1. Age of Conan:
My cousin and I started talking about this game when it went f2p (free to play) and both of us ended up downloading it. A closer look by him convinced him downloading it was a mistake and he uninstalled it. I, on the other hand, began a resubscription, and though it's no WoW, I like it's sparsely populated servers, and I really did the folklore and environment based on 70 years of Robert Howard literature. And what other MMO would allow me to name my character "Edward?"
2. Icewind Dale:
Black Isle Studios (Bioware) is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to RPGs. I'm not ready to tackle their epic 100 hour plus Baldur's Gate yet, but I thought I'd scope out their more hack n' slash centric, Icewind Dale. It runs sweet on my laptop, and so far, despite its year 2000 roots, I'm coming along smoothly. It definitely has the old D&D tabletop flavor I remember playing with my navy buddies back in the 1800's. Good stuff.
3. The March by E.L. Doctorow:
In 1864 Union General William Tecumseh Sherman marched across Georgia and the Carolinas and pillaged them to break the fighting spirit of the south. This is a speculative work of fiction as seen through the eyes of freed slaves, disheartened southerners, Johnny Reb soldiers and Billy Yank soldiers. This book will anger you and sadden you.
4. Company of Heroes:
Probably my favorite RTS of all time. I have fun in this game even when I lose. I’m beginning to consistently beat the AI on Normal mode now, but just when I think I’m a bit cocky, one online spanking puts me in my place really fast. PC Gamer’s Game of the Year in 2006, this game has had residence on my hard drive since. It’s truly a desert Island game for me.
5. Seinfield Season 3 on DVD:
Comedy on television in this country is not pretty. There is nothing funny about sitcoms that rely solely on sexual innuendo and laugh tracks that hold our hands and tell us when to laugh. Seinfeld, however, is what I’ve found to be a wonderful exception. It’s turned me into a total hypocrite.
6. Manny’s Search by Edward C. Burton:
A shameless plug for my very own novel manuscript. Yessir, guilty as charged. Nah, not really. I’m actually involved in making the final edits this month for preparations for the trip around the agent circuit. A stowaway from the Far East hides aboard a US Navy warship to find his father in Australia. This is the brainchild inspired from my own days as a young salty sea dog in the US Navy. If I can’t get any takers I’m considering going the Amazon route. More details upcoming.
