Phone calls in flight? Really that big of a deal?

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

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http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/01/disruptions-calling-from-the-clouds/?_r=0

In the few weeks since the FCC first announced that it may allow passengers to use their cell phones in flight (while actually connected to their cellular network in flight) many have been ranting and raving about how horrible a decision it would be. Personally, I’m quite excited for the change if it does indeed happen and airlines follow through. I absolutely hate being on flights that do not offer WiFi. Sure you can watch movies, read or listen to music, but I’ll admit I’m entirely addicted to being connected. A camping trip off the grid is absolutely horrifying to me. I’d love to be able to check in with Facebook, Twitter and WordPress in flight using my cellular data. I’d also enjoy being able to text and keep up to date on plans for when I land.

The main fear is that all of a sudden everyone will be making phone calls and being obnoxious in flight. I really don’t think it’d be that bad. I rode the light rail around Baltimore quite a bit back when I was living in Pennsylvania and people were free to make phone calls but not very many ever did. I know a plane is more compact and quieter so any phone conversation would travel further and seem louder, but how is it any different than being on a flight with a high school or college girl’s basketball team (the last time I flew into Boise the BSU volleyball team was on the flight). Furthermore if it’d bother you that much I’m sure you have a pair of headphones you could put in.

I know my view may not be popular, but think of all the other places people are able to use their phones. Is it really that bad? In Starbucks? On a bus or train? I haven’t found it to bother me at all. As long as I’m plugged in I’m not paying that much attention to what’s going on around me anyway.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Sequence 2

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

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I’ve never been much into the Assassin’s Creed games. I’ve played a bit of the first, second and third numbered games (haven’t played Revelations or Brotherhood) and they all failed to hold my attention. Assassin’s Creed III seemed cool, but for whatever reason I only played the first twenty minutes or so and never got into the game.

So far Assassin’s Creed IV is holding my attention a bit better. I just finished sequence 2 tonight and I have to say I enjoyed it. I’m really liking Edward as a character and so far the game has been fun to play. That said I almost returned the game to GameFly and never progressed any further after failing the mission where you chase the sage five times in a row. I hate missions where you have to chase someone. These missions really show off just how bad the controls in Assassin’s Creed games can be. While trying to chase after the guy I was constantly getting stuck on ledges where Edward would grab onto a ledge and just not move, or at times he’d fall the wrong way or jump into a pile of hay when I didn’t want him to.

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The climax and conclusion to sequence 2 at sea was a thrilling experience. I’m looking forward to getting into sequence 3 possibly tomorrow.

Starbucks and drinking coffee at home.

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

I have a bit of a Saturday morning tradition of dragging Vanessa with me to the Starbucks just around the corner and having a coffee (usually iced vanilla coffee) while reading the (digital) New York Times and skimming WordPress. It’s a nice and relaxing way to spend 30 minutes or so in the morning before we decide what to do with the day. It’s also nice to get out of the house. My brain always feels more productive when I’m sitting somewhere other than at home sipping on a coffee. In college I’d always take my coffee to the second floor of the library to read or write while overlooking the trees and smoke stakes of the city in the distance. I’m not sure whether it’s the brighter lights or the act of being somewhere with less distractions that puts me into a good, productive mood.

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Unfortunately, this morning there weren’t any seats available so we had to take our coffees back to the house (I would’ve been willing to sit outside, though it’s a bit chilly and now starting to rain). So for now I’m drinking my coffee while listening to SiriusXM’s The Coffee House with the Penn State game taking my eyes away from the page (or screen rather).

I suppose this isn’t so bad. Do you have any particular way you like to drink your coffee? Am I just crazy? 576677_10152067618475610_1776601611_n

How was your Thanksgiving and Black Friday?

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

Thanksgiving this year was great. It always sucks being away from family during one of my favorite holidays, but I’m grateful that I got to spend Thanksgiving with Vanessa and her family and the food and company were great. The Ravens went on to narrowly defeat the Steelers which was also a plus. I thought for certain the game would go into overtime for the third time this year and I’d have to hold my breath longer. It was certainly an nerve wracking victory.

We didn’t really do a whole lot of Black Friday shopping. All of the sales were starting at 6pm on Thanksgiving which is not something I think should happen. We slept in this morning and headed over to Barnes and Noble just to look around. I was tempted to purchase the Nook Simple Touch which was $39, but I have a feeling Kindles will be on sale on Amazon Monday. If not, oh well. I used to have a regular Kindle and then a Kindle Fire HD, and for awhile I used an iPad but I no longer have any of those and do all of my reading on my MacBook (via iBooks and Zinio for magazines) and my iPhone. I’d like to have a Kindle so I can read in bed without having all of the other distractions my MacBook and iPhone offer. I’m hoping the Paperwhite goes on sale again since it sold out in a matter of seconds during the Kindle Fire offer.

I hope you enjoyed your holiday and Black Friday shopping if you participated! I’m certainly enjoying the long weekend.

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I received one of my favorite holiday snacks in the mail from Pennsylvania. Stauffer’s Chocolate stars. I was quite surprised last year when I found out that these were nowhere to be found out here (in Idaho).

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Vanessa and I just before the Ravens and Steelers game.

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Game time!

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Gumballs Plays: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag (PS3) 001

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

I started playing Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag last night. The only Assassin’s Creed games I’ve played are the first one (got bored after the third assassination), the second (made it a handful of hours before not playing anymore) and Assassin’s Creed III (which I played until you arrive in Boston and didn’t get interested in).

Hopefully this game will hold my attention longer. So far it seems pretty good. I like the environment and piloting ships seems like it’ll be pretty cool. I don’t really like the part where you come out of the Animus though. I know all of the games switch between the real world and the Animus, but I wish the game would just take place entirely in the past. I don’t care for whatever story they’re making up to explain everything, and I don’t care for the characters or environment in the present either. Maybe if I had played the other games I’d understand more, but all I want to do is play as Edward Kenway.

On TV: HBO’s Getting On, Family Guy, The Walking Dead and Showtime’s Masters of Sex

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

 

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Tonight was an interesting night on TV kicked off by the next to last episode of The Walking Dead this year (which has its mid-season finale next Sunday). This ‘Governor’ centric episode was more exciting than last week’s and the arc will climax next Sunday in what is sure to be the most action packed and dramatic episode yet. I’m looking forward to it because I feel like this season has started off slowly. Unfortunately, I’m sure we’ll be left with a cliffhanger and will have to wait until spring to continue watching. I’m not a huge fan of the split season format, but I guess it means we get to enjoy The Walking Dead through more of the year.

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Next we watched the latest Simpsons and Family Guy. I have to say the killing off of Brian Griffin was quite tragic and I’m not entirely happy with the decision. We knew going into the year a Griffin was going to be killed off, but I entirely expected it to be Meg or Brian since they’re not voiced by Seth MacFarlane. The new dog, Vinny, is not an enjoyable character and not at all a suitable replacement for Brian. I understand they wanted to shake things up, but I can honestly see myself losing interest in the show with one of my favorite characters gone.

 

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We also watched the premiere of the new HBO series Getting On, which started its 6 episode run tonight. Getting On is based on the British TV show of the same name and is a comedy that takes place in a hospital’s geriatric extended care unit. I figured we’d give it a try as Vanessa works in a retirement home and we figured it’d be amusing. It seems like a good show so far. The show stars Laurie Metcalf (Jackie from Roseanne) as Dr. Jenna James who is quite obsessed with her fecal matter study. Alex Borstein (the voice of Family Guy’s Lois Griffin) plays head nurse Dawn Forchette. I look forward to seeing how the series progresses.

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Lastly we got back into Showtime’s Masters of Sex by watching the third episode. We have the series DVR’ed and I look forward to watching more of it during the long holiday weekend. It’s a good show that seems reason enough to keep Showtime for now. The plot is starting to thicken and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

Gumballs Plays: Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen (PS3) 001

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is one of the recent free games available via Playstation Plus so I decided to give it a try. I tend not to like Japanese games and upon seeing the Capcom logo I knew I probably wouldn’t like this  game. I played about the first 30 minutes and so far it’s not horrible but I can’t get over the Japan-ness of the game. What I mean is mainly the UI. It’s absolutely ugly. I hate the way the numbers look (and that they’re even there) and the flatness of everything. It reminds me of Devil May Cry, another game I might have liked if it weren’t for the UI (and horrible anime acting). It also looks a bit like Dark Souls which also has one of the ugliest UI’s of any game I’ve ever played.

Lastly I’ll just add that the game looks quite ugly at some points. I don’t remember games like Dragon Age looking as ugly as this game does (mainly the character models). The voice acting and story are also remind me of some sort of anime. I mean a dragon rips your heart out and essentially tells you ‘come at me bro’ and now you’re on some epic quest to get your heart back….really?

So I might keep playing, but if you can’t tell I hate Capcom and just about any game designed by a Japanese developer.

I really, really suck at New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

So I’ve never beaten the first dungeon / castle in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. That’s right, I’ve never seen anything beyond the first world. I find it frustratingly difficult, and to date it (and Super Mario Bros 3 in which I’ve also never passed the first world) is the only game that makes me want to toss controllers around the room. After the first couple of lives I waste in the dungeon my palms start to sweat and I start to make the same mistakes over and over again. What frustrates me is the most important part of the game is jumping, something that should be so simple and yet I can’t master it. Again and again I plunge Mario into the lava. I haven’t played New Super Mario Bros. Wii in about 4 months and tonight I thought I’d give it another shot. As you can see in the video below I made it no further than I ever have. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to master Mario.