Doop dee doop.

Check this out:

http://kotaku.com/gaming/clips/ultimate-nes-mash-up-starring-mega-man-and-that-kung-fu-dude-282402.php

Man, you gotta love old school nintendo games. Back then, the controller had 4 buttons, not 12 or 14 and goals were simple. Run, jump, shoot. Easy. Don't get me wrong, new games are great. 3D adventures add a whole different level of play and improved graphics immerse you in a virtual reality. But the old games were just so fun.

The big video games companies are aware of this fact. You can now download these older games to your new console and play on the web and compare high scores. It's like the arcade in your home. Thank god there's finally a good use for the internet.

Personally, I still have my old nintendo. And my Genesis, and my atari. Yes atari 2600. It doesn't get much more rudimentary than two squares shooting smaller squares at each other. There's an old game called "Circus Atari" that used the 'innovative' peripheral of the rotating paddles. These were analog long before analog was hip again. Anways, the game is basically bouncing a little circus guy on a teeter totter and popping the balloons overhead. Think a more complex version of 'breakout'. You lose when your man bouncing up and down misses the teeter totter and splats on teh ground, legs flailing. For some reason I found this hilarious as a kid and sure enough when I brought it out again, the laughter continued.

This brings me to my point. New games are great, new innovations and styles are remarkable. But are they worth the price? $60 for a new game on top of the $500 you spent on the console. If you got the money, disregard this comment. But if you're a tad on the thin wallet side and are looking for good entertainment, go back to the old consoles. You can still pick up used ones at the local game store, and there's plenty of material available to make sure you only get good games and not Superman 64. I feel like the kids of today should all be exposed to these old school games. Less violence, simple goals, plenty of fun. I feel I was priveledged to grow up with the gaming industry, whereas kids now are entering it at a point that is far too much for an introductory gamer. But what do I know? I'll be happy playing the first Zelda or Gunstar Heroes and leave the heavier games for the pros.

Hmmm...

I have a conundrum. At my present place of employment, there is a fellow employee that is a bit on the large side. Rotund you may say. If you met him, you would say he is obese. Not morbidly obese, as in "I wash myself with a rag on a stick" obese, but enough that you don't want to fly seated next to him. Given his stature, and the fact that he has made his back/bone problems readily known, should I feel bad about not inviting this guy out to lunch for some fast food?

I currently work in a very small office, so it is common for most of us to grab lunch together, usually at some nearby fast food joint. I have noticed that said employee brings a lunch in with him in the morning, only to dump it in the can, opting for a nice Spicy Chicken Filet instead. Obviously, he could care less about his poundage, but for some reason I am feeling guilty inside about inviting him along to a place that will only worsen his situation. I suppose it is the equivalent of handing out cigarettes or buying rounds of shots for people. They'd be better off without it and it won't hurt in the short term, but in the long term, you know you shouldn't.

So my dilemma is, do I go with my gut and continue to avoid aiding his obesity, or do I embrace his disregard for health and life and let it ride. I have been toiling over this for a while, my logical side says to let others do as they please, let them build or destroy themselves; but my moral side says to avoid being part of the process. (picture those frosted mini wheats commercials)Note how I left out the other option of encouraging him to do the right thing. This is not an option for me as I do not believe in pushing my opinions on others. The question is, am I essentially doing the same thing by not intervening?

It is one of those cases where in the long run, it really doesn't matter as we're all gonna kick the bucket somehow. I just get this odd feeling (compassion maybe?!?) that it is rather important to be healthy and fit and be able to enjoy life. I really can't judge; he may be happy regardless of his stature, but it still bothers me when I hand over a bag of saturated fat and superfluous calories. Not to mention the guy shits 3 times a day in our single bathroom. I know I get enough exercise and eat enough other healthy meals to offset my lazy trips to the burger stands, I just can't justify doing it for others.

Lucky!

(I suggest drinking a beer while reading this to contrast the nerdy content within)

My grandfather was born on July 7, 1930. This means that this year, he turned 77 on 7/7/07. Now if that's not a lucky number, I don't know what is. Of course we all told him to go buy a lottery ticket or two and do things that involve chance, simpy because the numbers are on his side. Deep down, we all knew, however, that is was just another day and a great coincidence that this happened.

Today's thoughts are about how we can often get caught up in numbers and our superstitions about them. We all know 7s are lucky and 6s are evil. 2 is a nice round number, there are great tricks to be done with 9s, and everything works off of 10s. Here's a quote I found pertinent:

"The creator of the universe works in mysterious ways. But he uses a base ten counting system and likes round numbers." -Scott Adams, US cartoonist (1957 - )

It's funny how things work out for us number wise, that we put so much meaning on items that are indeed random or generic, but have nice numeric associations. For example, when you see 12:34 pm on a clock or see strings of numbers you recognize, you can feel a connection with that item, more so then if they were some other random number; when in fact, the number itself is just as random as the others. Those 'lucky' numbers you play in the lottery are just random numbers you have grown to like, and standout to you though they are just as likely to win as any other number to be picked.

I don't mean to get into number theory or some extensive mathematical issues, but rather I mean to point out that the value of our numerical assocations are purely personal matters, and that the numbers themselves are mere random generations of the world around us. What's great about or numerical associations is that it is another means of setting us apart in this vast world; the fact that we can take something from nature or mathematics and give it personal meaning an value. Since numbers are all around us, these associations help keep us interested, entertained and going in a mundane world. There are the easy go tos such as "69" or "420" or "5318008" (those of you who had a calculator in 5th grade will know that one) that are good for a laugh when they appear in our day to day matters. If you see your old address number or birthday number somewhere, you can connect with whatever issue that is, rather than just dismiss it as another object of unimportance.

I guess my point of this blurb is that for all the thought of 'luck' or 'meaning' with numbers, the fact is that they are merely numbers and one can not be counted on more than another. It's great to have associations with a certain number or string you like, it keeps things interesting. Just remember that numbers follow rules, and all are equal.

Ahh...

I'm feeling a bit older. Yesterday was my birthday and it came and went as easily as any other day. It was a very nice day, a day that reminded me how nice it is to have people who care about you and can share in your happiness. It is also a reminder that time keeps moving and that we are only getting older and older.

Now I am under the philosophy that we are on a limited timescale on our dear planet here and that we should always live life to the fullest. This basis got me into a discussion yesterday about what is so great about birthdays. For most people, one's birthday is a day to celebrate, a day to step back, reflect and enjoy one's self, do things you wouldn't do (or get) on a normal day.

Personally, I have no great affection for my birthday. I love everything and everyone who puts time into making me feel special on my day, but on my own, I really see it as just another day in my life. You can see how this would seem depressing that your one 'special' day goes unappreciated. I don't feel that way at all and I think it has to do with the philosophy spoken above.

If I enjoy each day, love life itself and see the qualities in each day that make that day special, every day can be a birthday. Yes, there's not gifts or cards waiting for you everyday, nor are there a group of friends waiting at the bar with a row of shots ready to be downed (and most likely upped later), but there can still be that internal feeling of enjoyment and satisfaction each and every day.

I have the feeling that this notion is understood by most of us, just not utilized as fully as it could. Sure, we all have shitty days now and again. Shit happens. But we always have the next day and we always have memories of previous times that can lighten any sour time. It's not a guarantee, nor is it always easy to keep optimistic about our own story, but it should be remembered that there are good times ahead, possibly as soon as the next minute, and that each day should be celebrated in its own right as a day of which we are thankful to be alive.

Birthdays are great. You get a day where you are recognized for being alive by others that care about you. The other 364 days are for you to recognize you're alive and to enjoy it.