Just in the nick of time..

I finished Bioshock last night. Took me about 2 weeks, I think. And it was awesome. When you really think about it, the gameplay in Bioshock doesn't really change very much once you get about an hour into the game. The end game experience is essentially the same as what you were doing when you got your first Plasmid power. Granted, things are a bit more evolved by the end in that you have the ability to use 6 powers instead of 2. But your overall goal is the same - kill anything and everything that moves, hunt for ammo and health, whack a Big Daddy and liberate his bounty. But, that doesn't really detract from the overall experience. The atmosphere of the game is incredible. The voice acting - the best I've ever heard. And 2 crazy freaking plot twists in the middle of the game. BPW said "WHAT!?"

Anyway, it's a good thing I finished Bioshock last night. Because tomorrow, I am getting this:

Brown chicken brown cow!

So, I now have one of these.



And Moxa is letting me borrow this.






All is right in the world! Also some other great news is that the Dawgs finally put a beat down on the Gators. A very exciting game - even being objective! GO DAWGS!






I finished GUN last night. Overall, it was a pretty fun game! It wasn't too deep, and therefore I could play it every couple of days and not feel like I missed out on much. But the gameplay was fast and fun, and you really do get to feel like a hardcore gunslinger. Shooting a rival cowboy off of his horse at 100 yards with a rifle bullet to the gut, and seeing him drop to the ground and roll across the dirt... sweet.

Ninja Skills

Quick update. Saw this.




It is a Ninja Remote that works with virtually any name brand television. It's just a small universal remote control, but the sheer fact that it is tiny lends it to be devious. Very devious. Imagine strolling past a sports bar while the Super Bowl is being played. Now imagine turning the TV off just as a wide receiver goes up for the big catch just as time expires. Further your imagining as dozens of people suddenly scream out in panic, anger, or pain from heart failure. This device could be incredibly dangerous in the wrong hands.

Luckily, some guy has already gone and taken our imaginations and made them real! Thank you strange foreign man!

Update-a-thon!

Two days in a row. Wow, huh? This is just to add some photos. After I got married in June 2006, my wife and I adopted a puppy in February 2007. He was a Valentine's Day present. A mutt, they told us he was a mix of Husky, Chow-Chow, and terrier. Seeing as how we were in the midst of watching 24, we had to name him Bauer.

He's been an awesome guy so far. Of course, the above picture was taken back when we first got him. 8 weeks old, 5 lbs. He's now over 10 months, and 54 lbs! Here's a more recent picture.

What a beast, huh?

WORK UPDATE!

So, since I last played around with this blog, I got a job with a company called Daktronics working UGA sporting events. Everything I do gets shown up on the Jumbotron at the different games (football, mens and womens basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball). My responsibilities range from running cameras to operating a couple computer systems that handle all the graphics and animations. I am working on a new demo reel for my work, and I am including some highlights of my camera work. Here is a short rendition that I'm pretty proud of.




GAMING UPDATE!

I've been playing some GUN, and I have to say, it's pretty fun. It has some great gunplay and shootouts, some fantastic voice acting, and great music. A very good atmosphere that, while violent and a bit over the top, comes pretty close to what the Wild West was like. At least, as far as I imagine.

Resurrection

Out of seemingly nowhere, I've decided to begin updating this blog again. Over 2 years have passed, and alot has happened. However, I'm going to keep the personal stuff short and brief. I will be taking this blog in a whole new direction. Formerly, it was more of a random thing. I would post about various things I found on the internet, or things going on in my life. The blog will surely still contain some of that. However, I hope to incorporate alot more aspects that tie into gaming. For example, on the right hand side of the blog you will see a running list of games that I'm playing now, as well as a list of games that I've beaten recently. With being married now, I have a lot less time for gaming. But I hope to keep this updated as regularly as possible.

Gaming Update!
Back in September, I took the plunge and signed up for an account at Gamefly. So far, I would rate the experience as a positive one. It sucks that the distribution center that ships to Georgia is all the way in California though. Sometimes it takes a week for a game to make it to me. Most times though, it's only around 4 days or so. So far, I've been able to play Excitetruck, Animal Crossing, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II, Mario Party 8, and a couple others thanks to Gamefly. Right now, I'm awaiting GUN for the PS2 to arrive in my mailbox. I've heard good things. It's nice to be able to keep up with the industry, without having to shell out a bunch of money buying stuff.

I should be picking up an Xbox360 in the very near future. I'm excited. The system supports a large library of great games, but the one I'm looking forward to the most is Mass Effect, set to release November 20, 2007. Everything I've seen about this game just blows me away. I'm also excited about Assassin's Creed and the possibility to play already released games like Bioshock, Halo 3, and Crackdown.

So yeah, I just want to reiterate how I'm hoping to keep this thing going. With the sheer number of quality games coming out in the near future, I'm sure I'll be good to go!

OHHHH YEAHHH!!

/Kool Aid Man

Well, the internship is over. Much love to the people over at 41, ya'll were great. Despite my earlier posting that I hadn't learned anything, I would have to say that I did grow as a cameraman/editor while I was at the station. I feel much more comfortable with the various cameras now. I've made some good contacts that will help in the future. Leave me some love, Courtney.

Going out to the woman's house for the last time tonight. She goes back to school tomorrow, and I go back this coming Saturday. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm a little anxious. I had become accustomed to living in the dorms these past 3 years, so moving to an apartment seems like a big step. Plus, conserving energy and water to keep the bills down is going to be crazy.

Anyway I'm out. Just saw a commercial on TV for something called "Urine Gone!" that has me scared.

JENNIFER CANADA IN 2005!

Great googily moogily

So, work was crazy today. I don't think I had a down-time once I set foot inside. We immediately left to go shoot a package about Peach County's refusal to allow ppl to build new mobile homes. So I did all the shooting for this thing (plus a quick VO/SOT) and the editing. It was busy, but fun.

The cool thing though is this: this guy that we interviewed unfortunately lost his mobile home to fire a few years back. Well, the county commissioners have refused to allow him to build a replacement home in the EXACT same place in the SAME mobile home park he lived in before. He had been trying to contact the commissioners to find out why, etc. for the past few months to no avail.

Well, the reporter I worked with today ended up calling the head commissioner and asking all these really evil investigative questions. For example:

"Why is the county commission delaying discussion of this moratorium against mobile homes? Are you aware that there are people who are homeless? I have a source that says this entire thing is just because of a power struggle between you and a disgruntled citizen..."

I laughed pretty hard. Well, anyway, about 30 minutes after grilling the guy, we get an official fax from Peach County stating that next Monday they will be holding a special meeting to discuss the mobile home ban.

How SWEET is that? I've never really been an instrument for social change. It's cool. I'm glad it happened too, small-town politics can be pretty damned annoying sometimes.

Stay quiet, stay close they can't hear

Well, got about a month left until I'm back in Athens. I'm looking forward to the apartment life and (suprisingly) my classes. I'm through w/ my history minor, so no more classes that require me to read 80+ pages a night and write large papers. I've got 3 telecomm classes and a Classical Greek Mythology class lined up. Hopefully, I'll be able to spend more time working on film projects and less time trudging through books. Although it's going to suck since Stecker, my favorite telecomm teacher, has retired. Hopefully the lady that replaced him will turn out to be good.

Things I've Learned at Work
1. Hold my shots longer
2. Don't drop the camera on Kaitlyn
3. Wear a jacket in the arctic edit bays

OH MY GOD. COURTNEY AND KAITLYN ROCK SO HARD. THE C-K COMBO TEAM HAVE MADE ME INTO WHAT A MAN SHOULD BE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT. COURTNEY/KAITLYN/FIANCEE > EVERY OTHER HUMAN EVER.

Sing Flamingo, sing for the sun

Yeah yeah, I haven't updated in forever. I know. So what. I'll just pick up now as if I had never stopped.

Just got back from a week-long trip to Lake Lanier with the fiancee and her family. It was a pretty good trip. Ate too much good food and I think I'm going to be fat forever as a result. KT and I skipped over to Lawrenceville and met Moxa at the Mall of Georgia. I didn't buy anything, but it was fun to just walk around. We also went to Dave and Buster's which was awesome. I love that place. I'll haveto upload some pictures in a few days for all to see.

The internship with 41 WMGT is going well. I've done quite a bit in my weeks there so far. I helped shoot two commercials, I've served as a cameraman for all the reporters, I've edited VO/SOTs that aired on the 5:30 and 11:00 news broadcasts. All in all, I haven't really learned all THAT much, but I already know most of the aspects of the camera. It's just good experience and opportunity. And it'll look damn good on a resume.

The importance of a tight crew...

... cannot be understated.

So much has been going on lately, it's insane.

Cool Things Since Last Update
KT visiting me, me visiting KT
Completed a 2.5 minute short film entitled "Reflections"
Received good grades on several assignments
Completed "Zelda: The Wind Waker" in a total of 21 hours over the span of 5 days

Now, we have come to the end of the semester and, in a sense, the end of a distinct period in my life. For the past three years, I have lived on campus. Up to this point, I have had certain responsibilities such as cleaning a bathroom, etc. done for me on a regular basis. However, in less than a week, I am moving to an apartment where I will be responsible for cleaning, paying bills, keeping up with rent, etc. And while it's real cool that J will remain my roommate, it sucks that it's looking like Moxa will not be rooming with us. I know his prospective job in Gwinnett pays more $$$, but I'm a selfish bastard.

Anyway, tomorrow our room will undergo a rather huge change. The following items will leave our room: two lofts, a futon, a TV stand (and various game consoles), refridgerator, microwave.

Found an interesting website over on expectnothing. It allows you to create your own South Park character. I created the following:

I find it hilarious.

By the power of grayskull...

Staff
You preferred a weapon with 23% power over speed and 36% range over melee.

You use a Staff. Length is up to you-- perhaps you use a quarterstaff, a Jo, or a pair of Escrima, but you favor the intense speed and impressive versatility of a simple wooden stick. Effective staff fighters are effective at fighting many opponents at once, even ones armed with swords. Your opponents will rue the day they underestimated the potency of your weapon.



Link: The What's Your Signature Weapon Test

Next excuse for losing sleep again

Movie of me firing a Thompson submachine gun on J's birthday. Rock it, bpwwhirl!

The city never sleeps for you and I

I have a new favorite band: Cartel, from out of Atlanta. You can find them here. Great stuff. Forker turned me onto them.. they are his buddies from high school. How freaking nuts is that, eh? EH!?

Lots of stuff has happened since the last update.

Cool Stuff About Last Week

Finished "Ninja Pins" - What a great feeling. I wrote the script to this short film last semester for a writing class and then this semester I actually get to direct it. It's cool to actually take something like that from its inception to its conclusion. Hopefully one day I can get a copy of it online. It is approximately 8 minutes in final length.
Visited my fiancee - Went to Rome and visited my woman. While my visit was short, fun was had by all. KT was helping head up "90's Weekend," which meant that there were a ton of events all centered around 90's stuff. Movies, a dance, scavenger hunts, etc. It was cute. I'm going again this weekend and I'll be able to stay longer this time.

Those are the only cool things I can think about right now. A ton of stuff has happened, but mainly things associated with work or school. I've never been this busy before in my life. Honestly, 2 or 3 days go by without me sitting down and having much relaxation time with friends or a video game or whatever. Class/work, dinner, homework till sleep. Luckily, summer break is approaching fast. Hopefully his car won't break down on the way here.

I'm spinning while falling down

The idea here is to BOLD all the states you have visited, UNDERLINE all the states you have lived in, and ITALICIZE the state you live in currently.

Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C /

I've seen the way the candles light your face

It's been awhile..

Cool Things Since I've Last Updated
Spring Break.. relaxation and the beach
Shot some guns
Got engaged

Yeap thats right, I got engaged. Bought a .5 carat Princess-cut diamond set in Platinum on the RAFB-BX for $1500, which is $800 less than the same ring set in white gold at a retailer. Plus, it was tax free. w00t. After dating for nearly 4.5 years, we have decided to tie the knot. Of course, the actual event won't take place until after graduation (Summer 2006) but at least it is official now. Not much else has happened on this front, more to develop.

Spring Break was good. Went to a beach near Hilton Head, SC and spent a few days with KT's friends. Unfortunately the weather wasn't very hospitable - 50 degrees and somewhat rainy. But anyway...

Shot some weapons as a part of J's bday weekend. Shot a Thompson and a .45 pistol. Pictures and movies to come. It's after midnight now, I'm out.

I gots the chronic

Cool Things About Last Week
Finally signed up for an apartment
Playing old school Mario Kart & Mario Golf
End of midterms, beginning of Spring Break

So yeah, mom is doing good. She's mobile and everything, but still has to stay home from work. More as time develops.

This week is going to be pretty lazy. Just do some reading while I'm at home. I'm heading off a beach house in South Carolina on Thursday with KT and some of her friends. But her friends be cool, so that's just fine. Other than that, I just need to do the following:

Haircut
Oil change
Taxes
Homework

I had to wake up early today cause I had made a friggin dentist appointment for 8am today. What was I thinking? Anyway, dialup is horrible, so I'm out of here.

Found this quiz on Shutrump's livejournal thing.. filled it out for her and said I'd put it on mine. So here it is, for the whole 2 people that read this thing. (I HAD TO REPUBLISH THIS POST, AND THE OLD COMMENTS WERE LOST. BUT THANK YOU MARK, GREER, AND KT)

1. Who are you?
2. Are we friends?
3. When and how did we meet?
4. Do you have a crush on me? Or did you ever have a crush on me?
5. Have we kissed? If no, would you kiss me?
6. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.
7. Describe me in one word.
8. What was your first impression?
9. Do you still think that way about me now?
10. What reminds you of me?
11. If you could give me anything what would it be?
12. How well do you know me?
13. When's the last time you saw me?
14. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?
15. Are you going to put this on your journal and see what I say about you?
16. What is the biggest memory you have of me?

Pushing onward, forever without remorse

Today, it began: the filming of my first short film, "Ninja Pins." Credits are as follows:

Me - Writer/Director/Editor
Forkner - DP/Cameraman
Lee - Producer
Dugan - Chip
Williams - Ninja

The screenplay was adapted from another short film entitled "A Ninja Pays Half My Rent." The film is basically about an job opening at a business which is filled by a Ninja (who never speaks). The story follows one of the employees, named Chip, as he and the Ninja have various encounters and are paired up on a project. Today, we filmed over half of the film (w00t!) and a big thanks goes out to all the extras and principals who contributed their time.

In other news:

- Mom had surgery today. =( Supposedly everything is fine. =) I have yet to hear details from her or my dad. Will call later.
- Only 3 days remain in the apartment hunt. *sigh*

Played with Transformers, G.I. Joe's and Thundercats - we was down wit' dat

The week is continuing. Just one more day to go and it'll be over, that's what I gotta keep telling myself.

Sometimes I think back to what I was like when I was a little kid and then I compare that boy with who I am today. I think it's safe to say that we're all different from when we were small, but there are some definite similarities there. Looking back, I can't help but smile at all the things I did that I enjoyed so much back then:

1) Sitting on the living room floor watching football. I didn't care so much about the football; I'd have my GI Joes with me and I would reinact the tackles with them.
2) Riding bikes with my friends down to the Red Dirt. The Red Dirt was this area just a short ride away from my house where we would build forts and do club stuff. We would always decide to build a fort, work on it for 2 or 3 days, then find something else to amuse ourselves. Once, I "borrowed" my parents shovel and ho to help with the construction, fully intent on returning them. Well, I forgot them and the next day they were gone. That was the first time I ever had to spend my own money on something like that. I was 8 I think.
3) Delighting in spooky stories and other such superstitions. There was an old abandoned house back in some woods near my neighborhood.. we always said it was haunted. The thing actually WAS pretty creepy.. there was glass all over the floor and whenever you walked on it you swear you could hear stuff behind you. I think I only went there 2 or 3 times in the span of almost 12 years. I was seriously scared of that place.
4) Playing baseball. I loved the sport so much as a kid. When I wasn't playing it, I was drawing pictures of myself playing it. I tended to get put at first base, shortstop, or outfield. I think I had the most fun at SS. I think you could say that baseball helped put me on the track of Telecommunications. When I stopped playing baseball, I found that I still wanted to follow the sport.. and I figured I'd do it through sports broadcasting. I would always goof around with my voice in middle and high school. When I first got to college, I was entertaining the idea of going into radio broadcasting. The fact that there is NO money in it convinced me otherwise and I explored other areas within the J-school.. to find Telecomm!

There were so many others.. an update for another time I suppose. Going home this weekend to visit w/ the parentals. Mom's having surgery next week.. here's to hopin' that turns out okay!