Letter Sent By College Student To His Dad
Dear Dad,
$chool i$ really great. I am making lot$ of friend$ and $tudying very
hard. With all my $tuff, I $imply can't think of anything I need, $o if you
would like, you can ju$t $end me a card, a$ I would love to hear from you.
Love,
Your $on.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Son,
I kNOw that astroNOmy, ecoNOmics, and oceaNOgraphy are eNOugh to keep even an hoNOr student busy.
Do NOt forget that the pursuit of kNOwledge is a NOble task, and you can never study eNOugh.
Love,
Dad
Friday, October 23, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Even more things to neglect updating...
Hello, faithful believers!
I thought I'd try a Stan Lee greeting, but I don't feel it suits me.
I haven't updated much, probably because I figured I didn't have much to update about. Oh well. After talking with some friends, I decided to start (yet another) new blog, this one specifically dealing with my encounters with people while working nights at Speedway.
These are truly unique. It seems every time I pop in and visit someone I've got all sorts of strange stories, and they are all completely true.
This blog will attempt to chronicle those strange stories. I hope to post in it every morning when I get home from work, so that it will be fresh in my mind and easier to type.
The new blog is titled "Humanity on the Clock." I hope to continue it even when I'm no longer at Speedway, as it is always worthwhile to make observations about people while you're at work. I don't think it will be as interesting once I stop working nights, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
I thought I'd try a Stan Lee greeting, but I don't feel it suits me.
I haven't updated much, probably because I figured I didn't have much to update about. Oh well. After talking with some friends, I decided to start (yet another) new blog, this one specifically dealing with my encounters with people while working nights at Speedway.
These are truly unique. It seems every time I pop in and visit someone I've got all sorts of strange stories, and they are all completely true.
This blog will attempt to chronicle those strange stories. I hope to post in it every morning when I get home from work, so that it will be fresh in my mind and easier to type.
The new blog is titled "Humanity on the Clock." I hope to continue it even when I'm no longer at Speedway, as it is always worthwhile to make observations about people while you're at work. I don't think it will be as interesting once I stop working nights, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Sometimes words aren't needed
I think this describes my life to a T more readily than I'll admit. At least at some points.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Because I asked for it: My top 5 CCG's
Last post I hinted that this was coming. Some internet users might be confused, pondering things like "What in the world is a CCG?" Maybe this confuses you, or doesn't even interest you at all. Oh well, you'll live. There are plenty of pages on the internet to surf.
CCG is an abbreviation for Collectible Card Game. The different games have their own custom made cards, which you accumulate by spending money. You sort through those cards and put together a "deck" of cards that you think will speed you to victory according to the game's victory conditions. Then you play against someone else who has done the same thing.
It's a hobby. One you can put a lot of resources into. There are seemingly hundreds of different CCG's out there. Sometimes it seems like there's one for everything. Most come and go but the great ones are still around rocking to this day. I'm going to give you my top 5. I will try to explain the premise of each game and why I like it, and I will try to do so in an understandable manner. So, without further ado, here goes!
#5 - Star Wars CCG
Basic Premise: It's the light side versus the dark side. You build a deck for each side and play the opposite one. All kinds of neat characters and locations are available to use in this game. Released in 1995, the game went out of print in 2001. However it still has a very active community that has released "virtual cards" to keep the game evolving and changing.
Why I like it: The mechanics of how you play this game are unique, no other game is like it. It's very strategic, almost resembling chess. It has a very deep strategical layer to it. I only played it in high school and early college, and I'm not involved at all with that "virtual card" community, but I think it's cool that people who are passionate about this game have kept it going for so long. Lastly, and you'll notice a pattern here in the games I like, playing the game is like taking part of an interactive story.
#4 - Battletech CCG
Basic Premise: You play one of 10 factions in the Battletech Universe vying for power. In this futuristic world battles are conducted with "Mechs," which are best described as 30 foot tall walking tanks armed for mass destruction.
Why I like it: The game is very similar to the very first CCG ever made, Magic: The Gathering. However, when that came out my parents were far too conservative to let me try it out. So when this nearly identical game came out but was about technology and not magic I jumped all over it. It's a very fast paced and tactical game. It is also out of print and commercially didn't take off too well. That didn't stop my cousin and I from having some great times with it though.
#3 - Legend of the Five Rings
Basic Premise: In an imaginary land very similar to feudal China, 12 clans vie for power and support of the Emperor of the land. The game can be played with 2-12 players theoretically. There are 4 different ways to win when playing, and each clan tends to specialize in certain strategies to win in specific ways. First released in 1995, this game is still quite active to this day, although it can be hard to find.
Why I like it: Liking might be an understatement, I absolutely love this game. First off, the game plays out like an interactive story. The company that created the game holds huge tournaments, and the results of the tournaments actually dictates what happens next in the massive story-line of the game. Just last year for example a new Emperor was crowned from one of the houses. The cards that come out in future sets will reflect that. I don't have time to be involved with any of that, but what a cool concept.
What I also like about this game is it has been cheap. As I said earlier, CCG's are a hobby, and you can put quite a chunk of cash into them if you're not careful. More money spent means more cards to choose from in your decks, which is generally a good thing. What I like about this game is outside of my initial purchase I haven't had to spend anything else to have a blast playing it. It is a very intriguing game and I have played it several times with 3 players. It has always been fun for all involved.
#2 Middle Earth CCG
Basic Premise: You play one of the 5 wizards in Middle Earth. You're preparing a plan to oppose Sauron and to that end you travel the lands seeking resources to aid you as you come up with your plan. Different resources included famous characters, weapons, artifacts and entire factions and are all worth various points. In the end, at the "Council Meeting" the wizards present their plans and whoever has the most points will be the victor. Alternatively, you could find the One Ring and destroy it at Mount Doom to win. The game was for 2-5 players. Later expansions would change this up, allowing you to play as the Ring Wraiths, a fallen wizard trying to redeem himself, or even the Balrog as he tries to emerge as a credible threat to the entire world.
Why I like it: There are two science fictions you'll find I'm fairly passionate about if you are lucky enough to get me going on them: Lord of the Rings and Star Trek. As a young lad when I discovered card games for both I could barely contain my excitement as I dove into them. Middle-Earth was an incredible game in the fact that it lets you tell your own story as you adventure through Middle Earth trying to find "resources" as you figure out how to stop the Dark Lord. On your opponent's turn you essentially play as Sauron, playing "hazards" to try and stop the Wizards in their various scheming. I had many fun games against my dad, and even my sister collected cards. It was a unique game and there is nothing like it on the market anywhere. It wasn't very successful, only in production for 3 years. However, that didn't stop me from enjoying this gem of an under-appreciated game with friends and family.
#1 - Star Trek CCG 1st Edition
Basic Premise: Space, the final Frontier! Play one of several factions available from the Star Trek universe. Games play out like episodes of the show. You score points by completing missions, but must solve "dilemmas" (ie problems) before you can get on with the mission. First released in 1994, I stopped buying cards for it in 1999, which was about halfway through its production run. A Second Edition was released in 2002 with an attempt to revamp and simplify the game, but after seeing what they changed I never game it a first or a second thought.
Why I like it: This was my introduction into CCG's. As a young 7th grade student my dad and I, huge trekkies, became aware of it and jumped into it fully. We never looked back. We've played countless games against each other, which adds up to hours and hours of fun. Back in the day we played giant 5 player games with friends from church which were truly remarkable all things considered. The best thing we liked about the game was that combat, while in the game, was not the center focus by any means. The focus of the game was on your strategy of doing the missions and scoring points. My dad and I still break it out and play it "sealed deck style" every couple of months. The lawyer side of my dad and I will emerge every now and then and the "discussions" we would have about the interpretation of rules is as fondly remembered as the game play. In fact even in writing this my dad and I are chuckling about said discussions. This card game has brought us 15 years of fun, with many more in the future.
Honorable Mentions: These are good games that didn't make the cut for my top 5, but they still deserve a mention.
Magic: The Gathering. The very first CCG to be produced, and arguably the best in many minds. It is still alive and kicking today, and that alone is a testament to how great it is, considering 4 of my top 5 are no longer in production. Its timeless mechanics make for fast-paced tactical fun, and as far as I know it's the only game that can win you prizes like college scholarships.
Overpower CCG: Containing Marvel and DC Superheroes, this is an enjoyable game with fun "bluff" mechanics in the style of poker. Had a very short run, very hard to find these days.
Pokemon CCG: In my younger days I played this game before it became a huge child sensation. It is very simplistic; the easiest game to learn. I got my sister to play this with me when we were younger and it was one of the neat things that brought us together amidst the constant squabbling you'd find among young siblings. It's still around, and it is also the only game to come close to Magic as far as sales go. It may have outsold Magic for awhile, but I'm not sure.
There you have it. My top 5 CCG's. Why share this? These various games were a fun part of my life. They brought me closer to my family and friends. It is always fun to find something in life that you enjoy, it is even better to find things that you enjoy with other people. Gaming has always been a fun hobby of mine, but it has never been limited to just video games. The bottom line of it is I have always enjoyed it with other people. It's always more fun that way.
CCG is an abbreviation for Collectible Card Game. The different games have their own custom made cards, which you accumulate by spending money. You sort through those cards and put together a "deck" of cards that you think will speed you to victory according to the game's victory conditions. Then you play against someone else who has done the same thing.
It's a hobby. One you can put a lot of resources into. There are seemingly hundreds of different CCG's out there. Sometimes it seems like there's one for everything. Most come and go but the great ones are still around rocking to this day. I'm going to give you my top 5. I will try to explain the premise of each game and why I like it, and I will try to do so in an understandable manner. So, without further ado, here goes!
#5 - Star Wars CCG
Basic Premise: It's the light side versus the dark side. You build a deck for each side and play the opposite one. All kinds of neat characters and locations are available to use in this game. Released in 1995, the game went out of print in 2001. However it still has a very active community that has released "virtual cards" to keep the game evolving and changing.
Why I like it: The mechanics of how you play this game are unique, no other game is like it. It's very strategic, almost resembling chess. It has a very deep strategical layer to it. I only played it in high school and early college, and I'm not involved at all with that "virtual card" community, but I think it's cool that people who are passionate about this game have kept it going for so long. Lastly, and you'll notice a pattern here in the games I like, playing the game is like taking part of an interactive story.
#4 - Battletech CCG
Basic Premise: You play one of 10 factions in the Battletech Universe vying for power. In this futuristic world battles are conducted with "Mechs," which are best described as 30 foot tall walking tanks armed for mass destruction.
Why I like it: The game is very similar to the very first CCG ever made, Magic: The Gathering. However, when that came out my parents were far too conservative to let me try it out. So when this nearly identical game came out but was about technology and not magic I jumped all over it. It's a very fast paced and tactical game. It is also out of print and commercially didn't take off too well. That didn't stop my cousin and I from having some great times with it though.
#3 - Legend of the Five Rings
Basic Premise: In an imaginary land very similar to feudal China, 12 clans vie for power and support of the Emperor of the land. The game can be played with 2-12 players theoretically. There are 4 different ways to win when playing, and each clan tends to specialize in certain strategies to win in specific ways. First released in 1995, this game is still quite active to this day, although it can be hard to find.
Why I like it: Liking might be an understatement, I absolutely love this game. First off, the game plays out like an interactive story. The company that created the game holds huge tournaments, and the results of the tournaments actually dictates what happens next in the massive story-line of the game. Just last year for example a new Emperor was crowned from one of the houses. The cards that come out in future sets will reflect that. I don't have time to be involved with any of that, but what a cool concept.
What I also like about this game is it has been cheap. As I said earlier, CCG's are a hobby, and you can put quite a chunk of cash into them if you're not careful. More money spent means more cards to choose from in your decks, which is generally a good thing. What I like about this game is outside of my initial purchase I haven't had to spend anything else to have a blast playing it. It is a very intriguing game and I have played it several times with 3 players. It has always been fun for all involved.
#2 Middle Earth CCG
Basic Premise: You play one of the 5 wizards in Middle Earth. You're preparing a plan to oppose Sauron and to that end you travel the lands seeking resources to aid you as you come up with your plan. Different resources included famous characters, weapons, artifacts and entire factions and are all worth various points. In the end, at the "Council Meeting" the wizards present their plans and whoever has the most points will be the victor. Alternatively, you could find the One Ring and destroy it at Mount Doom to win. The game was for 2-5 players. Later expansions would change this up, allowing you to play as the Ring Wraiths, a fallen wizard trying to redeem himself, or even the Balrog as he tries to emerge as a credible threat to the entire world.
Why I like it: There are two science fictions you'll find I'm fairly passionate about if you are lucky enough to get me going on them: Lord of the Rings and Star Trek. As a young lad when I discovered card games for both I could barely contain my excitement as I dove into them. Middle-Earth was an incredible game in the fact that it lets you tell your own story as you adventure through Middle Earth trying to find "resources" as you figure out how to stop the Dark Lord. On your opponent's turn you essentially play as Sauron, playing "hazards" to try and stop the Wizards in their various scheming. I had many fun games against my dad, and even my sister collected cards. It was a unique game and there is nothing like it on the market anywhere. It wasn't very successful, only in production for 3 years. However, that didn't stop me from enjoying this gem of an under-appreciated game with friends and family.
#1 - Star Trek CCG 1st Edition
Basic Premise: Space, the final Frontier! Play one of several factions available from the Star Trek universe. Games play out like episodes of the show. You score points by completing missions, but must solve "dilemmas" (ie problems) before you can get on with the mission. First released in 1994, I stopped buying cards for it in 1999, which was about halfway through its production run. A Second Edition was released in 2002 with an attempt to revamp and simplify the game, but after seeing what they changed I never game it a first or a second thought.
Why I like it: This was my introduction into CCG's. As a young 7th grade student my dad and I, huge trekkies, became aware of it and jumped into it fully. We never looked back. We've played countless games against each other, which adds up to hours and hours of fun. Back in the day we played giant 5 player games with friends from church which were truly remarkable all things considered. The best thing we liked about the game was that combat, while in the game, was not the center focus by any means. The focus of the game was on your strategy of doing the missions and scoring points. My dad and I still break it out and play it "sealed deck style" every couple of months. The lawyer side of my dad and I will emerge every now and then and the "discussions" we would have about the interpretation of rules is as fondly remembered as the game play. In fact even in writing this my dad and I are chuckling about said discussions. This card game has brought us 15 years of fun, with many more in the future.
Honorable Mentions: These are good games that didn't make the cut for my top 5, but they still deserve a mention.
Magic: The Gathering. The very first CCG to be produced, and arguably the best in many minds. It is still alive and kicking today, and that alone is a testament to how great it is, considering 4 of my top 5 are no longer in production. Its timeless mechanics make for fast-paced tactical fun, and as far as I know it's the only game that can win you prizes like college scholarships.
Overpower CCG: Containing Marvel and DC Superheroes, this is an enjoyable game with fun "bluff" mechanics in the style of poker. Had a very short run, very hard to find these days.
Pokemon CCG: In my younger days I played this game before it became a huge child sensation. It is very simplistic; the easiest game to learn. I got my sister to play this with me when we were younger and it was one of the neat things that brought us together amidst the constant squabbling you'd find among young siblings. It's still around, and it is also the only game to come close to Magic as far as sales go. It may have outsold Magic for awhile, but I'm not sure.
There you have it. My top 5 CCG's. Why share this? These various games were a fun part of my life. They brought me closer to my family and friends. It is always fun to find something in life that you enjoy, it is even better to find things that you enjoy with other people. Gaming has always been a fun hobby of mine, but it has never been limited to just video games. The bottom line of it is I have always enjoyed it with other people. It's always more fun that way.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Long Time no Blog
Hey world of the Internet, it's been awhile since I blogged. Did you watch that Looney Tunes short that I put up? You have no idea how excited I was to find that on youtube. I haven't seen that clip in years. When I was a wee lad my dad tried to tape it on VHS, and even then we only caught half of it. So finding the entire episode was very thrilling. Maybe you do have an idea how exciting that was now that I've mentioned it again after posting it.
So what else is new? Apparently my blog has 4 "followers" now, among them a dead former president! That's exciting. A lot of celebrity deaths in the past few weeks, what's up with that?
I just spent two and a half days running around with 2nd and 3rd grade students at Rock Lake Christian Assembly. It was a lot of fun. I do great with kids, and I don't say that to brag, it's the plain truth. I am starting to wonder if maybe I should consider children's ministry positions as I continue my search for a paid vocational ministry position.
Today marks day 1 of the anniversary of Gettysburg. I usually dedicate a whole post to pointing this out, but seeing how I have to work all this weekend I'll probably forget to do that. So I'll mention it now instead. The battle of Gettysburg remains one of the largest battles in our nations history. To this day the total number of casualties from this battle is still higher than any other major engagement America has been involved in.
America became divided over several issues (not just slavery), and the disagreements led to fighting and four years of a brutal civil war. The disagreement went to an extreme. What we learn from the Civil War was mentioned briefly in the Bible many years before, "If a House is divided against itself, that house cannot stand (Mark 3:25)." Fighting, violence and bloodshed are not the answers. Far too many Americans lost their lives either fighting to be heard or fighting to reunite this country. May it never happen again.
May we be careful in the Church to make sure we don't let the little things get between us; something that happens far too often. When we look at churches and what causes them to split it is so insignificant when shown in the light of the bigger picture.
Well that's all for now. I've got a fun post coming up, "My top 5 CCG's." Don't know what that means? Well you will soon enough.
Farewell for now Internet.
So what else is new? Apparently my blog has 4 "followers" now, among them a dead former president! That's exciting. A lot of celebrity deaths in the past few weeks, what's up with that?
I just spent two and a half days running around with 2nd and 3rd grade students at Rock Lake Christian Assembly. It was a lot of fun. I do great with kids, and I don't say that to brag, it's the plain truth. I am starting to wonder if maybe I should consider children's ministry positions as I continue my search for a paid vocational ministry position.
Today marks day 1 of the anniversary of Gettysburg. I usually dedicate a whole post to pointing this out, but seeing how I have to work all this weekend I'll probably forget to do that. So I'll mention it now instead. The battle of Gettysburg remains one of the largest battles in our nations history. To this day the total number of casualties from this battle is still higher than any other major engagement America has been involved in.
America became divided over several issues (not just slavery), and the disagreements led to fighting and four years of a brutal civil war. The disagreement went to an extreme. What we learn from the Civil War was mentioned briefly in the Bible many years before, "If a House is divided against itself, that house cannot stand (Mark 3:25)." Fighting, violence and bloodshed are not the answers. Far too many Americans lost their lives either fighting to be heard or fighting to reunite this country. May it never happen again.
May we be careful in the Church to make sure we don't let the little things get between us; something that happens far too often. When we look at churches and what causes them to split it is so insignificant when shown in the light of the bigger picture.
Well that's all for now. I've got a fun post coming up, "My top 5 CCG's." Don't know what that means? Well you will soon enough.
Farewell for now Internet.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
The Things I've seen...
As many people may or may not know, I am pretty much working all third shifts now. It has been a different experience for me. I have been given much material to write about but never had the time, and when I did have the time the motivation to write about what I've seen hasn't been there.
Third shift is pretty different in a 24-hour gas station. You get to meet a lot of interesting people and some of them are quite intoxicated. This makes for some hilarious discussions as I have interacted with some truly unique people. Now to any new readers, I want to make one thing clear. While I am going to point out the stranger people I have met I don't want to give the impression that I am sitting on a holy pedestal judging them and laughing because I am superior. I am not by any means. These are truly people where "the shoe fits oh so well" and I challenge anyone to not thing the exact same thing if they met them. Without further ado, the things I've seen:
- One of my favorites came in sometime within the last two weeks. He had a mullet style hairdo and the mullet tail almost went down to his waist. The real kicker though was the ICP jersey with matching pants and hat. ICP is short for "Insane Clown Posse" and to describe it best they are a vulgar rap group of Beastie Boy style. So to see someone with a mullet sporting their gear was truly unique, as if his mullet wasn't epic enough on its own.
- I don't like using the term white trash. There's something about it I just don't find dignifying. Unfortunately I cannot think of a better phrase to describe two different ladies I've had in the store in the last month. The first had a tank-top, shorts and a sweatshirt longer than both. The second had a t-shirt that was so short that she was showing more midriff than any rebellious high schooler I've ever met. Both had to be mid thirties, and also smelled of recent alcohol consumption. Like I said don't get me wrong my heart goes out for these people, but at the same time it's just crazy to wonder how they got to where they are now.
- The latter of the two told me that peanuts could be used to interfere with a police breathalyser test. She had seen a program on TV about it and was convinced it worked. As she was traveling a lot that weekend she was sure to buy some. After that night when I got home I questioned my dad on the matter as I had never heard anything to this nature. He mentioned that for awhile last month the court had put up disclaimer signs stating that this in fact was not true at all. Besides, I have a strong feeling that cops are not going to let you go if you are blatantly drunk, regardless of whether the breathalyser works or not.
- My new quote of the week comes from a customer I had last night who was discouraged by the recent tax increase on cigarettes. This is a tough area for me. Do I think smoking is bad? Absolutely. Do I wish people would stop? Yes I do. They would be healthier and it would save them so much money. However, at the same time I feel it's important to respect a person's choice, especially if they haven't aligned themselves to Christianity. It's not right to impose my beliefs on someone that doesn't follow them. To that end it is frustrating to see cigarette prices go up and frustrate the people who buy them day in and day out. We have a tough economy and I don't see all these tax increased helping anything out.
Anyways, the customer had a strange yet hilarious remark in response to these new taxes. He said, "Cigarettes? Shoot it's getting cheaper to rent a hooker and bum one off her!" All I could think when he said that was that somehow I imagined that's exactly the response that Granholm wanted when she signed that tax bill. Way to fix the problem.
Speaking of government stuff, let's segue way. That was nice.
- Three businesses in the Lansing area recently decided to go out of business. One can imagine the surprise they had when they received a notification from the city that they had not paid their "Going out of Business Tax" and as a result they owed the city money. Now I thought that when your profits do not exceed your costs and you cannot pay your monthly bills that you go out of business. So two things - Who's the genius that thought to tax that, and how are these failing businesses going to pay it? I really don't understand why so many businesses are leaving Michigan.
- This whole government fury over the last month at the AIG bonuses? I'm not buying it. They had to know. You don't give a company bailout money without asking them how they are going to use it. You don't approve the bailout if you don't agree with how they are going to use it. They knew where the money would go and approved it, then turned sides when the people became outraged as the media discovered how the banks were using the bailout money. So this whole "we didn't know this would happen and we're furious" thing? Baloney.
- Fun facts: In the first few months that Obama has been in office he has spent more money than all the Presidents combined spent in the same amount of time. In fact by the end of this year if his budget passes he will spend more in one year than Bush did in eight. Interesting.
- Government financing: How is the U.S. funding all its spending? We're selling bonds to foreign investors. In fact we've sold so many bonds specifically to China that their government contacted the White house and told it to make sure the value of the dollar didn't go down. That's the first time any government has directly said that to ours. We've sold so many bonds that if the value of the dollar goes down we are cheating our bond payments. Interesting.
My concern here is that sometime in the coming future China is going to call on America to payback the bonds. When we can't we will be official Chinese property. Two things - How many people are aware of this and should we learn Cantonese or Mandarin for our future national language?
- With all that chaos and uncertainty in the government we're forced to ask one question: Where are we putting our faith? If my last few points have made any sense than one thing should be clear. Don't put your faith in the government or in money. Put it in God. Instead of voting for the changes we want to see we need to be living those changes out in our own lives, because that's the only way we can hope to see those changes making a difference.
As for me, that means smiling at every customer whether I want to or not. That means always being the listening ear and not getting mad every time someone stumbles in at 3 in the morning when I have tons of cleaning to do. Thirds are a different creature and while I do enjoy them I am starting to feel the tug to get back into vocational youth ministry. I think it's time to move on. We will see what God has in store and as I move forward I will not forget the new heart I have found by working among the hurt. I only hope that as I figure out my next step I'll be able to transfer that heart to others.
Third shift is pretty different in a 24-hour gas station. You get to meet a lot of interesting people and some of them are quite intoxicated. This makes for some hilarious discussions as I have interacted with some truly unique people. Now to any new readers, I want to make one thing clear. While I am going to point out the stranger people I have met I don't want to give the impression that I am sitting on a holy pedestal judging them and laughing because I am superior. I am not by any means. These are truly people where "the shoe fits oh so well" and I challenge anyone to not thing the exact same thing if they met them. Without further ado, the things I've seen:
- One of my favorites came in sometime within the last two weeks. He had a mullet style hairdo and the mullet tail almost went down to his waist. The real kicker though was the ICP jersey with matching pants and hat. ICP is short for "Insane Clown Posse" and to describe it best they are a vulgar rap group of Beastie Boy style. So to see someone with a mullet sporting their gear was truly unique, as if his mullet wasn't epic enough on its own.
- I don't like using the term white trash. There's something about it I just don't find dignifying. Unfortunately I cannot think of a better phrase to describe two different ladies I've had in the store in the last month. The first had a tank-top, shorts and a sweatshirt longer than both. The second had a t-shirt that was so short that she was showing more midriff than any rebellious high schooler I've ever met. Both had to be mid thirties, and also smelled of recent alcohol consumption. Like I said don't get me wrong my heart goes out for these people, but at the same time it's just crazy to wonder how they got to where they are now.
- The latter of the two told me that peanuts could be used to interfere with a police breathalyser test. She had seen a program on TV about it and was convinced it worked. As she was traveling a lot that weekend she was sure to buy some. After that night when I got home I questioned my dad on the matter as I had never heard anything to this nature. He mentioned that for awhile last month the court had put up disclaimer signs stating that this in fact was not true at all. Besides, I have a strong feeling that cops are not going to let you go if you are blatantly drunk, regardless of whether the breathalyser works or not.
- My new quote of the week comes from a customer I had last night who was discouraged by the recent tax increase on cigarettes. This is a tough area for me. Do I think smoking is bad? Absolutely. Do I wish people would stop? Yes I do. They would be healthier and it would save them so much money. However, at the same time I feel it's important to respect a person's choice, especially if they haven't aligned themselves to Christianity. It's not right to impose my beliefs on someone that doesn't follow them. To that end it is frustrating to see cigarette prices go up and frustrate the people who buy them day in and day out. We have a tough economy and I don't see all these tax increased helping anything out.
Anyways, the customer had a strange yet hilarious remark in response to these new taxes. He said, "Cigarettes? Shoot it's getting cheaper to rent a hooker and bum one off her!" All I could think when he said that was that somehow I imagined that's exactly the response that Granholm wanted when she signed that tax bill. Way to fix the problem.
Speaking of government stuff, let's segue way. That was nice.
- Three businesses in the Lansing area recently decided to go out of business. One can imagine the surprise they had when they received a notification from the city that they had not paid their "Going out of Business Tax" and as a result they owed the city money. Now I thought that when your profits do not exceed your costs and you cannot pay your monthly bills that you go out of business. So two things - Who's the genius that thought to tax that, and how are these failing businesses going to pay it? I really don't understand why so many businesses are leaving Michigan.
- This whole government fury over the last month at the AIG bonuses? I'm not buying it. They had to know. You don't give a company bailout money without asking them how they are going to use it. You don't approve the bailout if you don't agree with how they are going to use it. They knew where the money would go and approved it, then turned sides when the people became outraged as the media discovered how the banks were using the bailout money. So this whole "we didn't know this would happen and we're furious" thing? Baloney.
- Fun facts: In the first few months that Obama has been in office he has spent more money than all the Presidents combined spent in the same amount of time. In fact by the end of this year if his budget passes he will spend more in one year than Bush did in eight. Interesting.
- Government financing: How is the U.S. funding all its spending? We're selling bonds to foreign investors. In fact we've sold so many bonds specifically to China that their government contacted the White house and told it to make sure the value of the dollar didn't go down. That's the first time any government has directly said that to ours. We've sold so many bonds that if the value of the dollar goes down we are cheating our bond payments. Interesting.
My concern here is that sometime in the coming future China is going to call on America to payback the bonds. When we can't we will be official Chinese property. Two things - How many people are aware of this and should we learn Cantonese or Mandarin for our future national language?
- With all that chaos and uncertainty in the government we're forced to ask one question: Where are we putting our faith? If my last few points have made any sense than one thing should be clear. Don't put your faith in the government or in money. Put it in God. Instead of voting for the changes we want to see we need to be living those changes out in our own lives, because that's the only way we can hope to see those changes making a difference.
As for me, that means smiling at every customer whether I want to or not. That means always being the listening ear and not getting mad every time someone stumbles in at 3 in the morning when I have tons of cleaning to do. Thirds are a different creature and while I do enjoy them I am starting to feel the tug to get back into vocational youth ministry. I think it's time to move on. We will see what God has in store and as I move forward I will not forget the new heart I have found by working among the hurt. I only hope that as I figure out my next step I'll be able to transfer that heart to others.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
LOL of the week?
Looks like Smokey the Bear is tired of warning people and is now taking matters into his own paws!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Random Thoughts from a private #2 location
While LOL of the week could become a regular series, I hate posting two videos in a row. So here's an update.
Updated. Now on to the video. Just kidding.
- I spent the majority of yesterday hanging out by the phone. One of the guys at work who normally works 3rd shift has been calling in a lot and he was scheduled for last night. If he called in again I was "on alert 5" ready to launch and fill in if needed. I was certain they would call me 15 minutes after the shift began. At 10:30 I breathed a cautious sigh of relief and then proceeded to enjoy hangout time with Erik who happened to come home. I figure worse case scenario he called in and someone forgot that I was on stand-by.
- My dad and I ate at Wendy's last night. Our family doesn't really "eat out" much so even a small trip like that is fun. We usually get it and eat at home. All of that is really irrelevant to what this point is about. We had a neat talk last night. We somehow got on the subject of communion. When you think about it the five minutes we take for it in Church is really a terrible distortion of what it originally was. There's a lot to what Jesus did there, and just taking shot-size versions of the emblems he specifically used takes away some of the meaning of what he was getting at. Never mind the fact that it was a Passover meal where this was first implemented. How did we get to the point where the Church only rarely shares a meal together? That wasn't solely what my dad was getting at during our talk though. He thinks the Church lost a lot of heritage and dates it all the way back to Nicea when they moved away from a lot of the Jewish customs. There's a lot of neat stuff we could study and learn from it. Even non-Jewish traditions like the Lenton season can be beneficial. My dad's pastor printed out a Lent devotional reading guide. He printed out an extra copy for me and I plan to enjoy it thoroughly.
- Video Games: Two sub-points
- Rome: Total War. Conquering the ancient world, one province at a time. My mighty armies suffered their first humiliating defeat at the hands of Pontus. My army was archer heavy and their chariots made short work of me. While they attacked me initially, my counter-attack is where the defeat happened. I underestimated their military, mostly the numbers they had. They will know Roman ways, it just might take longer than expected. This does provide a unique opportunity for young and upcoming Julii Generals to prove their valor.
- Left 4 Dead: What would you do if the zombie apocalypse suddenly happened? That's basically the concept of this amazing game. The zombie apocalypse just happened. You don't know how or why, you just know you are trying to survive it. There are four of you to be specific. Teamwork, a cool head and cooperation will be your best friends here. Absolutely love it.
Well I need to get. Much to do and as always less time to do it. Have a good weekend.
Updated. Now on to the video. Just kidding.
- I spent the majority of yesterday hanging out by the phone. One of the guys at work who normally works 3rd shift has been calling in a lot and he was scheduled for last night. If he called in again I was "on alert 5" ready to launch and fill in if needed. I was certain they would call me 15 minutes after the shift began. At 10:30 I breathed a cautious sigh of relief and then proceeded to enjoy hangout time with Erik who happened to come home. I figure worse case scenario he called in and someone forgot that I was on stand-by.
- My dad and I ate at Wendy's last night. Our family doesn't really "eat out" much so even a small trip like that is fun. We usually get it and eat at home. All of that is really irrelevant to what this point is about. We had a neat talk last night. We somehow got on the subject of communion. When you think about it the five minutes we take for it in Church is really a terrible distortion of what it originally was. There's a lot to what Jesus did there, and just taking shot-size versions of the emblems he specifically used takes away some of the meaning of what he was getting at. Never mind the fact that it was a Passover meal where this was first implemented. How did we get to the point where the Church only rarely shares a meal together? That wasn't solely what my dad was getting at during our talk though. He thinks the Church lost a lot of heritage and dates it all the way back to Nicea when they moved away from a lot of the Jewish customs. There's a lot of neat stuff we could study and learn from it. Even non-Jewish traditions like the Lenton season can be beneficial. My dad's pastor printed out a Lent devotional reading guide. He printed out an extra copy for me and I plan to enjoy it thoroughly.
- Video Games: Two sub-points
- Rome: Total War. Conquering the ancient world, one province at a time. My mighty armies suffered their first humiliating defeat at the hands of Pontus. My army was archer heavy and their chariots made short work of me. While they attacked me initially, my counter-attack is where the defeat happened. I underestimated their military, mostly the numbers they had. They will know Roman ways, it just might take longer than expected. This does provide a unique opportunity for young and upcoming Julii Generals to prove their valor.
- Left 4 Dead: What would you do if the zombie apocalypse suddenly happened? That's basically the concept of this amazing game. The zombie apocalypse just happened. You don't know how or why, you just know you are trying to survive it. There are four of you to be specific. Teamwork, a cool head and cooperation will be your best friends here. Absolutely love it.
Well I need to get. Much to do and as always less time to do it. Have a good weekend.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
James Pahl: The Movie....Soundtrack!
Copied from good friend Jon Hatter, here is the Original Motion Picture Sound Track to a movie about me. You're supposed to put iTunes on random...but I'm not sure how long that will last.
ScaBe Like This-Opening Credits: "The Four Seasons, Op 8/4 297, "Winter" - 3. Allegro" - Vivaldi (random)
-Waking Up: "Suddenly" by Zoe Girl (random)
-Falling In Love: “Vienna" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra (random)
-Fight Scene: “A Fortune in Lies" by Dream Theater (I had to choose, after 8 random clicks nothing good was coming)
-Breaking Up: “Top of the World" by Van Halen (LOL! Random)
-Make Up: “The Gestahl Empire" by Nobuo Uematsu (LOL! Random again, this is from the Final Fantasy VI soundtrack, clearly indicating this relationship isn't good for our hero)
-Secret Love: “Qing Feng Shu" - Chinese Orchestra...Chinese Classical Percussion (LOL AGAIN! Had to hit Random a couple times...this would depict the moment of secret passion...next time you see me ask to hear it)
-Life’s OK: “Heaven" By the O.C. Supertones (random)
-Mental Breakdown: “The Killing Hand" by Dream Theater (random)
-Driving Scene: “The Mirror" by Dream Theater (random)
-Flashback: “Many Meetings" by Howard Shore (Fellowship of the Ring Soundtrack, Random)
-Happy Dance: “Messiah - Hallelujah Chorus" by Handel (I wish I could say I picked that, random)
-Regretting: “Never Let Go" by David Crowder Band (random)
-Long Night Alone: “When It's Love" by Van Halen (random, 3rd song)
-Final Battle: “Crazy Train" by Ozzy Ozbourne (random)
-Death Scene: “Orchestral Suite #2 in B Minor, BWV 1067 - Sarabande" by Bach (several random clicks)
-Final Ending: “This Dying Soul" by Dream Theater (random)
-End Credits: “Aria Di Mezzo Carattere" by Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy VI scene, this is the Opera song Celes sings. Random choice.)
Well there you have it. I kept it random better than I thought I would. Here are my awards for my soundtrack:
Funniest Random Choice: Making Up
- Honorable Mention: Happy Dance
Most fitting - Secret Love
- Honorable Mention: Flashback
What do you think?
ScaBe Like This-Opening Credits: "The Four Seasons, Op 8/4 297, "Winter" - 3. Allegro" - Vivaldi (random)
-Waking Up: "Suddenly" by Zoe Girl (random)
-Falling In Love: “Vienna" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra (random)
-Fight Scene: “A Fortune in Lies" by Dream Theater (I had to choose, after 8 random clicks nothing good was coming)
-Breaking Up: “Top of the World" by Van Halen (LOL! Random)
-Make Up: “The Gestahl Empire" by Nobuo Uematsu (LOL! Random again, this is from the Final Fantasy VI soundtrack, clearly indicating this relationship isn't good for our hero)
-Secret Love: “Qing Feng Shu" - Chinese Orchestra...Chinese Classical Percussion (LOL AGAIN! Had to hit Random a couple times...this would depict the moment of secret passion...next time you see me ask to hear it)
-Life’s OK: “Heaven" By the O.C. Supertones (random)
-Mental Breakdown: “The Killing Hand" by Dream Theater (random)
-Driving Scene: “The Mirror" by Dream Theater (random)
-Flashback: “Many Meetings" by Howard Shore (Fellowship of the Ring Soundtrack, Random)
-Happy Dance: “Messiah - Hallelujah Chorus" by Handel (I wish I could say I picked that, random)
-Regretting: “Never Let Go" by David Crowder Band (random)
-Long Night Alone: “When It's Love" by Van Halen (random, 3rd song)
-Final Battle: “Crazy Train" by Ozzy Ozbourne (random)
-Death Scene: “Orchestral Suite #2 in B Minor, BWV 1067 - Sarabande" by Bach (several random clicks)
-Final Ending: “This Dying Soul" by Dream Theater (random)
-End Credits: “Aria Di Mezzo Carattere" by Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy VI scene, this is the Opera song Celes sings. Random choice.)
Well there you have it. I kept it random better than I thought I would. Here are my awards for my soundtrack:
Funniest Random Choice: Making Up
- Honorable Mention: Happy Dance
Most fitting - Secret Love
- Honorable Mention: Flashback
What do you think?
Friday, January 30, 2009
Am I wrong in doing this?
Today gets a rare double-feature as I would like to convey a story. The story is true, but the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Jack is an aspiring Youth Minister. He believes he has a specific calling and has spent his life pursuing that calling.
3 months ago Jack applied at Church A. Church A posted a youth ministry opening and Jack thought it looked like something right up his avenue.
Jack was excited when he received an E-Mail from the head of the search committee. The E-Mail told him to expect to be contacted during the 2nd week of November. That contact never came.
Jack wrote the person he expected contact from twice during the month of November. No responses came. During the month of December, Jack went to Church A's website and dialed the phone number he found on it. He left a voice mail on the answering machine.
December came and went without a response. Finally in January, Jack E-Mailed the senior minister of Church A, exactly 3 months after he initially sent his resume. Two days later, Jack received a polite but brief E-Mail from the search committee head informing him the position had been filled.
Jack immediately wrote back. While accepting that God's will was obviously going in a different direction and thanking the head for the information, Jack inquired as to why he never received the contact he had been expecting.
Jack suspects he may not get an answer. Jack does not intend to pursue it any further, regardless of whether closure on this issue comes or not.
The moral of Jack's story? Jack doesn't really know, he just thought he'd blog the story.
Jack remains curious for the future. While he sees the fruit and worth of where he is at now, at the same time he knows it's not permanent.
"Jack" asks for prayer and patience as I continue to seek where God would have me serve. I know it's out there somewhere and I will keep searching for it, but I can't help but feel like an elder from Israel waiting to see the temple rebuilt. "How long will I wait?"
God's timing. The past, present and future are in his hands. My job is to be obedient in the now. And I will continue to attempt this to the best of my ability.
God Bless and good luck Church A.
-"Jack"
Jack is an aspiring Youth Minister. He believes he has a specific calling and has spent his life pursuing that calling.
3 months ago Jack applied at Church A. Church A posted a youth ministry opening and Jack thought it looked like something right up his avenue.
Jack was excited when he received an E-Mail from the head of the search committee. The E-Mail told him to expect to be contacted during the 2nd week of November. That contact never came.
Jack wrote the person he expected contact from twice during the month of November. No responses came. During the month of December, Jack went to Church A's website and dialed the phone number he found on it. He left a voice mail on the answering machine.
December came and went without a response. Finally in January, Jack E-Mailed the senior minister of Church A, exactly 3 months after he initially sent his resume. Two days later, Jack received a polite but brief E-Mail from the search committee head informing him the position had been filled.
Jack immediately wrote back. While accepting that God's will was obviously going in a different direction and thanking the head for the information, Jack inquired as to why he never received the contact he had been expecting.
Jack suspects he may not get an answer. Jack does not intend to pursue it any further, regardless of whether closure on this issue comes or not.
The moral of Jack's story? Jack doesn't really know, he just thought he'd blog the story.
Jack remains curious for the future. While he sees the fruit and worth of where he is at now, at the same time he knows it's not permanent.
"Jack" asks for prayer and patience as I continue to seek where God would have me serve. I know it's out there somewhere and I will keep searching for it, but I can't help but feel like an elder from Israel waiting to see the temple rebuilt. "How long will I wait?"
God's timing. The past, present and future are in his hands. My job is to be obedient in the now. And I will continue to attempt this to the best of my ability.
God Bless and good luck Church A.
-"Jack"
Wii want to play something good!
Time for a rant concerning the business of video games.
There is no doubting that Nintendo is a tremendous company. Premiering in 1978 with it's first hit Donkey Kong, the company has gone a long way. Super Mario is the most popular video game character in history, and his self-titled 8-bit Nintendo Game was the best selling video game of all time until this past Christmas.
Nintendo has been through some tough times. Rival Sega almost always had a competing system. Game Gear to match the Game Boy, Genesis to match the Super Nintendo, and so on. Sony released what is now known as the Playstation 1, which was a huge step because games were now on CD. Nintendo responded with the Nintendo '64, which retained the classic cartridge format for their games.
They have always met success in the face of stern opposition, but a lot of this success must be credited to a loyal base of fans who fell in love with the company's early franchises. Re-imaginings of these iconic characters in new and better games have long kept fans clamoring for more, and with each "epic" reinvention of a series the fans loyalty has always been rewarded. Metroid, The Legend of Zelda and even the children's smash hit Pokemon are great examples of this.
It is my belief that the fans carried Nintendo through "tough times." When the Gamecube came out to combat Sega's Dreamcast and Sony's PS2, it was clearly an inferior system. It could not match the capacity's of either competitor nor did it try to. Even the long-loved franchises previously mentioned went in new directions and this left a mixed taste in the mouths of savoring fans. Zelda went to cel-shade graphics which made the game look "cartoony" while Metroid became a 1st person shooter. Mario went from besting Bowser to polishing pollution.
For the most part the fans stayed with them though and they still enjoyed some unique and enjoyable games. The Gamecube is a very family-friendly system and as a result it found success in many younger homes.
Sega eventually left the console contest, only to be replaced by Microsoft's X-Box. That brings us almost up to today. While Microsoft and Sony began touting their new systems, the X-Box 360 and the PS3, Nintendo once again went in a completely different direction.
They announced the Wii.
It goes without saying the Wii has been revolutionary. Wii Sports replaced Super Mario as the all-time best selling game, while all the loyal fan favorites were once again reinvented in clever and amazing ways. Games like Mario Kart, Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3, Twilight Princess and Brawl are all examples of this.
Why do I bring all this up? Why do I type all this jargon that is no doubt incomprehensible to most? I will tell you why.
I have stood proudly and been a loyal Nintendo fan for most of my life. I've watched the company rise and fall, stumble and rise again. I've stood by their products and enjoyed many fun gaming experiences. I've watched Nintendo reclaim their position on top of the world concerning video game entertainment, and I've watched them gain a new audience as Wii's are still clamored up as fast as they can ship.
Nintendo's loyal fan base is no longer the target audience of the company. The casual person is their new target. As I look upon the release calendar for 2009 and itch to see what new products they will bring out I worry. The effort and the excellence Nintendo has always fought to deliver are no longer there. This company has constantly pushed the edge and found new ways to revolutionize how people spend recreation time. As I look to the future I don't see that drive. I don't see that passion to push for the future that has been so present throughout the company's history.
I worry Nintendo has forgotten their fans as they scamper about to satisfy this new and curious audience. And I fear that ultimately this would be their undoing, but the Wii keeps selling and their unchecked agenda goes forward. The stalwart fan forgotten, I wonder what to do...
Maybe it's times like this that wii (or at least I) need to remember there's only one worthy of such devout attention and admiration. Maybe if I could serve God with the same passion and zeal I could do much more for his Kingdom. Or maybe this unnecessarily long discourse is exactly what the first sentence said it was. And now I'm back to real life, where I continue to try and serve God each day.
Matthew 6: 19-20 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
EDIT: In my excitement to share this I forgot to mention that it is an E-Mail forward. I did not write it. Sorry for the confusion.
In a few short days, an African American man will move from his private residence into a much larger and infinitely more expensive one owned not by him but by the taxpayers. A vast lawn, a perimeter fence and many well trained security specialists will insulate him from the rest of us but the mere fact that this man will be residing in this house should make us all stop and count our blessings - because it proves that we live in a nation where anything is possible.
Many believed this day would never come. Most of us hoped and prayed that it would, but few of us actually believed we would live to see it. Racism is an ugly thing in all of it's forms and there is little doubt that if this man had moved into this house fifteen years ago, there would have been a great outcry - possibly even rioting in the streets. Today, we can all be both grateful and proud that no such mayhem will take place when this man takes up residency in this house. This man, moving into this house at this time in our nation's history is much more than a simple change of addresses for him - it is proof of a change in our attitude as a nation. It is an amends of sorts - the righting of a great wrong. It is a symbol of our growth, and of our willingness to "judge a man, not by t he color of his skin but by the content of his character".
There can be little doubt now that the vast majority of us truly believe that this man has earned both his place in history and his new address. His time in this house will not be easy - it will be fraught with danger and he will face many challenges. I am sure there will be many times when he asks himself how in the world he ended up here and like all who have gone before him, the experience will age him greatly. But I for one will not waste an ounce of worry for his sake - because in every way a man can, he asked for this. His whole life for the past fifteen years appears to have been inexorably leading this man toward this house. It is highly probable that in the past, despite all of his actions, racism would have kept this man out of this house. Today, I thank the lord above t hat I am an American and that I live in a nation where wrongs are righted, where justice matters and where truly anything is possible.
In a few short days, an African American man will move from his private residence into a much larger and infinitely more expensive one owned not by him but by the taxpayers. A vast lawn, a perimeter fence and many well trained security specialists will insulate him from the rest of us but the mere fact that this man will be residing in this house should make us all stop and count our blessings - because it proves that we live in a nation where anything is possible.
Many believed this day would never come. Most of us hoped and prayed that it would, but few of us actually believed we would live to see it. Racism is an ugly thing in all of it's forms and there is little doubt that if this man had moved into this house fifteen years ago, there would have been a great outcry - possibly even rioting in the streets. Today, we can all be both grateful and proud that no such mayhem will take place when this man takes up residency in this house. This man, moving into this house at this time in our nation's history is much more than a simple change of addresses for him - it is proof of a change in our attitude as a nation. It is an amends of sorts - the righting of a great wrong. It is a symbol of our growth, and of our willingness to "judge a man, not by t he color of his skin but by the content of his character".
There can be little doubt now that the vast majority of us truly believe that this man has earned both his place in history and his new address. His time in this house will not be easy - it will be fraught with danger and he will face many challenges. I am sure there will be many times when he asks himself how in the world he ended up here and like all who have gone before him, the experience will age him greatly. But I for one will not waste an ounce of worry for his sake - because in every way a man can, he asked for this. His whole life for the past fifteen years appears to have been inexorably leading this man toward this house. It is highly probable that in the past, despite all of his actions, racism would have kept this man out of this house. Today, I thank the lord above t hat I am an American and that I live in a nation where wrongs are righted, where justice matters and where truly anything is possible.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Random Thoughts a Year Late
6 days into 2009 and I have no idea what to think. Lots I said I would post about and no idea where I'll end up as usual. Let's get down to business!
1) I am enjoying the job at Speedway. If I didn't feel called to Youth Ministry and could make enough to earn a living I would love to invest in a career there. You get hundreds of one time opportunities to impact people. You get more long-term opportunities with the employees obviously and that's cool too.
2) Still no word from the Churches I put in for. A little frustrated about this. Trusting that God is in control and again there's no doubt that he's using me where I'm at so I'm trying not to worry about it.
3) I watched the premiere of ABC's new season of Scrubs...the show that ended last season only to be bought out and brought back. Here's my thing: I did not like the ending of Scrubs. However, after I thought about it and re-watched it, I couldn't help but feel it was perfect, just like the Seinfeld ending. It encapsulated the show perfectly. Now the show is back, and while the second episode that showed tonight was powerful at the same time the show is lacking.
4) Videogame updates and mini-reviews.
- Left 4 Dead: Zombie survival game. Incredible and one of the funnest games I've played in a long time. Great originality. Bought by my future brother-in-law Erik. A lot of fun.
- Fable II. Christmas Present. Very involving and fun Role-Playing Game. Your actions (good and bad) not only impact the appearance of your character but the world around you as a whole. A very interesting concept. Not as solid as the first one story-wise, but I have enjoyed my time with it.
- Guitar Hero World Tour: Erik got it. Huge drum set as well as a huge play list of songs. Not particularly challenging though.
5) Christmas Presents? I wasn't expecting much this year and was grateful for the time spent with family on Christmas day. So what did I walk away with? Let's see...
- Season 7 of Scrubs
- Seasons 3 and 4 of the Office
- Trivial Pursuit: SNL DVD edition...no idea who to play this with by the way.
- Rechargeable battery packs for Wii-Motes (great investment)
- A "Nerf Blow-Gun" handmade by my cousin. Works too well...
6) A previous post on my blog featured a person (Remi Galliard) attempting to play "Mario Kart" in real life. It is kind of funny. A couple of weeks ago Chris, Blue and myself found the website of the guy who did that video. Turns out he's a big French comedian. We started watching some of the other videos on his website. Without meaning to we watched them all and I can't tell you how much we laughed. The guy is stinking hilarious. I won't link to his site due to one or two videos some might find questionable.
I will feature another one of his videos because he is that funny. This guy is all about breaking the cultural norm and doing what he can to get a response out of people. Check out this elevator oddity and see if you could imagine what you would do if this happened to you.
1) I am enjoying the job at Speedway. If I didn't feel called to Youth Ministry and could make enough to earn a living I would love to invest in a career there. You get hundreds of one time opportunities to impact people. You get more long-term opportunities with the employees obviously and that's cool too.
2) Still no word from the Churches I put in for. A little frustrated about this. Trusting that God is in control and again there's no doubt that he's using me where I'm at so I'm trying not to worry about it.
3) I watched the premiere of ABC's new season of Scrubs...the show that ended last season only to be bought out and brought back. Here's my thing: I did not like the ending of Scrubs. However, after I thought about it and re-watched it, I couldn't help but feel it was perfect, just like the Seinfeld ending. It encapsulated the show perfectly. Now the show is back, and while the second episode that showed tonight was powerful at the same time the show is lacking.
4) Videogame updates and mini-reviews.
- Left 4 Dead: Zombie survival game. Incredible and one of the funnest games I've played in a long time. Great originality. Bought by my future brother-in-law Erik. A lot of fun.
- Fable II. Christmas Present. Very involving and fun Role-Playing Game. Your actions (good and bad) not only impact the appearance of your character but the world around you as a whole. A very interesting concept. Not as solid as the first one story-wise, but I have enjoyed my time with it.
- Guitar Hero World Tour: Erik got it. Huge drum set as well as a huge play list of songs. Not particularly challenging though.
5) Christmas Presents? I wasn't expecting much this year and was grateful for the time spent with family on Christmas day. So what did I walk away with? Let's see...
- Season 7 of Scrubs
- Seasons 3 and 4 of the Office
- Trivial Pursuit: SNL DVD edition...no idea who to play this with by the way.
- Rechargeable battery packs for Wii-Motes (great investment)
- A "Nerf Blow-Gun" handmade by my cousin. Works too well...
6) A previous post on my blog featured a person (Remi Galliard) attempting to play "Mario Kart" in real life. It is kind of funny. A couple of weeks ago Chris, Blue and myself found the website of the guy who did that video. Turns out he's a big French comedian. We started watching some of the other videos on his website. Without meaning to we watched them all and I can't tell you how much we laughed. The guy is stinking hilarious. I won't link to his site due to one or two videos some might find questionable.
I will feature another one of his videos because he is that funny. This guy is all about breaking the cultural norm and doing what he can to get a response out of people. Check out this elevator oddity and see if you could imagine what you would do if this happened to you.
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