I'm Sorry...

I haven't been doing much traditional blogging much. I've been spending all my internet time playing on Seesmic.com, which is kind of a video conversation/video blogging site. I'll be back soon (days not weeks)...

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Technorati Tags: seesmic, blog" rel="tag">video blog, video blogging

The BBC SciFi Phenomenon (or "My Doctor Who Weekend")

So I've really been liking the BBC's SciFi shows the last few years and this weekend was a Doctor Who related weekend. I've never liked Doctor Who until the last few years (I'll lean more towards I disliked it).

Here's my Doctor Who related activities this weekend:

Doctor Who S4E5 The Poison Sky (part 2 to The Sontaran Stratagem) - I was excited that it was on this weekend, but I forgot that it was part two of a two-parter! And it's got Martha Jones in it. Great second part, can't say much without giving anything away, but another very (very) short appearance of Rose. I think we'll see a bit of her (and hear about the Bees until those episodes come up). I was surprised at the mention of Torchwood, but I think Capt. Jack's due for another appearance too (and maybe Sarah Jane).

What's for Dinner?!?

So what are you having?

Technorati Tags: Breaded Chicken Parmigiana, Chicken Parmigiana, dinner, Marie Callender, Marie Callender's, frozen

TequilaCon 2008

I really hope I can make it to TequilaCon 2009....

I'm sad I couldn't go (again).

While I'm just home relaxing this weekend, last week was cRaZy, next week will be semi-crazy and I just went on vacation and I go again in June.

'TQ08 Schwag' uploaded by Blogography

Technorati Tags: Philly, Philadelphia, TequilaCon, TequilaCon 2008, TequilaCon2008

I'm SO happy it's the weekend!

I think this is my first Seesmic embed, so if it doesn't work for you (or even if it does) leave me a comment. If the embed doesn't work properly, try the direct link.

It's kinda boring just looking at my head, I'll have to work on visuals or scenery.

If you try the direct link you can see what the 10 video replies are (I haven't even seen them all yet); they're blog style start and the bottom and work your way up. You used to have to log in to see these and now it doesn't look like you have too...

Technorati Tags: economic stimulus, Seesmc, weekend

Free Star Wars Book (MP3, PDF, Kindle or Sony eBook)

I saw this on SlickDeals.net, get a free Star Wars book "Legacy of the Force: Betrayal") PDF, MP3, Kindle or Sony eBook through Tuesday, May 13, 2008. (If that link doesn't work try this link).

It looks like it's part 1 of a "Legacy of the Force" series that they're trying to promote, book 9 comes out on the 13th. The series is supposed to cover a "new era in the Star Wars universe and features the beloved characters from the original trilogy, answering the questions of what happened to Han, Luke and Leia after the conclusion of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi".

Technorati Tags: Legacy of the Force, Betrayal, Star Wars, Star Wars Legacy of the Force

Iron Man was Awesome!

Just got back from a preview of Iron Man, it was excellent. It was a long movie but it did not feel like it at all, had to be close to two hours. Wonderful visual effects!! I couldn't tell where Tony Stark ended and the CGI began. I was highly entertained and not disappointed at all! I had really high hopes and saw a million different previews and I thought it might spoil it, but that wasn't the case at all.

If you've got kids who want to see it: it's got lots of violence but less than the average violent show (or video game) and the sexual references/scenes are way less than the average soap opera (which is probably too much).

Jon Favreau (who you might remember as the Ultimate Fighting Champion wannabe from Friends) was the director/producer and also played Happy Hogan. The movie adaption book was written by Peter David who always writes good stuff (IMHO) so I'll be checking that out. And of course, a humorous scene with Stan Lee....

Where did our preview tickets come from? We have no idea, they showed up in a Mark's mailbox with no indication of how the were won or distributed. We asked a few people in the theatre where they got their's but it turned out they all "knew someone" or got them from "an aunt/grandmother" and didn't know the original source.

Possible Minor Spoiler below:

88888

It's the little things like this that brighten my day :)

That and the fact it's still running

'88888' uploaded by garylapointe

Technorati Tags: 88888, mileage, odometer

Gary and Mark in Manzanillo

So on the left is my buddy Mark, I think I've been on four vacations with him and I think this is only the second picture of us at a destination. I'm pretty sure this is in Manzanillo, Costa Rica on the Pacific side of the Nicoya Peninsula (if not, it's pretty close to there); it's the fourth town from the southern tip.

I used my cool new QuikPod to take the picture. Last time we got Carla the waitress to take the picture; it was in a little bar in Jaco that doesn't exist any more. Since there was no one else around, QuikPod to the rescue. It's a kind of a stick with a tripod mount and a little mirror so you can take pictures of yourself.

Technorati Tags: Costa Rica, Manzanillo, Manzanillo, Costa Rica, QuickPod, QuikPod

Santa Teresa, Costa Rica - It's not my paradise

So Santa Teresa is supposed to be this beautiful place in Costa Rica (I'm referring to the town in the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula) and while the beaches are beautiful (it is just sand on the ocean) so are a million other areas along the coast. The beaches are great for surfing too, that's really the appeal for some people. I think there is a few surf camps and lots of lessons when we were on the beach.

But the town is mostly just a bunch of spread out stores spaced out along a very very very dusty road. You can see from this Santa Teresa Map how everything is spread out (that main road is a "city block" or two from the beach).

We stayed at the Beach Break Surf Hotel, nothing fancy on the inside (2 beds, A/C , TV and a bathroom) but perfectly clean and functional with a nice porch (I think we got it at a good rate), I'd definitely go back. This was the hotel with the great staff that came around with flashlights when the power went out in twon. Actually, the only reason we stayed in that town was it was the day we had to backtrack because we hit the river that we didn't know how to cross ()read that as we didn't know where to drive to get across the river).

I'm sure there are a few more hotels on the beach if you drive down a driveway, but I need a town (even if it's a tiny one) to wander over to to eat and do some people watching. Some people love Santa Teresa but so far, it's just not for me...

But I will give it another try next trip, it is just "around the corner" from Montezuma....

Technorati Tags: Beach Break, Beach Break Surf Hotel, Santa Teresa, surf

More Than a few Power Outages

So on day one, we had just checked into the hotel and headed out to dinner and the power went out. The restaurant put out some candles, the stove was gas (probably propane) and they were ready to go. Twenty or thirty minutes later it was back on.

I know they have some power problems in the country but that was the longest one I've ever experienced (at least at night). I've never seen anything last more than a few minutes. But we had a few more as the trip went on, a few short ones and a really long one (a hour or so?). Everyone just rolls with it, it's semi-expected, but still inconvenient (especially if hot) and as I said, I've been pretty lucky on my previous four trips.

It gets really dark out there when there are no city lights even in the distance. I always keep a mini-flashlight in my travel bag, but for places where I want to be outside at night (like CR) I take a few with, so it wasn't too much of a problem for us. The small hotel we were at did knock on doors and pass out flashlights to the rooms.

Technorati Tags: Costa Rica at Night, power grid, power outage

Monkey See, Monkey Doo-Doo

So driving along the side of the road somewhere in the vacinity of Playa's Lagarto and Pitahaya (I think). There were some money's alongside of the road. There were a dozen or so at a time but it's really hard to see them. Here's an animated movie of a monkey with a baby on it's back (if that does work, try this MPEG-4 version). I've sen a few computers that couldn't load the previous two options, here's a YouTube link. I'll animate a few of the others when I figure out a better way.

I never knew what kind they were; they're were darker than other monkeys that I've seen down there before and didn't have the white fur on their faces.

Why the silly title of this post? Because one of us got pooped on (and it wasn't me!).

Technorati Tags: baby monkey, doo-doo, Monkey

Insomnia Cookies

Unfortunately, they were closed. But I thought it was a funny name. This location isin East Lansing, Michigan.



They're on-line at InsomniaCookies.com

'Insomnia Cookies' uploaded by garylapointe

Sunday already!

I had such good intentions on getting more Costa Rica blogging done (especially some more photos) the past few days and it didn't happen...

And here I am getting ready to head out to East Lansing to catch a performance of Avenue Q so I expect I won't get much done today either...