Pat Metheny / Pat Metheny Group

Pat Metheny is one of the most versatile - if not significant - jazz guitarists today. His mastery of the instrument is unparalleled as no other guitarist can duplicate Pat’s fluid style that has come to define his playing. When he is not holding a guitar he is probably wielding a pen: Pat is an avid composer well versed in the theory of music. Since the 70s Pat’s own band - the Pat Metheny Group - has brillantly interpreted much of the music written by Pat (and his partner Lyle Mays), yet during the same period Pat has also ventured into numerous projects with others - from jazz greats to symphony orchestras - to release equally superb albums, breaking traditions and winning accolades on the way.

Patriot Act amendment passed

Congress Expands FBI Spying Power [Wired News]

Wired writes, “A provision of an intelligence spending bill will expand the power of the FBI to subpoena business documents and transactions from a broader range of businesses — everything from libraries to travel agencies to eBay — without first seeking approval from a judge.”

Think about how this might affect you. To me, the most ironic part about the act is its name.

Koh Samui: Paradise Lost?

A recent four-day trip to Koh Samui left me disappointed about this island in southern Thailand: the island is dying a slow death and I suspect the local government is the culprit.

US to Visa Applicants: fingers please

US embassy taking fingerprints for visas [Bangkok Post]

No, you are not a criminal, but just another foreigner applying for a U.S. visa. The War on Terror is now making its way to foreign shores, but at the price of privacy and among other things, is it worth it?

Matrix Revolutions

Last night I saw Matrix Revolutions.

I don’t get it.

I have to hand it to the Wachowski bros. They are probably geniuses and have scripted the last two installments for people of their own kind. I wonder, had I watched the movie with English subtitles, would I then understand how Neo was able to defeat Agent Smith? (I doubt it.) And what about that cryptic exchange between Architect and Oracle in the end? It seems that Wachowski bros want us to read between the lines at all times, but it just makes the movie, oh, so much more pretentious.

If I watch this movie over and over, maybe I will finally get it. I always appreciate a thoughtful movie, but not one where I have to work extremely hard to understand it. I guess I am just lazy.

Sure Matrix Revolutions has its fair share of CG: the war between Zion and the machines, the final showdown between Neo and Agent Smith. Unfortunately, both scenes dragged on for too long. The movie wasn’t fun anymore like the first one; it was getting tedious. In short, Matrix Revolutions is a disappointing conclusion to a once-promising premise that had begun with the first movie.

Walmart busted

Walmart got busted because its subcontractors hired illegal immigrants to clean the US stores. By hiring these illegal immigrants Walmart was able to save 40% cost advantage because it doesn’t need to pay taxes, social security, and worker’s compensation, according to a NYTimes article. “Everyday Low Prices” anyone?

My guess is that if Walmart faces a lawsuit, its deep pockets will be able to pull this one out and people will forget about it in no time. But we as consumers should know better. Boycott Walmart!