Captain's Log

For the most part I would prefer not to use this blog as a place to complain about all the annoyances of the world, but I also would rather not have my entire blog be page after page of QotD answers and nothing more.  In an effort to make my blog be more than just answers to random questions I'm going to see if I can start making entries about random things that pop into my mind.  The most recent of those things is something that annoys me quite a bit.

I hate it when articles on the web are spread across multiple pages of a few paragraphs each.  I know that one of the reasons for this is because clicking through each page generates more ad revenue for those sites that get paid per-view for the advertisements on them, and that just annoys me even more.  Other people do it just because they think that having multiple pages will make reading all of the information seem less daunting, because the reader isn't presented with a flood of information all at once.

Unfortunately, this incredibly obnoxious practice is one that's coming into more frequent use, and it irritates me to the point where sometimes, if the article in question is not extremely interesting, I just don't even bother to read it.

I can't say for sure what it is that bothers me so much about this technique, but I know that I'm not alone in being annoyed by it.  I'm going to reveal in part my geekery in saying knowing this, but frequently the comments for posts on Slashdot will have links to versions of the linked articles that aren't set up in this annoying fashion, because enough people dislike reading things that way.

If anybody reading this has control over a site that does things this way, please stop!

Which of your five senses (touch, taste, sight, hearing, or smell) do you value the most?
Submitted by Elisheva.

Humor.

Do you play any musical instruments?

Besides my stereo I play guitar, a little bit of bass, and I've played with a few computer applications like Fruity Loops.  I also played a bit of piano when I was really young but I don't remember anything about it.

You've been through the desert on a horse with no name.  Except your horse does have a name.  What is it? 
Submitted by edubya.vox.com.

I'm sorry, I don't do drugs.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Considering how little I tend to sleep I'm a bit of both.  My typical schedule has me going to sleep around 1am and up again about 5:30.  Some days I take a nap in the afternoon but most days I don't.

Below is a series of mails I've had back and forth with someone over the last couple of days.  I started out with a lot of doubts as to the legitimacy of the whole thing so I've been asking a lot of questions.  The more I ask, the more legitimate it seems.

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: jane
Date: Sep 17, 2006 9:24 PM

Hi I am a model scout and I think you have a great
look, possibly something we are looking for in our
new faces print/fashion division. Are you modeling right
now? I am in New York but I have an office in
SAN DIEGO and we are having open calls for new faces
in the next couple of days. Let me know if you are interested, and I will send the details to attend!

Cheers~~

Jane
xxx-xxx-xxxx (cell)

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Morgan
Date: Sep 18, 2006 9:57 PM

I'm flattered that you say I have a great look, and I am interested in more information. I'm not entirely certain if I'm interested, but there's no harm in hearing the details, right?

----------------- Original Message -----------------

ok I love your pictures! Can you come in WEDNESDAY AT x:xxPM to interview??
Let me know, If so, I will schedule you with the office director there, if you can't let me know and i will see what i can do, but i want you to meet the director asap.

Basically our open call is just an interview where you will go and they will take some measurements, pictures, and talk to you in person to get a feel for if we can use you and promote you. You won't get a final answer for a day or two.

The address is xxxx Hotel Circle North, San Diego, 92108. Mapquest it for directions, basically take the 8 to Hotel Circle North and we are in the Coldwell Banker building, in Suite xxx.
My cell number is xxx-xxx-xxxx if you have any ?s.

You should dress nice, but comfortable, you can wear jeans, nothing over-the-top or anything, WEAR SOMETHING CUTE THAT YOU FEEL CONFIDENT IN and if you have a couple of snapshots (pictures) you can bring those as well.

You can also bring a guest for support if you want, but you dont have to.

Also print this email as an invitation for you or just write down the info. At the door they will ask you for an invite number or scout id code so you can get in, that's fine tell, them your Invite number is xxxxx. I will also let Diego Minnis know to expect you, as he is the director there.

Email me to confirm the day. EMAIL ME YOUR FULL NAME TOO SO I CAN PUT YOU ON THE GUEST LIST ~~
GOOD LUCK!!~~~
JANE

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Morgan
Date: Sep 19, 2006 11:59 AM

Jane,

Thanks for the additional information. Being a natural cautious person I'd like to get some more information before I agree to confirming anything.

Could I get some more information about this company? A name, a website if you have one, or anything like that?

Thanks!
Morgan

----------------- Original Message -----------------

the company is one source model management
if you feel uncomfortable bring someone with you like a parent or a friend

I'm not really interested in modeling anyway, but it certainly is flattering.  One of my friends suggested that I should call the number she gave me (which I edited out for privacy purposes), but... well, I can't.

Does anybody else have suggestions for things I should ask?

That be right, me lads and beauties, ye bilge rats better be talkin' like pirates today!  Don't ye be makin' me be knockin' yer heads with belaying pins.

This update is long overdue.  I'd made some comments suggesting that I was going to do a writeup on my experience at the Penny Arcade Expo about a month ago and I just haven't got around to doing it.  Now I will.

The trip started out with all of the excitement that someone might expect from a roadtrip leading to a weekend of kicking back with some video games and parying to start with.  Unfortunately, my excitement faded quickly once we actually got under way.  I really don't enjoy being in the car, and being in one for so long just turned out to be too much for me.  I took some medicine to help me sleep and pretty much spent as much of the trip as I possibly good passed completely out.

Once we were there things were a good deal better.  We stopped at my cousin's house, since she lives in Seattle and it's not very far from her house to the convention center that PAX was at.  We spent the night there, and it was nice to see her again.  I haven't seen her at all since she moved away from San Diego to live there like a year and a half ago.

The next morning we went over to the convention center and got into a huge line where we waited to get in.  Evelyn and the friend of hers that we went with had both pre-registered, but since I didn't decide to go until a couple of days ahead of time I wasn't, so they got to wait in line anyway.

While the convention did have a lot of the sort of people I was expecting, a bunch of nerdy looking guys who definitely didn't know how to bathe, there were actually a good number of people who seemed perfectly normal.  I expected there would be people like that of course, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that gaming appears to be turning into something fairly mainstream and acceptable, with plenty of normal people being interested in it enough to go to a convention like that.

There were a lot of demonstrations set up at the convention for games that aren't scheduled to come out for a while still, and it was interesting to see some of the fancy things that they're able to do with graphics these days, but since I'm not really a gamer I didn't know what most of them were or really care enough to be excited about things as some of the other people were.  I'm also disappointed that all of the big games are the kinds I don't really care about.  It seemed like most of them were MMO games.  I like having a life, so I try to avoid those evil things.

Other than the exhibition hall, the entire convention had a sort of feeling like going to hang out at your friends house to goof off and play games, chat with each other, and just enjoy yourself doing nothing in particular.  There were big cushions all over for people to relax on, and people just sitting around talking or playing Nintendo DS games with each other.  Even the feel that I got from most of the exhibitors was that they were there to have fun, not to sell things.  I'm sure that selling things was the motive in the end, but they seemed to be enjoying themselves regardless.

At the end of the weekend I decided that I really couldn't hold up for a car ride back, so I stayed at my cousin's in Seattle for a couple of days and then caught a flight back, instead of driving back.  I felt a little bad ditching the other two that way, but even short car rides stress me out and I just couldn't handle the while ride back.  I had enough trouble with the ride up.

And that, in short, is my PAX experience.  I might be willing to next year if Evelyn is going again, but next time I am definitely just flying, or taking the train.

How many languages can you speak?  Which languages can you read or understand?

I speak none but understand two and read one.

Those of you who know, no cheating.

How many places have you lived in your life?

Two different 'metropolitan areas' and six different homes.  Most of the homes have been in the last few years as I moved out of my father's house, moves from one apartment to another, moved back in, and then moved back out.

I really hate to move and hope I never have to do it again.  I hate moving in the same way that I hate travelling.  I hate the process but like being in the new location once I'm there.