Hadn’t posted anything in a while, time for an update. Thought I’d post a list of my top 10 iPhone / iPod Touch games. These games are one of the main reasons I haven’t posted anything lately. They are all very addictive. In alphabetical order, all links open in iTunes, here goes…
Blocked – Simple puzzle game. I’ve played all the way into level 43, lots of fun. ($0.99)
Fieldrunners – Hadn’t played this in a while, but I played the hell out of it when it first came out. The best ‘tower defense’ type game on iPhone IMO. ($2.99)
Flight Control – An absolute addiction. You’ll want to keep playing trying to beat your high score. A recent update added some new playing fields. Excellent for insomniacs. ($0.99)
Frenzic – This one has been around a while, but still fun to pick up now and again. Simple puzzle game, but the beauty is in the simplicity. ($2.99)
Parachute Panic – My latest game, another that you won’t want to put down trying to top your high score. Love the graphics and sounds, simple and totally fun. ($0.99)
Peggle – Totally addictive and challenging. You’ll never tire of playing it. On sale right now for $0.99, I think I paid $4.99 and would again. If you buy one game on this list, this is it, especially while it’s onsale.
Pocket God – Not really a game, just an excellent distraction. Take out the pains of your day on a helpless islander. ($0.99)
Strategery – Conquer the map one piece at a time. Looks simple, it’s not. ($1.99)
Wurdle – Another older game, excellent word puzzle. Makes as many words as you can with the grid you are given. I’m not very good at it but it’s still fun. ($1.99)
Zen Bound – Beautiful graphics, great music. This is a one of kind game perfect for the touch interface.
Available in 2 and 3 color bodies, this review covers the 2 color only.
Bodies are $2.70 and $3.00.
Cartridges are available for $1.50 in 15 colors and 2 sizes, 0.3mm and 0.4mm.
Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi Pens
Available in 2 and 3 color bodies, this review covers both.
Bodies are $1.50 and $2.25
Cartridges are available for $2 each or a 10 pack for $15 in 3 sizes, 0.3mm, 0.4mm, and 0.5mm.
First off, I really enjoyed both of these pens. All the cartridges I bought for both were 0.4mm. With previous experience of both Hi-Tec-C and Slicci pens, I knew that was the size I liked. All 4 are transparent, available in a variety of colors. Loading the cartridges was a breeze. The Hi-Tec-C loads from the top, click open the cap and slide in the cartridges. The Slicci loads from the middle, unscrew and snap in the cartridge. I prefer the Hi-Tec-C way because the actual colors are on the piece you depress to select the pen. On the Slicci the selectors are both clear so you have to look at the pen for a few seconds to decide which one you need.
As far as the ink and writing, this is where both pens are great. I’ve used both in single pen formats and these were just as good. The ink is smooth, has good colors, all the pens feel solid as you write. I’ve used some multipens in the past that would rattle so much it got annoying. Neither of these pens rattled even when shaken. I think the Slicci colors are a bit better, it’s blue is more blue and red a bit brighter. Both have a blue black available, which is a favorite of mine.
The Slicci cost more, but not enough to matter. For a 2 color pen you’ll pay $5.70 for the Slicci and $5.50 for the Coleto. If you buy a 10 color pack the Coleto gets a bit cheaper per color.
If I to pick one (glad I don’t have to), I’d go with the Slicci. I don’t have a real reason, other than just personal preference and tomorrow I could like the Hi-Tec-C more. You can’t go wrong with either.
Hello, my name is Jim and I’m a World of Warcraft addict. I resisted playing for years but finally decided to try it out a few months back. Lots of friends from work and Twitter were playing so I figured why not. Now that I’m playing, there’s no closing that box.
I started out with a Draenei warrior (Bwen) that I leveled to 25. I then tried a human mage (Queri) and a gnome warlock (Ze´ro´). The mage was my primary but once he hit 55 I created a night elf death knight (Cubik) and haven’t played the mage since. My DK is up to lvl 67 as of last night. The death knight is a bit overpowered or at least it seems to be compared to the other classes I’ve played. For a newbie like myself overpowered works just fine. I’ve found that the quests from the expansions are much better than the original races. Starting a Draenei from 1 was much easier than the human or gnome. Starting a DK from 55 was just plain fun. The quests are enjoyable and the progression of levels in Outlands has been great.
Over the last week or three I’ve been trying out add-ons and working on my DK professions while also questing in Outlands. The add-ons I started with were suggested by friends. As I’ve played more, read some blogs, and listened to some podcasts I’ve started customizing to my own likes. Here’s a rundown of some of my favorites:
Hallelujah!!! This is the single bestest thing Google could’ve done with Gmail as far as I’m concerned. I use Gmail for bigjim.org and actually pay for a Google Apps account for graham.fm. With this change I won’t mind using my jimg72 at gmail account for everything and won’t need to worry about having three Google logins. I can use iGoogle to check my mail, use my main login for Google Reader and Google Talk. It means I can use it for everything. It is good.
Once I confirm it I’ll attempt to move it all over this weekend. I think there’s even a plugin that will allow multiple signatures on Gmail. Oh Happy Day.
Today I started running. Not fast mind you, but for me running. In my first attempt at keeping a good pace I did 2 miles in 30 minutes 10 seconds. That’s right at 4 miles an hour which knowing where I started is pretty amazing. When I first started with the trainer a couple months back I couldn’t average 4 miles a hour for 5 minutes much less 30. Since my lapband surgery in September ‘08 I’ve now lost 57 lbs. Running just wasn’t possible when I weighed 280, walking was tough enough then. I could still be eating better foods. The band controls portion but when you eat out and drink as much beer as I do it’s not helping.
We’ve had to drop our personal trainer for the time being because of lack of funds. Now that I’m training on my own I needed to set a personal goal. That goal is running a 5k and maybe eventually even more. I’m not setting a time to beat or place just yet, but completing a 5k is the first step.
So that’s it. I’m going to run a race. Some time. In the future. I can run now for the first time in a long time, so I’m going to do it.
I’m not a huge college basketball fan either, but filling out and following a bracket should be fun for anyone. Even my wife plays! Join up NOW!
FYI, this might not be a good year to be a homer and pick all SEC teams.
PRIZES
OK. Here’s the deal… If we get 25 or more people in the BIGJIM.org ESPN Tournament Challenge Group I’ll give away an iPod Shuffle to the winner. It’s used, but in excellent condition. The earbuds have never been used and are still in the Apple wrap. The model I have is 2GB Silver, as shown in the picture below.
The 2nd prize bundle (1st prize if we get less than 25 entries) is as follows:
First up, the Couleur. Had high hopes for this pen but it’s just too damned small for my hands. I have fat stubby fingers and can barely even hold this thing to write. I don’t mind so much that it’s short just that it’s so thin I might as well be writing with the refill not the pen. The ink delivery is still great like all Pilot Hi-Tec-C pens; 0.4mm is definitely the sweet spot for me. This is a women’s pen for sure.
Next up, the Slim Knock. A little bit better than the Couleur, but still not for me. It’s a fraction bigger in diameter and longer than the Couleur but also lighter since it’s a cheaper pen with no metal. It just doesn’t feel right in the hand. If I had to pick one to throw in the car for an emergency pen it would be the Slim Knock since it is a bit easier to write with than the Couleur.
Last and my most highly anticipated purchase in a while, the Slims 2 Color. You’d think when I saw Slims it should’ve scared me away but I totally ignored it and ordered this pen as soon as JetPens started selling them. The problem I have with this pen was it was $22.50 and it just feels cheap. I was expecting something closer to a Pilot Hi-Tec-C Cavalier Executive Gel Pen and it’s nowhere near the quality of that pen and costs more. It’s extremely light weight. The mechanism to switch pens is clumsy and loose. It feels like a cheap pen. I would rather write with my $3 Pilot Hi-Tec-C Gel Ink Pens with Grip any day over this pen. Extremely disappointed. I guess I should try a Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi Pen to see if I like it better.
Here’s a photo with the Cavalier and plain old pen with grip included also for comparison. That’s it for this week, next week I hope to post a review of my Levenger Circa gear.
This shit pisses me off so much I want to break things. WTF are we doing bailing out these assholes that knowingly put themselves in this situation. The money is basically flowing into a black hole to foreign banks and can’t be traced. The more I read about the bailout bullshit the madder I get.
I’ve been buying lots of pens lately so I decided I should start posting some reviews. First a little bit about what I like in a pen. I prefer a pen with a little weight. I prefer gel ink to ball point and don’t use fountain pens at all. I prefer small tips, much smaller than what is available at your local Wal-Mart, but not the smallest stuff you can get from a place like JetPens (Which is where I buy all my pens). I write with blue ink 90% of the time. When I buy a nice black pen I usually buy a blue refill at the same time and never use the black. I just like blue ink. I buy pencils too but don’t use them much. It’s just habit since I got started buying pens back in high school and college when I became addicted to buying mechanical pencils.
Today I’ll be reviewing the Uni-ball Signo DX UM-151 Gel Pens 0.38mm or more specifically the 8 color set of this pen. I received them from JetPens last Tuesday and have been using them (mostly blue) all week. It’s got a great feel in the hand. The weight is good for a pen this size, the grip does what it’s supposed to do, and the barrel is a little bigger than a normal gel ink pen. It’s very smooth with a thin tip, not something that’s easy to pull off. All A+ qualities in a pen by me, which is why it is likely to become my new daily driver. Currently that’s a Pilot Hi-Tec-C Gel Ink Pens with Grip in 0.4mm. Since that pen is only available in black, blue, and red, the variety of colors available with the Signo DX also makes it a winner.
Of the 8 colors, the only one I can’t see myself using is pink. It comes out looking bright bright red but after a minute or two settles to perfectly pink, not my cup of tea. The purple is dark, light blue still dark enough to use on white paper, and orange and green useful when you’re taking notes and need to make something stand out.
I hope to post 1 or 2 of these reviews a week. I’ve got some Levenger stuff I would like to review and lots of pens laying all about the place. Also, just got a new mouse from Microsoft that’s begging for a review after I’ve used it for a week or 2. Loving it so far but I’ve only had it a day.
