Entertainment

Over at my other website, I have a blog that keeps track of the albums I purchase, download, or otherwise acquire. I’m constantly getting live concerts from various bands as well, but since there’s no officially released album, I can’t post those. Check it out if you want to see what I’ve been buying and downloading…

The best thing I did for myself tonight was purchase some new music. I did forget to pick up what I went shopping for, though. I wanted to pick up a book in which I could keep my state quarters (yes, I collect coins occasionally). In a strange coincidence, after getting home and checking my (snail) mail, I found a package from my mother containing a bunch of relatively old (as far back as 1876) foreign coins from my grandmother’s collection. I’m not quite sure what to do with them.

I am really digging this reggae version of Dark Side of the Moon, mon.

It looks like I just agreed to give guitar lessons on Sundays. I guess I should pick up an acoustic for my own.

I got home a little while ago after seeing De La Guarda in New York. It was a very cool show. If I can remember all the details by tomorrow, I’ll write a nicer review and post it on my other website. (Go there. Leave comments.)

Do I have any readers familiar with DVD authoring? The programs I use are the ATI TV recorder and Sony Vegas/DVD Architecht. I digitized a recording from a videotape last night, and it runs about 1:35. It’s split into three files, one for each act of the play. However, the files add up to five gigabytes—more than will fit on a DVD-R. However, the DVD should fit two hours of video.

I didn’t see any place in Sony Vegas where I could change the MPEG-2 compression settings. I’ll have to look again when I have more time, but if anyone has any suggestions, feel free to let me know.

In case you’re wondering, the video I am trying to write to DVD is Noises Off, the play I did my senior year of high school.

I got back a little while ago from a movie theater where Drum Corps International quarterfinals was being shown live from Denver, Colorado. There were some technical difficulties in the beginning, which is to be expected for a first ever event like this (a “cinecast” is what they called it), but it turned out to be a great show. I’m debating buying a few tickets to next year’s championships in Foxboro, Massachusetts right now… and figure out who I’d be going with as next summer draws nearer.

This was a pretty good year for drum corps, with some interesting shows, including The Cadets’ Jethro Tull and The Cavaliers’ James Bond—not your typical fare. I amazed myself by pretty accurately predicting some scores and placements after the corps’ performances (and you can ask Stacey for verification of that statement).

By the way, that photograph of The Cavaliers is from tonight, courtesy of DCI. Isn’t the internet great? Favorite (ironic) quote of the night:

A “backstage” interview with a member of The Cavaliers following their performance of the James Bond Show.

CUTE GIRL: So, I probably shouldn’t ask this, but how exactly does one become a “Bond girl?”

CAVALIER: I’ll show you later.

Just to follow up on an earlier posting, the creators of the Daleks have reached an agreement with the BBC. That means that the new Doctor Who series will be able to feature those evil extraterrestrial menaces.

Plug time! Visit my other website! Check the blog out. To foil search engines, it’s this, but backwards: moc.sednalnalrah.www. To go directly to the blog, just add “/blog/” after that address.

I just bought two tickets to a special event at a movie theater (Regal Cinemas) in New Brunswick: Drum Corps Quaterfinals on the Big Screen. Here’s the information. It’s Thursday, August 5, at 7:00 pm. It’s the only location in New Jersey where it is playing. Anyone want to go? (I can get more tickets as of now if people are interested.)

Britney Spears (you’ve probably heard of her) is following in Madonna’s (I mean Esther’s) footsteps. She has become interested in the mysticism and beliefs of Kabbalah, a strange blend of ancient Hebrew and Far Eastern beliefs. The pop princess is looking to have a Kabbalist wedding, disturbing her Baptist parents. Anyway, Kabbalah is very, very interesting, and I’m very surprised that it’s as popular as it is (which is honestly, not that much, but when Madonna—I mean Esther—and other popular icons get involved, it raises public awareness a little bit).

By the way, I’ve started blogging on my other website, so check that out once in a while. I plan on using that space for entries related to music, technology, and my other interests, but without any personal entries there.

Brian Micklethwait posts his review of Jack Black’s movie, School of Rock. He has a good point… it would have been great if my music theory class was cast with students (actors) who all happened to be exceedingly proficient on musical instruments or voice. It would have even been better if my concert band was. It was a fun movie, sure, but only a foolish teacher would use it as a guide to bringing music into their classroom, and there’s nothing in the movie of educational value. I’m pretty sure there was nothing intended to be.

I happened to catch De-Lovely last night after quite a bit of delay due to people who made appoointments to look at my car never showing up. It was a very good film, almost in the style of a musical revue. It was definitely a movie made to be appreciated by viewers who enjoy the pre-MTV, pre-Jaws style of film. The plot is the key, with no dizzying special effects or action sequences other than a singular horse ride. It could have been made a shorter movie through the editing process, and as a result of the choice not to do so, some might think the movie runs a little long. I liked the pacing.

The movie tells the story of Cole Porter, a gifted and well-off composer, portrayed masterfully by Kevin Kline. Porter’s music is performed by many contemporary pop performers, and the only one I had issues with is Alanis Morrisette. Her voice just didn’t seem at home with her song, Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall in Love). Kevin Kline isn’t a vocal virtuoso, but then again, neither was Cole Porter, so it still fits. Go see it.

Unrelated Thing. I would pay for a subscription satellite radio service if I could get Radio Paradise beamed directly to my vehicle.