2007-08-10
INDY Blog feed now on the INDY Homepage
A fellow webmaster recommended to me that I provide users with more content on my website's homepage. I thought it was an excellent recommendation, so now you will find a feed of the INDY Blog on the homepage. Thanks for the advice, Sean!
2007-08-01
Wizards and Wii Remotes
As of late, I've been taking a lot of flak from family, friends, and colleagues regarding my Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix gaming habit. I have a kindred spirit over at Penny Arcade who has also fielded some ridicule for waving around a Wii remote while casting arcane spells. So, as was done by Tycho over at Penny Arcade, let me fess up to my habit and just lay it all out there for the world to know:
Do I really cast my spells in the Gryffindor spell-casting pose?
Yes. And to clarify for the muggles... the Gryffindor pose is wand hand forward, empty hand arched above head. (Watch Harry Potter vs. Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for more details.)
Do I say the spells aloud?
Sometimes. When I'm trying to joke with another human being in the same room. Otherwise, no.
Do I wear Hogwarts type clothing when I play?
No. I wear what I usually wear when lounging around the house. Which is nothing I'm embarrassed by when company is over, though some company does merit me putting my INDY sleeveless T-shirt on rather than going shirtless as is the norm. (Shameless plug: INDY Store - sleeveless INDY T-shirt currently only available to me.)
Do I know all the spells from all the books and games?
Yes. And if you laugh at that, I'll give you a real reason to laugh: RICTUSEMPRA!!!
Have I cast spells when not playing the game?
Yes, but only in my head.... I think.
So there you have it. The truth will set me free. Yes, I am a Harry Potter nerd. Deal with it. At least I'm not spouting off Dungeons and Dragons stuff all day. Oh wait....... OK. Maybe that should wait for another post though.
Cheers!
Do I really cast my spells in the Gryffindor spell-casting pose?
Yes. And to clarify for the muggles... the Gryffindor pose is wand hand forward, empty hand arched above head. (Watch Harry Potter vs. Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for more details.)
Do I say the spells aloud?
Sometimes. When I'm trying to joke with another human being in the same room. Otherwise, no.
Do I wear Hogwarts type clothing when I play?
No. I wear what I usually wear when lounging around the house. Which is nothing I'm embarrassed by when company is over, though some company does merit me putting my INDY sleeveless T-shirt on rather than going shirtless as is the norm. (Shameless plug: INDY Store - sleeveless INDY T-shirt currently only available to me.)
Do I know all the spells from all the books and games?
Yes. And if you laugh at that, I'll give you a real reason to laugh: RICTUSEMPRA!!!
Have I cast spells when not playing the game?
Yes, but only in my head.... I think.
So there you have it. The truth will set me free. Yes, I am a Harry Potter nerd. Deal with it. At least I'm not spouting off Dungeons and Dragons stuff all day. Oh wait....... OK. Maybe that should wait for another post though.
Cheers!
2007-07-19
Well, there goes the Fifth Amendment...
The Bush Administration has unveiled an Executive Order Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq. The Guardian has a summary of sorts.
Basically, the Executive Order gives the Secretary of Treasury the authority to block the assets of people determined to "seriously impair my [President George W. Bush] ability to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 and expanded in Executive Order 13315".
The Fifth Amendment, among other things, protects individuals from being "deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation".
If it is determined that an individual has come in the way of George W. Bush's ability to deal with the national emergency which we are apparently in, that individual would be blocked from his/her assets. In effect, they are deprived of their property WITHOUT due process. A direct violation of the Fifth Amendment.)
Now, I am in no way wanting truly dangerous individuals to have access to those things which allow them to continue their activity, however I feel very strongly that due process of law should prove their endangerment of society.
I'm not normally a publicly political individual (people are just too zealous about many things these days), but I hope that many of my readers will realize the seriousness of what has come into effect with this Executive Order and spread the awareness to others.
Basically, the Executive Order gives the Secretary of Treasury the authority to block the assets of people determined to "seriously impair my [President George W. Bush] ability to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 and expanded in Executive Order 13315".
The Fifth Amendment, among other things, protects individuals from being "deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation".
If it is determined that an individual has come in the way of George W. Bush's ability to deal with the national emergency which we are apparently in, that individual would be blocked from his/her assets. In effect, they are deprived of their property WITHOUT due process. A direct violation of the Fifth Amendment.)
Now, I am in no way wanting truly dangerous individuals to have access to those things which allow them to continue their activity, however I feel very strongly that due process of law should prove their endangerment of society.
I'm not normally a publicly political individual (people are just too zealous about many things these days), but I hope that many of my readers will realize the seriousness of what has come into effect with this Executive Order and spread the awareness to others.
2007-07-12
Mark Wagner on What Evolution Left Behind On Humans
I was given a link to this article by a friend. It's about some theories on "What Evolution Left Behind On Humans". Pretty intriguing stuff. Especially since, if some are true, it would explain a lot about some of my stranger traits.
2007-07-08
Psychology Today: Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature
Thanks to Slashdot, I came across a very interesting article in Psychology Today. It's titled Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature and presents a collection of widely observed - but not so widely understood - studies of human behaviors. It's definitely a fun read and may even help you to explain the crazy behaviors you see around you everyday. Enjoy!
2007-05-29
INDY Media - A place for all things media
Well, here it is... INDY Media. Due to popular demand, I have thrown together a location for game and media related activities, content, and news. This began as an idea from a friend for a easily accessible location for narratives of our Dungeons and Dragons RPG sessions, but quickly expanded into a full fledged stand-alone blog for all things media related from INDY. (Thanks to Google's Blogger, this was not a difficult process.)
I will be populating the blog portion of this new location as quickly as possible, beginning with the narrative for last Sunday's Dungeons and Dragons session. Eventually, you will also find reviews of games and movies, and updates of my progress with the other Indiana Jones games' walkthroughs here as well.
Keep an eye on the labels area! As things build in here it may quickly become the easy way to find the content you are looking for. Good luck to you and hopefully some for me too as I attempt to keep yet another thing updated.
I will be populating the blog portion of this new location as quickly as possible, beginning with the narrative for last Sunday's Dungeons and Dragons session. Eventually, you will also find reviews of games and movies, and updates of my progress with the other Indiana Jones games' walkthroughs here as well.
Keep an eye on the labels area! As things build in here it may quickly become the easy way to find the content you are looking for. Good luck to you and hopefully some for me too as I attempt to keep yet another thing updated.
2007-05-21
INDY.CC Updates: Weather and more preferences
I really need to get back on track with updated blog entries on a regular basis. I apologize for how useless my blog has become for what it is supposed to be: a place for updates about the INDY.CC websites. I will attempt to restart after my blogging stall today....
I recently made some updates to some of the INDY.CC member's areas. First, I added a few new preferences to your profile (e.g. pressure, volume, and more date selections). I also added a "Favorite Weather Underground Station ID", allowing members to set a favored station to receive weather information from.
I then used those new features to update both the My INDY page with a Weather graph display and the Trip Tracker with automatic lookup of same day ambient temperature. This means that you can now use a specified Weather Underground Station ID and the Time of Day of your trip to automatically enter the ambient temperature during that trip. If I find that these features are a bit confusing to use or understand, I'll post more information on them here in the future.
Now for a bit of a help request.... I'd very much like to add more non-member features to INDY and other associated sites. If you have any ideas or suggestions about what you would like to see, please let me know.
I recently made some updates to some of the INDY.CC member's areas. First, I added a few new preferences to your profile (e.g. pressure, volume, and more date selections). I also added a "Favorite Weather Underground Station ID", allowing members to set a favored station to receive weather information from.
I then used those new features to update both the My INDY page with a Weather graph display and the Trip Tracker with automatic lookup of same day ambient temperature. This means that you can now use a specified Weather Underground Station ID and the Time of Day of your trip to automatically enter the ambient temperature during that trip. If I find that these features are a bit confusing to use or understand, I'll post more information on them here in the future.
Now for a bit of a help request.... I'd very much like to add more non-member features to INDY and other associated sites. If you have any ideas or suggestions about what you would like to see, please let me know.
2007-04-17
Google Presentations - COMING SOON
Google has a new baby on the way: Google Presentations. They've made my documentation needs simple and fun with Docs and Spreadsheets, now they are preparing to launch a Presentation module.
I am hoping this will hit big for college students and spread quickly. I, personally, no longer use presentations much, but I know I will convert over all my old (and useful) PPTs as soon as I can!
I am hoping this will hit big for college students and spread quickly. I, personally, no longer use presentations much, but I know I will convert over all my old (and useful) PPTs as soon as I can!
2007-03-19
"Bye, Dad!"
Today has a fun occasion to remember. As I was leaving my daughter's day care today, I turned a said, "Bye, Evie". I was surprised to hear a clear, adorable, and understandable "Bye, Dad!" in response. First of all, it's great that she was not upset as LK and I were leaving, but to have her verbally acknowledge that fact was amazing.
A month or so ago, I got a "Hi, Dada" during bath time and have had that phrase repeated since then, but this was the first time she formulated a goodbye without encouragement. I hope that she will say "Bye, Mom" to Laura soon as well, as "Hi, Mama" followed not long after "Hi, Dada", but I think there's a bit more anxiety associated with saying bye to Mom than to Dad.
A month or so ago, I got a "Hi, Dada" during bath time and have had that phrase repeated since then, but this was the first time she formulated a goodbye without encouragement. I hope that she will say "Bye, Mom" to Laura soon as well, as "Hi, Mama" followed not long after "Hi, Dada", but I think there's a bit more anxiety associated with saying bye to Mom than to Dad.
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