These crazy last days. It seems the world has gone mad. Kindness is gone out the window. Jump into any Steam gaming forum, you’ll see. Hate is the new Love on the Interwebz. Vladimir Putin is making the world a scary place right now. (I personally think he’s going to ostracize his own country, making it once again, an insular place.) Netflix is raising their prices (for the third time in three years.) I want to draw the line, but there is just so much stuff to see there. I’ve been a member since the early aughts. I had DVDs mailed to my house. I should draw a line and sever the relationship. But I hate saying goodbye.
House of Cards on Netflix: Frank Underwood is one of the most scheming, conniving, dastardly men on the planet. And he’s the President of the United States. Yet, he’s so unctuously charming, you can’t help but to root for him. He’s so nefarious I feel guilty watching the show and feeling about him like I do. Unlike his real-life counterparts in Washington, he admits his lust for power and his reluctance to let it go. If this show really depicts genuine politics of the American democracy system, then Heaven help us.
Quantum Solace on Netflix: This, the second Daniel Craig James Bond vehicle, takes place six hours after the first movie. Talk about a segue! This one has the usual flair, the world wealthy bad guys, the beautiful women who make you wonder if they’re going to poison Bond as they kiss him, and the over-the-top villainous world domination schemes. The villain in this one doesn’t carry the usual charisma. As a matter of fact, I kept wanting him to get his just due as I watched the movie. And Bond’s boss, M, leaves me with a sort of ambivalence. I know she means well, but I just can’t stand her. She treats James Bond with mistrust and condescension. I think it’s time they put her out to pasture.
The Enemy (Jack Reacher #8) by Lee Child: The movies are decent; I’ll give them that. I even like that they’ve cast Tom Cruise as the titular hero of the books. (Although, Cruise’s stature is way off. Jack Reacher is 6’5” and weighs in the neighborhood of 230 lbs.) This, the eighth book in the series is a prequel. And, oddly, told in the first-person sense. So, we really get into Jack Reacher’s brain. This book is also a sort of turning point for me. It’s the one book making me realize, Lee Child doesn’t just throw words together. The guy is really a talented writer. If you have any interest in men’s action fiction, I suggest delving into the Jack Reacher series. This one being a prequel may be the perfect one to start with.
Pat Benatar Icon on vinyl: I just picked up this Walmart exclusive transparent blue album and boy howdy, is it a winner! It’s a greatest hits compilation and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. There were a few cracks and pops on my first listen which surprised me, but the album sounds superb. It’s a relatively new release. It’s not even listed on dr-loudnesswar.info yet, which is where I go to check out the dynamic range compression of just about every album, CD, HD file ever released. Neil Geraldo’s guitar prowess shines on the album, and given this listen, it never dawned on me just how good Pat Benatar’s voice is. No wonder the woman won multiple Grammy awards. This is an album I’ll listen to again and again.
World of Warships on PC: You’re probably getting tired of me writing about this dangerously addictive game, but I just can’t get enough. If someone banished me to an island and told me I was restricted to one game only, this would be it. It’s an easy enough concept. Join an armada of guys piloting warships and attack a group of guys doing the same thing from the other side. It’s as simple as toy boats in a bathtub. Easily said, but then you look at the clock and realize two and a half hours have passed. There’s been a recent graphical update, so the game looks gorgeous. Heck, there’s even extensive work done on the soundtrack. And submarines are on the horizon. I had a chance to test them. They’re not overpowered like you think they would be. They’re actually fun and challenging! All if this in a game that’s free to play. With that said, however, be warned. You will spend money.
Ultimate General: Civil War on PC: I’ve now restarted this game three times. This time I’m playing on the least difficult level, and abiding by my new rule, if I fail this time, I’m done. Time is limited and I just don’t have enough of it to commit to the masochism of enduring games I can never beat. (Not to mention a Steam library that will last me into my nursing home years) This game is your chance to prove your mettle as a Civil War general heading either the Northern or Southern side. You are awarded prestige points with each victory which enables you to purchase better weapons and veteran soldiers. The maps are beautifully and accurately recreated and the whole game looks reminiscent of a time period painting come to life. The only real con is a lack of multiplayer which seems a glaring omission considering this company’s first game, Ultimate General: Gettysburg had an excellent multiplayer option.
Guild Wars 2 on PC: One of the few games I actually preordered that turned out to be okay. Coming out in 2012, this was the successor to the popular Guild Wars which made its debut in 2005. Continuing the storyline, this game is a much more involved massive multiplayer online game. With its many modes, maps, tasks, and abilities you could stay busy in this game for whole months of non-stop playing. I always stay much longer than I anticipated when I log in. The environments are grandiose and breathtaking, and the game’s music (which can be found for exorbitant prices on Amazon) is nothing short of stellar. This game has been called one of the friendliest MMOs on the planet. It’s still relevant in the world of online gaming and hosts 500, 000 players on any given day.
