THESE days, my fellow readers, are the types of days that keep humans chuggin along. No responsibilities, no deadlines, nothing but man and free will. It is these types of days that separate America from the Commies. My options are limitless, I could:
- Sit around and play PS3 for 24 hours straight
- Learn how to make a new extravagant meal
- Go to a crummy dive bar all day and make some townie-friends (not that there's anything wrong with that!)
- Join a cult
- Go to church (check that, Mass was at 12, my first choice of sleeping in until 2 PM crossed that one off the list by default, oh shucks....)
- Start my own religion (kind of hard to do in 1 day, but it only took the Christians 7, right?!?)
- Catch up on Dexter
- Catch up on Californication
- Get the summary of said shows off wikipedia, get caught up, and still have 23 hours and 50 minutes left in my day
- Work out (gasp!!)
Point proven. The possibilities are endless really. In the end, I'll probably sit around all day trying to figure out what to do. That sounds about right.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
I lied
I can't take it anymore. Apathy has set in. As a result, I've been perusing the Netflix Instant Watch pretty hard lately.
Which brings me to my next point.
Scarface, while admittedly pretty badass with some nice Shakespearean tragedy tones to boot, really just isn't worth all of the hype it gets in my opinion. After another viewing of it recently, I've finally figured out what it is about it that makes it so meh for me.
I can't stand the 80s. All the disco/synth transition music and creepy fashions - that I'm sure will probably be back in style by my completion of this post - and big hair really just doesn't do it for me. Probably all the Blondie Mom had be listen to as a kid (Moment of honesty: My mom didn't make me listen to that much Blondie, but IMO any Blondie is too much Blondie, so that's that). Any time I hear, see, or smell (I'm looking at you, Jellies) anything reminiscent of the 80s, I feel like I've just been hit right on the tip of where it counts, and as any guy will tell you, the tip is where it hurts the worst.
So in conclusion, I'm blaming you, 1980-1989, for my disdain of the otherwise good film Scarface.
Glad I got that off my chest.
It's like they intentionally wanted to ruin this shot with 80s grossness.
Which brings me to my next point.
Scarface, while admittedly pretty badass with some nice Shakespearean tragedy tones to boot, really just isn't worth all of the hype it gets in my opinion. After another viewing of it recently, I've finally figured out what it is about it that makes it so meh for me.
I can't stand the 80s. All the disco/synth transition music and creepy fashions - that I'm sure will probably be back in style by my completion of this post - and big hair really just doesn't do it for me. Probably all the Blondie Mom had be listen to as a kid (Moment of honesty: My mom didn't make me listen to that much Blondie, but IMO any Blondie is too much Blondie, so that's that). Any time I hear, see, or smell (I'm looking at you, Jellies) anything reminiscent of the 80s, I feel like I've just been hit right on the tip of where it counts, and as any guy will tell you, the tip is where it hurts the worst.
So in conclusion, I'm blaming you, 1980-1989, for my disdain of the otherwise good film Scarface.
Glad I got that off my chest.
It's like they intentionally wanted to ruin this shot with 80s grossness.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Finals suck
Top 5 other things that suck
5.) The Steelers
4.) My fluids grade (assuming said exam went as wonderfully as it felt)
3.) The fact that I've spent essentially all of my money on things that I shouldn't have spent that much money on, and it is now Christmas time. Sorry guys...
2.) The fact that I caved and spent the little money I have left on food for this week. The good news is, I don't need to taste Ramen for another few weeks. The bad news is, food just isn't that fun.
1.) Your mom.
Back to increased regularity following Wednesday...
5.) The Steelers
4.) My fluids grade (assuming said exam went as wonderfully as it felt)
3.) The fact that I've spent essentially all of my money on things that I shouldn't have spent that much money on, and it is now Christmas time. Sorry guys...
2.) The fact that I caved and spent the little money I have left on food for this week. The good news is, I don't need to taste Ramen for another few weeks. The bad news is, food just isn't that fun.
1.) Your mom.
Back to increased regularity following Wednesday...
Monday, November 30, 2009
Happy Birthday to Me
Dear Self,
For far too long you have long for this day. That's right, it's November 30, 2009.
1 year ago Today, not much happened. It’s actually kind of weird. I don’t remember a thing about a year ago Today. I’m sure you probably got some cards or something, but your mind was probably more focused on being only a year away from Today than anything.
3 years ago Today, you probably went out and bought a big stogie and lit that muh'fucka up. Actually, it probably wasn't big at all, since you didn't enter your stogie-smoking prime until more recently. It was probably a modestly sized cigar that was as mild as you could find. Which, by "could find" you mean the mildest the nice worker at Tinder Box showed you.
5 years ago Today you realized you could officially get your driver's license. However, not aware/caring enough of the amazing adventures that having a car could bring, you decided to wait until February to actually go through with the test. Oh by the way, nice job, Self, for passing on the first time. You'll always have that goin' for ya.
11 years ago Today you got your most kick-ass birthday present ever. That's right, Transformers. Wrapped up in the most recent Sunday comics, you opened them surrounded by your family and now-deceased dog (RIP Ladie).
I'm sure you get the drift by now Self, but 21 years ago Today, you were born. To be more precise, in about an hour and a half from this post you were born. This probably wouldn't mean much if you were born in Europe, Asia, or... pretty much anywhere but the U.S. of A. However Self, you are an American which makes Today a momentous day.
Cheers, Self. This one’s for you.
gimmie da hooch bitches
For far too long you have long for this day. That's right, it's November 30, 2009.
1 year ago Today, not much happened. It’s actually kind of weird. I don’t remember a thing about a year ago Today. I’m sure you probably got some cards or something, but your mind was probably more focused on being only a year away from Today than anything.
3 years ago Today, you probably went out and bought a big stogie and lit that muh'fucka up. Actually, it probably wasn't big at all, since you didn't enter your stogie-smoking prime until more recently. It was probably a modestly sized cigar that was as mild as you could find. Which, by "could find" you mean the mildest the nice worker at Tinder Box showed you.
5 years ago Today you realized you could officially get your driver's license. However, not aware/caring enough of the amazing adventures that having a car could bring, you decided to wait until February to actually go through with the test. Oh by the way, nice job, Self, for passing on the first time. You'll always have that goin' for ya.
11 years ago Today you got your most kick-ass birthday present ever. That's right, Transformers. Wrapped up in the most recent Sunday comics, you opened them surrounded by your family and now-deceased dog (RIP Ladie).
I'm sure you get the drift by now Self, but 21 years ago Today, you were born. To be more precise, in about an hour and a half from this post you were born. This probably wouldn't mean much if you were born in Europe, Asia, or... pretty much anywhere but the U.S. of A. However Self, you are an American which makes Today a momentous day.
Cheers, Self. This one’s for you.
gimmie da hooch bitches
Thursday, November 26, 2009
I got to thinking tonight
And I honestly believe that the last time the whole family sat down at the SAME table occurred exactly one year ago.
The times this happens just get more and more rare as the years go on. It definitely makes me appreciate this fact a little more than when I was 5 and this happened daily (if Mom had her way at least).
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
The times this happens just get more and more rare as the years go on. It definitely makes me appreciate this fact a little more than when I was 5 and this happened daily (if Mom had her way at least).
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Waiting for 4:15 tomorrow
Not that I have any plans in particular once I get back to the 'Nati, but what I'm currently doing (sitting in McGinnis doing laundry and finishing up work that stupid professors assigned for over break) sure as hell has to be worse than what lies ahead.
While I wait for the dryer to buzz:
- Charlie is gone; Saturday sealed it for him, and he knows it. It's sad to see him go, he definitely cared a lot more than the last coach (as shown by his relative recruiting rankings, and embracing the "intangibles" that come with being the Notre Dame coach) and - linked article notwithstanding - whined and complained a lot less than the guy before Ty. In the end though, the thought of having essentially the only sports team I even more than half a shit about anymore not being a laughingstock for the first time in my life outweighs any sympathy I have for the guy. Sorry Charlie, head coach at ND is a tough gig, you know it more than anyone.
In the mean time, my Christmas wishlist is as follows (in order):
1.) Urban Meyer (scumbag aside, the guy can coach. This one isn't happening though)
2.) Bob Stoops (With OU's lackluster season and a large number of upperclassman leaving in Norman, if there was ever a year I could see Stoops trying to get another gig, this would be it. The stars may have aligned here. I'm not holding my breath though).
3.) Brian Kelly (Personality of a wet rock, but has been doing alright at UC. I'm worried about his ability to recruit and questionable defenses, but he is today what Urban Meyer was in '04. We all know how that's turned out.
4.) Gruden (Loves Notre Dame and has the personality to bring in nearly any player he wants. I would not be sad about him coming.)
5.) Anyone else out there? Shanahan? Cowher? Didn't think so....
Anyone outside of that top 4 (barring a lottery ticket like Saban or Tressel) will probably at best be on the same level as what Weis has been able to do. I feel like Meyer, Stoops, Kelly, Gruden could get Notre Dame to consistent BCS/top-10 talk, which is right about where the program should be next year, regardless of who is on the sidelines.
- In my extreme state of boredom and procrastination the past few days, I've taken my annual venture off into poetry land. It's the one time of year that I try to act like a hipster coffee shop kid and snap my fingers (no Lil Jon, not like that) to some ole' Billy S. and such. This year, I've taken very fondly to Charles Bukowski. The guy is raw, direct, and just about exactly what I'm looking for at this point in my life (whatever the hell that means...).
A few favorites:
beer
I don't know how many bottles of beer
I have consumed while waiting for things
to get better
I dont know how much wine and whisky
and beer
mostly beer
I have consumed after
splits with women-
waiting for the phone to ring
waiting for the sound of footsteps,
and the phone to ring
waiting for the sounds of footsteps,
and the phone never rings
until much later
and the footsteps never arrive
until much later
when my stomach is coming up
out of my mouth
they arrive as fresh as spring flowers:
"what the hell have you done to yourself?
it will be 3 days before you can fuck me!"
the female is durable
she lives seven and one half years longer
than the male, and she drinks very little beer
because she knows its bad for the figure.
while we are going mad
they are out
dancing and laughing
with horney cowboys.
well, there's beer
sacks and sacks of empty beer bottles
and when you pick one up
the bottle fall through the wet bottom
of the paper sack
rolling
clanking
spilling gray wet ash
and stale beer,
or the sacks fall over at 4 a.m.
in the morning
making the only sound in your life.
beer
rivers and seas of beer
the radio singing love songs
as the phone remains silent
and the walls stand
straight up and down
and beer is all there is.
bluebird
there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too tough for him,
I say, stay in there, I'm not going
to let anybody see
you.
there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I pur whiskey on him and inhale
cigarette smoke
and the whores and the bartenders
and the grocery clerks
never know that
he's
in there.
there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too tough for him,
I say,
stay down, do you want to mess
me up?
you want to screw up the
works?
you want to blow my book sales in
Europe?
there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too clever, I only let him out
at night sometimes
when everybody's asleep.
I say, I know that you're there,
so don't be
sad.
then I put him back,
but he's singing a little
in there, I haven't quite let him
die
and we sleep together like
that
with our
secret pact
and it's nice enough to
make a man
weep, but I don't
weep, do
you?
While I wait for the dryer to buzz:
- Charlie is gone; Saturday sealed it for him, and he knows it. It's sad to see him go, he definitely cared a lot more than the last coach (as shown by his relative recruiting rankings, and embracing the "intangibles" that come with being the Notre Dame coach) and - linked article notwithstanding - whined and complained a lot less than the guy before Ty. In the end though, the thought of having essentially the only sports team I even more than half a shit about anymore not being a laughingstock for the first time in my life outweighs any sympathy I have for the guy. Sorry Charlie, head coach at ND is a tough gig, you know it more than anyone.
In the mean time, my Christmas wishlist is as follows (in order):
1.) Urban Meyer (scumbag aside, the guy can coach. This one isn't happening though)
2.) Bob Stoops (With OU's lackluster season and a large number of upperclassman leaving in Norman, if there was ever a year I could see Stoops trying to get another gig, this would be it. The stars may have aligned here. I'm not holding my breath though).
3.) Brian Kelly (Personality of a wet rock, but has been doing alright at UC. I'm worried about his ability to recruit and questionable defenses, but he is today what Urban Meyer was in '04. We all know how that's turned out.
4.) Gruden (Loves Notre Dame and has the personality to bring in nearly any player he wants. I would not be sad about him coming.)
5.) Anyone else out there? Shanahan? Cowher? Didn't think so....
Anyone outside of that top 4 (barring a lottery ticket like Saban or Tressel) will probably at best be on the same level as what Weis has been able to do. I feel like Meyer, Stoops, Kelly, Gruden could get Notre Dame to consistent BCS/top-10 talk, which is right about where the program should be next year, regardless of who is on the sidelines.
- In my extreme state of boredom and procrastination the past few days, I've taken my annual venture off into poetry land. It's the one time of year that I try to act like a hipster coffee shop kid and snap my fingers (no Lil Jon, not like that) to some ole' Billy S. and such. This year, I've taken very fondly to Charles Bukowski. The guy is raw, direct, and just about exactly what I'm looking for at this point in my life (whatever the hell that means...).
A few favorites:
beer
I don't know how many bottles of beer
I have consumed while waiting for things
to get better
I dont know how much wine and whisky
and beer
mostly beer
I have consumed after
splits with women-
waiting for the phone to ring
waiting for the sound of footsteps,
and the phone to ring
waiting for the sounds of footsteps,
and the phone never rings
until much later
and the footsteps never arrive
until much later
when my stomach is coming up
out of my mouth
they arrive as fresh as spring flowers:
"what the hell have you done to yourself?
it will be 3 days before you can fuck me!"
the female is durable
she lives seven and one half years longer
than the male, and she drinks very little beer
because she knows its bad for the figure.
while we are going mad
they are out
dancing and laughing
with horney cowboys.
well, there's beer
sacks and sacks of empty beer bottles
and when you pick one up
the bottle fall through the wet bottom
of the paper sack
rolling
clanking
spilling gray wet ash
and stale beer,
or the sacks fall over at 4 a.m.
in the morning
making the only sound in your life.
beer
rivers and seas of beer
the radio singing love songs
as the phone remains silent
and the walls stand
straight up and down
and beer is all there is.
bluebird
there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too tough for him,
I say, stay in there, I'm not going
to let anybody see
you.
there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I pur whiskey on him and inhale
cigarette smoke
and the whores and the bartenders
and the grocery clerks
never know that
he's
in there.
there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too tough for him,
I say,
stay down, do you want to mess
me up?
you want to screw up the
works?
you want to blow my book sales in
Europe?
there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too clever, I only let him out
at night sometimes
when everybody's asleep.
I say, I know that you're there,
so don't be
sad.
then I put him back,
but he's singing a little
in there, I haven't quite let him
die
and we sleep together like
that
with our
secret pact
and it's nice enough to
make a man
weep, but I don't
weep, do
you?
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Top 5 Artists of 1st Semester of Junior Year
It's weird how it works when you think about it. Certain songs take me right back to an exact moment in time. Most ironic in my lifetime thus far has been the Three's Company theme song during a "first kiss" moment. May have ruined the gushy romance of all of it at the time, but given how I have rarely taken much of the gushy romance seriously anyways, I wouldn't have it any other way.
A few other songs that have exact moments tied to them for me:
"What Hurts the Most"
"Crush" - Specifically the Live at Radio City version
"Elanor Rigby" - actually, this one is a dual memory: freshman year sitting in my dorm with nothing but the UD lights on above me, and driving up to the stop sign at Creek and Eljay - and I have no idea why the second one exists)
"Shipping up to Boston" - St. Patricks Day, Junior year in high school; aka green vomit)
"Kashmir" - The song that was on when I got in my car wreck, that song will never be the same
"You Got It Bad" - I think I heard this on the bus ride to high school every morning in junior high. Therefore, I smell the dust/pre-pubescent B.O./overloaded Ax every time it comes on. Still, great song.
The list goes on, but onto the top 5 artists for here and now:
5.) Paramore - Hayley is hot, and has a hell of a voice to go with it. If things don't work out with Chad, I'm here baby girl.
4.) Mike Posner - This one is more because this semester was the first, and will probably be the only time, I listen to him.
3.) Drake - Called this one
2.) Third Eye Blind - Gonna have to thank Saturday's at the stoop for this one.
1.) Miley - For better or for worse, this song will always be attached to the past four months.
If anyone out there has any big flashback songs, lemme hear em.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Engineering is
Taken from a fellow blogger. I like the list and think it does a very good job of describing the field. Especially 3, 4, and 7. 7 being the most frustrating/important one
1.) The science of making the most of the resources available.
2.) The science of making the most of the resources available, with time being the scarcest resource. For the more sincere and "start as soon as you're told to" people, this line means slacking off till the deadline is staring you in the face.
3.) Looking like a nerd (if you're lucky, a genius) to the 'non-engineers', when you try to explain in layman's terms, what your work is.
4.) Failing to find layman's terms for your work. I've had this problem quite a few times.
5.) Failing to make people understand that engineering is actually fun.
6.) Working for people who don't ever seem to understand technical aspects of the job, but absolutely believe that their suggestions (is that commands?) be obeyed. This one is a conclusion I've drawn from Dilbert , so you gotta trust Scott Adams on this one. Fortunately, I have worked under an engineer,and his suggestions sure are worth following.
7.) Constantly thinking up better and/or more economical and/or easier and/or faster ways to do everything. And in the process ending up doing more work than the straight forward approach (but it's a one-time investment if you get it right at first shot).
8.) Coming up with a list of laws/ rules/ conclusions about anything and everything. Does this list come under that category?...I wonder.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
PRPS has a pretty cool website
Fact:
About 5% of my blog posts are written, in their entirety, while pooping.
This post is one of those 5%
Damn it's nice to finally have a laptop again
This post is one of those 5%
Damn it's nice to finally have a laptop again
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Call me cliche
But Levi's has a great thing going for them right now.
"Go Forth" just may be the best ad campaign of all time.
"Go Forth" just may be the best ad campaign of all time.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
New Webcomic
And this one doesn't even involve stick figures!!
Click the picture for a bigger image
Subnormality... very solid choice.
Click the picture for a bigger image
Subnormality... very solid choice.
Just one of those days
when you don't wanna wake up
everything is fucked
everybody sucks
^^ From Mr. Durst's pen to my blog. Not that it's been a terrible day or anything, just one of those days. The good news is that I can definitively pinpoint quite a few things I learned today. Let's go chronologically:
8:37 AM - University of Dayton will come into your apartment when they damn well please. I was awoken at this hour by a middle aged bald guy unlocking and busting through our back door (which, incidentally, opens to my bedroom) to make sure the furnace wasn't going to burn the place down once it went on. I think he was probably the more shocked of the two of us, since three times already this year I have been awoken by the cable/AC/repair guys in the same fashion. Good thing I haven't been sleeping naked any of these times. This time I just said "Cool" and went back to sleep. He can figure out where the fuck the furnace is himself, then he can look at the thermostat and realize we've had the heat on already this year. Pwn'd.
11:30 AM - Fluid Mechanics is probably something that I should learn. Something about, oh I don't know, every field of engineering I'm interested in using it as the basis for pretty much everything. The good news is that I think this is possible.
4:20 PM - Phone interviews are pretty awkward. Given the choice between the two, I would definitely take face-to-face interviews from here on out if possible. I'm glad I got to experience one though, and even more glad that I think it went well. Not that I'm particularly antsy with my current situation, but options are always great to have. Especially if it means going out and seeing something new while I'm basically the most un-tied-down I'll ever be (.....I hope).
8:00 PM - I love decorating for Christmas. Early you say? It's never too early I respond. I'm still in the planning stages this year but I'm thinking a wrapping-paper wallpaper job would be classy. I also need to go get my mini-tree (aptly dubbed by my dad the Charlie Brown Tree) because that's all the apartment will hold. I kicked it off today though with a packet of those scented pine cones; it serves the dual purpose of being festive and getting the bacon smell out of our living room.
1:14 AM - I procrastinate like it's my job, but it's cool because IB English prepped me for this. Also, the keys on my new laptop (the old one died a couple weeks ago) squeak if not pressed perfectly straight down. This could be massively annoying in the coming years. Hopefully it's just a little bit of new car smell.
everything is fucked
everybody sucks
^^ From Mr. Durst's pen to my blog. Not that it's been a terrible day or anything, just one of those days. The good news is that I can definitively pinpoint quite a few things I learned today. Let's go chronologically:
8:37 AM - University of Dayton will come into your apartment when they damn well please. I was awoken at this hour by a middle aged bald guy unlocking and busting through our back door (which, incidentally, opens to my bedroom) to make sure the furnace wasn't going to burn the place down once it went on. I think he was probably the more shocked of the two of us, since three times already this year I have been awoken by the cable/AC/repair guys in the same fashion. Good thing I haven't been sleeping naked any of these times. This time I just said "Cool" and went back to sleep. He can figure out where the fuck the furnace is himself, then he can look at the thermostat and realize we've had the heat on already this year. Pwn'd.
11:30 AM - Fluid Mechanics is probably something that I should learn. Something about, oh I don't know, every field of engineering I'm interested in using it as the basis for pretty much everything. The good news is that I think this is possible.
4:20 PM - Phone interviews are pretty awkward. Given the choice between the two, I would definitely take face-to-face interviews from here on out if possible. I'm glad I got to experience one though, and even more glad that I think it went well. Not that I'm particularly antsy with my current situation, but options are always great to have. Especially if it means going out and seeing something new while I'm basically the most un-tied-down I'll ever be (.....I hope).
8:00 PM - I love decorating for Christmas. Early you say? It's never too early I respond. I'm still in the planning stages this year but I'm thinking a wrapping-paper wallpaper job would be classy. I also need to go get my mini-tree (aptly dubbed by my dad the Charlie Brown Tree) because that's all the apartment will hold. I kicked it off today though with a packet of those scented pine cones; it serves the dual purpose of being festive and getting the bacon smell out of our living room.
1:14 AM - I procrastinate like it's my job, but it's cool because IB English prepped me for this. Also, the keys on my new laptop (the old one died a couple weeks ago) squeak if not pressed perfectly straight down. This could be massively annoying in the coming years. Hopefully it's just a little bit of new car smell.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Wow, I'm not even mad
I actually didn't mean to post that last, well, post with nothing but a title; however, I like the artiness of it all, so I'll keep it.
But the point stands.
I don't really have anything to say. But it's been a few days since I've posted and I did have that whole "be the change you want to see in the world" shpiel less than a fortnight ago, so I feel kind of shitty not following up.
So what's going on in my life, you ask? How about a top 5 I respond. In reverse order, because I love the suspense.
5.) I bought my first ever full length video game digitally recently. Yes, I know the previous sentence will probably exclude me from any contact with the opposite sex for +/- a month, but how would that be different from the past +/- 20 years of my life, so screw it. It feels really really weird buying essentially nothing physically (meaning something that has mass) with nothing physically (meaning my credit card, the whole concept of which still blows my mind, but that's a post for another night). All in all though I'm liking the concept. Rumors have it the PS4 will have primarily a digital download means of distribution so I should probably get used to it either way.
4.) I had a little too much of the jungle joose last night and may or may not have yacked a little on the porch of the stoop. Actually, yea, I did. I tried to clean up my mess this morning, but given the ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL WEATHER today, it had caked very nicely on the already concrete-esque front dirt. So, any water splashing was in vein. I say all of that to say this: I don't know how bulemics do it (my throat kills), and I never want to drink again.
3.) Charlie needs to go. I understand the '07 team had the least talent of any ND team ever possibly, but seriously Charlie, again? This isn't the U.S. Delta Force Academy, it's the fucking Naval Academy. Start talking to your NFL connects about some openings for next year, because if there is a God, you won't be at ND.
2.) If you ain't first you're last.
1.) Nothing in life is big enough for me to give it a "#1" type of status right now, so I'm going to take the easy way out on this one, too. I mean that in the least emo way possible, I'm far from being a manic depressive about things, there just really isn't one thing I can point out as being major.
I did have a pretty prescient fortune cookie in my Chinese carry out this week though, so I guess I'll leave that both of you readers who actually got this far through my ramblings to read it:
"Stop searching forever. Happiness is just next to you."
Peace up, a town down.
But the point stands.
I don't really have anything to say. But it's been a few days since I've posted and I did have that whole "be the change you want to see in the world" shpiel less than a fortnight ago, so I feel kind of shitty not following up.
So what's going on in my life, you ask? How about a top 5 I respond. In reverse order, because I love the suspense.
5.) I bought my first ever full length video game digitally recently. Yes, I know the previous sentence will probably exclude me from any contact with the opposite sex for +/- a month, but how would that be different from the past +/- 20 years of my life, so screw it. It feels really really weird buying essentially nothing physically (meaning something that has mass) with nothing physically (meaning my credit card, the whole concept of which still blows my mind, but that's a post for another night). All in all though I'm liking the concept. Rumors have it the PS4 will have primarily a digital download means of distribution so I should probably get used to it either way.
4.) I had a little too much of the jungle joose last night and may or may not have yacked a little on the porch of the stoop. Actually, yea, I did. I tried to clean up my mess this morning, but given the ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL WEATHER today, it had caked very nicely on the already concrete-esque front dirt. So, any water splashing was in vein. I say all of that to say this: I don't know how bulemics do it (my throat kills), and I never want to drink again.
3.) Charlie needs to go. I understand the '07 team had the least talent of any ND team ever possibly, but seriously Charlie, again? This isn't the U.S. Delta Force Academy, it's the fucking Naval Academy. Start talking to your NFL connects about some openings for next year, because if there is a God, you won't be at ND.
2.) If you ain't first you're last.
1.) Nothing in life is big enough for me to give it a "#1" type of status right now, so I'm going to take the easy way out on this one, too. I mean that in the least emo way possible, I'm far from being a manic depressive about things, there just really isn't one thing I can point out as being major.
I did have a pretty prescient fortune cookie in my Chinese carry out this week though, so I guess I'll leave that both of you readers who actually got this far through my ramblings to read it:
"Stop searching forever. Happiness is just next to you."
Peace up, a town down.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Fairly Substantial Layout Changes
I've opted out of the "stretch to your resolution" look - which I will miss - for the rotating headers. A few reasons:
- I really did not like my header I've had for all this time. It was meant to be a placeholder more than anything, but just got forgotten about.
- I like messing in photoshop, but don't really have much of a medium (besides the occasional dedicated post) for sharing. This gives me a little space in the world for that.
- The randomness of it all keeps it looking fresh.
Now I just have to stay committed to adding new ones every now and then.
- I really did not like my header I've had for all this time. It was meant to be a placeholder more than anything, but just got forgotten about.
- I like messing in photoshop, but don't really have much of a medium (besides the occasional dedicated post) for sharing. This gives me a little space in the world for that.
- The randomness of it all keeps it looking fresh.
Now I just have to stay committed to adding new ones every now and then.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Just watched Primer for the first time
....wtf...
Pretty solid, very original sci-fi movie. It's like Back to the Future, minus Hollywood + a former engineer as director. In other words, more scientific... but still wildly conjecture since we are talking about __________[at the sake of preventing any spoilers, mild though they may be, i'll leave the sentence at this].
Go watch it. If you have Netflix, it's one of their watch instantly options. If not, good luck.
If you've seen it, please enlighten me. Or just join me in the wtf-ness of it all.
Pretty solid, very original sci-fi movie. It's like Back to the Future, minus Hollywood + a former engineer as director. In other words, more scientific... but still wildly conjecture since we are talking about __________[at the sake of preventing any spoilers, mild though they may be, i'll leave the sentence at this].
Go watch it. If you have Netflix, it's one of their watch instantly options. If not, good luck.
If you've seen it, please enlighten me. Or just join me in the wtf-ness of it all.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
"Be the change you want to see in the world"
- that Ghandi guy was quite the wordsmith.
What change do I want to see in the world? Gillyweed is up there. My superpower of choice in dreamland, if you were curious, is water breathing. Whenever I have those self-aware holy shit dude you are dreaming go nuts nights, if I ever find myself in the presence of water, the first thing I like to do is levitate into said water, then swim around. It's mind blowing. Probably as close of a feeling as I'll ever get to doing LSD, and even more probably the closest I'll ever get to breathing with my own lungs an no other assistance underwater.
But I digress.
The more manageable change I want to see in the world is more blog posting. For me, addictinggames has kind of run it's course. I feel like I've discovered/conquered every physics game the Internets has to offer, and youtube only goes so long before I truly feel like a waste of life.
So I turn to the blogosphere. Not a very big one in my world, but one that has just about everything I want.
That is, when there is new stuff to read. I'm done bitching and moaning about it though (well, following this, obviously). I know how I get when more important things take hold so who am I to judge? Instead, I'm going to be the change I want to see in the world. I'm going to subject you, the loyal readers, to whatever the heck I have been doing lately in my admittedly random-as-fuck (pardon the language...i was trying to keep this post clean) life.
Today, mid-procrastination, I found a few things of note.
1.) I really like this painting:
I wouldn't consider myself an art critic by any means, but once in a blue moon I see something that strikes my fancy. Funny thing is, I vividly remember seeing this in our AP Euro book back in sophomore year when we were talking about Renaissance art. Damn you photographic memory... The badassness in this particular piece of art lies in two facts. First, a quick wikipedia search shows that all the guys in the picture are ones you read about in the science/history books all through school. There is something about putting a face/body (fictional though it may be) to Ptolemy and Pythagoras that blows my mind a little. That's the nerd in me though.
Also, this little anecdote I came across adds a little pizazz to the piece:
Technically, this painting is titled "Philosophy," and it's merely the most famous of a series of four.
Raphael was painting that while Michelangelo was working on the Sistine Chapel ceiling (which is just down the hall, literally). On his breaks, Raphael used to sneak over and poke his head into the Sistine Chapel to see what Michelangelo was working on. If Michelangelo noticed him, he'd starting shrieking curses and throwing crap at him. (He hated Raphael. He was just about the only one.)
Even if it is completely false, the thought of Raphael running down the hall to give Michelangelo a big FUCK YOU MANE while the two are in the process of creating timeless masterpieces cracks me up.
I have two final thoughts; First, I love semi-colons and even though it was a stretch to use it here, I'm happy I did. Also, I doubt Raphael ever thought about the translatability of "The School of Athens" into a desktop background, but it still makes a pretty damn good one.
2.) This girl is pretty damn good, but has a little too much of a country twag for my regular-listening tastes. Quite the looker though:
3.) I love the idea of having a tattoo, but can't commit to any one idea. One minute I want this, the next I want something Latin. The latest is something literary. Maybe some Frost, a few select lines from Eliot, hell, even Hornby. Point: I have commitment issues.
Maybe that should be my tat. Right across the front of my chest:
I have commitment issues.
What change do I want to see in the world? Gillyweed is up there. My superpower of choice in dreamland, if you were curious, is water breathing. Whenever I have those self-aware holy shit dude you are dreaming go nuts nights, if I ever find myself in the presence of water, the first thing I like to do is levitate into said water, then swim around. It's mind blowing. Probably as close of a feeling as I'll ever get to doing LSD, and even more probably the closest I'll ever get to breathing with my own lungs an no other assistance underwater.
But I digress.
The more manageable change I want to see in the world is more blog posting. For me, addictinggames has kind of run it's course. I feel like I've discovered/conquered every physics game the Internets has to offer, and youtube only goes so long before I truly feel like a waste of life.
So I turn to the blogosphere. Not a very big one in my world, but one that has just about everything I want.
That is, when there is new stuff to read. I'm done bitching and moaning about it though (well, following this, obviously). I know how I get when more important things take hold so who am I to judge? Instead, I'm going to be the change I want to see in the world. I'm going to subject you, the loyal readers, to whatever the heck I have been doing lately in my admittedly random-as-fuck (pardon the language...i was trying to keep this post clean) life.
Today, mid-procrastination, I found a few things of note.
1.) I really like this painting:
I wouldn't consider myself an art critic by any means, but once in a blue moon I see something that strikes my fancy. Funny thing is, I vividly remember seeing this in our AP Euro book back in sophomore year when we were talking about Renaissance art. Damn you photographic memory... The badassness in this particular piece of art lies in two facts. First, a quick wikipedia search shows that all the guys in the picture are ones you read about in the science/history books all through school. There is something about putting a face/body (fictional though it may be) to Ptolemy and Pythagoras that blows my mind a little. That's the nerd in me though.
Also, this little anecdote I came across adds a little pizazz to the piece:
Technically, this painting is titled "Philosophy," and it's merely the most famous of a series of four.
Raphael was painting that while Michelangelo was working on the Sistine Chapel ceiling (which is just down the hall, literally). On his breaks, Raphael used to sneak over and poke his head into the Sistine Chapel to see what Michelangelo was working on. If Michelangelo noticed him, he'd starting shrieking curses and throwing crap at him. (He hated Raphael. He was just about the only one.)
Even if it is completely false, the thought of Raphael running down the hall to give Michelangelo a big FUCK YOU MANE while the two are in the process of creating timeless masterpieces cracks me up.
I have two final thoughts; First, I love semi-colons and even though it was a stretch to use it here, I'm happy I did. Also, I doubt Raphael ever thought about the translatability of "The School of Athens" into a desktop background, but it still makes a pretty damn good one.
2.) This girl is pretty damn good, but has a little too much of a country twag for my regular-listening tastes. Quite the looker though:
3.) I love the idea of having a tattoo, but can't commit to any one idea. One minute I want this, the next I want something Latin. The latest is something literary. Maybe some Frost, a few select lines from Eliot, hell, even Hornby. Point: I have commitment issues.
Maybe that should be my tat. Right across the front of my chest:
I have commitment issues.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Worry not
I did nothing drastic in the aftermath of the (admittedly, much closer than I thought it would be) loss on Oct 17th. All vital organs are in in tact, though the liver maybe slightly worse off than before.
In the mean time, I have been busy living my life, trying to not let homework interfere with said life (mission: success, so far...) and deciding upon a Halloween costume.
If I had an endless supply of fundage, I would probably buy the tuxedos for my roommate and I - tophat, cane and all. However, this is not the case. So, barring getting a Park Place or other Monopoly street that I have yet to own (no more Indiana or Connecticut Ave please, MickeyD's), this option is fading quickly.
Nightman would be pretty solid, barring the fact that only the lucky few who watch Always Sunny In Philadelphia as much as I would understand the gag.
Heres a start:
Lyrics linked. You have been warned. For the record, I also have a Dayman - fighter of the nightman, champion of the sun - lined up. This adds to the success of this option.
Then there is the classic Elf. Thanks to mama's extremely random, but wildly successful idea from senior week, I have in my possession a relatively dead-on and fairly free Elf costume. I say fairly, because I did have to purchase some pants (if you want to call it that) to wear in addition to the jacket and hat. This is a pretty good option for cheap and easy. Very tempting.
In the end, I look back on this post realizing I could have instead knocked out one of the four essays I need to get done and turnitin.com-ed by 10:30 AM tomorrow. Considering I rise and shine around 10:15 AM, that makes the deadline for these rapidly impending. Ruh roh.
Holla back.
In the mean time, I have been busy living my life, trying to not let homework interfere with said life (mission: success, so far...) and deciding upon a Halloween costume.
If I had an endless supply of fundage, I would probably buy the tuxedos for my roommate and I - tophat, cane and all. However, this is not the case. So, barring getting a Park Place or other Monopoly street that I have yet to own (no more Indiana or Connecticut Ave please, MickeyD's), this option is fading quickly.
Nightman would be pretty solid, barring the fact that only the lucky few who watch Always Sunny In Philadelphia as much as I would understand the gag.
Heres a start:
Lyrics linked. You have been warned. For the record, I also have a Dayman - fighter of the nightman, champion of the sun - lined up. This adds to the success of this option.
Then there is the classic Elf. Thanks to mama's extremely random, but wildly successful idea from senior week, I have in my possession a relatively dead-on and fairly free Elf costume. I say fairly, because I did have to purchase some pants (if you want to call it that) to wear in addition to the jacket and hat. This is a pretty good option for cheap and easy. Very tempting.
In the end, I look back on this post realizing I could have instead knocked out one of the four essays I need to get done and turnitin.com-ed by 10:30 AM tomorrow. Considering I rise and shine around 10:15 AM, that makes the deadline for these rapidly impending. Ruh roh.
Holla back.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Fuck southern cal
Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal Fuck Southern Cal
This game is big.
This game is big.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
It's happening
This is the week I look forward to the other 51 out of the year. When fall is in full bloom, most of the trees are noticeably sporting their colors, and football season is fully under way.
Yes, it's Southern Cal week.
If it weren't for my team's end of the bargain not being held up for just about a decade now, it would still be considered the greatest rivalry in all of college football. Instead, I doubt many would let it crack the top 5. This is probably more because of their hate for Notre Dame and unwillingness to give them credit for anything than any true shittiness of the game, but so be it.
FWIW, my top 5, based on today's college football climate:
1.) Texas/Oklahoma - The Red River Rivalry has made and broken the National Championship dreams of these two teams every year since Vince Young was still in college. I'm far from a Big 12 fan, but this is as big as it gets anymore.
2.) OSU/Michigan - Personally, I think Big 10 games are a snoozefest. This game always gets hyped to shit by one side or the other, even though Michigan has been balled up and pooped since... I can't even remember how long. It's been a while though. Bold prediction: expect the pooping on to end this year. I'm not saying they are going to win, but OSU is just that bad offensively that they may let Michigan stay in this one.
3.) Alabama/LSU - Nick Saban. Combine that storyline with the fact that the SEC really is just more fun to watch than any of the integer conferences, and you have the #3 best rivalry.
4.) Florida/whoever-they-are-playing-this-week - Until Tim "Jesus" Tebow is gone, that school will be hyped to shit by the media, giving every team on their schedule plenty of reason to hate them come Saturday. In the end, Meyer is just too good and has had his pick of players since as long as he has been there. I don't see the domination going anywhere soon.
5.) ND/USC - If you didn't think I would have this in the top 5, you're insane. October 15, 2005 will be a date that will always be remembered in my heart. My junior homecoming. We ate at the now defunct Waston Bros. Good choice, considering we all temporarily ditched the dates to watch the last 5 minutes of one of the greatest games of the 21st century. Freakin' Reggie Bush....
I can't watch this much, but for anyone who wants to relive it, be my guest:
Yes, it's Southern Cal week.
If it weren't for my team's end of the bargain not being held up for just about a decade now, it would still be considered the greatest rivalry in all of college football. Instead, I doubt many would let it crack the top 5. This is probably more because of their hate for Notre Dame and unwillingness to give them credit for anything than any true shittiness of the game, but so be it.
FWIW, my top 5, based on today's college football climate:
1.) Texas/Oklahoma - The Red River Rivalry has made and broken the National Championship dreams of these two teams every year since Vince Young was still in college. I'm far from a Big 12 fan, but this is as big as it gets anymore.
2.) OSU/Michigan - Personally, I think Big 10 games are a snoozefest. This game always gets hyped to shit by one side or the other, even though Michigan has been balled up and pooped since... I can't even remember how long. It's been a while though. Bold prediction: expect the pooping on to end this year. I'm not saying they are going to win, but OSU is just that bad offensively that they may let Michigan stay in this one.
3.) Alabama/LSU - Nick Saban. Combine that storyline with the fact that the SEC really is just more fun to watch than any of the integer conferences, and you have the #3 best rivalry.
4.) Florida/whoever-they-are-playing-this-week - Until Tim "Jesus" Tebow is gone, that school will be hyped to shit by the media, giving every team on their schedule plenty of reason to hate them come Saturday. In the end, Meyer is just too good and has had his pick of players since as long as he has been there. I don't see the domination going anywhere soon.
5.) ND/USC - If you didn't think I would have this in the top 5, you're insane. October 15, 2005 will be a date that will always be remembered in my heart. My junior homecoming. We ate at the now defunct Waston Bros. Good choice, considering we all temporarily ditched the dates to watch the last 5 minutes of one of the greatest games of the 21st century. Freakin' Reggie Bush....
I can't watch this much, but for anyone who wants to relive it, be my guest:
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Not one of you
Not a single freakin one of you has updated your blog in the past 24 hours. You should all be ashamed. I now have absolutely nothing to read at this ungodly hour of the morning in which I have finally finished homework/meetings/classes that have been going since 11:00 straight.
You all suck.
Just to show you how I felt upon seeing this disaster:
EDIT: Upon posting this, I look and whadda know, the kraze posted something new about 3 hours prior. My bad bra. I'm still leaving this up though, mainly to showcase The Office
You all suck.
Just to show you how I felt upon seeing this disaster:
EDIT: Upon posting this, I look and whadda know, the kraze posted something new about 3 hours prior. My bad bra. I'm still leaving this up though, mainly to showcase The Office
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Confession Sunday
I'm in love:
The age difference is only like a month... so the potential is there.
Right??
Right???
The age difference is only like a month... so the potential is there.
Right??
Right???
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Four
That is the number of times I've been on facebook in the past two weeks.
That time-suck of a website will be expunged from my life before the end of the year. Or at least used in a controllable manner. Or I'll die... whichever comes first.
It is kind of nice to have a notification every time I get on at least....
That time-suck of a website will be expunged from my life before the end of the year. Or at least used in a controllable manner. Or I'll die... whichever comes first.
It is kind of nice to have a notification every time I get on at least....
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
It's been two massively life altering years
...with more changes in my life than I'm sure I can ever recall since I first stepped foot on the campus of college. But one thing has remained the same; I'm still an ENTJ . Albiet a little more on the "E" side of things than I was back in the day (went from a 12/12/1/12 to a 22/12/1/22). Does this sound like me? It sure as hell does to me, but then again I can't say I've exhaustively looked at the other options. I'm sure Momma would probably read this description and go "that's my boy," especially when it comes to the "strong sentimental streaks" that we "often hide from others as it is perceived as a weakness." She usually gets the brunt of those...
Should I be concerned or relieved that I have pretty much stayed the same - from a basic personality standpoint - "halfway" through college? Who knows. That's too big of a question for this post to answer.
Either way, I'm pretty surprised that I've stayed relatively the same. I have a good feeling that by the end of the year the "Extrovert" number will probably get even higher. Then again, my whole analysis of the ENTJ-ness of myself pretty much locks me even more into an ENTJ. Vicious cycle, it is.
As much as I blaze on psychology, it does have some pretty freakin' creepy/cool aspects. If anyone else knows what they are, or wants to take the quick version, post it.
I have no clue what the picture is supposed to mean... but it's pretty badass... so I'll take it!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Top 5 hard words to translate:
1.) Mamihlapinatapai - a look shared by two people with each wishing that the other will initiate something that both desire but which neither one wants to start.
2.) Schadenfreude - pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others
.... That's actually all I have... I've known about Schendenfraude for a while (as should any other person who roots against the Yankees), but Mamihlapinatapai is a new one. I digg it.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Plug/Short Review
.png)
Very solid latest release by Brand New. While it may not go down as their best yet (it's going to be very hard to beat Devil and God), they yet again throw in a bit of a new flair, this time in the form of a harder sound. Should appeal to those who maybe thought they were a little too emo (a la Deja). The tradeoff is slightly worse lyrics, but I won't feel like a big pansy rocking to this one in the car.
Not that it ever stopped me from rocking to Deja really... just saying...
CD is out today, go grab it.
Food for Thought
The American character since early in its history has been pulled in two directions and has been unable to commit itself to either. The first direction is toward the dream of the American sublime, to a virgin land and a life of peace, serenity and community. The second direction is the Faustian and rapacious, the desire for power, wealth, productivity and universal knowledge, the urge to dominate nature and remake the world. In many ways the American tragedy is that we want both these things and never seem to respect the contradiction between them.
Heavy stuff there. Very prescient though given the current state of society and that this was written about 40 years ago, before something was labeled as "green" even if it did not have a similar hue to a frog. Also interesting considering how the "duality" pops up even in my own interests, what with me wanting to enter a well-paying industry that pops out more pollution in a year than you could with your car in your lifetime, but at the same time not so much as taking a shit in a secluded forest without being concerned with where I'm going to put the TP.
It's a mad mad mad mad world we live in folks....
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
3 Day Weekends will be the death of me
Well... more like 4.5 day weekends, but who's counting?
Labor Day weekend was the perfect storm: light homework on Thursday and Friday, football all day Saturday, and a trip to "Lex Vegas" on Sunday.
While this made for a very sticky situation driving back on Monday (took a pit stop in the nati to let my back, which had slept on the floor the night previous, recover), and a slight swine flu scare today, after a few Tylonol Rapid Release I'm feeling like a new man, ready to face the challenges ahead.
For those interested, a few of the guys from school have started a blog: the quite aptly named UD Stoop. This one is very, as ChemGuy would say, so be forewarned. It is however hilarious and has surprisingly good writing quality/video. Just a heads up for those curious.
Labor Day weekend was the perfect storm: light homework on Thursday and Friday, football all day Saturday, and a trip to "Lex Vegas" on Sunday.
While this made for a very sticky situation driving back on Monday (took a pit stop in the nati to let my back, which had slept on the floor the night previous, recover), and a slight swine flu scare today, after a few Tylonol Rapid Release I'm feeling like a new man, ready to face the challenges ahead.
For those interested, a few of the guys from school have started a blog: the quite aptly named UD Stoop. This one is very
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
A few tweets:
1.) I'm starting to realize why saying I am in engineering is usually greeted with an "OOoooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh......." A.k.a the hdub is off the charts.
2.) This Saturday is one of the greatest days of the near, the start of college football season.
3.) I'm finally starting to get excited to see the blue and gold on the field again.
4.) My goal for the year is not to make the games make/break my mood for (and thus quality of) the entire weekend.
Keep livin' the dream everyone. A small wave of schools are still moving in so I want to give a big best of luck to everyone on the new year.
Except for the OSU and USC football teams. You all suck.
2.) This Saturday is one of the greatest days of the near, the start of college football season.
3.) I'm finally starting to get excited to see the blue and gold on the field again.
4.) My goal for the year is not to make the games make/break my mood for (and thus quality of) the entire weekend.
Keep livin' the dream everyone. A small wave of schools are still moving in so I want to give a big best of luck to everyone on the new year.
Except for the OSU and USC football teams. You all suck.
Blatent Digg Steal #1332432533
Let's just agree on this one thing:
Let's also agree that Hitler has the best 'tasche growing abilities of the three.
He may even give Obama a run for his money when it comes to a rousing speech for the masses...
Too soon?
Let's also agree that Hitler has the best 'tasche growing abilities of the three.
He may even give Obama a run for his money when it comes to a rousing speech for the masses...
Too soon?
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Bathroom Feng Shui
This is a phrase I need to add to my lexicon. This letter to Starbucks is priceless:
In other news, this is my 250th post and classes start tomorrow. Never thought a)I would get this far! and II) be excited about starting classes. Getting back into a routine is going to be nice. My guess is this attitude will change around the first time I hear the word "assignment" or "integral." Given that my first class is Fluid Dynamics... that shouldn't take long at all!
In other news, this is my 250th post and classes start tomorrow. Never thought a)I would get this far! and II) be excited about starting classes. Getting back into a routine is going to be nice. My guess is this attitude will change around the first time I hear the word "assignment" or "integral." Given that my first class is Fluid Dynamics... that shouldn't take long at all!
Friday, August 21, 2009
I'm on a boat
Got the mail today only to find a letter to me from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Clear the waters, guy is now a licensed boater! Awwwwright.
The boat:
P.S.: Damn the new phone can take a quality picture...
Clear the waters, guy is now a licensed boater! Awwwwright.
The boat:
P.S.: Damn the new phone can take a quality picture...
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Let's try this again
New Boots acquired:
Maybe a little more hiking and not as much backpacking than what I wanted/should get, but they have to be some of the lightest, comfiest shoes I have ever worn, let alone being a boot. Gortex bottom (waterproof for some shallow shallow creeks and more importantly morning dew) with a mesh top (for once the doggies get burning) make this a pretty happy purchase for me.
Now I have basically no excuse, it's gonna happen again. This time I'm going to finish what I started (cue Rocky/Rambo theme songs).
Maybe a little more hiking and not as much backpacking than what I wanted/should get, but they have to be some of the lightest, comfiest shoes I have ever worn, let alone being a boot. Gortex bottom (waterproof for some shallow shallow creeks and more importantly morning dew) with a mesh top (for once the doggies get burning) make this a pretty happy purchase for me.
Now I have basically no excuse, it's gonna happen again. This time I'm going to finish what I started (cue Rocky/Rambo theme songs).
Sunday, August 2, 2009
update:
- gatlinburg was in.fucking.sane. the stories are long, amazing, and not getting posted up here, to protect the innocent. if anyone wants any more details, ill be glad to talk about it... not on the blogosphere though.
- im alive. see point #1 as far as more details go, but this is always good news! before anyone freaks out, nothing serious happened, but there were some moments that got a little hairy.
- Super Nintendo is the greatest game console of all time. Followed by NES, PS2, then N64. The rest will most likely be forgotten, for one reason or another.
This has completely nothing to do with anything, I understand. However, it is pertinent to my interests. So dig it.
Peace up, a town.
- im alive. see point #1 as far as more details go, but this is always good news! before anyone freaks out, nothing serious happened, but there were some moments that got a little hairy.
- Super Nintendo is the greatest game console of all time. Followed by NES, PS2, then N64. The rest will most likely be forgotten, for one reason or another.
This has completely nothing to do with anything, I understand. However, it is pertinent to my interests. So dig it.
Peace up, a town.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The good news is
that lifting two days ago, I realized my foot felt fine. So that's a plus. Now to buy hiking boots and break them in this weekend in G-burg.
Yea, there was a slight change of plans for those in the know. At the last minute there was some unavoidable circumstances that eliminated Cumberland. In the end, everything worked out though. I got together with another guy I know for a few hours, we did our best Ari Gold impressions, and closed the deal less than 12 hours after the news came up.
Not a bad deal, going from a condo that sleeps four (max, apparently) to a 6-person place with a hot tub, pool table, amazing view, and lower price than what we had planned on.
Next week is my last week of work, then back to being a full time college student... a.k.a. the best job in the world. Except this time, with money!
Well, for a month or two at least.
Yea, there was a slight change of plans for those in the know. At the last minute there was some unavoidable circumstances that eliminated Cumberland. In the end, everything worked out though. I got together with another guy I know for a few hours, we did our best Ari Gold impressions, and closed the deal less than 12 hours after the news came up.
Not a bad deal, going from a condo that sleeps four (max, apparently) to a 6-person place with a hot tub, pool table, amazing view, and lower price than what we had planned on.
Next week is my last week of work, then back to being a full time college student... a.k.a. the best job in the world. Except this time, with money!
Well, for a month or two at least.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Gettin back on that horse....
Yes, it's me again. I'm sure the RSS feeds did a double take before they posted me back up. To be honest, it's been a hectic month for me with plenty to talk about but not much of it being anything most anyone here would probably care to hear.
The sparknotes? Sure, I am now an uncle (congrats Sis), have been working 40-50 hours/week (but getting paid for 40), have had packed weekends (for the first time in my entire life I may label myself as a nap-taker....scary), and have done a ton of catching up with "myself." Call it what you want, I've settled with the term "Quarter-life crisis" to describe the past month.
In the end I have come out of it realizing most that in the routine of life I have not taken any time to just sit back for even an hour and reflect on me as a person. Who am I? What am I really doing with my life? Am I really going to be happy with the choices I need to make now, five, ten, even twenty years down the road? While I'm sure this may sound like some Zen bullshit, I can't recommend just getting away from everything enough. No phones, no facebook (gasp!), no internet, no PS3 (double gasp!), no friends. You'll be surprised how much you can learn about yourself in just a short time of doing this.
My "get-away" consisted of literally getting away from my comfort zone and going somewhere completely new where I would be a stranger to everyone. After looking at the prices for plane tickets (holy crap.... no wonder GE can pay me what they do....) I quickly realized that getting to LA or NYC was just not possible. So I looked closer, maybe a few nights somewhere within driving distance would be do-able. The problem with that however, is that I wasn't truly leaving any comfort zones at all. If there is anything I have gotten a lot of experience in this past year, it has been long-distance driving. I have even come to enjoy it quite a bit. While my goal wasn't to do something completely miserable, it was to push myself out of the comfort zone. That wasn't going to happen in my 2 door Escort.
After a little inspiration, I became dead set on a few nights of wilderness camping. Bare essentials, no outside contact, me and nature: perfect. I also (ignorantly) figured that this would be a low-cost venture; no plane tickets needed. In the end, the bill stacked well over $700. I left Monday, July 13 for Shawnee State Forest, with a ~45 lb backpack with enough in it to last three nights (four if needed) without any human contact.
The sparknotes:
- I'm amazed (and overwhelmingly appreciative) that my parents not only bought into the idea, but even supported me throughout it. Backpacking is tough. Solo backpacking is dangerous. Solo backpacking with zero backpacking experience, is about a dumb as you can get. I don't think I can thank them enough for the support.
- Maybe the only reason they didn't object too hard is because they have some weird sense of foresight beyond my wildest imaginations. After getting three miles in (of a 26 mile loop) on my first day, I stop at a creek side for lunch. After eating I take off my shoes only to find 6 blisters already formed, and popped, on both of my feet. At this point I knew that I could either trudge onward, and risk some serious - potentially long term - medical issues, or do the only smart move and turn around. After amount 10 minutes of sitting in disbelief and a fair amount of cussing, I begrudgingly started walking back the way I came.
So, mission accomplished? no. I did however, catch the "bug" and fully intend on "getting back on the horse" as soon as possible. Back to the Zen bullshit though: even in the few hours I was alone ("in the wild" as I say), I feel like I took monumental steps in discovering who I really am. I would be fooling myself to say that going on essentially a day-hike with a toddler strapped to my back solved all the craziness in my life - it did make it seem a lot more manageable.
So, that about wraps up the first 10 days of my absence. Obviously I have a lot of catching up to do, and I intend on doing it. I was not-so-subtlety reminded by someone recently why I first started this blog. It was not so much for the video game reviews (though I love talkin some polygons for a few minutes), or the youtube videos (Fuck yea!), but a way for me to stay connected to people that I don't want to lose contact with. Whether posts are monsterous (see: this), or tweet-esque (see: what I always intend on doing, but never actually do), it is still a helluva lot better than lately!
With that, I bid you adieu. Until next time - peace up, a-town down.
The sparknotes? Sure, I am now an uncle (congrats Sis), have been working 40-50 hours/week (but getting paid for 40), have had packed weekends (for the first time in my entire life I may label myself as a nap-taker....scary), and have done a ton of catching up with "myself." Call it what you want, I've settled with the term "Quarter-life crisis" to describe the past month.
In the end I have come out of it realizing most that in the routine of life I have not taken any time to just sit back for even an hour and reflect on me as a person. Who am I? What am I really doing with my life? Am I really going to be happy with the choices I need to make now, five, ten, even twenty years down the road? While I'm sure this may sound like some Zen bullshit, I can't recommend just getting away from everything enough. No phones, no facebook (gasp!), no internet, no PS3 (double gasp!), no friends. You'll be surprised how much you can learn about yourself in just a short time of doing this.
My "get-away" consisted of literally getting away from my comfort zone and going somewhere completely new where I would be a stranger to everyone. After looking at the prices for plane tickets (holy crap.... no wonder GE can pay me what they do....) I quickly realized that getting to LA or NYC was just not possible. So I looked closer, maybe a few nights somewhere within driving distance would be do-able. The problem with that however, is that I wasn't truly leaving any comfort zones at all. If there is anything I have gotten a lot of experience in this past year, it has been long-distance driving. I have even come to enjoy it quite a bit. While my goal wasn't to do something completely miserable, it was to push myself out of the comfort zone. That wasn't going to happen in my 2 door Escort.
After a little inspiration, I became dead set on a few nights of wilderness camping. Bare essentials, no outside contact, me and nature: perfect. I also (ignorantly) figured that this would be a low-cost venture; no plane tickets needed. In the end, the bill stacked well over $700. I left Monday, July 13 for Shawnee State Forest, with a ~45 lb backpack with enough in it to last three nights (four if needed) without any human contact.
The sparknotes:
- I'm amazed (and overwhelmingly appreciative) that my parents not only bought into the idea, but even supported me throughout it. Backpacking is tough. Solo backpacking is dangerous. Solo backpacking with zero backpacking experience, is about a dumb as you can get. I don't think I can thank them enough for the support.
- Maybe the only reason they didn't object too hard is because they have some weird sense of foresight beyond my wildest imaginations. After getting three miles in (of a 26 mile loop) on my first day, I stop at a creek side for lunch. After eating I take off my shoes only to find 6 blisters already formed, and popped, on both of my feet. At this point I knew that I could either trudge onward, and risk some serious - potentially long term - medical issues, or do the only smart move and turn around. After amount 10 minutes of sitting in disbelief and a fair amount of cussing, I begrudgingly started walking back the way I came.
So, mission accomplished? no. I did however, catch the "bug" and fully intend on "getting back on the horse" as soon as possible. Back to the Zen bullshit though: even in the few hours I was alone ("in the wild" as I say), I feel like I took monumental steps in discovering who I really am. I would be fooling myself to say that going on essentially a day-hike with a toddler strapped to my back solved all the craziness in my life - it did make it seem a lot more manageable.
So, that about wraps up the first 10 days of my absence. Obviously I have a lot of catching up to do, and I intend on doing it. I was not-so-subtlety reminded by someone recently why I first started this blog. It was not so much for the video game reviews (though I love talkin some polygons for a few minutes), or the youtube videos (Fuck yea!), but a way for me to stay connected to people that I don't want to lose contact with. Whether posts are monsterous (see: this), or tweet-esque (see: what I always intend on doing, but never actually do), it is still a helluva lot better than lately!
With that, I bid you adieu. Until next time - peace up, a-town down.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
NASCAR, Damage
Anyone who has ever played any of the Gran Turismo games knows that, if nothing else, it is realistic as fuck.
Well, minus there being no damage system
Wait, nevermind.
Yea, thats good and all, but what is a racing game without NASCAR?
BAM! NASCAR sponsorship in the most realistic driving simulator of all time.
This seriously may be my favorite game of all time. I say that more than I mean it, but this time I really mean it.
Watch the trailer:
Well, minus there being no damage system
Wait, nevermind.
Yea, thats good and all, but what is a racing game without NASCAR?
BAM! NASCAR sponsorship in the most realistic driving simulator of all time.
This seriously may be my favorite game of all time. I say that more than I mean it, but this time I really mean it.
Watch the trailer:
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Top 5
Holy crap!!! Semi-regular posting?! It can't be.... Well, if the cop-out that is a top five even counts.
Anywho, onward and upward:
Top 5 books read while at Princeton City Schools
1st-12th
5.) Out of the Silent Planet - Being a sci-fi nerd and a C.S. Lewis fan, I was pretty stoked to read this. However, in doing so I learned one life lesson: trilogies weren't meant to be read one at a time. Every time I think about reading the other two books, I remember I have very little recollection of what actually happened in the first. Maybe someday...
4.) Night - I still have this book tucked away in some dark corner of my room. I remember reading it in 8th grade with Mr. Pogue, the guy who, if nothing else, taught me that books are printed on paper so they can be written in, torn up, and generally made your own. To this day a good indicator of books I've actually read is to look for the one's that have seemingly gone through the washer, twice. Anywho, a powerful book that everyone should be forced to read in school.
3.) Lord of the Flies - Another Mr. Pogue read that I probably wouldn't have even opened if it weren't for two undeniable facts:
3-1.) The edition of the book I bought had cover that was about 6 standard deviations MORE badass than anyone elses book.
3-2.) Pogue sold this book as being a case study in anarchy, which is pretty much what a 13 year old boy strives for Monday-Friday anyways.
2.) Notes From Underground - I think I was the only person in the class of '07 to like this book. Dostoevsky is a hell of a writer and anyone who thinks any different can suck my thumb. It's not easy to write what is essentially stream of consciousness for half of a novel and make ANYTHING of it, let alone something that would be taught in high schools nearly 150 years later. It also makes for a hell of a book on tape.
1.) The Great Gatsby - I didn't like it much then. The book absolutely emits the feeling, taste, and smell of summer (“It was dawn now on Long Island and we went about opening the rest of the windows down-stairs, filling the house with gray-turning, gold-turning light. The shadow of a tree fell abruptly across the dew and ghostly birds began to sing among the blue leaves. There was a slow, pleasant movement in the air, scarcely a wind, promising a cool, lovely day.”) and has one of the most profound last pages of all time. It seemed like we talked about this book for a month and I'm still not completely sure I "get" it. I'm also not sure if I'm supposed to.
The best part of all of this? I still have every single one of my projects from sophomore year of high school on. I want to personally thank every teacher that realized computers weren't the devil and in doing so let me have an amazing archive of stuff that, barring something terrible, I will be able to have forever.
Yes, even the bio coloring!!
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
Anywho, onward and upward:
Top 5 books read while at Princeton City Schools
1st-12th
5.) Out of the Silent Planet - Being a sci-fi nerd and a C.S. Lewis fan, I was pretty stoked to read this. However, in doing so I learned one life lesson: trilogies weren't meant to be read one at a time. Every time I think about reading the other two books, I remember I have very little recollection of what actually happened in the first. Maybe someday...
4.) Night - I still have this book tucked away in some dark corner of my room. I remember reading it in 8th grade with Mr. Pogue, the guy who, if nothing else, taught me that books are printed on paper so they can be written in, torn up, and generally made your own. To this day a good indicator of books I've actually read is to look for the one's that have seemingly gone through the washer, twice. Anywho, a powerful book that everyone should be forced to read in school.
3.) Lord of the Flies - Another Mr. Pogue read that I probably wouldn't have even opened if it weren't for two undeniable facts:
3-1.) The edition of the book I bought had cover that was about 6 standard deviations MORE badass than anyone elses book.
3-2.) Pogue sold this book as being a case study in anarchy, which is pretty much what a 13 year old boy strives for Monday-Friday anyways.
2.) Notes From Underground - I think I was the only person in the class of '07 to like this book. Dostoevsky is a hell of a writer and anyone who thinks any different can suck my thumb. It's not easy to write what is essentially stream of consciousness for half of a novel and make ANYTHING of it, let alone something that would be taught in high schools nearly 150 years later. It also makes for a hell of a book on tape.
1.) The Great Gatsby - I didn't like it much then. The book absolutely emits the feeling, taste, and smell of summer (“It was dawn now on Long Island and we went about opening the rest of the windows down-stairs, filling the house with gray-turning, gold-turning light. The shadow of a tree fell abruptly across the dew and ghostly birds began to sing among the blue leaves. There was a slow, pleasant movement in the air, scarcely a wind, promising a cool, lovely day.”) and has one of the most profound last pages of all time. It seemed like we talked about this book for a month and I'm still not completely sure I "get" it. I'm also not sure if I'm supposed to.
The best part of all of this? I still have every single one of my projects from sophomore year of high school on. I want to personally thank every teacher that realized computers weren't the devil and in doing so let me have an amazing archive of stuff that, barring something terrible, I will be able to have forever.
Yes, even the bio coloring!!
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
I finally did it
And I didn't even go blind!!!
/crickets
No but seriously, I HAVE finally done something that I have been contemplating for the past couple years, but never had the courage/cash to really hunker down and do it.
Two weekends ago, on a semi-whim (more on this in a second), I went out to Micro Center and bought a computer.
Well, not exactly. More like I bought a collection of pieces that over the weekend I would cram together and teach to play nice with each other, only then to call it a computer. In the process I believe I also was award my geek diploma.
Overall, it was about what I had anticipated. It was largely "insert plug A into hole B then press the big on button." A lot of that fact could probably be attributed to having the Micro Center brain trust, and my preliminary research to fall back on. Don't get it twisted, I am not recommending walking in one day and laying down a lot of money on something like this with no googling/new-egging (for price comparisions) a priori. There are some tough questions you need to know answers to (i.e. video card amperage requirements, RAM support on your motherboard, your motherboard in general, Intel or AMD, etc.) to ensure the thing doesn't poop out in the first minute of life. I do recommend it to anyone who has ever had the slightest interest in Frankenstein-ing, well, anything. It's a hell of a lot cheaper than building a car, and anymore you will probably use it more.
On the semi-whim comment: I had two main reasons to start looking into a new computer:
1.) My desktop was starting to get pretty slow just from ~4 years of use and being the family's network hub while I have been at school.
2.) I visit digg regularly. In doing so, I have been hearing what I like to refer to as the iCrowd speak pretty highly of this new Windows 7.
Given that the Release Candidate (basically, barring a major FUBAR discovery, the version Microsoft will eventually burn to pretty DVDs and charge >$300 for) was released May 1 for a year long free trial, I figured now would be a good time to get a computer that would be ready for this slick new OS.
Granted, I figured I would be buying an HP or Dell, not parts. And in a year or so. Such is life though; I can't say I regret the decision at all.
I took pictures to show, but realized no card reader like before means needing to find a USB cable for my camera again.... consider it a slight delay...
On to the Windows 7 early impressions. Let me get it out of the way, for an operating system that isn't even "final" yet, 10/10
Pushing on 11/10.
It is functional and pushes Apple on aesthetics like Windows never has before. It is like a hybrid XP/Vista, minus the driver issues inherent with Vista.
Setting up a home network is almost too easy. The first time you start up '7, you are given a long "HomeGroup" number. All you do is type this number onto your other computers (with 7 also installed) and you are connected. However, since I am the only person with 7, I needed to connect with my other XP computers. No problem, just google search "Windows 7 on XP network" and you get millions of other people with the same problem, and easy fixes.
The new Windows Media Player convinced me to change my plans to switch over to iTunes. The album art actually loads this time around and, maybe just my imagination, but it handles my 30GB+ music collection a lot more smoothly.
The new taskbar takes a little getting used to but it really helps to keep your screen looking clean and uncluttered. Also, the start menu has the option of looking like the Vista or XP format. I went Vista, but its nice to know that Grandma has the option to go with what she's used to.
Oh, and it has a timer to switch desktop backgrounds hourly, daily, every 10 seconds, whatever.
And sticky notes. My monitor is saved from Post-It residue forever!!!
I could go on forever, but I'll just sum it up with two big thumbs up.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Top 5
Let the debate begin:
Today's theme, hip-hop.
Top 5 to blow up in '09
If you have read my facebook/hung out with me at all, this one you prob know already, because I don't shut up about this....
5.) Eminem - Cop out? Yes. After a nearly four year hiatus, rap's #1 white boy is back on the map. The end of Relapse proves that his best may still be ahead. The key to the success of Relapse to is minimizing the "Slim Shady" persona and just being Marshall Mathers. Either way, when he is at his best no one else in the game (and possibly ever) can rhyme so effortlessly. He is one of the best ever.
4.) Saigon - Playing yourself as a regular on a show as big as Entourage for a season really helps getting your name out. Now that the woes with his label are long in the past, it is only up from here.
3.) Tyga - This is the biggest gamble, since he has been here and there since '07. He is just too good to be a career opening act in my mind.
2.) Kid Cudi - With backing from the likes of Kanye West and Common, it's hard not to blow up. Oh, he can hold his own too, which helps.
1.) Drake - It's already happening with Best I Ever Had. Successful is my favorite, Lust for Life really shows off his R&B versatility, which - combined with him getting a big paycheck soon - is the main reason he is my no brainer #1 to blow in '09.
Today's theme, hip-hop.
Top 5 to blow up in '09
If you have read my facebook/hung out with me at all, this one you prob know already, because I don't shut up about this....
5.) Eminem - Cop out? Yes. After a nearly four year hiatus, rap's #1 white boy is back on the map. The end of Relapse proves that his best may still be ahead. The key to the success of Relapse to is minimizing the "Slim Shady" persona and just being Marshall Mathers. Either way, when he is at his best no one else in the game (and possibly ever) can rhyme so effortlessly. He is one of the best ever.
4.) Saigon - Playing yourself as a regular on a show as big as Entourage for a season really helps getting your name out. Now that the woes with his label are long in the past, it is only up from here.
3.) Tyga - This is the biggest gamble, since he has been here and there since '07. He is just too good to be a career opening act in my mind.
2.) Kid Cudi - With backing from the likes of Kanye West and Common, it's hard not to blow up. Oh, he can hold his own too, which helps.
1.) Drake - It's already happening with Best I Ever Had. Successful is my favorite, Lust for Life really shows off his R&B versatility, which - combined with him getting a big paycheck soon - is the main reason he is my no brainer #1 to blow in '09.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Let the Beat Build
Nyle "Let The Beat Build" from Nyle on Vimeo.
One continuous shot, live audio. Mad respek. Bo ya shaka.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
A look back and a look forward
If you remember, it was about a year ago to the day that I was wrapping up the decision making process on what was then called the ps360 fund. Back then I was wavering between the then mighty Xbox 360 and the adolescent PS3 who, while still had loads of potential, would have probably only gotten the job done then if you put a paper bag over her... er.. it.
Yadda yadda fast forward to now and things are looking pretty stellar on the PS3 front. Rather than moaning on and on about frame rates and streaming-this-and-that, I'll go the youtube vid way to demonstrate my point. Because everyone knows reading is a dying art:
That's good for now. Needless to say, I'm pretty stoked. Then there is also that whole Beatles Rock Band thing too.... which you know... is a must buy.
Yadda yadda fast forward to now and things are looking pretty stellar on the PS3 front. Rather than moaning on and on about frame rates and streaming-this-and-that, I'll go the youtube vid way to demonstrate my point. Because everyone knows reading is a dying art:
Fat Princess - A PS3 exclusive capture the flag type PSN (Playstation Network) game that looks about as fun as it does cute. Nothing like a quick mindless game of capture the flag without all of the stress that comes with Killzone 2 or such.
One of my favorite things to do in the old NCAA series was create my own school, whether it be ole' PHS, Dayton, or even the Sharonville Eagles. There is just something that is neat about creating your own tradition from scratch, especially in a sport like college football. Create-a-School mysteriously disappeared in this generation of games, but it's back in NCAA 10.... oh is it ever back. This has potential to be my favorite game of all time if this works out well. In two parts:
Slightly skeptical on how well this will work still, but a game from the creators of SOCOM with 256 players all playing on the same map (assuming it is the size of Rhode Island, at a minimum) intrigues me. Also a PS3 exclusive. Since pre-rendered vids are for sucks, find some in-game footage here.
Pixeljunks new game (currently titled 1-4). I know that means nothing to anyone reading this so let me just summarize by saying they are really really good at making sure 2D has a place on HD screens still. Their games are absolutely stunning to watch
That's good for now. Needless to say, I'm pretty stoked. Then there is also that whole Beatles Rock Band thing too.... which you know... is a must buy.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Beautiful Music my ass
It's been a project a few months in the making and (combined with being in front of a computer about 8 hours a day at work already) a large reason of my dropoff in blog content, but I can finally say I have made some progress on the vinyl to digital conversion.
I can officially put Barry Manilow Live in the done pile and move on to something I actually enjoy. After two straight days of hearing him, I feel like I deserve it.
I remember casually talking to a certain chemistry teacher in high school about the possibility of doing something like this. Knowing that I dabbled in audio engineering at school, he asked me about how complicated it would be to transfer albums to CD. I believe at the time I said I couldn't imagine it being much harder than plugging the "out" of the record player into a line in and using something like Audacity (a wonderful free program, by the way) to record it digitally.
Well, I was half right. Turns out 99% of record players need to have a separate pre-amp to get any kind of clean sound out of them. After a quick google search I came across this bad boy and as of yet have absolutely no complaints. It works exactly as it should. /shameless plug
Moving onward. Once I was getting sound into the computer I dabbled within my slightly more complicated sound editing program to get a layout that would be best suited for this venture, as opposed to, you know, recording a band. After getting all my EQs and other plugins tuned, then it was a simple hit record type of process that I initially thought it would be.
So overall, more complicated than I first thought, but still not too terrible. And yes, I know that there are USB record players out there now that basically take away the need for all this fancy shmancy doo-hickie-ing and whatnot, but going about it the one-stop-shopping way has never really quite been my thing. And, once I get done with all the vinyl, this whole setup is just a switch of plugs away from working for cassette to digital. Talk about flexibility...
If anyone has (or still is) considering this - or wants to offer some monetary compensation in exchange for my best effort at a "digitally remastered" copy of your favs - leave a comment. That is if anyone even reads this anymore...
Helloooo out there.....
I can officially put Barry Manilow Live in the done pile and move on to something I actually enjoy. After two straight days of hearing him, I feel like I deserve it.
I remember casually talking to a certain chemistry teacher in high school about the possibility of doing something like this. Knowing that I dabbled in audio engineering at school, he asked me about how complicated it would be to transfer albums to CD. I believe at the time I said I couldn't imagine it being much harder than plugging the "out" of the record player into a line in and using something like Audacity (a wonderful free program, by the way) to record it digitally.
Well, I was half right. Turns out 99% of record players need to have a separate pre-amp to get any kind of clean sound out of them. After a quick google search I came across this bad boy and as of yet have absolutely no complaints. It works exactly as it should. /shameless plug
Moving onward. Once I was getting sound into the computer I dabbled within my slightly more complicated sound editing program to get a layout that would be best suited for this venture, as opposed to, you know, recording a band. After getting all my EQs and other plugins tuned, then it was a simple hit record type of process that I initially thought it would be.
So overall, more complicated than I first thought, but still not too terrible. And yes, I know that there are USB record players out there now that basically take away the need for all this fancy shmancy doo-hickie-ing and whatnot, but going about it the one-stop-shopping way has never really quite been my thing. And, once I get done with all the vinyl, this whole setup is just a switch of plugs away from working for cassette to digital. Talk about flexibility...
If anyone has (or still is) considering this - or wants to offer some monetary compensation in exchange for my best effort at a "digitally remastered" copy of your favs - leave a comment. That is if anyone even reads this anymore...
Helloooo out there.....
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Viewed the watchmen
....Because I hate stupid puns.
Anywho, my opinion formed after reading the book stands:
Reproduced for your convenience:
And that's that. Either way, $20 well spent. On that note, movies are way, way, way, way, way, [way]x10^999999999 too expensive. Call it bass-ackwards logic if you want, but the more expensive movies get, the more I'm going to visit piratebay. Arr matey.
Anywho, my opinion formed after reading the book stands:
Reproduced for your convenience:
The only thing that has me really worried about a movie adaptation is that you can't really take much out of it without really losing a solid chunk what makes this book great. The fact that it all fits together so well, almost like a good 1500 piece puzzle, is partly what is so rewarding. It's almost like Lord of the Rings in that a whole world was created. Who knows though. There's a reason they always say, "the book was better."
And that's that. Either way, $20 well spent. On that note, movies are way, way, way, way, way, [way]x10^999999999 too expensive. Call it bass-ackwards logic if you want, but the more expensive movies get, the more I'm going to visit piratebay. Arr matey.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
It's Not That Complicated
README - I realize the regulars here won't care much about this, but (a) it's better than nothing, and (b) no offense - it isn't intended for you anyways, so take it or leave it. I don't blame ya.
On Notre Dame: A lot has been said lately about the need to focus on improving the running game drastically this offseason. Some have even said to the point of 200 yards per game and above. I don't necessarily think that's true. Let’s look at every season going back to 1995 (excluding 1998 because weirdly UND doesn’t have cumulative season stats for that year); a time spanning Weis, Ty, Davie, and the last two seasons of Lou. Four coaches, four coaching styles (for better or worse), and over a decade of football. By looking at yards per game, and a net win count (Wins-Losses, ties count for a half a loss), one number seems to arise as a Maginot Line of sorts for a successful season – at least offensively.
400 yards. It doesn’t necessarily matter how you get there, but reaching 400 yards or more per game has resulted in a significantly better net win count than under 400 yards. Admittedly, there are two clear exceptions to this rule in Ty’s “smoke and mirrors” first season in 2002 and Matt LoVecchio’s starting season in 2000.
Lou did it by rushing over 200 yards per game in ’95 and ’96. Ten years later, Weis passed significantly more, but still got around there this first two seasons (with, somewhat fittingly, a disappointing 2006 season coming in just under 400 ypg)
What does it all mean? Don’t expect 200 yards rushing per game. Weis doesn’t need to get 200 yards per game under his system and honestly it would be a crime to not utilize the talent in our starting 3 wide receivers – two potential All-Americans in Tate and Floyd and what will be a highly contested 3rd spot this season by talented but unproven players. At running back, simply a load of talented unproven players.
Do, however, hold Weis and this ’09 team to a standard of reaching at least 4.0 yards per carry. Taking last season’s stats and subbing the dismal 3.2 yards per carry out with a respectable but far from great 4 yards per carry puts the team at about 135 rushing yards per game and – more importantly – 380 total yards per game, or about two more screen passes per game from 400. 4 YPC is not some insurmountable number to achieve in one offseason, it is a baseline. Also, I fully expect the passing game to continue to improve as it’s players age.
The quick version: Based off previous years, a 400 YPG offense combined with even an average Notre Dame defense will generally result in 9-10 wins. This can be achieved simply by a marginal increase in passing productivity and – more significantly – averaging at least 4 YPC. While an historically bad schedule may allow some leniency in these numbers, that is counteracted by the generally held assumption (on NDN at least) that 9 wins just won’t cut it.
On Notre Dame: A lot has been said lately about the need to focus on improving the running game drastically this offseason. Some have even said to the point of 200 yards per game and above. I don't necessarily think that's true. Let’s look at every season going back to 1995 (excluding 1998 because weirdly UND doesn’t have cumulative season stats for that year); a time spanning Weis, Ty, Davie, and the last two seasons of Lou. Four coaches, four coaching styles (for better or worse), and over a decade of football. By looking at yards per game, and a net win count (Wins-Losses, ties count for a half a loss), one number seems to arise as a Maginot Line of sorts for a successful season – at least offensively.
400 yards. It doesn’t necessarily matter how you get there, but reaching 400 yards or more per game has resulted in a significantly better net win count than under 400 yards. Admittedly, there are two clear exceptions to this rule in Ty’s “smoke and mirrors” first season in 2002 and Matt LoVecchio’s starting season in 2000.
Lou did it by rushing over 200 yards per game in ’95 and ’96. Ten years later, Weis passed significantly more, but still got around there this first two seasons (with, somewhat fittingly, a disappointing 2006 season coming in just under 400 ypg)
What does it all mean? Don’t expect 200 yards rushing per game. Weis doesn’t need to get 200 yards per game under his system and honestly it would be a crime to not utilize the talent in our starting 3 wide receivers – two potential All-Americans in Tate and Floyd and what will be a highly contested 3rd spot this season by talented but unproven players. At running back, simply a load of talented unproven players.
Do, however, hold Weis and this ’09 team to a standard of reaching at least 4.0 yards per carry. Taking last season’s stats and subbing the dismal 3.2 yards per carry out with a respectable but far from great 4 yards per carry puts the team at about 135 rushing yards per game and – more importantly – 380 total yards per game, or about two more screen passes per game from 400. 4 YPC is not some insurmountable number to achieve in one offseason, it is a baseline. Also, I fully expect the passing game to continue to improve as it’s players age.
The quick version: Based off previous years, a 400 YPG offense combined with even an average Notre Dame defense will generally result in 9-10 wins. This can be achieved simply by a marginal increase in passing productivity and – more significantly – averaging at least 4 YPC. While an historically bad schedule may allow some leniency in these numbers, that is counteracted by the generally held assumption (on NDN at least) that 9 wins just won’t cut it.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
And the list gets longer...
For the first time owning a PS3 I can honestly say that I have a bonafide game wishlist. Not my typical "on if I were to win a million dollars I would buy this this this and this," I always have one of those.
No no, this is a list of games that if you find me in a weak moment I just may go out and buy. And I'll definitely end up buying more than one. At $60 a pop, that is no small statement. The list is as follows (in a somewhat particular order):
1.) Killzone 2 - Holy shit. Granted, I don't have a 360 so I have actually never played Gears of War and my Halo 3 time is limited, but after playing just the demo for this, I'm thinking we may have a new best FPS for consoles. Unlike over 90% of games in this generation, the gameplay is on par with the graphics. And oh (again..) holy shit (/again...) is that saying something:
Video - The framerate isn't that bad in game:
2.) Little Big Planet - After getting the tease of a weekend long beta play, I'm really surprised this one isn't already on my shelf. Either way, still one of my favorite games out currently (with NO BLOOD OR GUTS OR FOOTBALLS EVEN!, how 'bout that ma!). I dig the creation capabilities and since release they have really embraced the download-able content (DLC) scene with weekly (usually free) releases of new goodies. A good game just gets better.
3.) Skate 2 - This one intriques me. Usually the skating genre is Tony Hawk's to lay claim to, but this new franchise is starting to make some serious ground and worry the Tony Hawkers. The motion-based controls seem somewhat gimmicky to me, but I'm not gonna knock it until I've tried it.
4.) Every Rock Band song available for download - God, I like this game. Consider me the next Ringo once MTV game's next rhythm game comes out (consider it number 3.5 on this list). It damn well better support Rock Band "instruments".
5.) Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising - I loved the first game in this uber-realistic "military strategy" (they don't like to be called shooters) series when I played it on Xbox, it just looked like something that was released before technology would fully allow it to achieve its objective. Maybe the power of the consoles in this generation will really make this shine. Sadly though, this is the type of game that is best bought on the PC so the mod scene can really get a hold of it and make it amazing. It seems like it could still fare well on the consoles though... we'll see.
6.) Watchmen: The End is Nigh - This would be a bit of a fanboy purchase more than anything. I can't imagine it being much more than a made for the movie release type game. Those types of games generally are the worst types of games. Save Goldeneye... ah sweet sweet Goldeneye. The price seems a bit steep for a "PSN" release too; they generally hover near $10.00, slightly more than a Blockbuster rental.
7.) NCAA Football '10 - Premature? Hell yes. I have high hopes (slash expectations) that EA will finally get it right on their third or fourth or whatever it is now year on this generation. '09 was right on the cusp of the greatness of the old PS2 games, but still no I-AA teams, playbook creator, etc. kept it from being perfect. Fix a few of these things and we could have a winner. Or create a Head Coach for college football. The differences between coaching in college and the pros are immense (ask Charlie) and it could make for one hell of a sports simulation.
No no, this is a list of games that if you find me in a weak moment I just may go out and buy. And I'll definitely end up buying more than one. At $60 a pop, that is no small statement. The list is as follows (in a somewhat particular order):
1.) Killzone 2 - Holy shit. Granted, I don't have a 360 so I have actually never played Gears of War and my Halo 3 time is limited, but after playing just the demo for this, I'm thinking we may have a new best FPS for consoles. Unlike over 90% of games in this generation, the gameplay is on par with the graphics. And oh (again..) holy shit (/again...) is that saying something:
Picture this at a cool 60 fps. Try not to wet the bed. (Click for a higher res)
Video - The framerate isn't that bad in game:
2.) Little Big Planet - After getting the tease of a weekend long beta play, I'm really surprised this one isn't already on my shelf. Either way, still one of my favorite games out currently (with NO BLOOD OR GUTS OR FOOTBALLS EVEN!, how 'bout that ma!). I dig the creation capabilities and since release they have really embraced the download-able content (DLC) scene with weekly (usually free) releases of new goodies. A good game just gets better.
3.) Skate 2 - This one intriques me. Usually the skating genre is Tony Hawk's to lay claim to, but this new franchise is starting to make some serious ground and worry the Tony Hawkers. The motion-based controls seem somewhat gimmicky to me, but I'm not gonna knock it until I've tried it.
4.) Every Rock Band song available for download - God, I like this game. Consider me the next Ringo once MTV game's next rhythm game comes out (consider it number 3.5 on this list). It damn well better support Rock Band "instruments".
5.) Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising - I loved the first game in this uber-realistic "military strategy" (they don't like to be called shooters) series when I played it on Xbox, it just looked like something that was released before technology would fully allow it to achieve its objective. Maybe the power of the consoles in this generation will really make this shine. Sadly though, this is the type of game that is best bought on the PC so the mod scene can really get a hold of it and make it amazing. It seems like it could still fare well on the consoles though... we'll see.
6.) Watchmen: The End is Nigh - This would be a bit of a fanboy purchase more than anything. I can't imagine it being much more than a made for the movie release type game. Those types of games generally are the worst types of games. Save Goldeneye... ah sweet sweet Goldeneye. The price seems a bit steep for a "PSN" release too; they generally hover near $10.00, slightly more than a Blockbuster rental.
7.) NCAA Football '10 - Premature? Hell yes. I have high hopes (slash expectations) that EA will finally get it right on their third or fourth or whatever it is now year on this generation. '09 was right on the cusp of the greatness of the old PS2 games, but still no I-AA teams, playbook creator, etc. kept it from being perfect. Fix a few of these things and we could have a winner. Or create a Head Coach for college football. The differences between coaching in college and the pros are immense (ask Charlie) and it could make for one hell of a sports simulation.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The pig says, "My wife is a slut."
When I see this:
This conversation is all that goes through my head:
Elaine: I don't remember , but it certainly wasn't this. Look at this cartoon in the New Yorker, I don't get this.
Jerry: I don't either.
Elaine: And you're on the fringe of the humor business.
George: Hey!
Elaine: Hey! George look at this.
George: That's cute.
Elaine: You got it?
George: No , never mind.
Elaine: Come on , We're two intelligent people here. We can figure this out. Now we got a dog and a cat in an office.
Jerry: It looks like my accountant's office but there's no pets working there.
Elaine: The cat is saying " I've enjoyed reading your E-mail".
George: Maybe it's got something to do with that 42 in the corner .
Elaine: It's a page number.
George: Well , I can't crack this one.
Elaine: Aahh! this has got to be a mistake.
George: try shaking it...(long pause) Well ,Janet should be here any minute.
Seriously, the New Yorker is really not funny. Or good at political cartoons... Just ineffective. To be completely honest, there were three reasons I posted this:
1.) Seinfeld references are always good.
2.) I want to see what everyone's favorite greek hero had to say about this. Free speech win out? How dare they blaze on Obama? This comic sucks? All of the above? My curiousity got the best of me.
3.) I really badly needed to post something.
This conversation is all that goes through my head:
Elaine: I don't remember , but it certainly wasn't this. Look at this cartoon in the New Yorker, I don't get this.
Jerry: I don't either.
Elaine: And you're on the fringe of the humor business.
George: Hey!
Elaine: Hey! George look at this.
George: That's cute.
Elaine: You got it?
George: No , never mind.
Elaine: Come on , We're two intelligent people here. We can figure this out. Now we got a dog and a cat in an office.
Jerry: It looks like my accountant's office but there's no pets working there.
Elaine: The cat is saying " I've enjoyed reading your E-mail".
George: Maybe it's got something to do with that 42 in the corner .
Elaine: It's a page number.
George: Well , I can't crack this one.
Elaine: Aahh! this has got to be a mistake.
George: try shaking it...(long pause) Well ,Janet should be here any minute.
Seriously, the New Yorker is really not funny. Or good at political cartoons... Just ineffective. To be completely honest, there were three reasons I posted this:
1.) Seinfeld references are always good.
2.) I want to see what everyone's favorite greek hero had to say about this. Free speech win out? How dare they blaze on Obama? This comic sucks? All of the above? My curiousity got the best of me.
3.) I really badly needed to post something.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)