Archive for September, 2008

Honesty and Ebay Adventures

September 23, 2008

Today I gave a presentation of my business plan that I started working on a week before it was due. What’s really awesome about it is I truly love the idea I have. I won’t share it with you because it’s not important and I don’t want you to steal it. I gave a powerpoint presentation. Which is WAY beyond the requirements of what I needed to do for a introductory business course that everyone is required to take for a non-business major. But otherwise I would have gotten lost, like always, and trailed on for 20 minutes. I don’t THINK I talked for that long but I wasn’t keeping track.

There were two other presentations that interested me greatly, if not because the other ones sucked, then because they were really good. They were both automotive businesses. One was specializing in tuning Japanese Import cars. They seemed to know a good deal about the subject, so why not do it. The other business focused on Offroad Vehicles. This presenter also seemed like he knew a great deal of his subject.

What fascinated me was when we all pulled out of the parking lot, I heard a nice sounding engine that was probably from an import tuned car. And lo’ and behold, it was the kid who presented the plan for an import tuning shop. Then, right behind that car was a jeep with a nice set of tires on it, and it was covered in mud. And what do ya know, it was the kid who presented the plan for offroad vehicle tuning.

Seeing that showed me an awesome double whammy of “practice what you preach”. I guess where I am taking this is to a cheesy place, and I’m going to say that it inspired me that much more to do just that: Practice what I preach.

———————————————

I joined ebay.com for the first time today (I know, I am WAAAAAAY behind the curve). I am trying to get a Canon GL1 and I am having a frustrating ass time in my first every “ebay bidding war”. There are a few different cameras up for sale. I was the high bidder on one for a bit, but then all these other ones started popping up and I thought I may want a different one. But if you are an ebay user, you know that once you bid and win, IT’S YOURS! I was outbid and I am now bidding on one that looks better. My limit has gone from 400, then to 500, now I’m at 600. But 600 is my ABSOLUTE limit.

This is fun. I’ll let you know how I do….who the fuck am I talking to?

Tags:, ,
Posted in Life | Leave a Comment »

My “Burn After Reading” Review

September 12, 2008

If you liked No Country For Old Men, well, it doesn’t matter because “Burn After Reading” is a DIFFERENT film altogether.

“What the fuck!?” is what the tagline should be for this movie. John Malkovich’s character uses it extensively, and the audiences across the nation have probably said it too while watching this.

The story starts off simple enough: a CIA analyst gets demoted but doesn’t take it too well, and quits instead. He decides to start writing some memoirs that include details about his secret work with the CIA. His wife, in an attempt to get his financial records on a disc, accidentally copies his memoirs along with them. Her lawyer’s secretary drops her copy in Hardbody’s Gym and it lands in the hands of the awesomely, flaky, bleached-blonde-haired Chad Feldheimer played every little bit by Brad Pitt. He believes he has his hands on some classified intelligence “shit”. He believes he can get money for it by blackmailing the owner, Osbourne Cox played by Malkovich, and Chad’s co-worker wants in on the action so she can pay for her cosmetic surgery(s).

A tangled fucking web starts to get weaved including unfaithful wives and husbands, and one confused as hell CIA superior played perfectly by J.K. Simmons (most would know him as J. Jonah Jameson, or Juno’s daddy).

I was super-pumped to go see this movie. One reason being the Coens, and the other being Brad Pitt. I say Brad Pitt because the dude is fucking amazing in everything I’ve seen him in since Fight Club, not because I’m gay (I’d fuck him).

Brad Pitt definitely lived up to my expectations and beyond, as always with him. We are so used to seeing him being the cool guy, but then you get him as this who works in a gym and just does NOT have a clue and it is brilliant.

John Malkovich was pure madness and pushed the anger and drinking problems to just the right level, not too over the top.

Frances McDormand’s character was just as dumb as Pitt’s, and they were an amazing team. Watching her character’s actions was a treat. The whole time you are thinking to yourself, “Is she really doing/saying that?”

Tilda Swinton played an awesome bitch. Yeah, she was a bitch and it was perfect.

Let’s not forget Mr. George Clooney. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in a role like this. With the combination of Brad Pitt AND George Clooney playing someone other than their cool guy characters, it was amazing. It was refreshing to not recognize Clooney as Clooney, and instead as this guy with some serious issues.

What amazes me most about this movie is the writing. This is one of the best stories, writing-wise, that I’ve ever seen. This is some hardcore and reverse-engineered “shit”. I say reverse-engineered because there’s no way the Coens’ could write this in a linear fashion. They had to have started at the end and wrote this backwards to follow it themselves. I give them HUGE credit for this.

Best comedy/thriller/spy-crime/drama/noir/”What the fuck!?” film of the year.

Burn After Reading

8 out of 10

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Movies | Leave a Comment »

Tip Of The Iceberg, and Beyond.

September 5, 2008

I just picked up the new EP by New Found Glory called “Tip Of The Iceberg”. It has been released on Bridge Nine Records. I actually BOUGHT this CD because I actually like to support bands (and labels that actually help bands).

I have to say though, I am only half satisfied with my purchase. The other half? International Superheroes of Hardcore. A side project with the same members. The difference being NFG guitarist Chad Gilbert gets to scream in every song. My least favorite part of the NFG records is Chad’s screaming.

I do have respect for the way “Tip Of The Iceberg” was released though. They didn’t put the hardcore side-project on the same disc as the NFG songs, and instead made it a double-disc EP. They weren’t double dipping on this one and it was a decent buy at 12 bucks for a double-EP.

The NFG songs on “Tip Of the Iceberg” are not the best they have done, but again, I think it’s a mere celebration of doing whatever they want. In an interview with absolutepunk.net Chad Gilbert said:

Were gonna write and record our entire album and then go to a label and have them put it out. Were doing it the other way around just because it’s nice to be in control. A lot of band will have a record label give them money and they record an album because they are obligated to be on that label but were gonna do it the opposite way.

I know they have already finished recording the next album, and I am really looking forward to it for two reasons: 1. They didn’t have the pressures of a major label on them. and 2. Mark fucking Hoppus produced the album.

Mark Hoppus, in an interview with pickRset:

the new found glory record we just finished recording. this is a band i’ve been a fan of and friends with for a long time. then for past couple of years, as a listener, it seemed like they were kind of adrift. not that the songs were weak, but maybe just that they lacked focus. i can’t really explain it. and then a few months ago i get a call from chad about working on their new record. we met up at the studio and he brought an ipod with a bunch of very rough demos. from the minute he walked in the door you could tell that this was a new band altogether. they had gotten out of their deal with their former label and had a whole new enthusiasm for their music. the tracks were still new found glory, but with a new edge and intensity to them. these guys wanted to come out swinging. so we went in and tracked what i think is the hardest-hitting nfg record to date. we worked really hard to get great, gritty guitars, big drums, edgy bass, and jordan is singing stronger than he ever has. now keep in mind that nfg has recorded a bunch of albums already. this is by no means their first bbq. so it was fun recording an album with a bunch of guys who had a definite sound in mind that they wanted to achieve, but also wanted input and guidance from someone they trusted. it was more of a collaboration, albeit a contentious one at times. usually when we are tracking a band, there are one or two members with definite opinions about what should and should not happen. in nfg, four of the five members hold fast in their opinions, and when it comes to voicing their views about what they do or don’t like, there are no holds barred. throw in me with my thoughts and chris holmes with his, and it made for more than a few heated moments in the control room. but it totally worked. in those short moments of disagreement and raised voices, the songs really came together, and i think it shows through in the music. it’s a great album. when we got the mix of the first track, all of us were floored. seriously. i can’t wait for people to hear this record.

So yeah, I’m pumped.

Tags:, , , , , , ,
Posted in Music | Leave a Comment »

You Get What You Pay For: My Input

September 2, 2008

I found myself reading Seth Godin’s blog when he was constantly referenced by Matt Mason and Bob Lefsetz: two people I read on a daily basis. Seth’s blog, and all his books, seem to concentrate on marketing which is something I never thought I would be reading. But the guy is intelligent, and I love to hear smart people talk (in this case, read). I may not be able to apply his knowledge to the business and marketing world, but his words expand beyond to much more. His words expand to the life of a 20 year old college student who is headed to the land of the unknown, and needs all the advice he can get.

Seth Godin’s recent entry, “You Get What You Pay For”, is one of those entries that gives knowledge that I can take anywhere. Since he has perfected the art of “less is more”, I will quote the whole entry:

If you don’t want spam in your inbox, never respond, never buy anything. Not even if it’s a good deal.

If you don’t like TV commercials featuring loud aggressive announcers, don’t buy what they’re selling. Ever.

If you don’t want people ringing your door asking for donations, don’t give, no matter what.

If you think politics is too nasty and not focused enough on creating value, then don’t donate to a candidate that’s nasty, even if you agree (and even better, call or write and tell them why).

If you don’t like bait and switch marketing, where promises don’t match the product, don’t buy it.

If you don’t like snarky, angry blogs, don’t read them.

If you deplore the lousy service at big chains or certain airlines, don’t shop there, even if it’s cheaper.

There’s a new asymmetry, with loud consumers able to connect and actually have an impact.

We’re all hypocrites, and we get what we pay for. The market is astonishingly quick at responding to what consumers do (and incredibly slow at reacting to what we say).

See what I mean about the whole marketing take on things? No worries, he is a genius, I promise.

I am now going to continue with the if/then formula that Seth Godin has gone with on this particular entry.

Here it goes:

If you don’t want to pay five dollars per gallon of gas, then don’t drive 85 on the highways. The more gas you burn away, the more gas you buy, the more they win.

If you can’t NOT answer your cell phone, then don’t go to the movies.

If you don’t like to be disrespected, then stop calling people “dumb-ass”.

If you don’t like spit in your food, then don’t yell at the waitress about the undercooked steak that was cooked by the COOK.

If you don’t want to be hated by your customers, then stop suing/arresting them.

If you don’t like herpes, then stop having sex.

If you don’t like lazy people, then get off your ass.

If you like your nightlife, then don’t have kids.

If you think you know everything, then don’t ask anyone for help.

If you help people out, then people will help you out.

If people tell you your big dreams are stupid, then pursue those dreams. They are the people that allow you to succeed.

If you love someone, then don’t give up on them.

If you love life, then life will love you back.

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in Life | Leave a Comment »