Blog

The thoughts, opinions, happenings, and just plain ramblings of a seemingly boring person.

Modern Borefare 3

Modern Warfare 3I've finally started to catch up on the gaming season releases, and the first that arrived in the mail: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. After being largely disappointed with Modern Warfare 2, I wasn't really expecting much at all from the latest in the series.

After playing through the game over the past week or so, I wasn't at all surprised that it didn't exceed those expectations.

The game isn't "bad" per se, but it isn't all that good either. It really is just more of the same continued on from MW2. The graphics are mostly identical … Read more β†’

Windows 8 Beta: Upcoming MS Disaster

As I've done with Windows 7 and Vista previously, I like to get my hands on the public betas or release candidates of upcoming Windows releases to have a bit of a play.

Right now I'm having a play of Windows 8, and to be frank I'm still trying to comprehend what's sitting in front of me. Some would say this beta is a revolution in Windows interface design, others would say it's a catastrophe. I'm more inclined to the latter. But before I get into it, here's the obligatory screenshots.

Win 8 logon screen Win 8 Start Screen Win 8 task manager

With Windows 8, Microsoft is attempting to develop an … Read more β†’

Remotes & MMORPGs

Logitech Harmony 650 remoteWe're still currently settling into the new house. Most things have found a place, but there's always those annoying items that you use, but not nearly often enough, that you can't throw away but have got to find a place for that is out of the way but still accessible for when you do on the odd occasion need it.

Anywho, one geeky thing that I have picked up recently is a new Logitech Harmony remote (I got the 650). Now that we have a AV receiver in addition to the TV, PS3, and WDTV, this remote is the best … Read more β†’

Moving In

Well we've finally done it: on Monday last week we began the process of moving into our house. The move has definitely been easier because we are moving the majority of our stuff from the house next door, but I really despise moving nevertheless. The intention is that we won't have to do this again for quite some time :).

The first few nights were a bit strange, but it really is already starting to feel like home. There is still a lot for us to do before everything will have settled down, but most of the important stuff is … Read more β†’

3D Star Wars, House Finishing, Ordinations

Lots of big events this week!

The first big one was a Star Wars movie back in theatres and in 3D no less. Yes, I know it was 'only' Episode I, and how much that is the worst Star Wars movie (no arguments there), but I still nevertheless enjoyed it. I'll never pass up an opportunity to see a Star Wars movie in the cinemas, and this was no exception.

Although the 3D projectors at the cinema I was watching it in I don't think were aligned properly (it was a little out of focus in 3D), it was definitely … Read more β†’

Birthday Goals & BF3

So begins the last year of my 20s. I'm really not looking forward leaving my 20s behind, so I guess i'm going to have to make the best of the year ahead.

My birthday yesterday went really well for the most part. I stayed up late the night before and kicked off my birthday watching Arsenal pummel Blackburn 7-1 with the cherry on top being a Thierry Henry Premier League goal. It's been a long long time since Arsenal won big like that (at least a season or two ago), so it was a really enjoyable game to watch. It's … Read more β†’

Dragon Tattoos & Vampires

Underworld: Awakening posterNow here's a thought: a movie with dragons and vampires in it. How come nobody's done that yet? When it happens just remember you read it here first. πŸ˜‰

Continuing on with our cinephilic year last year, we've seen a couple more in this past week.

Last week we went and saw the US version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I haven't read the book nor seen the Swedish film, so I can't comment on how faithful it is to its source material or not, but I did enjoy the movie. It was very intense and confronting … Read more β†’

Computer Cleaning & Rain Delays

Like most people I really dislike the chore of cleaning, but it probably shows how much of a geek I am when I admit that I really don't mind, heck even partly enjoy, cleaning my computer.

Most people don't bother cleaning their computers, but I like to run a well oiled machine (minus the oil of course). Typically it involves at least pulling out the dust filters and giving them a vacuum, but if I'm really in the mood i'll get an anti-static cloth and wipe down the fan blades (there are four fans in the Antec 902 I own), … Read more β†’

The Return of a Legend: Henry

I haven't blogged much about Arsenal (the English Football Club) in recent years, and I guess the lessened amount of blogging of the club that I support reflects their drop in the footballing hierarchy in the past five or so years.

However every now and then something special happens. This morning it was the return of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry on a short-term loan during the American football off-season. He hadn't played for Arsenal since 2007, and the hastily organised loan is meant to fill some of the striking deficiencies temporarily.

In watching the game on my computer this morning … Read more β†’

New Year & Coin Collecting

Me getting the vasilopita coinSo we enter another new year! Hopefully it'll be a good one, and if tradition is anything to go by, it should be for me: In my family's belated new year's get-together I scored the coin from the vasilopita. It's been at least 10 years since I last got it, so it was quite a surprise.

The coin itself was a pretty fancy specialist vasiloptia coin that was bought from Church (shown below), which is a first for us since we previously used general currency coin(s).

Close-up of the vasilopita coin… Read more β†’