I just bought Grand Theft Auto San Andreas the other day and it's gotten me completely addicted to the game. Some of the really cool improvements to Vice City include: more RPG feel (you have strength, respect, fat, etc... stats and you have to eat every so often or you loose energy and muscle), you can get your haircut, change all your clothes, get a tatoo, and work out at the gym to get buff. I wanted to be able to afford some of the real estate around Los Santos (the L.A.-like area), but it was all 10K and above and I only had a little over a thousand, and I wanted to get some quick cash and didn't know how I was going to do it because the missions weren't making me rich quick. Then I was exploring around Downtown Los Santos and I found this old belvedere looking car that I got into and it was a pimping car which I could do pimping missions in. The pimping missions are very lucrative, every one you do in a row adds another $300 to the cash you get every hooker you pickup (the first time it's $300, then $600, then $900, etc...).
Another thing that's cool is if you get the 10 pimps in a row goal (in addition to all the cash you get) , the game tells you that prostitutes will now pay you to be with them.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
L.A. Rain and Crunching Snails
Thank god for rain in Los Angeles, the air is clean, the pollution is washed down the drain and you just feel better throughout the day. Listening to the rain is soothing, and makes you want to just sit by the fire and listen to the sound of the rain droping on the roof and the windows of your cabin up in the woods. Of course, it's really nice when you can just observe the rain from inside your cozy fortress, but when you have to go out and brave the elements it's another story, accidents caused by morons who don't know how to drive in the rain and the resulting traffic that congests the 10, the 405, and the 101 make it somewhat more difficult to get anywhere.
Another disadvantage of the rain is it brings up all the snails and worms who want to get a drink but not drown. If the dammed things would just know not to be in the dark and in the middle of the path to take out the trash I wouldn't have to kill an innocent snail, mearly crossing the asfault to get to the other side of the parking lot. The sound of a shoe against a snail's shell rates pretty high up there with fingernails against a chalkboard, and after you realize that that loud crunching noise was just some poor snails last thought before being gouged and punctured by it's own shell, while trying to wipe off the remains from your shoe you can't help but want to say a buddhist prayer to somehow release yourself from the bad karma brought on by the crushing.
Another disadvantage of the rain is it brings up all the snails and worms who want to get a drink but not drown. If the dammed things would just know not to be in the dark and in the middle of the path to take out the trash I wouldn't have to kill an innocent snail, mearly crossing the asfault to get to the other side of the parking lot. The sound of a shoe against a snail's shell rates pretty high up there with fingernails against a chalkboard, and after you realize that that loud crunching noise was just some poor snails last thought before being gouged and punctured by it's own shell, while trying to wipe off the remains from your shoe you can't help but want to say a buddhist prayer to somehow release yourself from the bad karma brought on by the crushing.
Saturday, September 18, 2004
Drunk and Beligerant Rude People at the Ford Ampitheater
Last night I went to see a Flamenco show at the Ford Ampitheater, if you haven't seen Flamenco dancing, you've gotta check it out, fast guitar fingerpicking and strumming, violin and rich vocals accompany the equally fast footwork of the dancers tapping away as they gracefully move around the stage. Last night's performers were very talented and were apparently world-renoun Flamenco dancers and musicians.
After arriving a little late, we sat next to this older couple that was sloshed and kept talking through the whole performance, at one point before intermission someone behind us gave them a sharp "SHHHHH!" and they got a little quieter. After intermission they unfortunately and eventually found their way back to their seats, and they proceded with their obnoxious chit-chatting during the performance, and now the woman was clapping off beat and singing to the music. Being that we didn't come to the Flamenco show to hear these two, at one point I turned my head to the couple and gave them a "SHHHH!", and then the lady looked at me and said "NO!", and then I asked her politely "Please be quiet" and then after another "NO, I won't", a little thrown off-guard I said "Please show some respect". Well, I immediately regretted it, because then the lady started clapping even louder and being more annoying, and a couple of people in front of her also told her to be quiet, and one lady got up and moved saying "You are a bitch!" as she left. After that I started hearing the old guy grumbling things like "He said Shut-up to you? I'll knock him out." and "You don't say shutup to a woman.", for the rest of the show I did my best to ignore them untill towards the end the guy started yelling in my direction somthing like "Hey you! You appologize to my girlfriend! That was really rude to say shut-up to her." and of course when I tried to tell him that I just said "Please be quiet" he couldn't hear me so finally I gave him the universal index finger over the lips gesture, indicating that I wanted to hear the rest of the show and didn't want to shout over the music like he was doing so that his old-ass ears could hear me. When he finally got up from his seat and joined his girlfriend towards the exit of the theater I was happy that I didn't have to worry about this drunk beligerant asshole and his rude insensitive bitch yelling more shit at me as we left the theater.
When we were walking through the parking lot I saw him checking out the crowd as if he was looking for me, and I was thinking I might have to show him a little judo, maybe a throw or two a choke hold or something, but as soon as he saw me, he turned and walked towards his car, "That's right old fart, I look a little bigger when I'm standing up! That's right...keep walking." I thought.
After arriving a little late, we sat next to this older couple that was sloshed and kept talking through the whole performance, at one point before intermission someone behind us gave them a sharp "SHHHHH!" and they got a little quieter. After intermission they unfortunately and eventually found their way back to their seats, and they proceded with their obnoxious chit-chatting during the performance, and now the woman was clapping off beat and singing to the music. Being that we didn't come to the Flamenco show to hear these two, at one point I turned my head to the couple and gave them a "SHHHH!", and then the lady looked at me and said "NO!", and then I asked her politely "Please be quiet" and then after another "NO, I won't", a little thrown off-guard I said "Please show some respect". Well, I immediately regretted it, because then the lady started clapping even louder and being more annoying, and a couple of people in front of her also told her to be quiet, and one lady got up and moved saying "You are a bitch!" as she left. After that I started hearing the old guy grumbling things like "He said Shut-up to you? I'll knock him out." and "You don't say shutup to a woman.", for the rest of the show I did my best to ignore them untill towards the end the guy started yelling in my direction somthing like "Hey you! You appologize to my girlfriend! That was really rude to say shut-up to her." and of course when I tried to tell him that I just said "Please be quiet" he couldn't hear me so finally I gave him the universal index finger over the lips gesture, indicating that I wanted to hear the rest of the show and didn't want to shout over the music like he was doing so that his old-ass ears could hear me. When he finally got up from his seat and joined his girlfriend towards the exit of the theater I was happy that I didn't have to worry about this drunk beligerant asshole and his rude insensitive bitch yelling more shit at me as we left the theater.
When we were walking through the parking lot I saw him checking out the crowd as if he was looking for me, and I was thinking I might have to show him a little judo, maybe a throw or two a choke hold or something, but as soon as he saw me, he turned and walked towards his car, "That's right old fart, I look a little bigger when I'm standing up! That's right...keep walking." I thought.
Monday, August 23, 2004
Napping
I took a nap today for about an hour, and now I've decided I need to nap more often!
I've been staying up way too late for the past week and have been trying to catch up on sleep (staying up late writing this blog entry doesn't help either), but I think the nap in the middle of the day equates to about twice as much normal (night) sleep.
You know that you're not getting enough sleep when every morning you are singing the tune of "I'm so tired" by the Beatles...and can't quite wake up without that shower and morning cup of coffee, well...at least that has been my morning "tiredness" guage.
I've been staying up way too late for the past week and have been trying to catch up on sleep (staying up late writing this blog entry doesn't help either), but I think the nap in the middle of the day equates to about twice as much normal (night) sleep.
You know that you're not getting enough sleep when every morning you are singing the tune of "I'm so tired" by the Beatles...and can't quite wake up without that shower and morning cup of coffee, well...at least that has been my morning "tiredness" guage.
Friday, August 20, 2004
Streets of L.A. and the Line 6 FBV Shortboard
I recently bought the Line 6 Shortboard to go with my new Amp, it is a really great addition, and now I've been playing my guitar lots more and playing with the Wah pedal. The FBV Shortboard unlocks something like 32 extra amp models/effects to play with too...at first I bought the Line 6 Floorboard model, which doens't work with my Spider II series Line 6 amp. The Shortboard is only $20 more, so I'm actually glad the floorboard didn't work with my amp so that I could get the FBV Shortboard footswitch. Line 6 definitely needs to get a better naming convention for products, the floorboard box says "Works with all Line 6 digital amps", and the FBV Shortboard says "...not compatable with spider...series amps," if you go to the Line 6 website, their nice little footswitch guide makes it clear that the floorboard is for the older Spider I series amps and the FBV series of footswitches are for the newer Spider II's and Vetta's.
I've also been playing True Crime Streets of L.A. again on my PS2, after killing the zombies and the demon heads in the sewer, I couldn't kill the freaking dragon for months until I finally passed the annoying laser sight gun-improvement test, and used that on the little guy. The trick is to hit him as much as you can in the head while he's going around the outside (hold the fire button to get into slow time mode), then when he popps his head up to breathe fire on you, use the slow time mode again to hit him as fast as you can in the head, if you get him enough he'll just drop down into the lava and you can do it all over again, if you don't...run like hell to the side so that he doesn't flame you, and look out for his tail. I'd be done with the game by now if I had the PC version, first person shooters are impossible on a console when you don't have the perfect mouse/W-A-S-D (keyboard) combo.
I've also been playing True Crime Streets of L.A. again on my PS2, after killing the zombies and the demon heads in the sewer, I couldn't kill the freaking dragon for months until I finally passed the annoying laser sight gun-improvement test, and used that on the little guy. The trick is to hit him as much as you can in the head while he's going around the outside (hold the fire button to get into slow time mode), then when he popps his head up to breathe fire on you, use the slow time mode again to hit him as fast as you can in the head, if you get him enough he'll just drop down into the lava and you can do it all over again, if you don't...run like hell to the side so that he doesn't flame you, and look out for his tail. I'd be done with the game by now if I had the PC version, first person shooters are impossible on a console when you don't have the perfect mouse/W-A-S-D (keyboard) combo.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Incubis Concert
Last night I saw Incubis at the Forum (in Inglewood), Incubis was great and the Sparta band that opened for them was pretty good too. The only thing that sucked about the venue was the $20 parking and the fact that they didn't have the parking lot under-contol at all leaving, so we just sat in the parking lot waiting to leave last night for almost an hour. I don't think I would choose to go back to the Forum again unless I really want to see the band and they aren't playing at another venue in the area.
Not much else to report, I've signed up for classes at Santa Monica College and Pierce College, I'm taking a couple of music classes, a drawing class, and hopefully a creative writing class (if I can get my transcripts from CSUS in time). So starting Aug. 30th I'll be really busy, but I'm looking forward to the classes, they should be lots of fun.
Not much else to report, I've signed up for classes at Santa Monica College and Pierce College, I'm taking a couple of music classes, a drawing class, and hopefully a creative writing class (if I can get my transcripts from CSUS in time). So starting Aug. 30th I'll be really busy, but I'm looking forward to the classes, they should be lots of fun.
Thursday, July 29, 2004
What the Bleep?
Last night I saw the new independent film: "What the Bleep Do We Know?"
It is a very thought provoking flick, and I would suggest it to anyone who is interested in the meaning of life, and learning how to live it to the fullest potential.
What the Bleep could be considered a hybrid-documentary, half of the movie is interviews and blurbs from some really smart people discussing Quantum Physics, the power of the human brain, and the nature of the universe, while the other half of the movie is a more standard story format following the main character on her journey of self-discovery and awareness.
One idea or suggestion that I liked from the movie, was when you wake up in the morning, "Make your day," by deciding what you want to do during the day, and then throughout the day taking notice of small happenings that are caused by us as observers creating reality. By creating and training our neural networks in this way, our brains will more-easily accept the idea that we can shape or even create our own realities.
Visit the "What the Bleep?" website: http://www.whatthebleep.com/
It is a very thought provoking flick, and I would suggest it to anyone who is interested in the meaning of life, and learning how to live it to the fullest potential.
What the Bleep could be considered a hybrid-documentary, half of the movie is interviews and blurbs from some really smart people discussing Quantum Physics, the power of the human brain, and the nature of the universe, while the other half of the movie is a more standard story format following the main character on her journey of self-discovery and awareness.
One idea or suggestion that I liked from the movie, was when you wake up in the morning, "Make your day," by deciding what you want to do during the day, and then throughout the day taking notice of small happenings that are caused by us as observers creating reality. By creating and training our neural networks in this way, our brains will more-easily accept the idea that we can shape or even create our own realities.
Visit the "What the Bleep?" website: http://www.whatthebleep.com/
Monday, July 26, 2004
Flossing Passionately
No I am not trying to compete for the world's most boring blog, but I've never really enjoyed flossing my teeth, brushing is fine, but flossing....ugh!
Recently, however, I've discovered the joy of flossing, the sensation of getting the glide floss inbetween each tooth, making sure the floss goes completely into the gum next to each tooth, and then the satisifaction that one gets from seeing the plaque and small food items that appear after each crevise has been attended to. As I write this entry my mouth craves the attention it recieves from a good flossing. The clean feeling that you have afterwards is almost as good as right after getting your teeth professionally cleaned at the dentist, and then being able to run your tongue across your smooth clean teeth. I've noticed that I usually get more debris (plaque, etc...) from the top teeth than from the bottom, which goes against what one would logically think since gravity should pull the food to the lower teeth. If anyone knows what the reason for more food debris being on the top teeth, please share it with the rest of us avid flossers.
My flossing environment (mouth) is somewhat unique, I've got a capped baby tooth that requires special attention when flossing, and unfortunately it looks like I'm going to have to have braces to straighten it out before I get it removed and get an implant (I've been told that I should go the implant route instead of getting a bridge). I'm concerned that braces will put a serious damper on my current single/dating status, but I guess I've gotta just bite the bullet and get it over with (braces aren't cheap either, so I'm not looking forward to that).
Recently, however, I've discovered the joy of flossing, the sensation of getting the glide floss inbetween each tooth, making sure the floss goes completely into the gum next to each tooth, and then the satisifaction that one gets from seeing the plaque and small food items that appear after each crevise has been attended to. As I write this entry my mouth craves the attention it recieves from a good flossing. The clean feeling that you have afterwards is almost as good as right after getting your teeth professionally cleaned at the dentist, and then being able to run your tongue across your smooth clean teeth. I've noticed that I usually get more debris (plaque, etc...) from the top teeth than from the bottom, which goes against what one would logically think since gravity should pull the food to the lower teeth. If anyone knows what the reason for more food debris being on the top teeth, please share it with the rest of us avid flossers.
My flossing environment (mouth) is somewhat unique, I've got a capped baby tooth that requires special attention when flossing, and unfortunately it looks like I'm going to have to have braces to straighten it out before I get it removed and get an implant (I've been told that I should go the implant route instead of getting a bridge). I'm concerned that braces will put a serious damper on my current single/dating status, but I guess I've gotta just bite the bullet and get it over with (braces aren't cheap either, so I'm not looking forward to that).
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