The Star Wars RPG GameMaster's site

Less than a month now, and I'm so excited to be going back to Cancun, especially to see my girlfiend I left down there.  Sometimes, I feel sad and sorry for her and for the great distance between us, but just instant messaging her and talking to her over the internet via microphone and seeing her in pictures or via webcam brings me lots more excitement and a feeling of anxiousness.  I finally have my airline tickets, and I'll be spending another 2 weeks with her in Cancun before heading back to Salt Lake City for a family reunion.  I hope we can convince her parents that I'm responsible enough to let me bring her along with me, even just for the weekend, or at least get her mom's papers in order so she can accompany us.

I will be keeping an eye on hurricane weather down there, again.

About a week ago, here in town, I went to a presentation and brief on the Mayan history and culture by Dr. Jerry L Ainsworth - WOW, that brought back so much of what I'd learned while I served my mission down in Merida and around that area.  I decided to buy one of his books on the archeology and digs he has been involved in, and have been reading it recently.  Good stuff!

Here's a cool site on the book and continuing projects: <a href="http://www.mormonsites.org/">www.mormonsites.org</a>

Enjoy!

I decided since I'd be leaving for Mexico once again here in about another 6 weeks or so, I would need some way of keeping in touch with work and family and friends.

Enter the Skype wireless G VOIP phone from Linksys.

Now, I'm not as robust as the Skype Nomad, but as long as I can find an open wireless connection with a wireless access point, or can get the WEP key from a network administrator in confidence, I could travel the world and talk on Skype for really cheap!

I have to say I'm certainly impressed!

Skype me and see...

Star Wars The Force Unleashed PS2 version
An edit from some interviews on the PS2 physics capability of the game.. still looks cool!
Link

The Force Unleashed Video Game trailer - looks to be an exciting one... I hope to get both PC and PS2 versions...
Link

This movie (trailer) was so hillaroius!!!!  You gotta see it!
Link

Enjoy!!

For those of you who may not know, I currently work at a local video surveillance company doing their tech support and other odd jobs like handling their shipping and repairing broken camera or DVR equipment.  My plans of getting married within the next year to 3 years probably won't include staying on with this company, even though they pay okay, it just won't be enough to support a family on.  My current girlfriend, Abigail, has since convinced me to look for other employment, one I could possibly take with me no matter where I travel to.

Usually, and especially in today's online market, I am a bit sceptical of online businesses, but after talking with several operators and advertisers of a certain online business, I have decided to enroll myself in their program selling global time-shares and learn their sales strategies.  I hope that I can learn their marketing and advertising strategies so that I can take those sales skills with me wherever I go, and market myself (not just a product or service) as a valuable tool in whatever industry I join.  If this works out, I won't have to depend on a minimum-wage job to pay the bills, and I will have a lot more time to concentrate on finishing my online studies and finish my teaching career.  And I will be able to concentrate on what I like to do (teaching), rather than worry about our financial situation in the future.

If you're interested, check out the following links below...

Global Resorts Network

Ya, ya, I know this is a late entry, but I was so excited to send flowers to my girlfriend down in Mexico that I met back in November, that I've been love-sick for her ever since I left.

I decided she was so special to me I wanted to do something spontaneous and exciting for her, even though I couldn't be there in person with her, so I ordered a dozen red roses and had them delivered to her office at work.  She told me later that all her co-workers were jealous.

I'm just happy she thinks the world of me.  And I can't wait to see her again hopefully this July!

Day one (9th): Worked for six hours before leaving for the ariport in the afternoon, getting there 2-3 hours early.  Enjoyed a "mexican dinner" plate in the cafeteria at the airport before boarding the flight.

Got to Seattle.  Could care less for the airport.  Hate their internet connection!!!  Most business travellers get free internet over their wireless signal.  AT&T makes you friggin pay for a conection fee.  Grrrrr.  Food was okay, sleeping conditions were terrible.  The shuttles were kinda fun to ride around in.  Tried sleeping in the satellite terminal - bad idea late at night because they close it down after midnight.  Slept for maybe 4-6 hours in "naps" in one of the other gates.

Day two (10th): - Left Seattle, got to California, the pilots forgot our immigration report forms, so we had to turn around making us late by almost one hour.  Slept on and off over the course of the flight.

Got to Cancun an hour late.  Came right out of the airport terminal and saw Abigail standing right there on my left.  She said if she'd been waiting a few minutes more, she would have left.  Her dad who's a taxi driver drove me to a hotel near where she works and got me settled in.  I took a brief shower, met one of Abi's friends named Gabriella or Gabi for short, and we dook a drive out to the kid's beach near Isla Mujeres where we talked and enjoyed the night beach air.  I learned Gabi's parents are lawyers or involved with government, and she teaches english.  Somewhat interested there.  Told her about my teaching plans.

Day three (11th): - Went to church early in the morning, enjoyed listening to 2 spanish testimony meetings.  In the afternoon, Abi and I walked around the neighborhood, met a few of her friends, got invited to dinner, talked quite a bit about plans and goals in life nearby in a park.  Shared fotos on my laptop.  Went out to eat tacos al pastor near my hotel with Gabi and her other guy friend.  Later that night we stayed and talked a bit more before she had to return home, and I gave her a little back massage.

Day four (12th): - planned on swimming early in the morning, most everyone who wanted to go with us slept in or had work early and could not participate.  Visited the nearest bank for 2 hours to change money from dollars to pesos, and went shopping mid-morning instead.

Had mid-afternoon lunch with Abi after being presented to many of her co-workers, and she shared some of her fotos with me as well over lunch.  Got my laptop set up for wireless internet through the hotel's wireless dial-up network.  It's slow, but it works.

Day five (13th): - planned to go shopping for bottles of vanilla for Doug's mom who loves to cook at 9:30 am, but I overslept.  Abi told me where to go shopping at the public market.  Everyone told me it was pretty far that I'd have to take a taxi or a bus, but after asking around and specifically asking a police officer, I found it wasn't too far walking distance from the hotel.  Maybe 3 or 4 blocks in the states.


In the afternoon we planned on visiting the beach once more and swimming.  Well, I swam anyway.  Abi took some pics of me before she had to return to work.  The water was really salty and somewhat violent still, either due to the winds or the tides.  Plus I was swimming in a beach near the Hyatt that still had large rocks in the sand.  I had to watch out that I didn't get sucked under the undertow and also crash against any of the large rocks underneath.  But I did manage to get a glass bottle of fairly white sand for my sister (althought it's a beer bottle).  Afterwards, I took a bus back from the Hotel Zone to the center of town, but the driver forgot to tell me where my landmark "market 28" was, so I got off the bus a little late by a large grocery store, and asked for directions from a police officer directing traffic.  They're so conveniently helpful.  After passing by a Walmart (yes, a Wal-mart in Cancun, two or three in fact) and buying a few things to re-hydrate me on the way back, I walked all the way of 2-5 kilometers back to Market 28 and my hotel.  Not bad, considering I needed the exercise.

I will probably go back tomorrow to the market to check out hammocks and a few other gifts.

Day six (14th): After accidentally breaking a snack plate in the middle of the night, I went back to Wal-Mart in the morning to find an exact match to replace the one I broke last night.  I also went to Market 28 to look for hammocks and Mayan Ipile dresses for mom.  I found one of each.  I still need a bracelet or anklet for my little sister.

Later in the afternoon, I took a taxi out to Abi's school to meet her there before her night class.  She gave me the grand tour of the university there.  I was still feeling a little sick (a small headache, and a small stomachache), she was so nice - she gave my scalp and temples a little massage to make me feel better.  It helped a little.

Day seven (15th): My other online mexican friend introduced me to another girl working and living down here in Cancun.  She also invited me to see a ward activity, a talent night of sorts.  I found out that she works in a distributor of name-brand flip-flops.  So I made plans today to go visit her in her office several blocks away.  I walked all the way there, visiting a paper shop and making a few translated copies of the song I'd sing at the activity in my Jedi costume that I brought.  After visiting her briefly, I returned back to my hotel to prepare.  Arriving at the ward building fairly early we helped set stuff up, but we actually got started a bit late waiting for the man with the DJ sound system to arrive.  There was lots to see - dances, songs, a man who sang and played the pipes, guitar, and drum simultaneously, more dances, and my Jedi act somewhere in the middle.  Afterwards, there was a bit of a free-for-all dance, ending up with mostly just the youth dancing, and lots of food to eat.  After dancing (and sweating) quite a bit, I was very thirsty.  Good thing they had plenty of Agua de pina on hand!  Another friend there gave me a ride back to my hotel, and I slept fairly soundly that night after tiring myself so much!

Day eight (16th): I had planned to do some more shopping around for gifts for friends and family.  Plus, for some reason I had a large craving for "Popeye pizza", so I visited Wal-mart fairly early in the morning to look for ingredients.  Spinich was really hard to find - even in Wal-mart!  I guess it just wasn't in season there.
I did find my sister her bracelets, and matching necklaces she wanted.  And I found 2 Mayan zodiac necklaces - one for me, one for my sister.  I think they're cool.
Abigail invited me out to a Night of Standards her branch was having.  All the kids dressed up in stylish but modest clothing for different occassions - formal wear, casual, active sports, etc. and they all walked down the aisle as if they were running down a fashion runway.  It was all interesting.
Afterwards, I had Abi try on the Mayan Ipil dress I got for mom, and WOW!  It fit on her curves in all the right places!  Later that night she took me out to the Hotel Zone and we walked through the strip of activity.  We visited Hard Rock Cafe and took some pictures in front of some of the old cars there.  After heading back to the Lagoon to wait for a bus to take us back to my hotel, we stopped off at a pedestrian park full of gazebos and park benches near the lagoon water.  We sat down on one and talked quite a bit about our relationship and future career plans, well past midnight!  It was almost 2 in the morning before we caught a bus and returned to my hotel room.  Her parents were out of town for the night, and I didn't want her going home alone at this late hour, so I invited her to sleep in my room for the night.  I had quite a large room and a very large bed.  We both knew we were adults, and we'd behave ourselves during the night (I even put a few pillows between us), and we slept with hands held all night long.

Day nine (17th): Waking up about 7 or 8 am, I rolled over and woke Abi with a "Good Morning, Love!" in her ear.  Today I'd head out to Merida, a 6 hour bus ride, and try to find some still-active families with which I'd stay overnight before church began in the morning.  I left one of my larger suitcases with Abi - the one I'd haul all my gifts home in.  As we drove in to Merida, I could already tell the city had grown a bit larger.  I finally got to Merida's bus terminal late in the afternoon, walked north on 70th street, stopped briefly at the Merida Temple to snap a few quick pictures in the fading afternoon light, reached the Mission offices - but nobody was there.  So I headed east towards Paseo Montejo to flag a taxi driver to take me out to Brisas and Brisas del Bosque.  I hoped I could remember where the missionaries and the chapel were.  After the cabbie dropped me off way out in Bosque, I had to back-track all the way to the chapel, and from there to the postal and police station near the glorietta where we used to live.  Walking around, I knew even in this area, the city had grown quite a bit.  I asked the policeman on post there if the missionaries still lived nearby, and to my amazement he replied Yes.  I was in luck.  I'd just wait until 9 or 10 when they returned home and have them take me to our old cook's house.  So I waited and napped periodically until they arrived.

As if on cue, the missionaries arrived on time and I introduced myself as having served a mission 6-8 years ago and Brisas Merida was my first area.  One of the Elders told me, "There's some sister in the branch who told us about one missionary who came from Alaska."  I said I was that missionary.  So they took me and my bags to go meet Saide and Josue Perez where I stayed for several days.  We actually woke up Josue watching TV, I shouted out "HELL-O!" from the street.  He responded, "Who is it?"  I shouted back, "A present from Alaska!"  Muttering, "what?  Impossible!" he exited the front door.  There I stood with a big dumb grin on my bearded face and a hug ready to embrace my old friends.  Shortly after, the rest of the house woke up to me and Saide fed me a light dinner with a bananna milkshake as we caught up history on the last 6 years of our lives.  One of her daughters, the eldest, got civilly married and now has a baby.  Josue and Saide are now very proud grandparents.  They invited me to sleep on one of their extra beds for the night, which I was very grateful after the long day of travel.

Day ten (18th): Sabbath day, I got up on time, showered and dressed myself for church, but the rest of the family got started a bit late, especially with breakfast.  We made it to church just after sacrament meeting for sunday school.  Very few members recognized me, especially with my beard, and very few even knew wether or not some of my converts still went to church or left.  The good news I learned was that all the converts that we baptized (like my first) that had a good base of help and friends in the church with which to support them, prospered and flourished.  Without a base to support them, they dwindled and fell away quickly.

Later that afternoon, they invited their daughter and son-in-law to come have dinner with us and show me thier grandson.  He's sure a bouncy boy!  I spent most of the rest of the afternoon and evening sharing photos of my family and stuff I did over the past 6 years, and showing off what few toys I brought - my laptop computer with a few emulated games like DDR that the girls liked to play, my nice camera I got for free from Multiply, my USB memory sticks, and my palm.

Day eleven (19th): I planned today to hit the central markets in Merida to look for another larger hammock for my brother.  But first I needed a wireless internet connnection to check on the status of my bank account.  I'd grown used to having an internet connection available in Cancun, I liked going wireless.  Now I had to look for a free signal.  Saide and Josue took me out early in the morning to visit a local fruit market owned and operated by several members of the church.  It was nice and clean and well-organized.  Saide intruduced me all around to many of the office staff and some of the workers and members who visited frequently.

Later in the afternoon, Saide and I left for the central market, and by luck we found a faint wireless signal in one of the main parks where a gentleman was setting up a telescope to see the stars and moon.  I was able to log in and transfer some funds so I could visit an ATM and pull out pesos.  We looked all over for some artesian crafts and we also found a hammock and another Mayan Ipil blouse.  I hoped that they fit mom well.  I even looked for a stuffed toy for Abi - I found the perfect one, a stuffed white and tan bear dressed with a traveler's hat and vest, and a lilly.  Later we found out he even makes noise, he sings a song.  I dubbed him "Osito Viajero" or Travelling Bear.  Abi likes to call him "Russ Jr."

Day twelve (20th): I had planned on travelling to Maxcanu today, but beforehand, Saide's and Josue's youngest daughters had a formal cultural school dance presentation in the morning we were invited to.  They both danced traditional mexican dances in their beautiful dress costumes.  Afterwards, I got some pictures of the girls and of Saide & Josue and their new grandson.

I left for Maxcanu in the afternoon, it was just a short 1-2 hour bus ride out of Merida.  As we approached Maxcanu, even in 6 short years, I noted that this little pueblo had grown a bit.  They even had a set of welcome arches.  Stepping off the bus at the center square, I had to re-orient myself and get my bearings.  I remembered kinda where we lived and I remembered kinda where one of my families we baptized lived, but all of the members houses were forgotten.  I tried to find the Pool family first, but their house was now an Alcoholocs Anonymous meeting house.  Then I tried finding the branch president's house but I couldn't remember where they lived.  So I just headed towards where we used to live as missionaries and began asking around.  I found out they go to church around the corner in a big meeting area.  So I decided to sit and stay there until the missionaries passed by.  Sure enough about 3 or 4 pm they swung by and I introduced myself.  They helped me carry my bags around while we met a few members along the way.  I found out that the Pool family moved back to Cancun a few years ago where the husband found work and the girls still attend church.  Their grandmother unfortunately does not want much with the church anymore.  It's so sad, you have such high hopes for these people.  I called up Abi to see if she knew the girls attending a Cancun ward.  We made it up through the jungle hill, almost like a family summer hike.  The missionaries now live on a beautiful hacienda called the Good Hope, and run by a Canadian family that are members.  We made our way back to the meeting house for seminary that evening, and meanwhile we ordered a pizza and watched "Saints & Soldiers".  After seminary class was over, the new branch president took me back up to where the elders live and let me get settled in while the elders made contacts.  I was hungry, so I finished off a few more pieces of my pizza, leaving a piece or two for breakfast in the morning.

Day thirteen (21st): Woke up about 6am, decided to explore the Hacienda a bit.  Had I known last night there was a pool on the roof of the branch president's house, I would have gone for a swim!  There were some leaves and bugs and dirt in the water, so I did my best to clean up what I could with a pool skimmer nearby.  It was awfully tempting this morning, so I got my swim shorts and a small towel and headed over to the Canadian's house to ask permission.  They introduced themselved as Bonnie and Kevin McLaughlin.  They found the property on the internet and decided they wanted to live down here and help the members of the local branch.  They fed us cereal for breakfast and we talked about the branch and my mission 6 years ago.  I finally asked for permission to swim and they allowed me.  It was very cold, but refreshing, especially with the frost and mist still hanging around in the morning.

After my swim and shower, I packed up and wanted to head down to Chetumal.  I'd have to head back to Merida and take another bus the other direction, another 4-6 hour bus ride.

After arriving in Chetumal, I flagged a taxi driver to take me out to Bosque, and told him nearby there's a breadshop where a member of the church lives.  He said "Carolina?"  I said, yes, take me there.  Luckilly I didn't have to wait long to see this family I'd missed.  When they returned, we caught up on the past 6 years, I told her a bit about meeting Abigail, and some of our plans.  Carolina found a place for me to stay, at one of her sister's or her mom's house.  They fed me a bit of dinner and I crashed once I got there.

Day fourteen (22nd): I wanted to visit the center market, check my bank account, and also head to the Belize Free Zone or Zona Libre.  I couldn't do that while on my mission.  So after Martin picked me up and I had a bit of breakfast at Carolina's house, I was on my way.  I had to ask around at the local taxi & shuttle terminal, but I found it fairly easily.  Boarding the bus it was about a half-hour to 45-minute drive out to Santa Elena and the Zona Libre.  But once there, it was about like any other mexican outdoor market.  Lots of shops all displaying thier wares.  A couple of things caught my eye.  I wanted a few towels.  Then I spied some ornate decorative dragons.  They were beautiful, but maybe on my next trip.  Happy that I at least got my beach towels, I headed back to Chetumal to do some sight seeing.

I decided that Abi's bear wasn't enough.  Perhaps she needed something else to remember me by, a piece of jewelry or something simple.  Like a ring - not a promise ring, just a nice simple ring.  I did some looking around and found a ring with a single sandal shoe and some clear stones I thought she might like.  I had no idea what her ring size was, I just hoped it would fit.

Later that evening Carolina and her sister Mercy took me out shopping, because the house they were letting me live in needed a few supplies - like a shower curtain, and I was going to pick up some milk, bread, jam and peanut butter to make some sandwiches whenever I felt snackish.

Day fifteen (23rd): It rained pretty hard last night, and I think I came down with a cold.  I'm coughing and hacking all the time.  I needed to get some medicine.  So I visited a farmacy, and all they had was Vick's and Robitussin.  I needed to find something with a little more kick, but that was about all the name-brand stuff I trusted.  However, Carolina did give me some vapo-rub stuff that helped during the night.  About all I felt like doing today was my laundry.  Maybe in the afternoon I'd see if I felt good enough to go visit our cook in Calderitas, the Landeros family.  One of their daughters was planning on going to BYU.  So I wanted to see if there was anything I could do for them.

Later in the evening, I did go to a vaquero tienda - a cowboy store and I found a black cowboy hat I think my littlest brother might like.

Day sixteen (24th): The cough syrup, cough drops and vapo-rub did make me feel a little better, but that cough was a persistent bugger.

Saturday morning, there was a primary church activity, but I wanted to snag my dragons for myself and my 2 closest friends in Idaho.  So I hopped down to the Zona Libre, got my dragons and a large bag to haul them around in.  By mid-afternoon, the activity part was over, but they would be meeting again that evening for the awards ceremony.  After the awards ceremony at the stake building, I got to meet the Landeros family again and catch up a bit with them.  Unfortunately, nobody knew much about the other girl Carolina we baptized, or Tomasina and her son we also taught and baptized.  It pretty much reaffirmed my feelings about stout & firm members in the church needing 3 things to continue - a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing the good word of God.

Before heading home to prepare for the Sabbath, I needed a few more gifts for my co-workes in the office and my brother's cowboy hat. So I went back to the market before they closed up.

Day seventeen (25th): I woke up, packed myself a lunch of sandwiches to take with me on the bus.  I'd attend sacrament meeting and part of Sunday School, but shortly after would have to leave to make my bus to Cancun for the evening.  Carolina and Mercy made a few gifts to take with me back to the states to deliver to David & Dulce Davis in Idaho.  Mostly food and candy.  But most of all I was anxious to get back to Abigail and see her once more before I flew back.

We got back to Cancun a little late, but I still had time to rent a room back at the Santa Maria, drop my stuff off, and head out to Abigail's house.  With some luck and asking around I found it, just before her dad came home from working his taxi shift.  She enjoyed the bear, of course, and thought it was cute.  We had a nice little FHE lesson with her mom and sister that Abi taught about thinking positively in everything.  Afterwards, Abi and I walked off to a nearby park to talk alone about how we felt and our relationship.  I asked her a few more specific questions about intimacy.  I told her that I had always been thinking about her all week long and that when I prayed about her and whether we shold get married, I felt that I hadn't recieved an answer one way or the other yet.  I just wasn't sure yet.  I know inside my heart I wanted her, but I wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do yet.  We decided that we'd continue being really close good friends, and we wanted to wait for each other after our career studies were done.  Abi told me she wants to come visit near Salt Lake City sometime in June or July, and I told her when she has plans to inform me and I'd definitely drop down to see her.  I gave her the sandal ring I bought, not as a promise ring but more of just a friendly gesture to remember me by.  The even the ring box was a polar bear!  It fit, and she loved it.  She wanted to give me her CTR ring, but it was too small - I said don't worry about it.  I don't need a ring to remember you by.  We kissed a bit, but I told her I didn't want to get her sick with my cough.  She said not to worry.  We kissed a bit more, but it was already late.  I had to get back to my hotel to repack my luggage and all the gifts I was bringing back with me.  Abi said she'd see me again tomorrow on a work break before I took off for the airport.  With that, I walked her home and took a taxi back to the hotel.

Day eighteen (26th): About 10 am I visited Abi's work across the street from the hotel, she wanted to take me out to the lagoon again and talk.  We did a little talking, but mostly we took pictures or we were hugging and kissing.  We knew we would miss each other deeply.  We promised each other that we would continue our career studies and wait for each other, with the hope that at least a year to a year and a half in the future after our schooling is done, we can get married, if we haven't found someone else first.  At that point, even though officially I hadn't asked her to marry me, we considered ourselves "novios" or boyfriend/girlfriend with the intent to get married in the future.  We returned back to her work a little late and I kissed and hugged her one last time, then returned to my hotel to check out and catch my plane at the airport.

Cancun Airport is so commercialized.  As soon as you exit the security scan, they drop you right in the middle of a mall.  Yuck!  I still remember the funny horror story of the last time my family got through Mexico airport security, they said we were carrying too many batteries.  So dad dropped off all the spent Duracell packs with them and we took the unused and rechargeable ones with us.  I just hoped I'd wrapped all my gifts up safely in my luggage.  I was still a bit hungry, so I got myself a sandwich and some OJ - I needed as much vitamin C as I could to fight off this cough.  On all the flights back I always asked for OJ from the flight attendants.

In Los Angelas, we landed right next to the Alaska Airlines Disneyland airplane - I had to get a snapshot of Miskey, Goofy and Donald!

After getting through Security there, and picking up my luggage, I asked someone from Alaska Air where I could stay for the night since my next flight wasn't until next morning.  They gave me a discounted rate ($50-60) at the Marriott Courtyard, just 2 blocks away.  All I was going to do was call mom & dad to let them know I was alive, tell them a bit about my trip and Abigail, then crash.  I was just happy to have a room.  I'd have to call Grandma & Grandpa when we hit Boise or Billings to tell them to meet me in Idaho Falls and pick me up.

Day nineteen (27th): In Seattle, they had a little bit of snow on the ground, but we didn't have to wait long.  Good thing too, because I don't like waiting in Seattle all that much.

Once we landed in Billings, Montana, I phoned Grandma to tell her when to expect me in Idaho Falls.  Also, Opie phoned to tell me we have no heat in the apartment, so Grandma offered her couch in Sugar City for the night.  I was grateful for somewhere warm, as I was a bit chilled.

I'd head back to work Wednesday morning the 28th.

As stated in my previous blog, here, I am finally off to enjoy a few weeks in the sun and sand in Mexico and to catch up with a few old friends and families and meet a few new friends as well.

I'll post more pictures and blog entries later, if I can get to an internet cafe while I'm down there

I was planning this week to leave for Mexico for a 2 week vacation to visit my mission areas and some of my friends down there.  However because of Hurricane Dean, I've rescheduled my vacation in Novmber.

I have a new favorite song... it is the theme to an animated cartoon called "Code Lyoko", it has a good techno-feel and a good beat, as well as an adventuring message, I like... Give it a listen here...

A World Without Danger (Un Monde Sans Danger)

"Code Lyoko", Written & Performed by Noam

There is a world, that is virtual and different.
It can be so cold, make us stand up for what's right.
Our hope through our life, is if we reset it to the start!

(Refrain)
Here we are, going far, to save all that we love;
If we give, all we've got, we will make it through.
Here we are, like a star, shining bright on your world;
Today, make Evil go away!

Code Lyoko, we'll reset it all.
Code Lyoko, be there when you call!
Code Lyoko, we will stand real tall.
Code Lyoko, stronger after all!

A world of machines, it can shadow human nature.
And all that we need, is the way to find the answer.
But one thing is sure, you can count on us for good!

(Refain)

Code Lyoko, we'll reset it all.
Code Lyoko, be there when you call.
Code Lyoko, we will stand real tall.
Code Lyoko, stronger after all!

We'll do our best, to never let you down.
We're up to the test, to turn this world around!

(Refrain x 2)

[Code taken from http://www.codelyoko.net/ENG/medias/A_world_without_danger.htm]

By the time you read this, it will probably be the fifth or later, but happy fireworks day anyway!

For a really cool fireworks screensaver, check out Really Slick Screensavers' Skyrocket.
Here's a screencap:

Enjoy!

I decided recently that I'd treat myself to a little well-deserved relaxing vacation and also go visit some of my friends I had made on my mission - yeah it's been about 6 years since I've seen or heard from any of them.  And I miss them, so sometime near the end of August, I'll be taking off to Mexico.  And who knows - maybe I'll meet up with some new friends!

UPDATE 8/11/07:  I'll be leaving here in about a week, and I'm trying to get in touch with at least two friends down there to expect me.  Even still it will be an adventure if I have to go solo.  I certainly hope to re-improve on my spanish skills once again!

I just picked myself up some of these sweet gadgets last week for storing my Star Wars RPG content on 'em!  And I likes them very much!

If you like the idea of designer USB's, go to Mimoco and pick out your own style, or come up with your own design and draw it out on one of their blank vinyl toys to create your own!

Normally, I think Robot Chicken is rude and crude, but once in a while, they come up with something actually funny and hillarious.  Here's some of my favorite clips and a link to the whole special online:

Butter Fingers:

Metal Detector:

Jawa's Drink order:

Luke's Training:

Chewie's Happy Days:

Vader's Stuck:

Janitor on Naboo:

Ponda Baba's Bad Day:

Admiral Ackbar Cereal:

Janitor on Coruscant:

Slight Weapons Malfunction:

ATAT destruction:

Space Slug Chinese Delivery:

Bespin Weather Forecast:

Boba Fett Wins:

Lobot Dancing with the Stars:

Luke Leanrs the truth:

Death Star Orientation:

Death Star Yo Mamma:

Janitor on Death Star:

Death Star Construction:

George Lucas @ convention:



Ah, what the heck, here's the whole episode:
http://www.adultswim.com/video/?episodeID=8a25c392132567540113259bc3e6001d
Enjoy!!!

Last night I saw Shrek 3, and the thing that got me toe-tapping out of the theatre was Eddie Murphy and Antonio Bandera's rendition of "Thank-you (for letting me be myself, again)" or more appropriately entitled for the movie: Thank you (Falletin Me Be Mice Elf Again).  Take a listen to it in my music section under my current tracks.  It's a beat groover, and a good message - just like all three movies.  But seriously what kept me in my seat - besides not wanting to waste seven bucks - was the music throughout the movie.  True there was some funny bits and pieces in there, such as a tribute to Monty Python and the horse-clopping coconut sounds gag, the fairy tale sidekicks get body-switched by an inept but famous mage, and the girls-get-down-and-dirty-and-take-on-the-villan's-henchpeople bit.  But all in all, I liked the music better in this one than the previous stories.

If you get a chance, definitely check it out.  Worth the 7 bucks.

Now I just need to finish up with Spiderman 3 and Pirates 2 and 3....

Personally, I feel sorry for Cheny, but everyone's gotta recharge their batteries sometime...I got 7 out of 7 with 15.46 seconds left for a total of $3,296...first time.

A lot of people may or may not know that I happen to be an (Anime Junkie - the GOOD stuff here), and my most recent watch was a Cartoon Network series called "Ben 10".

Now, normally I wouldn't qualify a kids-show as anime, but this is a pretty cool cartoon, nonetheless. It features a kid who discovers an alien device that morphs him into 10 (actually 12, so far) different outer-space beings with different powers and abilities, his grandfather who used to be a sort of pre-MIB cleanup crew, and his quirky but intelligent cousin who gets her lucky break from time to time and help pitch in. The trio travel across the U.S. over the kids' summer vacation and strange stuff always seems to follow them, but Ben can't help play the hero when problems arise.

Accompanying the show is a pretty catchy rock tune with a good beat for a theme. Have a listen to it in my Blog radio section, or just download the song from the atrist's site here: http://www.mzmoxy.ho8.com/music/Ben10.mp3

It started when an alien device did what it did,
And stuck itself upon his wrist with secrets that it hid,
Now he's got super powers, he's no ordinary kid,
He's Ben 10!

So if you see him you might be in for a big surprise,
He'll turn into an alien before your very eyes,
He's slimy, creepy, fast and strong, he's every shape and size,
He's Ben 10!

Armed with powers he's on the case,
Fighting off evil from earth or space,
He'll never stop 'till he makes them pay
'Cause he's the baddest kid to ever save the day -
Ben 10! Ben! Ten!