Game review: Fairway Solitaire

With the weather getting colder around here, I've been dreaming of warmer weather as I wrap myself in a blanket to play some games. Fairway Solitaire is a golf-themed card game, which isn't really solitaire. The goal of the game is to empty the spread by choosing cards one higher or lower than the card on top of the discard deck. For example, if a 5 is on the discard deck, you can play either a 4 or a 6 from the spread in front of you. If you don't have either of those, you will need to flip another card from the hidden deck onto the discard pile. When the spread has cleared, you won but you don't necessarily need to clear the spread in order to pass the level. That depends on how many points you rack up clearing cards.

That sounds really difficult, doesn't it? It's not though. It's not a particularly interesting game either. The golf aspect makes it a little different but it's still basically counting. I found myself getting aggravated when I'd get a bunch of cards in the discard pile that I couldn't play on. Then I couldn't clear the spread because the cards I needed wouldn't show up! It's a good game for when you're really bored and you're tired of playing regular solitaire. Otherwise, you're likely to get bored rather quickly.

Game review: Home Sweet Home

Earlier this month, I talked about a fashion designer game. Well, now there is an interior decorating game called Home Sweet Home. As a brand new decorator, it is your job to design the client's room while keeping their tastes in mind. This game is a lot more open-ended than Fashion Fits! was. Here you only get a few hints about your client's tastes and the rest is up to you. You pick out all of the furniture and accessories for the room. There is a happiness meter that you need to fill in order to keep your client happy but otherwise, as long as you stay within your budget, it's all up to you.

I found the game to be very fun. A lot of time management games get boring because they tell you exactly what to do. Exactly what shirt the customer wants, exactly what color, exactly everything. This opens it up to your imagination. You even get your own house to decorate however you want. If you enjoy decorating, this game is definitely for you.

America's Most Smartest Model - THE FINALE!

There were some extremely high winds in my area of the US yesterday. They ended up knocking out the power to the building where the server for The Geek Within lives. I apologize that the site was down and I hope the storm has passed so I don't have to worry about it anymore. Now onto the good stuff! When we last saw our contestants - Andre and VJ - the boys were informed that they would have to make PowerPoint presentations explaining why they should be America's Most Smartest Model. The preview for this week's episode showed Andre with a little something hidden up his sleeve. But first we start off seeing VJ diligently plugging away on his presentation with the expert he was given. Then we switch over to Andre. The idea he had was brilliant. Since Andre doesn't speak English very well and knew that he couldn't beat VJ in a presentation, he called up ex-contestant Pickle to present for him. It definitely was a stroke of genius.

For their presentations, VJ did very well. I now believe that he would make a very good con artist. He looks good and he knows how to spew complete crap without cracking. Pickle did very well speaking for Andre but then Andre made the mistake of opening his big mouth. He said something along the lines of "gay, black, white or fat....those things you can change." I simply shook my head and wondered why he didn't stick with shutting up. He pretty much ruined Pickle's entire speech in one sentence.

Ben Stein and Mary Alice Stephenson each brought in two guest judges to help them choose. The two smart judges liked VJ but preferred Andre. One of the fashion judges preferred Andre and one preferred VJ. So they brought the boys back out to do a sort of debate, where Andre screwed up again. He can't seem to focus on anything beyond VJ cheating. Ironically, VJ thought Andre was a coward for bringing out Pickle to speak for him.

When it came down to it, Ben and Mary Alice chose VJ as America's Most Smartest Model. I disagree with their decision but it wasn't a surprise to me. It was obvious from the beginning that Mary Alice liked VJ the most and that Ben had very little say in many of the decisions. I do believe that VJ cheated every step of the way. It's not "thinking outside the box" to call up your friend to do research for you since you don't have the ability to do the research yourself. It's not "creative" to copy the exact poses that your competition does just because they make it look good. And I really think the judges made a bad choice.

Favorite Friday

Arashi is a Japanese boy band from Johnny's Jimusho, a very large company that churns out extremely popular boy bands. This particular band debuted in 1999. Somewhere around that time, they had a PV (promotional video, otherwise known as a music video) for their self-titled single directed by Takizawa Hideaki, a member of the Johnny's band Tackey & Tsubasa. While the official PV for the song (not directed by Tackey) was clean and bright, the Tackey version was dark and had the boys dancing around in plastic see-through pants. Somehow somebody somewhere thought it would be a good idea for the boys to perform in the plastic see-through pants. I'm not sure that was a good decision.

A third season of Gokusen!

I absolutely loved the first season of Gokusen. The second season wasn't nearly as good. Despite that, it has been announced that there will be a third season premiering in April. I hope that they don't make the same mistake they did with the second. Maybe they will change things up a little instead of making it a direct rehash of the first season. (Though it wouldn't hurt if they brought back MatsuJun!) Luckily, Nakama Yukie will be back in her role as Yankumi.

Music review: Ken Hirai - Miracles

Artist: Ken Hirai Album: gaining through losing Release date: 7/4/01

English translation: Ah I love the whispered voice right by my ear mmmmh... You cast a spell on the overlapping lips

It always starts in a dream and the fear of the light coming in It's as though you'd disappear when I open my eyes

If I hold you, the more I do so this heart is about to tear apart I want to hold you Hold me longer until this pain subsides

I feel miracle when I see you when I kiss you (feel miracle) My spirit will go when I touch you when I hold you (when I kiss you baby) There's no miracle when I miss you when I lose you You're my miracle

If I hold you, the more I do so this heart is about to tear apart I want to hold you Hold me stronger so that this miracle can last longer

If I hold you, the more I do so this heart... I want to hold you Hold me longer until this pain...

You're my miracle About the song: When I first started listening to Ken Hirai, I didn't like anything other than POP STAR. However, his songs have grown on me. Miracles is the type of song that you would make love to. Ken's voice is silky and smooth while the music wraps you up in loving feelings. He may be a little odd in concert but his music definitely makes up for it.

Game review: Dirty Dancing

When I first saw the Dirty Dancing game on Big Fish Games, I shuddered. What sort of game could they make based on an 80s movie? Would it be any good? Despite my worries, I downloaded the trial to see for myself. The game is basically a bunch of mini-games thrown together in the Kellerman's setting. You go between the various cabins playing all sorts of games. There's a hidden object game where you have to not only find the objects on the list but also find keys for drawers because some of the objects are hidden are even more hidden. Another of the mini-games is a sort of matching card game. Instead of being a typical memory game, you have to figure out the pattern for matching the cards or you'll still have cards left in your hand. There's also a difficult time management game. You are given four employees that have to help the customers in all aspects of checking into the hotel. Everything from walking them into the hotel, checking them in, showing them their room, cleaning the room afterwards and showing the customer to their car. It's really difficult to keep everything going with just four employees and the flood of customers that walk in. If you don't get to the customer IMMEDIATELY, they get pretty ticked.

I think there are 10 mini-games total. While I played most of them, the games just aren't very interesting. You have to play each of the games over and over in order to "win" that particular cabin so you can move onto the dance lessons with Johnny. Unfortunately, the game just isn't as much fun as it should be. There's nothing dirty or dancing about it. They could have named it Camp Kellerman and the vibe of the game wouldn't change any.

America's Most Smartest Model - Episode 10

Angela. VJ. Andre. The final three. At the start of tonight's episode, they pack up for an overnight trip to Palm Springs. The three are treated to an evening with Mary Alice. It basically devolved into a night of "My life is so much worse than yours!" Though I'm not sure that Andre participated in that. He seemed to be pretty quiet through most of the dinner while Angela and VJ compared stories of why their daddies left them. For once, I think Andre had the right idea in keeping his mouth shut. After dinner, Mary Alice revealed the first challenge. The finalists would be doing a photoshoot bright and early the next morning. A group of models were brought in to meet the contestants, who had to choose which of the new models would be in their shoot. The group got to know each other and the contestants were ready to pick their models. The next morning, Mary Alice brings in a troupe of stylists and a world-class photographer and just a ton of people, which wakes up Andre and VJ.

Once again, VJ is sleazy and I think Mary Alice shows her favoritism. Individually, she asks each of the models which of the new models they are picking for their photoshoot. VJ, who had originally picked one of the female models, overhears Andre telling Mary Alice that he's going to use the other two women. (I forget the names of the new models. I think VJ's was Heather and Andre had Jane and Lisa but I'm not sure about that.) Angela went with the two male models. When it came down to the official picking, VJ decides to take two female models, basically stealing one of Andre's. I'm not sure why Mary Alice let this happen since she knew beforehand who Andre had picked. Andre went with the flow and headed off to his shoot.

Andre, as always, did amazing in his shoot. He has a very intense look so he can pull off these crazy intense pictures. VJ tried to copy his poses but came off totally wrong. Mary Alice told him that his pictures weren't coming out and to try to be more natural. So VJ hops in the pool with the girls and gets some OK shots but nothing spectacular. Angela's shots all look the same. Same poses, same look on her face, same everything.

At the end, Andre wins the challenge and Angela gets booted from the show. Mary Alice did make a comment about how some of VJ's shots look almost exactly like Andre's. This, of course, makes Andre chuckle. Since Angela was singing through the entire music-themed photoshoot, Mary Alice told her that she would probably make a better singer and that she is not really cut out for photoshoots. She might make a good runway model but not much else. After hugging everyone, Angela leaves saying that she wanted this more than anyone. I'm sorry but just wanting something isn't enough. You have to work really hard and I don't think Angela did.

So now we're down to VJ and Andre. For their final challenge, they each have to make a media-based presentation on why they should be America's Most Smartest Model. Since Andre won the Edge Challenge, he is given a cell phone with picture and web browsing capabilities. Each of the boys get a PowerPoint expert to help them. We get a few inklings of what is to come but then.....To Be Continued. I hate those words!

I'm really hoping Andre wins this. Granted, I actually wanted Australian!Rachel to win but she fell short. I will be ecstatic if VJ loses to Andre. I can't wait for the finale!

Music review: Barenaked Ladies - Alternative Girlfriend

Artist: Barenaked Ladies Members: Steven Page, Ed Robertson, Jim Creegan, Tyler Stewart, Andy Creegan Album: Maybe You Should Drive Release date: 8/16/94 Video link: Via YouTube

Lyrics: You're in an all-girl band Your futon's second hand Your parents understand but you don't care

I have a job in a shop I'm an undercover cop I make sure the customers aren't thieves

Old at being young Young at being old Everything's on hold within our evolution

Chorus:

You're my alternative girlfriend I love you, and now you cannot pretend There's nothing left that won't cross over

Last night we slept on the lawn you woke up and I was gone Back to the dream I dream to leave My life with her is a bore

A worn-out metaphor No more surprises up its sleeve We're old at being young Young at being old Everything's been sold to other's revolutions

Chorus

You live above your dad's four-car garage With your vinyl and imaginary entourage if I pull up in a U-Haul, pack up quick So we can get out of this town 'cause it makes me sick

Chorus About the song: I fully admit that I am pretty biased toward Barenaked Ladies songs. They have so many great songs. This is another one. Alternative Girlfriend is fairly straight-forward lyrically. It's a song about a young couple who have grown bored of each other. I think it's the background music that really makes this song. There isn't anything 'new' or 'fresh' about it but that's the point. It sounds like a whole lot of other 'alternative' songs from that time period which points out the fact that while you may think you are different, you're pretty much the same as everyone else.

Favorite Friday

No, I didn't forget today's Favorite Friday video. This one comes from the video game, Portal. It came bundled in the Orange Box with Half-Life 2: Episode Two and Team Fortress. While Half-Life was the "main" game in the bundle, Portal was much more interesting. Here is the song that plays during the ending credits of Portal. Yes, there are spoilers for the game in here but if you don't know them already then you aren't a real geek!