Go_Aachmed

Name: Go_Aachmed
Joined On: Jun 16, 2006
Maintag: Six Gun Reaper
Age: 42
Occupation: Underwriter
Location: Tampa, Fl
Currently: Offline
Last seen: 3/9/10

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GoAachmed

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Six Gun Reaper

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Rebel Scum
Aged Assassins
Xbox 360
Pork Chop Platoon

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11/17/08

Beating The Odds And a Weekend Of Crime

As I've posted, I've had an issue with my Xbox 360. It was giving me a "unbreadable disk" error, no matter what disk I put in. I tried and tried, but to no avail, it just wasn't going work. I resigned myself to the fact that it was just my Irish heritage attacking me as usual, and planned to get a replacement box just as soon as I could. One day while browsing the forums I was checking the clan pages for Porkchop Platoon, Jagerwick posted that he was having disk reader issues and it was taking 15-20 attempts to load a disk before the machine would read it. Wha... 15-20 times! Jeeze, that's a lot of attempts. I only tried maybe 3 or 4 times, then swapped out the disk. I tried it on four games then decided it was hopeless. Seeing that I didn't have anything to loose, I decided I would give it twenty tries. I loaded a disk in the machine and of course it told me that I had an unreadable disk. Tried again... eject... close... unreadable disk. I admit that I didn't have any hope that this would work (Irish, remember) but I kept trying. LOW AND BEHOLD...on the NINETEENTH attempt... it read the disk. I was in awe. Not only did it read the disk and let me play, but it has read the disk on the FIRST attempt ever since. I'm not naive and I know full well that old Mr Murphy will strike once again. I do plan on getting a replacement box around Christmas, but until then, knock on wood, I'll still be in the action.

I was only out of action for about 3 1/2 weeks, but it did have longer term effects on my gaming. I had three games that were bought and paid for: Fallout 3, Gears of War 2 and Left 4 Dead. Due to some real life money pinches, I wasn't able to replace the box or get it fixed. Since I was going to miss the launch for these games I decided to go to Game Stop and get my money back. I had some bills that needed catching up. This was a depressing time for me. I had saved up all year...since January to by these games. Now, my Xbox was on the blink and my games were gone. Fallout 3 came and Gears 2 came and I was left trying to find another outlet for stress relief. The good news is that now my box seems to be cooperating (thanks Jager) and my bills are caught up, so I'm back on track. I picked up Gears the other day and plan to get Left 4 Dead tomorrow. I'm not going to get Fallout 3 yet. I know it's a great game, well worth the price but I decided it could wait.

I had just bought Saints Row 2 before my box went down and had only invested a few hours in it. I wasn't sure if I would like the game to be honest. While I do like RPG's, I haven't really liked sanbox games. The one exception was Burnout Paradise, which is a racing game in a sandbox type format. I never played the first Saints Row and was only going on recommendations from clanmates in The Ground Baggers when buying it. I have to say that it is totally addicting. I absolutely love this game. It has RPG elements, it's a shooter, it reminds me of Burnout Paradise at times, and it has some of the funniest bits of dialog and cut seens I've ever seen. I'm affraid that if I was to get Fallout 3 and load it in the machine, that it would be the curtain call for Saints Row 2. I fully intend to enjoy SR2 until I complete it or get tired of it before I pick up Fallout 3. Fallout3, like Oblivion, will be around for a very long time, so I'm not worried. BTW, Saints Row co-op is an awesome way to spend some gaming time. There is so much to do and so much fun to be had, as always it's better when you get a good gaming friend to enjoy it with.

Funniest Saints Row 2 line I've heard yet:

"Look at them. They're covered in more shit than a German porn star."

-Jim

Posted by Go_Aachmed @ 12:56 pm EDT | Permalink | 2 Comments

11/12/08

Just a little somethin'

Soft Hands

Soft hands hold me for the very first time. A loving smile, a loving voice, they welcome me to the world.

Desperate hands wash me, frantically trying to cool the fever. Sickness is invading my body but those desperate hands have come to do battle. No, sickness! Not this day, not this child.

Strong hands gripping mine lovingly prevent my escape. Large feet dash, dart and stomp around me but those strong hands… They keep me safe from harm.

Firm hands show me the way. The path may seem like a wide and winding road, but those firm hands teach me how straight and narrow it really is.

Joyous hands give praise and thanks. They show me that if there is nothing Earthly for you to hold on to, you need NOT be empty handed. Lifting your hands in joyous praise brings rewards of its own.

Forgiving hands embrace me. Failure need not become an impenetrable fortress. No castle or keep can prevent the cradle of those forgiving hands

Proud hands clap and cheer for me. The road to this day was long and toilsome but today those hands are happy. Accomplishments may seem rare, but that is even more of a reason to wear proud hands.

Soft hands, aged hands, weathered and freckled hands… so frail they became. Those soft warm hands have grown cold now. If I could have just one wish, if I could have just one prayer, it would be to one day feel the touch of those soft hands again.

Charlotte Church (and NO... it's definately not Ave Maria!)

-Jim

Posted by Go_Aachmed @ 2:49 am EDT | Permalink | 1 Comments

11/10/08 Flagged as NSFW

Then & Now

Then

Now

Stay tuned for more.

-Jim

Posted by Go_Aachmed @ 10:37 pm EDT | Permalink | 0 Comments

11/10/08

Year End Party

My work is having their Year End Event, formerly knows as the Christmas Party, tomorrow. There are going to have all sorts of food games and prizes. It is scheduled during work hours, so we just leave our desks and head to the party. I have a very large company with hundreds of people working at my site so I didn't think I would be missed. My plan was simple: blow off the party and go spend time with the wife and kiddies. That's what I really want to do. These types of gatherings tend to bore me. I hate to be a party pooper, but they just do.

Then today in my email box I get the following:

"Just to add a little more excitement to your adventures tomorrow we wanted to tell you about some fabulous door prizes. We will have X-Boxes, Wii's, and $500.00 in Southwest Airlines Gift Cards and many wonderful prizes."

<perk> Wha...? I'm sorry but did you just use the magic words. Did gaming terminology just exit your mouth?

Screw family time, I'm going to the party!

-Jim

Posted by Go_Aachmed @ 3:16 pm EDT | Permalink | 5 Comments

11/07/08

RIP Michael Crichton

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n4575403.shtml
(CBS) Best-selling author and filmaker Michael Crichton died unexpectedly in Los Angeles Tuesday, after a courageous and private battle against cancer, according to a statement released by his family. He was 66. Crichton is best known as the author of "Jurassic Park" and the creator of "ER." His most recent novel, "Next," about genetics and law, was published in December 2006. "While the world knew him as a great story teller that challenged our preconceived notions about the world around us -- and entertained us all while doing so -- his wife Sherri, daughter Taylor, family and friends knew Michael Crichton as a devoted husband, loving father and generous friend who inspired each of us to strive to see the wonders of our world through new eyes," the statement said. "He did this with a wry sense of humor that those who were privileged to know him personally will never forget." Through his books, Crichton served as an inspiration to students of all ages, challenged scientists in many fields, and illuminated the mysteries of the world in a way all could understand. "He will be profoundly missed by those whose lives he touched, but he leaves behind the greatest gifts of a thirst for knowledge, the desire to understand, and the wisdom to use our minds to better our world," the statement added. Born in Chicago Oct. 23, 1942, Crichton graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College, received his MD from Harvard Medical School, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, researching public policy with Jacob Bronowski. He has taught courses in anthropology at Cambridge University and writing at MIT. Crichton's 2004 bestseller, "State of Fear," acknowledged the world was growing warmer, but challenged extreme anthropogenic warming scenarios.Crichton's first bestseller, The Andromeda Strain, was published while he was still a medical student. He later worked full time on film and writing. One of the most popular writers in the world, his books have been translated into thirty-six languages, and thirteen have been made into films. Crichton won an Emmy, a Peabody, and a Writer's Guild of America Award for "ER." In 2002, a newly discovered ankylosaur was named for him: Crichtonsaurus bohlini. A private funeral service is expected, but no further details will be released to the public.

I was and am a big fan. Iv'e enjoyed his books since the Mid 80's. I first read Congo wich was a mediocre movie but a great book. After that book I was hooked and picked up everything of his I could. Eaters of the Dead and The Great Train Robbery remain two of my all time favorites. He will be missed.

-Jim

Posted by Go_Aachmed @ 12:21 pm EDT | Permalink | 1 Comments

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