No more school = a lackluster me

If school were to end after this semester for me, I already know what would transpire.  I would become what I was before I began college; a lazy man-child with no direction or drive.

Before I arrived at Sac State, I was 21 and living with my parents in Vallejo, working at Kohl's doing multiple things for relatively low pay.  However, the worst part was that I was attending Solano Community College and felt like it was going nowhere.  I was lazy, sitting at home playing video games for hours on end.  

I had taken multiple classes and truly had no focus on where it would end up.  I thought I wanted to do computer science, but the boredom killed me.  Then I thought graphic design was up my alley, but my art wasn't up to snuff. 

I than took a journalism class that ended up changing my life.  I always thought my writing was good but wasn't sure how it would transfer over to journalism.  Thankfully it went well and my professor loved my stories.  That was all the push I needed to get off my butt and do something about my life. 

Working at Kohl's was not my ideal job.  Not that working at Kohl's is a bad job in general, just that it was not for me.  If anything it was adding to my lackadaisical lifestyle by working all day and coming home at night to just play games till 3 in the morning.  So having that class re energized me into making my self better. 

So i applied to Sac State and was accepted.  However, my plight was not finished.  I than had to take a math test because the math class that I took at community college was not enough.  I did the test, did very well and my college career, that I feel was the true start, began. 

Since being at Sac State, I have done well in classes, made wonderful friends and met the woman I now live with.  Sure, there have been ups and downs but what would college life be with out that?  We need those ups and downs to keep our life flowing after all.

I'm almost done with school to boot that having to finish now before it all ends would be a failure.  Getting into college is what has kept me on this good path, and kept me wanting to strive for more.  Prevailing through college can only mean one thing to me; I will succeed in something. 

Now I've succeeded in other things in my life, like my music career in high school and my soccer playing days.  However, this would be my greatest by far.  To me, having a successful college career means having a better life. 

I'm now 23 and the last two years have been the best of my life.  I still play video games a good deal, but I have put much more time and consideration into school and overall life work.  I even work at Kohl's again, the difference now is that I have other important things to work with.  So, no more school would mean no more fun, and I can't live with out fun.

The Wonders of Wondercon

Earlier this year i was treated with tickets to the Wondercon event in San Francisco, Ca at the Moscone Center.  Something I had been wanting to do for a very long time since I have been a comic enthusiast for quite some time. 

To start, Wondercon is a comic convention that has exhibits and sellers of all things related to comics.  Ranging from actual comics to movies and games; the show covers all.  Comic conventions started out as a way for comic lovers to join together and celebrate them.  It also helped that comic sellers could help spread comics around to everyone. 

So the question comes in, why attend a  comic convention?  Well, for one thing you don't have to be  a comic nerd to enjoy the show.  Comic conventions have evolved into a huge expo for games, sci fi, movies and comics. 

All major comic groups attend like Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image to show off the new things that will be coming throughout the year.  It also gives a chance for lesser known companies and publishers to get their comics out to the public.  It is also the best place to find old and new comics to add to ones collection.  Taking Wondercon for example, vendors from all over California come to the convention to sell their best product.

If comics aren't your fancy, then maybe games are.  Game companies show off their latest offerings to indulge the gamer crowd.  Capcom for example showed off Marvel Vs Capcom 3 before it came out at Wondercon.  They held a little tournament as well to give gamers a chance to try out the new game.  Keeping up with the comic theme however, Sony showed off games that coincided with the release of the movies "Thor" and "Captain America".

Conventions also have things for the film lover.  Wondercon had an exclusive Q and A with the actors of the movie "Immortals". There was also an exclusive signing with Saoirse Ronan, the main character from the movie "Hannah".  The main attraction however was the Green Lantern expo that occurred the first night of Wondercon. 

The entire cast was on hand to answer questions from fans and talk  about the movie.  Ryan Reynolds was the favorite star on display and he did not disappoint, answering all questions asked by fans and posing for pictures after.  He also held a signing to give all fans a chance to meet with him. 

Wondercon exceeded all my expectations.  The number of vendors alone was enough to tide me over.  So with the extras of celebrities and games, it was something more to enjoy.  So when you want too enjoy a plethora of entertainment from the entertainment world, give Wondercon a try. 

In 2012 Wondercon will be held in Anaheim in May while Moscone Center in San Francisco gets renovated.  It will return to San Francisco the following year. 

Dos Coyotes equals dos the fun

Dos Coyotes is a Southwest Mexican style restaurant located in the Sacramento and Davis area.  Providing authentic southwest fare coupled with new ideas creates a interesting blend of food to eat.

Starting with the decor, Dos Coyotes in the Arden Fair Mall looks like an upscale pueblo.  The glass resembles that of the glass seen in pictures and tile all over the floor and walls.  The mascot of the restaurant, which is two coyotes howling at the moon, is present almost everywhere outside and inside.  They also have southwest themed items like Native American statues. 

Now on to the food.  Dos Coyotes offers all kinds of authentic southwest style food.  From tacos filled with beef, steak, and grilled chicken to burritos with the same.  They also offer sedona chicken taquitos.  Sedona is an area is Arizona close to Phoenix which is known for it's red sandstone attractions.   What really makes Dos Coyotes special however, is its specials.

Each Dos Coyotes in a certain area serves it's own specials throughout the year.  They usually change every month to keep things fresh.  I decided to order two different specials since they were both unique.

The first I tried was the Albuquerque turkey club tacos that a friend of mine got.  Turkey club sandwiches are a staple in the American lunch diet.  So to infuse the turkey club into southwest cooking sounds great.  Thankfully it transitions well in taste as well.  The taco has turkey, lettuce, heirloom cherry tomatoes, avocado, bacon and a cherry lime dressing.  The ingredients all mix well together giving a nice smokey flavor to the taco.  It's also refreshing from the tomatoes and the dressing making this infusion a success.

On to the meal I tried was which was the green chile stew.  New Mexican green chilies that are fire roasted are stewed with chicken, garlic, tomatoes and potatoes.  There is also some hints of cumin and paprika in the dish to give a little extra spice.  As for the taste, the flavors blended together nicely and it was hardier than I expected.  It reminded me of the pot roast my mom use to make, so the chile stew definitely had a comforting feeling. 

Dos Coyotes also offers a fresh salsa bar to go with all meals.  From salsa fresca to extremely hot red salsa, it adds that extra flavor to all food.  They also have a unique kind of salsa that surprised me.  It is neon green in color and looks radioactive, however tastes great.  It has some pasilla and poblano peppers in it that mix with green pepper and jalapeno.  They also have red onion in it to give it a sweet bite.  The salsa is a great additions and I used it liberally.

The restaurant also had a great machine that alone would make me want to come back.  That machine is the soda machine.  It isn't your average soda machine, it has more than 30 different flavors within.  It not only has coke and sprite, but has different flavors of coke and sprite.  Taking sprite for example, the machine allows you to get either orange, grape, or strawberry flavors.

Dos Coyotes also offers alcoholic beverages like beer and freshly made margaritas. 

So if your in the mood for authentic southwest food that also offers new ways to cook it, than Dos Coyotes would be a good fit.  The price ranges from $5 - $10 per meal and most meals come with rice and black beans.  So if you come down don't worry about taking a few minutes to order because it will certainly take you a few minutes to select what beverage to pick as well.

 Photos taken from Dos Coyotes website.

The Walking Dead

What started out as a comic about post-apocalyptic life after a zombie infestation has now earned it's way to a TV show on AMC.  The Walking Dead has become a very popular comic and after last years first season, has now made it's way to the second season this year.

The Walking Dead is a comic that started in 2003 by writer Robert Kirkman for Image comics.  It's a story about main character Rick Grimes who awakes from a coma in a hospital in Kentucky to find his friends and family gone and the world over run with zombies.  Throughout the story he finds his family and forms a group of survivors which has many gruesome and trying adventures.  Each storyline in the comic lasts for six issues and is still running having it's 90th issue out last month.   

The TV show began in 2010 and aired with six episodes.  It followed most of the story lines from the comic however, it did add new characters and several new ideas and areas.  This is one of the reason why the show has been successful.  As Kirkman put it himself, "The show will follow some story lines from the comic however, it has developed into it's own organic creature and will continue to evolve on it's own."

That's enough about the comic though, what makes the show compelling as it's counterpart is that it isn't about zombies killing people, it's about the survivors and the human factor.  What i mean by human factor is that it allows us as viewers to put ourselves in the shoes of the characters and go "would I do that?".

With the world filled with mindless zombies, the characters have to figure out what to do next and fast.  It's a show that keeps the viewers on their feet because one never knows what is going to happen next.  For example, in this season so far, Rick's son Carl has been shot and another character Sophia, who is the daughter of Carol, has gone missing.  The fear for Rick is that everyone will become a zombie if killed, so the pressure to get Carl saved is high.

Seeing the characters interact with one another keeps the drama high as well and doesn't get bland.  With arguments over where to go and stay keeps the story fresh because living in one place keeps the constant fear of zombies breaking in close.  However, going outside and exposing themselves to the zombie epidemic is also unsafe.  It's these life decisions that make the show exciting.

One thing that always keeps us as people interested is venturing into the unknown, and that's the feeling the characters and viewers get.  It may be a bleak and sad unknown, but that fact that it's leading to something new and interesting keeps the suspense up.  Will it be a horde of zombies next or maybe more survivors?

Speaking of survivors, they also keep the show fresh.  Finding a new survivor may not always be good.  Having the unknown of will this survivor be helpful or is he or she here for personal gain is hard to determine.  These are the type of characters that are in the show and they keep the show interesting by plotting their own agendas. 

For people who loved the comic like me, there are some other things that will keep us watching.  The fact that it doesn't follow the comics exactly is great.  Instead of a carbon copy edition, we get a whole new way to watch the story unfold.  Taking Shane for example, he is Rick's police partner who dies in the 6th issue, the end of the first story arc.  However, in the show he is alive which is making for great story.  Him being alive is showing how crazy and deranged he has become because of the zombie epidemic. 

Even though the show has it's own writers, Kirkman helps out a good deal.  He is like a consultant for the show and has no problem with the writers changing things up.  The second season started on October 16 and is on it's way to the 4th episode.  It airs every Sunday at 9 pm and replays twice that same day.

Videogames and Comics

I've always been a fan of video games and comics.  Unfortunately, when combining the two, the results have been pretty much lack-luster. Thankfully a new trend has begun with game companies taking time in making comics into games and there have been some good games that have been created.

The first comic adaptation into video games began with a few Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo games.  These games included "X-Men" and "Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage" and basically consisted of going from one point to the next beating up everything in the path.  Not truly a problem, but the games were very basic and didn't offer much to the player other than beat that, and throw that.

The real issue began with a  called Superman 64.  This game is possibly the worst game ever made.  It came out on the Nintendo 64 in 1999 and consisted of Superman flying through rings in a virtual reality to save his friends.  It had nothing to do with being Superman and even his powers like heat vision and cold breath were pointless and novelties at best.  The game was a let down and a step back for comic video games and it gave off a bad vibe for comics and video games. 


The problem with bad games coming out was that the game companies developing them didn't spend enough time producing the games.  The games were rushed out with bad stories and boring game-play.  With bad development, there of course is going to be a bad game as the result.  With the release of Superman 64, no decent game came out representing comics.



Thankfully, improvement began with the game Spider-man 2, which was released with the movie of the same name, in 2004.  Most Spider-Man games before this game were not good at all.  They were limited in the scope of the game-play and there was very little story.  However, in Spider-Man 2, the story was pretty much the same story of the movie.  What really made the game better was the game-play.  Players could swing around Manhattan freely like Spider-Man does in the movie and comics.  This is the main fact that made the game good.




Now, there are comic video games out that are great.  The main examples are Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions and the Batman Arkham games: Arkham Asylum and Arkham City.  What made these games great is that they have their own original story and that the game-play is fresh and exciting.  In Shattered Dimensions, one plays as four different Spider-Mans from the different universes Marvel has created.  Each Spider-Man plays different which creates a fun gaming experience.

In the Arkham games for Batman, the game-play is varied. However, the main attraction is the amazing story that comes with the game.  Completely original, the story is engrossing and full of twists that keep the player wanting more.

So why are comic games starting to get better?  The answer is simple, time is being taken to make sure the game is great.  Both Arkham games were in development for about 3 years.  These gave Rocksteady , the developer of the games, plenty of time to get a great story and to fine tune the game-play.  Too many games are rushed out and many problems arise.

It's been shown that games are good because time was put into them.  Take games like Mass Effect, or Elder Scrolls, or even Gears of War.  These games were in development for many years and all that time was put to amazing detail.  Taking a look at Mass Effect, each player had their own individual dialogue for any situation the player took.  If you wanted to be an outlaw, the in game characters reacted to this and treated you accordingly.  One character would be scared to work with you or law abiding characters would react negatively.  This would not be possible unless BioWare, the company who developed Mass Effect, has taken the time to put that detail in.  

Companies seem to think that they have to come out with a game every year and a half, and it hurts the game and the company.  One, the game stinks and no one wants it, and two the company will lose money because no one wants it.

The other way to fix bad comic video games is that they need to stop coming out with a game for a movie.  The game is always rushed and it always is bad.  I don't think I have ever seen a good comic video-game based off a movie save for the one Spider-Man 2.  This hurts the stalk of comic video games and doesn't help at all.  Looking at the recently released Thor and Captain America games, these two were horrible additions.  Not only did they barely follow the plot of the movies, but the game play was limited to beat that, go to that area to find a missing artifact, or find and talk to this person.  In retrospect, I think the earlier games like X-Men were better.

Hopefully, companies will realize that there is great potential for comic video games.  Tons of story lines can be touched and different aspects can be used.  There just needs to be time put in to the game to make it worth while for not only the companies, but for the players.

Occupy Wall Street - An American Joy

I've never really known much about wall street other than shares getting traded and bells being rung.  However, witnessing the emergence of demonstrations in protest of big business has intrigued my curiosity deeply.  So i tried to get a deeper look into these protests and I definitely agree with their plight.

Most of the protestors have one message, they're tired of business execs getting bonuses while their companies get bailed out by government.  I'm with them on this.  It doesn't make sense that they are getting bailed out when there are millions of regular people and families that are worse off. 

The excuse companies have is because they need their product to stay so they can produce for the American public.  I can't disagree with that notion, but isn't that what capitalism is?  If you have a product and it goes belly up, then you lose. 

Big business doesn't want govenrment control, yet they claim it's what the government is meant to do.  So when i see these people making a stand to these corporations, it puts a smile on my face.  This is what being an American is all about.

Seeing people of all race and age gather together for one goal is spectacular.  It shows that no matter what, something can still unify this nation.  It's also not just the lower class but the middle class as well.  Both sides gathering together to show the top 1% that we mean business. 

I'm not willing to go as far as to say that big business has bought congress and that's why they get the bail outs.  I'm not that cynical in my life yet.  However, I do feel that the corporations are getting off too easily. 

With tons of families suffering in the recession, no one is here to bail them out.  The "Daily Show" on comedy central did it best.  A skit that involved a family that was down on it's luck.  The comedians convinced them to turn themselves into a company so that they could apply for government bail out bonds.  In the end it didn't work but it was a great satire of just how odd the system is. 

To the government, families don't deserve money even when it isn't their fault that we are in this mess.  On the other hand, corporations who got themselves into this mess get a freebie.  So it makes me wonder if these protests shouldn't just be for the corporations but the government agencies that got them out of this mess.  However, this is an argument for another time.

The protests that are going on right now though are what we need as a country.  We need to have pride in the fact that we won't stand for this injustice any longer.  Hopefully we keep occupying wall street until something is done.  

Pay to play

For years now, gamers have been able to play games online with one another for a small price or free.  Microsoft's Xbox 360 system uses Xbox Live which is $60 a year or for Playstation owners, they get to play online for free.  However, a new trend with major game companies such as Electronic Arts and Activision are now beginning to usher in a new era of paying to play each game individually in what seems to be an effort to battle renting and used games.

To start, a little history to better understand pay to play.  The first games to do this were massively multiplayer online role playing games(MMORPG).  These are games that let people assume a character of their own creation and essentially lead a new live through the game.  The price per month for these games were around $10 - $15 a month.  This price was understandable as well since multiple servers has to be running continuously and most of games have massive content in them.  So having to pay to keep those up and to help update the game makes sense.

Now EA is doing something similar by packaging games with a special code that allows people who play those games free access to online content.  Whether the game is a single or multiple player game, it comes with the code.  This doesn't hurt people who buy the game, but it does hurt people who rent it or buy it used.  Gamers who decide to buy their game used or rent it have to pay an extra $15 to access that new content.  They also have to pay for the content it's self which adds up. 

Why is EA doing this one might ask?  Well the speculation is that EA feels it is losing money when people rent or buy games used.  There is no proof that this is true, however EA believes it is.  The reason for this is because with less people buying the game new equals less money.  Again, there is no solid statistics to back up this claim.

The problem is that people who rent or buy used are penalized.  Why should gamers who opt for a cheaper choice still have to pay?  Many gamers don't want to buy a game because they know they won't keep it for long.  I know when I buy a single player gamer, i usually buy it used or rent it because theres no replay value in many single player games.  Play the story and then I'm done with it. 

The simple fix for this is easy, get rid of it.  EA is only hurting there consumers by telling them to buy new by hurting those that don't.  If EA is hurting, though i feel it is VERY small, then they should bite the bullet.  Doing this in the long run should help them gain new customers than alienate current customers.

This code for buying a new game also affects multiplayer games.  The fix for this is easier and game companies should follow what Mortal Kombat 9 is doing.  If one buys the game used or rents it, there is an option for a two day free trial.  Giving 48 hours of a trial is more than enough time to see if the online component is worth the price. 

 I'm not against paying to play a game.  If it helps the overall experience and keeps the game fresh, then more to it.  Game companies should be willing to help their customers rather then make it harder.  According to an article in Electronic Gaming Monthly, EA inferred that another reason to this change was because they feel game stores like GameStop are reaping massive amounts of money from the used game business.  To battle with another company over profits is fine, but not when this many gamers are the casualties. 

The problem with DLC

Down loadable content has become a mainstay in video games lately.  With single player games adding new levels or accessories and multiplayer games adding new maps to play on and new modes to play with friends.  However, DLC seems to be heading in a different direction.  Instead of bringing new premium content to make a game better, it seems to bring over priced mediocre content.

To start, I'll give a little history into DLC.  Since the start of video games back in the late 80s and all throughout the 90s, gamers always wanted more content from a game.  Whether they beat it and wanted more levels or just wanted any kind of new content instead of having to wait for a sequel.

This idea became plausible after the Sega Dreamcast introduced online play.  In a matter of a few years DLC finally came true after adding new maps to an Xbox game Halo 2.  Gamers were overjoyed with the fact that they could now play new content on a game that has been out for a while and only pay $10 instead of having to get a whole new game.

DLC has made games more enjoyable and has changed the ways in which games are made.  Unfortunately, some of these changes have not been good and in fact have made it unsatisfying in many ways.

The first problem is the mediocrity of the content itself.  The first few games that offered DLC made huge additions to the experience.  Like with Halo 2, it added quite a few maps and balanced the game play.  The last few games to release content have left this ideal behind.

Call of Duty: World at War was released in 2010.  It is part of the popular franchise Call of Duty which has many games and a huge following.  It had it's first DLC come out a month after the game was released.  The content that was added was 3 new multiplayer maps at a price of $15.  The problem with this is it's only 3 new maps with a hefty price tag.  The game itself cost $60 plus tax and it came with a 6 hour single player campaign, cooperative multiplayer mode and 3 different competitive multiplayer modes with 10 maps.  That's quite a bit of content for that price, which begs the question, how is only 3 maps worth the $15?

The second problem with this is now game companies are announcing DLC content that is going to come out a few days after the games release.  Gears of War 3 is one of the most anticipated games coming out this month.  However, Epic games, the company creating the game, has already announced new maps and content to be released as DLC after the launch of the game.  This only makes me wonder why is this content not in the game if it is being released shortly after the game is released.

What this does is make it harder for gamers content wise an in our wallets.  Content speaking, it makes the game different from the get go.  It's also hard to play when half the people get the download and half don't, making it harder to get matches since not everyone is on the same content.  The damage on our wallets isn't good either.  The more content that comes out builds up costing more than $100.

DLC has almost become a double-edged sword.  On the one hand, it's great that we as gamers are now rewarded with more things in a game.  On the other hand, what started a big cheap add ons has now evolved into little expensive packs that may not be worth it.  We can always say no to these extensions but if one does, then one is left behind.  There isn't a quick fix to this problem, but it feels that this trend is not going to end soon.

Bonds formed from school

Thinking about my last 3 years in college and realizing that this is my final year, I've been thinking what has been the best part of it.  I've gained immense knowledge and found my passion for a job i want too pursue.  However, the best part has truly been the bonds i have formed with not only friends that will help me later in life but also the professors. 

Starting in the Fall of 2009, i had no idea what to expect.  A few of my friends from High School were also going to school here but i had no classes with them.  However, that first day i met some very nice people.  I didn't become friends with them, but the fact that everyone was so nice and didn't keep to themselves made me love it here. 

After a few weeks i made some very interesting friends in a few of my classes.  I was able to learn more because we would work together and further our knowledge.  The most important bond i made though was with my now girl friend.  It helps that she is a communications major which goes hand in hand with my journalism major.  This was my first bond with someone that truly helped me in my major.  She was already in the major for a few semesters so having someone who knew the building and the teachers helped greatly. 

After a few more semesters i started taking core journalism classes.  This is where i formed the most bonds.  Pretty much every class since than i have had at least 2 or 3 people i know in all my classes.  These friends i have made not only make the classes more fun but they make it easier.  I like going to class because i get to enjoy my time there being with people i like.  I also know I can rely on these friends after school.  It's connections like this that make college the best. 

The same goes for the professors.  My Digital Media professor, Dr. Bonilla has helped me tremendously.  I'm not the most computer savvy person around, but after taking a course with him, I feel like a journeyman rather than an amateur.  I have had three journalism professors and i wouldn't change them for anything.  My adviser is also someone i know i can depend on in and outside of school.  I have made big strides in my writing and reporting thanks to her. 

College is great for many things, whether it be a degree or to get a good job after.  However, making these kinds of friendships and bonds make the experience a great one.  What also makes it great is that making these bonds is somewhat hidden.  When we hear about college in high school, we are told that it's too learn about a subject and use that to get a job.  That we are also to be on our own for 4 or 5 years learning to become adults.  The true value of all this is that we learn too make friends and bonds to help us achieve adulthood. 

These bonds will help and be there for anyone forever.  Jokes of best friends forever can be thrown around, but it is the truth.  Knowing that when i jump in the foray of the journalism job market that i will have people to rely on to help me found a job or just help me period is amazing.  This is what makes college great and it truly is the best part of being a college student.

First week back to school

       I traveled a different path to the start of school this year by deciding to live with my girlfriend Brittany.  I should also mention that she doesn't have a license and that public transportation after 5 pm is unacceptable.  Her reasoning for this is because she feels she will get attacked since It's darker outside.
     
What made it a little more difficult was that we also were going to be working as temps at the Hornet Bookstore.  I also have a job at Kohls so having to ferry her to school  work and then also myself to both jobs and school made it hectic.  Having to wake up 2 hours before i usually do to take her to school wasn't fun and it was something I'm not use to for the school year.  I usually take classes that start around 10 or 11 to give me ample time to get ready and be awake for school.  This year however, Brittany had work twice at 9 am so having to wake up around 7:30 was not fun.  Granted i do have a class at 9 am but that is only one day out of the week.

        

Now don't get me wrong, i love my girlfriend deeply, It's why i moved in with her.  I'm not mad or bothered that i have to do this, it has just created extra strain on me when there already is enough pressure on me the first week.  

        

This pressure for the first week also feels double since i now feel it from Brittany.  When i lived with room mates the past two years, even though i would listen to them talk about their first week It never really affected me.  Now living with someone who i share many things with, i also share that aspect of the first week pressure.  I'm usually a very chill and relaxed person.  I rarely get agitated or nervous.  However, Brittany can be the opposite at times.  It is not bad, in fact i respect the fact that she gets stressed and handles it well.  So having to deal with her stress was new but i feel i handled it well. 

The hardest day of the week was easily the first day.  I had to take Brittany to work at nine, then had class at 12.  I then had work at three at the bookstore.  This was the first day of rush so there were many students buying books.  I then had work at Kohls 7 to 10:30 but since It was a closing shift, i ended up getting off at around 11.  It was a very long and tiring day but i stayed positive and made it through.

        

I love all my classes and i know all my teachers and thankfully they all like me back.  It definitely took away any nervousness i might have had.  It also helped me deal with work which actually made work fun.  The best part of all this is that in one more week, our temp jobs end and i will finally get some well deserved sleep.