Cazuela

Cazuelas at Pepita's. Yes barkeep, I'll take one, and please close me out.

Short rant about HD...

Ok, so my rant isn't specifically with HD technology. It's with the people who spew "wisdom" in online forums about it. (This all being prompted by researching the Warner Bros. Blu-ray exclusivity.)

I constantly hear things like 1080i is not true HD. 720p is actually higher resolution than 1080i. Don't buy a PS3 because it doesn't play games in 1080p. HDDVD has superior sound/video to Blu-ray, or vice versa.

People just need to do some independent research. I don't have the energy to point out the facts... after all it's much easier to complain.

Real quick -

Just finished Dexter (season one) tonight. What a wonderful show. Showtime has redeemed themselves in my eyes... Everything about this show is well done. I suggest to everyone that you at least Netflix it.

Brief: A serial killer is recognized early on by his adoptive father who grooms him to integrate with society, not be caught, and only kill people who deserve it. As an adult he takes up a job as a blood splatter analyst for the Miami PD, provides counseling for his neurotic sister, and maintains the appearance of a relationship with a woman who is as [hopefully] damaged as he is. Things go well until Dexter discovers his other half and engages in a sociopathic game of cat and mouse.

5/5

Piano

I found a killer deal on a refurbished Yamaha digital piano. Since I did not yet declare a resolution for 2008, I combined some retail therapy with what /sounds/ like a wonderful declaration. That is that I need to learn to play a musical instrument again.

The piano I purchased is a fully weighted hammer action 88-key keyboard by the name of DGX620.

If anyone has any advice on where to start, let me know. I played Piano somewhat proficiently as a child, but I have not touched one in nearly 20 years. It was a toss up between Piano and some sort of reed instrument, since I can play both, and a Violin - because I love the way they sound. The keyboard made the most sense. With the voice support I can pretty much synthesize any instrument on the planet. Some take to synthesis better than others, but you get my point. I can also play the keyboard with headphones so Sandy isn't forced to suffer with me during the first few weeks.

Wish me luck.

(My other resolution ended up being to learn French)

Happy New Year!!!!

Happy New Year to everyone!! (Yes, both of you)

I don't have anything schnazzy to write about. I built my first security plugin for Fusebox... um... I saw the Bucket List, which was excellent. I also saw the Grindhouse double feature. Planet Terror was awesome, but Death Proof was just more of Tarantino's cinematic masturbation. I can't stand that ego-freak. Lastly I saw I am Legend. *sigh* While it was so vastly detached from the novel I can't even compare the two. I rate Legend a 5/10 based entirely on its own merit. If you're really that intersted in why, I'd be happy to take up a conversation privately. I've found that pointing out the reasons that I dislike the movie tends to show the flaws to people who are otherwise comfortably numb - taking away from their enjoyment of the flic.

Anyway... Happy new year!