Since all of us are going to experience a struggle financially, I have to make some certain sacrifices.

One is to downgrade my AT&T DSL. Right now, I have the top of the line 6/512. I pay $47.95 a month for it. However, it's a dry loop DSL, meaning that it's just only straight up DSL with no voice service.

I would love to go for cable, however, the only cable provider here is Comcast and since this place I'm renting is from the homeowner, I don't think he would be able to add in Cable internet, since he's paying for cable (which I don't even watch btw...but my roommate does)

So AT&T is offering 3/384...1.5/256...and 768k/128. Prices are $5, $10, and $19.95 respectively.

What do you think? Should I keep the plan or downgrade?

I do play WoW and play the PS3/XBox 360 occasionally online.

And since I'm using Play-on to stream Hulu/CBS/Netflix content online, the speeds are part of the factor as...

Playing Mega Man 9 inspired me to write this blog.

I love the Mega Man series. I was surprised that MM9 is really really difficult. This time around, instead of throwing controllers around, curse at the TV, pulling my hair out, etc. I just try again.

However, let me bring back some memories:

Street Fighter II (SNES): I was only 8 when this came out and my brother, who was into SFII, introduced me to it. One night, we are playing it on the hardest difficultly setting and boy, it took about 40 continues until we finally reached M. Bison, which took about 20 more continues until I was angry, turned off the SNES, yanked the controller off the system and threw it across the room. Luckily, it didn't break.

Tekken 2 (PSX) and the 1st Gen PS1: Not really a hard game, but I didn't know what's happening to the game or system. I was trying to play and the music skips. Therefore, I took the disc out and crushed it with my chair. As for my...

So on my last blog entry, I took a big gamble: Withdrew money from my savings for a interview with a potential employer and in the end, I didn't get the job. It was a good job too: Great Pay, Benefits, I get to travel again, etc.

Typical "Even though you fit well, the other candidate we picked fits better" explaination.

Will I get the fare reimbursed? I don't think so, but I might use that as a tax deduction since the trip I took here was business.

At least I get to see my friends and family again. I also appreciate them cheering me up that I didn't get the job and take it as a lesson. I also feel God wanted me to stay in Tennessee. Well, I am now until whatever fate takes me.

My flight is in 2 1/2 hours and will go straight to work once I land. It's going to be a fun night on the plane.

Back to my reality once I land tomorrow morning.

Since yesterday, I was ecstatic and felt really confident that I got a job referral from one of my in-law's relatives. It's a really good position and it will keep me in the IT field long-term.

I spoke with the recruiter and the hiring manager over the phone yesterday. And would you believe it, I got called from Gamestop when I was about to buy games from the B2G1 promo.

So after a 40 minute conversation with the recruiter, she feels that I am a perfect candidate for the position and would be hearing from the hiring manager within the next hour.

I didn't end up buying the games, the employees over at GS consider me as one of their favorite customers since I always buy and preorder games there, so they all wished me luck and off back to home I go.

I had to do some research of the company: A very good Fortune 500 company that specializes in IT Infrastructure. While doing that, I got a call from the hiring manager. A good conversation...

Ever since I took over my brother's lease for this 2006 Volkswagen Passat, I have a love-hate relationship with this car. I took this car in for about 3 in-warranty repairs (the third will be on Wednesday to replace the front right side headlight) and I still kinda regret of selling my 03 Civic. It would been paid off already if I stil have it.

Anyway, I am up for a 40,000 mile service for this car. The 20k, 30k, and even I did a 35k service before driving from to LA-Nashville averaged about $250. Now, the quote is $450. Ouch.

Should I take it to the dealer or find a repair shop that specializes in VWs?

I would take it to the dealer since it's the only place I take it to. However, this lease expires in 8 months and I plan not to keep the car.

I just hate paying that much for service but if I have to, I got to let some of my games go.

Comment away!

So gas is shot up to about $4.50 today. It was like a $1 less last week. Hurricanes are to blame. Well duh, everyone likes to play the speculation game. So with that said, I canceled all my plans I was going to do this weekend. I only have half a tank left and that would last me for a week by just driving to and from work.

The following is what I was going to do this weekend:

-Go to this "mingle" event in downtown. I am still new to the city and haven't explored all my surroundings. This mingle thing was a great opportunity to meet new people.

-Watch Tropic Thunder

-And whatever I feel like doing that involves getting out of the house.

So, besides working for only three hours this morning (Yeah I know it's not a full day or at least 5 hours but it's OT) I went home and did this:

-Marinated the steak I bought and cooked it, along with whole grain rice. I am on a healthier lifestyle now....

Saturday, July 19, 2008 @ 8AM:
I was the 30th something in line waiting at the Apple Store purchasing the iPhone. Almost 4 hours of waiting because people ahead of me cannot remember what phone number, whose name is under the AT&T account, or just want to purchase it at the cheap price, so they can flip the hell out of it on eBay.

It was finally my turn, I did take a bit to decide which model to purchase. My mind was already set with the 16GB, black or white color, whichever I can get my hands on. Then for a second, I've decided to settle with the 8GB.

I walked away happy, felt like I was a 10-year old who walked away from Costco with his Super Nintendo Deluxe Set (and if you don't remember, consoles back in the day came with the system, 2 controllers, and a game). I didn't let go of that iPhone for days.

Then, the woes starting to happen:
-No signal where I live. The nearest cell tower is about a mile away and...

I took a vacation back home. It felt weird at first because I haven't been there for almost 7 months. I got to see my family and some friends. They were all shocked on how much weight I lost since moving to Tennessee.

I had no gaming systems that came with me, especially the Nintendo DS, which I sold lately, and the Sony PSP, which I gave my brother before I moved. The only things I had was my Apple iPhone and I installed Gametap on my brother's laptop, to at least satisfy my gaming needs.

Puzzle Quest was a new release on Gametap yesterday, boy it was fun. I know I have it on the XBox 360, but since I don't have the XBox with me, I downloaded it anyway and was stuck on the computer for a good hour or 2.

Okay, I said staycation for a good reason. If I was vacationing back home, I would be in Disneyland, Hollywood, or even go out clubbing.

But I did not do neither of the three I mentioned. I did this vacation because I needed rest....

First off, after constant thinking, I decided NOT to sell my collection. I guess I wasn't the only one and eventually I will get to open up the wrapper and put the game on my disc. I appreciate all the comments on my previous blog entry.

Anyways, I had a very interesting conversation with my brother. Anyone of you have a college degree but is working that is irrelevant to what you studied for? I went to DeVry and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Network and Communications Management. For those who used to went, it was formerly known as Telecommunications Management or TCOM for short. Let me take you back to memory lane:

During my college years, I worked as a part-time Computer Technician/Helpdesk for an elementary school.
After graduation, unlike some other people who got an entry level job within 6 months, I got mines about 2 months later. It was a great job, but of course, the traffic, especially in LA is horrible. At least I had alot of experience....

One of my New Years resolutions is to not to buy many games. Maybe 1 or 2 a month. I kinda broke it not long ago. Lately, I've been splurging on games I bought and to tell you the truth, some games I barely played and some I haven't. The ones I haven't are still sealed, while the others I played, only played once.

You can call it game collecting, but now, it's just been collecting dust. Just now, I gathered all my PS3 Games, XBox 360 Games, and Blu-Ray movies into my room. (The PS3 is downstairs so I have to take the PS3 Games/Movies upstairs) I'm deciding which ones are going to stay and which ones are going bye-bye to a more deserving CAGer.

I should done what I was trying to do in the first place: Rent from Gamefly & Netflix, actually play the whole game, and then return it when done. If I like the game and feel that there will be a good chance of long replay (multiplayer, more challenges, etc.) and I'll hit the keep it button. However, for most, I...

I'm frustrated on how Nintendo is ing around with their core gamers. I've owned a Nintendo since the day it came out. I was into video games and eventually owned every system that came out by them. You name it: NES, Super NES, N64, Game Boy, Nintendo DS, Gamecube, and the Wii. Virtual Boy doesn't count since it came out while I was staying in the Philippines for a year and it totally bombed.

Anyway, I'm really pissed off at them, if you are a true gamer, you would read the articles of E3 and the press conference. I was excited that Final Fantasy XIII was coming out for the XBox 360 and that was one of the reasons why I bought a PS3, because of what was supposed to be an exclusive title for that system.

Anyway, if you own a Wii, chances are you most likely want to purchase it to play some old school games through their virtual console systems. Oh yes, I bought, downloaded, and played the good ol classics like Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Metroid, Contra III,...