vovat | Fifteen miles on the Torna Canal

I went to check something on the computer today, and I saw an announcement that Gerald Ford had died. Not too unexpected, I suppose, since he was 93. I have to admit that I don't know much about the Ford administration. He seems to be remembered for three things: 1) not being elected, 2) pardoning Nixon, and 3) falling down on the steps of Air Force One. So I don't have any particular like or dislike for the man, but maybe that's due to ignorance on my part.

I've been spending some time recently playing Final Fantasy V. So far, I've made it to Castle Walse, where the basement is filled with impossible-to-beat Jackanapes monsters, and Shiva lives in the tower. Why Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction, is always an ice goddess in the FF games isn't something I can say I know, but I DO know that I'm going to have to level up a little more before fighting her again. The game itself is fun, and not all that difficult so far. It's fairly typical of RPG's from its time, I suppose. I'd seen references to the hero of FFV being named Butz, but in this translation, it's the less embarrassing "Bartz." Another character in the party is Faris, a girl who grew up with pirates (because every displaced youth in a fantasy story inevitably ends up with either pirates or gypsies) and disguises herself as a man. The only problem is that the icon that's used when she's talking looks distinctly female, so the reveal of this Big Secret isn't as significant as it might have been in the non-Advance version of the game. Mind you, I already knew Faris was a woman, so it wouldn't have had much impact on me anyway.

Last night,

bethje and I watched The Toolbox Murders. Beth didn't like it much, but I thought it was pretty good. The ending wasn't that great, though. Not only did it end pretty abruptly, but prior to that, they piled on so many twists that it got a little over-the-top. Oh, well. It's not something you absolutely need to see, but it was enjoyable.