Saturday, February 11th, 2006 - Everyone watched Superbowl XL, I assume? Was everyone as disappointed with the officiating as I was? I feel really bad for the Seahawks. Everyone talks about the Roethlisberger touchdown run, but I didn't think that was anywhere near as bad as the pass interference call in the first quarter that negated a touchdown or the holding and low block penalties on back to back plays late in the game. In the end, I guess the only thing that matters is the score...and the Steelers won. I just don't want to see the NFL suddenly turn into the NBA.

I've been watching a lot of Buffy The Vampire Slayer on DVD lately. I bought the seven season boxed set on sale about six months ago and it's been gathering dust. I'm just finishing Season 1 and it's starting to get past the "freak of the week" thing. I'm really enjoying it thus far and I know it's only going to get better...

I've updated my Humor Section with links to 30 Second Bunny Theatre and the California based Star Trek themed band Warp 11. Good stuff...

Thanks for dropping by! Have a great weekend...

Sunday, February 5th, 2006 - It's hard to believe that I've been involved with Computer Game Development for nine years now. I joined Raven Software back in February of 1997 (February 3rd, to be exact), so this week marks a bit of a milestone for me. I feel very fortunate to have been involved in making so many great games. Here's hoping the next nine years are as good as the first...

Speaking of Game Development, I've updated my "Getting A Job In The Game Development Industry" article to fix a bunch of broken links. Hopefully I'll be updating the article's actual content very soon.

Things continue to go well for me here in Texas. Some things are a bit of a culture shock, but overall it's been great. I've been playing a lot of Texas Hold 'Em poker in the Snowman Poker League down here (ironic, considering it doesn't really snow in Houston). I'm hoping to play in the regional tournament later this month.

When I'm not playing poker, I'm busy watching movies from Netflix. Now that I've been a member, I don't know how I ever survived without it! Sure beats running to Blockbuster...

Happy Superbowl Sunday, everyone! Here's hoping for a good game... (I'll be pulling for the Seahawks.)

Friday, January 13th, 2006 - Happy Friday the 13th! I'm just about to sit down and watch a couple of the Friday the 13th films in honor of the event. I'm not sure which ones yet, but I'm leaning toward Part IV: The Final Chapter and either Part VI or Part VII. Woo!

Speaking of which...my friend Kim landed me a copy of Crystal Lake Memories for Christmas. Wow! What a fantastic book! If you're a Friday the 13th fan in any way, shape or form, you need to check this bad boy out. It is way too cool for words...

Ted Thompson, GM for the Green Bay Packers, can officially kiss my ass. What the hell is the deal with him firing Mike Sherman and half his staff and then bringing in Mike McCarthy from the 49'ers? Here's an offensive coordinator who led San Francisco to the worst offensive output and the three lowest Quarterback ratings in the NFL this year. Wow! Stellar resume! I wouldn't hire this guy to manage a flippin' car wash, for Christ's sake, much less a Pro Football team. I predict the dark times are coming to the Pack again. (Lynn Dickey/Randy Wright years anyone?)

In other news, I've added a link to JakeWorld on my Links Page and a link to the Chuck Norris Random Fact Generator on my Humor Page. Wheeeeeee...

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Sunday, January 8th, 2006 - It's been a busy couple of months for me. In a strange turn of events, I decided to move to Texas and take a Designer position with Pi Studios here in Houston!

I guess I wasn't really sure if I'd ever get back into game development and I never thought I'd leave Wisconsin in a million years, so this decision really was a big deal for me. I'm 32 years old and I really hadn't taken a significant personal or career risk in my entire life. I think I was about due, don't you? =)

At any rate, things are going well. I'm enjoying Houston very much. The guys and gals at Pi Studios are a great bunch of fantastically talented individuals. I really couldn't ask for a better group of co-workers. As a bonus plan, I'm reunited with my former Raven Software cohorts Dan Kramer and Jeremy Statz. That was a major factor in my decision.

Anyway, I'll have more updates soon, I'm sure. Just wanted to let everyone know I'm alive and well. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy New Year!

Sunday, January 1st, 2006- Happy New Year! Here's wishing everyone a safe, happy and healthy 2006!

Where does all the time go?

Wednesday, November 9th, 2005 - The boys over at Penny Arcade are at it again! Check out Child's Play 2005...a charity that sends toys, books, music and games to children's hospitals all over the world. Visit the site, click on a hospital and it takes you to an Amazon.com gift registry with all of the wanted stuff on it. Amazon ships it directly to your hospital of choice.

[ http://www.childsplaycharity.org/ ]

I sent 15 books and board games this afternoon to the Texas Children's Hospital in Houston and it was the best $100 I've spent this year! =)

Christmas is coming soon! How about lending a hand to a child near you?

Monday, November 7th, 2005 - Okay, so I hop a plane to Houston, Texas last week for a job interview and I get stopped by airport security in Madison. This woman with gloves on starts rifling through my jacket, which I had run through the security scanner. I say, "Um...excuse me. What are you looking for?" She says, "It appears you have a lighter in your jacket." I say, "No shit...it's in the inside pocket, next to my cigarettes." She tells me that lighters are now prohibited on flights due to FAA regulations and proceeds to confiscate my $40.00 KISS/Paul Stanley Zippo lighter.

When I got back to Madison the next day, I went to the security checkpoint and asked for it back. The woman there says, "I'm sorry, sir. If you surrendered it voluntarily, we can't give it back." I say, "Voluntarily? As opposed to what? Two security agents beating the shit out of me and taking it from me?" Nice...

Just to be a dick, I had six or seven books of matches in my pockets on the return trip. I wonder what's more dangerous? Six books of matches taped together or a Zippo? Morons...

Anyway...I moved my Getting A Job In The Game Development Industry article here to Kenn's World. There's a permanent link to it in the Musings Section. Apparently Raven's web server crashed, so it's no longer hosted there. If I get some time, I may even be updating it in the near future. Update your bookmarks!

Thanks for stopping by. More soon...

Archives:

October, 2005; September, 2005; August, 2005; July, 2005, June, 2005; May, 2005; April, 2005; March, 2005; Dec/Jan/Feb 04-05; November, 2004; October, 2004, September, 2004; August, 2004, July, 2004, June, 2004, May, 2004; April 2004; March 2004; February 2004; January 2004; December 2003; November 2003; October 2003; September 2003; August 2003; July 2003; June 2003; May 2003; April 2003; March 2003; February 2003;