Poignant Panorama

Clerics are the kickers of the MMO world.

2011-03-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

I played both football growing up and Dungeons and Dragons but the similarities between the two rarely cross paths, except for the teamwork references and some obscure metaphors. But I have realized through game play that Clerics and kickers have many striking similarities. They both live in fame or infamy depending on the day.

For starters, like a football kicker, clerics are loners, yet always needed. Few people want to be the healer in a group and even fewer want to kick field goals. In DDO a world exists that is 3D, fun spell effects, and lots of numbers flowing over monster's heads when you plow through them with an Epic Sword of Shadows. In football, you have eleven men working in unison, high flying passes and spectacular catches. Neither clerics nor kickers get to enjoy any of this. A cleric's vision is mostly limited to the health bars of his party and a kicker's vision is restricted to the yellow uprights.

Games in both worlds are won and lost in a moment because of a heal that took too long or a kick that veered right at 54 yards. And with those moments, fame or infamy is passed. Everybody needs a good cleric though, so I have one. Just like every team needs a consistent kicker. So the question is, are you willing to do either?

New DDO Blogs

2011-03-19T11:41:00.000-07:00

I've decided that I need to write down my thoughts more often as I am a reluctant jack of all trades and I have unusual hobbies, like playing MMO's. I spend much of my time playing so I figured I need to vent.

For those who don't know me, I am a life-long gamer. Not the first person shooter gamer, not an X-Box gamer, but a role player. I now have thirty one YEARS under my belt with games like Dungeons and Dragons. I love acting and it is an easy way to group with friends and get out my improv acting fix. I also play the MMO, DDO, short for "Dungeons and Dragons Online."

I think it is in the male genome to compete and conquer which is why there is more lure for males than females in video game land. Oddly enough, I usually play female characters. It all started when I played the original MMO, Everquest. At that time there was no voice chat and if gamer had the impression that you were really female, they'd give you more money or help. Then I realized that I was staring at the back side of a character on screen for hours at a time and I just wanted to see a pleasant booty rather than a male one.

Now that I have established a small framework for what I do, I feel free to write prolifically.

I'm back!

2009-09-19T19:07:00.000-07:00

Finally dusted off my old blog. Now I have to change the pic...and topics.

talk about judicial activism

2006-02-25T00:11:00.000-08:00

WOW! what an awful set of events. Well, the conservatives have been priming this one forever. Oh, I forgot, only liberal democrat judges can be "activists."

nearly speechless....

Shot in the Face

2006-02-22T23:02:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I feel like Dick Cheney shot me in the face. Everyday I seem to feel slightly more disheartened than the last. I was wondering what the statistics are for the amount of people in this country who have more than one job. Then I would like ot contrast that to the amount of people who had more than one job in 1965.

I was reading the CIA worldfactbook's report on the US. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html

And this is what they had to say: The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households.

I really want to get back to the days when the US seemed to be the land of oppurtunity and stop being the land of badass military and poor eating habits. What was the average vacation in 1965? What was the average work week? What was the average wage, in today's terms?

Still, I think that our system is the best system, so far, to ensure liberty and freedoms for humanity. But, apparently Bush wants to screw that up too. I really can't wait until he's out of office.

Back Again

2005-07-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems that the Dreamcrusher finally descended upon us. Or we missed him completely. My wife and I moved back to Colorado for greener pastures. Hollywood was fun...well it was interesting. I am lucky that I can be really happy doing a number of things, so acting may have to be a hobby and not a life. The scariest thing about the place is that the commodities there are not stocks and bonds nor are they real estate, the things that are bought and sold are people and ideas of people. That makes for a very nasty status quo.

I took for granted so many beautiful things in Colorado, I vow here and now to enjoy it all over again.

Foreign law and Conservatism

2005-04-14T01:02:00.000-07:00

As twilight fades around the death of Pope John Paul II, I find myself totally curious why George Bush would attend the Pope's funeral. My opinion is that our nation has moved towards the right and the growing debate over the influence of religion over the state is at an all time high.

During JFK's administration, "Blessed John XXIII" died, yet JFK, a catholic, did not attend his funeral. Why? If you ask many right wingers today when our nation was more religious, today or yesteryear, the answer would be yesteryear. Conservatives by definition fear change and cling to a mentality of "the older I get, the better it was." And if the US was so pious when my parents were kids, why is it that a Roman Catholic priest didn't go to a great Pope's funeral?

I believe now that our nation has taken a step towards the right, especially with the borderline fanatical "Christian" right. What groups used to be bitter enemies, no see each other as allies in an attempt to control the government and by de-facto, you...and they are winning.

In 1963, the people, especially the Bible Belt was fearful that the White House would usurp the government and take orders from Rome, so JFK's administration distanced himself from the Pope instead of embracing him. JFK addressed Southern Baptists in September 13th, 1960
Now the argument is all about how we can incorporate more religion into our lives visa vie the government and how that has always been the case.

I also amuse myself with the recent fiasco of Justice Ginsburg and how conservatives are flying off the handle about her citing foreign law in US cases. For may conservatives, as long as the courts only obey Christian law from overseas, that is alright, any other foreign law is a breech of sovereignty and justices are activists and must be impeached. What a load of crap.

The founding fathers were very careful in the way they constructed the constitution, but with so much speculation and no one around to verify, I have to trust myself on this issue. Government, please stay the hell out of religion and vice versa.

2005-03-31T23:57:00.000-08:00

Parking Tickets and Parasites

2005-03-31T16:53:00.000-08:00

I am bitter for sure. I guess I am not used to big city living. My wife and I have paid over 700$ in parking / moving violations in one year here in LA. Are they our fault? I guess. There are signs on either side of our street that tell us that on certain days, 2 hours out of the week, they will ticket for parking due to street cleaning.
My wife and I went on a peaceful walk this morning with our dog. I surprised her by taking her to Griffith Park so we wouldn't have the same view we always do (cars and buildings). We had a lovely time and even saw two roosters. I parked on the street because I knew I had to go to work in 2 hours and the car would be closer. Well, It didn't even cross my mind that I could not park there. Yes the sign is there and I guess it is clearly marked, but I didn't even really know it was Thursday, I hadn't thought about it. That five second lapse of concentration cost me 45 bucks, no questions asked. Take it. What's worse is that I parked there around 9 and got my ticket just about that time, as if parking enforcement was lurking there, just waiting for me to go inside and then run over and cite me.
For 166 other hours a week, I can park there and that becomes habitual. For that reason, I really do believe that those signs are not really that helpful. I think that technology is readily available and cheap. And a reasonable solution would be for the 2 hours that you can't park there a week, at the top of the sign, would be a timer and strobe, thusly shattering my habit and reminding me that the street cleaner is coming (although I've never ever seen it). That 45 bucks cost me my entire days wages. I simply cannot afford that 5 second lapse. I may be bitter, but these types of citations are geared for the poor. Rich people have garages, valet parking, and drivers. Even if they did get a ticket, what's 45 bucks? Nothing to them. But for the rest of us, 45 bucks is groceries or a bill to be paid.
Who are meter maids anyway? People like me who earn tips or minimum wage? Why would anyone do that job? It is like getting paid to tattle. I feel the same about the people who do that secret shopper crap. If that program really helped the employees, I would be all for it, but managers break sweat on their greasy foreheads, paranoid that a secret shopper will give them a bad score; then take it out on the wayward automaton. And there is no room for any other score than 100%. What kind of a parasite would take that job? Not me. I'd rather be a night manager at Taco Bell.

I really do love that blogs exist. I can express my feelings on this situation for all the world to see and people can respond in kind. I feel a little less bad about getting 45 dollars ripped out of my pocket book because I wasn't thinking what day it was.

Under the heel and contrast

2005-03-28T15:07:00.000-08:00

My acting "career" is more stagnant than a pond infested with mosquitoes. It is probably my fault; not foraging every opportunity to take acting class or send agencies a post card with all my vitals on it or calling my manager everyday to beg for auditions. Now is officially "pilot season." Hollywood is buzzing with entertainment lawyers battling out peoples' careers, PA's flooding The Coffee Bean to get lattes, just right, for their superiors, agents scrambling around trying to get their souls their shot (so they can then gorge themselves on their client's blood sweat and tears), and the 405 and 101 Freeways jammed even more than usual. People like me, without my SAG (Screen Actor's Guild) card and/or bonafied credits (in film or TV) get pushed to the back burner while other, more profitable/ likely prospects get to audition for all the season's new TV show ideas.
As I was pursuing my career in acting (AKA working as a server in a restaurant) the other day I met with a nice older couple who asked me politely for more bread (and butter, refills, dressing -more of anything that is free to refill) and in talking to them, they had a son who was an editor at a post production facility. Knowing full well that 99.9% of conversations in Hollywood like this are total BS, I entertained them because my wife's dreams and my own depend on that .1% that are not. They got to like me and I neglected a few of my tables to talk to them and the time came for them to leave. The asked me for my information so that we could stay in touch. Not being the savvy Hollywood type, I do not have business cards or my acting on mini CD's or anything I wrote my information down on their receipt. Most people stuff them into their purses or wallets to find them later. Then they might remember and give us a call (riiight). After we exchanged pleasantries, I went back to un-neglect my other tables and they went their merry way. As I gathered up the ticket presenter in order to take payment, I looked inside and there was my information along with the receipt and my tip. I chuckled to myself, took payment and thought huh, at least they left more than 20%, I got mine.

In contrast...

My wife and some new friends (both really pretty women - my wife hates them :)) went out to dinner at a place where your servers sing and dance as entertainment. We like to take our friends from out of town there, but we took our friend Stefani there because she is a budding singer. Stefani has only been in LA for 5 months and we see in her the same sparkle that we had coming here(as if we've even been here a year, LMAO); only she is younger and much more talented that we are. She still thinks extra work could be "fun" and Hollywood is full of producers who want to give her a record deal. Honestly, you have to have that idea and keep it or it will for sure never happen. Stefani is really a good singer, I have her CD in my car. Unfortunately, every other singer here is also really good. Anyway, as we were enjoying dinner, we told our server that Stefani wanted to sing duet with hi. He seemed actually delighted that she'd have the guts to do it. They selected music and there she went, singing in front of the entire busy place. WOW! Not only was she an excellent singer, she did it on the fly and she didn't just sing, she really performed. I was so impressed when she came back to the table. Apparently our server was too. He asked her to do a solo and audition to be a server there. As it turns out, our server will be the person she will be auditioning for...Serendipity baby!
This may not get her a record deal, but the small successes are just enough to keep one holding onto their dreams. Just enough to dodge out from under the heel of...

The DREAMCRUSHER.

Misunderstandings

2005-03-25T01:18:00.000-08:00

Do you ever feel like you are going nuts because no one seems to understand what you are saying? I do. Good thing that my wife truly understands me, or I'd be screwed. I have spent the last few days arguing with friends and family over various political, religious and philosophical issues yet I still feel like they have no idea what I really said. Maybe I need to be more clear.

I am what I consider to be a "weak atheist." Here is a good synopsis of that...

A person whose worldview embraces Atheism [noun] [OW]. The natural condition of all humans at birth and prior to indoctrination in or self-invention of Theism. Atheists claim there is no proof for God[s]. "Strong" Atheists claim God does not exist. "Weak" Atheists do not deny the possibility of God[s], or that proof might eventually be discovered. Atheist and atheist are Fundie synonyms of Atheist [SD]. The word Atheism [CE] derives from the Greek atheos, a = without, theos = God.

I am neither "anti-religion" (although sometimes, I admit, I do feel a bias...I am human). Nor am I a nihilist,

a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless b : a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths.

The US Constitution is my "bible" and I would like to get to know it much better. I still think it is the best document to date that allows humanity the potential to become all it can. I also do not claim that science has all the answers, but I am glad that science puts its best foot forward, tests and puts theories out there using deductive (deduction - the deriving of a conclusion by reasoning; specifically : inference in which the conclusion about particulars follows necessarily from general or universal premises ) reasoning instead of inductive (induction- inference of a generalized conclusion from particular instances ) reasoning.

I have no other choice other than to put my "faith" in humanity. All that I reasonably believe that I can affect is here on earth. I refuse t believe that where we are in the 21st century is the pinnacle of what humanity is capable. Mutually Assured Destruction, corporation and selfishness are the highlights of this century. NO. Humanity is capable of great things and I intend to help that process along. I don't need religion to do it. *Gasp* I have values without it.

Life may be so much simpler if I just acquiesce to "God" and moved on, but I can't without proof. If a person makes an extraordinary claim , it is his/her burden to provide extraordinary proof, not my duty to disprove them. Until then, I do not worship, I do not concern myself with "God." Much as I do not concern myself with the beginning of the universe. For one, it is too sublime. For all I know there was no beginning. Interesting to say the least.

Too much Info, too little responses...

Dustin

Terri Schiavo

2005-03-20T01:20:00.000-08:00

Painful. I am so absolutely tired of the 'value voters' sticking their noses in everyone elses buisness. This poor woman is being used by religious fanatics on the right as a puppet for their lame agenda. "What is thier lame agenda?" You may ask. The right is priming the public for judicial nominations to the supreme court. That's why the newest assaults have all been on the 'judicial activist' courts.
Tom Daschle was not removed in South Dakota because he was the senate minority leader. The right wingers would have never spent millions in that state unless there was something in it for them. Tom Daschle was seen as "the chief obstructionist to the supreme court nominations." The public is up in arms about renegade liberal judges making defacto law. Judges usurping power fo the people to give inaliable rights to those who deserve it. How dare they! Out of the 214 nominations, the liberals have only blocked 10, yet they act like the nomination process has shut down. Now the conservs are trying to pass law making the appointment process easier, claiming that it is not a partisan measure. Funny. Why did they not propose this legislation when Clinton was in office?
With Bush's power nearly complete (he removed Powell, his only dissenter, then cleaned out the State Department and placed 'yes men' in) he has but the court to cement absolute power. This scares me. Our system is based on checks and balances and when those break down, our system can fail. Without diussenting opinion and compromise there is no democracy, republic or any neato form of government we claim to have.
Interesting that no one in Congress has the balls to make the right legislation about this poor woman. Euthanization should be legal, in fact it is merciful. Terri Schiavo should have her conscious wishes met and she should be allowed lethal injection, not to starve to death while republicans use her to steamroll their agendas.

Life in the Dreamcrusher

2005-03-16T02:15:00.000-08:00

This is my first posting in the blogosphere. I admit, I really don't know much about it, but as information flows so freely, by the end of today I will be a SME (Subject Matter Expert). I've been living with my wife in Hollywood now for going on nine months. It has not caught me off guard, but that does not make anything easier. I have never ever felt more worthless, poor and unimportant as I have here. Hollywood moves like atoms in extreme heat, chaotic and rapid and in a million directions. I know trying to become an actor is a longshot, but my wife and I agreed that we would just buy all of our perverbial lotto tickets all at once instead of spreading them a dollar at a time over the course of our lives. I know I am a performer and so far I have performed less in Hollywood than I have any other place I have lived or worked, including my time in the army.

I feel equally guilty that i have subjected my wife (Lesli) to this place. She is an idealist with the best expectations out of humanity. She attended film school and is a quite creative, intelligent and competent editor. We have a 'contact' out here who edits in the big leauges and still, she has edited nothing except our finances. Worse yet, she got a 'temp' job (it is a permenant job that offers no benefits) working on the even uglier underbelly of this industry; the dirty world of entertainment law. Real time communication and constant availability speeds work beyond the scope of any who let it and her boss is in overdrive most of the day, briefly stopping only to complain that her latest piece of computer hardware simply 'isn't working.'

I've spent over 500$, to date on parking/moving violations here and I am a good driver. I have insurance (which literally tripled when when we moved here from Colorado [an expensive state] *after* we raised our deductables higher than we could ever pay) and normally obey the law. I would like to petition right now that moving violations should affect people perportionally to their wage. The 350$ 'run the red light photo' cost me about 2% of my yearly earnings, I think it should do the same thing to Bill Gates if he ran a red light. Man roads would be great then.

More rants as they evolve. More info as it happens. Hello blogosphere.