| My return |
[Aug. 8th, 2007|02:58 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | OSP at UAH | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  contemplative | ] |
It has been some time since I last tread this overgrown path. But travel it again I shall.
In the time since I last visited this garden I once carefully tended, I have separated myself from the big brown ball and chain: UPS. I now work at UAH as well as go to school there. I have opened a website dedicated to Magic: The Gathering (http://www.thepowernine.com/blog).
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So I went in search of things from my past hoping that, in some manner, they still exist. I was wrong. The O.C. Supertones have been gone since 2005, Audio Adrenaline wrapped up this year, and I realized just how long it has been since my first concert eight years ago today.
I have determined that, while I treasure them to no end, I deeply hate those moments when a smell, sound, color, or change in the air pulls you back to a time you treasure. Being that I am so intently determined to vividly remember every event of my life, these moments are often.
More later. I'm going home. I think I'll transfer my blogging activity to my own site. We'll see.
Later |
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| No Appology From Me... |
[Apr. 24th, 2007|10:15 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  pissed off | ] |
Recently it has been reported that the U.S. congress is drafting an official apology to black citizens (not African Americans - you can't have it both ways) for the slavery that there ancestors were put through. It has recently come to my attention that Gov. Bob Riley is push legislation for Alabama to issue it's apology. I got one thing to say to that: I am not apologizing. Why? No, I'm not racist by any stretch of the imagination, I support and believe in equality. In equality not special treatment. To those that think it will "repair" race relations and move them forward, I believe that to be incorrect. If this apology is issued, then it will be nothing more than a constant and consistent attempt to bring shame on the white population. I refuse, absolutely refuse to apologize for something I had nothing to do with. Furthermore, I can trace my lineage back to Germany and the west coast respectively during the period of time that slavery was taking place.
Just a note on the slavery thing. The black community seems to be missed informed of the slave trade. Roughly 400000 slaves were brought to North America. Over 4 million (yes Million) were sent to the middle east and asian countries. And it was tribal Affrican's that were selling out there own people to the Portuguese, not the white man, who in turn sent them off to the americas. Furthermore, more slaves went to South America than North America, and were treated far woorse down there than here.
In conclusion I refuse to apologize on the grounds that I am not guilty of said crime, I refuse to promote the stereotypical ideas that the evil white man came and stole people away from Africa, and that I will not be made to feel obligated to lay down and take the verbal pounding for being white.
IF you dont like what i've said, you either have been subjected to "white guilt" or are so concerned with politcal correctness that you are too afraid to grow a pair and speak up. |
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| I'm not dead (yet) [parodon the Richard Pryor reference] |
[Jan. 5th, 2007|11:51 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Heranos | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  creative | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Love Story - The Gabe Dixon Band | ] |
No, ladies and gentlemen (if anyone still reads this stuff), i have not died, killed myself, disappeared, been raptured, abducted by aliens(illegal or otherwise), or fallen off the edge of the earth (though i may have come close once or twice). I've been taking a bit of a creative (and intellectual) sabbatical. I have no stories for you, nor do i have a poem, or even a rant offending Republicans, Democrats, Christians, Mormons, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Americans, Mexicans, Canadians (darn you Allan Thicke), or Estonians. I just want you to know i am alive. And as long as livejournal(much like SETI) still broadcasts to a deaf audience, i will speak.
Okay, maybe a short story scene... you already know i am a liar.
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I need to tell you someting...
The thunder outside was constant and consistent. The power had been out for two hours and there seemed to be little hope for it's return for some time. The rain could be heard blowing hard against the windows of the little house shared by the young married couple. A fire burned almost half-heartedly in the red brick fireplace, and the young lovers liked it that way. It seemed that the fire offered a kind of cautious optimism in the midst of this storm... the kind of optimism only found in a little child... or new love. It was no secret that they had been in love for some time... but a doubt fell about the young women. Did she really love him? Had she wasted the last few years of her life? What was she giving up for him? She turned to her eager lover. He had a ring. "I need to tell you something first." she said.
"Is everything okay?" He responded uneasily. |
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| Review: Sid Meier's Civilization IV + Warlords EP |
[Aug. 14th, 2006|10:58 am] |
The Civilization series is highly reguarded inthe gaming world. But with it's latest iteration it seems to have slipped a little. Let's start with the changes made from Civilization III.
Graphics: Yes, the game is in wonderful 3D. With the ability to zoom in close enough to see the faces of the units, and zoom out far enough to see the eniter scope of the world this is the biggest jump in graphics quality I have seen in the history of this series. However, with the new graphics system problems arose. I continually have been unable to see the fluid animations that trigger when an event or technology has been completed. The hover text that gives you informatioon about the units, technology specs, and relations will fail to appear, often leaving the player in the dark about the respective target.
Game play: All of the hotkeys you remember from Civ3 are here, so it was wonderfully easy to jump right into and play with a very low learning curve. This is the problem. The lack of difficulty present in nearly all the difficulty settings will leave you yearning for the Civ3 days, when Regent was an uphill struggle, and Diety was just a dream. However, the barbarian system can turn any of the difficulty levels into hell itself. Even at the lowest level your cities will be over-run with barbarians in 10 turns. That isnt even enough time to get much defense up.
Additions and Removals: In Civ3 you never really could tell very acurately how a foreign leader felt about you, but in Civ4 you can see what has made that leader happy/angry via the hover text pop-up over his face... when it appears. A whole crap load of special units. I welcome this change, it gives the country more flavor. Religions and costomizable governments. These are my favorite additions. I love being able to choose a state religion, and creating my own hybrid government with Sufferage and communist state owned property. Removals: Aside from the challenge, poloution management is nearly gone, taking away the struggle for a clean environment. A welcome removal is the strictly linear tech progression, now there are other ways to get to what you need and you can set your tech research on the first turn so there is no interuption.
Praises/Gripes: Praises: The graphics really add a depth to the game making each unit more personal. Gripes: The graphics issues, hover text issues, and sometimes poor sound quality. The ease of play, and the fact the Warlord EP didnt add much more than a few new nations/leaders and more unique people.
In conlusion: If you are a fan of the previous version of Civilization, stick with it. The challenges you have learned to overcome and adapt to will make playing Civ4 way too easy for you. Until some of the graphics issues can be delt with and the difficulty be adjusted, I cant say it's a great next step up from Civ3. That said, when you can adjust to the significant changes, the game is fun, just not a challenge.
With a fond memory for Civ3 and love of the 3D in Civ4, i cannot whole-heartedly recommend Civ4 + Warlord EP.
This is a 6/10. - Wait until they are bundled and cheaper. |
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| Ane lets address Racism, shall we |
[Jun. 22nd, 2006|03:40 pm] |
Okay, If you at all know me then you know how much I admire Carlos Mencia, so pardon me if i drift into his mindset.
When it comes to racism and sexism I have just about had it. I am tired of being accused of appressing, and holding back certain groups. On a nearly constant basis I hear of how whites wont let blacks do such and such. Or how whites get the handouts and blacks have to toil for wht little they get. I'de like to address this group first.
The majority of racial issues are just old fires being squirted with lighter fluid. Creating flare-ups that quickly die down. The point is, most of the time whites fight back, is because the fire is being stired up and we know we have no recourse. Lets face it, we will loose almost every case of racism. Why? The case is thrown before it sees it's time. Why? Fear. If we win, it's cause of a white jury. Please, stop poking the fire.
Women (this will get me in trouble with women, but too dang bad). Yes, the female folk. Yes, there is a lack of appreciation for the stay at home mothers. But I have a small problem concerning the working women. Women want equal rights. No, they dont. They want equal pay yet want exceptional treatment. So men have tried to give equal treatment. Where does that land us? In court and sensitivity classes. Men talk about men things, yet when a woman wants to be equal to the men, then men have to stand down. That is degrading, and wrong. Sure, you were degraded, women, but if you want the money, and to be treated like the men, then you deal with what comes with it.
The middle easterners. Leave them the heck alone. Dang, if they want to kill each other let them. It is not our place to interfear with them. And as far as those here, leave them alone. A few bad apples doesnt spoil the whole basket. We round them up and put 'em away. Yet when an american commits an attrocity, it's not everyone of us that gets punished, no, it's that one and we insist on that. Why is that fair? We want to force, I mean, spread our ways on the world, and we cant even set a presidence of equal punishment.
And in the spirit of Mr. Mencia, I am tired of everyone's problems being everyone elses problem. We never take responsibility for ourselves. Bad kid? NO, he's not bad, he has ADD. Crappy job a result of not finishing high school? Not your fault, it's societies fault for setting the standards too high (and yes i have heard that excuse). Cant get a car loan because you dont pay your credit card bills? Of course it's not your fault, the company made you get that card with the 19% interest rate. Really fat? Even obese? Why would it be your fault, all you did was order a doubel quarter pounder with cheese super sized 3 times a week (while adding a diet coke to cut off your nose)? McDonalds must take the fault. I mean, it's not like the doctors have told you consuming 8000 calories a day will kill you. It's never your fault in America. You never have to answer for your mistakes. Look at the justice system (that's it's own post).
And finally, my favorite, the people who dissagree with America ( Russia, France, Germany, yada yada yada). It's not us that are in the wrong. It is them. They dont want to go kill innocent people with us, so they are wrong. That's a great stand to take. |
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| Chrsitianity Soapbox (again?) |
[Jun. 22nd, 2006|03:22 pm] |
Okay, it's time, again, to take a stand and probably offend the hardcore.
Something has been bugging me for some time about the christian parents and religious groups who refuse to let their kids read Harry Potter or watch disney movies because of their fantasy content. Lets take an objective point of view:
A talking mouse brings brooms to life to do his work (Fantasia) - absoloutely saitanic
A man with power over a whole sea (Moses)- Completely believeble.
A lady talks to a mirror that gives her answers (Snow White) - can corrupt our kids
A man talks to a burning bush (Moses, again) - Undenyably true.
A kids flies around on a broom (Harry Potter) - witchcraft
A man walks on water (Duh) - Absoloute truth.
Now the point i make here, kids, is not that the bible is wrong, but that we are setting a bad president for the raising of our kids. We can tell them that Jesus has absoloute power over the weather, and that they can become anything they want when they grow up, and we even feed them the lie about a fat man in a red suit going down chimneys and being transported around by flying reindeer. Yet I know of parents who, inspite of this, refuse to let their children read HP or watch fantasy. Make sense? Look, i just want the religious to wake the heck up and realize how stupid they look being hypocrits.
So, you think i am striking out against religion, you are right. I have awoken and seen how stupid it is. I do believe in God. I do believe Jesus is the savior. And I do believe in the holy spirit (though not as a person, but as... a mindset). But the rest of the stuff i have been fed I look at extremely objectively.
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| The Davinci Code |
[May. 18th, 2006|09:30 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  emabrased to be one of you | ] |
Dear Christian readers,
The Danvinci Code... a book and movie that present another persons personal views about the happenings of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdelene based on a handfull of incomplete manuscripts, speculation, and legend. I have something to say about this: If you are so insecure in your faith that you have to launch a boycott of the book and movie, have special services dedicated to disproving the theories presented there in, and have to publish books to present counters to those theories, then maybe you should really examine your base of beliefs rather than try to attack speculative theory. As a Christian myself, i am nearly ashamed to be part of a group that is so affraid of it's own shadow that it has to blame outside media for it's problems. The Danvici Code is not the first instance, it goes back many many years through the Harry Potter books even, *gasp*, rock and roll. This is a disgusting representation of our strength in our own beliefs that fuels the fires of those that really are out to harm us.
I know some of you will throughly be disgusted with my interpretation of this situation ( especially those of you who know that I dont go to church on any regular basis) and will probably have something to say in response. I say, go ahead, vent your frustration about the misprecieved threat you feel, i am here to listen. In fact, i encourage you to try to present to me real and valid reasons why we should be so affraid of this book/movie that we are driven to near militant Christianity.
Drew |
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| Here pig, pig, pig... |
[Jan. 30th, 2006|01:44 pm] |
So as an early birthday present, me grandmum got me a Genuea pig. She is white and red, long-haired and shivers and chatters when you pet her. Now i've wanted one for some time now, but i didnt ever expect to get one. I shall post her picture here soon.
And have I ever told you guys that I love Rachel? Cause I do, and I always will. |
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[Jan. 23rd, 2006|01:45 pm] |
Sorry for not updating in... over a month. I get busy, peek season took a lot out of me at work with the 2:30am start times and all, yeah and still getting out at 9:30 made for quite a long day. Times are back to 'normal' roughly 4am. I am back at Calhoun this semester and working hard towards transfering to UAH in the fall. My application is in, i have a few more things to fill out on my SBC scholarship to fill in and all should be gravy.
I promise to try to update more... i swear on the neighbors cat's life. |
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[Dec. 14th, 2005|02:12 pm] |
Well, classes have been paid for and, just my luck, i get the financial aid verification stuff the day after I paid for classes. fun. Now i have $28ish to my name. That sucks.
But i will be getting two nice fat checks in early feburary. |
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[Dec. 2nd, 2005|01:50 pm] |
Okay, time to unveil the new format.
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Ever since i started playing magic i have noticed that there are a few distinct personality types... some of which i dont care for. Let's look at a few.
Over agressive's. If they were a deck they'd be a red/white aggro deck. - These are the people who eat, sleep, breath, and generaly live magic. They are too competitive when it comes down to local tournaments and I have seen and heard them insult people (even kids). It's just a game folks!!! I know there can be money to be won... but this is a get together with friends and have fun type game... not a political campaign.
The downers. They'd be an all black deck, bringing dissapointment and generall dislike to the game. I have had encounters with these people too. They will take out the excitment of going through a new set of cards with such lines as "Man, X card sucks, why do you even want it?" and "Who wants to buy X set? It's worthless." Why must you ruin my fun? I just want join people on Friday nights, buy cards, and play to play... Sure, i like to be a little competitive about it, but only when something weird is at stake (like making a come-back and wallopping after two humiliating losses to Rachel [I still love you]).
But something must be said for those people I have met who are just nice people and play for fun. They are the real spice to the game and community and make Magic less of a game and more of... a fellowship (pardon the LOTR reference).
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Next post (maybe a week or so) Drew's Reviews: Sweetdreams Cafe. |
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[Nov. 11th, 2005|12:37 pm] |
I like to live simply. A few simple rules to go by can actually make your life simple. Here are some of my rules:
Eat good food (I like mashed potatos and coffee, but that is just me)
Always listen to and respect your elders... including the Earth. They know, they've been around a while.
The moon is the best therapist you'll ever meet.
You dont have to spend a whole crap load of money to have fun with your significant other.
It doesnt matter how old you are, what you like is what you like.
and... Starwars and Star Trek are still geeky. |
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[Nov. 8th, 2005|01:58 pm] |
Sorry for the black out on LJ. I just havent been up to updating. Like the new icon? It's from Magic: The Gathering: Betrayers of Kamigawa.
Go to SweetDreams Cafe in Providence, you'll love it. (Get the six layer cake and tell me how it is). |
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[Oct. 19th, 2005|02:31 pm] |
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I had an art history test today that i feel i did well on. The test was a misserable mess of poorly worded questions and non present answers (for the multiple choice questions). But one thing bugged the heck out of me concerning her identification of slides portion. She said that the Mnesikles Propylia was the parthenon. I got tired of that so i wrote down the correct answer and then corrected her after the test. Now i feel better. |
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| Ravnica: City of... Crap? |
[Oct. 10th, 2005|02:09 pm] |
Okay, let me start off by aknwoledging that I have played with my first Ravnica preconstructed deck ("Golgari Deathcreep" [Green/Black]) only twice but, as i usually do, I went through what was there and made note of what I knew was not going to be compatible with my prefered playing style... what did this leave? Well, two or three creatures, two spells (instants and sorceries) and all the lands. I'm sorry to say that this deck is terrible. The only hope for it, much like the Saviors of Kamigawa "Critical Mass" deck, is to be combined with another deck or... scrap it for cards. So i went through and inventoried the few good cards and determined that, what i had pulled, was only good for my second favorite deck (which, oddly enough, is just a preconstructed deck with twenty-five extra cards). As for this second favorite deck (Saviors of Kamigawa "Truth Seekers" [Green/White]) I have found it to be strong out of the gate and great with a Long-Forgotten Gohei and Ghostly Prison thrown in for some added fun.
"So," you ask, "wgat are your feelings of Ravnica?"
Answer: First impressions are just that, first inmpressions. My feelings, currently, tell me that it is not my thing. Can it be redeemed? Oh yes yes. I first thought the Kamigawa block to be a hideous mass of mixed up Japanese themes, but now I swear by it. Ultimately it takes a good preconstructed deck (of which there are currently 3 others in Ravnica I have yet to try and 6 to come in the next two years) and/or a whole pile of booster packs (of which i have many).
So another question might be (for those who have played against me), "Will you ever abondon that 'Goblin Charbelcher'?" I can probably say that I will not. as long as there is a Red/Black (or any other Red/x combination for that matter) deck to be had it will stay. Sure it's a cheap shot, but cheap shots win games. |
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| Of me... |
[Oct. 3rd, 2005|02:03 pm] |
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I came across some old school reports from teachers i had in 5th and 6th grade. It turns out i was considered a gifted student and was recomended for an advanced class... but we moved so i didn't get in. Is it sad that i really dont care that i was deprived of the oppertunity to be better than many people? Not to sound... arrogent, but i have noticed an uncanny ability to recall any historical fact or absorb a foreign language. I'm not saying I am gifted but it is worth consideration. Or maybe that was my... i dont know how to describe what i have. Now normally i dont believe in ESP and all that jazz, but I do have certain abilities... i am not sure any of you would understand. Rachel knows, but i feel like i can't fully present the concept of how my mind works... it with all of it's colors. And i can do inexplicable things. Again, Rachel has seen this in action. I don't know. Maybe there is more to the human mind... something we can all do, but many have... forgotten. |
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| A glimpse into the future of MaketheChoice |
[Oct. 1st, 2005|07:18 pm] |
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I will be changing things up a bit by turning my LJ into a weekly column on... stuff. Whatever i feel like writing about. Yeah. |
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[Sep. 30th, 2005|01:57 pm] |
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Livejournal overhaul: coming soon. |
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[Sep. 28th, 2005|02:36 pm] |
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Here's a suggestion. Those of you who like the anime Cowboy Bebop should really check out SciFi's "Firefly." Except for a few new ideas and more characters. It is very good. It has a movie coming out on friday called "Serenity," so those wanting to see the movie should look into Firefly. Seriously. |
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| Rachel wanted to read this.... so i figured you all could to |
[Sep. 26th, 2005|02:05 pm] |
This is my biography for my magazine.
Drew Hamilton was born on an air force base in the rural town of Mountain Home, Idaho. In the first few years of his life he moved to Biloxi, Mississippi and then to southern California. During his early childhood years he was relocated several times giving him the opportunity to meet many new people at the many schools he attended. At the age of ten, while living in Riverside, his mother and father divorced.
His mother had custody of him and his sister, Lindsay, and moved them to a little town called Victorville. It was not long until his mother, Robin, yearned to be closer to her family. So they picked up. again, and relocated to Harvest, Alabama.After a few relocations (without school changes) they were finally settled in Hazel Green where Drew began his time as Sparkman High School. While in high school he gained an affinity for the graphic arts with a special interest in photography. During his senior year he started dating his long time friend Rachel. They grew very close quite quickly, and it was not long before he knew that he loved her.
Alas, the end of his time at Sparkman had come. He graduated with an advanced diploma then moved on to Calhoun Community College. While there, he worked for his Associates in Graphic Design and Photography taking many creative shots with such titles as “Outgoing Letter” (pictured above), “Veteran,” and “House of Cards.” After graduating he continued on that path at Athens State University.
During his college years his relationship with Rachel continued to develope. During their senior years, at their respective colleges, Drew asked Rachel to be his wife, and after graduating they were married in a simple ceremony held in a forest clearing where traditional rituals were merged with celtic harp music. Their life together was simple, yet beautiful. After four years of marriage, they had a daughter and named her Charis.
Drew died at the age of 93 in Germany. He was cremated and his ashes were put in orbit of the moon. His legacy was nothing more than his marriage and his daughter, but he was happy with that.
Many liberties were taken in the writting of this biography. Most of the events contained herein are expressions of desires. |
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