this thing on?

My other hobby resides here... gaming. Having been involved in two bands lately, gaming has been almost a thing of the past. I still enjoy it, and do it from time to time, but whereas 5-6 years ago I would play Quake 3 for 4-6 hours a day, to a few years ago where I would play Call of Duty a few hours a week, it's not dwindled to maybe a few hours every two weeks between ALL games.

Though this past November I did pick up a X360. I've been impressed by the machine. Great graphics of course, great sound, but most of the "wow" factors have been in the other features. Simple and easy to navigate GUI (so easy in fact, my mom knows how to use it... she plays Hexic HD so often that she plays the 360 more than I do!), the online interface and update system is great. But most of all, I finally got a wireless router and I can now stream music, videos, and pictures to it from my computer. Nothing like driving around in Saints Row listening to Death, or playing some Hexic or Uno with Fountain of Tears or some new age music in the background. There are some really nice games out there for the system, and the fact that you can download free demos is also a huge plus. I've found myself playing all sorts of demos of games that I'll eventually pick up. Microsoft has done great things with their console and it makes me wonder if Sony will be able to compete at the same level in this generation of the 'console wars'.

Other than that, referring to my previous update, I've beaten Doom RPG and tried out their other RPG game Orcs and Elves. While Doom RPG was on the easy side, O&E did challenge me a bit (read: dying often). Amazing what they can do with a cellphone and how it can entertain me while on my lunch breaks or taking a shit. So with that, not much on the gaming scene as I've fallen off the earth so to speak. But not forgotten! I still enjoy gaming, and maybe Quake Wars or UT3 will spark some more interest for me in online gaming... though I'm sure it won't be long before the clans and server admins to take over ;)

zzzzzzz

Not much happening on the gaming front. I downloaded Doom RPG for my cellphone, and I highly recommend it if you're a fan of the Doom series.

Changes are happening

As you can see, alot of posts have been deleted... leaving only a few to stimulate the one visitor a year that passes by.

But now I have a blog for music specific stuff, and this one for... other stuff specific to stuff other than music.

Yea.

Unleash the beast

MONSTER

"Let the metal flow"

Today marks the 4th year since Chuck Schuldiner's passing. A day that I will never forget. Who knows where I'd be today if I hadn't heard Death's "Scream Bloody Gore" when I was in junior high. Would I even be a "metal head"? Would I value the technical and progressive genres of metal as much as I do now?

Chuck is one of the main reasons I got into metal as well as being one of the first and main influences when I bought my first guitar (the second complete song I learned was Death's "The Philosopher"). His music was constantly evolving- his lyrics matured with each album. Even though he absolutely hated the music industry, he loved music and he loved his fans. One of the nicest guys and one who I consider a genious in metal music. He was not only a brilliant lyricist and song writer, but he seemed to pull in some of the greatest musicians in the genre... and all have said in countless interviews that Chuck allowed them to the room to be creative and go nuts as well as pushing them to go above and beyond what they thought they could do. There was something special about Chuck. The musicians that played with him, the fans that supported him... they all knew it.

Chuck's music and lyrics continue to inspire me to this day... and whether I'm listening to a Death album, watching a DVD, or playing a song on guitar, just knowing that he is gone brings tears to my eyes. There really isn't much I can put into words anymore so I'll borrow some of Chuck's. "Support music. Not rumors."

-Rich

new strings

Funny how a set of new strings can totally change the sound of an instrument.

Ever since I got Savanna back in May, I've kept the stock strings on her, and she sounded great. I finally decided to buy a new set and give her another listen. I stuck with my strings of choice for guitar, which are Dean Markley "Blue Steel" strings. Got her strung up and with the ever bright tone of the blue steel's (and the fact that they are just new strings) she growls wonderfully. Nice and clear growl, and definitely more noticeable than the stock strings. My only gripe is, they tin a bit more. I'm not sure if the gauge is slightly smaller or the way it's wound, or the material used, but the tin from the lined frets come in more noticeable as well. If I can't solve this dilemma I might seek a guitar mod shop and see if I can't get them removed and replaced with wooden lines.

Also, thanks to Mark, two of my guitars that were "no longer in service" are back in service. One still needs some work, but nothing major. Both were just a matter of rewiring and some clean up on the inside. He also tried to fix my amp, and I'm an idiot with electronics so I don't know what's causing the channel to switch randomly, and Mark couldn't figure it out with a quick one over, but it's still doing it.

I know a new amp is in my future, but I was hoping I could wait until the actual need arose (like I got a gig or something). We'll see.

Lastly, I'm about to build a new computer. Hoping to keep this one running for all the programs and applications, and the new one for all my gaming and audio needs. But seeing as heat is the major issue, not sure if I could fit another computer in this already cramped and heavily heated room.

Dilemma's abound... Feel the groove! GET YOU!

I'm back

New Orleans was a great time, though now my thoughts are with those in and around the areas affected by Katrina.

I met some cool people down there, and I hope they made it to safety and are doing well.

With that out of the way, the trip was a blast and I will soon have details on the trip. Not sure where I'll post it, but It'll make it's way somewhere somehow. But I must say, luck was on my side when I planned the trip. Checkout for the hotel was noon on Saturday the 27th, we stopped in Missiouri (Cape Girardeau or something) for the night, and saw that the hurricane was heading towards the NO,LA/MI area. Woke up to see the mandatory evacuations. Again, we got lucky, and seeing the devastation and martial law being declared is tragic. I just hope the people are safe, and that there is something to return to when I plan another vacation. New Orleans is a fantastic city and the "southern hospitality" is so rampant there, I'd return every year if I could afford it. Such nice people, great food, alcohol,... what else could you ask for?