I've been known to remove people's mouse balls, and tape them directly on top of their monitor. I've gotten minutes of humor out of watching people slam their mice down repeatidly, then ask me why their mouse isn't working anymore.
I just pull the ball off of the top of their monitor, put it in their mouse, and walk off without saying a word.
Subscribed to RAINBOW in my earlier years. Even had my first "program" published in the "Novices Niche" when I was fourteen years old. Was soooo damn proud of having my name, my program, PUBLISHED in a worldwide magazine.
But damned if I ever let the other kids at school know what I accomplished. I'd be tortured for being a nerd... (now look what I'm doing, posting on/. at midnight-thirty...) But mom and dad were proud!
I considered having this done about two or so years ago. I went to the orientation thing offered here in the Atlanta (At Emory). After the 'session' thing was over, I went to a doctor and asked him, "I'm aware that there are only a few parts of the body that continue growing until death. THe lens of the eye being one of them. What's to say when I turn 65 or 70, my eye just won't rip along the scar tissue?" (I was 27 at the time).
His reply -- "You're right. Stick with glasses or contacts."
Now, my parents and grandparents have all had it. If I were in my 50's or so, then sure. What the hell. But, I don't want to spend the last of my days with split eyeballs. Maybe I'm just paranoid.
If memory serves me correctly, this is the woman that "can not perform her job properly" anymore. She got CT from masturbating, she is a phone sex operator. She made news here in the Atlanta area a few months back.
Now, I'm only assuming this is the same woman, since what was mentioned here in the Atlanta area said that she was going to take this thing all the way to the Supreme Court and sue under the ADA.
The system is flawed because nitwits like this keep abusing the system.
On a different note, I'm very double-jointed -- many years back, I tried to join the Army. I aced the ASVAB, but failed the physical due to "extreme double-jointedness". The army doctor/nurse/whatever-he-was gave me papers to get a handicap tag for my car... Never used it. I can walk just fine... It's shit like this that pisses me off.
It's interesting to see who exactly caters to the wants and needs of us colorblind folk. Being a gamer for the most part, you really pick up on what you can play and what you can't. Those 'bubble' games, are all great, but, you have to line up colored balls. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish what the spinning shapes in the middle are. EverQuest was good enough about having different messages when you 'con' something. So, that helps. I currently play Dark Age of Camelot. And, for those that really haven't noticed (and play DAoC, of course), that's what those little "+" and "-" signs are for next to everything you target. One, two, or three plusses let you know how many levels higher (three means it's just too high) something is than you. Similarly for the minuses.
I get sick of people asking about traffic lights. I live in the USA. *EVERY* traffic light I've ever seen will have the red either on top, or the left. Green has always been on the bottom or the right.
It's kind of amazing once you sit back and just take notice on how dependant we are on colors. And assume that everybody can see them fine.
Actually, not many people seem to have heard of Anachronox, much less played through it. Of all the games I've played over the years, it has the absolute best storyline and plot I've EVER played! There was (suspossedly) something like an extra 4-6 HOURS of dialog cut from the game to make everything fit onto the two CD's. I'd pay money just to be able to read the script.
Interesting to note, Anachronox has also won "Best Story Award" from Gamespot (http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/bestof_2 001/p2_03.html) (I don't follow awards anymore. There's one for EVERYTHING nowadays... "Best use of a red pushbutton in an elevator in a FPS centered in futuristic Chicago".. It's coming... we've got 'em for everything else)
Anyways, Anachronox was created using a heavily modified Quake2 engine. And, sadly enough, it seems that games tend to sell on pretty graphics, rather than gameplay.
Also, practically everybody I know that has played through Anachronox has agreed that it definatly ranks wayyy up there on their list of all time favorites. It definatly does mine. (and yes, I know quite a bit of people that have played it through)
Do yourself a favor -- go pick this game up. You'll be very glad you did.
Not sure how "Nationwide" these folks are, but at 'Sams' (Membership warehouse, kinda like Costco) -- I picked up this box set around Halloween for $37 (plus tax). The sticker on the box said it was indeed a $70 item. I'd suggest getting it there, if possible.
I've ripped them all to MP3, fit all the episodes on a single CD, and the kids and I listen to them at night. I've already read the LoTR books to them.
If memory serves me correctly (and it probably doesn't...), this is because red is associated with STOP. The last thing you need on an expressway, is the stereotypical 'Soccer Mom' to look up from her Crossword or Romance Novel and suddenly think --- ***STOP!!!***
They're bad enough as it is. No need to make everybody else associate a sudden STOP on the expressway.
After going through a "reconfiguration" of my AT&T Broadband settings (via one of their automated pages, during the brief hour or so I actually *WAS* online) -- it made my browser home page http://home.attbroadband.com. Seems to re-direct to Yahoo's front page. So, I've gone from Excite to Yahoo, via AT&T? Hrm...
I'm in the Atlanta Metro area, and I've been up and down since Saturday. Saturday, I would be online for an hour or so, but quite slow. Then down for a few hours. Back up for an hour or two, then down again. Yesterday, (all day) was down. When I got up for work this morning, I saw the cable modem was attached to the network. Not sure if it'll stay that way though. I called them last night, and they said that it'll take between one and fourteen days to get everything back. Sure. We'll see. I've already re-installed my old dial-up modem.
I bought one of the Dreamcasts when the price dropped to $80. I paid about $160 that day for DC stuff. But, I got the DC itself, a keyboard, mouse, extra controller, two "rumble packs", two VMU's, and a few games that I bought solely because of title/pictures/whatever. (some cheesy role playing games), and a 'VGA Box'.
First thing I did when I got it all home was hook it all up to my television (didn't screw with the VGA box thing yet), plugged in a gamepad, keyboard, and mouse. Booted up, put in my ISP settings, and I was online browsing and doing emails. So, as long as you've got a dialup ISP, technically, you're good to go out of the box. You don't need the keyboard to type (you can have some keyboard overlay thing on the screen pop up and use the gamepad to control a cursor around to type --- royal pain in the ass though -- spend the $8 for a keyboard!).
Out of the box net appliance? You betcha! Plus, my kids and I have a blast playing games as well!
THis is by far one of the best short stories I've ever read. I read it MANY MANY years ago -- and have been searching for it in a stand-alone format. (I've got it in a compilation of other short stories). If you haven't read this, READ IT!!!!
I've got the same problem. I sit in front of at least two computer screens for about twelve hours a day. I finally get home, sit back with a book, and then it hits.... I hear that damned EQ theme song in my head. "No!" I tell myself. "I will not load up that infernal game". Of course, next thing I know, I'm debating whether or not I've got time for breakfast before leaving for work again. Sleep? There is no sleep in EQ. And DAoC? Damn... At least I have another computer to DAoC on while I'm medding in EQ. *sigh* I need help.
I currently own a Dragon's Lair arcade machine. W/ laserdisc player. Also, I picked up Space Ace (the origional) and it plays just fine in the D/L cabinet. I picked the discs up for about $30/each (since you "need the cabinet" to play them. hehehe, yeahhhhhh riiiiigh...) from a company near me called "Greater Southern". Don't have a number or website handy, but they're located in Atlanta, on S. Atlanta Road -- near Smyrna. If anybody cares to check them out.
Um. I still write my own BIOS, and yes, I have blown a good number of ROMs. You'd be amazed what you can accomplish with a custom designed BIOS, designed SPECIFICALLY for your individual hardware. Speed, speed, and more speed. And, this is on a semi-modern (well, about 3-4 year old) BX chipset board.
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I've been known to remove people's mouse balls, and tape them directly on top of their monitor. I've gotten minutes of humor out of watching people slam their mice down repeatidly, then ask me why their mouse isn't working anymore.
I just pull the ball off of the top of their monitor, put it in their mouse, and walk off without saying a word.
--Xan
"The words that came out of Hillary's mouth were not nessessarily hers"
She said them, they're HER words. If I say something, I'd expect people to believe they are MY words -- regardless if I am right or wrong.
--Xan
Subscribed to RAINBOW in my earlier years. Even had my first "program" published in the "Novices Niche" when I was fourteen years old. Was soooo damn proud of having my name, my program, PUBLISHED in a worldwide magazine.
/. at midnight-thirty...) But mom and dad were proud!
But damned if I ever let the other kids at school know what I accomplished. I'd be tortured for being a nerd... (now look what I'm doing, posting on
--Xan
I considered having this done about two or so years ago. I went to the orientation thing offered here in the Atlanta (At Emory). After the 'session' thing was over, I went to a doctor and asked him, "I'm aware that there are only a few parts of the body that continue growing until death. THe lens of the eye being one of them. What's to say when I turn 65 or 70, my eye just won't rip along the scar tissue?" (I was 27 at the time).
His reply -- "You're right. Stick with glasses or contacts."
Now, my parents and grandparents have all had it. If I were in my 50's or so, then sure. What the hell. But, I don't want to spend the last of my days with split eyeballs. Maybe I'm just paranoid.
--Xan
Anachronox 2.
"No, no. My eyes are gray. I know it says they're blue, but I want gray eyes!"
Sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
A tale of a fateful trip,
That started from a pristine port
Aboard an EXXON ship.
Third mate wasn't much of a sailing man,
But the skipper liked to booze;
So the mate steered the giant oil barge
While the skipper took a snooze.
Large icebergs filled the shipping lanes;
The mighty ship was slowed.
If not for the innovative EXXON crew,
Their oil would not get sold.
The helmsman was heard shouting,
"Clear sailing straight ahead-"
As the sound of the vessel's grounding
Raised the Captain from his bed.
The supertanker hit a reef,
Which pierced it's single skin.
10 Million gallons of oil spilled out,
And a case or two of gin.
No booms, no skimmers, no dispersants,
Not a single contingency;
The oil clean-up effort
Was as primitive as could be.
Now the lawyers call it an Act of God
So the company can't be sued,
And Exxon makes a profit
From the jacked up price of crude.
So now we leave Prince William Sound,
It's shoreline strewn with oil.
Our sights set to the future;
More distant lands to spoil!
This is mild attempt at humor... And this was sent around the BBS's back in 89 after the spill. --- well, I find it humorous...
--Xanlexian
Not sure if they're still around, but check out "Cherry Systems". They're in the Technology Park area in Norcross (near JCB & 121).
They're not cheap, but they do a damn good job.
--Xanlexian
If memory serves me correctly, this is the woman that "can not perform her job properly" anymore. She got CT from masturbating, she is a phone sex operator. She made news here in the Atlanta area a few months back.
Now, I'm only assuming this is the same woman, since what was mentioned here in the Atlanta area said that she was going to take this thing all the way to the Supreme Court and sue under the ADA.
The system is flawed because nitwits like this keep abusing the system.
On a different note, I'm very double-jointed -- many years back, I tried to join the Army. I aced the ASVAB, but failed the physical due to "extreme double-jointedness". The army doctor/nurse/whatever-he-was gave me papers to get a handicap tag for my car... Never used it. I can walk just fine... It's shit like this that pisses me off.
--Xan
I always thought it meant:
Minesweeper
Consultant and
Solitare
Expert
--Xan
It's interesting to see who exactly caters to the wants and needs of us colorblind folk. Being a gamer for the most part, you really pick up on what you can play and what you can't. Those 'bubble' games, are all great, but, you have to line up colored balls. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish what the spinning shapes in the middle are. EverQuest was good enough about having different messages when you 'con' something. So, that helps. I currently play Dark Age of Camelot. And, for those that really haven't noticed (and play DAoC, of course), that's what those little "+" and "-" signs are for next to everything you target. One, two, or three plusses let you know how many levels higher (three means it's just too high) something is than you. Similarly for the minuses.
I get sick of people asking about traffic lights. I live in the USA. *EVERY* traffic light I've ever seen will have the red either on top, or the left. Green has always been on the bottom or the right.
It's kind of amazing once you sit back and just take notice on how dependant we are on colors. And assume that everybody can see them fine.
--Xan
Actually, not many people seem to have heard of Anachronox, much less played through it. Of all the games I've played over the years, it has the absolute best storyline and plot I've EVER played! There was (suspossedly) something like an extra 4-6 HOURS of dialog cut from the game to make everything fit onto the two CD's. I'd pay money just to be able to read the script.
2 001/p2_03.html) (I don't follow awards anymore. There's one for EVERYTHING nowadays... "Best use of a red pushbutton in an elevator in a FPS centered in futuristic Chicago".. It's coming... we've got 'em for everything else)
Interesting to note, Anachronox has also won "Best Story Award" from Gamespot (http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/bestof_
Anyways, Anachronox was created using a heavily modified Quake2 engine. And, sadly enough, it seems that games tend to sell on pretty graphics, rather than gameplay.
Also, practically everybody I know that has played through Anachronox has agreed that it definatly ranks wayyy up there on their list of all time favorites. It definatly does mine. (and yes, I know quite a bit of people that have played it through)
Do yourself a favor -- go pick this game up. You'll be very glad you did.
--Xanlexian
Not sure how "Nationwide" these folks are, but at 'Sams' (Membership warehouse, kinda like Costco) -- I picked up this box set around Halloween for $37 (plus tax). The sticker on the box said it was indeed a $70 item. I'd suggest getting it there, if possible.
I've ripped them all to MP3, fit all the episodes on a single CD, and the kids and I listen to them at night. I've already read the LoTR books to them.
Shoot your teevee!
--Xan
If memory serves me correctly (and it probably doesn't...), this is because red is associated with STOP. The last thing you need on an expressway, is the stereotypical 'Soccer Mom' to look up from her Crossword or Romance Novel and suddenly think --- ***STOP!!!***
They're bad enough as it is. No need to make everybody else associate a sudden STOP on the expressway.
--Xan
Only in Atlanta is where you'd shun that name.
--Xan
Here in Atlanta, we were told "1 to 14 days". That sounds like two weeks to me!
Via phone, and email (repeatidly)
--Xan
After going through a "reconfiguration" of my AT&T Broadband settings (via one of their automated pages, during the brief hour or so I actually *WAS* online) -- it made my browser home page http://home.attbroadband.com. Seems to re-direct to Yahoo's front page. So, I've gone from Excite to Yahoo, via AT&T? Hrm...
--Xan
I'm in the Atlanta Metro area, and I've been up and down since Saturday. Saturday, I would be online for an hour or so, but quite slow. Then down for a few hours. Back up for an hour or two, then down again. Yesterday, (all day) was down. When I got up for work this morning, I saw the cable modem was attached to the network. Not sure if it'll stay that way though. I called them last night, and they said that it'll take between one and fourteen days to get everything back. Sure. We'll see. I've already re-installed my old dial-up modem.
--Xan
Docrates,
I bought one of the Dreamcasts when the price dropped to $80. I paid about $160 that day for DC stuff. But, I got the DC itself, a keyboard, mouse, extra controller, two "rumble packs", two VMU's, and a few games that I bought solely because of title/pictures/whatever. (some cheesy role playing games), and a 'VGA Box'.
First thing I did when I got it all home was hook it all up to my television (didn't screw with the VGA box thing yet), plugged in a gamepad, keyboard, and mouse. Booted up, put in my ISP settings, and I was online browsing and doing emails. So, as long as you've got a dialup ISP, technically, you're good to go out of the box. You don't need the keyboard to type (you can have some keyboard overlay thing on the screen pop up and use the gamepad to control a cursor around to type --- royal pain in the ass though -- spend the $8 for a keyboard!).
Out of the box net appliance? You betcha! Plus, my kids and I have a blast playing games as well!
--Xan
I meet a few of my fellow IT folks in Camelot! We all play DAoC (Dark Age of Camelot) outside of work! That's social time! Ohhh yeahhh!
Gives us something to talk about while at work. heh
--Xan
THis is by far one of the best short stories I've ever read. I read it MANY MANY years ago -- and have been searching for it in a stand-alone format. (I've got it in a compilation of other short stories). If you haven't read this, READ IT!!!!
Charles Kludge lives.
I've got the same problem. I sit in front of at least two computer screens for about twelve hours a day. I finally get home, sit back with a book, and then it hits.... I hear that damned EQ theme song in my head. "No!" I tell myself. "I will not load up that infernal game". Of course, next thing I know, I'm debating whether or not I've got time for breakfast before leaving for work again. Sleep? There is no sleep in EQ. And DAoC? Damn... At least I have another computer to DAoC on while I'm medding in EQ. *sigh* I need help.
--Xan
I currently own a Dragon's Lair arcade machine. W/ laserdisc player. Also, I picked up Space Ace (the origional) and it plays just fine in the D/L cabinet. I picked the discs up for about $30/each (since you "need the cabinet" to play them. hehehe, yeahhhhhh riiiiigh...) from a company near me called "Greater Southern". Don't have a number or website handy, but they're located in Atlanta, on S. Atlanta Road -- near Smyrna. If anybody cares to check them out.
--Xan
Just a quick note --- We're (the USA) a republic, not a democracy.
--Xan
Um. I still write my own BIOS, and yes, I have blown a good number of ROMs. You'd be amazed what you can accomplish with a custom designed BIOS, designed SPECIFICALLY for your individual hardware. Speed, speed, and more speed. And, this is on a semi-modern (well, about 3-4 year old) BX chipset board.
--Xan