It’s difficult to write about a car that I really had never been passionate about until about 3 weeks before I figured I could drive it. I knew, for several years, that I wanted to rent a car for my 25th birthday. I mean, what else are you going to do on that day?

I had figured, for a year or two, that I was going to try and rent a Corvette. I would have preferred to rent a C6, just because they seem so refined (even though the styling/design is more evolutionary than revolutionary). Alas, much time spent scouring the internet and calling up a few rental companies revealed that a Corvette wouldn’t be easy to obtain, or cheap. I only found out that Hertz at the airport was getting a Corvette added to their fleet this summer. Yes, that’s singular. So anyway, that was a pointless pursuit, so I decided to find something else.



I had always kind of debated if I wanted a sportscar, or something more ridiculous, like a HUMMER, or something similar. I’m a die-hard fan of the H1, but couldn’t care less about the H2. H3, same story. Now the H4 might actually be a good Wrangler contender, so I haven’t turned my nose up at it quite yet.

Still though, I decided that I’d never really driven a sportscar, unless you consider a 1993 Cadillac Eldorado “sporty,” so why not? The Cadillac is fast, but cushy and doesn’t have the feel of sportiness.

So, inevitably I went with the 350Z. It was the cheapest of what I was looking to get for a day (about $190 with insurance - just in case I destroyed it!), and seemed like it would be a lot of fun. Plus, it didn’t hurt that a friend had mentioned they were awesome to drive. Thanks for that one, Kevin.



Awesome indeed. I did hit 110 twice between Denver and Boulder (I really could’ve gotten it higher, but a 110 mph ticket would have been costly enough), and ended up driving nearly 330 miles that day.

I took it up to Estes Park, one of my favorite drives in the world, simply because the drive up there is full of twists and turns, and incidentally includes many places to pass people who aren’t doing 70 mph. I am normally lucky to hit those curves at 40-45 in the Jeep. I took pictures up in Estes, didn’t really do much there, and drove to Boulder and around Denver some more.

Overall, I really enjoyed my day off from work (I’ve only taken off 5 I think since starting there in September) and spoiling myself with the taste of sportiness for a day.

Through my adventure, I realized a car like the 350Z would be bad for me though. I do consider myself a good driver (though a bit crazy), but even a car with that much power I think I would push too often, and inevitably take it too far. I think one (if not all) of the following would happen: 1. I would kill someone else in an accident, 2. I would get a LOT of speeding tickets, or 3. I would end up killing myself.

So I think I’ve decided that though I enjoy the sportiness of a car, an SUV such as my Wrangler is a good fit for me. It’s sporty enough, 4WD, and a convertible. Though its days are definitely numbered, at this point it’s a perfect fit and I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another one.



I decided this year though that I’m going to do something different every year for my birthday, to hopefully keep it fresh and interesting. Even if it means spending some extra money, I’m more than willing to save up for that than to spend money here and there on smaller crappy stuff.

So I think 2008 may be the year I skydive. I’ve always wanted to, so assuming someone will push me out of a plane (who am I kidding?! I’m sure many people would love to), I think that’s what I’m going to do.

Life’s an adventure. It’s a mistake not to take advantage of that.

So I've intentionally not updated this thing in a couple weeks because I have some really cool pictures I want to include with an update of what's been going on in the last week or two, but I can't get them off the camera just yet.

I returned from Tulsa this weekend, driving about 1700 miles to go see the band I've wanted to see forever, Gravity Kills. The concert itself was awesome, with a decent opening band, and the middle one wasn't really that great or anything to write home about. But Gravity Kills just rocked. It was so cool to see the band that I've loved for so long finally live. I would have gone out to meet up with them downtown (they were hitting a bar afterwards), but had to leave early the next morning (Sunday) to return to Denver.

The noise from this band was utterly insane. They were labeled as industrial/rock (ala NIN or Stabbing Westward), but the concert barely used any sampling or industrial elements, probably because they were all pre-recorded and just played from some audio source.

The concert was more like a heavy metal band though, and it was just awesome. The floor dropped with the bass, the vocals were great, and I realized how much I've missed and loved this band. Brought back some memories of discovering them (from my sister) and listening to them (mainly on a train trip my sophomore year of high school).


Oh-so-crappy picture of the concert with my camera phone. The videos would've been cool, except the sound overloaded my sound and comes across horribly.

It wasn't a cheap trip, but definitely worth it. The keyboard stand that they use (which is legendary) was actually really cool. The keyboardist had a performance all his own with this thing, I couldn't believe how sweet it was. I can't even describe it, but this cool video shows its unique properties:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEXA8SwB ... mp;search=

So this is the 3rd show they've played in about 30 months. They broke up in 2002, but I'm hoping the recent activity may point towards something new. But time will tell, I'm trying not to get my hopes up.

If anyone wants their music, just let me know and I can point you in the right direction.

Anyway, just wanted to write a little something and get that up here. I'll be posting more pics and such when I get them onto my computer, including the 350Z I rented for a day (too much fun!) and the trip to Tulsa with some interesting pictures.

Hope everyone's doing well and staying sane!

So, Spider-Man 3 just came out this weekend. Or was it the Playstation 3? I get the two mixed up. I can’t keep track of Sony’s naming/lettering schemes.



I think this company’s out of new ideas for fonts.

Anyway, this isn’t a Sony bash, as much as it is a Spider-Man 3 bash. Now I admit, I saw it opening weekend (just as I’ve seen the previous 2 on opening weekend and liked them - I was never a Spidey fan), but I think this movie had 2 major things going against it.

1. Batman Begins. There’s no doubt in my mind that BB is THE benchmark for super hero/comic book films, and I’m sorry, but Spider-Man doesn’t make the cut.

2. This movie was way too busy. I mean, it was 150 minutes of Spider-Man, but seriously, there were too many villains. Sandman? Great effects, cool character. Over the top but not necessarily in a bad way. New Goblin? Meh, we’ve seen that before. Harry Osborn’s a jerk. Venom? Pretty cool effects again, but didn’t really DO a whole lot. And let’s not forget the black Spider-Man suit, turning Peter Parker into a complete douchebag.

So wait, did I just count 4 villains? I think I did. The stories for each of these characters (as well as numerous side-plots and such) did no help to the film. In the end, they all clash to give us a cool 10 minute scene, where good triumphs over evil once again.

So, Spider-Man 3 wasn’t really BAD, but it wasn’t really GOOD, either. Which brings in my next point and the whole point of this entry: why all other superheroes just don’t add up.



Batman. Nuff said. The one thing to establish the bat from all other superheroes is the fact that Batman does not have super powers. His alter identity is Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy. Batman’s superpower is money, which means that, in theory, anyone who has enough money could use it to thwart crime and become him. The most realistic of the superheroes, he’s also my favorite.


I mean, how cool is this?!

It’s just always been a down to earth thing, and I’ve never been too involved in fantasy. Admittedly, I enjoyed the first X-Men film (and the 2 after), along with Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2. But then along came Batman Begins, the film to kick every other ass in town. I do realize X-Men 3 came out after BB, but still, X-Men 3 was better than the mediocre Spider-Man 3.



Not even last year’s Superman (which I was excited about) was that great. So Batman Begins is my absolute benchmark for all super hero movies, but then again maybe I’ve been such a die hard Batman guy for so long that I just won’t consider the others because they are too far-fetched.

A friend pointed out to me that Batman is too far fetched, too. I agree, but out of every single one of them, Batman is the only one that could be an average joe, with billions of dollars at his (or her) disposal. Batman is the commoners super hero, and to me will always be king. I simply can’t wait for “The Dark Knight” to hit theaters next summer. We should be seeing a trailer for that in the next 6 months or so.

So when that comes out, the true Batman craze will begin. I hope it crushes Spider-Man 3’s records, but I doubt that it will. SM3 will do very well in the box-office (as it’s proven already this weekend), but it’s just a mindless popcorn flick to kick-start the summer. It’s good for the industry, but bad for ego. Apparently they’re going to do Spider-Man 4, 5, and 6 now. And indefinitely. Well, at least there’s 2008 (and probably 2010 or 11) for Batman Begins sequel(s). And let me tell you: THOSE will define the genre. And they will change your mind, too.

So I can't make a proper entry from Michigan without pointing out this guy:



Howard Dean. YEARRGH!

I've even tried calling our for him a couple of times in my stay here, but that hasn't seemed to work very well. Well, I arrived here in Lansing yesterday afternoon at about 3. The hotel was a short drive away, and the building headquarters for the company I work for is only a few blocks down the road. The building is huge and I got the grand tour today. I still haven't toured around Lansing much - I plan on going to the campus of MSU in the next day or two - except by foot. I've been walking around yesterday and today and have enjoyed it, the atmosphere is pretty accurate to the midwest: calm, peaceful.

It's kind of thought provoking in a way, allows one to kind of shut out the noise of the everyday world and focus on the things that are important and meaningful. I think I'm that kind of introspective thinker anyhow, but being here seems to enhance this sense of myself more than lately. But it could also be that I'm more on my own than normal.

There's a Dunkin Donuts just less than a block or so away from here which I might hit up tomorrow or the next day (which is supposed to be rainy) for some good old fashioned coffee and donut action. I kind of like the business trip thing, but I'm sure that's because I don't really have much to miss when I'm away from home. I welcome the change, as I like to experience new things.

Anyway, this is a side profile shot of our building, I can't even tell you how big it is but it's designed and built very nicely, definitely crammed with cubicles - something that the Denver office doesn't really do nearly as much.



The funny thing is that the guy who is training me didn't know I was coming out until late last week and was unable to get time off from his 2nd job at Starbucks. I was taking a walk around the area today (there are some nice trails and peaceful walks close to the hotel) and decided to stop in and saw him behind the counter! Odd that he would be working at the one I stopped at, but I guess that's just how the world works. No coincidences.

I keep seeing advertisements for 24 on FOX. The show "Drive" doesn't seem to be too interesting, but maybe that's because I don't typically like television. Even attractive women in cool muscle cars doesn't hold my interest for long with the show. Speaking of 24, apparently the movie won't be coming out until the series ends. Slated originally for the end of this season, then next season (as the script wasn't completed to shoot to be released before fall of 2008), I can't help but wonder if their timeline will still be the same? What I mean is, I wonder if the 24 series is coming to an end. This season hasn't been bad at all, but the last several episodes have seemed to lack much excitement and suspense that the show is known for. Although still my favorite show, Lost no doubt has the best writing, and does a good job of keeping me guessing. I guess 24 has become a little, well...stale and predictable perhaps. It's kind of disappointing, and perhaps the writers/producers understand this and are on their way to wrapping it up. I'm not sure, but it'll be interesting to see what happens.

With that in mind, it's time to watch it!

Admittedly, as some of you know, I've been a NIN (Nine Inch Nails) fan for quite some time. Although never truly hardcore (not even sure how to define hardcore), I always enjoyed the mixture of weird instruments (or things that were trying to sound like instruments) and deeply felt, resonating lyrics.

I bought the album "The Downward Spiral" when I was in high school, and enjoyed it mildly. I never made it an effort to go pick up Trent Reznor's other music though. I kind of forgot about NIN for a while until I went to Australia in 1999. I borrowed a friend's CD which had 2 songs that got me turned on to 2 groups: The Perfect Drug, by NIN, and 6 Underground, by Sneaker Pimps.

When I got back, a CD was released of an upcoming single from The Fragile, which was due in late 1999. I must say I was so mightily impressed with this piece of art (even the artwork, shown below, was an indication of how unusual an album this was) that I was instantly hooked on NIN and went on to acquire the rarer tracks and other albums that I could.



Even on the logo, it's half hidden, implying that the sounds were such a major departure from NIN's earlier work. I was hoping it would be a good direction for them to go, as this album is still in my top 5 of all time favorites. The packaging, the feel, the constant melodies and flow of themes and lyrics fit so well, in a CD set that contains 20+ songs, it's hard not to be overwhelmed with what there is on the whole thing.

I even went to a concert in 2000 with some good friends and enjoyed it. The visuals and powerful songs really stood out in my mind. Read my previous post on concerts, but I think why I DON'T go to many concerts is because I want a performance. Musically, visually, emotionally. I want it to encompass me. Exampled by the image below, these concerts are pretty cool (from what I know/have heard).



So The Fragile was the first major release in 5 years. It would be another 6 before anything new came out, which was 2005's oh-so-crappy NIN album WITH_TEETH. Yeah, what?


Okay, so one thing I do like about NIN is that the art direction is very cool, I always enjoy seeing how things "evolve" and what kinds of enhancements are made to simple things like the NIN logo.

So, on this album...

Talk about maybe one or 2 good songs, nothing truly great on there. In fact, I think the best song was one that wasn't even ON the album, that I scoured the internet for (okay it took me 20 minutes). I was skeptical of buying the album at first simply because Trent had recently vocalized his political persuasion rather heavily. Extremely opposed to Bush and the Bush Administration, there were traces of his political ideas on this latest album. I was willing to look past those and try to find the voice of this album, but I simply couldn't. Political nonsense aside, this album sucked. Hardcore.

Fast forward to 2007. This Tuesday (April 17 - Tax Day!) is the latest NIN album, called Year Zero. The concept seemed interesting at first. It takes place in a Dystopian future somewhere around 2022 or something. It's about how the world basically sucks because it's run by religious "nuts" who control everything: the government, the military, and whatever else. Hmmm...is someone anti Republican?

Though the viral marketing campaign has been insane (read here), I can't help but being majorly turned off by this move. Yeah Trent we get it, you hate Bush. Join other millions of Americans. I'm not going to sit here and say that he's right (or wrong), but I hate it when someone abuses their spotlight for promoting their own agenda. I don't care what side he's on, who he likes, just shut the crap up and make music.

So with that in mind, I'm going to give this one a try. But I'm pretty certain it's going to be the last NIN album I'll buy. And maybe it's that I fell in love with an album that was unlike any other. Or maybe it's that I'm growing up and no longer feel that I need to listen to angry music that's flat out depressing. I like sad songs, sure, but NIN takes it one step further.

I still maintain that The Fragile is probably one of the coolest and best albums I've ever heard. And no matter how much I distance myself from this band (or Trent, same thing), I still believe in that. And maybe that's all that NIN will ever be to me, The Fragile.