Musings from Patmos: Discourse on Display: Blogging from Japan

Greetings and salutations!

Amazingly enough it seems that updates come but once a month these days; not as often as I'd like but at least there's plenty to pass on. First up, if you notice any bugs (coding, format, popups, etc.) on either of my blogs could you please let me know? Also, if you would prefer to see summary posts and click through to the full texts, also let me know; thanks! I'll forego the standard media commentary and Amazon picks for now (not like they matter, right? *S*) any go straight to the goings on in the series of dreams that collectively make up my life.

The first week of June, Jeremy (my brother) and I were able to make a fantastic road trip out to B.C. to visit our mom and other relatives I'd not seen in ages. I'd never driven through the mountains before, and I wanted to take the car out on a long trip, so it was a perfect opportunity and the drive was good times all around. Despite the fluctuating weather (for those not from around here, all of southern Alberta has been under varying states of emergency due to mass flooding caused by recent heavy rainfall), we were able to get in some hiking and Jet-skiing, and the visits were genuinely pleasant. Where things begin to fall apart is on the trip home when the car's transmission breathes it's last breath.

The long and short of it is that Jeremy got to fly (on a plane) for the first time so he was quite entertained. I have had the car's transmission rebuilt new which prompts the following announcement: http://calgary.craigslist.org/car/80199456.html

Next up is the odd realization that, presently, everyone in my immediate family is planning an upcoming move! The list is as follows:

Dad: Brooks - Red Deer
Mom: Winfield - Westbank
Shannon: Calgary - Peta Tikva
Jeremy: Dover - Somewhere Else
Joe: Huntington - Brentwood

Very interesting indeed. Aside from moving, weddings seem to be the order of the season. I must have a list of at least 5 wedding to attend in the near future. This raises the inescapable question of the funeral to wedding ratio, and how it might be resolved.

Aside from wedding invites, I'm also catching a lot of movies these days. I saw StarWars Ep. 3 twice in LA (more on this shortly) and, I have to say (keep in mind I am a StarWars fan), that Revenge of the Sith was one of the WORST movies I have seen in a long time. I boo'd it in the theatre and immediately launched a letter campaign berating George Lucas and begging him not to destroy the Indiana Jones series as he did StarWars (ok, so I didn't start a campaign, but it was that bad...seriously). Batman Begins was a surprisingly great film and does nearly everything required for bringing another tarnished series back from the abyss. Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Lords of Dogtown were both entertaining, and am I looking forward to seeing several movies in the future, including Charlie & the Chocolate Factory and Howl's Moving Castle. Of course, I'm still stoked about FFVII: Advent Children hitting DVD Sept. 13. My favorite movie out so far this year is Constantine, which hits DVD July 13th.

Long delayed, a brief E3 report: I love LA and always enjoy spending time there. Aside from wandering about downtown, I watched StarWars and strolled the beach in Santa Monica. I had the wonderful pleasure of attending a Nobuo Uematsu concert in Hollywood as well. E3 itself was a blast as I had a Superpass for the first time. Most of the games didn't throw me too much but the previews for XBox 360, Sony Playstation 3, and Nintendo Revolution were very cool. The Wayans brothers were on hand with a few other random celebrities. Pics from this year's event are viewable by clicking the Browse My Photos link.

Random thoughts and such:

Am I crazy, or do women these days seem to only be attracted to men who don't respect them and don't treat them properly? Maybe I'm missing something.

"Generally, in free democracies, an individual will form an opinion based on what he or she has seen and heard in the media. That presents a special challenge to the media to provide its audience with material that can serve as the basis for an informed opinion. The power of the media is such that slanted reporting can have an enormous impact on public opinion."
American OSCE Conference on Anti-Semitism Delegate Sander Gerber

"Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Then I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14:1-4)