The Kite Runner

One of the books I recently finished was called The Kite Runner. It is the story of an Afghani man who grows up in Afghanistan and comes to live in the US. It is extremely well written, and is very engaging as it gives the reader a glimpse into Afghan culture. I think the most interesting part of the book is that the author has made the protagonist deeply flawed, sometimes to the point where your loyalties lie elsewhere. And just when I thought I could predict where the book was headed, it twists into something else entirely. It is a highly entertaining read. One caution: there are some disturbing descriptions of traumatic events.

Viva Las Vegas

We spent this past weekend in Las Vegas with some friends and family. The hotel we stayed at was centrally located on the strip, with a decent buffet. All the shrimp and crab you could eat. Can't beat that.
We saw one show, La Reve at the Wynn on Sunday night. It was entertaining, if not a little weird. The only drawback was the 10:30 pm start time. The absolute highlight of the trip was watching football in a sportsbook. It's an absolute smorgasboard, trying to watch 10 games simultaneously. It's almost enough to make me want to move to Vegas. By far, the best sportsbook I saw out of the 5 or 6 we went to was the one in Caesars, probably due to the fact they show the games on screens large enough to show movies. I can't recommend this enough if you like watching football. It would have been better had I won the 4 game parlay I picked. I got 3 right, but stupidly picked the over of 51 points in the Colts/Titans game. Easy come, easy go.

Aloha

I've spent the past week on Maui, and had an excellent time. On Thanksgiving, I ate a turkey dinner at a seafood restaurant, and it wasn't too bad. We stayed in condos that were a short walk from Black Rock beach. I even got to catch up on some reading, finishing two books, which I'll get to eventually. I didn't get to snorkel as much as I wanted to, but I did still spend a great deal of time getting thrown about in the surf, which in itself was highly entertaining. The downside of coming home was going from weather that was in the high 70's to low 80's to freezing upon returning. I'd plan a return trip tomorrow if I could

Watchmen

This graphic novel was recently rated by Time Magazine as one of the all time best 100 novels, so I had to check out the hubub. I enjoy comics, having collected them when I was younger, so I was really looking forward to it. So, after having read it, I don't think I'd even put it in the top 100 of comics I've read. It was ok, but some of the subplots and especially the ending were incredibly lame. I thought Kingdom Come was much better. That's why these dopey lists are so pointless: it's all so subjective.

What a show

I went to the 2nd Oakland show for U2 last night, and it was excellent. It was even better than when I saw them back in May in San Jose. We were a little closer to the tip of the stage this time, to the point where you could make eye contact with the band. The only drawback being all the pot smoke, which is bound to happen when Damien Marley is your opener. He was ok, but not great. It was fascinating that he had a guy on stage that did nothing else but follow him around and waive the Jamaican flag. Pretty good gig if you can get it.
And when Bono remembers the concert over the causes, the performance really amps up. They played Fast Cars and Bad for the first time on this tour, and closed with Bad. It was a fantastic show, getting me excited for the last show of this leg coming up in Portland.
Here is the set list they played.

City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
I Will Follow
Gloria
Still Haven’t Found
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo

Pride in the Name of Love
Where the Streets have No Name
One

First Time
Stuck in a Moment
With or Without You

All Because of You
Fast Cars
Bad

Oasis, indeed

Yet another reason why I like Bono so much: his choice of books

The creating process

This is an interesting article on the work spaces of well known Bay Area authors. witw, you may want to skip this to avoid raising your ire.

Interesting book review

I have to admit, this whole Anne Rice thing has me intrigued

Just in time for Halloween

A few years ago I read Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire. I think I even read the next book in the series, and then moved on. Seems Anne Rice has moved on too. Even after reading this article, I'm not sure where she's headed.

Developing a strategy

A while back I mentioned the game "The Hollywood Stock Exchange", and have spent the time since trying out how to get the best return on my portfolio. Holding blockbusters for the long haul seems to be the most rewarding financially, but in terms of quick success I think shorting a stock is the way to go. As a result, my portfolio is closing in on $18 million. If you're not playing this game yet, you should check it out

Violating my own rule

My one hard and fast rule when it came to country music was that it could only be sung by a hot chick to warrant listening to, i.e. Faith Hill. So I've avoided her last album due to the fact that she looks more like trailer trash than hot chick. But thanks to the beauty of Itunes, I bought my first country album by a dude, (This excludes Johnny Cash of course, because he's Johnny Cash and doesn't sing through his nose) that being Brad Paisley. I actually rather enjoyed it, to be honest. Granted, I am opening myself to ridicule and scorn, but so be it. (And if you're reading this and live in Texas, you may not mock me as you live in Texas.) The album is very good and doesn't get too bogged down in overly whiny singing and terrible musicianship, such as that tub of goo Garth Brooks. How that guy ever became popular still mystifies me. Anyway, the album "Time Well Wasted" comes recommended. I think there was only about 2 tracks I didn't really like, given to the excessive use of slide guitar.

Get over it

This article is excellent. I am going to try and buy this book. It boils down to "Life is unfair-deal with it." This is definitely something I've dealt with and continue to deal with in my life. Sadly, I think I may struggle with it until the end of my days as I tend to be too dense about reacting in the correct manner to life's many disappointments. I have learned, though, to really appreciate the good in life. May I never take those few moments for granted

Can a rock star be humble?

So you're being directed to park at some festival and think, did I just see Bono? You might have

Interesting

It was pretty fun to watch the highlights from the White Sox 2-1 win over the Angels. The Angels were hosed by the umpire who didn't call the White Sox batter out verbally, whatever sense that makes. So the batter ends up on first, and a pinch runner scores during the very next at bat to win the game. I liked the press conference where the umpires took no blame, and looked like complete dopes. What makes this so great is the fact that I despise the Angels so much. Couldn't have happened to a nicer team, except maybe the Dodgers. Which proves my theory there is nothing good about LA, even those like the Angels who pretend to actually be from there.

huh?

After looking at the opening acts for the last leg of the Vertigo tour for 2005, I think Bono and the boys have lost their minds. Damien Marley is opening for them in Oakland in November, and nothing goes better together with U2 than Reggae. Check out this website for some dope t-shirts. Yes, bad pun intended. And then in December Kanye West is opening. With his ego, I'm kinda surprised U2 isn't the opening act. It was bad enough to endure the Kings of Leon during the Spring leg of the Vertigo Tour, but this is too much. Then again, I watched PJ Harvey open for them on the Elevation tour in 2001, and she is, to date, the single worst "musician" I have ever seen. After about 5 minutes of what sounded like sticking cats in a blender I could no longer take the sound and waited outside on the concourse for her to finish.
Of course, I have seen them with good opening acts too. No Doubt opend for them on the Elevation Tour as well, and they were excellent. And back on the Popmart tour Oasis opened for them, and they were pretty good as well.
So when going to see u2, the opening bands are great, or they just flat out suck

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire

I just finished this book yesterday. It is a fairly quick read I finished while watching the 49ers roll over for the Cardinals Sunday night. I wouldn't say there is anything groundbreaking in here, but it is a solid book. Basically comes down to: if you want God to do anything in your life or church, then pray. That's it. No formulas or strategies for increasing church growth, just pray. It always seems the simplest things are the most revolutionary, doesn't it?

Quit clowning around

If they're changing Ronald, what do you suppose Grimace is going to look like?

Finished

Well, the worst Giants season in recent memory came to a close last night. Sure, they have 5 games left, and they are mathematically alive, but it's time to start shoveling the dirt. Done in by what caused them pain all year: their pitching. Brett Tomko proved you can have a 97 mph fastball and still suck. But I give them credit for making it interesting into the last week of the season. God bless Randy Winn for giving hope to the hopeless, and for Brian Giles forgetting how his mitt works. At least the Padres can carry the title of worst division winner ever.

Are you donation worthy?

This article shows that people giving to disaster relief efforts want to make sure the victims aren't chronically needy

Fools on Parade

How anyone can take PETA seriously is beyond me.

Nutjob Christianity

I wonder if this guy thinks about what he says before he says it, or just speaks without thinking. I'm going with the latter. He's a great example of following religion for religion's sake.

Color me surprised

I wonder how stuff like this happens. You show up at a charity event to answer phones, see some dude in a goofy hat, and think it must be true love. 4 months later, you read this.

Protestants and Catholics

This is a good discussion on the differences between the two. It was on the message board for the movie "Luther" with Joseph Fiennes. It is worth a rental if you have a free night.

A Tough Weekend

This past Saturday we attended the service of a stillborn infant. It was easily one of the most difficult things I have ever witnessed. The parents handled the service with a grace and dignity that I'm not sure I could ever replicate were I placed in their situation. It was a direct contrast to the service for my 95 year old grandmother who died this summer. With her service, it was a time to remember a life lived, with many good memories. The service this weekend served as a reminder nothing about or associated with life is ever guaranteed. The hard part is not allowing bitterness to creep in when thinking about how hard life can be at times, or in this case, to even attain it.

Hollywood Stock Exchange

This site is pretty cool. It works exactly like the NYSE, but it uses movies and actors for the stocks. It really helps to understand the real stock market a whole lot better. For example, I turned a profit shorting the stock for the movie "Stealth" as it was pretty obvious it wasn't worth $46 a share. Now if only I had the guts to do that with Krispy Kreme in real life. I think the site gives you $3 million to begin trading. So far I've made around 13 million

School of Dying Graces

I just finished this book by Richard Felix. It's about the final months of his wife's life as she loses her battle with cancer. Even though it tells you she dies on the book cover as well again in the first few pages, it still comes as a shock when you are reading it. A review I read said to keep kleenex handy, and they aren't kidding (Unless maybe you're a statue). I highly recommend this book: it isn't schmaltzy in the least and really makes you think about the Christian perspective on death

The book on Bono

The link to the Bono interview is actually taken from a book. Go here to see the book listed on amazon

Is Bono a Christian?

I'd say yes

Giants game

I went and saw the Giants this past Sat, Aug 6th. Surprisingly, the Giants beat the Astros 5-2, with both Astros runs courtesy of SF "closer" Tyler Walker. Other than that fiasco, it was a very enjoyable day. On the whole, this Giants team is probably the most frustrating I've seen in a few years.

Firefly

My wife's co-worker recommended this show not too long ago. I am now onto my fourth disc of the series, which is highly entertaining. I am really looking forward to the movie coming this fall, Serenity, that is based on the show. If you have Netflix, add it to your queue. It is from the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but don't hold that against him.

War of the Worlds

So I finally saw the much hyped Tom Cruise/Steven Spielberg flick. And my final reaction being, "Eh.." It was interesting the way they took worldwide disaster and reduced it to such a myopic viewpoint. I wish that viewpoint had been a little more entertaining, though. The ending was probably where I was most disappointed: like the equivalent of going to Tijuana and actually drinking the water. Montazuma's Revenge, indeed.

Panda Express just a cover?

Don't leave confidential documents lying about out when ordering your take out
See article

Classical music with rock roots?

Who knew that classical musicians lived a rock lifestyle?