Older: August 2003
Newer: October 2003

Silvergreens, WTF happened to you!!!!

Tuesday, September 30, 2003 »

Until Sunday night, I actually hadn't been back to Silvergreens since returning to Santa Barbara on the 11th. I had heard some things about changes to their menu and new customization options, but what we discovered upon arriving was very disheartening.

First of all, two of the great Silvergreens sandwiches, the eggplant pesto and, my personal favorite, the MBT, are no longer on the menu. In fact, about 3/4 of their sandwiches are now gone, replaced by a list of "build your own" ingredients. Of course, the aforementioned sandwiches' ingredients are nowhere to be found. Adding insult to injury, later on it was noted that the signs explaining all the great benefits of the menu changes listed "more meat" as one of the bonuses. That's great. I think there was about one sandwich aside from the teriyaki chicken one I ever ordered that had meat on it, and I doubt they're going to slap another chicken breast onto it now (not that that would even be welcomed).

Also missing were several salads (Replaced by a green apple salad? What?), and while I didn't order them as much as I ordered sandwiches, I noticed the ingredients to rebuild them were also missing from the respective "build your own salad" box of ingredients.

I have no theories why they'd drop such huge sections of the menu, aside from the obvious conspiracy against good food. On the plus side, the new pasta dishes are very good (except what the heck, bacon?), and there are four, as-of-yet unsampled MILKSHAKES. They aren't enough to help me forget about the missing MBT, though.

Feel free to complain.

» comments: 1

F-Zero?

Sunday, September 28, 2003 »

I want to write more about F-Zero GX later, but here's a quick thought before I forget.

I was driving through one of the story mode missions which takes place in this fiery, Hell-lookalike area. There are also landmines scattered over portions of the track. Then I get to thinking (Don't question the relevance of this, and nevermind that this is a videogame to begin with.), if this is supposed to be like Hell, then how realistic is it that there are landmines? Would there be landmines in Hell?

Then, a little voice in my head goes, "Of course Hell has landmines."

I guess that was totally obvious.

» comments: 4

To the Slackcave!

Thursday, September 25, 2003 »

Well, I just got back from my first trip to the laundromat (This new place has no laundry area.) and it was an adventure. A rather mild one, but still adventure-y nonetheless. Now that the folding is done, I'm planning to go take advantage of my late morning tomorrow and vegetate.

Can you think of a cross between Silent Hill and F-Zero that preserves the key aspects of each series? I'm drawing a blank.

» comments: 2

I'm never turning on the cable again

Tuesday, September 23, 2003 »

I went downstairs to play F-Zero and decided to see what was on TV just for the heck of it, except what should I find but an elusive first season X-Files episode I haven't seen and Saturday Night Live hosted by Jon Stewart?? Noooooooooooo.

» comments: 0

I am bad at keeping schedules

Tuesday, September 23, 2003 »

Curse you, David Bowie and Dr. Phil, for keeping me up this late at the beginning of my early morning death quarter.

Then again, tomorrow is my late day for sleeping in. 9:30 WOOOOOOOOOO

» comments: 0

IT IS TIME FOR "SCHOOL"

Monday, September 22, 2003 »

oshdjghsgojhsgsgsh so early

Also, I went to wake Morgan up and she was already playing Final Fantasy Tactics. I plan to do some sort of photo essay about that.

» comments: 0

Fogggg

Sunday, September 21, 2003 »

Well, here I am on the last day of summer, although the view out the window is of one of the foggiest summers on record. Of course, I mean that classes are ready to start up again tomorrow, and I'll have to tone down the marathon sessions of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance from the last week or so (which, coincidentally, may be why I haven't updated much lately).

This quarter should be interesting. I'm taking a more advanced print class with the much-talked-about Luke Matjas. I'm hoping he's going to do mostly digital, since he seems like a digital guy, but it should be a good experience regardless.

Chinese I've got mixed feelings about, mostly about the whole having to relearn how to read and write aspect. The books seem manageable, though. At the moment, I'm mainly hoping that the professor will be considerate enough to lead some of the discussions in English.

Perhaps more intimidating is my Japanese classics course, being an upper-division course with more books than I used all of last year. (I suppose that would no longer be true if I had actually purchased the suggested titles for black studies 5.) I thought it would be a lot of reading when I walked out of the bookstore on Thursday with the four or five paperbacks they had on the shelves, so imagine my surprise when I went back a few days later to check for one that had been out of stock and there were suddenly three or four more books that I hadn't even seen. Yeah.

Last but not least, there's psych 103 with the infamous Dr. Fridlund, which I'm sure will be enjoyable, despite the 9:30 start time.

I think I will make some chili now.

» comments: 5

Ahahahahahahaha

Tuesday, September 16, 2003 »

From Magic Box:

Microsoft mentioned that Perfect Dark Zero from Rareware will not be released until 2006.

2006 isn't even a real year!

» comments: 0

Emailifying

Tuesday, September 16, 2003 »

Right now there is this situation with our router that is preventing me from sending email. I'm being a bit slow at looking into it as I don't send that much email, but it is still irritating. Dooby-doo.

» comments: 0

Feelings, mixed

Tuesday, September 16, 2003 »

From Gamespot:

The 40GB hard disc drive for the PS2, already available to Japanese gamers, is confirmed for a March 2004 launch date in the US. The disc drive will sell for $99 and will come with Final Fantasy XI preinstalled. Sony briefly mentioned that FFXI networked gameplay (available through Square Enix's PlayOnline network) will be priced as follows: The first 30 days will be free, and a $12.95 per month fee will be assessed from that point on.

On one hand, I want to try FFXI, and getting it free almost justifies the hundred-dollar drive. On the other, I don't have a $40 network adapter and I don't want to pay monthly fees.

...

» comments: 0

Toastastrophe

Sunday, September 14, 2003 »

Why is it that I can put bread into the toaster on a light setting and have it come out virtually unsinged, but when I put it back in on the same setting, in mere seconds it is completely blackened?

» comments: 0

Try driving with THIS headset

Saturday, September 13, 2003 »

Behold, the Isophone!

I can't write my own reaction to this because every subsequent sentence in the article sent my mind to a new level of boggle-dom.

<londo> We will have to see if the Isophone is worth the trouble.
<londo> HMMMMM

» comments: 0

Wichtige Plätzchennachrichten

Saturday, September 13, 2003 »

I have discovered that the Quaker "Quick Bites" series of snacks has a chocolate-filled cookie that is very similar to the extremely elusive Koala Yummies. They sell them in tube-like containers like the kind they sometimes use for Doritos.

Go now and consume.

» comments: 4

Peanut butta jell-eh

Saturday, September 13, 2003 »

The best thing about moving into a new place is having new bread, new peanut butter, and new jelly all at the same time. It's like a planetary alignment, except delicious!!!

» comments: 0

=400

Friday, September 12, 2003 »

Ahaa, time for something exciting. For those unfamiliar with the In-N-Out Burger chain, this update will require some explanation. Here we go.

In-N-Out features three items on the burger menu: the hamburger, the cheeseburger, and the "double-double," which is aptly named as it features 1) double meat, and 2) double cheese. This is a fairly popular order.

More interestingly, In-N-Out is also famous for its selection of secret menu items, which, just as it sounds, are food items In-N-Out will serve you despite their absence from the posted menu. One of these items is a variation on the double-double, the 4x4 (read as "four by four"). This burger has four times the meat and four times the cheese of a normal cheeseburger. You can adjust this one as much as you want and order things like a 3x3, 5x5, or even a 2x5 if you're feeling lopsided.

So, imagine this: a 20x20.

Yes, for a limited time (I'm assuming) you can see photos of this monstrosity (and its consumer) by going here and then entering in 3.jpg through 53.jpg. For convenience, here are the highlights:

The receipt - G-rated. Note the total cost.
The 20x20 - The entire thing, still in the box. Somewhat unsettling.
Partially consumed - Definitely not for the faint of heart. I liken it to an autopsy.

I warned you about the last one!!!!!

» comments: 2

Back in SB~

Friday, September 12, 2003 »

I'm now about half-finished moving things into my new single room yessssss in Santa Barbara. The last 36 hours or so were comprised of almost nonstop shopping for thingz and then assembling those and certain other thingz in the room. My desk is working out excellently, despite the movers delivering it early and then providing a bad contact number for the assembly crew. Oh well. It only took about two-and-a-half hours, and we probably saved about $50. Bookshelves are here but empty, as I'll probably have to move them to allow the delivery Personen move in the bed, which is LATE. After that is finally here I can redisplay my posters, decorate desk, etc. I'm looking forward to that, but I'm also secretly enjoying using Morgan's room as a temporary warehouse for all my boxes.

Right now Laura and Chris are downstairs watching Sex and the City, or something, so I'm listening to the Pirates soundtrack once again. Hmm.

It is also notoriously foggy.

Oh, and the local video place has a sign up saying they want to buy PS2 games. I wonder if I can get a good deal on FANTAVISION.

Anyone want to go see Once upon a Time in Mexico + Matchstick Men???????????????

» comments: 2

whith of kennywood's rollor costers are you (with pics)

Wednesday, September 10, 2003 »

Here's a present for all you quiz fans/English majors.

Remember, kids: be cool, stay in school.

» comments: 1

STOP DRIVING MINI COOPERS

Wednesday, September 10, 2003 »

With the new Beetle it was all nostalgia fans or something, but to me, Mini drivers (AHAHAHA MINNIE DRIVER RORL) just seem like ASGHHSAHA I AM A EUROSNOB P.S. ITALIAN JOB RULZ

Also get off the cellphone and drive.

» comments: 1

McROFL

Wednesday, September 10, 2003 »

"You know, I'm a big fan of the word sellout and like to use it as much as I can, but I've always wondered: what would be the ultimate epitome of selling out? Oh, thanks, IGN!"

» comments: 5

Back to SB~

Wednesday, September 10, 2003 »

I'm leaving for Santa Barbara again early tomorrow morning. It was a great summer, but somehow I'm looking forward to classes starting. (Well, almost.) The fall weather is definitely welcome, though. While I was running errands yesterday, the sky was completely overcast and it even rained a little. Hopefully summer has decided to call it quits down in Southern California, too.

...

This was going to be a lot longer, but then I responded to some email and lost my train of thought. Anyway, I'm off to go check if Fry's hasn't gotten their Final Fantasy Tactics Advance yet.

» comments: 0

He's a pirate

Tuesday, September 9, 2003 »

The Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack (composer: Klaus Badelt) is excellent. It is easily the best action movie soundtrack since The Rock, yes. Nothing else even comes close to its adventure-osity. And, unlike The Rock, this one is absolutely relentless. I think there are maybe one or two tracks without the pounding drums and frantic string sections, but otherwise it's over-the-top energy all the way through. It would be ridiculous if it weren't so AWESOME.

» comments: 3

Fantavision

Monday, September 8, 2003 »

For the longest time I have blindly made fun of Fantavision, partly for being one of the PS2's overwhelmingly underwhelming launch titles, but mainly for being centered around blowing up fireworks. I watched it on the shelf at Electronics Boutique, as the price slowly dwindled from $30, to $20, down to $12, and vowed I would finally try it out the day it hit $10.

That day was today (although I actually mean yesterday). Ken and I made the trip down to Biggest Gamespot Ever so he could pick up Soul Calibur II (more on that another time), and there it was: Fantavision, brand new, for $9.99. I procured my copy.

About half an hour later, I thought only one thing: My past jabs were definitely well-deserved. Fantavision is terrible.

Maybe, with a little refinement, the gameplay itself could be salvaged, although it is a bit unwieldy for a puzzle game. (Puzzle games should not depend on the analog stick.) The thing that ruins Fantavision for me, though, is the audio. In fact, it's not even so much the obnoxious, sugar-techno songs that overwhelm the menu screens, or the elevator-style muzak during the game (which is, thankfully, ignorable). It's mostly the announcer that I can't stand. It's hard to describe the voice exactly; the best I can do is like a combination of one of those 50s scientist announcers you hear whenever some dumb TV commercial is getting its retro on, and the recorded voice that reminds you to keep your heads and arms inside the vehicle at Disneyland. Yeah, it's annoying. As if it wasn't enough to have it welcome me to each game and invite me back at the end, it also thoughtfully counts off the number of "chains" made during play. (This would be sort of like if an annoying voice told you how many lines you just eliminated in Tetris.) It's enough to provide incentive not to lose, but also not to return.

Oh, and I didn't even mention the intro movie, which is the most godawful and gratuitous live-action FMV ever, featuring a Leave It to Beaver-esque family gathering around the ol' PS2 to play some Fantavision. It's like playing a bloody 3DO game.

On the plus side, I now have something for whenever EB does its next trade-in deal.

» comments: 1

Metaly fled!

Sunday, September 7, 2003 »

Well, here it is: The brand new Webpage experience, powered in part by Movable Type. As you'll notice, the main entries area now features categorized archives, a search tool (to scan said archives), and commenting. It's all very exciting. To me, anyway. But then again, I'm the type of person who reads books on CSS in bed.

To avoid putting everyone to sleep, I'll probably limit my talk of MovableType to that introduction. The other little details about the new page I will discuss briefly further on. However, there is one major issue that I am going to discuss, even though you'll probably not care about it. You should still read it because it is important and I plan to get preachy. The bottom line, though, is that I am going to ask you to (probably) switch your Web browser, so if you're adamant about not doing that, you may skip the next several paragraphs.

Here we go. I really enjoy this new design, which is made possible by the wonder that is CSS. However, to best enjoy it, you will need a CSS-compliant browser. Primarily this means: Not Internet Explorer. I know that Microsoft was generous enough to meld IE into the operating systems that upwards of 90% of Internet users run, so it's probably a convenience thing for most people. However, an interesting little fact about IE is that it is actually designed to be non-compliant to Web standards such as CSS and HTML. Standards, as in the rules that dictate how CSS and HTML markup works and how browsers should display Websites. A good Webpage author should write HTML/CSS that conforms to these standards so it can be correctly interpreted by browsers, much like you use punctuation when you write so people can tell what it is you're saying. Anyway. Microsoft basically designed IE to accomodate sloppily-written HTML to be compatible with a larger number of pages. Yes, that's very kind of them, but it really just perpetuates poor Web design as designers slack off because they figure it'll only trip up the roughly 6% of users with standards-compliant browsers. (I will spare you from any scathing analogies.)

So, as a frustrated Web designer and strong supporter of CSS, I urge you to at least try out one of the fine offerings from Mozilla.org, namely Firebird. If you're on OS X like myself, there's the popular Safari, although it's not as compliant as Mozilla's Camino. (I tend to switch between the two.) And by the way, all three of these browsers are much faster than Internet Explorer.

So, sorry to rant, but it seriously disturbs me that Microsoft, monopolies and the Xbox aside, would do something that so surreptitiously undermines progress in a developing technology like the Web.

On top of all that, they're causing IE users to miss out on the crazy text effects on the links page!

Well, that was much longer than I expected. In case you've gotten lost, I was trying to (briefly) give a runthrough of new page features. There aren't too many, I suppose, besides the lovely Metaly-centric design. I did revamp the links a bit, and there's a new feature (back by popular demand), so you can go take a look at those. Otherwise, I'll probably wrap this up now and save all the reviewing I was going to do for another time.

So, yes. That's about it for now.

» comments: 4
Older: August 2003
Newer: October 2003