überEllis.com

Sometimes I wonder about my circle of friends and what makes us hang out together. Such a diverse group with a plethora of varying interests and hobbies.

Essentially, it's the overlapping of what makes us unwind, that makes us unwind together, beit playing some games, having a braai, talking about taxes and insurance or synchronised umbrella opening near a fountain..

This guy makes learning fun and entertaining. What a great way to hang out with friends. A definite ÜberEllis recommended read.

I purchased a copy of Beyond Good and Evil after yet another visit to my notoriously bad influence, Vertice and his evil evil (so thumbs up! *g*) Sony Playstation..

Running on the same (I'm told) engine as smash-hit Prince of Persia, Beyond Good and Evil shows huge potential with a few novel approaches to adventure gaming.

It has never even crossed my mind to base a game on photography and the challenges and (in this case) the dangers of the trade. Despite the somewhat misleading title, nothing describes a force bigger than good and evil than the truth. There's no black and white here, only full colour images captured in precarious places (I'm secretly hoping the game gives you an album of all the shots you've taken afterwards - what could be more memorable than your very own album of photos?)

Third-person action/adventure games need a first person view in some cases, to help you decide on your plan of action...Jade comes equipped with a zoom lens! Inspired!

A female character in the lead? It's been done over and over...or has it? Unlike heroes like Lara Croft or an amazon lass from any RPG, Jade is not very strong and has to outwit some of her bigger foes or rely on help from her somewhat unorthodox friends (used without permission from Vertice - well put dude!), in a world slightly more magical than even Persia (I didn't think it was possible either).

Beyond Good and Evil further outranks Prince of Persia by diversifying into a more classic "Go there, get that" approach, instead of a PoP's somewhat rigid storyline, making it more challenging and fun, especially for die-hard-find-everything players like me.

So what went wrong? Why is the game not selling as well as one would expect? Here's what I think:

The Prince of Persia gamepad edition was a brilliant move, creating a fanbase that could not be beat. So why oh why does it not support gamepad play? Controlling the camera with the mouse feels clumsy and is often frustrating, especially after the groundbreaking camera work in Prince.

The PC version seems a bit buggy too - I struggled to get it installed and to run (but that might be due to the budget edition of the game *hangs head in shame* it's been a long month and \\Cl4uss didn't help), plus the camera has some issues on higher resolutions when driving the hovercraft.

(Truth be told, I have not yet installed the patch (v1.01) yet, which might fix some of the camera issues).
*Update* - The patch fixes a lot of the hovercraft rendering issues, but still no gamepad :\

Despite these little things (and the huge gamepad thing *grumble*), I still look forward to Beyond Good and Evil after work, so All Evil recommends at least giving it a shot (a little photographer humour there..)!!

PS: Bad influences are necessary evils in everyone's lives...I myself am a very good bad influence on several people. Get yourself a bad influence today or miss out on a lot of fun ;)

Friday evening featured another dinner club evening, this time at The Meat Block in Northriding.

Do not let the neon outside fool you, the interior is borderline swanky with an atmosphere of smart-casual decadence (and a pricetag to follow suite).

When one can order your steak to any weight you might prefer, you know you're at the right place.

When a special of the evening sounds more intrigueing than even a 400gm fillet, "the right place" fades to "the perfect place"..

Yes friends, who could say "no thank you" to prime rump steak, topped with mozzerella and cheddar cheese, a slice of avocado, a fried egg and the coup-de-grace...bacon! Served with french fries and onion rings, it becomes a perfect square meal lovingly dubbed "Rolls Royce".

The service was a touch on the fast side, and the prices makes it a less-than-once-a-month destination, but well worth every penny.

When I got home, I had to loosen my belt...now THAT'S good food!

Book at the Meat Block Grillhouse at:
Tel: +27 11 794 1002
Fax: +27 11 794 8163

..would probably smell the same. Meh.

There was an episode on Friends, where Ross makes Joey his personal project in an attempt help him write his own movie by simply devising a schedule.

Surely something like that must exist for one to buy? I honestly want to write a novel, or at least try...I just have nooooo idea where to start. Obviously a great deal of planning would be essential, but I don't even know what to plan.

Here's what my good friend Maximus had to say about "Skin Deep":

<Maximus> ja so i read your short story last week
<AE> oh-oh
<AE> I'm thinking of deleting it
<AE> I think it's well written, but the plot stinks!
<AE> Maybe I should just append it with that line
<Maximus> i vote that you let it stay - as a milestone .. of where you where at that time in your expressive abilities
<Maximus> lol
<AE> *nod* appending sounds good
<Maximus> dude .. just let it be
<Maximus> grrrrrr - stop it - just let it be .. no need to discount it or anything
<AE> Oh come on...a dude who refuses to smile so he wouldn't get ugly? I've read better plots in <insert something trashy here>
<Maximus> like adding salt to a meal 50 times .. or making apologises about the lack of cream on a dessert all the way through dinner
<Maximus> aiie
<AE> And why would the father laugh?
<Maximus> apologies even
<Maximus> sheeeesh .. .eeengleeesh degenerates rapidly ;)
<AE> What I like about it is this part: There was something about that solitary man that did nothing but sit on his chair, staring at nothing in particular.
<Maximus> it's the mindset of not smiling to avoid ugliness .. it's a complex, conceited beautiful state of mind that you captured so well
<AE> And: The diner was nearly empty except for an elderly couple quietly sharing a milkshake in a far corner. An old radio crackled hits from the seventies to a middle-aged waitress wearing a red chequered uniform and a burly man with a grease-stained apron.
<Maximus> and the part about his father laughing rocks - was it disdain, or mockery, or the father realising the futility of it all or XXXXXX
<AE> I can almost reach out and touch the plasticy and dirty diner decor
<Maximus> yup - it rocks
<Maximus> yup - and the ketchup bottle needs cleaning - it was vivid and real - now accept that it's well crafted and has appeal
<AE> I'm agreeing, sorta - I think it's well written and well paced
<AE> hmm...adding that line makes it worse
<AE> *leaves it be*
<Maximus> good sensory engagement and brimming with unspoken possibilities - i closed the browser and my mind was still filling in gaps and asking questions about the scene .. it works!!!!
<AE> Thanks dude :)
<Maximus> you're welcome, i'm glad to have friends with talent
<AE> I want to write a book, I really do
<Maximus> :P
<Maximus> which is way better than having friends with leprosy
<AE> planning that short piece took a while, and that's only a couple of paragraphs
<Maximus> yup - i loved the imagery of the piece - father was like a really old charleton heston - face all leathery and stuff and the son is like this beautiful smooth skinned yound lad, almost female .. and the contrast is so awesome and then the context of a diner ... *swoooon*
<AE> I started out to try and sorta say "it's cool to smile" and the lines it leaves are beautiful in it's own way
<AE> Plothole #1: Why _did_ the father then leave his family if he has so many laugh lines?
<Maximus> "If we value the pursuit of knowledge, we must be free to follow wherever that search may lead us. The free mind is no barking dog to be tethered on a 10-foot chain." -- Adlai Stevenson
<Maximus> he was a happy drunk?
<AE> Heh...hardly the message I want to convey
<Maximus> We often overlook, forget, or ignore the fact that much - if not most - of what we've learned, we've learned from someone else. Parents, teachers, friends, authors, composers, historians, scientists, and countless others have provided each of us with a vast array of accumulated knowledge
<AE> Oh, of course
<AE> It's a bit Freudian, but hell yeah
<Maximus> so mebbe somewhere he comes to learn and realise that much of who he is, he learned from his dad
<Maximus> and even though his dad is a coal miner or construction worker, and he's just got into Rhodes on a scholarship and his wealthy well groomed step father is a model gentlemen, his core attributes come from his dad, fierce determination, pragmatism
<AE> um...the dad's role is more so there's a huge connection to something misiterpreted - the lines weren't ugly at all, but shattered dreams are
<Maximus> i dunno - the story has sooooooo many possibilities - i love the open-endedness - i think it stands magnificent just like that
<AE> Perhaps I should mention another part behind the inspiration: I saw a documentary about a couple of sperm-bank kids who wanted to meet their fathers (they were all from this sperm bank that only held sperm from geniuses) - I couldn't help thinking what a terribly bad idea that is
<Maximus> for me it was about a son who had scorned his father becuase his dad was unfaithful to his momma etc, and then he comes to realise his dad is just another human like him with shattered dreams and disillusionment etc .. just like with me and my dad
<AE> Cool - I wanted to keep it clean of backgrounds and reasons, cos the message is a bit vague
<Maximus> ja i see in the netherlands there's this huge shortage of sperm - and they're making it mandatory now for donors to record all their details so the offspring can identify their bio-parents
<AE> In my mind, the kid never knew his dad
<AE> None of those kids got "happy endings"
<Maximus> in my mind the dad left home early and they meet to see what's left of the relationship and if it's worth repairing, and the son wants to see how much of his attributes he picked up from his dad in his formative years .... like an intelligence sortie to piece together how much is the sons own stuff and how much comes from his dad
<AE> Sure, it can be seen that way :)
<Maximus> whenever i meet my dad that's the foremost frame running in my mind - rapid comparisons
<AE> Just promise you'll stay smiling then :)
<Maximus> i still wince sometimes at the thoughts that surface that where his, not mine
<Maximus> *smiles* *rubs vit-e cream on corners of mouth* :p
<AE> Hehehee
<Maximus> *massages in Estee lauder*
<AE> No night cream!
<Maximus> k - bruuuuuuu - i'm off haum know to eat like a big beast - then watch some bbc comedy - then back tomorrow for work and stuff - more linux exams on monday
<AE> I was about to say pretty much the same thing :)
<AE> (apart from exam stuff)
<AE> Drive safe :)
<Maximus> been fab yakking with ya - i kinda missed the weekly banter - so tonite was a satusfying surprise
<AE> *nod* I liked it to :D
<AE> too even
<Maximus> k - woof woof - walk safe - avoide any kinappy types
<AE> Oh, I'm driving
<AE> Got \\cl4uss here
<Maximus> aaah
<Maximus> ciaoz and nitey night

Thanks Maximus...that really makes the inconceivable seem more approachable.

I don't know where Pick'n'Pay get their Mustard Chicken (or what one looks like), but OMG YUM*!

(*as tasted on a toasted shaved Mustard Chicken and cheese Sandwich)

Cheese, in reality, is a very broad statement and actually consists of a range of products that covers a spectrum from the divine, to the (let's face it) quite-clearly-past-the-best-before-date.

So here, in brief, is where you can get my favourites (after 3 years of extensive study).

Cheese can be divided into 4 edible catagories:

1. Cheddar: Everybody likes cheddar. It's what vanilla is to ice-cream. Here's how to select a good cheddar at your local supermarket (according to irrational): The perfect cheddar has short cracks across it's surface and when pressed with a finger, leaves a brief impression.

This method worked for me for months, until I discovered Woolworths' Mild Cheddar. Superior taste and texture that lasts on average around two weeks longer than any other cheddar, so go ahead, buy the bigger buy-bulk-and-save-block. In the long run, it works out cheaper with no wasted mouldy cheese.

2. Mozzarella: A light cheese that adds zest to any home cooked meal and a perfect companion to cheddar when melted together over any substrate (do not try this at home, unless you know what you're doing).

For months I was so blinded by Woolworths' superior cheddar, that I bought their Mozzarella exclusively. Do not let this happen to you! Look no further than Simonsberg. If your mozzarella is shaped like a traditional cheese block, you are making a mistake. Get a ball of Simonsberg today.

3. Feta: Pure decadence. No salad is complete without the crumbly goodness of Feta, and you haven't enjoyed avo to it's full potential were it not accompanied by Feta.

Pick'n'Pay brand Feta with herbs is wonderful, but the winner in this category again, is Simonsberg. Exceptional flavour and lasts longer than most.

4. Processed cheese: Dare I admit, there is a place in the universe for this abomination. Sandwhich spread is a no-no (especially after labour day). Do not offend a piece of bread with this atrocity (unless it's rye, I wouldn't have touched it anyway).

Melrose cheese wedges on the other hand, makes a delightful little snack-on-the-run. If you feel a pang of guilt placing a pack in your trolley, then don't...you now have my blessing.

And some more cheese...
Submitted by irrational on Tue, 2004/08/17 - 2:24pm.
A very hard to find and awesome snacking cheese is "Dubliner".
Its a dry-ish Irish cheese containing some herbs.
This is quite expensive but can be found in small blocks only.
Its in a white, waxy paper and I have found it at Pick&Pay mostly.
Well worth your while looking for it. It has a fascinating taste that lingers and you are guaranteed not to get mold - you will finish the block LONG before the BB date.

Another cheese great for salad and even a sandwich is a creamy parmalat cheese I found with embedded sundried tomatoes and garlic. Bit strong on the garlic for me, but an interesting taste.

And lets not forget...
Submitted by GypsyWizard on Tue, 2004/08/17 - 3:59pm.
... Parmesan cheese!
More traditionally known as Parmigiano Reggiano. IMHO the best cheese around =)

More info can be found here:
I love cheese

Have some cheese with your whine...
Submitted by DemiGoddess on Thu, 2004/08/19 - 6:05pm.
My own personal favorite is Simonsberg White Rock (like blue, except, y'know... white :P). Best served with Bacon Kips and *drumroll* Strawberry Jam. No I kid you not. The sharp tang of the cheese is beautifully offset by the smokiness of the Bacon Kips and the sweetness of the jam. Don't knock it till you've tried it. ;)

Of course, no cheese platter is complete without the perfect wine to compliment it. With the above, might I suggest Robertsons Winery Ruby Cabertnet, sold at the Pick 'N Pay at R39.00 per 2L box.

Yes... as if I don't realise that I blaspheme in the eyes of cheeselovers worldwide with that little recipe, I desecrate it further with my preference of serving it with a cheap wine.

Tasty though...
Lon
____________________________________

Did someone say Bacon Kips!?
Submitted by MordracK on Fri, 2004/08/20 - 9:00am.
Strawberry jam and cheap wines both have a place in the sun, to be revered for their stylised approaches to pleasure.

Bacon Kips have earned the right to be worshipped. There is no other savoury snack. Did I say snack? Nay...meal. There is no stopping once that box is opened..

The only inconceivable part of the above recipe is having the patience and self-control to bring the ingredients together.

I've been playing with my recently acquired gmail account today, and admittadly, I am impressed.

I've got all my contacts uploaded with little to no hassle and already have three or four filters running (it's still new, not a lot of mail went throught there yet)

Searching through mail works on a very similar principle to Drupal's very own taxonomy...a technique I for one would like to see applied to almost everything, even file-systems (which OS will do that first? Linux? MacOS?)

Part of me is tempted to post my gmail address everywhere in an attempt to lure illegal spammers - gmail features a "report spam" button within the system, and if anyone has the power to stop spammers, it would be Google

Female with Gmail
Submitted by DemiGoddess on Fri, 2004/07/16 - 4:44pm.

Verily, verily Gmail does own.

I mean seriously. How many other accounts are going to give you a Gb's worth of space to store all your assorted rubbish? The filters and archiving just works so much better than the average e-mail app.

Unfortunately, I don't get to send invitations as often as I would like. Apparently, I have too many friends who want to use me explicitly for the purpose of obtaining an account.

But unlike you, I fear not. Feel free to feed me all the spam I can eat: demigoddess@gmail.com.

Trippin' along,
Lon

---------------------------------
I am a Goddess. You are a mere mortal. I have no use for you. DIE.

Aren't we just the most interesting find
Submitted by MordracK on Fri, 2004/07/16 - 4:57pm.

A rare breed indeed - a female geek (beit with a slight superiority complex...but then...have you met my friend God (http://god.myblog.co.za)?

Friday night - commenting on some stranger's blog - needless to say, I am intrigued ;)

Welcome to ÜberEllis! I truly think more users like you should subscribe. I find the place that referred you to here especially intrigueing (admittadly...I have a thing for what you searched for myself - although I would never admit it, and hence will not disclose that snippet ;) ).

I hope you enjoy your stay - who knows, I might even start up alittle conversation over gmail :)

answer
Submitted by Anonomous on Sun, 2004/09/26 - 2:01pm.

If I die, what will happen of you. So just dont have this attitude.

Um...
Submitted by MordracK on Mon, 2004/09/27 - 9:07am.

If you die, I'll probably still be completely oblivious of your existence...but thanks for stopping by! Really really..

*shrugs*

I finished reading Trevanian's "Shibumi" last week and I'm left speechless..

After closing the book, I sat upright in the glow of my bed-light, pondering if I could muster the English worthy of such a masterpiece...If I could fulfill my promise...

Trevanian's seemingly haphazard time-line, paints a perfectly linear tale that for all intents and purposes, feels exactly like a screenplay...yet turning this work into a movie would be a tragedy - for so much of what I can only describe as poetry, would be lost. I found myself re-reading several paragraphs to fully digest all the subtleties.

The lead character, Nicholai Hel, is everything James Bond wishes he could be, yet uttering that statement rings like an insult to who Nikki is. A man of Shibumi..

What would a review worth it's salt be without some form of negative; Trevanian tends to repeat certain concepts on occasion, which I found a touch annoying, but I'm certain it was merely done to drive some essential points home to slower readers.

I have not read it's equal, and I fear never finding anything good enough to read ever again. A bold statement from someone who doesn't even like political thrillers..

Booking your favourite restuarant in the mayhem that is Mother's day (or the few days leading up to it) can be a logistical nightmare - especially when booking for a larg(er) family like mine.

We finally found room (in the smoking section...almost traditionally) of a place next to Menlyn Park, Pretoria, called "Rhapsodies"

Those of you that know me well, will have an idea of my aversion to most things green, with a tendancy towards meat (pork is particularly favourable), but something on the salad menu immediately caught my eye and get this: Goat's milk feta, Avocadoes and Biltong! In a word: Divine..

Another menu item that immediately demanded attention, was chicken breasts, bound in bacon - but alas, I had to resort to a special of the day, which was jalapeno peppers of varying colours with cheese, wrapped in 350gm of prime rump steak with deep fried potato wedges.

Positively Scrumptious! If you're looking for a venue with modern/swanky decor and a menu that's slightly off the beaten track, I can highly recommend Rhapsodies!

During the past weekend, we finally tried out the WarCraft boardgame..

I'd hate to say "I told you so", but "I told you so". Upon reading about the game online, I predicted something that's based on the esteemed "Settlers of Catan" with some elements of combat built in. To my dismay, the combat system is very similar to "Risk" - a popular game, I admit, but far too random in my humble opinion. Seperating combat into ranged, flying and melee was a step in the right direction, but an extremely lucky roll is still way to powerful, as our game on Saturday proved.

Before I get lots of hate comments from unfortunate googlers, I'm not saying the game sucks, and rolling a myriad of six-sided dice is a valid method for determining victory - I've seen much better however. Exploring some of the methods used in "Magic the Gathering" might be advantageous, and we will certainly explore some possibilities - the hardest part being to keep the races well balanced.

The game was slow...very slow - something that might get better once all the rules are well known, but still a bit cumbersome with regards to the amount of gamepieces for as little as 2 players (with a maximum of 4). Three player games has problems with balance, as two players invariably gangs up on a player during a weak turn.

I'll consider adding more feedback, if we ever play the game again.