The Ultimate Quest

Changing Gears

2010-06-18T21:04:00.002-05:00

In order to get this project to go in the way I desire it to, I have to become more secure with programming in Visual Studio. SO, to give myself more practice in this environment, im going to run a couple of game coding tutorials. First, Breakout. Afterwards, Space Invaders. Since both of the tutorials use classes, this will give me the practice I need to do the elements of the interface the way I wish. So, off I go.

BTW, Thanks for the MSDN account, Dell.

Ran into a bit of a rut...

2010-05-16T20:18:00.000-05:00

Hey folks. I know its been a bit since I last updated. Here's whats been going on.

Not getting any help on the project page. I wanted to switch over to the next segment of the project, Generating the main body of the mecha, having that interface update on the fly, and error trap the entries to catch mistakes as they happen. The flow of that section hit 2 roadblocks.

A) I dont know how to make dynamic interfaces to coincide with a dynamic data structure. The plan was to have all the data stored in an array behind-the-scenes, and display the pertinent elements of it in the UI. I dont know how to control the visibility of the unneeded elements. I assumed that they could simply be hidden, but I forsee that being a messy approach. (Im too much of a perfectionist to leave somthing that looks like crap. Even though im a beginner.)

B) Overtime availability at work is pulling my focus askew. I decided to go back to the beta version of visual studio, but my time looking into this stuff at work has been undercut by the recent increase in work volume. Cant keep my head on focus long enough to get anything done. Also, having data on different computers is a real pain to sync up with visual studio. Half my time is spent trying to get the suite to accept my new code without it including old code. (sigh)
Legal dealigns with being a next of kin can be a pain in the arse. Enough said on that point.

So, I still intend on doing this project. As soon as I am able to work out a solution, i will begin on the Mecha design module of the project. After this section, its putting these two modules together in the same wizard to see if I can get everything to play nice. Oh, and I have to strip out all the unnecessary interface elements so its more professional looking, and not so Proof of concept.

More as its comes around

-- Xeno

P.S. Almost forgot. A friend from work, Kristin, gave me a word up to the managers about picking up a project of a employee that got promoted out of our section. He wrote a ticketing program to speed up our entry times with filing out details and information. BIG shoes to fill, but If I get the nod, it would be interesting to see the source of what he wrote. At least I hope we have access to the source, there is no way I can write that program from scratch...

On to frame generation!

2010-03-28T12:56:00.000-05:00

OK, I've gotten my tool to a useable format. But I have decided not to release it openly. The time to polish the interface for this product is wasted time when there is already a weapon design tool available to us that is sufficient for the task. What I will now do is work on the Mekton Frame generation section of the program. With the weapon designer finished, I can re-integrate this back when the frame generator is finished, and see IF i can tie the two together within one database. So a user can call up weapons from a greater registry and see how it modifies their mecha's design.

In the end, you would make your frame. When you are satisfied with its cost, you can add different weapons to its profile as well as assign them to locations for hit location purposes. Also, any SMT's would be calculated as well. Well, that's the idea anyway.

Here's the query to the Mekton community I will make. Has anyone designed a Database for this kind of purpose yet? I wish to save data in mysql. That way, it would be ready for integration into a website once the design of the program is done. I can make the tables, but If there is already a workable design, i would love to make use of it and give credit where it is due, of course. Please let me know if you can help in this capacity.

More to come later! :-)

Almost done... I think.

2010-03-21T23:10:00.000-05:00

Took a break for a couple of days while I had false hopes of getting a tax return this year. Ive pretty much finished writing the app as far as rule calculation goes. Still have some logic errors to fix, but other than that, the first leg is done. NOW, I have to see about getting it to output the content into a usable format, at least in an excel or access database or something.

The application still has the output that far exceeds what the player actually needs. This is for test purposes. Ill remove them when I've finished troubleshooting the results.

I've included a link to the sourceforge project page for those who wish to see how I'm doing.

http://mzbwg.sourceforge.net/

Its very rough. Ill clean it up when its working the way it is suppose to.

More progress!! Stupid Mekton Tricks running.... Somewhat

2010-03-14T20:14:00.000-05:00

Here it is, the app so far. All the boxes on the left are functional and adding correctly. Hard part is getting the SMT's to add up correctly. all these stacked IF-THEN statements aren't working as they should. But a steady pace is better than no progress at all. Still looking for anyone that can assist me working this stuff out. The sooner I get some help, the better everyone in the Mekton Community will benefit.

Some progress.. Weapons table done

2010-03-13T14:11:00.000-06:00

Got the Beam Weapon Cost table coded into one of the modules over the past 2 days. NOW, I need to figure out how to get it working properly. Im trying to have the labels on the app update as you change the selections. So far, all it dose is keep the default setting. Time to do some research.

2 weeks into coding. Still motivated.

2010-03-12T08:43:00.001-06:00

Well, my journey into the world of programming has commenced again. Got the hello world out of the way, and remembered that I know all the beginner's theroy on how to code, but was always defeated by the languages themselves. So I fell back to pseudocoding for a bit. Since I figured the best way to self motivate for this was to have an app in mind, I have developed one. I did a Visio diagram and everything. But due to the forseen issues I would have in C++, I figured I would fall back onto some more familiar territory to make sure my process for the program works first, then try the harder language. So VB it is.

Download a working version of Visual Basic 2010, but it would not install, So im using VB Express 2008. I hope some of you better coders dont frown at me. But as it sits right now, this is the only path I forsee to getting to where I wish to be.

I would appreciate any guidance that anyone has in this. Without taking classes or anything, this will be a bit harder. But every journey starts with the first step.

-- Xeno

P.S. Heres the Flowchart for what I wanna have done. For those of you familar with the Mekton Zeta Role Player, im working on a tool for that. But for now, its just Beam Weapon construction. The end goal is a complete Mekton Generator.

The Ultimate Quest gets a change of meaning... CODE!

2010-02-24T15:07:00.001-06:00

Been a while I know. But a lot has happened since my last post. I passed my 2nd certification. I now have the ITIL v3 Foundations cert. Now I’m no longer in danger of losing my job due to certification requirements! YAY! But it’s still pays like an entry level position. And the bill collectors call every day.

A while ago, a very good friend of mine reminded me not to give up on my dream. Despite being in debt past my ears and making little funds, if I don’t start now, it may never be possible. Therefore, I am declaring a goal to the internets. It is my hope that someone from time to time reads this and checks up on me. I need to know that people actually care about my pursuit. It will help me keep my focus on getting this accomplished.

I need to learn a programming language well enough to be able to generate my own proof-of-concepts up and running. I feel if I can accomplish this, the door will open for other gaming pursuits and possibly better work in the far future.

I’ve downloaded the beta 2 package of Visual Studio. If I’m going to start, may as well go for state of the art. (Yes its beta, but it won’t be forever, and I’ll be familiar with the interface this way...) I’ll be working on the "Hello World!" tonight, and once I get a few core things down, I will set a goal of completing a program a week (as the job and Air Reserve Drill allow).

So, it’s done. The interwebs knows my plan. I would appreciate anyone that cares to please leave an email or something to show that you have looked in on me and my plan. Of course, any assistance that anyone wishes to provide is welcome. Rice Crispy Treats, cookies, Gibbs Slaps to the back of the head, what have you.

Thank you for your time, your clothes, and your motorcycle.

-- Xeno

A positive step for once! Security+ GET!

2010-01-08T21:17:00.001-06:00

Today, I successfully gained my first official computer certification. I passed my Security+ exam with an 845/900! Time for some ice cream!

Burned out on MMO's

2010-01-03T18:00:00.002-06:00

Its been a while since ive bothered logging into some of my favorite MMO's. Since moving to my new spot, and not having the use of a desk, there has been very little desire to play them while im stuck seated on the floor of my room. Star Trek, Knights of the Old Republic, EVE-Online, and others just don't speak to me anymore. I've gone back to playing my console units again. Finally, maybe I will put the time into finishing Dragon Quest 8, Blue Dragon, and some other assorted games ive been ignoring. Is that just me, or has the design of such games worsened in quality to the point that I, myself, no longer care about them?

Oh well, back to Demon's Souls. It's pain is delicious! ^:^

Helping hands...

2009-12-18T13:51:00.000-06:00

Recently, I received some helping hands from some of my buddies both virtual and IRL. I thank you all from the bottom of my hearts. But as far as the show goes, the issue isnt really monetary. The issue is attention.

Since the new job has me working at a frantic pace to complete IT Certifications, I no longer have the time to reasearch a subject, record a show, and produce the show. After Shadowsliar and Foodiemonster left the show, it was all on me to get it done. As things are now, I cannot complete those functions without dedicated help.

Until my schedule allows, there won't be a regular show. I have not given up on doing gaming podcasts. Just don't have time for it right now.

Once again, thanks for the assist guys. Your actions will be remembered.

- Xenocore

One of these days is now...

2009-11-22T18:17:00.000-06:00

Life is a funny thing. Everything can change in a New York Minute. This has happened for me.

Since I was laid off in May, ive been doing what I can to make ends meet. With my father passing away, chasing a job halfway accross the US and loosing it due to a rediction-in-force, I have been put into a extreme financial situation. As such, I can no longer spend any time trying to edit a podcast. So I make this announcement.

As of today, I am officially putting "The Ultimate Quest" on long term hiatus. The show may come back, but I do not foresee this happening any time soon. I thank all the people that enjoyed our efforts to bring you a good show. I really enjoyed working with Foodiemonster, Shadowslair, Milk, and our numerous guests. Folks in the AllGames community may still see me around from time to time. Don't hesitate to wave. :-)

Take care folks, remember to take breaks from gaming every hour or so.

Sincerely

Preston "Xenocore" Evans
Ultimate Quest Producer and Host.

One of these days...

2009-11-13T10:08:00.001-06:00

One of these days, ill finally migrate the show to blogger. Now that life has kicked me in the teeth, I cant fully dedicate to doing a show any more. /sob

Whats with the name change?

2009-07-02T06:12:00.003-05:00

Well, I have come to a decision. I like podcasting. I like podcasting about games. It has allowed me to keep one eye on the industry I love, and spent 50,000 dollars getting a bogus degree for. I am not going to let "unemployment" keep me from doing this.

So, for now, I am going to move The Ultimate Quest to my barely used Blogger account until I can get a job, and get the site back to its former glory.

'Nuff Said!

Sincerely
Xeno

Why is Valentine's day so damn painful to me this year...

2007-02-14T21:22:00.000-06:00

Every year is the same thing. Yet another geek alone and lonely on a "celebrated" day of the year. You almost think i would be used to it. But I can't loose myself in my hobbies to help me forget about this accursed day.

Things would be fine if i was able to have someone to focus on, but that fell through yet again, by another woman that says she wants to see you again, but gives you the "Sorry, I'm really busy right now!" story in an attempt to avoid having to show that you like to play games. I thought women my age outgrew this sooner or later. If i could swear off em and just go gay, i would. But im a lesbian in a man's body.

Oh well, heres to another year of romantic pain. The only women looking for you are the women of negotiable affection, buddy.

Maybe im dyslexic...

2007-01-26T09:30:00.000-06:00

Tax season. And I put a typo in there! ARGH. Poor for another month...

I wont loose the money or anything, just pisses me off is all. Oh well, no toys for me for a couple of days...

Maybe I should see a doc about this, This is not the first time ive caught myself flipping around numbers when entering them. Right now I repair computers for a living. Can't tell ya how many times i've mistyped Windows Installation Keys...

The long drive begins, cause I'm done with school...

2006-03-17T09:33:00.000-06:00

After 4 months of toiling away at military textbooks, im a qualified Weapons Loader now. State of Florida beware! You loot, we shoot! Missles! And I even managed to get Distinguished Graduate! I didn't think I was elgible for that since I'm a prior service student. Oh well.

But now the hard part. The part I would rather not have to do. Drive from Texas to Florida. By myself. It was god awful boring the first time, and this will be no better. Hasn't anyone invented an autopilot droid yet? Anyway. I guess its time to get cleaned up. Wish me luck, looks like i'll need it!

The big test day approaches...

2006-02-25T20:28:00.000-06:00

Man, if its not one thing, its another. During the big freeze last weekend, Lady Luck came after me with her 10 gauge shotgun and shoved up me arse!

Im scraping the sleet off my glass. I notice that my friend Mike is doing the same, so I go to help him out. But like an idiot, I figure that if I just let the door touch the doorframe, it wont lock on me. But who ever remembers how hard to push on a car door to shut it, or even half shut it. So after I latch the door half-way (by accident) I help Mike out. After I finish there, I go back to my car to try and get in it. The door is LOCKED!!! When did that happen! ARGH!!!!! And the engine is running too! The perfuct screw up in this situation. Anyway, we go back inside, cause Mike still has HIS keys, and we wait for the locksmith. Of course, I gave him the wrong street name 3 times in a row, but whos counting. I AM!!

Anyway, after all this I have to deal with the end of my training here on Sheppard AFB.

Certification Week has come. Here's how it goes. You are told to operate each piece of machinery that you are to use on the job. If you forget one thing while doing the check, or while operating it, you fail. No pressure. Luckily, all the individulal checks are averaged together for your certification score. So that makes things a bit easier to manage. Im not to worrie about myself, but these kids im in class with better pull their heads out, or else they will be doing it over from week 5. Based on what I hear from them, that would be an additional life sentence to their time here.

Like they know what real hardship is.... :-)

Valentine's Day AKA International Depression Day

2006-02-14T18:45:00.000-06:00

Darn if I cant escape this holiday that mocks me each and every year. It's bad enough im alone. But this year, im on a Military training base that has hundreds of young beautiful females, all of which are all OFF LIMITS to me. Thanks to my Commanding Officers, now I have another level of depression to deal with. Sometimes, in this situation I hookers had access to the base. Lord knows I have use of one now.

Anyway, to you folks lucky enough to have someone. Happy Valentine's Day.

What to do, what to do...

2006-01-26T21:37:00.000-06:00

One of my instructor's was kind enough to share hes Leave and Earnings Statement with us today. He was showing what to expect on your statement in the future, once they leave tech training. Man oh man, am I in the wrong job. Right now, hes making at least 25k a year, and thats AFTER his house, bills, food for him and his family and payments for vehicles are made.

Why did I ever leave the military!!! ARGH!!

Some times I really hate my decision making abilities... If I go active duty, almost 1k bucks would be given to me just to live off of! But i will end any shot I have of pursuing my dream of being a game designer. (Not that its going anywhere now...)

Guess my decision has been made for me. Now lets see if the guard will LET me go active!

The CO's gone mad, MAD i tell you!!

2006-01-12T21:04:00.000-06:00

Boy oh boy, most interesting thing happened during final formation this week. The Major was happy. Estatically happy. I have never seen that kind of behavior from a Commanding Officer. EVER. All we needed was some booty music and it would have been a party. According to the Major, "The General's visit went so well, he was almost in tears after he left the squadron area today."

Of course, we received our, "Have a safe weekend, dont break the law!" speech. But he had the entire formation crackign up and breaking their military bearing with giggling. Most enjoyable.

He even gave us all a direct order to call our families. Oh well, his heart was in the right place. He he.

(Just joking, sir.) :-)

Query...

2005-12-30T11:56:00.000-06:00

Hey there peoples... Your gracious host Xeno is here with another boring but "Make ya wanna say 'hmmm" tidbit for ya.

As I sit here minding my own business on Sheppard AFB, a few thoughts come to mind, as well as a few bills... For those of you that like to think heavily about things too much, please dont read into my statements for deeper meaning, im just getting some things illustrated. For example:

1) Why is it that although I am a straight male with little regard for fashion, a geeky personality flavored with jamaican essence, and a adaquately educated personality only seem to attract gay men when I go to a bar on my own? I still cant figure out why they keep pickin me? What the heck am i doing to give them a clue I may swing that way?

2) Why is it that if I go into a strip bar, not even the girls want to say hello. (Keep in mind, you PAY them for attention, and they dont want my money...)

3) Why does the Department of Education want their money NOW! They know ive had shitty jobs ever since I got out of college!!

4) Why does being a Senior Airman bother me when ive been seperated from the military for 5 years, and everyone else I know that is still in is a Staff Sargeant or higher? I can't seem to get a grasp on WHY it bothers me... I shouldn't let it, but I cant focus that hard ALL DAY.

Anyway, just thought I would ask.

What is the Military coming to?

2005-12-10T19:12:00.000-06:00

Man oh man, half the stuff these new recruits are getting away with nowadays would ensure I had the biggest arms in the military. Because I would be doing so many PUSH-UPS!! I have never seen such insubordination in my life. I'm just a Senior Airman, heaven forbid they slip up and do this in front of a Master Sargeant. Sometimes, these NEW airman make me want to slap them silly they are being so fresh. But I am better off letting them learn the hard way. Oh well, thats the kinder, gentler military for you. :-)

World War 2's chat log...

2005-10-26T10:42:00.000-05:00

Had to add this link, its too delicious!

Check it out here.

Life in the military, again...

2005-10-16T17:20:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm am now a guardsman. Let the government shafting commence!!!

It shouldn't be that bad this trip through. I know a lot more than I did when I first joined the service. Instead of being in the operations department of the sercive, ill be in maintenence. I will actually have skills I can use outside the military. Also, I will probably be a Staff Sarteant within a year! That's a nice thought as well!

I'll add more after my next duty weekend next week.

Bewilderment...

2005-09-04T08:32:00.000-05:00

Don't you just love it when you mess something up and dont have a clue as to how it happend? That feeling is the same as Deja Vu for me. One event after another seems to fall through the cracks when im in charge of it. I won't go into details here, but it seems the little trip i took over the weekend seems to be going in the wrong direction due to either my action or inaction.

What a crappy feeling this is. :-(

Pondering...

2005-08-13T18:59:00.000-05:00

Pondering of events to come, a trying and troubling task.
Thinking, thinking of molecules and the future and the past.

Sitting on this blessed log that holds my carcass up
so i can concentrate on things at hand and be free to think.

Think.

Some people fear the act of thinking, for it may scare some.
Thinking of some advanced conundrum is very hard, you know.
To actually work while not doing anything, really. "Run and hide!
Its not natural to work while doing nothing," just to think, think.

Ooh, I just had a thought. Come close and I will tell.
But you tell me what you thou- Oh, me first? Very well.

I had a thought, a vision of an act to be. Of wonderment and ease, you see?
No?

(Sigh...)

Ok, how about this.

Think of a person. The ID matters not.
See that person tie a rope in a knot.
See the knot in your thought with a closer view.
Do you see the mountains come into view?
The endless rise and fall of crests of hills, and occasional caverns of abyssal spills?

Odd is it not? The things that we see if we take the time to think?
The hills and caverns and endlessness that we also see up here on the wondress ground that brings everincreasing bounty?

Anyway, Just a thought I had. What do you think?

(The little boy replies stares at the old man for a moment...)

You're weird mister.

(The boy runs off.)

(The old man sits back down.)

Rotten kids.

-----------------------------------------------------------

It popped into my head, what do you think, cute eh? :-)

Woo hoo!! The Return of DM Earth Mother is upon you. Tremble mortals!!

2005-06-17T18:13:00.000-05:00

I finally got word back from the development team of The Land of Nordock. I have been invited back into the project!!! Once again, the mortals shall worship the Earth Mother and all her splendor as she raises new ground from the sea to make room and bounty for the masses!!

This is great news. I can finally use my degree for something!! That $45,000 sheet of paper won't be wasted after all!

I have so many old school dungeon ideas in my head its ridiculous. The players will flee for their lives before me. Its like a multiplayer version of dungeon keeper. My monsters will love me and pay me with the bones of Player Characters the likes of which no other DM has ever seen!!! Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! ^:^

When is a man actually a man, or a boy....

2005-06-12T20:33:00.000-05:00

Interesting question that springs to mind a lot lately. As some of you know, I am now a roommate in a household of 3 (with one additional guest as a temporary) people. Myself and the more muscular roommate seem to have very little difficulty living with each other. But the third is a "complex" individual. As close as I can tell, this person has two modes of operation. One that is very calm, collected, and professional. The other is extremely childish and immature. Normally, this would not be noticed my myself, as I also have my juvenille periods. However, this individual does this on a regular basis. One moment, calmly watching TV, the second yelling at the top of his lungs some nonsence that seems to amuse him, and only him. Very strange.

I would like to think that if someone were to observe his most recent doses of behavior, a great deal could be learned about the mental capacities of people that have been deprived of parental guidence, cause i dont think his mother or father ever diciplined him. Half the time, I want to put him over my knee myself to try and correct him before it gets any worse. But that thought quickly fades once I realize that I would indeed be paddling a grown man, and in certain circles, I would be paid for that. Ewwww. Instead of acting upon my initial impulses to show him Mama's Diciplinary Method, Vol. 1, I turned to my trustly PC and pretended I was a Gansta from back in the 90's in GTA.

SIDE NOTE: Ice Cube rappin about blastin fools in da street does not promote violence. I stayed in my seat quite calmly actually...

Anyway, time to use up some minutes on my phone talkin to my favroite girl. L8r Sk8r.

Where does the anger come from?

2005-06-02T15:18:00.000-05:00

I recently went back to the internal website of my alma mater, The University of Advancing Technology, in Phoenix, Arizona. Once inside, I was informed of an event that for some reason, infuriates me to my very soul.

Corey Johnson gets a job at Electronic Arts.

And not at a entry level position like the rest of us pukes, freaking Application Development. Granted, he knows his math and is an intelligent person. But ever since i saw him lead our initial game project into the very core of the earth, anything with both Corey Johnson and a job together makes me cringe. I suppose I should do the good thing, cause in general conversation we do get along. But I have never been so unsettled as I am now. My mind is racing, thinking of every possible way certain events could have unfolded, and I'm not even tryin! If I could think this intently every day, maybe I wouldn't be such a academic and financial dumbass! Anyway, to my point.

Why does this piss me off so?

Normally, this kind of thought would boggle my mind, but its allready boggled enough from reading this news. Ever since that project, I have been on Projects that take off after I leave 'em. Either that or I choke on the work.

Maybe 4 years of my life are down the drain and the only payoff I have is a 45,000 dollar bill from the Gov't.

Oh well, another day in the life of me.

At least I had one recent week of happiness. I should have never left.

Darn Lawful Good alignment!!! Sometimes I really hate you.

2005-05-26T15:55:00.000-05:00

Got a real life situation here.

As some of you know, I have recently moved into a new living domicile with two other humans and one temporary roommate that is here for the summer. One of the humans is dating the temp. When they are not arguing, she is near tears. Normally, I would not hesitate if I am roomed with them to at least say something. However, here is the situation that makes this a bit awkward.

The male one that is doing all the yelling is the one that is one the lease. Not the one in trouble. If I step in as much as i think i may have to, (to have an effect, that is,) I risk having issues keeping my dwelling, (possible evition issues, since im not on the lease, but have paid deposits and the like.)

Stepping in is the thing i want to do, but i risk my financial future (paying bills, etc...)

I will probably act on my own soon, but I would like a little outside imput..

Whadauthink??????

Stay in alignment and be the good guy, taking all concequences?

or Play for #1 and sit on my hands?

Survey says!!???

Me, one of them?

2005-05-21T08:10:00.000-05:00

You scored as Romanticist. Romanticism encourages society
to look backwards to find our solutions. Your rationale is that
things were much better a few hundred years ago so we should
thus look back to those times and replace them in our modern
society. You believe in a simple life and that the complexities of
the modern world have turned it upside down.

Romanticist

100%

Cultural Creative

88%

Modernist

69%

Existentialist

63%

Idealist

56%

Postmodernist

50%

Fundamentalist

38%

Materialist

31%

What is Your World View? (corrected...again)
created with QuizFarm.com

Who would have thought I would be one. Eh, go figure.

Manifesto of a multi-class geek... sort of.

2005-05-02T17:36:00.000-05:00

The world has gone mental.

All those years of free love and experimentation of "opening your mind" has pilled over into our everyday lives. I say this because its the only way I can rationalize some of the stuff that happens to me on a regular basis. It may be my own personal form of paranoia, but hell, im a child of the hippie generation too, so who knows in the end anyway.

A series of thoughts came to me today to prompt this post.

Despite my attempts, I cannot explain things in layman terms on the first try.

I am convinced that there are no women in my home town that suit my taste due to the fact that (in this combination) I am a gamer, have experience with REAL RPG's, know a fair amount of TV knowledge, can quote certain movies when required, and know how to fix my own computer. Enjoying the said is also included.

I am able to keep things completely professional between a drop dead gorgeous female customer and myself.

Would rather order a woman on the internet from the far east than go hunt for a suitable woman while weeding out the mentally unqualified ones locally.

Etc., etc., etc.

With the following echoing in my mind. My mother says( in responce to a statement I had made,) "Oh, honey, you aren't a geek." That statement triggered a mass of activity in the grey matter. And the answer to this deep thought is this. I may as well declare it to the world, because i dont see myself trying that hard to change it, nor will I try to hide it in the pursuit of a better situation.

I AM A GEEK, A NERD, AND CONSIDERED STRANGE TO
THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
I WILL BE PROUD OF IT!

Screw all these people that dont understand what the hell im talking about. Go read a book or something!

No, I won't fix your computer!

Yes, I dont copulate on a regular basis like you breeders, but im still better at it than you, cause I study! Geek love is better than breeder love anyday!

Maybe its just anger, fustration, depression, caffiene, and an ergonomic keyboard that makes these thoughts flow so effortlessly onto a page. But I dont care anymore.

I am a geek, I will not be happy till I am with my people. And no, I dont mean my fellow negros. I get enough heat there just because i'm not down with rap and can't listen to Jay-Z and 50 cent all night. I mean nerds, geeks, LARPS, Trekkers, Lucasites, Rules Laywers, Thespians, and the elusive female geeks that brave our ranks. Screw florida, screw the US. We should all use our collective brain power, make our own country in the middle of the pacific and begin our conquest of the "normals". They dont know how to fix any of the stuff they use anyway, they will fall to us out of sheer desperation.

"PLEASE FIX OUR STUFF!!"

"WHERE IS THE ANY KEY!!"

"WHAT THE HECK IS THIS THAC0 THING YOU KEEP SCREAMING AT ME? IS THAT AN INSULT?"

Maybe they will never understand. But I no longer expect them too. I hide like Bruce in the Bat Cave, waiting for the time to come out and greet my people. But no longer. I will just do as i have been. Then the world will appreciate me for the Thespian/Gamer/True RPG Geek that I am.

DISCLAIMER

This statement is not written in anger, but in fustration. And i'm part thespian geek, so drama is a given. :-P

This was so good, Had to share it!

2005-04-20T07:43:00.000-05:00

The Birthday Celibration - Why I Fired My Secretary...

Two weeks ago was my 45th birthday and I wasn't feeling too good that morning. I went to breakfast knowing my wife would be pleasant and say, "Happy Birthday!" and probably have a present for me. As it turned out, she didn't even say good morning, let alone any happy birthday. I thought, well, that's wives for you, the children will remember...The children came in to breakfast and didn't say a word. So when I left for the office, I was feeling pretty low and despondent ...As I walked into my office, my secretary Janet said, "Good morning Boss. Happy Birthday!" And I felt a little better that someone had remembered. I worked until noon, then Janet knocked on my door and said, "You know,it's such a beautiful day outside, and it's your birthday, let's go to lunch, just you and me." I said, "By George, that's the greatest thing I've heard all day. Let's go!" We went to lunch.

We didn't go where we normally go; instead we went out to a private little place. We had two martinis and enjoyed lunch tremendously.On the way back to the office, she said, "You know, it's such a beautiful day.We don't need to go back to the office, do we?" I said, "No, I guess not." She said, "Let's go to my apartment."

After arriving at her apartment she said, "Boss, if you don't mind, I think I'll go into the bedroom and slip into something more comfortable" She went into the bedroom and, in about six minutes, she came out carrying a huge birthday cake --- followed by my wife, children, and dozens of our friends, all singing Happy Birthday.

And I just sat there ---

On the couch ---

naked.......

The wonders of the world... Dramas that end!

2005-04-19T20:23:00.000-05:00

WARNING!!!

This may get a little sappy, because the subject of this entry is TV Drama, and why it is so lame...

I don't mean just the "As the World Turns" standard stuff. I mean most of it. And why we are being left behind. I think.

As I desperatly try to keep a hold on what little Japanese I have learned, I come up with the following idea. I already watch anime, and i have taken lessons in Japanese. I should watch the anime with the Japanese audio and use the english subtitles to help teach myself the language bit by bit, until I can take another formal class!

The idea sounds like it has merit. And i remember what little Japanese I have learned, but another discovery came accross from an unexpected angle.

Their idea of a soap opera is way better than ours, cause they have ENDINGS!!!

Yes people, not just in the Far East, but apparently, most soap operas and TV Dramas of foreign soil actually stop after 1 or 2 seasons. They end it and start another one!!! This is bloody brilliant!!!

Think of it, no more endless backstabbing, returns from the dead, and full season dreams. No more overextending sorry plots just to get to the season finale and starting some other absurd idea. Just end the frikin show!!

As an arts major, i feel its my duty to say this. If we are pumping out such sorry directors, writers, and screenplaywrights that we have to keep our current stories going indefinately for fear we may actually have to depend on fresh ideas, ill give my freakin Arts degree back. If we can afford to pay 54 bucks for a new game every year like we do for most sports games, shouldn't our cable fees go towards more creative and fresh content?

How many times do we have to force the housewives and Mr. Moms of america to watch this crap before we realize that will spill over into our kids, then they will think thats what america wants, cause they were exposed to that nonsence so early in life when they were at home. Let that crazy bitch drive of the pier and stay dead. A month down the road, make a new show, and give that same woman another role! She gets another paycheck, we get something fresh, and the world is a better place.

It can be done, Ive seen my share of Japanese Drama now to know it could be done. Ive seen the same actor in 4 different dramas now. He does a good job. He can play more than one role. If he can do it, why cant our actors? Or are we going to outsource those jobs too?

AAh, crap, im done.

END OF LINE.

Be Wary, Nazis come in various forms... Some worse than others...

2005-04-18T19:06:00.000-05:00

[RANT MODE="ANGER"]

Here's the situation... Its not serious, but HEY, those hos are in my way...

has disabled character transfers in World of Warcraft cause there is soo much traffic that i guess they are backordered on requests... They will turn it on when they feel like it, or whatever. A staff lawyer probably wrote it for em. Anyway, heres the serious part. Characters are only allowed to transfer to the servers that Blizzard tells you to. Period.

So if you are on a high population server, and you want to go to a low population, despite what choices you may have available to you, you go where they tell you to. And to tell you the truth, im not suprised.

This goes back some years, back to E3 2001.

[wavy flashback lines here]

I went to their booth to ask them some techinical questions about Warcraft 3 before it was released. I had interest to see if they were actually going to change the design of their game to show some actual innovation. When i got there, i actually saw a game that drive the Real Time Stragety in the direction i was hoping to see it go. For once, you troops had actual value. Just throwing your forces at the enemy would be a harmful tatic in the longrun. Halleluiah and Holy Shit!!! INNOVATION!! FROM BLIZZARD, YES! The suits finally got of whoever was in the design team and let em actually change things!!! There is hope for them yet!! Never mind the fact that the sound engineer was upset that i didnt care for his sound effects... (bump that jerky, a kazoo in the right moment is all the sound I need... :-) )

But sometime later, once the suits saw the game, i guess they ate some chicken or whitefish or something, cause they YANKED on the reins of the company and make the entire frikin place CHOKE!!! They must have yelled, "Don's screw with the money you artistic bastards!!!" In the end, they just re-released warcraft 2 with a new graphics engine and balance for less troops on the screen. Oh, they added 2 new forces. Now,dont think im completely blowing off their efforts, the game is decent, but im not payin em a full 54 bucks for the game. That would suggest they made a new one. The just made an old one prettier and added a little code. Thats called an expansion pack. Just 20 bucks from my wallet there Blizzard...

Now to the campus of the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Arizona. Add about 1 1/2 years of time. A Blizzard headhunter comes to the campus to tell us of the wonders of Blizzard. Then he shows some teaser info about World of Warcraft. Yay, we havent seen that before. This is a gaming school, dont waste our time. WE know all about teaser info. (Put that many game associated hackers and coders, and hard core gamers in one building with ready and free access to the internet, you will get any info you want eventually... :-) )

Then he asks for questions... Now i know hes probably just a paid administrative puke, but i couldnt help myself to strike a blow at the self proclaimed god of gaming that is blizzard. So i grapped the nearest explosive device i could find, ran up to himm screaming, "Jihad against the oppressor!" and asked this question in front of the entire populous of the school, even the Blizzard Zealots in the audience...

The question block he asked for was oriented to Starcraft sequels...

My question was, "Are you guys just going to slap the Starcraft code in the Warcraft 3 engine, add an army or two, and call it a new game like you did with Warcraft 3?"

"Kneel before me Son of Jor-el, for I am ZOD!!"

The audience was silent. And i reveled in the sacrifice I offered to the Gods of Gaming. I left shortly after that, there was no point in me staying after the blow has been struck, that would just taunt him unnecessarily, andd wheres the fun in that.

Anyway, to get back to the main point...

So im not suprised by their totalitarian way of restricting what server you go to. Sure, they could just say its to increase performance, but they could allow to go to any server that is labeled low-population. So because fo there medelling, I cant reunite without sacrificing about 1 month in game/hours spent in WoW If i want to rejoin some buddies I have rediscovered.

DAMN YOU, SON OF JOR-EL!!! DAMN YOU TO HECK!!!!

[/RANT]

Aah, that feels much better. :-P

Finally, R. Talsorian proves they aren't sitting on their laurels!!!

2005-04-18T13:42:00.000-05:00

This is fresh from the Mekton Zeta letter writing brigade..

Cyberpunk 2030X: 1-2 more months. It's VERY different from CP2020, not
just because it went Fuzion either. If CP 2020 was about life on the edge,
CP2030X is about life after you've fallen over and you're trying to pick up
the pieces. Liked the new character generation system. Fuzion was a good
answer to some of the crunchiness in CP2020.

New Mekton: It's not even on the schedule. Just an idea being floated
around at the moment. Mike Pondsmith appears to continue to want to use his
"ubiquitous mecha in an alternate earth timeline" idea as the setting for it
however.

Gundam Senki: It's a mess right now. Certain people have to contact
certain people to find out what the status of the project is in...Don't
expect a schedule for many moons.

Quicksilver Blues: Didn't get a chance to ask Mike Pondsmith about this
one, hopefully, he'll explain this one on the ML...

Finally, fresh material, for a fresh century. I approve. Take that Shadowrun!!

<(^:^<) ^(^:^)^ (>^:^)>

The joys of home repair

2005-04-17T11:41:00.000-05:00

***Haiku of the moment***
As I scrape on walls
Long lost art falls to the floor
I cough up a lung.
*************************

Isn't home repair grand? Slaving away painting and scraping and nailing for hours and hours just to repair what mother nature is eventually going to knock down again anyway? I'm giving up on having a place of my own in a zone that is prone to natural disaster. Ill go somewhere safe, like Beruit.

At least anything that happends there is usually man-made. Mother Nature leaves you alone and in peace. Since i'm dark, I dont have to worry about getting sunburned anyway! Bonus!

After the four tornado storm in Oklahoma, the Hurricanes in Florida, running from the aggressing OpFor in Montana, and my normal family life, im ready for Beruit. That will be child's play. I'll have to live in a bunker, but at least i won't be rebuilding any drywall.

I knew all those sessions of Resident Evil was good training.

2005-04-17T01:04:00.000-05:00

Armed and Dangerous
Congratulations! You scored 86%!

You made it out, alive and well supplied. You probably even kept most
of your party alive too. You know what to look for, what to take, and
when to just run. You even feel a strange inkling to go back. If you
did, you'd probably do just fine.

My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 90% on survivalpoints

Link: The Zombie Scenario Survivor Test written by ci8db4uok on Ok Cupid

Now were cookin with gas! Bring 'em on. I'm ready.

The one is dead, Long live the machines...

2005-04-12T19:50:00.000-05:00

Well, finally done with the hype. The Matrix Online for me is dead. It was an interesting time, but not for me. After a point, the image fades, like with all games. All im left with is another empty game. Sure, the plot will change from here and there, but the game itself willnot improve. I guess the games focal point is too based on reality for me, I get more exitement watching REAL TV now. Since the games mechanics were so simple, just playing the game for a while will make you better, no real skill is involved... Its all chance. Where's the fun in that? Maybe that's why I dont like gambling either.

So I guess its back to World of Warcraft for me. Even though is solo heavy, at least i can do thing without relying on others.... :-)

Epic Games needs to release some information!!!

2005-04-12T10:41:00.000-05:00

Ive been trying to get vehicles to spawn in this game for days now, and no one has bothered to share how to get this trick to work.

Eh, not much of a rant today i guess... Must have writer's block.

Oh, the wonderous pain of wireless networks!!!

2005-04-10T22:29:00.000-05:00

I tell ya what, I never seem to have any luck with the wireless thing. If its not one thing, its another. First I cant connect to it, then when i do connect, it only stays that way for about 20 minutes before going out again. Then, you have to reinstall the drivers just to get a positive responce. Then it goes out again.

Give me "ye olde insulated wire." On WiFi tech, i do not care, just give me my twisted pair!

Anyway, got things to do, people to dodge.

Deep Cover Report from King Ganja

2005-04-04T23:15:00.000-05:00

Here are all the sit reps to bring you up to date.

I finished my Bachelor's of Arts - Multimedia in March of 2004. But
the effort to finish college drained the remainder of my funds and
almost made me homeless. the Eclipse was repossessed. But what are
you going to do when you are starving college student. Literally...

Anyway, after the introduction to reality, (again), I was forced to
fall back to MAJCOM headquarters in Vero Beach, Florida. Once again
im stuck in small town America, surrounded by the white devil. The
nearest place that is worthwhile drinking at just happens to be a
saloon. Believe it or not.

Since April 2004, I have been working with an old childhood friend and
schoolmate in High School, Jurgen Schwanitz. Him and his father have
been running a successful computer repair shop for over 10 years.
Jurgen bailed me out and gave me a job. It was not a complete
handout, but since my degree is in a indirectly related field, he gave
me the nod anyway.

Since then im working with old fart's computers every day. It would
not be so bad, except for they are all cheap bastards with at least a
few million in the account. "Don't format this", "Don't loose my AOL
that..." Its frikin annoying, but whacha gonna do, im in the service
industry.

Well, thats about it. I'm still womanless, not that there is that
much to pick from down here... And the urge to leave the nest is
stronger than ever. I thought things were bad here when i was 19.
Its worse when you are 28. Lady Luck truly loves giving me both
barrels up the arse when it comes to good luck....

Anyway, take care guys, more to come later.

My man Hermanns in Japan?!?!

2005-04-02T14:41:00.000-06:00

How the heck did that happen? Here I am stressing about how im ever going to go to Japan. And Mike Hermanns shows up already over there. He's been there for three years even!!! WTF? Serves me right for leavin the military.

And hes about to sew on Technical Sargeant!!! That's it, thats why the pope is ailing as well, cause hell has done frozen over!!!

--INITIAL REPORT--

2005-03-02T14:33:00.000-06:00

Looks like everything works... Drat, hate writers block, will have to add to this later. Things at work are difficult, but at least im still employed. Nuff said there.

More to come when my brain is not fartin' around.