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Shadow of War: Hitting Me Right in the Feels

Here’s one of the TV spots they released today. It made me laugh and think, “Wow, that’s really cool!”.

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor was a great game. Open world, really interesting sword combat and set in Middle Earth you were tasked with partnering with Celebrimbor (you’ll only know him if you’re deep into the Tolkein mythos) to try to destroy Sauron. Let’s just leave it there for now.

The game itself was great and had a really interesting game element: as you spent time going through the game you would eventually have to fight war chiefs/bosses that are more difficult than your average orc. If they won or you were beating them so bad that fleeing was the only way to survive, they would remember who you were and jeer at you if they met you somewhere else in the game later on. This was a nice touch and added a bit of personality to the game.

Another mechanic allowed you to dominate an orc and he would join your clan and you could call on him to fight for and with you at your order.

The next iteration of the game, Middle Earth: Shadow of War, will be releasing later this year. They’ve dropped a couple of TV spots that shows an extra aspect to the relationship mechanic in the game: if you save a dominated/befriend orc from a death-blow they will remember that and may  ‘appear’ when you’re about to receive a deathblow yourself and will save your bacon. Again, a great idea that I’d really like to see before release.

 

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Imposter Syndrome, Anyone?

You know what’s wrong with first class? The realization that it probably isn’t going to happen again very often. 

I’ve been very happy with this investment in our vacation this summer. First class flights, a much nicer stateroom on the cruise (with a real porthole) and a basic disregard for a budget. Sly and I deserve it.

Been a pretty stressful year for both of us. Sly’s dad dying was just the beginning. The new role I’ve taken on at Applied Research, additional responsibility for Sly at work. Just a few of the things that have vexxed us over the last year. 

Our summer vacation last July was a pretty cool road trip down to Oregon. I really enjoyed that but it wasn’t Disney. Sly put up with it and almost enjoyed it but we really wanted this year to be a big one for travel. I don’t think we could have foreseen the trouble we’d encounter over the year but this will definitely help. Let’s get back to first class……

You get on the aircraft first, sit back and relax with a soothing beverage. We selected coffee and I ordered an orange juice as well. Two drinks?  Not an eyelash was batted. 

Then we sit, enjoy our drinks while the rest of the plane boards. We make idle chatter, trying not to make eye contact with the others walking by us. I actually, for just a moment, feel very self conscious and out of place. I’m supposed to be one of those people walking by.

We get into the air and they come by with cloth place mats for our breakfast. I’ve selected the only option left (the other option was unavailable for us in the second row) a chorizo flatbread. Sly is now left with no option. I expressed some disappointment to the attendant who, upon hearing my wife doesn’t eat beef or pork, offered a snack box and all the fruit from the first class breakfast. I was struck dumb and offered my sincere thanks for the way they were serving us. And he kept bringing stuff like fruit for my wife. You could bet we wouldn’t be getting this sort of attention in economy. 

Is it too early for a drink I ask the attendant? It’s 5 o’clock somewhere is the reply. I ordered a gin and tonic (my inflight drink of choice lately)and receive a double. We better just give him more now so we’re not running back and forth to the galley was probably the logic behind that decision. When the second one arrives during breakfast I realize I’ve overplayed my hand. I gesture to Sly, who’s been more conservative with her beverage selection, that assistance will be required. She gestures back: you’re cut off. I nod my acquiecence.

I’m looking around and I definitely don’t fit in. Sly mentions were the youngest people in this part of the plane. Which then makes me think about retirement and if I’m doing enough so that we can have a comfortable, if not luxurious, retirement. 

See? This is what happens when I get free gin and tonics on a flight. I get all introspective and shit. Can I get another drink over here please?

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Mobile Plan Change aka Canada Day Success

I’ve spoken about the Canadian mobile market (or lack thereof, depending on your viewpoint) and how difficult it is for a consumer in this mobile environment with so little competition. It seems as though there might have been a slight change…..

Today I was reading MobileSyrup and saw a story on a plan that being offered to certain Rogers customers to combat Public Mobile’s lower priced plans that had recently hit the market. Continue reading “Mobile Plan Change aka Canada Day Success”

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Blackjack: What is Basic Strategy?

Almost everyone knows the goal of blackjack: try to get closer than the dealer to a card total of 21 without going over. Pretty simple, no? But is it all guessing about what you need to do when you get a particular sequence of cards? The easy answer is no and hopefully I’ll give you a bit more information about how you can educate yourself on the right decisions.

Continue reading “Blackjack: What is Basic Strategy?”

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Leaving Las Vegas 

Not in a Nick Cage sort of way but still depressing. 

Solo trip success? I’d say 90%. I might do it again in the future but I would try to convince Sly to come with me. 

I’m tired, I miss my wife and I need a night of sleep in my own bed. 

I’m coming home, sugar. 

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On the Bus

There’s few better ways to see a city than to get on its public transit system and meander along one of its arterial routes. 

You get a chance to see some of the less touristy areas and meet new and interesting people. Sometimes you’ve got a target destination in mind, sometimes you’re just wandering. 

I’ve always been enthralled with the process of learning a new city. Where to eat, shop, play like a local. Especially in a big tourist town like Vegas where most tourists won’t leave the Strip or Freemont for the length of their stay. There’s plenty if gems to find; you just have to get off that horribly beaten path and find them!