Attitudes are contagious. Mine might kill you.

Moved to 2 new blogs.

Gaming/Technology/Entertainment/Webcomic:  http://www.recomic.net

Theology & Philosophy:  http://www.aspenfalls.org

-Wes

Dungeon Runner's Review

At first I thought that NCSoft (makers of Guild Wars, Lineage, City of Heroes) was trying to create a WOW killer with Dungeon Runner but I was way off of what they intended for this game.  D.R. is the Monty Python's Holy Grail of Diablo style/MMO like games.  It's a completely tongue in cheek, over-the-top, outlandish game that pokes fun at the fantasy MMO genre at large.  It's a very simple game with lots of mindless fun.  D.R. is 100% about dungeon crawling, killing hordes of mobs and collecting uber gear.  How is that different from any other MMO/diablo?  Where else can you get an Agitated Rusty Scale Headgear of the Penguin at level 3?  You start collecting uber/hilarious gear at level 1 and you'll find yourself excitedly waiting for the next drop just to look at the name.  The weapons are gigantic (would make Cloud cry) as in several size larger than your toon and the armor stats are as long as the name.  My current uber weapon is the Toxic Cardboard Orok Axe from the Swingin' Ghetto and it does 16-114 damage +6 Strength +6 Endurance +17 Defense +17 Melee +5 Poison damage....I'm level 6.  This game feeds the Munchin in you and has you clicking on the screen like a wild banshee on crack.  It's a point n' click style game and the simplicity is an very endearing quality in this hack n' slash.  It makes grinding fun again. 

D.R. also gives you complete freedom to do whatever you want to your character like duel wield single handed weapons, turn your fighter into a mage or use any gear you want (fighter, ranged or mage) it lets you build a free form character to your liking.

The graphics are pretty (looks like an updated WarcraftIII/WOW), the gameplay is diablo like and it has the normal aspects of a MMO like community town/chat/friends list/the ability to form parties.  The dungeons are instances so no aggravating griefers to deal with.  The voice acting is hilarious my 2 favorites being my storage npc who talks like Sean Connery and a fat merchant that sounds like the beloved Scottish villain in the Austin Powers movies.  Best of all you can play D.R. for free (limited to low end items/limited storage) but if you do upgrade you get access to all the best gear and you get extra storage for $4.99 a month.  This game makes a great companion for any MMO player as it is a great escape from the normal grind.  It is limited in a lot of ways like character creation and currently only has 1 town and 1 village (rest of the game dungeon) but all limitations aside it is a fun game with addictive gameplay for those looking for a not so serious world.  So if you have always dreamed of dawning the Lethal Baby Seal Skin Cap of the Newt or fire the Inflicted Cardboard Repeating Crossbow of the Sugar Glider then this game is for you and stay away from my Auto-targeting Shining Scale of the Inclusive Penguin pauldons man...get your own!!!

-Peace Out

It is a very interesting move by EMI.

Article Here

-Peace Out

Very interesting read on the subject of protected music and the issues they face.

Steve's Blog

-Peace Out

An interesting software package for those who play guitar.  Supposed to have a load of chord charts and a lot of neat features.  They have a demo so that you can try it before you buy it.

Guitar Shed 2

-Peace Out

"In ways nobody could have predicted, what was once an efficient file loader evolved into a clumsy monstrosity that required massive amounts of memory just to run. But did it ever become a genuine OS, or just a file loader with benefits? It became a clunker, in fact, with a pretty face and a high price tag like a Park Avenue hooker using too much makeup to hide the fact that she's old."  - John C. Dvorak

Full Article Here

-Peace Out

Quotes from Peter Drucker:
Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.

Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.

So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work.

The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said.

There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.

Management" means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folklore and superstition, and of cooperation for force. . .

We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.

-Peace Out

Wired has a very interesting article for download in pdf on the world of identity theft and the digital criminal underworld.  Very interesting read.

Article Here

-Peace Out