Old Guy Game Guide: Assassin's Creed II

I get it now.

What “it” entails is most of the elements of third person, open world video gaming.

The Godfather was most definitely my introduction to the addictiveness of this type of game. However, I was in no way prepared for how much MORE engrossing a higher end version of that genre could be until I started playing Assassin’s Creed II.

 Ready for Action

Top Ten Suprise Changes for the Hulk in the Avengers Movie

It’s been publicly advertised that Mark Ruffalo will be replacing Edward Norton as the Hulk in the upcoming Avengers film.  However, there are other surprise changes in store for the character that have not been released to the movie going audience:

Star Wars Through a Kid's Eyes: The Prequels

The experience of sharing Star Wars with my daughter has been delightful; now that she’s about the same age I was when the first film came out.

(That’s Episode IV to you whippersnappers who think the films have always been in numerical order.)

As planned, we started with Episode I in the theater, and have been watching the others at home.  Reactions have been varied and in some cases surprising.

THE PHANTOM MENACE

Shoe Blues Review

Sometimes this stuff just pops into my head fully formed.  Unfortunately for you people, I have to let it out, or it’ll break something.

The Squishy Shoe Blues

Inspired By an anonymous comment

(Standard Blues Beat, Wet Shoe Leather Sound in Rhythm Section)

Jeff's Books to Open Your Mind: Lamb

Since I may have already condemmed myself with my Easter posts, if's about time to look at this book:

There are countless books, presentations, e-mails and end zone signs providing more details about the divine side of Jesus, and /or the suffering, mortal side than anyone could comfortably digest.  However, I’ve run across one book that gives fantastic insight into the non-suffering days of the human side.  By creating a fictional travelogue of the “lost years” between being found at the temple and beginning his ministry, 2002’s Lamb by Christopher Moore provides an interesting view of how the “and man” part of “equal parts God and man” could have dealt with everyday life.  This view is provided via the best friend of Joshua bar Joseph (Jesus), as indicated by the subtitle, “The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s childhood Pal.”  I’d love to heartily recommend this book that made me both think a bit, and laugh a great deal…

The trouble is, I have no idea who the hell to recommend it to.

Up the Lake: Windy-ness

What color is the wind?

Or

Blown Away

One thing the lake that Up the Lake is “Up the” has in abundance...is wind.  At a mile long, and only a ninth of that wide (all distances estimates, your mileage may vary), a pronounced wind tunnel effect down the long axis of the lake was created.  A bizarre phenomenon this effect displays is that the wind invariably blew the opposite direction that one was rowing or swimming.

Very often someone was claimed as a victim of the wind if they fell asleep sunning themselves on a raft, and then woke up floating somewhere down the Mississippi.  Sleepers were not the only victims, however.  For example, there was the time in their youth that my sister Kim, and her friend Tracy, were out floating on one of those giant double size rafts that can be used as a slip cover for Rhode Island in the off season.  As each of them could only reach the water with half a fingernail, being blown away was inevitable.  No one on the beach was concerned; as we figured eventually they would become bored, and swim back pushing the raft (the SOP: stupid operating procedure, in these cases).  Suddenly, their screams echoed around the lake, like some crazed jungle bird with its wings caught in a blender.  Overprotective big brother that I am, I threw on my fins and rocketed down the lake to find out what happened. 

GUESS WHO?

Hey... Easter Weekend!

For the first time in years, this weekend I attended the Easter Vigil service, known to experienced church goers as the Extended Dance Mix of Masses.  I had to sit behind a woman who used a chemical safety shower to apply her perfume, and the candles supplied were so exceedingly cheap and thin that the heat of my hand bent and formed it into a Belgian fencing grip.

Compared to Easter Masses of years past, this was a veritable cake walk.

Top Ten Ways to have More Fun in Church

As Easter approaches, many folks ready themselves to venture to church.  Since many of them have not been for a year, or more, I thought I ‘d pass along some helpful advice.

In my travels over the years I”ve had periods of time where I’d attend mass at a different church almost every week. 

I guess you could call me a Roamin' Catholic.

*BAdm-BUM*

Thank you, try the veal! 

Old Guy Game Guide: The Godfather - The Don's Edition

Once in a blue moon, a video game based on another license really knocks ‘em dead.

 A game where the wine helps the mood.

Kiddies, take a hike for this one.  There will be violence and profanity.  Although from these guys, it isn't obscenity, it's an art form.

The Godfather, the Don’s Edition game for the PS3, for those of us who drive around to the Mob Hits CD collections, is (to borrow a severely overused review phrase) a game you can’t refuse.  It introduced me to the addictiveness of third person, open world gaming, and there’s no turning back now.

Like most current games, character looks are customizable, within Italian trait limitations of course.  I don’t have the genetics to make a virtual me this time, leaving the only option to construct what looks like the lost Frissora brother. (Or, for those who need a different reference because they don’t know my Grandfather’s family - Well that's their loss...in a great many ways.)

 Fah-Tee!

The on-line reviews for this game were weak, partially because it was made for older consoles and then tweaked for the next generation.  There were other problems cited, but I’ve learned in these new fancy schmancy games that there’s always some control, or camera, or repetition issues that one could bitch about. Frankly if it has an immersive setting and story, then who cares?

Marone! Did this game succeed in the immersion.