Thursday, September 27, 2007

Heroes Continued

Well I've now finished the 3rd through 6th discs from Season 1 of Heroes. This show has me hooked and still wanting more. The last disc is in the mail so I can't wait to see how the first season will come to an end.

Some notes since last I wrote on this. My favorite character the power borrower, Peter, has come into his own over the last few episodes and it looks like my deepest fear of him becoming a bad guy might have been for naught based on some of the Future time episodes.

Hiro is still up there but think I've got him falling to 2nd on my favorite Heroes character. He rocks plus his dad is played by Sulu from Star Trek, George Takei. Also, when reading up on the actor that plays him he's worked for a very cool company....ILM on such movies as Star Wars Episodes I-III and Pirates of the Caribbean. As for his character he is still one of the main drivers of the story line and doesn't look to be ending anytime soon. His ability to manipulate the space\time continuum will keep the story moving. Afterall if it wasn't for his warning of "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World!" things would not have moved as much as they have.

It was a sad time when "Nuke" man got his brain tapped by the main Villian of the series Sylar. I liked him because he was a little unbalanced and threw a loop into things which is perfect! But now we got two other "Nukers" out there. Well there's Sylar of course due to the brain buffet mentioned earlier and my favorite character Peter. Peter and Sylar are two very similar characters as far as powers go but how they do it is completely different. Peter can pick up powers just by being near another "special" person. Sylar on the other hand likes to take them apart to see how they "tick" thus ending their life but he's then able to absorb their abilities. Currently it's tough to get a estimate of how many powers they each have. I think they will have another big confrontation but I think either Hiro or the Cheerleader will finally get Sylar.

Well back to watching the last disc once it get's here and then I can watch Season 2 as it goes this year. I'll write more in the near future.

The Name Game

Makita at Starfish & Coffee tagged me with The Name Game.

The rules: List one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don't have a middle name, use one you would like to have. Tag one person for each letter of your middle name.

Here we go:

Devoted - As a friend and a husband I'm a very devoted person.

Abnormal - Is probably one word many people would use to describe me. It's a family trait on my Father's side I believe.

Vocal - While upon first meeting me I'm a shy person who doesn't talk much. Just watch out for when I get comfortable around you because I can talk any one's ear off! And it's damn near impossible to get me to shut up.

Impassioned - I am by nature a very passionate person. More times then not my emotions will get the best of me whether it's a movie, book, music or life.

Devilish - By nature I'm a very mischievous person who loves to cause trouble.

I would love to tag someone but alas being somewhat new I don't know many people out here other then the one that tagged me.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Heroes

Well a while ago a friend of mine, Mikey, mentioned I should catch a television show called Heroes. So it's my latest addition to the NetFlix list. We'll I watch the first 6 episodes on disc 1 and 2 and I can't find enough good things to say about this show. So far the story and characters seem really well thought out and that the writers already know how the show will end and are just merely working their way there with lots of twists and turns. The time travel really makes it feel this way. Hopefully they will follow continue on in the same fashion so as not to just drag out the story line too long. I really like the feel of it. It's like a comic come to life but is more realistic then the comic world. The premise of the show is similar to the premise in the X-men movies where mutation has given rise to powers in humankind. You've got the time altering Hiro, the regenerating Cheerleader, the Heroin addicted Fortunetelling Artist, the flying politician, the split personality slaughterer of a single mom, the telepath and the power borrower who wants so bad to be a Hero. So far the characters that I'm liking the most is non-English speaking Hiro and the power borrower. Hiro just rocks as he's a Japanese Nerd who thinks he should be able to stop time and does. Then happens to travel across the Space and Time continuum to see what will happen. Later he shows up speaking english and from the future wearing a nice looking sword! I can't wait to see how he get's to that point. The power borrower I like but feel like I'm being setup here to take the fall as he seems a little too anxious in wanting to be a hero and not living up to his expectations early. Seem to be a character that is being setup to slip to become a Villain. Much like Anakin Skywalker, Jacen Solo, Pyro etc.. were pulled to become Villains. But none the less he's one of the main story drivers along with Hiro right now which might be why I favor them more. Well I'm waiting anxiously for the next two discs to show up in the mail.

9ers Lucky to be 2-0, QB's with Oregon ties perform well

Now don't get this post wrong I'm happy that the 9ers are 2-0 in both league and division standings. However, how they got there has to be the ugliest, sloppiest games I've seen in a long time. Not to mention a little luck! Our offense other then one or two drives in two games looks like absolute shit! Our call playing leaves a lot to be desired. Come on could you use your mobile Quarterback more in the mobile category? He wins the first week for us on a broken mad dash scramble to save the winning drive and you don't do more to get him out running? Come on coaches take you heads out of your collective asses. Defense still doesn't look all that well yet but at least they haven't given up or broken down too much yet. Just shore up the little stuff and they'll be a good defense. Where the heck are the plays for Vernon Davis? The guy is just a freak of an Athlete and you don't run more plays for him? See comment on not using the QB above. Again glad to be 2-0 but we need to see more improvement on Offense as so far it looks like the entire offense has taken a step backwards! Speaking of Offense what's up with the choices on the line? I know I'm a Duck and a homer but come on last season Adam Snyder played better then a couple of linemen *ahem* *cough* Kwame *ahem* Baas. I know they have more invested in these other guys but give him some equal playing time as they're getting in back up roles.

Well onto other updates in the world of the NFL and players from the state of Oregon we had a few QBs in action today. Joey had a game where he didn't cost his team but also didn't do anything spectacular to help his team either. Off to another under his potential season. If I could get all the writers off his back maybe he'd start winning. I mean look at college his stats were good but his biggest quality was at being a leader and doing what it took to win. He also had track stars at WR and a couple strong RBs to help him during his years as the head Duck. So while I've been disappointed with his pro career as many I also realize probably too much was expected of him stat wise at the NFL level. I think this is his last chance and stop on the circuit. Derek Anderson the much maligned QB for the Beavers, although I thought Beaver Nation never gave him a fair shake. I mean come on he leads the league in offense and yes he had way too many INTs. But in both cases if his receivers wouldn't have had butterfingers or short arms stuff both those numbers would have been even better. I can't count the number of times his OSU receivers would have it hit them square in the chest and the other team would get the carom. Anyway back to his day it started off horrid missing on his first 5 passes but then he just goes ballistic on the Bengals defense for 5 TDs and one INT. What a huge game he had. I watched this game and yeah he got a couple of lucky breaks on some passes but that is just make up for all the bad luck he had with his OSU receivers. Karma always evens things out in the end!! Way to go Derek!! Now just have a decent game next week and the talk of Quinn stepping in will quite out for most this season. Good luck man!! And last but not least Kellen Clemens got his first career start for the NY Jets, because that snake Chad didn't want to get beat up by Baltimore! Well for 3 quarters that is what happened to Clemens he got beat up including a couple of hellos with his old Duck teammate Haloti Nagta. But in the 4th quarter down 17 he just went ballistic, or as in the old classic video game NBA Jam HE'S ON FIRE. He leads the team back on 3 pretty impressive drives. On the third of those drives he had one TD pass dropped by a wide open receiver, under threw a second TD pass and then finally the 3rd TD, a little high, pass got tipped and intercepted in the end zone. Now if he can just show up at the beginning of a game he looks like he'll have a decent career in the NFL. The game was a loss and that's never good but the Jets at least know they have a good backup QB who will continue to push for Chad's job. Although he might not be ready to be the full time starter yet I don't think it will be more then a year out before he is a starter in this league.

Well good job by all the players with Oregon ties all throughout the day.

No Ducks on TV but sounds.....

Well down here in the Bay Area I no longer get the Fox Sports Northwest, guess I should get the Sports Package for DirectTV, so probably won't get to see many Duck games unless they are on National TV. This week they took care of the always pesky Fresno State Bulldogs. Again the offense stats look great. The Defense based on the score must have done their normal adequate job. Biggest boost this week was the Michigan shellacking of Notre Dame.

Pac-10 was looking at a good weekend what with Washington, ugh can't believe I was routing for them for conference power, held their own for almost 3 quarters with OSU. But then UCLA decides to make a no show against Utah and just got dismantled!! That has to hurt the conference's National reputation. What was arguably the 2nd best team in the conference getting man handled. We'll see how it goes once the conference play starts in earnest.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Are you kidding me????

Holy Cow!!! That's about all I can say after my Ducks waddle into Michigan and just destroy them!! I thought that Big Blue would be just seriously pissed off after losing to a great Div I-AA team the previous week and just had us our collective asses. This game from a scoreboard looked like we just dominated. However, in actuality Michigan was doing quite well for most the game. They moved it well against us but like the old Rich Brooks teams our defense bent but didn't break. They even came away with some great stops in the Red Zone. Great going guys! And as the game moved on they just started to push around Michigan and started to just dominate the tone of the game. Meanwhile on the other side of the ball Dixon after a horrible end to last season looked like he was unstoppable for most the game. Those 2 statue of liberty plays were quite unexpected and worked to perfection. Our double headed running backs just pounded the D relentlessly even the reserve running backs looked good. Dixon gets the game ball and well deserved! Those long passes right on the money in stride was his weakness last year as he tended to under or over throw them. Great off-season work to get that corrected. I don't think I've seen passes that on the money since Joey and Sammie were here!

I would love to say coming out of this game things look really great for the rest of the season. But somehow I just can't. We proved we could play offense and score but it seemed like we left quite a few points off the board there in the second half by just not concentrating. Also the defense which got better as the game went on needs to shore it up early. But if they can continue to progress forward they should be able to compete with anyone in the league and it looks like the league will have some contenders this year. But is everyone playing for 2nd or have teams caught up to the Trojans finally? Well only time will tell.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Back From BarCon and Ready to....Unbox??

Well this past week I've been out of town at the BarCon!! It's a weekend where our group of friends (Beeners (nickname for the group of friends I've had for a long time. It's along the lines of the Goonies in Goonies) and others who are friends) gather at my friend Bar's hut for a long weekend of Gaming. This is the 4th year that BarCon has happened. Year one there was no real theme just BarCon. Year two it was Monster Menace (think Godzilla, Rampage and such). Year Three was Pirates and all things Pirate like. This year it was Close Encounters of the BarCon Kind. Well the weekend went down as follows:

Thursday Flew into town and met Bef at the airport say Hi Bef!!


Well after a quick stop at the Car rental where we got upgraded into a Rav4, which was actually quite spacious, we headed off to BarCon. B!'s navigation to BarCon was a little off in one area but we persevered and made it at last to the BarCon! Only to be greeted by this year's guest host:

Zelnak


For the rest of the evening we had drank some, people smoked, people gamed and most important of all people got in some Deck Chit-Chat. Deck Chit Chat is an unofficial event during BarCon that happens once or even multiple times. But one thing is clear what's said on the Deck stays on the Deck, well except for the neighbors we probably annoy! For dinner we have homemade grilled pizza and was it delicious as always when Kong and Bar tag team it!! *ding* *ding* *ding* Ladies and Gentlemen we have your Grilled Pizza Intercontinental Heavyweight Champions of the World!! I give you Bar and Kong!!! Well after some more drinking, gaming, smoking and chit-chat it's off to bed for everyone at the BarCon. This year I didn't get my deck bed but did get the coolest room in the Hut, oh did I mention that the Hut doesn't have A/C??

Friday I wake up to the stoke of the keyboard and an elbow if I'm not mistaken. Yep that's right our friend Bef is logging into the Realms to do some daily quests for rep. After the blowing up of eggs it was time for some break and then off to the BarCon Annual Frisbee Golf Tournament. Being as I'm not working this was my first year of enjoying BarCon all the way and the first time I got to play in the Tourney!! Unfortunately I haven't played in a while so I did alright for being so rusty. After the tourney we headed off for Wings and Poker/Trivia at a local wing joint. Hmmmmmmmm Wings!!!!!! Well then it was back to headquarters and time for some more gaming! After another night of eating, drinking, smoking, chit-chat and gaming it was off to bed but not too early.

Saturday I received multiple elbows to wake up to. And also throughout the day. For some reason there was a bounty placed on B! you got a 1,000 Space Bucks to drop the elbow. Oh well I just gave watts back and also some Elbow justice of my own!! LOL!! Well Saturday followed the same pattern as the previous days with gaming, eating, smoking and we can't forget the drinking. That is until the 3rd annual BarCon Texas Hold'em No Limit Tournament brought to you by BefBoda Enterprises. This year's final three, we give out medals and other prizes for finishing in the top three, featured two familiar faces. In 3rd place was last year's winner "The Big Cheese" Tim and in 2nd place moving up one spot was "Stonewall" Barsky!! We're already laying bets on the big Barbosky taking the title next year as he's been a constant at the final tables. We also give out prizes for being the first to leave and a hidden bounty prize.

Sunday was another round of waking up to Bef dailies and elbows galore. Also was the first annual Fun Run titled this year appropriately since everyone was surviving on minimal sleep, well everyone but one of us *nod* *nod* *wink* *win* you know who you are, "Sucking Vacuum" Fun run!! It was a mile and for those who did it they got a little rejuvenation while getting the old blood pumpin'. Then came the sad part of BarCon the BarB!Q where we wrap it all up by gorging ourselves on good quality grub, birthday cake (for the two little girls who's birthday's are close to BarCon) and of course the Auction for games and other misc items. Did you save up all your Space Bucks well time to put in a bid!! I got a super hard alien head puzzle game and alien head pen that lights up when you write.

Well Bye BarCon it was a great year!




For most people that was the end of BarCon and for me it was too but I got to stick around and help get the Clean up effort started on Monday while the shuttle services got Bef to his flight. I was staying a couple extra days to meet up with other friends I haven't seen since we moved down to California. Monday we took in the Transformer's movie so that Kong and Bar got to see it, it was the second viewing for me. It's not a great movie but is a good action film with lots of explosions and stuff. Good Time!! We also made it over to the sponsor of BarCon Rainy Day Games where I picked up the 5th expansion for Munchkin and some packs for a new game called Star Wars Pocketmodel TCG.

Tuesday I went to Fire on the Mountain,the best Wing place I've ever been to, with my friend Dawg. If you ever make it there you've got to try the Spicy Peanut sauce. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Then I made a quick stop off at the old office to drop off my keys and to say high to all my friends who are still there. It was a good visit to check up on folk and stuff. Then it was off to my friend Mike's house for dinner with his family and a good friend, and old boss/coworker, Robert. It was good evening just to sit and talk with friends and eat some good food. Then it was back to the Bar Hut for some shut eye.

Wednesday I met my Brother-In-Law (BIL) at Chipotle for some Lunch. Him and his family had just gotten back from our place down in California where they were visiting some family and friends including my wife and our new hut. He had some good things to say about the place and that was great to hear because I value his opinion very highly. Then after that it was a quick stop off at REI to pick up some new shoes as mine were starting to fall apart. Then off to the Airport. Man was that an adventure. 84 was backed up so I stayed on I-5 then that was backed up so I got off at an unfamiliar exit, can you say uh-oh!! Well I felt lost for the next 15 minutes until finally the road I was on looped back to where I thought it would go just off I-5. There were no issues with the flight so got home on time.

Man and what a good job my wife and BIL and family did unpacking tons of stuff and getting things setup. Great job you guys and thanks for helping her out greatly appreciated. Oh and Jere I got the TV up this morning just had to rotate it a little onto the narrow side and it was actually pretty easy to get up there. So that's one thing down. Well two if you count that I got all my books unpacked and into my bookcase. Hmmmmmm I don't seem to remember it being that crowded before. I have a shit load of books!! Oh well so I think based on what I've seen I've only got like 5 boxes to go through. Like I said they did an Awesome job while they were here.

Well that's all for now!