The Mind Gone Mad

Everyone knows I am one of the biggest Legend of Zelda junkies the world has ever seen. And people who have played the game also know there is insane controversy about the discussions of what the proper time line is supposed to be.

Well recently I started replaying Twilight Princess and it once again started my need for all things Zelda related. This includes my intense research into finding out what the proper time line is. It seems with each game there comes to be yet another clue that helps lead to an answer. And I now believe I have that answer. And you know what? I’m not gonna post it yet!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Soon though. Sooooooon.

New Lappy!

My new laptop came on Wednesday. I really didn’t expect it to arrive until Friday at the earliest and there it was when I got up. I did have a rough plan for my morning before work, but then I rushed through all the things that had to be done, put off the things that didn’t, and started to play around. Then I spent all of today (though technically this post will read as Friday) adding all the things I needed on it. Which is a fairly long list:

• Firefox
• Windows Live Messenger
• AIM
• X-Fire
• iTunes
• Photoshop
• TeamSpeak
• All the files I had saved from my previous laptop

And I still have to readd allllllll my iTunes songs. So that will pretty much be my weekend :$

Even though the old lappy breaking was a huge bummer, and shelling out a grand for this new one (yes my own money with no help from anyone in case you were curious) was an even bigger bummer, I’m gonna have to say there are no regrets. Why? Because this one is soooo niiiiiice.

Windows Vista is much nicer than people give it credit for. I think its just because XP has been around for so many years and we all got use to it. Well time for a shiny change people! My monitor is HD (oh that’s right)! It’s got dual 120GB hard drive. For those who don’t know…that’s two separate hard drives with a shit load of space in each. One was completely empty when I started it up (and still mostly is). I’m loading all my iTunes songs onto it so when I play them, it won’t slow the rest of the lappy down.

Then there are the toys this sucker came with. Built in webcam that I am having a lot of fun playing with. Finger print scanner that allows me to lock windows and only my finger print can unlock it, plus a remote control that can run the media center. So if there is ever a trip and a DvD is played on here, no more having to get up to adjust the volume. The remote has got it covered. Oh…this thing spoils me

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Do What You Love and You’ll Never Work a Day in Your Life

Work is great. I really love my job. Pay is great, good exercise, and all the different people in each unit are fun. The other fun part? I’ve never had anything massage my ego so much.

They really love me over there. I used to think they were just being nice, but damn. On the rare occasions more than one of us is working transport at the same time, the nurses and clerks will say that I am the best one even with the other guy standing right there. And when the other guys aren’t around, they start saying just how bad the other guys are.

Just yesterday a clerk in the NICU was saying how she wished I was a full time employee because the days I was on were always a treat. I said, “What? You don’t like Dan?” (Dan being the guy who has worked transport for almost three years and partially trained me). And she responded with “He is not to be desired.”

Ouch. And that’s just one of the many examples of that stuff. I come out of that place tired as fuck with my feet hurting, but I love going back the next day because I know I do a damn good job and I know they appreciate it. And the compliments….never hurt.

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Battered!

So I’m on board fully now in Storm’s grand adventure known simply as Battered. What started out as me reading over ideas and analyzing old film has turned into coming up with new ideas, being sent video shot the same day, and brain storming for hours. And it’s fuuuuuun.

I wonder if I can use my webcam to try and put my own little skits together. I mean…I know that I can. But should I? I will ponder this. At the very least, Storm, I’ll send you a shot of my balls. Sound good?

Has everyone heard about my laptop that decided to have a stroke and just stopped working? I’m sure you all have. It’s all I’ve talked about the last two weeks.

There I was, in the middle of playing Lord of the Rings Online. Normally, I don’t play the game on my laptop since I know it really doesn’t run too well on there. Normally, I just play it on the family desktop. But i felt like relaxing and sitting on my comfy chair rather than a desk seat to play. Had the TV on, in my robe, feet were up, just casually playing, and killing stuff. Then in the middle of picking up some loot…girrrrrr!

Actually, it didn’t make any noise. Instead the screen looked as though the entire image was being warped then swirling around in water. It just kept moving around like that. I was freaked out. First, I did the ever wonderful Ctrl-Alt-Delete move that every single person who has ever used windows has done. That closed the game just fine. And everything seemed normal. But I wanted to be safe and thought to power down the laptop and let it restart. So I shut it down and when I turned it back on….nothing. No image. The power was one, the lappy was running, but the screen was black. Not a thing to be seen.

So let’s fast forward a bit. Past my turning it on and off several times, realizing something was very wrong, all the cursing, and whatnot. Let’s get to a few days ago after all my good friends at ToH offered their well meaning advice. I drop the sucker off for repairs. My last string of hope. I get called back the next day to find out….can’t be fixed. Well fuck! Fuck! And one more….FUCK!

So there it is. A little more than a year old (what timing because my warranty was only for a year) and the fucker quits on me. So I’ve since ordered a new lappy. And yes, I still went with HP because I blame myself for this. I never should have played LotRO on it. I knew that game was too much for it to handle and this is my punishment for doing it anyway.

There is some good news though. The new lappy is going to be even better than the old one. HP was offering several free upgrades and I tacked on a few extra goodies here and there at the right price. So I’m getting a real nice lappy and the final cost? Under $1,100. Yeah that’s right. My old one cost over $1,200. So it’s a better computer at a lower price. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

What could be even better than that? Well now I have a perfectly useless laptop just sitting in my basement. I have also joined Storm in his mad adventure known as simply Battered. It’s a filming adventure and I have been trying to think up a good first video for myself. So let’s think about this. Useless laptop…a film team called battered…my obvious aggression…a helpless piece of machinery that is as broken as can be…a need to film something destructive…..hmmmm. OK. I’m going to need a baseball bat, lighter fluid, matches, a catapult, a hockey mask, and a live chicken. This is going to be awesome.

MLB.com recently released its list of what it considers to be the best team made up of all current players at each position. They came up with this team based on information gathered by scouts from every team. They didn’t say how it all worked, but I’m guessing there was some kind of voting system and everyone was placed accordingly.

However, I just don’t agree with their roster. Some of it I do, and some of it I don’t. Time for me to feel high and mighty in my baseball wisdom and break it all down all so…well…no one can really give a shit. But oh well.

Starting Pitcher
Experts: Tie: Josh Beckett/Johan Santana
Me: Agree
At least they got the most important position right. Here is where I could not agree more. I also couldn’t agree more with the fact that it was a tie since Beckett is a righty and Santana a lefty. They tie for the position itself, but both are the best for their respective throwing arm.

Setup Man
Experts: Jonathan Broxton
Me: Joba Chamberlain
They said it was a close call and that Joba came in second, but really? Is anyone really buying that? Joba got the bump for two small reasons. First, he has seen only 24 innings in the majors and, second, he may become a starter. But go and ask anyone. You got to get the ball from the starter to the closer (whoever each might be) and you have to call in your ideal setup man. Who is it gonna be? The answer is Joba. No question. He’s lights out. He’s inning over. He should be the next Mariano.

That’s right, I said it. I used to think Joba should become a starter, but who the fuck was I kidding?! Keep that guy in the pen! Let him be the dominate guy he was, don’t mess with the magic you found, and in three years when Mo is retired, you have your next golden boy!

Closer
Experts: Jonathan Papelbon
Me: Agree
Again, I don’t think they missed here. It’s not hard to see that Papelbon is not only the best closer in the game right now, but he’s at the top of his game doing it. Sure, the guy has blown some saves here and there, but that happens. Last time I checked he threw the last pitch in the World Series and got to dance on the field afterwards.

If it were my fantasy team in MLB history, I would go with Mo. No question. But going with who is in baseball as they are right now, the answer is Papelbon.

Catcher
Experts: Russell Martin
Me: Kenji Johjima
I felt like they really dropped the ball on this one, and that Johjima really isn’t getting the credit he deserves. Perhaps he gets lost in the shadow of Ichiro being that they both play for Seattle, but to me it’s clear as day that Kenji Johjima is the best catcher in baseball.

Offensively, these two guys are almost identical. They have both been playing for 2 full seasons and they numbers are extremely close in every category. Which means you got to look at defense. And its there that these two end of differing greatly.

Martin had 123 baserunners attempt to steal and he threw out 41 of them. Johjima had 86 baserunners attempt to steal and he threw out 40 of them. That’s almost 50% people!!! He would have thrown at more than that if he had as many try to steal on him as Martin did, but players figured out that if you are gonna try and run on this guy you better know you are going to make it. So who knows how the so called experts missed that one.

First Base
Experts: Albert Pujols
Me: Mark Teixeria
I’m tired of hearing everyone say that Pujols is the best player in baseball. Hell, I’m tired of hearing how he’s the best first basemen in baseball.

The only reasons people think he is so great is because he hits for power and average and he just so happened to win a gold glove a few years ago. A gold glove doesn’t mean shit. Do you know who votes on that? The managers and coaches. They all fill in a card and send to to wherever. Then the award is handed out. And the last time I checked, those guys weren’t watching each person play his position night after night other than their own guys. That’s how Raphael Palmeiro won the gold glove over Tino Martinez in ‘99 and Palmeiro only played first base in 30 games that season! So just because someone wins a gold glove doesn’t mean they are any good at their position.

I picked Teixeria because when I see him play, I see a real first basemen. A guy who makes all the first plays. A guy who can save the other infielders throwing errors, and make the left fielder’s day a whole lot easier. Offensively, he is clearly beneath Pujols, but that doesn’t matter to me. Not everyone has to crush the ball to be part of an all time team. You just gotta do your job.

The biggest tipping factor for me? Or rather what makes me snub my nose at Pujols is when he Cardinals won the World Series in ‘06, Pujols sucked. He barely made contact with the ball and was dead weight. The MVP was David Eckstein. The 5′7” shortstop that for some reason gets traded by the teams that he helps the hell out of. So I don’t wanna hear how Pujols is so clutch because when his team needed him the most, he was dead in the water while the little guy stepped up and carried the load.

Second Base
Experts: Chase Utley
Me: Agree
I agree, but not for long. Utley can do it all. The guy hits the ball to all fields, has range like no one else at his position, and can knock in 100 runs each year. In fact, he had 103 RBIs last season and he missed 30 games! That doesn’t happen by accident. He was on fire, broke his hand, came back, and never missed a beat. That amazes the hell out of me.

But I said I agree for now. Give it a few more years, and Robinson Cano holds the gold medal for second base. He’s good, but not quite there yet. Like a hair off. He still has those moments of mental break down. Manny like moments where you can only look at the replay with the most pure “what the fuck was that” expression. Chase Utley doesn’t have moments like that and is why he is the best.

Third Base
Experts: Alex Rodriguez
Me: Agree
DUH!

Shortstop
Experts: Jimmy Rollins
Me: Tie: Orlando Cabrera/Derek Jeter
I’m sick and tired of hearing about Jimmy Rollins! Shut up! He’s not that good! The only reason people think he’s good is because he runs his mouth off every year and his team ends up winning. That’s all! But the reason the team wins is because of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. Rollins is good. That’s true. But he’s not that good. He’s just happens to get a lot of the spot light since he can’t shut his damn mouth.

It’s a tie between Cabrera and Jeter because they each play the position the right way, but from opposite sides of the spectrum. Cabrera covers all the ground in the world, can turn any double play, and drives hitters crazy with how many base hits he can steal. Jeter on the other hand makes the big play at the right time. He may have lost a step or two over the years and his range isn’t that wonderful, but how many times have we seen him make that jump throw, late in the game, to end the inning as the runner was dashing towards home? Exactly. There is clutch hitting, and there is also clutch fielding. That’s exactly what Jeter does.

Left Field
Experts: Matt Holliday
Me: Agree
If anyone says Manny Ramirez, I will kick his ass.

This is the last time I will agree with anyone. Matt Holliday isn’t just the best left fielder today, but has been since he came up in 2004. He does everything right in the field and at the plate. He’s the biggest reason the Rockies did what the did last year. And I feel the need to say he got robbed in the MVP voting. Damn you, Jimmy Rollins!

Rollins kept talking about how the Phillies would beat the Mets, and they did. Yayyyy for the Phillies. That’s what won him the MVP. That and his triple on the last game of the regular season. But the numbers speak louder. Let’s compare them

Average
Rollins – .296
Holliday – .340

RBIs
Rollins – 94
Holliday – 137

Slugging Percentage
Rollins – .531
Holliday – .607

On Base Percentage
Rollins – .344
Holliday – .405

Do you see a pattern here?! Aside from stolen bases, which Rollins kills Holliday in because he’s fast as fuck, Holliday killed him in every other offensive category. And he lead his team to the playoffs just the same! The real difference maker? Camera time. The writers that voted in the MVP ballot are morons who were rewarding the guy that gave them a few headlines down the stretch and not the better ball player. Good job guys. Way to rip a dude off.

Center Field
Experts: Carlos Beltran
Me: Ichiro Suzuki
I feel the need to hang myself. How can they put anyone ahead of Ichiro let alone, Beltran? Beltran had one good post season. That was it! And it came 3 years ago! Ichiro can play anywhere in the outfield, no one will ever take an extra base on his arm, he’s broken the single season hit record, and steals bases like no one else. And yet we’re going to give this honor to Beltran? The guy who can’t even stay healthy for a season?

Where’s my noose?

Right Field
Experts: Vladimir Guerrero
Me: Alex Rios
OK, forget hanging myself. I’m just gonna shoot somebody.

Vladimir Guerrero was the best right fielder, but that was 4 years ago at best. The guy barely even plays right field! He runs worse than my grandmother and she’s dead. I don’t want to hear the arguments about his arm because the guy takes the field and his knees give out.

So why did I pick Alex Rios if there are so many other players on that position with so many better numbers? Because the guy just does everything when it matters. Whenever the Yankees play the Blue Jays and this guy is at the plate, I hold my breath. If the ball is hit anywhere near right field, I know it’s caught. If someone is trying to stretch a single into a double, I know they are out. He just does it all when it matters. He hasn’t had that career year….yet. But he will. But he doesn’t need it in my mind to already be the best.

So there it all is. Five times I agreed and six times I didn’t. So it’s pretty damn even. And I’m sure if they pulled their heads out of their asses and realized that DH is just as much a position now as any, they would have said David Ortiz. And I probably would have agreed to that too because…well….come one. How many walk offs does that guy have to hit?

Can I get my own radio show now?

I think my insomnia is returning. I had it licked for more than a year, but yup here it is again. Been going on for about a week. Doesn’t matter what I do during the day or how early I get up in the morning. I’m just left up all night in that dazed mode unable and not even wanting to sleep. When I finally do sleep, I’m down for a few hours then up around 11am.

So what do I do with this time? Several different things. Play some games, talk to the few people left online, write any new ideas down, look into drawing possibilities, watch DvDs, and stare off into space. Makes me miss being at school. Or rather the dorm life. Especially those last too semesters. No one ever went to sleep in that place before 2am. Up all night, talking with the guys, playing darts, watching movies, good times. The rare few times nothing was going on, I would go for a drive. Just empty highway, some music, and alone with my thoughts. Here? I feel like I’m hiding out.

Gotta be quiet, go up the stairs only if I have to, can’t make any food, and its always a little cold. Know what it makes me think of all over again? How much I need my own place. Always a venture I keep looking into.

Been diving deep into my clan these past few weeks. If I wasn’t at work or cleaning Sarah’s room, I was working on that. Pretty much night and day. And why was that? Because the Squidman (his game name is Enzio, but I’ve called him Squid for years) and I were pushing ourselves to figure out how to make the clan grow. How to add new games and keep not only members happy, but expand into different communities. It was getting to the point where I was spreading myself pretty thin.

The worst part of it? We weren’t making much progress. New games fell through, leaders couldn’t handle the work load, members gave little feedback. But one game did continue on the right path: Lord of the Rings Online. The game Squid and I run together. Maybe its because he and I have several years experience in leading game clans. Maybe because the game itself is so good. All I knew was that it was the only game we had that was workin. That’s when it hit me: drop the other games and make Titans of Honor and single gaming clan. And you know what? We did.

I sat down, put all my thoughts on paper, typed it out, and ended up with a four page proposal on what we should do. That’s right, four pages in Word. That’s not only how serious (perhaps obsessed) I am, but also how much there was to do.

So I sent the whole thing off to Squid, he read it over, and I’ll be honest, I thought he was going to reject the idea. I mean we both talked about how we wanted to expand the clan and grow. So here I was suggesting to go in the opposite direction. I wait a day, am very anxious, and the next morning I get my response. Squid is all for it and I’m happy as can be.

It takes us a few days, but we set everything up, made all the arrangements, inform the masses, change a shit load around, and…it’s done. So now we are a one game clan and I am excited. It is very new territory. Nothing else to worry about, no other leaders to run things by. Just you and the guys you play with.

So even if you don’t care about this part of my life, at least go check out the new site in a couple days when we put up the new web page (props to the ever amazing Tiger Claw for that) as it just looks cool.

Me? I’m gonna go relax and take in a game later.