20110630

Today's Fortune: Wonderful

Today's fortune cookie reads: "Something wonderful is about to happen to you."

For some reason all I can think of is one of those slimy villains who is so very congenial and pleasant talking to an unsuspecting victim just prior to some bizarre, deadly experiment is performed on them and they because a mutant cow person, mind slave or a pile of goo.

20110623

Today's Fortune: Direct, Reprised

Today's fortune cookie reads: "You are direct, and others often appreciate this quality in you."

The rest of the time they wish I would stop saying, "I told you so."

20110616

Today's Fortune: Soil

Today's fortune cookie reads: "Not every soil can bear all things. Be practical."

Welp. There goes my spaghetti garden.

20110608

E3: Wait, E3 is this week?

So all sorts of interesting stuff is being announced regarding the impending offerings of Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. Historically I've breathlessly followed their press conferences when new consoles were impending. Today I just walked obliviously into the fact that Nintendo announced their new console.

I'll comment more later when I've had a chance to actually watch the press conference. That said, I'm concerned Nintendo isn't taking usability into consideration these days.

The 3DS requires you maintain a perfect, motionless posture to properly view the 3D aspect. Any motion at all and portions of the screen go flat, resulting in a fairly awkward mix of 2D and 3D that strains the eyes.

The Wii U requires you look back and forth between two screens. "Ah," you say, "But did not the DS require the same?" No, it didn't. The two screens on the DS are equidistant from your face and directly next to one another. Looking between a touch screen in your hands and your TV 6-10 feet away requires actual neck movement and refocusing.

These concerns may be unwarranted and overblown, but they're my first impressions having just seen pictures of the console and its controller.

Oh, and I guess Sony is releasing a new handheld. It's name makes me think of a brand of vegetable juice. Meanwhile Microsoft is upping the ante with Halo 4: The "We couldn't be arsed to make something new so we're just rereleasing Halo again and printing money" edition.

20110602

Today's Fortune: Goodness

Today's fortune cookie reads: "You believe in the goodness of people."

This is true. I also believe in the inherent stupidity of people. In fact, this is objectively demonstrable. SEE: The internet. QED.