So...like an idiot...I forgot my camera, again. DOH!

 

But, Eugenia let me take some pics with hers.  If/when she sends them to me, I will post some.  Although, I am not sure if I really got any good ones.

 

Cool things from GDC.  We've announced that Gears of War 2 is coming out this fall.  Yay!!!

 

John Schappert (the VP that I support) had a great keynote talking about Xbox Live and our plans for the future. 

 

XNA kicks ass.  We had a very successful "AI Programming Challenge" that was lead by the XNA team.  It proved to be very very cool.  Basically, programmers sit at a computer for a set amount of time and program little 2D spaceships to fight each other.  The person with the most points (a combination of kills and deaths) wins.  And...their party was freakin' awesome. 

 

Some bad things.  The Women in Gaming event left a lot of us pretty annoyed.  Eugenia put it together and did an awesome job at it.  Unfortunately, instead of respecting the event and what it's for, we had a TON of guys show up...probably only for the free booze and give-aways.  They were very loud and quite obnoxious.  Next year, I think it will be an invite only event.  If you're a woman...you're invited and you get to bring a guest.  No random guys showing up, anymore.  It's a networking opportunity, not a giveaway.

 

Oh...also, at the restaurant where we were holding the event (The Roe Restaurant) we had some stuff stolen.  A Zune, a copy of Halo 3 and a copy of Guitar Hero 3.  The manager's comment was, "You should have let us know the value of the things you were storing."  Uh huh.   

 

Also...somehow, my computer is now on the fritz and I can't access anything on the corporate network.  Which really sucks because I am WAY behind, right now.  This couldn't be happening at a worse time.

 

I did manage to get a free cocktail on the plane on both trips.  Must be my incredible good looks at work, again. 

 

Totally randomly, I ran into an old college buddy from Gonzaga.  I haven't seen her since I left school. 

 

 

I depart tomorrow for the Game Developers Conference, once again being held in San Francisco.  This will be my 3rd GDC (I didn't attend the first year I worked at MS).  Every year, it proves to be very exciting. 

 

This year, we are once again hosting a Blacks in Gaming networking event as well as a Women in Gaming event.  Also, this year, somehow, I got roped into speaking.  I am a panalist at one of the session talking about careers, or something.  I sort of forgot about this until yesterday, so I have nothing prepared.  I have a feeling I know how I'll be spending my plane ride.  

I will try to remember my camera, this year. I didn't get any pictures last year.  That was the year I lost my wallet at the Bubble Lounge.  Or, more appropriately, someone walked off with my jacket.  They returned it, but without my wallet in the pocket. 

 

That's it.  I'll try to post during the week.  This proves to be a super busy week for me between set-up, BIG, WIG, the Xbox Party, other Parties, and the fact that, during all this, I will still have work to do.  But, I'll let ya'll know about the cool stuff.

 

 

So...for the first time, I participated in a Presidential Caucus.  Here are my thoughts:

 

1)  There were a LOT more people there than I expected.  Keep in mind, this was the Republican caucus in Seattle...easily the most liberal city in the state.  There were about 250-300 people in a room the size of a third grade classroom.  Very hot and very loud.

 

2)  I was the only person there from my precinct (High Point - pricinct SEA-35-1485, if you're interested).  Therefore, that was one guarunteed vote for John McCain since I nominated myself to be the precinct delegate.  I think this means I have to go to the county convention or something. 

     - That night, the wife and I had dinner with some neighbors that attended the Democrat caucus.  There were 97 people from the pricinct voting with the Democrats.  Tallk about feeling out-numbered. 

 

3)  As you can see from the Washington results, the Republican race is much closer than it should be.  I think you know what I have to say about that.  I was actually a bit shocked at the number of Huckabee supporters.  And, I was more than a little annoyed when the guy running the room said, "I hope we remember that, at the end of the day, we need to come together to support our nominee so that we can all move forward to beat the Democrats in November," and only half the room cheered.  It felt like another of those instances where people hate John McCain because he's not conservative enough. 

 

4)  Ron Paul actually came in very close, as well.  Seriously...what the heck is wrong with this state?  They apparently want to see a Democrat President. 

 

That's about it.  4 more years until the next one.  I'm betting Washington will change the system, again, before the next one.  Although, I am hoping I won't need to go to that one because John McCain will be the incumbant and the obvious choice for re-election. 

Next Saturday is the Washington State Republican Caucus.  As I mentioned before, I will be caucusing for the first time ever.  I am excited...even though I have a feeling we'll know who the Republican nominee is by the time our turn comes around. 

 

So...I called the Party headquarters in Seattle the other day.  I said, "Hello...I would like to know where the caucus will be held."  And the guy on the other line said, "Where do you live?"  And, I said, "West Seattle."  And he said, "Me, too.  It will be nice to know that there will be at least one other Republican at the West Seattle Caucus."  And, I said, "HAHAHA!"

 

I hope Johnny Mac wraps it up tonight.  Because I really want him to get the nomination.  But, if he doesn't, rest assured, I stand ready to argue my butt off for him at the caucus.  And, part of me thinks I'll have a fight ahead of me.  Because, as I have mentioned before, I think this state is politically stupid.  I think the Republicans are retarded and I think the Democrats are retardeder. 

 

I stand for Republicanism as it was in the days of Goldwater and Reagan.  Of Lincoln.  Even of Jefferson and Monroe. 

 

I am a Republican because I believe in Less Government.  The Government should be here to defend us, provide disaster relief and to enforce our basic rights.  The Government should not be taking 33% of my income to distribute it as it sees fit. 

 

I believe in States' Rights.  This country was founded on the principles of Confederacy.  Now, I don't mean Confederacy as in we should be 50 separate nations and own slaves.  I mean, we are 50 individual states and we should have the right to do what is best for us.  If the State of Washington wants to legalize pot (which I am sure they do), the Feds shouldn't have a say in that. 

 

I believe in Individual rights.  This is where the Republican of today forget their place.  If a dude wants to marry another dude...IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM IS IT THE BUSINESS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO TELL THEM THEY CAN'T.  Keeps your laws out of my bedroom.  A common rule of thumb for me...unless it is infringing on the rights or safety of others, the government has no place telling me what I can and cannot do. 

 

I believe in the 2nd Amendment.  The right to bear arms is about more than militias.  It's about safety.  I have a right to defend me and my own.  The government can't always be counted on.  If it were, I think people should have the right to sue the government each time they fail to protect someone.  It's unrealistic to expect the government to protect us from all the bad guys all the time.  Therefore, it's up to me to take my safety into my own hands.  If someone breaks into my house, a baseball bat will only get me so far.  Now...does this mean I need an automatic weapon with a grenade launcher and laser sighting?  We'll...maybe the laser sighting.  But, not the grenade launcher.  There are limits, but in no way would I approve of a person taking away my gun...even though I don't actually own one.

 

Republicans need to wake up.  Being Republican isn't about seeing who can cut more taxes or who is the most religious.  It's about who believes more in my rights as an American.  My rights to freedom, Liberty, and to trust in my own ability to make choices.  All while holding people to the choices they make.  This is why I support John McCain.  He's a true Republican. 

 

And, he's a hero.  I think it would be nice to see one of those back in the Oval Office. 

 

       

 

It only seems fair given the amount of flack that John McCain took over his response to a voter calling Hillary "The Bitch." 

 

Woman calls Bush 'bastard,' Hillary Clinton smiles

Seriously...Ann Coulter says on Hannity and Colmes that she will vote for Hillary before she votes for John McCain.

 

What is their problem, here?  John McCain sides with the Republican Party 90% of the time.  He disagrees on things that can only make our country better.  He fought Big Tobacco (Ohhhhh...he's against free speech for the tobacco companies....who just happen to be HUGE contributors to the Republican Party) he fights Global Warming (ohhhh...he can't do that, because it's all natural and we should stop worrying that we are tapping out our resources), he believes in Campaign Finance Reform (ohhhhh...you are squashing the free speech of millionaires who like to make sure their Congressmen know who helped them get elected).  Oh, and he votes against a tax cut that neglects to cut spending.  Something that all real Republicans should have done.  

 

But...he stands by Bush, who he doesn't like, regarding the war in Iraq.  He has never strayed in his opposition to Abortion, he believes in States Rights and the rights of individuals over Federal intrusion, and he is open to listening to the views of people from outside the party.  Because, believe it or not...they are not all stupid.

 

What's worse?  Voting for someone that agrees with you 90% of the time but has no qualms going against you if he believes in it (much like many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence) or voting for someone who says he's with you even though his record shows differently.

 

Dear Republicans...have you noticed that the current Health Care plan in Massachusetts, which was SIGNED INTO LAW BY MITT ROMNEY, looks an awful lot like the Health Care plan that Hillary Clinton is currently proposing?  It's a health care plan that mandates ALL CITIZENS MUST HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.  It's a plan that provides it to anyone that doesn't have it...through the government.

 

Now, any true Republican sees the Socialism in that and should recognize that Romney played a role (It's called a VETO, Mitt).  Yet, now...he dodges the question and bashes Hillary's plan.  Says we can have health care without government mandates.  Uh-huh...why didn't you say that in Massachusetts?  I know why...cuz you couldn't have been elected.  Just like you know the Republicans won't elect you now if you propose the same thing.  Hypocrite. 

 

John McCain is the best person for this country.  You know exactly where he stands.  You know what you are getting with him.  You know that, if he realizes his way isn't the way the country wants to do it, that he will change...ala Immigration.  You also know that when he really believes in something, ala campaign finance reform, that he will fight for it against his party.

 

Hillary doesn't do that.  Obama really hasn't had the chance to do that in his short time in Congress, and Mitt Romney hasn't done it, but says he will in the future.

 

      

 

PS:  If you think Ann Coulter is a Blathering Idiot...leave a comment!