Jon Web Log

Morgan Freeman

2008-06-13T22:18:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite thespians. Truly a cool cool, modern guy, and a good actor.

Alize' (pronounced Alazay per 2pac)

2008-04-12T21:11:00.001-06:00

The first beverage in the line, Alizé Gold Passion, was created in 1984 by Marie-Claude and Jean Paul Lafragette as a blend of French cognac, passion fruit juice, and other exotic fruit juices.

Bob Marley should be revered as a God

2008-04-12T20:30:00.001-06:00

A quote (seems to suggest he was a Taoist?):

I don't have prejudice against himself. My father was a white and my mother was black. Them call me half-caste or whatever. Me don't dip on nobody's side. Me don't dip on the black man's side nor the white man's side. Me dip on God's side, the one who create me and cause me to come from black and white.

Rest In Peace Cachao

2008-03-22T21:25:00.001-06:00

The World lost a great one today: Israel Lopez.

Joe Napoiltano

2008-03-19T20:20:00.000-06:00

Mediocre actor, but he's cool. Cheers.

"The Terrorists"

2008-01-30T19:40:00.001-07:00

Unfortunately, because the Bush admin has overused the term terrorist to demonize any opponent of theirs, even political, labelling someone as a Terrorist these days has little or no meaning. In fact, oppressive governments around the world are now using this jargon to label just about anyone who opposes them as a terrorist, people whom me might classify as freedom fighters. This is what happens when you put someone, who can't spell, in charge of the only hyperpower in the world.

My complaints against Google

2008-01-22T21:04:00.000-07:00

Why is it that the greatest search engine on the planet can't index my blog for greater searching on the web, at the very least, on google.com?

bloody. annoying.

Jon Collis

The Illusionist vs The Prestige

2008-01-22T20:53:00.000-07:00

Two movies that came out at the same time, both excellent, but here I cast my vote for the better of the two.

The Illusionist:
This movie is FANTASTIC. I don't like Edward Norton, but I LOVE him in this movie. Jessica Biel is a truly classic thespian in this film, great acting establishing herself as the greatest of the two modern 'Jessica' actors. Beautiful love story.

The Prestige:
Great movie. Good science. Truly inventive plot. I have no complaints of this film, in fact, only praise. I loved it. When compared against the Illusionist, I must place it second, otherwise hard to say how classic the film. Great plot, great acting (from the Reign of Fire dude at the very least, if not Hugh Jackman), and fun.

How to put multiple images into one figure in Latex

2008-01-13T21:16:00.000-07:00

AKA, get four subfigures in one plot in Latex. easily:

After wasting an hour of my time, this is the answer:

\begin{figure}[htbp]
\begin{center}
\mbox{
{\bf a.}
\pdfimage width 3in {HLAarea2.png} \quad
{\bf b.}
\pdfimage width 3in {TEMPERATURE.png}
}
\mbox{
{\bf c.}
\pdfimage width 3in {magicplot_aug19_0830.jpg} \quad
{\bf d.}
\pdfimage width 3in {magicplot_aug19_1330.jpg}
}
\caption{Need better (a): (need better pic which indicates IW positions)}
\label{fig:1}
\end{center}
\end{figure}

The result (why does LaTeX and getting help with LaTeX have to be so difficult):

Batman Begins

2008-01-13T00:11:00.001-07:00

"You can borrow the Rolls if you like, just bring it back with a full tank."

Shooter -- Mark Wahlberg

2008-01-11T21:57:00.000-07:00

I really like this movie for some reason. Probably because Marky-Mark kicks some arse.

"I don't think you understand, these boys shot my dog."

"Welcome to Tennessee, patriot state of shooting stuff."

Q: "You know this for a fact?"
A: "Still got the shovel."

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti

2008-01-11T21:44:00.000-07:00

If you are not aware of the history of this great great man, then please read up.

The African President.

Bad News Bears

2007-12-05T21:24:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm watching the Billy Bob Thornton version of this movie and it is bloody hillarious. There is a bit of cussing (f-bombing for you less than aware), but who cares, it is funny as hell. Classic. I highly recommend.

New Orleans 1

2007-11-30T02:45:00.000-07:00

Went to a "Jazz Club"
tonight in New Orleans. Named, 300 Bistro. Very disappointing, no real jazz. The show started with a high school band singing acapela, which is cool, but not for the price.

A beautiful feature of the Mac/OS X

2007-11-25T22:04:00.000-07:00

When I say MAC, I don't mean Modal Attenuation Coefficient! ;)

A feature of OS X that I use extensively is that anything you have open on the screen you can save to PDF. It is a beautiful thing. Word docs, HTML pages, anything can be saved. Makes my life easy. I'm applying for jobs right now and saving everything as PDF to submit makes it really easy. Saving time with the Mac and loving it.

Lamest Movie Ever!

2007-11-24T19:45:00.002-07:00

Displaced.

Holy crap, can't believe I wasted $5 on this one. Pretty weak.

What came before th Big Bang?

2007-11-11T20:01:00.001-07:00

The Tao.

Christmas Cards

2007-11-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please
Include the following:

A Recovering American Soldier
C/O Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

If you approve of the idea, please pass it on to your e-mail list.

(Of course, if you don't want to send something to an American soldier, you could always pick another delivery destination.)

V for Vendetta

2007-11-07T19:01:00.000-07:00

A most excellent film that I highly recommend. The critics were less than impressed, giving it a B and an average user rated it with a B+ rating, which is good I suppose. Plot is original and impressive, dialogue impressive, acting superb (Hugo Weaving is the man). Most citizen reviewers seem to relate the film to the current Bush regime, however it is a fun film that doesn't necessarily need to have modern relation, though it may implicitly. Also, good historical basis ties in nicely. I'm not a fan of Natalie Portman, but am impressed she was in this show. Good dialogue and points made apparent.

subtitles

2007-10-23T21:14:00.000-06:00

my brother is the man with some of his ideas. my hat tips to him. A recent idea of his that I've enjoyed, is to watch movies with subtitles (in English). There is a ton of dialogue that is missed in movies and doing this catches a ton of stuff. good stuff. good stuff.

feelings

2007-10-19T21:03:00.000-06:00

sorrow, confusion, helplessness, awe, anger, frustration, interest, resilience, anticipation, optimism, hope, calm, impressed (Francis Mcdormand), homesickness, cold, warmth, love, disappointment, longing, resolve, peace, wonder, bitterness, passion, surprise, disgust, humor.

'Good Germans'

2007-10-15T07:02:00.000-06:00

From Frank Rich:

Our humanity has been compromised by those who use Gestapo tactics in our war. The longer we stand idly by while they do so, the more we resemble those “good Germans” who professed ignorance of their own Gestapo. It’s up to us to wake up our somnambulant Congress to challenge administration policy every day. Let the war’s last supporters filibuster all night if they want to. There is nothing left to lose except whatever remains of our country’s good name.

The Fourth Estate

2007-10-13T22:19:00.000-06:00

"It's the only job protected by the Constitution...This is tyranny. When you see it, you're obliged to yell.", Morgan Freeman in the movie Edison Force. It may have been scripted, but bloody beautiful. Doesn't that seem so appropriate to the present time of fear and government control.

Good reporting simply doesn't exist these days. I mean, Katie Couric is running 60 Minutes (of fluff). WTF??

I just signed up for Extra! at fair.org and would encourage others to support this organization that is critical of the media and the work they do. The also produce the radio program and podcast Counterspin, which is insightful and most excellent.

What will it take to get the media back?

What started the downfall of the media?

King George

2007-10-10T19:00:00.000-06:00

What do you think about the Supreme Court decision yesterday to stomp on the Bill of Rights and give the Executive carte blanch to torture whomever they like and simply say that it is a 'state secret' issue and that they can't be held to account? King George with no clothes, indeed. Thank you Stephen Colbert for the only light in this otherwise dark time.

Fidelity Investments supports genocide in Darfur.

2007-10-07T13:06:00.000-06:00

Through investments in Chinese companies that are doing business in Darfur, Fidelity Investments supports genocide in Darfur. Their response to this disgrace was there their decision was a business one.

Do not do business with this company. Do not allow them to pass this off to someone else. Do not allow them to contribute financially to the slaughter and rape of innocents in Darfur. The line must be drawn.