For a little over a year, now, I've been dying to get my hands on the Halo 2 soundtrack's second volume. Details on its release have been few and far between, which is odd, considering how popular the first two compilations were. Regardless, the time has come, the date announced and finally the tracks!
You can find them via this convenient story on HBO.
I'm pleased to see that this volume has been arranged neatly into suites, applicable to the portion of the game in which they were heard. And gone are the less than desireable pseudo-rock-group tracks that were included in the first volume.
I grew to like the Breaking Benjamin track... but... man... the others never even got close to my iPod. Sorry Hoobastank and Nile Rogers, I just didn't care for them at all. The tone, feel and texture just don't fit into the same context as Marty O'Donnell's works.
SQL> Select CD From Amazon Where Title = "Halo 2 Soundtrack - Volume 2";
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
One Busy Weekend Down...
...a few more to go.
Much family commitment coming up this weekend, since Mom's coming back from Orlando. Then another casual wedding the following Friday, hobby work in Austin the day after. Then some business in Dallas, followed by a class in Delaware (yes, again). I think, once that's over, I'm done for a little while. Of course, I still need to look into visiting Orlando and setting things up for Comic-Con, this year. YAY VACATION!
Anyway, why does everyone want to do everything in March or April? Can't a brother get some May or June activities (not really, I'm kidding, now).
:rose: got married on Saturday evening. Boy was that a breeze. The 'speeches' were longer than the ceremony. Heck, I think it took longer for the bride's sister and I to sign the marriage certificate, than the JP spoke. Anyway, it was all good. Everyone had a blast (well, I think they did). I needed a whole day to recover, though.
I pulled something at the dojo Saturday morning. I'm not sure what. I experienced a bit of a snicker snack, whilst dodging a vorpal blade. It doesn't really hurt, unless I extend my knee through the tender spot. Kinda weird.
The new Dr. Who is worth watching, so far. I dig the guy playing the Doctor. He adds a slightly geek-evil nature to the role. Hopefully things won't turn sour.
SQL> Select * From Schedule Where DownTime > 12 hours;
Much family commitment coming up this weekend, since Mom's coming back from Orlando. Then another casual wedding the following Friday, hobby work in Austin the day after. Then some business in Dallas, followed by a class in Delaware (yes, again). I think, once that's over, I'm done for a little while. Of course, I still need to look into visiting Orlando and setting things up for Comic-Con, this year. YAY VACATION!
Anyway, why does everyone want to do everything in March or April? Can't a brother get some May or June activities (not really, I'm kidding, now).
:rose: got married on Saturday evening. Boy was that a breeze. The 'speeches' were longer than the ceremony. Heck, I think it took longer for the bride's sister and I to sign the marriage certificate, than the JP spoke. Anyway, it was all good. Everyone had a blast (well, I think they did). I needed a whole day to recover, though.
I pulled something at the dojo Saturday morning. I'm not sure what. I experienced a bit of a snicker snack, whilst dodging a vorpal blade. It doesn't really hurt, unless I extend my knee through the tender spot. Kinda weird.
The new Dr. Who is worth watching, so far. I dig the guy playing the Doctor. He adds a slightly geek-evil nature to the role. Hopefully things won't turn sour.
SQL> Select * From Schedule Where DownTime > 12 hours;
Friday, March 17, 2006
Aikido
So, I've been a bit lax in my search for a new dojo (*coughthreeyearscough*), but have finally met with success. I joined Alamo City Aikido, last night. Yay me.
I've been trying to reconcile why I feel so comfortable there, given how poorly things ended in my last round of studies. So far, I keep coming up with the following:
1. Energy. There's a very positive energy at the dojo. Practice seems less of an obligation and more an event. This makes Lit happy.
2. Community. Everything at my last dojo was run by one person. Things are vastly different at ACA. The group is not for profit, its sensei is not the president and there are several additional instructors. Not to mention, I was welcomed and introduced to the group, last night. Which is at odds with how my previous instructor began new students.
3. Self Paced. Advancement seems less of a focus. In a word, advancement hasn't been explained to me. Whereas, previously, it was a nightly discussion.
Anyway, I'm hoping to get myself conditioned again with stretching and working out. It really felt great a few years ago. While I'm out of sorts, right now, I do feel better than I have all year. With more sessions available to me, per week, I should be getting into good shape before the end of the year.
SQL> Select * From Drafts Where Irish = True;
I've been trying to reconcile why I feel so comfortable there, given how poorly things ended in my last round of studies. So far, I keep coming up with the following:
1. Energy. There's a very positive energy at the dojo. Practice seems less of an obligation and more an event. This makes Lit happy.
2. Community. Everything at my last dojo was run by one person. Things are vastly different at ACA. The group is not for profit, its sensei is not the president and there are several additional instructors. Not to mention, I was welcomed and introduced to the group, last night. Which is at odds with how my previous instructor began new students.
3. Self Paced. Advancement seems less of a focus. In a word, advancement hasn't been explained to me. Whereas, previously, it was a nightly discussion.
Anyway, I'm hoping to get myself conditioned again with stretching and working out. It really felt great a few years ago. While I'm out of sorts, right now, I do feel better than I have all year. With more sessions available to me, per week, I should be getting into good shape before the end of the year.
SQL> Select * From Drafts Where Irish = True;
Monday, March 13, 2006
What the hell are we afraid of?
On the way home from Austin, yesterday, I stopped in at my mother's house. While there, I had lunch with my brother and his girlfriend. After we ate, my brother was goofing around, pretending to let one of the cats outside. His girlfriend flipped out and actually said, "Bird flu is on its way!"
What the hell are we afraid of, here? The reported number of deaths as a result of the recent avian flu 'pandemic', worldwide, is 80. Let me repeat that:
80
Eighty
8 * 10
That volume as a rate of the estimated, current global population, represents 0.0000012%. Not even a whole percent.
This is not an epidemic. More people have died from AIDS in the first quarter of 2006 than this silly media hyped frenzy. We survived bubonic plague, for crying out loud. Which, might I add, killed more than eighty people daily.
Birds have always been known carriers for disease and other infirmities. But, because some overwraught publisher, somewhere, seeks to make an easy buck off the gullible masses, 'avian flu' is now the greatest worry on the media-planet.
Anyone remember SARS? Neither do I. Shut up and go outside, dammit. If you're gonna die, you're gonna die. It's your time. Make peace with what you do, whenever you do it. Because there's one thing that's certain in life:
You can't beat mother nature.
SQL> Select * From GlobalPopulation Where ImNotDeadYet <> StupidHype;
What the hell are we afraid of, here? The reported number of deaths as a result of the recent avian flu 'pandemic', worldwide, is 80. Let me repeat that:
80
Eighty
8 * 10
That volume as a rate of the estimated, current global population, represents 0.0000012%. Not even a whole percent.
This is not an epidemic. More people have died from AIDS in the first quarter of 2006 than this silly media hyped frenzy. We survived bubonic plague, for crying out loud. Which, might I add, killed more than eighty people daily.
Birds have always been known carriers for disease and other infirmities. But, because some overwraught publisher, somewhere, seeks to make an easy buck off the gullible masses, 'avian flu' is now the greatest worry on the media-planet.
Anyone remember SARS? Neither do I. Shut up and go outside, dammit. If you're gonna die, you're gonna die. It's your time. Make peace with what you do, whenever you do it. Because there's one thing that's certain in life:
You can't beat mother nature.
SQL> Select * From GlobalPopulation Where ImNotDeadYet <> StupidHype;
"The old man's still quite an artist with the Thompson..."
Well, not me. But, I did get to shoot a Thompson on Saturday. I went to a tactical carbine match with some friends, you see. This, if you've never done it, is a great stress relief. One becomes so focused on safety and problem solving, that pretty much everything else that's happened recently dissolves.
The stages we ran were everything from plain simple (peek around board, shoot one target six times, reload, shoot second target six times) to rather complex (surrounded up close by unpleasantness or rescue an injured buddy).
By the time the match was over, I was rather tired and immensely hungry. A few of the folks who participated with us went home with quite a sunburn. I'm fortunate that my heritage is just very visible today.
We solved immense hunger by visiting an all you can eat BBQ restaurant. Fatigue was solved by watching DVD's all night and working on AEG's.
SQL> Select * From Ammo Where 45ACP = True;
The stages we ran were everything from plain simple (peek around board, shoot one target six times, reload, shoot second target six times) to rather complex (surrounded up close by unpleasantness or rescue an injured buddy).
By the time the match was over, I was rather tired and immensely hungry. A few of the folks who participated with us went home with quite a sunburn. I'm fortunate that my heritage is just very visible today.
We solved immense hunger by visiting an all you can eat BBQ restaurant. Fatigue was solved by watching DVD's all night and working on AEG's.
SQL> Select * From Ammo Where 45ACP = True;
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Odds and Ends
I'm contending with a very slow Oracle server today. I don't get it. What's the point of database servers if they're going to travel at the speed of snail? Bloody thing couldn't make the convenience store run in less than twenty four hours. Nevermind the Kessel run.
I still have a lot of peanut butter, jelly and milk at home. This pleases me. Particularly since I'm very hungry right now and refuse to leave my desk until the Slowass Query Latently sitting around finishes.
I ordered something from Hong Kong last week, that turned out to be manufactured by a company in my hometown. How much does that suck?
I just noticed that Good Earth tea company (whatever they're called) puts quotations on the tabs attached to each tea serving. Wish I'd noticed that sooner, it would've given me something interesting to ponder at an earlier time.
Gonna go visit a new dojo in town, tonight. Well, hopefully tonight (looking at slow ass query again). I hope it doesn't suck.
I don't know why my rent check hasn't cleared yet. Usually my complex presents those things about three seconds after we drop them off.
SQL> Select RandomMusings From tblThoughts Where ItCameUpBecauseIWasBored = True;
I still have a lot of peanut butter, jelly and milk at home. This pleases me. Particularly since I'm very hungry right now and refuse to leave my desk until the Slowass Query Latently sitting around finishes.
I ordered something from Hong Kong last week, that turned out to be manufactured by a company in my hometown. How much does that suck?
I just noticed that Good Earth tea company (whatever they're called) puts quotations on the tabs attached to each tea serving. Wish I'd noticed that sooner, it would've given me something interesting to ponder at an earlier time.
Gonna go visit a new dojo in town, tonight. Well, hopefully tonight (looking at slow ass query again). I hope it doesn't suck.
I don't know why my rent check hasn't cleared yet. Usually my complex presents those things about three seconds after we drop them off.
SQL> Select RandomMusings From tblThoughts Where ItCameUpBecauseIWasBored = True;
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
More Stabbiness
1. REPLY ALL : Take it the fuck away! Worst. Email. Feature. Ever. [/chanel comic book guy]
You fucking dolt! First off, you're a week late. Second, the entire distribution list doesn't need to share you astronomically uncultured and ludicrous thought on someone's promotion.
2. MS Excel Pivot Tables : I have always and will always hate these things. I would like to see them burninate in a furious conflagration worthy of the big bang.
SQL> Select * From Contempt Where Stabbiness = ReallyHighNumber;
You fucking dolt! First off, you're a week late. Second, the entire distribution list doesn't need to share you astronomically uncultured and ludicrous thought on someone's promotion.
2. MS Excel Pivot Tables : I have always and will always hate these things. I would like to see them burninate in a furious conflagration worthy of the big bang.
SQL> Select * From Contempt Where Stabbiness = ReallyHighNumber;
)#(%*&)(*&#!@()*&^%#
1. To the wannabe database developers: +, -, /, *, #, @ and various other symbols on the keyboard are reserved words, goddammit. Stop using them in field names, variables and output headers!
2. To the wannabe database developers: The space character turns fieldnames and variables into an unmanageable mess of SQL syntax. Stop putting that shit in your field names! They teach this at your stinkin' DBA classes for crying out loud!
3. To the wannabe database developers: Stop putting shit in the coffee! I know it's you!
4. To the wannabe database developers: I know you like pretty fluffy names, after all, you're apparently more user than you are programmer. But, really, use the same damned names in your schema structures. Again, this is taught at your stinkin' DBA classes. Freakshow.
5. To the post office: It's a bar code. Scan it. Seriously. Little laser thing. Point it at the black stripes and wait for the beep. What the hell is so time consuming about that?!
6. To Apple: iPod. Thank you for keeping the peace. This is about the only thing not pissing me off today.
7. To everyone else: STOP POUNDING ON MY CUBICLE WALLS! I'M ALL STABBY TODAY!
SQL> Select * From Everyone Where PissingMeOff=True;
2. To the wannabe database developers: The space character turns fieldnames and variables into an unmanageable mess of SQL syntax. Stop putting that shit in your field names! They teach this at your stinkin' DBA classes for crying out loud!
3. To the wannabe database developers: Stop putting shit in the coffee! I know it's you!
4. To the wannabe database developers: I know you like pretty fluffy names, after all, you're apparently more user than you are programmer. But, really, use the same damned names in your schema structures. Again, this is taught at your stinkin' DBA classes. Freakshow.
5. To the post office: It's a bar code. Scan it. Seriously. Little laser thing. Point it at the black stripes and wait for the beep. What the hell is so time consuming about that?!
6. To Apple: iPod. Thank you for keeping the peace. This is about the only thing not pissing me off today.
7. To everyone else: STOP POUNDING ON MY CUBICLE WALLS! I'M ALL STABBY TODAY!
SQL> Select * From Everyone Where PissingMeOff=True;
Monday, March 06, 2006
The Blahscars Were Last Night
As is typical of the mindless, wholly uninspired and entirely dull "artists" of Hollywood, Jon Stewart's humor last night, appears to have gone over like a lead balloon.
These people should be ashamed of themselves. Desperately, every year, they strive to make some sort of magnificent statement that criticizes those who don't share their 'beliefs' concerning the world around them. Yet, they are hardly willing to face such hard criticism of their own lifestyles. Oh and by no means can they clearly state their own reasons for believing the way they do. Simply reiterating someone else's point of view is "satisfactory", insofar as a celebrity is concerned.
I've grown weary of what passes for creativity and broad perspectives amongst the dullards who fill that auditorium every year.
I enjoy what Eric Lundergaard has to say about "Crash". Hollywood has yet to really recognize a compelling handling of any form of racism.
Frankly, among the candidates for worst-high-profile-motion-picture-released-in-2005, I suspect the top contenders really were "Capote" and "Brokeback Mountain". That something as transparent as "Crash" probably did merit a snub. A concoction as uninspired as "Good Night, and Good Luck" deserved a consolation prize. While the latest Spielberg-distorts-history-as-he-sees-fit-mega-drama deserves a place on my action-DVDs shelf.
I'm pleased that Philip Seymour Hoffman was recognized for Capote. From what I've seen of both films, he had to put a little more work into bringing a character to life, than did Heath Ledger. Granted, Heath Ledger's performance was admirable, given his personal denial of circumstances, need for caution and merited fear. Great work, but the range didn't really span the breadth of Philip Seymour Hoffman's. Ledger may have his day, though, some time in the future.
I was torn when it came to the best actress category. Reece Witherspoon seemed to put some effort into her role, but it looked kinda cheesy to me. Of course, so did Felicity Huffman. Whose character looked so over-the-top it seemed unnecessary for someone with talent to spend time reprising the role. Oh well.
SQL> Select MeanSpirited From tblHosts Where TheDeathOfOscar = True;
These people should be ashamed of themselves. Desperately, every year, they strive to make some sort of magnificent statement that criticizes those who don't share their 'beliefs' concerning the world around them. Yet, they are hardly willing to face such hard criticism of their own lifestyles. Oh and by no means can they clearly state their own reasons for believing the way they do. Simply reiterating someone else's point of view is "satisfactory", insofar as a celebrity is concerned.
I've grown weary of what passes for creativity and broad perspectives amongst the dullards who fill that auditorium every year.
I enjoy what Eric Lundergaard has to say about "Crash". Hollywood has yet to really recognize a compelling handling of any form of racism.
Frankly, among the candidates for worst-high-profile-motion-picture-released-in-2005, I suspect the top contenders really were "Capote" and "Brokeback Mountain". That something as transparent as "Crash" probably did merit a snub. A concoction as uninspired as "Good Night, and Good Luck" deserved a consolation prize. While the latest Spielberg-distorts-history-as-he-sees-fit-mega-drama deserves a place on my action-DVDs shelf.
I'm pleased that Philip Seymour Hoffman was recognized for Capote. From what I've seen of both films, he had to put a little more work into bringing a character to life, than did Heath Ledger. Granted, Heath Ledger's performance was admirable, given his personal denial of circumstances, need for caution and merited fear. Great work, but the range didn't really span the breadth of Philip Seymour Hoffman's. Ledger may have his day, though, some time in the future.
I was torn when it came to the best actress category. Reece Witherspoon seemed to put some effort into her role, but it looked kinda cheesy to me. Of course, so did Felicity Huffman. Whose character looked so over-the-top it seemed unnecessary for someone with talent to spend time reprising the role. Oh well.
SQL> Select MeanSpirited From tblHosts Where TheDeathOfOscar = True;
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