Currently Enjoying: Street Fighter II

I recently found and downloaded an arcade emulator that runs the actual, old-time ROM files for original arcade and console games. You're allowed, as far as I can tell, to download and play ROMs provided you own the original name. Well lucky me, I happen to own Street Fighter II for Super Nintendo (but sadly, controllers are broken). I've been reliving the addiction on my PC every few nights for a few weeks now.

Here are a few things I've learned or been reminded of from playing:

1. Ryu is cheap. Cheap, cheap, cheap. His low light kick is lightning fast, takes off about 3/4 of your life, and stuns you. Cheap.
2. The computer AI can charge Blanka's spin ball attack, Guile's Sonic Boom, and Guile's Flash Kick at whim, but the player requires a 2 second charge. It's good to be the computer.
3. Vega is touch until you remember to out-jump him - then he's just a long-haired sissy.
4. The endings for each player define a new level of cheesiness, especially Blanka's ending. His alleged mother shows up, in Thailand, to ask if Blanka is her son. Of course he is, because he's from Brazil, and her son was lost in a plane crash in Brazil. Naturally, he's the one, right? Sure, ok. She heralds as proof the "anklet" he's wearing - "I gave that to you on your birthday!" Happy joy. But, he has two matching "anklets", and I'm fairly sure those are actually the binding rings of chains - he was a caged "animal", forced to fight. Thanks, mom.
5. Every move Chun Li makes is designed to showcase her underwear. Teenager geeks cry out in joy; there is a massive massacre of kittens.
6. English translators were not highly available during development.

I love this game.

How to know you're not feeling well

Calling in sick, having coughing fits, and sleeping until 10:45 is a good start.

But, when at 1:30 pm you decide to get off the couch, put your half-empty (or half-full, depending on your outlook) cup of awful (or awful, regardless of your outlook) green tea on the counter, and go brush your teeth, you might find some affirmation that you're genuinely under the weather.

It's not that you brushed your teeth, but rather that you started in one bathroom, and then wandered aimlessly - without being really aware of it - into the other, unlit bathroom. The kicker is when you notice it's dark, turn on the faucet, and you are suprised that the lights didn't kick on. The 2 second pause and ensuing "Oh..." are both embarassing and enlightening at the same time. Dripping toothpaste foam down your mouth cause you actually opened your mouth to say "Oh...", however, is only embarassing.

Perhaps the non-drowsy formula would be a better choice next time.