Google Brother

Dear Google,

I know your motto is "Don't be evil". I've got a friend working for you and he seems to think you guys are really behind that motto.

Good times.

That said, I have to say that I'm very uncomfortable with your kind of Big Brother approach to things.

There's something disconcerting about writing up a review on a martial arts movie, submitting it, and then seeing targeted ads regarding martial arts stuff on the Blogger.com confirmation screen.

Okay, "disconcerting" doesn't quite cover it. "Creepy as hell" is closer.

I realize "Don't be creepy" isn't the same as "Don't be evil", but really... do you have to be like this? Really?

Just sayin'

Sincerely,

Me

14 Blades

I got Gam yee wai (14 Blades) over the weekend and watched it over Saturday.

It's essentially the story of some psychotic secret police martial artist working in Ming dynasty China who gets embroiled in some politics. The title comes from the fact he carries a box with 14 swords in it for a variety of killing methods.

The story doesn't make a lot of sense, but I fault that to Daniel Lee's HORRIBLE direction. The costuming, casting, etc. all seemed fine, but the direction was pretty bad. I can't say the script was all that hot either, but I was operating on subtitles, so I'm willing to let that slide.

In a nutshell, it's a reason for Donnie Yen to go around throwing down. There's a variety of other characters who flow in and out of the story for no apparent reason. They have no impact on the overall story.

The final throwdown between Donnie Yen's disgraced secret policeman and the dreadlocked asskicking assassin princess woman was decidedly anticlimactic and kind of stupid.

I'm glad I got the film for a really cheap price. It was amusing, but I'd be upset if I paid a lot for it.

A Few Things

Apparently Hollywood is going to do another Godzilla remake.

They must be stopped. Seriously.

Watched last night's "Lost". Doesn't really feel like they're getting much traction in the storyline with seven or eight episodes left before the series ends.

I'm prepared to hate the ending. I hope I deal with it better than I handled the BSG ending.

I still want to punch Ron Moore and David Eick.

sigh

Oh well. I guess I always knew I never had a shot with Yunjin Kim.

All the same... *sigh*...

Microsuck

Dear Microsoft,

You know what would be really neat?

When you do one of your endless weekly software updates of your craptacular operating system, why don't you leave my custom settings for programs like Microsoft Word alone and stop resetting to the default?

I put custom changes in place for a reason, you know.

I realize the concept of prizing the customer's needs over your own bullshit is a novel concept, but give it a try, huh? You might actually garner some goodwill and make your ridiculous "Windows 7" ads resemble something that might actually be reality one day.

In closing, I hope your private parts experience incurable burning sensations and you experience uncontrolled flatulence for the balance of your days.

Sincerely,

Me

Happy Idiot Box Joy

"Lost" tonight!
"Fringe" Thursday!

GLEE!!!

Saddling Up

I mentioned earlier I got my Saddleback Leather satchel last week.

It was pretty much attached to me as I meandered about on my errands over my weekend.

Me likey much.

I still have strong loyalty to my Chrome bag(s). They win for overall storage capacity, but sometimes it's awkward to wear my Chrome bag around. The thing is big.

The Saddleback satchel is stylish (as much as anything I own can ever be described as "stylish") and can hold the basics I lug around with me.

I'm seriously tempted to get a briefcase when (if?) I have the money. I've been finding myself looking at the deals page a fair amount.

I even saw one that was the color/size I wanted, but we're still talking about a chunk of money I don't have.

*sigh*

Trying to exercise self-control at this point is awfully diffcult.