The Green Hill Zone

Kind of like an Eulogy for a Home

2010-10-07T05:36:00.000-07:00

So here I am.

5:37 am I start this thing, sitting in the empty shell that used to be my room, and my emotions are entirely mixed. In almost 5 hours, the new owners of this house will be here, and move their stuff in. In 5 hours, we have to be out of here. Out of this place that I've called home for almost 18 years.

Back in 1992, my dad designed and built this house himself. I remember he and mom taking a 4-year old Stephen and his siblings to a random yard filled with towering weeds, setting down a blanket, and having a McDonalds picnic. I remember him saying, "This is where the dining room is going to be," and that's what happened. My parents designed this house for specific purposes. They had a vision, and enacted it, and it has become that place where you most feel comfortable since November of 1992.

However, it is safe to say that this place, this home, has served its purpose. The youngest just graduated high school, and is moving on herself, and the rest of the children have already moved on. At the same time, God is calling my parents to bigger and greater things across the country. So it comes to this, an empty house.

While this is sad, two thoughts are swinging through my head constantly.

The first is that this place is special because it is where the many good (and bad) memories occur. That said, we, my family, are the vessels for those memories. This is but a mixture of wood, drywall, and carpet, no? Are we not the ones who carry the memories forward? We don't need a house to remember the fun and/or interesting times that occurred here. My family still has each other, and that's by far the most important part. While we lose the representation of those memories, we still carry them with us.

The second is that this was never my home in the first place. This world was never my home. My true home, and the place I truly long for, is in the heavens with my precious Jesus. Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2) In the same way that my earthly father built a home for me, my heavenly father has already built a home for me. That is my true home, the one only accessible through saving faith in Jesus Christ: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6, one of my favorites)

My home is in heaven, with Jesus. This house that I'm sitting in, ultimately, means nothing. What really matters is that I prepare myself for my future, eternal home.

Lord, use me before taking me home! Oh, how I long to be there, Jesus, but I have tasks here on earth to complete for you. Please constantly give me strength and clarity, that I may complete your tasks awesomely. And Jesus, allow the new owners of this house to have the same good memories as we did. Bless this place, make it a place of peace and warmth. Thank-you for all the good times, and thank-you for a place to move on towards. You are my God, and I worship you eternally. You're beautiful, my Yahweh.

-Stephen

A New Year, A New Christmas List

2009-12-07T03:44:00.000-08:00

It seems that as I grew up throughout the years, my Christmas list grew up along with me.

When I was ten years old or so, my list reflected my age. It was filled with the objects that your typical ten-year old thought was totally awesome. Power Rangers action figures. Spider-man posters. Basketball cards. Mario Kart 64. (Although, I promise you I wasn't this kid.)

Around the age of 13 or so, the list matured and had things like music, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, and cool clothes. When you're 13, nothing mattered as much as fitting in.

Of course, at the age of 17, my list was different, filled with video games and parts for my drum set.

Right now I'm 22, and this year I don't have a Christmas list.

At least, not a typical one, filled with items and merchandise that can be easily bought from a store in the mall.

If I did write out a Christmas list, the number one thing would be to spend time with the people I love. I don't get to see my family that often, so just being with them is all I want. Being able to spend an evening with my girlfriend decorating a Christmas tree sounds absolutely incredible. Hanging out with friends who moved away but are home for the holidays is going to be great fun. Being with these people is easily the most important part of Christmas.

Number two on my list would be the Christmas experience; looking at houses with amazing Christmas lights, nights curled up by a glowing tree with a fireplace nearby, the joyful music, and of course, peppermint hot cocoa.

Number three on my Christmas list would be the specific traditions my family has. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't wake up on Christmas morning to the smell of freshly baked cinnamon buns and the promise of homemade orange juice. I could never go a year without waking up early and playing video games until the sun shines on our Christmas tree (my own personal tradition). Of course, attending the Christmas Eve candlelight service at the church I grew up in is always a treat.

It's those things make Christmas special, not the gifts.

The material possessions that so strongly held my attention in the past have seen me move on.

They have been replaced with reflections on what Christmas really means. About how it's about a baby who lived 2,000 years ago but has saved my life today. About how my family is the most important thing and why it's so important to appreciate them.

It is those things that would dominate my Christmas list for this year.

Of course, I'm 22 now, and as life changes, I expect my Christmas list to continue to change with it.

It makes me wonder; what will my list look like when I'm 25? Or even 30? I'll probably be married by then, and my Christmas list would probably be filled with the best wishes for my wife and children, and to start some good traditions for my kids that can help define Christmas for them.

What will be important to me when I'm 40? Will my Christmas list that year have power tools in it, or something more like family unity and stability as children grow older and more mature?

How about when I'm 60? What will I care about when I'm that age? Grandchildren, perhaps? Who knows. It's a long way off.

What I do know is that Christmas is always a special time, one filled with joy, reflection, generosity, and family. And just like every year is different, so is each year's Christmas list different, changing and growing up with me the whole time.

That said, being able to spend Christmas with loving family and friends will always be at the top of my list, because no matter how old I get, family will always be the most important thing about the holiday season.

Thankful for Thanksgiving

2009-11-30T16:46:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is awesome.

The annual gathering of family and food is always a pleasant experience in my household. The food is always succulent and generous in portions, and the talk around the table is entertaining.

There's enough wild conversation to keep things fun, but nothing ever gets out of hand. Playful banter bounces around the table frequently, and although there is occasionally a real hurtful statement made -this family is not going to be politically correct anytime soon- everyone leaves with a smile on their face.

Delightful is a great word to describe this year's event.

Around fifteen people were there enjoying the day, a welcome decrease from the thirty that shared turkey last year.

There have been virtually no divorces within my family, so there are no strange ex's that show up or anything. The same stable family comes together every year. It's great to have a family that is close enough to not have potential awkwardness or even hostility.

Truly, I am thankful for my family and the times I get to spend with them all.

Many people don't have that experience that I do, whether it's due to broken families or harsh memories from previous Thanksgiving.

For some people who live in poverty-stricken countries, having a bountiful feast is incredibly far removed from reality.

This reasons are a huge reason for this gratitude. My experience is rare. So I cherish it.

Thanksgiving also means that it's the beginning of Christmas season, which at my house means decorating.

I love decorating my parents' house, because the end result is always something that resembles a warm glow, and truly inspires Christmas spirit around the house.

This particular season, once all the decorations were finished, I realized that the reason why the lights are so cool is because they represent the great times behind it.

Those Christmas lights are really just a cover for the fact that Christmases at my house are always great. Without a great family, great experiences, and great memories, the lights are just that: lights.

At Thanksgiving, without the great family times, the turkey is just that: turkey.

So I try to treat every moment with my family as precious, because that it is.

Those of you out there who have families that meet every year for food, understand how awesome that is, and how many people don't get that opportunity.

Cherish those moments that you get, because you may never know how many you will have left.

As for my family, Thanksgiving is great, but I can't wait for Christmas, because it's more of a great family moment.

The Aliens Have Arrived in ABC's New Show "V"

2009-11-17T00:11:00.000-08:00

ABC's new show "V" wastes no time getting to the core of its plot. Mere minutes into the pilot episode of "V" the audience is treated to an alien invasion, as alien motherships show up and suddenly hover over nearly every major city worldwide, not unlike the movie Independence Day.

Unlike Independence Day, though, these "visitors", led by the attractive human-like Anna, claim they come in peace, and attempt to set up diplomatic relations with the worlds' countries.

The first episode is filled with mystery, scenes of awe, and plenty of intrigue, and sets up what looks to be, at the very least, an incredibly interesting show.

For what it's worth, this review will be discussing important plot points of the show, and the best way to enjoy the show is to go in knowing as little as possible. You have been warned.

From the start, the alien visitors in "V" are nice, but extremely unsettling. These visitors seem just about perfect, and while they seem to have good intentions, there's something inherently untrustworthy about them.

Citizens notice this too, and there are a good number who claim that this particular interaction with the visitors is part of a bigger scheme to destroy all human life.

Others side with the visitors, impressed by their apparent peacefulness and amazed by their healing powers and advanced technology.

Throughout most of the first episode, there is an undeniable tension as you truly don't know who to trust.

Then the last scene occurs.

The last scene of the first episode shows beyond the shadow of a doubt that the visitors are, indeed, plotting something that humanity won't like.

A fight occurs during which one of the main characters, FBI agent Erica Evans, discovers that her partner of seven years was a visitor all along, as part of the first wave that happened years ago to infiltrate the humans.

By the end of the first episode, all intensity surrounding the aliens' true intentions is gone. Instead, the show takes on a vibe not unlike Invasion of the Body Snatchers, where you don't know who you can trust, as anyone could be a visitor.

This is much less interesting than the mystery surrounding whether the true intentions of the visitors.

The second episode is a definite decrease in quality compared to the first, as close to nothing actually happens. In only a day after watching it, the episode has already faded from memory.

The second episode lacks much of the excitement and intrigue the first had, while trying to build on the plot, but only adds tidbits of information.

Putting both of the episodes together creates an uneven experience, one that begins with excitement and mystery but ends with disappointment.

Not all critics agree. IGN, a well-known website covering entertainment, liked the first two episodes, saying of the second, "Overall though, this was a good follow-up episode to the pilot." They called the show promising, and look forward to its future.

The Miami Herald said the show had anti-Obama messages, but even so said, "With or without the political sheen, V is sweeping television storytelling at its best."

The New York Times wasn't as kind, saying, "The ideas in “V,” about alien encounters and mass delusion and media manipulation, are enticing. It’s too bad that they’re floating around in a show that at this early stage, is so slapdash and formulaic in its storytelling."

Currently, "V" seems to be at a crossroads. It could get better, or it could definitely get worse. To this reviewer, it seemed to be an unwise decision to reveal the true intentions of the visitors' plot so early. This element could have been sustained for longer episodes, making for a more intriguing show.

To be fair, only two episodes of "V" have aired so far. It has a strong-enough premise that the series could probably go either way.

Although "V" is off to an uneven start, it has the potential to be incredibly interesting, and is, at least, worth checking out.

"V" airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC. Previous episodes are available to watch at hulu.com or abc.com. Only two more episodes will air before the show goes on a break until the spring.

Don't Stress Out Over Stress

2009-11-10T00:52:00.000-08:00

November.

Students know this time as a time filled with stress, as the school semester that once seemed so long now has a mere four and a half weeks left before finals. (Yes, that's correct fellow students: Only four weeks.)

With only four weeks left, the once-distant due dates for research papers and final projects are no longer creeping up on us students, but instead are hurtling towards us with reckless abandon.

Many classes have over 50% of their grade determined in these final weeks, and with added pressure coming from the impending craziness of Christmas, students can feel the stress oppressively pulsing through their veins.

It's incredibly easy to get overwhelmed, isn't it?

One word of advice. Don't.

There are ways to control the madness.

First, simply practice good time management. That episode of House can wait, you know.

Look at your schedule and allocate time for school work based on accurate estimates of how long it should take to complete that work. You would be surprised how productive you can be when you take a little time to create a schedule for your life and stick to it!

Second, just start your work. Seriously. Just starting the assignment makes it so much easier to finish. Don't procrastinate. Starting the assignment is half the battle.

Third, when you create your schedule, be sure to pencil in some relaxation time. Once you work for an hour or two, why not take a ten minute coffee break?

Why not take a quick stroll around your neighborhood? Taking a quick break can really clear your mind and continue to prepare you for the work load ahead.

Finally, the biggest advice to offer is the simplest: Take a breath, calm yourself, and look at the big picture. How much of a difference in your life will an "A" instead of a "B" really make?

Sure, in some cases it can matter quite a bit, but in most cases, we tend to stress over things that we have given inflated importance to. Reread that last sentence, and think about it. Isn't it true?

Half of our stress is not the work load itself, but the importance we place on it. It's not only important that we get that paper done, but also that we get the grade we want on it. If you take a second and truly evaluate the worth of the assignment, your stress level can drop dramatically.

It seems that in the middle of all the craziness that is the end of the semester, our view on life can become incredibly narrow, as if it seems like the only thing that matters is what is happening in our lives right then.

It feels as if everything doesn't get done the way it's supposed to, the world will crash and our lives as we know it will end.

But they won't.

The truth is that it doesn't matter how you do on your paper; Christmas will still come. It doesn't matter what grade you get on your final; The seasons will still change. The sun will still come up tomorrow morning.

God is ultimately in control, not us.

Isn't that awesome? Isn't it awesome that we don't have to worry about the most basic facts of life? No matter what we do, the world goes on. The stars still shine, the plants still bloom.

I can stand outside and watch the amazing work of an infinite God occur all around me. It is then that the Bible verse Psalm 46:10 comes to life.

"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

God himself asks us to slow down, take a breath, be still, and recognize his divine hand at work. It's amazing how much pressure is taken away when we realize that we are not in control.

Personally, I am forever thankful that God is in control and not me. Knowing me and how I operate, if I were in control of everything, it would be a chaotic mess. But imperfect me is not in control; God is.

What this means for school is that we, as students, need to do the best we can do on our work. After that, though, we don't have control over it. Once that paper is turned in, there is nothing we can do to affect the outcome.

We need to do well on the assignment, sure, for that is the only thing that any of us do have control over. Once it's turned in, however, an all-powerful and loving God takes care of the details.

That's awesome, if you think about it.

Ultimately, if you want to do well in these waning weeks of the semester, I urge you to realize what you do and do not have control over, and only try to control those things whose outcome is affected by you.

When you focus solely on those things, you'll naturally find your worries will decrease, and your assignments will be easier to complete.

In the meantime, take a little time to wonder in the world around you.

Check out the sun as it peeks through the trees.

Witness the explosion of life that happens near the river.

Stand in awe of the fact that there is so much more going on in life than your final paper.

It really puts things into perspective.

Of course, in the meantime, get your work done. But once you're done, give up control and realize that God has it all in his hands. It just may take all the worry out of your system.

Besides, life is too short and beautiful to worry.

Dan Walters: "The Last Grown-Up In Sacramento"

2009-11-02T20:51:00.000-08:00

Dan Walters doesn't need a witty phrase or a one-sentence opening to catch your attention.

Instead, Dan Walters takes a look at the big picture of California politics, with his straight-forward, almost lecture-like analysis leading the way. His near-daily columns for the Sacramento Bee explore the world of the capitol from the viewpoint of a longtime observer.

Dan Walters began his career in journalism at the age of 22. His experience in covering California politics started in 1975 when he started writing for The Sacramento Union's Capitol bureau. It wasn't until 1981 that his column about Sacramento politics began, and in 1984 Walters moved to the Sacramento Bee, where he continues to publish his columns, still specializing in California politics.

Walters' columns are quite cynical, but when the job is to cover the always changing and often-frustrating field that he does, that type of mindset is usually needed. When you read his columns, you can tell that his insight on the issues that arise in the capitol are derived from a lifetime of experience. Walters knows how the game of politics works. He knows the players and who has the power. He understands California's past and how that affects our current situations. Ultimately Dan Walters knows what he is talking about.

However, just because Dan Walters knows what he's talking about doesn't always mean the reader will know what he is talking about.

Walters' columns are not entirely accessible. They're fine and deliver great insight into issues if the reader is already familiar with details, but if the reader does not already follow California politics, it is easy to get lost in the middle of all the names and organizations being mentioned.

Perhaps the point of Walters' column is not to inform the ignorant, but rather to enrich those who know enough already, and that's fine. However, even for someone who is in the know, Walters' writing can be dry, often simply rehashing old information rather than contributing to a discussion.

Other times, though, Walters truly brings something new to the table. A recent article discussing the water problem in California shows how previous state legislation and current land developers are key players in the issue. Another recent article highlights the trouble of gerrymandering district lines, which will be a hot issue in 2010.

Walters' columns have a conservative slant to them, although he often criticizes both Republicans and Democrats at the capitol, offering honest criticism of anyone who doesn't do their job correctly.

Walters wrote an article over the summer that criticized the new budget for California, calling out both the Governor and the State Assembly and Senate for using tricky accounting methods and borrowing to help close the state budget deficit. This column prompted popular radio talk show hosts Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty to declare Dan Walters "the last grown-up in Sacramento" for his realistic stance on California's budget woes.

In his personal life, Walters enjoys grown-up tastes as well. He said that he likes to spend as much time as possible on the Sacramento River with his boat. Walters is even the treasurer of the Sacramento Yacht Club.

He enjoys spending time with his current wife of 14 years. He was married to another woman for over 30 years. He currently has three grown daughters, with three grandsons.

His column is syndicated throughout California, appearing in over 50 state newspapers. His columns, while sometimes dry and hard to follow, can offer good insight to the carnival that is California politics, and they are well worth reading.

You can check out all of Dan Walters' most recent columns by clicking here.

Want Delicious Pizza? Head to Roma's!

2009-10-26T17:37:00.000-07:00

Taking that first bite of pizza from Roma's Pizzeria II must not be too different from entering the gates of heaven.

The cheese is tasty, the toppings are fresh, the sauce is neither sparse nor overpowering, and the crust is crispy but still delightfully fluffy. When it all mixes together on your tongue, it practically tickles your taste buds with pure joy before filling you with deliciousness. Indeed, the pizza is great. Now if only the rest of the experience measured up to what is some of the best pizza available in Sacramento.

This particular experience at Roma's II took place on a Wednesday, around 5 pm. The restaurant was not particularly busy; there were maybe fifteen patrons. When I walked in I was greeted by a waitress, and I escorted myself to the table where my companion Kyle sat. Sadia joined us within a few minutes, and we were ready to enjoy some tasty food.

The menus were simple and easy to understand, and the group decided on a pizza, with half pesto and half olives and pepperoni. Side salads were ordered for each person. It was a painless process, and the waitress was nice and accommodating, smiling at us as we ordered.

While waiting for the food to arrive, the atmosphere made its impression. The Italian music playing throughout was nice and audible over the large group of young girls who had just finished a soccer game, and the windows had green and red curtains. There wasn't much decoration, or really much to the restaurant besides the open kitchen, enough tables to sit perhaps 50 or so people, and a television hanging in the corner with nothing on it. I was told that football games are generally aired when available.

In all, there was nothing strange of off-putting about the restaurant, but a native Italian would not feel like they were back home if they stepped into Roma's.

After about five to ten minutes, the side salads arrived. Consisting of green lettuce topped with tomatoes and salami, the salad was a nice beginner, although it was a tad small and slightly watery. The salami helped make up for the size, and the blue cheese dressing was nice. Overall, a good starting salad, but not enough for salad lovers to go crazy for, especially for the price of around $3.50.

Roughly fifteen minutes after the salads were served, the pizza came.

It was incredible.

The pizza was warm and had an incredibly fresh feel to it. The cheese stretched when you pulled it off the tray in a most satisfying way. The pesto pizza had a pesto sauce/spread instead of the typical tomato sauce. The quantity was just about perfect. The pesto added enough flavor to the pizza to give it a great taste, and the cheese still made its lovely impression. As a pesto fan, I could not have been more pleased.

The olive and pepperoni side was just as delicious. The tomato sauce was not too light or too thick. It was simply full, providing the right amount of heft and taste sauce should have. It provided a great base for the plentiful cheese and toppings. The olives were as good as olives could be, not too big, not too small, not too soft, not too firm. The pepperoni was evenly placed, and not overly greasy as many pepperoni pizzas tend to be. The olive and pepperoni pizza provided near perfection, with every element having just the right amount of consistency and taste that makes a great pizza great.

While the pizza was already delicious, it was the crust that turned the pizza from amazing to downright heavenly.

The crust was crispy on the outside, but soft, warm and fluffy on the inside. Like a freshly baked roll of bread, right out of the oven. It was a full and thick crust, the best possible on a pizza. It truly completed the taste of the pizza, making for one of the best pizzas available in the area.

As good as the food is, the service, at least this particular night, was somewhat lacking. The only time the waitress visited our table was to take our orders, and once or twice to fill our water. I didn't even know the name of the waitress.

Perhaps the lack of real service had to do with the huge group of soccer players, but either way it wasn't too impressive. Ultimately though, the lack of service didn't affect the experience too much, as the experience really centers around the food. If you go expecting to be treated like a king, you're going to the wrong place. If you go to have some good food, you will not be disappointed.

In the end, Roma's offers some absolutely delicious food. In addition to the pizzas, Roma's also offers different types of pasta. A large pizza costs around $20, but it is so thick and full that you can get full on two slices, making it possible for a large to feed four to six people. A small group could eat a large pizza and split the cost to about five dollars a person, not including drinks or salads.

Roma's offers great food for relatively cheap costs. The pizza is absolutely amazing, and for a group of college students out for a bite to eat, there isn't a place better than Roma's Pizzeria II.

Roma's Pizzeria II is close to Sac State, at 8491 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA.

Xbox 360 Games for the Fall

2009-10-20T01:02:00.000-07:00

The rain is here, it's getting colder, and the increasing intensity of the weather will soon give many people more reasons to stay inside their homes and entertain themselves by watching movies or playing video games. With the Christmas shopping season around a month away, the rush of games releasing in time to sell big for Christmas has started.

If you only have enough money for one game this season, figuring out which game to get can be difficult. The Green Hill Zone is here to help! In this column you will find a handy layout of game suggestions from the horde of releases coming out in the next two months, based on your game references. The focus will be exclusively on Xbox 360 games, although there are cool games being released for the Wii and PS3, such as New Super Mario Bros. Wii or Uncharted 2 for the PS3.

The Shooter Fan

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Nov. 10, also on PS3)

Everyone in the gaming world knows about the first Modern Warfare. It was filled, front to back, with intense gunfights, awesome graphics, and memorable moments. The multiplayer mode is still played consistently, two years after its release. Infinity Ward, the developer of Modern Warfare, is back with the sequel, and it looks even better.

Everything in the sequel is being amped up from the original (if that was even possible), and there is already talk of Modern Warfare 2 getting Game of the Year status before it's even released. There will be many "sick" students and employees on November 10. If you like shooter games at all, look no further. You've found your perfect match this season.

Halo 3: ODST (currently available)

ODST is a full-priced expansion to Halo 3, and many will purchase it because of that. It is a new and interesting take on the Halo world, but it is still Halo. If you're sick of the Halo franchise, this isn't going to help much. If you love Halo, this will satisfy your needs. If you're on the fence between this and Modern Warfare 2, go with MW2. It is a more complete and new package, as half of ODST is Halo 3's multiplayer, but simply put on a new disc. It's still worth playing, but think of it as a companion to MW2 rather than a replacement.

The Sports Fan

Madden NFL 10 (currently available, also on PS3, Wii)

If you're a fan of football, this is the only game in town. Fortunately, it's a good game. The gameplay and presentation in Madden has only gotten better, and if football is your thing, the new Madden is worth picking up. However, if football is your thing, you probably already have this monster title anyway.

NBA 2K10 (currently available, also on PS3, Wii)

While NBA Live stepped up its game this year, NBA 2K is still the game to beat. With fluid on court motion and the new My Player mode to complement the deep feature set already present, NBA 2K10 is the winner for those who like their basketball done right. If you do pick up NBA 2K10, do the Sacramento area a favor and give the Kings a few wins. Please.

The Family Game

Band Hero (Nov. 3, also on PS3, Wii)

Band Hero is a lot like Guitar Hero except that the focus is on families and reaching out to the crowd that doesn't care for two-minute guitar solos and double-kick pedals. A look at the just-released track listing confirms this focus. Taylor Swift. Maroon 5. The Turtles. No Doubt. Jackson 5. These are not shredding tracks, but Top 40 hits, something the whole family could get into. If you have a Xbox 360, you probably already have those plastic instruments hanging around. If you've got a family to entertain, toss in Band Hero and watch the good times roll.

The Adventure Gamer

Assassin's Creed 2 (Nov. 17, also on PS3)

Assassin's Creed 2 looks to improve on the original by tightening up the actual assassinations, the best part of the original. AC2 also takes place in a new location and time; Renaissance era Venice, which should breathe some new life into the game. It's not out yet, and the original was either loved or hated, so it's hard to tell if the game will live up to expectations, but if you're at all interested, at least give this one a rental when it releases later in November.

Honorable Mention

Borderlands was just released to generally good reviews, however it seems to cater towards the hardcore gamer. It's a shooter, but the main gameplay mechanic is based on loot, like Diablo. If that sentence did not make sense to you, you should probably stay away. If that sounds like heaven, by all means pick up this unique title.

Another option for gamers who aren't impressed by this season's releases would be to simply wait. Many high profile games were delayed and will be releasing this spring, including Mass Effect 2, Red Dead Redemption, Bioshock 2, Splinter Cell: Conviction, and more. Saving money is always good, and each one of those games looks to be high quality. Plus, it will give you good gaming during those typically dry spring months.

If you can't wait, however, check out any of the picks mentioned above, and when your outdoors plans are ruined by rain, you'll have a new game inside your home, just waiting to be played.

My Name Is Stephen, and I am a Hornet-Phoenix

2009-10-12T23:56:00.000-07:00

I am a hornet, and proud of it. However, with California in financial hell, Professor William Tierney of USC has suggested in a recent article that California sell off its California State University and University of California systems to a private organization, specifically the University of Phoenix. It's definitely a good idea.

The CSUs have had to bear much of the pain inflicted by California's budget shortfall, with students paying over 30% more in fees this year, with fees almost certain to rise next year. Instructors are also required to take a 10% pay cut, resulting in students paying more and receiving less.

The state is in a bind, and as Professor Tierney suggests, selling off the CSUs would have a positive fiscal impact on the state, as the state would no longer be responsible for running 23 campuses and helping to fund 400,000 students' educations. For the CSU, it would mean that instead of relying on the unreliable state every year, the CSU system would find its backing from The Apollo Group, the parent company of the University of Phoenix, which has billions in private funding and is not susceptible to the public to determine its spending.

This would almost surely result in stabilized education fees and instructor salaries. For teachers, they would no longer have to waste their days furloughing away. And for students, there would be no random campus email letting you know you have two weeks to pay a new $300 fine before you're dropped from all your classes.

The UoP could also lower operating costs throughout the CSU system, because as a for-profit, they wouldn't want any money wasted. It would be very possible that under the UoP, Chancellor Reed wouldn't need to exist. Campus presidents probably wouldn't be making $400,000. Excessive workers and staff would be fired to keep costs down. UoP could turn the CSU system into something the state could never achieve: an efficient organization. All of this would help with fee stabilization and longterm financial issues.

The quality and variety of the education at the CSU could increase as well, given the UoP's experience with online coursework.

In fact, currently the UoP is in the process of trying to create a nationwide online public high school, called Insight Schools. Insight Schools already has a school in eight states, with two in California. Each one of these schools uses public education money to give out laptops to students for a year, and the majority of the high school is done online (students usually meet once a week in person). However, it's publically funded and it's a public school, but because there aren't as many costs for a physical campus, the extra funds can go to hire part-time teachers to teach classes that most high schools can't offer, such as Mandarin Chinese or Video Game Development. It's able to fill out these classes by pulling from students across the entire state.

It's not too hard to see how the vision for something like Insight Schools could be applied to the CSU system to make education more diverse and give it a higher quality. The CSU system, when owned by UoP, could be given access to a network of online classes that could be taught throughout the whole system.

This would greatly benefit students! If there was a class a student needed for their major, but couldn't take it at the time offered because of other commitments or other required classes, an online version could be offered. If there's not enough students at Sac State interested, that would be ok. A Sac State professor could teach the online class to not just Sac State students, but students from Cal Poly, Sonoma State, and CSU Long Beach at the same time.

Cancelled classes could be a thing of the past, and more odd and obscure topics could be covered without fear of budgetary concerns forcing departments to drop popular, but unnecessary classes. Students would no longer have to worry about classes not being available or watch the schedule of available classes grow smaller and smaller. Graduation times could be decreased, overall educational efficiency would increase. A stark contrast to how the CSU system is currently being run.

As for campus life, there is nothing to suggest that if the UoP were to buy CSU, that the CSU system would automatically turn into a 23-branch version of the current UoP system. It's very possible that campus life could remain almost unaffected by the transfer, or even become better as the UoP would almost certainly not turn anyone down, and enrollment would continue to increase. It would still be the same CSU system, but simply in different hands.

Of course, there are downsides to this possibility. Fees would most likely raise. There probably wouldn't be too much oversight. Some programs and departments would surely get a short stick and not get too much support. UoP is a business, and elements of the school that bleed money would most likely be cut, even if they were popular, especially if they weren't.

But aren't CSU students already dealing with higher fees? Aren't they already dealing with a lack of transparency? Aren't programs and classes already getting cut? Is the devil they know really any better than the devil they don't?

Truthfully, a deal like this would almost certainly never happen in the real world. These speculations are as relevant as a fantasy football team.

Despite that, however, it's good to bring up creative alternatives to the current system. Continuing to tax the people and business of California more and more to fund this mess of an educational system is an unsustainable model. Why do you think we're in this wreck in the first place?

Professor William Tierney has received a bunch of criticism for his idea, and much of that criticism is valid. But it has got the people talking, and they're talking about something that's different from the status quo. That's a great start to solving the problem that is the CSU system.

A much better start than a vague reference to a march on the capital this coming spring, which is the best our current campus leadership can come up with.

Aren't the students of the system sick of how messed up it is? After being continually screwed over by the stooges in Sacramento who only care about getting reelected, it only seems like a matter of time before students demand a change.

Students, I know we're all proud hornets.

But would being a phoenix really be all that bad?

Sex Trafficking is a Real Problem in America

2009-10-06T22:16:00.000-07:00

Many people know that sex trafficking, the forced prostitution of persons, mostly women, is a problem worldwide, but many don't know that it is also a problem right here in the United States.

Sex trafficking, at least in America, generally involves girls being either deceived by false promises or straight-up kidnapped before being forced into prostitution.

The issue in the United States is serious. Project Rescue, an international organization that fights sex trafficking and tries to rehabilitate young girls, claims that around 18,500 people are trafficked into America each year. According to a 2006 story by ABC News, over 100,000 women and children are currently being trafficked in the U.S. alone. The average age of those being trafficked is only 11 years old.

The process can often be brutal. The ABC News story (which is well worth reading on your own), tells the story of "Debbie," a girl from the Phoenix area who was forcefully kidnapped on her own driveway at the age of 15. She was kidnapped at gunpoint, and was taken to a place 25 miles from her home, where she was gang raped and put into a dog kennel. Her captors even tried to feed her dog biscuits.

Ads on craigslist brought over 5o men to the place she was kept, all of them using her as a prostitute, with all the profits going to the pimps.

Debbie was kept there for over 40 days before police found her alive, stuffed in a drawer. She never tried to escape due to threats on her family.

This kind of activity happens on a daily basis in America, and it's made all the more horrific because of how young the girls are. My sister is 17 years old, and I can't even begin to imagine her being treated like that. However, it is a daily reality for thousands of girls around the country, and for families who have daughters, sisters, cousins, or nieces who are subjected to this type of abuse and slavery.

The best thing we can do is inform our friends and family, and educate those who can be at risk. The Department of Justice says that about 293,000 youth in America are at risk of becoming victims of sexual trafficking. This includes girls as young as 9 years old.

With more informed and educated people out there, change is more apt to happen.

This problem, of course, is also an international issue, and there are things you can do to help there as well. Project Rescue has many projects and bases throughout India, Nepal, and Moldova, and you can go to these locations and help Project Rescue help rescue and rehabilitate the girls. A friend of mine recently went to Moldova for a month, and called her experience life-changing.

Either way, sex trafficking is a serious and prevalent issue that demands our attention and action. Right now, the best action is to inform those you know and love. Spread awareness, and let our officials know that we demand some serious action. Only then can this problem begin to get better.

Adventures in the Light Rail (version two)

2009-09-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

The doors of the Sacramento light rail opened as my friend Jayne and I hopped on board. Gold Line, heading towards Folsom. We were at University/65th and our destination was Butterfield, only six stops away. It was going to be a relaxing and easy trip, a great alternative to walking six miles in the 95 degree afternoon weather.

It was quite pleasant on board the train as we started moving. There was a business man sitting across the aisle with his elementary-aged son, reading him a Dr. Seuss book, enjoying their pleasant time on the light rail. It was all simply pleasant.

And then she got on board.

The doors opened at the Power Inn station, and an uniquely dressed woman sauntered in with an unattractive man, who was looking as happy as can be. The two of them plopped down in the empty seats that were directly facing me and Jayne.

Judging from the way she dressed, it was apparent why she was with this guy. High heels and knee-length fishnet stockings. Dyed red hair and excessive makeup. Strategically placed tattoos and creatively positioned piercings. Top it all off with a black miniskirt and a blue tank top so tight and revealing that her abundant breasts became a pair of prisoners that couldn't wait to bust out of their cotton cage to wreak more havoc on society.

This guy she was with just had to be paying her for company. He looked like your typical southern hick, complete with the trucker hat, dirty jeans, plaid shirt, and of course a mullet. He wouldn't have looked out of place at a mangy flea market in backwoods Alabama, but here he was, in Sacramento, with a woman who was only attracted to his wallet.

They decided to get a little friendly.

The train started moving and within mere seconds of them sitting down, she leaned slightly over and wrapped both arms around his neck, all the while smiling and giggling. She slid one of her legs onto his lap and used it to gently caress him where it counts. Of course, still giggling. The guy, smiling, tried to say something to her, but mumbled so carelessly that any possible comprehension of his phrase was lost. She kept giggling. Who knows. Maybe she thought it was funny.

"Next stop, Watt/Manlove." Only three more stops to our destination.

She started to play with his hair, continue to giggle, and rub a little more. Her companion was smiling like an idiot, obviously loving every minute of it. The lady drew her lips close to his face, and began to whisper to him. I turned to Jayne to quietly mention my feelings of awkwardness, but as I turned back, it got out of control.

She was now totally licking his ear!

This wasn't a "I'm a kitten trying to get water" type of lick. This was a full on "your face is a melting ice cream cone and I happen to be Gene Simmons" type of lick! Right in front of me, not even five feet away, is Miss Tongue giving Alabama Joe an ear-waxing while rubbing his junk with her leg and giggling, while he is looking heavenward with a huge grin on his face and chuckles dribbling out of his mouth. Looking around I could see that everyone was as equally horrified as I was. The business man across the aisle had even repositioned his body somewhat to keep his young son from witnessing the dirty deed. Yet there they sat, either completely oblivious to their surroundings or entirely apathetic to the fact that there were many people who could see and hear their pre-game festivities.

For about two more minutes the giggles, chuckles, slimy ears, and intentional leg movements kept going, and they kept getting a little louder, totally offending everyone on board. Finally, just when his chuckles became too loud and unbearable, the voice of an angel penetrated through the love-sounds, much like her tongue was penetrating his ear canal!

"Next stop, Butterfield." Oh Yes! Yes yes! Oh what sweet relief!

Jayne and I wondered how much better walking would have been as we grabbed our things and ran from our seats to the exit, waiting eagerly to hop off the train and leave the two lovebirds, and that memory, behind.

The light rail slowed. The light rail stopped. Through the windows we could see Butterfield station, our land of freedom. Finally, the doors of the Sacramento light rail opened, and we hopped off the train. Those doors couldn't have opened any sooner.

Adventures in the Light Rail

2009-09-22T04:49:00.000-07:00

The doors of the Sacramento light rail opened as my friend Jayne and I hopped on board. Gold Line, heading towards Folsom. We were at University/65th and our destination was Butterfield, only six stops away. It was going to be a relaxing and easy trip. Both of us were thankful that Sac State students receive free light rail passage, because otherwise we would have had to walk six miles in the scorching 95 degree afternoon heat.

It was actually quite pleasant on board the train as we started moving. The cozy temperature was pleasant, the bright sunshine was pleasant, and there was even a business man sitting across the aisle with his elementary-aged son, reading him a Dr. Seuss book, enjoying their pleasant time on the light rail. It was all simply pleasant.

And then she got on board.

Judging from the way she dressed, it was apparent why she was with this guy. High heels and knee-length socks. Dyed red hair and excessive makeup. Strategically placed tattoos and creatively positioned piercings. Top it all off with a miniskirt and a tank top so tight and revealing that her abundant breasts became a pair of prisoners that couldn't wait to bust out of their cotton cage to wreak more havoc on society.

This guy she was with just had to be paying her for company. He looked like your typical southern hick, complete with the trucker hat, dirty jeans, plaid shirt, and of course a mullet. He wouldn't have looked out of place at a mangy flea market in backwoods Alabama, and yet here he was in Sacramento with a woman who ranked infinitely higher than him on the scales of attraction.

Despite that, they decided to get a little friendly.

"Next stop, Watt/Manlove." Only three more stops to our destination.

She started to play with his hair, giggle even louder, and rub a little more. Her companion was smiling like an idiot, obviously loving every minute of it. The lady drew her lips close to his face, and began to whisper to him. I turned to Jayne to quietly mention my feelings of awkwardness, but as I turned back, it got out of control.

She was now totally licking his ear!

This wasn't a "I'm a kitten trying to get water" type of lick. This was a full on "your face is a melting ice cream cone and I happen to be Gene Simmons" type of lick! Right in front of me, not even five feet away, is Miss Tongue giving Alabama Joe an ear-waxing while rubbing his junk with her leg and giggling like a banshee, while he is looking heavenward with a huge grin on his face and chuckles ricocheting out of his mouth. Looking around I could see that everyone was as equally horrified as I was. The business man across the aisle had even repositioned his body somewhat to keep his young son from witnessing the dirty deed. Yet there they sat, either completely oblivious to their surroundings or entirely apathetic to the fact that there were many people who could see and hear their pre-game festivities.

For about two more minutes the giggles, chuckles, slimy ears, and intentional leg movements kept going, going, going, slowly crescendoing, louder, louder, louder, until finally! Piercing through the deafening shrieks of mutual and disgustingly public pleasure came the voice of an absolute angel!

"Next stop, Butterfield." Yes! Oh Yes, yes, yes! Oh what sweet relief!

Jet Set Radio and the Dreamcast: A retrospective

2009-09-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

For gamers everywhere, September 9, 1999 is a special day. On that day, the Sega Dreamcast breathed new life into the video game industry. The console wasn't around for long, as Sega was unable to fight off the hype surrounding the upcoming Playstation 2 and systems from Nintendo and Microsoft. Despite lasting for only two years or so, the Dreamcast was home to many original and exciting games. It also has a special place in my own heart: the Sega Dreamcast was the first product I ever worked for to buy. Seeing the in-store display of a Dreamcast made me so incredibly excited, I sold every item I could sell, saved whatever money I could find, and worked to get as much money possible. My brothers and I pooled our resources and saved over $200, even at the age of 12. Then, on the highly advertised Dreamcast launch date, 9-9-99, my dad drove us to our local video game store to purchase the object of our affection. We loved every minute of it. To my parents dismay, it was the Dreamcast that truly fueled my hobby of video games beyond casual sessions of Sonic the Hedgehog or Madden to hours of playing with friends and keeping track of important industry players, such as developers and producers.

The ten year anniversary of the Dreamcast has come and passed, and with it many retrospective and analytical articles have been posted by a majority of websites dedicated to the industry, including quite informative ones at IGN and 1up. This, however, is a retrospective seen through the eyes of one game: Jet Set Radio (released in North America under the name "Jet Grind Radio.") Jet Set Radio symbolized the type of quality and originality the Dreamcast became known for, with such amazing titles such as Soul Calibur, Sonic Adventure, Phantasy Star Online, Space Channel 5, Power Stone, the 2K sports games, and Shenmue. None, however, are still as good or still as original as Jet Set Radio.

The game has you roller-blading around Japan in a world where self-expression has been outlawed. You fight the powers that be by spray-painting graffiti on everything as you're being chased by the policemen. It may sound a little weird, but the game itself was nearly perfect. Jet Set Radio was dripping with style and substance all at once. The soundtrack was amazing and completely fit the mood, as it was played through the in-game radio station named "Jet Set Radio." The graphics were new and revolutionary, like a cartoon come to life, and they were perfect for the game. The game was about tagging and graffiti art, and you could feel the passion of those who worked on the game as you played through it. It was new, it was fresh, it was completely unique, and it was only on the Dreamcast.

In reality, it probably couldn't have been on anything else. The Dreamcast seemed tailor-made for people who really loved video games, but games like Jet Set Radio, despite near-unanimous praise from the gaming press, never caught on with most gamers, and as such never sold well. Experiments like these, even with a huge amount of critical praise, are often costly for the developers. The Dreamcast suffered financially from many of these games, such as Shenmue (whose budget was rumored to be in the $70 million range but never came remotely close to recovering those numbers), and these poorly performing games helped the Dreamcast dig its grave into an early demise.

Jet Set Radio was something special, though. The only other game like it was Jet Set Radio Future, a sequel released on the first Xbox that was absolutely stellar but never picked up any steam in the marketplace. The Dreamcast truly was home to ingenuity in gaming, and this becomes especially apparent when you compare the Dreamcast lineup to the upcoming schedule of games to be released for the consoles currently around, such as the Playstaton 3 or Xbox 360. Almost every new game release is either a sequel or a game licensed after a movie or TV show. Another Halo, another Splinter Cell, another Assassin's Creed, another Mario, another movie tie-in, another Call of Duty, another God of War, another music game with plastic instruments. It gets a little tiring. The Dreamcast was home to originality, where new ideas and stellar gameplay seemed to spring out of the console every time you put a new game in.

While the Dreamcast is no longer being produced, it is still easily found today, even ten years after its debut. A quick search on craigslist or eBay comes up with quite a few results, with the cost of the system itself ranging between $30 and $50. Jet Set Radio itself can be found for $10 - $15, and then, for the price of the new Halo game, you can enjoy a game that still stands up to today's releases, and still feels fresh and new. Go ahead and relive some great memories. Or, if you've never had a Dreamcast, definitely pick one up, and you'll experience the same joy I did ten years ago on 9-9-99.

Students and Faculty Gather for Anti-Fee Protest, Nothing Significant Happens

2009-09-07T13:09:00.000-07:00

Around 200 students and faculty gathered in the library quad of Sacramento State on Wednesday to protest the recent student fee increases and employee furloughs, and while the voices were loud, the action was silent.

The protesters made it obvious what their issue was: paying more and receiving less from our state-run university. The solutions to this problem, though, were not very good.

Members of the Peace and Freedom party were holding a banner in the back that read "Free Education For All, Tax The Rich." In addition, the speakers themselves frequently mentioned Assembly Bill 656, an oil severance tax that would tax oil companies pulling oil from the shores of California.

And...

that was about it. Yes, that's right. According to those who spoke at the protest, the best options are to 1) tax the rich, and 2) tax the (rich) oil companies. "They're not going to be hurting" was one reason given to tax those groups.

From the looks of the Sac State campus, it doesn't look like many students will be hurting either. As previously stated, there were about 200 people at this rally. 200! Sac State has around 28,000 students, with hundreds of faculty and staff. This means that less than one percent of the total campus population showed up for this event. Sure, a lot of students and faculty had classes to attend, but either way, the total number that showed up for this rally is so minuscule, their presence is rendered nearly irrelevant. If these cuts really affected students, shouldn't at least 10 percent of the student population show up? Five percent? Even two percent?

To really solve the problem of the campus budget cuts, though, there needs to be a more creative solution than simply taxing the rich. Simply raising taxes is a short-term fix only. AB 656, the oft-mentioned bill that taxes oil companies to give higher education some extra funding, would have only provided enough funds for this year. What happens when student fees increase next year? Are we going to tax oil again?

A real solution is not to ask for more money, but to see where money is currently being spent and redistribute existing funds in a more efficient manner. President Gonzales makes almost $400,000 a year? Really? Can't someone else do that job for cheaper? Is every tax dollar the school already receives wisely spent?

The frustration of the student population is valid. No one likes to realize that their fees were just increased again. But the students need to suck it up. If college is supposed to prepare you for the real world, well, students, welcome to the real world. In the real world, when a business is going through a hard time, they cut programs. They fire people. They lower their costs because they know that no one is going to bail them out (well, usually). And oftentimes good people get screwed. That is what we students are experiencing right now. It's not fun, but life in the work field generally isn't either.

Besides, the state is already funding the majority of the student's education. Do students really think that $2000 is going to fund an entire semester? Reality check: it doesn't. The State of California picks up the rest of the tab. Let's not get too flustered when the State is asking for a little help when they're $20 billion in the hole. The whole state is suffering, and the students who are already freeloading off the system should look at the whole picture and realize that they are a tiny part of it.

This doesn't mean that nothing needs to change. The CSU system is full of fraud and needs to be changed for the better. But in the meantime, the student population needs to suck it up instead of calling Chancellor Reed and complaining. Complaining only repeats the problem, and it doesn't solve any problems.

Suck it up. Pay the bills. We'll find a way to deal with the issue. Until then, when they say cut back, you say "good idea!" It's actually quite a catchy jingle when you get used to it.