Another great week begins: a new column slot and more!

Mood: Happy
TV: Star Trek: The Next Generation

My great week continues!

Well I was down at The Daily Beacon today and I was talking to Zach Zoeller, the Entertainment Editor, about starting up a new segment on video gaming. Well, long story short I got offered a second weekly column dedicated to video gaming, gamer culture, and the industry as a whole.

I'm really pretty psyched about it. I love writing my politics column for The Beacon, but I'm afraid that it misrepresents me as a person. That's kinda why I started this blog; so people could see the human side of Jon Fish. Anyway, this is my opportunity to do something more light and entertaining and fun, instead of having to be so serious and cynical all the time.

But don't worry, no regular columnists have been bumped or anything. This column won't be appearing on Page 4, but rather in the Entertainment section of the paper. It's not certain yet, but it looks like it'll be every Thursday, with my first piece going out this week (Don't hold me to that, though. The piece will be ready, but it's pretty short notice and we dunno for sure what day we wanna put it on or when we're gonna start it).

And I'll also still be doing my weekly political and social issues pieces every Tuesday on Page 4 just like before. Your regularly scheduled programming will not be interrupted in any way; this is jsut something new and exciting for you to pick up and peruse.

Anyway, unlike my other columns, this one will be dedicated to the readers, actively seeking out reader opinions on whatever issues we end up discussing and giving the audience the chance to control the content. So if you're interested in gaming, make sure you write me and let me know what you think!

Anyway, I'm really excited about it, but I'm under a deadline for tomorrow to pound out my second column for the week lol, so I'd better get to it! Talk to ya later!

~Peace

Not-So-Random Quote of the Day:
"Men, we lead those dumb bugs out to the middle of nowhere to keep them from getting their filthy claws on Earth, but we found something that they're so hot for that they're scrambling all over each other to get to it. Well, I don't care if its God's own anti-son-of-a-bitch machine, or a giant Hula Hoop—we ain't gonna let 'em have it! What we will let 'em have is a belly full of lead and a pool of their own blood to drown in!" -Sergeant Johnson, Halo

Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge - What the hell?

Mood: Exhausted but Exhilerated
TV: King of the Hill

Had my second Skiing class today, so that meant another trip up to Ober Gatlinburg. But on the way up, I'm always struck by how crazy, in a very stupid sort of way, a place like Gatlinburg really is. So without further ado I present:

Gatlinburg: What the hell?

As seen on TV for a reason...

Technically this is still in Sevierville, but this is where it begins. I dunno if you can read it, but this is not just any As Seen On TV Store, it's the world's largest As Seen On TV Store. I'm sorry, but I just can't let this slide. What the hell, Sevierville? What the hell?

The Passion of the Almighty Dollar

Now Pigeon Forge has a ton of awful theatres that no self-respecting individual goes to, but this is just too much. As if Mel Gibson's crappy movie wasn't bad enough, Pigeon Forge has decided that it's their turn to exploit faith for money and provide a never ending Pasison play for everyone. Have they no shame? What the hell, Pigeon Forge?

Mindless Tourist Crap

Who pays for this stuff? I mean really. Earthquake? Star Cars? What the hell, Gatlinburg? What the hell?

Easy Listening Cafeteria

I remember when Hard Rock Cafes were few and far between, and actually had decent stuff to show. Now I can't wait to get there and see Brittany Spears's gold record or Janet Jackson's malfunctioning wardrobe. What the hell? Who took the hard rock out of Hard Rock? I'll bet I couldn't hear the Ramones or the Stones in a place like this if my life depended on it.

Like riding the subway in Los Angeles

This is the Sky Lift. It goes up, then comes back down. You don't get off. You don't stop. You go up, and come back down. That's it. It doesn't go anywhere. What the hell is this supposed to be anyway?

King of the Ironies

Thankfully, Ober Gatlinburg was blissfully free of the what the hells, save for this one. The waterslide right behind the ski school just seems apropos, in the fifth dimension maybe.

King of the What the Hells

There's so much what the hell to ask here I dunno where to begin. First off, why does the Ripley corperation/company/whatever build an aquarium. Aren't they basically the Barnum and Bailey of the modern world? Jeez. And why Gatlinburg? Lets take all these tropical fish and stick em in the coldest place in Tennessee, even though we already have a massive aquarium (that is, thanks to this place, on the verge of bankruptcy) an hour away in Chattanooga? There are only three words to describe this: What the hell?

Skiing Pics

God I love skiing. I had a great week last week, and starting off this week like this is just leading up to another good one methinks. Man I had a blast. Here's some pics:

From the Chair Lift

Sliding down the slope.

Keeping balance while going down a hill at 30 mph and taking a picture of yourself is hard.

I had a great day. Man skiing is so fun. Alright, I'm off, cya later everyone.

~Peace

PS Fewer bruises this week. Just a big one on my right hip. We were working on high speed turns and, well, I'm alot better at right turns than left turns lol.

Random Quote of the Day:

Everybody's doin' the Fish. Yeah, yeah, yeah. - "Trendy" Reel Big Fish

Another Great Week

Mood: Happy, Excited
Music: Counting Crows

I must be the only one not currently suffering from the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder lately (you know, that depression that people get in winter because of a lack of sun exposure that makes them all cranky and moody). I say that because people everywhere seem to be on a hair trigger or just extremely sensitive. Misunderstandings, flaring tempers, and just general sadness seems to be permeating all my friends. Hence why I'm listening to Counting Crows; "Long December" just seemed appropriate, despite the fact it's January now lol.

But I've had one spectacular week. I've just been in an awesome mood all week long, and I don't even know why. Good things have happened, but nothing to really put me in this kind of mood I don't think.

One such occurrence has been the submission of my final graduate school applications. They just went in the mail today. Finally, it's out of my hands now. I applied to two top 10 schools, three top 25 schools, and five top 50 schools (exclusive, ten in all). I know, it seems ambitious, but dammit "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggoneit people like me!" Heh, sorry, old SNL flashbacks. I'm pretty sure that I'll get funded from at least a couple of these places, and it's just so rewarding to realize that I'll finally be getting paid to study and teach what I love. It's an exhilerating feeling!

Another good thing has been just people on the streets this week. Four times this week I've been stopped by random people while walking between classes who have all just want to tell me how much they love my work with The Beacon and that they always pass my columns around to their friends and co-workers. This isn't uncommon, but the sheer number of times this week has been significant by comparison. Nothing gives ya that sense of accomplishment about your work quite like a compliment from a stranger on the streets.

Hrm...what else?

Oh yeah, there is of course the new toy, the X-Box 360, which I wrote about on Wednesday (see below). It's turned me into a total vegitable these past two days lol, but damn its so fun. Kameo is still great, and I actually sat down and played Condemned for a decent amount of time yesterday, and it got really good really quick (I'm bumping it's grade up to a B+ hehe).

I also came to the realization that this is the first semester in four years that I've not had a major research paper due in any class. I don't mind them usually, but it is nice to have it easy on the homework this last semester before I have to dig in hard for graduate school. It's also the first semester that I don't have a class in HSS since I've been here I think lol. It feels weird to not have to spend each day in that funky-looking building with no supplies made before V-E Day. I'm actually in decent accomidations this semester, like Stokeley Atheletic (surprise of surprises the atheletic department is well-maintained lol).

Anyway, all these things are cool and really great and all, but I'm usually a subdued, hard to impress person. But I've just been upbeat all week long. Even before this stuff started happening I was uncharacteristically excited and cheerful (not that I'm usually unhappy or whatever - bah you know what I mean lol!) I'm starting to wonder if someone's been slipping something in my Diet Dr. Peppers this week...

Ah well, not like I'm gonna complain hehe. Well that's about all for nowI think. I guess it's time to start cleanin' up. I've got dinner with a friend tonight followed by a poker game with a group of buddies whom I plan on taking for every dime they have lol, plus a few errands to run in the meantine, so I guess I should start gettin' ready. Until later everyone!

~Peace

Random Quote of the Day:
"That's a negative Ghost Rider, pattern is full, over." -Top Gun

leet X-Box 360 pwnz joo

Mood: Happy
TV: Kameo intro on loop while I type



Alright, that's about the extent of my gamer vocabulary, and I'm not even sure I used it right.

Anyway, I finally got a call from EB; my X-Box 360 preorder came in.

It's fantastic.

It's incredibly user friendly and you can also download all sorts of old arcade games, movie and game trailers, interviews and previews, and other upgrades for free, or if you want you can pay a little extra ad download some complete games and other things. It's really cool.

The box itself is deceptive. Its smaller than the original X-Box (though still larger than the PS2) but it weighs just as much, if not more. One of the coolest parts is the completely wireless concept. The only cords are power and TV plugs. It wirelessly connects to my router and has wireless controllers, which is just cool.

Anyway, I went ahead and splurged and got two games with it; Kameo: Elements of Power and Condemned: Criminal Origins.

Kameo is really cool. You're a sort of elf/wizard/faerie-type thing that, as she collects new spirits, can shapeshift into about a dozen different creatures with unique powers and abilities. It's an over-the-shoulder adventure/RPG title with rich, expansive, and very colorful and well designed maps and creatures. It reminds me of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask for N64, which was incredible, but with ten times the depth and size, which is saying a ton if you ever played it. The combat is dynamic and the problem-solving and story elements are very well done. The graphics clearly aren't pushing the system to its limits, but it still looks better than any game produced on any other system to date (PC excluded of course). Textures and details look simplistic from a distance, but as you zoom in, you see how much detail is in every aspect. In short, Kameo is fantastic. Grade: A

Condemned is a unique twist on the psychological thriller/survival horror genre pioneered by the Resident Evil and Silent Hill series (the latter of which is far superior hehe). The twist with Condemned is that it's a first person game, allowing for more dynamic, faster-paced action than previously seen in the genre, save for perhaps F.E.A.R. (which was decent, but got very old very quick, and was much more focused on the action than the thriller aspect). Condemned seems to have found a perfect blend between fast paced-action and complex, involved story and horror. I haven't had much time to play it as I've been enthralled with Kameo, but its a solid game. The graphics in this game are exceptional, probably the best I've ever seen on a console. Lighting and shadows are dynamic, there are no pixels or jagged edges anywhere, cloth looks and moves like real cloth, water reflects light and shadow, and the textures are painstakingly well done. It looks phenominal. The game has been a little slow so far, but I have high hopes. It's not quite as good as Kameo, but it's definately got potential. If I ever get around to playing it. Grade: B

Alright, I've been here too long and not playing my X-Box. I love you guys, but I mean come on, it's X-Box 360! Lol

~Peace

Skiing = Hella Fun

Mood: Happy
Music: Hootie and the Blowfish



I just went skiing for the first time today. It was frickin' awesome! I thought it'd be really hard, but it wasn't bad at all and I had a ton of fun. And the best part is that I'm gettin college credit to do it. Man you just can't beat that.

Anyway, here's what I learned:

Turning is Counterintuitive

It's hard to get used to. You put your weight on the foot opposite the direction you wanna turn. It was weird.

Pizza / French Fries

Hehe anybody see the episode of South Park where they go to Aspen and learn to ski? Yeah, it was kinda like that. They didn't use those exact words, but this was all I could think about the whole time lol.

Gatlinburg "Snow" Hurts

The term snow used very loosely here. It was the consistency of crushed ice. What we were skiing on was like fiberglass on the hands. Don't leave any skin exposed lol.

Bruises
I got a nice collection today. Both knees, left lower abdomen, both hands. It was great.


Alright, that's about all. I can't wait to go back next week. Til then,

~Peace

What I Want

Mood - Introspective
TV - Firefly

I got in a fight with a friend the other day. She was rather upset with me for two reasons that I could discern from the three hours this discussion lasted:
1. I don't take my writing seriously (in reference solely to my work at the Beacon)
2. I don't live up to my potential

It really got me thinking about myself, and why I do the things I do. So now I think I will address the latter claim, as the former is a direct derivative thereof.

I don't live up to my potential. And I am happy that way. I see people who push themselves, to succeed at all costs and reach their highest potentials, and then I see myself, and realize that if I pushed myself to these extremes, I could attain much more.

But when I look at these people, I rarely see anyone who is happy. I see people who are constantly under stress, the weight of the world bearing down on them. Or I see people who only want to work, never engaging in a life beyond their calling and unable to take pleasure in the simple things in life, alienating friends and family and eschewing all hopes of finding someone to care about them. Or I see people for whom success, money, and power are no longer an end, people whose only goals are to acquire more wealth and prestige, and willing to step on anyone to get to it.

I don't want to be one of these people.

My desires are simple, and I want for little. What few desires I have I work extremely hard for, and that generates within me a sense of accomplishment. But I'm not a vain person. I do not feel the need to flaunt my accomplishments or my ability to succeed. Hell, one of the hardest things I've ever had to do was write a Letter of Intent for grad schools basically prostituting myself and selling these schools on my best attributes. I do what makes me happy, not what will make me popular, win me awards, or garner me unfathomable power or wealth. These are things I simply do not care about.

What I Want (Short Term)
-To graduate from UT Cum Laude
-To be accepted to an upper tier Ph.D. program in Sociology with full funding.
-To win a Teaching Assistantship at my new school
-To thank the people that have made me who I am and helped me get to where I'm going, and to make amends to the people I care about whom I may have hurt along the way
-To enjoy my last semester in Tennessee and as an undergraduate by doing as many things I may have missed out on as a college student

What I Want (Long Term)
-To earn a Ph.D.
-To become a professor
-To write at least semi-professionally
-To publish a novel
-To find a woman I want to spend my life with
-To die peacefully, knowing I've atoned for my regrets and dedicated my life to helping people

What I DON'T Want
-To be rich
-To be famous
-To be powerful

My desires are simple, and while some of them are high aspirations, they are hardly for vanity or power, and my dedication to them helps to ensure that I will achieve them But do I want more for myself? No.

Contentment is a rare thing in this world. Very few people are ever happy with their lives. I have certain desires in my life right now that are not met. I'd like to find a significant other. I'd like to get a new car. I'd like to have less free time and more social interaction. But even without these things, I am content right now.

I think drive and desire are corruptive, as are the rewards that they can yield. If everyone could learn to be content with what they have, there would be much less conflict and suffering in the world.

~Peace

The Spring Lineup

The Spring lineup for the Daily Beacon Editorial Columnist Staff came out today, just thought I'd keep ya abreast of the happenings on Page 4 this semester.

Monday
Eric Harkness
Will Hamilton *
Daniel Ferguson *

Tuesday
Jon Fish
Sarah Pevey

Wednesday
Scott Hendrix
Jeff Cohran*
Nate Arthur*

Thursday
Crystal Humphrey
Michael Lumley *
Chris Hedgepeth *

Friday
Weslie Jarvis
Kathleen Benton

(* bi-weekly columnists)

There's been some very positive changes in the lineup. My friend and moderate conservative Crystal Humphrey has been promoted to a weekly slot from her bi-weekly position last semester, as has excellent writer and moderate liberal Scott Hendrix.

Also, wry wit and cynical pragmatism has been condensed to a single day, as my good friend and moderate conservative Sarah Pevey and I will be duking it out every Tuesday on the same page. We will also be attempting a new Point/Counterpoint style every few weeks where we'll both tackle opposite sides of the same issue, so be sure not to miss that!

We've got a great deal of talent this semester on the Editorial Page. I'm also looking forward to see what our newest faces, Michael Lumly and Kathleen Benton, have to say, so be sure and check them out as well as returning to your favorites from the past.

Have a great semester and keep reading!

What I've done with my winter break

Mood: Bored
TV: Ghostbusters

Winter break is over half over (heh, weird sounding). I've been exceptionally bored. There's hardly anything going on, but I figure what the hell, let's look at what I've been up to.

1. Grad School Apps.
This has been the one thing I've actually done with my life these last couple weeks to improve myself. Writing people and trying to tell them why they should give you money and pay for your education is hard. It's like prostitution, only with words. See, prostitutes work together, but grad school candidates are constantly gouging each other in the eyes trying to make themselves look better than everyone else. Viscious bastards. I'm just not the competitive type. Guess I'd better sharpen my broadsword.

2. Strip Clubbing
Heh, I know I just wrote about it. But it was funny. Kinda tragic, but funny nonetheless. My buddy wrote about his perception of the experience, check it out here.

3. Catching up on my movies
God I'm so bored. This has been the predominant activity as of late. Currently in theaters, I can recommend the following:

Syriana
From the makers of Traffic, another excellent film, Syriana tells the full-course story of the effects of the oil industry on the world. It deals with how the government ends up fighting itself by investigating illegal oil trading on the one hand while supporting such trades for improving the economy on the other. Then it talks about the role of the intelligence community in perpetuating the economic elites' agenda by eliminating threates to the continued exploitation of the oil-rich nations. And finally, we get to see the the effects on the people within these countries, and the creation of terrorism as the only percievable means for resisting this exploitation. Phenominal movie. A+

The Producers
Seen it twice now and I can safely say that Mel Brooks is a genius. For those that don't know, The Producers is a film about two Broadway producers (Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick) who discover that its possibly to make more money by overselling shares in a play that flops than it is to create a success. So they go looking for the absolute worst play in history, and find it in a musical entitled "Springtime for Hitler" written by a Neo-Nazi (Will Ferrel). After finding the most flamboyantly gay director in history, they are all set up for the play to bomb. Unfortunately for them, it becomes a success as a tongue-in-cheek comedy! The two face jail time for fraud and everything just kinda goes to hell. Absolutely hilarious. A

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Seen this one twice, too. Another good installment in the Harry Potter series. Unfortunately, it suffers from some pacing issues. Everything is too fast. They just tried to cram so much into a hardline 2.5 hour time limit, and it just got tedious. But the acting is superb and the actors keep getting more comfortable in their roles. The plot itself is also very good, though it did get a little bogged down in the melodrama Ron/Hermione relationship thing. And I hadn't read the book so I didn't know Harry had a thing for asian chicks lol jk. Though the third one is still my favorite, this one is quite good too. B

4. Dating Scene
It's funny, I've dated more people in the last month than I have in the last year. True, for half that year I was undergoing a self-imposed celibacy, but still it's been an interesting month. Granted, save for one, all the girls I've been out with have been little more than a waste of my money (hence why I've seen Harry Potter and The Producers twice now, among other pits I've been pumping cash into). Anyway, I have learned that it hasn't gotten any easier, but that I've gotten alot better at it in my absence.

Anyway, that's about all for now. Cya later!

~Peace