Plethora

That old time rock and roll

I have a fascination with music. I am a “music lover”. That being said, late at night when I’m alone because Lindsey says she’s “golfing” when I have all my lights off in my room and am sorting baseball cards from 1988-1993 under my bed I think:

Hey Bryce, what are your favorite bands?

Well, I would say a blend of Beatles, Metallica, The Who, Led Zeppelin, and after that it becomes a tight race. After seeing these bands you realize certain bands that you DON’T SEE:

• Petey Pablo
• *Nsync
• Master P
• any R and B
• Any new pop

What I’m getting at is that for the most part I had come to grips that for whatever reason I appreciate older music more. Music that is more historical, already been a number one hit, the band has already been dubbed “The Greatest…” before I was even listening to them.

I go through music mood swings, in the last two days I’ve listened to “At Last” by Etta James around 10 times. I have feverishly worked to get my new Kazaa working so I could download the Ray Charles song, “Georgia” that I have heard bits of and liked the sound of it. I have also gone through rap stages in my life. I was once convinced not only was I black but I was in a rap group called “Street Justice” and even had a hit song called, “Snoop you’re whack” or something to that effect.

Before that I was hardcore country. Both MILES and I were. I still enjoy listening to those songs we loved when we were…oh…5th graders or so.

I also went through a huge Beatles phase when I was a 6th grader. Loved the red and blue album like they were the children I’ll never have so I just sit outside their school waiting and praying their real parents are late picking them up so I can take them home with me. Then mom ruined it by writing about me listening to the band in the CHRISTMAS LETTER!

Then it was pop music. Miles and I would sit for hour waiting for a good song to come on the radio to record on our cassette tapes.

Then we went our seperate directions. Miles bought a “Hanson” vinyl and I bought “Sgt. Pepper” and we never saw directly into each others eyes again.

Miles now is really into the “Horny Ponies” or some band like that. Lindsey is heavy into rap, her favorite song being Freak-a-leek. Tony LOL OMG loves Ringo Starr’s individual stuff he did after the Beatles broke up. And my parent’s are starting to get into metal. Oh right, and Boy craves each note Ashley Simpson belts out.

Dan Vierck loves OMC so much he says that they are like the Beatles but with more instruments.

Whatever Dan.

Anyways, music is kinda like tap shoes…
(Open for interpretation)

Add comment October 29th, 2004

I approve of this message

Many people are stupid.

No really, hear me out.

But if there is one thing that is on the television even more than Law and Order and Texas Hold Em it’s the political ads and news programs discussing politics.

“Hey Bryce, where does the thing ‘Many people are stupid.’ thing come into play in your post?”

Well if you would shut up for just two seconds I’d tell you.

With all of this political discussion taking place on TV everyone absorbs a handful of information, it’s hard to miss it. Therefore everyone thinks they are a genius when it comes to politics.

Schaef the other day tried to tell me I was on welfare because I was a college student. I wanted to punch my fist through a dogs ass I was so confused. His point ended up being that he assumed I was using grants to pay for college. By I’ll be paying loans for the rest of my life. Give or take a dozen years.

I know a bit about politics. I can hold my own in a debate on a range of subjects but I even have to admit that I get in over my head with people who know way more than me. I used to debate Steve Brotzel in the “Grocery Sto” and he would start pulling SD bills out of his ass, not literally, that I’d have no idea about and I’d say, “wowwie wow wow I don’t know what you’re talking about mista.” Ends up he’s like involved in the Grant County Democrats, like college democrats only for big kids. Like I ever stood a chance.

I am that annoying person to him that I’m complaining about seeing all over the place right now.

“But Bryce, would that mean this post is pointless and you were only doing it to make a point without actually ranting on anything or reminsing or praising meerly pointing out something anyone could have?”

Yes.

Add comment October 24th, 2004

Fraggot

I went to go see Miles’ play at DSU. I can’t remember which one it was, I’ve seen probably 5 of them. Afterwards Tony and I stuck around with Miles and were going to spend the night on Miles’ floor. In my worst moment I needed to be surrounded with loved ones at all times. For it had been within a week that Lindsey decided we needed a break.

After the play Miles wanted to show Tony and I the basement of the Trojan Center, which is not a condom shop in Madison, SD. When I saw it I was amazed. It was so incredible. The lights were dimmed, there were probably 30 some people, the room was probably 85 degrees and trash talking could be heard from any direction. This was, of course, my first view of what I would later become quite familiar with, a LAN party.

I remember sitting next to Jeff Gabhart, who I only knew as Miles’ friend from college and now I know as a friend and fellow gamer. I talked to him and thought his quiet ways and nearly silent jokes were hysterical.

I remember a month later I actually participated in the party. Miles and I couldn’t play too much, for the gaming world was very new to us and we hadn’t bought any games that people were playing. I remember pirating my first game for Battlefield 1942, I remember where I sat (right next to Miles) and I remember the excitement when we finally got the weird Battlefield game to play. The only map we got to work was Stalingrad than Miles played Collapse and I played Bejeweled. Not great but enough to get me hooked.

Since then I spread the love. Passing around games, updating people’s computers, going to LAN parties, buying games, playing online, experiencing life as a gamer.

My favorite LAN party moments are:

1. We’re playing Unreal 2003, we as in Miles and I. The LAN party had been a mini-disaster for Dan because no game worked on his system so he spent the night, yes the LAN party was still a nightly thing then, doing homework and playing games by himself. Dan was playing his game, and Miles, me, and some other bloke were playing Unreal and Jeff and his friend Allan decided to leave. Then suddenly all of our computers went blank and we here: “Oh…dammit…did I just shut off your computers? Oh dammit. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry..” and the sorry’s went on all weekend. Funniest part is that Miles, Dan and I start packing up and the guy we were playing with goes, “hey, are you guys leaving!?” and we’re like, we haven’t been playing for 5 minutes, and he just shrugs and goes, “I guess that’s why you guys have been such easy kills.”
2. Three-on-three Battlefield Desert Combat, map: Berlin, game: capture-the-flag. Teams, Dan, Miles, and Bryce VS Jeff, Allan, and Foreman. The most intense fun gaming experience I’ve ever had. Brought new meaning to “ex-pack”
3. Playing at the last LAN party when I could have swore I was walking on water.
4. Any random LAN party when all the guys are staring at Linds’ chest, I am King Geek

That’s all off the top of my head.

Please fill in your favorite LAN party momens in comments.

Add comment October 13th, 2004