Chatter Of The Squirrel

Car Wrecks

People who slow down to look at road accidents REALLY PISS ME OFF!

I’m crusing down a highway, comfortably cruising on a good momentum, and suddenly have to hard brake cos THERE’S AN ACCIDENT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD!

What is so f*cking fascinating about seeing someone’s misery that you would jeopardise your own life, and everyone’s lives, by driving unpredictably, stupidly, and infuriatingly?

But sometimes…

I can almost appreciate…

The appeal of looking at disasters.

Friends are Good

Got a little too excited about Agricola…

I’ve never bought a boardgame since Mad The Boardgame almost two decades ago. But I’ve played many different boardgames since the big Eurogames boom of recent years started by Settlers of Catan.

I don’t play too often. But I’ve played many. A lot of games, I learnt how to play it once, and never played it a second time. Cos with Settler’s Cafe, which then became Mage Cafe, and the many boardgame geeks that I have come to know, there are just too many games on rotation. Everyone’s trying to play the latest games, and most of their collections get very little mileage.

But Agricola, has an unusual appeal. It’s easy to learn, yet difficult to power game. The accessibility to new players mean a much bigger pool of gamers. And it also doesn’t get old quickly for the veteran players. Thus I figured it’ll be something worth owning.

I could wait weeks and weeks for Wolf to bring it in… Or, I could source something from an online merchant, and then pay USD$30 for shipping. I was keen. But not THAT keen.

Eventually, I found a box in Singapore. Probably just a random guy importing games and running a small operation. My desire for the game finally compelled me to ask a friend to do the meetup at Bugis MRT to buy the game for me. A primary school classmate from 1984-1988. And she was so sweet to do this for me.

But shipping from Singapore to KL will also cost a fair bit. So I started advertising on Facebook to see if any friends are heading down to Singapore, and could help me bring the game back. After a week, I got a message from Jimmy, my ex-housemate from 2005. Who took the time to meet up with my primary school friend. Brought my game to KL, where he’s meeting up other friends to hand out wedding invites.

So, that’s how I finally got my Agricola.

Friends are good.

Now, I’m getting random calls from boardgaming sharks with invitations to have a game. I probably have like the 3rd set of Agricola in Malaysia at this moment.

Movie: The Oxford Murders

Does anyone else finds it freaky that the hobbit has eyes so wide that you can see his entire iris, almost all the time.

The Oxford Murders is pitched as a murder mystery, with some mathematics and philosphy thrown in.

Murder mysteries are great. I’ve DEVOURED tons of Agatha Christie novels in times gone by. I love a good mystery.

But I’m not sure what Oxford Murders was about. Some people died, and stuff…

But how was all the random maths relevant to the plot at all? All the philosophical arguments just sounded like that Econs major trying to impress Minnie Driver in Good Will Hunting. Random spouting of book knowledge in a vain desperate attempt to elevate oneself.

How YOU like them apples?

It’s also got a scene of a sex-crazed hobbit humping a fleshy English girl with large knockers. What the hell was that for?? Even Janet’s wardrobe malfunction made more sense than this scene.

Movie: Deception

Wolverine vs Obi-Wan. Who wins?

It all depends on whether Wolverine’s brain are resistant to Force manipulation, I guess. Waggle a few fingers and Wolverine might not remember who he was fighting.

Segway aside…

I’ve found a new source for movie reviews.

Joe Loves Crappy Movies gives a webcomic together with the movie review. Good laughs. How often does the phrase “sophisticated boner” come up?

After a review like that, I CAN’T NOT watch this film. Find out what a sophisticated boner is, if nothing else.

And also for the opportunity to write “sophisticated boner” in a blog entry…

ANYWAYS…

Wolverine is a ladies man that gets laid a lot. Obi-Wan is a boring accountant who doesn’t.

They switch handphones, and suddenly Obi-Wan is answering Wolverine’s booty calls.

Scenes of gratuitious nudity ensues.

Obi-Wan falls in love, and someone takes away his girl and knocks him out.

Mystery ensues.

Twists ensues.

Ends happily. Crappily.

Book: Dragon Keeper

Robin Hobb is slowing down a little… I usually expect a book from her once a year, around this time.

This year, I only have a prologue to tease my appetite.

Not complaining. I love her works. I’m prepared to wait.