Once Again, Thanksgiving Passes Us By

Some of you are probably thinking, "What? I love Thanksgiving!" Yeah, well so did I. Thanksgiving IS about family, thanking the Lord and everyone around us for the love and compassion they've given us. Thanks for the things we are fortunate to have that some others don't. And sometimes even thankful for the "little things, like the shining sun, or even the biting cold. Thanksgiving used to mean that. Then came along corporate America, thinking that we don't have enough to give thanks for. So they set up Black Friday, which is poorly named thanks to Black Tuesday and Black Thursday of the stock market crash in October of 1929. Now, I don't mind the idea of a day set aside that gives buyers MASSIVE saving on generally expensive items. Like hundreds of dollars off of crystal clear TV's, or blockbuster video games for ten bucks, or giant savings on computers and appliances. In fact, all that is wonderful, except America's sense of timing.
Black Friday, used to be in fact Black FRIDAY. Now you can't even watch a Target commercial without them claiming to open on 8 PM THURSDAY. Walmart starts it's savings at 6 PM! This cuts in to precious family time that could be spent for many more hours before even planning to go shopping all through the night to find gargantuan deals. I remember when Black Friday used to only start at Midnight, which was perfectly acceptable to me. You could have a wonderful family dinner, clean up, and be able to take a quick power nap by 10 o'clock and get up at 11:30 to let the madness begin. Why, after a day of giving thanks, do we have to get greedy and spend a ton of money on stuff we want? It astounds me that America's moral compass has fallen so far off track that we can't realize that simple truth. And the sad part is, that at the time of this writing, there is most likely people already lining up outside some store, wanting to be the first person to grab their $400 TV. Those people choose material items, over family. I know that many family situations aren't good. In fact, I'm incredibly blessed to say that I love every moment I spend with my family. I have friends who tell me everyday how much they hate their family for this and that reason. It makes my heart hurt, it truly does. To think that someone can say that they HATE their family astounds me, and I only see two reasons why. 1.) They are being overdramatic and their life really doesn't suck that much or 2.) Their family life is truly terrible. Thankfully, number one is usually the case, though I do stumble upon some number 2-ers. And it makes me cry inside.
By now you must be wondering what the point I am trying to make is. My point in saying all this is: don't forget to give thanks. Maybe you're like me and you have a wonderfully fun family who you can't love anymore than you already do. Maybe this year, you're spending thanksgiving alone. Maybe you're trying your hardest to get in that Black Friday line. Maybe you can't wait till Thanksgiving dinner is over so you can lock yourself in your room and read a book. Remember what you do have. Please, don't let this holiday's meaning be muddled like other's that have come before it so quickly. Give thanks for what you have. Give thanks for your wonderful family. Give thanks for all the memories you have of your family. Give thanks that you got a good spot in line. Give thanks that you actually have a family, and that book you're reading. Just be thankful.

Now I have a small statement for the things I'm thankful for.
In past Thanksgivings, I've given lame prayers to the Lord for the things I'm thankful. Though this year I have a laundry list of excellent things I'm thankful for. I thank the Lord everyday for the excellent family I have. All of my cousins, young and old, have been in my life and have changed it for the better. I specifically give thanks for my older cousins Kevin and Jack, their influence on me has made me what I am today. I wouldn't be a drummer without them. I wouldn't love video games like I do without them. I wouldn't know any great Christian rock bands without them. I wouldn't have guys I could turn to for everything. Thank you.
I thank God for my amazing parents. They've made me a stronger believer, they've helped me through thick and thin, and they aren't afraid to give me a smack upside the head when I need it. They are spiritual leaders, and there's nothing I wouldn't do to keep my parents. I love you guys so much.
I thank the Lord that I have my newly discovered Spotlight family. There's a saying we have in Spotlight Kane County, "Kane is a family." This couldn't be any truer. I love all of you. You have been so supportive, you have always been there even when I wasn't there for you. I've become a better actor, singer, and person because of this group of amazing kids. I've grown closer to the Lord thanks to you and all your faiths. I need to mention my best friend in the whole world, Maggie. She's the person I can tell everything, and she can tell me everything as well. She's always there. 100% of the time, always caring. She's the older sister I don't have. She's given me such good advice for life, and we can just sit back and watch a stupid movie like Scott Pilgrim and she's laughing with me. We can go out to Noodles and Company for lunch and then just walk around Walmart. We can just talk. I pray every day that as she leaves for college that we never lose touch. I don't know what I'd do without her.
I am so thankful for the roof over my head, a warm house, some pretty spectacular pets, and the best dork for a brother anyone could ask for. I may be hard on him, but I do love him. I'm thankful for the gifts God has blessed me with. I'm thankful for music, and the ability to express myself through it. I'm thankful for the stage, and the ability to play crazy roles with skill. I'm thankful for God, my light and my all. The one who bled and died for me, and saved me through something I deserved and he did not. I thankful for the ability to be thankful and not be the selfish jerk I am usually. And lastly, I am thankful for Batman. Thank YOU, for taking the time to read this. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

My Top Ten Favorite Video Games: #10- Mirror's Edge

#10: Mirror's Edge

A cult classic in the world of gaming, DICE's first-person parkour shooter took me by the hands and never let go. Since it's debut in 2008, the world's first slice of first-person free-running has become a classic. Ever since it was introduced to me by a buddy just a few years later, I can't help but fill this list with it's presence. It's an adrenaline rush, I can tell you that.  It's blend of acrobatics, gunplay, and interesting story makes for an exceptional experience. Now, I will admit, it's not perfect. The graphics are great yes, but they aren't The Last of Us. The hand-to-hand combat can be clunky, and the gunplay less than satisfying (what little there is). And sometimes the free-running can give out at the moments where you need it to work most. And it's short. Like 6 hours. That's not a lot for modern day gaming. Call of Duty Ghosts is 10 hours long, and that's just running and gunning. So why do I love this game so much?
The environment engrossed me. I felt as if I was Faith, the protagonist in the game. I felt every movement, every punch, every sickening fall; I have never felt as if I had more control than when I play Mirror's Edge. I've sold many games back to GameStop before, but I will never sell my copy of Mirror's Edge. I've played Mirror's Edge's main story more times than I can count, and I enjoy it more and more each endeavor. And I LOVE parkour.
Those who know me personally know that I use parkour as an adjective now, something that's so incredibly pro. Or I'll even just yell it out randomly and do some super lame stunt with it. And I've found only two series that give me a full parkour experience: Mirror's Edge and Assassin's Creed (which has not made this list).
The level design is also impeccable. Each level is incredibly varied, ranging from dashing through a sewer system, to climbing the interior of a major corporation, to escaping a SWAT Team filled mall under construction. I love each level, and that's something I can say only about one other game.
The technological side of the game may not meet the production values of a Naughty Dog game, or the 60 frames-per-second smoothness of a Call of Duty title, but Mirror's Edge has the some of the most soul I've ever felt in a video game. DICE announced a remake of Mirror's Edge at 2013's E3 conference over the summer saying that this is what Mirror's Edge should have been. And I am more than stoked. Hats off to you Faith, and to DICE as well. Thanks for making Mirror's Edge my tenth favorite game.

Macklemore- Wing$

I usually don't like rap, excluding Eminem, The Beastie Boys, and Macklemore. It's sad, but people don't like Macklemore because he's white. It's the same phase Eminem went through when he was still starting out. But now look who's on top? Slim Shady and guys who go Thrift Shopping. This song is called "Wing$" and I find it to be nothing but poetry set to music. It's about the struggles of... well, I'll let you read and find out for yourselves.

I was seven years old, when I got my first pair
And I stepped outside
And I was like, Momma, this air bubble right here, it’s gonna make me fly
I hit that court, and when I jumped, I jumped, I swear I got so high
I touched the net, Mom I touched the net, this is the best day of my life
Air Maxes were next
That air bubble, that mesh
The box, the smell, the stuffin, the tread, in school
I was so cool
I knew that I couldn’t crease ‘em
My friends couldn’t afford ‘em
Four stripes on their Adidas
On the court I wasn’t the best, but my kicks were like the pros
Yo, I stick out my tongue so everyone could see that logo
Nike Air Flight, but bad was so dope
And then my friend Carlos’ brother got murdered for his fours, whoa
See he just wanted a jump shot, but they wanted a Starter coat though
Didn’t wanna get caught, from Genesee Park to Othello
You'd get clowned for those Pro Wings, with the velcro
Those were not tight
I was trying to fly without leaving the ground, cause I wanted to be like Mike, right
Wanted to be him
I wanted to be that guy, I wanted to touch the rim
I wanted to be cool, and I wanted to fit in
I wanted what he had, America, it begins

I want to fly
Can you take me far away
Give me a star to reach for
Tell me what it takes
And I’ll go so high
I’ll go so high
My feet won’t touch the ground
Stitch my wings
And pull the strings
I bought these dreams
That all fall down

We want what we can’t have, commodity makes us want it
So expensive, damn, I just got to flaunt it
Got to show ‘em, so exclusive, this that new shit
A hundred dollars for a pair of shoes I would never hoop in
Look at me, look at me, I’m a cool kid
I’m an individual, yea, but I’m part of a movement
My movement told me be a consumer and I consumed it
They told me to just do it, I listened to what that swoosh said
Look at what that swoosh did
See it consumed my thoughts
Are you stupid, don’t crease ‘em, just leave ‘em in that box
Strangled by these laces, laces I can barely talk
That’s my air bubble and I’m lost, if it pops
We are what we wear, we wear what we are
But see I look inside the mirror and think Phil Knight tricked us all
Will I stand for change, or stay in my box
These Nikes help me define me, and I’m trying to take mine, off

I want to fly
Can you take me far away
Give me a star to reach for
Tell me what it takes
And I’ll go so high
I’ll go so high
My feet won’t touch the ground
Stitch my wings
And pull the strings
I bought these dreams
That all fall down

They started out, with what I wear to school
That first day, like these are what make you cool
And this pair, this would be my parachute
So much more than just a pair of shoes
Nah, this is what I am
What I wore, this is the source of my youth
This dream that they sold to you
For a hundred dollars and some change
Consumption is in the veins
And now I see it’s just another pair of shoes

I also have the official music video here. Check it out. It's exactly what I'd hoped for. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8-2YpOU_XI

5 Reasons Why I Love Open World Games

1.) Customization
In most open world game, you have plenty of options to make the game your own. Such as Saints Row, you can dress your guy (or girl) up with a Bunny mascot head, a sharp vest and shirt combo, with green superhero tights and some basic kicks. Can't do that in Call of Duty. Or with vehicles, I'll use Saints Row as an example again. I stole a taxi, just a regular old taxi and impounded it in my "crib". What I did with it is what makes these games so fun. I changed the headpiece to say not only "TAXI" but also to advertise the "Saints Flow" energy drink. I colored it a glossy purple with gold metal trim. I added knee-cappers (little spears that extend out of the rims) and changed the rims to some crazy cool looking gold stuff. I also changed the interior to be dark red and changed the tires to have that classic white stripe look. Did I also mention I changed the under glow color to gold and added nitrous? I may have forgotten that.

2.) Versatile Combat
Games like Batman: Arkham City and Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag are known for their combat mechanics. To have a successful open world game, you need to implement some sort of entertaining combat system. Like Grand Theft Auto's lock-on explosive gunplay, or Sleeping Dogs' mix of martial arts and gunplay. And come one, everyone enjoys that jump-off-a-tall-building assassination found in the Assassin's Creed series. From jumping off buildings blowing up everything in sight in Crackdown, to stealthy inverted takedowns in the Batman Arkham games, combat is essential.

3.) Transportation

In open world games, quick transportation is necessary so that you don't bore your audience who has to walk for thirty minutes to get where they want to go (ahem, Skyrim?). While this is easier to implement in more modern time periods, fantasy lands and lands of history may be hard to traverse without a car. I find that Assassin's Creed does this particularly well with its astounding free-running/parkour system. Though dozens of fast, powerful, and unique land or air vehicles doesn't hurt either. Just Cause 2's fast vehicle drop system and wide range of fun cars made driving around Panau a blast. Or flying, with it's excellent flight system. Though I do desperately wish that one day I may drive the Batmobile around Gotham City. But until then, I can hop in to Saints Row the Third and ride a hover bike around for a while shooting dual cyber-SMG's. Yeah. I'm cool.

4.) Story Possibilities
Games like Skyrim, Mass Effect, and Fable are driven by player choices. I wish more games had this, though more are taking notice. Games like Call of Duty: Black Ops II have taken interest in multiple story branches, and I think they did a pretty successful job with it. One game that I love the story possibilities with is Fallout 3. It's already hailed as one of the greatest games ever, and it's story is partly why. The excellent writing mixed with so many choices that either effect everything in some way makes for a deadly combo. And then even games like Saints Row that give you unexpected options, both with distinct pros and cons. Such as gaining a permanent respect boost for blowing up a building, or a permanent cash bonus for keeping it. This happens quite a few times throughout the game. Fable III is another excellent example. You go throughout the game trying to become king and making promises to towns and people, though when you become king, you learn how difficult running a kingdom can be. Do you want to be moral and keep all your promises at the expense of getting everyone killed? Or do you want to be a jerk so you can raise money to keep everyone safe? Or somewhere in between? The possibilities for a great story with player choices are ever growing.

5.) FREEDOM
My main draw, as well as many other people's draw, to open world games is the freedom that comes with it. You can do whatever, whenever you want. Want to go sneak through a dungeon with only a bow and a knife? Go for it. Want to get a five star wanted level by enabling cheats and blowing people up with infinite rocket ammo? DO IT. Want to speed around the city listening to the hispanic radio station? Carpe diem dude. Want to hijack a car, ram it in to a bus, shoot out the cops tires, jump on the top of the car, pull out your grappling hook, hook on to the helicopter overhead, hijack that, and blow up everything in sight? Just a normal day in Just Cause 2. Freedom is the overarching thing that open world games have that most others don't. Now more and more games are becoming more open ended, and I'm very happy about that. Freedom is the way to play. Open world games rule.

An Incredibly Short Story: At Wit's End

My eyes open. I see nothing but darkness. I can't really tell if my eyes are actually open. Suddenly a light beams out from the right, streaking across the void. I quickly realize that I'm floating, though I'm still. It's like I'm sitting on a big black chair I can't touch. I try and move my body around to see if I glide somewhere else, but to no avail. I can move my body, but I don't change in axis or distance. I've nearly forgotten the streak of light no more that ten feet in front of me. I try and reach for it, but my arm is too short. In a sudden burst, another beam of light intersects the previous band of light perpendicularly. The light is blue now. I can feel myself moving; I don't understand how, because there's no wind resistance. I end up in the center of the crossing lights. A faint hum begins to arise and the lights begin to circle, with my body as it's axis. The quicker the lights rotate, the louder the hum becomes. I begin to panic. I try and move away, knowing full well that I'm powerless.
I blink, and I'm no longer in darkness.
I'm in a house, only everything is on the ceiling. Or, better yet, I'm on the ceiling. This is much more comforting than that unsettling darkness. Standing still, I wonder what I'm to do. I decide to explore. The ceiling isn't very high, so I have to duck a little bit to keep from bashing my head in to furniture. As I look around the room I'm currently in, I see no doors, except for one on the ceiling (really the floor). I try and jump for the handle, but there's something holding me down. My legs won't get off the floor. I can walk, I can run, I just can't jump.
Pondering the situation, I begin to evaluate my options.
1.) Sit here forever and die (not preferable)
2.) Figure out some way to jump (not likely)
3.) Get to the door some other way
There's a dresser on my right hand side and it reaches the ceiling (floor). There are ladder-like handles on each drawer, making my escapade up the wooden furniture easier. I begin my ascent. I get to the top quickly and swiftly, my head touching the ceiling (floor). I look around. A rug, an arm's length away, seems stuck on the ground beneath it. I reach for it, and by grabbing the rim I can tell it's not going anywhere. I leap two-handed on to the rug's rim and hold on for dear life. Even though I know that I won't die falling four feet back on to the ceiling, I still want to get to this door. I shimmy my way around the perimeter of the rug. I'm not to the door yet, but I'm gaining ground. There's a lamp next to the door. A tall standing one that's rather skinny. I just have to climb my way up to the door and I'm out of this weird place.
I jump for the lamp and as my body weight hits the lamp, it begins to sway violently, rolling in circles around it's axis. I clung on with all my might, slipping slightly. The lamp rebalanced itself, and I continued my climb. Half way up the lamp, it fell over. With a crash, the glass head sent shards flying all over me. Though I didn't feel a thing. I was now hanging on an toppled lamp, feet dangling over the ceiling, with shards of untouchable glass everywhere. I'm so confused. I finally swing my way over to the door. I grasp the handle and immediately, all light dims and I'm righted with the door.
I open the door and it ends me up in front of a large tree. My mind suddenly switches to some sort of third-person mode and gives me a glimpse of the whole planet. Yes, I'm not in a country, or some field, but on an incredibly small planet. One I could traverse fully in under ten minutes. The tree sways lightly in the cosmic breeze. There are two fruits on it, one on the right and one on the left. They both suddenly fall and lodge themselves in to the ground. The both burst in to doors. Both of the exact same shape and color.
I can feel the grass shifting beneath me. The grass ties itself together, scribing a message for me. There were two arrows, each pointing to a door. Below the arrows, the land reads, "On to wits end". I sat for a moment thinking of where door would take me. They both looked exactly the same, felt the same.
I opened the door to find...

Movie Review- Nitro Circus: The Movie

Now I know this movie has been out for a while, but I haven't put a review up on this site yet, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do so. Here are my thoughts on Nitro Circus: The Movie.

Nitro Circus: The Movie

I sat down on my couch and turned on this thrill ride of a movie just expecting some crazy stunts and crashes. That's what I got, but I received more than that as well. The movie is based on each member on the team, and the team's rise to fame. By the end of the movie I could only remember four of the ten some-odd members by name, but that didn't really matter. You still felt for them, even when they weren't hurling their bodies off of huge jumps. They all had something unique about them, and that uniqueness is what keep the crew, and the movie, together.
There's a lot of what I expected. Grown men (and woman) jumping modified tricycles off ramps. And that's not their only mean of doing so, they use dirt bikes, BMX bikes, kiddie rafts, and an assortment of trucks, buses, and cars. A specific member of the team, "Wheels" has a spine deformity, so he kicks it in an epic wheelchair. Each member is likable in their own way, though they introduce some people far after they've been introduced through dialogue and screen time. The stunts are never underwhelming. Moments like jumping a 450 foot gap in between skyscrapers on tricycles, Nitro Golf, and trying to pull of a full airborne car roll like in spy movies are highlights.
The point that is trying to be made throughout the movie, which is conveyed well, is that there's always someone's life on the line in Nitro Circus.There are many interviews with famous celebrities such as Channing Tatum, Rob Dyrdek, and even the rival cast of Jackass give the Nitro team props for doing real stunts knowing full well that they could die.
The stunts are never disappointing. Even when they fail miserably you can't help throw your hands in the air and yell "OOOOOOOOOOOOH!" It's sick. But there's always the elephant in the room, "Dude, if he misses, he'll die." That adds an insurmountable sense of anticipation to the setup of the stunts. Though there are some of them where you think, "Well, that'll hurt. But he's not gonna die." Then there are others where you can't help but expect someone to die. It ends up with a perfect blend of over-the-top awesomeness and suspending you on the edge of your seat. Very well done balance.
They get in to heavier situations, ones immediately dubbed "sketchy". One of which causes the incapacitation of a team member (Not DEcapitaion. Very different subject). Though once he has his accident, you never see anything else of him. You never learn what happened to him. You never see him again. This made me angry. You grow to love this guy, then he's suddenly injured severely, and you're left with no conclusion to his status. It made me horribly upset. Though this also shows the film ability to make you feel deeply for a bunch of stunt dudes and dudette so quickly. The ending was also incredibly underwhelming. It leads up to the Las Vegas performance they worked so hard for, and they show maybe five minutes of footage from it. You are given glimpses of guys flying through the air and either landing it, or failing miserably, only to stand up like a champ. The only stunt you see fully fulfilled is Wheels' stunt, which, mind you, is properly epic. And then it just ends. No final word from the crew, no breathtaking finally massive stunt, just a fat guy with his shirt off screaming. Then we see the credits. I was annoyed with the ending. They could have done it any way differently and I believe it would have been better.

VERDICT
8.5 out of 10
Pros
+ Crazy spectacular stunts
+ Likable crew
+ Wheels
+ Never fake. Not once.

Cons
- Underwhelming loss
- Horrible ending

I model my reviews after IGN's verdict centers.

Random Epic Video of the Day: Foggy Mountain Breakdown

This video is something else. Some of the greatest musicians ever coming together to play one of the toughest, most entertaining bluegrass songs of all time. It features people like Paul Shaffer, Steve Martin, and, of course, Earl Scruggs. If you're a fan of tremendously perfect jam sessions, take a look.

The Memorable Character Award: Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump
The film "Forrest Gump" changed me. It changed the way I thought about life, about death, and about everything in between. Forrest isn't bright, nor did he ever claim to be in the movie. He's a man from Greenbow, Alabama with very humble beginnings. As a boy, he never said much. He was just picked on for having braces on his legs. He was different. He just did what his momma told him. Forrest had problems with his legs, making him need braces on them. He couldn't run, he couldn't jump. But that was ok with Forrest. "You just have to do the best with what God gave you." Says his mother. And boy he did.
I'm not going to say anything else about the film, but if you've ever seen it, you know what I mean. There are dozens and dozens of quotes from the movie that applies to everyday life, and I have no

shame in repeating them incessantly. Such as:
"Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get."
"Stupid is as stupid does."
"My name's Forrest Gump. People call me Forrest Gump."
"Lieutenant Dan, ICE CREAM."  
"Momma always said dying was a part of life. I wish it wasn't."
And there are SO many more. There's and emotional tie we all have with Forrest Gump. He's that guy that does the stuff want to do, but for us. And, to us, it seems like he doesn't have the intelligence to do it. But there's more to it. Forrest stays true to his morals, always. He never stops being Forrest Gump. He always says please and thank you. He always keeps his promises. He will always love Jenny. He will always love and listen to his momma. I wish I could stick to my morals as he does.
There is no other person who could have played Forrest Gump other than Tom Hanks. He was absolutely perfect. I aspire to act like--next to Bryan Cranston-- Tom Hanks. He's just excellent on every level. He provides an emotional experience without saying anything overly profound. It's incredible! Forrest Gump is my favorite movie of all time. And that right next to other masterpieces such as, "The Godfather", and "Inception". Thank you Forrest Gump. You've fully earned The Blackboard Journal's Memorable Character Award.
"And that's all I have to say about that."

Random Band of The Day: Anarbor

You're probably like, "Who's Anarbor, and why do I care?" Anarbor is a band that is signed with Hopeless Records, a home to many alternative rock bands mixed with big bands like The Used and Avenged Sevenfold. They hail from Phoenix, Arizona, and pull together some of the best sounds from all different kinds of bands and throws them together. Things like grungy guitars, My Chemical Romance style singing, and a little bit of classic rock riffs tossed in to the mixture. They wrote a song that was featured on Cartoon Network quite a few years ago for the live-action Scooby-Doo movie titled "You and I". If there is any song you've heard by Anarbor, it's that one. Another hit of theirs, "Mr. Big Shot", is my favorite of the bunch. Just lots of head bopping, feet tapping fun. Check them out, they are pretty spectacular.

A Remora

I'm saddened to say that I will no longer be able to write up an interview with Sanctus Real that was scheduled for tonight. I will not be able to attend the concert, being as something else came up. Such as tornado warnings, and hard rain. Though not being the only problems that needed to be dealt with, I still cannot go. I was looking forward to meeting the band I've loved since youth, but alas, it shall be for another day. Thank you for your understanding.

The Memorable Character Award: GLaDOS

GLaDOS
GLaDOS (Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System), is undeniably brilliant. Throughout the immensely short campaign of the first Portal game, just a small addition to The Orange Box. GLaDOS kept you attentive. You could tell something was up from the beginning.

"As part of a required Enrichment Center protocol, the previous statement that we would not monitor the test area was a complete fabrication. We will stop enhancing the truth in three... two... *zzzt*"


GLaDOS is something else. There is no other character out there that even comes close to GLaDOS's twisted charm and raging personality. Her sarcasm is uncanny, and her dialogue is masterfully crafted thanks to Valve's expert team of writers. To be incredibly blunt, GLaDOS nearly carried Portal and Portal 2. And that's really saying something, because Valve's first person puzzler is in my top ten video games ever. Portal 2's gameplay is flawless, and GLaDOS's sense of comedic timing makes Portal even more of a masterpiece.

"That thing is probably some sort of raw sewage container. Go ahead and rub your face all over it."

Her voice actor, Ellen McClain, plays GLaDOS's elegantly. Well, as elegant as you can be through a voice distorter reading lines for a sadistic, amoral robot. And that's one more thing that is so excaptional about GLaDOS, is that she's not even a person, she's a self-aware AI. She once was a human, but when we encounter her, she is not. GLaDOS has been realized as an incredible character by many other sites and magazines. Gameinformer magazine named her the greatest video game character of all time in one of their issues. I whole heartedly agree. GLaDOS will be forever remembered in the gaming universe as one of the greatest characters ever. Congratulations GLaDOS, you've won the first ever Memorable Character Award from The Blackboard Journal.

"Cake, and grief counseling, will be available at the conclusion of the test."

I Don't Think These Feel Right...

This is an comparative analysis essay I've just completed for my Advanced Composition class. I thought you all might take pleasure reading it. Enjoy

I Don't Think These Feel Right...

I slip my feet in a new pair of Nike sneakers, and try and get a feel for what they are like. My feet are supposedly a size ten and a half. “These are nice, but not what I’m looking for.” My mom chimes is, “Ok, let’s try these. These are cool right? You kids like these don’t you?” She hands me a pair of no-arch Adidas Sambas. Still a size ten and a half. I pop off the other shoes and grip the edges of the shoes as I try and shove them on. The shoes glide on with an odd sense of ease. “They are way too big. I can’t walk without my heel springing out.” Mom says, “It says they are a ten and a half.”

“Well they sure don’t feel like it.”

“Ok, try these.” She hands me a painfully narrow pair of black and white Pumas. I look at them, then at my mother, then back at the pair of shoes. I can almost feel the agonizing squeeze of the narrow, leather/cloth-laden shoes just by looking at them. I suck in a breath and begin the shoe donning process. I couldn’t get them on. No matter which way I tugged or pulled, I just couldn’t get them to slide onto my wide feet. You know what can have the same kind of process? Looking for a suitable college.

So it’s my junior year, and I know college is just around the corner of life. I’ve started to look at possible colleges that may decide my life. Though, buying shoes won’t decide your fate, college can. Visiting a college is like trying on shoes. There can be a really small school, though still decently populated, and still look great on the outside. Then when you go and visit the school to see what it’s like, you may never want to see anything like it again. It can just rub you the wrong way, just like you pinky toe in a pair of narrow shoes.

Or I can visit a gargantuan school, like Texas A&M, and feel like fish egg in an ocean. Texas A&M has nearly “47,000 students” (collegestats.org) enrolled. The place could be absolutely what I need, but it’s just so gosh dang massive, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself! Hundreds and hundreds of courses, many of which can be incredibly enticing, making an indecisive person like myself even more indecisive. You can be swimming in that huge pair of Adidas Sambas.

So I downsize. Let’s look at DePaul University. It has nearly “26,000 students” (forbes.com). Still big, but what college isn’t big? It’s an arts school, so it’s a lot of what I want in a college. Music, theater, film, art. My essentials. The campus is very modern, and technologically advanced. But there’s something about it. I just don’t think it’s the place for me. It just a little too big. Just like the “swoosh” on the Nike’s side.

My mom hands me a pair of Converse kicks. Classic black and white hi-tops. “I thought you hated Converse mom?”

“We may as well give it a try!”

“Alright.” So I pull them on. It takes little struggle for me to slip my feet in and quickly lace up. I jump up off the bench to give them a test. They feel great. They look even better thanks to my dark colored jeans bringing out punk style of the shoes. Though, on me they look natural. Like I belong in them. I take a look at Northern Michigan University. The campus is scenic, and dazzlingly gorgeous. There’s always a view, being as the campus sits on Lake Superior. It’s a smaller college. About “10,000 students” (nmu.edu), yet still big enough to have a decently varied amount of students.

The theater program is excellent; the director performed on Broadway as Jean Val Jean in Les Miserables. That’s like the dream role for male actors. The tuition isn’t out of our budget either, and it’s also not extraordinarily far from home base. This pair of shoes fits snugly.

Though buying a pair of shoes can have its share of pains, you can always end up falling in love with a pair of shoes you never expected to find. Looking for colleges can be beyond annoying, though there’s no better feeling than when you find that place where you belong. Go buy a pair of shoes; you never know what you might discover.

Works Cited

"DePaul University." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.

"Largest Colleges - CollegeStats.org." Largest Colleges - CollegeStats.org. U.S. Department of Education, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.

"NMU Admissions." Northern Michigan University. Northern Michigan University, 2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.

Sanctus Real Concert November 17 at Judson University

I've loved Sanctus Real ever since I was a child, and now I finally have the opportunity to see them in concert. With VIP passes. My friend and I will be having a backstage Q&A session with the band. I'm going to record their answers and repost them here. So take a gander back here come Monday or Tuesday to see what they said to our questions.

A Token of Gratitude

I've been looking forward to this moment for a little while now. I've seen the page view count slowly, yet steadily rising though the hundreds. I know to many out there who have relatively populous blogs, 1,000 page views isn't a lot. Well to me it is. It means my writing has reached at least 1,000 pairs of eyes (meaning technically 2,000 eyes). It means that in my mind, I've succeeded as a writer. At least a blogger. I know there are hundreds if not thousands of shiny, distracting things around the internet or your smartphone and I greatly appreciate you taking time out of your social lives and reading this blog. It truly means an insurmountable deal to me. Continue to read, comment, email me questions, write me, find me on Instagram, Google Plus, Twitter, Vine. Anything. I've enjoyed publishing for you all, and I'll keep regurgitating interesting thoughts that pop up in my mind.

Sleigh Bells Ring, Are You Listening?

The Christmas season is approaching every so quickly, and the one thing I hear almost daily is, "STOP THAT! It's not even Thanksgiving yet! We can't be listening to Christmas music yet!" or the polar opposite, "Dude, Christmas music year round! It brings me joy every day!"I had a good friend of mine who would sing the James Taylor version of "Jingle Bells" in the middle of July, when it's ninety degrees outside. It hits me every time, when is the right time to start listening to Christmas music? I find three common answers: not until after Thanksgiving, when we have our first REAL snow (such as today in midwestern Illinois), and the beginning of December. So when is it?
When should we be listening to Christmas music?
Well that really depends on a lot of things. Who is we? You as a person? A collective group of people? Or do you mean the radios? Let's start with a personal conviction. You can listen to Christmas music any time you feel like it. My personal preference is early November. Like today on my way home from school, while the air around me swirled with wet snow, I opened Spotify and streamed the Relient K Christmas album. Jamming out to "12 Days of Christmas" without a care in the world. Well... except not dying in a slippery car crash, but that's a different story.
Now as for the radios, they usually get it right every year, and almost always fall under the "After Thanksgiving" category. And they don't even use heavily holiday songs until the second week of December. I've always favored what the radios have chosen for the start of Christmas tunes. Now, that being said, there's a whole different fiasco of stores and Christmas junk hung up all over the tiled ceilings.
In the early weeks of October, I walked in to Hobby Lobby to buy some poster tape (which frustratingly, the did not have.) and they had already gone all Christmas tinsel on the place. Though it wasn't all out Christmas decorations, it still frightened me to think that we were that "close" to Christmas season. Which is odd, because Christmas is to celebrate the birth of my Lord, Jesus Christ. That is also something I will post on in the upcoming weeks, as well as Thanksgiving the day of.
Another big ordeal is the whole Christmas lights awesomeness. Last year my family visited a house that owned a radio station and had it's lights programmed with the music on the radio station and activated once you turned on your car's radio. It's was astoundingly entertaining. For about ten seconds. And now it seems like houses spring up all over featuring spectacular lights and displays. My neighborhood, sadly, does not take much part in these festivities. My family doesn't do a whole lot either, just a few red and green lamplights that shine on our house and strands of lights that for a Christmas tree-like outline. Minimalistic yet gratifying. Though there are those people who have their decorations through february, and that peeves me. I'm totally fine with having the decorations though january, it's almost like a mourning period that Christmas is over, but when it spans multiple months, and the tree is still up? It's time for it all to come down.
So I'm finished with my arguments, but what do you think? When should the decorations be brought up from the basement? When should the radios proudly blast holiday tunes? When should you move those Christmas those songs back on to your iPod?

Misconception

My recent post on Breaking Bad has brought to my attentions the negative effects of the characters actions. I do not condone any sort of action show in Breaking Bad. The selling of drugs serves to addictions everywhere, and as the nephew of a passed addict, I feel ashamed to say I that I mentioned nothing beforehand. The idea of drugs and how they are sold is not positive nor will it ever be in my mind. I do not condone the use of drugs or the overuse of alcohol. I do not enjoy the idea of marijuana becoming legal in the U.S. and I do not want the preposterous idea to be passed by law. I should have written this before. I apologize for any misconceptions. I am Christian, though my recent actions may not have shown it. I am looking at the show from an artistic and actoral perspective. As I wrote on Facebook earlier, "Out of 100 men, one will read the bible, 99 will read the Christian." Said by D.L. Moody. I have failed the quote I sent to follow this very day. I will not remove my post as I have now made it clear that I have looked at the show from an artistic perspective solely. I thank you for your understanding.

5 Reasons Why I Love Breaking Bad

Even if you've never watched the show before, you have most likely heard about AMC's incredible TV series, Breaking Bad. I've been watching from the first episode to the last, and I'm four fifths of the way there. But sometimes I cannot fathom the astounding acting and storytelling there is in this show. So, here are five reasons why I love Breaking Bad.

1.) Bryan Cranston

There's so much I could say about this master of acting. He's never been anything but excellent. Walter White is THE anti-hero, and he could not have been played by anyone but Cranston. His character is so perfectly sinister, while seeming somewhat innocent, yet having the worst of intentions. It's incredibly realistic, meaning I would expect to act that way if I was Walter.  I wish I could say so much more, but I can. I just have so much aspiration to one day act like Bryan Cranston. This is nearly impossible for me to say, but there is no better acting job than Bryan Cranston's Walter White. Period.

2.) Aaron Paul

What is Walter without Jesse Pinkman? Nothing. Truly nothing. Jesse has saved his life, taught him how to cook and sell, as well as being moral support throughout his cancer process. What does he get? A slap to the face and told he's an idiot. Both Cranston and Paul have won Emmy's for their performances, and there's an episode in season 3 where Jesse and Walter get in to an argument. And Paul's acting prowess explodes with fire as he rattles off blow after blow on Walter. It's one of the greatest scenes in acting I've ever experienced. You can see Jesse evolve and degenerate at the same time throughout the run of the show. In the beginning he's a stupid punk who can barely stand if he isn't selling or doing drugs and ruining his aunt's house. He then turns in to a raging man, meddled by perilous thoughts and murderous actions which he does not soon rid himself of. He's one of the greatest characters ever created. Period.

3.) Bob Odenkirk
"Better call Saul!" That phrase will stick in my mind forever. Saul Goodman needs more credit than he's given. He may be a sleeze-ball, rip off lawer, but he's the most put together of the whole bunch. He's got his tail covered always, and covered with a bulletproof vest (bulletproof tail?). He's incredibly resourceful, and his commercials are stupid and funny. Yet they remain realistic, meaning I could imagine a commercial for "Better call Saul!" to come up on my TV any day. I've seen those commercials that are like "Got trouble? Get Glenn! Call 222-2222" And Odenkirk plays the part perfectly. Even though he may be a sarcastic jerk at times, but he's always had his arm around Walter and Jesse, and ready to get to work. He may sometimes say its about the money, but let's be honest. After all the stuff they've been through, you can't not love each other.

4.) Season 3 Episode 10: "Fly"
I'm not going to say anything specific due to spoilers, but this is kind of a spin-off episode where Walter and Jesse are trying to get a fly out of the lab due to it "contaminating" things. To put it simply, it is my favorite episode of television ever. It was hysterically funny one moment, then the next, things got somber. Jesse and Walt finally learn a thing or two about each other's personal life. And it's happens all over a stupid fly.

5.) It's Not About Doing Drugs
In the beginning, the meth Walter and Jesse cook is just for a source of income. It's the same way later on, but Jesse did those drugs for a long time throughout the show. Walter did marijuana once, and regretted it severely. Throughout the middle of the series, Walt pushes Jesse to stop, as it is interfering with business and his sanity. Eventually, Jesse gets clean and is much better off for it. But the point I'm making here is not that Jesse shouldn't have done drugs, but that, unlike many shows about drugs, it's not about doing the drugs. It's about monetary greed. Walter wants money. Gus wants money. That's all they want. Walter looks at it like a science, not a drug. It's about money, not about drugs, adding a layer of realistic business to the already multilayered show.

Just for the sake of it's pure mastery of drama, that's why I love Breaking Bad.

5 Reasons Why I Love Owl City

We all have heard of Owl City. And if you haven't heard of him by name, you have most likely heard "Good Time" featuring Carly Rae Jepson, or "Fireflies", an older song yet still one of my favorites. And let's be honest, when you listen to Owl City you can't help but feel happier. Whenever "When Can I See You Again?" comes on to my iPhone, I can't help but smile and think back on watching "Wreck-it-Ralph" with one of my ex-girlfriends, who I am still good friends with today. Or when "Fireflies" appears, I find myself thinking about my older cousin Jack who showed me the band. So now, here are five reasons why I love Owl City.

1.) Adam Young (Owl City) writes songs that relate to my life in some way
The lyrics I posted yesterday are ones that particularly stood out to me. I had a huge crush on a girl named AnnMarie, just like Adam, and the way he describes her through the melody is exactly how she is in real life. Sweet, caring, and beautiful. When I think of "Good Time" I think of jumping around with my friends at my previous school's homecoming in 2012, and how much I miss those times with them. "Vanilla Twilight" puts my heart of love in to song. My souls shakes when I sing the final chorus of "Fireflies". "Hello Seattle" rekindles my imagination, and no matter what I'm doing I have to stop because he creates such simple yet vivid pictures for my mind use and sends it reeling.

2.) His melodies are like none other
With the exception of "Shooting Star", which sounds like it was ripped from the pages of Katy Perry's songbook, I can find no other artist nor band that has a even similar sound to Owl City. His song, "Angels", sticks particularly out in my mind. I've rarely heard a song that can bring you in soft and slow, and then suddenly throw you in to a loud, bubbly melody and not sound obnoxious. "Angels" does this masterfully. It's tremendously easy to get "Fireflies" or "Good Time" stuck in your head just by hearing the song on the radio. "Lonely Lullaby" is so beautifully impactful that I like to hear the song multiple times in a row, which is incredibly rare for a guy like me who loves so many types of music.

3.) His mental pictures are vivid
"Vanilla Twilight" is on the forefront of my mind with this one, as well as "Hello Seattle" as fore mentioned. I can only imagine what a vanilla twilight is like, and it looks gorgeous in my mind. I can nearly feel the setting in which he tells his story. As I said before, "Hello Seattle" is a bombardment of beautiful botany, voluptuous visuals, and shimmering shorelines. "Fireflies" tells a cute story of an insomniac and his fireflies, and I can picture how it went in many different forms. His lyrics take me places I never would have expected to go.


4.) He writes song how I think I would write songs
I am a horrible song writer. Absolutely terrible. Give me any topic, I'll write on it. Don't give me a topic, I'll make one and write a narrative. But sit me in a music room and tell me to write a song, I can't do it. Though if I could write songs, I would end up writing like Adam Young. He uses narrative as his driving force, as do I. He uses a plethora of pleasant verbs and phrases, and tells stories in an abstract, beautiful way. I love his writing, I want to write like him. I can't write songs, but if I did I would/want to write like Owl City

5.) He's a Christian
If you didn't already know, I am a Christian, and I am not afraid to proclaim that all over the world. So is Adam Young. Now, if you aren't a Christian, or dislike Christians, I ask that you continue to read this blog and listen to Owl City's music. If you stop, I'm ok with that, but would prefer if you did not. He uses a lot of God's word in his songs, like his song "Galaxies" is all about following God to the ends of the universe. He's also been proclaimed to be the most popular Christian artist ever, topping TobyMac, David Crowder, and Skillet. And I like this because 1.) I'll see him in heaven, so he can give me music lessons and 2.) It makes his music feel more relatable to me. We both love the same Lord of the Universe.

And those are my five reasons for loving Owl City.

Pokemon X Adventures: Power Madhouse

My Team as of now:

Greninja Lv. 38

Pikachu Lv. 35

Lucario Lv. 36

Talonflare Lv. 35

Tyrunt Lv. 32

Charmelon Lv. 35

Here's how these adventures will work, my trainer will tell a story based on the last place I saved. BUT I will create a story all my own, based on only my trainer's look and his Pokemon.  I have decided after finishing this post that I will continue this story in several more posts. Here's the beginning. Enjoy. There will be NO SPOILERS. 

I repeat. NO SPOILERS. Let's begin.

I walked in to what looks to be a Power Plant. It was dark, and the place reeked of rust and oil. A wrench in the corner caught my eye, it seemed to be covered in more than just rust. Pikachu's Poke ball started to shake; he always was a scaredy cat. I let him out of his Poke ball and he walked closely behind me. The light faded out the further we went. I started to hear footsteps, and my eyes quickly locked in to the direction they were coming from. I told Pikachu to light up the room with Flash, and he was more that happy to comply. We soon had a barrier of light, and once the light reached where we thought the footsteps had reached, they were gone. Now I was beginning to shake. I walk back to that wrench, and pick it up, just for protection. We weren't dealing with a Pokemon trainer this time around. Something much, much worse. 

We reached an empty room. By this time Pikachu had been too scared to walk on his own, so he climbed on to my back, classic Ash style. The room was no longer covered in metal walls and floor grating, but now wood paneling and stoned covered the room. Our flash faded out. No matter how far we walked in to the darkness of that room, it would not lighten. I gripped the wrench tightly as we continued. We walked for several minutes. And suddenly, a lamp flickers on. It casts a shadow over a man in a chair. "Welcome." He says. His voice sends chills down my spine. Sounding so sweet and innocent, yet was all knew what was to ensue. "Have you come to visit me? I've been without company for so very long. I would be delighted if you stayed and chatted with me for a while."

"Why would I have any reason to talk with you? What could you possibly tell me that would want to make me stay?" I replied, trying not to be too argumentative. "Well. Aren't we getting rather snippy." I just begin to notice his British accent. He stands quickly, I prepare to run. "Please sit, we've much to discuss." 

"Such as?"

"Negotiating your life."

I turned to run, but to no avail. He was already there. He grasped my shoulder, white gloves rubbing against my tee. Pikachu screeched and fell off my shoulder. He ran to clasp my leg in sheer terror. I couldn't see the man's face, only an outline and a glimpse of his pompadour. My immediate reaction was to swing my wrench full force, but once it reached his body, he was gone. The only thing replacing him was air. And since there was nothing to recoil off of, I lost balance quickly and tripped. Once I lifted my head he was there again, now we were face to face. Though shadows still covered his face, I knew there was something there. I could feel his breath against my nose. "And so it begins." He leapt back in to his chair, legs crossed, waiting for my move. I didn't want to make that move any time soon. The three of us stood, a standoff. Pikachu looked at me, I couldn't help but lock eyes with our predator. The predator waited for it's prey to strike, the prey fell for the bait. I sprinted at him with the wrench. He flipped his chair backwards, leaving the legs to jab into my stomach, sending me reeling. Once I regained fortitude, our predator met me with a heel to the face. My face felt numb; he had broken my nose. Tears blurred my vision as I tried to get a bearing of my attacker. I never found that bearing. 

Lonely Lullaby

This is one of my new favorite songs. I recommend strongly that you take a look at this song if you are a fan of slow, beautiful songs or just an Owl City fan such as myself. Just him at a piano, and its perfect. These are the lyrics taken from metrolyrics.com

Symphony of silver tears,

Sing to me and sooth the ring in my ears,
Overcast these gloomy nights wear on,
But I'm holding fast because it's darkest just before the dawn.
'Cause she was my dream come true,
Oh Annmarie, believe me, I loved you.
Just dampen my tired eyes,
Because I can't forget you.
Because I can't forget you.
When the nightmares take me,
I will scream with the howling wind,
'Cause it's a bitter world and I'd rather dream.
And hung above our lids too flushed to blink,
But icy blue froze the fairytale cold,
Though I treasured you and you sparkled with someone to hold.
'Cause she was my dream come true,
Oh Annmarie, believe me, I loved you.
Just dampen my tired eyes,
Because I can't forget you.
Because I can't forget you.
When the nightmares take me,
I will scream with the howling wind,
'Cause it's a bitter world and I'd rather dream.
When the nightmares take me,
I will scream with the howling wind,
'Cause it's a bitter world and I'd rather dream.
And I'd rather dream.
Annmarie, I'll never forget you.
Annmarie, remember me?
I'll never forget you.
Annmarie, remember me?
I'll never forget you.
Annmarie, remember me?
I'll never forget you.

I sang my princess fast asleep,

But now those lonely lullabies,

I'll dissolve when the rain pours in,

Dizzy love turned a star lily pink,

I sang my princess fast asleep,

But now those lonely lullabies,

I'll dissolve when the rain pours in,

I'll dissolve when the rain pours in,

Annmarie, I'll never forget you.

You know, it's kind of odd. I fell for an AnnMarie myself once. 

Pokemon X Adventures: A Fresh Start To Classic Nostalgia

Hey there. I'm going to start up a little entertainment series called Pokemon X Adventures. I've played Pokemon ever since I was little, and Pokemon X is truly an outstanding addition to (what I found was) a diminishing series. Once I'm finished with the main story, I'm going to write a full-fledged review on the (already promising) game. I'm going to write little adventures I've had in the game, from the perspective of my trainer, Blackeye. I'm going to try and get one up every day, not including today. And don't worry, no spoilers here! I hate spoilers. And those concerned about the comment box not working, I'm going to get to work on that ASAP. Have a great day!

Scarred

I'm sure many of you have heard some tibit of information on the LAX shooting that took place yesterday. Two people killed, one a TSA agent, and seven injured. A lone gunman with 150 rounds clipped into his semi-automatic rifle. Just walked in, aimed, and fired in to hordes of innocent people, completely clueless on what was about to ensue. It reminds me of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 stage, "No Russian", where Makarov, a few of his buddies, and the player (as an undercover agent) walk in to a crowded airport and open fire. The game gives you the option to skip the level, due to material people may find distasteful or offensive. As you walk through the level your counterparts spray bullets in to the masses, and you stand there, jaw on the floor, tears in your eyes, taking part in the massacre that Makarov had created. This sounds horrible, no? It was. But Infinity Ward created tastefully, to not seem like there's no point in human life. The game is not the point I'm trying to make here. It's the thought process of a homocidal mind. How does one, no matter how excruciatingly horrible their life has been, make a concious decision to walk into a room and kill innocents. Kill a father of three children. A young boy, just remembering the fun he had at school. A teenage girl, sitting an laughing with her friends as they peruse social media sites and recalling good times together. I cannot fathom it. Just the mere thought of taking a life of someone else, ending a time span before it is due, puts tears in my eyes and softens my heart. Then there are the consequences of being there. Not even being the gunman, but seeing him rip through living beings with no reserve. It takes a toll on your mind. I always think to myself that in a situation like that, "I'd be cool. I'd take cover, and find a way to take him down." Then my logical mind smacks me around saying, "What's wrong with you! This isn't Call of Duty! You can't respawn! Your wounds won't heal! You. Will. Die." I would be scarred. Imagine being next to one of those two people who died. Watching them die. Knowing there was nothing you could do. When you went to bed that night your mind would repeat it over and over in slow motion. That memory would have been burned in to your brain and never leave. Scarred.

Maybe there's something supernatural about what he did. Maybe it wasn't concious. Maybe Satan himself entered that man to destroy many lives. Maybe not even supernatural yet still unexplainable. Mental illness is a very real thing that has unknown effects on one person to the next. Nevertheless, I pray for those involved in that shooting. That The Lord may give them peace. I ask that you do the same.