My Messy Desk

 I feel like every week my desk has been getting messier and messier. I'm not sure if it reflects how busy I am, how much stuff I own, or my laziness, but it's kind of insane. 

Let me set the scene: 

Right now, I have a book on the far left side of my desk. It's taking up a decent amount of space. I have two water bottles right next to it, one empty and one completely full. I have a lip balm also in front of the water bottles, as well as a Nintendo eShop gift card that I have yet to redeem. On top of that gift card is a journal and a stick note pad. Next to that are some stress balls I got for Christmas. These are jumbled in a pile with a 3DS screw driver, a ziplock bag of keyboard switches, and a blue flashlight I got from an event at school. Slightly above this pile is a new shoelace for my running shoes and some Aller-Flo I got from Costco. The Aller-Flo has been sitting there for months. Next to that is two tape measures, a mini gumball machine, and a pencil lamp (that looks suggestive). In front of me is my monitor, and beside that is my Mac mini. Resting on my monitor's stand is my Elgato capture card and two orange speakers that are made of the same thing that those Chinese takeout boxes are made of. It looks like there's gonna be fried rice in one, but it's actually just a speaker. There's two papers sitting in front of my monitor, which are both comics I drew about Lucas. They're really shitty. On top of the comics are headphones, and in front of the comics is my keyboard and trackpad. To the left and right of my keyboard is a bunch of random stuff. AirPods, a Bic pen, my wallet, gum, iPod shuffles, cards, more pens, and an iPad case I haven't used in years. My desk has shelves, and there's a bunch of random things on them. On the right shelf, there's 3 Amiibos (Ryu, Ness, and Lucas), 2 cameras (an old 2008 Kodak video camera + a Canon G9X Mark 2), 3 SD Cards, a Sony recording thingy, and a keycap remover. There's a shelf above this one, which has the box for the Zelda Game and Watch. I used that Game and Watch a ton, until one day when I went into a pool on Kauai and completely submerged it without realizing it was in my pocket. That one hurt, especially since it was for like 3 seconds. Besides the G&W, there's a Luminator Yo-Yo (from Yoyotricks.com), a sharpener, the Sage Yo-Yo, a Darn Tough arm band, my Mario G&W, and neon-colored flash cards. As you can probably tell, it's messy. The left shelf has a mixture of things like cash, coins, a calculator, sticky notes, SNES controllers, and books. 

I was able to write a giant paragraph of nearly everything on my desk, which tells me that I probably need to clean it. Every time I try, though, I end up not wanting to move things/put things away in fear that I'll need it later. I know that sounds a bit hoarder-ish, but I'm not. It's the same reason I have 50 million tabs open at once (and then I complain why my computer lags... lol). I've heard that having a messy desk shows that you're like smart or productive, but I'm not entirely convinced. Even if it does, it doesn't take away from the fact that it's an eyesore and kind of disgusting. I always see those "aesthetic" desk setups or "minimalist" desk setups on the internet. They look awesome, but in practice, I feel like it would be annoying trying to grab what you need. Props to you if you like it that way.

Now that I wrote this, I think I'm realizing that I need to clean up a bit and reorganize my desk. I'll be back...

Bic Round Stic

Feeding into this blog's randomness, I wanted to post about the Bic Round Stic pen.

 

I use this damn pen so much, that I may as well just own the rights to it. The Bic Round Stic (pictured above) is a very inexpensive, plastic office pen that comes in many colors and versions. I use the classic blue one for nearly every piece of handwriting, even math. It is extremely lightweight, thin, and surprisingly comfortable to hold. Even after long writing sessions, it gives little fatigue to my hand. It writes really smooth for a ballpoint pen and lasts an annoying amount of time. I swear, it takes months of heavy use to wear one of these out. It'd be faster to try and drink 10 gallons of water with a fork than to finish a pen. You're likely to lose it or break it before you finish the ink. 

I'm not sure why I like this pen so much. I think it's just because it's so vastly different from what most would consider a "good" or favorite pen. Most people prefer expensive gel pens, but for me, I'd take this over any pen, any day. It is the most reliable thing ever, even if it's been sitting in a drawer for a decade. Even though this pen is so cheap and mass produced, it doesn't really feel or write cheap.

I prefer blue ink over anything because it stands out, especially among printed documents that are black. Let me know what you prefer. 

Also yes, I do math in pen. I've seen some Reddit posts of people who do math completely in pen, and I don't feel so alone. I do cross out a lot and it can sometimes get messy, but overall I find it more satisfying and just as viable as pencil. I hate pencil (the way it looks and writes), so I've always just used pen for literally everything. In elementary school, you're probably going to have a harder time trying to convince your teacher to use pen for everything. In high school, they don't care, so go at it. 

Let me know what you think about the Bic Round Stic--or any other Bic pen for that matter--and if you use pen for everything or not.

Where are the videos?

If you've noticed recently, I haven't posted a new video on the channel in a few weeks. The latest video was a random video of me playing Google Feud. Here's a few reasons why I haven't posted:

 1) This blog. I've been spending a lot of my time focusing on this blog. Even though I haven't posted anything new in a bit, I'm definitely still working on updating this and keeping it lively. My channel already has a bunch of videos on it.

2) I honestly don't know what to post. If you look on the right of the blog, you'll see it says that I still have no video ideas. I haven't found any informative/commentative videos to do like I did for the TextEdit one or the Mac Mini experience. Plus, making those videos takes a lot of effort, so it's a big commitment (I was making a Google Drawings video and I sorta gave up halfway). 

Gaming videos, while easier to make, are honestly kinda boring and not engaging in the slightest. The way I make them is very minimal effort, but I feel like hyper-editing an old game takes away from it. Sure, I'm destined to finish New! SMW2 someday, but I kinda lost interest in it after grinding it out during the holidays. I've said this a million times: it's difficulty makes it hard to want to play it.

 I didn't get as excited as I thought I would when I got a new computer that could play a ton of new games (the irony of it all is that I'm using my old Chromebook with Arch Linux to type this out). Even though I can play 3DS games, I don't feel like starting a series on something that'll get 4 views. Pair all this with the fact that I haven't even gamed by myself in several weeks, and you can understand my reluctance to post.

3) No time. I've got stuff to do all day, and during the weekends I'm super lazy. During Spring break and the summer I'll have more time to really come up with a few cool videos, but these months are the busiest.

4) Writing is cooler. Don't get me wrong, I love watching YouTube and making videos, but sometimes it's more fun to write out a random post about something. I don't have to worry about audio, or video, or keeping your attention. If you're reading, I've already weeded out the 5 year olds with no attention span. Reading books and writing is actually pretty cool. For AP Lang, you have to write, so getting easy practice from this helps. 

 

 

 

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -   Those are just a few reasons why I haven't posted on the channel for a while. There might be a few videos at the end of this month because of spring break, but otherwise IDK. 

Places that would Make Great Zelda Dungeons

If you've ever played Zelda, then you know that the dungeons are always in the most obscure yet cool places. Whether it's inside a waterfall, inside a fish's mouth, in a grave stone, or even inside a giant egg, the locations are always very interesting. For me, they always got me thinking of real life, and what-if scenarios of these dungeons being in real life places. The mystery and scale of Zelda dungeons are massive, so putting these dungeons into real life places with the same sort of qualities sounds kinda cool. 

With that, let's make a list of places I can think of that would make cool dungeons.

 

1) Half Dome

 

If you don't know this is a mountain in Yosemite Valley. It is the icon of this national park, and also a cool (theoretical) place for a Zelda dungeon. Imagine a giant carved doorway leading to ominous steps down a dark path into the base of the mountain. Since it's super tall, this dungeon could go underground and also multiple stories high. That's assuming the mountain is hollow. It's not, so...

 2) Hollywood Sign

 

Yeah, like inside that big H. I know you're not technically allowed to hike in front of the sign, but if this wasn't reality, Link would have the excuse to break the rules. I always felt that this landmark would be a cool place that Link would enter. The big H would have a doorway that would be lead to another random dimension.

3)  Hearst Castle

When I visited this for a quick tour, I never expected that this insane feat could be on a hill, but oh boy. The Neptune Pool, while essentially taunting me (you can't get in unless you're like a Hearst family member or part of a super expensive club), is absolutely beautiful. This entire castle, if it wasn't a historical landmark (again, think non-reality), would be a great Zelda dungeon. There are so many rooms to explore, and even the trek up that hill reminds me of Zelda. The massive climb up a hill to reach a dungeon at the top. Totally Mt. Crenal Minish Cap.

 

That's all I can come up with for now. Let me know of any more.

My Favorite Mug

Whenever it's the weekend, I'm finished with my homework, and I'm feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep, I feel it's the perfect time to record a video. I sit at my desk, turn on my computer, and exhale a quiet sigh of relief--it's finally the weekend. I typically record shorter, easier to finish videos, like a Yoshi's Island part. If I'm working on a video that takes more time and effort, I skip the recording and work on those instead.

Each time I do this, I have my favorite In-N-Out mug--filled with half a cup of black coffee--right beside my keyboard. I got it as a gift years ago, and it's been the only mug that I've used since. The In-N-Out mug is a cylindrical shaped mug (meaning no odd shapes) with the drink cup design over it. It's simple, yet it looks good. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any pictures of it online because they stopped making the exact one I have. The latest ones are red inside and are slightly taller, which I don't like as much. I prefer the white inside and appreciate how the margins for the design are pretty large. Thankfully, I can take a picture of my personal one and show you.

I removed the background of this one, but here it is. As you can see from the coffee stains, I'm using it right now as I write this. They've released a few vintage cups that resemble this design, but I still prefer this one. Maybe I'm biased--I've had this cup for years--but to me it looks the best (although I will say the burger one looks cool). 

As for the coffee, I enjoy the Mcafé medium roast. I'm no coffee expert--and I don't drink it often enough to pretend that I am--but honestly, the Mcdonald's one isn't bad. Whether you grab it at the actual place or just make it yourself at home, it'll do the job. 

I like Starbucks, don't get me wrong. I just feel like Starbucks is meant for other types of coffee and drinks. I never get mochas, lattes, or cappuccinos. I hate the taste of milk in my coffee, so I drink it black. All those other types of coffees have significant amounts of milk, creamer, sugars, etc. in them that I don't care for. Call me an old white man, but I love it either black or with half a drop of milk. Whenever I go to Starbucks, I get the Pike Place roast. 

This In-N-Out mug is always my go-to mug, and it hits especially hard on a Saturday morning when I'm ready to film a video. Am I slightly addicted to the coffee? Maybe. Is it worth it for that little boost and taste? Yeah.  

Headphones and Mics

Basically since I started posting videos with commentary, I've used the same 3 microphones and headsets for nearly every video. They're still on my desk today, and I still haven't gone out and bought new ones. If you watch some of my videos with commentary, you'll notice that I switch up the microphones a lot. In my older videos, I often used this headset and mic: 

 

I didn't have that extra peripheral that gave it volume controls, it was just the headset and the 3.5 jack. I got it randomly as a freebie and decided to keep it to see if it would be good for making videos. In all honesty, it's okay. The audio from the headset isn't bad, but the microphone is pretty horrible. If you ever hear a really sensitive, sibilant heavy microphone that has like no bass, then this is the one I'm using. It is distinct sounding, so you'll know right away. I've tried a lot of methods to de-ess this mic in post editing, but I've never had much luck in fully getting rid of those annoying hisses and ear-piercing "s" sounds. Sorry for your ears if you've watched a video with this; I'm probably not going to use it anymore. 

The other mic I used to always use was the given one from this headset:

This is the Razen Kraken V3 Pro. It's significantly more expensive and higher quality than the other one (obviously). This has bluetooth and an auxiliary cable for regular wired use. I almost never used it in the bluetooth mode, since the battery life was pretty shitty. I guess it's because the speakers were decent and because the headset had lights and vibrations. To me, it's completely unnecessary. I guess if you're intensely gaming, but I don't do that, so... When I did use it in the wired mode, the sound was pretty damn good. I used that microphone pictured to record a lot of videos as well. This one has a more bass, sounds higher quality, and even sort of removes background noise. It is way easier on the ears. I lost that pop filter/windscreen a while ago, which sucks, because now it is sensitive to any blowing sounds.

The last--and my favorite--mic is this:

Yup, the Apple Earpods. These things are probably my favorite wired earphones ever. I mean, they're just so damn iconic. They've been out for forever, sound great, and have a microphone with volume controls. I use these more than my AirPods when I listen to music on my Mac or my phone. They're that good. I know that there are more expensive and better quality wired earphones out there, but I don't really care. These are all I need. I've used them in countless videos as well. The microphone is not bad, either. They're about 100x better than AirPod mics. They have a slight bit of background noise to them and they're not the loudest things ever, but it works pretty well for videos. The fact that they're so cheap means I don't have to worry about if they break. These are honestly the perfect gift for anybody who needs headphones or wants a backup pair to just throw in their bag. 

Will all that said, I still don't put enough effort/care enough to make my mics sound super professional and crisp. Even if I bought an expensive one (which I just don't wanna do), it would still probably sound like crap. Plus, I like it when the mic comes with the headphones, since I don't have to set up another peripheral in the video. It's quicker to plug in the headset and start recording. Sadly, the Mac mini doesn't have any internal microphone, since I'd probably use that too. 

Let me know which mic is the best in your opinion.

Short Story - Lucas and the Mini Golf.

    Lucas shuffled towards the golf ball as after his third attempt at making the shot. He was beginning to build up rage after he missed shot after shot. Mini golf, even though it's intended to be light-hearted and fun, can really bring out the worst.

    He lightly tapped the ball for the fourth time and finally made it in. As he looked up, a strange teenage boy walked over to him from a previous hole. To Lucas' dismay, the boy started to talk.

    "You suck at this game," said the boy.

    "Oh yeah, that's the best way to greet someone for the first time," Lucas replied, sarcastically. 

    "Do you mind," the boy continued. "Getting out the way?" 

    Lucas got even more pissed. "Can you at least not be an ass about it?"

    "Well, I'm trying to play here. You're taking forever."

    "You could've just started already. I was nearly done." 

    "After you took around 10 minutes to make this shot."

    Lucas was ready to drop this conversation and continue, so he just walked away and ignored the boy.  As Lucas walked toward the next hole, he could still feel the heat of frustration rising in his chest. The boy’s smug tone echoed in his mind, making it harder for him to shake off the irritation. He reached the next hole and grabbed his putter.    
    The mini-golf course wasn’t exactly a place for high stakes, but for some reason, Lucas had found himself more competitive than usual. The small green felt like a battleground, each missed shot a blow to his ego. He lined up his putter and took a shot, but the ball went astray and went off the course.

"Seriously?" Lucas muttered under his breath, gritting his teeth.

Behind him, he heard the boy’s voice again. "Man, you’re not even trying. That was worse than your last one."

Lucas whipped around, his face flushing with heat. "Are you really still talking to me? Can you just fuck off?"

The boy gave a small shrug, as if Lucas's frustration was amusing him. "I’m just here to help you. You know, like a teacher. Someone has to teach you how to play properly."

Lucas narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening on his putter. He could feel the anger rising again, but this time, something was different. He wasn’t sure if it was the arrogance or the fact that this was the second time he’d irritated him , but he wasn't about to let it slide.

"You think you're some kind of expert?" Lucas asked, his voice cold.

"Obviously," the boy said, smirking. "But, hey, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two from watching me."

Without waiting for a response, the boy took his shot, easily sinking it in one go. He turned to Lucas with a grin that had the bitchiest and most punch-able look.

Lucas stood there, taking in the boy’s cocky demeanor. For a moment, he considered fighting. But his voice told him that if he did, it would only make things worse. Plus, he'd likely be cooked by his mom.

"No," Lucas muttered under his breath, stepping forward and setting up his next shot. "I'm not gonna rage quit over some kid."

He held his breath , focused, and then sent the ball flying, his eyes locked on the hole. This time, the shot was clean, smooth, and the ball rolled right in.

Lucas smiled to himself, but when he looked up, the boy’s expression had shifted. The bitchy grin had been replaced by a look of genuine surprise.

"Okay, okay," the boy said, eyes widening a bit. "I didn’t think you had it in you. You actually did something."

"Yeah, well," Lucas replied, a bit at easy now, "maybe I just needed a little motivation."

The boy nodded, trying to keep his composure. "Not bad. But you’ll still never beat me."

"We’ll see about that."

Lucas and the boy continued on, both of them focused on their shots. The animosity of the two died down a bit. It was like the competitive tension had shifted into something more casual, like a challenge between two rivals who had just started to respect each other’s game.

The next hole had an incline, with a loop that was meant to test precision. Lucas watched the boy set up his shot. He was calm, calculating, but with a hint of nervousness.

He took his shot. The ball spun around the loop and almost went into the hole, but at the last second, it bounced out and rolled to the side.

"Fuck, come on!" the boy yelled.

Lucas smirked. "Tough luck," he said.

The boy shot him a glare. "Don’t get too comfortable. It’s just one hole."

But now Lucas wasn’t so sure. There was something about this kid that intrigued him, something beyond the insults and the challenge. He wasn’t used to this kind of competition, where every shot felt like it mattered. It wasn’t about winning, not entirely. It was about proving something — to himself, and maybe even to the boy.

Lucas set up his own shot, taking his time. The hole was kind of shitty, but it was also an opportunity to show he could do more than just listen to the bitching. He tapped the ball just right. It zipped around the loop with a smoothness that surprised even him, and as it neared the hole, it dropped in cleanly.

"Well, look at that," Lucas said, trying to keep himself composed as to not show his satisfaction. After all, he was supposed to be nonchalant.

The boy raised an eyebrow. "Okay, you might actually be getting better. But you’ll still never beat me."

As they walked to the next hole, the mood between them had shifted, almost imperceptibly. The rivalry wasn’t gone, but there was a new layer to it — a kind of respect. The boy wasn’t as obnoxious now, and Lucas found himself admiring the boy’s skill, even if he wasn’t going to admit it out loud.

They reached a hole with a waterfall feature, the water gurgling lightly as it cascaded over a small rocky ledge. It was a tricky one, and Lucas could see that the boy was eyeing it carefully.

"Alright, I’ll show you how it’s done," the boy said, a hint of his former ego creeping back.

But Lucas didn’t mind. He wasn’t bothered by the shit talking anymore. Instead, he wanted to see what he could actually do.

The boy took his shot, and this time, he got it right. The ball bounced off the rocks and dropped into the hole. He didn’t gloat, though. Instead, he just gave a satisfied nod. Lucas was just happy the boy didn't start getting in his face.

"Not bad," Lucas admitted, getting ready. His shot was solid, but the ball got caught in the stream, drifting away from the hole.

"Guess you’re not as good as you think," the boy remarked.

Lucas didn’t let it phase him. He calmly walked up, retrieved the ball, and lined it up for a second attempt. This time, he was careful, and with one smooth motion, he tapped it perfectly into the hole.

The boy tilted his head, as if surprised. "How are you ass and good at the same time?"

Lucas shrugged, trying to play it cool, but inside, he felt a thrill he hadn’t expected. It wasn’t about winning anymore. It was about the game itself, about the challenge, and the way it pushed him to focus, to learn. Lucas shrugged. At least, he thought, he was golfing with someone else instead of alone.

"Whoever misses that last whole is a bitch" Lucas said, glancing at the final hole ahead of them. It was the hardest one, with a narrow gap leading to a small ramp. If you didn’t hit it just right, you’d miss the hole entirely.

The boy tightened his expression. "Bet."

They both took their places, the atmosphere between them charged with a sense of competition that was different now. Lucas had gone from being irritated by the boy to actually enjoying the challenge. It was a strange, but he couldn’t deny it — he was having fun. Lucas, the dumbass, was being normal for once.

He took his shot first, focusing on the small gap and the ramp beyond. The ball rolled with precision, gliding smoothly through the gap and climbing the ramp. It teetered on the edge of the hole… and then dropped in.

Lucas gloated over his victory, feeling the rush of triumph. It wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough.

The boy stepped up next, his brow furrowed in concentration. He took a deep breath, swung, and the ball flew through the gap — but at the last second, it bounced off the edge of the ramp and fell back down.

"Ha! Looks like I win, bioootch!" Lucas yelled.

The boy wasn't angry. He just gave an impressed look.

"Okay, I’ll give you that," he said. "You’ve got skills."

Lucas returned the tranquility. "Maybe you should come back sometime. I wouldn’t mind a rematch."

"Yeah, and this time you'll get bitched."

As they walked off the course together, Lucas realized that maybe mini-golf didn't have to be a rage game after all. Maybe he had a new friend now.