As much as I love the rain, somber skies and winter's cold fury, I think now I am ready for a little sunshine. I was dismayed this morning to find out my new car was dripping wet, drenched and dirty from last night's rain. After a week of warm weather, who would have thought this would happen--overnight even. California weather is consistently unpredictable. I have been outside for the last half hour or so watching monolithic stratocumulus clouds reeling in from the west with the bitter chill of the wind cutting through the flesh of my face like jagged, virtual razorblades. Even as I am garbed appropriately in a fairly thick sweater with the hood draped over my entire head, I cannot help but allow my body to shiver, uncontrollably and seizure-like. At work, at least during the last several days previous, the sun rising in my direct view and beaming blindness into my eyes had been a welcomed annoyance. The warmth has been refreshingly invigorating and I never thought I would ever say this, but I cannot wait for summer, when my body is sweltering and hot bands of heat is permitting half-nakedness around the house and preparing me for the beach. Even as I say this I am laughing to myself, knowingly when the time finally comes, I will probably have already thought differently. But until then, winter's overlong reign has overstayed its welcome.
My 2005 ION Redline was beginning to get on my nerves. While it was an "okay" car in general, it heavily fell short on looks, personality and sense of overall connection.
I officially emerged yesterday a proud owner of a 3-door "Twilight Blue" 2008 Saturn Astra XR, a replica of a European designed hatchback from GM's subsidiary company, Opel. At first glance I fell in love, but I did not know how much I really was in love with it until after driving around in it for more than a few miles today around town. Although the interior design comes with a little European quirkiness, the overall look, drive and feel of my new Astra has overwhelmed me with some strange connectedness that I have never felt with any other car I have ever owned. I find it somewhat odd yet highly satiating. I also admit that the sleek and sexy exterior has drawn a lot of attention, provoking passer-bys to turn their heads asking themselves: What kind of car is that? or That's a Saturn?, and it feels great. Until my car begins to blend into normal traffic as "just another car on the road," I am very much enjoying people staring at my Astra.
Well known for his thought-provoking images, M.C. Escher was a master of creating works of art that defied the mathematical relationships between architectural shapes and the spaces in which it pervaded. Echochrome takes this idea of distorted perception and fuses it into a unique and optically illusive puzzle game for both the Playstation 3 and PSP, allowing you to control the visual perspective of a series of intricate platforms in order to guide a humanoid figure safely across various obstacles and to specific locations. There are five "perspective laws" in which you must adhere to in order to successfully advance through the stages of the game:
1. Perspective Traveling - When two separate pathways are meshed together as one, then they are one.
2. Perspective Landing - When one platform appears to be above another, then it is above another.
3. Perspective Existence - When a gap between two platforms is blocked by another structure and the pathway seems to be connected, then they are connected.
4. Perspective Absence - When a hole in the platform is hidden from your view, then it does not exist.
5. Perspective Jump - The humanoid figure will only jump onto the surface above it, even if it only "appears" to be above it.
It sounds simple and while there is no set pathway for any level, you will soon realize that such things are easier said than done and this game will eventually consume you with challenges that will leave your mind numb and utterly perplexed.
Echochrome is slated to be released in Japan on March 19th. A U.S. release date is still yet to be determined. You may download a demo of the Japanese PSP version by clicking here. You will be opted to open or save the file. Once you have chosen, simply extract the contents of the zipped document onto your computer, certifying that the extracted folder does not contain any sub-directories. After you have extracted the necessary folder, simply connect your PSP into your PC using a USB cable, remembering to switch your PSP into "USB Mode." Move the folder into the "PSP/GAME/" directory of your PSP's removable memory drive. Once you have finished, disconnect and start your game from the Memory Stick. Once you are in-game, pushing the "X" button will speed up time, while the "triangle" button will "pause" your game, allowing you to think of a solution. A few tutorials will help you understand the basics before you are on your own. Enjoy!
I always wanted to be an Astronaut when I was a kid. I had a growing fascination for space and humankind's collective desire to explore the unknown. I would stare into the sky for countless hours at night, mesmerized by the otherworldliness that somehow felt so close yet so far away. The millions of stars spangled in the sky were like tiny pinholes upon a sheet of black construction paper draped above the quiet suburb where I had lived, hiding undiscovered secrets behind its total blackness. Almost every evening, probably since I was ten years old, I would direct these fixations into the open expanse of the universe above and wonder, sometimes out loud, whispering softly: is there anybody out there? And often times I would answer myself: there must be.
The first time I had actually seen some sort of alien-like phenomenon was when I was twelve. I remember while staring into the sky one summer evening as I was playing with a handful of robot action figures on my front porch, a bright ball of light appeared slightly above where the sky abruptly hits the horizon. The oval shape radiated brightly in the distance and hovered in a particular spot for at least five minutes. The brightness fluctuated as it stood suspended in mid-air until finally it drifted sideways, a few feet to the right and then disappeared. At first perhaps I thought it might have been an airplane or some sort of military aircraft, but a few seconds later, a second light appeared in the same exact place the previous light was and once again slowly drifted to the right and disappeared. I wasn't sure what it was, but I knew what I saw was not "natural"--and it terrified me. I ran in the house throwing my Transformers into a pile on the ground, slamming the door behind me and headed straight for my parent's room. My mother, laying on her side underneath a thin blanket and eating soft batch cookies from a package of Almost Home, was hypnotized by the television set and immersed in an episode of Jeopardy. "Who is--hey, stop running in the house!" she yelled, looking at me in that firm parental scowl. I nodded submissively while catching my breath and slipped under the covers next to her in comfort that she would protect me. I never said a word about what I saw, not to her or anyone else for that matter.
Until I was about nineteen or twenty, I would wake up from mid-sleep to visions of grey, shiny-skinned figures with triangulated faces, bright hospital-like lights and strange noise that resembled whispers and clanking of metallic "tools." During that period of my life I was thoroughly convinced I had been abducted by alien life-forms--probed, tested and experimented on--until I came to the realization that those horrifying visions were just interpreted hallucinations from a disorder I had been suffering from called Sleep Paralysis.
As an adult, my condition has significantly diminished to once or twice a month, and even though I know exactly what it is that I am facing, I still frighten myself on occasion. To this day I continue to lose myself in the night sky, contemplating the possibilities of whether there is some sort of intelligent life-form existing beyond the infinite boundaries of the universe. While there is no physical evidence, I cannot deny the feasibility of such a thing. If we humans are here today in this world, intelligent as we are, it would be arrogant and ignorant of us to think that we are the only ones. If we are here now, then so are they (wherever they may be.)
Nine Inch Nails just recently released an awesome online exclusive 36-track album that features instrumental music that takes the band across a variety of new terrain. Now that they are no longer constrained by the contractual agreements of a record label, they are offering the first volume of the new album, Ghost I, as a free mp3 download (sans-drm and fully tagged) available at various bit torrent sites. You can also visit their official website at ghosts.nin.com for various download packages including the free Ghost I, Ghost I-IV for five dollars, a ten dollar 2XCD set and a seventy-five dollar deluxe edition package that includes 2 CD's, a DVD and a Blu-Ray disc featuring the album in high-definition sound with an accompanying slideshow. Bringing the listener back to the importance of musical content, rather than lyrical, the music is less ambient and more of a mid-90's wave of moody, layered and repeated fragments similar to the sounds of Trent Reznor's earlier work. The mood here is melancholy, with layers of screaming distortion knocking on spiritual doors while not fully blowing them wide open. It flirts here and there with pulsating and stuttering drum beats, but mostly is entirely held together by the sway of piano keys, even if by the thinnest of threads.
Long meetings do not normally faze me. The first half always seems to be very exciting and often times quite motivating, and it is not unusual for my energy level to diminish almost instantaneously immediately after a great lunch. In most cases I can press on and get through the last half, especially if I already feel as if I have taken away valuable information, new perspectives and a sense of empowerment over the lessons being taught and the knowledge being shared. After a lengthy and drawn-out eight hour session today, I have returned with the notion that although the intentions were to develop our leadership skills and our ability to coach others "effectively," I did not unearth anything I did not already know, and from my understanding, I can speak the same for several of my peers. Perhaps I am in the wrong for not taking the information for what it was: a review if nothing else and not for anything more. Granted it was a nice break from the sometimes monotonousness of my daily grind, I feel as if that amount of time could have been better spent. The first thing I did when I got home was head straight for the bathroom, and even that felt more worthwhile.
I have been listening to the Cocteau Twins non-stop the past two days and I feel as if I have rediscovered one of the greatest bands of my lifetime! I cannot help but reminisce. I can remember all of the times Julie and I have driven around in her car listening to them even if we had no real destination; sometimes half-intoxicated, sometimes not, but always having a spiritual experience. She'd wave her hands around gracefully, intertwining and encircling one another in dance, and sometimes I would join her. I also use to sneak into her room to join her every time I heard her playing them on her vintage record player, as she often did when I blared them on my cheap twenty dollar portable stereo which I rigged to output the audio through one of my practice guitar amps because the speakers had been blown out, the result of playing my music way too loud on such a small system. We would sit there hypnotized by the music, smoking cigarettes and conversing about deep philosophical sentiments that we had about the world around us, recent events from our daily lives or just random chit chat. I also remember the time we had seen them in concert together. She dropped acid that night, or perhaps had taken mushrooms, and consequently had to ride back home on her then boyfriend, Ryan's, truck-bed in the cold of the night from San Francisco all the way to the southern part of the East Bay. It's amazing how listening to music can bring back many recollections of one's past, however big or small they may be. I haven't kept in touch much with Julie since she married and had her baby, and I miss her company and all the incredible moments we had shared together. She will always hold a special place in my heart.
The list of reasons why I like to smoke is quite long, but the reasons why I should stop is even longer. Upon further absorption of such thoughts this past week I have emerged strong and fully prepared to extinguish that flame. I have tried before and have failed with the realization that I was not ready to make that change, nor was I willing. But today I can truly say that this battle will soon come to an end and my victory will be absolute. After careful consideration, I have come to an understanding that I will need enough time to prepare myself mentally and physically, anticipating every possible repercussion that may take place. My date is set! On April 14th, the day after my birthday, I am going to quit smoking--cold turkey! You think I can do it? I know I can!
I am being consumed by manifestations of some insatiable craving for something sinfully sweet during this late hour of the night and I think I am driving myself crazy. I have been walking in and out of the kitchen, almost obssessive-compulsively, opening the refrigerator and cabinet doors only to stare at the open packages of candy, chocolate and Oreo cookies. I gape over it in hopes that perhaps it will be enough to appease this hunger. My eyes dart back and forth toward the Oreos and then to the jar of chunky peanut butter and then back again. Together in a pool of milk they are heaven! I feel almost like Louis from the Interview with the Vampire whom is challenged with the duality of his undeniable appetite for human blood opposed by his retained compassion for the people around him. I want it, almost need it, but I know I shouldn't. One bite will lead to (too) many. Despite having cooked up a fantastic dinner of curried vegetables and a pan-seared steak of tuna, this sudden desire is almost physically overwhelming and hard like a thrust to the gut. I think I will just go to bed to soften the blow. Sugar is pure "eee-vul!"
I enjoy cooking and often times enjoy making up recipes from ingredients that I may have lying around the kitchen. A few of my friends have been asking me for the recipe for my Spicy Shrimp Jambalaya, so I've decided to post it here on my blog so that they could easily look it up at home. The recipe is fairly simple and is a great dish on its own or as a side dish with baked salmon, the way I like to eat it. I hope those of you who haven't tried it will be willing to check it out, and I would love to hear any comments you may have. Oh, and just a warning, this dish is fairly spicy!
1 pound medium sized shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 cloves garlic, chopped
2 stalks celery, split and chopped
1/2 large onion, chopped
4 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 large tomato chopped
5 ounces chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
2 cups cooked white rice (or brown rice)
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add butter. Sautee 3 cloves of chopped garlic in butter and oil then stir in shrimp and cook for about 4 minutes.
Immediately add celery, onion, tomato, cilantro, salt, pepper and chipotle peppers. If you want to reduce the "heat" of the dish, you may want to omit an ounce or two of the chipotle peppers or perhaps just use the adobo sauce it was in. Stir until completely incorporated, cover and cook for another 10 minutes.
Add rice and the remaining cloves of chopped garlic and let cook for another 5 minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste and serve in a bowl or on a plate as a side dish. Quick and easy. Enjoy!
