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Monday, February 28
My car got me a day off...
It had a rough start yesterday, and seemed to not be firing on all cylinders... I turned it off and restarted it and it seems fine, but my mechanic told me that in no way am I to drive it until it gets looked at. (The car has only 8,000)
So I'm waiting for the tow company to come get it and I'm trying to see if I can wrangle a loaner out of Neemer VW (not where I bought the car, honestly... The sales girl there drove us away screaming.)
So, forgive me if I'm a tad brief today. I hope everyone elses day is going well!
posted by: Skeeve @ 11:09 AM
Friday, February 25
Zero's Friday Five
Inspired by Zung's recent fall into the dark temptations of digital crack (read as: video games), this week's Friday Five is dedicated to Five entertaining escapes that will take your money and your social life and flush them down the toilet. Be warned, engaging in any of the Five activities below will seriously tax your finances, your relationships, your job security and it potentially could rob you of hours of sleep, thusly impacting negatively on your overall health. TKOP and its officers will not be held responsible for your complete social and biological decay. That said, please enjoy this week's Friday Five.
1. Pirates of The Spanish Main - Visit TKOP's Forums (Hobbies, Games & Pastimes - Mod: The Cat) for an up-to-date expose on how this game is rapidly becoming the drug of choice for some of our more visible TKOP members. Our Lord and Master, Skeeve, has fallen victim, as have I and several others, and we've begun to discuss regular meetings to "shoot up" in groups. Packs of Pirates cost roughly $4 each, and one needs a minimum of 3 just to get started, but with 2 expansion sets ready to launch in the coming months, you can bet that a true addict could blow hundreds on this hobby (read as: building little plastic boats and rolling six-sided dice).
2. World of Warcraft - $50 down and $20 a month nets you access to the hottest online adventure since Everquest (read as: one more excuse to be a pathetic desk jockey who has no idea how to talk to real girls without giving your credit card number first). Pick from an array of races and classes, then turn yourself loose in a "living, breathing" digital world, populated by other nerds who are just as lonely as you are.
3. Rumble Roses - The all-girl wrestling game for PS2 isn't really all that good, despite the abundance of scantily clad polygon-heavy animated ladies in gimmick outfits, but it deserves a mention (specifically for the perverts) due to its innovative (read as: naughty) hands-free control method, which is about as subtle as a dumptruck. Pick it up today and crank one out for the pre-rendered ladies... hey, they need love too!
4. Beanie Babies - Maybe they haven't been popular in years, but people (read as: single women over 30 who live with cats) still spend all their time and money tracking these things down on eBay so that they can add one more piece of cotton-stuffed approval (read as: mommy and daddy never loved me) to their wall of psychosis. These are the same people who collect miniature porcelain tea sets and think Days of Our Lives is a documentary.
5. City of Heroes - See Below.
That's it for this weeks Friday Five. You are now free to move about the TKOP.
.
posted by: Zero @ 10:55 AM
Thursday, February 24
Diary of a drug fiend
I finally admitted to myself that I have a problem. I've been withdrawn from my friends, ignoring my blogging and graphical duties on TKOP, skipping classes and not doing homework. When I'm not on it, all I can do is think about it. I sneak out of bed in the middle of the night for it, and wake up at 6:30 in the morning to do it after Kate leaves for work. I guess before I go any further, I should mention that I'm talking about "City of Heroes".
I was never a hard core gamer, and I certainly never played any of the MMORPG's out there before this (unless you count "There", which isn't really a game). I had heard of people getting addicted to EverCrack, and doing awful things because of it. I never thought it would happen to me.
As of last Friday I've gone cold turkey. Last Thursday I played with Skeeve, and that will be my last time in the wicked Paragon City. In fact, I'm purging all my serious video games (excluding mindless popcap games and snood) from the computer. I just can't handle the temptation to loose myself for hours in mindless pixels. I'm a sucker for instant gratification.
So if you've been wondering where I've been the last two months, I've been wearing virtual tights (and also going to school). When I'm at school, I can't help thinking "Gee, superspeed would be helpful getting around campus" or "Hovering would sure beat walking these stairs". They say one of the sure signs of video game addiction is when you start to think about the real world in the parameters of your game. The other day I couldn't find my car in the SUNY parking lot and my first instinct was to hit the "TAB" key to cycle through the cars until I found mine. That's when I hit rockbottom.
Not that I really think you've all been real concerned with my absence (wink). My fish gets more attention when he disappears for five minutes. :) But seriously, I miss you guys, and I'll be around the forums soon. The only games for me for a long while will be Zero's. Oh, and maybe with some plastic pirate ships. I guess some table top paper & dice sessions couldn't hurt either. I gotta get my escapism fix somewhere damnit.
posted by: Zung @ 12:01 PM
Wednesday, February 23
Surprise!
I guess the surprise is on me! I thought I had someone lined up with a guest blog for today.
Sorry for the slip, check back on Friday for anouther fantasic Friday Five from the smoken cheddar fun master, Zero!
posted by: Skeeve @ 11:04 PM
Monday, February 21
Ramblings...
It's really amazing how little I am bothered by the "news" or today.
Am I getting inured to the little "he said she said" of everything the news seems to care about?
It's too early in the year for a dandelion break.
Do I care that Paris Hilton had her Sidekick hacked and all the phone numbers, pictures and notes posted on the internet? (You can try to search on it now, but it's mostly all over but the shouting.)
And as sad as it is about the people who have died today, I'm numb.
Presidents day? Again... I mean add into it the fact that more people think Ronald Regan was a better President than George Washington. Don't get me started.
I guess I'm really just supremely disinterested in the goings on of the outside world today, because my inside world is more to me. Bliss and I went to the birthing center today to get our last Ultrasound. We were able to see the rather active and perfectly developing baby-bunny as the tech measured and checked all of the limbs and organs. Everything was perfectly normal. It was amazing to see it. And we got to see the baby squirm and flex... Kick it's legs and clench it's little hand. We went out for lunch and spent the afternoon together calling and chatting with our respective families. We've hit the halfway point now. In 4.5 months we will bring a new life into the world.
Oh, and... We found out what gender it is.
; )
posted by: Skeeve @ 4:02 PM
Friday, February 18
Zero's Friday Five
Better late than never, it's Friday again, and that means it's time for an all new edition of The Friday Five. Did you know that this Monday and Tuesday is Presidents' Day and Washington's Birthday (respectively)? Are you breaking out that 3D puzzle of the Washington Monument, inviting friends over for a DVD screening of The History Channel's Biography of Early American Presidents, Kevin Kline's "Dave", and Michael Douglas' "The American President", throwing some big porterhouse steaks on the grill and partying until dawn? No? Me either. Instead, allow me to present you with The Five Things You COULD Do This Presidents' Day!
1. Call up an old friend and plan to catch-up over coffee later next week.
2. Pop some popcorn and watch "Rocky 4" naked, revelling in your love of democracy, men beating the crap out of each other, nudity... and popcorn.
3. Finally take up that new hobby you keep saying you'll "get around to". You don't want George Washington's ghost calling you a slacker... Slacker.
4. Wish Zero's Mom a Happy Birthday... Happy Birthday, Mom!
5. Send your significant-other some flowers at work with a big "HAPPY PRESIDENTS' DAY" card attached. You'll be the talk of the office... and next week's therapy session.
That's it! Now, get out there and start celebrating, dammit. Our forefathers didn't write The Constitution and Bill Of Rights so you could sleep all day like a shiftless layabout... Actually, I take that back. That's EXACTLY what they did. Sweet Dreams!
You are now free to move about the TKOP!
.
posted by: Zero @ 4:44 PM
Wednesday, February 16
Taxes are taxing and filled with strange syntax
Can you guess what I've been doing?
That's right. Only this time, it's not just me. Along with other things that are getting smushed together after having legally become an Us, Skeeve and I have been doing a little number-crunching to see how much money we can get out of the federal government, and how little money we can get away with owing to the State of New York. I have this much to say about when I resided in Taxachusetts - I never had to worry about owing money to the state at the end of the fiscal year, since they took their pound of flesh and then some (though I grant you that what I got back felt rather along the lines of, "Oh, pardon, we seem to have taken a pound and three ounces - let's just staple that on your hips for you, hm?")
So this evening we went through the rigamarole of gathering out little slips of paper and button-pushing our way through a form for the state and the federal government for each of us separately, and then jointly. I figured from what people had been telling us that we'd do best filing separately - but the numbers proved that wrong. Filing jointly, we're getting nearly double back from the federal government what we'd get if we filed separately, and though we owe the state either way, it's over a hundred bucks less by doing it as Us instead of Him and Me.
I can't wait to see what happenes next year, when Us has been increased by Dependant Number One.
posted by: Bliss @ 9:34 AM
Monday, February 14
VD?
Love it or hate it Valentines day is now closely associated with the American Psyche. Many of us will be doing something to celebrate or deride this day.
I have come to love Valentines day, despite its origins in medieval replacement. (Of the many convoluted stories that have sprung up about St. Valenitines (there are 3 common stories told, each of Martyrs of the church. Most likely the chuch has used these to thier own end, as they did in Rome to supplant the holiday of Lupercalia, a festival of eroticism that honored Juno Februata, the goddess of "feverish" (febris) love.)
In past years when single I have had some wonderful Valentines days. I gave out cards when I worked in retail to anyone who seemed cool. I have passed out cards to co-workers. I have given strangers flowers. I try to take it on myself to be randomly kind and generous on this day, and it seems to really get appreciated.
In relationships I try to express my feelings every day, but that makes Valentines a day for that extra little umph. I do find there is a bit of pressure. I like to treat my SO well, and make her smile. I don't want her to feel let down, or unloved. But even the smallest little gesture can be held in high esteem.
Valentines day has become (like many psudo-religous holidays. It's become tremendously secular, despite the old stories of blind girls and forbidden marriages.) overly commercialized. The prices of chocolates and flowers (Roses specifically) increase dramatically. But some of the most touching things I've gotten and given are hand made.
But without it, the harsh, cold, brutal little month of February would surround birthdays of dead Presidents and little else.
I'll leave you with this, from Tom Robbins "Still life with Woodpecker":
Who knows how to make love stay?
Tell love you are going to the Junior's Deli on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn to pick up a cheesecake, and if love stays, it can have half. It will stay.
posted by: Skeeve @ 11:51 AM
Friday, February 11
Zero's Friday Five
It's that time again. Another week down, another edition of The Friday Five. This week: Five Songs For The Weekend.
1. "Hockey Skates"
Artist: Kathleen Edwards
Album: Failer
2. "Bigger Than My Body"
Artist: John Mayer
Album: Heavier Things
3. "Shame You Never Worry"
Artist: Sukilove
Album: Sukilove
4. "Jack The World"
Artist: GWAR
Album: This Toilet Earth
5. "California Uber Alles"
Artist: Dead Kennedys
Album: Mutiny On The Bay
Now that's what I call a mega mini mix! How about you? What would you recommend as a top notch 5-song mini mix? Visit The TKOP Forums and share your ideas in "The Singing Harp" Sub, managed by Board King, Skeeve and my favorite Shirley Manson Fan, Version2Pt0!
That's it for The Friday Five. You are now free to move about the TKOP.
.
posted by: Zero @ 1:16 AM
Wednesday, February 9
Ofensensitivity
You know, it doesn't really take too much to piss people off these days does it? The jerk in front of you on the road. The person with 50 items in the 15 items or less express lane. The putz trying to cash a third-party out-of-state check and only wanting singles. Some of the members of this board can seem to do it without thinking, and possibly that's what the problem is. While the urge to rip off their heads and $h1t down their necks is at times overwhelming, I must remind myself that this place's whole purpose is to allow the exchange of ideas and opinions. These opinions and ideas may not agree with yours, and you may reply with ideas and opinion of your own. Your opinions may be disagreed (or agreed) with and the cycle continues. There are days that it takes all of my will not to delete all the posts that offend me, and then delete the offending member. I log off, go do something else, play a game, etc.... and calm down. Once i've stopped seeing red and my senses come back to me i remember this old joke: "Hey Doc it hurts when I do this. Then don't do that." If you don't like what you've read, don't read it and especially don't reply to it.
It's like the old Philosopher Denis Leary says "Life is Hard, wear a &*$%ing helmet" or was it: "Opinions are like &$$h0les, everybody's got one, and they all stink"
Ace (not Diamonds)
posted by: The Peanut Gallery @ 10:19 AM
Monday, February 7
A million dollars just doesn't go as far...
I mean, let's look at 1960.
President: Dwight D. Eisenhower
Vice President: Richard M. Nixon
Population: 180,671,158
Life expectancy: 69.7 years
Dow-Jones
High: 685
Low: 566
Federal spending: $92.19 billion
Federal debt: $290.5 billion
Inflation: 1.4%
Consumer Price Index: 29.6
Unemployment: 5.5%
Cost of a new home: $16,500.00
Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.04
Cost of a gallon of regular gas: $0.31
Cost of a dozen eggs: $0.57
Cost of a gallon of Milk: $0.49
20 years later we had gotten into the Regan years:
President: Ronald W. Reagan
Vice President: George Bush
Population: 229,465,714
Life expectancy: 74.1 years
Dow-Jones
High: 1024
Low: 824
Federal spending: $678.25 billion
Federal debt: $994.8 billion
Inflation: 10.2%
Consumer Price Index: 90.9
Unemployment: 7.1%
Cost of a new home: $83,000.00
Median Household Income: $19,074.00
Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.15
Cost of a gallon of regular gas: $1.38
Cost of a dozen eggs: $0.90
Cost of a gallon of Milk: $2.22
And now the year 2000:
President: Bill Clinton
Vice President: Al Gore
Dow-Jones
High: 11,750
Low: 9,181
Federal spending: $1716.95 billion
Federal debt: $5978.5 billion
Unemployment: 4.5%
Inflation: 2.1%
Prices
Cost of a new home: $195,800.00
Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.33 (as of 1/10/99)
Median Household Income: $39,973.00
Cost of a gallon of regular gas: $1.17
Cost of a dozen eggs: $1.08
Cost of a gallon of Milk: $3.32
Remember kids...
If you had a million dollars that'd be something like 580,000 after taxes.
posted by: Skeeve @ 7:25 PM
Friday, February 4
Zero's Friday Five
Greetings, TKOP! Zero here with another Friday Five. This week, Five Survey Questions! You may feel free to answer these and discuss in the public forum, or just keep them to yourself... Just a little reflection in time for the weekend.
1. What was your favorite toy as a kid?
2. What was the first video game that you were ever completely addicted to?
3. What was the first book or comic book that you were ever completely addicted to?
4. What was your favorite or most elaborate make-believe character that you created when you were a kid?
5. What childhood toy do you wish you'd never gotten rid of?
See you next week with another Friday Five!
You are now free to move about the TKOP.
posted by: Zero @ 8:34 AM
Wednesday, February 2
Veryne gives us ranty goodness!
Writing about skiing is like talking about music or dancing about
architecture...and so it goes that I am beginning my "World Trade
Center Waltz", forgetting my speed limits, feeling trapped in the
tempo of the un-planked life. Skiing is a conversation between fear
and gravity. I had forgotten that part of skiing is flirting with
death. There is a White Goddess, healing the wounds of winter with
frostbite and windburns. There is a White Trickster, tempting me away
from my job & my obligations, my morality...tempting me away from
vegetarianism, and art, and music. You reach the point where you can't
turn back...and I asked myself when in my life I was ever this
stubborn, ever this fearless, ever this unreachable. I can't even
reach myself, half the time I feel like I have no idea where I
am...and I mean that really in the most intangible of ways.
I mean to sit myself down, write a catalog, get myself on paper, and
all figured out. Realize where the gaps are...I have just about a week
to figure out what it is I'm going to be doing on Imbolc...how I will
turn my life upsidedown this time. I have exactly a week to be able to
pull myself away from all of my reflections and away from what other
people want of me to figure out what exactly I want for myself. It's
too easy to look at people and see how I could improve myself from
their point of view...I think that I am a far more receptive person
than most people really give me proper credit for. People perceive me
as a very strong projector but a weak receptor, when in actuality I
feel like I both put out and receive scrambled messages at about the
same frequency.
Up until this weekend, I wanted Solace...I wanted Peace and
Prosperity...but I feel like I've snapped...and yet I don't mind
snapping...I just don't want to be anyone's reflection. I want to be
honest with myself...I want to stare at my flaws, watch the deepening
shadows in my face...there is only one thing in this world that I
could never accept...and that one thing will never be True, so I have
nothing to fear...right? I've given up on fearing death, I'm giving up
on fearing loneliness. Life will always have waterfowl and very small
spaces, so these things must be dealt with as they come up...but there
is a difference between a fear and a phobia.
I'm starting to feel like the life I'm living is a cage, a box. I feel
like I'm dying in captivity. I feel like my hands are spiders and they
need to create to a level that borders on being destructive, because
sometimes I feel like there is no room in my life for anything except
me and my creation...but the thing is, I'm not really creating all
that much. I don't have any time. Weird, huh?
posted by: The Peanut Gallery @ 10:51 AM
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