Take a look at this screenshot from Civilization IV. In the game, you get Wonders, which are major technological and/or cultural advancements and monuments. It’s good to see that Firaxis has a sense of humor.
Apple sure has a way of creating products for which one does not have a need, but you want regardless. Now that I have actually messed around with a few iPod nanos, I am even more impressed with the design. While I do use my Shuffle as a USB key as well as a music source for exercise, I’m liking the nano even more. It’s light enough to not be noticeable, and with no hard drive, there’s no worry about skipping or damage when jogging. Unlike the Shuffle, there is a screen, so for those songs you just can’t recall – you can take a look. Slick. Must resist the RDF.
First victory in Byrd stadium since 1997. After 8 years of following this series, it was nice to have a victory. Sorry, Jeff. 
Surprised by how well those shots turned out with the Canon SD500 from so far up in the stands. Compact little camera did pretty well.
Longhorn – or, rather, Vista – is delayed. Whoop-de-doooo. I want to know when Microsoft is going to release the Sync Services-enabled Entourage as they promised back in January?
Microsoft is also working closely with Apple Computer Corp. to ensure that Microsoft® Office for Mac can take advantage of new features in Mac OS X version 10.4 “Tiger,” such as Spotlight and sync services when available in the first half of 2005.
While we’re on the subject, the update was also supposed to build “Increased Exchange support” into Entourage 2004. Where’s that?
In the same press release, a big deal is also made of MSN Messenger 5. Well, it’s out, and, well, I think they should have used those developer hours for the Entourage fixes.
The launch of the iTunes phone is pretty much a given, with Apple announcing that they will launch the biggest thing since the iPod on the 7th. Follow that with
and it’s looking like a certainty. Will I get the phone? Well, if it supports EDGE/GSM, is small, and has a decent UI, and is much smaller than my Treo 650… I’ll think about it. The Shuffle is plenty small enough.
Does the idea of a pizza with “thin crust, spinach, bacon, onion, portobello mushroom, gorgonzola and mozzarella cheese-a little olive oil, a little tomato sauce” make your mouth water and your stomach grumble? No? How about “gourmet-style sirloin steak, potato, red onion, fresh garlic & tomato, w/ gorgonzola & mozzarella cheese, finished with a bit of fresh basil”? DB sent me this link to Pizza County, which has recipes and photos.
Now I am hungry.
Google has dominated the minds of hearts of industry “pundits” for several years now, and the latest release of Google Talk has done nothing to diminish the hype. CNET has an article about Google’s latest assault on the Internet – Goole Talk. The item I found of interest:
…Google is also inviting the makers of games, collaboration tools and even cell phones to join in what it hopes will one day be a grand, unified chat network.
I have been saying this for years. Several years ago, I suggested to AOL’s upper management that AOL (and by relationship, ICQ) establish relationships with game developers to allow people to IM in and out of games. It’s a real pain to have to alt-tab out of a game to answer an IM. Think about it – n00bkilla could IM mindflayer to coordinate which server to join, which side to play, how things are going, and so on. Taking it the next level to Sony’s Playstation network would have allowed both Sony and AOL to share mindshare. Unfortunately, that idea was dismissed. Now, it appears Google may leap upon it.
I put up some of the photos I took in Georgetown with the new Nikon D70S. I was going to put up the full size original RAW format of the latest one I put up for Tzvi, but it’s too large a file. Sorry, Tzvi.
Jester IMed me the new Axis&Allies portal at the Wizards of the Coast site. According to the site, A&A has been heavily revised. According to the online demo of A&A, among the changes:
If I can find some local players, maybe I’ll pick it up. Otherwise, it’s a trip to Mo’town.
Also released – A&A Miniatures. That looks interesting as well. I’ve always wanted to do tactical-level combat, so this may be the ticket.
Damn, I am a geek.
From CNET, Google is set to launch their Talk IM and VOIP service on Wednesday.
I’ve heard rumors about this for a while – many more than rumors. I know some folks at Microsoft, and they are not too happy to hear about this push. It’s going to be open season soon, with Yahoo!, Microsoft, and AOL gunning for Google. Skype and the other smaller players may just get steamrolled.
More at 11.
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