Profile for Drew
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Displayed name | Drew |
| Member number | 4233 |
| Title | By Committee |
| Postcount | 2242 |
| Homepage | |
| Registered | Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
Recent posts
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| Author | Recent posts |
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| cehck tihs out in General | |
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By Committee
Member # 4233
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written Monday, March 14 2005 09:57
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The GRE was much like the SAT, with a comparable math section and a much more difficult verbal section. I also had the logic section instead of the new written section. For me the trickiest part probably was taking the test on a computer versus the old fashioned paper format. You can't go back and change answers or skip and return to particular questions, and the test grades you progressively. This wouldn't be so problematic except that each question has a difficulty rating and a corresponding answer "weight." If you miss a few questions, the test will automatically track you to a set of easier questions, worth less points. I'd like to think I'm pretty good at standardized tests, but the LSAT was hands-down the hardest test I've ever taken, mainly due to the time constraints. It's also a completely "teachable" test, which I think is a bit unjust for people with few resources, but then, that seems to be life. [ Monday, March 14, 2005 09:59: Message edited by: andrew miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| cehck tihs out in General | |
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By Committee
Member # 4233
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written Monday, March 14 2005 05:20
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quote:Um, one of the reasons your nation and mine are as economically well-off as they are is because of their education systems. It may not make sense to you now, especially if you're inside it currently, but formal education systems, even through the high school level, create skilled workers. What does "skilled" signify? I think at a basic level, it refers to the added capacity for abstract thought that enables employees to adapt to new, more complex tasks and solve more complex problems. Anyone can push a button repeatedly on an assembly line or process meat; not everyone can manage employees at a restaurant (you likely need a high school diploma for this) or even do basic filing. At some level, jobs such as these require a baseline level of analytical thinking ability. That the quality and existence of the formal education system matters is evident if you compare the wage rates in different nations. Across the board, nations with a "comparative advantage" in unskilled labor (large numbers of uneducated people) have much greater poverty rates than those with an advantage in skilled labor. Also, consider Singapore - over the last seventy-five years or so, its economy has transitioned from being unskilled labor-based to a skilled labor- and capital-based economy, largely through its dedication to a formal education system for its populace, and as a result has witnessed tremendous benefit financially. Believe me, I know first-hand how school sucks! :) However, there is a rhyme and reason to it. [ Monday, March 14, 2005 06:56: Message edited by: andrew miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| How many? in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Friday, March 11 2005 12:33
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My middle name is "Robert," after my father. "Andrew" was for my great uncle - I'd like to think that I actually preceded the small "Andrew" fad, but I may have been right at the beginning of it. "Miller," of course, is a pretty common trade name, and in my case, made the trip over to the U.S. from England. Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Tastes like chicken. in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Thursday, March 10 2005 11:11
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The following commands worked for me: Die Peck Lay an egg Strut Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Which of these is worth playing? in Richard White Games | |
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By Committee
Member # 4233
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written Thursday, March 10 2005 11:00
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Hyenas eat carrion, so I imagine they wouldn't mind butter. They may go for your leg anyway, but I imagine they'd be more likely to go for the throat, like dogs would, and then eat all of you, buttered leg included. The question then would be: would they save the leg for last? I would rather play GC myself. Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Article - Rollick in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
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By Committee
Member # 4233
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written Thursday, March 10 2005 09:28
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DreamGuy, what's with the abrasive tone? Others are somewhat guilty as well, but you seem to be taking the cake. [ Thursday, March 10, 2005 09:35: Message edited by: andrew miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Article - Rollick in Blades of Avernum | |
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Member # 4233
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written Thursday, March 10 2005 09:28
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DreamGuy, what's with the abrasive tone? Others are somewhat guilty as well, but you seem to be taking the cake. [ Thursday, March 10, 2005 09:35: Message edited by: andrew miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| A new awakening fear... in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Thursday, March 10 2005 09:21
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College can be a completely new experience as well. Just don't get too worked up over it, and you'll be fine. Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Your Thoughts .... in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Wednesday, March 9 2005 13:19
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Well, liquor prices vary. If you're going for typical college-faire the-chicks-dig-it-too sort of stuff, you can't beat "adult lemonade." All you need for this is some frozen lemonade concentrate (pink is okay), and some sort of low-end vodka. My favorite was a citron-style vodka that I think was bottled in Bardstown, KY. Anyway, it was a litre-and-a-half or so for $13 in VA. Can't beat that price, and it's very tasty! EDIT: Be sure to prepare the lemonade as instructed on the cannister. Another favorite of mine from college was what we called "Liquid Evil." This consisted of a mixture of Hawaiian Punch and Malabu coconut rum. Not a manly drink, but you sure can't taste the alcohol, and it certainly does the trick! [ Wednesday, March 09, 2005 13:21: Message edited by: andrew miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Your Thoughts .... in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Wednesday, March 9 2005 10:35
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Foster's is okay, but nothing special - generally any lagers that are about the same color as Foster's will be reasonably decent. I'm a big fan of Cooper Beer, which I believe is out of S.A. Wine took me a study-abroad semester in Rome to acquire a taste for. Now I'm a big fan of Australian shiraz. Bubbly is good, but goes to my head far and away too quickly. Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| A new awakening fear... in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Wednesday, March 9 2005 09:40
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A good friend of mine joined the Navy out of high school so that he could get money for school later. He had a very, very positive experience. Depending on the route you take, you can come away from your enlisted experience with some good advantages. The afformentioned friend spent his enlisted time working in naval intelligence, specifically as an Arabic translator. The Navy trained him in Arabic, and then he would fly on recon missions off of carriers or out of other bases over the Persian Gulf to do signal intelligence. So when he was done, he had a valuable language he could market, veteran's preference (he served in a combat zone, and was called back for the war with Afghanistan) which is very good if you want a federal job, as well as a security clearance, which is a goldmine if you're looking for government or government consulting work, not even necessarily related to defense. Being in the Navy also helped bring discipline in his life, teaching him responsibility. He also got to see a lot of the world, and had a fair bit of fun in the process. Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| 4543 in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Wednesday, March 9 2005 07:27
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Waffle House waffles are superior to IHOP waffles. Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Your Thoughts .... in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Tuesday, March 8 2005 12:33
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My favorite regular beer is Miller High Life, followed by Bud or Bud Light. I prefer doing my drinking out at bars, especially in smoke-free Montgomery County, Maryland, so that I can leave the mess there, but that does have the annoying side-effect of costing a great deal, hence the cheap beer choice. It's pretty amazing the difference that location can make: Coors Light in Lexington, KY - $1.75; Coors Light in Washington, DC - $3.50/$4.00. When I'm classing it up a bit, I go for Okochim, a Polish beer, where I can find it, though usually I'll end up drinking Sierra Nevada, Smithwick's, Boddington's, or Murphy's Irish Stout. I can't tolerate malt liquor, red beers, or wheat beers. I prefer beer to other beverages at parties because it fills me up before I get too dumb too fast. This has led to woe on a number of occasions. My favorite alcoholic beverage is bourbon, specifically Woodford Reserve. [ Tuesday, March 08, 2005 12:38: Message edited by: andrew miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Your Thoughts .... in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Tuesday, March 8 2005 05:46
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Isn't there another version of that called "Tequiza" or something? I can't imagine that would be too good. Not that I'm a total purist, but some of these gimmicky drinks have got to go. Thank God that Captain Morgan's Gold went away - my buddies still won't let me live down the time I encouraged them to give that a try. That's the last time I'll make a purchase entirely based on an ad and a brand. I agree that beer is a stand-alone drink... for the most part. The occasional "Flaming Dr. Pepper" or "Car Bomb" can be a nice way to mix things up. [ Tuesday, March 08, 2005 05:50: Message edited by: andrew miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Background Music in Blades of Avernum | |
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Member # 4233
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written Monday, March 7 2005 13:12
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IMO, unless it's done very very well, I think that it would run the risk of being too cheesy or intrusive. EDIT: TM, are you talking midi files, or actual recordings? If it's the former, I would ask: how many websites with midi music have you been to where that music added to your experience there? If it's the latter, are there any recordings extant with which you wouldn't run into copyright issues? Since this game is somewhat obscure, you might not run into trouble, but you never know. [ Monday, March 07, 2005 13:38: Message edited by: andrew miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Surprise in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Monday, March 7 2005 08:40
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You're doing yourself a favor there. :) Still, I thought the action in the first one was excellent for its time - it certainly has influenced many action movies since. And you have to admit that (if by chance you hadn't been tipped off to it in advance) the big twist was pretty good. :) [ Monday, March 07, 2005 08:43: Message edited by: andrew miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Concentrated Linearity Debate (New Voices Welcome to Participate and Vote) in Blades of Avernum | |
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Member # 4233
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written Monday, March 7 2005 08:30
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I have to disagree utterly with DreamGuy's assertion that use of non-influential main characters is indicative of poor writing. Read any great fictional works of the last two millenia. There are always greater powers at work in the world of the characters. That the characters are able to cope with, strive against, and sometimes succeed is what makes them interesting, and in turn, the writing good. Example: The Odyssey. Odysseus, neither the strongest nor the most kalos of the Greeks, uses his resourceful mind to contend with the anger of gods and foes much greater than him. Heck, if you want a contemporary example, how about Harry Potter? The main characters in those stories are students, getting by in a world populated by wizards much more powerful and fearsome. If anything, when characters become great movers and shakers, writing becomes abominable. Why? Authors in those cases are incapable of sustaining the level of detail necessary to make their stories realistic because such levels of power/understanding of government/world functions and motivations are beyond the scope of their imagination/comprehension. What results is a story that falls flat. Read Eddings' Belgariad/Mallorean series, for example - certainly entertaining, fluffy fantasy romps, but with few exceptions, the main party of super-world-shakingly powerful characters never face a real or interesting challenge. What results is a ten-book-spanning yawn of a story. Reread Dune, if you haven't read it in a while. Would rulers of *entire planets* behave the way those characters do? Heck, look to the abortion that Robert Jordan's series has become - progress in that story line has ground to a halt due to his geo-political twittering. Good storytelling requires compelling, not necessarily influential, characters. In my opinion, the best storytelling occurs when much of the rest of the background remains concealed (and provided that the background does, in fact, exist) - the tip of the iceberg metaphor. It's what made Tolkein's work great, and was what made the Matrix great, until we found out there was no decent "rest of the iceberg." As for the linearity/non-linearity argument, I think it's strictly a matter of opinion. As for people complaining about the scenarios, why are you wasting your time playing this game? Why don't you write your own scenario and show everyone how it's done? [ Monday, March 07, 2005 08:37: Message edited by: andrew miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Surprise in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Monday, March 7 2005 08:01
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quote:At the beginning of the first film, Neo was instructed to "follow the white rabbit," which appeared as a tattoo on the shoulder of a woman. Morpheus later presents the rabbit hole metaphor when presenting Neo with the opportunity to discover the truth about the Matrix. After that, the references stopped. Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Surprise in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Monday, March 7 2005 05:20
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I think "White Rabbit" is sassy. It also has a bit of a "Matrix" quality to it, which may be a bad thing now, given the last two films... Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| The Aviator in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Friday, March 4 2005 06:27
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I thought it was overall entertaining. It felt like it dragged at times, and it definitely wasn't close to being worth an award for best picture, but it's still a good time. Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| And he enters in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Wednesday, March 2 2005 14:04
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Hello. Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| The Dingoes Ate My Baby! in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Wednesday, March 2 2005 06:31
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As my high school choir director always used to say, "Jesus did good. You do well." Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| The Dingoes Ate My Baby! in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Wednesday, March 2 2005 05:28
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"Bad" in that case functions as a noun, not an adjective. :) Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| The Dingoes Ate My Baby! in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Monday, February 28 2005 13:03
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I always thought "Djur" would be pronounced with the 'jur bit sounding like "yer," also known as the Kentucky equivalent of "your." "Kelandon" for me had no dominant syllable. EDIT: Oh, and "Thuryl" for me rhymed with "hurl." No offense intended. :) [ Monday, February 28, 2005 13:04: Message edited by: Arma virumque cano... ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| The Dingoes Ate My Baby! in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Friday, February 25 2005 05:14
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quote:Splendid, but as previously mentioned, you don't get the points. :) Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |