On the Surfeit of Good Games
As Gabe & Tycho have so accurately pointed out, we find ourselves
in a dire situation - there are simply too many
good games to play. For a time I thought I would
be immune to this, but I too have succumbed.
Are all three games I'm playing sequels? Yes, but that doesn't make them bad. In fact, I picked the three most promising titles to fritter away my precious spare time. All RPGs, but only one turn-based one. My interests have been steering more towards action RPGs in the past few years, and it is starting to show in the games I choose. But Mother 3 is so excellent - a dark, intense story-line presented in the fun, light style of Earthbound.
I finished the main storyline of Fable II (I picked the Love ending, by the way), and so most of my console time is now being devoted to Fallout 3.
Are all three games I'm playing sequels? Yes, but that doesn't make them bad. In fact, I picked the three most promising titles to fritter away my precious spare time. All RPGs, but only one turn-based one. My interests have been steering more towards action RPGs in the past few years, and it is starting to show in the games I choose. But Mother 3 is so excellent - a dark, intense story-line presented in the fun, light style of Earthbound.
I finished the main storyline of Fable II (I picked the Love ending, by the way), and so most of my console time is now being devoted to Fallout 3.
I Made Ravioli
Nov 03, 2008 12:26 AM Filed in: Personal
I don't mean the kind you get in the grocery store.
I used this recipe for the dough and a modified version of this recipe for the filling. I need an actual cookie cutter to make them better, these came out highly irregular, but still delicious - surprisingly a lot better than store-purchased pasta. Next step is to get a pasta maker so that I don't have to roll out the dough by hand, and so that I can make noodles.
Since it's now going to be immortalized in the blog, it's not going in my recipe wiki.
I used this recipe for the dough and a modified version of this recipe for the filling. I need an actual cookie cutter to make them better, these came out highly irregular, but still delicious - surprisingly a lot better than store-purchased pasta. Next step is to get a pasta maker so that I don't have to roll out the dough by hand, and so that I can make noodles.
Since it's now going to be immortalized in the blog, it's not going in my recipe wiki.
Seriously Netflix...Wow...
Oct 29, 2008 09:11 PM Filed in: Geek
http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/30/netflix-watch-instantly-coming-to-tivo/
Netflix clearly has a brilliant partner engagement team. Bravo.
Netflix clearly has a brilliant partner engagement team. Bravo.
Food tastes better when eaten off of a knife.
Oct 29, 2008 08:54 PM Filed in: Personal
If you don't believe me, try it.
5k Time down to 25:30
Oct 22, 2008 10:29 PM Filed in: Personal
Yay. My previous goal of 30:00 was met some time ago.
It was pretty hard to make it this time. I would love
to reach 20 minutes for 5k, but that works out to 9
miles per hour. Can I run that fast?
Hank Paulson: The Incredible Hulk?
Oct 14, 2008 10:09 PM Filed in: Politics
I know that Hank Paulson is your and my favorite Secretary of the Treasury. This is a picture of him. Beyond the fact that I have an incredible level of disdain for him and the way he does business, look at him. Doesn't something look a little strange to you? Either this man has hit the gym and seriously bulked up, or he really needs a new tailor. He looks this way in every picture of him that I pull up.
What's going to happen? I don't know. Maybe Paulson will get a better suit and figure out what the Treasury should actually be doing.
Wait a Second: Is Mozilla Corp. in Trouble Because of Google Chrome?
Sep 21, 2008 03:08 PM Filed in: Geek
I think I'm finally starting to put some of the pieces
together on Google Chrome (which I have yet to try).
In 2006, 85% of Mozilla Corporation's revenues came from Google. Google has a contract until 2011 to pay for every ad someone clicks on after using the Google search box in Firefox.
If Google makes its own browser, which they have, and it costs them less than they pay every year to Mozilla Corp., they might not renew that contract again in 2011. Mozilla is heavily dependent on the revenues from Google, and I see this as a brilliant way for Google to hedge its bets on the future.
Bravo.
In 2006, 85% of Mozilla Corporation's revenues came from Google. Google has a contract until 2011 to pay for every ad someone clicks on after using the Google search box in Firefox.
If Google makes its own browser, which they have, and it costs them less than they pay every year to Mozilla Corp., they might not renew that contract again in 2011. Mozilla is heavily dependent on the revenues from Google, and I see this as a brilliant way for Google to hedge its bets on the future.
Bravo.
Finished Too Human
Finished my first run-through of the game. Did it as
the Commando.
Though Ben Croshaw (not safe for work) is spot-on in picking out issues with the playing the game, it was still really fun. I think it took me about 15 hours, and it got a lot easier towards the end as I discovered all of the power in the Commando class. I think next time I will play as a Berserker. Only read more if you care about this game:
As a ranged-weapon specialist I always had a lot of trouble dealing with hordes of enemies. While I could shoot and immobilize one of them, the other would keep getting closer, and the Commando really can't use melee weapons effectively. Finally I realized the power of my battle cry, which gave me extremely high ballistic knockback. I combined this with a rifle that had +100% ballistic air juggle. The result was that I could fire at a bunch of enemies, knock them all away from me, then shoot each one up in the air the finish it off. The battle cry also added knockback to my Commando's grenades, so that each one would send enemies flying off of ledges and into the air.
Though Ben Croshaw (not safe for work) is spot-on in picking out issues with the playing the game, it was still really fun. I think it took me about 15 hours, and it got a lot easier towards the end as I discovered all of the power in the Commando class. I think next time I will play as a Berserker. Only read more if you care about this game:
As a ranged-weapon specialist I always had a lot of trouble dealing with hordes of enemies. While I could shoot and immobilize one of them, the other would keep getting closer, and the Commando really can't use melee weapons effectively. Finally I realized the power of my battle cry, which gave me extremely high ballistic knockback. I combined this with a rifle that had +100% ballistic air juggle. The result was that I could fire at a bunch of enemies, knock them all away from me, then shoot each one up in the air the finish it off. The battle cry also added knockback to my Commando's grenades, so that each one would send enemies flying off of ledges and into the air.
Jack in the Box Ad: Annoying
Sep 20, 2008 10:32 PM
http://www.jackinthebox.com/pitasnacks/
If you've seen this ad on TV you know what I'm talking about. If not, then don't click on this link - seriously.
The cry of a baby/child causes some kind of powerful reaction in the human mind. We find it particularly harsh as a species so that we are driven to act to care for a child in trouble. This is one of the reasons we all hate playing Yoshi's Island 2 for SNES - whenever you lost baby Mario the cry was so intense that you frantically tried to get back to him. The process was so frequent and annoying that you eventually stopped playing out of dread of it happening again.
If an adult imitates this act, it does cause the same reaction to some extent. It is also very agitating, and no doubt will hurt their ad campaign.
If you've seen this ad on TV you know what I'm talking about. If not, then don't click on this link - seriously.
The cry of a baby/child causes some kind of powerful reaction in the human mind. We find it particularly harsh as a species so that we are driven to act to care for a child in trouble. This is one of the reasons we all hate playing Yoshi's Island 2 for SNES - whenever you lost baby Mario the cry was so intense that you frantically tried to get back to him. The process was so frequent and annoying that you eventually stopped playing out of dread of it happening again.
If an adult imitates this act, it does cause the same reaction to some extent. It is also very agitating, and no doubt will hurt their ad campaign.
New Microsoft Ad: Actually Cool
The new Microsoft Ad "I'm a PC" is actually pretty
cool. I use Macs at home, and the commercial isn't
going to change my mind, but it was great. It stays
on-message for Microsoft's new campaign (which I
enjoy), and I really like the background music.
SmartyPig Is Awesome
Sep 18, 2008 07:19 PM Filed in: Personal
I recently had a little problem because of…over-zealous saving…that required me to call up smartypig. There was no hold time and they were immediately able to address my concerns. This is by far the best customer service I've ever had when dealing with a bank.
Feelings of Happiness
Sep 15, 2008 09:45 PM Filed in: Personal
I wonder if this is going to weird anyone out.
Does anyone else randomly feel this strange sensation of happiness? It's not exactly contentment, more a sense of joy that comes from the unknown myriad possibilities that the future offers. Do people feel this way all the time, I wonder? I usually have this experience daily, at times ranging from 7PM to 1AM. I tend to let the sensation wash over me - I never force it, but I never fight it, either.
I think it's weird, but maybe it's normal to feel happy for no good reason...
Does anyone else randomly feel this strange sensation of happiness? It's not exactly contentment, more a sense of joy that comes from the unknown myriad possibilities that the future offers. Do people feel this way all the time, I wonder? I usually have this experience daily, at times ranging from 7PM to 1AM. I tend to let the sensation wash over me - I never force it, but I never fight it, either.
I think it's weird, but maybe it's normal to feel happy for no good reason...
5K Time Down to 26:54
Sep 13, 2008 03:39 PM Filed in: Personal
It's not a great time, and you can probably do better,
but it's better than my last time of 28:40.
I Made a Soup
Sep 13, 2008 12:10 PM Filed in: Personal
I don't like most soups, but this was amazing. I didn't have
any sausages around, so I made some turkey
meatballs (much healthier). The combination of
ingredients was great.
Side note: I know that Yahoo does pretty much everything, but is anyone else surprised by Yahoo! Food ?
Side note: I know that Yahoo does pretty much everything, but is anyone else surprised by Yahoo! Food ?
Sarah Palin on ABC
Sep 12, 2008 10:19 PM Filed in: Politics
I can't imagine we're going to see Sarah Palin on TV
much, or at least not on ABC any more.
I am watching her interview with Charles Gibson on 20/20 right now. I agree that most politicians do a phenomenal job of not answering the question, and Sarah Palin is no exception. However, even Gibson calls her out on it many times, exposing her lack of awareness - and he does it with aplomb. It was pretty clear that the people who coached her for this interview simply did not put enough words into her head. I supremely hope Joe Biden schools her in the Vice Presidential debate.
I'm not getting into an argument on politics. I'm not offering any evidence of my judgements, these are merely my opinions.
I am watching her interview with Charles Gibson on 20/20 right now. I agree that most politicians do a phenomenal job of not answering the question, and Sarah Palin is no exception. However, even Gibson calls her out on it many times, exposing her lack of awareness - and he does it with aplomb. It was pretty clear that the people who coached her for this interview simply did not put enough words into her head. I supremely hope Joe Biden schools her in the Vice Presidential debate.
I'm not getting into an argument on politics. I'm not offering any evidence of my judgements, these are merely my opinions.