The other thing was the amount of nothing going on. I understand that you have to develop the story. But you know, there was so much hype about this movie that we already knew the gist of the story, we knew there was a very bad ghost (or demon), and we didn’t need to have about 70% of this movie. The only thing I got from all the boring parts was the fact that the boyfriend was a total ass.

Now, I know I gave the movie 2 stars on Netflix.com, but I was really tempted to give it 1 star. The only redeeming factor to this movie was that there were some really creepy moments in there. And the end? Creeeeepy. But I have to say the creepiness was too few and too far in between.

I think this may be the first movie I’ve seen where the beginning sucked and the last 5 minutes rocked. Normally it’s reversed.

So I have to say I like some of those commercials with Luke Wilson. But seriously, I think you’re representing the wrong company. I’m not saying that Verizon is any better, or hell, I’m not saying anyone is better.

Why did I come to this conclusion? Because for the past few days, Meesh and I have been having issues sending TXT messages. I’ve been attributing it to problems with their network. It happens. So I called customer service today, and found out a disturbing thing. I fully expected to hear that there were some issues with data towers in our area. But then why didn’t it affect internet usage? Well, turns out, they cancelled my Family Messaging Plan.

What?

Yeah, they cancelled my Family Messaging Plan. That means we have unlimited texting. Yeah, that’s right. I asked them how this could possibly be. Why was it cancelled? I wondered if they thought I was abusing it. But it’s unlimited. What did the Customer Service girl tell me? She didn’t know why it was cancelled.

They had no reason for cancellation of the service.

I know I didn’t cancel it. We send a bajillion text messages in a month. We need that unlimited service. She did explain that the computer does go through accounts and there could have been a mix up with the account. Oh ok, that’s acceptable. Computer Error.

NOT.

No computer error is ever acceptable. Especially when it concerns money and service. Then there’s the other possibility. That it was operator error. That is even worse! That means a person was looking at my account and accidentally cancelled my text messaging service. What were they doing in my account? If they were cancelling the service on behalf of another customer, again, why are they in my account? That is just frightening. But I doubt that’s the issue. Because if it is it’s just too frightening to imagine the ramifications.

But all that aside, I have to wonder another thing. Why aren’t my text messages sent out? Or why do I not receive them? What if it was an important situation? Even if I’m not on an unlimited text messaging plan, shouldn’t I at least get the opportunity to pay for additional text messages? I’m really disturbed about this. It makes me wonder what else AT&T is blocking from me. Are they blocking certain phone calls too because it’s “not part of my plan?”

Am I the only one who’s had this problem? I can’t believe that I’m one of the millions of AT&T customers that has had this issue. Needless to say, when my contract ends, I will not be renewing it with AT&T. iPhone or no iPhone. In the 10 years I’ve been with Sprint, I’ve never had this kind of problem. And I haven’t even been with AT&T for a year.

I’ve really been getting into it I think because this is exactly what I’ve been wanting to write about. Not necessarily the “angels vs demons” and apocalypse outlook, however, the ghost hunting and the monster hunting is right up my alley. I’m really looking forward to the end of the series, and excited to see how they do finally treat the apocalypse.

For those of you who don’t know what the series is about, and are not watching it, (shame on you!) the basics are simple: it’s about two brothers who are raised to be hunters. But they don’t hunt animals. They hunt the things that go bump in the night, which are very real. Eventually you learn there are such things as demons, as well as angels. Very well put together. I strongly suggest checking this series out.

Here’s where I say there are spoilers and if you are watching the show on DVR or whatever, this is the point to turn back. The rest of this article after the bump.

Ok, first of all, if I had to choose just by personality alone, who should win it would easily be Chef Garces. seriously. Because Chef Mehta may be an extraordinary chef, but his attitude is really not that of a true Iron Chef. I mean come on, in this last episode, he said something to the effect of  “I don’t care if anyone likes me”, which to me is a very poor attitude. He’s constantly sabotaging other chefs, and making the most outrageous layouts for his dishes. While this may be seen as “creative” or “artistic”, there’s really nothing artistic about his layout when you’re eating his dishes and thinking, “where is the food?” seriously? He really needs to tone down on that. He also needs to listen to the judges. Almost every time, he has been told to tone down his sweetness in the dishes. But has he done it? Nope. Has he grown at all in the entire competition? In some ways, maybe, but really, I don’t think he’s learned anything.

When Chef Freitag was eliminated from the competition, I thought that was it. That was the end of this competition. Honestly, Chef Garces was the only other chef I thought worthy of the title of Iron Chef. Well, perhaps chef Mullen. He really did a great job, but in the episode that eliminated him, I think he really shouldn’t have made that rice. Apprentices in Japan spend somewhere from 3 to 5 years just cooking rice. It’s really a very serious thing. I’ve been cooking rice for almost 20 years, and I have to say I have yet to make the perfect bowl of rice.

Now I’m really looking forward to what Chef Garces will make for the finale of Next Iron Chef. As for Chef Mehta? I really don’t care. It will probably be something outrageous and ridiculous to look at. It may look pretty, but will it really be any good? I suspect that Chef Mehta will probably win the competition only because he’s a “bad boy” chef and they probably want that for ratings.

If he does win? Then I’m no longer watching Iron Chef America. Or maybe even Food Network for that matter. It’s just a shame. Chairman Kaga from the original Iron Chef would be ashamed to have him as an Iron Chef I think.

Oh and a message for Chef Freitag: I’m sorry you didn’t win, I really wanted you to win. But think of this way. Now you can really grind those chefs on Choppped. Hehe.

However, one use I don’t necessarily condone or agree with are the use of psychics. I know there are plenty of people who say they can talk to the dead, or are sensitives, but honestly, a lot of them are probably not really psychics and I’m sure there are a handful of them who are actually fakes. Kinda like how “The Mentalist” used to be.

I’m sure you’re waiting on why exactly I have a hard time believing them. The biggest reason is because my friend’s son, Shawn Hornbeck, went missing back in 2002. I’m not sure if you’ve necessarily heard of the story, so I did link it to his website. During that period of time, they had consulted so many psychics who tried to find Shawn. However, no one had anything of substance. Some actually even stated that he had already passed on and crossed over. Others said he was out of state and he was long gone. But the fact remains that Shawn had never left the state, nor even the city! He was found to be living in Kirkwood, MO, just about 20 miles away from where he went initially missing. Come on now. How can I possibly believe in psychics who claimed to have talked to him from beyond?

I am willing to hear from any psychics who claim to be authentic, or anyone who has met one. Nothing would please me more than someone who can debunk my theory that psychics are either frauds or people who think they have a gift for clairvoyance or whatever. I would just love to hear that there is more to this world, and that there are those that can speak to the spirits of the dead. Convince me!

J-POP 101 2006 at Anime Expo: This video was created as an introduction to Japanese pop culture. It was aired on July 1st, 2006, 7:30 P.M. in the Anaheim Convention Center. The panel was hosted by Linzer Dinzer and myself, Kestelia I hope you like it :)

The only thing I didn’t like about this video was they left out a couple of J-pop stars I thought should show up in there, in particular, SMAP and Koda Kumi. You might recall that Koda Kumi sang the original songs for Final Fantasy X-2 (which were unfortunately translated later on to english). But anyways, I still loved her versions, because well, she’s pretty awesome.  SMAP is just one of the most popular bands in Japan, I think, and they’ve all been in a variety of Japanese dorama. I love their stuff. Usually if I see them starring in a dorama, I will watch it. Usually.

So I’ve included a video by both SMAP and Koda Kumi for your enjoyment. You can determine if you like them and possibly become fans too. Video after the bump.

William Smithback, a New York Times reporter, and his wife Nora Kelly, a Museum of Natural History archaeologist, are brutally attacked in their apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

Eyewitnesses claim, and the security camera confirms, that the assailant was their strange, sinister neighbor-a man who, by all reports, was already dead and buried weeks earlier.

While Captain Laura Hayward leads the official investigation, Pendergast and Lieutenant Vincent D’Agosta undertake their own private-and decidedly unorthodox-quest for the truth. Their serpentine journey takes them to an enclave of Manhattan they never imagined could exist: a secretive, reclusive cult of Obeah and vodou which no outsiders have ever survived.

I was thrilled to hear that some characters were returning in the new story, as I do love their little crossovers they have from various other novels, not relating to the Pendergast novels. Before I start the review, I have to say I really liked the book, although there were some things I’ve had an issue with. (look in the spoilers.) That being said, there are spoilers for the book (yes they’re really spoilers!) and don’t read them if you don’t want to know what happens in the book. Spoilers after the bump.

[[Visit blog to check out this spoiler]]

Overall, I’d give this book 4/5 stars. It was still entertaining, believable or not. I read books for entertainment value, not because it’s real.

William Smithback, a New York Times reporter, and his wife Nora Kelly, a Museum of Natural History archaeologist, are brutally attacked in their apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

Eyewitnesses claim, and the security camera confirms, that the assailant was their strange, sinister neighbor-a man who, by all reports, was already dead and buried weeks earlier.

While Captain Laura Hayward leads the official investigation, Pendergast and Lieutenant Vincent D’Agosta undertake their own private-and decidedly unorthodox-quest for the truth. Their serpentine journey takes them to an enclave of Manhattan they never imagined could exist: a secretive, reclusive cult of Obeah and vodou which no outsiders have ever survived.