This is ominous. I’ve played probably 8 hours of GTA IV now, and except for one freeze-up while I was watching Republican Space Rangers on TV and the occasional hiccup when crossing neighbourhoods mine’s been behaving. The rumour is the crashes primarily affect 60 gig PS3’s, and mine’s an 80. I doubt that’s what is significant.

The shut down multiplayer would only be a pain if my online buddies PS3-side were made of money like me and had copies. They have lives, though, and I’m content to experience the story and single-plyaer game in the meantime.

The reviews don’t lie when they say the story is compelling and well presented. I found myself wanting to do the next story mission instead of just tootling about avoiding it because I knew it would be another ill-conceived use of the game engine. Anyone who has played Mercenaries will know what I’m talking about. After the disappointment that was the Rainbow Six Vegas 1 & 2 stories It is refreshing to give a hoot about the character you play as in one of these things. And I actually like Nicco Bello.

The third of Toronto’s seasons looms: Construction. The other two being Winter and Why-Isn’t-Winter-Over. This brings with it a marked, but not considerable increase in temperature. Also, the nights can still be a little chilly, and any rain won’t be pleasant yet.

But that didn’t stop people from going straight from scarves to spaghetti-straps thinking they’ve been liberated from the grips of snow and wind-chill. I don’t know about most people, but seasonal changes do pretty drastic things to my system: Pressure systems (the onset of a rainy day) give me mild headaches while histamine issues from the pollen give me purpetually clogged nostrils and the occasional nosebleed. I see many around me having similar travails adjusting, such as Allister single-handedly bringing up Claritin stocks. And at least two office-mates have developed colds. As it happens I wasn’t the last horse over the finish line after all. As punishment for assuming Jack Frost had packed, they have developed a cough.

A damned-near constant, persistent, hacking cough. And no matter where I go there is someone with almost the same cough filling otherwise calm, quiet air with the occasional hacking reverie.

I smiled and thought, “Serves them right.” at first. Now writing a bLog entry about is all I can do not to grab a pack of Halls and choke ‘em to death.

Yep. I got a copy. And it looks really, really good. Has a free-for-all multiplayer I’m itching to try out as well.

These days I receive surprisingly little static over how much I swear. And I swear a lot. I think Teddy might be one of the few people I know who has me beat, but at least we share the talent to just switch our curse engines off when it’s tactful. Actually I’d say that’s linked to a larger familial trait that allows us to put on a great front when necessary. My guess is it’s because being an adult or at the very least settled into a section of society that accepts me no one really cares. I want to think it’s because society at large is finally seeing some sense in Frank Zappa’s statement, “They’re just words.” years ago, but I know that’s just insane.

Besides, Teddy might actually be cooling off a little so there isn’t an incident when little Wesley shows up in Kindergarten the first time.

Read more

First off: This is not a statement of my religious or atheist beliefs. I have no interest in discussing those online and will summarily execute any comments attempting to do so. This is about an argument that keeps springing up when an atheist is trying to prove to a believer that God can’t be real. It goes a little something like this:

Atheist: Can God make an unmovable rock?
Believer: Of course. He’s God. He can do anything.
A: If He did, could He move it?
B: Of course.
A: Well then it’s not unmovable then, is it?

Amateur Atheists crusading against religion: This proves nothing. You know why? If something is labelled “unmovable” divine omnipotent, omniscient beings do not get counted in the categorisation. If the Big Guy made a rock to be unmovable: No human, cat, dog, backhoe, crane, bomb, black hole, Seraphim or Son of God will be capable of moving the blessed thing, and that’s what “unmovable” will mean as decreed by Him.

It’s as stupid as trying to hold God to the Ten Commandments. Those are for us not Him.

Ron Perlman. Oh yeah.

I’ve left myself pretty easy to find online thanks to using the handle “Malfeus” where ever I go. Nine times out of ten it’s not in use and it’s not **XXS3FIRR0T7HXX**2. The question that regualrly comes up is where it came from. It’s basically the best mistake I ever made.

Read more

This guy’s got the eye. It’s an interesting feeling to look at his pictures of Toronto thinking, “I’ve been there and don’t remember it looking that nice.”

Amber MacArthur provides some great perspective into technological society, its mythos and its development without being pretentious. She also helps produces a nice video podcast, CommandN. Here she is talking about Net Neutrality in Canada:

But when I get the right level of computer access I have to upgrade my Wordpress.

Unlike my fastidious cousins I got it right the first time.

Fuck swarns.

Seriously, though, shitwad(s): I have no sympathy for an animal that invites its own demise or tastes good. That said, if you get a kick out of brutalising these animals I recommend you visit a biker bar riding a Kawasaki Ninja and wearing a pink leotard. The result will give you some insight in to the swans’ perspective.