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It turns out they're not covering the WRC on TV in the UK, how ridiculous is that?!
But, thanks to the miracle that is the intrawebs it is still available, and it's probably more convenient for me to watch it on my computer anyway.
Still, I can't help but find it amazing that I am forced to watch the World Championship of a European sport recorded from an American TV.

On a completely unrelated note, how awesome is heterochromia?
I was looking something up on Wikipedia when I got distracted by a dozen other articles branching off from one another, as you do, when I stumbled across it.
I was just thinking that it'd be an amazingly awesome condition to have. Of course it would most definitely not be awesome to have any of the sight problems that come with it, or the gank looking sectoral heterochromia, but I already wear glasses and have a slightly weaker left eye, so I figured that it'd at least be nice to get something out of it and have a really distinguishing feature like one green eye or something.
They say you can get heterochromia from an injury, so maybe I should get some laser eye surgery and knock the machine a little, but that might be pushing my luck.

I also found in my Wiki-travels that my cat might be a breed of snowshoe. The description certainly matches, and as the snowshoe is considered a rare cross-breed, I find that fact to be rather marvelous.

Rapture

I finally got Bioshock today, and what a game...
This is a title that will definitely be remembered for a long time as something truly brilliant, a real piece of art.
*spoiler*
For those playing the game, I've been harvesting the little sisters. I'm playing it on Hard (obviously) and figure I don't need to make it any harder than it already is by starving myself of Adam. I'll save all the little sisters next time I play through it.
*spoiler*
I would advise anyone and everyone to try the demo, available on both the Xbox Marketplace and online for the PC.

On the topic of games, the second half of this year is really turning out to be an absolute feast of what look to be great titles.
Next month we'll see Medal of Honor: Airborne, a game I have been very excited about after playing the demo, it actually looks like it's going to be a little bit more than just another WW2 shooter. Although I'll be torn between getting it for PC or 360, I may have to go for PC as it'll be considerably 'cheaper'.
And then there's Halo 3, a game I'm frankly not that pumped about, especially having just started Bioshock, but you just know it's going to be a game you'll have to own, realistically.
World In Conflict is definately grabbing my attention as an awesome looking RTS that's utterly my style with it's scenario of a modern violent end to the cold war, and a very interesting in-game command structure that gives it an original edge that'll set it apart from the rest. There's a demo out so I'm really going to have to kick myself into gear and get 'round to downloading it. Quite relevant too, what with how Russia's been flexing it's muscles recently.
And then in late October and through November we should hopefully be seeing Naruto: Rise of a Ninja on the 360, this'll be the first Naruto game on a console that isn't just a beat 'em up, while it does seem to become exactly that for the fighting and online aspects, it's also a platformer style game that looks like it could be really good if they do it right, but with a bundle of mini-games thrown in it still looks as if they could easily turn it into a completely expected disappointment.
Also on 360 will be Assassin's Creed, this is one of those games that's going to end up in everyone's collection, no doubt. I really can't wait.
On the Wii will be Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, one of the three games I actually bought the Wii for, finally here for us to enjoy.
And for the PC will be the highly anticipated Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, a game that I think will see a lot of online action and just reeks of general awesomeness.
I really wish I could add Grand Theft Auto IV to that list, but thanks to the PS3 it's been delayed 'till next year. I thought I could laugh at Sony's failure from a distance, but they've now proven that no one is safe, and they're out to get ya!

Of course this is actually only a small selection of the games coming out in the next few months, but they're very much what I'll be keeping my eye on.
As I'm currently unemployed I'll have to hold off on buying anything for a while though, hopefully I'll have a job before most of these titles hit the shelves and will be able to get a few of them.
Saving up for MCM is really my first priority, and I think in the end these games will have to wait.

Kalb

I went to the (better) pub in town today for the weekly pub quiz, nice place. Or at least it was until the weasel barman decided to give us shit for not buying a drink as soon as we step through the door.
I was standing at the bar with Andrew and Emma as Andrew bought a beer, me and Emma didn't buy anything and the barman asked us if we were going to, we replied that we might later and he told us that we couldn't stay in the bar if we weren't going to buy a drink.
First off, it's not like we were just going to the pub to bum around, we were paying our way in the pub quiz, and were with someone that had bought a drink. Now if it was a busy night I might understand this, but there was hardly anyone in there, so it's not like we were taking up valuable floorspace.
Stretch eventually skulked off outside and we made our way upstairs to sit down, he then decided to visit us every five minutes to make sure we were going to buy a drink. We asked the other bar staff about the 'drink or door' policy and were met with confused replies and even a laugh or two. We only managed to get Buster Brown to leave us alone by getting a free glass of water for the both of us. Then he went back to his usual act of pretending we know him by making the odd awkward joke and looking at our quiz answers, like I'm going to forget he threatened to throw us out, prick.
In the end we came second in the quiz by one and a half points, almost annoying as two weeks before when we lost by half a point. It makes me glad that we misheard the question "What is the Islamic name for god?" and put down the Islamic name for 'dog', because a repeat performance might have sent me over the edge.
And remember, second is only the first loser.
Or as a WWE commentator recently said, "Losing is the great American sin." Really sums up that country.

When I got home I watched the last episode of series five of 24, that Jack Bauer sure is a legend. Although I did find quite a few parts of the series to be rather poorly written and generally cliché, I don't know if this is new or I'm just noticing it for the first time, but it's not a good thing either way.
I think I might start watching some more Eureka next, I've seen a couple of episodes and thought it looked pretty good. Two of the main actors just so happen to be appearing at the MCM expo in October, which I am very much looking forward to, it's gonna be great.

Summer Slammed

Playing football yesterday resulted in the most sport related injuries I've had for as long as I can remember.
The first was received after a tackle where I caused myself to stumble along comically for a few steps before flooring myself, and the funny thing is I was worried that I'd tripped over the other player at first, that resulted in a few layers of skin being removed from my knee, which in most circumstances I would prefer were present and accounted for. The second was received after a ball was launched at my face quite fast, which managed to damage a rather large surface area from the side of my nose to all across my left eye. Which stung a bit, and has left a small mark on my upper eyelid which absolutely smarts when I touch it. And the third when Andrew just decided to stomp my ankle, which is more lulz than pain.

Then we made our way to Andrew's place and played Texas Hold 'em as I tried to bleed on as little as possible. After some winding down we settled in to watch the WWE SummerSlam.
Now I'm no wrestling fan, but with some of my closer friends loving the stuff I can't really avoid it. The whole style just isn't for me, but when you sit down and watch a big event with people that know the characters and can tell you the back stories it does get to be pretty interesting, and definitely a good laugh. Especially to watch Cena defend the title from Orton and become the longest Championship belt holder since Hulk Hogan, and to see Stone Cold (a real classic from my childhood) make an appearance under the guise of a drinking contest, perform his brilliantly classic signature move on one of the 'bad guys', showboat to the crowd and then leave.

In the mood of the WWE themed night was a challenge on the Hardcore title.
Lofty bought a replica Hardcore title belt a few days ago, and for those that don't know the Hardcore champion can be challenged at any time, with a 'No Holds Barred' rule allowing any weapons and any means to get the belt, as long as a referee is present to count the pin.
Andrew tried to pin Lofty in his sleep but I only got to the two count as Andrew pulled back thinking Lofty was having some sort of panic attack. It turns out he was fine and was just really scared of losing the Hardcore title.
So he remains the Hardcore champion for now, but he better watch his back.

WRC

And so begins my love affair with the World Rally Championship.

I've been playing Colin McRae DiRT on the Xbox 360 quite a lot recently, and absolutely love the 4WD races, with my weapon of choice being the fantastic Peugeot 307. I'm even pretty good at it, with my best time ranking 52nd out of 45556 people on Brindabella B, Australia. But I'm very average at CORR and other events.

So this morning I was chilling at a friend's place watching TV when I saw some highlights of previous WRC events (focusing mainly on the crashes), and it really is just as brilliant as I thought it would be.
The last time I saw any rally races on TV must've been at least eight years ago, and back then I was just hoping for a crash to keep me entertained. But now when I know all the cars, the differences between each nation's tracks and can see the pure skill involved in Rally racing I'm absolutely plastered to the screen. Watching the world's greatest drivers power slide through every corner on the thinnest gravel and dirt roads at top speeds is just an incredible spectacle to behold, and I personally find it infinitely more enjoyable to watch than the overrated F1 races, with their ridiculous cars producing so much down force and grip they end up so glued to the road they almost all but obliterate the chance of over steer.

So I've checked out the official website and have found that they're through ten of the sixteen nations included in the championship. I've unfortunately missed Italy and Germany, but still have Spain, Japan, Ireland and Wales to look forward to. With the next stage in New Zealand from the 31st of August to the 2nd of September , I know where I'll be next Friday.

Squaddie

I finished reading Squaddie: A Soldier's Story last night.

Written by Steven McLaughlin it documents the quite incredible circumstances in which he joins the Royal Green Jackets and leaves his mark as the last ever Green Jacket to pass out of Sir John Moore Barracks, and be the oldest man to ever pass the Combat Infantryman's Course at Catterick Garrison.
He then goes on to serve in both Iraq and Northern Island, and his insight into both of these conflicts is quite an eye opener. Especially in regards to Northern Island, I had no idea that tension and trouble was still so high.

Being born in the late 80s I was never around with the Northern Island conflict was at its worse and all over the news, so now with the 'ceasefire' and its lack of popularity in the news it all feels like its over and done with to me. But I found it quite shocking to read how it is still very much alive for those on the ground. Although the die-hard belief in Irish nationalism seems to be fading out with each generation, and we all know how political conflicts never last as long as religious ones, so the conflicts in Northern Island might not be so far from dissolving into a memory.
Although that's just between the soldiers and the Catholics, the Protestants are always going to get flak.

In all I found it to be a brilliant book, and I'm sure anyone with any modern military interest would throughly enjoy it.

Now I just have to pull myself to the end of Battle Royale, which I must say is rather poorly written, and in many cases just terrible. It doesn't hold a candle to the film, which just seems to be a revised and improved version of the book, or the manga, which from what I've seen retains exactly the same story only with artwork instead of bad prose.
After that I think I might buy Romance of the Three Kingdoms, or read the last Ghost in the Shell novel.

The GTR

So I was walking out of Tesco with the next few days worth of dinner and drinks to take to other people's houses when I start to walk to the carpark right outside. I just step down from the curb right behind a car parked illegally right outside the front of Tesco when I spot the legendary four massive circular rear lights, then a split second later I see the absolutely beautiful GTR badge, I was standing there for at least three full seconds before I realized that my friends were calling to me and I was just staring at it with my mouth completely open.
It was absolutely beautiful with really awesome low profile 5 spoke rims and tinted windows, as I walked up to the window I could see the custom dials brilliantly illuminated behind a racing wheel.

Then I looked at the driver (sitting in his bucket seat with a racing harness) and I said to him,
"Excuse me, but can I just say you have an absolutely beautiful car, and may I shake your hand."
Then as he shakes my hand he gets out and says, "Uhh, thanks, yeah it's totally tuned too."
To which I reply, "Yeah I can see that... And hear it." As it sat there growling quietly at everyone walking around it.
"Yeah it gets 600 Brake Horsepower." (That's tuned up from the stock 280)
"Wow. Is that an R32 or R33?"
"R32."
"Epic... Well thanks, see ya."

Getting up close and personal with an R32 GTR absolutely made my day.

To quote Wikipedia,
"The R32 GT-R dominated JTCC, winning 29 races from 29 starts, taking the series title every year from 1989-1993. It took 50 races from 50 starts from 1991-1997 (latterly R33) in the N1 Super Taikyu. The R32 GT-R was introduced in the Australian Bathurst 1000 touring-car race to compete against GM Holden and V8 saloons, winning in 1991 & 1992. This success led to the Australian motoring press naming the car Godzilla due to it being a "monster from Japan" and as Australia was the first export market for the car the name quickly spread."

The GTR is a world recognized badge that means serious business and was clearly revolutionary at its debut, much like the Subaru Impreza when it hit the rally scene in 1993. But unlike the Impreza it kept on going, and to this day keeps everyone on their toes with the R34.

But personally I don't like the front design on the R34 at all, and my dream car would definitely be either an R32 or R34 GTR.
After the Murcielago, of course.

And don't even get me started on the V series, a joke to the prestigious Skyline name.