Well the decision has been made. With nearly $3,500 worth in "damage" (as I like to call it) to my beloved Wrangler, the time has come to bid it adieu. So the search will begin I think in early 2008 to get a vehicle, which I'm pretty dead set on another Wrangler, being black and probably 4 door. It's just too perfect for my needs and wants (and compliments the Colorado environment perfectly with being a convertible and 4X4).


(This is still one of my absolute favorite pics of it, taken in 2003 at Lake Waco with Kevin's digital camera)

So I bought a poster from Allposters.com last night. Big whoop, you might say. Well, I log onto Facebook and somehow it's tracked my purchase. Turns out it's some 3rd party software tracking thing, as mentioned in this article:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,14018 ... ticle.html

Which I think is just crazy. I've come so close to deactivating Facebook in the last couple months for stuff like that. It feels like an invasion of privacy. I'm sure companies do that anyway (hello Google ads?) but still - KNOWING that it's happening and seeing it work is scary.

So Jane gave me a Jack Bauer figure made by McFarlane Toys a couple days ago. She acquired it from the newspaper she works for somehow. It's pretty badass though:



It makes me want to get more movie/TV memorabilia. Like the freaking endoskeleton from Terminator 2. They have 18" figures of the thing (and I even found lifesize ones for $6K! How freaky would that be?) that I want to get and sort of start a small collection of badass figures. I have some Halo ones (McFarlane comes out with a couple in March also), but I think it'd look awesome to have a Batman, Master Chief, Darth Vader, Endoskeleton, and Jack Bauer on the same shelf. I think someday I'll have some sort of room for all this crap. But who knows. Seriously, is this not badass??



I read an article on a push for faster broadband (mostly in the UK), which I think is kind of stupid. It kinda feels like the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray thing...DVD's are barely 10 years old and a new format came around? The successor to CD's is clearly MP3's, but I think a format that replaces or supplements both will come out eventually, but even CD's have been out for nearly 25 years! Some of these technology pushes seem ridiculous. But anyway, the article had a couple cool points geographically about broadband adoption. I did a 28 page paper in a comm class to see if our connectivity has given us any more knowledge of world events, so I think stuff like this is interesting.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7098992.stm

Oh, and speaking of Endoskeleton's and Terminator films, Christian Bale is signed on to be John Connor in what the hopes of becoming a new trilogy of Terminator films.

Now before this took off, I figured it would be crap. I've come to like Bale though, and honestly if they can pull off a good movie I'll be happy. I'll see it either way, if nothing else to see those freaking Endoskeletons once again duke it out and crush skulls, and destroying my possibility of pleasant dreams for months.

Those things are horrifying. I just hope a 4th film won't be. Currently it's titled "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins."

Speaking of Christian Bale, I think The Dark Knight will kick ass. I'm going to check out I Am Legend which has a rumored 8 minute prologue (or something similar) to TDK. These promo pics make it look like everything I know it'll be. Can't freaking wait.



And on that note, good night!

I know it's been a while since I've written, but what a crazy month it's been! I've finally updated all of my information on the travel blog, and am about to post more entries there from my trip to Brazil last fall.

Along those lines, it's always crazy to see headlines and realize that I've been to some of the places that are mentioned. For instance, this story illustrates a reporter getting killed en route to Sucre to cover the unrest that's been evident for quite some time:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7112875.stm

Which is just crazy.

I got back from Minneapolis last night to enjoy a good Thanksgiving with my family. I counted 10 airports that I've traveled through in 4 states and 3 countries in the last 2 months. I've never traveled so much. It's weird because my timelines have shifted: I'm not sure exactly where I've been or what I've done since/between/before these travels.

3 weeks ago I bought the iPhone, just because I'm a consumer whore. Well that's not the only reason, but I really wanted one after playing with Kevin's in Texas. I must say that I love the little thing. That being my 4th major electronics purchase this year (including a new computer, surround sound system and digital camera), I'm spent. I hope that I'm caught up at least for the next year, because I can't afford my tech habits!

My Jeep is currently in the service department at the local dealership, simply because I'm tallying up all the "damage" as I like to call it - to determine if it's worth keeping around or trying to get a new vehicle.



I'm certainly considering this:



But am not sure if it will fit into my budget. A lot of realigning is going to happen with finances, but fortunately with a good trade in value on my Wrangler, it shouldn't be a huge issue. Tomorrow then, is D-Day.

I love surfing online and realizing one of my favorite musicians (Jon Crosby of VAST) has released a new album that's a solo piece with just him and acoustic guitar (apparently). I was just thinking today that at his rate, he'd have something new (or modified) out by the end of the year. So $4.99 later, I've got the MP3's and am ready to go. Jeez I love technology!



Lots of things are coming up in the next month or so including the holiday party for my company, possibly acquiring a new vehicle (likely), DVD's (LOST, 24) and just the holidays in general.

I hosted another LAN party a couple of weeks ago and it was just as fun and successful as the last. The third one won't happen at least until 2008, but that being 5 weeks away, that's not too far.

Once again I'm excited (as always) about everything that's coming up. I'm thankful for all that I have and am excited to push on towards my dreams. I feel that now I can sort of focus on some job stuff and get that done, and am confident that a lot of things seem to be going my way. Even after this lousy speeding ticket.



Ouch.

My brother and niece are coming out for Christmas which I'm genuinely excited for. It's been a long time since I've been around any children during Christmas (probably myself and my brother growing up), so seeing the family expand and such is great. I'm stoked. My niece is the first woman to be born on my dad's side in nearly 100 years. And on my mom's side, the first in about 50 years. So she's a pretty big deal. And so very cute.



Anyway, I will update more later. I hope everyone's well and enjoying the season.

Keep your fingers crossed for snow!

I think one of the things that baffles me is how the internet creates connectivity. Celebrities email their friends, who may or may not be ordinary Joes, just like you and me. But those celebrities have celebrities as well, people they would be honored to meet (athletes, whatever). So in a way it's all relative.

Anyway, I decided a month or so ago to send a message over MySpace to BT, one of my favorite musicians (and personal heroes), asking him for an address to send him something and to tell him what an inspiration he is and how blown away I am by his work. Mainly "This Binary Universe" (TBU) - an instrumental album that has an accompanying DVD with animations and just trippy/awesome themes.


Anyway, I received a response from him this week, in which he wrote to me:

TBU II will blow your mind :) It'll be 2 years from now because of the animations but your gonna freak.

First the new BT album!!
here's my addy
----------------
----------------

THanks man :)

B

I deleted his address for obvious reasons, but the cool thing here is twofold:
1. I have personal confirmation of a follow up to his amazing latest album. This is the first I've heard of any "sequel" or anything.
2. Hearing from a personal hero/celebrity? Completely star struck.

On a side note, I am downloading a side project of Trent Reznor's that's going the way of Radiohead. I decided to support it, as I think any artist these days who is willing to innovate and offer/provide non-DRM tracks is truly in the know of their audience. The particular artist is the following:

Niggy Tardust

Anyway, tomorrow's off to Texas...plenty of updates upon my return!

Well unfortunately the Rockies lost the World Series. It's clear that they just couldn't hit at all, and probably underestimated Boston. I'm glad they went though, what a feat for a team that's been mostly mediocre since its inception in 1993.

I'm heading to Texas this weekend for Baylor's homecoming which I am very excited for! It should be a good weekend to reunite with friends and I will be seeing some of my family too, which will be nice. It will be good to see everyone again.

As previously mentioned, I have officially opened my other blog to document my travels! I'm excited as it's a sliver of my writing and I hope everyone enjoys it to some extent. It doesn't seem to be as elaborate (from Peru and Bolivia) as Brazil's was, but in all honesty, I may expand it a bit, as I need to edit it a little anyway.

Without further ado, here's the link:

Around the world...

(It will have more added on in the coming week, I promise).

Ain't over!

Go Rockies!


That's right, Traci.