Friday, July 28, 2006

Dolt



Get your very own DOLT T-shirt here

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Tattoo

This past week has been the hottest ever. I think there were 5 consecutive 100+ degree days. Of course my house is AC-less. So sweating it out was mandatory.
To top it off, we celebrated Chizzl's birthday at his house,... where? In Livermore, Where it was a solid 118 degrees. That's right 118 degrees.
He did have one window AC unit which helped a bit, but we were still sweltering.
It was necessary for us to employ the ghetto method of staying cool. Ice Packs.
Ice packs on the neck, on the head, on the arms, and on the balls. It all helped.
Sunday, we went to the GF's dad's house where they finished installing a new pool this year. At 86 degrees, we literally remained submerged for 4 hours. I wondered why we did anything BUT stay in the pool. It was a life saver.
Finally, today it's only 90-ish. Which after last week feels positively cool.

I've also been considering getting the tattoo I've always wanted. It's really quite a commitment, so, in deciding what I want for a tattoo, the most important criteria is that it is top-notch. The design, the application thereof needs to be flawless. Which means I'll need to hire someone who is a master of their art. I've also decided against designing the tattoo myself. These guys are masters of their crafts and their tools. It takes specific skills to apply tattoo ink just right. So that it doesn't fade prematurely, be too dark, illegible or otherwise be jacked up.

So far I know I want my last name in chinese. That's given. I'm seriously entertaining the idea of having a complete shoulder piece done. Maybe a dragon, though dragons are pretty played out, but still very cool looking. Maybe chinese painting in the style of my grandfather. That'd be super cool, only I don't know how well it'd translate to tattoo.
Regardless, I'm pretty sure I want to wait, save up the proper amount of money, and have a real piece of art done on me.

Friday, July 21, 2006

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Civ 3



For the life of me I can't remember what I did this weekend. It was that spectacular.
One thing I did was was I went out to buy a video game. I was thinking a Sim City-type game would be a great way to fill my solo-time. The online poker is still going, but my enthusiasm has started slipping. Mostly because the small bucks poker I've been playing is just so,... boring. Grinding out 3 hours just to make $10 isn't exactly great motivation to keep playing in the big tourneys.
So anyhow, I ended up buying Civilization III since I couldn't find SimC. I know that Civilization 4 is out, but this version came with all the expansions and only cost a grand total of $20. Not too bad considering I've already invested about 20 hours into it, and I just bought it Sunday. I'm telling you, this game is addictive. Once I'm on, I can't stop playing it. I had to drag myself away from it last night, when I could barely keep my eyes open. So I care not that there's a new version out. this game is fun enough. If Civilization 4 is any better than III, They should rename it CRACK, The Video Game.
I couldn't even imagine getting hooked on a Massive multi-player game like WarCraft. I'd not only be officially be a "DORK" but would soon be officially "BROKE" "SINGLE" and "FRIENDLESS."
Then again who needs a girlfriend, money and friends when you have dominated an entire continent, eliminated two nations, built a massive army and a growing Navy?

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Obesity in children


Obesity in children
Originally uploaded by Joe_13.
I created this illustration for a story the newspaper is running on childhood obesity.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Joe_13 on films

I'm pretty much a movie junkie.
I've compiled a list of movies I've seen lately. The vast majority of them are recent Netflixed movies. Since I'm too lazy to write up a full review, I'll give you the abridged version of a review.

X-Men 3 - I went into this one with the lowest of expectations and came out entertained. Not quite as good as it should've been. But not horrible. Rent it.
The Proposition - Very slow, dusty and dirty. Can a movie be dusty and dirty? This one is. It's a slow portrait of Australia in Western times. Did I mention slow? It's also VERY brutal. Not for everyone. You'll like it if you like slow movies with flashes of sudden realistic violence.
Winter Soldier - Black and white interviews with soldiers who've experienced real brutality during the Vietnam war. Interesting first person accounts.
Munich - Previously reviewed. Recently re-watched. Excellent film.
End of the Spear - Religious propaganda I think. I was indifferent to this movie.
Underworld: Evolution - Action garbaaage. Skip this shit unless you love mindless action.
Green Street Hooligans - Slightly better than mediocre movie about how Frodo ruins his brother-in-law's hooligan family. Rentable.
16 Blocks - Mos Def with an unbearable retard lisp, and Bruce Willis as a drunken, dirty cop with a conscious. More obnoxious than entertaining. Wait for TV.
The Three Burials of Melquiadas Estrada - Tommy Lee Jones' personal project about the border issue. Average. Wait for it one TV.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - Robert Downey Jr. pretending to be a young man. Mildly entertaining, but pretty far-fetched. rentable.
Final FantasyVII: Advent Children - Great animation. But mind-numbingly BOOOORING. Put in on in the background when you have a house party.
The Squid and the Whale - Wes Anderson's caracature of a Wes Anderson movie. Anoying, but funny at times. Rent.
Duma - Overhyped boy and his cheetah film. Beautifully shot but average at best. Watch it with a kid.
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance- Slow moving, violent portrait of a rich man's revenge and a deaf guy's mistake. Certain artsy fartsy film goers will enjoy this. Bruckheimer fans will hate it.
Sky High- Fun movie. Very cartoon-like. It would be a 10-year-old's dream. Watch it with a kid.
The Ringer - Horrible. Coudn't even finish watching it. Note to Knoxville: Keep the acting to actors.
Masters of Poker: Vol. 2: Phil Hellmuth's Million Dollar Secrets to Bluffing and Tells - This is the worst video ever made. Hands Down. Watching this will make you a WORSE poker player. Skip this.
The New World - Slow moving. Beautiful photography. Interesting setting. A bit too much Obsession-cologne-esque internal monologue/art scenery. Fascinating portrait of early America. Rentable
Capote - Brilliant performance, obviously. Great story. Definitely see this at some point.
Match Point - Twisted love story gone wrong. Scarlett Johanssen goes from incredibly desireable to downright annoying. Interesting movie though. Watchable. Not the usual Woody flick.