I thought that you wanted to use your own servers instead of Microsoft’s LIVE servers to improve the gamer’s experience with online games? Why does Battlefield 2 Modern Combat constantly drop me from games? Why does it tell me that the servers are unavailable when I see three other people on my friends list playing online? Why can others hear me but I can’t hear them, while at other times I can hear others but they can’t hear me? Why does this game award an achievement after the game is over, unlike every other 360 game that awards it as soon as it’s earned?

(Don’t try to blame it on my connection either. I know at least one person in another geographical location who has these very same issues, specifically the “can’t connect to game” issues, even while I am playing).

I like this game a lot. I really enjoy playing online. All of my free time (when I am not cleaning up after the cats, the dog, walking the dog, making dinner, etc.) either playing this game or watching Lost. But the issues I listed above are aggravating. I can’t remember the last time I played a non-EA 360 game on LIVE that exhibited any of those issues.

I recently picked up New Super Mario Brothers, and I love the game. It is a nice mix of the original SMB and SMB3 with a little Mario 64 thrown in. I’ve spent at least an hour every day this week, mostly on the bus, playing this game. My only real beef is the music. I never realised how much I liked the music of Mario games, and how important it is to my overall enjoyment of the game. This game’s music is weak and repetitive, and it makes me want to keep the volume down all the time. The only good tracks are in the underworld (remixed from the original SMB) and the rarely played “hit the flag at the end of each stage at the right time to hear the music from the original SMB” one. Some of the mini-games are straight out of the launch title Mario 64 DS, and a few others are brand new. I haven’t tried any of the wireless mini games or versus games, since I have no one to play with. There is no Nintendo Wifi options with this game. Why doesn’t the game support the rumble pack?

I think New Super Mario Brothers is an excellent game. Anyone who enjoys 2D platformers and has a soft spot for Nintendo’s mascot will thoroughly enjoy this game.

I just went downstairs to grab the space heater. As I moved toward the heater, the paper shredder started running all by itself. I didn’t accidentally turn it on. I didn’t flip a switch that it was connected to and powered it on. There was no paper stuck in there. A ghost probably was trying to reach out to me from beyond the grave, which means that I will never go down there again. Ever.

With Nad gone during the next two months, I’m gonna have to hire someone to go down there and grab my stuff.

Speaking of which, Nad’s leaving again for two whole months. I think she’s spent more time on the road this year than she has at home. It’ll be just me, the cats, and the dog. Yeah, the dog. I haven’t talked about Pooch here yet, but she joined us about three weeks ago. She’s a 16-year-old german shepard and terrier mix (or collie, I’m not sure). We are nursing her back to health, and will send her back to her proper home soon. In the meantime, I have a house full of animals to take of on my own, which will be difficult. The ghost(s) won’t make things any easier.

Edit: Nad just went down there and came back intact. Maybe they aren’t down there, or maybe they just want me. I’m not taking any chances.

Our broadband connection at home is still dead, after going out on Monday. That very same day, we learned that our telephone was dead also. I called Comcast for a Monday appointment to fix the connection, and Nad called Verizon for a Thursday appointment to fix the phone.

Nad waited, and waited, and waited for Verizon today. The “8AM to 12PM” window became “8AM to whenever the hell we get there.” Around 3:30PM, they finally showed up to fix the phone, but not before Nad called Comcast to sign up for their VOIP service. It’ll save me around $30 a month for all the same features, plus a couple of more. Our number will get ported, so everything should be okay.

Should I really trust Comcast with my landline service? Specifically, dialing 911. I mean, they can’t even keep my Internet connection going for a solid month at a time. What happens when I’m clutching my chest from a heart attack and Nad is trying to call 911? Will the flashing light on my cable modem that signifies a lost connection also be the last thing I ever see?