Author: Philip

  • The DaVinci Code

    The book is much better. Movie is so-so. If you really want to enjoy the story of The DaVinci Code, I’d strongly advise you read the book. There would be no point in reading the book after you see the movie since most of the story has been revealed. The movie was pretty faithful to the book, no real changes.

    My friends who didn’t read the book thought the movie was okay. There just seems to be a lot of talking in the movie, where they basically explain a lot of backstory and history. It’s different with the book because you’re reading it and following the action and discovering clues along with the characters. But in the movie, it’s all explained or shown to you, you’re not really immersed in it. While for book fans like me, it was nice seeing the story in film, but the movie seems a little dull.

    There was one notable trailer during the previews and it’s for a movie called World Trade Center. I don’t know, I kind of have mixed feelings about it – I mean wow, a movie on it so soon? I don’t know what it is but everytime I see footage of 911 it gets me a little choked up.

  • Net Neutrality

    Net Neutrality is a very important concept for anyone using the Internet or web-based services like VoIP phone service. Net Neutrality basically refers to the principle of letting users have equal access to any website or web service they want. Right now, companies like Verizon and AT&T, which own significant portions of the Internet network infrastructure, have been heavily lobbying Congress not to put Net Neutrality into law.

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  • No Academic Motivation Left

    Wow, since Spring Break my motivation to do school work has plummeted. I just don’t feel like doing any school work anymore. I look at my textbook and it’s just like, I don’t want to read this at all. There just doesn’t seem to be a point, at this point. I’m focusing more and more time on entrepreneurial endeavors. In under 2 months I’ll be a graduate. I can’t wait to be out of school.

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  • V for Vendetta

    So I watched V for Vendetta over the weekend and it was really good. As you may know, it’s produced by the same creators of The Matrix trilogy. The movie is thought provoking and a lot of the stuff alludes to what’s happening in the world today. The basic plot is that because of the global war on terror and attacks in England, English citizens eventually give up their civil liberties in the name of security.

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  • Under Pressure

    Pressure pushing down on me
    Pressing down on you no man ask for
    Under pressure
    That burns a building down
    Splits a family in two
    Puts people on streets

    It’s the terror of knowing
    What this world is about

  • The Science of Hell

    I got this from an acquaintance who posted it on Xanga and I thought it was really amusing/funny. So here, sharing is caring:

    The Science of Hell

    The following is supposedly an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid-term. The answer by one student was so “profound” that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well.

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  • The Patriot Act Should Not Be Renewed

    Man, I’m glad some politicians in the Senate have some balls and are doing the right thing without partisanship. The Patriot Act should not be renewed in its current form. Most people don’t even realize the kind of power the Patriot Act gives government agencies. Sure, they need some expanded abilities in order to gather intelligence and fight terrorism, but you should not give them such broad powers without some kind of oversight. Freedom in exchange for security? No, I don’t think so.

  • Aeon Flux

    I saw Aeon Flux last Friday and it was a pretty good movie. I only vaguely remember some episodes of the old cartoon on MTV, so you don’t really need to be an Aeon Flux fan to enjoy this movie because the movie stands on its own. Some critics are saying the plot is confusing but I thought it was pretty straightforward, so unless you’re an idiot, you should have no problems.

    The story isn’t amazing but it is fairly interesting. The cinematography, set design, and overall style of this movie are cool. There are a lot of good shots throughout the film and the action is pretty unique because of Aeon’s style of movement. Even the fashion and architecture are pretty avant-garde so it really creates a different, futuristic environment and makes the movie somewhat artistic. There’s intrigue, mystery, and even love in this movie. I’d recommend the movie to others.

    Aeon Flux

    Charlize Theron definitely nailed the part right on the dot – I don’t think anyone else would’ve been able to portray the character with any depth. Plus Charlize is probably the only actress with the physical attributes to match Aeon Flux. She doesn’t have the perfect body but it’s good enough. Plus she did most of her own stunts, what other actress can do that?

  • Possible Kevin Garnett Trade

    Wow, just a few days ago, I was talking to my housemate while we were watching a horrible Houston Rockets game and I said that Kevin Garnett should just slack off until the Timberwolves agree to end his contract or trade him.

    Kevin Garnett

    Then KG goes on TNT and expresses discontent about the Wolves and Kevin McHale. And now there are murmurs that KG could be traded to New York or Detroit! That’s really exciting news to me. On the one hand, the Knicks SUCK (I lost faith in my home town team a long time ago with good reason) and could probably use a superstar like Garnett. But then again his talents would be wasted because the Knicks just don’t have enough to be a championship caliber team.

    Now on the other hand, Detroit is an awesome team. The Pistons have been my favorite team since they whooped the Lakers 2 years ago. The Pistons are very well rounded with both strong starters and bench players. And they’ve got great defense. Detroit is very likely to make it to the finals again, if not win the championship. The rumors are that Pistons would trade Rasheed Wallace and Darko Milicic. It would be sad to see Rasheed go but he’s being replaced by the 2004-2005 league MVP with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. Those stats speak for themselves.

    If KG goes to Detroit, the Pistons would be unstoppable. Garnett perfectly complements the Pistons. It’s not like the former Lakers or today’s Miami Heat, where they have a bunch of stars that can’t play together. The Pistons don’t have to make major changes to their style of play to accommodate Garnett. But right now it’s all speculation, we’ll have to wait and see what unfolds.

  • VoIP Engines Are Revving

    Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is about to take off. This is one of the first times I had a business prediction that was right on the mark. Three years ago, few people knew what VoIP was. Those Kazaa guys were working on something called Skype and no one really took it seriously. At the time, I thought to myself – man, VoIP is going to be big – it’s going to be disruptive and it’s going to seriously threaten traditional land line telecommunications. For my business planning class a year and a half ago, my idea was to create VoIP phone equipment and strategically partner with services like Skype. The idea was not received well because VoIP was just considered too new. Instead we did our project on mass customization of women’s handbags which turned out well (won an award and some money). Mass customization of retail products is an emerging trend too but I digress.

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