another addiction...

[Dajiang]

man, im hooked on something else now.

already got alcohol, coffee, and nicotine, but now im adding 'freeware computer games' to my list.

dunno about you guys, but ive downloaded heaps of cool games on my computer in the office. it helps with 'looking busy', and the time i spend in the office is applauded by my FAO, but where it takes about 10 minutes to plan my next lesson, it takes me whole afternoons trying to beat my personal records at stupid games, and shooting down enemy aircraft.

anyhoo. my favourites are:
'aerostyle' (cool simple flight simulator),
'YS 2000' (cool slightly more complicated flight simulator),
'generally' (great little racing game),
and 'snow' (throwing snowballs at kids).
also 'extreme blast billiards' is a brilliant online game.

Still, i feel kinda dissappointed after an afternoon of doing basically crap all and id rather have done something more useful to society or something.

so, as of soon, im going to have to delete these gems from my harddisk... I've already commanded my colleague to delete 'minesweeper' from my computer. I could bring myself to do it...

Anyone out there with similar problems?

[Raoul Duke]

I'm seriously addicted to Civilization III, which isn't free but absolutely fascinating. I'm also finding Limewire a dangerous place...Radio Free Raoul is growing at a phenomenal rate, but my papers aren't getting graded.

I'm trying hard to limit my leisure computer time to this place...with little success.

[Eagle's Nest]

Oh sh*t ... forgot to grade those m'kaying papers again! Thanks for reminding me Raoul. I have to hand them back on Thursday morning. I guess that means I should stop downloading movies and music and listening in here and playing with my fantasy hockey team and reading online newspapers and, and, and ...

rgl

[kcanuck]

I'm spending a fare bit of time on limewire too. In my case I'm downloading television series that I was watching back home. Can't wait for the new season of 24.
I have downloaded a few movies for my film class but it takes so bloody long on this ancient system the school gave me. Never got into computer games, lacking in hand-eye coordination skills.

[Becster79]

Hey K, I just asked my friendly neighbourhood DVD pirate to do season 5 of 24 for me, a couple of weeks ago now, but it's a lot, can't wait to get it!

[Dajiang]

oh boy, ive just made up my mind to buy the complete Friends series. seasons 1 to 10.
I've seen 24 here too, but after the first series the novelty wore off for me personally.

So, Kcanuck, you've actually got film classes?
Is that a specially scheduled class or a part of your own arrangements?
Do you analyse whole movies and have discussions and stuff?

[Vegemite]

Watching TV on the computer - I've discovered GUBA, can watch on-line without having to download it first - and it's got a range of shows from different countries. There's also another site I use a lot but I can't remember it's name right now. And can't be bothered surfing for it.

But what I'm taking advantage of is the fact that I'm here in China, have a fast computer connection and a computer with a big screen so now I'm watching shows that we didn't get in NZ. I'm broadening my TV viewing. I'll still catch up with the old faithfuls like '24' and 'Casualty' but there's a big wide world out there of TV that I didn't have access to before.

Some shows I'm looking forward to watching include 'Prison Break' and 'Nova - the Expanding Universe.'

What else can people recommend for my viewing?

[Vegemite]

The other good site, I just remembered, it's Arcoiris.

And can any of you remember the name of the British TV programme that had the SAS soldiers going off to save the world evrey week? Quite a recent show, I think - as in two, three years old. The lead character was this gorgeous guy - bald, big, stocky, white, twinkly eyes, a look that could kill. The lead-in always started with the group of SAS walking towards the camera, guns swinging??? About four or five men and the token woman. Ring any bells?

[kcanuck]

Audio visual class was scheduled by the school, two third year writing classes pile into one class room and we watch a movie. Too dificult to do a lesson but I've tried to show different genres and sometimes we'll do follow up discussion in our weekly writing class. The students (and staff) were surprised when I scheduled an end of term exam. Nothing complicated, just want to make sure the students were paying attention. Fairy tales today, Shrek II, no subtitles. Documentaries (National Geographic and one on graffiti) next week...and as the term winds down, Bambi, they just gotta see Bambi. They loved My Best Friend's Wedding and many cried when I showed Awakenings.

[Crippler]

I am into the third season of Deadwood and second season of Lost. Just watched Magnolias. And of course american tv on TVURunit.

[nolefan]

DEadwood is one that i have not had time to look for yet but i'm definitely looking forward to spending some time with it... gotta find something to fill my new 250GB HD

I'm spending most of my time away from the internet watching CSI (all flavors) and just finished watching season 1 of Rome. I gotta get the newer episodes of Law & Order to keep juanbimba busy

[Escaped Lunatic]

As long as we're discussing addictions, rumor has it that Dongguan has a much wider variety of foriegn foods available than many other places. Has anyone shopping there noticed any of these:

Pringles Right Crisps (these are the low-fat kind - usually in a silver cannister)
Ribena (Black currant based soft drink from the UK)
Diet Dr. Pepper (really does taste like regular Dr. Pepper)
Low Fat Cheez-Its (maybe I'll ditch the clothing and fill my suitcase with these)
Pocki, Yan Yan, and Tomato Pretz (ok, I like Japanese snacks)

[nolefan]

I don't know about dongguan but Beijing has all of those items (not sure about Ribena).

heck, one of my favorite addiction, the Moleskine, is now available... wooohooooo.. I can get back to writing. It just doesn't feel the same without a proper Moleskin and a fountain pen.

[Raoul Duke]

Loony,
You're in some luck.

Pringles are available all over...even convenience stores stock them. However, Lay's chips-in-a-can are a much better deal and taste a lot better.

Ribena. Uhhh... English comestibles (and I use the term "comestibles" loosely here) don't usually see a lot of export action.

Dr. Pepper. You will stumble across Dr. Pepper, bless its name, from time to time especially in the bigger cities. Never seen the Unleaded variety here, though...you may be lucky just to find Dr. Pepper at all. It can be hard to find even in Shanghai...some stores do carry it but it tends to vaporize the moment it hits the store shelves.

Cheez-Its of any description. Nope. Mei-you. City Supermarket in Shanghai might have them; not sure. I've seen Goldfish in some 5-star hotel shops; gold bars are cheaper.

Japanese snacks. You're hitting the jackpot on this one. Japanese snacks are staggeringly popular (not surprising once you get a load of Chinese snacks) and easy to find. The unfortunately-named Pocky (tasty, but I always wonder how smallpox fits into the picture) and Pretz can be found in convenience stores. Many cities have large shops filled with nothing but all kinds of odd Japanese snacks- kelp-flavored candies and so forth- in a veritable explosion of cutesy-poo Hello Kitty-grade bushwa and flouncy Japanese bubblegum pop music. Personally, I figure Hell is probably a lot like these places, only with better food and music.

[George61]

Moleskin?? In the real world, moleskin is a type of fabric, much loved by members of the Squatocracy. How does this help your writing?

[kcanuck]

Would line my work boots with moleskin to prevent blisters, I'm wondering the same as George.

[Non-Dave]

I've just started season 4 of The Shield, I'm looking for Season 3 of Deadwood and I'm still bereft that there was only one season of Firefly (Thanks Stil for that little gem).

[Lotus Eater]

The saloon is my on-line addiction. I generally leave the computer on, do other stuff and pop in and out to see if anyone has added anything.

Sometimes y'all write so slowly that when there is nothing new to read I go into withdrawals. Other times (like when I am on holiday) and I have heaps to catch up on, I feel as if I've overdosed.

Am watching Alias at the moment, but the series I have seems to have left out a couple of disks!!!

[Ruth]

Yup, the Saloon is my addiction, too.

[nolefan]

george61 said:

Moleskin?? In the real world, moleskin is a type of fabric, much loved by members of the Squatocracy. How does this help your writing?

Georges... Out of all people, I never expected this question from you... ok.. taking deep breaths....


www.moleskine.com/

www.moleskine.co.uk/

www.moleskineus.com/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moleskine

[George61]

Inneresting, Noles, but not compelling. Any old writing pad is good enuff for me!!

[solongtinik]

>> the saloon and my mp3...

hey DJ so u got new addiction?

[nolefan]

george61 said:

Inneresting, Noles, but not compelling. Any old writing pad is good enuff for me!!

fair enough!! more moleskines for yours truly!!
To be fair, I've never cared about them much until I got my hands on my first one.. it was never the same afterwards.

[Miss Maggles]

mmmm Moleskines, and you would buy these where in China??? Pleeeaaaase tell me. I want one of the new pretty red ones.

[nolefan]

your source for moleskines in beijing: www.emo.com.cn/

BTW, I just noticed that you're hanging out in Beijing, let's find some time and catch up over coffee... I'll gather the troops.