Made it to AC!
Posted 13 years agoGot off the plane at the airport, got my bag, and I'm headed to the Hampton. See you all soon!
The Coliseum Pimpage
Posted 13 years agoA relatively new member to the site named
FeralArrow opened up a sort of writing raffle a few days ago. I was maybe going to join as one of the main participants, but the slots for those filled up quicker than I expected.
So I'm entering as a rooter, a support member for a bud who got into the full contest,
Ainoko
The contest details are linked here in Feral's announcement journal, here: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3547359/
The character I'm entering as support for Ainoko in the battles is Ichi-gou: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6121075/ , http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6375404/
As a follow-up edit:
One of the other participants already has a massive lead in rooters for their character. So if any of my watchers are interested you're more than welcome (and highly encouraged) to offer Ainoko a rooting back-up. I'm sure he'd appreciate it, and having a wider character pool to draw from for Feral would make anything involving his assembled cast more stimulating.

So I'm entering as a rooter, a support member for a bud who got into the full contest,

The contest details are linked here in Feral's announcement journal, here: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3547359/
The character I'm entering as support for Ainoko in the battles is Ichi-gou: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6121075/ , http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6375404/
As a follow-up edit:
One of the other participants already has a massive lead in rooters for their character. So if any of my watchers are interested you're more than welcome (and highly encouraged) to offer Ainoko a rooting back-up. I'm sure he'd appreciate it, and having a wider character pool to draw from for Feral would make anything involving his assembled cast more stimulating.
AC Meme
Posted 13 years agoConvention Name: Why, Anthrocon 2012, A Midsummer Night's Dream, of course.
Website:
www.anthrocon.org
Transportation type: Very probably by train. I really want to drive the Piaggio all the way up there if I can, but I have no idea what the weather would be like.
Hotel you're staying at: Hampton
Dates: 14th – 17th, leaving on the 18th.
Gender: Male
Description (out of suit): http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2795478/ (I'll probably be wearing different clothes, and I'll have my badge on. So, there's the face to look for, minus the snake.)
Fursuit(s): Not gonna wear one, but if I can get some slit pupil contacts in time I might have those in.
Relationship Status: Single
Relationship Type: Uh…Single?
Who you will be with a majority of the time: No idea. I'll probably meet up with whoever's at the panels I want to hit, and maybe a few buds if we can cooridinate things. Other than that I'm probably going to be roving around and hitting the events I want to hit. Lots of them will be writing panels, character panels, and some of the more all inclusive events, like Kage's Story Hour and 2's act.
(side note: It's bloody frustrating that Transfurmations and Kage's 'First Fur Con' panel are at the same time)
Main purpose for attending: I've wanted to go to AC for a long while, just to see what the biggest con in the States is like. I like the fandom, so getting to go to the major con for it on this side of the pond will be a lot of fun. Other than that it'd be nifty to meet up with the furs I know, and see all the panels on all the subjects I'm interested in.
Where you usually eat: I love food, period, and have no allergies to anything. So I am going to eat at a LOT of different locations. Definitely hitting Fernando's at least once, since I donated to their charity.
Parties: I'm invited to the Fernando get-together, so that I'm definitely going to.
Fursuiting: Not really my thing, but if I can get those contacts in time I'll wear those, just to get some doubletakes from people. I wore them at an I-Con a few years ago and they got great reactions. The only trouble is keeping them aligned up and down.
Daily activities: Panels, bigtime. And walking around taking pictures.
Nightly Activities: Same thing, and I'll probably be going to the 18+ venues as well. Just because…well…
What time I usually go to bed and get up: Late, and then early, while still adhearing to the 6-2-1 rule.
Do you talk out of suit: Yes! Cause I won't be in one!
Do you talk in suit: See the above.
Rules of engagement out of suit: Please do NOT approach me with grievances about FA. Please, please, please do not. I'll give you the cold-shoulder and just walk away. I'm not going to the con to get harassed about things, I'm going for fun.
Rules of engagements in suit: See the answer to several questions above.
How far is too far: I'm much more the casual type than I am the long-term type, and I'm not looking to start major relationships with anyone at the moment. I've got too many student loans to pay to consider a real romantic interest. But casual and open relationships are fine, and at a con where you can meet people of similar interests it'd be almost surprising for some great relationships –not- to sprout up.
Can I dance with you: I can't dance…at all. Like, total whiteness on the floor.
Can I take pictures with you: Sure! Dunno If there'll be any major memorable photo moments, but if you want a shot then okay.
Can I buy you things: Food's good! Other than that I don't know what anyone would really want to purchase for me. I've no idea what souvenirs to even expect, and no idea what would be really acceptable to expect, if anything.
Website:
www.anthrocon.org
Transportation type: Very probably by train. I really want to drive the Piaggio all the way up there if I can, but I have no idea what the weather would be like.
Hotel you're staying at: Hampton
Dates: 14th – 17th, leaving on the 18th.
Gender: Male
Description (out of suit): http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2795478/ (I'll probably be wearing different clothes, and I'll have my badge on. So, there's the face to look for, minus the snake.)
Fursuit(s): Not gonna wear one, but if I can get some slit pupil contacts in time I might have those in.
Relationship Status: Single
Relationship Type: Uh…Single?
Who you will be with a majority of the time: No idea. I'll probably meet up with whoever's at the panels I want to hit, and maybe a few buds if we can cooridinate things. Other than that I'm probably going to be roving around and hitting the events I want to hit. Lots of them will be writing panels, character panels, and some of the more all inclusive events, like Kage's Story Hour and 2's act.
(side note: It's bloody frustrating that Transfurmations and Kage's 'First Fur Con' panel are at the same time)
Main purpose for attending: I've wanted to go to AC for a long while, just to see what the biggest con in the States is like. I like the fandom, so getting to go to the major con for it on this side of the pond will be a lot of fun. Other than that it'd be nifty to meet up with the furs I know, and see all the panels on all the subjects I'm interested in.
Where you usually eat: I love food, period, and have no allergies to anything. So I am going to eat at a LOT of different locations. Definitely hitting Fernando's at least once, since I donated to their charity.
Parties: I'm invited to the Fernando get-together, so that I'm definitely going to.
Fursuiting: Not really my thing, but if I can get those contacts in time I'll wear those, just to get some doubletakes from people. I wore them at an I-Con a few years ago and they got great reactions. The only trouble is keeping them aligned up and down.
Daily activities: Panels, bigtime. And walking around taking pictures.
Nightly Activities: Same thing, and I'll probably be going to the 18+ venues as well. Just because…well…
What time I usually go to bed and get up: Late, and then early, while still adhearing to the 6-2-1 rule.
Do you talk out of suit: Yes! Cause I won't be in one!
Do you talk in suit: See the above.
Rules of engagement out of suit: Please do NOT approach me with grievances about FA. Please, please, please do not. I'll give you the cold-shoulder and just walk away. I'm not going to the con to get harassed about things, I'm going for fun.
Rules of engagements in suit: See the answer to several questions above.
How far is too far: I'm much more the casual type than I am the long-term type, and I'm not looking to start major relationships with anyone at the moment. I've got too many student loans to pay to consider a real romantic interest. But casual and open relationships are fine, and at a con where you can meet people of similar interests it'd be almost surprising for some great relationships –not- to sprout up.
Can I dance with you: I can't dance…at all. Like, total whiteness on the floor.
Can I take pictures with you: Sure! Dunno If there'll be any major memorable photo moments, but if you want a shot then okay.
Can I buy you things: Food's good! Other than that I don't know what anyone would really want to purchase for me. I've no idea what souvenirs to even expect, and no idea what would be really acceptable to expect, if anything.
Birthday!
Posted 13 years agoBig day's here! Today marks another year's passing.
Definitely hitting the spa at the gym and getting a nice massage. It's been a while since I've indulged in one.
Definitely hitting the spa at the gym and getting a nice massage. It's been a while since I've indulged in one.
Before Screaming About the Site Update
Posted 13 years agoPlease, please, please...Try giving it a week or so, alright?
If you notice something genuinely wrong then please file a trouble ticket so the tech-staff can address it for everyone. But beyond that give the aesthetic and the interface a week to get a feel for.
If you notice something genuinely wrong then please file a trouble ticket so the tech-staff can address it for everyone. But beyond that give the aesthetic and the interface a week to get a feel for.
If Someone Asks 'What's Fur Affinity like?'
Posted 13 years agoThis summarizes it nicely:
Maryland's Concealed Carry Law
Posted 13 years ago...has been overturned.
So with that...PROJECT TIME!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb4_JiYYy9E
This video and the following videos that will be uploaded are a project I've begun, following the recent ruling regarding Maryland's concealed carry laws.
As a short summary: Maryland's concealed carry policy has been ruled as unconstitutional by the Maryland federal court. Maryland requires(d) that evidence be submitted at the time of concealed carry permit application that there was a 'good and substantial reason' for the applicant to be making the request to carry a firearm on their person.
This is (was) a very different policy than requiring that those with felony crimes on their records or records of mental instability could not carry. It's a policy that has(d) meant that members of the populace with no reason to be denied their right to self defense were denied on a regular basis.
The recent ruling overturns that policy. The link below is to the judge's ruling, copied from the Maryland Shall Issue webpage.
http://postlink.www.listbox.com/116.....ac3bb513c/2195...
http://marylandshallissue.org/2012/.....woollard-case/
This -should- mean that anyone without felony crimes or other reasons that would bar them from being able to own or carry a firearm should be approved.
I myself want to see what this -actually- means, not what it -should- mean. It's highly anticipated that the state of Maryland will appeal the ruling, and this will probably progress all the way through the legal system to the Supreme Court for a final verdict. If that were the case then an official and final ruling won't occur for years.
So this project is focused strictly on the here and now.
Here's what I aim to showcase over the next day or so:
1) This video shows that I'm an average citizen. I am an Iraqi Freedom veteran, I have completed the Maryland pistol safety training course online, I myself own a personal defense pistol that is designed for concealed carry (along with two other pistols that I just use at the range), and I have a wish to carry the smaller pistol for defense.
2) The pistol I own is a Beretta Tomcat .32cal pocket pistol, reviewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHpbPosi5d4&
3) What one encounters when dealing with the automated system when calling the MD state police department about concealed carry.
4) What one encounters when dealing with a real human being when calling the MD state police department about concealed carry.
5) What one encounters when dealing with someone at the MD state police barracks (in my case the Forestville office) when inquiring about concealed carry.
So with that...PROJECT TIME!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb4_JiYYy9E
This video and the following videos that will be uploaded are a project I've begun, following the recent ruling regarding Maryland's concealed carry laws.
As a short summary: Maryland's concealed carry policy has been ruled as unconstitutional by the Maryland federal court. Maryland requires(d) that evidence be submitted at the time of concealed carry permit application that there was a 'good and substantial reason' for the applicant to be making the request to carry a firearm on their person.
This is (was) a very different policy than requiring that those with felony crimes on their records or records of mental instability could not carry. It's a policy that has(d) meant that members of the populace with no reason to be denied their right to self defense were denied on a regular basis.
The recent ruling overturns that policy. The link below is to the judge's ruling, copied from the Maryland Shall Issue webpage.
http://postlink.www.listbox.com/116.....ac3bb513c/2195...
http://marylandshallissue.org/2012/.....woollard-case/
This -should- mean that anyone without felony crimes or other reasons that would bar them from being able to own or carry a firearm should be approved.
I myself want to see what this -actually- means, not what it -should- mean. It's highly anticipated that the state of Maryland will appeal the ruling, and this will probably progress all the way through the legal system to the Supreme Court for a final verdict. If that were the case then an official and final ruling won't occur for years.
So this project is focused strictly on the here and now.
Here's what I aim to showcase over the next day or so:
1) This video shows that I'm an average citizen. I am an Iraqi Freedom veteran, I have completed the Maryland pistol safety training course online, I myself own a personal defense pistol that is designed for concealed carry (along with two other pistols that I just use at the range), and I have a wish to carry the smaller pistol for defense.
2) The pistol I own is a Beretta Tomcat .32cal pocket pistol, reviewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHpbPosi5d4&
3) What one encounters when dealing with the automated system when calling the MD state police department about concealed carry.
4) What one encounters when dealing with a real human being when calling the MD state police department about concealed carry.
5) What one encounters when dealing with someone at the MD state police barracks (in my case the Forestville office) when inquiring about concealed carry.
Anthrocon 2012
Posted 13 years agoAttending Anthrocon 2011 was a bust due to other staff members senior to me grabbing the available slots, and the few remaining vacation times not working for the con.
Anthrocon 2012 is another story, I'm happy to say
It's been a rather crazy week; what with the motorcycle getting patched back up from damage back in November, surprisingly hectic nights at work, knocking out trouble-tickets, filing taxes, filing for student loan consolidation, settling insurance claims from the accident back in November...Lots of stuff, in other words.
Oh yeah, my external hard drive died too
I keep my data reasonably well backed up on separate storage, but the HD dying was still a buggering loss. I'm trying to sort out just what was lost, what's drifting around on the net, and how much I'm willing to spend to have the drive itself recovered.
BUT! BUT BUT BUT!
I've got my super-sponsorship registration set for AC2012, and I've got my room reserved at the Hampton. I'm going, despite the set-backs. I'll spend the next few months setting aside some selective funds to make sure the trip is fun and memorable. If I get to meet any notable community members, like 2, Kage, Gami, or the like, then that'd be just super.
if at all possible I plan to ride my motorcycle the whole way there. I've driven 200+ miles on a single trip on the Piaggio before, but the trip to AC will be about 500 miles each way.
Hope to see any of my watchers there. If anyone can link me to the AC2012 journal meme I'd appreciate it. I was going to fill it out but neglected to, and it got lost in a bit of journal shuffling.
Anthrocon 2012 is another story, I'm happy to say
It's been a rather crazy week; what with the motorcycle getting patched back up from damage back in November, surprisingly hectic nights at work, knocking out trouble-tickets, filing taxes, filing for student loan consolidation, settling insurance claims from the accident back in November...Lots of stuff, in other words.
Oh yeah, my external hard drive died too
I keep my data reasonably well backed up on separate storage, but the HD dying was still a buggering loss. I'm trying to sort out just what was lost, what's drifting around on the net, and how much I'm willing to spend to have the drive itself recovered.
BUT! BUT BUT BUT!
I've got my super-sponsorship registration set for AC2012, and I've got my room reserved at the Hampton. I'm going, despite the set-backs. I'll spend the next few months setting aside some selective funds to make sure the trip is fun and memorable. If I get to meet any notable community members, like 2, Kage, Gami, or the like, then that'd be just super.
if at all possible I plan to ride my motorcycle the whole way there. I've driven 200+ miles on a single trip on the Piaggio before, but the trip to AC will be about 500 miles each way.
Hope to see any of my watchers there. If anyone can link me to the AC2012 journal meme I'd appreciate it. I was going to fill it out but neglected to, and it got lost in a bit of journal shuffling.
SOPA Black-Out
Posted 13 years agoI set my avatar to be blacked out, since yeah, this sort of legislation is something I don't support. I've already put my name on the petition as well.
For those of you saying "THE WHOLE SITE SHOULD BE BLACKED OUT! WHY AREN'T THE ADMINS DOING IT ON THE WHOLE PLACE!?"
Please, think about what you're asking. This site isn't wikipedia, it's not google. For some of our members it's a source of income and a place to showcase their personality and the material they produce. It would be pretty damn unethical for the tech admins to black out -everyone's- avatar, and way, way, way moreso to block text or submissions from site.
If you or someone else wish to participate in the black-out (I am, at least) then that's a personal choice. Don't hassle people to do it.
For those of you saying "THE WHOLE SITE SHOULD BE BLACKED OUT! WHY AREN'T THE ADMINS DOING IT ON THE WHOLE PLACE!?"
Please, think about what you're asking. This site isn't wikipedia, it's not google. For some of our members it's a source of income and a place to showcase their personality and the material they produce. It would be pretty damn unethical for the tech admins to black out -everyone's- avatar, and way, way, way moreso to block text or submissions from site.
If you or someone else wish to participate in the black-out (I am, at least) then that's a personal choice. Don't hassle people to do it.
Saving Up for AC
Posted 13 years agoThis year I saw the permitted vacation dates allowed me to make it to Anthrocon 2012, so I put in my request for that whole week's opening slot yesterday.
Those of us asking for vacation will get our approval/denial notices in Febuary, which is also when the hotels open up for their AC packages.
So I'm saving for it -now-, and getting my trip planned out. Here's hoping it happens this year!
Those of us asking for vacation will get our approval/denial notices in Febuary, which is also when the hotels open up for their AC packages.
So I'm saving for it -now-, and getting my trip planned out. Here's hoping it happens this year!
I Caved. The Argonians Just Seemed Too Nifty
Posted 13 years agoAnd overall, yeah, Skyrim is a great game.
I really, really, really wish there was something along the lines of a group multiplayer set-up. Just something like allowing a party of three or four friends to group up, but nothing like a MOMRPG (which would end up being an utter clusterfuck across the whole place).
So, here's my character as of now (yes, I was going for a kinda mewtwo-ish shape to the head)
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d.....nianNoHood.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d.....gonianHood.jpg
And a note to all other watchers who play the game: PLEASE DON'T SUBMIT SKYRIM SCREENSHOTS TO FA! It's a pain getting TTs for screenshot submissions and having to go delete them.
I really, really, really wish there was something along the lines of a group multiplayer set-up. Just something like allowing a party of three or four friends to group up, but nothing like a MOMRPG (which would end up being an utter clusterfuck across the whole place).
So, here's my character as of now (yes, I was going for a kinda mewtwo-ish shape to the head)
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d.....nianNoHood.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d.....gonianHood.jpg
And a note to all other watchers who play the game: PLEASE DON'T SUBMIT SKYRIM SCREENSHOTS TO FA! It's a pain getting TTs for screenshot submissions and having to go delete them.
Grand Tournament 2011 Champion
Posted 13 years agoGiven the utter cluster-fuck of confusion that was the 2008 Grand Tournament it's somewhat a sign of obsession that I jumped into the 2011 contest.
But that's just a sign of who I am, I suppose. It's a bit of vindictiveness and competitiveness that I carry.
This year I won, making me the champion of the roleplay sparring Grand Tournament 2011.
My killing post for my final opponent is here: http://overworldrp.org/index.php?to.....sg3480#msg3480
In all frankness, my first round opponent was way better than my final round opponent, even if he had an unusual posting style. My first round opponent (Nevyn) had the habit of writing attacks with the attacks landing, but he intended for the posts to be interpreted as though they hadn't. That's a really clumsy way to go about things, but he stuck to it, and didn't mind too much if counters were written.
My final round opponent (Dirge), in stark contrast, refused to accept any sort of action that could potentially (or in the the case of judgment rulings, legally) being written against his character. He'd deploy an NPC, the NPC would get killed, and he'd try to write that the killing never happened. He'd miss a posting deadline, so attacks would result in real damage being dealt, so he'd claim that the events never happened at all, even though they did.
In short, he sucked, and only got into the finals because he was reinstated into the competition due to a luck random draw when another fighter dropped from the contest.
But this is still a satisfying conclusion.
That's a weird claim, I know, but it's a fact, for myself at least. I first got involved in the Grand Tournament back in 2006, and after fighting my way through the battles all the way to the final round of the very first competition I was forced to drop from the contest due to a huge workload at Disney World, thanks to long hours behind the pantry line. I wasn't able to even get enough time to write up an introductory post for the final thread because I was so burned out from working 12-14 hours behind the kitchen counter.
The 2008 Grand Tournament was a mixed affair. See my related journal: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2134358/
Short summary: The contest was on shakey ground from the start, because the runner of the even was being really dodgey in how he judged the battled. By the end of it I'd been eliminated even though my opponent broke multiple tournament rules, and then my opponent and the finalist threw the finals fight in an effort to give the finger to the organizer for his crappy management (in short: That tournament was a real failure).
The 2011 tournament has, in contrast, gone relatively smoothly. My opponent for the first round was a really superb writer, even if his posting style was a bit unorthodox. My opponent for the second round dropped. My opponent for the third round dropped. My opponent for the fourth round was my opponent for the third round being given a second chance, and he put up only token resistance before losing badly.
My opponent for the final round was also a reinstated fighter, who outright sucked. He refused to acknowledge any action directed against him and instead tried to rewrite events to suit himself, even when what he wrote was in complete disagreement with prior events.
Why do I say it was a success then?
The judges didn't let that stupidity slide, like the organizer from the GT08 did. They told the moron that he was being a douche in their rulings, and when he still refused to cooperate they gave permission to just end it. Having a staff present that was willing to uphold a standard makes a big difference, since different community members have way different codes of conduct.
So...That's mostly that, when it comes to the Grand Tournament. I'm waiting for the new website to launch to validate the victory, and then I'll focus on completing some writing here. I also have to write up a proper closing post for Ichi-gou's (http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6121075) storyline for his tournament events.
But that's just a sign of who I am, I suppose. It's a bit of vindictiveness and competitiveness that I carry.
This year I won, making me the champion of the roleplay sparring Grand Tournament 2011.
My killing post for my final opponent is here: http://overworldrp.org/index.php?to.....sg3480#msg3480
In all frankness, my first round opponent was way better than my final round opponent, even if he had an unusual posting style. My first round opponent (Nevyn) had the habit of writing attacks with the attacks landing, but he intended for the posts to be interpreted as though they hadn't. That's a really clumsy way to go about things, but he stuck to it, and didn't mind too much if counters were written.
My final round opponent (Dirge), in stark contrast, refused to accept any sort of action that could potentially (or in the the case of judgment rulings, legally) being written against his character. He'd deploy an NPC, the NPC would get killed, and he'd try to write that the killing never happened. He'd miss a posting deadline, so attacks would result in real damage being dealt, so he'd claim that the events never happened at all, even though they did.
In short, he sucked, and only got into the finals because he was reinstated into the competition due to a luck random draw when another fighter dropped from the contest.
But this is still a satisfying conclusion.
That's a weird claim, I know, but it's a fact, for myself at least. I first got involved in the Grand Tournament back in 2006, and after fighting my way through the battles all the way to the final round of the very first competition I was forced to drop from the contest due to a huge workload at Disney World, thanks to long hours behind the pantry line. I wasn't able to even get enough time to write up an introductory post for the final thread because I was so burned out from working 12-14 hours behind the kitchen counter.
The 2008 Grand Tournament was a mixed affair. See my related journal: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2134358/
Short summary: The contest was on shakey ground from the start, because the runner of the even was being really dodgey in how he judged the battled. By the end of it I'd been eliminated even though my opponent broke multiple tournament rules, and then my opponent and the finalist threw the finals fight in an effort to give the finger to the organizer for his crappy management (in short: That tournament was a real failure).
The 2011 tournament has, in contrast, gone relatively smoothly. My opponent for the first round was a really superb writer, even if his posting style was a bit unorthodox. My opponent for the second round dropped. My opponent for the third round dropped. My opponent for the fourth round was my opponent for the third round being given a second chance, and he put up only token resistance before losing badly.
My opponent for the final round was also a reinstated fighter, who outright sucked. He refused to acknowledge any action directed against him and instead tried to rewrite events to suit himself, even when what he wrote was in complete disagreement with prior events.
Why do I say it was a success then?
The judges didn't let that stupidity slide, like the organizer from the GT08 did. They told the moron that he was being a douche in their rulings, and when he still refused to cooperate they gave permission to just end it. Having a staff present that was willing to uphold a standard makes a big difference, since different community members have way different codes of conduct.
So...That's mostly that, when it comes to the Grand Tournament. I'm waiting for the new website to launch to validate the victory, and then I'll focus on completing some writing here. I also have to write up a proper closing post for Ichi-gou's (http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6121075) storyline for his tournament events.
Writer Plugging
Posted 13 years agoA writer I've enjoyed for a while now (and gotten a commission from before), is doing some quick Christmas commissions. If you want something written up for yourself or as a gift to someone else for the holidays then do swing by the following journal:
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3004379/
Member
TheoWinters
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3004379/
Member

Following Tonight's Episode of The Daily Show
Posted 14 years agoStock in Pokemon is probably going to rise about 200000%
That was, quite simply, awesome. Mewtwo doesn't get much screen-time as it is, but this was a wonderful showcasing of him :-P
Edit: Here's the video from the Comedy Central website
http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-ep.....-2011-ben-lowy
That was, quite simply, awesome. Mewtwo doesn't get much screen-time as it is, but this was a wonderful showcasing of him :-P
Edit: Here's the video from the Comedy Central website
http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-ep.....-2011-ben-lowy
Follow-up to The Bike Accident
Posted 14 years agoThis journal is a follow-on to: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2879836/
My foot, thankfully, is still pretty bruised but otherwise ok. I haven't been walking around and suddenly found myself collapsing due to a stress fracture.
So, yeah, that's good.
What's fantastic is that Pocket Monster (http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5488178) is salvageable. The inspection took place today and it showed the bike could be repaired.
Initially the concern was the frame, the skeleton the bike is built around. The back end of the bike had been slightly warped by the car hitting it. That posed a big problem for the shop when it came to repairability. If the frame was warped there is really no way for them to accurately get it back into proper shape, and if it wasn't in proper shape then everything else that has to mount to it wouldn't fit. If the bike was built around an entire single piece framework then that would have meant the bike would be declared a total loss, and I'dve had to bite the bullet, take a check from the insurance company, and go shopping for a new one.
Thankfully the piece of framework on the rear end is a bolt-on part. It can be ordered up and replaced, which means the insurance company will pay for all parts and labor associated with it. Hopefully Pocket Monster can be returned home in a week or so.
As a kicker, the bike might be coming home in better shape than it was before. At the last maintenance check-up I took it in for the shop wanted to replace the transmission belt with a much higher-quality kevlar and steel model, upgrade the brake pads, and put on some grips and handguards I'd brought in.
They didn't have the belt in stock, nor the brake pads, so I told them I'd do that next check-up.
Well, I guess this counts as a check-up! They're pulling most of the paneling off the bike as it is anyway for the crash repairs. So I took a trip up to the service center with the handguards and electrically heated grips and dropped them off with the shop owner. In addition to fixing what got smashed and scraped by the crash they'll put those on, plus replace the brake pads, plus upgrade the belt, and the insurance company should cover it all since it'll all be in the same repair process.
My foot, thankfully, is still pretty bruised but otherwise ok. I haven't been walking around and suddenly found myself collapsing due to a stress fracture.
So, yeah, that's good.
What's fantastic is that Pocket Monster (http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5488178) is salvageable. The inspection took place today and it showed the bike could be repaired.
Initially the concern was the frame, the skeleton the bike is built around. The back end of the bike had been slightly warped by the car hitting it. That posed a big problem for the shop when it came to repairability. If the frame was warped there is really no way for them to accurately get it back into proper shape, and if it wasn't in proper shape then everything else that has to mount to it wouldn't fit. If the bike was built around an entire single piece framework then that would have meant the bike would be declared a total loss, and I'dve had to bite the bullet, take a check from the insurance company, and go shopping for a new one.
Thankfully the piece of framework on the rear end is a bolt-on part. It can be ordered up and replaced, which means the insurance company will pay for all parts and labor associated with it. Hopefully Pocket Monster can be returned home in a week or so.
As a kicker, the bike might be coming home in better shape than it was before. At the last maintenance check-up I took it in for the shop wanted to replace the transmission belt with a much higher-quality kevlar and steel model, upgrade the brake pads, and put on some grips and handguards I'd brought in.
They didn't have the belt in stock, nor the brake pads, so I told them I'd do that next check-up.
Well, I guess this counts as a check-up! They're pulling most of the paneling off the bike as it is anyway for the crash repairs. So I took a trip up to the service center with the handguards and electrically heated grips and dropped them off with the shop owner. In addition to fixing what got smashed and scraped by the crash they'll put those on, plus replace the brake pads, plus upgrade the belt, and the insurance company should cover it all since it'll all be in the same repair process.
God-damn Tailgaters (Bike accident on the way to work)
Posted 14 years ago(These events are from yesterday, 11/3/2011, and don't worry, I'm not injured)
My bike, for reference: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5488178 (this picture was taken before a few other upgrades were made, so it's a bit old)
And the day started out so well too
Well, sorta. Had to wake up early for work in the morning. So I got some sleep, woke up, got a small breakfast in me, did the usual shave and toothbrush routine, and got dressed for the ride into work. It's getting chillier now, but not chilly enough that the full body suit is needed each trip. So I just put a thermal layer on beneath my shin-guards, pants, and riding jacket.
It was also just cold enough that I wore the heavier riding gloves I have, that are electrically heated by hooking up to the bike's power supply.
Traffic really wasn't anything major. I actually was making better time than I expected, given it was a weekday morning and the beginning of rush-hour was starting up. But the lights were cooperating today, and some of the ones I usually end up getting stuck at let me ride through without a pause. So it was looking like I would make it into the hotel for the morning shift early.
3/4ths of the way into the city I picked up a tailgater. Some guy in an SUV. Not an aggressive tailgater, mind you. But he was closer than he should have been, even in rush-hour conditions. We weren't exactly doing stop-and-go driving. Everyone on the road was moving pretty smoothly, which meant we were moving faster than you'd normally see that time of day. Coming around a curve I came up on an intersection I know has a red-light camera. I also know what my bike's braking distance is at different speeds, and when I saw the light switch to yellow I knew I wasn't going fast enough to make it through the intersection before getting flashed. But besides that, I knew I had way more than enough distance to safely come to a halt. So I squeezed on the brake, timing it so I'd come to a stop at the white line.
That tailgater behind me? Yeah, he didn't do that. He must have thought I'd try to breeze through the intersection, and he could follow behind me. When I came to a stop I heard that nasty 'SKEEREACH' of brakes going on behind me.
You know that 'life flashes before your eyes thing' that people talk about when something really unexpected is about to happen? Nah, didn't happen in this case. When I heard the sound of the brakes I knew what the tailgater had done, and what went through my head first was "Oh, you bastard.
He had braked hard though, and he swerved to the left at the same time, so he smacked into the rear-left side of my bike. Since he'd braked so hard and done the swerve the impact wasn't enough to knock me out of the seat. It was enough to knock the bike forward and tip the bike on its left side, skidding across the ground a few feet. The driver went past a bit further, guided his car through the intersection (I think he got flashed by the camera in the process, which is hugely ironic), and pulled over when he got to a shoulder.
I'd heard the sound of breaking plastic trim when the car first hit me, so I already knew the bike was damaged. But as I pulled my foot from under the saddle and stood back up I was mostly grateful that the bike hadn't fallen directly on me, and that the car had swerved to the side (grateful or not, I was also pissed, and cursing pretty vividly inside my helmet).
As an interesting twist to the event, the car directly behind the guy that hit me was a police officer. He turned on his lights and blocked the lane while I picked myself up, unplugged the electric gloves from the wire connecting them to my fallen bike, and flicked off the ignition switch, killing the engine.
The driver of the car jogged back right around then too.
No, I didn't fly into a rage at him. And thank all that's holy, he wasn't one of the dipshit types who like to start in with 'Why'd you stop infront of me like that!?'. He was immediately apologetic and wanted to help as best he could. He knew pretty well that the crash was his fault, and he was doing the honorable thing in trying to go by the book now. My leg was hurting, so I asked him and the officer to stand the bike back up. Once it was upright I hit the electronic lock for the two front wheels, and it stayed standing on its own. Looking it over I could see the damage to the trim now, the twisted license plate holder, busted lights on the back end, and you could tell the engine cover had been knocked loose. It was laying in the street somewhere, but since it was still dark outside it wasn't all that easy to spot in the intermittent flash of headlights going by. I picked up the torn-loose saddle-bag, and when the traffic stopped for the next red-light I pushed the bike over to the sidewalk and up the small corner ramp, then set the parking brake.
I didn't talk to the guy who hit me too much. The officer who was there stayed to make sure that there weren't any serious injuries and to make sure the information exchange took place. The guy who hit me turned out to also have State Farm as his insurance provider, so it made the information exchange a lot quicker. My leg also hurt a bit less than it had upon standing up, so I let the officer know that I wouldn't need an ambulance.
After the information was exchanged the other guy went on his way. He'd have to wait or State Farm to call him for follow-up details. His SUV was likely only mildly damaged, and still quite drivable. The only thing that I can imagine having been wrong with it would be damage to the front bumper or the headlights, so he wasn't in need of a tow. I, on the other hand, had to start making calls. I had camp out on the side-walk for a bit, first calling the Piaggio road-side emergency service company to report the accident and have them send a toe truck out. The bike still ran, but I didn't trust the stability of the engine or the other sensitive parts of its system after that sort of damage. There was no way I'd risk driving it across the bridge into the city in that shape. I also had to call up the insurance company and report the incident, so they could get their own paperwork going. Then I called into work, and let them know what happened, and that I'd likely not be coming in today. Because of the pain in my foot I didn't need an ambulance (I could still walk, after all, and I really didn't want to deal with the additional headache of trying to arrange the towing of the bike via phone while either in the ambulance or in the hospital) but I'd be taking a trip into the city's VA center to have my foot checked out. Then I called up the scooter service center in Virginia that I usually took the Piaggio to for maintenance, and let them know the bike would be coming in for repairs, courtesy of the insurance company and the towing service.
After all that was in motion, and the tow-truck was on the way, I called home, aiming to catch my mom before she left for work herself.
I let her know right away that I was mostly ok, aside from the sore foot, and that everything for getting the bike taken care of was already started up. So she didn't panic about me suddenly having been crippled or the like. She took care of getting everything ready for my brother to go to work, called her office and let them know that she'd likely be coming in late, and drove out to pick me up at the intersection I was waiting at.
Timing-wise, things came together pretty well. The tow-truck driver showed up after about an hour and was quick to help with getting the bike strapped up (he also said that the other guy was an idiot, and that my bike was one of the coolest he'd ever seen, both of which I agree with). While he was strapping the bike to his truck's bed my mom pulled up to the intersection.
The tow-truck guy was actually helpful in reassuring her that I was mostly ok, and let her know that based on what he could see the bike was repairable. After he had the address set for the bike's drop-off I was finally able to bid farewell to the intersection I'd been camping at for the past few hours, and we went on our way. My mom drove me to the VA hospital while the driver took the Piaggio to the service center.
The hospital visit was, thankfully, straightforward. An x-ray of my sore foot showed the soreness was due to a bad bruise and not much more. My foot was really stiff and the joint was very painful to work, but it was workable at the very least. I'm limping a bit still, but in the next few days it should be back to normal. But the heavy duty boots and the shin/knee guards I wear under my pants when riding did their job and kept me from getting badly banged up.
Now I'm just waiting on word from the service center and the insurance people. My coverage is great and it'll certainly be fine for handling the repairs, any bill from VA (if there even is any. I do have to pay them a small copay every now and then, but my Iraqi Freedom veteran status keeps my medical bills way down), and not only that, it should cover my lost wages too. So the next day or so is just going to be recovery time for me.
My bike, for reference: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5488178 (this picture was taken before a few other upgrades were made, so it's a bit old)
And the day started out so well too
Well, sorta. Had to wake up early for work in the morning. So I got some sleep, woke up, got a small breakfast in me, did the usual shave and toothbrush routine, and got dressed for the ride into work. It's getting chillier now, but not chilly enough that the full body suit is needed each trip. So I just put a thermal layer on beneath my shin-guards, pants, and riding jacket.
It was also just cold enough that I wore the heavier riding gloves I have, that are electrically heated by hooking up to the bike's power supply.
Traffic really wasn't anything major. I actually was making better time than I expected, given it was a weekday morning and the beginning of rush-hour was starting up. But the lights were cooperating today, and some of the ones I usually end up getting stuck at let me ride through without a pause. So it was looking like I would make it into the hotel for the morning shift early.
3/4ths of the way into the city I picked up a tailgater. Some guy in an SUV. Not an aggressive tailgater, mind you. But he was closer than he should have been, even in rush-hour conditions. We weren't exactly doing stop-and-go driving. Everyone on the road was moving pretty smoothly, which meant we were moving faster than you'd normally see that time of day. Coming around a curve I came up on an intersection I know has a red-light camera. I also know what my bike's braking distance is at different speeds, and when I saw the light switch to yellow I knew I wasn't going fast enough to make it through the intersection before getting flashed. But besides that, I knew I had way more than enough distance to safely come to a halt. So I squeezed on the brake, timing it so I'd come to a stop at the white line.
That tailgater behind me? Yeah, he didn't do that. He must have thought I'd try to breeze through the intersection, and he could follow behind me. When I came to a stop I heard that nasty 'SKEEREACH' of brakes going on behind me.
You know that 'life flashes before your eyes thing' that people talk about when something really unexpected is about to happen? Nah, didn't happen in this case. When I heard the sound of the brakes I knew what the tailgater had done, and what went through my head first was "Oh, you bastard.
He had braked hard though, and he swerved to the left at the same time, so he smacked into the rear-left side of my bike. Since he'd braked so hard and done the swerve the impact wasn't enough to knock me out of the seat. It was enough to knock the bike forward and tip the bike on its left side, skidding across the ground a few feet. The driver went past a bit further, guided his car through the intersection (I think he got flashed by the camera in the process, which is hugely ironic), and pulled over when he got to a shoulder.
I'd heard the sound of breaking plastic trim when the car first hit me, so I already knew the bike was damaged. But as I pulled my foot from under the saddle and stood back up I was mostly grateful that the bike hadn't fallen directly on me, and that the car had swerved to the side (grateful or not, I was also pissed, and cursing pretty vividly inside my helmet).
As an interesting twist to the event, the car directly behind the guy that hit me was a police officer. He turned on his lights and blocked the lane while I picked myself up, unplugged the electric gloves from the wire connecting them to my fallen bike, and flicked off the ignition switch, killing the engine.
The driver of the car jogged back right around then too.
No, I didn't fly into a rage at him. And thank all that's holy, he wasn't one of the dipshit types who like to start in with 'Why'd you stop infront of me like that!?'. He was immediately apologetic and wanted to help as best he could. He knew pretty well that the crash was his fault, and he was doing the honorable thing in trying to go by the book now. My leg was hurting, so I asked him and the officer to stand the bike back up. Once it was upright I hit the electronic lock for the two front wheels, and it stayed standing on its own. Looking it over I could see the damage to the trim now, the twisted license plate holder, busted lights on the back end, and you could tell the engine cover had been knocked loose. It was laying in the street somewhere, but since it was still dark outside it wasn't all that easy to spot in the intermittent flash of headlights going by. I picked up the torn-loose saddle-bag, and when the traffic stopped for the next red-light I pushed the bike over to the sidewalk and up the small corner ramp, then set the parking brake.
I didn't talk to the guy who hit me too much. The officer who was there stayed to make sure that there weren't any serious injuries and to make sure the information exchange took place. The guy who hit me turned out to also have State Farm as his insurance provider, so it made the information exchange a lot quicker. My leg also hurt a bit less than it had upon standing up, so I let the officer know that I wouldn't need an ambulance.
After the information was exchanged the other guy went on his way. He'd have to wait or State Farm to call him for follow-up details. His SUV was likely only mildly damaged, and still quite drivable. The only thing that I can imagine having been wrong with it would be damage to the front bumper or the headlights, so he wasn't in need of a tow. I, on the other hand, had to start making calls. I had camp out on the side-walk for a bit, first calling the Piaggio road-side emergency service company to report the accident and have them send a toe truck out. The bike still ran, but I didn't trust the stability of the engine or the other sensitive parts of its system after that sort of damage. There was no way I'd risk driving it across the bridge into the city in that shape. I also had to call up the insurance company and report the incident, so they could get their own paperwork going. Then I called into work, and let them know what happened, and that I'd likely not be coming in today. Because of the pain in my foot I didn't need an ambulance (I could still walk, after all, and I really didn't want to deal with the additional headache of trying to arrange the towing of the bike via phone while either in the ambulance or in the hospital) but I'd be taking a trip into the city's VA center to have my foot checked out. Then I called up the scooter service center in Virginia that I usually took the Piaggio to for maintenance, and let them know the bike would be coming in for repairs, courtesy of the insurance company and the towing service.
After all that was in motion, and the tow-truck was on the way, I called home, aiming to catch my mom before she left for work herself.
I let her know right away that I was mostly ok, aside from the sore foot, and that everything for getting the bike taken care of was already started up. So she didn't panic about me suddenly having been crippled or the like. She took care of getting everything ready for my brother to go to work, called her office and let them know that she'd likely be coming in late, and drove out to pick me up at the intersection I was waiting at.
Timing-wise, things came together pretty well. The tow-truck driver showed up after about an hour and was quick to help with getting the bike strapped up (he also said that the other guy was an idiot, and that my bike was one of the coolest he'd ever seen, both of which I agree with). While he was strapping the bike to his truck's bed my mom pulled up to the intersection.
The tow-truck guy was actually helpful in reassuring her that I was mostly ok, and let her know that based on what he could see the bike was repairable. After he had the address set for the bike's drop-off I was finally able to bid farewell to the intersection I'd been camping at for the past few hours, and we went on our way. My mom drove me to the VA hospital while the driver took the Piaggio to the service center.
The hospital visit was, thankfully, straightforward. An x-ray of my sore foot showed the soreness was due to a bad bruise and not much more. My foot was really stiff and the joint was very painful to work, but it was workable at the very least. I'm limping a bit still, but in the next few days it should be back to normal. But the heavy duty boots and the shin/knee guards I wear under my pants when riding did their job and kept me from getting badly banged up.
Now I'm just waiting on word from the service center and the insurance people. My coverage is great and it'll certainly be fine for handling the repairs, any bill from VA (if there even is any. I do have to pay them a small copay every now and then, but my Iraqi Freedom veteran status keeps my medical bills way down), and not only that, it should cover my lost wages too. So the next day or so is just going to be recovery time for me.
The Flood
Posted 14 years agoOH GOD! FA WOULDN'T TAKE SUBMISSIONS FOR A FULL TWO DAYS!
HERE!
IT!
COMES!
HERE!
IT!
COMES!
New Project
Posted 14 years agoJust an announcement for coming future journals, I'll be doing some movie reviews on a roughly weekly basis. I've been really digging Netflix's streaming selection, and I've got my queue nicely stacked for DVDs to be shipped.
Not all of them will be furry movies, no. But I do want to do a write-up for Rango, which was awesome, and it was great seeing so many scalies getting major roles. It'll be from a variety of different subjects covering documentaries, different animes, action movies, furry stuff, and anything else that's caught my eye that I never got to see in theaters or just stumbled across on TV, or only just discovered on NetFlix's menu.
Not all of them will be furry movies, no. But I do want to do a write-up for Rango, which was awesome, and it was great seeing so many scalies getting major roles. It'll be from a variety of different subjects covering documentaries, different animes, action movies, furry stuff, and anything else that's caught my eye that I never got to see in theaters or just stumbled across on TV, or only just discovered on NetFlix's menu.
The Grand Tournament: Finalist
Posted 14 years agoFor those that have been reading any of the roleplay battle content I've been putting in my scraps, well, you'll notice the title of the new submission. I made it to the final round of the Grand Tournament, and I've put up my introductory post.
I honestly do not know how much of the crowd here on FA (the crowd that watches me, anyway) has followed the submissions. But if you want to cheer me on, please do! It'd be fantastic to win the roleplay sparring title.
http://overworldrp.org/index.php
I honestly do not know how much of the crowd here on FA (the crowd that watches me, anyway) has followed the submissions. But if you want to cheer me on, please do! It'd be fantastic to win the roleplay sparring title.
http://overworldrp.org/index.php
The New Banner
Posted 14 years agoWell, I laughed.
Anything else?
Anything else?
Five Senses
Posted 14 years agoIt's not often you'll see me post philosophical journals. I nailed a perfect grade in my 'Philosophy and Religions' class, but it's not common for me to pass stuff like that along on FA.
However, this vid was both immensely entertaining, visually impressive, and nailed a good few of the points that religious and philosophical scholars grapple with in a modern perspective.
Just sharing it with you all. Feel free to comment and critique.
However, this vid was both immensely entertaining, visually impressive, and nailed a good few of the points that religious and philosophical scholars grapple with in a modern perspective.
Just sharing it with you all. Feel free to comment and critique.
Earthquake Notification
Posted 14 years agoWhere I'm at, the shaking was very minor. I was just getting done with volunteer stuff at the local animal shelter and was about to get on my little scooter to head home (by 'about', I mean I had the ignition turned over, and was letting it warm up while I put my helmet on).
Ground started moving a 'bit', like I wasn't sure whether the ground was moving or my legs were suddenly going weak for some reason. But seeing the few other people in the parking lot start looking around confirmed it was a small quake.
Animal shelter got evac'd of employees while things were still moving a bit (and man the dogs got loud). But things were ok too. I got home soon after and all that's happened here was a few things had fallen off the shelves.
Ground started moving a 'bit', like I wasn't sure whether the ground was moving or my legs were suddenly going weak for some reason. But seeing the few other people in the parking lot start looking around confirmed it was a small quake.
Animal shelter got evac'd of employees while things were still moving a bit (and man the dogs got loud). But things were ok too. I got home soon after and all that's happened here was a few things had fallen off the shelves.
Achievement Unlocked! Admin!
Posted 14 years agoYou'll notice there's a new @ tag next to my username.
Looks like I made the grade for FA Admin-ship!
Looks like I made the grade for FA Admin-ship!
Picture Removal
Posted 14 years agoThose of you with favs in my gallery will notice that some of the pictures have been removed.
No, they weren't deleted by staff. No one do any of that furry drama crap. They were removed by me, since I noticed that I had too many personal pics (going buy the current AUP), and pictures that were just collection/item/random object pictures.
I will upload different versions of them in the future, like an updated picture of Pocket Monster (my Piaggio MP3 500) with all of its upgrades and with me in the picture. I will also upload a pic of the Yamaha C3 after it's been upgraded, and also with me on it. Both of those will qualify as personal pictures, so they'll fit for the site's policy.
But I trimmed out the pics of random stuff, like my EDC, my growler, and my bikes (the pics without me in the frame). For those with favs, sorry, but if I'm part of the forum staff I'm not going to push any site policy boundaries.
No, they weren't deleted by staff. No one do any of that furry drama crap. They were removed by me, since I noticed that I had too many personal pics (going buy the current AUP), and pictures that were just collection/item/random object pictures.
I will upload different versions of them in the future, like an updated picture of Pocket Monster (my Piaggio MP3 500) with all of its upgrades and with me in the picture. I will also upload a pic of the Yamaha C3 after it's been upgraded, and also with me on it. Both of those will qualify as personal pictures, so they'll fit for the site's policy.
But I trimmed out the pics of random stuff, like my EDC, my growler, and my bikes (the pics without me in the frame). For those with favs, sorry, but if I'm part of the forum staff I'm not going to push any site policy boundaries.
To TF Fans With A Bit of A Wild Streak
Posted 14 years ago
The fee to enter is low, $15. In return your character is put into a sort of transformation tournament after you fill out a form with the kinks you like/don't like, and a bit about the character you're entering.
The scene/fate your character gets might not be entirely to your taste. It's a randomized contest, and the sheet you fill out contains the variables that Serathin will use to decide his writing process for the tournament segments. But he promises to stick as much to the tastes people are interested in as possible.
If you're interested and a bit free-wheeling when it comes to the unexpected then by all means give it a whirl! There's only six slots left at the time of this journal going up.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6032628/