CHIMERICA and the CHIMERA

how is everyone weathering this recession?
I dont know about you guys but things have been eerily slow around what is already becoming a cubicle ghost office. Its getting pretty scary and while i thought my job was secure before Im starting to have serious doubts.
watched this special last night that helped explain all these terms floating around these days like subprime blabla bla and bla bla bla yeah i started to doze off in the middle of it. But basically in my own terms it goes like : propety rates rise, banks are encouraged to lend to subprimers, who are just people who usually would otherwise rent and who often may have credit issues and in some cases which are hard to believe dont even have a job. BUT when i woke up towards the end of the program they started to link the finicial relationships between china and the us calling it CHIMERICA and stated one of the main reasons that banks were so liberal with their lending was because china was lendin crazy loot to US. fuckin greedy ass greedy asses. now everyones got to pay for some dumb ass decisions made by those greedy ass greedy asses. They compared this united finicial flow of money of CHIMERICA to the mythical CHIMERA beast whos got the a lions head and goat in the middle of his body a snakes head on its tail- FriGGin Dragon claw legs and in some cases wings. what a bad ass beast. I have no clue what the refrence is but it is a crazy combonation of beastly beasts and I wouldnt be surprised if some day in the not so distant future china is going to be running shit because of all the money the US is going to owe them. Maybe I should start taking some cantonese classes. wouldnt it be nuts if the next generation has China outsourcing work to us?

Work is so lame when Im not really working. I work with a bunch of (3) spanish speaking women and feel really ostrichsized because they always speak in spanglish. All this week Ive been secretly been wishing for unemployment- looking up how much I would make- Imagining how survival would be like living on those limited means but having the ultimate freedom to force myself to hustle my own income instead of pretending to work and clock watching. I used to have a few decent friends here but they either seperated us by walls or laid them off. rumor has it that im either going to be laid off this friday or moved to a lesser successful part branch of the bizness. either way im doing nothing else but trying to make myself look useful and responsible so i can have find a chair once the music stops again. but it all feels like floating on a boat with no sail.

btw L4Dead was pretty dope. Lets get some tactics down and start trying our hand at playing against other ppl. CUZ being a zombie lurking in a dark corner is pretty fun too. HOLY CRAP that xbox is addicting though I cant believe I stayed up til 7 last saturday and have been sleeping pretty late lately. anyways if work remains as dead as it is now i hope to be posting far more frequently.

Playing Left 4 Dead like it's the year 2000

Playing finally Left 4 Dead was beyond any regualr experience I've had with the game. It'll never happen again those Smash Brother days. We wouldn't have the time to lay around all day in don's house and force someone to make a jr run. I heard and felt the nostalgia of those memories and those were happy times. I don't play the same way I do online. When it's my friends I can be freee. Let me auto shotgun in the back of your head. Later a smoker pulld me away and I cried so loud into your headsets. Then CJ lit a witch on fire before the witch wildly ripped out his inner intestines. THIS GAME IS FUN

Almost 100 days to go

I've been given the task of writing all the content for our wedding page, and Andrea asked me to write something about how we met and all that business. I just thought I'd share what I wrote.

How it all started

January 13th, 2009

The night I met Andrea I always tell people that I had no idea what I was in store for. At the time I just thought she was a really awesome girl who I shared similar interests with. I imagined I would go to parties with her, hang out at cafes chatting for hours, and watch really awful TV like America's Next Top Model together. During the past eight(almost nine) years we have done a lot of those things and many more, but I did not think that night I was going to marry this girl.

I gave her my e-mail address that night. Isn't that super geeky? I didn't have a cell phone at the time so how else would she find me? Anyway, I didn't think she would e-mail me. She even second guessed herself when she couldn't exactly remember my e-mail address. Fortunately she got it right, and a few days later she did e-mail me. After talking on Instant Messenger for awhile I finally got the nerve to ask her out...in Instant Messenger. More geekiness, I know. Anyway, I took her to a movie and we spent at least an hour talking outside in the cool Milpitas night.

After that we had to endure some rough times. Andrea went off to school in Santa Barbara and we had to spend the next four years apart most of the time. We would visit each other from time to time, and she would come home for summer vacation, but it was enough for either of us. We just wanted to be together all the time. We managed to make it last and 3 and a half years ago, we packed up and moved to Chicago so that Andrea could attend medical school. I work and try my best to make this challenging time for Andrea as easy as possible. It's been really tough because she devotes a lot of her time in school, understandably, but just thinking about seeing her keeps me going. Saying that I cherish every moment I have with her is beyond cliche, but there I said it.

It's like one of those things, you know. You watch a movie that you didn't know anything about and it's the most amazing piece of entertainment you've ever seen. You hear a new song on the radio from someone you've never heard of, from a genre that you usually don't pay much attention to, and you get it instantly. You want to hear it again and again. You appreciate those experiences, those memories a whole lot more than experiences you expected, or prepared yourself to have. I appreciate Andrea like that. More than anything.

The kind of love that we share, the kind that surprises you...I really wish that everyone finds a love like ours. I always thank that part of that let go that day I met Andrea. I didn't even want to go out that night, but I just said, "Aw, what the heck." Andrea is everything to me. I live to make her happy and I can totally be myself around her and I find it difficult to completely let my guard down when I'm around people, so the fact that I can be silly and giggle like a school girl in front of her is, again the most amazing thing ever. She is that song that I would never seek out. The music found me and I can't get enough of it.

I can't wait to declare my love, my heart, and my eternal friendship to Andrea in front of all of our family and friends. See you in April.

-Alvin

God, it's fucking cheesy, but I had to hold back the tears writing that. Admitting that fact is making me cry now. I wanted to add more tomfoolery, more Spiz if you will, but I think all of that didn't fit. It's supposed to be cheesy and I think I succeeded in achieving maximum cheese level. You may leave to throw up now.

Ed note: Podcast is a little late. Sorry. Whadda ya want? Also coming soon you'll be able to download the podcast from an RSS feed/itunes soon. Exciting stuff. I encourage all of you to get mic's so you can be on the show.

Peace out 1UP

I find it so ironic that the day after I post the first episode of my very own podcast, the reason and the inspiration for my love of podcasts has bid farewell. 1UP was bought today buy UGO, and pretty much almost all of 1UP's staff was laid off. All UGO wanted, at least this is everyone's interpretation of the situation, was the name. The problem is gaming enthusiasts went to 1UP for the people who wrote and did podcasts for the site. Now, almost half of the podcasts I listen to are gone, and podcasting will never be the same for me.

I didn't think 1UP's demise would bother me so much. At the same time, I didn't think it would be this bad. I constantly heard about EGM getting shut down because print media is dying, but I really didn't think they would get rid of almost the whole staff and kill the podcasts at the same time. Hopefully all of those people that I enjoy reading and listening to find jobs somewhere else in the video game media. I just hope they find any job really. Thanks for everything 1UP crew. Simply the best.



I like this intro better.

The Podcast of a Middle Distance Circle Jerk #0

For shits and giggles and still awfully rough but it was fun.

No server as of now but:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/61hf7k

In this podcast, Alvin and I discuss New Year's, White Elephant, Teenage porn-viewing etiquette then-and-now, bowling scholarships, Chinese Democracy, Magic Johnson getting blowjobs, etc. I also kind of make a stupid alpha generalization about wedding receptions and am apologizing for it.

Oh. My. God.

Bob Costas just mixed Star Wars and Star Trek references.

"And the force is with...Steve Spach(pronounced Spock)."

I thought you were cool Costas. That might have dropped you below The King of All Douchebag Football Commentators. Whoever you're rooting for, I hope they stink it up.

We just recorded the first part of our first podcast.

It's fucking weird to hear my voice. It's going to be a fucking bitch editing this.

Re: Happy New Years

Dude, Peggle is awesome. I don't own a proper version of it though. The original Peggle was an 2007 game, but they released Peggle Nights in 2008. I'm going to get Peggle for the 360 when it's released because it'll have both versions. Plus achievements.

The layout of that games post is totally off. I'm not gonna bother.

We might record more for the podcast. Rock, Jooks, CB, sneaks, Tanner, anyone interested? Need a mic and skype and audacity.

happy new years!

i've got a double-decker brain laden with diesel-fumey prose prepared (alvin keep making lists -- where's peggle?) but for now peep the scroll on this Fox News youtube clip. *facepalm*

I fucked up the format I know

I just wanted to hear about everyone's New Year's Eve. I went to my fiancee's friend's brothers'house. I broke my White Castle cherry and I had two doublecheese sliders. I really enjoyed them. Lots of onion flavor and gooey cheese. Fries were alright, but in their defense I was eating in someone's back seat and the lady at the window didn't give me ketchup so I had to eat them nude.

It was Guitar Hero party. It was a sight to see. Failing songs, finger pointing, screams from people who felt overwhemned, and two drummers on one kit.I kept getting stuck with Bass and everyone thought I was some God on Bass, but if you compare how namy notres a gutiar makes as apposed to the bass. Guitarist had to deal with similar progressions dyring a shot, but a guitariat will always have more notes than Bass Player. You get breaks when whatever quiet solo comes, it'll be you time have more arrention.

Ed Note: Just thought I'd put it up. I remembered writing this but never saw it on the page.

Games of the Year

TOP 10 GAMES

I had two criteria(if criteria is plural, is it criterias? That doesn't sound right. Great, my lack of grammar knowledge really reinforces my credibility/rant) for this list. One, the game was released in 2008. Two, I had finished the game. I did make one exception for that last rule, but I'll explain when I get there.

Honorable Mention: Professor Layon and the Curious Village

Level 5, the developer of this game, is poised for a big year whenever they release the PS3 exclusive White Knight Chronicles, but meanwhile they fucking killed with this puzzle, point and click adventure. The art is wonderful, with drawing obvious references to Miyazaki. I haven't had that much experience with brain teasers so I could really feel the IQ points going into my head after I would successfully solve a puzzle. I can't wait for the sequels.


Honorable Mention: Castle Crashers

We all played those quarter munching beat-em-up's back when we were kids. Final Fight, The Simpsons, TMNT Arcade. This is what Castle Crashers is. Move through levels, punch people in the face, eat food for health, but the game has added RPG elements like leveling up, magic spells, and collecting gear. Very good, very funny, but damn I wish the multiplayer wasn't broken at launch. I would have played it a lot more(They recently fixed multiplayer last week). If you don't enjoy beating numerous enemies senseless...you're wrong.

10: Space Invaders Extreme

What the hell...it's just Space Invaders...with fluorescent colors, multiple enemy types that require strategy to defeat,techno beats that react to your shooting, upgradable weapons, stage bosses, multiplayer(that no one really played), and online leaderboards. It's just Space Invaders...but EXTREME!

9: Mirror's Edge

Oh, how I wanted to love you Faith. And I do. Enough to put you in my Top 10. I don't mind the abuse. It's okay. Maybe I just like being frustrated because I died 20 times on the same jump, and then another 30 times during some stupid combat scenario. Man, you...I mean the game is just so beautiful and the world is interesting to look at. DICE did a good job of capturing the feeling of movement, sliding and flying through levels. I just wish you could fucking run away from cops.

8: Super Smash Bros. Brawl

I fucking hate you so much Nintendo. This should have been number one. Really. You had me in the palm of your hand, but you had to fuck up the online play. Here's a tip: People don't want to play two minute matches when looking for random matches. I can't deny that this is a really fun game, but I don't have game friends here. I can only imagine the sick matches we would have everyone still lived near Don's. I can't really say anything else. It's Smash Bros. With new characters and new maps. It's slower, not as frantic as Melee. It's really good, but fuck Nintendo. They don't need more smoke blown up their ass.

7: Audiosurf

YOU DIDN'T BUY THIS WHEN IT WAS TWO BUCKS FOOL. I CAN PLAY TO BARRY MANILOW SON

No, wait I will say that this game is great if you want to interact with your music collection. You can use any song that you have, so the replayability is endless. That is, until you get sick of it, which so far I am not.

6: Mario Kart Wii

I was sort of surprised that I put Mario Kart here. To be honest it's just feels like a mash up of all the Mario Kart games with few additions. I couldn't stop playing it though, and it was a godsend when my 360 broke. This is the only game on Wii that maintains an online community because the online play/matchmaking actually works. I can play a full race with strangers on my Wii. What a crazy thought.

PS - Fuck Nintendo.

5: Gears of War 2

There are so many ridiculous choice lines in this game. "Eat shit and die." "More like ten shitloads." My personal favorite is "THEY'RE SINKING CITIES WITH A GIIIIANT WORM!" They tried to make the story serious, but it was laughable, but I got some entertainment out of how bad it was, so that was good. The most fun you'll have is playing Horde mode though, but everyone knows/says that. Perhaps I should have ranked it lower because the multiplayer sorta broken at the moment, like Smash Bros. The difference is this isn't a Nintendo game, so obviously I love it. I really need to stop Nintendo bashing. Anyway, play this game.


4: Geometry Wars 2

This game fills my need to score big points. Online leaderboards kept me hungry to play. I think that this game caused me to lose the most sleep because it's so easy to just spam the start button every time you die and boom you're back to shooting those fucking Six different ways to play, pretty shiny 80's style vector graphics, it's the best arcade style game right now.

3: Rock Band 2

I can't stop messing with the plastic instruments. It's a serious problem. It's the same game with new songs, but I still close my eyes and lose myself in the moment when I'm banging on the plastic toy drums. It also doesn't help that Harmonix releases new songs every week. My most recent addition to my library has fulfilled my fantasy of being Gwen Stefani. I have a problem.

2: Grand Theft Auto IV

Ooooh man. If there was a hardcore gamer base reading this blog I would get so much shit from them right now. Blah blah blah overrated blah blah blah. I have to put it up here though because I spent the most time this year playing this game. I don't care what people say, but Rockstar fucking killed it. Liberty City hasn't looked this good, and there's so much to do. For the most part the story was an intriguing crime story, but honestly it really fell flat at the end. It just started feeling like every other GTA game, but the first half was awesome. This is the one game that I still have not finished though. I still feel like it's okay to put it on my list because I just need to do the last mission, but I don't think I'll ever do it because I just got too frustrated. I've been around town enough though to say that this game is worthy of Games of the Year lists.

1: Left 4 Dead

I don't feel right having this at the top of my list. I mean it just came out, and I might be blinded by that fact. It's so shiny. I already knew this was going to be my most favorite game this year after I played the demo and I team killed someone, then pretended to help them up like 6 times, and then finally ending their lives with a couple of shotgun rounds to the face. That's what it's about. You share these unique experiences with people that you enjoy playing with, and because of that sole reason I feel that you can't get any better than that. People who don't want to buy it because there isn't enough content, I can understand that. It's hard to really justify 60 bucks for only four maps, but if you're like me and you just make fun with what you got, then you'll think that this is a really good fucking game. This will be like my Team Fortress 2 of 2007, which is to say I'm going to be playing this well into 2009, every weekend, with the same people, until the next big profile game comes out.