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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| Religion, Homosexuality, the Usual in General | |
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By Committee
Member # 4233
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written Thursday, July 1 2004 06:19
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Nothing wrong with perfectly good imperialistic influence. How about basing the year on the founding of the United States?  By my reckoning, 1776 AD = 1 PA (Pax Americana), so it's now 229 PA. Yeehaw! Anyone who disagrees will be smoked out of their spiderholes and gotten! Amer'ca rulez!!!(By the by, I thought Spiderman 2 ruled.) [ Thursday, July 01, 2004 06:22: Message edited by: Andrew Miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Religion, Homosexuality, the Usual in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Thursday, July 1 2004 04:41
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Just airing a pet peeve of mine, but "BCE" and "CE" are far and away too PC. What denotes the "Common Era" anyway? Hmmm. Still seems to hover right around the alleged time of the birth of Christ! When cultures win wars or become dominant, their practices and standards are adopted, and Western culture has done pretty well with that. Until some other standard manages to surplant our reckoning of history, let's not be petty, okay? Americans still use English units of measurement; we haven't renamed them "American units," and to do so would be foolish. CE is just a thin label covering AD, and doesn't change that the year 2004 is relative to the birth of you know who, whether divine or not. Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Name my web page! in General | |
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written Wednesday, June 30 2004 10:03
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For the bonus points, I'd suggest (men) "Kelandon's Elysian Lea" On the other hand (de), plain old "Kelandon's Elysium," or just "Elysium" would be nice and Greek. No matter what, Greek or Latin are optimal. :) Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| "Wut do u look like 2" in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Tuesday, June 29 2004 11:58
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http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/wh4hashflash/detail?.dir=/a6ad&.dnm=c121.jpg That's me in the bandana making the gesture. I'm the least photogenic person I know, though several of y'all definitely give me a run for my money. My presence at a hash (learn more at www.dchashing.org) accounts for my lewd behavior - the mugs in that image most certainly contained beer at the time.  [ Tuesday, June 29, 2004 11:59: Message edited by: Andrew Miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Religion, Homosexuality, the Usual in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Tuesday, June 29 2004 07:50
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Whether homosexuality is hard-coded into us genetically, be it a definite dominant-recessive trait or a matter of a seemingly simple developmental mutation (as it doesn't seem to be so uncommon that people are homosexual), homosexuals still can make a choice to express and practice their sexuality, just as heterosexuals can exercise that choice. Whatever one's particular opinion of any sexuality, whether backed by religion or no, I believe people should have a right to exercise their own choice, provided that the choice does not directly effect the lives of others. If two people, regardless of their genders, wish to have an intimate relationship, they should be free to do so. Furthermore, if U.S. law provides special benefits to couples in a committed, intimate relationship, I think it is unconstitutional to discriminate against particular combinations. To do so brings religion into the law, where, at least in the U.S., it does not belong. Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Michael Moore - Unfairenheit 9/11 in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Monday, June 28 2004 12:04
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I'm amused by the recent "kill the messenger" tactic in politics. When refuting the issues doesn't work, attack the character! This even goes on at the Wall Street Journal forum. No matter what you can say about Michael Moore, nothing will change the impression I got from watching the clip with the president referring to a group of wealthy donors as his base, and the clip with him making a comment about cracking down on terrorism right before turning to take a golf swing. I challenge anyone here to demonstrate that this behavior isn't unbefitting a president and utterly irresponsible. The clips speak for themselves. [ Monday, June 28, 2004 12:26: Message edited by: Andrew Miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Religion, Homosexuality, the Usual in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Monday, June 28 2004 09:40
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"Evolution is right to some people. And why do they think it's right? Because scientists say so. What dumb reasoning." As a technicality, all results of scientific experimentation are inferred, because scientists always have to account for error. It might be an error of .00000000000000000001% or so, but because it's there, results can't be said to be true or truth. That being said, science has generally done a better job of convincing me that its theories are probably correct, at least here on Earth, than religion. I'm more willing to take their word than the seminarians' word - I can at least see and touch science's results. The problem I find with the Bible is that no one *really* knows the context in which it was written anymore, and this results in gross misinterpretation. The origins of the texts included span at least a thousand years, and the writers of these texts come from quite different backgrounds. Without an understanding of the original context, how are we to interpret any of these writings seriously? I think that what Americans at least should keep in mind is that the Bible is not U.S. law, and while Christians may find it necessary to follow these rules, it is not within their rights to impose them upon other Americans, if the framers of the constitution had anything to say about it. The U.S. is not a theocracy, and neither Leviticus nor Acts can be upheld in court. So let the gays be! For the record, I am straight and I believe in a creator. I don't believe, however, that anyone on Earth has enough of an understanding to see what's really going on or understand - kind of like we're all missing a sense (like a blind person lacks sight) that allows for a new, "better" appreciation of existence. In that sense, we really are all like the sheep in the Bible's metaphors. How I wish we (or at least I) could "see!" [ Monday, June 28, 2004 09:51: Message edited by: Andrew Miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Gainful Employment in General | |
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written Monday, June 28 2004 05:28
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Hey Kel, I was a classics major back in the day. An awesome major to be certain, and if you can, study abroad at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome for a semester - it rules! That being said, if I could go back and major in Classics AND something useful for vocational purposes (Comp. Sci. or Mathematics) I would. But I wouldn't ditch the classics. [ Monday, June 28, 2004 05:28: Message edited by: Andrew Miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Gainful Employment in General | |
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written Friday, June 25 2004 12:28
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Jenkins: POST What do I win? Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| This is so cool in General | |
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written Friday, June 25 2004 08:41
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Pretty sure AM is me - a relatively recent addition, but a burr in FBM's britches, apparently.  Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| BoA Music? in General | |
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written Friday, June 25 2004 05:38
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I don't listen to anything in particular to "add to the mood," just what I like at the time, which currently is OK Computer (which I keep coming back to) and The Shins. Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Gainful Employment in General | |
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written Thursday, June 24 2004 11:50
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So I've seen a topic started regarding everyone's age, but now I'm wondering - what does everyone do for a living? I'm currently a legal assistant for a Food and Drug law firm, though aspiring to become an International Trade Analyst shortly. Please feel free to contribute!  Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| BoA vs. NWN in Blades of Avernum | |
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written Wednesday, June 23 2004 12:25
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Apples and oranges (the graphics, for one, as well as the fact that NWN is multiplay-able), but I would have to say NWN. I like pretty graphics. I like watching my characters actually attack. I like the sound effects during realtime combat. I love the D&D system, spell memorization and all. I didn't like the level limit (although my monk was well-nigh invincible by level 20). I did find that the game became a bit repetitive in nature (though this may be the result of me consulting a walkthrough), but so does BoA. Though the music was not the best, you can just as easily turn it off and listen to your own music as well. And though you were limited to one NPC (and some summoned creatures) in NWN, I invite y'all to consider that this was the first game created with this engine. The same engine (including the D20 system) was implemented astonishingly well, in my opinion, in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. (Also, someone wrote a NWN module duplicating the old Pool of Radiance gold box game, which RULED! :) ) [ Wednesday, June 23, 2004 12:26: Message edited by: Andrew Miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Internet in General | |
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Member # 4233
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written Wednesday, June 23 2004 11:08
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I've only ever had bad experiences with DSL. My roommate and I use a cable modem with service provided through Comcast. Perhaps this was just for the Arlington, VA region, but currently they're running a special with no installation fees and $19.99 a month for the first three months. This is, of course, provided you purchase a cable plan (which you may already have). Comcast also lets you lease a cable modem for $3/month, which rules, since most modems are around $100. With a super-crappy basic cable plan (I don't watch much tv) and the high speed deal, my Comcast bill currently is about $40/mo. This will go up in September, but will still be manageable. I think that there isn't any contract obligation, so if you're only looking for service during the summer before heading back to school housing for "free" (w/tuition...) highspeed, this could be a good way to go. Alternately, I have had good experiences both with Earthlink and with Juno. I think Juno with few/no ads is still only $10/month. Juno w/ads (very annoying...) is still free. Also, you could just get an office schlub job like mine that gives you access all day! Large firms are always hiring legal assistants.[ Wednesday, June 23, 2004 11:13: Message edited by: Andrew Miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| We know about Geneforge 3...but what's next? in General | |
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written Wednesday, June 9 2004 08:58
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QfG5:Dragonfire was an ENORMOUS letdown, mainly because Sierra at that time was in serious trouble, and so the developers had the funding cut from under them. Rather than give up on the effort completely (as Black Isle Studios has with Fallout 3 and an unnamed Forgotten Realms game) they put out a half-baked effort that incorporated neither the true 3-D environment nor multiplayer option originally promised. The rest of the series yielded mixed results, but the remake of QfG1 was pretty solid and QfG3 was good fun. QfG2, without the benefit of a VGA rebuild and conversion of the type interface to point-and-click made for a more frustrating than fun experience. QfG4 ruled the world. I can still remember installing it onto my 486DX 33 with about 16 floppies, and running it off a boot disk - those were the days! A very well thought out game, with interesting characters, a reasonable combat system, and a wonderful setting (Transylvani-esque). [ Wednesday, June 09, 2004 08:58: Message edited by: Andrew Miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Valley of Thunder RP in General | |
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written Wednesday, June 9 2004 08:45
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OOC: Sure. Note, however, that monkeys ARE close relatives of humans. IC: Coco sees that he's not welcome, hoots twice, throws his own feces at everyone, then runs off into the wilderness, clutching his fez to his head with one hand, ne'er to be seen again in this particular realm. Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| Valley of Thunder RP in General | |
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written Tuesday, June 8 2004 11:38
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OOC: I would like to introduce a character, if you all don't mind. Here are the details: Name: Coco the Monkey Description: Coco is a small monkey, five years of age, a wanderer, a dancer. A rather unremarkable simian, formerly in the employ of an organ grinder in the King's Bazaar, Coco escaped his master and fled into the city. No one is quite certain where he found the magic fez he wears, but it certainly must account at least in part for his strange and wide travels over the past two years. Details on the fez: Its magic makes him somewhat more intelligent than a regular monkey. Also, when he takes it off and reaches into it, it usually will produce anything that he wants, which is usually bananas. Note that when he takes the fez off, his intelligence is reduced to that of a mere monkey, so asking him to pull anything in particular out could meet with varying results, or more likely, a banana. Also, the only items that can come out of the fez are ones that can fit through the hole. General disposition: Coco likes bright colors. He likes climbing. He loves his fez, and won't let anyone touch it. He likes riding around on other people - he's not very heavy. He can take orders, if the fez is on. IC: Coco the monkey slowly wakes from the nap he started in the back of a wagon filled with all those yummy provisions, peeks out of the canvas covering the back of the wagon, and realizes quicky that he is now nowhere close to where he was when he dozed off. Nonplused, he clambors out and down to the ground and takes in all the ruckus and unfamiliar faces around. Deciding that he should make certain that he is welcome in this crowd (and so ensure continued access to tasty provisions), he gives himself a good scratch, and then ambles over to the man whose colorful garb clearly indicates leadership. Emitting a few solemn monkey chirps and taking a deep bow before him (as he was trained to do by his former organ-grinding master), Coco then extends his hand up toward Hispar in a gesture of friendship. OOC: Is this okay? Potential comic relief,with the ability to reach places others may not, if asked clearly and correctly... and provide bananas. [ Tuesday, June 08, 2004 12:34: Message edited by: Andrew Miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| We know about Geneforge 3...but what's next? in General | |
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written Friday, June 4 2004 12:58
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True, but money will always be the limiting factor in everything in life. :( On the other hand, it shows how rare a talent coming up with good content really is. A job as an inventor or writer will never be outsourceable. :) Great Scott!!! It's six o'clock! I've been at work a half-hour past quitin' time. Gotta run. See y'all! :) [ Friday, June 04, 2004 13:01: Message edited by: Andrew Miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| We know about Geneforge 3...but what's next? in General | |
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written Friday, June 4 2004 12:49
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quote:I disagree for the following reasons: 1.) The computer/console RPG history is short. Early computer games were VERY basic in nature, and early console games were Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior. 2.) The FF series helped make the genre accessible to players who otherwise wouldn't be interested in any sort of RPG, creating a bridge for these players to find that they do enjoy more traditional RPGs. More interest in the genre = more revenue = more games. I'm grateful that there is interest in games like the Final Fantasy series because it means that while lots of firms may try to duplicate its success, they're also more willing to give other more unorthodox and intricate games a go that they otherwise would not, because they know there's a market for RPGs. Imagine if instead of games like the FF series everyone was solely interested in Tekken, Street Fighter, etc. - RPGs in those circumstances probably wouldn't see the light of day. Little-house games get a chance because the big-house games exist. 3.) Widespread acceptance of FF series = more tolerance/acceptance of RPG genre in general = I'm less of a dork in society. :) I personally like the FF series because a.) it's familiar, b.) it's pretty, and c.) I think those Japanese folks drum up pretty interesting stories. I look at them more as interactive stories than true RPGs, and so what jades me is when a poorly thought out system (combat, character development) gets in the way. Please bear in mind that I am not advocating a FF-style game from Jeff - the old school Gold Box-style games he's developed rule - I just like fluid motion of sprites. :) [ Friday, June 04, 2004 12:54: Message edited by: Andrew Miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| What Are You? in General | |
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written Friday, June 4 2004 10:44
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"[T]he Irish problem" says it all. [ Friday, June 04, 2004 10:45: Message edited by: Andrew Miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| We know about Geneforge 3...but what's next? in General | |
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written Friday, June 4 2004 09:42
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The real time v. turn-based combat argument is an old one, and like Mac v. PC, it's mainly a matter of preference. I personally like both, provided they're well executed. I thought that the Infinity Engine games (BG, BG2, IWD, IWD2, Planescape: Torment, the last of which Mac users are very unfortunate to have missed out on) were all very well done in terms of RT combat, mainly on account of the ability to pause combat to supply new commands. The S.P.E.C.I.A.L. engine used in the Fallout series likewise was great for TB combat, though to be honest, I did get a bit annoyed if I tried to take on too many enemies at once, but that just goes to show that you shouldn't run into a base and try to take out the slave master with one kick to the back of the head. :) I lament the passing of Black Isle Studios, and hope that my boy J.E. Sawyer finds another place to start making RPGs again before too long. Out of combat, I do prefer fluid motion, mainly for asthetic reasons. Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| We know about Geneforge 3...but what's next? in General | |
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written Thursday, June 3 2004 12:18
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Hmm... I'll have to give Geneforge a go! Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| What Are You? in General | |
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written Thursday, June 3 2004 09:46
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Kel: I think you're right on the money about our culture and traditions. FBM: I'm well aware of Native Americans, but for all intents and purposes, they weren't factored in at the founding of the US, and didn't successfully make their case/win that battle. How you or I may feel about that is one thing, but the reality is another. Maybe I am being a bit preachy. I do really like my gub, after all - I moved to DC to take part in it - but I think it's got a good thing going. Your government, by the by FBM, isn't exactly a shining star either, what with the violence it has left in the wake of its influence (Northern Ireland, Israel/Palestine, India/Pakistan), and this just within the last century. EDIT: Kel: Sure, there was religious diversity, but no one religion could make a greater claim over America than another at that time, which made it more of a blank slate than anywhere else one might try to establish a republican experiment. I guess "diversity" or "balance" might not equal "blank slate," but you understand where I'm coming from, right? By contrast, you have any of the examples I've named in my response to FBM. There's a lot of history in those places that would hobble tolerance. Also, FBM, wasn't it your national religion that helped push the Puritans out, your national religion that has historically kept you in conflict with Ireland and Scotland's Catholic populations? [ Thursday, June 03, 2004 11:36: Message edited by: Andrew Miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| We know about Geneforge 3...but what's next? in General | |
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written Thursday, June 3 2004 06:29
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Maybe this would take away from the charm of his games, but I'd like to see him do something where motion is a little more fluid, and NPCs/monsters could move around on their own without the player having to enter a command, a la "Dragon Warrior" series or the old skool "Final Fantasy" games for NES/SNES. I'm not a programmer, so I'm not certain how much work this would take (I'm sure it would be a lot), but I imagine it would involve coordinating the movement of other objects with a timer, as opposed to cueing it on every input by the player, as well as adding "movement" graphics, which would be a little more work. I have no idea how to make the motion across the field fluid-looking, however. Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
| What Are You? in General | |
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written Thursday, June 3 2004 05:50
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Kel: Perhaps "culture" is the wrong word; how about "heritage?" Custer: True, but our possession of North American land started ~250 years ago, so no one (or at least no one capable of mounting an effective protest) has any sort of real cultural/ancestral/religious claim to it. Germans and Italians, on the other hand, have a real strong sense - and by strong, I mean thousands of years' worth of sense - of belonging to their land, no matter what government encorporates it. Throw religion in there and it gets even more intense! Sometimes I wonder whether the whole formation of the US system of government was just a fluke, not to be repeated ever again, based on the fact that the circumstances under which the US became a republic were so unique. The US had the "advantage" of forming a nation in a land where no religious or other interest group had a strong hold or valid ancestral claim to any territory. With this "blank slate," the founders were thus able to get away with the "Freedom of Religion" clause that helps our society remain more tolerant-ish. The US currently is pressing its style of government on other parts of the world where different ethnic groups do have long term and frequently conflicting claims on territory. Isn't it then foolish/impossible to expect these peoples to move to a system of religious tolerance? [ Thursday, June 03, 2004 05:54: Message edited by: Andrew Miller ] Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00 |
