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Thursday, February 24, 2005

The Punisher



WizKids - Marvel HeroClix - The Punisher


I reckon the movie about this guy really did him justice.

Although most people think of this piece as unremarkable, he's earned a permanent spot in my HeroClix teams.

I mean, just look at his dial. Ok, granted, he can't take much damage... he's only human after all. But the initial combo of Stealth, Willpower and Ranged Combat Expert coupled with a nice, long range and a high Attack value is lethal!

He takes one click of damage and suddenly gains Smoke Cloud... the best possible compliment to his Stealth... he can create his own cover!

Another click and he loses that invaluable Willpower to be replaced with Toughness... not as useful, but at least it'll keep him in the game a little longer.

He clicks again, and his powers change again! Stealth is replaced with Running Shot (excellent) and Ranged Combat Expert gives way to Outwit (BRILLIANT) plus he switches to bigger guns and his Damage value jumps to 3!

Three more clicks and he's gone, but by this time he's probably already done significant damage to opponents' teams.

My strategy is get him close to the middle of the map, hide him in some bushes or under a desk, and let him snipe the crap out of anyone unlucky enough to get in range. When he loses his Stealth he jumps out and goes ape, using his Running Shot and Outwit together like a knife and fork to carve up opposing heavy hitters.

Best to back him up with someone like Shi (Veteran)... just in case someone gets too close for him to use his Ranged Combat Expert.

And all this for only 65 points!

Prepare to be Punished!

No, I will not fix your computer

I’m a computer techie.

Even though I’ve moved beyond the technical work in my day job (into the wonderful world of consulting) I can’t seem to escape it.

I obviously have my own computers that I’m able to keep running nicely with my leet skillz. But, as any other geek can relate to, I am constantly hounded by non-geeks to fix their computers.

It started with my family. My mom and dad are, of course, entitled to ask me to fix their computers. Sure it’s annoying that every time I go to visit my folks, my dad walks in and says “I wonder if you could have a look at my email”. But since they’re my parents, I can’t exactly say no.

Although two of my sisters were smart enough to marry IT geeks, the third one didn’t have that foresight. She runs her own company… although it’s small, it has quite an impressive IT infrastructure, upon which the business is entirely dependant.

The same lack of foresight that led my sister to marry a non-geek has also led her to not employ a single person with any IT savvy. It’s actually sad. I got called out to her office so many times I eventually had to start charging her for my services. Once I did that, she started on-selling my services to her friends and colleagues.

Again, I can’t complain too much… the money I make from my tech-support services is what pays for my HeroClix and Star Trek CCG cards. But I really really don’t enjoy the work.

Someone once told me, “If you stop enjoying what you do, it becomes torture.” And that’s exactly what has happened.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There is a certain level of satisfaction that comes from sorting out a challenging problem with a computer. And if someone I’m close to is having computer troubles, I’d rather they bring it to me first than Indelible Corruption.

What I object to is being taken for granted.

A few months ago, a good friend of mine asked if I would take a look at a friend’s computer for her. Now she had mentioned this friend before… apparently she was single, attractive and lived close to me. I figured my buddy was trying to set me up with a friend of hers and the computer fixing thing was just the pretext, so I agreed.

No such luck. Next time I saw my friend, she took me to her car, handed me a PC box and sent me on my way. No discussion of meeting the machine’s owner, no discussion of payment… just “Monkey, fix computer!”

It happened again last night at choir practice. When we had finished for the evening, one of the young ladies in the choir accosted me with her laptop and a list of problems she wanted me to look at then and there.

It’s because of this kind of thing that I had to buy this t-shirt. Even then, people think I’m kidding.

I’m not a Brain-on-a-stick, dammit!

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Cool quote

"Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control.

It is determined for insects as well as for the stars. Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper."

- Albert Einstein

Einey seems like such a cool guy. I would've loved to have partied with him one time.

Monday, February 21, 2005

Zecharia Sitchin - Adam

I wanted to read his books before embarking on a serious critique of his work, but this man's web-site alone has provided me with more than enough material to get started on.

I have no real agenda with this (and future) critiques... I am only asking questions about his theories. I hope one day Mr. Sitchin himself will be able to answer these questions, but I suspect he won't.

I'll begin with this article.

Adam

1. Although it's not technically incorrect, I wonder why he chose to use one of the more archaic proper names for God in his opening paragraph. "Elohim" is a rather obscure choice, when the term "God" would have sufficed.

The etymology of the word 'Elohim' can be found here.

2. The second paragraph seems to imply that the Human Genome Project has completed their survey. They haven't. Sitchin quotes one set of estimates, but the jury is still very much out on the question. It will be some time before we have a real answer.

Here is a good place to find information about that.

My question is: why take preliminary results of an incomplete study as fact?

3. In the same paragraph, he refers to Humanity as the "pinnacle of the genomic Tree of Life!".

Although I suppose he is entitled to his opinion on this, what makes him think that we are any more a pinnacle of evolution than a chimpanzee, a fruit-fly or yeast?

All species on Earth have been evolving for the same amount of time. We have all made changes and adapted through the evolutionary process to make us better at whatever it is we do. Who says we're any better than any other species?

4.

... This post was not completed. Perhaps someday I'll finish it, but don't hold your breath.

I win!

After a negative experience in my first attempt at Heroclix competitive play, I've been hesitant to get back into the saddle.

But some gamer-geek friends of mine persuaded me to join them in a Heroclix tournament this weekend, and I'm glad I went... I got first prize!

I kicked SO much ass! Sinestro rules!

And what did I win? A limited edition Johnny Storm unique figure. Bitchin'!

WizKids - Marvel HeroClix

Friday, February 18, 2005

Noah's Flood

Noah's flood

Although this is still an unproven theory, at least it was derived by real-life scientists who happen to know about these sorts of things.

By their own admission, it's not exactly good science to go about trying to find facts to fit a myth, but at least they seem to be doing it the right way.

What little evidence there is seems to corroborate their story... so far.

Which is more than I can say for some other Great Flood theories I've read of late.

Dark Pheonix

WizKids - Marvel HeroClix

And I thought Sinestro was cool... I'm in love!

Well, that wasn't so bad

Last night I had to return to the Ex’s house to drop off a couple of things. I was expecting it to be just as uncomfortable as Tuesday night, so I had planned to just leave the CD and run.

But when I arrived it was completely different. It was actually pleasant.

I had dinner with the Ex’s soon-to-be step-daughter (a charming little 4-year-old blonde bombshell). Then the Ex and I sat and chatted for a while, swapped music and brought each other up to speed on what’s going on in our respective families.

It was quite comfortable being in her familiar presence again.

Let me just say for the record that I still entertain no wishes or desires to get back with her. I wouldn’t take her back if she begged me; it was just nice to reminisce a little with someone who was a big part of my life for a long time.

Even the fiancé seems to be more comfortable with my presence now, so I reckon I can sing at the wedding without worrying about upsetting anyone.

And to make it even better, the new lady in my life gave me a call while I was there. The Ex commented that she knew who was calling because she saw how my face “lit up” when I answered the phone. I just smiled.

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Thursday, February 03, 2005

TrekToday - UPN Cancels 'Star Trek: Enterprise'

TrekToday - UPN Cancels 'Star Trek: Enterprise'

Sources inside Paramount inform me that there are currently no plans for a 6th series or an 11th feature film in the works.

It seems that today is the day that Star Trek died.

WizKids - DC HeroClix - Sinestro

WizKids - DC HeroClix


Sinestro frikken rules!

I playtested him yesterday with the "Danger Room" single player rules, and even on his Rookie power setting he shrugged off attacks from Veteran Magneto and Experienced Annihilus. He wiped the floor with the bots... I'm in love.

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Welcome to Engrish.com!

Welcome to Engrish.com!

Always makes this site to a happy prace!