Scorcher Girl

It’s been so long since my last blog entry.  I refuse to admit that blogs are dead.  I will admit that while Google plus is about sharing, blogs seem more personal. 

DC Universe Online came out in January and didn’t really know what I was doing.  I created a character and just did the missions so that I could hit Level 30.  I thought the game would be over, but I was sooooo wrong.

It was only the beginning.  There is so much investment needed in this game to be successful and more specifically strong.

Take my strongest character:

Scorcher Girl

Power:  Fire Tank

Weapon:  Brawling

Movement:  Flight

Mentor:  Superman

When you start, your character has broken free attempting to escape Brainiac's ship.  Once off, you end up in a safehouse (Police Station) and start accepting missions that help your character level up with Power points and skill points.  Once you reach 30 you'd think that you've achieved the highest level but that's not true.  The next steps can take a few months.  

• Arenas
• Alerts
• Legends
• Duos
• Raids

After I "leveled" up to 30 I decided to play some new content that was available to me and I kept dying against other players or challenge modes.  It was terrible.  Then I realized that I had to build my armor up in order to get stronger and start winning.

That was in May and now I'm finally in a decent place to be effective in a RAID or even hard alert.  

For me what makes this game so amazing is the community and strategy aspect of it.  I'm part of a League and they're incredible.  DCUO isn't about button mashing.  You really can't win that way, but you can win by combining you power with you fighting abilities.  Combine that with strong armor and you can be pretty bad ass.  Just like life there will always be someone stronger.  I just wish I knew in January how to play because I would be invincible by now!!

Listening to Music

I feel like I’ve transitioned to listening exclusively to podcasts.  I have Jill Scott, Beyonce and The Book of Mormon and I don’t think I’ve listened to the albums more than once (albeit they just came out).  That happens when I have tons of podcasts loaded that I love to listen to.  Here’s a sample of what I listen to:

• Android Central
• Buzz Out Loud  (daily) – don’t listen to much after Tom Merit left.
• Dialed In (weekly)
• IGN – Game Scoop (weekly)
• IGN – Podcast Beyond (weekly)
• Loaded (daily)
• Mac OS Ken (daily)
• Oh My Pod (daily & weekly)
• Savage Love
• Tech New Today (video) (daily)
• Tekzilla (video) (daily)
• This Week in Tech (weekly)
• Wall Street Journal (daily)
• Weekend Confirmed (weekly)
• The 404 (daily)

Is it me getting older or am I less interested in hunting for good music?  I was just observing that given the choice I will listen to my podcasts.  That could all change later.

Closer to the Touch

The date fast approaches for the HP (Palm) Touchpad and I’d like to drop my predictions.  

• There will be acclaim for the design, packaging and build quality.
• WebOs will be smooth, but people will miss all the gestures.
• Light to medium demand.
• Lots of promotional pricing.
• Low stock will lead to false demand.

Deep down I want the Touchpad to be a success.  Competition is the only way products get better.  I own a Pre and HP is offering $50 off for having a Pre.  I think that’s a nice gesture, but for a $499 device it doesn’t make much difference.  Apps make the difference.  I’ll say it again... there needs to be a Nook app. 

Most people I talk to have no need for a tablet.  They just want one.  Since I have a Nook, I’ve got my reading situation covered.  It serves its function of carrying around books (no frayed edges or extra weight on my shoulders).  My EVO is a great for browsing the web, checking my RSS feeds, Twitter, Facebook, etc. 

A tablet doesn’t fit in my tech world yet, but I want one to play with too.

Janet on her Birthday

This is Janet at an Amfar event on her Birthday.  45 never looked so good.  Well, until I hit that age.

Shake Rattle & Roll

Clue is one of my favorite movies and tonight a friend is having a viewing party.  I love Miss Scarlet (Leslie Ann Warren) and hope I get to express that love tonight.  I’m sure there will be plenty of stopping and starting!  Maybe I'll play multiple parts.

What a great movie!!

Miscellaneous Week

This is more of a checklist for me.  What can I get done by Saturday?

• Epi Pen
• Killzone 3 - Clan
• DC Universe Online - Clan
• Join Planet Fitness - $10 a month, plus $29 activation (a block from my apt.)
• iPad 2 w/ Red or Gray cover
• Laundry (always)
• Warmth of other Suns – good book 
• "Clue" party Friday night

For those aches and pains

This is from Men’s Health and I’d thought I’d share.

• Headache – Advil  (ibuprofen)

*too much can lead to kidney failure

• Back Pain – Aleve (naproxen)

• Fever – Tylenol (acetaminophen)

*too much can damage your liver

What a Lunch!!

Oh boy!

I went to lunch today and had two drinks (frozen margaritas) and because I go there often the bartender gave me and my lunch partner two shots.  Yummy.  Problem is: 

• I had two drinks already. 
• I’m at work.
• I’m a lightweight when it comes to drinking
• My head is spinning (a little)
• I wish I was in a bar in the east village.

With my head spinning, clearly it was too much for lunch.  I need to pull back.  This afternoon will be hard to get through without busting out laughing.

I brushed my teeth and have an altoid in my mouth.  Hopefully, no one will smell my breath.

I need this while I’m here at this job.  If you only knew what goes on and who sleeps with who!  

Home for the Holidays

I'm am here. Home. Playing with the dogs, eating and relaxing. Just what the doctor ordered.

An Update...it's been a while.

Well, still loving my HTC EVO 4G.  I have to say Android takes some getting used to, but in the long run I really enjoy the software.  I downloaded this app that manipulates the lens to create these great pictures.  I took the picture on to the right while at lunch.


I can't believe that September is here already.  The year is coming to a close and there's nothing I can do about it.  I'm looking forward to getting back to the gym again.  I need to lose some weight.


As it gets cooler, I want to start gaming again.  I don't know what it is about summer, but I'm not feeling it as much as I do in the Winter.  In February, Killzone 3 comes out and I have to be ready.  So exciting.


Work is depressing.  I hate it all and need to make a change.  I consider calling out sick every morning.  Oh well, maybe I need some time off.  


I'm still reading The Passage (page 436).  Only 400 pages to go.  Yeah!!


I had a thought...what if I moved to Chicago or Portland, Oregon??


Just a thought...

"I Knew Them Before"

Technology can be like your favorite undiscovered, underground artist that played in cheap venues with well vodka and tight unisex bathrooms 10 years ago.  Today that same artist is one of the hottest around living in a loft Williamsburg and shopping at Farmers market in Union Square.


"I knew about them before..."
"If you don't understand them, listen to someone else."
"I don't have to explain anything!"
"They got too big."
"They sold out"
"You didn't have to go through what I did"


Someone is always going to think they've earned being a fan more than someone else.  Those arguments never go anywhere.  It's all about options.


I  root for the underdog and the people that are working hard to beat the establishment.  Call me a fanboy and/or elitist and you're probably right.  I made a conscious decision to "switch".  I went against the grain to whole new world.  I was happy when not many people "knew" about the "other side" and took pleasure in seeing them struggle with what technology they thought was best.  Now, as things are shifting and my choice years ago is now fashionable, these noobs have all these complaints and issues.  I have this to say...


"If you don't like it, switch back and never look back".  That goes for phones, computers, tablets, machine guns or whatever.  You have a choice in is this great retail landscape.  If you don't like it, RETURN IT (within 30 days, 14 in some cases).

RIP Grandma

I love you and thank you.

My Summer Memories

Summers were fun for me.  


My earliest summer memories were spent with my Grandmother at her apartment in Washington, DC.  She was funny, energetic and very charismatic.  I vividly remember this candy wheel with these delicious green soft chew-able candles with sugar crystals on them.  I used to think she kept them for me, but I'm sure they were for everybody.  While I was there, 9am to 5pm, Cousins, Aunts and Uncles would stop by and chat.  I met a lot of family through her.  She was like my family's epicenter.   Don't disturb us between 12:30pm and 4pm because we watched Soap Operas.    Young and the Restless, All my Children,  Capital, One Life to Live and Guiding Light.  It was intense.  We watched in silence and commenting during the commercials.

My Grandfather would come home after he got off work and give me the strongest handshake I've ever had.  He had the biggest heart of anyone I knew.  He worked at the same church he and my Grandmother went to on Sundays.  He was loud and his stomach (think Santa Claus) was so big he couldn't close his legs.  I loved him very much (God rest his soul).  He gave me my first taste of alcohol from his own homemade moonshine!  It was strong, but the peach flavor was my favorite.  My Grandfather could have given me anything and I would have loved it.  Funny how to this day I HATE beer, but love clear liquid (vodka, rum) mixed with fruit juice.

I live in an urban jungle now (New York City) and I have my grandmother to thank for taking me on my first subway ride when I was 8 or 9 years old.  It was magical.  If you've ever seen Washington DC's Metro system, imagine it in the eyes of an 8 year old who loved Star Wars.  

Then I turned 11 y/o and my parents sent me away to camp where I learned how to horseback ride, kayak, canoe, shoot a bow and arrow and a rifle.  That lasted until I was 15.  The year after that, I got a summer job at a movie theatre. After I started my job, I saw her less and less.  I let her down because I never gave her a ride in my car when I got my license.

I found out this weekend that her time on this earth is coming to an end.  We don't know when, but it will be soon.  

I am grateful for my summer memories!  

I love you Grandma!

Nook...My Thoughts

I love it. It's gotten me excited about reading again. I'm actually thinking of starting a book club for owners of eReaders.

I've only paid for one book, but have "sideloaded" so much content on it.

• Samples (from the B&N store)
• Manuals (HTC EVO 4G)
• Library books

Yes, I said library books. I will never (well not ever) have to exclusively go to the library to check out books. Funny thing is you have to return the electronic books...lol.

I'm reading the self help book "Blink" and "Beginning CSS" (library books). Since Shakespeare book are all available free, I put Winter's Tale and Anthony Cleopatra on it too. I have to say as a eReader it's phenomenal. I can't put True Blood, Season 1 on it, but I'll have that soon enough. Because it's so small, I take it everywhere with me. I find myself leaving my PSP at home. Guess I'll pick it up again at some point.

Update:  You get a free tall coffee when you show your Nook.

I did the unthinkable

I finally have an ereader and it isn't made by the company you might have thought. I am the proud owner of a Barnes & Noble Nook. This is what happened.

I got into work on Monday and checked Google Reader. Engadget had a story about a "new" Nook device. I read the story and saw the image of the WiFi only reader and that B&N confirmed the price drop from $259 to $199 for the original 3G one.

I said, "Well this is compelling".

My main reason for getting a tablet "like" device would be for books. Having access to multiple books with the ability to download free ones was just too nice to pass up.

Certain circumstance prevented me from getting the "tablet" device at a discounted rate, so I threw my hands up and decided to wait for the 2nd generation of that device and get the Nook. I'll pass the Nook to my mom. A while ago I asked her about the Kindle and she said it was too expensive ($399) but today I got a call from her asking how a Kindle downloads a book.

I have to say it's a great device. All the software updates have paid off and it's very responsive. The interface take some getting used to, but it isn't too bad. The fact that I can go online and send samples to it and go into Barnes and Noble and get discounts and free books is cool. I don't know when I'll pick up the PSP on the train again. Last night I went to Central Park to read (at least before it rained).

I'm reading...Breaking Dawn

A Winter's Tale - Free

Samples of...

Accidental Billionaires

Eat, Pray, Love

Government by Accident

and many more.

Sidenote: What I love about it is that I can connect to the B&N store where ever there's AT&T 3G service and there's no extra charge.

Do I know you from somewhere?

6 years of storytelling. I almost cut it off, but I have to say I’m so glad I stayed for the entire run. I was up late watching finale and got up early. (an unheard of 6:10am) so I’m barely awake.

What do I say? I say television like this doesn’t come very often. A show that asks questions and expects the audience to make its own conclusions. A show that introduces 3 dimensional characters that we can root for and despise at the same time. A show that I’ll never forget.

I’m meditating on these themes today.

Hope
Work
Journey
Singular
Love
Letting Go
Questions
Purpose

Friday Blues

Friday leads to Saturday which leads to Sunday, which means Monday is around the corner. That's one way of looking at it.

Actually, I'm going to do some serious gaming tonight and tomorrow! I also plan to cook something healthy and maybe yoga on Saturday (but probably not).

Interesting how everyone looks forward to the weekend because they get to do exactly what they want to do on their own terms. Shame the rest of the week can't be the same. Guess we have to find a way to fund that weekend freedom. I know I have to.

PS3 Set Up

This isn't me, but this guy's set up is nice. Why buy 4 PS3's though?

Haiti

My thoughts and prayers are with the residents of Haiti as well as their family and friends. How much can this little country endure.

Negativity

I work in a small office during the day with approximately 34 people, mostly men. It's basically sales. The average age in the office is about 50 years old. People are set in their ways and still believe the 60's peace and love movement was the greatest time to be alive.

That's all well and good, but it definitely doesn't show in most of the actions here. Everyone here has something to say about somebody else. Whether it's their personal life or work habits. I learned early on to keep my personal life separate and boundaries high. I may speak about politics, but no one here can tell you about my personal life. I get along with people and like some of the people here, but I just wanted to give you a little backstory.

So, when I approached one of the partners to wish him well before I left for vacation, he refused to shake my hand because he was upset that he can't take a vacation and everyone else can. That attitude has continued because he sees that no one is as committed as he is. You know what, he's absolutely right.

He owns the business. His business is his work. If his business fails, he's out of work. That's a lot of pressure, but you hire people to do a job. I don't enjoy the benefits of being an owner so my commitment is to the job I was hired for. I don't think that's so hard to grasp. I don't think taking a vacation is a sign that I'm not committed. It's a sign that I'm using a benefit that I'm entitled to.

That kind of negativity does do anything for an office atmosphere. One day the powers that be will understand that. Actually, he needs to read the Four Agreements.