tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86087482024-02-28T19:29:57.554+11:00Counting Everything"Everything Counts" is a motto about learning in unschooling families.
Here is some of the everything for "Cricket", "Fish" and I ("Mum").moonflowerdragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732125574025543300noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-37686766486057347452014-11-13T14:59:00.000+11:002015-03-22T00:56:01.649+11:00Portal 2: Part 1 - single playerFirst thing I want to say about this game is that this game is fricking AWESOME.<span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>I completed Portal <span style="font-size: medium;">2</span> in about 14 hours. That does include finding and completeing all Singleplayer achievements.<br />
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I found every puzzle GREATLY enjoyable. No matter how easy or hard.<br />
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I had 107s of fun getting to the end of a puzzle using the wide variety of tools around the map including: <br />
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<li> Spiralling tractor beams pick up objects (or you) that touch them, and move you along the beam backwards or forwards depending on the colour of the beam blue or orange;</li>
<li>Laser beams which can be used to destroy hostile turrets, shoot into switchs similar to using a box on a button but instead it can only be done by a laser;</li>
<li>Sunlight bridges which allow you to walk on pretty much anything heh pretty 1337 ehh?</li>
<li>Repulsive gel which can be spread around the test room and used to jump higher when you land on it you will go higher depending on how high you jumped onto the gel from;</li>
<li>Acceleration gel which can also be spread around the test room and when walked on greatly increases walk speed;</li>
<li>Portal gel which can also spread around the test room and be used to place portals on surfaces the gel has hit.</li>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">G</span>raphics. Not the best Graphics I have seen for a game in 2011 but definently enough for me to stop somtimes and just look around the map<br />
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Here is a GameSpot video review VIA youtube:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fqrhQWb-12g" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<br />Skullzyzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09457460439952205449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-32130956610710416802013-12-18T14:33:00.001+11:002015-03-22T00:56:01.646+11:00Mass Effect 2 ReviewShooting people in the face, Punching people in the face, Pushing people out windows, talking with people about their feelings -.- Mass Effect 2 has all of this and more.<br />
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I enjoyed the multiple conversation reply options with alot of the different answers depending on the situation of the conversation deciding weither you get paragon= good or renegade= evil points or deciding weither you enter a battle or not.<br />
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There is plenty of different classes to choose from each with unique abilitys.<br />
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There is plenty of different conversation options and classes to choose from to give the game a large amount of replayability.<br />
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Mass Effect 2 is filled with sidestorys, sidemissions to complete and plenty of planets to explore to give plenty of extra gametime and interesting characters to meet.<br />
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Remember to be careful with your conversation options because just 1 conversation can be the difference between a crew member hating you or a crew member being loyal to you and increasing the strength of their combat abilitys.<br />
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It is very important to remember to talk to your crew members because they can give you missions which can improve crew loyalty to you, get more xp, explore more of the map and the overall story of the game.<br />
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I greatly enjoyed the length of this game It took about 15-20 hours to complete on LOWEST difficulty and that is without completeing all the side content: missions, planets, sidestorys. etc..<br />
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Mass Effect is totally worth your money that you pay on steam which is 19.99 USD or 39.99 USD for the digital deluxe editionSkullzyzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09457460439952205449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-48265731029889732052013-11-25T13:54:00.001+11:002015-03-22T00:56:01.658+11:00Fish pancakes *does not contain fish*.<br />
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<b>I</b>ngredients.</div>
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1 cup of plain flour.</div>
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1 cup of milk.</div>
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3 tsp of caster sugar.</div>
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1 egg.</div>
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Margarine.</div>
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Cinnamon sugar *optional*.</div>
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Tools.</div>
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<b>Frying pan.</b></div>
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<b>whisk.</b></div>
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<b>bowl.</b></div>
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<b>P</b>ut the Flour, caster sugar, egg, and milk in a bowl and start whisking until most of the lumps of flour are gone. </div>
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<b>B</b>ring frying pan to high heat.</div>
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<b>A</b>dd margarine to pan and melt.</div>
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<b>O</b>nce melted Pour pancake mix until there is a circle just under half the pan and let the mix spread to the edge.</div>
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<b>O</b>nce its started to cook occasionly lightly shake the pan to keep it from sticking or burning.</div>
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<b>K</b>eep it on that side until holes start to appear on the uncooked side then flip it.</div>
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<b>C</b>ook until golden on both sides.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">*Unfortunately I was not able to get photos of the stages because of lighting issues*</span></div>
Skullzyzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09457460439952205449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-79819808321870386032011-11-30T16:05:00.011+11:002015-03-22T00:56:01.684+11:00Convincing mum I need Assassin's Creed Revelations<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iwvQTpLjeq0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Showed this video to mum earlier now time to convince her to get it:D wish me luck.... i'm gonna need it only got 18ish hours left if I want the bonus content.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0dv4ggAxb1M" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Despite what this guy says about the Den Defence, and although I have not personally played Revelations, from what I have heard apparently you play a high ranking assassin and command other assassins and the assassins have always been attacked by the templars so it makes sense that they would occasionally attack and I don't see why it shouldn't have been added into the game. Maybe because I don't mind tower defence gameplay.<br />
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Can anyone help me convince mum? Comment below please. <br />
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Thanks Ibrahim. and JayNSai.Skullzyzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09457460439952205449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-47586932844906126762011-06-30T21:51:00.005+10:002015-03-22T00:56:01.655+11:00Brink<div class="kwout" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/116/1167285p1.html"><img alt="http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/116/1167285p1.html" src="http://kwout.com/cutout/w/5y/zk/nif_bor.jpg" height="301" style="border: none;" title="Brink Review - PC Review at IGN" width="484" /></a><br />
<div style="margin-top: 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/116/1167285p1.html">Brink Review - PC Review at IGN</a> via <a href="http://kwout.com/quote/w5yzknif">kwout</a></div>
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Brink is exactly what the name says - on the brink of being a great game. A good game, shows a lot of potential, not quite reaching fantastic.<br />
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This time I'm not going to write about the game, I agree with Peter Eykemans at IGN:<br />
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<div class="kwout" style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/116/1167285p1.html" src="http://kwout.com/cutout/6/es/vq/s2u_bor.jpg" height="116" style="border: none;" title="Brink Review - PC Review at IGN" usemap="#map_6esvqs2u" width="474" /><map id="map_6esvqs2u" name="map_6esvqs2u"><area alt="" coords="169,6,209,24" href="http://pc.ign.com/objects/143/14349120.html" shape="rect"></area></map><br />
<div style="margin-top: 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/116/1167285p1.html">Brink PC Review by Peter Eykemans at IGN</a> via <a href="http://kwout.com/quote/6esvqs2u">kwout</a></div>
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I went to find about Brink because my Steam buddies were playing it, and comments like this:<br />
<blockquote>
"one shining aspect is SMART (Smooth Movement Across Random Terrain). Using SMART, holding a single button lets you navigate up walls, over obstacles, and through the game world. Depending on your body size, you can do more or less with movement, but overall this finesse is fantastic. Nothing in Brink feels quite as good as sliding under gunfire into someone, taking them out with a shotgun."</blockquote>
made it sound interesting.<br />
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Some other reviews complained that NPCs were poorly programmed, either weak (no challenge) or overpowered or without a good backstory of their own. The strength imbalance things must have been fixed before I got the game, but the lack of individual stories for characters remained. I'd also been warned about lag - but that also seemed to have been resolved before I tried it out.<br />
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I would have liked more rewards to earn, and challenges specific to weapons to unlock attachments for those weapons.<br />
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The story was very novel for me - my brief synopses interested my mum, and we would like to have seen the story go further. In Red Dead Redemption they revealed the story slowly, enticingly, while you played; but in Brink they threw most of it at you in the lead-in trailer. There were interesting story developments from the different campaigns but I want to find out where the story can go.<br />
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I had 24 hours of game play before getting bored. <br />
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If there is to be a 'next', for me to play it, it needs to go "beyond the brink": A story off the Ark; another playing mode like 'capture the flag' or team death match - something to mix it up a little bit; perhaps some more interesting and more even weapons.Skullzyzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09457460439952205449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-74493096155226686452011-05-12T21:04:00.012+10:002015-03-22T00:56:01.679+11:00Mount and Blade: Warband<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmqHPYBY7yCcqBYHbsnWRsXF-TCZ-hZfR2iov9-k5Wtkhn6V8YEht8YV2T21cR_rwXFNZ68XkYLI235XJgV1diY9SNB6-1FfoI8MpYbQudgsTQR6na-8LbxCu5taxLmfw3_JF/s1600/spearedwrist.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmqHPYBY7yCcqBYHbsnWRsXF-TCZ-hZfR2iov9-k5Wtkhn6V8YEht8YV2T21cR_rwXFNZ68XkYLI235XJgV1diY9SNB6-1FfoI8MpYbQudgsTQR6na-8LbxCu5taxLmfw3_JF/s320/spearedwrist.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608845305090230418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There is plenty of hours of play to be found in this game and a massive amount of replayability.<br /><br />There is a great variety of weapons ranging from:<ul><li>Daggers</li><li>Spears</li><li>Swords</li><li>Axes</li><li>Crossbows</li><li>Bows</li><li>Polearms</li><li>Staves.</li></ul>I extremely enjoyed how open worlded this game is the freedom you get.<br />The range of roles you can play in this game each affecting the world around you in different ways:<br /><ul><li>A Bandit: raiding villages and caravans and sneaking into forts to sell your goods. But remember the more bad things you do the lower your reputation (honour, trust) gets with villages and nations.<br /></li><li>A Trader: looking at the stock exchange in different towns and then buying,transporting, and selling your goods at different towns for the most profit.</li><li>A Lord: recruiting and training great armies, joining a nation and invading your enemies to become owner of villages, forts and even cities.</li><li>Or combining all 3 into a combination of awsomeness.</li></ul>Great thing about this game is that even if you decide to play like one of these 3 you aren't stuck with playing that you can always start training your units for sieging purposes or start trading or start being a meany and stealing from the poor - developing your character.<br /><br />I had a great deal of fun improving my reputation with Lords and Villages over the land to the point where they would follow me into combat against my enemys and to the point were they would support me in gaining land<br /><br />There is a good range of Battle scenarios:<br /><ul><li>Defending a village that is under attack;</li><li>Sneaking into a fortress to rescue random lords;</li><li>Fighting on an open battlefield with each battlefield being near unique depending where it is on the world map;</li><li>Invading a fort where you either have to climb ladders to enter the fort and fight on the walls until you have destroyed their forces. or have your soldiers push a large seige wagon which plants a walk bridge for you and your troops to use once it gets close enough to the walls.</li><li>And defending a fort which is pretty much the same as above but instead you are the ones on the walls and they are the ones pushing the seige wagon or climbing the ladders.</li></ul>The graphics were ok for a game back in 2009 but definitely not the best from the year.<br /><br />I was often encountering glitches with the world map after I left a town but this did not ruin the game for me just made it a bit annoying.<br /><br />I definitely think that this game is worth the 30 dollars at Steam, even for the one play through.Skullzyzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09457460439952205449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-40655161869750258332011-04-21T02:34:00.037+10:002015-03-22T00:56:01.652+11:00Brutal legend<span style="font-weight: bold;">Gameplay</span>.<br />One great feature in Brütal Legend is that at the end of every mission you are given the chance to go and upgrade or explore the world or do sidemissions before the next part of the main mission no matter how storyline vital that mission is.<br /><br />You have 2 weapons: your Axe of Pure Awesomeness, and your Guitar. The Guitar can be used to hit the enemy with lightning or shoot an enemy into the air with a firebomb detonating from under them. You can also use the Guitar to summon your car, melt the faces of your enemy within range that have faces and don't have face protection, make a rally point which automatically orders new troops to come to that location in Stage battle (more information on stage battle further down), and much much more.<br /><br />Your axe is your main damage dealer and is for close quarter fighting, whereas your guitar is mid-long range attacking and also stuns the targeted enemy for about half a second-1 second if used enough on the target.<br /><br />There is plenty of after game completion stuff to do. For example:<br /><br /><ul><li>You can go around the world looking for serpent statues. 10 serpent statues will give you a stats bonus like: health increase, health regeneration increase, guitar strings cooling down quicker.</li><li> Looking for Ormagoden Orbs which reveal more story behind ormagoden God Of Metal.</li><li> And many other statues/relics you can find</li></ul><br />There are also plenty of side missions to do: ambushes on enemy, riding the Death Rack to rain death upon your enemy, races, helping cannon targeting, and the occasional unique sidequest. You can only do each sidemission once but they are there for the entire game even if you decide not to do it when it first becomes available to you.<br /><br />Another great feature is that while you are driving between missions or exploring or just running over random animals for fun and to see some guts/blood (this can be turned off in the games settings in the options menu) you can listen to different metal/rock songs that you unlock through finding statues and progressing through the game.<br /><br />There are multiple animals for you to stun and then mount. Mounts can be used to travel or fight with instead of using your car; although when you use animals as a mount you don't get to use your music player until you use your car again. There are still random songs in certain areas so you don’t have to worry about having nothing to listen to while riding a mount other than your car.<br /><br />And if you are bored of playing by yourself beating up defenceless animals (or bored of getting beaten up by animals) you can go to online mode and play stage battles.<br /><br />In stage battles you spawn and command your troops from the ground or from the sky. You can fight with your troops, upgrade your stage to unlock new units or upgrade certain units. In the game mode you use fan tribute as a resource. You can gain fan tribute by making a merch booth on a fan geyser. And then build an awesome army of Metal and Rock and then march on to destroy the enemy's stage.<br /><br />Stage battles can be played against the computer or against real players. You also get to play stage battles throughout the campaign.<br /><br />There are 3 different teams you can play as: the Iron Heades, the Coil, and the Black Tear.<br />The Iron Heades being variously deformed humanoids you play as through the campaign; the coil being demons, and the Black Tear being undead people who fell to the sadness of the black tear in the Black Tear Rebellion years ago.<br /><br />The Coil specialize in strong units but fewer units;<br />The Black Tear specialize in large amounts of units and are great against infantry;<br />The Iron Heades are a mix of both: able to amass a fair few troops and still able to do good amount of damage.<br /><br />My preference is the Iron Heades - mainly because I got to know them throughout the campaign and developed strategies.<br /><br />One other type of relic that you can find and then pull out of the ground is a vehicle entrance which you can enter and it will automatically take you to the underworld. The underworld is where the titans are and where you can upgrade or paint your car, get new guitar strings (each with different unique powers) or generally upgrade your guitar, upgrade your Axe of Awesomeness, and also buy rock statues of the different people who are in the campaign. While in the underworld you meet Ozzy Osbourne who gives you your upgrades, and makes jokes. I on occasion went in and out of the underworld to see if he would make new jokes.<br /><br />You can team up with your troops in stage battle mode unlocking a special ability while you are teamed with them.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Graphics</span>. The graphics are pretty good. Extremely smooth graphics for a game in 2009.<br /><br />Throughout the game I don’t remember ever seeing any glitches or faults in the graphics.<br /><br />Awesome particle effects when using abilities such as: guitar lightning, firebomb, facemelter, car weapons.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Story</span>.<br />The game starts off as you: Eddie Riggs, a roadie for a rockband, sent into the past into a world of rock and metal music. Where he meets the group Iron Heades and begins helping them to liberate their people from the rule of Lyonwhite.<br /><br />There is a lot more to the story but I doubt I can say more without releasing spoilers.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cQo2kf4Y4hQ" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="640"></iframe>Skullzyzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09457460439952205449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-88460114359117875222010-12-20T14:53:00.000+11:002010-12-20T14:53:47.432+11:00Mathematics = discovery of truths through play?Today, thanks to Pamela at Always Learning, who linked to Robert Krulwich's <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2010/12/16/132050207/this-is-for-the-i-hate-math-crowd-not-after-this-you-won-t#more">I Hate Math! (Not After This, You Won't)</a>, here is a snippet of an idea that mathematics is about expressing truths within patterns discovered through playing with ideas.<br /><br />I wish to share this video with my boys - and as neither are beside me right now, I wonder if I have this blog linked to my facebook?<br /><br /><object height="390" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/heKK95DAKms&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/heKK95DAKms&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="390" width="640"></embed></object>moonflowerdragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732125574025543300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-82156286100072786892010-11-06T14:14:00.008+11:002015-03-22T00:56:01.687+11:00Halo Reach review<span style="font-size:130%;">G</span>raphics. I really liked the graphics very detailed with the grass and trees I also liked the water detail they did the graphics for explosions and flames very well.<br />They did the jet pack visual effects very well I didn't see any glitches with it.<br /><br />The assassination effects looked really cool instead of it being just whack them with weapon you actually pull out a knife and stab them in the back.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">G</span>ameplay. I liked the variety in weaponry and vehicles.<br /><br />Plenty of armor power ups like the jet pack,armor lock which pretty much makes a unbreakable shield around you that can only be destroyed by being run over by a car or vehicle,bubble shield which makes a bubble that lasts a few seconds and is able to sustain much damage before being deactivating,evade which allows you to roll out of the way of grenades,missiles and enemy vehicles,also there is sprint which allows you to run much faster than normal great for swapping cover,active camouflage which makes you invisible when you are standing still or walking slow running will make you more visible to enemy's and the same with shooting your weapon, and my favourite a hologram which you can active and make it run to a certain spot very good for trying to flank the enemy.<br /><br />I liked in the campaign they introduced new armor ability's slowly and weapons so you wouldn't rush through them all.<br /><br />I really liked being able to buy and customize my character with the different colours and armour.<br /><br />I also liked that the hostiles weren't to easy to deal with and took some planning to deal with.<br /><br />I got between 1-3 hours of game play with each mission.<br /><br />Another cool thing was the forge mode being able to create buildings statues hidden caves and more.<br /><br />I am glad they made it so you cant dual wield in halo reach to keep it in line with halo combat evolved.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">S</span>toryline.<br />I really liked how they connect halo reach to halo combat evolved the original by explaining why they were looking for the weapon in halo combat evolved and how they knew about it.<br />Also how they explained how cortanna was in halo combat evolved.<br />I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.Skullzyzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09457460439952205449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-55095010749606696262010-11-06T12:53:00.020+11:002015-03-22T00:56:01.661+11:00Fable 3 review: ehhhh<span style="font-size:130%;">G</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">raphics</span>. I was a little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">disappointed</span> in the graphics they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">didn't</span> change <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">alot</span> from the fable 2 graphics.<br />I saw a few bugs where the hair would stick out of someones hat or helmet and then go back in.<br /><br />I was a disappointed with the loading screens a bit disgusting and weird I preferred it when it had the area as the loading screen like in fable 2.<br /><br />When digging in fable 3 I would have preferred it if the dirt graphics were a bit better and actually being able to see the dirt on the spade instead of just digging up nothingness and then have dirt appear out of nowhere and then disappear when it gets to the ground<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">G</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ame</span> play. I would have preferred a larger variety of enemy's.<br />again like in fable 2 it was a bit too easy for my liking and mostly the same reasoning with the death system.<br /><br />I wasn't to fond of the changes they made to the experience system and the range of ability's completely changed it instead of having your 4 experience groups will,skill,strength and your normal experience they replaced it with guild seals and you use guild seals to get expressions, level up jobs and get new spells.<br /><br />The weapon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">evolvement</span> was pretty cool made the weapons a bit more exciting instead of the same thing through out the game.<br /><br />I would have preferred it if there was a bit more king options I think they really rushed the king stage of the game.<br /><br />There is a lot of quests to do although they are mostly easily finished in a few minutes.<br />The real estate was pretty cool fun to do was pretty easy to maintain because you could just have a look at all the houses and buy adjust prices from your map in the sanctuary<br />the real estate was a bit harder than in fable 2 which I was happy with because the reason it was harder is because you actually had to be playing to get gold from it unlike in fable 2 where you could buy some houses then not play for a week or so play again and have a few million gold in your bags also when you buy houses in fable 3 you need to check up on your houses time to time and repair them.<br /><br />There was a fair few finishing kill moves for example jumping off hands and snapping neck with knees or parrying then slashing them with sword or the classic turning head into pancake with hammer.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">S</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">toryline</span>/<span style="font-size:130%;">S</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">poiler</span> alert<br />The idea of having to build an army to overthrow your brother the king I liked but I would have preferred it to go a bit longer than only half the game<br /><br />I didn't like the final half of the game you have to fight this enemy called the darkness with only a small story behind it and that is that it attacked Aurora and it wants to kill everyone in Albion<br />so you have to save up 6.5million to get proper defences for your people.<br /><br />I think that the darkness was a bit pointless and instead after overthrowing your brother it should have been a bit more focused on the kingdoms economy.<br />Although I was glad there was a finally boss fight<br />I gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update: pc version</span><br /><br />I got the Fable 3 PC Version a few days ago and to be honest there wasn't really any improvement in the game except for the smoother graphics.<br /><br />Also I found I could hear the sound effects better in the pc version. When I played the xbox I couldn't hear the voices through the sound effects and music. This could be because I was using a headset for the PC. But I did not have any on the xbox so I had to keep the volume loooooowwwwwwwwwwwww.<br /><br />The aiming for weapons was a bit easier in Fable 3 PC but that's mainly because I am use to pc games.Skullzyzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09457460439952205449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-69809108494011786372010-10-22T11:34:00.004+11:002015-03-22T00:56:01.670+11:00Red Dead RedemptionOne of the things I liked about the was that the storyline wasn't quick. I hate it when games are short and completeable in 1 day.<br />
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The story was interesting I havent quite seen a storyline like that before at first you have to find one of your old workmates/friend and arrest him because of the crimes he has commited and take him to the government<br />
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One of the things I am looking for in a game is to be able to finish it and then still want to finish it again and i didn't quite find that in red dead redemption<br />
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****SPOILER ALERT****<br />
I was a bit disapointed at the end at bit to easy and it felt like I was in the starting spot again<br />
I also didnt like it how the that you played characters changed I found the new character AKA your son to be a bit more rude he speaks a bit ruder to the animals you skin and mount unlike your first character who trys to comfort the mountSkullzyzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09457460439952205449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-63522633976054235792010-10-19T23:28:00.013+11:002015-03-22T00:56:01.667+11:00Fable 2 reviewI've completed it 3 times and all 3 profiles are rich and own most of the properties and are all masters of melee and 2 are masters of all 3 skills and I still like to play it.<br /><br />First time took me a few weeks although I was still learning. Second time through it took I think 1 weeks and then third time around 2-3 days without intense playing.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gameplay</span></span><br />Plenty of hours of gameplay; plenty of abilities to learn; so much to find in the game.<br />Storyline was okay; the game was a bit easy although unlike in Fable 1 in which if you die in the middle of a mission without a res potion you have to restart, in Fable 2 if you die in the middle of a mission without a res potion you only get a scar and lose all exp that is on the ground and then you can get right back up and keep fighting.<br />I found the ending cutscene a bit too longSkullzyzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09457460439952205449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-23869719393525935782010-07-01T23:59:00.018+10:002011-12-24T01:22:51.439+11:00GUK / Tacoma-Vancouver<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/6558762491/" title="Cat waiting by moonflowerdragon, on Flickr"><img alt="Cat waiting" height="375" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6558762491_b70ae174d0.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Thursday: Sadly, Uncle Karel's illness was playing up again, so we had a relaxing morning at the hotel until Julie was able to pick us up to take us around for another delightful chat at Karel's. <br />
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Julie and I shopped and I was thrilled at the low cost berries and nuts for our trip. After another beautiful meal, Julie took us to the station. The Amtrak Cascades continued to provide a comfortable train trip to Vancouver. Black top cab disappointed to have short fare to YWCA. So tired we went to bed without showers.moonflowerdragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732125574025543300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-37719331167609155592010-06-30T21:57:00.036+10:002011-12-23T22:01:40.196+11:00Albany-Tacoma / GUKPrevious posts on trip: <a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/america-here-we-come-playing-kenken.html">Departure</a>...<a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/america-here-we-are.html">Arrival</a>...<a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/good-morning-oregon-portland-corvallis.html">Day 2</a> ... <a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/snow-kangaroo-and-frogs.html">Day 3</a> ... <a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/horses-wine-and-bicycles.html">Day 4 </a>... <a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/oregon-coast.html">Day 5</a> ...<br />
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Wednesday:<br />
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After another delicious and delightfully presented breakfast (Ursula sets a high standard for hospitality which would be heaps of fun to try to return)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/5270492669/" title="Breakfast at Ursula's by moonflowerdragon, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast at Ursula's" height="375" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5001/5270492669_054b56be3f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
with a special treat courtesy of Stephen:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/5271101500/" title="Breakfast by moonflowerdragon, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast" height="375" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5083/5271101500_577b2b4628.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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we were sad to say goodbye to Ursula who graciously drove us to Albany to catch the Amtrak to Tacoma. <br />
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We were very impressed with the uniformed guard and the business class service on Amtrak Cascades.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/5270495673/" title="Rice for lunch on Amtrak Cascades by moonflowerdragon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5290/5270495673_754260db00.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Rice for lunch on Amtrak Cascades"></a><br />
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While the boys enjoyed the supplied power for their digital devices: Kakuro were my entertainment:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/5271105216/" title="Another Kakuro solved by moonflowerdragon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5169/5271105216_cd58bc324f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Another Kakuro solved"></a><br />
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Uncle Karel picked us up at the station in Tacoma, showed us his work and introduced us to colleagues. Had a lovely chat while he drove us to check in at a hotel that appears to provide a beautiful accommodation (which struck me to be similar to Australia's Best Western and favoured of the military), and then to his home. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/5271105930/" title="GUKs apartment building by moonflowerdragon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5089/5271105930_cc7c3fd340.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="GUKs apartment building"></a><br />
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Julie made lovely meal of cold meat subs with beautiful salads. Uncle Karel drove us to hotel and we agreed to meet for breakfast.moonflowerdragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732125574025543300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-23126884847575598482010-06-29T21:55:00.029+10:002011-12-23T21:38:43.689+11:00Oregon coastPrevious posts on trip: <a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/america-here-we-come-playing-kenken.html">Departure</a>...<a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/america-here-we-are.html">Arrival</a>...<a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/good-morning-oregon-portland-corvallis.html">Day 2</a> ... <a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/snow-kangaroo-and-frogs.html">Day 3</a> ... <a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/horses-wine-and-bicycles.html">Day 4 </a><br />
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Tuesday: to the coast: Sean took us tidepooling, so we saw anemone, starfish, rockfish babies, seals. <br />
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Ran out of breath climbing up through Hobbit Walk, so stopped to photograph funghi.<br />
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Visited sealion caves<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/5270955968/" title="Seal colony by moonflowerdragon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5169/5270955968_5ec0b4767a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Seal colony"></a><br />
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then an insect-eating plant. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/5270349825/" title="Darlingtonia by moonflowerdragon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5049/5270349825_b23ea4294c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Darlingtonia"></a><br />
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Climbed sanddunes while Sean shopped at his favourite coin collection store. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/5270350547/" title="Yes, our feet touch earth by moonflowerdragon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5005/5270350547_337deb4481.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Yes, our feet touch earth"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/5270351143/" title="Ant on ...what flower is this? by moonflowerdragon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5010/5270351143_09e22d49a1.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Ant on ...what flower is this?"></a><br />
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Into Florence<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/5270352203/" title="underbridge by moonflowerdragon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5125/5270352203_fef9d08940.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="underbridge"></a><br />
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Tea at Waterfront Depot <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/5270960954/" title="Waterfront Depot by moonflowerdragon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5165/5270960954_5cdaa4c6fe.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Waterfront Depot"></a><br />
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where I tried crab-encrusted halibut which Ursula said was disappointingly unlike the first she'd had there. The Calamari fingers were okay, but I forgot to salt them, and they were served with a tomato based sauce! Pomegranate cocktail was lovely. Boys had icecream from BJ's but after receiving a taste (the store offers) Ursula and I were unimpressed and avoided it. Regret to admit I slept much of the way back in the car.moonflowerdragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732125574025543300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-75137744394722596732010-06-28T21:54:00.017+10:002011-12-23T21:14:17.062+11:00Horses, wine and bicyclesPrevious posts on trip: <a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/america-here-we-come-playing-kenken.html">Departure</a>...<a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/america-here-we-are.html">Arrival</a>...<a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/good-morning-oregon-portland-corvallis.html">Day 2</a> ... <a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/snow-kangaroo-and-frogs.html">Day 3</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/sets/72157624418372323/">Trip Photos at Flickr</a><br />
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Today's:<br />
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Monday. The boys spent the day with Sean while I went with Ursula to observe her grad student's tests of horses. I was pleased to get a few cuddles, well... nuzzles. Not so pleased that night to realise I had let myself get sunburned. After observing the vet students Ursula and I went to Ankenny for winetasting and a spot of cheese (Ursula what was that cheese?) and crackers and grapes. Saw some birds, maybe osprey but only got photos of a fake one on a string.<br />
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After grocery shopping (I got to drive Ursula's cart back into store) and unpacking the boys played Bocce.<br />
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For tea: bbq, with grilled corn and a butter I squished together (didn't quite follow the recipe which I must get from Ursula), Chicken and garlic sausages, spicy coleslaw... (again must get recipe). Beautiful brownies for dessert.<br />
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Bicycles and Riskmoonflowerdragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732125574025543300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-92012512910978745662010-06-27T21:44:00.047+10:002011-12-23T21:13:58.050+11:00Snow kangaroo and frogsPrevious posts on trip: <a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/america-here-we-come-playing-kenken.html">Departure</a>...<a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/america-here-we-are.html">Arrival</a>...<a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/good-morning-oregon-portland-corvallis.html">Day 2</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/sets/72157624418372323/">Trip Photos at Flickr</a><br />
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Though awake at 8am, by end of beautiful breakfast: seeded pancakes (pikelets) syrup, blueberry jam, rockmelon, Indonesian tea: we had a late departure for the next tour Ursula had planned. <br />
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We saw two squirrels on the way out of town. Unfortunately I am making these notes in retrospect and have forgotten some details. We visited a lookout to Mt Washington; Suttle lake (apparently the Canadian goose and gosling are a common sight). Yummy memory = lunch: Ursula's beautiful turkey sandwiches with avocado, havarti cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise. Cherries. Nectarines, Chips, Ursula's mum's cake. Chips for the goose.<br />
Took photos of feet in the water.<br />
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Aargh! I have forgotten to charge the camera - :( So frustrating - now I see it would have been worth having a second battery. Silly silly. <br />
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Ursula wanted to show us the lava flows along a particular road - but that road was closed, so we ended up at ?was it? McArthur Ridge? - SNOW! - oh the conflict in my memory - excitement and joy about snow in summer - delight at just the right quantity: enough to make a snow kangaroo when challenged by Ursula and to have a snow ball fight with the boys; but also sympathy and guilt remembering Ursula silently struggling with her injured leg across the squelchy skiddy snow.<br />
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Drove back past ?- oh Ursula can you remind me of the name of the? Lake where we stopped to catch frogs. I caught two - ursula has photos. I'll post when I get copies.<br />
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We did end up seeing Lava flows and Ursula spotted one shaped like a squirrel.<br />
The hour getting on we again changed plans, this time for tea to Mexican in Sweet Home at Los Dos Amigos. Huge plates, Grilled chicken, beans and mixed vegetables.moonflowerdragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732125574025543300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-52961181460799004402010-06-26T22:13:00.042+10:002010-10-20T02:13:41.959+11:00Good morning Oregon: Portland / Corvallis<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/america-here-we-come-playing-kenken.html">1st post in trip diary</a><br />
<a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/america-here-we-are.html">2nd post</a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/sets/72157624418372323/">Trip Photos at Flickr</a> </div><br />
I woke at 3:54 and 8 am to an odd purring/flickering sound that may have been associated with the airconditioning from the next room - perhaps paper stuck in the vent. Unfortunately Fish had woken 5am and was not able to get back to sleep.<br />
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Breakfast was good: scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit, yoghurt.<br />
<div class="kwout" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/hotels/dining.jhtml?ctyhocn=PWMPAGI"><img alt="http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/hotels/dining.jhtml?ctyhocn=PWMPAGI" height="226" src="http://kwout.com/cutout/a/dm/z4/x5a_bor.jpg" style="border: medium none;" title="Hilton Garden Inn Portland Airport" width="227" /></a><br />
<div style="margin-top: 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/hotels/dining.jhtml?ctyhocn=PWMPAGI">Breakfast buffet at Hilton Garden Inn Portland Airport</a> via <a href="http://kwout.com/quote/admz4x5a">kwout</a></div></div>The lovely waitress kindly obtained tea for me, but the milk option (half and half) as on the plane was not very pleasant to me. Perhaps I should stick to herbal teas here.<br />
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We managed to be ready for when Ursula and Steven picked us up at hotel in a blue Prius. Apparently this was funny for the boys – something to do with jokes by Jeff Denham. <br />
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Steven drove us to Multnomah Falls. I will upload photos of the waterfall, wildflowers, highway restoration, railway line <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/archives/date-taken/2010/06/27/">at Flickr</a>.<br />
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<div class="kwout" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/tags/multnomah/"><img alt="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/tags/multnomah/" height="600" src="http://kwout.com/cutout/f/ei/3r/wdc_bor.jpg" style="border: medium none;" title="Flickr: Your stuff tagged with multnomah" width="450" /></a><br />
<div style="margin-top: 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/tags/multnomah/">Flickr: Your stuff tagged with multnomah</a> via <a href="http://kwout.com/quote/fei3rwdc">kwout</a></div></div><br />
Oh drat I haven’t yet taken a photo of those interesting train cargo trucks with central support rail – what do they normally transport? Then we stopped at Vista House which now provides a history of the building of (?Oregon’s first) highway. The attendant told us that this rest spot was an afterthought and they just went overboard: pink limestone walls, marble floor, busts of Indians as ?cornices (is that the word I mean?).<br />
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For a late lunch at Pappa Haydn's Fish and I had some fancy sort of Tuna Salad (yes I wish I remember what specific kind) in which nicely herb-crusted slices of half-cooked tuna sat atop a bed of avocado with lettuce dressed with vinaigrette on the side – I quite enjoyed it, Fish found it strange but did eat it all; followed by delicious lemon and blueberry cheesecake. Cricket enjoyed his hamburger.<br />
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We enjoyed exploring Powell's bookstore in Portland and although I wished I had my wishlist with me, I couldn’t have bought more: just not enough room in our bags. I kept looking at the residences in that part of Portland with almost everyone of them having steep steps to a verandah of some sort at the front door, often balconies. The steps reminded me of the "stoop" described in a book I read as a child, probably by Scholastic, I think was called <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/book/62845716">Amy and Laura</a>.<br />
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During the drive to Corvallis when we weren’t unfortunately falling asleep I noted varieties of homes I don't see in Australia.<br />
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After a tour of Ursula's lovely home and garden, and chat over gin and tonic, I tried a fresh cherry - yum. I’ve always disliked cherries – based on the nasty things in cans of tropical fruit salad and fruitcake. For tea: lasagna and salad: yum yum. Rhubarb and strawberry pie with cream and Rooibos red tea for dessert. Yum. Drambuie.<br />
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Such a long day – we are very grateful for such generously kind hospitality.moonflowerdragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732125574025543300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-55541485689862440142010-06-25T23:59:00.027+10:002010-10-20T01:11:00.191+11:00America, here we are<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://countingeverything.blogspot.com/2010/06/america-here-we-come-playing-kenken.html">1st post in trip diary</a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/sets/72157624418372323/">Trip Photos at Flickr</a> </div><br />
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We were very glad to arrive in LA. There was a longish wait at immigration, but finally our finger and thumbprints were taken, and there were no problem with ESTA visa waiver - we didn't even need the printout I had ready. We had no problem getting our bags thanks to Fish: Cricket and I were walking around not seeing Cricket's bag but it was the first one Fish had collected so Fish was looking for his own bag. It was a longer line at customs although when we got to the point, the actual procedure to get through was very quick. Turned on phones and found we had local services, thank you AAPT. <br />
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We asked a couple of people and found the domestic terminal (Alaska airlines) rather quickly and within walking distance. <a href="http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Alaska+Airlines+Unveils+Airport+of+the+Future+at+Los+Angeles...-a0111122001">Used a machine outside the terminal to get boarding passes and start checkin of bags</a> (feeling proud of myself for use of new-to-me technology). Completed checking inside then entered line for security passage to gates. Long line. We could have taken our little suitcases as well as our backpacks as carryon, saving $20 each but we knew this before we left and had brought toiletries which were not permitted in carryon. We were early for flight so after finding our gate we had tea at Burger King, having forgotten that American "large" meals would be too large. <br />
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During the flight I tried Gogo internet which was free on Alaska airline at the moment, and had no problem connecting, but I was too tired to think of what to write where and to whom. It was also the wrong time of day to communicate with anyone. <br />
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There was hardly anyone at airport in Portland when we arrived (11:30pm)ish, so we followed signs nervously to baggage claim, which was right near the exit and friendly staff helped us find the taxi rank, as Sarah had told us the hotel did not have a shuttle (perhaps she meant at that time of night). I wasn't sure the taxi driver had understood which hotel to take us to, but he got us to the right one and my first tip was incidental as the $20 bill I had was a good tip over the cost of the fare. <br />
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<div class="kwout" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=JJMTLPTVQDFEICSGBJF222Q?ctyhocn=PDXAHGI"><img alt="http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=JJMTLPTVQDFEICSGBJF222Q?ctyhocn=PDXAHGI" height="222" src="http://kwout.com/cutout/b/v5/98/pmv_bor.jpg" style="border: medium none;" title="Portland Hotels - Hilton Garden Inn Portland Airport Hotel, OR - Oregon" width="499" /></a><br />
<div style="margin-top: 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=JJMTLPTVQDFEICSGBJF222Q?ctyhocn=PDXAHGI">Portland Hotels - Hilton Garden Inn Portland Airport Hotel, OR - Oregon</a> via <a href="http://kwout.com/quote/bv598pmv">kwout</a></div></div>The night superintendent at Hilton Garden Inn Portland Airport was a welcome and sympathetic sight. There was some confusion over our rooms as he saw in the computer only a room with one bed and no spare, certainly not the connecting rooms Sarah had told us about. He changed our room, then when we arrived at it he rang through to apologise for the confusion as he had found another booking under Cricket's name. We ended up with a second room down the hall, a king bed for me and double each for the boys. My key wouldn't work and on the way down to sort that a staff member was on his way up with a letter of apology for the confusion and vouchers for complimentary breakfast. After showers, a quick email to Ursula as I had forgotten to send her a text about our safe arrival and it was now too late at night, we tried to sleep.moonflowerdragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732125574025543300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-1052465559055426742010-06-25T18:00:00.021+10:002010-08-02T14:06:54.193+10:00America, here we come (playing Kenken)This day was 34 hours long…(and this post has no photos, yet - but friends & family with Flickr accounts can see our departure photos in our Flickr <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonflowerdragon/sets/72157624418372323/">set for the trip</a>)<br />
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Up at 8am (Australian time), final packing, remembered I had not enrolled for course next semester, chatted with Ontario friend on MSN. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrGSZopkQOKXcYoJHEPcelTSdkR1Kh4dCIhnHw5Ixqiw1cnPAdNvPNWcjgZVFNZIWIML6iGJP8Aixjxr0Xx9xx-cNsEJnsYwlRvIDOqnk092Bp3k5v-UImqIecchT6DDSlKiTxA/s1600/145+Ballarat+Station+crop+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrGSZopkQOKXcYoJHEPcelTSdkR1Kh4dCIhnHw5Ixqiw1cnPAdNvPNWcjgZVFNZIWIML6iGJP8Aixjxr0Xx9xx-cNsEJnsYwlRvIDOqnk092Bp3k5v-UImqIecchT6DDSlKiTxA/s320/145+Ballarat+Station+crop+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Toni took us to the Ballarat Station to catch the <a href="http://www.airportshuttlebus.com.au/">Ballarat Airport Shuttlebus</a>, via <a href="http://www.ballaratbooks.com.au/index.htm">Ballarat Books</a> to pick up book for Cricket's course next semester. We were early to the station so we bought wedges and many packets of chewing gum at the cafeteria.<br />
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GUF called to check our departure time, and decided to meet us and wait with us even though we would be hanging around for three hours. Check in went smoothly although I felt a little nervous letting go of our bags which would be transferred to our international flights at Sydney. After a loo call we strolled to Subway for the boys' lunch, picked up Australian flags for Melissa’s children, then strolled back to McDonalds and caught GUF on the way - he knew where I would be.<br />
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Over lunch Cricket remembered he had not told Centrelink about his new <a href="http://www.ballarat.edu.au/programfinder/display.php?ID=1150">course</a> or going to US - okay we would phone it in. On our way to the gate looking for a quiet place to phone we spotted strudels, so GUF bought the boys donuts, and then we spotted phones and an internet kiosk.<br />
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Unfortunately the reception over the airport’s Telstra booth was lousy so we called home again via Cricket’s phone, and while Div sought the appropriate number for Youth Allowance at Centrelink for us, we bought internet time but that was incredibly slow and we forgot Cricket's password anyway. With the number from Div and a typical (yet to see how expensive) period on hold, we managed to give relevant information over phone. Also called AAPT to confirm global roaming would be on both phones.<br />
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Finally we strolled to Gate 1 and GUF waited with us till our flight. It was great to have his company. I began my pile of puzzles with <a href="http://www.kenken.com/">Kenken</a> - GUF helped me understand how they work. <br />
<script src="http://www.gmodules.com/ig/ifr?url=http://hosting.gmodules.com/ig/gadgets/file/110161288541501636141/kenken.xml&synd=open&w=300&h=410&title=Play+4x4+Kendoku+and+KenKen+Online&border=%23ffffff%7C3px%2C1px+solid+%23999999&output=js">
</script><br />
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We don’t recall anything about the domestic flight, but the transfer to international terminal was made easily with clear directions, streamlined check in and a shuttlebus. The international flight began well if a little cramped. There was a selection of free tv shows and movies, although I needed the attendant to press a few buttons to make mine work. Tea on the plane was ok. It was all but impossible to sleep. Long painful night. Trying not to think about return trip. Breakfast was not as nice as tea.<br />
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Was the 4x4 Kenken too easy for you? Try this one:<br />
<script src="http://www.gmodules.com/ig/ifr?url=http://hosting.gmodules.com/ig/gadgets/file/110161288541501636141/kenken6.xml&synd=open&w=300&h=480&title=Play+6x6+Kendoku+and+KenKen+Online&border=%23ffffff%7C3px%2C1px+solid+%23999999&output=js">
</script>moonflowerdragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732125574025543300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-43499873167360353092010-05-24T14:11:00.009+10:002015-03-22T00:53:08.597+11:00modernwarfare 2<h3>Gameplay</h3>. I liked the campaign a lot. its not entirely concentrated on the 1 character but instead you play as 3 different characters on different missions.<br />hours and hours of gameplay which is great if you like to stick to a game for as long as possible but dont want to be repeating it all the time.<br />I found multiplayer alot of fun funny killcams.<br /><br />this is just a small clip of me sniping on multiplayer<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RMbhM5PJ9yQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RMbhM5PJ9yQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><h3>Graphics.</h3> graphics were awsome very detailed.<br />Ive recently made a few videos on hiding spots for multiple maps on multiplayer I think there will be some links inside the video that I have placed above.<br />scenery is one of the most important things in multiplayer often people will prone in the bushes and be almost invisible in certain maps.Skullzyzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09457460439952205449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-66691550995888755082010-05-20T18:28:00.014+10:002015-03-22T00:53:08.629+11:00Just Cause 2Gameplay. A few of the things I liked to do is drag people from planes cars and helicopters.<br />Another fun thing is climbing buildings with a parachute and a grappling hook yeah I know: sounds ridiculous.<br />Another thing is driving my car over a cliff and watching the car spin around and around and around and then somehow survive the fall W.T.H.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4KXD5gQXUDY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4KXD5gQXUDY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />There is plenty of play time: it took me over 14 hours to just get 27% of the game done though painfully I cant finish the game because when I finish the second last mission the game quits on me and I can't make a new profile!!!<br />Plenty of achievements to work on.<br /><br />Graphics. Good detailed (realistic) graphics which is awesome: the scenic detail in the rocks, plants (shapes of trees), grass, roots, moving tree leaves.<br />Just Cause 2 has the best underwater graphics (again, the scenery: waving seaweed, starfish, shifting light patterns) I have seen though I haven't been underwater in many games. The character even appears wet when he comes out of the water.Skullzyzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09457460439952205449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-71133159301857212322010-05-04T12:48:00.014+10:002015-03-22T00:53:08.636+11:00War Rock vs Combat ArmsWhile I was loading War Rock I realised that it had the same HackShield as Combat Arms (mum these are both first person shooter games) and both have the problem with hackers. I found, last time I played Combat Arms, there were a lot less hackers than War Rock.<br /><br />The graphics for Combat Arms are better War Rock's, possibly because War Rock is older. By better I mean: I think the scenery in Combat Arms was maybe a little more detailed; but also the guns look better.<br /><br />CombatArms has a larger variety of game modes than War Rock. For example I loved quarantine mode. In this mode there is a maximum of 16 players on the server all on 1 team; there is a 20 second timer and once that timer gets to 0 a proportion of players will become zombies - and for up to the next 3 minutes the zombies try to convert everyone else that is trying to stay alive. How to stay alive? RUN... RUN...RUN. Or: have everyone team up in a room and just defend with mines, flamethrowers, machine guns, shotguns and sniper rifles. I say those weapons because they are the most effective. Or I've seen some people just blow themselves up with bombs - chickens.<br /><br />CombatArms has a larger variety of weapons that you can get without actually spending real life money. I liked the SCAR because it did good damage at short and medium range with good accuracy and the G36E which performs even better damage than the SCAR but can also scope and was a bit more accurate.<br /><br />Another good thing about CombatArms is that you dont have to pay for maps.Skullzyzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09457460439952205449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-42249110272986840622010-03-18T13:57:00.002+11:002010-03-18T13:58:11.145+11:00Interesting, cool, freaky, disgusting...Fish's reaction to Ben Hillman's <span style="font-style: italic;">How Weird Is It?</span><br /><br /><div class="kwout" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benhillmanbooks.com/howweird.html"><img src="http://kwout.com/cutout/7/x2/2b/qs2_bor.jpg" alt="http://www.benhillmanbooks.com/howweird.html" title="How Weird Is It? by Ben Hillman" width="514" height="297" style="border: none;" /></a><p style="margin-top: 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benhillmanbooks.com/howweird.html">How Weird Is It? by Ben Hillman</a> via <a href="http://kwout.com/quote/7x22bqs2">kwout</a></p></div>moonflowerdragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732125574025543300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608748.post-76907427159392807682009-07-12T18:27:00.001+10:002010-08-08T17:12:48.551+10:00Playful studyful Sunday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdkYFOYHAYCCMTHyeVQsKID6h0lt_oRzd5zfRL0a98XVF19pOrUKMQhbUyZkfjEigiersrnhwSAS-D1EYZbKQ-KuVHqU_GnEaD-b5SW-9G2GuViU-JfWBos79289pLSNSr8T-Xw/s1600-h/Combat+Arms.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349738171723567826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdkYFOYHAYCCMTHyeVQsKID6h0lt_oRzd5zfRL0a98XVF19pOrUKMQhbUyZkfjEigiersrnhwSAS-D1EYZbKQ-KuVHqU_GnEaD-b5SW-9G2GuViU-JfWBos79289pLSNSr8T-Xw/s200/Combat+Arms.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 124px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9cOCqNT8f0P3eO2rpDk8M9KT2MVUIEcBN6k1YPjuNkqh7yxlHGE2oLDdO_sfW129p6VAp_So0xgPVMc-R-lThMayCqvmVFMIBzMKDOtoeuy-oXngwk3drDmRHEPhVBG9T_kLeg/s1600-h/EBL+interface+showing+Australian+Sign+Language.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349738309402704322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9cOCqNT8f0P3eO2rpDk8M9KT2MVUIEcBN6k1YPjuNkqh7yxlHGE2oLDdO_sfW129p6VAp_So0xgPVMc-R-lThMayCqvmVFMIBzMKDOtoeuy-oXngwk3drDmRHEPhVBG9T_kLeg/s200/EBL+interface+showing+Australian+Sign+Language.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 122px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4bq6WRpInT80SNlqUl9QkTv00Tw99YzwWcfsW3LcAfoW7bX_ZykOsORPMCr9U8rYUHfGZQ0o_VdQJPKLlz2lgx1MZ-2pfIfJ7Wb4oxiytR-XbH0OPT-tWpmfnby-GFCESN09vw/s1600-h/SP32-20090621-211100.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349738541983569234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4bq6WRpInT80SNlqUl9QkTv00Tw99YzwWcfsW3LcAfoW7bX_ZykOsORPMCr9U8rYUHfGZQ0o_VdQJPKLlz2lgx1MZ-2pfIfJ7Wb4oxiytR-XbH0OPT-tWpmfnby-GFCESN09vw/s200/SP32-20090621-211100.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 118px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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As I lean back from studying <span style="font-style: italic;">Australian Sign Language: an introduction to sign language linguistics</span> courtesy of UB's ebook service from Ebook Library, I noticed that the scene at our computers is not as "same everyday" as I had recently begun to imagine. <br />
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When I shared my thoughts with the boys they pointed out that it isn't unusual really, we each have a huge variety of occupations at the computers and away from them. Tonight it just happens to be that Fish is playing <span style="font-style: italic;">Combat Arms</span> and Cricket: <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek Legacy</span>, although since I began posting Fish has moved on to <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek Legacy</span> and Cricket to watching <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek Voyager</span> on DVD.<br />
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Earlier today I practiced at the violin, entered dockets into our budget, posted notes about my last placement shift to the unit's Blackboard discussion forum; Cricket bought new bowling shoes and practiced at TenPin thanks to his aunt playing chauffeur; Fish played with his cousin, the kitten and a double handful of internet games.moonflowerdragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732125574025543300noreply@blogger.com