The Cranium folks have a new game!

ZIGITY!

It's a card game. It's way fun. Super fun. The cards are clear plastic, which is pretty crazy.

Unlike other Cranium games, you don't have to do stuff. No drawing, sculpting, singing, acting, or anything of the sort. It's just a card game. The top card of the discard pile tells what you are trying to accomplish. Each card has 4 icons-of-sorts in the corners. One corner has a letter, one a number, one an instrument, and one a PIECE of an icon.

You may be trying to spell a word with the cards in your hand, or have cards that add to 11, or you may need to match the instrument, or you may need to complete all the pieces of the icon. The top card of the discard pile must be included in whatever you are doing.

So, if the top card of the discard pile is a "Spelling" card, and it has the letter W on it, you must spell a word that has a W in it. If you have an S, O, R, and D, you can play "SWORD", and put all 4 of your cards down at once. Now, whatever top card you just played determines the next person's action.

It's really dynamic and quick and a blast to play. I think you can only buy it online or at a Starbucks. I've had it for about 3 days, and I've already got my money's worth.

I was trying to go to bed at a reasonable hour last night, but it was pushing 11:00 pm so I HAD to watch the Daily Show. I had convinced myself that I would NOT STAY UP for Tough Crowd. I wouldn't. It was TOO LATE and I was TOO TIRED.

Right before the Daily Show ended, during their last commercial break, there was a spot for Tough Crowd. It was just a little kid talking about who was going to be on the show. It was actually a little freaky. I was a bit confused.

But he said, as if he was talking right to me, "C'mon, stay up a little later for Tough Crowd. You'll sleep when you're dead."

Good point! I was convinced.


Today, I'm tired.

Last night in the kitchen, there was this groovy looking moth buzzing around my kitchen. He sat still and let me get a bunch of good pictures of him.




Moths are cool.

A fun little online game.

It's called Constellations.



It's basically a free-form 'connect the dots'. Obviously (if you know me) I have an astronomy connection to a game called constellations. But there is a geometry element, as well (I'm an astronomy geek AND a math geek).

You see, there are some dots scattered around the board, and you have to connect them together with lines exceeding a certain length. The length increases at each level. You cannot cross a line you have already drawn, and you can only use a dot once, so you have to plan ahead. Sometimes you are provided with brighter dots which can be used twice... these often are the key to finishing.

The boards are random, so it's very replayable.

So far, my highest score has been: 134699.

This site has another game called "Gravity", which I enjoy, too, but not nearly as much.

They have a bunch of games, but these are the only two I really ever play.

I got a new toy!


I had a dinky little Dean Markley jamming amp since college. It made all sorts of horrible noises that were not related to the guitar at all. It buzzed and hummed and groaned and popped and sputtered.

But all that's changed. This little dude is the best thing ever. It's a Fender Frontman. It's bigger than my old one, but still pretty small. The clear tone is awesome, the reverb is awesome, the buzzy gain is awesome.

I am a rock and roll star. At least in my own apartment in my own brain in my own little world.

As a person who speaks loudly for a living, having a sore throat just stinks.

Last night, I went outside to find a pair of geese with two babies. The goslings were terribly, terribly cute. I had to get some pictures. I actually took about a dozen.




This morning, they were back by the docks! I went down to get a couple more pictures, when I heard a rustle in the trees at the edge of the property. A big adult goose came out, followed by what appeared to be a clown-car full of babies. I count SEVENTEEN.



Too cute. Although, there is goose crap EVERYWHERE.

Not that I update this much, but I should mention that I will be away from technology for at least 10 days.

See you in June!

There's a game called Pig Pile.

I've played it a bunch of times now. I attend a regular game night, and it seemed to pass the harsh game night crowd standards! I've also played it with family and friends, and we all seem to find it fun. I know I do.

It basically a card game that looks an AWFUL LOT like a standard card game called Palace. You can play a card on top of another if it has a value equal to, or greater than the card that is there. If you don't have a card to play, you must pick up the ENTIRE discard pile and add it to your hand. There are some cards face down in front of you that you have to work towards. First one to ditch all cards wins, and gets 3 pig points. Next one out gets 2 pig points. Everyone else gets 1 pig point, except for the person who has the most cards.

You actually keep track of the score with little pigs. And that's the best part -- collecting the little pigs. And setting them up in odd formations.

And, for some of us, sticking them in our ears. This is someone who will only be referred to as "The Colonel" (his actually identity will remain hidden for his own protection!!) enjoying those pigs.




It's a good game. Not too expensive. Quite easy to learn. Looks like a keeper.

PICTURES!! PICTURES!!

Ok, I am so happy now.

First -- I'm getting used to the new Blogger interface. I knew I would. There are still some issues I have, but I'm sure I'll get over.

Second -- and, oh so much more importantly, I can use the "Hello" program to post pictures! And host pictures!! This is awesome and amazing and free and makes me SO MUCH happier. There are many times that I've wanted to put pictures, but couldn't. I use Yahoo, but they scramble their web addresses, so you can't put a permanent link to them.

Hello lets me include the picture!

I needed this. My day has been sucking so far, and there is a decent amount of suck left to go. I am a smidge happier now.

This is a test to see if I can use "Hello" to post pictures to my Blog. This would be good. I could take the pictures of the Planetarium web site -- I'm sure I'm breaking a rule or 2. 

SO FAR I do not like the new Blogger interface. It takes more clicks to do the simplest things, and makes it harder for me to see the things I am used to seeing (like recently updated Blogs).

It won't stop me from Blogging, but if it looked like this when I started, I probably wouldn't have stayed with it long.

Sorry, Blogger folks. If you could change some stuff BACK I would be thrilled. The old panel of posting and publishing was nice. I did a LOT of test posts before I published before. Doesn't look like that's even an option anymore. Oh, wait. Maybe it is "Save as Draft".

Urf. I am not in the mood for change.

I'm sure I'll come around.

I was in a restaurant this weekend, and I overheard part of a conversation. It went like this...

"...because you see, fish don't have legs. Chickens have legs."

I have been haunted by this since. I really, really want to know how that could possibly fit into a conversation.

It's been a couple weeks since I've been over here. Sorry about that. Not much time to write, really.

But I needed to take time out of my busy schedule because I stumbled over the craziest thing. This is for dog owners everywhere: The Pet A Potty.

Check it out -- you don't have to take your dog out anymore. It's a patch of grass you keep in the house. Seriously. You have to mow it. You still have to scoop, but the pee dribbles through to a pan you have to clean regularly.

Don't have enough crap in the house?? Get a Pet A Potty. Their website has a video/slideshow preview that actually shows dogs 'in the act'. I thought it was fake at first, since the pictures showed some dogs with a turd half out. Crazy.

With the wheels and sod and everything, it can be yours for the low, low price of $270.

Overheard.

I was just walking down the hall and there was a student out there on her cell phone, talking in a regular-volumed voice.

Here's what a heard:

"Yeah, he likes to talk when were doing it.... I know!.... yeah, drives me nuts.... he's hot, though, so it doesn't matter."

That is certainly not some conversation I thought I'd ever hear.

I just finished Nymphomation, by Jeff Noon.

Easy to read		A literary workout
Read it before		A novel with novelty
Lost my interest		Kept me riveted

Jeff Noon is just a wickedly nifty author. Vurt was the first novel of his that I 'read'. I actually purchased the audiobook on a whim. I burned through the cassettes tons of times, and then Rob ripped them to CDs for me. I've actually listened to the CDs so much that they are all beat up, too. It really doesn't matter much since I can basically recite the whole thing, and I've since purchesed the paper form, and read it a couple of times.

Nymphomation is based around a TV show which is a sort of lottery. People buy electronic dominoes, and if their domino ends up matching the domino that is shown on the program, you min big money. It's a huge fad around Manchester. But when a couple of the winners turn up dead, it seems there is more to the game than is easily seen.

The book flashes back 30 years or so to a class of failing students who learn about math and life from a new, innovative teacher, who bases all of her lessons on the game of dominoes... there is an obvious connection!

The book explores this connection, and goes on to play around in chaos, game theory and other mathematics invented just for the tale. It takes place in a near-future filled with fast-food and curry shops, where mechanical insects - blurbflies - buzz around with advertising slogans, and an entire culture is addicted to a lottery game show.

It's a cyberpunk novel, of sorts... it's impossible to describe. Jeff Noon writes science fiction in a style which is somewhere between fantasy and beatnik. He opens the chapters with crazy rants that set the frenzied mood, and grab hold of you once you grow accostomed to the flavor.

Page 27: "Native gamblers, stuck superlove crazy to the televiz, goggle-eyed and numberholic as the credits came in colours. Tango the dominoes, forever changing. Pipsville, dig those chances! Bulging air, message-heavy. Blurbflies in a swarm, singing streets alive. Madverts. Dream to play! Play to win! Win to dream! All over the city, that wet and slippy evening, surrounded by biscuits and crumble, herds of punters were banging their bones on cofe tables and dashboards, mouse pads and park benches, watching tiny dots pulsate in crooked rhythm."

The wonderland feel is further enhanced by things like Page 319: "'Twas nine-ish, and the slimy hordes did clack and gamble in the wave. All dotty were the game-parades, and the telebox did crave. 'Beware the Dominock, my daught, the pips that on young chances feed! Beware the House of Bone and shun the Mr. Millipede!' ...
'Twas nine-ish, and the spotty numbs did gamb and dumble in the games. All pippy were the domisums, and the telebox in flames."

Crazy and cool. Lyrical and fanciful.

Last Thursday, I went to see Hellboy.

A simple story		A complicated tale
Seen it before		A fresh perspective
Visually ordinary		Special effects-y

It was a nifty film. The characters had a bunch of depth. The scenery was dark, but not overly so.

And there is a lot of fighting. A LOT of fighting -- guns, knives, swords, fists, explosions -- it's all there. There are some awfully nasty-looking demons.

It's certainly not for everyone, but if you like intense action wrapped around an epic storyline spanning 60 years, involving Nazis, demons, gods of chaos frozen at the edge of the solar system, and the end of the world - apocalypse-style, go check it out.

Breathless fun! Enjoy!

This is something that has been in my brain for a VERY long time....

I saw a bumper sticker on the back of a car which said:

"Keep the Earth clean. It's not Uranus."

As an Astronomer, and a person who keeps his butt tidy, I am personally offended by this bumper sticker on many levels.

The Question of the Day site is one I frequent. I actually send the QOD out to a bunch of people, and we all try to get the right answer. It's a silly way to start and finish the day. Much of the time, the questions are worded poorly. Much of the time the correct answer isn't even given as a choice. It reminds me a little of part of the disclaimer at the beginning of What Do You Know with Michael Feldman -- "The questions have been researched, but the answers have not."

Today's question just got my brain all juiced up. It looks like this:

---

Q: Approximately how many different ways can you order
coffee from Starbucks?

19,000
50
890
10,147
5024

---

I thought the vague language just itched for me to go off on the concept.

You can order coffee...

• ...the regular way
  
• ...standing on one foot
  
• ...while itching your head
  
• ...while rubbing your belly
  
• ...while itching you head and rubbing your belly
  
• ...while itching your head, rubbing your belly, and standing on one foot
  
• ...jumping up and down
  
• ...lying on the floor
  
• ...with your head tilted to one side like a curious puppy
  
• ...with a bad fake cockney accent. "'ey! Oi'd loike an 'alf-caffeinated 'azelnut latte!"
  
• ...while doing a late 1980's Michael Jackson style 'moonwalk'
  
• ...naked
  
• ...by using charades
  
• ...in pig latin. "es-yay. I ould-way ike-lay an appaccino-kay."
  
• ...very loudly
  
• ...in a way that will bother them. It's simple. Just ask for a 'large'. Or something smaller than 'tall'.
  "Is tall the smallest? Cuz it sounds too much for me. What's smaller than tall? Can I have a 'short'? 'Petite', perhaps? Yeah, never mind, I don't want anything -- 'tall' is too big."
  
• ...by asking for an iced coffee, but ask for it 'as hot as you can make it.'
  
• ...in gibberish. "I'd like a melon-hot sweet-tart plunger monkey frappachino."
  
• ...by using a big voice and fake echo, as if you were an announcer at a ballpark. "YES-ES-es.... I-I-i... WOULD-OULD-ould... LIKE-like-ike... COFFEE-OFFEE-offee."
  
• ...by mispronouncing things on the menu, and INSISTING you are correct.
  "Hi. I'd like a 'late'."
  "Sir, it's pronounced 'lah-tay'. It's a latte."
  "OH, NO, I'm pretty sure it's 'late'."
  
• ...by asking for a flavored latte, and when they ask what flavor shot you want, ask for a bunch of ones you're pretty sure they don't have, and then be flabbergasted by the fact that they don't have them.
  "What flavor?"
  "I'll have salmon. No salmon? Oh, OK... hmmm... broccoli, then. NO BROCCOLI?? It's a pretty common flavor. What about nacho or ranch flavoring? NO??! *--sigh--* All right, I'll just take barbecue. No barbecue flavor? You can get anything barbecue flavored!!"
  
• ...by leaning forward very close to the person and whispering. Let your eyes dart around as you order as if you are doing something illegal.
  

Feel free to make up your own.

My new obsession: Worms 3-D!!

You really need to be a Worms fan to get this.

The original Worms was released in 1994, but the phenomenon started way before that.

One of the first games I ever played on any computer was one called something like Artillery Duel. There were 2 stationary tanks on a hilly landscape. Each player, one at a time, chose the angle, and the power that your missile will take. You watched the path your missile took, and adjusted your shot on your next turn accordingly. It was amazingly simple, and very addicting, especially for the math/computer geek crowd, of which I was among.

Sometime in the 80's, someone made another version of this, but it was gorillas chucking bananas at each other -- but it was the same concept.

The game was released in Basic for PC's. There were versions for Mac. There were Atari/Colecovision/Intellivision versions. But it was always basically the same -- take turns shooting little rockets at each other.

Then, the fellas at Team 17 took it to the next step. And it was Worms. All of the computer geeks were waiting for this game, we just didn't know it until we saw it. It was beautiful -- all the simplicity of artillery duel, but this time you were controlling worms toting a powerful and hilarious assortment of weapons. Bazookas, bananas, and exploding sheep... it was amazing.

The series continued with Worms 2, Worms Armageddon and Worms World Party. There were a couple others in the series, and a few spin-offs as well (like Worms Blast). Each added new ways to play, new weapons, and new graphics, but it was still the 2 dimensional, simple-graphic blastfest.

The next generation of turn-based explosion fun has arrived.

Say hello to Worms 3-D.

The GOOD: Gameplay, menus and price. The game is just a jump in and shoot stuff party in a box. It is so easy to navigate the menus. In fact, if you are just interested in a little bit of fun, one click on the main menu gets you there. You can hop in and play for a few minutes. You'll most likely play for a few hours. I was actually in bed the other night, having a little trouble sleeping, while visions of bouncing worms danced in my head. I got up and played for an hour when I should have been sleeping. The insane amount of weapons and play modes are wonderful, and the "Wormpot" allows you to pick random modes -- there's well over 10,000 ways to bend the rules of physics and gameplay. I have the game on my Playstation 2, and at $30 brand new, I've already gotten my money's worth.

The BAD: Doesn't keep track of your stats, and the awards system has bugs. The only complaint I have so far: In Worms World Party for Playstation, it kept track of your team's wins and losses... this one doesn't bother to do that. It was kind of fun to keep track of... how many worms killed, how many of your worms were lost, etc. Also, one of the greatest things about the Worms game is the fact that they distribute awards at the end of the match -- most deadly worm, most useless worm, etc. The awards come up at the end, and don't seem very imaginative, and it seems like they show awards even when no one gets it. Just about every game I've played ends with the message: Most Accurate Team: . It seems like a simple thing that should have been picked up in QA.

The UGLY: The camera gets in its own way on occasion. The problem with the 3D camera is that it tries to follow the worm, but sometimes walls and landscape make it hard to see your worm and where he might be heading. I have fallen into the water and stepped on land mines, and had it be a COMPLETE surprise. There is a first-person view, as well as a "blimp view" from over head that helps a little, but it still seems that there are places you can't see as you move around.


Any flaws are excusable so far, and I can't recommend this enough.

Enjoy!