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In the Presence of Mine Enemies

In the Presence of Mine Enemies

I just finished this book. I will write a review soon.

going home

My church is returning back to it's old place after spending 40 weeks in a neighboring synagogue. Hooray!

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

I was reminded today that I haven't seen a movie in a good long time. So, I was walking home past the movie theater and just on a moment's whim decided to walk in and see one. And I watched this one.

This is another one by screenwriter Charlie Kaufman. The same guy who did "Being John Malkavich" and "Adaptation". Once again, it takes place primarily in someone's head. But I think this is one of his better ones because it deals with the almost universal experience of loss after the breakup of a relationship.

Kaufman movies somehow get the biggest stars to become weird ugly insane people. Just wanted to get that in.

Anyways, this is another movie that seems written directly at me. It describes how Joel(that's me!) who is a too nice guy who apologizes to much(me, too!) finds out that his ex has gotten an operation to remove all memories of him and their relationship out of her head. So, he decides to get one, too. And then hilarity ensues.

I think it may have been the giant cinema-sized caffeinated cola but during the middle part of the movie I felt so anxious that I felt like I was going to die of a heart attack. I've got to remind myself that drinking too much caffeine and nutrasweet can give me panic attacks. So, maybe it wasn't just the movie freaking me out as the inept technicians systematically damaged parts of Jim Kerry's brain as he slept.

I know that there's a period of time after a loss where it is too painful to remember the other person. That for a while, it's kind of good to forget them and not even talk about them while your wounded life tries to get itself back together. But I guess the message of this movie is that to forget these things permanently you could both lose something valuable that you'll miss years down the line and the fact that you are also doomed to repeat the same mistakes over again.

I think the acting in this movie was great. I really connected with Jim Kerry. And while I have never dated somebody like Kate Winslet's Clementine, I kind of wish I did.

Maybe I have and I don't remember.

http://www.eternalsunshine.com/

Tokyo Underground

Tokyo Underground

Well, I enjoyed this one. Even though it basically was a rehash of every anime you've ever seen. Teenage boy, Rumina, is worrying about his first day in high school. He dreams of having a girlfriend. Of course, here enters the "princess". The princess and her female bodyguard escape from the clutches of these evil guys who rule this underground world. They meet Rumina. The princess imbues him with magical powers(Mahou Shounen?) and he fights off the bad guys. It looks like he's going to have the happy high school life he wishes for except more bad guys come and they kidnap the princess.

And, naturally, they spend the next 24 episodes journeying underground meeting tougher and tougher foes until they meet and defeat the big boss monster. After that, there's a dazzling final cut scene that would befit any Squaresoft RPG.

Just because this anime is so derivative doesn't mean you won't enjoy it. In fact, it is enjoyable because it does not fail to deliver exactly what you expect in an anime. The characters are cute and you care about them. Rumina simply wants to be the hero of the story. And he is. The handful of supporting characters all have interesting backstories and their own objectives which somehow align with "save the princess".

My biggest complaint is that the last 4 episodes feel rushed. My feeling was that they were enjoying making the anime until someone realized "Oh shit, we gotta end this soon. We better wrap this up and quick." And they did. The final boss battle, which in a normal anime could be stretched acrossed 10 episodes takes only 5 seconds.

But, then, I guess there's still enough room for another season. I could see the adventure continuing. Go find those torrents and watch 'em.

You need carbs to feel good

More fodder for the pro-carb vs anti-carb war:

Carbs are essential for effective dieting and good mood

I'm so confused!!!

the portly pinoy

oh the shame of being the heaviest I've ever been.

The whole history of my weight.

trying out fluid

My friend, Deanna, wanted to see some sort of Fluid thing on the web. Just trying to figure it out.

Cruise Pictures

TO YOUR MUSTER STATIONS!

Well, putting up the cruise pictures temporarily on a flakey server. I can't promise that they'll be up all the time.

yeah

I'm back. I'm back. and I have lots of photos. I'll get them up. I promise.