http://www.pathguy.com/cg35.htm
A guy I was going to play D&D with sent a link to this. It looks pretty cool. It's at least a fun way to make up a character without all the acoutrements. It's quite complete... perhaps even a bit too much so for how many supplements I own, but I'm sure it would still work for a regular game, even if you just have to skip over a lot of stuff. It looks pretty cool. Perhaps I'll make greater use of it in the future when making characters.
31.8.07
Chinese Discover America?
http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/books/01/13/1421/index.html
This is another random work-related article from an off-hand comment from a co-worker when we were talking about Columbus Day as the next federal holiday after Labor Day. He said the Chinese discovered America, that he saw it on the discovery channel, and I just thought, "What the hell?" So I looked it up, and here it is. Apparently, there's some evidence that the Chinese discovered the Americas about 50 years before Columbus. That would still put them behind the Vikings, which is also well supported, and there are several other claims, but it's fairly interesting to consider that America might have been quite a bit more of a melting pot even before it was discovered by major western civilizations. It was totally a surprise to me, and really interesting.
This is another random work-related article from an off-hand comment from a co-worker when we were talking about Columbus Day as the next federal holiday after Labor Day. He said the Chinese discovered America, that he saw it on the discovery channel, and I just thought, "What the hell?" So I looked it up, and here it is. Apparently, there's some evidence that the Chinese discovered the Americas about 50 years before Columbus. That would still put them behind the Vikings, which is also well supported, and there are several other claims, but it's fairly interesting to consider that America might have been quite a bit more of a melting pot even before it was discovered by major western civilizations. It was totally a surprise to me, and really interesting.
Randomness
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_sign
At work, I often find myself looking up random things on wikipedia that come up in conversation. Today, there was talk about the V sign, and I wasn't sure if one way was peace and the other victory, so I looked it up. As it turns out, it's both the same way, and the other way is insulting. I still found it interesting enough that I decided to put it up so other people could see it. Enjoy.
At work, I often find myself looking up random things on wikipedia that come up in conversation. Today, there was talk about the V sign, and I wasn't sure if one way was peace and the other victory, so I looked it up. As it turns out, it's both the same way, and the other way is insulting. I still found it interesting enough that I decided to put it up so other people could see it. Enjoy.
Acid Music Loops
http://www.acidmusicloops.com/
This is another site with ACID loops on it that I've found. Again, I haven't checked them out yet, but they look quite interesting, and I'm sure I'll be checking them out in the future....
This is another site with ACID loops on it that I've found. Again, I haven't checked them out yet, but they look quite interesting, and I'm sure I'll be checking them out in the future....
For Once...
http://www.au.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr006=b4jmosjcv4.app5b&abbr=pr&page=NewsArticle&id=9349&security=1002&news_iv_ctrl=1241
The president actually did the right thing. He called that woman from yesterday and apologized. The situation is still a bit dodgy, but at least some things have been put right.
The president actually did the right thing. He called that woman from yesterday and apologized. The situation is still a bit dodgy, but at least some things have been put right.
30.8.07
Schizotypal
http://www.livescience.com/health/050907_schizotype_creative.html
I've often wondered why it is that I think differently from other people. When I used to take psychology classes, I often wondered if I had a disorder, and the descriptions of schizophrenia often seemed somewhat apt, but not quite on the mark. I had seen the term schizotypal before, but it wasn't well explained. This article explains some things about it, about how people tend to still be functional, just different, and now it seems even more apt. Even my wife was commenting on it earlier, about how I'm different. Maybe this really is it. Of course, there's no reason to get diagnosed about anything, or to really even worry about it. I'm just different is all. This might be it, or it might not. It just seems like a good fit to me.
I've often wondered why it is that I think differently from other people. When I used to take psychology classes, I often wondered if I had a disorder, and the descriptions of schizophrenia often seemed somewhat apt, but not quite on the mark. I had seen the term schizotypal before, but it wasn't well explained. This article explains some things about it, about how people tend to still be functional, just different, and now it seems even more apt. Even my wife was commenting on it earlier, about how I'm different. Maybe this really is it. Of course, there's no reason to get diagnosed about anything, or to really even worry about it. I'm just different is all. This might be it, or it might not. It just seems like a good fit to me.
Executive Exclusion
http://www.lvrj.com/news/9441071.html
http://www.ktvn.com/Global/story.asp?S=7000560
http://www.au.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr005=1z3ya5me02.app13a&abbr=pr&page=NewsArticle&id=9345&security=1002&news_iv_ctrl=1241
Three articles this time. This story came to me through email on a list I'm on. It's about a widow of a veteran who was killed in Afghanistan. There was a meeting with the president of the relatives of killed veterans in the Reno, NV area. This woman was not invited, even though the soldier's parents and siblings were. The reason? The soldier, and the wife, are Wiccans. In fact, she was rather public about it, being one of those involved in getting the pentacle approved for VA headstones. Now, I don't have the greatest amount of respect for our current president, but this is exceptional. All it involved was a short meeting, and they couldn't even extend that. I just find it despicable.
http://www.ktvn.com/Global/story.asp?S=7000560
http://www.au.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr005=1z3ya5me02.app13a&abbr=pr&page=NewsArticle&id=9345&security=1002&news_iv_ctrl=1241
Three articles this time. This story came to me through email on a list I'm on. It's about a widow of a veteran who was killed in Afghanistan. There was a meeting with the president of the relatives of killed veterans in the Reno, NV area. This woman was not invited, even though the soldier's parents and siblings were. The reason? The soldier, and the wife, are Wiccans. In fact, she was rather public about it, being one of those involved in getting the pentacle approved for VA headstones. Now, I don't have the greatest amount of respect for our current president, but this is exceptional. All it involved was a short meeting, and they couldn't even extend that. I just find it despicable.
Mind Reading
http://www.livescience.com/health/050427_mind_readers.html
I stumbled upon this article following some strings from other articles. It's actually fairly interesting. It's about a scientific theory on empathy, and postulates "mirror neurons." They suggest that everyone reads minds (actually, except autstic people, who they suspect might have a deficit of these neurons), and that's how people develop. I found it really interesting.
I stumbled upon this article following some strings from other articles. It's actually fairly interesting. It's about a scientific theory on empathy, and postulates "mirror neurons." They suggest that everyone reads minds (actually, except autstic people, who they suspect might have a deficit of these neurons), and that's how people develop. I found it really interesting.
27.8.07
Inner Rhythm Studios
http://www.innerrhythmstudios.com/index.html
This is another collection of ACID loops I found. I haven't tried these ones, but they look to be fairly professionally made. I am basing this solely off of their website, but I'd take a chance on them. I'll update if I ever do.
This is another collection of ACID loops I found. I haven't tried these ones, but they look to be fairly professionally made. I am basing this solely off of their website, but I'd take a chance on them. I'll update if I ever do.
24.8.07
Facial Proportions
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20070823/sc_livescience/studychickmagnetstodaylooklikecavemen
This is the kind of thing I find interesting. I like the evolutionary approach to attractiveness. I tend to watch lots of weird scientific and anthropologic shows about sex and the nature of attraction. It's sort of hyothetical aesthetics. It's just interesting to me.
This is the kind of thing I find interesting. I like the evolutionary approach to attractiveness. I tend to watch lots of weird scientific and anthropologic shows about sex and the nature of attraction. It's sort of hyothetical aesthetics. It's just interesting to me.
Out of Body Experience
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070823/ts_alt_afp/usscienceparanormal
This was an article that said that scientists had recreated an out of body experience without using drugs. They used virtual reality instead. Apparently, the people in the experiment identified with the projection, even feeling threatened by physical force (which to me, suggests something is wrong... if you don't have a body, you shouldn't feel threatened physically). They focused more on technological applications, such as remote surgery, or video games and such... not so much what I would have focused on, but interesting, nonetheless. It caught my eye, though I'm not sure I agree with the results... perhaps up until the last line of the article.
This was an article that said that scientists had recreated an out of body experience without using drugs. They used virtual reality instead. Apparently, the people in the experiment identified with the projection, even feeling threatened by physical force (which to me, suggests something is wrong... if you don't have a body, you shouldn't feel threatened physically). They focused more on technological applications, such as remote surgery, or video games and such... not so much what I would have focused on, but interesting, nonetheless. It caught my eye, though I'm not sure I agree with the results... perhaps up until the last line of the article.
21.8.07
More ACID loops
http://www.acidfanatic.com/
If you're into ACID, but, like me, mostly use it as a base for recording rather than for sequencing whole songs, or if you're just looking for new and different content, this site is worth checking out. I found it through ebay, when I was looking for content to download when I'd lost my old loop CDs. I got some weird trippy stuff, but after exploring the website, I found some more conventional stuff. They're pretty good loops, and definitely different (for the most part... they do have some more traditional stuff, too). If you're looking for new content that's affordable, and you have a broadband connection (they're download only), this is worth taking a look at.
If you're into ACID, but, like me, mostly use it as a base for recording rather than for sequencing whole songs, or if you're just looking for new and different content, this site is worth checking out. I found it through ebay, when I was looking for content to download when I'd lost my old loop CDs. I got some weird trippy stuff, but after exploring the website, I found some more conventional stuff. They're pretty good loops, and definitely different (for the most part... they do have some more traditional stuff, too). If you're looking for new content that's affordable, and you have a broadband connection (they're download only), this is worth taking a look at.
Multivitamins
http://www.naturemade.com/WellnessTopics/wt_articles.asp?articleid=291
I take lots of vitamins. I mean, seriously. For a guy of my age, I take a lot of nutritional supplements. I'd like to stay healthy. I've always taken vitamins, because my diet isn't optimal most of the time, what with my detesting vegetables and all. My diet is improving, but I still take vitamins. This article is beneficial for me, because it actually tells you what to look for in a multivitamin, which I haven't really seen a lot elsewhere. Granted, it's from a nutritional supplement company, so they have a vested interest, but it at least tells you what to look for, even if it's not one of theirs. It doesn't give brand recommendations, just content recommendations. I found it useful, anyway.
I take lots of vitamins. I mean, seriously. For a guy of my age, I take a lot of nutritional supplements. I'd like to stay healthy. I've always taken vitamins, because my diet isn't optimal most of the time, what with my detesting vegetables and all. My diet is improving, but I still take vitamins. This article is beneficial for me, because it actually tells you what to look for in a multivitamin, which I haven't really seen a lot elsewhere. Granted, it's from a nutritional supplement company, so they have a vested interest, but it at least tells you what to look for, even if it's not one of theirs. It doesn't give brand recommendations, just content recommendations. I found it useful, anyway.
Time Travel
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20070820/sc_livescience/timetravelmachineoutlined
I found this interesting, because it's always fun when they have theories about things that have always been science fiction. It gives me hope for science. A lot of times, science seems to be about proving things wrong. It's good that there are still some scientists who are dreamers and looking for new possibilities. That's my area. I found it interesting to see a theoretical framework for time travel in this article, and it was fun to read.
I found this interesting, because it's always fun when they have theories about things that have always been science fiction. It gives me hope for science. A lot of times, science seems to be about proving things wrong. It's good that there are still some scientists who are dreamers and looking for new possibilities. That's my area. I found it interesting to see a theoretical framework for time travel in this article, and it was fun to read.
3.8.07
Elder Scrolls
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elder_Scrolls
I've taken to reading bits about the Elder Scrolls series of video games recently in my down time. I played through the main quest and a bunch of the side quests in Oblivion some time ago. I just this week found out that they've made Morrowind compatible with the XBox 360, so I bought it last night to try out soon. I've been waiting for it to become playable, and had just about gotten to where I was going to buy it on the PC, despite my dislike of PC gaming. I'm really psyched to get playing Morrowind, and even Oblivion again, since I've got some expansion packs now.
What's really interesting to me is all the history and politcs that are there in the games, both through dialogue and in-game books. It's really interesting how deeply they've designed it all. When I play through this time, I think I'm going to just stop and read all the books I pick up and really learn about the nuances in the game, and maybe I'll appreciate it more. For the moment, I'm going to do some reading when I have time here, and I'm already appreciating it more.
I've taken to reading bits about the Elder Scrolls series of video games recently in my down time. I played through the main quest and a bunch of the side quests in Oblivion some time ago. I just this week found out that they've made Morrowind compatible with the XBox 360, so I bought it last night to try out soon. I've been waiting for it to become playable, and had just about gotten to where I was going to buy it on the PC, despite my dislike of PC gaming. I'm really psyched to get playing Morrowind, and even Oblivion again, since I've got some expansion packs now.
What's really interesting to me is all the history and politcs that are there in the games, both through dialogue and in-game books. It's really interesting how deeply they've designed it all. When I play through this time, I think I'm going to just stop and read all the books I pick up and really learn about the nuances in the game, and maybe I'll appreciate it more. For the moment, I'm going to do some reading when I have time here, and I'm already appreciating it more.
Abram's Creek
http://www.abramscreek.com/
My wife and I have wanted to go camping for some time, but it's been so hot lately, and we've been so busy, that it hasn't been happening. It's still a scorcher, but this New Age themed campground in West Virginia (yeah, I was surprised, too...) is in a forested river valley in the mountains, and is supposedly a good bit cooler than the surrounding area, so we're giving it a shot this weekend. It looks pretty cool, and it's a new campground, so it's still fairly rugged, which is nice for me. The pictures look good, and hopefully, it'll be a good time. I'll update after we've been there how it was.
My wife and I have wanted to go camping for some time, but it's been so hot lately, and we've been so busy, that it hasn't been happening. It's still a scorcher, but this New Age themed campground in West Virginia (yeah, I was surprised, too...) is in a forested river valley in the mountains, and is supposedly a good bit cooler than the surrounding area, so we're giving it a shot this weekend. It looks pretty cool, and it's a new campground, so it's still fairly rugged, which is nice for me. The pictures look good, and hopefully, it'll be a good time. I'll update after we've been there how it was.
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