While I was at work today, I noticed something that made me wonder about people's attachment to sports teams. As you probably know by now, the Mets lost today, meaning they will not be making the playoffs. Quite a shock if you consider about three months ago, they were comfortably atop their division. A "free-fall" of sorts has landed them out of the playoffs.
For most of the day, the tv was out. I was sitting next to a co-worker who happens to be a die-hard mets fan. Since the tv was out, he went on his phone to check the score. The look on his face was one of the saddest things Ive ever seen. It was as if someone had killed his dog right in front of him. All life seemed to be drained out of his body. I didnt even need him to tell me what had happened, his face said it all. People took it differently, some loud employees were completely silent, others screamed and snapped at people. Seeing this made me wonder about peoples attachment to teams. Is it natural to be so attached that whether a team wins or loses it affects you or strong? Why do people cling to sports franchises so strong. Im not sure anyone has the answer. Why do people pick the teams they do, it just seems unnatural to me. Does it mean I don't like sports, not at all, I love watching games, but I am more of a casual fan. I'll watch games and keep up with stats to a degree, but whether my team wins or loses will not affect my temperament I myself am I yankee, jet and ranger fan, but I really do not know why I picked those teams. Some kind of attachment to those players and franchises was formed years ago unknowingly. Well, im not going to over-analyze this attachment as there is no clear answer to it, just to get people thinking. Why did you pick the teams you did and why do you care so much about them?
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Memories
Memories, to a scientist just a collection of neural processes and chemicals t recall past events. To the elderly, fleeting moments of happiness soon becoming blank. To everyone past moments in our life we are able to recall at will. But thinking further, what are they. Can all these times in our life we remember just be neurons recalling information? IS it something deeper? It will depend on the person you ask. Some people will stretch to find something deeper, not wanting t believe that is just chemicals and wiring in us. That humans are deeper than that, that our proverbial soul is the reason for our individuality and personality. Call me a scientific person or a non-believer, but I am with science. I see nothing wrong with admitting that our memories and everything about us is ingrained in our bodies. We were built for survival and the recalling of past experience is a mechanism for keeping us alive.
A memoir, a collection of all our most important memories. A loose autobiography of sorts.
A memoir, a collection of all our most important memories. A loose autobiography of sorts.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
My Family
While trying to think of a topic to write about, I hear the chatter coming from my kitchen. Then it hits me, what one of the things most important in the world to me, my family. Ill start at the top, my parents Mike and Doris. They both in their upper 50s, even though my mom wouldn't admit it. To be honest, I have no idea what my dads formal job is. I know hes worked at South Beach psychiatric since he was 18, close to 40 years now. On any given day I can find him home most of the day or in his office at work. Whenever I ask him what he does, he always replies " The reason yo work somewhere for 40 years, is so no one knows exactly what you do." Hes a very quite, sarcastic and one of the funniest people I know. I always believed he favored my sister heavily until my aunt said to me "Maybe its not that he favors her, maybe its cause he knows she needs it the most. He knows you and your brother can fend for yourselves and right now in her life, your sister really needs someone there for her." This put a lot of my fathers actions in a new light. He is the main problem solver of the family and keeps everything in order so the rest of us can function.
My mom works in a hair salon and she is also a real estate agent. She tries hard to make money and provide. I don't really know how to describe her, shes just my mom. Shes always been there. Shes frustrating to deal with at times, but it is because shes overly protective and overly affectionate. She is much more open to my dad, nearly exact opposite. Very outwardly affectionate and friendly.
My sister Lauren. She is 25, just out of Law School and right into her first law job. She lived in Albany the last 3 years for school. She managed to get a job with the city as a prosecutor on Staten Island so that means shes back home for the time being. Her personality is a mix of my mom and dad. She can be very sarcastic like my dad, and has my moms stubbornness. Shes the hard worker of the family. She graduated Manga Cum Laude from Albany law and Dean's list from St. Johns.
My brother Mike, the black sheep of the family. He recently turned 30 and has a job as a commodities broker. Hes had some bad luck with jobs, mostly cause by 9/11 which caused him to lose his job on the stock market floor. Hes the one who always seems to be causing trouble, but he has calmed down as hes gotten older. That doesn't stop the family from re-telling classic trouble stories of him at every family gathering. Hes not married, but has had a girlfriend for a while. I don't think anyone is expecting marriage, more like waiting for when he messes this one up. It might seem mean, but he knows hes the oddball and sometimes feels like hes trying to play the part. Some of his past accomplishments were graduating from Wagner on Dean's List, being captain of the Farrel and Wagner hockey teams and even going to nationals with Wagner. They were actually one of the better teams, but one reckless night from some of his teammates caused them to be disqualified from the tournament. Something I think hes still bitter about but would never admit.
Thats my immediate family. Maybe If i run out of topics I can get into my extended famil, but thats for another times.
My mom works in a hair salon and she is also a real estate agent. She tries hard to make money and provide. I don't really know how to describe her, shes just my mom. Shes always been there. Shes frustrating to deal with at times, but it is because shes overly protective and overly affectionate. She is much more open to my dad, nearly exact opposite. Very outwardly affectionate and friendly.
My sister Lauren. She is 25, just out of Law School and right into her first law job. She lived in Albany the last 3 years for school. She managed to get a job with the city as a prosecutor on Staten Island so that means shes back home for the time being. Her personality is a mix of my mom and dad. She can be very sarcastic like my dad, and has my moms stubbornness. Shes the hard worker of the family. She graduated Manga Cum Laude from Albany law and Dean's list from St. Johns.
My brother Mike, the black sheep of the family. He recently turned 30 and has a job as a commodities broker. Hes had some bad luck with jobs, mostly cause by 9/11 which caused him to lose his job on the stock market floor. Hes the one who always seems to be causing trouble, but he has calmed down as hes gotten older. That doesn't stop the family from re-telling classic trouble stories of him at every family gathering. Hes not married, but has had a girlfriend for a while. I don't think anyone is expecting marriage, more like waiting for when he messes this one up. It might seem mean, but he knows hes the oddball and sometimes feels like hes trying to play the part. Some of his past accomplishments were graduating from Wagner on Dean's List, being captain of the Farrel and Wagner hockey teams and even going to nationals with Wagner. They were actually one of the better teams, but one reckless night from some of his teammates caused them to be disqualified from the tournament. Something I think hes still bitter about but would never admit.
Thats my immediate family. Maybe If i run out of topics I can get into my extended famil, but thats for another times.
Social Gaming
Tomorrow at midnight the most anticipated video game of all time will be released, Halo 3. Lines at stores will be filled around the block, rain or snow. While many are anxious at the release, some even going to extreme bounds to get it a day or two early, I feel almost indifferent about it. At this point, theres so many things going on in my life its an afterthought.
But the game itself is now what this blog is about. Its about the social affect video games can have on people.
Starting my first job was strange for me. I'm a shy person by nature, so for a while I pretty much went to work, got my money and went home without really developing relationships with anyone at work. After a while at work, I began to here other people talking about halo a lot. I got in on the conversation and found just about every guy at my store played all the time, even people that I never expected. Eventually this led to playing with them and gave us something to start talking about. While games aren't the only thing we talk about with each other now, it was how it started and how we became friends.
With the release of online gaming some 5 years ago, it gave people the ability to play with each other from anywhere. My first online game was Halo 2, an incredibly popular shooting game for the xbox. After playing countless hours and playing with the same people you begin to develop friendships. The last 4 years of playing Ive become friends with many people that Ive never actually met. It sounds weird, but once you get over the fact the person isn't physically there with you, it becomes like talking to anyone else. Some of the people that stand out in my mind are Topher and Marc form New Hampshire, Patrick from DC, Rafi from Mass and Kyle from Manitoba, Canada. Ive never met any of them, but If im bored I can still call anyone of them and talk. You begin to realize, people are pretty much the same anywhere. I can mention something that happened local to me and they will always have something related or similar near them.
After playing the same game for about 3 years now, Ive realized its not really the game that makes me want to play, its the people playing it. I hate to end this blog abruptly, but I have to get ready for work and see my friends.
But the game itself is now what this blog is about. Its about the social affect video games can have on people.
Starting my first job was strange for me. I'm a shy person by nature, so for a while I pretty much went to work, got my money and went home without really developing relationships with anyone at work. After a while at work, I began to here other people talking about halo a lot. I got in on the conversation and found just about every guy at my store played all the time, even people that I never expected. Eventually this led to playing with them and gave us something to start talking about. While games aren't the only thing we talk about with each other now, it was how it started and how we became friends.
With the release of online gaming some 5 years ago, it gave people the ability to play with each other from anywhere. My first online game was Halo 2, an incredibly popular shooting game for the xbox. After playing countless hours and playing with the same people you begin to develop friendships. The last 4 years of playing Ive become friends with many people that Ive never actually met. It sounds weird, but once you get over the fact the person isn't physically there with you, it becomes like talking to anyone else. Some of the people that stand out in my mind are Topher and Marc form New Hampshire, Patrick from DC, Rafi from Mass and Kyle from Manitoba, Canada. Ive never met any of them, but If im bored I can still call anyone of them and talk. You begin to realize, people are pretty much the same anywhere. I can mention something that happened local to me and they will always have something related or similar near them.
After playing the same game for about 3 years now, Ive realized its not really the game that makes me want to play, its the people playing it. I hate to end this blog abruptly, but I have to get ready for work and see my friends.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
College
The last few months have gone by incredibly fast. It feels like just last week I was a senior in New Dorp High School. Senior year was by far my favorite year. Leaving early, having next to no school work and generally having more freedom than other years. It was also my first year having a job during school. My job for those who don't know is as a cashier in Shoprite in New Dorp. Being just a five minute walk from school, made everything very convenient. While the work itself is annoyingly boring, I love the people I work with, many of them have become like a second family.
Summer flew by so fast I couldn't believe it. Starting college felt so far away, then all of sudden it was tomorrow. Now that Ive finally started, its not like what I expected. The workload is so much greater, and so much reading to do. Ive already felt like I'm slipping behind, something Ive never felt in school before. I have always been in the top tier classes with putting minimal effort towards my work. Having to really think about my assignments, combined with the rust from summer and a lackadaisical senior year and working way too much has led to a shaky start. However, I am making strides to fix it. Ive recently told my employer that I'm taking all Tuesdays to Thursdays off for my school work. Having those days off every week will give my much more time to finish my work and do ALL of my readings. Hopefully I don't drown in all this unfinished work before I can catch up.
Summer flew by so fast I couldn't believe it. Starting college felt so far away, then all of sudden it was tomorrow. Now that Ive finally started, its not like what I expected. The workload is so much greater, and so much reading to do. Ive already felt like I'm slipping behind, something Ive never felt in school before. I have always been in the top tier classes with putting minimal effort towards my work. Having to really think about my assignments, combined with the rust from summer and a lackadaisical senior year and working way too much has led to a shaky start. However, I am making strides to fix it. Ive recently told my employer that I'm taking all Tuesdays to Thursdays off for my school work. Having those days off every week will give my much more time to finish my work and do ALL of my readings. Hopefully I don't drown in all this unfinished work before I can catch up.
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