Edward's December 2015 Mix

 

December. It’s a been a month of Christmas shopping, crazy weather, a nice somewhat long week and a half vacation, and most important of all the annual Steam Winter Sale (which was incredibly lackluster this year. More on that later.) I got beat out of a big job promotion, but on a brighter note my daughter got promoted into upper level management. Kudos to her!

1.      Need for Speed: Shift  on PC: Still playing this arcade racer I began last month. It’s a blast for what it is.You can’t help but feel as if you’re Steve McQueen or Nicholas Cage in Gone in Sixty Seconds as you’re playing it. I’m playing it on medium difficulty which is fair enough. I podium finish about 40% of my races and I feel challenged. The game doesn’t seem to suffer the infamous “rubber band” physics other NFS games have suffered (whereby the car behind you no matter how far back, despite that you saw it rolling somersaults in your rear view mirror will rapidly catch up to you before race’s end.) The only thing really missing is the hammy acting performed in the between-the-races cut scenes, of which, there are  none in this game at all. It’s simply a menu drop down pull and the action is on.

2.      House of Cards: Season 4: Oh my, talking about a cliffhanger ending! Doug Stamper, how could you? You redeemed yourself in my eyes, despite your reptilian style. You chose to forgive Rachel (albeit for bludgeoning you in the woods in the down pouring rain and leaving you for dead) but then you reneged! And Francis, hot on the campaign trail and thinking you were a shoe-in, hmph! Even Claire, your First Lady’s decision to do what she did at the close of the episode took you to your knees. I don’t often get caught up in any current television hoopla, but this Netflix series is my one exception. I eagerly look forward to the release of the next season. And I’m sure I’m not alone on this one.

3.      Star Trek The Next Generation:  Season 2 on Blu Ray: I’m wrapping up the second series in this wonderful Gene Roddenberry vehicle. The second series suffered a setback from a writer’s strike that affected the entire industry in 1988, but the second series proved one thing: STTNG was here to stay. Dr Beverly Crusher was replaced by the more “McCoy-like” Dr. Pulaski. I have to admit she had to grow on me, and I welcomed the addition of Guinan. She always made me look forward to the scenes that occurred in the Enterprise’s lounge, the Ten Forward. We got a sneak peak of  the Borg, one of the universe’s most nasty denizens. Favorite episodes: “A Matter of Honor” in which Riker goes TAD aboard a Klingon vessel, and “Up the Long Ladder,” which cast Barrie Ingham as a stereotypical drinking Irishman who, along with his clan, is rescued and ferried aboard the Enterprise. Ingham’s antics was some of the funniest I’ve ever seen in a Star Trek episode.   

4.      The Silversun Pickups Neck of the Woods on CD: First discovered on a local college station in town I listen to, I was so captivated by their song I called the DJ to find out who the band was and ordered the CD on Amazon the next day. I’ve continued my love affair with the band since. Brian Auburt’s androgynous sounding vocals and the band’s heavily distorted sound often have them compared to The Smashing Pumpkins, which I can definitely see. This album seems to be a little more grungy sounding than their previous efforts. And it took me a couple of listens to envelope it like I did the band’s previous works. I particularly like the first song the best, “Skin Graph.”

5.      2015 Winter Steam Sale: Lackluster at best. I’m really disappointed in this one. Steam nixed the flash sales, so everything that went on sale went on sale from the first day at its rock bottom price. In order to acquire Steam’s trading cards you have to click through a Steam prepared “discovery queue” a scrolling showcasing highlighting games Steam thinks you would like based on friend recommendations and prior purchases. The historically fun mini games, and acquiring cards through votes for the next game to go on a flash sale are just that now: history. In light of my own negative sentiments, and from what I’ve seen from friends’ comments on my activity feed on Steam, I’ll venture to say this will be the last sale Steam conducts like this. This one was an epic failure; I bought two games for myself this time around. I usually buy at least six.  

6.      Die Trying (Jack Reacher #2) by Lee Child: Ever since the movie with Tom Cruise, I’ve harbored an interest in Lee Child’s almost superhuman character. In this engrossing tale which opens with a bang, Reacher simply happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, caught up as an innocent bystander in a kidnapping plot. This book moves with a brilliant sense of speed and action. I’m only one hundred pages in, and I can hardly catch my breath. I’m still working my way through Anne Rice’s Vampire series, and I’ve recently started George R.R. Martin’s epic A Song of Fire and Ice. I really didn’t need to start yet another series, but I’m sure glad I found this one.

7.      Star Citizen (pre-alpha) on PC: I’d read about this in my treasured bible, PC Gamer magazine for a few years now. And then I saw where the game set a new record for crowdfunding, over 100 million bucks, and this intrigued me. At the same time, my good friend, Tom Stevens bought into it. Him talking it up and sharing links with me is what sold me. Call me crazy or stupid, but I spent $140.00 on a ship of my own, that I can’t even fly yet, for a game that won’t be out until 2017. Walking into the hangar for the first time and seeing my ship made it all worth it. Definitely a hallmark moment in my gaming life. Where’s your sense of adventure?

8.      Borderlands on PC: I played this game way back in 2010, and mostly playing solo I beat it in 70 hours. Thanks to a recent HumbleBundle collection I was able to score the DLC I had missed out on in the original game. So, now I’m playing it again, but this time I’m playing it with friends. And I must admit it’s the most fun I’ve had in a game in many moons. Gearbox’s venerable Brothers in Arms games have always been a personal favorite, and despite their epic hurl, Aliens: Colonel Marines, the company is not afraid to take chances (Duke Nuke’em redux, anyone?) but the Borderlands games are their flagship and rightly so. The games’ arch villain, Jack Handsome is my favorite all-time in-game arch villain.

9.      Xcom: Enemy Unknown on PC: I bought this on a Steam sale way back in 2012. I’m just now getting around to playing it, but it’s been worth the wait. I love being able to create soldiers named and based on my RL friends and then putting them into harm’s way, fingers crossed they won’t die. Some of the missions are damn tough, but pulling one off is rewarding quite like nothing else I’ve played recently. I remember playing with the original game (1994?) and I wasn’t crazy about it. But this game is a great turn based strategy game that reminds me a lot of Jagged Alliance, which I played the hell out of back in 1997.

Edward's November 2015 Mix

November. Where in the hell did the year go? My daughter came home for a visit from Texas and brought her PS4. Granted, Fall Out 4 looks nice on our 4K TV, and the PC now allows mods to be created on PC and migrated to PS4 (sorry XB1) but still the PC master race wins out. Graphics just look so much better. Daughter agrees.

1.      Need for Speed: Shift on PC: I've always had a love/hate relationship with EA's esteemed arcade car series. Porsche Unleashed back in 2000 was probably my favorite, but NFS: Most Wanted (2005) is the one I've had the most fun with. I recently tried NFS: Pro Street and it was so buggy I couldn't play it. Just installed this. It’s a great arcade racer, not anything comparable to Assetto Corsa, but definitely fun to play. It seems to work well with my Logitech G27 wheel/paddle set. I feel like a regular Rick Mears in this game. The game came out in 2009, and the graphics reflect that, but if you’re a fan of NFS it’s worth checking out.

2.      The Witcher 2 on PC: Okay, I finally finished it. I started this game back in January, and there were times I left the course, simply stopped playing it. But I was a compelled man. I picked it up again and eventually found my way. It took me 92 hours to beat it, and 89 tries to beat the first boss (supposedly the most difficult boss in the entire game—and I believe it) but the game was worth it. I went through the same predicament in the original Witcher game back in 2008, and oddly the same experience revisited me here and now in 2013. Geralt is a regular medieval Jedi bad ass. And will be hopefully through The Witcher 3.

 3.   Interstellar on Blu-Ray: Directed by Christopher Nolan. So you bought a new big screen TV for your living room? This is the movie to watch first. Well, this or Sandra Bullock’s Gravity. This movie will have you thinking for a week afterward. It’s long but good. In the near future, Earth has been devastated by drought and famine, causing a scarcity in food and extreme changes in climate. When humanity is facing extinction, a mysterious rip in the space-time continuum is discovered, giving mankind the opportunity to widen its lifespan. A group of explorers must travel beyond our solar system in search of a planet that can sustain life. The crew of the Endurance are required to think bigger and go farther than any human in history as they embark on an interstellar voyage into the unknown. Matthew McConahey, the pilot of the Endurance, must decide between seeing his children again and the future of the human race. If you can keep a dry eye when he says goodbye to his kids, then you're not human.

4.      House of Cards: Season 3 on Netflix: Francis Underwood is on the campaign trail to become the next President of the United States. His absorption in his tasks at hand leave him oblivious to  Buddhist monks who are in the White House creating a collage of art by blowing colored grains of sand through straws to make pictures. Francis walks by these men who are there as part of a cultural exchange program. Claire stops to watch them for one tear filled hour. And then suddenly, they are gone, and we see them on a river bank, chanting going on as they release all of the grains of sand back into the elements of a local river. Francis catches wind of this and realizes, despite his shady shenanigans that he never took the time to watch these remarkable artists. His life, his marriage, and his power is fleeting.

     

5.      Star Trek The Next Generation:  Season 2 on Blu Ray: Series is getting better and better. Ensign Wesley Crusher, you’d think he’d be a smart alack kid, but instead, he’s humble, and golden. You only want good things to happen to him. This is the first time I’ve ever rooted so much for a kid since . .  . okay, well, since Will Robinson in the old Lost in Space series. But then I was his age! I could relate perfectly.

6.      Peter Gabriel SO on CD: My trilogy is finally complete. I admire Gabriel for having such a game plan in place. This CD is pretty impressive, I mean, hey, come on! “Red Rain,” "That Voice Again,” and “In Your Eyes.” Those are incredible numbers. Still, US is my favorite, and my go to when I’m sad or lonely late night, and the games are over. US is why I love Peter Gabriel, and would tell him so were I to meet him face to face.

7.      Roxy Music  Avalon on CD: I got lucky and managed to pick this up in a local CD shop today. If you’re a music fan at all then need I say more? You need this in your collection. Brian Ferry, is arguably the world’s best singer ever! Okay, Morrissey crooning, “Everyday is Like Sunday,” might be tops, but Brian Ferry runs a close second. If you’re a music maven, this belongs in your collection. You’re a fool to not have it.

8.      April in Paris by Michael Wallner: a decent story concerning a young German corporal in WWII who is transferred to France to become a translator. He falls in love with a local French girl who works for the French Underground Resistance. Complications develop, obviously! A good read which moved fast and had a sad ending. Highly recommended if you like WWII history.

Edward's October 2015 Mix

October 1 hit bringing along with it true autumn. I’ve been steady with my bike/core exercise routine and my dream of having six pack abs is coming to fruition. I had to get my license renewed and the woman asked me, “Are you still 165 pounds?” I had to smile and slightly tilt my head, “No, actually I’m now at 150 pounds.” I walked out of the license branch feeling really good about that. Skinny, I know, but more like Brandon Lee in the movie, The Crow. I love it!  Oh, stop the presses! I've been doing this for more than two years and this has never happened until now. Duplicated numbers! Blogger is being dickish at best. I mean, come 'on! Train Simulator is listed as number 1, and then Card Hunter right after it is also listed as number 1? Give me a freaking break. Okay, I'm not some polished 12 million dollars a year knob like Biscuit, whatever his name is, but sheesh, My numbering is all messed up and it's embarrassing; there is no excuse. Google needs to do better than this. It makes me ask myself is it even worth publishing something so embarrassing.

1. Train Simulator 2015 on PC: Steam recently released a new version of this, entitled, (naturally) Train Simulator 2016. Many reviews are decrying it a travesty since the updated game is nothing more than an updated intro and maybe some very slight graphical tweaks. I’m not complaining since the update was free for all owners of TS2015. On the horizon looms an all new version of this game based on the Unreal engine. From what I’ve been told it’s a separate game which will not work with any of the DLCs I’ve purchased over the years. That’s too bad because I have a heck of a lot of DLCs to still play through with my current iteration. I’m strangely addicted to this game, which, trying to describe to someone else simply seems like a bore simulator. In practical application it’s quite another story, a true parcel of Zen.

1. Card Hunter on PC: As I’ve mentioned before, this game was awarded PC Gamer Magazine’s “Most Original Game of the Year 2013.” This streamlined version of the old style D&D games you used to play with friends who used graph paper and multi sided dice is probably one of the most charming PC games I’ve ever played. I have my three characters up to level 11 now, and they are holding their own in most battles. There are a few modules I’ve won, however, through dumb luck. “The luck of the draw” has more to do with this game than meets the eye, which ultimately means you will eventually beat a certain module if you play it enough times. I have yet to play multiplayer, but I’ve heard it’s where this game really shines.  

3. The Neverending Story on Blu-Ray: Directed by Wolfgang Peterson, this movie was a big to-do in 1984 when blue screen technology was inchoate. As of 1984 it was the most expensive movie made outside of the US or USSR. I’ve always been a fan of Peterson’s work, especially Das Boot. I remember taking a date to see this in San Diego in the Navy, and struggling to hold back tears because I wanted to impress her with my manliness. After having just watched it almost 30 years later, the film still resonated with a beautiful sadness that gives way to gratifying joy at the end. Atrayu’s fight with Gmork was a bit lackluster, I mean, this was to be the film’s boss battle, Gmork lunges and immediately lands on Atreyu’s knife. The End.  

4. Big Fish on DVD: I’ve never been a huge Uncle Tim fan, he is Tim BURTON after all, heh, but I have enjoyed a few of his films over the years, namely, Beetlejuice, and Edward Scissorhands. And this one, probably my favorite. A fairy tale for grown ups, which is a very good way to describe the movie. The casting was especially done well with Danny Devito as the circus impresario and the poor tall guy playing Carl, the giant, who looks almost morose with his lot in life as an ungainly tall fellow simply searching for contentment. The film has that great almost Technicolor feel to it (much like Edward Scissorhands.) The film deals with the reconciliation of a father and son who have been estranged for the past few years. I don’t remember it being so sad the first time I watched it years ago, but this time I had to endure the end credits through unfocused eyes swimming with tears. 

4.  Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens: Last month I was wingeing on the  banality of this book. I think I even called it a chore trudging along through its quagmire of words. But alas, something has happened. It’s as if someone lit a birthday candle in a bleak and dark room. The story is taking off, and despite its great depressive tale and the characters involved I’m enjoying it. And I’m discovering that in struggling to find my way in this book why I declare myself an ardent fan of Charles Dickens. 

6. My Dad vs Yours Little Symphonies on CD: If you like post rock glistening electric guitar with catchy riffs and music that can truly transport you from the here and now to faraway places in your mind you’ll love My Dad vs Yours. I have one of their albums, After Winter Must Come Spring released back in 2007, and I thought they simply fell off the radar, disbanded, or became defunct. This is a band that you can’t help but listen to, and imagine them on stage playing in perfect sync, sharing secret smiles only they know the meanings behind, and knowing their music is a perfect marriage of melody and technique. Thank you to my friend Scott Beland for turning me onto www.bandcamp.com where I rediscovered this wonderful band and was able to purchase their latest work in FLAC format. Yay! Give them a quick listen on YouTube, I think you’ll like them. A lot. I suggest “Bellicose,” or “Born Upward (Time Flies)”. Both superb selections.

7. Six Feet Under: Season Four on DVD: This is an original HBO series that contained some of the most profound dialogue in anything I’ve ever watched on the boob tube. Like I’ve said before, the profanity is a bit over the top (to the point of detraction from what I’d call brilliant writing) but it’s compelling nonetheless. I’ve seen other stuff Alan Ball did after Six Feet Under, and unfortunately, he was never as true to form either before (the motion picture, American Beauty) or after (True Blood.) It’s just so interesting how everything splinters into a dozen different avenues in this season. Freddie getting divorced? Nathan coming to terms with the loss of his wife by flocking to Brenda? Ruth discovering her husband has mental issues? Claire experimenting with drugs, lesbianism, and her art catapulting her to the point of being a celebrity. 

8. Assetto Corsa on PC: Quite simply put, the best modern racing sim out to date. The AI still is still lacking just enough to be human-like challenging, but ? is constantly updating it with incremental patches and this month marked the release of their second DLC pack aptly titled, “Dream Pack 2.” It includes several cars and a new track. This is a steal for $8 on Steam. The inclusion of the Lamborghini Countach 500 makes it a must buy.  This is probably the only racing game that coupled with my Logitech G27 racing wheel confuses me when I get into my RL vehicle. I find myself going down the road stabbing for an invisible clutch and trying to move my gear selector from “Drive” into second gear. That’s how realistic this game is. I can’t imagine how this is going to look in December when the Steam HTC Virtual Reality set comes out. Still no pit stops, and the spectators look like stolen mannequins.  

9. Not Your Father’s Root Beer in six pack cans: Two different people talked to me about this, about how it tasted like simple root beer yet had the capacity to f*** one up. I had to climb the mountain myself and take a peek (peak). And all I can say is, I’m just laughing. This is amazing. It’s like breathing in helium for the first time and hearing your escalated voice. Despite its 5.9% alcohol content you’ll think the can is lying. Next thing, you’ll be floating amongst the summer clouds at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair glancing down at George Ferris’s famous wheel.  

10. Star Trek The Next Generation:  Season 2 on Blu Ray:  I generally space out my viewings of series over many months and intersperse them with viewings of OTHER series. This is Star Trek The Next Generation. I couldn’t help but cheat. The series opens up with such intrigue. Will acting Ensign Will Crusher stay with the USS Enterprise since his mother took a TDY assignment with Starfleet? And Whoopie Goldberg as the head bartender at the newly introduced Ten Forward crew lounge, wonderful! I’d be there every day. And getting to watch this on a 4K HDTV makes it, like I’ve said before, like going to the movies each time I watch an episode.

Edward's September 2015 Mix

I scraped, skimped and saved (plus worked overtime) to finally get a 4K Ultra HD television and boy was it worth it. It’s not home theater big, but at 43” it’s a far cry from my previous 26” television I’ve been using for the past few years. The resolution is incredibly good. This should tide me over until I finally am able to pick up a 70” OLED set. When that happens I’ll never leave home again. This new television makes me not only want to watch every Blu-Ray out there, but also revisit and rewatch everything in my current Blu-Ray collection. This was definitely a month of movie watching for me. Anyway, 12 items this month. Brace yourself, it’s a long one, but worth it.

1. Revolution by Deborah Wiles As I’ve mentioned before Wiles’ first novel Countdown was about a young girl entering the world of teen angst despite the Cuban Missle Crisis happening around her. And it’s one of the few books I’ve read more than once. This, her second novel, is about a girl witnessing the Civil Rights Act in action in 1964. Her town is about to become “invaded” by the now famous Freedom Schools for the Summer project. Wiles does indeed have a gift for capturing time and place so vividly, but the book’s length wore out its welcome. It certainly wasn’t badly written, but I  just grew weary of it. It’s a shame because this book deserves much finer appreciation than that.  

2. Train Simulator 2015 on PC: Steam recently released a new version of this, entitled, (naturally) Train Simulator 2016. Many reviews are decrying it a travesty since the updated game is nothing more than an updated intro and maybe some very slight graphical tweaks. I’m not complaining since the update was free for all owners of TS2015. On the horizon looms an all new version of this game based on the Unreal engine. From what I’ve been told it’s a separate game which will not work with any of the DLCs I’ve purchased over the years. That’s too bad because I have a heck of a lot of DLCs to still play through with my current iteration. I’m strangely addicted to this game, which, trying to describe to someone else simply seems like a bore simulator. In practical application it’s quite another story, a true parcel of zen.  

3. Card Hunter on PC: As I’ve mentioned before, this game was awarded PC Gamer Magazine’s “Most Original Game of the Year 2013.” This streamlined version of the old style D&D games you used to play with friends who used graph paper and multi sided dice is probably one of the most charming PC games I’ve ever played. I have my three characters up to level 11 now, and they are holding their own in most battles. There are a few modules I’ve won, however, through dumb luck. “The luck of the draw” has more to do with this game than meets the eye, which ultimately means you will eventually beat a certain module if you play it enough times. I have yet to play multiplayer, but I’ve heard it’s where this game really shines.  

4. Unstoppable on Blu-Ray: The best movie I’ve seen in 2015. I’ve owned the movie for less than a month and watched it three times. How often does a movie affect you like that? This movie, about a runaway freight train hauling hazardous waste depicts real life modern day train operations like no other movie I’ve ever seen since the likes of the movie Runaway Train. Denzel Washington who always makes good movies shines in this one, and I panned the Star Trek reboot helmed by J.J. Abrams, so this is my first exposure to Chris Pine who did  a great job as the young conductor mentored by Washington. Tony “Top Gun” Scott directed this movie, and I have to declare it truly is the “top gun” of train movies. Scott claims no CGI was used in the film, including the destruction of two SD-40 engines in a riveting derailment scene.  

5. Watchmen on Blu-Ray: I read the acclaimed graphic novel way back when it first came out and enjoyed it. Despite its supposed near frame by frame depiction of the graphic novel, I didn’t enjoy this film. It just felt lacking something, or spackled with too much stuff. I’m not sure which. As it went from a great and gratuitous fight scene to what seemed like a Saturday Night Live skit in which aged superheroes were standing around a spiked punchbowl getting wasted. The movie concerns a band of superheroes who are bleakly jaded and cursed with superpowers (instead of being lackadaisacally happy and honored to be saving the world everyday.) The movie was morose and depressing. Odd that the aforementioned train movie is the best movie I’ve seen in 2015 and thus far, Watchmen is the worst one I’ve seen in 2015.  

6. Edge of Tomorrow on Blu-Ray: I heard a lot about this movie, so went into it with big expectations. I wasn’t disappointed, but I wouldn’t want to see it again. The movie is somewhat a sci-fi rendition of the movie Groundhog Day less the comedy. It got repetitious to the point of a predictable ending. Tom Cruise’s acting was good, however. We get to see him evolve from a fearful and wavering unwilling soldier to a hardened bad ass through his constant trial and confrontations with the enemy insect (Robert Heinlein's Starship
   Troopers, anyone?) It's a good rental, but not an owner.                                                
7.  A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens: I know it’s an important book. I’m glad I’m reading it, but it’s definitely a chore. I must admit it’s better than my last Dickens’ book, Hard Times, but if I had been charged with having to read this book in high school I probably would have cheated and lied my way through having to read it. I’m halfway through the book, and it’s moving along at a steady pace, but Dickens’ stilted language (which I’m usually a big fan of) is not working for me in this novel. I often have to backtrack to reiterate what’s going on because I’ve become lost in this sea of words.

8. The Complete Works of H.P. Lovecraft on Kindle: Still working my way through this man’s venerable collection of horror stories. If you’re a fan of horror fiction this is some, well, I’ll just say it, required reading for sure. Lovecraft will never be taught in high school or college literature classes, but he was definitely the Edgar Allan Poe of his generation. Reading, “The Lurking Fear,” the other night outside at two o’clock in the morning with all the world asleep, I had to stop at certain moments and look around me to ensure I was alone. The story creeped me out that badly.

9. Icehouse Measure for Measure on CD: Concurrent with my ongoing interest in “Loudness Wars,” (Google it, you’ll be amazed) I was able to score this non-remastered pure CD for a steal on Amazon. I hadn’t listened to it since my tape cassette days twenty plus years ago. Iva Davies’ voice is a true force of nature, and it’s a shame Icehouse didn’t become more popular over the years. This albume plays almost like a greatest hits album e.g., there are no bad songs on it. “No Promises,” “Across the Border,” “Angel Street,” and “Paradise” could have easily been number one hit songs. Give them a listen on Youtube. I think you’ll be impressed.

10. The Old Dark House on DVD: If you’re a horror fan you should know the name James Whale. This is the man who directed Frankenstein (1931) and The Invisible Man (1933). This is the man the 1998 film, Gods and Monsters was based upon. And Whale did a remarkable job with this film based on (almost verbatim) of J.B. Priestley’s “Benighted.” A sort of black comedy in the same vein as “Arsenic and Old Lace.” I must say this movie, however, has a much darker overtone to it. This movie launched so many “It was a dark and stormy night,” narratives. Fun to watch, it stars a quite fetching Gloria Stuart, the wonderful little old lady we remember as Rose in 1997’s Titanic.

11. Inglorious Basterds on Blu-Ray: I lied to you. I apologize. I previously mentioned Unstoppable as being the best movie I’ve seen in 2015. This one tops it. Granted, I’m not a Quentin Tarentino fan. Actually, I think his stuff is utter sensationalism and gratuitousness with a capital G. This movie, though, might have just made me a fan. The attention to detail, the Nazi uniforms, the actors in their prospective roles. It’s just such a heavy thorough movie. This is the old 1960s-1970’s good stuff, e.g. Kelly’s Heroes, The Dirty Dozen, amped up to an R rating.

12. Lost: Season 2 on Blu-Ray: Each episode is more spellbinding than the other. I’ve become so much a part of the show I feel I’m a resident, and with that said, you’d think you’d garner a sort of trust with the main characters, but that’s not really the case. I like Sawyer one moment and then he becomes a d-bag. John Locke seems to be the lighthouse guardian of the whole establishment, but then he does something that makes you think he has his own ulterior motive. And when Michael committed his heinous deed resulting in the death of two people he completely disgusted me, but then you see the reasoning behind his actions and it all makes sense. Oh God. My own scruples are coming into play simply watching this series. If you’ve never seen it, you’re missing out.

Edward's August 2015 Mix

I feel as if I’m at a standstill as far as gaming goes. I’ve finished less than half the number of games I finished last year at this time. The Witcher 2 seems to be the big bump in the road. If I could just get past that game I think I could go onward just fine.  I’ve been doing other things as well. A tinge of fall is in the air, so I’ve been outside at night reading and toking from a cigar while imbibing my beverage of choice: Samuel Adams. And of course it’s hard to do anything extracirricular when work takes up so much of one’s time, and we are all working six day weeks currently. But that’s okay, I fell in love with a 43” 4K Ultra HD TV I saw at a local big box retailer. Each Saturday I have to work is a Saturday closer to buying that television.

 

1.      The Complete Works of H.P. Lovecraft  on Amazon Kindle: I’ve read Lovecraft’s works before and recognized him as a good horror writer. I feel complete, however, having this “complete” edition of his works on my Kindle. (Pun intended) Lovecraft basically wrote about earlier than man gods who inhabited this world long before we got here, and now that we are here, well, they have no use for us. I was reading one of these stories at the kitchen table while everybody else was in bed, and actually got goosebumps. I had to stop reading and constantly look around to ensure everything was intact. This is a testamant to Lovecraft’s ability to scare the living daylights out of his readers.

 

2.      The Witcher 2 on PC: Nope. I still haven’t finished it yet. I did beat the first boss, after I dumbed down the difficulty level. I imagine if I go back I’ll make a lot of progress, sheesh, just by killing the first boss monster gives me oodles of XP. I just need to revisit the game and get my just due. For what it’s worth I remember doing this exact same thing in the original Witcher back in 2007.

 

3.      Deff Leppard: Hysteria on CD: This is a good rock CD that plays like a greatest hits album, not a bad song on it. Rick Allen’s effective drumming, despite the loss of his arm in an auto accident, shines through as well as Steve Clark’s last great performance as a reigning guitarist. (He drank himself to death after the release of this album. And he was dismally once termed, the unhappiest millionaire in the world.) But what really pokes through for me is Joe Elliot’s vocals. He is, and probably always will be my favorite rock vocalist. Joe Elliot is the voice of rock and roll, and this album proves that in spades. Not to mention, the venerable Mutt Lange produced this album.

 

4.      Lost: Season Two on Blu-Ray: So compelling I often can’t watch one episode. I have to watch the next episode because of what happened in the last episode! I’m realizing Sawyer is a real jerk. Is there anything redeemable about him whatsoever? And John Locke, hmmm. He was my favorite character, but now I’m not so sure. And poor Charlie. I feel sorry for the guy. Nobody trusts him and he just seems to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. If I were him I’d simply move to the other side of the island away from everybody else.

 

5.      It Follows on Blu Ray: Following the usual trend of “indie” horror shot with simple handheld home movie cameras, therefore, giving it a “feel” that whatever is happening to the movie’s poor victim could happen to any of us. Admittedly, this movie stands out as my favorite horror movie of the past two years. It concerns a curse which follows a person and the only way to be rid of it is to have sex with someone else whereby the curse is then transferred to that person. Sounds trite, I know, but in the scene where the main character is sitting in her high school class room staring out the window at the approach of her “curse” coming toward her, the heebie jeebies and the goosebumps start. The movie is well worth watching for that scene alone.

 

6.      Terminator: Salvation on Blu Ray: I have enjoyed all of the Terminator movies. I even enjoyed the third one despite the panning from the critics. (The scene in which a casket is used as a shield notwithstanding). This one is probably the most unusual, taking place in the future where the series was born. Geeze, talk about a paradox – It took the fourth movie to engender the birth of the series. Still, for what it is, this is a great movie in the series. And the surprise cameo of a digitized version of Arnold as the last grand poobah of a 4^th of July firework display was perfectly done.

 

7.      Sin City on Blu Ray: I’m not all that familiar with Frank Miller, but watching this makes me want to see more of his stuff. This “noir” film/story style is what it looks like if you could imagine a visage of a cigar smoked down to a stub and then dropped into a cup containing the last swallow of day old coffee. All of the guys are ripped and cool as shit, yet they still can’t get the girl. And all of the girls in the movie who have looks to die for simply have no use for men. Hmm . . .maybe this movie has more to do with real life than meets the eye. $5.00 at Walmart. On Blu-Ray. Buy it. Don’t be a fool.

 

8.      Assetto Corsa on PC: Probably the most realistic racing simulator I’ve ever played on PC, hands down. Of course, Project Cars has my interest, but I’m so damned engrossed in Assetto Corsa I probably won’t be playing Project Cars until it’s called Project Cars 3. I’m currently racing touring cars at Silverstone, and I’m struggling, but progressing. Two weeks ago the pack would run off and leave me. And then last week I finished 6^th place (out of 9 racers.) This week I pulled off a 5^th place victory. I’ll get it, of that I have no doubt, but this is a racing sim in which victory is truly earned. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy the Need for Speed games, but Assetto Corsa  makes anything in the NFS series look like something you’d play on a tablet.

 

9.      Popul Vuh: Aguirre on CD: I was outside the other night, toking on a cigar and reading (the aforementioned) The Complete Works of H.P. Lovecraft  on my Amazon Kindle whilst listening to GooglePlay, and a song came up that made me look away from what I was reading, close my eyes, and really listen to the tuneage. My eyes filled with tears. I went inside and immediately ordered the CD from Amazon. It’s not often music affects me in such a manner, but when it does, it’s always overwhelming. I thought I had discovered the next big thing, it turns out (as so often it does) this group has been around for a very long time. It’s odd how music is so much a part of my life, yet nothing makes me feel as if I’ve lived under a rock as much as music does. I always thought Brian Eno (right up there with Mutt Lange as one of the best producers ever made) was the pioneer of ambient music, but after listening to Popul Vuh (from Austria) I’m not so sure.

 

10.  A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens: I’m one hundred pages into this three hundred plus page novel. I love Dickens’ work. I’m like little Matilda in the great Roald Dahl book/movie when she says, “I could read Charles Dickens every single day.” Amen sister! But I’m a bit confused with this one. I need to consult a Cliff Notes or something, a nudge or gentle push into what lies behind the archaic expressions and language of this important novel. Dickens’ description of France in the days prior to the infamous French Revolution are wonderfully (and horribly) descriptive. I have to consult the dictionary a lot, which is to be expected reading Dickens. I just wish I was more intelligent to get the gist of the tale he has to tell.

 

11.  Halloween on Blu Ray: The last time I talked about this movie here was when I sang its high praises concerning the transfer to Blu-Ray. Yes, done beautifully. The Blu-Ray version is THE version to have in your library. I recently watched it again, but this time being more of a critic pertaining to the movie/story itself. My youngest daughter watched it with me and I think she enjoyed more me watching the movie than what she got from the movie itself. Heh. The movie takes place in central Illinois (so, why the palm trees in the background? The movie was actually filmed in California.) The first scene in which Michael Myers murders his sister takes place in 1963. Yet when we see the police on the scene taking him into custody he has an amazing looking mullet hair style going. This, probably more fitting for a 1983 timeframe, despite the movie was made in 1978. Was Michael Myers ahead of his time by 5 years? The next big guffaw moment is when Myers escapes the insane asylum. Go figure, this is a guy who was incarcertated at maximum security at age ten. Next scene he’s stealing a car and driving it like he stole it, and then cruising it through the neighborhood espying Jamie Lee Curtis and her cohorts. Where did this guy learn to drive a car? It makes you wonder, if you arrived at a four way stop the same time as some murderous maniac donning a botched William Shatner mask would he wave you to go through first or would he simply ignore you and just charge through the stop sign? And the last nitpick which is a small one but quite apparent: opening the beer cans and drinking air. Could it be more obvious?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edward's July 2015 Mix

I had two weeks off this month. I didn’t really go anywhere or do anything adventurous outside of the house because being I just started this year at a new company I didn’t have any vacation built up. But that’s perfectly fine. The majority of my adventures occurred inside through my movies, Blu-Ray series, music and PC games. It was nice to sleep in and not awaken to obligations of any sort. It’s just sad that after having that time off, a weekend off now just doesn’t seem quite long enough. Conversely, I guess if I’m going to play games and keep a television to watch my Blu-Rays on, and keep electricity surging through my devices I’m going to have to pay for them. And I haven’t won the lottery yet, so work seems like a viable option. It will have to do, for now. This mix is longer than the usual but it’s because I had so much more time this month to indulge myself. Enjoy!

 

1.  The Chernobyl Diaries on Blu-Ray: I picked this up at a local Disc Replay store a while back because it was cheap and I’d heard it was scary. It had that new and all the rage documentary feel to it, kind of like a Paranormal Activity movie. But the real hook for me was the location of the film, Prapyat, Chernobyl in the Ukraine. That place has been the central character in numerous PC games I’ve played such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. In every such game I’ve played, Chernobyl is a haunted broken place. And this movie seems to have captured the feel of it so precisely. It’s not the greatest horror film I’ve ever seen, but it had a few good jump scares in it. And it produced that uncanny sense of dread at all of the right times.

 

2.   The Witcher 2 on PC: Nope. I still haven’t finished it yet. But it’s amazing the things I’m discovering in a second play through that I missed the first time around. Lesson learned: sometimes it’s okay to forego the Steam achievements and just enjoy the freakin’ game. I’m not trying to speed run to write a silly Steam review anyway, what fun is that? I’m having much more fun revisiting this game, and if I’ve learned anything at all (especially in an epic length RPG) it’s that it’s okay to slow down, take in the scenery and smell the roses.

 

3.  Carbon Based Lifeforms: TwentyThree on CD: I’ve always loved Carbon Based Lifeforms and apparently I’m not the only one. You can buy their albums on Amazon for $79.00. Well, okay, you can also buy their mp3 albums there too, for a much more reasonable $8.99. But I’m surprised more people haven’t heard of them. Their music is usually accompanied by drum and bass. But not this album. This album is strictly ambient. It reminds me a lot of Brian Eno’s work. I don’t do this often, but when I heard the song, “Held Together by Gravity” I immediately bought the album. And then I listened to that one song twenty times straight. Life is funny sometimes, just when you think you’ve lived long enough to hear every good song on the planet, and then you discover this. It’s why I’d rather be blind than deaf.

 

4.  The Stanley Parable on PC: This is one game I finally cleared out of my Steam backlog. I played it in one play through and beat it in 19 minutes. Yes, I know, I know, I didn’t really beat it yet. There are multiple endings, and this game is the greatest thing since the invention of the wheel. But not really. Granted, I can respect its unusual narrative style and the exultations of it by hipsters who say this is the way a PC game should be made, but I wouldn’t really even call this a game. It’s more a game meets art concept kind of thing. (The whole product was born from a mod.) I was interested because of the way PC Gamer Magazine catapulted it into the stratosphere of rated 90+ games. I suppose the game’s gimmick is it’s a story about you (playing a character in the game from a first person perspective) but then it’s not a story about you playing a character in a game. You will follow rules dictated by the game, but then you will not follow those rules. People talk about the humor in it, personally, I didn’t find it all that funny, but then I rarely find comedy in this country funny at all, canned laugh tracks placed into Television sitcoms be damned.

 

5. The Austin Powers Trilogy on DVD: This DVD set is something I always thought I'd get around to seeing eventually, but never made the time for it. I had seen bits of particular movies, but I had never seen any of the movies all the way through. The first movie, Austin Powers, Man of Mystery was a great introduction to Mike Meyer’s titular character. I loved the atmosphere and the art style. It reminded me so much of Monolith’s wonderfully done game, No One Lives Forever (2000). The second movie introduced Scotland’s own, Fat Bastard. He made the movies as far as I’m concerned. I wonder if the people on the set were even able to keep a straight face long enough to shoot anything when he was around. The last movie, Goldmember, was okay, a fitting end to the trilogy.

 

6.  Star Trek The Next Generation: Season One on Blu-Ray: I finally finished this amazing set. It’s a nothing less than brilliant revival of the original Star Trek. And I’m so glad the series returned in this fashion. I know I sound like a glitched record here, but the transfer to Blu-Ray is simply stunning. If you’re a fan of the series at all then this belongs in your library. One episode stands out for me especially, “Conspiracy,” in which Captain Picard becomes involved in what he thinks is a conspiratorial takedown of Starfleet Command. And what ensues transports the show from sci-fi into straight out old school horror territory. The episode alluded to the bloody chest bursting scene in the movie, Alien, and the old 1950’s (and 80’s Tobe Hooper remake for that matter) of the movie, It came from Mars! And even the ghastly “pets” of Khan, the burrowing space slugs in the movie, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. I’ll be attacking Season Two in the not too distant future, and I can hardly wait.

 

7.  Rise of Flight on PC: It’s been a while, but I picked up some Sopwiths during the 777 Christmas sale this year and thought I’d take them for a spin. I’ve only flown the Sopwith Camel so far, but it’s a joy to fly. It can be a little scary making a right turn because the engine torque makes you feel like you’re going to suddenly plummet, but putting the plane into a left turn has it turning faster than about any plane in the game’s arsenal. I have yet to down any enemy aircraft in it, but it’s the middle of January in the game and I just don’t see too many enemies up and about. Oh well, with all of this stick time, come warmer weather I’ll be ready and waiting.

 

8.  Outlaws on PC: Having picked this up from www.gog.com I committed myself to beating it during my two week vacation. And I did. This LucasArts game (2001) was built on the old Star Wars: Dark Forces engine and proved that a comical (with a very serious overtone) cartoon western FPS could be successful. The soundtrack though not composed by Ennio Morricone, is a wonderfully done successor to Morricone’s works. The game spiked up in difficulty in a few areas so much that I had to cheat to get through them, and I never feel good about having to do that, but I wanted to finish the game. As a PC gamer, one of my great weaknesses is to see old games on my shelf that I haven’t played. My intentions are good, I sure want to play through them and I always say I will, but we only have so many tomorrows. I feel quite accomplished for having finally finished this one.

 

9.  A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffett: When I was a kid, there was a song released by Jimmy Buffett called “Margaritaville,” and gosh how I hated that song. It would play on the radio constantly, and it was such a long song! It got burned into my brain. I never thought I’d be reading a book written by this same man who brainwashed me as a kid, but thanks to my friend, Amy Lovett, who walked into work one day and said, “Here is this book. I want you to read it.” So I began it this month, and I’m finding it incredibly hard to put down. It concerns a cowboy in Wyoming trying to outrun his turbulent past as a drinker and womanizer, by being a hired hand and riding fences on an expansive ranch. And then he gets into a heated disagreement with his boss, a haughty millionaire. He picks up her dining table and hurls it through the plate glass window of her mansion. And then he hightails it out of the state chased by highly paid bounty hunters. He and his horse end up on a shrimp boat on passage to Mexico. He takes a job there under a 101 year old woman to restore her decrepit lighthouse. The locales, the scenery, the whole attitude of this place that Buffett has created, it’s just magical. Now, if every time I see his name on the side of the book I could stop humming, “Margaritaville.”

 

10.  Prometheus to Alien: The Evolution – 5 Film Collection on Blu-Ray: Me and my buddy, Neil Campbell, watched this great collection over a week time period. This is a great collection, especially on Blu-Ray. And it was my first time to actually watch, Prometheus. It meshed with the series well enough, but I’d hardly call it Ridley Scott’s magnum opus. The original Alien still stands the test of time as does the second film, Aliens where the series went to an action episode, somewhat departing its roots based more on horror. The fifth movie, Alien: Resurrection was probably the most lackluster of the series. It irked me when the US version of this set (which lacked the newest film, Prometheus) went on the Black Friday sale on Amazon, and since Prime members get first dibs it was sold out almost instantly. I didn’t have a snowball’s chance in Phoenix of picking up one, but then I found this wonderful all inclusive set for even cheaper!

 

11.  Lost: Season Two on Blu-Ray: Yes, I know I’m slower than a seven year itch when it comes to watching my beloved seasons of episodic series, but Lost definitely has its hooks in me. As of this writing I’m about to watch episode five and so far I’ve been introduced to “the others,” and “them.” As it turns out, there were survivors from the tail section of the plane and they are being led by Michelle Rodriquez (definitely not my favorite character.) We’re still getting some backstory flashbacks from the old gang, e.g. Hurley, Lock and Sung. And it’s all good stuff. Despite their tragic predicament, the scenic vistas look so beautiful I almost wish I could live there with them. And still I can’t help but liken the show to a Gilligan’s Island for grown ups.

 

12.  John Carpenter’s The Thing (commentary) on Blu-Ray:  It wasn’t that many months ago that I watched this movie for the first time in probably ten years, but this time it was on Blu-Ray, which I might add is a most beautiful transfer. I enjoyed the commentary of John Carpenter and Kurt Russell in Big Trouble in Little China, I assumed this one would be every bit as good. And boy, was it! It was if these two great showmen were sitting in my living room with me enjoying a couple of beers. Kurt Russell guffawing in every scene in which he’s wearing his obnoxious front crushed cowboy hat was the cherry on top.