From my Google Reader shares

• New Super Mario Bros. Wii Trailer:
• Final Fantasy XIV Online is due out in 2010:
• Sony announces new PS3 motion controller: Funny seeing everyone jump on the motion controlled bandwagon. I feel like Sony is right though and you do need buttons.
• Final Fantasy VII On PlayStation Store Today [E3 2009]: I already own the PSOne version. Is there a way if you own a PS3 to convert it into the digital version to play on the PSP?
• Metroid: Other M First Trailer:
• PSP Go Arriving in October at $249, Dubbed 'The Worst Kept Secret of E3':
• E3 Sony Press Conference – Live Updating:
• Windows 7 goes on sale October 22nd:
• Joystiq live from Sony’s E3 2009 keynote:
• New Metroid Game Announced: Metroid Other M [E3]:
• Mario Galaxy 2 Announced:
• Team Ninja's 'Metroid: Other M' Announced:
• New Mario & Luigi RPG titled Bowser's Inside Story, coming in fall:
• Acer launching world’s first Android-based netbook in Q3:
• NVIDIA unveils 12 Tegra devices, 25 days of music or 10 hours of 1080p video on single charge (updated):
• The Beatles: Rock Band – E3 09: Day Tripper On Stage Demo HD:
• E3 Nintendo Press Conference – Live Updating:
• Nintendo Reveals The New Super Mario Bros. Wii [E3 2009]:
• E3 2009: MS Luncheon Live Blog:
• Alan Wake – E3 09: Press Conference Gameplay Demo HD: I remember hearing people talk about this at E3 2005 when I went and saying it was awesome. 4 years later and it’s not out, but people still seem very interested in it.

From my Google Reader shares

• Starcraft 2 to be released in 2009!:
• Four iPhone Models Ranging From 4 GB to 32 GB Coming?:
• Summer of Arcade returns; includes Marvel vs. Capcom 2, TMNT, Monkey Island: MvC2 and Turtles in Time will be sooooooooooo awesome!
• Apple Releases iTunes 8.2 and QuickTime 7.6.2:
• Microsoft Announces Xbox 360 Game Digital Distribution, Launches August:
• Xbox 360 Project Natal: Full-Body Motion Control One-Ups the Wii [Project Natal]:
• The Beatles: Rock Band Trailer:
• Netflix Lets You Add to Queue on Xbox, Video Store Gets 1080p [Microsoft]:
• Last.fm service coming to Xbox Live:
• Facebook, Twitter on Xbox Live this fall:
• NXE update: watch all media with your Xbox Live party:
• Square targeting spring 2010 release for Final Fantasy XIII on 360:
• Left 4 Dead 2 Nov. 17 on Xbox 360, PC:
• The Beatles: Rock Band to feature harmonizing vocals:
• The Beatles: Rock Band’s ‘All You Need is Love’ exclusive download on Xbox Live:
• Guitar Hero Smash Hits demo rocks Xbox Live:
• Giant Robots Smashing Things:
• Ten Beatles: Rock Band songs, first downloadable album revealed:
• Building Calendar May Be Sexist but I Like It Anyway [Adchitecture]:
• OM NOM NOM: Pac-Man Candy:

From my Google Reader shares

• Your dreams come true: ESRB rates FFVII for PS3/PSP:
• Nier – E3 09: Debut Trailer:

So I hate touchscreen keyboards.  I don’t even have fat fingers, but I can certainly see how larger hands would lead to a larger hatred of such devices.  So here’s my free million dollar idea to better mankind.

3×3 wide grid of keys.  Each key has 3+ letters.  It can be QWERTY or alphabetical setup.  Pressing the button will type the middle letter in the key.  Pressing and swiping left will press the left key and similarly for the right key.  Pressing and swiping up will caps the letter.  If you want left/right you do press+left/right+up.  If you mistype swiping down will cancel your selection.

Please someone invent this.

From my Google Reader shares

• Failoc-alypse bursts onto the scene!:
• Why The Hell Are Gasoline Prices Going Up When Global Usage Is Down?:
• Download-only PSP Redesign Confirmed via Leak: Ok, it actually looks kind of retarded.
• EGM sold to original founder, resumes publication this year:

From my Google Reader shares

• DJ Hero info-splosion: Gameplay footage, platforms, additional instrument support revealed:
• Mega Man In Partial 3-D: Mega Man 2.5D!:
• The Matrix Online Going Offline:
• Is Hulu Coming to Xbox 360? [Rumor]:
• Alienware's New M17x: Most Powerful Notebook Ever? – PC Magazine:
• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 – E3 09: Exclusive Villains Trailer HD:
• And Now Rape Games Are Not Banned in Japan [Rapelay]:
• Nice Work If You Can Get It: EA’s Riccitiello, Moore Earn Big Bucks in Bad Year:
• MMOUI Minion beta released:
• DJ Hero First Screenshots and Details:
• See the first (French) trailer for Lego Rock Band:
• Xbox To Get Live TV and Massive VOD Update:
• Supreme Commander 2 – E3 09: Exclusive Reveal Trailer HD:
• Wikipedia Bans Church of Scientology:
• ‘Page’s Law’ Is Google Founder’s Next-Best Shot at Immortality:
• Google Chrome 3: Incremental changes along the road to Extensions:

To celebrate 1 year with WordPress, I figured I’d punch up a new theme and call it a day.  However, pouring through all the WP themes leaves something to be desired.  It seems like many of the themes are created with half purposes and the artwork used is simply too specific to fit in general use.  Instead of a generic sort of theme they create a very niche theme.  Ah well.

The main problems I want to tackle are highlighting my Twitter feed and showcasing the Reader news.  If I can do the latter then I feel like I can move away from daily update autoposts to weekly wrap ups.  Additionally for anyone subscribed to all the RSS feeds, you run into a problem of data overlap where my Twitter is telling you I posted a new article and then if you’re part of the reader shares then you get it twice when the site publishes them.  It’s all very annoying.  Hopefully a new version will spawn by August though and I can clean up some of these issues.

From my Google Reader shares

• Drop everything and watch this Droplitz video: Seems addicting
• The Worst And Saddest Of Yahoo! Answers:
• Zune HD Hands On: Photos and Video Tour [Zune]:
• Japanese Organization To Ban Sale of Rape Games: Uh wow, the Japanese sure have crazy games which require crazy laws.
• Google Wave Is a Frothy Collaborative Mix of Chat, IM, Twitter and Google Docs in Real-Time [Google]:
• U.S. VAT Tax Would Affect Games, Systems, Online Fees (and everything else):
• Fansite Q&A 5: SC2A:
• Google Wave unveiled, new live chat medium for browsers, iPhone and Android: Didn’t ICQ have this?
• Cupcake Adds Camcorder, Touchscreen Keyboard, and More to Android [Screenshot Tour]:
• Google shows off Android 2.0:
• Palm Pre to Sync with iTunes on Macs?:
• “Mole” says UMD-less PSP-Go! is on for E3, slimmer PS3 to follow:
• Today, Guitar Hero, You Have The Touch (And The Power) [Transformers]:

I realized recently that the bulk of my wardrobe hasn’t really changed since my high schools days.  When I do get new clothes it’s always gifts from relatives so ultimately I’m at the mercy of what other people think looks good on me.  Thinking about this conundrum I realize that my entire closet is comprised basically of what everyone else’s appearance of me should look like.  It’s a strange revelation I think.

While I’m not one to go clothes shopping I suspect I should be doing it more frequently than I have been and I need to start phasing out fashion trends from the 90’s.  I dunno though, how often do/should people be doing such a thing?  Maybe it’s totally normal.

Ready set go!

Potato Salad

5 ½ pounds Idaho potatoes
¾ pound (about 2 medium) yellow onions, chopped
¾ pound (about 6 ribsstalks) celery, chopped
16 ounces Kraft Dill Pickle Relish
1 ½ pounds (24 ounces) sour cream
12 ounces Kraft Mayonnaise (see Note)
2 heaping tablespoons coarse black pepper
1 heaping teaspoon garlic salt
1 heaping teaspoon celery salt
1 tablespoon salt, or to taste

GARNISH:
Sprinkling of paprika
Sprig of parsley

Put unpeeled potatoes in a large pot of salted cold water; bring to a boil and cook until tender throughout, about 25 minutes. Test by inserting a knife into a potato. Refrigerate 30 minutes to allow potatoes to cool. Carefully peel potatoes and cut into 1-inch cubes; set aside.

In large mixing bowl, blend together onions, celery, relish, sour cream, mayonnaise, pepper, garlic salt, celery salt and salt. Add cubes of potato and mix gently.

Cover and place in refrigerator until ready to serve.

For Garnish: Dust with paprika and garnish with a sprig of parsley.

Note: County Line uses Kraft Extra Heavy Mayonnaise. The recipe was tested with Kraft Real Mayonnaise with excellent results.

Recipe can be halved, if desired.