A Few More Questions..

These next questions are not necessarily debate driven question, but more thought provoking.

1) Do you think the world looks to the United States to set the example?

2) Do you think the world expects the United States to be concerned with their individual plights?

3) When the United States does become concerned with such plights and does what it takes to help, do you feel the world condemns the United States for sticking its nose where it does not belong?

4) Do you think what the world thinks of the United States is major issue?

5) Do you think the United States should be more concerned with how the world thinks of us, or how we think of ourselves?

Again, Thanks for your time.

One side note question. If the United States economy is made weaker, who benefits?

A couple questions for my readers.

With the election upcoming i thought i could write some huge article denouncing either or both major party candidates. But instead i have just a couple of questions for those that will be voting. These question you only need to answer for yourself. Then once you have answered figure out which candidate will best push this country toward the place you are looking for.


1) Do you want the Federal Government to solve all your problems? Some of your Problems? Any of your problems?

2) Are you willing to sacrifice, the freedoms you have, to insure the Federal Government can solve your problems?

That is all. and thank you for your time.

My List...

My List of the 7 Greatest Computer Games of All Time.

Before I begin. I must step back and claim, this is my list, you can have yours. This is not a list of the most popular games, most graphicly intense, longest, or any other arbitrary parameter. I have only included Computer Games in my list. I know full well, the unbelievable titles that populate the Console universe, and the arcade scene well before it. I needed to limit myself. I honestly had to add 2 spots to a Top 5 list even with the self imposed limitation. One last note, where ever possible i give credit to the first incarnation of a game(or the incarnation that broke the game into my eyes).

Without further ado...on with the list.

7 - Star Wars: Rogue Squadron - As mentioned above I did have to expand my list to seven. I felt it would be very heinous of me to leave out a Simulator style game. seeing that Console and Arcade games never have yet been able to compare with what the computer game has done. I chose this over a normal flight simulator simply because of the game aspect. It and its sequals have done much to bring Simulators the Gaming side they have lacked.

6 - Sim City - The first major Simulator Builder. along wiht its many sequals it has opened new areas of explorationi in many other game genres. the atonomy systems created for this game led to many more advanced games.(including the one at my No. 2). As well as being the Deadbeat Dad of the Real Time Strategy genre.

5 - Everquest - This is one of the games that nearly got removed from the list. Being the only game on the list i never played(although i lived its sequal) This was the first major MMORPG. This was the game that opened the door for Final Fantasy, World of Warcraft and the countless other that have come and gone. and have yet to come.

4 - Starcraft - As Real Time Stratagy goes. this was the first i ever say the flipped the book. Every RTS i played before it would have multiple playable races, but in the end they all felt the same. In Starcraft the three races were not the same, they were actually all very different, in style, and in function.

3 - Myst - Not much i can say about this game other than Beautiful, Thought Provoking, Amazing. If Game Creation was ever considered an art form, this one belongs in The Louvre.

2 - The Sims - You probably guessed this one after No. 6. This game took the atonomy systems derived from SimCity and the other SimBuilders and Went way outside the box.

and My Number 1 greatest computer game of all time is.

Zork - This text based game was the first game that opened my eyes to computer gaming. It basicly was a choose your own adventure book on the computer, but the detail the creators went to was amazing. I firmly believe this game made way for Multitudes of games after it. From Action/Adventure Games to Platformers to First person Shooters to Free-Roam Games. There is no game that competes with it on this list.

The Dark Knight

Alright I went the new Batman movie. "Th Dark Knight" I enjoyed it. I can't say it was the best movie of the year. I feel "Iron Man" is still the best Superhero movie of the year, but The Dark Knight follows it closely. The Highlight of the movie was the previews. So let me leave you with this.

WATCHMEN

Quotable Quotes and the not so quotable.

Here are some sound bites for the Obamaniacs

"The only thing we have to change, is change itself"

"Ask not, how you can change for the government, but how the Government can change for you"

"If you want to change something, Make someone an enemy"

And to be Fair, Here are some quotes that hit right where it counts.

"That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves." - Thomas Jefferson

"The happiness of society is the end of government." - John Adams

"Honest conviction is my courage; the Constitution is my guide." - Andrew Johnson

"Speak softly and carry a big stick." - Theodore Roosevelt

"There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure." - Dwight D Eisenhower

"America is too great for small dreams." - Ronald Reagan

Brush with Greatness!

Ok Moving has some perks, I found some old Photos. So let me start by sharing some of my brushes with greatness.

Amy Grant and I, backstage.

"The Missile," Qadry Ismail and I, at Wal-Mart.



My Friend Bill with Dez Dickerson and Son.
(I was behind the camera on this one.)

Keep your eyes open, for in an upcoming blog i will reveal to you some of my craziest dreams.

More From My New Place

So The other side of my main living area. Started out pretty messy. But with a little bit of work it started to come together.








Lots of books. And my stuffed Eagles. Beautiful Green Chair.








And the ongoing progression of the bedroom. By the way. I have a couple people to thank for all my moving. My friend Dave and his son Noah were a huge help. Thank guys.

Extreme

"Recruit, when I give the word! I want you to exit my building to the left, and hit the deck running! I want you to fall in on those yellow footprints, with your body at the position of attention! No lally-gagging around my area! Head and eyes straight forward! You understand me!!"

"Yes, Daddy."

"I didn't hear you!!"

"Yes, Daddy."

The Truth - Everything Under The Sun
by EXTREME

Part 1 - Rise 'n Shine

Dawn wakes the silence, of a fainted lullaby
Day breaks the eyelid, from a song sung in my eye
Night rests in peace, as the sun mourns the sky
Dawn's accounted for sheep, over a horizon's I

RISE, RISE 'N SHINE
A NEW DAY IS COMING
RISE, RISE IN TIME
FOR EVERYTHING'S UNDER THE SUN

And when you see, a south wind blow
Forecasting, you will know, a hot day, will be on the way
(Foolish one)
You analyze, the earth and the sky
I ask you why, you can't analyze the signs, of the present time

I had a dream, not unlike the one from old
Of a man king, whose head was made of gold
Stand castles of sand, where the sundials rise 'n fall
Chasing wind through your hands, 'til water runs dry the well

DREAM, DANIEL, DREAM
FOR WHAT'S YET TO COME
SEE, DANIEL, SEE
FOR EVERYTHING'S UNDER THE SUN

And in the West, a cloud appears
Foreshadows of a coming shower near, Oh, so near
(Hypocrites)
You analyze, the earth and the sky
I ask you why, you can't analyze the signs, of the present time

Vanity,
Yes, all is vanity
Vanity,
Yes, all's futility

For one that dies, another's born
Where laughter's heard, comforters mourn
There's a time for everything

A song for love, even abhor
An olive branch, or a winter's war
There's a time for everything under the sun
HEY........., UNDER THE SUN

RISE, RISE 'N SHINE
A NEW DAY IS COMING
RISE, RISE IN TIME
FOR EVERYTHING'S UNDER THE SUN

(Rise...A new Day is coming.
Well, there's a time for everything under the sun
you know, a time for everything under the sun
Because a new day is going to begun.)

Part 2 - Am I Ever Going To Change

I'm tired of being me, and I don't like what I see,
I'm not who I appear to be
So I start off every day, down on my knees I will pray,
for a change in any way
But as the day goes by, I live through another lie,
if it's any wonder why

AM I EVER GONNA CHANGE
IF I SAY ONE THING, THEN I DO THE OTHER
IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG, THAT GOES ON FOREVER

AM I EVER GONNA CHANGE
WILL I ALWAYS STAY THE SAME
IF I SAY ONE THING, THEN I DO THE OTHER
IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG, THAT GOES ON FOREVER
(AM I EVER GONNA CHANGE)
I'M THE ONLY ONE TO BLAME
IF I THINK I'M RIGHT, I WIND UP WRONG
IT'S A FUTILE FIGHT, THAT"S GONE ON TOO LONG

Please tell me if it's true, am I too old to start anew,
'Cause that's what I want to do
But time and time again, when I think I can,
I fall short in the end
So why do I even try, Will it matter when I die,
Can anyone hear my cry?

AM I EVER GONNA CHANGE
WILL I ALWAYS STAY THE SAME
IF I SAY ONE THING, THEN I DO THE OTHER
IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG, THAT GOES ON FOREVER
(AM I EVER GONNA CHANGE)
I'M THE ONLY ONE TO BLAME
IF I THINK I'M RIGHT, I WIND UP WRONG
IT'S A FUTILE FIGHT, THAT"S GONE ON TOO LONG

AM I EVER GONNA CHANGE
WILL I ALWAYS STAY THE SAME
IF I SAY ONE THING, THEN I DO THE OTHER
IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG, THAT GOES ON FOREVER
(AM I EVER GONNA CHANGE)
I'M THE ONLY ONE TO BLAME
IF I THINK I'M RIGHT, I WIND UP WRONG
IT'S A FUTILE FIGHT, THAT"S GONE ON TOO LONG
(AM I EVER GONNA CHANGE)
TAKE IT DAY BY DAY
MY WILL IS WEAK AND MY FLESH TOO STRONG
THIS PEACE I SEEK. 'TIL THY KINGDOM COMES

Part 3 - Who Cares?

Tell me, Jesus, are you angry?
One more sheep has, just gone astray
A hardening of hearts, turning to stone
Wandering off, so far from home
So many children, losing time
Walk in darkness, looking for a sign
Chasing their rainbow, future looks bright
Slowly we're losing, Sight of the light

(WHO CARES?) WHO CARES?
(WHO CARES?) WHO CARES?
(WHO CARES?) WHO CARES?
(TELL ME, WHO CARES?) WHO CARES?

WHO CARES? (WHO CARES?)
WHO CARES? (WHO CARES?)
WHO CARES? (WHO CARES?)
TELL ME, WHO CARES? (WHO CARES?)

All alone, out in the cold
Can't look back, am I growing old
I chose a path, is this my fate
Am I finding out, the truth too late

(WHO CARES?) WHO CARES?
(WHO CARES?) WHO CARES?
(WHO CARES?) WHO CARES?
(TELL ME, WHO CARES?) WHO CARES?

WHO CARES? (WHO CARES?)
WHO CARES? (WHO CARES?)
WHO CARES? (WHO CARES?)
TELL ME, WHO CARES? (WHO CARES?)

Here I am, a naked man
Nothing to hide, with empty hands
Remember me, well I am the one
Who lost his way, your Prodigal Son

YEAH!!!!
CAN ANYBODY, ANYBODY (WHO CARES?)
ANYBODY AT ALL (WHO CARES?)
ANYBODY AT ALL (WHO CARES?)

AM I EVER GONNA CHANGE
WILL I ALWAYS STAY THE SAME
I SAY ONE THING, THEN I DO THE OTHER
SAME OLD SONG, GOES ON FOREVER
(TELL ME, WHO CARES?)

AM I EVER GONNA CHANGE
(RISE, RISE 'N SHINE)
[WHO CARES?]

I JUST TAKE DAY BY DAY

(A NEW DAY IS COMING)
MY WILL IS WEAK, MY FLESH TOO STRONG
(YES IT IS!)
THIS PEACE I SEEK, 'TIL THY KINGDOM COMES
[TELL ME, WHO CARES?]

Thanks for dropping by.

Somethings I have read recently

First is an interesting article from Wall Street Journal Online.

The Onion Ringer

Second an excerpt from The Spine of the World by R.A. Salvatore.

I Have lived in many Societies, from Menzoberranzan of the drow, to blingdenstone of the deep gnomes, to Ten-Towns ruled as the most common human settlements, to the barbarian tribes and their own curious ways, to Mithral Hall of the Clan Battlehammer dwarves. I have lived aboard ship, another type of society altogether. All of these places have different customs and mores, all of them have varied government structures, social forces, churches and societies.

Which is the superior system? You would hear many arguments concerning this, mostly based on prosperity, or god-given right, or simple destiny. For the drow, it is simply a religious matter-they structure their society to the desires of the chaotic Spider Queen, then wage war constantly to change the particulars of that structure, though not the structure itself. For the deep gnomes, it is a matter of paying homage and due respect to the elders of their race, accepting the wisdom of those who have lived for so many years. In the human settlement of Ten-Towns, leadership comes from populatrity, while the barbarians choose their chieftains purely on physical prowess. For the dwarves, rulership is a matter of bloodline. Bruenor became king because his father was king, and his father's father before him, and his father's father's father before him.

I measure the superiority of any society in a different manner, based completely on individual freedom. Of all the places I have lived, I favor Mithral Hall, but that, I understand, is a matter of Bruenor's wisdom in allowing his flock their freedom, and not because of the dwarven political structure. Bruenor is not an active king. He serves as spokesman for the clan in matters politic, as a commander in matters martial, and as mediator in disputes among his subjects, but only when so asked. Bruenor remains fiercely independent and grants that joy to those of Clan Battlehammer.

I have heard of many queens and kings, matron mothers and clerics, who justify rulership and absolve themselves of any ills by claiming that the commoners who serve them are in need of guidance. This might be true in many long standing societies, but if it is, that is only because so many generations of conditioning have stolen something essential from the heart and soulof the subjects, because many generations of subordination have robbed the common folk of confidence in determining their own way. All of the governing systems share the trait of stealing freedom from the individual of forcing certain conditions upon the lives of each citizen in the name of "community."

That concept, "community," is one that I hold dear, and surely, the individuals within any such grouping must sacrifice and accept certain displeasures in the name of the common good to make any community thrive. How much stronger might that community be if those scrifices came from the heart of each citizen and not from the edicts of the elders, matron mothers, kings, or queens?

Freedom is the key to it all. The freedom to stay or to leave, to work in harmony with others or to choose a more individual course. The Freedom to help in the larger issues or to abstain. The freedom to build a good life or to live in squalor. The freedom to try anything or merely to do nothing.

Few would dispute that desier for freedom. Everyone I have ever met desires free will, or thinks he does. How curious then, that so many refuse to accept the inverse cost of freedom: responsibility.

An ideal community would work well because the individual memebers would accept their responsibility toward the welfare of each other and to the community as a whole, not because they are commanded to do so, but because they understand and accept the benefits to such choices. For there are, indeed, consequences to every choice we make, to everthing we do or choose not to do. Those consequenes are not so obvious, I fear. The selfish man might think himself gaining, but in times when that person most needs his friends, they likely will not be there, and in the end, in the legacy the selfish person leaves behind, he will not be remembered fondly, if at all. The selfish person's greed might bring material luxuries, but cannot bring the true joys, the intangible plearsures of love.

So it is with the hateful person, the slothful person, the envious person, the thief and the thug, the drunkard and the gossip. Freedom allows each the right to choose the life before him, but freedom demands that the person accept the responsiblity for those choices, good and bad.
I have often heard tales of those who believed they were about to die replaying the events of their lives even long past occurrences buried deep within their memories. In the end, I believe, in those last moments of this existence, before the mysteries of what may come next, we are given the blessing, or curse, to review our choices, to see them bared before our consciousness, without the confusion of the trappings of day-to-day living, without blurring justifications or the potential for empty promeises to make amends.

How many priests, I wonder, would include this most naked moment in ther descriptions of heaven and hell?

--- Drizzt Do'Urden

I found it completely interesting, one of my favorite fictional characters speaking of Individual Freedoms and The Responsibility those freedoms bare. How i wish, today's society would be given the opportunity to prove it strong and wise enough to make decisions for itselves. I believe, in the end, the decisions, the majority would make, would best serve their community, and then our nation as a whole.

New Place

Ok, so moving isn't a lot of fun. After moving about 1/2 my stuff. and everything esential to living, I called it a good day. and will move the rest next weekend. Here is the proof.


So this is the main room, and what will soon be the entertainment corner. So after moving in I had a 36 hour period with no internet and no cable. It was harsh. but i actually took the time to read a little.

John Stossel's - Give Me A Break.

So Glad, there are level headed Libertarians in this world.


So once Saturday evening rolled around, and the Cable Guy. I was able to get my set up running.

And don't forget your 'Patch Perfect' it is only $19.95. I think it is true, the louder the commercial the dumber the advertiser thinks I am. So glad i have a mute button.




So the next step is to finish up with my books, Get my CDs into my Changer. and then finish the bedroom. which went from empty to junk in 2.5 loads.



More Pictures to come.

Something Extra....

Just a little extra before i pack up the box.

These are some great, maybe not very well known movies, I have enjoyed in the past. (Plot Synopsis courtesy WWW.IMDB.com)

Touch - (1997)
When Juvenal (Skeet Ulrich), a presumed miracle worker, appears on the scene Bill Hill (Christopher Walken) attempts to exploit him but his plans go astray with the untimely intervention of August Murray (Tom Arnold) and the developing relationship between Juvenal and Lynn Faulkner (Bridget Fonda).

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead - (1990)
Showing events from the point of view of two minor characters from Hamlet, men who have no control over their destiny, this film examines fate and asks if we can ever really know what's going on? Are answers as important as the questions? Will Rosencrantz (Gary Oldman) and Guildenstern (Tim Roth) manage to discover the source of Hamlet's malaise as requested by the new king? Will the mysterious players who are strolling around the castle reveal the secrets they evidently know? And whose serve is it?

Now You Know - (2002)
On the eve of his bachelor party, a man learns his fiancee wants to call off the wedding. The unmarried couple returns to New Jersey to sort out their relationship.

Brick - (2005)
(Oh, I don't like the IMDB Synopsis, So i will try my own) A classic whodunit, written within the confines of a modern day high school. Brendan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) searches for the killer of his ex-girlfriend. Weeding through false leads and clues, while trying to stay one step ahead of everyone.

Derailed - (2005)
(Again, I don't like the IMDB synopsis. So here is the official one) Charles Schine (Clive Owen) and Lucinda Harris (Jennifer Aniston) have noticed each other on the commuter train before. One morning their conversation leads to a flirtation which turns into an evening drink and then, before either one can stop it, a passionate one-night stand. But suddenly a stranger explodes into their world, threatening to expose their secret and lures them into a terrifying game with more surprises then they saw coming and more danger then they may survive.

Well that is five. I will probably do this again sometime in the future. Time to tear down the last piece of my life. I will be back online Saturday(according to Charter)