No one will play this game!!!

OK, so I saw this post on Kotaku and while this isn't the first time I've seen a game like this pop up, it for whatever reason spurred me to post about it.

There are Sooo many shite WoW clones being made.... when will people learn. If you want to copy or emulate an existing game... you have to at the very least meet the same level of quality... the only quality these guys will see here is spelled kwality.

Just because a game is "free" absolutely does not mean people will be even remotely interested in playing it. It just lowers the entry bar. If you have a fun game, people will want to play it. They may even pay you for it! But come on, if you have a shitty game, people, (like me), will point and laugh at you. Time for these "me-too" development studios to get a clue. This is not exclusive to games by any means. It seems so obvious. Pixar did not invent 3D animation in film, they just did it better than anyone else. CNN did not invent TV or web news casting, they just packaged it better than anyone else had. World of Warcraft did not invent the fantasy MMO, they just did it better than everyone else. Quality, quality, quality. Not kwality. Quality is not cheap or free, nor should it be, but in my opinion it is always worth it.

That is all. *Steps carefully off of his soapbox and gets back to working on a quality game*

eco-zombierific

I went to Rainbow grocery, the vegetarian co-op near my work, to pick up some groceries for dinner and also to carb up for lunch today. Generally I like Rainbow; even though many of the customers are eccentric(to say the least), it's not as expensive or showy as Whole Foods, and duh, I'm the kind of person who chooses to live in San Francisco. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Rainbow, My gay Joe once challenged another coworker to see who could find the first woman wearing lipstick when they went there a few months ago. they both lost because neither could find a single one.
so... Rainbow. ah, Rainbow. Everybody was a total zombie in there today. The crowd that does their grocery shopping at 11:30 am on a friday is normally kind of on island time anyways, but seriously. By the time I had the third person slowly shuffle into my path while looking straight at me with unseeing eyes and stop directly in front of me while they appeared to contemplate the meaning of life, I wanted to say "Duuuude. you're like totally in my way. Can you, like, chill over by the organic vegan pastries please?"
humph. (makes grumpy old man face).
ohh! someone just stopped their car outside my apartment and is blasting thriller-era Michael Jackson! Yay! more updates later.

two things

okay, two funny things to blog about today. The first is that we went to eat Pho with a couple that we are friends with, and the guy at the restaurant asked if we minded sharing a big table and we said "no". then we get seated at a big round table (probably bid enough for 8-10 people) with another guy, who was there by himself. this is always a little awkward for me, partially because I always feel bad for people eating alone (I hate it myself) and partially because American culture doesn't often put strangers at the same table unless it is at a counter. So I said "hi" to the guy, and he said "hi" back, but he seemed to be all about the pho and not wanting to join our group so that was all good. we proceed to talk amongst ourselves like the guy wasn't there (nothing inappropriate mind you, just acted like we were at tables next to each other instead of at the same table). and at some point in the meal I told the other couple that next time we travel maybe they should join us and meet up on the road, and they said they probably can't because they will be busy. And then they tell us that she is pregnant (note that they did not say "we are pregnant", which is a phrase that I absolutely despise. no, you both are not pregnant. she is pregnant, you two are having a baby). anywoo... I kind of saw the guy next to us change posture or something but I ignored it because of a.) I was surprised at the pregnancy news and b.)Isaac literally did a spit take with his soup and said "what?!". But when I got home I realized how funny/weird this must have been for the poor dude sitting next to us- he's already eating at a table with strangers and now he's sitting there while big personal news is being revealed.


The second thing was that I was sitting in the living room a minute ago and looking at the box of butt rocks kitty litter we just bought and it just looked totally trippy and bizarre. Then I realized I was a little drunk on sake. but then I thought that the picture I took was kind of funny anyways so I wanted to post it. sorry if it's not funny to you sober people.

old emails

I'm putting together a book of old travel emails from my family and found this funny exchange between me and Isaac. It's old but I thought I'd share. BTW, at the time we were planning on making some sort of preserved octopus display like one we saw at Paxton's Gate.
Kerry: What do you think of the jar I'm watching on e-bay? There is no embossing except on the bottom!
Isaac: Pretty sweet! We would have to cover the top, but will probalby want to do that in any event anywho
BTW, do you have Micheal's phone number? The window people need it.
Kerry:I don't sorry.
The jar comes with a cover, right?
Isaac: it looked like it did
Kerry: then what chew talkn' bout?
Isaac: about obfuscating the top, so it doesn't looksie likes a cuuntry jar :)
Kerry: that's an old timey octopus jar and lid!!! those are very rare

We got the jar and now it's sitting under our kitchen sink.

The ol' Photoshoppe

When I was just a boy I remember Pappy taking me down to the Photoshoppe for some 5 cent filters. If I had been especially good he would ask Mr. Smith, the shopkeeper, to let me touch the gradients. "Don't tell grandma, this is our little secret" he'd say with a wink. Years later I was driving past where the Photoshoppe used to be, and there was a big Walmart there. I guess you can really never go home again.

quit complaining

I am skilled in illustration, photoshoppe, and fashion critique. You can judge for yourself. Except that there will be no judging of this blog! This is Craftyk-o-vision and you will like it!!!!!!!!!

shortpants

I hate when people dress as if the two halves of their body are going to completely different climates. Today I saw a woman wearing teeny tiny shorts (Not obscene butt-cheek showing pants, but almost). She was wearing cowboy boots with white knee socks,and..... a winter coat and scarf. WTF? I mean really. She looked crazy. We Live in SAN FRANCISCO and it is always CHILLY here. Even today, which was sunny and more of a light jacket day than a winter coat day, was not a teeny tiny shorts day. I would be a lot less judgmental about the entire outfit if she had committed to the costume and worn a little tank top and flip flops. Then I would have wondered how she wasn't cold, and maybe chalked it up to natural body temp or something. But the winter coat and scarf were a dead giveaway that she was freezing. and a whore.


I have included a image I photo shopped of the bikini girl from American Idol wearing ski pants (to show the reverse outfit) as well as a picture I drew of the girl I saw today. I did not have my camera with me. But, as you can see, I did have some free time today.

I love a nice orderly line

What is it about lines that makes me want to get in them? And is it just me? I was walking to the farmer's market for lunch today, itself an interesting experience. Example: a man was handing out free samples of peanut brittle and telling people "try some, it could be your last chance at happiness" and he was so earnest when he said it, like he really believed it, and there appeared to be no one selling any peanut brittle at the farmer's market today. So perhaps it was a misguided attempt at socialization, or an art project, and not a "sample" as I first assumed, but I digress.
anyway, I had to walk past the Orpheum theater and saw a small mob of people descending on the ticket booth. There were about 40 people already in line, with expectant, eager faces. And I tell you, I was almost drawn into that line. never mind that they mostly show musicales at that theater, and I hate musicales. In fact, there was a huge banner advertising "Wicked" above the door, which was probably the only thing that stopped me from queuing.
This isn't the first time either, one time I passed a Mexican bakery that had a huge line at the door (never mind that I hate Mexican baked goods), and I almost got in that line too. My fist thought was "what are they selling that everyone wants?" and my second thought was "there's something in there that everyone wants, thank god I happened by!" I still don't know what they were selling, and it haunts me. Why can't I just let other people have stuff I don't have? I don't know. It's probably the smug look on the faces of everyone in line, like they know that if I decide to get in line they will be way ahead of me.
It's probably a good thing I don't have kids. Which is really quiet an understatement, if you know me well at all. But one of the reasons is I know, I'm sure, I would be one of those moms lined up at Walmart on black Friday at 5am to get the tickle me Elmo. I would be the one you read about in the paper, trampling some poor worker while I fight over the last doll. Hands off, fuckers. That Elmo is mine!

Hands off ladies, he's all mine

Isaac just left for class complaining of a stomach ache. I was worried that maybe it was a wrong choice on my part to buy bento boxes for dinner (we were in a hurry). he assured me that no, the upset stomach was from lunch. He started out by saying, and these were his exact words: "I got an email from Armadillo Willie's, 'cause I sometimes eat there". What? I was too speechless to ask how on earth "Armadillo Willie's" got his email. but I digress. Anyways, he proceeds to tell me that they sent him a "delicious" looking photo of a chili cheese dog, which by his own admission is "dangerous" but is also something he hadn't had "in a really long time". sigh. He said by the last bite he felt like "ughhhhhhh". I told him I was going to post it on our blog and he was like "what?! Don't do that! I'm not proud of this" which made it even funnier, hence the post. I love you monkey.

Counting is hard Mr. Hat?!

Sorry for the title, I just had to get a little elbow jab in at Kerry for her five, er' seven things post :D

I tend to shy away from tag replies, predominantly after being burned from having been poked to do it so many times on DeviantArt, but alas, a request from Kat seems ever so hard to decline and Kerry already took the plunge, so what the hell right? This will probably be the most personal post of this kind that I've done.

One: I was raised in a Very religious household. In fact my father was a minister. I know have an incredible amount of guilt for trying to spread that religion as a child. I really do feel that I should have known better. Today I am an ardent Atheist. And while I don't hold it against my parents for having raised me in a religious household, I regret not having been raised with no religion.

Two: I am a classically trained violinist and have taught myself with the help of friends and family growing up to also sing, play guitar, electric bass, and enough piano to do a fair bit of midi work. I love to pick up or make new instruments and incorporate their unique textures into my art.

Three: I've always wanted to be a rock star and still wish I spent more time making music. Though since I've found other ways to create strong art, (photography, games, sculpture, etc.), my urge for that lifestyle has waned and I now just want to ensure I am in a life environment where I can continually create. Happily, I've been able to keep that a reality and see no reason for it to end.

Four: I started smoking at roughly fourteen years old and quit smoking on February 12th 2001. I am now more sensitive to smoke than anyone I know and have a hard time not lecturing and/or physically assaulting smokers as they pass by on a sidewalk.

Five: Six months after I quit smoking I had the wonderful and enlightening opportunity to hold a human lung riddled with a form of lung cancer and emphysema. It felt like a leaky latex sack full of golf balls. The memory doesn't haunt me in the slightest, but did help put things in perspective. I haven't smoked a cigarette since. I recommend it to everyone!

Six: I, (Kerry as well), have an extremely strong passion for travel that I hope is contagious. Kerry and I continually debate whether or not to put everything we have in storage and teach English and volunteer in a foreign third-world country for a few years. It still could very well happen at some point. Related to that, also regret not having learned more languages in my early youth.

Seven: Although I do feel somewhat guilty about it, I have to admit that I do look down on people who believe in the supernatural, including religion as being horribly mislead, and am confident that so long as we can survive as a species we will socially evolve past religion and the supernatural in anything past entertainment. I reject the notion that people require self-delusion and belief in figments of the imagination in order to have positive hope or reason for kindness, caring, or sympathy.

Well, that's it, time for some good times with Kerry and the now visiting LISA!!! So excited!

Okay Okay- 5 things (Kerry)

My friend Kat over at Kat's Meow (http://kathyahn.com/) recently challenged Isaac and me to write 5 things most people don't know about us on our blog. It's a kind of chain mail thing, where you do it and ask others to follow along after. I won't be asking others to do it, although of you are reading this and feel like taking the plunge go right ahead and let me know so I can check it out. I will let Isaac decide if he wants to post 5 things about himself, since this is a shared blog. And while I deeply admire Kat for being so open about her life that she posted 5 things that were very personal, I'm going to half ass it as usual. Oh shit, Isaac just reminded me it's 7 things. Fuck.
1. I started living on my own at 16 (that's personal and surprising, no?)
2. I grew up on a mini farm, where we raised/slaughtered our own chickens and had goats, ducks, and a horse.
3. To be honest, I never really wanted the horse or appreciated having one. I still feel ambivalent about horses. I don't dislike them. I did and do LOVE goats, however.
4.I have always wanted to see the pyramids of Egypt- I wanted to be an archeologist through most of my childhood. I know they won't live up to my expectations when I actually see them.
5.My first paying job was collecting night crawlers after the rains and selling them to a nearby bait shop (I was about 7).
6.I dated a 26 year old when I was 17 (tee hee).
7. ummm... I'm running out of facts about myself. I used to have my tongue pierced? yes that will do. no one else who went to college in the 90's had facial piercings....

Dirty Thirty? No, clean thirty!

So, last week, Isaac asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday over the weekend (since actual birthday falls on an uber-lame Tuesday). Like many women, I had certain feelings about turning thirty. And those feelings were centered around a blinding, all consuming rage over turning thirty and not having a walk-in closet. You see, dear reader, we have lived in a 1 bedroom apartment in San Francisco for the last 6 years. And it just so happens that the apartment also just had a birthday. It just turned 100 years old. and 100 years ago it appears that they didn't have closets. So our closet (and might I add it is the only one in the entire apartment, poor Isaac has a even smaller Ikea wardrobe)is an afterthought- a tiny little thing added sometime later in the apartment's life so that the apartment could legally be listed as a 1 bedroom. This thing is small, and contains suspicious water stains over a lifetime of wallpaper and paint layers(see first photo). It will not properly contain all of my clothing, which is not even that much for the NYC "sex in the city" lifestyle I am so clearly living. Le Sigh. So, Isaac and I looked at the closet with fresh eyes and figured we could knock the top shelf out, raise the bar (literally), and add a second bar. The result is perfection! I have a bin for socks at the bottom, another bin for pajamas, and all of my coats, tops and bottoms now fit in the closet. Don't ask about bras and underwear because I had to find another solution for those, but they are out of sight now. we bought an over the door shoe rack(I know... duh) and even had enough space that I am allowing Isaac to keep his three pairs of shoes there too. Now that I'm thirty, I have a big girl's closet! Hooray! And for those of you who think it's lame that that's how I spent my birthday, please remember that my life already has plenty of boozy cocktail parties and absolutely no bathtubs or walk-in closets. Hence I spend much of my free time dreaming of the day when I will live somewhere with a bathtub and a big closet. Now the closet gods have been appeased!