It took me a while to be excited to be out of college.  I was ready to be done with school, but I missed having everyone to hang out with just a few steps away.  A few weeks ago I had a nightmare that it was the end of Spring Break and I had forgotten to do all of my homework.  My relief was great when I woke up to realize I had graduated two  years ago.

And the best part is–and this took me a while to realize–the best parts of college are still around.  I get to invite people over to my apartment and we can hang out and have fun.  I’m getting very excited about this life after college.  I just need to focus on the awesomeness and not get bogged down in the daily struggles.

What do you think? Are you ready to graduate?  Do you miss being in college?  What fun things do you do with your friends?

Then (2006)

Now (2009)

But for all this, Portal’s story is fantastically involving. The reason is this: stories feel several orders of magnitude more intense when you’re participating in them. Computer games are like dreams. Because they feel like they’re really happening, they don’t need to be complex to be involving. I’ve frequently woken up from a dream thinking “wow, that was the best story, I have to write it down!” only to discover that the story was “someone was trying to kidnap me, so I climbed a wall, found a gun and shot them”; it wouldn’t even make a 5-second action sequence segment in a movie. But because I felt that I was actually there, it was far more powerful than simply watching James Bond shoot some villains.

Very well described.  For a while I pondered if time playing video games was time wasted.  But I didn’t consider watching movies to be wasted time.  Then I saw a fight scene in 3:10 to Yuma that reminded me of a fight scene I enjoyed playing in Half-Life 2.  Now I’m perfectly justified with playing video games as a use of my time (as long as it’s in moderation).

Another reason why games are great: They can be played together with friends.  Not only are you not “simply watching James Bond,” you and your friend are fighting together, providing cover, flanking enemies, and working as a team.  Which can be much more fun than sitting siltently next to someone in the theater.

[Update] On further introspection, I wonder if this can be applied to other things?  I normally enjoy watching an Erie Otters hockey game more than playing NHL ‘09 with Matt.  But both give me a rush when we score.

What do you think?  Are video games like dreams?  What video game events do you remember and enjoy?  Comment on this post!

Related Posts

• Thoughts on closing Myst Online: Uru Live
• Interacting with people makes good games great
• A week of Razputin, a night elf, and a sim
• LEGO MMO coming in 2008

1 – Go to “wikipedia.” Hit “random” or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 – Go to “Random quotations” or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 – Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days” or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 – Use Photoshop (or similar) to put it all together.

5 – Post it to Facebook as a note and tag the friends you want to join in

So after a short amount of tinkering, here’s what I’ve come up with.  I’m not entirely satisfied with it, but for the small amount of time I put into it, I’m pleased:

Attribution: The Flickr image I found

Maybe one of these days I’ll even post the 25 Things meme.

UPDATE: Derek’s done one as well. Looks like mine is the only one to seem to make sense.

Related Posts:

• Don’t tell Egad…

Mixing strawberry and lime provides great taste with a little zip!

I’m not a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions, but I do think it’s good to look back and forward occassionally.  I think it’s important because we can get bogged down with lack of progress and forget how much we’ve changed if we increase the scope.  For example, it’s reassuring to consider the past six months instead of the past six days.  We’re way too impatient creatures.

Ways I’ve changed in 2008:

• I moved into an apartment.
• I climbed a mountain.
• I now wear Medium and Large sized shirts.  (Change mostly due to style preference and not weight loss.)

Ways I’ve changed so far in 2009:

• I now like oatmeal and eat it regularly.
• I’m not as much of a fan of Winter as I have been.
• I’ve eaten and enjoyed Jello Jigglers.

What do you think? How have you changed lately?

Related Posts

• Problems are a lot smaller when they’re approached one at a time.
• Fall into change

After setting up blogs for a handful of developers and other companies, here are my Four Tips for a Successful Blog*:

1. Post on a consistent schedule. In high school, my week would revolve around the facts that simcity.com was updated Tuesday and drcsite.org updated Thursday. Keeping a consistent schedule of posts will bring a consistent stream of people coming back. I know it’s tough, but it’s worth it.
2. Be human and humorous. My favorite blogs show that their authors are real people I can relate to. The best blogs make me laugh or learn. Also, ending the post with a question is a great way to draw in user feedback and grow the discussion.
3. Descriptive titles are awesome. My first blog only used one word from each post as the title. Although it was poetical, it wasn’t helpful for users–or search engines–to tell what the post is about.
4. Each post should have at least one image. We’re visual creatures and a great image will draw people in and also instantly provide an idea of what the post is about.

Currently my favorite blog to read is  Tim Schafer’s Double Fine Action News.  For more examples, check out my links page.

*Successful can be defined in numerous ways.  For many, it’s an increasing number of readers.  For some, it’s a small but dedicated community of readers.  For others, it’s something else entirely.

What do you think?  Do you like blogging?  Do you read a lot of blogs?  Do you prefer to write in a paper journal?  What are the reasons you blog?  Share your comments!

But looking back on a day earlier this week, I don’t think the act of giving is what made that day so joyous.  It was the surprises created by those gifts.  There’s something very powerful about this season that lends itself to surprise:

• Finding out my parents, who normally aren’t big on inviting people over, inviting my friends for a party at their house.
• Getting a present that’s just right for you even though the giver had no idea it’s what you needed.
• Opening the door to see my girlfriend cut her hair just the way I like it.
• Being able to run all your errands and still make it to the party on time.
• Borrowing something to make your week run a little smoother.
• Having someone make you smile when you’re thinking about how stressful the day was earlier.

If you let it, the holiday season can be filled with stress and chaos.  I think that makes it easier to see these occurrences of surprise,  esepcially the “what a coincidence that all worked out so smoothly” ones.  It’s the surprise of things being better than you thought.  Of things working out.  Of things going better than the way they should.  Of things being better than what we deserve.  So perhaps it’s not the surprises that made this day so joyful, but the grace that was in them.  Grace.  That’s what’s Christmas is all about.

What do you think Christmas is all about?  What sort of gifts do you like to recieve?  To give?

Now that I’m living on my own in an apartment, I get to face all sorts of challenges.  Making food, cleaning rooms.  There’s so much to do!

So I’ve been thinking about getting a Roomba robotic vacuum.  Not because I’m lazy, but because robots are cool.  But perhaps there’s another reason… YouTube – Roomba Driver.

(Found via Roomba Cat Goes For A Ride)

[UPDATE] And yet another reason.

I don’t plan any major rehaul until 2009, but I thought it would be nice to start with a new penguin logo.  Don’t get me wrong, I love Egad (shown right).  He’s done wonders for the site over the past four years. But…

Um, how else can I say it? “You’re being let go.” “Your department’s being downsized.” “You’re part of an outplacement.” “We’re going in a different direction.” “We’re not picking up your option.” Take your pick. I got more.

Although I greatly enjoy working in Photoshop, my digital illustration skills needed improving.  So I’ve started doodling around to create a new penguin.  Once a frightening stranger, I’m becoming fast friends with the Pen Tool.  Here’s a sneak peak at what I’ve got so far, but it’s far from done:

Vector Penguin

His left (right on screen) fin seems a little… strange.  That needs some fixing up.  And he’ll need a face.  And a name!  Perhaps Victor because he’s a vector graphic?  Perhaps Egad the Second?  I’m also thinking about making him more abstract somehow…  Further bulletins as events warrant.

What do you think?
So while I’m working on a new penguin, your job is to start thinking of what other changes you’d like to see to the blog and Abstract Penguin.  What sections do you like the most?

• Self-esteem is different than pride.  Why is pride a problem and how can you reduce pride?
• Are you generous?  How do you use your wealth, time, and love?

My favorite parts of the event were:

• Quiet time; It’s hard to turn off, relax, and focus in our world.
• Spending time with my college friends; I miss them!

Molly and Amanda reflect on the conference as well in their blogs.  They’ve also requested I post the few photos I took, show below:

What do you think?
Have you attended Harvest before?  What do you think about generosity, pride, or Pittsburgh?

What do you think?
Are you excited for the snow?  Or would you rather it just leave you alone?