word!

Having just got done watching The Day after Tomorrow, I really started to wonder if there could ever really be such a thing as a good apocalyptic movie. I still have the horror that was Deep Impact deeply imbedded in my brain, but yet I was drawn like a moth to the flame. That and the superb body of work the Jake Gyllenhaal is putting together. But the director was the same genius behind Independence Day and Godzilla. So suffice to say, I should have known it sucked, I think they even say that he director these other duds on the DVD case. Silly to ignore such warnings.

All these movies ever do is make the impending doom of the world’s imminent demise the only real story, but it’s so large and grandeous of a problem that everything else gets dropped or faked for the sake of the doom. Sure the end of the world we currently know it would be horrific, but can’t they try to entertain you at least. Indepedance Day at least attempted that and even the most memborable sinking of a commerical cruiseliner Titanic made for a decent movie, not to mention a huge payday for those involved.

And the awesome CGI work the gets generated by these apocalyptic doosies is enough to stop watching as soon as it plays out pitifully as well. Who would believe cartoonish wolves would be so troublesome? You almost half expect them to start talking as they so badly out of place in the movie.

This movie didn’t suprise me, but after hearing people said they watched it and didn’t feel like they wanted to gouge their eyes out with dull spoons, I gave it a chance. I don’t think this genre will ever get my attention again. It’s just that bad.

Had the honor of visiting MSU, Mankato for the first time in three since I graduated. What drew me back was the opportunity to be a science fair judge for the first time. I had gotten requests in the previous years to do so, but always had something going on the weekend they had the event, but this year it worked out. I has somewhat interested to see how the judging went after years in elementary school going to the local science fairs.

All in all, the judging and fair were okay. I would have liked to have been given more time to do the actual judging and view other projects, but with 1300 exhibits, it is somewhat impractical.
After the judging was done, I strolled about campus to see how things looked and/or had changed. The biggest change probably was the new CSU revamp, which is more open and welcoming for a gateway into the university, but really doesn’t face any particular avenue or access to campus, which is offputting, but fits in well with the similarily ill designed Taylor Center. Lots of new, hip furniture with oodles of computer stations and workspaces make it appear they actually thought about the present and future a bit, which is nice.

The other big change was the University’s dedication to it’s athletic facilities, which was well underway when I finished there, but still seems to be progressing. I know they have faced financial hurdles with the State over funding, but by the time they’re done they’ll have pretty much everything sports related brand spanking new.

It’s kind of pathetic that sports play such a large role at MSU. They are only Division I in hockey, so it’s overkill for all the other programs. All that money could be going to education and tuitions that continue to cost more and for what? So they money can go to sports facilities? But then again, the local billionaires that helped spur the growth probably wouldn’t want to be associated with anything boring like a science wing that’s named anything other than Trafton.

After reading about certain celebrations held on April 20th of this year 2005, I thought I had to recount my experiences with the date.

A few years back, when I was in college, I had the great honor of learning what 420 meant in and of itself. It seems to me that the exact year may have been 2000, but I’m not sure. I had went over to the apartment of a few friends that I had gone to high school with and had not seen probably since then. Being typical college kids, they were into experiencing all the joys of partying and the like. I just remember a lot of munchies, incessant reruns of SouthPark , and funny shaped metal pipes.

All the guys said they were making a point to stay up to 4:20 am, but were lax on details as to why this was such a crucial time, although it seemed entirely feasible given the male collegiate lifestyle. So, being interested in being part of this endeavor, and having not seen the Southpark movie, I obliged their request to hang out til this time.

Little did I realize until the fateful time arrived that 420 itself was a reference marijuana and that was a universal holiday and reason to light one up. Also how odd that they used those oddly shaped metal pipes to partake in these festivities. Ah, you live, you learn.

This holiday also heightened my awareness of the ‘neat’ graffiti that miracously appeared on Hwy 111 north of Nicollet one year, say sometime in April and was subsiquently redone the next year.

Just heard a new ditty by Eminem on the ol’ radio, something of a nursery rhyme called Mockingbird. Some song about him growing up poor and having it so rough with things before becoming the most successful white rapper in history. (eat it Vanilla Ice)

see lyrics

And at the time every house that we lived in
Either kept getting broke into and robbed
Or shot up on the block and your mom was saving money for you in a jar
Tryna start a piggy bank for you so you could go to college
Almost had a thousand dollars till someone broke in and stole it
And I know it hurt so bad it broke your momma’s heart

I am amused by this. He’s got the brains to be so successful now, but he couldn’t make sense enough to put all that money someplace safe, say a bank? Silliness.

It also fits his poor image that I read about a few years ago, that when he was down and out in Detroit. His house was getting broken into and the guys stole his new playstation or something. Poor management of priorities as well. Guy says he was starving and penniless, but yet again someone can break in and steal things worth quite a bit of cash. Hard to believe.

Maybe him and all his buddies that always seem to go from rags to riches should fess up and tell it how things really are. Everyone’s got a sob story, just ask them. Except most people I know don’t go on to make millions off of such pains. Maybe they just suck it up and put their money in banks and don’t going buying things that are convienent to steal.

I learned today that Ms. Heidi Klum is expecting baby number two sometime this year with her fiancee Seal (that one-hit wonder singer with that scar upon his face). Sad news indeed. Maybe it’s the whole fact that my favorite supermodel is starting a family. Maybe.

Oh and it seems in vogue now that Britney Spears is also with child via her hubbie as well. Hm… wonder if in 9 months everyone will be toting babies as the new chic accessory?

Seems like alot of persons my age are getting into this fad as well. I wonder what the fuss is all about. And then I get harassed about such things. Lucky for me, I say, I don’t have to worry about a baby or the type of person they generally come from. Lucky me!