Just a light knuckle-dusting

Awhile back in my last post, I mentioned that I was heading off on a trip to Minneapolis. I did not, in fact, get arrested and shipped out to El Salvador or something–in fact, the trip went better than I would’ve ever expected. I saw one protest, and no actual ICE presence; it actually ended up being a pretty nice trip. No, the reason I haven’t posted in so long is because it’s winter in upper Michigan, and I have become a machine that moves snow and produces back aches.

I think we’re up to Snowmageddon Part VII for the year, which in most franchises means we’re long past going to space, and we might be Back to Da Hood, or possibly ready to Take Manhattan by my calculations. While it’s true the last couple years have spoiled us, this is still the worst winter I’ve seen in a very long time. The snow banks by my house are taller than I am. Side streets are frequently mired in enough snow that it’s like driving through the world’s worst milkshake, and sidewalks are largely non-existent. And in a roundabout way, this brings us to today’s word.

flurry, noun – a sudden burst of activity

Learned from: Streets of Rage 2 (Sega Genesis, arcade, Game Gear, Nintendo 3DS, Sega Master System)

Developed by Sega

Published by Sega (1992)

Up until playing this game, I’d only known a flurry as a light snowfall. You know, something gentle, peaceful, and almost calming to look at through the window when you’re nice and warm inside. I’d never known it could apply to a rapid succession of punches, kicks, and headbutts, until I read through the manual for Streets of Rage 2.

The series as a whole is a fantastic example of what the beat ’em up genre should be, but the second installment is largely regarded as the best in the franchise. More levels, more enemies, more characters, and a much, much larger move set that actually had differences between each protagonist. They all had similar inputs, but whereas one character’s flurry of blows might be a series of kicks, another might focus more on punches, or incorporate elbow strikes. And these different executions really did make the characters feel more distinct than the first game’s simple “speed, strength, jumping ability” distinctions. It’s still a fantastic game to this day, and well worth breaking out on an evening when a different kind of flurry has long since given way to blizzard conditions.

Busy news day

I really wish I’d learned the word “haboob” (a dust storm) from a game, because it would be perfect, considering there’s one sweeping across Florida right now. Also, I guess I am perpetually 12 years old. But speaking of 12-year-olds, Elon Musk attested today to the worst-kept secret in the world, by saying Donald Trump is in the Epstein files. And in a roundabout way, that does bring us to today’s word.

seraglio, noun – a harem

Learned from: Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (3DS)

Developed by Intelligent Systems

Published by Nintendo (2017)

I don’t think I need to elaborate more on the connection between this word and the Epstein files. But even in the context of the game, it seems damningly relevant.

The story takes place on the continent of Valentia, where the warlike nation of Rigel, and the peace-loving nation of Zofia find themselves at the disastrous end of a long truce. The fantasy hippies of Zofia have gotten so decadent that one villager opines that the king is “more likely to frolic in a seraglio than actually rule” (which, again, seems oddly apropos), while the warmongers of Rigel…well, they didn’t need much more reason to make their move. War is brewing, and your group of backwater youths gets caught up in the middle of it.

Echoes is one of the odd Fire Emblem entries that foregoes the “weapon wheel,” where swords beat axes, axes beat lances, and lances beat swords, making it feel a bit less like a part of the overall series than most installments. Further differentiating it from the classic Fire Emblem style, are dungeons that you can actually run around in, in real-time, finding secrets and trying to get the drop on enemies before launching into the more standard tactical battles. It’s a unique game in the series, but its differences often work to its advantage, letting it stand out from the crowd.

Oh yeah, and I guess some sort of new console from Nintendo came out today, too, or something. So, there’s that.

Is it too late for New Year’s resolutions?

Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated, though man, this past year was a doozy. I must have spent 3/4 of it either working longer hours to train people in, or working longer hours because we flat-out just didn’t have enough people. This shortage seems like it might finally be behind us (for the moment, at least), so I wanted to finally get back to some creative projects. In all honesty, I probably could’ve picked this back up a few weeks ago, but well, bodies at rest and all that. Which brings us to today’s word.

skiving, verb – progressive tense of “skive,” to slack off or avoid one’s duty

Learned from: Xenoblade Chronicles (Nintendo Switch, New 3DS, Wii)

Developed by Monolith Soft

Published by Nintendo (2010)

The fact that I haven’t finished Xenoblade Chronicles yet makes this word even more fitting. It’s not that it’s a bad game, or anything–far from it. With its mix of sci-fi and fantasy, engaging combat, and unique setting (pretty much all land masses are on the backs of two dead titans), it’s actually a very enjoyable title…even if the antagonists were more menacing before they started talking in thick, Cockney accents. That just feels weird, coming out of a hulking, murderous machine. But I digress. Some other game came out that distracted me while I was playing it (maybe Shin Megami Tensei V), and I just haven’t gotten back to it yet. I’d like to, though.

Anyway, in one of the earlier parts of the game, the main character is getting berated for not pulling his weight. Admittedly, in a world under the constant threat of invasion by nigh-unstoppable, mechanical behemoths, skiving is a bit more egregious than neglecting a little Internet blog, but I can still identify somewhat. And while I won’t be saving the world from a looming danger, I’m still going to pick up the slack and get back to doing things that matter to me. Expect more updates soon!

When your only tool is a sword, all your problems become things that need stabbing. Like this looming embodiment of procrastination.

Totally not a political statement

It’s Independence Day, and as such, I found myself presented with a variety of words I could feature, from words about empire-building, or rulers, or even just related to how bloody hot it is. In the end, I chose…

braggadocio noun – The annoying and/or overblown talk of someone trying to come across as braver than they truly are.

Learned from: Shin Megami Tensei IV (3DS)

Developed by Atlus

Published by Atlus (2013)

Toward the end of the game (at least, along the path I took), you run into a demon named Akira, who wants you to help him take over Tokyo. However, the old adage “the smaller the dog, the louder its bark” definitely applies here, as you quickly discover this guy is a terrible coward. The rest of your party even comments on his braggadocio, the first time this guy hides behind you, and expects you to fight his battles for him. Because those are exactly the qualities we all want in a leader, right?

Or, you know, ordering a military parade with tanks rolling down city streets, when the greatest risk you’ve ever put yourself in is swinging a nine iron. Things like that.

akira

At least Akira’s got good hair.

A not-so-reasonable facsimile

In my job, I work with money, and every so often I come across a situation that isn’t entirely…on the level. It’s been happening significantly more, lately, and with the increased frequency has come a dip in the quality of the attempted fraud. Really, some of these fake checks are almost laughable. But the situation did prompt me to pick today’s word.

ersatz, adj. – fake, not genuine; an imitation (of generally lesser quality).

Learned from: Shin Megami Tensei IV (3DS)

Developed by Atlus

Published by Atlus USA (2013)

Shin Megami Tensei IV is an odd game, with a world that is by turns high fantasy, and near-future cyberpunk. The sci-fi portion has most of the trappings you’d expect from a modern dystopia: oppression, cynicism, crime, and black markets, galore. Even the bars can only offer up ersatz refreshments, because all the real stuff is so hard to come by.

I’m being deliberately vague on the details of the setting beyond this, because I feel like I may have already given spoilers. And really, this is a game that deserves to be played with as fresh eyes as possible. As with all games in the MegaTen series, it deals with some pretty heavy themes, and does so in such an unflinching manner, that it’s rare to see other games even try to imitate this particular approach.

smtiv

Not to be confused with Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse, which is (I gather) an entirely different game…that I really do need to play at some point.