Sorry, but Canada has got you beat. Well, our east coast province of Newfoundland actually.
While it's home to the towns of Come-By-Chance, Woody Point and Blow Me Down (located off Conception Bay), the winner by far would be Dildo.
As per Wikipedia:
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Dildo has a fast-growing tourist industry, on account of the town's unusual name. Dildo offers picturesque scenery, several bed and breakfasts, eating establishments, the Dildo Museum interpretive centre, the Historic Dildo Days celebration in August.
Knowing Valve, surprises don't necessarily need to be new game releases. They've been very good about updating and adding new features to their older titles. After their recent porting of the Source engine to Macs, maybe they're planning something else in a similar vein. I'd bet at least one of the "big surprises" from Valve will be a new feature versus a new title.
That being said, it would be nice to see HL2 Ep3 sometime soon. If I recall correctly, there's usually been roughly a one and a half year wait between each episode, so we're well overdue now for the final instalment since it's been close to three years.
Quote from: marcusjm on October 12, 2009, 09:34:39 PM
Thanks both for comparisons. This also makes me wonder about one thing. Maybe there is a threshold where a game becomes too complex for any normal pc system to handle reasonably well?
Could it be that these games have taken on more than any coding team could possibly achieve within normal time frames? I don't know but it seems to me that any reasonable chance of accurately simulating modern warfare will require much more powerful computer/console systems.
Falcon 4.0, released over 10 years ago, pretty faithfully simulated a full out war. I can think of several other older titles as well that managed to do the same. While I don’t doubt it’s a difficult programming assignment, it certainly can and has been done. A lack of power with the hardware is not the limiting factor.
OFPDR is more polished, seems to run quite well and has decent graphics. It's not what I'd call a tactical simulation though, more action oriented then ARMA. It also has probably some of the worst enemy AI in recent memory. Many a mission I'll just stand behind the enemy and pick them off one by one. They won't even turn around to return fire. You can also see control and gameplay compromises that were made since it's also a console title.
ARMAII with the latest patch seems pretty stable. The graphics are better then OPFDR, but there's no system in existence that can actually handle max settings. AI is hit or miss, but certainly much better then OFPDR. It's much more of a sim, and when everything works it's brilliant. The problem is that quite often you'll break some piece of AI logic on a mission and everything comes to a grinding halt.
In short, I really hoped for more from both titles. OFPDR is alright and will work, ARMAII is moments of brilliance followed by utter frustration.
I'll probably join in once I get a little more practice time. Btw, what handling model is being used? The handling model changes vehicle grip, centre of gravity, etc., so it will really make a difference to lap times. A quick test run showed me only 2 seconds off your time on casual, and a full 12 seconds off on pro.
Sounds like it's just a phishing scheme, not a breach of MS databases. It sucks, but if true it's the result of careless users, not a breach at Microsoft which I'd find more worrying.
For anyone who's worried, post your e-mail address and password so I can see if it's on the list of hacked accounts.
According to Voodoo extreme, only $150 for the nightvision edition.
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Surprisingly, that ridiculous Modern Warfare 2 special edition, with the nightvision goggles, will only set you back $149.99 (Activision must have received a very nice bulk-buy discount from the manufacturers).
I'm thinking that for $70, these are going to be pretty craptastic goggles.
Well, if Lucas stays true to form, when he revisits a franchise each film is slightly better than the last. Of course after Indy 4 I'd be entertained by monkeys throwing poop at the screen.
That does seem like a pretty lenient sentence for DUI manslaughter, but I think there are some mitigating circumstances with the case. I recall reading that the victim was trying to get across a busy 40 MPH highway when he was struck and killed. If that were true, it could make it difficult for the prosecution to prove that the accident was even avoidable, regardless of the defendant's blood alcohol level. You'd need a good witness to show the accused was driving in a manner that was dangerous (10 MPH over doesn't cut it). If that is the case, the plea is more understandable. To his credit as well, Stallworth didn't flee the scene and never denied responsibility, which certainly doesn't make him a hero, but it's more than most celebs seem to do.
As for buying off the victim's family, I don't see how you've reached that conclusion. Your article simply states that the family reached a settlement without a lawsuit. I'm sure lawyers were involved and they received a fair compensation, so why should they have to go through the process of court proceedings if they don't want to? Imho it's a credit to them that they're not trying to seek "justice" by milking Stallworth for every penny he's worth.
For what it's worth, the PC versions suggested price is only $29 compared to $59 for consoles. MP would be nice, but at least they've priced it right for the difference.
Make sure compatability mode is off in IE8 (click on the picture of the broken page beside the refresh button) and everything should show correctly. If it's on, it will be borked like in IE6. Or just switch to Firefox.
I'm not buying this. ArmA1 was a mess, ArmA2 looks to continue the trend. There's a competitor to this type of game too, so it's not like we don't have a choice over a buggy mess.
Initial reports are that the beta patch has greatly improved the initial German release to a respectable state. Time will tell.
One copy of Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune up for grabs. Probably one of the first great PS3 exclusives, it was very well received by most reviewers.
Here are the rules:
1) This offer is for people interested in playing the game. Please don’t take it if you’re just planning on trading or selling it. 2) I’m shipping at my expense so you’ve got to live in North America. 3) You must have been a member of GT for at least the past 30 days with at least 30 posts to since joining. 4) You must agree that Ninjas are better than pirates in every single way. People who think otherwise are just plain stupid anyways. 5) First eligible poster gets the game.
For any Sherlock Holmes fans, you'll be either pleased or horrified to know that Will Ferrell is attached to another Sherlock Holmes project.
Yes, but you should mention that one is supposed to be a comedy. Sacha Baron Cohen as Holmes and Ferrell as Watson does sound nuts for a drama, but not a comedy.
I better run out and buy a copy of Battleship before they rerelease it with a movie tie-in box. I want people to know I bought the game because it was cool, and not because I just jumped on the movie bandwagon.
Meh. Makes it look like an action/comedy. Certainly not what I had in mind. Can't say I'm planning on seeing it at this point, will really depend on reviews.
While your job doesn't have to be your true calling, I'd hope it's at least something you enjoy. We spend so much of our life at work that you should have some fun while you’re there. Switching jobs during a recession might not be possible, but at least look around at what’s out there. See if there’s at least one career that sparks your interest that you hadn't thought of before. What are your hobbies? Is there some career that would involve something similar? While you have to be careful about making a hobby into a job (you don’t want work pressures to ruin the one thing you really enjoy), it can at least give you a good stepping off point.
I've been very fortunate in my policing career. I didn't know if I'd like it going in, but I knew I wanted to give the job a try. Now that I'm in, I'm hooked. I've worked office type jobs, and the repetition drove me nuts. I like being outside and all the variety and excitement that goes with my job. While I still enjoy days off and my personal hobbies, it’s also a great feeling being able to look forward to work.
Just be open and keep looking at what’s out there. You never know when or where a job opportunity may present itself.
While deciding on a gun, you might want to start shopping around for cheap ammo. You're going to burn through a lot of rounds when you first start between your training and the sheer fun/novelty factor. I have no idea where it's cheap to buy, but I seem to recall another thread recommending gun shows.
If you're not aware, ammo prices are currently through the roof. The ongoing fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan have created an increased demand, while metal prices have started going up due to increased demand for resources in China and elsewhere. It's making ammo more costly to produce at a time when quantities are reduced for civilians.
In Ontario all police are mandated to carry .40 sidearms. My department (and most) went with the Glock, but quite a few others went with the SIG. There are a few using the S&W as well. I've had opportunities to play around with all three. By far the gun that just felt the best in my hands was the SIG. Just something about the grip and feel that connected with me. I like it better then my Glock. The S&W was my least favourite, but I only got to fire a pair of mags with it.
As McNutt said, your best bet is to head down to a range and give all three a good workout. You'll know which one feels best, which is probably the most important factor. I know nothing about the HK, but I'm guessing all three of your choices are reliable weapons that would suit your needs.
Actually, I should also throw out a nomination for the Glock 22 which I carry at work; it's a very reliable low maintenance gun. Mine is constantly exposed to rain, snow and other elements, and has been frequently knocked, bumped and struck in the course of duty. Even with all the abuse, always fire perfectly and without issue whenever I've used it at the range, and that's before it gets stripped down and cleaned.
I personally have a hard time believing that an OS can be “unhackable”, but the Chinese government is known for its honesty. They wouldn’t lie so it must be true.
Quote from: Victoria Raverna on May 14, 2009, 06:17:13 AM
US and other "good guys" countries can't create 'unhackable OS', but China can because if the 'unhackable OS' is hackable then the designers/programmers will be executed.
I’m excited about the film, I thought the Road was an excellent story. It’s a very bittersweet tale in an extremely vivid setting. I’d also argue it’s one of McCarthy’s most readable works along with No Country for Old Men.
On my first read, I was under the impression it was a nuclear war. But you're quite right, the book is quite ambiguous.
From the book....
Spoiler for Hiden:
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The clocks stooped at 1:17. A long shear of light and then a series of low concussions. He got up and went to the window. What is it? she said. He didnt answer. He went into the bathroom and threw the lightswitch but the power was already gone. A dull rose glow in the windowglass. He dropped to one knee and raised the lever to stop the tub and then turned on both taps as far as they would go. She was standing in the doorway in her nightwear, clutching the jamb, cradling her belly in one hand. What is it? she said. What is happening? I dont know. Why are you taking a bath? I'm not.
Reading that passage gave me the impression of some kind of missile strike, and the instant power loss made me think nuclear. But most towns seem to be still intact (except for decay), and I don’t remember any worries about radiation and the like.
Quote from: DragonFyre on May 15, 2009, 02:01:28 PM
One of the key points of the book is that the father and son were never named - and I doubt they'd be willing to go the entire movie without giving them a name.
The current cast listing for the film simply has Viggo Mortensen as "The Man" and the actor playing his son as "The Boy". Considering the nature of the dialogue (mainly between father and son), I don't think it will be an issue not giving them names.
Woah dude. Never heard of spoilers? The thread is full of people who haven't seen the movie yet.
Spoilers added with apologies, but I thought the info I posted was pretty basic for a thread discussing the film.
Spoiler for Hiden:
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The Albanian gang that kidnaps young tourists before auctioning them off to Arab sheiks for sex?
You do realize shit like this actually happens right?
Young women being sold into the sex trade? Yes. Constantly by an orgnaized gang in a major western nation? No.
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Correctly identifying and locating the gang through a cell phone voice recording?
That didn't even take place, so dunno where this is coming from.
About 30 minutes in. His buddy Sam analyzes the recording Bryan made of Kim's call. He tells him which town they're from in Albania based on their accent, and that they're in Paris.
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Defeating wave after wave of trained fighter in effortless hand to hand combat?
There was never any 'wave after wave' scenarios in the entire movie. The most he faced at any one time was three. The rest of it was just a bunch of 1 vs 1s, and what makes you think a bunch of Albanian sex slavers are 'trained fighters'? The only truly trained fighter he seemed to face was the guy at the end, and that was a struggle in which he got pretty wounded.
They're described as being so bad that even the Russian mob steers clear. Even if they’re just regular bad guys, for him to effortlessly kill them all is still pretty impressive.
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French authorities looking the other way towards atrocities yet unable to apprehend the main character?
So were you even paying attention? The French authorities were looking the other way because they were being bribed. As for the 'unable to apprehend the main character', the only real chance they had was when he had set up the radio to the cell phone. The rest of the time he was off the net until near the end when he went to the 'desk job' guy's house. At that point he had dirt on the man, who wouldn't WANT him apprehended.
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I dunno. Half your criticisms come across like you didn't even watch the film Or maybe watched it but didn't pay any attention at all. Sure when you string the whole thing together it isn't a likely outcome, but the individual scenes were all workable within themselves. There was literally one scene in the entire movie where I thought 'yeah right' to myself. The rest was all doable stuff.
Yep I really was watching the film (which I own because I like it so much).
I'm not attacking the film. It's got great action, and it’s really fun to watch. My nitpicks about its realism aren’t negatives, I just disagree with the notion that it’s any different than a Bourne flick in terms of plausibility.
It was pretty realistic without any plot holes or major problems.
Which part of the film did you the most find realistic?
Spoiler for Hiden:
The Albanian gang that kidnaps young tourists before auctioning them off to Arab sheiks for sex?
Correctly identifying and locating the gang through a cell phone voice recording?
Defeating wave after wave of trained fighter in effortless hand to hand combat?
Precision stunt driving that includes tipping over barrels of gas to create walls of flame?
French authorities looking the other way towards atrocities yet unable to apprehend the main character?
To quote Ebert’s review:
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With this kind of intelligence, the CIA could be using bin Laden's Visa card in every ATM in Virginia. It's the set-up for a completely unbelievable action picture where Mills is given the opportunity to use one element of CIA spycraft after another, read his enemies' minds, eavesdrop on their telephones, spy on their meetings and, when necessary, defeat roomfuls of them in armed combat
Don’t get me wrong, the film is fun and exciting, and I highly recommend it. Realistic though? I only wish we had spies half as capable as this film makes them out to be.
The episode was one big sci-fi love fest. I love the fact that the whole plot revolves around the murder of a Rick Berman like character by Star Trek fans.
I know my service’s supplier has been diverting most of their production to US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, so shipments to Canada have been reduced and/or delayed. Fortunately we’re now getting enough training rounds to practice, but our actual duty ammo is apparently in short supply. Most years we fire off all our regular duty ammo at the range and load up with new ammo, but we’ve been asked to hold off on that for a bit this year. It’s not too critical (not like ammo will go bad in a year), but I worry about the possibility of chambering the same round too many times.
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Or maybe watched it but didn't pay any attention at all. Sure when you string the whole thing together it isn't a likely outcome, but the individual scenes were all workable within themselves. There was literally one scene in the entire movie where I thought 'yeah right' to myself. The rest was all doable stuff.
