messages for life
I need this printed on a t-shirt or something, since it seems to be my obligatory motto. :| My steri-strips are off now, incisions looking pretty good; I thought I was past it hurting (just uncomfy), but then today activity aggravated it I guess and I spent several hours unable to move much. They're still having to tweak my steroid dosage, as well, prior to even starting to wean me off it; so I'm having lots of fun alternating between being too tired to move and too anxious I can't focus. I do feel like . . . there's a weight that got lifted, and a few symptoms have improved already, but it's not magic and it won't be fast.
If we have a loose end of importance, please remind me. It probably would be from stress anyway, but my brain is still medically fried and I may have honestly forgotten. As I'm hopefully becoming able to do it, I know I need to re-prioritize a lot and just try to focus on the things that are most important. That's still a challenge now since I am not together and the list of things I CAN do versus the things I need or want to do doesn't match up well . . . but I will try and get life back on track.
Because my brother was at the GDC (Game Developer's Conference) last weekend, I got his extra swag, in the form of an advance copy of the new DS game Rhythm Heaven. Well, I only got around to playing it a day early, but since it launched on Sunday that means you can get it. It's technically a sequel to a Japan-only GBA game; apparently it was co-developed by the producer of Morning Musume . . . Anyhow consider it recommended, I think it's a real general-appeal game.
It's kind of hard to describe but basically it's a series of rhythm-based mini-games, which are unlocked consecutively. The games have a steep enough learning curve that you won't get it right the first time (well, I don't have a great sense of rhythm, as my DDR skills prove), but not so steep that you'll want to throw your DS at the wall. The control system is occasionally flaky (largely based around the idea of "flicking" the stylus), but overall very good. You have to get an "okay" ranking to unlock the next game; if you go back and get "superb" or "perfect" rankings, you earn medals you can use to unlock other features, like "rhythm toys"; I've only unlocked the first one, which is a business card you can rattle around. Yeah.
The game is VERY Japanese in a (somewhat) subtle way; fail at the assembly-line work? Your boss is disappointed in you. Don't hit your note in your singing trio at the right time? Get the ¬.¬ look from your fellow choristers (and a message that says "why is everyone mad at me? T_T"). Another game involves coordinated dance moves to support your favorite pop star. That's right, everyone, conformity is good; be A HAPPY COG DAMMIT.
Weird cultural subliminal messages aside, the game is definitely fun. But not a good choice for the subway probably since it is almost totally audio-reliant, and be prepared for at least some localization that involves really bad singing in English.
Your holiday-related link: spice up religions teaching with "fun visual representation(s) of each plague" . . .
From the guy who did the really cool Mario Kart video: "Best of Elevator".
You can also have an article about the pretty depressing "dark side" of Dubai but I doubt anyone will read that. Messed up, sci-fi dystopian stuff though. Too bad it's real.
*edit* And even now I remember things :P Thank you jedijenchan for the flowers, they're lovely (geh I forgot to take a photo earlier) and that was really sweet and thoughtful of you.