 Bahn Unplugged |
3/05/00 |
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Well, the words "It's been a long time" aren't enough to convey the level of disappointment I've shown with the neglect of my personal article. At best, my primary defense for its lack of updating is: what does the editor-in-chief write for a periodic editorial. At least in print magazines, the EIC's composes a summation of their personal insights or endeavors that usually pertains to the issue at hand. Though, with the net, it's considerably different, at least with me that is. Rather than going off on high-tailed excursions to rant and rave like countless fansites do for the very nature they have the literary freedom to speak their mind (even if there are no factual foundations behind their words), I'd definitely be hesistant to elaborate on matters without significant substance. Thankfully, at best...with so much on the verge as to what accomplishments have been acheived on TNL, and with my own personal goals, I discovered a new engine to compose my affairs via a periodic weekly journal of sorts...hold your applause! How many digits? Far be it for most editors to elaborate on their 'real' jobs past the affairs of the super highway and communities which connect us all 24/7, but I find my latest secular occupation to be quite, intriguing to say the least. Normally, I've been used to doing daily administrative jobs, but working at a financial firm always had me somewhat leery. My daily function is to enable accounts for customers, deliver stock quotes, trade information (when necessary), maintain the peace, uphold the law, seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldy go...um....I mean, I am suppose to be a courteous Electronic Brokerage Representative! :) Anyhow, the biggest issue I used to have with my job conscripture was not so much the degree of information I had to avail myself (and memorize in the squishy substance in my head known as a brain), but I had to have the patience of a Denjin Master and the wit of Jim Carrey, because without any level of sense of humor, I'd immediately go crazy with the level of customer ignorance at times. To illustrate, each day customers will call looking to have their accounts activated, or passwords reset, or basically the quickest way to piss you off! :P In any event, as you inquire as to specific information which that customer should only have access to, you verify their social security number, their date of birth, and if you are really bored, ask them what their favorite food is. Jokes aside, you then move onto explaining how to log onto their accounts. You generally have no problems with customer comprehension, but many of them as I've learned just don't listen. Bahn: Okei sir, for your password, you'll need to use the first four digits of your social security number. This is a temporary password. Not to attack anyone with accents, I myself have been told that my New Yorker speech comes off sounding like i am foreign (go fig). There are also those who feel that they know how to access their account information, and for these, I usually just end the conversation promptly and then test to ensure that they really do know their info. Bahn: So to log into your account, you'll need to use the... In all, it's a interesting job, and I'll be sure to elaborate on any more future adventures soon.... The Best Type of Skill, is Showing None at All Many of my friends at a local arcade look forward to the upcoming ECC2000 event. As training gets underway in SF3: Third Strike, Marvel vs. Capcom and Alpha 3, to name a few...so too is the degree of strategies which are planned to be implemented. This evening, when I walked into the arcade spot, one of the workers told me "I am afraid to go to the tourney" to which I snapped him out of such foolish talk and then listened to his reasoning. In short, he basically told me how illogical it was to basically 'go for broke' when playing in the tournament itself. He challenged some of my other friends at a match where he was using Makoto, defeated them and then his opponents moved to Chun Li (yay). He went on to point out that all his competitor did was use Back+Fierce repeatedly...when he decided to parry it...the moves were nullified by a 2-in-1 attack into a Fireball, or worse yet....Chun's No.2 super...death. "Nonsense...I may as well pick Chun, and just do nothing, everyone else will..." Funny that he mentioned this, as in my upbringing in the fighting legacies of Street Fighter, I always envisioned that tournaments were all about elaborate styles, and elements which were hardly exploited by the common player. I suppose in tournaments in which I did not have the pleasure of personally attended once consisted of such, but what of today. I didn't find this to be the case in the last one I visited at a local gaming store, or even ECC4 for that matter....but is this statement from my friend a foreshadow of what champion type players will resort too, the essence of using very little effort to win and then be heralded for having ideal gaming skill. Hopefully not. In all, I find tournaments to be 'all or nothing' and it's basically at that time where you need to show what you got or risk being taken out of the loop. The thought of doing all it takes brings me up to another discussion which I believe I'll save for a future editorial... Game On!
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