RyanHarne.com

My updates have been limited due to the progressively approaching end of semester.

I lost my love for Adium. It doesn’t support video-chatting. How unfortunate. Such a good thing, too…

Right now I am helping prepare a meal. It’s almost like Thanksgiving, but with the Thanksgiving atmosphere significantly delayed. So maybe it’s a Christmas feast, collegiate style. Regardless, it will be a fabulous time.

My iBook is lame and needs a crutch for a short while. Apple service representatives are granting it generous amounts of TLC while it is ill. I am thankful for AppleCare.

Today, I went to an Apple Product Showcase on campus. This showcase was for the pros; forgetting the amateurs, we all geeked out for a fair portion of the day. In fact, quite a few people attended this event, helped out by VTMug. More on this later.

It’s getting busy around here…

One of the first apps I was recommended to get when I switched was Adium. It took me six long weeks, but I have now taken that step of faith as well (not that switching itself was a step of faith; that was rather a farewell to discouragement). And Adium is amazing. I falter at finding an excuse as to why I never began using that IM client in the first place. Anyways.

Only one more action-packed day of classes left. I have just over a week remaining of my stay in Blacksburg until I return again next fall. What bereavement! I know my co-op will be great, but being away from school is no joyride. Despite my occasional apathy for the athletic prowess of this university, I really appreciate being in this atmosphere and experiencing things Lynchburg won’t offer.

Although, this time around I’ll have DSL to keep me company. …Can anyone say video-chatting?…

CNET posted a review and video of the Motorola Razr V3 today. I’m still processing my feelings for this pre-holiday product, but it is rather attractive. Bust or must, the Razr will certainly be ubiquitous by mid ‘05. Just a prediction.

There is almost nothing left for me this semester, save exams. It’s a hopeful feeling; however, I am getting bored, as it is too early to involve myself with any serious studying.

In an effort to stock up prior to the mental marathon that is Finals Week, I went to Kroger for some eats. Randomly, I picked up a bag or Oreos. OREOS! My justification went as follows: “I think Ima need somethin’ chocolate next week..OOooohh…Ooooreeeooos.” Thus a purchase was born.

Ok, well I do have a few things to take care of.

I recently returned from The Lyric theater in downtown Blacksburg where I saw the last showing of The Motorcycle Diaries. Usually it’s the trailer of a film that initially grabs my attention. Truth be told, a number of people, factors, and incidents led to my eventual inquiry to see the film. And here will I react.

It is often that movies promote certain morals of a wholesome society, cultivating eager minds that delight in a dark theater and close proximities. And it is a perfect setting – the prime opportunity to instill those good values. The Motorcycle Diaries takes Cuban revolutionist Che Guevara’s own journals and documents his transformation from medical student to humanitarian activist. This Focus Features film touches on morals, certainly, but it leaves the sugarcoating to Paramount and Disney.

The intensity and near-brazen nature of the adaptation is without equal. Fahrenheit 9/11 was brazen; The Lord of the Rings was intense; both had their morals and biases to endorse. The Motorcycle Diaries prompts, urges, and implores. I would be tempted to say that it seems more of a documentary than a screenplay taken from journal entries. No other movie comes to mind that matches or meets this approach of open warfare against the superficial societal customs that ever degenerate our sympathies.

Even still, many movies advocate action on an individual level to advance the cohesiveness of relationships and communities – what’s new about this one? I can only dare you to view it yourself; it may not amaze you or keep your hands clenched to your seat, but an insightful mind will grasp the creeds. Guevara finds the reality of contradicting culture and its unusually ignored flaws. Despite our arguments, there may be no true justification to the inequalities that exist; human nature is capable of too much good to become apathetic to unfortunate circumstances.

If I am to sum up this film in a single Hollywood sentence, I would deface its very nature, because nothing so powerful could be contained in a blockbuster catchphrase. But, to quote numerous movies of times past, “The truth is…” ignorance endangers the human race; suppressing the suffering of others is evil and injures them more than those directly opposed to them; without a campaign of continual progression in society, stagnation will be weaned on our steady indifference.

Amidst the premiere photos for The Motorcycle Diaries, I found this most flattering picture of Michael Moore. You’d think black would make everyone slimmer…you’d think.

Joking aside, when I was a child I did not believe that a large, red velvet-clad Santa-man would tumble down our cleverly narrow chimney. Not at all. However! I did believe (notice the emphasis) that after the Super Bowl an equally elderly man would come knocking at my door informing me that I had won eleven million dollars. Yes, people; I believed in Ed McMahon.

It’s only now that I look back on my childhood ignorance and laugh. Although, I should only conclude that the obscene amounts of telemarketers we received after my Publisher’s Clearinghouse faith were one such ramification. Meh. DoNotCall.gov fixes everything.

Last night I saw a monologue performance of The SantaLand Diaries. It was very comedic and fabulous. There was no better way to spend my evening; ’nuff said.

ordering “Cream of Mushroom” soup when I clearly couldn’t have held down a saltine cracker.

Some self-fulfilled prophecy (see prior blog) took flight yesterday. I woke up quite stricken with some kind of stomach flu/illness. Even without any food in my system, my stomach would churn in many, bad, horrible, no-good ways. Needless to say, yesterday I was pitiful. Now, thanks to Dr. Mom, Seagram’s Ginger Ale, and 24 hours I am seeing the bright end of the tunnel. Seeing it in the distance, mind you.

Over the course of the day, two people who I have no prior acquaintance with or knowledge of did complete double takes on me. While the self-loving part of me hopes they saw some trace of a glorified media icon, I can’t forget the equally possible chance that they recognized the latest post on America’s Most Wanted. I mean thought they recognized the latest post on America’s Most Wanted. Yes…that’s right.

“My mouth was a broken jpeg; I had no choice!” Congrats to Strong Bad for the upgrade. And we’re all glad Bubs is back in one jpeg combination.