http://www.hwan.com Hwan Hong's online journal/blog en-us http://www.rocksolidarcade.com/games/dogfight2/ Nicely animated, high production values http_www_rocksolidarcade_com_games_dogfight2_ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:06:01 -0500 http://www.hwan.com/?dt=2008/11/20&tm=2230 Hwan:Damn! Everytime I read these I believe I must be on drugs. Or have brain damage.Maybe a little of column A, a little of column B. Thu_20_Nov_2008_22_32_00_EST_comment_Damn_Everytime_I_read_these_I_believe_I_must_be_on_drugs_Or Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:32:00 -0500 http://www.hwan.com/?dt=2008/11/20 Slight flu/cold right now. Not using that as an excuse for anything, but just letting you know that I'm not feeling 100%... so perhaps my writing is not 100%. Not that that's ever stopped me before. Oh yeah, feeling the heat of sickness now urgkkkk.Been playing more Left 4 Dead, having now gone through all four missions (or movies). I can see the good (graphics, zombie-animatronics) and bad things (same maps, few items and weapons) about the game, but it will be the multiplayer experience that makes or breaks it as a lasting thing. So far, I think the multiplayer can be very much likened to Counter-strike in that the players play on one of two teams whose aim is to kill the other. The twist is that the mission of the protagonists (the humans) is to reach the other side of the map alive. Oh, and that the antagonists (the infected) respawn.Fallout 3 is still on my games radar. I came across this excellent review of it: Fallout 3 review [nma-fallout.com] which, for me and I'm sure as for many others [shamusyoung.com] speaks of both the highs and lows and what's worth taking from this thing people want to call Fallout but isn't really.Whew! I'm sure you're tired of me talking about games. Uhm... my wrist has healed up, and only gives me a slight ouch now. I bought a new coat which, in hindsight, is perhaps a little too effeminate. It certainly is not much protection against this decidely wintry weather. Work? Is much the same.Oooh it's only 10:30, there may be a chance I'll go to bed before 1 AM! A slight chance, given my procrastination skills, madz they be. Oh echinacea, my sour friend! Thu_20_Nov_2008_22_30_00_EST_journal_fallout_left4dead_Slight_flu_cold_right_now_Not_using_that_as_an_excuse_for_any Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:30:00 -0500 http://2dboy.com/2008/11/13/90/ 80-90% piracy,. Preventing 1000 piracy attempts results in only a single additional sale. http_2dboy_com_2008_11_13_90_ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:59:02 -0500 http://www.hwan.com/?dt=2008/11/14 With the new computer I've also done a bit of re-arranging of my apartment, getting things done that I've been putting off for months. Funny, I wrote that sentence and can't for the life of me remember where I was going with it. Sure, sometimes there are things I recall that I wish I wouldn't. I suppose any thoughts on controlling these are futile.Has anything happened? No. My fridge was fixed, but not until most of the food inside transformed into non-food material. I bought the pre-release of Left 4 Dead which I have to say looks fantastic and plays even more so. I tend to rave in a meaningless manner about games I really think are neat, but believe you me, Left 4 Dead is impressive. My only grief is that there's not much to it -- run, shoot, survive. But it's so very well done, with shockingly good zombie animation. Oh man, when a horde of those suckers come running at you, it's the thrill of seeing one's first fast zombie all over again.Oh right now I remember -- I wanted to mention that I threw out my beloved Microsoft ergonomic keyboard, one of those early white models with soft keys. A ginger ale related incident disabled the functioning of many of the keys, rendering it pretty useless. Not even sure why I kept it. Unfortunately, it wasn't until after throwing it out that I came across an article describing how to make use of the old keys -- turn them into thumbtacks!My efforts, such as they are, to wake up earlier for work have been, shall we say, a total failure. As in, I wake up even later than planned, feeling less rested and peaceful. Perhaps I am still adjusting to daylight savings, that troublesome beast. Fri_14_Nov_2008_19_39_00_EST_journal_left4dead_rambling_With_the_new_computer_I_ve_also_done_a_bit_of_re_arranging_of_m Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:39:00 -0500 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_problems_solved_by_MacGyver Some confirmed by MythBusters http_en_wikipedia_org_wiki_List_of_problems_solved_by_MacGyver Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:58:36 -0500 http://www.sentex.ca/~mwandel/built/wasp-sucker.html Vacuum near a wasp's nest http_www_sentex_ca_mwandel_built_wasp_sucker_html Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:17:02 -0500 http://www.hwan.com/?dt=2008/10/30&tm=1808 tomer:ug. I've got Fallout 3 for the ps3 but have not tried it yet. I was hoping it would be better. Did get a lunch box, bottle opener and bobble head with it though.You know what every brand spanking new computer needs?... LAN PARTY!! Let me know if you want me to host one at the condo. I've actually got tables now. We could do Rock band 2 as well. Tue_11_Nov_2008_19_01_00_EST_comment_ug_I_ve_got_Fallout_3_for_the_ps3_but_have_not_tried_it_yet_I Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:01:00 -0500 http://www.boingboing.net/2008/11/08/magu-the-cat.html Cat runs into box http_www_boingboing_net_2008_11_08_magu_the_cat_html Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:13:18 -0500 http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/06/emoticon_mask_will_make_y.html LEDs http_blog_makezine_com_archive_2008_06_emoticon_mask_will_make_y_html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:58:44 -0500 http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/10/castles-that-will-inspire-and-haunt-you.html http_www_darkroastedblend_com_2008_10_castles_that_will_inspire_and_haunt_you_html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:58:44 -0500 http://nymag.com/movies/features/videos/comedy-videos/video-019.html They're all pretty good http_nymag_com_movies_features_videos_comedy_videos_video_019_html Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:43:58 -0500 http://scott-c.blogspot.com/ Cute watercolors. Lots of geek references http_scott_c_blogspot_com_ Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:24:30 -0500 http://www.hwan.com/?dt=2008/11/06 I had actually planned to spend a month or two watching (or trying to watch) a movie a day, but of course like most things I think might be fun to try, it never happened. Still, I did make some time on the weekend to watch The Deer Hunter. I liked it. I read that Christopher Walken went on a diet of rice, bananas and water to get as pale as he did. I did find the first act somewhat long to sit through, but then I can be impatient with weddings if I can't take part in the festivities. I suppose you could call The Deer Hunter a war movie, but in three acts it shows the before, the during and the after, and manages to transform the viewer as even we witness the characters transform, hollowed out by the trial of war. I found myself worrying about life and death all over again, that old bonnet of going away, the long goodbye to nowhere and nothing and life is nothing but a temporary illusion and when I go it is gone.Yes, I have been playing some more Fallout 3, but haven't these past couple days. Well, my gaming has turned to Team Fortress 2 again. It's just exhilarating to be part of a team, to work as one. Conversely, it's incredibly tiring and frustrating to be with a group of aimless fools, each interested only in killing and not the objectives. Such a rabble cannot stand against a force united.My fridge has stopped again! Wait.. hmm.. yup, it seems dead. I've had problems with it before, but I think it may be kaput now. And guess who recently went grocery shopping?? I've actually thought about not using my fridge anyway, and instead maybe have a cooler with ice or something like. Really, the only thing I like is cold juice and water. I can do without the other stuff, especially since I prefer eating out anyway, fridge or no.Oh yeah, WHOO GO OBAMA! That is like, wow man, that's super cool. On the other hand, I think it would be funny to have had Sarah Palin in office -- non-stop entertainment, of the shaking-head variety. But nay, things are so much brighter with Obama as President. This is like one of the first positive things I can feel about the US since.. well, for a very long time. Exciting!Also nice, the weather. Seriously lovely. I mean, yes, global warming and all that, but one can still enjoy the warmth while one can. Thu_06_Nov_2008_00_03_00_EST_journal_fallout_filmreview_thedeerhunter_refrigerator_usa_I_had_actually_planned_to_spend_a_month_or_two_watching_or_try Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:03:00 -0500 http://www.google.com/search?q="atlantis","donovan" made popular with goodfellas, then again with futurama's episode deep south song_atlantis_by_donovan_ Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:13:36 -0500 http://justbento.com/ Food made cute http_justbento_com_ Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:58:30 -0500 http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18236 Via boingboing: Man's account of ordering a live monkey from comic book ad http_www_comicbookresources_com_page_article_id_18236 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:01:30 -0500 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/photogalleries/best-animal-wildlife-photos/ http_news_nationalgeographic_com_news_2008_10_photogalleries_best_animal_wildlife_photos_ Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:37:20 -0500 http://www.hwan.com/?dt=2008/10/30 Was the new machine worth the $2000+? I.. well possibly yes! I've never been able to say "I have a top-of-the-line machine" and by golly, now I can. It is a joy to be able to move those detail sliders all the way to MAX and enjoy pure processor goodness.So.. games! My first acquisition was Far Cry 2, that sexy beast straight from Montreal! Graphically, yes, dripping sweaty incredible detail yadda yadda. The original Far Cry (2004) placed the player on a series of islands but which were otherwise quite open for exploration. You could go anywhere and spend lots of time just creeping around the place. Much of that is gone now, with areas cut off from each other by impassable hills and many buildings require an extra load to enter and exit. I mean, yes technically you can go anywhere you want but it feels a lot less open. Perhaps it's because the missions keep you to populated areas and so I haven't given much time to just wandering around.A huge difference is that now there is interaction with people, although the interaction in conversations is limited to either you saying yes (by clicking the "Interact" key) or you saying no (by walking away). So yes, there are quests now. And money! You can purchase upgrades to weapons and get these restocked whenever, which is probably the silliest part of the game. I also don't like the easter egg aspect of finding diamonds during your travels. Instead of feeling like you're a virtual world, you rather get the sense that you're playing what could've been a fun game until they decided to cater to console gamers and other decidedly non-Far-Cry features.But let me speak of my latest love, Fallout 3. It too had to live up to a fan-favored franchise, Fallout 2 (1998) being immensely popular by those who played it (including myself). And did they stray from that turn-based, darkly comedic, nerdly-referencing RPG? It might be too early to say but YES THEY DID. Fallout 3 feels pretty much like what you'd get if you took Oblivion and switched the magic and swords and elves with radiation, guns and mutants. The more I think about it, the closer this analogy holds since I just learned that Bethesda did both games. They also console-ified it greatly, making the interface annoying to us mouse users since we have to (most unnecessarily) scroll through EVERYTHING -- inventory, conversation options, skills etc. This is greatly tedious when, like me, there is plenty of screen real estate for more information (and less eye candy). Haven't come across any of the humor or cultural references that Fallout 2 managed to pack.Having said that, it's still damn fun running around the Fallout world, avoiding roving bands of mutants and battling psychopaths. The VATS battle system, while kind of silly, is enjoyable to use. The graphics, like everyone says, is startingly excellent -- everywhere I go I want to get close to things to see how far the texture detail goes. And the draw distance is far, so far I wish I had some binoculars to check everything out. They kept the PipBoy and RPG mechanics, which I consider one of the more fun systems out there.So, a yay to Fallout 3 (fun but entirely different) and a tentative nay to Far Cry 2. Thu_30_Oct_2008_18_08_00_EST_journal_farcry_fallout_Was_the_new_machine_worth_the_2000_I_well_possibly_yes_ Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:08:00 -0400 http://www.hwan.com/?dt=2008/10/27 I injured my wrist again. Well, this time the left instead of the right, but it hurts just much. Sparring it was that did it. Ok, YES I should've break-falled, but I didn't -- I was too busy worrying about smashing into the mirror somewhere behind me. Oh, and at the time my leg was held by my rushing opponent. Is this really news? For me, it's a pain certainly, and makes riding my bicycle unpleasant. I have to be careful handling cups and dishes, as I have no gripping strength. Oh, and I can't do pushups. I'm not sure which is better, keeping my wrist straight all the time and not using it or to exercise it and use it normally. I would think the former would result in faster healing, but the latter lets me maintain its strength.The new computer is almost ready! Just have to install all my primary apps and chat and copy over files and program data and... well, ok, not so ready ready as to replace my current system, but it's at least getting on its feet and showing off some of its colours. For those keeping track, my current system is a Pentium IV 3.0 GHz/1.5 GB RAM/Radeon 9800 Pro 256 MB. Here's the new guy, with the prices I paid:Motherboard: ASUS Rampage Formula Socket 775 Intel (Dual-channel DDR2). $338CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.83 GHz. $380Memory: 2 GB (2x1 1024 MB) DDR2. $95Video: ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 2048 MB. $580Storage: Seagate 1TB SATA 3 Gb/s. $136So the core system is about $1529. Add onto that the case (Lian-LI PC-60B, $120), power supply (Antec TP3-650 TruePower $95), and DVD reader (LG GBC-H20L SATA OEM, $130). I also splurged and got a new monitor (Samsung SyncMaster 2253BW 22", $213) and a new mouse (Logitech MX518, $45). Pre-splurge total is $1874. Total with splurge: $2132. With taxes, grand total of $2409.16. Yup, it's a mid-life crisis! This should keep my gaming appetite sated for a while. At least, the non-XBox side of it.This entry may be a long one since I'm at the same time installing things on the new machine.Friday night was drinks with some karate people at a bar on College. I think I'm just about done with alcohol. Really I am. No desire, tired of not controlling my brain, inability to concentrate. Fun, sure but tiresome. Saturday I slept in, saw my Korean tutor for the last time before he returns to Korea, and then drove out to KW to see UFC 90. Oh what a sad thing it was! FarCry 2 proved to be an accurate indicator of who would win each fight, even if it meant a freak accident. Do not doubt the power of FarCry 2! Sunday was dragon form practice, then lunch with mom, then returning home to sleep.Sunday I also finally watched Donnie Darko. I must admit that I was very impressed, am very impressed. I'm not much of one for horror or thrillers, but this one is just too damn smart I can't help but enjoy the way everything was laid out. Mon_27_Oct_2008_22_04_00_EST_journal_computer_donniedarko_upgrade_wrist_I_injured_my_wrist_again_Well_this_time_the_left_instead_of Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:04:00 -0400