Euryalus

Recently the three big companies (Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo) have released their latest greatest ‘next gen’ (what comes after next gen?) systems. After people have been shot, robbed, and disciplined for butting in line for one of these systems; most people are unhappy with them.

Me? I’m not buying a PS3, Xbox 360, nor WII this year. However thanks to the release of these systems, and it being Christmas season the pricing on the older systems has dropped drastically.

I purchased a PS2.

I also purchased one game for said PS2, Bethesda Softworks Star Trek: Encounters. It bites. I have come to expect alot from a Star Trek game, and this does not deliver. I enjoy Birth of the Federation, Away Team and Elite Force (Note: These games are all for PC..hmmm). Encounters has absolutely nothing going for it, you fly a ship, and.. fly a ship some more.. oh and did I mention you fly a ship? Also the non-skippable newbie level is quite annoying. Negative grade there.

Meanwhile on the PC front I’ve gotten ahold of Bethesda Softworks Star Trek: Legacy. This game feels very much like Encounters in the fact that you fly a ship.. alot.. However there was no real training level (I appreciate this), and the story line so far has been much more enjoyable. I wonder why the two games are so different. Oddly enough they plan to release Legacy for XBOX. I don’t see myself playing Legacy over and over again like I do BOTF, but it’s definitely something (better than Encounters) to do to pass the time before bowling.

I was fortunate enough to attend a Blue Man Group concert.

I enjoyed myself, one interesting part of the show was the usage of text messaging throughout. Here is a list of the text messages I received while at the show:

1. Hold your phone up like a lighter when U see question marks on stage. If UR phone has a camera take a picture of yourself when you get 2 “The Roof.”
2. If we start to get on your nerves, don’t have a mega-freak out. You can always read the messages later. But give it a try in real time.
3. If U R an advanced texter, look for hidden text commands on the Video signs 2 get bonus material. They will look something like this: text “example” to #####
4. Tracy Bonham is our exteemed opener. She is a classically trained pianist and violinist but she also rocks! she was nominated for two Grammies and likes “Rolos.”
5. We have selected U to lead the people in your area in Rock concert movement #67: Yelling like a cowboy. Give them instructions, then count them off. Ready Go!
6. OK, it’s “time to take this climb” to the roof: According to rock lore, Green M&Ms were demanded backstage by: PLEASE REPLY A) Eminem B) Ted Nougat C) Van Halen
7. Correct. Your rock knowledge has gotten U to the 2nd floor. But to make it all the way up to the roof you’ll need to decode some clues from the show. Stand by.
8. U know UR a Megastar if: PLEASE REPLY A) Yr underwear collection is comprised mostly of “audience donations” B) UR a mass of constantly exploding hyrdogen atoms
9. Correct. We’re going to assume that U R not a “B. Hole” (black hole) and let you up to the 3rd floor.
10. U know UR a Megastar if: PLEASE REPLY A) UR slated to be in the next “Surreal Life” B) You and Prince share a tailor. C) Your assistant is reading this to you.
11. Correct. And by the way, your new purple suit is smokin’! You’ve made it to the 4th floor.
12. True or false? You think it’s a good idea to climb a palm tree after drinking a bottle of Jack Daniels. Reply Y/N
13. Congratulations. You are NOT Keith Richards. You have made it to the 5th floor. Remember: take a photo when U get to “the roof.”
14. We are about to execute Rock Concert Movement #10: Turning out the lights to begin the show. Are you starting to get “the feeling?” Reply Y/N
15. Great! Getting “The feeling” is what The Roof is all about. It sounds like U are well on your way!
16. The fire escape represents: PLEASE REPLY A) A path in life that’s less typical than traditional routes and that’s outside “the system.” B) A small furry animal
17. Correct. U made it up to the 6th floor, and like Frankie said U did it “your way.” Actually Bon Jovi said that. Except he was talking about himself, not you.
18. The buildings in the video r grey to represent: PLS REPLY A) How life loses its colorful vividness when U don’t “follow your bliss” B) Significant cost savings
19. No. It was just to save money. But now that U mention it, that would have been a nice metaphor. For being so poetic, U can go to the 7th floor.
20. Hey! I want to be part of this song too! Since it’s all about information overload, I fit right in. Don’t forget to hold me up at the question marks!
21. The song “Persona” was about: PLEASE REPLY A) 3 minutes too long. B) The masks we wear over our true selves.
22. Correct. The Blue paint spurting out of the dude’s chest was: Please reply: A) Symbolic of the primal freedom and creativity that the mask suppresses. B) Messy
23. Yes. It will B a long night for the cleaning staff. They have to clean the stage, then go into the videos and clean them too. You are getting high: 8th floor!
24. The “Shadow” is: PLEASE REPLY A) Pretentious. B) What U get if U don’t shave. C) What Jung thought develops when people hide behind their public personas.
25. Yes. Jung thought that people needed to reconcile and become “one and the same” with their shadow sides as a way of becoming whole. You are getting close.
26. The characters in these songs feel: PLEASE REPLY A) Stuck in life because they aren’t “following their bliss” B) Like Icon figures whose individuality is hidden
27. Yes. Anyone can become consumed by their masks and this makes it hard to get “the feeling.” How about U? Are you getting “the feeling?” Reply Y/N
28. Excellent. U R almost there! We’ve taken you as far as we can. The rest is up to U. when U have “the feeling” all the way, you’ll be on the Roof!
29. Congratulations! We all made it to the roof!(and maybe that’s even better than being a megastar) Don’t forget to upload your photo at: (url withdrawn)

I find this.. very odd, however if you know Blue Man, then this was par for the course. If you don’t know Blue Man, go to one of their concerts, they are indeed fun!

Yay, the car is paid off, we’ll be receiving the title in two weeks. No more car payments!! … Now for the truck.. another 2 years, GAH!

Must take saved money from car and put toward truck, therefore cutting time period left in truck payments.

I have discovered… Colm Meaney has no official fan club! This saddens me greatly for I was hoping to join it. I’ve decided after watching alot of Star Trek recently that he is indeed one of my favored actors.

If you find a club for him let me know. Thanks!

Why is it that when I put on a pair of pants in the morning it’s like ‘oh my these fit nicely’, then later in the day it’s like ‘hmm, these are a little snug’, but at the end of the day I have to unbuttom them to be comfortable? All to be repeated the next day! .. Gah.

I’d attempted to send in a cell phone post from my new phone the other day, but apparantly they didn’t make it. I was driving along baseline when I discovered two new vehicles, apparantly Honda’s that were ‘masked’ as to not be noticed as such. They were being tested, they won’t be released for some time yet so it was interesting to see them… Ah well, fun is fun, that was yesterday, today is today.

My parents sent a box of 48 coffee crisp, I was expecting 3. Cool!

Anyway, at the job for a while, settling in, it’s not so bad I suppose… I’m still looking though, let me know if you know of anything in my area!

Oh.. and sorry about the lack of updating… not much happening.

Went over to the former Engineers place today, helped with his brakes. Was nice to see him. Going to be doing the happy hour thing with folks over from former workplace on Tuesday… that should be interesting. Not much else to report, boring eh?

Zope.

This is the type of picture you would expect to see on the Arizona highways magazine, a beautiful sunset on the way through the valley. Of course, I was driving home from work a few months back when I took this, and it happens about 4 days a year, but oh how they’ll tote those lovely sunsets!

Actually it was nice, I like sunsets.

Well, I’ve decided I don’t like this job. I still can’t place my finger on it, but I dislike it very much. I’m already in talks with a couple of temp to hire places.

I stayed late tonight, 30 minutes or so by request. No big deal there. Gah, I wish I knew why I didn’t like the new place… I don’t think I want to program for a living, plain and simple. I want to be…

Ahh, started this week in my new job.

I’m not sure what I think, everyone asks ‘how is your first day’, or ‘how do you feel at your new place of work’. Honestly, I don’t know yet, it’s just another day at work to me… just with different people, and slightly different things to do. *shrug* Perhaps it will change as I work there more..

I don’t think this will last long, I’m not sure I can stare so much at code as I have been here… biting off more than one can chew?

At least it’s not GM!