tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50053567391004309892024-03-05T09:34:21.816+00:00The HinternetAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-40916160170904636262012-04-20T12:16:00.000+01:002012-04-20T12:16:12.416+01:00“We fight, we dare, we end our hunger for justice.” ― Suzanne CollinsSo, recently The Hunger Games went round our group like some INSERT METAPHORE.<br />
I therefore decided to use my many many spare audible credits to my advantage and get the audiobook, despite the many others which I currently have on the go, though after a lot of driving recently, I am now further through the behemoth that is American Gods...<br />
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So onto Hunger Games, just the first book that is. There will be spoilers so don't read this if you want to watch the film or read the books. Though all I can say for you people now is read the books...<br />
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Hunger Games is set in a Dystopian Future. One box ticked already.<br />
No space pirates, but can't have everything, and maybe they pop up in the 2nd and 3rd books, who knows?<br />
Well, I think Elle and Gareth and Brian know, but DON'T TELL ME!<br />
<br />
Basically the book is an indeterminate amount of time in the future, Gareth and I think around 300 years, where America has become the Nation on Pan-Am, run out of the Capital after an uprising of the other 13 districts and a war, which was won by the Capital through the eradication of District 13.<br />
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Now the remaining districts live in poverty, especially those outlying, such as District 12. Also, as a reminder of the Capital's power, each district must enter a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the Hunger Games. Yay, got the name of the book into the review, awesome. <br />
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The Hunger Games are basically a Battle Royale, putting kids up against kids in a battle to the death. Yeah, right, it is a bit dark. The book follows Katniss Everdeen as she attempts to stay alive in this "game".<br />
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So the book from here is obviously quite dark, but it really is dark. Really...<br />
That's what I think is the weirdest thing about it. It's written for teens, but it is no way stuff that young teens (12-14) should be reading about. Which brings me nicely to the film..<br />
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The film is tame, all of the cool creepy and and dark bits have been taken out, except for the obvious theme and is probably deserving of the 12A rating. That is not to say that I agree with the 12A rating as a whole, but this is not one of those films like... oh I don't know...<br />
<br />
DARK KNIGHT<br />
<br />
that it is wholly ridiculous to take a 10 year old to see.<br />
Which brings me to my Daily Mail story. A group of us saw the film in Guildford, and after were interviewed by a Daily Mail editor hoping to get some sort of comments out of us. We said what we thought, how the film was far more child-friendly than the books (which anyone can buy and read) and how the rating system is fine. She said how she had some concerns, but her 9 year old BOY said it was fine and that the worst part was when they kissed. (It is pretty icky to kiss a girl)<br />
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Then we came across this, from the same woman.<br />
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I'll give you a sec to read...<br />
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<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2122524/The-Hunger-Games-Its-film-child-wants--violence-disturbing.html">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2122524/The-Hunger-Games-Its-film-child-wants--violence-disturbing.html</a><br />
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Really? What a pile of completely absa-fucking-lootedly ridiculous todswallop (and a few more colourful words to go with). This pile of what I can only assume was fiction writing is the reason that people shouldn't read the Daily Mail. She obviously knew that she couldn't write anything so boring as to say that the film was fine and that everything is dandy in the world, no... She had to write bollocks to get people with fucking tiny brains to read it and believe it.<br />
<br />
You know what, if you don't think that the main theme is appropriate for your kids.<br />
Don't fucking take them to the movie!<br />
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Right...<br />
<br />
Back to a non-angry book review.<br />
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Apparently the book is weird to get used to since it is all written in 1st person narrative, but fortunately that didn't seem to be weird with the audiobook. It was very well presented and read, meaning that the story was enjoyable. <br />
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The main thing I enjoyed was the pace of this book, it does seem to have easily enough "WHAT THE HELL?" moments for a book of it's length for my liking, making it a joy to listen to. The story is slightly predicable, but has enough slight deviations from the norm and plot hooks to keep, certainly me interested. <br />
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I would wholly recommend the books, certainly if you saw and enjoyed the film.<br />
Bring on books 2 & 3, after some others which I have to catch up on! <br />
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How else would you know who serves first?<br />
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If you feel like more laughs, check out some more spillings from the font of all fuck-tards.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_862376369"><br /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2107441/Sex-oclock-It-sounds-passion-killer-booking-appointments-making-love-spark-marriage.html">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2107441/Sex-oclock-It-sounds-passion-killer-booking-appointments-making-love-spark-marriage.html</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-15922870462341959902012-03-19T18:09:00.000+00:002012-03-19T18:14:57.644+00:00"Video games are bad for you? That's what they said about rock and roll." Shigeru MiyamotoI was going to go slightly off my usual tabletop gaming topic and talk about video games this week. Seems like a reasonable idea, since that is what I have mostly been filling my time with, in between gaps from work & lectures & work & Wates & Pathfinder & work & shower falling...<br />
<br />
Basically the main reason I have been prompted to do this is my sheer excitement at the launch of Guild Wars 2. Squeeee... This will be the step function in the MMO world, not since WoW has there been such a monumental overhaul of the system. Good luck talking to me shortly after it comes out! Btw, I shotgun both Guild Leader and Engineer class! Yay!<br />
<br />
But that is still well off at the moment, preorders don't even start until April 10th, where I will be repeatedly pressing my refresh button like a button hooked up to the pleasure centers. Right now I have a multitude of other games to talk about, so let's start with those.<br />
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Firstly, it wouldn't be right not to mention Skyrim. Another achievement in the world of gaming, Elder Scrolls games have always been impressive, and on a scale far grander than any other games of the time, but Skyrim really brings a new sense of realism into the equation. Not in the sense of battling dragons or wielding ancient weapons and destructive magic (cause that's totally real) but in the sense of everything being interactable (I'm gonna go with that being a word, cause it totally is). You find yourself actually being annoyed at silly things which would be possible in real life, but then you realise that that's only because the rest of the game is so realistic.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA10L7Hik_mxQ5CJp4feZp1NbC-kNnM28XVbtWjCWM7mWqnlCYFE1cfXghtcJA0yA5VYa8hGmQwCk3X7i_j3oMmCk9od_ugHo9XUdXs7QIWpY28FhYURDh_xhtEoOuPDoLH83J8kAoiuA/s1600/skyrim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA10L7Hik_mxQ5CJp4feZp1NbC-kNnM28XVbtWjCWM7mWqnlCYFE1cfXghtcJA0yA5VYa8hGmQwCk3X7i_j3oMmCk9od_ugHo9XUdXs7QIWpY28FhYURDh_xhtEoOuPDoLH83J8kAoiuA/s320/skyrim.jpg" width="320" /></a>I have now finished the main plot and despite the fact that I was very slightly dissapointed at one obviously missing cut-scene or cool combat (ask me if you want to know), but apart from that it is a very cool game, which I mostly enjoy as you can role-play really well in it, decisions are realistic and there is easily enough of it, though I have completed the main quest to keep me entertained for years.<br />
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(As a side note; don't play this or watch it played if you don't like Spiders, seriously)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOlbr-Jfm-hmV1zeZvseoNMuyAgMEaV84wVG_wHwIcnbG9V127EzaHjBRlpOiENqxKC5rncq6V6Hw1Fmcj2E0Ke0BSscnwn7B9x-h1XbMx9IcdGrv35Jk9W-GYn1OtxAE8mjkQYE8oJI/s1600/SwtorBackground_edited-smaller3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOlbr-Jfm-hmV1zeZvseoNMuyAgMEaV84wVG_wHwIcnbG9V127EzaHjBRlpOiENqxKC5rncq6V6Hw1Fmcj2E0Ke0BSscnwn7B9x-h1XbMx9IcdGrv35Jk9W-GYn1OtxAE8mjkQYE8oJI/s320/SwtorBackground_edited-smaller3.jpg" width="320" /></a>However, I am now moving back into SW: TOR.<br />
Ah, a game where I get to be a Jedi, or more accurately, a Sith! How awesome is that?<br />
The answer: Frakking amazing.<br />
Bioware have really outdone themselves with this, plots are deep and fulfilling, hehe... and the voice acting is fantastic. The combat system and everything are well polished and interesting as well and how different the builds are. Easily, easily worth a subscription, and I'm not a person who buys subscriptions light-heartedly, due to my love of Guild Wars.<br />
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I'm currently working on my Sith Juggernaught, good old tanks, so if people want to come and join, remember I'm on the Pegasus (or something) mining facility.<br />
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Those are my main two recent gaming vices. I would like to talk quickly about some of the other stuff which is played, but less due to the awesomeness of the above games:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcCXScUHGehSZhHoBEIQcJbV7GapoxiNyCX84R_GtCQn5iKatNVVl3p0ZjBPU-bD_SYcQZg3wDtYFqGnuIP0PYNHxxcEw0EC1ufEfJostH22hDPgkRAnreyaK5R5GDgkSZsTsarTiL_Y/s1600/Okami_by_fkcsantaclaus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcCXScUHGehSZhHoBEIQcJbV7GapoxiNyCX84R_GtCQn5iKatNVVl3p0ZjBPU-bD_SYcQZg3wDtYFqGnuIP0PYNHxxcEw0EC1ufEfJostH22hDPgkRAnreyaK5R5GDgkSZsTsarTiL_Y/s200/Okami_by_fkcsantaclaus.jpg" width="200" /></a>Okami:<br />
Yes Mandy! I am sort of playing it! One of the greatest games where you play a semi-God painting wolf thing... Yeah, sounds a bit weird, but it's a well done game, with brilliantly different art, as you can probably see in the image!<br />
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Mass Effect!<br />
I found the wonderful little gem in Game. Apparently there are like 3 in the series, though I haven't got onto the second one yet. People should really try this out as well, as far as fps games go, it's about as good as it can get, brilliant plot and acting, just like I like in a game. Anyone who hasn't seen it should pick it up asap! What a find! Score! ...<br />
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Twilight Princess:<br />
Yes Mandy! I am sort of playing it! Just got this back from home, planning to complete before I can allow myself to move onto Skyward Sword. I've been in love with Zelda, no wait... The Legend of Zelda (that's better) ever since I first completed Ocarina of Time and have loved every game since then. So it pains me that I have left the land of Hyrule to go unkept, it's citizens saddened by my lack of presence. I will be back. Link shall return triumphant!<br />
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Okay, I must get back to work. So, some games quickly that I'm looking forward to.<br />
Apparent, not confirmed Elder Scrolls MMO, probably not released before I die.<br />
The Last Story: Wii JRPG game<br />
Skyward Sword: Wii, obvious really...<br />
Guild Wars 2. SQUEEEEE...<br />
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So that's what my future looks like, maybe I'll get around to doing another video games based blog at some point...<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-80242168375479947752012-03-12T14:22:00.001+00:002012-03-12T15:28:34.366+00:00"I don't think it's healthy to take yourself too seriously." Payne StewartOkay, so basically I thought I would spend some time laughing at myself, since I am pretty funny, and modest (honest...)<br />
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So last Saturday it was decided that we would all go out to Tease, what a wonderful idea! You know, Gay night at the union, what could possibly go wrong?<br />
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Everything, everything could go wrong... but little was I to know this.<br />
So, we had just finished another awesome session of pathfinder, playing We Be Goblins! (fantastic module) and were heading off to pre-drinks at Brian/Le-Roy's house, all good so far. I decided to pick up some red wine to drink (getting worse).<br />
At Brian's we played some rather strange drinking games, such as German Sex Noises (pretty self explainitory) and eventually left for the union after drinking some sort of strange pink drink at approximately 11pm with (inexplicably) none of my wine left.<br />
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The union was the STUPIDLY empty... and the rest of it was filled with guys, very strange experience. Strange...<br />
Okay, so the day after I insisted that I remembered everything from the union. I however, do not remember so well anymore... Thus, I'm gonna take a stab at an approximate series of events.<br />
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1. Drank some sort of shot which tasted like Cinnamon<br />
2. Watched some sort of contest on stage until Brian was voted off, then it got weird...<br />
3. Went outside for serious talks (I think) with Le-Roy, Travis & Rosh<br />
4. Back inside somehow, danced for a bit with people.<br />
5. Somehow ended up outside talking again, with a Corona.<br />
6. Lost people and ended up sitting on the sofas, knowing that I was pretty drunk, so decided to give up and go home.<br />
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That's when things got bad.<br />
Basically noone at the Union knew where I had gone, so, before the fact that I could have gone home with someone went through their minds, they assumed I had died, been abducted by Aliens or rode some sort of Frakking magical unicorn to live as the king of the Syuiyes people... so Le-Roy managed to get through to Elle, who came round to mine to see if I was there.<br />
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By this point in the evening I had made it into my bathroom after getting half undressed and ready for bed, so that I could get some water and sleep. Elle ringing the doorbell (I will insist this until the day I die) shocked and confused me to such a degree to such an extent that I stumbled and tried to use the shower guard as a wall. <br />
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You know what shower-guards are not good at being? Walls.<br />
You know how I know that? I fell through it.<br />
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Yes, I fell through the shower.<br />
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I'll skip through the whole bit where I opened the door to Elle with glass in my back and having to pick glass out my back, plus the whole going into shock thing... Because that's totally boring..<br />
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So, yeah basically. I hope you all enjoy the second awesome shower story of my life, for those of you who don't know the first one ask ANYONE I KNOW!<br />
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Overall, I am fine and was fine that evening, just went to bed. All was good. So we can all laugh at it now...<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-51167271084491175682012-03-05T16:48:00.001+00:002012-03-14T13:35:26.408+00:00"All science is either physics or stamp collecting." Ernest RutherfordOkay, wrote this a while ago, like a month and have had all the busy since then, so I'm gonna post it now and the posts will continue from now as weekly (hopefully) supplements of my life. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0nGXK0XPrK-9oH2tl-eyDzP082F9eMUPWcAt_ydTUU0ygaSXaCqP3a2riPdErvSf4veatvNb1asQNPnDzSImScO5crOkinod3xDBabP1tFc1IWJItuK9ud9AJbD52KjDJsag1bo1ROM/s1600/Physics_Motivational_Poster_by_QuantumInnovator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0nGXK0XPrK-9oH2tl-eyDzP082F9eMUPWcAt_ydTUU0ygaSXaCqP3a2riPdErvSf4veatvNb1asQNPnDzSImScO5crOkinod3xDBabP1tFc1IWJItuK9ud9AJbD52KjDJsag1bo1ROM/s320/Physics_Motivational_Poster_by_QuantumInnovator.jpg" width="320" /></a>So, lets get down to some Physics!<br />
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I was never really planning this blog to go with the whole Physics side of things, but you know what?<br />
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Physics is cool. People like Physics. And those people shall be rewarded, with... well.. Physics!<br />
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Tomorrow, my Dissertation for my Masters is due in. Thus, slightly just for my own ease and slightly because it's cool, I'll let you all know what I did at Yale!<br />
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I think I'll put the dissertation up on some kind of filesharing if people want to learn more about it at the end, but for now, here is a brief history of Matt @ Yale.<br />
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I've been wondering for a good 2.4 seconds how far I should go back, in terms of Physics. I believe this will best suit people either doing Physics, or with an active interest in Physics, since you probably won't bother reading this if you have neither of these things. So I won't go right back to things like explaining what the nucleus is or anything like that, but I'll try and make sure you all understand me without a Physics degree.<br />
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Okay, first things first. MY BAD! I got caught up in the whole after dissertation being done thing that I completely neglected this blog entirely. So I'm here now, getting it done just before the presentation about this work tomorrow and then I shouldn't be doing Nuclear again, well maybe, possibly at some point...<br />
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So, my dissertation is titled Precise Measurements of lifetimes and deorientation in 92,94Zr using the g-plunger technique. Yeah, bit long isn't it? In effect it means we measured some stuff about some interesting nuclei really well. That's about it.<br />
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So, how did we do this? It starts with the simple effect of Doppler Shift. For those that don't know, this is the apparent shift in wavelength of waves due to their motion relative to the observer, in other words, like a car: Neeeeeeaaawwwwwwwhhhhhhh....<br />
Basically the set-up excites a nucleus through coulomb (electromagnetic) interactions, from which it then flies a set distance to a stopper foil, where it becomes embedded.<br />
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This means that 2 things can happen;<br />
1. The nucleus decays and emits a gamma-ray during flight, observed Doppler Shifted by the detectors<br />
2. The nucleus decaus stopped in the foil, meaning an unshifted ray is observed<br />
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By increasing the flight distance, it will be more likely for the nucleus to decay during flight, which can then be plotted to obtain the lifetime of that state, in essence.<br />
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There are a whole load of corrections which have to be firstly applied to this lifetime, to account for the<br />
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<li>Efficiency of the detectors</li>
<li>Lorentz (relativistic effects) </li>
<li>Deorientation during flight of the magnetic moment. </li>
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Using this deorientation, a relative g-factor to a nearby nucleus can also be calculated, by comparing the rate of deorientation, which should be dependant on the magnetic moment of the state.<br />
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Most of this is what I actually did on my placement! That is the simple version of everything which I got done. Dissertation is done. Presentation is done. Paper is (nearly) done! <br />
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My presentation should be up on youtube soon, since they were recorded, including a small interview, brilliant! The presentation is actually much better than this explaination, I think, so I'll link to that as soon as it comes up!<br />
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Brilliant. Until next time!<br />
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Quick update, the youtube video with us talking has gone up, couple of snippets of me, but it's really terrible. <br />
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Paddy looks really sad in the still... </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-53504946545462215082012-01-31T14:14:00.000+00:002012-01-31T14:16:53.469+00:00"I think Linux is a great thing, in the big picture. It's a great hacker's tool, and it has a lot of potential to become something more."- Jamie Zawinski<div>
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Hacking.</div>
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Yes people, for the something for the others column this week. I thought I would look into something that has always intrigued me a little bit, as a kind of techy type person... that is the world of "hacking"</div>
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Now, let me be Frank. Now Matt again, now Frank!</div>
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Enough Frivolity...</div>
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I would just like to say that this will in NO WAY help you to "hack" I would have no idea how to do that, nor would I try, also if I did, then I wouldn't tell you, so I guess you still don't know if I do or not...</div>
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Let me first tell people what in no way counts as "hacking"</div>
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Guessing people's passwords...</div>
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Logging into their computer and using the book of faces as if you are them, henceforth to be referred to as a new term (I made up) called "fraping".</div>
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Changing icons or codes or reg files on someones pc, that's just called breaking it! and it's not nice!</div>
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Hacking has been in the news (at least my news) recently as Anonymous is hitting places around the world after the U.S. tried to take down MegaUpload. So, who is Anonymous? I hear you asking through the communication lines of the interweb... Anonymous are a group of hackers, or "hacktivists" (very funny, I like it), whose members wear Guy Fawkes masks (watch V for Vendetta and then get back to this blog). They act as secret vigilantes on the internet, taking down hard faced corporations and governments when they do silly things. </div>
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The main thing I wanted to talk about here actually refers to how awesome a company Google is. </div>
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Now everyone knows Google as the best search engine in the world, but they are so much more awesome in so many ways. <br />
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Firstly, bet you didn't think you would learn anything here, but, think again! </div>
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The word "Google" originates from the word "Googol" which is 1x10<sup>100</sup>. </div>
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Google is one of the few companys pushing the boundaries in this world all the time, partly because they have enough money to do so, but still it's impressive. Also who else would do street maps, or gmail, or host an event challenging hackers to break their software. </div>
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Yes, that's right. Google run a hacking contest, known as Pwn2Own. Top Prize for this year is $60,000. </div>
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Basically hackers are given points based on how many exploits they find in various pieces of software, recently aiming at web browsers (should be fairly easy for internet explorer right?) </div>
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I definitely feel that Internet Explorer exploits should be worth less. Definitely. </div>
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Google also offer $20,000 if someone can find just a single exploit which compromises the security of the users of Chrome. Now that's a frakking Business model. Get the best people in the business to try what they're best at, offering loads of money, and when none of them can, you get to definitely offer a damn safe internet browser. </div>
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Google is awesome. </div>
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But, I digress, back to hacking. </div>
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So, should we be afraid of people "hacking" our computers? </div>
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The media says yes. </div>
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Matt says no! </div>
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It's super effective!</div>
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Basically the media blows any claims of hacking waaaayyyyyy out of proportion. </div>
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For instance, another one of my pet peeves, The Mail. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Could hackers develop a 'computer virus' to infect the human mind? </span></h1>
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Oooohhh, big scary headline, what if we're being controlled right now man? Oh no... </div>
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When you read the article the basic principle is; No. No, it could not really happen, the technology is years away, if ever going to exist, and all of this comes from one guy who talked to The Mail, about a hyperthetical world where we would be able to do this. </div>
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And why are these people called hackers? Is that some sort of code? Are hackers working in labs across the country, even world, trying to develop this? Once again, the answer is; No! If anyone is going to create a (yes lets use the term) "virus" to "infect" the human brain, it's gonna be a SCIENTIST! </div>
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Man The Mail is a pile of shit. </div>
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But overall the main reason that you shouldn't be worried is that there are BETTER people in control of your privacy. It's worth far more to facebook, or google, or windows to avoid being "hacked" than the hundreds of code monkeys they employ to stop exactly that. Facebook gets about 600,000 attempts DAILY, to break users accounts. You know how many get through. FRAKKING NONE. And facebook are damn proud of that. As they should be. </div>
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So, set easier to remember passwords; none of this "kj&^$uhasfug7645732hsbs."</div>
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Stop reading The Mail, or anything else you hear </div>
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Because on average, hackers are not after your money, or your details. Most are there to make the internet a better place, and through whatever backwards means they do. </div>
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I'll leave this with a fantastically true xkcd comic, instead of the usual motivational.</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-80003539723976584912012-01-24T11:19:00.000+00:002012-01-24T11:19:19.461+00:00"Quantity has a quality all of it's own" Warlord Gravetail of Clan KythosI was recently a little bit naughty and bought myself, as a present, an Exaulted Vermin Lord to leaf my Skaven army! This is an AMAZING Forgeworld model. Which I have given an awesome paint job and is shown below...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1DyQqwgop0RadnCV1iYLloa-Y_S19vlEjHSs0ReJiXrs6-jNXIJPNg3O2DwU6d12KiGL6gf8zDjx2qbNABH3WqjlTwVGYiSTd5oJ5od48I-JzE1Q0aswhyphenhyphenFQAnHKGCvyfSn_d-I-5OU/s1600/Skaven+E+Vermin+Lord.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1DyQqwgop0RadnCV1iYLloa-Y_S19vlEjHSs0ReJiXrs6-jNXIJPNg3O2DwU6d12KiGL6gf8zDjx2qbNABH3WqjlTwVGYiSTd5oJ5od48I-JzE1Q0aswhyphenhyphenFQAnHKGCvyfSn_d-I-5OU/s400/Skaven+E+Vermin+Lord.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yeah right... How many of you believed me? None..? Oh...<br />
Mine is currently unpainted, but is waiting to be so and I truly hope I can do it justice.<br />
Me owning this awesome model did mean that I couldn't wait for it to hit the table. So, I went along to the Wargames sunday with GameSoc, after bugging EVERYONE to make 3000 point lists to play me with my rat demon lord.<br />
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Fortunately I had a taker, an army of Orcs massed at the other side of the table, not outnumbering the Skaven, but enough to make me worried... My Skaven stood, cowering in fear from their new master.<br />
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Just a quick note: I forgot my camera SD card, so these pics are from my phone. I also decided that I would stop taking pictures halfway through. So A LOT of it will just be story.<br />
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I'll speak about the Battle at the end, which is more of a Story of what happened than anything else...<br />
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In the meantime I have 2 GameSocs to comment on. I'm sure I've mentioned GameSoc a lot and thus don't need to explain how awesome it is, but it is awesome, damn, I just mentioned it didn't I? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBrTPDBilgzihmJAKvCLUBlzBfPSM_Qz2jYBjAmjQqA8INYCkFF0Bt_UhyphenhyphenG-NODvhWym2i_jLsOfNrdwUhLkl5_ULcagZXtuLi8jFoM0SOM6AKU8qS712O-I9zh8dAwziXeUe81JHx58/s1600/wmlogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBrTPDBilgzihmJAKvCLUBlzBfPSM_Qz2jYBjAmjQqA8INYCkFF0Bt_UhyphenhyphenG-NODvhWym2i_jLsOfNrdwUhLkl5_ULcagZXtuLi8jFoM0SOM6AKU8qS712O-I9zh8dAwziXeUe81JHx58/s200/wmlogo.png" width="200" /></a>Firstly, I got to play Warmachine finally! Played an intro battle with my Cryx starter army and I do still love this game. I like the skirmish feel. I don't think I would want to play anything too long with it, since I already have Warhammer for that, but at the moment nothing else can fill the small skirmish 30 min game for me. Need to get that stuff painted up!<br />
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I also got to play 7 wonders with the leaders expansion that I got just after christmas. <br />
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We jumped straight into a game with newbies, which might not have been the best idea since I am TERRIBLE at explaining games. People probably understand the game better before I explain it than after. Thankfully Lucy took over explaining all the confusing things which I had said, so we could play.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7xkw9BUc-YkBy1n1F1XoSaaJefq7XCGpAjokkw_QZtUxziqNj6fw_6ARfT6jsrlkA0Mq9ib0_MGz-p5V-ZT6ANYYnPeAOa9aru-whnYiPjIVmYl_PoSRPTGOQdVhyphenhyphen869w5C0OL7quYs/s1600/LOGO_LEADERS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="77" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7xkw9BUc-YkBy1n1F1XoSaaJefq7XCGpAjokkw_QZtUxziqNj6fw_6ARfT6jsrlkA0Mq9ib0_MGz-p5V-ZT6ANYYnPeAOa9aru-whnYiPjIVmYl_PoSRPTGOQdVhyphenhyphen869w5C0OL7quYs/s200/LOGO_LEADERS.jpg" width="200" /></a>I really liked leaders, having something to plan for longterm, even if it was just small was a good thing for me, and they don't seem to be overpowered. Sure Lucy kicked us all, with the 7 vp for every full set card, completing it twice, but she had 2 newbies passing her nice cards...<br />
I really enjoyed it, and am looking forward to many more games, and future expansions. I'm also definitely going to keep playing it with this expansion in the game all the time. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97H-xnl5c8Jphufx7nVL3aAhadHCC09bODWqREd0tK0ae9PNdP6I-LDimjSo8WYzAhphHW6vZApWbYcroqflI0Qh8OCG8XpTNklLSpbAXN7l3bCZR-nIZR9nBCo7SGzUPk6DRDShUhHw/s1600/HeyThatsMyFishFFG.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97H-xnl5c8Jphufx7nVL3aAhadHCC09bODWqREd0tK0ae9PNdP6I-LDimjSo8WYzAhphHW6vZApWbYcroqflI0Qh8OCG8XpTNklLSpbAXN7l3bCZR-nIZR9nBCo7SGzUPk6DRDShUhHw/s200/HeyThatsMyFishFFG.png" width="172" /></a><br />
Although I didn't get to play it too recently I also feel I should quickly mention one of Soph's Xmas presents, seeing as it seems to be hitting the table regularly. That would be, Dude, where's my Fish? Otherwise known as that to the right------->>>>> This is a lovely little game by ffg, with fantastic production, where you have to collect as many fish as possible. It scales so brilliantly with number of players, and strategic level of players and only takes about 10 mins to play. Brilliant game. Well done ffg, looking at getting the wiiware game soon!<br />
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<b>Then we move on to GameSoc number two:</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawkE9mnWxGNHq3TMCcXNtk9MImvlUVr_Fjbr6i1WNwkvTwqhRWQ8FWQxq2IzKrn9KgZZnJrC1GPwBJM73p2G1waLQec06IuI7KRuVBP8HkoWdS2OzGTLFSnFG24tjlk9KKgkveV2Hj54/s1600/Inara.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawkE9mnWxGNHq3TMCcXNtk9MImvlUVr_Fjbr6i1WNwkvTwqhRWQ8FWQxq2IzKrn9KgZZnJrC1GPwBJM73p2G1waLQec06IuI7KRuVBP8HkoWdS2OzGTLFSnFG24tjlk9KKgkveV2Hj54/s1600/Inara.png" /></a>We got started with a further game of 7 wonders with leaders. Despite the fact that people to the sides of me didn't let me get sets of 3 science, I got enough to just win by it! Still enjoying leaders, though I had some awful leaders this time! Also, that is definitely Inara!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-O2rBgWNkNHD809axTDssjqjMRF4FYU8N8EiYberaAVHJ_kXvOp74ahLnXeBA729ngVFXRsTnKPhYjQs0UArUG-4MjS_wQaULRmNSuYNoP1fMD8K9zlznihiljP-5Tcf4ROCxWqz7CRY/s1600/quarriors-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-O2rBgWNkNHD809axTDssjqjMRF4FYU8N8EiYberaAVHJ_kXvOp74ahLnXeBA729ngVFXRsTnKPhYjQs0UArUG-4MjS_wQaULRmNSuYNoP1fMD8K9zlznihiljP-5Tcf4ROCxWqz7CRY/s200/quarriors-3.jpg" width="200" /></a>This followed with me sitting out of a game of Quarriors. Quarriors was the big hotness at GenCon this year, which is dice-building. Basically you play just like a deck building game, but WITH DICE. It's a great quick game, that people always seem to want to play again. I have the expansion at home now, so am looking forward to screwing other people with corrupted quiddity!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSNiyJetg4pQDptNkULBElLFgdZRdQnSSzxi8ZnMe1tsQVAh7AvHRfmBAejpQW6roMsOUluLQ9Mc3tvl7rkM7eo7HXa6PAL_6owpQjRBG_b6hpGRfOfaygWUusuPjNKNVZQ04XgCeTDo/s1600/img_0383.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSNiyJetg4pQDptNkULBElLFgdZRdQnSSzxi8ZnMe1tsQVAh7AvHRfmBAejpQW6roMsOUluLQ9Mc3tvl7rkM7eo7HXa6PAL_6owpQjRBG_b6hpGRfOfaygWUusuPjNKNVZQ04XgCeTDo/s320/img_0383.png" width="320" /></a>We finished the evening with Neuroshima Hex, 4 player hex grid battle mayhem. I love this game, it's brilliant fun with 4 players and uber-strategic with 2. Always great fun and really tough. Blue started by kicking red's ass in, then moving on to kill yellow. We (Elle & I) just stayed away from that, doing bits to them both and finally took down blue with a massive ranged assault for the glorious victory.<br />
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Ah, GameSoc, how I missed thee, let me count the ways.<br />
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6, I think it's 6. Anyway... <br />
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<b>Stuff for the future</b><br />
At the moment the future seems to hold a magic draft tournament, storm of magic session and the possibility of a dual 40K / fantasy battle, if we can make the rules. So watch this space in 4 weeks time for updates on all of the coolness which just flows out of me. Hmmm... maybe I'll reword that...<br />
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Nah. <br />
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And now... the moment you've all been waiting for...<br />
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This... is... Warhammer Fantasy Battles... <br />
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My 219 models were amassed, the Clanrats poking the slaves in front of them with whatever they could find or hurling rocks at them. Chieftans of Clan Kythos attempting to keep each of their designated hordes in check, while Warlock Engineers each polished their individual contraptions. The Orcs on the other side of the plane grunted, snorted and with a great WAZZZARG! from their leader the battle began... <br />
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The Orcs were massing forward before the Ratmen could get their slave-fodder forward. Great storms wracked the sky as lightning flew upward from the banner at the center of the Ratmen horde. <br />
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A unit of maddened spider-riding goblins appeared out of nowhere, attempting to take down one of the Warplightning cannons, set up to the sides of the main army. Fortunately, one Warpfire thrower team was ready, and let off a stream of green fire, killing the entire unit in a single burst of the hideous flame.<br />
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Then it was time for the Skaven to move, starting with the Doomwheel, which pondered ahead of the army, letting off bolts of additional charge into a mass of slaves, killing 3 instantly. This got the slaves moving, and the Clanrats followed. The Exalted Vermin Lord moved into the center of the battle, howling and challenging the Orcs to, in effect "Bring it on, Bitches." At least that's what I think I got, my skaven isn't too good. He let out magic from his fingertips, a great, dreaded spell, but it was silenced by a scroll from an orc wizard... All fell silent for a moment and the Orcs continued their assault... <br />
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A second unit, attempting to take down the cannon on the side appeared, riding boars. They failed to organize themselves for the charge, allowing Clanrats to turn and face what would be left of the war-machine. The main body of Orcs slowly advanced, in a circle formation, towards the skaven mass and waited for combat to ensue.<br />
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The Vermin lord took none of this bait, moved to right next to a unit of trolls, after one of them recklessly charged forwards and was instantly caught in between the pincers of the Dire Glaive of the Vermin Lord. From his forward position, the Vermin Lord let off a cloud of putrid disease, killing off Orcs in all nearby units. Following this, he waited for the Orcs to DARE charge him. The Doomwheel to his left managed to get just far enough to crash into a large unit of Greenskins, just about aimed by the engineer in charge of the unit. This took down several, impaled upon spears or lightning crackling from the contraption. The rats used to run the wheels began biting at the orcs, taking down a couple more. But, the orc leaders bashed some heads in and the grunts got their act together and attacked the wheel, peeling away parts of it, making the engineer flee - flee for his life, a sensible choice...<br />
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(This is where I'm out of pictures...) So imagine people, use those brains of yours!<br />
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The Orcs plucked up their courage against the mighty vermin lord, as the clouds above began to clear from their darkened state. A unit of boars on the left flank also charged the slave unit covering a unit of Clanrats, revealing the secret to the slaves! Each slave had an explosive in their stomachs, wired to the engineer in the unit behind, making them explode when they looked as if they will lose combat, hopefully taking out some more of the enemies with them! This tactic took out a grand total of 5 boar riders, in exchange for all the slaves. A good trade, thought Warlock Sqeek. Meanwhile, as Gork stomped his massive foot through some Stormvermin, the Exalted Vermin Lord was trading blows with Orcs. He decided to go after the three remaining trolls, killing all of them with lightning sweeps of his glaive, however, forgetting about the orcs; which hurt, as their stabbas cut into his side, causing a couple of serious wounds. After this, the grunts took one look at the massacred trolls and decided to run, the Vermin Lord looked to his right, smirked and bounded after them, killing each one as they fell over each other, attempting to flee, or not be the next one killed!<br />
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In the meantime a unit of boars had run down the Warplightning cannon crew on the right flank, now looking to run through into the back of the Skaven army. It was at this point that the 3 Warlock engineers unleashed their secret weapons. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-CijgzowL_EvpS8U9-VbJGxS6RrvadGi0udgEeR-6FF2pKWpWudWI_oSIr9VT5SkoJK3ZcWCo0N_dITzkA-ioZal-M8NBpLSX8nCBfDDZCqwiIhzxj46z7To-L6QS-t1CPOfgPeH1O8/s1600/Doomrocket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-CijgzowL_EvpS8U9-VbJGxS6RrvadGi0udgEeR-6FF2pKWpWudWI_oSIr9VT5SkoJK3ZcWCo0N_dITzkA-ioZal-M8NBpLSX8nCBfDDZCqwiIhzxj46z7To-L6QS-t1CPOfgPeH1O8/s320/Doomrocket.JPG" width="320" /></a>The engineer on the left flank took out his death globe, aiming square at the Orc Warboss and sorcerer that remained in front of them, mixed in some further warpstone for good measure and let it fly, hitting both perfectly, slaying the sorcerer instantly and wounding the Warboss in a small explosion. The engineer in the center lit the fuse on his doomrocket and aimed in somewhere towards the newly teleported Orcs which had suddenly appeared right in front of his unit. The rocket flew right through that unit, through a unit of clanrats and into a further unit of Orc savages, hitting one square in the chest, exploding in green flame upon impact, taking down many in the explosion. The engineer on the right flank threw his brass orb as far as possible, toward the boar riders coming from the right flank, but it hit a rock and rebounded nearly into a unit of slaves, oh well, can't win everything!<br />
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With the units of Orcs looking depleted, the Skaven looked to the boar riders heading down the rear of their army. They overran a unit of Clanrats and proceeded toward a further unit, after an accidental Doomwheel malfunction took it into a unit of savage Orcs, killing most of them but being finally destroyed in the process. The Vermin Lord set his sights on the boar riders, knowing he was the only thing fast enough to reach them before they took out a further unit of Clanrats, which were simply standing and watching in awe as their Chieftain took blow after blow from an Orc warlord. The Vermin Lord, Bolt Throwa bolts hitting him in the sides, bounded towards them, releasing several spells to take down 4 of the boar riders, but wasn't quick enough to prevent the charge. Dozens of Clanrats died, but not enough to make them flee, and thus the Vermin Lord laughed. He charged the remaining boar riders, releasing cracks in the very ground and a horde of rats around him, killing all but the Orc warlord, who barely got to look around to see then deathly wounded Vermin Lord take his Glaive and chop him in twain.<br />
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And so that's how the Battle went. It was an awesome battle, couple of things went my way very nicely, lots of things exploded badly, but that's what skaven are designed for! <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-72546016045861948042012-01-20T16:15:00.000+00:002012-01-20T16:15:07.128+00:00“Being a supervillain means never having to say you’re sorry … Unless it’s to the judge or the parole board. Even then, you don’t really have to. It’s not like it’s going to change the outcome or anything.” - Calvin Matthew Stringel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, I think it's fairly safe to say that the blog title sums the book up fairly well.<br />
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I went for a relatively short book this time, seeing as I needed to do my dissertation still (66 pages), which Audible recommended to me since I enjoyed Ready Player One.<br />
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The book follows <span id="freeTextContainer17906517873255938910">Calvin Matthew Stringel, a self confessed D-list supervillian "Mechani-Cal", in his attempts to take down some sort of massive corporation and it's leader, who goes by the name, UltraWeapon (after his suit, which outstrips everything anyone else owns by far).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnoUXco4f85-t2xEPXKcWCR_cXpziGWy0oD8HuNta68K6Gs9tbvadryyH4MyumVbaZpedSgijk-FBW_QZGMoVSIeGq14k_xa1zZKDFkGa9wCDCeCq0GAJdykE2Bp5gNZ79VunUUV4v1c/s1600/blog+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnoUXco4f85-t2xEPXKcWCR_cXpziGWy0oD8HuNta68K6Gs9tbvadryyH4MyumVbaZpedSgijk-FBW_QZGMoVSIeGq14k_xa1zZKDFkGa9wCDCeCq0GAJdykE2Bp5gNZ79VunUUV4v1c/s200/blog+4.jpg" width="200" /></a><span id="freeTextContainer17906517873255938910">The main plot is related in first person from Cal's perspective. This means that you get to see superhumans "The Olympians" from the light of a supervillian, i.e. complete nuisances, who are actually sometimes just as evil as the people they are facing, without realising it themselves. It's because of this that it lies to a no-body D-list supervillian to save the world, if he wants to.... </span><br />
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<span id="freeTextContainer17906517873255938910"> The book is so filled with ridiculousness that it takes a while to realise that the entire thing is a complete joke. All of this is to be taken light hearted, and once you do, it's a damn good read, which is very amusing, even with a sometimes adult theme, which is impressive.</span><br />
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<span id="freeTextContainer17906517873255938910">Saying that, the main character is entirely believable, and relatable, if you're a budding supervillian in the making yourself, as I definitely am... Plots twists aplenty occur, but where this book mostly shines is the battles. These are not only exciting, but fast paced and clever. It was these that made the book for me. </span><br />
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<span id="freeTextContainer17906517873255938910">It won't have you thinking an amazing about the plot, or not being about to wait to read the next chapter, but if you want a good, light book, definitely pick this one up. I thoroughly enjoyed it, for what it is. After all, it beats reading my dissertation... </span> <br />
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Next up, will be either American Gods, which I have not read in a long time, and am looking forward at getting back to, or Leviathan, another Steampunk book by Scott Westerfield. If you have any preferences then put it in the comments and I'll try to get around to that one first.<br />
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Thanks for reading,<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-18634091142722088922012-01-16T12:44:00.002+00:002012-01-16T16:34:55.688+00:00“As an actor and writer, husband and father, I have two often-conflicting monkeys on my back: Monkey number one is Creative Monkey. He occasionally digs his claws into my brains, and refuses to let go until something wonderful comes out. I love him.” - WIll WhetonI have recently been thinking about this blog. So far it's been random snippets of things I like etc... but without any kind of structure, thought or even spell-check! But still, there are some people reading this, I'm not entirely sure why, maybe you all have exams or I have some kind of creepy mass crowd of stalkers...<br />
In my soul-searching quest, I encountered many things I didn't expect, met a load of new friends, but I still believe the main thing which I managed to find was ...myself...<br />
Pah, Fuck that.<br />
<br />
I realised I actually LIKE doing this blog. I know, it's crazy. But it does need some kind of structure, so that people who, for instance, have no interest in gaming (silly people) or physics (silly people) or my general life (those ones need to be institutionalised) don't have to read through a whole bunch of crap before they get to something they actually would like to read.<br />
<br />
Therefore, there will be structure whenst none was before,<br />
There will be order out of chaos,<br />
There will be interest where none could be found,<br />
For this is the HINTERNET! <br />
<br />
Okay, the general idea is going to be to post every Monday, on 4 alternating topics (hence 1 of each every approx month), which will be posted in different interesting places.<br />
<br />
<b>Gaming</b>- will be a discussion of the previous month's gaming, which should go up on bgg and the normal places.<br />
<b>Something for the others</b>- Should be something else, of MY CHOICE, damn right. It's my blog, I get to choose the other thing. This could include news, politics, tech, or my opinion on cows. (I don't like them) <br />
<b>Physics</b>- Since I'm like a physicist and everything I think it should be interesting to actually talk about something interesting in the science world from the last month. This should be liked from the University of Surrey Physblogroll. <br />
<b>The life and times of Matt</b>- This should be an update on what's going on with me, over the last month, with an attempt not to include fun stories, not gaming or physics or other related, we can't have overlap! <br />
<br />
There will then also be <b>audiobook reviews</b>, so people know firstly how awesome audible is, and what books they should read. Probably aiming at being more of a discussion of books than just a straight review. All of this will be from my (probably geeky) view on things. I might even have opinions, you never know! <br />
<br />
I should get started on this straight away. Hopefully people will enjoy structure in their lives. Also, if people feel like commenting then you definitely should! Bring more community to this blog and it's wonderful ability to bring people of all races, genders (with the addition of laptops to the world, woman can go on the internet from the kitchen now! .... I'm kidding...) and outlooks together, under one fantastic geeky metaphorical roof!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WAIT. Bad news, how? It's a nice d20. </td></tr>
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Also, look new shiny!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-70675762070352117992012-01-14T11:06:00.001+00:002012-01-14T11:08:15.540+00:00"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living." -Dr SeussThere is something about doing a dissertation that makes me want to get more blogs done. But maybe I just want to get more blogs done!<br />
There are still some people reading this I think, which is the only reason I'm bothering, so keep reading and I'll keep writing!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oRO8Y9Rk6cyuGxi5tz06y_xXVME7MrFC5LWofkKzqCpBRonz3QF68_UK-aEvA-WaAKuH-tkmkkyo1x7R6L3ZgDiekyEFJvnhf3sAcLkWTqG-0QOZuTowD1TN_l8pQqJPhpnnPP1X-wk/s1600/ridesadreadlegion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oRO8Y9Rk6cyuGxi5tz06y_xXVME7MrFC5LWofkKzqCpBRonz3QF68_UK-aEvA-WaAKuH-tkmkkyo1x7R6L3ZgDiekyEFJvnhf3sAcLkWTqG-0QOZuTowD1TN_l8pQqJPhpnnPP1X-wk/s320/ridesadreadlegion.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>This is slightly overdue, but book review number 4 is on the way! This time it was Rides a Dread Legion by Raymond E. Feist. One of my favourite fantasy authors, with Magician being one of the best fantasy books around, in my opinion.<br />
<br />
This follows the same universe as Magician and other books, of which I have read a grand total of none, so I can't really approach this from the view of someone with a huge love of the Feist Universe. I am, a fantasy-fan, of the highest accord, which is so-far not represented by my book reads. However, those AVID readers of my blog (which blatantly exist), will know that I know my Gandalf's from my Garion and my Aurian from Eragon. I have only ever put down one fantasy series in my entire life, which was, for very good reason, The Wheel of Time, but that's because it's the longest thing ever written where LITERALLY NOTHING HAPPENS, but that's beside the point.<br />
<br />
Rides a Dread Legion is the first book in a new saga by Feist, the Demonwar. This book very much feels like a set-up. It takes quite a long time to set the new scene, allowing readers not used to Feist's complex world to get into this book without too much difficulty. Without ruining the plot too much, the book focuses on a new demon incursion, attempting to take over the worlds of the elves and other races, which forces elves of different worlds to travel back to their "homeworld" to discuss what to do. As I said, it starts slow. Soon though, once all of the newly introduced characters find each other, it becomes an immensely interesting read, some of the battles, including the final chapter, are immensely exciting and well read.<br />
<br />
My one main problem with it, it the RIDICULOUS FANTASY NAMES! Every approximately 3 seconds there is a new 5 syllable name of a place or person or thing, it's ridiculous. Especially when you are working/listening and therefore dropping in and out, it gets one VERY confused!<br />
<br />
So overall, not a bad audiobook, but a bit slow for my liking (and lotr is one of my favourites, along with the Belgariad, so I can deal with slow and interesting) Perhaps better as a hardcopy book, this will be good for any fans of the Feist works certainly.<br />
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Next book, at some point soon probably will be Confessions of a D-list Supervillan! <br />
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Achievement Unlocked! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-25959973459067538602012-01-10T16:22:00.000+00:002012-01-10T16:22:58.176+00:00"If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I’d type a little faster." Isaac AsimovOkay, so I was looking at my previous blogpost out of what was probably a strange combination of boredom and procrastination and I was thinking, "This just looks like a strange collection of mildly funny pictures"... That wasn't the plan, but it's how it looks, so I was going to try and do a quick blog entry here, while I am slightly ahead on my dissertation (which will probably last all of 5 mins) without including any pictures at all.<br />
<br />
So, to keep people properly updated I am now living with Soph in Girlyphyshouse. That might seem odd to people who don't know what Physhouse is, but don't worry it's strange on this end too! It's like being in Physhouse, except it's actually... hmmmm.. what's the word... CLEAN! Yeah, that's probably it. Don't worry though, I am trying my very best to rectify that situation...<br />
<br />
I was going to post a picture of the board games currently piled up in the corner of the room, but I'm being good and not putting pictures here, so you'll all have to wait until next time to see it! Needless to say, it's the size of a overgrown, baby, dwarf, boa-constrictor, after just eating a bison.<br />
<br />
*Looks up over laptop at pile*<br />
<br />
Yeah, that's about right . It's still not bigger than Faith, which I was very disappointed about!<br />
<br />
(This is about the time that a picture would normally be inserted, do you want one? Well shame, get over it. )<br />
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What else is new in my life? Nothing too much, still getting on with my dissertation and attempting to play SW:TOR in what little free time exists. Awesome game, just awesome. I now have a smuggler on Travis' server, attempting to catch up in levels with his Jedi Knight, but that's like trying to... (I was going to insert a mean Travis joke here, but I'm actually being nice and I'll just post it to him, or give him one more when I next see him {how I missed him!}) catch a caffeine fueled kangaroo on a trampoline. How do people have the time to play it this much, don't you people have exams! Exams people!<br />
<br />
So the dissertation is going well, I'm sure, barring some sort of freak accident where everyone who has ever heard of the deadline dies suddenly and it's changed to tomorrow, I will be finished with even a bit of time to spare (I know... poke the fire right?) Still, writing this isn't exactly helping with that, so maybe I shouldn't speak so soon.<br />
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Okay, I think I did it! One update on everything happening, without the use of any pictures. Maybe this one will now be incredibly boring, but hey, at least my picture-karma has now been restored!<br />
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Achievement unlocked!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-4508226817207165052012-01-03T00:32:00.001+00:002012-01-10T18:19:48.042+00:00"Rizzo the Rat: Boy, that's scary stuff! Should we be worried about the kids in the audience? Gonzo: Nah, it's all right. This is culture!" Muppet's Christmas Carol<div>I have decided that I am going to at least attempt to keep this blog up, though it now, rather unfortunately, is about an English person, living in England. So probably not quite as exciting as previously! Still, I shall do my upmost to keep it as entertaining as humanly possible.<br />
<br />
So, as I have said, I am now back in England! Home of... ermmmm... Real Ale! That will do. Flipping heck America, you need to get your act together about beer. I mean, when I first got down The Millstream (the local) and had my first pint of a real english ale... Sweet Magic, Woody Allen, Zombie, Superman, Komodo Dragon, Telepathic, Vampire, Quantum, Hovercraft, *Me*, Jesus that's a good ale.<br />
Miller light just plain does not count as ale.<br />
Miller light just plain does not count as lager.<br />
Miller light just plain does not count as beer.<br />
Miller light just plain does not count as drink.<br />
Miller light just plain does not count as sustenance.<br />
Miller light just plain does not count as thing which should ever have existed, ever.<br />
IMO (isn't it brilliant that 3 letters can save your ass{ARSE} sometimes)<br />
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So CHIRSTMAS, yes, Christmas and all that. I arrived in England on Christmas eve and was thus thrust quite figurativelly into the Christmas spin of things. Not having much to do with Christmas in America, it felt like most of the holiday was dropped on me at some point after my afternoon nap in one large chunck! So that was like being a small child again, which was an odd experience.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sNC3usA1Wg8KWZaUM125Lwe4W_byjpKTOdn3nerxl728L67pGxjYwXX4kXkvVRhsd9GwtsLAv3iW0PWsSmAy9N1XxCHXl-vPGI1I5K9Bf67yvxUlSSBSwlDsaAY4VN-k9gvESGsv0wc/s1600/Stormtrooper+christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sNC3usA1Wg8KWZaUM125Lwe4W_byjpKTOdn3nerxl728L67pGxjYwXX4kXkvVRhsd9GwtsLAv3iW0PWsSmAy9N1XxCHXl-vPGI1I5K9Bf67yvxUlSSBSwlDsaAY4VN-k9gvESGsv0wc/s320/Stormtrooper+christmas.jpg" width="320" /></a>Soph and I spent Christmas at my parent's house, I got a new graphics card from my parents, which I am currently waiting for TOR to download to play on! Soph got me loads of little bits, so I won't list them, and Cuba (not the country, the board game), which I can't wait to play (along with my bgg SS present of Runewars) when I'm back at Gamesoc... mmmmmm Gamesoc...*dribbles*<br />
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Boxing day (yes America, Boxing day)<br />
<i><b>Boxing Day</b> is traditionally a day following Christmas when wealthy people in the United Kingdom would give a box containing a gift to their servants.</i> See I did get it right!<br />
<br />
we spent with Soph's parents, sister and her now husband, which was another awesome Christmas meal, more opening of presents and drinking of Ale, plus more playing of the board games I got Soph for Christmas.<br />
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Since then I have been catching up with Hitchin friends, which involves lots of drinking at the local as well as a fantastic pub quiz at James', I'm also running board games tonight at mine, so that should be awesome.<br />
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Probably should also mention New Years quickly, especially since I have to go and fetch Soph, like 5 mins ago!<br />
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Okay, I'm back from picking up Soph and board game/wii evening. Continue.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuH8rJVO7dfYXVTuovX5sG53r0NBvmuoW8Z9YZcJI17C5N_u2zaQykxfZfhYtrJCCp6EaitMA8dZg1dncheZ8Leozz4bD_IQ9UI3QdFW7n5DahoquEUuISv-_Cyukba6c-XZ548tUK6tY/s1600/portalnewyear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuH8rJVO7dfYXVTuovX5sG53r0NBvmuoW8Z9YZcJI17C5N_u2zaQykxfZfhYtrJCCp6EaitMA8dZg1dncheZ8Leozz4bD_IQ9UI3QdFW7n5DahoquEUuISv-_Cyukba6c-XZ548tUK6tY/s200/portalnewyear.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>New years was a mixing of people with nowhere to go, as the event put it. This meant friends from all over could turn up and watch Jools Holland, drink some tasty ale and play board games or whatever they wanted (which turned out to be crisp packet fights). Despite Soph banging her head, I believe a good night was had by all, including nobody falling into the pond (quite an achievement Travis, well done)<br />
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I'm not really sure how much else there is to say this evening. Glad to be back writing this, not sure when I'll get the next one out, will probably be back to whenever anything interesting happens in my life. So, a little while!<br />
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Night people, star wars TOR still hasn't finished downloading, so I'll leave you with this. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JDqH7eW6UzX_pQYqCu9lMQrGhOvnL4QdbxIsXgaGJdks-XU0Js8bOD7zR9ogE6B7M5MnIpng7iRJosDyGC8SkWYYbO2UdaL_CwybFTfXTeHis0d_EfJnAHyH7o44RSGCPqwzVDL6sgA/s1600/lightsaber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JDqH7eW6UzX_pQYqCu9lMQrGhOvnL4QdbxIsXgaGJdks-XU0Js8bOD7zR9ogE6B7M5MnIpng7iRJosDyGC8SkWYYbO2UdaL_CwybFTfXTeHis0d_EfJnAHyH7o44RSGCPqwzVDL6sgA/s400/lightsaber.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>As a final note my new years resolution is to fail at completing my new years resolution, it's gonna be easy! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-21673747019295103312011-12-21T01:59:00.000+00:002011-12-21T20:57:03.547+00:00"If an elderly but distinguished scientist says that something is possible, he is almost certainly right; but if he says that it is impossible, he is very probably wrong."- Arthur C. Clarke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavBiM1RRDzraxTsGyxudHdC6HXYCKIA1DDuLC19VF2FrdHhKOcf3mM_JJJE3frWFX76Bjfi3bEHRRiKqQXHzUsO0KnJCpIsD7qWe45eY2V8UW-Inbbk9lXtT3SIe1Vny_WZHRG3W2tdo/s1600/Bilbo+speech.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavBiM1RRDzraxTsGyxudHdC6HXYCKIA1DDuLC19VF2FrdHhKOcf3mM_JJJE3frWFX76Bjfi3bEHRRiKqQXHzUsO0KnJCpIsD7qWe45eY2V8UW-Inbbk9lXtT3SIe1Vny_WZHRG3W2tdo/s320/Bilbo+speech.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My dear Bagginses and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks, Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles and Proudfoots.<br />
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Today is my 24th post! <br />
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Alas, twenty-four posts is far too short a time to post among such excellent and admirable hobbits. I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.<br />
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I, uh, I h-have things to do. So this won't be too long a post! (Nothing like the previous one, well done if you got through all of that and feel free to comment)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUitE6X6hdWb_rEiDW7hdf5RsmuY1YDsJH0miR3JHaWnQ61C5r6Xp7Ai_ZmtXHwZwgHiRJzrRqiFr3V8K0e8bGT_DU18ymxfYdQVs99BmmbXS8nXIs74ZemG0PGHNAMayleWFFKVrxPCk/s1600/argonne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUitE6X6hdWb_rEiDW7hdf5RsmuY1YDsJH0miR3JHaWnQ61C5r6Xp7Ai_ZmtXHwZwgHiRJzrRqiFr3V8K0e8bGT_DU18ymxfYdQVs99BmmbXS8nXIs74ZemG0PGHNAMayleWFFKVrxPCk/s200/argonne.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>So, yesterday I got back from the windy city. This was my last trip while in the U.S. (apart from the trip home, but I'm not counting that one). Unfortunately I didn't actually get to see any of Chicago itself, I did get to spend lots of time at Argonne National Lab (after they eventually decided to let a quite-frankly dangerous alien, possible criminal in). We were part of an experiment at ATLAS, since this isn't really meant to be a science blog I'll just say it was a fast timing experiment using some LaBr detectors, to study lifetimes in 181Au, people can read up more on that with the fantasticness that is google, or Phys Rev.<br />
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I spent most of the time there finishing off bits of my paper and got to play small amounts of the new Old Republic game as well as good old Skyrim! This was really good, kinda glad that I got to take my laptop! <br />
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We also managed to get down the pub a few times (definitely enough) for some farwell drinks with Nathan and Volker. Also finished up what was hopefully my last night shift ever on monday morning! Fingers crossed...<br />
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<br />
Right, so this will be the last blog post which I will be making from here in the U.S. Fortunately for all of you, I will be continuing this blog from the U.K. for those people in NEW England who want to keep up to date on what I am doing in OLD England, (or Wales). <br />
This has been a fantastic year, full of wonderful experiences. I would like to thank pathfinder people again, mainly Ben and David for getting me into rpgs this year. Everyone at the lab, including those who visited and made for some great nights out and helped me along with my project, even if that was just loads of table football (which is what I need to start calling it!) Everyone at Nexus who kept my board gaming at a more than acceptable and generally the American populace for being so very welcoming and friendly. :)<br />
<br />
I will miss America, it's wonderful sights and food (Buffolo wings). Looking forward to getting back to England now though. Looking forward to seeing Soph a lot now! Only like 3 days now!<br />
And so, <br />
I regret to announce — this is The End. I am going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell. <br />
Goodbye...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSTLi2SBPAmIgfXcrwiT1ptGbfIgpAI54nsBrA-zp8QcOLyoQOCwA6cOPIzq3O2rj6ubV7VxbzugZs_ukqpSuFLpxxI63tsOoHL_fRSPThyt4dYz5cWdvGD3PAgtjbPAwJfFEYwsbMzE/s1600/Bilbo+gone.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSTLi2SBPAmIgfXcrwiT1ptGbfIgpAI54nsBrA-zp8QcOLyoQOCwA6cOPIzq3O2rj6ubV7VxbzugZs_ukqpSuFLpxxI63tsOoHL_fRSPThyt4dYz5cWdvGD3PAgtjbPAwJfFEYwsbMzE/s320/Bilbo+gone.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Achievement Unlocked! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPswLK2AqnrGfvsPnGDvzPczAwC_yVbP4Kk8xZT1_QC4MphacDv2wz6vaEdH_1Ll0r58vtBurbGdb9i32K91b_vFh7tY2Q2Oe0sNHTfmhu0I-n8wZXcJ0tYNKX07bUzFb9BdPejDizvCM/s1600/R2D2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPswLK2AqnrGfvsPnGDvzPczAwC_yVbP4Kk8xZT1_QC4MphacDv2wz6vaEdH_1Ll0r58vtBurbGdb9i32K91b_vFh7tY2Q2Oe0sNHTfmhu0I-n8wZXcJ0tYNKX07bUzFb9BdPejDizvCM/s320/R2D2.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-78787343701387076162011-12-18T21:33:00.000+00:002011-12-19T12:15:15.072+00:00"Life begins at retirement." -Author Unknown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>So, not actually the penultimate post people. But plenty of perfect alliteration in this opening prose!<br />
<br />
So, it's gonna be back to gaming, more specifically Pathfinder, more specifically the retirement of Bunkle & Trig & Bungo & Morris & Arcadian (I think I remembered Art's character's name!)<br />
So, after a pretty intense couple of months, playing Bunkle Findbiddle Murrik Nacklewinkle Turni (my gnome Barbarian) up to high levels, we were finally ready to face the retirement arc.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW7m1RankwtnyZBrKTkpHqw1_Sr-VeUN-ELW0eIMXSO6LRXCXE0lbVGaXK_mOkE8W0iieT-55znU3105rzj_anVDGrcxUX3HCxfNQjFvKM6Bm03mZvgIowZ0lnwMAvH_cj0Z4uEGa52s/s1600/pathfinder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW7m1RankwtnyZBrKTkpHqw1_Sr-VeUN-ELW0eIMXSO6LRXCXE0lbVGaXK_mOkE8W0iieT-55znU3105rzj_anVDGrcxUX3HCxfNQjFvKM6Bm03mZvgIowZ0lnwMAvH_cj0Z4uEGa52s/s400/pathfinder.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Woah Matt.... wait... they don't know about how awesome Bunkle is!<br />
Better tell the story now then! Bunkle up! It's gonna be a long one... hahaha<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-ZCO36wem-X-ScbAIeoB9cqivi3ZMAtQU1aCjxLOnmO0oXSBNYSGH8x3pG0TqwzQpY9PnDaivxIQ08qd-yW1ft4RFg81uZpSd7hsfpaJQwMe_xTWSDc8zmTq_gwea3KCF49q1xfxDuo/s1600/Goblin+steal+sword.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-ZCO36wem-X-ScbAIeoB9cqivi3ZMAtQU1aCjxLOnmO0oXSBNYSGH8x3pG0TqwzQpY9PnDaivxIQ08qd-yW1ft4RFg81uZpSd7hsfpaJQwMe_xTWSDc8zmTq_gwea3KCF49q1xfxDuo/s200/Goblin+steal+sword.jpeg" width="179" /></a>So Bunkle grew to his ripe age of 136 in the small gnome community of Weltling, near Whistledown. A bit of a trickster, him and his best friend Bleebert were known pranksters about the village, mostly picking on the nearby Goblin population and the townsfolk (think Merry & Pippin). Well eventually things turned ugly, as they always would... they starting trying to out-prank each other... Bunkle was by far the more skilled of the two, getting into far more trouble, and getting his friend into far more trouble. Until... a passing magician came through Weltling, selling scrolls. Bleebert managed to pull a couple of scams to raise the money for a permanency scroll. He slept that night, so that his small amount of Arcane prowess would return (having already used dancing lights as a distraction to steal the gold pouch from Old Margaretta) and then crept into Bunkle's room as he slept, and cast prestidigitation on his hair, turning it white from it's once firey red! He then took out the studied scroll and attempted to cast permanency, making Bunkle believe he was Bleaching. However, Bleebert had very little training in the use of scrolls or the arcane arts, and it backfired! The spell acted as if permanency was cast, but as a curse on Bunkle, not allowing Bleebert to tell him what he had done! <br />
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Okay non- pathfinder people, if you're still with me... Bleaching... Basically gnomes in Golarion have to continually be awesome and fun and exciting, else they start "Bleaching". During this process they lose all of the once vibrant color, starting with their hair. This starts the end of a gnome's natural lifespan, and is thus to be greatly avoided! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwO334djkYlFHgLV9hMbw3pobbMkdxaHPfMphXwAHAWc56_v5BKOKDinRogdZTs2WHMtDJZrAjLyuOJ6i2Rb-eeDWqimEcYVtGarwfCWGPqWE3PSXMBL8Dqsm7sFC6Cme58ncmmdHNDU/s1600/Bleebert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwO334djkYlFHgLV9hMbw3pobbMkdxaHPfMphXwAHAWc56_v5BKOKDinRogdZTs2WHMtDJZrAjLyuOJ6i2Rb-eeDWqimEcYVtGarwfCWGPqWE3PSXMBL8Dqsm7sFC6Cme58ncmmdHNDU/s320/Bleebert.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hahaha, Bleebert is upset!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So anyway, back to the story! Bunkle awoke and looked into the mirror, to his great shock! He at first did not know for sure that it was an arcane effect or the Bleaching itself. So, assuming it was Bleebert, he went and asked, knowing Bleebert was his friend, and would just laugh and fess-up to the crime, knowing that he had got the better of Bunkle. However, Bleebert was insistant, for days on end, that he had not done as such. So Bunkle fully believed he was Bleaching...<br />
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Bunkle knew he had to change his life and make himself far more interesting and fun than he already was being, and thus decided to change his tact. He went back on his previous tricksy ways, and decided to become an adventurer. But, he would need help in this. He managed to obtain some fantastic full-plate from the Armorsmith at the village, including an ornate helmet, to cover his affliction fully, including an intricate set of straps, such that it would never be removed! In preparation, he also took part in a dangerous ritual, suggested by the village Elder, to commune with passed ancestors, which would help him in his troubles. With their help in combat, he would be unstoppable. So, he headed off to the Isle of Kryta, to the Grand Lodge of Absalom, ready to start his new adventuring life, while Bleebert stayed, upset at what he had done to his best friend!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uSQ9nxSDfzYdqBR9StwXSU3mrMmMFh9nwHYs8iGeoEsM5xklC2XTt7dM-K7yyMryhcpKoQQKRS9aNziCKWTxd8F8hOP_9y2cFPr32xurheQ9-cSfnsxrZ1eQ0BaVuli6pEt7XoKUoj4/s1600/Bunkle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaIgWv9Q_8Ks9xqxYasJnWO2Go47FAqT1EVlr6w3bnF9Eddo2GmAXLZrKAcbUKdZIk2V2LEOymRHgD3FrCb9giLYCbsAQybTF1g7Vm61jE715b0QFa2FjksROlHzBHM_q6ObXycGUiI8/s1600/PZO9011-GhostAndThroneOfBones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaIgWv9Q_8Ks9xqxYasJnWO2Go47FAqT1EVlr6w3bnF9Eddo2GmAXLZrKAcbUKdZIk2V2LEOymRHgD3FrCb9giLYCbsAQybTF1g7Vm61jE715b0QFa2FjksROlHzBHM_q6ObXycGUiI8/s200/PZO9011-GhostAndThroneOfBones.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, something like that!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> His first few adventures with the pathfinder society were not as exciting as he would like. But Bunkle was always able to bring more fun into said adventures, and was more than able to make more danger. Most missions he was sent on ended with his felling several foes in a glorious rampage and then falling to a devious trap or stupid, backstabbing rogues! No honor! He also picked up Draconic to commune with his spirits better, but they still always seemed to make life difficult, fumbling with his items, or dropping his prized Nodachi (from his missions in Tian Xia) off the side of waterfalls!<br />
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(so now we are onto actual gameplay {still with me}) Feel free to go and get a coffee, that's what I'm doing now! See you in a sec!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YxV7ey7hUN3xB8LFFZotAF2UXGoFXVA8FOBWr0KUTLibqdWsvN6q-yyTlENCEN2XEv6ivCb1XLcqM6FNV2QC8rZSYnDeDlg9m1IBcj0cH4UE54zKRlCCVvSheo0gDb-PV77DOHeBGcE/s1600/portal+coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YxV7ey7hUN3xB8LFFZotAF2UXGoFXVA8FOBWr0KUTLibqdWsvN6q-yyTlENCEN2XEv6ivCb1XLcqM6FNV2QC8rZSYnDeDlg9m1IBcj0cH4UE54zKRlCCVvSheo0gDb-PV77DOHeBGcE/s320/portal+coffee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So, I'm back... You're back, everyone is back for more of Bunkle's story!<br />
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Right, so Bunkle met his fair share of awesome characters, such as Evedine and Azlebern on his adventuring, but none stood out to him more than Trig... Ah Trig. Also a gnome, also wearing full-plate, she was the most attractive and charming thing Bunkle had ever met in his entire life! Every time he adventured with her, it was amazing fun! He was also able to slice his way to glorious victories, against titanic foes and then not be knocked out in return! This allowed him to enjoy the thrill of more combats, instead of the glory of 12 seconds of combat! However, Bunkle was far too shy to ever ask Trig if she was interested, so he went to Azlebern, who now owned them both, and asked for his advice. Azlebern was slightly confused about this, but seemed fine with the idea of Trig and Bunkle, despite some mis-communication...<br />
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Sad part... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaeWYCvbkvM3bAL1bMCPnd5Sju8-dx9eJMMEs_ViOzBRHfB2MbnP_aurikg2CxdXZjxsZKppmbmj5Yaxtmd17_pLYeNzrnr4QNGspAl4IVxTAuM2NGfxEU9IsjKz3fidfrDPKvWLMbOs/s1600/Necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaeWYCvbkvM3bAL1bMCPnd5Sju8-dx9eJMMEs_ViOzBRHfB2MbnP_aurikg2CxdXZjxsZKppmbmj5Yaxtmd17_pLYeNzrnr4QNGspAl4IVxTAuM2NGfxEU9IsjKz3fidfrDPKvWLMbOs/s320/Necklace.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So Trig and Bunkle were sent by the Pathfinder society, with their friends, Maria, Daven and Morris (the crazy Pyromaniac gnome) on a mission to return some artifacts. They were given very little directions and thus had to try and track down the thieves... which no-one was very good at... so it was a fairly dull tracking through the woods, which Bunkle and Trig attempted to make more fun by jousting with trees and playing with dancing lights... However, eventually Bunkle had had enough and jumped into a sinister looking section of canal. Of course, he was instantly jumped by giant slug monsters and epic combat began, with Trig jumping straight in after him.<br />
After a glorious victory over the slug creatures, Bunkle and Trig were hoisted out of the canal. Bunkle looked onto the shore to see a beautiful, shiny necklace, which he thought would look amazing on Trig, but he was too shy, so yelled "MINE" and put it on!<br />
The necklace started immediately chocking him, as Trig and the rest of the party went through wand after wand of cure light wounds, wracking their memories and knowledge, thinking of a way to get the necklace off. Eventually Bunkle realized that it was useless, knowing that he would die, he didn't want Trig to see the life drain from his eyes, the very thing he became a pathfinder to avoid. He knew that Trig must first know how he felt, and the truth about him. So, with spirits still swirling around him, he began to unbuckle his helmet...<br />
After the final buckle was undone, Trig wasting the final charge on her second wand of cure light wounds, he pulled his helmet off, Trig & Morris were stunned to see Bunkle to be Bleaching (both failing to spot it as the arcane arts it actually was). Bunkle then spoke 3 simple words, tears streaming down his face, before jumping headfirst, drawing his Tetsubo as he did so, into the murky waters of the canal, knocking himself unconcious with it after he submerged, thus allowing the necklace to finish it's job, killing him before Trig could get to his body...<br />
<br />
The three words: "I love you Trig"<br />
<br />
Bunkle was only told small amounts of what happened next, since he didn't really want to know what happened while he was dead... suffice to say, Trig carried him to the next place along their voyage, finding a noble centaur cleric, who was able to raise him.<br />
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Bunkle and Trig didn't talk about what happened that day for a long time, after Bunkle was brought back, they walked (hand in hand) around the newly found complex for hours, neither knowing what to say, while other party members investigated the missing items, including a demonic jar...<br />
<br />
Eventually, they were called upon my the party and some friendly centaurs, including the cleric, as the auction for the stolen items began! As so often happens, things didn't go to plan at all. Some Bard, I forget his name, decided to start using the jar to summon demons from the Abyss. Demons of greater and greater strength began pouring out of the jar. Bunkle forgot his previous troubles and starting sending them back to where they came from, with a roar of "FOR TRIG" (which Trig didn't understand as it was in Draconic). Maria was shooting the jar consistantly, releasing bullet after bullet from her pistol, Daven summoned creatures from heaven itself to combat their opposites, flying over Bunkle's head and shooting into the fray. While all this time, a Balor was slowly materializing from it's own stream out of the jar.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMPcWc4xM7e0BLfenjuNjxmxRQCzZX-ZNdWI6xkCP9i-mLe8S83o0ftppcpZesiBZoa-x_MWTOgQgNrMmo1UQzFY-kAuofNlz-WpzGcIWDT52u7eSM2joVwMXw9LVsBU2xceLs4G_rMQ/s1600/Balor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMPcWc4xM7e0BLfenjuNjxmxRQCzZX-ZNdWI6xkCP9i-mLe8S83o0ftppcpZesiBZoa-x_MWTOgQgNrMmo1UQzFY-kAuofNlz-WpzGcIWDT52u7eSM2joVwMXw9LVsBU2xceLs4G_rMQ/s400/Balor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Bunkle finished off another great daemon, in a Death or Glory move, sliding between it's legs to cut up at it's torso, he turned, seeing the great deamon, now flying over the other side of the room, he jumped into combat with a new grace and speed, flashing his blade across it's face, making it snarl back at him with hatred. But a glimmer of silver caught his eye. Looking around as quickly as he dared, he saw Trig, now walking on the ceiling had drawn a ring, and thrown it down to him, it now lay in the ground at his feet. Bunkle didn't even think about the daemon as he scrambled to pick it up, it meaning more to him than anything he had ever received... Trig liked him... possibly even loved him too. As he grabbed he ring, the daemon's claws raked across his back, the tainted touch burning him greatly. He put it on, feeling a great connection to Trig, who dropped to the floor next to him. They took one look at each other, knowing what must be done, and began combat with the massive hulking daemon.<br />
<br />
Bunkle finished the daemon, severing down one of it's shoulders, just as it was raking it's great talons towards his face, in a deadly maneuver. The daemon feel to the floor as Bunkle turned to face his new adversary, looking out of the window at the partially formed Balor. Bunkle began sprinting towards to window, Nodachi drawn, ready to hurl himself out of the window, slicing at the Balor as he did so, as a Bullet, aimed at the cracked jar whistled past his shoulder. The bullet split the jar in two, sucking the Balor with a howl back into the jar, banishing it from this realm. Victory was theirs!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ypp07L9dO_0KmrBwSNwRr6Y40GRCF0OWLJzPnmrlUVxqvgeiHKhmjD2uc6XQs6qbqhMUWmGhvegr9vawTEAiGllffFymrMNSKqQ_snePAzAh9etO4zUfYn-RRx7vyYiMRoU_jB_1r2E/s1600/Defeat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ypp07L9dO_0KmrBwSNwRr6Y40GRCF0OWLJzPnmrlUVxqvgeiHKhmjD2uc6XQs6qbqhMUWmGhvegr9vawTEAiGllffFymrMNSKqQ_snePAzAh9etO4zUfYn-RRx7vyYiMRoU_jB_1r2E/s400/Defeat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seemed appropriate...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Do I still have everyone? Sorry if it's a bit long... <br />
<br />
<br />
So, Bunkle and Trig's adventure continued in a similar fashion, after many great battles and continuous gnomish sqabbles, probably originating from who would pay for his ressurection. They went on, neither knowing what was meant by the ring's they shared, Bunkle was hoping it was a engagement ring, but no confirmation was given. That is, until one of their great adventuring companions, Bungo the eigthling, (8inch tall, random coloured halfling, so charismatic that he seems to attracts followers of every description, everyone wants to be his friend!)<br />
<br />
So Trig, Bunkle, Bungo and some new friends, were on an adventure, saving a gnome village from the possibility of an attack by evil monstrous creatures, orchestrated by a pit fiend, from hell itself! After figuring out that the pit fiend was setting up a final attack on the village from a nearby lake, summoning it and defeating it with the use of several stone tablets they had bargained for that very day.<br />
Just before flying out over the lack, Bungo asked the question: "So, are you two engaged or not?"<br />
Bunkle:"Ermmmm"<br />
Trig:"errrrr"<br />
Bunkle:"Maybe"<br />
Bungo:"Well, it's about time you two got your acts together about it, I heard about your "engagment", and it would seem very fitting if I were to marry you two right here, in the presence of this Pit Fiend, as we defeat it"<br />
Bunkle: " .... thank you Bungo"<br />
Trig: "That would be awesome!"<br />
(I don't actually remember exactly what was said, so I may have paraphrased a lot!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnYooWwNhBLAQbQ1VqJJ9JydkLgyTha1FYK2YitSDm4w2_9cobCC7yg9Hyl9niAvxXcy3cSEKahZLE8GZmj9ah58_MRs4-GA2TKuG771G0FPJYLylHrqlFCfT5VJPBnjNAy_lWvWWYiQ/s1600/waterdevil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnYooWwNhBLAQbQ1VqJJ9JydkLgyTha1FYK2YitSDm4w2_9cobCC7yg9Hyl9niAvxXcy3cSEKahZLE8GZmj9ah58_MRs4-GA2TKuG771G0FPJYLylHrqlFCfT5VJPBnjNAy_lWvWWYiQ/s1600/waterdevil.jpg" /></a></div>So, ready to initiate combat marriage, Bunkle and Trig, with Bungo and other new friends (the Poppeteeress) flew out over the lake, searching for the Pit fiend, but found them first. <br />
<br />
Reaching out a great hand from under the water, the pit fiend, half water, half devil, grabbed at Bunkle. And so the ceremony began...<br />
First, as Trig unfastened his helmet, Bunkle began slashing at the watery clasping hand, all the time Trig holding on to his shoulders. Bungo then began the ceremony as Trig and Bunkle's helmets fell into the murky lake below...<br />
The Pit fiend revealed it's massive form, raising out of the lake like a leviathan. It flew up to face Bunkle in combat, each slashing at each other, Bunkle barely able to hear the question asked by Bungo, but he knew the answer. With two great slashes of his sword, he yelled " I DO!" as the beast screamed in agony.<br />
Combat continued, with the strange companion of the new gnome friend slashing into the creature with it's many claws and Maria sending Bullet after Bullet deep into the central mass. Bunkle barely heard Trig repeat his words from previously, due to the amount of excitement and adrenaline coursing through him. A couple more deft swings of his Nodachi, severing several of the viscious talons clean off, the beast appeared weak. Bungo flew next to them, Bunkle also feeling weakened by the force of blows striking him, and Bungo pronounced: "I now declare you, man and wife, you may now kiss the Bride." As Bunkle kissed Trig for the first time, he felt life and stregth return into his body, wounds closed about him, and a final bullet, shot from below erupted the creature, causing it to fall, defeated down into the lake, dead.<br />
Choirs of angels sang about them as fireworks lit up the sky over the lake, with the words Bunkle & Trig Turni. (All created by Bungo). As they flew down, ciricling, Bunkle knew he had everything he needed, well.... nearly everything, but Bungo had that covered too!<br />
<br />
After the chaos of combat died down, Bungo spoke to Bunkle.<br />
Bungo: "Why have you changed your hair to be white?"<br />
Bunkle: "What do you mean, I'm bleaching, though hopefully no more, now that I have Trig!"<br />
Bungo: "No, I recognize that, it's been put there as a spell" <br />
Bunkle: BLEEBERT!!!!<br />
<br />
Bunkle ran Absolom, via the fastest means he could, payed for the highest level wizard in the grand lodge itself to remove the arcane curse from him. Bunkle emerged, his hair red with even more flame than he had previously, smile beaming across his face. Showing Trig was about as happy as he could have been, as they flew back to their island, purchased with favors at the Grand Lodge, just off the coast of Kryta.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So, I hope people enjoyed that part of Bunkle's story... If you're still here.<br />
I would like that thank David and Jane mostly, for bringing this character's backstory out to be as much fun as it possibly could be. Also, to all of the other Pathfinder people, Alex, Aaron, Nihar, Michael and other people who dropped in, for making pathfinder the amazing game which it is.<br />
<br />
This was meant to be a blog post about Anonycon, so I'll just say a sentence about that quickly here. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8TRH8fpmKcg5Ltq2b4xLfk_3IJS-xYAiwVcuiw_C3Qcx-lJIArh9A7TAQL7b5C6RmbRmWMt9eNttvVAKQd37k6xI32YcAjg7dsdSW7VH3NdRmPLfJlu5BrhS8Q-gmktsFjkoPcgZcBw/s1600/anonycon.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8TRH8fpmKcg5Ltq2b4xLfk_3IJS-xYAiwVcuiw_C3Qcx-lJIArh9A7TAQL7b5C6RmbRmWMt9eNttvVAKQd37k6xI32YcAjg7dsdSW7VH3NdRmPLfJlu5BrhS8Q-gmktsFjkoPcgZcBw/s400/anonycon.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br />
So David was in charge of Anonycon PFS this year, and did a fantastic job, mainly for letting me play! I got to play 5 slots I think, which never happens at conventions! It was a very fitting setting for my last convention in the U.S., since it was the exact same hotel as Conncon, though under a different name, which (if you look back) was my first convention here in the states. It was a great con, Ben came up from Texas to GM some games (including the wedding!) So even though it was fairly quiet in terms of recent PFS cons, it was fantastic!<br />
<br />
Since then, we finished off the Echoes of the EverWar series, which was good fun, except Bunkle dying again in the final combat! This put Bunkle, Trig and Bungo onto level 12, or PFS retirement age!<br />
So, before I left, back to Englandland, we decided to get the retirement arc done. Art came up (or down) from NJ to play and Nihar offered to run, so we could get that all done in a weekend!<br />
I won't give anything away about the retirement arc, so avoiding all spoilers, it was great fun! Really surprising stuff and a good way to finish off these characters, though I hope to still be able to play via Skype through the high level modules!<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm done now! I am NOT checking this for spelling or grammer because I just looked at how long it now is! If you see anything and it needs to be changed, let me know and I will fix it!<br />
So, that is my tribute to Bunkle, now Venture Captain of the pathfinder society.<br />
May he live long...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uSQ9nxSDfzYdqBR9StwXSU3mrMmMFh9nwHYs8iGeoEsM5xklC2XTt7dM-K7yyMryhcpKoQQKRS9aNziCKWTxd8F8hOP_9y2cFPr32xurheQ9-cSfnsxrZ1eQ0BaVuli6pEt7XoKUoj4/s1600/Bunkle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uSQ9nxSDfzYdqBR9StwXSU3mrMmMFh9nwHYs8iGeoEsM5xklC2XTt7dM-K7yyMryhcpKoQQKRS9aNziCKWTxd8F8hOP_9y2cFPr32xurheQ9-cSfnsxrZ1eQ0BaVuli6pEt7XoKUoj4/s320/Bunkle.jpg" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a bad pic of Bunkle, (Bunkle is more attractive)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Achievement Unlocked! (In fact, if you honestly read all of that, have two!)<br />
<br />
Next WILL be the penultimate post, about my trip to Argonne National Lab, before I finally return to England, in LESS THAN A WEEK (look at the top right for more up to date!)<br />
<br />
Also: Insert inside joke:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dlYtIYdlaG4ObMbzCwVaq3Fm5SK4toDweWiCbh1RC7y0fm8gx-MAN1dI_Sj783xy9vwnLmPeR4-74D-96KEsv462-IzELShqWYiwkbxlzdWPXSoB6Aw5XAl3jy_wcd1JYTb9kCOvel0/s1600/GnomeDimension.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dlYtIYdlaG4ObMbzCwVaq3Fm5SK4toDweWiCbh1RC7y0fm8gx-MAN1dI_Sj783xy9vwnLmPeR4-74D-96KEsv462-IzELShqWYiwkbxlzdWPXSoB6Aw5XAl3jy_wcd1JYTb9kCOvel0/s320/GnomeDimension.png" width="320" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-46279257608607718212011-12-13T21:16:00.000+00:002011-12-13T21:16:35.922+00:00Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love. ~Albert EinsteinWise man. Also, very obvious... Still, an appropriate quote I believe.<br />
<br />
On 18th November, I flew back to England. Good old England... But I had a reason, I had a mission. I had a purpose...<br />
My plan was to surprise Soph and turn up, fully dapper in her living room on the morn of her sisters' wedding, which she was convinced I was not going to be able to make it to.<br />
So, after a night of not sleeping (to try and sleep on the plane), I was off to fly back to the green and pleasant land I call home.<br />
Needless to say, lots of awesome comic book movies were watched on the plane etc... etc... and I arrived in LHR at 8:30am British time (3:30) having got no sleep whatsoever!<br />
<br />
The wedding was at around noon, so I just about had enough time to rush home, change, grab some food (really had no idea what meal that was) and head back out the door. Onwards! To surprise Soph!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5mi4UEiVLOn6XY1KrKhMCl2AA4ZEXrYvu-uxpaRcJ7wl5s-otD-c0ho9hCNwNq3dzR9SY8g3CbF_zwhjZ5mNNmZ8MLws9oJTkkOxg6JCS-pRGbkAgOAdi4JLtjeqJnJTf3kO3t0TqOQ/s1600/wedding+pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5mi4UEiVLOn6XY1KrKhMCl2AA4ZEXrYvu-uxpaRcJ7wl5s-otD-c0ho9hCNwNq3dzR9SY8g3CbF_zwhjZ5mNNmZ8MLws9oJTkkOxg6JCS-pRGbkAgOAdi4JLtjeqJnJTf3kO3t0TqOQ/s320/wedding+pic.png" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watermark will be deleted when Lucy<br />
get the pictures!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So, Soph's dad came up with a brilliant plan. As the Bride and Bridesmaids were getting their hair or something done, I arrived at Soph's house, looking rather dapper... even if I do say so myself.<br />
Soph arrived back eventually and I hid in the garage, while her Mum pretended to get a picture of them all, so I could walk in and get Soph's reaction... (no, you can't see the video.)<br />
Ah yes. Soph's reaction. I'm pretty sure it was all emotions at once. Impressive. Though eventually she was just really really happy to see me, even in my sleep-deprived 2 5-hour energy, state. (Does that make it 10-hour, or just 5-hour super energy?)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3t79GYRPZyaIKu2gA9PuS7MJES_J7DTboDlMq01t9mefENJdmoidS3CKLdYz_GlA4GTQ73stM_Z7VUHeBjzoGJzmiS1B9lXRDILHle9zDOxPB4v21SezPDf9bbaZ0OqmUlVcg_FGTGY/s1600/wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3t79GYRPZyaIKu2gA9PuS7MJES_J7DTboDlMq01t9mefENJdmoidS3CKLdYz_GlA4GTQ73stM_Z7VUHeBjzoGJzmiS1B9lXRDILHle9zDOxPB4v21SezPDf9bbaZ0OqmUlVcg_FGTGY/s320/wedding.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So anyway, we went off to the wedding...<br />
It was a lovely venue and ceremony, with much tired dancing and an actual pint of ale (even if it was Boddingtons) afterwards. Lucy looked fantastic (as did everyone) and I managed to stay awake up until the final hour or so, where I crashed. (Coffee is a wonderful thing)<br />
<br />
<br />
So, it then went to a week in good ol' England, most of which was spent in the company of people in Guildford, mainly Soph, which was awesome. I managed to surprise the physics guys by turning up at the end of their lecture. Got a pretty big man-hug from Travis for that! (I'm calling it a man-hug, but it was a wonderful, special moment of sharing feelings...) Also big hug from all the physics guys, meant I was pretty overwhelmed!<br />
Hanging out in Guildford was awesome, got to go back to my old Gamesoc, which is still doing really well! Looking forward to getting back to that, for lots of awesome gaming. MORE 40K!<br />
<br />
Finally, I headed home (to parent's house) on Sat, to spend time at home quickly, including seeing parents and Granny and meeting Rachael's boyfriend (finally) for a really nice meal out in Wewlyn (or however it's spelt)<br />
<br />
Flying back to the US was actually a pretty nice trip, with extra legroom and everything, and I arrived in New Haven, for my final 4 weeks here at around 9pm on Sunday...<br />
<br />
The next (and probably penultimate) post will be Anonycon! My final convention here! There might be some extra Pathfinder stuff in there, so stay on the edge of your seats people!<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX1w-vQ3vmJJHOeUXt-H1iyMfxOz30TJinvHIWBlOk_4lsIBV6cGYwS2G4XsMIebmm2bTl7UGtV_tuQ6imS6GWGA-mSsGR64BgxUYcxjEXEoRFInQkp71ng3IlVffhqEhHSaRDi3EDZc/s1600/uk-vs-usa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX1w-vQ3vmJJHOeUXt-H1iyMfxOz30TJinvHIWBlOk_4lsIBV6cGYwS2G4XsMIebmm2bTl7UGtV_tuQ6imS6GWGA-mSsGR64BgxUYcxjEXEoRFInQkp71ng3IlVffhqEhHSaRDi3EDZc/s400/uk-vs-usa.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't think I could have not put this...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Achievement unlocked!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-91577655045450246672011-12-06T20:35:00.000+00:002011-12-06T20:35:49.703+00:00"The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules." Gary GygaxHey people.<br />
We're back to gaming conventions! Specifically, PATHFINDER! (Massive surprise for anyone? No?)<br />
The wonderfulness that is our NYC Venture Captain, Mr. Art Lobdell himself (round of applause) organised myself, David and Jane from New Haven to go up to CarnageCon, a rpg and board gaming convention up in Vermont.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmOhbxZZ_uhCWShB_vHgTpxUzhyphenhyphentDpU7Gkml0FVCRezlW1Nmts3qMp9-RA_0Lt-SC6Sgrl2fx-5UiZLNyd1f0BwLu7lkvALiAFgawaGAVMfZ6L5j0okdZGejRDW8C3EELVzg9ZuJy2cY/s1600/Lake_Morey" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmOhbxZZ_uhCWShB_vHgTpxUzhyphenhyphentDpU7Gkml0FVCRezlW1Nmts3qMp9-RA_0Lt-SC6Sgrl2fx-5UiZLNyd1f0BwLu7lkvALiAFgawaGAVMfZ6L5j0okdZGejRDW8C3EELVzg9ZuJy2cY/s320/Lake_Morey" width="320" /></a>First of all, most stunningly beautiful place for a convention I have actually ever been to (see photo)<br />
That was the actual view out of the room from which we were playing pathfinder. Just take a moment to drink in that view, I'll let you.......<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
Done? Cool, then I'll continue.<br />
<br />
<br />
Convention was 3 days of pathfinder, and as usual I was signed up to GM pretty much all the time, which was good because it was SO BUSY! It was so packed that we managed to play the battle interactive, which needs 5 tables all playing the same thing at the same time, which is fantastic for such an out-of-the-way convention.<br />
<br />
We did have to chuck Jane into the deep end (of GMing, not the lake) due to this stupid amount of players, but I think with a 2 min coaching from David & I, she took to it amazingly and GM'd a table of 8 players to start off with (if you've ever GM'd, you know what that's like) followed by the BI.<br />
<br />
This was indeed a shattering weekend, playing both midnight slots, for a total of like 4 then 3 hours sleep (thanks to the wonderful clock change half-way through the convention!) But totally worth it. Some fantastic tables, especially Sewer Dragons table, so if any of my players read this, then thanks again!<br />
<br />
Keeping these a little short and sweet, since I still am playing catch-up, but the next one will be my impromptu return to England, to a certain someone's surprise! <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveZI_gzqFYMXpfYE9d2N7xQq_Al7aTK4hoKlcwJFDaZcHQxlk3XHke1Ua5HjQGV3tA3Vd9NPyphfN8-I7himFDK-2ychbkAGtOKFN0ooqb5d9n4E5wEPQht-dmz81RpYTXEvU71W2UcY/s1600/motivatorNewGM+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveZI_gzqFYMXpfYE9d2N7xQq_Al7aTK4hoKlcwJFDaZcHQxlk3XHke1Ua5HjQGV3tA3Vd9NPyphfN8-I7himFDK-2ychbkAGtOKFN0ooqb5d9n4E5wEPQht-dmz81RpYTXEvU71W2UcY/s400/motivatorNewGM+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jane was nothing like this though....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Achievement unlocked!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-780498457353357522011-11-30T04:14:00.000+00:002011-11-30T04:14:59.504+00:00"Winging it is an exceptional and necessary skill" - Matt HintonStill playing catch-up here! It is very tricky to keep up with sooooo much other stuff to do.<br />
So sorry people., but here is another installment right now!<br />
<br />
So October something (don't remember anymore) saw the DNP come in, around a week after Elle left.<br />
This meant that I didn't have very long to get my presentation finished and done before I had to talk about my project while here to a room full of Nuclear Structure Professors. <br />
<br />
East Lansing was very cold and flat, yet still beautiful in fall. Spending most of the time in the seminar hotel meant that it was difficult to appreciate, but at least it was nice and warm.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-FDZAPSRWGiIpew6LpIlvP6W3SjamvnPzVmV28H2eNV8dNaOG3qEinD-3FIFMW8m0A7mfH_9Os3bABtS1773A8IbxkrRG2sHzRpTK_wTW2I7nGZEa9PadLZkJn1cxsih0DD0sgb8wqc/s1600/03_East_Lansing_Fall_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-FDZAPSRWGiIpew6LpIlvP6W3SjamvnPzVmV28H2eNV8dNaOG3qEinD-3FIFMW8m0A7mfH_9Os3bABtS1773A8IbxkrRG2sHzRpTK_wTW2I7nGZEa9PadLZkJn1cxsih0DD0sgb8wqc/s320/03_East_Lansing_Fall_05.jpg" width="320" /></a>My presentation was on the Thursday, the second day, in the morning. After a long travel, I was glad to have this out of the way early, especially as I only got it done the day before we left for the DNP itself.<br />
The presentation went well, I believe, and I got a few people saying as such, which is always nice.<br />
<br />
After the presentation, we had undergrads to please, by at least pretending to be interested in their presentations. However, to make this a bearable experience, they gave all the judgemental grad students and professors free alcohol! The guys from Richmond & I, whom it was really good to see again, had a fair number of drinks here. We then had the grad student event, with more free alchohol, so quite a lot was drunk that day...<br />
<br />
Friday, with a slight hangover, was more presentations to watch and promoting Yale to the undergrads in the afternoon. Saturday was similar again, finally leaving MSU in the afternoon.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, we got stuck in Detroit airport for ages (like 7 hours) due to snow back in New England. By this point I did just want to be back home, since my brain was fried from too much physics over the past week!<br />
<br />
Just a quick post today, since I'm still trying to play catch-up! See you all next time for another convention post!<br />
<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Achievement Unlocked! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-87249275689691031662011-11-14T18:52:00.000+00:002011-11-14T18:52:28.056+00:00"Failing to plan is planning to fail." - Alan LakeinAnd I certainly wasn't planning in any way about getting this blog done at any sort of reasonable time.<br />
Lots of stuff has currently passed and therefore need to do a bit of a catch-up, starting with a visit from Miss Elle!<br />
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I had a week break between Mandy and Elle visiting, which was kinda nice, meant I got loads of work done at least!<br />
Elle arrived late (not as late as Mandy, but still late) at the completely wrong place on Tuesday 4th Oct (you can see how late this post is now) she soon settled in to life in New Haven, and was quickly complaining about all the things which British people have been commenting about when they visit here, the wooden houses, the accents, all of that!<br />
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First weekend here, I had arranged to run PFS (what else?) at a convention in upstate New York, Schenektedekdeddy, or something like that!<br />
Convention was good fun, got to play lots of PFS and even got some board gaming in on the Sunday, so a big thanks to Art for sorting out my attending another great convention, met some really great people there.<br />
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Elle and I then had a week hanging out in and around New Haven, seeing the town and a quick trip to shop in Stamford. This lead up to Elle's last weekend here and the guarenteed trip to NYC BABY!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kpZNC6YVBnaUyAl39ojJDNR_F-SaGVyXXosR9sPuqVz_DcUWsx-upbpB0EBMOaB6-EW2ZG0Dlho3a2FRvGSaOt-iEBE1r5f-Ejq-iKf3zH-hHLw2kwEBvhHGzxylZK4rFcaviZy2880/s1600/308622_507733638196_263500013_209193_589016557_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kpZNC6YVBnaUyAl39ojJDNR_F-SaGVyXXosR9sPuqVz_DcUWsx-upbpB0EBMOaB6-EW2ZG0Dlho3a2FRvGSaOt-iEBE1r5f-Ejq-iKf3zH-hHLw2kwEBvhHGzxylZK4rFcaviZy2880/s320/308622_507733638196_263500013_209193_589016557_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>We managed to spend 2 days in New York. Sat was sightseeing and meeting up with Mr Rosh et al, which was really awesome. Managed to get caught up in Occupy Wall Street, which was ermmm, interesting!<br />
Sunday was shopping day, after a night at the YMCA (which was slightly too much like a jail for my liking!) Still, lots of shopping was done, and after a VERY tiring weekend we returned to New Haven.<br />
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Elle finally dissapeared a few days later, leaving me alone here, with a LOT of work to do, getting ready for the DNP, but that's another blog. It was fantastic to see Elle, have missed everyone from home such a lot, but I'm sure I'll miss everyone here a lot too.<br />
Managed to learn very tiny amounts of Polish while she was here, caught up a lot and got all of the episodes of Parks on Netflix watched, which is really good! :) <br />
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It's not actually too long now until I get back to England (as people can see from the corner of my blog)<br />
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So, until next time people!<br />
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Achievement unlocked!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-23846547642177017062011-11-02T19:26:00.000+00:002011-11-02T19:31:23.248+00:00"Punch it, Chewie!" - Han Solo, Star Wars- Heir to the EmpireSo it's onto my third audiobook review.<br />
Feeling like getting my geek on a little more than usual I went for Star Wars- Heir to the Empire (Part one).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RIn8DOV7KuURZHsxFgrST2s_1Mq10gmG44GgOhItDKm0vCIenkfKxdV6jvZIJAYsrZmSPcM52vj7l7n4XAe9WItVMl8UPJE2iZ4c3i53sK5I3gpyzkhDBdnsdQYeSywiHMOVuJROHCE/s1600/Star-Wars-Heir-to-the-Empire-2693825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RIn8DOV7KuURZHsxFgrST2s_1Mq10gmG44GgOhItDKm0vCIenkfKxdV6jvZIJAYsrZmSPcM52vj7l7n4XAe9WItVMl8UPJE2iZ4c3i53sK5I3gpyzkhDBdnsdQYeSywiHMOVuJROHCE/s1600/Star-Wars-Heir-to-the-Empire-2693825.jpg" /></a>This is a sequel to the well known and well loved Star Wars Trilogy. (Yes, there are only 3 true Star Wars films.)<br />
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Set 5 years after The Return of the Jedi, the story follows all well loved characters from the films in their new struggled to hold the peace of the New Republic. Adding some new fruitful and interesting characters to the story helps keep this fresh, while not feeling out of place in any way...<br />
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As the title suggests, the story also follows an Imperial Grand Admiral and his mission to win back control of the galaxy over from Rebel Scum, but I'll try not to give too much away... <br />
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So, my main loves of this book:<br />
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Firstly it was certainly the continuation of the Star Wars story, which I have always felt to be somewhat incomplete. I personally love stories that continue on way after the final battle is won and the antagonist defeated, as people will know from my love of the David Eddings and J.R.R. Tolkien stories. This answered many questions from the films, which were left irritatingly unanswered and managed to use most of them as clever plot devices.<br />
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Secondly, the production of this audiobook was impressive. Not only does Marc Thompson have an impressive array of voices, sounding increadiably close to Mark Hammil, Harrison Ford and even Carrie Fisher! Add that to the laser shots in the background, the sound of the forest, R2D2 whistles and the well loved lightsaber sounds and this is a story you can easily lose yourself in.<br />
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Overall this is a complelling read, one which you can get stuck listening to for hours, very well written and read. Definitely a good pick! I am greatly looking forward to the unabridged release of the second book on audible, which I will snap up immediately, since this left such a massive cliffhanger that I need to know what goes on next!<br />
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On other notes I have much stuff to update this blog with, including visit from Miss Franklin, the DNP conference and probably some gaming conventions soon! So stay tuned for when I have time to do those!<br />
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My next audiobook will be Rides a Dread Legion by Raymond E. Feist, I am getting a little behind, but work has calmed down slightly now after the DNP and I should be able to keep up with the audiobooks. <br />
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and now for a classic...<br />
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^<br />
Also, now on over 1,000 views. Awesome! ^<br />
Achievement Unlocked!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-2626313701398601462011-10-13T18:06:00.000+01:002011-10-13T18:06:00.018+01:00Looking in their eyes, I see a memory, I never realized, how happy you made me. Oh Mandy! - Barry ManilowHey people,<br />
Back on the blogging bandwagon with a visit from Mr. Andrew Knapton (Mandy)!<br />
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Mr Knapton made his way to the U.S. on the 17th Sept, for a 10 day visit here. Suffice to say, it didn't start off exactly as he had planed when, due to delayed flights and a ripped off taxi fare, he finally made it to my house in New Haven at around 3:30am. We both said a quick hello etc, and promptly fell asleep!<br />
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I won't go through everyday, especially since a large amount of the days were me working and then seeing Mandy in the evening for some kind of awesomeness (such as Battlestar Galactica on the projector) or going out for a tasty American meal. (I promised Mandy he would put on some weight and I believe he did, I win!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfoyPHNYHXjhICcfYO4WMbyIlVUmr3hDMWbSPnfAz0Y3vfld-xPkgfvrFvNHSujGGw-mm-ZXvrNmxqDoWWxnupYkpQnzO53w4-2L6NIabQb0Ij2SqLYXKqG60T1a_J54MjcVAknpAehI/s1600/mandyandI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfoyPHNYHXjhICcfYO4WMbyIlVUmr3hDMWbSPnfAz0Y3vfld-xPkgfvrFvNHSujGGw-mm-ZXvrNmxqDoWWxnupYkpQnzO53w4-2L6NIabQb0Ij2SqLYXKqG60T1a_J54MjcVAknpAehI/s320/mandyandI.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So I'll just go over the main things. The main trip, in which we partook, was a crazy day of sights and everything in NYC. I enjoyed being a slight tour-guide for the city. Lets see, what did we see? Central park, times square, up the Rock, midtown comics, GC.... etc... etc... it was a mental day that also ended in a power walk to catch the last slightly reasonable train back to New Haven. Suffice to say we slept until 1pm the following day...<br />
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Oh, we also spent a long time in the Nintendo world, which is really cool! Mandy bought a strange squirrel-like creature, not sure why... :p<br />
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Mandy also joined in with playing Pathfinder Society, in my attempt to convert everyone I know over to the Pathfinder system (so far it's going well) he now has a 2nd level halfling, which is awesome!<br />
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We also played frisbee up the top of East Rock Park, Mandy saw Stamford and New Haven. We went to the gym and Mandy had a swim I believe. but chickened out early cause it was cold...<br />
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It was really awesome to see Mr. Knapton, just hanging out with someone around is really awesome. I hope he enjoyed his little holiday here in the U.S., since I had a great time!<br />
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Achievement Unlocked! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-23544921008473421152011-10-05T16:31:00.000+01:002011-10-05T16:31:43.836+01:00"Imagine that Dungeons and Dragons and an '80s video arcade made hot, sweet love, and their child was raised in Azeroth. If you're not already experiencing a nerdgasm at the thought, I don't want to know you."- ReviewerOkay it's time for audiobook review number two! (Hey, that rhymes!)<br />
It's time for Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline, read by Will Wheaton.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsE5kogjTSG3mqfQA1c0PPsCQ3BQEyZZ5G_UOmrluUapFDWAyY1O-5gDx_o4-gKC0zRkE25M3JjvvelvOqsscOC_kA-vfli3B-IF_D0VOyHbhorBGMGAL8jmnY1iatTJ7GnTsVaER_N0/s1600/Ready_Player_One.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsE5kogjTSG3mqfQA1c0PPsCQ3BQEyZZ5G_UOmrluUapFDWAyY1O-5gDx_o4-gKC0zRkE25M3JjvvelvOqsscOC_kA-vfli3B-IF_D0VOyHbhorBGMGAL8jmnY1iatTJ7GnTsVaER_N0/s320/Ready_Player_One.jpg" width="210" /></a>I really don't think that I can do as much justice as the above reviewer did with their finishing statements about Ready Player One. It really is an absolute Nerdgasm of a book. Fantastic.<br />
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Ready Player One is set in the not too distant future, 2044, when the Earth is ravaged by the lack of remaining resources and poverty is everywhere. The only escape for everyone is the OASIS, a MMO like no other. There are thousands of worlds within it, ranging from sci-fi to fantasy, to just worlds filled with schools! Everyone on Earth has some sort of OASIS character, even if that is just their job, everything is run through the OASIS.<br />
The book starts with the will of the creator of the OASIS, leaving a final message: since he is heirless, he will leave his entire vast fortune to the one player who can find his Easter Egg, hidden within the game.<br />
This creates wide controversy as entire clans, known as egg-hunters (or gunters) spring up to try and find the clues that will lead them to the gate, studying all sorts of 80s/90s nostalgia (since the creator was greatly known for his love of the era). The book follows one particular Gunter (known in the OASIS as Parzival), on his quest to find the Egg within the OASIS.<br />
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A very cleverly written and suspenseful book, filled with references to everything that geeks and nerds will love, this is certainly an enjoyable read. I'm really trying not to give away any of the plot here, since I 100% recommend, to each and every one of my geeky friends (you know who you are), to go and and either read this book, or get the audiobook. It is fantastic. Loved every second! (If you don't want to, read the title of this blog again, still no? READ IT AGAIN! then go buy the book)<br />
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Fingers crossed that my next book will be as wonderful, Star Wars: Heir to the Empire.<br />
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Achievement Unlocked!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazi1jnrgtKnjdn6qKeS-7Lzmo1YwHS-akjX6UaBFf7Z3OLf1qSh2g67MYjQDhmMv629HAX0HuXbJJPUQtkEU5kLmTcjQHq7iEc2RSOfE5k-tq2hny4yqCbH47-6FyiyEmKR0VQF6spys/s1600/mmorpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazi1jnrgtKnjdn6qKeS-7Lzmo1YwHS-akjX6UaBFf7Z3OLf1qSh2g67MYjQDhmMv629HAX0HuXbJJPUQtkEU5kLmTcjQHq7iEc2RSOfE5k-tq2hny4yqCbH47-6FyiyEmKR0VQF6spys/s400/mmorpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Matt Out.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-62466889877432026452011-09-30T21:46:00.000+01:002011-09-30T21:46:36.970+01:00Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts. ~Author UnknownHello again people.<br />
Not sure if anyone is still reading this, but hopefully there are some people stuff out there.<br />
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So from sometime in Aug (22nd) to early September (12th) my parents, sister (3 mentions) and Sophster came to see me, so this will be a blog about that.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintM0YpnKt8MDQzIaFbXdu2WMAHrJaEkgG0XpTbfPPHTmrIesoyhh8VHPAWlGiaSyaJdejYH9wN9SoHgM9ccWbT4IRj9nt4YtDme1fYoA8_DiVX-6pS8nMDWzIdi1Rhkig4uQ8e0ka3DM/s1600/familyincheers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintM0YpnKt8MDQzIaFbXdu2WMAHrJaEkgG0XpTbfPPHTmrIesoyhh8VHPAWlGiaSyaJdejYH9wN9SoHgM9ccWbT4IRj9nt4YtDme1fYoA8_DiVX-6pS8nMDWzIdi1Rhkig4uQ8e0ka3DM/s320/familyincheers.jpg" width="320" /></a>Okay. For those of you that don't know my family, they look like this: (me, dad, mum, Rach), in cheers!<br />
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(yes it was tricky finding a picture of mum, because she likes to be behind the camera)<br />
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Okay, so how did we spend our time? We started off hanging out in New Haven, since I had to work. :( But this meant that my family got to see Yale and some of the New England coastline.<br />
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Then my parents and sister dissapeared off to the mountains for a weekend, so Soph & I were left in New Haven, since I had some work to get done, again...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXUxtq-kAsNVxILhv-jRDymym-9ayQwGuOwugV46DraJPN3s68P3CxpRvNrw1AAzNo_KKjRyejGO4yXU1qBfOy7O9AXC94hzKg_EWf0ZibRVvhANd7m1dTrzSzPykGjYkyLFyW8sEB9M/s1600/quarriors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXUxtq-kAsNVxILhv-jRDymym-9ayQwGuOwugV46DraJPN3s68P3CxpRvNrw1AAzNo_KKjRyejGO4yXU1qBfOy7O9AXC94hzKg_EWf0ZibRVvhANd7m1dTrzSzPykGjYkyLFyW8sEB9M/s200/quarriors.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>This was about when Hurricane Irene hit. Which Soph & I <i>might</i> have slept through.... we still witnessed the damage though and the irritating loss of power which occurred on only my end of Edwards street! This meant that we spent most of the weekend at the lab, which had power and played lots of Quarriors (which is an awesome game, look forward to that one GameSoc!)<br />
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Soph & I left after the storm (still with no power at home) for Boston on then bus Monday morning. We met my parents at the hotel in the afternoon and so my holiday could start!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xknH2wpFYKNWo6nRvk5KqRw9mzF-CFL4tualuLNiCT8gKVDMwBPskcGo_Vh7R1rdSymZF2GyscdOsX-D016GrsdSfAKuraavFeSHGuGxCZdp32l2dLhhDB-o2HksUmdWZsJKshMwGaI/s1600/whales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xknH2wpFYKNWo6nRvk5KqRw9mzF-CFL4tualuLNiCT8gKVDMwBPskcGo_Vh7R1rdSymZF2GyscdOsX-D016GrsdSfAKuraavFeSHGuGxCZdp32l2dLhhDB-o2HksUmdWZsJKshMwGaI/s320/whales.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We stayed in Boston for 2 nights and managed to see a large amount of the city, but the main highlight for me was going whale watching off the coast of Boston (see Soph's facebook for more pictures) It can only really be described by actually doing it, so I won't try here, but it was fantastic.<br />
We also managed to see Harvard, which was really pretty, but not as nice as Yale (I think I'm under obligation to say that) and Cheers!<br />
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After Boston, we headed into RI, to see Providence. Here, we saw Brown University, went shopping, saw the city and had a really HUUUUGGEEE meal. We only stayed here for a night, before moving along to Cape Cod, where a more traditional Hinton holiday could start, i.e. a relax!<br />
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We stayed at a small resort with it's own beach and had a nice relax, pottering around to the nearby towns, or up the coast to another beach etc... which was wonderful, I was really ready for a rest at this point! So that really was great to do!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oNFSvgwMQWQobn4-T3HflyBV9r5jR90hKZLQmXLMA-3j91OouZnra0GntTOgqbgvG9FRfBtYLPWiUupnbhAFOYmj67hyphenhyphensBgziPa105HVCTkzEZ4xCjR0beO7oY0o7h6fOPtCXeqC9pQ/s1600/capecod+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oNFSvgwMQWQobn4-T3HflyBV9r5jR90hKZLQmXLMA-3j91OouZnra0GntTOgqbgvG9FRfBtYLPWiUupnbhAFOYmj67hyphenhyphensBgziPa105HVCTkzEZ4xCjR0beO7oY0o7h6fOPtCXeqC9pQ/s400/capecod+beach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Following this, we spend a few days hanging out in New Haven, since I had to get back to work. My family did some more chillin' as we prepared to hit NYC the next (and final) weekend.<br />
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NYC is an awesome city. We stayed out in Queens and got the subway in each day. Having 3 days in total was a good plan. Meant that we weren't too rushed and managed to see loads of stuff. Statue of liberty, times square, central park, rockerfeller center, empire state, Macy's.... it goes on and on. There is so much to do in NYC. Oh, we also saw the Chicago musical, which was really good.<br />
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Soph & my family then left really early... really early... on the monday morning.<br />
So overall it was amazing to see them and to see some parts of New England which I have not been able to see due to my lack of a car! I really did enjoy every minute, so thank you to my parents for coming to see me.<br />
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Stay tuned for another audiobook review & Mr. Knapton's visit!<br />
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Achievement unlocked! Sorry if it was a little long. I tried to keep it short.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho67Ueb6ONwFBI7TsXWZOq9CTUuYam_0VH0tNMihb_P6j3f1ZsfK9tdaKflouI2caMrerFOHdVtSyNvj57EVR01Y5bbEBGDZm-oEWh8EyWmoquB2_tcSoQRg0KnrKGsutPOQqT3zx-Fx0/s1600/familymotivational.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho67Ueb6ONwFBI7TsXWZOq9CTUuYam_0VH0tNMihb_P6j3f1ZsfK9tdaKflouI2caMrerFOHdVtSyNvj57EVR01Y5bbEBGDZm-oEWh8EyWmoquB2_tcSoQRg0KnrKGsutPOQqT3zx-Fx0/s400/familymotivational.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0New England41.836828044659818 -70.35644568750001338.58245654465982 -73.777795687500017 45.091199544659816 -66.935095687500009tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-68574220258272775632011-09-16T00:52:00.000+01:002011-09-16T00:52:28.250+01:00“The sound came again. There was a whistle to it, and a moan. It was almost a hiss, and it could’ve been a strangled gasp. Above all, it was quiet, and it seemed to have no source. It whispered.” ― Cherie Priest, Boneshaker<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Hey people once again! </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Look at this 2 blogs in quick succession, look at me go... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I thought I would try something new, possibly even controversial with this blog entry. After having recently (well a while ago now subscribed to the fantastic audible service, I am now listening to ~1 audiobook a month. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">For my starting book, I chose </span><i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Boneshaker</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> by Cherie Priest, on the recommendations of my favorite "not too horrible" podcast, the d6generation. Thus I thought it might be a good idea to do a quick run-down of the book on here and then continue reviewing if people are interested in reading my reviews. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Starting off, I will not give away any large spoilers or anything like that, since the aim of these will be to let people know whether it is worth reading, not to ruin the book itself. The book was narrated by Will Wheaton (whom some of you may have heard of) and Kate Reading, both of which did a fantastic job of bringing the story alive (I was thoroughly impressed by Will Wheaton's prowess as a voice actor, and was not put off by the fact that a grown up Weasley Crusher was speaking to me, okay maybe for a sec...) </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4BrWg1OVjYdNZTh0d_QDbJmemnLT9ZqG21goLObgg3mlJn5DBHa21ryFFJ4_inaZlYt5TTKYvVsdjMpokdncMKZ75ydpipjYOv4UDbXnrNNBXkYrlKsEtRuC8L-4yI8_O-dfBn0XqSY/s1600/51k%252BPOET8qL._SL175_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4BrWg1OVjYdNZTh0d_QDbJmemnLT9ZqG21goLObgg3mlJn5DBHa21ryFFJ4_inaZlYt5TTKYvVsdjMpokdncMKZ75ydpipjYOv4UDbXnrNNBXkYrlKsEtRuC8L-4yI8_O-dfBn0XqSY/s1600/51k%252BPOET8qL._SL175_.jpg" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">On to the book: This a a steampunk novel at it's heart, set in an alternate history to the Civil War (which unfortunatly isn't mentioned or used enough throughout the book). The </span><i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Boneshaker, </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">after which the book is named, was a huge drilling machine, built to mine through the ice under Seattle, to obtain the vast stores of gold hidden beneath. Unfortunately, due to the race of it's construction, it backfired. The machine produced a thick, heavy smog which slowly filled rooms, buildings and streets until it eventually had to be contained by a great wall build all around Seattle, making Seattle basically inhabitable, but some people stayed. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The book follows the exploits of the <i>Boneshaker</i>'s inventor's wife and her son (Zeke), as Zeke ventures into the city to try and find out more about his father and try to clear his name for the atrocities caused by the boneshaker machine. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The book is really interesting, especially if you're a steampunk fan. It doesn't play on any of the standard steampunky types (like Victorian spaceships, or whatever), so it seems like it's own fantastic world. Which brings me to the first problem, the world is rich and wonderful, but is unused, it seems like a backdrop and never has any impact to further the story etc... it's only a minor thing, but would have been nice. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The story is also creepy and a bit dark, with viscous (yet believable) characters and themes, which is always a plus for me. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Also, it has airships. I frigging loooovvveee airships. :P</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">So in summary, since I will try adn keep these short, if you enjoy steampunk and are looking for something a little different with zombies (yes, steampunk zombies), then give this a listen. I also cannot recommend audible enough. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Next will be <i>Ready Player One</i> by Ernest Cline, to which I am currently listening. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
Thanks guys & gals. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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Achievement Unlocked! </span></span></div><div></div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-9623985314762571922011-09-13T01:55:00.000+01:002011-09-13T15:00:39.628+01:00“In physics, you don't have to go around making trouble for yourself - nature does it for you.” - Frank WilczekHey,<br />
It's been a while again! Ooops!<br />
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Thought I would quickly do a blog which isn't about gaming! (I know, dull huh?)<br />
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Haven't put anything since GenCon, so let's start with just after that. I traveled directly from Indianapolis, gaming capital of the world (okay, so not entirely not about gaming), to sunny Durham, NC to help out at Duke University's HIGS lab.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QzosIOyly_VDZSZ7GmGMI1Vqm6vtGeSTHpwZIFCE6FKb7wNvYNmyFdAYybQol5rVN21vBYuHoIs_MFs5bFxiuH8CbqSoP1jSNOKyhQlfZnHFW93oLa1LIUK8x1axoUlmCwMfPuxiiYM/s1600/tunl+higs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QzosIOyly_VDZSZ7GmGMI1Vqm6vtGeSTHpwZIFCE6FKb7wNvYNmyFdAYybQol5rVN21vBYuHoIs_MFs5bFxiuH8CbqSoP1jSNOKyhQlfZnHFW93oLa1LIUK8x1axoUlmCwMfPuxiiYM/s200/tunl+higs.jpg" width="200" /></a> If anyone is interested, HIGS stands for High Intensity Gamma Source. It produces these high-intensity gamma rays (after which it is named) by Compton Back-scattering of FEL photons produced by "wibbling" the electrons as they travel around the storage ring. This produces a mono-energetic, intense and well polarized beam which can be used to excited a target of interest to observe the levels (and hopefully discover new levels by looking at gamma decays from this target). It can also tell some of the characteristics of the levels due to the set-up of the detectors around the target itself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBZm56M_utTU5ABBwc8HlCz1kRBCOiWlSwH-rHsW_lStJeO0cY0LGIg8VgAChsgSG_eUqA7MhvLSKwR-O2INvbx030WsnRgEwDRQapx-L4-QYw16nK0CdiGYeDIpKO330-2Dw798hUXk/s1600/185429_10150286279898130_827893129_7509159_3914679_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBZm56M_utTU5ABBwc8HlCz1kRBCOiWlSwH-rHsW_lStJeO0cY0LGIg8VgAChsgSG_eUqA7MhvLSKwR-O2INvbx030WsnRgEwDRQapx-L4-QYw16nK0CdiGYeDIpKO330-2Dw798hUXk/s320/185429_10150286279898130_827893129_7509159_3914679_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>So I was around Duke for 2 weeks in total, firstly for "our" experiment and secondly theirs as a further helping hand. It was really good to see Duke University, which has a beautiful campus, especially in the summer since the weather was wonderful all the time. It was a pity that the lab was kept at electronics temperatures, meaning that I had to put a jumper ON whenever I went into the lab.<br />
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Plus the ants were annoying, stupid ants and their lines...<br />
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Anyway, I'll leave you with this; <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypEl7jpnCVKpvrx51f547cvHZKtcpbGk5eikiK4L5K1KhyM1s2V_AyZMbXK20pwsH09aXOmd3QEw6Ar4jS3jfKc0WsrC7nG0H-ruzmGdOMfRjXWPlGnVgilVmJnDKhDNq57Cf-LfKv6o/s1600/a-funny-motivational-inspirational-posters-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypEl7jpnCVKpvrx51f547cvHZKtcpbGk5eikiK4L5K1KhyM1s2V_AyZMbXK20pwsH09aXOmd3QEw6Ar4jS3jfKc0WsrC7nG0H-ruzmGdOMfRjXWPlGnVgilVmJnDKhDNq57Cf-LfKv6o/s320/a-funny-motivational-inspirational-posters-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>To honor my new PFS character, who is a wizard with a big-ass gun! (If anyone reads that as big ass-gun, he'll kill you)<br />
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Achievement Unlocked!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-24797033429877241482011-08-12T03:15:00.000+01:002011-11-02T20:33:06.254+00:00"The dragon, as it dies, falls on top of your unconsious companion, killing him." - Unknown (GM licence rebuked)<div style="text-align: justify;">Okay, so some of you, probably most of you, based on how excited I was know that last week I was at GENCON! This, being the largest gaming convention in the world, probably deserves a blog entry for itself. Thus, with no further adjure, it begins!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I should probably start with what I was doing. During my time in America, I would like to thank Ben Lash, David<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">Meierfrankenfeld and Ed Lehman for ensuring that I stayed into my roleplaying games. Ben and David also set up a good group of Pathfinder Society players, allowing me to get back into GMing, and allowing me to learn the Pathfinder system (from which I doubt I will ever return!) Due to this, at Connetticon, I met the venture captain for NY, Art Lobdell, who managed to organise me running as a tier 1 pathfinder judge at GenCon in Indianapolis. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK8r7Ih4Q8H3MQhajdHGYlsSGxCBo16F-xxpFhrFg7sTvHZ1bP6zNPt84JsTG20DlqHwwkhiRP6WOeoYLUSZoTgTFIZWDvQnyvUTx2DmHoZN4UoVYjDse3vd-jQBwPUzTxgGkDhNA3Qg/s1600/gen-con-indy-2011.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK8r7Ih4Q8H3MQhajdHGYlsSGxCBo16F-xxpFhrFg7sTvHZ1bP6zNPt84JsTG20DlqHwwkhiRP6WOeoYLUSZoTgTFIZWDvQnyvUTx2DmHoZN4UoVYjDse3vd-jQBwPUzTxgGkDhNA3Qg/s400/gen-con-indy-2011.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, that place. I think they get the point Matt! </td></tr>
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">So, on Tue 2nd, I set off on the longest car journey of my life. Around 700 miles across 6 states to get to Indianapolis. But man was it worth it! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5v5qZS7Jx9iyoKWFrOWFORl_j5RK3LWB6jxyxwX92NorVIaROImehf1sRRAGunGCRTXPZaxGLiQhQa9hYWGwLTX298QJBeOudLkguXAl9tnkJkdL_ZtaJJTqCsD779phC8yZTnrdSaw/s1600/beercon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5v5qZS7Jx9iyoKWFrOWFORl_j5RK3LWB6jxyxwX92NorVIaROImehf1sRRAGunGCRTXPZaxGLiQhQa9hYWGwLTX298QJBeOudLkguXAl9tnkJkdL_ZtaJJTqCsD779phC8yZTnrdSaw/s320/beercon.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">Starting Wednesday, I had signed up to run 3 slots of PFS at Scott's Brewhouse, as a pre-GenCon bash. This was crazy busy, great fun with the awesome atmosphere of the pub, filled to the brink with gamers from all over, though I think I was the only English GM there! The place even had a special GenCon menu with items like "magic missles" and "Cthulu burgers", not sure what they were, but that was all part of the fun. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">The next day GenCon started! 8am slots meant that it was an early start for the PFS guys. Soon, outside the PFS room was covered with eager players, wanting some PFS fun! So, with a loud "Ready or not, here they come!", they crammed themselves in to the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">appropriately</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"> 70 tables, each complete with a grinning GM, ready to mercilessly slay them all at the hands of his budding minions... kidding! </span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZj2Q-n-G3PuDlmXaraZsIiLy7ap4F6GLpqs7hyKRq40BFTE0zhK8u8d1Y4BR9OpidBwz4N4l5bxk9WwGOgQi-LzjxITwhur_ujerEKDBmQXR0LRH2woD-hhw94-9SMrZ-7auSg8SCrM/s1600/GenCon2011-1D4ZM8F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZj2Q-n-G3PuDlmXaraZsIiLy7ap4F6GLpqs7hyKRq40BFTE0zhK8u8d1Y4BR9OpidBwz4N4l5bxk9WwGOgQi-LzjxITwhur_ujerEKDBmQXR0LRH2woD-hhw94-9SMrZ-7auSg8SCrM/s320/GenCon2011-1D4ZM8F.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Players waiting for the GenCon special: Blood<br />
under Absalom</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">And so the madness began. Each new slot brought new players, new modules, new plots and new sources of fun! It was awesome, (with the exception of one player, don't ask) everyone who played at my tables was a great guy (or girl) and I'm glad I met everyone there.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">I won't go through each slot, because that will take ages, but some highlights included the writer of a module watching me run his module and him playing one of the NPCs throughout, some awesome Kobold roleplaying in "Sewer Dragons" and the sheer madness of the GenCon special event, even if my party were not greatly balanced. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_a3oPlhMghfFlZz4hK9oZiWdTvZSAHBMby6QE9R9oH1lcRRNZWo1p2rQEuRHWZKUXxLfqgN4yyHobbau3zJUu_pHbvhQkHPMCL45k7X98MijDnIT5jllmTEk3I-VgISugadcZ3qsH6E/s1600/IMG_0567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_a3oPlhMghfFlZz4hK9oZiWdTvZSAHBMby6QE9R9oH1lcRRNZWo1p2rQEuRHWZKUXxLfqgN4yyHobbau3zJUu_pHbvhQkHPMCL45k7X98MijDnIT5jllmTEk3I-VgISugadcZ3qsH6E/s320/IMG_0567.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a small section of the Dealer's room. For more<br />
photos, see my facebook album, which I'm about to make! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">Some notes about the con. Got time to check out the dealers hall and the open gaming area for a bit, watching and quickly playing some of the newest games, I'm looking forward to getting my copy of Quarriors soon, which is an awesome looking game. I was immensely surprised by the look of Battleship Galaxies, though I didn't have time to play it myself and Star Ward X-Wing looks like a great load of fun, though that might just be my star wars geek talking. Also there was a game using Rubber Duckies! (But I can't remember what it was called) </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">After some close calls with losing my voice and killing party members (had 4 players down to 1hp off death... , the con was over! I quickly got out on my plane to NC, for an experiment at Duke university, where I currently find myself. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">I'm currently looking forward to seeing Soph, my parents and my sister( 2 mentions!), 2 days after I get back from NC! Yup, it's all go atm! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">So, I'm sure I'll put another short blog about my time here in sunny NC (it's weird having to take my jumper OFF to go outside!) so ya'll can look for'ard t' that! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">Achievement Unlocked! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">Thanks for listening!</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005356739100430989.post-44254077533168082862011-07-17T01:36:00.000+01:002011-07-17T03:35:34.847+01:00“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.” J.R.R. TolkienI apologise for my once again delay in the writing of this blog, thus I would firstly like to extended my congratulations to anybody who keeps up with their blogs on a more frequent basis than I, which would be pretty much anyone.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBoYP31kMXBCf1Q9OYGZoM_20xx3RqeT1CW3VH7dLiCrCt-YzdMRm9ZiGJETOfPgNL-IuMfX6bvPsNOuEtRnuvR6CKZQprlk97R7p5vYH0-kpdT0Ycjv9w3XcYVDyoxQuv9AOXCpD3ho/s1600/Professor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBoYP31kMXBCf1Q9OYGZoM_20xx3RqeT1CW3VH7dLiCrCt-YzdMRm9ZiGJETOfPgNL-IuMfX6bvPsNOuEtRnuvR6CKZQprlk97R7p5vYH0-kpdT0Ycjv9w3XcYVDyoxQuv9AOXCpD3ho/s1600/Professor.jpg" /></a>So my most recent event was going to Connetticon over last weekend. Connetticon is a huge general Cosplay and gaming convention held in Hartford, CT (as I have mentioned previously). I played 5 sessions of Pathfinder over the weekend, bringing Professor Calaelen (my elven Alchemist character) up to nearly level 2. I even got to GM a game, which was really good fun.<br />
I have been playing huge amounts of pathfinder recently, which is really good fun. It's good to get lots of rping in and I don't think I'll be returning to D&D 3.5 any time soon, so people back in Guildford should be ready for lots of pathfinder society play when I get back!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm really looking forward to my parent's and Soph's visit at the end of August for 3 weeks. I think the plan at the moment involves a mini road trip around the New England area, including Boston, Cape Cod, Providence and New York. So I'll keep you all posted as to how good that is, as soon as it's done.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYJuqOAZHoA5PaDKFWKdOrFS0JQTfV6KQzJanYZjzZW2RZdBvGN_rT_s6CBpAo6_wdoFhvD3lG-dOAmj2aGDDCBtFd0kS_x8lUYIdjSwy6JCGkIev09M1W-QoS__Yq5iosPUT2xqnkH0/s1600/R2D2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYJuqOAZHoA5PaDKFWKdOrFS0JQTfV6KQzJanYZjzZW2RZdBvGN_rT_s6CBpAo6_wdoFhvD3lG-dOAmj2aGDDCBtFd0kS_x8lUYIdjSwy6JCGkIev09M1W-QoS__Yq5iosPUT2xqnkH0/s320/R2D2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">R2D2 Lantern which we made last year</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I was sad to miss Rhythms of the World back in Hitchin, but I see that there was a fair amount of rain and thus maybe it was a good year to miss if I had to miss one. I hope that everybody had a wonderful time, hopefully James didn't drink all of the beer which I would have! This also a good time for me to mention that I am also sad to miss Towersey Folk Festival this year. I'm sure James, Michael and Katie will have lots of fun without me, but it might not be the same!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My board gaming has been continuing weekly, mostly playing lots of Castle Ravenloft at Nexus on Tuesdays, I am working my way through painting all of the minis and it is probably safe to say that I am "pimping" out this game pretty thoroughly. Apart from that, my game purchasing has been at a sad minimum, except for a preorder of Quarriors and Belfort, I have no games that I really need right now.<br />
<br />
Back to work. The beam at WNSL is completely off now, unless I have said this before, I forget. My project is coming along fairly well, should be all finished shortly and then it will be time for me to start writing my dissertation for the year.<br />
<br />
I'll try not to make this too much about gaming. I should going to GenCon this year to GM some more Pathfinder. This should be loads of fun, so I should let people know how that all goes after it's done. I have also been asked to do two more Conventions in November, so fingers crossed I should have a lot of experience GMing by the time I get back.<br />
<br />
Thanks for listening.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPzj0xQPycaxpbR91a7QY1ebcHol8C01dbKyvFq57AAVnutf7Qj4nbiBhufWZsVfCqtryp6K-a-QdyBNJV9N5OZPxxe81yVMD35Qo0SMnm-eFTuHTk1xX89tQ0BFT5exhhRDSSt-Y-Eg/s1600/dragon.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPzj0xQPycaxpbR91a7QY1ebcHol8C01dbKyvFq57AAVnutf7Qj4nbiBhufWZsVfCqtryp6K-a-QdyBNJV9N5OZPxxe81yVMD35Qo0SMnm-eFTuHTk1xX89tQ0BFT5exhhRDSSt-Y-Eg/s400/dragon.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Achievement Unlocked!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15214877196552693539noreply@blogger.com0