It's about time I post a quote or two...
I was not going to post anything this week. But since I forgot to post something on Saturday, I'll post now and take a little break. Some expenses have come up and I want to focus so I don't screw up anything. The following are nothing more than some ramblings that I've had in my head that I am now putting on typeface. So here goes, and I hope the rest of you guys are enjoying your summer...
Pumpkin Belly
Tenor Saw
Fever
Still no luck with the Conroy Smith track. It seems that right now, my best buy is to buy the 7" EP/SP record from eBay, go to my uncle's house, and get him to remaster the track onto CD format. The venture might cost me $15, including lunch for the guy. But, is it worth the time for one song? Maybe now it is as ludicrous as me typing it, but when I grow restless, I will hit the point where I will give the ludicrous a try.
On that note, while upgrading to a 40GB 4th Gen iPod is also a ludicrous idea, it seems more tempting everytime I look at the fact that the ordinary jabroni can use an iPod. I used to be the rare iPod user on my block. Given a little more time, that small population of iPod users will turn into the entire Crown Heights population! Don't believe me? Look at the new box for the new iPods! They are geared now to be sought after by everyone, as the new in-thing. The previous iPod boxes gave the iPod a sense of class; of all that would obtain such a pricey object, I was one of the chosen few to partake, appreciate, and indulge in enjoyment of this device. It, perhaps, made me feel special. Now, I must endure the fact that it is now for the common man, or try to beat the Crown Heights population, and
Right now, I choose the later.
My condolances and respects go out to Steve Jobs, the head patriach of the incredible device, who is recovering from his pancreatic cancer surgery. And I do this with the highest of hopes that when he fully recovers, he answers the call of his Apple Elite Followers: Bring us our video iPod with in-line recording!!!
This Love
Maroon 5
Songs About Jane
Wasn't I supposed to post the Happy People lyrics?! OK, OK. I'll do that before I go.
You know something else I haven't posted in a long time? A friggin freelance! I have been unfaithful to that, and my freelance blog. At least with the blog, I am continually posting freelances every week. But, I have yet to adjust it so I can release them out to the general public! This is something that now that I am no longer in school, yet, I can accomplish.
Where does the yet come from? In two weeks from Sunday, and every Sunday thereafter, I'll be taking review courses for my CPA exam at Hunter College. Yup, I have yet to fully free myself from that place; and since I have yet to receive the degree I worked some five years to obtain, I will not be done with them.
In essence, expect a freelance next post.
Cell phones, PDA's, and PDA cell phones...
My LG VX6000 has been very faithful over the last year. In fact, after several drops, scuffles, and soda exposure, the camera still works perfectly, I can still call people inside my building's elevator, and put my favorite Knight Rider picture on the screen! But alas, I feel that it is time to move on to the next level.
Does that finally mean Nextel? Nope, I'm still bound to Verizon for another year.
So instead, I figure to upgrade my phone, yet again.
To what?!
Well, I've been seriously considering PDA's lately. Not so much to keep appointments and remiders and all that jazz, but for it's calendar, so I'll always know what the date is; it's notepad for my freelances that I don't want to lose, and for whatever extras that might come with it. Then it hit me: Why not just get a PDA cell phone!
Brilliant!
Now, here are my two choices:
The Treo 600.
Uses Palm technology. Has built in keyboard, camera, and comes with headset (What?! You expect me to talk to that thing?!)
Most important, speakerphone capable. My only downside is whether I want to use Palm software or not.
Cost - $450
or
The Samsung i700 Pocket PC
Oh yeah, Windows on a PDA. Comes with Word, Excel and Windows Media, pocket size! Built in camera + media slot = pictures on the go! I'm sure there's a way to sync this thing with a Mac, so that's not a problem. Speakerphone, headset, and extra coolness included. The downside, no keyboard, and 50/50 chance it won't sync with the Mac. Not to mention it's price...
Cost - $600
I know what you're thinking. Why the hell would I need to plunk up to six beans for a PDA phone?
The rhyme is that now that I'm heading for the big CPA leagues, I want a cool device that will simplify some shit.
The reason?
Recently, my brother lost his phone. And we are both on the family time plan. So if I agree to stay with Verizon for about two more years, I can get a new phone for sale price, and my brother gets the phone I currently have! There's the rhyme and the reason.
More on this development later...
Old friends...
I ran into a dude named Lloyd that I knew since Junior High while walking to J&R today. He was always high spirited in a quiet way. He hustled on the side, and I even gave him a few pointers on the side to help him. We always competed to see who had on the best resume, the best dressy outfits, the most games, and other things of that nature. I lost contact with him at the 11th grade, when he went to Florida. He came back to the city during my sophomore year of college, about a month after I got my driver's license. Ahh, I remember that day like it was yesterday...
On Broadway between Canal Street and the following block heading to the Brooklyn Bridge, he pulled over, honked his horn, and started blasting the old Barrington Levy tracks that we loved so much. I got in his Windstar, and he drove to his destination further down Broadway near Century 21. He got out and told me to wait in the car for him. Not more than five minutes later, a cop comes to me and says to leave the area or else I'll, or Lloyd will, be ticketed. With the keys still in the ignition, I slid over to the driver's side, and proceeded to drive out of West Broadway, swing around Century 21, and went up East Broadway; turned on Chambers, went back down West Broadway to the original location. Lloyd was nowhere to be found. Now, I didn't want Lloyd to think that after several years of his absence, I would turn around and steal his ride. At the same time, the cop didn't leave the area. And bear in mind, after two road tests, and three weeks of waiting, I just received my license at the time. Several runs around the block later, Lloyd finally reappeared, more glad that I avoided him getting a ticket, than relieved that I wasn't trying to steal his vehicle. Still in the driver's seat, he requested I drive him up to SoHo, then to Harlem, and back to BK. Halfway through the venture, I guess in me passing the cabs and all, he said "You just got your license, didn't you?"
How did you guess?
"I felt and looked the same way when I first passed those cab drivers..."
I had such a great time with the dude; it was like he never left...
In any event, today's encounter was somewhat similar; we talked a lot, drove a lot, and reminisced a lot. I'll finally get to keep in touch with that dude.
Ahh, the stinkin' memories...
Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle
I was originally supposed to see The Bourne Supremacy last Friday. I bought the tickets and everything. But by the time I got there, I was 15 minutes into the movie too late. Highly upset, as though some God just did not want me to see this movie, I asked if I can attend a later showing. And the Loews' on West 42nd Street was lenient enough for me to do so. With an hour and a half to kill, I asked what good flick was showing at the time. One of the employees held Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle poster up in the air as a recommendation. So without hesitation, or much forethought for that matter, I plunked $10.50 to see H&K. I was not disappointed.
This had to be the funniest flick I've seen since Rush Hour 2. Sure, there were a lot of cliche's and a lot of weed referencing. But it's a stoner movie! And the comedy here was properly laced and put together. Storyline pulls no punches: two college dudes sick of Chinese takeout decide to eat what they crave, and discover that a simple trip to White Castle can turn into a rompous adventure. I found myself siding a lot with John Cho's Harold Lee character, right down to the twinkie joke (but instead of the twinkie, I was the oreo cookie.) All in all, a flick for the summer you gotta see.
"It's really that good?"
So good, I dragged some buddies with me to see it Saturday!
OK, one complaint though. Somehow (not spilling anything here), H&K end up in the ladies room. Next thing you know, two female frenchies come in the bathroom and sit on opposing vestibules, with H&K in the middle vestibule. All of a sudden, they decided to play "battleshit." No lie. They sat in the toilet, and played battleshit with each other. I was just as groced out as H&K, who fled the ladies room in terror. And even funnier, when they realized that it was the aforementioned frenchies who were flirting with Kumar prior to the ladies room, they ran even quicker. Aside from battleshit, funny ass flick.
Rating: 9 out of 10
The Bourne Supremacy
FInally, after a week of waiting, I finally saw the movie! And yup, you guessed it, it was a kick ass flick, from start to finish. I will not write anything about it's plot, except that it was messed up that the girl had to die. But for continuity's sake, the show must go on.
The car chase was not what I expected (coming off of Bad Boys II and such), but it did have an awesome ending. And no, I'm not telling you anymore about it. You must, m-u-s-t must see this movie.
Rating: 10 out of 10
The Manchurian Candidate
Now like some people, I thought Kimberly Elise was going to play DW's wife, or girlfriend or something of the like, a la John Q. It was my surprise when she first came out with "paper, or plastic?" While off the topic, I'd like to know what movie did I last see Kiev Schreiber in, because I know I saw him in a recent movie before; I just dunno where...
Aside from that, if you can survive the middle hour of the movie, the best parts were the first 30 minutes, and the last 30 minutes of The Manchurian Candidate. DW once again delivers an awesome performance, which made me think twice about that Persian Gulf war. But the person that stole the show was the bitchery of Meryl Streep. I mean, she can act the part; I was just convinced that she was a psycho. The father from Half & Half got a decent role as well.
Again, I would mention a tidbit from the storyline, but I fear that if I say the wrong thing, I'll give the movie away for a DW or Meryl Streep fan who has yet to see it. So, go see the movie! And remember to email me of the last movie you saw Kiev Schreiber (the dude who plays Robert Shaw) in.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Wow, I did a lot of typing.
I'll save my embarrasing moment at a pizzeria for next time.
Oh yeah, next time, my freelance; and hopefully, I would have seen Collateral with Tom Cruise & Jamie Foxx.
Later guys...
"Are children who act in rated 'R' movies allowed to see them?"