I went to see “I Am Legend” the other night.  A lesser critic than I could easily poke at the logic of this film to the point that there where more holes than not.  I was, however, able to hold my tongue throughout the screening, and found it more than moderately enjoyable on the whole.  I can reduce my thoughts on this film to the observation that it is really nothing more than an American version of “28 Days/Weeks Later”, the first of which I enjoyed much more.  There are, however, a few issues that I feel compelled to address.

By quirk of fate, I happened to watch “I Am Legend” in the middle of a month long visit to Brazil in a movie theatre in Sao Paulo, surrounded by locals and seated next to my Brazilian sister-in-law.  At the point in the movie when the late-coming heroine states that she was stationed on a ship out of Sao Paulo, everyone in the theatre looked around quizzically.  I am STUNNED that this glaring error of geography made its way through the entire process of producing this script.  Sao Paulo, a city whose greater area boasts a population of some 26 million people, sits atop the Brazilian plateau at an altitude of 760 meters (2500 feet) and is 70 kilometers (43.5 miles and approximately an hour and a half drive) from the coast and the nearest drop of sea-water.  It doesn’t take much more than a casual glance at a map to notice this.  Come on!  The port city of Santos is just down off the plateau from Sao Paulo, and Rio De Janeiro is only a few hours drive to the north and sits obviously on the coast.  Did anyone even LOOK at a map?  I’m not sure if this is the result of pure laziness, or whether it is due to the misinformed arrogance that I find in so many Americans.  I say this with impunity as an (often embarrassed) American myself.

Shortly after, when the good doctor gives the name of his daughter, Marley, half of the people in the theatre smiled and nodded, saying, “Ah, Bob Marley.” under their breath.  Now, I know that the fact that the girl was named after Bob Marley was more than hinted at from the start of the movie, but, the fact is that reggae music is a bit of a national past-time in Brazil, and Bob Marley is VERY well known here, even among young people.  When she goes on to claim complete ignorance, the people in the theatre were completely confused.  It is next to inconceivable that a Brazilian girl from Sao Paulo, who knows Damien Marley, would not also be completely aware that his father was the legendary godfather of reggae music, Bob Marley.  I’m not sure what to make of this beyond a general lack of knowledge and research in to the culture of one of the only TWO major characters in the entire film.  Welcome to Hollywood.

I am further stunned to realize that Alice Braga, who plays the Brazilian heroine, is actually a Brazilian actress born in Sao Paulo herself.  How the hell did this happen?  Did Alice realize what was going on?  Did she say anything?  Did anyone listen to her?  Originally, I thought this was just another example of typical lack of attention to detail concerning the world outside of the United States that continues to reinforce international scorn directed at the U.S.A.  Now, I’m not so sure, and that’s even worse.

I played Oblivion on and off for almost a year until my friend wanted his Xbox back.  At that time I realized that I had completely ignored the main quest line in the game, and would not be able to finish before I had to return the game box.  I knew I didn’t really want to buy and Xbox just for the one game (I’m not much of a console gamer), but I did purchase a new PC which was capable of running Oblivion.  I wasn’t too keen on loosing a year’s worth of gameplay to a platform switch, so I started looking for a way to transfer saved games from the 360 to a PC.  Very quickly I found this entry on the Ultimate Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP) Wiki.  I made a bookmark, purchased an Xbox 360 memory card, saved my games and said goodbye to my friends Xbox.

I now have a little bit of free time on the horizon, so I purchased a Datel Xbox 360 Tranfer Kit from the Datel Ebay Store for $15.99 shipped, which arrived yesterday.  Late last night I sat down in front of my computer, pulled up the UESP Wiki page, and began the process.

Everything worked perfectly (as quoted below), BUT finding the relevant pieces of software proved to be difficult as they were NOT readily available at 360gamesaves.com as stated in the Wiki.  The moderaters at 360gamesaves.com have to validate your account (different from valitating your registration, which is automated) before you have access to the download area. I wasn’t validated until at least a day after opening an account, so it’s not a “do it right now” option.The beta5 and beta6 versions of Xplorer360 are there, but I was unable to find XIC v.1.0.  In any case, if you plan on using 360gamesaves.com as a resource, sign up a few days BEFORE you plan on doing the transfer.  I had to do little digging before I found these links to working versions of XIC v.1.0.exe and Xplorer360beta5.exe (actually beta6 now).  As soon as I have time, I will make these files available here, along with wxPirs.exe for convenience.  I would also recommend that you start the process by installing the Microsoft .NET Framework from Windows update.  It proved to be the most time consuming stage, but is necessary to run wxPirs.exe at the final step.

You will also need to have an application capable of unpacking compressed .rar files in order to install the 3 necessary application downloads.   Here are two options:

            7-Zip (free) (this is the app I used) (tutorial here)

            WinRAR (trial version is free for 40 days) (looks a little slicker than 7-Zip)

The UESP Wiki entry follows here:

Transferring Game Saves

Xbox 360 game saves can be transferred to a PC (running Windows 98 or later), but it is not an easy process. It requires additional hardware and several shareware programs. This section describes one procedure that has been used successfully to transfer files, that does not require making any modifications to the Xbox unit. Although the process has been tested, use it at your own risk. It should be noted that Microsoft has begun a process of banning save files shared on the internet by blacklisting specific console IDs that have been seen uploading their save game files. Before starting, you will need to purchase:

• An Xbox 360 memory unit (MU), for example a 64MB unit.
• A Datel Xbox 360 transfer kit (and the included Xchange360 software).

Both are commercially available at stores that sell Xbox 360 accessories.

1. Transfer your save files to the memory unit. (Only necessary if target save file is not already on a memory unit)
   1. Under the “System” blade, select “Memory”, you should then see both your hard drive and the MU.
   2. Select “Hard Drive”, “Games”, “Oblivion”… you should then see a list of all your save files, and any downloaded content.
   3. Select the files you want to transfer, and copy them to the MU.
2. Transfer the data from the memory unit to your PC.
   1. Plug the MU into the USB cable that comes with the transfer kit.
   2. Open the Xchange 360 software that comes with the transfer kit.
   3. Click on the 360 memory card blade, and “backup your memory card”.
   4. A single “.z36″ file containing an image of the entire contents of the memory units is created on your hard drive (by default to the folder “My Documents\X360 Memcard Images”; this can be changed under options)
3. Convert the image file from a “.z36″ file to a “.bin” file
   1. For the Xplorer360 software (used in the next step) to recognize the image file, it needs to be converted to a different format.
   2. Download and install XIC from 360gamesaves.com (currently available as “XIC V1.0.exe”), or from Konsolen Profis.de
   3. Using XIC is straightforward, just double click on the .exe and you will be prompted to provide the names of the .z36 and .bin files
4. Extract individual Xbox360 save files from the image
   1. Download and install Xplorer360 from 360gamesaves.com (currently available as Xplorer360beta5), or from 360Mods.com (currently available as Xplorer360beta6)
   2. Open the software, and from the “Drive” menu select “Open… Image”, and open the “.bin” file
   3. You will then be able to explore through the image’s directory structure; the save files are typically in a directory buried several layers down under “Content” on “Partition 1″
   4. The oblivion files will be listed as files with names like “Save 2451 – 01C6DDD6B53A3B30″; the save number will match the save number visible in-game.
   5. Highlight your save files, then under the “Edit” menu select “Extract…” You will be prompted for where to extract the files to
5. Extract the oblivion save file from the Xbox 360 container file
   1. The files you have at this point still have an extra layer of Xbox RSA-type security included in them. If you try to load these files as-is into a PC version of the game, the load menu will recognize the files, but the game will freeze up if you actually try to open them.
   2. Download and install wxPirs.exe [1], available in version 1.1; for release information see xbox-scene.com. Note that this software also requires installation of Microsoft .NET framework.
   3. Under the “File” menu, open one of the files extracted in the previous step
   4. In the bottom panel, you should recognize the title of the save file, e.g., “Save 2451 – Nenya, Level 20, Play Time: 255:43:30″; the real data that you’ve gone to all this trouble to get is in the right hand panel, always identified as “gamedata.dat”.
   5. Right click on “gamedata.dat” and choose extract; pick a name for your save file, e.g. “Save 2451.ess”.
   6. Transfer this .ess file to your PC Oblivion save files directory, and you’re done Start up Oblivion, and load the game!

If you are able to connect your Xbox hard drive to your PC, it is instead possible to directly access the save files from your hard drive using the XPort 360 File Browser (or other software). Copy the save files directly to your PC; this replaces steps 1 through 4 above. You will still need to use step 5 to remove the security layer. This method saves time and hard disk space, and also does not require the purchase of a memory unit.

Transferring PC game saves to the Xbox 360 has not been attempted, but probably is not possible: it would require creating an Xbox 360 container file, which is only possible if you know the the encryption method and private key used to generate the hashed security certificates.

***UPDATE***

As noted in the comments below, it is now possible to transfer PC Oblivion game saves to the Xbox 360.  UESP has detailed information on how to accomplish this.

Personally, I’m now looking for a way to make the conversion from PC (or Xbox 360) to PS3, which as far as I can tell is not possible, yet…

Retrieved from “http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Xbox_360“   

Well, the past two months have been CRAZY. About the middle of April, my wife and I made an offer on a rental property in Bloomington, Illinois. We closed the sale in the middle of May, and I spent 5 insane days doing some touch-up work around the house with the invaluable help of my brother. As soon as that was finished, the calls for work in audio wouldn’t let up. That was a good thing, since my income had been at a minimum since Christmas.

I was able to fill in with the Kyle XY sound department on a few occasions, and also got to spend a day with so me old friends on Eureka. I also spent an exhausting but entertaining week working at the Surrey Children’s’ Festival. I moved literally thousands of pounds of plywood during the set-up and teardown. During the festival, I did the sound for Red Sky Performance’s play “Raven Stole the Sun”, and for Celso Machado, an Afro-Brazilian musician who I really enjoyed.

We spent 5 days in southern Indiana, near Santa Clause to celebrate my aunt’s 70^th birthday. It was an almost complete family reunion of my mother’s family, with only one uncle, and my sister who couldn’t make it. It was fantastic to see everybody.  There was a lot of eating, and chatting, but we also were able to visit both the Marengo Cave and the Squire Boone Caverns.

I’ve also been continuing to work on my basement renovation in my “spare” time. Currently finishing off the electrical work in what will be the living room, and trying to figure out what to do with our forced air ductwork.

Traffic SUCKED today. I went to meet my brother-in-law and his wife at Canada Place. It took me about an hour and a half to get from Water & Carroll to Canada Place. They were in an equally ridiculous line-up in customs trying to get off the Golden Princess, where they are currently working. They got in line for customs around 10 am and didn’t get through until 1:30 pm, so I still beat them by almost an hour. There was a rumour that the customs staff took a noon lunch break, leaving the lines temporarily stopped.

3 cruise ships docked at that terminal today, for a total of nearly 8,000 passengers, all leaving their ships, AND equal number trying to board, not to mention crew. There was also a Royal Caribbean ship at the Ballentine Pier. Consequently, Gastown was loaded with tourists today.

 You know, I’m not the hugest fan of network TV, and when a show comes along that I really enjoy, odds are it won’t be around long.  I thought I had picked a winner with Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, but its disappearnce in February proved me wrong.  I’m happy to see that the remaining completed episodes will now air.  I’ll hold on to the faint dream that the network may choose to give this show another shot.

On the same note, I haven’t been able to catch the entire run of Love Monkey episodes, which strike a real chord with me as well.  It airs on MuchMoreMusic at times I haven’t been able to figure out.  Good concept for a show, not that it’s the first time.  I worked on a local Canadian TV series called Big Sound that had a very similar setting.

I also fixed the gate that I broke the other day, and in my spare time, put on a giant pot of poultry stock so I can make cream of asparagus soup tomorrow.  I save leftover turkey and chicken in the freezer along with the carcasses, and when I have enough, I boil them up with some spices and any leftover veggies I have laying around.  Makes a great base for homemade soups and doesn’t really take much effort.  I freeze the stock in 4 1/2 cup batches in freezer bags, which is just the right amount for my soup recipe.  I do the same with the soup in 2 serving bags.  Yummy!

Year Zero comes with the following warning sticker on the back of the disc:

The number connects the caller to a voicemail message.  According to the StereoGum discussion, “if you press “*” during the message and enter 445-6580 at the prompt (followed by another “*”)”, you will be prompted to leave a message.

 Check out the rest of the StereoGum discussion about the US Bureau of Morality warning on Year Zero, including comments by me, at: http://www.stereogum.com/archives/005080.html

 Also check out some of the backstory for this album at:

http://www.iamtryingtobelieve.com and http://www.anotherversionofthetruth.com

Be sure to click around on the image at “anotherversionofthetruth”, and watch what is revealed.

Tons of things to do around the house and yard.  The basement renovation is still ongoing.  I have made progress framing what will become the downstairs living room.  I managed to smash my left index finger with my 3 pound sledge hammer on Saturday.  I lost 5 hours to a wait at the hospital for an X-ray (I thought I had broken it), plus my working pace is slower with my left hand not at 100%.  Typing is manageable today, but was really painful yesterday.  There are a few unfinished projects in the back yard as well, and an overwhelming outbreak of dandelions both front and back that needs attention.  I did manage to trim the hedges in the front yard and they look much nicer now.  I must make use of the good weather today and get out to mow the front.  Its supposed to rain again tommorow.  Off I go now.

Mission accomplished:  lawn mowed, and I screened some soil to seed some of the thin patches from the installation of my new water main, and where I pulled up moss in the fall.  I did manage to pull the back gate off its hinges in the process, so I’ll have to tackle that after I eat dinner.

Didn’t get to the gate, that will have to wait until tommorow, but I did put up one more section of framing in the basement.  Almost ready to rip out the back wall of the main floor hall closet so I can reverse the direction of the basement stairs.  Then on to electrical and ventilation and insulation, followed by drywall.

Since UPS and FedEx will not ship to P.O. boxes,  applications sent to the Permanent Residents Application Processing Centre by courier, need to be sent to:

210 George Street

Sydney, Nova Scotia

Canada  B1P 1J3

There is so much useful and readily available information out there on the web that it is becoming increasingly frustrating for me when I am unable to find what I’m looking for.  I’m not easily discouraged either.  I’m often rewarded by spending 4 hours trolling the web instead of  giving up after 40 minutes ( I imagine that even 40 minutes is far too long for most people), but sometimes you just can’t find what you’re looking for.

Here’s a recent example, with long winded back story:

I’m a U.S. citizen who has been living, and legally landed, in Canada since I was 3 years old.  About a year and a half ago, Canada updated its policy regarding legal entry documents.  My old and tattered IMM-1000 form (certificate of landing) is no longer a valid document for entry in to the country as a resident.  Non-Canadian permanent residents are now required to have a federally issued Permanent Resident’s (PR)  card.  I think Canada as a citizen you can re-enter with valid photo ID, so theoretically, I could claim citizenship and enter the country with my drivers licence (provincial) and social insurance card (federal), BUT, that would be lying.  In this day and age, I would rather be delayed at the border for not having the correct papers than for not telling the truth.

I have crossed the local border to the US in my car many times since the new regulations were put in place using my US passport and my IMM-1000, with regular scoldings from the Canadian border personnel.  My last air travel back in to Canada was last February when I returned from a 2 week vacation in Hawai’i.  I think I remember being chided for my procrastination on that occasion as well.  At the beginning of April, I travelled to Illinois for a two week visit with my brother and his family.  On my return to Canada, the friendly immigration officer allowed me to re-enter when I insisted that my PR card application was “in the mail”.  If it hadn’t been, I was assured that I would have spent a good 3 hours in the immigration office waiting to sort out my situation.  Technically, my application was NOT in the mail.  The day I had left for Illinois, I received my second copy of one of the necessary form as the first copy had been damaged.  I hadn’t had time to collect the package and get it in the mail.

All of this would have ended here with me popping my application in the mail, except that I was required to travel back to the US on the 10^th of May, some scant 20 days from my return.  PR card processing times are usually a minimum of 30 days.  The PR Card Processing Centre will assess urgent applications submitted with proof of travel on a case by case basis.  There is no indication of how quickly urgent cases may be processed.  I collected all the necessary documents and headed off to my local postal centre to see how quickly I could ship my application to Sydney, Nova Scotia, the opposite side of the country.  Canada Post told me 3 business days, maybe.  That would make it Wednesday next, as it was Saturday afternoon.  I’d heard a recent horror story about a “guaranteed” delivery by Canada Post, so I zipped down to my local UPS store.  They told me they could get it there by Tuesday afternoon as long as it shipped by 10 am Monday, BUT they can’t deliver to the P.O. box address I have.  I figured, no problem, I’ll track down a street address for the PR Card Processing Centre, and have it shipped Monday.

Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) does not list a street address for the PR Card Processing Centre anywhere on their website.  I scoured the web for hours looking for one, cross-referencing with telephone listings, search engines and government websites, to no avail.  It was the weekend, so I couldn’t talk to a real person on the CIC phone system, and wouldn’t be able to until 9 am Monday.  Suddenly, that 10am Monday cut-off wasn’t looking like such a sure thing.  Plus, Canada Post was then closed until Monday, meaning their 3 business day delivery would not get there until Thursday.  Maybe I should have just gone ahead with Canada Post, but still hoping to save a day in transit, I decided to wait until Monday morning, and gamble the day on reaching a real human on the phone at CIC in that narrow one hour window.

Monday morning, after half a dozen redial attempts, I finally reached a very kind and helpful person at the CIC call centre who promptly gave me the street address that I noted above.  Well before 10 am, my application was dropped at FedEx, who assured me that THEY wouldn’t have needed it until 3 pm to make a Wednesday delivery.

After this whole run-around, I felt compelled to make the address available online to those who need it.  Perhaps it is out there somewhere, and I’m just not adept enough with my web search skills to have rooted it out, but this listing will make it that much easier for the next person to find it.