Thoughts for sharing

New year, money down.

2010-01-05T18:48:25Z

In the last few days I've taken a few more baby steps toward good things. The biggest one was joining a gym, something I've been meaning to do for a while. It's only a minor detour off my way home from work, so late night workouts are the plan from here on.

And something that definitely makes me feel older: bought a file chest for the important papers, that have previously been consigned to a wicker basket. Long overdue, and will help down the road.

Now I actually ought to work on the most important stuff, getting a better job and learning to be more social.

Tidying up

2010-01-03T17:52:37Z

One of the things I've been meaning to do for, well, too long is clean my room: I never completely finished moving in, and there's a giant pile of papers, books, etc. all over the floor. I like the symbolism, using an early day of the new year to do at least some work cleaning up the mess I made in the old one. Along the way, I'm actually cleaning out my wardrobe, which I've never done before. I've known I needed to since I went to visit the family for Christmas, and realized that the one pair of slacks I owned simply didn't either fit or look as good as they did when I bought them ~5 years ago. However, I'm being more thorough than I expected to be, and I've been interested to see my reactions to some parts of the chore. T-shirts are the best example of this: I have a lot that I don't want to wear anymore, but have too much sentimental value to donate. So, there's a box tentatively labeled "gym shirts" sitting on my bed.

Oh, in other overdue news, I got an A in my Philanthropy seminar this semester. That has a lot to do with being allowed to do an extra credit presentation that was worth basically an entire letter grade. I'm glad I took the class, I learned a lot, and one of those lessons was that I do not want to be going to school full time again right now. I could, and probably should, do another post all together on a conversation I had with my mother about schooling/training(before I knew the actual grade, but after I told her I was at least guaranteed a B), but that is much more bitter than I'd like to be right now.

I hope all of you are doing well. I ought to talk to each of you more than I do.

Damnit

2009-12-30T06:09:14Z

Summary: my computer half broke.

Apparently, your computer "being unable to expand" a security patch and primary browser update is bad. Not only does the browser not work, but all of the nice convenient shortcuts don't either: no dock, no dashboard, etc. It won't even soft restart/shut down. And the software now says that it's up to date. I got the whole patch separately, but I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do with it once it's on my desktop.

I'm trying to decide whether I should take it in for a diagnostic and see if an expert can set me straight. This is fucking annoying.

Too long. Again

2009-12-17T23:31:40Z

As the year winds down, I've been increasingly pessimistic about the nation's political situation. The absurdity of President Obama accepting the Peace Prize and after choosing war in Afghanistan. The big banks sleezing their way out of TARP with barely a lesson learned(except maybe that they can do it again and get away with it). The important measures that keep being cut out of the health care plan.

Then I started doing some reading, with the intent of blasting the health care plan in more detail, and I remembered: as much as has been taken out, there is still good stuff left. Not as much as the country needs, no, but still probably a step in the right direction. Sure, it's been easy for me to criticize Obama and Congress for not going far enough, but I have to remember that the legislative system is really slow, and even a strong majority is going to move slowly on such a big issue. In effect, compromise on health care is the price we pay for not having social security privatized by WBush several years ago.

On replayability

2009-11-02T07:05:12Z

One of the things that comes up a lot in the video games I play is replayability. I usually consider the possibility that I'll want to play a game again as a good thing, even though I rarely do so much anymore. Still, its something I often consider when deciding to buy new games, especially since I buy new games so infrequently.
However, a few years ago I started to realize that there is a near-infinite level of replayability that is really, really bad for me. The classic example of this are the games in the Civilization series. Even winning a game doesn't necessarily mean that you've "finished", because you can immediately start again and have a somewhat different experience of playing the game. I find this incredibly compelling, and this style of game has eaten up more of my playtime than any other over the course of my life.
The other example was one I realized only a few weeks ago, but it prompted this post. That was the football game I own, NCAA 08. I don't find that replayability in the individual games of football, but rather in the mode where you act as head coach, guiding a team's strategy and recruiting players to replenish your team. The process is very repetitive, since football seasons are much like each other in an unchanging computer environment. Still, especially in the recruiting aspect, the game continually serves up varied conditions that compel me to keep playing.
So, why do I call this bad? Well, there are two reasons. The first one is actually something I've only been doing the last few years, which is trying to take trophies. I do want to have a stack of good games on my shelf that I have "finished" (by which I mean completing the main plot and as much of the additional content as I find enjoyable: usually probably ~70% of stuff to do in a modern game). I like being able to say I beat something and know it well enough to talk about, and playing more games gives me more geek cred. By contrast, the endless games don't do that. Since they never end, they never go on the shelf(huh. I wonder how MMOs relate to this theory).
The other problem is related. When I'm off a civilization building binge, i suddenly realize that I don't have a lot to show for it: I rarely learn anything, I haven't talked to anybody since it's a solo game, and I've missed out on other things to play turns in games I won't remember. It's a depressing feeling, but I always get roped in again.

Huh, I should sleep. Hope people have enjoyed this.

Realization

2009-10-23T02:33:02Z

Working on a foundation's staff is more or less like BelCon's FOC. Except for way more money. I think I get it now. And I'm tempted to see if I can get a job in the field.

darkskywatcher @ 2009-09-08T12:32:00

2009-09-08T17:39:49Z

I now have keys to a condo in one of the most beautiful parts of town. Lease is signed, and I have the month to move in. Which I'm going to need, because I haven't even started packing, school is starting, and I still have to work. Oh well. Glad I'm getting it done. And even though my commute will be longer now, some of it will be through a beautiful neighborhoods.

Eulogy

2009-09-05T13:50:38Z

I'm going to miss you, Minnesota Summer 2009. You were the best example of what a summer can be that I can remember: a few days of nasty heat/humidity to remind us of it, and otherwise just generally warm and pleasant weather for us to enjoy. No flooding, no drought, minimal amounts of other bizarre weather...you were great. I hope that those that follow in your footsteps are just as great.

An anecdote

2009-07-27T12:26:25Z

Last Thursday I stopped at the toll road oasis at Des Plaines, Illinois, mostly to get a few minutes reprieve from the heavy traffic and heavy rain (and hail!) that were making driving rather unpleasant. As I was heading back to my car, I looked up and saw a large airplane flying low overhead. It seemed much too low given how far we were from O'Hare, and so I tried to get a closer look and see what company it belonged to. I looked and saw a white bottom and a light blue top, and on the tail fin was an American flag. With a holy shit, I realized I was seeing Air Force One buzzing the air before Obama touched down to go on the stump. It was a highlight of the trip, certainly.

A plug

2009-07-21T22:51:02Z

I would encourage each and every one of you to go visit Cleveland, and just spend an hour or two driving around, especially the residential areas.

After Cleveland, every city that I've visited recently seems vigorous, healthy, and very well maintained by comparison. Sure, they have their bad spots, as Cleveland has it's good ones. But man, even you're average strip mall in suburban Chicago looks a lot better when you see how much worse it could be.

In Cleveland

2009-07-17T14:28:05Z

I'm in Cleveland, visiting nathan_lounge . It's been good, but I wanted to include a few observations of the tour of downtown Cleveland that I got yesterday.

The most striking thing about the downtown is just how empty most of it is. Many of the smaller buildings have "for sale/lease" signs on them, and the street traffic was fairly minimal, even though we were driving around at noon. Shopping centers weren't busy, traffic wasn't heavy, and parking was readily available. It wasn't a pit or a ghetto, but rather almost like a graveyard, with the large old stone buildings towering over the streets. It's unfortunate to see any cities in such decline, even though I doubt Cleveland is the worst in the nation, especially right now.

Another thing that surprised me, is the way skyscrapers are distributed around the downtown. It's fairly haphazard, with them sort of jutting out from the rest of the buildings at some separation from each other. To keep pushing the graveyard simile, they were the obelisks standing up from the sea of headstones, though hopefully they still have some life in them.

A last note was that most of the people in the downtown proper were clearly office workers. Downtown Cleveland is, exculsively, a place of business.

It was a remarkable contrast from Minneapolis, where even on the end of downtown where I work, there is a constant swirl of activity, and by people from all levels of society.

Alright, it's time for another adventure, so I better wrap it up. It's been a good trip, so far.

darkskywatcher @ 2009-06-27T22:47:00

2009-06-28T04:05:24Z

Just had the house broken into. The guy got spooked when he opened my bedroom door to find Zee and I talking. I chased him out, and he got away clean.

Nobody hurt. Nothing stolen, even though there was a 10-spot on the kitchen table. Counting my blessings.

I need renter's insurance. And, quite possibly, a new address.

darkskywatcher @ 2009-06-07T15:19:00

2009-06-07T20:28:11Z

I've been playing a LOT of TES:Oblivion. It's consumed a fair portion of this weekend, and most of the last one. Good times, generally.

I bought a DS from a roommate(who is moving out) Thursday night. Maybe not the best deal, but it came with two Final Fantasy games, so I know I'm getting something I'll like. I haven't played with it much, though, because I can't play it at work, and I have Oblivion at home.

Other than that, life is alright. I work a lot, because we've been short.

I only have one other roommate right now. It's strange, but it's a luxury that I know I'll be paying for, so I'm glad that somebody else will be moving in in July.

Oh, and I've been enjoying the cold weather, especially if it means we'll have less full-blown summer.

Good luck out there.

darkskywatcher @ 2009-05-09T07:21:00

2009-05-09T12:22:00Z

I may be really, really late for it, but it's about time I jumped on the West Wing bandwagon. Seen two episodes and already hooked.

Good day

2009-04-19T00:47:12Z

Days where the government tells you it owes you more money than you thought are always good days.

big grin

2009-03-13T04:24:36Z

I have a ps3. Again. And I'm too tired to play it. And I(foolishly) agreed to work overtime tomorrow.

Oh well, I've waited long enough already(the seller said he shipped, then didn't), another day or so isn't much more.

darkskywatcher @ 2009-02-10T16:55:00

2009-02-10T22:56:40Z

I have developed a persistent sore throat today, which means I'm probably getting sick with a head cold of some variety. Oh well, it's a good excuse not to do anything besides go to work, where I can be a wonderful plague dog.

Car wrapup

2009-02-04T21:15:51Z

Ended up calling a towing company, and got a great truck driver. He was able to tell me that the problem wasn't the battery, it was actually the safety switch. It must have gotten stuck, possible due to the cold. A little fiddling with the shift and he got it to start right up. Its a problem I may have chronically, or may never have again for the life of the car. In any event, he showed me to how to handle it if it does happen again, and gave my battery a shot of WD40 for good measure. So, all in all, the easiest possible resolution to the problem.

Better and better

2009-02-03T23:10:40Z

Apparently I have a nasty group of gremlins attacking my stuff. I went out to start my car last night and get nothing. Not sputter-and-die, but just turn the key and the only thing that happens is the "check engine" light comes on. Looks like I need a new battery. The one I have has had some pretty gnarly corrosion on it for a while, but seemed to work fine in spite of it. Now, though, I have to figure out where to take it, how to get it there, etc. Really, this is the kind of service I should have gotten familiar with when I moved to town(get relationships started so that I know that I'm getting good service), but didn't because I felt awkward doing so and had no immediate cause for it. So now I'm in a pickle.

DnD 4e

2009-02-02T20:14:38Z

At the urging of a certain cleric of my acquaintance, I took it upon myself to acquire the latest incarnation of a venerable game of some popularity and controversy: Dungeons and Dragons. These are my thoughts about the game at this point, after a (partial) first read through and a clumsy attempt to gen a character.

The funny thing about the game is that it is marketed as, and widely understood to be, a character roleplaying game. This is a mistake: it's a skirmish wargame with roleplaying elements stapled on. The rules assume that you will play the game with a battle grid, and many of the powers in fact won't work right without particular attention being paid to the relative positions of figures on such a grid. Furthermore, since everything in the game needs a certain degree of combat functionality, things that would generally be a "roleplaying opportunity" get overlooked. The best example of this is the Warlock class, where you can at creation decide that you character's powers spring from studying hidden secrets of Hell, banned by the god of that realm...for which the game lists no consequences.

A good analogy here is that DnD characters are like Battletech pilots. Sure, they can have complex character development, but the first question somebody is going to ask you is how many tons your mech weighs, and what kind of firepower it's packing.

The other, semi-related debate is whether DnD is copying pages out of WoW's playbook. Here I think the basic answer is no. The streamlining of classes into combat roles simply reflects tendencies and practices that were already in place in DnD, not what had been going on in WoW. Furthermore, the difference in medium and the required elements for play is sufficient enough that it's never going to be a comparable experience, and I'd expect the developers of DnD to realize (and, if they're smart, market the game based on) those differences.

Now, onto the game itself. The game presumes some set world characteristics: it describes in passing things like lost empires for Dragonborn and Tieflings, and the existence of planes like the Feywild and the Elemental Chaos. I find this aggravating because the book never offers an overview of that world, but its characteristics have considerable influence on how the game, especially the various races, are presented. This is especially a problem since the world they describe does not work the same way at a metaphysical level as any DnD world that I know of.

Notes on the races: The reptiles with breasts can die in a fire. Which is a damn shame, because I'd like them except for that one terrible characteristic. As far as Elves go, I wish they had kept it simple by calling them "high"(Eladrin), and "low", which what the difference in character actually is. Tieflings: it stretches my disbelief to the breaking point to consider them a major race. They look like fucking monsters. Humans have had enough difficulty with considering each other tainted by demonic forces, if we were introduced to a people who had an obvious, physical connection? Well, to say the least I don't think we'd be welcoming them into our communities.

The classes are generally good. The biggest thing that irks me about them is how many of them try to set up false dichotomies, something that isn't helped by presenting only two build options. The rogue, for example, asks you to explicitly pick whether you will be a Strength or Charisma type rogue, and certain powers will give you additional benefits depending on your choice. The thing is that while those are both viable ways to create a rogue, they aren't the only viable ways (though by changing skills they did eliminate the Int-based rogues). This isn't to say that the dichotomy is always false: the Rangers' choice between melee and ranged combat is completely legit. Still, there is enough choices to make things interesting on at least the two classes (Fighter and Rogue) that I have done anything more than a completely cursory overview of.

One mechanic that I am highly suspicious of is the "one half your level" modifier, which comes up a lot. It seems like a cop out method of introducing the idea of an increasing general competence. I would have liked to see something more specific. An apt announcement that this is now a wargame comes from the Diplomacy skill, which has the shortest description of any of the skills. Feats, for their part, are better. Toughness is still the worst, because a few bonus hit points is still not worth being able to do something actually useful.

As far as art goes, this edition is heavily inferior to the last. Not every illustration needs to be in all the colors of the rainbow, guys. I especially miss the beautiful pencil sketches from 3rd ed. Also, while I generally enjoy the art of Wayne Reynolds, especially for DnD, the cover is terrible. The pose is too combative, and the fan service is too obvious. Another layout issue that bugs me is that at no point is there actually a guide to the character creation process: not even a handy cheat sheet of the steps to take. This is something I have found highly useful in other games, even as an experienced player. Not including it here was definitely a mistake.

But, all in all, it's alright, and I'm tired of talking about it.

darkskywatcher @ 2009-01-29T15:18:00

2009-01-29T21:21:35Z

So I my plop myself down on the couch today, hoping to enjoy another rousing round of FFXII, and discover to my consternation that my Playstation 2 won't start. I haven't touched it in days, and it was fine the last time I did. The light is on, I have no idea what's wrong with it. Any ideas?

The official troubleshooting has suggested the problem is static(there has been a lot in that area, come to think), and that the solution is to completely unplug it for a while. Giving that a try.

darkskywatcher @ 2009-01-13T06:28:00

2009-01-13T12:38:16Z

So much to talk about...that's what I get for vacationing and otherwise neglecting this journal. However, I'm kind of crunched for time right now, so instead of a real post you get a reading recommendation.

I became enamored some months ago with the columns of Frank Rich, over at the Times. Certainly of the columnists I have read, I think he does a good job of pointing out just how hypocritical the outgoing administration has been, without being obsessive or belaboring the point too much. So, my recommendation is to go and take a look at what he has to say.

darkskywatcher @ 2009-01-07T23:21:00

2009-01-08T05:30:40Z

I'd say the first quarter-century has turned out alright. Here's hoping the next is even better.

Books of 2008

2009-01-01T15:39:32Z

I entertained the idea early in the year of setting a mandatory daily reading amount, something that I put into practice in August. My policy is that I am supposed to read 5 pages a day, and I can let myself get behind but not ahead. Hence, if I read 50 pages one day I still owe 5 the next. Seeing as I'm currently about 100 pages behind, that wot be a problem again for a while. Here's what I've been reading this year:

Iron Kingdom:The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600-1947, Christopher Clark. ~500 pages
In this case, the page count indicates not the actual length of the book, but rather the amount I read during the current calendar year(started it in 2007). A very good work, focused on the heterogeneous nature of Prussia territory from very early on, and subsequent attempts to impose national standards with varying degrees of enthusiasm and success.

The Oxford History of the Dutch Republic, Jonathan Israel. 1130 Pages
What a massive work. Extensive discussion of the ongoing dualities that continually emerged in both the political and cultural life of the republic.

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, Michael Pollan. 395 Pages
Easy reading, and worth it if you haven't thought about the supply side of food before. The last section, other than containing interesting factoids about mushrooms, was a waste.

Cardano's Cosmos, Anthony Grafton. 295 Pages
An interesting explanation of the complexities of the practice of Renaissance astrology (which was taught as an academic subject, specifically for the interest of doctors). I'd tried to start it my junior year (it was supplemental reading for a Rob LaFleur class), and found it too difficult. But after Dutch Republic, it was a breeze.

Citizens of the World: London Merchants and the Integration of the British Atlantic Community 1735-1785, David Hancock. ~420 Pages
Unusual for a historical work in that it follows the lives of a small number of commercially successful individuals whose influence on the grand stage of history was fairly modest. Uses these men as examples to advance several general theories about the necessary qualities for commercial success in the expanding markets of the 18th century, and breaks down their expenses and investments.

Plagues and Peoples, William McNeill. 395 pages
A granddaddy of a work, first published in 1976. Still relevant, but the details have changed substantially: the first chapter, focusing on disease in early humans, is mostly speculation because there was so much then we didn't know about human origins. Still, an important work that brought the demographic study of epidemic disease within historical study.

The Fragility of Goodness, Martha Nussbaum. ~50 pages
Started, but waaaaayyy behind, as I mentioned. A work of moral philosophy, which has been very good if extremely heavy reading.

So, my total page count on the year is ~3185, which is above the 1825 that the 5/day rate yields, which is good. Still, with so many books worth reading in the world today I feel that I need to step it up, which why I actually have a resolution this year: 10 pages a day, same rules as above.I usually don't do resolutions, but this time I think it's worth the effort. It's not an impossible goal, especially once I get past Fragility. Also, I'm willing to abandon it if circumstances change: If I couldn't read at work, or actually got an intellectually demanding job, this would be substantially more difficult, and in the latter case possibly also less worthwhile. Still, here's hoping.

Also I am not taking suggestions for what to read. I want to read what I already have first, and I already have 3600+ pages on my reading list with an incomplete survey of that collection.

EDIT: Added the book I had forgotten.

The wedding picture post

2008-12-10T13:53:35Z

Father of the Bride

Brother of the Bride

Before, I think?

Kyle as Usher

Procession #1

Procession#2

A glance over during the ceremony (one of the readings, as I recall)

Another ceremony shot

Meet and greet, afterwards

Maryam and Russell

Meredith and Wyatt

Robin v. Steve

Shirt Prep

The Lemke-Oliver Toast

The other sort of Toast

Props to Lex for presenting the toast while wearing the shirt.

First Dance

Father and Daugther

Dancing the night away

That's it. Feel free to post elsewhere.