iPod Video

Along with the new vehicle and stereo, came a new iPod. I previously had a iPod nano. Ipods are nice mp3 players, with good audio fidelity (similar in quality to software players utilizing floating point calculations). They lack some basic mp3 player functions, such as nested playlists, changeable batteries. However, after my nano survived a whole lap in a pool in Africa, they have achieved my approval. They are rather trendy in their minimalistic lines silly and candy flavors. Making my glovebox an excellent place for them. Apple only sells the nano, shuffle, or the video versions now, so I opted for the video. In looking for a good transcoder for video, that runs on windows, I found several medium priced products. I think that they were actually just the same product with different skins. After a little hunting, I found a great freeware one called videora, that worked very well.

Explorer

I recently upgraded to a newer vehicle. Yes, gone are the days or taking my Mustang convertible on logging roads that suburbans fear to tread upon. No, I have a vehicle with more than 3" of clearance. It's a return to something aking to my '66 Ford Truck. Instead of being a truck though, it's an SUV; a 2002 Ford Explorer Sport. It also had an upgrade to it's stereo capabilities. Though there wasn't room for the vaunted riocar (linux on wheels), I did drop a nice Sony xplod marine CD head in with an iPod controller. Marine you say... Semper Fidelis Exploris.

Don Quixote

I've been reading Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes. I've had it on my list of things to read since the last millenium, so I figured I'd best be getting around to it. Definately a fun read so far. I also found some stickers of the Charmin' bears. Along with trading bumper stickers and antennae balls with my friend Edgar.

Books 11-9-6

I've been reading an amalgum of books lately, mostly ones I've already mentioned. I'm gearing up to get ready to submit some dissertation outlines for application to Ph.D. programs.
     Philip of France was inland with his army. When word of the disasterous defeat reached the court, his officers and ministers did not relish the task of telling the king. His temper was like tinder, and no one wanted to be the first to bear the brunt of it. Then someone had the happy thought of sending the court jester in with the news.
The wearer of the the cap and bells undertook the task and entered the royal presence in a state of apparent indignation.
     "Majesty!" he cried. "These cowards of English! These dastards! These fainhearted sons of sheep!"
     "What has come over the fool?" asked the king, looking about him in surprise.
     "Majesty!" exclaimed the jester. "They would not jump off their ships into the water as our brave Frenchmen did!"
The Three Edwards by Thomas B. Costain, 321-322

Armagetron

A friend and coworker launched me into Armagetron. Well, into a computer game version of lightcycles, from the fabulous 1982 film Tron. The game is freeware, available for download from Sourceforge. It's an adrenalin rush to play. Teamplay with friends is completely awesome!

Goldeneye: Source

With CounterStrike: Source, comes the ability to create some amazing modifications to the game. Modding first person shooters has been happening for a long time (e.g. mapeditor for Wolfenstein 3D), and some of the best games of the past are being ported to the playability of the future. To wit, there is a modding community dedicated to bringing Goldeneye to the Halflife 2 game engine. Which hopefully will makes its way onto the new server.

CounterStrike: Source

I've been playing a bit of CS:Source of late. It's the standard first person shooter. The graphics are decent, and the gameplay interaction is good. There are alot of options to make the game fun and exciting. Several of my Boise friends play, and so we are in the process of setting up our own server.