It occurs to me that part of the reason that I don't get my sudden short stories written is that I end up just taking notes, and then fleshing them out later. The fleshing them out part takes time and effort, and also remembering that I have unwritten stories.
Originally, I wrote the sudden short stories, well, suddenly! But, so often, I get an idea right after I turn my computer off to go to bed, or right as I'm leaving for someplace else, so I need to make sure to write down enough info that I'll remember what I was thinking. Otherwise, I'd end up with no stories at all! D:
I'll try to keep them sudden, and we'll see how it goes.
Monday, February 28, 2011
In Which February is Annoying
February probably annoys most folks for the same reason that January does: It provides terrible driving conditions.
But, for me, February is annoying because it's so short. Specifically, I'm about to run out of February, and this will be my 3rd blog post for it. :P I just spent some time working on another post, only to determine that it makes no sense.
January slammed past me because I'd done a bunch of blog posts in December. February flew past by being so short. However! I expect to make about 10 blog posts in March. I've got about 8 in the works at the moment, and, if I keep getting ideas at the rate that I do, then I'll have even a few more.
But, for me, February is annoying because it's so short. Specifically, I'm about to run out of February, and this will be my 3rd blog post for it. :P I just spent some time working on another post, only to determine that it makes no sense.
January slammed past me because I'd done a bunch of blog posts in December. February flew past by being so short. However! I expect to make about 10 blog posts in March. I've got about 8 in the works at the moment, and, if I keep getting ideas at the rate that I do, then I'll have even a few more.
I'm at that Awkward Point in TF2...
I'm at that awkward point in Team Fortress 2 where I have one of every weapon, but not the Poly Count hats or the resources to make them. (Well, strictly speaking, I don't have the Degreaser, but I'm not terribly worried about it.) For those who aren't familiar w/ TF2's item drop system, there are certain "Poly Count" sets for some classes, which are a combination of some weapons and a hat. The weapons can be found via the random drop system, but the hats never drop, so they have to be bought or made. The weapons can be bought or made, too, but buying them costs real money, and by the time that one has enough waste material to make them, one has probably already found them. The hats can be made with the crafting system, too, but this takes vast quantities of weapons to do. (For reference, a hat costs at least 3 Refined Metal to make, each of which costs 3 Reclaimed Metal, each of which costs 3 Scrap Metal, each of which costs 2 weapons, giving an effective price of >54 weapons to make a hat.)
If it weren't for the Poly Count sets, then I'd have no reason to even be thinking about hats prior to this point. But, of course, Valve is quite clever about this. The hats do nothing by themselves, but those that are part of Poly Count sets allow someone w/ a complete set to get some kind of bonus! (For example, Ol' Snaggletooth does nothing alone, but as part of The Croc-o-Style Kit, prevents headshots.)
So, the excitement of getting a new weapon is basically gone, replaced with the excitement of getting ANY weapon, since said weapon can be turned into scrap.
Well, on the bright side, TF2's crafting system means that nothing is truly wasted. Even when I've got all of the useful hats, I can still make all of the decorative ones. XD
If it weren't for the Poly Count sets, then I'd have no reason to even be thinking about hats prior to this point. But, of course, Valve is quite clever about this. The hats do nothing by themselves, but those that are part of Poly Count sets allow someone w/ a complete set to get some kind of bonus! (For example, Ol' Snaggletooth does nothing alone, but as part of The Croc-o-Style Kit, prevents headshots.)
So, the excitement of getting a new weapon is basically gone, replaced with the excitement of getting ANY weapon, since said weapon can be turned into scrap.
Well, on the bright side, TF2's crafting system means that nothing is truly wasted. Even when I've got all of the useful hats, I can still make all of the decorative ones. XD
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Sudden Short Story 7
"There was a time when people worked on Christmas Eve. That's why it's an 'eve', you know: It's just the evening before, not the whole day."
"Well, strictly speaking, asking is just a formality. It's more to notify you than anything else."
"Nevertheless, it would be good if you could come in. With the year-end approaching, we'll need your help."
"You sound like you actually believe that," he said with a chuckle. "We both know that nobody has to be here. Heck, give everyone the day off and let an AI fill in. It's not like they're hard to find."
"You know that inconvenience isn't that point. Sure, I could give everyone Christmas Eve off. Then again, I could give them Arbor Day, or, I don't know, August 8th for all the difference that it would make. I could give everyone every day off and just have robots run the whole business! That would defeat the entire point, though."
There was a pause as they both thought on the subject. They both knew why they were there. They didn't want to talk about, nay, didn't want to think about the fact that they didn't actually need to do anything. After all, in a post-scarcity world, there was plenty of value to go around. The 'business' just let them feel useful.
"So you'll be here, then?"
"Bright and early, 'boss,' bright and early...."
"Well, strictly speaking, asking is just a formality. It's more to notify you than anything else."
"Nevertheless, it would be good if you could come in. With the year-end approaching, we'll need your help."
"You sound like you actually believe that," he said with a chuckle. "We both know that nobody has to be here. Heck, give everyone the day off and let an AI fill in. It's not like they're hard to find."
"You know that inconvenience isn't that point. Sure, I could give everyone Christmas Eve off. Then again, I could give them Arbor Day, or, I don't know, August 8th for all the difference that it would make. I could give everyone every day off and just have robots run the whole business! That would defeat the entire point, though."
There was a pause as they both thought on the subject. They both knew why they were there. They didn't want to talk about, nay, didn't want to think about the fact that they didn't actually need to do anything. After all, in a post-scarcity world, there was plenty of value to go around. The 'business' just let them feel useful.
"So you'll be here, then?"
"Bright and early, 'boss,' bright and early...."
Monday, January 31, 2011
Blog Post!
This is a blog post!
I'm posting this one to get 3 in in January.
I just got caught up w/ things and forgot today. Seriously, I had a post planned and everything. I'll probably do that one tomorrow or the next day, then.
...
I plan to do 4 in February to make up for this!
I'm posting this one to get 3 in in January.
I just got caught up w/ things and forgot today. Seriously, I had a post planned and everything. I'll probably do that one tomorrow or the next day, then.
...
I plan to do 4 in February to make up for this!
I'm Learning to Cook
Lately, I've had the opportunity to start picking up a useful skill: cooking.
Yes, soon, I will have the power to make not only ramen, but also ... umm... something else that people eat!
Actually, I've gotten to make a few rice-based recipes (long grain, that is; pre-packaged, of course), but now, I shall explore even NEWER horizons! With the recent acquisition of a book of healthy recipes, I shall go forth, and try to cook newer, slightly more complicated dishes!
so, y'know, just FYI
Yes, soon, I will have the power to make not only ramen, but also ... umm... something else that people eat!
Actually, I've gotten to make a few rice-based recipes (long grain, that is; pre-packaged, of course), but now, I shall explore even NEWER horizons! With the recent acquisition of a book of healthy recipes, I shall go forth, and try to cook newer, slightly more complicated dishes!
so, y'know, just FYI
Sunday, January 30, 2011
The Battle for Wesnoth
Recently, I dusted off the old chestnut known as The Battle for Wesnoth.
Before I go any farther: You can get The Battle for Wesnoth for free at http://www.wesnoth.org. (Also, it takes up less than 0.5GB when installed.)
I played The Battle for Wesnoth several years and 2 computers ago. Last year, I downloaded it, with the intent to play it again. Earlier this month, I started by going through 2 of the novice-level campaigns, just to re-familiarize myself with the mechanics. Since it was a refresher, I was probably fine before I was halfway through the 1st campaign, but the campaigns are fun, too.
I'm writing this post for a few reasons, the main ones' being: 1. that I need to get 3 posts done before January's end, per my New Year's resolution, & 2. that The Battle for Wesnoth is a good game and more people should play it.
The Battle for Wesnoth is a hex-grid turn-based strategy game w/ a fantasy flavor and an RPG element. Specifically, units can gain experience by fighting & thus level up to become new, better units. For many units, they can become one of two or three units when they level up, so there's a choice to make there, too. Terrain affects both movement and defense, and time of day affects units based on their alignments. There's a lot more to the game than that, of course, but I don't want this post to get all long and rambly. You can go read the wiki (http://wiki.wesnoth.org) or just download & play the game. As I may have mentioned, it's free. ^_^
Before I go any farther: You can get The Battle for Wesnoth for free at http://www.wesnoth.org. (Also, it takes up less than 0.5GB when installed.)
I played The Battle for Wesnoth several years and 2 computers ago. Last year, I downloaded it, with the intent to play it again. Earlier this month, I started by going through 2 of the novice-level campaigns, just to re-familiarize myself with the mechanics. Since it was a refresher, I was probably fine before I was halfway through the 1st campaign, but the campaigns are fun, too.
I'm writing this post for a few reasons, the main ones' being: 1. that I need to get 3 posts done before January's end, per my New Year's resolution, & 2. that The Battle for Wesnoth is a good game and more people should play it.
The Battle for Wesnoth is a hex-grid turn-based strategy game w/ a fantasy flavor and an RPG element. Specifically, units can gain experience by fighting & thus level up to become new, better units. For many units, they can become one of two or three units when they level up, so there's a choice to make there, too. Terrain affects both movement and defense, and time of day affects units based on their alignments. There's a lot more to the game than that, of course, but I don't want this post to get all long and rambly. You can go read the wiki (http://wiki.wesnoth.org) or just download & play the game. As I may have mentioned, it's free. ^_^
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