Talk to me! Email to vitas@GracefulBoot.com
Talk to me! Email to vitas@GracefulBoot.com
Click here for the past What's New/Page History page.
Click here for the Board Games fan page history.
Added Info about the Sampo DVE-612 to my Playing multi-region DVDs web page.
Fixed Cool Links.
I took my car in for regular service, and ended up adding neccessary repairs. It cost $1400 for it. Gee, that's almost the value of the car! Replaced leaky radiator, replaced broken stabilizer links, fixed rear brakes. I got a Ford Focus loaner for the day. Nice car, but not much power. (My friend, Al, adores the Focus, so the sports model must be a lot better.)
The repairs were worth it because the car seems to run smoothly now and I can hold off buying a new car another year or two, but at the time I was so frustrated at spending that much for repairs instead of on something fun that I finally took the plunge and bought my dream speakers. (Cambridge Soundworks Newton T500's & Onkyo TX-SR700 Receiver.)
Lordy Lordy, they're much bigger in my living room than in the showroom... they look like the monoliths from A Space Odyssey. But the footprint is just the size I wanted. It sounds incredible!!! My TV screen seems small relative to the sounds I hear. I'm hearing details in Lord of the Rings I don't remember hearing before (even though the character reactions indicated they heard something. I may have heard it all in the theater, but I remember the DVD's better.) Even at the low volume I had it during testing last night, it gave me a tremendous wow factor. (I don't even have the center speaker wired yet, and I didn't get the rear surrounds.)
I added a page for the stupid traffic signs I see around Massachusetts.
I culled a couple of good quotes by Eugene Jarvis. These are from the engaging hyperbook about 80's game creators, Halcyon Days.
Added a Deep Thought.
Added the following travelogues with photos!
I fixed some links and found some replacement web pages for my Playing multi-region DVDs web page.
Added link:
Just changed all the mailto links to use a mail form so that people don't have to have an email program to send me email. Email is sent via the web browser.
In my quest to make the Net less cluttered, I found this web site mentioned in the spielfrieks mailing list. It's a good, customizable ad killer for Microsoft Windows.
My pal, Robert Goodwin, gave me an updated link for my cool links page.
Disney is disappointing fans of the Muppets by releasing full-frame versions of Muppet Treasure Island and Muppet Christmas Carol. Read about it at the following link. I urge you to contact Disney (information given at the link) and let them know you'd like widescreen anamorphic versions of the movies.
The recording industry has been trying to unfairly dominate your entertainment spending. Check out this article. In response, support local entertainers and boycott pop culture. How do you know if it's pop culture? Well, if all your friends like what you like, it's time to find something new to like!
I was looking for a cheap digital camera to take pictures of my board gaming sessions, and ended up with a webcam. It looked horrible-- bad focus, bad colors, refracted colors. Yuck!
Then I saw a pricy, yet nifty-looking camera with decent specs, so I bought it, and haven't had any regrets. It's just the thing for worry free snapshots, and it looks great. Check out this excellent review.
My friends, John and Tim, have released a new computer game, Moon Tycoon, with a sequel to follow! Check out the link and enjoy!
Added a Deep Thought.
I've been updating my Board Game fan page without announcements here. Check it often.
I fixed some links and found some replacement web pages for my Playing multi-region DVDs web page.
I created my own board game fan page.
I went to a SIGGRAPH presentation at Z Corporation which has a spiffy 3D color printer. I mean, it creates a physical model out of 3D computer data! It'll be useful for creating custom miniatures for gaming. I'm including the link in case anyone wants to try taking advantage of their offer to print a sample. Are there any good .stl-files out there for fantasy based characters? Send email if you know. I'm looking forward to a home version of this printer!
I'm on a board game kick at the moment because I like the designs and companionship that they offer. Here's a link to my board game session reports, which will be a diary of games I play. Board Game Session Reports
Here are additional board game related links that I find useful.
Contents by Vitas Povilaitis email to vitas@GracefulBoot.com