After watching Volume 1 on DVD a second time, I went to the local theater to see Kill Bill Vol. 2. In some ways, it was a completely different movie than Vol. 1. And I liked it.

I have to say I have gained a new respect for Uma Thurman as an actress. She has been a household name for more than 10 years, although other than Pulp Fiction I can't think of another movie she has been in. But in Kill Bill, she shows a range of acting that far exceeds what was expected of her in this movie.

She gets to express extreme anguish (waking up from a coma), determination (willing her legs out of entropy), and a whole lot of emotions such as panic, cold revenge, and a bit of madness. Anyways, it's a good overall performance from Uma.

I can't believe this is only the 4th movie from Quentin Tarintino. I need to rent Reservoir Dogs, since I bet its a good movie.

Mark Cuban has posted the second installment on how he got into business for himself.

Mark Cuban has an interesting entry on his blog about how he motivated himself to become a success.

I can't wait for part two.

I must say, Kill Bill Vol. 1 is an incredible movie. Quentin Tarentino has still got it.

“I can tell you with no ego, this is my finest sword. If on your journey, you should encounter God... God will be cut.” -- Hattori Hanzo.

Wow. Amazing writing too.

“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that the stuff life is made of.” -- Benjamin Franklin

I've been thinking a lot lately about the importance of time. There are moments in my life where time proceeds excrutiatingly slowly. For instance, waiting at the airport for a flight, watching a bad movie, waiting in a doctor's office...

And then there are moments when time just simply evaporates, leaving me wondering how so much time had been allowed to slip away unnoticed. For instance, when I am focusing on a programming task, days off with my wife, or writing an important email...

I can't believe it's been a month since my last contract ended. Where did the time go?

“Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.” -- Douglas Adams

When it comes to President George Bush, I am of two minds. I have been that way since the 2000 election debacle. Of course, over the past four years, I have sometimes liked him a little more and sometimes liked him a little less depending on his reaction to what is going on in the world. George Bush should consider starting an MTV reality show, where cameras follow him around 24 hours a day... maybe then, I can understand and appreciate him more.

Firstly, I have never been comfortable with his insistence that the invasion of Iraq was necessary after September 11th. Let's get this clear: the war against Iraq was not necessary. That doesn't make it a bad idea, but Iraq posed no threat to the United States. Noone will defend Saddam Hussein, however, and the world is a better place without him. But at what cost? Preemptive invasion is now an acceptable military tactic against any country whose leader we do not like? Are we safer, or actually less safe with this new war on muslims? I don't know the answer to that question. I will give Bush credit for deposing a brutal dictator, but I didn't like the way it was done without any world support besides Britain.

Secondly, I have to give him credit for being a great leader. A great leader outlines a vision, and sticks to it. He doesn't waiver. So Bush earns points with me for strong leadership. However, being a good leader also means being able to admit you were wrong, and listening to others. Bush never admits a mistake, even when everyone else can see it clearly. That lack of humility comes off as arrogance, which is a trait many people outside the United States (Canada and Europe in particular) are put off by.

I could go on and on about him. I don't like his double-speak. “The PATRIOT Act allows those in the positions of authority to protect your liberty.” He doesn't seem to be concerned with the run-away spending of the Federal government.

But what is the alternative? I didn't like any of the Democratic candidates. The Dems needed to combine the experience of Kerry, the charisma of Clarke, and the enthusiasm and energy of Dean.

There are currently four successful businessmen that I have to admit that I admire in some fashion:

* Donald Trump - There are many things you can say about him, however you have to admit Trump is the biggest and baddest real estate developer in Manhattan.

* Mark Cuban - Jumped from starting a multi-billion dollar Internet business into owning a NBA basketball team. He loves his job, and it shows.

* Sean “P. Diddy” Combs - Puffy started a small record label, run out of his home, and turned it into into a multi-million dollar fashion and entertainment enterprise: Bad Boy.

* Russell Simmons - Started a record label as well, and lauched the careers of many famous groups. He parlayed this initial success into a multi-million dollar fashion and entertainment empire: Def Jam.

Yes, that is quite a diverse group. I have taken some time to read up on the history of these four men, as they each fascinate me in slightly different ways.

The question I am asking, however, is once you have “made it” as a businessman, and have earned the big bucks, does that have any effect on how you approach life? (I was inspired to write on this topic from Mark Cuban's blog. I love his writing.)

Look at Donald Trump. The man has an ego as big as his multi-billion dollar bank account. He walks around with a royal swagger, somewhat like a mafia don surveying his turf. That's his style, and who am I to knock it. Every building and casino he owns is named after him. He only dates models, even his oldest daughter became one. Every wall, ceiling and fixture inside his suite at the Trump Tower is covered in gold. He goes nuts if he sees a door handle in one of his buildings that is not polished. That is his approach to life.

Then there is Mark Cuban. He is best known for his brash outspokenness. He shoots hoops before every game, and he is one of the most vocal fans sitting on the sidelines. He is a billionaire, that dresses in jeans and a t-shirt every day. As he himself says, he worked hard to become a billionaire so that he wouldn't ever have to wear a suit again. That is his approach to life.

Sean Puffy Combs is, like Donald, all about the bling. Diamond this, gold that. Fendi shirt, Gucci pants. Another guy who likes to set the fashion trends. But unlike The Donald, he doesn't seem to have a tendency to refer to himself every few minutes during conversations. He seems rather humble, and has a good sense of humor. Still, he travels with a huge entourage, is unmarried, dates models and starlets, and is quite concerned with image in everything he does.

Lastly, Russell Simmons is also a music mogul, but has what appears to be a different approach to life. He is married, and has a child. He has a huge mansion, but I think that is more of a reflection of his wife's tastes and style than his own. His wife also runs their fashion business, Phat Farm. He has written a well-regarded autobiography detailing how he went from being a street hustler to a CEO. Many famous people, including Sean Combs, recommend that book.

So...

If I were to “make it” -- become rich enough -- how would I approach life? Well, for one, I would definitely spend time with my family and friends. I would not become one of those 6am to 2am workoholics. Of course, I will only know for sure when I do become more successful, but I like to think I will never develop an ego the size of a large city...