After work today, I’m getting my tires rotated. I wish that was a euphemism for something.
Category Archives: Random
Excuse me, have you seen my…
Whenever a message goes out at work saying, “<item> found in woman’s restroom” I want to respond and say it’s mine. I don’t think it’d go over well here.
A few weeks ago Evo took place in Las Vegas. Again, I didn’t go, but I watched most of the 3-day event online. Games played this year included Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition version 2012 (yes, that’s the full name), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Soul Calibur 5, King of Fighters XIII, Super Street Fighter II Turbo and a few other games I didn’t care about. It’s always fascinating to me the level of skill required to play one of these games at a competitive level.
It’s not just mashing buttons. Do that and you’ll quickly lose against an experienced player. The game requires precise execution of commands, knowledge of match-ups and a good understanding of frame data. Frame data is knowing how many frames of animation it takes for a move to execute, complete and then recover.
I’ve never been superb at fighting games, but when Street Fighter IV came out in 2009, I put in quite a bit of time with the game. I got better than several people I knew, came in second at a very small tournament at my old college and had fun with it. Then everyone else in the world got better and I stopped playing.
Making the first other step; online job application sytems all SUCK
A major hurdle to my getting to Japan this autumn is saving up money. While I’ve saved up more than half of what I’d like to, I won’t quite meet my “comfortable” goal. That is, able to live in Japan comfortably without penny pinching while I’m over there. I’ve been telling myself and others for a few months now that I plan to look for a part-time job. But that’s just it–I’ve been talking about it and not doing it. I’ve taken the first step. I applied at a few different places last night.
Since coming back from Japan in 2010, I’ve applied to many, many different places online. And almost every single online application is NOT foreign country friendly. Even Taleo, an online job application and recruitment tool, is horrible about it. Let’s go over the problems I (and I’m sure countless other people in the world) have faced: Continue reading Making the first other step; online job application sytems all SUCK
Words are hard
In a little more than three and a half months, I’ll find out if I get my student visa for study in Japan. In the meantime, things will happen.
- I’ll write more on here
- Get back into self-study of Japanese
- Lose some weight (currently about 20 pounds overweight)
- Maybe post a video at some point
Now let’s address these one by one.
I’ll write more on here. Considering I don’t really do much these days, surely I can set aside an hour a week to think of something to share, and then sit down and compose that into words. Then again sometimes, as a friend recently said, “words are hard.”
Get back into self-study of Japanese. I really need to. I haven’t studied really since around Thanksgiving. I was doing so well, too! I was up to 400 kanji in “Remembering the Kanji” vol. 1. Now I have to start all over and press onward. Grammar needs to be reviewed as well.
Lose some weight (currently about 20 pounds overweight). While going through my clothes a few nights ago, I noticed I have several pairs of jeans I can no longer fit into. This will not do. I’m currently about 135 or 136 pounds. I really want to drop down to my ideal weight of 115 – 120 lbs. I’m not huge and obese (yet), but I am only 5’1″. So I really shouldn’t be where I am now. I plan to walk at least three nights a week, at least two miles each of those nights. Perhaps I’ll give P90X a try again. I dunno. I hate to sound like a woman (sorry, women!, but if only all this weight didn’t go straight to my thighs…
Maybe post a video at some point. Last week I purchased a Samsung W200 pocket video camera. Think of it as the now-defunct Flip Video. But a bit better. And cheaper! Picked it up from Woot! for only $50. Anyway, I’m trying to think of fun and worthwhile (well, maybe just fun) things to record.
Of course, once I get to Japan, I’ll post up videos of all types of things I come across. In the meantime, it’ll be things here in Texas. I’m open to suggestions for videos, or even things to write about!
Let’s chat, shall we?
The following was a conversation that took place the evening of Monday, March 26
xocraziekittyxox: hey you
Chris: hi me?
xocraziekittyxox: heyoo… wanna chat wiht a pissed off single girl?
Chris: DO I?! OF COURSE!
xocraziekittyxox: im sure it seems random but this asshole i was dating cheated on me and i’ve been lookin to have as much fun as i can
xocraziekittyxox: i got ure name from lifestream……..u are?
Chris: i am human
Chris: and male!
Chris: well, last I looked. just a sec
xocraziekittyxox: ahh so where u from?? i’m sittin here bored as hell which can sometimes not be such a good thing 😉
Chris: yup, still male!
xocraziekittyxox: i just been lookin at guys pics on this new dating site i signed up to…….do u have any pics?
Chris: no. cameras usually shatter when taking a pic of me. i think it’s the gods’ way of punishing mortals for taking a picture of such a fine specimen like myself. I’m like Adonis incarnate
xocraziekittyxox: i have sum dirty pics i just uploaded to my new profile to piss my ex-off wanna see?
Chris: seeing as how you have pics, that means your level of beauty doesn’t match mine, for a camera can capture your grotesque figure. I don’t think you’d live up to my standards.
xocraziekittyxox: kk here let me know what u think <web address removed> u might have to make an account to see them i’m not sure but it only takes a second to and it’s all free
Chris: how about you check and then let me know whether I need an account?
Gee, I love you too, Amazon
The name I’ve used for more than a decade online is Stupid Dufus. From chatrooms to e-commerce sites, it’s a name i’ve stuck with. There is no true meaning behind the name–it’s simply an amalgamation of two similar words.
Anyway, the name I signed up with at Amazon a long time ago is Stupid Dufus. Because of this, Amazon loves to address me as Stupid. A bit insulting, sure, but also humorous… and on more than one occasion, no less!
A few months ago, I called Amazon up about an order. When looking up my account, I was asked for my name. I said “Chris Valdez.” Apparently that name, despite being used for billing and shipping info, wasn’t correct. After a minute, I realized the name being asked for was Stupid Dufus. The CSR and I both had a good laugh.