After my latest Hiatus

Lemme see here... Okay I'll put these in chronological order.

1st. We got a boat! And it works! After about a dozen repairs or so but hey...

2nd. I have a niece. Yeah, it's kinda freaky and cool at the same time. Her name is Nora and she's Erin and Nick's daughter (Erin is my sister).

3rd. I got my Learner's Permit. Soon I will be able to travel freely!

4th. Alexi turned 16... I guess it's kinda cool.

5th. I got an XBOX finally!

6th. I went on the Walkabout. Not so much fun as bloody boring, but whatever.

7th. Josh and Jess told us they'd be having a baby too! I hope it's a nephew, I don't want competing nieces. (Josh is my brother)

8th. I got this done. Huzzah!


General News Update

Comcast Home Page
Car Shopping Dos and Don'ts
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/is-this-the-best-time-to-a-buy-a-car.aspx

CNN Tech
Why All Smartphones are $199
http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/01/technology/smartphone_price/index.htm

N4G (News 4 Gamers)
The Uncertain Future of Gaming
http://www.damnlag.com/the-uncertain-future-of-gaming/

World News
Burning Koran* Angers Afghans
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=123&art_id=nw20100906154557252C839107



*I didn't spell it that way, the article did

I hope you know that these hiatusi (hiatuses?) Are purely due to extenuating cirtumstances.

It's true you know.
OK, these last two weeks have been quite eventful. To say the least.
First I went to Capitol Reef for three days. That was pretty fun. Went hiking a couple times and swam in a really cold river. I even climbed a 37 meter crack, which was awesome. I also had some dang good (if almost too sweet) apple pie. I also played poker one night, and almost won (sorta).

The day after I got back I went to a swim party for my school (just the high schoolers and jr. high) at Veterans pool.

And the day after THAT I went to Lagoon, again with my school. Some other schools were there as well, but who cares about them?

Then, on Wednesday of this week I left for Lake Powell for four days. It was freakin awesome down there. We did boating, wake-boarding, wake-surfing, and tubing. I also got to know my quorum members and leaders better as well as getting some excellent experiences.

'Twas a busy week for me.

General News Update:

Comcast Home Page:
Gulf oil spill's threat to wildlife turns real
http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20100603/US.Gulf.Oil.Spill/

CNN Tech:
With Foursquare, life is a virtual game
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/06/04/foursquare.dennis.crowley/index.html

N4G (News 4 Gamers):
Crysis 2 First Gameplay Footage From GTTV
http://n4g.com/news/537269/crysis-2-first-gameplay-footage-from-gttv

World News:
Gaza aid ship escorted to Israeli port by military.
http://article.wn.com/view/2010/06/05/Gaza_aid_ship_escorted_to_Israeli_port_by_military/

After another hiatus...

Well, I'm finally back. Sorry for the lull.

Important updates:

1. I finally got my bass!!!! YAYZ!!!! It's a four string Samick and I got the amp with it, and a case, strap, picks, and cable. WIN!!!

2. Josh had to go back to Afghanistan... *sad face*

3. I got The Conduit!!! AWESOMESAUCE GAME THERE PEEPS!!! \m/>.<\m/ ROCK ON!!! I can't wait for Conduit 2 and Halo Reach! Gonna be a good year for games ladies and gentlemen!

4. I got the Jurassic Park Trilogy!!!!! Woo-hoo!!! People, the first one. Best. Movie. EVER. The other two are decent I guess.

5. Started Drivers Ed a couple weeks ago (finally) I'm beginning to think I might like it better irl than on teh interwebz but whatever.

6. Made a few lolz on icanhascheezburger.com One even made it to the homepage! http://cheezburger.com/pictures-by-shadowclaw363/lolz

7. That's about it, comment if I missed anytin.

General News Update:

Comcast Home Page:
Millions face tax increases under Dems budget plan
http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-politics/20100421/US.Congress.Budget/

CNN Tech Headline:
Cell Phones to 'smell' Biochem Attack?
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/21/security-brief-cellphones-to-smell-biochem-attack/

N4G (News 4 Gamers):
Top 25 Most Awesome Game Weapons
http://www.n4g.com/gaming/News-511694.aspx

World News:
Evo Morales' message to grassroots climate talks – planet or death
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/apr/21/evo-morales-grassroots-climate-talks

News Update (and an important announcement or two)

Ho-kay here goes nothin'. Well to start with I am now certified to SCUBA dive to one-hundred feet max. 'Twas certainly an amazing experience going to 65 feet underwater in the crater. The worst part of the whole trip was getting out of the water and putting the gear away, because the air was FREEZING.

General news update now

Comcast Home-page news:
Cruise hit by illness ends early.
More at: http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20100318/US.Cruise.Sick.Passengers/

CNN Tech Headline:
Google Entering the 'smart tv' Market Reports Say.
More at: http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2010/03/18/google-entering-the-smart-tv-market-reports-say/

N4G (News 4 Gamers):
Notes on Project Natal, including how much space you'll need.
More at: http://www.n4g.com/tech/News-494546.aspx

World News:
US Ambassador calls China's Currency Stance 'A real concern.'
More at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/business/global/19yuan.html?hp&ex=&ei=&partner=

Important announcements

1. Went SCUBA diving for the first time \M/ >_< \M/ Rock on.
2. Finished Chapter Ten!
3. Published my Seventh Post! (AKA this one)

Homecoming of Family pt.2

Right then. Well my brother finally got back last night... at about ten thirty PM. He was tired, but he slept eleven hours on the plane unlike Jess (who only slept three). 'Twas a joyous reunion that went till... oh, say midnight or so, and they went to the house the had bought a while back (somehow they got five beds and a fridge with it to, no I do NOT know why or how). They also took their dog, Dug, back (sad face).

Right then, Book news. Pretty close to the end of chapter ten, will probably finish it today. I'll start on eleven tomorrow (hopefully).

D&D news. My character (miraculously) leveled up TWICE the last time. We pretty much invaded a port town of a neutral nation to use it as a staging point for a key supply lane of the Imperium army. Read Kevin's blog 'A Tale to Tell' for more info on the story. Now my character is level seven and packin' some heavy hits (so to speak).


News Update:
Comcast Home Page News: Guilty Plea in Letterman Plot.
More at: http://www.fancast.com/blogs/2010/tv-news/ap-source-guilty-plea-expect
ed-in-letterman-case/?cmpid=FCST_itn

CNN Tech Headline: At Conference i-Phone Game Development Break Out.
More at: http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/03/09/cdc.iphone.game.development/index.html

N4G (News for Gamers): IGN; Final Fantasy XIII Review
More at: http://www.n4g.com/News-488303.aspx

World News: Israel Approves East Jerusalem Homes as Biden Visits.
More at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8558347.stm

Homecoming of Family pt. 1

Well, I have some good news for those of you who know what I'm talking about. My sister in law, Jessica, came back from Afghanistan today. Apparently she only slept for THREE HOURS on the flight from Afghanistan... to Salt Lake. Now, I never fall asleep easy, but only three hours on a flight that long? That's just cruel.

Josh (my brother) will be back soon as well. Not really sure when. But they bought a house close to us (for once). They've been living in Virginia for the past ha;f decade or so and we've been bugging them to move down here for a long time. Not sure if they'll stay here permanently or what, but hey, at least they'll be here for more than a few weeks.

D&D update, well my character is metaphorical inches from leveling to level six. I would have leveled, but we didn't have the time. So we'll finish Act 1 on Monday. We had a schedule change cause some more people joined us. Ethan and Amanda will be playing with me, Jack, and Eli. Kevin, of course, is the DM still, but Eli doesn't really show up that much anymore, I'm not sure why.

Book update, I've finished chapter nine and I'm nearly finished with chapter ten. After which I hope to go back to chapter six and finish part two of the book (chapters 5-8). So once I finish chapter ten I'll be halfway done with part three (chapters 9-12), and once I finish chapters six to eight I'll be 3/8 of the way done or so.

News update.
Comcast Home Page Story:
A dog is best friends with a cheetah. Learn more at:
http://www.comcast.net/video/odd-couple-/1432391030/Comcast/949720224/

CNN Tech Headline:
Questioning whether 'net security is worth it. Learn more at:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/03/05/cyberattack.prosecute/index.html

N4G (News For Gamers):
Google to Build Fiber Optic Network across United States:
http://www.n4g.com/tech/News-487030.aspx

World News:
California not ready for big earthquake, UCLA study says:
http://article.wn.com/view/2010/03/06/California_not_ready_for_big_earthquake_UCLA_study_says/