Bleed el Eye

Well I'm finally done with classes, I don't think I'm going to do that again for a while. Hammered them down A style. Here's a list of games I've got on the plate along with liberal applications of World of Warcraft. I may get around to adding this to the main site like the book list page which also hasn't been updated in a while either. Anyway here's a list of the games on the plate, been pilin up for a while time to get a few knocked out before the baby hits. Cats are not happy about a baby on the way.

Tales of Vesperia - Currently Playing
Fallout 3
Penny Arcade Adventures 1 and 2
Sam and Max Season 2
Avernum 2-4
Geneforge 1-5
Ultima III
Final Fantasy 1, III, IV, VII, VIII, IX
Chrono Trigger DS
Orange Box - Currently Playing
Icewind Dale
Neverwinter Nights
CnC Red Alert 3 - Currently Playing
Super Mario Galaxy
Tales of Symphonia 2

Probably others. Hit me up if you wanna hit something, I have the week off so I can play all day all night all the time.

Of Gods and Men

So there are a lot, LOT, of Star Trek fan films floating around. I'd been following this one for a while, especially through my trip to vegas meeting Chase Masterston one of the stars. But fell off my radar. Equiped with an OE800 I finally watched it tonight. Simply amazing. An admriable tribute to 40 years of one amazing idea. Here's to you roddenberry, here's to you.

http://startrekofgodsandmen.com/main/

Pour one out for me.....

Sparks will be dead soon. Long live sparks. I've had many a dance at players and many a late night of Craft fueled by this beverage of the gods.

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=39981699705&h=h2kek&u=37lzN

Suck that Windows.

AMAZING

This guy is so AMAZING. Buy his shit now.

You're on a Star Trek now. Fairwell.

ReRolled

I rerolled on Sisters of Elune, a RP server. Not a lot of actual RP going on there but there is a large lack of annoying tweens on there as well. I'll probably stick around here for a while.

http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=sisters+of+elune&n=Rakden

Cyber WHUT WHUT

So I'm sick and bedridden and web drifting and found this. GAK for your keyboard. Hurrah, a modern 8th wonder.


CyberClean

Say good by to daylight

I rolled a new Warlock on a new server, Nazgrel, since it seems Hyjal has only gotten more packed.

http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Nazgrel&n=Rakden

I'm considering trying a priest as well so I've rolled a priest, Nemolas.

My paper is almost complete, classes are almost done. I'm going to play Tales, Fallout, Final Fantasy, and WoW until my eyes bleed.

See ya'll on Nazgrel.

What Alexander Means

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.
You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily.
Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.
You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.
At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

You are incredibly sexy and sensual. You have a naughty vibe that no one can ignore.
You have an unquenchable desire. And you are unrestrained in your passions.
You have a tendency to be unfaithful. Whether you fight it or give in to it is up to you.

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row.
You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace.
People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality.

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.
You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.
You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.

This is SOoooooo true, I am awesomely rebellious and chill.

Nuff said

Eminsponge

This is the greatest video ever.

Creepy as Chucky

Does anyone think these puppets look like Chucky's petarded cousins. This video is so infectious. Infectious like a plauge. Your brain will rot. You can thank me later. When you're dead from diabetes from watching this sickeningly sweet movie.

Why we Solo

I found an interesting read on "Solo" players in MMORPGs. I fall into this category. I pretty much agree 100% with this article. I like the ever changing aspects of MMOs. I like the lore and stories of WoW. This is probably why I pick up WoW everytime an xpac comes out I suppose. I like to be able to play with a few friends if I want. I don't like to commit decades of time to scheduling raids 4 nights a week. WOTLK looks like it will be easy enough to pick up a group for the 10man dungeons. I love the large economy's and interactions. I sell something, a real person bought it. It's not static. Blizzard has done well to get back to it's roots and add some content for the Gamer with a job like mii.

In the same regard I love sinking hours n hours into a nice, well crafted Solo RPG like Final Fantasy I, Avernum, Eschalon, etc... You are the hero, the one, the savior.

Give it a read.

http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/04/18/mystic-worlds-blog-why-we-solo/

We built this city on scratchin that itch

I've got the itch again and they don't make a powder for it. It's my yearly World of Warcraft itch. Wrath of the Lich King was recently released which supposedly has a large swath of new quests and more casual content. Heck even the biggins raids come in 10 man varieties. I love the Warcraft universe and the lore within, I'm not into scheduling 15 raids a month to get gear. Burning Crusade didn't add much for the play like me but it sounds like the WOTLK pack does add some great stuff for the player like me. I guess the Death Knight starting quest sequence lays out a fantastic story line. That would probably be enough to keep me entertained for a few weeks. I'll probably pick up a discount copy of WOTLK somewhere and sink my teeth into it during the week off after Christmas.

I'm nearly done with my two graduate classes and I won't be continuing with this program at UW-Platteville. I'm convinced I don't want a masters in Project Management right now and UW-P seems to have some really good professors and really bad professors. For several thousand dollars a class I need an institution that can provide only good professors. I may finish up the Graduate certificate in Project Management since I'd only need another class for that.

As far as class stuff goes I've only got 1 more individual assignment and a group task in PPM7010. These will probably take a couple days to finish up. However I have my graduate research paper to finish for Organizational Behavior which admittedly I have not made much headway on. It's probably going to be a stressful next couple of weeks for me.

After that I have a STACK of games to hit, and cases of BRAWNDO on the way courtesy of Think Geek's free shipping today.

Games on my to play list (and in my currently purchased stack) are

Tales of Vesperia
Fallout 3
Geneforge 5
Geneforge 1-4
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy I
Chrono Trigger DS
Spore
Tales Of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

Also if I make it through that list I might pick up Fable II.

We played another rousing game of Battlestar Galactica last night, you know instead of working on my paper. I have to admit this is shaping up to be one of my favorite games. I like the secret espionage tactics the game employs for the secret Cylon player. The mechanics are relatively simple, at least compared to some of the stuff we play like Starcraft and Arkham Horror. Humanity lost this time.

Hopefully after my classes I'll finish my APRS station and get some horizontally polarized 6 and 2 meter antennas up. I'm probably going to go for a 6 meter wire dipole and a 3 to 5 element yagi for 2 meters.

Ye will be missed

Patrick Mormann, 31, was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 151.

I loved Patrick Mormann, he was one of the better DJs on the radio these days. KAT-FM was lucky to have a DJ as exuberant as him. The airwaves will miss you Patrick Mormann.

The Horror, Oh the Horror!

We finally got in our first game of Arkham Horror that Nate purchased some time back. This game is set in the Call of Cthulhu universe with crazy Lovcraftian monsters. The game is a purely co-op affair which is rare in the tabletop gaming arena. The wife enjoys the co-op games so I'm always on the look out for more like Pandemic and Battlestar Galactica (this is only sudo co-op, someone is a cylon) I enjoyed the flapping 20's setting, not unlike the time period in Penny Arcade Adventures. The game is quite complex and we didn't get down all the game's rules and nuances this first time though we are confident we will be better prepared next time. This is one of those meaty games that will take the brunt of your gaming day/night vs. the half hour to hour games of Munchkin, Aquaduct, Last Night on Earth, etc.... Overall I really liked Arkham Horror and I look forward to visiting Arkham again soon. It's also way over produced and full of hundreds of bits in typical Fantasy Flight fashion. They always seem to have amazing production values.

Chad and I are also investigating the Call of Cthulhu LCG for some more standard, quick, card based play. I'm digging the LCG format that Fantasy Flight is pioneering. Instead of buying pack after pack after pack of cards hoping you might get a rare these will be released in fixed sets. You buy the set you have all the cards. Done. Now it's not about who spent more money to get that rare card but who is better at deck building and strategy. Go Fantasy Flight.

Time to make myself look big.

I love the Cat from Red Dwarf. He acts exactly like I imagine Nemo would act if he were a 3 million year evolved cat born to two retarded cats.

Talking Cat

For whatever reason the sound of this cat makes my cats go ape shit. They game flying from all ends of the house converging on my laptop pissed as hell thinking there was a nother cat in the house.

Solo Gamer in a Multi World

Being a solo gamer in a multiplayer world is a great read over at destructoid. I grew up on a lot of great single player games like Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, Realmz, etc... Today's gamer has a different mindset I think. I also like playin a good bout of classic solo gaming. gimmie case of Diet Dew and a round of the latest Spiderweb Game. I suspect after the baby pops out I'll be the one up all night with it so I might get re-acquainted with a lot of my classic favorites.

Give this article from Destructoid a read.

Reddish Dwarfs

So I just found out that Red Dwarf is on Netflix Watch now which is awesome. I used to love this show as a kid late night on PBS with Doctor Who coming home late from the Raunt. The Bad news is it's only on until Dec. 1. It looks like netflix is loosing all their BBC licenses. Which sucks. I"m going to try and make it through as many episodes tonight as my beer will take me. After that Might have to look at getting the DVD collection I like it enough that I'd consider it. I loves me some Red Dwarf and Dr. Who.

Also only 4 beers. Send some more stat.

Check out Red Dwarf.


Red Dwarf Complete Collection

Must be Christmas, the cashescams are in full swing.

Wii Logitech Cordless Keyboard.

50 Bucks for a Nintendo sanctioned wireless keyboard for your Wii. The same Wii that will accept your 5 dollar USB keyboard just fine. Now I'm a person that's willing to spend on a decent peripheral but 50 bucks for a cordless keyboard. And it uses a dongle and not Wii built in Bluetooth. 35 bucks tops for this thing. You know, a couple bones more than a controller maybe. This is the same 2.4ghz technology that Logitech sells here

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126041

for 30 bucks. But hey it's christmas kids, go WHAHHHHH WHHHHHAHHHH WHHAHHHHHHHH gimme gimme gimme.

But I'm the grumpy old Humbug cuz I won't buy anything for any family, I just bought 4 kids coats for the winter, sponsored a poor family to buy sock and some other nececcites for christmas, and donated a few bones to Childs Play. I'm the humbug because I don't need anything, you don't need anything, plenty of people do need something and I'm willing to let them get it before you and I do. I'm the humbug. Take yer Christmas Society and shove it up yer rear. I'll be waiting for you @ Wintereenmas.

Little Farther In Geneforge

I made my way a little farther into Geneforge 5 last night. I have to say that I'm really digging the way the game just tiles out to whatever monitor size you have. I have a monstrous monitor, I just get to see more of the world. I hope Basilisk Games can implement something like this in Eschalon Book III when they get around to making that. (Book II is locked down at 1024x768).

I wish I didn't have STACKS of homework this week and could focus on settling into this amazing game since the MRS. is out of town this weekend. With Fallout 3 and Tales of Vesperia on my plate too I might not get to some hardcore Geneforge until the baby pops out. I guess baby and I can settle in for some long nights.

I also want to get to battlestar galactica some time this year, you know since I bought it n stuff.

In other news I'm probably only a couple weeks from getting a CPAP machine and getting better sleep than I have in 20 years.

Keep Egg Rollin.

The latest and Greatest in RETRO AWESOMENESS

Spiderweb Software has today released, the latest, and last game in the Geneforge Series Geneforge 5. This new game sports a new OpenGL GFX system that scales to your monitor. I can play it on 1680x1050 awesomeness, it's pretty swanky and sweet. Mac version is out now, Windows in 2009 as usual. You won't find more game for your buck than Spiderweb RPGs.

Spin Cycle - High

I was webdrifting a bit last night instead of doing homework or playing with the pretty neat NXE update and came by this little gem. Seriously, a fucking fryer with a spin cycle. This is the economy my tax dollars are supposed to prop up. Spin the fat out. Jesus George at least your grill was moderately useful for a quick burger. This is just. I need whiskey.

In other news the NXE update has grown on me, other than half the frames are trying to plug some digital download this or that it's damn slick. I like how they crammed all the old blades into the guide button. I mean you can literally navigate the whole shebang from the guide button now or drop into the admittedly slick new interface. Netflix functionality is nice, I was hoping to move the Roku unit upstairs but apparently Netflix has to license content per device, not globally for the watch now service which is how I assumed it would be. As is no sony pictures content is playable on the Xbox. Way to be jerks Sony. Also my First Party Remote is missing functionality that the controller currently has. With the controller you can use the bumpers to page through your qqqq but with the remote you have to go item by item. I've filed a bug report to see if they can't fix this with a patch. Heroes HD looked pretty sweet and didn't choke on my 6 meg connection.

Looks like you're trying to free humanity

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

So I went to see a Doctor in Mexico

So a couple weeks ago I went to see my doctor about snoring. He referred me to a specialist from Iowa City. He proceeded to stuff a 12 inch camera down my nose to, you know, do whatever doctors that stick cameras down your nose do. I don't recommend this as it is incredibly painful. Anyway he's decided my uvula is rather large, no shit, and that I have a lump on my larynx. Enter this past Friday where he scheduled a Direct Larponscopy with a biopsy. Got to spend muh whole friday in Iowa City at the hospital.




Things I learned.

It is hard to find a vein in my thick skinned hand. This causes much pain as they root around several times for blood flow.

When they don't find a vein somehow I still bleed gallons.

I don't like shots in the ass.

I have a small mouth that is difficult to get multiple surgical instruments in, thus causing chipping of teeth.

I like hydrocodone.


After all this I'm no farther on the snoring equation than I was before. I have a sleep study this sunday in Iowa City. Then a couple more appointments after that. Then they'll decide what we can do for treatment, be it a cpap machine, lazering bits, whatever. I read the lazering is not fun. As in 3 weeks of soft food not fun.

America the Great

America has elected it's 44th president, Barack Obama. Was he my first pick. No. Will he be an effective leader. Yet to be seen. Is he a charismatic who will bridge divides, heals political wounds, and tip this country's collective chin upward in hope and dreams. Absolutely. And isn't that what we really need in these trying times, the hope and dreams of a better world? Not the negative nonsense the republicans were trying to push. We're mavericks, America is being attacked by every angle, blah blah blah. This election proved that as a collective we won't be bullied by the rich and wrangled by fear and destruction. 

John McCain, this great nation owes you it's thanks and gratitude for your continuing service. I don't think for one second that you've ever thought of anything but bolstering America for the future. And for that we thank you. However, you weren't the person to lead this nation into a new generation of prosperity, and America knew it and voted accordingly. We're in a transition to brand new day, and I hope Republicans, Democrats, and everyone in between will band together to support America in this pivotal moment in history to persevere and maintain the values, civil liberties, and opportunities this great nation has always represented.

Welcome back, Comrade'

Well I managed to snag myself a copy of Red Alert 3. I would have held out for a Mac version but

A. There is no word of one.
B. Bing Gordon is a lying piece of dog shit that needs to put up or shut up (Where's Kane's Wrath jerk).

I wouldn't normally get a Special Edition but Red Alert 3 came with some neat stuff in addition to the usual special edition tin. The Premier edition comes with some additional maps. Meh. A music CD and a bonus video disk with interviews and a Women of Red Alert video. You're peaking my interest. And a Women of Red Alert poster. Sold.



Worth the price of admission right there kids worth it right there.

Are you kidding me?

Spore Creepy Parts Pack

Are they serious. 20 bucks for a few dozen parts, most of which I'd never use in day to day play anyway? When the original game only costs $50. When they dumbed down the original game for the casual player. This game was supposed to be SimEarth on crack and while it's fun for what it is now it is not the game they hyped for so many years. And now they want to charge 20 bucks for something they aught to throw in for free for me buying the game. I'd pay 5 bucks for a parts pack.

If we do eventually get a real expansion that adds real features, like simearth type features, will they charge more than the original 50 bucks for that? I get the impression that they are testing the waters since WoWs new expansion is debuting at $40, a mere $10 less than the original cost of the game and with a fraction of the content. Is this inflation at work? Is this just plan McBush style greed? I don't understand when xpacks started costing 40 bucks and some simple additional content started costing 20?

This Goat's for you Dan

I was playing a quick round of Fallout 3 last night (late late late) after barely finishing up my homework and one of the first achievements I got was the GOAT whisperer, complete with goat picture. It stands for General Operational Aptitude Test or some BS but out of the 5 readers of this blog 3 will get a chuckle out of this.

This sh it is TiTZ

Get this widget!

Chrono Trigger DS at IGN

I'm droolinating at the prospect of portable Chrono Trigger. This shit is gunna drop right when I'm gunna be balls deep in homework too. Kats, get on the doing my homework.

Getting on MAX air

Well I've been milling about getting a DC to daylight transceiver but the radio coffers are only around 400 bucks. I've been wanting an IC-706 or IC-746 but there's just not the funds. I managed to snag a FT-767GX with 2/6m and 70cm modules. Exactly the bands I need SSB on. It should be arriving in a few days. This will set back finishing the APRS station for a few weeks but generally this was a deal I didn't want to pass up. I can even get on 10 meters with my current licence so I might poke around on that, try some PSK31 on it or something. I'll post more when it arrives. I've sold the VX-170 to help fund 2 and 6 meter antennas for this rig. I'll probably pick up a cheap 2/440 mobile at some time to keep up with the local repeaters and to monitor 146.520 after the APRS station is finished. Then should have the shack set for some time, at least until a house is bought and basement modified for shacking and gaming activities.

Gamez

Seems like I might have enough games around here that I don't play that I could sell a few and easily get 2 and 6 meter rigs.

SSB 6 and 2

I may have a bead on a Mac Mini that needs some slight repair to go in the radio shack so may have a computer up there shortly.

I don't remember if I mentioned but I'll be connecting my Icom IC-28H to a Byonics TinyTrak4. I'll probably use an SMA adapter to hook the IC-28H the MR77 on the cookie sheet and I'll adapt the J-pole for use with my VX-170 which is functioning as my main 2 meter radio right now. I usually keep the 170 scanning a few local repeaters and 146.52 and 146.58 simplex.

While talking to the old men in Newton on the repeater is fine I'm looking for a little more excitement out of my radio experience. Though I did strike up a nice QSO for a few with a fella on I-80 heading to Wyoming from New Jersey.

Anyway after the APRS project I'm looking to get into 2 and 6 meter SSB and that will probably be the extent of my radio projects until I buy a house.

For 6 Meters I'm saving my pennies for the Ranger 5054 DX. I will probably couple this with a KU4AB horizontal loop. This is probably the best for my limited space in the attic area for antennas. For 2 meter at some point if I can't find an old 2 meter all mode or Ranger doesn't come out with one I'll probably get the MFJ-9402. Again I'll either tie this probably to a KU4AB loop, maybe dual loops with a phasing harness for extra gain. I'm probably going to get the 6 meter radio first though because there are more options for cross country and international DX opportunities.

Logging

I'm investigating logging options as I will be setting up a Mac in my Shack when I get one up there. Here is a shot of the medocre shack as it is right now. There is a copper jpole and a Diamond MR77 on a cookie sheet in the attic room connected to these two radios.

I'm probably going to go with Aether as it's the most modern Mac logging app. MacLoggerDx is of course the standard but I'll try the new cocoa guy see how it goes.

6 Meters

I'm considering getting into 6 meters with a Ringo 6 Meter All Mode Rig. And throw up a wire antenna in the attic. Talk the world on a good night with that rig and a decent antenna. Wut you all think?

Close to APRS station completion

I've been working on setting up an APRS station. Other than non-infrastructure communication, one of my main interests in Ham Radio is digital modes, PSK31, packet, etc... I'd like to utilize APRS to let other APRS users know that I'm normally monitoring 146.520 and just generally see how many APRS users are traveling up and down the interstate, and to pass on APRS information to the APRS-IS network. This can allow for text messages to be sent across the country via the decentralized APRS network. This information is also used to calculate VHF DX paths, normally caused by various weather conditions.

My setup is going to consist of the following items, some which I have, some which I dont have yet. I'll be connecting them to some sort of computer, and I'll probably run Xastir. If I can find a cheap enough mini I might get one of those just to have a mac in my shack running Aether. Plus Xastir has a ubuntu VM already made for VMware which would require minimum setup on my part.

Items I have

Icom IC-28H - This unit will transmit 5/45W, I'll just be running on 5w given the antenna proximity to my shack. I picked this up from a guy on QRZ for a song. It's a damn solid and fun rig.
Aston RS-20M - Picked this up again from a guy on QRZ for a mere $70 bucks. At it's cheapest new it's a 130 dollar American made power supply. Right now it's clipped direct to the 28H but in the near future I'll be connecting all my stuff to a RigRunner.
Copper Jpole - The KB9VBR Jpole was about as cheap as I could make it myself, and I didn't have to make it myself. Great omnidirectional performance as well. I can peg repeaters in Marshalltown and Pella on 5W and still come in moderatly perceptable.
Monitor

Items I need yet

Computer
RigRunner
Terminal Node Controller: This has been a point of contention for me. For a while I was considering a RigBlaster which offers lots of options for various modes but I'm not sure about the software TNC setup for APRS. I was considering a Kantronics KPC3+ but 200 bucks plus min 20 bucks for a cable was too much for a project I'm trying to do on the cheap. After talking with Byon at Byonics I've settled on the TinyTrak4. This should allow me to do what I need to do with it in KISS TNC mode. And it won't cost me my left nut to do it. With 8 pin cable for my radio it should only run me 90 bucks tops.

After this project I'm going to try and get into some 2 meter SSB action. Frankly I like the VHF bands, I dont need 60 foot antennas to get my signal out there. The question is what SSB radio. All mode 2 meter radios are expensive and hard to comeby anymore sans the MFJ-9402X. While this radio is neat, and simple, and has a nice old school charm to it I may put the SSB project on the back burner for a year or two to save up for an Icom 706. We'll see I got time.

This is not a spam blog

This blog is not a spam blog, I am slowly getting to migrating my current blog I have manually at alexkaltsas.com to this blogger blog. PLLLLlease unlock this blog.

Test test ham ham r adio

Badabababa I'm testin it.