This is one of the babies that Barb is helping take care of.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Romeo and Jack
I saw the movie "Brokeback Mountain" recently. I saw it out of curiosity, and I always try to see all the movies nominated for an Academy Award before the awards are presented.
"Brokeback Mountain" is a movie about two gay cowboys who fall in love during the summer of 1963 while herding sheep up on Brokeback Mountain.
This movie follows the classic plot line of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." Two star crossed lovers fall in love and then spend the rest of their lives fighting society's rules, their families, and fate. So, the plot isn't new, but it does twist and turn, much like a bucking bronco.
Is this a great movie? No. But it has two things going for it: great photography and great acting. Actor Heath Ledger plays cowboy Ennis Del Mar and actor Jake Gyllenhaal plays cowboy Jack Twist.
Of the two actors, Heath Ledger stands out. His understated, minimalist acting (think Clint Eastwood) is memorable and worthy of an Academy Award. Maybe another actor could have played the character Ennis Del Mar, but Ledger breathed life into it.
If one ignores the great acting and photography, the rest of the movie is pretty standard fare. It's predictable and follows the same old romance formula a million other romance films have in the past.
The director, Ang Lee ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") is exploring new territory here with directing a romance. And Lee is a competent director, but except for using two gay characters, Lee doesn't show us anything new or exciting in this movie.
In this movie, another outstanding actor is Michelle Williams as Alma, Ennis Del Mar's wife. Michelle took a small part and did a remarkable job. Michelle has been nominated for an Academy Award and I hope she wins.
This wasn't a great movie. But the acting was the best I've seen in years. "Brokeback Mountain" is no longer playing at most theaters. So, you'll have to catch it at the arthouse theater near you or rent it when it is released. This movie is rated R.
"Brokeback Mountain" is a movie about two gay cowboys who fall in love during the summer of 1963 while herding sheep up on Brokeback Mountain.
This movie follows the classic plot line of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." Two star crossed lovers fall in love and then spend the rest of their lives fighting society's rules, their families, and fate. So, the plot isn't new, but it does twist and turn, much like a bucking bronco.
Is this a great movie? No. But it has two things going for it: great photography and great acting. Actor Heath Ledger plays cowboy Ennis Del Mar and actor Jake Gyllenhaal plays cowboy Jack Twist.
Of the two actors, Heath Ledger stands out. His understated, minimalist acting (think Clint Eastwood) is memorable and worthy of an Academy Award. Maybe another actor could have played the character Ennis Del Mar, but Ledger breathed life into it.
If one ignores the great acting and photography, the rest of the movie is pretty standard fare. It's predictable and follows the same old romance formula a million other romance films have in the past.
The director, Ang Lee ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") is exploring new territory here with directing a romance. And Lee is a competent director, but except for using two gay characters, Lee doesn't show us anything new or exciting in this movie.
In this movie, another outstanding actor is Michelle Williams as Alma, Ennis Del Mar's wife. Michelle took a small part and did a remarkable job. Michelle has been nominated for an Academy Award and I hope she wins.
This wasn't a great movie. But the acting was the best I've seen in years. "Brokeback Mountain" is no longer playing at most theaters. So, you'll have to catch it at the arthouse theater near you or rent it when it is released. This movie is rated R.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
The Advantages of Audio Advantage
Two new developments have led me to listen to more music on my computer:
1. Since last September, I now have homework. And I like to listen to music while doing my homework.
2. My last semester class was Audio Concepts, which increased my appreciation of how sound can be changed/manipulated to increase its quality.
I commonly listen to radio stations featuring Blues music. I especially like the Blues radio stations from Louisiana. As almost everyone knows, I don't live in Louisiana. So, I listen to internet radio stations on my computer.
But I've been generally dissatisfied with the quality of sound I've been getting out of my computer. The sound was flat, there was a lot of extra noise, and I didn't have a good way to alter the sound to fit my personal taste. For example, when I listen to music, I like less bass.
To improve the sound coming from my computer, I tried some software I downloaded off the internet but that really didn't do the job. I thought about buying a more expensive sound card. And because my wife commonly works third shift, I usually use headphones in the den to listen to my music; so, a surround sound system was out of the question.
I was in Compusa today and just happened to see a device (Audio Advantage) that promised these audio features for my computer:
Surround sound.
A graphic equalizer (This just means I can increase or decrease such features as bass.)
Sound environments.
I paid my $29.95, took the device home, and installed it. And I was amazed!!!! It improved the quality of my computer sound 100 percent. Before, my computer sounded like a cheap pocket radio. And now it sounds like an expensive stereo system. And now I can make adjustments to fit my taste.
One funny side note is that using this device I can select different sound environments: living room, concert hall, cave, mountains, forest, and more. The sound environment I like the best is called "Padded Cell." I'm not sure what that says about me.
How does Audio Advantage connect to your computer? You install the software, plug a small device into a USB port, and plug your headphones into that small device.
So, I highly recommend this product. Be sure to check the system requirements on the package, before you buy.
And now back to my favorite music on Bandit Blues radio.
1. Since last September, I now have homework. And I like to listen to music while doing my homework.
2. My last semester class was Audio Concepts, which increased my appreciation of how sound can be changed/manipulated to increase its quality.
I commonly listen to radio stations featuring Blues music. I especially like the Blues radio stations from Louisiana. As almost everyone knows, I don't live in Louisiana. So, I listen to internet radio stations on my computer.
But I've been generally dissatisfied with the quality of sound I've been getting out of my computer. The sound was flat, there was a lot of extra noise, and I didn't have a good way to alter the sound to fit my personal taste. For example, when I listen to music, I like less bass.
To improve the sound coming from my computer, I tried some software I downloaded off the internet but that really didn't do the job. I thought about buying a more expensive sound card. And because my wife commonly works third shift, I usually use headphones in the den to listen to my music; so, a surround sound system was out of the question.
I was in Compusa today and just happened to see a device (Audio Advantage) that promised these audio features for my computer:
Surround sound.
A graphic equalizer (This just means I can increase or decrease such features as bass.)
Sound environments.
I paid my $29.95, took the device home, and installed it. And I was amazed!!!! It improved the quality of my computer sound 100 percent. Before, my computer sounded like a cheap pocket radio. And now it sounds like an expensive stereo system. And now I can make adjustments to fit my taste.
One funny side note is that using this device I can select different sound environments: living room, concert hall, cave, mountains, forest, and more. The sound environment I like the best is called "Padded Cell." I'm not sure what that says about me.
How does Audio Advantage connect to your computer? You install the software, plug a small device into a USB port, and plug your headphones into that small device.
So, I highly recommend this product. Be sure to check the system requirements on the package, before you buy.
And now back to my favorite music on Bandit Blues radio.
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