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You might be interested to know that there's two different kind of posts on this blog: "Thought of the Day" and "Normal". The "Thought of the Day" category is a once-a-day random tidbit, usually a funny video or picture, and the "Normal" is just what you'd expect from a blog like this:
Unicorn-Butterfly Soup.
--Kyle
p.s. the subscription options to the left (psst! <---- that way) reflect the same content options
I had to fill up my car today, which in itself is not an exciting event… in fact, it usually ends with me leaving 6 minutes later very angry and upset that Exxon Mobil and others are making huge profits while gas prices soar.
But today was different. Gas has been dropping, one of the few benefits of this “recession”/”depression” caused by the stupidity of the banks…
And I paid $2.89 for Regular, at Valero. In San Jose, CA. Pretty epic.
I received a letter on October 10th from my building’s management regarding alleged “noise complaints”, which are completely false.
The letter
Dear Kyle,
We have received noise complaints in reference to your apartment.
We have received a complaint that music is excessively loud with heavy metal and bass sometimes up to 2-3am and then again at 8am to 9am.
Please note that the noise policy in your lease states that quiet hours are from 10pm to 8am and any excessive noise at any time is in violation of your lease.
I understand that this was unintentional and appreciate your future efforts to moderate your music.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Management
And so, naturally, I put together a response.
My response
I’m responding to your letter of alleged noise complaints, and will do so in list format.
- If I am playing music “again at 8am to 9am”, and the “lease states that quiet hours are from 10pm to 8am”, there is no problem. I am following the same legal document as you, and therefore there any such complaint is laughable, as I am abiding by the binding contract between us.
- “Excessively loud” is very subjective, can this be quantified? Decibels (dB) are the preferred logarithmic sound measurement scale.
- You have not provided any dates, which once again leaves these alleged complaints in murky legal territory. If you recall, I was away for a week this past June, and a noise complaint was filed against me. And I was 3000 miles away. There have also been a number of times that I have received the blame due someone else in this regard, thanks in large part to theprejudice of a certain short-tempered female that lives adjacent to me.
- “Sometimes up to 2-3am”? I am usually asleep at this time, like most people. In the future, I would like this dated and quantified for further clarity of any alleged “heavy metal and bass” parties occurring in my apartment that I don’t know about. While I’m sleeping.
Additionally, there is a certain group of residents in the building on the third floor that are considerably louder, and infinitely more destructive, than I have ever been or will be, and yet I have filed no complaints against them.
Please consider that, by order of magnitude comparison, you should address and resolve the pre-existing situations before reprimanding me for vaguely defined, and nonexistent, behaviors.
Sincerely,
Kyle Brady
That’s right.
In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m a huge fan of Ender’s Game. And Orson Scott Card. As long as it’s not the Homecoming series.
They’re apparently making a movie, but OSC is taking his time to write the script to be perfect. Since alot of the book takes place inside Ender’s head as thoughts or inner dialogue, that obviously wouldn’t translate well to a viewing audience. So the movie’s going to be awhile.
It’s kind of like my Bible.
But imagine my surprise when I realized that a comic book series is coming out, based on the novels.
Fantastic! I usually don’t buy single comics (I prefer the trade books), but I’m definitely picking these up as they come out.
I’m just that much of a fan.
There’s a comic I follow/like (”folike”, pronounced [pho-lyek]) that is having a contest of sorts (read the rules), and so I made a submission just now. I’d like to think it’s more in the true spirit of the comic, instead of me trying to be “cool” or “sexy”… Click for full-size.
Holy mother of all that is evil… “The Dark Knight” looks amazing.
I saw the first real trailer today (attempted to see ‘10,000 B.C.’ but left and got a refund), and I cannot even express how impressed I am. With a trailer. I’d link to it, but seeing it on YouTube or other low quality doesn’t do it justice… you need to be sitting in the dark to truly experience it.
When it first opened with the “Legendary Pictures” symbol, I just assumed it was another preview for the ever-stupid “Iron Man” or something… and then the bat symbol came on. There was a moment where the audience audibly didn’t make any noise… out of anticipation? Out of respect for Heath Ledger? Or both?
If you’ve read any of the writeups for the upcoming movie, then you’ve heard The Joker (by Heath Ledger) as “terrifying” and “amazing”… this falls short of truly describing the impression I got from the 90 seconds of video.
Obviously, The Joker looks like Heath Ledger. But the clown makeup isn’t applied nicely like in the comics or the other Batman movies (or TV shows, for that matter)… it’s applied in a manic, sloppy, “I’m insane” way, and is somehow subliminally very scary.
He talks like a mix between Al Pacino’s gangster persona and Hannibal Lecter… with alot more “crazy” thrown in the mix than you ever saw with Hannibal. “Because to them, you’re just a freak. Like me!” is one of the creepiest lines I’ve heard in a movie since Hannibal’s infamous “Hello, Clarice”.
He laughs like a demonic hyena, something that actually reminds me of … myself.
The facial expressions are probably one of the biggest parts of the role, from what little we’ve seen: a heady mix of disengaged arrogance and what can only be described as “someone who is not accustomed to interacting socially with others”.
Why am I so excited about The Joker? It’s simple: he adds a layer of darkness, insanity, and evil to this movie that will escalate it’s status, spice up the story, and make it far more twisted than the already-dark comics were.
As a sequel, this had the potential of being cheesy and cliche, sort of how the Spiderman series has become… I think with the presence of The Joker (along with other still-developing characters like Twoface), we can safely assume this will not be happening.
—
For more details on some of the minutiae of the film, check out the NY Times’ very long, and good, behind-the scenes.
Or go see an action movie… just to see the previews.
(Part II of II… see Part I)
All photos are property, copyright, etc. of ‘extranoise’.
[Anything Evil]
Elrond’s Pad
I Am Legend / The Matrix
Harry Potter
More Matrix
Call of Duty
Resident Evil
Pan’s Labryinthe
Lord of the Rings (obviously)
[Part I of II]
I found this guy ‘extranoise’ on Flickr today (via BoingBoing or somewhere). And he’s very good at taking actual pictures of things, and processing them… with the end result reminding me of alot of my favorite movies and fiction. Here’s some examples, click for larger… (all are property, copyright, etc. of the owner/creator ‘extranoise’)
Any Movie Involving Water
Halo, Anyone?
Hello, Harry Potter
Black Hawk Down?
The Matrix
Underworld
Lord of The Rings (Gray Havens)
The Day After Tomorrow
…Christians, Jews, and other religions involving Moses, CRACKED has an article up about “The 9 Most Badass Bible Verses”.
Maybe it’s me, but I find this awesomely hilarious. I know, I know, it’s highly offensive and mostly made up… but still. References to Splinter Cell? 300? Child-maiming bears?
Go check it out.
