Snow Day Cafe

The Sparkly Circle of Google +

Scruff — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:00:10 +0000

So I started the day like any other day, resisting the urge to put on pants and stumble out of bed. So, I decided to just stumble out of bed. On my way to finding a little whiskey to add to my coffee (soda…whatever) I took a gander at the blog-to-the-osphere. I read yet another Google+ article, a good one at that, but one that left me feeling like I needed to explain how to use a wireless printer to my grandfather. NO, it’s not run by witches and you can’t scare off the problem with that garlic. Besides that only works on vampires, ya old putz. Where was I, oh yes the Googles. Let us begin.

Chuck has a good point, they kind of toss you right into circles without much explanation. I’m used to Google giving me intro videos and explaining things and these assholes decide to…wait a sec, let’s just skip this shit and see what happens. Oh there’s the welcome buttton, and videos. Sweet. So circles, and circle jerks (hehehehe), are a way for you to privately organize your friends. Want to see what your friends are up to, but don’t want to listen to your psychotic family bullshit circle? (no your fellow Google+ers can’t see what circle you put them in) Sweet just click cicrle jerks, I mean friends, and see what they’re up to. Want to share that sweet picture of you pissing off your friends balcony without being embarressed about your boss, mother, friend at the bottom of the goldern arc, seeing said picture? No problem, only share it within that circle. Whew, that was easy. Circles are a built-in way to exclusivity (Mark zuckerberg’s term not mine. Seriously watch the documentary Social Network sometime. YES IT IS a documentary Terrance, stop trying to correct me on this. I’ve edited Wikipedia, the source of all truth, to say so.) Exclusivity that you decide. When did facebook start to kind of suck? The moment your stomach dropped because you had parents requesting to be your friends on it and you can’t remember how to find all those shirtless/pantless photos of you and your circle jerk buddies at a party. You sick bastard. That was an innocent feline you freak! How could you!?!?!

Circle jerks off…now to start some fires

Sparks…I’ll be honest, I’m not sure about these yet. They’re kind of like the news feed from Google I think. I haven’t tested this because, again, I just stumbled out of bed and haven’t masked the smell of whiskey with toothpaste yet, but hey, I don’t jump on the internet to judge you mister feline offender, do I? Wait…nevermind. Where was I? Oh yes, SPARKS*!

Sparks are a way to catch articles and surf the web for your favorite topics all from within your social network. Again, I’m not sure what’s up with this yet, but if you find a kewl way to use it, let me know.

So that’s the two big things that I’ve seen different with Google+ so far. Let’s move on to some of the big complaints I’ve heard.

Nice party…so where is everyone?

So I’m constantly hearing, “Where is everyone?” Or, “it’s a little slow and doesn’t work that great yet and seems buggy and” SHUT UP!!! It’s a beta. You weren’t supposed to get it yet. This goes out to friends and family members of Google fans that praise Google’s shit because it stinks so good. However, we’re on the internet and it spreads…like shit tends to. How do you think I got it? Not by praising Google’s shit, I’ll tell you that much. I mean seriously…what did they eat?

So, yes it’s a little buggy. My wife got on Google+ and we both were baffled that I had her in a circle yet she couldn’t see that I had her in a circle. Even though friends can’t see which circle you’re in, they can tell if they’re in a circle or not. So I chalked it up to that disclaimer I saw about this being a beta and moved on.

Second big thing, Facebook isn’t playing nice and right now there’s no built-in way to transfer those feline photos from your facebook account to Google+. Why would you want to yet, it’s beta. Still I know what you’re saying. There’s a couple of options to watch the facebook feed in Google+, but they’re not that great yet and don’t have much interplay. Also, it is possible to get everyone from facebook to your Google+ account, but it won’t matter if they’re all still using facebook. Just wait, this is a beta, be patient, my geek friends out there will think of something. We irritate easily and some of us tend to do things about it. Others like to sit pantless in front of a computer screen, wreaking of whiskey early in the morning, trying to avoid work. Don’t judge.

Finally, if you’re on Google+ and receiving emails and wondering, why dear god won’t they stop? Simply follow the link to the Google+ settings in the email you received and turn them off.

That’s pretty much it though for right now. Just chillax and be happy if you have a Google+ account. If you don’t like something or are confused tell Google about it. There’s a feedback link in the bottom right corner of every page of Google+. Use it. Scream at them if you must. It’s what the internet is for…besides porn (also a fact, thanks Avenue Q.)

-Scruff

Oh and if you want a Google+ account, let me know. I may just hook you up.

Comic Test #2

Bimmer — Sat, 28 May 2011 23:12:34 +0000

This is also a test for the homepage slider

Comic Test #1

Bimmer — Sat, 28 May 2011 22:55:15 +0000

This is a test for the rotating comic on the homepage

Lan Party a la Snow Day Cafe

Scruff — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 04:55:24 +0000

Well it’s another late night at work in the real world so I thought I’d give you all a little update. Meanwhile my code…mocks me…

Recently the gang over at chez

snowdaycafe and I threw what turned out to be a monstrously awesome LAN party. If you were one of the fortunate ones to be there then you know what I’m talking about. Festivities kicked up around 6pm CST and didn’t end until 6am CST the next morning.As I had hoped we were able to get at least one of every Nintendo console ever made. We even had the yobo thanks to Caleb. The Wii dominated most of the gameplay that night and a surprise party favorite turned out to be Wario’s smooth moves. At first glance it’s a crazy ass Japanimation video game set in the world of wario. It’s fast paced and requires different motions with the wii-mote to complete levels. As I was party crazed during my attempt at the game, I’m not sure what the goal was, but I’m told it may or may not have involved turtles, air freshners, or garlic.

Guitar Hero II was busted out late into the night and I, Scruff, have been defeated. I blame my jitteriness on the caffeine and sugar but my opponent was likewise hindered and yet he beat me into what only can be called a bloody pulp via pure rock. I have to work on my Freebird skills before recommending it as a tie breaker.

DDR made an appearance but failed due to cheap dance pads and a used PS2. Those bastards

that sold me these things will pay for their insolence.Otherwise the LAN part of the party consisted of Quake 3 for the beginning of the party, which I flexed my FPS skills in. There was some tampering in the drug known as WOW , which I have yet to taste. I figure I don’t need any more excuses to play video games even more. I don’t think the line “But honey, I’m paying to play it so I have to make it worth my investment by playing it during most of my waking hours,” would go over well with the girlfriend. We did play Warcraft 3, which JoeBoo destroyed everyone in mercilessly. I’m still not used to the Hero centric gameplay and am used to the first two versions as well as the Age of Empires original debut + expansions. Some dabbled with Sacred as the night went on, but eventually wits were matched in several games of Worms Armageddon. Classic and sweet.Well I should get running but I’ll talk more about the bouts in Goldeneye on the 64, a run down of other Wii games played, and those games that we never got to but will be at the top of the list in LAN Party Deux!!!

Scruff

It’s not like we were playing for first born children…unless…

Winter Wonderland

Bimmer — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:56:30 +0000

Bimmer here. I am completely digging this weather. What weather, you ask? Winter in Wisconsin. The term is usually reserved for the warmest most hardcore large green "G" painted on their chest kind of people. Here it is nearing the end of December and it is 40 degrees outside. We have not even seen snow butfor twice this year.

I know I know, what is a Christmas winter wonderland without snow? Well, I have to be honest. The kid in me misses the White Christmas feel of the holidays. However, the rear-wheeled, slush, salt, heavy traffic, ice scraping, sun-roof part of me is just giddy.

WAIT, if the winter is extra warm this year, is the summer going to extra Hot? Lets all hope not.

It was a Brown Christmas this year and its wrapping up to be a Brown New Years as well. If Al Gore Stops by, give him a message for me. "You were right, we were wrong, nice Rolling Stone cover." Until then, you can find me at the bottom of a big glass of egg nog passed out next to the PS2, GT4 still running. (Raises self off floor and lifts nearly empty glass-o-nog) Here's to 2007!

Have a Fabulous New Years! Peace.
~ Bimmer

A Heroic Move…

Scruff — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 19:29:05 +0000

As the NBC show Heroes sweeps the nation with excitement, I too can't help but take part in the addiction. It's started to become a weekly gathering for my roommates and me. Now, I'm not one to get addicted to shows too easily or get excited about a new episode of a TV show, but Heroes has me pumped. I think this show is set apart from other shows because of its willingness to change our ideas about a TV show. For instance, the characters in the show have blogs and myspace accounts. Also, the show regularly puts out on-line comic book issues that correlate to the story taking place. This gives the show a life outside of the one hour episode we see every week. It allows viewers to delve into the psyche of these unsuspecting heroes.

I think it's an exciting and surprising revolution of the comic book. This isn't a show based off an existing comic. It doesn't have an established fan base to expect that the original text of the comic be held true. Instead, the show is the comic and the comic supplements the shows story. This helps to establish a fan base because it reaches out to the comic lover, the TV show addict, and the occasional fan of both these media like me. My only hope is they don't sell out too early. This show is ripe for corporate whoring. Video games are an obvious next step but I hope they aren't a tragedy like the first matrix game ultimately was.

Come along for a satirical side on an imaginary conversation about the first Matrix game. A new matrix game? Boy I hope it's as new and cutting edge as the movie. What's that? The only "kewl" thing is a Max Payne-ish slow-mo move.

Back to Heroes:
If Heroes does release a video game I hope they think it through and don't rush for the quick buck. This show and all its side stories on the web are definitely not a broke machine so I hope some corporate money hungry goon doesn't decide to "fix" it.

If you like the show too, then ignore my pessimism and enjoy. If you haven't seen it, give it a shot. And if you are a gambler, then place your bets for whether this show will sell out.

-Scruff

If it werenâ€™t for that horse, I wouldnâ€™t have spent that year in collegeâ€¦

Print This and Put It On Your Fridge

Bimmer — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 05:09:27 +0000

Bimmer here, This is my first post as a cartoon and I gotta say, Its pretty flippin sweet! I may be the preppy member of the Snow Day Cafe Ambiguously Enigmatic duo, but at least I have a watch. Hey Scruffy, What Time Is It? Yeah, yeah that's what I thought. Like any cartoon two-some, there is the smart one...and then there is the...other one. In our case (and our yearn for world domination), lets just say Scruffy and I fighting over the rights to be Pinky. In addition to my partner in crime, my posts might focus moron cars and the strange but true events that occur to us on a daily basis. For some reason strange things just tend to happen to us. Like Clark Kent, I too must put down my glasses and take my pants off in order to fight the good fight. Alter egos in hand, Sruffy and I will do our best to keep you smiling and coming back for more. However, If you have just stumbled this site in your vast online effort to find A counterfeit Mini, you are barking up the wrong tree. Nevertheless, if you stick around and chill with us, your bad-literate-self might just enjoy... yourself. Like Dumb and Dumber, we get funnier the more you watch.
- Bimmer

Goooooje!

Scruff — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 05:41:57 +0000

Well after roughly a decade of pondering a way to release our twisted thoughts into the world, my partner in crime and I have finally decided that with the dawn of the internets a blog would suffice. After thinking up such great games as Goooje, battered and bloody leap frog (which was really more of an accident), and townhouse baseball, we bring you Snow Day Cafe. This site is the result of many years of crazy drunk and sober ideas that made us want to tell the world of what we thought and had done. Sure seeing some JELLO gelatin bloodied outlines of your friends was good bar talk, but who else would share in this joy besides the public safety officers of our campus who had to clean it up? And this is why we have made this site. Granted our competition may seem quite large compared to these humble beginnings. I mean there are such sites as Penny Arcade out there that have been doing this for many years. I for one think of this not as a competitor with those sites, but simply another perspective to look at this techie geeky world we all are a part of. You may be saying, Whoa there scruffy, I'm no geek. First, put down the Darth Vader action figure you're holding and don't take it personally. Second, the fact that you got the internets joke earlier makes you qualified enough to be some form of geek. This blog won't be all techie gamer stuff either; there will be controversial remarks on comics, music, cars, and the occasional board game of world domination. For now I'll leave you anxious for more. I'm a little tired after all the talk Bimmer and I have had over which color the border, sides, and footer should all be. As you can see we decided on several lovely shades and hues of the primary color blue. W'll work on a comic for all to enjoy shortly and it just might be funny, but no promises. Check back and let us know what you think. -Scruff I can show you the world¦