gaggle64

Yes, I too contain that special gene that predetermines my system to react in a hostile manner to anything tri-coloured. Sometimes I revel in these emotions (London:2012), other times I choose to ignore them in favour of rationality (Paris:1944) and not just being an arse (I'm going skiing there after all). Irregardless of how you feel about the French, the fact remains. They had the sense to give Shigsy and Ancel a knighthood, and we didn't.

What's with all teh French hating?

Captain Scarlet! Fantastic 60s semi-pop. All the old Gerry Anderson shows had a typically cheesy yet-brilliant score. Fireball XL-5 also had a brilliant main theme. I wish i was a space man the fastest guy alive I'd fly across the universe In fireball XL-5... Hehe, great tune.

I think the goth who lives in the server room is a nice touch. I'd simply love to see that final twist in the last episode blossom into a full fledged sexual relationship between Richmond and Denholm in series 2.

Here's one: unless the idea of doing absolutely nothing (and I really mean - NOTHING) thrils you in some perverse way, avoid taking the Scottish Higher Computing course. I swear to god, I knew less about computers after I finished the course. You get to learn facinating things (possibly every other week), like how computers may one day start transmitting whole MEGABYTES of data to each other every MINUTE, and that even SMALL BUSINESSES may be able to aford them. The final test is the worst, with fantastic mind-bending questions like (and I quote): "A holiday travel company wants to install a computer system for it's customers. One is has Graphic User interface. The other is a Command interface system. What is the difference between these two systems? (10 marks)." To put that into perspective, that's about 10% of the whole paper, and the time limit is nearly 3 hours. the whole fucking paper is like that. You seriously have to work for your marks. At what exactly still aludes me. My teacher used to teach maths.

Wow, I really like that. It's really quite wonderfully horrible - 9/10. I've changed mine recently, to get into the mood following a winter of F1 depravation. Do you think i should stick with the Starbucks F1 (as I call it) or "The Real Popemobile"?

Was that the recent Steve Martin version, or the original Peter Sellers classic?

Something to upgrade my PC with. A bigger motherboard, some more RAM, new hard drive, maybe put it towards a better graphic card.

"Fanta Z - now with added T-virus!"

Hey guys, I've sniffing around various clan server providers, as I'm intrested in possibly starting a CS:S and/or possibly DO:S and/or Battlefield 2 clan with a few friends. Can any recommend a good provider? I've looked at Jolt.co.uk, which have a good reputation, but I've also been looking at gdhost.co.uk, a lesser known provider, but they're slightly cheaper and offer more fexible servers (Jolt doesn't offer basic 32-player clan servers - I won't accept anything else for DOD). Their forum has some good feedback on it too. Does anyone have a second opinion on them? Cheers in advance. : peace:

I'll admit to crying every now and again, and I never know why. Sometimes I might hear a song, or just think of something which triggers something for no apparent reason. I've never done it too often, but it has happend from time to time. I think it's a teen thing. All those hormones mixing it up and producing random emotions and stuff. It's confusing.

Downfall on more 4 thursday night, about the final hours of Hitler and the Nazi state as Berlin fell to the Soviets in 1945. It was stunning. Absolutely stunning. There honestly isn't a bad actor in that whole film, and the script and cinematography is flawless. Sometimes the actors are actually too good - even as the Russians close in, Hitler and his closest aids appear to remain convinced of victory, and you yourself almost believe them. When Hitler feels he is betrayed by his former Leftenant Himmler, you can feel his rage and sorrow as if your best friend had betrayed you. There are some fantastic, memorable lines in the film too: (Hitler hands a loyal nurse a cyanide capsule) Hitler: "I'm sorry I can't give you a nicer present." Quite honestly, the best war film ever made, bar none. 10/10

I think the IT crowd is great. Some people don't seem to like it, but it's great to see some fresh new comedy. I can't wait to see the second series myself. To be honest it feels like it's just gotten warmed up so I'm fully expecting the second series to build on it nicely. I would recommend that evryone give it a second try at least - comedy classics like Blackadder, Only Fools and Horses and Red Dwarf were largely ignored in their first seasons afterall. Hell, Red Dwarf was almost totally ignored until about season 5. "Hello have you tried turning it on and off, have you tried sticking up your arse!" (Slams phone down - pause) "Oh. I've just realised that was my mother. Ah well." I mean c'mon - it's from the guy who wrote Father Ted. You can't say it's not at least vaguely amusing.

I really enjoyed Robin Hood, Toy Story, the Lion king and Aristocats, but Dumbo is by far the best do far. It's everything a Disney movie SHOULD be, and what the executives who enjoy stripping Disney of any kind of creativity should remember that it was this kind of films that built the corperation. Dumbo has it all - immorial and uncaring society, seperation and substance abuse. All in all, it's actually a pretty dark and even brutal film at times, albeit one with a happy ending. Whole studios, like Studio Ghibli, probably wouldn't be able to do what they do if animated films like Dumbo, Pinnochio and Snow White had not blazed such a trail, one which seems so alien to 21st century Disney. Walt must be spinning in his cryotube.

Last I heard, Nintendo were considering an Live-style option. They're obviously going to go for the online thing, and in a big way, but exactly how remains to be seen. They need to find a counter balance between organisation and accesabillity, but I feel that the Revo online service could end up being quite different to the DS. We'll all know by the end of E3.

I honestly can't say the idea of complex power options keeps me awake. To be honest, I'm glad to hear there will be a totally Aero-free Basic version. I don't need or want most of the extra features that Vista will try to whore. The "Game browser" for example. I mean... why? All I want is some 32/64 bit fuctionality. Are you listening Microsoft? Cut the crap.

I think there's something to be said for a printed games mag. The main ones I read are NGC and Edge. You could argue that any old site has the same news up weeks before, but I feel that many publications offer reviews, editorials and opinions of a quality that you just can't get from your average internet site. Edge is almost an industry paper, and god ol' NGC has never let me down in putting a humorous spin on the world of Nintendo along side it's own quality reviews. Besides, if the internet has made the gaming mag defunct, why do we still keep seeing threads saying "Hay! Look at this magzine scan! etc."

Why not train as a plumber, joiner, builder or electrician? There are loads of decent tech colleges offering courses because the UK (not sure where you are) needs workmen so bad because everyone thinks that a university degree is more useful (forget everything you learned at school). If your even half decent there's a ton of cash to be made. Just a suggestion. - you'll probably find your own thing though. To be honest I've been flying by the seat of my pants since before I left school. Life's weird like that. Just gotta take as it comes sometimes. EDIT: Actually, if all else fails train to become an actor. You'll earn next to nought (unless you take up workshopping or something - they'll teach you that in acting school) but you'll have fun. It's the modern day equivelant of running away with the circus.

I haven't played Shogun, but I would say that Rome is certainly superior to Medieval Total War (which was also very good). It's just brilliant. Seriously, you can't go wrong with it. One of the best strategy games ever made. You can pick up Rome and it's expansion Barbarian Invasion together for less than £40 now, so you really shouldn't pass up the opertunity to get involved in such a fine gaming experience. For some friendly RPG action, Neverwinter Nights can be picked up along with all it's expansions very cheaply now, and it's great D&D fun. Slightly dated prehaps, but that hasn't dented it's massive appeal.

If the PS3 even had a hope of making it out for spring, we'd all be at least kneck deep in Sony's first waves of PRBS hype by now. They just seem to be burying their heads in the sand about it, while trying to convince everyone to do the same.

Black leather thong dancing for all! Happy B-day dabookerdude!

In fairness, this obviously a pretty extreme example. However, this one of the reasons I love Nintendo: their total allergy to loading times and their desire to avoid them at all costs. If the 360 booth in my local game is anything to go by, getting rid of long loading times isn't high on the priority lists of non-Nintendo consoles.

At the moment I'm reading the book version of "Letter from America" by Alistair Cook (who you may recall was in the news recently because his bones and organs were stolen for use in pagan rituals and illegal experimentation). It's a great read - you can just read any of the letters and gain a facinating insight into momentus events in Americas post-war history. From post-war immigration in 1946 to the aftermath of the Iraq war in 2004, it's a riviting, intelligent but surprisingly easy read. Highly recommended.

Don't knock the 6600. It's a pretty basic card, but my computer has near identical specs and I've gotten some pretty decent results out of it. It's a decent amount of bang for very little buck - if you wait awhile you could soon upgrade to a 7800 relatively cheaply anyway. The AMDs work great with games too.

Remind me to get myself some more RAM and a 7800 (minimum). I'm going to need it for Medieval Total War 2 as well. Sweet PC goodness for all!