A much-needed update
By WheeldleSeptember 6th, 2004
Editor here, I'm so so so so sorry that I've been so bad about updating this here page. I'm extremely busy, but I'll do my best to catch you all up when I can. In the meantime, our wonderful senior semi-foreign correspondent from Hawaii has decided to step in and help out - much to my relief.
i was recently at the website and noticed that an update had not been made in quite some time, so i made it my duty to write one when i had a free moment. well ladies and gents: here is that moment. its 1:30am hawaii time and im just wide awake while my roommate is passed the funk out. i guess it was also about time that people knew that hawaii just isnt perfect. i must do what i can to make you all feel lucky to live on the mainland sometimes and not flaunt the beautiful waterfalls and coastline views.
so here is the downfall to hawaii: the tourists must leave sometime. i wish i could say "yay! no more silly white people that dont know their ahi from their ass" but i cant say that. because my job was dependent on their existance. and now, Ocean Spirit - the boat that i called home away from home - had to be shut down because the tourist numbers were dwindling. i know must exert extra effort working on the boat with a 9 hour trip that goes over the waters known to many as "the washing machine." well, it is time i let out my big secret. come one and come all! WHEEDLE GETS VERY SEASICK. there, i said it - and in CAPS no less. i work on a boat and i tend to be allergic to the motion of the ocean. going over the washing machine just doesnt make my inner ear very happy. BUT, i have been doing ok thus far - knock on a palm tree.
the other downfall to hawaii: most people who work here, are purely summer help. my roommate and most of my new friends have left to go back to finish up school. how old and mature i feel to have already done that. not really - i just feel poor and slightly more bored. i do hope i have made some of you happier to be living in the NC area. paradise aint perfect. although we saw some spinner dolphins today and i got paid double time for the labor day holiday - life is just OK at the mo'.
i was recently at the website and noticed that an update had not been made in quite some time, so i made it my duty to write one when i had a free moment. well ladies and gents: here is that moment. its 1:30am hawaii time and im just wide awake while my roommate is passed the funk out. i guess it was also about time that people knew that hawaii just isnt perfect. i must do what i can to make you all feel lucky to live on the mainland sometimes and not flaunt the beautiful waterfalls and coastline views.
so here is the downfall to hawaii: the tourists must leave sometime. i wish i could say "yay! no more silly white people that dont know their ahi from their ass" but i cant say that. because my job was dependent on their existance. and now, Ocean Spirit - the boat that i called home away from home - had to be shut down because the tourist numbers were dwindling. i know must exert extra effort working on the boat with a 9 hour trip that goes over the waters known to many as "the washing machine." well, it is time i let out my big secret. come one and come all! WHEEDLE GETS VERY SEASICK. there, i said it - and in CAPS no less. i work on a boat and i tend to be allergic to the motion of the ocean. going over the washing machine just doesnt make my inner ear very happy. BUT, i have been doing ok thus far - knock on a palm tree.
the other downfall to hawaii: most people who work here, are purely summer help. my roommate and most of my new friends have left to go back to finish up school. how old and mature i feel to have already done that. not really - i just feel poor and slightly more bored. i do hope i have made some of you happier to be living in the NC area. paradise aint perfect. although we saw some spinner dolphins today and i got paid double time for the labor day holiday - life is just OK at the mo'.
Comments
The big news at last.
By Mike DalySeptember 9th, 2004
As some of you may have noticed, the time I devote to our precious little website here has recently suffered from an acute drop-off. This time, I really have an excuse, and it's really valid.
I'm sorry that I haven't told everyone about this until now, but I wanted to make it a suprise announcement to everyone at once, but never got around to it because I've been so busy. Anyway, enough delay; time for my announcement.
As of Monday, August 30th, I have become an employee of Numeric Designs Ltd! I am now an official "3D Graphics Software Engineer". In other words, I professionally program a graphics engine for games.
This is exactly what I've always wanted to do, and what I've focused my past 4 years of college study towards. I've finally got the job!
I have a really nice setup, all of the guys I work with are really cool, the workplace is pretty flexible and casual, I get all the snacks and drinks I want, and the work itself is exciting and challenging. Although I don't have to, I've worked about 50 hours a week for the past two weeks. I'd like to get on my feet working with their engine as soon as possible, so I've been putting in a lot of extra time.
The downside of all of this is that I have suddenly found myself with absolutely no free time. I'm struggling to keep up with the few hobbies I manage to squeeze into my weeks. I don't know how much you'll be hearing from me via dueling monkeys for a while; probably not too much.
Anyway, I'll try to keep in touch. Perhaps I'll try to drop a line in the messageboard every once in a while when I don't have time to write a proper update.
Right before I started work I managed to finish up one last art project. I had wanted to make a rock-climbing themed poster for my room, but in the end I don't think it's good enough to be worth the hassle of printing. I threw it up in the art gallery, you may view it here:Ascent poster. There is a hard to read poem on the walls, for the poster resolution, they are easy to read, but it's not too easy from the web version. Oh well, if you really care what it says, post a thread on the messageboard and I'll tell you.
Well, that's all the time for updating I have. See you all later!
I'm sorry that I haven't told everyone about this until now, but I wanted to make it a suprise announcement to everyone at once, but never got around to it because I've been so busy. Anyway, enough delay; time for my announcement.
As of Monday, August 30th, I have become an employee of Numeric Designs Ltd! I am now an official "3D Graphics Software Engineer". In other words, I professionally program a graphics engine for games.
This is exactly what I've always wanted to do, and what I've focused my past 4 years of college study towards. I've finally got the job!
I have a really nice setup, all of the guys I work with are really cool, the workplace is pretty flexible and casual, I get all the snacks and drinks I want, and the work itself is exciting and challenging. Although I don't have to, I've worked about 50 hours a week for the past two weeks. I'd like to get on my feet working with their engine as soon as possible, so I've been putting in a lot of extra time.
The downside of all of this is that I have suddenly found myself with absolutely no free time. I'm struggling to keep up with the few hobbies I manage to squeeze into my weeks. I don't know how much you'll be hearing from me via dueling monkeys for a while; probably not too much.
Anyway, I'll try to keep in touch. Perhaps I'll try to drop a line in the messageboard every once in a while when I don't have time to write a proper update.
Right before I started work I managed to finish up one last art project. I had wanted to make a rock-climbing themed poster for my room, but in the end I don't think it's good enough to be worth the hassle of printing. I threw it up in the art gallery, you may view it here:Ascent poster. There is a hard to read poem on the walls, for the poster resolution, they are easy to read, but it's not too easy from the web version. Oh well, if you really care what it says, post a thread on the messageboard and I'll tell you.
Well, that's all the time for updating I have. See you all later!
Comments
Free dancing lessons
By Mike DalySeptember 14th, 2004
If you are a person who desires to dance like the pros - using your stunning body movements to inspire attractive members of the opposite sex to adorn you with their bodies ... we can in no way help you with that. Sorry. However, if you want to know how to dance like a machine-operated stick-puppet; well, there we might be able to help.
You see, Wastrel and I decided to implement a little animation project a while ago (a very long while ago, actually) and we have finally finished it. I've always had an interest in art; I've experimented with 3d modeling, 2d art, animation, and music; and this project seemed like a good way to put it all to use to make something. The idea was to make some 3d models of stick-puppets (in the image of your's-truly) and have them dance to music. The intended irony of this is, of course, that stick puppets are rigid, and therefore do not dance in any way.
That simple irony is what convinced me to propose the idea, but, unfortunately I didn't realize at the time that the joke would take a total of about 5 seconds to tell and wear off. Not taking this post-production realization into account, we planned a 2-minute movie short. We more than planned it, we implemented it. Now we are done and you all get to see it.
I guess what I was trying to say in that last poorly-worded paragraph is that I don't really know what the point of this animation is anymore. It's not really funny, so if you watch it you'll just have to try hard to appreciate the fact that we followed through with such a thing. Trying to derive entertainment from that thought might be your best bet to enjoy it.
Anyway, enough blabber. Here is the video:
Dueling Monkeys dancing lessons (wmv format - grr)
I think that we'd like to make more videos like this. Now that we have learned from the first, I think we can make the next installments more entertaining. If you guys have any ideas or suggestions, please let us know! For your convenience, I've created a messageboard topic concerning the subject - c'mon, it's easy! Link to the messageboard topic.
Well, that's all I'll say for now. Work is still fun. Catch you on the flip-side.
You see, Wastrel and I decided to implement a little animation project a while ago (a very long while ago, actually) and we have finally finished it. I've always had an interest in art; I've experimented with 3d modeling, 2d art, animation, and music; and this project seemed like a good way to put it all to use to make something. The idea was to make some 3d models of stick-puppets (in the image of your's-truly) and have them dance to music. The intended irony of this is, of course, that stick puppets are rigid, and therefore do not dance in any way.
That simple irony is what convinced me to propose the idea, but, unfortunately I didn't realize at the time that the joke would take a total of about 5 seconds to tell and wear off. Not taking this post-production realization into account, we planned a 2-minute movie short. We more than planned it, we implemented it. Now we are done and you all get to see it.
I guess what I was trying to say in that last poorly-worded paragraph is that I don't really know what the point of this animation is anymore. It's not really funny, so if you watch it you'll just have to try hard to appreciate the fact that we followed through with such a thing. Trying to derive entertainment from that thought might be your best bet to enjoy it.
Anyway, enough blabber. Here is the video:
Dueling Monkeys dancing lessons (wmv format - grr)
I think that we'd like to make more videos like this. Now that we have learned from the first, I think we can make the next installments more entertaining. If you guys have any ideas or suggestions, please let us know! For your convenience, I've created a messageboard topic concerning the subject - c'mon, it's easy! Link to the messageboard topic.
Well, that's all I'll say for now. Work is still fun. Catch you on the flip-side.
Comments
My return from sabbatical
By WesleySeptember 21st, 2004
Ok, so actually i wasn't on sabbatical. i've just been a slacker
when it comes to things website related. but hopefully all that
will change from now! thats right! from right NOW i am promising to
be more diligent in my updating duties!
maybe. it seems i'm not going to be quite as busy as i thought i would be this semester, although i do believe i still fall into the catagory of WAY TOO BUSY. but hopefully you will hear from me at least one more time before you grow old and die of old age. that is, assuming you continue to diligently check our website everyday, dear reader.
i guess the point of all this useless blathering is to inform you that there is a new food item! yes, i can sense that you are foaming at the mouth with the mere thought of trying another one of our cullinary delights. so without further ado, Tuna Melts!!!
Maintenance here: Web editor fixed. Continue with your babble
so in the meantime check out this crazy webpage. peace out.
maybe. it seems i'm not going to be quite as busy as i thought i would be this semester, although i do believe i still fall into the catagory of WAY TOO BUSY. but hopefully you will hear from me at least one more time before you grow old and die of old age. that is, assuming you continue to diligently check our website everyday, dear reader.
i guess the point of all this useless blathering is to inform you that there is a new food item! yes, i can sense that you are foaming at the mouth with the mere thought of trying another one of our cullinary delights. so without further ado, Tuna Melts!!!
Maintenance here: Web editor fixed. Continue with your babble
so in the meantime check out this crazy webpage. peace out.
Comments
Good News Everyone!
BySeptember 28th, 2004
I have several announcements to make. But first, let me explain
that I'm tired. I've already complained to you in my last update
(which was a long time ago) that school and work are consuming most
of my life. I won't do it again as long as you know that things
haven't changed. So, there isn't really anything cool about this
update. No artwork, recipes, or funny links. But, if I can remember
to do it in my break tommorow (read: today), I'll come up with
something.
And now for the announcements...
Number 1)
I am all but certain that I will graduate in July 2005. I might even get to walk in May since I'll only have one humanities class and one major class left. More on that later.
Number 2)
Willow and I have decided that in order for you guys to finally see any progress in this "major overhaul" I keep telling you about, we're going to have to split it up into two phases. Phase One will include the administration part. I've already done most of that part. I just have to decide if I want to change the way the message board works. The first phase will also include a pretty new frontend for you guys to see (get to work Willow). Phase Two will be less noticible. Things might run a little faster, but for the most part you won't see any changes. I'll change the code to be less messy than my two-year-ago-skills allowed me to be, and I might even throw in some RSS feeds. A third phase, if applicable, would be the new photo gallery. But I'm hoping it will be done before the second phase starts.
Number 3)
We haven't watched any Strongbad email in quite some time, and noticed the other day that there were about six or seven new ones. I bet at least one of you haven't looked in a long time, so for old times sake, check out Homestar Runner.
Ok, so there was a funny link. SO SORRY!
And now for the announcements...
Number 1)
I am all but certain that I will graduate in July 2005. I might even get to walk in May since I'll only have one humanities class and one major class left. More on that later.
Number 2)
Willow and I have decided that in order for you guys to finally see any progress in this "major overhaul" I keep telling you about, we're going to have to split it up into two phases. Phase One will include the administration part. I've already done most of that part. I just have to decide if I want to change the way the message board works. The first phase will also include a pretty new frontend for you guys to see (get to work Willow). Phase Two will be less noticible. Things might run a little faster, but for the most part you won't see any changes. I'll change the code to be less messy than my two-year-ago-skills allowed me to be, and I might even throw in some RSS feeds. A third phase, if applicable, would be the new photo gallery. But I'm hoping it will be done before the second phase starts.
Number 3)
We haven't watched any Strongbad email in quite some time, and noticed the other day that there were about six or seven new ones. I bet at least one of you haven't looked in a long time, so for old times sake, check out Homestar Runner.
Ok, so there was a funny link. SO SORRY!
Comments