Ted Su Random Blog

Just bought an import CD the other day and couldn’t believe the thing was copy protected. That’s right I couldn’t rip it into MP3s or anything else. In fact I couldn’t even play the CD in my computer without installing the “special” software player. I bought the damn CD, I should be able to make copies for my own personal use. I’ve been supporting the music industry my whole life, I regularly buy 4 or 5 CDs a month and I currently have well over a 1000 CDs. Although I did the whole the Napster thing for a little while and even played with Kazaa a bit, I’ve always agreed with the music industry that “sharing” music was stealing and stopped downloading music long before they started suing people. In fact I’d even argue that people that buy lots of CDs, like me, are supporting all those people that are downloading the music for free. Anyway, I finally feel completely betrayed by the music industry because of this copy protection bullshit. Isn’t there a law that protects my right to fair use?

PS…I was able to finally rip the CD using IsoBuster. Feel like posting the MP3s all over the internet.

PPS…The CD I bought, Auf der Maur, is one of the best CDs I’ve heard in a long time. Melissa Auf der Maur was the bass player for Hole and then later in Smashing Pumpkins right before they broke up. Her sound picks up where her former bands left off. This is a rocking, well-written album. It kicks butt. Go out and buy this now!! The US release should be available soon, I got hooked on the first single so I couldn’t wait for the US and bought the import instead.

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My boss recently told me that our group was now authorized to work ovetime and on weekends, and made it sound like some sort of special privledge just for our group. I though to myself, “what do you mean authorized? did something change?”. Wasn’t the mountain of work, stress, and lack of direction enough to tell me that 40 hours a week wasn’t going to be enough to finish my work. Am I now in trouble for all those weeks where I worked 60+ hours without any additional pay, where I was literally the last person to leave our office? Besides, I’ve never seen my boss authorize himself to stay after 7 pm (we get off at 6 pm normally). Then yesterday we were told to work 10 hour days and to camp out at his office if we didn’t have enough work. If we don’t have enough work, doesn’t that suggest we don’t need 10 hour days??!!

Ahh, I remember those days when I worked 60+ hours just for the fun of it, but now that I’m authorized to do so, it doesn’t seem like much fun anymore!

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So this morning I was at the Post Office to pick up a couple of packages. Sidenote: I really hate going to the Post Office, got to be the most inefficient annoying thing in the world. I was the third person in line, so I figured, great, I’ll be able to get in and out in less than 10 minutes, but of course, this being the Post Office, that wasn’t going to happen. There’s of course only two people at the counter and people are trying to ship everything but the kitchen sink, one guy must of had 10 boxes, each requiring special handling.

Anyway, back to the original reason for this post. In line in front of me is a young Chinese woman, kinda cute, okay so my eyes wonder when I getting bored to death waiting in line. Anyway, I finally get to be the second person in line. There are two people at the counter. One an older white lady, the other an African rastafarian dude with major dreads. When the rasta guy finally finishes with the customer that had 10 packages, Asian girl tells to go ahead, so figured, okay I don’t mind if someone wants to be friendly. I get to the rasta guy and he tells me he’s not ready yet, so I go back to the line. As soon as I get back to the front of the line, the white lady at the counter calls for the next customer, Asian girl makes a quick maneuver to get to the counter. I was left a little confused, I thought Asian girl was being nice, its not like she had to fill out forms or any other visible reason why she let me go in front of her when the rasta guy called for the next customer. Was this a case of blatant racism or did I miss something? Anyway, it left me dazed and confused.

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I must be getting old and sentimal or something, cause I’ve been watching a lot of Merchant-Ivory type movies on DVD lately. These are the guys that make movies out of classic novels. They are typically set in England around the “Edwardian” period (late 1800s to around 1920), and describe the rigid social structure of this time. Anyways, not all these movies are made my Merchant-Ivory, but here are the ones I’ve seen so far.

The Remains of the Day

With Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. This movies has recently become one of my favorites. Right up there with Gatteca, Mulholland Drive, Lost Highway and Blade Runner, quite an odd mix.

Sense and Sensibility

With Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, and Hugh Grant (before he got annoying)

Howards End

With Anthong Hopkins, Emma Thompson, and Helena Bonham Carter

The Wings Of The Dove

With Helena Bonham Carter

A Room With A View

With Helena Bonham Carter

Given that Helena Bonham Carter was in the last three, I’m wondering if I beginning an unhealthy fixation here. She was also in Fight Club, another one of my favorite movies. She was in Planet of the Apes too, but I’ve already forgiven her for that one, I’ll blame it on Marky-Mark. Hmm…now that I’m looking at the list, its appears that I also have a fixation on Emma Thompson.

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My latest PS2 obsession is Tiger Woods’ PGA Tour 2004. Who would have thought that a golf game could be so addictive? There are a lot of golf courses to play on this one, from well-know places like Pebble Beach to fantasy courses that only exist in the virtual world. There’s a role-playing aspect to this game that allows you to build up your vitual skills as you progress through the game. There are several play modes like PGA tour simulation, world tours, and skin games. But you can get bored with this game once your player reaches a certain level and you are regularily beating PGA stars, though it can be fun to beat the crap out of Tiger Woods.

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Godsmack, The Other Side

An acoustic set of songs from the post-grunge survivors of previously released material. Its amazing how tight this band is, very solid, you can tell these guys have beening playing together for a really long time. Although the songs are played on acoustic instruments, they don’t lose any of their power, punch, or rawness.

N.E.R.D., Fly Or Die

A rock-funk-hiphop fusion of head nodding tunes from the guys who have produced Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, complete with real live instruments. But don’t let their producing credits scare you off this album. With lines like “her ass is a space ship that I want to ride” how can you resist?

Firewater, Songs We Should Have Written

Another solid album from one of my favorite bands. They do that whole alternative, indie, college-radio rock thing so well. This one only has cover songs, but you would never know, to me this sounds like an album of Firewater originals. But then again, I only knew a couple of the songs before I heard the album. Firewater manages to make all the cover songs their own, infusing each with Firewater’s own brand of pyscho-drama.

Brad Mehldau, Trio

A more melodic, straigh-forward album from this very modern jazz piano trio. Brad Mehldau is simply one of the most amazing jazz pianist to come in a long time. To me he manages to combine the angular phrasing of Thelonious Monk with the melodic introspection of Bill Evans, and on of this album it all comes together. Anyone who can reveal the true genius of Radiohead by interpreting their songs through traditional jazz arrangements, gets big thumbs up from me. This one is safe enough for non-jazz listeners to enjoy, in fact it would serve as a good introduction to “straight ahead” jazz.

The Cooper Temple Clause, Kick Up The Fire, And Let The Flames Break Loose

A solid effort from a band little know outside of the UK. Here’s a band that bridges the gaps between Pink Floyd, Radiohead, and 90s grunge music.

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