Survivor is my all time favorite reality show. They've now gone on for 40 seasons and 20 years. There have been 487 different players in Survivor's 20 year run. 103 have played multiple seasons. Of the remaining 384, there are certainly some who deserve a second shot. Some are interesting characters and some are actual good players. I have come up with 20 players who deserved a second shot. I even went to the trouble to make it 10 men and 10 women, with some diversity as well, as if this could be a future season of Survivor. And to make it even more interesting, I divided them into two tribes: Characters and Players.
The ten on the character tribe are known more for their interesting personalities than being good players. This certainly would be an interesting and fun to watch tribe. Would they struggle? Probably. But it would be so much fun to watch.
Characters:
Shane Powers (Exile Island/Panama)
I believe Shane was in the running to be a Villain on "Heroes vs. Villains", but was a last minute cut, probably for Russell Hantz. Who knows if he even is on good terms with CBS, but it still would be interesting to see Shane return. He might be on the cusp of being too old, but we've seen older returning players.
Nate Gonzalez (Cook Islands)
Nate was sure fun to watch and I liked his personality. He also gave us some of the best jury member reactions we've still ever seen. I would love to see Nate brought back, if just for his reactions as a jury member.
Erik Cardona (Samoa)
Erik would definitely be a "villain" type of player. He did, however, do his best to persuade the jury to vote for Natalie to win over Russell, which may have resulted in Natalie's victory. He would have been a great player that could have potentially stopped Russell Hantz had he not been blindsided when he was.
Dave Ball (Samoa)
Yet another male player from Samoa, and they were on the same tribe, too. Dave was an interesting character, and he had some great one-liners. My favorite was "He [Erik] got clotheslined... by the clothesline!" They should bring Dave Ball back. Mostly because Jeff often used his full name.
Hayden Moss (Blood vs. Water)
Hayden finished with the 2nd best position of any "loved one" on Blood vs. Water, yet he has never been brought back. He played a hard game and even managed to sway Ciera to his side to force a rock draw. I loved his banter with Tyson about "russelling feathers". He would be an interesting character to bring back.
Heidi Strobel (Amazon)
I'm surprised they brought back Jenna but never Heidi. Heidi was just as interesting of a character, if not more so. I still think Heidi could come back, but instead of being the hot, ditzy blonde she's the hot, ditzy mom. She stays active as can be gathered from her posts on Instagram. Her being married to a famous baseball player (Cole Hamels) would probably work against her, though.
Michelle Yi (Fiji)
Fiji actually had a pretty good cast, despite only one player (Yau Man) ever returning to play again so far. There's only a small handful that could work in bringing them back, and one of them is Michelle. Michelle was screwed over by a twist in the game, which was an impromptu tribal council with a group of random players in which she was on the wrong side of the numbers. She was adorable and also started fire with basically nothing, so she would be awesome to have back.
Natalie Bolton (Micronesia)
Natalie was definitely a villainess on her season, which didn't really show until after the merge and the Black Widow alliance formed. She was the one who got the immunity necklace from Erik. She also gave some confessionals to show her true colors. I'm a bit surprised she was never brought back. I'd love to see her back.
Alicia Rosa (One World)
Sure, Alicia said some mean things and didn't seem like a good person, but she still made for an entertaining villain. She went through breast cancer and a double mastectomy in the past few years, which probably made her appreciate the smaller things in life more. I'd love to see her given a second chance.
J'Tia Taylor (Cagayan)
She may have dumped out her tribe's rice, but I'm sure she's matured since then. She has since gotten married. Perhaps with a second shot, her tribe would do better? Probably not, but it would be interesting to see her again.
Players:
Jonas Otsuji (One World)
Jonas was well-liked, which ultimately was the reason for his demise. The guy reminded me of a good-natured Boston Rob. I always thought he deserved a second shot. He gave some pretty funny confessionals, too.
Ian Rosenberger (Palau)
I think Ian is someone CBS has definitely wanted back, and he was asked back for Cambodia: Second Chance but he declined. He's still fairly young and could come back if he changes his mind.
Rafe Judkins (Guatemala)
I thought Rafe was playing the best game of his season, and I'm a bit surprised he never played again. He's a television writer now, so it's unlikely he'd ever leave that comfortable job to play Survivor again. But Rafe seems like someone intelligent enough to adapt to the faster-paced game.
Kenny Hoang (Gabon)
Kenny was undoubtedly playing the best strategic game in Gabon. He tried to make Bob out to the be the bad guy, but it backfired. I would love to see him given a second shot. I could see him controlling a game if he was brought back.
Reynold Toepfer (Caramoan)
Reynold was a huge part of the Three Amigos alliance. He became a force in challenges as well. He just got on the wrong side of the numbers. He seemed like a strong and vocal player who was in hot water the entire game. Yet he made it a lot further than people were expecting. It might be hard to bring him back as Reynold has settled down and started a family.
Darrah Johnson (Pearl Islands)
I loved Darrah on Pearl Islands. She wasn't a very vocal or strategic player, but she went on immunity run semi-late into the game, which once it ended, resulted in her being voted out. She's still under the age of 40. She also was the Morgan tribe member that got the furthest in the game before being voted out for the first time.
Sherea Lloyd (China)
I remember Sherea being the strongest female of her struggling Zhan Hu tribe. When the tribes had to pick the other tribe's two strongest players they'd like, Sherea was chosen. Yet, she has never returned to play again. I think she could still be a force.
Ashley Underwood (Redemption Island)
Of the two girls under Boston Rob's wing, Ashley was definitely the stronger player, which resulted in Natalie making it to the end and not her. She started being a huge force in challenges late in the game. If she had somehow managed to take out Boston Rob and went to the end with Natalie and Phillip, I think she wins. I would like to see her given a second shot.
Chelsea Meissner (One World)
I think Chelsea played a pretty darn good game. It's just that Kim Spradlin was controlling everything and was playing an even better game. I'd love to see Chelsea given a second shot if she wanted. I think she would learn to be more vocal and more aggressive.
RC Saint-Amour (Philippines)
The funny thing is, RC was supposed to be on "Blood vs. Water" with her dad, but he had a medical issue and they couldn't go and were replaced by Candice and John. So CBS has definitely wanted her back, yet she still has yet to come back. She's still fairly young, so why not?
Friday, July 3, 2020
Saturday, June 27, 2020
Good and Bad Things about Fortnite Season 3
Just a week ago, Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 3 premiered and with it came many (mostly welcome) changes. It's the most the game has changed in almost a calendar year, so many players, myself included, are still getting used to all the changes. I'm going to go over most of the changes and whether they are good or bad.
This time, we'll start with the good:
- Increased mobility
This is something that has plagued Chapter 2 since its release. In season 1 of this chapter, there were literally no mobility items, the only being a trap-slot item in launch pads. The only vehicle at the time was boats, and they didn't do well on land (especially going up hills). In season 2, this was improved upon with the introduction of helicopters and crash pads. But still, mobility was fairly limited. Now with season 3, we have new zip lines, sharks that can be ridden, and whirlpools. Two of the mythic bosses even have mythic mobility items (grappler and impulse grenade launcher). Not to mention the game still has both boats and helicopters as well as crash pads. Lachlan, an Australian Fortnite player on YouTube, even joked that there is too much mobility.
- Significant map changes
I'm not going to comment specifically on the map changes themselves (that will be below), but I'm glad there were significant map changes period. The map was starting to get stale and old. When I first started playing in season 3, I was amazed at the amount of changes to the map. It almost doesn't look like the same map.
- Sticking with Mythic bosses
One of the best parts of season 2 was the mythic bosses. Epic Games realized this and at least kept us with three mythic bosses (as opposed to 5/6 last season). They nerfed the weapons so that none of them are too overpowered. In season 2, in certain games if someone else got the mythic weapons, it felt vastly unfair. Now it doesn't feel that unfair.
- Sharks
I have thalassophobia (fear of the deep sea and its creatures), so sharks at first were not a welcome addition for me. Having gotten used to them now, I like them. They can be used to get loot from, ride on (as mentioned earlier), and even use to attack enemies and their builds. I hope this leads to Epic Games including other living things we can interact with. Maybe giant birds we can ride on? Maybe horses?
- The right amount of new weapons/items and unvaulting
Epic Games unvaulted the hunting rifle, bolt action sniper, P90 SMG and Chug Splashes, as well as introducing the new charge shotgun and fireflies. They also have two mythic items for bosses that were either unvaulted (Chug Jug) or new (Impulse Launcher). This is exactly what they should do every season. Come up with new weapons and items while unvaulting a few popular ones as well. They obviously listened to us because many of us (myself included) wanted the hunting rifle and chug splashes brought back.
- More healing items
One problem the early part of this chapter had was not enough healing items. Even with the introduction of fishing, healing was a bit tough to do at times. In season 3, we now have fruits and vegetables that 1) can be placed into the inventory instead of having to be consumed and 2) are a wider variety. There are apples, corn, cabbages, shield and slurp mushrooms, and chili peppers (although those are for speed). So someone in desperate need of health or shield can grab some of these.
All right, now onto the bad things. This season is definitely an improvement, but it is not without its faults.
- Too much water
As I mentioned earlier, I'm glad the map changed a lot, but I wish they hadn't added this much water. A lot of old landmarks and locations are completely submerged now. If they had added a feature which allowed us to dive underwater, I would be ok with this amount, but too much is simply "unexplorable" right now.
- Not enough material options
With all of the water on the map, there are far less ways to get a significant amount of materials. Weeping Woods is submerged, so forget that. It is clearly much harder to build up materials quickly. The new things that popped up on the map (The Fortilla and Rickety Rig) do not have enough material options.
- Too many things vaulted, especially ones needed for challenges
The pump shotgun, heavy sniper, C4 remote explosives, and proximity mines all got vaulted. RPG's are now only available by killing and taking them from Marauders on the map, so they are no longer available at all in Team Rumble play. There have been these "quick challenges" which include getting explosive damage or eliminations. The only way to do that now in Team Rumble is by using grenades. Either Epic realized this and didn't care, or they failed to realize all the explosive weapons they vaulted while keeping explosive challenges.
- Quick challenges are more work for not much more XP
Daily challenges have been replaced by quick challenges. There would be a new daily challenge every new day you played. These challenges only needed one thing accomplished and gave 55,000 XP. Now, there are five that generate each day. They start out at 1,400 XP and after a day become 14,000 XP. Even if you complete all 5 of those challenges, that is 70,000 XP. Basically, it's four more challenges to complete for just a bit more XP. They do keep regenerating after completing, but are only 1,400 XP for each challenge unless you wait a day. It's a clever technique by Epic Games to get us to play a bit longer, but I am not a big fan of this change.
All in all, this season is definitely an upgrade from the previous season. I do have one major recommendation if Epic Games wants. As I said above, all of this water on the map would have been made better if there was a new mechanic to dive down underwater. Our characters could hold their breath for 20 seconds before losing health (10 health per second after that). There could be oxygen tanks which would allow our players to go for about a minute underwater before running out. One problem I do see with this, however, is players trapping others underwater, but hey, if you can't shoot your way out, oh well. That's the risk you take for going underwater. This would be cool to see if they wanted to implement it next season.
This time, we'll start with the good:
- Increased mobility
This is something that has plagued Chapter 2 since its release. In season 1 of this chapter, there were literally no mobility items, the only being a trap-slot item in launch pads. The only vehicle at the time was boats, and they didn't do well on land (especially going up hills). In season 2, this was improved upon with the introduction of helicopters and crash pads. But still, mobility was fairly limited. Now with season 3, we have new zip lines, sharks that can be ridden, and whirlpools. Two of the mythic bosses even have mythic mobility items (grappler and impulse grenade launcher). Not to mention the game still has both boats and helicopters as well as crash pads. Lachlan, an Australian Fortnite player on YouTube, even joked that there is too much mobility.
- Significant map changes
I'm not going to comment specifically on the map changes themselves (that will be below), but I'm glad there were significant map changes period. The map was starting to get stale and old. When I first started playing in season 3, I was amazed at the amount of changes to the map. It almost doesn't look like the same map.
- Sticking with Mythic bosses
One of the best parts of season 2 was the mythic bosses. Epic Games realized this and at least kept us with three mythic bosses (as opposed to 5/6 last season). They nerfed the weapons so that none of them are too overpowered. In season 2, in certain games if someone else got the mythic weapons, it felt vastly unfair. Now it doesn't feel that unfair.
- Sharks
I have thalassophobia (fear of the deep sea and its creatures), so sharks at first were not a welcome addition for me. Having gotten used to them now, I like them. They can be used to get loot from, ride on (as mentioned earlier), and even use to attack enemies and their builds. I hope this leads to Epic Games including other living things we can interact with. Maybe giant birds we can ride on? Maybe horses?
- The right amount of new weapons/items and unvaulting
Epic Games unvaulted the hunting rifle, bolt action sniper, P90 SMG and Chug Splashes, as well as introducing the new charge shotgun and fireflies. They also have two mythic items for bosses that were either unvaulted (Chug Jug) or new (Impulse Launcher). This is exactly what they should do every season. Come up with new weapons and items while unvaulting a few popular ones as well. They obviously listened to us because many of us (myself included) wanted the hunting rifle and chug splashes brought back.
- More healing items
One problem the early part of this chapter had was not enough healing items. Even with the introduction of fishing, healing was a bit tough to do at times. In season 3, we now have fruits and vegetables that 1) can be placed into the inventory instead of having to be consumed and 2) are a wider variety. There are apples, corn, cabbages, shield and slurp mushrooms, and chili peppers (although those are for speed). So someone in desperate need of health or shield can grab some of these.
All right, now onto the bad things. This season is definitely an improvement, but it is not without its faults.
- Too much water
As I mentioned earlier, I'm glad the map changed a lot, but I wish they hadn't added this much water. A lot of old landmarks and locations are completely submerged now. If they had added a feature which allowed us to dive underwater, I would be ok with this amount, but too much is simply "unexplorable" right now.
- Not enough material options
With all of the water on the map, there are far less ways to get a significant amount of materials. Weeping Woods is submerged, so forget that. It is clearly much harder to build up materials quickly. The new things that popped up on the map (The Fortilla and Rickety Rig) do not have enough material options.
- Too many things vaulted, especially ones needed for challenges
The pump shotgun, heavy sniper, C4 remote explosives, and proximity mines all got vaulted. RPG's are now only available by killing and taking them from Marauders on the map, so they are no longer available at all in Team Rumble play. There have been these "quick challenges" which include getting explosive damage or eliminations. The only way to do that now in Team Rumble is by using grenades. Either Epic realized this and didn't care, or they failed to realize all the explosive weapons they vaulted while keeping explosive challenges.
- Quick challenges are more work for not much more XP
Daily challenges have been replaced by quick challenges. There would be a new daily challenge every new day you played. These challenges only needed one thing accomplished and gave 55,000 XP. Now, there are five that generate each day. They start out at 1,400 XP and after a day become 14,000 XP. Even if you complete all 5 of those challenges, that is 70,000 XP. Basically, it's four more challenges to complete for just a bit more XP. They do keep regenerating after completing, but are only 1,400 XP for each challenge unless you wait a day. It's a clever technique by Epic Games to get us to play a bit longer, but I am not a big fan of this change.
All in all, this season is definitely an upgrade from the previous season. I do have one major recommendation if Epic Games wants. As I said above, all of this water on the map would have been made better if there was a new mechanic to dive down underwater. Our characters could hold their breath for 20 seconds before losing health (10 health per second after that). There could be oxygen tanks which would allow our players to go for about a minute underwater before running out. One problem I do see with this, however, is players trapping others underwater, but hey, if you can't shoot your way out, oh well. That's the risk you take for going underwater. This would be cool to see if they wanted to implement it next season.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Good and Bad Things About Our New Apartment
Amanda and I are on to our third home (already!), but we really only had to move because of the renovations undergoing at our old complex. We also wanted to get out of Kirkland because of the high cost of living there. We found a new place in Bothell, basically in Mill Creek. It's certainly different from our old place. I think there are more good things about it than bad, but I thought I'd share both good and bad things about it. First, to get it out of the way I'll go over the bad things.
Bad:
- We can hear the upstairs neighbors too easily.
We live on the 2nd floor of a 3 floor complex. We have neighbors above and below us. We're used to having to not make too much noise on the floor (we've always lived on the 2nd floor), but at our last place, we didn't have any upstairs neighbors, which was nice. We hear them walking a lot, and Amanda can even hear them talking and snoring or their TV.
- Longer commute
With moving to Bothell comes longer commutes. Because of COVID-19, I am not working at the moment, but when I do go back to work, the commute to work will be longer than before. Fortunately I do not have to deal with that yet.
- Less bedroom space
Our bedroom is a bit noticeably smaller. Our living/dining room is about the same, maybe a tad smaller as well. It's not a big deal, especially since we are using our space better. At our last place, our couch was basically in the middle of the living room, because if it was against the wall, it would have been too far away from the TV.
Good:
- Best amenities I have ever seen
Literally the best amenities I have ever seen at an apartment complex. Swimming pool, billiards, huge gym, coffee and tea bar, TV, brand new Apple computers, etc. Just so many great things for residents to do. Unfortunately the amenities are closed right now, but we'll get to experience them some day.
- Big balcony and outdoor storage
Our outdoor balcony area is the biggest we have had so far at our three places. It's got plenty of space for a patio table, chairs, and even a grill. And our outdoor storage is bigger than what we had at our last place.
- Deep pantries
We definitely have more space to put our non-perishable foods. Before, we used to have space just for cups, plates, bowls, etc., but now we have a place for those things AND groceries. And the pantries we have go pretty deep, so they can accommodate a lot of stuff. We just have to be careful some food items don't get lost back there and go bad/expire.
- Valet garbage service
Because our complex is so large with only a few dumpsters, we have the option of a garbage valet service. Five nights a week we have the option of leaving our trash and recycle out for a paid attendant to pick up. All we have to do is put it outside our door. It's awesome, and whenever we move out of here, I know I will miss this service immensely.
- Surrounding area/shops
I think the surrounding area is even better for us here. We're still within walking distance of a Safeway, but we have more restaurants, a dollar store, and a Fred Meyer. I also really like the surrounding nature, which we can see right from our living room window.
- Even better nature views
Being at "North Creek", there is a flowing creek and a bunch of trees in our area that almost make it seem like you're far removed from the city, which we're not, fortunately. On our walk to the leasing office/mailbox, there is a bridge which goes over a flowing creek. We also get a lot of bunnies around our complex.
Well, that's all I have for now, if I think of anything else, I'll be sure to add it here!
Bad:
- We can hear the upstairs neighbors too easily.
We live on the 2nd floor of a 3 floor complex. We have neighbors above and below us. We're used to having to not make too much noise on the floor (we've always lived on the 2nd floor), but at our last place, we didn't have any upstairs neighbors, which was nice. We hear them walking a lot, and Amanda can even hear them talking and snoring or their TV.
- Longer commute
With moving to Bothell comes longer commutes. Because of COVID-19, I am not working at the moment, but when I do go back to work, the commute to work will be longer than before. Fortunately I do not have to deal with that yet.
- Less bedroom space
Our bedroom is a bit noticeably smaller. Our living/dining room is about the same, maybe a tad smaller as well. It's not a big deal, especially since we are using our space better. At our last place, our couch was basically in the middle of the living room, because if it was against the wall, it would have been too far away from the TV.
Good:
- Best amenities I have ever seen
Literally the best amenities I have ever seen at an apartment complex. Swimming pool, billiards, huge gym, coffee and tea bar, TV, brand new Apple computers, etc. Just so many great things for residents to do. Unfortunately the amenities are closed right now, but we'll get to experience them some day.
- Big balcony and outdoor storage
Our outdoor balcony area is the biggest we have had so far at our three places. It's got plenty of space for a patio table, chairs, and even a grill. And our outdoor storage is bigger than what we had at our last place.
- Deep pantries
We definitely have more space to put our non-perishable foods. Before, we used to have space just for cups, plates, bowls, etc., but now we have a place for those things AND groceries. And the pantries we have go pretty deep, so they can accommodate a lot of stuff. We just have to be careful some food items don't get lost back there and go bad/expire.
- Valet garbage service
Because our complex is so large with only a few dumpsters, we have the option of a garbage valet service. Five nights a week we have the option of leaving our trash and recycle out for a paid attendant to pick up. All we have to do is put it outside our door. It's awesome, and whenever we move out of here, I know I will miss this service immensely.
- Surrounding area/shops
I think the surrounding area is even better for us here. We're still within walking distance of a Safeway, but we have more restaurants, a dollar store, and a Fred Meyer. I also really like the surrounding nature, which we can see right from our living room window.
- Even better nature views
Being at "North Creek", there is a flowing creek and a bunch of trees in our area that almost make it seem like you're far removed from the city, which we're not, fortunately. On our walk to the leasing office/mailbox, there is a bridge which goes over a flowing creek. We also get a lot of bunnies around our complex.
Well, that's all I have for now, if I think of anything else, I'll be sure to add it here!
Monday, April 13, 2020
Fortnite Stereotypes
I'm a huge fan of Dude Perfect's "Stereotypes" series, so I thought it would be cool to describe some Fortnite gamer stereotypes. These are obviously exaggerated, just like the ones Dude Perfect does. Some of these, I will admit to being at one time or another. And I will say after each one if I ever am that stereotype when playing Fortnite. And hey, maybe Dude Perfect (or someone else) could make this into a video one day. Here are the Fortnite stereotypes:
The Hardcore sweat: A player that is button-mashing like crazy, spamming 90's and just has to kill as many people as possible. Shows him killing everyone he can, even people that are emoting or trying to get away. And of course, sweat is pouring down his face the whole time.
Is this ever me? No. One, I'm not skilled enough, and two, even if I was skilled enough, I think it's just kinda sad IMO.
The Architect: All they do during games is build things. They show a player having built the Taj Mahal or something similar. Or a player that's constantly in Creative mode making new maps.
Is this ever me? Rarely. I'm not hugely creative. When I first got into Fortnite I built a few things in the now-defunct Playground mode.
The Mobile Player: Someone who gets made fun of for playing on mobile. They explain how they don't own a good enough PC or current console. They constantly struggle with building and aiming.
Is this ever me? I have played Fortnite on mobile, but only to accomplish challenges that require two players (i.e. revive a friend in a match). But I relate to the gamers that don't own a PC or new enough console, as that used to be me.
The dancer: All they do during a match is dance and emote. They get into a squads game and their teammates get frustrated with them. This person also encourages others to emote with them.
Is this ever me? Only if I'm bored in a match and waiting for something to happen.
Moneybags: Someone who buys all the skins and everything else in the item shop. They get asked when they're ever going to use a certain skin, and they just reply "I dunno, I just like having it."
Is this ever me? I've probably bought more skins than I need, but I really do limit myself. I only have 50-some skins, mostly from the Battle Passes I've purchased.
The Rage Monster: If you watch Dude Perfect's stereotypes, you knew this was coming. This is someone that rages at the end of every match. They throw their controller (perhaps into the TV). Or if they're on a PC, they smash their keyboard against the wall, throw their monitor, and chuck their PC out a window.
Is this ever me? Yes, and more often than I'd care to admit. Although I don't damage my possessions... much.
The AFK but somehow ends up winning: The player that is away from their game for most of the match, but at the end they finally pay attention and they win.
Is this ever me? Sometimes I'll start a game, hide, and get something done like chores. I have won one or two of those types of games, so yes, this can be me.
The person who always dies early: They go for a chest at the same time as someone else but can never get the gun. Perhaps someone asks them why they don't land somewhere less crowded. They just respond saying, "Nah, man, you gotta land in those hot zones. That's where it's at."
Is this ever me? I try to avoid those kinds of places, so not really. But on occasion I will die early, regardless.
The Challenge Completer: Players who just play to accomplish challenges. It shows someone going to ridiculous lengths to complete a challenge, perhaps ignoring their squad.
Is this ever me? Yes, quite often. As I usually play solo and don't really care if I win or not, I often go for the challenge even if it hurts my chances of winning.
The Camper: Shows a player who camps in a bush the entire match. They get asked, "How is that even fun?" And they just respond, "Well, I always get top 10, do you?"
Is this ever me? Yes, but really only when I go off to do chores or other tasks.
The Sneak: They sneak around like some kind of stealthy secret agent. When they see another player they instantly hide until they can no longer see them.
Is this ever me? Yes, fairly often. Part of the fun to Fortnite (IMO) is being sneaky. I get a bit of a thrill when I'm able to sneak past or hide and some other player doesn't notice me.
The Hardcore sweat: A player that is button-mashing like crazy, spamming 90's and just has to kill as many people as possible. Shows him killing everyone he can, even people that are emoting or trying to get away. And of course, sweat is pouring down his face the whole time.
Is this ever me? No. One, I'm not skilled enough, and two, even if I was skilled enough, I think it's just kinda sad IMO.
The Architect: All they do during games is build things. They show a player having built the Taj Mahal or something similar. Or a player that's constantly in Creative mode making new maps.
Is this ever me? Rarely. I'm not hugely creative. When I first got into Fortnite I built a few things in the now-defunct Playground mode.
The Mobile Player: Someone who gets made fun of for playing on mobile. They explain how they don't own a good enough PC or current console. They constantly struggle with building and aiming.
Is this ever me? I have played Fortnite on mobile, but only to accomplish challenges that require two players (i.e. revive a friend in a match). But I relate to the gamers that don't own a PC or new enough console, as that used to be me.
The dancer: All they do during a match is dance and emote. They get into a squads game and their teammates get frustrated with them. This person also encourages others to emote with them.
Is this ever me? Only if I'm bored in a match and waiting for something to happen.
Moneybags: Someone who buys all the skins and everything else in the item shop. They get asked when they're ever going to use a certain skin, and they just reply "I dunno, I just like having it."
Is this ever me? I've probably bought more skins than I need, but I really do limit myself. I only have 50-some skins, mostly from the Battle Passes I've purchased.
The Rage Monster: If you watch Dude Perfect's stereotypes, you knew this was coming. This is someone that rages at the end of every match. They throw their controller (perhaps into the TV). Or if they're on a PC, they smash their keyboard against the wall, throw their monitor, and chuck their PC out a window.
Is this ever me? Yes, and more often than I'd care to admit. Although I don't damage my possessions... much.
The AFK but somehow ends up winning: The player that is away from their game for most of the match, but at the end they finally pay attention and they win.
Is this ever me? Sometimes I'll start a game, hide, and get something done like chores. I have won one or two of those types of games, so yes, this can be me.
The person who always dies early: They go for a chest at the same time as someone else but can never get the gun. Perhaps someone asks them why they don't land somewhere less crowded. They just respond saying, "Nah, man, you gotta land in those hot zones. That's where it's at."
Is this ever me? I try to avoid those kinds of places, so not really. But on occasion I will die early, regardless.
The Challenge Completer: Players who just play to accomplish challenges. It shows someone going to ridiculous lengths to complete a challenge, perhaps ignoring their squad.
Is this ever me? Yes, quite often. As I usually play solo and don't really care if I win or not, I often go for the challenge even if it hurts my chances of winning.
The Camper: Shows a player who camps in a bush the entire match. They get asked, "How is that even fun?" And they just respond, "Well, I always get top 10, do you?"
Is this ever me? Yes, but really only when I go off to do chores or other tasks.
The Sneak: They sneak around like some kind of stealthy secret agent. When they see another player they instantly hide until they can no longer see them.
Is this ever me? Yes, fairly often. Part of the fun to Fortnite (IMO) is being sneaky. I get a bit of a thrill when I'm able to sneak past or hide and some other player doesn't notice me.
Thursday, March 12, 2020
We're Moving!
After two and a half years at Scout (formerly Hunter's Run), Amanda and I are moving! The main reason for the move is the massive renovations the complex is undergoing. They rebranded (from Hunter's Run to Scout) and they've already replaced the roofs and windows of apartments. Our lease we signed late last summer only went until the beginning of April, because Scout has to have construction guys remodel the inside of our apartment. I've seen what they've done to other apartments; they completely gut them and replace everything. It would not be possible to stay in the apartment during that.
They have not reached out to us yet (but I expect they will soon), but Scout will probably offer us a comparable apartment that's already been renovated. Unfortunately with the remodel, they are raising rent in the remodeled units, a rent we cannot afford. We've checked online and while the apartments are nice, we just can't afford it.
So we began our apartment search. We found a place in Bothell called "Griffis North Creek" just off the Bothell-Everett Highway. It's got the nicest amenities I have ever seen in an apartment complex. To start, it's got:
- A pool table
- Swimming pool, large enough to do laps in
- Jacuzzi
- Full size gym
- Yoga studio (with hot yoga capabilities)
- Shuffleboard
- Full-size coffee and tea bar
- Brand new Apple computers for use
- Two gas grills anyone can use
And more.
But our apartment, where we'll be spending most of our time, is very nice as well. It's got a kitchen with all new stainless steel appliances, a small pantry, a coat closet, walk-in closet, washer/dryer, and my favorite part: Garbage valet service. Because it's such a huge complex, it's quite a walk to the nearest garbage dumpster, so they offer a garbage valet service. Five nights a week, a trash person collects garbage people leave out in front of their door. It's awesome. Oh, also each apartment is fitted with sprinklers, so in case of a massive fire, our belongings will not get burnt and lost forever.
But for the first time, I will not call Kirkland home. I have lived in Kirkland my entire life, but unfortunately it's just become too expensive to live in. My sister moved out of Kirkland a few years ago. My parents moved out just last year. Now in just a few weeks, I will move out of Kirkland myself. I love the city, and it will always have a special place in my heart, but it was time to move on and move out. At least I will stay on the east side and within driving distance.
Our apartment is on the small-ish size at 659 square feet, but that's okay to me. It will encourage Amanda and I to get rid of stuff we no longer need. My plan in these next few weeks is to put all-non essentials in our storage unit we rent, and then as time goes on, make trips to the storage unit and decide whether to keep things and put them in our new apartment, or get rid of them.
My least favorite part will be our commute. I did some research and when traffic is bad, it could take an hour to get to work, which I am not looking forward to. Depending on how it goes (or if I can find an alternative route to 405), I might get a Good-To-Go pass so I can drive in the toll lanes. We also might carpool on occasion, even though we work an hour apart (she starts and gets off an hour after me). Unfortunately, the carpool requirements during peak hours is 3 occupants, so we wouldn't be able to use the toll lanes as an HOV lane for free.
I'm excited for this move. We're going to get our keys and set up everything Saturday the 28th, and move our furniture the following day. We then will use the following week up until our lease expires to move the remaining things and clean the old apartment. I'm hoping that our current residence does not make us deep clean all the appliances and counters they're just going to replace anyway.
I will probably post an update after move, sometime in April, about how the transition to Griffis North Creek has gone. I am looking forward to taking advantage of the amenities when possible. Wish me luck with the move, it's definitely a change for me!
They have not reached out to us yet (but I expect they will soon), but Scout will probably offer us a comparable apartment that's already been renovated. Unfortunately with the remodel, they are raising rent in the remodeled units, a rent we cannot afford. We've checked online and while the apartments are nice, we just can't afford it.
So we began our apartment search. We found a place in Bothell called "Griffis North Creek" just off the Bothell-Everett Highway. It's got the nicest amenities I have ever seen in an apartment complex. To start, it's got:
- A pool table
- Swimming pool, large enough to do laps in
- Jacuzzi
- Full size gym
- Yoga studio (with hot yoga capabilities)
- Shuffleboard
- Full-size coffee and tea bar
- Brand new Apple computers for use
- Two gas grills anyone can use
And more.
But our apartment, where we'll be spending most of our time, is very nice as well. It's got a kitchen with all new stainless steel appliances, a small pantry, a coat closet, walk-in closet, washer/dryer, and my favorite part: Garbage valet service. Because it's such a huge complex, it's quite a walk to the nearest garbage dumpster, so they offer a garbage valet service. Five nights a week, a trash person collects garbage people leave out in front of their door. It's awesome. Oh, also each apartment is fitted with sprinklers, so in case of a massive fire, our belongings will not get burnt and lost forever.
But for the first time, I will not call Kirkland home. I have lived in Kirkland my entire life, but unfortunately it's just become too expensive to live in. My sister moved out of Kirkland a few years ago. My parents moved out just last year. Now in just a few weeks, I will move out of Kirkland myself. I love the city, and it will always have a special place in my heart, but it was time to move on and move out. At least I will stay on the east side and within driving distance.
Our apartment is on the small-ish size at 659 square feet, but that's okay to me. It will encourage Amanda and I to get rid of stuff we no longer need. My plan in these next few weeks is to put all-non essentials in our storage unit we rent, and then as time goes on, make trips to the storage unit and decide whether to keep things and put them in our new apartment, or get rid of them.
My least favorite part will be our commute. I did some research and when traffic is bad, it could take an hour to get to work, which I am not looking forward to. Depending on how it goes (or if I can find an alternative route to 405), I might get a Good-To-Go pass so I can drive in the toll lanes. We also might carpool on occasion, even though we work an hour apart (she starts and gets off an hour after me). Unfortunately, the carpool requirements during peak hours is 3 occupants, so we wouldn't be able to use the toll lanes as an HOV lane for free.
I'm excited for this move. We're going to get our keys and set up everything Saturday the 28th, and move our furniture the following day. We then will use the following week up until our lease expires to move the remaining things and clean the old apartment. I'm hoping that our current residence does not make us deep clean all the appliances and counters they're just going to replace anyway.
I will probably post an update after move, sometime in April, about how the transition to Griffis North Creek has gone. I am looking forward to taking advantage of the amenities when possible. Wish me luck with the move, it's definitely a change for me!
Thursday, March 5, 2020
COVID-19 AKA The Coronavirus
There is a disease going around that is bordering on being a pandemic. Ok, it is a pandemic. The Coronavirus is prevalant news around the globe, and it's disrupting everyday life everywhere. Businesses are getting people to work from home, if possible. Events are being cancelled or postponed. Some businesses that rely on regular customers are hurting because those customers are staying home.
I'm not scared. The symptoms are something we've all dealt with in life: coughing, a fever, and most of us have experienced a shortness in breath. But what makes myself feel safe is that the only people to have lost their lives after contracting COVID-19 are people middle-aged or older. People my age have gotten it, but they're making it through. Instead, I worry about my loved ones that are more susceptible to the disease, such as my grandparents, my parents, my aunts and uncles.
The crazy thing about this is that what it being deemed the "epicenter" of the virus is about a mile from where I live. The Life Care Center in Kirkland is basically in the same neighborhood as my home. It's not where the virus originated, but it's where it's caused the most damage and where most of the people who have lost their lives got it. Crazy, out of all the places in the world, it's a place a mile away from me.
I am doing all the precautionary measures: washing my hands often, using hand sanitizer gel and wipes, and wiping down commonly touched surfaces. We're being sent home to work from home later today and for all day tomorrow. The main reason for that is probably because one of my coworkers was recently in close proximity to someone that potentially had the virus. Fortunately, she has not displayed any symptoms as of yet, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Everyone, especially the elderly, should be taking every precaution they can. It's not like we should all try and find a doomsday bunker or completely seclude ourselves from the world, but we should be extra careful at this time. If you touch something commonly touched by others, do not touch anywhere on your face until you can wash/sanitize your hands. I am someone whose face itches constantly, whether it be my nose, eyes, or cheek. I am taking care of those itches by using my arm or by making sure my hands are absolutely clean first. Obviously, you aren't going to magically give yourself the virus, but you can contract it from others.
I hope this dies down soon so our lives can get back to normal. I hate having to worry about my family when they are the ones who are susceptible to the virus being fatal for them. The worst thing would be if everyone knew someone, friend or family, that got the virus, and worse, knowing someone who died from it. That would just be catastrophic. If the infected people are quarantined and stay away from others, we should be fine. This disease has not been proven fatal to people who are young and/or fit, and let's hope it stays that way.
I'm not scared. The symptoms are something we've all dealt with in life: coughing, a fever, and most of us have experienced a shortness in breath. But what makes myself feel safe is that the only people to have lost their lives after contracting COVID-19 are people middle-aged or older. People my age have gotten it, but they're making it through. Instead, I worry about my loved ones that are more susceptible to the disease, such as my grandparents, my parents, my aunts and uncles.
The crazy thing about this is that what it being deemed the "epicenter" of the virus is about a mile from where I live. The Life Care Center in Kirkland is basically in the same neighborhood as my home. It's not where the virus originated, but it's where it's caused the most damage and where most of the people who have lost their lives got it. Crazy, out of all the places in the world, it's a place a mile away from me.
I am doing all the precautionary measures: washing my hands often, using hand sanitizer gel and wipes, and wiping down commonly touched surfaces. We're being sent home to work from home later today and for all day tomorrow. The main reason for that is probably because one of my coworkers was recently in close proximity to someone that potentially had the virus. Fortunately, she has not displayed any symptoms as of yet, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Everyone, especially the elderly, should be taking every precaution they can. It's not like we should all try and find a doomsday bunker or completely seclude ourselves from the world, but we should be extra careful at this time. If you touch something commonly touched by others, do not touch anywhere on your face until you can wash/sanitize your hands. I am someone whose face itches constantly, whether it be my nose, eyes, or cheek. I am taking care of those itches by using my arm or by making sure my hands are absolutely clean first. Obviously, you aren't going to magically give yourself the virus, but you can contract it from others.
I hope this dies down soon so our lives can get back to normal. I hate having to worry about my family when they are the ones who are susceptible to the virus being fatal for them. The worst thing would be if everyone knew someone, friend or family, that got the virus, and worse, knowing someone who died from it. That would just be catastrophic. If the infected people are quarantined and stay away from others, we should be fine. This disease has not been proven fatal to people who are young and/or fit, and let's hope it stays that way.
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Survivor Appreciation Post
Without a doubt, my favorite reality TV show of all time is Survivor. It's currently on it's 40th season right now, going 20 years strong. I have watched every single episode since season 2. I didn't watch the first season live, as I was a bit too young and I didn't know if it was going to be worth watching. I am currently in the middle of re-watching every season on Hulu. Thank God Hulu put all of the seasons on Survivor (up until season 34 or so). Oddly enough, in the earlier seasons, some of the episodes are not on Hulu, due to the contestants singing a song that is copyrighted or trademarked. Eventually, CBS learned not to show contestants singing those kinds of songs.
Survivor is not only my favorite reality TV show ever, it is one of my favorite TV shows ever, period. There is not one other show I've watched consistently for the past 20 years. It's been a part of my adolescent and now adult life. Every September and February, a new season has aired since 2000. I may not watch every episode live (due to conflicts with other shows, being busy with work or social plans, etc.), but I at least watch them eventually.
I think there are three reasons why Survivor has stood the test of time. One, it's always been about people and all the social games and politics. And those people have generally been interesting characters, ones we either grow attached to or despise. Two, it's not stayed the same game all the time, and has slowly evolved over the seasons to keep things interesting, new, and fresh. And three, the show's amazing host, Jeff Probst. Jeff's enthusiasm for the show and his ability to get the perfect responses out of people at Tribal Council make this show worth watching. If CBS had picked the wrong host way back in 2000, there's no way it would still be on.
The one problem Survivor is starting to face is making the show too confusing and complex. It's easy for the average person to keep track of Immunity Idols, but to ask the majority of people to keep track of other advantages (Steal a vote, block a vote, Idol nullifiers) as well is just asking too much. To top if off, they have introduced a currency of "Fire Tokens" in their 40th season. What they almost need is a segment where they show everyone's advantages and running fire tokens total. Thanks to a fan suggestion on Twitter, a few seasons ago they started putting what advantages each player has underneath their name. But that's only a modest amount of help.
I have thought about applying for Survivor, and technically I have. About a decade ago, Survivor allowed people to submit three minute videos of just themselves. That's all they had to do to apply. I made a video and submitted it, but never got a response. It's still on YouTube, and you can watch it here and cringe along with me. I think I'm better suited for the game now, having studied all the players and watching the show twice now. Once I get in better shape, I think I will seriously apply for the show and hope for the best.
So when will Survivor end? My guess is around the 50th season or so. If Probst decides to retire or stop doing the show, can Survivor even go on? I don't think I'd watch it with a new host. It certainly wouldn't be the same show without him. Let's hope Jeff continues to want to do the show until it can't go on anymore. But the one thing I'm afraid of is that the show becomes so convoluted with advantages and idols that it is no longer recognizable as the game it was twenty years ago. It's starting to get that way, but what the show needs to do is go back to its roots. Perhaps for one season they could do no advantages, except for perhaps one hidden immunity idol, and focus more on the survival aspect, just to see how well that season does with the fans. I bet it would be received even better.
Survivor is not only my favorite reality TV show ever, it is one of my favorite TV shows ever, period. There is not one other show I've watched consistently for the past 20 years. It's been a part of my adolescent and now adult life. Every September and February, a new season has aired since 2000. I may not watch every episode live (due to conflicts with other shows, being busy with work or social plans, etc.), but I at least watch them eventually.
I think there are three reasons why Survivor has stood the test of time. One, it's always been about people and all the social games and politics. And those people have generally been interesting characters, ones we either grow attached to or despise. Two, it's not stayed the same game all the time, and has slowly evolved over the seasons to keep things interesting, new, and fresh. And three, the show's amazing host, Jeff Probst. Jeff's enthusiasm for the show and his ability to get the perfect responses out of people at Tribal Council make this show worth watching. If CBS had picked the wrong host way back in 2000, there's no way it would still be on.
The one problem Survivor is starting to face is making the show too confusing and complex. It's easy for the average person to keep track of Immunity Idols, but to ask the majority of people to keep track of other advantages (Steal a vote, block a vote, Idol nullifiers) as well is just asking too much. To top if off, they have introduced a currency of "Fire Tokens" in their 40th season. What they almost need is a segment where they show everyone's advantages and running fire tokens total. Thanks to a fan suggestion on Twitter, a few seasons ago they started putting what advantages each player has underneath their name. But that's only a modest amount of help.
I have thought about applying for Survivor, and technically I have. About a decade ago, Survivor allowed people to submit three minute videos of just themselves. That's all they had to do to apply. I made a video and submitted it, but never got a response. It's still on YouTube, and you can watch it here and cringe along with me. I think I'm better suited for the game now, having studied all the players and watching the show twice now. Once I get in better shape, I think I will seriously apply for the show and hope for the best.
So when will Survivor end? My guess is around the 50th season or so. If Probst decides to retire or stop doing the show, can Survivor even go on? I don't think I'd watch it with a new host. It certainly wouldn't be the same show without him. Let's hope Jeff continues to want to do the show until it can't go on anymore. But the one thing I'm afraid of is that the show becomes so convoluted with advantages and idols that it is no longer recognizable as the game it was twenty years ago. It's starting to get that way, but what the show needs to do is go back to its roots. Perhaps for one season they could do no advantages, except for perhaps one hidden immunity idol, and focus more on the survival aspect, just to see how well that season does with the fans. I bet it would be received even better.
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