Still stone tired all the time from this low simmering cold (the ear infections are cleared up after just a few days of drops and cipro), and I took a nap after dinner that went too long, and now I can not sleep. I have a ton of things I want to blog about, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.
Right now I am under a quilt in my chair like an old granny with 2 of three critters on my lap (and trust me, there is nothing wrong with it- granny got it going on) doing my own personal Homicide Hunter marathon. I just love the combination of cheesiness and deadpan from Det. Joe Kenda. He just cracks me up and completely reminds me of my old tank commander, SSG. Roland. He also has the best corny lines- “You want sympathy? You’ll find it in the dictionary between shit and syphilis.”
Got new struts and springs on the car today, had the tires rotated and the oil changed and put in synthetic oil instead of regular oil, and I am already, in rural driving, getting 2.5 mpgh more. I’m wondering if they bothered to change the oil before they sold it to me, since I have only put on 3500 miles since I got it, and it should not show that much improvement.
What’s going on in gamer news? I haven’t tried anything new in awhile, and have just been playing World of Tanks with my old army buddies.
Where are we on fall tv and new movies? Any suggestions?
cckids
I’m looking forward to Gone Girl, mainly because I read a review that compares it to a Hitchcock movie. The only flick I’ve seen anytime recently is the Ninja Turtles with my son & nephews.
Do not recommend. Didn’t totally suck & the kids liked it; that is as much praise as I can muster for it.
Linnaeus
I’m rollin’ it old(ish) school: playing original Starcraft and System Shock 2.
Ruckus
@cckids:
Such a good review, I’m going to run right on out, and miss it.
Ruckus
John
What dealer/owner changes the oil just before selling the car? Two percent, maybe three? It can’t be any higher than that.
KG
I want to see Tusk, but I never go to the movies anymore. As for TV, only new show that I’ve got in rotation at this point is Gotham. American Horror Story starts next week, if that counts.
srv
W.T.F.
The Dangerman
Oregon Ducks: “Afffl-fuck”
ETA: …and waving farewell to the MSU Spartans.
karen
My prescription to you is homemade chicken soup and a teaspoon of honey. Oh, and vicks vapor rub on your chest.
karen
@srv:
The fish rotted from the head, it seems. I guess that was why they were covering everything up. They didn’t want to close off their supply. I think it goes even deeper than this.
taylormattd
Are folks playing Destiny?
Tree With Water
If your in the mood for a good belly laugh there’s a documentary about Heinrich Himmler that will premier in NYC this month. Salon posted a great review of it today.
? Martin
Playing a bit of Rimworld waiting for a new version of KSP to drop. Series of meetings and presentations tomorrow as I endeavor to convince my institution to thoroughly reinvent how we teach students.
I’m slightly optimistic about that. I’ve landed several solid successes the last few years, steadily leading up to this. Might be the biggest day of my career – or just a waste of effort. We shall see.
Amir Khalid
@Tree With Water:
You mean, the documentary about what a great family man Reichsführer Himmler was?
monkeyfister
John, for a gaming recommendation, I would suggest X3- Albion Prelude. Beautifully done Space Sim. Be a Galactic Pirate, or a Trading Tycoon… or BOTH! Build a space fleet– from scouts and fighters to massive destroyers and carriers. Fleet battles are incredible. Pretty complex game. I’ve been playing it for a year and still have many, many things to explore and do.
ruemara
I’m so worn out from life and my new heavier workout schedule that I don’t get to game anymore. There goes the point of my WoD beta key. Trying to do work on a toon, but the only close artist friend says he’s just not able to be creative now. Puttering around the house is time consuming, but nothing looks different. Least productive hiatus ever.
Mustang Bobby
New fall TV: I’ve watched two episodes of Scorpion and it stinks on ice. That’s the only new show I’ve watched; still keeping with my old favorites like The Black List, CSI, Person of Interest, and The Good Wife.
The Dangerman
…should have kept the format they had for the first few seasons; it’s become almost unwatchable since Samaritan became the story arc last season. Bad, bad writing.
piratedan
still, congrats to Arizona for bearding the Ducks in their lair… completely unexpected…
also too, good vibes to Violet, hope that she’s either maintaining or seeking help.
As for other stuff…. hope you stay on the rebound JC, still trying to stay away from the TV except for sports because of the political ad extravaganza that is being trotted out by the GOP that accuses Dem candidates of everything like voting with them to wreck the economy to not voting with them to wreck the economy. The amount of projection is staggering, gotta hand it to their media/advertising staff, they know how to lie with style and parse the living crap of a situation without a shred of context.
Let’s hope that Rick Perry is too scared to get involved with the Ebola crisis and instead chooses to get behind a .50cal and patrol the border some more.
Note to DCC emailers, this alternating crap of doom and gloom and rah rah bullshit makes me regret giving you money at times, I know that this bullshit works for the GOP and the perpetual outrage machine, but I tend to find it insulting as hell.
Tree With Water
@Amir Khalid: Yes. How normal–not how seemingly normal, but normal– he was in actuality. That was my take on the review anyway.
I am a keen student of WW2. I’m also a coward, in that I can’t do more than dip my toe into the holy literature of the Holocaust. Psychological studies of the nazi monsters don’t revolt me, but neither do they particularly interest me. Still, I’ll keep my eyes peeled for the national release of this documentary. It definitely intrigues me.
Tommy
@KG: @KG: Agreed with you across the board. The only thing I wish/hope was in your quue is Modern Family. Good TV.
Elmo
@taylormattd:
I’m trying, but I think I’m going to quit. I don’t do multiplayer, and there’s no character interaction or development. The graphics and shooting are nicely rendered, but it’s a teenager’s game.
Tommy
@Elmo: I tend to play kids games. Little Big Planet is my game on the PS3 right now. Cut the Rope is the game my six-year-old niece turned me on to. I love it. Play it every day.
Debbie(aussie)
(just sneaking out from behind the desk for help) I can’t read comments at Charlie Pierces’ place. Any idea/s why?
WaterGirl
@? Martin: I hope things go well tomorrow!
qwerty42
Let’s see: other than an occasional solitaire, I think the last computer-based game I was in to was … “star trek” … if my mf account is still active, the load module for it may still be there. Obviously, I’m ancient.
Cermet
John refuses to take the one, trivial action that would prevent this whole mess; take 3000-5000 IU of vitamin D a day. Been telling him for a few years but he refuses to listen. For a bacterial infection it will help some right away. The colds. it takes four months before it really protects you.
Juju
@The Dangerman: I concur. I used to really enjoy “Person of Interest”, but now it has become rather tedious to watch. The first few seasons sort of reminded me of the tv series “The Equalizer”, but that show also went off the tracks a bit. I might give “Person of Interest” a few more episodes, but I’m almost ready to give up.
PaulW
I’m watching Gotham. I like it more when it gets into the noir stuff but the comic book villainy is poorly written. Needs more Bullock being a smartass among the mobsters too.
Manyakitty
Ha! You’ve got my boyfriend beat. He plays World of Tanks with himself.
Chris
@Juju:
That’s one of those shows I’ve wanted to get into for some time, but can’t find on Netflix or Hulu or anywhere else. From what I’ve read, it seems to’ve started with a fairly standard “we help the helpless” format (with The Machine being an awesome plot device to deliver the names of “the helpless”) but to’ve eventually put more emphasis on “main” plotlines revolving around conspiracies to control The Machine – is that where the “rather tedious” comes in?
Now, the Equalizer on the other hand. ZERO interest in the movie, but man, am I glad it made me aware of the TV show. Found one episode on YouTube and am now quite interested in tracking down the rest. I have a huge soft spot for that kind of eighties television.
Birthmarker
my mechanic husband likes to change oil every 4000-5000 miles. And we drive our cars forever, with few repairs. I literally just had a first mechanical breakdown on my 2001 Toyota, with 234,000 miles on it. He did do a couple of preemptive repairs, such as a new timing belt (or whatever that part is called..)
Steeplejack
@Juju, @Chris:
I still like Person of Interest, but I agree that it is at a tipping point. The series got off to a shaky start, with a disconnect between the looming background presence of the Machine vs. the pedestrian “case of the week” content. Then it got better with some meaty story arcs—the “H.R.” cabal in the police department, Carter and Fusco gradually joining Finch and Reese, the emergence of Root—culminating in the Samaritan threat against the Machine itself. And they have fleshed out the characters and added some good new ones as they have gone along, e.g., ex-government assassin Shaw. (Would like to see more of the political fixer woman—can’t remember her name—who has some good chemistry with Reese.)
So now they’re trying to make a transition to a situation in which the principals—Reese, Finch, Shaw, Root—are themselves in danger. They’ve been somewhat clumsy so far—I didn’t really like that subplot with the black anarchist and his group—but I’m willing to go along for a while to see what happens.
skyweaver
I love Joe Kenda! I love his dry delivery. “You have a history of beating up women?” “Well I’m lookin’ for one a those.” The actor who plays him is West Point grad and served for 17 years as an actual sheriff in New York. Which explains why his mannerism when he plays Kenda seem to go beyond acting – the dude’s done crime investigation in real life.
dlw32
I am playing Destiny. Enjoy it quite a lot so far.
For TV, I don’t think any of the new shows have hit stride for me… Forever is okay but I’m already tired of the “I know your secret” phone calls.
Gotham is not good. I’m not a DC guys so I’m sure I’m missing all sorts of in jokes. So far there are three characters I find interesting, and only three: Cat, Penguin, and the bad detective. Gordon is one-note, he’s not up to being the center. And the woman playing the mob boss is terrible. It may be the director’s fault but she is so over the top it’s glaring.
I’m hoping Gracepoint doesn’t suck but I’m not sure why I’m not watching Broadchurch instead.
Of the shows coming back, Marvel Agents of SHIELD was good. Sleepy Hollow was good but a little disappointing. It had ended so strong I’m not sure it would be possible to satisfactorily conclude the set up.
I guess I’m waiting for Walking Dead to resume.
For movies, I’m really looking forward to Fury. I’m an old time WWII history nut. The idea that they salvaged parts from period tanks to build the interior sets… well, I just have to see that.
JustRuss
Cole, I don’t want to kill your buzz, but if changing to synth could boost your mpg significantly, all the car companies would be running it.
Joel Hanes
If you like shooters, the new Wolfenstein (on Steam) looks like a worthy successor to the franchise (and that’s high praise — Return to Castle Wolfenstein is one of my very favorites).
For nearly-endless FPS fun, my friend recommends the Just Cause series — like GTA, huge world maps with your choice of missions, lots of things to blow up real good. The combination of the physics-defying grappling hook and the infinite supply of parachutes enables some amazing maneuvers.
Rage, from Id, is another shooter worth trying.
I’m still holding the cold, cobwebby stump of a torch for Half-Life 3, but I’ve just about given up hope.