Faux News: GTA IV Ads Removed From Busses

So I was watching Fox News last night and I saw this story about how the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) was removing the GTA IV adds from train stations and buses. I thought this was interesting because I had noticed that there was a ton of GTA adds up on my way to work. I was going to take a picture with my phone and post it on the blog but I didn't want people thinking I was just trying to get a picture of the hot cartoon girl eating a sucker.

Click on the image to watch the video.

Frankly this is bullshit for so many reasons. Here are a few:

1. I saw ads on the sides of buses for the Rated R Movie Hitman yesterday.
2. The CTA complains about how they are so underfunded that they started to cut bus routes and wanted to hike up fairs, so don't pick and choose your advertisers if they abide by the decency regulations.
3. Right above the story on Fox's site they have alcohol advertisements.

I could go on and on about how this is stupid but I won't so, you're welcome.

I went down stairs and checked and all the ads are already off the buses and train stations. Also, go watch the video clip Eternal posted.

Big Weekend for the Daymonster

This weekend has left the Daymonster tired and full of news. Warning: this post is essentially one long rant.

First, I have my Xbox back. I had to drive about an hour south east of Chicago to some UPS warehouse to receive it. The helpful UPS person on the phone told me to come to the warehouse with a government issued photo ID and picking up the package would be no problem. So after I get my cable hooked up on Friday I got into my car and drove down to the UPS location. Luckily the cable guy came early in the specified 4 hour block so I could drive to the warehouse with plenty of time.

I find the large brown building and proceed to what I think is the entrance for customer pick up. It's a nice glass door with a big UPS batch on the front and wooden paneling on the walls and desk. This door was locked, and after I mouthed through the glass that I was looking for "customer pickup" the angry lady behind the desk rolled her eyes and thumbed in the direction to my left.

I walked to my left and turned the corner of this shitty gravel parking lot area with a small window less metal door. I opened the door to see probably 75 people in a 15'x15' demanding their packages. I stand in like for a good 15 minutes until I get up to the counter and hand the lady my government issued identification card, thinking I am almost out of the woods.

"Sorry, this doesn't have your correct address on it, I can't give you the package."

"Of course it doesn't have the same address on it, I don't fucking live at the address it was trying to be delivered to. That's why I am here, if I lived where it was being sent I would just get it there."

"I'm sorry sir, but I can't release it to you unless you have a piece of mail that has your name on it and this address. Do you have that?"

"Uhhh, yeah, I have that. It's that big fucking box right behind you with my Xbox in it. That's a piece of mail with my name and address on it."

"Well, sorry sir, that doesn't count. We have these procedures to insure people don't steal other peoples packages"

"Good plan, UPS. I am another person with the same exact name (that isn't exactly common) as the real recipient, who is willing to show a valid drivers license, sign for a package in front of multiple video cameras. I also happen to know the 800 digit tracking number, the contents of the package, and have the slip that the UPS driver left. Which I also made sure the real recipient of the package wouldn't get on the first day it was delivered so I could come down to this hell hole and steal it."


So to make a long story a bit shorter, I realized I had 2 hours until the UPS pickup place closed. So I sped home as fast as I could, brought a shoe box full of old mail, sports illustrated swimsuit issue, three NetFlix movies, my old check book and my cable bill and made it back to the UPS warehouse with 5 minutes to spare.

The funny thing is when I set down the shoe box full of shit, they didn't even bother to look at it. They just handed me the Xbox. So there you have it, if you wanna steal someones UPS package, make a big stink, go out to your car, find some random papers and throw them down on the counter.

Back to the cable/internet issue. The cable dude was supposed to come on Friday between 4 and 8. After arguing with the people at the cable company telling them that I can set up the modem and cable box my self and all they need to do is sent the juices to my apartment, they assured me that a technician for 50 dollars had to come out to my apartment. I decided I would have everything set up perfectly and when the cable guy came out I would show him, tell him he had nothing to do and that I refused to pay the 50 bucks.

So I set up everything and decided to see if it was working. (as I just plugged in my TV to the wall when I first moved in and no channels showed up, which is why I then called RCN - My Cable Company) With the modem and DVR hooked up I was getting all of the channels and my internet was running fast. I picked up the cell phone to call RCN and cancel the appointment with the technician. As I started to dial the number I got a call from the cable guy, he was outside.

So I ran downstairs to let him up, when I saw he was carrying a cable box and a modem... Did he not know I already had the equipment? I was debating beating him up the stairs unplugging my cable box and hiding it, thinking I could get a free second box. But my conscience got the better of me and I let him know that I already had the equipment. He told me that in his hand held it said I didn't have any and he then scanned the equipment and updated my account. He then reset the signal and a bunch of other random shit.

I could have had free TV and internet if I just would have hooked everything up earlier. But, on the good news I tested out my connection with multiple games of Halo and COD4... NO LAG... yet.

In other news I purchased a bowling ball on Saturday. It's called the Ebonite Mega X Super Hook. I don't know shit about bowling balls but it was the most expensive one Dick's Sporting Goods had. I'm not a big fan of the color but I do like the dull finish.

Dammer, here are the specs:
15 Lbs 4 oz (I assume the 4 oz. gets drilled out when they due my custom finger holes)
There was some other shit about it being top weighted or something. I dunno.

If you haven't played this game yet, I suggest you try. It's pretty difficult but once you figure out what you gotta do it gets a bit easier. If you need help, watch this or read this.

So I am pretty much all moved in to my new apartment, there is a lot more room and has plenty of beers in the fridge. Who wants to come visit?

Canadian doesn't understand video games.

Some dude at the Globe and Mail wrote an Op Ed piece about how video games will not be an enduring art form because unlike other forms of art, like paintings, sculptures and movies, video game technology advances and once they are past their prime they do not have a lasting effect on a new gamer. Meaning that if someone played Super Mario Brothers today for the first time would it have the same impact as if someone played it back in 1985. Obviously not, because the video games today have more in-depth stories and game play and the graphics are so much better now. The writer says that if people who don't have the emotional and nostalgic attachment to these old games no one would think it would be worth the time.

He uses Halo as an example too.

The original Halo was rightly considered one of the greatest shooters ever made when it was first released. However it simply doesn't compare with the series' latest incarnation, Halo 3, which has undeniably improved upon the franchise's formula by offering a deeper multiplayer experience, a greater variety of game possibilities (by virtue of new and more interesting enemies, weapons, and vehicles), and a more cinematic presentation.

Of course, it can be difficult to get past our rosy recollections. My memories of Halo outstrip those I have of playing either of its sequels. But that matters little in the matter of timelessness. The question is whether players who are new to an older game will be affected by it in the same way and to the same degree as those who played it when it was first released.

Will the person who views The Godfather for the first time today enjoy it as much as its original 1972 audience? Probably. Hence, it is timeless, insofar as it appeals equally to at least two or three generations of moviegoers.

Will Halo or either of its sequels be as compelling to players who encounter it for the first time 15 or 20 years from now as it was for us? I have my doubts.

This logic seems so flawed to me. I guarantee once movies started having dialog and a diverse soundtrack, silent movies didn't mean shit to the youngsters at the theater. See the problem with this movie/video game analogy is you can't compare these two very different mediums during the era. Let's say you find someone who has never seen The Godfather before and you make them watch the classic film, they will probably find it to be a very good movie. But let's say you show someone a silent film from beginning of the cinema area that they have never seen before and see what they think of it. I bet it won't have the same impression as it had on th audience in the late 1800s.

Yes, the article makes a point about how video games are judged not only on characters, storyline, game play but also on technological innovations, but so do blockbusters featuring special effects.

Most people won't find old sci-fi movies to be entertaining unless they have a nostalgic relationship with the paper plates being held up by string.

Video games are still in their infancy if you look at the big picture. Every year video games are getting "better" but they are improving at a far less dramatic pace every day. The difference between Halo 2 and Halo 3 is not as big as between Super Mario World and Super Mario 64. Sounds very similar to the beginning of the movie industry.

Xbox Support Rant: Part 2 (maybe 3)

It's been 20 days since I had my Xbox. And the good news is it has finally reached the service center, the bad news is I will be moving in about 2 weeks. Well moving isn't really bad news, the bad news is once I move I don't think I will ever get my Xbox. Even if it did come before , I wouldn't be able to get it because it requires a signature. Unless it comes sometime this weekend (which is extremely unlikely) I will not be able to sign for it even on the remaining Saturdays because I will be in MN next weekend and will be moving the weekend after that.

Now, I know what you are thinking. "Daymonster, didn't you call Xbox Support and get your address changed a couple weeks ago?"

Yes, I did, at least I thought I did.

Like you should have already known, shortly after I sent the Xbox in the box they supplied I called Xbox Support and told them my situation and how I would need to change the shipping address to my work address. After about 45 minutes on the phone and giving them every piece of information they could ask for I finally proved I owned a broken 360 and got my address changed.

Call me paranoid but I didn't exactly trust the support people on the other end of the phone. So yesterday I called again to verify that they had the correct address. I talked to Richard, which was for sure a made-up name, I told him my situation and asked if he could read me the address that my Xbox would be sent to when it was finished being fixed. He read me my work address back to me.

This is what I think Richard looked like. Look at his smug face.

Awesome, it really worked I am going to get my Xbox fairly soon. But wait, then he tells me that they can't ship it to that address even though the last person I talked to said they could. I was told that even though it could be updated on their computers there is no way they could get that information to the service center.

I asked him why the other person said it shouldn't be a problem and he said that person lied to me. I then asked him how did I know he wasn't lying to me. He assured me he wasn't. I then asked how do they know what is wrong with the Xbox when they get the package at the Service Center. He said they look up the information one the computer using the ticket number. And I asked when I called and said what was not working on the Xbox originally how did you enter that information in to the computer. And he said he entered it in with the ticket number. So I asked if they could see the new address that was entered with the ticket number. He asked if he could put me on hold and ask his supervisor.

25 minutes later of various Xbox game themes. Richard comes back on the phone.

"No, they can't see that."

He told me my only option was to call UPS and have them deliver it to a different address. I asked him how could I do that, and he told me he didn't know for sure but I would need the tracking number. So, I asked for the tracking number and he told me they don't have one yet because they haven't input the shipping information yet. Why the fuck can't they change the address then?

I also find it hard to believe that I can just call up UPS and have them change the address mid-transit. I have now come to realize that I will never get my Xbox back. Which is frustrating because all Josey needs to do is put it outside his front door with an angry note on it and he gets results.

Xbox Customer Support can S my D

So I just got off the phone with Xbox customer support to change the address to my work address so someone at work can sign for it. And that took about 30 minutes to do, apparently giving the Serial Number of the Xbox, the Reference number of the request, giving my address, phone number and credit card information wasn't enough for them to believe it was me.

But that's not the worst part. I put in this request about a week ago and according to UPS my empty cardboard box should be at my apartment tonight. I think it is bullshit that an empty box takes 7 days to get to my apartment. I checked the UPS shipper at my building and an empty box (less than 1 lb) would cost about 4 dollars to ship ground. If it was 3 day it would be about $4.45 and if it was 2 day it would be about $5.50. Now I realize that a dollar or two would add up after a while, but fuck that. They shouldn't have every Xbox fail within the first year.

Now if that was all it was; two weeks to get my Xbox back it wouldn't be a big deal. But they said I should expect it to take 3 whole weeks (15 business days) once the Xbox gets to the service department before it would be fixed and then it would be shipped ground it back to me. There is no way in hell that it takes 3 weeks to fix the problem, it means that they are so backed up from every Xbox failing that it will likely sit in a warehouse while other Xboxs that were sent in 20 days ago get fixed. Why don't they hire some more high school kids to speed up the fucking process. Bill, stop worrying about Malaria and World Hunger and fix my fucking Xbox!

So that means, 1 week to get the empty box, 1 week to send it back, 3 weeks to get it fixed, and another week to get it sent back, if I am lucky. For a grand total of 6 weeks. Does that seem ridiculous to anyone else? Tilla, Dammer, others, did it really take 1.5 months to get your Xbox back (and I am not counting the week it sits by your mail box in front of your apartment).

I am looking at flying to MN one of these weekends. Is there any weekend that is better than others? Let me know.

On a good note: my ebay auction is into profit territory. It's a good thing that my Xbox is broken otherwise I totally would have opened the packages.