The Fool's Journey

Stone Mountain Park - March 2006

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 14:45:02 GMT

Stone Mountain Park - March 2006
Originally uploaded by kalabron.

Sunday was too amazing to be trapped inside. We headed out to Stone Mountain Village for some coffee. We then headed for the Stone Mountain Park and afterwards the cemetery. Our reward for all that exercise was a great meal down at Six Feet Under followed by a drink at Graveyard Pub in East Atlanta. The rest of the photos are tagged as http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalabron/tags/smphm2006/

Winter Park 2006

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 15:39:01 GMT

Winter Park 2006
Originally uploaded by kalabron.

My first real ski trip was a success! I took a lesson on the first day and somehow managed to keep all my bones intact. I love Colorado and can't wait until next year. My friends have decided that we are doing this again next year. The rest of the pics are located at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalabron/sets/72057594072699385/

Xbox 360

Fri, 02 Dec 2005 15:33:56 GMT

Yes I am one of those nuts who stood in line at Best Buy for my new Xbox 360. I got in line around 1:30 in the afternoon and had my new baby at just a bit after midnight. I rushed home to find my house without power due to a storm so I still didn’t play until well into the morning (after some much needed sleep)

The System
The box is slick and comes with a wireless controller that is an improvement over the original Xbox controller. You also get a headset for Xbox Live.

The Games I bought
Perfect Dark Zero
Kameo – Elements of Power
Condemned: Criminal Origins
Project Gotham Racing 3
Call of Duty 2

Overall my two favorites so far are Condemned and Project Gotham Racing.

Xbox Live
I am in love with the classic arcade games on Live. I downloaded around 9 games and have been playing them just as much as the other games. They are great for when you only have a few minutes to play.

My gamertag is Vailan. Look me up!!

Invalid video URL.

PSP Media Manager (PlayStation Portable) v1.0

Fri, 04 Nov 2005 19:29:29 GMT

I bought my PSP on the initial launch date which seems like forever ago. I immediately fell in love with the slick (and sexy) design and the idea of playing games over WIFI. The device had the ability to play music but I already had an IPOD that I loved. The device could also play video but there really wasn’t any good content (totally IMHO). I “played” with it for about 2 weeks and put it aside. The games weren’t really anything that I couldn’t play on my PC or my Xbox and I only had 1 other friend that had one. He also stopped playing his after a brief amount of time. All this changed this week with the launch of the PSP Media Manager.

The software basically allows you to subscribe to video feeds (via RSS) and transfer them to your PSP. I am sure this has something to do with the HUGE success of the Video IPOD which I have been considering buying since I feel the video content has dramatically improved. I decided to wait on that purchase and actually try using a device that is simply gathering dust.

So I paid my $20 and downloaded the software.

The software installed fine and after receiving the email with my serial number I loaded it up. The default directory had very few RSS feeds so I decided to fill it up. I had some initial weirdness but finally got it working. The video looks fantastic on my PSP and I love it.

I guess the question is for how long. The Software is very buggy. The feeds I typed in didn’t save correctly and the interface severely needs some tweaking. It simply isn’t ITunes which I love. ITunes is easy. I love the concept of one click subscriptions.

Apple is smart. They have married hardware, software and service.

Wake up Sony! You have the hardware and software. Give me the service!!

So to sum up…. I still think about driving over to the Apple store and buying a video IPOD. I even have a buyer for my old IPOD Photo.

Flock

Fri, 21 Oct 2005 11:44:40 GMT

Well I just downloaded Flock (new browser) that has a built in blog editor and also tight integration with Delicious. This is a prerelease and has potential. I am creating this post from Flock so I am interested in seeing how it turns out. The website for the download (for the brave) http://www.flock.com

Atlanta Photo Stroll 8

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 12:48:29 GMT

Atlanta Photo Stroll 8
Originally uploaded by kalabron.

I met up with the Atlanta Flickr Group on Sunday. We strolled around the Oakland Cemetery, downtown Atlanta, and Cabbage Town. It was a very fun day.

Check out the rest of the photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalabron/tags/atlantaphotostroll8/

GEEK ALERT! (Skype)

Wed, 17 Aug 2005 15:41:13 GMT

Skype(free) + PhoneConnector($39.95) + cheap cordless phone($12) = geek fun

I have been using Skype for many months. My online gamer friends use it too and we usually “conference” each other using Skype to we can talk while playing “World of Warcraft”, “StarWars Galaxies” or “Everquest II”.

The idea behind Skype is cool. Free VOIP. I love free. The only thing is that it requires you to be at your computer to call or receive a call. I heard that some people were using a small USB device (PhoneConnector) to connect a regular telephone to their computer and then they were able to place and receive phone calls the traditional way. When someone “skypes” you it will ring the regular telephone.

Woo!

I decided to give it a try.

I setup everything according to the directions and tried it out. It worked like a champ. I even setup my mom’s regular home number on speed dial and tested it. It worked!! It was the first time I had used Skype to call a normal number and we were both surprised at the sound quality.

Bottom line….. Skype is fun and I hear that Skype-enabled cell phones about a year away.

http://www.skype.com
http://www.phoneconnector.com

Baseball

Mon, 08 Aug 2005 14:13:33 GMT

Baseball
Originally uploaded by kalabron.

I forced myself up early on Saturday and met my friends Jeff and Meg for a tour of Turner Field. I've been to watch the Braves play there several times but I have never done the tour. I figured the tour would be a good place to try capturing some good pics.

The entire set can be viewed by clicking the link below

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalabron/sets/707488/

Urban Decay

Mon, 01 Aug 2005 11:40:27 GMT

Old Bridge
Originally uploaded by kalabron.

I met up with 2 of my friends for a little photo stroll on Sunday. Our topic (thanks to the Atlanta Flickr photography group) was Urban Decay. We had a lot of fun and the rain stayed away (along with the sun).

You can view the "Urban Decay" pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalabron/tags/urbandecay/

Happy Moon Day Everyone!

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 11:22:32 GMT

Today marks the thirty-sixth anniversary of the landing two human beings safely on the moon. Now go enjoy your Tang and Moon Pies.

Rocketboom

Fri, 15 Jul 2005 17:49:17 GMT

I have been a big fan of Rocketboom for a long time. I think today's is the funniest I have seen. check it out

http://www.rocketboom.com/vlog

:)

I'm back!

Mon, 11 Jul 2005 11:47:56 GMT

I have jetlag from hell but I made it to work today. I did finally get in touch with my friend Nikki in Amsterdam and she came and met me. We had a great day together and I can't wait to see her again when we go to Bali next year.

I have posted some of the trip pics to my flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalabron/sets/570647/

Gah I have been away from work for 2 weeks. I have tons to catch up on. I better get busy. :)

update!

Thu, 07 Jul 2005 11:03:11 GMT

I will be back in the states on Saturday. I feel like I have been gone a month. So much stuff packed in. I am in my 3rd country in 2 weeks. Tomorrow I take a train back to Frankfurt where I will spend one final night before flying back to Atlanta. The trip has been a good one. The river boat through the Loire valley was a lot of fun and I had perfect boatmates (Yoron, Davey, One Ball, Gasshole, Spermier, Slippery and Snail Trail) The only Atlantian not on our boat was Kitty Kitty Gang Bang but it worked out really well for her anyway. :) It scares me to think about how much wine and beer we consumed.

My travel buddy (You Bastard) didn't make it due to passport issues so after the cruise I changed my plans and hopped a train for Amsterdam. I really like it here. I got some good pics that I will post on Flickr when I get back. I am hoping to see Nikki while I am here but due to my sudden change of plans she has no idea that I am in her city. I emailed her but haven't gotten a response back yet.

Well it is really nice outside and my camera is yelling at me to get out of it's bag so I better go.

*waves*

i made it to Frankfurt!!

Wed, 29 Jun 2005 15:57:06 GMT

my first day here and i am already in an internet cafe checking email. i need help. hehe. my travelling buddy didnt make it so i am by myself until tomorrow night. i wonder what kind of trouble i can get into.

so pubcrawl is tomorrow and then we are on a bus for france where we will get on our river boats. 5 days on the river and then it is up in the air on what i am doing. i will be back in Atlanta on july 9th.

okay gotta run, this is getting expensive. hehe (oh and this keyboard sucks. all the keys are in the wrong place)

Good Grief!

Fri, 17 Jun 2005 18:43:15 GMT

So I worked 9 1/2 hours yesterday and had just sat down on my couch eating some Indian takeout when I got a call from work. There was a major outage on one of our websites and they were gathering the troops to fix it. So I ended up being on the phone until 5am this morning. BOO!

This meant that I didn't go play soccer at 6am. BOO!

I still had to come to work today so I showered around 9am and jumped in my car so that I would make it to work by 10am. The car didn't start. I had a dead battery. BOO! I am parked in my garage so I have to push my car out of the garage. BOO! I notice my tire is almost flat. BOO!

I called a friend of mine and he couldn't come jump me off. BOO! but his cousin was not too far away and didn't mind coming to help. YAY! His cousin showed up and the car finally started. YAY! I made it to a gas station to get air in my tire. YAY! I finally made it into work at noon. hmm both a BOO! and a YAY!

So if the universe is truly all about balance I should have the most amazing weekend ever.

Tonight is the Decatur Beach Festival and I am planning on taking my camera so that should be fun. Tomorrow morning I have kick boxing and a photography exhibit in the afternoon. Tomorrow night I am bar hopping with some friends and Sunday I am going to be a vegetable. Possibly a squash.

Can I leave work now?

wow!

Thu, 16 Jun 2005 12:33:43 GMT

Batman Begins (Now Spoiler Free!)

I saw this last night and I loved it! This is exactly what a batman film should be. I had high hopes for it and loved every second of it. Casting was perfect. Cillian Murphy was PERFECT as Dr. Jonathan Crane as was Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon. I remember seeing the batmobile at E3 last month and hating it but it made sense in this movie and I see why they did the design like that. I won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil it for anyone but if you want to see a great movie go see it now. You will like it.

No I don't think so. Mud is NOT my friend.

Mon, 13 Jun 2005 13:04:14 GMT

Well the weekend is over. My sister and her husband came up and stayed with me. She had a test to take on Saturday (for her to become a teacher) and they came without the kids so we got to spend some quality time together.

Friday I went to see Hyperdrive play. WOW! They did such a great job! Don't know who Hyperdrive is? Well just wait and you will.

Saturday I got up while my sister and her husband slept and did bootcamp stuff. We met at a kick boxing studio and did Karate for an hour. I LOVED it! I wish we could do more of that. Sunday I got up and met Stacy at the gym. She was downstairs on the treadmill while I was upstairs on the track. If you haven't seen her in a while you should. She is looking damn hot. :)

This morning I got up and was at the park by the required 5:45am. It wasn't raining but it had rained all night so the field was extremely muddy. Our instructors can be cruel. We were running and jumping (ie slipping and sliding) all over the field making it even more muddy. Then we had to lay completely flat on our backs in the mud and wait for them to scream "get up" which we did as fast as we could and do crazy jumps then rinse repeat. We were all very wet and muddy by the time it was over while the instructors all had a good laugh (pure evil). I can't wait to see what new layer of hell we will visit tomorrow morning. :)

Oh! I saw Mr and Mrs Smith this weekend. My one word review...... Meh

Quick Update

Wed, 08 Jun 2005 12:53:01 GMT

Horoscope for Aries...

Aries: (March 21—April 19)
You'll be forced to run more than 50 miles by some cruel bastard who'll rig your hat with a fiendish device consisting of a candy bar, a piece of string, and a six-foot stick.

Bootcamp is going great. I haven't died nor puked yet so that is good. I finally got over being sore on day 4 (YIPEE!) but now I am starting to have knee issues (not so yipee). I think I need to go find a knee brace today at lunch.

Summer TV!

Well the official summer TV schedule has kicked off and the initial shows are filling up DVRs across america. Okay well at least mine seems to be filling up. Six Feet Under had a pretty good opening (I don't want to give anything away but someeone died at the begining) I still need to watch Lisa Kudrow's new show. This Sunday I'll be recorded the season premeire of Dead Zone! Of course all of these shows don't compare to what I am really waiting on.... the return of Battlestar Gallatica!!

Flickr!

Sunday I went on my first Flickr Atlanta Photo Stroll (it was #5) We met up in Historic Roswell and we had a blast. The rain stayed away (mostly) and allowed us to get some cool shots. check out my flickr site for the pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalabron/sets/427042/

The APWBWGTTD Blogger meet-up is tonight and I'm excited! I am not supposed to have beer this month because of bootcamp but I may cheat and have one (shhh don't tell on me) We are meeting at The Highlander on Monroe at 7:30. woo!

I'm too tired to hurt

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 13:06:02 GMT

Well day one of Operation Boot Camp is over. I woke this morning to the sound of pouring rain. I struggled getting my workout clothes on and I was quickly out the door. I made it to the park by 5:45am. We all gathered around standing in the rain waiting to start.

We did a PT test where we did as many sit-ups we could do in a minute followed by pushups. Let's just say holy cow I am out of shape. Next we ran a mile and timed ourselves. Last but not least we did a sprint and recorded the time. Throw in some jogging, stretching, and extra pushups and that was our start for the month.

We will do the same test on the last day and see how much progress we made.

What a weekend!

Tue, 31 May 2005 12:48:09 GMT

I managed to make it down to the camp site by 1pm on Friday. Stacy and I got our tent up and our area organized and checked our agenda which indicated that we needed to start drinking. We did and didn't really stop until we left yesterday. I cannot express how much fun I had. The weekend was full of surprises and lack of sleep. I crashed so hard when I got home yesterday. I hope I have caught up on sleep so I can make it down to Blackburn Park tomorrow at 5:45am for bootcamp.

It wasn't perfect though. I only packed t-shirts and shorts and it started raining Sunday and didn't really stop until after we left on Monday. Rain + t-shirts and shorts + 50 degree weather = fucking cold. Thank God for certain activities that help keep you warm at night. :)

um... I'm a little scared...

Wed, 25 May 2005 18:38:12 GMT

I've been trying to get back on the exercise kick (and I've been failing) so I decided to do something about it.

I just signed up for bootcamp. (eep!)

http://www.operationbootcamp.com/index.htm

Please tell my family I loved them.

"The Movies" game at E3 2005

Wed, 25 May 2005 12:37:12 GMT

"The Movies" game at E3 2005
Originally uploaded by kalabron.

I keep getting asked about what games I saw at E3 that I am excited about... the following is probably my favorite...

"The Movies" is a game being developed by Lionhead Studios and is to be published by Activision.

The game allows you to run your own Hollywood movie studio. It takes ideas from "The Sims" and adds so much more. You can not only control the "lives" of your actors such as putting them in rehab, making them exercise if they get fat and even getting breast enchangements but you can also actually make movies that you can save out to a file.

The possibilities are endless. You can choose your actors, costumes and scenes to combine into whatever movie you want. You can add your own voice, text and music to really personalize each movie you make. The demo guy mentioned that they are planning on hosting a website where people will be able to upload their movies and share for all to see.

I can't remember the release date but I think it will be out in time for Christmas shopping this year (HINT)

:)

Xbox 360 Controller

Tue, 24 May 2005 12:32:01 GMT

Xbox 360 Controller
Originally uploaded by kalabron.

Here is a picture I took of the new Xbox 360 controller at E3. I am going to be very poor when the new Xbox comes out at the end of this year.

Ring Tones

Mon, 16 May 2005 12:11:50 GMT

I arrived at work to find that my company has installed my new VOIP phone at my desk. "cool" I think and start exploring. I quickly find that you can change the ring tones on it and there are 27 different ones I can choose from.

I chose #27. It is called "Wookie"

Wait... My company isn't that cool, is it?

And I was just talking about how much I love that commercial. hehe

funny!

Fri, 13 May 2005 17:14:12 GMT

If you ever saw Napoleon Dynamite check this out....

http://www.atomfilms.com/af/content/anakin_dynamite

soooo funny