01 December 2009

A story about "Frankenstein (Enriched Classics)"

by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein is a 19th century book—it’s going to be a bit different. It does not fail to deliver on different. It’s set in a frame story, which I have somewhat mixed feelings about. And at some points the layering of the stories within the story gets a bit overly-layered.

The character of Frankenstein was obnoxious—so self-absorbed and vacillating. The monster on the other hand, carries the book. The part that interested me was the monster’s transformation from only having the appearance of a monster to being a monster inside and out. Utterly spectacular.

I found some of the book (about the front third, give or take) to be tedious. But the rest of the book was very good, and in some spots sublime. I’d mark it as a read: it will completely reshame your conception of the story you thought you knew.

29 November 2009

Little Girl in the city

I took my daughter to the west side of Chicago—Garfield Park to be specific. I had been told many times that it was a bad neighborhood, but that wasn’t the case.

We went to the Conservatory, which is over 100 years old. They had lots of fun things for kids to do, so we did them and had fun.

If there is an adventure better than spending time with a child, I’m not sure I’ve found it yet.

Giving up

I’m not so much giving up on what I want to do, but rather I’m junking the route.

I’ve decided that a job is not for me. What I really need to do is go into business for myself. Thus I’m “giving up” on this goal and opening a different one.

17 November 2009

Careful with the books.

Oops. I wasn’t. I bought a copy of Crónica de una muerte annunciado thinking I’d be able to handle it. Wrong.

Instead, I went to the library and picked up a copy of Grammatica descomplicada and have had much better luck.

13 November 2009

If you're going to watch a movie about wine (rated 4 stars)


Watch this. Forget _Sideways_—though I suspect that one isn’t actually about wine. Of course, I suppose this one isn’t either.

Anyway, the characters in this are more likeable. Or, if dislikeable, funnier in their dislikeability. It is also based on a true story, though I don’t know that I consider that to be much of a reason to prefer it.

The main reason, in my mind anyway, is that the movie is beautifully filmed in beautiful country. The director allows the camera to luxuriate on California’s wine country. So much so that the land itself almost is a character in the movie.

Bottom line: Fun story, beautiful photography. Skip Sideways and watch Bottle Shock.

06 October 2009

Not so special effects (rated 4 stars)


Until you remember how spoiled we are by digital effects. Given when the film was made—in World War II Britain—they are great. I might even say that they were trying to push technical limits, but I really don’t know enough about that sort of thing to say for sure.

02 October 2009

How to connect both of the computers to the internet

"The payoff of procrastination is wireless."


How I did it: I don't know why I took so long, but I did. I got caught up in other things, but now I've turned my Mac into my work computer and play computer. About time.


Lessons & tips: Sometimes it does pay to procrastinate, because I'm sure had I done this when I initially set out to there wouldn't be a wireless option. Now I can call Netflix for their wireless device. My wife will be happy.


It took me 2 years.


It made me IT Master