One Life.

Being a devoted MSN Messenger user, I clicked to upgrade to the latest version tonite, and I got prompted to install some additional programs.  I didn’t feel like adding a bunch of junk to my computer, but one did catch my eye — Writer.  An app to post to your blog from your desktop.  That sounded good, so I installed it… and within about 2 minutes, I’m writing my first blog from it. 

Its got a pretty good looking UI, and even though I’m still using XP, it has that Vista chrome.  It also seems to have additional tools for more extended HTML editing, like adding tables to my post.  Lets see…

Pretty cool!  What else does this do… hmm, its got an HTML Preview of my post, within the blog context, before I submit it.  Nice!  It also seems to have a better, less intrusive HTML code editor.  And it looks like its got a bunch of Web2.0 stuff, like tagging.

Hmm, interesting.  And I can insert a map!

That’s Disneyland using bird’s eye view!  (That one’s for you Ben)

And it looks like you can manage multiple blogs from this thing!  (That one’s for you Kent)

Ok, so we’ll see how this whole thing turns out in the long run, like if I’ll be using it regularly to post to my blog, or if I’ll revert back to the web UI, but so far, its pretty promising. 

Lately, as in for the last couple of years, I’ve been plagued by spam.  Its probably because my web conferencing company lists our emails on our website, a practice which should no longer be encouraged (always use the info at companyname dot com method), but either way, I’ve been looking for a good solution for my spam problems. 

I know a lot of people who use Gmail and they’ve been telling me that their spam blocker is really good, and then Eric tells me that you can actually use them as your mail server!  So I checked it out and its true!  In fact, you can have Google Apps do a whole lot, including host your mail, host your website (not super sure of this), calendars, documents and lots more all for free.  I’m going to experiment using one of my web conferencing affiliate sites to see if their email hosting is good, and I’ll post the results on here.  It could turn out to be a really good, free solution to spam — and I’m hoping thats the case.

I’ve been spending a lot of time with my iPod at the gym since I don’t have anymore gym buddies, and have been in dire need of good music.  I need fast-ish rock stuff, and man, let me tell you, Avenged Sevenfold fits the bill!  Whether you’re trying to do some fast paced cardio, or lifting heavy, it will do the job.  I read a study that people who who listened to music while working out lost 2X the fat of the control group.  So yeah, if you need something to get you moving at the gym, check out their new album.

Hopefully I get some good Adsense action from this! 

I wanted to take my Mom to a movie while she was out here visiting, and there was no better choice than a George Clooney and Renee Zellweger movie.  “Leatherheads” delivers a handful of laughs and has that old Hollywood charm, but the storyline didn’t really grab me.  The story talks about the growth of Pro Football in the US, but also mixes in the story of a football and american hero and Clooney’s and Zellweger’s love story.  Overall, the story went on much too long, lost momentum and by the end when the big game was played out, I was anxious to get home and take my shoes off.  Overall, I think most of my friends and “One Life” readers will be able to live a completly fullfilled life without ever giving up 2 hours on this movie.  Cheers!

Oh man, I’ve been watching this show lately because it comes on before the American Idol Results Show, and its kinda lame… if you don’t know the premise, people try to truthfuly answer questions about themselves which have already been asked using a polygraph and if they answer them truthfully they get money.   It has that “Who Wants to be A Millionaire” structure where you have to answer a set of questions to get up to the next tier of cash.  And they have $25k, $100k, $200k, … up to $500k tiers of cash.

ANYWAY, they’ve been hyping up the season finalle for a few weeks now — a woman who completely destroys her marriage by being money hungry and going for the $500k.  I was watching the whole episode, and before every commercial they ran the same hype — “Watch her completely destroy her marriage … blah  blah blah” — so of course I stuck around.  Anyway, final commercial is done, and the last segment starts… she’s got $25k (the first tier) and going for $100k.  The host is asking her things like “are you SURE you want to answer these questions,” and she’s all “of course!  I want the money” … anyway, having watched people on this show answer questions like “Have you ever been paid for sex” or “Have you ever had sex with a married man” or “Were you in love with another man on the day you married your husband,” I was really expecting some devastating stuff.  Maybe she was already married, or had some children in another country, or maybe had a penis or something.

Anyway, the first question: “Have you EVER regretted marrying your husband.”  Her answer: “Yes.”  Computer says: “That answer is true.”  Ooooh…. big deal.  I’m sure everyone who’s every been married has felt that way after a big fight or something.  Next question — and the and host is like “Are you SURE you want to risk your marriage…” “yes, I do!” the Question: “Would you ever pose nude for an adult magazine for $100k?” Her answer …. “No.”  Computer says: “FALSE!”  THAT was the big question that would ruin her marriage?!?!   THAT was the big season finale?!?!  What a stink!!  BOOOOO… anyway, she lost all her money cuz she lied, and I SERIOUSLY doubt that any of the questions she answered would cause her marriage to fall apart.  Huge let down. 

Anyway, Idol’s on.  I hope Malubay goes home.  :)  Ma lu BYE BYE.

Who goes to two weddings in one day??  I guess Lauren and I do because it worked out quite nicely that way.   The first wedding, Casey and Jeremy Cheek was at the Chart House in Dana Point and it was absolutely stunning.  The view was amazing and it felt like it was on top of the world.  The pastor was a young guy and said a few funny things that was a bit “foot in mouth” but after the chuckles subsided it turned out to be a beautiful ceremony.  Great beer, great food, and I personally had a great time talking business with Nico, Lauren’s ex-roomate’s Charity’s boyfriend.  Still with me?

Then at 5pm we made our way over to Rancho Santa Margarita for the Jen  and James Hyrcyk wedding.  That one was just as beautiful, but the weather started picking up and I wasn’t sure if we were going to have a November Rain video situation on our hand.  Luckly the wind died down and once again, we had a great time catching up with friends, having some good wine, food and all the good stuff that happens at weddings. 

So once again, congratulations goes out to the Hyrcyks and the Cheeks, Americas newest newlyweds!  May you have a lifetime of happines, prosperity and bliss!

 PS - We didn’t take a camera to any of these events, so I got no pics!  Kento, hook it up!

 Update: Kentomatic.com posted some great pics of James & Jen’s wedding.

So the mexico cruise was awesome, as usual.  We ate lots, drank lots and chilled lots.  Really had a good time with Ryan and Lisa and didn’t over do it like last time — we actually made it to Formal Night.  I gambled a bit, and while I started with a $60+ net gain for the first nite, I overall ended up in the hole.  Thats how it always goes. 

Anyway, here’s some pics:

this weekend, lauren, myself, ryan and lisa are taking a cruise to ensenada.  lauren and i have done one of these (booze) cruises before and they’re a ton of fun.  you basically wake up in the morning and have non stop opportunities for activities, eating and drinking.  should be a ton of fun, specially this time that we’re packing our dramamine.  look for pics later.

 here’s one from last time:

Life comes at you fast.  If you don’t stop to look around, you might miss it.

I don’t remember what that’s from, but I’m 30!  It really hadn’t hit me until about 11:30pm on March 11th when I realized I had only 30 minutes of “20s” left.  And then I’d be 30 for the next 10 years.  I contemplated it for a while then got over it.  Then my 30 came, and I still felt ok.

Had an awesome party with my friends, from which I really crashed out way too early.  Got great gifts from friends and family.  Bought myself a really sweet 30s present.  If you don’t know, you gotta find out.

So thats what its about I guess.  You turn 30, you spend some time with your friends, you buy yourself something that makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something, and you get on with your  life.  My mom told me that this is the best decade of your life… you’re still strong enough to do anything you want, and people give you the respect because you now have some experience.  Guess thats something to look forward to.

When I saw the trailers for this movie, I was really intruiged because I’m a bit of a sci-fi geek.  Then when I saw the reviews (avg. C- critics, B- viewers) I was kinda let down and contemplated watching it, but still ended up seeing it today.  Outcome: Lauren wanted to leave within the first 10 minutes, but she indulged me and we sat through it, mainly because I wanted to see if this movied had any redeeming qualities. 

Unfortunely, it really didn’t.  The special effects were good, but the acting was terrible and there was absolutely no chemistry in the romantic sub plot — which is strange because Hayden Christensen and Rachel Bilson are rumored to be dating in real life.  The story was dull and unimaginative, and there was absolutely no depth to any of the characters.  Sam Jackson was fierce as usual, but played much of the same role as in other movies where he’s a sword-ish wielding bad ass (Mace Windu), just without saying muthatrucka as much, probably to keep this movie teen friendly.  And there was no development of a premise which I initially found interesting — the concept of people who could teleport, and a secret society which hunts them.  I keep saying that once teleportation is invented, it will change human kind forever, however “Jumper” will likely go completely unnoticed by society as a whole. 

I recommend you wait for this one to show up on the WB.