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"In time, you will call me....Master."
--Emperor Palpatine
Site last updated:  23 March 2009
Half Life 2
Star Wars Battlefront II
Star Trek.com
Star Wars.com
Maximum PC.  Minimum BS.
"....and the sea shall grant each man new hope, as sleep brings dreams of home...."
--Christopher Columbus
Bioshock.....pure eye-candy!
F.E.A.R. - First Encounter Assault Recon
Ellen Page
Hard Candy
Mouth to Mouth
Juno
23 March 2008
Ellen Page
A young up-and-coming actress, Ellen Page, at the age of just 21 now, has already been nominated for a "best actress" Oscar for her work in "Juno."  Although she didn't win, she's been lauded as one of the best young actresses in recent years.  I didn't know about her until I saw her in "Hard Candy," which is a dark drama, revolving around a 14-year-old girl who turns the tables on a would-be pedophile.  Her character really kicks some psychological ass in this film, and her performance was exemplary.  After seeing it, I was really curious about her other films.  I found her in "Mouth to Mouth," in which her rebellious, runaway teenage character finds appreciation within a cult-like gang in the streets of Europe.
But there are consequences to running away, and she realizes it when her mother joins the gang and turns against her.  A very brutal depiction of
of what can happen when you rebel, "Mouth to Mouth" is a must-see for any Ellen Page fan.  However, Ellen gives a sly, witty performance in "Juno," written by Diablo Cody.  As a teenager who finds herself pregnant by her best friend, she decides adoption is the best choice.....but her interaction with the would-be adoptive parents is priceless.  You can see some video clips of Ellen Page on my Pics Page, where she hosted Saturday Night Live  on March 1, 2008.
25 March 2008
Audio Dubbing
I don't know why so many people seem to have problems with this.....it's really a simple process, and requires just a rudimentary knowledge of file types, and cable connections.  Analog and Digital types can be confusing, I'll admit that....but the conversion process is pretty simple.  So I hope everyone can follow along, as I've updated my D/Load page with instructions on how to do it yourself.  Do you have vinyl LP's that you want to make into CD's?  Or cassette tapes that you'd like converted to CD's?  How about songs on the internet that you'd like to save or burn to CD's/MP3's?

I've got you covered.  It may cost you about $5 or $15, for a cable or two, but it's always worth it to have these cables on-hand.  Besides, the cost of the cable will pay for itself, depending on how many music files you want converted.

Check my
D/Load page for full instructions.  If you have more detailed questions, send me an email or call my cell.
Luv ya all,
-B.
29 March 2008
New Favorite Song
I know this song wasn't originally written about our soldiers in Iraq, but that's what I like to think about when I hear it.  Avril Lavigne sings "Keep Holding On" on the Eragon Soundtrack.  "With you at my side, I'll fight and defend" is my favorite lyric in this song.  I've never been a big Avril fan, but this song is really inspiring in the context of patriotic Americans who support our troops.  Hear the song here.

Crab Cakes, Tortellini in Truffled Alfredo, and Cream Cheese and Bacon-Stuffed Crescents
Whew!  This took a long time to prepare, but the feast was well worth it!  I also served Deviled Eggs along with this dinner.  Unfortunately, I forgot to break out the camera, so I don't have any pics.  Maybe I'll re-create it when I go up to Houston in May.  I think Mother & Randy will like it.  The crab cakes recipe is my own variation on several recipes I've seen online and on a few TV shows on the Food Network.  I served it with a Tartar Sauce from the Doubleday Cookbook, and sides included Tortellini with a Truffled Alfredo Sauce, and a recipe from KraftFoods.com.....a simple Chive & Onion Cream cheese spread & bacon, stuffed into Crescent Rolls.  I'll add it all to my recipes page once I have some pics!
12 June 2008
New Movies
I've always been skeptical of buying used DVD's....until today.  I purchased Disturbing Behavior, a favorite of mine, online last week.  It arrived today, and although the case shows just a little bit of wear, the DVD itself is scratchless and pristine.  I also purchased Spiderman 3 and The Faculty, but have yet to receive them in the mail.  Provided that Sp3 and Faculty arrive in good condition, I'll be buying all older DVD's, "used," thru Amazon.com.

New Car (sort of)
The RGV's sunlight and salt-infused morning dew, working in tandem, have taken their toll on the rooftop of my car.  I have several spots where the paint has crinckled up and worn through to the original primer.  Today I decided to take action and re-paint it myself.  This is a work-in-progress, so I'll include photos as I go....sanding, priming, sanding, priming, painting, sanding, painting, clear coat, etc., etc.
16 June 2008
Baby-Back Ribs
Let's get this out of the way--Texas BBQ purists will tell you that all you need is a good dry spice rub, and then smoke these puppies for about 6 to 8 hours.  Carolinans will tell you to marinate them with a mustard-based honey sauce, then smoke or grill them, dabbing with the sauce during cooking.  Kansas City dwellers will emplore you to use a peppered tomato-based marinade overnight, then smoke them for a good half a day, and then drench them with sauce once done.

Me, I'm partial to the Filippino method.  I served in the U.S. Navy with several Filippino dudes, but EM1 "Sunny" Sundust Palma, gave me a great technique for pork baby-back ribs.....and also, my best friend on the boat, TM2 Davin Cordero, gave me an absolutely awesome barbeque sauce recipe.  Together, this technique and taste combination will dumbfound your "smoking only" or "dry rub only" friends.  The meat is succulent and tender, falls right off the bone, and is as flavorful as you make it.  Plus, it's a lot leaner than traditionally barbequed pork ribs--because a lot of the fat is lost during the boiling process.  I would have included this on my "Recipes" web-link, but I haven't taken any pictures.

Take your full slab of baby-back ribs, and cut them individually.  Place them in a large Dutch oven pot, along with one packet of "Tamarind Soup Mix," or "Pang Sinigang," as it's called in the Phillippines.  Pour enough water over the ribs just so they're covered.  Boil the ribs for about 45 minutes, drain, and then move them to a greased glass baking dish.  Cover the ribs with your BBQ sauce of choice, then bake them in an oven at 350 F for about 45 minutes.  If your preferred sauce is thin, baste the ribs every 15 minutes.  After 45 minutes, pull out the dish and serve them up.....the meat will fall off the bone, and your guests will be asking you how you did it!

Keep in mind that this is just technique.  Flavor is up to you.  Use your favorite branded BBQ sauces, or look up "BBQ" sauce on Google, to try to create your own variation!    I'm not going to list Davin Cordero's  secret BBQ sauce ingredredients because, well, it's a secret.  I'll wait to hear back from him if he's willing to have it published over the internet.  Probably not, though, haha.
23 June 2008
George Carlin (1937-2008)
One of the most influtential comedians of our time has passed away.  George Carlin, aged 71, died of heart failure this past Sunday.  He was renowned for such on-stage rhetoric as "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television," as well as "People I Can Do Without."  If you're one of the people on my email list, you'll know what my favorite line of his was.  George Carlin was known as a comedian for the counter-culture.  He always took notice of our society's problems, as well as the problems that our government has never issued, whether the government-in-charge be Democrat or Republican.  In addition, he questioned the English language, as it is, for what it's worth:  Can you actually blow your nose?  No....it's impossible.  And are you acutally "taking a dump?"  Where exactly, are you taking it?  Are you taking it with you somewhere?  Not likely.  Very funny stuff. 

Some of his stuff is silly, and some is very thought-provoking.  Regardless of what you think about George Carlin, he will always be, in my mind, a comedic genius and a modern-day philosopher.   A comedian who has thought through our political ideals, and has reached some very funny conclusions.  Whether you agree with him or not, he is generally regarded as a "near genius" from the comedic republic.  I am not a Comedian....I make no allusions to this.   I just pass on funny texts and  videos, when they come my way.   And when I come upon something that George Carlin has to say, I feel obligated to forward it on to all my friends.  Enjoy the following videos and pics (but watch out for the language)!

The Original "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television"
The Updated "Seven Words" (some removed, some added)
Fart Jokes
McHi Steppers (unofficial) Website
Microsoft "breaks" ZoneAlarm
09 July 2008
Microsoft Patch "KB951748" Nukes ZoneAlarm Firewall
If you're running Windows XP and ZoneAlarm Firewall, you need to avoid the KB951748 security update from Microsoft, which was released this past Tuesday.  If you install it, you will lose your internet connection.  Vista users aren't affected, as this patch is only for XP.  But if you really like ZoneAlarm (as I do), then avoid this patch like the black plague.  I spent a good half a day tracking down what the problem could be, on two separate desktops.  Luckily I realized it wasn't a hardware failure, but simply an under-scrutinized security patch from Redmond.  So if you've lost your home internet connection and are running ZoneAlarm, go back and uninstall "KB951748."  You'll thank me later.
George Carlin (1937-2008)
Baby-Back Pork Ribs
"Disturbing Behavior" on IMDB.com
Spiderman 3
The Faculty
13 July 2008
Janine & Crystal in Spain
In case you didn't already know, my sister Janine and her friend Crystal are in Spain for the whole month of July, on a school-chartered "study abroad" program.  She called earlier today and had just returned to Madrid, having gone on a weekend vacation to Pamplona to see the "Running of the Bulls."  She said it was awesome and disgusting at the same time.  No, she didn't have any "PETA-type objections"......rather, the smell.  Apparently the traditional drink during the event is Red Wine mixed with Coca-Cola (nasty), and everyone drinks 24/7 for the entire week.  During said time, everyone vomits, pees, and craps in the streets.  Yeah, they clean it up early each morning before each "Running,"  but the smell doesn't go away.  Check out her ongoing blogsite here:  http://www.janineinspain.tumblr.com.

The Jedi Gym
On a more uplifting note, check out the following video, a truly hilarious
Star Wars parody:
http://www.atom.com/funny_videos/sw_jedi_gym
The flag of Spain.....click to see Janine's Blogsite
Hurricane Dolly hits the Lower Rio Grande Valley on July 24th, 2008.
27 July 2008
Hurricane Dolly Hits US - Mexico Border on 24 July 2008
It's been quite a few years since the RGV was hit with a bad hurricane, so many residents, including myself, were rather complacent before its arrival, especially because it was just a lowly Category 1 when out at sea.  However, this one through us all for a loop.  It gained just enough strength before landfall to become a Category 2 hurricane, and after it made landfall, it had the audacity to simply "hover" over the Valley for a good eight hours, dumping tons of rain in areas that didn't need it, like Raymondville, Arroyo City, and Rio Hondo.  Damage was far worse than anyone expected, especially for such a "low-level" hurricane.  Aunt Von's house on the Arroyo took some major damage, losing half the roof.....and the entire outdoor patio was gone, save for the concrete slab and bolted-down fish-grilling station.
You can see some pics she took on my Pics page.  Also are some pics from South Padre, that a friend of hers shot.  Although flooding was a major issue, most cities have declared their drinking water as "safe," and most flood waters have receded.  McAllen and Edinburg did issue phone requests to residents NOT to shower or flush their toilets on July 25th, because they had no power at the wastewater treatment facilities (hence, sewage could start backing up into homes).  But power was restored to most locations in the western areas of RGV by Thursday afternoon/evening, including my house.  However, several areas in Weslaco, Brownsville, and South Padre STILL do not have power, and it's expected they won't have power until July 31st, or August 4th, at the latest.  We all saw the consequences of Katrina, and although I believe the cities in the RGV have done an exemplary job of restoring everything in the past few days, it's VERY evident that the power companies and AEP need to find a way to be better prepared for hurricanes and other natural disasters in this area.
Alicia Sacramone.....she's incredibly cute!
Guo Jingjing......a truly hot Chinese diving champion!
17 August 2008 - Part 1
Olympic Upsets, And Those That Were Expected
I don't want to take anything away from the accomplishments of Cheng Fei, but I'm not too thrilled with the judges' scores.  Alicia Sacramone performed excellently on the vault....she didn't fall, but did a minor hop on her landings.  Cheng, however, fell flat on her face on the first vault.....and yet she still scored higher.  After the rest of the gymnasts performed, this resulted in Alicia losing her chance at a medal (bronze, for vault).  I'm no diplomat, nor do I have any expertise in IOC judging, but from what I've seen and heard on TV, it sounds like Alicia got screwed.  And I agree.  Alicia, if you ever happen to come across this website, I want you to know that I think you're the best.  Keep up the good work, cutie....you're gold in my book!

However, I think there's more of a political reason behind this rip-off.  China is struggling to become known as a commercially viable nation, not just for exportable trinkets and toys, but for large markets as well....where China can import products from other nations.  The IOC may not have any interest, but nearly every nation on the planet DOES have an interest in promoting China's commercialization.  Whether the IOC judges have been influenced directly by China is a moot point....the women's gymnastics is a key point here:  what are their ages?  Does anyone really know?  I doubt that even the Chinese government knows for sure.  Regardless, and in all likelihood, the home nations of the IOC judges themselves have been pressured to give better scores to China's athletes, especially because it's the host nation.  I sincerely doubt that any IOC judges have been pressured directly by China.  Instead, I believe the judges' own nations have pressured them (the judges) to give preferential treatment for Chinese athletes' performances....simply to promote good relations in future business endeavors. 

Guo Jingjing
Having said all that, I wish to give my supreme congratulations to Guo Jingjing, who has so far won 6 Gold medals in women's diving.  She is by and far, the absolute BEST women's diver, singly or in synchro, in the history of the Olympics.....and she's cute as hell, too!!!  Love you, Jingjing!
Alicia Sacramone
Guo Jingjing
Women's Volleyball - Poland
I couldn't possibly close this article without mentioning the absolutely gorgeous girls of Poland's Volleyball team....I just wish they were slated to perform in "beach" volleyball, so I could see these amazingly beautiful female athletes perform in scantily-clad bikini-style uniforms.  Regardless, they perfomed admirably in indoor volleyball tournaments.  You girls ROCK!

Michael Phelps
Okay, he's a pretty cool dude.  To win so many Golds in any one Olympics is pretty awesome.  Go Phelps!
Indoor Volleyball - Team Poland
Indoor Volleyball - Team Poland
Cheng Fei wins gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Michael Phelps roars as he realizes another Gold for Team USA has been achieved (and another Gold hor himself)
Michael Phelps
Cheng Fei
Shawn Johnson accepts Gold at a World championship
Shawn Johnson
Shawn Johnson
But hey, we can never forget our countries'  favorite gymnastics girl....Shawn Johnson!  She won our hearts at the World competition a few years ago, but she wowed us again at the Beijing Olympics.
So with most of the medals out of the way, I have to give BIG kudos to all the Americans on the Olympics teams.  Thanks so much for your efforts, and may you be blessed to perform again in 2012!  And for so many other athletes of other nations, I congratulate you on your well deserved wins.  All of you represent the absolute best of your countries, and you all deserve to be held in the highest regard!  I wish you all the best in 2012!  And here's a personal message for Alicia Sacramone:  you are awesome!  And hey, the same goes for Nastia Liukin....keep up the great work, both of you are true athletes.  Luv ya!
28 August 2008
Music
Okay, it's no secret that I play pool every Monday against my Dad.  We play at "Fast Eddies," which is right across the street from my work address.  The only reason I'm blogging about this, is because of the music.  They have an updated version of a "Werlizter" there in the pool hall.....and the girls who run the pool hall have a tendency to use their free credits to play a lot of popular music.  Listening to a lot of their choices, I'm tending to lean towards some of their pop-music choices.  Here are some of my current favorites:

Lindsay Lohan:  Just a Little Bossy
Madonna:  Give it 2 Me


I'm not your typical pop-music nut, but I've heard the tracks above so often that they're practically engrained into my skull.  And once I found out that Lindsay Lohan was the singer of that first track.....well, that was a clincher.  She's just way too cute. 
21 September 2008
TRUEBLOOD
I can't say I've ever been a fan of any of HBO's cable-based series, such as
Sex and the City, Entourage, The Sopranos, or Deadwood.  I just never found the time to pay attention to any of them.  However, I randomly caught the premiere of "TRUEBLOOD" a few weeks ago.  Normally I tend to think of Vampire-oriented series as being totally lame (Buffy was pretty horrible, and that daytime soap Port Charles was a major mistake).  If you want to create a Vampire-oriented TV series, then hey....you've gotta have lots of blood, sex, and violence.  I'm glad that HBO picked up on this concept, because I think they've made a hit, and I've only seen the first three episodes!  Anna Paquin, as the heroine, is of course a cutie, but I've also found her character's best friend, Tara (played by Rutina Wesley) is also one helluva major cutie, too.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not just watching for these girls.....the storyline is very well written, so far.  I'm eager to find out just WHY the vampire Bill Compton is so interested in Sookie (Paquin).  Only time will tell.
Sookie (Anna Paquin)
Rutina Wesley (Tara)
Yep, them's some big ass lemons!
21 November 2008
Yep, Them's Some Big Ass Lemons!
About 2 years ago, I helped my Dad plant a "Valley Lemon" tree in the back yard.  Last year it was still pretty little, and only produced about two or three tiny half-dollar-sized lemons.  This year.....WHOA!  It only produced 5 lemons, but these suckers are ENORMOUS!  And yes, that's a U.S. Quarter in the picture, so you get the idea of scale (Click the pic to enlarge).  A couple months ago, when the lemons were still green (but huge), a few USDA guys stopped by the house, to check the tree for "psyllids," which are little bugs that can carry a bacteria known for killing citrus fruit.  They spotted the tree from the street (which is easy because all citrus trees have ficus-shaped leaves, but they're not glossy)
Anyway, the guys inspected the tree and found that yes, it had psyllids on it (as nearly all citrus trees do), but they tested negative for carrying that bacteria.  But the weird thing was, they asked...."hey...what kind of citrus tree is this?"  (And these guys are experts, who inspect citrus trees every single day!)  My Dad said, "It's a Valley Lemon."  They said they'd never seen lemon fruits that big!  And neither have I, nor my Dad.  I'll admit that I sprayed it several times--during its first year--with Miracle Gro, but I didn't spray it AT ALL this year....it just got watered about once a week with tap water from the hose.  We still don't know why, or how, it produced these GIGANTIC lemons, but we're hoping for more of the same next year!  Incidentally, the lemons are extremely sweet yet still tart as hell.....but they're so big, you can bite into them like an orange!  YAY!!!!  We got us a Mutant Lemon Tree!!!!
22 November 2008
I'm The Proud Owner of a Cat-House!
No, not what you're thinking about, you pervert!  I just built a "Winter Chateau" for my cats to enjoy during cold nights.  I took my sisters' old computer desk and converted it into a two-story bed for our cats.  The desk had been sitting out on the back patio for several months, and I noticed that "Little Girl" aka Missy, and "Little Boy" aka Rusty, liked to sit on top of it at night.  But when winter rolls in, they need a warm place to "crash."  During warm nights (which is most of the year here in South Texas), Rusty stays out all night, while Missy prefers to come inside by 10pm.  And during their time outside, they enjoy "guarding the yard" and/or chasing moths, mice, or other critters that don't belong in their territory.  But during our few winter months, they don't often have a good place to stay warm in between chases.  Once a year, I converted a little cardboard box into a "bed" with a beach towel inside to accommodate the cats.  But since Rusty and Missy don't always get along, I felt they needed separate "apartments."  So, I took my sisters' old desk and recycled its parts back into iteself, to create a two-story "Winter chateau" for them.  You can see from the pics below what I mean.  Using the standard complement of hand- and power-tools, consisting of a power saw,  power drill, flat-head and phillips-head screwdrivers, and a box of wood screws, I cut the "computer storage" section of the desk away from the "leg storage" section.  From the left leg of the desk, I cut a piece to serve as a shelf, which I then inserted into the unit using the standard shelf holders which came with the desk.  From the top left of the desk, I cut a piece to serve as backing to the unit, to cut down on cold winds/drafts.....I then drilled pilot holes through it and screwed it onto the back of the unit.  After construction, I cleaned it up and put some clean beach towels into both compartments....and I'm happy to say that both Missy and Rusty have approved!  I went out for a smoke about an hour ago, and there they were, Rusty on top and Missy on the bottom.  Kinda sounds like Missionary position for cats?  Weird.  Anyway, they like it, so I'm happy as well.
The Old Desk....before reconstruction
Tools for the trade!
Backside of the cats "Winter Chateau", with cover
Rusty inspects the final "Winter Chateau" product
03 December 2008
New Digital Camera (for work)
John bought a new digital camera this week....I tested it out today during a photo-shoot for Hamlin Pools, one of our newer clients.  Although I've only used the camera for two days now, I've gotta say that I'm TOTALLY IN LOVE with it!!!  It's a Canon EOS 50D (SLR), with a 28-135mm lens.  We still need a wide-angle lens for it, but the camera rocks nonetheless.  At 15 Megapixels, this sucker yields exceptional resolution.  One thing I really like about it is the AI/IQ for brightness--you can use the LCD for previewing your shot beforehand, and often you'll see undesirable shadows.  But once you focus and take the shot, the camera adjusts the brightness levels automatically, even without the use of the integrated flash mechanism, and it produces a great picture!  Another nice feature is the auto-focus mechanism within the viewfinder.....the viewfinder has a central grid super-imposed on it, like most manual cameras, but when the auto-focus feature is enabled, it flashes these grid-points in red, where the focus is determined.  This really comes in handy when you're trying to take multiple shots of any one subject/object from various angles, and you don't have the luxury of time on your side.  Anyway, click the pic below to read more about this amazing camera!  Pick one up if you have the means....it runs around $1400 US.  Also, there's an example pic to the right of the camera.....this is a pic I took myself, today, during the Hamlin Pools photo shoot (so you can get an idea of the quality that the Canon EOS 50D produces).
Canon EOS 50D
Photo of residential pool by Hamlin Pools, McAllen TX
Hot Sauce Collection....Click to enlarge!
03 January 2009
Happy New Year!
I hope everyone's holiday went well....my Christmas was nice and quiet.  Funny--I received two different hot sauce gift packs this year!  Julie (with Janine's keen eye) got me a "Louisiana" brand gift pack, and Mother & Randy got me a "Dave's Gourmet" brand gift pack.  Both are awesome, and I'm currently enjoying a few of them.  "Dave's Gourmet" has a sauce called "Insanity".....and it's no joke!  Jaime, Elise, and Kenny and I all tried just a little dab of it on our fingers, and holy crap!!!  This stuff is pretty damned serious!  Just a teaspoon of it in a full vat of chilli will make it "5-Alarm."  Not kidding.....it's THAT HOT!!!!  Click the pic to enlarge.....try all the varieties, if you dare!
"A Clockwork Orange," by Stanley Kubrick, 1972
TV Sitcom "I Dream of Jeannie," 1965-1970
New Movies
I've added about 25 new movies to my DVD collection over the past month.  One favorite of mine was "A Clockwork Orange" (1972).  A lot of people have mixed feelings about this movie.....I think it stems from the fact that people tend to "feel dirty" after having watched it.  There's a lot of violence and torture during the flick, so there's your "X" or "NC-17" rating.  But the film itself is really a social commentary on the lack of "justice" and "fairness" in human nature.  The main character goes about attacking and torturing various innocent people, then goes to jail for a short period, during which he undergoes a "re-conditioning" behavioral experiment that should make him a more acceptable person in society.  The re-conditioning process,
however, does not take, and it's obvious that he has not truly paid for his crimes against humanity.  It's a cynical and bitter view of human nature, but one that's painfully true:  life's just not fair.  If you've never seen "A Clockwork Orange," then I highly recommend that you see it.  You may not like it, but it will open your eyes to tyranny, injustice, and people who are just plain evil.

I Dream of Jeannie
On the lighter side of everything, I recently downloaded the complete series of "I Dream of Jeannie," (1965-1970).  I can't presume to peer into the mind of George Lucas, but I have no doubt that the origin of Princess Leia's "gold bikini" was a derivation of Barbara Eden's "genie" costume from the hit TV Sitcom "I Dream of Jeannie."  I remember watching re-runs of the show on WTBS when I was just a little kid.....that skimpy little outfit she wore was so hot.....even being a little boy of age 9 to 11, I knew she was the woman I wanted to be with....WOW!!! 
30 January 2009
New Video Card and Monitor
Two weeks ago, my GeForce 7950GT video card died.....I was getting ramdom lit pixels during the BIOS POST, and nothing displayed once Windows loaded.  I could only get to my data by booting into "Safe Mode."  Luckily I found a sale price on Newegg.com, for an EVGA GeForce 9800 GTX+, for $160.  I've installed it and I'm up and running again, but to my dismay, my monitor is conking out.....it's a 19" ViewSonic CRT, and has served me well for several years.....up until about 4 days ago (2 days before I installed the new video card).  Everything in a circular area in the middle of the screen is blurry....Very hard to read text.  So I went ahead and ordered a new monitor.  Jumping into the 21st century, I purchased an LCD flat panel--a 22" widescreen Acer panel that's gotten great reviews on Newegg.  It should be here in a few days, and I'll post a review of it once it has arrived.  In the meantime, I'd like to say that this new 9800GTX+ card is a MONSTER!!!  It's super-fast, but also noisy as hell when running graphics-intensive apps/games.  When I turn on the PC, it sounds like a vacuum cleaner.....I'm not kidding.  And when running games like Crysis or FEAR, it's super-loud.  Awesome frame rates and smooth video delivery, but LOUD!  I'm thinking of buying some noise-cancelling earphones to wear during gameplay....otherwise I'd have to turn up my speakers so loud, just to overcome the videocard's noise, that they'd wake the dead!
16 February 2009
Janine Is Engaged to be Married!
Yep, my little "older" sister has accepted a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, Kenneth Cantu.  Kenny popped the question during their St. Valentine's day dinner-date, complete with a diamond engagement ring.  They stopped by the house late Saturday night, and I shot a couple of pics of the new "happy couple."  Congrats to my sis, and I hope it works out well!
Kenny & Janine, Feb 14th 2009
The engagement ring
Egg Nation
I don't know the details, but somehow some "former friends" of Elise have taken it upon themselves to egg the house and our cars, on a regular basis.  If you're one of those "friends," then you'd better stop...NOW.  I just finished installing a motion-detect hidden camera system outside the house.  For any movement in the street or driveway, the cameras will be activated and everything is recorded to my PC.  I have absolutely no qualms when it comes to reporting you to the police, including your images as recorded.....I don't care how long I've known you, nor how long Elise has known you.  Egging of cars will forever ruin the "clearcoat" on their finish.......so be prepared to pay for the cost.  And yes, it's well into the $hundreds$ of dollars....your parents will not be amused.
Lyman, Elise, and Madison attempt to clean "egg" stains off the new 4Runner
My new 22" Acer LCD Flat-Panel Monitor
Size Comparison - the 7950GTKO vs. the 9800GTX+
Video Divine
An update to my previous entry.....the 9800 GTX+ is still a monster....loud, but supreme in rendering and in games.  I've since received the Acer x223w, a 22" widescreen LCD.  It's almost perfect, except for one semi-dead pixel in the upper-left-hand-corner of the screen.  It's bright red on dark backgrounds, but goes to normal on white or semi-bright backgrounds.  In any case, it's not that much of a bother considering the price I paid at only $160.  The pic on the left shows the difference in size between my old 7950 GT-KO, which was a single-slot
PCI-Express card.  The 9800 GTX+, on the right, is a dual-slot card (takes up two spaces within the chassis).  The right-hand picture is of my new 22" Widescreen Acer LCD, on my physical desktop.  She's really SWEET!!!!
06 March 2009
More Movies...Some are Great, Some are Crap
I just added another 19 movies to my collection....I haven't watched some of the new ones yet, but the older ones are true classics, such as "The Money Pit", "Four Rooms", and "Erik the Viking".  Another new one is "The House Bunny", starring Anna Faris.  Elise told me that it was kind of a "girly movie," but I still thought it was hilarious, and it has a great soundtrack as well.  In addition, I kept wondering about the character "Oliver" in that movie....his voice sounded so familiar.....turns out, he's Colin Hanks, son of Tom Hanks!  I'm a nut for romantic comedies, and Tom Hanks is well known for them.....so I guess his son Colin is attempting to carry on with family tradition, haha.
Katy Perry
Zooey Deschanel
12 March 2009
I'm Nuts For Girls with Light Skin, a Great Complextion, and Blue/Green Eyes
So what?  Every other guy out there feels the same way as me.....these girls are HOT!!!  Whether it's Katy Perry (on the left) or Zooey Deschanel (on the right), guys like me will always find these women to be truly exceptional.  Amy Adams is another of my favorites....but I've always held a "personal favoritism" for redheads, haha.  Regardless, I wouldn't find any of these women of interest, had it not been for their talents in acting and music.  Say what you want about Katy Perry, but her single "I Kissed A Girl" is now my #1 favorite song.  It envokes those thoughts that every guy wants to see...two girls kissing each other!  How
much more HOT can that be for a guy?!?!?  Listen to it here:  I Kissed A Girl.mp3
I hope you don't blame me for my "guy" tendencies...but hey...what's a guy to do?  In the meantime, check out my list of movies.  I'm no slouch when it comes to romantic comedies...they're pretty much #1 on my list of favorites.
23 March 2009
Just for Safety's Sake
Screw the RIAA and MPAA.....but just to be safe, I've removed MP3 links of songs from my site.  It's just a stop-gap measure, to be sure, but at least I cannot be held liable for sharing DRM-free content of videos, music, movies, etc. etc.  So if the RIAA and/or MPAA want to come down on me, then they should check back on their own systems.  Should I bring up such systems like "iTunes" and the like?  It's all a total joke.....