R.C.O.A.: The Four Stars Blog

Project Buy A House: The Situation: 4/16/2015

2015-04-16T12:33:00.002-06:00

Every weekday I am reminded what I am working for. What I am sacrificing for. What I am putting myself through torture for. Every weekday I am reminded what I want, and that is to be rid of it.

Rid of this situation that I am currently engaged in, over which I have no influence or say. This thing that I am engaged in, which is not my responsibility. This thing that I am engaged in, which is not my fault. This thing that I am engaged in, this thing that I can not put to an end. The only thing I can do is end my participation in it.

The person who is responsible for this situation that I am currently engaged in cannot be bothered to do anything to put it to an end, but I can do something to end my participation in it. He will not like this. He who perpetuates this situation will not like that I will end my participation in it. Ask me if I care.

Project Buy A House. That is my way out. Project Buy A House is not how this situation will end, but Project Buy A House is how I will FINALLY be rid of it.

MLB The Show 15: My Journey

2015-04-10T22:07:00.000-06:00

As a lifetime Yankee hater, I was looking forward to the start of the new baseball season. This is due, in large part, to the high liklihood that the New York Yankees would, once again, suck in a way that resembles the intake valve of an industrial quality air compressor. As a video game nerd, I was looking forward to the new MLB officially liscened video games. The reasons for this are not clear, other than my motive to see the Yankees suck over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.

So I wanted to purchase MLB The Show 15. That's not the exact name of the game I wanted to purchase, but ask me if I care. Also, look at the cover of the game and tell me what the name of the game is. But I digress. I wanted to purchase this game, and not just one version of the game, but the version of the game that was released on the Playstation 4 as well as the PS Vita. This is due to the fact that I can play this game's Road To The Show mode, or as most games call it Career mode, on both the PS4 and the PS Vita at the same time. So I set about doing making my purchase. This was easy to do on the Playstation 4.

I could have went down to GameStop and purchased a physical copy of the game, but DAMN IT I WANTED IT NOW! So I purchased MLB The Show 15 via the Playstation Store. Then I set about downloading it. This took far longer than I anticipated, but I blame that on my piece of shit ISP. After buying the digital version of MLB The Show 15 on PS4, I set about buying the PS Vita of this game.

Unlike with the PS4 version of the game, I wanted to purchase the physical copy of MLB The Show 15. This was due to me having a memory card in my PS Vita that was only 4GB in size, and thinking that I would not be able to hold the digital version of the game on a card that size. So I went down to one of my local area GameStop stores and attempted to purchase the game. That's where I ran into problems.

There was no physical release for MLB The Show 15 on the Vita. I know this because I went to several retailers attempting to buy a physical release of this game. Also the internet confirmed this for me. So, in order to obtain a copy of MLB The Show 15, I needed to buy a bigger memory card for my PS Vita.

The day after I found myself in need of one, I set about trying to buy a 32 GB PS Vita memory card, which was a hassle in itself. I first tried to buy one at one of my local area Best Buy stores. The particular store I went to didn't have any in stock, nor did any of the other of my local are Best Buy stores in my local area. So I set about attempting to purchase a 32 GB PS Vita memory card at the GameStop nearby. They didn't have a 32 GB card in stock, but there was one at a store halfway across town. Luckily I had taken the weekend off to watch The Masters, so I had time to drive halfway across town to purchase a 32 GB PS Vita memory card, as well as a voucher to purchase MLB The Show 15 at the same time.

Then I went home and downloaded MLB The Show 15 for the Vita, and well as complete the download of MLB The Show 15 for the PS4. As previously stated, I had taken the weekend off to watch The Masters, so I had a lot of time to dedicate to doing this. Finally I downloaded MLB The Show 15, and was able to create a character in the Road To The Show that I can play with on the PS4 as well as the PS Vita. And it's great. Well, it's working, but it's working well.

But I still have a problem with the whole process I went through to get this game. Why couldn't I get a physical copy of MLB The Show 15 for the Vita? Why did I have to get a digital copy of the game in order to get the game? Why did I have to go to several stores to get a higher capacity card for my PS Vita? Why? Why? Why? Maybe someday we'll find out, but, for now, I'll keep on playing. I just hope the online servers for this game don't get taken offline while I'm still in the middle of making progress in career mode.

Bottom Line Problem

2015-03-02T10:28:00.003-07:00

Starting on Friday, and continuing today, I've been getting frequent calls on my landline telephone from scam telemarkerts. These calls come every couple of minutes. Three of those calls came while I was crafting this post.

The problem of scam telemarkerts has been going on for a while and no one can seeming do anything about it. These scam artists don't respect the Do Not Call List, frequent reports to the FCC do nothing, picking up the phone and telling them not do call doesn't stop the calls, and not picking up the phone doesn't stop these calls. It seems that the only thing that can stop these calls is to not have a landline telephone. These scam artist don't call my cell phone, they only call my landline telephone. It seems, at least to me, that the only way to stop these calls is to not have a landline telephone.

Due the to fact that the only way to stop these calls is to not have a landline telephone, these scam telemarkers have become a bottom line problem for companies that provide landline telephone service. These companies include CenturyLink. Is CenturyLink doing anything to solve this bottom line problem for them? As near as I can tell, no. This must change, and it must change NOW.

Found Questioning #7

2015-02-10T09:48:00.001-07:00

The premise. This question comes courtesey of Talking Points Memo.

So Is He or Isn't He?

Why is this an issue? No, really, I want someone to explain to me why this is an issue. Really. I don't see the problem.

I Was Watching Freak Show

2015-02-09T09:18:00.000-07:00

Grammy Awards 2015: The Complete Winners List

It's remarkable just how much I don't care about the Grammys.

The Annual Facepalm

2015-02-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's that time of year when the people who claim to represent me get together and say things that are wholly embarrassing to me.

Utah lawmaker questions whether sex with an unconscious person is rape ‘in every instance’

Yes, this is a discussion. This is a discussion being had among people who consider themselves decent members of society. Are you fucking shitting me?

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2015-02-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

The more I think about The Situation, the more I find out about The Situation, and the more I find out about what other people think it's going to take to solve The Situation, the more angry I get about The Situation. I need something to take my mind away from The Situation.

That's barely helping.

Mine.

2015-02-02T09:21:00.000-07:00

This is how I am finally going to be rid of it. This is how my participation in the situation ends. This is how I regain control of that which is mine. This is how it happens. This. THIS. Project Buy A House: Moving In Slow Motion: 78.5% Complete
That which is mine will truly be mine.

Still Team Coco

2015-01-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

CONAN BOARD GAME SURPASSES KICKSTARTER FUNDING GOAL

Wow, a Conan O'Brien board game. I'm getting this first day, man.

Project Buy A House: Motivation

2015-01-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

I've known for a long time that it's wrong to just complain about things without actually doing something about the thing that you're complaining about. The situation I'm in is something that, for most of the time it's been affecting me, I've felt powerless to resolve or alter in any way. Now I know different. Now I know that there is a way. Now I know that there is something I can do about the situation I find myself in. The situation may never come to an end, but my participation in it will. Project Buy A House. That is my ticket out.

Time To Introduce KMFDM To The Situation

2015-01-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

I am so beyond caring.

Positive Mantra

2015-01-27T10:08:00.004-07:00

Many people have a mantra, a word or phrase that they repeat to themselves, that leads to positive change in their life. I have a mantra, one that I have been repeating a lot lately.
I hate this.
I hate this.
I hate this.
I hate this.
I hate this.
I hate this.
I hate this.

I hate this.

No Energy

2015-01-26T10:06:00.001-07:00

The situation that I find myself in isn't going to end anytime soon, but my participation in it will. Project Buy A House.

Who Likes Free Things?!?

2015-01-23T09:13:00.002-07:00

ME! ME! ME! ME! ME! ME! I like free things!!! I like free things being given to me for free because they are free things and are being given to me! How could you not like free things?

Windows 7 and 8.1 Users Get a Free Upgrade to Windows 10

On second thought...

CNN Facepalm

2015-01-22T09:11:00.001-07:00

CNN to Produce Political Game Show

Remember when CNN was a respected news outlet? Me neither.

409 Facepalm

2015-01-21T09:14:00.001-07:00

Penn State hockey will wear "409" stickers on helmets tonight.

NCAA, I blame you for this. You.

Palm Oil Joker

2015-01-20T09:13:00.001-07:00

Did Palm Oil Expansion Play A Role In The Ebola Crisis?

I don't know if this is true, but I like the possibility of it. Not because it explains something that the world is dealing with, but because it has the possibility of being a huge international scandal. It's like a great man once said, "Some men just want to watch the world burn."

Upside Down In Debt

2015-01-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

How Jack Johnson's Parents Screwed Him And Left Him Millions In Debt

Wow. It's unfortunate when people find themselves in situations like this, especially when that situation is created by the people you implicitly trust. I remember seeing Jack Johnson in concert once. I'd like to see him again. It'll be sad if that doesn't happen because Jack Johnson is a truly gifted musician.

Just Another Heads Up

2015-01-14T09:20:00.002-07:00

'Silk Road Reloaded' Just Launched on a Network More Secret than Tor

What I take away from this story is that there is a way to anonymize your internet usage that is more secretive than Tor. What I also take away from this is that the method that is describe here is probably in the process of being cracked by the government and may not be truly anonymous for long. Good to know.

Facepalm

2015-01-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

Report: NCAA Considering Restoring Joe Paterno's Vacated Wins

If the NCAA does this, it will prove that the NCAA has no moral authority when it comes to the consequences that it levees. If the NCAA does this, it will make the NCAA even more of an irrelevant organization than it already it. If the NCAA does this, they will become only a body that generates money and not a body that hold anybody to any real standard.

$150 > $23.98

2015-01-12T09:18:00.000-07:00

Intel's $150 HDMI Stick Turns Any TV Into a Windows Desktop

What this article doesn't address, and the question that Intel hasn't answered yet, is why I should spend $150 on a low powered PC that hooks up to my TV when I can buy a twenty-five foot HDMI cable and a Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter for a total of $23.98 and hook up the Mac Mini I use as a media PC to my TV, using my bigger at home TV as a second monitor. Why should I spend 625% more than is necessary to buy something superfluous that only makes me look like a more bigger nerd than I already am?

Eyerqew Exam

2015-01-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

So I hadad an eyes exam today, and duringea it they dialted my eyes. My eyes carea still dialated as i type this. Can DYOU tel?

Je Suis Charlie

2015-01-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

Bagley Cartoon: Cartoonist Lives Matter

O Yeah

2015-01-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

You've heard of the Xbox, now meet the OBox

Well, it looks better than the Ouya.

It Continues

2015-01-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

http://youtu.be/WkHPM9DW-5k?t=1m36s

And so it continues, the annexation of my free time. It continues because the person who I am covering for can't be bothered to do anything, much less what amounts to his responsibilities as a man. This is something that is going to end, not because of any effort put forth by the person I am covering for, but because of my will, my drive, my effort, my sacrifice, the things that I do because I am the only person willing and able to do something about it.

Project Buy A House: Moving In Slow Motion: 74.4% Complete