YES! After much intense studying, dedication, determination, and hard damn work I’ve completed my finals and now await the final semester grades which should be available online on May 6th 2008. In the meantime I will be kicking back and enjoying actual days off from work without studying, school project deadlines, or late night studying; instead, to replace the school schedule will be gaming with the greatness which is GTA IV!

So, if there are any Xbox360 GTA fans hit me up with a friend request on 360!

I ultimately do not know whom or what authoritative figure made this call, but my gamer-tag was banned and I’ve owned it for several years; hell, I have even been a proud XBL member since the original Ghost Recon on the Xbox! I sincerely can’t believe that when I go to sign in I am presented with some whacked messaged that my gamer-tag is not in accordance with their policies. Then it offers for me to change it and then the Xbox360 loops in a sequence telling me I can’t change my gamer-tag unless I am signed into LIVE, but I can’t because my gamer-tag is banned… freaking awesome Micro Soft!

What is most puzzling is that if my gamer-tag, XboxDruggie, was out of accordance this entire time why is it only now, years after registering that it is banned? Especially without any warning or even course of action within a timed manner. Just cut me off from the service I’ve paid for upfront.

I really hope there is an amazing explanation because I plan on emailing and calling whatever depart head managers I must to have this explained as to “how” it is out of their accordance of policy!

Also, Mr. Major Nelson, if you happen to read this please enlighten me to this tragedy!

“Many of us at one time or another have wondered what we are doing here. This can be both at times when we are having hectic, stress filled days, or at a standstill in a fog of boredom. We have temporarily lost sight of our purpose.

On average, the hours we work constitute a relatively small portion of our life and should not control our well being. If you are too tired or do not have enough time to do anything after hours, then your daily routine may be out of balance and may need to be adjusted. Your work may be too difficult or unsuitable, or you may need to change your routine. Perhaps a simpler lifestyle would change your focus on your work and life in general.

To obtain a healthy purpose in our lives we need a good balance of our time for work, goals, recreation, and relaxation. The daily routine should be examined, a plan established, and then it should be followed.

We can make good use of our time away from work to increase our knowledge of things and life, to work at a hobby or project, and to just relax. There may not be much room to maneuver, say if you are a working single parent, but perhaps a few hours can be found during your hectic week to do something that you want to do.

Most of us use only a small percentage of our capabilities and can do so much more. Learning new things gives us a feeling of achievement. Reading nonfiction books increases our knowledge and teaches us new skills, but it should be enjoyable. In undertaking a new after hours project do something different from what you do all day at work. Start with something small and complete it, so as not to get discouraged and to get a feeling of achievement when it is done.

If you are too busy and under a lot of stress, a more passive and relaxing undertaking might be in order, at least to start with. A day a week, or a few hours on certain days, should be set aside for your favorite enjoyment. Walking, listening to nice music, reading a novel, or leisurely working in the yard. Avoid news or entertainment that is saturated with disasters and violence. But whatever you do, don’t sit and stew.

“When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.” - Seneca”

Awesomely found at: 32 Keys

I plan on updating the theme of my site here shortly, if time will permit such a task. Although, themes are basically just plug and activate in WordPress I tend to customize it to my liking and skill set. It’s how I learn and tweak code, graphics and other functionality. Ironically, I don’t seem to find more time to just keep the blog’s content flowing, yet, I am devoting time to the overall look.

(Please Read On…)
Read the rest of this entry »

iPhone, just stating the phrase brings a gleeful aurora of “YEA” to my thoughts. I seriously am anticipating the day my contract with Helio is completed so that I can awesomely switch to AT&T’s network and purchase the glorious iPhone. Every time I am at work and a customer is fiddling with an iPhone I get all giddy inside and just want to shout with joy!

One day Apple… one day!

Just experimenting with this new WordPress plug-in… awesomely so it is quite easy to implement and gives off a great display of your photos. This is all from only 10 minutes of toying with it.

[Show as Slideshow]

You’re seeing the marvel that is High Definition TV, in a hundred different monitors at your local retail outlet. It can be very exciting, but confusing. So, you pick out your baby, buy it, and take it home. Following a storm of unwrapping, and the plugging in of cables, you have…a picture that doesn’t even come close to what you saw in the store. Annoyed, you finally decide to read the manual (something most people would never think to do), see a reference to a type of High Definition connection called HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), and realize that’s exactly what you need to go out and get. So back to your local Retailer you go, only to be confronted with DVD players that Upscale, HD-DVD Players, Blu-Ray Players, Video Game Consoles and dozens of other products that use this same new Interface. Just when you thought you understood your new HDTV, you are thwarted by the numerous choices available.

Older Analog style video connections did not offer nearly the connection standard of HDMI, which allows a single cable connection to pass both Audio and Video signals; this is the new High Definition age connection standard. If your TV supports Full HD, make sure you have an HDMI cable to take advantage of this. Rather than a multitude of cords and a maze of cables snaked behind your TV and entertainment system, HDMI allows the best of both worlds by combining audio and visual into one single digital cable.

To help you learn what to purchase and why, let us briefly discuss HDTV resolutions and their meanings.

HDTV Resolutions:

- 480i (480 interlaced lines of resolution) Also known as what you’ve watched on normal TV for years

- 480p (480 Progressive lines of resolution) Known as SDTV, progressively scanning images from a DVD player creates a nicer, smoother image on your SDTV/HDTV

- 720p (720 Progressive lines of Resolution) This is your initial step into HDTV. Allowing for 720 lines of resolution, nearly twice that of 480p, provides a much smoother image on a High Definition TV

- 1080i (1080 interlaced lines of Resolution) Currently the greatest resolution provided by Satellite and Cable operators, offering exceptional quality picture on a television capable of displaying 1080i

- 1080p (1080 Progressive lines of Resolution) Also known as Full HD, 1080p is currently “IT” in the market place in terms of best quality picture.

Now that you understand the progression of HDTV Resolutions, let’s figure out what all those numbers really mean on that new HDTV you’ve just purchased.

When you are selecting the cables to connect your HDMI equipped devices, these are some elements to keep in mind.

As you will be spending a good bit on the cable, make sure you get one which is future proofed - even though your TV programs aren’t broadcast in 1080p, the latest DVD and game consoles are, so get a cable that is 1080p certified. To ensure that it transmits video as well as loss-less audio, make sure the cable is HDMI 1.3. Many cables longer than 10 feet begin to lose quality, so make sure that the cable is certified for 1080p. Lastly, pay attention to how strained the cable is, because most versions don’t have any sort of locking device, and it can wiggle loose.

That’s it. Now it is time to purchase a HDMI cable, so that you may enjoy that vibrant video and crisp audio that you fell in love with at the store!

Were you playing a great game of Halo, only to have your Xbox 360 crash on you right in the middle of game play!? Well I’ve had this happen to me, and it was one of the most frustrating things! If you’re a hardcore gamer and you’re reading this article, most likely you are all too familiar with this.

Microsoft offers to fix your Xbox 360 if you ship it to them, but if your console is no longer under warranty, guess who’ll be paying for it!? Personally, I couldn’t think of a worse thing then to send my Xbox 360 away for many weeks or even months! That’s valuable gaming time I’m missing, not to mention that there have been many cases where an owner gets his/her system back, only to find that the console STILL crashes! That’s just not acceptable.

Luckily, there are actually a few things you can do to that may help to fix your console:

The first thing you can do is to make sure that your Xbox 360 has space to breathe. What I mean by this is to make sure that your console is far away from any heat vents or heaters that may increase the temperature of the system. Also, make sure there is nothing blocking the air intake vents on the console. The console already runs very hot to the touch, so making sure that it is well ventilated will help to cool it down, and many times can fix the problems people have with their systems crashing.

Another thing you can try is to grab a small fan or even something like a hair dryer that has a cold setting, and aim it at the vents on the side of the Xbox 360. This can not only help to cool the console, but also remove any dust that surrounds the important computer chips inside.

If neither of these things work, there are actually step-by-step, easy to follow guides all about Xbox 360 fixes.

Click HERE For The Best Guide On How To Fix The Xbox 360 Yourself

It was my sweetheart’s sister’s wedding in Louisiana, went to my first huge casino and also purchased the amazing new wonder called an iPod Touch! It was great, besides the exhaustive drive there and back, but overall it just rocked! The wedding was the showcase for the entire weekend; with so much pressing time to prep and prepare things were on fire. Not to mention I was able to dress-up myself in my first suit and look handsomely sharp for my sweetheart! A nice set of photos have been compiled for all to view if they care to see: Wedding Photos.

2 final days of waiting stand in our way! Though it may seem like an eternal wait… it will pass the time very quickly with some of these ideas:

1) Run to you nearest GameStop and pray you can still pre-order a regular edition… (if you were hard headed not to already)
2) Practice your ass off in some Halo 2 multiplayer
3) Play through Halo and Halo 2 again

Add some of your own in the comments if anyone feels so enticed to!

This contest will literally astound you! Sponsored and offered by Xbox 360 Fanboy:

50″ Plasma 1080P TV
Xbox 360 Elite
Bose Surround System

Talk about an amazing god-like set-up! I could game in style with that goodness! Truthfully, if I was ever so lucky to be “The One” to win that prize package I just might fall out in a coma!

I found my gem hiding on eBay; after dealing with a local degrading dealership I now will own a NEW 2007 car! Hopefully have it picked up on Thursday!

After a long summer of no classes Fall is here and so is the Fall term for college! I’m so ready for another great semester of expanding my brain and knowledge. Just more college credit hours to go toward my major in education; as well as, building a solid foundation for my future! The only downside of today is…. Bioshock releases for the 360 and PC! So, I’ll just have to wait until I get home this after noon to play; although, I may even have to wait until 9PM when my sweetheart gets back from her class, because she too wanted to play through the game with me!

Life is good for those whom try!

I recently found out that through my company I was able to secure a Helio Ocean phone with a great discount… so naturally I took the plunge and I must say I’m very impressed with the device model I chose as well the service! The phone itself is loaded with several amazing features, GPS, 2MP camera, dual slider for keypad or QWERTY keys, web, email, plus a unique “Buddy Beacon” application that allows you to add fellow Helio friends and locate them through GPS on a map!

I know I’ve unfortunately been out of the times without having a cellphone for quite some time now, but now I’m back in the game and sincerely impressed with what there is to toy with!

I’m quite lucky as I was sold on the Crackdown game; yet, not only for the fact of the Halo 3 Beta, but also because the game seemed to offer up a slew of goodness from what I had read. Well… Bungie had confirmed a release day for the Halo 3 Beta, May 16th! It’s been 11 days since the release and I’ve practically played everyday from the 16th until today. That alone lends to proof that it is still as addictive as the previous installment, Halo 2. Graphics have taken a huge leap forward; I just can’t fathom the reasoning for how anyone can substantially claim that the graphics aren’t much better than Halo 2! The new toys (Bubble Shield, Power Drainer, Grav Lift, etc…) are quite entertaining along with a new tactic of how to play. The maps are well designed and laid out, and the vehicles are great as well; so, then, what is missing to make it an amazing game that is tipping the charts of excitement?

I believe that it’s really all just boiled down to a sequel with nothing flamboyant enough to push it over the edge like Halo 2 did. That’s not to say it won’t sell a zillion and one copies shortly after release, but I personally feel it is lacking something to give it a great edge over amazingness. I could be wrong and it might just be me… but I’m not impressed.

On the other hand, Shadowrun intrigues me much more and hope the devs have tweaked it immensely since the beta days…
That is one game I can see me playing for a good long while to come. Plus, it arrives next week!

I think I’ve found the most simplistic method for sharing my massive mp3 library online and locally! Not only is it simple to set-up and get running, but it is very clean and sleek. I’ve created a “guest” user to browse my 80+ gigs of music all tagged, organized, and filed anally. Enjoy…

iTunes RSS
user - guest
password - passw0rd (a numerical zero not a o)

If I see too much bandwidth being used it will be throttled!

Also check out MyTunesRSS, which is waht could make this amazing feat possible!

I’m curious as to what most blog readers enjoy reading about? I suppose it can vary widely because everyone has their own preferences. I just would like ot have a steady stream of readers seeing my thoughts. Am I not interesting enough? Are my writings just non-sense that most people don’t care to waste time reading? I’m not looking for celebrity status, but just a faithful crowd that drive me towrite more frequently and pressure me to give them content they enjoy.

I do know I’ve been extremely dedicated to work and school which explains my lack of writings. Which I might add has been going quite smoothly. I’ve put a lot of dedication into both equally well to progress and advance. Life can be good, as long as you see that way. Yet, remember, that although things may seem down and outright rock bottom - things could always be much worse!

On a final note me and my sweetheart Erin are still together! This has been thee best relationship so far. We are so different yet so similar and keep each other going. I love this woman; and one day I do wish to take her hand to the alter for a unity bond for life.

This is awesome news! It’s been reported of two new maps hitting GoW on the 10th and prior to the new maps a killer update that fixes the main gripes or actually ONLY gripes I have about he game. Though, as morally correct as it is the update also stops buddy ranked games by removing the names from the server list in ranked matches searches.

All details is courtesy of Joystiq: Update & Maps.

After many heated debates, absurd arguments, and vulgarly exchanged words it seems that a single wise individual from New York Times has debunked any association of Vista copying from Mac OS X! It is available in a video or written form; which, both clearly point-out the keen differences, that represent Vista as an original new Operating System.

As a lifetime Mac user this video clearly gives me a huge grin. Enjoy!

Yesterday marked a very interesting day for myself. I started off by only getting roughly 30 minutes of sleep due to my obsessive need for gaming and studying. I’ve been participating in two very unique, I think, Apple Mac communities that are just fun and overall enjoyable. Mac Heist & MacAppaDay, are the computer candies that I indulge with at that moment; both are giving away free software! Although, Mac Heist is doing it with an ingenious twist of puzzles and games online that you decipher.

Halo 3, is there anything else that needs to be said? This game is going to literally going to sweep the gaming community! Halo 2 was mind blowing successful; Halo 3 will only build on that power even farther. I’m not quite sue how well the story was/is for the first two Halo’s, but I did enjoy Halo 2’s untouchable online gaming! I can only imagine how far or what Bungie is cooking up for their final game in the trilogy. Well, I’m sure for anyone that is aware and pretty up 2 date around the gaming community knows Bungie released a 60 second CG trailer and opened up registration for Halo 3 beta! The registration is accessed over at Halo 3.com; as for the trailer can be downloaded via Xbox website or through the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Finally, I took the chance to get that dreaded test that millions of people feel they are so invincible to… HIV/AIDS. I don’t have any inclinations of being positive, just really a reassurance purpose. I recently did a research paper on AIDS and focused on prevention tactics and methods. I had learned a lot of interesting information and took the test myself to see where I stand. My father fell victim to the AIDS epidemic back in 1996 when I was 16; he chose to do drugs so it lead him down his early death bed. So sometime around the 18th I should be able to get my results… it’s nerve racking “not knowing” for certain, but this is the only to know.