Black Friday

Right off the bat, as far as general entertainment value, you'd have a hard time topping my Black Friday shenanigans. I went out on the town with some buddies of mine, Travis and Jake, and experienced many things that were, to say the very least, interesting. Walmart + Black Friday = absolute madness. I've never seen quite so many unhappy and aggressive people all in one place at one time. Ever. I saw people stealing other people's carts, one old lady couldn't decide how many of her grandkids needed Call of Duty: Black Ops for Christmas so she took all 8 copies that were on the shelf, leaving the people waiting behind her in shock and awe. And fury. It took me 47 minutes (I kept track) to make it from the back of the check-out line to the front to pay for me three items. Two movies, and a car charger for my iPhone. 47 minutes. Better be some seriously good movies. Which they are, 2012 and Gran Torino.


We filmed and photographed a good amount of the chaos that was Walmart that night, but the worst of it we missed. For instance, the cart stealing, the borderline rioting when the Wii's ran out, the knocking over of entire shelves of movies. It was something out a holiday movie where the crazy shoppers destroy the whole store. It was unendingly entertaining.


After Walmart, with the use of Trav's video camera, we proceeded to prank what few drive-thru places that were open. Videos of which will be posted on Youtube and Trav's Facebook. Maybe I'll post a link to them later on. I don't claim any credit for them, however, seeing as I just sat in the back seat and enjoyed the nonsensical humor. I wish I could explain how and why these pranks were funny, but you simply have to see it to understand it.


All in all, a very satisfying Black Friday. I set out that night with no real intent to buy anything; merely to hang with some friends and have a good time. And have a good time we did. Ah, life. It's not ALL bad.


J R Williams

Rock Creek Pizza

Little known fact about me (and by little known I mean known by everyone who knows me), my family owns Rock Creek Pizza. That's right, be jealous. I'd like to shed some light on a little situation we have going on that the preponderence of the masses don't seem to grasp. Rock Creek Pizza has only ONE location. In Riverton. There WAS a Sandy location, yes, for several years. It closed down September 10th, 2008. Over two years now, it's been closed. IT WILL NOT BE RE-OPENING. There is an entirely different restaurant going in where it used to be, but it is NOT Rock Creek Pizza. The sign in the window saying "Re-opening soon" is a pathetic and lowly attempt by the owner of the new restaurant to take back the Rock Creek customer base from Sandy for himself. It is NOT Rock Creek, and I don't condone it or its owner's actions in any way shape or form.


I'd like to send out a shout out to those people who can't seem to clue in on...well, life. I get calls at work and this is how they go:
Me: "Thanks for calling Rock Creek Pizza in Riverton, this is Jordan, how can I help you?"
Them: "Oh, this is Riverton? I thought this was the Sandy location."
Me: "No, sorry, that location's been shut down for almost two years now."
Them: "Really? I swear I was there just a few weeks ago, maybe a few months..."
Me: "Yeah, I'm sorry. What can I do for you?"


What I really would like to say is "Um, no. You weren't. Unless you were just standing outside the locked doors a few weeks ago for awhile. Now, what can I do to improve your idiotic life in some way? (meaning food)"


Something like that. But of course, the customer is always right. I live by that (publicly). And so, politeness is warranted in every situation save for certain extremes where there is no alternative to aggression (I have yet to experience one of these extremes). So there you have it, my official Rock Creek Pizza statement.


J R Williams

Thanksgiving, Del Taco, and video game music

So I've decided I have an unhealthy addiction to Del Taco. Every 2 or 3 nights I go there, for the past several weeks now. Ugh, that chicken quesadilla makes my world go round. In other news, I decided I'm too tall. I hear rumor that girls like taller guys, which is a plus, but I'm TOO tall...especially since most of the girls I like are usually pretty short already. Meh, life.


I've been listening to video game soundtracks all day. The new Medal of Honor, which is 20 songs for just 7 bucks on iTunes, is epic and phenomenal. It sounds like the Black Hawk Down soundtrack at times, which is great. Also, Hans Zimmer's Modern Warfare 2 soundtrack. I must say, my favorite soundtrack of all time. Incredible orchestra music with a vivid and cinematic feel, I love it. Look up the song Extraction Point and deal with the lame guitar at the starting, it gets awesome. The COD Black Ops music, however...disappointing. It loses the cinematic, epic feel in favor of grittier music with more guitar and intensity. Not bad, just different. And not what I wanted.


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! Mine was uneventful and great :) I ate turkey in amounts that can only be described as deeply upsetting, and played Metro 2033 and Black Ops for a good 4 hours. And I've been in sweats all day. A welcome change of pace to my life. I might be going to Best Buy with some friends for Black Friday... We'll see.

Shout outs, tv shows, and relationships

Today was miserable. Isn't that a wonderful way to start? I'm occupying my overstressing brain by updating this for those of you who actually read it. 19 hours of online gameplay in COD Black Ops. Also, I bought the new show V on DVD, I am 7 episodes in and thoroughly hooked. Fantastic show, coupled with phenomenal special effects. Go buy it, I PROMISE sci fi fans won't be disappointed.


I've noticed something. Is it just me, or does it seem like when you're single everyone around is with someone?! Especially people you like, leaving little hope for a decent dating life. Then, the moment you decide you don't need to be with anyone anyways, suddenly everybody is single again. This is the very definition of frustrating.


Randomly, I wanna give a shout out to all my closest and most treasured friends. Suey, Travis, Macey, Luke, I love you guys. Please please don't ever stop being awesome.

My official Call of Duty: Black Ops review *no spoilers*

Alright, after much deliberation (along with 13 hours of online game time, and counting) I have made up my mind about the new COD Black Ops. If you buy the game expecting another MW2, same graphics and gameplay and feel but better, you're going to be disappointed. Think back to COD's last Treyarch production, World at War. Basically, the visuals and sounds are exactly the same. Not as fluid or crisp as MW2, but the gameplay is nonetheless very entertaining. I have yet to decide, however, if this is because the game is that fun or because I've just been starved of a new playing experience as of late (unlikely, seeing as I also have Battlefield Bad Company 2 and Medal of Honor to satisfy my change of pace needs). I've only played the first level of the campaign mode, which in comparison to my recent experiences in the Medal of Honor campaign mode is insignificant at best as far as gameplay enjoyability. Medal of Honor's campaign is absolutely phenomenal. I would buy it all over again just for that. Black Ops' campaign I don't have an official opinion on yet, save for my utter distaste at the fact that the enemies are nigh invincible. If you score a leg, arm, or lower body shot you're gonna be looking forward to 5 or 6 hits before those boys go down. Not exactly realistic, and very frustrating.


In conclusion/recap, Black Ops is the spitting image of COD's World at War, with new levels and new weapons (it takes place during the Cold War of the 1960s). One really cool thing, though, is you can customize EVERYTHING. You can even carve your clan tag/symbol onto your gun, you can customize facepaint, gun paint, your outfit, the color of the red dot in your scope, the shape of the dot (you can change it to a skull or triangle or smiley face or the treyarch symbol and so on so forth). Customization is almost as much fun as playing the actual game, it allows you to slay the enemy in your own completely unique style. My ideal loadout: ghillie suit (I look like a bush), M14 semi-automatic rifle with a silencer and a blood-red paintjob. Throw in all the perks and add-ons a good Ninja like myself needs, I don't show up on enemy radar. Ever. I am the very definition of "Where did that even come from??"


So there you have it, Black Ops is worth playing but in my opinion not worth 60 bucks. Wait awhile.

LARPing, parties, and whatever else comes to mind

I went to one of my best buds' birthday party today, Travis. I must say, pretty awesome. The action was initiated with the watching of the Disney movie Hercules (at this point there were 10+ men present. We are awesome), which was followed by going to a park to play night games for a few hours. Of course, I missed the last half hour of the movie because I had to drive over and pick up another close friend Keturah, take her home to change, then bring her all the way back to hang out with us :P worth it; she's great company. I spoke with an old friend I don't often see, Jeremiah, who is another Russian fanatic like myself. He filled me in on the concept of what I'm going to call REAL LARPing, LARP meaning Live Action Role Play. Now before you laugh and conjure up images of nerds in wizards cloaks pretending to cast lightning at their dark elf adversaries, allow me to explain the REAL part of the LARPing. It isn't in the sense of living the World of Warcraft experience (a lifeless nerd's fantasy come true), it's about reliving somewhat real instances. For example, massive medieval era battles. 800 combatants. Weighted foam weapons. Legit outfits. Battle cries. Oh yes. I truly want to take part in one of these epic battles someday...someday.


In other news, my resolution to get a car is at an all-time high. I'm incredibly tired of bargaining for use of my parents' cars, and I'm quite certain that they are equally, if not more so, tired of it as well. I'm expecting no later than a month from now before I have one. Perhaps two months, max. Also...what is everyone's opinion on the morality of fighting? Personally, I believe in avoiding circumstances that would put you in a predicament requiring a decision like that in the first place. But even so fighting, to me, should always be a last resort. It really solves nothing ultimately. But I also believe that sometimes it IS necessary. Sometimes. For instance, if a blow is thrown, I will heartily return it. And put a very quick, very unfortunate (for the other guy) end to the fight. Cough cough Cody, back off cough cough :P of course, since I'm of legal age that I could get into trouble for such childish and immature actions, I would never throw the first punch. Ever. But sometimes a man just has to take a stand and say enough BS. Anyways, yeah, that's my opinion of fighting for you.


Really, I had something else interesting to say but I forgot what it was. Perhaps I'll remember it later and include it in my next post. Ah well. Sleep in suspense :P
Jordan R Williams

The Hunger Games (caution, spoilers)

"Katniss, there is no District 12." BAM!!! Talk about a cliffhanger ending to the second installment in the Hunger Games series. I finished it just now.


This is my official opinionation of the Hunger Games. First off, incredible story, plot direction, imagery. All-around great story. Cons: disappointing character development. The characters all operate in extremes, and generally low ones at that. But I suppose that may be, in a way, for the benefit of the story. Also, the writing style, while easily comprehensible and fast-paced, is somewhat simplistic. It's clear that the target audience is The adolescent crowd, but adults and teenagers alike would enjoy these books and I highly recommend them. They're very easy reads; not like those books that require quiet environments and great focus to read and understand. Hence the description as simplistic. But, simplistic in a good way. It's an almost casual read that would be enjoyable for all ages. But I said that already. Go get this book, it's easily worth the 7 bucks for the first book (the second one was 15, but after reading the first I'm fairly sure you'll find it worth the money as I did). Happy reading, fellow bookworms.
Jordan R Williams