Ok, so the new Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince trailer is out. There are a bunch of phony ones on youtube, but here is the real one! I am so excited for this movie. It is going to be so good! Here it is!
Let me know what you think! I loved it!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Life Is A Gamble
If you look at the true definition of gambling, it is to risk something of value on something with an uncertain outcome. This "valuable" thing could be our hearts, our time, our hard earned cash, but no matter what it is, we are willing to risk it for something better (i.e. the uncertain outcome). My friend Albert was here last night and we went out gambling (in a casino). As we were talking I started to think why I was so willing to lose the $20 I put into a slot machine. I knew my odds were bad of winning a jackpot. Hell, I know better just by working in the gaming industry here! But I was still willing to do it. My twenty buck lasted a long time actually. At one point, due to a very nice hit on Keno, I had doubled my money. Why then did I come home with nothing?
I look at our decision to move to Austin as a gamble as well. We are risking comfort, good jobs, familiarity, and closeness of friend to go to a place where we don't know the outcome. I guess that is the excitement of gambling. The adrenaline rush of waiting to see the outcome, to see if your risk was a good one or one that leaves you going home with nothing.
To me, the risk is always worth it! No matter the outcome, something was always learned. Last night for instance, I learned to leave while I am ahead. Doubling my money IS a good thing even if it was only $20. I learned what games paid me more and what games took more money faster. I learned that life is like a casino. You go in hoping for a winning streak. You risk everything to gain something. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but in the end you have to reflect on if the whole experience was worth it. To me, last night was. I was able to spend hours with my best friend who I have not seen since Christmas! We caught up, talked deeper into what was really going on with us, our lives and our relationships. For that alone, it was worth the $20!
I guess what I am trying to say is: Gamble it all! Make the choice, and gamble it all! You may have to lose a little to gain a lot! I think our move will gain us tons! New friends, new experiences, new jobs that might be better than the jobs we have! I am willing to gamble it all! Nothing in life is ever gained without a little risk involved!
I look at our decision to move to Austin as a gamble as well. We are risking comfort, good jobs, familiarity, and closeness of friend to go to a place where we don't know the outcome. I guess that is the excitement of gambling. The adrenaline rush of waiting to see the outcome, to see if your risk was a good one or one that leaves you going home with nothing.
To me, the risk is always worth it! No matter the outcome, something was always learned. Last night for instance, I learned to leave while I am ahead. Doubling my money IS a good thing even if it was only $20. I learned what games paid me more and what games took more money faster. I learned that life is like a casino. You go in hoping for a winning streak. You risk everything to gain something. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but in the end you have to reflect on if the whole experience was worth it. To me, last night was. I was able to spend hours with my best friend who I have not seen since Christmas! We caught up, talked deeper into what was really going on with us, our lives and our relationships. For that alone, it was worth the $20!
I guess what I am trying to say is: Gamble it all! Make the choice, and gamble it all! You may have to lose a little to gain a lot! I think our move will gain us tons! New friends, new experiences, new jobs that might be better than the jobs we have! I am willing to gamble it all! Nothing in life is ever gained without a little risk involved!
Friday, July 25, 2008
Controversial Olympics???
So is it just me, or are these the most controversial Olympic Games in history. Lets make a list of some of the happenings:
-- Tibet - need I say more.
-- Today Iran being told they cannot attend now.
-- Chinese Government evicting people from their homes with violence and in the middle of the night so that they can plant gardens. People literally being in their homes one day and the next morning not only are the people gone but the home had been knock down!
-- The pollution the Chinese are trying to clean up and get cleared out mere week before the start of the games.
-- Thousands of people besieged as the final tickets go on sale in Beijing
-- Chinese government having to change some media laws and opening media ways for Olympic reporting coverage...
The list can go on and on. Every day I am hearing something new.
While talking with one of my dealers who is from Beijing and asking "What the fuck?" she reminded me how good we do have it in the US having the freedoms that we do often take for granted. The freedom to speak out against our President and other government officials, the freedom to live how we want to and feel safe. I often forget that my big mouth would have been killed along time ago in some countries, but here in the States, I am free to go against the grain if I want to. I feel fortunate of that.
-- Tibet - need I say more.
-- Today Iran being told they cannot attend now.
-- Chinese Government evicting people from their homes with violence and in the middle of the night so that they can plant gardens. People literally being in their homes one day and the next morning not only are the people gone but the home had been knock down!
-- The pollution the Chinese are trying to clean up and get cleared out mere week before the start of the games.
-- Thousands of people besieged as the final tickets go on sale in Beijing
-- Chinese government having to change some media laws and opening media ways for Olympic reporting coverage...
The list can go on and on. Every day I am hearing something new.
While talking with one of my dealers who is from Beijing and asking "What the fuck?" she reminded me how good we do have it in the US having the freedoms that we do often take for granted. The freedom to speak out against our President and other government officials, the freedom to live how we want to and feel safe. I often forget that my big mouth would have been killed along time ago in some countries, but here in the States, I am free to go against the grain if I want to. I feel fortunate of that.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
The Beginning
There always has to be a start, so now I am sitting with my iced coffee (second glass in the past hour) deciding what to start my blog with.
I guess I should first start with the reason I am beginning this blog. I figure it is time to have a place that is private yet still public to voice my opinions, frustrations, loves, pleasures, and everything that stems from them. Also, it will allow friends, family, and strangers to get my point of view and the ability to disagree with me or concur. I am on the internet so much doing a lot of nothing, that I may as well do something now.
Yesterday my friend Dave from Salt Lake City was passing through on his way to Comic Con. We have not seen each other in 4 years. The nice thing about good friends is that you don't have to see each other on a daily, weekly, or even yearly basis to get along. We had a fantastic time. Walter and I met up with him and 2 of his friends at The Star Trek Experience for dinner. What a great time we had being geeky with our talk of comics, movies and really not much talk of Star Trek itself (me not being much of a Trekkie). It was followed by an evening of catching up, drinking, some gambling and even an over paid stripper (per Walter's enjoyment). To say the least, it was fantastic.
It made me start thinking how nice it was to see someone I don't get to see often and reunite. How often do we think of a friend and let it pass. I know I am very guilty of that. I think to myself, "Gosh, I need to call them," but give an excuse why I can't. "I'm tired." "I'm not in the mood to talk." "I haven't talked to them in so long, I wonder if they will remember me." I am an idiot for thinking that. If they are truly friends, and you really are one, do any of those excuses matter? It only takes 10 minutes to catch up and really less than a minute to leave a message if that is what comes your way.
This summer so far has been a reconnection of friends for Walter and I. We went to Austin a few weeks back and reconnected with some of Walter's friends from high school; some he had not seen in about 15 years! You know you are friends when people take time out of their busy lives to travel over an hour to see you just for a few hours. We has such a wonderful time. I met new friends and Walter was able to reminisce of past memories. This next weekend I will get to see my best friend Albert who I have not gotten to see since Christmas time. I spoke with my buddy George in Indiana, who I have not talked to in almost a year, and was able to catch up with him. I am learning that I need to be a better friend to all these people I love so much. They each have helped to shape me and edify my life's experiences, and they need to be contacted more than a yearly Christmas card! It is always a pleasure to catch up though, no matter how much time has passed.
I guess I had more to write on this blog than I expected. I guess I will stop this gibberish and leave some for another entry.
'Til next time...
I guess I should first start with the reason I am beginning this blog. I figure it is time to have a place that is private yet still public to voice my opinions, frustrations, loves, pleasures, and everything that stems from them. Also, it will allow friends, family, and strangers to get my point of view and the ability to disagree with me or concur. I am on the internet so much doing a lot of nothing, that I may as well do something now.
Yesterday my friend Dave from Salt Lake City was passing through on his way to Comic Con. We have not seen each other in 4 years. The nice thing about good friends is that you don't have to see each other on a daily, weekly, or even yearly basis to get along. We had a fantastic time. Walter and I met up with him and 2 of his friends at The Star Trek Experience for dinner. What a great time we had being geeky with our talk of comics, movies and really not much talk of Star Trek itself (me not being much of a Trekkie). It was followed by an evening of catching up, drinking, some gambling and even an over paid stripper (per Walter's enjoyment). To say the least, it was fantastic.
It made me start thinking how nice it was to see someone I don't get to see often and reunite. How often do we think of a friend and let it pass. I know I am very guilty of that. I think to myself, "Gosh, I need to call them," but give an excuse why I can't. "I'm tired." "I'm not in the mood to talk." "I haven't talked to them in so long, I wonder if they will remember me." I am an idiot for thinking that. If they are truly friends, and you really are one, do any of those excuses matter? It only takes 10 minutes to catch up and really less than a minute to leave a message if that is what comes your way.
This summer so far has been a reconnection of friends for Walter and I. We went to Austin a few weeks back and reconnected with some of Walter's friends from high school; some he had not seen in about 15 years! You know you are friends when people take time out of their busy lives to travel over an hour to see you just for a few hours. We has such a wonderful time. I met new friends and Walter was able to reminisce of past memories. This next weekend I will get to see my best friend Albert who I have not gotten to see since Christmas time. I spoke with my buddy George in Indiana, who I have not talked to in almost a year, and was able to catch up with him. I am learning that I need to be a better friend to all these people I love so much. They each have helped to shape me and edify my life's experiences, and they need to be contacted more than a yearly Christmas card! It is always a pleasure to catch up though, no matter how much time has passed.
I guess I had more to write on this blog than I expected. I guess I will stop this gibberish and leave some for another entry.
'Til next time...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)