AlanBarber.Org
Saturday, January 31, 2004
Watched Big Fish last night
I went out on a mini-date and watched the new Tim Burton film "Big Fish" last night. I call it a mini-date becuase it was just the movie but I still had a great time. It was nice just to get together and spend some time with someone special instead of just sitting at home alone.Anyways, I'd give it a 4 out of 5 starts. The story was well written and besides Billy Crudup, who played the son Will, the acting was excellent.
I mean not to knock Crudup because he wasn't bad. He just seemed out of place with rest of the cast. I understand his character was suppose to be rather uncaring and emotional-less toward his father but he just came off as a bit too flat and uninspired in the role.
Besides that little issue the movie was great. Tim Burton has apparently gone with a softer feel in this movie. While still having the Tim Burton feel to it, it is far brighter and dare I even say happy, compared to his other movies such as Sleepy Hollow or Edward Scissorhands.
The major thing to point out is don't expect to go into the movie and see an a two hour chronological story of the man's crazy life. All the stuff you see in the commercials for the most part are just small flashbacks that the old man is telling. You'll spend a good portion of the movie in the current day with the family dealing with the dying father.
As a result of this jumping around it really plays with your emotions. Then again that's what Tim Burton is great at doing. You'll be laughing one minute and crying the next. By the end of the movie you'll be crying and laughing at the same time.
Basically, you have a wonderful story with plenty of heart and emotion. For all those sick of the current brain-dead movies out there now, this will make you feel good after watching it. Don't think it for a generic "chick-flick" either. Guys I guarantee you'll find just as much enjoyment is going out to see it as your girlfriends will. Best of all the story give you a good reason to put your arm around her, hold her close and tell her how she's your Sandra Templeton.
I wish I would have thought that up and said it last night at the theater instead of at the car dealer this afternoon while I was filling out the paperwork for my new car! But that's another days post so just go see Big Fish now or even better tomorrow since the Super Bowl is going to be boring.
on 01/31/2004 at 04:34 PM
Monday, January 26, 2004
I saw "The West Wing" being filmed!
I had toured most of the monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. at last years CPAC. However, this year I went out on the town with a girl that had never been to D.C. So, instead of just hitting the few things that I originally planned to visit we ended up doing our own little "Tour D.C. in 6 hours."Anyways, we were over at the FDR memorial (it's between Lincoln and Jefferson memorials) and noticed a setup on the banks of the tidal basin. Cameras, lights, microphones, the whole shebang.
I didn't see who was being filmed at first but one of the guys turned around and I recognized that it was John Spencer who plays Leo McGarry, the White House Chief of Staff. I'm not sure who the other guy was but I know he wasn't one of the main characters.
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These were the only two pictures that I snapped off before some security guy came over and asked us to get back. At first I thought the guy was going to take my camera or beat me but he nicely asked for us to please keep moving so we don't interfere with the sound or lighting.
So, I just thought I'd share since it's not every day you get to see something like that first hand.
I have to admit that I like the show. I know it has that ass of a man Martin Sheen playing a Democrat president. However, It's still fun to watch. I like to see the staff deal with the drama of working in the White House and I get absorbed into the emotions and story of the political processes they deal with in every episode. Though the liberal rhetoric can be annoying, for the most part I find I can ignore any liberal messages they try to shove down our throats and just enjoy the stories.
Sunday, January 25, 2004
Back from D.C.
Well overall Washington D.C. was fun. I'm make a more detailed post tomorrow. I'm a bit busy unpacking and cleaning up. I have plenty of great stories and pictures.The big drama of the day was that we ended up almost being stranded at the airport. Due to weather the flight was stuck in Louisville. We were suppose to fly out at 11:45 but it was bumped back to 12:30 than 1:30 than 2:30. However, thank goodness for the good work of the folks at SouthWest. They managed to find another plane and pilots to get everyone out of Washington and to the next stop before the weather moved in and shut down that airport too.
So we were a bit late in getting home but we still made it. A bit shout out and thanks goes to SouthWest. Not only do you guys have some of the cheapest flights around you still manage to provide stellar service!
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Going to Washington D.C.
Well the time has finally arrived and I'm off to the nations capitol, Washington D.C. Going to CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) I'll be getting up tomorrow morning at 4:45am and meeting up with the rest of College Republicans. Well all squish in a few cars and drive 3 hours to the airport where our plane leaves at 9:40am.It should be an impressive caravan considering some 30+ people are going. I'm excited since it was a blast last time. I'll get to see many great speakers, roam through the booths of different conservative organizations, and just hang out with fellow republicans. Of course not everything will be great.
First off, the weather is going to be just nasty this year. It's looking to cold and snowy most of the time. That's just going to kill the fun of visiting the city. It was windy and the rain was drizzling last year when I visited D.C. It made walking around a drag and all the pictures looked terrible. Considering this will probably be my last visit to the city I had hoped this year would be warm and sunny so I could take a few spectacular shots of the monuments. But that's life so I guess I'll live. Luckily, I have a great digital camera with me instead of a junk disposable. I should be able to play with the settings and make up for the bad weather.
Secondly, the room assignments just plain sucked! No one in the club reads this, heck they don't even know it exists so I shall rant freely. I didn't get into a room with any of the people I know. There are two group of people I wanted to bunk with. The first was the same group as I was with last year. I'm not really friends with any of them but we had a good time and got along well. The second group, well, while the others in the club are large groups of friends, roommates, boyfriend/girlfriends, etc there's the small group of guys and girls that are the outsiders. We aren't the "average" college students so we naturally just clicked. Since we don't know anyone else we wanted to get in the same room. It just didn't work out that we could get a room together. I mean I understand, the numbers just worked out with girls and guys that we couldn't get a room together.
Oh sure it doesn't matter that much. Most of the time I'll be out and about alone but still, I know (at least can match a name and face) maybe 10 people out of the 30+ going and yet I didn't get roomed with any of them!
Oh well, I'll just live with it. It should still be plenty of fun.
So I'll be back Sunday afternoon. You all behave while I'm gone!
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
The year of the wooden monkey
Tomorrow is the Chinese new year. The sign is the monkey and the element will be wood. So it's going to be the year of the wooden monkey. Just though I'd share that bit of international knowledge with everyone.I was born on a year of the monkey. However, my element was metal. So that makes me a metal monkey.
quote:
The Metal Monkey
- The native of this combination ranks among the most intelligent members of the sign. He (or she) has the exceptional power of both analysis and synthesis. Nothing can escape his sharp and inquisitive mind. He approaches every problem with a carefully studied detachment, leaving little room for fantasy or unfairness. Although his decisions are generally irrevocable, he has nothing of a foolhardy man, for the limits of his capacities always make a part of his calculations. Moreover, he gives every indication of his perfect self-control.
- This is a charmer in his own way despite his eccentricities of manners and dress, his startling switches, and his malicious delights in shocking. The secret of his success in society resides in his great simplicity, his magnetism, his mild craziness as well as his sense of the given word. People simply cannot help liking him. Yet, gregarious and sociable though he may be, the Metal Monkey does not mind being alone and even sometimes longs for quiet and solitude.
- Unlike his Earth brother (or sister), who seeks social acceptance as a necessity, he does not tend to be affected by his environment; public opinion and gossip have practically no influence on his thoughts and deeds. He is totally impervious to the martyr complex.
- Despite all his denials or pretenses, this Monkey hates familial life, be he a venerable ancestor, mate, parent, or child. He feels uneasy when dealing with members of his own family whereas he can be on excellent terms with people outside this circle. However, his loyalty toward his nearest ones, when it is needed, can never be put in doubt.
- For some obscure reason this Monkey often knows a much more difficult destiny than the other Monkeys, with numerous dramas, upheavals, and reversals. But he possesses sufficient fortitude and generally emerges from each trial more grown up morally than ever before. It seems that difficulties and problems of all kinds are apt to bring out the best in him.
You can find your own sign and element here at Master Rao's Astrology Center.
Sunday, January 18, 2004
Create and Use Windows XP Password Reset Disk
Here's how to create and use a password reset disk for windows XP. The password reset disk allows you to give your Windows XP account a new password should you forget your current password and not be able to log in.
This is an obvious security risk as anyone that gets a hold of this disk can get into your account. Please be very careful and hide the disk someplace where no one would think to find it.
Create a password reset disk
Click Start
Click Control Panel
Click User Accounts
Click on the account which you want to create a password disk
Click Prevent a forgotten password which starts the Forgotten Password Wizard.
(You can find this under the Related Tasks on the top left hand side)
Insert a blank, formatted disk into drive A, and click Next
Enter the password in the Current user account password box
Save the disk someplace safe
Use the reset disk
At the Welcome screen:
Click the user name whose password is on the reset disk
Click the question mark button
This causes the Did you forget your password message to appear.
Click use your password reset disk
This will start the Password Reset Wizard.
From this point, just follow the wizard's instructions to create a new password for you to use.
Saturday, January 17, 2004
BSD for Linux users
Caught a link to an interesting article over at the BSDForums.It's called BSD for Linux users and it's by is Matt Fuller.
The article covers an array of topics including; The history of BSD, BSD core/base, ports tree, differences in release procedures for BSD and Linux, upgrading differences, philosophical differences, and clears up common myths. I'll admit it is a bit bias but Mr. Fuller tries hard to keep it balanced. Still, it's a very good read not just for all the Linux users out there but anyone interested in BSD.
I know I'm always talking about BSD and some people probably get sick of it but tough cookies. You hear about Linux day in and day out in the media. BSD barely ever gets mentioned and if it does it's always a short blurb like "oh yea there's BSD too..." A little advocacy never hurt anyone so that's what I'm doing.
So grab the link and when you have some free time check it out.