Hockey Time

It's been a while.  Miss me?  Of course not.  I don't have a note to explain my tardiness from the pre-NHL Regular Season blogging hysteria.  That is just the way it works.  My Halo-gaming expertise was needed on a little site called Examiner.com.  Check out my articles, if you get a chance.

I'm coming back full force, though.  Caps Hockey starts back up tonite.

Predictions 2010

Rookie Camp for the Washington Capitals starts on September 12th. Training Camp starts on September 18th. That means that hockey is starting back up for the DC/MD/VA area. It is, indeed, a fun time. The first game, in any capacity, for Ted Leonsis's organization will be the, now annual, Caps vs. Flyers Rookie game on September 16th. I would have loved to see Della Rovere in a bout with one of the lil' Flyers, but alas he is now in other hands (Have fun in St. Louis, Stefan! I hear the Rams will do great this year! And Mike Green will win the Norris. And Pronger will win the Lady Byng. And Ben Clymer will date a skinny girl.)

It seems that right now is prime time for season predictions. Everyone does these, but I want to put a twist on them. While eagerly awaiting the roster for the Caps Rookie Camp, I figured I would have some fun with these predictions. Why not? So predictions after the jump!

About Writing

Writing is an interesting exercise in creativity, since you have to craft ideas, stories, and even sentences, but also an exercise in production, because whatever way you look at it, you are attempting to work. In this sense I could almost say that I have a part-time job. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. Regardless of what you call it, writing is a lot of work. You have to constantly think about what you are writing but also you have to be constantly aware of what you did write and what you will write.

You could probably ask any writer and they would tell you that writing is grueling process full of frustration, confusion, and large doses of caffeine. It doesn't matter whether you are writing a paper for a class, a proposal for work, an article in a newspaper, lyrics for a new song, the code for a program, the first draft of a novel, or even a blog entry. It takes a long time to complete a work you are fully satisfied with. And I'm speaking from experience here.

Of course, your input normally directly effects your output. I'm finding it hard to believe this to be true, however. I have been going through this process hardcore for the last couple of months, since I am writing a book. On many occasions I have put in an immense amount of time but gotten very little actual writing done. I guess, however, that this can be said about many creative endeavors.

There are always thoughts about what might or might not happen, thoughts about whether this will succeed or fail. If you get too caught up in those thoughts, then you end up spending more time distracting yourself with make-believe situations than you do actually writing your story. This has happened to me a few times. The problem is, you only really realize that it happened after the fact.

All this discussion isn't even getting into all the issues, outside out time and effort, that involve crafting a story. You need a believable plot line, rich and interesting locations and characters, and well chosen dialogue. There are also other issues that you must consider such as, "What is the point of this story?", "What sort of message do I hope to convey?", and "What do I want the reader to feel about this or that?". Those are all issues that an author needs to address and I'm trying to hit them when I get to them.

A Top 10 For All To See - Part II

Damn Straight!

I'm thinking of redecorating this place, you know? Maybe put a nice new wallpaper up, switch the color scheme up some. Generally just make things look more presentable. That will be an ongoing project until NHL 11 and Reach come out. And if you drop by and everything looks like shit, Don't Worry! It's just me.

So last week I posted my top 10 video games of all time. Well, sort of. I cut it off halfway through. (Here, if you missed it.)  Otherwise, it would have been an extremely verbose post that I seriously doubt anyone would have finished. Plus, I had other stuff to write. And also people came over. And by people I mean relatives. Time was at a premium.



Here is the final 5 of the top 10 after the jump.

What's in a Loss?

Anyone who has been following the Capitals for at least five years knows how to tolerate failure.  Well, maybe not tolerate, but certainly accept.  I mean, it is not as if we have any other choice in the matter.  Like most Caps fans (except a certain few, everlasting pessimists), we thought that the 2009-2010 season was going to be different.  We had a glimmer of hope that this could be the season.

It wasn't.  Simple as that.  Some people want to blame Halak, others want to blame Boudreau.  Most Pens fans blame Ovechkin.  I have yet to understand all these individuals being blamed for a team sport.  It isn't like anyone scored on their own net in overtime (*Cough*Boyle*Cough*).  It was a team failure, for sure.

The regular season, sure, it was fine.  A team that racks up 121 points is a good team, for sure.  But jog back you memory a little.  How many of those overtime wins did the Capitals only decide to start playing in the middle of the third period?  How many time did they sit comfortably with a lead in the first and watch it slip away?  How many games did the team act like skill, and skill alone, would help them prevail?  Too often.  I would wonder how that fares in the regular season versus the playoffs.

A Top 10 For All To See

It can bring utmost joy or terrible shame. In one way or another, it has been a part of human civilization since the beginning. It's something that I have been doing for years. And almost every guy does it and is self-conscious about it. Hey, even some girls too. No, I'm not talking about "THAT." I'm talking about gaming, so pull your mind out of the gutter and look at this list of my top ten games.

Now this is a pretty eclectic list.  I enjoy a lot of different genres and playing styles.  First Person Shooters, Role Playing Games, Flight Sims, Racing, Real-Time Strategy, MMORPG, Turn-Based Strategy, Rhythm, Mystery; I have played them all and had fantastic and terrible times in each.  This will also be from multiple consoles and systems.  Note: I don't have a PS3, cause I can't afford one, so there will probably be a lack of games from the PS3. I did have a PS2 however, it was our first DVD player.  Then we broke it.  Got it repaired.  Broke it again.  We were mean to that PS2.

So here is the top 10 after the jump.

€atalytic

So there is a contest going on right now by Linkin Park where you can remix one of their new songs and possibly get onto their new album. I decided to enter the contest. Just thought I would toot my own horn a little and post my submission here.



And the link to vote at: Here at Indabamusi.com

The Evolution of a Song

Lots and lots of tracks and samples.

So, today I went through some of my old recordings searching for some illusive lost gem. What I ended up doing was going through a butt-load of my old recordings on Pro Tools and laughing at myself because, either, the sound quality was so abysmal, or, because the songs were just sooooooo bad. And I mean really bad. It is one of those times when you listen to a song and say "Please tell me I didn't write that. I did? God dammit!"

But I was also amazed at some of the stuff I found. Especially one piece that I had done for a project in my first year of college. What was even stranger is that I still happen to have about 9 different revisions of the song in my iTunes. I decided to start from the earliest and work my way up.

Now let me explain this project first. For the assignement we were give a set of 53 musical patterns known as In C. This semi-aleatoric piece was composed by Terry Riley in 1964 and is supposed to be played by a large ensemble of about 35 musicians. The musicians are supposed to just jump in randomly while a constant C is played on the piano. (Thanks Wikipedia!! I could not remember all of that.) You can listen to an original recording here, though, I would, in no way, suggest that you listen to more than about 1 minute and a half of it. As well an explanation of the piece with the separate musical score can be seen here.

Taking a Step Back

Ever get the feeling that something just isn't going to be good? It is a very unnerving feeling. I hate this feeling. I'm fearful of what my future will be if I take the step. I have the unwavering feeling that it is a step backwards, though, instead of forwards.

At the moment, I am unemployed. It isn't because I want to be unemployed, or that I don't want to work, but if I do find a job, I want it to be something that helps me move forward. My interests are in history, research, study, ancient societies, long ago ancient battles, and writing. The direction that I am being pushed in is not towards those, but most likely away. I fear that taking the wrong job can seriously hurt my chances of fulfilling any dreams I once had or do currently have. I know that I won't get instant fulfillment of my ideal career, but I can't even seem to get a step in the right direction. The only thing that seems to be helping me in any regard towards my goals is my degree and not even because it is in the exact area, but because it gave me the experience and the opportunity to find something that I actually enjoy and that I believe I can do.

The Joys of Sleeping In and Job Hunting

Now, those of us who are unemployed, or, at least, do not work full time, know that sleeping in is one of the best parts of the day. In fact, it may only be rivaled by falling asleep. Who doesn't like just laying down in a half-conscious, unstressed state where the only questions are why is it so cold and where is that light coming from? I was partaking of such a session this morning. There was some light sneaking in through the bottom of my door and the window shades that threatened my docile state, but I was wholly unworried about interruption.

Like this, but, you know, it would be me. On a futon. And without that weird bluish blanket.

Then came a siren like wail that pierced the silence. Though only half closed, my eyes quickly shot open scanning my unkempt room for the source of the disturbance. Working in concert with my booming ears, my eyes finally settled on the cell phone laying next to my pillow, where I had left it to charge the night before. On the screen was a number I did not know.

Pondering

I think motivation has always been an issue for me alongside my doubt and my ability to be inspired by almost anything I find interesting. In school, this wasn't an issue for me, as long as I like the class. Ancient Studies, Greek, Music, History; I always did well in those because I liked the subjects and wanted to do well. As well, in school there was always a clear cut ending to the work and the class. Do well, you get an A, do incrementally worse and you get an incrementally lower grade. Even the assignments were laid out and clearly defined what the teachers were looking for. And even though I had doubt in school, just looking in a book and checking myself helped erase that doubt. It was also fine to like multiple things when you are in school because you take classes on multiple subjects. College was pretty much a perfect fit for me.

Outside college is a different matter entirely. Nothing is clear cut in the job world. There are no clear definitions of what employers are looking for. There is not a hierarchy of grades that I can achieve which will help me get employed. I can't go out and do work in multiple areas that I find interesting. Now, I have to pick a specific area and stick with it. You can cross over and change disciplines, but that is a hard road full of chance and disappointment.

Time to Learn a Little History

Last year, there was an epic confrontation. The details are, of course, a little hazy for all of us since some repressed the memories will others just now live on in a fantasy world where the battle never happened. I have skewered records and eye-witness accounts, faithfully searching for and details of the great struggle. In a story-like fashion, this is what I found. This is the story of a great battle between the noble and righteous Washington Capitals and the dastardly and vile Shittsburgh Penguins. The conflict, beginning on May 2, 2009, a Saturday, went on for 12 long, excruciating days. Most fought on through their injuries, while some succumbed. But most already know this, I have come to present the behind the scenes, unknown story that many are unaware of. With this story I have provided many accurate and thoroughly thought out images that seek to be the true representation of events. I hope they help with your understanding of this terrible tale. On the day before the beginning of this dreaded event the Capitals, via the great Alexander Ovechkin, were approached by Bettman.

God this is creepy.

Bettman yearned for all the hockey world to embrace the Penguins as the best and to hail Sidney Crosby as the greatest hockey player in the world. Ovechkin, actually being the greatest hockey player could not submit, regardless of what any former Cap might attest.

And it begins...

This will be scary. This will be funny. This will be lame. This will be cool. This will be pointless. This will be worthwhile.

Hey! You see what I am doing there? I'm playing to the name Facetious Sincerity! It's like an ox...oxy....oxymormon or something like that. I no good with big words and stuff. Eh, whatever.

At the moment I'm still trying to decide what exactly I will be talking about, hence the poll on the side. I'm also still attempting to design a new layout. I will most likely start off talking about hockey, since the first meeting of the Caps and Shittsburgh is tonite. Maybe get a post up today previewing it or one tomorrow reacting to it along with some possible Photoshop goodness.

I will warn you now that I am somewhat of a history nut, mostly really ancient stuff and I tend to sometimes go off on elaborate allusions and metaphors that do not make sense. Just pretend that I am like Herodotus; about two lines of content and eight lines of hyperbole and extraneous information. So I will warn now, saying "WARNING: Author may go off and start discussing stuff that is not only really old but, as well, stuff that no one probably cares about!" Sorry, had to get that out of the way.

See ya in a little.