My Blog Is Not iPhone-Friendly

2010 February 21
by CajoleJuice

I’ve spent 3 out of the past 5 afternoons fixing my aunt’s computer. This fact could be the basis of a blog post, but it wouldn’t get nearly the same attention as something with “iPhone” in the title. Let’s just say recovery discs probably by computer manufacturers are fucking bullshit. I figured this already — which is why I had never used one before — but for various reasons, it seemed like the easy way to go in this situation. It wasn’t. Ridiculously frustrating lesson learned. In other news, I have 8 days to get a legit copy of Windows 7 before my RC expires and starts shutting down every 2 hours. Shit.

But what spurred this post was browsing the internet with a newly-installed Firefox, visiting my own site, and seeing that the Song of the Week posts had that missing Flash plugin symbol. It had never even crossed my mind that those little things were Flash. I mean, of course they’re Flash, but I’ve never thought about this stuff before the iPhone and iPod Touch. I have an iPod Touch and I never even noticed it before — maybe because I barely use it. Combined with the now daily animated GIFs until I receive what I rightly deserve, it must take an obscene amount of time to load the site and then some of the posts end up being worthless anyway. On the other hand, I think stuff I post can wait until someone is in front of a computer.

U.S.A. Beats Canada: Summed Up In A GIF

2010 February 21

This will be plastered all over the American internets, if it isn’t already.

If I could make these GIFs myself with a TV tuner card, I would add one of the empty net dagger provided by a dive from Ryan Kesler. I say his name like I knew who he was before today. I didn’t know who Ryan Miller was either. Now the small audience who tuned into MSNBC knows him as the Canuck Slayer. So while 90% of Canada was watching this contest, in America it was relegated to the news network decimated daily by Fox News.

The other shoutout goes to Brian Rafalski, who scored two goals and set up a third. Basically Rafalski + Miller > Canada. Now I’m officially back into hockey — until America loses to Russia or something. But not until after Canada does, muahaha.

I Still Don’t Have The Starcraft II Beta – 2/21/10

2010 February 21

I just snap sometimes.

Weekend Links – 2/21/10

2010 February 21

I don’t know whether or not to just go animal on the tags and categories with these posts or to just go with “Random”.

Baseball Prospectus Introduces SIERA: Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. – Yeah, this is in-depth, heavy sabermetric reading. Only recommended for advanced stat nerds. It’s about a new pitching statistic that apparently more accurately predicts Johan Santana’s greatness compared to FIP, so I obviously approve of it.

Jose Reyes v. Barry Larkin – I’ve been down on Reyes for a while now, but this post on Amazin’ Avenue attempts to show that perhaps I’m being a bit stupid.

Starcraft II: Some Thoughts on the Beta – I wish this were me linking to my own post.

The Top of Our Game – A short post on the absurdity of media coverage of politics today — mainly its focus on image and perception.

Glenn Beck Declares War – Not really, but he’s still insane. Or a genius. Or both.

Arnold Schwarzeneggar Has A Question For His Golf Partner: “When Was Your Last Blowjob?” – Awesome. He runs the most populous state in the Union.

An Open Letter to “Lost” Fanatics – This is beautiful. I can’t wait until it’s over and everyone is dissatisfied with the ending. I’m not bitter about how Battlestar Galactica wrapped up at all. Nope.

Tiger Woods Announces Return To Sex – Cocktail waitresses around the world are wet in anticipation.

How To Make A Sequel

2010 February 21

While I’ve played quite a bit of Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer the past few months, the last two single-player games I have played through entirely are Assassin’s Creed 2 and Mass Effect 2. They are perfect examples of how to improve upon the initial installment of a mainstream series with massive production values. I’m sure Uncharted 2 is another example, but alas, I do not own a PS3 because my 360+standalone Blu-ray player combination serves me more than well enough. And perhaps Bioshock 2 could go either way; I’ll see eventually. read more…

I Still Don’t Have The Starcraft II Beta – 2/20/10

2010 February 20

I feel so lost, alone, and confused.

I Still Don’t Have The Starcraft II Beta – 2/19/10

2010 February 19

This will be a daily feature. Until I get my damn beta key.

Your Trip-Hop Song of the Week

2010 February 19
by CajoleJuice

Portishead – We Carry On

I was watching Newswipe with Charlie Brooker –something I will probably make a future post on — and a song stood out to me during a piece, but not enough for me to remember the name or even the band. You know how that goes: the possibilities run through your mind and you’re not able to be think about anything else until you find the answer. I guess this is why there’s an iPhone app for this type of thing. I didn’t think of that solution until after I discovered the song in my iTunes, but I’m not sure it would have worked anyway, what with Charlie Brooker ranting extremely quickly over the song, which was already being played at a background noise level.

For some reason, I thought the song was by Aphex Twin, but a quick rundown of the one album I have from them resulted in a confirmation in the negative. I then just browsed through my iTunes collection looking for an artist whose style fit the song. Oh hey, Portishead! Lo and behold, the first song on Third (yet again, my sole album from the band) was what I was looking for. This then turned into me listening to the album in its entirety for perhaps the first time and enjoying quite a few of the songs — most notably this one.

And that’s the story of how one little song became the Somewhat Manly Nerd Song of the Week. It’s a high honor.

Starcraft II Just Lost Its Predetermined GOTY Title

2010 February 18
by CajoleJuice

Blizzard may have started up their Starcraft II beta yesterday, but I wasn’t invited. Luckily, the newest installment of turn-based digital crack was announced today. And it’s already up on Steam.

I haven’t even spent NEARLY enough time with Civilization IV. Of course, it’s not like I need to buy its successor when it comes out — but I won’t be able to help myself. I’ve had 12 years to play Starcraft, and got plenty of time out of it back in middle and high school. Civ4, on the other hand, I only bought about a year ago. I think I’ve only actually finished one game of it; I also have played maybe 15 hours on another massive session. But that’s not nearly enough. A game like Civ4 deserves a triple-digit number of hours dedicated to it; that’s an amount of time I’ve only given to a small handful of games — namely Starcraft.

But enough of me lamenting over time wasted not playing Civ4. This is about the future. This is about HEXAGONS.

Look at those pretty, more strategic things. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities, and gives the PC gaming elite boners across the world. I can’t say I have much experience with hex-based gaming, but it intrigues me greatly. I. Am. Excited.

Damn You, Blizzard

2010 February 17

And I mean Blizzard. This has nothing to do with white stuff falling from the sky.

Emails were apparently sent out today for the closed Starcraft 2 beta. I did not receive an email. This is bullshit.

What do I need to do? I signed up for the beta day one (I think), I uploaded my computer specs, and I registered my Starcraft Battle Chest and my Warcraft III and Frozen Throne keys. Did I need my Diablo and Diablo II keys? Would that have gotten me in? Do I blame my dad for throwing out a shitload of PC game cases I had piled up that included those two games? Do I have him to blame for extending my wait to experience the game I’ve been anticipating for a dozen years? Just tell me. TELL ME. WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?!?

I guess I can give up Starcraft II for Lent now, though. Unless of course I get an email in a later wave — then all is forgiven. And Starcraft II is chosen over God.