Brain Chef

While I was doing my morning perusing of certain websites, I came across this awesome game!  BoingBoing had a small article about Brain Chef, which is a browser game.  You choose a side–either a human, or a zombie.  You are given a number of turns to “wander the streets”.

Each time you click “move here”, it constitutes as a turn.  When you encounter an enemy, be it a zombie or game show host, you enter a clicking turn-based battle.  You do battle until you, or your enemy drops.  You can collect items, gold and experience from any enemy you fell this way.

Eventually, you enter an arena where you can enter these turn-based with actual online characters.  It takes four turns to begin a battle with an actual person, and you can only attack enemies from the other camp.  No human-on-human, or zombie-on-zombie battles here.

It’s highly addictive fun, but, I do see a downside.  You only gain 3 turns every half-hour.  I want to keep going!!  Granted, when you confirm your e-mail address, you get 50 turns, but, I breezed through those–and made 2 more kills (what happens when you battle an actual person), bringing my total to four.

I had a small widget that links to the site, but, for some reason I cannot get it to post.  So if this interests you, head on over to Brain Chef, and give it a go!!

Back in business–more or less

I finally got my new monitor, yesterday. All is, sort of, well in my world now. I say "sort of", because of some foolishness on my own part.

When I ordered my new monitor, I neglected to notice/remember one thing about the old one. I had built-in speakers! This one has no speakers, whatsoever.

I guess I just took the sound for granted. Meanwhile, though, I have an interim solution involving my speakers that go to my mp3 player. My sister’s friend is going to give me her old set, when she finds them.

It’s good to be using my own computer again, though. Being on the downstairs PC, I felt like everyone was reading over my shoulder. Now, I can do all my typing in the privacy of my own room!

Now, I have tried to post this a number of different times to no avail. I don’t know if it’s just a problem WordPress is having, right now, or not. So I am trying it this last time, using the post from e-mail feature through the My Blogs menu. *crosses fingers*

ARGH!

As I always seem to run into one setback, or another, this post shouldn’t be all that surprising.

Last night, after nearly 6 years of faithful service, my monitor decided it was going to die. It didn’t just wink out, though. I can turn it back on, but only get a few seconds of picture. Then? Sudden blackness!

I am using the downstairs computer to write this, but, I don’t want to use this PC for everything. I don’t have money for another monitor, and don’t know when I will.

For now, my posts will be even fewer…

PS22 Chorus Sings!

I wanted to share this. Firstly, I love the song–the original and this one, not that horrible Dixie Chicks version–and it’s grea to hear it done by a school chorus.

They are the PS22 Elementary School Chorus out of New York City. Their teacher is the awesome–I’d have love to have a music teacher like this guy–Gregg Breinberg. Enjoy this touching rendition of “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac.

(Oh! And enjoy it. The RIAA might just have YouTube yank it. Bunch of jerks! Even Stevie Nicks likes it!)

Florida–a northerner’s view

A little blue heron

I have been here in Port Richey, Florida for about four days now.  Yes, I know I left on the fifth, but, I never actually arrived in Port Richey until after 2 AM.  Let me say that the differences are…amazing.

Right now, in Plattsburgh, it’s still Winter.  It snowed yesterday, and I am sure it was cold.  Sure, it’s Winter here in Florida, too.  That word doesn’t have the same meaning, though.

Each day has been absolutely beautiful, weather-wise.  Even now it’s sunny outdoors and 73 degrees.  I have been told that they experienced a pretty cold number of days–somewhere in the high 30s–before I came.

It’s a bit of a shock.  When I left Plattsburgh it was 27 out, and cloudy.  When I landed, it was near 60 here, and–though it was nighttime–there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

The weather isn’t only the big change.  I mean, obviously the weather is bound to be different, being in the souther US.  The wildlife, though, is a change I have happily accepted.

I love birds, and may have mentioned so.  The wild birds here are quite the difference from the chickadees, and cardinals that I am used to seeing.  Yes, I have seen a couple cardinals, but the local birds are…well…bigger.

Just outside my Dad’s apartment is a sizable pond.  It attracts some of the most beautiful–and a couple of the most ugly–birds I have ever seen.  Since I have been here I have seen the following, and this is just in the pond.

• Little Blue Heron (pictured above)
• Wood Stork
• White Ibis (my favorite of the bunch)
• Great Egret
• Muscovy Ducks
• Florida Soft-shell Turtle
• A couple of mysterious fish (unseen for the most part)

This is very unlike anything I have seen at home, and with the local flora, has made this visit particularly rich.  It’s amazing to see animals like those, basically in one’s back yard!

Leaving this afternoon

I am heading out this afternoon. Going to visit my Dad and brother in Port Richey, Florida. I will post vacation blogs with some photos. I will be gone for just under two weeks, but, there should be a lot to see!

*groan*

Just when I seem to be hitting my stride, blog-wise, I lose my internet connection.  I am currently out of work, and can no longer afford the connection bill.  It just keeps piling up!  I will try to make posts, now and again.  Hopefully more along the “again” side.

SNOW!!!

I absolutely love Winter.  The snow, the cold, everything!  It beats Summer-time, hands down.  It snowed pretty heavily today, so I wanted to get out and take pictures.  So here are the rest.  All are thumbnailed, so click to see them in their glory!

Animal Crossing: City Folk

Almost all of the reviews available on the web for the latest in the “Animal Crossing” series, “Animal Crossing: City Folk”, seem to come from those who aren’t really die-hard fans of the games.  So, I thought I would give my opinion on the third (as far as US releases are concerned) game in the, casual-gaming friendly, series.

THE GOOD

• Familiarty/Ease of Play:  Those who haven’t picked up a game in the “Animal Crossing” series will find it very easy to pick this game up, and play it.
• Open-ended Game Play: This game is great for those who are very casual about their gaming.  Granted, I can undertake quests for Triforce pieces with the best of them, but, sometimes I just want to kick back and do little.  But, still be playing a game (if that makes any sense).  I look at AC:CF as a way to unwind.  Do a little shopping.  Fish for awhile, then when I am done…that’s it.
• Inclusion of “Wild World” Elements:  I am grateful that Nintendo included some of the better elements of the Nintendo DS game in the series, “Animal Crossing: Wild World”.  The rotating, drum-like world is a big step above the GameCube game’s top-down approach.  Also, seeing animal villagers that debuted in WW returning is a big plus.
• The City:  The city is there for those who don’t want to spend all day milling about town fishing.  It’s nice to have somewhere to go (though there might not be a ton to do) when your town gets to you.  Also, the animals that spend their time in the city will tell you of the comings and goings of people on your friends list.
• Wii Speak: Nintendo finally takes the Wii a step in the right direction.  Wii Speak allows those that have it (currently only working with AC:CF, until tomorrow) chat with those they are playing with.  Live!  Having this chat is a wonderful feature, since typing in AC:CF (without a USB keyboard) is not a fun process.
• Friends Lists: Granted, this is where it’s usually a pain with most Wii titles.  Having to register friends, etc.  But, with AC:CF, you don’t want just anyone running loose in your city.  There is a great site out there to meet people, too.  Animal Crossing Community.  With this feature, those on your friends list can only come when you open your town’s gate.
• The Animal Path: This is a rather innovative change to the series.  With your constant running about, sometimes you use a certain route that you prefer.  In AC:CF, the grass will eventually wear down, and create a path that shows where you travel the most.
• Wii Controls:  This is where the Wii shines.  AC:CF, and other games in the series, have a few actions that have been made more realistic thanks to the Wii-mote.  Want to fish?  Flick the controller, and your character will cast out.  Swing the bug-catching net the same way.  Sadly the shovel doesn’t use any manner of controller swinging.  These actions actually make it easier to perform a net or fishing pole swing, with a animal nearby.  Usually it’s a push of the A button to swing (which you can still do), but, if the animal is close, that just triggers a conversation.
• Ability to Port Over “Wild World” Characters:  I started my game fresh with a character named “John”.  Exciting, I know.  Soon after, my sister had a character she started.  Then I decided to bring over a character that I had in “Animal Crossing: Wild World”.  The sad part is, he comes with nothing.  No money, no items.  Nothing!  The good thing is, though, that he brought over his catalog, which is a list of items that you owned in the previous game.  Now I can order some things that I have yet to see in my day-to-day playing.

THE BAD

• Few Changes: While familiarity is all well and good, there is more that could have been changed.  Little things, really.   Town layouts are rather stale.  I think there should have been a few new features involved.  Though Nintendo does promise some downloadable content, so time will tell here.
• Lack of Animal Tasks:  Whereas the original “Animal Crossing” had you completing tasks for the animal villagers, AC:CF doesn’t give you that option as often.  Doing tasks for these critters was a great way to collect furniture and build your catalog at Tom Nook’s store.  There are occasional tasks, but, they are rare.
• Designing Clothes:  I should be thrilled that you can now design every part of your shirt (sleeves and back, as well as front).  Frankly, though, this is very tough with the Wii-mote.  It was fun to do this, in WW, because you had the stylus, and could easily draw what you wanted.  It’s tedious to do it with the Wii-mote.  It’s a shame, because I like visiting the Abel Sisters (the town’s hedgehog tailors).
• Dwelling Size:  Maybe I am just spoiled by “Animal Crossing: Wild World” and it’s HUGE house, but, the houses in “City Folk” are just too small.  Yes, I know that all four playable characters lived in one house, in WW.  You did need the space (large single-room downstairs with 3 medium rooms off of it, 1 medium-sized floor above, plus the attic/bedroom that functioned as the save room) if everyone wanted to decorate.  AC:CF hearkens back to the house in the original game.  Large room, middle floor and basement (as well as the attic, which is brought over from WW).  But, I wanted ALL the rooms.
• Amount of Time Between Nook Upgrades:  Tom Nook, resident entrepeneur and tanuki (sans the HUGE testicles), runs the only shop in town, that sells furniture.  That is, at a reasonable price.  There is “GracieGrace” (run by giraffe fashion-icon, Gracie) in the city, but, her furniture is so damned expensive.  Back to Tom, though.  His shop expands as you pay off your house loans/buy from him/sell to him.  It seems to take forever in this game, though.  And as his shop is small at the start, he only carries a few items.
• Frequency of Certain Items: It may just be me, but, I keep managing to get the same certain items over and over.  Be they from the animal villagers, or found by me in trees, they are always the same.  And they never seem to be what I am looking for!!
• Mii Mask: Part of the reason I enjoyed “Animal Crossing: Wild World” so much, was that you could customize your character, a bit.  This was done at “The Shampoodle”, a beauty parlor run by…well…a poodle.  She would change your hairstyle, and color, based upon some answers given to questions she asked.  In “City Folk”, Harriet (that’s the poodle) offers a total makeover option.  With this option chosen, she allows you to choose one of your saved Miis (Nintendo’s avatar system on the Wii) and she makes it into a mask you can don.  I actually do not like them, really.  I think they look hideous!

This really is a good game.  Whether you are an “Animal Crossing” virgin, or veteran, and you are looking for something that isn’t necessarily “hands-on”, you might enjoy it.  I play it every day for however long I feel like it.  That is as long as someone else isn’t looking to play.

崖の上のポニョ

崖の上のポニョ (Gake no Ue no Ponyo), or “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” is the latest feature film by Hayao Miyazaki, and his ninth with Studio Ghibli.  Since it was announced, I have been eager to see it’s release.  Fandango has given the movie a US release date of July 19th, 2009.

Though a cast list has already found it’s way to the internet (inluding Matt Damon, Liam Neeson and Tina Fey), I do not wish to see this release.  I am a stickler for a subtitled animé over a dubbed one, any day!  The cast list is from Ain’t It Cool News.

The story is Miyazaki’s take on a “Little Mermaid”-style story.  Ponyo is a mermaid who runs away from her home in the sea, and is rescued by a five year-old boy.  Leaving home, she has angered her father, and he sends demons after her.  He wants her to return to the sea, but she doesn’t want to.

The story seems as if it can be heartwarming if, equally, heart-rending in it’s own way.  If I know anything about Miyazaki’s work (I love his work, so I do know a bit) it is a story about an unbreakable friendship.  Even when faced with adversity.

Stills from the movie, as evident by a regular Google search, show breathtaking animation.  Miyazaki at his best since “Spirited Away”, in my opinion.  Here is a trailer complete with the film’s endearing theme song.  I can’t wait for July to come!