Minesweeper

I can happily say that I beat minesweeper on expert after 334 seconds. This tremendous feat took me several years and countless hours, but at the end, I stand as the victor.

AE Retreat

Last weekend, Alternative Edge youth ministries held its annual retreat. This year was another great year for the youth group to bond and get real with God. I had the opportunity to get to know some of the youth that I didn't really know before the retreat. I think that the whole youth group got to know me as well, especially when I was "the Marine." I think this is the first year that I felt like a bad guy or a parent. I hate to feel that way and to have to keep on saying don't do that, get your legs off him, don't throw pens at people with the mic, be quiet, ok shut up, etc... Oh, and the trash that was left everywhere outside; it was bad. A camp employee stopped me and told me about it and I did not like to hear it because it does not look good for us.

Well, besides that, it wasn't all that bad. I had a good time and was able to get away for a bit. I jogged through the woods and was able to check out a lot of the camp that I never have seen before. It was very nice and peaceful, just the quiet stir of the wind through the woods. I know that there were some bonds broken during Saturday night’s service. Josh took the mic and just spoke some great things to the teens to let go and give it to God. He had them write down their problems and addictions on a sheet of paper. Afterwards, we burned it. Some relationships were healed as well.

I was able to lay some things before God that have been bothering me lately. Mainly worries about my future and what’s in store for me. Hopefully this won’t be my last retreat.

Finally

I am happy to report that as of 0230 this morning, I beat Halo2 on heroic. Man, I thought it was never to end. There were some tight spots that I thought I would never get through. I tell you what, the ending was kinda left open; hinting for a Halo 3, but I don't think that will happen because it took like 4 years for Halo 2 to come out. In another 4 years, I'm sure the XBox will be outdated and there will be another line of systems out.
For you guys (and I guess some girls play), Halo 2 offered some great soundtracks for combat, large and impressive level design, and some really challenging, but not impossible, missions. I just wish they didn't end it like they did; guess I might read the books.

Go Hard or Go Home
Out Here

Last Day of School

Well, today was the last day of school for me. I finished my last exam around 6:30PM with a 100% on the exam. A nice way to end the quarter and in case you are wondering how I got a 100%, let's just say that I know how to get information. No, I didn't cheat either. I almost made it to Junior status; 3 credits short. I am just glad to get virtually all my core business classes taken out of the way and now to start learning some in depth and meaningful financial information. But of course, all of that will have to wait till 2006 when I can go back to school at the ripe age of 25 as the weird old guy. Speaking of age, today is my 24th birthday as well. Thank you everyone for making it a nice day.
I haven't really given any thought of what goals that I want to get done before my next birthday. There are some plans I laid out a few years ago about what I want to have accomplished before by the age of 25. By the way things are looking, I will be completely outta credit card debt and have my car paid off. So, that would just leave student loans. I will be happy when I can do that. Also, I wanted to get a Trans Am by 25. I don't know if I will do that because my thinking has changed about my use of income and how I can better myself with a little self-control and discipline. Time will tell of course.

Remember Names

Almost everyone experiences some difficulty remembering people's names--somtimes only seconds after being introduced. The main reason for this name-memory challenge is that often we are not fully paying attention--we are hearing, but not truly listening. Fortunately, for those who take solace in being "good with faces," there are many easy-to-learn strategies to make remembering names easy.

It is helpful to repeat the person's name during initial conversation, or to comment on how the person reminds you of someone else you know of the same name. If a person has a complicated or unfamiliar name, you might ask how to spell it. Sometimes just visualizing an image of the name spelled out will fix it into your memory. Using a person’s name when saying goodbye will also help secure it into your memory bank.

Perhaps the most effective method for remembering names and faces uses three basic memory skills I call Look, Snap, and Connect. First, make sure you consciously listen and observe the name (Look). Then create a mental snapshot (Snap) of the name and the face. Finally, Connect the name snap with the face snap.

To create a visual Snap for the face, pick out a feature that may be easy to remember. Simply look at the person’s face and search for the most distinguishing feature—for example, a small nose, large ears, unusual hair, or deep wrinkles. Often the first outstanding feature you notice is the easiest to recall later.

In creating a Snap for the name, note that all names can be placed into two groups: those that have a meaning and invoke a visual image, and those that don’t. Names like Carpenter, Kratz, House, Bishop, Siegel, White, or Silver all have a meaning and can readily bring to mind an image. After meeting Mrs. Siegel, think of a seagull.

Other names that have no immediate meaning may require additional mental effort to remember. However, the names or the syllables and sounds within them can be associated with a substitute name or sound that does have a meaning. By linking these substitute words together, you can create a visual image that works. Sometimes we can break a name into syllables that contain meanings, and link them afterward. For example, the name George Waters could be remembered through an image of a gorge with a stream of water rushing into it. The word or syllable substitutes do not need to be exact. Jane Shirnberger could be a chain draped over a shined shoe that steps on a burger. I sometimes prefer seeing a famous person with the same name. So Jane Shirnberger becomes Jayne Mansfield wearing shined shoes and eating a burger.

In the final step, you Connect the name to the face by creating a mental image involving both your visual snapshots: the Snap for the distinguishing facial feature and the Snap for the name. For example, if Mrs. Beatty has prominent lips, an effective face snap for her might be her lips, and the name snap might be an image of Warren Beatty. Connect them by visualizing Warren Beatty kissing her on the lips (but don’t tell Annette Bening about this).

The images and substitute words need not be perfect. The process of thinking up the images and making the connections will fix them into memory so you never forget a name and face again.

Written by Gary Small
The Experts' Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do
Created by Samantha Ettus

Halo 2

Well, after a few hours of playing my new game, I think they did a pretty good job. It looks a lot better, better vehicles, and great sound. I don't think I like the new interface when setting up a game. Plus, there are a lot of customizing that you can do; which I really don't care too much about but someone probably does. The new weapons are a bit different. Like the battle rifle, I think that weapon sucks. Oh, the whole thing about not having any health, just shields, I don't like. I find myself dying a lot during the campaign cause my guy can only take a few shoots then must run a seek cover to recharge. Well, I am not a man that likes to leave the heat of combat to worry about recharging shields. I do think that the ability to kick out an opponent from his/her vehicle and then take charge of it yourself was a great idea. Overall, it is a good game, but I think all the hype that went into it was a bit extreme.

279th Marine Corps Birthday

November 10, 1775 is the birth date of my beloved Marine Corps. On Saturday, we celebrated the occasion with our annual ball. It is always a nice time. See everyone in their dress blues, the ladies wear dresses, and we get to hear a guest speaker of some magnitude. 2 years ago, I got to meet a medal of honor recipient. This year, I got to meet the commanding general of 4th Marine Division, the one I am in, Lieutenant General McCarthy. He is a nice old man, as most generals are I suppose. The best part of the night has to be when I get to see some of the older and higher ranked Marines out on the dance floor and they are attempting to do the electric slide; it is quite humorous.

Another One Bites the Dust

Sweet sweet victory for America. Oh yes, President Bush has 4 more years! He got more votes than any other President has ever got before. That says something about this country and what the majority stands for. Sorry liberals, your man bites the dust. All your hollywood friends and musicians couldn't tell people who to vote for. By the way, if you want to leave the country over this election: first, you are dumb and second, I will try and help you as much as I can.
Anyone who wants to see the county break down for the whole country, then go here: http://www.newsmax.com

Hannitized

I just saw Sean Hannity, Oliver North, and Neil Boortz at a voter rally in Dayton last night. It was a pretty cool experience. It is nice to see some people that I listen to on the radio. There was 1 liberal in the crowd and Sean Hannity and Neil Boortz really got on him about some issues and challenged him on his candidate of choice. I tried to meet Oliver North afterwards, but failed in my attempt. They had to leave right away and goto Cincy.

Mother's Truck

Mother's Truck 1
Originally uploaded by nukeit1.

My mother was involved in a vehicle accident this morning and here is a picture of it afterwards. She got banged up a bit; broke 4 bones in her right foot and bruised up her knee as well. I was upset when she called me this morning right before I was going to leave to see President Bush at the Hara Arena. I was really looking forward to it because I never seen a President in person before and would like to see this particular one. But of course, of all timing, I had to go and pick up my mother at the hospital and take her to another doctor's office. I don't mean to be cold towards my mother, but it was just wrong timing I guess. It looks like she won't be able to drive for a bit and will have a hard time getting around the house. So I guess that leaves me with a lot more responsibility at home.

Something I Fear

In light of recent news; I'm not going to lie. My biggest fear when I enter a combat zone is getting hit with an IED or something and losing a limb(s) and being put in a wheel chair or something the rest of my life. I goto Wright State and I see a lot of people who are disabled and I think that I might be one of those in a year. I really don't like to think about that. I think I would prefer dying than having a disability. That may seem odd to some people, but I like having a fully functioning body and I don't want to go through life without it. I like being active in life; paintball, driving, racquetball, walking, etc... Other than that fear, I wouldn't mind getting some trigger time in, since I have spent the last 3 years training, sweating, and physical pain for this one thing - war.

Conversations in Class

While sitting in my economics class, waiting for the break to end, I overheard a conversation by 2 ladies, in the row in front of me. They were talking about politics and the issue of abortion. One lady mentioned that she works for her church and will be voting for Senator John Kerry; as well as her 2 pastors will be voting for Mr. Kerry. She said that she thinks that it is not right that people based their decision for President based on whether or not they are pro-life or not. I agree with that a little bit, but not on a issue as strong as abortion; generally if you are pro-abortion, there are some other issues that Christians should not be for. I just can't believe what I hear. Some people are making this whole voting process too emotional. You should not be voting with your emotions because they are usually jacked up and obviously don't make the best decisions for you. Rather, I think more people need to use that grey matter in their heads', but what do I know.
Another conversation that we had early in this class, was also about politics and who you would vote for and why. The issue of homosexual marriage was brought up. This one lady brought up that she goes to church and was for homosexual marriage because she works in a hospital and sees the effect of not allowing it. She thinks that when 2 loving and totally committed homosexual adults can't be allowed to see one another at a hospital or on their deathbed is wrong. This lady said that Christians should not judge people for having an "alternative lifestyle." That kinda ticked me off. It is not an "alternative" lifestyle, it is a homosexual lifestyle. I hate it when I hear someone try to water it down to mean something not as bad. They need to quit worrying if they might hurt someone's feelings, and just say it for what it is.

The cat is out of the bag

Well, for those lucky few, welcome to my blog. Thanks to a certain individual, Aaron, the cat is loose. So, I hope you all enjoy reading this stuff and take it with a grain of salt.
James Out.

Political power is great

I tell you what, I am tired of hearing about all these stupid lame things that the democrats are doing to try and get Senator John Kerry elected. I mean, come on, they complain when VP Dick Cheney gets a flu shot due to the shortage. The dude is in his 60s and has had 4 heart attacks! He more than qualifies for a flu shot, as per government regulations. Also, this whole thing about Senator Kerry going hunting the other day in Ohio, what is he trying to do! He is for government gun control, the NRA does not support him, he had to borrow that camouflage jacket. People leaning left, listen to me, John Kerry thinks you are ignorant, he is pretty much calling you stupid. Mr. Kerry does not hunt, he is trying to swing some conservative votes his way cause he goes geese hunting. This is purely a political event and wants people to think otherwise. Massachusetts has the most strict gun laws, but no one wants to know that because it takes time to research a candidate and we all don't have time for that. So, lets just go with what the TV ads say, or what MTV tells us are the facts. Better yet, Michael Moore knows a lot and has made a nice little documentary that is fun to watch. NO! NO! NO! Prior behavior predicts future behavior. Just look into each candidates accomplishments and records for voting and there you will see what the candidate is really all about. Find some non-partisan publication and read what each side has to say and find facts to back it up. I'm tired of fricken liberals asking me all the questions about President Bush doing this, being part of that, lying to us. Instead of asking me questions, where I do present facts about the truth, give me some facts about where you have come to this conclusion. Oh wait, that's right, MTV didn't tell you the facts, "the TV ad said this so it must be true," or wait, Mr. Moore said it in his documentary and it was shown in theaters nationwide and therefore must be true. I am more than willing to hear someone's side for a candidate if they would only know something true about his/her candidate of choice.
I am James McCauley and I approve of this message.

My lovely weekend

Well, it was another lovely drill weekend of doing a whole lot of nothing. People sometimes ask me what I do during drill and I try to give a good answer, but it is hard because of so much time spent doing very little just boggles my mind. I can't picture everything that we have done and tell someone because it seems like when I am telling it, we did very little training. And you know what, we do do very little training or a lot of stupid stuff and sit a lot. Funny how we can only get 4-5 hours of sleep at night, but yet be rushed to do our so called training that lasts into the wee hours of the night which in all reality, we are just sitting around or standing around smoking and joking. We wait until the invisible hand, to all of us, which we are sometimes told is the battalion, gets things in order and up running.
There are some good things that I can say happened this weekend of drill, which by the way, was a little bit longer than a weekend (5 days). Somehow, somewhere, our company gunny was able to arrange for some of the riflemen in our company to qualify on the pistol range. That is something which rarely ever happens in the reserves because lack of time and money prohibit non-essential personnel from firing the pistol. Lucky, I was one of 38 riflemen that was picked to shoot. Now, this is my first time doing the pistol range, so I did not perform as high as I would with the rifle range, but I think I did well considering my lack of training on this weapon system. I shot sharpshooter, so now I get to add 1 more badge to my dress uniforms, so I am happy about that.
The rest of drill week consisted of having some classes on Thursday about IEDs and EPOW searches, then practical application afterwards. LtCol. Lesaveage, the BN commander, talked to the whole battalion for a bit. He said some watered down secret stuff and his opinions. I pulled targets all day Friday. Helped teach a class on Saturday morning, then headed to pistol range. Afterwards, sat around for about 6 hours waiting and hating life while at the same time waiting to be picked up to meet up with the rest of the battalion. It was kinda cold outside just sitting around or standing. Anyways, they ended couldn't find us, so by a act of God, the 6.7 mile BN hike was cancelled. Needless to say, it was a happy day for all the Marines. Next, back onto the bus for the 8 hour ride back to Columbus. Sunday consisted of cleaning weapons and taking care of admin stuff and once again, a whole lot of sitting around. Oh, we were also put on alert offcially for mobilization in January.
Well, that was a lot of info, so I will leave it as is.

Drill week

This week I have drill from Wednesday evening till Sunday evening. Drill weekends usually aren't too much of a hassle, but when it starts on Wednesday then I have a problem. The main problem is that I have school that will suffer. I will be missing some classes and at the same time, miss 2 tests and have a third one to take on Monday, which I won't have anytime to study for because I have no time during drill. In regards to the other 2 tests, I am taking one early on Wednesday before I leave and taking the other one on Monday. It is just too much studying with virtually no time to do it in, hence the problem with drill starting on Wed. So, right now I am attempting to study for my stats test so I don't fail it too much. Oh, I will also be missing the 3rd Presidential debate, which I like to follow closely.

Procrastination

Well, after somewhat enjoying my weekend, I had several opportunities to study for a test I have today and one tomorrow. Now, did I do anything to study for them; no. So now I am sitting in the Dunbar library with only a few hours available to study for the test today. By the way, up to this point, I've never read the book or did anything outside of class for this. So, I am going into this new. Do I like myself for doing this, heck no. I hate doing this and I just can't seem to do anything about it. I feel totally unmotivated to do really anything right now. It's like I am depressed or something; about what, I don't know. All I know is that I only have a few months here to enjoy myself before going on another deployment and this time I will be playing in a big sand box across the pond, and I really hate sand, the stuff gets everywhere and on everything and you can't do anything about it. So basically my future holds a very miserable place. Anyways, that all will be its own entry, but this one is about my procrastination and how it will allow me to miss a lot of things in life if I don't change things.

Getting Started

Since I have heard so much about Blogs and it seems like a lot of my buddies have one, I have decided to get on the band wagoon. I don't know how much I will use this and to what extent; only time will tell.