If you could be really good at any musical instrument what would you choose? 

If you own a Wii and are looking for some fun games beyond Mario Galaxy, Metroid Corruption and Zelda Twilight Princess here is a short list of Wii games that are enjoyable despite not receiving as much attention this year... 

Battalion Wars 2

Battalion Wars 2 has been one of my favorite games on the Wii. It is basically a spinoff of Advance Wars for the Gameboy Advance, yet has more of a focus on fast-paced combat action. When I first got this game I was a bit disappointed because it seemed very easy, but the levels became progressively more difficult as I moved along.  BW2 has great graphics and is filled with action.  However, towards the end of the game things start to feel a bit repetitive.  At that point however you can jump online and battle other people.  My rating for this title is 8/10

Big Brain Academy - Wii Degree

Big Brain Academy is another game that originated on a Nintendo handheld console, later finding its way to the Wii.  This game is filled with mini puzzle games including think, analyze, compute, identify and memorize.  One cool feature is team battle where you can have two teams of up to four people racing each other by solving the puzzles the fastest.  Overall this makes for a great party game and a fairly enjoyable single-player game, though it lacks some of the depth that was found on the Nintendo DS version.  My rating for this title is 7/10.

Elebits

Elebits is an eccentric game with a strange storyline.  Basically little creatures called elebits are actually the main supply all of our electricity and they have all somehow been displaced.  It is your job to go around capturing them all so that they can again fulfill their main purpose in supplying energy.  So while the story line really doesn't make sense, it's still a fun game to play.  In all reality this is a new idea for a first person shooter as you go around shooting (capturing) all the little elebits, who are hiding behind anything possible.  The more elebits you capture the more powerful your gun becomes and you can start picking up pretty much anything in sight and throwing them into the air.  The physics engine in this game is pretty cool as most of what you throw simply floats as if it were on the moon.  This game is strangely addictive, though it lacks any decent multiplayer.  My rating for this title is 7.5/10.

Game Party

I got this game about a month ago and still find myself playing it quite a bit.  In this title you'll be playing a series of seven different mini games including darts, table hockey, trivia, hoop shoots, ski ball, shuffle board, and ping cup.  My personal favorites are hoop shoots, ski ball, darts and shuffle board.  As the title suggests this game is better with two or more people.  Between the groovin' music and wide range of characters I felt like Midway captured the party mood pretty well here.  While this game didn't get very good reviews and the graphics could be improved quite a bit, I've found that at $20 it's not a bad buy at all.  My rating for this title is 7/10.

Lego Star Wars - the Complete Saga

I just got this game recently and have really been enjoying it.  There's nothing quite like seeing a lego version of  Obi-Wan Kenobi use the force to broast a wave of clone troopers.  Probably my favorite feature of this game is that the main story mode can be played with two players, so a friend can fight along side of you at will.  Also, this game uses the Wii remote motion controls well as a light saber complete with sound effects in the remote.  There are a ton of levels to this game and overall the graphics and presentation are good.  My rating for this title is 8.5/10.

Mario Strikers Charged

I was a huge fan of the original Mario Strikers on Gamecube and was happy to find that Mario Strikers Charged for the Wii is an improvement on the Gamecube title.  Overall this game can be briefly described as soccer on speed, as regular soccer is combined with traditional Mario items such as boboms, freezing shells, stars, mushrooms, etc.  You can also slam your opponent into an electric fence which outlines the soccer field.  One improvement with this title is that each character has their own unique abilities and special items.  For example Donkey Kong has a powerful shot and can clear a large area with his special while Mario is an all-around good player who becomes huge with his special.  While it sounds chaotic it's actually very fun and is the only soccer video game I've found myself coming back to.  My rating for this title is 9/10.

digg this

Black clouds of billowy smoke ascended from factories as cars filled with last-minute shoppers packed the city streets. Meanwhile strategically scattered beggars braved the afternoon cold in order to secure respectable amounts of cash. But Mitch McConnell was not fooled. "That beggar there holding the 'I am blind' sign was a customer at my office less than two weeks ago," he thought to himself. "And his eyesight seemed just fine then." A torn up newspaper blew into Mitch's feet and he tossed it into the trash. "Somebody's got to clean up the litter in this town," he muttered. 

Rob Norman was sitting with his family in front of his tv on a couch, sifting through his son's medical bills and wondering how he would provide for his family again this Christmas. "I wish Mitch would give me a raise," he sighed to his wife. "I know I haven't been there much more than a year, but I think I've proven myself." Truth be told, Rob was thankful that he was hired as an office clerk for Mitch's investment agency. It was a job and would normally suffice, but with his son's medical expenses, bills were adding up. And so a worried look accompanied his face on this cold winter afternoon. "It will be alright," his son Jim said, looking up to his dad. Rob smiled and rubbed his son's head. "Of course it will," he said, forcing a smile. 

The next day on his way to work, Mitch was approached by a beggar. "Can I bother you for some change?" he politely asked. Mitch was feeling generous and decided that he would give the man a dollar or two. Yet as he was taking out his wallet he slipped on a patch of ice and fell to the ground. When he was finally able to stand up he realized the man and his wallet were missing. "Ah, I should have known better!" he yelled, kicking the snow in front of him. 

Meanwhile, Rob had noticed that Mitch was late for work and decided to turn up the thermostat. As he was adjusting the temperature he heard the door open. "Wait!" Mitch yelled from the doorway. "Keep it where it was.  We need to save money and stop burning so many damned fossil fuels." Rob reluctantly turned the heat back down and wandered back to his desk. 

As the day progressed, Rob was trying to figure out how to talk with Mitch about a salary increase. Yet Mitch was in an unusually angry mood - partly because an important client had canceled his orders to go with a larger company. "People these days are always pinching pennies," scowled Mitch, briefly looking up from his computer screen. "Tell me about it," responded Rob from his desk, rolling his eyes. Rob was growing tired of Mitch's increasing inability to see the pennies he himself was pinching. 

After several hours, Rob finally worked up the courage to go talk with Mitch and walked toward his office. He knocked and Mitch motioned to come in. "Keep it quick," he snapped. "Sir, I would like to talk with you about a possible wage increase. You see, my son Jim is very sick and his medical bills are piling up..."  "Bah..." responded Mitch. "You saw what happened today. We lost an important client and you're asking me for a raise? I'm sorry but you're going to have to wait till next year." Rob's eyes saddened and he nodded his head, making his way out of Mitch's office. "Listen," said Mitch. "If we weren't in the red, it would be a different story. But there are sick and hurting people all around and I can't save the world. I'm sorry but come back and ask me next year." 

On his way home from work that day, Mitch decided to take a different route. It just so happened that he passed by Rob's small apartment and briefly watched him and his family eat dinner by the window. He noticed that Rob appeared worried. Suddenly Rob began to cry and his wife put her arms around him. From where he was standing in the street, Mitch could vividly see the look of sadness on Rob's face. 

The next day as Rob was hanging his coat up by the entrance, Mitch called him into his office. Rob walked in with a slightly worried look on his face. "Have a seat," Mitch said. Rob sat down in a padded leather chair and nervously awaited Mitch's words. "Rob I have been looking over our accounts and have found that our profits have significantly decreased this quarter," he said. Rob nervously responded, fearing that his own job was in jeopardy. "Sir, if it's about that wage increase I asked for yesterday, there's really no need..." Mitch cut him off, "Yes Rob, I'm afraid this is about the wage increase, and I'm afraid I'm going to have to give it to you." After saying this, Mitch smiled a bit. "You see, this quarter's earnings may have been down, but last quarter was our best yet, so I'm sure we'll be able to survive." Rob jumped from his seat and shook Mitch's hand. "Thank you sir!"  Mitch responded, "It's my pleasure Rob. Now go turn that heat up a bit, it's cold in here." 

I just finished a class in Adobe Illustrator tonight. This was my first real exposure to graphic design and I really enjoyed it. I don't know if I'll be going back right away because I have a very busy schedule right now, but I definitely hope to pursue this in the future. I thought I'd post a few assignments from this semester. Hope ya like em.

Also, I added some new pics if you get a chance to check them out... --->

Masking

 

Gradient Mesh

 

Reflections

 

3d

Wow this is a tough question to answer. I think that it's easier for me to answer this question by looking at people I would like to be like or model. One of my biggest influences since about the age of sixteen was a Christian musician by the name of Rich Mullins. He actually stayed at my family's house when recording an album in my hometown. Yet on his way home he was involved in a tragic car accident that took his life. After this situation I began to read some of his writings and and became greatly influenced by his life and legacy. I actually started playing the hammered dulcimer after becoming amazed by his dulcimer playing. Rich's faith also influenced me as he was a Franciscan and donated most of his money to charities. So he is definitely one person I would like to model my life after.

Another person who has influenced me quite a bit is my dad. He is an optimistic, hard working and generous person and I am truly blessed to have him as my father.

Finally, I have a friend named Tim who has lived all of his life in a wheelchair due to a disability he inherited at birth. He's a big African American guy who wears a 1920's style hat and has a laugh that has warmed the coldest of hearts (including mine). He has proven himself to me over and over as a reliable friend by listening to me when I need it most.

While there definitely are significant people other people who come to mind these are three of the biggest influences in my own life. If I'm sixty-five years old and my life resembles any one of these guys, I will truly will be a very fortunate man.

Who is a person you would consider a role model?

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of my favorite things...

My family, my friends, my job, my Geo Prizm, my apartment, democracy and those who defend it.

On this thanksgiving I think it is only appropriate for me to thank God for all of these things.

What's something you're thankful for?   

Here's a poem I wrote several months ago during a relatively difficult time. Hope you like it.

Hidden Grace

Somehow this dark night,
And cold wind,
Are comforting,
Beneath my stinging skin.
I find solace,
And hidden grace,
Within the shadows,
Of this lonely place.
Feeling so alone,
And undescribably weak.
Yet within these tears shed,
Is a sense of peace.

I'm trying to think if I've ever been tortured. I don't think I have, but my parents did believe in spanking and that is considered by some to be inhumane (though admittedly far from torture). As one study points out, "those who were spanked 'often' or 'sometimes' as children were more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol or develop a psychiatric illness" (link). Yet Dr. Robert Needlman from drspock.com argues that spanking has little effect for good or bad. "Most of the research does not show that spanking, by itself, has a big effect on child outcomes" (link).

When I was spanked growing up I sometimes remember feeling angry afterwards, though it may have also inspired some humility in me. I'm wondering if torture, like spanking, only inspires more resent, or if it actually does produce positive results? I tend to agree with the former conclusion, though I know that emotions tend to rule the day, for better or worse, in the dark shadow of unimagined terror threats.

Were you spanked growing up?
Should torture be an acceptable method of gaining military intelligence?

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In the U.S. the percent of marriages taking place right now that will eventually divorce is estimated between 40-50% (link).  With a divorce rate this high, I can see why somebody would ask a question such as, "Is the idea of marriage too outdated for the 21st century?"  I would like to get married someday but I also want to make sure it's the right person and that I'm ready.  I tend to think that our divorce rate is so high in this country partially because some people get married for the wrong reasons.  An old country song called "Goin Through the Big D" by Mark Chestnutt says it well...

"Six short months we went together
Decided it should be forever
Two paychecks are better than one
A diamond ring and it was done"

Some people consider the traditional U.S. definition of marriage to be out of date.  Of course one issue that comes to mind is gay marriage.  I tend to think that state laws should determine whether or not gay marriage is endorsed or legal in their respective states. 

Should the federal government or state governments should handle the issue of gay marraige? 

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I just put some new pics up if anyone's interested. 

How will you be spending this Halloween?  I'm pretty sure I'll just have work and school.  Good times...