I don't care, I love it!

Icona Pop - I Love It

Discs of Jon is ready for an overhaul. We're going to change the subject matter from flying discs to compact ones. (Well, no one really uses CDs anymore. Whatever.)

I'm going to use this space to share my favorite music of the time, may be new, may be old, will be good!

I'm not sure how I came across today's song, a pop dance number from a Swedish duo. It's fun, it's reckless and totally fun to bop to. It's very upbeat for a break-up song.

I would like some Feedback

I am publishing this post in an effort to score some points (literally) in a contest to win an advanced copy of Feedback, the 2nd book in the ... duology (?) that started with Variant.

Variant was a great read. It has many elements that hook you and reel you in, little by little. What's going on at the school? Where are the teachers? What's in the Shed? What kind of first name is Benson? For that matter, what about Robison? Isn't there a letter missing?

The best part (by which I mean, the most maddening part) is that it ends with a twist, a what-just-happened reveal that makes you fall to your knees and cry out in despair and then beg that the author doesn't die before publishing the next book so that we have to live with the knowledge that we don't have the answers. (Like, what's the deal with Lisbet's twin sister? No more Dragon Tattoo books?!? Auuuuuugh!)

Here are two links where you can go purchase Robison Wells's fine masterpiece, and see the pre-order page for the next one, due out in October. I, for one, will be impatiently waiting for it to come out and quench my thirst, like a tall ice-filled cup of Diet Coke spiked with pink lemonade.

Variant

Feedback (pre order)

Maybe they should redefine "Final"

I have recently had the pleasure (spoken with British accent) of booting up my PS3 that has been in the box for 10 months, but it now fully operational. I only have 2 games for it (I can't believe it doesn't ship with one that shows off its power, like the Wii Play game) Both of them are part of my most beloved game series: Final Fantasy. I have both Final Fantasy XIII and XIII-2. I've only tried the first one out, but I can say that the graphics are breathtaking. The opening cinematic with ships cruising through the atmosphere and then the train sequence through the futuristic city. Wow.

It makes me think back to the origins of the game. The first one came out on the original Nintendo (NES) in 1990 (in the USA) and it looked like this:

Rad!

More followed on the NES and then later on the Super NES. With such improved graphics like this:

That's from the sixth installment (FF VI) Well, it's a little bit improved.

The graphics really took off with #7, debuting on the new Sony Playstation (PS1) I remember trying it out for the first time and hearing that familiar fanfare and just getting goosebumps.

The next one is arguably my favorite of the series, FF 8, largely because of a little mini-game card battle (Triple Triad). You could collect these monster cards and then play them against opponents in various towns and other places and win their cards and add them to your deck. Later, you could convert cards to weapons and stuff. Very addictive. Even my wife enjoyed playing the card game!

FF X was released on the PS2 and had even better graphics, but dispensed with an overworld map. It had some fun features, too, and great dialogue. All of them place a high emphasis on the storyline and get you attached to the characters. Sometimes, though, they go a little bit out there.

There were 2 that came out as MMORPGs (online only) and I tried the first one, but my computer was not really up to rendering it very well, so I gave up on it. World of Warcraft had a much smoother interface.

It's hard to capture how pretty the latest one is with just a picture, but here's one anyway. Trust me, it is just gorgeous.

Joey, don't ever call me on that phone

Today's pet peeve is brought to you by the Men's Room. It bothers me to have people talking on cell phones while using the bathroom - I'd rather have quiet time than loud distractions. At home, there's a lock on the door for a reason!

Also, it seems disrespectful to the person on the other end, they know where you are - there are flushing sounds (and maybe worse) No one should be subjected to that.

Yesterday, a guy was in a stall, talking to his SO and arguing with her, trying to tell her that this girl he had a project with wasn't the girl the SO thought she was. Since he used a last name, I know exactly who the one girl is and I have a pretty good idea who the girlfriend thought it was (and she's right to worry about him working with her after hours) I don't want to know this! And certainly not in the bathroom!

Use your cellphone for private things, like instant messaging and Tiny Tower.

For some statistical fun with men's urinals, read here:

xkcd on optimal urinal choice

Excited utterance

I wonder how many people respond to this prompt with "I'm excited to be done with this 30 day blog challenge!"

I'm excited about writing again. I'm making small strides forward, but it's some progress as opposed to none. Yesterday, I expanded my original scene by around 300 words and I've set the stage for the next scene, which I'll start writing tonight. Should be exciting - the hero gets tested!

I'm also excited to get a new disc in the mail, probably by Friday.

Weird Wider Wired Idrew

5 Weird Things That I Like

1. When I play an online game like World of Warcraft, I like to play a female character. I think it's more fun. 
2. I like to make anagrams out of words when I get bored. However, names are usually too much to play with. For those, I use the Internet Anagram Server.
3. Rap Music. Most people who say they like all kinds of music usually put a disclaimer (except Rap, or, cRap, the C is silent, etc.) For me, it has to either be fun and jaunty (like Will Smith) or have really catchy lyrics (Eminem, Run DMC) I tend to like old-school back before it was all about gangsta life and how rich I am and all that. 
4. MUDding, a text-only online game (where my main character is not female, ha!) Been doing it off and on for over 20 years. 
5. Wendy's Macaroni and Cheese. I am totally addicted!

5 Weird Things that I don't like, but everyone else does

1. Ranch dressing. Oddly, I do like what they're calling Southwest dressing, a mix of Ranch Dressing and salsa. Go figure.
2. Cheesecake. Again, I like Key Lime Pie, but not cheesecake. (It's different! Somehow.)
3. Sweet Potatoes. I don't know why. I try some every couple of years, still don't like it.
4. Tall Roller Coasters. 'Nuff said.
5. The smell of coffee 

Writing Update: 473 words yesterday. Rolling along.

A nice place to visit

If I were going to move to a new city, I'd prefer a warmer climate. I could easily imagine living in Texas. The people are very pleasant and there's some good eatin' too. I could also imagine living in Arizona, although it's a bit more desert-y than I like. I do have a fond memory of picking grapefruit off a tree in January there, though.
I'm not big on travel, but I suspect it's because of the transportation hassles. Air travel is more convenient but a bother. Driving in a new place can also be stressful. (GPS navigation is a must!)
Places I'd like to visit, either for the first time, or again:

Portland, OR




It's really an interesting culture there. Lots of people with dogs, bicycles. Powell's Books. Burgerville. The Rose Garden. Yeah, I'd like to go back.


Venice, Italy

I spent some of my early years living in Cocoa Beach, FL. The house I was living in backed up to a canal, with small boats often there. I remember fishing off of a dock in the backyard. I'm sure it has impacted my desire to visit a city where EVERYONE has a canal. It just sounds so awesome to boat down the "street" instead of drive.

Australia

I've always wanted to visit Australia, but I have to admit, I was recently influenced by a House Hunters International that showed off some beautiful beaches. Oh yeah, I'm there. *********************************


Writing update: +276 words for the weekend. Added an interlude that I'd been thinking about, not sure whether I'll end up keeping it in the end product.