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1.2008 - 5.2008

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5.31.2008 || temp game tester ||

Haha! I applied to playtest a game for Electronic Arts (EA) and my application was accepted! I'll be going in on Wednesday to their office in Redwood City. It will involve 2.25 hours of gameplay, a written report and open talk. Compensation will be a free game out of their library! I am very excited! Hopefully this will be the first of many! I can also recommend other people to join in as well. And if anyone is local, reading this and interested, gimme a shout out and we'll get you set up.

I have also applied for other playtests where the compensation will be actual money - Not a whole lot, but enough to warrant 4 hour sessions. Hopefully I'll be accepted to those. I can sure use the money and playing video games doesn't sound like too much of a chore, aye? ;)

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5.29.2008 || the hunt ||

Today has been an almost zero internet day save for this blog. To make happy the unemployment gods, I went pseudo job hunting. Pseudo as in trying out my new  (soon to be returned) Nextar GPS and having it lead me to Rasputin Records to trade in some old cd/dvd media in an attempt to make some money.

I grouped together a bunch of promos that were acquired during my stay at Streetlight. We were told not to trade them in anywhere else. Just give them away if you don't care for them. I stood by that during my years of service to the company, but guess what - I don't work there anymore.

This had been the first time I stepped into another record store (aside from Streetlight and Amoeba) in years, let alone the newest branch in Mountain View.
It was enormous, perhaps twice the size of Streetlight. I immediately handed my wares to the buyer and proceeded to browse the store. Five minutes passed, the buyer was done and told me the score. It was a split second decision that instead of the money I'd go look for something to purchase. I figure, one CD won't hurt the overall need for fundage.

After a good half hour of raiding the Nightwish catalog, along with some Buddha Bar/Lounge, I found out that their policy indicates that I had to either choose the cash value or the trade would pay-out a maximum of two dollars cash, less the used up trade value. What the fuck?! So that's how Rasputin preys on people, aye? It cuts down the variables to ALL CASH or ALL TRADE as opposed to Streetlight's policy that gives you the option of trade and/or cash at any difference. Very smart Rasputin, but also very cruel.    

So as it was, I ended up utilizing all trade but happy I ran out with some cool music and a dvd:  Nightwish: Once | Buddha Lounge Vol. 6 | Beats Antique: Tribal Derivations | Silent Hill movie. I really could have used the cash, but I figured what I traded in was free and since I still have more promos to shovel off - What the hell?

While paying/trading I pulled out GPS to look up a nearby restaurant. The next 30 minutes was spent having breakfast (at 4:30pm) which consisted of a Double Whopper Meal at BK and a good fifteen minutes leveling up in Final Fantasy 6 on my GB Micro.
     
Then I set the GPS up to show me the way home which is a whole blog or review in itself. When I got home to my apartment there wasn't any parking so I went ahead and drove around with the pseudo intent of finding a job to appease unemployment and get some (little) money. I don't need multiple applications - Just one or two is my mission.

The drive lead me back on El Camino Real from Santa Clara to Sunnyvale. I looked left and right for something interesting. My idea was NOT to find a retail job. I've certainly had enough of that crap. I'm thinking more of a stockroom position. I did spot Jiffy Lube which consists of changing oil and minor auto maintenance. Seamed good, but they were closed. Will check later.

A few miles pass and I feel the need to expel all the fluids I had been consuming. So I ended up at a Borders book store which was a mistake because I bought a copy of the new Metal Gear Solid novel (I scoped on Kotaku) which is based on the first MGS game. And wouldn't you know, there's a Gamestop right next to it....  Picked up Phatasy Star and Super Dodgeball, both for the GBA. Sigh....

But it wasn't a complete waste. I talked to the Gamestop clerk, breifly chatting it up about the MGS book I just bought and the Metal Gear On-line beta that we both took part in. On the way out I ended up getting a job application. Okay, so the job is pretty much retail - Fine. But it's only going to be part time which should supress the feeling of wanting to hurt people at the end of the day. I guess we'll see what happens with that. In any case.... mission accomplished. [rd]

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5.27.2008 || the upkeep ||

I am having a blast working on this site! I appreciate the time and work being put throughout, even if I'm gaining nothing but self satisfaction. Tho hopefully someday it will.

Maintaining a website is not as simple as I initially thought. There is a pattern that must be addressed everytime something is added or changed. And you can get easily frustrated at times having to backtrack and edit multiple pages. Once you get it tho, you start to feel like you really accomplished something.

Feelin' good. [rd]

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5.25.2005 || the customer is always.... ||

As I explained the intro, I currently am jobless. Having spent the last 10 years doing 99% retail, I just couldn’t handle it anymore. At my last employ, promotion or rather pay raises hadn’t formulated for years and cost of living was rapidly increasing. I also have to mention that my hobbies tend to be expensive and frankly this job wasn’t helping with them both in supplement and monetary. It doesn’t help when you want to constantly spend money on products that can be acquired at work.

The major factor in my leave was the job itself. Serving the public in the capacity of a sales clerk whose looked down upon for doing the job was really getting irritating. The old adage of “The Customer is always right.” in my opinion is pure bullshit. And working in a place where personal preference is key (in this case music & movies)  Well… different tastes will clash. People love music – Their music, not yours.

I’ve been told that I have a great deal of patience and tolerance. I do, more so than most, I think. Yet there’s only so much a person can take before that which is tolerated becomes an annoyance so strong that it affects performance and demeanor both at work and off the clock.

I had to leave. If I hadn’t, things would have gotten very ugly. [rd]

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5.23.2008 ||more minmay ||
Okay... I was so enthralled with watching that last vid that I went and ahead looked up that Minmay Attack scene mentioned in the last blog entry. The song is called "Do You Remember Love?" and is sung by Mari Iijima. It is one of my favorites as it absolutely exudes strong emotion and beauty. Hope you enjoy! [rd]
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5.23.2008 || original idol ||
The other day I watched the American Idol Finale. I'm not really one to follow such shows, but since mother was watching and I only allow myself to eat in the kitchen & living room area, I too found myself watching it.

I honestly can't say that I was wholely impressed with who America chose to be their Idol - But then I don't really consider myself part of the masses. My taste in most things (aside from music) are more... underground, different or dare I say anachronistic. But that's a whole other blog entry....

What impressed me with the AI Finale was the awesome scope of it all, how humongous the franchise has become. The concert hall where it took place was packed full of people and they also featured simulcasts of other halls or arenas around the country just as full watching the show via satallite. Not to mention the millions of people viewing at home on their televisions. How can such an event garner the interest and awe of so many people?  It was humbling. Really.

Now it may sound stupid, but the whole time I was thinking "This is like Robotech or Macross." Tho Instead of Minmay, we have ...David Cook? Yeesh...

In Macross, Minmay is the Earth's Idol. Her voice and presence lends the people of the world absolute hope against the onslaught of alien forces threatening the planet. Her singing is even utilized as an attack to confuse the aliens while allied earth forces blitzkrieg the enemy. But in the end, Minmay's voice with the song, end up uniting the Earth with the aliens.

Maybe that does sound a bit hokey, but it's a nice thought... music uniting everyone.

Anyway.... Here's a youtube entry of Macross: Flashback 2012 to show you how I compared the American Idol to Macross. Enjoy! [rd]


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5.23.2008 || check ...mate? ||
When getting the mail yesterday I was excited to see my first EDD check and there were in fact two envelopes. Of course I immediately opened the one with the money and ...hmm. I was not impressed. The next envelope featured a statement saying that because the 1st week was a waiting period I didn't get paid for it.

Considering that the next check would be doubled.... I also was not impressed. I would essentially be receiving 3/4 of what I was earning full-time at old Streetlight. And that's barely passable. Barely. I could pay the bills, sure, but I would end up scraping for food and gas.

Not good.

It seams the god of labor shall be my master as I'll definitely have to find something that pays a little more. That shall come to pass as my education draws nearer. For now I'll collect for the past almost 8 years of service at Streetlight via the EDD. And I must say, even tho my living situation is somewhat compromised (and no disrespect to the people, the job or the franchise), I am fucking happy to be out of there! [rd]
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5.22.2008 || Hail Caesar! ||


This marble bust of Caiuss Julius Caesar was recently found during a diving expedition in the Rhone River that runs through France & Switzerland. It could be the oldest ever found, dating to approximately 46. B.C.(E. for you who don't acknowledge christians).  [source]

I happen to be a fan of antiquity and finds like this get me really excited! What's really cool is that if you know the history of the time, you know that about 46 B.C. Caesar had finished (more or less) his Conquest of Gaul which included France (known then as Illyria).

Perhaps this bust could have been sculpted as a tribute to Caesar by some Gallic barbarian or localized Roman citizen. Who knows?

I just think it's awesome! And here's some video game knowledge in relation to how I feel about subjects such as this:

excerpt from: Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty   (Konami, 2001)

"Life isn't just about passing on your genes. We can leave behind much more than just DNA. Through speech, music, literature and movies... what we've seen, heard, felt ...anger, joy and sorrow... these are the things I will pass on.

That's what I live for. We need to pass the torch, and let our children read our messy and sad history by its light. We have all the magic of the digital age to do that with.

The human race will probably come to an end some time, and new species may rule over this planet. Earth may not be forever, but we still have the responsibility to leave what traces of life we can.

Building the future and keeping the past alive are one and the same thing."

-Solid Snake            

[rd]
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5.21.2008 || to boldly go or get the hell out ||
Things are up and down. The problem with planning things out is the waiting. Next month I plan on starting school. I haven't worked in almost a month. And I actually have President Bush to thank for the "Stimulus" act keeping me slightly going monetarily. And my credit history is probably plummeting as well. Haha! One thing about me, money matters indeed but I try not to let it get to me much. As long as I'm breathing there's always a chance.

But I swear - If it wasn't for this site, my new car project and the internet, I would probably be bored out of my mind. And actually I rather am. I really need to get out more... and not just to Kragen Auto Parts or a food run.

That's it...  I'll have to execute some plans of travel  to scenic points around this state of  California. I've traveled as far the mid west in my youth on family outtings,  never quite hit the east coast. And there is also much I haven't explored here in my home state of almost 30 years. Also, it would benefit generating some decent content for r3set.com as well. Hmm....

Okay.... monotony be gone. Time to hit the road!
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5.1.2008 || reset ||
This day marks some major events in my life.

First of all - As I've mentioned on site news, I've been outted on my only source of income. "Outted" is rather harsh. I should mention that it was a mutually agreed departure from Streetlight Records. Okay okay, I just got tired of retail life. So now what do I do?

Personal goals:

1. Go back to school. Westwood is on... I think. There are some things I have to do/attain to be able to attend. 1. Find free money (grants) 2. Find Co-signner for personal loan(s). 3. Swallow some pride and get real.... yeah.

2. Work on this site - And I mean WORK ON THIS SITE! Not only is it a great way to showcase who I am and what I can do, but it's damned awesome vehicle for letting off some steam and sorting out the chaos in my mind.

3. Get back to the gym fullforce and discipline myself. I'm a physical mess and it's all my fault. Kicking my addiction to smoking cigarettes falls into this catagory. A disciplined body is a disciplined mind and I have a lot of work to do.

4.  Following up on swallowing some pride and getting real.... I have to find another job(s) while I go to school. In the end we really do need the ends to obtain the means to meet the end.

Secondly - Today is the first anniversary of my grandmothers death. While the last couple days marked my grandfathers birthday and their wedding anniversary. Last around this time my family gathered at my grandmothers convalescent home where we celebrated my grandparents 53rd wedding anniversary. We had a grand time, tho knowing deep down inside she hadn't long to live. Bittersweet, I say.

And on the next day she died. Nor was it a quiet death. She her lungs gave in and she suffocated. My Grandmother was a very strong willed person, quite boisterous with a hot temper. Harsh as it may sound (and I loved my grandmother tho she drove me batty from time to time) I suppose she died as she lived. Not peacefully but forcefully.

Long story shortened (believe me there's much to say), my Grandfather now lives  with me and I take care of him. We spend a lot of time together. In the back of my mind I know that soon enough I'll be setting his tombstone right next to Grandmother. So I have to try to make sure the last of his life is spent positively.

Fast forward to a few days ago my family traveled to her grave site in Stirling City, California to celebrate her anniversary. She is buried in a most tranquil place. Being geeky and relate it to fortress where Link finds the "Master Sword" in Zelda III. And really it quite is like that, located in the middle of a forest with rabbits and dear happy moving about the grounds.

I'll end this blog with a rather saddening scene from this past travel:

That's grandfather looking down at grandmothers grave. The headstone hadn't been fashioned yet and the cold winter had wilted away the rosebud leaving a barely surviving rosebush.
A lonely tulip was placed.  [rd]


3.03.2008 || Seeking knowledge ||
In just this last week I've been in talks with Westwood College On-line about their "Game Arts & Design" course. After a good 3 hour talk with an admissions rep, I was offered to apply, which I did. Next couple days were a whirlwind as it seams I've been accepted.

The problem now lies in financial aid and what a hassle it is. This course is expensive. But if done right, in 3 short years I'll be... in debt almost six figures (HA!) yet having harnessed the knowledge learnt, be able to repay it in about 3-5 years after. That is assuming I will have and work in a carreer that I'm passionate for and at the sane time earn almost six figures annually.

I want this and I will have it!

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2.23.08 || Getting a good feel for the admin routine. ||
Things are moving along really well. I'm becoming more and more confident
with the set-up process. And thank goodness for IPSwitch's WS_FTP program.
It's been a godsend. I'm now more or less in the process of generating content.
Awesome, just awesome!

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