The Check-In, Check-Out Thread

[Crystal]

So far, so good on the Con. Found some good games for decent prices. Then there was a vendor that was TOTALLY price gouging. 100 for a GB Pocket when everyone is selling them for 60.

Always at least one of them at a con, gotta' get that extra dough! Remember if you're there for the very end, grab those last minute deals, vendors will work with you more because they don't want to take the stuff back with them!

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Always at least one of them at a con, gotta' get that extra dough! Remember if you're there for the very end, grab those last minute deals, vendors will work with you more because they don't want to take the stuff back with them!

Definitely what I intend to do, but I already have most of what I've wanted to snag. I did negotiate down a couple, but I was more like "can you knock 5-10 of this price?" and they were cool with it.

There are three vendors in the local area here, two of which I already frequent, almost no reason to check out their goods.

I found a few vendors with Jaguar games, but nothing that I don't already have or don't want to spend a bunch on.

Another vendor has multiple Neo Geo AES' for sale. They're modded, too, but I'm not dropping 400 on a console in which the games are almost as much as the system itself.

 

[Crystal]

Definitely what I intend to do, but I already have most of what I've wanted to snag. I did negotiate down a couple, but I was more like "can you knock 5-10 of this price?" and they were cool with it.

Awesome! Glad you're getting deals, even a few bucks off is something!

There are three vendors in the local area here, two of which I already frequent, almost no reason to check out their goods.

I found a few vendors with Jaguar games, but nothing that I don't already have or don't want to spend a bunch on.

Downside to niche collecting, sadly, it's super hard to fill out the library once you hit a certain point. Either all expensive or all hard to track down!

Another vendor has multiple Neo Geo AES' for sale. They're modded, too, but I'm not dropping 400 on a console in which the games are almost as much as the system itself.

Yeah, that's the one console that will always be on my will I/won't I list. I want on, I REALLY want one, lol, but they're so expensive to get and so expensive to collect for that it negates the want.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

everything hurts right now.

Update on haul to come in acquisition thread later.

 

[Mark]

everything hurts right now.

Update on haul to come in acquisition thread later.

There’s an age for pre-gaming with pain relievers before an event that requires substantial walking, and you’re past it, you ding dong.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

There’s an age for pre-gaming with pain relievers before an event that requires substantial walking, and you’re past it, you ding dong.

I'm not 40...

yet.

.
.
.
.
~2 months to go.

Edit: Amazingly, I felt no discomfort in my left big toe despite basically walking around for nearly 7 hours. I've been having this random sharp pain hit my left big toe (most lilely due to using flip flops too much), but I didn't feel it once until I got home and took off my running shoes.

I definitely chose the right shoes. I wouldn't last longer than an hour wearing a pair of Vans or Sperrys.

 

[Quagmire]

Gave into temptation and went ahead and ordered a new phone! I could wait until black friday and save maybe an extra $100 tops, but Im tired of my battery life and I want a new toy! I got the Samsung Ultra so excited to have the s-pen, can even use it for work so that is my justification for wanting it now

 

[Quagmire]

And of course the day after my old phone is working like a charm, good battery life for it

 

[Crystal]

And of course the day after my old phone is working like a charm, good battery life for it

It's showing you up! I'll teach you to replace me, damnit!

 

[Fool's Requiem]

turn off location

 

[Quagmire]

It's showing you up! I'll teach you to replace me, damnit!

I had a day like this a month ago where I thought maybe it had fixed it self, it's often been a wonky Google play update that eventually gets fixed or I clear the cache enough it's fine, but next day it was back to old self

 

[Quagmire]

turn off location

That's how I get Google play rewards! And it wasn't a problem until the last month and a half

 

[Fool's Requiem]

My Mustang is finally in driving shape again. I still need to get an alignment and I still want OEM springs installed so it's at OEM height, and the stop top is in still in miserable shape, but I feel confident that I can drive it around again.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

I think I need to do yoga. Woke up on Saturday with some irritating backpain.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

I think someone stole my bowling ball from my car. It just up and vanished. No indication of a brake in, nothing else is missing.

 

[Crystal]

I think someone stole my bowling ball from my car. It just up and vanished. No indication of a brake in, nothing else is missing.

Well that's annoying! People don't realize how costly those are, or how custom if they're drilled for you.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Well that's annoying! People don't realize how costly those are, or how custom if they're drilled for you.

someone has a nice bowling ball with only two holes drilled for a lefty and a pair of size 11 bowling shoes... and it's not me anymore...

 

[Crystal]

someone has a nice bowling ball with only two holes drilled for a lefty and a pair of size 11 bowling shoes... and it's not me anymore...

That really sucks!

A two hander, eh? Such is the trend these days, what's your average?

 

[Fool's Requiem]

That really sucks!

A two hander, eh? Such is the trend these days, what's your average?

One hander, actually. I typically average between 100 and 150. I'm good enough to get consistent 100+ scores even on bad days, but I've only matched 200 maybe twice.

 

[Crystal]

One hander, actually. I typically average between 100 and 150. I'm good enough to get consistent 100+ scores even on bad days, but I've only matched 200 maybe twice.

Ah, gotcha, rate to see a one hander that doesn't use a thumb! Keep at it, you'll hit 200s soon enough

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Ah, gotcha, rate to see a one hander that doesn't use a thumb! Keep at it, you'll hit 200s soon enough

Supposedly, if you drill 3 holes and you choose to go into an official tournament, you have to use them and I just can't.

 

[Crystal]

Supposedly, if you drill 3 holes and you choose to go into an official tournament, you have to use them and I just can't.

Yeah, there are pretty strict rules on that. I never managed to figure out the no thumb thing, or the two hander thing. Just a boring ole' one handed three-fingered bowler

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Yeah, there are pretty strict rules on that. I never managed to figure out the no thumb thing, or the two hander thing. Just a boring ole' one handed three-fingered bowler

The thumb hole would have to be really off center from the other two for me to make use of it. I'm basically palming the ball but have two finger holes so I can get the spin I need without hurting my hand (no holes is hard on the hands).

 

[Crystal]

The thumb hole would have to be really off center from the other two for me to make use of it. I'm basically palming the ball but have two finger holes so I can get the spin I need without hurting my hand (no holes is hard on the hands).

Yeah, you need the fingers, even just the fingertips, ultimately, to get the control. No fingers is just a hail mary, lol

 

[Fool's Requiem]

So, for breakfast, I threw a cube steak on the frying pan because the sell by date was today, but I got two in one pack and wasn't eating both. So, I decided to see what I needed to do to make country fried steak because cube steaks are what are commonly used for CFS. It is surprisingly easy and I ACTUALLY had the ingredients and they weren't expired for once. I made rice in my rice cooker because mashed taters wasn't happening and rice is SOOOOOOO much easier and doesn't take up and extra spot on the stove.

Supposedly, the steak should marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight. I wonder if that helps make the steak more tender. Certainly a good idea to let it sit over night so you can cook it in the morning. The steak came out just fine outside of slightly overcooking the outside. Supposedly country gravy is a walk in the park, too. Flour, milk, butter, and a bunch of black pepper. I wouldn't need to buy the little packs, because I have all the ingredients available.

It doesn't appear that I need a lot of cooking oil, either. Just enough to have a layer on the pan.

 

[Mark]

So, for breakfast, I threw a cube steak on the frying pan because the sell by date was today, but I got two in one pack and wasn't eating both. So, I decided to see what I needed to do to make country fried steak because cube steaks are what are commonly used for CFS. It is surprisingly easy and I ACTUALLY had the ingredients and they weren't expired for once. I made rice in my rice cooker because mashed taters wasn't happening and rice is SOOOOOOO much easier and doesn't take up and extra spot on the stove.

Supposedly, the steak should marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight. I wonder if that helps make the steak more tender. Certainly a good idea to let it sit over night so you can cook it in the morning. The steak came out just fine outside of slightly overcooking the outside. Supposedly country gravy is a walk in the park, too. Flour, milk, butter, and a bunch of black pepper. I wouldn't need to buy the little packs, because I have all the ingredients available.

It doesn't appear that I need a lot of cooking oil, either. Just enough to have a layer on the pan.

Tenderizing does wonders for cube steak in a bind when you don’t have the time to marinate. Just beat your meat.

 

[dimmerwit]

Any type of milk will tenderise beef, or chicken for that matter. I assume the marinade will have buttermilk which will also have slight acidity which will also help.

You should really marinade almost anything at least overnight for a good result. There are maybe some exceptions such as a pineapple marinade which is an exceptional chemical tenderiser, because anything more than a couple of hours in that and your steak turns into mush. But generally for flavour you need the time. When I make fried chicken I either marinate overnight or not bother.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Tenderizing does wonders for cube steak in a bind when you don’t have the time to marinate. Just beat your meat.

Funny thing is that cube steak is already heavily tenderized.

Any type of milk will tenderise beef, or chicken for that matter. I assume the marinade will have buttermilk which will also have slight acidity which will also help.

I only used milk and an egg for the wet stuff. I probably could have added butter, but that requires melting butter down. I do have heavy cream though. Can't really make decent New England Clam Chowder without the stuff, so it's in my fridge. I've also got powdered milk...

 

[Mark]

Funny thing is that cube steak is already heavily tenderized.

Mechanically, yes. It’s a uniform pattern, though, so intersecting it helps a good deal. I used to think the same thing until I tried it, but that’s how most southern kitchens get that real thin and crispy end on it when they fry it. I used to get all my cooking tips from a neighbor that grew up in the south, those older black ladies that call you “sugar” will teach you some valuable stuff, but it’s gonna involve a lotta butter and some unconventional techniques… like some extra tenderizing.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

So, I ordered a copy of a fighting game called Breakers for the Dreamcast. It was a game that got a release a decade or so after the Dreamcast was discontinued. New copies are still being sold. That's not why I'm posting this.

I ordered it off of eBay. The seller shipped it. On Friday it made it to the USPS distribution center in Saint Louis, with the anticipation that I would receive it on Saturday or Sunday. It never arrived. I check the tracking info today. It's now in fucking Omaha for some reason.

My tax dollars at work.

 

[shortkut]

So, I ordered a copy of a fighting game called Breakers for the Dreamcast. It was a game that got a release a decade or so after the Dreamcast was discontinued. New copies are still being sold. That's not why I'm posting this.

I ordered it off of eBay. The seller shipped it. On Friday it made it to the USPS distribution center in Saint Louis, with the anticipation that I would receive it on Saturday or Sunday. It never arrived. I check the tracking info today. It's now in fucking Omaha for some reason.

My tax dollars at work.

How/why was it released that long after the Dreamcast ended its run?

 

[Fool's Requiem]

How/why was it released that long after the Dreamcast ended its run?

I'm not really sure on the complete story. Based on what little information there is, there's a NEOGEO CD emulator that people got to work on the Dreamcast and they started to make unofficial games
The company who made Breakers back in the 90s, Visgo (or QByte, the company who supposedly holds the game library rights to Visgo's games), worked with an independent publisher named "Josh Prod" to make an official port for their game on the Dreamcast using that emulator.

Small developers and publishers still release games for the Dreamcast, and numerous other consoles, including the Atari Jaguar of all systems.

 

[shortkut]

I'm not really sure on the complete story. Based on what little information there is, there's a NEOGEO CD emulator that people got to work on the Dreamcast and they started to make unofficial games
The company who made Breakers back in the 90s, Visgo (or QByte, the company who supposedly holds the game library rights to Visgo's games), worked with an independent publisher named "Josh Prod" to make an official port for their game on the Dreamcast using that emulator.

Small developers and publishers still release games for the Dreamcast, and numerous other consoles, including the Atari Jaguar of all systems.

Sounds like a good way to lose money, but what do I know

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Sounds like a good way to lose money, but what do I know

Jaguar games are kinda sold at a premium in order to balance out releasing a game for a long discontinued system. The copy of Breakers was about 50 bucks for a game that got a Steam release in a "collection" with the "sequel" for 20 bucks.

These physical copies are for the few of us who want official releases on their beloved consoles. For me, if I can get physical copies of any/all fighting games released on the Dreamcast, I'm going to do it.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

It's back in the STL distribution center. USPS' website says it'll be delivered tomorrow.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

This is what I'm doing tonight. Cleveland finally visiting the Cardinals. It's so hot, I feel like I'm melting.

Edit: I bought their "spiked" lemonade before I realized it was "spiked'. If this lemonade has any alcohol, it has a very very small amount. I didn't taste anything but sugar and some lemon.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Checked out of hotel this morning, came home, fiber internet doesn't work. ATT won't come until tomorrow. My house is a wireless network deadzone, so I can't even rely on 4G/5G. Had a buttload of points in my IHG rewards, used them to book a nearby hotel.

Edit: If I didn't have almost 150k points to use and there wasn't a Cleveland playoff baseball game that I wanted to watch/listen to in private, there's no way I'm getting a hotel room because of no internet in my house.

 

[shortkut]

Checked out of hotel this morning, came home, fiber internet doesn't work. ATT won't come until tomorrow. My house is a wireless network deadzone, so I can't even rely on 4G/5G. Had a buttload of points in my IHG rewards, used them to book a nearby hotel.

Edit: If I didn't have almost 150k points to use and there wasn't a Cleveland playoff baseball game that I wanted to watch/listen to in private, there's no way I'm getting a hotel room because of no internet in my house.

Literal check in check outs

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Internet fixed. They had to replace the whole line to the pole. Got a new modem/router. Only one outlet is being used now, so that's cool.

Also, it feels weird not being in a hotel for the first time in a week. Hotels can be surprisingly cozy. I should turn my surround sound off just to get the cozy quiet feeling back. lol

 

[Fool's Requiem]

My internet died again... just as game 3 of the ALCS got started, it stopped working. Been on the phone with a relatively useless tech for the last hour.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Looks like I'm going to be in the market for a TV for the first time since the 3D boom. TV still works, but it's got a line down the middle that isn't working correctly. TV repairman don't seem to be much of a thing anymore. So I guess a 4K OLED is in my future.

 

[Nae'blis]

This game is so damn filthy, and I love it.

 

[Jon]

Man we should find a way to play cards against humanity in the forums.

 

[Jawneh]

Man we should find a way to play cards against humanity in the forums.

There's free online versions of it online with a bunch of thematic decks.

 

[Jon]

There's free online versions of it online with a bunch of thematic decks.

Sounds like you volunteering to get a group together!

Forums allow us to play at our own pace though

 

[Jawneh]

I'm not one who plans getogethers.

My wife is the one who has the drive for all that. I'm just there to help facilitate things lol.

But ye. Forum version would be nice, but I think something like that would be needlessly complicated to adapt here.

... actually I just thought of a way. You'd need a GM to pm cards to folks, everyone pming their cards back for each round and then the gm posts them. Then ya vote, get points, rinse and repeat.

I guess we'd just need a way to easily copy/paste all the cards to not make it too cumbersome for the gm.

 

[Jon]

I'm not one who plans getogethers.

My wife is the one who has the drive for all that. I'm just there to help facilitate things lol.

But ye. Forum version would be nice, but I think something like that would be needlessly complicated to adapt here.

... actually I just thought of a way. You'd need a GM to pm cards to folks, everyone pming their cards back for each round and then the gm posts them. Then ya vote, get points, rinse and repeat.

I guess we'd just need a way to easily copy/paste all the cards to not make it too cumbersome for the gm.

Sounds like a job for Captain Planet @Ben!

 

[Jawneh]

Cmon! Don't give him a new toy to start tinkering with before we murder Sparky!

 

[shortkut]

Cmon! Don't give him a new toy to start tinkering with before we murder Sparky!

That can be his reward for sparky’s death

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Made an edit to a local restaurant on Google Maps and it got accepted. So, I'm happy. They had the website pointing at some random middleman site instead of the actual website to the restaurant. Would have requested a change to the type of restaurant it's listed as, but for some reason Google doesn't have Mediterranean available as an option anymore, which is honestly baffling. It was changed to "Italian" but it is NOT an Italian focused restaurant. Their menu samples multiple different cuisines from around the Mediterranean Sea, that's what makes them a special place (besides being really good) and I find it annoying that it's only being listed as "Italian."