http://pagentsprogress.com Words Are My Favorite Toys Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:57:23 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I've been more or less obsessed with Mass Effect 2 since it dropped, forsaking all other games (except for a bit of Borderlands) to advance the storyline. It's a gorgeous game, with terrific voice-work, fascinating characters, and a bunch of great intertwined storylines. The word "epic" gets tossed around a ... http://pagentsprogress.com/?p=2272 The ETHOS water bottle With the exception of Talking Rain, I rarely drink bottled water. Portland is blessed with some of the tastiest tap water around. However, I wasn't staying hydrated during the day, and it became clear that I just needed to keep a bottle of water handy. So I ... http://pagentsprogress.com/?p=2264 You might have noticed that I don't write as much about my darling daughter anymore. Partly this is because she's now online, and has friends and peers that are online, and I don't want to scar her psyche any more than I absolutely have to. But more than that, it's ... http://pagentsprogress.com/?p=2260 As you may know, it is now illegal in the state of Oregon to use a cellphone or text while driving UNLESS you use a hands-free device. And not only is it a primary offense (you can get pulled over for no other reason) but it carries a hefty fine ... http://pagentsprogress.com/?p=2255 My adventures on Portland's highways continue in my latest post at OurPDX.com. http://pagentsprogress.com/?p=2253 Another installment of the Long Strange Trip. I attended a college that was significantly smaller, in terms of the number of students, than my high school had been. To say I had a bit of culture shock upon arriving at the University of Illinois would be a criminal case of understatement. ... http://pagentsprogress.com/?p=2246 If you want to hear all the sordid details about the worst commute of my entire life, zip on over to OurPDX and read my latest post there: Worst. Commute. Ever. http://pagentsprogress.com/?p=2241 It's always been clear that most people don't drive like I do. Since the guidelines that I observe while driving seem so absolutely necessary to preserving life and property, I've always been at a loss as to why so few people seem to observe them. After years of observation, I believe ... http://pagentsprogress.com/?p=2231 The top ten signs that your mall is using a bargain Santa: 10. He only has three teeth. 9. That white powder on his beard isn't artificial snow 8. Santa's little helpers are named "Krystal", "Bambi", and "Amber". 7. He has a teardrop tattoo. 6. He keeps asking the children ... http://pagentsprogress.com/?p=2227 This is effectively a continuation of the Long Strange Trip saga, which describes my trip from Western Washington to East Central Illinois, and has been parceled out in previous installments. After the tortuous five-day drive to get there, being in Illinois was completely anticlimactic. I didn't know anyone, and I didn't ... http://pagentsprogress.com/?p=2218