Christmas is over, we are now in the year 2010, and break is drawing to an end, so I thought I’d do some random stuff for you. First of all, here’s a vlog on something I found:
Yup. It’s way cheaper, and good enough for me… and you.
The next thing I have to write about is the Fiesta Bowl. First of all, this season was a BCS nightmare, with 5 teams ending the season with undefeated records. What hurts the most is that Texas does not deserve to be playing for the title because almost losing to a Husker team with no offense at all is like getting beat up by someone with one hand tied behind his back. Now Cincinnati has been pretty surprising, but with their coach leaving(he’ll totally suck at Notre Dame, he should have stayed) and with the players being totally bitter about their coach, I’m pretty sure they will lose their bowl game, and really their season in my book was done when their coach left. Finally, I gotta say that the teams that got screwed the most were TCU and Boise State.
I actually kinda like both of these teams. I also think it’s totally sad that two undefeated teams are playing in a bowl, and this will have no national title implications whatsoever, and it’s just not right that you can win all of your games and have no shot at the title. First of all, look at the mighty Frogs. They are from Texas, and football is ginormous in Texas. They do have some great talent because it’s easy to recruit Texas because they are in Texas. They’ve also looked very good this year. Plus I love frogs, both horned and unhorned, and their new unis are one of the few new styles of uniforms that I like:
Next, I bring you Boise State. They’ve actually had quite a few undefeated and one-loss seasons in the last 5 years. No matter who you play, that is a big achievement. I think their smurf turf is awesome:
Also, these guys beat Oregon, who is in the Rose Bowl. I know people say it’s unfair, because the players blend in with the field, but I’ve heard that on the field it’s not bad, and that it just looks like that on T.V. They also have a fiercely loyal fan base. They actually remind me of a cute little baby Nebraska.
Anyhow, the common excuse for both of them being left out is that they “never play anyone.” The big problem is that because they’re in a smaller conference, bigger schools have to pay them about one million dollars to play them because it’s a “mismatch.” Because both of these teams have had recent success, most big conference schools don’t want to pay one million dollars to play a game they might lose.
It’s simply not Boise and TCU’s fault. Joining bigger conferences is a tough thing to do. Plus, I’m gonna go back to Nebraska. In the 1980s-1990s, the old Big 8 was a very weak conference compared to the conferences of today. In most years, the only tough team Nebraska would play was Oklahoma. Sometimes Missouri or Colorado were tough, and sometimes Iowa State could pull off the upset, but usually the strength of schedule for Nebraska was pathetic, and that’s probably why Tom Osborne got his butt kicked by Florida teams for so long in bowls.
Anyhow, the strength of schedule that Nebraska had in the 1980s-1990s was as bad, if not worse than both Boise St. and TCU’s schedules today… but I want to remind you all of the 1995 Nebraska Cornhusker team.
That team is often regarded as one of the best, if not the best teams in college football history. Now the crazy thing is that their only close game was against Washington State, and the only other really tough teams they played were Oklahoma and Colorado, and those three teams where nowhere as highly ranked as the SEC Conference teams that Florida played that year. Now Florida played a way tougher schedule, but they were completely dominated and demolished by Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl 62-24.
This dominating performance by the Huskers have left their mark on college football today. Urban Meyer(who now has retired) dreamed up his spread option, and Nevada’s coach dreamed up his “pistol” offense after watching this game, and seeing how power running can dominate superior teams.
So yeah, I’m just gonna say that this example of College Football history says that strength of schedule really doesn’t prove things, and that both TCU and Boise State are excellent teams that deserve a share of the national championship. Now once the BCS started gaining more power, eventually it became impossible for the AP to vote for a different champion than the BCS champion. This is a travesty. TCU and Boise State are undefeated, and have no shot at a title(not even a share of it), let alone a shot at a major BCS opponent.
This has led me to decide that I’m gonna start my own poll:
as the sole voter and creator of the Jimmy Poll, I state that my poll’s goal is to crown a national champion that is able to capture the nations’ heart, demonstrate values of character, integrity, sportsmanship, and fair play. Also, the Jimmy Poll will often “run with the little guy,” because it’s patriotic. It’s the American Dream, and the American Way.
So anyhow, I’m going to have a neat little certificate made from one of those free online certificate places that says that they won the REAL National Championship from the Jimmy Poll, and I will send it to the AD of either TCU or BSU, whoever wins. I’ll also post a reaction/reply if I get one.
Now what I have for you next on an unrelated note, is a warning and a rant:
Yeah Pepsi. You suck.
On a new note, I have something good happen to me to compensate for this:
Epic Win!
And to close, I gotta show you two awesome late Christmas presents I recieved:
Anyhow, I can’t end on a note better than that. See you next week. RBH Cribs is coming soon!
This doesn’t count as a real post, and I’ve been busy on my post for the REAL National Championship, the Fiesta Bowl, and also I’ve been filming RBH Cribs, but I just want to tell you all to check out the Holiday Bowl. Yes, Arizona is a very unsexy matchup for the Huskers, but Arizona did beat us last time we went to the Holiday Bowl, and this year they’re gonna be sporting new unis-throwback ones that look like what they wore when they beat us last. Also Mike Stoops is Arizona’s coach, and him and Bo Pelini grew up and even coached together years ago.
So yeah, it’ll be a good matchup. NU’s offense is the worst in the NCAA, but their Defense is not only best in the NCAA, but probably the best Husker defense I’ve ever seen. Even better than the defenses in the 90s. Now the crazy thing is next year, the offense can’t get worse, so it’ll probably improve, and Bo Pelini says the defense as a whole will be better as well… although we will lose a special player. Ndamukong Suh. He’s a super-sized linebacker playing defensive tackle. He also has caught passes and ran as a fullback. Truly a special player. It’s a shame he didn’t get the Heisman, but really I thought Stanford’s guy was more deserving. Still, I’m gonna miss Suh. Here’s some highlights:
Also his play has even inspired music. It’s awesome:
Anyhow… Suh is awesome. I wish he’d become a Denver Bronco, but it’ll probably not happen, but I’ll be sure to follow him in the NFL.
And of course… My prediction is that if the Huskers can score one touchdown, they win the game. It’ll be a dogfight. 13-10 Huskers.
Also… I have a feeling that Nebraska will own the Big 12 next year. Also, the Longhorns come to Lincoln without their Colt McCoy. I hope the Huskers beat them handily, and then have to face them again in the Big 12 Championship and beat them handily again. Yes, I want the Huskers to beat Texas twice.
First of all, I want to explain that my family is one of those families that opens their presents right after Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. I know that this trend is becoming more popular, but it still isn’t the norm, so this explains why my Christmas Fallout post is on Christmas Day rather than on the 26th. I’ve noticed that my family tradition is a little weird, and that people still tell me “Jimmy, it’s not Christmas yet… it’s just Christmas Eve! Don’t wish me a Merry Christmas until tomorrow!” and that I find this strange, but whatever.
Anyhow, with respect to Matt’s site X-Entertainment.com, I’m gonna say that this idea is his, and loyal fans like me and those in my blogroll also are probably posting their Christmas Fallout posts as well. If you don’t know what Christmas Fallout is, it’s the weird feeling the day after you get your presents. You usually have absolutely nothing to do the next day, and you just bask in the glory of your new stuff, while procrastinating putting down the tree and writing your thankyou notes. At least that’s what it is to me.
I did rack up on gift cards this year, and I also racked up on free cookies and booze. The crazy thing is most people around me know that I’ve had some serious medical problems I’ve been treated for(and feel better now due to the treatment) but cookies and booze are something I can’t have(even as a Christmas cheat) anymore. Still, I know the thought is important, and I respect the good thoughts, and I was able to give my free cookies and booze to people that could enjoy them. I do miss having a drink, especially at Christmas, and I wish I could enjoy a Christmas cookie, but the doctors say I’m done with that forever. I was able to live a Christmas without a cookie or some booze, and it went surprisingly well.
So aside from giftcards and stuff I couldn’t eat/drink, I got some good gifts. The giftload seemed a little low, but this is due to the fact I’m a single guy, and my family was affected a little from the recession. Anyhow the gift number was small, but I received some very good quality gifts, and I am very happy and surprised at what I got this year.
First of all I got a musical tie. I love the Peanuts characters and really geeky fun ties, so this one is right up my alley:
Then I got a Digitech Death Metal Distortion Pedal!
I don’t play Death Metal very much, but it’s really fun to play some br00tal music. Right now I’m using this a lot when I play guitar, and I’m trying to learn Du Hast by Rammstein:
also if you want to hear how this sounds, there’s numerous pedal demos on Youtube, like this one(it’s not me in the video, it’s someone else):
Anyhow this pedal is great because it’s a great sounding pedal(it sounds even better in real life… WAY better than most youtube demos), it allows me to branch out into a different style of music, and also because it’s one step closer to a complete pedal board.
The next gift I received was some little rubber figurines of Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde.
And of course…
Pac Man!
The only problem is I have to find a washer for him to rest upright on, because he always rolls onto his back when I try to set him upright.
Then the most expensive and most useful gift I received was a TomTom GPS!
This thing is great because I’m so used to driving around rural towns, and I’m really landlocked in North Platte. Because of being in my comfort zone so much by living in Western Nebraska, which is extremely rural and easy to drive, I get nervous when driving in new places, and these nerves lead to a lack of concentration, which makes me get lost really easy. This thing is great because if I do mess up and get lost, this GPS will redirect me. I might actually be able to drive big cities like Lincoln, Omaha, and even Denver with this baby!
Then finally, in a Red Ryder BB Gun moment, this gift was pulled out of hiding at the last minute:
THE ENTERPRISE!
Last year I asked for 4 models of the Enterprise, the TOS one, the Enterprise A, The Enterprise D, and the Enterprise E- and I didn’t get any of them. After the latest Star Trek movie came out last spring, I realized that although many Trekkers hated the movie, I actually really liked it, and I especially liked J.J. Abram’s reinvention of the Enterprise. It has little stylistic things that remind me of a classic car on it, and I see it as a blend of old and new, and a fair compromise between the TOS Enterprise, and the TNG Enterprises. I know purists say that if Roddenberry isn’t at the helm, then it’s not Star Trek, and that Berman and Braga ruined Star Trek, and Abrams will ruin Star Trek, but I have to remind people that Star Trek: First Contact was made without Gene Roddenberry, and had Berman and Braga at the helm, and it is one of the best Star Trek movies ever. Many fans put it right behind Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Trust me, Abrams did good, and I hope he continues to do good. Any Star Trek is better than no Star Trek at all.
This thing is awesome. It also has sound effects, but I need 3 AAA batteries and I can’t find a place that I know for sure will be open on Christmas Day, plus we’re back to sub-zero temperatures and strong winds here, so I’ll just wait to install batteries and I’ll show you the sound effects when I do my MTV Cribs of my place someday.
Before I found a spot for the Enterprise, my loyal blog frog friend had to use it to “Explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and civilizations, and boldly go where no frog has gone before”
After that I found a spot for it on top of my famous videogame setup.
Some hardcore fans might complain about having one Star Trek ship next to two Star Wars ships(plus all 3 miles are way out of scale), but I want to remind you all that it still looks cool, and actually the Millennium Falcon was actually on Star Trek: First Contact(it had a brief cameo). Check it out here: http://forums.toynewsi.com/index.php?showtopic=2013957
Also, the latest J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie borrows heavily from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope(because he’s a Star Wars fan), as shown in this video:
So yeah, although there are several differences, Star Wars and Star Trek can coexist, and when they do, it’s flippin’ awesome, like in this video:
So anyhow, it was a great Christmas. Although the giftload was smaller, I kinda like recession Christmases. Going back to basics is a great thing, and for some reason it makes Christmas with the family seem closer and more relaxed.
I’ll make another post in a couple days. I gotta hype the Holiday Bowl, some things I’ve found lately, write about some random stuff, and start promoting the REAL 2009 College Football National Championship(you’ll read more about that later!)
So until then, I hope you enjoy your new stuff. Feel free to post as a comment(and also link to your Christmas Fallout posts) so we know what you got this Christmas!
Until then, Here’s to a great Bowl Season, and an economic recovery in the “Teens!”(2010-2019)
So… Like Eminem I was “cleaning out my closet.” I’m thinking about actually getting out there, and having a party or something, or having some people over. I’m kinda over a lot of the pain I’ve been feeling that you all can sense in some of my previous posts. What I found while “cleaning out my closet” that provoked all of these positive and optimistic thoughts is:
Yup, the oldskool Starter Jacket.
Now I know that there were different types of Starter Jackets, some that are still cool and still have a big following, like the satin ones:
But I’m gonna devote this entry to the later models of the Starter Jacket, which was and is the most Epic Jacket EVER. I’m talking about the ones like mine, that are pullover, and have the pouch in the front!
Anyhow, this sudden re-interest in my Starter Jacket, and Starter Jackets in general was all triggered by seeing a young man wearing one of these about a week ago. One of my coworkers and I saw this kid and did a doubletake, and we both said things like “what the?, Is that the?, I remember…, Those were huge!,” and finally the “What ever happened to them?”
This led to me looking online, and it turns out that there seems to be a mini-revival of Starter Jackets. This mainly has been kickstarted by artists in the hip hop community(like when they first became popular), like Omarion:
Anyhow, a significant number of people have blogged about this, and I don’t want to copy them… but I do want these Jackets to come back, so I’ll walk the line of giving some information, but tell all of you about my personal experience with my Starter Jacket, which was and is the most Epic Jacket EVER.
When I was in 6th grade, back in 1996 I was the new kid. Also my parents were in the middle of switching jobs, so really this was a tough time in my life. Keep in mind that when you are the new kid, the fat kid, and at a private school when you are kinda lower middle class things are kinda tough. Needless to say I was called a faggot(and I was not, and still am not homosexual) by most of the guys, and really most of the girls didn’t even act like I was there.
Eventually I made a couple of friends. I even talk to them some today. Most of these friends also kinda shared a lack of popularity and social acceptance, so we did share a common bond because misery loves company. Anyhow, times still sucked for me. Switching from a public school to a private school was a little jarring academically. Homework was tougher, and this school made sure parents were more involved in helping their students. This meant every assignment I did had to be signed by my parents. What made this so hard was because I was a Straight A student in the public school, but I earned a mix of A’s, C’s, and even F’s at the private school. I was still a good student, but some of the different expectations and teaching methods really bit me in the butt. This lead to me being pretty much scared the whole year. This fear became learned helplessness, and I even threw in the towel on some homework. What made this worse was that if you didn’t do your homework, they would have a student come into each school with a piece of paper, and announce who did not do their homework, and because of that, they would have to stay after school. This was a public humiliation, which really hurt me, because I had a crush on a girl in class, and this public humiliation combined with my social woes were killing my hopes.
I remember my Dad and I became close this year because my life seemed really messed up compared to years of past success, but also I started to lean on my new friends more. I remember one time my friends just pointed out something really simple and told me, “Jimmy, how come you wear a black jacket? Everyone else has a sports team coat, like a Starter, or even a Mirage/Logo7/Apex jacket if you can’t afford one.”(by the way, I can’t find any of the Mirage/Logo7/Apex Jacket pictures online. I guess only the real deal, the Starter only can live on.)
This was both a revelation, and an epiphany to me. I was the only guy without a Starter Jacket or one of it’s knockoffs. I looked around and saw everyone wearing these totally Epic Starter Jackets, and noticing them for the first time was like glimpsing into a kaleidoscope:
The most common Starter Jackets I saw were Nebraska Cornhuskers ones.
This was 1996, a year after 1995, where the Cornhuskers had the best team in all of college football history(so far):
But I also saw several people wearing different ones, probably because they just looked cool. Several people had Michigan and Notre Dame ones, but the Dallas Cowboys one was really popular:
I hate the Cowboys, and Texas in general(sorry Texan readers) but I have to say I love that star.
Anyhow, I eventually slipped to my parents that I wanted a Starter Jacket for my birthday. My parents were ok with it at first because I did need a new coat, and they did notice they were pretty popular, and this was one of the first times they had seen me concerned about fitting in. They were all aboard until they found out they were $125. Also they had heard that people all over were either getting them stolen or being shot for them. Although I heard of no thefts in rural Nebraska, in all of the stores, Starter Jackets had these special inktags put on them so supposedly if you stole it and tried to remove the tag, the tag would explode and create a mess on your jacket. My parents had never seen security this tight on an article of clothing.
The crazy thing, is that although I was a headstrong kid, for some reason I had a respect for my parents and still do today. Very few people have this, and I really can’t explain why I have respect for them, but I guess I’m just lucky. Because of this, although I was upset, I told them I was willing to settle for a Mirage/Apex/Logo7 Jacket. It still was a sports jacket, and they still looked kinda like the Starter ones, but they were a lot more moderately priced.
You ever hear that once you stop thinking about something, it usually falls into your lap? Well, about the time I decided to let the Starter Jacket go, my parents through my sister who worked at JC Penny’s at the time found out that there was a sale on Starter Jackets. The surprising thing was that although there were no Husker jackets, they had the Denver Broncos, which were and still are my favorite NFL team! This was a happy surprise because this was before they won their Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998, and before the Internet really took off so Broncos apparel was really hard to find in rural Nebraska. To this day I see very few Broncos Starter Jackets like mine.
The best part was that it was only $60! Half price! It was awesome, and even more awesome was that it was “Pro Line,” which meant whenever I watched the Broncos on T.V., the coaches and players that weren’t suited up would be wearing the same Jacket! My parents were ok with the price, and saw I was happy, and then realized that the jacket actually was good quality(I’ll expand on this later) and I did need a new coat anyway, so they were happy, and I was happy. They even offered to by my little brother a Starter Jacket too. He hated and still hates sports, but he jumped at the chance because these jackets were so Epic, you couldn’t turn them down. He got a Charlotte Hornets jacket(because Hugo the Hornet looks awesome). Not the really cool and popular one:
But a more subdued one that was black, but with teal and purple accents. It was still pretty cool.
Anyhow, when I wore the jacket to school, I wasn’t instantly popular, but people did sit up and take notice. Although it didn’t fix everything, this was the key to psychologically “joining the group” at my new school, and eventually things smoothed out a little. Things never were perfect, and I still struggled, but my new friendships developed, and I had a little more fun at school, and overall started to become a happier person.
Now aside from being trendy, the Starter Jacket has several attributes that make it super-awesome. The first one is that it is extremely poofy. They were huge on us as kids, and mine still fits me great as an adult. The poofyness is also really comfortable. If you watch old 90s T.V. shows, you’ll notice everything is baggy, and I kinda miss this. It does seem like everything is super form-fitting these days. Take the Oregon Ducks, for example.
90s unis:
Today’s unis:
I know that baggy clothes don’t make you look skinnier, they actually make you look fatter, but this fat guy likes how baggy clothes feel. In addition to the Starter Jacket being baggy, the poofyness is very soft, and it feels like you are being hugged by about 20 pillows. This actually had some advantages in 6th grade. First of all, I was and still am very uncoordinated, and if you fell in one of these, they would be like an airbag, and you could emerge from tumbling on the concrete unscathed. Also, these were like suits of battle armor in snowball fights. They are so thick and poofy that if you got hit by even the hardest iceball, you couldn’t feel it. It was a tough world on the 6th grade playground, but if you had yo’ Starter Jacket as yo’ bulletproof vest, ain’t no one gonna mess with you!
The poofyness lead to another strength, and that strength is it’s exceptional warmth. The Starter Jacket was the warmest jacket I have ever worn, and since I’ve brought it out of my closet, it is still the warmest jacket I’ve ever worn. Lately we’ve had subzero temperatures here, and wearing my starter has made walks to work surprisingly comfortable. Also if you watch the news when it talks about the homeless, or help at homeless shelters, you will notice that several homeless people will be wearing a Starter Jacket, because now they can be found for cheap at thrift stores, and because they are of very good quality and are very warm.
The last thing a new benefit. It has the old logo, so today that would make it a “throwback.” I still miss the old unis, and I really like this jacket more because it has the old royal blue and the old logo. Because it’s a throwback, I can actually wear it, and look somewhat stylish. The only thing is I wonder why it’s not cool to wear these anymore, because really, they are a great coat, and it’s in great condition. The only thing I’ve noticed that breaks is the superfluous side zipper, which you can either get fixed or just have a seamstress sew the side shut. The bottom is stretchy, so you actually don’t need that side zipper to pull it on or pull it off. Aside from the side zipper, the Starter Jacket holds up very well. This is really refreshing in these days of “planned obselescence.” Mine has lasted me for over 10 years. Also, usually sports stuff doesn’t go out of style, so because of this, I’m actually wearing this right now. Comments about it are surprisingly positive. Occasionally I’ll get someone to ask “that’s kinda old.” and I reply by saying either “vintage” or “throwback.” then people get it and think it’s cool.
So yeah. I encourage you all to dig yours out of your closet and wear it. Even if it’s for just a week. I am sure of one thing. It’ll make you smile. It sure made me smile.
Now at the beginning I mentioned a comeback. Although Starter is now a Walmart brand owned by Nike, there’s a company called Black Label Starter that is making updated apparel in what they think is in the spirit of the old Starter Jackets. Here’s a shirt:
and here’s a Jacket:
Note that Black Label Starter has no NFL rights, so it is a jacket in only the Miami Dolphins colors. I personally think these suck, and the only way we can have a true revival is to buy or dig out our original Starters. I am not buying a jacket that just advertises it’s brand. I want one that advertises it’s brand and a sports team, and is extremely colorful in doing so.
So anyhow, nice try Black Label Starter, but… Epic Fail IMHO.
On another note, if you are a wuss and don’t want to wear your Starter, or if it doesn’t fit you, you can look online and find several companies that will make your Starter Jacket into a gym bag. These actually do look pretty cool:
And that’s about all I have to say about the most Epic jacket of all time. The Starter Jacket. Now it is up to you to dig it out of your closet and rock it, so you can look cool like these guys:
If that’s not ballin’ I don’t know what is. I like to wear mine with my Shaq Shoes.
The only problem is that when I do, people think I’m a time-traveling dealer from the 90s. It doesn’t matter, because as they said in the 90s… “It’s ALL good!”
Thanks again for reading, my next post will be on Christmas Day. Like Matt on X-Entertainment.com and his many fans, I will have a “Christmas Fallout” post, where I’ll show you what I got for Christmas, while the rest of you commment on what you got. So until then, Laters!
There are a lot of classic video games that I still play constantly today, and there are some games that I played for awhile, but for some reason they left a huge impact on me. These games also made impacts on several other people, so much that they became epic sagas with several sequels. Although I never beat a Dragon Warrior or Final Fantasy game, and I don’t have much time to play them today, there were things in them that were total gaming magic.
Dragon Warrior was the first RPG I had ever played. It also was the first for many other people. Although there were other top down perspective RPGs with random monster attacks, this one was able to reach a large audience because several subscribers of Nintendo Power Magazine received it for free. There were many things that were distinctive about this game that immersed you into its world. The first of these was the music:
It just sounds very beautiful and medieval. After playing this game, when we learned about the Medieval Era, I would always have this music playing in my head softly in the background. Sometimes the NES music vaguely resembles an oldskool portative organ as well.
The second thing was the “Quasi-Ye Olde Englishe” dialog. I was so ticked off when they reduced it in the sequels, and eliminated it in the GameBoy remakes. It taught me as a little kid what “thee and thou” meant, which was kinda useless, but I loved how it made me feel like I was communicating in this other world.
The final thing was the cool weapons and the legendary story of Erdrick. Not Loto like in the GameBoy remakes, but Erdrick. It sounds cool and more mystical. I remember I would stare at the weapons pictures in the instruction booklet, and in school I got in trouble on more than one occasion for making flame swords.
Speaking of making swords, I have one very nostalgic, but very odd memory of growing up. One of the highlights of my childhood was going out of town to visit my Grandma and my cousins. I don’t know if I was super annoying to my cousins(I probably was) but I really liked to hang out and play. Anyhow, when we got to the point where we both played Dragon Warrior, we all had a mutual interest in the game. We talked about it, played it, then we did probably one of the weirdest things ever…
We would make little swords and shields out of paper and scotch tape, and we would walk around the house and yard pretending that we were on an adventure. This seems really odd now, but every time we’d get together, we’d go right to this and make our swords and shields. It even got to the point where Grandma had paper, scissors, and scotch tape ready. I think our parents and Grandparents were just glad to have us out of their hair, and didn’t care how bizarre we were. The craziest thing about this is that there are grown men who still do this. In fact, this is called Live Action Role-Playing, also known as LARPing.
Also, a more socially acceptable version of this is done by Civil War reenactment junkies. It’s not Medieval/Fantasy, but it is the same idea.
A less socially acceptable version of this(but not nearly as socially unacceptable as LARPing) is the Renaissance Faire.
Yeah, if this was in North Platte, I’d definitely do any of three things. Yes, I’m a big loser. I admit defeat.
Anyhow, years after Dragon Warrior hit, and eventually became old hat, there was two different games called Final Fantasy II and Final Fantasy III. I know they’re now called Final Fantasy IV and VI, but in my mind they’re always II and III. Both of these games were almost like reading a novel, or watching an epic movie saga. Part of what drove these games and helped them into our hearts was the music of Nobuo Uematsu. These compositions are beautiful, and the melodies are even taught in some Japanese public schools. These pieces are not just video game music, but they deserve a place as legit musical works. Before I continue, enjoy these:
…and my favorite from FFII:
Here’s some from FFIII:
What Dragon Warrior had in atmosphere, Final Fantasy just seemed to make what it borrowed from Dragon Warrior bigger and larger in scope, while giving us relationships between characters that we had never before seen in video games. I also liked that Final Fantasy just seemed a lot more user-friendly than Dragon Warrior. Also, Final Fantasy taught me several things. I enjoy the opera a lot now as an adult, but the Opera scene in FFIII(this was my first exposure to opera, and it’s probably the only video game with an opera in it) made Opera acceptable, and even cool to all FFIII fans:
This Operatic work by Nobuo featured in FFIII is even performed live several times in Japan as legit music:
So although my friends and I never “LARPed” Final Fantasy, I remember and cherish talking inbetween classes(and sometimes during class) with my friends about these games, and I remember that the gaming magazines I subscribed to(before we had the internet) would be absolutely saturated with Final Fantasy walkthroughs.
Now of course there were other games that were pretty close to sharing the spot in my heart that Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy did, such as Secret of Mana, Zelda, and Chrono Trigger, but that’s another blog post.
I just wish that instead of making games with super graphics and not so good gameplay, that they could just make an expanded Final Fantasy or Dragon Warrior. One with simple sprite graphics, but with very deep gameplay. Maybe even they could make it an MMORPG. I’ve never gotten into WOW because I just don’t like the interface(I’ve also never been able to get into Dungeons and Dragons for some reason), but if it looked like Super Nintendo or Nintendo, I think I’d be in. Game developers: Do what Cave Story did for side scrollers… but in RPG form. Please. Take the old graphics and style… but perfect it, and squeeze everyithing out of it. Pretty please.
Now here’s the big question… how come there are soldiers stationed around every castle in this game, yet you, or maybe you and a small party of friends have to save the world and fight monsters? I guess we’ll never find out. Thank goodness this guy was able to ask that question and get revenge for that injustice(warning-offensive language):
Also, you gotta check out this youtube film called College Saga. It seems like these games were as important in these people’s lives as they were in mine. If you liked these games, you’ll find these videos hilarious. Because I’ve been pretty darn video heavy in this post, I’ll just encourage you to search for it. Maybe later I’ll post it as a bonus blog. Either way, you gotta check it out.
I can’t wait until next week. I have a post that I’ve been working on that I’m very proud of. Until then… Laters!
Welcome to your bonus post! In this bonus post, I gotta talk to you about something. That something is Drakkar Noir.
Drakkar Noir is a scent from the 80s, that has a very mysterious bottle, and has been kinda mysterious to me. Now I’ve liked and used several colognes, some because girls liked a particular scent, and some because I liked them. Here’s a quick rundown(I’ve also used the knockoffs, and both of them seemed the same to me, so the rundown applies to both):
Brut:
My first one. My dad bought it for me when I was in Jr. High. It’s Kinda strong and woodsy, but nice to wear during the winter occasionally. It goes well with my flannel shirt.
CK Eternity:
I don’t know why, but I get this every year at Christmas from someone. It’s pleasant, but kinda generic smelling, with nothing special. I think of it as “the industry standard cologne.”
Hugo Boss:
This one’s kinda strong, but I kinda like it. Kinda apple-y!
CK One:
A very light fruity fragrance, which is great for summer
Aspen:
Floral, but kinda manly still. I can’t explain it. I really like this one.
Old Spice:
Kinda strong. It’s cheap, and that’s a benefit. When I was a kid, I had a teacher who was allergic to it, so I would wear it at times to throw the teacher off if I knew I’d have a bad day. That way we’d cover less in class, because he’d be sneezing a lot. Kinda mean of me, but the Karma has come back, so I have reaped the consequences.
Stetson:
Good cowboy cologne. I’ll wear this if I’m trying to meet honeys in places that are more rural than North Platte.
Chaps:
Same as Stetson, but a little bit more expensive and trendy. Designed more in mind for Urban Cowboys:
So yeah, I do occasionally wear cologne. I’ve never had people comment on it, and I think claims that it will “help you with the ladies” really don’t work. I mainly wear it because I’m a fat guy, and sometimes fat guys reek. It’s embarrassing as heck. Sometimes the cologne covers up the fat guy stink pretty well.
But anyhow, lately I’ve noticed one cologne appearing in my life a lot. In this information age, it’s tough to discern when you hear of something if it’s a genuine testimonial of someone who likes it, or a viral advertisement. Viral advertising and product placement has been going strong for quite awhile. Although the internet wasn’t big in the 90s, product placement was huge, and people were aware of it. This clip from the extremely quotable movie Wayne’s World presents a great satire on product placement:
Also, if you haven’t seen the movie The Truman Show, you should. It kinda shows how even in our daily life and speech we are doing product placements:
So anyhow, with the internet, several corporations are paying bloggers and vloggers to mention their products. You may think I do it here, and I make my blog seem to look like I’m doing it, but I’m not. I’m just a fan of The Truman Show’s clever observation, and I’m exploiting it. Several other people do this same thing, and still people debate on whether these people are getting paid or not. My favorite example is Mr. ChiCity, who teaches you here how to get women by “stockin’ yo’ fridge.”(warning, there’s profanity if you’re offended by such things):
Because he shows so many products, people are thinking he’s just advertising them and getting paid. I disagree, because of the wide volume of products he’s talking about. He couldn’t be getting paid by all of them. He’s just a regular guy keepin’ it real, and trying to help us out by teaching us how “stockin’ yo’ fridge” can help make your place more comfortable for the honeys.
Now viral marketing can also happen many other ways, but the way I’m thinking of is how on the internet, people will get paid to write good reviews for a product on amazon.com, or they will pay an online magazine to put their product in a top 10 list. This makes you think it is a great product, but it’s really advertising. One extreme example of this is the Three Wolf Moon shirt I bought, which is supposed to “Get you lot’s of women.” Sometime, you gotta search for Three Wolf Moon, on Amazon, get a pop and popcorn, and read the thousands of reviews. It’s actually pretty funny and entertaining. Here’s a song about it(which incorporates quotes from amazon.com reviews) that I showed in an earlier post if you forgot about it:
Anyhow, there’s more to it, but I gotta get back to my story.
Time to time, I will occasionally read a Cosmopolitan magazine. It makes me feel like I’m “spying on the enemy”(as Jeff Foxworthy would say) and I feel like it might help me out with women. It is crazy to see how women will change their lives with each issue, and it’s nuts to see how much stuff about men is totally wrong in those magazines. Anyhow, I noticed they did a “Your top 15 favorite colognes that your man wears” article. With all of these new and trendy colognes, there was one from the 1980s, in a mysterious black bottle, with a mysterious name. It is called Drakkar Noir.
The scent was rated pretty highly, like 2 or 3, and the write-up said how sexy it smelled, and that although it’s old, it’s classic. It’s moderate price(still not low, but not bad) was another good part.
Anyhow, all of those colognes looked expensive, except for the Drakkar Noir-which was in my price range, so I just decided one day when I was doing absolutely nothing, just for kicks and giggles to learn a little more on the internet about it. I found out that on epinions.com and amazon.com that there were numerous women writing reviews saying how it’s old, but still very sexy and they love it. Some said it made them feel “in the mood,” or it was something that they “always remembered the smell of.” The crazy thing is that although these seem over the top, the writing style isn’t as crazy as the Three Wolf Moon shirt reviews on Amazon.com.
So anyhow, the reviews seem nuts. I know no woman who would write mens cologne reviews, let alone say it was something they “couldn’t resist,” but if you do some googling, you’ll find that the writing leaves you with thoughts that maybe several women just genuinely like Drakkar Noir. It just doesn’t seem like product placement, and I googled to see if Drakkar was doing it, and most people on message boards said that no, they aren’t, people just think it’s that good.
Anyhow, I forgot about this, and then noticed in several other magazines and internet articles, that Drakkar Noir was mentioned as a top cologne, even though it is old. The crazy thing is I would find an occasional one or two people that would say “NO! IT SUCKS!”
So yeah, I dismissed that as just being the internet, and it being an information age, and thought that maybe Drakkar was paying magazines, and maybe people to write reviews(because the reviews sound genuine, not like they’re a joke), but then things were changed when I watched an episode of The Cleveland Show, where the fat guy(I’ve only seen one episode) gets a job as a bathroom attendant, and he offers one customer Drakkar Noir after he washes his hands. Now right away, this seemed like either the old cologne Drakkar Noir is doing some pretty hardcore viral marketing and product placement, or God wanted me to try Drakkar Noir. Now that sounds sacrilegious, so I assumed product placement, but I found Drakkar gave no money to The Cleveland Show, and that The Cleveland Show just uses product placement for fun, because people can relate to it because they’ve used the product.(kinda like what I do.)
Anyhow, after I saw that, I knew I had to give in. I bought a bottle of Drakkar Noir.
I actually really like this stuff. At first it smells very citrusy and berrylike, but as you wear it throughout the day, it shifts to a lavender/sandalwood smell. Also the smell stayed on all day for me, which has never happened to me before. Now most reviews said that although it is great, that it is really strong and to use it very sparingly. I’ve never had a reputation for bathing in cologne, I just do a couple sprays, and I don’t find it strong at all. It’s kinda light. Maybe it just reacts well with my fat guy stink body chemistry. It does totally cover the stink, which is great.
Anyhow, it’s a little pricey, but not ridiculous. It will run you about $20-$40. No, women weren’t falling all over me, but I did notice that I felt good with it on, and people did seem to treat me more professionally. Also people did get closer to me when talking. Usually I’m not self-conscious about cologne, but this one did generate a different result than any others I’ve tried. Anywho, it’s like Dial Magnetic. You may think it’ll get you women, but it won’t, but it does make you smell really good, which is a plus. Self-image boost FTW.(Yes I’m still using Dial Magnetic. It simply makes me feel cleaner than any soap I’ve ever tried)
Another possibility I’m looking at, is the knockoff of Drakkar Noir by Designer Imposters, which is called New York Nights.
Or just search for it on amazon.com. I will try this when I order some stuff from amazon.com later this month, and I’ll probably review it. Most knockoffs have a bum rap. People say they’re crappy, but most I tried smelled the same and lasted as long as the real one. Also they are way cheaper than the real versions. I have tried Designer Imposter’s “U” which is a knockoff of CK One, and it’s exactly the same, and I really like it. It’s way cheaper. Anyhow, I’ll check it out, and let you all know how it compares when I do.
Anyhow, that’s it. I realized that I just promoted product placement and viral marketing again, but… Meh… whatever.
Before I start, I need to give a most triumphant prelude. Ladies and Gentlemen… Joe Satriani.
Although there are many different musical instruments, one instrument that truly strikes me as being an instrument for the common people is the guitar. It seems like everyone has a guitar now, and cheap deals for decent guitars are probably the best they’ve ever been. On the opposite end of the spectrum, high end guitars are better than ever as well.
Because the amount of guitarists is so large, just being the best player isn’t the main goal anymore. Several artists have guitars that are “works of art” and are uniquely distinctive. When you see these guitars, you know who plays it. Several people even copy these designs as a tribute, like how I striped my bass as a tribute to Eddie Van Halen. Here are some examples of guitars that are truly iconic:
Eddie Van Halen’s Frankenstrat:
Tom Morello’s Mongrelcaster:
B.B. King’s Lucille:
Bo Diddley’s Big B:
Randy Rhoads’ V:
SRV’s First Wife:
Joe Satriani’s Chrome Boy:
Steve Vai’s Jem:
Prince’s Purple Cloud:
Jimi Hendrix’s Upside-down Strat:
George Harrison’s Rocky:
Buckethead’s Killswitch equipped Les Paul:
Brian May’s Red Special:
Kurt Cobain’s Jag-Stang:
Willie Nelson’s “Trigger”:
I know I left some off. This isn’t because I don’t think they’re iconic, it’s just that sometimes you can only handle so much rockin’ guitars at once. Anyhow, to add to this list is…
Shammy(short for shamrock) Version 3.0. aka: The Jimmycaster!
Here are some of the specs:
Body: Stock Ibanez Stagestar, Agathis(similar to mahogany) in “Shamrock Green”
Neck: Maple, with standard vintage height frets
Fingerboard: Maple
Nut: Brass-fitted by Kittle’s Music
Tuning Heads: Planet Waves Auto Trim Locking Tuners
Pickguard: Warmoth Purple Pearloid, custom cut with help from Jared’s Pickguards and Kittle’s Music
Pickups: 2 Single Coil Stock Ibanez Powersounds with chrome covers, and one GFS VEH(EVH Clone) Humbucker with a nickel cover
Bridge: Stock Ibanez six screw vintage tremolo. Whammy bar is removed, with the bridge screwed down as close to hardtail as possible.
Straplocks: Dunlop Dual Design
Other features: Chrome Tele knobs, shielded pickup cavity, and Morello Style Toggle Killswitch
…and it comes with a super-shiny Levy’s mirror strap!
Anyhow, it feels great to get this done. I’ve heard and have had various interpretations of what the guitar’s appearance evokes in the minds of its observers. The first one I heard is that it looks like a “Strat from Space.”
The second one, which I should have thought about more, is that it looks like Baby Bop from Barney and Friends
The third one is that it’s a Mardi Gras guitar. It has green, purple, and the maple neck is the gold. The chrome just ties stuff together.
The fourth one is that it looks like a pimp’s guitar. It has the green which symbolizes the money, the maple neck gold which symbolize the honey, the purple which is the color of royalty, and the chrome is there so it is “blingin’.”
The fifth one is my favorite. Often times vintage Stratocasters:
Are compared to vintage automobiles:
while my imported strat copy:
kinda reminds people of a tricked out import tuner:
which is flippin’ sweet!
Anyhow, the main inspiration of this guitar was Eddie Van Halen’s frankenstrat. I know Eddie has issues, and probably isn’t a very pleasant person, but I’ve always loved his tone, his energy, his speed, and his spirit in his playing. I also really like how the frankenstrat was a really cheap guitar that he messed around with. I like that through his messing around, he was instrumental in the creation of the superstrat guitar, and that he was able to make such an iconic guitar out of a cheapy.
I know I kinda ripped off his design a little with my Ibanez bass, eventually I’ll take that tape off and mod my bass’ appearance even further, making a more original design. I gotta respect Eddie, and that the stripes were his idea, and not mine.
-Ok, enough about the bass. Back to the guitar. I decided not to base my guitars’ appearance on Eddie’s, but I decided I could do some things that were similar to his, while also doing some things that I liked. First of all, it had a maple fingerboard like Eddie’s, and a humbucking pickup in the bridge like Eddie’s(although it sounded nasal as heck, and I definitely wanted to get a nicer one). It also is a strat shape.
Those things were a start, but I had some differences from Eddie’s taste. Now I admit I don’t really like “beat up” guitars. I actually like really shiny and colorful guitars that visually pop on stage. I also like pickguards on a strat, just not in white or black. I like to see them in different colors. Another thing I always wondered was why strats never have chrome pickup covers. Les Pauls usually do, and I thought it would be cool to see on a strat.
So that lead to some thinking… and that thinking went back to some ideas I hadn’t thought about in a long time. Ever since I saw the first Mighty Ducks movie, I liked the color combination of purple and green on their uniforms. On D2, they switched to an eggplant and teal which wasn’t bad either, but I really liked purple and green. They’re kinda opposite colors, but they really pop in a way that doesn’t hurt your eyes like red and blue or red and green sometimes do. Also I realized that very few people have purple guitars, green guitars, and people especially don’t have guitars that are both purple and green.
I decided to go with this color scheme, and I was planning to switch my humbucking pickup. My single coil ones were actually pretty good, so I kept them. After looking around for pickups, I discovered GFS Pickups, which are sold at guitarfetish.com. GFS pickups are on par with Duncan Designed pickups. Yes Seymour Duncan and Dimarzio are American made, but these GFS pickups(like Duncan Designed ones) are way better than most stock pickups, and are sold for very reasonable prices. There really is not that much of a difference in quality. They are about the same. The only problem I ran into with this humbucker is that I had to rout a little under the cavity, which made me nervous, but was no big deal. Routing actually was a very cool “no turning back now” moment, that I kinda remember most of all about the whole project. I then found some chrome covers for my single coil pickups, and still am surprised more strats don’t have these. They look pretty sweet.
So next I took my green Ibanez Stagestar strat copy, got rid of the pickguard that had shamrocks drawn on by a sharpie(that faded), and with my friend Jared’s help, cut a new pearloid pickguard out with a sabre saw. This was really challenging, but a learning experience. I think it took about 2 hours. It was very hard to get things exact, and some cuts around the pickups are sloppy when you look up close, but we were able to cover our mistakes pretty good. Rob at Kittle’s music also did a great job of helping clean up the edges. My advice is to cut two templates/stencils, and secure one to the top, and one to the bottom. We only had a stencil on one side, and that was why we didn’t get everything lined up exactly.
Other extras I put on the guitar were a killswitch, brass nut, and locking tuners. The guitar already had some Dunlop straplocks I bought years ago. Nowadays I use either the Grolsch Straplocks or Planet Waves locking straps. Although the Dunlops are nice and have never failed me, the Grolsch ones have worked for me 99% of the time(I was able to catch it), and the Planet Waves locking straps haven’t failed me yet. Both the Grolsch and Planet Waves are just so much cheaper and do the same job.
Anyhow, the killswitch is just an extra. I do like both Buckethead and Tom Morello, and Eddie uses a killswitch effect on You Really Got Me by turning the volume down on one of his pickups on his Ibanez Desrtroyer(Explorer Copy). I’m still learning where I can use it, and finding opportunities to use it, put it’s pretty cool. I chose the Morello style toggle because they last longer than the Radio Shack push-button ones Buckethead used to use before he got high quality arcade buttons on his new signature guitar. Also, you can use the killswitch to turn your guitar off inbetween songs. Sometimes I’ll find the right spot on the volume knob, turn the guitar down all the way after a song, then when the next song starts, I have to find that sweet spot again. With a toggle killswitch, I just turn it off, and VOILA! the volume stays the same when I turn it back on.
I will say that the brass nut and the VEH pickup really changes the sound of this guitar. I’m kinda surprised that the VEH isn’t more “balls to the walls,” but it does handle distortion really well, and picks up harmonics very clearly. We’ll see how Eddie-like it sounds when I buy a phaser in January. What I thought was a bonus was that it sounds really good when played clean as well. I thought that this pickup would overpower my stock single coils, but it blends with them quite nicely. The brass nut also gives the guitar more jangle and sustain. I’m surprised that this guitar sounds very smooth, and really beautiful when clean, as well as having some nice crunch with distortion.
The best part is that this guitar was my first guitar, and with the improved sound, added features/aesthetics, and better tuning stability, it feels like a part of me, and has exactly what I would want all-around in a guitar. It feels like some of my soul is in it, and that the guitar and me are one, as crazy as that sounds.
Now although this guitar fits my personality perfectly, I still have some use for Blackie. It’s a great backup, and I enjoy the jumbo frets, higher output humbucker that works better for punk and metal than the Jimmycaster, and the fact that it’s lighter than a Pepsi bottle. Blackie is a very capable backup, but there are a lot of things that the Jimmycaster can do that Blackie can’t do, which should happen with a backup. The First Act does have it’s quirks that make it fun to play, and has some strengths over the Jimmycaster, but it humbly sits aside. The Jimmycaster is Joe Perry, and Blackie is Brad Whitford.
Also, speaking of Blackie, I broke down and tried to VH2 Bumblebee it:
But I stopped halfway through, and removed the tape and reflectors. Blackie is Blackie, and although I modded my Stagestar, and will de-Van Halen-ize my bass to change it’s appearance, Blackie for some reason only looks right stock, and all black.
Anyhow, that’s it. The Padawan has constructed a lightsaber for himself, and is now a Jedi Master. If you wish to hear this guitar, wait a few weeks and it will be reviewed at http://rocknrollcowboy.wordpress.com . I will let you know on this blog when it is up, or you could just read this blog too. Jared’s a good friend of mine.
Also, Expect a bonus post midweek, I’m already almost done writing it. I’ll be playing guitar until then. See you later!
I’m on Facebook. I love Facebook. I think Facebook is changing the world for the better. I just wish they’d quit changing it. Anyhow, during my frequent Facebooking, I’ve noticed a lot of my Facebook friends have been posting things they’ve been thankful for in their status updates. This is a good thing, but I didn’t feel like I wanted to partake in this. The reason is because everyone is posting the obvious things they should be thankful for, such as their relationships with God, their health, their friends, and their families. I didn’t want to be a broken record, because I agree, these are important, and they are the most important. If I participated in the status update posting, I’d be echoing them.
What I wanted to do was post things that people wouldn’t think about. Now of course on Facebook if I did this, people would think I was weird or shallow, and because my social status is pretty darn bad now, I don’t want to knock it down anymore. So what I am doing here, is I’ve posted that yes, the big things are what I’m most thankful for, but there are a lot of other little things I want the world know that I am thankful for. Why? Well we all know from Zombieland that rule #32 is to “Enjoy the Little things.”
1. That I discovered Firefly
After hearing so much on the internet about it, I had to check it about for free on Hulu.com. What I found was something that was there right when I needed it. I had fallen on some difficult times, and Firefly gave me something to divert my mind, and also Malcom Reynolds’ character taught me that you can love the people your with, and care for them, yet crack the whip and be dominant when you have to. I also learned that like Mal, you gotta keep your friends and important people around you. Also the unfortunate circumstances which led to its premature cancellation were something I could relate to. Many times I felt like injustices had happened to me, and seeing that probably the best sci-fi show of all time was dumped on as well, made me feel like I wasn’t alone.
2. That I have finished a Parts-O-Caster
My good friends and I did lots of work over a series of months to improve my Ibanez Stagestar. I’ve always wanted a guitar that was different, unique, and specially mine, and it’s cool to see that realized. This cost more than I thought it would, and the work was crazy. Some parts didn’t line up, and I had to route some of it, and for awhile I thought I’d never mod again after this project, and just keep things stock, but now that it is done, it is so rewarding. My guitar is something that is mine, and noone elses. It’s also a work of art in my opinion. If you want to see it, I’ll post pics of it this coming weekend.
3. That I have become a literary junkie
While I was dating, or trying to date, I quit reading a lot. This is because society promotes the fact that reading for fun is “escapist” and therefore mentally unhealthy. This is wrong of course, people who watch tv, or have any hobby is “escapist” by this point of view, and really, hobbies are healthy.
I’ve been reading some really good stuff too. I read some great books in the Enderverse by Orson Scott Card, and then I’ve been reading the Dune books, but right now my favorites are Stephen King’s Dark Tower books. These books are so cool, and the artwork is so cool. The series is kind of a “dream team” of various examples of fiction. First of all, the Dark Tower Series is a mixture of Sci-Fi/Western/Fantasy/Horror. Also, there are several references to other works, such as Lord of the Rings, Wizard of Oz, Harry Potter, and King Arthur. Also all of Stephen King’s works are connected through this book, because the Dark Tower is the Nexus of all Universes. It’s really amazing how he pulled that off. Anyhow, I’m reading book 2 right now, and I plan on finishing them all.
4. Diet Cranberry Splash Sierra Mist
It’s a diet pop that tastes really good, and provides a very good compliment to turkey, gravy, and stuffing. I hope they keep making it, because I want to enjoy it with Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners every year.
5. Being Teetotal
I’m a little conflicted about this one, because time to time I do miss a Rolling Rock, Smithwicks, glass of Wine, Jameson, Crown and Coke, Scotch, or an occasional Bourbon Highball, but as you can tell from my wide appreciation, that it kinda was starting to control me a little bit. Yes, I did the majority of my drinking in 2008, and it was a coping mechanism because 2008 was probably the worst year of my life, but being forced to be teetotal because of some damage that happened before I knew I had Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency has helped things a lot.
Pretty much the damage was caused due to my liver not being able to repair itself and recover because I wasn’t on Growth Hormone. Now that I’m teetotal and on Growth Hormone, it is repairing itself and my labs get more normal each time. In awhile I’ll be able to drink again, but I don’t really want to get into it so much, if at all this time around. Although I miss my favorite drinks, overall not drinking has helped me a lot in life. When I would go to the bar in the past, I now read, write, and practice my music, which is a lot better for me, and I’m a lot happier.
6. Laid back rural life
Although the city life is way more happenin’, I’m glad that rural life has it’s own charm. Heck, I blog about it. There’s not much to do, but you find ways to be happy. Also, I don’t have to worry too much about getting burnt out. Whenever I start feeling frustrated, I just have to tell myself to take a step back, and realize that pretty much everyone’s in their own little world most of the time anyway, and that what I do isn’t as “life or death” as I thought. I can take a break, read books, write, or play video games, and really it’s not a bad thing. It’s winding down.
7. That Bo Pelini is a good coach
The Huskers won’t be a national championship team, and they probably won’t beat Texas(although I hope they do, it is a possibility), but I’m amazed that Bo took a team with a 3rd string quarterback, 2 hurt running backs, young receivers, and a totally inept offense to a 5 game winning streak and a Big 12 North title. Any other team would have folded after the ISU loss, but Bo’s coaching combined with an openness to A.D. Tom Osborne’s recommendation, the new “Power 22” offense, and his mastery of defense have allowed Nebraska to compete. Once Nebraska gets an offense rolling, watch out, we might actually be back this time(FOR REAL).
8. Popcorn
It’s a guiltfree snack I can have a lot of due to the high fiber. I have this stuff almost every day and love it.
9. That people actually read this blog
This blog is about nothing really exciting. Just a guy’s life, yet people read it. I’d have to thank especially my readers from X-E. I have friends and relatives that read this blog as well, and I am equally as happy that they enjoy this. I write for my own enjoyment, and I haven’t really tried to keep your interest, I just write about what is going on, or what I’m thinking about, and usually I have some up posts, and some down posts, but I’m glad people can gain something from this blog, no matter what I write. This means a lot to me since www.x-entertainment.com was a website that I read all through college, and it would cheer me up when I was having crappy days. If I have cheered you up, that makes my day, and makes me feel like I’m bettering the world in some way.
10. That the “aughts” are over in a month
2000-2009 really sucked. It started off with subtly with MTV’s TRL being taken over by Britney Spears and her clones, then the Backstreet Boys and their clones, and then the TRL videos were cut down. Why they did this, I don’t understand. If you have a show where you ask requests, shouldn’t you play the whole song?
Because I don’t want to get into politics because I was political enough in the last post, I’ll just shudder at the botched election, Florida, and “chads”(shuddershuddershudder)
Anyhow, after these little things happened, a couple guys decided that they wanted to run some planes into some big buildings, and then our Country decided to go nuts and occupy two countries. Did I mention that one of those countries was one that Soviet Russia couldn’t keep under control? Huge, evil Soviet-flippin’-Russia! Also in the other country, we invaded after going against the whole U.N., and then found out they didn’t have WMDS. Also, we kinda had their leader killed. Now I know this leader was a very bad man, and probably evil, but many years ago our country gave him aid, and we had him killed without a fair trial. Yes, he probably deserved to die, but not for the reasons we did it, IMHO.
Other bad stuff happened that I didn’t touch upon. Here’s an article from TIME that supports my idea:
Then the rest of the years for me blurred together. I graduated High School, didn’t get a prom or homecoming date, then went to college. I struggled Freshman year, then found a girl sophomore year. I then became popular, but then I struggled academically and in my relationships due to symptoms from my then undiagnosed Sleep Apnea and Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency. Eventually, life happened, some things happened that were out of my control, things changed, and I had to part ways with this girl. This was tough for me, but I realize that she wasn’t the right one, and I look back at the time we had as good time. If I could get a DeLorean with a flux capacitor, I might be tempted to change things, and not get into a relationship in college, but yet I know that “when things don’t work out like they should… it isn’t for better, but it’s for good.” The key is I know what to look for and what not to look for in a relationship, and I know what to watch out for… and “knowing is half the battle.”
Then along with me being out in the real world, my relationship falling apart, and the economy falling apart, my health fell apart. This was kinda good because it led to me receiving treatment for Sleep Apnea and Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency, which has helped me feel way better, and I’m a happier person now, but man. It was extremely tough financially for me, and having to give up alcohol completely due to damage to my liver which was accelerated by my then undiagnosed Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency put a big damper on my social life. Yes, those medical bills were big… VERY BIG.
In a nutshell, 2008 was probably the worst year ever for me, and 2009 was more optimistic, but I was really struggling to pay for recovery from 2008. Fortunately I’ll be done paying in January/February.
I’d have to say that the best part about the “aughts” is that I started this blog. It’s helped me find a previously untapped talent. For years I have been concentrating on my music, and now I realize that my writing helps my music, and my songwriting is getting better through my expression in my blog.
Finally, the “teens” sounds better than the “aughts.” First of all, we really haven’t agreed on what we’ll call the decade of 2000-2009, but I think “aughts” is the best, and most agreed upon, even though it sounds crappy. The “teens” will work great for the next decade, except for 2010, 2011, and 2012, but oh well, we’ll get it solved when we have the “twenties.”
So those are the things that I’m thankful for(in addition to my “basics” which are my relationship with God, life, my friends, my family, and my job. I find it weird that my friends and health were mentioned in this, but hey, that’s how it bounces sometimes.
As you read above, the Parts-O-Caster is done. I’ll have pics next weekend. I’m really pumped for this. If you want to hear audio clips of it, my friend Jared will review it in late December on his vlog, http://rocknrollcowboy.wordpress.com . He does gear reviews, and I’m helping him by giving some material he can review.
Also I’d like to apologize for the last two posts, they have been weak, but it has been a busy time. I will keep updating weekly, but when things are crazy, sometimes I have to grasp my straws. I’m pretty sure I won’t have to grasp as often now. I guarantee my Parts-O-Caster will be a lot more exciting. I’ve been waiting for it, and I want to hear your comments on it as well.
THANKS for reading!
-Jimmy
By the way, for the Big XII Championship game, if Nebraska scores 21 points, they pull of the upset 21-17. Texas has a great offense, and a good defense, but Texas hasn’t faced a Pelini defense. Now the Power 22 offense of Nebraska isn’t built to score, but it’s built for ball control, to make sure the best players are on the field and involved in every play, and to rest the defense. This means that NU will have to have a Pick 6 by the Blackshirts, a cause a fumble deep into longhorn territory, and then have Rex Burkhead grind out a 4th quarter drive to seal the deal like he did against Colorado. The Longhorns will get 17 points, but the Blackshirts will be very tough to move the ball, let alone score against.
First of all, I apologize for this post being a day late. I was at a convention/conference which is there to pump you up, give you new ideas, then come back to your job refreshed and filled with ideas that will allow you to “rock your world” at your job. Because of this, I’ve been thinking about implementing these new ideas and forming my own “system” so was struggling to find something I could write about because my mind was so focused on work.
Also, to add to that, I haven’t had an internet connection for a few days, so when I got an idea, I couldn’t post it. It’s crazy having to live without internet for two days. It seems easy, but really the internet has become such a standard tool I use in my life to communicate, get information, do business, and have fun. After being deprived of it, I had to make up for lost time before I finished this blog post. Also did some good work on a Facebook fan page for this blog and all of my other creative endeavors. It should be up in a week or two. It’ll take time because I’ve also been busy fiddling with Ubuntu Linux.
Ubuntu is what I run on my Laptop. Believe it or not, I’ve had to use other computers to blog because I accidentally switched adapters with my Brother, and he’s been at college, so since he just came back for break, I finally got the adapter back and have gotten to work on my laptop for the first time in months. Because I’ve been lazy with updates and stuff, now that I was able to work with my laptop again, I updated everything, and it re-reminded me of how much I really love Ubuntu Linux and the Open Source Movement.
I have my Brother to thank for getting me into Ubuntu. I saw him use it when he built his own computer, and I’d never heard of it before. When he told me that the operating system and several of it’s apps were free, I first thought this was illegal, but when I found out that Ubuntu and all of it’s Open Source apps were legal, I wondered, ”how could this be so?”
So if you are now curious, as I was, I’ll explain. When I talk about Ubuntu and its apps being Open Source, it means that Ubuntu and its apps have their code freely available, totally legal to freely distribute it, edit it, add to it, and make improvements to it. With all of this freedom, you have people from around the world creating and perfecting these Open Source programs. Now they aren’t professionals who work for Ubuntu, because Ubuntu is not-for-profit, but they are people who are good at computers, people who are computer students, people trying to write these programs to get recognition to get a big job, or people who do work for bigger companies such as Microsoft and Apple who do these programs as a labor of love outside of work.
Now although this is a hodgepodge of different people from all over the world of different skills, this is a very passionate bunch, and they actually have formed a good web community that they communicate with, that also helps you find out everything about Open Source stuff, called the Ubuntu Forums. With their hard work for the sake of just making a good thing that works, plus with the mixture of talent, diversity, and collaborative discussion, Ubuntu and its apps are actually good. Very good. Better than Windows and Mac in many aspects.
The reason I decided to have my Brother help me with installing Ubuntu on my oldskool Dell Vostro 1000 laptop, was because it came with Windows Vista. Now I’ve ran several OS’s, including MS-DOS, several old Mac OS’s, Windows ‘98, and Windows XP, but I just felt a bad vibe with Vista. I know several people say it’s not so bad, and the bad press just put the idea of it sucking in peoples’ minds. This may be true, as I can’t put my finger on why I hated Vista, but XP felt great, and Vista just felt wrong. It felt like the computer was running me, and I was having to do what the computer wanted. It was a strange feeling. I let my brother know this, and he emphatically asked me when I wanted Ubuntu installed. I emphatically answered, “now.”
Now I’m not the only one who has had issues with a version of Windows that were remedied by Ubuntu, a non-profit OS. Check out this story on another blog I read regularly:
So yeah, Ubuntu Linux just seems to run smoother, and although it uses its own programs rather than Windows or Mac programs, there is an Open Source equivalent to almost every one. Open Office is 99% compatible with Microsoft Office. GIMP does pretty much everything Photoshop will do, and there’s a large number of pretty darn good games for Linux, including Cave Story-the best game I’ve ever played. Also Ubuntu is just so much cleaner and more organized looking.
Now with its benefits, there are some issues. Ubuntu is not very new-user friendly. If you know a good bit about computers and are willing to read and ask questions on the Ubuntu Forums, or know someone else who is good at Ubuntu, you’ll be fine, and probably love Ubuntu and its apps, but if you are someone who knows little about computers, does not seek for knowledge on forums, and doesn’t know anyone who is good at Ubuntu, it probably isn’t for you. Although this new-user unfriendliness seems like a turnoff, if you have the want to and resources, I really encourage you to go ahead, take the plunge and try Ubuntu first as a dual-boot to see if you like it and can work with it.
Now although Ubuntu is more efficient than a Windows or Mac computer in many ways, it isn’t perfect. There are several Windows programs that aren’t on Ubuntu. Now Ubuntu has an app called WINE that can run some Windows programs, but not all-plus this takes some time researching at the Ubuntu Forums. Also, I really wish someone would make an Open Source app similar to Garage Band. That’s one of the best programs ever for creative folks like me. While they’re at it, figure out Open Source equivalents to Finale/Sibelius and Smartmusic as well. Then I’d never have to use my Mac at work ever again!
Anyhow, along with updating my computer, and rekindling my love for Ubuntu, I got new wallpaper, and it’s a dream come true!
The computer from Star Trek TNG!
This kinda ties into why I love Open Source, and allows me to get on another quasi-political soapbox. Now before I proceed with my soapbox, I want to say that I do not want to get in a debate with anyone. I really don’t know what I’m talking about, so before you tell me that I’m wrong and you’re right… you probably are.
On Star Trek TNG, the Federation has no currency. People work for fulfillment rather than for money, people have what they need-and in abundance due to everyone having replicators(yet very few people are fat), when people get hurt or sick-sickbay helps them, people still practice religion(and explain their beliefs when asked but don’t force it on others), and people just do things because “it is the right thing to do.” Also in spite of people having no money, somehow life goes on, and the Federation isn’t a police state-which is contrary to Huxley’s idea that when people have everything, they are controlled by the government, oppressed, and have no free will. In Star Trek TNG’s future, people have free will, have what they need, and have a great sense of morality without being “prudish.”
I really like the Star Trek future. It is so optimistic, and so many problems are solved, yet life still goes on… but we live better. This future isn’t very popular, many people crave a “real” future, and shows such as DS9(another trek!), BSG, and Firefly show this future. Although I like all of those shows as much as Star Trek TNG, I don’t want their future. Sometimes I think that Firefly’s future is all too real, and I predict that eventually our future will be like Firefly’s.
I love Firefly, but I feel like I’m already living it now, just without the spaceship. I want to live in a different world. A different future, a Star Trek TNG Future…I think Open Source is a step closer to that idealistic future.
Now that Open Source is giving me hope, I believe that we need to take steps in other directions.
(REMEMBER, no political arguments. You are most likely right, and I am most likely horribly wrong and disordered in my thinking, you have no need to point it out)
For example. I’m a writer and a musician, I believe that artists and musicians should have day jobs as well, like I do. I work during the day, and make music and blog at night. It seems right, keeps me in balance, and allows me to be happy, despite having health problems at a young age, being ugly, and incredibly socially awkward. To illustrate how socially awkward I am, check out this video of Obama getting snubbed:
See Obama… his face… is frustration… what happened to him pretty much happens to me EVERY DAY.
It’s ok, I’m numb to it at this point.
Ok-back to where I left off… Great artists of the Baroque and Classical Eras needed also day jobs as well to support their love of writing music. I know this will probably alienate my musician and writer colleagues by saying that I believe that when you create something, it is out there. You can say you made it, but it’s no longer yours. I know this veers into spirituality, but I feel like when you create something, it belongs to God and everyone else to enjoy and learn from. This is why I believe that eventually we should strive to eliminate copyrights… Especially for our country’s students and educators. We have such an access to information now. The internet is a great equalizer that can stop the process of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, and if copyrights were eliminated, educators and students would have their resources vastly increased.
The copyright laws are lagging behind the internet so much, and they almost make no sense. I believe that the abolishment of copyright is inevitable, and artists need to change their lives or perspective on their art. I believe that eventually everyone steals or borrows ideas from someone, and everyone is guilty of it. This is not a bad thing, it just breeds more creativity. I know it is a shame that some people are losing jobs due to piracy, but I just believe that the world is changing, and we too must change, and embrace information and expression of art, rather than fight it. Less money may be involved, but the possiblities for art are endless.
I’m living this new perspective by blogging non-profit, speaking at events non-profit, running a Cafepress store in which I get no profits, and when my novels are finished, I will sell some of my books at a loss(and donate them to libraries so people can eventually stumble upon them). I do my art for fun, and nothing else, and work to get paid and make a living. It doesn’t get me rich, but being rich isn’t my goal. I got bigger ideals to live for.
Also, I know this is polarizing, but I’m being optimistic about Obamacare. I don’t know how it will get paid, and I know there’s all sorts of issues to work out, and I kinda see it as more of a babystep rather than a huge change, but I do think it’s a step in the right direction. I don’t know how we’ll pay for it, and there’s the risk of people abusing it, but I have been to Europe and Canada, and their healthcare programs work magnificently based on what I heard from locals. They actually think we are being tragically ripped off by not having universal healthcare. Either way, at least we’re working on taking a step towards being able to get things fixed by “just going to sick bay” rather than having to struggle with crippling medical debt, or worse… file for bankruptcy.
Anyhow, that’s the soapbox. I know I sound horribly unrealistic and even quite a bit socialist/communist, and I know Obamacare is polarizing, but please do not debate it or correct me on it or any of my views. I’m just writing my dreams(and maybe they’re just dreams), and I do not know what I’m talking about. I’m not political very often, but time to time I feel the need. I love the Star Trek TNG future, and we can choose that future. Once again I quote Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and say:
“Make it so!”
Anywho, that’s all I gotta say about that. I’ll be off dreaming while playing “Secret Maryo Chronicles” on my Star Trek Computer-themed Ubuntu laptop:
You may be screaming ripoff… I’m screaming “IT’S A FREE, LEGAL, AND AWESOME MARIO-LIKE GAME!!!” (because I can’t afford the Wii and Super Mario Bros Wii. No shame in settling for second best!)
Yes… It IS legal(barely) because it is all original coding, and because it is non-profit.
Catch you later! I promise I’ll be back Sunday night at the latest! If you have a great Thanksgiving, celebrate with the RBH! If you get Turkeydumped by your significant other, come cry on the shoulder of the RBH, I’ll always be there for ya!
Well, this article is over, but I gotta do some product placement. This blog is non-profit, but I do use product placement(at no benefit to me) for 3 reasons:
1.I find product placement hilarious for some reason
2.I wanna promote stuff I like
3.I like to promote the little guy… the little guy who makes the internet awesome!
Anyhow, for all three of the above reasons, I want to give some free advertising to one of the coolest businesses I’ve seen in a long time:
Sweaterdump is the perfect example of the little guy who makes the internet awesome. Also, I give Sweaterdump full permission to quote any statement from me as a testimonial because Sweaterdump is so awesome.
To loosely quote from www.sweaterdump.com , “(Sweaterdump is) not a fancy warehouse just outside of town or a converted rowhouse. It’s not a bunch of slave wage earners packing boxes… (Sweaterdump is) just one guy scouring thriftstores for tacky or interesting sweaters and selling them at a flat rate.”
The approach is so unique, the prices are pretty darn good, and whatever woolen desires you may have will be fully met by the extensive selection at Sweaterdump. They have a mix of really cool stylish sweaters, and some really ugly “puke in your mouth” Cosby-esque sweaters. Plus, the best part of the store is the name… Sweaterdump. It’s simply iconic, and is so versatile in conversations. Here’s example one:
Jimmy is wearing a quite dapper Armani sweater with a single red stripe across, and runs into an attractive girl that he fancies very much…
Girl: Hi! Nice sweater! Where did you get it?
Jimmy: From Sweaterdump!
Girl: Teeheehee! No, really, where? I like it!
Jimmy: No kidding, it’s an awesome new online store. They got a good womens’ selection too!
Girl: Really? What’s the URL?
Jimmy: Well… I don’t have a pen on me, and I want to make sure you remember it… wanna get together and talk more about it?
Girl: How about Thursday?
Jimmy: Sure, 5:00. You ever played bocce ball? You’ll love it!
Girl: ‘Kay! See you then!
Booyah! Sweaterdump FTW. Now, here’s example two:
Jimmy is wearing a simply awful “puke in your mouth” Cosby-esque sweater, and runs into yet another attractive girl… Slightly out of his league…
Girl:(pukes in mouth)Where the hell did you get that sweater?
Jimmy: From Sweaterdump.
Girl:OMG…It sure looks like it came from a sweater dump. Now where did you get it?
Jimmy: No kidding, it’s a used sweater store.
Girl: You know, I have a friend that runs a business who are looking for help. She’s also single, and if you could buy nicer looking sweaters(she doesn’t know that Sweaterdump also has stylish sweaters, but let’s keep that secret), she’d think you were pretty cute.
Jimmy: Cool, I gotta go, but can I have your number so we can talk later? You can introduce me to your friend.
Girl: Sure(writes another)
Boom Shakalaka! Sweaterdump FTW x 2!
Anywho, they got nice ones for dapper types, and ugly ones for well… ugly types… but there’s something for everybody. Plus, you gotta love these other two ads:
So check out Sweaterdump at www.sweaterdump.com ! You won’t regret it!
So, if you don’t know, I have a brother. He is a lot different than me, but I get along with him pretty well still. He’s my brother, and I love him and all that stuff. Well his most recent blog entry at http://www.cumuluscentral.com talks about his triumph of finally taking down an “unbeatable” childhood boss by capturing Carmen Sandiego on the old game Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego.
We both played this game together a lot, but we played it on an ancient computer with a black screen and all green graphics, kinda like Strongbad’s original compy on his Sbemails at http://www.homestarrunner.com . We played the game for years, but eventually gave up. I even thought that maybe you couldn’t even catch Carmen. Well, it turns out my brother played an old version of the game and caught her, and this really made me think. Through my childhood, adolescence, and early adult life, and not just in video games, but other areas, I’ve left some things hanging in the air, or have had dreams that never came to fruition. I’ve admitted defeat and just walked away, or I’ve just accepted things won’t happen. Now I’ve already went back and fixed some of these things and tied up some loose ends, such as starting my novel and this blog. Also, remember I finally bought myself a new little pinball machine that I showed a few posts ago, so I’ve been tying up lose ends and confronting issues from my past, but I’ve decided I still have lots of unfinished business, so here’s a list of things that I wanted to do, but couldn’t do, or mistakenly let slide. Langston Hughes called them “Dreams Deferred.” Whether I’ll try to overcome these, do these, right the wrongs, and fulfill my previously deferred dreams… we’ll just have to see.
Beat Mike Tyson in Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out for the NES
Punch-Out was the first NES game I ever played, and is still one of the best games ever. I liked it’s sequels, but the original is still the best. Now everyone who is everyone knows that Mike Tyson is one bad mo’fo’. He is extremely tough to beat, and looks scary as heck. Remember that this game came out before Buster Douglas beat him and before he pretty much went into a downward spiral. In this game, Tyson is a wrecking machine with his lighting uppercuts, that knock you down in one hit. Yes, I own the game and a working NES, and yes I know there are great walkthroughs on Youtube on how to beat Tyson, but I’ve just never gotten around to doing it. Someday if I’m either upset and want to release some anger, or if I am on a roll and wanna feel unstoppable, I’m gonna study walkthroughs and take Tyson down.
Climb the rope in gym class
I believe this was the main thing that led to me being socially awkward. I know once you enter school or a new job, you either need to assert yourself, or become friends with people that are successful to fit in socially. I did this in college, but I didn’t do this in Elementary through High School. I was popular in college(even was Royalty), but pretty much sucked in high school. Anyhow, failing to climb the rope pretty much showed that you were undesirable, a failure, and in other words… crap. The thing that made this impossible for me is that I had the rare disease Growth Hormone Deficiency as a kid, and after years of thinking I was over it, recently I have been diagnosed with Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency. One problem with children who have GHD is that some of their muscle groups never fully develop. Mine are my lats, shoulders, and pecs(which result in manboobs, which kinda suck). Because I didn’t have these muscle groups, and still don’t, I physically can’t pull myself up. Believe it or not… nothing happens.
The thing that added insult to injury, is that my Phys. Ed. Teachers always said something totally wrong. The most common one was “don’t be afraid of heights man, you can do it.” This made me very irate because I actually don’t fear heights and someday want to go skydiving and bungee jumping. Even as a kid I just wanted to yell, “Dude, I believe in myself, but I also am in tune with reality. The muscles never developed! Why don’t you call my parents or endocrinologist so you can find out for sure!?”
Now the sad thing is, I actually did break one year and tell one Phys. Ed. Teacher this. He contacted my parents and found out I was telling the truth. Now instead of exempting me due to my disability(I hate to say it and label myself, but I am technically disabled), he made me even more of a social pariah by making me toss around a medicine ball with another kid in the corner while everyone else got to play games, or he’d have me do shoulder lifts by myself the rest of gym class in hopes that I could develop the muscles that never completely formed in the first place. One time he did something that I just didn’t get. He took me into the locker room, just him and me, and brought two sets of boxing gloves. He made me put on boxing gloves and then he put them on and started wailing on me. He made me hit him back so I could “become a man.” Anyhow, this was awkward and painful, and I should have told on him because that incident alone should have cost him his job.
Anyhow, it sucked that I knew that the rope was always a losing battle. To know that you just can’t do something is tough for you, your peers, and even authority figures to comprehend. How this affected my social status just adds to injury. I know it is impossible, but I hope that after I die and serve my time in Purgatory and finally make it to Heaven that I can climb a rope and make it to the top. It’s a little thing, but if I could ever do it it would be such an epic win.
Go on Nickelodeon GUTS and win a piece of the Aggro Crag, or at least obtain a piece of the Aggro Crag
Nickelodeon’s game shows were amazing. GUTS was like a kid’s version of American Gladiators, and everyone loved it. The show was so popular that it even went international and conquered the world in it’s spinoff show Global GUTS.
What made this show epic was the final event, the Aggro Crag, in which point values were increased, which meant that pretty much everyone had a chance to come from behind and win. The Aggro Crag was a monstrous epic mountain that could beat you up, take your lunch money, and then run off with your mom. The Aggro Crag had many obstacles such as strobe lights, falling boulders, smoke, snow, slime, “nuclear flying crystals,” falling platforms, and a vertical climb to win… provided you didn’t miss an actuator and have to go back.
Anyhow, after the Aggro Crag, there was a most triumphant awards scene where everyone got medals, except for the winner who along with his/her medal, was presented a “Glowing Piece of Our Awesome Rock.”
Man… that thing is just awesome.
Anyhow, I always wanted one of these, but was unathletic and lived in Nebraska, which is pretty far from Nickelodeon Studios which used to be in Florida. Now as an adult, I’ve seen reruns of GUTS, and I was reminded of how awesome the piece of the Crag was. I started to think it would look awesome in my office, or my apartment, or I could even bring it to the bar or parties and I probably could get any woman I wanted with it. I wouldn’t even have to say anything! I would just go up to the bar, set it down, and women would ask “Is that a piece of the Aggro Crag? You won that show? Awesome!” and then I’d say something smooth like, “Let’s bounce, and I’ll tell you how I got past those “nuclear flying crystals.”
Or if I happened to end up at a sausagefest, I’d make friends with everyone. I’d be getting high fives and chestbumps all over the place. I’d be bragging constantly saying things like, “Those nuclear flying crystals-well, they’re not so nuclear!” Or I could talk about how hot Moira Quirk(Mike O’ Malley’s co-host with a British accent) was.
After thinking of all these possibilities, I came to the conclusion that if I couldn’t win a piece of the Aggro Crag, the next best thing was to FIND a piece of the Aggro Crag and get it. I was(and still am) willing to pay BIG money for a piece of the Glowing Awesome Rock.
Well, it turned out that I could only find very poorly made fakes of the Glowing Awesome Rock on Ebay and Craigslist. I then started to think of why I couldn’t find one. I came to the conclusion that because the Glowing Awesome Rock is so awesome that it’s owner would never want to part with it, but I found that this rationale doesn’t make sense.
The reason why, is because the show was weekly, for about 5 years, maybe 8 if you count Global Guts, so there would be about 250-500 people that would win 1st place, therefore, would own a piece of the Glowing Awesome Rock. Now logic would say that owning a piece of the Crag would give them super social status, and they would produce large numbers of offspring due to their GUTS-winning social status. Also, these people would have so much social influence that they would be running the world in a very cruel and oppresive oligarchy made up of Crag Winners.
Well, this hasn’t happened, and most of these winners are grown up now, so I decided to do some research. I found that although there is some conflict between answers to my question of why can’t I find a piece of the Crag, the majority of my research leads to my answer.
Because I like you all, I am going to warn you that the answer is really bad. You may even hear your dying childhood take it’s last breath if you read the next paragraph. If you wish to keep your childhood intact, just skip the next paragraph.
Ok… here’s the answer: It turns out that the GUTS contestants only got to keep their medals. The piece of the Crag was only for display, and after the winner got to hoist it up high for all to see at the medal ceremony, the cold hearted Nickelodeon executives would callously take back the piece of the Glowing Awesome Rock.
This is really bad, but maybe it’s better that way. The winners of this rock would have extreme power over the human race, and I guess democracy does need to be upheld.
Anyhow, in spite of this frightining, yet sobering reality, I’m not discouraged. Although I saw bad fakes on Ebay, some people have some good fakes. Check out this video.
I gotta get the people who made this to make me one! It almost looks real! Someday I’ll find a way to get one. If I have to settle for a fake… so be it.
Ride on a Rollercoaster
Yup, aside from the kiddie coaster called the “Dip a Ship” from the old Peony Park in Omaha, I haven’t ridden a rollercoaster. I actually don’t count the “Dip a Ship” as a coaster, because it only was about 8 feet high, and 15 feet long, with no loop-de-loops. “Dip o’ S***” is what it should have been called. Anyhow, I’m on this because I am planning a trip to Vegas this summer(which I will blog about) and there are several rollercoasters in Vegas, so I’ll hopefully be able to scratch this one out.
Audition to be Van Halen’s next lead singer
Yup, they got Dave back, so this one doesn’t really work anymore, but I would kill to audition. I don’t got the looks, so I’d probably be laughed out, but I think it would be fun to meet the band and sing “Everybody Wants Some” with them. If you haven’t heard the greatness of “Everybody Wants Some,” Check it out:
Also, on 1984, Van Halen has a song called “Top Jimmy”
and I could try to convince them(before I’d get laughed off) that the song is about me, because my name is Jimmy.
Not just meet, but hang out and party with the Pope for an entire day
I know this seems really bizarre, but I’ve always wanted to do this. Now when I mean hang out, I mean hang out all day like you did when you were a little kid on “play dates,” but with more grown up fun. I’d call the pope up, meet him, go for a walk, do some praying, then later we go to the Gym and pump some iron, do some cardio, then play a pickup game of one-on-one to wind down. After the game we’d catch lunch, and then go to a movie. After the movie, we’d play some video games at my place, and then after that we’d go barhopping(I’d go off of my forced teetotalism for the Pope), and I’d let the Pope be my wingman. We’d be the lives of the party, because, hey, it’s the Pope! Also people would think I must be pretty important because not just anybody parties with the Pope. That’s why I’ve always wanted to do it, and I’ve never gotten to do it, because it’s so hard to party with, let alone meet the Pope. The closest I’ve ever gotten to a pope was John Paul the Great in Toronto. I was about 10 feet away, and he made eye contact with me and waved. This was awesome, but I want to do more. I don’t care which Pope, and I don’t care when I do it in my life, but I just want to hang out and party with the Pope. Also, I didn’t finish my itinerary. After barhopping, I’d let the Pope crash at my place. He’d have the bed, and I’d greatly sacrifice and sleep on the futon for His Holiness. I would think the Pope would enjoy hanging out with me, because being Pope would be stressful because you have the responsibility of all Catholics’ souls, which is a heavy burden. Good ol’ Papa Ben probably would love to take a break from the stress and just chill for a day and kick it with Jimmy.
Learn how to ride a bike
Yup, I didn’t have much of a childhood. I never learned how to ride a bike. I’m still practicing, but still failing. I’m trying though, and someday I’ll figure it out.
Kick Bobby Bowden in the groin
Yes, JoPa and him are pretty much tied for most wins ever by a college football coach, but when FSU beat Nebraska in the ‘93 Orange Bowl 18-16, I have had an unquenchable hatred for Bobby Bowden and FSU that will only be satisfied by a Husker win. Now the unfortunate thing is that Bowden will probably retire before Nebraska ever gets a chance to play them again. If this should happen, I believe I would be able to let go of the ‘93 loss by giving Coach Bowden a swift kick to the groin. I know this is extremely mean of me, but that loss hurt.
People have told me that I just need to get over the ‘93 loss. Yes, I agree that 1993 was a long time ago, and I promise you that I will get over it… once I kick that man in the groin.
Kiss a woman
You all have the right to call me a loser and a failure, because I deserve it. I am 25, and will be 26 in January, and I have never kissed a girl. Now here’s where stuff gets worse-I’ve had girlfriends before, and I even dated some girls for a long time. Some relationships lasted 1-2 years, and some were even more than that. Yup, that means I’ve had girlfriends that didn’t let me kiss them. Yes I fail at life, and yes, I needed to be more of a man and I should not have accepted this totally wrong no-kissing allowed behavior. I should have lowered the boom and put my foot down, but I didn’t. It is my fault, not theirs, and it is my problem. EPIC FAIL.
I think the reason why I kinda suck(actually really suck) at relationships is because I wasn’t allowed to date until I was 16. I’m not mad at my parents for this, because I know lots of people who dated young and made very stupid decisions, and my parents were just protecting me and their own sanity. I will probably do the same if I ever become a parent. Now the problem is that once I was 16, my socially awkward reputation had been solidified, so I couldn’t get a date anyway once I reached the dating age. Being fat didn’t help much either.
In college I really worked to be more social, and finally got a few dating experiences in college, but as you see from my first paragraph, I kinda sucked at them because I was totally new to the game. Although I sucked at these relationships, I did enjoy my time with these girls who had the patience to put up with me, and I think nothing but good thoughts about them now. It’s me who I’m mad about, but I try not to stay too mad because I was new to dating, and college is supposed to be a place/time of experimentation and learning, so I guess I did the right thing by sucking in the place/time of experimentation and learning instead of in the real world.
Anyhow, because I’ve sucked at relationships, I’ve read books, and heard lots of advice. I know if you follow “the game” and use some psychology you can kiss anyone, even strangers, but I don’t want to be superficial like this. I want to have a genuine, loving relationship. I’ve heard not to put the girl on the pedestal, play hard to get, throw negs in, wait 3 days to call, don’t answer texts, and don’t try so hard, but I’m in a rut. I’ve tried to get back in the game, but I guess it’s just not time yet, so I’m just enjoying me time.
Also having a Catholic worldview and sense of morality seems to hinder me. Good women are hard to find, and I don’t believe in premarital sex, so the way I date is extremely countercultural and some people see it as “prudish.” Also I’m the uber-nice-guy, and I can’t shake that because I can’t be someone I’m not. Nice guys do finish last. It’s true. It drives people away like nothing else.
Also, part of me is thinking maybe I’m supposed to be perpetually single, but we all know that things can totally change in the twinkling of an eye, so we’ll just have to wait and see. Things always happen when you least expect it.
Oh, and if you actually want to genuinely help me without giving me the same trite advice I always hear, please do.
Get a Championship ring of any type
Ever since I ran into some kids from another school at a music camp that had State Championship Rings I really wanted one. Also seeing some former Huskers’ rings at autograph signings and even getting to try them on made me lust for one even more. Championship rings are extremely huge and gaudy, and dwarf even the Pope’s ring. Although they won’t make you a social god like a piece of the Aggro Crag will, having a Championship ring proves to everyone that you were great for sometime in your life, and that greatness is something that they can’t take away.
Anyhow when I was in high school, I loved football, but it also was a huge heartbreak for me. My senior year we had a team that destroyed everything in it’s path, had an undefeated season, won the district championship, and the #1 seed in playoffs. Unfortunately there were some issues that I can’t discuss here out of respect for some individuals privacy, but we were upset in the first round by an inferior team.
Anyhow, I never got a championship ring, but to add insult to injury, the freshman class that we pushed around in practice ended up winning state when they were seniors. Also, My buddy Jared, who blogs at http://rocknrollcowboy.wordpress.com is someone that I admit I’m jealous of. He has several Championship rings from when he was an athletic trainer. I’m happy for my friends that got “The Ring,” but man… No ring for Jimmy… which makes Jimmy sad.
So yeah, to compensate for not winning the big one, I have bought some man bling. I do wear a purity ring(yes ,EPIC FAIL, and I have seen the South Park episode), I have a somewhat big and gaudy high school class ring(but it’s not as big and gaudy as a championship ring), I have a Knights of Columbus fraternal ring so I don’t feel inadequate when my Freemason friends show off their cool square and compass rings, and I have a giant lucky horseshoe ring that I’m thinking about throwing out because it cost $5 and turns my finger green. If you know of a way to fix this ring so it won’t turn my finger green, email me or leave me a comment.
Anyhow, someday I want a college ring, and I didn’t get one because gold is so high which has caused all other ring medals do be ridiculously high as well, and I want a Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity ring, but those are expensive. Anyhow, when I get these two pieces of man bling, it will be nice and cool, but it won’t substitute for a championship ring.
To add more insult to injury, I had a chance to get a commemorative Denver Broncos ring that would have fulfilled my want for a Championship ring, but I missed out. My parents cut a deal with me that if I got straight A’s, I’d get the ring. Well, I got all A’s, but a C in math, because I suck at math… and my parents stuck to their guns. To this day I have never seen that ring again, and I still want it some days.
So yeah, if any of you want to part with a championship ring, or if anyone wants to teach me how to bowl a 300, or get me really good at Fantasy Football because those are the only things that I know of that I could actually have a small chance of doing that you can still win a championship ring. Yes they don’t look as impressive as a Football State Championship ring, but they are pretty sweet. Check out these Bowling and Fantasy Football rings:
So yeah, I gotta do some Bowling Practice, or start getting into Fantasy Football, which I hate. If these don’t work, I’m gonna have to go to Flying J and settle for a Truck Driver Ring.
Anyhow, this entry was a little more personal, but hey, blogs do that. I believe this post shows the good thing about brothers. You are proud of their accomplishments, but you learn a lot about yourself from seeing them succeed in things that you have never succeeded in. The crazy thing is I really hadn’t thought of these 10 dreams that have been deferred due to impossibility or obstacles in my way, and it was good to think of them again.
Also I’ve got a game for GameCube that totally rocks. I really gotta recommend it. It’s the Mega Man Anniversary Collection. It has Megamans 1-8, plus two bonus games. I highly recommend it. Especially because it only sells for 8 bucks at Gamestop.
Also, this Wednesday I’m going to Lincoln… which means… Imma havin’ Chipotle!
Mmmmmm! Food of the gods!
Also, before the Qdoba fans start commenting that Qodoba is better, I just want to say that I have not had the chance to eat at a Qdoba. If I ever get the chance I will. I want to see how it stacks up against Chipotle, and I hear that their Queso sauce is awesome. So Qdoba fans, please don’t comment about how Qdoba is better! Give me a chance to try it first!
Catch you later, and hey… go back to one of your dreams that got deferred, and see if you can accomplish it. Even though you may not be able to accomplish them all, just accomplishing one is an EPIC WIN in my book. Life is short. Go do it.
So, if you don’t know, I have a brother. He is a lot different than me, but I get along with him pretty well still. He’s my brother, and I love him and all that stuff. Well his most recent blog entry at 
Man… that thing is just awesome.
