Once again, it's been a while. Been listening to some personal development CD's in the car, which precludes listening to the 1001 albums. I've got a few ideas for some blogs I've been wanting to do. I've already mostly written a series on budgeting, but I should probably do some graphs for them, and I'm not sure how I'm going to do that at this stage. I've also just joined a gym, and by god there is a lot of information out there about what is good and what isn't when it comes to training to build mass and strength. So I thought I could make a series about that, both my actual exercise and results, and everything that I've been reading. But I suppose I need to stick to one thing first before I can try something else.

On a games front, I've put down Fable 2 because it was getting a bit samey, and I was doing a bunch of wandering around. I'm sick of getting divorced because the 'sleep with' action never seems to work properly for me. I've managed it twice, but every other time my spouse just wanders around aimlessly. I also hate the map system. I want to know where each exit leads to, so I can plan, or even just know which exits I've never even been to. There are quests I can't quick-jump to because I've never been to the area... but I've no idea how to get to them either.

So I've been playing InFamous, which I'm enjoying. While the core action is still satisfying, it was also getting a little repetitive, though I've just unlocked the second island. I do have a minor gripe with the good/bad side of things though. It seems most games with these options force you to stick to one route if you want the best results, and this game is no different. I forget which ability I just unlocked, but if I want to get the maximum for that ability, I need to be all good. Now, I suppose I could do some bad, and I might unlock the 'bad' ability. But then I will have two mediocre abilities that aren't going to cross over, and miss out on the best abilities. If I could mix and match abilities to get some interesting combinations, there would be a reason to straddle neutral, but there isn't. What are your thoughts on games like this?

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Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited - 1965

I'd say that thus far this is my preferred Bob Dylan album, leaning away from folk and a bit more into rock and roll. There still seems to be some nonsensical lines, but that just seems to be his way. "The suns not yellow, it's chicken" took me a while to realise that yellow means scared in older times, but I still can't make sense of it. Nevertheless, most of the tracks are a bit more rockin, with some electric guitar thrown in. There are still harmonicas about, so there is still a folk influence. My favourites would be the two openers, Like a Rolling Stone and Tombstone Blues, but this doesn't mean the rest of the album falls away after that. It closes with Desolation Row, an 11 minute monster, though I feel it does drag a little.

The Beatles - Revolver - 1966
While I'm sure I've heard it before, Taxman seems like a minor song after listening to their previous albums, which all seemed to have a really well known and catchy number to open the album. Not that it is a bad song. Though I wonder if this song was more related to the time it was released. I don't have a problem paying taxes, and see them as essential. I quite like Eleanor Rigby (though I always thought this song would have been called Lonely People). In contrast to the punchy nature of Taxman, violins and the tone of voice give this song a sad and haunting quality. Once again there seems to an Oriental influence on occassion, most evident on Love You To.

Now I'm sure that Beatles fans can tell me a story behind Yellow Submarine. What an odd track. There isn't denying it is catchy, but at the same time it could be on a Peter Coombe album. Good Day Sunshine is bright and upbeat, accompanied by some jangly keys. For No One is another melancholy track, and I suppose that is what I like about this album compared to their previous works; it's a bit more varied. I still doubt whether I would buy a Beatles album... but this one would be the closest to a purchase so far I'd say.