Jeff Sargent (moved, see below)

Currently Enjoying: Street Fighter II

2007-02-09T19:58:00.000-05:00

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:

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.
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.
Vega is touch until you remember to out-jump him - then he's just a long-haired sissy.
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.
Every move Chun Li makes is designed to showcase her underwear. Teenager geeks cry out in joy; there is a massive massacre of kittens.
English translators were not highly available during development.

I love this game.

How to know you're not feeling well

2007-02-05T13:45:00.000-05:00

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.

iPhone, uPhone, we all scream for a more original title

2007-01-11T11:29:00.000-05:00

I thought I was clever and original with this title, until I noticed that Jeremy Keith used it first. Read his for a summary of reactions and observations regarding Steve Jobs' recent keynote speech unveiling the iPhone.

As for my reaction, I'll chime in with others to say that I haven't been this excited about a new product/technology in a good while. It just. looks. awesome. I've been a PC user for my entire computer-aware life, but I've recently been considering switching to Mac, in part because they care about design and interface. The iPhone continues this, and despite a $500 price tag, may be too much to resist.

Concerns have been raised, however, about the iPhone's lack of buttons, or any other source of usable tactile feedback. This is the trade-off to be able to use the full product as part of your interface. If there was a fixed button keyboard along the bottom of the iPhone, you would lose the ability to rotate it in your hand and have a widescreen interface. I acknowledge the concerns, but man, that landscape orientation opens up a good bit more space. Awesome.

A parenting insight from Jeffrey Zeldman

2007-01-05T08:53:00.001-05:00

Jeffrey Zeldman of web standards fame posted today about a humorous and accurate insight into parenting his wife made at a recent dinner. I'm sure I'll think about this when I see my two boys tonight.

Here it is, in permalinky goodness: http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/04/tanks/.

P.S. - This is my first Blogger post via email; if it looks funky, my apologies.

Messing with the bagger at your local grocer

2007-01-03T23:11:00.000-05:00

Have a need to fill at least two shopping carts worth of groceries;
Begin unloading items from your cart onto the conveyor at the checkout. This should motivate the baggers to begin bagging groceries. Continue until at least half your groceries are bagged;
As if you just noticed the error, exclaim to the baggers that you wanted paper bags, not plastic.
Pause to enjoy reactions. In my case, the two baggers were split between shock and unamused disgust.
Let them in on the joke, so you don’t get hurt. They both laughed, but some of the eggs were broken. I suppose that's a reasonable penance.

Obligatory Intro Post

2007-01-03T22:50:00.000-05:00

After trying to develop my own site, and drowning in a mire of perfectionism, I'm fulfilling a New Year's Resolution by setting up a blog here, and just writing. Ultimately I will complete my helper-free blog; but really, what's the point of getting a nice design, custom CMS, etc. if you don't really know that you'll use it like you think? I'm not sure the nature of posts I'll be more prone to write - I have ideas about what I think I should write, but it has to be natural, so we'll see what comes out. Anyhow, more to come, daily if I can. Here's to keeping a resolution, and starting something.