Roderick

When is that Steve Ballmer going crazy-song coming up again?

Ah, that clarifies some things (though it didn't come across from your original post at all). I still have doubts though. You're still killing something that is alive in the same way that we are alive (as an atheist, there's really no reason to see yourself as being anything else but animals who specialized in brains instead of, say, elongated trunks to suck up water with). And there's something very nasty indeed about breeding beings who can't feel anything, just for the purpose of slaughtering them. It induces images of the Space Truckers movie, where pigs are bred to be square so they can be stacked in tiny cages and on top of each other. The involvement of pain is only one factor; there's also the whole inherent wrongness of killing something that lives on the same level as us that feels like something we shouldn't be doing. I know that if I would have to slaughter every piece of meat I ever ate, I wouldn't be able to do it. Many animals are already killed by inserted metal rods into their brains almost instantaneously. It doesn't really help, because at that moment insane amounts of hormones are already directed through the entire body and meat. It's still a sickening sight to see the insides of a slaughterhouse/factory.

It's very nice to hear this. I think in language there will and must always be a struggle between how it's done according to current uses and grammar, and embracing new ways of writing things under the influence of memetic change and mutation. It really depends on the particular example what I do with language. video games, as one word, is far more appealing to me than video games. I think that's a key ingredient for me: what's the most beautiful? I will gladly go for harbour, labour, honour and other English ways of writing things, yet be American in other respects. Since I'm Dutch, I don't feel the need to be either at all times.

For the past year-and-a-half I've been what I'd like to call a 'meat-minimalist'; eating meat with only half of my meals and taking care to buy good meat in small quantities. The reasons are not so much the well-being of animals (though that enters into it of course), but the strain meat puts on other resources like grain. It takes ten kilo's of grain to produce one kilo of meat, and that's just unacceptable. Though the Earth is more than capable of providing for us and many generations to come, there will be time when food grows scarce. Why not already build proper judgement of that in our culture and be aware of resource expenditure? Besides that, not having meat in my meals half of the week forces me to think about my diet and eat way more vegetables than I'd do otherwise, making me a much healthier person. [ADDED] Also, James said something on page one that was nonsense, about animals not feeling pain. They feel pain alright, even if it isn't of the 'impending doom' psychological kind. I also don't know what being an atheist has to do with that?

Oh that flag was there years before the founding of the Isreali state. We're safe.

Also, BALTIMORA

The Dad's Army side of terrorism, haha. I didn't see whole lot of Brass Eye except the special, which I loved. It was so ridiculously good with the inserts, the roboplegic wrong-cock, MOrris tucking his children into filing cabinets... gorgeous.

I had hoped the subtle use of question mark, exclamation mark, then question mark, would have given it away!

Surely you have nothing to fear... unless you have something to hide?!?

Alas, you haven't all banded together to buy me an internet connection

I'd so love to play. And participate in a Pokécast. But alas =(

For me it's been the same story this year as it has been since the time of the Gamecube: the big consoles are peripheral gaming machines for me. The Nintendo DS is the prime platform that gives me the biggest gaming thrills and delights. Okay, maybe the big hitters on the 360 have done a bit more for me last year, but on the overall, the DS has seen the most love. I don't expect a PS4 anytime soon. Microsoft is probably the first to announce a new project, but it's still some ways away. The consoles to me don't feel like they're reaching the end of their cycle, they're just warming up and they have lots of ways to go. I'd expect upgrades sooner than new consoles altogether. The Wii has especially placed itself outside of the console wars. The Wii will probably stay in homes for many, many years, since it isn't viewed as a 'disposable' or upgradable console by most buyers.

That was probably the most amazing extreme sports thing ever. Immensely appealing to that inner instinct of wanting to soar. Would completely not dare to jump though. I have problems with high velocities. I'm a climber, not a faller.

I got the Mario Galaxy soundtrack in the mail, and it did not disappoint. Beautifully produced, with a little booklet with composer notes for every track... that's the sort of exclusive wannahave that I like to see. Props to Nintendo. It even had a few tracks I didn't yet have in mp3 format, so that's a win!

I shat myself when Remo did his MAREK BRONSTRING announcement.

I just finished Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia on the DS. As could be expected from a handheld Castlevania, it was very well-produced and a joy to play. Nevertheless, having finished it I have my reservations... The best parts about Ecclesia were the boss battles. This time around, they really forced you to think about what you were doing and act strategically. In all the previous games, I would simply spam my biggest attack on them and quaff healing potions until it died, or I did. Ecclesia's bosses all have very powerful special attacks though, that you'll have to avoid or neutralize if you want to survive. So, that's good. Spectacular at times, even. But there's a bitter taste to it. More than in other castlevania's, I felt a grind here. That was something I never really felt in previous titles. But in my obsessive quest to get all the items off of all the monsters, there were a few times I just spent hours farming a particular enemy before it would drop, and I'd catch myself not enjoying it one bit. That's crossing the line, there. I also miss the giant castle. It's really good that they've tried something new here with the different levels and the outside world, but I really miss the intricate, claustrophobic mazes of yore. I think Portrait of Ruin's painting-dimensions were as far as they could go. Ecclesia's cut-off lands just feel disjointed. Especially in the endgame you're zipping from level to level, and something got lost there. I yearn for the weird dual shadowcastles from Harmony of Dissonance, or the elaborate hidden endworld of Dawn of Sorrow. Ecclesia is still a superb platformer that easily held my attention for 15+ hours. But next time I'd like to get back into an impossibly large castle filled with secrets and mysteries. Though I'm a little frightened that after 6 handheld versions in about as many years, I may just be getting a bit tired of Castlevania. Oh dear

Yeah, recovering magic is completely useless since it replenishes extremely fast. The hearts don't, which is necessary to ensure players don't spam the glyph union attack though. But granted, I don't feel nearly as powerful or awesome as I did in the endgame of the previous titles. I remember Soma (or Jonathan?) had some sort of aura that enabled him to dash continuously and deal damage. You'd be able to destroy weaker enemies by running through them. That's awesome. And though Shanoa can fly with wings, Jonathan was able to blast himself upward, which has so much more impact. There's a cheap suicide trick to use with Dracula. Equip Nitesco and Melio Falcis in your hands (making for a huge light sabre union), the Dominus for the right shoulder (which enhances union glyphs), the Death ring for double damage, the Judgement ring (which, again, boosts union glyphs), and put the rest all on damage (say, wearing Barbarian armour). If you start spamming the union attack when Dracula appears, you'll deal 1500+ damage easily per hit and Dracula will perish before finishing his first attack. Hehe. Totally Gamefaqed this though.

Well, that should mean that this game was better than Dawn of Sorrow, which wasn't the case at all. It did have great, exploitable powers though. Even Dracula becomes a piece of cake with the right equipment and glyphs.

These wounds, they will not heal!

There's almost a new year upon us! 2008 ended on a bit of a weird down note here, even though I got an awesome new girlfriend, who is awesome. I've achieved most of my newyear's resolutions for 2008 (going to the gym regularly and keeping in shape, working hard on new comic projects), and have already formulated the ones for 2009. 1. Getting my working rhythm back (I've been slacking off the past half year) 2. Developing a lasting relationship with my girlfriend 3. Producing something radically hot and then going on a big adventure in America selling it (that's crazy, I know it, gonna do it anyway. It has to be done)

THIS. What is it from?

Good luck in the hospital, Spazz Nightingale! And merry merries to everyone! /throws snowball

Exciting, fun podcast, this one! Jake being tired to the point of death added to it, because I was tired as well. There seemed to be a more than usual amount of comraderie, which lead to some truly hilarious bits

Hi, Could someone please tell me where the fuck I can see the God Damned Spike channel, or if it even IS an internet tv channel, because their site has been designed by Satan. Also, tips on how to kill every single one of Spike's webdesigners and/or employees. Regards, Roderick

Has anyone ever heard of this game by Lucasarts called Grim Fandango? It came out in 1998.