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This weekend, I picked up Mass Effect which, as the name implies, is a Roman Catholic science project.

Just kidding. Naturally, it’s a video game. When I got it, the salesman told me that it was a game like Halo. I almost didn’t get it for that reason (Halo 2 impressed me so much I still haven’t bought Halo 3, if you catch my drift). However, I decided to go ahead and pick it up, and it’s a good thing I did because Mass Effect is pretty much nothing like Halo.

In fact, if I had paid attention I would have seen that Mass Effect was a BioWare production. And if I had seen that, that fact alone would have told me it was worth getting this game. BioWare sold me when I played Neverwinter Nights, and even their Jade Empire was cool (although too short). But the game that they’ve done that Mass Effect is most like is Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

The great thing about BioWare games is that they’re true RPGs. That is, you actually have a story. Halo was just a glorified dungeon hack ‘n slash (you get dropped in a dungeon–even they want to call them “levels” now–and fight your way out with no real plot). Mass Effect actually plays more like you’re in control of a movie.

Of course a lot of this happens at the beginning, and you’re thinking “I bought a game to play not to watch movies” but eventually you do get to go around blasting aliens to little pieces. From that point on, the cinematics usually occur where you want to see them. Of course I haven’t finished the game yet, but thus far it seems balanced between game time and story progression.

All told, if it says BioWare on it it’s almost certainly going to be a great game, and Mass Effect is no exception.

John McCain is the Republican’s Jimmy Carter.

Liberalism: The dreaded feeling that somehow, someway, it’s Bush’s fault.

I know it doesn’t seem like it, but this is a serious question. This morning, I looked up into the sky and saw the crescent moon overhead. I remember a few weeks ago the moon was in the sky in the morning too, but it was a full moon then. So, here’s my question:

Since the phases of the moon are caused by the angle of sunlight and the location of the moon, how is it possible for the moon to be in the sky at the same time as the sun and have it be a full moon one time and a crescent moon the other time?

(BTW: I’m have a theory on this that I’m pretty sure about, but I figured I’d throw it out here and see if anyone else cares about it first.) :-)

As I got home, I started thinking…today is the last day of January.

Already 1/12 of 2008 is over.

My how time does fly faster and faster the older one gets. Seems like just yesterday I graduated from high school (it’s been more than 11 years now though!).

The old saying is true: Youth is wasted on the young.

I’m currently reading through The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers. My father got me the book for Christmas and warned me that the first 100 pages or so are somewhat boring since you have to establish the necessary background for the mystery to work. So I’m in the midst of that section now, but I did find this quote which I thought was too good not to pass on:

“I assure your lordship that for the first time in my existence I regret that I have made no practical study of campanology.”

This is followed up with: “I am always so delighted to find that there are things you cannot do” which is likewise clever, yet not relevant to my point…which is that you will actually be saying “I regret that I have made no practical study of campanology” as you read the book too…

If we have a whoever, whatever, however, wherever, and whenever…

WHY DON’T WE HAVE A WHYEVER?

Current air temperature is 14 degrees. Windchill is -8.

Stupid Bush and his #$&*! Global Warming!!!!

I was talking with a co-worker today and somehow got onto the topic of depression. For anyone who wants to know what it’s like, I think the best description musically that I’ve ever heard is the Darkest Days album by Stabbing Westward. In fact, when I had depression, this album was pretty much on constant repeat for me (BTW: that wasn’t a good thing; if you’re depressed, this album is about the worst thing to listen to…but if you’re not depressed and you want insight, it’s the best explanation that I know of).

Hmm, well today has finally passed most of the way on toward oblivion. It’s been another unusual day, although not quite as surreal as the days have been. Still, when there are weeks like this it makes me wonder what in the world God’s up to.

I suppose time will tell.