The RWBY Reviews: Episode 3

Sorry about the late post, but internet is spotty at the beach. Wasn't able to post this until today.

Now, without further interruption, RWBY: Episode 3!

I'm pretty sure I saw that cathedral in Kingdom Hearts...

Ruby and Jaune arrive at some sort of auditorium, where they split up when Yang calls Ruby over. Jaune is left alone, wondering aloud where he can find another girl to talk to, as a young woman with long red hair looks on. Yang and Ruby catch up, with Ruby rushing an explanation of the incident in the courtyard. Listening in, from the seat next to her, is Weiss, who isn't too happy to see Ruby again...

"OH GOD, IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN!"

While Yang tries (in vain) to help her sister get along with Weiss, the latter continues to berate Ruby for the mistake, with Ruby continued to apologize. Weiss even forces a pamphlet into Ruby's hands, "Dust For Dummies", and tells her that if she's earnest in her desire for reparations, she should read this and never ever speak to her again. Rather disheartened, Ruby's thoughts are pulled from Weiss when the Professor walks on stage, and addresses the crowd.

"Nitwit. Blubber. Oddment. Tweak. Thank you."

Ospin isn't exactly Dumbledore. In his speech, he says that knowledge will only get the new students so far, and that it's up to them to take the first step. The crowd murmurs has he steps back, and Ruby comments that it was like Ospin wasn't even there. Goodwitch takes the stage and asks the students to proceed to the ballroom, and their initiation will follow tomorrow. 

"Does anyone else think the headmaster sounds like Agent Washington from Red vs. Blue?"

The scene changes as the sun goes down, and the new students are milling about in the ballroom in their pajamas, sleeping bags laid out across the floor. Yang remarks to Ruby that it feels like a huge slumber party, and Ruby replies that their father probably wouldn't be happy with all the boys here. Yang says she feels the opposite as she checks out some of the other male students, just in tim for Jaune to walk by in footie pajamas. Yang, in an effort to avoid Jaune, asks Ruby what she's writing, and Ruby replies that it's a letter to her friends at Signal, and that she feels off that she doesn't have any friends. Yang points out Jaune as "plus one friend!" but Ruby says Weiss counts as a "negative friend". 

Does anyone else think that Ruby's eyemask looks...Evil-y?

At this point, Ruby notices Blake across the room, lighting some candles and reading. Yang drags her over to introduce herself. Blake responds in a rather distant fashion, keeping herself behind her book, and continually tries to work them away, finally mentioning how much she'd love to finish this book. And then, Ruby starts speaking up, asking about the book. She confesses she loves books, and that Yang used to read to her nightly. It's books that made her want to be a huntress, and to protect people. Blake says the world isn't a fairy tale, to which, Ruby responds that's why people like them exist.

"I was kind of hoping you'd say you wanted to be Hokage."

Yang can barely contain her pride for Ruby, and begins to smother her. The pair fight, to Blake's amusment, and Weiss' fury. Calling Ruby a hazard to her health and bickering with Yang, Blake blows out the candles, and the credits roll.

"WITCHES GET STITCHES!"

On the tech side of things, there are a few firsts in this episode. For the first time, there are background characters with detail. In the scene in the ballroom, when Yang checks out the men, they are detailed, instead of shadows. It's also nice to see all of team RWBY in one scene together,  

Another first in the episode is a character from Team JAUN: The red-haired girl.  The fanbase calls her "Umber", but an official name hasn't been released yet. From what we see of her in the opening, she uses some sort of spear, and is affiliated, somehow, with Jaune, along with the other two team members.  

I'm not sure what the initiation entails, but if I'm right...It's gonna be a doozy.

See you all next week!

The Epic Beach Adventure: Chapter Two

Today wasn't too different than yesterday, but I still feel accomplished and relaxed.

The day started off early with a run on the beach, which led to me getting lost on the beach, which led in turn to me discovering a ton of dead jellyfish on the beach. They were likely tossed up in the big storm yesterday. Either way, I managed to put in a decent run, but I'm convinced I can do better. Tomorrow morning, I just might.

Not a lot happened in my life today, aside from the completion of the final paper for my internship class. That signals that I'm nearing the end of my summer, but as I said in the paper, I feel accomplished, even though the internship took most of my summer. I've realized I need to put the idea of child summers behind me, and just enjoy my work and the vacations I get. Hopefully, I'll still be able to have vacations, one day.

We got to sneak a look at the sunset this evening, and snapped a few pictures. Everyone seemed pleased with it, and it was quite the scene. Mom mentioned part of the spectacle was how everything was going to bed, but there are neighbors behind us who seemed to have missed the memo. They'll quiet down, of course, but for now they're hollering and hooting and splashing about, which they're free to do. After all, it's their vacation too.

The Epic Beach Adventure: Chapter One

The drive to Corolla, NC, is always a pain in the neck. Why?

Because an entire hour is added to the trip to get through bottlenecked traffic.

I'm not sure if it's poor city planning, shoddy driving, or what, but it's bedlam on the road into the town of Duck, where my family and I stay during one week of the summer. We rent a beach house, pack up, move in, and then return one week later with the remnants of awful hangovers and sunburned red as New England Lobsters.

Wait, no, that's just me. My parents remember to put sunscreen on.

Anyway, the drive from Raleigh to the Outer Banks isn't anything crazy. A few hours of driving is nothing new to my family, as we travel frequently by road or plane. However, the hour-long parking lot into Duck is the worst part of the trip. The best part is the beach on the other side.

While I, by no means, enjoy the sun, sand, and surf, I still enjoy the sea breeze, the scent of the salty spray, and the warm company I find myself in. This summer, I'm hoping to work on a tan so I don't blind people (as is usual for me), and by next summer, I hope to not offend people with my generous waist, as well. This hope often goes unfulfilled, of course, but I like to keep it in my mind.

Moving into the house this summer, however, we already saw a few problems. The house is compact, and not well kept (We've had to do some work ourselves during our first day here on the upkeep), not to mention there are a myriad of issues that I won't dare mention. Maybe we won't spend a lot of time in here,  but it would still be nice not to have a nail prod me in my sleep every night when I go to bed. The sunburn will be bad enough.

However, the balm for me is the company. This year, my cousin Zoe invited her friend Jocci (Joss-Ee) to join us at the beach. She's kind, as I've come to expect of Zoe's friends, and she won't be the only one joining us. Zoe's brother, my cousin Max, will also attend, along with Zoe's boyfriend, Tom. While I was happy to have the house to myself last night and crash wherever my eyes closed, I'm happier to have company, especially company I either rarely see or aren't acquainted with. What's the old adage; "A stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet".

Jocci, Zoe, and my family are all in bed, the former pair due to strenuous travel, and I should probably guide my head to a pillow soon too. Until next time, I'll see you on the beach.

A Musing on Attention

This is just something that crossed my mind because of something I heard someone say today.

"I don't even know why I'm on Twitter, celebrities never respond."

Son, listen: I'm on Twitter for two reasons; My job demands it, and I enjoy it. Do you know how many times I sent a Tweet to TotalBiscuit or Nathan Fillion, or anyone else famous who never responded? Plenty of times. Now, don't get me wrong, I still flip my shit when someone I admire responds to something I've posted, but at the end of the day, they're just another one of 7.7 Billion people on this planet who have no idea that I exist, or listen to what I say.

Does that bother me? No. Because I have people who do listen, people who do know I exist, and are pleased about it. Everyone does, even when they feel otherwise. Every godforsaken soul that was ever born on this oasis in the stars we call home has at least one such person, and it's okay for it to be themselves. You have to be your biggest fan, and your best friend. You have to be both your advisor and your inspiration. If you've never had to do that, now's the time to start to learn.

Now, people say Twitter, YouTube, and various other mediums have made it easy to bring down the celebrity gods and goddesses from Mount Olympus. This is wrong; They were never gods or goddesses to begin with. They were like me, and you, and if you're going to talk to them, or reach out to them, do it like a person. Sending them a Tweet is lovely, but just remember everyone has things need doing, and that may mean they can't, or won't, answer.

Quit taking it personally, and move along. You don't have to be an astronaut to look up at the stars, but it helps to be one if you want to be among them.

The RWBY Reviews: Episode 2

Happy Thursday, and welcome to the next RWBY review!

When we last saw our protagonist, Ruby Rose, she was aboard a ship on it's way to Beacon, a school for monster hunters.

"SCHOOL'S IN, BITCHES!"

We resume where we left off, with the airship pulling in to Beacon. The group migrates off the ship (Vomit Boy finding the nearest trash can to expunge his stomach in), as Yang and Ruby bask in the awe of Beacon. Yang comments that the view from the courtyard is phenomenal, though Ruby is too busy admiring the weapons of the people around them to care.

God's bones, she;s one of them.

With her little sister fangirling herself bling, Yang comments that she's coming across as unhappy with her own weapon. Rose replies that she adores "Crescent Rose", but seeing new weapons is like meeting new people. On that topic, she asks how they're going to make friends. At that moment, Yang's friends scurry up, and she's off like the Flash. Ruby is left alone in the courtyard, with no idea what to do, and, dizzied by her sisters departure, topples backwards into a luggage cart. We see a white boot slam down as an authoritative voice questions her actions...

"You, like, totally almost crushed my color-coded cocaine!"

Enter Weiss Schnee, the third member of the team we see...And she's not happy that her Dust was almost wrecked by Ruby. Entering full-on Tsundere mode, Weiss verbally bashes Ruby in all manner of awful ways, shaking bottles of Dust at her. Apparently, even Schnee-Refined Dust is more volatile than an angry bomb-omb, and the eruption covers Weiss in ash, leaving a bottle of Dust time to evacuate...before it meets the foot of someone else.

"Color-coded cocaine, huh? Sick~"

Blake Belladonna enters the scene, introducing Weiss as an heiress, and showing her colors (See what I did there?) as she makes a verbal jab to Weiss' ego about her father's vilation of labor laws. Fully riled, Weiss storms off with her lackeys, Ruby calling after her with a promise to make this up to her, somehow. When she turns to thank Blake, she's already sashaying off on her own way, and once again, Ruby is left alone. Collapsing onto the stone, Ruby laments her social ineptitude, before someone approaches, and offers a gloved hand.

"Hey, I heard someone was giving away color-coded cocaine?"

It's Vomit Boy! Except not. He introduces himself as "Jaun", and it's apparent he's in the same awkward boat as Ruby. The two walk together across the grounds, making idle chat. Soon enough, the conversation turns to weapons, and while Ruby shows off Crescent Rose, Jaun reveals his style as a sword-and-board hero. The sword is old, and unlike most of the modern weapons we've seen, doesn't seem to have any apparent abilities or forms. The most advanced his equipment gets is a collapsable shield (Which, if you know how weight works, doesn't make it easer to lug about). Jaun reveals with a somber tone that it's a hand-me-down, form an ancestor who fought in the War. Ruby, seeing his discomfort, calls it an heirloom, and a classic, which brings a smile to Jaun's face. As the episode ends, the two realize, to their own humor, they're lost, but at least they're not alone.

"Who the HELL stole my cocaine!?"

Since not much has changed in tech or design, let's talk characters. Weiss Schnee, who we saw in the "White" trailer as some sort of singer, is rich, bratty, and a colossal jerk. She reminds me a lot of Draco Malfoy of Harry Potter fame (The hair doesn't help), and her every steps exudes ego and practice. I get the feeling we'll find out if she's a pressured princess, or a pampered prude. 

"Ooh, is that how much it goes for on the Black Market? Jackpot!"

Either way, her opposite, Blake, is just that-Her opposite. While Weiss is bratty and self-centered, we see from Blake that she thinks a lot of the welfare of other people. This has been evidenced both in the episode, and in her trailer, where she betrays a friend to save innocent lives. Their nature, of course, come into conflict, just as-Wait for it-Black, and white.

"So, is the cocaine this way? Is it?"

Jaun is clearly a boy stepping into boots a few sizes too big for him, and he knows it. I'm not sure if he chose to take a chance at this lifestyle, for the sake of family, honor, fame, or whatever, or if he was pushed down it. He's clearly more than a little abashed that his weapons aren't as advanced as the ones of his peers, and his social awkwardness only exacerbates his apparent self-doubt. We see in the opening that he looks up at a statue with what looks like trepidation, the same way a child would look up to an image of a powerful parent. According to the writiers, Jaun will be leading a team of his own, JAUN, alongside RWBY.

Yes. This guy will be the fearless leader.

Yang and Ruby get a bit of exposition as well. Ruby tells Jaun she made her weapon, as all students at Signal do, implying Yang crafted her shotgun gauntlets as well. Weiss likely had hers made, and Blake perhaps inherited hers as Jaun did. We also see that Yang is more comfortable in this atmosphere; It could be her age, or the fact she already has friends present, but she seems to have no problem settling into life at Beacon that we can tell, while still keeping an eye on her little sister. Ruby, we learn, has an affinity for both weapons and hunters, evidenced in the first episode, but confirmed in this one.

"Sythe, gun, sythegun. Easy-peasy!"

The team has, again, kept me hooked on the series. See you all next Thursday, as the adventure continues!

Updates

There's not much going on in my life that I think needs saying here. I plan on making a pot tomorrow about alienation, but I'm going to take a quick second to share what I've got planned.

• My parents and I are going to the beach with friends and family on Sunday, so my blog will have a journal of that.
• My internship at a news station is wrapping up, so expect a reflection on that (Which will also be my essay for final credit).
• College and work is starting up just after my birthday, so I'll see if I can manage regular updates.

Either way, thanks for keeping up!

The Perfect Pacific Rim Game (Or, At Least, My Idea Of It)

I've been following Pacific Rim since it was announced, and the only thing that has disappointed me is the lack of any good video game to go with it. The internet game was glitchy, and the arcade one, I found lacking. So, I got to thinking; See a need, fill a need.

This is my idea of the perfect Pacific Rim video game:

Imagine a game compatible with both controllers and motion sensing input device, such a Kinect or Eye-Toy (Yes, I'm dating myself, shut up), with the most fulfilling experience would be on the latter. You start at a character creation screen, where you choose a starting country, ethnicity, and sex before you move on to the aesthetics. The camera is third person, positioned over the shoulder, as you slowly fade into the game over Charlie Hunnam narrating the story so far. You fell asleep on the job again, it seems. Not that you can help it, your job is really boring. The game teaches you movement and interaction as you move about the office. People are talking about the latest Kaiju attack, and a few even wish they could do something about it.

Then the earth shakes under your feet, and you hear a roar. You look to the window just in time for the glass to shatter, and you to see the silhouette of a Kaiju slamming into your workplace. The building you're in comes crashing down, and you follow movement cues to survive and escape. Finally, you escape the building, and begin to make your way out of the area as alarm sound. Jets scream overhead as you follow the cues through the crowd. A strike from the Kaiju pushes you into the building, where a vandal is busy robbing whatever he can grab. He moves in to mug you, and you are introduced to the fighting cues. You dodge, weave, and bob, before taking him down. You only get to enjoy the victory for so long before the roof flies off of the building, and the Kaiju looms overhead. It's eyes narrow at you, and it raises a claw to pulverize you, right before the Jaeger slams into it like a freight train. You watch in rapt awe as the Jaeger clobbers the Kaiju, and then, as the Jaeger stands tall in victory against a clearing sky, Charlie Hunnam's voice returns, saying that moments  like this are what make people change, and turn normal people into Jaeger pilots.

A short time later, you've registered with the Pan Pacific Defense Force, and are in the crowd hearing the first address by Marshall Pentecost. You meet a few other cadets, who, unbeknownst to you, could become your CPU co-pilot, with an option to have a co-pilot join you from online. You train with them, and watch Jaegers come and go, before one day, you're called upon to be a Ranger yourself. You choose your co-pilot, and are assigned to your Jaeger; the same one that saved you years ago. She's about to be retired, but Pentecost see's a future in her. Strictly speaking, the PPDC has already ordered her scrapped, so Pentecost says that if you want to change her name, color scheme, or build, that's up to you and your co-pilot, as long as you take the fight to the Kaiju, and win. And so you begin your life a ranger, winning and losing battles, before finally taking a Kaiju down with you at the end of the game, just before the events of the movie...

Now, ideally, this game would be best played with two people together in the same room, but it could work online as well, with controllers or motion sensing input devices. While online, you can build a custom Jaeger with a friend, fight other Jaegers, and even enter survival-style combat against waves of Kaiju. While it could be played alone, the most fun and realistic experience would be with a friend at your side. Of course, the game wouldn't be limited to fighting Kaiju: the Jaeger would need repairs and upgrades, all done with PPDC budget money. You'd accumulate this through beating Kaiju, being graded on lack of collateral damage, Kaiju Blue containment, and Drift synch ratio (gauged by matching the cues perfectly with your partner). The larger the budget you can manage, the more upgrades you can add to the Jaeger, making her one of a kind indeed, and taking her from a Mark-2 to a Mark-5 or beyond. However, the battles would become more difficult as the game progresses, in line with the storyline leading up to the movie, ending with the final year and the heavy assault by Kaiju, the most devastating of which ends with you and your co-pilor sacrificing yourselves to stop a Category-4 Kaiju from destroying your home town.

Granted, this game will never happen, but if I can dream of piloting a Jaeger, I can sure as hell dream of a game where that happens.

So, This One Time, on Civ...(Cont'd)

You all remember Shaka of the Zulus. If not, read the post preceding this one.

Long story short, Shaka had pissed off the planet in my Civ 5 game, and we were going to war. My heavy armor was in place, XCOM Squads ready to drop, and my navy was on his borders. We got ready for the call to war, and when it came in 2022, we were ready.

Flanked by Shoshone battleships, destroyers, and subs, a Dutch ship engages with a Zulu pirate vessel.

Our navy struck first. Shaka had seen that move coming from leagues away, but I don't think he foresaw how effective three navies would be. The Dutch and Greek navies helped keep his forces penned in at the north and west corners of his country, where his navy was focused. Battleships, destroyers, and nuclear subs moved in for the kill, and by the end of the first month, roughly eight percent of his navy was gone. And that was just at sea. On land, it was a bloodbath.

The first and second XCOM squads cross the Zulu border, leaving smoke and fire in their wake.

Shoshone XCOM Squads led the way into Zulu territory. Shaka had three squads of trained rifleman at the borders, veterans of countless campaigns. But I had modern armor, mechanized infantry, and blockades on his cities: They didn't stand a chance. His cities took two months to fall, but they came down, one by one. Slowly, I swept south, returning cities to Poland that had been lost to them for ages. I could see it in my mind: Polish standards being raised by Polish muskets and Shosone XCOM squaddies over cities that had been under Shaka's thumb since the age of shield and sword. I felt good about what we did, but I knew that victory would come at a heavy price.

Shaka, defeated.

When Shaka's last city fell, a year after the war began, I felt a sense of foreboding. I never felt good about going to war in Civilization: It's just not my character. I was raised to know that what goes around, comes around, and karma is a mean, cranky bitch when you have it coming. Soon enough, I saw the consequences. Every nation, from allies to acquaintances, saw the Shoshone as warmongers, and feared their might. I couldn't say I blamed them. I kept imagining Pocatello in his office, watching war reports coming in, color draining from his face with each briefing. He had the mightiest civilization the world had ever seen under his rule, and the worst enemy of life now dead at his feet. While I imagine he felt some relief that the bomb was never used, I had a feeling that he regretted deeply making his friends fear him.

Catherine, confessing weakness before the Shoshone.

With friends now fearing the wrath of Pocatello, it would have been an excellent moment to take control. However, that wasn't something I could see this Pocatello doing. I withdrew my navy from the bloodied seas, and brought my soldiers home. Life went on as it had in the world before, with new trade agreements, discoveries, and skirmishes happening by the month. And then, at one UN meeting, I saw an opportunity to change the opinion of people, and went for it.

Russia had taken majority rule over the UN, and Catherine's first act was to propose the International Space Station. It was a gamble: The station could only be completed at a certain production score from all nations involved. Pocatello must have been over the moon. I could see him, asking his people to turn all their efforts skywards, to give them something to think about other than the massacre of the Zulu. During UN meetings, as diplomats squabbled, Pocatello would wait eagerly with his smartphone for any news on production. By 2026, it was done, and the Shoshone gave the gift of the ISS to the world.

Maybe it was just me, but I felt better about the war with the Zulu after the ISS was completed. The world continues to spin, though, and there will be a new Shaka tomorrow. When he or she rises, though, the Shoshone will be ready. With the world at our back, we will march on the dawn agains tyranny and oppression. 

For we are the Shoshone.

And we know no fear.

So, This One Time, On Civ...

I know I already made my Brave New World post, but something just happened during my game today that's worth mentioning.

Meet Consul Shaka of the Zulus.

"She said she liked feathers, so I killed her favorite bird and made myself a crown out of it."

During my game, this guy has been nothing but a bully. Granted, Shaka's favorite style of victory is Domination, where you conquer all of the civilizations on the map, but I was stunned to find that, as time passed, this guy only grew into a monster. He has nine out of Maria the First of Poland's ten cities as puppets, has made war twice on Alexander the Great (One of my friends from the get-go), has threatened to make war on nearly every country on the planet, and has even had the gall to denounce me a few thousand times.

Lets put this in perspective. Right now, the world is in the early 2000's, and Shaka is running with rifleman and cannons. I'm packing XCOM squads and nuclear submarines. Shaka is still learning how to fly, and I have a carrier loaded for bear off of the coast of his capital. Shaka has no idea how to make a grenade, and I just split the atom. The AI for Shaka is either dim, or crazy, and both have ended up with him as World's Most Wanted.

"But Doc, you smexy piece of manliness and attitude," You may ask, "Why didn't you and your tanks of holy glory roll over this bastard years ago? You could've saved yourself a load of trouble!" Easy. Because I knew all I had to do was wait. Waiting, eventually, paid off.

"Knock knock. Who's there? Me, with Cherno Alpha and the Red Army. Get on my уровень."

Meet Consul Catherine of Russia. Ever since our Civs encountered each other, I've developed a storyline in my head, where Pocatello and Catherine meet often to counsel and advise each other on wise actions and trade. We've adopted the same policies, the same ideologies, and have been great friends since day one. Her people are great fans of Shosone fashion and style, and we, in return, have adopted their religion as our own. 

And then Shaka decided to push her around.

Well, the Pocatello in my head wouldn't stand for this level of bullshit. A dozen battleships, five destroyers, three nuclear submarines, and one carrier loaded with bombers later, he seemed to get the idea that I didn't take kindly to his shenanigans. He made peace with Cat short after that, and I was already gearing up to hit him where it hurt. However, I knew that I would be labeled a warmonger for doing so, and I was pretty happy with the current peace.

Until one day...

"...So then I sacrificed her to my hungry gods. Teach that bitch to cheat on me."

I could see the event unfold in my head. Pocatello had just finished negotiating trade with Montezuma, our friend and neighbor, when the news arrived: One of Shaka's cities has rebelled, and is now flying the Shosone black-and-blue standard. We wasted no time in securing our foothold there. Why?

Because the Shoshone get a flat bonus when fighting on their own turf. And now, we had one right at Shaka's doorstep.

This was the beginning of something big, and I could see Pocatello grinning in my head. One by one, correspondents came in from across the world, issuing alerts that the nations of the world had suffered enough of Shaka's bull, and were now readying for war with the Zulus.

And there I was, with XCOM Squads and the Bomb. Who was I to decline their invitation to bring justice across the Zulu country?

I've told them all to give me ten turns to prepare. Those turns end tomorrow, and I'll issue my first (and hopefully last) war correspondence from the battlefield. I know we will fight, and I know we will win.

How do I know that?

Because we are the Shoshone. 

And we know no fear.

The RWBY Reviews: Episode 1

"Even the smallest spark of hope, is enough to ignite change."

That's how Monty Oum's new series, RWBY (click the link to watch) kicks off on Rooster Teeth, famous for the Red vs. Blue series. Monty, a longtime affiliate and friend to the team at Rooster Teeth, definitely had this show planned for a while. But before we cover that, let's cover the episode...

The cursor from The Sims apparently is humanity's salvation. So, yeah, we're screwed.

We start off with a bit of background on the world, and the history of humanity leading up to today. Humanity was born from dust, and the moment they set foot on the world, "The Darkness" attacked. They fought back with crystals that contained magical powers (though they call it, "nature's wrath"), aptly called "Dust". Beating The Darkness back, humanity established civilzations across the planet. But, with a foreboding tone, the narrating female says that the lights have gone out, and Darkness is creeping back into the world...

"Seriously? They spelled my name with a 'w'? Noobs..."

Cut to a city, years later. An old man's Dust shop is held up, and we meet our protagonist: Ruby Rose (Think Maka Albarn from Soul Eater with enough smug to be mistaken for a moon). Our sassy sythemaster lays the smackdown on the robbers, before chasing their ringleader (a readheaded man with a cigar, flare-gun/cane, and bowler hat) across a rooftop. We are then introduced to someone who is referred to as "A Huntress", someone for whom Ruby has some heavy admiration. The first thing she does after her life is saved, is ask for the Huntress' autograph.

...Which is apparently Hunter code for "Put me in the goddamn corner".

The scene changes to a dark room resembling an interrogation chamber, where the Huntress and a man who introduces himself as "Professor Ospin" speak to Ruby about her unique skills. We learn that Ruby is learning how to be a Huntress herself, and that, while she's two years away from joining her sister at "Beacon", which is apparently an advanced school for Huntsmen and Huntresses. Ospin seems to think she's got some serious talent, though, and accepts her on the spot.

"Hey, Ruby, do we get paid? We get paid, right? Ruby?...Ruby, you're drooling."

Another scene change, and Ruby is with her elder sister, Yang, on the vessel bound for Beacon. Ruby expresses nervous excitement, mostly stemming from the fact she was advanced two years with no questions asked, when she's nothing special. Yang reminds her she's still pretty special, before a news channel cuts to a report about the robbery that Ruby foiled. They move on to a report about a terrorist group called the "White Fang", staging an attack on some kind of protest, before the feed is cut. The Huntress, naming herself Glinda Goodwitch (ten points on that one, Monty), welcomes the students to Beacon, and the adventure is set to begin.

"Help me, Ruby-won Kenobi: you're my only hope."

Story-wise, RWBY seems to be set to follow not just Ruby, but a four-man valkyrie tag-team of badassery based around colors: Red, White, Black, and Yellow. Four trailers were released prior to episode one, the first at the tail end of Red Vs. Blue Season 10. While Ruby and Yang Rose (Yellow) are the first to be seen in the series proper, Blake Belladonna (Black) and Weiss Schnee (White) are also set to be part of the team. Blake appears to be a former member of the White Fang, and Weiss appears in her trailer to be a singer. How the two will eventually form the team with Ruby and Yang is unclear at this point, but it's possible their paths will intersect during Ruby and Yang's studies at beacon.

The full cast. For the record: Dibs, dibs, dibs, aaaand dibs.

On the tech side (where I'm no expert), Monty and the team at Rooster Teeth definitely put a lot of man-hours into this work. The trailers are elegant and flowing, almost like calligraphy paintings. That art style translates into the show seamlessly. A curiosity is in the background art. Non-essential characters are silhouettes, the moon is shown to be heavily damaged, and the building style envokes a sense of spookiness. The technology of this world is drawn sleek and imaginative, with the weapons geared toward multiple functions. For example, Ruby's scythe (the magnificent piece of folding bloody glory it is), can be used in melee, or ranged in a rifle style. Another example is her sister, Yang, who seems to utilize shotgun gauntlets.

"This is, quite literally, my boomstick."

Overall, this is a series with promise. I've had an issue with shows that don't leave me wanting more lately, and RWBY has certainly fixed that. I'm eager to see where this show goes from here, and how the characters come together. If the credit roll is to be believed, the show will focus on more than just the RWBY Valkyries (Yes, I'm sticking with that), and also on a few other characters, namely a blonde boy in a pretty neat hoodie and his friends. 

"To boldly hunt where no hunter has hunted before..."

Lo Chiamvano Sid Meier: The Doctor's opinion on the Brave New World Expansion

So I picked up Civilization V's latest expansion, Brave New World, on Steam, and I don't regret it.

SHAKA'S BACK, BABY!

Granted, the return of one of my all-time favorite leaders, Shaka of the Zulu, was more than enough for me to drop a few bucks on it, but, once again, the team behind Sid Meier's latest game gave me my money's worth in full, to the tune of nine new civilizations to run or cooperate with (Or, in my case, "enlighten" with holy fire), overhauled trade and culture systems, and new scenarios to obliterate. Firaxis has been a good parent to the franchise, and they haven't let the fans down either.

"This is my "No, YOU Leave" stick."

Alongside Venice, The Zulu, Poland, and five others, the Shoshone stood out to me as the most fun, boasting a mean bonus that grabs more land with each city you found. This, not to mention the fact my first game isolated me from the craziness of a continental land grab struggle (The last place I like to be without my Giant Death Robots handy), has led to THE most fun game of Civ I've played yet. As Greece made war with the Zulus, Hoplites at the ready, my musketmen snickered from behind the Great Wall fifteen miles away at the primitive (And rather small) warbands.

"I heard you like trade. So I bought your capital."

The new trade system wasn't hard to get a hold of, but the way it works is thus: You can trade between cities, in your civ or someone elses, with caravans or cargo ships. The catch is, while you CAN govern the trade, it's sometimes worth it to just let it run between your cities. A capital can trade food to a newfounded city via sea to help it start, and you can send some production from one city to the one working on the World Far (Something they added with the World Congress). Of course, Civs can trade with you wether you like it or not, which leaves my braves a little pissed as Montezuma keeps mooching Science from me.

Hey, Montey! Cortez called. He said your headdress is STILL stupid.

That being said, Brave New World is just what it says on the can: Brave, and New. However, it's still the same world, which isn't a bad thing at all. It's still fun to watch with a smug grin on your face as Catherine and Washington go to war for the fifth time this century, muskets and galleons blazing with fire, as you silently mass your armies of marines and robots behind your walls, waiting for the moment to strike. 

...Wait, wait, my mistake: that's just me.

Pacific Rim, eat your heart out.

For your inner President, King, Messiah-figure, Trade Prince, or Despot, Brave New World brings some flavor and strategy back to Civilization.

And that's the Doctor's opinion.

In The Hall of Chancellor Peacock

Appalachian State is more than a college. It's an experience.

It's APPA-LAH-CHEN, not APPA-LAY-CHIN.

Granted, yes, this does sound a little weird, but hear me out. App State, my college, situated in scenic Boone, North Carolina, has been good to me (for reasons I will never understand), but it has also tested me in ways I never thought I'd be tested. I don't mean in the classroom; I mean in the four inches of snow and ice that stand between you and that test you need to take to make the grade. I mean the random downpours that you can't wait to end so you can drive to the mall. I mean the slopes that crave your calves into muscles Schwarzenegger would be envious of.

"Verdammt, son. So, you DO lift..."

All that, set against the backdrop of mountains, rivers, and people who are almost Mayberry-esque in terms of kindness and enthusiasm in helping a stranger out. Sure, the weather may bog you down, or dampen your spirits, but the mountain is just another test to pass, and the finals come in winter.

Welcome to Boone, Neddy.

And you know what?

It's worth it. Every damn day, it's worth it. I go to the best college in the world, not just because I found my calling here, but because I found me here.

And that's why App State rules.

My Suit & Tie

Do you know what a suit is? It's confidence you can wear.

I'm not making a "Sharp-dressed man" joke in this blog.

A suit is you with class and elegance. Each thread brings out something deeper inside you. Maybe it's for one night, or two, but for that moment, the you in the suit is different than the you that walks around in sandals and a t-shirt. You're upscale, classy, and confident. Why do you think Neal Caffrey (White Collar) loves them so damn much?

I mean it. Don't push me, 'cause I'm not doing it.

Sure, a lot of people may prefer something else, but it all comes back to suits. There's a reason they call it, "dressing to impress". Because a confident you is something else entirely. It's a force of nature, a physical representation of passion and drive.

'Cuz every girl crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man. THERE. HAPPY???

And that's why suits still kick ass.

Nightwing (Or, Why I Will Never Stop Loving Superheroes)

Let me tell you 'bout Nightwing.

"Even the villains thinks I'm gorgeous."

Nightwing is the super-hero alter-ego of Dick Grayson, the original Robin. Yeah, the kid you read about in all those old comics with the scaly pants? That was him. After a fight with Batman ( and after giving puberty the butt-whuppin of a lifetime), Dick quit the Robin scene and tried to find himself. Surprisingly enough, the answer came from a close friend of his mentor; Superman. The Last Son of Krypton told him the story of a Kryptonian superhero that went by "Nightwing". Dick loved it so much, he couldn't help but accept the mantle as his own.

I'm pretty sure the one from Krypton probably had a better debut outfit, though...

So, why Nightwing? He's a great example of why I love superheroes, and why I will love them until they put me in a pine box. Growing up, Dick Grayson was exposed to all manner of horrors and atrocities. In some cases, that can turn out a pretty psychotic individual. But not Dick. Maybe it was Batman, or Alfred, or the caped community that fostered him, but Nightwing has never, ever failed to do the right thing, no matter what the personal cost or sacrifice he has to make. A prime example is the loss of Bludhaven.

"GERONIMOOOO!"

Bludhaven was Nightwing's Gotham, his Metropolis, set to the torch by the Secret Society of Super-Villains when they use the walking radioactive biohazard Chemo to nuke the whole damn city. Nightwing, who was out of town at the time, returned to find his city a blasted crater, it's people dead or dying, and pure chaos across his streets. But does Dick give up?

Like Hell.

"LINE STARTS HERE FOR THE BEATING OF A CENTURY!"

It's that spirit I admire, and it's something superheroes have in spades. It's that profound ability to never concede defeat, the virtue of persistence, that I try to emulate. It's fine to lose, to be beat up. It's never okay to be beaten. You can't surrender. You can't back down. You can't bow to the tide of pain and loss. You have to rise over it, and then the next wave of tragedy, and then the next. I know a thing or two about being beaten up and losing hard, but that idea of a person who can stand against the rising tide, and keep coming back, no matter how many hits they take, is something I strive to be.

...By picking fights with other heroes. SUBTLE, DOC.

I won't ever have a cape, or a mask, or an alter-ego that kicks ass across my neighborhood when the sun goes down. But I can do everything I can behind a microphone, every day, on-air, to make someone's life better. The only way I can do that is if I keep coming into work, no matter how bad the day's been, no matter how awful things are. I'll never be Nightwing. But I can be Doctor Jones.