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Life updates…

Hey unto all.

Since I changed this over to be more of a personal dumping spot than a tech/gaming hub, I’ve updated once. I suppose that’s how it is to be when you’re committing yourself at a bunch of different elsewheres, but I also suppose I should check in a little more often. Even though nobody wants to read about my day-to-day and I don’t particularly care to write about it (lie), this page should have some semblance of existence.

The thing that I would claim I’ve been doing if I were to say I’ve been doin’ my thing of late would include the following: buying books under the guise of a mysterious alter-ego, security guarding, graduating from college, continuing my internship at Comcast SportsNet New England, actually getting paid a bit to do some work with CSN, and writing obsessively about the New England Revolution. The latter is likely the most important thing to discuss, though I have some damn good stories from the first two mentions in that list (though, as a though to the though, it may be illegal for me to discuss the security guarding aspect, so that discussion ends here and now).

I started Six States, One Blog alongside good friend Martin Ryan in an attempt to tap into New England’s undercovered soccer market and, on my end, to develop myself as a sports writer. The experience has been a good one. I definitely feel like I know the game a lot better, I’m developing my skills as a sport and beat writer, have been granted credentials to training sessions. I’ve also been able to do some editing and design stuff, which can’t hurt my resume. We’ve picked up another writer in the process and have been developing a steadily growing readership. I’m hoping to eventually bring on a Portuguese language writer to add to our roster. If you’ve any interest in the Revs, check us out and stick with us!

That of course is all unpaid. Professionally, I am a security guard, working for Day & Zimmerman. It is a good thing. I’m still in the market for jobs in the field though and apply to  few a week. I think right now I have applications out at CSN, Channel 7, NECN, the Boston Phoenix, the Herald, and TruMedia Networks. I want a job. Bad. Having said that, I understand myself quite lucky to have a 40 hour a week M-F gig right now and certainly don’t take it for granted.

Emerson College seems to be in my future (unless I get a good gig in the next couple months). At the rate the job market’s developing (or not developing) it can’t hurt to stay under the security blanket of school, continue to build my network, get myself another degree, and then begin my quest to reign supreme over the world.

I think that’s it. Happy life to all. I’ll check in again within the month perhaps.

PS Memorial Day excitement and shenanigans is/are good but people dying in our defense is sad so don’t forget to keep that in mind today (if you want, who am I to say) for at least a minute or so. If you want. I don’t know.

Today’s blog post from BST&N

Check out my new post at Boston Sports Then and Now!  All week I’ll be counting down to Red Sox’ Opening Day by listing the 30 things that need to go right for the club.  Here’s a taste:

27. Marco Scutaro’s 2009 was no fluke

Signed to a two year deal this offseason to at last solve the Red Sox’ shortstop problems of the last 6 years, Scutaro is coming off of a career year.  In 2009, he hit .282 with a .379 on base percentage, a .409 slugging average, 12 home runs, and he scored 100 runs.  If he can repeat this, he will represent a significant offensive improvement for Boston.  Those numbers are all career highs, though, and his 2009 OPS was 68 points higher than his career mark.  Given his steady defense, he won’t kill the team should he fall back to his previous marks.  Scutaro and the Sox brass, though, both feel as though in his first season as a starter he had the opportunity to blossom and the numbers are no coincidence.  If they’re right, the club will enjoy the most production from the shortstop spot since Orlando Cabrera left town.

Changing Course

Though I consider the initial idea for this blog potentially successfulable (there has to be a better word…what am I thinking of?), I just don’t have time for it.  I do, however, really like the term RENERDIFY, and since I will always be a nerd first, I am shifting gears with the blog.  It will be a personal outlet for all things me.  No, I won’t be telling you about my day.  Instead, anything I get published will be linked to here and any musings that I consider potentially stimulating will be posted here as well.  Stay tuned, eh?

TV & Sports History To Be Made Tonight

A few years ago, HDTV changed the way viewers watch — and, some speculate, the frequency with which they attend — sporting events.

Imagine what this will do.

Tonight, the MSG Network will be the first in America to broadcast a sporting event in 3D to at-home audiences. The Big Apple’s two NHL teams, the Rangers and the Islanders, will take to the ice, by now familiar to them, and to a brave new plane in broadcasting.

This comes amidst news that Manchester United and Chelsea’s April 3 game will be the first program broadcast on Sky3D, and that ESPN3D will be broadcasting the Home Run Derby later this winter.

From the first article:

The game will be shot using 3ality Digital’s image-capturing technology, which integrates with existing broadcast equipment for pixel-perfect 3D imagery. 3ality Digital, which has more than a decade’s worth of development work behind its systems, has been the technology of choice behind a number of recent 3D sports productions, including BSkyB’s January Premiere League Soccer broadcast, the first live 3D broadcasts of NFL and college football games shown in theaters, and the 2010 Sony Open golf tournament.

MIT-Singapore’s GAMBIT lab a thinking gamer’s haven

Note: All quotes were illicited by Mark Baard, who was gracious enough to bring me along as he looked into GAMBIT. Check out his story for the Boston Globe here: http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2010/03/08/mit_lab_helps_designers_reimagine_video_games/?page=1

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Pardon my excitement.

I spent the morning with the Boston Globe’s Mark Baard at the GAMBIT lab at MIT, getting to know the guys and gals who are leading the way in video game research.

Before I do much delving, let me first mention the great cause going on in the lab this weekend. Since Friday morning, and going forth through this evening and into Sunday morning, the people making GAMBIT run and their friends are gaming, gaming, gaming with little stop as they take part in the 2010 Complete Game-Completion Marathon. They are taking donations in the effort (and will keep the opportunity to donate open for the next few weeks) to benefit Haiti in the country’s post-earthquake phase. Check out the event and donate if you’re so inclined here.

The folks at GAMBIT (they’re not actually animated)

RENERDIFY! returns tomorrow from MIT’s 2010 Complete Game Completion Marathon

Tomorrow, I’ll be joining the Boston Globe’s personal tech columnist Mark Baard as he covers MIT’s Complete Game-Completion Marathon 2010.  Check out the event here.

A little info about the Haiti earthquake relief benefit event (that’s a mouthful):

February 26-28th, GAMBIT will be hosting the 2010 Complete Game-Completion Marathon to raise money for relief efforts in Haiti. Teams of players will gather at our MIT lab to attempt to complete a game in one sitting. Participants will independently seek sponsorship on a dollar/hour basis with all proceeds going directly to relief efforts in Haiti through Partners in Health, and with support from the MIT Public Service Center. The labs will be open 24 hours a day through the weekend to accommodate the teams, with snacks and refreshments available for the players.

The games being played have been developed at Singapore-MIT’s GAMBIT game development lab.  I’ll have a full recap of the event this weekend.

FF13…Where’s the machismo?

I love Final Fantasy.  I grew up on it and always thought the paradox that there were so many final fantasies to be awesome.  I have great, great memories involving defeating Sephiroth while Barrett was turned into a frog and stuff like that (I didn’t call this Renerdify for nothing).  And this feature from IGN is one of my favorite articles I have ever read on gaming, telling the legend behind the legends.

As such, there is no doubt that I will purchase, delve into (hopefully topping 50 hours), and probably defeat and enjoy the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII.  Having said that, as a fellow, I am becoming a bit concerned about what seems to almost be a  chick-flick type of game, based on the trailers.

I mean, listen to the song.

Now, I’m certainly in touch with my feminine side.  For instance, I consider myself a Lady Gaga fan and for a long time considered Love Actually a guilty pleasure (it is now just a regular pleasure), but when I think Final Fantasy I don’t really think of anything quite as effeminate as this (except for FF10-2, which I don’t count).  Am I exhibiting some sort of inherent sexism based upon the game starring a female lead character?  Or am I right to say that this is looking a little…girly?

Still looking forward to it all the same.  Just over a month now!