Monday, April 20, 2009

Rekindling an old flame.

I logged onto WoW yesterday. I ran 3 instances on my mage and knocked out a level or so. It was fun, in that nostalgic awesome sort of way. Everyone in the group had trash gear, and despite not playing for awhile I was clearly the most experienced person in the groups I ran. All of the key players were there too: The loot hungry hybrid class, the rogue that complains alot and acts as if he knows everything about the game when he clearly doesn't, and the guy that claims he's been playing since beta yet was unaware how reputation works. The good news is I was there, and I could help those people become better players by either informing them or telling them to stfu and press buttons. Generally, it was the latter of those.

The day(s) before I let my nephew run Naxx. The comp upstairs can't handle naxx on it's 802.11b wireless connection, so I let him play on my comp and just did other stuff. He pretty much got it all down, but the group stopped on horsemen for the night and left that, saph, and KT up. Too bad they started without him the next night and finished, neglecting him the only gear he was in Naxx to get. But my nephew didn't do bad at all. He spot healed as needed, rezzed people, buffed, and didn't die during Heigan (I was a bit surprised). I told him what to do sometimes, but other than that he pressed all the right buttons and wasn't an idiot about things.

Then when he logged off I see a group leader saying they needed 1 more DPS with experience to run a Sarth 2D. I figure what the hell. After about 9 wipes, we get it. The guild that was running it (Snakepit I believe) seemed like fairly intelligent people, so props to them for the kill. I didn't get anything, but it was a nice challenge nonetheless. I remember Sarth 3d being significantly easier on PTR when I did it on my rogue. Hell, 2D was difficult, but mainly just due to graphic bugs that hadn't been fixed since 3.1 (Invisible flame wave and void zones, hurrah!) I'll admit, I died to a void zone ONCE. In my defense, IT WAS SNEAKY.

So now, I picked up a new job. It's not bad at all (so far). 3rd shift, plastic shop. Watch parts fall into a box, check em, put a sticker on the box, tape it. Repeat for 8 hours. Collect a paycheck in a week. Boring, yes. Better than my previous job, absolutely. Now the only problem I have is I have to go see my one nephew in prison in 2 hours, my other nephew in lockup after that, and then leave for a concert by 4. And I have yet to catch a bit of sleep.

I think when Izo hits the states and he and I are on the same (roughly) sleep / play schedule, i'll probably play again. I fear it, but inevitably is....inevitable? In soviet russia, WARCRAFT QUITS YOU.

Oh what a bother. WTB Sleep 800g, or will trade Frozen Orb x20 PST.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

This is long, and also not boring.

To those of you unaware, my nephew (who's moreso like a younger brother), has been a fugitive the last few months. Awhile ago he had some charges pending for a very minor crime and rather than face the charges, he left. Well, he's a nice kid, but not the brightest at times. He moved back to Erie for awhile, only to have feds realize he was back here and check for him some more. Realizing he was running out of options here, he decided to leave again. However, before he left, his girlfriend's mother wanted to see her daughter (Who is an adult), as her daughter decided before hand that she was going to be moving with my nephew, regardless of what may happen. Her mother, knowing that he was on the run, decided to hand him over to the police. So when they showed up, he was taken into custody, and due to running, faces 5 years over petty charges. Yea, it wasn't smart to run - but had the mother left her hand out of the matter he'd still have his freedom.

This legal system is fucked. A 20 year old is going to lose out on 5 years of his life because of a crime that in my opinion shouldn't be a crime. Yes, he was a fugitive. Yes, he was running from the law. Wouldn't you? Tell me you're willing to give up your freedom for something you don't think should be illegal. What if they made reading illegal and you were caught: Would you go to jail over it, or run away to continue to read? How about breathing someone else's oxygen? Give your freedom up, for breathing my air. Am I becoming too extreme? Hardly.

He was hanging around some bad types, i'll admit, and if not for them he wouldn't be in this mess. He had a joint, but the other kids had something else. The cops that were patrolling noticed his car had an expired inspection sticker. They hit the sirens and the kids in his car threw what they had under his seats and ran. He stayed in the vehicle, told them he had a joint and was unaware that his "friends" threw a bag of crack under his seat. Possession is 9/10th of the law, which is just stupid. If I sell you a stolen gun, you're more guilty than I would be for stealing it. Funny how that works, huh? Ignorance isn't innocence, and pigs prey on that.

The reason police need to issue so many citations is to support themselves. They make laws simply to generate revenue. Their reason for creation is not their current reason to "police" and they exist only to be autonomous and provide a job market. I believe however NOTHING should exist solely to perpetuate itself while victimizing others. Of course, i'll have the naysayers and the "law abiding citizens", and the ignorant, blind audience who neglects to have a single thought for themselves. I govern myself by my own laws and don't need to steal from others in order to feed myself. Charging someone 300-500$ for going "too fast" or parking in the "wrong spot" is stealing, whether you want to believe it or not. As for the real criminals - they're hard targets to catch. Which would you rather do: Chase down killers, murderers, rapists, thieves, and other gun toting, violent stricken, potentially dangerous individuals or sit in a comfy car, listening to tom petty, waving your gun in people's faces because they have no other choice but to listen and stfu? If you got paid the same, whether you actually did something or sat by idly, honestly tell me you'd make the choice to do something. If you can, I can tell you aren't a standard police officer.

Federal police and special teams do things. City cops victimize citizens. When you're in trouble, you can call the police, but who will protect you from them? Do you trust the cops? If my life was in danger, I would trust myself before anyone else because I know I won't let myself down. That guy though: He only does it because he gets paid to, and if he fails, he gets paid the same amount of money. So does he care? Not really. Your life, expendable. His life, perpetual. Because of you, the coward; the fool. This isn't isolated - it's everywhere. Open your fucking eyes. The only person you will ever be able to trust is yourself, because even those who are paid to protect you will turn you into the bad guy if given the chance.

To say i'm infuriated with our entire legal system would be like saying Jesus wasn't too thrilled when he learned he was going to get nailed to some wood and left to dry. This whole country is circling the shit stained toilet bowl, citizens standing by idly. So why do I want to become a federal agent? To progress through the ranks, become someone important, and change all the bullshit. Can I? Who fucking knows, but everyone starts somewhere. If I do get there, you'll know. I'm aware that some day I will die. People seem to forget that life is finite. But when I do, I want my name to be carried on forever. I'd rather be a revolutionary than a hero. A fool knows no fear, a hero shows no fear, and a revolutionary fights on despite the overwhelming presence of it. I guess that's always been a dream of mine: To incite so much free thought that it changes not one thing, but everything. Or my life could be snuffed, a fleck of dust on the pages of eternity, blown away without so much as a second thought.

How cruel life can be.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

A possible future

I checked my application status for my government job. It was updated this morning: "You should be contacted within 30-60 days about employment opportunities and your training dates." So it looks like all that work in the application process paid off. Now, I need to be able to run 3 miles in 21 or so minutes and learn to swim within 30-60 days. This will not be easy and i'm probably going to need to hit the gym twice a day now, if that's even possible with my current work schedule. On off days, sure. But on work days, i'm gonna be completely dead tired.

But if it all pans out and I'm actually able to pull it off, will it be worth it? Absolutely. I get to chill with Brian in Cali, not have to worry about money issues, and have a great job that gives me some awesome skills if I decide to further my career. Plus if Jason gets the job too, we'll have the crew out there, enjoying the beautiful sun and scenery while sitting on a wad of cash. That is unless our current presidential administration screws something up along the way. Knowing my luck, just as my training finishes, my job will be nixed. That's just my luck.

Well, here's for hoping I have a future.

Addicted to RTS?

I haven't felt this enthralled by an RTS since Red Alert or Generals came out. Warhammer 40k: DOW2 is excellent. Alot less micromanaging of buildings and units and alot more focus on keeping the units you have alive. Each squad has special abilities, they get weapon upgrades from missions, and level as if it were an RPG. It's very new and very appealing. No buildings and tech trees to worry about, no usual "Each new mission unlocks a new unit type in the campaign" as per nearly every RTS out there in single player mode. Plus, you can link up with friends and do the campaign together if you'd like. It's very, very awesome.

First night of the blog. No idea what the hell this all amounts to other than rambling and probably asking Ixxo for some sort of help in managing / setting this up because he's Mr. Internetz. I believe I probably know more about the useless internet shit, but as far as technical knowledge he has me beat hands down.

I'm tired. Gonna knock out a few more missions, maybe check out shoutwire a bit and then pass out.