GREAT GAME!

So last night I finally faced off against Gannon for the first time (well, it IS "Link to the PAST"). And all I can say is that I WISH there were a Master Game set up in this cartridge because I would play it almost immediately (yes, even with this challenge going on). SPOILERS ABOUND AHEAD.

So after getting to the last door of Gannon's tower, I decided to go straight in. After getting my butt almost handed to me, I finally prevailed only to see Gannon's spirit leave his form and go elsewhere. A flute in the distance called to the bird which took me to the pyramid in the Dark World. This is where I saved and made my last two wishes.

: Ok Genie. Wakey Wakey! I am almost at the end, but wish to have a bit more of a 'completed inventory' than I do now.

: Ok. Lay it on me, mah main Jew ah Jewenstein.

: Ok. My second wish is to waitaminute... did you just call me "Jew ah Jewenstein"?

: .... sorry. Um... it sounded clever in the lamp.

: Second wish - To know where that 4th bottle is. Third wish is to know where the remaining 5 pieces of heart are.

: I shall tell you in verse - (ahem)

The bottle you seek is in the dark lands
Where the smithies would be, if you will,
The chest can't be opened, so take it to light
The silent man sits in the desert.

Go to GameFaqs, for there you will find
a list of the hearts.


: Wow... that didn't even rhyme.

: ... yeah, I'm not very good at poetry.

So after getting the bottle and one more piece of heart (and not wanting to spend too much time searching for the others) I go forth and fight Gannon. Emerging victorious (after three attempts) I smiled as the credits ran pleased that all was right in the world, and enjoying the music greatly.

For those of you in the know, my final stats were:
Total Games Played: 048 (1, 2, 3)
Life Hearts: 19
Sword: 4
REVIEW:
That I have never played this game before is a real tragedy as this is surely one of the best games I have ever played. Nintendo went back to a plan that works with A Link To The Past after the previous Zelda II game.

The graphics are truly reminiscent of what majesty the Super Nintendo system brought to the world. Crisp colors and clever graphics make for a great game. The animation is pleasant and never confusing.

The game world is well mapped out to give a challenge to both the novice and the seasoned gamer. There is just enough puzzle in the world to have a youngster make it through (more-so than the first and second titles) and the addition of the world map made it easier still. But don't think that knowing where things were made the difficulty of getting there any cake-walk. The difficulty still forces those grey matter cells to pump furiously as you try to determine how to proceed. A terrific challenge.

Then we get into the storyline which is very detailed for a game that is not really an RPG. The history is deep enough so you feel bad when things happen to the townsfolk, but distances its self enough so that you don't feel like you have to follow too much of a path (harkening back to the first Zelda game's non-linear play).

As endings go, this was a truly satisfying event for me. Usually, the titles just pop up and that's it. But the game drew you into the ending and resolved many things that were just floating about. Then, when the credits did roll, the music was haunting and pleasant. A truly enchanting experience.

So, for giving me so much for my time and making me wish it never ended, I give The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past five Disco Warios!

Now, I start the fourth game of the series, this time on hand-held! The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening came out in 1993 on the GameBoy Color to an audience ready for more fun. Not being satisfied with being repetitive, the gameplay changed slightly and more features were added. I am now on my way to play the fourth game in this incredible series.

Where I am with "The Project"

Ok. We have a name for the video-podcast-show-thingy Max and I are working on.

The Ludus Challenge.

We're going through the last parts of figuring out how everything works, how to do the filming (what works... what doesn't), and how to edit them into a ~15 minute show.

We are both hoping that our first show will be posted between the end of February and the second week of March. Then, we would like to do one every two weeks.

Now, Max is leaving for two months to spend a WONDERFUL time in Europe where he may attend a school for art (but THAT won't happen for a while) so there may be some time that we won't do any episodes (since the camera is his). BUT we will hopefully get 3 (maybe 4) shows SHOT before he takes off... so that's promising.

Tonight we will go over some of the editing stuff and how we can make this work with the programs we have not only for him, but at my house as well (for when he's gone). We will attempt to make the test we have recorded work and get ready for a real shoot very very soon.

Our first game? Castlevania for the NES. It is a game I have never played before (yeah... I know I know... stop looking at me like that), and I think it's a groovy start for our show.

I'm also hoping to have an 'Import Corner' section that is a 3-4 minute 'report' of sorts and a 'About the Town' section where people suggest little video game dives (not like Mr. Biggs, but like a penny arcade place along the lines of a mom-&-pop place that has games).

HEY! Email me with some suggestions of places I can go. They can be out of town up to Boulder, Fort Collins, or Pueblo if need be. Suggest small video game stores, out-of-the-way arcades... your basic 'hidden treasures'. Be sure to send me detailed directions as well. It'll be fun.

Link to the Past: 13 Hours 15 Minutes

I got the 7th dungeon down, the princesses unlocked the magical barrier, I have 18 and 3/4 hearts, 3 bottles filled with red healing potion, silver arrows, a level 4 sword, red armour, and two wishes left...

...let's roll.

Link to the Past: 8 Hours 50 Minutes

Just two hours last night and I got so much accomplished!

I keep on trying to think of how young you would be to enjoy the game and find the secrets hidden within. To tell you the truth, it's actually pretty challenging to figure the tasks ahead and what to do. From playing the first game I can figure out where hidden things may be... but kids may have a tough time ahead of them. There's still so much to do in the game, but MAN does it get challenging.

Luckilly I have only used one wish (and even THAT I should have searched harder) and I am working my way into the sixth dungeon. One more up in the mountains and it's on to the last battle (I am assuming).

I cannot tell you all enough how much I like this game. Please, for the love of Link, if you have a Wii and points for the virtual console... BUY THIS GAME! You will not regret the 800 points.

The Project....

Ok, let me fill you in on what exactly it is... the long way 'round:

There is a Japanese TV video-gaming show called "GameCenter CX". They got a comedian who has not really played video games, give him a retro game (a game everyone loves) and set him in front of a bunch of cameras. He has 24 hours for most games (shot in two runs of 12 hours over 2 days). Now, they cut and paste the thing to run within a 1 hour show... so a lot is cut out.

But the thing is that it's very interesting to watch! He is a funny guy and it's exciting to watch him try to beat something. I find myself wanting to yell out "Left! Left! Nono! Now right! RIGHT!" The producers cut it so that you can see how he gets by tough areas in a game and helps him when he needs help. They shoot it like he's part of a company called 'GameCenter CX' and when he wins several games in a row... they 'promote' him. It's pretty fun.

So I was just telling Max one day how it would be cool for them to bring it to the USA. Then I started telling him about all the games that 'I' haven't played but own... and about my Zelda Challenge. So, the next day, he suggested that we actually DO a series where I play a game I have never played and we record and cut it to fit within a 15 minute (or so) video-podcast.

So recently we recorded me playing a game called Abe's Oddysee, but the audio and video didn't come out like we had planned. So we're going to re-shoot later on using a different game and see how that goes. We'll be shooting some test-runs so we can get better used to the equipment and programs we're using.

Anyways... that's what this project is. In the meantime, here are some stills Max took from the shoot so we can prove we're capable of making dreams come true (laughs).
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Yes, Derek, we will have a product (laughs)

Link to the Past: 6 Hours 50 Minutes

I didn't get much play time in last night for the third of this marvelous series, but I got a lot accomplished. The third and fourth dungeons have been cleared and their bosses defeated. Now, it's on to the fifth dungeon to rescue another princess.

The storyline is interesting as each princess tells her own tale. Knowing that this was the prequel makes the story that much more exciting. I probably won't be able to do too much tonight (a project that I am working on... that you'll hopefully see in a week or so) but I plan to take out dungeons 5, 6, and possibly 7 before Friday.

Also, Advanced Media Network Wii has a groovy article on the "evolution" of Zelda. Worth a look-see. It's exciting to see that I'm playing Zelda at a time that it is getting a resurgence in popularity.

Also, you can now get the Game & Watch Legend of Zelda game for your keychain!

Kome Kome Club

Ah... the Kome Kome Club. They were the first band from Japan that I really fell for their sounds. Well, what do you know? I found some videos of them on YouTube. Surprise sur-frickin-prise.

PLEASE enjoy their theatrical yet enjoyable songs. I dare you not to smile!

FUNK FUJIYAMA (where they make fun of gaijin coming to Japan)


WELL COME 2 (one of their more recent projects)


GATCHAMAN THEME


II YO (Another recent one... they still have it)

Link to the Past: 30 minutes

So I didn't get to play much last night, but what I did play was actually pretty impressive. I really got excited seeing what I interpret to be the Legend of Zelda on SNES. I mean literally the Legend of Zelda. There are so many similarities that I completely forgot about Zelda II. THIS is how Zelda II should have been.

I'm excited to play some more this weekend. Until then... enjoy this ukulele song... which is different than the one on the JewWario page.

Game Over

No continue, no nothing. I can't make it to the 7th palace. There are too many enemies in between the River Demon and the 7th palace. Also, the bit where if you die then you re-start all the way back at the Princess Zelda is asinine.

So, here's my review.

I have to say that the RPG portion of this game was really good. I enjoyed looking for the hints, clues, and hidden things in the villages and I think that this is really one of the strong points of the game especially considering that this game was pre-Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. Like its predecessor, you could find almost everything in the game by the clues that the villagers gave to you. Sometimes you had to search for hidden villagers and had to probe unwilling people for information by bugging them, but the entirety of the quest rested on their information.

The graphics are well done and look better than you would expect. One can definitely see how the Nintendo graphics people were trying to stretch the boundaries and make a game that looked better than 1984-85 games.

It is in "combat balance" that the game fails miserably. To begin with, the character is much too weak and the enemies much too powerful to start out. As you gain experience your skills improve, but not at a fast enough rate. If one were to make their attack skill an '8' (the maximum) then the game becomes more even in that the bosses become a more viable challenge (tough but not broken) and the palace and overworld enemies become more like they were in the first Zelda.

The end of the game is where that ends. Enemies on the way to the palace become numerous and plentiful. The arrangement of the floating eyes and the lava pitfalls are just so that treading over them becomes the hardest task in the game. This is where I died and gave up. Killing the floating eyes in this area was a mute task in that they re-generated each new platform jump. Their unpredictable up and down swagger prevented me from anticipating when they would change directions and hit me. Often I would just turn into a faerie to try to avoid them, but one can only do that so many times before running out of magic points (even with a full 8 containers).

Had this game stuck with a continue where you just re-started at the last screen/palace/town you visited, then this would be a much different review. A 'save point' area would even be nice... for even then would the combat problems would not be so bad. But re-starting from the sleeping Zelda (as lovely as she is) is just not a good penalty for dying 3 times.

If you were given the game for free, accept it kindly and enjoy it. It's a struggle, but it really does have some fun points in it. If it is ever offered on the Wii virtual console, save your $5 and purchase the first game instead.

I hate to have this game on my "Game Over" list, but there you have it. Perhaps I can come back to it after a while and try to gain an appreciation for it, but until then I have better games to play.

For giving me some good RPG play, but failing in combat I give Zelda II: Adventure of Link 2 fat Warios.

But now I can focus on the next game in the series: Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the Super Nintendo. This game came out in 1991 and has been lauded as one of the best games not only in the Zelda series, but for the Super Nintendo.

Legend of Zelda Review

I realized that I didn't review this game after I beat it last week... so here you go.

I really enjoyed this NES classic game. It really has earned my respect in that not only has it withstood the test of time, but is an 8-bit title that I would more than be willing to re-play again.

The strategy involved is just enough to make a novice and children think and to make seasoned gamers smirk in it's subtle complexity. It is neither tough nor easy. It is not condescending nor overpowering. It's just right.

Almost all of the hidden parts of the game are hinted at somewhere either in the game manual or in the game its self. Each dungeon has at least one old man who gives good advice and tips on either how to proceed or how to approach an upcoming battle.

The graphics did slow down occasionally on my Nintendo Entertainment System, but simply because it was pushing the limits of the NES processor. It didn't affect game play in a bad way for too long and even gave me time to pause to take a breather and think about the situation.

Thinking. That's this game's strong point. It really paved the way for future story-telling adventure games in that thinking about maps, situations, and enemies was always going on. At no time did I feel like I could coast through a dungeon without having a plan of attack.

Where the game became a bit frustrating was when some dungeons were hidden without having definitive clues on how to reach them. The instruction manual suggests some tactics to searching for these things, but having to tear up area after area just to find a door is a bit time consuming... and I can see where a child may become bored quickly. Also, there was no (that I could find) trick to fighting Ganon. No area in the game (that I could find) spoke of it. Later on while perusing FAQs I found that no area spoke of the kind-of randomness needed to defeating this last boss. This is upsetting as the game gave so many wonderful clues, but forgot this one.

For a wonderful game that I will not soon forget, I give the Legend of Zelda four Strong Warios.

Idea from the Penn Jillette Show Jan 19th

Hi my name is Justin Spencer Carmical, and I just died.

I have made many mistakes in my life, and was often ignorant of many friends that I had. I hated myself as well as other people. I never had an original thought in my life, and never did everything I should have. I cursed like a sailor, drank too much, and kept grudges for far too long.

But I never loved any woman more than my wife Jennifer, and I spent the last part of my life enjoying our time together. While I was alive she spent more time making me happy than she should have and, for that, she is a saint.

Mourn me, but not for too long... you have your own lives to enjoy.

"I can't be sure where I'm headed after death,
To Heaven, Hell, or beyond to that Great Vast.
But if I can I would like to meet my Maker,
There's one or two things I'd sure like to ask"

Zelda II: 17 Hours

Ok. I take it back. This game is just too tough to enjoy normally. You have to be a Zelda Fan-Boi to appreciate it.

Yeah, you guessed right, it got tougher on me all of a sudden... and it is really starting to get annoying... and that's a shame.

This game has so much to offer, and yet the three-life rule is really getting in the way of me enjoying this until the end. But this is just me griping... but i'm getting near my wit's end. So there. Rubbing lamp...

: "Yeees?"

: "(Sigh) I'm really getting frustrated with this game... I'd like a map of the seventh palace so I just get this game over with."

: "Is that an official wish?"

: "Don't piss me off, Genie! Just give me the F@*$&% MAP!"

: "Woah! Woah! Woah! Easy there Jew-dude... just crankin' yer chain. Wow. This game has really aged you."

: "What? Really? You... you think so?"

: "Yeah, dude. You've looked better..."

: "..."

: "Look... here's the map. Wait a bit before your next wish... k? Wish Granted."

Did it make you cry?

So I was just thinking about Final Fantasy 2 (for the SNES) where the twins turned themselves to stone to save you. That was really the first time that I ever teared-up playing a video game. I can remember watching the opening credits to Kingdom Hearts II and tearing up as well.

So here's the question of the week: Has a video game ever made you tear-up/cry for happiness or sadness?

Zelda II: 15 Hours

"Almost there..."
"Stay on target..."

So I have gotten to the sixth palace after the majority of my time was just finding the damn thing! Two hours of searching for the Hidden town of Kasuto and the 6th palace... and 20 minutes of palace mapping.

Also, my copy of the SNES classic "A Link To The Past" arrived in the mail last night... just as it was released on the Wii virtual console. So far, in both Japan and the USA, the first three Zelda games have made it to the Wii. I would strongly recommend picking up the first for it if you don't have an NES. And when Zelda II comes out... yeah... I might suggest it.

I got 'tagged'

A - Available/Single or Taken? Taken.
B - Best Friend? Jennifer (my wife), Forrest Oates, and Max Rubenacher.
C - Cake or pie? Pie.
D - Drink Of Choice? Linenkugel's Berry Weiss.
E - Essential Item You Use Everyday? Nintendo DS. YEAH BOII!
F - Favourite Color? Light blue.
G - Gummy Bears or Worms? Gummy Bears. Worms crawl in the dirt.
H - Hometown? Colorado Springs, CO
I - Indulgence? Video Games.
J - January or February? January
K - Kids & Their Names? None.
L - Life is Incomplete Without? music
M - Marriage date? June 27th 2004
N - Number of Siblings? I'm an only-child.
O - Oranges or Apples? Oranges... but only just.
P - Phobias/Fears? Spiders and bugs.
Q - Favorite (movie) Quote?
R - Reason to Smile? A good beer.
S - Season? Spring.
T - Tag 3 people? No thank you.
U - Unknown Fact About Me? JEEZ! Another one? crap. Um... I had a large mole on the tip of my nose removed in 1995. You can still see the 'dent' if you look close enough.
V - Vegetable you don't like? Pickled beets.
W - Worst Habit? Burping/farting and forgetting to excuse myself.
X - X-rays You've Had? For my right shoulder when I fractured it in 2001.
Y - Your Favorite Food? Toughie. I would say I am still looking for the world's best country fried steak. Right now, Mason Jar has my pick.
Z Zodiac sign? Aries.

Zelda II: 12 Hours 40 Minutes

Ok. I must say that this game is not that bad. Now, let me justify that claim.

The bugger of this game is the fighting and leveling up system. I felt like I had to get to a 6 attack just to have a chance at killing anything. Later on, I found a great leveling up place in the East continent and got to all '8' stats... and I feel like NOW i'm able to enjoy the game... like it's a challenge now and not a nightmare.

It's a shame that a game should feel too tough for so long. Even 7 hours into it I felt like I needed to crush the game in my hands. Bleh.

But now, I'm starting to get into the groove of things and that I can appreciate the game for how it was intended to be. And even at the maximum of an 8 attack doesn't overpower you over the bosses. They're still quite the challenge, and it's still frustrating... but a good frustrating now, and not the ARGH frustrating it was.

I'm making notes like mad, drew a map of the maze-island, and have been logging paths through the palaces. So far, I have mapped the fifth palace and am set to fight its boss tonight. After that, there's one palace left and the final foe (I think).

So far, the first two games have been really enjoyable but kinda' lax on storyline. But, then again, they were NES games before Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy made their marks. Yes, a good frustrating indeed.

Zelda Challenge Rules 2007

Ok, this has been pretty much made up as I went along... so let's get the ground rules straight here just in case anyone else wants to try this challenge.

RULES
1) Play the Zelda games in order shown below in the time limits given:
• The Legend of Zelda (NES) (24 hours)
• The Adventure of Link (NES) (24 hours)
• A Link to the Past (SNES) (24 hours)
• (optional) The Ancient Stone Tablets (PC) (4 hours)
• Link's Awakening (GB) (24 hours)
• Ocarina of Time (N64) (36 hours)
• Majora's Mask (N64) (36 hours)
• Oracle of Ages & Seasons (GBC/GBA) (24 hours each)
• Four Swords Adventures (GCN) (36 hours)
• The Wind Waker (GCN) (48 hours)
• The Minish Cap (GBA) (24 hours)
• Twilight Princess (Wii) (48 hours)
Addendum 1: There is no need to 100% the games, just to complete them.

2) Once finished with a game, on your blog, post a picture of the end screen and you and record the time from beginning to end.

3) If possible, you must play them on the original system they came out on. Barring that, they must be played on the second system. Emulators are last-ditch.

4) You get one 'Continue' for the entire challenge. If a game is not completed in the time required, the player may use their 'Continue' and gain an additional 12 hours and one 'wish' for that game only. Any un-used time from the 'Continue' is lost.

5) You get the option to use three 'Wishes' per game. A single 'Wish' consists of a point in the right direction, the area of an item/entrance, or the map of a single dungeon. It is suggested that your 'Wish' answers be given to you by a non-challenge participant.
Addendum 1: Finishing a game with little to no used 'Wishes' is ideal.
Addendum 2: Using two 'Wishes' at the same time would give someone the equivalent of half an over-world map with item locations.
Addendum 3: Three 'Wishes' at the same time would be the equivalent of an itinerary for completing the game or a full over-world map with hints.
Addendum 4: Unused 'Wishes' do not 'transfer' to other games.
Addendum 5: Once all three 'Wishes' for a game are used up, no more hints can be requested from any source.

Monday MySpace Music // Zelda Challenge

Benjamin Bear.

Not too bad. Listen to 'oh crap vampires'.

Also, I wanted to thank Mike and Bill for wondering about the Zelda Challenge move. I didn't know people actually cared! So, I'll be posting Zelda Challenge again both here and on JewWario. Thanks, guys. Glad to know that I'm not boring when I post that stuff (laughs).

True 'Nuff

Moving the Challenge...

So I'm moving the Zelda Challenge page to my JewWario Blog. I'm gonna keep this my normal blog.

Great new music.

More songs and an interview here at NPR.

And a sweet love song here. Gawd, I almost cry every time I hear it.

Oh, ROCKY! What a "drag"!

Drag as in "queen". Yup, I went to the Rocky Horror Picture Show this previous Saturday night with my wife and my two friends Stephan and Dale. We had a really good time.

See, this was the 20th year that my friend John Eberhardt had been doing the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and ever since we got back in touch with each other mid-last year I had been meaning to go. Well, now was a great reason to celebrate.

So I got myself a frock at Goodwill, some stockings, some sensible shoes, I had Dale's wife Karen do my makeup... and out we went (the entire time that Karen was doing my makeup, Jen kept on saying "My pretty Justin"... groan).

Stephan, Dale, and my wife both got into the groove as well and went dressed up just in fun outfits. That's the thing about Rocky... you don't have to dress a specific way... just outrageous.

And how was the night for John's 20th anniversary? He was disappointed that his wife and girlfriend (surprised the hell outta me) didn't want to come... but he was REALLY happy that I showed up. He had a fun beginning act before the show started and really enjoyed himself and damn those who thought it went too long.

We'll have to go again sometime soon. Anyone want to come (to the show) with us?

Click the images for bigger... images. John is the one in the middle of the chaos mob with the microphone and the blue eye makeup.

Resolutions

Ah... the resolutions of the new year. To resolve to do something. I always fail. But let's see if I can keep a few...

* I will try to breathe this year. Breathing is good.

* I will play some groovy and not so groovy games this year.

* I will love my wife.

* No really.... I will love my wife.

* I will eat food this year. Hopefully it will be good for me.

* I will try not to hurt myself mentally or physically (this is actually a toughie).

* I will read 20 books this year (inspired by Heather's 111 last year).

* I will try to pay more attention to our dogs (I'm not really a pet-person).

What are your resolutions?

JewWario

Yup, changing the ol' MySpace name to JewWario.

This is just because I got tired of people mis-pronouncing Noriaki Kakyouin. Eh, that's the only reason. Can't change the address for it (sigh) but I can change the name. So there. Pttthhht. :P

Children

Last night one of my best friends from high school (Mike Stephens) called me and we got to talking about life since we last saw each other in 1989. I asked him about having kids, and he's a happy dad. He then asked me the question that I have been getting a lot lately: "[When] Are you planning on having kids?"

I then gave my typical reply: "I don't think I would be a good dad."

Then, as expected, I got the reply of: "You'd be a great dad."

My then (usual) reply was: "No, I really don't think I would."

My normal mindset (excuse) was usually tied to a 'fear'. Either of genes (Jen and I are manic depressive and that will pass on... I really don't wish that on ANYONE), or discipline (I get angry very quick and am afraid I might hurt them), or mutations (I'm so very afraid of getting a child that's deaf or has down-syndrome, or worse), and even the fact that I can take about 5 hours MAX around children before I have the urge to 'boot one to the head'. Children crying, screaming, making noise angers me. I really can't stand it. It makes me anxious and, if sustained, makes me go into a 'panic attack'. People say things like "Oh, it's different when it's your own children"... I work on court cases every day and, I can assure you, seeing instances of hurting children every day, it is most certainly not.

But today, for some reason, I began to think about the REAL reason why I don't think I would be a good dad... and it's just a few words: "I'm not ready to give up my freedom."

Mike, Collin... in fact all my friends with children have all spoken about how difficult it is to do things with children in tow (if they do things at all). I think I'm a bit selfish right now in that I am happy with where I am and what I am doing and that I don't want to get rid of that freedom. I just grew up myself... why do I want to have a kid?

I really don't want to make my wife sad. I really don't. Every time someone brings up 'children' I avoid looking at her sad and disappointed gaze at the floor. She knows that I would be happy with just it being us for our lifetimes... I don't need a child in my life. I don't have the wanting to procreate. I don't feel that making a baby would fulfill some part of me. But I know that she wants a child, and I know that she has half-heartedly given up on me wanting one.

Hurting her this way kills me a bit every time I think about it.

This is my blog, and I don't write this to upset her (as she reads this every so often) or to instigate anything. It has been on my mind recently, and I just feel the need to 'vent'. Feel free to post comments if you wish.

Musical MySpace Monday... plus one

Lorito Opens His Beak.

A local Springs band that's really very good.

The "PLUS ONE" part is Tom Waits' song "Day After Tomorrow". This is the version from the album (look down the page), not the Comedy Central episode of The Daily Show.

Hmmm... I think I can do this...

Thanks to Collin for "Tag-you're-it"-ing me into this.

The thing is that I am very straightforward as to who I am and things about my past (even recently). Some of this may shock those of you who know little to nothing about me... some of this may not even surprise those of you who do. But, unlike Collin's, this will be the truth. This isn't a confessional (that'll be my 55th birthday present to everyone) it's just some cool tid-bits about me that I think might be interesting.

1) Justin Carmical is not my real name (well, not my FULL real name). My name when I was born was Justin Spencer Patrick. When my mother got divorced, she changed my name to Justin Spencer Carmical, but the clerk got it wrong and my real name became (and is still) Justin Spencer Patrick Carmical.

2) I'm bad at keeping secrets. VERY BAD. But the thing is, there is really only one childhood secret that I have kept... and I STILL have never told anyone. And I never intend to. My friend Mike shares the same secret, although I don't know if he has ever told anyone. It's silly, I know, and it really doesn't affect anyone... but it's nice to have at least one secret in your life from when you were growing up with friends.

3) While living in Boulder, Colorado (while growing up) I had two friends who were twin siblings One-Free (the boy) and Fire-Genni (the girl) Foster. With our friend (my first best friend) Scott Johnson we went all over our local neighborhood exploring, playing, and getting into trouble. They were my first really true friends that I can remember. We would go swimming at the rec-center, catch "garter snakes" in the empty lot behind our housing area, we'd always sleep over at our respective houses. One-Free even showed me my first 'virtual breasts' when he secretly showed us all his dad's copy of 'Heavy Metal Magazine'. Oooh... scandalous. Scott Johnson later showed me his dad's copy of Playboy magazine to fulfill my step into depravity.

4) Collin put one "bad thing" he did so I guess I should too. So, I must confess that one day in elementary school (I want to say 4th grade), One-Free got a can of Skoal (yes, THAT Skoal) and talked me into getting on top of the school roof to 'dip' with him. Wow. They 'felt' a 'buzz' of some sort, but I swear I dipped more than they did simply because I felt nothing and kept adding more to my mouth and kept it in there longer than they did. Eventually, we spit it out and got off of the roof and went to play somewhere. We were BIG into Battle of the Planets, so we probably did that.

5) The five people that I would have extra-marital relations with (in order): Grace Jones (I'd leave anyone for Grace Jones), David Bowie, Princess Peach (I don't know of a rule forbidding a 'fictional character' from being in this kind of list!), Tori Amos (gasp... red hair... so hawt), and Jennifer Tilly (swoon).

Mike, Jen, Paul, Ed, and Ty... 'tag'.

Thanks again to Collin...

...for a great link!

It really sounds like something Japan would do. Remember me saying how everyone recycles?

DownTown

When I was learning Japanese in the 90's, there was a TV show I watched that some Japanese ladies imported for me called "DownTown". I still have a few of the tapes, and the two stars are HIL-ARIOUS!

Well, it's good to see that they're still doing stuff. The two stars are the bald guy and the one with the HUGE fan.

Reason #1

...that I need to get a Japanese Wii.

Ennichino Tatsujin

Dag-nabbit! Why did the Wii have to be region-locked?!?

Well, at least the DS can still grant me a cool cooking game that I can import.

So F-ing Excited...

I just cannot tell you...

One of Jen's dreams was to see the Pumpkins in concert and, she was afraid when they broke up, that she'd never be able to. Now... we both can.

Great find by Collin

Jedi Breakfast

The Colbert Report

Steven Colbert gots a Wii!!

Monday MySpace Music

Protomen.

The Protomen have created music based upon the video games of MegaMan. They use none of the original music and, in fact, their 'rock-opera' is quite a different story than that told through the games, but they (I have heard) put on quite a show and I'm dying for them to come to Colorado.

I bought their album and listen to it quite a bit.

And a cool thing is that they were featured on last week's edition of GameJew! And they seem like cool guys.

Nintendo+Judaism=GameJew

I only wish... he's so cool.

Nope. No sarcasm. He's f-ing cool!

Gamejew

Gamejew #2

Mario Opera #1

The Mario Opera #2

Wii songs

GOT ITEM!

(image courtesy of VG Cats)

Yup... and it's pretty damn sweet.

Sunday Max, Trevor, and Sarah came over and we played the hell outta' Wii Sports' Tennis and Bowling. 'Rayman Raving Rabbids' is wonderous and well worth the money.

Read more about the games in my blog on Gamers Go Round later on today.

One commercial to rule them all

Wii would like to play... the whole thing.

Nintendo is GAWD!!!

Shigeru Miyamoto... Happy 55th Birthday

The first Wii commercial in the USA

Wii would like to play

#1

#2

Monday MySpace Music

An eclectic group full of refreshing discordant notes and creative vocals is this week's pick. 'TV on The Radio' have a sound that I find interesting and out of the current norm. 'Wolf Like Me' is the song that got me hooked. The video for it is pretty cool too. I like 'em.

Monday MySpace Music

My MySpace is not just anyone I choose to accept. Its either real friends or interesting musical groups I like. I have a very eclectic listening style. I like almost genre. And any time I hear something new and fun I gush and want to tell others. Unfortunately, I'm not very good at reviews for music... so please understand when I just send you a link for you to listen to their songs.

So hopefully every Monday will be Monday MySpace Music where I can introduce you to groovy new bands that are my MySpace friends.

First up is Jonathan Coulton. ok... This guy rocks.

The Zombie song, his rendition of Baby Got Back, and Code Monkey (the song that attracted me) are just all creative and good listening.

Links fo' you

Haven't blogged about anything in quite some time, so here's some groovy sites for you to enjoy:

The Perry Bible Fellowship (Trust me on this)

Pole Dancing kit... for KIDS!

TV In Japan Blog

A direct link to all of KOTAKU's Jack "I'm a Pr*ck Bastard" Thompson's articles.

More Wii experience videos from the Nintendo site.

Firsts (from my MySpace friends)

EVERYONE HAS THEIR FIRSTS

FIRST REAL BEST FRIEND: Scott Johnson (Elementary school in Boulder)

FIRST SCHOOL: Washington Elementary (Boulder, CO)

FIRST CELL PHONE: A first I never intend to have... yup... I'm cell-phone-less

FIRST FUNERAL: Genna Burkhart (my first cousin who was still-born)

FIRST PET: Puck (a guinea pig)

FIRST BIG TRIP: I'm gonna say "by myself" and make it from Boulder to Denver on a Grayhound Bus in the 70's.

FIRST FIGHT: Junior High. First time I ever was in a fight and fought back. I was beat on many times, but it was never a fight.

FIRST CELEBRITY CRUSH: Snow White. Oh... real life? Um... AH! First grade... Jodie Foster...Freaky Friday. I liked how her hair covered one eye...

FIRST TIME OUT OF THE COUNTRY?: Just came back from that. Japan.

FIRST JOB: King Soopers in 1987

FIRST MYSPACE FRIEND: My wife, Jennifer (known as 'Jennifer Valentine' on MySpace)

EVERYONE HAS THEIR LASTS

LAST PERSON YOU HUGGED: My wife... this morning

LAST CAR RIDE: I drove to work this morning too

LAST TIME YOU CRIED?: CRAP! This morning. Weird. Had a bad dream that I was singing the song "Do You Love Me" from "Fiddler on the Roof" with Jennifer (my wife) as we were sitting on the edge of the bed. When we got to the very last lines of the song:

(Tevye)
Then you love me?

(Golde)
I suppose I do

... Jennifer fades away like a ghost leaving me on the bed... alone. In my dream she was never really there... she had died years earlier and what was singing with me was just a phantom of my memories. Her hand on mine is the last thing to fade away. And I finish the song "I suppose, I love you too". I wake up, and I'm crying.

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED: The Prestige

LAST FOOD YOU ATE: Jalapeno flavored potato chips and a Pepsi

LAST ITEM BOUGHT: Jalapeno flavored potato chips and a Pepsi

LAST SHIRT WORN: The one I have on... DUH!

LAST PHONE CALL: From my wife on Monday.

LAST TEXT MESSAGE: N/A

LAST THING YOU TOUCHED: computer keyboard...DUH!

LAST FUNERAL: see; First Funeral (above)

LAST TIME AT THE MALL: Sunday.

LAST TIME YOU WERE EXCITED FOR SOMETHING: The Nintendo Wii... just a few minutes ago... now, after typing this, I'M EXCITED AGAIN!!!

LAST PERSON YOU SAW: A co-worker

LAST THING YOU DRANK: pepsi.... to go along with my jalapeno flavored potato chips.

LAST PERSON THAT BROKE YOUR HEART: My grandfather... for dying. But, then again, he died of a broken heart when his wife passed away six weeks earlier. I miss him.

LAST TIME YOU WERE REALLY HONESTLY HAPPY?: This morning after the dream and my wife holding me (like the whimpery-soft-hearted-goof-ball that I am...)

Pitagora Suichi

Pitagora Suichi. Literally "Pythagoras Switch". This is the kid's show I was talking about in my blog. Yes, it's really an amazing success with people all over the world!

The Algorythm exercise Jen and I got stuck in our heads. This was done with geisha, ninja, and robot toys in Japan. This is done with PE teachers.

Algorythm dance with ninja...

And with soccer players.

Framy the dog (Jen's favorite)

The show.

Now, the two guys are comedians who are part of a manzai group called 'Itsumo Kokokara' (Always From Here). They recently joined with some other comedians and musicians to form a short lived band (intentionally) called U.N.O. Band.

The rest is up...

At the Japan Blog Site.

Look towards the bottom.

Pictures Part one

Follow the links. All pictures are 800 x 600... so they're big... but I wanted to show you all the detail of the cities we visited.

1059 - One of the streets in Chidoricho (the sub-town in Tokyo where we stayed)
1060 - A car too big for his garage
1061 - A restaurant's plastic food menu. Very inexpensive food.
1062 - A Chidoricho alleyway
1063 - A construction site with pink and white polka-dotted cranes and diggers.
1064 - A normal truck for Japan. Very tiny, eh?
1065 - A nice temple.
1066 - Tall can of Cola, cold tea below, cold coffee (ice-Kohi) above
1067 - Delivery!
1068 - Japanese graffiti
1069 - A shrine in the middle of town.
1070 - Our #1 American Embassy
1071 - Pretty alleyway
1072 - I told you there were electric wires everywhere.
1074 - They rode these motorbikes/mopeds/vespas everywhere!
1075 - They like cold coffee there. Note the Hollywood star promoter in the lower part of the machine
1076 - Ah... our new spokesmodel for a tall can of Pepsi.
1077 - Plastic corgi in the doorway of a house.
1078 - They really try to make their lack of space green wherever they can.
1079 - When they have houses, they make them lovely
1080 - Public open space where people can just be.
1081 - Down the train tracks of Chidoricho
1082 - Green wherever they can put it. This is one community's attempt.
1083 - Train tracks and street
1084 - My feeble attempt to be 'artsy'
1089 - Ma-ku-do-na-ru-do! Our first 'American' meal.
1090 - Ebi Filet O'. Baby shrimp cooked in a patty of batter. Mmmm.
1091 - Everyone recycles.
1092 - The Mc Donald's menu with pricing. It's pretty comparable to America price-wise.
1093 - Ah... SEGA-Land!
1094 - A playground. Note the concrete tubes to crawl through
1095 - The apartment complex here stores each tenant's car on a rotating storage device!
1098 - Picture for Trevor and Max.
1099 - Pokemon Center Tokyo. My poor Pokemon really needed a rest, so we re-charged them here.
1100 - Out hotel room at Ryokan Kangetsu. I won those plushies in a crane game (known as UFO-Catchers)
1103 - The train crossing at Chidoricho
1104 - The train entry/exit point in Tokyo proper
1106 - We move on to Ushiku.This is the size comparison for the Ushiku Buddah statue there
1107 - From afar
1108 - A replica of the head in smaller scale.
1109 - A comparison. Almost no visitors were there that day.
1110 - Prayer boards that people have filled out and placed here.
1111 - Closer look
1112 - Nice shrine item. It was rainy and misty that day, so everything was beautiful.
1114 - The lotus petals at the Buddah's base.
1115 - A side building with a pond of carp.
1116 - Pan & scan
1117 - All 'da carp

My two cents

Ok. This whole Senator Foley thingy has gotten waaay out of hand. He has convinced several people that it was alcoholism that caused him to write the letters to the young pages. Most of us know that was not the case. So, since he needs an excuse, let me give him an excuse:

Being horny.

Yup. Plain and simple.

I for one know of the evils of being horny and how it can make you do things you wouldn't have done normally simply because you (in your depraved little mind) assumed that you might be able to "get some". If anything he is a sex addict and would still be better off getting help at a center... but, even then, it's more a 'habit' or 'obsession' than an 'illness' or 'disease'.

Being horny, as with alcoholism, is not a disease. It's not a disease. IT IS NOT A DISEASE! It is an unfortunate state of being caused by alcohol. You do not go to the bathroom and forget to wash your hands and then contract alcoholism. You have a smoking habit... and you have a drinking habit. But it's NOT a disease (sorry for the tangent, but I needed to get it out).

The fact that he is gay has nothing to do with it. They could have been cute 16 year old female pages with little skirts and the white blouses that subtly pull gently across her pert... um... yeah. SEE? And they would have had the same things happen to them. Doesn't matter.

So, if anything, it would just all have gone away if they nipped it in the bud at the first sign of trouble... but they didn't. Now, he's waking up every morning knowing that his life is over. And, well, it is. He's gotta start fresh, and it's not gonna be easy.

(/rant)

Pictures from Japan

Awright... hold yer horses! I kin only work so fast. It took me all of last night to get the damn things the right size (800 x 600) and dial-up only allows 4 pictures every 8-10 minutes (at the size I made them).

Yes, I suck... but they'll be up soon.

You're the ghost of my indecision...

Myspace is so weird.

I mean, I did a search for people I might have known 1989-1991 (1989 was my graduating year) and I found someone whom I have been thinking about through the years. She was an old girlfriend of mine when I was a senior at Wasson. I have always thought "I wonder how she is. I hope she's doing well. She was a really really great friend."

I'm glad she's well.

I saw one of my best friends from Wasson there as well. He was very near and dear to me, and I really messed up our friendship (I was really a dick back then). It seems that he's happy. I'm unsure if he would appreciate an email from me. I know that time heals all wounds (supposedly)... I don't know.

Living in a world where one can find old friends and lovers is a bit awkward. Do you contact them? Do you let them enjoy their lives without having to remember you? I messed up a lot back then.

Man, am I messed up!

I've had a hard time sleeping since I got back from Japan. I have been waking up at 4 or 5:00am every morning so far (no matter the time I go to bed) and stay awake from then on.

Also, my spine x-rays got back and the doctor told me that I have "mild disk degenerative disease" in my back (thank G-d that my back was good through the Japan trip). I cannot make the rehab they want me to do (3 times a week) because of work.

So i'm stuck taking normal pain medications (Wal-proxin, Aleive, Advil, Ibuprofin). The prescribed muscle relaxers that they gave me make me sleepy, so I don't take those.

(sigh) Yay me.

Collin and my newest blog!

Gamers-Go-Round

Check it out. Collin asked if I would like to help out with this new site, and I said that I would love to. What's the difference between this new game review site and all the thousands of others?

Well... it's got reviews written by Collin and myself. You know us.