Geek Thoughts

The Gila Monster

Otig — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:07:00 GMT

Today was my day off, so I decided to get out and get some fresh air and exercise by hiking up Pima Canyon Trail. I didn't even get to the parking lot and I got quite a surprise. About 50 yards from the parking lot there in the middle of the road was a Gila Monster. I've seen one at the Desert Museum and other zoos, but this was my first live experience. I immediately stopped the car and got out my camera. The Gila kept moving across the road and I managed to get one pic while he was on the road before he made it to the bush. I would have got some more, but a car was coming the other way and I had to wave it around so it wouldn't run over the Gila. I followed the Gila into the brush... no to close, of course, and got a few more pics before I got back in the car and made my way to the parking area at the trail head.

As I was getting my camelback out of the trunk (which my lovely fiance' bought for me) my phone starting to ring. It was my fiance'. I immediately started to tell her about the Gila only to find that I had a very poor signal and she was breaking up very badly. She ended up hanging up and I was left wondering if she misunderstood about the Gila and that I was OK.

I then made my way to the trail head where an older gentleman, Dennis, was sitting with a large backpack. I proceeded to tell him of my experience just up the road and he was upset because he had been hiking all over Arizona trying to find a Gila. So, I offered to show him where I saw it in the hopes that it was still there. We walked back up the road and, at first glance, thought we were out of luck. I then looked under a grouping of prickly pears and there the Gila sat. Dennis was ecstatic. I got a couple of more pics before we headed back to the trail. The whole walk back Dennis kept thanking me over and over for helping him to finish his quest. The guy couldn't stop grinning which made me happy to be a part of his experience.

I had a much lighter pack then Dennis, so we quickly separated going up the trail. The rest of my 2 hour hike was pretty uneventful. I ran into Dennis on the way back down, he thanked me again and we exchanged a hearty handshake and wish each other good luck.

What a day!

No Country for Old Men

Otig — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:59:00 GMT

To the few of you that actually read these, sorry for the long delay between blog entries. I have a VERY good excuse. I've been busy getting engaged to the most wonderful woman. Words can't even describe how happy I am. There you have it... now on to the review for 'No Country for Old Men.'

This movie won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Picture, so I had to give it a shot. In the past I've been apprehensive of what the Academy picks for Best Picture. Heck, I'm still ticked off at them for Picking 'Driving Miss Daisy' over 'Dead Poet's Society.' I mean, c'mon! You know they picked DMD because Jessica Tandy was old and they wanted to give her an award for her lifetime of work (see Jack Palance for City Slickers as exhibit B ). It was either that or they couldn't bear to give it to a movie starring a man who used to be Mork from Ork.

The movie takes place in the 1980's and revolves around a Vietnam vet played by Josh Brolin. While out hunting in the middle of nowhere in west Texas he stumbles upon a drug deal gone bad where everyone has shot everyone else. He finds a satchel full of a million plus in cold hard cash. Of course, he takes it. It's at this point that the 'bad guys' send a hit man in to get the money back. Most of the rest of the movie is a cat and mouse game with the hitman who is played exceedingly well by Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin's character who has the money, and an old time Sheriff played by Tommy Lee Jones who is always one step behind. This guy seriously had me convinced that he was a bad mofo. Javier puts in the kind of performance that reminds you of Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter. He's a guy that is smart and doesn't really look too scary, but you still want to crawl under your bed and wait for the boogey man to leave. Freddy has his finger knives, Jason has his machete and this boogeyman carries around a compressed air tank attached to a device used to kill livestock. It's basically a rod that shoots out with tremendous force and retracts back when activated. He also carries around a huge rifle with a silencer on the end of it that looks like a can of soup with the label removed, i.e. probably homemade. The movie contiues with several shootouts, close calls and many collateral deaths along the way. Of course, I won't give away the ending.

Overall this is a great movie. At the very least, watch it to see Javier Bardem's work. The only part of the movie I didn't like was the ending. I didn't quite understand it. I'll definitely watch the movie again to try and figure it out. That's the Coen Brothers for you. Make it good, yet odd so that you have to watch it again to catch everything!

Six13

Otig — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:18:00 GMT

Last Saturday my girlfriend and I went to a unique concert at the JCC here in Tucson. The group was a six member a cappella group from New York called Six13 that has been deemed "The New Voice in Jewish Music" according to their myspace page. What made them different than anything I've ever heard, besides singing in Hebrew, is the fact that they made their own percussion via beatbox. Watching a group of young Jewish men using what is traditionally a hip-hop method of creating a beat was enlightening to see. One thing that really caught my eye/ear was that the bass beat was being created by the smallest guy of the group, which was a little comical to watch... in a good way.

It wasn't just the use of beatbox that made them interesting to listen to, it was also the fact that they can sing quite well. The quality of their voices and melodies shined throughout the performance. I may not have understood hardly a word they were singing, but it didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the music.

On a side note... the local rabbi got up and 'jammed' with the group and sung lead on a song. It was almost like he was part of the band. He wasn't nervous at all, he hit his cues and he had a great singing voice. It was one of those moments that you can't help but say, "that was pretty darn cool!"

If you're looking to expand your musical horizons and like new, fresh sounds, then get out there and check out Six13.

Rambo

Otig — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:32:00 GMT

With 'Rocky Balboa' and now 'Rambo' it is painfully obvious that Sylvester Stallone does not want to grow old gracefully. The only good thing that I can say about 'Rambo' is that it delivers exactly what you expect... a plot-thin, no need to bring your brain, action movie.

Let's start with the first thing that bugged me watching this movie, its cinematography. For some yet-to-be-fathomed reason they chose to film the whole movie with this blue-grey, grainy tint. They shoot the film in these vast rain forests and beautiful scenery, but you'd never know watching the finished product because all the colors seem muted. Maybe they did it on purpose to represent what the world looks like through Stallone's old, tired eyes.

The plot revolves around a decades long civil war raging in Burma. 'Rambo,' living in neighboring Thailand capturing snakes for money, agrees to send some church-going, I can save the world with prayer missionaries up the river into Burma. Guess what? They get captured soon after leaving 'Rambo.' The next part of the plot is paper thin. The pastor of the church shows up in Thailand and get 'Rambo' to go back into Burma with a band of mercenaries to try and get his congregation back. What I'd like to know is where he got the money to hire a half dozen mercs. As you can guess, the rest of the movie is all out action freeing and escaping with the remaining missionaries. At least in this movie it's not Rambo against everyone. The mercs actually do something.

One plot side-note that I was really confused as to why it was in the movie involves the General of the 'bad' Burmese army. In one scene you see a young boy going into his cabin at night and not coming out until the next movie. Was it not enough to show that he was an evil man when they show him slaughtering innocent, unarmed villagers? No, they had to tack on gay pedophile to boot. What was Stallone thinking?

While the action sequences were OK. The special effects they tried to pull off by showing arms being blown off and intestines falling out of people were really, really bad. The CGI was just awful. Then again, maybe that's a good thing not to show those kinds of things too realistically??

I know I usually comment on how the acting is in a movie, but for 'Rambo?' What's the point? Why would I talk about something that doesn't exist in this movie.

I admit that I liked First Blood and Rambo II wasn't too bad, but Rambo III and this one were just awful to watch. If you need to give your brain a break from thinking, then this movie is for you. Otherwise... save your money and time.

Happy New Year & Sweeney Todd

Otig — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:45:00 GMT

Happy New Year to All!! No more 2007. Parts of last year I could have definitely done without, but one very good thing happened that I will be forever thankful...

Over the Holidays I went and saw 'Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street' starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bohnam-Carter and Alan Rickman. This is one of those movies that you only have to see a few seconds of to tell that it was directed by Tim Burton. Everything from the lighting to the settings to the costumes just drips of his dark, morose style. I like this style mainly because it is unique and it is entertaining to just look at all of the details. The red color of blood tends to stand out on the backdrop of mostly greyscale colors which makes for an interesting effect.

As usual, I won't give away any 'spoilers.' The plot is one of revenge. Johnny Depp plays a successful barber in 19th century London with a beautiful wife and baby daughter. A local judge (Alan Rickman) brings the barber up on false charges in order to steal his wife. 15 years later Sweeney comes back to London to exact his revenge with the help of a meat pie maker (Helena Bohnam-Carter) who is enamored with Sweeney. Most of the story flows fairly well until the ending, which seemed rushed to me. It was like a Star Trek episode that takes 55 minutes to get the beginning and middle told and the last 5 minutes to pull out a last minute miracle that saves the crew/ship/planet.

Oh, did I happen to mention the movie is a musical?? Yes, it really is Johnny, Helena and Alan singing. Helena is definitely the best of the bunch, but the guys do a satisfactory job of holding there own. Some of the songs are very funny, especially Helena signing about how she's the worst pie maker in London.

Sacha Cohen (a.k.a. Borat) makes an appearance as a rival barber in the movie as well. He does a pretty good job, but you can clearly tell that his acting skills are not on the same level as the rest of the cast. Sacha has his niche in movies and this wasn't it.

Overall this movie is one that I think everyone should see at least once. IMHO it is definitely better than the last couple of musicals that I've seen (Moulin Rouge & Chicago). Then again, I might be a little biased in the fact that I'm a big fan of Burton, Depp and Carter.

I am Legend

Otig — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 01:08:00 GMT

The movie 'I am Legend' is based upon the book of the same name written by Richard Matheson in 1954. This is the third movie filmed using this book for inspiration with the first two being 'The Last Man on Earth' (1964) starring Vincent Price and 'The Omega Man' (1971) starring Charlton Heston. In this latest version the lead character, Robert Neville, is played by Will Smith.

The premise of the movie is the Robert Neville believes that he is the last man on earth because the rest of the population has succumbed to a virus that turns them all into creatures half zombie/half vampire. They eat people and animals, they are super strong, they can't go out into the sun, but they can be killed by normal means... i.e. no need for a stake in the heart. Mr. Neville spends his days searching for other survivors, hunting deer, gathering supplies and trying to find a cure for the virus. Oh, and he does so with his loyal German Shepard by his side while always making sure to get back to the security of his house by nightfall. Inevitably, he finds other uninfected humans and finds out there is a colony of them. I won't go into any more plot details because I don't want to spoil it for you. If you've read the book, you will notice quite a few changes... that's Hollywood for you!

The special effects in this movie aren't great, but they're not bad either. The infected people look very similar to the creatures in the move 'The Cave.' The action sequences are exciting and fit the plot, i.e. not added just for something cool. The cinematography was a bit hard on the eyes at first because they use a lot of non-steady cam work with someone just running around next to Will Smith and the camera bobbing up and down. Luckily, the whole movie is not like that.

The acting in this movie boils down to one person... Will Smith because there are very few other human parts. This is not a bad thing. Will Smith gives one of his best performances to date. I would even say better than his work in 'The Pursuit of Happyness." If it wasn't for the subject matter of the film, I could even see him getting an Oscar. Sadly, you don't see horror/sci-fi movie actors getting golden statues.

Overall I would have to give this movie a high grade. The premise/plot are interesting and thought provoking, it has some good action sequences and the acting is top notch. Heck, it made $75+ million it's first weekend. It's gotta be somewhat worth watching!

Otig out!

Beowulf: 3D

Otig — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:44:00 GMT

Last night my girlfriend and I went to see the new all-CGI (computer generated image) Beowulf. The theater by me is showing the 3D version, so we decided to give it a shot. In order to view the movie in so-called "3D" you have to wear a pair of glasses that look like something Buddy Holly would wear (black, horned-rim with thick frames). The newest version of 3D is accomplished by having the left and right lenses at different polarization angles as opposed to the old-style red & green lens version of 3D. The 3D effects were abound throughout the movie and at times seemed to be a bit forced just to look cool. It was actually kind of hard on the eyes after awhile because your eyes keep wanting to focus in at different levels throughout the entire movie. It was novel to see say that I've seen a new 3D movie and it is much better than the red/green version of 3D, but I would have to say that I prefer the classic 2D variety better.

As for the movie itself it was mediocre at best. My girlfriend pointed out what was off about the movie and it was the acting of Ray Winston in the role of Beowulf. Whether it was his voice acting or the script itself, you just never seem to connect with Beowulf enough to really care about what happens. The voice acting of Anthony Hopkins, Robin Wright Penn, John Malkovich and Angelina Jolie definitely overshadow Mr. Winstones. Then again, he arguably had the most difficult part.

Now for the CGI. The LOTR most definitely set the bar high in this department. Beowulf comes close to what the LOTR accomplished, but not quite. Sure, the fact that the entire movie is CGI is pretty impressive. They tried real hard to make some things look real-life (faces, expressions, scenery) and did a great job. However, the motion of the characters was sorely lacking in that it seems very stiff in a lot of scenes. If you compare it to the motion of Gollum in the LOTR, it doesn't quite stack up.

Two things really bothered me about the movie. First is the unwarranted T & A scenes and lude & degrading conversations in regards to women. Sure, this may have been the way Vikings acting, but it really wasn't necessary to tell this story. Also, because of these scenes, it is something that parents will have to take into account before letting their kids see it. The second thing is the ending. Like with a lot of great stories the beginning and middle are great, but the writers just can't seem to come up with a decent ending. They tack on a scene at the end that is almost like they wanted to leave it open in case of a sequel, which would be silly in the case of Beowulf. The movie should have ended with Beowulf's funeral ship set ablaze and floating off into the sunset. Yeah, it would have been cliche, but it would have given the audience a definitive ending.

Hiking King Canyon Trail

Otig — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:55:00 GMT

This morning I hiked for about 4 hours out on King Canyon Trail which is located west of Tucson near Saguaro National Park in the Tucson mountain range (??). Several trails break off from this one and they have different names, but I don't remember them. The trail is not difficult at all and is mostly gravel, although in many spots it is very large gravel which can be tough on the ankles and you have to slow down. The scenery isn't all that spectacular compared to the Catalina area which has much higher peaks. One spot where several trails meet has a pretty good view overlooking the valley and you can see a very long way off. Just like any hiking trail the best part is just being able to get out away from town in the fresh air and quiet. Hiking is very therapeutic for both the body and the mind.

Here's a couple of pics for your viewing pleasure... I particularly like the one of the baby(?) horned lizard I found along the side of the trail.

All Soul's Day Parade

Otig — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 02:10:00 GMT

Last night we went to the All Soul's Day procession/parade here in Tucson. This was the first time that I'd ever been to an event such as this one. It is a far cry from the parades we had back in Ohio. Instead of marching bands, fire trucks, and the Mayor in the back of a convertible waving to the crowd, you get every sort of costume representing something about death that you can imagine (and a few you can't imagine). There's no sign up, order of procession or nice and even spacing. Basically, anyone that wants to can come down and join the parade. The vast majority were wearing costumes or held signs, but there were a few that just joined in and walked along with the masses. You had everything from religious icons to war protests to people honoring their loved ones that had passed on to just plain weirdos. They definitely crawl out of the woodwork for this one. The entire procession went by in less than an hour, so it didn't take long. I think that this was mainly because we were at the beginning of the route and they hadn't spread out yet. Overall it was quite entertaining and definitely something that I'm glad that I witnessed at least once in my life. Heck, it might be neat to dress up and join in next year

Don't ask me what this was all about... but it looked cool.

Watch out for the Wicker Man!!

Glow and Buckelew Farms

Otig — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 02:05:00 GMT

This past weekend we went to Glow at the Triangle L Ranch. It is an evening event that features various artwork that incorporates some form of light. One piece was a spaceship launching that had lights synchronized with sound effects that was kind of mesmerizing to watch. They also had a blacksmithing demonstration and a couple of stages where bands/musicians played. The band we watched played music like I envision you'd here in some Creole bar in Lousiana. It was exactly the style of music I like, but they definitely knew how to play and were quite enjoyable. It was chilly that night, so it was nice that they had fire rings setup to sit around while you listened to the music.

On Sunday we went to Buckelew Farms where they had some arts & crafts, a small petting zoo, a corn maze and a huge pumpkin patch where you can pick your own pumpkin. The arts and crafts tent wasn't much... in fact, it was mostly junk. The corn maze was huge. The idea was to go around the maze and find different posts where you would punch a card that you're given. After about half an hour in the maze with the 95° heat cooking us, we decided we had enough and cut through the corn to the exit with only having found one post. It was fun, but it was just too darn hot that day. To help facilitate getting your pumpkin they had horse drawn carts that would take you out and bring you back from the patch. Once back they weighed your pumpkin(s) and you paid by the pound. It was reasonly priced. We had two pumpkins totalling over 25 pounds and it cost us $7. Of course we carved them up then when we got home. Here's a picture of the pumpkin I carved all lit up.

Catalina State Park

Otig — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 23:20:00 GMT

Took a trip to Catalina State Park today with my girlfriend. The park is located on the northwest side of the Catalina Mountains. At the park we took a trip up the Romero trail. The trail leads to a small canyon and the Montrose Pools which at this time of the year only has a little bit of water going down the stream. It was a pleasant hike up a sandy trail until we got to the so-called 'pools' where it was basically hiking up a rocky river bed. What water was there must have been from a natural stream because it was quite cold.

The wildlife was a bit interesting. In the pools of water were a lot of tadpoles with their older family members hopping around the rocks surrounding these pools. The frogs (or were they toads?) had a nifty camouflage. They were grey with small black specks that allowed them to blend in real well to the rocks. Next we have the plethora of grasshoppers. When walking down through the mostly dry river bed it was like parting the sea of grasshoppers. They were everywhere. The requisite small lizards, bees and butterflies were present as well. We saw some hoof prints that looked like they were from a deer, but we didn't see them to verify.

The best part about the park is the tremendous view of the Catalina Mountains. I've lived in Tucson for a little over a year now and I am still in awe of the view. For you animal lovers out there, the park also allows dogs and horses (yes, some of the trails are pretty wide). Overall it was a great experience. Then again, I may be a bit biased due to the person I had with me today. Everything is always more enjoyable when I'm with her.

OK, so the frog isn't blending in too well on this rock. Most of the rocks in the area were grey.

Hiking

Otig — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 23:19:00 GMT

I went hiking up Pima Canyon trail today. It is a bit of a rocky trail that winds through the Catalina mountains north of Tucson. This was the third time that I've gone up this trail. If you would have asked me a couple of years ago to go hiking, I would have told you no because I thought it was boring. I've definitely changed my mind about it. Hiking is good exercise, it gets you out of the house and breathing some fresh air and it's a good way to clear your head and relieve some stress.

I'd like to take this opportunity to go over some safety tips for when you go hiking:

1.) Always take a couple of bottles of water.

2.) Wear sunscreen, even if it is cool out the sun can still burn you.

3.) Wear light colored clothing when it is warm out to reflect radiant heat and vice versa when it is cold out.

4.) Take a small first aid kit with you.

5.) If available, take a map of the trail(s) in the area. A compass would be nice too.

6.) Take your cell phone.

7.) Always let someone not hiking with you know where you'll be.

8.) Learn about the wildlife (plant and animal) that my be in the area where you'll be hiking.

Like the Boy Scout motto says, "Be Prepared!"

Resident Evil: Extinction

Otig — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 22:15:00 GMT

I know, I know... this movie came out a few weeks ago. Sue me. I just now saw it. Truthfully, the only reason I saw it was because there was nothing else out that I wanted to see. So, my expectations going in weren't that high... and I'm glad. Picture a cross between 'Dawn of the Dead' and 'Road Warrior.' The premise is that a global corporation, Umbrella, developed a disease that turned most of the world into zombies. You have a small band of survivors, the remnants of the Umbrella Corp., and the heroine played by Milla Jovovich (same actress from previous two installments) all on a collision course. Oh, did I forget to mention that this is movie number three in the series? Another bit of trivia is that the movies are based on a video game.

The plot itself is your typical zombie/sci-fi/horror flick plot that is forced along with little to no originality. They don't even bother to develop any of the characters so that you'd care for them the least little bit when the zombies drag them down and start eating them. With that said, I'm not even going to bother to tell you anything else about the plot. It's just not worth my time or yours.

The acting was pretty much as horrendous as the plot. Then again, the actors didn't have anything to work with as far as a script goes, so I guess you can cut them some slack. For you 'Heroes' fans out there, Ali Larter does have a sizable part in this movie.

The action sequences and special effects were pretty run of the mill for this day and age. The zombiefied dogs and birds were kind of neat, but that was about it. Most movies of this type try to have some kind of signature action scene or effect... not this one. One interesting effect was Milla Jovovich's make-up. Everyone around her is dirty, sweaty and grungy yet when she has a close-up, her make-up looks perfect. I really hope that that wasn't some kind of stipulation in her contract.

Unless you are looking for a mindless action/sci-fi movie to watch or decompress your brain with, then please stay away from this waste of celluloid.

Took the GRE today.

Otig — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 03:21:00 GMT

Today was a brain fry day. I took the GRE for entry into the University of Arizona Systems Engineering Masters program. The GRE (General Record Exam) is a standardized test similar to the SAT or ACT except that it is for entry into a graduate level program. It was about as fun as I remember standardized tests.

I initially tried to persuade the University of Arizona into waiving the requirement since I already have a Masters in Mechanical Engineering and 10 years of work experience. They didn't go for it. I later found out why. The U of A administers the test on campus and most likely gets money for anyone taking it. Hmmm... waive the test or make some money for the university??

I had a little over two weeks to prepare for the test. Luckily, the company I work for has its own library and they had a GRE prep book and CD-ROM to help me out. Boy, I was glad I got that book. I hadn't taken a standardized test for 17 years and it definitely showed. Based upon my initial practice test, the book probably increased my final score by about 30%. If you ever decide that you want to go back for a masters and have to take the GRE (or any other standardized test), I highly recommend getting a prep book, reading it thoroughly, and taking all of the practice exams.

The test consists of two essays: write an argument based upon one of two given topics and critique a given argument. Luckily, the test was all on a computer and I can type much faster than I can write. I'm pretty sure I did a good job on the essays. The second part of the test was multiple choice math and geometry questions. This was definitely my best section. I'm an engineer... duh! The final part of the test was the worst for me... the verbal section. Why do they call it verbal when nobody says a word? Anyway, the verbal part consists of analogies and antonyms with words very few people use or even know exist. Why do they think this is a test of one's intelligence?? The verbal part also consists of reading comprehension and fill in the blank sentences which weren't too bad.

Overall I didn't do as good as I would have like to, but for not having taken a test like this for 17 years, I think I did OK. Anyway, this is only one part of the admissions process. My previous degrees, my educational experience, and who I work for here in town most likely assured me of admittance anyway. This was just a formality.

Oh, why didn't I have to take the GRE for my Masters of Mechanical Engineering? I got my Bachelors and Masters at the same universty (U. of Dayton), my mentor/professor recommended me and it was being paid for through a grant from the Dept. of Energy. I don't know if the GRE was a requirement at UD or if they just waived it for me.

Going back for another Masters degree.

Otig — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 03:04:00 GMT

I have always thought about going back to school to further my education. I earned my Bachelors and Masters degree of Mechanical Engineering straight through and I've worked in a manufacturing environment for the last ten years. I've come to the point in my career where I don't think that I'm learning anything new and it has started to become a grind. Therefore, it is time to explore a new path.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm sticking with engineering. I just want to learn something new and possibly move away from the operations side of the business and go into the design and planning side. I don't ever see me doing anything but engineering. Solving problems is just too darn rewarding.

Let me interject right here and tell you that I can't take all the credit for starting down this path. Someone very special to me has encouraged and supported me in this new endeavour. She is most definitely my muse.

What are you going back to school to learn you ask? I hope to be attending the University of Arizona come January where I'll be pursuing a Masters of System Engineering degree. What is that? Just click on the hyperlink. I can't say it any better (or I'm being lazy). The good news is that my current employer has just finished working with the U of A to develop a specialized curriculum for them and their needs. This way I'll be getting additional education at little to no cost to me (work is paying for tuition) and it is in a field of study that my employer has identified as a gap that they need filled. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

Wish me luck in my new journey!

San Carlos, Mexico

Otig — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:15:00 GMT

So, it's been a few weeks since I've posted any new blogs. I've been... um, busy with other endeavours. One of which is getting my scuba diving certification. I took the class and pool work back in May and I finally got to do the open water stuff over Labor Day weekend down in San Carlos, Mexico with my great friend, Renalwizard.

We ended up leaving at 0530 Friday morning and was on the boat around 2ish (you know, Mexican time). We got two dives in that afternoon and they were a blast. We dove at Window Rock and Catalina Cove. Each dive we had to demonstrate to the instructor certain skills (mask clearing, weight removal, emergency ascent, etc.), but we also had plenty of time to explore. The water was really warm (around 85°F) and pretty clear. In between dives we did a little diving off the top deck of the boat which was fun too. The 2nd dive was a bit of a problem for me because my ears wouldn't equalize and that hurt... A LOT. Apparently, my sinuses were a bit congested.

Day 2 started out at 0700 and we took a bit longer ride out to San Pedro Island where we were greeted by sea lions. Unfortunately, none came out to swim with us. About an hour before diving I took some psuedafed which seemed to help the sinuses/ears a bit. I still had to descend slowly to keep the pain to a minimum. Once I got down to below 20 ft I was fine. We ended up maxing out at around 58 ft. down. We found some cold spots at that depth where the water got to 59°F according to my dive computer. I had a 3mm wetsuit on and I was still comfortable. Then again, the cold never really bothered me. Must be because I grew up and lived in Ohio for 33 years. The last dive of the day was the best because we didn't have to demonstrate any skills and we just got to explore and have fun.

We saw all kinds of sea life over the four dives: sea urchins, hermit crabs, lots of starfish, sea cucumbers, a puffer fish, a moray eel and lots of tropical fish (coolest looking was the sargent majors).

I can't say enough how great our instructor, Drew and Dive Con, Ashley, were throughout the dives. Ashley was an absolute sweetheart and helped me through my ear problem. Drew was very instructive, yet fun and easy going. He also taught my Nitrox class back in Tucson. The dive boat and crew were excellent as well. I would highly recommend if you are thinking of going to San Carlos, take a look at the gang at Ocean Sports. Otherwise known as Desert Divers here in Tucson.

Here are a couple of pics I took with my underwater camera...

That's me... Otig!

Chocolate Chip Starfish

School of Fish

The only thing I regret about the trip was that a certain someone was not there with me to enjoy it. That would have made it perfect.

Comic-Con 2007

Otig — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:32:00 GMT

It's been awhile since I've posted anything. Those of you who know me personally know why. Don't worry, it's a good thing... a VERY good thing.

Anywho... My friend Renalwizard and I just got back from San Diego a couple of days ago where we attended the 2007 Comic-Con, a.k.a. Geek Paradise. This was my second year attending the event and it was definitely different this time around, mostly because I came a bit more prepared and knew what to expect.

For those of you who don't know what the Comic-Con is, it is a HUGE convention for comic book, movie, video game, toy enthusiasts. The main exhibit hall has all of the booths where companies like DC, Marvel, Sideshow Collectibles, Lionsgate Films, Warner Bros., Sony, Blizzard, Lucas Arts, etc. display, promote and sell their wares. They have dozens of booths where you can buy back issues of comics, comic related toys, statues, clothing, etc. A section of the hall is also set up where artists can commission work (Artists Alley). The big boys (DC, Marvel, Image, etc.) have alot of their artists and writers come and sign books and do sketches free of charge, if you like to wait in line.

You can get pictures with and autographs from artists, writers, actors throughout the day in both the main exhibit hall and upstairs in the "autograph areas." This year you really had to plan ahead to get autographs for the more famous people. You would have to show up first thing in the morning and draw tickets out of a bag in a lottery type system to get a wrist band for the session later in the day. Last year you just showed up early and got in line and waited. I can see why they did this: 1.) if you wanted to attend that person's panel, you might as well forget about an autograph because the panel was almost always just before the autograph session. 2.) They only gave out a limited number of wrist bands or tickets so it kept the lines smaller and the guest didn't have to sign for long periods of time. My big autographs this year were: Laurell K. Hamilton, Linda Blair, Sid Haig, three of the cast members of Eureka (Sheriff Carter, Stark and Fargo), Arthur Suydam, Bill Willingham & Mark Buckingham. Jessica Alba, Jeniffer Love Hewitt and Danny Trejo were some other big names to show up for autographs, but I found out about them too late.

Outside the exhibit hall there are literally dozens of other rooms where you can go and see panels of all kinds where the creative teams (writers, directors, actors) of comics, TV shows, movies, etc. discuss the past, present and future of their little worlds. These panels also give the opportunity for fans to ask questions. Then therre's Hall H where hollywood comes to promote their upcoming movies and/or DVD releases. In many cases, famous actors will show up in Hall H to help promote their movie as well. We didn't make it to Hall H this year (too crowded).

After the exhibit hall closes for the day, there is plenty going on still at the convention center and the surrounding area (Gaslamp District). There's the film festival, sneak previews for upcoming movies, TV shows, etc., after hour parties that, if you know the right people, you can get into. We had an opportunity to go to the "Freakshow Party" which is Sideshow Collectibles' party, but we were too tire (man, I must be getting old). One of the big after hours events to attend is movie premiers. Many companies show their movies at the convention first to get the word out. This year we went and saw the world premier of "Shoot 'em Up" starring Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti. Let's just say that the name fit.

Here are some pics:

Laurell K. Hamilton

Linda Blair

Sid Haig

Y the Last Man

Otig — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 03:33:00 GMT

I just finished reading the first nine trade paperbacks of the comic Y the Last Man. This is a DC/Vertigo published comic that isn't finished yet. It is superbly written by Brian K. Vaughan; Art by Pia Guerra and José Marzá, Jr.; Painted Cover by J.G. Jones.

The basis of the story is that a terrible plague has befallen mankind.... literally. Any creature with a Y chrosome is dead except for one man, Yorick (thus the Y) and his pet monkey (also a male). The story follows Yorick on his quest from good 'ol U.S.A. to find his girlfriend who happened to be in Australia when it all hit the fan.

I love how Vaughan touches on what might happen if men would disappear from the earth from the standpoint of politics, military, economy and even prostitution. I've always loved these what-if science fiction stories that have just enough plausibility to them to really make you think. Other examples I recommend are : 'Make Room, Make Room,' 'I, Robot,' 'Blade Runner,' '1984,' 'Brave New World', etc.

The artwork is average for this day and age as far as comic books go, but the story well more than makes up for it. So, if you ever want to pick up a book that'll make you go HMMMM?, then pick up Y the Last Man.

1408

Otig — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 02:26:00 GMT

Stephen King is a master story teller. Unfortunately, not too many of his stories are translated onto the big screen very successfully with exceptions being: Stand By Me, Shawshank Redemptin and The Green Mile. I would now add '1408' to that list.

'1408' is a movie adaption of a short story of the same name that can be found in King's collection, 'Everything's Eventual.' It is story of a writer's quest to find evidence of the afterlife, a.k.a ghosts. Along the way he has managed to become a somewhat successful writer telling his tales of the many so-called haunted houses, hotels, light houses, etc. He has pretty much given up on actually finding a real ghost when he gets a post card informing him of room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel in N.Y.C. So as not to give anything away, let's just say that he finally gets his wish. This is truly one of the better horror/suspense thrillers to come out in a long time. I spent the entire movie trying to figure out what was going to happen next.

John Cusack shows us once again that he can act in a suspense thriller (see Identity also). Mr. Cusack IMHO does an absolutely fantastic job which is really good since he dominates the movie as far as screen time goes. The two supporting actors in this movie are the hotel manager played by Samuel L. Jackson and the "wife" played by Mary McCormack. Like many of Mr. King's movie adaptations, he has a cameo role. At least that's what the movie's web site says. I, however, don't remember seeing him.

The plot was excellent, the acting top notch and you'll be on the edge of your seat for a good bit of the movie. This is definitely a go see movie.

One more thing... unlike the recent trend in horror movies where shock, torture, blood and guts are the coin of the realm, '1408' is more along the lines of the old Hitchcock thrillers where story, mood and psychology are used to tantalize the cerebrum.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

Otig — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 20:42:00 GMT

Four words: Norin Radd kicks ASS!!

I just got back from seeing the new Fantastic Four movie, Rise of the Silver Surfer. I almost hate to admit it, but I enjoyed it more than Spidey 3. Why? IMHO Spidey 3 tried to do too much in one movie. It should have been either the Sandman or Venom, not both. Anywho... back to FF...

They absolutely nailed the storyline. I love studios/directors/producers that stick to the comic book stories. I absolutely hate when they try to make major changes to the already wonderful stories for the big screen (see Hulk or X-Men: Last Stand). As a comic book fan, I just want to see my favorite stories come to life. Yeah, yeah, so Dr. Doom's part in ROTSS wasn't exactly part of the original story, but it was small enough of a change that I can live with it. That and I have to admit that seeing Dr. Doom on the Surfer's board was kind of cool.

This movie had it all going for it: great characters (Silver Surfer), a great cast (I love Chiklis's portrayal of the Thing & who can resist Jessica Alba?), awesome plot, fantastic (no pun intended) special effects, a great pace (no "fluff") and has some hilarious moments. The only thing I was a little miffed about was that you really didn't get to see Galactus.

All in all this is a must see movie. I think I might just have to put this in front of the Big 3 (Spidey, Shrek & Pirates) as the best 'blockbuster' of the summer... so far.

Excelsior!