Robotic Candy

Dear Blog,

I was in error earlier today when I said that my day was already planned and dull. Instead of watching lectures like I had planned, I decided to buy some snacks from Walgreens, so that my lectures wouldn't be too boring. When I was downstairs, I checked my mail and saw that I had a card from Victoria. The card was wonderfully sweet! I loved it! She even drew a picture of the two of us that made me grin like crazy. She's fantastic!

After mail, I saw Nikki, who invited me to go to the bookstore with her. I figured a nice excursion before learning would make the lectures bearable. She tried to sell back her education books (they only bought back one for $5, and she spent hundreds). Then we went to Hammons to buy her more prints (she had already run out) and then onto Sunvilla (it should be noted that I REALLY wanted to touch the huge screen in Hammons 104, but Nikkie said I couldn't... I'm sure it had to be touch sensitive). At Sunvilla, Nikki and Bridgette planned to see Eclipse and then Nikki and I scheduled one-on-ones with David, since Carol is not working this week. After Sunvilla, we went to Walgreens and I bought snacks and candy. I might have randomly knocked on signs and danced, too.

Driving back from the store, we saw a stand. At at this stand was the most wonderful invention since the Internet. A robot that gave you candy. We parked in the Kentwood lot, met Juli and convinced her to see the robot, dropped off our purchases, and went to the robot. It was awesome! I was so excited! Then, when I saw it, I didn't make a sound. It was amazing!

When I find that corrupted data file from DARPA on my lecture CDs, I'm redesigning my android to dispense candy.

Until next time!
-Daniel Golden

Santa vs. Satan

Dear Blog,

Half-way update! Since it's about noon, this is an unprecedented blog for me. I figured I can remark on my day now, since I'm reasonably sure my lectures won't change enough to remark on them. Although now that I've said that, the final lecture will be a corrupted Department of Defense data file (specifically from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) providing the specifications for the construction of a reasonably priced android.

Right now, I'm eating lunch and watching a Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode making fun of the movie "Santa Claus", which is a Mexican made film pitting Santa Claus (and alien) against the Devil. This has to be a great film, no?

Only seven lectures to go! Let's hope I can watch at least three today after lunch. I like this class, but I'm getting bored of it now. Hard to focus after two and a half hours of Theseus, Thetis, Thebes, Thespus, and Thebes. Great professor, but I kind of want to stop now and just wing the test. It's be much easier.

Sometime tonight I will also write a paper for Experimental Psychology. And when I say "write a paper", I mean "fill in the provided blanks and elaborate on my individual results". Another assignment that I wish I could skip. It's not hard, I'm just lazy today, I guess.

Perhaps I'll even get around to playing Mass Effect 2 or Limbo tonight. And maybe I can read some comics? I'm excited!

This is still a short blog, but better than the last one, eh?

When zombies eat, do they count the calories that you counted?

Until next time!
-Daniel Golden

Delayed Blog Yet Again

Dear Blog,

I'm sorry that I haven't written a blog entry. Five days is quite a long time to go without a blog. Perhaps my entires will become more regular in the academic year? Let's hope so.

Aside from working the front desk, being on duty, and classes, nothing major has happened. My family came done to help carry half of my stuff back home so my trip wouldn't be as hard. We went to the mall and then ate at Red Lobster. It was nice to see them. My parents are quite awesome.

I'm not really motivated to update my blog right now, plus I have lectures to finish up before my test on Wednesday. Let's hope that I can add more later today or tomorrow.

Until next time,
-Daniel Golden

An Overdue Blog or How I've Lacked Motivation over the Past Week to Accomplish Any Personal Goals

Dear Blog,

It's been a while, hasn't it? I'm sorry. I just haven't been in the blogging mindset this past week or so. I had weekend duty again, which made me a zombie RA, walking through the motions and not really focusing on reality while working. I can't complain with this job (I work in an air conditioned building, food is provided, a nice bed, nobody is shooting me), but it can get boring at time. And then hectic.

It's hard for me to focus on the blog. The "New Post" window has been open for several hours now. I'm not sure what I want to write about. I bought The Complete Lego Star Wars Saga for the Wii for Victoria, so that she can have something to do until school starts... and I might possibly play it when she moves back here for college (lightsaber sounds effects in the Wiimote!). I also bought Mass Effect 2 on sale from Gamestop (and after a slight mishap, I now have the single-use access code for special features). On a side not, my Xbox 360 is acting up by not detecting my Ethernet cord. I am annoyed by this a tad, but it still works otherwise.

Tomorrow, I hope I am able to watch several Mythology lectures. I need to catch up on my lectures, and since I have nothing planned, that would be an opportune time to do so.

I'm hungry again. I've been hungry a lot lately. I'm not entirely sure why, though. I guess I might run to Taco Bell later tonight, depending on the weather and whether or not I feel like spending money on food.

My blog is dwindling down now. Let's also hope, in addition to watching lectures, that I'm able to write and slightly more substantial blog tomorrow. Perhaps I'll tackle a philosophical question or something. Or cheat and write a poem. Who knows? I'll just leave tonight and hope tomorrow is a more productive day.

If music be the food of love, play on. If food be the path to a man's heart, cook on.

Until next time,
-Daniel Golden

Oddities of Space and Time

Dear Blog,

I've lost my dryer sheets. I have no idea where I placed them. I had them for the first three loads of clothes that I am currently drying, but they disappeared before I put in the last load. I have a theory that wormholes and space happen all around me and suck my items to a different dimension. Instead of lost left socks, my dryer sheets vanish. I never lose my keys, but my name tag likes to go on inter-dimensional excursions. I just fear my children might one day be sucked into the rip in space-time that I seem to create. Which provides a nice segway into my next paragraph.

Dear Future Children,
You might be reading this blog after my death, so I'd like to let you know that you are now safe from the tears I create in the fabric of space and time. You might have picked up the genetic trait for space-time manipulation, but don't worry, the things you will lose with be so odd and random that you'll find it amusing. Oh, and on a final thought, obey our robotic/alien/Communist overlords until they force you to watch government mandated television programs; that's the cue to revolt. And if you live in a world populated by zombies, STOP READING THIS BLOG AND SEEK SHELTER. Seriously, what are you thinking? This is no time for blog browsing, the zombie apocalypse is upon you!
/end paragraph

I'm on duty this weekend, once again. I kinda wish I wasn't though. I don't mind weekend duty, but since I am always on duty on Thursday, my duty weekend is 24 hours longer than normal. That's an entire day that I can't leave the building to watch a movie, shop in the mall, or get food from a fast food joint. Alas, I signed my contract and I have to do this. It's worth it, too.

I found a Doctor Who series with Tom Baker on Netflix that I can watch if I get too bored. The Key of Time Series. A interesting idea, plus it supposedly offers a nice insight into Time Lord history and whatnot. Plus, more of K-9! I also want to play some more Xbox 360 games. I need to hurry up and win the lottery so I can buy a nicer HDTV to play games on. Plus, I can hook up my Blu-Ray laptop and watch shows in greater detail.

Not much else to talk about. Nikki gave me Pete the Pike because I am friendly and helpful, and even if I say no, I help out anyway. She came back today and I talked bout every single one of my Xbox 360 games when she knocked on my door. She was oddly patient throughout my rambling. I blame the Coca-Cola I had had ten seconds previous to her arrival.

I think I'll end about now. I'm losing focus and I just want to watch Doctor Who/play on my wonderful new Xbox 360. I still haven't checked to see if the heat is normal. I should do that as soon as I end this blog. If I remember to, that is.

If one has the power to alter time, should one do so?

Until next time!
-Daniel Golden

Assassins and Boredom

Dear Blog,

I beat Assassin's Creed II today! Yay! I hope the next game (and conclusion to the trilogy) comes out soon. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood comes out in November, but I'm not all that excited about it. I just want to finish the story and find out what happens to Desmond and friends.

I also can't wait for The Force Unleashed II. It comes out in October, so you can bet what I'll buy for myself on the 21st. It looks quite promising. I had a lot of fun with the original, and the sequel looks to increase in awesomeness. Fallout: New Vegas also comes out in October. A good month for games? Of course! Halo: Reach comes out in September, but I don't know if I want it as soon as it hits shelves or not. I'm sure it'll be awesome, but I have a few other games that I want more (Bioshock 2 and Mass Effect 2, for instance). And then, sometime next year, comes the game highest on my most wanted list, The Old Republic. I've half tempted to invest in upgrades to my laptop for that game.

I went to a baseball game yesterday with a few of the RAs. Free tickets were nice, and we watched from the grassy area in the back. The games were slow and kinda boring, but the company was awesome. I probably won't go watch another game unless it is with other people. I convinced David to get the iPhone 4, and let other people watch the Star Wars TomTom commercials. We left early because of the impending storm, but it was still lots of fun.

I want new ringtones, but I don't know which ones I want. Something special for Victoria and Mom, something quirky/random/funny for Dad, and maybe one for Linda (but she never calls). And a ringtone for other resident assistants and desk workers would be nice, too. Just to add variety to my technological marvel of a machine.

Nikki handed (tossed/threw) Pete the Pike to (at) me today while I was working the front desk. Pete the Pike is part of the RAs' FISH Philosophy (Be There, Play, Make Their Day and Choose Your Attitude) and is passed to people who have exhibited these qualities in their day-to-day work. She isn't going to be here for our staff meeting, so she gave him to me early and said she'd give me the reason as to how I deserved it via text message to read to the group. I'm trying to remember if I had done anything noteworthy this past week, or if it is simply my time to receive Pete. Now I just have to remember to bring Pete along tomorrow and next week and I'll be good.

I think I want Wii Fit. Or at least a good work-out game for the Xbox 360 (which might involve the soon-to-be-released Kinect device). I need to exercise a little bit, but I want to play a game as I do it. Why? It'd like to have some sort of result clearly shown at the end of a session (Gamerpoints on Xbox Live, avatar items, points to collect for random in-game items, anything other than the simple satisfaction of a job well done). Plus, I know I work really well if there is a reward system in place. "A little exercise equates to some prize" would encourage me more than "a little exercise equates to nothing tangible." It'd be a good way to sell the idea of Kinect to my parents as a Christmas present to me.

I think I will wrap up this blog now. Once I discussed exercising, I knew I had talked too much. Perhaps tomorrow will lead to more exciting topics.

Could you enjoy movies/books/games if you were omnipotent? You're know how it ended, the work involved in making it, and all the right moves without even trying.

Until next time!
-Daniel Golden

When it Rains, Not Only Does it Pour, But Daniel is Nearly Struck by Lightning

Dear Blog,

Here I am, writing late at night again. I've already made four typos in the first sentence, so I know I shouldn't try to write a novella today. Then again, not too much happened, so I think I'm safe.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup Final took place today. Spain beat the Netherlands 1-0 in overtime. A pretty fun game. Nearly 50 people showed up to our program. A huge success! I'm quite glad. And I made really cool fact sheets about Spain. Only a couple of people actually picked them up, but that's okay. I'm proud of my work, nonetheless.

A few hours after the game, an intense storm came through Springfield. Probably the strongest storm I've ever seen here in Missouri. Lightning struck a tree in the parking lot and brought down a huge branch. I went to make sure no one was hurt by the fallen tree and subsequently became incredibly soaked. My shoes are still wet and I plan to wash clothes tomorrow to deal with the constant wardrobe changes I've been forced to make because of the water.

My Xbox 360 is quite awesome. It is incredibly quiet, but I fear that it runs far too hot. I'll check online tomorrow to see if it is supposed to expel so much heat from it's vents. Expulsion of heat is good, but is it bad in my case? Who knows... well, probably the Internet. That is, if the Internet is still around.

I think I shall retire to bed now. I hope tomorrow leads to a short class and lots of gaming time for me. Perhaps I should start watching some Classical Mythology lectures, too?

If I become a successful writer, tell me to write a novel outside of my genre, because by then, I'll need the challenge.

Until next time!
-Daniel Golden

Women with Built-In Wi-Fi

Dear Blog,

I finally bought the new Xbox 360 that I've mentioned several times here. It was definitely worth the purchase. Unless I picked up a faulty unit, I don't imagine and console upgrade for quite a while (then again, I have no idea what the game companies have planned for the near future). Over the past couple of days since I picked up the console, I've joked that it is like the perfect women: small and shiny, a large memory capacity, whisper quiet, built-in Wi-Fi, and it beeps when you touch it right. Jokes aside, I am glad I finally have it. I plan to download my games to it, since I now have plenty of space on the built-in 250 GB hard drive.

On Friday, the day I bought the new Xbox 360, I also went home. After the long night I had Thursday night while of duty (loud freshman following a guest who evidently tore her ACL while on the dance floor), I was glad to be home. I was able to do laundry, configure my new Xbox 360 on the HDTV downstairs, and spend time with my sister and parents. I heard all about their trip to Colorado over the Fourth of July (and even watched the DVD of all three skydiving indoors with a wind tunnel). They showed all the pictures Linda has taken and I was glad they enjoyed their trip. I don't feel bad that I wasn't able to go. Nor would I have objected if I had the chance. But alas, I had school/RA duties to tend to. Maybe next time.

On Saturday afternoon, the Summer School RA staff had our "retreat" from about 5pm-Midnight. Nikki cooked a nice Cajun dinner for our Mardi Gras Murder Mystery and we all had a part to play. On Friday, my family helped me pick out a nice outfit for my character, Bourbon DuPre, jazz musician. The scandals and hidden plots were fun to slowly uncover (illegitimate children, secret affairs, money money money) and the fun we had bashing on characters was great. It turned out that David's character was the murderer, which was quite funny. After the mystery dinner, we played Rockband/Guitar Hero/Lips. Or rather, the other party members did (I played drums a couple of times). Nick then brought over Settlers of Catan and I was taught how to play that. Think of a game that combines Monopoly and Risk. It's a lot of fun. I want to play again soon (now that I know the mechanics of the game). After one game, I went back to Kentwood to sleep before my 4am shift at the Kentwood Front Desk (and when I say sleep, I ended up calling Victoria and talking to her for an hour).

Later today, I have a program to attend/conduct for the 2010 World Cup Final. The Spanish vs. the Dutch. I created a fact sheet for Spain while here at the desk. I'm proud of it. It'll end up being printed in black and white, but it still looks nice and semi-professional. I'm glad I've been taught tricks and tips in Microsoft Word over the years. Now I'm able to throw together a fact sheet that conveys pertinent information is a styled fashion without the need of a professional designer.

I finished Torchwood: Children of Earth yesterday, as well. That season of Torchwood was definitely a hard one to watch. Basic plot is that all at once, the children of the world stop and carry the message "We are coming" to the government of the UK. Torchwood is targeted to keep a government action from 1965 secret. Mysterious aliens known as "the Four-Five-Six" arrive and demand 10% of the planet's children for their own twisted means. It's intense. The first season of Torchwood was a tad odd, but this final season was wonderful. I need to find new to fill this emptiness left from lack of Whoniverse material (Whoniverse = shared fictional universe of the shows Doctor Who, Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and other sources like books, behind the scenes, radio programs, etc). I could buy the books (because I doubt libraries would have them). And there are a few Doctor Who DVDs from Netflix that I can watch (older series). Maybe I'll move onto something else? Maybe back to Star Trek or Star Wars? Possibly Stargate?

I think I've written enough for today. It doesn't really make up for missing so many days, but it's better than a "Here's a short blog to let you know that I'm alive" blog.

By the way, I'm still alive.

Until next time!
-Daniel Golden

Good Science Fiction Stops me in my Tracks

Dear Blog,

I'd like to apologize to you, my dear Blog. This has been mainly a journal-like process, and although this isn't a bad thing, I think I need to break from a simple retelling of my day and more toward a tad of creative writing. I will still talk about my day, but I need more points to discuss, be they real or fake. Today I decided to try for a discussion on something other than me. I have no idea how much I will actually write, since I am tired and I'd like to sleep. But you're quite irresistible, my dear Blog. I like this compulsion to write. I hope I am able to focus in the future and actually create some substantial work. I'm planning for the structure of the academic year will yield a more steady output of written words for me to expand on over time. Poems, short stories, anything.

I watched the Season Two Finale of Torchwood on Netflix about an hour ago. I will admit, I teared up. Characters that I've become attached to actually died. You watch a show and the characters always escape death with narrow misses, quick thinking, or deus ex machina. It's rare that someone actually dies. And in this show, Torchwood, they have actually brought people back to life. So it's final. They are dead. Which makes me sad. And being sad makes me a happy, too. The story was good enough to affect me, I have emotion and that reaffirms my humanity, and the entertainment value of the show is increased in my mind.

I'd go on to list the other times the Whoniverse has affected me, but I'm not up to the task tonight. I recommend Doctor Who highly. And Torchwood if you want something a little grittier/adult. And I'm not the only one who likes Doctor Who. It has a huge following in the UK (or so I piece together from Wikipedia).

Blah, I suddenly lost my drive to write any more material tonight. I'm just going to listen to Chameleon Circuit, a band that created a bunch of songs that are about Doctor Who. A vlogger on YouTube, charlieissocoollike, has a couple vlogs dedicated to Doctor Who (and several mentions). He's part of Chameleon Circuit. Here is a link to his song "Exterminate, Regenerate". He's pretty much awesome. Makes me smile a lot. If I were good looking, had a nice video camera, and video editing software, I might want to make a video blog on YouTube, too.

I think I'll fiddle around with blog settings before bed. Maybe change the layout a bit. Or not. It really depends on my patience level and if Victoria tells me to go to bed. Have I mentioned that she's fantastic? She is. I try my hardest for her, but I still feel like I'm quite lame.

If I were to become immortal, I'd hope that I'd never be bored.

Until next time,
Daniel Golden

Break from Classical Mythology Lectures

Dear Blog,

Victoria, my girlfriend of three months on July 5th, was in a car accident last night (Saturday, 3rd of July) as she was driving home after spending a few days here in Springfield. Let me start off by saying that she is fine! Physically well! Her seatbelt left some marks, she bumped her head, and barbed wire scratched her leg, but overall is great health. She is, of course, still shaken up from the wreck and she plans to avoid driving for a few days. I hope she doesn't stay away from driving too long.

She was trying to pass a truck on the road, yet people to the left of her wouldn't left her by. She swerved to the right to avoid the truck and traveled away from the road and into a lot. The passenger side of her car slammed into a sign post and crippled the car. Both side windows in the front of the car shattered while she was crashing. She called 911, then me, then her parents and friends (and posted a Facebook status). The police were able to locate her and take her to safety in the Laclede County Station.

Since she called me shortly after the police found her, I was able to drive from Springfield to Lebanon fairly quickly and found her in the station shortly after she herself arrived. I gave her some water and a blanket (she turned it into a tissue) and helped her as best I could. We looked at the car as soon as it came in and I grabbed her luggage and whatnot from the car. I saved Piplup (the Pokemon plush she and I won at the arcade in the mall) and a couple of other items. We then waited in the break room for her parents to arrive.

After the Sheriff and I helped navigate Victoria's parents through Lebanon via phone, she met up with them. Her father took care of whatever paperwork/information he needed as Victoria and I went to see her mother. After everyone had talked and hugged, we went to Waffle House for a quick meal and then parted ways.

It should be noted that I was quite scared when Victoria said that she was scared. After all, she watches zombie films and horror flicks. She doesn't scare easy. But, I kept my cool as a raced to her. I'm not entirely sure if I used the Force to drive safely above normal "Daniel speed" or it was the power of Justin Beiber playing on the stereo in my Blazer. Either way, I don't think I'll reach speeds like that in the near future.

Since coming back from seeing Victoria, I have been focused on sleeping and working. I couldn't fall asleep straight away when I came back to my room, but finally did around 6 in the morning. I slept for a few hours, then woke up to go on rounds. After rounds, I started working on decorations for my floor, then onto my Classical Mythology lectures. I decided to blog after the first lecture, so here I am. I'll watch a couple of Charlieissocoollike videos on YouTube, then more lectures.

I wonder if I should have video blogs in addition to written blogs?

Until next time,
Daniel Golden

Dutiful Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday

Dear Blog,

For me, being on duty is the oddest part of being a Resident Assistant. I'm not sure how the universe works, but I like to think that in the grand scheme of all creation, things that are similar to one another tend to gravitate toward each other (a.k.a. birds of a feather, flock together). My basis for this is rooted in my job. A normal person goes around the building and inspects the residence hall and only normal things happen. Noise complaints, perhaps the occasional rowdy resident. Then a slightly wacky character (me) goes on rounds and people are on the roof, lights start to leak, and all sorts of keys vanish from view. I'm not complaining, far from it. But I can't imagine what will happen during the academic year. Thousands more people on campus means thousands more possible scenarios. And Daniel is still on duty. Come to me, random stories, and revel in the chance to be told.

Other than that, no must else I can really talk about when it comes to life. Victoria has been with some of her friends the past few day. My family is in Colorado from the 4th of July. My grade on my Experimental Psychology test was nice. I'm nervous about my Classical Mythology test next week. I slammed something on my left thumb yesterday and my right thumb today (bruises aren't fun). I really want Netflix on my iPhone. And since Gamestop is currently not taking reservations on the new Xbox, I'll still holding onto my current system.

But I do have a very odd question for you. And please remember that I do not like to use "bad" words. I rarely say anything that would label the movie of my life over PG.

-When something is bad, broken, faulty, or simply not doing what it is designed to do, people say it's "a piece of shit."
-When someone is deceiving, bluffing, in error, rude, or generally of a negative nature, people say that they are "full of shit."
-Fecal matter, excrement, and poop is also known as "shit."
-When someone/something is the greatest beyond compare, they/it is known as "the shit."
Why?
This makes little sense to me. I would not like to be regarded as "the shit" when there is plenty of evidence and usage of the word used in a negative fashion. The image that it conjures can't be pleasant to the person/object being "honored."
-"Hey Mark! Great home run! You're the shit!" Mark accomplishes a great feat and it seems diminished. From superstar to bowel movement. How much lower can you rate a person?
-"Dude, this drink is the shit!" Again, would you really your beverage to be compared to poop? And this is worse because not only is the drink compared to poop, but it is now closely related to diarrhea.
-"This house is the shit!" Well, maybe I could see this, since a couple of years ago the housing market was going down the tubes (a.k.a. "the crapper").

Maybe I'm a little out of the loop in this modern world, but even this point seems valid in my mind. Well, Victoria leaves in a couple of hours and she's sweet enough to run and grab some food for me as I sit in Kentwood while on duty.

Until next time!
-Daniel Golden