I should sleep some...(Updated)

It's now 1:40 a.m. Sunday morning, and just got back from the semi-formal. A few thoughts before sleep.

First off, Darn it! That stupid DJ didn't play Dragostea din tei! That would have been AWESOME, even if only a few people might have known it. It's a danceable song! And for those of you not geeky enough to have seen this yet, check out the Numa Numa Dance, where it all got started...

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/206373

See? Isn't that a lotta fun? The thing is, as my good friend Preston pointed out (I paraphrase, not his exact words), "The Star Wars Kid was stupid, because he thought he was all serious, and it turned out comical. That isn't funny. The Numa Numa Dance IS funny, because this guy is obviously having a very good time. THAT is cool." And you gotta admit, that's one darn catchy song, even if it is in Romanian. I like that "Dragostea" means "Linden Tree" (I'm basing this off of what you just saw with the subtitles, I don't know Romainian).

Secondly, and on a different note, I really enjoyed myself. It was such a new experience, because I was with a bunch of friends who wanted to have fun and weren't self conscious about gettin' out on the dance floor and having a good time. There are always those who feel embarrassed because they somehow are under the impression that people care about how they dance. Now, I don't mean this in a bad way, but really, PEOPLE DON'T CARE. Once you get over that initial bump (helps to have enthusiastic friends), you realize that the fun comes from moving that body to that rhythm, and realizing that you're havin' a ball. You realize that you don't need to be a conversationalist, you don't need to be witty, you can have fun just by being there and being into it. Just let it all go and move to the rhythm!

Third, and Aljay will understand this perhaps a bit better than most, The nightingales! Ahhh, how many there were! It was uplifting, to almost constantly say "hi" again to these friends, greeted by their warm, musical and companiable smiles. Learning some good dance from the Fencing Fiddler and be rewarded with graceful success and her praise. Ahh, but there was one that caught my eye. We only talked once, and passed each other a few times, and each time there was the unspoken "Yes, I do know you" contact. Never face-to-face had I met her before, but the kind Lady did grace me with her presence. My only qualm was that she seemed to have disappeared partway through the dance. I looked for her constantly, and knew not why I couldn't see her. Afterward, after signing back on to the ol' comp, did I have my questions answered. Perhaps we shall dance sometime later, but for the time being, I re-live the moment in comfort.

Enough of that. More Later.
- James

UPDATE

Whoa-ness! The nightingale likes me! O that I could have seen a moment like this in the darker times....Her Blog confirms it. Giddy, was she? A so called "Chicken-shit"? No, no, this radiant princess was far from it. I am overcome with joy, and yet, I share a sentiment she posted herself: "I hope he doesn't hurt me." I harbor a fear that I will somehow, inadvertently, do something to injure her. I fear my own foolish self, my percieved incompitance, and the fact that no matter what I have done in the past, I have always done something wrong, always not opened my eyes enough, always been the oblivious fool to a past lover's wisdom. This is life, to learn from one's mistakes, yes, but this once, if things somehow don't work out, let the landing be soft for both sides. Let not my foolish heart counterfit me again. All of my heart wishes to be true to this Nightingale, di immortales, let it not be the cause for discomfort.

Enough, More later.
- James

Quick Update

Well, Friday Night was fun. Get a IM from the great ALJAY that the fencers are goin to see Ong Bak: Thai Warrior at 10 over in Elk Grove, and I agree enthusiastically. They come to pick me up at 9, and I forget and then promptly remember at 9:15. Stupid RHPS! How your audience participation entertains me so! Here's a sample...

"Ladies and gentleman! this is the part of the movie
were we imitate the windshield wipers! arms up!
Left, right, left, right.
For those of you on speed:
(quickly) Leftrightleftrightleftright.
For those of you on cocaine:
Fuckin'-left, fuckin'-right.
For those of you on acid:
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue.
For those of you on crack:
(clap hands)
For those of you who are dyslexic:
(crossing arms) Left, right, left, right.
For those of you on Marijuana:
The snack bar is still open.
For those of you on rhufenal:
Come with me.
For those of you already horny:
In, out, in, out.
For those of you on Quaaludes:
(slowly) leffft, rigght, leffft, rigght.
For those of you on acid:
(like grabbing a ball in midair) Red, orange, yellow,
blue, purple, red, SPIDERS! (duck)
For those of you on crack:
(abruptly clutch chest and fall down)
For those of you on marijuana:
the snack bar is between Janet's legs,
and they're still open (run down aisle)
Thank you!"

You see?!? You see why I was drawn in?!?! Freakin Hilarious! Anywho, When I realized I was late, I sprinted out to the parking lot and found the fencers waiting. What patient chaps! I felt kinda bad, but they paid it no mind and soon we were on our way.

We arrived at Elk grove and the place was packed. Evidently there was only one place where Ong Bak was showing and one time, freakin-A. Most unforunatly, there was a group of rowdy youths inside the lobby and outside. Gads, just like being back in Public High School: Guys start talking, a few collective "OH SHIT"s and "What the FUCK!?!"s, everyone rushes toward the fight. And then, we hear some muffled gunshots. We alternate between "Did we hear what we just thought we heard?" and "We should move away, NOW." After there's a good distance between us and the box office, we notice that the hubbub has died down, people are still lining up to buy tickets, and evidently, the box office is still open. A few cops pull up, but it's not an all points. We eventually decide that Discretion really is the better part of Valor, and move on. We almost try for Constantine at a theater close by, but given that by now it's 10:30, the last show started 5 min before, and matinee prices are moot, we bag that as well.

We head over to the Cheesecake Factory, I stay for the conversation and eat the free bread. I still owed (and still do at this point) Aljay a meal, but it slipped our minds and I only had a 20 and needed it split. Oh well, still fun. Poor ol' Cathy was the only female there, but we all enjoyed ourselves, singles and attached alike. Get back to Davis by 1, asleep by 2, and now eagerly awaiting laundry, a jaunt with some buddies in Cuarto, and the Semi-formal in Freeborn this evening. Fun.

Enough, More Later.
- James

Stuffage? Is there such a word?

Right then, a bit more for any of you who have yet to peer into my head.

Constantine Soundtrack Review:

Yeah, Soundtrack. The second time in my life I've bought the album to a movie before seeing it. For all you audiophiles out there, this review is for you. Especially of the Soundtrack persuasion.

For those of you wondering why I would do such a crazy thing, I'll tell you two words: Klaus Badelt. This is the composer responsible for creating that wild, sweet and cool soundtrack to Pirates of the Caribbean and the unreleased music for Equilibrium (Damn you, narrow minded record labels! Now I have to acquire it illegally!) Though the great Hans Zimmer may have had more of a hand in PotC than you think ("Overproduced"? What the hell--?) EQ definitely had it's own signature and style.

It's that style that I find in Constantine, and though Bryan Tyler (sic) also had a hand in it, there are a few track where I hear the familiar techno-beat of Klaus' that was omnipresent in EQ (Tracks 3 and 24, Meet John Constantine and [surprise!] Constantine End Credits, respectively). The Bigger orchestral swellings are more reminiscent of James Horner's score for Aliens: creepy high strings and thunderous percussion. The rest is nicely creepy mood music and quite a few downbeat themes for the Orch. to play. When I first saw ol' Klaus' name on the CD, I almost fooled myself into believing more throbbing action cues that Zimmer loves to expound upon. But, realizing the nature of the movie, I should have expected what I got. I don't feel cheated outta my money, in truth, I didn't know what to expect. But in the end, based on soundtrack alone, I'm pleased. The Music's growin on me, I hope the movie proves somewhat more interesting.

"The Relic" Review

I know, its only about 7 years ago that this movie was made, but I just saw it and thought a good review would be necessary. No synopsis, there's www.imdb.com for that.

First off, Gale Ann Hurd producing, creature effects by Stan Winston, and hot babe Penelope Ann Miller? If that was all I got, I'd say SCORE, sounds like an awesome movie. In the end, it's not a bad movie, just not terribly noteworthy. With Ms. Hurd on board, I can expect excellent production values, with such movies as Terminator 1 and 2, The Abyss, and Aliens under her belt, this would seem to be right up her alley. And Stan the man Winston! Creature effects for the Predator, Jurassic Park Dinosaurs and Terminator goodness, what can this man NOT touch and turn into something memorable? The unfortunate answer is this movies creature.

Sore point number 1 for me: The Creature. I applaud the execution of it and the concept story-wise behind it, and the director does a great job of what Ridly Scott did best in Alien, Not showing the whole creature until the end. Whereas whenever I see one of the trademark Aliens from that well known series, I always think "COOL," but this creature, ehhhhh. Just a tad too much emulation with the fangs and the slobber and the goo. I like the "evolution" idea behind it, but perhaps I've seen too many creature-feature scare-fests and been desensitized by what by now is the norm of suspense and scares. It just didn't get me. I was impressed by the CG, though: I don't know how far along CGI was in '97, I was still in middle school and not nearly as devoted to hearing about "Behind the Scenes" as I am now. Still was nice tho.

The plot genuinely held me and was fed out at a good rate. It wasn't brilliant, by any means, but I liked the concept. I won't wreck it for you, you'll just need to watch it. Overall, not bad, it would be a good rent/borrow for a rainy day with nothing to do.

Enough for now, More Later.
- James

And a Third try!

Ok, so I'm guessing there's gonna be some readers (or not) who want some updates (Though I'll never get as great a following as the great ALJAY) so here's some stuff.

(Look for my Constantine Soundtrack Review next post, I'm having issues with the input interface of this blog)

Darn it if we need to compose a 2:30 -3:00 minute piece for Music Theory as a final. I'm guessing I'll fiddle around (literally) to get some melodies and then work with building chords around it. It's gonna have hella repeats and slow sections, tho, if I ever hope to pad it out to at least 2 and a half minutes. That's a long time to make music for!

And for those who I have not already bothered, the Berkeley Tourney was last Saturday. Ugh. I placed 26 outta 30 novices in the initial pools, and then they paired everyone up for Direct Elimination. Wouldn't you know that a good amount of us Davis Noobs were all goin against each other. I fenced Robert "Man-Purse" Toes and got my butt beaten, though I didn't come out doughnut-ed, and HE went up against the great Preston Thomas, who then beat HIM. As TC said, "We're our own worst enemy." Had a slow, slow, SLOW judge for the pools, took what seemed like an eternity to reconstruct each touch. Also had a problem with including actions called AFTER the "Halt." For instance, I'm on her right, my opponent on my left. He charges in at me, arm extended. I block and stab while he keeps going. My point lands first, his a second later, BUT our judge called halt IN THAT SECOND. The word had literally JUST died in her mouth when his point landed. Then the reconstruction:

::huge pause while the judge meditates on the actions:: "Alright, Attack from my left, parry-riposte from my right, remise from my left." (s/he gets that much right)

::gestures to the left-hand line judges:: "Did the initial attack land?"
::shaking of line judge's heads, it's a no::

::gestures to the right-hand line judges:: "Did the parry-riposte land?"
::one no, one abstain, and s/he calls abstain, so its a no, DAMNIT, line judges who can't see shit::

::back to the other line judges:: "Did the remise land?"
::obviously a yes and an abstain, s/he gives the point to my opponent, WTF!?!?::

::me, ripping off my mask:: "Excuse me! Did you call halt BEFORE or AFTER the remise?

::s/he considers again for an eternity, then:: "No......I believe I called it after."

::me, fuming inside:: ".......Alright."

Of course, this was the one and only match I won, ironic. So I probably shouldn't be bitching, but I did so badly and that was the only clear-cut problem I could see (aside from other braindead line judges, myself included). I dunno, felt like bad times. Though for a novice, I did well, so the older fencers tell me. I believe them, but I still have that bad taste in my mouth.

Enough. More Later.

Wail and Gnash your Teeth, SLHS Cargo has fallen!

Dear Mr. Jue,

I am saddened to see your resignation from the San Leandro High School newspaper as Managing Editor. Your innovations and pushes for change are laudable, though I fear you were fighting a losing battle. I am honored to be mentioned by you as one who you turned for help and inspiration, and I am also proud and slightly jealous at your connections to professors and advisors of Journalism. You are a true inspiration to me to study the fine art of reporting and make it my own, and I have plenty of fond memories of us, huddled in the office in my backyard, endlessly giggling and composing aural news for the poor, misinformed masses of the High School.

For all of your toils in the hellish medium that is the public High School newspaper, remember that college will have bigger and better things. I encourage you to join me at UC Davis, both for your continued friendship and for more opportunities for us to expand our journalistic enterprises. God knows without your enthusiasm I probably wouldn't have been able to slap together our minimal broadcasts of KNSL, and I am forever grateful for the experience and the memories.

Remember, old friend, we may be living under a presidential monkey for the next 3 years, we may have an actor-idiot for a governor, and you may butt your head against the wall that is the horrendous advisor at the SLSH Cargo, but there is always hope. You can only go up from here. Trust me on this one, you'll be wondering where all these like-minded people at College were when you were in the public schools. Keep that mind up, old boy, I'm cheerin you on!

- James Keith