PostHaste Recommends...Killing Your Friends

Before you start the email campaign to shut down my blog, I am of course speaking of Halo 2. It's a video game for those rock dwellers who are just now peeking out.

This week, Bungie (the developers of this phenonemons known as Halo and Halo 2) released four new maps to be downloaded over the Xbox Live online service. Two are free with the Bonus pack download: Containment, a huge snowy level with two bases, and Warlock, a small semetrical arena type room. They also have two others to download for a small price. The Killtacular pack is $5.99 and comes with two fairly big maps: Sanctuary, resembles the grounds and ruins of a temple of some kind, and Turf, a map on Earth complete with streets, alleys, rooftops, a warehouse, and a crashed Scarab (alien weapons platform thing).

So just when I was actually starting to not play this game that much they totally rein me back in. These maps are all well designed. I can't wait to try them out with a big group of players like at next months big LAN party at Corey O's.

Over the course of the next few months Bungie will be making more maps available for download - a total of nine in all. And in case you are wondering, the $5.99 Killtacular pack will be a free download in June but I for one think that it is worth getting now especially if you play the multiplayer a lot. Ha - did you like how I made it seem like some people play Halo 2 for the single player aspect. Yeah right, Halo (1) maybe but not Halo 2. Also, I don't mind throwing some coin Bungie's way. They turn out a great product and this time was no exception.

Oh and for those who don't have Xbox live, all nine new maps will be available on a disc you can buy sometime this summer. I think it will be around $30. It will also have some behind the scenes stuff and interviews. But only if you do not have Xbox Live should you wait for these maps. I definitely recommend getting these right away if you can.

Lastly, the guys at Red vs Blue have put up some walkthroughs of the maps that are great if you haven't had a chance to run around and figure out where all the weapons are, etc. Just scroll all the way down to the bottom of the linked page. They are second from the bottom. These are video walkthroughs not text ones so consider yourself warned dial-uppers.

Back to the old sniper's post...

And A Very Happy Birthday To Rachel Today

May God grant you many years to live,
for sure he must be knowing,

the earth has angels all too few

and heaven is overflowing...

~ Irish Birthday Toast

One-liner of the weekend

So we're at Trudy's in Austin Saturday night. I'm enjoying this amazing dish there "Stuffed Alvacado". It sounds healthy (read not tasty) but it is actually this huge alvacado patty stuffed with chicken, cheese, and chipotle jalepenos then breaded and fried (read slap yo mama tasty). It's fantastic but beside the point.

I notice that Janx and his animator buddy are focused on something behind me. Janx: "Dude, turn around and look at the bar."

I turn and see what have to be almost a dozen backs that belong to Indian (like India Indian) girls all the same age, build, clubbin' outfits, hair length/style, exotically beautiful, etc. standing at the bar.

Janx: "That's amazing! It's like they cloned the same girl over and over!"

I smootly take my napkin out of my lap and act like I have to get up to leave.

PostHaste: "Now, if you'll excuse me...I have to go clone myself."

I don't care who you are, that's funny. I don't normally like to toot my own ego but then again why else would I have a blog. I try to strike a balance between self-deprecating humor, randomness, and me just saying how great I am. I'll try to keep the ego-tooting to a minimum. Though apparently today I ate an ego burrito for lunch.

The best thing about me making that joke is that it works better in my current single state than if I had a gf. It's also funnier if you are privy to the knowledge of how unsmooth I am and how I have no game when it comes to the ladies although this is more to do with being out of the game for so long than me being a spaz. Although my recent leanings towards comic books and video games rather than say regular excercise and exposure to sunlight probably don't help. Needless to say though the three of us guys (who were the only ones at the table to hear the comment) thought it was pretty funny. I hope you did as well. Hopefully it's not one of those "had to be there" things. I tend to be a lot funnier in real life than when I'm handed down through oral tradition.

One For The Road

It's Friday. There's a rental car parked outside with my name on it...if my name were Ford Focus. Which for all you know, could be. Unless you know my name. But I'm off topic.

What could all this mean!? No my car's not in the shop again... I'm going on another fabled Austin road trip! No road trip companions this time. It's just me and the open road and my Creative Nomad Zen Xtra mp3 player set on random. I'm excited to see what the ghost in the machine will create for my soundtrack. Everyone should have a soundtrack for their life by the way.

So yeah, it's Rachel's birthday on Monday so I am going down to spend some time with her. This is the first major occasion (post-breakup) so it feels a little strange but the truth is we care a lot about each other and are still best friends and that outweighs everything else as far as I'm concerned. (yeah just re-read that and I had to call myself a big homo for it so you can go ahead too...it's ok...do it now!*)

So it should be fun with a small side of weird but maybe even not who knows?** I'm also slated to see da Janx which is always life enriching. So to weekends out there, have a great everyone!

I leave you with this:

If you love a cappella and classic Nintendo or if you just like clicking links, please click this link which is by far the lengthiest one description-wise that I have ever put up. **Requires QuickTime***

*in my head I heard the last bolded words "do it now!" as spoken by a certain current California Governor/killing machine sent from the future. I think it really brings out the randomness of it all that much more.

**after writing this sentence I realized it may be the worst sentence I have ever written. I have left it as is because "I'm not even mad. That's amazing."

What's The Deal? I'm A Frickin' Posting Machine!

Maybe, I have more free time on my hands than usual or maybe I am just lovin' the random more than usual but would ya look at all these posts!! Unfortunately, I'm sure some real gems are gonna get lost in the shuffle.

Well I have to add one more because it was too awesome. It's sad actually and I'm glad she is okay but you gotta love how this lady celebrated her freedom.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7546770/?GT1=6428

And now to try and layoff the posts...but it's like effing catnip, this stuff!

Read My Lips

One day after promising more pictures and a quote of the week and I deliver. I'd make a great politician. So what if the new pic is just so I could have a new member profile picture and so what if it is just about the silliest thing you are likely to ever see. A promise is a promise and I make good on mine.

If I could have your attention on the right side of my blog just above the links section you will see the shiny new "Quote of the Week or So" section. I could think of no better innaugral quote than one from the brilliant Mitch Hedberg, in memoriam. Just picking one of his was the hardest part so expect to see more from him.

Unfortunately, adding this quotes section has made it harder to keep my less clutter promise so...I'm having some people spin this into good news.

Politics is teh hard.

Ralph says "Time for a new profile pic!" 

PostHaste Recommends Saving Toby

Or not saving him. Either way I am going to be watching how this plays out. Just go here:
***disclaimer!!! endangerment to cute woodland creature***

http://savetoby.com/

Make sure and go to the updates section and read the hate mail. Hold on wait a sec...
***disclaimer!!! adult language used by people who probably aren't very adult at least mentally speaking***

http://savetoby.com/updates/3.php

There. Oh and...

http://savetoby.com/updates/12.php

there. Better hurry too. This site may not make it very long. It's coming under all kinds of fire. Don't know why...

90 Day Or So Review

I just felt like doing a state of the blog address. It's been three months since I started it. I've had fun. Changed looks once already. I like the blues better. I may change it again. One thing I've noticed is how often I use some words. Like "actually". I think I used it twice in the same paragraph. I almost tried to use it twice in the same sentence but one of them got edited out before we went to press. Wish I had a thesaurus. Don't get me started on "just". I know I use that one just actually too much.

Also, I'm not too concise. I should try shorter quips as opposed to longer Steinbeckian updates that clutter up the page. I'd also like to see more pictures on my blog. I'm also contemplating a quote of the week section.

All in all, I'm happy with it and intend on blogging as long as I feel like it.

To sum up, the state of the blog is strong. The blog is teh clutter but it is also teh pwn. Our future may be abundant in quotes and pics. Thank you and God bless America.

No One Worries About Upsetting A Droid...

Well, I just noticed today that Star Wars tickets are onsale online so I have to figure out which midnight showing I'm going to partake. It's tradition and just such a fun atmosphere to see the movies. I'm seriously contemplating seeing it at the Cinemark Legacy in Plano. They have the DLP (digital light processing) projectors out there that are amazing especially when a movie is all digital like Star Wars. It's like looking through a window when watching the film. Beautiful. I will definitely see it out there I just don't know if it will be the midnight showing or not (you see for I plan on seeing it more than once no matter how bad it could be.)

I actually have some high hopes for this one when compared to the previous two. I've pretty much given up on it being on par with the original three but it has to be the best of the "prequels". Plus, the PG-13 rating makes me think this is actually going to be pretty dark and therefore less gungans and ewoks...and more Wookiees. Pissed off army of Wookiees gone wild. I heard they were known for ripping arms out of their sockets when they get upset.

Crawfish Got Served!!!

The weekend was so fun. Just what I needed after a ho-hum week. I finally went to the comic store where I had many comics set aside waiting for me because Teresa rocks! There were lots of good ones last week. Normally I take a full week to read all my comics but I just devoured them in a couple days.

And speaking of devouring, I went to my first crawfish boil. I did not suck any of the craw-heads but did eat quite a bit of tails, potatoes, corn, sausage, and mushroom. All of the above were just stewing together and mixing and got spicier with each batch. It was great but later that night I felt like crud. I even ran a little bit of a fever until all the heavy, spicy food had run its course like a mini-flu or something. It was still good though. I also learned that the boils are more of an excuse to drink beer and shoot the bull. There was much mirth a-happening. My sister Wendy is the best (for it was she and my brother-in-law Lynton who threw it and invited all us). I should have took pictures I am just now realizing.

After that I hung out with Nate. We watched SNL with host Tom Brady (he plays foosball or something). Surprisingly only about 85% of the skits were football related. I expected a good 90%. We also played some XBOX and read some comics. It was a good unwind while I recovered from the boil.

Sunday I went to Dallas to visit a friend Mandy who is new to the area from Austin. We hung out for a couple hours, ate at Gengis Grill (which I hadn't had in forever...so good), and listened to a comedy cd of her favorite stand up comic (and now one of mine) Mitch Hedberg. He just recently passed away so I am saddenned that I am just now really finding out about him.

After leaving Dallas I met up with my friend Megan and we went to downtown Ft. Worth. It was already pretty late and Sunday night but I was really surprised how dead it was. We decided to just go to City Streets. It was pretty dead in there too but then we went back to "Cages" (one of four clubs in CS). And while still not as lively as I'm sure it gets on Friday or Saturday, I think we stumbled upon a gem. The dancers that come out on Sunday night aren't there for the crowds, or drinks. They are the dedicated. And the quite good. We watched them pop and lock for hours. I had never really seen dance battles in person before and it was awesome. There are no words.

Since it was mainly just these half dozen or so really good dancers out there standing in a circle and one-uping each other I did not get out there myself. Which was fine with me. I would have stepped out there and gotten served before I even moved. Actually after a few drinks...and when the dj would spin something insanely popular (Usher) and more of a crowd would actually get out there...and my friend would drag me out there...you might have seen me shake my ass a couple times. I don't dance and with good reason. If you saw me dance you'd understand. I've only been good at dancing as a form of physical comedy so I rarely really try...in public at least. But I had fun getting out there and letting loose a few times but it was way more fun to watch the professionals. I'm still amazed.

PostHaste Recommends...Sleep. Apparently

Yo, I don't know what was up with me this week but I was one lazy mofo. It's Friday night and I haven't even gone to pick up my comics this week. The hell? Don't worry. I'll get them tomorrow. There are some good ones in this batch. I wanted to but I have been in such a funk. I'm sure it has something to do with breakup stress. I wasn't completely useless this week. I did pick up KOTOR II again this week. Hadn't played it since February. Got a good session in on that. Also went out and appeassed a Chipotle craving I'd had for a while. Walked around World Market. It was nice. The weather has been incredible. I've just been sleeping so much. It's uncanny.
Moving update: I found a great newly built apartment closer to work and got approved for it. Same day my dad calls me and says there is a snag in the moving out process. The buyers had to have inspectors sent out to look at the house for their loan. There was some hail damage on the roof that has to be repaired before things can move on. So I'm in a bit of a holding pattern. I may lose the apartment but as awesome as it is I would love something even closer to work and cheaper. The apartment IS awesome though...torn-age!
I'm going to make up for this week (where I did very little but work and sleep) this weekend. My sister and brother-in-law are having a crawfish broil at their place. They've never had one. I've never been to one. After verifying that I wouldn't have to suck the head out (only the hardcore Cajuns do this apparently...just tails for me thanks) I said word. Also, they are going to try and have the pool heated and ready. Have I mentioned how beautiful it has been lately. So Saturday will be full of seafood adventures. Sunday, there is talk of seeing 'Sahara'...I also have a friend in Dallas who wants me to come out and party. I want to but it's hard to truly do that and then drive all the way back to Wise County. One thing I know I will be doing all weekend: avoiding Texas Motor Speedway, I-35, and 114 like the plague. Crazy NASCAR traffic.
Oh yeah. And I forgot to mention it on here but I saw 'Sin City' and it pwned so hard. So hard.

Further X-Men 3 Updates

This week the internet learned that it is very probable this will be the last X-Men film. Fox will likely focus on the Wolverine spinoff afterward (there's also talk of a [young] Magneto movie). It's a shame but at least we know it will go out on top as oppossed to milking the franchise dry. And who really knows these things. Afterall, if X-Men 3 does uber-well at the box office I'm sure all bets will be off.
Other interesting tidbits include a very trimmed down role for Cyclops. Again, shame but makes sense if he is also working on Singer's new Superman movie like I hear he is. It seems it will definitely be a dark Phoenix story. No Sentinels. Darn. But it does look like we might be able to expect a large destructive villian anyway. I mean aside from the Phoenix force.
British actor and ex-football player Vinnie Jones is supposedly in talks to play a villian. Popular speculation is that it will be Cain Marko - Prof. X's stepbrother a.k.a Juggernaut. I hope they go CGI with this so it's more like the books but they might just make him a 'normal' guy who happens to be an indestructible powerhouse as oppossed to an indestructible powerhouse who just happens to be a guy. We'll see. Sounds like brilliant casting if this happens.
For more information on this visit these sites:
http://aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=19887
http://filmforce.ign.com/x-men/
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&id=1808490829&cf=prev
Or visit your local library.

I KNEW IT!!!

I just took a quiz to find out who my inner European is...

Your Inner European is Irish!

Sprited and boisterous! You drink everyone under the table.

Who's" Your Inner European?

I'm not sure why the picture for Irish is a pair of pretty legs but I'll take it. Maybe it's Michael Flatley's legs. Hrrhhh...(shudders).

If you take the quiz, make sure and leave a comment and let me know what you got.

I may really blog one of these days. Or not. Meh (shrugs).

crazy busy quick update

I don't know what the deal is but I have been busy at work lately. And it looks like I will be holding one last nerd hurrah at the ranch before I move. Tomorrow night I'll be hosting our monthly-ish Star Wars RPG. Won't be as many people as the Halo 2 LAN party but I predict it will be wilder. And plenty of Bawls will be drunk my friends.

I'll also be checking out some places to rent around the area tomorrow so hopefully that goes well.

Then Sunday it is more RPG action as Shad, Nate, I and whoever else wants to join in will have a rousing session of 80s retro Marvel Super Heroes RPG.

So that's the quick update.

My recommendation for the week comes in the form of music. Well music video actually. It's the only way I can get this song on demand right now. The video is kinda weird but I am so into this song right now. It's the new Gorillaz' "Feel Good Inc." Here's a link for the video but I just suggest you turn the computer speakers up to "11" and get up and dance to this joint. Not that that's what I do...::cough::

http://search.launch.yahoo.com/launch/search/?m=video&p=feel+good+inc

One last thing: my U2 tickets came in the mail this week. Strangely enough I have just been kind of perching on things around the house while I stroke the tickets and call them my pressscious...::gollum::

April Spoofs Day!

Yeah, I was gonna do some fake blog entry but the best I could come up with was "Halle Berry signs on to do Wonder Woman". It had some funny moments in my head and made me think I might throw in fake pop culture news from time to time but I ultimately decided that as someone who jokes around all the time...today has no significance. But in the spirit of April 1st, here are some great star wars fan films I found online:

Star Wars Gangsta Rap Special Edition

Anakin Dynamite

***dialup warning!!! in other words, you are gonna need broadband to watch these babies.***