Alien Abduction? UFO sightings? Return to tell the story! Cool new product a perfect unusual Christmas gift...
This is so cool! I'll never get lost in space again!
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Monday, March 28, 2005
The purpose
I'm writing this while sitting atop a hill in the Marico district in the North West Province.
Camping with the family was a bad idea. I forgot to take into account that my sisters have babies.
These babies have continuously disrupted my sleep for the past two nights, as well as prevented me from getting a moment's peace, until now.
We're on a short hike, and I've decided to hang back and let the others go on ahead... With the screaming babies.
This moment now has been the entire purpose of the trip up to this point... Sitting on a rock, listening to the birds and the rush of the river on the rocks below. Looking out over the lush green of the valley and hills before me, the only scent on the light breeze is the familiar sweet smell of the bushveld.
This is why I came
Camping with the family was a bad idea. I forgot to take into account that my sisters have babies.
These babies have continuously disrupted my sleep for the past two nights, as well as prevented me from getting a moment's peace, until now.
We're on a short hike, and I've decided to hang back and let the others go on ahead... With the screaming babies.
This moment now has been the entire purpose of the trip up to this point... Sitting on a rock, listening to the birds and the rush of the river on the rocks below. Looking out over the lush green of the valley and hills before me, the only scent on the light breeze is the familiar sweet smell of the bushveld.
This is why I came
Thursday, March 24, 2005
WizKids - Marvel HeroClix - Fantastic Forces
WizKids - Marvel HeroClix - Fantastic Forces
Wizkids has released some sneak previews of the next HeroClix expansion: Fantastic Forces.
After seeing some of the really cool dynamics they've used in other games like Mech Warrior and Mage Knights that make special use of multi-based pieces, I'm very glad to see that HeroClix is now following suit.
I hope these figures (as well as the new "transporter" figures, whatever they are) will add something valuable to the gameplay.
Wizkids has released some sneak previews of the next HeroClix expansion: Fantastic Forces.
After seeing some of the really cool dynamics they've used in other games like Mech Warrior and Mage Knights that make special use of multi-based pieces, I'm very glad to see that HeroClix is now following suit.
I hope these figures (as well as the new "transporter" figures, whatever they are) will add something valuable to the gameplay.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Afterlife telegrams
Afterlife telegrams
I thought this was a joke... but apparently it isn't. There are no words to describe the depths pseudoscientists will travel to to exploit the ignorant.
I thought this was a joke... but apparently it isn't. There are no words to describe the depths pseudoscientists will travel to to exploit the ignorant.
The best definition I've read so far
Science is the process of finding the truth through evidence collection, analysis, and most importantly, the willingness to change the hypothesis to fit the evidence. Belief systems [or as I like to call them, “pseudosciences”] use the process of accepting something as the truth with little or no evidence and the willingness to change the evidence or bias the data to fit the hypothesis. Belief systems are never allowed to change the hypothesis no matter how much evidence is presented.
-Mark LaBash
Thursday, March 17, 2005
WizKids - DC HeroClix - Superman
WizKids - DC HeroClix - Superman
It took about a month, but I've finally received the latest addition to my HeroClix collection: Superman (Veteran - Hypertime expansion)
I got tired of trying to negotiate with one of my player group for her Experienced version, so I went and bought my own.
For being such a bitch, that player is going to face the wrath of my Man-o-steel in the next tournament. She thought it was bad against Sinestro? She ain't seen nothin' yet.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Sitchin's Twelfth Planet
Sitchin's Twelfth Planet
I've been itching to read Sitchin's works so that I could deconstruct them using scientific fact and considered opinions of real-life archaeologists and linguists, but it seems this guy beat me to the punch.
I've been itching to read Sitchin's works so that I could deconstruct them using scientific fact and considered opinions of real-life archaeologists and linguists, but it seems this guy beat me to the punch.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Not too bad
I’m quite satisfied with my result in today’s tournament.
I came third overall. That’s the best I’ve ever done. I came third last time as well… at least I’m maintaining my position, not slipping back.
The tweaks to my deck seemed to make a little difference, but I’ve identified a few more tweaks to make. Although I’m sure some special treatment from a special lady this morning is what really made me do as well as I did.
Next month we’re having a 1st Edition tournament instead… for old times sake. I’ll be trying to remember my old Federation deck, but I fear no one will be able to stand up to the old Borg Anti-Time Anomaly deck that used to terrorize our player group back when 1E was still all there was. But we’ll see how it goes. I may be able to take a shot at 3rd place again.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Distinguishing Science and Pseudoscience
Distinguishing Science and Pseudoscience
This is fast becoming my new favourite website.
An excellent, detailed explanation of the differences between science and pseudoscience.
This is fast becoming my new favourite website.
An excellent, detailed explanation of the differences between science and pseudoscience.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Twenty-Five Ways to Spot Quacks and Vitamin Pushers
Twenty-Five Ways to Spot Quacks and Vitamin Pushers
Yes, I'm surfing a lot today... an excellent read!
Yes, I'm surfing a lot today... an excellent read!
Worse Than Hell: The worst of the bad shirts
Worse Than Hell: The worst of the bad shirts
See, now this is the kind of t-shirt that gets you slapped... I want some!
See, now this is the kind of t-shirt that gets you slapped... I want some!
Star Trek Next Gen Apparel and Uniforms Prop Klingon Disrupter
Star Trek Next Gen Apparel and Uniforms Prop Klingon Disrupter
If anyone out there really loves me, you'll buy me this!
If anyone out there really loves me, you'll buy me this!
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Mitch Hedberg Quotes
Mitch Hedberg Quotes
This guy is brilliant... but reading it loses something... you have to imagine it being recited by a dude who sounds really really stoned.
This guy is brilliant... but reading it loses something... you have to imagine it being recited by a dude who sounds really really stoned.
Monday, March 07, 2005
"I'm sorry"
How many times a day do you hear this? How many times a day do you say it yourself?
Have you ever really stopped to consider whether or not you really mean it?
To me an apology is only sincere if it includes, or at least implies, three essential messages that I like to call the 3 R’s. It has to have all three, or the apology is empty and meaningless… essentially a lie.
Responsibility:
The acknowledgement that you have done something wrong. If you don’t believe you’ve committed an offense, why are you apologizing?
Regret:
Admitting to feeling bad about what you’ve done, or at least wishing you hadn’t done it. Again, if you’re glad you did it; your apology would be a lie.
Repeat offense:
The guarantee that you won’t do it again. Obviously no one can see the future, and you never really know whether or not you will actually do it again, but you should at least try not to. If you know you’re probably going to do it again next week, then again, your apology would be a lie.
If you accidentally bump into someone with your trolley in the supermarket, a quick “Sorry!” is called for… because chances are it meets the 3R requirements.
But often we do things to people that we know are wrong or hurtful, but we persist in doing them, knowingly and habitually, for whatever reason. Apologizing in such a situation is not called for. It wouldn’t be truthful, and therefore offering it would be a further offense.
So next time you’re about to tell someone how sorry you are, ask yourself if you really are sorry.
Have you ever really stopped to consider whether or not you really mean it?
To me an apology is only sincere if it includes, or at least implies, three essential messages that I like to call the 3 R’s. It has to have all three, or the apology is empty and meaningless… essentially a lie.
Responsibility:
The acknowledgement that you have done something wrong. If you don’t believe you’ve committed an offense, why are you apologizing?
Regret:
Admitting to feeling bad about what you’ve done, or at least wishing you hadn’t done it. Again, if you’re glad you did it; your apology would be a lie.
Repeat offense:
The guarantee that you won’t do it again. Obviously no one can see the future, and you never really know whether or not you will actually do it again, but you should at least try not to. If you know you’re probably going to do it again next week, then again, your apology would be a lie.
If you accidentally bump into someone with your trolley in the supermarket, a quick “Sorry!” is called for… because chances are it meets the 3R requirements.
But often we do things to people that we know are wrong or hurtful, but we persist in doing them, knowingly and habitually, for whatever reason. Apologizing in such a situation is not called for. It wouldn’t be truthful, and therefore offering it would be a further offense.
So next time you’re about to tell someone how sorry you are, ask yourself if you really are sorry.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
U.S.S. Enterprise-D: Personal Flagship
Ok, so I’m still not analysing things, and since the rest of my life is fairly uneventful at the moment, I’m going to do another strategy article.
This card is the centrepiece of my Federation deck, and probably my favourite card in the game.
Since STCCG Second Edition was released, I was intrigued by the idea of the illusive ‘Two-mission win’. I almost got it right with a Borg deck, but that was entirely dependant on my opponent forgetting about Locutus: Voice of the Borg’s special ability: “While this personnel is facing a dilemma, if he uses his Diplomacy, Leadership, Officer or Treachery, score 10 points”. I got it right once or twice, but never in tournament play… never underestimate your opponent.
I gave it up as a bad idea and went back to my own Federation deck… a little slow, but reliable. That was until the Fractured Time expansion.
I liked the look of the ship, and decided to pull it in for pure coolness factor… plus the high Attributes give it increased resistance to Borg assimilation attempts and Klingon raids (an increasing problem in our tournament group). And since it gave me a bonus with Leadership and Honor, I decided to change from an Astrometrics, Physics, Science based Mission set to a Leadership, Honor Security one… then I found Signal for Rescue… a Federation planet mission requiring both Leadership AND Honor worth 45 points!
If I have the Enterprise-D in orbit as I complete the mission, that gets increased to 55 points… if I happen to have the U.S.S. Enterprise-E: Federation Envoy there as well, that’s an extra 5 points! All I need is 40 points from a space mission, and I’ve got my 2-mission win!
How do I do that? Military Exercises and Intercept Renegade are both 35-point space missions requiring Leadership… so my Enterprise-D gives me a bonus 5 points for either! That’s 100 points, baby! Count ‘em!
Since Leadership, Honor and Security are easy for a Federation crew to accumulate, it’s no worries! It’s just down to Dilemma dodging… but I have a few tricks up my sleeve for that.
The only trick to this deck is ensuring I get my Enterprises out quickly. To that end, I have 3 copies of each, plus multiple matching commanders, Would you Like a Trip to Romulus (and an Kathryn Janeway: Wry Admiral thrown in for insurance) as well as a Miles O’Brian: Smiley to make the ships cheaper when they arrive, and voila!
It’s not fool-proof, and the deck is still a little slow, but on my last tournament I pulled the 2-mission win twice! When it works, it works beautifully.
This card is the centrepiece of my Federation deck, and probably my favourite card in the game.
Since STCCG Second Edition was released, I was intrigued by the idea of the illusive ‘Two-mission win’. I almost got it right with a Borg deck, but that was entirely dependant on my opponent forgetting about Locutus: Voice of the Borg’s special ability: “While this personnel is facing a dilemma, if he uses his Diplomacy, Leadership, Officer or Treachery, score 10 points”. I got it right once or twice, but never in tournament play… never underestimate your opponent.
I gave it up as a bad idea and went back to my own Federation deck… a little slow, but reliable. That was until the Fractured Time expansion.
I liked the look of the ship, and decided to pull it in for pure coolness factor… plus the high Attributes give it increased resistance to Borg assimilation attempts and Klingon raids (an increasing problem in our tournament group). And since it gave me a bonus with Leadership and Honor, I decided to change from an Astrometrics, Physics, Science based Mission set to a Leadership, Honor Security one… then I found Signal for Rescue… a Federation planet mission requiring both Leadership AND Honor worth 45 points!
If I have the Enterprise-D in orbit as I complete the mission, that gets increased to 55 points… if I happen to have the U.S.S. Enterprise-E: Federation Envoy there as well, that’s an extra 5 points! All I need is 40 points from a space mission, and I’ve got my 2-mission win!
How do I do that? Military Exercises and Intercept Renegade are both 35-point space missions requiring Leadership… so my Enterprise-D gives me a bonus 5 points for either! That’s 100 points, baby! Count ‘em!
Since Leadership, Honor and Security are easy for a Federation crew to accumulate, it’s no worries! It’s just down to Dilemma dodging… but I have a few tricks up my sleeve for that.
The only trick to this deck is ensuring I get my Enterprises out quickly. To that end, I have 3 copies of each, plus multiple matching commanders, Would you Like a Trip to Romulus (and an Kathryn Janeway: Wry Admiral thrown in for insurance) as well as a Miles O’Brian: Smiley to make the ships cheaper when they arrive, and voila!
It’s not fool-proof, and the deck is still a little slow, but on my last tournament I pulled the 2-mission win twice! When it works, it works beautifully.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)