Yesterday we received some lab supplies from a local company that obviously recycles. While I’m glad they reuse their old cardboard boxes, imagine opening a package where you expect boxes of glassware and seeing a box labeled “Biscuits aux fruits” (fruit bars). Not quite what was expected. And yes, we did get what we needed. Just in a strangely labeled box.
Also, the exceedingly complicated vcr/dvd-recorder combo that my parents bought because their old one farted out on them will now record. It records in poor quality, but at least it does something when the REC button is pushed. Which is more than what it did the first time I pressed it… I don’t think I’d make a good tech support person. I can usually figure things out on my own, but telling others how to do it is something else. OTOH, my parents really need a computer of their own, and I don’t think I’d mind showing them how to work a new iMac 😉
Guilty
Standard…of procrastination, that is. See below for a good example of what my life is like (without quite so much going to the store, though)…
know-it-all
StandardCourtesy of my boss, who saw the classified ad…
“Complete set of encyclopedias. Don’t need anymore; got married, and wife knows everything.”
Here’s to learning, eh?
double happiness
Standard
Have a great new year! Have some nian gao and dumplings.
Music for a new president
Standard
A beautiful way to welcome the new president: Anthony McGill (clarinet), Itzak Perlman (violin), Yo Yo Ma (cello), and Gabriella Montero (piano) perform a John Williams composition during the inauguration of Barack Obama’s inauguration. I hope this is available to download somewhere.
A Good Day
Standard
from The Commercial Appeal (Memphis)
Huzzah, Barak Obama. Good luck, Prez.
Also…Moonlight comes out on dvd today. A shame that CBS canceled the show; sometimes networks just don’t get it.
More? Make your own Obamicon here.
Almost missed it
StandardI’ve celebrated Orlando’s birthday every year since 2002…nearly forgot this time, but it would be a shame to stop now. Images courtesy ka-bloom.org and sxc.hu.
Metric much?
Standard
Just in case you’re having trouble converting. Click over to xkcd for full size, and because it rules.
Where we live
StandardThis is pretty cool – an anniversary video featuring stop motion using book covers.
This Is Where We Live from 4th Estate on Vimeo.
Via Nathan Bransford.
Advice from a GM
Standard(From Darths & Droids)
Roleplaying games are, in some sense, all about getting to make decisions in the game world that you never get to make in real life. Decisions that are really important. Decisions that can change the course of history.
The Playing Characters are the people driving the story. What they decide to do really matters to the people around them.
As a Game Master, it’s good if you can really underline this point at some stage during an adventure. Make them acutely aware of the import of what they are about to decide. Make it painfully clear that the lives of thousands, or millions, or even billions of people will be affected by this decision. And make it a really tough one. Back the characters into a corner against their morals (alignment is a handy tool here). Throw them on to the horns of a dilemma.
Put them between a rock and a hard place.
Scylla and Charybdis.
Make them sweat.
Make their own safety hang in the balance as well.
And then give them a time limit.
Yes, this is directed people participating in RPGs, but it makes sense for writing as well. Conflict drives the story and makes it interesting. Course, somehow you have to come up with the conflict, which can be rather difficult…
Thanks to Ash for pointing out Darths & Droids to me.