The Blog with No Name

Today was a good day because Apple released a lot of cool new stuff today. iTunes 4, iPod software update, QT 6.2, and new iPods. I was going to write about all the cool details involved with these things, but I decided that would be rather boring. Instead you can check it out at Apple’s site. I would very much like a new iPod, and I’m considering getting one. A 15 GB one would be realllly nice.

I took the last picture that will make it into the yearbook today. It was a good feeling to know that this thing is nearly out the door. From the layouts I’ve seen, it looks superb. I’m very excited to see this thing finally come off the presses.

I thought I had more to say, but I guess I don’t. Surprise surprise.

Oh, I got a scanner hooked up, so I’m going to be scanning and adding a bunch of photos this weekend probably. Some of them are going to be brand spankin’ new and some will be from my childhood. Stay tuned.

I just finished watching Chariots of Fire again. Such a powerful, pure, simple movie. Easily my favorite movie of all time. I think it’s a strange that it’s my favorite for two reasons. First, I hate running, and the movie is centered around running. Second, I usually enjoy war or sci-fi movies much more than dramas, and this one is pure drama.

If you have not seen this movie. You really should.

I just had to post this.

I’ve added a favicon for my site. You will have to flush your browser caches if you don’t see it already. Also refined by entry page by adding a cooler graphic and automatic redirection. I changed a couple of other things, see if you can notice them. Ha!

Tonight I go to a banquet to take pictures. That should be fun, but I bet I’m going to be really tired while I’m there.

I thought I had something more thoughtful to add, but I guess I don’t.
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Currently listening to After The Eulogy (Live) from the album “Live For Today EP” by Boysetsfire

…is stupid.

The weekend has arrived. Actually, it arrived several day ago for me.

Not much to report. Life is pretty static at the moment.

Top 10 events I’m looking forward to in the next 3 months:

1. Send the yearbook to the printers: (May 1st)
2. X-men 2: (May 2nd)
3. Apple Store opens in Bellevue Square: (May 10)
4. The Matrix: Reloaded: (May 15th)
5. Graduation: (June 7)
6. Rave: (June 7)
7. Extol & Demon Hunter show: (June 13)
8. The Hulk: (June 20)
9. My birthday: (June 23)
10. Terminator 3: (July 2)

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Currently listening to Temptation/Star Guitar - Live from Brixton Academy from the album “American EP” by The Chemical Brothers

I just remembered that I have a bunch of little videos snippets I wanted to work with. I’ll do that after the my job is completed on May 1st. Pretty much all of May I will be pretty free…theoretically.

My RSS feed should be working now…

http://www.steevak.com/blog/b2rss.xml

You see that cover over there? That’s the Dixie Chicks responding to the big uproar about their anti-war, anti-Bush stance. Now, frankly, I don’t give a damn about their views. I really don’t care about any celebrities’ views because it seems to me that celebrities often have some of the most naive, misconstrued views of the world. Anyway, I don’t want to get sidetracked by that. I’d like to point your attention to this article. I have several points to make about the Dixie Chicks and what they say.

First, Maguire’s comment about the nude photo: “We don’t want people to think that we are trying to be provocative. It’s not about the nakedness. It’s about clothes getting in the way of labels.” This is an extremely naive comment to make. Are they that out of touch with America and particularly their fan base? The millions of people who don’t like such a display of flesh are going to be provoked. And all the millions of people who do like such a display of flesh are going to be provoked (but in a different way). Bottomline, it is extremely rare that a nude body does zero provocation, and nude female bodies with anti-war slogans all over them are definitely going to be provocative at this time. And their comment about it being really about “clothes getting in the way of labels” is such a contrived, extraneous excuse. I don’t believe it at all. Besides, they say later on that the nude photo was in response to all their critics…oh, so it’s NOT about clothes getting in the way of labels…I see now… Either the Dixie Chicks are lying through their teeth or they are incredibly naive. Or both.

Next point: it’s nice to know they support our troops 100%. Who doesn’t?

Maines said in a separate ABC TV “Primetime” interview to air on Thursday night that the band members feared for their lives amid criticism they say was “out of control.” Out of control? Oh no! They have pissed off their fan base and nobody likes them anymore! That’s OUT OF CONTROL!!! Ohmigosh, who is going to buy their music now!? It’s unbelievable that people would think they are totally uncool! How DARE people not want to listen to their stuff! If people don’t pay outrageously inflated prices for their CDs or go to their live shows where they tell us how they feel, they are going to STARVE to DEATH!!!! Their lives ARE in danger!!!

Then throughout the rest of the article, Maines basically backtracks on her famous anti-Bush remarks. It’s a ludicrous attempt to save what is left of their fanbase. First, she says she isn’t embarrassed about the President at all. Right, that’s why you got up in front of hundreds if not thousands of fans and said that you were embarrassed. You know, when you’re in front of that many people, you really should be careful with what you say. She says she said it becuase of frustration. If that’s true, then she needs to either grow up or be willing to face the consequences of her words. You can’t just say something like that and then expect everybody to forget about it because you were “frustrated.”

Finally, Maines states, “I honestly felt a lack of compassion for people that are questioning this (war), for the people that are about to die for this on both sides.” Yes, because freeing millions of people from the power of a heinous dictator who has gassed, tortured, murdered, exploited, abused, and threatened them shows no compassion. Give me a break.
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Currently listening to Down To The River To Pray from the album “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” by Alison Krauss

okay, look, i’ve posted three more movies: valentine’s day 2003, My Powermac G4, and Fluger go Boom. you better stickin’ enjoy them because i stayed up too darn late doing this. now i’m only going to get like 5 hours of sleep. >:[

I’m also learning some php so i can get some neato databases up. the first one will be list of all my DVDs. then i’ll do one for my CDs. then i’ll do one for all my friends. then i’ll do my hitlist. then i’ll do …something else.

okay time for bed.
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Currently listening to A Fall Farewell from the album “Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest” by Zao

SteevAK: 147055 words, 758264 letters, 728 smilies, time wasted: 20 weeks 1 day 6 hours 1 minute .

Look at that. 20 weeks. That’s how long I’ve been in my favorite IRC chat. Of course, I idle in there 24/7, so the vast majority of that time I’m doing something else. But still I do spend quite a bit to time chatting in there. It’s a good thing I suppose. Granted, I’ve never met any of the regulars there nor am I likely to meet them, but it is a good experience to be able to talk to all different sorts of people all over the world. I talk to people in Germany, England, Northern Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Denmark, Brazil, France, Italy, and all over the US. I definitely get a good international exposure (more than most others I’m guessing). Seriously, how else would one easily talk to people in a dozen other countries?

Homework sucks.
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Currently listening to Out Of Range from the album “Balance” by Swollen Members

Mass meetings [...] amounts to nothing whatever if they are mere methods of giving a sentimental but ineffective and safe outlet to the emotion of those engaged in them. Indeed they amount to less than nothing…Until we put honor and duty first, and are willing to risk something in order to achieve righteousness both for ourselves and others, we shall accomplish nothing; and we shall earn and deserve the contempt of the strong nations of mankind. - Theodore Roosevelt, as quoted in Samantha Power’s A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide (Basic Books, New York: 2002)

P.S. Thanks to Kyle for showing me this quote. Quick background: Teddy R. was writing about the mass meetings held to protest the slaugther of thousands of Armenian Christians during World War I.

Easter has come and gone. I suppose this was one of the more well-spent Easter’s I’ve had lately. Actually, now that I think about it, it was just as well-spent other recent ones. I guess Easter my freshman year keeps coloring my perceptions of past Easter’s. You can read about it here. I still remember parts of that day pretty well. This Easter Jess and I made it to church, and then we did a little bit of last minute grocery shopping for our dinner. After dropping the stuff off at my place, she went to work while I did some homework and chatted with people. When she came back from work we made mashed potatoes, steaks, stuffing, and caesar salad for dinner. I grilled my first steaks, which turned out rather well in my opinion. I was so interested in getting the steaks done all the way that I forgot Jess wanted hers with some pink in the center. She was a little disappointed that it got cooked all the way through… After dinner we were going to watch Chariots of Fire, but my DVD player acted up. So, I just did homework while she did crosswords and eventually fell asleep. It was a good Easter.

It is ironic. Earlier today I was just thinking about how I hardly used AIM anymore (even though I’m online almost 24/7) and that I should just stop using it. But, lo and behold, today I have two excellent conversations with old friends. That makes it worth keeping around for a while longer.

Okay, I’m going to start heading towards bed.
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Currently listening to Come Thou Fount by Fernando Ortega

We’ve all heard –or should have heard– of Saddam’s exploitation of the UN’s oil for relief program. This article gives us a small taste of what it was like. Saddam was a man who was living it up while his people starved and suffered to death. He had the audacity to have a grand fireworks on his son’s birthday display for all to see, flaunting his wealth and privilege. Surely, his network of terror had to run deep in order to keep the populace from overthrowing him.

I wish I had greater eloquence right now.

I just had a funny thought…Saddam lived a life that rap stars can only dream of.

I’ll be back later with a more Easter-like post. Hopefully.
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Currently listening to God All Mighty from the album “Melanesian Choirs: The Blessed Islands” by The Melanesian Brotherhood, Tabalia

Man, what a lazy day. I went to be real early (12:30) and slept until noon today. I haven’t gotten that much sleep in a long time. I’ve been wasting the day nicely too. Watched a couple of B-grade sci-fi movies including Mimic and The Beast. Mimic wasn’t that bad I suppose. I’m still waiting for The Beast to finish. It’s like Jaws, except replace the giant shark with a giant octopus.

Tomorrow is Easter. Jess and I are hopefully making it to church, then she works, and then we’ll grill some steaks or something. It should be pretty nice. I’ll have homework to do too. I’ve got some philosophy writing to catch up on.