Going on the Dole

As my English friends say...
AKA welfare, or more accurately Unemployment Insurance.
I have decided to apply for money from the government. This is not going to be very much, if I even qualify. It should be enough to keep me in bath soap and hair cuts and keep me from needing to sponge off my friends quite so much. I got the paperwork today and should easily have it sent back in my Monday.

On another topic I recently saw the movie "The New World". I did not expect to like it, but I did. The direction is very odd; the film consists of a series of establishing shots and transitional shots interupted by a sparce sampling of 'scenes' - some of which contained actual dialog! All that being as it is the film is enjoyable to watch, not least because of the sheer beauty of the vistas presented. The story is also well served by the languid pacing and the heavy use of narration by the characters. It gave me the feeling of being truely privy to the 'inner lives' of these people.
Once again it is an unusual but unexpectedly enjoyable film.




(I seem to be turning this blog into a movie review site...)

Munich

I recently saw this movie.

It is fantastic!

It is graphic and honest, and a great depiction of the weight of doing horrible things for the 'right' reasons on a person.

It actually has a somewhat limited 'message' in that it sparks thought and discussion rather than fist pumping rightiousness...

Although it does seem to lean slightly in the direction of the Israelis. (probably because it is hard to be honest while portraying them as the bad guys)



(I also couldn't help but think: "them palistinians are toast, they're going up against Julius Caesar, The Incredible Hulk, and the new James Bond...)

ME!

I know you've all been dying to know what I look like...

Here is a picture of me from a few years ago. I still have the glasses, but alas the beard did not survive... Sad really.


 

Paranoia will Destroy Ya!

Your Social Dysfunction: Paranoid You show pervasive and unwarranted suspiciousness, and mistrust of others. You are overly sensitive and prone to jealousy.

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

Please note that we aren't, nor do we claim to be, psychologists. This quiz is for fun and entertainment only. Try not to freak out about your results.

Argh! I took an online quiz and it destroyed my self esteem...

Holiday

I hope everyone had a grand holiday season. (whatever holiday you choose to celibrate...)

This was probably the most mediocre Christmas for me in quite a while, maybe forever.

I am still out of work (that library position didn't pan out) and my father was forced to retire this year, so I got virtually nothing and couldn't give anyone anything either.

That being said it wasn't a total washout, I still got to spend quality time with the people who matter most in my life and I am far from being on the street. My father is still alive and getting better. I also still have good friends and we get to see each other pretty much whenever we want.

There is much to be thankful for this year and I remain optomistic. If I could get a decent job I believe that would turn things around and put everything in the plus column.

Happy New Year everybody!

Good News!

The other day I was in the Career Center at my school, getting some paperwork for a job application with the Sheriff's Department. While there I decided to visit my former boss (from my student worker days) in the Campus Library. She informed me that my former supervisor was getting married and moving to Florida. No decision has been made yet but I was asked if I would be interested in applying for this position!!

Yay!

I would LOVE to work in the school library. Even though it isn't a direct use of my degree, it would allow me to pay for my degree.

Good news all around, and even if that doesn't pan out I'm still applying at the Sheriff's Department and for a Forensic Trainee position in a nearby city.

Unemployment Sucks!

I finished my Associates degree at the beginning of October...

I have applied for over a dozen positions so far...

No one has chosen to even interview me...

This is disheartening! I am a qualified adult human, I even shower! Why will no one consider me for employment? I will soon be forced to go back to working in a convenience store or some other unsavory job, just for the money.

The Hobby Which Dare Not Speak Its Name!

A coworker of my friend Richard is also a gamer.
However he and Richard must speak in hushed tones about this as the coworker is worried that other of their coworkers may find out.
Now we do live in Virginia, the home of Pat Robertson, but I don't think it is the condemnation of the Religious Right(tm) he fears... it is the ridicule of his fellow man. I find it strange that our hobby, as well as sci-fi and fantasy in general, is seen by major components of our society as childish or unworthy of the attention of 'regular' people.
This attitude is somewhat hypocritical too. What is a fantasy football league if not a type of wargame? You choose your players and combine them into the 'ultimate' team and pit your invented reality against that of your fellow fantasy footballers. Or you sit and argue the merits of past sports figures against those of today. Wargamers have been re-fighting Waterloo pretty much sence it happened, and they also try to convince each other that Patton (for example) could out general Alexander (for another example).
Roleplaying is just an extention (or niche) of the wider pasttime of playing 'what-if', and I feel it is long overdue that it should be allowed out of the closet and people should stop feeling that they have to hide their interest.

So, there it is. Nothing new perhaps but I feel better for giving voice to my opinions on the matter.

Warforged - from Eberron

Tired

I am tired, tired, tired...

I have been going to school, putting in hours at my internship, and going to work for a couple of weeks now... My short days are 10 hours long!

Soon I shall graduate and then my world shall change...
Most people I know rejoice at graduation time, not me!
I will lose my job at the school library (it is a student worker position) and I have no prospects for a 'real' job... certainly not one in my field.

On a more positive note, My father has returned to us from the hospital in Richmond! We are all overjoyed, and he seems to be doing very well.

I have been able to see some movies recently (weekends are great for slack)
I saw "Pink Floyd's the Wall" and "Heavy Metal" (the original (ie good) one).

Extra points for the title of my Blog... ;)

On the roleplaying front we are just about to start a new D&D game using the "Eberron" setting. It looks like it will be fun! And Richard (who will be running the game) is very, very enthused!
I also just got the new "Mage" game from White Wolf, but I haven't had time to read it yet so it will be a while before we try to play it.

Out Early

Well, my father is finished with his inpatient care - post Bone Marrow Transplant.

Now he has several weeks of outpatient care in Richmond before he comes home. Things seem to be going well, they transfered him from in- to out- about a week early and today he doesn't even have to go into the hospital for tests or checkups (or anything).

Even though he is still weak, and tires easily, he seems to be coming along fine.
To my mind this is the first solidly 'good' news for over a year (when we first found out about the cancer) but I will reserve final judgement for when he comes home and stays...

- By the way there is nothing apropos of the pic from yesterday, I just like it.