I have to take a moment to thank my wife once again for the magnificent gift. How many dorky guys like myself have a wife who will bring home something like FFXII???!?! I do (and she's mine, betches!)!!! She really wanted to get Mortal Kombat because it supports multiple players, so she could play as well (also cool!), but chose Final Fantasy because I wanted it so damn bad. Maybe I'll have to get her Mortal Kombat, or whatever game she wants...after I've gotten in some time and am willing to share the PS2 once again (I'm awful...).
I got some more play time in last night. I am *only* about 7 hours in to the game, still working through a few in-game tutorials (gambits was the latest one), but at this point I cannot explain how frickin' cool this game is.
Though I really, really want to, I doubt I will be playing much, if at all tonight. It's Election Day: the one time per year when politics becomes most like a sport, watching the results roll in to see what "team" will win. I am happy to report that every single one of my readers has reported they got out to vote [sadly I am the only person that looks at my blog - I voted, so turnout for Aimless Reality is 100%!]. I am also stoked to watch the Daily Show/Colbert Report live 1-hour report...should be some good stuff!
Peace,
Alphadork
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Monday, November 06, 2006
I Loves Me Some Good Music
I've been enjoying a bit of good music lately. I bought some new CDs...got B.B. King & Friends and Beck - The Information. Both are very good albums. Oh, I also got The John Popper Project for the wife, also a very good (and very interesting) album.
I also went to a couple of concerts during the last week. B.B. King came to town, so I went to see that show and am very happy I did. He is an excellent performer, and also a fantastic story teller. Even if you are not a fan of the blues, if you appreciate good music and ever have the opportunity to see B.B. King in concert, do so...it is an experience you will not regret.
I also got to see Ben Folds. I think this was my third or fourth time...it's always a good show. I truly enjoy his music, and enjoy his performances even more. He had recently purchased a little red synthesizer and was having quite a bit of fun with it. "Hold on, I have to do some scientific shit that's over your head. This thing...wait, let me tell you,...[looks closely at synth, apparently counting something]...this thing has 25, 26 knobs on it...it cost roughly $2600, and it has 26 knobs, so I guess it's about $100 a knob".
On a final note, I recenly received Final Fantasy XII for my PS2 as a gift from my WONDERFUL wife. All I want to do right now is play it, the game is great, the storyline is fun, the graphics are quite good for the PS2, and the gameplay is even better than FFX was. If you are a fan of roleplaying/adventure/action games, this is a must-have!
Peace,
Alphadork
I also went to a couple of concerts during the last week. B.B. King came to town, so I went to see that show and am very happy I did. He is an excellent performer, and also a fantastic story teller. Even if you are not a fan of the blues, if you appreciate good music and ever have the opportunity to see B.B. King in concert, do so...it is an experience you will not regret.
I also got to see Ben Folds. I think this was my third or fourth time...it's always a good show. I truly enjoy his music, and enjoy his performances even more. He had recently purchased a little red synthesizer and was having quite a bit of fun with it. "Hold on, I have to do some scientific shit that's over your head. This thing...wait, let me tell you,...[looks closely at synth, apparently counting something]...this thing has 25, 26 knobs on it...it cost roughly $2600, and it has 26 knobs, so I guess it's about $100 a knob".
On a final note, I recenly received Final Fantasy XII for my PS2 as a gift from my WONDERFUL wife. All I want to do right now is play it, the game is great, the storyline is fun, the graphics are quite good for the PS2, and the gameplay is even better than FFX was. If you are a fan of roleplaying/adventure/action games, this is a must-have!
Peace,
Alphadork
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Control
I do not consider myself a 'control freak'. I am usually quite laid-back and often allow others to run the show. I am also usually incredibly patient. Therefore, I find it interesting how stressed and anxious I can become over certain things that are just beyond my control and require waiting. I am feeling particularly bad today because two such items that I feel to be significant have arisen.
I cannot explain how frustrated I have been with my health insurance...my company changed insurance at the beginning of this year to save us money on our premiums, which initially meant my deductible was going up; but this also meant my frustration would as well. From delays to denied claims because of their errors, it has been one thing after another. The latest is a situation in which my employer deposits some money to pay a portion of my deductible, for which I have filed a claim for reimbursement since I have paid the entire deductible myself. I received a denial letter because I am "not enrolled," so now I must wait for someone else to get this cleared up...
The second thing is a series of comments written and some body language that cause me extra concern for someone "in need of forgiveness." However, due to schedules, I must wait...
On another note about frustrations (is when I need to vent the only time I feel compelled to write??): I recently received notice from my auto insurance that subrogation for my accident exactly one year ago has finally been finalized through arbitration. The result: 50% paid by each company, thus I got a check for 50% of my deductible back. I really feel I should have received it all, but just about everything in the situation was working against me...you would think it to be a simple open and shut case when a person pulls out in front of another who has right-of-way and they collide, but I guess the fact that she was more attractive than me and had friends in tow, whereas I was alone, meant that all of the blame could not be hers. Oh well, what's done is done...I can close that chapter and consider it lesson learned.
On a happier note: the Cardinals won the fucking World Series, bitches!!! I went to a game, and it was one of the best things I have done in my life! Woohoo!
Peace,
Alphadork
I cannot explain how frustrated I have been with my health insurance...my company changed insurance at the beginning of this year to save us money on our premiums, which initially meant my deductible was going up; but this also meant my frustration would as well. From delays to denied claims because of their errors, it has been one thing after another. The latest is a situation in which my employer deposits some money to pay a portion of my deductible, for which I have filed a claim for reimbursement since I have paid the entire deductible myself. I received a denial letter because I am "not enrolled," so now I must wait for someone else to get this cleared up...
The second thing is a series of comments written and some body language that cause me extra concern for someone "in need of forgiveness." However, due to schedules, I must wait...
On another note about frustrations (is when I need to vent the only time I feel compelled to write??): I recently received notice from my auto insurance that subrogation for my accident exactly one year ago has finally been finalized through arbitration. The result: 50% paid by each company, thus I got a check for 50% of my deductible back. I really feel I should have received it all, but just about everything in the situation was working against me...you would think it to be a simple open and shut case when a person pulls out in front of another who has right-of-way and they collide, but I guess the fact that she was more attractive than me and had friends in tow, whereas I was alone, meant that all of the blame could not be hers. Oh well, what's done is done...I can close that chapter and consider it lesson learned.
On a happier note: the Cardinals won the fucking World Series, bitches!!! I went to a game, and it was one of the best things I have done in my life! Woohoo!
Peace,
Alphadork
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Pope Benedict: Western Culture Too Secular
The pope spoke Thursday at a convention of the Italian Catholic Church, stating that modern Western culture is "unable to dialogue with religion" because we have become too secular and must return to our "Christian root".
From the story :
He goes on to say that because we are radically and profoundly separated "not only from Christianity, but more generally from the religious and moral traditions of humanity," that we are "unable to undertake a real dialogue with other cultures in which the religious dimension is strongly present." Is being separated from the "moral traditions of humanity" the same as being immoral? ...maybe amoral? Either way, it seems to me many of the traditional morals are still the same, but maybe he's focused on the "big" issues, like abortion (which really is a personal distinction between moral and immoral, because that determination is based on a piece of information [is it life or no?] that really cannot be determined by fact).
I do agree that we are doing a worse job than ever of communicating with other nations, especially those in the Middle East, where religion is one of their main focuses of life, but isn't the leader of our nation a Christian appointed by God?
Peace,
Alphadork
From the story :
He identified "utilitarianism" - the philosophy that prescribes the maximization of personal happiness and pleasure - and "relativism" - a doctrine whereby all criteria of judgment are relative to the individuals and situations involved - among the ills of modern culture.I don't know if it is the pope or the writer of this story, but someone has this wrong. Utilitarianism is putting the good of the many before the good of the few...maximum happiness and pleasure for the maximum number of people, not personal happiness and pleasure. And what is wrong with relativism? That is why half of the stories in the Bible don't make any sense...they are relative to the time in which they were written, relative to the culture and experiences of the writer.
He goes on to say that because we are radically and profoundly separated "not only from Christianity, but more generally from the religious and moral traditions of humanity," that we are "unable to undertake a real dialogue with other cultures in which the religious dimension is strongly present." Is being separated from the "moral traditions of humanity" the same as being immoral? ...maybe amoral? Either way, it seems to me many of the traditional morals are still the same, but maybe he's focused on the "big" issues, like abortion (which really is a personal distinction between moral and immoral, because that determination is based on a piece of information [is it life or no?] that really cannot be determined by fact).
I do agree that we are doing a worse job than ever of communicating with other nations, especially those in the Middle East, where religion is one of their main focuses of life, but isn't the leader of our nation a Christian appointed by God?
Peace,
Alphadork
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Kudos to Claire
The Talent campaign is becomming desperate and sinking to new lows as he turns up the attacks on McCaskill. McCaskill, however, remains confident, witty, and willing to scrap...nicely.
In the recent Springfield debate, Talent attacked McCaskill relentlessly, questioning her integrity and whether or not she pays her taxes. McCaskill, however, refuses to follow him down that path.
During the debate, Talent's attacks used a method recently discussed on The Daily Show, in which one simply states something they want to present like it's fact in the form of a question. It therefore isn't incorrect if it's untrue because you are asking a question, but it still puts the question on everyone's mind. His was regarding whether or not McCaskill pays her taxes (actually, more along the lines of whether or not her husband pays his own), saying "We have reason to believe that maybe she and her husband haven't paid all of them".
Well, I have my own allegations of Talent. Does Jim Talent have a mind of his own, or is he just an unasking, brainwashed, robotic rubber stamp for the Bush Administration? We have reason to believe that he does not think for himself and is therefore not a good senator for the state of Missouri.
Peace,
Alphadork
In the recent Springfield debate, Talent attacked McCaskill relentlessly, questioning her integrity and whether or not she pays her taxes. McCaskill, however, refuses to follow him down that path.
"This is just about smear," McCaskill added. "I will not go there with Sen. Talent. I will never attack his family, and I think Missourians need to put their foot down and say if we're going to change Washington, we're going to change the way these campaigns are being run."Note that Talent's version of "changing Washington" has nothing to do with actually changing Washington; he just cites some legislation he was involved in that the general public would support.
Talent said the election should be about changing Washington, and asserted: "I've done that." He cited legislation requiring greater use of renewable fuels and cracking down on methamphetamine ingredients, among other things.
During the debate, Talent's attacks used a method recently discussed on The Daily Show, in which one simply states something they want to present like it's fact in the form of a question. It therefore isn't incorrect if it's untrue because you are asking a question, but it still puts the question on everyone's mind. His was regarding whether or not McCaskill pays her taxes (actually, more along the lines of whether or not her husband pays his own), saying "We have reason to believe that maybe she and her husband haven't paid all of them".
Well, I have my own allegations of Talent. Does Jim Talent have a mind of his own, or is he just an unasking, brainwashed, robotic rubber stamp for the Bush Administration? We have reason to believe that he does not think for himself and is therefore not a good senator for the state of Missouri.
Peace,
Alphadork
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