I've been working on my Halloween costume vigorously for the last 5 hours. I think I'm actually a little high from the starpies. Plus I'm sick so that doesn't really help...For those of you who don't know what my costume is maybe I'll post a pic of me in it later...Maybe.

Its really really warm here today- like almost 70! God I feel like crap- my nose is all stuffed and my throat is hurting. URG!

Wired News: Mac Supercomputer Just Got Faster

Woah- dream mac! 1,100 Dual-Processor Powermac G5's! 3rd fastest supercomputer in the world at 9.55 terabytes per second! Most supercomputers cost a cool $40 million and take years to assemble. This "Big Mac" only cost $5.2 million and took just six months to build!

Holy $#!%!

Sorry- I haven't updated in a while! I've been a little busy! I had an interview with the Mayor of East Lansing (Mark Medows) on Tuesday morning for the Doc Films club. It went really well- we just had a few problems with the lighting, but I think the majority of it turned out good or the bad stuff can be fixed in post production...

We talked about the noise violation law and got some great insight and straight facts. Also talked a little bit about the game this weekend (U of M vs. MSU). I guess him and the Mayor of Ann Arbor have a bet going on that which ever team looses their city hall has to fly the flag of the opposing team! How cool would that be to see the MSU flag flying high above the City Hall of Ann Arbor?

Its also Halloween this weekend! We're having a little costume party at our house on Friday. It should be rather interesting! I haven't decided what I'm going to be yet, but I do have a few ideas!

I have a few more things to accomplish before the week is over...Filling out my final study abroad application...Doc Films meeting tonight...Reading...Writing...And arithmetic. JK- no writing or arithmetic!

Oh yeah- I'm getting Panther off of Andy tonight too! WAAAAAHOOOOO! Also- The Matrix: Revolutions comes out next Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!

Peace.

I guess my .mac address finally expired today 'cause I was unable to login to AIM using it. So if you AIM users see "tacojohnellenich" has added you to his contact list its me. That's my new AIM is "tacojohnellenich".

I was talking to Bugsy today and finally started to realize that I'm going to Europe this summer!

Its a little hard to think about it because it seems so far away (7 months). But the entire process is going to be a huge learning experience for me. I've never been out North America before! Here are some of the places we are going to visit...if anyone has actually be to or heard of anything cool about these places please drop me an e-mail about your experience...

London, England (June 30th-July 12th)
In London, students begin to explore British culture through their pictorial assignments, meetings with photographers, curators and editors and visits to caller's and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Students will stay in a residence hall at the University of London.

Prague, Czech Republic (July 13th-19th)
Some of the most important photographers of the 20th century were Czech and some of the most exciting photography currently being produced is Czech. Students will spend a week in one of Europe's most beautiful and culturally significant cities meeting photographers and exploring Czech history and culture.

Stonehenge and Bath/Lacock, England; Newport, Wales (July 20th-23rd)
The architecture of Bath is amongst the mose beautiful in the world. Students will have an opportunity to explore the city and will take day trips to Stonehenge and Lacock. In Lacock, students visit Lacock Abbey, the home of William Henry Fox Talbot, inventor of the negative-positive process of photography. Students will stay in a seld-catering residence house at the University of Bath. In Newport, students will visit the School of Documentary Photography at the University of Wales, Newport.

Bradford, England (July 24th-25th)
Students visit the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television. Housed in the museum is the Royal Photographic Society Collection, one of the richest collections of nineteenth-century photography in the world; the Kodak collection of photographic apparatus; and The Daily Herald, a collection of more than one million press pictures spanning most of the twentieth century.

Scottish Highlands (July 26th-29th)
The visit to this rugged, beautiful and historic part of Scotland will include hiking through the countryside. Students will work on short photographic projects related to the nature and environment of this region.

Edinburgh, Scotland (July 30th- August 9th)
In Edinburgh, students get a personal introduction to Scottish photography and culture by meeting photographers in home settings. Students photograph one of Europe's most exciting cities, explore museums and galleries, and experience the street theater and plays that are part of the Edinburgh International Festival. On a daytrip students will also visit the Sunday Herald newspaper in Glasgow.

So let me know if you've ever been to any of these places. I feel semi-guilty because I have this great opportunity to do this, but I don't know much about this area of the world...

A little letter I got in the mail today:

Dear John,

Congratulations! I am pleased to inform you that, following a review of your application and qualifications, you have been admitted for participation in the MSU study abroad program: Photo Communication in the United Kingdom and Czech Republic. This acceptance is contingent on your maintaining the minimum GPA required for participation in your program, and on our continued review of your record with the Judicial Affairs Office.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Fairfax
Director, Office of Study Abroad

WAAAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOO!

This is the "Spellbound" doc that I was talking about. Dig it.

Apple - Trailers - Spellbound

Went down to Bugsy's/Kevin's room to use Kevin's scanner to scan some of my "marginal error's" err. I really hope this takes off and I get some kick @$$ submissions...

We're planning on going over to Wells Hall tomorrow night to see the documentary "Spell Bound". Some of the members of the doc films club said it was really funny and it got a favorable review in the state news today.

Also there was a review of the LEGAL on-line music stores in the Wall Street Journal. Yep- iTunes took names. Music Match and Napster 2.0 do have a few favorable things, but overall iTunes kicked total butt. If you have Windows XP or 2000 I strongly suggest you check out iTunes- even if you just want to use it as jukebox software. Better than Windows Media Player. Better than Music Match. Better than Win Amp. Better than anything. iTunes.

If you're on the store and are looking at something to try and download. Get "Shut Up Remix" by the Black Eyed Peas. Its exclusive so you won't find it anywhere else and its a goood song. Much better than the original on the album (also on the Music Store).

Had our first assignment for the Doc Films Club last night. We had to go over to Mac's Bar in Lansing to interview the band "Ettison Clio" about the Noise ordinance 1053 in East Lansing. They were recently playing at a non-profit Christian club event a a place called "547" (I think that was the name). Anyway- they were broken up by the cops because of the noise.

The interview went well and they had some good comments. After the interview we stuck around to watch them play and got some extra footage. I haven't had a chance to review the footage on a monitor yet, but it looked decent on the camera's LCD.

After a late night I had to get up at 6am for skating. YUCK! Then I went to class and I was supposed to get my exam back, but they lost it!!!!! The TA is thinking it got put into the wrong section so I need to go pick it up later. He said that our sections grade were the highest so hopefully mine is high too! Also found out while walking to my 12:40 TC class that it was canceled (thanks Adam) so that made the day much better! Now I'm off to the rink to teach for a grand 15 minutes. WAAAAHOOOO!

I've been playing with this idea for a few weeks now and I've decided to give it a shot.

I'm making a new web site called "www.marginalerror.com". Its going to be basically a picture gallery of stuff that people draw in the margins of their notes while in class or meetings...I came up with the idea while I was bored in class and noticed that I was drawing some interesting things and I was going to post them on my personal site, but then came up with the idea of a web community for posting these drawings...I just started working on it tonight so there might be some problems at the start. I haven't offically released anything about it or submitted it to the search engines or anything yet.

The link above might not be working 'cause I just turned on the web forwarding so use this link for now.

My 8:30am class got cancled for tomorrow! WAAAAAHOOOOO!

Peace out.

Well its getting to be that time again! CHRISTMAS! WAAAAHOOOO! I figured I would put together a little christmas list (for the kid in me!)...lol.

Dream Items
Apple 12" Powerbook w/Superdrive
Canon EOS Digital Rebel

Things I Don't Really Need But I Want (and are realistic)
Apple Bluetooth Wireless Mouse
Mac OS 10.3 Panther
Canon LiED USB Scanner
iTunes Music Store Gift Certificate
A Tetra Top

Things I Really Do Need
A New Battery For My iBook
Canon EOS Digital Rebel (For Study Abroad)
Some Jeans
A Few Shirts:
"I'm Blogging This"
"Got Root?"

Mega long time between updates...sorry I've been semi-busy.

Took a little weekend jaunt over to my brother Jerry's house this weekend. Jim and Leann came down from the land of the cheese (Wisconsin). I went down after learn to skate on Saturday. Jerry and Jim were out fishing when I got there so Leann, Dawn, Shelby, and I went to Dave and Busters to play and eat. Shelby was kickin' my butt as far as those prize tickets go! She knows how to play!

After that we met back at the house with Jerry and Jim. We went to dinner at "The Masters"- yummm! Then went to some hole-in-the-wall dive bar. Dawn and I still had a good time! WAAAAAAHOOOOOOO!

I left sunday afternoon after seeing "School of Rock" (yes- again). Everyone seemed to enjoy it- I still thought it was funny the 2nd time around. SO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!

I need something to eat. Later.

Waaaahoooo! For all you windows users out there! Check out the BEST music player: iTunes! Now for windows!!! For those of you who have both a mac and a PC in the same house you can share your playlists across your network!!! They have 400K songs available legally for $.99 each! Pepsi is also giving away 100 million songs starting February 1st! SWEET!

Apple - iTunes

Well- what a strange day today...It started off really boring. Class & rain- how bad could it get? But then, as I was driving back from picking up Deanna from class, I remembered that "The Matrix: Reloaded" came out on DVD today! HOW DID I FORGET THIS!!!! So I quickly searched around for the best price and went to pick it up. Yup- Wal-Mart. $13.44- what a steal.

So I sat at my desk and watched it on the computer 'cause of the quality of the screen (be it small) and my speakers- which are much better quality than the TV has.

After watching this, and remembering how cool this movie was, I checked my mail. Come to find out my Studyabroad professor e-mailed me and told me that she "signed off" my application early last week and now it has to go through the "University System" before it is official. The whole "signed off" and "before it is official" parts get me really excited, but the "University System" scares me a little bit...I do meet the minimum requirements, in fact exceed them, but it still worries me that it has to pass through a "University System" before I'm officially accepted. Its just because now it is passed personal contacts- to the university I'm just some meaningless number that they have to pass though. Not someone who they have actually talked to or met personally. I guess it scares me because I can't schmooze the "University System"...lol.

well...I saw "Kill Bill" last night! This movie was very cool! I must say that you shouldn't see it if you are grossed out by blood/gore. The first scene of the movie is a severely beaten woman who proceeds to get shot in the head...if that tells you anything.

The fight scenes are great! Its a highly stylized movie- the music, the videography, the music, everything is planned down to a T. If you like kung foo movies I highly suggest sitting through all the gore to see this movie! Its great!

Went over to the Business Library today to work on my paper. To my pleasant surprise they now have a wireless network! So far 2 buildings on MSU's campus I know of have it! Business Library and the Comm Arts building! I'm glad the Comm Arts building has it now 'cause I spend majority of my time there so it all works out perfectly- for me.

Sometime stupid happened today. Circuit City called me asking to setup an interview. Duh- you interviewed me about a month ago and never called me back! So the lady said she had to talk to her boss and see what he wants to do. I think I would rather work at EB Games anyway. FSCK Circuit City!

I'm planning on checking out "Kill Bill Vol. 1" tonight. So check back late tonight or early tomorrow to see if I liked it or not. I'm sure I will- most reviews said its like "The Matrix" meets "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" both of which I'm a huge fan of! I wanted to check out "Underworld" too based on personal interest of vampires and Michelle recommendation, but I'm not sure if I'm gonna get to that one- there are so many movies coming out in the coming month I don't know where to start!

Scary Movie 3, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Cold Creek Manor, The Matrix Revolutions (in IMAX), Alien: Directors Cut, Gothica, Return of the King, Elephant...I'm telling you the list goes on and on!

God- what's with me and forgetting things lately? I forgot tonight that I need to teach learn to skate tomorrow morning! Thank god I remembered tonight and not tomorrow morning!

I was talking to my mom tonight on my phone and the service kept cutting out! I ended up calling her back like 6 times and then saying forget it- I'll call tomorrow or something.

I canceled the "mMode" data service on my phone. I used it for about the first 2 weeks I had the phone and then found myself reading the newspaper instead. I couldn't get it to check my MSU mail and the service didn't even work 1/2 the time for things that I wanted to do- check my eBay auctions, chat on AOL, chat on MSN, etc. Maybe in a few months I'll try adding the small plan for checking e-mail with my laptop on the road but right now it wasn't worth it.

I didn't get the job at the gas station- I guess the station is getting sold and the owner just died last week so the manager didn't want to hire me and then have to let me go in two weeks.

I was tooling around in the mall and decided to check out "EB Games" and I heard a guy getting an interview. So I asked if they were hiring. Sure enough- they were! So I ran home and filled out the application and made some changes to my resume. I went back to the store a few hours later to turn in the application. The manager asked if I was there this afternoon and said "God that was quick". We were talking a little- he asked if I had any sales experience. Ummmm- no. But I have good people skills! I said I've been job hunting for something in retail for a while and they always want sales experience! How can I get sales experience if nobody will hire me in sales? He agreed and said I'm at the top of his list 'cause I have no problem talking to strangers evidently. So he said he would call me early next week and if he doesn't I have to call him...so sweet- maybe I'll have a job at a pretty cool store sometime in the near future!

Finally I get a chance to do a longer update...

So the week is basically over. I have a hard @$$ paper due on Monday though so I'll be hard at work on that this weekend. This week was kind of a bad one. I messed up at the rink- forgot to wake up for skating on Thursday morning- missed a lesson there, and couldn't get to the rink on time for Kristins Thursday's lesson- missed a lesson there.

What is it with me missing the next grade level by one point all the time? Why don't they just give you the 1 extra point you need to get the higher grade? I missed it by 1 on my writing assignment and .5 (yes, .5) on my telecomm exam. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Get the song "Hey Ma" by The Black Eyed Peas. Its cool- booty music again! It kind of reminds me of one of the Scean Paul songs...

Woah! Check this out! Just type what you want your computer to say in the box and click "go"...

AT&T Natural Voices - Demos (Interactive)

Here is a quick little movie that I made today with Final Cut Express and my iSight...

I set up my computer to take a snap shot of the trees outside my window from 8am-8pm every 2 minutes and played all the images back in a few seconds and this is what I came up with...if you watch closely you can see the tree in the foreground start to turn brown from top to bottom and start to loose its leaves too!

Fall Time-Lapse Movie (518K)

I moved my desk so I can look out the window when I'm on the computer now. Also if you've noticed I changed the location of my web cam- now pointing out my window.

I'm doing a time-lapse thing with the color of the leaves. My camera takes a photo every minutes and saves it in a folder. Then the software takes all of the images and makes a little movie of the leave changing color. Hopefully this will work out! I'm not sure what I'm going to do for night time yet...but it should turn out cool. I'll post the final movie when its finished.

I'm still waiting patiently to find out if I got into the study abroad program...day...by...day...this is driving me crazy!

Kelly took me up to Bay City on Saturday night to see some guy play Jimmy Buffet songs because I helped her paint her room and move this weekend. He was actually from Iron Mountain! And knew where Baraga was! It was an all U.P. experience because we were at Hereford and Hopps in Bay City- which there are only 3 in the country and one of the others is in Eskanaba... His name is Mark Young if anyone has actually heard of him. It was an overall great time, good dinner, Josh and I limboed, and Kelly bought dinner! Waaaahooooo- thanks Kelly!

My roommates and I went to see "School of Rock" last night!

Go See This Movie!

It was soooooo funny! Mostly good clean humor too! Its rated PG-13, but its fine for all ages. Most of the jokes that give it its rating go over the younger peoples heads...

I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but check out the new Chemical Brothers song "The Golden Path". Its techno with lyrics- always a good thing!

My room is a mess so now I'm off to clean it!

ROCK ON!

Wow! What a long and interesting day today! First of all one of my TC professors was going nutZ about the education system and education ideas. Then I got a voice mail from the Sunoco station that they need someone to work. So I called them back once I got done with class, but the manager wasn't in so I'll have to wait until tomorrow and get the details. Looks like I'll have a job by the end of the week though!

Skating was fine- The usual stuff. Then I had a meeting for the Photo Communication Study Abroad program that I'm planning on going on. They're going all digital for their photography this year so it should be interesting. The professor had a Canon 10D digital SLR at the meeting- which might be the camera we are going to be using. After attending the meeting it makes me want to go even more now! I hope I get accepted! It would be sooooo much fun!

After that (in the same room) was the Apple club meeting. They demoed the iSight, the NEW bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse (which are really really cool), and Soundtrack. A pretty cool meeting, but nothing I really didn't know of haven't seen before. Well...everything but the uber cool keyboard and mouse!

Now on to the Doc Films meeting. The advisor didn't show up so I basically ran the meeting (oh Mr. President). Only a few people showed up, but over all a generally productive meeting. We are meeting again next week same place same time.

That's all for now I guess...I'm tired.