deanb

First blast of FFXVI info out https://blog.playstation.com/2020/10/29/introducing-the-world-and-characters-of-final-fantasy-xvi/ https://uk.finalfantasyxvi.com/

Finished off Schitt's Creek. Took a little bit to grow on me but in the end was rather charming, and one of the few positive examples of LGBT representation in TV. While I was familiar with Catherine O'Hara from many things, and Eugene Levy from American Pie, much of the rest were new to me to the point it took a while to twig that David was literally Eugene Levy's IRL son. Its ending did have one of those "and they all lived happily ever after" things but can't really blame them. It had fairly naturally grown to that point. I think some of the characters aren't as likeable as they could be (tbh my favourites are probably Jocelyn and Ronnie. I never really got on with Bob's character). Was a fun time sink. Now to the fun of finding a new show.

Prime day I have bought a drill, a drill set, and a selection pack of screws and wall plugs, because I am an adult. Also my friends are adults and one completed today, so I threw in house warming gift of a tool set to the order. My basket did briefly hold a 4K Samsung monitor and a 1tb WD m.2 SSD but figured they'll always go on sale again in the future (black Friday next month) and the drill ismore useful right now (I want to put some shelving up and can't be arsed constantly borrowing a drill)

Terminator : Dark Fate This has been idling in my backlog for a while and I had a lazy Sunday and figured I'd put it on. It was certainly one of the stronger Terminator films, though still woefully playing catch up to T2 (and being a rif on many of it; which it is kind of knowing of). Some bombastic action; slightly broken with knowing it's setting up a franchise so doesn't wholly resolve things. Given Genisys showed how to easily kill off a T-1000 if you know it's coming it made it hard to wonder how the Rev-9 (as the current baddy is called) is posing such a threat when they're at times purposefully luring it to a "kill box".

Crazy Rich Asians This was on Prime Video so figured I'd give it a spin. Rather delighted; not my usual affair but quite a fun rom com with many great characters (definitely its strong point, Peik Lin and Oliver being the stand outs) in a culture you otherwise usually don't see (and kind of funny where they pick on the main lass for being American. "Kids eat up, there's starving kids in america. Look at her, you want to end up skinny like that?"). Especially when it comes to the ultra-wealthy which is usually a backdrop reserved for British aristocratic based films. It does still tick many of the traditional romcom boxes (would it be a spoiler to say there's a dramatic proposal?) but quite fun; many familiar faces too. And I can see why people were saying for Henry Golding as the next Bond.

https://support.playstation.com/s/article/backward-compatibility?language=en_US&lan= List of PS4 games that won't work on PS5. It's pretty small list.

It kinda blows my mind that the judges are for life, in what is otherwise meant to be a replacement of the monarchy system that ruled America before the current republic.

Enola Holmes Quite an enjoyable watch; somewhat fun and quirky. Sort of young adult focussed (and the casting of Millie Bobby Brown is quite the clue to it). So go into it with that in mind and it's a solid film, early on in Sherlocks life that some things haven't happened but established enough for a few familiar faces (not that he's the focus, but is a strong support character). Mycroft is quite the misogynist bastard in it mind compared to other iterations I've seen where he's just stuck up. Also funny for me to go from watching The Expanse with Murty as the bad guy, to Enola Holmes with Murty as the bad guy There is a moment that I wasn't expecting for the general tone of the film

The most romantic love song of all time. (I like this followed after "You're so Vain")

I like the old style costumes.

I find it funny these two are together given that it's possible they are from another language (what with S-E being Japanese) and that Tsushima, for being pretty, was called out for not lip syncing to anything out of English despite offering Japanese as a "cinematic" option. To me they look like FFXIV characters; which is understandable given the involvement of a bunch of FFXIV team. Not everything has to look like gritty realistic mocap exports (especially when you're riding a chocobo).

I'd imagine given the vastness of water it's probably exceptionally negligible on BTUs dispersed to surrounding area. Water is a much greater heat dissipation than air (hence liquid cooling,, and our bodies on sweat system). Boat engines probably put out more heat (though don't run as continuously) Of course entire data centres might not be as good.

This is looking pretty damn good. No date though. It's PS5 and PC, but I'd probs get on PS5. (kinda feels like the right platform) Very Witcher 3 kind vibes to it.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/16/barbados-revives-plan-to-remove-queen-as-head-of-state-and-become-a-republic Barbatos looking to slide into 18th century french politics and get rid of their queen. So Ethan on the question last week on the amount of monarchies, its about to go down by one. They better hope they're not sat on any oil or their republic will get some CIA funded military coup action pretty quick.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-54146718 Kinda neat to see these taking off. Does make data centres somewhat more environmentally friendly, though obviously means it favours places with large water access.

This is the way. Also a thought (since that VO is from last series). She calls it a "race of sorcerers", rather than group/religion. I wonder if that means it'll be Je'daii. And I wonder if that'll be yodas species. We've already had hints of it in other non-film media such as the Bendu ("the one in the middle"),

A fair few dozen. Like a lot of Europe are still monarchies. France was quite the loner in that regard (We chopped the head off one of ours, had a punk phase, then asked his son to be our king again). Here's the current list; though it's all monarch not just kings (so includes several Queens, sultans and a Pope) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_monarchs_of_sovereign_states#List Incidentally Pope/Pontifex is not a title that you can use when booking a ticket for ROH. So he'll just have to wait outside and hope the cardinals tell him if it was good or not.

I'd be careful filling this out in a joking manner; one of these choices requires you bring enough Ferrero Rocher for everyone.

There is a PSVR sale so I have purchased: Tilt Brush was one of my first VR experiences (though with a Oculus dev kit). Those who were around for my upset about Dreams demo; this was essentially the experience I was eyeballing. Wasn't aware until now they'd ported this over to PSVR. I've been watching quite a bit of "Forgotten Weapons" lately, figure this might scratch a similar itch.

PS5 pricing revealed. Pre-orders will start this week at £7,999. It's a goldbold pricing move.

I felt it did alright. Like it's a headwarping jumble either way. But it wraps up quite well, especially considering in the manga Main bonus is that the manga and the film are made by the same person, at almost the same time, so they're almost adaptations of each other (but one clearly has a lot more detail and plot to it). Like since the creator kinda knows what the important bits are and what characters are fluff it's quite a bit more focused (like I'd say with Tokyo Ghoul that didn't happen at all and it starts to throw way too many people at you). I would say the characterisation here on the film ending at the halfway point of the manga isn't quite right. which to be spoilers is

Just wrapped up Tokyo Ghoul on Netflix. It's a bit naf at the end. It suddenly throws conspiracies in, ghouls are able to blast lasers and grow angel wings(as is anime tradition), and at the end despite each side killing/eating the other for several decades they all decide at the end to be happily ever after because Ken Kaneki is just a swell guy (who has murdered thousands voluntarily and involuntarily). Which is a shame because the start with the "doves" as compelling villains (who are half-killed off quite quickly), and the "one eyed owl" as a sort of half-ghoul villain that mirrored the protagonist. Kinda feels like it missed a vast amount out, like it jumps from bit to bit quick quickly. I presume the manga its based on is either several distinct-ish volumes, or it was just terribly adapted for efficiency (my only "read both the manga and watched the anime" is Akira, and the film carves out like 70% of the middle of the anime and still holds together quite well).

Ghost of Tsushima Also Platinumed, since it turned out I was only missing like 3 trophies (though two of those were oddly specific ones so wouldn't ever get without a guide, but at least they weren't "go and get all the flowers"). And choice wise I The "guiding wind" thing, and the smoke pillars, and birds and such are really quite neat and would be nice to see in future games (though it's odd that it's not until 2/3 in that it tells you about the pillars of smoke thing). But I'd wager it's like nemesis system where we go "oh that's quite neat" and it never shows up in any other game ever again. Largely it's otherwise largely a "competent" game, not really bringing too much major to the table but very solid. Like if it came from Ubisoft you wouldn't be very surprised. I do have a few minor grievances with it. The mission directives can be quite vague; e.g "kill the khotun", with no direction of where he is (and not like you get very accurate maps when you're in a fort). Also be nice if the hook didn't require you to be jumping/falling to use and could just look at a point and latch on to it. Also the "stances" thing is quite neat, but when you're up against multiple types at once that can get quite annoying trying to swap, and then you're wailing on the wrong type.

My aunt was clearing out some stuff from storage; had my mum drop some of it my way (mainly household things; some spare magnolia paint, shelving, a bathroom mirror etc). But the diamond in the rough was totally these two: Seems they're from 1983 (actually stamped 1982 Coopyright on the bottom) And ebay reckons they're about £45($60) each, but I'm rather liking them on my shelf at the moment. They're just under a foot high, and actually quite nicely detailed. Little switch on the back to put into "Walk" or "Stand" mode, which unlocks a springed button on the hip(?) that makes the legs satisfyingly stomp up and down. I am currently feeling closer to 13 than 30. Them Ewoks are totally fucked.

Apparently a lot of people didn't know. I've seen speculation that Fiege would have known; as producer of the films there's insurance considerations on actors so his medical records would have been known by a few, and they obviously kept it close. 43 is ultimately no age at all, and for a lot of the community it's a loss that will be felt quite deeply.