Month: November 2003

  • Yahoo! Directory Satanic Influence in Dungeons & Dragons


    Hey, my hard drive died a couple of weeks ago, and Jinnetics is kind enough to let me stop on here and warn you that I won't be around much until I can afford to buy a new hard drive.  Sorry, folks.  Life happens.  I'll give short snippets when I can find a computer. 


    I found this over on bassaf's and stacinator's sites:


    You are Neo
    You are Neo, from "The Matrix." You
    display a perfect fusion of heroism and
    compassion.

    What Matrix Persona Are You?
    brought to you by Quizilla

  • Video Games Are as Addictive as Work Say Scientists


    Congradulate Jackson for getting a job at his local Circle K.  Don't be like most of his friends and family who warn him of the risks of working as a convience store clerk, especially on Van Buren Street.  It's his neighborhood.  He's worked both as a security guard and as an arcade attendant.  He knows what danger is.  He needs discouragement after a year out of work like he needs a hole in his head.  It's not like he's not still looking for another job in the meantime....


    So I went and saw The Matrix Revolutions Wednesday after work with Kitty, Rusty, Trav, and Steve.  Steve didn't get it (and was still confused when we talked Saturday night).  The rest of the group understood the movie and claimed to have enjoyed it, but Rusty's understanding of the movie was different that that of Kitty and Trav.  It was facinating to listen to their discussion of the movie afterwards while on our way to, at, and from Chili's.  Some of the music in Matrix reminded me of other films, including MK.  So, when I put the soundtrack in I noticed that the similiar sounding music is done by the same band, Juno Reactor.  Now I know. 


    Bailey stopped by work on Thursday to pick up some maps.  We chatted a bit, and he mentioned how he was losing two or three pounds a week since he cut soda pop from his diet.  I'm wondering if that's what thinned me out.  After all, I cut having a can of soda with each of my packed lunches at work last December.  That was when I started losing weight according to everyone.


    Friday we watched The Ring as further prep for Orpheus.  The only one of us who had seen the film (Trav) and I were the only ones who didn't constantly talk throughout it.  Its hard to immerse yourself into a horror movie if people are making annoying comments, comparisons to other genre movies, or lewd remarks to the characters.  Despite all that, I figured it must have been a good movie in the theatres.  I kind of wish I had seen it there instead.  The horror factor must have been really high there.  I wish more Lovecraftian horror reached the big screen. 


    Saturday we played Steve's game, but I don't think I recapped the previous session yet.  Maybe I'll get to it later.  We also played some Shadowfist afterwards. 


    Today both my mother and stepfather came to mass and the Paul's Cafe afterwards.  Paul's Cafe had cowboy style burgers, cheese burgers, and dogs with Italian salad, cowboy beans, assorted Lay's potato chips, and fixin's.  The bizarre thing is that they chose to sit in the back row during mass despite the fact that I have to sit near the front during a mass in which I am a lector.  Then, during Paul's Cafe they chose to sit off in the corner by themselves.  Whenever there's a Paul's Cafe I like to sit among parishoners I haven't met yet in order to socialise with people who are new to me.  Socialising around food usually breaks down many of the barriers people put up in life.  I know that they live out in the country away from people and that St Paul's is not their parish, but if they're going to come out here then the least they can do is attempt to socialise rather than marginalise themselves.  *sigh*


    Well, I guess I should go to bed.  I'm not tired, but I recieved notice to trim the cedar and bouganvillae bushes to a mere five foot height as part of the Coutesy Fall Clean Up.  They've made a trimmings dumpster available from teh 10th through 23rd, so I might as well get it out of the way asap.  They want to read R&R#22 as requiring me to outsource the work, but I disagree and will do my own.  It says, "Tenants will use only contractors who are fully insured, maintain workers compensation coverage on their employees, and are bonded to perform maintenance work..."  That would seem to only apply to those who hire out the work.  It does not seem to prohibit doing the work yourself, and it would be a shame to waste my tools and relatively free manpower.  We'll see what happens. 


    80's Lyrics Quiz: People are What?

    Final Score: 52

  • Yet another take on what I discussed in my last entry:  frdangerous's Xanga Site - 5/8/2003 9:31:33 AM


    I stumbled on it while catching up on my backlog of subscriptions that occurred while working on CopperCon XXIII.  The reply by SaintMahone is an arguement I have heard over and over again.  And while I agree that subterfuge employed for a beneficial surprise is not bad, many people take the idea of good intent and take it too far.  Many were the conversations with friends, acquaintances, and strangers where people claimed that white lies were important to keep society together.  That white lies are neccessary to keep relationships healthy.  That white lies are needed to protect people from pain.  Bullcrap. 


    One of the problems with our society is that accountability has become an anathema.  Worse, we're teaching the next generation these habits in their most formative years.  It's funny, but I don't have kids.  I don't look to have any prospects of having kids in any forseeable future.  Yet, I worry about our next generation as if I did.  Maybe its a sign of my age.  I dunno.  But it seems to me like its a form of ethical, spiritual, and moral child abuse.


    We need to reinforce the fact that lying, stealing, cheating, littering, et cetera is wrong, and that we won't tolerate their social acceptance anymore.  Who's with me?


    Mmmm....I haven't had crunchy peanut butter and saltines since I was a kid.  What was I thinking by depriving me of this great late night snack?  Later daddy-os.  One of these days I'll finish up my gaming recaps.....

    holding hands
    hand holding - you like to be in constant physical
    contact with your special someone but you don't
    want to take things too quickly.

    What Sign of Affection Are You?
    brought to you by Quizilla

  • "This week, Patrick Stewart, best known as Captain Picard from 'Star Trek', announced he is separating from his wife. When asked about it, Stewart said, 'I realized that living with a woman has alienated me from my Star Trek fans.'" --Conan O'Brien, Late Night with Conan O'Brien 


    Do not covet thy neighbor's goods.  Do not steal.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  Most of us know these teachings from scripture.  Even the pagans have:  If it harm none, do what ye will.  So why do people in our society think that it's OK to steal?  I'm bombarded with it day in and day out.  Internet banner ads, junk E-mail, and most people you meet would have you steal music, books, and other copyrighted materials.  Want an .mp3 of your favourite song?  Go get it for free from Napster.  Want the latest gaming book?  Go get it for free from Kazaa.  No one sees how hurtful that is to the writers, artists, publishers, distributers, retailers, et cetera.  The people they see every day.  I grow weary of the constant ridicule I receive for standing up against family and friends. 


    So, today I note a gentleman who gets in line behind me at the deli counter.  He reaches into the Brach's bulk candy display and feeds his two children some yougart covered pretzles.  He does not purchase them first, or even pretend to get a bag for later purchase.  I purposefully make eye contact with him so that he knows that I know what he did.  Apparently, that didn't give him enough of a guilty conscience, because he gave another to his daughter.  At that, it was my turn in line and I warned the deli employee of the thefts in progress.  That was when he took his kids and his cart and left in a hurry.  She let it go because he left, but I can't help believing that he'll do it again and again until someone intervenes.


    So, I ask that people pray today.  Pray for all of the people who think that theft in its various forms is OK:  Internet piracy, shoplifting, and most importantly the children of those poor role models.  Pray for a conversion in their hearts.  Pray for a conversion of our whole culture. 


    "Your heart understands what your head cannot yet conceive; trust your heart."
    -- unattributed proverb, GoodQuotes.com

  • Sleep Boosts Memory in Different Ways - Memories that Weaken by Day, Strengthen by Night


    Thursday I was inspired to post here because of the sunrise, yet my the time I finished my post I hadn't even mentioned it.  Ironic, as Alanis would say.  Anyway, Thursday morning's sky was lit up like a photograph development room due to the unusual cloud cover at sunrise.  The wildfires in southern California had sent their particulates here to Arizona to give a beautiful sunrise that morning (and much needed rain this weekend!).  When the sun finally rose above the McDowell Mountains, it was an orange circle surrounded by red clouds.  Of course, within an hour the cloudcover was back to its usual shades of colour, but it was an awesome sight just the same.


    Friday was Orpheus again.  Tom had planned to bring a Honey Baked Ham and asked everyone to bring sidedishes.  I ended up being the only one who did.  Because of Halloween traffic, Tom ended up arriving at Honey Baked Ham after it closed, so he bought deli cold cuts, cheeses, and breads.  Plenty of kids (up through college age, suspiciously enough) came and trick-or-treated while we finished up character creation for Tom and everyone else picked their Stains.  Actually, Kitty had already placed one Stain on each of our character sheets, then we each picked on from a list, the sent the list backward through everyone for a second pick.  That way there was less overlap. 


    In the actual game we were trained in our different powers before going on an exploritory mission of fact gathering on Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe.  While there we notice someone with a PKE meter who scanned us all.  Insert cliffhanger.  Kitty expected us to have three encounters that night, not half of one, so I know that she's out of practice.  A seven player game never goes as fast as planned. 


    Saturday was Steve's FR 3.0 campaign.  I don't think I recapped the previous adventure, so I'll catch up on that later.  Today saw me reading E-mail, attending mass, listening to The Fires of Vulcan, and making and receiving various phone calls.  I seem to remember that I had wanted to post some thoughts here earlier, but once again I have forgotten.  By the time I get a chance to actually compose an entry it's been rather late and my mind is tired.  I'll try posting sometime during the day tomorrow between chores.



    My life is rated PG.
    What is your life rated?

    Better yet, what does it take to get a G rating?