"Catspaw" is a clever title, I must say.

All caught up on my webcomickage and friendspage! Now, for a review!

My sister and I went out to the Cheesecake Factory for our birthday (we're twins), and while we were waiting for our table we dropped in at the bookstore. I got two books there – first, Issac Asimov's latest autobiography, and second, a Joan D. Vinge book called "Catspaw".

( Possible spoilers )

In toto, I think all I can say is that the book passes the first test ("did it keep me through to the end?"), and possibly even the second ("would I like to reread it?"), and I don't mind that it fails the third ("is it perfectly executed?"), but I'm still trying to decide about the fourth. Is it a worthy book? Does it give you anything to think about that's worth taking away? I can't think of it.

In any case, it was nice way to spend a day, I must say. Now to finish "Blind Lake" by Robert Charles Wilson – loaned to me by my mom, and therefore very likely to be superb. (I'll possibly go back to IF after that, but I don't know. I've still that Asimov....)

Packbat ... out!

(no subject)

nanakikun just found the secret to the Sega Genesis Sonic 2 game. Well, to the Casino level. Well, no, just for the final boss.

In that level, Dr. Eggman Robotnik flies back and forth in his ship, with a mine-dropping electric-zappy thing on the bottom. The only way to attack him is to hit him spinning from above. However, the pinball flippers they give you to jump up with are too uncontrolled.

However, the bottom of the screen has rounded corners. Thus, you can – charge-spin? Push down and hit the button, anyway – you can stand under the flippers and charge-spin, and when Dr. Wiley Robotnik stops to drop his mine, you move, roll up above him on the wall, and jump off the wall. You'll be able to hit Dr. Evil Robotnik once with this, and then run over to the other side "while he's busy feeling sorry for himself" (exact nanakikun quote).

Yeah, it only defeats Dr. No Robotnik in that one level. But it's a really annoying level otherwise.

There – now all you non-retrogamers can wake up again (and answer my Truth or Happiness poll).