I need your help!

I was watching an episode of CSI just now, and heard a song which, after some sleuthing, I identified as End Theme by Zero 7. What troubles me is that I know I've heard it before, but I'm unable to figure out where. If you know where I might have heard this song before, please lend me some insight. At first, I thought of "MirrorMask", a movie I saw just the other day, but I can't find any proof that that's what it was.

Listening to... End Theme - Zero 7
Link of the moment... I'm pretty sure it's nothing listed on here

More computer jargon

I was thinking that maybe I could just buy a new video card for my system while waiting for a reason to update the whole box, and that reminded me why I can't exactly do that (so, more of a followup of my last post than a new post altogether):

The new standard for video cards is PCI-Express, which became standard about two minutes after I bought my computer. There really aren't many cheap AGP cards out that are better than mine. So, to upgrade my video card, I'd need to upgrade my motherboard to use the PCI-E. When I upgrade my motherboard, I'll have to upgrade my processor, and I'd likely buy new SATA drives (the new standard for hard disks). If I'm going to have to replace the mobo anyways, I would buy a new case. At that point, I might as well buy a few new sticks of RAM, and now I have a new system. If I simply buy a new set of DVD drives, then I'll have a second complete system. It's a slippery slope, my friends.

So, rather than forking out ~$1500 (which isn't really that much, but I'll be buying a Wii soon :) ), I'll put up with my average to sub-par graphics until I get to a point where I can't play newer games (and of course for me, 'newer games' means games that have been out long enough to have a price drop).

Listening to... Kid Dynamite - Give 'em the Ripped One
Link of the moment... Soon enough, my precious, soon enough.

Upgrading my computer and my education

I have a sudden urge to upgraade my computer...just thinking about how much better I could get Unreal 2004, or Guild Wars, or Half Life 2 excites me in a non-sexual way. I realize, though, that my computer is still competent enough so as to not justify the expenditure. I think a good time would probably coincide with the first service pack for the home edition of Windows Vista (which is coming out January 2007, so I read). When that first service pack comes out, I do not know. Perhaps it would come right around the end of a three term graduate degree at UW, around April 2008, which allows me to segue into...

Another thought that has been plaguing me for a while is that of a graduate degree. I think it follows with my undergraduate degree's motivation, which is "I have the ability to do it, so I guess I should". I'm not sure if I want higher education per se, but I can't think of too much of a reason not to go for it. My marks warrant it, and I presume that I'd enjoy the workplace about as much as another year of school. Of course, Grant doesn't allow me to leave Thunder Bay after I come back, but maybe I could get the grad degree at UW without his knowing about it. It would only be another three terms to do either 8 courses or 4 courses and a thesis project. I fear that if I get a serious degree, I'll have to get a serious job, then make some serious mistakes.

I guess it'll work itself out by December.

Listening to... I'm With Stupid - Static-X
Link of the moment... Not nearly as fun at 800*600 at lowest settings.

Tradition!

I was thinking the other night about how limitations in video games in the olden days are still around, but they're now seen as standards rather than limitations. Granted, I can only think of two prime examples, and some publishers have done their part to do away with them.

Firstly (and I know I've brought this topic up before), fighting games still use health bars and the underlying system. I assume it started back in the days of the first fighting games and has stuck around ever since. I've said before that I'd like to see a game where fighters take location-based damage and injuries to one side of the body would affect attacks from that side's arm or leg. The only real example I can think of that tried to do away with this is Square's Bushido Blade.

Secondly, RPGs should lose random battles. It started with RPGs like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, where the NES just didn't allow for many sprites on the screen at once, so your team would be randomly flung into battle. Games like Chrono Cross and Grandia have shown that this is no longer a limitation, but the FF and DQ series still use it as a standard. In most games, it is nothing more than an annoyance to the player, knowing that there's no way to avoid battle.

Well, that's what I have to say about that. On to more personal matters.

The other day, I was going to buy Guitar Hero on a whim (curse you Paul!). Adam and Holly came over, and I was expecting more people, though it didn't pan out. We went to Future Shop at about 8:20 and they were sold out of copies. The guy helping us said that most places in the city were sold out too, though I don't know his sources. Today I'm going shopping with John's sisters (because I really don't have anything better to do). While I'm out, I'll check Walmart and EBGames for it (though I doubt Walmart will have it), but the purchase would have been more significant on Friday as it was both on a whim and with people with whom I could play the newly purchased game.

My ENGL119 mark came in, and I got 83. Not too bad. If I get 90 in CS234, I'll make dean's list again.

Turns out my dad's computer has a DVD burner on it, so I'm taking advantage of Video Network's $1 rentals.

Well, my paragraphs have turned into sentences. That means I haven't much left to talk about.

Listening to... Watching the Train Go By - Nine
Link of the moment... Gotta put more thought into grad studies

Kevin J in Thunder Bay

Well I'm home. The trip home was more hell than usual. As I said earlier, I decided to stay up all night to get ready for my 5:45 pickup, but unfortunately I wasn't nearly as insomnia-induced as I usually am, so I had a pretty hard time staying up. During the drive to the airport, and the entire flight home, I just wanted to die. When I got home, I slept for six hours, then played Chrono Cross for a while.

I seem to have made a grave miscalculation. I forgot just how much of my time at home is spent playing video games. I only brought back a handful of games with me, thinking that I'd only play them when I have nothing better to do. Unfortunately, CC has its hooks in me and I'll probably be done in a week. I brought Dragon Quest 8, but my (old) PS2 won't play it. It takes upwards of a minute between screens, rendering the game unplayable.

When I first popped in CC, it wouldn't load, despite it being one of my few non-pirated games. I looked online for help, and cleaning the laser with rubbing alcohol and a Q-tip got CC working (though it offerend no help for DQ8).

Only one of my marks is in so far. I got 88 in databases, which I suppose is higher than I thought I'd get. Our group in ENGL119 got 87 on the final project...I don't know if that's just the written part, or the document and presentation. It will account for either 20% or 30% of my final mark. I don't really know where my final mark will sit, though I predict about 80. I have high expaectations for CS234, no less than 90.

Bringing my Zen was definitely smart, since I have no music on this computer. It's good to drum along to as well. I wish I had a DVD burner here to I could take advantage of Video Network's one dollar movie rentals.

Things are hard to get used to the first few days when I get back to Thunder Bay. The kitchen, the stove, the tv channels, the tv remote...lots of little things.

Well I should *try* to get to sleep. I am going to try to get up at 9 and go for breakfast with Adam.

Listening to... The Killers - Smile like you mean it
Link of the moment... One of the only other games I brought home with me

Unable to sleep

Well, I can't get to bed. Again. The other night/day, I was up until 8:15! Isn't that ridiculous? My plan was to wke up again before noon, depriving myself of sleep all day, then going to bed at midnight. While I did get to sleep earlier than usual, I still managed to wake up in the afternoon! This is really pissing me off. Luckily, my other exam is in the afternoon rather than morning, so I don't think I'll be terribly affected. It'll still be a massive pain to get up for the plane ride home though. On second thought, since my flight is at 8:40...I'll have to be in the airport an hour early, and the transport will be here an hour and a half before that...looks like I'll just be staying up until 6 for the flight. I guess I'll nod off for an hour here or there on the way home, then get a nice sleep in my own bed.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone back home, though it seems people will be unavailable at times due to different trips. Looks like I'll get to see everyone sometime though, so that's good. I plan to bring Fluxx and Apples to Apples home, since they're the only good games I can fit in my luggage feasibly.

The rest of today looks as though it will be a pain in the neck. I was hoping to be in bed by 3 at the latest (it's 6 now), because I am going to some office hours for my next exam at noon, followed by a euchre exec meeting at 3, and I plan to make lunch before all this happens as well.

It seems as though every time I make a post lately, it's about video games. On that note, I haven't yet decided if I am going to try to beat Chrono Cross or Dragon Quest 7 while I'm at home (I'm going to bring my old PS2 back for the month). I think I'll just make a snap decision and play whichever I feel, but I should keep in mind that my old PS2 acts up on burned games (of which DQ7 is one, and CC is not).

I beat The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap the other day. I got slaughtered the first few tried on the final boss, so spent some time collecting heart pieces, skills, and the last bottle. When I tried next, I didn't need to use any of my potions! Yay for me.

I sort of went hog wild with snacks today. I realize I'm going home in a few days, but still bought a bag of chips, box of cookies, and a frozen cream pie, in addition to the half box of cookies I already have. I think I'm going to have to work double time on the snacks this week...poor me.

I think the sun is starting to come up. What a pity.

Unfortunately, besides video games, not much of interest has popped up in my life, so I'm going to kill the post here.

Listening to... Metalium - Rasputin
Link of the moment... Daily Bulletin @ UWaterloo.

Up late thinking about Wii

Time for an exam update! I decided to study for my CS338 (Databases) exam. It paid off, as a lot of the questions on the final dealt with definitions and things I would have otherwise forgotten if I skimmed over them. I spent no time working on iSQL or relational algebra questions, but as I suspected, I was able to do it on-the-fly on the exam. I think I did rather well, but I never like to get my hopes up after exams. I fully expect to get at least an 80 average, but I won't hope for anything more.

I tried to get to sleep early last night so I could get some good sleep for my morning exam. I went to bed at midnight and fell asleep at 5:30. I actively tried to fall asleep until about 2, when I gave up and played Zelda on my GBA until about 3:30, and spent another 2 hours trying to sleep. I'm feeling really drained right now. I think I'm going to try to stay awake all day and just catch up tonight, rather than sleeping in the afternoon or evening.

I've gotta say, I'm putting a fair bit of thought into buying a Wii. I have this odd hankering to play Paper Mario and started thinking about buying a GC when I go home (since I already have stakes in Mario Party 4 and 6 and an extra controller for my roommate's GC), but if I'm going to lay down $120, I might as well get a backwards-compatible Wii for another $200.

I don't really like buying systems at launch. I like to wait until there's a nice padding of games and support. Of course, the Wii will have been out for a while when I get back home in May. I'll have to agree with Paul when he says that the Wii costs a mere pittance in the grand scheme of things (less than half the cost of a PS3!), and I have a lot of money I've been saving up for such a purchase.

I also have a terrible desire to buy a DS, but I doubt I'd buy one, given that I have the SP. There are just as many GBA games I haven't played yet than DS games (though Yoshi's Island 2 alone might be worth it the cost). Argh, the fact that the Wii isn't going to be out for months still is bothering me!

Well, there you go for another boring video-game related post. Oh yeah, my Guild Wars Monk/Necromancer (Crow Aziel) is level 20 (max). Huzzah!

Listening to... Division of Laura Lee - Pretty Electric
Link of the moment... I'm convinced this is THE BEST SNES game.

My Quandry

I'll tell you my problem, and then you're going to solve it for me, capiche? I just moved my room around a bit (I don't want to get into details as my room is hard to exaplin, but I'd say it's a good change for a few reasons), and I figured perhaps I should take other considerations into account for my general comfort.

One such aspect of my comfort involves my frequent use of my computer and the data is displays for me. Currently my desktop is set to 1280*1024 (the native resolution for 17 " and 19" monitors), and it is difficult to read text, which is something I read quite often.

A few non-optimal solutions exist. Firstly, I could lean in and/or squint to read, but my eyesight isn't getting any better as I age. Secondly, I could change my desktop resolution to something lower -- likely 1024*768. AFAIK, this would make everything seem bigger and easier to read. Unfortunately, this would put my monitor into a non-native resolution, possibly skewing up some other stuff. Thirdly, I could just increase the font size of firefox. Unfortunately this doesn't affect all text (consider text in pictures), and it also makes some sites' templates look hideous (text running beyond edges and such).

I think I'll knock my res to 1024*768 for a while and see if there's much of a positive or negative difference.

Listening to... Cream - Dance the Night Away
Link of the moment... Very nice entry on native resolution