McPhee

I'm off til next Thursday as of last night. It's gonna be epic! I don't have to walk in to that shithole for a whole week! Unfortunately I'm working from next Thursday right over the Bank Holiday weekend until the following Thursday. That's gonna be wank. Maybe I should just quit and get a better job?...

I just got bitten on the eye by a frickin Mosquito! I shit you not. Saw the little bastard coming at me, tried to swat him away and... POW! He dodged and got me right in the eye! I grabbed it, threw it to the floor and went to the bathroom to take a look. The bite's made my eye swell up, it hurts like hell and to make matters worse... the little fucker came at me for round 2 as soon as I got back in my room! Got him now though. He's sat in a jam jar. What the hell do I do with it? Let it go? Burn it? Throw the jar in a pan of boiling water?

I could do with those too This year is THE year to go to Italy apparently. Something about it being 150 years since the country was formed. Festivals and all that jazz all year round.

118. Can't get much higher without taking a liking to foreign or classic cinema. Is it just me that thinks some of the films on that list are crap?

Waaay too much sex/nudity in it, but the first episode was alright. Crappy cliffhabger at the end. I'm off to seek out my copy of the book now so I can read it, didn't get in to it last time I tried but I'm intrigued now!

They got such a good deal because Sony cannot afford to lose. Neither side could, and neither side could have been all that certain of victory (or they wouldn't have signed up to a compromise). Imagine if Sony lost! That would set the precident that it's OK to hack in to, and modify hardware that you own. There would be nothing to stop similar incidents in the future. This compromise limits the damage and keeps the threat of legal action on the table as a deterrent to future hackers. I'm disappointed to be honest. I was hoping for a clear-cut court ruling as to whether or not this activity is legal. Instead it'll remain a legally grey area, until next time.

"Relax don't do it When you want to go to it Relax don't do it When you want to come" Yes?

Why bother posting? I mean, really? I would rant, but a wise man said "Never argue with an idiot. They just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience". I've found it's usually true. Ranting would be utterly pointless. It's the wank-proof version of the iPad. It's 200% harder to see the stains than on the regular version.

Do we... Know each other? Not to mentoin mobile phones, the dirtiest of all objects! Not that I'm wanting to give the OCD brigade anyting else to OCD over...

This thread made me want cheese! Currently chomping on some Isle of Bute Cheddar, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Jarlsberg and Brie (with the rind left on, heathen!). Need to get some more in really, not as much choice as normal. Got some Mexicana in the fridge, but not in the mood of spicy cheese. My favourites are Thomas Hoe's aged Leicestershire Red, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Davidstowe, Mozzarella Di Buffala And Chevre Blanc. If I was to pick my ultimate it would have to be Parmigiano-Reggiano, though smoked Mozzarella Di Buffala comes pretty close. They're all great though especially washed down with a good beer!

DFA1979 last played in 2004. I kinda missed them, was stood next to the tent waiting for people (was my first fest so wasn't in to going wandering off on my lonesome). What I heard was awesome, more raw than the album, but I didn't see owt. I had no idea they reformed. Seriously tempted to head back to Leeds this year, I just hope it ain't as bad as Reading was last time I went (no atmosphere, just masses of kids pratting around).

TW: Shogun II is awesome. Best instalment in the series by a country mile. Hard though. Much harder than any of the other games were.

Seems like the best option. There's bugger all else to do in Dundee in the evenings, unless you head to the Cinema, but they're all on the outskirts of the city. Beats sitting in the hotel room?

Completed Mafia II last night. That. Shit. Was. Awesome! I've noticed a lot of people complain that it's not "open world" enough, but personally I'm glad. The freedom is there, but because there's sod all to do the world doesn't detract from the story. I loved it for not being Grand Theft Auto, it's an action game with a great story, great cut-scenes and great voice acting, not a world sim with a criminal slant. I'd feel a bit cheated if I paid £40 for it though, the game lasts roughly 8 hours with little to no reason to replay. Anyhow, if it goes on sale at a fiver again I urge anyone interested to just buy it. You're unlikely to regret the purchase.

I turned 21. Blates the reason Epic Thread was 2006 I think? It was just before I became a mod Hang on, was that the day we got hacked by any chance?

Time for me to get back to the Gym; been too lazy over the past six months. I normally go to the Gym in the Winter and do outdoor stuff in the summer but this time I didn't sign up due to sheer lazyness/dislike of the Gym (it really ain't my cup of tea, but I don't mind if I'm there at the same time as some mates). I can feel it now. I've not really gained any weight, but my stamina is way down. I'm not happy with that at all so I'm going to hit the Gym over the Summer as well as doing the outdoor stuff in the hope that I can recover quickly. Also got my eye on a new road bike after my last one got written off, just got to wait until pay day.

I'm sure he's learnt his lesson either way. I'd be surprised if there isn't lasting damage to his left knee from an impact like that.

That looked like it hurt. Threw him around like a rag doll lol. Does make me wonder though, why did that scrawny little thing think it was a good idea to start a fight with someone twice his size? The first rule of bullying: always pick on someone smaller than you. Apparently he wasn't suspended after all, he just got warned not to fight again or he'll get suspended.

I'm in the middle of writing an article about beer's role in society, but I'm in need of more inspiration/other viewpoints. Figured I'd pop a thread up here and get some other people's views on "the joys and jolliness of beer". Basically, what you like and dislike about it in all it's forms. Why it's great, both as a drink and as a British institution, and it's effects (both positive and negative) on society. The article will mostly focus on the positive, but any negative comments are certainly welcome. So... shoot

I just reinstalled it this evening after getting a copy free with my Shogun II preorder. Hasn't aged well, particularly if you play more modern TW games. I'd wait for the inevitable Medieval II deal that will be on, that one stands the test of time quite well and there's loads of great mods out for it. The engine is still a bit behind Empire, but it doesn't feel stone-age like Rome does. I'm hoping Creative Assembly bring us Rome II next in all honesty, the first was cracking game for it's time and it's probably the most interesting TW era due to the variety of troops and tactics being fielded across Europe at the time. I was disappointed they didn't go with it over Shogun II tbh.

A stupid release date though. Have any games released in August ever sold well? Game sales always drop off in July and August in to September.

Brew Dog were my favourite brewer. Not so sure now though, I've not tried most of their current range because nowhere local stocks anything other than the Punk IPA these days. Might have to order a few mixed cases directly. Their 'Dogma' beer was amazing, it basically introduced me to the idea that beer wasn't just a bland, bubbly substance of varying colour. The smell of heather and taste of honey in the beer was incredible and was the first time I really noticed that beer could actually contain other flavours, gained from the hops or the other ingredients and the environments they were grown in. Unfortunately I'm not sure Brew Dog are quite the same brewer they were 2 years ago, they've been focused on brewing the World's Strongest Beer of late. They started with Hardcore IPA at 9.5%, then moved up to Tokyo at 18.2%, then got the World's Strongest gong with Tactical Nuclear Penguin, then lost it to German brewer Schorschbrau's Schorschboch, then regained the title last month with Sink The Bismark (awesome name!). Having never tried beer stronger than 10% I'm not all that sure about ordering any of that stuff (the Hardcore IPA is brutal enough!), Paradox is out of stock and nowt stands out in the standard range. Loving Badger ales at the moment. Such a great range of beers with so much flavour! Had some English Gold last night for the first time and loved it. There's a strong flavour of elderflower and grape in the beer, making it maybe a bit too drinkable? :p Could be a good one for the summer though BTW, any Londoners ever been to the Euston Tap? I've walked past it every time I've been in the city and never taken any notice. A few days ago someone told me it's one of the best Ale pubs in London. Gutted

The 'Duff' in 'Duff Beer' is meant to mean that it's no good. It's a parody of how bad most big name lagers are. He's calling the game duff, i.e. it's bad, not saying it's like a beer. Not downloaded Mafia II yet, but I passed it over in the Christmas sale because I heard it was no good. Since then I've had plenty of people tell me it's a great game, and even better for a fiver. I guess it was just disappointing for those who bought it on release.

Just bought the standard. UK pricing is £5 and £10. The Deluxe edition doesn't give you much more; Doesn't seem worth an extra fiver to me...

It's flavorless pap that tries to market itself as being premium and French, despite it being a Belgian brand brewed in Burton and being as bog-standard and working class as Carling or Fosters. There's a lack of any kind of distinctive flavour due to the low amount of hops used and the carbonation is too strong for my liking. So in a nutshell, I think it's a poor Pilsner, but brilliantly marketed one. How they can make anyone believe that it's premium and continental is beyond me. It's far from either.