Games really aren’t a kid’s toy anymore
Jan 6th
It’s amazing how video games have really changed since the days of the NES, huh? Back then, they were sort of cool, not nearly as popular, and often seen as a toy for a child instead of a mainstream form of entertainment. Fast forward 25 years and suddenly you have video games acting as the main source of entertainment for many many people.
I think Sony had a lot to do with this growth of the industry. While Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis did a decent job of growing the number of people owning consoles, the perception of these consoles being nothing more than toys really didn’t dissipate until late in the life of the PS1. It took another generation, though, for things to full swing in the opposite direction. With the introduction of the PS2 and some of it’s more mature titles, namely Grand Theft Auto, views of games being nothing more than colorful plumbers jumping on mushrooms changed and people began to realize that these devices could entertain adults, too.
Sony left that pitch still hanging, though, when Microsoft came around and, once and for all, solidified the position of video games as a legitimate form of entertainment for people of all ages. The combination of the Xbox 360 (the first console released this generation) and it’s online service, Xbox Live, people from all walks of life started coming together to play video games. Multi-player games, such as Halo and Call of Duty, brought large groups of people together, virtually, and gave them all something to talk about the next day. Some of those people were in a classroom and some were around a water cooler. For the first time, kids and adults were sharing the exact same experiences. Who made a great headshot on their friend? Who crushed their co-worker in a game of Madden? These questions are now just as common as reactions to the latest movies or songs.
It’s been a fun journey, when I stop to think about it. For those people who don’t get it or think that people like me are immature because we play these games, you need to realize things are a lot different now. Exit out of Farmville, log off of Pogo, and close that DS, and take time to recognize the fact that we’re all gamers, whether we think it’s dumb or not cause these games really aren’t a kid’s toy anymore.
Another disappointment and another shock
Jan 5th
Today was a little rough at work. I came in, as I would any other morning, and began working with my co-worker who had been scheduled along side me. I really didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary to happen. Hell, we even got to work on a planogram, which we haven’t been able to do in months, so I was feeling pretty good about things. Towards the end of the work, the GM came over and asked if he could borrow my co-worker for a few minutes and he’d have him right back. Who am I to say no to the GM? I didn’t think anything of it and went on with my work. That’s when things changed.
About an hour later, I went on my lunch break. After calling Melanie quickly and getting something to eat, I realized my co-worker never came back and texted him to ask him if he went home or if the GM had killed him (jokingly). Not more than two minutes later, I find out he was led out in handcuffs with a police escort. I have no idea what he’s accused of doing, but considering the people who were in the building today, they obviously think it’s something serious. A guy I worked with for 4 years and really grew to trust was now nothing but a common criminal who lied to me and everyone around us. Damn.
I really hope I’m not being too dramatic about all of this. I just feel really shocked by this and extremely disappointed in this guy. The world can really let you down sometimes.
Are the wrestling wars about to start again?
Jan 4th
Ask any wrestling fan and they’ll agree that the best period for professional wrestling was in the late 90’s and early 2000’s when the WWF (now WWE) and WCW were going head to head. The competition drove creativity and made for an amazing show for people on either side of the equation. Then, when the WCW folded, WWE went soft and everything fell to pieces. In comes TNA.
TNA wrestling, from the few shows I’ve ever watched, has always felt a bit low budget and seemed like a non-threat to the WWE. Tonight, however, that seems to be changing as they are airing a live broadcast for 3 hours in which two of those hours will directly compete with the WWE’s Monday night broadcast. Sure, WWE is bringing Brett Hart back to be a guest host, but their stories have been ridiculously lame for the past few years and a one night gimmick may not do much to help. TNA, on the other hand, is bringing in some big name talent including the way over-aged Hulk Hogan and Sting. Jeff Hardy is also going to be backstage since he was, apparently, fired from the WWE for a drug bust. While I’ve lost a lot of respect for the guy because of his personal issues, he can definitely put on a good match.
I’m going to try to watch TNA live, tonight (I also have the DVR set). I want to find wrestling that I can stand to watch, again. Maybe no company can bring back the Stone Cold era, but it’d be nice if there was something better than John Cena for fans to watch.
My Netflix Blu-ray queue is looking red
Jan 2nd
I’ve been using Netflix since Microsoft added Netflix instant streaming support to the Xbox 360. The streaming is nice, though the selection of movies is limited, so I’ve always swayed more towards renting DVD’s. That changed, a bit, when my birthday rolled around.
This past birthday, Melanie bought me a Blu-ray player and I, instantly, ran to the Netflix website and upgraded my account to include Blu-ray rentals. It was a match made in heaven as I added a ton of new releases to my queue and enjoyed the beauty of the amazing format. Things haven’t been as good, though, lately.
Here is a screen shot of my current queue:
Notice all of that red telling me that the various movies are temporarily unavailable. It’s not a great feeling to sit here and see that. Netflix is a great service, but are they maintaining inventory to keep up with demand or just sitting back and expecting us to deal with it? It’s still way too early to say I’m going to cancel my account, but it does make me consider the other options out there, such as Blockbuster’s service. They don’t charge extra for Blu-ray,which is nice, but I’m not sure how quick or reliable their shipping is, either.
A kiss to start the new year
Jan 1st
Well, combine midnight on New Year’s Day, a Kodak Zi8 camcorder, and a girlfriend whom I love and you get the following video. There’s nothing else more to say about it lol
Another year has passed
Dec 30th
So, another year is almost complete and it’s been another interesting one for me. While 2008 was all about my love life and finding that happiness that has carried me since finding it, 2009 has been about advancing my career.
It’s been a long year at work. I started off as part time in Merch, but then quickly jumped over to part time SWAT (counting product) for the extra money and promise of a full time opening. The full time spot never materialized, unfortunately, and I quickly learned how miserable I was in the job and really started to fall off the radar. Thankfully, right before the new management came in, a full time Merch spot opening and, after some convincing, I was given the spot. It’s been stressful and tiring and the source of plenty of minor injuries, but it’s all been worth it. As I said not too long ago, I actually like my job.
I have a feeling that 2010 will continue my focus on work. I want to move up and I really need the extra money that comes along with it, so I have to keep working for it. There are a few minor goals that I’m considering, such as getting my driver’s license, but nothing is set in stone and I hate planning that far in advance.
Anyone else have their goals or focuses set up for the upcoming year?
Taking technology for granted
Dec 29th
People my age and younger tend to take technology for granted. This was never made so clear to me as it was this past weekend when I witnessed a simple piece of technology affect someone in a way I never expected.
Leaving out details and such, I witnessed an elderly woman receive a digital picture frame as a Christmas gift. The people giving it to her took some time to pre-load about 50 pictures of various family members and such. As they plugged the frame in to show her how it works, the pictures began to play in a slideshow and she was, literally, moved to tears by it. This is the same technology that I scoffed at, so many times, as I put a number of different models out while at work. It just didn’t seem that amazing to me, yet, here was a woman crying because of how amazing this all seemed to her and how happy she was to be able to see so much family history right there on one little screen. It really blew my mind.
I guess that I sometimes forget to step back and really look at things from different viewpoints. It’s difficult to do so, but a moment like this really opened my eyes to how I need to appreciate the simpler things in life a little more often.
Just discovered a new band: Rise Against
Dec 28th
Leave it to me to turn on Fuse at the moment they’re showing an hour of rock music videos and stumble upon a band I have overlooked way too many times in my life. For the past week, I’ve been obsessing over Rise Against and their latest album, “Appeal to Reason”. I’ve given all of their older stuff a listen, too, but it just doesn’t have that extra something the new material has. There’s rebellion against society and government, reflection on failed relationships, and acceptance of one’s place in this world. It’s a great album that really has me hooked.
Below is the single, from the album, that initially caught my attention. This is, obviously, the rebellion I had mentioned previously.
The problem with this church
Dec 25th
This isn’t meant to chastise a religion and criticize beliefs of a group of people, including the group I belong to. So, let’s not get defensive.
Today, my mom had asked me and my two sister’s to go to church as a family for Christmas. We kids haven’t gone to church in a while, so we thought it would be nice to give something to my mom that means so much to her. We went and, so quickly, I realized why this particular parish and so many others are failing. The ceremony was very solemn, which is needed to a certain degree, but also so depressing. The music didn’t have any kind of joyous tone to it and the sermon was ridiculously awful. The sermon mentioned the words “pain” and “wounds” and “depression” more than the 14th suicide note from a hyper emotional teen. To add to that, the deacon jumped from point to point like one of today’s many ADHD ridden children. It was painful (ha) to listen to.
A leader needs to be motivational and inspirational. People need care about the words they say and not count the minutes until it’s all over. Priests need to be that. Deacons need to be that. Most of them aren’t and that’s the problem with this church.
Windless
Dec 24th
It revs and it revs and it never gets started
The flow never kicks, but I can’t disregard it
When I’m feeling best, this always gets hardest
I feel like a fluke and a floundering artist
Am I just a dude who will always be starless
With nothing to show for and nothing to start it
I look for ignition but nothing can spark it
When this mind’s at ease, I can feel so retarded
Cause I can’t get it started or light up the fire
When this writing is needed and not just desire
When time calls for venting and pressure builds higher
This drug is the goal for which I aspire
But I’m like a tower with crumbling spire
Hope left to waste until everything’s dire
Too late to fix it and no point to try it
The door’s fucking shut and nothing can pry it
And nothing can hide it and nothing can break it
Nothing incites it; I’m not one to fake it
I once knew it all but now I’m mistaken
Nothing is known; it’s hard to keep pace with
And tough to keep patience when everything’s failing
A mind falls to waste while the words lay there flailing
Pain made for sailing but now in contentment
I find too much peace and so much resentment
But I can not vent it or lay down a sentence
I’m like the student who snoozed through the lessons
The spotlight brings tension, I spit out these guesses
A jumble of words that increases these messes
Notes: Just trying to get a few lines written down for the sake of it. I’ve done better, but it’s better than nothing (for me).
