So here we are the Tuesday after Comic Con. This is when I feel the impact that comic con has on my life the most. Not while Im there in my 13th hour of death march on the floor, or 6th hour waiting in line for a panel. When your in the moment rarely do you have to resources to reflect. And for me the Monday after I'm thinking about the Thursday and Friday of work I missed. But the Tuesday... ah Tuesday. Back in my daily rhythm. Time enough to plan and time enough to reflect. This years Comic Con was a beautiful mix of the insanity of the crowds from 07 but the content and vibe of 06... though this is my 14th year if I go any farther back my memory is tainted, like trying to remember childhood. I saw what I came to see, bought almost what I came to buy, and
reconnected with those friends that I have come to only know in the context of Comic Con. Visited my favorite artists, and showed them their own works from years past in my sketch book.
This years Comic Con was one of anniversaries, 40th Comic Con, 50 years of Green Lantern, 25 years of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and 14th non consecutive year for me. Thats alot of comic con for someone who isnt a huge comic fan, video game player, or to be fair reader. But thats the beauty of "The Con" its got something for everyone. Really. You like art? Its there. Movies, music, comics, toys, celebrity, whatever, its there. How about Business, Economics, interview skills, there are panels where you can learn from literally the best in the business. How did Marvel pull itself from the brink to a leader, go see the panels on that. Its incredible. I try to explain it to people who have never been and its fruitless because they only see the nerds in the costumes, weird people who while having 0 interpersonal skills the rest of the year become extroverted maniacs during con. But that is such a small part of what Con is, but at the same time its exactly what its for. Con gives people who might not have an outlet a reason to get together and have fun. It gives companies literally first hand feedback from 4000 people at a time in real time. And it gives me an excuse to cut out of work to go walk around and have fun in the summer time. I spent 4 days with my wife, no work, no plans, just entertainment and each other. Its pretty much my favorite time of year. And if the preceding portion of this year is any indication it will be next years as well.
So I cant be the only person who cant stand, Mad Men, Twilight, Weeds, Hung, Sopranos, entourage, 99% of anything celebrity related, most "reality" TV, etc... seriously this must not be my time. I feel like a hater because all these shows that are "great" I think "suck". And the good shows that I like keep getting killed off. Heroes was strong, now its weak. Lost was strong, then weak, and Im not sure where the hell its stands now. Monk is in its final season, and Burn Notice feels like its winding down... Honestly Im surprised that Fringe, 30 Rock, and Parks & Rec. are still on the air. Im just glad they are back this season, and god bless us, Ultimate fighter is back on.
So I added some white panels to break up the combo. I think it looks cool personally and I really like the sorta retro feel of the white panels. At first I really was begining to regret not getting the full white version of this bike, but now I really like the idea of making it my own. I dont really *want* a monochromatic bike, I like the contrast. Honestly if I had got the white one I would have replaced something on that to. Next trick is to actually rid my life of the "BOLD NEW GRAPHICS". Try to replace them with something a little more factory works team a little less X-treme Team.
reconnected with those friends that I have come to only know in the context of Comic Con. Visited my favorite artists, and showed them their own works from years past in my sketch book.
So In the face of certain financial ruin, I bought a new motorcycle, economic downturn be damned. 8k worth of debt to risk my life daily. Its been a few years since I had a motorcycle, I loved my previous bike, the last of the UJM, the zrx1200r.
500 pounds, 1200cc worth of power and 5spds to get it down. Just as God intended. It was like riding an engine, because pretty much thats what was happening. My new bike is a completely different experience. The zrx could flirt with 160 with the faring, and 155 without. It literally punched a hole in the air. 
325 pounds, 400cc thundering through 1 cylinder, and 5 spds ratioed to get the wheel up. Its not fast. Its a drz400sm. I can feel when I'm riding into the wind on the drz. Im no featherweight and the drz wheezes a bit getting me up to speed :P But I will say this, its easy to ride. It reminds me of the bike from my motorcycle skills course. Its tossable. I dont know how fast I could really go on the highway but honestly 65 is all I want anymore. Theres no reason to hit that extra 0. The only reservations I have are about the extra money leaving our account every month in order to pay for it. I have a problem with modifying things and Ive been shopping for parts and upgrades since BEFORE I pulled the trigger. Though in 60 months I will have said it was totally worth it.
So, I loved the Pride FC game, but of course like all good fighters there's a time to stop. Pride FC hit that around 2005... 4 fucking years later a GREAT follow up. I mean honestly I couldn't honestly ask for much more in a game. Both games have a create a fighter option, which I love. Pride FC was deep, but UFC Undisputed is deeper. So deep that it took me 2 days to make my character for career mode. The old game was pretty complex control wise, but UFC 2009 Undisputed is complexer. 
They have done a great job with the controls, though they are complicated they are also intuitive. Alot of the reviews say how complicated it is and that the game reqires some knowledge of the sport to play... I think they are missing the trick here, I think the UFC as an oganization, and by extension THQ, intend the moves and techniques to be a bit of a mystery to be solved and mastered. Probably in the hopes of fostering the vocabulary among the younger generations, thus seeding fans and fighters alike. My biggest complaint is the ground "reversals"... they are impossible to pull off for me.
One of the things I love about playing both games is that alot of the fighters are in both, Wanderlei is the axe murderer in both.
