My Heart Belongs to Blue

For those who know me in person, this is old news. But I wanted to share a bit more of myself with the cyberspace readers who are only learning about me through my very few widely-spaced blog entries. I love blue chicks. No, not the marshmallow Peeps that only every appear on Earth once a year during Easter and Passover. Nor do I mean some yet to be discovered country group of Miley Cyrus wannabes. I'm talking about blue women; and yes, they do come in that color.

By now you might have already skimmed over my article about the Real Women of Color found in science fiction episodes and--my personal favorite--a certain spectacular video game called Mass Effect. Once I discovered that the Asari were as enticing of an alien race as they were androgynous, my heart was stolen. Granted, my only completed run-through of Mass Effect does not find my female Sheppard character interacting intimately with any of the possible Asari vixens, but the love was there nonetheless.

Since beating Mass Effect I have thought much about the love-lost Liara and her bisexual race of cerulean sisters. My friends joke that I could never truly love another woman unless she indeed was blue (preferably with tentacle cornrows or some other exotic hair/head-style). My infatuation seemed futile, but I was willing to suffer. Only months until Mass Effect 2 would open new doors of inter-species relationship possibilities for Commander Sheppard, and perhaps a second (or third or forth) chance to bask in azure affection.

But then I saw them: goddesses floating in a whirl of ice and metal. Every metallic fiber of their bodies was impossible and (to quote one of my favorite Yoko Kanno songs) incredible math. They worked perfectly together to achieve their highest purpose which was..to both get ridden by a guy named Snow???


Let's shift into reverse for a moment. I'm talking about the Shiva summon from the highly anticipated Final Fantasy XIII coming out in March. There are actually two sisters, Styria and Nix, who make up this summon in the new Square-Enix project, and boy are they intense! Not only do they support giant headpieces of gold, silver, and steel, but they do an awkward little yoga move and transform into a freaking motorcycle! And once they become said motorcycle, the main protagonist gets to hop aboard and take out enemies on his sweet new ride. Crazy, but I love it.



Final Fantasy Shivas of the past have all rocked the icy skin and elaborate locks, but none so Tron/RoboCop as this new duo. And if there is anything I love more than blue chicks, it's anything remotely related to motorcycles or, of course, robots. After a couple of days of learning as much as I can about the Shiva sisters, I was hooked. I had found love again, mainly in the older sister, Styria, who is darker, trimmed in gold, and forms the front of the blue babe bike. Her extraordinary attire (no pun intended) and unnatural poise gave me a new ambition in life: I wanted to DO Styria.

GUTTER MIND! Not like that! I want to DO her costume. I want to become Styria. At first, the thought was overwhelming and as fantastic as Square-Enix's namesake games. I studied her legs (exhaust pipes), her sharp gold accessories, and, for the love of the goddess, her headpiece! Maybe I'm disillusioned or overestimating my novice cosplay abilities, but one thing is for certain: I am crazy in love with her complete design. So crazy that I have already begun to purchase the basic materials needed to attempt such an outrageous costume feat--gold rings, foam sheets. If the annual designers of Brazil can dress their carnival queens up 10-foot high costumes, I can at least try my semi-experienced hand at one of Enix's most exquisite and whimsical creations.

It's going to be hard sharing the love when Mass Effect 2 comes out in January. I'm just one girl in the universe surrounded by beautiful blue distractions.

Borderlands Blurb

I'm pretty good with RPGs, but I suck at FPS. And with the abundance SMGs, RPMs, PvP, and all other outrageous acronyms this game offers, I won't ever get bored! The graphics are stunning, the enemies are eccentric and engaging, and the guns are...well...EVERYWHERE! I can almost venture to say there might be too many guns for my limited firearms experience and knowledge, but at least the options are there in abundance.

What's so great is that you don't always have to take on those corrosive alpha skags and crazy axe-wielding midgets on your own. Unlike all other RPGs where you can only call on the assistance of your AI party, Borderlands allows you to link up with your ACTUAL friends (hopefully you have some) and take missions in co-op mode.

So makes some new friends happy treasure hunting!

L4D2: Super Engine, Super Human, Super Ego

After marveling at the fact that it only took my party and me 45 minutes to complete a Left 4 Dead 2 campaign that alone took me twice as long, we breathed a sigh of relief into our mics and pontificated the major differences between this game and its much loved, and apparently much preferred, big brother, Left 4 Dead. I personally am very much delighted by the new game, regardless of its release barely a year after the first. There was no new gameplay to learn, save for maybe a couple of zombie commands in Versus mode, nor was I attacked with an unnecessarily profound plot twist that might have spun the game into Kingdom Hearts mode until the creators unanimously decided on an ending that could finally rest. We have 4 new survivors in a completely different part of the country fighting off an infected population that sadly spread its way further than the metropolitan streets we explored in L4D. We have better guns, some new and nasty melee weapons, gruesome Specials, and some even more unnerving settings, both rural and urban.

"But," DJZ (as Coach) confessed, "they make these zombies way too hard."
"Yeah," replied Havokk (as Nick), "the Director is definitely out to take over everything!"

Let it be noted that Havokk takes credit for inventing (or at least coining the phrase) the "Death Run," during which each player sprints for their life to the safe room, ignoring as many zombies as possible, in hopes that at least one Survivor will make it to the end alive. Where that proved successful maybe 40% of the time in L4D where the levels and AI became predictable to the seasoned player, L4D2 has recognized players like my good friend Havokk and have literally placed a big sturdy wall in their way. It really isn't a problem for players like me who like to think that every run through a campaign might reveal a little surprise or two. It does, however, make the game about twice as difficult and usually requires a few more tried before finding the right path between the strategically placed Witch/Tank/Smoker/Spitter.

Isn't that what a new game is about, though? For a title that is so similar to its predecessor, shouldn't there be more challenges than sly maneuvers through knee-high swamp waters and roller-coaster tracks? If anything, just to make it to the final stand of each campaign itself should build up genuine excitement each time. L4D2 traded out a bland old boat house finale for a grand ol' plantation mansion middle surrounded by acres of backwater swamps and spooky shanty towns. And you can't tell me that running impatiently around a hospital rooftop waiting for a helicopter rescue still gets your heart racing faster than the sprint for your life across a busted bridge, where any false step or chance Charger could instantly bring you face to face with the Mississippi River. If any part of this game were to give in, especially to the fans who weren't too proud to remove the original from their Xbox trays and replace it with the sequel, Valve would have failed to deliver the adventure we all were hoping for.

"Well, maybe," retorted Havokk, "but what about the characters? What do we know about them? How can we even be certain these people even make the cut as Survivors?"
"That's right!" DJZ states. "There's no extra dialogue, save Ellis' rantings at the beginning of each level and the others shutting him up. It gets old, and no one else ever says anything."

Now this I can agree with. We all remember Zoey's hospital elevator rant about "calling zombie bullshit." And who doesn't chuckle whenever Francis mentions how much he hates, well, everything? These were moments where in the calm of a post-horde storm we were enlightened by the reminder that our Survivors did have personalities and were, in fact, human. It was proof of life before the infection.

All the life we have to go by in L4D2 is a few Valve renders of each character in his or her natural habitat before the outbreak--Coach, all smiles, witnessing his star player hit a home-run out of the park; Rochelle, clipboard in hand outside of a channel 10 news truck, desperate to make her big break in broadcast. Anything else outside of the obvious visual stimuli of each character is pretty much left to our own imagination. In fact, the only character who gets the most introduction and exalted storyline IS Ellis. The game makes sure to feed you a nice anecdote of his life at the beginning of almost every campaign. You can almost count more on being enlightened by a new Ellis-Keith adventure than you can that second pistol or Molotov being in the safe room when you respawn after an unsuccessful run-through. And who is this crazy man Keith? Obviously he is quite the daredevil/idiot/fortune-hunter; so why isn't HE "still alive?" For someone to take so much damage, as Ellis accounts, a mere zombie infection should not have been enough to take this superman out. As for the rest of the surviving team, we're pretty much left in the dark. Rochelle worked on a news team. One could only imagine the fascinating horror stories she encountered, especially during the last days before the outbreak when full-blown. And what about Nick? A man with that suave of a haircut and three-piece suit has got to have some tales of casino debauchery or maybe some run-in with the Russian mob. We don't know, because Valve won't let them talk! Instead, we get to know the meaning behind Ellis' "hard-ass zombie-killing machine" tattoo...and yet another epic tale of the legend Keith.

Overall I would still say that the game is a must for the Xbox360. If you have Live, you won't want to miss out on one of the sickest zombie-slaughter fests of the decade. For all the haters who swore against Valve's "premature" sequel, I can maybe understand you fear of such an involved game. Timing your chainsaw attack just right to grind a Hunter midair might be a bit too advanced for you. Also, you might not be up for the challenge of 2 Chargers, 4 walking Witches, and a torrent of good-ol' summer rain. Hey, it's not called the Dirty South for nothing.

CLEAR-ly You Have No Idea

This week has been full of tickle-me-moments! First, I find out that the voice of my Halloween costume inspiration (Nakiro from Heavenly Sword) is my television idol, Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv)!! It's like we were meant to be BFFEs! Not even Raven Symone and I share such a deep connection. Now I must master Nariko's battle attire in homage to my favorite Fringe star.

Today, the moments were not as excitingly giddy, but I still felt good about myself for being informed in the industry I plan to make money in. More than I can say for the Clear Wireless salesman approached me in Best Buy. The scenario played out like this:

The Clear salesman walks up to pretty little uninformed me and wants to tell me about this great new wireless service called Clear. I told him I was already very familiar with his product and was interested until I realized that they did not have service in Tempe, Arizona. He looked at me puzzled as if he had never heard of the place. I repeated the city and stated that if he had never even heard of the town that it proved my point. He then asked if I was in school and told me I would need internet on my campus. Well, wireless on campus is free, so I really saw no need. I then told him I was a journalism major and he immediately assumed I was a writer. No, I'm more broadcast and TV, says I. Oh, he replies, so you want to right for commercials? I guess the term journalist has a very small career spectrum for some people, namely this guy. I told him I wanted to work for a company dealing with electronics, like CNET or G4. Again, an even blanker stare than when I mentioned Tempe, AZ. How can someone who works with electronics not know of the top media sites and reviewers of all things that run on electricity? I decided that he was nothing more than a simple salesman selling a product he knew less about than I did. I left him with a promise that if Clear ever made in to the west coast I would definitely need his services and that I would write a nice review for him on my electronics commercial when I start my real career as a journalist.

I then consulted the king of all Geek Squad geeks about the difference between USB and Firewire when it came to FinalCut Pro.

Now a not-so-giddy moment was trying to maneuver myself around the Wii Motion Plus during the Wii Sport Resort frisbee game. Even in practice mode my tosses were off screen and kamikaze-ing into the polygon beach sand. The little digi-dog was done with me after 2 and half tries. I blame the huge black Do-Not-Steal-ME sensor that took up almost the entire side of the Wiimote. I know that I've played at my own store (when I wasn't working, of course) and done quite the successful job. I know because the of the happy music notes that floated above his head, indicating delight in any Wii game.

Well, I've spent enough time blogging. I didn't start editing until about 3pm, but I did get my 4 allocated hours down. I still have time to perfect genius.

TTYL whoever reads these!

Dear Sony

Thank you for dropping the price and the size of your PlayStation 3 while finding it in your heart to also double the average amount of hard drive space. I forgive you for your haughtiness, the outrageous previous prices, and yes, even for discontinuing the backwards-compatible 60G models. I hope that we can still be friends, and maybe one day so much more.

Call me.

Love,

Captain Wren <3

A $300 Coloring Book

I remember why I become a fan of organizations like PBS and Mana Energy on Facebook. It is to participate in the sometimes mind-exercising discussions that occasionally arise. And, not to mention, the free stuff that sometimes comes with it!

While lolly-gagging online when I should be doing my morning crunches and preparing for school, I noticed an SXSW 2010 PanelPicker idea board regarding something called the "pass-back effect." It turns out, there is a name for act of parents handing their iPhones, Blackberries, and otherwise overly expensive communication devises into the backseat for their car-seat-aged children to just play around with. I had heard of this phenomenon, but I didn't know it had reached Swine Flu status and was now an epidemic!

Even since before working at [a popular video game franchise] I had a very high repect for my technological devises and gadgets. Almost nything that runs on AC current or batteries is destined to be destroyed by little innocent hands. When parents buy the Nintendo DS or PSP or even a Leap Frog, it is a short-term investment to entertain their children for a car ride, a plane trip, or possibly a school year, max. That $200 is their own to drop, stab, kick, spill on, and lose for as long as they like, since next Christmas they'll likely get a new one.

Knowing that the lifespan of technology is comparable to the time it takes to potty train a 2-year-old, why would even the busiest of parents toss their smartphone into the backseat for their young one to manipulate their only means of reliable communication? Did they forget that their phonebook was full of important numbers and contacts that at the slightest unintentional touch could each be called--or worse, deleted? And as much as children love to toss things, you would need to replace your flimsy silicone sleeve with a Nerf cocoon for it to withstand all the shock.

I know it might seem cute that your 3-year old knows how to use an iPhone and is now asking for her own, but in reality they are still children and apt to make innocent mistakes with a pricey piece of hardware. Like I mentioned in the panel's comment, there are devices made almost exclusively for children to play with. You can buy a handheld game system for less than $100, insure it for a year, and buy a couple of $10 games that they can button-mash on the same way they would with Mommy or Daddy's $300-400 toy.

If you want to see how others think, check out the SXSW 2010 PanelPicker discussions.

Not alone in the Universe

I always knew there was someone somewhere out there in cyberspace that shared my same passion for the Black women fighting to save galaxies millions of light-years away! A good friend linked me to a Live Journal blog about Star Trek's Nyota Uhura that I found delightfully interesting. So I wanted to share it with my few but dedicated BGVTA fans. This blogger is all about Star Trek and makes some very thoughtful points. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Live long and prosper! ;D

Which Black Girl vs. the Alien Character Are You?

If an alien spaceship ever appeared floating above the atmosphere, which alien survivor would you want to take notes from? Maybe the smooth talking Dame Vaako or the swift-footed Lily share more your style when it comes to dealing with the unknown invaders? Find out by taking this quiz on Facebook. While you're at it, request me as a friend if you haven't already and maybe become a fan of BGVTA on Facebook!

Which Black Girl vs. the Alien Are You?

Thanks!

Good Idea, Bad Idea #1

Remember the Animaniacs? You know, Yakko, Wakko, and Dot! Between their cartoons they would always have this stick figure-looking man or a mime portraying good and bad ideas. Usually the bad idea was some rendition of the good idea, only silly. Well, my ideas will hopefully give you some insight when purchasing your next electronic devices. I've been doing some researching in my "spare" time, and I think I know enough to help you all out. Some of this may be DUH, but maybe you haven't given much thought to others. So here they are, good ideas and bad ideas.

Good Idea #1: Having wireless abilities on your home or mobile computer. Although most computers, especially laptops, will come with wireless abilities standard, some desktops will offer a myriad of amazing specifications, but lack the ability to pick up surrounding wireless signals. Sure, your phone may be able to check email and go on YouTube, but as I've learned, sometimes you just need a bigger screen, a faster processor, and a full keyboard. You can pick up a wireless adapter for less than $50 from your local electronics store. It's a one time fee and an easy CD setup, allowing you to pick up any available wireless internet connection nearby.

Bad Idea #1: Paying $50+ a month for unlimited wireless connection on your mobile computer. If you're using your computer at school, there is most likely a free wireless connection available to you just for being a student. Some work offices, mall areas, and restaurants have a connection that you can pick up and use for free or with permission from the facility. In places like the airport, Starbucks, or Barnes and Noble, you will usually have to pay about $5-12 for a few hours to a days worth of internet. Spending $7 for one or two afternoons out of month is a much better allocation of your money than going unlimited for more than $50 when you probably won't be using it that much. At first glance, Clear seems to have some good prices for their wireless services; but unless you need to be online at every minute of every day, their internet packages are all look and little practicality.

So lesson for today: wireless = a great necessity. Wireless prices = much investigation. Try to weigh your reliance on the internet during your daily, weekly, and monthly activity before making contract or long-term decisions about how much you pay to get it.

Signs She's Not a Real Gamer

Let's face it, girls who game are hot. We, as girls, know it. You, as drooling, testosterone-driven boys know it. And though we could probably go on and on about what makes someone a "true" or "hardcore" gamer--recreational versus underground, according to Microsoft Live--the main point is that a female with justifiable video game competencies is a rare, ultra-precious jewel. What girl wouldn't want to be the combo-breaker in a sea of trigger-happy alpha males fighting for virtual trophies and achievements? It's a rather seductive position of power that many girls front, but most fall fatally short while attempting to grace even the surface of what it takes to be called a real gamer chick. Heed these warning signs of prissy posers attempting to gain the spotlight from the true warrior women:

• She loves to rock. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the musical mayhem of Rock Band or Guitar Hero, unless it is ALL she plays. Also, if she only plays it after 4 red cups and while waiting for her bracket in beer pong, you can assume she probably doesn't even remember when she plays it. It's just a stream of colored dots, drunken karaoke, and senseless beating on a fake drum set while she screams "I love this song!" before every session. She can possibly gain some brownie points for figuring out the guitar frets on any level above Easy, but it's highly doubtful she comes in contact with any real joystick outside of a frat party house.



• She hates anatomy. One of the most obvious signs of a fake or anti-gamer is her outright disgust with virtual female body. Real women know how impossible it would be to stand--let alone jump, wrestle, dance, swing a sword, or play sports--with a pair of double-Fs on a 24-inch waist. The mere damage of a couple of unsupported, renegade breasts would be more dangerous to the wielder than the enemies! Still, girlfriends are quick to constantly remind their beaus how unrealistic and disgusting those digital heroines are. They refuse to play the game themselves or forbid their boys to play when they're around...or at all. Everyone gets a little jealous, but to harp over freaks of nature like Ivy, Hitomi, or even Laura Croft is petty and pointless. There are a lot of great games and a few good laughs out there if one is willing to see past the string bikinis and cleavage.



• Wii she like to play. Well, why not? She loses just as many calories tugging, punching, tilting, and swinging the Wiimote around the room as she would spending 2 hours and $50 a month at the gym. And with the Wii Fit, she can get that celebrity personal trainer without the celebrity pricing or Nazism. Everyone flocks to her house for bowling parties, tennis matches, Wii Music jam sessions, and 3D Mario Galaxy adventures. She's got the cutest Mii in the parade and is positive she's as better cook than Mama! She doesn't need real button skills, just a sensor bar to read her every move and maybe a Wii Wheel to make her feel like she's in the Nintendo-500! Don't burden her with a classic controller; the Nunchuck suits just fine. Hey! Those tiny GameCube disks won't work in her system; they're too small!
  

Real-Time +Turn-Based = NaN

Did you like that? I used a bit of JavaScript on your face!

While attempting to prove to G4 and to myself that I am a dedicated gamer who cares about E3 and the awesomeness they have to offer, I found myself watching a few highlighted clips of games that I do have interest in. The first one was Left 4 Dead 2 which I am completely and utterly losing my goodies to! For further reference, please see attached clip.



The second clip I watched was of the new Final Fantasy XIII that is supposed to "totally blow my face off." I guess I've just reached a point where graphics really don't make a big difference to me anymore. I love a beautifully done video game as much as the next person, but really I think it's the elements within a game and WHAT I am seeing that makes a bigger impact on me than how well they look.

Anyway, aside from not buying the best graphics category, the interviewer (whose job I would de-bo in a heartbeat if he ever dropped his guard!) brought up how the battle system in the game could be described as real-time turn-based.

Video Games - E3 2009 - Xbox 360

NO! Nono! No, it can't! Realistically, that does not even exist! If you have turn-based fighting, you are always at the mercy of some timer or meter that allows you to alternate attacks with another player or enemy. Depending on the speed of each character's meter, a player might have a definite advantage or disadvantage (in the case of status ailments) over how often they can get hits in. Overall, there is still game regulation of when a player can act.

Real-time means when I hit the attack button, I attack. When I heal, I heal. Even if I run out of magic points or need to recharge a specialty meter, I can still run around like crazy and hack the crap out of an enemy until I figure out my next move. Then, I hit another button, let's say to drink a potion or change my attack style, and it automatically puts that into effect. I'll admit, a lot of button-mashing goes into a real-time system if a player is not tactful, but for some it can rely on skillful timing and thoughtful choices.

What's been irking me about the latest Final Fantasy games is the fact that they are trying to incorporate both battle systems. I don't have an issue with the turn-based battle systems; it is a trademark element of all FF games since the first. However, since FFXI, things began to change. Not only was Final Fantasy XI exclusively for the PC as an MMO, it must have given developers time to realize that free-roaming battle systems were quite popular. Instead of completely changing the gameplay for their newest FFXII project, they took their same turn-based system and added the ability to run helplessly around a map while still getting attacked, no matter where you stand. Sure, this may have been a perk to a player who wanted more realism during fight sequences, but how realistic can it be when a level-8 cactuar can still spray me with needles from 10 feet away and 5 feet to the left? It just doesn't work to combine both and still expect that "freedom." If my weapon can't move as fast as my fingers, there is no freedom, nor is their realism.

SquareEnix has produced some amazing Final Fantasy-inspired games that branched out in different battle directions. Kingdom Hearts and Crisis Core used the real-time system incredibly well. Dirge of Cerberus was the first Final Fantasy game to incorporate full third-person shooter action, while FF Tactics and FFXII: Revenant Wings have continued utilizing strategy-based gameplay. What is familiar when it comes to fighting styles is the most comfortable.

Which Video Game System Are You?

I made this quiz for the ladies! I think it's pretty accurate, but like I said... I made it!

Which Video Game System Are You?

Enjoy and have fun with it!

Real Women of Color

Whether she's radiant red, galactic green, or nebula blue, extraterrestrial girls always get the most action--and I'm not talking about their lipstick colors! As much as I gloat about the abilities of my fellow chocolate sisters in science fiction, there are ACTUAL women of color that seem to always marvel and entice us humans, men and women alike. Since the list of chromatic cuties could fill an intergalactic Playboy magazine, I'm just going to focus on the top 3 best looking alien races. It's a good thing these chicks live on other worlds, or else we Earth girls would be out of luck when it came to grabbing the fellas!

1. Twi'leks
Origin Planet: Ryloth
Reoccurring Series: Star Wars
Appeal: This beautiful species comes in a variety of flavors--and by flavors I refer to their alliance with good or evil forces. You can find female Twi'leks anywhere from Jedi academies to cantina stages and anywhere in between. They are primarily a neutral race, which seems odd since most other species form such unhealthy dependencies on their females' beauty. Their one (or two) distinguishing features are their long tentacle appendages that grow from their skulls. Most people find tentacles an immediate turnoff, but one look from these lithe and mesmerizing creatures turns any male species into Bantha blue milk.

2. Orions
Origin Planet: Orion
Reocurring Series: Star Trek
Appeal: They are known as Orion slaves girls, but do no let their name fool you into pity. The one being enslaved is most likely you! With enough pheromones to subdue an entire football stadium of males, these emerald vixens know how to run a good business. You will hardly see an Orion slave girl outside of a "captor's" care, although you may never see them unhappy. Captain Kirk of the S.S. Enterprise had his share of green goodies (not to mention maybe every other color of the rainbow), but as we all know, too much of a good thing can turn sour. Although pleasing, one cannot assume that the Orions' control over members of a Federation ship was in the best interest of anyone--especially the female crew.

3. Asari
Origin Planet: Thessia
Reocurring Series: Mass Effect
Appeal: This soft blue alien race it has no gender...but they're female. Obviously this gives them even more of a sex appeal for guys since their only means of reproduction might involve what would appear to be "girl on girl" action. Asari base their relationships off of life-long somewhat "spiritual" bonds that they can share with any gender or race outside of their own. They also have a great way of enhancing physical pleasure by tapping into their companion's emotional needs. Sounds hot, huh? Instead of trying to guess what people are thinking, they just look! Quite a useful skill, giving the asari a great advantage in diplomacy, both sensual and political.

A Lady and Gentlemen of Extraordinary Sound

Greeting, Fair Followers of the electronic pen! Allow me to welcome you to the leather-bound world of Steampunk. If you haven't learned by now what it consists of, you will have to make the venture to learn of such on your own. Until then, let me introduce you to an extraordinary new sound that I've come to find quite exhilarating.



The Extraordinary Contraptions have put the "punk" back into steampunk. They are not the typical straight-lace, bow ties, and clockwork. They are the striking metallic smudge on the crisp, boring collar of the antiquated steampunk style. Their sound combines the electric spark of ska and punk music with the whimsical persona of a picnic in an industrial park. All in all, not a bad sound in the least! Harmonic vocals and sophisticated lyrics backed by strong bass are fun to listen and to dance to.

Aelus, Dmitri, Sephora, and Corbin are time-traveling to a Terminus station near you! Check put their MySpace page for upcoming concerts, events, music downloads, and all sorts of glittering contraptions. While you are at it, explore the photographs I've collected for them from their Masquerade concert.

Become a friend, and even a fan, of The Extraordinary Contraptions have a taste of past and punk.

Ten Years to the Day

For all of you oh-so-cool kids still taking advantage of the "4-20" hysteria, here's something to process with those remaining few brain cells:

Exactly 10 years ago, 2 boys armed themselves with an arsenal of weapons and changed the lives of every student, teacher, parent, friend, brother, and sister at a high school in Columbine, Colorado. Twelve students and one teacher lost their lives at the merciless hands of unstable, mistreated, and vengeful cohorts. Twenty-three others are lucky to be alive after the shots they took, and countless others will never be able to forget the horrors they faced today.

Now, in a day when childlike innocents seems like an oxymoron, we find ourselves no further from these savage situations. A school hallway is not just a social hub for young minds, it's a walk of shame, an overexposure, and a friendless tunnel of ridicule for some. Bullying is real, and not every child is strong enough to handle such premature abuse on their own. If it goes to far, the results can be the massacre that occurred in Colorado, or the fatality that darkened hearts in Dekalb, Georgia today.

Eleven years old is not even old enough to experience the best parts of life, but when you are daily put down, picked on, and beaten physically and emotionally, I'm sure it's hard to see into a promising future. As the sister of someone who was once bullied, I have no tolerance for anyone of any age abusing their self-proclaimed power over someone else. Thankfully, my family's situation came to a head and was exposed before anything tragic happened, but years of damage had already been done.

The poor little boy in today's story did not find the help he needed in time and many are feeling a terrible sorrow tonight. My heart goes out to the family and friends of Jaheem and to the families of Columbine victims. It hurts me to know that so many lives could be taken for reasons so petty and minds so disturbed. May God bless us tonight and always, and give us the insight and wisdom to do what it right for every soul on the planet. We are all we are ever going to have, and life is far too short to ruin if for ourselves or anyone else.

Rest in Peace.

It matters if you're Black or White

I keep starting and stopping posts. I'm going to finish this one! This is why I will never be famous: because I cannot follow through with a simple idea until its published!

On to business. Over the last few months I've been thinking of topics for my BGVTA entries. This one began to take shape while discussing the cliche and rather distressful role of the black women in sci-fi/fantasy movies. I noticed that all but 2 of the women featured on my site were in an interracial relationship, and that of those who were, about half of the time, their significant other dies. Yes, dies. I can prove it.

Now, I want to put a SPOILER WARNING into affect now so that no one can blame me for ruining a movie that have not, but are yet to see! Referring to my previous statistics on the latter paragraph, you probably want to make sure you've either seen or don't want to see all of the movies/shows on BGVTA. I'll also throw in the movie "Wind Commander" since presently it is not up on the site.

All right, all eyes ready? Here's the breakdown:

Aside from "Independence Day" and "The Matrix," I guess it is assumed that in if there is one black chick around, she is associating with the surrounding white people enough to find herself in a relationship. Most of these women are scientists, which I guess in not an occupation to find a vast majority of black people? Then again, given the situations these scientists find themselves in--sub-zero temperatures ("AvP," "Ice Spiders", middle-of-the-ocean abandoned oil rigs "The Thing Beneath"--I cannot imagine why black people would want to take that job. We sort of hate the cold. . . and oil rigs. We also get vengeful when insects and aliens pull and oh-no-you-didn't against our boyfriends. Then, the true warrior woman comes out and kicks butt all the way to the ending credits.

In terms of the space-aged romances, I guess I'm not too surprised. There are no nations, no real borders or boundaries to distinguish a people outside of what cultural or spiritual beliefs they might share. Looking at movies like "The Chronicles of Riddick" where the Necromongers went planet-jumping to recruit all of mankind into their cult, it's not hard to see how Lord and Lady Vaako found each other. They're both crazy. Need I allude to "Diaries of a Mad Black Woman" to further push my point about how a sister's going to act to get what she wants? I didn't think so.

Let's take it to the skies now. The Washburnes seemed the most unlikely couple to sail the skies together, and not because of their skin color. The Chinese New Years Dragon and Dog do the best to explain this misleading match-up. Zoe, herself, said, "I don't like him, sir," before she even knew what was going to happen. In the tragic coupling of Maniac and Rosie in "Wing Commander," I find the first of hopefully very few instances where the black girl takes the fall. However, they could not even kill her off at the hands of an actual enemy. It had to be her own fault for being a show-off and losing control of her ship. She zapped that last alien tail, but could not make it back on board for seconds with her blond boy-toy.

I cannot forget to mention the "Cloverfield" madness that doesn't fit into science or space. It's just downright unfortunate. Poor Lily just wants to throw a good party in New York. After all, she was fortunate enough to have the brother who was not moving across the ocean the next day. Nope! Cannot have that. Chaos, sea monster, and a broken bridge, and now she's single. At least the directors did giver her a break by letting her escape the city before the monster and a bad helicopter pilot could do her in.

Lastly, I thought I'd mention the strange love affair going on between Calypso and Davey Jones. Now that I think about it, there is a chance Calypso wasn't always black since they apparently trapped her in a human form to keep her from messing up the sea for hardworking pirates. But what we know of her outside of her human form is just a bunch of gray crabs. . . . Not nearly as alluring as a swamp witch with rotten teeth and face tattoos. Regardless, Davey Jones loved her enough to help put her in that body, but what did I say earlier about making a black woman do what she don't wanna? SNAPPED!

So I think that about covers it, although I don't think it's really fair. I think we deserve a happy ending once in a while without all the death and separation. Is the media trying to portray that interracial relationships are dangerous or can only end in heartache? I really do hope not. Perhaps there's some assumption that black ladies are strong enough to survive after such a loss? If so, why is it always the white guy who dies, not someone her own race? Something for future filmmakers and directors to think about. People do read into these things,so just be careful of the message you're sending out, even if you have the best intentions.

Let's get ready to RENDER!!!

Final Cut Pro is the new standard for video editing. If you are a journalism or film student, chances are you've come in contact with this program at least once. What seems backwards is that a major news corporations like CNN is just now beginning to upgrade their software to use Final Cut Pro. Previously, editors of CNN Atlanta were using an outdated version of Adobe Premiere. This makes a bit of sense, since the change from Windows' software to Macintosh is a huge jump for an entire international corporation. However, it is funny to know that a public broadcasting station, KAET in Tempe, Arizona, has been using Final Cut Pro exclusively for years. CNN Atlanta (as of 2008) did have a handful of Apple computers with Final Cut Pro software, but less than a handful of proficient users of the new editing systems.

Without getting into PC versus Mac politics, I do have a confession to make regarding my reasons behind ever purchasing a Mac computer. Final Cut Pro is worth all the hype that's put into it (unlike the rest of the Mac OS). Although much about the Mac can be quite frustrating to an avid Windows user--the keyboard, the mouse, the flying windows, the "Apple" key--if you had to put aside your bias for one program, it should be Final Cut Pro. So for anyone who is NOT in the journalism or film field, or any field related, I cannot even begin to comprehend your choice in a Mac. ;P

I've been editing on Final Cut Pro for about two years and I am always discovering new ways to tweak my projects. I must admit, this is not a program you can just sit in front of and learn by osmosis. Concepts like Batch, Capture Scratch, and Sequence were foreign to me before my first confusing editing lessons at that Tempe station I was talking about earlier. I managed to pick up a few terms and got the hang of the the Apple keystrokes enough to make a basic video promo. That then set me up to explore the rest of the software on my own once a more liberal-use computer was available. Once the basics are down, everything else in FCP is more or less self explanatory. Much of it is drag and drop, almost like a puzzle--or like my friend John calls it, Brick Breaker.

Now why is it that Windows cannot have a comparable editing program that gets just as much hype? Unfortunately, not only are PC users satisfied with a simpler Windows Media Player, they are also convinced that anything Adobe is automatically great just because PhotoShop is so incredibly popular. Adobe Premiere is the PC version of Final Cut Pro, but with what I see as a much darker and overly technical feel. Ironically enough, I much prefer the FinalCut interface, despite the fly-away windows and distracting dashboard movement. Apple definitely sold their users a product that is not only pleasing to look at but enjoyable to handle. Adobe's purpose seemed to be to get down to the hard-edge, no-nonsense editing wire with a strict techno-professional interface. Maybe it's the old-style windows look or the straight-edged buttons and icon structures, but just looking at the screen made me feel overwhelmed and frustrated.

I never did get that feeling with PhotoShop or Illustrator, but I can see the Adobe family resemblance in the sheer complexity of executing the simplest of tasks in Premiere. When editing photos I found that resizing an image would require me to select a layer, right-click, select the transformation option, change the size, then confirm that I indeed wanted to make the edit I just performed before being able to perform a new edit. In Premiere, a simple screen shot of my footage seemed to require me to download and upload and transfer between programs to the point where Print Screen and Paintbrush would have taken less time and energy.

Video editing is already a long process that requires a lot of patience, trial, and error. So much work isn't necessary when just learning how to use the program. I was able to pick up the basics of Final Cut Pro after a few hours of playtime. Once I made it past the initial production aspects, learning elements like filters and color correction were the icing on the cake for my video projects. In the same amount of time, I have not been able to become comfortable with Adobe Premiere, despite the fact that it could me much more readily available on my home PC or laptop. After my 30 trial I was finished, making up my mind that Final Cut Pro really is the best option personally and professionally. Not only will my ability to use it prove to most employers that I have editing experience, but also give guarantee them that I am proficient with both Windows and Apple operating systems.

Without sounding too much like a cover letter, I close with this: I'm a PC, but I know when to give credit where it is justly due. I've seen peers--who had never even used a Mac, let alone editing software--put together amazing video pieces after less than a month of basic Final Cut knowledge. Who's to say that they could not have done the same with Windows Movie Maker or Adobe Premiere, but for someone like me who has worked through my share of computers and software my entire life, even I was slightly baffled and disappointed by Windows' versions. I'm so impressed my Final Cut that,yes, I have even thought about buying myself a MacBook to keep my editing (and journalist) skills sharp, no matter where I go. However, if I do, it will be a cheap Mac with nothing but Final Cut Pro, Word, Paint, and the internet. I won't want my little Acer to think I loved the Mac more.

Frag Dolls

This will be a short one, I promise!

So there is a group of girls called Frag Dolls that might need to be my new group of BFFs. What a coincidence that as soon as I create a Twitter account, they are one of the options for "following" as they say? And that after only a day or so I read a blog about joining their Frag Girl clique? That's a pretty sweet opportunity, I think! Especially after spending the past 30 minutes explaining to my mom why I spent $70 on an extinct copy of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and the difference between Greatest Hits and non-Greatest Hits PS2 games.

Sure, there are probably hundreds of girls who know more about video games than me. Frag Girls seem to focus their attention on FPSs which I am just now becoming competent with. I'll have to do some major gaming overtime to get better at them if I hope to get near a competitive level. However, I think I'd bring a lot of other awesome factors to the job either way...though I suppose I should be telling this to the Frag Girl HR, not you!

I am also realizing that Chocolate Bubblegum needs a makeover. Since that is the site dedicated to video game characters, it should be presentable if I'm going to boast my gaming qualities. Maybe a good weekend project...after my real homework. Gah! -__-;;

The Seven Princesses of Heart

The Seven Princesses of Heart were a select group of young women destined to hold the keys to unlocking Kingdom Hearts. Their hearts were said to be the purest, filled with the power of Light and lacking any traces of Darkness. Sora, the Keyblade Master, fought to free the Princesses from Ansem and his cohorts who stole each of their hearts in order to unlock a Dark keyhole in Hollow Bastion. Although their plan succeeded and they were steps closer to opening Kingdom Hearts, most of the villains met their demise when the powers of Darkness proved too much for them to handle. Eventually, the Princesses were able to foil Ansem’s plans by holding back the Darkness throughout the worlds long enough for Sora, his friend Riku, and King Mickey to shut the door once again.

The Seven used to open Kingdom Hearts were Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Alice, Jasmine, Belle, and Kairi. No one knows exactly who chose each Princess or why there are only seven, though it is safe to assume that since the Keyblade could choose its wielder, it may also be responsible for appointing the Princesses. Though the title implies royalty, not all of the Princesses have regal backgrounds; thus, status had no influence in the Seven’s fates. It was strictly their inner strength and their abilities to stay strong even when hardships threatened their hearts.

Snow White and Cinderella faced similar struggles even before Darkness took over their worlds. Both oppressed by evil stepmothers, they were forced to work relentlessly, though never complained or bore harsh feelings for their tyrannical families. Under the shadow of cold authority, their hearts remained bright and touched those around them. Snow White was able to escape death by the guard who took pity on her even after the Evil Queen had ordered him to bring back the young woman’s heart. Even the seven dwarves soon welcomed her into their home after witnessing her kindheartedness. Cinderella’s pleasant spirit allowed her to become friends with the birds and mice that her stepmother and sisters despised. Along with her Fairy Godmother, her dreams of attending a ball came true.

Aurora and Jasmine were born into prosperous kingdoms, but the evil that seeped within the peaceful walls threatened their happiness and their lives. Aurora, though blessed at birth by the Good Fairies with two wonderful gifts, was also cursed by the witch Maleficent to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die. However, since the last Good Fairy had yet to grant her gift, she countered the curse by replacing death with a deep sleep until awakened by true love’s kiss. Hidden for many years to escape any temptation from Maleficent, Princess Aurora grew up beautiful and pure, though naive to the world outside of the forest and her Fairy guardians. She was content without even knowing she was of royal lineage or that she was betrothed to a prince. When she accidentally meets her true love, they are both unaware of each others’ true identities and fretful when they think they cannot be together just because of their pre-arranged royal engagements.

Jasmine faces a similar dilemma when she is told she must marry a prince before her eighteenth birthday. Though sheltered her entire life, her heart begins to yearn for life outside of the palace. After meeting Aladdin, both as a pauper and a prince, she falls in love, not for his fabricated status, but for the courage and compassion she knows he has in his heart.

Belle grew up in a world surrounded by thick books and fairy tale stories. Living with her father, a very imaginative inventor, she was happy to support him, though dreamt of the adventure beyond the careless antics of her shallow suitor. When her father was to be held captive by a cursed prince in a desolate enchanted castle, Belle made the selfless decision to take his place as the Beast’s prisoner. Though frightened, her love for her father overcame the fear and gave her the courage to remain in the company of the Beast. Ultimately, her tender heart and kind feelings toward the inhabitants of the castle allowed her and the Beast to become very close friends.

Alice was in no way related to royalty, though appeared to come from a privileged family. The fact that she became one of the Seven Princesses may have something to do with her childlike innocence and curiosity. After falling into Wonderland and meeting with the many bewildering characters, she remains courteous even in the most bizarre of situations. Probably the youngest of the Princesses, her heart is still untainted and utterly honest.

Kairi’s enigmatic past makes it hard to find reason behind her purity, but it is mentioned that she truly was a princess of the world she came from. There is subtle evidence that she grew up in Hollow Bastion (previously Radiant Garden), but only based on memories Sora uncovers while Kairi’s heart is inside of him. When she arrives on Destiny Island she cannot remember anything about her home world, though to end up on another world unharmed, without a vessel in the Darkness, she would have had to have a strong power of Light to protect her.

Though each of the Seven’s stories differ, they all relate when it comes to the strength of their hearts while in turmoil. But why only seven and why not any of the other princesses or young women affected by the chaos surrounding Ansem’s search for Kingdom Hearts? Why couldn’t Princess Ariel of Atlantica, Wendy, or even Aerith or Yuffie meet the requirements as a Princess of Heart? Since it obviously does not have to be a matter of royalty, the next best assumption is that their hearts were not completely filled with Light at the time it was necessary.

Aerith and Yuffie escaped from Hollow Bastion with Cid and Leon many years before Sora became the Keyblade Master. In the years since, Maleficent and Ansem’s power increased and the girls continued to help fight off the powers of Darkness while in Traverse Town. Unlike Kairi, who supposedly escaped from the same world when it was attacked by Heartless, Aerith and Yuffie remembered the destruction and fear from the disaster. The trauma could have left a lasting impression of sadness and hatred in their young hearts as they grew older. Later it is discovered that a young man named Cloud and his dark nemesis Sephiroth played a large role in their lives as well.

When Wendy Darling met Peter Pan, she was already nearing the age of "growing up." Her father scolded her for believing in such fantastic fairy tales and fascinating her younger brothers with make believe. However, even after arriving in Neverland with Peter Pan and the Lost Boys, they treated her as their Mother. Wendy’s love for Peter was never fully requited, though he did care for her greatly in his heart. The pure innocence of her heart was waning as she matured. Emotions like jealousy and defiance could have clouded the Light in her heart, though could never extinguish it.

Ariel, daughter of King Triton, faced a lot of restrictions in her underwater kingdom of Atlantica. The mermaid princess was free-spirited and adventurous, though rebellious, to a point, when it came to her father’s warnings. Unlike Cinderella or Snow White who were true to their authority even when they were treated maliciously, Ariel disregards her father’s words on multiple occasions when he is only concerned for her safety. After meeting Sora, her desire to travel to other worlds became so grave that she was willing to make a deal with Ursula the sea witch, also seeking to rule over the worlds with Darkness. Ultimately Ariel was tricked by the sea witch into stealing her father’s magic triton, yet her initial doubt, dishonesty, and reliance on one with Dark powers had an affect on her heart. Though she underwent many conflicts within her heart and was unable to be one of the Seven, the Light she holds would forever flourish due to the love of her friends and family.

Truly it takes a resilient heart to prevail over the cunning evils of Darkness. The Seven Princesses of Heart were well chosen, even if their purposes were abused by the Dark forces. In the end, those seven glimmers of Light outweighed the powers that destroyed worlds and consumed hearts. The Princesses never lost sight of their Light even while Darkness surrounded them. They faced their opposition with warmth and hope, believed in their dreams, and followed their hearts and the hearts of others toward triumph.

How to be a Good Gamer Girlfriend

It doesn’t always feel easy competing for your boyfriend’s attention; especially when you know just how enticing his distractions can be. Even if you are just as much of an addict as your boy, there will be times when he slips off into his own personal bubble of gaming bliss. Most girls would not understand the fundamental necessity of this time, but unlike most girls, you understand games as well. Just think, you wouldn’t interrupt a man while he was hunting for food. The primordial instinct of man to kill for satisfaction has just evolved into a more "docile" pastime.

Personal life experiences and little bit of research has allowed me to put down a few guidelines for the gaming girlfriend of a gamer. Hey, maybe even a non-gaming girlfriend could learn a few things!

• Relate. Remember those two weeks that you couldn’t get enough of Mass Effect? Your boy does. He was probably straining more for your attention during that time than ever before in your relationship. Unfortunately, that’s just how most guys work. When they feel threatened by something else stealing your attention, they freak out and try to squeeze their way back into your lap. So if he needs some time to conquer a new virtual terrain, be understanding and let him have it. Who knows when the tables will be switched again? Maybe the game he’s playing is worth a bit of your time when he’s done.

• Participate. If the situation permits, ask if you can join in or have a turn. Usually a permissible situation involves ONE boyfriend and NONE of his friends. Have at least a reasonable idea of how the game works to avoid asking "Now what do I do?" fifty times. Boys like to gloat, so if the game is multiplayer he will certainly have fun beating another human. That is, until you get the hang of it (or get lucky) and kick his butt a couple of times. He’ll recognize your skill by offering his advice for improvement, though you’ll ever be marked as a possible threat and that much hotter!

• Know Your Boundaries. When boys get together to play games, it is best to leave the whole "male-bonding" situation alone. A Soul Calibur match against AI is one thing, but a 4-on-4 online Left 4 Dead zombie massacre makes your man virtually untouchable in the real world. Nonetheless, you should realize the difference between new shoes important and car accident important. If his fingers are moving faster than your lips are, he’s most likely tuning you out anyway. It’s best to just hold all avoidable communication until later. Wait until the round ends; or he dies.
  

• Public Display of Information. It is only fair that if your boy has to tag along while you try on every sundress in the mall, you wait patiently while he tests out yet another year of Madden in the game store. This actually sets up for an ideal moment to flaunt your cute gamer-girl powers. Browse the shelves for anything familiar to joke or make references about with your boy or the sales clerk. If any of the test games look interesting, grab a controller and play around. The more knowledgeable you appear, the hotter you start to look to the other guys in the store. Your man will be proud of his rare find in a girlfriend, though may think twice before bringing you along again--just in case.
  

• Be Tech Savvy. NEVER unplug, uninstall, or undo anything you won’t be able to redo later on. As a girl who also games, you’ve felt the overwhelming frustration and sensitivity toward your gaming apparatuses when someone mistreats them. Leaving a system in any condition other than how your guy last left it is the equivalent of him leaving your toilet seat up. You could easily return it to normal, but it’s the principle behind it! Most systems play movies, music, or even allow internet access, so there really is little need to play around with wires and cables. On the rare occasion that you feel you must, simply turning the TV off is just as affective of an attention-grabber as touching or unplugging a console (which I have heard of some girls doing)! Not to mention it is in many ways less risky.
  

• Get Naked. Okay, maybe not literally! Still, here is a good way to draw your significant-figure away from the controller long enough for some quality time together. After exhausting every other possible way of grabbing his attention, fight dirty! No grenade launcher, magical sword, or dark elf spell is as deadly as the female figure. Slip into that thing that you know he’ll like (or out of it if that’s how well you’ve got it!) and casually pass by or tinker with something close to the television set. If you’re bold enough, drop the subtleties and go in for the kill! Remind your boy that even though games are fun, you can be even more entertaining!***

Alpha Prime

My first blog post for BGVTA!

As I make this blog look beautiful, I will also add snippets of fascinating information about the girls featured on the website.

Stay tuned!