Happy Day of the Dead (with all due respect to George Romero)...

When I said tomorrow two days ago, I meant the tomorrow AFTER tomorrow, which is today. Cause everyone knows that two tomorrows are better than just one. Also, I had a puppy to watch, a party to attend, and a illness to which I am still fighting (let's give it up for all the H1N1s in the house [god, I hope not]...), so it wasn't a conductive day for blogging. Also, this will likely be my last post in the month of November, due to the writing challenge I gave myself (look it up...). That all being said, here's why Halloween is the most disappointing holiday...

Here's the facts about Halloween DAY: It comes at the end of the month so all of October is gearing up for this one magical spooky day. However, once November 1 rolls around, that's it. No more Halloween for anybody. Tara and I even got heckled in Ithaca on our way to a party in the first part of November (Granted, we ARE talking about Ithaca...). If you look at any store, they shift almost immediately in Thanksgiving/Christmas mode, and it makes me sad...

I do love Halloween. I love the spirit of it, all of the atmosphere, everything. It's also no secret I love Halloween more than other 'major' holidays. Most other holidays don't have such build up for one day of festivities. Check it: Valentine's Day and St. Patty's Day fall in the middle of the month so less build up for (basically) inconsequential and misinterpreted events. Celebrating Christmas is drawn out over all of December and part of January, lumped in with New Years. Winter decorations stick around until companies decide to throw up Valentines Day decor. Easter is tricky to classify since it always jumps all over the calendar, but in the same vein as Halloween, it's all over after the ONE day. Then there's the 'US' holidays which are just reasons for most of the populace to pretend they are more patriotic than they typically are on a daily basis...

Here's what I want: companies, facilities, and whatnot need to extend their spookiness until mid-November. I still expect to see Thanksgiving decorations out November 1, but I still want to see ads for haunted houses. I want people to feel comfortable having Halloween costume parties after October 31. I mean, you paid/made that costume. Let's wear them out and party to the grave, baby. That is all...

Double Feature: Flying Objects Attacked and Tilted Carrion Eaters...

I love Dave Grohl. I think he's probably one of, if not the most, talented musician in modern rock today. He's also one of the busiest (check out his wikipedia page...), so we get plenty of Grohl munchies to satisfy our urges. The reason I bring Diamond Dave up is that he's got not one, but two musical updates coming out very soon and they both sound great. While they have different sounds, both releases show that Dave is not a rock musician or an alternative musician or any other label. He's just a musician who loves his craft and enjoys performing for us, the listener...


First up: The Foo Fighters are releasing a greatest hits album November 2 (holla if it's your birthday... [HOLLA!]) and thank goodness. I used to think that a musician or band had to die or disband to warrant a greatest hits album. At the very least, you ought to have an extensive library of songs to warrant a list that isn't just the radio played songs of your few albums (I'm looking at you, Creed...). That being said, I think that Foo Fighters deserve a greatest hits album for a handful of reasons...

As far as modern bands go (read: bands formed in my life time...), FF has stayed around and prosperous while some of there contemporaries have fallen by the wayside (pick your favorite, I have mine...). They've had hugely successful albums, still grab significant airplay, and win awards consistently for their efforts. While they've evolved (who hasn't...), the Foos have managed to derive a sound all of their own, and I'd like to think it's mostly thanks to Mr. Grohl. Not that the band lives or dies because of Dave, but I believe it's his talent that enhances the group's efforts and makes them the rock powerhouse they are today...

I said before that Dave keeps himself busy, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that he has formed yet another ensemble band (he's been in so many, he may have broken the term 'Super Group'...) called Them Crooked Vultures. They've got a QotSA member, Dave, and a Zep member (look 'em up...). Their debut album drops in November and they've released a single called New Fang and it is pretty damn good. Unlike the Foo Fighters, their sound is more like Eagles of Death Metal and their ilk (Tj calls it 'ball-to-the-walls' rock 'n roll...). Definitely not a bad thing at all, however, it does further show how broad Dave Grohl's taste in music reaches to. I'm looking forward to that album and what TCV gives us...

That is all for now. Tune in tomorrow where I shall a thought on Halloween and why I discovered, in my aging, that it is the most disappointing of all the 'government sanctioned' holidays. By the way, the Foo Fighters released a new song off their greatest hits album and it's called Wheels...

It's coming...

With November less than a month away, it is time to prepare for that month long event that many aspiring writers attempt in some form or another. I am of course speaking of NaNoWriMo (incidentally, does to 'No' stand for 'novel' or 'November'?). For those unacquainted with NaNoWriMo, it goes like this: a writer challenges him or herself to write a novel of more than 50,000 word in the month of November. The prize is as simple as the challenge: you get to say you've written a novel. The challenge of that much constant writing (more than 1600 words per day...) is daunting to many would-be authors, leading to some unfinished works...

Now, this author is taking it in a slightly different vein (I do have to be me...). As I am not exactly in novel writing mode these days, I am going to use NaNoWriMo for a unique writing challenge: I am going to write one comic book issue per day for the month of November. This will include dialogue and coherent notes for the artist. I will also be giving said issues for editting to those who care and aren't doing NaNoWriMo (Hi Jon, Jesse, Brian, etc...). However, per the rules of NaNoWriMo, I will not change anything of each issue until December 1...

This task is extremely daunting, and I'll tell you why. If one is writing a typical, run-of-the-mill novel, it will have a few characters that stay the focus of the project. This means you can travel with said characters as the story grows around them. Not so with comic book issues. I don't intend to write 30 issues of one character. The way I handle characters and stories these days, I need a break and/or write about something else. So I don't have the luxury to rest up between sessions; I just have to keep plugging along...

So, all that being said, here's what I'm doing to prepare myself:
- No actual issue writing until November 1...
- Keeping track of my various ideas I brainstorm...
- Work on other projects until NaNoWriMo starts...
- Catch up on my single issue reading to set the mood...
- Unearth other possible stories written and forgotten...

With all else going on (job hunting, back-to-schooling, vague wedding plans, household duties, puppy watch...), it's been a challenge just finding enough time to pump myself up for this. I can only imagine it will get harder next month when I put ink to paper. Oh yeah; I'm doing it old school, pencil and paper style mostly for NaNoWriMo. I know that some of my compatriots have been trying to ween me off of it (sorry Crash 'n Klein guys...), but I'm not there yet. Wish me luck...

The Ever Evolving Playlist vol. 1...

Here's a list that I'll constantly update with songs I want and cross off those I acquire. Ready? GO!

1. Alphabeat - Fascination
2. U2 - Get On Your Boots
3. Kanye West ft. T-Pain - Good Life
4. Justice - Dance
5. Eminem - Like Toy Soldiers
6. MGMT - Electric Feel
7. MGMT - Electric Feel (Justice Remix)
8. Justice - Genesis
9. Paul McCartney & Wings - Jet
10. Eminem feat. Dr. Dre - Guilty Conscience
11. The Cranberries - Linger
12. Cece Peniston - Finally
13. The Wallflowers - One Headlight
14. U2 - Get On Your Boots (Justice Remix)
15. Band of Horses - Islands on the Coast
16. Billy Joel - Sometimes a Fantasy
17. Common - I Used to Love H.E.R.
18. Temple of the Dog - Hunger Strike
19. ACDC - Thunderstruck
20. Martin Sexton - Diner

As an additional bonus, here's 20 songs you ought to check out (yes, you)...

1. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Carry On
2. Journey - Faithfully
3. Royksopp - Alpha Male
4. Copeland - Pin Your Wings
5. The Darkness - Growing On Me
6. America - Ventura Highway
7. Ben Lee - Catch My Disease
8. Sarah McLachlan - Possession
9. Paul McCartney - Ever Present Past
10. John Mayer - Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
11. Cary Brothers - Who You Are
12. Los Lonely Boys - Onda
13. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Tortoise - Thunder Road
14. Hootie and the Blowfish - Running from an Angel
15. Matisyahu - Jerusalem
16. Velvet Revolver - Fall to Pieces
17. Simply Red - Sunrise
18. Bruce Springsteen - Girls in their Summer Clothes
19. Foo Fighters - Band on the Run
20. Blind Melon - No Rain

Enjoy...

The Ladies...

You know what I love? Strong women. It's true. From a very early age I've been drawn to the ladies that are tough, strong, 'don't take no shit', but still retain that feminine quality about them. This is a hard balance to achieve, as usually there is too much of one and not enough of the other. However, balance is possible (what's up, Tara...), but since that combination of qualities is rare, that makes those special ladies all the more special. So, with that in mind, I give you:

The Witteman's Top Ten List of Screen Ladies who are Sexytough...

10) April O'Neil from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - I've read that a lot of fans aren't crazy about this actress being April (probably because of the ridiculous banana yellow raincoat she wears...), but I think she's great. She has that cute sexiness I love, but also has that moxie-filled spirit that is so essential of being Sexytough. Without any training, she not only mouths-off to the Foot Clan, she prepares to defend herself with Raph's sai. Granted, she's taken out quickly, but it's her spirit that I admire. This April, more than most others, combines the best of quaint femininity and New York tough gal. And that's Sexytough...

9) Lucy Lawless - This one is a bit cliched for any fanboy to include on a list such as this, but she does play great, strong ladies and still retains a lot of sexiness. I suppose that's why she keeps getting those types of roles. We all know her from Xena: Warrior Princess (Raimi and Tapert, you geniuses...), but she has shown up in recurring roles, such as in Battlestar Galactica and in Spartacus. Along with Xena, her one-time appearance on Burn Notice (personal favorite...) gives her all the reason to be on my Sexytough list. Keep it up, Miss Lawless...

8) Commander Uhuru from Star Trek V: The Final Frontier - Many of you (especially you older readers...) probably grew up at least knowing who Lt. Uhuru was on the original Star Trek series. If not, she was the communications officer on the Enterprise, and a good looking one at that. Also, she was, either one of or, the first African-American character on TV. But it wasn't until the movies came out (barring the occasional moment on TV...) that Uhuru really toughened up. The particular scene I refer to is the distraction dance she does to lure the bad guys out and then holds them at gun point. IN THE NUDE. While she has had other bad ass moments, this scene takes the cake for Uhuru being Sexytough...

7) Sarah Connor from Terminator 2: Judgment Day - I'm not including T1 for a reason: she's too much a chased, 'Damsel-in-Distress' type, even after she grows a pair near the end. No, T2 is where she really shows development as a character. The need to preserve what's most important to her drives her to any end, and that shows. She doesn't shirk in the face of an opponent that overpowers her in every respect, but shows a vulnerable, feminine side at the right moments as well. If we're being honest, Sarah's more sexyTough than Sexytough, but who's counting...

6) Beatrix Kiddo from Kill Bill vol. 1 & 2 - The ol' QT gave us a very deep and entrancing character in Beatrix Kiddo. In vol. 1, she is very bad ass, kicking tail from start to finish, while teasing us with hints of her vulnerable past. In vol. 2, we see Beatrix softer beginnings and dealings with people that are very affectionate. She still kicks it here, there and everywhere, but she is shown to be a very feminine women with a hidden soft side. Thanks to both Quint and Uma for this wonderfully Sexytough lady...

5) Fiona from Burn Notice - This one's a fairly recent addition to the list, but she does come from my current favorite TV progrum. There's nothing like a gun-toting Irish woman, let me tell you. She's got it all; the looks, the attitude, the sass, the unstable temperament. Yummy. Unfortunately, I've seen little else with that actress in it, and what I have seen, it's not so Sexytough. I can only hope that with the popularity of the show and Fiona, she'll find more similar work in the years to come...

4) Gail from Sin City - Gail marks the shortest on-screen time of any on this list. She appears briefly in 'The Hard Goodbye', but really gets to shine in 'The Big Fat Kill'. Now I love Sin City; it's one of my all time favorite movies (true story...) and there are a lot of Sexytough ladies in it, especially in the Old Town sequences. But it is Gail that embodies the most Sexytoughness of them all. She is feminine and aggressive, passionate and primal. She's the best eye-candy in the whole movie, hands down...

3) Halle Berry - What can I say about Miss Berry? Not a whole lot actually. She consistently gets strong roles in most movies she's in, and even if they aren't particularly strong, Halle brings her own strength to the role, making it stronger than before (get all that?). I cannot pin down her best Sexytough role; it could be in Die Another Day or Swordfish or even as Storm. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I'd even be willing to watch Catwoman. Once...

2) Marion Ravenwood from Raiders of the Lost Ark - Oh Marion. I have such a crush on you. Even though you're old enough to be my mom, you are still cute as a button and the eternal girl next door. She is the perfect foil to Indy, with enough sass and moxie to keep up with Jones. Hell, she punches out Nazis and Communists. What isn't to love? Now everyone chimes in on 'The Best Bond Babe', but I'm putting it out there that Marion is 'The Best Indy Babe' ever (I said that long before Indy 4...). She hung in there when What's-their-names from Doom and Grail would have given up, and that's what makes Marion Ravenwood Sexytough...

1) Ripley from the Alien movies - Time to come clean: this character probably started me down the path of loving strong and sexy women. I cannot help but be drawn in on multiple levels by this character. Not only is her anguish believable, her quest genuine, but she has probably one of, if not THE, coolest fight scenes in movie history. But throughout her ordeal Ripley remains both attractive AND charismatic, something not everyone can do, especially under duress. I would be led by this Sexytough vixen against a horde of Aliens any day...

So there you have it. My favorite Sexytough screen ladies, forever immortalized in this geeks blog. They must feel so proud...

Couldn't leave it alone...

I'm not usually one for noticing current events enough to then comment on said events later. That being said, a headline caught my eye that seemed so absurd, so outlandish, I can't leave it alone. Also, I'm a product of my generation (read: Saturday morning pop culture), so when it shows up in the news, I take notice. So, without further adieu, here's the (brief) article...

The Green Ranger joins MMA

Now, I've already emailed this link to the friends I knew would give a crap about this kind of announcement (unfortunately, that means most/all of my known readers...), so this is not new to some. It was one of those stories I had to click on. I couldn't help it, I swear...

Let me explain something: I know little about MMA fighting and the UFC. I do know it is about super buff dudes just wailing on each other till one gives up. Now comes the ridiculous parts: I know they hired and promoted a homeless guy (whose name I've forgotten) AND said homeless guy got knocked out early in the first round. I know that former WWF (yes, I still call it the WWF...) member Brock Lesner has transferred over to the UFC to make a 'name' for himself (whatever that means...). I also know that a lot of people take this kind of 'sport' REALLY seriously...

Even with all that being said, I have to draw the line at the FREAKING Green Ranger joining their ranks. It is just super ridiculous. I am not commenting on the man's martial arts ability. From what I remember, he was one of the more talented cast members (even if a lot of it was dance-esque and leaping like a freak...), so he most likely can compete. All together though, it's just absurd. The man was a beloved, and semi-complex, character from a lot of the current 16 to 24 demographic. Now, I don't know if the UFC wants more viewers in that bracket (could be), but even thinking about it gets the 'What the hell?' juices flowing...

Not much more to weigh in about the topic. It was too 'huh?' to leave alone. I hope he does well and proves me wrong. I mean, if you liked the first two seasons of Power Rangers, you'll probably root for the guy. As I recall, he was the good looking, bad boy, rebel type during this point. Plus, they did give him the coolest weapon and Megazord EVER. Yes, I stand by that. Screw that talking saber or anything else after that point. The Green Ranger summoned a Godzilla-esque robot with a trumpet-esque daggerflute. Go, Green Ranger, GO!!!

Gimme an M...U...G...E...N! What's that spell...

Probably one of the most boring things you can do is watch someone play a great video game. They are having all the fun and you are stuck watching said fun. Sure, it can be entertaining (certainly there are some games worth watching...), but in the end, it gets dull. Especially dull if you also never get to play yourself. That's a one way ticket out the door for me. However, there is always a exception to the rule. The exception for me is M.U.G.E.N...

Superman vs Thor

If you are unaware what Mugen (as I will write it for the rest of the post), it is a gaming engine for computers to allow characters from most 2d beat-em-up/fighting franchises to be put together for a battle royal. Think of it as a customizable fighting game where you control the roster. I am way behind this in all ways; conceptually, thematically, everything. It feeds my desire for cross-overs and fighting games. So far, all that I have seen has been most impressive. Characters I never would have guessed to be in a fighting game can be in there. Odd examples:

-Ash from Evil Dead...
-Strong Guy...
-The cast of Family Guy...
-An escape key (huh?)...

Now, it's a fact that I don't exactly do a lot of research before I post on this blog. It pops in my head and I write. So, what has puzzled/intrigued me about Mugen is the (what I consider) truly unique characters and what they can do. Step back a moment: I understand repainting previous characters to look like the ones you want. I understand uploading dialogue from a variety of media for the voices. What I haven't been able to grasp is (to me) creating unique characters with unique attacks with lines I don't know where they came from. Take, for instance, Thor. He has only appeared as a support character in previous game, so there isn't a lot to work with. An amature programmer figure how to do him, and he has a graphic intensive move set. It just impresses and astounds me what people can do...

Wonder Woman vs Jean Grey

Someday, I'll download the program for Mugen and make my own roster. If it has online multi-player, more the better. I do hope that one day (and maybe that day has come) Mugen can be ported to a Wii or an Xbox or whatever the current popular game system is (and that I already own [c'mon, Gamecube]). If you are a fan of fighting games, customizablity, or even seeing a specific character or franchise in a video game, check out some of the online Mugen videos. Just make sure to watch the ones with the sound effects and not the ones with the metal or techno music. I love video game sfx...

Admission is free...

My eyes water and ache. My head pounds painfully in time with my heart. My fingers; they tremble and shake. I have become irritable. The time has come to admit it, publicly for all to see. I am an addict, but I have no shame. Look, ye readers, what has its claws into my very soul:



This game, released in the 1980's from the former Soviet Union, is easily one of the most addicting games I have ever played. And I do mean EVER. Since hooking my Nintendo up, I have enjoyed playing many NES games I haven't played in years. However, now that I have been (spoiled by...) playing modern games with advanced AIs, I find that many of the games I used to enjoy more can be beaten through pattern recognition, muscle memory, and constant repetition (thus lowering the overall fun level of some games). Not so with Tetris...

If you are unfamiliar with Tetris (how many of my generation isn't...), the point is to drop blocks (every shape composed of four square blocks...) to eliminate lines of blocks to reach your goal. The beauty of the game is every time you play it, it is different. It's like you build a puzzle while, at the same time, you undo it. It requires great hand-eye coordination and quick thinking. AND IT'S SO DAMN ADDICTING! If there never was a 'Tetris Anonymous', there really should be. Even in today's realm of modern games, I know few others that I would play for hours and hours and hours like Tetris. Super Smash Bros. maybe, but Tetris is so simple a game. It's perfect...

My family and I, back in the day, would have Tetris competitions every so often. Let me tell you, we can be a competitive bunch. Thankfully, it's all in good fun. But the thing I loved about our family Tetris time is that we would always turn off the sound and put on The Alan Parsons Project (usually The Instrumental Works). If you don't know them, look them up (This post is about Tetris, sucka!). Beyond enjoying APP, Tetris would speed the music up once you reached the top, throwing you off your game (Dad would get so mad...). Also, since APP usually has a good beat, it was ideal for playing the game. As a result, I can't help but think of Tetris when APP is on. Thanks Dad...

If you've never played it, you are missing out. Then again, if you haven't played it, you don't have the addiction inside you. As a kid, it was almost embarrassing to be in a Pizza Hut, just staring at the in store console because you didn't have a quarter on you. Think about that: I wanted to PAY to play a game I already owned. Now THAT is addiction. Thankfully, weening is a process I think that, with time, I can truly be free of it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go play some Tetris...

Have you seen water so white...

I just came back from a trip to West Virginia (not tops on people "To Go To" list I've heard...) where yours truly went white water rafting with the fiance's bro and dad. It was a ball and a half, let me tell you...

So, after a moderately grueling 6-ish hour drive and a night camping, we showed up to the rafting...dispatch...area...thing. They provided a really nice breakfast buffet (to which I may have indulged in a smidge more than I ought...) and the three of us just hung out until it was our turn to ship out. I've never really spent this much time hanging out with Tara's family, so it was nice to finally get to know them better. Once we got on the bus, I found myself surrounded by all sorts of folk; what I would call the cream of the folk of West Virginia (the typical stereotypes are fading away the older I get...). Boisterous and gabby, everyone of them...

On the river, we were put with a guide who really was the physical stereotype of a West Virginia; accent, temperament, everything. As the day progressed, Eric (our guide) proved that a THICK accent and slight mispronunciations hid a quick wit and an intelligence that the partying country boy style contrasts with. He was quite a character, but he did know the river. I couldn't have asked for a better guide. And, as is par for the course on these kinds of trips, he graced me with the nickname 'Redbeard'. I wonder why...

The rapids were very good, though my experience is limited. I got a more than decent workout on the trip, that's for sure. Early on in the trip, a rapid knocked me out of the raft and into the river. Surprising, but I was fine. Thing is, I remember being pushed up and out of raft, but the video (yes, there is video footage of my folly...) shows me being pushed and rolled over the side. Live and learn. I do have to say that hearing my voice outside my body is still a VERY weird experience...

All in all, it was a beautiful day. I give high marks to Class VI River Runners and their program for the New River (which, I found out, is the second oldest river in the world...). The skies were clear, though it did rain after we got off the river, it wasn't too hot, the company was light and fun. It is most definitely a trip I will take again...

You know what I like...

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord! Unfortunately, I'm not old school enough to have played it on the oldest of systems (read: pre-NES), so I cut my teeth on it during the dynasty of original NES. On the other side of the coin, I was out of loop for every sequal they ever released after the first Wizardry, so PGMO is all I've got. Regardless, it still to this day holds a special place in my heart, and here's why...



If you've never played Wizardry, here's the reader's digest version: Create a party of adventurers, fight through monsters and assorted baddies, get treasure and experience, and you do this long enough to be powerful enough to beat the end boss Werdna, thus saving the kingdom...or whatever. Too long for you? Let's put it into a recognizable phrase: It's a dungeon crawl. Period. Essentially, this game is Dungeons & Dragons for the NES (it even uses Hobbits instead of Halflings, how'd they get around that?)...

It's also one of the first of its kind, making it the granddaddy of several genres. It is a very early RPG (as far as video games are concerned), so it set the stage for games like Final Fantasy years later. It was also unique in that you travel in first-person view. While combat is turn based (much like future RPGs), you open doors, descend/ascend floors, flip switches, etc. in first person, which at the time was unheard. One of the few other games with 3D elements that I know about is super pointless and lame (can we say Fester's Quest?...). Best of all, I was just getting into D&D at the same time, so I could game with my friends (hey Brian) and then if I didn't get enough, I could go home and game some more. Sweet...



As much as I enjoy this title, I have an issue or two. If you ever play this game, be prepared to exercise ALOT of patience. Character creation is a chore in multiple ways, especially if you've gotten to the luxury of point-and-click RPGs on a computer. To maximize a character, you have to slog through the whole creation process over and over and over and...::SPLARG:: Tweaks me out just thinking about it. Once you finally have your party of six (I recommend 2 Samurai, 1 Cleric, I Thief, 1 Mage, and 1 Wizard, you make it into the dungeon. To get anywhere, you need to do some serious leveling up. This means seeing the same baddies over and over, returning to town to heal, rinse and repeat. I can't get through Floor 3 with level 6 characters, so be warned. Also, don't let anyone die. It's expensive if your party makes it back, and if they ALL die, you start all over with a new party. Blech. Now there is an option where you can go down and find your dead team and bring them back to town, but by that point, your new party should be on par with the old. Like I said, blech...

That aside, I highly enjoy PGMO (just before my party dies) and I recommend it, not only to RPG lovers, but also to you nostalgic NES fans. It's unique in that it came out during at era of Mario and Link and Samus and is still very well thought out and fun. The designers took this project seriously and it shows. If you'd like an old(er) school challenge and are a fantasy lover, keep an eye out for a copy of your own or find an online MOD. Imaginations recommended...

Finally...

After all this time, ye readers few, I can get back to this thing the kids call a 'blog'. But understandable, my hiatus was. Moving out quickly, unpacking the important items, repacking for Ireland, going to Ireland, coming back into moving right into our new place (give or take a day or two), unpacking and setting up said new place, visiting with people. It's a process, believe me. I've lived a lot of my life out of boxes, but this is first time I'm (basically) away from my parents in that respect. Shocking...

So, here in Laurel I sit. I am on the lookout for a few things; some are necessities, others not so much. So here go:

- A comic/gaming shop (a combination or one of each)...
- The cheapest grocery store around...
- A decent, close second-hand store...
- A theater...
- The best job I can find...
- The closest college with a good Education program...
- A gym...

As you can see, I've got my work cut out for me. These are, in no way, in order of importance, but I will let you infer an order to the list. An eye is being kept out...

Super stoked about the apartment, though. I'm getting all my old gear back and weeding out all that I have sort of out grown or no long have a use for. It's cleansing. The stereo's back as well, which I have missed up in Ithaca. Now I can rock this joint with all manner of musics. Speaking of that, I have been weeding through my mysterious cd collection since moving in and let me tell you, it's been an education. I think I have been keeping around half of the cds I bought without knowing what a band was like. That means I will admit to having spent a bit too much on curiosity and broadening horizons and the like. I hope you guys like music as gifts...

Last item, there's a party at my place coming up (don't worry, you'll be invited...) which Tara and I are excited about. It's an alcohol party in which we will share out special finds with friends and they with us. We're calling it our 'Liver Let Die' party (my idea...). It's also a housewarming event so that our friends and family will know where we live and how we live in it. Should be a lot of fun...

From Ithaca with Love...

Well, faithful reader, my time in Ithaca draws to a close. In a scant few days, I shall embark back to the loving arms of Maryland, leaving the cool New York climate behind me. I can say, without a doubt, that I will shed a tear for this era of life gone by. I view it as the last vestige of my 'childhood', if you will, ending. Why, you may ask? Let's look at the facts:
-I am in an extremely adult relationship (fiance > girlfriend)...
-I have fewer and fewer 'in-school' friends (Jon's still one of the best, but his number is few and far between)...
-Now, I have a 'family' to support (hi, Tara) and be supported by...
-Thoughts of a career are welcome now (any ol' job vs. satisfying work)...
-And so on...

To those who know me, it's not as frightening as I have imagined it in years gone by. I've grown very comfortable with the person I have become, despite how others see me (no one in particular, so none of that speculation jibber-jabber). I'm still the lovable, eccentric, random dude I always have been, but in many ways, I've matured. They say rock bottom is a college education, and while I may not have ever hit bedrock, I've come close enough to worry. After all this, and all the things I've learned, I am ready to be THIS adult...

So, enough of this self-indulgent bull, let's get on with the TRUE meat and potatoes of this post (for all of you who suffered through all that). We have ourselves yet another musical post. Here's a list of songs I've learned of, loved, and acquired in the year and a half in Ithaca. Even with its wide variety of artists and style, this list still more than adequately represents my unique, eclectic musical taste. And, without further ado, I give thee:

The Witteman's Ithaca Mix CD (and you can take that to the bank)...
WARNING: SOME VIDEOS MAY VARY FROM THE ACTUAL RECORDING. VIEWER DISCRETION IS SCORNED...

1. The Eagles - How Long
(Proving that old guys can still have chops...)
2. Bruce Springsteen - Girls in Their Summer Clothes
(Same as above, but The Boss never went away...)
3. Foo Fighters - Long Road to Ruin
(Please, please, PLEASE give us some more music!...)
4. Bruce Springsteen - Radio Nowhere
(Still The Boss and still rocks the house...)
5. Snoop Dogg - Sensual Seduction
(It's good to see rappers have a sense of humor...)
6. Mylo - In My Arms
(Repetitive, but on the whole, very catchy...)
7. .38 Special - Caught Up in You
(CLASSIC ROCK, FOREVER!!!...)
8. Linus Loves feat. Sam Obernik - Stand Back
(Now HERE'S a remix that is respectful and unique, all at once...)
9. Rick Springfield - What's Victoria's Secret
(Refer to my review in a much, MUCH earlier post...)
10. Paul McCartney - Ever Present Past
(See old guy comment...)
11. Mariah Carey - We Belong Together
(My only true musical sin...)
12. Jimmy Eat World - Electable (Give It Up) (It's the first song...)
(These guys are proving they have to moxie to stick around...)
13. Dragonforce - Heroes of Our Time
(Journey meets Slayer meets Nintendo...)
14. Daft Punk - Human After All (Justice Remix)
(Man, my favorite techno band and one of my favorite remix groups...)
15. Van Halen - Baluchitherium (It's the best I could do. I'll play my copy when next we meet...)
(Truly an epic instrumental rock piece...)

If you know me, then none of this should come as a surprise. If you don't, now you know a little more about this guy (and knowing is half the battle...). This list is not ranked top to bottom or first found to last found. Rather, this list is assembled as I would burn them onto a cd for listening enjoyment. By clicking on the links and listening, you can find out for yourself how this would all play out. If I got it off by a little, tell me. What would you do?...

Totally Legal...

This month left intentionally blank...

There's nothing more important...

We all come to points in our lives that demand our full and undivided attentions. These life altering moments can be grand, exciting, painful, or simply intriguing. Regardless of the feelings and emotions they inflict upon us, these life points rip us out of our day to day routines to contemplate the fantastic and the special. Today, I talk of marriage. Specifically, my future marriage to Tara Flynn (not the porn star, sorry guys)...

We started dating over three years ago after a whirlwind adventure of hiking and seduction on Assateague Island. The debate still rages, but I maintain that I was seduced rather than the seducee. You decide, my friends. After a brief stint of separation (anxiety), we 'declared' us to the world shortly there after during a visit of mine to Ithaca, home to Cornell University and my fiancé’s soon-to-be alma mater. The details from this point and today aren't really anyone else's business but ours, BUT after a year and a half or so of dating, we decided it would be prudent to live together to see if we could stand to live together long term. It turns out we can...





Here are two pictures of the happy couple pre-engagement and the wedding of our friends Roger and Zeph. Yes, the one is of us in pirate garb (Want to make something of it?). We are even more adorable in person, let me tell you. So here's to you, Tara. Thanks for wanting to make a life with this geeked out rock'n roller. The next chapter is sure to be an exciting one...

As promised (the top half)...

I really gotta cut these posts down for length. I fear they may become unreadable and I'm tired of doing two-part posts. Starts to set a precedent. But, without further ado, I give you:


The Witteman's Top Ten List of Characters That Should Be In The Next SSB Game (Seriously)...



#5 - Like Mouser, hailing from the second game in a major video game series, it's fan favorite, Tails! Yes, Sonic's sidekick has more than enough chops to make it as a Smash Bros. Much like Luigi is to Mario, Tails shares similarities to Sonic (speed, items, kills enemies the same way...) but also has developed his own unique characteristics (flight [always cool], adept with machines...). Hopefully, for Tail's sake, these unique aspects can distance himself from his progenitor and not make him just a clone of Sonic. Lord knows we don't need another Link/Young Link/Toon Link, Capt. Falcon/Ganondorf, Lucas/Ness, Pichu/Pikachu, Fox/Falco/Wolf (you get the point...). If Tails can only be done as a clone, then perhaps Knuckles would be a better SSB choice. But, seeing as Tails came first, the flying fox gets first crack at the roster...

#4 - After playing (weeks upon weeks) of Super Smash Bros. Melee, Little Mac was one of the first characters I wanted included in the series. Ol' Green Trunks has a lot going for him: He's the main character of a very popular and nostalgic game, his theme music is simple yet powerful, and, while he may seem to have a simple move set (he IS a boxer [punch, punch, and...punch]), he would be a quick and evasive opponent (slipping and dodging attacks, blocking physical attacks without his shield). While Little Mac does make an appearance as an assist trophy in Brawl, it seems like a cop out to my fantasy roster. One can only hope that the new Wii Punch Out will breathe life into the tiny titan and Little Mac will rise in the ranks to Smash Bros. status...

#3 - To be honest, the Battletoads, Rash and Zitz weren't originally on this list, mainly because I forgot their game existed until just recently. Thank God for VNES.com. So, after playing Battletoads again after many years, it dawned on me: these guys are way cool, they've got the moves, mixed in with the right blend of obscurity and nostalgia, and all-in-all, the Toads are very in-theme for Super Smash Bros. Anthropomorphic amphibians in a beat-em-up game equals awesome (always). The only reason imaginable why these guys have been slipped under the radar thus far is plain old obscurity (when last we left the Battletoads, the year was 1994...). But if that's their own reason why, bring them back to us. Battletoads in Super Smash Bros.: Make it happen...

#2 - Oh, Toad. How they have forsaken you. After being the beefy guy in Mario 2 and one of the fastest characters in every Mario Kart, as well as having cameos in many other Mario games, you'd think Nintendo would give the little guy a little more respect. Instead, the decided to put Dr. Mario in Melee and made Toad a weapon for Princess Peach(for shame!). He is the last 'unique' member of the Mario family not to be a Smash Bros. and, even if there is no other reason why, Toad should be in the next SSB installment. The nice thing about him is his flexibility; (as mentioned above) he could be designed as a heavy, strong fighter or a quick but weaker attacker (both of which the Mario family lack). Either way, Toad is (or at least SHOULD be) a shoe-in for the next Super Smash Bros...

And the #1 character deserving of a Smash Bros. position - You know him, you love him, you can't live without him, Capcom's poster boy, Mega Man! There is absolutely no reason why this character isn't a Smash Bros. yet. Everything about Mega Man makes him THE prime candidate for the game: He's got the history, he's got the popularity and is a well respected character, and he's got more unique moves than TEN Smash Bros. Granted, they won't all be doable (sorry, Flash Man...), so we'll have to pick from the cream of the crop (hello, Metal Man, Magnet Man, etc... [to say nothing of Rush, Beat, the Megabuster, etc...]). Beyond Mega Man's versatility, you'd be hard pressed to find any gamer worth his salt who hasn't played, seen, or at least heard of Mega Man in some fashion. It is this notoriety that should make our favorite Master Robot slayer and auto include for the next Super Smash Bros. game...

So there you have it; all 10 of my suggestions for a SSB roster update. There are couple of other characters I could have mentioned, but these were the best. And it's only the best for this blog. However, I can admit I might have missed a good one or two. Who's your best idea for an addition to Super Smash Bros.? I really am curious to see what else might be out there and merely forgotten. Hit me back...

As promised (the bottom half)...

"Mawwiage...Mawwiage is what bwings us togevvah, today..." Truer words have never been spoke. Marriage is a truly excellent concept, both for people and for ideas. It is no secret that I am beginning the early planning steps of a marriage (thanks Tara!), but this post is not necessarily about this kind of festivity. I shall be getting to my own plannings in further posts. No, this one (judging by the title) is more of an idea marriage...

I would be hard pressed to find a geek or nerd who didn't enjoy crossovers in fiction, even on the most superficial of levels. Indeed, the popularity and lucrativeness of crossovers can be seen in movies like Aliens vs Predator and Freddy vs Jason, but also within other genres as well. Comics do it from time to time (almost too often sometimes...), and we gamers get the occasional video game crossover, too. I would argue that one of the best crossover (read: idea marriage) games, across the board, would have to be the Super Smash Bros. series. It's got everything in there: nostalgia value, great gameplay, kick ass graphics, and religious adherence to the characters. And so, in honor of this great marriage of video game ideas, concepts, what have you, I give you:

The Witteman's Top Ten List of Characters That Should Be In The Next SSB Game (Seriously)...



A bit of criteria for this list o' mine: No outside franchise characters (No Marvel, DC, movies, tv, etc...), No characters ORIGINATING from a head to head fighting game (No Street Fighter, Mortal Combat, etc...), and No Final Fantasy Characters (There are just too many to choose from, etc...). Anyways, on to the list...

#10 - Hailing from Mario 2 (and marking the only villain on the list), it's Mouser! Yes, this bomb chucking rodent-in-shades pestered Team Mario back in 1988 and would make an excellent addition to the SSB villain gallery of today. Unlike the other heavy...um...heavies, Mouser is light on his feet and hard to catch, making him a foe to be reckoned with. Plus, King Wart bears too much of a resemblance to Bowser. The only marks against him is that Mouser is a fairly obscure villain (unseen as an actual villain since Mario 2) and his move set is very limited, forcing developers to flesh Mouser out beyond his inception(kind of like how they did with Capt. Falcon, yes?). Despite that, this villainous rat is very in-theme with the Smash Bros. series and would meld quite well with the other characters within...

#9 - What can be said about Toe Jam & Earl? They're pretty weird, that's what. Fortunately for us, they have been a lot of fun, too, and would fit in nicely with the other Smash Bros. characters, albeit in that 'hanging out with your weirdly cool cousin' kind of way. This quirky duo has the potential to expand on a concept used by other characters; the multiple character per player. The player would control either or Toe Jam OR Earl at a time (read: Ice Climbers), BUT a command could switch between the two, opening different move avenues (read: Pokemon Trainer or Zelda/Shiek). Here's the thing, though: Developers would practically have to invent the ENTIRE move set for TWO new characters from scratch and, in truth, the popularity and pure knowledge of Toe Jam & Earl may be too low for execs to give their ok on the idea. Never the less, these two funky aliens deserve a place in the SSB ranks for, if nothing else, their odd coolness that most long time gamers realize...

#8 - Now here's a character (and a franchise) that needs to be returned to its rightful owner. Ryu Hayabusa from Ninja Gaiden can trace his ancestry all the way back to the NES and has stayed the main character of the series ever since (impressive since he's been ported to Sega then to XBox...). Ryu has quite the bag of tricks (as any good ninja should)to bring to the Super Smash Bros. table (throwing stars, fire circles, shadow helpers, wall climbing/clinging[UNIQUE!]), making him a off-the-bat hard hitter. Plus, Ryu's a friggin' ninja, man! That being said, the man is not perfect. He is a non-cartoon human character (making the feel closer to the 'real', thanks Snake...)who is, more often than not, out for blood (read: a Grim and Gritty dude). Sure, he has fought monsters, but Mario or Kirby never took it to an opponent the way Ryu does. However, that aside, Ryu is still a major contender for a Super Smash seat; more than worthy to meat the other Bros. in combat...

#7 - One of the coolest and quirkiest character concepts is that of Earthworm Jim(If you don't know, look it up, foo!). You don't get much more 3rd party than you do with this guy. With his totally tricked out battle suit (including a blaster), the ability to use his wormy body as a tool, and a myriad of worlds to draw from, EJ's got skills to rival any of the current Smash Bros. There is a question lurking, however: Is there enough interest in the character to include him in a SSB game? It seems he hasn't made much of an appearance since 1999 and any newer games appear to be either cancelled or 'In Production'. Plus, the addition of Jim does push the risk of taking Smash Bros. in a new direction (don't ask me which one), and there are those out there you may not want to take that risk. But when you have a character like Earthworm Jim, a surreal, ridiculous, and downright fun character, it is a risk that is worth taking...

#6 - Another character originating from the NES of yore, Simon Belmont first shined as the protagonist in the original Castlevania and, while the series has branched out from its humble beginnings, I would argue he still the most recognizable hero from the series, if not at least the most nostalgic. Any old school gamer has probably played the early Castlevania games and should remember the HUGE inventory Belmont can acquire. With this in mind, and adding to it the plethora of thematic elements to Simon, his moves should be easy to come up with. Not that Belmont is without his flaws. Much like Ryu Hayabusa, he is 'human'; i.e. not a cartoon like Mario or a fantasy character like Link. Speaking of Link, these two share many similarities (item tossers, ranged attackers, a whip...), which would require Simon to be tweaked so that he wasn't just a cheap, knock-off Link clone. Because when you get down to it, the great vampire slayer from Castlevania is no mans clone...

Next: The Top Half...

WE'RE BACK!!!...

I was going to make this about Super Smash Bros., but something truly wonderfully awesome has happened tonight and I feel the need to spread the joy around. After several years of spartan music selection (considering what came before), the hard drive with all my digital music, every song I've ever gotten and put on the computer, has magically began to work again! It is a true miracle and I am happier than you can imagine...

Now, those close to me might say, 'Hey, what about you and Tara and the big to-do and all...' That is for another post for another day. You know, after the fact. No, tonight the joys of my own music selection are almost back to where I was before I moved up here. Thousands upon thousands of songs are mine once again, and once I combine them with the iTunes (eventually) and all the songs I acquired whilst up here, I shall feel a certain amount of peace of mind...

So here's my advice to you, kiddies: Don't put all your crap in only one format. If that format becomes lost (say, a crashed hard drive or assholes take your collections out of your car cause you are too damn dumb to lock your car...), have at least one back up in a different format. Since I thought I lost both in a very short time lapse, it was more devastating than I would care to explain. Even if you burn your cds onto a drive, don't get rid of the hard copies. Store them away until you need them again or run out of storage room or whatever. Such relief you can't buy...

Next: A Smash Bros. post...

Part DUECE!!!...

Finalizing the review of Hulk vs Thor, so here it comes...



The story involves Loki, god of mischief and Thor's brother, trying to find a way to kill of his brother once and for all. And, despite all attempts in the past, the only thing that came close to beating Thor was the rage machine himself, The Hulk. So Loki, along with the Enchantress, capture Banner, turn him into the Hulk, then proceed to physically REMOVE BANNER FROM THE HULK!!! Ok, I can't actually be that upset over this. I had to accept it when Jean Grey did it during the Onslaught saga. So, with Banner gone, Loki gains control of Hulk and sends him rampaging through the streets of Asgard. As can be expected, Big 'n Green mows through gods (yes, plural), dukes it out with Thor a bunch, Loki loses control, Hulk rampages more, and then Hel (Norse goddess of the underworld, kids) gets involved, restores Banner to Hulk, and that's where it ends. I gotta say, after I wrote 'Hulk rampages more', that was where I was comfortable stopping...

Gotta make this good, so the good points first. Like Hulk vs Wolverine, the costumes and art are spot on, if a bit stylized. If you want my opinions on that, check out the other post. But I actually have to praise the art further, because, unlike in HvW, there was more material to be faithful to. They really did nail it and it was all believable in the context of this story. The other item that made it a bit more enjoyable than the movie that came before it was the ending, and more like it actually had one. While HvW ends ambiguously (groan), HvT ends with Asgard being saved, Hulk returns to Midgard (Norse for the Earth, kids), and the heroes win the day, or as much as you can call getting your crap kicked all over the mythological planes by the avatar of all destruction (apparently)...

That segues nicely into my biggest problem with this pile: Hulk takes on the majority of the Norse pantheon and rips it to shreds with barely a mark on him. Yeah, I know, the madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets, but this is plain retarded. Big movers and shakers like the Norse gods barely slow Hulk down, but Wolverine holds his own? What kind of precedent is being set here? Are we allowing Wolverine to be this powerful or is it just that the Norse gods can't get their shit together and, oh I don't know, BANISH HULK FOR ALL ETERNITY TO SOME ABYSS IN THE ABYSSAL PLANES?!?!? (ok, I lost my way in that rant). Still, I know Hulk is the 'ultimate wrecking ball on legs', but these are FREAKING GODS!!! I kind of want to see what kinds of berzerkers and barbarians would have worshipped Hulk as a god now. Friggin' sweet...

The other issue I have is that, even though Loki lost control of Hulk, Hulk continued rampage and destroy his way to the sleeping Odin, I guess with the intention of destroying him(?). The Hulk I remember reading wouldn't mindlessly go towards a shiny light to destroy it. He'd make his way out of Asgard in a couple of leaps, just to be left alone. That's all Hulk really wants in the end is to be rid of Banner (check, at least for a while) and to live alone. After Loki was gone, there would have been no motivation or remote reason to go after Odin. A liberty that must have been taken, I suppose...

Style: See HvW, mostly. As I said before, way to go artists for making the art incredibly faithful, despite your own spins on it. Get these guys and gals more jobs and better scripts to work with...

Story: While HvW was in the realm of the absurd, HvT went with acceptable and Buh-Horing. It was predictable, flat, and not all that interesting to watch. Yes, this ending was better, but that was the best part about it. It was over...

Voices: Meh. Nothing really worth writing about. Not great, not awful...

Grade: D+ to C- and a plea for a redo. Art alone cannot make this piece all that worth my while. They could have stepped it up a little, but I get the feeling someone was trying make an easy buck with this two set. Gave my copy to my roommate. He couldn't get through them both, that's how disappointed he was. If you want to opinion on this, post here. Or better yet, find me, ask for my copy, then give it back with your own review. Tell me I'm wrong with this review...

The Witteman's Review of....

Hulk vs Wolverine/Hulk vs Thor...

Lionsgate released this two feature set of action packed animated films recently, and I was intrigued by the previews and clips youtube had to offer. It's no secret that one of the biggest on going battle feuds within Marvel comics is between Wolverine and the Hulk. But, it does make for good cinema to have the god of thunder to go up against the ultimate Marvel powerhouse. Let's begin...

Hulk vs Wolverine is up first and, unfortunately, I have but one word for it: Disappointing. Now, it wasn't completely disappointing, but overall, I wanted something else, or at the very least, something more. Our films starts with our favorite Canadian berserker being called in by the Canadian government to take care of the Hulk, who's been rampaging across the Canadian countryside (I never thought I'd write 'Canadian' so much in one sentence). This is reflective of, not just the plot, but the actual dialogue lifted from Ultimate Hulk vs Ultimate Wolverine (to which I am not a HUGE fan of the Ultimates line, but this picture won me over):



Adding a high note, Wolverine is garbed in his 90's suit rather than his modern suit, which I definitely prefer (though not against the yellow and brown suit). Anyways, after a slightly long tracking sequence, Wolverine meets up with Bruce Banner, Banner turns into Hulk, and combat ensues. To the creators' credit, there was an adequate use of blood and profanity that you would expect if these characters were to actually exist without going of the top for shock value. I suppose that's the highest marks I can give this piece is treating the characters with an adult mindset than just for kids, which happens to many comic-to-cartoon adaptations (Thank God for Batman: The Animated Series)...

So, after what seems like a much too short combat sequence, Wolverine's villains show up, take down both Wolverine and the Hulk, and drag them off to the Weapon X facility. Wait, WHAT?!? Yes, they felt the need to throw *ahem* plot into a feature that would almost be better as just a combat vehicle. So, we see a surprisingly good adaptation of the Weapon X storyline via flashback, and subsequently find out that it was in fact Weapon X who wanted both the Hulk AND Wolverine as their weapons. I mean, I guess since the combined efforts of Sabertooth, Deadpool, Lady Deathstrike, and Omega Red couldn't...stop...

WAITAFRIGGINMINUTE!!! Neither Deathstrike or Red were Weapon X victims!! Sure, they fall into the 'We Hate Wolverine With Every Fiber Of Our Being' Club, but Omega Red was a damn TARGET, not a member of Weapon X! Oh god, continuity is a harsh mistress. And I know Deadpool is the 'Merc with a Mouth' and is sort of a more popular character nowadays, but this interpretation is just annoying and you are just waiting for Hulk to rip his head off (he doesn't). After the inclusion of *sigh* Weapon X, the film takes a decidedly more anime style (especially in Deathstrike and Red's case), but not enough to make me shut it off. Since the villains can't decide between killing off Wolverine or self-preservation against RAGE INCARNATE(!!), they get their crap kicked all over the place...

As the movie draws to a close, Hulk (for some reason) decides to tear the ENTIRE COMPLEX DOWN. Seems more prudent that he would just escape, but hey, I'm just a fan. After these moments of special effects-ery, and swatting Wolverine with a skyscraper-esqe pylon, the Hulk leaves his wake of destruction behind him and returns to the Canadian wilds where he is free to roam in piece. OR IS HE?!?! Wolverine still happens to be conscious and (oddly enough) rechallenges the Hulk to begin where they left off 45 minutes ago. The movie fades to black as these two unstoppable forces leap back into the fray, as if this battle will continue for eons upon eons...

Style: It was a nice mix between accepted American imagery and anime styled combat. Believable and not abhorrent, though their choices on some of the little details perplex me. But, as I said, these are little details...

Story: Did we really have to throw Weapon X in there? It would be like throwing a trip to the Negative Zone in the 'Death of Superman' storyline. Unnecessary. A slugfest with these two heroes would have carried itself. Also, how do end it with a non-ending? Why not use 'parting with grudging respect' or 'not meeting after the collapse of the facilities' or 'one letting the other go their separate ways'? Very unsatisfying in the end...

Voices: Quite good on the whole. I even like they got the guy who played The Kurgan in 'Highlander' to be the voice of Sabertooth. The Wolverine voice even evoked a bit of Cathal Dodd, the voice of Wolverine in the 90's...

Grade: C+ and a free pass for a redo. The story and some of the in-movie styles and portrayals bring the grade down a smidge, but on a good day, it might be graded a B- as well. I recommend this toon to others, mainly to get their reaction. Perhaps I have been too harsh, or not harsh enough. You tell me, fellow viewers...

Next up, Hulk vs Thor. Stay tuned...

The Return...

In the year of our Lord, 2-double aught-9, a mid-20's man makes his return to the interwebs. What he finds is a disgrace. A single post in December, January shamefully skipped, and over a week into February with nothing to show for it. This simply won't do. The only way to catch up to the NOW: Montage Post...

Starting it off, December: Had a most excellent vacation. Got to see most of my friends, ESPECIALLY those I keep in the best contact with. You others are next (I'm looking at you, Jen and Georgia). Christmas with the fam, including G-Maw Witte, was a nice taste of childhood again, but it's finally sinking in that I just can't go back to that life anymore. If you say 'Duh!', I've got a punch in the face and a kick in the teeth waiting for you. New Years was low key but fun. Spent it with Brian and Chris and Tara, had some most excellent wine, played games, and all in all, a good time to be had by all. Losing money aside, of course. AND if you ever wanted to know what The Witte looks like, this is me at New Years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKJnguZtEv8

The biggest event for January was, obviously, the inauguration of Barack Obama, our 44th President and the first black one to boot. No one took a shot at him, his rhetoric was on point, and now I just don't want to have to see him and his family on every damn magazine cover (won't happen). Seriously, he's in, he's going to do good things, but give us something else besides the Obama's, the Pitt's, and every other boring, blah blah story you come up with. All that aside, I congratulate the man on being the official ruler of the free world and the best of luck to his term(s)...

The transition between that moment and now has been marked by a few events is varying degrees of importance. Some of these happen to be:

-My dear friends Lexie and Grant had their first child (Rose), around the end of January and the beginning of February. This is significant since they are my first close friends I keep in contact with to spawn (so that cuts Ben out). I haven't seen the pictures yet, but due to the attractiveness of both of my friends, I can only assume it is a pretty baby...

-While in the grand scheme this sounds piddling, I figure it was worth a mention. Gran Torino is an excellent movie and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a more slice of life, character driven movie. Clint is true to form and recalls the days of 'The Man With No Name', except in this one, he has one (Walt Kowalski). He plays a Korean vet, racial as hell but (you guessed it) with a heart of gold. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say it is amusing to see such a character in this the modern age and still believe that such a character might really exist...

-In a new segment for The Witte Says..., I will be on Celebrity Watch. Now, this may seem like pablum or other media offensive word, BUT so far it's been awesome. Comic book crowd aside (like at IthaCon, see below), I happened to meet this guy:

This guy is known by the stage name Hilby the Skinny German Juggle Boy and he is most excellent. I saw him first at McDaniel College in 01 or 02, and then again in summer of 06 at the Maryland Renfest. Each time, he has been a treat. His shtick never gets old and appears to truly love his craft. I met/saw Hilby at the Salvation Army (my second job if you've forgotten) up here in Ithaca. When I saw him with his companions(?), I thought 'There is no way there are two guys who look and sound like that so I just have to ask.' So I did, kinda. It was lame, I said, 'Sir, do I know you?' And he replied, with that delicious German accent, 'Why, yes, I am a stage performer. I juggle, tell jokes, that sort of thing.' So we talked for a minute and he said, 'Say hi at the next show you see.' Alright, Hilby, if you read this(and, much like Rick Springfield, you probably won't), expect an odd hello from this fan...

-And, finally: ITHACON. dun Dun DUN!!! Taking up my first Saturday (as well as Jon and Jesse's), this college town of Ithaca has it's own comic book convention, hosted by their resident comic book club (big friggin' surprise there). For those of you who don't know, I, along with the two aforementioned friends, have our own comic book label (Crash N Klein Comics). Our two titles, Denim Avenger and CosMick, are in the works, the DA will be done probably before the weather breaks and CM will debut online late summer. Since the Witte has it in with said comic book club, he arranged for CnK to have a table at IthaCon. We had a ball. We rubbed shoulders with legit comic guys, like Ken Wheaton, Storn Cook, and Roger Stern. We hawked our wares, raffled off a picture, gave out fliers, and nearly got Jon a date. Too bad he lives in lower PA, yes? All in all, it was very productive and fun day, proving once again that we just love it behind the table...

Turning from his post, The Witte gives a small smile. It's not much of an inroad, but it IS a start. It's a new year, and by God, we're going to give it a better chance than it had in the last. Salut...