i@m.fm

I guess it’s rather dark, but you can still tell that there’s quite a
bit of construction going on on Mowat, which is being turned into a
oneway. As a result, it now takes about 5-10 minutes more to get in and
out of the office.

Yesterday on my way out I almost missed the train because I had to wait
for someone who was cutting concrete to stop, and then one of those big
heavy machines almost backed up into me as I continued to walk… Let’s
see what happens today during my lunch adventure excursion

Also I will see if I can find some time this weekend to lighten up the picture.

As this Dutch press release from Tulip Computers says, they are launching a Commodore 64 Mini Game console.
 


This seems to be pretty similar to the Atari Classics, Namco and Activision ones (actually the manufacturer, Jakks TV games, has made quite a few more). They even make a reference to these min consoles in their press release.

The joystick looks a bit like a competition pro, but I bet it doesn’t have the same feel. So is this what the big c64 revival (they called it a “global re-launch”) was all about that they announced? Still, nothing is happening at commodore.net and no other updates at Ironstone Partners, apart from their announcement (July 16th, 2003) and the new logos (July 31st, 2003). Also it is very interesting that the press release seems only to have gone out in a Dutch version. Here’s some highlights from the press release (please keep in mind that I have never learnt Dutch):

• the mini console is launched together with Ironstone Partners
• it contains 30 c64 games (Classic Games series from Epyx including Summer Games, Winter Games, World Games and California Games)
• retail price should be at 30 Euro
• product launch is in the second half of 2004
• the product is going to be sold in Europe and the USA

They also mention:

• The Guinness Book of Records mention of the c64 (most popular computer ever)
• 6 million c64 fans world wide (no idea where this number comes from)
• lots of c64 related websites
• this being the first re-implementation of the c64 hardware in a decade

(I changed a part of the article after getting some help with the translation of one sentence of the press-release).

Actually this is not quite what I had imagined with the re-launch of the commodore, but who knows, maybe there’s more coming our way. I’d always been thinking about some type of online-emulator version where you subscribe to play the games or so, but then again most of the games are still available for download all over the place anyways.

Hmmm, I wonder where their full game list is, it doesn’t quite add up to 30. I wonder if they have licenses all the ones they want to include, yet?

I doubt that this can competet with my real (PAL) c64, which is sitting on my desk right next to the PC.

FranKim :: Costa Rico Pictures now online

The unedited raw collection of pictures is now online on FranKim, our family blog.

You will need to create a reader account and email us to get access to the pictures, though.

Just a small comment, on something that occured to us after a brief 2
year old Crystal Home in our area: The paint that Mattamy has used in
our home is of very inferior quality. As a matter of fact, I don’t
think it’s good enough to serve as a basecoat for another colour

Basically, when ever you touch any of the walls with anything, be
prepared to see a mark on the wall. And then Mattamy asks you not to do
any painting during the first year, because they will only provide
touch-ups that have to be done due to settling in the original colour.
Normally they also do not give you any spare paint. However if you try
to wipe the walls with a wet cloth or something, be prepared for the
entire paint to come off.

In other words, the Crystal home that still had the original paint on
the walls after two years looks great, while in our home we already
have numerous marks on the walls. It might also be woth mentioning that
there are kids living in the other home, while we have no kids.

Some of our neighbours have taken matters in their own hands and
painted some of the rooms – it definitely looks much nicer, so this is
what we are planning after all of the 1 year (and missed stuff from the
previous inspections) is done.

Since Kim & I were to lazy to take notes when we went to hear the Dalai Lama talk last Sunday, I though I’d just refer you to my co-workers notes instead

The Adventures of Accordion Guy in the 21st Century :: Notes from the Dalai Lama’s Talk: “The Power of Compassion”

I’d say the notes are pretty acurate, as I can recall from memory. It
was however hard to stay awake from time to time, since it took quite a
bit of concentration to understand the broken English.

As the province of Ontario realizes that it will be running out of
power sooner or later, they finally started thinking about how to
provide the additional power needed.

Considering that they are planning to shut down one of the power
plants in April 2005, you could possibly be surprised why they only
start thinking about this now…

In any case one of the alternatives, wind power farms on the lake,
are considered an eyesore by residents. Sure, let’s make sure we use
shortsighted planning when going about our future.

Nuclear Energy is much more pleasing to the eye, and who cares if
the next generations can still live in this world. Anything but an
eyesore for us 

Through a comment in my blog I found Rick’s “Mattamy Homes in Hawthorne Village, Milton” blog.



One of his questions is with regards to the contract,
and if it should be reviewed by a lawyer. I think you should actually
consider having it reviewed by a lawyer, but also review it yourself.
We were able to make a few small changes to it (i.e. capping the cost
for the driveway, tree etc. at a fixed limit) but nothing out of the
ordinary. For new homes, it is is still a seller’s market, so the
seller dictates most of the conditions.

The one year inspection is coming up and there’s still a few old open
issues that I need Mattamy to re-address, so this is going to be a busy
time. We are also going to hire a professional inspector to make sure
nothing is wrong structually.

Expect some pictures soon from our 10 vacation in Costa Rica here soon.