Happy 20th Birthday NES!

There's a great feature on the 20th Anniversary of the NES on Gamespot.

http://www.gamespot.com/features/6144735/index.html

The 40+ minute video is long, but if you were an NES kid, then you will love it. I don't want to ruin it for some people, so you just gotta watch the video.

The article is great too, especially the interview with one of the Game Counselors.

How the video game industry has changed...

domino harvey rental = 40.70$

guess I should've bought the movie hunh? So, ~8:30pm, I get bored, decide to stroll over to the dollar machine to rent DOMINO since I see its available online. I figure, if its good, I'll keep it overnight and return it tomorrow. Watch if half-assed, mildly entertaining, watch the documentary about the real Domino which was a lot more interesting and realize this isn't worth more than a buck. Head out the door, return the dvd, come back home... uh oh... NO KEYS! Second time this is week. Unfortunately my spares are with someone who's out of town! Buzz the lady downstairs - she doesn't have a spare (no surprise). Call my landlord, dude lives in South Shore so I tell him I'll meet him there. Halfway to a taxi stand I realize that my spare car key is at a 'becca's. Get there, nobody home. Damnit. Next door lady should have a copy, denies having one. ARG. So I jumped into a taxi. 26.00$ after I get to the SS, meet up, and get my keys (including a key I never had) Of course, I get to bus terminal and I don't have enough change. Damnit! I run over to the Burger King nearby and get a junior whopper 1.99+tx=2.30$ Run around trying to figure out which bus goes where, ask someone and there it is, the 45 bus to downtown 3.25$ Now I'm downtown, but fed up and want to get home. I get out of the Bell building and in front there's a taxi. 8.00$ Finally home, (1am) Aki greets me like he just woke up. And to think I was worried he would miss me.

I HATE self locking doors!

oh don't forget. The actual rental fee: 1.15$ for the less than 6 hours I had it.

the weakest link.

people. No matter how complex codes and security systems get, its pretty funny how vulnerable a site can become through one compromised person. Some folks managed to get away with 40Million pounds in Britain on Wednesday. The premise sounds somewhat similar to that horrendously titled "Firewall" (as far as I could gather from the stupid trailer)

I'm surprised the manager was allowed to live, let alone the family. From what I've read, it does seem that the faces of the robbers were seen - why let them go? Not to be sadistic, but if I robbed that much money, I wouldn't leave a trail for anyone to pick up on...

and back to the weak link we go. Crime pays - as long as you don't tell anyone what you did. If you can't keep your mouth shut, how can you expect anyone else to?

I thought there were bigger hockey nerds here.

Canada stunk.
-there. said it.

smelly towels

I just did my hot hot water wash with mr.smelly towel. I have this one particular towel that always stinks - no matter what I do, the towel attracts smellyness. Any of you have this problem? None of my other towels have this towel and this isn't even my fluffiest one...

ps. woohoo Cindy Klassen & Groves are 1+2 in the 1500! woooooooooooooooooooo

what the f???

The canadian women lost the curling semi-final to switzerland... the last two shots from the Canadians both slid straight through the rings... ??? What in the world was that???

Professional Athletes at the olympics

Its funny how when I say it, I instantly have the opinion that I am opposed to it. But if I spend a moment to think about it, I can't decide. If you look at the definition, a "professional" is usually an athlete who earns their living through their sport - and because of that we are to deny them a spot in the most internationally reaching venue of their sport?

I suppose my opinion stems from hearing stories from some very talented triathletes I have met who became professional (or not). Many of them did have careers, school but also wanted to devote time into their sport due to opportunity. What kid doesn't dream of being in the olympics? Just because they choose to become professional, who are we to deny them the olympics? In Tri, most athletes are probably making less than most of us in tech. Look at the Hawaii ironman - the grand prize is 100,000$usd. Factor in flying all over the world for races, physio, doctors, family expenses and its not that much. In these winter games, you don't think these not-so-common-not-very-glamorous sports afford the athletes rich lifetstyles? Seriously - I'm sure they travel to colder climates to train year round, they have to be away from family, (at national training centers etc.) and friends, and have coaching fees, medical bills etc. The olympics are their ticket to corporate sponsorship and a decent living.

Principally I think the NHL is a joke as I've noted before. Basketball, baseball, etc. as well. I don't agree that players deserve 10million dollars salary. But what about the not so well known ones? The ones who make an honest 5 figure salary? Who don't have corporate sponsorship or their face on a cereal box? Don't they deserve a chance? And so what if the guy makes 10million bucks; if someone is truly talented, chances of them being recruited young is pretty high - they should still have the chance at a medal.

Here's another angle: what about rich kids? There are those who can afford the best coaching, the best equipment, etc. (let's not mention the Canadian traitor who switched to Australia and won gold in ski acrobatics) They may not be pros but they certainly have an edge on the others...

I guess my point is that its easy to point fingers and say the NHL corrupts the nature of the games but the truth is who are we if we don't recognize the best? There's a fine line between an amateur an professional - most don't stay "amateurs" because it becomes too easy. Whats the point if there's no competition? Regardless of what they're making or doing (in the public-eye) they should be allowed to show off to the world what they can do.

What are we telling kids if we say "you can be a hockey player if that's your dream" but you have to choose between going to the olympics and having a boring day job you will hate, or making money doing what you love in a no-name hockey league or the NHL.

When did I become a hockey fan?

Seriously.
Yesterday I found myself glued in front of the tv with friends watching the horrendous Canada-Finland match where we lost 2-0. I was falling asleep, wasn't particularly comfortable, yet I had to see it to the end with some kind of desperate hope that Canada would catch up. They were far from it. I personally don't think much of the NHL, and I think that these "superteams" of NHL players is ridiculous. They SUCK. I'm not really hopeful for their other games.

By the time some of you read this, Team Canada will have hopefully won the women's gold medal in hockey. Its funny, yet sad how Canada is so dominant in this category. I always find it amazing how the women outnumber the men almost 10 to 1 in our tri club, but when it comes to racing season, we're probably about equal. Is it really the testosterone? Do women not have that competitive drive in sports? Its pretty sad if North America is the only place with equal opportunities for women in sports.

And whats with not starting Kim St Pierre? I heard that the assistant coach is from the McGill Martlets, hmm? Not that she's a student anymore...

postnote: USA got bronze in hockey. darn.