Saturday, February 28, 2004
Correction. My hours actually change slightly each day:
Mon: 5pm-2am
Tues: 3pm-12am
Thurs: 3pm-12am
Fri: 5pm-2am
Sat: 5pm-2am
It's an even more awesome shift than I first thought. I would go so far as to say it is awesomer.
Mon: 5pm-2am
Tues: 3pm-12am
Thurs: 3pm-12am
Fri: 5pm-2am
Sat: 5pm-2am
It's an even more awesome shift than I first thought. I would go so far as to say it is awesomer.
Friday, February 27, 2004
New hours starting March 7th:
5pm-2am. Wednesday and Sunday off.
You know you're jealous of my awesome schedule. Admit it.
5pm-2am. Wednesday and Sunday off.
You know you're jealous of my awesome schedule. Admit it.
Taipa says:
I have the cheapest chicken I've ever found.
Stumpy says:
how much was it? a bok?
Taipa says:
It's called "seasoned backs and ribs", but appears to have no/few bones. It's one of those sized trays that 6 porkchops come on, and it cost $2
Stumpy says:
oh, 2 boks. I was close
I have the cheapest chicken I've ever found.
Stumpy says:
how much was it? a bok?
Taipa says:
It's called "seasoned backs and ribs", but appears to have no/few bones. It's one of those sized trays that 6 porkchops come on, and it cost $2
Stumpy says:
oh, 2 boks. I was close
Thursday, February 26, 2004
I was playing the X2 demo for a few hours today. The game has so many awesome concepts that give it some real potential. It has a picture-in-picture ability so that you can view alternate cockpits or turrets in the ship you're in, or in your remote ships. Let me explain:
One of the demo missions has you pilot a large cruiser (with about 6 turret positions). You are being attacked by about 12 enemy ships. The goal is to use your single person fighter to hunt down a specific ship (while you are fighting off the other ones by commanding your capital ship) and get some data from it so that you can single out which of the attackers have the big damaging missiles. Once you have that info, you take them out. Ofcourse, you do all of this from the bridge of your cruiser and just use smaller windows to command turrets (usually when enemy ships fly past their firing arc), and your remote fighter.
You can activate your ship and turrets to auto-engage any enemies just like it does with NPC AI, so you end up seeing the bridge of the ship with 7 windows which all have turrets firing and you can see your own fighter dog-fighting from it's cockpit window. It's pretty cool.
Ontop of that, the game has a trade system very similar to Tradewars, and ship upgrades, different varieties, and timecompression (thank god). You can get hired for short tasks at any station, or just freelance kill pirates.
Ofcourse, the game can't be this awesome without some massive ass. No multiplayer. Ouch. What would be more fun than fending off a squad of fighters attacking my cruiser that I worked hard to buy? If I was doing it with a group of friends in each turret and especially if the enemies were at least partly other players as well.
The nail in the coffin for any long-term play was the fact that the controls aren't remapable in the demo...which drives me INSANE since the default controls are designed for an octopus.
One of the demo missions has you pilot a large cruiser (with about 6 turret positions). You are being attacked by about 12 enemy ships. The goal is to use your single person fighter to hunt down a specific ship (while you are fighting off the other ones by commanding your capital ship) and get some data from it so that you can single out which of the attackers have the big damaging missiles. Once you have that info, you take them out. Ofcourse, you do all of this from the bridge of your cruiser and just use smaller windows to command turrets (usually when enemy ships fly past their firing arc), and your remote fighter.
You can activate your ship and turrets to auto-engage any enemies just like it does with NPC AI, so you end up seeing the bridge of the ship with 7 windows which all have turrets firing and you can see your own fighter dog-fighting from it's cockpit window. It's pretty cool.
Ontop of that, the game has a trade system very similar to Tradewars, and ship upgrades, different varieties, and timecompression (thank god). You can get hired for short tasks at any station, or just freelance kill pirates.
Ofcourse, the game can't be this awesome without some massive ass. No multiplayer. Ouch. What would be more fun than fending off a squad of fighters attacking my cruiser that I worked hard to buy? If I was doing it with a group of friends in each turret and especially if the enemies were at least partly other players as well.
The nail in the coffin for any long-term play was the fact that the controls aren't remapable in the demo...which drives me INSANE since the default controls are designed for an octopus.
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Was "promoted" to a "Temporary" "Agent Service Group" member today.
"Promoted" means I get to do slightly less work but deal with both the really dumb agents and the really angry customers...which is pretty much what I was doing unofficially anyways.
"Temporary" means that I am not a full member and will not get paid more than what I am now. If the call que dies down, I get put back to my original job as an "Agent" ("Agent" refers to those that take the calls. Not to be confused with "Technician" since techs typically know how to fix things, whereas most of our employees just BREAK things).
"Agent Service Group" is a fancy way of saying "2nd Tier Technician", aka, "Supervisors, Mentors, or Managers" to people looking to bitch at an "Agent's" "Boss".
At least I can get more credit as a 2nd Tier Technician on my resume than "Agent".
In the off chance that the call que continues to be heavy, I might get hired on as a "Full" position and get a pay raise. Holy shit.
"Promoted" means I get to do slightly less work but deal with both the really dumb agents and the really angry customers...which is pretty much what I was doing unofficially anyways.
"Temporary" means that I am not a full member and will not get paid more than what I am now. If the call que dies down, I get put back to my original job as an "Agent" ("Agent" refers to those that take the calls. Not to be confused with "Technician" since techs typically know how to fix things, whereas most of our employees just BREAK things).
"Agent Service Group" is a fancy way of saying "2nd Tier Technician", aka, "Supervisors, Mentors, or Managers" to people looking to bitch at an "Agent's" "Boss".
At least I can get more credit as a 2nd Tier Technician on my resume than "Agent".
In the off chance that the call que continues to be heavy, I might get hired on as a "Full" position and get a pay raise. Holy shit.
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
BLT Wraps are the divinity of caffeteria food.
Fast, cheap, filling, healthy, hot or cold, meat, veggies, juicy, salty.
I have found my god. It is tasty.
Fast, cheap, filling, healthy, hot or cold, meat, veggies, juicy, salty.
I have found my god. It is tasty.
Monday, February 23, 2004
100% True
The major difference between him and me: our Average Handle Time is 16 minutes (because our tools are constantly crashing) and I've been at my job a month longer.
Of my class of 28, 8 of us remain. 5 of us have previous experience with computers. Two of those that don't will be fired or forced to quit. The five of us are doing well, but would instantly quit if we were offered any other job for the same pay. None of us have had a legitimate day off since we started. One lady was penalized severly for leaving early to take her daughter to the hospital for xrays for her nearly broken knee. One guy was caught taking a long break to piss (he had to walk down to the other side of the building since they clean the stalls during office hours) and was grilled for 20 minutes. One of our mentors doesn't speak english. I had a quality with a score of 10% simply because the customer called in pissed off, for a 3rd party issue, was in his car, and hung up before I could give my closing. The agent that sits next to me was misrouted to our own department by the Call Director 5 times today, with the same customer in tow. We get penalized if our calls are too short. We have to log into a crashing, slow, useless java application on our 6 year old workstations and also log into our phones. Our workstations use Win2K. We don't troubleshoot Win2K, so we have to use java based emulators. We use google more than our in-house tools....
The major difference between him and me: our Average Handle Time is 16 minutes (because our tools are constantly crashing) and I've been at my job a month longer.
Of my class of 28, 8 of us remain. 5 of us have previous experience with computers. Two of those that don't will be fired or forced to quit. The five of us are doing well, but would instantly quit if we were offered any other job for the same pay. None of us have had a legitimate day off since we started. One lady was penalized severly for leaving early to take her daughter to the hospital for xrays for her nearly broken knee. One guy was caught taking a long break to piss (he had to walk down to the other side of the building since they clean the stalls during office hours) and was grilled for 20 minutes. One of our mentors doesn't speak english. I had a quality with a score of 10% simply because the customer called in pissed off, for a 3rd party issue, was in his car, and hung up before I could give my closing. The agent that sits next to me was misrouted to our own department by the Call Director 5 times today, with the same customer in tow. We get penalized if our calls are too short. We have to log into a crashing, slow, useless java application on our 6 year old workstations and also log into our phones. Our workstations use Win2K. We don't troubleshoot Win2K, so we have to use java based emulators. We use google more than our in-house tools....
Saturday, February 21, 2004
Alabama State Law deems that it is legal to beat your wife, so long as the stick you are beating her with does not exceed the thickness of your own thumb.
[rainbow]The More You Know[/rainbow]
[rainbow]The More You Know[/rainbow]
Friday, February 20, 2004
As I was collecting all of my links again for my bookmarks, I happened onto one of the WoW news sites I check frequently...it's one of those sites that generally sucks, but they link to anything important on all the other news sites.
Anyways, one of the admins posted a few new pics from the Blizzard site. He then confuses a Night Elf with a Troll. Some of the other entertaining, useless comments he has made consist of mistaking a female undead for a male undead, asking when the Paladin with a magical hammer was going to pull out his weapon, and getting pretty much any story of art related comment wrong in some way.
Just on the miniscule chance he finds this page: Keep trying, buddy. You'll get a screenshot comment correct. Someday. Law of Averages and all that.
Anyways, one of the admins posted a few new pics from the Blizzard site. He then confuses a Night Elf with a Troll. Some of the other entertaining, useless comments he has made consist of mistaking a female undead for a male undead, asking when the Paladin with a magical hammer was going to pull out his weapon, and getting pretty much any story of art related comment wrong in some way.
Just on the miniscule chance he finds this page: Keep trying, buddy. You'll get a screenshot comment correct. Someday. Law of Averages and all that.
Temporary free solution has been found.
But who can explain why all of my bookmarks have been deleted, yet EVERYTHING else is totally intact on my system?
But who can explain why all of my bookmarks have been deleted, yet EVERYTHING else is totally intact on my system?
My monitor died Thursday morning after a pathetic lifespan of 2 years.
I will try to purchase a replacement tonight.
I will try to purchase a replacement tonight.
Thursday, February 19, 2004
They've made a few improvements to NWN.
Can't fault them for "Too Little", but definately "Too Late".
Can't fault them for "Too Little", but definately "Too Late".
Reminder: Bitch tomorrow on why Americans should NOT be allowed, in any way, to home school their kids.
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Today we got a floor-wide email stating that we were not allowed to decorate our work computers with magnets.
Did I mention that I work for a major computer system provider and that my job is to troubleshoot those computer systems and diagnose/repair very technical issues? That email was sent to everyone with my same job description. It was specifically directed at us, because people with my same job description were apparently sticking magnets onto their work computers. Reportedly, these people who troubleshoot technical issues did not know any better and thought that it was okay to stick magnets all over their computer and monitor.
I don't hate my job. I hate the people that I deal with at my job.
Did I mention that I work for a major computer system provider and that my job is to troubleshoot those computer systems and diagnose/repair very technical issues? That email was sent to everyone with my same job description. It was specifically directed at us, because people with my same job description were apparently sticking magnets onto their work computers. Reportedly, these people who troubleshoot technical issues did not know any better and thought that it was okay to stick magnets all over their computer and monitor.
I don't hate my job. I hate the people that I deal with at my job.
Monday, February 16, 2004
So...Agent Small was just tied up with paperwork, right? He didn't meet some sort of hideous end like Agent Tall or anything...
...right?
...right?
Sunday, February 15, 2004
This is a scary Dwarf.
"Ya, I keep tha' chain linked ta ma shield 'cause I keep fergettin' where I leave i' whule I'm hackin' people ta bits!"
"Ya, I keep tha' chain linked ta ma shield 'cause I keep fergettin' where I leave i' whule I'm hackin' people ta bits!"
Saturday, February 14, 2004
Who is Dan? He's the Canadian that wants to be an American.
Friday, February 13, 2004
Now for a funnier comic: Click.
Note: This comic ranges from fuckin funny (above) to crap (keep hitting next).
Note: This comic ranges from fuckin funny (above) to crap (keep hitting next).
Thursday, February 12, 2004
I will now critique a "web comic" that someone decided to grace the internet with.
Taste the lame.
The artwork in this particular piece is the now standard brand of lamesque. Pioneered by those with creative writing talent but no art skill, and by those with art skill but no time, common internet dumbfucks have interpreted this artform as an open door for their expression. Lamesque now solely refers to artwork-that-should-not-be-named-art, which is bad, not on purpose, but because the "artist" really does not have any ability.
Normally this lack of skill/talent/training can be offset with excellent writing, and many comics thrive simply because the message is so strong. Yet, what is the message of this comic? "A character in a MMO is not roleplaying." It's quite the deft observation that some people attempt to roleplay while others do not. Were it not for this publication, I , as a frequent player of both roleplaying and online games, would certainly have not been able to notice such events in online play, and thus the "humour" may have been lost on me forever.
Had the "artist" actually attempted any research (re: reading about the game, playing any of the related Warcraft series of games, looking at any screenshots besides the ones with blocky Night Elf breasts) and thus understand a fundamental, and universally known part of the game history (such as WHO THE MAJOR VILLAIN OF THE STORY IS), he would perhaps realize that the playable undead known as the "Forsaken" are the liberated, and hateful former minions of the all powerfull Lich King, and thus would not - at ANY TIME - be greeting anyone, much less an orc, from his "crypt".
Additionally, the Lich King does not have a crypt. He has a spire. It's an easy mistake. Afterall, they are OPPOSITES and it's only the constant focus of the expansion for the series on which WoW is based. It's the menu screen and featured in various movies for fuck's sake.
Perhaps that last comment was extreme. Afterall, who would expect someone who is making and posting an online comic on a fairly large game site for a game with a huge fan base and many excellent games in the series to actually have played or read ANYTHING regarding that game?
Taste the lame.
The artwork in this particular piece is the now standard brand of lamesque. Pioneered by those with creative writing talent but no art skill, and by those with art skill but no time, common internet dumbfucks have interpreted this artform as an open door for their expression. Lamesque now solely refers to artwork-that-should-not-be-named-art, which is bad, not on purpose, but because the "artist" really does not have any ability.
Normally this lack of skill/talent/training can be offset with excellent writing, and many comics thrive simply because the message is so strong. Yet, what is the message of this comic? "A character in a MMO is not roleplaying." It's quite the deft observation that some people attempt to roleplay while others do not. Were it not for this publication, I , as a frequent player of both roleplaying and online games, would certainly have not been able to notice such events in online play, and thus the "humour" may have been lost on me forever.
Had the "artist" actually attempted any research (re: reading about the game, playing any of the related Warcraft series of games, looking at any screenshots besides the ones with blocky Night Elf breasts) and thus understand a fundamental, and universally known part of the game history (such as WHO THE MAJOR VILLAIN OF THE STORY IS), he would perhaps realize that the playable undead known as the "Forsaken" are the liberated, and hateful former minions of the all powerfull Lich King, and thus would not - at ANY TIME - be greeting anyone, much less an orc, from his "crypt".
Additionally, the Lich King does not have a crypt. He has a spire. It's an easy mistake. Afterall, they are OPPOSITES and it's only the constant focus of the expansion for the series on which WoW is based. It's the menu screen and featured in various movies for fuck's sake.
Perhaps that last comment was extreme. Afterall, who would expect someone who is making and posting an online comic on a fairly large game site for a game with a huge fan base and many excellent games in the series to actually have played or read ANYTHING regarding that game?
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
The online D&D campaign isn't dead, it's just in stasis until work settles down a bit. My shift/seating/supervisor/job description are going to be changing in the next couple weeks, so I can't even wildly speculate at a timeframe for getting D&D stuff done.
If you've signed up for the board, then you should have permissions for your domain section and any information that I've been able to compile for you. Keep checking back for maps and other details.
If you've signed up for the board, then you should have permissions for your domain section and any information that I've been able to compile for you. Keep checking back for maps and other details.
Thursday, February 05, 2004
Finally got my old 8GB drive to work with my new machine. For some twisted reason, it will only work when plugged into the secondary master, regardless of the proper switch placements.
Right now I'm copying the almost 8 gigs of information onto my new drive (still have 56 gigs free) and then I'm going to unplug it and hide it for that day when someone's drive dies and they need to use their computer right away.
If I hold onto it for a few more years, I may be able to sell it to a museum.
Right now I'm copying the almost 8 gigs of information onto my new drive (still have 56 gigs free) and then I'm going to unplug it and hide it for that day when someone's drive dies and they need to use their computer right away.
If I hold onto it for a few more years, I may be able to sell it to a museum.
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Not really good excuses.
Prince of Persia had unconventional gameplay? Then what was Tomb Raider?
The number one reason that those games failed: No multiplayer. The singleplayer market is dying now for games that don't have an invincible franchise (re: Starcraft: Ghost, KotOR) mostly because consoles are just as broadband friendly as PCs. Singleplayer games are rentals, multiplayer are purchases.
But, what do I know?
Prince of Persia had unconventional gameplay? Then what was Tomb Raider?
The number one reason that those games failed: No multiplayer. The singleplayer market is dying now for games that don't have an invincible franchise (re: Starcraft: Ghost, KotOR) mostly because consoles are just as broadband friendly as PCs. Singleplayer games are rentals, multiplayer are purchases.
But, what do I know?
