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I'm back! Did you miss me?
...
You didn't even notice? Eh, close enough.
Alright, so I have a few updates now, the main one being that I just got through my first week of my focus program at school. This program takes place in another school, so I have to get used to a new layout, new people, new IT guy spying on your work. I'm now a modeler, albeit a very bad one who can't texture things yet. I made a pistol clip, then looked up 9mm rounds and discovered I have to redo it if it's going to be for a 9mm gun. (The round sticking out the top is too long and narrow to be 9mm.) Screenshots may follow. I'm also transmitting this post via a new external modem which my cousin installed. (as you may recall, the external was dead, leaving me to rely on the 1GB-cap 'highspeed', which caused my disappearance once I hit the cap.) It didn't exactly fit the tiny HP-made office tower, but removing a few bits of useless metal was good enough to get it in there. Anyway, I have some stuff to catch up on.
...
You didn't even notice? Eh, close enough.
Alright, so I have a few updates now, the main one being that I just got through my first week of my focus program at school. This program takes place in another school, so I have to get used to a new layout, new people, new IT guy spying on your work. I'm now a modeler, albeit a very bad one who can't texture things yet. I made a pistol clip, then looked up 9mm rounds and discovered I have to redo it if it's going to be for a 9mm gun. (The round sticking out the top is too long and narrow to be 9mm.) Screenshots may follow. I'm also transmitting this post via a new external modem which my cousin installed. (as you may recall, the external was dead, leaving me to rely on the 1GB-cap 'highspeed', which caused my disappearance once I hit the cap.) It didn't exactly fit the tiny HP-made office tower, but removing a few bits of useless metal was good enough to get it in there. Anyway, I have some stuff to catch up on.
Yesterday I tackled a problem that has plagued game developers for decades; creating good-looking flowing water. Needless to say, I failed. Anyone good with Sprit's Aurora particle system?
Oh, I also went in a helicopter and had my first flight today, which is fairly noteworthy, but less so because I can't currently upload any pictures.
Oh, I also went in a helicopter and had my first flight today, which is fairly noteworthy, but less so because I can't currently upload any pictures.
EDIT: It appears that it sorted itself out after an hour with the power reconnected. Which is odd, but I'm not complaining. Also, the automatic rock is bricked, which is to say the washing machine is broken. The automatic shutoff for the water didn't go, and the basement floor, once again, started to flood.
Original Post:
So, my PC is broken, I have to ration bandwidth on the family computer, and as usual, there's nothing on TV. Guess I'll be spending more time reading The Dragon Reborn today than I anticipated.
Also, before anyone has to ask, as soon as the computer is turned on, the fan goes full blast and there's no output from the monitor. And yes, I tried removing, cleaning, and reinstalling the GPU. For some reason, it didn't work this time.
Original Post:
So, my PC is broken, I have to ration bandwidth on the family computer, and as usual, there's nothing on TV. Guess I'll be spending more time reading The Dragon Reborn today than I anticipated.
Also, before anyone has to ask, as soon as the computer is turned on, the fan goes full blast and there's no output from the monitor. And yes, I tried removing, cleaning, and reinstalling the GPU. For some reason, it didn't work this time.
So, as I posted in the ShoutBOX yesterday, my modem is kaput. It would disconnect (literally) as soon as a connection was established, and now it's not even detecting a dial tone.
Which means...
Fuck.
See you later, hopefully within a few weeks, if we can track down a modem in one of the more computer-oriented electronics stores (spoiler: stores such as Future Shop don't carry modems anymore.)
Which means...
Captain Terror: jeff can you update from your phoneBasically. Except it's not a phone (which I don't have) it's the bloody "mobile internet stick", ISP code for piece of shit that lets you connect from anywhere you can get a cell phone signal, but is really slow and limited to the tune of 1GB/Month total bandwidth for $50. If you'll pardon my language,
Fuck.
See you later, hopefully within a few weeks, if we can track down a modem in one of the more computer-oriented electronics stores (spoiler: stores such as Future Shop don't carry modems anymore.)
My brother came home for the weekend, which was nice. It turns out that he also bought Portal 2, as well, so I managed to get over 9 GB of the files from him, bypassing having to download those 9+GB and racking up a massive internet bill. After he left to go back to University and his new job, I got steam to fill in the blanks, and got to playing.
Now, I'll be honest here. At the end of the boss battle with [censored to protect spoilers], I was just shooting idly. I thought "Well, I don't know what else to do, might as well shoot the [censored]." I completely forgot what the Conversion gel was made of. Anyway, Brilliant game, well worth the wait, and I encourage anyone at TWHL who hasn't yet played it to get it. Next stops, the SDK and finishing the rest of the commentary.
tl/dr:
Finally got my hands on the content for Portal 2, which I preordered off steam shortly before release, played it, was great.
Now, I'll be honest here. At the end of the boss battle with [censored to protect spoilers], I was just shooting idly. I thought "Well, I don't know what else to do, might as well shoot the [censored]." I completely forgot what the Conversion gel was made of. Anyway, Brilliant game, well worth the wait, and I encourage anyone at TWHL who hasn't yet played it to get it. Next stops, the SDK and finishing the rest of the commentary.
tl/dr:
Finally got my hands on the content for Portal 2, which I preordered off steam shortly before release, played it, was great.
As of last Thursday, I was done my exams and finished with school for the summer.
Also, I have a poison ivy rash on my arm and it's really bothering me.
Also, I have a poison ivy rash on my arm and it's really bothering me.
Second session of DnD.
I'm so cool.
Also, my internet connections (both the dialup and the "High speed" stick) have been shite lately. Any other Canadians notice this, or is the CRTC not to blame this time?
I'm so cool.
Also, my internet connections (both the dialup and the "High speed" stick) have been shite lately. Any other Canadians notice this, or is the CRTC not to blame this time?
So, after weeks of my friends trying to convince me to shave (I had been shaving, but the part I was trying to grow out wasn't coming in so well) I finally caved. I got what there was of the goatee cleared with the back, but when it came time to use the main part of the shaver, one of the razors fell apart. And went in the sink. Luckily, it didn't go all the way to the U-bend, and I managed to fish it out with tweezers, but now I have to wait for it to dry before I can put it back together and finish shaving.
After much deliberation (okay, okay, about half an hour) I've decided to redo at least the predisaster maps for Colony 42. This is because the current versions are horrible, and I can do much, much better.
I'm thinking scripted scenes will be about the same, and areas will follow the same basic concept, but everything will be made with my current skill level, and the maps will be more expansive (I'm thinking the bridge will be roughly 5x larger, but not fully populated because of the early hour in which the mod starts.)
I'm thinking scripted scenes will be about the same, and areas will follow the same basic concept, but everything will be made with my current skill level, and the maps will be more expansive (I'm thinking the bridge will be roughly 5x larger, but not fully populated because of the early hour in which the mod starts.)
As of yesterday, I now wear glasses.
This is going to take some getting used to.
This is going to take some getting used to.
Well, last year's Yearbook came in today.
...Perhaps "came in" isn't the right phrase. It was bought as a back-order last semester, and my parents intended to give it to me as a secondary Christmas present, but they forgot about until yesterday, and found it today.
I got in it once. In the section where everyone's picture gets in. I'm not exactly active in extra-curricular activities.
As a sidenote, there was also over half a page devoted to the names of the people who didn't get their pictures taken. These people will not be remembered in the years to come.
...Perhaps "came in" isn't the right phrase. It was bought as a back-order last semester, and my parents intended to give it to me as a secondary Christmas present, but they forgot about until yesterday, and found it today.
I got in it once. In the section where everyone's picture gets in. I'm not exactly active in extra-curricular activities.
As a sidenote, there was also over half a page devoted to the names of the people who didn't get their pictures taken. These people will not be remembered in the years to come.
Since Australia is about a day ahead of me, I'm pretty sure tomorrow (Friday the 18th here in Canada) is going to be the day PB takes down the site for the transfer.
Goodbye, twhl.co.za.
Thanks for the good times, thanks for the learning, and thanks for turning me from an unknowing, poorly-educated internet newbie to a well-adjusted member of the modern world.
Oh, and sorry for all the necroposting the day I joined. I... I didn't know.
Goodbye, twhl.co.za.
Thanks for the good times, thanks for the learning, and thanks for turning me from an unknowing, poorly-educated internet newbie to a well-adjusted member of the modern world.
Oh, and sorry for all the necroposting the day I joined. I... I didn't know.
So, today I went into town to get an external enclosure for a 500GB HDD my brother and dad bought back when we thought the HDD was the problem with the computer. First stop was Future Shop. Looked around a bit, asked an employee, and he told us that they had none in stock, and had not for a while. He said that there was a small chance Staples had one. So, we went next door, asked the guy there, and he said that they used to have them, but didn't seem to have them anymore, and that we should look in a smaller computer store like Canada Computers for it.
So, downtown. Okay. Went downtown, walked in, asked a sales person, and he showed us their enclosures. They have the better part of an entire aisle devoted to them.
It's an Eagle N-Series, and we picked it up for 26 bucks, tax included.
This is it.
So, now I can finally transfer stuff en masse, and have backups as well.
Oh yeah, and I got a camera for Christmas. Guess I forgot to mention that with the whole computer-being-dead thing.
So, downtown. Okay. Went downtown, walked in, asked a sales person, and he showed us their enclosures. They have the better part of an entire aisle devoted to them.
It's an Eagle N-Series, and we picked it up for 26 bucks, tax included.
This is it.
Oh yeah, and I got a camera for Christmas. Guess I forgot to mention that with the whole computer-being-dead thing.
UPDATE: Okay, so I couldn't take out the white base (I save before I tried, and got decimated) but my forward position has been set up at a mining position I just discovered, more defendable than the other one. After that, I started developing a fleet of 10 battlecruisers. Since my 24 or so siege tanks can easily protect my bases, that fleet is almost ready to move out, and with a couple of science vessels as detectors to ensure ghosts don't get the better of me again. Tomorrow night, I strike.
I believe I had developed a winning strategy for Starcraft, Episode I, Level 10, "The Hammer Falls".
1. Ignore the strategy guide. Yes, it has a nice map that tells you where the enemy is, and where you can place bunkers, but it's strategy is flawed.
2. Set up your base ASAP; make a barracks, 2 supply depots, a factory, a science facility, and a starport, as well as a ton of SCVs.
3. Set up your two tanks in defensive positions on the upper rim of your current base, (the only thing you should have researched is siege mode) with fully stocked bunkers and missile turrets close by. Start churning out siege tanks, and reinforce your marines until you have a decent amount. Get two science vessels to act as mobile detectors. Then, move out to the right and up to the first bridge; On the way there will be one or two goliaths, and a squad of marines.
4. Reinforce that area with missile turrets and bunkers guarding the bridge. Get as many siege tanks as humanly possible there and in siege mode, inching them forward when a new layer is complete. Make sure your science vessels are there as well, and get a couple reserve bunkers in the area you fought the goliaths in, just in case. When Alpha Squadron (White) attacks through that way (and it will) their force will be comprised of at least 2 goliaths, a bunch of siege tanks, and upwards of three cloak-enabled ghosts. Blow them to hell, and then move out, attacking their base instead of setting up a forward position in the mines. Once their base is clean, go to the forward position (leave a couple of tanks there, though, with a few missile turrets) and start setting up a base. Go to the upper side of the station, and set up a perimeter there; block of the bridge to the left, and make lots of missile turrets as resources allow. Then, start climbing the tech tree.
4. Churn out 6-12 Battlecruisers, fully upgraded, and make sure to upgrade your vehicles a fair piece too.
5. Send the Battlecruisers in to wipe out the enemy and yamato the ion cannon.
6. Victory! You, Jim, and your men are outta here!
I believe I had developed a winning strategy for Starcraft, Episode I, Level 10, "The Hammer Falls".
1. Ignore the strategy guide. Yes, it has a nice map that tells you where the enemy is, and where you can place bunkers, but it's strategy is flawed.
2. Set up your base ASAP; make a barracks, 2 supply depots, a factory, a science facility, and a starport, as well as a ton of SCVs.
3. Set up your two tanks in defensive positions on the upper rim of your current base, (the only thing you should have researched is siege mode) with fully stocked bunkers and missile turrets close by. Start churning out siege tanks, and reinforce your marines until you have a decent amount. Get two science vessels to act as mobile detectors. Then, move out to the right and up to the first bridge; On the way there will be one or two goliaths, and a squad of marines.
4. Reinforce that area with missile turrets and bunkers guarding the bridge. Get as many siege tanks as humanly possible there and in siege mode, inching them forward when a new layer is complete. Make sure your science vessels are there as well, and get a couple reserve bunkers in the area you fought the goliaths in, just in case. When Alpha Squadron (White) attacks through that way (and it will) their force will be comprised of at least 2 goliaths, a bunch of siege tanks, and upwards of three cloak-enabled ghosts. Blow them to hell, and then move out, attacking their base instead of setting up a forward position in the mines. Once their base is clean, go to the forward position (leave a couple of tanks there, though, with a few missile turrets) and start setting up a base. Go to the upper side of the station, and set up a perimeter there; block of the bridge to the left, and make lots of missile turrets as resources allow. Then, start climbing the tech tree.
4. Churn out 6-12 Battlecruisers, fully upgraded, and make sure to upgrade your vehicles a fair piece too.
5. Send the Battlecruisers in to wipe out the enemy and yamato the ion cannon.
6. Victory! You, Jim, and your men are outta here!