opinionated but relevant

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Quake 4

toast99 | 23 October, 2005 04:26

I purchased the FPS PC game Quake 4 yesterday, and boldly set forth to install it on my PC, a 64-bit beast with obscene amounts of memory and hard drive space, along with an impressive graphics card.

I took the precaution of updating my graphics driver, defragging my hard drives, even though I have software that constantly defrags my main drive, and placed the dvd in the drive.

All went well, product id valid, folder for installation of game ready, and off we go.

Error 1628.....not installed. Bugger.

Attempted to install on a lesser spec PC.

Installed. But. When I attempt to play the game the dvd drive is not recognised when the game is in the drive. ???

Solution. Return game and exchange for Farcry Instincts for the XBox, and wait for Quake 4 on the XBox 360.

I could have either contacted ID Software with the details, or checked the various gaming forums for advice, but when a purchaser has already made sure that he or she has above recommended minimum specs on their hardware for the game I do not see why it should be a problem in installing a game for it to work correctly.

(I almost feel disappointment in advance of playing the game though, because updates of games rarely deliver, with the exception of Unreal Tournament. Doom 3 and Half-Life 2 were both overhyped. Halo 2 on the XBox was, in my humble opinion, not as good a game as the original. There you are gamers....verbally castrate me!)

But I'm right.

Smoked Ethiopian with Mango Chutney, to go please

toast99 | 18 October, 2005 15:35

There appears to be an ill-judged foreboding about the virus known as Avian Flu, especially in The West.

There have been reported deaths to humans of well under 100 since its' inception.

In the same period there have been at least six million deaths of children from malaria.

Maybe grilled child should be on the menu instead of our exortation for cheaper poultry, then we may start getting a more realistic perception of what constitutes a health problem.

Selfish Cunt!

toast99 | 14 October, 2005 10:55

I work for a national charity in the UK, which is the UK part of a worldwide charitable organisation. My job is two-fold, firstly providing medical equipment on a short-term loan basis to patients discharged from hospital or on referral from their GP, along with people who are waiting for Social Services to provide long-term equipment to enhance their living experience.Secondly, I am the caretaker for the centre that I work in, taking care of bookings at the hall. This enables me to live in a three-bed flat with my wife, provided rent-free as part of my renumeration. This week I have been on holiday, and a friend of mine, a volunteer with the organisation, has been taking care of the medical loan side of my employment.

Now the equipment loans fall into two catagories, three month and six month loans. All mobility equipment is loaned for a maximum three months, other equipment for bathing and toiletry requirements for a maximum six months. There are reasons for this. Firstly, our supplies of equipment are finite, so there may be a situation where some equipment may be at short supply, wheelchairs especially. Secondly, there are procedures for obtaining equipment on a long-term basis, either through the patient's GP for mobility equipment, or Social Services for most other. There are situations where the patient may need to purchase the equipment. Nobody is required to pay any money to loan from us, no deposit, equipment usually available on the day required.

Which is why some people piss me off.

My friend, a volunteer, was subjected to a tirade of abuse because I had written to his wife to request the return of the wheelchair that she had loaned, it being one month overdue. His wife still needed it, her appointment for a long-term wheelchair was not until November, and no, he did not give a damn that somebody else may have to endure a wait because he was not willing to return the wheelchair until she was provided with one on a long-term basis. Some people, not all fortunately, take us for granted and assume that they can keep the equipment as long as they need it.

I can deal with this kind of ignorence, and I have contacts with the various Doctor's Surgeries and occupational therapy/physiotherapy departments at the local hospitals, along with Social Workers, so I can resolve the problems caused by these recalcitrant twats but why should a man giving his free-time have to handle this?

Forgive my rant, but a selfish attitude will do no good in the long-term. He may need my help in the future.

ps. I spoke to this man and informed him that unless he provided a request from his wife's GP for a small loan extension by next friday, he would be facing a charge. He telephoned back to guarantee a doctor's letter by Tuesday.

Television Entertainment: An Oxymoron

toast99 | 08 October, 2005 05:43

Occasionally I watch television to attempt to broaden my outlook on life, and to be entertained, though I realise that television entertainment is an oxymoron.

This last week I have watched The World with Neil Cavuto on a few occasions, to glean some sense of American politics and social awareness from a Fox Network perspective.

Is there anybody in the US who takes this man seriously? On the few interviews he carried out he spent more time interrupting his guest to push his own views and agenda, often finishing his small rant with a plug for his book. Because this show is a glorified plug for a series of book signings in tandem with Oliver North. This guy is incredible.

We have some useless individuals who profess to entertain in the UK, two who spring to mind being Eammon Holmes (smug, but having nothing discernible to be smug about!) and Richard Keys (ex-daytime TV eyecandy for the post-menopausal now presenting football programmes???) but Cavuto takes the biscuit! Not so much an oxymoron than a poxy moron.

And Anne Coulter. Think Thatcher, as a hooker but without the intellect.

My Sexy Wife

toast99 | 07 October, 2005 15:08

Anna