All I have to say...
Posted by bert at 03:45 PM on June 1, 2005 in ME.
omg....
bert's musings
Entries for June, 2005
June 1st, 2005
off we go.....
Posted by bert at 11:28 PM on June 1, 2005 in ME.
the dream starts tomorrow. see you on the flip side.
June 6th, 2005
no amount of skill....
Posted by bert at 11:35 AM on June 6, 2005 in ME.
will ever help you against total blind and insane luck.
short version.. i got badbeat to hell despite teh event being a $1500 buyin. People STILL dont' care enough about their money to play low odds.. sorry.. i think things don't change if the buyin is $1 million.. its just people like to gamble on low odds things too much..
with that said.. i think i'm relatively devoid of luck. and when you combine the both... suckouts occur.
June 9th, 2005
Apathy
Posted by bert at 08:33 AM on June 9, 2005 in ME.
Man is it such a curse...
I went to the supermarket yesterday, on my own, for the first time in well... 6 or so weeks. I think the number one problem was that I couldn't drive there... but that's beside's the point.
I went to go get me some good old boar's head deli so i could start saving cash on my lunches again. That and eat slightly healthier... Yeah.. low sodium turkey breast and roast beef for me.
I ran into this lady at the deli who was trying to decide what to get so she sampled some of my roast beef. Thought about it for a second and decided to go with the Prepackaged Turkey club foccacia sandwich, instead of deli meat. She told me that she went that route because, she was "too lazy" to walk to the bread aisle to get bread to make her own sandwiches. instead she forked out 5.99 for a sandwich, instead of 6.99 for 1 lb (and 4 sandwiches worth) of meat.
Upon receiving the sandwich she immediately threw away half explaining that now she "didn't have to go to the gym and work off those calories."
So I asked her what she was going to do with all this time she just saved.
"Watch my Tivo reruns."
Anyway... i realized how i've been in that little cycle recently so i got my low sodium deli meat, bought some Squaw bread (if you ever get a chance to try this one... do it... best bread EVER!) and when i got home.. i went for my first significant run since breaking my arm. Lets see if i can stay motivated and not fall into the apathy trap of TV.
June 10th, 2005
it's all about teh small things
Posted by bert at 01:03 PM on June 10, 2005 in ME.
My office is a lot of fun to work in provided that I am not doing work. well.. boring work at least.. I actually enjoy some of the challenging stuff i work on despite my constant rants of bitchiness..
Today's been a slow day unfortunately because I'm reviewing numbers (and running calculations on them)... and i don't have 1.) my ipod. (just sad...) or 2.) my computer got "upgraded" so i lost my *ahem* music.
meaning.. i have to do work without listening to anything but the quiet hum of lcd displays, computer fans, and endless office chatter.
The amount of water cooler chatter though is incredible!. Everyone talks.. a lot!. and gossips about nothing. and the two most prevelant things heard today. "boy did those pistons suck.. how did they beat the lakers last year with the same team..." and "i hate work because ..."
But one guy REALLY takes the cake.. He doesn't participate in any of the chatter and just quietly sits at his cube. and then very randomly just starts screeming obscenities while slamming his mouse/keyboard/another USB enabled device into his desk. this is followed by.. "I told <insert name here> at least a dozed <four letter word>ing times, to <4 letter word>ing do <insert easy menial task>. All he had to do was this litle tiny bit of <4 letter word>, is that too <4 letter word>ing much to <4 letter word> ask? <4 letter word> <another 4 letter word> <1st 4 letter word> <2nd four letter word> .... <keep repeating...> .... GODDAMNIT!"
and its happened 3 times today. I think monday i won't be bringing in my Ipod again... but this time on purpose. Can you just imagine the grin on my face right now?
June 12th, 2005
Earthquake!!!
Posted by bert at 08:49 AM on June 12, 2005 in ME.
ok.. so it wasn't that excitiing.. but i finally experienced (aka felt) my first earthquake since moving to California nearly 2 years ago. anyway.. it scared teh hell out of Belle. (the cat)
June 14th, 2005
Cooking
Posted by bert at 08:56 AM on June 14, 2005 in ME.
I'm getting pretty good at this stuff..
in the past month, I've learned how to make a damn good seared Ahi, breaded lambchops, Chicken Fajitas, vegetable stir fry, grilled eggplant, and a few other things. All at the expense of some friends and family being my guinnea pigs. Apparently they're getting the better end of the deal, since my cooking actually gets complimented. (go me!).
best one yet is.. "this should be in the restraunts.. i would get this every time."
hehe.. okay.. so all this means is that I need a girl again, since i'm becoming to independant..
Leading to a story about this girl i met this weekend.. but we'll save the Rachel story for a much later time.
decisions... decisions...
Posted by bert at 09:34 AM on June 14, 2005 in ME.
So... guys....
How does Seattle sound?
i have 2 weeks to think about it.
Damn you Linda. (that book thing)
Posted by bert at 01:13 PM on June 14, 2005 in ME.
The Number Of Books I Own
lets see... 3 bookshelves, 5 shelves each.. all at least double stacked, plus the two boxes unpacked in the garage, and that's just my recreational reading.. I still have all my school textbooks from college, plus my coding references.. and i have 3 books on order now. I'd say easily 250+ books.
Last Book Bought
Freakonomics. Do you really need explanations... It's an interesting book, showing statistical correlation for teh oddest of things. Just an interesting reading all in all.
Last Book Read
Smoke and Mirrors - Neil Gaiman.
This guy writes the Sandman Comic books that i've always liked. (do they count as books too? i have like 500+ comics too!) interesting book, pretty good author. not as machiavellian as dan brown with his plot twists.. (WHICH IS A GOOD THING!)
Currently Reading (this should be in here.. dunno why it's not)
Two books in parallel right now.
Effective C++ (3rd edition). so what? i'm a nerd.. Sue me. I'm gonna code for work anyway, and i'm actually pretty good with the OOD stuff. Plus it's got like 6 new patterns to deal with! i'll go back to /. now..
American Gods - Neil Gaiman. Another Gaiman book... Figured i liked smoke and mirrors so i'd give this one a shot. I really like the way the first 150 or so pages have rolled. should be done by friday.
Five Books That Mean A Lot To Me
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card: Funny... this is on everyone's list. Seriously, (kinda sadly)... a lot of my political thought stems from this book. I just can't help but agree with this book, granted everything is explained in a simplistic 4th grade level. Simply a must read and one of the greatest novels written in the late 20th century. Should be used as a teaching aid for elementary school students. And Card is one of the nicest people you will ever meet.. After reading it.. would you believe the guy is Mormon? and lives in... North Carolina of all places? =P
The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis: These books are why I enjoy reading in the first place. Even though Lewis is a bit of a right wing nut. Oh well.
Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore: You want to start up a business? you need to read this book.
Effective C++ (2nd Edition) by I don't remember. (and i'm not looking it up): ok... so. I learned to program because of this book. All that crap they give you at the university? yeah.. i guess you need to learn how the syntax looks, but you can't code OOD until you read, or have this as a reference.. and 3rd edition is out now. so... w00t.
Seventh Son, by Orson Scott Card: Ok I really didn't want to list another OSC book.. but.. seriously.. I love his character development.. and the way some of his characters live their lives. Deep down I'm very idealistic and love the greater good in people. I have a hard time believing in it.. but, rereading this series always helps. (other book i LOVE is Pastwatch, also by osc.. read it.)
others: sadly.. DaVinci Code (i liked it...), Angels and Demons (actually liked it more), A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, Dragon Lance Legends Series by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis (these are the Twin sagas), Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, Harry Potter books, Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind, Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, Theory of Games and Economic Behavior by John Van Neumann, The Shining by Stephen King, Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Catch 22 by Joseph Heller, and.. just too many to list....
I aint tagging no others.. Fill a list out and share if you want. If you do one because of this post.. just let me know so i can drop by and check it out.
June 16th, 2005
nothing new
Posted by bert at 01:00 PM on June 16, 2005 in ME.
some of the people i have to work with are still idiots... this probably won't change any time soon.
YAY!! Another Earthquake!
Posted by bert at 02:11 PM on June 16, 2005 in ME.
2 in a week.. these are great!
Keep em coming. and yes.. i'm serious.
June 17th, 2005
Funniest Tshirt Ever
Posted by bert at 10:01 AM on June 17, 2005 in ME.
so i saw this today...
couldn't stop laughing.. wonder if i could get one and wear it into work.
oh.. and russell Peters is performing live at the Laugh Factory next Wed. Call me if your down. If you're not... watch this.. and call me if your down.
http://letsget.bz/fun/Russell%20Peters.wmv
June 18th, 2005
Not sure how this happens..
Posted by bert at 12:17 PM on June 18, 2005 in ME.
but i managed to drop 80 dollars at pf changs last night while having only 1 drink....
hehe.. and mortons tonight? shoot...
June 19th, 2005
Dear Larry Brown
Posted by bert at 09:41 PM on June 19, 2005 in ME.
how do you leave switching singing, will smith open again?
sideshow bob just dunked ALL OVER YOU.
June 20th, 2005
Another $400+ weekend..
Posted by bert at 08:57 AM on June 20, 2005 in ME.
ok.. this money spending thing needs to stop.. I do it too often.
Yet again, I had another high $$ weekend, and this time i didn't do CRAP!!.
Granted $250 of it went to a suit that i needed (so i can pimp or go to weddings. Your choice).
Quick cap...
Friday, we took the Melissa out to PFChangs to get her the lettuce wraps etc that we owed her. They made her this Key Lime Pie drink that was surprisingly, VERY GOOD. I mean.. it was great... Anyway.. We proceeded to get too many drinks and basically scare the piss out of the new hire that we brought along. Sorry Kristie! Oh well.. Lucas will do that to you.
Saturday, picked up my suit. It's amazing... sometimes a suit really makes you feel better about yourself.. I think that was the quote in family man.. or something like that.. but.. yeah.. even though i got it 75%!!! off.. (which makes me feel even better!). lol.. but then after i picked it up, we went to morton's, the steakhouse. yeah.. I hadn't had their bone-in ribeye yet and saw someone else eating it so i passed on the Filet Mignon this time. It was a GREAT steak, and I followed that with the Godiva Chocolate Cake.. *sigh*.. so $70 later... i was stuffed, and incapable of doing anything the rest of the night. So i finally started on watching Full Metal Alchemist (thanks Lauren and Charlie). i'm not halfway done with the first season... good gracious do I churn through anime quick. (naruto is next).
Sunday... was a blur. I don't think I did one single memorable thing. nope.. yeah.. it was just gone too fast.
ok back to work.
June 21st, 2005
Funny Bumper Sticker of the Day
Posted by bert at 09:06 AM on June 21, 2005 in ME.
Driving in SoCAL means traffic.. and that means... lots of different bumper stickers.
well. today's discovery made me think for a sec..
"God Made Adam and Eve, Not Adam and Steve."
man.. seriously.. who shells out cash just to rip on the gay community? damn that one angry old conservative man.
The Legend of Big Shot ROB
Posted by bert at 01:07 PM on June 21, 2005 in ME.
well.. i posted about this earlier.
see here
But Robert Horry is clutch. So clutch in fact... that people have been trying to debunk his clutchness.
http://www.slate.msn.com/id/2121018
yeah.. leave it to those hippies at slate (i actually like that news magazine too) to try to convince us that Robert Horry isn't clutch and is just a figment of our imagination.
so... i wanted to write an open letter.
Dear Felix Gillett,
Have you seen the commercial where Phil Jackson dresses up as a wise Jedi/zen Master? He warns the overconfidence friend about forcing others to eat crow. Or something like that. My journalistic abilities do not allow me to properly quote commercials. But the overconfident friend ended up eating crow after bragging too quick before the finale. So Felix... i was wondering.. Does crow taste good? I hear KC Masterpiece goes well with it. Thanks
-Bert
June 22nd, 2005
Virtual MLB.
Posted by bert at 08:29 AM on June 22, 2005 in ME.
So... can i draft all these people for my fantasy leagues? I want the nintendo stats.
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/11944265.htm
Holiday - Green Day
Posted by bert at 09:56 AM on June 22, 2005 in ME.
not sure why.. but i can't get enough of this song.
Hear the sound of the falling rain
Coming down like an Armageddon flame (Hey!)
The shame
The ones who died without a name
Hear the dogs howlin' out of key
To a hymn called Faith and Misery (Hey!)
And bleed, the company lost the war today
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
Hear the drum pounding out of time
Another protestor has crossed the line (Hey!)
To find, the money's on the other side
Can I get another Amen (Amen!)
There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (Hey!)
A gag, A plastic bag on a monument
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
If you're going to rob a store...
Posted by bert at 02:42 PM on June 22, 2005 in ME.
This is in the book of what not to do...
http://media2.big-boys.com/bbfilez/badrobber11.wmv
i think maggie peed her pants when she saw this...
Batman Begins
Posted by bert at 11:52 PM on June 22, 2005 in ME.
well.. yeah.. so that movie pretty much kicked ass...
and shame on you Christine.. going to watch monster-in-law instead of batman... the movie gods will extract vengeance on you while you are in China.
June 24th, 2005
No... It's not a Job Interview
Posted by bert at 08:04 AM on June 24, 2005 in ME.
it's funny... everytime we (we being the kids on our program) dress nicely, everyone simply assumes we're going on a job interview.
After work today, I'm volunteering for this local event called the "Global Achievement Awards." Think of it like... Boeing Internal Emmy's award for "achievement", whatever the hell achievement means.
But it'll be at teh Disney Grand Ball Room, and it's gonna be a somewhat formal event. So I gotta wear suit and tie. Now a bunch of you know me to be pretty lazy, so i didn't bother bringing them all seperately and finding time to change later. Screw that.. I wore it to work, where I have now been for 45 minutes.
five people, FIVE, have asked me if I was interviewing later today already. (Silly people... Bert has ALREADY DONE THAT!!! BWUAHAHAHAH). I digress... Anyway.. Yes.. I broke my arm, it's why i wear that funky ass brace. Yes.. I'm doing something out of the ordinary, which is why I look styling today. Hell I combed my hair, they should just bow down and clean my shoes for me. okay.. maybe i had a little too much coffee.. (which btw isn't exactly the greatest insight i could have if i'm planning on going to Seattle.)
yay- Home of the original Nordstroms and REI!
June 26th, 2005
Ka
Posted by bert at 11:13 PM on June 26, 2005 in ME.
So Ka is the newest show in the series of Cirque Du Soleil. Check it here. And it's been prominently featured at the MGM Grand. (yup.. i took another trip to vegas).
Friday night i ventured eastward, this time with Yvonne, Van, and Sayaka, and met up with some of the UCI kids. Mainly the goal was to go clubbing (yeah rum jungle) since the last couple of times when I went I haven't gone. Anyway.. we went out after I finished the Global Achievement Awards at the swanky Disney Land Grand Ball Room. We had this great Filet Mignon with a amazing Chicken Catchitorie (SP?). the highlight of the night... was the coffee.... Amazing French roast. i had 4 cups... and it would prove troublesome in the future.
Around 9:30'ish we took off from Anaheim, and didn't make it into LV until well after 2 p.m. last time i went.. it took 3 hours and 15 minutes... so.. yeah.. we had a couple of delays... We got there and it was way to late to club, but we ended up walking around the strip and did some minor gambling.... Managed to try to teach van and sayaka to play craps, but they were extremely hesitant so sayaka only doubled up her $20 =).
but the most important discussion was when we saw the sign for Ka and had a roughly 1 hour discussion on the Cirque Du Soleil shows.. Yes.. O is the best we've all seen.. Yes.. Mystere is kinda odd.. Varekai sucks compared to them, and no one really wanted to see Zumanity. Anyway, we decided to fork out about $100 each for "nosebleed" seats and bought tickets for Saturdays 7:30 show.
saturday was gambling.. eating... and then the show.
IT FUCKING ROCKED!!!!... and.. please if anyone else has seen it... did it not feel like the Final Fantasy 3 plot? Yes?!?! Me and Van saw it... come on.. Anyway.. these guys are incredible, pulling stunts I could never even imagine, let alone attempt. But.. despite all that, the real star of their show is the stage that they engineered.. I couldn't do it justice to describe it so i won't, but that stage they perform on is a modern miracle. The sand scene... well.. yeah. just.. go watch it. And when the soundtrack comes out.. well.. that'll be another 15 bucks that goes out in support.
and then i followed this up with a night at Rum Jungle.. dancing the night away. No pictures and no following comment there.. I had a lot of fun. 'nuff said.
Wynn Hotel is nice in it's simplism, but I aint paying $15 to see Steve Wynn's private art collection. His buffet and casino are amazing though and I very much enjoyed it.. Will definitely make my way back next time.
ok.. so.. a lot of tease and no action. Go watch Ka.. I can't suggest it enough.
and yeah.. i think it's better than 'O'
June 27th, 2005
commuting for work...
Posted by bert at 09:51 PM on June 27, 2005 in ME.
well.. i get to experience what i've been dreading since moving to Cali... I get to commute through LA for work...
*sigh*
tomorrow... we will be traveling to Camarillo, CA. which is roughly... 1.5 hours north of UCLA... which conveniently is 1.5 hours north of me!. yay!.. and yes that does mean at least a 3 hour commute for me tomorrow.. Each way.. so a 14 hour work day at the minimum. I'm bringing cash in case we decide to go somewhere afterwards... can you say Pink's Hotdogs?
see ya in... 48 hours.
June 29th, 2005
First Books... Now Music?!?
Posted by bert at 11:39 AM on June 29, 2005 in ME.
Total Volume (forgot to add this =P)
Work computer is at 6.52 GB, for a total of 1793 songs, home computer is 25 gigs + about 60 800 mb CD's full of MP3s. course every work song i have at home.. so.. i dunno. it's like 250 songs per gig and at 75 gigs.. i have a lot.
The last CD I bought:
Green Day - American Idiot, Alter Bridge - One Day Remains, and Weezer - Pinkerton
Song playing right at the moment: Holiday - Green Day
Five songs I listen to or mean a lot to me:
Jeez.. just 5? its like saying.. what are your 5 favorite movies of all time.
Ok.. so these mean a lot to me.
- Living on the Edge - Aerosmith... So.. this song got me into music. I love Aerosmith. I consider them the best band ever. But my music tastes are a little skewed. So much so that you see my sister's music play list is infected with Aerosmith as well. So much good stuff from them, but this song started it for me.
- Under The Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers. really.. how do you not love this song. Pretty much out of style for them, but i believe i had this on repeat for an entire summer vacation. And its the only song I will always sing to if it comes on the radio while i'm showering in the morning. (too much info?)
- Buddy Holly - Weezer. I went to my first concert because of this song. I got cooler because of who my ride to this concert was... because of this song. Weezer is basically a bunch of cool nerds... I've been jealous of their status since. So much better stuff than Buddy Holly, but I owe this song much =)
- Nothing Else Matters - Metallica. Greatest Live Performance ever. May have been topped if i got to see their S&M show in San Fran.
- Shiny Happy People - REM. I liked a girl because this was her favorite song. we'll leave it there =)
- I Want it That Way - Back Street Boys. Jeez.. i can't believe I'm admitting this.. But. yeah.. it's a pretty damn catchy song, but it also defines the summer of 1999. I was in Taiwan for 6 weeks and our Bus performed this song as part of our required "talent act." Suffice to say.. I will never wear a white suit again. But "love boat" was a blast, and soon after I went to school in NC. Sadly... Anytime i hear this song.. it brings a huge smile to my face. Too bad Nsync is/was better.
- Yellow Ledbetter - Pearl Jam. I don't think i appreciated guitar talent until i heard this. Just an ultimate chill song.
- jeez... I'll spare you.. but i could keep going for at least another 10-15 songs
Fav Songs of the Past (ok.. writing details takes to long.. i stop at 10)
- Under Pressure - Queen
- Come Together - Aerosmith
- Black - Pearl Jam
- End of the Road - Boys to Men
- Iris - Goo Goo Dolls
- November Rain - Guns and Roses
- Entire Pezcore Album - Less than Jake
- Where the Streets Have No Name - U2
- Unforgiven - Metallica
- I Alone - Live
- You - Candlebox
- Stand By Me - Pennywise
Songs of the moment
- Superman - five for fighting
- Numb Encore - Jayz / Linkin Park
- Whole Again - John Mayer
- Ghetto Gospel - 2pac
- A Night at the HipHopera (album)- The Kleptones
- Sweetness - Jimmy Eat World
- My Hero - Foo Fighters
- He Still Loves Me - Beyonce (from fighting temptations album)
- Lose Yourself - Eminem
- pretty much every coldplay song ever recorded
- Sunburn - ATB
- Over The Rainbow - IZ
ok i've spent too much time.. but.. yeah.. i like music.. but kinda only listen to the mainstream stuff now.. since i do other things with my time.. and i'm more than happy with my old "classic" cd albums...
It's always nice to dig around a little and find say a good mathew sweet song every now and then (Sick of myself).
Screw Taggin... just do it if you wanna share.
June 30th, 2005
Breast Cancer Prevention...
Posted by bert at 09:39 AM on June 30, 2005 in ME.
http://homepage.mac.com/nikkienikks/iblog/C294808266/E910814554/Media/cnn.html
edited: (no more sidebar from me.)