Nintendo DS

Some things, are just great. I've recently come into possession of a Nintendo DS and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. I'm a huuuuuge Zelda fan having lost many a long hour to the series.

However, as I didn't really get into it until it turned 3D (having done most of my gaming on the Amiga rather than a NES/SNES) I've, wait for the shock, never actually played a 2D Zelda before.

Phantom Hourglass, is, admittedly, more of a top down isometric style view, but the game play has more in common with the old style 2D stuff than with the others I've played.

This is reassuring to me on many levels - firstly, I've already happily whiled away a lengthy train journey exploring dungeons etc, only mildly embarassed by blowing at the DS and talking to it when the game requires.

Secondly, it reconfirms my belief that I like innovative interesting puzzle games the most (after having gotten into Call of Duty and its ilk on my Xbox) and am therefore an interesting and suitably geeky gamer that doesn't value HD gun fests above interesting puzzles.

Thirdly - It's gotten the missus interested. She's probably spent as much time on it as I have (but hasn't got as far - ha!).

So all that's needed now is to find her a nice blonde friend and a couple of green outfits and I'm away.

Mario Kart next.

Indiana Jones and the Killer Ants...

Would have been a better title I think. Course - Indy IV has opened up a whole can of worms. I know people that liked it. People that loved it, and people that have started compiling lists of all the things they hated about it...

Personally, I thought it was great. Not without its flaws, which I won't go into in any great detail, in case there is anyone left who hasn't seen it, but the fridge, the monkeys and the tenuous justification for swordfighting were three.

I loved other bits though - including the ants - did I mention the ants. Killer ants are always great, one of my favourite episodes of MacGuyver ever is based on killer ants, and is totally awesome...



MacGuyver rocks.

So anyway, back to Indy IV, all in all, pretty pleasing, very silly and very cleverly adapts to a 65 year old action hero without any Roger Moore style stunts. Harrison Ford was never all that co-ordinated or athletic a runner to begin with so there's no loss of continuity when he tries to run - interestingly, in one of many nods to the previous films - Indy isn't so good at outrunning Indians anymore...

Anyway - I've started giving away plot details now so I'd better stop - my advice? Go see it and decide for yourself, it's definitely one of those films.

Little Monsters

Need to find something fantastic to do with these little monsters. Mothra, always my favourite...



You can download them as individual icons as well: www.cinemarcade.com

Cycling Again

Ahhhh - Back on my trusty aluminium steed for the first time in what seems like ages. Even better - it's shorts and T-shirt weather. I'd gotten thoroughly sick of the tube in the two weeks I've been using it everyday, especially as work stuff has meant dealing with the central line again. Not Fun.

So yesterday and today saw me flying along Bayswater Road in bright sunshine, dodging the odd errant bus and dealing with a total nonce who tried to clothesline me by pretending to hail a cab. I've been pleaseantly suprised by my speed, thought I'd be wheezing my way up Notting Hill after a couple of weeks off sick, but no, it's been OK.

Next up - some clipless pedals I think. I had toe clips, but couldn't use them, mainly starting on corners - with the toeclip on the underside of the pedals it would catch on the tarmac, which is pretty dangerous...

Overhaul needs an Overhaul

So what do you think of the redesign. Orange is good at the moment. I'm liking it. Tweaked the sidebar a bit and used a stretchy template which meant a bit of fiddling with the header image. Reckon its worked.

Still can't get the 'posted by' to link to the profile though. Just doesn't like the code.

Ray approves.

Marrakech Express

Being an extremely dutiful husband, and it being a year to the day that we actually got married (blimey time flies and all that) I thought it only fitting to whisk the little lady of somewhere suitably glamourous. We plumped for Marrakech for a couple of reasons, one - never been there before, and two - we wanted a 'not beach holiday'.

The place is completely mad, people, mopeds and donkeys everywhere and you run the risk of getting run over about every 10 seconds.

It's a great place to get lost in, we managed it about twice every day, but because the Medina is relatively small, it's hard to stay lost for long. Plus, there are always little kids around ready to relieve you of ice-cream money in return for taking you back to where you thought you were.

We discovered that Ray is good at haggling*, and the guys in the souk will let you walk for about 20 metres before chasing you down to accept the last price you offered, no matter how low it is.

One of the funniest things I heard was a stallholder offering me 'T-shirts - very cheap - ASDA price...' showing that advertising definitely works. He didn't turn around and pat his back pocket though, which is good, because otherwise I would have laughed.

Anyway - We took a lot of pictures:




spacmonster's Marrakech photoset

Would recommend a visit to anyone that doesn't mind a bit of craziness. Particularly because you can escape it all by lounging in a Riad, or, spending a few hours at the Bains de Marrakech (thanks for the tip off TW) being alternately buffed, pummelled, steamed and doused with cold water out of a bucket by brusque Moroccan women.

The Belly Dancers were good fun as well. Just a shame I didn't have any small notes with me at the time...

* I'm not, because I generally don't like buying things, so would have given up most times and left with nothing...