jayseven

I typed out "and boys do too. Heck, everyone likes gifts." then deleted it. Gifts are good when they're accurate. Accuracy requires understanding. Thus a gift is a display of your closeness to the person. But unfortunately a whole lotta gifts require mon-ay, and a whole lotta people's stuff they want is stuff they can't afford, otherwise they'd have it already. I'm not saying girls are shallow, nor am I saying that all girls will leave you if you never spend money on them. There are other ways to get happiness -- but the basic point Mad Monkey made, that girls like money being spent on them, is fair enough. And personally, I'm fairly content without money - but money buys comfort!

Ooh ooh! Green Arrow! *wins*

My girlfriend wouldn't take that kind of proposal seriously - but I think the point is that a proposal, if it is to be romantic, needs to be something special to that relationship. And I have to say that I kinda agree with Mad Monkey - girls do like the attention of gifts.

No not the new one; ... And I got it for free!

I don't know any opening lines. That's my ground to work on!

MCJ; I'm going to get some lessons from my dad and perhaps read a theory book or two before I dare challenge you again :P Have you ever studied the game or are you just naturally daunting?

I didn't want to sacrifice my pawn structure for what would've been even material. It was my pawn structure and my fairly-safe king in the end that allowed me much more freedom with my playing pieces! You didn't really have to retreat immediately, you could've castled then let me initiate the exchange, which would've led to a different battle as at that point your bishop was the only one left and could've been quite crucial. As it was I think your bishop was neutered. But yeah, gonna play through it again and see how it could've been.

Isn't one of the 'benchmarks' of emotional entaglement the ability for the piece of art to make the audience cry? Gaming has a few moments in its history that hold a claim to this potential - aeris dying in FFVII for example, but in general it isn't able to manipulate the subtler emotions as well as music or film. I think this is primarily because of the game's deep level of interaction! A gamer is constantly aware that they are simply a gamer with their controller in hand. Gaming requires too much non-trivial action for the user's emotions to overcome their rational thinking. Gaming is about carving ones own path through a universe, while watching a movie or experiencing a book or an album is an act of following, of pursuit; such linearity gives the author a greater control of how we can possibly react. Computer games are primarily puzzles to solve. Narrative is generally just a mere tool to prompt us to continue with the puzzle. With other forms of entertainment, narrative tends to be the whole reason we choose to experience it - unless you count technological gimmicks that offer a novel experience altogether (3D cinema, etc). Personally, I think games can be a form of art without needing to try and be grand puppeteers of our sensitivities. There is art in their construction, and that is enough for me.

It was a very close game! Dwarf surprised me with the first check, but what won for me was that I had castled, and he had not. my pieces were developed before his, so I just had to be patient with the game. Several times Dwarf surprised me and made me really have to think - I'm going to get the move list and go over this game later this week and see where I can improve. Definitely should play again!

I'll give them a look, cheers aimless. I've just picked up the monotonous Price Of Persia orb-grabbing title so I'll see how I fare with that rock-climbing sim.

I've never been interested in Tomb Raider. Controls were always too fiddly (perhaps too precise?) for me, so this reboot sounds utterly fantastic!

And at some point you will want to study/have a quiet night :P My personal, limited experience - the fewer people, the better.

TOTALLY TRUEFAX. I was doing my BISHings from memory and didn't even think to check. Current total; 940!

There are five pokemon cards there. Do you debate that fact? It's simple maths. Don't make me get grunch/fish/chair in here! Rocky Pose (10) My clothes look both too big and too small for me. 960. I'm seriously aiming to get every. single. BISH.

Danny; don't force anything 'til you're closer then! What's the hurry? Diageo; congrats!

Try and knock even a tenner off! You'll have council tax to deal with, so it's worth an attempt to lower the price. They're not going to turn around and raise the price on you.

Something Flashy (10) A red car and a blue car facing each other (20) 5 pokemon cards (10) Chalk on a snooker cue (20) (brand new chalk, so was truly a balancing act!) The Past (20) Not bad for a teenager! :P Total: 930

Vote: Mad Monkey

Danny; don't you dare just say "hey listen, I really want to tell you something. I like you." If you're going to be 'honest' about it then just don't be blunt. Just take your time, try and do more stuff with her more frequently.

Personally I'm not addicted to games in the sense that I frequently go days without having a proper sesh. I'm sure the programme will be looking at stuff like WoW more than, y'know, peggle and shit. There is an addicting element to gaming. I was playing MW2 flippin' loads, and some games I play to death because I need that last achievement. But how can gaming be detrimental? I suppose it's main negative point would be the anti-social aspect.

^Negotiating price is something lots of people miss out on! Two of the guys in my house last year went on to a new place with the same letting agency, managed to barter free sky HD sports package, a lazyboy chair, free water and council tax and wrangled the price down £50 each a month. Partly because of some crap that happened with our house, and partly because the place they moved into needed something done, too. My sister bargained her flat down because her husband spotted some dodgy plumbing and, being a plumber, offered to fix it for free if they got a lower price. Wins out in the long run!

When I worked for woolies aged 18 they accidentally gave me the contract with £5.55 on it (or whatever the 21+ min. wage was). A couple of months later they noticed they were paying more than they had to, and basically started threatening to fire me if I didn't sign a new contract. I was on one of those 3-month contracts at the time, so I played it cool and signed a new contract a couple of weeks before what would've been the end of my job - and I ensured it was a permanent contract! I was only doing something like 10 hours a week, and by the time I left I had a 45%~ percent 'attendance'. Was stoned most of the time I was working, too. Aaah, good times! Anyway! Worst thing to happen today; Job Centre signed me on 10 mins late, gave me another back-to-work session (had one only two weeks ago!), and my hearing aids are both broken in some way. Hospital repairs centre was closed today and will be tomorrow. Bah!

I don't have the disposable income to support you, m'lad, but I applaud your efforts! More of a digital coma though, isn't it? :P Anyway! Best of luck to you. I don't think I could do it - and I dread to think what I could achieve if I did do it...