Brendan Young Blag

The other day I found this really neat “location-based” social network called Brightkite. It lets you see what your friends are up to in real time via twitter-like posts and pictures, but also displays your current location at the time of the post. It works best with a GPS device like an iPhone, but they say it works on any phone. They have a free iPhone app that I tried out on my iPod touch which is pretty snazzy. Of course, I could only use it when I’m in wifi. Otherwise I can post via SMS or mobile email from my blackberry.

Or at least I’m SUPPOSED to be able to. When you sign up it asks for your phone number preceded by your country code (which I had a considerable amount of trouble finding on the internet), and then texts you a confirmation number that you type in at the site. This all worked just peachy, but I still find myself unable to send SMS commands to brightkite. I sent invites to a few friends and they didn’t have the same problem. I suspect that Telus has once again spewed copious amounts of FAIL all over my attempts at having fun.

That aside, I still think it’s a really cool social networking deal that people should definitely try out. It’s in beta so it’s invite only, but I have a bunch of invites so drop me a line if you want I should send one your way. You can also sign up for an invite at the site, but that takes about a day or so.

Here’s my “wall”, if you want to take a look: http://brightkite.com/people/Brenderous

The future depends upon thee, Link... Thou art courageous...

November 23rd 2008 marked the 10 year anniversary for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This is the game that started it all. My Woodstock. The game that changed the way video games were made. The spark that would ignite my passion for video gaming and fuel my longing for epic adventures, sacred blades, and heart containers.

I remember playing this all Christmas day. Trying to find enough rupees for the Kokiri shield, navigating through the maze for the Koikiri sword, braving the depths of the Deku tree. I’ve played it so many times by now I could do all 3 “kid-link” dungeons in one sitting. So many good memories tied to this game.

Except for that damn water temple.

It may be all the nostalgia that comes with it, but I dare say I havn’t played a zelda that I’ve enjoyed more thoroughly that OOT, and I’ve REALLY enjoyed pretty much every post-OOT zelda game to date. Wind Waker and Twilight Princess come close, and are both probably better games when I sit down and think about it over a glass of Lon Lon Milk, but theres something soothing about those 64-bit graphics that warms my heart and makes me want to wear a green tunic and run around chopping bushes with a sword.

I’m anxciously looking forward to see what Nintendo has in store for the next 10 years of zelda games. In fact, Nintendo, if you’re reading this….NEVER STOP. Just don’t. If Miyamoto and Aonuma pass away, just freeze their brains and put them to work on more zelda.

Thank you.

I have a pretty sweet set-up in my room for gaming. I have my PC, and on the same desk I have a TV. Plugged into that TV I have an 360 and a Wii.

The Set-up

Theoretically, I could be surviving the D.C. wastes in Fallout 3, dismembering zombies in Dead Space, and planting trees in Animal Crossing almost simultaneously. That could lead to problems though. Like trying to bring up V.A.T.S. in Dead Space to buy some time, and then getting devoured. Or trying to cut the limbs off my neighbors in Animal Crossing when they charge too much for furniture.

The real test would be trying to play Rock Band and anything else.

If you’ve come to this page looking for “Brendan Young: Web Developer”, I regret to inform you he is happily employed and no longer seeking any kind of work.

If you’ve come here to read some guy’s stories and opinion’s on things, then this might be what you’re looking for. I doubt it.