Hello there again! Me again, talking like I do. It's kinda late and I'm gonna be moving back into monmouth in (technically) a day. This is the last time I move into MC, and it's only to finish my student teaching. It's an odd feeling. I really don't feel like I'm part of the school anymore. I live in the apartment section of the campus, I don't have a meal plan, I'll be off campus for the most part and I only have one class on campus. It's like I'm earning this on my own and there isn't anymore time to teach me, it's up to me. Because of this, I go through this crazy cycle of confidence and tension which is then followed by anxiety (trepidation, if you will). I go from," I'm gonna become Mr. Mason!!!... I'm gonna become mr.mason..." I'm getting more excited though. I didn't really know that I wanted to teach until I came to college. There's a whole bunch of reasons why I chose the teaching profession, and it's now it's all coming to a head. It's time to influence the younger generations!!!... oh geez.
There's been a lot of stuff that's happened. There are two big things that happened: one musical and one not. Musically speaking, the big thing that happened is that I got a new bass. Yep, I adopted a new member into the bass family. It was an electric upright bass (brand will not be announced) and I was excited to get him. I even met the UPS man halfway! Well, after I unwrapped him and aired him out I realized something... he really wasn't the thing that I ordered. I mean, he was... but he was poorly assembled or something. So over time, something happened and long story short, one of his strings broke. In a fit of frustration, I had to pack him up and send him back. It really sucks, but now I'm gonna get all my money back! Maybe I'll adopt a new bass... hmm.. probably not. Mr. Strummy, The Oostick, and Thunderchicken are a pretty tightknit bunch.
There was one other thing that happened. My girlfriend got 1st runner up in the pageant!!! I'm so proud of her. Everytime she was up on stage I was dumbfounded at how someone like her is with someone like me. I think we make an awesome team. I mean, she's pretty, smart, funny, refined, grounded... and I'm... unorthodox. That's a good word for me, and us actually. We throw it down, we don't play, and we always got each others' backs. I'm really happy that she is in my life again and I love her! I mean, I could be more poetic, but it's kinda late... oh well.
I'll post something more relatable to my title, but as of right now it's time to face life, sit it down, and give life a reality check Slayer-moshpit style!
Happy Blogging,
Joey
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
You know when a game is good when...
Hello folks, It is now time for my first videogame rant on here. You see, I was playing this game on my XBOX 360 before it broke and thankfully Alex Feenstra fixed it. I got it back right after Independence day, and I started playing the game again. Thankfully, I was close to beating it and I remember right where I was. This game is a JRPG called Tales of Vesperia. It is an installment of the evergrowing Tales series, dating back to the super-nintendo days (I think). Well, I gotta give it to Bandai-Namco, this is a great game. It was a great game from start to finish, and I can say that because I finally beat it today. However, I had a weird moment. As the credits rolled, I was happy that I beat it... then I felt sad. Like, really sad. I haven't had a feeling like that for a while, and then it kinda hit me.
You know when a videogame is good when you don't want to beat it. I know it sounds ironic, but hear me out. I've played my share of games that I'm not impressed with ( Star Ocean: TLH, FFXIII, and most recently Alan Wake), and I didn't realize how much I wanted to beat the game to get it overwith. I would try to play those games as much as I could just so I could finish it and move onto *hopefully* something better. Then, you have those games... The Xenogears, Final Fantasy VI, Tales of Symphonia, and Tales of Vesperia where you just grow with the characters. You can't wait to see what happens next and it's almost like they're a part of your life! Well, then the inevitable happens... you gotta beat the bad guy.
That's another thing about good RPGs. The badguy really isn't too bad. I mean, yeah they are but in a really good RPG the badguy usually wants some kind of cleansing of the earth or some kind of domination. Usually, he's justified in his reasoning. This game that I just finished the villain (who you really figure in about the last 1/8 of the game) is not only like that, but he actually turns out to be a pretty cool guy. I mean, yeah he has long white hair, red glowing eyes, and an extremely raspy voice... but he's a pretty cool guy!
And here's something else as to why those games are really good. They wrap everything up!!! This stood out to me the most after I beat Alan Wake. Now I'm not going to spoil anything, but basically... you don't know what's going on throughout the whole game. Ok, I get that. This drives the player to play more so hopefully he/she can figure something out. Most of all, the ending wraps everything up. Well, this game didn't! Not by a longshot. All that you see is Alan Wake in a cabin at a typewriter and he says."... it's not a lake... it's an ocean."... Your guess is as good as mine. Remembering this ending and seeing the end to Vesperia made me realize that there are so many games and movies that are built for sequels. You gotta have a game that's a strong title as a standalone rather than building something that leads to some more mystery!
But anyways, I thought that Tales of Vesperia made me realize that beating a good videogame leaves you bittersweet in the end. Hopefully, Bandai-Namco will be releasing more games of this calibur and it'll make me remember the fun times with the Vesperia gang. Well, I think I'm gonna be heading to bed, wondering what game I'm gonna sink my teeth into next.
See you guys later!
Joey
You know when a videogame is good when you don't want to beat it. I know it sounds ironic, but hear me out. I've played my share of games that I'm not impressed with ( Star Ocean: TLH, FFXIII, and most recently Alan Wake), and I didn't realize how much I wanted to beat the game to get it overwith. I would try to play those games as much as I could just so I could finish it and move onto *hopefully* something better. Then, you have those games... The Xenogears, Final Fantasy VI, Tales of Symphonia, and Tales of Vesperia where you just grow with the characters. You can't wait to see what happens next and it's almost like they're a part of your life! Well, then the inevitable happens... you gotta beat the bad guy.
That's another thing about good RPGs. The badguy really isn't too bad. I mean, yeah they are but in a really good RPG the badguy usually wants some kind of cleansing of the earth or some kind of domination. Usually, he's justified in his reasoning. This game that I just finished the villain (who you really figure in about the last 1/8 of the game) is not only like that, but he actually turns out to be a pretty cool guy. I mean, yeah he has long white hair, red glowing eyes, and an extremely raspy voice... but he's a pretty cool guy!
And here's something else as to why those games are really good. They wrap everything up!!! This stood out to me the most after I beat Alan Wake. Now I'm not going to spoil anything, but basically... you don't know what's going on throughout the whole game. Ok, I get that. This drives the player to play more so hopefully he/she can figure something out. Most of all, the ending wraps everything up. Well, this game didn't! Not by a longshot. All that you see is Alan Wake in a cabin at a typewriter and he says."... it's not a lake... it's an ocean."... Your guess is as good as mine. Remembering this ending and seeing the end to Vesperia made me realize that there are so many games and movies that are built for sequels. You gotta have a game that's a strong title as a standalone rather than building something that leads to some more mystery!
But anyways, I thought that Tales of Vesperia made me realize that beating a good videogame leaves you bittersweet in the end. Hopefully, Bandai-Namco will be releasing more games of this calibur and it'll make me remember the fun times with the Vesperia gang. Well, I think I'm gonna be heading to bed, wondering what game I'm gonna sink my teeth into next.
See you guys later!
Joey
You know, there's still good music out there,
Hi everybody! Well, it was kind of a bittersweet moment here because Capital Music in Galesburg is closing. Although I didn't go there too much when I went to college, I know I stopped there at least once a week during the summer. They had a lot of music for people like me who don't like the music on the radio. You see, I found out this news when I was in the need of some new music, which is even more damaging because then that means the only music distributors are the big stores in galesburg (Wal-Mart, Target, KMart). Well, unfortunately, if you don't like Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, NKOTBSB, or any other manufactured pop idol then you won't find any music worth listening to. Thankfully, when I went into Capital for the last time every used cd/dvd was 1$. That's right, ONE dollar! So, I went on this music binge... I never went on this before! I got sixty cds all in all... I got everything from metal to jazz to even a little hip-hop. It feels great to know I have days of music I haven't listened to yet :).
But you see, What I really wanted to rant about was the main thing I learned while shopping at Capital. In the used section, there was always good music, but you had to sift through all the crap. This is becoming more true every time I look for good music. Even in the rock & "metal" genre, the radio stations and magazines try to cram shitty metal down your ears and,well, originally that's not what metal was about. Now, you have to know what kind of music you like, from the mood to the geography of the band. People need to do this! I'm tired of people saying they listen to metal and their favorite metal bands are Disturbed, SOAD, and Slipknot... That would've been a good list... in 2000! Thankfully, there are bands that are still holding it down. Bands like Armored Saint, Testament, and The Dogma (which a new band that I found). If you like your metaldrink a little harder, than I definitely suggest the latest album from Dimmu Borgir called Abrahadabra. It's awesome!!
Well, that's enough ranting out of me. Hopefully, I can rant enough so I don't have to feel like I'm wearing a Forever Alone face.
See ya'll later!
Joey
But you see, What I really wanted to rant about was the main thing I learned while shopping at Capital. In the used section, there was always good music, but you had to sift through all the crap. This is becoming more true every time I look for good music. Even in the rock & "metal" genre, the radio stations and magazines try to cram shitty metal down your ears and,well, originally that's not what metal was about. Now, you have to know what kind of music you like, from the mood to the geography of the band. People need to do this! I'm tired of people saying they listen to metal and their favorite metal bands are Disturbed, SOAD, and Slipknot... That would've been a good list... in 2000! Thankfully, there are bands that are still holding it down. Bands like Armored Saint, Testament, and The Dogma (which a new band that I found). If you like your metaldrink a little harder, than I definitely suggest the latest album from Dimmu Borgir called Abrahadabra. It's awesome!!
Well, that's enough ranting out of me. Hopefully, I can rant enough so I don't have to feel like I'm wearing a Forever Alone face.
See ya'll later!
Joey
Monday, July 11, 2011
Captain's blog, Stardate: 41111321
Hi everybody! This is my first blog ever. I've kinda wanted a blog sort of thing for a while and, well, now I have one. I'd like to type in it and keep it consistent. I'm probably gonna use this place to rant about the following things: music, video games, movies, people, and whatever else comes into mind. I hope anyone who continually reads this will enjoy what is being said and I hope they contribute ( I think you can do that...).
I hope to hear from you later!!
Joey
I hope to hear from you later!!
Joey
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