Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Sitting staring into space

Ever since my company updated the software I work on I have been doing a lot of the above. This is because this software takes so bloody long to do the most basic things. It can take over an hour simply to open up some (very large) files. And while it is doing this it can’t do anything else – I, therefore, can’t do anything else. This is very blog-friendly software because you get to the point where, in order not to go insane, you might as well just write a post – like this one. This is a post designed to fill in time by writing about writing posts designed to fill in time – if that makes any sense at all. God – I’ve still got 45 minutes before this file checks in…. Maybe they should supply magazines, games, or other diversions with this program. It’s the doctor’s waiting room of programs, the bus stop, the line at the post office, the….

Why do companies spend millions of dollars to go backwards – and how do I get in on the game of selling crap to them???

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Equinox



This movie was part of the "Mu-Meson" season at the Chauvel Cinema (ie it stems from the movie collection of Jay Katz and Miss Death, who were there to introduce it – catch them on FBI Radio every Saturday morning on "The Naked City" – Jay Katz (otherwise known as Jaimie Leonarder) also used to be the main guy on SBS’s now defunct "The Movie Show" and is organiser of the Sydney band The Mu-Mesons).

Phew – anyway – Equinox was made in the late sixties on zero budget, with zero acting – but wow – is it fun! Monsters from hell chase teenagers around a generic camping ground, possessed teen girls run amok and Satan himself (with bat wings) even gets in on the act. With money this could have been a spectacle (and a much worse movie). As it is, you have to just love it.

Equinox is famed for having inspired Sam Raimi to make Evil Dead. As well, a bunch of later-to-be famous industry hacks got a start on this one – including effects guy Dennis Muren, who worked on the orignial Star Wars and has since won 9 Oscars. Finally, of note, the film casts 70s award winning sword and sorcery author Fritz Leiber as “the Professor”. Paperback buffs rejoice.

Equinox is available on DVD. Don't miss out!

Schonberg who?


Anyone interested in 20th Century atonal music (let’s face it – who isn’t?) but unsure what CDs to buy (its all about consuming of course) can check this out. I recently (one action packed night) did some surfing and built a page on the consumer blog site Kaboodle with the results. If you click on the CDs you will go to pages with samples to listen to – enjoy if you are a cultural elitist.

Houellebecq, Martel, Murakami and others


Another catch-up – some of the lit I’ve read lately. These reviews are short – the books were long – please excuse if the coverage does not measure up to your own experience.

Atomised by Michel Houellebecq high quality, readable contemporary literature – French nihilism, lots of sex, depression and bad experiences in today’s consumerist wasteland. Recommended to bummed-out divorced existentialists and fans of Brett Easton Ellis.

Platform by Michel Houellebecq continues Houellebecq’s odyssey through the dreary landscapes of global culture – with an emphasis (this time) on sex tourism and male fantasy. Recommended to resort vacationers and over-stressed executives.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel brilliant postmodern adventure story about survival, zoology, and subjective conundrums - Robert Luis Stevenson meets Christopher Priest. Recommended to adventurous theology students and brooding boy scouts.

Vanity Fair by William Thackeray (currently working through this one) – sprawling Victorian social satire – urbane, sardonic but not bitter, comedy winning over tragedy – recommended to wags living in the wrong century.

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami he's been described as the Japanese David Lynch – long obscure plot made enjoyable by loveable or intriguing characters, creepy scenarios, and manga-style suburban melodrama. Recommended to surrealists and anime fans with time on their hands.

Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham turn of the (20th) century epic about boyhood and (later) falling in love with the wrong woman - plenty of sardonic wisdom – recommended for readers interested in growing up.

Hair gel and the passage of time


Well – its been a while since I updated this blog – but the passage of time has been advantageous at least in one way – I can now report on the progress of several important personal projects that have been ongoing throughout the period.

Firstly – hair gel. As you may recall (well, probably you don’t) I managed to grab a whole bunch of hair molding product samples left out by a sales rep type (my guess) neighbour for anyone to have. The upshot, after testing them all – “Got2b 90 degree max control styling gel”– I’m still using it and will be buying more when it runs out. I know it sounds extreme but it’s actually quite subtle for a gel. I find it melds with my hair perfectly – and gives me a cool, desirable look that is pleasing to my friends and co-workers alike – not to mention providing me with a mirror-friendly morning experience every time.

This proves that, as a marketing technique, giving away lots of product will inevitably create loyal customers – I am prepared to take a variety of other products (MP3 players, lubricants, hotel stays, preferably all at once) on a similar basis – so I hope lots of corporate types (apart from ones I work with) are reading this!

My second update is potentially less interesting (if that’s possible) though it has involved a hell of a lot more spare time than my hair – this is my current position in the Japanese PS2 roll playing game Phantom Brave – my god this game just goes on forever – but I am still plugging away and finding it a pleasant diversion – I think I have completed close to a hundred strategic battles now – and where am I? No idea. Certainly my life hasn’t changed. But I have now come across the “Pure Spirit Spear” which I am using to kill virtually everything in sight! OK! (Current play time: 63:25:17 (level 71)).