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Adventures in the land of beverages and candy

I've been trying out a lot of weird foodstuffs lately, and so there will be *THREE* food adventures in one in this post! I am going to present them in order of yummieness.

I don't like milk very much. Sure - I'll eat it with my cereal (when I have cereal), but I don't drink it. That makes it extra weird that I had some strange milk lately. It began when I saw an ad on TV. It was a crappy local ad, and it said "Just for football season! Mile High Milk! It tastes like a dreamsicle!" My initial reaction was that it was the most disgusting thing I had ever heard of, but as the days went by - I became more and more curious. Finally one day I saw it and target, and realized that I must consume it.















I took my first drink.



The following image is a timelapse of my reaction. What happened was that it tasted like sweet milk, but then... it tasted like a dreamsicle!!!!



So the Mile High Milk was especially yummy, but I must never consume it again because it is really, really unhealthy.

The next yummiest thing that I did was inspired by Rachel's health-nut co-worker and a movie that Rachel happens to own. I had heard about chilli in chocolate for the first time in the movie "Chocolat" and I was intrigued. What I didn't know was that such a thing actually exists and is readily available from Wild Oats. Once I found that out - nothing could hold me back.



At first bite, it was kind of nasty because the chocolate is SO dark. I'm not that big a fan of dark chocolate.



Once the spice kicked in, I knew this was a taste sensation not to be missed!



It certainly was very interesting, but it wasn't really good. I still haven't finished the bar.

The last thing I ate was disgusting, so disgusting in fact, that I don't have all the pictures I need to make a post. So you'll have to keep waiting.

Hulk: Ultimate Destruction

In the world of video games, a licensed product is usually a one way ticket to a bad game. However, as licenses become more mature and game makers realize that they can capitalize on a hot new movie license without using explicit movie references, good games are actually being made on non-video game based franchises. The most recent example that I have played is “The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction.”

When I first heard about the game, it was described as Grand Theft Auto meets the Hulk. I thought that sounded like a good idea, but I was extremely skeptical, since so many games based on movie/comic characters end up being mediocre at best. Since I am not a big Hulk fan, I decided that I would probably pass on the game. When professional review started coming in, I felt like my decision was justified because it was getting fairly average reviews. Reviewers complained about camera problems, frame rate issues, and the whole gamut of things that plague hastily developed games.

What those reviewers missed was the pure fun that the Hulk offers regardless of the aforementioned problems. When the player first picks up the controller and starts running down the street, cars and buses are knocked away like plastic toys (but with a satisfying weight none-the-less). This kind of momentum and power is present throughout the game and it gives the experience a kind of sandbox like joy that I didn't think the developers would be able to capture. The core dynamics of the hulk leave very little to be desired, and it is clear that the game was developed with fun at the top of the priority list.

The missions in the game are placed within the city, and can be accessed at any time, so the player can advance the story at their discretion. My initial feeling was that the missions would feel tacked on and the player would only want to complete them to unlock other features or areas to play with. That feeling stemmed from the description of the game as a GTA type game. However, each mission has real weight, and never feels like it was added to artificially lengthen the game. If a player has no desire to complete the serious story missions, there are also goofy side missions to play for fun. Personally I didn't enjoy the side missions immensely, but the design of the game is such that I could completely ignore them if I so chose.

The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction is a fantastic game and a must-play for anyone with an interest in action or beat-um-up games. It should provide many hours of engaging story-based play, as well as many hours of free-form romping.

Rei GoreTex coat and THE BEAST

There was an episode of seinfeld where a Valet made Jerry's car smell bad and nothing could stop it. I'm having that problem with my coat. Does anyone have any ideas for making smell leave goretex/nylon? I've washed it, I've tried febreeze, I've aired it out. And the smell remains. I don't know what caused the smell. It was in my car for a while (which doesn't smell too bad) and then it smelled like this. and it's been several months since the smell first started. The smell is kind a kind of musky b-o thing.

Pikmin 2

The brave little ambulatory root creatures that saved my life the last time I was on this planet haven't changed much, but my motives have changed immensly. No longer am I on mission of basic survival, using these small creatures only because I had no choice - now I am on a mission of commerce. I am only here to increase the profits of my company, and I have unwillingly enslaved my saviors to achieve that end.

The preceding paragraph sums up my appreciation of Pikmin 2 in a nicely oblique fashion. The game hasn't changed much in terms of gameplay (despite the two new, and one altered) pikmin types. You still parade your army around and try to flank the enemy as much as possible, while devising cunning ways to get your soldiers to the treasures you want them to carry. That said, playing the game is as fun as every while on the overworld. The graphics are vibrant and interesting, ambient nature sounds drift around you, and the pikmin sing a cheery song.

It's when you get to the caves that the game begins to suffer. Since the caves are random (a feature whose merit is dubious in the first place), the graphics are boring and repetitive within them. In addition, the puzzles in the caves are extremely simple at best. The suspension of the time limit and the ability to save on every level reduces the tension of the experience (many clamored for this type of thing, but I welcomed the urgency in the original game.)

It is because of the caves and the fact that Olimar and Looie are on a merely commercial trip that takes away much of the charm of this sequel. The caves are dreary and boring, and throughout the game I had a feeling of misdeeds as I marched my pikmin into the jaws of death for such a selfish and shallow goal.

Despite being of generally less fun than the original Pikmin, Pikmin 2 benefits from being significantly longer, and having a multiplayer mode. In the end, it really depends on if you want a fantastic game that may not last very long, or a good game that lasts a very long time. If you find yourself in the latter category, I highly reccomend this game, but if you are in the former category, I would mildly reccomend it.

The Road to Maine

My dad called me a few weeks ago and said "What are you doing the first week of february?" I told him that I wasn't doing anything, and so I volunteered myself to help him move (once again, and finally) to maine. Preparations took place in denver, and at 4:00 a.m. on February 1, we departed.


The sun had barely risen, and we were already out of colorado.

Shortly into Kansas, we were confronted by a mysterious freezing mist.

This unassuming spot is actually the geographic center of the United States!

This was the one piece of road kitsch that we saw. It was just outside of Santa Claus, Indiana.

This is Simponville's water tower which is part of the West Shelby water district. Coincidence? I think not.

My parent's humble abode in maine.

This is an abandoned fire tower on Mt. Pisgah.

The view from the firetower.

This is a maine pizza. It has more than a passing resemblance to my mother's homemade pizza. Universal resonance? I think so.

This is what is called a "Whoopie Pie." Marshmellow sandwiched in raw tasting dough. Absolutely disgusting.

We stayed on the interstates the whole time because we had a long, long trailer, and neither my dad or me could back it up with any skill. As a result, we saw less kitsch than one might hope, but we also made it there very, very quickly. We had to stop every 200 miles or so because my dad's truck has a modest gas tank, and an immodest appetite for fuel. I was pretty comfortable with that range though, and welcomed the opportunity to stretch my legs. It was a good trip, and I returned with a fresh supply of Moxie and blueberry honey.

Feel the Magic Review

When the DS was announced, it was hard for some to imagine what could be done with all those new features. Many felt that it would not be used to its full potential, and most games would take advantage of its graphical horsepower only. This has been true for many games so far, but Sega stepped up and produced a truly unique game for the DS – a game that could not be realized on any other platform. Feel the Magic XY/XX is a game about a guy who wants a girl to love him, and he will do anything to convince her of that – including blowing out giant candles and escaping from the belly of a snake. Not all the scenarios are as bizarre as that, and some are downright mundane (a Simon style dance game comes to mind), but they are all done with a coherent and unique style. Sega has taken advantage of almost every feature the DS has to offer with this game. The touch screen is used extensively, and is the primary method of control, but it is used in interesting ways – such as blowing on it to perform certain objectives. The built in microphone is also used, though only to detect sound in the most rudimentary fashion. Sadly – there is no multiplayer support, which certainly could have provided some excellent fun. The dual screens are also rarely used to full effect, with the top screen often just a backdrop graphic. The games could get boring at times, as they are quite simplistic for the most part, but the ethereal graphics go a long way toward keeping the player entertained and engrossed. Many have complained that the game is short, and I won’t argue that as a fact, but it is *so* short that replaying it should be a joy if the player enjoyed it the first time through. It certainly doesn’t fall into that awkward category where a game is too long to be played over and over, but to short to provide a satisfying once through. In many ways, Feel the Magic is the best of the launch window titles for the DS. It takes advantage of most of the unique control methods and other features, as well as showcasing the system’s graphic muscle in an artistic way. If this game is an early indication of the DS’s crop of games, I couldn’t be more excited.

Knitting

I'm learning to knit. The first thing I made was a collar-scarf for my cat.


Molly didn't like her scarf much, and it didn't stay on her long. 

The follys of a sober existence

Brer Rabbit Molasses and a shot glas right next to each other - whats a man to do?

My loving wife pours

For a relaxing time, it's Brer Rabbit time!

Down the gullet!

Still going....

Fin! I feel funny... 

I ate Haggis!

It Begins!

It looks kind of like vomit...

But it tastes so good! 

They did it, they really did it.

This story could be about going to New York city in a 24 hour period, but it's not about that. That was simply a means to an end.

I woke up at 7:00 on Friday morning to go to work. I worked all day, and came home with the intention of going to Elich Gardens amusement park for some rides and haunts. It turned out that Brian was running late though, and so we decided to go to spider mansion haunted house instead. We went there and it was pretty good, better than frightmare this year. After that (and Brian making some cookies), I went home to get ready to leave. We were at the airport by midnight, and on the flight by 1:00.

We flew Jet Blue to NYC, and I must say that they are the best airline ever. Tickets were $100, and there was much more room than most planes. There was no first class, so everyone feels equal. The stewards and stewardesses were very friendly and helpful, and the choice of snacks and drinks is impressive, and made me forget that there was no meal. The best part of all though is you can watch direcTV the whole way for free.

After a delightful flight, we arrived at JFK airport, and took the AirTrain to the A-Line subway. We took the subway through Brooklyn and Manhattan (with a transfer to the 1) and finally arrived at 110th and Broadway, just a couple of blocks from Tom's Restaurant.

Tom's is famous to me because its the facade of Monk's coffee shop from Seinfeld, but others might know it as "Tom's Diner". I had been there before, and it was just as good as I remembered it. Rachel and I had the lumberjack breakfast which re-energized us for our day. After breakfast, we walked about halfway down central park, and then took a confusing number of subway trains to get to 51st and 5th. Rachel did some shopping, and then we headed to the Time Square area. We had some pizza (New York pizza is the best pizza, New York style does not cut it) and then hit Toys R Us before heading to 46th and 8th.

We walked up to the address expecting some sort of theater, or at least a sign. Instead there was a church, and a small placard that said "The Last Starfighter: A New Musical". We walked in the door, and headed up the stairs. This strange area seemed to be not part of the church, though it appeared that way on the outside. It was dingy, with peeling paint and a musty smell. The man at the desk looked very "theater" and I was happy that he was living his dream. He said the house wasn't open yet and so we waited on the benches.

By the time the house opened, there were about 20 people waiting, and that was pretty much the whole audience. We went into the theater, and I saw the Starlight Starbright trailer park in glorious plywood cutouts. And off to the side, a perfect recreation of the Starfighter arcade cabinet. At this point I was definitely impressed. The play began, and all the characters that I knew from the movie made their appearances, most were drastically different from the characters in the movie, and the lines were switched around. The strange thing is the lines were often nearly verbatim, but spoken by a different character. The songs were wonderfully cheesy, and the show was progressing just about how I imagined it.

Then Centauri drove in on a picnic table. The space effects were not very good, and for some reason, they just decided to use parts of town as space props. The picnic table was the starcar, and the gunstar. The star car, had absolutely no embellishments. It was just a picnic table. The gunstar at least, had a plywood cutout engine array, and a milk crate (undisguised) for the navigator to sit on.

The most troubling part of the play was that Grig was hurt in the initial attack, and so Centauri (who was only slightly injured by the zandozan) took up the role of navigator (Centauri and Grig were also brothers).

Overall, the play was hilarious and wonderfully cheesy. Seeing it was like some sort of feverish nightmare version of the movie. All the actors played two parts (trailer park, and space characters) which gave the play sort of a Wizard of Oz feel.

I am extremely happy that I saw the play, and I would do it again. I also recommend going to NYC for some weird reason in 24 hours to all of you.

Yes there are photos

The Case for Globalization

As I mentioned yesterday, I have a strong liberal/democratic tilt to my politics. I want better environmental policies, maximum spending, lots of government services, etc. The one area in which I differ is that of globalization.

Free-trade, globalization, whatever you want to call it has a history of explosive conflict and hot debate. I think that we can all agree (except for a small group of radicals) that no trade at all would be a bad thing, but the point at which globalization becomes an issue to many people is when they think that they (or a group that they speak for) are not getting good benefits from the trade. That reason is why there are tariffs on various imports in this country - to protect domestic production.

I agree that sometimes it seems like one group or another will get the short end of the stick from a trade, like U.S. car manufacturers during the import boom of the 80s, or south American sweat-shop workers who get paid a matter of cents per day. The inherent problem with this view, is that a successful world economy is a long-run proposition. We must make sacrifices in the present to realize a stable, healthy world economy in the future.

Of course, what proof do we have that the U.S. economy can rebound from tariff free imports, or that third world labor will ever advance beyond their meager salary? The answer to this question lies in the basic theory of economics. To explain this gigantic macroeconomic system, I will explain a much smaller system.

A small town named Burt is founded in an area with a pond. The locals live from meager farms and fish from the pond. The pond supplies only a limited number of fish because it is fed by small mountain streams. They are all reasonably happy, but their wealth is extremely limited. One day, there a merchant arrives selling fish. The fish are better than the people of Burt have ever tasted, and seem to have limitless quality. This is because the merchant is from the town of Reynolds which is far away on the banks of a river. The river supplies Reynolds with more fish than they can handle, so they sent out a merchant to find buyers. The people of Burt trade their crops for these superior fish, and the merchant goes home a wealthy man. At this point, it seems like Burt got fleeced and they traded extremely limited goods for something that Reynolds seems to have a lot of. That is where the second part of the story begins. The merchant tells tales of Burt to the many citizens of Reynolds. They are entranced by its quaint characteristics, and soon many travel to Burt. Burt opens hotels and restaurants to accommodate the new travelers, and soon there is a large trade of Reynolds fish for Burt's charm. In the end, a village whose main asset was its charm was able to utilize that to the fullest, and a village whose main asset was fish was able maximize their specialty as well.

The global economy is far more complicated, I agree, but the moral of this story is that economies will benefit from focusing on their specialties. Why should America produce goods that require much unskilled labor, when we could completely focus on service, IT, ideas, advertising and international finance? Let the developing world make our crap for us! So what about the developing world? Won't they just get poorer and poorer because all they can do is produce our crap? Yes, until they create a new specialty. If trade is completely free, then the poor will seem poorer and the rich, richer for a time, but eventually everything will equalize.

The problem with this plan is that wars, famine, and other factors can break the equilibrium. For this reason, minor watch should be kept on trade, and outright villainy should be punished. Developing nations should be allowed to work in sweatshops, and their children will long for more, and the next generations ideas will create specialties. Those that are too intelligent or skilled for these specialties should do what they can to move to a country or region that can sustain them. Meanwhile, the developed world should focus on their specialties (those that center on intelligence and skill), and those that are unable to fit into those specialties should move to a country or region that can sustain them.

The key to long term success in a free trade economy is free migration. If someone who is unskilled lives in a place where skilled labor is the specialty - they can learn, or move. If someone is skilled in a place where unskilled labor is the specialty - they can put up with it or move. If someone with low skills moves somewhere were high skills are required, they will not have success, and will move back to a low skill specialty zone. These areas do not necessarily mean different countries, but they can. Educated Indians are moving to American to take tech jobs all the time, and high school drop outs move to areas where they can get work as dock loaders or other menial labor.

The sad part of this is that there will be poor people, and their will be rich people. But communism is the only solution to that, and that only works if people don't have sex.

My argument is not razor sharp, or crystal clear, but the essential argument is that freedom will lead to equilibrium as long as external factors (war, famine, villainy) are controlled. The international community should support freedom of trade and migration, but should also try to restrict trade or migration that is done with ill intent.

Yoshi's Touch and Go

Yoshi's Touch & Go Hands-On at Gamespot

This game looks amazing. Yoshi's Island is my favorite side scrolling game of all time. The whimsical music and gameplay make it a true classic, and this game looks to have more of the same. The way that the touch screen and stylus are used in this game make me have even higher expectations for the DS. Until now, most people have just likened the mechanic to palm pilots and pocket pcs. But this game looks like it has a unique use for the touch screen.

So I'm liberal, so what?

So, after hearing on the radio this morning about Select Smart, I decided to try it out, just to make sure that I'd chosen correctly who I will vote for. Turns out, I'm kinda liberal! Who would have thought it... Here are my results.

1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%)
2. Cobb, David - Green Party (82%)
3. Nader, Ralph - Independent (77%)
4. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (66%)
5. Brown, Walt - Socialist Party (65%)
6. Badnarik, Michael - Libertarian (43%)
7. Peroutka, Michael - Constitution Party (15%)
8. Bush, President George W. - Republican (11%)

Essentially, I'm happy with my choice of Kerry. He may not be tops on my list, but he is up there. I voted green last time, and was happy with my decision because I felt that both candidates were pretty much on the same page. Of course, 9/11 changed everything, and Gore might have handled that differently - or it might not have even happened. Anyway, I feel like this is a more important election in terms of getting the most likely guy into office, and less important for making a statement about party homogenization. I most certainly will not vote for Nader just because he's being such an ass about his whole candidacy. Greens didn't want him, so he weazeled his way into another slot. Anyway - I'll be voting for Kerry. I encourage all of you to check that site out and see what you think!

By popular demand, more photos from Kentucky

The carnival at the ham festival

Rachel and my thumb

This was on TV *all* weekend. I don't think they odds are good.

This kid had an awesome transformation. Ant's stepdad kept calling him "boon", but his real name was Jessie.

This is Tiffany's families beautiful Kentucky home. 

This is a Llama. He was cranky...

Here I am, amazingly, this picture makes me *not* look like a disgusting fatass. 

I ate some pork 

Worlds Largest ham and biscuit

Worlds Largest ham and biscuit
Originally uploaded by siberianluck.

Also while in Kentucky, we were able to attend the Trigg County Country Ham festival. The festival was kind of a let down on the whole, but people around there sure were excited about it. I might have been more excited had I actually been able to see the world's largest ham and biscuit, or maybe eat some of the country ham. As it happened, the festival was just a mid-grade carnival attached to a generic street festival (funnel cakes abounded).

Lookin' Good

Lookin' Good
Originally uploaded by siberianluck.

Well, my good friend Ant got married this weekend, and I went all the way out to kentucky to see it. I'd say it was worth it, since I've never *really* been to Kentucky and now I have. The wedding was great, and Ant was lookin' good as evidenced by this photo. This was the best wedding I've been to (other than my own), but it was still boring and tedious at times. Being banished to the garage, and waiting around for photographs rank high on that list. But it was all worth it to hang out with my "Friends that Might Have Been" and have some good food.

Speaking of FTMHB... it was pretty weird how comfortable I was around all the UPS people even though they didn't remember me at all really, I knew them, and it allowed me to be more social than usual. Unfortunately I didn't get to talk to Ant as much as I would have liked, but I did get to talk to him more than I figured I would.

Wyatt

Wyatt
Originally uploaded by siberianluck.

This is a picture of a dog.