[Has your job ever ruined enjoying a movie?]

I've been away for a while, you know how it goes: parenthood changes so many aspects of your life. Anyway, inaccuracies in movies don't bother me, people whispering in my ear/pausing a movie at home to tell me about the inaccuracies does bother me, though. For instance; in the movie 300, the attire that the Immortals wore was far different than historical accounts. However, I couldn't give a flying fig; it's a movie, which means in my eyes that certain artistic freedoms are allowed. If the History Channel did a special about the Immortals and botched up facts, that's a little different in my eyes. I don't watch movies for their accuracy, I see them as fantasy. I respect the views of Knuckles, Flix, Spock, and Wolfie, and I totally understand where you gentlemen are coming from. I just don't share that view. My own career is far different than the jobs mentioned above; mine deals in aspects from gemology, anthropology, and archaeoastronomy (I'm no longer just a gemologist appraiser). A lot of movies touch in my realm of expertise. You know, I can go with a simpler career, as the average person probably isn't well versed in archaeoastronomy. Navy is a much simpler example. I've seen a lot of movies with inaccuracies about the Navy and the Corps. I've never screamed "b.s" at any of them. A few times I've thought "dang, I wish it would have been as easy/simple as that", but have never really gotten upset. However, maybe parenthood and a domesticated lifestyle have chilled me out more than I realize some times.

 

FWIW, I don't get upset. I realize that these people are just putting something on the screen to make it look entertaining. The bit with the 3D holographic projector thing - I WANT THAT!

 

I do have issues with Apple that go beyond their false advertising. They're idiots. Period. Full stop. Long story short - have a client who has 17 years worth of data in his old Windows based program. He can't migrate to an all Mac platform because Apple in their infinite stupidity makes it impossible to import all of his info. He can get basic info - name, address, city, state, zip, phone, fax, email address - but NONE of his notes. He has this guy in his database, but there's not much to tell him WHY this guy's info is in there. The flavor of SQL available to Apple can't import anything beyond a CSV file which means NO NOTES. NO emails...

 

 

Watched "Chappie" lately, and could not stop criticizing it.

 

Why is there a running conveyer line powerful enough to manufacture a 1000 robots a day, but a 100 unit purchase is a cause for celebration?

Why are the no spare parts in bulk in the repair and maintenance hanger? You send the bots into a near war zone.

Any firmware department needs to have several hardware rigs for software testing. And you don’t need CEO clearance to update those.

Or just buy a robot! You could try writing it of as a necessary business expense. That thing can’t be more expensive than a new car.

Why is the security update key universal for all projects? And why doesn’t it have a 24 hour manned surveillance post?

Emphasis on firmware being impossible to overwrite without manually installing an update key. But you can overwrite all if you shove the key into the antenna.

Why spend company money and time making an obvious war mech, then only try to sell it to the locale police?

The entire plot revolves around the battery fused to the body – just unscrew the head and put it on a new body. And when they finally do that they fraked it up by copying/cloning the minds.

 

I hate when self-proclaimed smart movies epically fail to be smart, and then stupid people phrase how smart the movie is. Ironically, these same great smart movies are never mentioned again years later.

 

P.S. "Let’s colonize a planet caught in a black hole."

 

But my all time "What were they smoking" ad - Apple computers with their Mac Vs PC ads.. One of their earliest had PC saying the most fun you can have on your PC is playing with spreadsheets..

 

Always wanted to see the PC be some sort of Start Trek borg. Here is how one would go:

 

"Hi. I’m Mac"

"And I’m a PC"

"What are you doing PC?"

"The next gen video card arrived. I’m replacing it."

PC rips out his arm and replaces it with a better one.

Another Mac walks into the room and shoots the first Mac.

"Hi. I’m new and improved Mac"

"And I’m a PC"

 

Haven't seen Chappie yet.. Haven't really had much interest in seeing it - but I do get where you're coming from. The scenario makes no sense - if you get this key anyone can reprogram the bot to do his own bidding - and given what I've seen of the movie (trailers mostly) that's exactly what happens. The rebels reprogram Chappie to do their bidding and fight the big bad government/corporate entity..

 

The Mac Vs PC thing.. Hmm.. Maybe might work... Tho, to be honest, that scenario doesn't fly very well with me. The Borg were all about conformity, and that's more the Mac's thing - you gotta do things the Apple way.

[Has your job ever ruined enjoying a movie?]

Movies aren't the only time they get things royally wrong.

 

Just about EVERY single TV show out there like NCIS, CSI, and the like mucks about with computer software.. They show a screen shot of whatever they're doing and it's like Holy Hannah! are they doing? WHAT OS is this? It's not Windows, It's not OSX.. It's not even any flavor of Linux I've ever seen. You see them typing furiously to get things going - which in today's world is so... unnecessary. We've got these things called MICE...

 

And then there's DNA.... Seriously... DNA analysis can take DAYS, if not WEEKS to do - and yet, they magically get it done in a matter of a few hours or even minutes... Granted, it's a TV story and they have all of 40 - 42 minutes to tell the story from start to it's conclusion. Still. Not very realistic.

 

Going back to CSI... The New York spinoff... They also seem to have this rather cool, if not yet available holographic 3D projector tech which lets them display a body's innards, blood vessels and the like including the damage done by bullets and stuff.. It's like what year IS this? It's supposed to be taking place in the current world. And yet why don't we see this technology more commonly available?

 

There are stupid commercials too.. I could list a few hundred that are utterly preposterous.. Like this one with some ditzy blond who is deleting a bunch of her pics because she has yellow teeth. Gee.. Ever hear of PHOTOSHOP?

 

But my all time "What were they smoking" ad - Apple computers with their Mac Vs PC ads.. One of their earliest had PC saying the most fun you can have on your PC is playing with spreadsheets..

 

Seriously..? I think the 4.5 BILLION dollars the PC gaming industry rakes in every year kinda puts the kibosh on that.

 

The other side of the Mac vs PC issue in this lame ad had Mac saying the most fun you can have on a Mac is making slide show disks for granny...

 

Once again, there's that pesky 4.5 BILLION USD the computer gaming industry rakes in every year. They DO make games to run on the Mac.. Might not be quite as many as for Windows, but there's still games out there.. And frankly, any game still beats making slide shows and burning them to a disk.

 

Let's face it.. the entertainment industry is clueless as to how things work in real life. They write some crap and it sounds good - they run with it without bothering to check pesky things like facts... And that's all that's really expected of them.

 

Oh. And for the record, the first time I heard that stupid Mac Vs PC ad - I was playing GTA San Andreas - on my PC....

[ReSpec in UnBended - Yay or Nay?]

OK.. I'm gonna finally chime in here..

 

On the one hand, respecing sucks. As everyone pretty much has said, it takes a lot out of the game.

 

On the other hand, it can save you from a potentially BIG mistake. I recall doing something in Sacred 2 many moons ago - I was checking out skills and for some reason I was hovering over Divine Devotion.... I clicked on something else and somehow I wound up getting that skill. It was NOT in my game plan.. Fortunately, there's a game editor that allowed me to fix that. So SOME respecing in case of a mistake like that IS a good thing.

 

On the other hand... In Wartune - a flash based MMO RPG I've played, you do have the option of respecing.. You need to pay about $9 USD worth of game currency and you can remove all your accumulated skill points and redistribute them... Early on, this can be a good thing - but by the time you reach level 80 (which is max), you have all your skills maxed anyhow - and it's not like you can just dump points into any one skill to make it overpowered.

[Currently Listening to... Share your music!]

I have a rather ecclectic taste in music. Here's one I found many moons ago that falls into the Electronic scene...

 

Shades of THX-1138...

[Someone's gone quite mad here.....]

I can't say ye or nay on how their food is - never had it before. They weren't readily available in my neck of the woods - and still aren't for the most part.

 

I will say that they DO somewhat amusing advertisements. There's a billboard on my way to work that reads "May we rekomend the chikn" - being pasted on said billboard by a couple of cows.

 

Seems the cows have been at it for a while now - and even have a facebook page...

[Someone's gone quite mad here.....]

That is the most disgusting lookin thing ever! As a chef I am appalled. As a human being who feeds other humans decent food, I would like to know who makes something like that!?! Gross!

 

And thank you for the warning Wolfie, if I ever do get the chance to go to America, I will most definitely NOT support Chik-Fil-A. In the times we live in now, how can any company be homophobic? Pfff.

 

Delta!

I'm all for having lunch (or dinner) and dessert.. BUT NOT IN THE SAME DISH!

 

Wondering if a 4 yr old came up with that one. That's the only explanation that makes any sense.

 

As others have pointed out - the people running Chik-Fil-A is religioius.. hard core religious. And as such, well.. they've got a right to be that way. Religious freedom and all that...

[Someone's gone quite mad here.....]

FWIW, there are like 4 or 5 major chicken chains around - at least in my area. Who knows how many more local and regional chains are out there.

 

KFC - the classic.. Recently revived Colonel Sander's from the dead. Zombie Colonel Sanders isn't very funny - even tho he thinks he is.

Popeye's - Louisiana style spicy chicken - Good stuff... A tad expensive. but worth it.

Church's Chicken - Mostly found in minority areas... Supposed to be really good chicken..

Chik-Fil-A - made a name for themselves recently as being anti-gay. Some people had an epic cow over that - and Chik-Fil-A made a ton of money.

 

And 110 calories for 1 oz of sauce - that's actually not THAT bad. The salt level isn't through the roof either. Check out Lee Kum Kee's offering - 1060 mg of salt in 2 Tbs.. Instant sodium overdose..

[Someone's gone quite mad here.....]

oh my god... that's that's...

WRONG...

LOL ...just trying to imagine how many calories is in something like that?

 

 

gogo

 

Does the calorie count really matter? My arteries are hardening every time I just look at that leaning tower of coronary clogging cholesterol...!

[Someone's gone quite mad here.....]

Not quite sure who it was - but clearly they lost their marbles.. They're a few fry's short of a Happy Meal.. A few sandwiches short of a picnic...

 

After all, they created THIS monstrosity...

 

[Currently Listening to... Share your music!]

OK.. Time to blow everyone's collective minds..

 

I bring you, the founders of a brand new branch of the metal scene... Something that may leave you scarred for life..

 

I bring you the founders and KINGS of DRIVE THRU METAL!

 

 

 

 

Yes, that's Ronald Osbourne, Slayer McCheese, the Catburglar and Grimalice - better known as Mac Sabbath!

[Happy Birthday Wolfie!]

 

Thanks guys..

 

Hmm.. Bacon covered poutine.. That actually sounds kinda interesting.. The bacon covered cake, OTOH, just sounds wrong...

This was actually on the Mcd's local menu here for a while, made with maple syrup!

 

gogo

OK.. So lemme get this straight.

 

Fries covered in brown gravy and cheese curds, topped with bacon bits AND maple syrup:)

 

Suddenly that doesn't sound all that appealing after all. Stop at the bacon and it might be OK.. But maple syrup on top of brown gravy? BLEAH!

 

Oh. and it's one of McPuke's creations. Yeah.. I'll pass..

[Happy Birthday Wolfie!]

Thanks guys..

 

Hmm.. Bacon covered poutine.. That actually sounds kinda interesting.. The bacon covered cake, OTOH, just sounds wrong...

[Introducing....]

Hi and welcome Theresa...Just a couple questions to help us help you

 

What is your actual OS?

Have you tried disabling Physx in the video options? (this solved a lot issues for many people)

 

Have you tried running Virtual XP? Click here for Win 7 I haven't tried it on Win 8 but this was the only way I could get some of my older programs to work.

 

Also if you could explain more on what is happening..you can create a character, but cannot load game or does it crash as soon as you are in game? Does your pc freeze or black screen? any error messages?

 

XP Mode is NOT an option. XP Mode creates a rather basic virtual machine that has utter crap for graphics. The primary purpose for XP Mode is for business apps that won't run on Vista or beyond.

[Sacred Underworld : On Graveyards and Inscriptions]

Found another interesting marker...

 

This one is from Thundercats!

 

The marker is in the Gloomoore cemetary.. It simply says "Snarf"

[Searching for technical knowledge - Windows games on Android device?]

 

HoMM3 for Android can be gotten from Google Play at this link... Mind you, HoMM3 for Android doesn't include the expansion packs. According to the company, Ubisoft, the source code for the expansion packs was lost...

I had a look at that version and it is the new HD version, which has rubbish reviews and is absolutely basic with none of the expansion packs. It would be like playing Sacred2 with only the initial elf lands available and none of the rest of the map.

Oh well my wife may have to settle for less interesting games then.

 

Well. True.. I did say the expansion pack source code was lost.

 

On the other hand... If there's enough demand for them, maybe Ubisoft could get off their collective duffs and make (or remake) those expansion packs. They do have the original code, they've also got enough understanding of said code to upgrade the original software AND port it to iOS and Android. The BIG challenge, IMO, is understanding the logic used by the original programmers. If you can tackle the basics, you can do expansion projects as well. The key, tho, is demand.

 

One other note.. If you haven't already done so - consider getting the Amazon store app... They have some different apps and games than the stuff on Google Play and they have a daily free app/game thing... Might be worth a look.

[Humble Sacred 2 Gold modding]

To me, "Sacred 2 Gold" would imply that it comes with Ice and Blood. I have a DRM-free copy from GOG.com. It installed with all the necessary patches, and the CM Patch installed just fine.

 

I would tend to agree. However, the Sacred Gold package I have came as a 2 part installer - one for the basic Fallen Angel, the other for Ice and Blood - and the patches weren't included... Not entirely sure how it's distributed these days. Hence the long winded description..

[Searching for technical knowledge - Windows games on Android device?]

Hmmmm.. Yeh.. I'm not thinking this would be much in the way of a good thing either.

Just because it CAN be done in theory doesn't make it something that would be fun. Or worth the effort.. While tablets have gotten faster, I have yet to see any Android tablet that could handle something like Sacred Underworld - and do it in such a way that the experience doesn't look like a slide show.

 

HoMM3 might work out ok - there IS an actual Android version of the game that was released some months ago according to Wikipedia. (maybe another reason why the project was abandoned). If memory serves - HoMM3 is a turn based game without any real time combat and as such would be less of a load on the tablet than something like Sacred - which is all real time combat.

 

HoMM3 for Android can be gotten from Google Play at this link... Mind you, HoMM3 for Android doesn't include the expansion packs. According to the company, Ubisoft, the source code for the expansion packs was lost...

[Humble Sacred 2 Gold modding]

It's really easy to spot the US vs UK (Int) version.. The US version was released by CDV and as such, has the CDV logo when you start the game. The UK version came from Deep Silver (this was, mind you, before Ascaron went bust and DS bought them out.) and sports the Deep Silver logo on start up.

 

The other way to spot the difference.. Look in C:\Program Files\..

[Humble Sacred 2 Gold modding]

That would largely depend on if it's the UK (international version) or the US version. Somehow doubt they'd be releasing the US version in downloadable format at this stage.

 

The CM Patch requires a fully installed and patched Sacred 2 Gold.. This would include Fallen Angel as well as the Ice and Blood expansion AND all of the relevant patches that may apply. Assuming the downloadable package has all of these included in the package.

 

As far as the saved games go... They should be just fine under Ice and Blood and with the CM Patch - but keep in mind two things.

 

1.) Ice and Blood nerfed a LOT of gear stats. Stuff that had Life Leech, for instance, had that stat cut in half.

 

2.) The CM Patch may also have an effect on gear and definitely has an effect on quests and their outcomes.

 

As such, be sure to have a proper backup of those games - and your game chests if you ever feel the need to be nostalgic and want to reinstall the old Fallen Angel... They won't work once you've opened and saved the game under Ice And Blood and the CM Patch.

[Funny/Interesting Sacred 2 Screenshots]

Er.. Wherebouts is this scene? I can't for the life of me place the scene..

[Funny/Interesting Sacred 2 Screenshots]

 

2 of those paintings (Dryad village and the Dracornicorn) are for sail at the art store in Thylysium.

And if you zoom in on the pic to the left of the TG, you'll see a scene that is reminiscent of the end scene from the Ewok villiage from Star Wars...

[Sacred Underworld : On Graveyards and Inscriptions]

The first inscription is now up.. DIE TELETUBBIES, DIE! ! !

 

Btw.. I could have sworn we had a page like this up once already. Ah well.

[Need some advice on trying Sacred again]

At the moment, my character's gear is limited to what all I've been able to find. I've got a few bits of Pandora's set, a shield and shoulder guards from another and Aarnum's sword and one of the rings to socket into it - which I haven't done yet.

[Need some advice on trying Sacred again]

For the most part, yeh.. It's awesome. but there are a few spots it doesn't quite work 100% as you might expect.

 

1.) DeMoreDreck's pet dragon. Fly out to one of the nearby islands using Soaring Daemon. Plant a Hellsphere and retreat a bit so the dragon doesn't blast you with fire. If you go too far, too fast - the dragon loses interest and the hellsphere doesn't attack. DOH.. So you gotta balance distance...

 

2.) The ice dragon near the air element just north of the Library.. Same sort of thing. Retreat back into the shelter where the element is kept after poppinig a hellsphere off outside to avoid getting crispified by dragon blast and the hellsphere may not engage the dragon, OR may wind up being blocked by a tree. Best spot to drop it is just beyond the gate. Then run back inside, past the 2nd door to avoid the flames. This will make it stop shooting the dragon, so you have to go back to the first doorway to let it do it's thing. Having Life Leech runes socketed in your gear is a must - Hellsphere will make use of this and will heal you AND you can see when the hellsphere fades away and it's time to send another one out...

 

The other dragon up to this point isn't a problem. Just approach D'Cay, fire off a hellsphere and run around in circles = BIG circles.. until the hellsphere runs out.. Lather, rinse, repeat until dead.

[Need some advice on trying Sacred again]

Been playing a Daemon of late. Gotten as far as the Fire element so far. I use Hellspheres liberally. I have gotten somewhat lucky so far - got a nice handweapon that had 15% Life Leech early on.

 

At this point, I've kinda moved onto Arnum's big sword. The hell spheres are da bomb when it comes to dealing with dragons. Fire one off and back away and let it do its thing. Lather, Rinse Repeat until the big lizard's toast...

 

Seraphim: I played this through a few times. It's not really that hard. I used Energy Bolts liberally. The BFG in this game is kind of a joke. Big ol' honkin' gun but the shots are so slow, you can outrun them (enemies frequently do just that.)

 

Wood Elf: I kinda got bored playing this one. But ,ye, I recall using most of the same skills.