So...I just signed up for GameFly.  I figure...I usually buy 3 or 4 games a year (and then I get a bunch free cuz a' where I work).  Each game, after tax, is usually right around $70.  As my wife has pointed out to me many times, this is a lot of money spent on games.

 

Then, I thought about my game playing habits.  I am not a Huge online player.  So, more often than not, I play through a game and then I never touch it, again.  So, a $70 game is good for about a month of entertainment.  Exceptions to this rule are Rock Band and MLB 2Kwhatever. 

 

Now, with Gamefly, I pay, like $20 a month, or something, and I have a rented game at all times.  It works like Netflix.  They mail you a game and you get to keep it for as long as you want (assuming you're paying the fee).  When you're done, send it back and they'll send you a new one.

 

I did this first with Bully: Scholarship Edition.

 

Now, first of all...Bully came out for the Playstation, first.  So, this version is essentually a port from that version.  As with any ports, it doesn't always run super smoothly. 

 

But, even with that in mind, this game is average at best.  I mean, it was entertaining, here and there, but, pretty disappointing on the whole.

 

Bads: the animation sucked and the missions were not challenging.

 

The goods: A good story premise.  The only reason I played it through was to see how it ended.  You're a new student to this private school after having been expelled from numerous others.  When you get there, you find that it's full of different "factions" all fighting each other.  You're typical factions: Nerds, Jocks, Greasers, Bullies, etc.  You decided to clean the school up...which you do by beating up anyone that gets in your way.

 

There are some interesting weapons, but I found I rarely used them.  The most effective butt kicking method, I found, was just using my bare hands. 

 

The achievements are pretty weak, too.  I got 20 points each time I beat one of the first 3 or so chapters, but none after that.  Not even after I beat the game.  Although, I did get 25 point for giving 50 wedgies. 

 

Anyway...as for Bully, that goodness for Gamefly.  I can send it back and free up the memory on my harddrive (even though I still have 95 gigs).  I'm glad I didn't spend the $70.

 

 

Monday is Opening Day.  Mariners vs the Rangers at Safeco Field.

 

And, once again, like I have done every year since 2002 (the year after I feel in love with the Mariners, I will be going to Opening Day.

 

For the second year (not in a row, though), I have Season Tickets!  I am super stoked!  I am looking forward to improved pitching (welcome Beddard and Silva), and I am praying for a Richie Sexon comeback (.209 just doesn't cut it, bub). 

 

So, on Monday, with my wife and my buds, I will be toasting to the Mariners and to another season of fun and high hopes! 

 

Go Mariners!

 

 

 

Well...I'm sure it will be in the news sooner or later, but Johnny Mac recently called me on the phone and asked me if I would be up for the job.  Unfortunately, there's something unconstitutional about only being 30.  Fascists.

 

Anywhoo...who will be McCain's VP. 

 

Here's who I don't want to see:  Mike Huckabee or Mitt Romney.

 

Why?  Simple...if McCain is going to beat the Prom King popularity of Barry Obama, he needs to attract and keep those independents.  I stand by my theory that there is no way the right wing is going to risk losing an election to either Obama or Hillary.  They will be voting for McCain.  If they don't, they are stupider that all those schmucks that voted for Ross Perot.  Didn't they learn?

 

So...who do I think is needed?  A non-white guy.

 

Yup...I said it.  I don't want to sound like Geraldine Ferraro, here...but, there is something historic about the possibility of our first woman or black president.  I do believe this is contributing to the success of both Democratic candidates.  Particularly Obama.  I mean...come on.  The guy has 3 years of Federal experience.  This man is in No way qualified or even ready to be President.  Yet, here he is, sitting pretty on top of the Democrat race. 

 

John McCain, while very very qualified, is also very very old.  This, and his unwavering support for troops in Iraq, is a disadvantage for him.  I don't think it will make it impossible.  However, I think that if he pads his ticket with a qualified woman or minority, it will add to the historicness (is that a word) of a McCain ticket.  Right now, it has none.  Nor will it if he adds Huckabee, Romney, Crist, Ridge, or any of the other whitey names I've heard. 

 

The problem with this, that I recognize, is that there aren't a whole lot of female or minority options that are super qualified to be President.  And, as he will be 72 when he becomes President, we need to look at this VP and realize that they really could become Commander in Chief one day. 

 

I have heard rumblings about Condi.  Condi is freakin' brilliant, I think...but, she's another link to the Bush Administration, and you can bet the Dems would use that to their advantage.  It would feed the McSame as Bush ads that I have been seeing online.  Still...she is smart and she is qualified.  The biggest question is...is she an independent thinker who was essentially following orders, or...is she a Bush lackey who would continue the far right foreign policies of the Bush Administration, essentially assuring that the anti-war people vote for Obama? 

 

An article of Interest:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dylan-loewe/pro-and-condoleezza-mcc_b_89747.html

 

Please forgive that it's from the Huffington Post.

 

Anyway...my ideas for non-white and/or non-male, non-ultra conservative but also non-maveric Repup like McCain are the following:

Kay Bailey Huchison - Senator from Texas - Female and from the Sovereign Nation of Texas.  Republicans love Texans, for some reason.

Sarah Palin - Governor of Alaska - not really sure that she's really qualified, but she isn't bad to look at as far as Governors go.  And, here's a website: http://palinforvp.com/2.html

Bobby Jindal - Indian American (as in the real Indian) and Governor of LA.  But, much like Sarah Palin, doesn't really have a strong resume (and he opposed all abortion...even for rape/incest/life of the mother.  Dems would certainly pounce on this).  However...he's got more experience in government than Obama.

Marsha Blackburn - Congresswoman from Tennessee.  Elected in 2002.  From the South. 

 

That's about all I got.  In the end, what will be more important to voters, and what will appeal to the Independents/Moderates more?  Regardless...at the top of the Democrat ticket will be an inexperienced historic candidate.  Most likely, experience will be picked for VP.  McCain brings experience to the top of his ticket.  Would voters rather vote for Experience combined with History...or experience combined with more experience should the lead experienced person kick the experienced bucket.

 

 

One of these things is not like the other.

 

Sorry, it's been a while. Word-Drum, thanks for the comment!  Good to have you around!

 

Oh, geez...there is sooooo much to talk about.  Sorry for the delay.  There have been some interesting things going on here that I will talk about later. 

 

I wanted to talk about Obama and Rev. Wright (and how I have lost some respect for Obama...it's not that he doesn't want to disown his Pastor...it's that he was with this pastor for 20 years.  I don't buy that he never heard him say any of these kinds of things).  I wanted to talk about the 4000 dead American soldiers in Iraq and how I disagree with my man about setting timetables with the Iraqi govenment to get our troops home. 

 

But...it was after hearing an interview yesterday with Bill Richardson regarding his endoresement of Barak Obama for President.

 

Guess who wants to be Vice President!

 

Now...I think the superdelegate system is stupid.  I think it takes the decision away from the people and puts it into the hands of the rich and well connected Party elite. 

 

Still...why am I calling Barak Obama a hypocrite?

 

Easy...when it was looking like Hillary would receive more of the superdelegate vote, dragging this primary all the way to the convention, Obama made it clear that he feels that suerdelegates should vote the way that the people of their states voted. 

 

Therefore...when a state like, oh, say...New Mexico votes for Hillary Clinton, New Mexico's superdelegates should vote for Hillary.

 

Now...in this interview with Bill Richardson I heard yesterday (I couldn't locate it online this morning), the interviewer asked Richardson why he is supporting Obama even though his state chose Clinton, when Obama himself has said that superdelegates should swing the way of their state.  Richardson's response, "Let's not get technical."

 

I lost some respect for him with that comment.

 

I would also like to bring to your attention Ted Kennedy and John Kerry.  Massachusetts Democrats who are supporting Obama even though Massachusetts went to Clinton. 

 

I agree with Obama...superdelegates should vote with their state (at least if they insist on keeping this moronic practice).  But, you can't pick and choose.  It's all or nothing, here. 

 

Oh...and, while doing some searching on superdelegates, I found this little nugget of information (found here):  "Obama's political action committee has doled out more than $694,000 to superdelegates since 2005, the study found, and of the 81 who had announced their support for Obama, 34 had received donations totaling $228,000."

 

Wow...so...now we're buying votes?  Isn't there something illegal about this?

 

  

Editorial cartoon from Erik Devericks of the Seattle Times.

 

 

Hope!  Change!  Yes, We Can!

 

This is about all Barak Obama has to say, apparently.  Admittidly, I have not paid a ton of attention to the Democrat primary because I have always been solidly behind John McCain.  But, now I am starting to pay more attention.

 

A while back, I said that if my man were to lose the Republican nomination, I was leaning towards Obama becaue he would be able to bring the country together.  Consider that comment a mistake.  Seriously...the "experience" issue is really ringing out for me, now. 

 

I watched the MSNBC debate last week and I watched Tim Russert this morning.  Tim Russert made a comment that I thought was spot on and I wish it had happened.  At the debate, Russert asked a question about the Russian Presidential election and about the cacndidate that was likely (and, who is presently) the new President elect.  Hillary jumped in and answered and Obama basically said, I agree.  While watching, I was really hoping that question would go to Obama first.  The comment Russert made during his show was (paraphrasing), "What would have happened if Hillary had said, 'why don't you take that one, Barak?'"

 

Another thing that is disturbes me a bit is all the talk about abandoning NAFTA.  Here is an interesting article from the Seattle Times that talks about how, while it may currently be popular to bash NAFTA, the bashing may not be justified.  The advantages of NAFTA outweigh the disadvantages.

 

So...now that I am paying attention, I am intrigued.  The polls currently have Obama beating John McCain in the General election.  But, i wonder how true this will be if Obama is the nominee and he actually has to face a seasoned politician and patriot like John McCain.  If you tell John McCain that you are ready to negotiate in person with the President of Iran, he will be on that comment like white on a white guy. 

 

 

 

So...for Christmas, my mother (who loves me very much) got me a 16 game plan to the Seattle Mariners.  Two seasons ago, my cousin's (now ex) husband and I had a plan together.  It was a lot of fun, but I opted out of last year because I think Bill Bavasi has, so far, proven to be a wretched GM and I have been pissed at the M's for not firing his bearded bald behind (I love illiteration). 

 

Anyway...that proved to be a mistake as the M's had an above average season (which is saying a lot after 3 years at the bottom of a weak league).  This doesn't mean I am not convinced of Bavasi's Business Baccumen (what?), only that, after my M's have given me something to be excited about, once again, I will once again give them my (or my mother's) money.  The jury is still out for me on the Beddard trade.  I am worried that, for good pitching, we have given up, at least, some defense and at most, defense, offense, and a potential francise rock star in Adam Jones. 

 

But, this is about my morning.  So...with the season tickets, we are able to purchase Opening Day tickets in advance.  However, there is a large group of us going and my cousin and I are both only allowed 1 advance ticket per season ticket.  So...1 for each of us.  We would like to sit with out group, so the only other option was to snag tickets on the first day they become available.  Today.

 

I read in the paper that at 6:30, you could get in line for a number.  Beginning at 10:00, tickets would be sold to people in order of their numbers.  So...I planned to be at Safeco Field (which is only about 6 minutes from my house) at 6:30. 

 

What the paper neglected to mention is that the 6:30 number thing was only for the Mariners Team Stores.  I just so happens that there is a Team Store about 10 minutes away from my house.  But, I went to the field.  When I arrived at the field at 6:15, there was already a line.  And...there would be no giving out of numbers.  This was a "stand in line all morning" thing.  Ugh...rather than make the hike to the team store and get a high number, I decided to hang out. 

 

Did I mention that it was cold?  Well...it was.  But...KOMO Radio was there with free coffee and Krispy Kreme.  At 9:30, the literally laid out the Red Carpet for us and we all walked over to the ticket window (the line was formed in the garage).  The Mariners Moose was walking around giving high fives and taking picures.  The Moose always makes me smile.  

 

Other than being up much earlier than normal and standing in the cold, the only other thing that really grinds my gears is the scalpers.  They camped out in tents the night before.  And...even after we headed over to the ticket windows, it was about 45 minutes before they were finished stocking up on their Opening Day, Yankees and Red Sox tickets.  In fact, once I got there, I was a little disappointed in the seats I was able to optain for my group of 10.  I got the price range (View Box seating), but we are in Right Field.  Much farther than I wanted to be.  Already (same day) Ebay has 2 Opening Day seats off 3rd Base selling for $150. 

 

Oh...and, for the 4th of July Game, I will be sitting in the Hit it Here Cafe, for the first time.  Yay!

 

Anyhoo...I'm really excited for the new season.  It has the potentil to be awesome.  Of couse, it also has the potential to be a very low scoring season.  We'll see.

 

Go Mariners!