

I missed Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story though. It was much too late a showing, then again, I ended up staying up till about 1am anyway. Funny how the title of the movie sort of coincides with what I did. Despite that though, I think the time I spent instead of watching that movie was worth it. A step further into comfort and saved myself some money at the same time. How about that.

Anyway, so who's Bonnie Mckee? Songs are only alright, but she definitely looks good. Something about fake redheads. I am shallow like that.

hypocrisy

Am I pulling a Ky? If I am, let me know. I'm not trying to do it, I'm just sort of caught up in the moment right now. I don't want to put anyone specifically first but sometimes I'm rather unaware of what I do when things are going about at a rapid speed. I've felt a bit of oddity from some of you in the way I've been lately. Don't be shy, I'm all ears (and possibly mouth too since I may need to rebut).

veneration

And the cult continues. I remember back when I attended Creek, the previous teacher of the Japanese Program created some sort of cult. It was nice and all that the students were so dedicated, but the fact of the matter was, they were so into the program that it was sort of cultish and annoying. Well apparently the tradition continues.

As for something else, Kerry finally selected a running mate. This may be the deciding factor in my vote. I like Edwards and would have voted for him for President if he had won the Democratic nomination. So... I think I might be swayed to go Kerry and Edwards on November 2nd (and vote for a Democratic presidential candidate for the first time in my life--yes I voted for Bush and Cheney in '00--he was the lesser of two evils and Cheney seemed like a better guy than Lieberman).