The Joy’s Of An “Essential” Worker.

It’s at times of great adversity that we truly get to know an individual. To really recognise what motivates them. Discern what someone is really capable of. Sadly it’s not always for the best. Since the nationwide lockdown was enforced over 3 weeks ago, I and many of my colleagues have continued working in a very “non” essential capacity. Though I’m not at liberty to discuss the particulars of my job, to protect the ignorant, suffice to say I’m in no way a key worker. So as of right now we’re stuck. Confined to a life of subservience to our benevolent and largely absent leader. Presumably confined to the stifling solitude of his grade II listed mansion. A self confessed man of the people. The anointed crusader for the working man. Taking great pride in the continued production of his business while others are failing. As well as openly facilitating the spread of Covid 19, purely for the interests of the company. Not their employees.

This is a company that explicitly encourages it’s staff to maintain a 2m distance and adhere to the hygiene regulations and measures sanctioned by the government to prevent the spread of Covid 19. But at the same time broaden their recruitment policy to keep up with the high level of demand the company is suddenly dealing with, thus increasing the volume of people operating in an environment where social distancing is now impossible to sustain. Sadly it seems their solution is similar to that of other more affluent online distributors: to throw money at the problem! Offering financial incentives for punctuality and consistency. An initiative they have subsequently revoked now that they can simply replace any rebellious permanent staff with temps. But all at the expense of our safety. Unfortunately many consider these precautions as advisory. Suggestions to be considered but not regimently applied and will happily congregate in packs for cigarettes breaks. We’re expected to be productive in a completely inefficient environment. Weaving past congested areas, hoping no inconsiderate buffoon decides to siddle past you in frustration. It’s like Russian roulette, except every chamber in the gun is loaded!

When broached on the subject of volume and the proximity of personal, and just how many of us perceive this to be a callously dangerous option, he scoffed. With the company then having the audacity to insist that the fault lies with us?! Having filtered through hours of CCTV footage to discover fleeting moments when the 2m rule was briefly interrupted. When confronted with the hypothetical scenario of further lock downs caused by some aberration of Covid 19, perhaps a Covid 20 or 21, that could exacerbate the global pandemic our gracious commander replied “I hope so”. No jest. Not a solitary shred of irony nor a glimmer of remorse. He sees this global epidemic as an opportunity. A chance to exploit both his workforce and costumers as well as profit from the ravaging effects of Covid 19, by jacking up the prices of specific products, in some cases DOUBLE that of high street retailers and supermarkets. It’s unconscionable!

We receive the regular “motivational” emails from our illustrious leader, praising our valient efforts and notifying us of just how much has been shipped. As time has gone on the theme of these bulletins has gradually shifted into a more jubilant tone, and are now a constant reminder of his total lack of empathy. His commitment to greed would be commendable if it wasn’t so morally repugnant!

Have you continued working during this crisis? Let me know about your experiences in the comments below. Cheers.

Are Less Pokemon A Problem?

The Pokemon series isn’t especially renowned for being progressive. I think its fair to say its glacial like innovation is the equivalent speed of an asthmatic sloth shuffling home to fill in some tax returns. Moreover its always been a rather stubborn brand, anxious to make even the most minute alterations. Its reluctance to evolve as it were can largely be attributed to GameFreaks obsessive need to preserve. Their “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach has been an especially lucrative adage. With Pokemon being the second best selling series for Nintendo, having sold in excess of 300 million copies worldwide, only surpassed by Mario, its easy to understand GameFreaks reluctance to innovate. The proliferating success of the series has seemingly been suppressed by the frequency at which the games are released. With the exception of a few peripheral advances, most notably the introduction of a day and night cycle and a visible experience meter in gen 2, the former of which was actually removed from the proceeding game, the series obstinate adherence to commercial prevelance has always been Pokemons greatest weakness. That an the insidiously antiquated system that only permits one save file per game!? So with the announcement that “Pokemon Sword and Shield” will purposely omit many established Pokemon, I can’t say I’m really that surprised.

The ubiquitous “Gotta catch em all” slogan hasn’t really been a pervasive incentive for quite some time. With over 800 fictional species to collect, tame and battle, over the course of 7 widely fluctuating generations, its almost farcical to expect anyone to accomplish this thankless, arduous task. Having a redacted level of creatures to compile streamlines the adventure, enabling GameFreak to provide a greater emphasis on story. Unlikely as that seems considering Pokemons well established reluctance to change from the numerous derivatives of a young trainer exploring a region, gaining notoriety through battling Gyms and crippling a criminal gang seeking world domination. Perhaps there’s a degree of comfort from the familiarity, that the games rather simplistic nature simply doesn’t necessitate overly complicated themes or mature elements. I disagree though. There doesn’t need to be a drastic topical adaptation, perhaps a subplot concerning ecological unrest or the ethical implications of capturing Pokemon for the purposes of inciting violence. Something? But I digress. The point is…well, I’ve forgotten that too.

GameFreak limiting the number of formative species was inevitable. When the series next “creative” measure is introducing mineral and dairy based Pokemon as an actual logical development, then of course you’re going to limit the visibility of more interesting Pokemon. Though I’ll admit that an Ice cream Pokemon could have some rather devastating, super effective moves against a lactose intolerant Pokemon. Of course a diminishing roster of Pokemon isn’t the only controversy, as there’s also been prevalent speculation that GameFreak have been using 3d models from past games, to cut down on production, which GameFreak have vigerously refuted. This is a far less desirable revelation that can’t be defended, if the alleged allegations are indeed true of course.

What I’ve seen of Sword and Shield so far however is promising, if mildly concerning. I’ve been waiting the better part of a decade for a mainline Pokemon game that I can play on a home console, and I just don’t want it messed up. For the moment I’m edging on the side of pragmatism, hoping that any pessimism I have will be dismissed when Sword and Shield delivers on my lofty childhood expectations. No pressure!

Should I Buy A 4K Television?

It’s a question that is more rhetorical than it is a legitimate query, because I’ll probably get one regardless and is certainly a curiosity that has aroused significant interest the more I think about it. You see money is not something I part with readily, without committed preparation to ensure that I’m not merely complicit to some impulsive desire. Yet when it comes to technology, particularly when I can elevate my gaming experience I can’t help but willfully abandon my reserved, contemplative rhetoric, one that can calmly analyse the benefits and disadvantages of a situation with measured consideration, in favour of more immediate “give it to me now!” gratification. Spontaneity is often my primary conviction as I get this overwhelming need for ownership, which leaves me having to dubiously advocate the purchase to my highly critical girlfriend. There is that momentary lapse of euphoric optimism when you finally win, out bidding some unknown auctioneer, until you remember that you’ve got to pay for it. But there’s a difference between buying a second-hand game and a new television.

When it comes to a device as explicitly prominent as a television, I don’t compromise. I need to make absolutely certain that the purchase I make is right not just for me, but for my family as well. As such it has to be a functioning amenity that facilitates all of our needs, as well as providing the necessary accessories that can justify purchase to my girlfriend, such as catch up TV and built-in applications. So for starters it can’t be too big, nor second-hand. Buying one new is the ideal scenario, provided the price is reasonable. Though a refurbished television, with the appropriate warranty is something I’m seriously considering.

The way in which our lounge is situated makes it difficult to have a television that’s 55 inches wide. Realistically we only need one that’s around the same diameter as our current 43 inch screen. 49 inches is an option, but not a prerequisite. For me it’s all about getting a setup that best utilises “Certified Ultra High Definition” resolutions and “High Dynamic Range” (HDR) and to achieve that with the moderate budget I have outlined, roughly £400, reducing the size rather than its capabilities is more important. So a good quality build and most assuredly a name brand I’m familiar with is priority.

Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, LG or even Panasonic are companies I would feel comfortable buying from. There are cheaper, less renowned brands that boast similar quality and picture clarity but it’s something of an unknown quantity that, unless garners universal recognition is not something I’m willing to consider. If I’m going to buy a new TV at considerable expense it needs to be something that will satisfy our needs for many years, so to have one that is the best that money can buy, with higher end specifications like HDR is preferable. I understand that the market fluctuates and that new innovations are being made to improve home entertainment all the time, so I’m really trying to gauge the personal perceptions of consumers who have purchased a 4k television, that they themselves would recommend to a friend, or in this case a nosy blogger.

Also its worth noting that my nearly two-year old daughter has an innate tendency to touch the television screen we currently have, trying to interact with the colourful animated characters exposed on the screen. Despite verbally reprimanding her, much to her umbrage she persistently ignores my rebukes, glaring at me with irritation as she ambles into the kitchen to hide the remote control in the washing machine. So the obvious solution would be to either get a new obedient daughter, a controversial proposition I haven’t entirely ruled out or purchase a wall mounted television, right? Wrong! Personally I find them vulgar, like decorative wall accessories rather than a home entertainment system. We would also have to completely reorganise our entire living room to accommodate it. Adjusting pictures, mirrors, sofas and bookshelves and due to the size and positioning of our living room windows, which facilitates eminent intrusion of the sun’s light, we would be forced to close the curtains permanently to reduce the glare from the sun.

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So that’s about it really. If you have any insight, advice or recommendations that you would like to share I would be happy to hear from you. Cheers.

Top Trumps? America’s Next President.

And breath….. Suitably terrified yet? Yeah, me too. Even from afar I can tell that this isn’t good news. Domestically and internationally recognised as one of the greatest threats to civilised society as well as human decency has succeeded where most people presumed he wouldn’t. Yet despite the rhetoric, the bigoted campaign fuelled by this duplicitous proclamations, this charlatan has been controversially elected – by actual human beings – as the next President of The “Partially” United States! The silent majority have spoken. This “man” is in a position of power. He could legislate that all women of a specified age and measurements must wear bikinis regardless of the weather. He could authorise a nuclear strike on a cafeteria if he wanted! Well probably not, but I wouldn’t trust him to organise the contents of an empty bag let alone form policies or govern an entire country. Sure Hillary Clinton would’ve been a vapid, totally ineffectual leader and as effective as a condom machine in the Vatican, but I would take ineffective over potential warmonger. Washington. Lincoln. Trump. One of these things is not like the other? Perhaps it’s a little premature to chastised the “policies” of a man who considers women as merely baby receptacles and anyone of colour potential terrorists. The kind of person who probably believes that Germany didn’t give the Berlin Wall a fair shot. Someone who has vindicated the construction of a literal wall as an effective deterrent to immigration and domestic terrorism. All the division, the controversy and spiteful segregation orchestrated that Trumps campaign now has to try and unify the people who he himself has directly marginalised. This is one of the most historic events in recent history, but one marred by uncertainty. The question that I want an answer too is; just who did vote for him?

All the coverage pertaining to Trumps shock presidential candidacy seems to indicate that this is the worst possible result. But he won? Quite a number of people must have voted for him? So where are they? Are they ashamed? Fearful of the resounding perception that Trump supporters are racist or sexist? Perhaps the disdain that people have for Trump didn’t quite outweigh the lingering suspicions concerning Hillary’s dwindling integrity, and instead felt encouraged to vote for a third party rather than support her? I don’t know, I’m just trying to get my head around the whole thing. I think what worries me the most is that in the UK political analyst and strategic predicted that during the EU referendum we would continue to remain part of EU. We didn’t. Similar predictions were made about the successor to the oval office, citing Clinton as the obvious candidate to win. She didn’t. People will mock the US voting system as farcical, a result exclusive to the the backward thinking rhetoric of Republican voters. A testament to the old adage that it could only happen in America. But I’m not deluded enough to believe for one second that if someone with similar ideologies, in this current economic climate wanted to become Prime Minster, that a great number of silent voters would elect him (and it would be a “him” – A Caucasian one at that! And that worries me a lot.
I’m just a foreigner observing events that don’t directly concern me and from an American standpoint my opinions on this matter are mute. But as polarising as his victory appears, it’s a dauntingly contrasting dilemma we in the UK are already experiencing. Or potentially more concerning, views secretly shared by more people than we’d expected, that have now found an appropriate martyr to vocalise their long standing complaints. I’m probably wrong – I usually am – and for once really do hope that I am, for all of our sake’s!

The Last Of Drake?

The Last Of Us depicts a faux, prospective reality. Humanity is threatened by viral extinction, with vegetative infection that is transmitted by virally admitted spores that mutates organic life into carnivorous vegetation with anatomically verdant appearance. Remaining survivors congregate in protected military quarantines, reluctant to escape the tyrannous grasp of a self-imposed militia for fear of the degenerative mutations that prowl the wastes of a once thriving community. Humanities enveloping desperation and preservation is represented by a child, seemingly immune to the cancerous effects of the infection, and irritable Joel is the man tasked with sustaining her existence across the desolate continent of North America, to extract the advantageous properties that grants her preserved immunity from the contamination, and in the process inducting a monogamous bond that gradually forms between these two motivated transients in one of the most emotive, dynamic narratives conceived to gaming. This premise and its exulted implementation has resulted in lucrative fiscal attainment, broad critical appraisals and the possible vacuous emancipated future of the Uncharted series.

Uncharted is one of the finest, most cinematic creations committed to PlayStation, and the optimum reason for the PS3’s ownership. With sporadic, thematic interludes consisting of Drakes jovial pleasantries and self-deprecating observations, Elena’s pertinent evaluations coupled with her astute journalistic tenacity and Sully’s matured philosophising. But why waste additional conceptions on already established narratives with no tangible application for the sake of exploitation, to a series that’s already reached a natural and contented culmination? You get the impression that any further elongation to Nates singularly eccentric trips would be banal and intrusive, with convoluted progressions and disjointed resonance. We’ve traversed various exotic locations, survived every vehicular transportation incident short of space exploration (and the last thing the series requires is Drake defying gravity), do we really require permanent residence on the next-gen for the sake of consistency, underlying solvency and continuity?

“Is this Drakes inevitable fate?”

Games like Resident Evil haven’t benefited from numerical continuity with concussive endurance mediocrity and displaced intensity. There’s an obvious propensity to extend his adventures for prosperous entitlement, and Sony would certainly appreciate the marketable gesture to increase revenue with the propulsion of an already established series, but a fourth would be a negligent proposal, negating an existing premise for remiss elongation. Naughty Dogs intimate temperament for progressive innovation has seen them construct fresh, promiscuous titles and concluding them before they become maligned by derivative prolongation. Both Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter were trilogies, with Uncharted 3’s symbolic ending implying a natural end to the series. The Last Of Us has refined the municipal narrative of gaming, with an adage to sophisticated calligraphy that resonates with such inverse poignancy that you reflect back on it with retrospective paucity for its aggressive, yet delicate content. With the largely superfluous references to Uncharted 4’s existence or even proposed allusion of Drake’s countenance, where does this leave the Uncharted series?

Of course if it is announced, completely disregard the anecdotal sentiments. Yes I’m a bigoted, Uncharted whore.