And there we go. One week’s vacation on the way. Who doesn’t enjoy that? See, I’ve got all this vacation time and well, my birthday is coming up so I figured I might as well take a week off. I’ll hopefully be able to get into the posting groove and actually make this into a 5 per weekly thing. Hopefully. I’ve got some scheduling plans that could work as a fallback. But then that’s what you make of it, right? I also want to make a new template. This one is nice, but I still either want my old gray back or something new. We’ll have to see.

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So there it is. The “teaser” trailer for the new “I am Legend” starring Will Smith. I think it is really too early to criticize the movie directly, but I can sure as shit speculate on the trailer. I mean I’ve read the book, right? And I’ve seen Will Smith movies, right? Hell, my best friend back in the day memorized the whole theme song to “Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” He’s done good movies though, Will Smith, not Ross Duncan, though I haven’t kept up with Ross in forever so mayhap he’s done good movies too.

As for this particular movie, I’m a little sensitive about the subject matter. I’m a fan of post-apocalyptic movies/books, and “I am Legend” stands as a pillar of the genre. Its one of my top five books of all time, for crying out loud. Top five books recently written with no connection to a series. I mean its not fair to put Matheson up against Homer. There’s been a few hundred years to weather on the Illiad. I’m sure Homer wrote some anthro-ferret slash fiction that he liked way more than his Trojan War stuff that just got forgotten over the years. But yeah, moving on.

Will Smith has done some bad movies (Independence Day) and some good movies (Pursuit of Happyness). He’s even recently done some really awful not-true-to-the-source-material stuff (I, Robot). The guy can be a good actor, we know this. The best actors can be completely undone by bad direction and production though. Look at Star Wars Eps 1-3: it is as if Lucas set out to make his actors as wooden and unlikable as possible. I don’t really see that from this trailer. It looks like the remake of “War of the Worlds” to me. I actually liked the Tom Cruise remake. I totally bought the characters, the sets looked good, the effects were real, etc. I still didn’t buy the thing on DVD but I did like it in theaters. The shots used in the trailer seem to set up the sense of loneliness and isolation that pervaded the book and would have to fill any adaptation to the screen.

Also there was one vampire, dimly glimpsed though it was. So its quick vampires rather than Evil Albinos, so that’s good. And the dog is there, so that’s cool. That’s most of the cast really. Neville, the dog and some vampires. We just need the chick and Neville’s neighbor and we’re in business. So hey, I’m willing to give it a shot. With the rider that I did like the remake of “Dawn of the Dead.” You just have to keep telling yourself that fast zombies are OK. And once the hyperventilating dies down it should smooth sailing.

The following was typed while wearing a Uncle George’s Zombie Exterminating Service Work Shirt.

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So yeah. I’m excited. It turns out that Fallout 3 will be released for the PC, PS3 and XBOX360. So I have until Fall 08 to buy a 360. Whenever they do the first hardware revision and switch over to those smaller, cooler chips I’ll be all over that. And if they add the HD-DVD player as standard equipment by then I’ll be a happy dude. Now all that remains is for Fallout 3 to be good. I’ll admit, it wouldn’t be the first time that I was shafted on the third round of a franchise that blew me away. I’m looking right at you, Star Control. Yes, the third Star Con was a dog, and that’s just too bad. I really loved the second one.

I’m of a mind with Penny Arcade’s Gabe. The isometric turn-based Fallout was great. I’m re-installing FO2 as we speak, but I’m not married to it. If Bethesda can make a kickass fallout that is a real-time first or third person game, I’m in it to win it. I mean if it keeps the old Fallout dark, gritty setting where having condoms in your inventory at multiple points in the game actually makes a difference to the plot, then I’m there. If they make it Oblivion with Guns, I still may be there. I mean if they hire more than three voice actors and have them record more than two sentences each then I’ll be happy.

“Don’t talk such rot.”

Jesus, that was annoying. That and the fact that I just couldn’t get the face right for any character. Of course with fallout it’ll be a bit easier. I’ll just wear Power Armor. Power Armor fixes everything. Speaking of re-installing Fallout 2, there’s apparently a huge modding community based around ol’ FO2 that adds some pretty cool stuff. I mean graphics updates by borrowing from Fallout Tactics, Weapons mods, and then there’s the megamod. Finally Becky in the Den will actually respond properly when you give her the book back! Oh, and there’s a seven layer dungeon full of new stuff. That’s not all. Go to This walkthrough and scroll almost all the way down. At the very end there is a section called “Unfinished business” (hell, you could just do a CTRL-F and just jump there), and gape in awe. Look at all the stuff that didn’t make it into the final version of Fallout 2. I mean the game was huge enough as it is, but with all that. Man, I am still playing it, but I guess I’d still be playing it more, or something.

The thing is I want to try something new: Energy Weapons. They never made much sense to me, coming as late in the game as they did. I mean I could just stick to Small Guns and have everything from my Magnum Revolver to the Gauss Rifle. Who needs Big Guns really, I never used them anyway. I mean I used the Rocket launcher once in the original Fallout against some Deathclaws, still got my ass handed to me, and never looked back. I don’t know what skills I’d tag though. It was usually Small Guns, Steal and Science, but the more I think about it, I can get books for Science and Small Guns, so who really needs help raising them?

And in other news Jericho is coming back. My favorite just barely post-apocalyptic TV show was just green-lighted for another seven episodes in response to the absolutely insane Nuts for Jericho campaign sending CBS 20 tons of Peanuts (Battle of Bastogne reference from the final episode). Yeah, that was pretty cool. How about next time don’t schedule it opposite American Idol after a six week hiatus with no advertising. More people might watch it then.

Oh, and other than the nuke angle, there is something else to tie Jericho and Fallout. From an interview with the producers of the show:

I’m a huge fan of the post-apocalyptic movies and books, all thanks to a PC game series entitled “Fallout” (and I’m sure there are a lot of fans of these games watching “Jericho”). Has any of you played the game? If so, can we count on some (even subtle) references to these games?

Producer’s Response: We love “Fallout.” Tim Cain is a genius. Look for our answer to The Hub in episode 13, entitled “Black Jack.” You can watch a short preview for that episode on Innertube right now. Also, the rabbit is reduced to a thin red paste.

Now if that isn’t cool, I don’t know what is.

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So yeah. Some time in the next six months Kristi and I are hitting the road. It seems that the American Museum of Natural History in New York is having a kickass exhibit about Mythic Creatures that may be worth checking out. The only problem is that it is a 12 hour drive. Which means that it would be no weekend feat and that I’d want to do it proper and spend a week. So, Chatty, what else do people do in your home state? I tried to look up bands I like thinking that more cosmopolitan cities would get more traffic, but Flogging Molly won’t show me tour dates past August, the Dropkick Murphys are is Europe, Dragonforce is in Europe, Ben Folds won’t show tour dates that far away, and so on. So I hit on an Idea. Perhaps I could actually make the Trip into the trip. You know, find roadside stuff to check out, you know like the largest ball of mud and stuff.

It’ll probably be better than that. Probably.

This is still in the planning stages though. Who knows where it’ll end up.

I need a real Road Trip car though. Something cool. If I had $5,000 I’d drop a bid on something like this (eBay link, likely to expire) and ride in style if not fuel efficiency. Of course I’d like something of the late-60’s early 70’s muscle car ilk for my very own. Of course I’d also like to one day turn Some type of motorbike into some type of insanity. That’s just me and wanting to work with my hands.

I’d like to start doing something creative. I don’t know what. I’ve always enjoyed Lego, but the damned things are at my parent’s house. I could grab some set while I’m out today. I’m relatively happy, there seems to be a counter-reformation going on where people are finally getting wise to the fact that there are plenty of model sets out there and making the big pile of misc parts purchasable again. I’d like to build mecha a la: this dude. Little virtual-on style guys. I had to teach Firefox the word “mecha” there. Man that’s sad. Either that or I go whole hog into crazytown and start building steampunk rayguns because I lack the funds for the authentic weta guns. I may actually start doing both, but I’ll probably start drawing the weapons before I start buying old drills and Tommy Gun hardware kits.

I’ll need to order something from those surplus catalogs so I can start get back on the “Guns n’ Stuff” list. I really could use a surplus vintage weaponry catalog if I’m going to start building stuff.

Man. If only I could have a hobby that was easy or normal.

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So yeah. Fallout 3. Mmmmm, that’s just naughty! Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this? I mean really. More than the months since the actual announcement. And finally a trailer. They say that the trailer was rendered using the actual in-game engine. I’d believe that as the thing looks a little too blocky to be pre-rendered a-la Square and Blizzard. Now I’m just wondering if I’ll have to get one of those external graphics card things to play it on my lappy or if the thing will run. Now I’m kicking myself for not getting a better (XPS, Alienware, or Sony) laptop with external video. Ah hell, its next fall so who knows, I may get the chance to upgrade. Lord but that would be wasteful. Hilarious though, but wasteful.

Oh, and there is an Odin Sphere artbook. And its On Rapidshare. Isn’t that special. Though now that I’ve looked at it, I just want the actual book even more.

Hey cool, somebody on Deviant Art put up a tattoo design for the rood from Vagrant Story. Now to bulk up my forearm (incorrect placement, but I don’t think I’m going in for a back tattoo that would cover my spine for my first tattoo) and save up some cash. And, you know, convince my fiancee that tattoos aren’t evil. At least the local laws have relaxed to the point that I don’t have to go to another state and get Hepatitis. That would be surprisingly lame. Now to just find someone to design my “smoking bullet casing with tattered banner that reads ‘IDDQD’” idea. it looks cool in my head. And who doesn’t need God Mode?

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Today’s Musing: I need to get some time together and bring back my old gray site design. I really liked that setup. This off-the Shelf thing just isn’t turning my crank anymore.

Also, my girl has taken to playing Odin Sphere. She’s so HOT when she’s rearranging her bags and cursing at a video game boss. I suppose its my own fault for playing more WoW.

Oh yeah, I finally got a Notebook that can play WoW. I mean its only got an Intel 950 graphics adapter, but the dual 1.86gnz processor and 2gigs of ram make it pretty much smooth. Its also got Vista Home Premium on it, so I’m playing with the fancy new interface. You know what? I actually like it. It seems smoother than Windows, and it gets the clutter I didn’t like from 2k/Xp off the screen and out of my face. That whole “Cancel or allow” thing is also far less obtrusive than I thought it would be, and it has actually alerted me to several attempts by various web pages (I’m looking at you BleachExile) to push some software I didn’t want on to my system.

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I picked up Odin Sphere a few weeks ago and it is damn good fun. Truly a masterpiece, it hearkens back to an earlier age in gaming while at the same time leveraging (relatively) current hardware to do what we wished we could years ago. I mean it is a PS2 game, but the format is far from stale.

I’d liken it to Actraiser honestly. Its a 2d action platformer in an RPG setting. You play a variety of characters going through events alongside each other. Each has a separate campaign that is nonetheless going on at the same time. They appear in each other’s scenarios and altogether contribute to a complete story. The gameplay is immediately similar to damn near anybody who has played any platformer in the last thirty years. Enemies rush you and you have to attack, jump or defend against them. From there the game adds layers. The power-up system is particularly interesting. You have two “levels” that you can advance on each character. Using health restoring items gives an amount of Experience Points (hereafter XP, explanation for anybody who reads this page and is unfamiliar with the abbreviation [Hi Mom!]), and when you amass enough Health XP you gain a health level and your total health goes up. Also when you kill an enemy they release Phozons, little lens flares you absorb to power your spells. Whenever you absorb Phozons you gain levels there and can get new spells/abilities or just a larger phozon pool.

There are other uses for Phozons as well. You can plant seeds during any stage and the plant will absorb the Phozons released by vanquished enemies or from a special plant (you stick it in the ground, it grows on its own and releases 12 phozons) and when it has pulled in enough it produces fruit. The fruit can then be eaten to restore health.

There’s the obligatory crafting system as well where you can combine vials of Material with Mandragoras you excavate in order to brew various potions. There is apparently a cooking system as well, but I haven’t gotten that far yet.

The gameplay is fantastic. I love the simple system and the immediate action. I’ve played a large amount of Strategy RPGs recently and while I will love Disgaea until my dieing day, a little variety never hurt anyone. The graphics likewise are stunning. Every character and background is hand drawn, and the care taken with the style shows. I would love for some type of Odin Sphere artbook. It would go on the shelf with my N1 Character Collections. So yeah, if you have extra time, money, and a pulse you’d like Odin Sphere (you read my website so there is probably some similar taste stuff going on). If you like RPGs, you’ll like it. If you like platformers you’ll like it. I mean really. You’ll just enjoy it.

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So yeah, I used to have these huge Pampas Grasses in my back yard. One was about 1′ in circumference, one was 2′ and the big one was 4′. This is not counting the grass stems that fold over, just the “trunk” after all that was cut away. Two weeks the lawn mowing mentioned in the last post (geez) Kristi’s parents came over and we knocked the backyard out. Truly spent about four hours on it. Cleaned out some twigs that were all that was showing of the Lantanna that is now spread out all over the beds, weeded the flowerbeds, dug out some crabgrass, and then finally Kristi’s Dad (against my better judgment) started “pruning” the Pampas grass. Basically he has a modular yardwork tool that sports a chainsaw, pruner, edger, weedwacker and other assorted tools. There was one that was just a spinning bladed triangle, and that thing made short work of the strands that stuck up from the stumps. They then left the cleanup and disposal of the remainder to me and Kristi.

Yeah, the easy part was over. Kristi is very light complexioned, so I felt bad every time she would help me bag the grass and end up with these huge red welts all over her arms. She ended up doing the lion’s share of the bagging though (I just got out of her way and started plugging away at the stumps). Those were the really difficult part. See, I had a pick, a fork and a shovel. What I would end up doing is: stab the fork into the clump of stems that forms the trunk of the plant and make them lay down then cut them with the pick. Eventually there would be a little (6″ or so) tough core left in the ground. At that point I would start digging around it, levering it up with the shovel and fork, then breaking it up with the pick. The first smallest plant took about 2 hours, the middle one took an entire morning and the last… that took two days. So Three and some days of me in my backyard shirtless cursing at the ground. And shouting whenever a roach (the horrible things were infested with them) would cling to my pick and then drop off on my back. *shudder* But that’s a thing of the past. Now all I have to do is get a wheelbarrow and cart the stones that formed the base of the bed out to the driveway and clear the plastic sheeting from the ground to prep for some sod. I’d like to wait until we are likely to get some rain though, because I’d hate to buy some grass and have it all die.

At this point my fiancee and I have passed the “working for the house” stage and can start enjoying ourselves. We just need to get the never used upstairs in order and we have a 100% presentable house.

Oh, we also got a dog. I need to get my camera up and working so as to show you guys Emmie. She’s a two year old German Shepard mix (with what we don’t know, even money is on Setter as she is waterproof, has the webbed toes of a water dog and has a red ruff on her back. Also her face is shorter than a standard shep). She’s a little rambunctious, especially in the morning. I’ve started getting up at 6am so I can walk her around the block and still have time for my shower and exercise. She’s a lot of fun though, even with the jumping and running around. She’s not exactly getting on with the cats though, she just looks at them and they run off, so she chases and the situation gets escalates. When we first got her she had a chewing problem, but we moved the chew-able stuff away from her and haven’t had any incidents recently. She’s also got some aggression issues with smaller dogs that Kristi and I can’t figure out. The current plan is to enroll her in some obedience courses to at the very least socialize her some. Just to get her used to other dogs in a more supervised setting. And if she learns some tricks all the better.

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