EVENT: Oregon Surf Trip

Here's the invite text from Amy and Aaron:

We have decided that the surf trip will be Memorial Day Weekend. A few
of us will likely be heading down to Oregon Thursday the 26th to
reserve some good camp spots, so let me know if you plan on coming so
we can reserve enough sites. If you don't have surf gear- no worries,
there is a great place that does weekend rentals. As the date gets
closer we can discuss who will bring what and arrange carpools. Hope
you can all make it. The link below has a map and some general info
about Oswald West.

http://www.oregonstateparks.org/images/pdf/oswest_full.pdf

Sounds like a really great time to me, I'll just have to see how I can arrange time off of work!

Update: Well unfortunately I didn't get to go down with the crew this time, due to work and moving planning. Hopefully next time!

REVIEW: Star Wars 3 Viewing With REACH

Well what can I say other than finally Lucas got a prequel right. Oh sure, it has its flaws, cheezy love scenes and such, but this time that can't take away from the fact that it's a Star Wars movie. Great action, amazing lightsaber fights, the slow deterioration and turning in Anakin's mind to the dark side, the foreshadowing that sets up the original trilogy. Empire's still the best, but this ranks up there with ROTJ and ANH as a good Star Wars movie. Thank you George, my faith has been restored.

Rating == 3.0/4.0

Update: Saw it for a second time with my Dad recently, and even better the second time, a good sign that they did something right. The cheezy love wasn't as cheezy, the plot holes not as bothersome, and the action just as good. Plus you actually notice Anakin's slow turning and manipulation by Palpatine more so and it really was well done in this movie.

Updated Rating == 3.5/4.0

EVENT: Star Wars 3 Viewing With REACH

So the wonderful people @ REACH (the Boeing young people group) have put together a private viewing of Star Wars Episode 3! A sweet deal if you ask me (helps reduce the nerd quotient... well at least hopefully). Anyways, I've got tickets for Kevin, T, Ashley and myself, so we'll all be going to see it late on Friday the 20th at the Bellevue Galleria.

REVIEW: The Shins @ UW

Wow... where to begin. First off, The Brunettes, an six member group from New Zealand opened and they were amazing! By far the best opening band I've ever listened to. I already have one of their albums on order if that tells you anything.

As chance would have it, Theresa met an old friend, David Hunter, from her graduating class @ Kentwood, who was stage manager for the show! He proceded to hook us both up with backstage passes for when the Shins were on stage which gave us awesome, non-cramped seating and the band was maybe five feet away from us; very very cool. Needless to say, the Shins were awesome, staying very true to their ablum sound and putting on a high energy show that got the crowd really into it! They played a large array of tracks from both albums as well as some new tracks that may end up on their next album.

One funny note; I wonder how many people were there that only knew them from their two tracks on the "Garden State" soundtrack, "Caring is Creepy" and "New Slang". One thing is for sure, the crowd seemed more into these songs.

I'll be publishing pics of the concert once David Hunter sends them on to T and I.

EVENT: The Shins @ UW

A big thanks to T for getting me a ticket to this show. Should be interesting to see The Shins live. I've heard mixed reviews from different sources, so it'll be nice to be able to give my own; So Says I!

REVIEW: Thievery Corporation @ The Premier

First time at The Premier last night. Pretty nice place, the usual expensive drinks for a club, but decent atmosphere. Overall the show was great, with a lot of energy from Thievery and crew and good Seattle love. The sound balance was initally very bass heavy, but as more people filled in, the bass balanced well. Some of the instrumental highs were a little to low in my opinion, but the vocals were very prominent and clear. I wish they had played Amerimaka but overall I really liked the song selection.

Afterwards, Amy, Rob, Kevin and I headed over to The Owl & Thistle for a bit and were treated to some really awesome jam sessions with people from the crowd, including an amazing beat boxer. An evening well spent!

EVENT: Thievery Corporation @ The Premier

So Thievery is coming to town again in support of their new album, "The Cosmic Game". While I think "The Richest Man In Babylon" was a more complete album, there are several really great songs on the new album. The last concert, at the Showbox, was a blast so it will be interesting to see them again. Thanks to Kevin for picking up the tickets. For $40 this concert better be good!

Mac OS 10.4

I finally got T to get me a copy (with that great student discount). I'll be installing it tonight and will post thoughts after I play with it for a while. Initial reviews online, and comments from people I know who have already installed it a very positive so it will be interesting to see what Apple has done with this new update.

Cinco De Mayo!

We had a party over at Rob's new place last night in celebration of Cinco De Mayo. Good steak taco fixings were made up, and of course, Pacifico, Tequila and Margaritas were abundant. Oh and with Chris and Kevin around, the usual array of crazy shots were created and forced upon poor drunk people. Good times!

REVIEW: Mariners vs. Angels

Not only did we lose 5-0, it was a really boring game. In fact the only excitement was Ichiro's amazing catch, to rob Garret Anderson of a second home run, in the 7th inning. It was an utterly amazing catch! Not only did he scale the right field wall, but he caught it backhand... a big standing ovation after the catch from the crowd, which was utterly passive the rest of the game. Ichiro got one hit in the 1st inning, and Randy Winn was 3 for 3 with two walks. Yah, that was the whole M's offense :P.

EVENT: Mariners vs. Angels

Going to go see a M's game with Kev, Rob and the rest of the crew. The way our division has been playing even, it should be a good game! And for only $10 how can I say no, though Kevin makes a good point,

"Monday night 300 level seats are $10.
That's the same price as 24 ounces of beer at the Safe.
Bring a flask."