Hel-looooooo! It's been a while since I made a blog and there are several reasons for that of which one in particular I will not go into detail here because of the Nazis that moderate this place. But feel free to read ALL about it over at the liberated site of 1UP where you don't have to worry about censorship or superiority complexed moderators.

Moving on! First and foremost what I have most recently been busy with is participating in the making of podcasts with fellow GameSpot members. The name of our motely crew is the Effeminate Males w/ Fingerless Gloves. A weird name to be sure, and the backstory of why they picked that name is just as entertaining as the name itself. If you're curious as to the origins of the name maybe leave HightimesBX that question over at his blog. It has been a blast recording with these guys (HightimesBX, GreggD and Braindeadracer), and they were gracious enough to allow me to join in their ongoing mental breakdowns into senility of which I fit rather comfortably as well. So I thank them for that.

Secondly, today is our Nation's birthday. I hope everyone remembers those who have served and continue to serve among all the BBQs and pool parties that are happening today why we are able to celebrate such freedom.

Gaming-wise I, like HightimesBX and GreggD, have been playing Diablo II since Blizzard recently announced Diablo III. It's amazing how well this game has managed to stay fun and addictive as ever since it originally came out. I decided to play as a paladin under the name "Testiceles" and currently I am a level seven. I haven't really played a lot but I definitely love the game, and hope to beat this one unlike the first Diablo where I came close but never truly finished.

Fourth, I remember mentioning something in my previous blogs that I was going to talk about girls being nothing but trouble. Looks like I'll have to 86 that idea since it's not the situation I thought it would be so I'm sorry. Those looking forward to some juicy bits of my ongoing personal life will be disappointed.

And that's about it. Please, don't forget to head over to 1UP if you really want to read a piece of my mind about this place Unkn0wn3ntity.1up.com Thanks!

www.gcast.com/u/FingerlessGlove/main?nr=1&&s=0

Best one yet! Seriously.

Effiminate Males w/ Fingerless Gloves Podcast Ep. 2

Click the above link to start listening to the hilarity! DO IT!

New stuff you should be aware of:

-I downloaded Skype so if you have it and want to chat with me shoot me a PM and I'll send you my username.

-Week old pizza doesn't taste very good even if it is NY styl3.

-Responsibility strikes again: Today I set up automatic debit for my student loans so I'll start creating a good payment history with them. Even though I'm still in school and don't have an obligation to pay them back just yet I still want to because while I'm in school they don't charge any interest, and it also helps with your credit.

-Received my copy of Rainbow Six Vegas for PS3 from Gamefly in the mail today. God only knows when I'll have time to play it.

-Girls are nothing but trouble (expect a future blog to go in depth with that issue).

I'm out!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080623/us_nm/carlin_dc

Wow. And just today I was thinking of including in my blogs select quotes from him since I have one of those desktop calendar thingies. I also just recently saw him live when he came out to Denver this past April to do a routine. It's the first time I ever saw him in person and now it will have been my last.

1937-2008

(Odd Lot Entertainment, 2005)

Hoo·li·gan - n. 1. A tough and aggressive or violent youth.

For many Americans the obsession displayed by many Europeans and South Americans towards the sport of football is oddly enigmatic. This in itself is a bit perplexing since many Americans take pride in their own brand of sports with just as much passion. I guess what is most disconcerting and misunderstood is the level of dedication shown or enacted upon by each respective culture. Green Street Hooligans attempts to infiltrate this fanaticized subculture surrounding the revered sport of true football (don't you dare call it "soccer").

Elijah Wood turns in a rather solid performance as a young journalism major, Matthew Buckner, who finds himself abruptly expelled from Harvard University under false pretenses. Having a roommate who is the son of a wealthy politican and who also just so happens to be a coke addict, it falls over Matt's head to take the blame to spare his roommate expulsion as well as a bad mark against the family's name. Matt does the only thing he can think of and that is to fly to London and meet with his estranged sister as he nurtures his self-inflicted wounds while determining what to do next. Elijah's performance is that of a reticent individual who has built up a protective shell over himself; prefering to be the objectionable witness rather than the subject under scrutiny. His adventures that follow, however, are going to toss that protective shell out the window as he is forced to participate in behavior he's probably only ever written about up until now.

From London the movie takes off in a tale of bravado and introspective analysis as Matt meets up with the brother of his sister's husband, Pete, who just so happens to be the leader of a local football firm (it's interesting to note in London they are not called "gangs" but rather labeled the more benign term of "firm"). But as the movie delves deeper into this subculture, and we follow the exploits of Matt and his new found friends we come to realize that they are not just a simple gang as Americans are familiar with the word. Indeed, the film even dedicates a scene aboard a subway car about this issue as Matt attempts to understand the difference as told to him by Pete. We come to find out being in a firm is more than just supporting a football team. It's a way of stating your national pride as well as self, but more about pride of where you come from rather than egotistical pride of the self. It's about belonging to something bigger than yourself and having support by those who will stand next to you in times of need. It's about knowing when to stand up for yourself. All these attributes Matt slowly realizes are important in your life and not just applied to football; as he states in the movie "...something no Ivy League school can teach me."

I heartily recommend this movie to everyone. It has a great message to share and was directed superbly. It deals with issues such as loss, self-confidence, humility and pride among others. As well as offering a glimpse into a lifest yle that I'm sure many Americans aren't even aware of. You may not grow to love the sport of football after watching this movie, but you'll definitely expose your mind to a broader range of understanding for those who do.

Final Score: A