facebook: I'm almost addicted

"I don't need those...I have real friends."

I don't know how many times I've said this when asked about using mySpace or facebook.  The fact is that I guess I never really gave it a chance (or kept an open mind).  I've had numerous discussions about it with mainly younger people and the biggest attribute that I couldn't discount was keeping in touch with long-distance friends.

And here we are today.  No, I don't have a mySpace (my space still continues to be anything within my arm's reach of me), but I just set up a facebook account Friday.  I was...specatacularly surprised by how enthralled I became with it.  I just kept coming upon friend after friend that I had not spoken to in years.  Obviously there were friends that I regularly visit with, but this was a common avenue with so many more.

Perhaps it's the newness of it all, but I find myself anticipating logging on and seeing what's new with my friends.  I doubt that I'll be one of those that post eight times a day, about every little turd I drop, and about the dumb ass driver that cut me off and almost made me spill my machiato.  I like how some people (I'm actually referring to Kelley this time...) post simple succint things, such as "Would give anything to be outside, soaking up the sun and sxsw atmoshpere."  It's the bits like that that really cause you to 1) appreciate that person for who s/he really is; and, 2) take the time to consider that person's perspective.  Using the same example, I got to enjoy the outside and soak up some sun due to my coaching duties, but I've been stuck in the classroom all day on beautiful days and had golf practice on dreary wet cold days as well.

I conversed with one friend who was in my wedding and haven't verbally spoken to in perhaps two or three years.  I conversed with another friend with whom I haven't spoken with in over ten years.  I hooked up with a few peers I just hung out with hours prior.  In the end, facebook proves itself as a viable tool (yes, valauble tool) for maintaining social networks (I can see personal and professional uses here...).  Will it change my life?  I doubt it; it definintely cannot change my son's diapers or pick up pizza for me.  But it will enable me to simply share a few words with some far away friends.  

To quote Shakespeare: 

The are but wild and whirling words, my Lord. - Horatio, Hamlet I.V.133

And that's what it's about I guess.

Spring Break

Sigh...

A contented relief exhaled upon a computer screen, done so without obligations or work-related responsibilities.

It's been a rough patch these last few weeks.  I've missed many a days due to golf tournaments.  TAKS loomed its ugly arse (standardized testing just plain sucks).  And to top it all off, I also had about eight packets to grade for Future Problem Solving, or commonly referred to as FPS.

I can't say that my life is at a bad spot; in fact, I'm at my most fortunate right this very moment.  One of my boys is playing Guitar Hero: World Tour and jamming out to some old classic rock.  The other is taking a bubble bath (after defacating in his pull-ups; I just wanted to share).  

I guess, I'm really looking forward to Spring Break.  I've been working hard (not to say that all you wonderful blue collar folks [ahem...Dad...cough...Nelson...Jessica...cough cough...] don't work.  I just do my part to the best I can.  Maybe in my younger years (when I knew it all), I didn't work as hard as I do now and didn't mind the longer periods without a break.  Now though, I enjoy, relish the time with my family, the interruption from the grind, and just a chance to enjoy the absence of work.

Amidst all the previous work I have been doing, I've been slacking on this blog of mine.  My apologies to you three readers.  In respect for you, here's a song that's probably my theme song for the upcoming week.

Be safe to all you traveling.  Don't hit me or my family, or anyone else's for that.

Cheers,

The Mert

Guitly Pleasure: PostSecret

I've known about this website for some time now, but I guess it wasn't until a few recent events in my life really opened my eyes and gave me the life experiences to truly understand the messages being posted here.

If you get a chance, PostSecret is a website that posts secrets. Under anonymity.  For everyone to see.

A novel idea, but it goes beyond that.

Look at the picture here.  Illustration of a classic pin-up gal. Then add the words.  Two short sentences.  One sets up the idiocy; the second only proves it.

I feel for this gal (I assume it's a girl, but I could be wrong...). Chances are, she's someone who has found herself in a situation and sees this as a way out.  Should you feel sorry for her?  I won't be so presumptuous to do so, but check out the other entries.  Chances are, you've been there or know someone who has.  These folks just found enough chutzpa to actually voice a deep secret.

And I think that's a problem today in our world.  Too many secrets, with too much anonymity.  Let's be real people; if you have an issue voice it.  If someone tells you something, don't just jump down their throats; it probably took some courage to say it aloud to you to begin with. Some secrets are probably best left as such; that's why PostSecret is a pretty novel idea.  It's not a substitute for really getting the help that one needs.  I'm a firm believer in talking it over with your partner, mate, buddy, brother or sister, or the Internet (that's why I write).

Tell someone you love a secret of yours.  It doesn't have to be anything that deep.  And you may be surprised; your mate may think it really is that deep.

My secret?  I watched G.I. Joe incessantly growing up.  After seeing the commerical last night for the upcoming movie, the theme song instantly popped back up in my head.  I remember every...single...word.  And yes, Lady J is that hot.

Update: Guitar Playing

I've been practicing more, not only at the behest of Tom (my guitar mentor), but because I've actually got a bit of a gig coming up (more on that later).

One of the coolest thing I got over the holidays was my amp.  I ended up getting a Peavey Vypyr 15, a modeling amp from a reputable maker.   As for buying the amp, that's an intersting story.

I researched and researched which amp I would purchase.  Tom was invaluable in this endeavor.  We both agreed that I would benefit from a smaller amp and go with modeling to allow for experimentation until I found "my sound".  Between the Peavey and a Line 6 amp, we traveled to a Guitar Center located in the city and compared the two.  In the end the Peavey just played better for us.  Decision made. Christmas money was spent (when I got it).

Now here is where the story got intersting.  My wife and I talked and decided that we should go ahead and make this purchase from a brick & mortar, just in case it's defective.  I decided to go back to the same Guitar Center as before.  Bad mistake.

Now, before I continue, you have to understand something.  I spent two years as a store manager for a major retail chain.  As per my training, I personally believe and appreciate "platinum" customer service.  It's that important to me.  Mess up on that and you've very well lost a customer for life.  I understand having a bad day, but rudeness is inexcusable.

Having said that, went into Guitar Center.  Absolutely busy.  I mean busy.  A shortage of sales clerks didn't help the situation.  My son and I waited behind a man who was chekcing out at the counter in the guitar section.  It took about ten minutes or so (long enough for me to hear how Austin has four or five Goldtop Gibsons lying around and San Antonio can't keep them in-stock), and finally the man was finished.  The clerk promptly rushed to the counter by the entrance/exit and then went behind closed doors.  He came back, ignored me, and went about doing something else.  I attempted to gain one clerk's attention, but he was simply too busy.  I saw the original clerk who helped Tom and me when we compared the two amps previously.  Thinking perhaps I had a rapport, and queried to him, "Excuse me; can I ask you a question?".

His exact response:  [Deeply sighs while rolling eyes, speaks flatly] Yes.  I've only got two other people to help.

Keeping my tone even, I asked if he had this particluar amp in stock as it appeared it was out.  He quickly reponsded no, and took off on his tasks.  Again, I know he was busy.  I know I wasn't about to drop two grand on equipment, but gimme a break.  I've got income to spend.  I've got kids who are musically inclined.  He doesn't know any of this and this warrants a shitty attitude and service?  I so badly wanted to say "F__ you mister; I'm sorry to have bothered you."  I didn't, but I wanted to.

Disappointed, I went home that evening, calmed down, and the following morning placed an order with Sweetwater. 

 I will forever be a customer with them.  Excellent service, continued support by your own pesonal sales technician, and genuine follow-ups.  Case in point, my purchased amp was so popular it was backordered for almost two weeks.  I was disappointed, but eager nonetheless.  The wait was bearable only because Brian, my sales tech, kept me informed and up to 

date as to the progress of my order.  So the lesson is this:  Never ever visit Guitar Center ever again; buy only from Sweetwater.  At least, that's my recommendation.  If you have a great clerk at your Guitar Center, you are lucky; as for me, I will never recommend them EVER!

On a side note, again at the behest of my friend Tom, I actually wrote letters to both Sweetwater and Guitar Center.  Sweetwater was quite happy with the response, but of special interest was Guitar Center's response:

"Im very sorry about what happened to you in one of our store. I what to assure you that that is not the way we normally do business. I have forwarded your email up the chain and to the management of that store directly so they will know what happened.

Once again I am very sorry."

A nice attempt, but sorry dude; the damage has been done.  'Nuff said.

Since I've had my amp, I've been playing a bit more and really experimenting.  I think I've found the sound I like most.  The best way to describe it is by listening to "Yellow Ledbetter" by Pearl Jam.  Lots of reverb, almost as if you're in a big empty hall.  Barre chords are slowly working their way into my repotoire, thanks to some songs that I'm working on (namely Bon Jovi and Nickelback).  Even built me a nice little amp stand.  It's actually not that little, it stands close to two and a half feet tall.  Cheap and effective, it works for me.  Now to paint it with a base of metallic red and black, with an overlay of glow in the dark.  Wowza.

More later.  For now, enjoy some tunes on the side.

Cheers.

Poke Your Eyes: Forbes Magazine

Ahhhh...That's a sigh of satisfaction, as I decided to come up with a new monthly entry called "Poke Your Eyes".

For those unfamiliar, it's an expression, an idiom if you will, that basically means that someone is trying to trick, deceive, or con you into believing something. Politicians are notorious for trying to poke your eyes. I'd never heard it before moving to South Texas, but hey, it's a really big world.

In any case, this entry is about someone who recently, at least to me, attempts to "poke our eyes". It may be a big issue; it may not be. In any case, it's disappointing to be presented with something like this.

Without further ado...

Peter C. Beller, writer for Forbes, decided to pen up an interesting story about Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision, the software company knowed recently for console hits such asTony Hawk,  Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Guitar Hero.  While all three are hits in their own right, it's some of the choice words that Beller decided to use that is offensive.

Beller wrote:

EA also teamed with MTV to sell Rock Band, a shameless knockoff of Guitar Hero that added drums, bass and a microphone to the world of make-believe rock stars. EA says it is returning to an "auteur model" of designing games, taking bigger chances on fewer ideas. (Source: Forbes Magazine Website, January 2009)

These are some inflammatory words, especially for those that are informed about these matters.  I'd like to initially conclude that Forbes probably doesn't target the typical gamer, and as such probably didn't consider to really delve into the actual facts of the matter (I won't even go into the possible "buying out/buying ad space etc. argument").  The two primary parties of Guitar 

Hero I & II are Red Octane (hardware developer; read: plastic guitars) and Harmonix (software developer).  In short, the two parted companies (a whole 'nother story, too long for here) and were bought up by Activision (bought Red Octane) and MTV Games (bought Harmonix).  Both continued to develop games, with Activision publishing Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, while MTV Games publishing Rock Band, a new series that introduces the concept of an entire band (two guitars, drums, and a mic).  This was a hit at E3 2007, garnering the best Music Game of 

the show.  The innovation of the game invovling a band, a group of people, to successfully maneuver instruments and a voice to create music (through the convoluted pressing and tapping of plastic) is just that: innovation.

And that my readers is where our eyes got poked:  Harmonix, EA, and MTV all were the innovators in this genre.  Not to say that Guitar Hero didn't start off that way (assuming you overlook the precursors to GH).  Rock Band elevated the standard.  Period.  No rip offs.  No shameful actions.  Just simply producing a good game.

Personally, I prefer the Rock Band series (as does my son).  But, we do own copies of  both series and they both play well.  In short, do your research Beller.  Readers of your magazine expect 

(at least I would think that) you to write informative and factually based articles.  For me, I will forever be wary of your words.  

Unless you write that retraction really quick...