I just want to have a post about one of my favorite shows on TV right now. It's the Fox show Glee. The show is based in Ohio and is about a schools Glee club. Besides the cheesy but varied music, which I like, I'm also a big fan of some of the story lines. The humor is biting at times and the performances just spectacular.
The best part of the show really are the songs that are performed by the cast. If you haven't heard of their cover of Don't Stop Believin' then you need to get yourself a copy. It was a fantastic rendition of a classic from the 80's. The show has also spawned three albums with a fourth on the way in early May. One of the albums is really a half album with only 8 tracks as a tribute to Madonna. They have songs from almost every decade. It has rap, country, pop, hip hop, R&B, musicals and almost every type of music you can hear on the radio.
I enjoy the humor on the show even if it is a bit outrageous at times. They have this character that says whatever comes to her mind even if it is offensive. She even has a skit sometimes of giving her opinion on various subjects such as caning on the local news broadcasts. Calling another character stupid would actually be a compliment to her intelligence. I'm not sure how she in high school since she seems to have the mind of a child. It's just hilarious.
Another good thing about the show is the ability to show characters not as one dimensional but as people with real depth. The dictator-like coach of the cheerleaders is shown as uncaring, selfish and just plain mean in most episodes. But in one particular episode, she shows such warmth, understanding and encouragement of others that you wonder how such an evil person could have such endearing qualities. Even one of the minor characters in the show, the father of a gay son, who comes across initially as a boor, is revealed to be a tremendous parent. He demonstrates by his actions that he is a father who not only supports his son but understands the problems his son has with his identity and is willing to do what is necessary to help his son in the world.
If you haven't seen an episode of Glee yet, do so. It will brighten your day and you'll enjoy the wide variety of music on the show. Maybe even enough to buy their CD's they are pumping out like clockwork. In case you do not follow the charts, their tribute album to Madonna is currently number one on the charts.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
iPhone
Recently, I decided to get myself an iPhone rather than wait for the next generation phone to come out probably this summer. I finally bought because I gave up hope that Verizon will get the iPhone onto their network anytime soon. It just seems that Apple is content to stay with AT&T and having waited for more than two years, I thought enough was enough.
People who know me are probably wondering why I would get such a modern phone considering I never seem to answer anyone when they call. Nor do I ever text anyone or respond to their texts. I will not be updating my status on a social network site such as Facebook because I do not even have a Facebook page. So why even get an iPhone and not be content with my outdated seven year old phone that I have when I signed up with the Verizon network?
It's because of the apps. The iPhone isn't really about the phone. It's all about the apps. I still probably won't answer people when they call. The voicemail will get that and I will listen to the message and decide whether or not to call back. I still probably won't text or respond to texts. But I will be using my new phone to check email. I will be using the iPhone to take some pictures, not that it has a very good camera, but it is lightyears ahead of my old cell phone camera. I will be using the iPhone apps to listen to Mets games thanks to the MLB app. There's also some good chess programs that'll help me get some much needed practice in before my next tournament later this year. And best of all, there's apps to listen to audiobooks or to read books. I had a chance to re-read a couple of Horatio Alger novels that I downloaded from Project Gutenberg through the Stanza app. And the best part is that a lot of these apps are free. Though some of the better ones are paid.
Maybe someday I will get the new iPad that Apple released earlier this year. Hopefully it will not take me another three years to hop onto that bandwagon.
People who know me are probably wondering why I would get such a modern phone considering I never seem to answer anyone when they call. Nor do I ever text anyone or respond to their texts. I will not be updating my status on a social network site such as Facebook because I do not even have a Facebook page. So why even get an iPhone and not be content with my outdated seven year old phone that I have when I signed up with the Verizon network?
It's because of the apps. The iPhone isn't really about the phone. It's all about the apps. I still probably won't answer people when they call. The voicemail will get that and I will listen to the message and decide whether or not to call back. I still probably won't text or respond to texts. But I will be using my new phone to check email. I will be using the iPhone to take some pictures, not that it has a very good camera, but it is lightyears ahead of my old cell phone camera. I will be using the iPhone apps to listen to Mets games thanks to the MLB app. There's also some good chess programs that'll help me get some much needed practice in before my next tournament later this year. And best of all, there's apps to listen to audiobooks or to read books. I had a chance to re-read a couple of Horatio Alger novels that I downloaded from Project Gutenberg through the Stanza app. And the best part is that a lot of these apps are free. Though some of the better ones are paid.
Maybe someday I will get the new iPad that Apple released earlier this year. Hopefully it will not take me another three years to hop onto that bandwagon.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Don't Stop Believing...I give up
I have not commented about the Mets season so far. But I have come to the sad conclusion that it's over. Contrary to the old slogan, it ain't over till it's over. IT IS OVER!
The Mets are 9.5 games out of their division and 6.5 games out of the wildcard. Of course in the wildcard race, there are 7 teams ahead of the Mets so it is probably easier to make up the 9.5 games in their division because they play teams in their division more than to win the wildcard race. The season started out okay but it's been downhill for the last three months.
In case you have not been to the new Shea stadium yet, you should go. It is a world of difference from old Shea. New Shea has good food, much better seats and the stadium style seating makes you feel closer to the field. It does lack some charm, but most new things lack something in the first couple of years. After a few years, it'll feel like home.
But back to the actual baseball season, like I wrote earlier, it is over. The injuries to key players have devastated this team. The Mets lost their all star lead off player, their all star center fielder and their clean up man. Not to mention losing other less important, but nevertheless important, players during the course of the season. Right now, watching the team, it feels like I am watching a split squad spring training team. A lot of regulars, but also a lot of players that have no business in the starting lineup for a team spending well north of a hundred million dollars in payroll.
The blame does not fall on Omar in my opinion. It is what it is. This year was just not meant to be because of something beyond the Mets control. I understand some people are upset at the lack of quality replacements for the injured starters, but most replacements are good for only a short period of time. It is the reason why they are part time players. Rookies from the minor leagues can become stars, but usually they struggle making the adjustment in the majors and in a major market like NYC, fans and media are less forgiving of their rookie mistakes.
Still, even though I have given up on the Mets season, I follow the games in the rather foolish hope that the Mets can pull off another miracle. I know I was tempted to dream of this possibility recently after their five game winning streak. I might have a better chance of winning the Powerball or MegaMillions lottery than the Mets making the playoffs this year.
The Mets are 9.5 games out of their division and 6.5 games out of the wildcard. Of course in the wildcard race, there are 7 teams ahead of the Mets so it is probably easier to make up the 9.5 games in their division because they play teams in their division more than to win the wildcard race. The season started out okay but it's been downhill for the last three months.
In case you have not been to the new Shea stadium yet, you should go. It is a world of difference from old Shea. New Shea has good food, much better seats and the stadium style seating makes you feel closer to the field. It does lack some charm, but most new things lack something in the first couple of years. After a few years, it'll feel like home.
But back to the actual baseball season, like I wrote earlier, it is over. The injuries to key players have devastated this team. The Mets lost their all star lead off player, their all star center fielder and their clean up man. Not to mention losing other less important, but nevertheless important, players during the course of the season. Right now, watching the team, it feels like I am watching a split squad spring training team. A lot of regulars, but also a lot of players that have no business in the starting lineup for a team spending well north of a hundred million dollars in payroll.
The blame does not fall on Omar in my opinion. It is what it is. This year was just not meant to be because of something beyond the Mets control. I understand some people are upset at the lack of quality replacements for the injured starters, but most replacements are good for only a short period of time. It is the reason why they are part time players. Rookies from the minor leagues can become stars, but usually they struggle making the adjustment in the majors and in a major market like NYC, fans and media are less forgiving of their rookie mistakes.
Still, even though I have given up on the Mets season, I follow the games in the rather foolish hope that the Mets can pull off another miracle. I know I was tempted to dream of this possibility recently after their five game winning streak. I might have a better chance of winning the Powerball or MegaMillions lottery than the Mets making the playoffs this year.
World Open
It has been almost a month since I went off to Philadelphia to compete in the World Open which is probably the largest annual open chess tournament in the world. At least that is what the organizers seem to claim every year. They might have a valid point considering there were over one thousand chess playing fanatics there. If I could only play in one tournament a year, this would be it because of the large number of people competing.
I have played in this tournament every so often whenever the mood strikes me. As noted in my previous entry, I have taken some time off from chess tournaments in recent years for no reason whatsoever. And so I did not really expect to do really well in the tournament. Much to my surprise and dismay, I did better than expected, but just well enough to finish out of the money.
I started off poorly when I could not defeat my opponent in the first round and was actually lucky to escape with a draw. The next two rounds saw me winning both games. One of those was against an up and coming young woman in her late teens. The next day saw me draw the morning game and win the night game. So after five rounds, I had four points, which is a pretty good score. The downside was that early morning draw. It was against a rather young kid, he might have still been in elementary school. And looking back at the game, I should have been more aggressive early in the game because he had made some minor mistakes out of the opening. But I think this was where the layoff from chess did the most damage to my chess playing form. While I was not in an inferior position when we agreed to a draw, I lacked the necessary "feel" for the game that I used to have in the past. Because I did not have the "feel" I lacked the courage to continue playing that game. Still, four out of five was a good position to be in with four games to go.
The second half of the tournament, was not as good as the first half. It started out okay as I managed to draw in game six and a win in game seven. Again the draw was more a case of a lack of courage to play on in an even position. Though in the aftermath of the game, I might have been in a slightly worse position, but I should have played on since there was a lot of life left in the game. The night game was a lot of fun. I decided to play a very off beat line and in the complications of the middle game managed to win some material and held onto to win. My real mistakes did not happen until the last day. The morning game ended in a short draw. I am not sure why I agreed to a draw after only five moves. I had white in this round which meant I would get black in the last round. But I took the draw and decided to rest up for the last round. So after eight rounds, I had a score of six out of eight, which still put me somewhere in the mix for a money prize, but probably out of the running for the top prize. It was a moot point since I lost the last round in a somewhat horrible fashion. Suffice it to say, I did not play well and lost rather miserably.
But even though I finished out of the money, I had a lot of fun. It is always a fun tournament, at least when you have a shot at the prize. I will definately try to get back that "feel" I used to have for the game before I try again next year. And make no mistake about it, I will be back to try to win first place in my section.
I have played in this tournament every so often whenever the mood strikes me. As noted in my previous entry, I have taken some time off from chess tournaments in recent years for no reason whatsoever. And so I did not really expect to do really well in the tournament. Much to my surprise and dismay, I did better than expected, but just well enough to finish out of the money.
I started off poorly when I could not defeat my opponent in the first round and was actually lucky to escape with a draw. The next two rounds saw me winning both games. One of those was against an up and coming young woman in her late teens. The next day saw me draw the morning game and win the night game. So after five rounds, I had four points, which is a pretty good score. The downside was that early morning draw. It was against a rather young kid, he might have still been in elementary school. And looking back at the game, I should have been more aggressive early in the game because he had made some minor mistakes out of the opening. But I think this was where the layoff from chess did the most damage to my chess playing form. While I was not in an inferior position when we agreed to a draw, I lacked the necessary "feel" for the game that I used to have in the past. Because I did not have the "feel" I lacked the courage to continue playing that game. Still, four out of five was a good position to be in with four games to go.
The second half of the tournament, was not as good as the first half. It started out okay as I managed to draw in game six and a win in game seven. Again the draw was more a case of a lack of courage to play on in an even position. Though in the aftermath of the game, I might have been in a slightly worse position, but I should have played on since there was a lot of life left in the game. The night game was a lot of fun. I decided to play a very off beat line and in the complications of the middle game managed to win some material and held onto to win. My real mistakes did not happen until the last day. The morning game ended in a short draw. I am not sure why I agreed to a draw after only five moves. I had white in this round which meant I would get black in the last round. But I took the draw and decided to rest up for the last round. So after eight rounds, I had a score of six out of eight, which still put me somewhere in the mix for a money prize, but probably out of the running for the top prize. It was a moot point since I lost the last round in a somewhat horrible fashion. Suffice it to say, I did not play well and lost rather miserably.
But even though I finished out of the money, I had a lot of fun. It is always a fun tournament, at least when you have a shot at the prize. I will definately try to get back that "feel" I used to have for the game before I try again next year. And make no mistake about it, I will be back to try to win first place in my section.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
It's just a game and then some
This past weekend, rather than going to a barbecue to kick off the unofficial start of summer, I decided to play in a chess tournament. It has been a long time since I last played in a chess tournament, but I wanted to get back into playing shape so I have a chance at winning a prize in another month. My intention is to go to Philadelphia during the July 4th weekend and play in the World Open. I needed to play this weekend to shake off the rust that had developed during my inactivity.
The tournament was only 4 games, but it took up both Saturday and Sunday. The reason is that each of the games can last for about 5 hours. That's right, each game can potentially last for up to 5 long hours. At times, 5 hours seem incredibly long for a game of chess. At other times, 5 hours seem incredibly short for a game of chess. Part of the reason why I played this weekend was not only to shake off the rust in my playing strength, but also to remind myself about how boring and tedious the games can be during a tournament. It was also to remind myself about how nerve wracking and exciting the games can be during a tournament.
Tournament level chess takes a lot out of me. It is emotionally draining. I go through many different stages during the course of a single game. At first, it is the sense of excitement as the game is about to begin. I meet my opponent for the first time and shake their hands. Before the game begins, I already start to visualize about the many possible ways a game can develop. If I am playing the white pieces, I can sort of dictate what type of positions the game will eventually develop. If I am playing the black pieces, I have to react to what type of positions my opponent wants to develop.
There is anxiety about how to proceed with the game, whether I should play this move or that move. Trying to evaluate the positions that arise a move down the road, or maybe two moves or three or even a dozen. Later there are intermittent bouts of boredom as the game meanders forward. This usually arises because the position is sort of dull and neither side can dictate the play that will result. Both sides are trying to come up with a strategy to try to win the game. Sometimes the game moves towards some familiar setup or positions that I have encountered over years of playing the game. Sometimes the setup and positions are something I have never encountered before and have to try to solve the problems over the board. There are also intermittent bouts of intense concentration when I think that either I am in trouble or my opponent is in trouble and I look closely at the position and try to figure out how best to continue the game.
In the tournament over the weekend, there was a lot of anxiety, adrenaline and what not that ran through my body. It was fun and exhilarating as well as nerve racking. It was also a good way to build up some stamina for the tournament in Philadelphia. All in all, I had a good time. The results of the games were pedestrian, but the results did not really matter. What mattered was the confidence I gained from knowing that I can still compete at a somewhat high level and that when I play in Philadelphia about a month from now, it will be playing for a chance to win something, not just playing for the sake of playing.
The tournament was only 4 games, but it took up both Saturday and Sunday. The reason is that each of the games can last for about 5 hours. That's right, each game can potentially last for up to 5 long hours. At times, 5 hours seem incredibly long for a game of chess. At other times, 5 hours seem incredibly short for a game of chess. Part of the reason why I played this weekend was not only to shake off the rust in my playing strength, but also to remind myself about how boring and tedious the games can be during a tournament. It was also to remind myself about how nerve wracking and exciting the games can be during a tournament.
Tournament level chess takes a lot out of me. It is emotionally draining. I go through many different stages during the course of a single game. At first, it is the sense of excitement as the game is about to begin. I meet my opponent for the first time and shake their hands. Before the game begins, I already start to visualize about the many possible ways a game can develop. If I am playing the white pieces, I can sort of dictate what type of positions the game will eventually develop. If I am playing the black pieces, I have to react to what type of positions my opponent wants to develop.
There is anxiety about how to proceed with the game, whether I should play this move or that move. Trying to evaluate the positions that arise a move down the road, or maybe two moves or three or even a dozen. Later there are intermittent bouts of boredom as the game meanders forward. This usually arises because the position is sort of dull and neither side can dictate the play that will result. Both sides are trying to come up with a strategy to try to win the game. Sometimes the game moves towards some familiar setup or positions that I have encountered over years of playing the game. Sometimes the setup and positions are something I have never encountered before and have to try to solve the problems over the board. There are also intermittent bouts of intense concentration when I think that either I am in trouble or my opponent is in trouble and I look closely at the position and try to figure out how best to continue the game.
In the tournament over the weekend, there was a lot of anxiety, adrenaline and what not that ran through my body. It was fun and exhilarating as well as nerve racking. It was also a good way to build up some stamina for the tournament in Philadelphia. All in all, I had a good time. The results of the games were pedestrian, but the results did not really matter. What mattered was the confidence I gained from knowing that I can still compete at a somewhat high level and that when I play in Philadelphia about a month from now, it will be playing for a chance to win something, not just playing for the sake of playing.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Boldly going where no one has gone before...
This past friday, I caught the reboot of the Star Trek franchise at the IMAX theater. It was an okay movie, not great, but that could be the high expectations I had going in. I did not expect an Oscar type movie with an amazing storyline. But I did expect more than what I saw on screen.
One of the problems for me is the somewhat forced circumstances necessary to get all the original star trek characters together. All the original star trek characters did not have to make an appearance in this movie. This movie could have introduced us to the core central characters like Kirk, Spock and Dr. McCoy. The inevitable sequel could have added the other characters like Scotty, Uhura, Sulu and Chekov. Yet, the producers decided they all needed to be introduced in this movie and shortchanged the supporting characters.
Another problem with this movie is time travel. Movies that require time travel are usually bad. Terminator and T-2 being two rather big exceptions. But for the most part, time travel in movies are bad. This movie is no exception. The use of time travel in the movie I guess altered the past and what we see on screen is actually not the origins of the Kirk and Spock we know from the original series. Rather, this movie gives us a glimpse of basically an alternate reality/time line where the characters develop in different ways. This is both good and bad. Good in that it allows for the characters to develop differently than the original television series. Bad in the sense that it throws knowledgable fans into a loop and maybe one of the reasons why I am not a big fan of this movie.
A case in point is the background story to the Kobayashi Maru. Based on the book the Kobayashi Maru (which is a great book I used to own), as well as the reference from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Kirk's solution was ingenious. He was awarded a commendation for original thinking. Yet in the movie, his solution to the Kobayashi Maru is denigrated as a cheat rather than a novel solution. It makes the Kirk character less than likeable, rather than cunning. Kirk is supposed to be a conscientious objector to the no-win scenario, instead I saw him in this movie more as a sore loser. The computer can cheat, so he should be able to as well just does not seem to fit into the television series version of Kirk.
There are other problems I will not dwell on since that is really more for the star trek fans than the casual movie goer. But one big problem I have is that this movie was not too faithful to the original series or any of the various spin offs that have been made. I will not mention what happens to Vulcan, but that was just wrong in my opinion. Imagine if you will that the recent Batman Begins decided to get rid of a major character. Would you have enjoyed it as much if they had decided to kill off Alfred in Batman?
The movie had some good points. I liked how they used all the quotable quotes from the original series. You had McCoy making his usual statement that he's a doctor not a whatever to make whatever point he was trying to make. The "live long and prosper" or "illogical" or "fascinating" quotes from Spock. There was good humor which I think is good because the original series did not take itself too seriously at times. The special effects were good though it is always odd to see the technology of this prequel being vastly superior to the technology of the original series. The ship looked much more technologically advanced and there are no clunky button and knobs for the computers.
If you have not seen the movie yet and you are a fan of the television series, go see it. As far as mindless entertainment goes, this one is funny and exciting as long as you do not think too hard about the actual plot. Also, you can then watch the inevitable sequels that Hollywood will churn out on a biannual basis.
One of the problems for me is the somewhat forced circumstances necessary to get all the original star trek characters together. All the original star trek characters did not have to make an appearance in this movie. This movie could have introduced us to the core central characters like Kirk, Spock and Dr. McCoy. The inevitable sequel could have added the other characters like Scotty, Uhura, Sulu and Chekov. Yet, the producers decided they all needed to be introduced in this movie and shortchanged the supporting characters.
Another problem with this movie is time travel. Movies that require time travel are usually bad. Terminator and T-2 being two rather big exceptions. But for the most part, time travel in movies are bad. This movie is no exception. The use of time travel in the movie I guess altered the past and what we see on screen is actually not the origins of the Kirk and Spock we know from the original series. Rather, this movie gives us a glimpse of basically an alternate reality/time line where the characters develop in different ways. This is both good and bad. Good in that it allows for the characters to develop differently than the original television series. Bad in the sense that it throws knowledgable fans into a loop and maybe one of the reasons why I am not a big fan of this movie.
A case in point is the background story to the Kobayashi Maru. Based on the book the Kobayashi Maru (which is a great book I used to own), as well as the reference from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Kirk's solution was ingenious. He was awarded a commendation for original thinking. Yet in the movie, his solution to the Kobayashi Maru is denigrated as a cheat rather than a novel solution. It makes the Kirk character less than likeable, rather than cunning. Kirk is supposed to be a conscientious objector to the no-win scenario, instead I saw him in this movie more as a sore loser. The computer can cheat, so he should be able to as well just does not seem to fit into the television series version of Kirk.
There are other problems I will not dwell on since that is really more for the star trek fans than the casual movie goer. But one big problem I have is that this movie was not too faithful to the original series or any of the various spin offs that have been made. I will not mention what happens to Vulcan, but that was just wrong in my opinion. Imagine if you will that the recent Batman Begins decided to get rid of a major character. Would you have enjoyed it as much if they had decided to kill off Alfred in Batman?
The movie had some good points. I liked how they used all the quotable quotes from the original series. You had McCoy making his usual statement that he's a doctor not a whatever to make whatever point he was trying to make. The "live long and prosper" or "illogical" or "fascinating" quotes from Spock. There was good humor which I think is good because the original series did not take itself too seriously at times. The special effects were good though it is always odd to see the technology of this prequel being vastly superior to the technology of the original series. The ship looked much more technologically advanced and there are no clunky button and knobs for the computers.
If you have not seen the movie yet and you are a fan of the television series, go see it. As far as mindless entertainment goes, this one is funny and exciting as long as you do not think too hard about the actual plot. Also, you can then watch the inevitable sequels that Hollywood will churn out on a biannual basis.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Iceland
Many years ago, I spent a fun few days in Iceland on my way to Denmark for a summer vacation. It was a rocky country that had a lot of light. I remember eating dinner and it was either 9 or 10 pm and the sun was just about to set. But there was still quite a lot of daylight out there.
Why am I reminiscing about a trip I took many years ago? It is because I am now saddened to read about the financial crisis that has brought the country of Iceland to their knees. Last week, the country nationalized the three largest banks. Today they cut their interest rates by 3.5% and yet it may not be enough. It was a pleasant country and I would hate for country to go in a downward spiral. The people were nice, the food was good and the climate in the summer was great. Except for the rain. But even, then for the brief days that I was there, it only rained a little bit.
Why am I reminiscing about a trip I took many years ago? It is because I am now saddened to read about the financial crisis that has brought the country of Iceland to their knees. Last week, the country nationalized the three largest banks. Today they cut their interest rates by 3.5% and yet it may not be enough. It was a pleasant country and I would hate for country to go in a downward spiral. The people were nice, the food was good and the climate in the summer was great. Except for the rain. But even, then for the brief days that I was there, it only rained a little bit.
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