http://www.hwan.com Hwan Hong's online journal/blog en-us http://www.hwan.com/?dt=2009/01/02 Yes, in the last minute throes of uncertainty, I went to Kitchener to hang out with Growl and company for New Year's Eve, thanks to an unsolicited last minute offer. The night was... largely, mostly, almost entirely uneventful. Drinks (SoCos) and shots (Jager bombs) were had. Photos were taken. Names were forgotten. Coats, mittens and scarves were lost. Words were slurred. Asses were slapped. Friends were reunited.The day following the only nearby place to eat was Tim Horton's, Waterloo otherwise a ghost town. Growl and I then played some eight hours of Mirror's Edge, that new first-person parkour platformer. I have to say, it looks downright gorgeous -- such a clean, simple designs and graphics, without any of that murkiness that seems so popular in games today. The game can be difficult at times but when you start getting the hang of wall-jumps and wall-running, well, it's an exhilarating, rewarding experience. The game as a tumbling/running/clambering-over-things works quite well. The combat however I don't care much for. It feels awkward and unnatural, particularly in contrast to the grace of the running parts. They should've just dropped the weapon firing altogether, keeping only the hand-to-hand for the player, such as the jump-drop-kick attack or the various disarms. Mirror's Edge's story is laughable, the script juvenile, and the action can be somewhat repetitive but otherwise the game as a whole is definitely worth trying. This is one of those games that you find yourself holding your breath or even kicking your feet as you will your character over chasms or across tiny ledges.Oh yes, I went to work today. Very quiet, perhaps the quietest day of the year. 2009! At least we're all getting older together. That is of some comfort. Fri_02_Jan_2009_19_50_00_EST_journal_mirrorsedge_newyears_kw_videogame_Yes_in_the_last_minute_throes_of_uncertainty_I_went_to_Kitche Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:50:00 -0500 http://www.hwan.com/?dt=2008/11/06 I had actually planned to spend a month or two watching (or trying to watch) a movie a day, but of course like most things I think might be fun to try, it never happened. Still, I did make some time on the weekend to watch The Deer Hunter. I liked it. I read that Christopher Walken went on a diet of rice, bananas and water to get as pale as he did. I did find the first act somewhat long to sit through, but then I can be impatient with weddings if I can't take part in the festivities. I suppose you could call The Deer Hunter a war movie, but in three acts it shows the before, the during and the after, and manages to transform the viewer as even we witness the characters transform, hollowed out by the trial of war. I found myself worrying about life and death all over again, that old bonnet of going away, the long goodbye to nowhere and nothing and life is nothing but a temporary illusion and when I go it is gone.Yes, I have been playing some more Fallout 3, but haven't these past couple days. Well, my gaming has turned to Team Fortress 2 again. It's just exhilarating to be part of a team, to work as one. Conversely, it's incredibly tiring and frustrating to be with a group of aimless fools, each interested only in killing and not the objectives. Such a rabble cannot stand against a force united.My fridge has stopped again! Wait.. hmm.. yup, it seems dead. I've had problems with it before, but I think it may be kaput now. And guess who recently went grocery shopping?? I've actually thought about not using my fridge anyway, and instead maybe have a cooler with ice or something like. Really, the only thing I like is cold juice and water. I can do without the other stuff, especially since I prefer eating out anyway, fridge or no.Oh yeah, WHOO GO OBAMA! That is like, wow man, that's super cool. On the other hand, I think it would be funny to have had Sarah Palin in office -- non-stop entertainment, of the shaking-head variety. But nay, things are so much brighter with Obama as President. This is like one of the first positive things I can feel about the US since.. well, for a very long time. Exciting!Also nice, the weather. Seriously lovely. I mean, yes, global warming and all that, but one can still enjoy the warmth while one can. Thu_06_Nov_2008_00_03_00_EST_journal_fallout_filmreview_thedeerhunter_refrigerator_usa_videogame_I_had_actually_planned_to_spend_a_month_or_two_watching_or_try Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:03:00 -0500 http://www.hwan.com/?dt=2008/12/29 Holy cow you mean to say that I haven't updated hwan.com in 11 days? Yikes. That is.. well, I am sorry. Not that sorry, but surprised certainly. Actually, I'm here to write about windows, er, Windows. In particular, reordering of items in the Start menu. For the longest time I would, when tidying up my Start programs, press really hard on the mouse button, sometimes getting the item to drag and sometimes not, not really knowing why it would or wouldn't work. Irrational I know, but it just felt that doing so would help. I finally figured it out just now -- if you drag a folder, you have to wait for Windows to expand it. Otherwise, the expand animation unsets the click and doesn't recognize that you are attempting a drag action.THIS IS STUPID!!! Oh WOW that bugs me ever so much. How did this possibly get past user testing? How is it that this has been this way since.. since dragging of expandable Start Menu items was allowed? Windows Explorer certainly doesn't act this way. I just realized.. WHY THE HECK DOES WINDOWS HAVE TO FADE MY BLOODY START MENU! It's the most used interface on my computer and I've been sitting around waiting for the damned thing to animate!? That's it, I'm turning that crap off right now. Hmm.. how do I remove the delay? Oh c'mon Windows, don't tell me you need time to render a few icons and text? Surely not! Hmmm.. oh I see. Apparently, Windows defaults the following registry key value to 400:My Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\MenuShowDelayWhich is the biggest piece of rubbish ever. Oh, I do shake my head so.I woke up at some fiendish hour today, maybe around 6 or 7 AM? Left work around 7 or 8? Playing StarCraft, yeah. Anyway, I can't concentrate on more than one thing right now, which probably explains why my gaming was so terrible. And a minute ago I was talking to my mom on the phone and I glanced at something on the screen and totally blanked out of the conversation. We were talking about my dad's birthday and I have NO recollection of what she said, oh dear.Hmm.. but my mental state did not deter me from dropping a bit of fun money on some Steam games -- Prince Of Persia, Mass Effect and Sid Meier's Pirates! Steam has a funtastic little special on everything right now, and what with the economy the way it is, I decided to do a little bit of extra saving. Before 2009. Not that I need a reason to be irrational.Christmas was alright, yeah. I spent it in Markham with the parents and sister. Ate a whole lot, stomach now on the flabtastic side. Came home Friday night, and spent much of the weekend playing the new Red Alert 3. Video games! Why aren't more people playing them? Shamus may know: Reset Button: Most Innovative Game of 2008. Mon_29_Dec_2008_23_47_00_EST_journal_christmas_rant_starcraft_videogame_windows_Holy_cow_you_mean_to_say_that_I_haven_t_updated_hwan_com_in_11 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:47:00 -0500 http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=2048 Need options to teach new gamers http_www_shamusyoung_com_twentysidedtale_p_2048 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:12:44 -0500 http://foryourentertainment.blogspot.com/2007/07/oh-my.html Hee Haw meets Cirque de Soleil http_foryourentertainment_blogspot_com_2007_07_oh_my_html Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:51:41 -0500 http://www.retroist.com/2008/12/17/the-video-game-systems-of-the-1983-sears-wishbook/ Vectrex, Gemini, Colecovision, Intellivision, Odyessy 2, Atari. Also: Return of the Jedi Toys and Merchandise from the 1983 Sears Wishbook. Via MeFi http_www_retroist_com_2008_12_17_the_video_game_systems_of_the_1983_sears_wishbook_ Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:29:16 -0500 http://www.hwan.com/?dt=2008/12/12&tm=1927 Tomer:Hey my first message from a ps3 using my new "Loft board" mini ps3 keyboard. dont forget to swish with apple cider vinegar if you feel a sore developing. and use green beaver toothpaste. Mon_22_Dec_2008_21_28_00_EST_comment_Hey_my_first_message_from_a_ps3_using_my_new_Loft_board_mini Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:28:00 -0500 http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/12/a_field_euide_to_the_complete.html Whoa to whoa http_nymag_com_daily_entertainment_2008_12_a_field_euide_to_the_complete_html Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:59:11 -0500 http://alanvalek.com/blog/2008/12/17/100-cereal-box-covers/ From All Stars to Wackies http_alanvalek_com_blog_2008_12_17_100_cereal_box_covers_ Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:51:03 -0500 http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090105/thompson/single Deep South shoots first. Via MeFi http_www_thenation_com_doc_20090105_thompson_single Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:51:03 -0500 http://www.wallstats.com/blog/389-years-ago/ ...the first slave ship lands in the American colonies. http_www_wallstats_com_blog_389_years_ago_ Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:51:03 -0500 http://www.hwan.com/?dt=2008/12/18 "Every time I have to remove my shoes at an airport it would be nice if there were a picture of Bush nearby to throw them at." -- twoleftfeetBeen watching and playing a lot of StarCraft lately. Yes you heard right. Watching videos on GOM TV has really opened up my mind to the complexities and intricate nature of the game. Well, of course it helps that the commentary is in English and reasonably entertaining in of itself. At work too the spirit of RTS is alive and well, with many people working to improve their skills. Certainly passions also run high, and can bring out the worst in us. Oh, how the tempers do flare! What is it about creating an army and watching it die that frustrates one so? And why do we keep playing when it happens? Such a struggle!I find the Canada Revenue Agency Charity site helpful in choosing where to send my donations. I'm thinking that I can judge them by how much of their revenue was spent on advertising. For example, the Canadian Wildlife Federation spent over $7.5 million (68% of their revenue) on advertising and promotion in 2007. The similarly named Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society spent a trim $94 thousand (3% of their revenue). Well, this is not my ONLY metric, but it does serve to give a little guidance here and there. Thu_18_Dec_2008_23_31_00_EST_journal_charity_starcraft_Every_time_I_have_to_remove_my_shoes_at_an_airport_it_would_be Thu, 18 Dec 2008 23:31:00 -0500 http://www.hp.com/retiree/history/founders/packard/11rules.html Think first of others, check first impressions http_www_hp_com_retiree_history_founders_packard_11rules_html Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:45:30 -0500 http://www.boingboing.net/2008/12/12/downwind-faster-than-1.html Which way does the big wheel turn? http_www_boingboing_net_2008_12_12_downwind_faster_than_1_html Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:45:30 -0500 http://flickr.com/photos/benpearce/sets/72157603362219168/ Prints from 80s media http_flickr_com_photos_benpearce_sets_72157603362219168_ Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:50:44 -0500 http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/12/12/1947251 Hard on specs, soft on deadlight or vice versa. Insulate them from bullshit. Geeks thrive on more information. http_ask_slashdot_org_article_pl_sid_08_12_12_1947251 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:34:37 -0500 http://betamaxmas.com/ Selection of 80s Christmas television, commercials http_betamaxmas_com_ Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:06:42 -0500 http://www.hwan.com/?dt=2008/12/12 Chemicals! They surround us and penetrate us. They bind the galaxy together. And once in a while I find out that it's the ones in my toothpaste that have been responsible for that strange film I sometimes find in my mouth. At least, I'm fairly certain that sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) is responsible for that. The wiki article also talks about it being responsible for increasing the frequency of canker sores, which as you know I love to hate. I've also noticed that my shampoo and dishwash soap contain SLS/SLES. Surrounds us indeed.The other chemical? His popular consumer form is Tylenol and the danger he poses is to the liver. More to the point, apparently alcohol and Acetaminophen work together as a double whammy. News to me, who has been prescribing tylenol and water after a night of heavy drinking. Yeah, oh my poor, poor liver. But no more! No, I've turned from this potentially harmful duo. Well, the tylenol half anyway.Finally on my list of things to mention, remember way back when I said it would be nice if the TTC used their GPS to let people know when the next car is coming? Well, apparently they were already thinking about it: Where's the Streetcar? Right there. And there. And there. Pretty sexy! Now, if only they would increase the actual number of vehicles out there. And lower their prices. And Febreezed the streetcars once in a while. But yeah, I'd settle for more frequent service. Fri_12_Dec_2008_19_27_00_EST_journal_sles_ttc_tylenol_Chemicals_They_surround_us_and_penetrate_us_They_bind_the_g Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:27:00 -0500 http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/12/11/korea/ A niche gaming community, slow to change, taking its adopted genres to the extreme http_www_rockpapershotgun_com_2008_12_11_korea_ Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:08:36 -0500 http://www.gomtv.net/ Korean StarCraft tournament replays, English commentary http_www_gomtv_net_ Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:08:36 -0500