Messages

White Tiger is pretty amazing, and my favorite of the Man Booker prize winners.

I've been meaning to read that one. When you say favorite, are you saying you've read them all?

No, I should clarify that it is my favorite that I've read of the winners, and amongst all of the longlisted titles.  I've read maybe 25 in total, and The White Tiger blew me away.  Don't bother with the author's followups unless you are specifically interesting in India.  Previously my favorite of all the Man Booker Winners and lists (that I've read) was Vernon God Little, which is very good though I can understand some people not liking that one.



 

  Good to see WHAM back in the writing comp 

[Sal's Stogie Saloon â€" Saturday, December 1st at 9:00 PM]

  The hidden cigar lounge smelled of sandalwood, cedar, and tobacco.  It was owned by Sal Tamasso, one of the top underbosses of the infamous Tamasso family.  The previous owner was hesitant to sell, especially for such a low price, but being dangled by helicopter over an alligator farm has a way of changing one's mind.  Currently in the cigar lounge were four very different people, all of whom were brought together by one unfortunate incident.

Sal's Stogie Saloon â€" Saturday, December 1st at 9:00 PM
Nicola Tomasso
I could be doing something productive instead of dealing with these two wretches while also being annoyed by my dribbling moron of a henchman.  Pacing back and forth in the small, humid room I eyeballed Jason Bratsky and the old man that only goes by the name “Howard”.  My own personal knuckledragger, Leo “Meaty Fist” Padrone, was obviously off in neverland again.  I yelled “Hey, focus on the task Leo!”
Leo Padrone
Those ships have to be difficult to stuff inside the bottle.  Why not just make the little model ship and not bother with a bottle?  That checkout girl yesterday at the Food Barn was smoking hot; I wonder if she likes big guys like me.  Why do people wear Crocs?  They are so unfashionable and not classy like a nicely cobbled Italian shoe.  Oh no, the boss is looking at me like I did something wrong and just yelled at me to “focus”.  Act serious Leo, as an unhappy boss equals an unhappy Leo.  Hopefully he won't force me to kill the old guy… The dude has old school balls.  The younger one is very annoying and instead of punching me like a man, he bit me when I dragged him from his house to this meeting.  You know, I wouldn't mind offing him just for laughs.   
Jason Bratsky
Oh my God!  I guess I expected this to happen.  The big guy seriously wants to hurt me after I bit him.  God or whoever is up there, please let me get out of here.  I didn't see anything, and I told the cops only minor details.  Why are they doing this?  Oh great, the big guy's boss just yelled at him.  Dummies like him are all about misplaced aggression, so he is likely to take it out on me.
Howard
The last time I was in this place was back in the 1960s, and in those days it was a jazz club without any secret cigar rooms.  This new place has a very different scent and feel.  I figure these clowns will try to interrogate me, though I don't know why since I didn't tell the cops anything and it's not like I saw what happened.

Sal's Stogie Saloon â€" Saturday, December 1st at 9:03 PM
Nicola Tomasso
I had pored over the police report given to me by my inside man.  This Bratsky character talked and he probably thinks that matters to me.  Well it does in a way since I don't like snitches, but due to the fact that he wouldn't be snitching out my crew there is a chance that I won't kill him.  The old black guy hasn't said a thing to anybody.  His demeanor suggests that he values pride over his own life.  I respect him over the sniveling punk, but that attitude can get a man killed.  I asked, ”Mr. Bratsky, I don't care that you talked to the cops.  In fact, I want you to talk about that night.  I give you my word as man right now that if you tell me the whole truth, then I won't kill you.  This is about a little kid being killed by some coward, and I want to know who.”
Leo Padrone
Bumper stickers are lame.  Why ruin a good ride by bragging about your bratty kids or asking people to honk if they love something?  I can't believe I burped in front of that checkout girl, maybe she didn't hear it.  Uh oh, the boss is talking so I better pretend to be interested and randomly nod my head while looking menacing.
Jason Bratsky
This Nicola guy keeps looking back and forth between me and the old blind guy, as if he is silently debating something.  I wonder what he is thinking.  It's not like I saw everything anyway, just glimpse of what happened.  Oh man, he wants me to tell him the truth and I'm free to go.  No problemo!  Wow that Leo goon looks constipated.
Howard
I figure they will leave my family alone, regardless of what happens.  These Italians are honorable like that.  I'm going to keep quiet until these guys turn their attentions my way.  The Bossman seems interested in this Jason cat for now.  I wonder if he noticed that Bossman's promise didn't mention the big guy wearing the cheap cologne not killing him.  I doubt these fools would mind if I grab a cigar while they are interrogating.

Sal's Stogie Saloon â€" Saturday, December 1st at 9:06 PM
Nicola Tomasso
Wow, the balls on this old guy!  He felt around for a bit and then actually grabbed one of my brother's Cuban stogies!  I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.  I leaned in close and listened to Bratsky, and I am finding his account overly vague.
Leo Padrone
I wonder if the new saline implants feel more natural.
Jason Bratsky
“I'm telling you Mr. Tomasso…Nicola sir…Uhhh…I was about to head into the little bank deal that housed the ATM, and I saw a guy wearing a mask pull a gun, and shoot your nephew in the back of the head.  He then wiped off the gun and threw it near your nephew.  And then I ran away.  That's all I saw man, I swear.”  I really wish he wouldn't lean in so close to me.
Howard
Now this is a cigar!  It smells like a Montecristo Edmundo Robusto that has been housed in a cedar humidor.  I'll stick it in my shirt pocket for now.  Man…This cat is either hard of hearing, lying, or both.  He is leaving out what the killer said before he shot the kid.  And the guy is obviously afraid of being too specific; if word gets out that he talked the killer or killers may come after him.

Sal's Stogie Saloon â€" Saturday, December 1st at 9:08 PM
Nicola Tomasso
”I want to know more detail Mr. Bratsky.  I at least expect the type of gun, the style of dress that the killer wore, and the length of time between when the gun was raised and fired.  And don't give me any nonsense about the darkness or fog, as I've tested the visibility myself and it's not that bad.”
Leo Padrone
No wiseguy I know of does a hit wearing a dress.  What is the boss talking about?
Jason Bratsky
Now who is more dangerous: The Tomasso gang or the killers?  Well, it would be the Tomassos at the moment.  Good thing I saved the “evidence” in the event this happened…Time to put them off the scent and kill two birds with one stone.
Howard
This Nicola cat is going to kill that guy regardless of what he says.  If the killers catch wind that he ratted them out, then Nicola will lose the element of surprise.  Also, he wouldn't have brought muscle just for interrogations.

Sal's Stogie Saloon â€" Saturday, December 1st at 9:10 PM
Nicola Tomasso
Why is he lying to me?  And what is this matchbook?
Leo Padrone
I should get that large auger drill attachment like Vinny Falcona has, rather than wrangling around with a stupid plunger.  Wa-huh!  A matchbook?  What kind of wiseguy leaves a matchbook?
Jason Bratsky
”It WAS dark, but ok yes I did see that he had a .45 handgun and the shooter, who was very tall, immediately nailed the kid in the head without hesitation.  After I ran away, I ran back to the scene of the murder and found this matchbook.  I handed him the matchbook and this will hopefully take care of that “marriage mettling” Rick the Prick.
Howard
Oh boy!  Not only is this kid obviously lying, but he comes up with a matchbook?  This is the oldest movie cliché in the books, movies, and everywhere else fictional detective-work goes on.  He's dead.

Sal's Stogie Saloon â€" Saturday, December 1st at 9:12 PM
Nicola Tomasso
I looked at the “Rick's Steakhouse” matchbook and knew immediately what this guy was trying to do.  It's a good thing I do exhaustive homework on everyone I deal with.  ”So you think the owner of Rick's Steakhouse, a former CBA basketball player, killed my nephew?”  I see the punk nodding and respond, “Now, I'm going to stop you before you waste everyone's time by trying to weakly establish some kind of motive.  He is a sleazy guy known for doing some bad things; yes I know that.  But he isn't a cold blooded killer.  Now he is a cold blooded wife banger - yours specifically.  Nice try, but I know what you are up to with this matchbook.”  I looked over at Leo and said, ”He is useless, and his lies insult the memory of Sal's boy.”
Leo Padrone
After listening to the boss, I made my way over to the lying, biter.  This should be fun.   Still got to get a Skype account...Its just too expensive to regularly call Calabria these days.  Too bad the family doesn't have an IT guy.
Jason Bratsky
I nodded in response to the question, gulped, and immediately realized this guido was a lot smarter than I had initially thought.  If I'm lucky, they won't torture me.
Howard
I don't like the guy myself, but Nicola would be making a mistake by killing him within earshot of me.  I can hear the big henchman shuffling across the room.

Sal's Stogie Saloon â€" Saturday, December 1st at 9:13 PM
Nicola Tomasso
I moved a few steps to get a good look at Howard while Leo worked.  He is an old bum in the wrong place and at the wrong time.  The guy was half-asleep in the bushes nearby when the murder took place.  Leo seems to be enjoying himself.
Leo Padrone
I never tire of strangling people I don't like.  Damn Roxy and her grocery lists; guess it will be too late for real shopping after this but I can least get a few things from the Speedy-Mart. 
Jason Bratsky
Arrgggghh!  That hurts!  I pleaded by attempting to say, ”Stop, Nicola, I'm sorry…Whatever you want, stop!”  And then I made a final gurgling sound, and could see my body from above as I felt myself slowly rising into the air.
Howard
I couldn't understand a word he was saying.  What a horrible way to go…Ok, I can feel Nicola the bossman is nearby.

Sal's Stogie Saloon â€" Saturday, December 1st at 9:14 PM
Nicola Tomasso
I took the Montecristo from the old bum's pocket, cut the cap off, and handed it back to him.  He put it in his mouth, and I gave him a light.  ”As you can see - sorry I mean hear rather - I don't appreciate lies.  Please tell me the truth Mr. Howard.” 
Leo Padrone
That bastard got some drool and a little blood on my Brioni sportcoat.  I guess I better listen closely to what the boss is saying to the old guy.
Howard
He actually wants me to have a cigar.  Man that tastes and smells good, and maybe it is my imagination but I can already feel a light buzz.  I can hear someone walking towards the room.

Sal's Stogie Saloon â€" Saturday, December 1st at 9:15 PM
Sal Tomasso
I walked in and asked, “Did you find out anything about my boy?”, and after seeing their heads shake from side-to-side, I lambasted my brother with, “Ok so why are you leaving DNA in my cigar club?!  And do you know what a dead body will do to the cigars?  Tell your stooge to haul this guy out of here.”  I can't believe I trusted Nicola to handle this…
Nicola Tomasso
I guess Sal heard the noise.  I shook my head in answer to his question, and took my verbal lumps from him.  Now I'll have to be more visibly emotional when referring to my nephew with him poking his nose into the interrogation, or at least show more of a vested interest than simply wanting to get this chore over with.
Leo Padrone
Whoa!  I thought the boss's boss had left after closing up the place. C'mon Sal, I'm no stooge.  That was hurtful.
Howard
This Sal character coming into the room changes things a bit.  I don't like hearing someone, even a bad cat like Jason, get strangled.  If I make it through this ordeal, that sound is going to haunt me.  I faced my head in the direction of Nicola and recounted, “I woke up from a stupor to hear the sound of a leather jacket brushing up against a large body, and what sounded like an arm raise.”  No one in here is aware that I know the kid used to call him Nico.  Things should get interesting.  I puffed on the cigar.

Sal's Stogie Saloon â€" Saturday, December 1st at 9:16 PM
Sal Tomasso
Only my son called Nicola that.  What the hell?!  I need my piece.
Nicola Tomasso
What the hell?!  I didn't kill the little twerp!   I immediately turned towards Sal who had just started reaching into his jacket.
Leo Padrone
I backed up against the back wall to let the family sort this out.  If push comes to shove, I have to go with Sal as he is the ranking boss.  That old guy doesn't rattle, he just started puffing away like he's at the poker table with old friends.
Howard
My tale concluded with, ”And then I heard “Your Uncle Nico says goodbye” followed by a loud bang.”  Of course, that's not what I really heard.  But how can you not trust a wizened, old blind guy?

Sal's Stogie Saloon â€" Saturday, December 1st at 9:17 PM
Sal Tomasso
I put the Glock against the old man's temple and explained, ”Your life depends on the truth, and I need to know how you know that my son called Nicola that.”  He couldn't have heard that anywhere else.
Nicola Tomasso
I put my right hand inside my front coat pocket and held on to the small .38 revolver, watched Sal, and exclaimed, ”The old man is lying!”
Leo Padrone
I positioned myself just far enough away to stop Nicola in case he does anything crazy.  I'm sure that hand is holding something in his pocket, but Nicola is a boss and I can't grab him.
Howard
I exhaled smoke.  I'm cool…Not even sweating despite the room being warm.  Pull the trigger junior, or shoot the other one.  ”First time I've heard the name.”

Sal's Stogie Saloon â€" Saturday, December 1st at 9:18 PM
Sal Tomasso
I moved my gun over to Nicola, heard gunshots, and fired my gun three times before hitting the floor.   Suddenly my worries faded away.
Nicola Tomasso
Sal aimed his Glock .45 at me, so I fired and shot back.  Bah!  I didn't even kill his kid and he gutshot me, and because of this lying old man I'm going to die of blood loss. 
Leo Padrone
Nicola and Sal started shooting at each other!  And now they are both down.  Does the old guy have a grin on his face?  ”Old man, did he really say Uncle Nico?”
Howard
Ha ha ha.  The art of manipulation beats marksmanship once again.  I looked at the big henchman and said, ”Are you going to kill me now?“  I need to determine exactly where he is in the room.

Sal's Stogie Saloon â€" Saturday, December 1st at 9:19 PM
Nicola Tomasso
Bleeding hurts…Why would the old man lie?  Killing that Bratsky punk near him was a mistake.  I can hear Leo talking with that lying old man.
Leo Padrone
Nicola and Sal started shooting at each other!  They are both down, and Sal clipped me in the thigh!  Does the old guy have a grin on his face?  ”Old man, did the killer really say Uncle Nico?!”
Howard
Ha.  The art of manipulation always beats marksmanship.  I looked at the big henchman and said, ”Are you going to kill me now?“  I've already estimated his height, so now I need to determine exactly where he is in the room.

Sal's Stogie Saloon â€" Saturday, December 1st at 9:20 PM
Nicola Tomasso
Pain…I moaned.
Leo Padrone
Nicola seems to still be alive.  I looked at Old Man Howard and declared, ”Don't play games-“ and was cut off by thumbs in my eyes!
Howard
Found him.  You don't get this old by not being a survivor.

HINT: This game received Game of the Year Award in 1994 in a Polish computer magazine - Top Secret.

  It does look fun for its time in a sick kind of way, but 1994 was a slow year if that was a GOY award winner.

  Is it Franko? 

Is this PC or Amiga?

  White Tiger is pretty amazing, and my favorite of the Man Booker prize winners.  I'll add Blood Meridian to my list. 

  Armor is also a great read, especially for sci-fi fans.  And for comedy with shock value, I highly recommend John Niven's Kill Your Friends.

I love how casual and indifferent everyone is to the carnage outside the window.

My guess: Heinous McHeinousHeinous 2

  I had to doublecheck the first post to believe that this is going to be free.  What a cool old fashioned color scheme!  Looking forward to the release.

  I was friends with a girl who was raped while attending a college frat party.  She clearly said no and tried the push the guy off of her.  She did call the cops on the guy that night (could be early AM by that point), and I don't recall what happened to him in the short term, but bottom line is that she didn't attempt to have him prosecuted.  And I asked her why.  She met with an attorney who had warned her to make herself ready to be destroyed as a woman in court.  My friend had been drinking, though wasn't drunk, and she admitted having flirted with the guy earlier in the evening.  The attorney explained that this will be blown out of proportion in court to make her out to be a whore who was too drunk to remember exactly what happened.  She was warned that the defense attorney, who could very well be a woman, will do this regardless of any real proof.  So she didn't pursue.  This was back in the mid-90s, so I don't know if much has changed, but I find some of the tactics used in court very biased against victims.  Seguing into vigilante justice...My bud didn't tell her dad because he would have done more than slander his name in a blog.

  The harder question for me is on slander.  I can see both sides on this.  I don't have much faith in the U.S. justice system, but I think if a person publicly calls someone a rapist, then they should (at least for me to strongly consider the accusation) have some kind of proof well beyond the accusation itself.  With that said, I think the person claiming to be a victim should be free to say what they want, the accused can respond how they choose (sue for libel, create a blog, etc...), and everyone on the sidelines can believe what they want.

Police Quest 1?

I'm working on something on-and-off which should be done in a day or two.

  I have a somewhat on-topic question related to your game.  Why does the one black guy have the name "RAGE", while everyone else is Andrew, Nathan, Bif, Chet, etc...?

Well if you do find some cool shit, please do post about.

  I went against my own advice and tried out 7 or 8 Shadowrun Returns mods - and completed all of them.  They ranged from ok to pretty good, with my favorite being "Lone Star: Double Indemnity".  It included some new graphics with animations and was by far the toughest in that you couldn't use lazy tactics.  The story was decent as well, and there is a huge fun bar fight which was kind of unexpected.  "From the Shadows, Run." deserves an honorable mention due to having the best storyline and a few cool puzzles, though the first "chapter" can be boring if you don't come across the gun.

  One of them had sandbox potential in that you could run around a small town and go into various buildings without a guiding hand or being forced, which was cool.  The mod was buggy and unfinished, but showed good potential. 
   

Sanitarium?

  In one thread you mentioned needing artists for a game, and in your thread searching for plots you admit to not being able to code.  And you seem to be asking for ideas, so you wouldn't be writing it on your own.  How exactly would you make this game?

I never would have guessed that Jürgen Prochnow and Clint Howard could be in the same movie and even the same scene.  Somehow feels wrong. 

I like Chuck Norris VS the mole people.

This is based on a true story, so you will have to obtain releases from all of the survivors. 

Should be easy though, as Chuck Norris was the sole survivor.

[ACTION Jackson!]

Clearly, I must take ACTION Jackson!

Yep, an old classic, your up Ponch.

The game has turns Shadowface...You have to correctly guess the name of the movie that someone else has posted, and then you can post a movie still for others to guess.

  Final hint, you know for the current movie that has yet to be figured out, a young Sharon Stone makes an appearance.

  Watch the training montage from the movie "Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins".  I'm pretty sure all the mods have to go through that at some point.