d generation

It's Here

2005-06-27T21:30:00.000-04:00

Well my new post is up, with a new address to go along with it.

www.dgeneration.blogspot.com

This blog will stay active until I can figure out if I can merge the info to my new one. Hope you like the new entry, and yes I'll update it regularly.

Best,
Dan

Coming Soon!!!!

2005-05-12T20:50:00.000-04:00

Your mind is not playing tricks on you. I'm Back!!! After a winter break I'm ready to get back in the game. D generation is getting a make over for 2005. Currently I'm composing a new entry and will have it up soon. With the relaunch of d generation also comes a web new address. I won't reveal it just yet, but when it's ready you'll know. D Generation II Coming Soon!

Show and Tell

2005-01-09T02:14:00.000-04:00

Victory is Ours!!!
They said we couldn't do it!!! Brad and Jen happend to marry on the same date as Xia and I. All night during our wedding people were talking smack. "Ohh Brad and Jen are perfect", "They're such a great couple", blah blah blah!!! People were taking bets as to who would last longer, Bradiffer or Xiadan. Well guess what Dad, you owe me a C-Note. Never bet against a Diaz!!!

Orang Bowl Madness:
I worked the game on the 4th, and this is the view from my station. I wasn't cheering for Sooners or the Trojans, but there was a great atmosphere in and around the stadium. Congrats to USC, they beat Oklahoma silly.

Phones:
Xia purchased new cell phones for X-Mas / my Birthday. Its a sweet new camera phone we got through Cingular, the Samsung - E317. This phone is super light compared to my old one. The best is, we actually can connect from inside the house. Let me know if I didn't email you with our new phone numbers. If you ask nicely I'll send you a picture of Xia trashed after a heavy night of drinking during New Years. Ahh what the hell here's a preview. Remember only if you ask will you see the really good ones.

Hope you holdiays went well.
-Dan-

Tsunami Relief

2005-01-01T19:17:00.000-04:00

I know the New York Post is a safe haven for Bush supporter, but this article makes some valid points.

USA Today also printed an interesting piece on support coming from the U.S. citizens, and charitable groups.

On a personal note Xia and I made a donation to the Red Cross a few days ago. Watching the events unfold on TV made it seem so unreal, yet painful at the same time. I'm not writing this to bring praise or recognition for what we did. We didn't do it to make us feel better about ourselves. We did it because it seemed to us like it was the right thing to do. In all honesty I feel worse that we couldn't do more. I write this in the hope that someone, anyone who has never thought about donating funds before, (like myself) thinks twice about this situation.

-Dan y Xia

Can You Help?

2004-12-28T21:09:00.000-04:00

I'm listing a few sites and phone numbers where donations can be sent for the Tsunami Relief Fund.

American Red Cross
1-800 HELP NOW

Unicef
1.800.4UNICEF

NetAid
It looks like they will also match your donation.
Phone: 212-537-0500

Update

2004-12-01T21:52:00.000-04:00

Well, I've added two new links, Explodingdog and Boy on a Stick and Slither. I find both sites to be interesting in their own way. On the home front, everything is just peachy down here in the Wild Wild West. Christmas, New Year's, and my birthday quickly approaching. Boy, I hate this time of year. Hopefully tonight I will have posted on CBC.

-Dan

Comic Book Nation

2004-11-20T03:38:00.000-04:00

If your interested in comics, check out Comic Book Commentary. Its a new blog set up by Guy LeCharles Gonzalez. I was invited to be a contributor to the blog, and hopefully I won't f**k it up. It's OK to f**k up my blog, but someone else's, no way. You can read my new post there.

What do you get when you...........

2004-11-18T23:51:00.000-04:00

You are an OOMPA LOOMPA!
You are the most evil and foul being to walk this
earth. Get therapy! And stay away from my
family!

Monkey? Pizza? Death? Oompa Loompa?
brought to you by Quizilla

What is there to say.

2004-11-15T22:01:00.000-04:00

Its been ages since my last post, and I don't know were to begin. So I'm taking the easy way out, and making a list.

1. A major reason Nov. 2nd was a win for Bush and neo-con nation was disdain. Disdain for the DNC. The results on Nov. 2nd were more of an indictment of DNC philosophy/tactics, then a win for Bush.

2. Over the last 5 months at work, my mean streak has really come out and shined. At least 2 twice a week I'm ready to explode on someone. My biggest complaints....constantly answering the same questions to the same person asking them, and stupid questions. Who ever said there are so such things as stupid questions clearly wasn't asked, "Is there such a thing as a stupid question?" a thousand times a day. I guarantee his answer would be quiet different.

3. Work at the stadium has been fun. The team sucks, but its fun. Watching the fights in the stands is a favorite of mine.

4. Been going to the movies lately. The Grudge was really scary, but I don't think I can go much deeper than that. During 75% of the movie I had my eyes covered. The other 25% they were closed. Here is a review of The Incredibles in less than 5 words: smart......entertaining.....funny......alive. One last thing, if you haven't signed up for Netflix do it. $17.99, you cant go wrong.

5. On the comic front here is whats on the list. Marvel Knights: Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, & Wolverine. I'm digging MK Spider-Man a lot. The story, art, and mood of the book fit well together. MK FF is my first venture into The FF, and Its early to tell If I'm gonna stick with it. I've always been kinda interested in The FF, and this is there shot to hook me in. The same goes for MK Wolverine, but I'm a sucker for John Romita Jr. An argument can be made that Spectacular Spider-Man is the best spider book out there. Jenkins and Ramos always deliver nuff said. Astonishing X-Men is very good. Its the only Xbook I read, and is should be on your list. On the DC side of things the Superman & Batman team up series is fun. Even though Michael Turner has some fucked up body proportions, his work is interesting. Batman has been OK. The revolving door or creative teams since last years Hush series is annoying, but overall the book has been good.

6. Here is a real quick rundown on the video games front. Spiderman 2 is a very fun game to play. Yes it repetitive, but its still fun. Swinging around is very very cool. I beat the game in 13 hours. I cant remember the last time I finished a game. Knights of the Old Republic is a top notch RPG. Even if your not a fan of Star Wars it worth picking up for $20 dollars. X-Men Legends is a solid game. Its a flashy beat em up with the X-Men edge, no complaints. NFL Street is great. Forget all the sim football games and play Street you won't regret it.

7. Work and the Florida situation has been stressing me out big time. Hence the heavy emphasis on entertainment. I consider the Florida Experiment a failure at the 1 year and 5 month mark. My emphasis now is on making the best of it, and not make this a total waste of my time. Xia and I have a few set goals that if they're accomplished by the time she is done with school we'll be pleased. 36 credits and counting. Can't wait for Xia to start.

Happy Thanksgiving
-Dan y Xia

One last comment. After looking at this picuture I just realized I'm a living TV sitcom. Here is a milky white, pastey looking overweight husband, with a hot tanned mama. I guess things aren't so bad after all. You can catch the show I'm referring to everynight on CBS. Just pick a night, you'll catch it.

A revolution in the music industry.

2004-10-30T15:18:00.000-04:00

Please check out the new IPOD. No pop star should be without this one.

Since the Baseball season has just ended....Lets talk politics!!

2004-10-20T21:54:00.001-04:00

I am a huge supporter of Colorados push for Amendment 36, and I wish the country would follow suit. Amendment 36 would allow a proportional allocation of the states electoral college votes. It would make your vote actually count!!! Basically Amendment 36 works like this. Colorado has 9 electoral votes. Under our current system if Kerry receives 51% of the votes and Bush 49%, Kerry receives all 9 electoral votes. Amendment 36 would split the votes proportionally and give Kerry 5 votes and Bush 4 votes. In essence it would eliminate the idea of a wasted vote. Currently if you live in a state that is a sure thing for the Republicans, a vote for Kerry is a vote of conscious, not impact. With proportional allocation of electoral votes, your votes counts for something. It counts directly for the candidate you voted for!! Isn't that what we want? Our voice being heard and an impact being made, because of it. I feel proportional allocation would invigorate the voting public. It seems to me this would change the candidates approach to campaigning drastically. It would force candidates to pay attention to the country as a whole, and not cater too heavily in small pockets of the country. In the limited research I've done it seems like a great idea. I'm sure there are draw backs, but what system doesn't have em? Just before I go, let it be known that I'm writing with a heavy heart. My beloved Yankees are losing, and are going to lose tonight's game verses the Bo Sox. If my Grandfather would still be alive I'm sure he would be going for a Cardinal/Yanks World Series, his two favorite teams. Sadly enough he is not around to see the post season action this year. Well, I'm pulling for the the NL Champ. Down with the Red Sox, the mini Evil Empire. Yanks in '05 baby!!!

Fox did what!!!!!

2004-10-04T22:44:00.000-04:00

I just can't believe it. Fox actually made up quotes concerning John Kerry. Whats next? Who knows? Pretty soon major networks may produce fake documents about Bush. That would never happen though, right?

Voter Rights

2004-09-22T13:33:00.000-04:00

I found this article interesting, hope you do as well. None of it surprising though, things like this have been going on for years.

I love the Yankees, but.....

2004-09-12T13:34:00.000-04:00

As a Yankee fan, you inherit your hero's early on. For me The Holy Trinity of Yankee favorites are Donnie Baseball, Willie Randolph, and Bernie Williams. Theses choices were made and in a sense I had no say in it. Growing up being a fan, your just attracted to certain players. Whether it be their style of play, batting stance, or just overall attitude toward baseball. I don't remember how, when, or why I fell in love with Donnie baseball, he is just there in my memory. The same goes for Willie Randolph. But Bernie Williams is another story. I remember the day as if it were yesterday. I was twelve years old going through a freshly unsealed pack of baseball cards. Scuffling through the pack of '90-'91 Topps cards I came across Bernie Williams. At this point in time, I have never heard of him. But instantly somehow I know something was special. I flipped the card over and saw that he was from Puerto Rico, and that was it. I said to myself "This is my new favorite player." I don't know if I was looking for a Hispanic role-model or something, but it happened that quick. Thinking back to that time in my life brings back feeling that I don't think can ever be reproduced by something else. I'm not exactly sure the cause for my resent sentimentality. Maybe the anniversary of 9/11 has something to do with it. Maybe the uncertainty of my future. Maybe my man-period is approaching, I just don't know. But I do know one thing. For all my sentimentality nothing will ever make me want to buy this memorabilia from Bernie Williams.

Hurricane Don't Hurt Me

2004-09-02T12:05:00.000-04:00

I've had my last supper, and I'm ready to die now. Ah Peace. I leave all my belongings to anyone in the street that finds them after the storm. Best wishes to all, and burn a candle for my family.

Dan

Say it ain't so

2004-08-21T10:21:00.000-04:00

1.Let me start off by saying that Kill Bill vol. 1 & 2 are great movies.............For Me To Poop On. I feel was falling asleep during the Vol.1 a few weeks back, and yesterday while watching Vol.2 it was no different. The sad part is I felt obligated to watch the second film. The reason being was, since I wasted my time watching Vol.1 I need to confirm my belief. My belief that the celluloid wasted on this film could have be put to better use. For instance it could have been used to film Scott Baio's comeback flick as an action star. I think American is due for a Scott Baio comeback, dont you? All kidding aside, it was a shitty movie of gargantuan nature.

2.What can I say I'm sucker for video games. I finally broke down, and purchased an Xbox. For those of you who don't know I vowed to never buy and Xbox. I'm no fan of Microsoft, which in this Windows world is a very hard thing to do. But I couldn't deny my primal urge to play on a graphically superior console. How could I say no to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Prince of Persia for $20 each. How could I resist with Xia's employee discount? She gets 15% off purchases at Gamestop. In FL that translates into offsetting sales tax, and 8% off the purchase price. My purchase was also partially spurred on by the fact that the next generation consoles by Sony and Microsoft will be way to expensive. The trend is to create consoles that are entertainment systems as well. You know video games, internet, TiVo, and HD compatibility in one machine. Thus making them a lot more expensive. Early word is next-gen consoles will go for around $500, maybe $400 if we're lucky. Anyone have Xbox game recommendations, excluding Football? NFL Street is all you need to get your football fix on. I got it for $20 on eBay. I'm looking forward to Fable, and X-Men Legends. Both of those games looks real good.

NJ Corruption

2004-08-16T19:40:00.000-04:00

Man Sought $50M From McGreevey, Aides Say
By JOHN P. McALPIN, Associated Press Writer
I just hope if the allegations of corruption are true, he goes down with the rest of his buddies.

Speaking of corruption in NJ, a few weeks ago I was show a little website called InsideUnionCity.com. I was informed that its basically a forum for residents of Union City to voice their anger toward current city officials. It turns out a portion of city employees are displeased with the current (corrupt) administration. Rumor has it this site is run by someone working for those officials. This is their way of voicing their opinion anonymously, for fear of retribution. The meat and potatoes of the site is the message board. I suggest you check it out if your looking for some insight on Union City politics.

Govener McQueery?

2004-08-12T21:34:00.000-04:00

I dont get it, why resign. Clinton had his affair, why can't you have yours? So you porked someone. Big Deal!! So he was a guy. Big Deal!! So this person was allegedly still on the state payroll after he left a position appointed by you. What's the problem, I say!! In fact nowadays it looks like par for the course for politicians!! All kidding aside, good luck Jimbo. Your gonna need it. Well lets put it in perspective. It's not like you tried to persuade you wife into having sex with you in plain view at an NYC club. Wait a second...I think that was me. No no, now I remember. I was at LimeLight fall of '97 and everyone but me was having sex in public. I was too strung out on Crystal Meth and Zima to remember much, but that sounds about right to me. On second thought though I did try to persuade my wife into public sex. But she was spooked out by all the vendors and costume goers at the comic con. Ohh who am I kidding that never happend. She was dressed as Leia in the Jabba slave outfit, and I was Luke Skywalker decked out in the black duds. I was grooving with my Jedi powers, and she was asphyxiating me with the chain. Ahh NYC, how I miss thee.

**Disclaimer**
Dan is in no way condoning or endorsing Gov. McGreevey's behavior. He just thinks its funny how easily you can turn McGreevey into McQueery. Thank you XD for pointing that out.

BBDW

Less is Moore Part 2

2004-08-01T23:12:00.000-04:00

I shamefully admit I have not seen Fahrenheit 9/11 yet, and don't know if I'll see it in the theater. But in the interests of starting up a conversation, I've decided to go back to a controversial subject. Below you will find two articles that dispute the so called facts of Fahrenheit 9/11. Lets say the following authors arguments are 100% correct. How will that affect Moore's film and future projects? The documentary status gets blown up right? His career is over, because of his lies in a movie about exposing lies of an administration? Nope, none of that will happen, and I'll tell you why. Moore's films are driven by human emotions, not facts. His film could be 100% lies and still be heralded for its content. I'm not saying Moore purposefully lies, but he aims for the heart and anything else is a miss. The goal of his films are to invoke emotion, anger, and then action. He is like that High School football coach everyone envisions in their mind. Standing on a stool in the locker room yelling and screaming at the team. Reminding them how their opponent whooped their asses last year, and he won't let it happen again, can't let it happen again. He gets the kids blood boiling before releasing them out onto the field, to kick some ass. Moore is that guy, firing up the troops against Bush and releasing them out into the streets and polling booths come Nov. 2nd. In the end Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 could be all lies, but if it strikes a cord with audiences then it has served its purpose.

"Warning, below may be the writings of two right wing nutbags. Proceed with caution. I've included an excerpt of each article"

Unfairenheit 9/11
The lies of Michael Moore.
By Christopher Hitchens

"More interesting is the moment where Bush is shown frozen on his chair at the infant school in Florida, looking stunned and useless for seven whole minutes after the news of the second plane on 9/11. Many are those who say that he should have leaped from his stool, adopted a Russell Crowe stance, and gone to work. I could even wish that myself. But if he had done any such thing then (as he did with his "Let's roll" and "dead or alive" remarks a month later), half the Michael Moore community would now be calling him a man who went to war on a hectic, crazed impulse. The other half would be saying what they already say that he knew the attack was coming, was using it to cement himself in power, and couldn't wait to get on with his coup."

Fifty-nine Deceits in Fahrenheit
9/11 By Dave Kopel

"2000 Election Night
Deceits 1-2
Fahrenheit 9/11 begins on election night 2000. We are first shown Al Gore rocking on stage with famous musicians and a high-spirited crowd. The conspicuous sign on stage reads "Florida Victory." Moore creates the impression that Gore was celebrating his victory in Florida. moor's voiceover claims, "And little Stevie Wonder, he seemed so happy, like a miracle had taken place." The verb tense of past perfect ("had taken") furthers the impression that the election has been completed.
Actually, the rally took place in the early hours of election day, before polls had even opened. Gore did campaign in Florida on election day, but went home to Tennessee to await the results. The "Florida Victory" sign reflected Gore�s hopes, not any actual election results"

Batsuit

2004-07-29T23:15:00.000-04:00

I don't think it looks all that great. I'll wait to make my final judgement. Who knows maybe this is a prelimenary outfit. You know what does look good though.....the teaser trailer.

Funny as hell, Part Deux.

2004-07-20T20:41:00.000-04:00

Part 2
This next animation is pretty good. I just makes me laugh. Lets get it on. Hope you like it. I don't know if its already made its way around the net.

Part 1
Apparently this animation has gotten a lot of attention. It's John Kerry, and Dubya's take on "This Land is my Land".

Did I miss a memo?

2004-07-19T12:32:00.000-04:00

When did it become OK to perform in white face. Recently we've had White Chicks hit the big sceen as well as Jamie Foxx on the Espy awards portray "stereo typical" whites. The Waynes brothers doing the rich white valley girl thing, and Foxx the trailer trash mullet hair cut hick. Maybe a studio should get Jamie Kennedy to do "Malibu's Most Wanted 2" in black face. You know to give it more street cred. Wouldn't it be great if Eminem, wore black face and replaced P. Diddy in Raisin in the Sun. That be something right? It doesn't sit well with me that in this supposed age of enlightenment and political correctness that nothing has been said. Black face is offensive for a laundry list of reasons, but white face is just good old fashion fun. What happened to "do on to others, what you would want done to you?" I would say a majority of Americans, and a significant majority of Black America find black face offensive. Yet it seems that we (America) readily accept white face performances. I found this posting by Bryan Thomas, and I believe his feelings on black face are held by the majority.
When I was young and fat, I hated being called fat. It hurt my feelings, and in many cases ruined my day. As a result, I would never call anyone fat. I knew what those words meant to me and I didn't want to put that on anyone else. Aren't black actors performing in white face doing the same thing? Maybe black face doesn't mean anything to those actors? I dont know, but it still doesn't make it right. Maybe this is a super simplified example, but I think it gets the point across. Call me what you like, I think it's just wrong.

Less is Moore

2004-07-09T00:01:00.000-04:00

The one thing that pisses me off about Farenheight 911 is its classification. Documentary, you gotta be kidding me. Look at the following definition of documentary courtesy of Dictionary.com Pay particular attention to the highlighted portion.

doc·u·men·ta·ry
adj.
Consisting of, concerning, or based on documents.
Presenting facts objectively without editorializing or inserting fictional matter, as in a book or film.

doc·u·men·ta·ries
n. pl.
A work, such as a film or television program, presenting political, social, or historical subject matter in a factual and informative manner and often consisting of actual news films or interviews accompanied by narration.

I don't care what side of the fence your on, there are a few things that cannot be disputed. For the record, I have not seen the film. I'm going by what I've read and heard, mostly CNN commentary, and friends / co-workers.

Moore's film seems to be a quasi-documentary, combining elements of documentary, and personal film making. He presents things in factual, and informative manner, but editorializes at the same time. For me, as a wanna-be documentary filmmaker, that's a big no no. True documentaries cannot be skewed, in any way shape or form. The word "documentary" carries a weight to it on it's self. It must be presented in a manner showing all sides and blemishes. One must not be skewed during the production process of what to include/exclude. To be a true documentary you must remove one's own point of view as much as possible. The facts are what determine the outcome of your film. It's my understanding the Moore does enough in his film to throw that equation off. Documentaries are based on the totality of facts. Not some facts, not your favorite facts, the totality of facts. While Moore's film may be very good, and strike up conversations, in my view it is no documentary.

A few things I wanted to get off my chest.

2004-07-08T23:33:00.000-04:00

Miami is a strange town.
1. Its the poorest major city in the nation, yet I have never seen so many Jaguars on the road.
2. We are 1,500 miles away from NY, and every Italian restaurant is like a NY Italian restaurant. Shit I found one today that's better than any place I've been to back north.
3. The fastest cars on the road are the shittiest looking ones. I swear to you I saw a 1986 Honda CRX blazing by at 150mph.
4. McDonald's sell Cuban sandwiches. Wow...

Xia is a blogging machine. I've been telling her about blogging for months saying that she would love it. Well about two weeks ago she tried it out, and is hooked. Check it out xiadiaz

Someone in our Louisville office tried to throw me under the bus for something they fucked up on. After a day and a half of going back and fourth via email, I was cleared of all wrong doing. I don't mind if people lie to cover their ass. But when you put the blame on someone else on purpose, that pisses me off.

If you haven't been to atomfilms in awhile, you gotta stop by. They have some good stuff, and I think they're running a Star Wars Fan Film Festival.

Been a Long time....

2004-06-23T16:36:00.000-04:00

Lets see whats been going on lately. Well work at the stadium has been fun. Last week I worked 5 of 7 games at home. Needless to day I was tired as hell when that streak went by. Looking forward to that check coming next week. Last Saturday, boy did I party. After a rain delayed game, Xia and I went to Ft. Lauderdale to hang with a coworker of mine. Had a great time, cant remember much, but a great time nonetheless. I do remember one thing, and today it pissed me off. After the bar we went to eat at a diner. When I went up to pay, the lady said they didn't except credit cards. She suggested that I pull the money from an ATM. An ATM that was convent's located right behind me. Today the ATM fee showed up on my bank statement online. Combined it was a $3 charge to use that ATM, but something else really got to me. The diner owned the ATM. So they're making money, by having an ATM in the diner, and not excepting credit cards. That shit pissed me off.
I've come to the conclusion that I will only go to see two types movie at the thwarter. Event films, in which you'll miss out by not seeing it on the big screen, and comedies. Any other genre of film, I'll wait till it gets to DVD. Movies are way to expensive now. The way studios advertise via trailers and cross promotion, they make shitty films look really good. I not willing to waste my money on films that don't lose anything by being seen at home. I've been following this mantra for some time now, and its worked great. As a result the last bunch of movies I've at seen have been: Troy, Harry Potter, and LOTR 3.
Its been a long time and their is more to come....