Riftwave.net - Kevin's web log

I saw this movie on Saturday, July 24 at 9:10pm. The theater was packed with people and we (Beth and I) ended up sitting in the 3rd or 4th row. Ordinarily, sitting a little close wouldn’t be a problem but it ended up working against us because of some of the horrible, horrible cinematography in the movie.

Immediately noticeable in the opening shot of Jason Bourne, the bouncing pan of a handheld camera was very distracting and almost dizzying. Instead of lambasting the many instances of mindlessly edited, out-of-focus, milli-second-flash-cut action sequences, suffice it to say that there are plenty of instances in this movie where the directing detracts from the storytelling. The director was Paul Greengrass. I’ll probably make it a point to avoid his work in the future.

This was my first exposure the ‘Bourne’ series of books and movies. The Bourne Supremacy is a sequel to The Bourne Identity. All the pertinent background information for the movies can be gleaned from the basic premise that Jason Bourne was a secret-spy-assassin-guy and then got amnesia. On its own, the movie is alright. There are no real surprises in the plot, but the story kept me interested enough to keep watching. Comparing Damon’s portrayals of Bourne, and Loki in Dogma make me realize that he is a convincing actor and skilled at differentiating his characters. (Contrast that with the arrogant-angry-black-man Will Smith has played in just about all the movies I have ever seen him in).

Even though there is a lot of action in this movie, the action sucks. The little bit you can make out through blurs, whirs, and shakes won’t sate your appetite for seeing dudes get punched and chased.

Judging by the number of seats I saw filled when I went, I predict that this movie will be #1 this weekend, with a large drop off in the following weeks. I think I, Robot will probably have more staying power on the merits of Bourne’s bad directing.

If you really want to see it, then my advice is to rent it along with 2-3 other movies, or just wait till its available as part of your NetFlix rotation.

Wow, hard to believe that I have stayed away from the ol’ web log for a week… but the absence of entries should serve as a testament to the un-remarkableness prosaic nature of this past week (yes, i know that un-remarkableness is not a real word, but ‘mundane’ just isn’t the word i wanted to use). The class load at work has been low, but with the start of the school year and accompanying cheerleading season fast approaching (2 weeks away), I expect the load to gradually double.

I’ve been a homebody most of the week, but I did see a movie yesterday (Bourne Supremacy) with Beth. Also, on Friday I made it to a different movie theater to hang out with Susi and her friends. An eclectic bunch, that group. Most of them are still in school at tech. Susi mentioned that they were all taking a car trip to Baltimore next week for a convention called Otakon. Thats about a 12 hour car trip! I made the drive to MD from Atlanta once (Leila+BrianK’s wedding). Alone, but i had books on CD to keep me sane. I hope they can all get along for that much time together

I, unfortunately, have misplaced my atm card. Poor Beth had to buy my ticket to the movie! Embarrassing, I know… I didn’t realize that I did not have it until after I tried to buy something. I’ll have to go order a new one on Monday. They usually take a week to arrive, so its leftovers and table scraps for the coming week! Hopefully, i’ll be able to avoid having to walk into a bank branch and withdraw money.

The movie was alright (my review). I couldn’t believe how packed the theater was. Natalie was invited to see it with us, but said she already had other plans. Just as well, since we couldnt’ find any seats! The 9:15pm screening we went to only had seats on the side in the third row. On a tip from another movie-goer, we jumped into a 9:10 screening down the hall. We ended up in the third row again, but this time with decent seats in the middle. The theater and screen was also smaller which eliminated the need to jack up your neck trying to see the entire screen.

Today, I went to church and back. Nothing of note to report. I’ll spend the rest of the day trying to get a trip to stone mountain together via email. Liz said that some of her folks are going there on Aug.14th, so perhaps i’ll shoot for that weekend. I think Nat said something about only being able to make it Aug.24th… i’ll have to check on that, too.

-kevin

Life has gotten decidedly more uninteresting since the start of this past week. I’m doing better about spending more time productively, but I’m getting the same end result as before; I’m a home-body that spends entirely too much time in my room. Case in point… this weekend got off to a very bland and uninteresting start with work Friday afternoon, followed by sitting around in my room Friday night. (I would have gone to see I.Robot if I’d had someone to take). Saturday didn’t fare much better. I think the only trip out of the houseI made was to the supermarket to make dinner. I sat in, talked to Sarah on the phone (i must have bored the poor girl out of her mind) and re-read Ender’s Game.

It wasn’t a total bust. I did play my bass guitar some, and in my frustration I decided that joining a band would be a good way to get out more. I sent an email to a friend in a band to see if he knows of anywhere that might take a rank amateur beginner bass player (i wont’ get my hopes up too high). I also made the decision to not waste Sunday, and that I would go play some pick up soccer games at Piedmont Park, which is located 20 min south in midtown, Atlanta.

So Sunday I got up, got to church late on account of an impromptu haircut, wasted time at Target and Old Navy, but finally headed to the park around 3:45pm.

It was the strangest visit to the park that I have ever had. I was accosted on three separate occasions by total strangers. I know that its not wierd to meet new people at the park, or the supermarket, movies, other public places, etc… but it rarely, if ever, happens to me. The first person that introduced themself was with a group lounging in the canine section of the park (you’re allowed to take your dog off the leash on 1/3 of the park). We only chatted a little while and I hiked to the soccer fields at other end of the park.

Disaster when I arrived! All the soccer goals were chained up on the edge of the fields, so I took shots at an adjacent softball backstop instead. I was joined by an onlooker who had introduced himself a few minutes before as I was approaching the soccer fields. Soon after, a woman came over to us and invited us to play kickball and so we did. I ended up on a team captained by a ChemE grad student at Tech named Jennifer. Coincidence or karma? She was very friendly and after the game passed along her email in case I wanted to play kickball again.

So, Sunday ended up salvaging an otherwise dismal july weekend. I came home and played some more bass. I can just about play all the way through “It’s My Life” by No Doubt. The song isn’t that fast, but the fingering is tricky. I’m sure Mr. Tony Kanal could play it in his sleep. I’d like to have chops like that one day, but there is a poor likelyhood of that happening .

Well, another week of work awaits. Back to the job-hunt tomorrow morning. I hope my wireless internet holds up… its been going in and out at wierd times. I think a neighbor may have bought a 2.4 GHz cordless phone or something.

Hmm. Well, although nothing supremely noteworthy has happened in the past few days, I still feel like I should write something for continuity’s sake.

Its the first full week back to work at the gym. As a result of the week off (which I did enjoy), i will have to live like a pauper for quite a while. That means more cooking my own meals. Unfortunately, the last 2 times I have cooked… I have wasted about 2 days worth of leftovers due to my forgetting-to-put-the-food-back-into-the-fridge. An embarrassing (and expensive) mistake .

Other than the gym, I’ve been spending time trying to get back into japanese (I have been trying to translate paragraphs from the Asahi Sinbum VOX POPULI, VOX DEI (An old proverb quoted by William of Malmesbury in the Twelfth Century… The voice of the people is the voice of God). I have also been job-hunting, of course. Its long past time for me to move on and find something, but I have yet to find out what choices or opportunities I’ll have to choose from. A fat lot of good my degree in chemical engineering is doing me.
From my perspective, noone is even remotely interested in hiring (me at least) an entrly level chem-E. Frustrating.

Maybe the reply emails i’ve sent to far-away friends Leila and Roxanne, whom I haven’t heard from in a while, will take my mind off it.

Well, another Sunday bites the dust. The better part of today was spent tinkering around with the web log interface. Here you see the results in all its azure glory. I still have a few things to move around, but I am otherwise currently satisfied with the look. I will eventually add a style selector so that all 1 of my readers (me) can choose.

I got in very late (or early, depending on how you look at it) from Athens, but still got out of bed in time to make it to church. I’m glad I did. I was first spotted and (surprised) by Natalie as she was getting out from the kids group she helps lead. We talked for a little (I stumbled for words like a 2nd grader), and then she left. .
Not 5 minutes later I was spotted by Peter (forgot his last name) one of my old residents from my quarter as a dorm peer leader at Tech. It turns out that he helps with out with the Northpoint kids as well. Sort of a chance meeting, eh? That’s the second coincdence this week centered around Nat… she sent out an group email that happened to have an address with a name I recognized… to make a long story short, Nat is friends with the sister of another old friend from college whom I hadn’t seen in about 5 years. I have his url now, so I can keep in touch.

All i need now is a real job and I’m set!

-kevin

This entry is backdated 24hrs
Catherine Peisher is now Catherine Knight. The ceremony took place at the Milledge Avenue Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia, July 10, at about 5:30pm.

Alex was the best man. My old roommate Chris (Cat’s brother), Michael (also Cat’s brother), Iffy, and Bryan’s brother (whose name escapes me at the moment) were the groomsmen. The only bridesmaids of Cat’s I had met before were Geetha, Nikki, and Jenny (maid of honor). The reception was held at the Terrace Room of the Georgia Botanical Gardens. There was a 4 piece jazz band (replete with upright bass), an open bar (too bad i dont’ drink!), a tiny dance floor and seating both in and outdoors. Not super big, but not small either; a well-sized party.

The biggest surprise of the day was the attendace of Susi Rathman! Cat’s old suite-mate from the dorm whom I personally believed had tripped, stumbled and fell right off the edge of world. Noone (except for Cat, I guess) had heard from her in about 2 years. Also in attendance were Eric, Angie, McGuiness, Sara (Alex’s girlfriend), and the indomitable Josh S (who knows a bit about falling of the edge of the earth himself). The reception was fun, but a disturbing trend has seemed to develop as a friend of mine at the wedding declined to add me (or anyone else) to her dance card. I was denied the same privilege last year by another friend at my old roommate’s wedding last year: that ceremony’s maid of honor. Hmm, my breath is ok and I don’t have any illegitimate children… what gives, ladies?

After the reception, I went with the bridesmaids and groomsmen to Nowhere Bar in downtown Athens (I dont’ usually hang out in bars). There was a little more red, black, and bulldog pictures than I am used to, but it was on okay way to close out the wedding trip. I left Athens at around 2AM and made it back home a bit after 3 in the morning.

Not too bad a Saturday at all.

So, I am relaxing earlier during my Friday afternoon, trying to enjoy the last bit of vacation away from the gym when suddenly i get a call from Ryan saying that the gym was in fact open and having open gym today. So, after a quick confirmation call to Erik, I get in the car and drive through Friday traffic (rush hour is always early on Fridays) to the gym. An abrubt end to my short, unpaid vacation.

But enough about work.

Tomorrow Cat and Bryan are getting married! The wedding is in Athens, and I am going to attend… though at the moment I am not sure exactly WHERE in Athens it will be. A few phone calls should clear that matter up. Athens isn’t huge, though it is an hour away via a very very cop-infested highway, 316. I will hopefully have a few nice photos to share with whomever is reading this (only me, i think). The wedding is scheduled for 5:30. I wish I knew of someone else in town that was going so that we could carpool. The two folks that I do know are in the wedding party, so meeting up would not be practical as they undoubtetdly have ceremonial duties and commitments.

Crap. I haven’t chosen any clothes. I might go khaki and black shirt. At Leila and Brian’s wedding, 3 years ago in 2001 (man, i’m getting old), I forgot part of the suit i was planning to wear and was inadvertently forced to improvise with suit pants and a black ribbed T-shirt. It actually worked out pretty well. I could probably get away with my black sneakers, but if Cat reads this and finds out I wore sneakers to her wedding then she will sic her ninjas on me! I’ll choose clothes when i wake up tomorrow… and make sure I have my gift.

This is my third wedding in 2 years and I have yet to take a date to one.

Well, i guess i’d need a date first, eh?

-kevin

Welcome to WordPress. I made the decision to ‘go native’ with the web log. It looks pretty yucky at the moment… but I will start on tweaking the colors and template to my will.

I have no idea how to use half of the features!. This should be interesting! Beth finally put an entry on her blog. I guess we’re in the same boat until one of us figures out what we’re doing.

Tuesday July 7, 2004, 3:23AM

I didn’t run in the Peactree Road Race. The plan was for Reed to call me later the night before and tell me what time to be up to catch a ride downtown. He didn’t call, so I set my clock for 6AM and went to bed. I woke up very drowsily at 6, my sleep-logic asking why I was waking up so early just to tire myself out in the summer heat, all the way downtown no less. Reed never showed up, and so I fell back asleep… missing church in the process.

Later, at 12:22 I left and went to Iffy’s apt on Clairmont Rd for the barbecue… the barbecue which was actually being held the next day, as a very hung-over and sleepy Iffy told me. Oops. I made a very similar mistake last year for a party that Liz threw… only that time it was a 2-hour-drive-to-Liz’s-place-in-Macon mistake. Believe me when I say that A 4-hour drive is a great way to burn up not only gas, but your entire evening and afternoon as well.

Well, I did make it to the barbecue on its actual day (today), and there was a good smattering of folks there. I was pleasantly surprised to see Natalie-the-ballerina there (not to be confused with the Natalie that I saw Harry Potter 3 with). Natalie was there with Aaron’s girlfriend, Katie. We got to talk a little bit and swam around in the pool some. We raced pool lengths, and she beat me 4 times. I didn’t mind. I’m not a very good swimmer, and I was more concerned with how nicely she fit into her swimsuit (The few photos I have of the barbecue don’t do her justice). I didn’t drool or stare though, so I should be in the clear. She and Katie had a friend flying in from Vancouver who is going to be living with Katie and Aaron, and dancing at Atlanta Ballet with Katie and Natalie-the-ballerina for about a month. Apparently Aaron thinks that I’ll like her or something. She flew in tonight. I’ll have to try to drop by sometime this week and meet her. Hmmm, I don’t think i’ve ever been out with a ballerina before…….

P.S. - Played my bass after too-long a hiatus. It felt good to do it. I’m going to learn some No Doubt songs all the way through… and tab The Sun by They Might Be Giants… they always perform with extremely skilled bass players with some good, tough lines.

Saturday July 3, 8:45PM

Well, my week of ‘vacation’ off from work has begun. The gym is closed from July 2 to July 8 for Independence Day.

I started my week away from cheerleading with, what else? (sigh) A trip to a cheerleading/gymnastics equipment supplier. -More about that later, i’m off to meet Erik and Reed for a shirley temple (they’re having dinner) at Bogey’s and then fireworks.

- 10:45PM -
Back from Bogey’s and the fireworks in Duluth. Predicatbly, traffic did not move a whole lot leaving. Especially with the Duluth police department’s 15-minute-per-direction traffic strategy Well, I’m sure their intentions were good.

…So, on friday I left the house with Erik to pick up Reed at the Atlanta Athletic Club (exclusive meets well-to-do). This accident was blocking our normal route out, so we drove past the river instead and headed to GMR in Lithonia. Unfortunately, we ventured out into Atlanta traffic on the perimter, through spaghetti junction, during rush hour, on a holiday weekend no less. Needless to say, there was lots of braking involved on our trip . We stuck to side roads on the way back via Stone Mountain, stopping at one point to try to get some funnel cake (we were unsuccessful).

Stone Mountain, Georgia

The funnel cake shop was closed even though we visited during working hours

The rest of my day was spent trying to clean the W32.Pinfi virus off of my computer (the scan took 5.5 hours to complete). I discovered that I was infected after Warcraft 3 stopped working properly.

In addition to the virus, I found that my one of my DDR dance pads isn’t working (sensors seem to function, but the PS2 won’t recognize it). So, today I went to radio shack and bought a multimeter and some wire. After spending 40 min resoldering/shrink-tubing the cable that I incorrectly clipped , I unsuccessfully attempted to diagnose and repair the problem with the dance mat. The circuit pathways are extremely difficult to probe, due to extreme cheap-ness. A new one will cost $20…. and replacing the circuit board with one pulled from an el-cheapo controller will cost at least $10, plus effort getting the flat circuit paths connected correctly (translation: pain in the ass). I’ll toy with the idea of constructing my own pad, but that’s more $$ than i currently want to spend on a game that should work already.

Can you tell that a chemical engineer did this?

Turns out i’m going to run in the Peachtree Road Race tomorrow with Reed and Otis(?). I’m not in running shape and I don’t have a pair of sneakers properly broken in… guess this means i’ll miss church tomorrow because Iffy’s throwing a barbecue at 1′ish… but i guess we’ll see what happens. Stay tuned to this web log!