The City of Angels

All my life, I've always lived just outside Los Angeles. I was always about a 20-minute drive to the downtown area (which is what's usually portrayed in media). As a child, I went reluctantly - my parents would buy fancy perfumes/colognes/jewelry and sell them in the small towns we lived by. As a kid, I wasn't so aware of what was around me. I was often bored since I couldn't go off and explore and such (such is life of a kid in the 90's). As an adult, I made a string of excuses as to why I didn't visit the city - "I don't know how to get there; It's too far; I don't have any time/money; I have no reason to go..." Well, you get the idea. 

In another class (different from the one with the pretty lady), I was tasked to visit the downtown area: to survey the land (and how the land is used) and to take note of some of the history of LA and some of the currently existing landmarks in the city (I learned that some were demolished for more modern buildings). So, I had to go (this assignment is worth about 10% of my total grade! It's one of the bigger ones). 

So let me give you the TL;DR version of my trip (Too Long; Didn't Read - you can thank Reddit for that):

1) Everything's pretty packed together - you can see just about everything that's in LA in about 3-4 hours. Now exploring Los Angeles...that's a lifetime.

2) John Parkinson - the influential architect that helped shaped Los Angeles to be the magnificent metropolis that it is today. 

3) It's pretty awesome and interesting how we can just walk inside some of the buildings (like the Bradbury Building and Biltmore Hotel), but others are closed off to the public.

 Finally, here are some photos that I took  throughout my walk in Los Angeles:

The Girl with the Beautiful Eyes

About a month into this year's Fall Semester, I had added an elective (in lieu of an internship - I had failed to be placed in one in the semester's first month) to maintain my full-time status as a Uni student. In this new elective class, there is a girl (of course, right?!) who immediately caught my eye. 

Now, before I move on, let me preface with this fact about me: you know how there are men who are more inclined on a woman's certain features (boobs, booty, or face, for example)? Well, I'm not of those types of men (although, I do appreciate beauty just as much as the next guy). Instead, it's the features that are often under appreciated that seem to lure me in (and if you've read my post about foreign accents, you'll know what I mean...I hope).

So! This girl has phenomenal eyes, and I mean exquisite. It's like they're brimming with passion. I can't quite put my finger on it. Not even Rachel or Sophia had eyes like hers. I couldn't tell you why, but it was her eyes that stood out to me most. Don't get me wrong: this girl is a dime, 10/10, smokeshow, whatever else you can think of and she's intelligent, funny, and down-to-earth (I actually had to talk to her to learn these things about her - who knew!). Seriously, those eyes, though. Man, I've got to be the most bizarre person on earth to notice such things. 

All semester long, she sat directly in front of me (this specific class uses a long rectanglar desk, similar to those board meeting desks in corporate offices), so we frequently made eye contact and some conversation throughout the semester. For a while, I had debated on asking her out for coffee, but have relented from doing so. After all, simply because someone's nice to someone, that doesn't mean there's interest. People are nice out of courtesy and/or obligation, and that alone doesn't justify anything. However, I am really interested in this girl and I do want to want get to know her more. Regardless, of what happens, I know she's someone who's left quite the impression on me. 

Joined Reddit & Time Wasting Ensues

The World Famous(?) Reddit Alien

After this forum has been around my life (via YouTube videos and current events) for quite some time, I finally took the plunge and decided to create an account and be part of massive online community for better and for worse. In my short time of being a Redditor, I've learned quite about myself: I have very little willpower to curb my time online at Reddit. On one hand, spending lots of my free time has allowed me to find great sub-reddits, but on the other hand, I've wasted precious free time dicking around some of the more hilariously stupid (sometimes NSFW/L) learning new things, keeping up with world in news and tech, and even just having a much need laugh in a lousy day. Below, are some great subreddits as well as some of the more...interesting...subreddits. Enjoy, and you're welcome ;-)

Some interesting subreddits (for better):

• /r/CarTalk
• /r/ListentoThis
• /r/InternetisBeautiful
• /r/ExplainLikeImFive
• /r/PersonalFinance

Some interesting subreddits (for worse):

• /r/FiftyFifty
• /r/AdviceAnimals
• /r/TIFU
• /r/GoneWild
• /r/Incest (What you're thinking at the moment is 1/10th of how Reddit felt upon its discovery)

I'm still finding some new and interesting subbreddits. The goal is to find more productive and thought-provoking subreddit forums while trying to dodge to the more inane forums. As you can see, I've found several that I've taken a chance on and failed. Miserably. Well, until next time!

Another Update to the CRL

So rather, going all the way back to January 2014's entry post highlighting my updated Comprehensive Reading List (compare this list with the original from Jan. 2013!), I decided to just create a new post instead (and it'll make it easier for me to go back in case I add (0r subtract books in the near future, which probably will happen quite soon). Without further ado, here is my current (and updated) reading list:

Color-Code:

Books added Pre-2013: Orange

Books added in 2013: Green

Books added in 2014: Fuchsia

Reading in Progress: Blue

Finished Title: Black/White (in published form)

001. This Bridge Called My Back - A Feminist Anthology
002. Go Ask Alice - Anonymous
003.-004. The Iliad and Odessy - Homer

005. Tuesdays With Morrie - Mitch Albom
006. The Five People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom

007. Borderlands (La Frontera) - Gloria E. Anzaldùa
008.-010. The Divine Comedy - Dante Alighieri

011. The Long 20th Century - Giovanni Arrighi
012. What You Have Left - Will Allison
013. Invitation to Sociology - Peter L. Berger

014. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

015. The Social Animal - David Brooks

016. The Zombie Survival Guide - Max Brooks
017. The Stranger - Albert Camus
018. The Rebel - Albert Camus
019. Myth of Sisyphus - Albert Camus
020. Notebooks - Albert Camus

021. Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card

022. Jurassic Park - Micheal Crichton

023. Next - Micheal Crichton
024. Dancing in the Dark - Morris Dickstein
025. Room - Emma Donoghue

026. Drudge Manifesto - Matt Drudge

027. A Tale Of Three Kings - Gene Edwards

028. The Lost Witness - Robert Ellis

029. Dead Space: Martyr - B.K. Evenson

030. Then We Came To An End - Joshua Ferris

031. The Unnamed - Joshua Ferris

032. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

033. A Thing or Two About Curtis and Camilla - Nick Fowler
034.An Abundance of Katherines - John Green
035. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green
036. Looking For Alaska - John Green
037. Paper Towns - John Green

038. Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales (On A Break...)

039. The Books Of Rachel - Joel Gross

040. Policing As Though People Matter - Dorothy Guyot

041. Retribution - Jilliane Hoffman

042. Prince of Thieves - Chuck Hogan

043. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

044. The Know-It-All - A.J. Jacobs

045. The Year Of Living Biblically - A.J. Jacobs
046. Drop Dead Healthy - A.J. Jacobs

047. Shining Like Stars - Douglass Jacoby

048. Survivors - Zion Ben Jonah

049. What Technology Wants - Kevin Kelly
050. Angry White Men - Michael S. Kimmel
051. Masculinity as Homophobia - Michael S. Kimmel

052. Flowers For Algernon - Daniel Keyes

053. Cell - Stephen King
054. The Walking Dead Compendium I - Kirkman/Adlard/Moore/Rathburn
055. The Walking Dead Compendium II - Kirkman/Adlard/Moore/Rathburn

056. Getting The Most Of The Bible - G. Steve Kinnard

057. Frankenstein - Dean Koontz
058. Unequal Childhoods - Annette Lareau

059. The Satanic Bible - Anton Szandor LaVey

060. Fresh Kills - Bill Loehfelm

061. Our American King - David Lozell Martin
062. The Communist Manifesto - Karl Marx
063. The German Ideology - Karl Marx,  Friedrich Engels
064. The Gift - Marcel Mauss

065. Sin City: The Hard Goodbye - Frank Miller

066. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For - Frank Miller

067. Sin City: The Big Fat Kill - Frank Miller 

068. Sin City: That Yellow Bastard - Frank Miller

069. Sin City: Family Values - Frank Miller

070. Sin City: Booze, Broads, & Bullets: Frank Miller

071. Sin City: Hell and Back - Frank Miller

072. The Complete Guide to the Bible - Stephen M. Miller
073. The Sociological Imagination - C. Wright Mills

074. V for Vandetta - Alan Moore/David Lloyd

075. Watchmen - Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons

076. The Will to Power - Friedrich Nietzche

077. 1984 - George Orwell

078. Animal Farm - George Orwell
079. Damned - Chuck Palahnuik

080.Three Dollars - Elliot Perlman

081. Seven Types of Ambiguity - Elliot Perlman

082. The Reasons I Won't Be Coming - Elliot Perlman

083. 01-01-00 - R.J. Pineiro

084. Bahgavad Gita (As It Is) - His Divine Grace Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

085. Where The Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls
086. Save Your Marriage Ahead of Time - Jacqueline Rickard

087.The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin

088. The Book Of Vice - Peter Sagal
089. Cosmos - Carl Sagan
090. No Exit - Jean-Paul Sartre
091. The Wall - Jean-Paul Sartre

092. Married To Murder - Robert Scott

093. Derailed - James Seigel

094. The Dark Room - Rachel Seiffert

095. Hamlet - William Shakespeare

096. Much Ado About Nothing - William Shakespeare
097. Forces of Labor - Beverly Silver
098. Coping with Crisis - Gustave Simons

099. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ - Joseph Smith

100. Mostly Murder - Sydney Smith
101. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning - Lemony Snicket
102. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room - Lemony Snicket
103. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window - Lemony Snicket
104. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Miserable Mill - Lemony Snicket
105. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Austere Academy - Lemony Snicket
106. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Ersatz Elevator - Lemony Snicket
107. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Vile Village - Lemony Snicket
108. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Hostile Hospital - Lemony Snicket
109. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Carnivorous Carnival - Lemony Snicket
110. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Slippery Slope - Lemony Snicket
111. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Grim Grotto - Lemony Snicket
112. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Penultimate Peril - Lemony Snicket
113. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The End - Lemony Snicket

114. Baseball In April And Other Stories - Gary Soto

115. Of Mice And Men - John Steinbeck

116. AMERICA (The Definitive Guide) - Jon Stewart

117. Mr. Clarinet - Nick Stone
118.Brief Interviews with Hideous Men - David Foster Wallace

119. The Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren
120. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism - Max Weber
121. The Methodology of the Social Sciences - Max Weber

122. I Am The Messenger - Markus Zusak
123. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

124. A+ Guide To Managing And Maintaining Your PC 6th Ed. (Textbook)

125. Criminal Justice, Citrus College Custom Ed. (Textbook)

126. Electronic Technology Fundamentals (Textbook)

127. Psychology 2nd Ed. (Textbook)

Total Books Read: 60 of 127 (47.24%)

Wish I Was Here...Already Married

"What do you mean you want to be married already?! You're young! Live life, make the most of your youth, and don't worry about girls until your older...much older! I kid on that, but seriously, why worry about marriage now? It'll come in time. You just have to be patient."

Almost ubiquitously, I get such reactions whenever I mention that I would have liked to be married already. When I was 14, I had hoped that I would have finished university, began my career, and have wedded a lovely, intelligent woman. All by the age of 22. Instead, I'm now 25, still fighting for my undergraduate degree, and single. Not even a girlfriend. We're talking "forever alone" type of situation. Actually, that's not entirely true. If pretty girls didn't make me so damn nervous...!

...

Actually, we're derailing here. You're probably thinking, Why do you want to be married already? What's the rush?, and if you weren't thinking it, you are now. To answer the question (that I imposed upon you - sorrynotsorry about that), the answer is quite simple: security. See, I'm not the kind of guy that just relentlessly pursuits women; I'm not the kind of guy that's constantly seeking for the next girl to smash (euphemism); and I'm not the kind of guy that constantly has some ulterior sexual motive for interacting with people of the opposite sex and gender (I was that person, but I've come along a way since then, but I digress). Perhaps, and embarrassingly so, I have no game (also euphemism) nor have I an interest in playing "the dating game." It's through marriage that I bypass this cruel and, at times, illogical farce of social interaction that juxtaposes bizarre human personalities with other bizarre human personalities. 

The notion that I'd have some special lady to go home to, to give and receive any and all comforts has always been appealing to me. No games, doubts, worries, or other pointless bull. Just an ethereal security of knowing who's waiting for me (and who I'm waiting for) at end of the day. This is why I want to be married and avoid having to spend precious years carrying unnecessary emotional baggage and wear painful battle scars as we desperately search for our other halves like chickens with heads cut off.

In all honesty, I don't know why I'm feeling pressured to be married already. Is it just me playing some distorted mind game with my own self? All I know, at this point, is that I'm feeling all too self-aware of this. Is this just me being emotional or is it something more inherent within me that I'm not attending to?

P.S.: On an unrelated note, Zach Braff recently released Wish I Was Here and it looks interesting, similar to Garden State over a decade ago. If anything, this film just may be Garden State 2.0.

Maybe.

"SO! THE LEGEND IS TRUE!!!"

About 4 months ago, I had stumbled across this game through one of the few YouTube shows that I regularly watch. Needless to say, I was blown away (and still am) by what the trailer promises to offer (especially with Goku fighting Kid Buu, ending the fight with the spectacular Spirit Bomb - my jaw just dropped). After looking more into the game (since, lucky for me, there have been gameplay videos on this game), I've learned several things about this game:

1. The game is still incomplete, with the game's developers constantly releasing updates to include more characters (including moves, intros and outros)/stages/music, while also balancing out the game's physics, mechanics, and AI (it's too challenging as of now). As of now, there are only 5 characters (Goku, Vegeta, Adult Gohan, Frieza, and Super Saiyan Goku).
2. The game is incomplete due to the fact that this is all entirely fan-based game! This is an amazing fact considering how much work has been put into the game (this was all accomplished in their free time! They can't monetize this project because of IP stuff).
3. The game utilizes the Mugen fighting engine. This means that the game will run flawlessly on a Windows machine, but it'll take some work to work around the schematics of a Mac (which is what I have, so I haven't had the opportunity to play the game myself, sad to say).

The game, as a whole, is not only an homage to some of the more advanced-skill 2D/2.5D fighters out there (think Guilty Gear,  BlazBlue, Killer Instinct), but it's outstanding that you know that people who created this game have deep love and respect of the DBZ universe. The detail to the sprites and their animations is just gorgeous (just look at Frieza's tail during his standing animation). This DBZ fighter is a must to those who are not only looking for a fun, challenging fight, but every DBZ fan must check this game out, despite the game not being entirely complete. Lastly, here is the demo trailer video that first introduced me to this already awesome game:

"Yukianesa...ACTIVATE!!!" (Late Post #6)

My Mitsubishi Lancer, OZ Rally Edition
Named Yukianesa (Yuki for short)

About a month and a half months ago, my Teggy, whom I've lovingly named Ophelia, had finally given up her last breath (metaphorically speaking). I've been thinking of buying a newer car (thanks to my co-worker letting drive his Mini-Cooper). So I've working hard and saving up extra money for that newer car, and had also decided to sell Ophelia for cheap (since she became barely drivable). 

So, for the past month, with the help of a friend, we had scoured the earth (or 5 cities, but who's counting?) looking for a used car that can be bought for no more than $7,000 cash (I'm a struggling university student, so I don't have the "luxury" of having a lease - not that I would want one, but that's a different story for another day). 

The search zigzagged us from various models of cars. We had begun with MINI Coopers (r50 or r53) but the majority of the vehicles were automatic transmission (this is bad because many MINI's with A/T tend to fail sooner than those with Manual Transmission). So many Coopers were dismissed, with the exception of three we found that were M/T. However, all three had major problems (one had electrical problems, another needed obscure sensors to be replaced, and the best priced Cooper had transmission problems - the transmission keeps slipping out the 5th gear, which would be a major problem on the highway and in my wallet).

After Coopers, we began to search for Scion Tc's and Acura RSX's with M/T, but that search was fruitless. We found a great Tc at a dealership, but in the end, the dealer was such a tool. He was, essentially, more eager to sell the car for what it was, and it just made me uncomfortable to make a sale with him, so I left that dealership and never looked back.

Then, after that, we stumbled across Mazda Miatas. Those little cars looked fun to drive, but I realized that it just wouldn't be practical to buy one. However, when I have the money to buy one, I most definitely will for my weekend trips to wherever. 

And lastly, the Mitsubishi that I now have, was a surprising find. We found this in a hole-in-the-wall used car dealership. We looked at it, we test drove it, and we negotiated the price. It's surprising to realize that I have a Lancer - it just wasn't something I wasn't expecting to own. I'm quite happy with it. As it's my own bizarre custom to name my pieces of technocrap (and a car is technocrap), I've been thinking of what to call my Lancer. Then it dawned on me. 

Jin Kisaragi, as portrayed in
BlazBlue: ChronoPhantasma
Yukianesa is Jin's weapon

Yukianesa. The name dawned on me since my brother and I have been playing BlazBlue: ChronoPhantasma over the summer. The name comes from Jin's Nox Nyctores weapon called Mucro Algesco: Yukianesa, which resembles a Japanese sword. Now here's where it gets pretty cool. Yukianesa's most interesting characteristic is that it can amplify its owner's state of mind, making even the coldest personalities passionate and on the verge of a psychotic breakdown, like Jin Kisaragi himself. Furthermore, unlike a real sword, Yukianesa's blade is made of permafrost from the water particles in the atmosphere fused with seithr. The blade can freeze just about anything in seconds! How cool is that?! I know, I'm a nerd. Hence, why I've decided to call my Mitsubishi Lancer "Yukianesa," since it's such a badass weapon in the BB universe.

"The Hero of the Winds" (Late Post #5)

One of the more subtle highlights of my summer was revisiting a modern Zelda classic, The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker (HD). Since GameCubes are outdated (but totally retro in a die-hard fandom kind of way), my brother got his hands on the Windwaker re-release (since the software came along with his Zelda Limited Edition Wii-U). In a span of 16 days or so (at 2 hour intervals with work sprinkled in between), I completed the game, and it was a fantastic voyage (for both the GC and Wii-U). 

Playing the Windwaker all over again was fantastic. The HD edition really brought out the vibrant colors of the Windwaker world, in such a way that you couldn't help but take a moment to just see the world (or the ocean...mostly the ocean, though). Perhaps the best (and subtle) surprise is the fact that there's now a Swift Sail! The sail allows the wind to automatically change direction as you sail about the sea and the King of Red Lions flies across the ocean, too. Some other changes are minor, such where some treasure maps/heart pieces are found, but nonetheless it's a beautifully restored game to the highest standard.

As far as the story went, it was all a blur in my first voyage. I thought I was rescuing Aryll and now I'm looking for the Master Sword to fight Ganon?! What gives?, would be my overall impression of my first time around. Now, as an adult, it all makes sense now (doesn't always as an adult? Although, there will always be some things that can't be ever understood.)  Since I mostly played the game for fun rather than be complete the game (including a second-run through via Hero Mode), my brother gave me some backlash for not trying to get everything the game had to offer (I was missing 2 heart pieces for a another heart, 6 entire hearts, the Hero's Armor, a bottle, and a crap load of treasure maps), calling me lazy. Whatever. I'm happy to have played the game, for what it is, and as it's often said (or so I think): The journey IS the destination. 

"Blaze" It Up! (Late Post #4)

Key Characters in BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger

Over the summer, I've had the pleasure of diving into the "BlazBlue" universe, as I call it. So far, BlazBlue has been expanded through 3 main entries (Calamity Trigger, Continuum Shift, and ChronoPhantasma, respectively). With each new game that's released, new character are introduced, as well as both the overall main story and each character's backstory (for both new and veteran fighters) become more elaborated (as it should be). Since the BlazBlue universe has gotten considerably bigger (through spinoffs, an anime series, and supplemental novel and manga publishings), there's just too much info to share on this one blog post, but click here and it'll take you to BlazBlue's wiki page. All pertinent info can be found here.

 BlazBlue, in short, is a 2D J-Fighter, mixing elements from Capcom's classic Street Fighter and Marvel v. Capcom series, as well as a personal favorite series, Killer Instinct. BlazBlue, like KI, requires much time and patience to learn (let alone master), since much of the action is fast-paced.

What I've been enjoying most lately has been the game's soundtrack. It's difficult to label the genre (there's nothing wrong with that - a soundtrack with many flavors is greatly appreciated), but I'd say it's mostly hard rock/speed metal with melodic and symphonic elements infused in each music. However, the Chronophantasma remakes (marked by "ii") are full of surprises. So while, I'm not currently playing the games at the moment (damn you, adult responsibilities), at least I have to the soundtrack to drool over.

Here is Noel Vermillion's Bullet Dance II, from BB:CP:

Here is Jin Kisaragi's Lust SIN II, also from BB:CP: 

"American Psycho" @ Eat.See.Hear. (Late Post #3)

Minutes away from the main show!

On July 19th, I had the awesome pleasure of watching American Psycho on a big screen at the Autry in Los Angeles (I'm close to LA. Obvious, isn't it?). The show is part of Eat.See.Hear's summer-long film festival showcasing some of the cinema's brilliant contributions...or not. It depends on the individual, really. Anyhow, it was great to watch a film outside in a park. It's something that I've been wanting to do since I've seen others do it as well as a setting like this seems to be quite popular in movies. 

American Psycho seems to be one of those films that are inherently difficult to comprehend, even with extensive conversations with friends in trying to interpret the meaning of the movie. While it's satire and providing commentary on the Wall Street culture of the 80's, Psycho follows Patrick Bateman's adventures (so to speak) as a serial killer. Yeah. That's all I've got. I've seen this film twice, and I still struggle to understand the message and meaning of the movie. I'm told that reading the book is more impactful than the movie.

Trip to the Ghetty (Late Post #2)

The front entrance of the Getty.

On a beautiful Friday afternoon in July, one of my friends had to go to the Getty Center in Los Angeles. I say "had to" since he was required to make a trip to examine art from the Renaissance Era and write a concise, yet detailed, report on his observations of said art. He didn't want to go alone, so I asked if I could tag along. It's been years since my last visit and I also vowed to revisit this museum some time this year, and the timing was impeccable. 

Even though it's been years since my trip to the Getty, nothing much has changed. It all felt nostalgic and natural, which my friend felt relief for (since he never visited the Getty until that trip we made) so we had no trouble having to be where we needed to be, which was the west wing, where all European art could be found.

After a good hour and half (maybe two) of examining art, having an on-going conversation with my friend about the art and applying his knowledge to the works that were present, we spend our remaining time exploring the rest of the museum. We found some great architecture (like the photo to the right). While, in honesty, it was something that I couldn't comprehend entirely, it was something that I appreciated simply because it exists. Maybe that's the powerful effect of art: sometimes we don't understand what we see, hear, or feel, but all that matters most is that someone was creative or insightful, or even just lucky enough to create something into existence that didn't exist before.

Shovel Knight! (Late Post #1)

Shovel Knight is one of those games that I bought as soon as I heard of its existence. I stumbled upon this game as a review for the ultra-popular Game Informer magazine, earning a 8.5 or a 9 (it's been months since I saw the review in the magazine. The review enticed me - it was a throwback to the good ol' days of 2D platforming (nostalgia) while harkening references and influences from beloved Capcom IPs of MegaMan and Ghouls n' Goblins (so yeah, and hell yeah!). 

The review and its second opinion both loved and deeply appreciated the difficulty that was once prevalent (especially in the games of the MegaMan and Ghouls n' Goblins series) and that alone just caught my attention. It's been a while since I've played such a challenging video game. Furthermore, the review also lauded the game's soundtrack, but that was an aspect that didn't fascinate me as much. I'm more attracted to the more dynamic (and frequently symphonic) soundtracks that are more prevalent in today's gaming world (Shadow of the Colossus, BlazBlue, and God of War are some excellent examples). Like any 2D platformer of the olden days, it's the attention to detail and sprite animations that bring the game to life. And it's for the 3DS/Wii-U and I desperately need more games for my 3DS, so that was also in my favor.

I spent about 15 hours playing the game in total (8 hours for my first run and getting everything and 7 hours playing the more even more challenging "New Game+" mode). Like MegaMan and Ghouls n' Goblins, controls are tight, the colors/animations/sprites are crisp and colorful, and not one song sounds similar to another. This is one of those games that has to be played by everybody (and if you don't have a 3DS or Wii-U, then borrow or steal or do something!). It's very rewarding, being both an homage to era of the past, while still being outstanding in its own right as it's own IP. 

First Day of School (Blogging Again)

It's been over a month since my last post here (which was about the initial days of my "Great Social Experiment"). Since then, I've been up to quite a bit. They are, as follows:

• I picked up Shovel Knight from the 3DS e-shop.
• I made a trip to The Ghetty Center (also in Los Angeles).
• I saw American Psycho at the Autry in Los Angeles.
• I revisited a Zelda classic.
• I also picked up BlazBlue (thanks to my brother).
• And I (finally) bought a new (e.g. used) car that's better than Ophelia (sorry, Ophelia).

So, yeah, busy month and a half since my Social Experiment. All of these topics will get written up soon! Stay tuned for the details.

In other news, I've started up school again! Today (August 26th) is the first day of my (hopefully) final Fall Semester. I am simultaneously excited and nervous about the next few months. So much is at stake here, but I'm confident I'll pass with flying colors. Wish me luck, fellow readers. Until next time (and it won't be months from now, I promise!).

My Social Experiment: Day 0 (Nervous)

Before I begin what I set off to do, I feel like I should type down my thoughts as to how I feel. First off, I'm nervous. I have approximately 230 friends listed on Facebook: 50% that were added randomly these past few months, about 30% that I know by association, 15% that I don't even communicate with anymore, and the remaining 5% are people that I do communicate with. Only the 5% will be excluded (since there is no point in reconnecting with them when I already do communicate with them). SO...yeah, many will be complete and total strangers. Second, I'm pretty there are a several that are either married, or at least in a very serious relationship, so I can anticipate a lack of response (but hopefully a polite decline?) from these people. 

So yes, I can say that I'm nervous: who will respond? Who will actually want to participate? Can I maintain communication with approximately 150 people (that's the amount of people I'm hoping to interact with)? Can I even initiate some sort of dialogue to begin with (after I post the initial question)? 

I hope to seek some answers soon.

My Great Social Experiment

I don't have many quality friends on Facebook. Most of the people that I have on my friend's list are mostly mutual friends or (much more honestly) acquaintances. For a good while, this didn't bother me at all, since I was just randomly adding people relentlessly over the course of several months. However, now I have this lengthy list of strangers who are, apparently, deemed "friends" of mine. Only...they're not. Rather than to eliminate them from my friends list, I decided I would try to befriend them, to know a thing or two about who they are. While that's a daunting task to do, I'm feeling confident that not everybody will respond to the message I will send them (which I'll mention in a moment). Instead of having, say, 100 ongoing conversations, I might only have to deal with 70. 70 is still a high number, but at least it's not 100. As for the message, I plan on sending, I'm thinking something along the lines of this (keep in mind that this is only a draft question, and may be changed sometime in the future):

Hello. It's embarrassing for me to admit this to you, but the truth is, I don't know you at all, other than your name. I don't know who you are, where you come from, and where you belong in this mad, blue world (and if I do know who you are, and you got this...sorry that I forgot?). However, I do want to know you: what makes you happy, your favorite art and its myriad forms, your regrets, your dreams, the last time you cried, something you hope you'll never be, what keeps you awake at night. At the very least, describe yourself in one word. I'm not asking you to reveal your authentic, personal self all at once, but I am asking that you'll slowly (even if you're hesitant - and that's ok: I'd be hesitant myself!) reveal yourself to me. For the sake of equivalent exchange, I'll share something about myself also, giving you something in return for what you have given me. The hope is that someday, in the distant future, we can become friends (even if this is just upon this digital landscape), rather than remain a subconscious, subtle blip in our lives. I trust that you'll read this lengthy message and take the chance to meet somebody new, or at least, somebody who subtly lingered about your news feed and friends list for some time.

I hope that at least one person bravely responds back to me...

New Haircut!...Kinda...

This is me, with a size 2 head shave. Now, 3 and a half weeks later, my hair feels like a size 4 head shave. It's grown quite a bit, but I don't feel like taking time aside to head off to refresh my head with another buzz cut.

Incidentally, when I got this new 'do, I had just finished watching the final episodes of Breaking Bad and I may have been inspired to do so, after Pinkman went on a multi-day partying spree. Anyhow, I'll never tell, but many a friend and family do indeed suspect Breaking Bad to be my ulterior motive for the drastic change in hairstyle. 

Honestly, I was bored and I wanted a small change that would have a big (positive) influence on how I perceive myself. It worked, sort of, since I still feel gawky and awkward whenever wear short-sleeved clothing and the twigs I call arms protrude so generously. When I got the haircut, my barber Sergio said that he wouldn't be held responsible for any crocodile tears for my decision. No offense, but as if. This is my decision, and I have no qualms about the choice to shave off my mop. 

What remains to be seen is what hair style (if any at all) will be used once the hair of my head grows long again. 

"Nothing Can Stop Me Now..."

Recently, I have become a supporter for a Kickstarter project aptly titled "Nothing Can Stop Me Now", which is a cryptic motif in the music of Nine Inch Nails over the years (clicking the link will take you to the Kickstarter page). I'm proud (and excited) to say that I'm one of the backers of the project, excited to see the results of the project.

Personally, I am a big fan of the music of Nine Inch Nails and take pleasure in not only exploring the architecture of Reznor's music, but also discovering the motifs and themes that are conjured  up in the music, also. Thus, I'm excited to see people's interpretations in a graphic novel format of both classic and modern songs that are taken from the discography of NIN. 

The photo seen here is of The Fragile, the last album that I have bought that completes my NIN collation, excluding EP's, remixes, and other outstanding works, of course. This album was, initially, a difficult album to listen to, considering the fact that I had jumped around from LP to LP inconsistently. In time, I have learned to appreciate that level of detail and production value that went into creating this album, as well as the songs being more easily recognizable than ever before. I can't wait to see the direction that NIN takes in the near future.

Connecting With Others

I've been glancing at my so-called "Facebook Friends List" and think to myself, What do I really know about these people? How can I begin to know them personally? The answers to these questions still elude me, but I'll come up with a solution of sorts. My gears of my mind are currently at work, devising a plan to effectively come up with an answer to sorts. If this all plays out, this might be the social experiment of my life!...thus far. I'm sure I'll be devising grander social experiments in the future of my life. 

Guilty Pleasures (Late Post!)

EDIT: I had actually written this months ago, but I didn't realize that I hadn't posted this yet, so it's been laying around, unused. Enjoy!

I had the strange pleasure of talking with some of my professors about their guilty musical pleasures. Even as I type this now, I can't stop smiling. I find it humorous to know that this different side of their selves exists. It's something that I didn't anticipate from them at all. On campus, they seem so reserved and conservative. Who knows what they're really like outside of campus? I only found out about this side of them since Dr. Dre popped up in their Pandora/Spotify radio (all I know it was internet radio - it could've been iHeartRadio for all I know). Anyhow, this tiny revelation led to an extensively humorous discussion about our musical guilty pleasures. Pretty much, my mind was blown by their exciting (and seemingly taboo musical preferences).

So, to conclude, here are three songs that reflect our musical guilty pleasures (mine included):

Linkin Park - "Somewhere I Belong" - I still don't know why one of my professors considers this a a guilty (if it was one of their later albums, I'd understand), but yeah, he hates to admit that he's into Linkin Park. He prefers Hybrid Theory or Meteora to their other albums.

Snoop Dogg - "Ain't No Fun" - My professor was almost ashamed (in a funny, awkward "promise not to laugh" kind of way) to admit this is her song (especially when she works out in her free time). She knows what exactly what the content entitles, and yet she's finding the music soothing and strangely empowering. Must be the beat of the song, I suppose. 

Kanye West - "It All Falls Down" - This is my musical guilty pleasure of sorts. I always turn to Yeezy whenever I want to just shut down my brain and not think. Like my professor and Snoop Doggy Dog, I also know what the content is and I just take it in by stride. However, I must admit that only West's "The College Years" (as I like to call The College Dropout, Late Registration, and Graduation) is what I find most attractive. Anything beyond that, I just can't listen to it - it's just too weird and not quite my taste. 

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!"

Lately, I've been feeling down. It's hard for me to admit this, since I'm making the conscious decision to post this entry for all to see, for all to have a little glimpse at one of my many flaws. Especially when the Internet is known for posting content that puts us nice and high and far apart from the rest. Still, I promised myself to be honest, especially to my "self", as I am now. "To thine own self be true..." as Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet. 

Anyhow, for the sake of truth and honesty, I'm sad to say that I've been sad lately. I know that's ok: people always have that "down time" in the rhythm of Life and I'm not an exception. However, the problem lies in the fact that I perpetuate this sadness, allowing it to bleed on and on for days, weeks, sometimes months, and unfortunately (regretfully so) years. What bothers me most is that I can't seem to let go and move on and that's where I'm at at the moment...again. I'm at the cusp of being overwhelmed with negativity that's unnecessary in my life...yet I invite it again, insisting for it to stay, give it food and drink, and ask for it to stay for as long as possible before this sadness must (temporarily) depart from my life. I bring it upon myself and it's such a drag...

I want to get out of it, but I just don't know how. I always think if I could cry it all out, I'd be able to relinquish much of what I'm already holding on to, but I know that's only a temporary solution. I know it'll come back, sooner rather than later. I've been taking action and doing things that are helping me feel good about myself, about life. I've been exercising and eating healthier as a means to begin developing a healthier self-image of myself; I'm still blogging here (obviously) as a means of reflection of what I'm going through, what I'm experiencing, and what I'm learning from my experiences; and I've been reading, writing here, listening to a lot of music, and other things to keep my mind engaged (distracted, really) from the negativity that dares creep into my life. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. These are really baby steps to a better perspective of life, but I'm hoping these initiatives will cascade into some torrential happiness that can help erode much of what I'm already harboring.

Breaking Bad

Again, due to having a crapload of free time this summer, I am feverishly attached to the Netflix and the television, since I'm feverishly watching Breaking Bad. The series finished just not too long ago, and I've somehow managed avoid as much as spoilers along the way. So, I'm now on a Breaking Bad marathon, and I'm now on the final stretch of the final 8 episodes of the series (though I may be done by the time this is posted). 

In all honesty, I'm a bit surprised that it's taken Walter White/Heisenberg some time to be on his own, and begin to establish his empire. In the seasons I've watched thus far, he was always under someone's thumb, whether it was Krazy-8, Tuco, or Gus himself. All the promos and such have always portrayed White as this ruthless man without scruples, but it's taken time Walter to become the ruthless Heisenberg. Also, Pinkman doesn't say "bitch" as much as I thought he would. He tends to say "Yo" more than "B", which is kind of disappointing to say the least, but I have no qualms about that.

I honestly I don't have much to add here. I simply loved watching (and still watching) this critically-acclaimed show. In some ways, I wish I had the privilege of viewing this show along with millions of people, so that I, too, may be part of the conversation, but alas, I was half a year too late, and I'm ok with that. I can't wait to have those lengthy conversations with friends (over beer, of course) about the show. 

"We ARE the Walking Dead!"

Now that the Spring Semester is over (finally!) and summer is here, I've been making some headway here and there to read the now-famous The Walking Dead comic series. Like most people (I think), I first stumbled upon the series through the television show, not the comic series itself (and even then, I started watching the show well into the program's third season, so as you can see, I am quite behind). As of now, I have watched the show up until the end of the third season (I'm waiting on Netflix for the fourth), and I'm currently reading the seventh "chapter" in the comic series (through the "The Walking Dead Compendium" rather than the individual issues or the volumes themselves).

Of course, whenever a book is transposed into a television show or a film of sorts, there will always be liberties taken and changes made, and The Walking Dead is no exception to this rule. While some of the key settings (the initial camp, the Greene Farm, and so forth) stayed the same, it is the characters (some are exclusive to the show) and the events that really make up for the majority of the differences, differences that make the television show and the comic series become their own dynamic entities, rather than having the show simply replicate the source material in a bland and boring way. These differences, in some nerdy way, excite me, since I like to compare and contrast one rendition with the source material or one rendition with another rendition. 

Rather than going in-depth with these differences, or even going into the plot, I just want to simply share this 2-page image that's found in the comic, powerfully stating that maybe it's not outside threat that should worry us, but perhaps it is "us" that should worry us.