Joystick Master

Three Days in the Life

2006-04-25T11:36:00.000-04:00

My poor, poor blog. It is so neglected.

However, today is a special day. Today, I have things to discuss, and therefore I have enough material for an entry. Today, I shall blog, and be happy.

My entry today covers a span of three days. We begin with Sunday night. Upon leaving Henrietta at the end of my excellent two-day assembly program, we proceeded to Chili's for some quick food. After eating VERY rapidly, all 15 of us got in our caravan and drove to Shea's to see Movin' Out, the new musical sensation by Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp. The seats we paid for were less than amazing, but when we got there the theater was pretty empty, so we got upgraded to the middle of the front balcony. High point number one. Followed immediately by high point number two, the show itself. Not quite what you would expect from a Broadway play, since there is no real dialogue, but it was still pretty amazing. The music was spectacular, very true to the original songs, and the dancers were all incredible. The only questionable part is in the second act, with some drug use and minor bondage, which just is not very family oriented. In all, though, a great show, making Sunday pretty awesome.

Monday is historically a bad day for me. There are not many Mondays I can look back on with fondness. This week, Monday was an exception. After work, I went with Mike, Ryan, James, and Carissa to the Sabres game, which I knew would be fun, but was still not fully prepared for. After the five goals in the first period, I had a hunch we might win. I also had a raw throat and a headache from screaming. After two more periods of chanting, yelling, and general merrymaking, my team won 8-2, and we had a lovely ride home, followed by watching 24 at my brother's house.

Sabres side note: This is Jay McKee's last year under contract in Buffalo, after this season he becomes a free agent. I think they really need to keep him here, he has been here longer than any other person on the team, save perhaps Martin Biron, though I do believe he has him beat also. He plays his position extremely well and is underrated, but I hope they see his value and get him to re-sign with us.

Tuesday is not nearly as auspicious as Sunday or Monday. Today's goodness all comes from the nerd deep down inside me, and will therefore not be appreciated (pronounced uh-PREE-she-ate-id) by the general public. Today is the release date for Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children, the movie follow-up to the video game most players will agree was one of the most groundbreaking and influential games ever. It was originally released in the mid-1990's, and is finally getting closure in a full-length movie. Being stuck at work all day, I asked a friend to pick me up a copy, and he found the last copy on DVD and the last copy on UMD, and got them both for us. Very hard title to get if you failed to reserve it, as I did. However, I have one thanks to my good friend James (shout out). Again, a good day.

So altogether, it has been a successful start to the week. It should only improve as the week progresses; tomorrow, I get my crown placed, so my teeth will be pretty much fixed. Thursday night, our bus leaves for NYC, where we have a four day tour planned, which includes shopping and sightseeing in Manhattan on Saturday. When I get home next Tuesday, I will officially be working part time, giving me a lot more time for the real important things.

I forgot how much activity warm weather could bring. Here's hoping it will stay positive. Like Paul and Renee having the baby this afternoon, unless her labor goes longer than expected. Good times.

More updates to come, but I won't even try to predict when.

For the Love of Pizza

2005-12-21T19:22:00.000-05:00

I think toaster ovens are one of the greatest inventions ever. Seriously. We wouldn't have even needed fire if we'd had toaster ovens. They're great. Which is why it saddens me when my toaster oven deliberately tries to injure/maim/decapitate/murder me. I mean, do you realize how HOT the thing gets? Apparently, I didn't respect it by giving it enough space, so when I reached in to remove my pizza, it jumped at me and singed the back of my hand, giving me a frightful burn. Luckily, I have presence of mind occasionally, and that was one of the occasions. Being right next to the sink as I was, I ran it under extremely cold water for what seemed like an eternity. We're talking seriously cold. It seemed to work, since it didn't hurt much. But this scar will always make me sad, for it taught me that my toaster oven doesn't always love me the same way I love it. I feel a moment of silence is in order for my toaster oven's lost innocence.

Thank you.
If you're a John Denver fan, I recommend avoiding www.joystickwhale.com and checking out the Recently In History link. However, if you do NOT suffer from the aforementioned severe mental handicap, you may enjoy a few moments of John Denver-mocking fun.
Battlestar Galactica Season 2.0 is now on DVD, I recommend buying or renting it at your convenience. While probably not the best for children, it is an amazing show with strong storylines and great actors, and it touches some really big issues. And don't get hung up on the sci-fi thing, because you'll forget about it almost immediately when you get into the actual show.

I feel it necessary to comment on winter, since today is technically the first day of the season. My comment is this: I hate winter. These next three months are going to be torture, and I only hope they go by more quickly than most winters do.

That's all for my monthly update, hopefully this will become a more regular occurrence. I can't always come up with a topic, so if you have something you want discussed, leave me a comment and I'll give you my take on it.

Forces of Nature

2005-11-27T16:26:00.000-05:00

Why is it that Chinese food is always better after you reheat it? I just don't understand it. I pay to have food here really quickly, and it's never all that great. Then I'm hungry the next day and decide to finish it off, and it's the best cuisine I've ever tasted. Strange.
The Sabres on a serious hot streak, their power play is third in the league, and they have 11 of a possible 12 points in their last six games. They're currently up 1-0 over Washington, with yet another power play goal. All this while being shorthanded five of their starting players, including two goalies.
I'm so glad hockey's back.
Nothing else here, just a couple thoughts that struck me.

Vindicated

2005-11-07T09:11:00.000-05:00

Wow, it's really been a while. Work has been really strict with the internet usage, thus the lack of updates. They've cooled down a bit now though, so hopefully I'll be able to post a little more often.
I actually don't have much to post about today, except the Dashboard Confessional concert I went to last night. Very easily one of my favorite shows ever, and if I ever see them again, I'm not sure they could surpass what I saw last night. The opening band and the guys from Dashboard are old friends that have been tight forever, so it was like a big jam-fest party up there all night, and it went on for roughly 4 hours all said and done. The pain in my legs and lower back is completely worth it.
I really wish bootlegging wasn't a crime, because you never get to see performances like that, and when you do, you forget them very fast and are forced to resort to telling people "It was awesome," but you can't really tell them why, and they therefore don't usually believe you. Holy long sentence.
Anyway, the show was really fun. Made some new friends, hooked up with some old ones, etc. I wish I could say I'd post pictures, but no cameras were allowed except disposables, which I was fresh out of. I did use my phone to record about ten seconds of a song though, that's pretty cool. Not great quality, but it's the principle of the thing.
So that's it for the day, hopefully I'll be able to post more frequently now so as not to lose all two of my loyal readers. Hi, mom.

Questions? Comments?

2005-09-09T14:52:00.000-04:00

I recently discovered that my blog was not open to anonymous posting, which may or may not have been the reason I haven't received many comments. So from here on, comments have been allowed for anyone, even without a user ID. Just be sure to leave your name so I know who to thank for all the wit.
Feel free to go back and comment on previous posts. And stay tuned to me and Clay, we have good things in the works.

Down And Nerdy

2005-09-08T13:44:00.000-04:00

I really don't like to rant much. But there are a few things that get on my nerves. Most of them I face at work every day; even as I type right now, in fact.
But today, we're gonna talk about one in particular. And by we, I of course mean I.
I'm sure we've all noticed how popular superhero movies are getting. Many of us even realize that most of these movies are (loosely) based on comic books that, in some cases, are older than we are.
My problem starts here: I've been into those comic books and those stories for years. But not until now has it been socially acceptable; up to this point, it was something you kept hidden unless you actually WANTED to be an outcast.
It doesn't end with comic books. A lot of people have gotten into science fiction lately, which I applaud. But they're only doing it because everybody else is doing it. Same with books. Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter caused a HUGE increase in reading, and I think that's great. But it only happened because people decided it was now cool, and therefore worthy of their attention. It's a bandwagon philosophy that drives me crazy.
I guess I just worry that I'm losing my nerd identity. It's not that I want reparations, or even recognition that I was the first to be into certain things. Most people I know that are newcomers to these fields come to me with their questions. What really happened to Jean Grey? What does VISOR stand for? So, you have to turn pages to move the story forward? I'm more than willing to answer questions like these. But it's very strange to me that being a nerd is cool all of a sudden. I don't want to be a cool nerd. Nerd defines me. Cool nerd is an oxymoron. And while all these posers might bow to my superior knowledge of all things trivial now, I know that next week when the new trend hits, they'll drop me like a Tomagotchi.
So in conclusion, keep reading. Keep watching movies based on comic books. Stay interested in sci-fi. They all have great advantages, and keep your imagination working hard. But don't try to make it trendy. That just makes me feel cheap.

Clay's Days

2005-09-07T10:55:00.000-04:00

Poor Clayton, I think I inadvertently made him feel bad about his blog. I don't think you're a perfectionist Clay, you just do a good, thorough job. And your blog's great, even when it is a bit sporadic, at least it's always entertaining. I'm still trying to get mine off the ground, which isn't really as easy as you'd think.
I finally used my Six Flags season pass for the first time on Monday, it only took me three months. I tend to forget how much fun that place can be with the right people. I'm planning on going to Frightfest in October, and maybe the international festival at the end of the month. I have discount coupons to both, so if anyone's interesting in tagging along let me know.
Alright, nerd time. I've been playing X-Men Legends on my PS2, and I'm impressed and dissappointed all at the same time. I like that they have so many of the characters in it, and that they can all level up and gain a lot of pretty awesome abilities. I also like that when they get enough experience in battles, you can level them up immediately on the pause screen and give them their new abilities. The main problem is that battles usually end up being not much more than a lot of button mashing, which is really sad for a supposed RPG. I think the fun will eventually wear off, but not until the novelty of having so many of my favorite characters does.
And if nothing else, it fills the time until I can grab the new Zelda and Kingdom Hearts games.
That's all for nerd time today.
I'm still looking forward to a generation-spanning volleyball game. I really hope it happens this year sometime, I hate waiting through the winter to play again. I'd really like to get a chance to take on the old crew, see how we measure up. I think they'd be pretty good games. We could make a big ol' party out of it; barbecue, pool, volleyball, the whole nine. Well, maybe not the pool now, but all the rest would work still.
I'm gonna get back to work, though I truly detest being here today. People are just great.
Now go check out Clayton's blog, it's awesome.

My Blood Hurts

2005-08-30T09:46:00.000-04:00

I did actually see March of the Penguins, and was very impressed. There was some amazing cinematography through the whole thing, and it really made you appreciate what an interesting life these animals have. I'd definitely recommend it, though it might not hold some people's interest the way it held mine; in that case, see it as a rental.
Now that the show's director has started school, we may have more difficulty getting studio time, but we still plan on doing the show. We just need some ideas still, if you have them. While we do occasionally come up with some funny material, our shows are just not long enough, so we could use a little input with what you, the viewers, want to see. Not that I assume any of you are really viewers. Or that anyone's actually reading this. But if you are, again, feel free to comment, or email the show at joystickwhale@gmail.com.
In other news, once I had all my information and forms ready, the passport process was a breeze. The Post Office made it really easy, even if it was still a little pricy. And they kept my birth certificate, which isn't really too cool. They said they send it back with the actual passport, which could be up to six weeks. Which we all know really means at least three months. I just hope I don't have a need for it between now and then.
Now I'm off to work, answering phones and fixing the mistakes of intelligence-challenged people. To sum up, penguins are good. Passport applications are expensive. And people are stupid. If you have any questions regarding these simple truths, please let me know.

Travel's A Curse

2005-08-23T09:41:00.000-04:00

I'm getting a passport finally, and I'm just now realizing I should be documenting the entire process, because it's entirely ridiculous. Another of those real-life occurences that are inherently funny, once you get over the initial annoyance. Not only do you need to provide six separate things when you apply, you have to pay almost $100 now. But not all to one person or group, that would be far too easy. There are three different charges that have to be paid to at least two different organizations. That is, after you've filled out the application form, which could take days if you don't have all the right information on hand. Fortunately, all of that was easy for me, and I filled it out on my computer here and printed it all out. Now I just have to get two color pictures, 2" x 2", with my head between 1" and 1 3/8".
At least the whole process isn't strictly regulated.
Moving on, some of you may have noticed that my buddy Clayton hasn't been paying much attention to his blog lately. I feel as if we should start an online petition to get him to resume his daily posts, as they were always a good time. This petition should probably be in the form of mass comments on his latest post, which you can check out by using the "Clay" link on the right. I'm sure he'd love to hear from you, together we can make a difference, etc.
Feel free to also bombard joystickwhale@gmail.com with ideas for our show, whatever they may be. We're completely open to ideas, criticism, praise, you name it. We get all excited when we see a name in the inbox that ISN'T one of our own. Make sure you let us know who to thank for the info you leave, so we can credit you with it. We're very open to that sort of thing, just look at the credits on our show.
I have big plans to see March of the Penguins today, ever since I read an Awake! article on them a few months ago. I tell you, those guys are always a step ahead. The movie is at the Regal now, so I'll be checking out a matinee this afternoon, and I'll try to remember to post some thoughts on the experience. I really hope it lives up to the hype.
Now I'm off to find out who I have to make these cursed fees payable to. And don't worry, I'm sure the documentary will continue, as these things never go as smoothly as they're not really designed to go anyway.

Not-So-Public Forum

2005-08-19T09:43:00.000-04:00

I don't feel as if I've influenced public opinion in a while. I'm gonna work on that.
I hope that not too many people saw last night's show, as it was rather poor. We had some serious sounds issues right at the start, which tends to set a bad tone. But at least we can say we did a live show once. Or at least I can say I did a live show once more. I think it's way more fun that way.
So everyone keep the ideas flowing over the weekend, we can use it all next week, since we're not going to do a news segment this time around. We'll also have some friends of mine visiting from out of town, so we can get some fresh perspective on our 'craft.'
Also, make sure to go to Heather's party Saturday, it's sure to be a good time.
As for public opinion, if you've been influenced, let me know.

Broken Thumbs and Sunburns

2005-08-16T14:38:00.000-04:00

I went to get my thumb checked out again today, and the x-ray looks exactly like it did three weeks ago: very broken.
But apparently, it's good that the bone hasn't moved or buckled at all, so I just have to keep it protected until it stops hurting. Which is really not much of an improvement, but at least I can play video games again. Which comes in handy when I want to cream Alex at Mario Kart.
I've also returned to the volleyball world, which I'm very happy about. Except that playing yesterday got me a pretty good sunburn.
I have just learned that Coco Montoya will be playing tonight at Tuesday in the Park at Artpark. I've heard from a lot of people that she's pretty good, though I haven't personally seen her myself. For more info on the show, go to www.artpark.net. It starts at 6:30, and there's no admission charge, though parking is either $6 or $7.

Live From New York...

2005-08-09T09:12:00.000-04:00

This week's show could very possibly be a live event, complete with callers and no teleprompters. As usual, it will air on Thursday night first, and then again a few times over the weekend. The important thing to note is the time of the first show, which will probably be sometime around 8 or 8:30 Thursday night, which might pose a problem for some participants and viewers.
We plan on putting the studio's number on-screen for anyone to call in. We don't have the ability to put them directly on air, but we can type their messages into the prompter or have someone relaying messages or questions. We'd also like to have a couple smaller skits or sketches, such as This Week in History, a fan favorite, to throw in there every few minutes to break up the monotony of the live show, and give the personalities a chance to switch out or re-gather their thoughts.
In any event, come up with some funny stuff and get it to one of the crew, or email it to joystickwhale@gmail.com so we can use it.
And don't forget to watch on Thursday night.

Internet Killed the Video Star

2005-08-02T11:19:00.000-04:00

I don't foresee being able to do a show this week. This upsets me.
I really don't have time to even do my portion of the show, let alone throw together a whole half hour of material in two days. There was talk of going live, or mostly live, which I'm totally okay with, but then we'd still need material. So if anyone is interested in doing a random, one-take show on Wednesday night, let me know so we can plan something. Otherwise, plan on next week being the next episode, and look for more hysterical hijinks. And also awesome alliteration.
I'm noticing that it's kind of hard to keep up with material for a blog. It's fun to have, but no so much fun to try and fill up if you don't have a specific subject in mind. Which is generally the case in my world, since I write this at work, where I can either type or stare at a wall.

I just tried staring at the wall, it wasn't so great.
I also tried staring at NHL.com today, I'm enjoying the anticipation for the hockey season to start. Opening night is the busiest in NHL history, with all 30 teams playing the same night. There's also a lot of news about the draft this past weekend, and it's interesting to see where teams put most of their focus.
Go check out the site, there's lots of fun.

My Friends Call Me Demosthenes

2005-07-29T16:01:00.000-04:00

I do believe I am getting better at the job I hate, which is rather distressing. My usual job at work is quite repetitive and mindless, and therefore somewhat enjoyable for me. The job I've been forced to take for the next few weeks while my thumb is non-functional has none of those perks. I have been exposed to new procedures, new tasks, and new ideas, all of which give me new headaches.
However, this new job also comes with a desk. A desk that holds a computer. A computer that connects to the internet. An internet that lets me blog to my heart's content, thereby influencing public opinion as I have always desired to do.
True, this is all in my head. But I need something to keep my mind off of learning new things and making myself more of an asset to the company. Who wants to do that?
I've been accumulating a lot of work I have to catch up on, too. That's never good. I actually have a 'pending' file now, and I'd really love to burn it. I can't believe people actually strive to acheive jobs like this.
So anyway, here I am at work, with nothing to do, looking at my pending file, typing on my computer on my desk at my kinda new job. Man, I'm hungry.
I think maybe I'll un-pend that file after all.

My Issue With Video Games

2005-07-27T13:15:00.000-04:00

Yes, I have a slight problem. Namely, that practically every video game out there requires extensive left-thumb action. I've never taken particular note of this fact before, but having lost the use of the single aforementioned left thumb that has been alotted to me, I find myself unable to play my favorite games. Or my least favorite games. Or even the ones I'm just so-so about. And I refuse to buy Dance Dance Revolution just so I can say I'm gaming, because I don't believe that counts.
You may think that tv, movies, or books could waste my time just as effectively. But the sad truth is, they just can't. They do have their high points, especially books, which I am a HUGE fan of. But if I want to do something fairly mindless, but still requiring some small effort on my part, since I'm not married, I have few options other than video games.
I've heard rumors that Nintendo's new system will be a lot more innovative than the rest of the next-gen consoles. Wireless controllers are great, but come on, my vcr's ahead in that tech department by about 40 years. I'm talking pressure sensitive EVERYTHING, not just buttons and joysticks; different possible controller setups so you're not so reliant on, say, a left thumb; just give me something that moves the industry forward instead of keeping it where it is so it can stagnate.
So in closing, if you're a video game enthusiast, like I know just about everyone who bothers to read this is, don't break your thumb. At least not till Nintendo starts its Revolution. It's pretty sad to see Link swinging his sword and throwing his boomerang, but never being able to move from the spot he's standing in.

Opening Statements

2005-07-25T15:08:00.000-04:00

So, here it is, a blog. It's funny how many people still have no idea what that is. I sometimes make them believe it's a vegetable. Or a curse; i.e. eat blog and die. But usually I try to explain it to them correctly, by which I mean that I tell them I really don't know, just read it.
Surprisingly, I don't think many people will read it.
I really have no current rants, other than the usuals, which include my job, my lack of money, my lack of spare time, etc. This week we add an injured digit to the list. My thumb was nearly severed when I caught it between a falling mahogany chest and a Silverback gorilla's teeth. Actually, I tripped and fell, and landed on it wrong. But spread around the first story; it makes me sound kind of heroic. Or at least not so clumsy.
I'm obviously quite new to this blog world, so my posts will no doubt be random and strange for a long time to come. I have chosen to embrace this rather than be upset by it, I hope you will too.