2009 and other minor details

Here are my predictions for 2009.
We will have a new president. No real prediction there, but I also believe that the media will begin to turn on him. This is because members of the media tend to stand out when they are edgy, and when someone is for the most part accepted by the media it can help someone advance their career by going negative. It does't work the other way however... it isn't edgy to go positive on someone generally despised.
Joe Biden is correct in that somebody is going to test the new president, but I believe that 'test' is a misleading term. It will be a genuine move against America, and if mishandled will lead to inevitable follow up action against the U.S.
Duke Nukem Forever will not come out.
PS3 will edge out the 360 when they drop their price and release a couple system sellers. The wii will release wii sports 2 which will not be as great as the original, but the accuracy increasing periphreal that is released with it will launch a golden age for the system before next christmas once the 3rd party systems jump on it.
Slow box office year. Bluray will become more affordable. The whole 2010 end of the world thing will become more popular.

Overall pretty predictable year. Direct questions will be handled by the oracle, so ask away if you want.

A years worth of reviews

So I'm gonna try to make up for a lack of posting for a entire year, but tis keyboard is a pain in the thumbs so you get what ya get.

First up for the DS... Rune Factory 2 is inferior to RF1 in every way. Just avoid it.
Ummm....for the PSP...avoid Lord of the rings Tactics...Final Fantasy tactics almost does what the original did for me...Dungeons and Dragons Tactics at least offers relatively good character customization. The final verdict on a years worth of PSP tactical rpg's ? Disgea: Afternoon of Darkness. I had my doubts about this game, but it delivered. Loads of content and customization... you can spend hours upgrading a single weapon. It's funny too... really funny... dood.
On the wii- Zack and Wiki, hells yes.
And the winner of game of the year....drumroll....
Persona 3. This game has made my top 3 rpg's of all time alongside FF7 (SILENCE fanboy haters!) and Dragon Quest 8. I have put 100 hours into this game in a month and I'm still 10 hours from the good ending and still have a 20+ hour epilogue to look forward to. This is the only rpg I have ever found that is rated M (Dude, I checked, Xenogears was T... I thought you were right though), but the only real reason I see for that is that every spell and skill cast by a character is evoked by shooting themselves in the head. Edgy? Yes... and a bit disturbing at how de-sensitized you'll become. It's put out by Atlus, and for some, that is the only endorsement needed. For everyone else, it can best be described as a rpg dungeon crawler/ high school simulator. If you like rpg's, go for this one. If you are interested in playing a game that is really unlike any other rpg (that I know of) give it a look. After ten hours you'll either be hooked, or you will see it isn't for you. Anyway, this game gets my highest reco.
Outside the world of videogames?
?
Oh yes...that world...umm...
True Blood turned out to be a really good show. I'm still reading Richard Matheson and he rules. The Twilight series was shallow, contrived and stereotypical...and I read them all in about a week. I also started watching Supernatural. Good show...gets better with each season. I also finally watched The Salton Sea, a movie suggested by a movie fan who I don't believe frequents here, way back when I was in Auburn. Very good film. Certainly worth a view. That's all I have for now. Remember.... Persona 3:FES. The FES is important.

Run in with the squad...

So my vaio has been acting up lately...from what I can tell the graphics card is shot. I'm not worried about it though, as all my computers are covered under my homeowners insurance...so long as the damage is not caused by war, nuclear fallout or "wear and tear". Well , I figured something bad must have happened for the graphics card to go but nothing else. They instruct me to get a diagnostic work up and fax it to them. I figure, the diagnostic will say, graphics card lousy, give us $200. I figured, I'll get a check, drop another few clams, and get a new laptop that is twice as powerful. So I take it to the squad... you know the one. They could not find a problem...nor could they reproduce the problem that has been haunting me for over a month. So, no check for me...but that's not why I am pissed. I waited in line for 15 minutes picking it up...although it wasn't really a line, as there was the person in front of me wo was being helped. There were no less than 3 members of the squad milling about doing nothing... Now, I pride myself on my patience...but I found myself in a position usually reserved for fast food employees. I considered many options that would all likely get me arrested...knocking over displays came to mind...also screaming across he returns section "GEEEEEEK!!!". But I held out...and eventually one made their way over to me. He was trying to make small talk, and then mentioned how he was half an hour late for work... Then it hit me... I wanted to scream at him "GEEKS AREN'T LATE FOR WORK!!! YOU ARE NOT A GEEK!!!". Now, I realize geeks can be and often are late (although they would argue wizards are never late) but they sure as hell do not hang around and flirt with the hot chick with the pierced lip and have perfectly cropped hair. I realized that I likely know more than the grand majority of these posers in the geek arts, and anyone who could actually help me wouldn't have ended up where they are. In my ranting session to my loyal rant reciever I realized that refering to this squad by their proper name is an insult to geeks everywhere.

Sorry for all that... I'll try to stick to the former format of this blog, as I'm sure that listening to me discuss groups and people that piss me off would be...exhaustive...yeah...obama collector coins...9.95 plus s&h...

I'm back baby!

..if this works that is. If this post goes up, then I can post from my phone...which means I actually will.

There is a DS game I have played lately that is worth mentioning...although I have little time. Yes, in 4 months I've only found a few minutes. Anyway.
The game I speak of is Rune Factory. It is essentially, Harvest Moon with swords. For those of you who know and love Harvest Moon, did you ever, on some days in that game find yourself with nothing to do by about Noon? Now there are caves filled with monsters....and plenty of weapons. You can craft armor and weapons, brew your own potions, and of course fish, cook, farm, tend to your captive monsters, mine, chop wood and of course, zoom the chickies. There are some balance issues, namely, I'm not even one year in to the game and I have more money than I will ever need. Still, a great game for those of you who love Harvest Moon, and is great for those who have been curious about the series, but were hesitant to throw in with that genre.

Tommorow, the DS game based on the Full Metal Alchemist Trading Card Game is coming out after being delayed several times. I hope it does actually come out. It should be pretty good I think. Now if they'd just do the same with the Lord of the Rings TCG...

In the realm of audiobooks I've recently listened to Germs, and now know more than I ever wanted to about biological and chemical warefare. I then listened to 11th month 11th day 11th hour- a harrowing account of the last few hours of world war 1, during which thousands died, up to the last minutes of the war despite the commanding officers being full aware of when the war was scheduled to end. Major downers both... but for some reason I have had this intollerable itch to play Civilization lately...hmmm...

In Wii news, I realized tht in the past 2 weeks I have only played my VC games... gotta love Kid Icarus...

Anyway, It's late and I need to get up early. I WANT to discuss global politics and the ignorance of others, but no time. Well, maybe a little. I have noticed that I rarely take a stance on any particular issue, but I love to tear apart the stances that others are so arrogant as to float out there as fact. As far a global politics are concerned, well, thats for another time. But as I said before, I have had this intollerable itch to play Civilization lately...

I must hurry...

Make sure you read these in order eh?

So I thought of what I needed to mention.
First and foremost...Brick.
I went ahead and took the advice of one of the few people I take movie advice from, and couldn't be more pleased. It's all thanks to HBO on-demand really, but I got a few beers together and partook this evening in the best highschool movie since Masterminds(...). My point being, this movie was awesome...I used up all of my half hour of tivo time just relistening to certain lines of dialogue. Granted some of that because I wasnt used to the lingo, but it was mostly because it was straight up awesome. I will follow the lead of whom I recieved this recomendation from and not talk at all about it. Just go experience it. That's all I have to say. I have another long awaited reco from another person who knows movies better than I (There's only 2 of them) in the bullpen but I wont get to that until tommorow.

I have been listening to a lot of books on tape/cd lately. I commute 20 minutes to and from work each day, with about 10 minutes of point A to point B shiat during the day. I also have to make 1-3 hour roadtrips a couple times a month. So, they come in handy. I first picked up the Davinci Code for a solid 8 bucks in the discount bin. Almost worth every penny. Well, its always worth to know what other people are reading. The next two were much better.
Empire. Damn. I have complete faith in OSC of course, and this one delivered. I don't know what else to say...if you know OSC you know OSC...ya know?
Next was Rant. Chuck hasn't let me down yet, and this book was MADE to be an audiobook listened to in your car. Once you read/listen to it, you'll know what I mean. I would go so far as to say that this book is better listened to while driving than any other medium. Like I said, you'll know what I mean by the time it is done.

Anyway, that is what I needed to mention...oh, and Etrian Odyssey(DS). This game is why I am so loyal to Atlus, a company that is known best for producing games that get the title of "not for everyone". Anyway, old school RPG here...the entire bottom screen(the touch screen) is dedicated to map making. It has a hell of a map maker, and while it is not required, it adds...a lot. I mean, updating your map as you fight during a random encounter? RPG heaven.
So that's that. I'll be around.

My dogs go crazy every time a doorbell rings on TV

I've been wondering for awhile how best to discuss the awsomeness of the Nintendo Wii. Over the past month it has become clear how best to illustrate my point. My wife is a good deal more social than I am. Where she starts to go crazy sitting around the house all day and has to get out and do something, I stock up so I have no need to leave for several days when my circumstances allow. As such, she has people over. A couple of her former bridesmaids came up from Abalama several weeks ago for the weekend. A couple weeks ago, another friend of hers from grad school spent the weekend. On both occasions, the Wii. Now I want to emphasize how none of these young women know a Hookshot from Holy...but man did they get behind the Wii. I mean, they were kicking my ass at bowling, and they've maybe logged as many hours of videogames in their lifetime as I do in...ummm...half a day? Maybe? Anyway, they loved it. It's true- this system is for everyone. Since then I myself have been getting my kicks from the latest Zelda. Yeah. Awesome. Anyway...

There was something else...

Anyway...I have no idea. I 'm catching up on the Soprano's right now...thank you HBO On-Demand. I tried talking the cable company into just letting me have on demand and to hell with the actual channels. The way I operate is not conducive to those channels, and I refuse to begin watching any movie part way through.

What in the crap was I so motivated about writing?

Oh well. Whatever. It'll come to me.