Wednesday, March 30, 2005
The Sony PSP was created by God to train the chosen one to lead Heaven's armies into war, and to defeat Satan's forces (ala The Last Starfighter)
I began hearing about the PSP last year, when it was just a whisper that Sony was finally going to try to dethrone Nintendo from its undisputed portable video game throne. I started paying for my PSP in January of this year, and got it, launch day (3/24) at 9 AM or so.
The thing have a large, beautiful screen that has resolution better than out home TV. Its dimensions are true widescreen, which makes for a far better expereience in gaming and movie watching. Oh yeah, by the way, you can watch movies on it.
The thing is loaded with potential. It plays DVD quality movies (it came with Spiderman 2, which I haven't watched yet... I am saving my PSP-movie-virginity for House of Flying Daggers next month). It can play MP3s, allow you to view video files and pictures, and has a USB port to allow for easy transfer of materials back and forth between your PC and the PSP.
The PSP also has a killer app in that it has an incredible wi-fi capability. It can link up with up to 16 other PSPs locally (i.e. within 100 feet), as well as use internet hot spots to play opponents all around the globe. The posibilities are endless.
Rumors include future email and web browser capability. It is a camera and cell phone away from being the only electronic device you will ever need.
But I bought it to play games. It launched with a ton of games, and luckily for me I had no particular excitement for any of them. Well, that is a lie. It launched with an all new Metal Gear Solid adventure that I am totally nerding out about. I also bought the visually stunning Ridge Racers, so that other people could see the power of the PSP and have a game to jump in and play (I am not a fan of racing games per se, but I do love Namco's Ridge Racer series for a little bit of an arcade racing fix).
Just today I picked up a used (yes, a used game already!!!) copy of Untold Legends, which is a pseudo-RPG somewhere between the old-school Gauntlet games and the more current MMORPG games. Basically you create a Dungeons and Dragons type character (complete with numerical values for attributes, profession specific skills, and a billion magic weapons and armor to find or buy), and then you enter dungeons and hack up monsters and find treasure. It is a a ton of fun, and you can hook up with 3 other people and play cooperatively in true Gauntlet style!
Those games are more than enough to keep me busy until Hot Shots Golf and FIFA Soccer are released. Beyond that, I haven't a clue if there are any games coming soon that I will consider "must haves." Capcom is releasing Devil May Cry soon, which I normally would over look, but playing a portable game that has a lot of style and a cult following may be a hoot.
The last thing I will say about it is that there are a series of Final Fantasy products coming out for it, which if you know me, you know that means I will be glued to my new favorite toy permanently.
Horns up.
PS - that South Park episode had everything... a mockery of the "battle of the feeding tube," mockery of Keanu Reeves, Grimma Wormtongue, a Milton-meets-Tolkein war between the angels and the demons, and the revelation that for ages God only allowed Mormons into heaven, until he realized Hell's army was growing much faster than His, so he started allowing assorted others into Heaven as well. I wouldn't say it is a must see, because it was pretty offensive, but it was pretty darn funny.
PPS - I want God's golden PSP!!!
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Spring time wrings out my brain like a filthy washcloth.
There is something about the warm weather in Iowa that does something to my brain. I drive around with my windows down, feeling the breeze, listening to Stevie Wonder, Run DMC, and Steve Miller, and staring at every single girly that is out jogging or walking or whatever. Let’s just say sun + girls = Carl isn’t thinking with his brain.
As a matter of fact, all I can think about is girls. This is not good for a 30 year old married man. I blame my genes… the sarx (σαρχ) is a little harder to kill in the Smith boys than in normal families. As I sit watching my neighbor, who is on permanent disability for a back injury, ride his son’s skateboard around the parking lot, my mind drifts to where else but the subject of love. Or L-U-V.
And I have made a decision. I want a girlfriend. Or should I say, I want to entertain all offers that I can squeeze into my free time as discreetly as I can. (keep reading before you call my wife or send me an evil email please).
Being married is the ultimate proverbial “grass is greener” situation. On a wistful day like today, it becomes more and more clear why the term mistress isn’t fading from the Funk and Wagnall’s any time soon. Think of all of those other ladies out there, all different shapes and sizes, with so many other things to offer. Different opinions, different views, different cultures…And here you are married. Stuck with waning sex / bad sex / no sex, the same old topics of discussion, and the complete lack of discovery or magic in conversation. I believe it was the modern poet M. Manson who said “hate today who you wake up with tomorrow.” It’s like that but in reverse. On a nice spring day, I spell marriage r-u-t.
Suddenly I want to buy a plane ticket and fly to Japan and just blow a small fortune on Karaoke bars and short-term flings. So what’s holding me back? Well that is the crux of the question, isn’t it.
In all moral dilemmas, we have to stop and ask ourselves that same question. What is to stop you? Stop you from cheating, stop you from denouncing God, stop you from having an abortion, stop you from shootin’ snortin’ smokin’…
We come up with all sorts of great reasons. The favorite for the morally weak is that “it is illegal.” Nothing says conscious moral decision like the threat of imprisonment. The other reasons that fall just under that are “I wasn’t raised that way,” and “it isn’t what my religion allows.” No self respecting parent or god would be happy with that answer. Why do you choose to do some things yet avoid others?
In my case (fleeing to raise hell in Japan), I have several easy answers of why I don’t. Being married, such an action would violate my vows. I am a Christian, so that sort of behavior would anger my God. Also, I am deathly afraid of STDs. I don’t want to pay child support, and I can only imagine that international child support sucks even more. Oh, by the way, I have NO MONEY! I have no time. I barely know Japanese, and perhaps a much smaller reason (*ahem*), I am unattractive and overweight.
So why don’t I do it?
Well, I don’t because it is wrong. I have decided on a world view that says that such acts (e.g. sexual conquest collecting), while they must be fun, are just not the proper way to conduct yourself. There is a measure of accountability and sanctity in those acts… not sanctity in a necessarily Christian sense, but sanctity as in those acts MEAN something emotionally. I am not just going to go around diluting my heart with as many people as I can until I am at less than 50% capacity.
And, I made the conscious decision to get married. I picked a girl, and I am sticking with her. Because God says so? Maybe at one time I thought that way, but that isn’t the case. It has to do more with the fact that I love her, and while I may go through periods where I couldn’t be more sick of her, I can rest assured that she has as many (if not more) periods of being sick of me. You don't marry the same stuff you jones for on a 76 degree spring afternoon... you marry for the stuff that you appreciate on long winter days, boring weekends, long car rides, times of grief, and moments of small victory.
If more people realzied this up front, there wouldn't be so many crappy marraiges... they'd just get it on until they were sick of each other and move on. Is that a better system... you be the judge. I would throw this into the debate though, Douglass county (the county my University is in) has the highest rate of gonorrhea IN THE NATION!!! So I guess I am not the only one out there getting spring fever... those other people must be making a different choice than me though! : )
The moral of the story? I’d like to think that everyone had a real logical reason behind the choices they make; true accountability in other words. Let’s not try to legislate and demonize and institutionalize behavior through a God or spirit or whatever. I act the way I act (on good days) because I have decided that my behavior best serves not only my own purposes and whims, but the concerns of those around me, and society as a whole. Don’t trust someone who hides their moral choices behind some other facade.
But man do I wish it was my turn to sew some wild oats for once.
Horns up.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
I Heard Some Other Fellers Talkin'... (about smoking cessation)
I just read on Yahoo tonight that Medicare/Medicaid has agreed to begin paying for health care professionals' to provide a service that is a key component on our hypothetical world of pharmaceutical care; smoking cessation counseling. It is unclear from the literature that I had at my disposal if Medicare/Medicaid are FINALLY going to recognize pharmacists as health care professionals (which would mean that we would be included in those who could seek payment for services we may already be doing in this field), but I have a strong opinion related to this reimbursement.
I think that there is a definite hurdle when it comes to taking pharmacists seriously. This hurdle is what I joking call my "Osco" theory. Locally, we used to have pharmacy/drug stores that served as prescription filling pharmacies as well as convenience stores. Like most drug stores, the other merchandise is often there to attract customers, and make a little revenue. Well, except for grocery stores, where the pharmacy is the gimmick, but I digress... Anyway, at Osco, you could buy just about any liquor or alcoholic drink you desired, as well as your cigarettes.
It is hard to consider your local Osco pharmacist a health care professional when to get to the "professional" you pass through sale isles, the dollar panty bin, latest "singing fish" type gadgets ("as seen on TV" impulse buys of the worst caliber), fad diet supplies, and shelves/racks of booze and cigs. No matter how educated and empathetic your pharmacist is, and how great of a job she/he does counseling you on your medication, it is hard to consider them par with physicians if their overhead is coming from sources like those mentioned above. A lot of this is ineviable in today's marketplace, but there is a serious ethical problem relating to the last items I mentioned (cigs and booze).
If we are to take pharmacists seriously as health care professionals, who are going to collect redistributed tax dollars in return for their smoking cessation counseling, shoudln't we also expect their pharmacies not to be making money on the sales of tobacco products?
My idea is this; IF the government wants to reimburse this service, more power to them, but we THEN should expect there to be standards. I say there should not be even one dollar paid in reimbursement to a pharmacy that is not confirmed to be tobacco free. It is a conflict of interest that messes with the health of millions.
If I had my way, I would also say no reimbursement dollars to physicians or pharmacists individually who do this work who smoke themselves, but that is being greedy. I feel that it would be easy to "certify" a pharmacy as "nic-free FDA rated" and qualify for reimbursements solely on this rating.
Let's do the right thing and not send a mixed message. Pharmacies should not be able to make money from both the cure and the disease.
Horns up.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Bubblegoose is worldwide, baby.
I still think it is a great idea. And I am pretty darn smart.
Horns up.
"Nerd City"
EB - I put a few more dollars down on my PSP. I am so psyched for it! The good news is that I am ahead of the curve for once... I will actually get my unit on the 24th. The demand is so high that a lot of those who pre-ordered have to wait for wave 2 or wave 3 of the release. So instead of getting the coolest gadget ever on March 24th, they have to wait until mid-April. Worse yet are those who have been saving their pennies but haven't pre-ordered. If you go in to most stores today to reserve a unit, you won't be guaranteed delivery until almost June! I have $120 towards my unit (half paid), $5 towards Metal Gear Acid, and $20 towards Ridge Racers (a killer racing game that shows off the system's abilities). Soon after launch, a few waves of games are releasing, including FIFA '05, which will be a must have. No word on the Compilation of Final Fantasy installments, or any worthwhile RPGs, but having one sports game, a racing game, and Metal Gear should be more than enough to kill my "free" time. Plus the PSP plays movies! I am sooooooo stoked!
Final Fantasy - FF7 and me have a love/hate relationship. I bought my first Playstation for the purpose of playing FF7 (after watching John play it, I knew that my 8 bit FF days were only a warm up for 7). The bad news is that FF7 was sold out where I bought my PS (used my Sears store credit card, so I was stuck getting games they had in stock). So I was bitter about not having FF7 for a looooong time. Then when I did get it, I was way too into it, and was shattered when Aeris was murdered. I quit playing it. I was soon addicted to FF Tactics anyway, and forgot all about FF7 (sort of). Because of the Aeris thing, I did not play 8 or 9, and X and X-2 are just sitting waiting for me to catch up with the series. Anyway, I started up FF7 again this year, and it is still as awesome as I remember. I actually enjoy it more now than when it was out. A lot of people can't get past the "bad" graphics... it's called make-believe people! :) I am 53 hours into the game, and almost to the third and final disc. I even have a Black Chocobo (soon to have Gold), and only those of you who know this game know how frustrating and fulfilling Chocobo farming is! As soon as I get the Gold Chocobo, and pick up a few secret items that only it can reach on the world map, I am off to assault the Junon Reactor, and steal a submarine! Its funny how much fun I have with this stuff at 30...
Comic City - I don't collect comics anymore ("they're called Graphic Novels!"), except for my manga (whole different deal). But I love to go to comic shops. They truly are a haven for those of us with a different worldview. I love to talk "nerd" with the guys that hang out there, even about stuff I don't care that much about anymore. We talk about video games, toys, the new Star Wars movie, and get into all sorts of fantastic arguments...
- If the Rebels attacked the Federation (or, X-wings vs. Enterprise) who would win?
- Is the Simpsons better than Family Guy?
- What was the worst movie last year?
- Can computers really become so smart that they could take over the world?
- Is time travel possible?
- Who is hotter: Xena, Lara Croft, or Catwoman?
And so on. Its a great place for me to get people into my obscure movies and hobbies (I like to recommend anime to guys, and even talked one guy into buying a PSP so we can play the EA games against each other). I also get to see clips from underground/cult movies that I wouldn't normally see (my favorite is the Star Wars Christmas Special), and get to play video games against people (something I miss from dorm/Colorado days). The best are the near fist fights that start over Tekken, Dead or Alive, Hot Shots Golf, and NFL Street. Nope, nothing beats grabbing a soda and going to the comic store once a month to put my finger on the pulse of wasted life. I mean that in a good way.
Plus I always leave feeling very smart, grown up, and in shape.
Horn's up!PS - The significance of "EA" games on PSP is no different than on any other system really, except they are fully supporting network/wireless play from the get-go. Also, they are incorporating a new feature in their PSP games... Owned Mode. If you play against another human, the person who loses has the word "Owned" burnt into their data. The only way to lose it is to beat someone else. Genius idea!
Monday, March 14, 2005
Saturday, March 12, 2005
God help me, I love it so...
I have always thought it is interesting how men usually like boxing, and those who do not dislike it due to the fact it seems rigged, they don't like sports at all, or they prefer a sport with more strategy or teamwork. Now women, in general, seem to dislike boxing. And most of those that I have spoke with seem to dislike it because of the violence. Is this a feature of our genetic makeup? Or is it a societal feature?
Boxing, to me, seems like the purest type of sport. Two participants enter with a fair playing field, and very little chance for luck to present itself in the form of a trump. They use their brawn and brains and speed to win, and in the end, it is clear who is the best. Well, if you trust the judges' scoring anyway. In other sports, there are more technical rules, and more chances for fate to intervene.
But boxing lately has been anything but pure. It is better known for the over-hyped PPV matches, with the undercards being more fun to watch than the title fights. There have been bizarre incidents from outside (the "fan man") and within (Tyson). There are infinite "alphabet" leagues, and no apparent system for ranking. Nor does there seem to be an understandable timetable for when matches will occur and who gets the next shot at the title.
I wish that boxing would unify into one popular league, and clean up a bit. I don't want Vegas interest completely out of it... because some of that glitz is a part of the mystique. But I would like to see there be a fan-friendly system of promotion through a round robin or tournament ladder system, with a title fight more often. If a fighter holds the belt, shouldn't he have to defend against challengers to stay on top? The current state of boxing, through the eyes of this casual fan, seems to be the opposite; they wait for a high profile title fight, televise the heck out of it, and then the winner retires as champ.
I'd like to see a boxer have to actually defend the title. Maybe every six months hold a tourney that yields a challenger to the title, then have a title fight. Or maybe yearly. The tournament ranking system for seeding and ultimately for challenger to the title would make for some high ratings TV! And some great guys-TV-night fun.
NBC is seeing lesser ratings than they hoped, and this makes me worry. They had 8.5 million viewers Monday night for the first episode. They had hoped that they would have Survivor and Apprentice type numbers. The problem is that they are going to lose a lot of viewers because it is boxing. And the show also suffers a little bit from some of the gamesmanship and posing. I love seeing the guys get at each other in what amounts to a boxing-camp, but the reality "game" aspects of the show detract from the natural drama. It seems forced. So the NBC show, while being fantastic, offends the reality-show crowd by being about boxing, and offends the boxing crowd by not being hard-core enough.
If they stick with it, and not pull the plug like they did on Last Comic Standing (another fun show that just didn't belong in that format on that channel), I bet we will see it evolve into a more refined product. I hope they stay away from the sappy "video from your family as a prize" crap, and stick to the great fights (which already seem to be edited a little too much).
It's a great show, with great fights, and a real Rocky/underground gym feel to it. Classy stuff. And as my brother says, its really cool how the suddenly slow-down the punches that connect. Watch it, and go Eastside!
Horns up.
PS - Sly is still cool, and still pretty ripped. Check him out in the ring as he spars!
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Mail Bag Day, Mail Bag Day, C'mon Everybody it's Mail Bag Day!
- "Your (blog) is my favorite site written by someone who hasn't realized that they are gay yet."
Mike_Knick says that like it is a bad thing. By the way, the NFL won't let you put "gay" on the back of a custom jersey. How lame is that?
- "When do you find time to write all of this? What a fu**ing waste of time."
To quote Rocky Balboa "It's a livin'." Actually, I use it as a diary, and there is always time for metal health. Oh, and it takes longer to read random blogs and email insults than it does to write them. Thanks for the feedback D_Maul_281!
- "You have turned your back of the Father of Creation. No matter what you and your cronies think that you know, you will never know truth. Science is an illusion, and your soul is in jeopardy. Repent now and turn from your sinful pride and trust in the Devil's knowledge."
What? The sender's name is livin4him2001. By "him" is he making a reference to the metal band HIM (His Infernal Majesty), because although they rock very hard, it makes the rest of his comments a bit confusing... Write again, fellow rocker! Actually, I haven't turned my back on anyone or anything. I am doing something that more Christians should do... I am taking stock of my beliefs and holding my self accountable for them on every level; which includes questioning all of my beliefs. I am searching for truth, after all.
- "What is your fascination with Japan? Are you unhappy with being American?"
No, Wildcat_Alumni_Jess, I am not upset that I am an American. I just love Japan, and in many ways, large parts of my heart and imagination are forever linked to Japan and its richness of art, tradition, culture, and language. And let's not forget Japan's beautiful citizens.
- "I have read your blog off and on for the last year... at times it seems as if your auditioning for a job as a writer, at other times all you do is mope around and talk about troubles. You seem to not realize how much time you waste on the same issues. Over and over... just be funny more often."
I guess the stuff I think is fun and funny is coming off as annoying or offensive to others. Sorry! But thanks for reading. I read your site too LisaH. Good luck with your field hockey!
- "Between defending homosexuals and attacking Jesus, you haven't much of a life do you? It is sad to see a young person so lost and misled."
I am defending homosexuals because they are being unfairly treated in the USA. I don't attack Jesus. I love Jesus. Its the misguided and insincere actions of his Christians that upset me. I have a hard time reconciling the Jesus I see painted in the Bible and the Jesus that is being sold to me by people who are less than honest about their beliefs and actions. The church breaks my heart at times. In the end, dialogue is good, isn't it? SharonnPhilKC, thanks for writing anyway.
- "We are looking for a silent partner for a series of business transactions... we want to transfer $25 million to the United States for a business venture and need an American bank account to conduct business from..."
Yeah, right. What? Really? Umm, okay. My bank account information is on the way!
- "Your blog sucks."
Sorry mom.
Horns up!
Monday, March 07, 2005
Today's Box Score: Japan 2 runs 1 error, GOP 0 runs 3 errors
Japan: Borders is now carrying untranslated manga. How sweet is that? Now I can buy titles that are not available domestically from major Japanese publishers without using the 'net! The bad side is that their selection is a little weak, and to my untrained eyes (more on that next), it looks like they bloated their inventory a little bit. At $12.99 a shot, they stand to lose some money with the four shelves of books they have. I just don't see a huge demand for it here... yet. But bring on Armored Alchemist baby!
My untrained eyes: I got contacts today. Killer. The new Jan Brady is here! My prescription changed, as I suspected. So I have these "training" lenses in that are better than no help, but worse than my old glasses. So Not only am I getting used to contacts (my eyes feel gummy all day), I can't see so well. Fun!
Japan: Okonomiyaki is great! I recently learned of this dish from a manga, so I got a recipe, went to Aki's Japanese grocery store, and made some. It is fantastic! I made it with salmon today, I can't wait to try it with more adventurous ingredients. Okonomiyaki is a griddle cake, like a cross between a pancake, an omelet, and a pizza. I love it so! And I also bought some killer onigiri sambei that may overtake saki ika for my favorite snack.
The GOP: They suck. They called my house 3 times today! They have my wife's name because she is a registered member. They had this whole script about Bush rolling out some new legislation that needs support and money. I could care less, except after I explained that my wife was the Rep and that they should call when she is home, and that I am a registered Dem I figured that was that. Then the second call came. The same script is being read by a different guy, and I stop him. I try to be cordial, and not make it sound like I am only bothered because I am not a Rep, but I ask a little more strongly that if we are to remain on the call list, to try back LATER THAN 5 PM. Half hour passes... ring! Third time. This time I unload on the guy and tell him I don't know how they won the white house when they can't even coordinate a phone campaign. He asks if I am Rep, and I tell him no. He apologizes and asks "what issues are you at odds with us on, because as you may have noticed in the last election..." I interrupt and hang up. Did I say they called 3 times? Because I lie... I got a fourth call, but this one was to apologize. And, apparently, to try to probe my anti-Rep feelings once again... I go with it this time for a while, then just get bored, and bow out of the call. What a way to interrupt my day! The GOP sucks. Actually, anyone who calls me when I don't want a phone call sucks, it just happened to be the GOP this time. :)
Japan: Here is the error Japan earned... they won't let Bobby Fisher leave their country. Being a chess enthusiast, I have followed this story with some measure of anger. It's not that Fisher is being detained (it is his own egotistical fault), but that Japan just doesn't send him to the US already to face his charges. Violating passport etiquette is a serious thing these days, so I can understand why they may be stalling, but they have held him for 8 months. The guy is a chess player, not Osama Bin Lauden.
One last thing, Mel Gibson is re-releasing a re-mixed version of his re-telling of the crucifixion of Christ. Great! Make that money, yo. If money makes a man strange, Mel's gots to be crazy! The movie will not die, like a thorn in my ______ (fill in your own area here). Not only was it not good, or accurate, it has become a cultish fad. I am surprised by Christians' devotion to this movie. I guess this whole phenomena is only warm up for the Christian answer to Lord of the Rings, that is, CS Lewis' Narnia books. They are becoming movies soon. And don't think that the Jesus army won't mobilize for this one too. American Christianity has become strange in recent years, and I am finding myself more and more in a position where I do not know where I fit in it. Weird as in the odd parasitic activity it displayed with Creed, Divinci Code, and Lord of the Rings. Weird as in the ground-swell allegiance to pseudo-Christian fiction like Left Behind. Weird as in the strange shift in focus by the Protestant church to "worship" oriented services and "purpose" oriented programs. Weird as in the, as I see it, un-Christian demand for Christian government. I could go on and on, but I just don't have this all sorted out enough to talk about it. Besides, all I wanted to originally comment on is Gibson making a billion more dollars, and that I expect this sort of marketing to happen EVERY EASTER until the imaginary rapture happens. Trust me, it won't be like you think... Kirk Cameron will having nothing to do with it.
Horns up.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Correction... sweeeeet!
Horns up.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Kid Mao-carus (aka Icar-l)
In all of mythology, Icarus has always been my favorite character, because he best represents the sort of experiential greed that many of us have. We overstep our bounds, assuming (or hoping) that there is more to us than we know. Sometimes you come up with a suprising result (like scoring in the 99th percentile nationwide on the PCATs), and sometimes you struggle with a class that you should be getting an A in (it's an undergrad level class after all).
Oh well, back to the drawing board for Pathology (a class I am at least not embarassing myself in). BTW, I know I am going to be a good pharmacist, and I know this material way better than my tests are letting on. It would just be nice to see the grades reflect it...