Duality

Instant Winners

I remember a time when you could open up a bottle of soda and look under the cap with anticipation and bated breath. To see if you had the fortunate timing and immense luck needed to win anything from a free soda to a new car. Or a time when you could go to a McDonalds and peel off a sticker and right there see if you had won something! When you could say “I’ve just won a free ice cream” and instantly redeem your frozen delicious prize.

But these days, it’s all gone. There are no more instant winners. Today’s contests involve codes and entries. Always requiring you to go online and enter the code from under your cap. Not only is the thrill of possibly being a winner completely gone, but it’s come to the point, where I don’t even care about the contests anymore. The act of entering said codes online is more than I wish to do for the slim chance of winning a motorcycle.

So please, companies, bring back the thrill. The fun! Bring back the chance for me to be an instant winner.

Not even ATM’s are safe these days. Next time you need some cash, you might want to think twice about who’s really getting your information.

So, I’d like to preempt this post with two pieces of information. 1) There may still be some of you who don’t know, but I have a girlfriend and we’ve been going out for almost five months. 2) She insisted that I post this. And without further ado, the post:

So yesterday, as I got off work, I decided to check out a movie that I know Cassie hadn’t seen yet, but that I really wanted to see. I ended up going with Hoodwinked, which on a completely unrelated matter, is a fantastically hilarious movie, and I proceeded to go to her house afterwards. After about 30 minutes or so, we sit down to start watching the movie, and all of a sudden, her roommates and friends come home from the pool. Now I’ve yet to mention the fact that she has 6, yes SIX, roommates (granted it’s a huge four bedroom apartment). And they all take one look at the TV and say “Ah! Hoodwinked!! I’ve wanted to see this forever!” So they all sat down and we watched the movie.

And now for the punchline: So yes, last night I got to watch a movie with 8 girls in their bikinis. Lucky me ;)

This morning before I leave from work, I’ve been looking at random sites, and discovered that just yesterday the trailer from one of my most anticipated movies this fall is out!! “Borat – Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.” Yes, I know, long title, but regardless, it’s still Borat! For those of you who don’t know, Borat is a character created by British comedian Sacha Baron. In the US, he’s most often seen on “Da Ali G Show” on HBO. If you’ve never seen it, you’ve been missing out on a lot of great stuff. Anyway, gotta go to work now, but check out the trailer!

In life, having the right friends can make all the difference. In this case, I was able to score free tickets to a press screening of Superman Returns. The rest of you will have to wait until next Wednesday, the 28th, but this morning, I got to see it, and let me be the first to tell you, it is great! I’m really tempted to write a full blown review of the whole movie, but I don’t think I’ll be able to keep myself from spoiling the movie for the rest of you, but I’ll try to say a few words.

Firstly, story wise, I think this was a fantastic movie. It even mentions events that happened in Superman I, and it feels like a part of the Superman… *thinks* … quintilogy, I guess. There is just the right amount of humor and drama to make this a very compelling story. And as far as visual effects go, this movie is top notch. The growing of the….no, wait…I’m not going to spoil anything! Okay well….it looks great! ;) Oh! So okay, the part of the movie in which Superman is saving the airplane (it’s not a spoiler because it’s been in every trailer) is an amazing rush! To see him zoom across the screen trying to catch up with the plane was exhilarating. Actually, all the parts with Superman flying were some of the best parts of the movie. It just looked fantastic! And the musical score was amazing as well. The composer did a great job of mixing in John Williams’ old Superman theme into a brand new score.

I know this isn’t much of a review, but I’m really trying to not spoil anything. I would highly recommend this movie to fans of Superman, comics, or even action movies in general. There’s more than enough content to satisfy everyone. And the ending and discovery of Superman and his _______ (no spoilers remember) leave the movie wide open for a slew of sequels. And personally, I couldn’t be happier if they continued this franchise. Bryan Singer did a fantastic job with one of comics most beloved icons. Go see it next Wednesday!

(Also, it’s supposed to be coming out in IMAX in 3D and from what I saw today, a 3D version of this on IMAX would blow my freaking mind. It’s a must see!)

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it looks good. Having just now completed what should be the last major project (in this case a 12 page psychology term paper) of my college career, aside from finals, I’ve got to say, I’m a bit sad. Oh sure, I’m happy it’s almost over with, but in all honesty, I’ve grown so accustomed to seeing my friends every day and actually enjoying school that with it now being finished, I’m at a bit of a loss. Well, one good thing is that I’ll finally have some free time again and will be posting here. But aside from that, and looking forward to a lot more hours at work, I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself. Unlike a lot of people, I’m not worried about entering “the real world.” I’ve got a job and a happy life that I can easily see myself doing for as long as I wanted/needed to. In all reality it’s the fact that I’ve been going to school for almost three quarters of my life. I don’t really know if I can do anything else. I guess we’ll just have to find out…

Taken from a post by Billy West on his website a couple days ago:

“I’m thisclose to selling my show–”Billy Bastard–Amateur Human Being,” And the other good news is that they’re doing 26 new episodes of ”Futurama” for TV and we’re hammering out the deal now.The original plan was to have the DVD’s first but that’s no longer the case.I’m totaly
jammed dude. ”

Sounds like good news to me :)

Today I lost one of my long time friends and someone I loved very much. We’d known each other for almost six years now. Her name was Jane, and to some she might be considered just a laptop, but to me, she was a close friend. She stuck with me through good times and bad. When my life was in shambles, she was there to help me pick up the pieces. When I needed someone to talk to, she was always there to help me get in touch with people. When I needed a distraction from my everyday life, she was always there to lend a hand.

Some of you knew her as well and I’m sure we all have a favorite story of good times with her. Jonathan and Bigi, we used to play Who Wants to be a Millionaire with Jane on your small TV in Jonathan’s basement. Alex, the three of us used to watch movies and play games together. Porfirio, all the times Jane helped us play DWI. Emily and Mike, whenever we would get together to watch some anime, Jane was always there. And all my new friends who week after week come to my home and watch various things, Jane was there every time.

Ever since I first discovered that Jane had passed on, I’ve been unable to stop thinking about all the things we’ve been through. She was the reason I got through so much of college. So many nights spent just lying awake with Jane by my side, writing papers and researching different things. Jane was named after a submarine in Final Fantasy Unlimited. Cid had recently lost his last ship and was broken hearted until he created Jane, the ultimate machine, and became whole again. And that’s what my Jane was; the ultimate machine.

But now she’s now gone to the great information superhighway in the sky. If anyone would like to post a favorite moment of their’s with Jane, I’m sure she would have appreciated it.

Rest in Peace, Jane. I’ll miss you.

(and no, none of this is intended to be funny and/or a joke)

For all you Simpsons fans, you wont want to miss this.

So while I was thinking about considering to possible attempt to start to get ready to write this paper of mine, a friend of mine IM’d me and…well…hilarity ensued. It was too good a conversation, that I just couldn’t not post it for all of you to share. Enjoy! (Names have been changed to protect the innocent…or not so innocent)

R: ahoy hoy!

Xero: eek!

R: hahaha

Xero: hahaha

R: ok well that signals bedtime
R: nite nite

Xero: hahaha…that was quick
Xero: hi, then nothing, then bye?
Xero: i feel so…used

R: what?
R: i left the money on the dresser!

Xero: …*sniff*…its just not the same. i thought you’ld understand! *runs out crying*

R: god u always wanna cuddle afterwards
R: i hate that crap!
R: >(!

Xero: *sniff*

R: haha
R: well i found a new man now!

Xero: fine! well i dont need you! In fact, I’ve been sleeping with the senator this whole time!

R: ha i knew it!
R: cheating bitch!
R: *takes back money*
R: and im taking all the twinkies too!

Xero: *gasp* no! not my babies!

R: *munches frantically on twinkies*
R: ha ha!
R: take that!

Xero: NOOO!!! FRANKIE!!!!

R: *steps on empty box*
R: *runs away cackling*

Xero: ….you’ve made quite the enemy today…you shall rue this day! yes! start rueing!!

R: pfft
R: *pees in corner*
R: thats so u dont forget!!

Xero: *glares*

R: anyway

Xero: hahaha

R: nite nite for reals
R: and i didnt crush all of them

Xero: ‘night ;)

R: i saved this one for you!
R: *holds out*
R: *as xero reaches for it*

Xero: *gasp*…margret!

R: *squashes in hand*
R: ha ha!

Xero: NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…………………………….

R: hahahaha
R: hahahahaahahah
R: *excellent!*
R: *puff of smoke*
R: *gone*
R signed off at 11:51:49 PM.

And not so long after that, another friend of mine IM’d me. The following is the entire conversation. This is mostly an inside joke, but another perfect example of how me and my friends work. Randomly.

P: lol….mikes mom

Xero: hahahaha
Xero: such a whore

P: totally

I know as a PC guy, I shouldn’t be laughing, but this is way too funny. It’s true. Everything is bigger in New York. So laugh it up you Apple people ;)

I know a lot of you are, so Happy 20th Birthday Link! I’ve played several of the Zelda games, though only really enjoyed a few of them. A Link to the Past is definitely up there and so is Four Swords. The 3D versions, while enjoyable to watch my roommate play, never seemed very fun to me.

What are you’re favorite Zelda games?

So today I finally have the free time to drive all the way out to Sac to pick up whatever the hell this thing is and you know what they tell me when I get there? “Oh, were sorry. We’ve already sent that package back to its sender.” ….*sanity…snaps*…so I just spent the last week and a half trying to get this thing, drove for 45 minutes in complete gridlock, and now I don’t even get the f**king package? FedEx…I hope you burn for this…

Yesterday produced one of the greatest news article of all time. Let us all sit back and thank our individual gods that Uwe Boll has quit making video game based movies.

So someone (I still don’t know who) has apparently sent me a package. A package so important that no one outside of my apartment can sign for it (ie, they cant get the office to hold it)

Not expecting to receive a package, I came home last Wednesday to find a “Sorry we missed you” tag on my door. “We’ll try again tomorrow.” However, I couldn’t miss my classes that day so once again I came home to find another “Sorry we missed you” tag. “We’ll try again one more time tomorrow.” So Friday comes and I don’t have any classes. So I wait the whole day and wouldn’t you know, they didn’t show up! No “Sorry we missed you”, no nothing! The whole weekend goes by and I’m expecting them to attempt again on Monday.

So I skip my morning class to wait for this package. By the time 12:45 rolls around and I’ve got to leave for my afternoon class, there’s been no sign of FedEx. I open my door to leave and wtf? “Sorry we missed you”??? No one missed me, I’ve been here the whole time! Motherf’ing delivery people who don’t knock. So I call FedEx, and tell them what’s happened and they say they’ll have the delivery man return later that night. But by 6 o’clock no one has shown up. So once again I call FedEx and they say “Oh, he couldn’t make it out again. He’ll be there by 10:30 tomorrow morning, though.” Great, so I have to miss another class.

So I skip Tuesday morning and wait. 10:30 flies by, no deliveryman. 11 comes and I’m pissed. I call them again and here them say “Oh he’s running late, he’ll be there by noon.” Of course noon comes and goes and by 12:45, I have to leave again for classes. I call FedEx and demand that they have him deliver after 3:30, that way my roommate will be home and can sign for it. I come home to, you guessed it, “Sorry we missed you.” MOTHERF**KERS! I’m outraged now and call FedEx again. “Oh the deliveryman came at 2:07. We’re sorry. We’ll have him come out again tomorrow, but I don’t know when.” So now I have to miss even more class!

So now it’s ‘tomorrow’ and there’s been no delivery yet. Out of pure curiosity, I call FedEx again to see if they can tell me the status. “I’m sorry, but there’s no record of you ever calling last night and requesting the package to be delivered again today. It’s still in our warehouse. You’re more than welcome to come pick it up yourself.” … It took every ounce of my strength not to rip this woman to shreds. I hate FedEx with a passion. And throughout all this, I still don’t know who the heck this is from or what the hell it is. I would have figured whoever sent it would have called me by now asking if I’d received it yet, but no.

Nothing.

I.E., you may want to wait till you get home to check this out. Don’t ask me how I find these things (and no, I’m not googleing this stuff ;) but yeah…I mean, I may have a Cactaur tattooed into my back, but this guy is insane. Again, it may not be something you want others to see. ;)

While it may not be on the Revolution, Taito is actually making a cooking simulator for the DS. Thought you might just want to know. ;)

I was going to respond to Quad’s comment with another comment until I realized the sheer awesomeness of what I found. I attempted to look up what the last Disney movie was that I cared about and IMDB hit me with some very interesting facts, namely, the details of some upcoming movies that I didn’t even know existed. Here is a list of some of the one’s the interest me the most:

Toy Story 3 (2008)
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2007)
Fraggle Rock: The Movie (2007)
Pirates of the Caribbean 3 (2007)

Looks like 2007’s going to be an awesome year!

For those of you who haven’t heard, Disney has now bought Pixar. This currently makes Steve Jobs Disney’s largest stockholder. And since Disney owns everything Steve Jobs is now in control of everything. Looks like he’s finally made it to the top. Congrats Stevie. But the question now is will the company be named Pixney or Disnar? Intiguing…

I was in Rite-Aid today when I saw this box of cereal. Now come on…am I the only one who finds the name of this cereal to be just too damn wrong. *shudders*…man…the things companies can get away with when they have a cartoon kangaroo. And for crying out loud, the kangaroo’s got the ’spooners’ coming out of his pouch. Maybe I read too into this, but damn that’s funny….I mean *cough*…this is completely inappropriate for our nation’s children. HAHAHAHAHAHA