Have a Happy Thanksgiving

What more needs said? :)

Computer Games and Pop Culture References

I don't know when or why it first happened, but computer role-playing games (especially the online variety) have been getting more and more "in" jokes added to them. Generally, I find them good for a chuckle or a quick groan (depending on quality), but I ran across one in my current "main" game, Tabula Rasa, that had me laughing outright.

Tabula Rasa is a "military" game, and, at a major base, that means PA announcements, among other things. The announcements here cover a broad range, from bureaucratic to wry to downright funny, but the best was from a Captain Koons, voiced in the style of Christopher Walken, saying he had somebody's watch, and that they could claim it at the infirmary... a reference to the Pulp Fiction "watch" segment. Sorry I can't give you the exact text, but I was laughing too hard to remember it exactly.

A Few Good Things

Nothing here worth its own post, but...

• Back last April, I made a post complaining about the billboard-truck I ran across... looks like I didn't get the full effect, because, at night, the truck would light its signs. How do I know this? Turns out the State Patrol finally got wind of that thing, and let the public know (through the local paper) that lighted signs on moving vehicles are illegal (with an exception for taxis), and there is some question about whether signs that change while a vehicle is in motion are legal, too. Hopefully, that monstrosity will be gone soon. I'd link to the story in the paper, but, well, the site requires registration, which I object to on general principles.
• Just saw Beowulf, and I really liked it. The standard warning about license being taken with the story applies, but... the big change I saw worked well, and made a great deal of sense when trying to combine the Grendel/Grendel's Mom part and the eventual dragonslaying bit late in Beowulf's life. I hear it's even better in IMAX 3D, but our local IMAX is too old for that tech... pity.
• Before Beowulf, of course, came trailers... and I just saw my first glimpse of the upcoming Sweeney Todd movie. I'm a fan of the musical... and I will be seeing this movie when it comes out. I'd say it was pretty, but that's not exactly right... the bits I saw were very... gray... but looked to be in keeping with the story (for those of you that don't know the story, Google it up... good, clean, wholesome fun! ;)
  

And now, for our next "lesser" holiday...

...it's Veteran's Day. Mind you, I don't mean to slight the holiday with that "lesser" tag, but what was intended to be a "thank you" to those who defended our country, sometimes against real threats, well... now, you're in a fortunate minority if you get the (observed) day off. Beyond that, it's become little more than a marketing opportunity for retailers... and even that's getting brushed aside in the rush to start the Christmas Shopping Season. Depressing, disturbing, disgusting... I'm not sure which one wins out here, but, on the whole, it ain't good.

Remember, remember, the 5th of November...

Yep, it's Guy Fawkes day... no, I'm not British. However, it is just the sort of "dangerous" holiday that should be kept in mind these days, I'm thinking... and what better way than to track down a copy of "V for Vendetta" for some entertainment, hey? Looks like Netflix doesn't have it available for online viewing yet (more's the pity), so I'll have a bit of a search ahead of me, short of heading to the store and buying a copy.