Saturday, February 28, 2009

CAA: Home of the Lair

CAA (Christian Anime Alliance) is, by far and large, one of the largest and most successfull forums on the internet for Christians who happen to be lovers of anime, manga and video games. It's simple, yet elligent layout is easy to navigate and not as siesure-inducing as some other forums on the interwebs. For the last year or two, it has been a home of mine in the good old world wide web and has provided me with many insites and plenty of good yucks along the way. I have personally found it to be a pleasant distraction from my daily frustrations and the hustle-n-bustle of the week's hum-drum-ho-hum-age. Especially in the Goof-Off threads, many laughs and good times are had by all in attendance and much randomness and anarchy is to be expected at all times.
My other main favorite section of the CAA boards is the role playing section, of course. Again, many good times and much unintended hillarity and drama goes on in this intense, family-friendly place of creative writing fraught with anime references by the truck load. I personally enjoy the friends I've made here too. Lots of wacky, zainy and brainy people hang out here and we always have a blast.
I would have to say, though, that the Lair of the Order of Ninjas is one of my favorite Goof Off threads. Maybe that's because I started it. Anywho, If you're a ninja, ninja-in-training, a ninjaphile or a ninja-wannabe, come and check out the Lair. (Well, after you sign up on CAA, that is...)
Consider this your official invitation to join the ranks of Christ-following, anime-luving ninja in the Lair. I look forward to killing you soon.

JAck out.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Just when I thought things couldn't get much worse

By now you've probably all heard about the rough economic times we've been having here and how a lot of people are getting laid off because of it. It really kinda sucks, especially when it could've been prevented, had the government not idiotically tried to bail out all those stupid banks that lent out more than theyed ever see come back. If they'd been thinking ahead, like they should have, this wouldn't have happened. True that the bank are mostly to blaim for this economic cunundrum, what with all the wreckless lending they've been doing, knowing that they'd never see that money ever again! It's a wonder they're still in business! You would've thought they would be more conciencious and planned farther ahead than this, but appearantly we were all wrong.
So, if these banks made idiots of themselves, then why in God's name did the government bail them out?! They should've known that something like this would screw us over and kill us in the long run, right? True that it's not another depression era and I don't think the problem is nearly as horrific as these liberal-minded newscasters make it out to be, but honestly, now, this whole mess could've been completely sidestepped if the government had just said no to those banks. Let 'em go bankrupt for all I care! More business for the little banks! Besides, they're the banks that actually care about their customers for a change.
And as for that whole schpeil about investing in gold, it's a load of freakin' bull crap! Just ask Dave Ramsey @ www.daveramsey.com
Anywho, all of this to say an uncle of mine is getting laid off soon. Here's hoping things go well and he finds a new job soon. Until next time, QUIT FREAKIN' OUT!!!

JAck out.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Yesterday

...was so BOMB! I had just got back to the Federal Way satelite and sat down at a computer to eat lunch. A classmate of mine, we'll just call 'im Pat (since that's his name anyway), was sitting at the computer in front of me doing something (Lord only knows what) when he pipes up, much to my dismay (sarcasm), and comments on how glad he was it was Monday since he hadn't done his homework. Confused, I asked him why, thinking he was either high on la-la land or being sarcastic. That's when he said it: "Stats is canceled!"
I stopped dead in mid-forkfull of fried rice in disbelief. Could it be true? Was stats class really canceled and I could go home? Or was he just pulling my leg for kicks as a cruel joke?
"Really?" I asked inquizitively.
"Look at the board, dude." He said, pointing to it. Plane as day, 'Diana's Class Canceled' was written in big green letters. Yep, if it had been a snake, it would've bitten me for five minutes straight. "There's even a note on her door that says so."
"Sa-WEET!" Now I was excited. I could go home early and no one would care. I was FREE!
With a new-found vigor, I wolfed down the rest of my fried rice, packed up my stuff and took off like a shot for home. It fealt soooo good not to have to wait around for another hour and a half for another boring class and be dog tired by 2:00!
Of course, I wasn't nearly as lucky today, having two classes that are way worse than any math class back-to-back. At least I had the luxury of leaving directly afterward. Bottom line, yesterday was a good day. End of story.

Hope you had a happy Monday, too. (Muahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaa!!!)

JAck out.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Back in the Lair...

*A red and white clad figure deftly steps from the shadows in silence, a piercing stare affixed within his deep blue eyes, his right hand upon the hilt of his sword ready to strike*

...And we're back. Man, feels good to be able to just take off after class and get home early for a change. It's not that I necessarily hate school in general, but there are some classes that I don't especially enjoy all that much (namely art 100). I just like being able to get away and do my own thing, ya'know? I mean, it's not like any of us wants to be restricted to academia 24/7, right?
Anywho, the creative juices are kinda starting to flow on the art midterm, so I guess that's a good sign. Now to finish the other three or four pages in the story board (great).
It's also time to get going on my physical therapy for the spine (faulty lumbar that's half joint). It acts up and bugs me now and then. I should also get in my quiet time tonight, maybe after I finish with this post. Anyways, If you find something interesting for me to write about, leave me a comment or shoot me an email of something. 'Til them, rock on, rock hard, and watch out for drunk moshers (I hear those guys can get pretty vicious).
Now get out and be popular,
JAck out.

Bored as all heck...

Okay, maybe not today. At least I don't hafta listen to the art teacher for two hours straight, thank heaven!
Anywho, school is okay for the most part. Appearantly I'm struggling in several of my classes, though it sounds like I still have enough time to turn that around if I act now.
Moving on, my group is working on logic models in health class. It's pretty intense and totally related to health...
I'm kinda really really bored right now. I'll write later when I have something interesting to write about.
JAck out.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Love is in the air: Singles Awareness day is coming!

Valentine's Day is nearly hear and I'm single... and I could honestly care less one way or the other. I remember the origional reason it's celebrated: in honor of St. Valentine, of course. Well, okay, it's not an actual 100% for-sure which St. Valentine the holiday celebrates and is not celebrated by all on February 14th. Apparrently, the Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates this holiday in early July on the 6th. Go figure.
Anywho, getting back to my origional point, Valentine's Day has, for many, become just another overly-hyped mass-consumer shopping event to see who can get the best deals on the best gifts and holiday parafernalia before said holiday comes. If you ask me, it's just another excuse to go on a spending spree at all the latest sales for gifts and crap that you wouldn't think or even dream of buying any other day of the year and to me, that's kind of pointless and depressing. I mean, if you realy love that special someone, why don't you try and do something nice like flowers, cards or chocolates every day? Why wait until a holiday or their birthday or something like that? Why not just show them how you feel right now? In fact, why not just put down that mouse and keypad and get out and do something with them right now? Is that really so hard to do on a regular non-holiday day? Is that too much to ask?
If you want my advise, don't go out and buy a card and waste five bucks on something you could make just as easily in under five to ten minutes. If you really want to show someone you care, give them something they'll actually apreciate. Sure, there are good gifts out there you can buy if have the money, but try and make something with your own two hands. Put your heart into it (making it, I mean).
Okay, there's my holiday commercialization rant for the day. Stay tuned for the next post (which, hopefully, is soon).
Until then, have a great Valentine's Day!
JAck out

Monday, February 9, 2009

A day in the life

*A red and white clad figure deftly steps from the shadows in silence, a piercing stare afficked within his deep blue eyes, his right hand upon the hilt of his sword ready to strike*

Anywhos, onto the drudgery that was my day.
Today started a little differently than usual; dad was already at work. The only reason I found this odd is that we usually ride in together in the morning, I drop him off at work, and I have the car the rest of the day to head back and forth between classes. Today, however, he had to be at work by three in the morning. It didn't cramp my plans too badly, though; we have two cars.
Anyway, I got to sleep in a little, which was nice since every other weekday saw me getting up at the ungodly hour of six in the mourning to ride in with my old man. It's not that I don't like doing it in the morning, I do. I'm just not what you would call a morning person per se. I'm more of a night owl by nature and that's kinda just how I roll. Moving on from my rabbit trail on human nature...
I went to my first class, CSL102 (Chinese as a second language), which was kinda fun and somewhat interesting, which is normal especially with the teacher I have. He's very animated and fun to work with, not like some teachers that are strict, monotone and boring. He actually tries to help my class learn the material instead of just randomly assigning a lot of boring, worthless busy work. Plus, not only that, he's a chinese native! That class couldn't be anymore perfect right now... well almost. I struggle a little with getting my homework done for that class, but I'm improving in my speech and understanding of the language and that's what counts.
Anywho, after finishing up with CSL, I hopped in the car, popped a Demon Hunter CD (these guys are on the top of my favorite metal groups list, by the way), and high tailed it back to Highline's Federal Way satelite facility, Puget Sound Early College (affectionately reffered to by all the students and staff there as PSEC) to kill a little time before my stats class at noon. The class itself was short, as usual, running only about an hour as aposed to the two hour span it's supposed to run (theoretically), which was totally fine by me. It's not that I hate the class or anything, don't get me wrong on that. I just like not having to sit through two hours of back-to-back class lectures and crap like that. So after that, I decided to update the myspace, check the email, watch some hilarious, side-splitting you tube videos and just kind of unwind from a full day of academic mayhem. So now here it is, nine PM and for once I have no homework done! Yeah that might be kinda bad, but it won't hurt me too bad, at least not tonight. Now I just gotta stew over the freakin' art homework I gotta have finished for my super extra boring art class. (*GROAN*)
Anywho, on another side tangent...
The junior an senior cohorts seems to be more closely knit this year than last year. My class ( the senoirs), which has thinned out significantly since last quarter alone, has seen more personal interaction with the younger cohort of juniors then last years seniors ever were with us. I've gotten to know quite a few of the juniors and see a good number of them on an almost semi-regular basis, every Monday through Thursday. I'm not just talking about knowing them by face or class, either. I actually know a handfull of them by name AND face. They're a good bunch of crazy kids that were just like we were last year. There also seems to be more of them. It kinda makes me feel bad for 'em that PSEC won't be around next year, what with Highline's buget cuts taking place this year after Spring quarter ends. This doesn't really affect me all that much as I'll be graduating this year, but I still feel bad for the juniors. It just kinda got sprung on 'em at the last minute and left 'em hangin'. They still have options, to be sure, but they won't get another opportunity like PSEC. It was fun while it lasted and the program will be sorrowfully missed by all who were involved, from the program director to the janitor. We had some good times, didn't we...
"good times... and good times were had by all, and they ate Sir Robin's minstrils."
Yay, Monty Python!
Okay, there's my multi-rabbit-trail-infested post for the day. Just another day in the life of JAck, the Shilohan Ninja.
Until we text again, courage and Godspeed! And may the Force be with you!
JAck out.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

And so it begins...

*A red and white clad figure deftly steps from the shadows in silence, a piercing stare afficked within his deep blue eyes, his right hand upon the hilt of his sword ready to strike*

Pretty neat, huh?
Anywho, it's my first post on the new blog so I thought I'd start it out with a bang. Other than that, I'm just kinda chillin' here on the lappy, puttin' mah uber-ninja skizz-llz to work on, wait for it, ...homework. Lame, I know, but I don't really have too much of a choice since it's all due in a day or three. Who knew art and stats could be so great. Whoo-hoo. Big excitement.
Such is the life of a teenage ninja college student. Get up, get dressed, drive dad to work, drive to the main campus, sit around invisibly pwning the ever-loving crap out of enemies and demons as I wait with my daily Starbucks in hand for my morning Chinese class to begin, sit through, by far, the greatest class ever taught by the most amazing inscructor ever, drive out to the college satelite fifteen minutes away, chill out for about two hours meditating as I stun from affar evil ninja pigmis whilest casually checkin' on teh myspace, sit through one or two of three of quite possibly the most pointless classes ever invented by man, retreat to the confines of the second story tower (a.k.a. the lounge) for a few hours, and finally pick up the bacon-bringer in time to get home for dinner, expertly weaving in and out of traffic all along the way before hitting the books once again and hitting the proverbial hay.
If this sounds at all familiar to you, you might be, or at least may have been in a past life, a college student. If so, I feel you pain. Hit me up on the myspace sometime and we can swap horror stories about that chemistry teacher that bored you out of your mind with all that greek algebra from the periodic tabel.
Well, I guess that's all I got for now.
Until our next encounter, sleep tonight with one eye open. You never know when the gnomes may be planning to jack your stockpile of ramen, ya'know. Blasted gnomes...
Courage and Godspeed,
JAck out.