I already have the M&M 6-pack, but I could never get it running in Windows XP/beyond.  Does GOG make them playable without having to jump through hoops on Win XP/Vista/7?

I'll be running around.  I have several meetings on Thursday with different publishers.  I might be at the Battleship: Galaxies event afterwards.

If you get the original Ticket to Ride, get the 1910 expansion right away.  It comes with normal-sized cards and more routes than what is in the original.  It is well worth the price.  I would stay away from Marklin until you have played Ticket to Ride for a while.  If you can get a hold of Switzerland or Nordic Countries, they are great for 2-3 player games, but very cutthroat.

I went ahead and put in spoiler tags into the post.

There are six full episodes available at tv.com right now:

http://www.tv.com/the-big-bang-theory/show/58056/videos.html?tag=vid_carousel;more

You could create a Shadow deck from the Tempest era, since Shadows can only be defended by other Shadows.  Mix in a couple of strong monsters and you could probably hold your own.

I'd be willing to take up reviewing all those wonderfull games though - just ship em to me ;-)

If you're really interested, send me a PM and show me what you got.

I was hoping the 50% extra trade-in bonus would be in effect.  Now I'm not sure if I should trade in my games or just wait.

Glad they renewed, even though I'm not enjoying season 3. I don't think splitting the storyline between the two worlds was a good idea. I feel the main storyline should be on our Earth.. and I find myself not caring when I see a whole episode set 'over there'. I'm wondering if there's some ulterior motive for the split this season. We don't see Peter now for episodes at a time. Olivia has been brainwashed to believe she's from over there and she's not as likeable nor as strong a character now. Oh well, I'm gonna slough thru this season and hope season 4 gets better.

My wife is in this camp.  She didn't like the Alternate Universe episodes at all.

I actually enjoy the episodes on alternate earth.  I think it's great that instead of having some nameless, faceless enemy that wants to do us harm for evil means, we're getting us...and by that I mean an earth filled with folks just trying to defend themselves from an enemy THEY think is just evil for evil's sake.

I'm more of this camp.  Though the best AU episode was the one with the guy who caused chaos with a pencil that didn't have anything to do with this universe.

At first I wasn't very impressed with Anna Torv because she seemed way too stiff and emotionless.  She has definitely gown into the role, and she has done a spectacular job with all of the roles she has had to play within the series.

I'm happy to hear that they renewed this for another season.  While I hope that it won't be the last, at least they can wrap things up if it is.

We need to purchase a new grill.  The one we have is about six years old, but in all honesty it probably should have been retired last year.

We are going to go with a gas grill, only because it takes a while for a charcoal one to warm up.  There is a local hardware place that has some Weber grills from last year on sale, and we are leaning towards one of those, but wanted to get some suggestions if there are other grills we should look at.

I think we are looking at about three burners and porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates.  We usually grill for ourselves, but we occasionally have others over and grill when they are around.

You're thinking of warp factor 10.

And then you devolve into weird lizard creatures?

Codes have been given away.

You can read some of my quick impressions here:

http://www.gamingtrend.com/Articles/articles.php?artID=627

I have five codes to give away.  Who wants them?

And more proof that it is truly fake:

http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/21/the-fake-doctors-notes-are-really-fake-fake-doctors-notes-or-something/

Breitbart was the one that started this flame on the doctors notes.

Their "proof" is that Breitbart recorded it, and therefore it's true?  LOL  That's paper thin.

So this guy here who is claiming he's a doctor, with his license # on the note, isn't really a doctor?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjFbMDp5Pg8&feature=player_embedded

BTW, nice link change there.  Also, your new article is trying to discredit the messenger, not the actual message.  According to the article you link to, he is an actual doctor.

Rachel Maddow did an interesting piece on Scott Walker's history of trying to break up unions.  Video is here.

-Autistic Angel

That video from Maddow has been debunked:

http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/feb/18/rachel-maddow/rachel-maddow-says-wisconsin-track-have-budget-sur/

Activision should just make a new Mechwarrior or Heavy Gear .

The rights for Battletech/MechWarrior seem to be with the original creator, but it doesn't seem like he might be quite ready to sell the rights again.  There was that video of a mech game over a year ago IIRC, but no news about it since.

Heavy Gear is a property of Dream Pod 9.  I don't believe that it would be difficult to get the rights to use it.

The thing is, mech games haven't been all that popular lately.  Front Mission Evolved got a tepid reception.  Chrome Hounds has shut down its servers.  It's been a while since we've had a good pure mech game.  It's kind of like space flight simulations like X-Wing, Wing Commander, and Freespace haven't been made recently.  I don't know if we'll see either of these genres make a come back any time soon.

I'll need some players on 360 who can beat me up.  I love fighting games, but I don't have a chance to know all of the characters.  Should be a great game.

Thanks for posting.  I have waited to pull the trigger on this one.  I finally decided to get it.

How come I thought when I clicked on this thread there was going to be a joke posted with a punchline at the end?

Just watched this last night.  I'm surprised that the buzz on this kind of died down quickly.

My wife and I thought the movie was good, but not "Best Picture" worthy.  Part of the problem was that the writing was just too clever for everyone involved.  I couldn't imagine the real conversations actually being said the way it was portrayed.

Also, none of the characters were likeable at the end of the movie.  The Winklevoss twins, Saverin, Zuckerberg...I just wanted the movie to end with all of them in the conference room with their lawyers and have a bomb explode killing all of them.  It would have been more fitting of an ending.

Considering this movie has been in the theater for over a month I think it's done moderately well.  It's not the huge blockbuster that I would have hoped for, but when I saw it at the IMAX 3D theater a week and a half ago, the entire theater was full.  I was happily surprised by that.

On the floor of the US House today, Congressman John Dingell ran through some selected quotes *just from the last year* from Republican candidates and major conservative media figures.

Quoting Sharron Angle: "People are looking towards the second amendment remedies and saying my goodness, what can we do to turn our country around."

Quoting Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN): "I want people in blank armed and dangerous on this issue [of the energy tax] because we need to fight back."

Quoting Glenn Beck: "I want to kill Charlie Rangel with a shovel."

Beck again: "Every night I get down on my knees and pray Dennis Kucinich will burst into flames."

Quoting Texas GOP candidate Stephen Broden: ''Our nation was founded on violence. The option is on the table. I don't think that we should ever remove anything from the table as it relates to our liberties and our freedoms.' '

Quoting Sarah Palin: "Don't retreat, reload."

Quoting would-be Alan West chief of staff and radio host Joyce Kaufman: "If ballots don't work, bullets will."

Would anyone argue that these comments are reasonable? Can someone provide quotes from Democratic candidates saying that if they don't win the election, bullets might be the solution. Or a major liberal media figure praying for the death of a Republican officeholder?

Oooooh.  You had to use a web site (http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/john-dingell-runs-through-litany-of-violent-rhetoric-on-house-floor-video.php) and cut and paste instead of doing research yourself.  Here are some quotes from John Dingell, who made the quotes:

"My old daddy used to say 'kill the closest snake first'."
"The consequences of the behavior of the BATF in these kinds of cases (events such as Waco) is that they are not trusted. They are detested, and I have described them properly as jackbooted American fascists."
"The harsh fact of the matter is, when you're going to pass legislation that will cover 300 American people in different ways it takes a long time to do the necessary administrative steps that have to be taken to put the legislation together to control the people."

Finally, there's no proof he listened to talk radio, on either side.  We do know he has some kind of altar in his back yard, he was anti-war, and atheist, and his reading materials included Mein Kampf and the Communist Manifesto.  Blaming this on political rhetoric is illogical.

....like this, for example.

Right off the top of my head, I can think of Rev Jeremiah Wright. You're not telling me that his rants diguised as preaches were not enormously inflammatory. And this racist, hate-monger had a big influence on our current president, no less.

What are some of the things Barack Obama has said or done that demonstrate the "racist, hate-mongering" influence of Reverent Jeremiah Wright?

-Autistic Angel

“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun." --Obama in Philadelphia
 "If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, 'We're gonna punish our enemies and we're gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us,' if they don't see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it's gonna be harder."  --Obama responding to criticism of him by Latinos.
"We don't mind the Republicans joining us. They can come for the ride, but they gotta sit in back."

If liberal media leaders and political leaders are making statements tinged with violent and eliminationist rhetoric as often as Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Mark Levine, et al, are, then it should be child's play to show evidence of it. Where are the equivalent statements from the Keith Olbmermanns, Al Frankens and Joe Bidens of the world, for instance?

Then you won't have a problem showing quotes either.  I've shown proof, now you give me yours.

Quick primer of liberal hate

Another moment of greatness in Philidelphia Eagles Fans Sportsmanship:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/11/another-proud-moment-for-philadelphia-sports-fans/

Philadelphia sports fans always claim they get a bad rap.  Sure, they can be boorish.  But so are fans in New York and Boston!

Eagles fans got so upset Sunday about their unfair stereotype that they had to take it out on something, like the car of a Packers fan.

A Wisconsin native that now works in Pennsylvania as a college professor attended the Eagles-Packers game with his father.  His Toyota Camry was “stomped on, kicked and beaten.”  Mirrors were broken, wipers torn out, and dents made on the hood, trunk, and roof.

“When I left Green Bay everyone said to be careful — the Philadelphia fans have a reputation,” Peter Coenen (the father) told the Morning Call of Lehigh Valley.  “My son had a Green Bay Packers shirt on. As we drove in, they gave us the finger.”

Oh, we didn’t realize the guy had a Packers shirt on.  Dude was asking for it.

I got this for review, and while I won't give anything away, I'll just give this as a hint:   

Michael Vick pulled a Brett Favre at the end.

True, but it doesn't help when you lose by 5 points after your kicker misses two field goals.

It doesn't help when a return team member is pushed into the ball and the refs call it for the kicking team.  It doesn't help when the QB fumbles the ball at the 24-yard line practically giving the other team a TD.  It doesn't help when the receiver drops the ball close to the end of the half on a sure touchdown pass....

There were a lot of factors, but the two missed FG's weren't the only factors.

I will say that the game was very sloppily officiated.  Some truly headscratching moments.

Michael Vick pulled a Brett Favre at the end.

Wade Phillips does not deserve a job in the NFL.  I knew that after watching him in Buffalo and relayed my experiences to all those Cowboy fans around me when he came to Texas.  Good luck, Houston.  You're going to need it.

I keep saying that about Mat Millen.  After his complete and utter destruction in Detroit, how in the blue blazes of hell does he have any job associated with the NFL, especially game commentary? 

You can't do much worse than Cris Collinsworth and Troy Aikman.

I got a Mr. Beer brewing kit for a Christmas gift.  I have been doing some reading up on home brewing and was wondering if anyone else does their own brewing.

Do you use your own recipies or the mixes?

Do you use soda bottles for the carbonation step?  Ever try mason jars?

I like imperial stouts most.  Are dark beers easy to do with this kit?

Any help would be appreciated.

Get Ticket to Ride with the USA 1910 expansion.  It's a lighter game, but it is a lot of fun and I enjoy playing it at any time.  It has cards, a board, and little trains of different colors.  Easy to learn and play.  Even my wife likes to play this game.

If you want something with more players, you could do Shadows over Camelot which can support 8 with the expansion.  It's a cooperative game, so it is a rather unique approach to board gaming.  While it is a fantasy theme, it is King Arthur which should make it a bit easier to swallow.

For Sale is an easy card game to get into that can handle more than four.  It has a bit of a trick-taking system, but it does give everyone a chance to win.

Kingsburg could be called Catan with dice.  Everyone has dice and they use those dice to get goods.  If someone puts their dice on a spot that you wanted, then you have to go to someplace else.  It does have a system that does give someone in last place the possibility to get caught up.

Yahtzee Free for All can handle six, but your options are limited as far as your choices for the dice rolls.  Plays a lot faster and is a lot of fun from what I played this past weekend.

I hesitate with Dominion because I have tried to get people to play it, but there doesn't seem to be the interest with non-gamers, although some have.  I have heard that when you get more than four it really drags, and even when there are 3 or 4 it can get bogged down depending on the number of players.

I wonder if Pete has recovered from the hangover he obviously has after that performance by the Eagles.

So what did NBC do for programming on Sunday night since they didn't have a football game to show?

On Ascension vs. Dominion (coming from someone who has played magic: the gathering competitively for ~ 10 years)

Ascension is a good game, don't get me wrong, but there's a definite power imbalance and luck factor to it. I've played about 30 games and found that it's very easy to teach, but there's not a lot of variety. Most games play out the same basic way and the strategy is very rigid. 95% of the time it makes more sense to buy a card in the center row than a mystic/militia, and there are certain cards (Arbiter of the Precipice: Draw 2 cards then banish any card from your hand) that if you get it at the start of the game and understand what that means and what to do with it, you've pretty much already won the damn game. I had one game where i had Arbiter and the guy that lets you copy any hero you've already played this turn, proceeded to whittle my deck down to a very lean 13 cards while my opponents all had like 40-50 cards, and I cycled through the entire deck every single turn, won by 30 or so points.

My other big beef with the game is that it doesn't feel as interactive as a game should be. When it's not your turn, there's only a few cards in the entire set that do anything to you, and you can't interrupt anything your opponent is doing.

Dominion OTOH seems to have a lot more variety -- even though I've only played 10-15 games of it. It does take a lot longer to set up. I only have the main game and Intrigue right now and finding the cards in my well sorted boxes where I've sleeved all the cards to keep them in pristine condition. I've got plans right after christmas to buy the three expansions I don't already have. There was one card that the owner of my LGS told me about that was extremely unbalanced - I believe it was Saboteur (one where you make all your opponents lose the next card in their deck costing 3 or more and then acquire something costing 3 or less) - we simply chose never to play with it; problem solved.

Both games are great choices, and ultimately I recommend getting both.

Thunderstone... in the one trial game I had at my LGS I didn't care for it so much. It was much more involved than Dominion with a lot of things that I didn't want to think about (equip axes to heroes, no they don't have enough light so they're fighting in the dark and will lose... what is going on???)  I'm sure it's better once you get a basic understanding of the game - but it's definitely harder to teach than Dominion/Ascension.

There is still a luck factor with Dominion, as far as which cards you draw for your hand.  Also, if you don't have any attack cards in your tableau, Dominion has very little interaction with other players.  I also don't like how there isn't any way to defend against attack cards if you don't have any kind of defense cards in the tableau.  I think that some of the issues that you have can be resolved easily with an expansion, something that Dominion has had four of.  Playing the original Dominion by itself has the same issues you have.  Also, just because a card shows up early in the tableau in one game doesn't mean that it will come up shortly thereafter.  I'm also surprised you were able to win Ascension with that few of cards in your deck unless you killed a lot of monsters.  I played with a friend and he had so many jewels he thought that he won, but once we included the cards in our deck, I had won by a few points.  Also, Ascension seems designed so that it does make sense to buy a card in the middle row if you have enough to do so, and the mystic/militia are there for the times when you can't.  If you couldn't do anything then your turn wouldn't be very much fun.  Dominion to me feels rather slow in comparison to Ascension.

Thunderstone does take more time, but it doesn't feel like the theme is pasted on like Dominion.  Every card has a useful purpose, instead of Dominon where you have the point cards that are just dead weight.  You might want to look at Heroes of Graxia, which seems like a nice mix between Thundrstone and Ascension.

Hey, Jeff Bridges was on Tonight Show yesterday. He's in the odd position of having two films (Tron on Dec. 17, and True Grit on Dec. 22) open within a week of each other. Bizarre, no?  

He talked a bit about the motion capture work to play the younger "evil" version of his character. An interesting thing he said was that the motion capture animators were trying to replicate his look in the 1984 film "Against All Odds" (w/ Rachel Ward and James Bridges, though it's maybe better known for Phil Collins' title track hit song), working off footage from it, rather than from the original Tron. Perhaps too much of the footage from the original film had funky lighting.

Maybe it was because he had a funky cap on for most of the movie.

It doesn't have AWD.  While we looked for one that had one, after looking it over and talking to some people, we felt that AWD wasn't worth it.  We haven't had it before so we thought we would be able to get by without it.  I doubt that we'd use it that often.

We have a 2010 Ford Edge with Sync and I haven't had any issues with it as far as voice recognition, and neither has my wife who drives it more.  The Bluetooth works pretty good, but occasionally it is hard to hear her.  The only "odd" thing about the Sync is that if she is using her iPod and she stops the car and restarts the car, the iPod only plays the song that it was on when the car stopped until she tells the Sync to play something else.  Not a huge deal and may be fixed by now but we haven't upgraded Sync since we've had it.

I don't care for Ascension nearly as much as Dominion.  It doesn't feel nearly as fine-tuned.  It's not a bad game, certainly, but it feels a bit rushed.

If you've ever played with someone who has Analysis Paralysis, you appreciate Ascension a bit more.  I also like the setup and tear down time is much faster.  I do like Dominion, and I haven't played with all of the sets, but I like how you don't have to worry about how many buys you have or actions you have.  You can lay down your cards and play them out pretty quickly.  Sometimes Dominion can be bogged down.  I've never had a game of Dominion last a half hour.  Usually it's been 45 minutes minimum.