I'm not one to mention every hurdle I cross, or every benchmark I achieve, but yesterday I wrote my 250th blog and today I turned 21 . . . level 21.

What did I write about all of those entries ago? How has life changed over time. A buddy of mine wrote in his "real" blog about what his 1994 self would think of his current state. I hate those reflective questions. Well, hate is a strong word.

My 1994 self was all about exploring life, living in fantasy world while accumulating existential references for building a better real world. The only thing I can imagine my "old" self saying to myself today is, "Good job on getting married!"

I can think of an endless supply of advice and comments to be delivered to my old self.

CHeeeeeeeeze!

Statistics Midterm grade: 93/100

Economics class: 6 hours

Finding out you are part of a wage-earning bracket responsible for more than 60% of your country's income tax revenue:
Eye-opening.

One of the fringe benefits of getting an advanced education is the gee-wiz factor of some of the things you learn. Example: the top 50% of wage earners in the United States accounts for 95% of the income taxes gathered by the IRS. That means half of the country pays little or no taxes.

While the love of money can be argued to be the root of all evil, I find the philosphy of economics to be simply fascinating. Once we get beyond the fact that all money is merely paper (or digital bits), we can see what values societies and individuals place upon the necessities of life and pleasure. But those measurements are merely samplings and quantifiable representations of opinion and values.

The real requirements are resources. Living in the Bay Area of California creates a somewhat myopic perspective on salaries, costs, and values. What is a survivable income here is a king's allotment elsewhere.

We all need food, shelter, and some degree of companionship. At some point we want recreation. We want a break from work. It just so happens the next generation of work distraction may not be so cost-effective for those not paying the lion's share of Uncle Sam's bills.

So, will this be the generation where the price hike leaves many interested interactive media consumers without an outlet? After all, economists teach us producers supply where the costs are in their favor, or at least do not hurt them in the long run. Where the demand level and the supply line cross, the price is frequently set. Anybody unable to meet that quantified exchange rate does not consume the product in question.

Thus, if the price is too high, fewer Sony fans will buy the PS3. I can tell you my reservation price for a PS3 is well below $800 a unit . . . especially if I have to buy controllers for visitors to use. But if you bring your own, I'll gladly get a controller to use.

With the transitioning of all of my personal files off of my work computer I was left without any adorable pictures of my wife and daughter together. When I search my pictures folder the only amusing thing I could find to post on my desktop was an old PVP comic I have aptly referred to as the Dirge of Morrissey.

Which got me thinking. . . isn't the performing artist Gackt in the Dirge of Cerberus? Games have created an odd confluence of media personality appearances. Just look at the line-up of cast members for KH2. Even my TV clone Zach Braff is in that. It just goes to show that some agents are better at placing their alternative media talent than others.

The thought of Morrissey in Cerberus is delightful. That would definitely be a different direction for Square Enix, but an interesting one. Personally, I find it a lot more interesting than sub-par appearances by Marilyn Manson.

One of my goals to achieve before I die is to lend my voice to a game. It's right there with speaking in a session of the United States Congress. Aim high, download.

The Bay Area came down this week off of a warming trend to hit 40 degrees (Farenheit) during the day. Rain fell and the outlook is bleak. Our local mount Diablo may even be dusted with snow . . . but still no chance that snow will touch the streets of San Francisco.

Currently Economics and Statistics are assailing me. I just took my Statistics midterm and the professor joked we could take our finals next time. Sorry, he was only half joking. 

*grumble* *grumble* *grumble*

It is a haze of gloom.

Lately I've been improving my sneaking abilities playing MGS2. Maybe one of these days I will slip off into the dusty, rat-infested airconditioning ducts of a major metropolitan office tower and have fire-fights with terrorists like Bruce Willis . . . or Solid Snake.

However games and movies make those ducts look so. .  clean. The office building next to mine is being gutted in preparation for our company's inevitable expansion. The ducts they toss out into the dumpsters are filthy. Think of how much dust accumulates over the course of a week. Then think about how office ducts are cleaned ever few years. . . *gross*

Okay, time to go home and have dinner. Just in case you have been keeping track, I submitted my application to the la-li-lu-le-lo.

I've been thinking about communities lately. Recently a local radio station I regularly listen to has started to get local listeners to supply content for theit broadcasts. It adds a lot. You hear real people's opinions on movies, music, and stuff. . .

The best communities are the ones where participation is encouraged. Having a forum where members can participate adds not just value but also commitment. When I contribute to a cause, I am showing, and increasing, my commitment to that cause.

Kudos to the GS Live team for fielding so many Complete members' comments. Hopefully the recently expanded use of the OtS hotline will contribute to the content of the HotSpot. I know a lot of people would like to hear the podcast go longer.

Personally, I find 30-40 minutes of podcast to be perfect; especially when open disputations are mitigated. Jeff, since you are one of my gamespot friends, I want you to personally know I appreciate the entertaining and insightful contributions you make, along with the other GS staff members.

I make no boasts about riding the crest of early adoption, or knowing the next big thing. That said, I found a new East Coast/Best Coast rivalry brewing. Everybody knows the nation is split between four seasons and a never-ending Summer (with a little bit of spring mixed in). Some sing about the sun of California, others about the wonders of New York. Sometimes adoration escalates to violence. Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. were casualties of a rap war in the 90s. It seems the East Coast and West Coast are once more defrosting hostilities in a rap war made in Color Me Mine. Hopefully no celebrities will be lost from the adoration of Narnia and beach combing. Check out the videos from both sides and follow the Narnia battle by clicking the link below: http://narniarapbattle.com/ Red Vines not included.

After staying up late preparing taxes and writing a beta test assessment, never underestimate how romantic getting up early to go to work is when your wife was up all night tending to the baby.

:roll:

What an amazing woman. Happy Valentine's, my love. Life just isn't the same without you. You are everything a man could ask for in a very attractive form.

A few years ago I went to see Mystery Men in the theaters after a glowing review by my friend. In an empty theater, with a date who wasn't really into the experience, the movie came off like a flop. When I bought it on DVD (don't ask me why) it never got better. Movies for me are all in the experience of seeing them.

Some movies get thumbs up from me when I watch them myself. In the case of the Fog of War, seeing it with anyone else who couldn't follow it just would have spoiled the profundity. same goes for the 9/11 documentary:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2023320890224991194

My wife was so impressed by it she sent it to her family. The family subsequently distributed it to their email listserve. But I am not here to discuss poilitics or world events, outside of the gaming arena.

Today Square-Enix announced the release date of Final Fantasy VII:Advent Children! By far the most anticipated news for American conniseurs of Final Fantasy besides a remake of Final Fnatasy VII itself. This takes me back to my first experience watching Advent Children. It was at my in-laws' house, by myself. I was duly impressed by the technical prowess and the dedication to continuity. . . especially when not everybody remembers the minutia of the game's storyline.

I'm pretty sure when my wife watches Advent Children with me, she will be completely lost. Then when I suggest she play through the epic game, she will say no thank you, I have better things to do with those 100 hours. She's probably right, but the movie is epic with that background. . . even without a cast of thousands.

I'm ready to play through it again myself. But work and school combine to hedge up the way. Plus, I have been carving time out of my schedule for MGS2. MGS3 is right around the monthly corner. . .

Now if you will excuse me, I have a review to write and more C4 to freeze. . . and Statistics to calculate.

Last night my wife was kind enough to allow me some time to play MGS2:Substance. After cycling through the four control schemes, I found control scheme D to be the most accommodating. After making my way through the Tanker, I had a pretty firm grasp of controls.

That said, I agreed with my wife. Even with the blood settings turned to "off" the volume was rather available. The cold-hearted killing was too much for the games we prefer to keep in our house. Only one of the reasons we don't normally allow M-rated games into our home.

On my personal board I posted some quotes for reference. My mom was kind enough to augment my intellectual arsenal by sharing an article from the Church News. It was an amusing article in the context of comparing it (the Church News article) with the San Francisco Chronicle article that ran today. With the exception of the religious discussion in the Church News, the associations were pretty much the same.

Either way, my sensibilities are in line with the discussion in the Church News. Elected officials "are reacting to a scourge that has real consequences not only for the rising generation but for adults as well."

Are politicians being reactionary? Yes. But I agree with the necessity of the action.

Regardless of political/governmental policies, the true responsibility rests squarely upon the shoulders of the parents. As a parent, what my daughter watches, plays, and experiences is my responsibility. If I want her to turn out right, I cannot abdicate my responsibility to schools, politicians, or special interest groups.  

While I enjoy games with solid production values and intellectually stimulating storylines, the media seems to only be capable of delivering them in "Mature" or "R-rated" forms. Unfortunately, that is the economics of the industry. They have to put something in there for everyone.