Hey, I’m on TV

No Comments »May 23rd, 2006

I just discovered that my blog has been featured in three prestigious CSS designer galleries. CSS Mania, CSS Remix, and CSS Import have listed Elitist Snob among their galleries of creative websites, and I must say I am extremely flattered to have been chosen. Thanks to everyone who submitted my site. Be sure to visit each of these galleries and admire the work done by all the many talented designers.

Oblivion “Anarchy Apocalypse” Bug

1 Comment »May 21st, 2006

You’ve heard me blathering on about how madly in love I am with Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion…which is the hottest PC and console game right now. Great though it may be, it is replete with numerous bugs, some of which impact game play. Some are just outright comical. One bug in particular that I have come to know and love is something I affectionately refer to as “Anarchy Apocalypse”. It doesn’t always happen, but when it does, look out. The premise works like this. When you are in any city, attack a citizen or guard, preferably while other characters are nearby. Then run like hell. Now obviously doing this will cause AI characters to chase after you, which can be quite a laugh factory in itself. But where things turn comical is when, if you are able to, hide or somehow remain outside the range of contact from the AI, the characters will suddenly begin turning on each other. Guards vs. civilians, civilians vs. civilians, guards vs. guards, it’s a total blood orgy.

I single-handedly wiped out the entire population of the city of Cheydinhal by inflicting a single stab wound on a local beggar, which then triggered a widespread murder rampage among the civilian population who (armed with swords and other stabbing weapons) set upon each other like a pack of bloodthirsty Huns. A feeding frenzy of violence ensued. The city guard soon joined in this murderous melee, and in no time the city was a ghost town, streets littered with corpses. I ask you, what could be more fun than watching a whole city descend into bloodrage? Nothing else compares to witnessing an elderly woman slashing away at mace wielding guards while being attacked by a high elf armed with an Axe. Pure comedy.

The screenshots below are merely a sample of some of the antics I’ve witnessed during these Anarchy Apocalypse outbreaks. But you get the idea.

(“Don’t panic, I’ll slay you…err, save you.” Guards attacking members of the local Fighter’s Guild. Want to see something even funnier? Get members of the Mages Guild to go after the Fighter’s Guild. Two words…”Shock Spell”)

(Don’t ask me where in the hell the ghost came from, he appeared out of nowhere. I guess even the dead like a good brawl as well.)

Turning An Old Dell PC Into A Mac

No Comments »May 20th, 2006

Ever since Apple ported OSX to the Intel x86 architecture, bootleg copies of the PC-compatible OS have flowed through peer 2 peer networks like a pandemic virus. In fact, an entire community of PC “Mac users” was born almost overnight, devoted to the cause of running OSX on mainstream PC hardware.

Being the curious lad that I am, I have longed to experience first hand how OSX 10.4 Tiger performs on generic PC hardware. All in the name of research of course. As I’m sure you have already figured out, I’m quite a Mac fan. However I still remain largely a PC user. Much as I love Apple and Macintosh platform as a whole, I still have a parallel affinity for the PC side of the computing market. Windows XP, despite its numerous flaws, is a viable and fairly reliable platform that I use daily, right alongside my Mac. It’s not politically correct to endorse Windows or Microsoft, but then again I’ve never been politically correct.

(Behold…the ancient Dell Dimension 8100…in all its…uh, glory?)
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Oblivion: What is it, Citizen?

No Comments »May 18th, 2006

There’s nothing I love more than an exceptionally well designed piece of software or game title. Bethesda’s hot new role-playing game, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, is quite simply the most innovative game I have played in years. It’s an instant classic that rivals such legendary names as LucasArts Jedi Knight series. Over the past month that I’ve played Oblivion I can’t put it down. I plan on writing a more lengthy review I’ve been working in my spare time, later in the week. But needless to say if you haven’t yet played Oblivion, run to your nearest retailer and buy a copy. You won’t be disappointed.

New Template, Work in Progress

No Comments »May 17th, 2006

In case you’re wondering why various sections of the blog don’t look quite right, this is because I’m in the middle of implementing a new tempate design, but I still haven’t fully formatted all the various Movabletype core template files. I should have the entire process complete by later tonight or early tomorrow. My ultimate goal is to migrate over to WordPress, but that’s going to take some time to delve into.

In the meantime thanks for visting and mind the wet paint.

Open Source Has Holes Too

No Comments »May 3rd, 2006

What’s this? Open Source isn’t made from galvanized code, impervious to attack? This can’t be! Only Micro$oft software has vulnerabilities, right? Call me sick, but I get smile on my face every time a flaw is discovered in Linux or other notable open source software. It just further validates my long standing belief that “free” software is actually just as bad, if not worse, in terms of security and reliability as any commercial product. Security is an illusion. Every piece of software written by human hand has holes. If you don’t believe me, disable your firewall in Linux and OSX and post your IP address. Then sit back and wait for vandals to have their fun with your supposedly “secure” system.

Yes, Windows may be full of holes, but at the end of the day, so is any other OS developed outside Fortress Redmond. Link