Fuzzy Couch

The blog what speaks for Guido, Troy, Ryan, Brett and Matt

Guido Strotheide | Troy Lowe | Ryan Seggelke | Brett Thomson | Matt Janet

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Erin's here

Posted by guido @ 10:40 PM

I came home from Ultimate to find my sister, Erin, has popped down to visit. And she brought Monet with. Everyone went to bed now, and I with them shortly, but we did show Erin a couple episodes of "Black Books." Not enough time for a game or movie. More doings tomorrow.

Jim K. returned to Ultimate tonight after sitting out the whole year thus far, due to medical reasons. But I'm quite glad to have him back. Wot, wot?

Also, I was shocked to see Willy back from his two-year trip overseas after being gone one year. Unfortunately, his mother's illness is what brought him back. It sure was nice to see him show up very unexpectedly, though.

Monday, May 30, 2005

Vader found

Posted by guido @ 9:30 PM

I'm going to BK in a few minutes to see if there's anything new. I picked these, below, last time I went.

I got someone calling, asking about Ultimate, but I'm guessing from how the guy asks that he's not going to be interested. Darn. I'll call him back anyway, of course, but I don't have my hopes up.

Bindi and Utini met my sister's dog, Monet, for the first time over the weekend. It didn't go as well as it could have. Bindi barked at Monet a lot. Utini and Monet eventually started playing a little bit. We've got some work ahead, as Monet is coming to stay with us for a few weeks, later this summer.

Friday, May 27, 2005

All at once

Posted by guido @ 10:32 PM

It seems to be an eventful week.

Erin came back from Vietnam earlier this week with her dog, Monet. We went up to see them Friday night.

My mother-in-law is moving to Springfield this weekend. We'll be moving her in Sunday and Monday, I think.

Amanda finished school this week, so she and Josh, one of my college roomies, officially moved to Jacksonville this weekend.

I thought work was going to start calming down, but, then again, we've got some other big things about to happen. Darn.

I noticed that today was the last day to register for the St. Louis hat tournament. I didn't know that the deadline was even coming up so soon. I signed myself up, but I haven't heard that anyone else from my group is going to be going. I was hoping they would, 'cause I think hat tournaments are good for people who haven't been tournaments before.

Monday, May 23, 2005

Seeking Vader

Posted by guido @ 7:21 PM

Went over to help Larry (Calhoun) with his printer problem. He's still running Mac OS 8.6, but I got the thing working. I was a little surprised.

I've only found Obi-Wan so far out of week three's BK toys. I'm not going to get the pod racer or Padme, so I'm just looking for the Jawa and Palpatine. ... And Vader still, of course.

I finally found someone willing to trade me an Ephant Mon figure. Whew.

Thursday, May 19, 2005

G@EIII

Posted by guido @ 2:22 AM

Guido at "Revenge of the Sith"

We just got back home after the 12:01 a.m. showing of "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith." Julie and I left J'ville for S'field at about 4:45 p.m., got to the theater at 5:15 or 5:30, got in line ... somewhere around No. 12 or so. We ate some burgers and read our magazines and books until they started letting everyone into the theaters around 9 p.m., I think it was.They supposedly sold out 10 screens in Springfield. As we drove out of there, we saw the entire parking lot was full and people were parked in every spare edge of the road all the way out to the stoplight. That was pretty wild to see.

* * *

WARNING: Spoilers below -- highlight to read.

It seems that some fans have convinced themselves -- as have some critics -- that "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith" is a four-star movie, but it's really a two-star clunker that doesn't fully deliver. "Sith" is stiff. As with Episodes I and II, George Lucas has turned the actors into stone (e.g. Anakin and Padme discussing just about anything).

The movie's nearly two and a half hours long, but until the last half-hour, when Lucas actually establishes an emotional connection, it's one spectacularly designed letdown after another.

What's the big problem? It's gotta be the script. Even with some expert tweaking, the words are devoid of humor and feeling. For those who criticized the performances of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford, watch Episodes I-III and weep. The pace of the movie is such that everything seems jammed in. It's as though there's enough stuff for a trilogy of movies packed into this one movie. And at the same time, it feels like there are things missing.

In the opening space scene with Anakin and Obi-Wan in a cluttered digital landscape, the effect is all rollercoaster, but without weight. The ensuing buzz droids are one of the first unnecessary diversions. The only thing we get from this sceen is Anakin's unwillingness to listen.

Lucas packs "Sith" with so much computerized effects that it doesn't fit with the low-tech original, taking place decades later, which shows the touch of human hands and plays all the better for it (three cheers for stop-motion animated taun tauns). He also clutters every other shot with innumerable clones, droids, ships, etc. I'm not sure why, but he seems to have the compulsion to clutter every frame, so that the simplest conversation is upstaged by its background.

Not only do the effects distract when they do what Lucas intends, but the burps of CG, pasted-on heads and redrawn lips (instead of a reshoot) and and CG body doubles distract in an unintended way.

Samuel L. Jackson doesn't come across badly as Jedi Master Mace Windu, but the best performances come from Ewan McGregor as Obi-wan and Ian McDiarmid as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. As Palpy draws Anakin away from the strict Jedi code, the film is briefly enlivened by the thrill of temptation. McDiarmid paints an awesome portrait of evil. He loses his way at times after his "transformation," becoming a bit cartoonish.

As for the good stuff, little of it involves dialogue. There's Obi-Wan taking on the droid general, Grievous and the massacre of the Jedi ordered by Palpatine. There's Palpatine taking on Yoda.

Anakin's nightmares (though there should have been more of them) about his wife dying, draws him to join the Sith, who claim power over death. If that means the killing of Jedi children, so be it? Initially, the concept of this plot line is sound, but his devolution into the hubris-filled monster happens too quickly. We're forced to believe what we're told about Anakin's gradual decent instead of actually seeing it unfold.

Lucas ALMOST pulls the plot out of the fire in the film's final section, showing Obi-Wan hacking away at Anakin with his light-saber on the lava planet of Mustafar. Lucas even drops a hint that Anakin thinks Padme and Obi-Wan may have been getting it on.

Things it would have been nice to see and other quibbles:

>> Episode III split into two movies (this would mean
>> More show, less tell
>> More polish on the most troublesome CG
>> Why does Yoda give up so quickly after his fight with Palpatine. It seems like a stalemate, perhaps, but not a win for Palpatine.
>> Why do Yoda and Obi-Wan feel the best course of action was to run and hide? Did Yoda have a vision? Palpatine can hide in plain sight but Yoda has to go hide on Degobah?
>> See how Yoda chose Dagobah and him actually going
>> Let us see Qui-Gon's ghost or at least hear him (instead of being merely told about him)
>> Fewer digital background distractions
>> Shorter side-story about Grievous if it means being able to add some more meaningful scenes elsewhere
>> Less on Kashyyyk if it means being able to add some more meaningful scenes elsewhere
>> Padme, Mon Mothma, Bail Organa establishing the beginnings of the Rebel Alliance
>> More substantial reason for Anakin to embrace the dark side (possibly more dreams that send him over the edge
>> EIII omits the one scene it most needs to show: The one in which Anakin commits an act of such evil that there's no turning back (i.e. slaughter of the younglings)
>> Chewbacca kicking some butt or why parade him out?
>> Mon Monthma somewhere more prominent and some shots of the other notable Jedi that got left out (e.g. Shak-ti)
>> It's odd that it takes more than 18 years to build the first Death Star and only one to build most of the second Death Star

>> A reason for Padme's death -- Vader's attack would have been a pretty good one

>> A little more sense of hope for the future at the end, perhaps?

UPDATE 6/15/2005: After second viewing and further consideration, it seems clear that the story arc of Episodes I-III would have been better if Episodes I and most of Episode II would have been combined into one film and a portion of Episode II and a portion of Episode III should have been combinded to become the second movie. Then the remaining story arc would have become Episode III. There's just too little of consequence that happens in Episodes I and II and too much packed into Episode III.

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

2006 Playstation 3 + PSP as thin client!

Posted by Troy @ 11:16 AM

I just watched the pre-E3 Sony Press Event (insider.ign.com) and at 44:19 into the video Masa Chatani is introduced and 47:50 he states that "[Playstation 3] there is also a built in wireless network interface that allows connection to Wi-Fi devices, including Playstation Portable. This allows PSP to become a remote controller, as well as remote screen. Whether you are in the next room, or on the other side of the world. From any remote location, PSP can have access to PS3 to play the local playing game, which runs from the PS3 out of your home. The always on, always connected nature of the PS3 means that your secure media can be accessed remotely at anytime over broadband or wireless networks."

That would be incredible! Playing full power console games over the network wherever you are!

Monday, May 16, 2005

Bunny babies

Posted by guido @ 7:34 PM

Utini found the rabbit hole filled with baby bunnies today. He snatched one of them before I knew what he had found. I quickly told him to drop it. Utini gave the tiny thing an owchie, but he might be OK. I put him back in the hole with the rest of the babies. I showed Julie when she got home and they all seemed to be wiggling around still. They all look like their eyes aren't even open yet.

Josh and I submitted a pic to Jowlers.com last night. They're funny, horrible and wonderful all at the same time.

Made a stencil (below), then used it to make this sign today.

Got the second set of five Super-D Star Wars toys at BK tonight.

Watched "The Grudge" (pretty bad) recently and "Sideways" (pretty good) tonight and added them to my list.

Friday, May 13, 2005

Leg enworsened

Posted by guido @ 9:10 AM

My pulled calf from Tuesday got exacerbated Thursday. I can't really bend my foot, so I'm limping pretty good. -- A couple high school kids (David and Alex) came out to Ultimate last night and said they play with their friends all the time, but they want to play regularly with us; Score! They say they'll be bringing out some of their friends soon, too. Carlos and Jake came with me, so we ended up with 4-on-5. -- Matt R. saw a high school P.E. class playing Ultimate the other day. So, he pulled over and talk to the teacher. The teacher said he'd tell a couple students who seem interested in the game about our group.

Julie's pretty taken with the Kings of Leon lately. She'll probably get me to buy it, since she says I'm the one who buys all the music in the family.

I stayed up late and watched "Gothika" last night. I didn't catch why it's called "Gothika." Could it be that they just liked the word? I enjoyed it OK. The lighting was pretty sweet. I'll have to add it to my list.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

closer, yet

Posted by Matt @ 9:55 PM

Every day I inch closer to the sweet release of a home sale. We settled all contingencies and we're on our way. Actually put out the sold sign last night. I never thought this could be so tense and troubling. It is much easier to buy when you don't have to sell, but the problem there is you have no equity. Just wrong. We have our walk through on the new place this weekend and I just finished repairing the issues with this place. Settled the utilities and stuff today as well. That is sort of fun.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Burger Knight

Posted by guido @ 10:52 PM

Tiny houses are cute, aren't they?

Picked up the first five BK super-deformed Star Wars toys today. A very helpful employee helped me out.

Music listening party

Posted by guido @ 7:14 AM

Listened to the new Weezer album, "Make Believe" and the new Nine Inch Nails album "With Teeth."

Pretty good turnout for Ultimate last night -- six-on-six plus seven onlookers (four of which have played in the past). Two drove over from Springfield. It's been pretty warm lately. I'm going to have to start remembering to bring water.

It's been kinda hot and sticky all week. We've been trying to stay cool around the house and have windows open and fans going and such. The fan left on at night came back to bite me last night, as I woke up with a sore throat. Wish I could set it to turn off after about two hours.

Sunday, May 08, 2005

Stuffed by buffet

Posted by guido @ 9:40 PM

Mom and Dad came out to watch us play Ultimate for a while. Dad flew the airfoil kite and tried out my little guidable kite while we were playing. Wind was a little gusty, but we had a few good runs.

For Mother's Day dinner, we went to a new buffet place that Dad had heard some good things about. It had tons and tons and tons of things to choose from -- and a weird collection of foods, too. Unfortunately, the place was loud and packed. And I think the consensus was that, despite the selection, we didn't find much that was particularly good. They did have a little sushi bar where they'd make stuff to order. I'm not a connoisseur, but it was pretty tasty. Maybe I'll try it again for lunch sometime.

On Saturday we went to Gavin's first birthday party over at J&A's new house. Good burgers and fixins and present opening. Got to take Josh's scooter for a spin around the block. Threw the koosh around, threw the Frisbee around a little with Jordan and Gabe and Free.

Got another flat tire Saturday. This time on the Honda and this time the wheel was stuck pretty solid to whatever's behind the wheel. So we had to leave it there and get me to work. I came back during my dinner break and popped it off and stuck on the donut spare.

Friday, May 06, 2005

Clean sweep! Organization

Posted by Troy @ 11:44 AM

We finished 2 more home projects this week. I think they were inspired by watching too much Clean Sweep on TLC.

Office Closet:
Removed original wire shelf (more for hanging clothes on than books/games)
Attached shelving track with sheet metal screws (metal studs rather than wood) for mounting 3 solid shelves. Placed a 4 drawer file cabinet underneath, which replaced a series of file boxes that were cumbersome to get into.

Garage:
Added two HyLoft ceiling storage units for holiday decorations. Then mounted 2 utility hooks to the concrete block to store 6 folding chairs.

Saw, saw, hammer, saw...

Posted by guido @ 8:01 AM

The office is alive with the sounds of cutting metal and walls being ripped out and hammering and other misc. banging. A little construction for our new printing equipment. Neat, though we just lost the big darkroom. The new equipment better work, because without the darkroom, we can't use the old stuff as a backup.

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Finally!!!!!

Posted by Matt @ 9:11 PM

Well, you all know about my house drama over the past couple of years. Trying to buy and sell, etc.. Today it all came together. We have a strong buyer with a signed agreement and closing date on the house of 6/3/2005. We are moving on Memorial day weekend to the new place in Stillwater. It is hard to believe it is coming together. We are leaving our pride to a great person who will care for it as we have. We're moving to a new territory and different lifestyle, but a welcome one. Things are working out. Now it is time to pack and get out of dodge. So I close on the new place on 5/20, leave for Taiwan on 5/21, return on 5/27, (parents arrive that afternoon), move on 5/28-30, close on the new place on 6/3. Who can work with all this happening?

For the moving I have a 26' manual transmission truck, yes! Tried to get an image, but no luck.

It should be a great time. I think I feel the same as Troy though. Where did I get all this junk? It sure would be nice for someone else to move it, but that isn't going to happen. It is time to call in favors for beer.

Monday, May 02, 2005

Don't panic

Posted by guido @ 9:38 PM

Added "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" to my movie list. We booked over to see it as soon as Julie got home from work. Julie just read the book for the first time recently. It's been a while since I read it. We both liked the movie. I don't think it was the best or anything, but I didn't see why the reviews I read were quite so bad. Maybe it needs to percolate.

I didn't get much else done today; Took out the garbage, rested up and mowed the lawn. Oh, yeah, I ran into Troy's sister at Panera Bread after the movie.

Home upkeep

Posted by Troy @ 6:05 PM

It has been a crazy month for House upkeep / maintenance / projects. Here is a list of things we've done to the house in April:

Painting bedroom and living room

New carpet in all rooms

Outdoor motion sensor lights

Replaced glass in sliding back door

Replaced panel of screen in lanai

Installed network/CAT5 between living room and office

Brinks security system installed

Master closet shelves added

Pool filter cleaned and vacuum replaced

Replaced bathroom exhaust fan

Replaced kitchen chandelier with ceiling fan

Added hardware to all cabinets in kitchen and bathrooms

New garage floor coating

New bed spread for guest room

New grill

New fridge

New washer & dryer

Overall reduction of clutter, had HUGE garage sale

Wow!

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Green pattern by Travis Beckham. Pink and blue patterns by (now defunct) Pixel Adventures.

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"Lincoln, Lincoln, we are proud of you. Lincoln, Lincoln, we will e'er be true. Following the bright Golden Rule, we get things done without much ado. We're happy, we're snappy when we send our call. Lend your voices one and all. If dear old Abe were here I know just what he'd do; He'd say Lincoln, we're proud of you!"

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