Random Thoughts

Forward

2011-03-11T13:30:00.000-05:00

   It wasn't really much of a road at all. It looked like somebody had flattened out the land a while back, and the place was pretty much avoided completely after that. I suppose it would be better called a rough trail.
   After some hours of walking, when it seemed my legs where completely worn through, a splinter shot into my left foot. Curious, as to what wooden material lay on the ground here, I searched for the source. The real suprise was when I saw a large, wooden key resting there. I knew it wouldn't unlock any of the doors I would need to travel through, though. Because of that, it was almost mocking me. I left it as it was.
   There wasn't much else to see on the journey. An old 600 coin I picked up, thinking that anything with some sort of monetary value might help. But that was a shred of hope, looking back, that proved worthless to cling to.
   I pressed forward. That was the only way to go. Even when I was faced with a huge bluish-green lake. I didn't try to go around either side. I just kept going. The water chilled every remaining shred of my flesh, and at times I thought I might drown. But I doubted it would matter if I did.
   Finally stepping out, the harsh wind against my soaked body making this experience even more unpleasant. But then there was the wall. The wall that everybody talked about. The wall that everybody feared. It wasn't at all like it was commonly described. It was old, the stone crumbling in parts: not an impressive sight at all. Immediately spotting a large hole at the bottom, I wriggled through.
   The moment I stood up I was shot. I'm lucky the arrow missed my heart. They say they'll never let me leave this place. But do I blame them? After all, it was I who brought myself here.

License Comparison Charts

2011-02-02T09:46:00.001-05:00

When you read them, do you ever feel that you're looking at an ad, too?
Because you really are. Sure, these things compare the licenses of whatever software, but all those "features" that all licenses have in common? It's just another ploy to get you to love the program, isn't it?'
Besides, what kind of a feature is "blazing fast connection" or "enhanced GUI"? (Even though I'm a sucker for enhanced GUIs, to tell you the truth.)

Really Random Thoughts - On Paper!

2010-12-07T20:00:00.000-05:00

(click to enlarge)

Go Crazy with _

2010-12-06T17:53:00.000-05:00

I'm starting another blog.

A different one, to be sure.

And a link is right here if you want to click it.

So... go click it.

Who's a Mac, who's a PC?

2010-12-03T14:44:00.000-05:00

That's a pie chart of what systems people actually read my blog. What does it say to you?
That just about everyone uses Windows. That this blog is mostly read on PCs.
Actually, more people read this with PCs than is appearant. In fact, excluding readers on non-computer devices (hi lonely Blackberry user!), everyone is using a PC.
Because every Mac is a PC.
PC just stands for "Personal Computer."
A Mac fits that, doesn't it?

A Thought About Advertising

2010-12-02T15:57:00.000-05:00

When you see ads on a web page, what do you think? That they're ugly, distracting, or annoying? Because they are.

But web ads are a good thing. Sure, they may mostly just be another way of pushing products...

But...

When you click on an ad, you're almost always doing the website owner(s) a favor. Helping keep them running. Giving a quick "thank you."

So I want you to do something. Those of you with Adblock Plus, turn it off. Now, go to a website or blog that you really love. And go click on those ads.

Go ahead! Now's the time to do some good in the world!

Service Unavailable

2010-11-18T19:08:00.001-05:00

Sorry, there has been a server error local to this post, and it can't be displayed.

Moar Peoples...

2010-11-10T11:52:00.000-05:00

Hey faithful, dedicated readers...

I have a couple of announcements.

First, we have another blogger here. You'll probably see him post something soon. Actually, I have no idea what he's going to post about, but that fits in with the theme here, doesn't it? Totally random.

Second, I'm going to do a bit of free advertising for a friend here. Check out Wer654dna's Blog of Super Total Awesomeness.

A Race

2010-11-08T10:57:00.000-05:00

I’m the brave adventurer, setting out on a mission, trekking through the jungle whacking brush and vines away from me, stumbling past stones and branches, the radio, from my pocket is buzzing, the predator is following, here comes the beast. I’m darting through the plains now flattening the grasses, bugs attacking me. My opponent, always-there-first, races ahead, jacket flying by, taunting you are a failure. I’m trying my hardest, knowing the consequences that could come. A strange voice, from my mind, shouts encouragement. Go, it’s shouting, finish the race right now. I’m near the end now, going faster, my beat-up shoes flying through the sticky marsh. At the finish line, the crowd is roaring, spectators with horns and shakers sitting in bleachers. I’m behind now. When it’s done, my coach will scream, you’ve done it all wrong, but I don’t care, I’m the brave competitor, sprinting the last stretch my eyes are closed, knowing it’s nearly done. My coach, coming up to me with a mixture of disappointment and anger, stares, saying to me, how could you fail?

Tripping

2010-09-11T16:18:00.000-04:00

And What He Saw Was Terrible - Chapter 2

2010-09-11T14:43:00.000-04:00

2

       I had always hated the System. The System. The rules that governed our lives so strictly. The list of things forbid, and things required.

       But why did nobody else share my passion? Do they not care that they are mere slaves to what is commanded of them? Did they not even understand that they lead no actual lives of their own?

       Their lives, my life. My life is ending soon. And why? Because of the System that decided when everyone would die. It decided when everyone would walk and where. What they should eat and when. What they should do and why. Except, there was no why. Or if there was, it has remained a mystery for me my entire life.

       Why is there fencing at the edges, anyway? If we’re all going to die anyway, does it matter to them how? I’ve always felt that the City was part of something more. Something more, held out of reach like a parent puts a cookie jar just too high for little hands. If only I could have gotten past that fence…

And What He Saw Was Terrible

2010-09-04T12:48:00.000-04:00

It was unlike anything he had ever seen before. Everything seemed perfect and clean, but somehow gray and industrious, depressing. Phillip found himself walking down a sleek, gray path that seemed to stretch on forever. On either side of him, he found masses of identical, monochromatic buildings.

For awhile, it just went on and on. Nothing changed. At one point, however, he felt some inner fear awaken within himself. The building he had just passed looked exactly the same as any of the others, and there were no windows. Yet something was wrong with it, he was sure. Still, he went on, dismissing any thoughts of trying to enter.

After a long period of more walking, he came to a stop. It looked like he had reached the end: a short ledge, then some nasty-looking fencing protruding horizontally from it. He had enough sense to stop there, and turn back. All the same, he wondered...

On the return trip, nothing changed, and when he reached the same spot where he had before felt worried, he stood there a second. Once again, he felt something stir. Eventually, his curiosity got the better of him. He made a firm decision to enter.

That turned out to be harder than he thought it would be, though. Where was the door, he asked himself. “There must be some way in,” he thought. Wondering about this, he took a moment to stand in front of where he thought the threshold ought to be. Nothing. Just more blank, empty wall like the rest of the building. Except, he wasn’t in front of the building anymore. He was inside. An uneasy feeling about this place came over him.

He looked towards an otherwise blank, white wall and read a sign posted there. It read: RULE 21: AS ONE SHALL COME, ANOTHER MUST PASS. He knew that that probably didn’t mean anything good.

Phillip realized that for the first time in this entire, strange visit, he heard noises. Human noises, in fact. And he saw human figures. Although the voices weren’t pleasant at all – he heard nothing but jeering and shouting and laughing at some shape in the middle of the room. He took a few steps to the side, and saw what was inside the metal cylinder. He looked again. He blinked. And what he saw was terrible. It was a human body.

Somebody came up to the container and sealed the opening. As he saw the figure inside move, he realized something even worse. That body was still alive.

The coffin, as it must be, dropped straight down into the ground. It was gone. The man inside would surely suffocate quickly, and his life would be over. The crowd started to disperse, chattering and without sorrow. He went with them, and then fainted, in the street.

TO BE CONTINUED

An Update on the Sweepstakes

2010-08-01T15:09:00.000-04:00

NOTE: NONE OF THIS IS OFFICIAL, SO I'M NOT MAKING ANY PROMISES YET.

Anyways, though, I think I've got a pretty good Idea about how this whole things is gonna work. Sometime in the future, I'm going to write up a post with details on how to enter (probably through comments) and the end date. Then, one lucky winner will receive a wonderful prize.

~Whitestar

JENKINS: But, sir, I just thought...
WHITESTAR: Just shut up, Jenkins.
JENKINS: That maybe...
WHITESTAR: I said shut up!
JENKINS: What about the prize?
WHITESTAR: Oh, right. That.

Yes, the prize isn't set in stone yet, but I was thinking it would probably be a spiffy new wireless game controller for a modern console of your choice. If you have any better ideas, leave your answer in the comments.

Something Really Exciting

2010-07-30T11:40:00.000-04:00

Random Thoughts will (hopefully) soon be hosting a...

Fabulous sweepstakes with wonderful prizes!

So just stay tuned for more.

YAAAAY for Blender 3D Animation!

2010-07-20T11:18:00.000-04:00

Obviously, I'm trying to move into some 3D animation.

A Thought on the New Kid Icarus

2010-07-19T14:34:00.000-04:00

Excuse me, but did you hear Pit? I want to say he sounds like, well, that's the problem. You could barely catch snippets of his voice in SSBB, but even then he sounded like himself. But I dunno. Just a random thought.

Oh noes!

2010-07-07T22:10:00.001-04:00

Seeing as how whitestar hasn't logged onto steam in 12 days and he hasn't posted anything or responded to my email - he may be out for at least a little while. Meanwhile, I am taking complete control over Random Thoughts. whitestar, go ahead and post if you're still here.

What I do to survive: Part 1 [EVE ONLINE]

2010-07-07T22:06:00.000-04:00

[It's a story thing! About EVE Online! Yay....]
My name is John Wildkins.
I'm 31 years of age and am living in New Eden.
What is New Eden? It is not a city - nor a country, not even a continent or a planet. No. It is a universe.
And I sit here, out the cockpit window of my Retriever-class mining vessel, waiting.
For what?
Nothing. And everything.
Space can drive you insane or give you sanity. It can bankrupt you or make you rich.
It is like luck in a way, it can go one way or the other.
Sitting on the fringes of Amarrian Empire space is not exactly what every miner wants to do - but it's better than sitting in high security space mining Veldspar all day.
Strip miners - they get the job done, eventually...two cycles and your cargo hold is chock full of whatever you want to mine....Kernite, Plagioclase, and Scordite being favorites in medium security space - they make enough money to be worth to mine and you don't have to have a battleship to guard you while you do it.
As I warp into the next gate to jump to the next system, a Caldari Rokh-class Battleship warps in. Normally, I wouldn't notice, except it had warped in front of my ship - it began to attack a Gallente Thorax-class Cruiser. The cruiser was fitted well, Tech 2 modules most likely, but it stood no chance - the Rokh began to run however as CONCORD SWAT Battleships warped in and began to open fire on the Rokh.
How unexpected this universe is.
My ship is not the best in mining, I'll admit - my skills aren't very decent either. But, I can outmine most frigates and cruisers and have the "audacity" to mine for 2 hours.
I only have 100,000,000.00 ISK, which sounds big, but really isnt close to the amounts you'd need to fit a decent battlecruiser - which is why I stay an industrial businessman and let my friend General Mosko do the shooting. He's got the skills and the know-how to do it and I have the money - he shoots, I give money, he keeps me alive - we both win. But of course, I needed more protection, seeing as though General was only a combat pilot in an Amarr Punisher frigate. Sure, it was fitted great - took down a Coercer-class Destroyer without much more than some armor damage - but it still wouldn't protect me in 0.4 or below.
I don't know the universe that well - after all, miners go where the best roids are - used to be Litiura before people caught on 0.4 asteroids were spawning in a .5 sector - now its not much more than Scordite and Veldspar - enough for a budding newbie miner in a fresh frigate but not for a seasoned miner such as myself.
Many people say that a battleship is better than a retriever - this may be true, but consider this:
RETRIEVER-CLASS MINING BARGE : 4,000,000.00 ISK, ability to fit strip miners
MEGATHRON-CLASS BATTLESHIP: 65,000,000.00 ISK to 100,000,000.00 ISK, no strip miners
So sure, it may be better - but it's WAY more cost effective.
While writing this journal I must have misclicked on the map screen because instead of winding up in a .5 system I'm in the middle of a .8 system with two newbie frigates (Ibis-class Caldari Rookie Ship) asking me for 500,000 ISK. I would've given that, but seriously? That's a few Adaptive Nano Platings - maybe a meta 4 armor repper - who knows?
Anyway - I had enough money to live planetside for the rest of my life and not have to live in the slums of Amarr Prime. Another thing people are confused about - why am I in Amarrian space when I'm a Gallente? Well, to be honest, much more deals to be had in a large empire spanning more systems than the Minmatar Republic and the Caldari State combined - especially seeing that they have a high demand and high supply of lasers but a low supply of frequency crystals - as well as a low supply of minerals.

Please hold.

2010-07-01T01:11:00.000-04:00

Hey guys, long time no post anything because I'm lazy!
Anyway, the site will look like crap for a while because I'm changing stuff!
"WONT WHITSER G3t MaD?"
(yes, I did...)
I dunno. I'll just feed him more cake.
(and the cake he was talking about was a lie...)

Anime/Manga 003

2010-05-08T09:27:00.000-04:00

Anime/Manga 002

2010-05-07T21:27:00.001-04:00

Anime/Manga 001

2010-05-07T20:23:00.000-04:00

Soooo... Beautiful

2010-04-25T12:30:00.001-04:00

I have seen many, many amazing things on the interwebs. Therefore, whenever I come across one I simply say "that's nice." But this: this is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my (half-) LIFE!

Aperture Science Heel Springs Have Met Their Match

2010-04-16T19:44:00.000-04:00

First, look at these. Aperture Science heel springs prevent you from a very painful landing after that infinite loop. It's rather unpleasant to think about Chell's survival chances without them. :(

Now, gaze in awe at this masterful creation.

Deluxe heel springs. In the real world. YESSSSS!
(via Ben Hopson Kinetic Design)

Software Recommendation: #2

2010-04-15T20:03:00.000-04:00

Hey bloggers.

Today this choice is a video game. It is a video game I play every other day or so, and is a good game. This game, is called "Stronghold 2" for the PC.

This game was made by Firefly Studios and is probably on my top ten list (Which I will be posting along with this).

It is a RTS (Real Time Strategy) where you take control of a village with a keep and turn it into a mighty empire, doing everything from creating woodcutters and farming wheat, to building siege towers and bartering with other empires.

This game, even though scoring about an 8.5, is a definite buy. It is older, so the graphics aren't top notch, but that means more people can play it. It's 30.00 on Direct2Drive, but that includes Stronghold 1, Stronghold Legends, and Stronghold Crusader Extreme.

I'd give this game a 9.5, must have if your a fan of strategy games, and at least a try of the demo if you are interested.

-John W.