Adobe, Insurance Companies, Ace Combat 6, COD4 and more!
Wow, it has been a while since my last entry. Though I have my reasons. First of all look what they did to my poor car 
While driving up my street a neighbour was reversing out of his driveway and hit me on the way out Now first of all, I don't blame the guy, for a start the shubbery around this particular driveway shields it till its too late, secondly its very steep, like more than a 45 degree angle kind of steep so he would not of even seen me till the last second. This issue isn't just present for his drive way, its a common problem throughout our whole street it just sucks it happened to me and right near Christmas.
Now to my insurance company, who are a bunch of cock munchers. I say that lightly too as my hatred for them is deep. When I made the claim they said my 3rd Party choice for repairer would be chosen if they were competitive. So as they asked me I got one quote from a AAMI (my insurance company) partner and one more quote from somewhere else other than my 3rd Party prefered. In the end my prefered repairer was in the middle in terms of price and still it wasn't deemed competitive. The difference was 600 dollars in the end, and car parts/labour isn't cheap so 600 dollars isn't all that much in the grand scheme of things. But the assessor (who shall from now on be known only as "Jerk Off") wouldn't have a bar of it. Jerk Off wouldn't even let me see the quote from the AAMI partner which of course got the work. Basically they did all they could to get their "friends" the work despite my best efforts. All the Jerk Offs excuses were lame; the money for the job will come from GIO whom insurance the person who reversed into me so why should they give a damn if its not the most expensive quote?
Come January I will be changing from AAMI to Allianz whom are similar priced and give me awesome options like choice of repairer, no need for quotes just point the way and they will get the money to them, for a small extra fee per annum windscreen only jobs can be repaired excess free and not to mention you can nominate another driver who can be covered for if the car is damaged in their care for no price difference (in terms of excess or annual charge). So yes, fsck you AAMI, your a bunch of knobs who wanted to save another rival company 600 dollars and consequently lose near 2000 dollars a year and any future customers I can prevent from signing up. Well done Jerk Off, have a raise for your brillance.
Now onto another rant. Adobe, those pricks have discontinued my belovered Imageready which has been bundled with Photoshop for a number of years now. It was primarly a animation and web image tool and Adobe have decided to scrap it. Though they have implemented some of Imageready's features into Photoshop CS3 like the animation and image slicing stuff minus one very import bit, the ability to open .GIF files and have each frame as a seperate frame and layer. Now this was very important to make GIFs I had found into signatures but oh no Adobe decided to be assholes and remove that feature. What do they say in response, "Use Adobe Fireworks". Adobe get with the fsckin program, Fireworks is shit, is was when it was by Macromedia and it still is with a Adobe label stuck on it and I am not the only one that thinks so!
Finally I managed to pick up Ace Combat 6 the other day and by golley its awesome. The graphics, the sound effects, the gameplay, all very awesome. I am still coming to terms with playing AC on a 360 controller but I'll get over it. One thing does detract from the game and thats the main female in the (side) storyline. Is utter trollop and makes me want to throw up in a bag. Apart from that the game is fantastic. Haven't touched MP yet but I will once I have cleared the SP campaign once 
Call of Duty 4, another fantastic game. So fantastic I think its the best FPS game I have played in along time. The storyline is something out of a 5 star movie, so dramatic and emotional. Infinity Ward (the creators) even went as far as to add a special level after the credits that pays homage to every terrorist on a plane sitation in many Hollywood flicks. Its a game that everyone should pick up; its even half decent on a console (not a easy achievement for a FPS). The multiplayer is fantastic too, with the ability to customise your load out with a very wide range of weaponary and abilities called "perks" it makes for some interesting game play.
I have good news on the PS3 front (I told you I would get their). A 40GB Ceramic White JAP spec PS3 is on its way from Japan as we speak and should arrive at work on either Thurs or Friday. Picked it up for $600 bucks including a second controller which is a Dual Shock 3 (not available in Australia or America for that matter till Q1 next year). Cannot wait to test out my Blu Ray movies of which the list as expanded with the arrival of Pirates 2, Apocolypto, Underworld 2 & Black Hawk Down. Unfortunately though it looks like Warner fscked up and Blade Runner on Blu Ray is delayed and probably won't hit on Dec 24th like they estimated
I think that is enough for today, more from my life shortly
Stay tuned!
Borla Headers+Exhaust
This is what I want my RS to sound like.... clicky
/drools
Oh Super Eurobeat vol. 180 is out, have a listen here
chow
All your chips belong to us
Hey all,
I have been fairly busy this long weekend. On Saturday evening I went to my mate Russell's 20th Birthday which wasn't too shabby. Some lady troubles but you get that ^_^ . Sunday I was the nominated driver and drove Russell, Ben, Callum and Jono to the City where we watched Hot Fuzz, went to the Melbournce Motor Show and played Poker.
Hot Fuzz, well what can I say, maybe bloody hilerous comedy mixed with bloody gun fights and awkard fisty cuffs remixed with serious overtones. Really weird film to be honest. During the first stages of the film it generally is a serious drama piece where our hero, Simon Pegg is a cop with the Metropolitan Police in London who has a 400% arrest rate over the rest of the cops. Knowning this the heads at the Metro HQ transferred him to a quiet little country village where he will never be heard from again. This is when things are turned up-side-down. Simon finds himself in a completely different world where the cops are lazy, everyone knows everyone (and looks out for each other) and there hasn't been a murder in 20 years. After 4 "accidents" happen in his short stay Simon concludes these are no accidents but 4 interlinked murders and with the whole town against him he battles to find out what and who is behind these murders. Turns out the main players of the town (of which one is a Supermarket owner played by none other than one of the James Bonds Timothy Dalton) have formed a Cult under the cover of the NWA (Neighbourhood Watch Association) and murder anyone who is out of line. Together with his partner Danny who is a Action Film buff and constantly looks up to Simon as if he is Will Smith in Bad Boys 2 (of which they watch the DVD in the film and spoof a few scenes from). After uncovering the Cult Simon loads up and literally shoots down the majority of the people in the town and gets Danny and the rest of the Sanford (name of the small village) PD behind him bar the Police Chief who is a member of the NWA. This is when the film really peaks as several funny moments come out from nowwhere (fly kicking a old woman anyone?). In short Hot Fuzz has many cheap laughs but the storyline keeps the film together with a action/funny packed fight for justice finishing off the film. 8/10
Next up, the Melbourne International Motor Show. Pretty self explanatory really. Cars, people selling Cars and Car related products and hot chicks tempting buyers. Though we did have trouble with my free ticket. It seems we were not the only ones gaining entry with the Stand Attendant tickets and were refused free entry. I was gonna open a can of whoop ass on this chick as she was trying to be really smart and show off but she ran off before I could get a word in. Anyhoo... Onto the Pictures!
It wasn't easy getting some of those shots. Because my lense starts at 55mm I tend to have to stand back around 7 meters to get the car inside of the viewfinder, not to mention the other peds walking into my shot, looking at me and continue to walk through it.
After the Motorshow we retired to the Poker tables where I managed to almost double my money and actually cash it in (last time I doubled my money it was too early in the night and therefore I kept playing). I swear I was down to below $10 3 times and managed to resurrect my chip stack. Both myself and Russell went all in (I had a 5 and a 10 off suite) and I managed to beat Russell. The guy next to me was astounded that I would put my stack on the line for so pathetic cards. I just told him my fathers old saying "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained!". It was a good group of young and middle aged people all ready to have some poker fun. Some were more serious than others but we all managed to have a laugh and thats clearly what playing $1/$2 No Limit Texas Hold Em is all about. Want seriousness, go play Limit Poker. After Callum was out we feasted on some cheap goodness from the bar that sits above the Poker Tables (which is great for the people who are not playing as they can get a great view of the action and have a drink at the same time. I got Calimari Rings and Chips for $5, Rus, Jono and Ben got Chicken Parma, Chips and a Drink (the deal of the night) for $5.50 and Cal got a Steak Sandwich and Chips for $5. All those prices were discounted, no idea why but I was not complaining.
Just a moment ago I got my hands on a rip of Initial D Battle Digest which in a way is a mini version of Battle Stage (which for the uneducated is a complimation of the series in one film mixed with new Eurobeat songs and sometimes new battles and visuals). I was glad to see that the team behind Initial D have finally animated the two Keisuke battles which were in the manga and missing from the anime. Though only glimpses it provides hope that we will have full versions of them come Battle Stage 2.
Which brings me to the next point...
Yippee another Battle Stage!!!!!1!1
Till next time folks ^_-
ARGGGGGGGH!
Sweet Jesus its hot. For the past couple of days its been 30+ and today its like 38 and so will tomorrow be. Not only that but I have all these motherfucking ants all other the place, in my toilet, in my kitchen, in my keyboard. Driving me nuts I tell ya.
Well if you are like me and sweltering in the heat I suggest two things:
1) Goto Youtube and search for Eddie Murphy RAW; one of his best dvd's/movies to date
and
2) Goto http://www.animesuki.com/series.php/930.html and download the first episode of a new series called Freedom Project (or just plain Freedom). Its a new series by the guys from Akira and the minute you start watching the anime you will see the similarities. Its about a young group of kids you have races on their bikes/podracers that are very similar to the podracers you seen in Star Wars Episode 1 (even right down to the sounds they produce as they whirl by). They do not live on Earth but on the Moon in what looks like to be mans first and only colony on another planet/star. Its worth the watch.
/goes back to melting
Bleach OST and more
Hey hey folks, last night I acquired the O.S.T from the Bleach Cinematic Movie (there is other movies but they are strictly straight to TV releases and are traditionally called OVAs) Memories of Nobody. Now I havent seen the movie (yet) but I am loving the soundtrack. It has similarities to the music present in the anime but with more orchestral pieces involved which is a natural evolution considering Bleach's transition from TV to the Cinema Screen. The album contains two remakes/remix's of the hit "Number One" by Hazel Fernandez; 'Versione Filmologia' is the tradional layout of Number One but instead it in a more acoustic format with tradional instruments (Electric Guitar, Drums etc..), 'Malicious Gravy MC' is like someone added big thumping cerimonial drums (which is present throughout the soundtrack)preceding the original piece's backing track mixed with a Gangster Rapper from the Hood doing vocals (reminiscant of the Nas T Mix but with more abusive tone/swearing :\ ). The last one is my least favourite of the two but hey thats personal opinion.
Overall I give it a 8/10, would be lower if I wasn't such a fan of Bleach.
Finally got off my arse (well not really) and played the Supreme Commander SP demo. At first I was disappointed but I realised that I was too busy comparing it to Company of Heroes which in my opinion has set the benchmark for RTS's in recent times. CoH and SupCom are two very different games, CoH is all about close quarter, intense battles where as SupCom is all about massive maps, massive units, massive explosions and massive battles like its predecessor Total Annihilation which I enjoyed thoroughly. SupCom delivers us TA with new graphics and bigger everything pretty much. Some modern features like build queues and waypointing (easily done by holding down the shift key) and 360 degrees of rotation (x, y and z axis) in the viewfinder. I will be looking forward to getting a retail copy of this but its not a priority.
Crackdown is out very soon, 10 days now and it couldn't come sooner. I am getting very bored with PC gaming (albit the odd run of CSS on cs_assault) and finding myself constantly playing the Crackdown demo to discover more exciting things about the game. I managed to climb to the very top of the Agency Tower and proceded to jump onto this aerial to get a Hidden Orb. Awesome at first till when I landed slipped and fell to my death XD. All in good fun though.
Lately I have been following the antics of Chris Akitson who is a Australian driver (with an Aussie Co Driver) for the Subaru World Rally Team (SWRT). Although he isn't winning whole rallies he has won a few stages and consitantly in the top 6 in the rallies he has participated in. He has the potential to be the next Colin McRae or of recent times Sebastien Loeb. I am keeping a close eye on him and one day hope to get some photos of him up close and personal in his Subaru Impreza STI.
Alright time to go, Adios
Gohda goes BOOM!
Finally got the last two volumes of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig (mega-mouthful) and boy oh boy it ends with a bang. The action in GITS:SAC really shines towards the end of 2nd Gig and it was good to see Togusa in action. Rarely do we get the pleasure of seeing Togusa in some field action, instead usually restrained to being Aramaki's boyguard, yes he is almost all flesh (most people in the GITS world are prostetic/cyborgish) but he is still a crack shot and a excellent detective. Anyhoo it was worth the wait.
Also with the last two volumes of GITS:SAC 2nd Gig I got volumes 2 and 3 of Eureka Seven. Its developing quite nicely with certains aspects of some of the members of the Gekko State being revealed. This is definately turning out to be a nice aquistion to my collection and I think I might even collect the manga along side it (with the Volume 1 Artbox you get Volume 1 of the Manga too).
Just thought I would let you in on two of the animes I have been following over the last few months.
I'll go back to playing Crackdown and watching Eureka 7
Back to Business
Yay I am back at work now (technically I have been for a week and a bit now but meh to technicality). It's great when the teachers and kids come back as I get really busying during the start of the year. My brain is finally getting some stimulation and its loving it 
Encountered some nasty problems already and I love to solve em.
Also finally got my hands on the Crackdown demo; I had to buy the XBL Arcade Unplugged DVD which comes with 1 month of XBL Gold to get the demo but it was worth it. Its soooo fun. Its like as a friend put it GTA cross with Judge Dread. A city full of crims and your a super/enhanced human who has been given the duty to restore order. So instead of being a criminal like most sandbox games in the past (GTA, Saints Row to name a few) you are a good guy (who can use force to bring justice to the world) but hurting civilians impeeds your ability to level up in your abilities (Driving, Explosions, Firearms, Strength and Agility is all of them I think) and even the regular cops (called Peacekeepers) will hunt you down if you cause too much bodly harm to the civilians. Leveling up your Agility is so far as you can literally jump across skyscrapers like it was jumping a hurdle. Once you have all your abilities in the high side of things you are literally like a agent from the Matrix. Whenever you jump you make a dint wherever you land, you can kick moving cars and watch them fly, 1 punch enemies and watch them fly. Its just soo fun. I remember showing my mates a few days ago by picking up the SUV I was driving and hurled it 100 meters into a pack of dirty criminals. They were amazed at the sheer fun of the game that they too are now going to buy Crackdown.
Looking on the RADAR there are a few new SEB cds coming out soon that are looking good. I am still awaiting my order of anime from Madman that I placed just before Christmas. Should arrive this week according to a staff member in the know (they have been moving warehouse and implementing a new warehouse inventory system at the same time so orders were on a halt from the Christmas period onwards). Cannot wait as I purchased the last 2 discs of Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig and I really want to see the conclusion.
Anyway back to making dinner
Bye Bye
Car Service “That new car feeling”
Man I love getting my car serviced. The drive after it (once I get my seat back into its rightful position) is amazing. Everything is new again, the tightness of the steering, the grip of the tyres and the roar of the engine hitting 5000RPM. It creates a large smile on my face And the guys at the Camber Mornington Service Centre were kind enough to give me a rose to give to my mum for dropping me home and back to the Service Centre after it was done (handed it in at 9:00am and it was ready by 11:30am 
Wasn't expecting it to be this quick).
Starting to add more anime to my collection. After a few recommendations and judging the popularity and synopsis of a few I now have added Death Note, Nana and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. All are worth checking out. Also I have confirmed that there will be no more fillers in the Bleach anime and it is now back on track with the anime. Finally the 6th Series of 24 is starting in America this month so keep your eye out on the various nets.
Enjoy
“I’m Excited!”
Hey all,
Tonight I emailed a bloke who was selling his 18-70mm Nikkor Lense in the Nikon Club Classifieds. I thought I had a sure winner as it was the lense I was after (apparently pretty rare to find) and with price of $395 I was pumped (My local Ted's asked for $600). Unfortunately I got a email back saying he had sold it. I was shattered, but I quickly jumped back up and starting Google AUing the lense I wanted for prices else where. In the first page I came across a hit from Digital House Australia, though it wasn't the lense I was after, instead it was a AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED. The opposite Zoom Range that I wanted but on the otherhand I thought about my time with my collegues 55-300mm and it was pretty much want I wanted out of a lens. I came to a conclusion that it was not a comprise getting this lens but in fact what I really wanted/needed when I goto Townsville next weekend for my step-brothers wedding.
Thats the beast that will be hooked to my D50, even though it doesn't have VR (Vibration Reduction) which I really wanted in a high Zoom lense I guess it will be beneficial and force me to strengthen my balance and grip instead of relying on technology to do the job for me.
So in summary, I am psyched and cannot wait to take some photos with this lens. Next thing to get is a Crumpler Bag (which is on my birthday list) and a Hoya UV filter for this lens.
Bring on Christmas (which I really need to do some shopping for, thank god I get paid during the school holidays, I'll need it to catch after I have done all this spending).
Also, before I forget, I ordered Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops and Super Eurobeat Presents Initial D 4th Stage Best from the good blokes at Play Asia. I used the 10USD voucher they gave me as a christmas present they give to all their past customers to ease the tension on the wallet Should arrive next Friday, if not then I'll have to wait for it after I come back from Townsville! (I sent it to my workplace instead of home).
Tell next time folks 
Ponders…
I wonder if I'll get my SEB CD today, it has been in Victoria since 9am yesterday according to UPS tracking on Play Asia (the bastards don't give you a tracking number instead they just embed the tracking data into their website). Bloody hope it will come today otherwise I will be thoroughly pissed off!!
EDIT: Yay it came, thank god. I was starting to get worried
