Finally had time to blog! Topics covered in this post:
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- Photos
- Recording
- Some other stuff
- Grand Theft Auto San Andreas
- Intel and Apple stuff
Pretty long post, so just skip to the parts that interest you (if any)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Obviously I watched it. It was cool. I wouldn’t know how to compare it to the original version since I hear the original was really good, but I thought Tim Burton’s treatment was ok… I mean I wasn’t aware of the whole concept of Willy Wonka to begin with so I wasn’t that hard to please 😉
Photos
Friday last week, I accompanied Nono to a product shoot. It’s really been a while since I’ve done some photography. In fact during the shoot itself I felt much more comfortable watching than anything else.
It was a good thing that I was just there to “help out” and not actually do critical shots (though I did one or two, which gave me a newfound respect for my 28-135 lens), since I was late! The shoot was at 7:30am if I remember correctly.
I Woke up early… Nono hasn’t passed by yet. Decided to play some game (more on this later) to pass the time by. Time flew by quickly#[1] I checked the watch again and it was past 8! Then I checked my phone and saw a bunch of messages and missed calls! It was on silent mode from last night!
Anyways, it was really close, so after getting through the traffic.
The shoot was really tiring, from every perspective, wether you’re helping or shooting, there’s so much to do when you don’t have enough equipment, and believe me, if you see Nono and Tuna’s stuff, that’s already saying something#[2]. Apparently, the “creative director” was so picky that he was also particular about how the light refracts on the surface of the glass in some of the shots… those were really a killer to do. Nono wasn’t there when it happened as he was in a meeting, but he should’ve seen us standing there holding mirrors in each hand aside from the extra lights that were setup.
Truly, he was right when he said that I would learn a thing or two… it was a really fun learning experience and I can’t thank him enough for it. Here’s to the next time we do stuff like that (cheers)
Recording
I dunno when the photo shoot finished, but I had to bail early (about 6:30pm)#[3] for a recording for BP. We got on and finished that, then after, GP called to ask if he and Chrise could come over so we could record in my place (which was like 11pm) for the study tapes of Jet Pangan and May Bayot for the upcoming Vatican concert.#[4] After which, we went to Tapa King… actually they just accompanied me since I was famished.
Some other stuff
One of the days after, we had choir practice for the said concert, and I only had one complaint: Why is it that people like the easy way out in learning music?
GP had arranged a great ending for the Finale, but people deemed it better to just simplify it because people might not get it. What the fuck!? We haven’t even tried singing it and they’re giving up already? I swear, this is the type of mentality that sticks people in a rut!
I wish people wouldn’t decide for other people what their musical competence is, there are others who are willing to learn and improve, as much as those who don’t give a shit… and it’s sad to see that they favor the latter.
So I just vented my frustrations the best way possible – by running over old women and shooting the heads of innocent bystanders…
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto is a game that has no attempt in instilling values to it’s players. Aside from being banned in the US for another case, it doesn’t have a “lesson” so to speak. Instead, it shows you how to corrupt your life and show exactly how crime does pay… I love it!
You play a black guy, named *Carl Johson, and your hometown is Los Santos*#[5] and you come back home because your Mom had been killed in a gang related incident.
From there you go out on missions involving starting gang wars, being hired to steal stuff, kill people, and engage in a whole lot other illegal activities. Turns out that people in higher places are pulling strings that make you end up in such situations.
But obviously, as it is in all other GTA releases, you make a name for yourself and eventually beat the bad guys (or good guys, depending on your perspective) and come out on top… the end justifies the means.
What’s hilarious about this game is that apart from the stealing, killing, racing, etc. It is clear that your characters don’t do drugs, and at some point it is hinted that alchoholism is bad for you too.
So kids, it’s ok to kill, steal, beat red lights, hit innocent civilians, start fights, etc. etc… as long as you do it with a sober, and drug free state of being 🙂
Intel and Apple stuff
Daring Fireball has an excellent response to whatever exaggerated claims people have on the hardware lockdown Apple has seemed to have implemented on OSX that runs on x86 architecture.
I agree 100% in the claims that Apple has no fault in the matter. They said exactly what they implemented beforehand at the WWDC, so it is indeed strange why people seem to be reacting too negatively just because it finally has been implemented.
I do not blame Apple for deciding this way, same as I don’t blame them for creating the shuffle, that doesn’t mean however that I like the decision.
I’m not going as far as calling foul on Apple, since they did no wrong. But I wish they’d open the OS up. I’ll still be an avid OSX admirer regardless of what Apple does for the simple fact that it’s an excellent OS. But I would like the chance to enjoy the OS without paying too much of a premium to be able to run it. I wish I could scrounge up a cheap killer PC setup that can run the best OS today. Instead of shelling out a whole lot more in hardware in which it will only run in.
I can’t imagine why Apple doesn’t want to take the risk and have OSX just run on any machine. Once people can use it on normal boxes, then more exposure for OSX, more people will experience first hand how much better of an OS it is. And it’s not like Microsoft needed to sell hardware to come out on top. I think the OS alone can take over the market if marketed right. They did a killer job marketing their iPod line, so why not just put some extra effort in the OS side.
Oh well, I guess I’ll just wait for the day when OSX has finally been cracked. Though it seems unlikely that it would be that easy, since if they do bypass the hardware check, Apple could very well implement a patch that will fuck up your system on the next software update.
Only time will tell I guess
[1]: That’s what PC games do to you, you know hehehe [2]: Normally it’d take 5 guys minimum to move their usual setup, which consists of 2 containers full of equipment, excluding laptops, and lights. [3]: Yes, that seems to be early in “Photographer time,” as most commitments are whole day affairs. [4]: He arranged a ton of songs to be used… and of course, Chrise and I were his guinea pigs for study tapes. [5]: Oh isn’t it obvious that this game was made for ME!