Apopheniac

If you are looking for a world class gift for your partner; if you love Cappuccino yet hate tossing Starbucks $3-4 for each indulgence and if you are strong on follow-through, then I offer you the following suggestion. Buy an espresso machine and a good coffee grinder and make your loved one's gift a year of latte or cappuccino in bed. I did this for Jean in 1996 and we are still enjoying both the memory of the gift and our lattes every day.

Several things argue in favor of this gift. First, so your lover won't have to enjoy their treat alone, you have to make one for yourself, and then you get to enjoy the time together. If you each have just one cup a day you will more than double your money with what you save at Starbucks and the quality of your life together will improve. You may also enjoy the slightly guilty pleasure of watching the reactions of other couples when they hear of your gift.

Posted by apopheniac at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Our family Christmas present was to order the game "Journey to Wild Divine". We had seen the pre-release info when the game was announced but not yet available. When it finally came out we were preoccupied and didn't notice but just before Christmas, we stumbled across one at the Odyssey but they were out. We ordered one and got it last week.

The game is fabulous. It is based on biofeedback and metaphysical principles. You wear biofeedback sensors monitoring heartrate variability and galvanic skin response and you advance in the game by developing mastery of your energy level, the abilty to raise your energy or calm yourself at will. The animation is delightful and we are all three off to a fun start.

Posted by apopheniac at 10:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

In order to use up my vacation before the end of the year I had a day off yesterday and went to see the new King Kong. Because it was done by Peter Jackson, I expected to enjoy it but I was not prepared for the enthralling enchantment that I experienced in sitting through this movie.

I don't want to take away any of your enjoyment by discussing the plot or the scenes so I will simply say that the depth and richness that Jackson has given in this film literally had me sitting open mouthed, eyes wide with wonder for minutes at a time as the experience of the movie cascaded over me.

Whether you are a King Kong fan or not, do yourself a favor and go see it.

Posted by apopheniac at 05:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Kirk and I are off to see "Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Wererabbit". I'll report back later.

Posted by apopheniac at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

One of the disadvantages of working nights is that much of the best television has to be taped and watched later. Last week PBS broadcast Martin Scorcese's biography of Bob Dylan. I missed it Monday and Tuesday nights but it was re-broadcast in the wee hours of Sunday morning and I set it up to record. This afternoon I took the time to watch the first 2 of its 4 hours. It appears to be well done.

The first section was done without narration. It is interviews with Dylan and those who knew him or were of those times and places. There is film and photos and news footage from that time, well edited and impactful. This section ends with the 1963 Newport Folk Festival.

Posted by apopheniac at 05:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We went to see the new film Serenity today. The special effects were enjoyable but what carried the film was the writing. I heartily recommend it.

Posted by apopheniac at 10:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)