The point, of course, is that no matter how advanced we are (or backwards, as the case may be), there is always something on the horizon to look forward to.
Take, for example, going to the moon.
In the pre-1960s, going to the moon was a fantasy at best. People hypothesized about ways to get there, such as giant cannons, really big slingshots, and a variety of narcotics, but there was very little understanding of what was actually required.
And then, in the ‘60s, Kennedy, embarrassed by the Soviets getting into space first and potentially flipping off the US from orbit, created NASA, so we could flip them off from even further away.
And, in 1969, we did it, we landed on the moon. I have no idea if Neil or Buzz flipped the Soviets off (I would have).
Anyway, science-fiction had become reality. Yet with science-fiction, there is always more. Now we could dream about going to space regularly. And then to the moon regularly. And then to the moon for lunch.
Once we get to other planets, we’ll want to get to other galaxies. And then we’ll want to do it even faster. The moment we achieve anything, there will always be the dream of doing it better, faster, and cheaper.
Where once we dreamt of visiting Mars, eventually, it will be little more than a potty-break on the way to Io.
“All right, we’ll be passing Mars in 10-minutes. Does anyone have to go?”
“No.”
“Uh-uh.”
“Are you sure? ‘Cause Mar’s is the last stop before we get to Grandma’s on Io and it’s not like I can pull over so you can pee in the bushes.”
Eventually, assuming we don’t wipe ourselves out, succumb to space-measles, or get wiped out by an alien race that looks like Mayor McCheese, we will become beings of pure energy, who exist outside space and time and have no need for any sort of technology. Yet there will still be stories.
“And these corporeal beings will have spears.”
“What is a spear?”
“A piece of dead tree with a point.”
“For what purpose?”
“When hurled, it will pierce another corporeal entity and end its existence, allowing the spearman to feed upon the now-dead flesh.”
“Oooooooh!”
“Oh, and they smell of feces.”
“OOOOOOH!”
Cheers,
-Jason
Monday, March 10, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
This and That
Well, convention season is drawing closer. Leigh and I are planning on hitting three or four this year, though we haven't finalized any yet. We hope to be doing a couple in the Northwest, as well as one or two in California and potentially even one in Texas.
More info will be forthcoming as things are finalized.
Also, I would like to add that the forum has been very lively lately. We've been lucky enough to get some intelligent, witty, and frequent posters, so if you're at all interested in Wayfarer's Moon, there's tons of commentary and the occasional explanation about the world of Lachryn from myself and Leigh.
Tomorrow, I plan on finally finishing up my blog on Sci-Fi (hint: even faster spaceships and walking).
Cheers,
-Jason
More info will be forthcoming as things are finalized.
Also, I would like to add that the forum has been very lively lately. We've been lucky enough to get some intelligent, witty, and frequent posters, so if you're at all interested in Wayfarer's Moon, there's tons of commentary and the occasional explanation about the world of Lachryn from myself and Leigh.
Tomorrow, I plan on finally finishing up my blog on Sci-Fi (hint: even faster spaceships and walking).
Cheers,
-Jason
Friday, March 7, 2008
A Rite of Passage
Today, I have become a man.
Well, technically, I’ve been a man for 38 years (or at least male), not counting that year when everyone called me Susan.
Actually, I should state that today I have become a man on the Internet. No, I did not have sex with my computer (it’s full of metal and electricity, two things that are traditionally bad for your privates).
I received the Nigerian Letter scam mail.
This is the one where the guy has several million dollars that he can’t reach, but through complicated financial magic involving you giving him several thousand dollars, he will in return give you a couple million. This is actually a very old scam that has been updated for the internet. It’s known as an ‘advance-fee fraud’ and variants include the Spanish Prisoner.
I’ve read about it. I’ve known people who’ve seen it, but I’ve never actually received it until now.
A plateau has been reached. An apex achieved. A peak peaked. A very tall thing has been trod upon. I can now go on with my life, secure in the knowledge that someone thought that I had enough money to be worthy of scamming.
The joke’s on them. I’ve got a ’93 pickup, a ’94 cat, and a computer that won’t play Call of Duty 4.
Frankly, I should be scamming them.
Cheers,
-Jason
Well, technically, I’ve been a man for 38 years (or at least male), not counting that year when everyone called me Susan.
Actually, I should state that today I have become a man on the Internet. No, I did not have sex with my computer (it’s full of metal and electricity, two things that are traditionally bad for your privates).
I received the Nigerian Letter scam mail.
This is the one where the guy has several million dollars that he can’t reach, but through complicated financial magic involving you giving him several thousand dollars, he will in return give you a couple million. This is actually a very old scam that has been updated for the internet. It’s known as an ‘advance-fee fraud’ and variants include the Spanish Prisoner.
I’ve read about it. I’ve known people who’ve seen it, but I’ve never actually received it until now.
A plateau has been reached. An apex achieved. A peak peaked. A very tall thing has been trod upon. I can now go on with my life, secure in the knowledge that someone thought that I had enough money to be worthy of scamming.
The joke’s on them. I’ve got a ’93 pickup, a ’94 cat, and a computer that won’t play Call of Duty 4.
Frankly, I should be scamming them.
Cheers,
-Jason
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Easter Bunny
This was sent to me the other day and while it's kinda funny, it's also weird and creepy at the same time.
The Easter Bunny Hates You.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnXR5Baq0X8
Enjoy (or maybe not).
Cheers,
-Jason
The Easter Bunny Hates You.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnXR5Baq0X8
Enjoy (or maybe not).
Cheers,
-Jason
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Gary Gygax Passed Away
Most of you have already heard by now that Gary Gygax, creator of Dungeon's and Dragons, has passed away at the age of 69.
When I heard the news, I was not particularly moved. I was ‘bummed,’ for lack of a better work. He was a minor celebrity and though I enjoyed his creations, I had no real connection to the man.
However, I then began to think about him and what DnD has meant to me.
I started playing DnD when I was 9. I’m 38 now, so that means I’ve been playing for 29 years. My love for DnD has outlasted friendships, pets, numerous girlfriends, and quite a few Presidents.
Since learning to play, I have completed Elementary and High School and earned a college degree. I’ve lived in 8 different places, moved between states, and lost my dad and a couple friends, including the one who introduced me to DnD in the first place.
DnD has influenced my choice of careers, the friends I keep, and even Wayfarer’s Moon. It has been the single biggest constant in my life besides my family.
After thinking about all that, I am now truly saddened by Gary Gygax’s passing, if only because I never got to meet him, shake his hand and say ‘thanks’ for creating something wonderful.
-Jason
When I heard the news, I was not particularly moved. I was ‘bummed,’ for lack of a better work. He was a minor celebrity and though I enjoyed his creations, I had no real connection to the man.
However, I then began to think about him and what DnD has meant to me.
I started playing DnD when I was 9. I’m 38 now, so that means I’ve been playing for 29 years. My love for DnD has outlasted friendships, pets, numerous girlfriends, and quite a few Presidents.
Since learning to play, I have completed Elementary and High School and earned a college degree. I’ve lived in 8 different places, moved between states, and lost my dad and a couple friends, including the one who introduced me to DnD in the first place.
DnD has influenced my choice of careers, the friends I keep, and even Wayfarer’s Moon. It has been the single biggest constant in my life besides my family.
After thinking about all that, I am now truly saddened by Gary Gygax’s passing, if only because I never got to meet him, shake his hand and say ‘thanks’ for creating something wonderful.
-Jason
Monday, March 3, 2008
Sci-Fi: Part 1
I happened to watch Serenity again the other day. I really enjoy the film, even though Wash and Book both bite it (which, perversely, I really like, as I tire of movies where the heroes never take a hit).
Anyhow, whilst watching Mal and the crew run around, I wondered: what kind of escapist entertainment do these people have? Fantasy, is well, fantasy. It hasn’t really changed much since Tolkien defined it in the sixties (though I do love it so).
Sci-fi, however, is seemingly forever.
There was a book I read in college during my Popular Fiction course whose name I can’t remember. One aspect was that everyone ran around talking on little fold-up phones. This was in the early ‘90s, when mobile phones were large and bulky and looked like they belonged in a WWII movie. This was one of the ‘cool’ parts of the book and seemed very futuristic. Now, of course, everyone has cell phones and as they have become commonplace, science-fiction has moved on.
Even cavemen probably had some sort of science-fiction, even though cooked food was probably just catching on.
“And they have spear. But not like our spears.”
“How not like our spears?”
“They wood, but hard. Like stone.”
“Stone-wood?”
“Yes! And if you threw it very hard, it go through TWO mammoths.”
“Oooooooh!”
“Oh, and they not smell like dung.”
“OOOOOOH!”
Later: Part II – Beyond Lasers!
Anyhow, whilst watching Mal and the crew run around, I wondered: what kind of escapist entertainment do these people have? Fantasy, is well, fantasy. It hasn’t really changed much since Tolkien defined it in the sixties (though I do love it so).
Sci-fi, however, is seemingly forever.
There was a book I read in college during my Popular Fiction course whose name I can’t remember. One aspect was that everyone ran around talking on little fold-up phones. This was in the early ‘90s, when mobile phones were large and bulky and looked like they belonged in a WWII movie. This was one of the ‘cool’ parts of the book and seemed very futuristic. Now, of course, everyone has cell phones and as they have become commonplace, science-fiction has moved on.
Even cavemen probably had some sort of science-fiction, even though cooked food was probably just catching on.
“And they have spear. But not like our spears.”
“How not like our spears?”
“They wood, but hard. Like stone.”
“Stone-wood?”
“Yes! And if you threw it very hard, it go through TWO mammoths.”
“Oooooooh!”
“Oh, and they not smell like dung.”
“OOOOOOH!”
Later: Part II – Beyond Lasers!
Calling All Tech Heads: Part Deux
So, I tried to remove my power supply this weekend and no dice. I would have to remove the motherboard to get it out and I'm not nearly confident enough with hardware to do that.
My choices are now two-fold:
I could buy another new card, which is getting more difficult as I have an AGP bus and they don't seem to be making them anymore. At least, when I visit the computer shops they only have 2 AGP cards and a couple dozen PCI-E.
Or, I could splurge on a whole new system. If I go this route, I'm going to buy the biggest, meanest computer I can get, with the expectation that it will last for four to five years.
So, can anyone recommend either a good AGP card or a web-based company that is a) affordable and b) builds a good box?
Cheers,
-Jason
My choices are now two-fold:
I could buy another new card, which is getting more difficult as I have an AGP bus and they don't seem to be making them anymore. At least, when I visit the computer shops they only have 2 AGP cards and a couple dozen PCI-E.
Or, I could splurge on a whole new system. If I go this route, I'm going to buy the biggest, meanest computer I can get, with the expectation that it will last for four to five years.
So, can anyone recommend either a good AGP card or a web-based company that is a) affordable and b) builds a good box?
Cheers,
-Jason
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