Eh-hum # 225

Its March already! How time flies when you're having, uh, fun.

Forgive me, I haven't been out lately so there is nothing really much to talk about, or to write about. As I've said, I have been busy lately and I am just looking forward to next week because everything (I hope) will be back to normal. I am thankful for my grad studies to counter the boredom (or urge to slack-off) I have been experiencing lately.

Moreover, it helps that your friends would give words of encouragement. I sometimes felt embarrassed that my "problems" were not really that important, and yet that didn't prevent them from sharing good advise or encouraging thoughts. :)

***

Also, I have The Sims Life Stories to amuse myself and to keep me from going insane. Speaking of this game, for those who are familiar with it, notice when Sims interact with one another they speak using their own language called "Simlish". Designers of the game felt it would be impractical to use a real language for the Sims' every day dialogue, so they invented one. I find it amusing that Simlish took its roots from fractured Ukranian and, get this, Tagalog. Tagalog is one of the major languages used in the Philippines, and it is similar (almost identical) to the official/national language, Filipino.

Pretty neat, huh? It would've been cooler if I actually understood Simlish, but I guess that's a little too much. Hehehehe.

Eh-hum # 222

And so I'm back from outer space...or from the friendly and virtual neighborhood of Four Corners.

Yes, yes. Until today (right this very moment, I mean), free time from work and school was wholly dedicated to playing the Sims Life Stories, a standalone PC version of the wildly popular simulation game the Sims/the Sims 2 published by Maxis and distributed by Electronic Arts. My first encounter of this kind of game was more than four years ago, when it was available for the PlayStation 2. The graphics were not as good back then and the gameplay got a little complicated (e.g. rewards and aspiration points).



I decided to buy this standalone version rather than the expandable the Sims 2 Deluxe because I can install and play the former on my laptop (and it is cheaper by a few hundreds pesos). I enjoy "playing God" by creating Sims (virtual characters) and running their lives (career, family, lovelife, etc). Its an amusing way to relieve stress, or to put one's pathological need to control other people's lives into good use. And I must say, the more I play it, the more I've become addicted to it...hehehe. Just kidding.

As much as I enjoy playing it, I don't consider myself a serious gamer. Moreover, my fondness for it has not taken over my daily responsibilities. I am not one to forget that I have a real life to live and enjoy.

***

Speaking of life, I was shocked to learn this morning that Hollywood actor and Australian Heath Ledger has passed away at the age of 28. I mean, the guy will be next seen in the movie Dark Knight as Batman's most formidable enemy (in my opinion, anyways), the Joker. When the movie premieres in July (?), we expect him to be gracing the red carpet with another actor that has the looks and the talent, Christian Bale. With a promising career, his family in Australia, his fans and most especially his daughter, I doubt it was a suicide. I hope its not, for his little girl's sake.

And just last week, we learned that the Client's Brad Renfro died. He was just 25. He may not be as popular as Ledger, but Renfro also has a makings of a serious actor, especially since he stayed away from teenybopper roles.

Haaay, buhay.