The latest offering in the rapidly overflowing strategy genre is hard evidence that strategy games need a real overhaul, and fast. Chess, a small-scale tactical turn-based strategy game, attempts to adopt the age-old "easy to learn, difficult to master" parameter made popular by Tetris. But the game's cumbersome play mechanics and superficial depth and detail all add up to a game that won't keep you busy for long. more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:11 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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...it was like gossiping with a chum in the gunroom: the place was littered with port bottles, full and empty, along with three Colt revolvers on the side table, boxes of patent matches, a broken telescope, a well-thumbed Bible next to the Woolwich Manual of Fortification, a shelf packed with jars of Coward mixed pickles, bundles of silver ingots tied with red waxed string and thrown carelessly on the bed, an old barommeter, piles of French crockery, jade ornaments, tea cups, a print of the Holy Well in Flintshire propped up against the Young Cricketer's Companion, and papers, books, and rubbish spread in dusty confusion.

(George McDonald Fraser, Flashman and the Dragon)

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:22 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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How It All Began

In ancient Israel, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot. And Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg. Indeed, she had been called Amazon Dot Com. more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:12 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Remember that great end sequence from the classic monster flick, Them! You know, giant ants rampaging across California, settling into Los Angeles? The end sequence took place in the flood-control tunnels that criss-cross the city. Here's a look at similar tunnels under Las Vegas. I looks like there are some strange inhabitants down there! more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 08:30 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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An interview with Ben Schott, author of Schott's Original Miscellany and other amazing works of detail. He is the World Wide Web!

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As I work my way through the Jack Aubrey-Stephen Maturin books, the Horatio Hornblower books, various histories and more, bits of naval lore are starting to sink in. To give my computer a slightly naval theme, I can now install ship's bells! And I've found two handy sites that breakdown the schedules.

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Another Nixie clock! Wish I wasn't such a klutz when it comes to electronics and mechanical work!

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Until I came across this site completely by accident, I had completely forgotten how much I loved the tales of Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen, Ph.D.,LL.D., F.R.S., M.D., M.D.S., a.k.a., The Thinking Machine. The site mentions a collection (edited and introduced by Harlan Ellison!) which I'll have to hunt down. In the meantime, you can try the tales yourself. See if you can solve the riddle of The Problem of Cell 13!

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 02:21 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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