Braid on XBox Live Arcade

I downloaded the trial of this game and was at first unimpressed.  I just didn't really "get it".  The music didn't have that video game feel and there were just some things that weren't inherently obvious to me about the game.  Then seeing that the game costs 1200 credits or whatever-the-hell mystery currency they use (that's one thing that annoys the shit out of me about xbox live - the mystery conversion rate.  You never know exactly what you're paying.  At least the Wii is an easy conversion, but I digress ...)

I sort of shrugged it off as another crap game but then I came upon this penny-arcade comic:

So as I generally seem to agree with what p-a has to say about games, I decided to give it another whirl and went back to do all of level 2 (which is game-play-wise the first level you play).  I decided to overlook the drab music which I just sort of tuned out eventually anyway to see what they meant, and wow ... I have to say.  The game is pretty much awesome.

I won't tell you what it's all about since that's not really the point here (and I'm likely only talking to myself anyway) but I will point you to its official website.  I will warn you though that in order to appreciate Braid you have to enjoy the story side of games, i.e. you have to pay attention and try to figure out what's going on.  Not necessarily what's going on right in front of your eyes but the entire thing as a whole.  Why is level 1 the last level played?  What does everything mean?  Who is the Princess?  Who is Tim?

Some might say that the game was too short.  I personally feel, however, that it was just about right.  I like that I can complete the game story-wise in a couple days.  Of course if you want to fully complete it you then have speed runs you can complete but as far as I know it doesn't add anything to the story or rather, it doesn't detract from the story if you don't complete them.

Anyway, if you like a game that makes you think; if you like puzzle games; if you like platformers ... pick up this game and play it.

gimm

Since I have grown slightly disillusioned with the constant hyperbole that infects the internet with such lingo as LOL, ROFL, and the like when I know goddamn well they are not actually rolling on floor laughing, I have partnered with a friend of mine to start a new movement of realistic expression. We call it "gimm" - aka "giggling in my mind" The movement is best represented by its official smiley:

Please use it and pass it on.  Only you can prevent Idiocracy.

You shouldn't tie that...

is what I was told while at the grocery store when referring to a bag of produce I had.  "You shouldn't tie a knot in that bag. It makes it weigh more."

... wat ?

At what point did the fundamental law of conservation of mass become a thing of the past?  I mean it's not something that's all that new.  My favorite question to ask when I was out and about (at fast food restaurants) was if they accepted Hawaiian money (which most of the time they didn't).  I think I just might replace that (or at least add it) with asking grocery store checkout cashiers if it's better to leave plastic bags open or tie them when weighing.

Why are people so fucking dumb sometimes?

Bubbly Water

While we were at the ER for Stephen's violent vomiting, Jenny got thirsty and wanted some water.  She doesn't like to drink cold water though (the machines dispensed 32F water), so I decided to try to heat her water up in the sink in his room.  This was an accident but was just too cool - so I took a picture of it.

Hancock

The in-laws were in town this week and tonight is the last night that my father in law is here.  Being the last night, they offered to watch Stephen and let us go to a dinner and a movie that we don't quite often get to do.  Pickins were slim and we decided to give Hancock a whirl, despite the 38% it got from Rotten Tomatoes.

Typically I tend to agree with RT but I think they're wrong on this one.  It had decent humor and a pretty good story.  The end did seem maybe a little bit rushed but it wasn't 38%.  I would probably give it 3 and a half stars (out of 5).  Better than the average movie out there.  Is it worth seeing in the theater?  Probably not, but it *is* worth seeing in my opinion.

2 Years & 8 Months? WoW!

... has it really been *that* long? Insanity, I say. I can still remember blogging that last entry from my Treo from the airport. My (wonderful) sister now has that Treo. Well, she had the Treo I sent her that suffered the horrible Stephen-drool death that it did. Smart sister that she is, she took out insurance on the thing and is now rocking her Treo 700wx.

psst - my iPhone 3G is still better. ;)

You can thank Chris Olekas for inspiring me to revive this blog. The time span between my last post and now represents a pretty significant era in my life that I'm pretty sure is coming close to an end, i.e. my "WoW era". It's still to be determined, but my inner self tells me that once Kil'Jaeden is dead, my hardcore raiding career is done. (As I type that I envision myself in the future doing a facepalm or thinking "what the hell were you thinking, Jason?") It's as they say: a definite possibility.

I expect to be updating this again fairly soon.  Let's hope it's not another 2 years 8 months...