eBay fraudsters

For the first time in my nine years of online auction history I have finally been targeted by a Nigerian scammer through a hijacked legal account. This despite banning everyone registered outside the UK and those without credit card on file from bidding.

Although it is my first time, they are easy to spot enough. The fact that they request the item to be send it to another country easily raised the alarm. But putting the word "Africa" in it should be enough for anyone to immediately report it to the police. If eBay does not accept that you have a potential fraudster posing as a buyer, then just ignore the buyer. Even if it means denting that perfect 100% feedback.

Another thing even if they offer to pay by PayPal they can still reverse charge you, even if you withdraw the money from the account to a bank account. I am thinking of ditching eBay altogether for any listings that exceeds £50 and just use Gumtree. It simply isn't worth the pain or hassle.

*sigh* I really do wish Yahoo! would bring back Yahoo! Auctions to the UK.

Sam & Max: Abe Lincoln Must Die! for free (PC)

Telltale Games is offering the fourth episode of Sam & Max: Season One for free. Abe Lincoln Must Die! was one of the better episodes from the first season so there really is no reason not to play it, then buy Season One once you get yourself hooked. It is not known if this would be a limited offer or something permanent. Anybody with a reasonable three year old PC should be able to play the game just fine, so go download it now!

Mother dies because of religion

Via BBC News, a 22 year old mother died after refusing to be given blood after the birth of her twins because of her religion.

Doctors, faced with a moral dilemma, apparently begged Emma Gough's husband and family to overrule her insistent not to have blood transfusion; but the family stood their ground and rather see a love one die because of their beliefs. And this is in a country where euthanasia on the terminally ill is illegal and sinful (which is utter tosh).

The family are now grieving because of their own stupidity. The stupidity to risk a person's healthy life because of a religion - a skewed interpretation of a rule in a thousand year old best seller. The mind boggles on why human beings willingly surrender to faith and are are unable to think for themselves.

And now her twins will have to grow up without a mother. The silly selfish woman who deserves a Darwin award but disqualified.

Autumn bike ride

Beautiful autumn day yesterday morning. Went biking on a stretch of the Grand Union Canal for roughly 17 miles.





Maximum speed was 25mph according to MemoryMap.

Guy Fawkes bonfire night

Sorry about the picture quality. Cold night + no tripod = blur

Touch Detective 2 1/2 review

The first Touch Detective heroine's antic was captivating enough to warrant a purchase of its sequel Touch Detective 2 1/2. Bumbling detective on hire Mackenzie whose resume includes that of hunting for a 'Dream stealer' returns for yet more bizarre antics as she continues her adventures.

Now an officially licensed detective, Mackenzie begins the game with a short tutorial, much like in the first game where she is trapped in her room with her mushroom pet. Once that is out of the way the first case begins with Mackenzie's biggest client Penelope whose trouble now involves pink noodles being stolen from the town.

There are a total of five cases with each connected in some way with each other rather, much like Capcom's Gyakuten Saiban 3, which provides an overall plot line and an actual main villain. Returning to the game is Chloe, her arch enemy detective whose naivety equals that of Mackenzie.

Touch Detective 2 1/2's puzzles are more or less the same as it was on the first game - that is almost none-existent. It isn't to say that the game is easy, but the lack of cohesive puzzle mechanics and by virtues of the good ol' process of elimination most players should be able to progress through the game with no problem. It may be annoying but you certainly would not need a PhD to go through the end.

Continuing its dialogue engine from the previous game is Mackenzie's inner monologue, which appears on the top screen through a thought bubble, usually when she is questioning as part of her investigation. I always find it unique in role-playing games to be able to read what a character's real thoughts are. This form of expression is certainly unique in the medium though it may prove confusing to some people to read two concurrent dialogue.

The visuals are one of the greatest asset of the series with the same 2.5D graphic engine making a return. Characters are rendered in 3D superimposed on gorgeous pre-rendered backgrounds that serves as locations. Visual style is a bit difficult to describe but is similar to Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Touch Detective 2 1/2 (Mystery Detective II in UK) isn't a game for everyone. But it is a charming and funny enough video game that warrants a serious look by point and click adventure genre fans. Fans of classic Monkey Island, Sam & Max and Gyakuten Saiban should not give this a miss.

6/10

Preview of new Tube map

Via London Underground blog, a preview of the new Tube map by Transport for London has been making its way around the web. At first glance it is clear that the new map is definitely more busy and far more complex than the previous map. The most relevant inclusion is obviously the new Heathrow Terminal 5 station, signalling the end to the Heathrow loop.


The most significant addition to the new map however are the new London Overland service specifically Watford Junction to Euston, Richmond to North Woolwich, Gospel Oak to Barking and Clapham Junction to Willesden Junction. This former Silverlink metro services (bye bye, London won't miss ya!) will be managed by TfL and MTR Laing from 11 November when Oystercards will become valid on these lines. Joining the service in 2010 will be the East London line. Future plans includes reintegrating the Watford DC service back into the Bakerloo Line with six or seven car trains.

Personally I find the (current) new map to be overcomplicated. The integration between London Underground and Overground is almost none-existent with minimal interchanges that I believe the old London National Rail maps should be sufficient enough. Also I find the disability access signs as detrimental to the aesthetic quality of the map. I believe that such informations would be better served on alternative specialised maps. It seems to me that TfL is reversing all the things we loved about the Tube Map that Harry Beck has given us. But it is still the best metro map in the world.

TV Review: Dexter season one

Dexter is the latest American TV import that has caught my attention, no less due to the inclusion of Michael C. Hall as the title character. The format is of police forensics kind but unlike oh-so-boring C.S.I. or Bones, Hall's character is an anti-hero - whose lust for blood is the centre theme to this series.

Dexter Morgan is a clever and calculated Miami based blood splatter expert working for the Miami police. He also happens to moonlight as a serial killer with an unruly sense of justice and articulate form of applying his form of justice. His skills that allows him to adept well to both his day and night 'jobs'. Night is certainly when he hones his morbid 'craft' as he picks his victims and 'plays' with them.

Dexter's killing urge begins at a young age from the moment he was taken in by his foster parents. But rather than shunning and locking the devil up, his father who happens to be a police detective, actually encourages him to 'channel' his morbid curiosity on people who really deserves it. He holds a unique position where he is able to play two roles, using his insider knowledge to cover his tracks and to hunt down new victims. Sort of like Death Note, but even more compelling.


Despite his morally ambiguous role, you will find yourself rooting for Dexter, partly because he is equally as brilliant as our most beloved fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter and because he is sort of likeable, in a creepy sort of way. Ultimately he is sort of the lesser of two evils. For a serial killer Dexter understands that he has a hollow soul and is adamant that nothing could stop or change him. Dexter's acceptance that he is a monster is unique within fictional psychopathic characters where many are in denial to whom they are. He kills not for justice, because of his desire to play with blood. Justice is just a bonus outcome of his actions, most of is based on the "code of conduct" devised by his father.

Hall's performance as Dexter has been brilliant so far. It is complete opposite to his last major TV role as the embattled gay undertaker David Fisher in Six Feet Under, but certainly no less memorable as the emotionally challenged Dexter. Joining Dexter is a small cast of misfits whom are not as memorable (but still unique and developed). Like Dexter, most are crazies in their own little world. There is an obnoxious sergeant who picks and cuss at Dexter the whole time. His sister is unable to think for herself and constantly being struck down by her superior (who is an outright bitch). The only other likeable character happens to be Dexter's girlfriend Rita - whom he dates because she is as 'damaged as him'.


The series concept is original (for TV) and right of the bat the pilot episode introduced us to a major serial killer rival (the ice truck killer - who happens to be one of the more interesting villains on TV) to our new favourite serial killer where he attempts to capture him, and yet at the same time could not help admiring his work. While this is ongoing smaller plot lines are introduced like his ongoing relationship with Rita, the dilemma facing the police on seeking vengeance or justice and office politics. But the first season never strays too far from its centre goal of establishes Dexter's identity. My understanding is the second season will explore Dexter's morality further and him dealing with the consequences of his actions during season one's finale showdown with the ice truck killer.

Dexter combines the surgical glamour of Nip/Tuck, the visceral art of Six Feet Under and visual style of film noire. It isn't grotesque and isn't as gruesome as initially thought, but stylistically Dexter is a visualfest. Dialogues are well written with humour thrown in where needed and not unnecessarily almost on par with American Psycho. It is a subtly funny series that also happens to questions society's reaction to vigilante murders. Here we are rooting for someone who is doing something we think is despicable but deep down I am sure many of you agrees with.

Disturbingly pleasurable.

Dexter season one is currently airing here Sundays 10pm on FX UK.