Video Games

It's almost 2013, and what does the end of the year signify?  Well I've always have looked forward to new lists that usually pop up at the end of the year.  Well, the fact is that Dave has been mentioning G4's top 100 video-games of all time, and well...I'm not a huge fan of their lists.  Not that it was bad or anything, I just didn't agree with some of them.  It's all about opinion anyway.  There is no such thing as right or wrong, just how you see the list.  So with no further ado, on to the list.  Oh, oh, and by the way I'm doing a top 25.  I usually do a top 10, but this is a top 25 in the order that I find best.  Enjoy the list everyone, and once again it's just an opinion, if you have another say, hit it up and make a list.  Love to see it.

25.  Goldeneye 007 - N64

It's not the first game that revolutionized the world of FPS, however to me it's the game that made a huge difference in how I saw first person shooters, and how future FPSes should be made.  There has been many hours spent in this game with my friends.  The first time when FPS was extremely competitive, and besides, who doesn't remember setting proximity mines on a box of proximity mines not yet spawned yet...oh yeah.  I know I do.  God, me and my friends need an N64 night, and soon.  

24.  Resident Evil - Playstation

The genre that started survival horror.  Possibly, there may have been others before it...i.e. Splatterhouse.  However this game freaked me out immensely.  Is it the best one in the series?  No, but man it started it all.  This game spawned other great series...a la Silent Hill, and the Suffering.  Games that have freaked me out to no end.  If it wasn't for the Resident Evil series, we wouldn't have them.  This is why Resident Evil has made this list.

23.  Tony Hawk Pro Skater - N64/Playstation/Dreamcast/Gameboy Color (to some extent, Nokia N-Gage...smh)

The game that spawned the ollie, 900, and every grind you can think of.  I loved Tony Hawk, I love the fact that this was a game that I wanted to constantly beat with every character, just so I can see all the awesome videos in them.  Simply, and I mean simply amazing.  Great times, and no, I wasn't one of those kids that started skate boarding after this game.  I'm not stupid enough to kill myself on this jib...ugh.

22.  Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - Playstation 3

This was a game/series I never wanted to play.  I didn't want to believe in the hype.  I didn't want to go on this Tomb Raider knock off with a guy named Nathan Drake...it was idiotic and a moot point.  But I drank the Kool Aid, and not even a lot of it, and I was hooked.  It was Uncharted 1 that made me play. It was Uncharted 2: Among Thieves that will make me never want to miss another Uncharted game.  Seriously, it is a cinematic video game, and when you start it, you're waking up from an entirely different world.  Great, great, great, game.  

21.  Tetris - Too Many Platforms to Name

Wei...why the fudge are you adding Tetris to this mix?  Seriously what are you thinking dude?  I'll tell you what I'm thinking.  This is the game that is the basis of all puzzle games.  Whether you want to believe it or not, without Tetris, we have no other puzzle game.  A little respect should be shown to one of the greatest puzzlers around, and besides all of that.  The music, it's so good...just thinking about it now I can hear it in my head.  Doo do do do do dodo...now imagine Bono doing that in his Irish accent...classic.  

20.  Counter-Strike - PC

Counter Strike defined what a squad base FPS should ever be like.  With no Counter Strike, you have no COD, No Battlefield, No Black Ops.  This is what every game has stride to become.  I loved CS, from the beta stages, to 1.6 to even GO.  It has amused me to no end, and will always have a place in my heart.  From me and WT playing it non-stop in our computer cafe in our basement, to playing Source with Posef.  The game was always fun and different.  It was never you against an AI, but mano y mano, and that's what made this game perfect.  By the way, still hate AWPers...damn cheaters.

19.  God of War - Playstation 2

I learned more about Greek Mythology from this game than I did from school.  No I didn't but, seriously this game is fantastic, and every subsequent game after this was awesome.  Seriously, you kill Ares the God of War and Kratos becomes the next God of War.  If you never played this game, it's an experience.  You have puzzles, amazing story, and action that is beyond belief.  Lets play this game, cause yes, I've just picked up the HD pack.  

18.  Left 4 Dead - PC/Xbox 360

Zombies, why wouldn't there be a zombie game on my list, yes I know I added Resident Evil, but I don't know where that game series is going.  So, I'm definitely adding a squad/team base game where we must survive a zombie apocalypse.  It has always been my dream to play a game with my friends trying to survive an end of the world situation.  I wish all my friends could get online and play this game, cause it's just the true meaning of survival.  Share health packs, revive players, why wouldn't this be a good game?  It just would be, and it is.  I love it, and every now and then I go back to it.  Fun is all, just plain old fun.  

17.  Mario Kart 64 - N64

I may have never been the best Mario Kart player ever, but this game provided so much fun for me and my friends.  It's amazing how much you want to punch a person, or just keep laughing when playing this game.  I swear, if Anthony ever pulls that stupid shortcut off on the beach, I will punch him in the face...see how that works there.  It's just an awesome racing game.  I always fall off on Rainbow Road...I hate this game.  

16.  Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec - Playstation 2

2 racing games in a row?  What?!!  No seriously, I loved this game.  The Gran Turismo series reached its pinnacle at 3.  There have been better racing games since then.  However, back in my day, nothing compared to GT3.  I loved cars growing up, I could've never actually afford a real car at the time, but this made all my fantasies come true.  I loved ever moment of this game.  I loved it so much I even brought a $150 Logitech steering wheel, my friends made fun of me, but you know what, worth every penny.  Every once in a while, I'll plug in my PS2, plug the pedals and steering wheels in, and let this game spin.  I drive the Trueno, Skyline, even 240SXs.  It was so much fun, any car you could dream of, it was in there, and of course the sounds and physics were so real, and modding a car?  Forget about it, N/A tuned or drop in a turbo, the decisions were all yours, and suspension and everything else.  Your choice buddy.  Your choice.  That's what made this game so great.  *Sigh*  I need to play me some GT3.

15. Super Mario World - Super Nintendo

One of the greatest side-scrollers ever.  Well, to me it was.  I was a completionist when it came to this game.  If there was a secret area, a color block, or anything else along those lines.  Super Nintendo was an awesome gaming system, one of my favorites, and this game placed its place in history for me when I discovered star road.  Yeah, that just happened.  

Okay folks, I just gave you my first 15, and now it's coming down to the wire here.  For all you Sega Genesis fans out there sorry there hasn't been much yet, however there are a couple coming up.  Well, we'll see.  

14.  Streets of Rage 2 - Genesis

Oh man, what a beat'em.  This was one of the first games I've ever played that was a beat'em up.  There was always Final Fight, but I'm definitely all about Streets of Rage.  It was a great time.  Maybe it was more of the memory of how it happened.  I spent a ton of my time with my friend Nathan, and he showed me a shit ton Genesis games, and it was great.  Man, I wish I had Sega Genesis now.  

13.  Chrono Trigger - Super Nintendo

Do kids play RPGs as a child?  Wasn't it always easier to just play side scrollers, shooters, and beat'em ups?  Well for me, my first RPG that I've ever played is Chrono Trigger.  I loved this game, this game not only had your usual fair of fighting and what not, but this was the first time where I had played a game with an actual storyline.  Between the friendship and time travel, this game was amazing.  I guess you can say this was the first game that has ever gotten me into real RPGs.  Fantastic run this game had.  

12.  NHL 11 - Playstation 3/Xbox 360

I've always hated hockey, I never understood it, wasn't a huge fan.  Then 2010 hit.  If it wasn't for George, Dave, and Jay I would have never got into it.  Oh, and that comeback against the Boston Bruins the Flyers made just helped signify my enjoyment of hockey.  NHL 11, you know what it really did?  It made me enjoy the game of hockey even more, and the fact that I've learned a majority of the rules from it doesn't hurt as well.  The real reason why NHL 11 is on here is the fact is that this is where me Dave Jay and George started playing online against others, and now this is just a fantastic past time for me and my friends.  

11.  The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - Super Nintendo

There could've been many Zelda games chosen.  However, this is what truly defined a Zelda game.  I loved a Link to the Past most, so many memories, so many great memories.  Running across the screen, the swinging sword attacks, bombs, and power gloves.  Wow, I think I might just start playing this game again.  Zelda is amazing, there are many more that can be put on this list, but The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past will always be a classic that started it all.  

So here we are, we've finally reached the top 10, and yes there are a ton of games that have not been said as of yet.  I'm pretty positive there is a ton of people out there that are pissed off about this list.  I would first like to say, well if you don't like it, get use to it.  No seriously, get your own list if you hate this list, cause you're opinion is definitely ten times better than mine anyway.  With no further ado...the top 10

10.  Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - Playstation 2

Grand Theft Auto III was the beginning of a new wave of 3D sandbox open goodness, and ever since then the Grand Theft Auto series continued and grew into an obscene animal.  The game made changes  and continued to be a huge monster of a series.  Jay, you need to play GTA VI, you're really missing out.  Anyway, GTA III revolutionized the series, it added so many different elements, it was just an amazing game, unfortunately though GTA VI had a few minor setbacks, and not that it was not a great game, it was a fantastic game, but there was just a few missing things is all.  It didn't have that thing that GTA III had, and this is why GTA III has made the top 10.  

9.  Shadow of the Colossus - Playstation 2

One of the most innovative games of all time.  The scope and level of this game is grand.  Every aspect of this game, the story, the epic battles, the riding of the horse.  This is a game of extreme magnitude.  I can't explain it, it's just amazing, it's like a mix of Zelda, GTA, and whatever epic game you can think of rolled into this game.  

8.   Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - Playstation

The best Castlevania of all time.  There has been none better since this, and the ones before it has not compared to this.  Just the thought of playing Alucard and fighting against his father is making me wish I could buy this game for the PS3 on the PSN network.  Like I said before, there has been no Castelvania like this game in a very long time, and playing in an upside down castle is just exciting to hear.  Definitely wish I was playing this game now.  

7.  Half-Life 2 - PC

I honestly don't know how to explain this game.  It's not just about the shooting, it's not just about the graphics.  This game is all about the story-line.  I'm still waiting guys, I'm still waiting, someone please complete episode 3 or hell just release Half-Life 3 already.  I just want to know what happens...

6.  Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! - Nintendo

There was just no way I wasn't going to add Lil Mac on my list.  This may have been one of my first game I've ever played.  I remember the fights, I remember trying to have runs without getting hit.  Hell I remember my favorite opponents.  Soda Popinski, and Piston Honda, forget about it.  That shit is amazing.  

Finally, it's the top 5.  These are the games that I can keep playing, over and over and over again.  I love these next few games, not just because the story, but the place it has in my heart.  I just like the fact that these next few games gave me so much joy in my childhood, whether they were game changers or not.  To me, these were my favorite, and will always remind me why I love video games.

5.  Ninja Gaiden - Xbox

This was one of my most favorite games for the Xbox.  It was the challenge of it all.  This may be one of the most hardest games I've ever played.  I've played this game three times, each time on a harder setting.  This is how I thought all Ninja games should be made, and it just did not disappoint at all.  Thanks Tecmo for making a great Ninja Gaiden game that just didn't disappoint.  I loved every minute of this game.  I still have number 2 to play, but I haven't tried it yet.  One of these days.  

4.  Fahrenheit or Indigo Prophecy - PC/Xbox/Playstation 2

I played this game on the PC, and never in my life would I feel like I would play a game that would bend my mind to a whole new level.  This game starts off with you being mind control and killing someone, and from there you just don't want this game to end until you finally figure out what the french toast is going on.  If you have never played this game before, you should definitely take the time and play this game.  To this day I still think about it, and I just can't wait till I play Heavy Rain.  Wow, just amazing.  

3.  Metal Gear Solid - Playstation

I honestly don't know how many times I have played Metal Gear Solid.  This was the game and reason why anyone should have a Playstation.  This was the most innovative stealth game of it's time, and for all you Splinter Cell fans...those games don't hold a candle next to Solid Snake, he's the man end of story.  The entire cast really.  My god this game is great, this entire series is excellent.  Revolver Ocelot,  Liquid Snake, Sniper Wolf...god damn this game was great.  A cinematic movie, where you're actually playing in it, don't care how long the cut scenes were, the story is amazing, and that is why Metal Gear is number 3 on this list.  SSSSNNNNAAAAKKKKKKKEEEEEEE!!!!

2.  Final Fantasy VII - Playstation/PC

This is how the game looked on the Playstation and PC

This is how awesome it would look if re-released on Playstation 3

This game made a huge impact on my life.  Is this the best Final Fantasy game ever made?  Most people will definitely say it is not.  Unfortunately I may have to agree with some.  However, this was the most influential Final Fantasy to me.  If it wasn't for this Final Fantasy, I would have never gone back to the older ones with the job systems and what not.  To me, it was all about the story, and the characters.  I've spent over 100 hours in this game.  Do you know what it is like to find the correct nut and the correct chocobo to breed and race to get a golden chocobo?  I do, I've done it.  I've wasted a shit ton of time to do it too.  I even got all the ultimate weapons for everyone, and yes, I even had that stupid task of killing that Ruby Weapon and Emerald Weapon...god that was a pain.  And yes, when Aerith Gainsborough died (or Aeris, whatever) I definitely cried.  That was way too sad for my liking back in 7th grade.  :*(

1. Street Fighter II (Any iteration after Turbo Edition) - Many many systems

If you know me, then you knew this was going to be number one.  You have no idea what this game means to me.  This was the game that started it all for me.  I learned everything from my big brother, then I took my gameplay to entirely new level.  I wanted to learn every move, every super combo, every attack possible.  It was a good time, and to this day I still play this game.  At one point in my life I've owned over 4 different copies of Street Fighter at one time.  It's the game that defined the whole entire fighting genre, and it deserves that respect.  Is it number to everyone else?  Unlikely, however this was my first real taste into the gaming world, and to me, there was no other game.  I've played Street Fighter for over a year before I played anything else.  This is what I knew most, and to this day I continue to play this game every once in a while just to relieve stress.  Thank you Capcom for making one of the greatest games of all time.  

Don't like the list, you don't have to.  But seriously tell me where I went wrong.  Would love to hear it.

Honorable Mentions:

Super Mario Bros.
Fallout 3
Battlefield 3
Mortal Kombat
NBA Jam
Tecmo Bowl
Pac-Man
Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Kingdom Hearts
Halo 2
Gears of War
Contra

The Gun Dilemma

If you been under a rock these last few weeks, let me try to get you up to speed.  Unfortunately our country is in a sad state of affairs, shooting after shooting, even after the death of innocent men, women, and children, the shootings continue.  I love the county I live in.  I believe and will continue to believe, America is one of the greatest countries in the world.  We live in a country where the majority rules, and that the people should have their own voice.  That's what makes this country so great, everyone has their own side, and they're allowed to express them as much as they want.  However is the current situation with the gun laws that the US citizens abide by correct?  Are we doing this correctly?  I've always been a strong proponent of the gun laws in the United States, I've even recently applied for my own gun license.  I live in the state of NJ, where the gun laws are extremely strict, and the process takes quite some time.  However, as I'm watching and approaching the one month mark of after applying for my gun license all of this nonsense has been happening and surrounding me.  Let me give you a quick run down within the last 2 weeks.    

Clackamas Town Center: Portland, OR

A cowardly 22 year steals a friend's AR-15 and kills two innocent people at a busy suburban mall.  Killed were Steven Mathew Forsyth, and Cindy Ann Yuille.  I will never glorify this killer by adding his name on this blog.  I could, and it would most likely give you more info.  However I refuse, remember the ones that were killed.  They are the only names that should ever be remembered.  

Sandy Hook Elementary: Newtown, CT

A mentally unstable male, at the age of 20 with Aspergers kills 27 people.  This is not to say that people with Aspergers are prone to violence.  It is just what this man had is all.  Let's remember the following names please.  

- Charlotte Bacon, 2/22/06, female

- Daniel Barden, 9/25/05, male

- Rachel Davino, 7/17/83, female.

- Olivia Engel, 7/18/06, female

- Josephine Gay, 12/11/05, female

- Ana M. Marquez-Greene, 04/04/06, female

- Dylan Hockley, 3/8/06, male

- Dawn Hochsprung, 06/28/65, female

- Madeleine F. Hsu, 7/10/06, female

- Catherine V. Hubbard, 6/08/06, female

- Chase Kowalski, 10/31/05, male

- Jesse Lewis, 6/30/06, male

- James Mattioli , 3/22/06, male

- Grace McDonnell, 12/04/05, female

- Anne Marie Murphy, 07/25/60, female

- Emilie Parker, 5/12/06, female

- Jack Pinto, 5/06/06, male

- Noah Pozner, 11/20/06, male

- Caroline Previdi, 9/07/06, female

- Jessica Rekos, 5/10/06, female

- Avielle Richman, 10/17/06, female

- Lauren Rousseau, 6/1982, female (full date of birth not specified)

- Mary Sherlach, 2/11/56, female

- Victoria Soto, 11/04/85, female

- Benjamin Wheeler, 9/12/06, male

- Allison N. Wyatt, 7/03/06, female

I will also like to add Nancy Lanza as well, even though some may say that some responsibility/blame may be placed in her hands as well, a life was still loss.  

Quiet Neighborhood: Webster, NY

An Ex-Convicted Felon sets up a fire, ambushes and kills two firefighters.  The firefighters were: Lieutenant Michael Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka.  May they RIP, a coward of a man took two lives too soon.

What else can be said?  I don't know really.   I've always been a strong believe of the Second Amendment, I've always believe in the right to own a pistol, rifle, shotgun, any firearms really.  I've always thought the gun laws were good enough.  They are certainly strict from my end and standpoint, especially in the state of New Jersey.  However after all this senseless acts of violence, there has to be a way to curb this idiocy, and killings.  Honestly, how do we bring back normalcy?  Is there a happy medium for gun laws?  I don't want to take away guns, however I believe there has to be a stricter way of controlling how people get guns.  

People are always preaching guns don't kill people, people kill people.  Is this right?  I've always thought it was.   If there is someone's intent on killing someone else, that intent will always be there.  Let's take the football player on the Kansas City Chiefs.  Lets say guns were not an issue, wouldn't the intent to kill still be there.  Could he have easily killed his wife with his own hands and not with a gun?  Yes I believe it did make it easier for him to kill his own wife with a gun, however the fact is this.  If he really wanted to, and he has truly become unstable, his own two hands strangling and taking the life out of his wife was not incapable, him grabbing a kitchen knife and stabbing her repeatedly was not out of the question.  That intent is there, I've always been saying that guns don't kill people, people kill people.  

However, the other night Mr. Dave made a great point.  Wouldn't have less people been killed if the killers didn't have an AR?  Does anyone really need an Assault Rifle?  This is my dilemma, I don't really have an answer to that.  I've always thought my first two weapons would be a Glock 22 and a AR-15.  But seriously...do I need an AR-15?  Of course not, does anyone need a 30 mag magazine?  No, fudge no, of course not.  So how do I answer this?  Do I still want one?  Are these gun laws correct?  

Every time I try to come up with an answer of some sort, my mind wanders to everyone that have recently loss their lives due to gun violence.  Especially the children.  They are just kids, the only thing innocent children should be worrying about, especially this time of year, is whether they will be getting their gifts that they have asked for from Santa.  That's it.  Instead, we have grieving family members all across the board.  I want change, I really do, and I'm asking for it.  Whether it has to be stricter gun laws or not, there has to be change.  Do I believe in a full blown get rid of all weapons?  No, I believe there are too many weapons out there, and there are definitely too many gunrunners out there for the public not to have a weapon.  However I do believe that there should be a change amongst the laws that are out there.  

There are so many conflicting factors on my end.  I don't know what to believe or want anymore.  Can there be a happy medium?  Can our government provide an answer, will these mindless killings continue?  Seriously, we really do need a superhero of some sort.  A Batman, Superman, or Spiderman would be nice.  However until then, we must believe in the country we live in, and believe that our government will have the right answer.  Lets just hope the answers will come soon, and hope that both sides will be taken in to consideration.

It has Been a While

Ughh...this has taken way too long.  Sorry for anybody actually reading this thing.  Lots of things have happened in my life these last two months, and I haven't been able to update this thing as much as I've wanted to.  So my sincerest apologies, but if you guys see like 3 or 4 posts within the next day or two...I just have a ton of stuff on my mind is all.  I guess I should start moving forward and getting rid of the formalities.

Anyway, the last thing I've seen must've been around Thanksgiving time.  Since then, I've traveled back up to Boston, and planning my next trip down to Washington.  I don't think Bean Town is for me.  I don't think I can do it there, I'm just thinking too expensive and they aren't really a sandwich-centric city enough to my liking.  Big shout outs to WT and Davie H.  Making the trip ten times better than what it could've been.  And big ups to Wei for almost getting me tickets and driving a majority of the time.  That man is awesome.  By the way, so is Dave for making the dreaded trip just one more time before the end of the year.  Highlight of the trip, messing up on my retail destinations, and enjoying each and every minute of getting lost.  Best feeling ever.

As you may or may not be aware of the situation, there has been a lot going in my life.  Been doing the 12 hour day thing for the last few weeks, just getting tired of it all really.  Business plan still being worked on.  Needing to test out my recipes is another thing, and just trying to come up with new creative ideas in between as well is another thing.  Life has been extremely crazy, however with all this craziness going on in my life, the world hasn't stopped, and the world kept turning.  It has been extremely crazy these last few weeks.  The world didn't end on the 21st, however everything leading up to the 21st would have been predicted otherwise.  Shooting after shooting after shooting.  It dampers the mood of everyone.  The biggest being Sandy Hook Elementary and the chaos the town of Newton, CT. has received.  Kids, this is what our world is facing.  This is a topic I will discuss in a separate blog, but it definitely needed a nod in this coming back home feeling of the blog.

Definitely did not want to miss out on this one, but I went to my first Band of Horses concert, complimentary of Jaypo.  Thanks Posef, I'm glad you knew how into that band I was.  So I just gotta write this down.  Probably one of my favorite concerts this year.  Very close competitor to first place holder, Kina Grannis.  However this even beat out last years number 2, Jay-Z and Kanye West concert.   This band just played and played and played.  They really needed to take a break and just didn't, seriously good stuff.  They played all my favorite songs, basically that first album to me was a god send.  Not going to lie, gotta give a shout out to Ching Ting's friend Kira.  Opened my eyes to this epic band.  Wooo...just amped.

What else...let see, Christmas has passed, and the fact is this.  I spent the most I have ever spent on presents this year.  I think this is the end of spreading this type of Christmas joy.  The next step is going to be a Pollyanna of some sort, a secret Santa if you will.  As our little group of friends continue to grow, it's time for us to re-think how we handle our gift giving options.  However, I am going to miss it.  I have this love hate relationship with Stressmas.  The faces of your friends when you give them an epic gift, that's just priceless, and of course there is that look on your friend's face when you help him choose the most thoughtful gift that could possibly thought of for someone in the group.  Christmas 2012, the end of an era, but at the same time...the beginning to something new and different.

The fresh young face of 2013 is being ushered in a few days.  The old man of 2012 is heading out.  What am I expecting, what should I be expecting, what plans do I have, should I be making any plans? I don't know what 2013 has in stored for me, nor do I want to know.  I do know however that my destiny is in my own hands, and I will be in charge of that.  It's just that all I can do is continue on planning and making the best decisions that I can.  I do know this though, I have no regrets in 2012.  This was actually a very joyous year.  I've done a lot, and lot has been done towards me.  Everything has come back ten folds, and I can only continue that in 2013.  It makes a shit ton of sense of course...of course it does.

Well, with all this in mind, I think I'm going to think of way to segue into the next blog seamlessly...and here we go. . .

I'm Thankful for Change

Well, I've been missing these last few weeks.  Sorry everybody, it has been hectic in my world, and yes who the hell am I that anyone of you people should care.  You shouldn't I'm nobody.  Just some guy who's trying to make the world a little better.  I don't know how.  I'm just trying to, move out of the way everybody, the "Decider," is on his way through.  

Anyway, Thanksgiving week is nearly over.  A majority of us shall be back to work tomorrow, and I know we can all be thankful for having the jobs that we have.  I guess...However what else is there for us to be thankful for?  I know, I know, we shouldn't just be thankful on this one day of the year, however it's just this time of the year that makes you reflect you know.  

I've been saying a lot lately that I'm looking forward to this change that is coming in my life.  Lots of people are telling me, just because going somewhere different will not make things that much different now.  I don't know about that though, I like that in the end, I will be forcing myself to make new friends.  As of now, I got that feeling that I'm just stuck in a rut.  Feels like more and more I'm going back to my alcoholic ways...well okay not really but drinking alone at a bar with no friends suck sometimes.  But you really do get to meet some interesting characters at a bar when you're with no one else.  So yes, I am thankful for that as well.  I like the experience of drinking at a bar and people watching and talking to the locals at my local dive/watering hole.  

I'm also thankful for my old company, Phelan.  They gave me the push I needed to really make the choices that are quickly approaching me.  I guess, these last few years I really haven't been the all I can be Wei.  However, Wei's back!  Hahaha...Wei's back.  I'm thankful for Black Fridays where all I do is drink champagne and mimosas.  I'm Thankful for cyber Mondays where I can do my shopping without the hassle of dealing with all the shoppers from Black Friday.  I'm thankful as always for Family and Friends of course.  I'm thankful for a ton of shit. 

So why is it that I need change?  Because becoming complacent will never get you anywhere in life.  I want that challenge.  It's the only way to grow.  I don't want to fail, but at the same time I can't fear the reaper, that will eventually lead to my downfall and failure.  This will eventually lead me back to everything I need to do in life.  EVERYTHING...

Anywhoo...Thanksgiving, this year there was a shit ton of food.  A little too much food.  However, I do enjoy the challenges of cooking a great meal.  I enjoyed the turkey this year.  However, I think it's going to be the maple brine for my next greatest turkey.  I gotta admit though, the whole cooking process this year was awesome, I had a really really good time with it.  I can't wait for the next holiday...Christmas, and it looks like I'm doing a prime rib roast this year.  So I'm very very excited.  Not as much food as Thanksgiving, however it's going to be a lot more different and exciting.  

It's slowly coming to an end everyone.  On to the next holiday I guess.  Bring on Stressmas, and everything that has to go with it.  Time to buy some gifts I guess.  Yay!

Hmm...That Doesn't Seem Healthy

If you've been reading this thing for a while now.  You know that for a fact I'm not a picky eater.  I like it all.  There's very little that I'm willing not to try, and there is very little that is expected of me.  I think a majority of my friends know how adventurous I am.  Hell...I hate spiders, but I'm willing to eat a tarantula fried and skewered on a stick.  They taste like crab supposedly, I guess I should expect that...they are in the grouped in the same phylum family.

With that in mind, what is it that turns me off?  There has to be something that I hate right?  Something that gives me that gagging feeling when I eat it.  I'm going to try and drop a top 10 list of my hated things.  However, I've been thinking about his for quite some time now, and I still having a difficult time of choosing 10 items, but you know what, still willing to give it a try.  So lets do this thing k?  Okay.  Oh and a quick thing...I've tried a majority of these items.  There may be an item or two I have not tried.

10.  Kimchi 

I love Korean food, and everything about it.  I love the little side dishes, I love the BBQ, I love the dolsot bim bim bap, I love it all.  However when it comes to this one portion of the meal.  Kimchi was never one of my favorites.  I enjoy the spicy nature of the vegetables, however I don't know, this kimchi thing.  It just never worked for me.  It must be that slimy nature of the way it's made.  *shivers* I don't hate it.  I just don't enjoy it too much.  

9.  Cold Kimchi Soup

One more Korean dish.  I just don't enjoy this cold soup when we get it at the restaurant.  Then again I'm not a huge fan of cold soups.  So, you know.  If it looks good eat it.  And I've had tried it.  However this is just another dish I do not enjoy as well.  

8. Rice Pudding

Yeah...it's sometimes too sweet, the consistency is weird to me.  The way it taste...how should I explain this.  Rice isn't suppose to taste like this.  Rice shouldn't be like this at all...and this is just plain wrong.  It's cold, wet, and icky.  God dammit Wei, that's a terrible food criticism evaluation.  I don't like rice pudding.

7.  Sea Cucumbers

Gross...I'm getting a sense of what I really don't like, here are the patterns: slimy consistency, cold things, and a gelatinous being.  I guess I know where I'm going now.  Ugh...gross.

6. Rocky Mountain Oysters

This makes me extremely squeamish.  Just the thought and looking at these things make me feel awful. I get a gut wrenching feel in my stomach...and well.  It also makes my own feel...well not good.  Uh...I'm in pain just thinking about people eating these things.  Ugh...and ouch.

5.  Lutefisk

Cod placed and soaked in lye.  Yes that kind of lye, the thing that cleans drain and being extremely caustic.  I'm definitely afraid of the fact that there is a chemical in this fish that should be killing me, and people are eating this thing like it's bloody candy.  Yup, good old Minnesota.  You're eating some crazy stuff.  Good for you guys.  Good for you guys.  

4.  Bread Shaped as Human Heads

I got no beef with bread, hell, I love the thing.  It's so bloody delicious.  I eat with everything, and it's fantastic.  However, if it's shaped in the styling of a human head, the no.  I don't want to eat this shit.  It's creepy, scary, and no one should be buying these things.  It would be an Asian that would be creating these things in Thailand.  Gross, and scary.  Fudge no I'm not eating this.  

3.  Casu Marzu

Cheese filled with maggots.  Not dead maggots, still alive and disgustingly moving and wriggling around.  That is gross.  I hate maggots, and eating that is just plain disgusting.  No thanks guys, no thanks.  And I would eat anything from Italy...however this isn't one of them.  Gotta pass.  

2.  Canned Cranberry Sauce

Yup going back to that pattern again.  I remember the first time I had cranberry sauce from a can.  It was freaking gross.  I never wanted to eat cranberry sauce again.  It was due to this gelatinous, cold, and wiggly thing.  Gross.  However I learned later on down the line that freshly made cranberry sauce is amazing.  I love it.  Especially on my Bobit sandwich.  Yum-O!

1. Durian 

Durian doesn't even taste that bad.  It's actually pretty good.  However, it's the smell of this thing.  It's the smell of rotting onions in a laundry bag full of dirty socks.  It's gross, and I've never been able to get pass that smell. I've tried it, and I never want to go back to it.  O-M-G...gross.  F*cking gross.  

If I was President...

Today, I was going to write something on the shit I hate dealing with at work, and I've got plenty to vent about.  Not about the company, but with some of the idiocy that I have to deal with from other companies...smh.  However today is not the day for that.  Cause you know why?  It's election day, and today is all about why I would make a great president...either great or really really really bad...I would probably go with pretty bad.  

First things first.  My first goal would be to work on healthcare in America.  Maybe some sort of Obamacare modification.  I don't want it to be some sort of free for all of insurance.  However I'm pretty sure people will complain about this, and blah blah blah...I don't know.  Something will change, or happen.  I'll figure it out when I'm president.  

Okay, let's see step too.  Oh yeah, welfare. If I was president, I say it be mandatory for drug tests to be taken when welfare is applied for.  Yeah, that's important, cause we don't want to give our hard working tax money to people that are abusing the system and taking drugs.  There's a way to stop that.  Yeah, that's definitely smart.  

Number 3, definitely adding a sort of contingency plan for the impending zombie apocalypse in front of us.  I'm not saying to give guns to everyone, however, the CDC and military will have a plan to deal with the zombie apocalypse.  Maybe a tax break for every household with a bomb shelter/bunker.  Smart...you damn right.  You think we'll be like England in 28 Days/28 Weeks Later?  Fudge, no, hell no.  We'll be smart about it, and we won't be like the Walking Dead, where America is getting screwed over.  yup I said it.  

Attack other countries?  Maybe...I don't know, maybe just to reestablish dominance.  Gotta reestablish dominance.  We'll crush you, you jerks...then maybe we'll help out.  Ugh...stupid national debt....I'm just kidding, I love you China.  You're good to us, so we'll be good right back.  (Don't worry guys, we'll take over one day...you'll see...jk jk...or am I?)

What else?  Okay, lets see.  Something about education, cause seriously, I think we need more of that.  That's a good thing.  Yeah, yeah...lets do that.  Seriously though, kids in the states can't compete with other countries.  Maybe we should be like Japan, have 6 day school weeks, and 13 grades before actually getting into college.  I say schooling being all year round, and giving kids a month off.  It's harsh, however it would be smart, and it would also create more teaching jobs...smart right?  Huh...huh...huh?

Yeah, so in all honesty, I would be a terrible President, I would just want to do something that would be able to make America the great country it once was.  Less getting into other countries business, and more with just staying with our own way of thinking and believing and trying to fix our own countries problems.  Maybe though, that's all we really need, regulate the f*ed up shit that needs to be regulated, lower taxes, raise education, make smarter choices.  Do things that will actually raise America's quota.  Smart things.  Lets have that.  I don't care who's president, I don't care who's chosen, Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian...whatever, just make the right choices and change the country.  We're having a crap ton of problems here, lets fix it huh?  Please.  

  

One Step Closer to Gun Ownership

It was a busy weekend this last weekend.  Lets start with Friday.  I had a great night.  Headed off to one of my new favorite bars.  Dos Segundos, it seemed like a great night for some margaritas and drinks.  However with me being DD, I got to watch my best friends have a great time.  I kinda wish Marie was working, but oh well.  It was still fun.  What a great day.

Saturday was another good day.  Actually I began the gun buying process.  Lots of things I didn't do before, I did this time.  Had my mugshot taken...I smiled the entire time.  I wasn't sure if I had too or not.  I just like smiling and being happy.  So with that done, I thought my fingerprinting was next.  I was wrong, had to set up an appointment, and I did.  Friday of November 16.  Pretty excited.  Let's get this in huh?  ^___^

Sunday was one of those lazy Sunday.  Just played some games and all that jazz.  Honestly.  I'm actually kinda sick at the moment...watching this Eagles game, and well...it's just making me sick.  More...making me agitated than sick really.  Stupid Eagles, stupid team...sigh, I wish they could just win or do something.  I know it's looking kinda good, but our defense sucks, and our offense can't even get 6 in the redzone.  I'm pretty positive field goals isn't going to win us games.  Meh...we'll see how this works out.

Looks, like I'm going to work on something tomorrow.  A little something on either grinding gears...or maybe even a on my top 50 list.  We'll find out tomorrow.  I'm still thinking.  For now I'm going to start listening to some more Lumineers...enjoy.