Not much really. I watch individual shows on the internet and I also watch a lot of internet reviews and such.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
What music are you listening to today?
Even more electic choices than when I was young. Thank you, internet!
When was the last time you received flowers?
At my last choir concert in 8th grade. My sister gave me the fowers but it was still a nice gesture all the same. Men don't get flowers.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Obligatory Post Thanksgiving Roundup
I had a decent time visiting with my sister and her husband and my parents. My brother in-law's sister is also very close to me. I just call her my sister to save time. The boys had fun playing with their cousins mostly. Mrs. Shadowdancer was very tired and sleepy. I was sleep deprived too, but the biggest thing was some indigestion I had and a fever that came from nowhere. I'm taking some medicine for the fever and my stomach is doing fine now. I'm thankful that my job is so good, and that I am loved. I remember the years I spent living alone in a shitty basement apartment, where for the first few weeks I didn't have gas and slept on the floor in a sleeping bag with another sleeping bag as my cushion during the early Winter. I don't remember what I did for Thanksgiving that year. I think I probably spent it with my uncle.
Anyway, my point is that I hope you are aware of who loves you. If nobody comes to mind, you just remember that I love you, and I may not even know your name.
Anyway, my point is that I hope you are aware of who loves you. If nobody comes to mind, you just remember that I love you, and I may not even know your name.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
About Veteran's Day
As I'm sure is obvious, I wear my veteran status like a badge. I had to work hard to enlist, losing weight and getting a psyche waiver. I joined the Delayed Enlistment Program when I was 17. I wanted to join the Army badly.
Yesterday, my team at work got a card for me. I was touched. I've never gotten individual recognition, if any at all, on Veteran's Day. It was something very special.
Now, I never went overseas, but I served six years in the Reserves as a combat engineer, a driver, a radio specialist, an instructor, a team leader and assistant squad leader, and I never got higher than PFC. So, even though my time in the service went about as badly as it could, see good knee broken and more insane than before, I'm still proud of what I did, and I'm proud of my brothers and sisters who wore the uniform and those who wear it today. Not because we are morally superior to others, in most cases far from it, but because we have scientifically demonstrated that we are willing to put the needs of the many before the needs of the few. Essayons!
Yesterday, my team at work got a card for me. I was touched. I've never gotten individual recognition, if any at all, on Veteran's Day. It was something very special.
Now, I never went overseas, but I served six years in the Reserves as a combat engineer, a driver, a radio specialist, an instructor, a team leader and assistant squad leader, and I never got higher than PFC. So, even though my time in the service went about as badly as it could, see good knee broken and more insane than before, I'm still proud of what I did, and I'm proud of my brothers and sisters who wore the uniform and those who wear it today. Not because we are morally superior to others, in most cases far from it, but because we have scientifically demonstrated that we are willing to put the needs of the many before the needs of the few. Essayons!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Have you ever found money in the street?
I found a crumpled ten dollar bill on the floor at Maverik once. It was beautiful because was hungry and broke and with that I fed myself and had supplies for my graveyard shift at the drunk tank that night.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Have you broken any bones? If so, how?
Knee in the Army, nose whilst with ex-girlfriend, and a toe during Tae Kwon Do practice.
If you could eat dinner with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and where would you go?
Robert Heinlein and we would go someplace quiet and simple like
formspring.me
Anything, military, history, games, movies, books, dance, http://www.formspring.me/shadowdancer21b
Friday, October 21, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Call Center Chronicles
I work for an online retailer. I mainly process parts requests but often times I also take a lot of standard customer service calls. Today I had a man waste 15 minutes of my life making me look up his order history with him, and our ledgers show a balance of $0 with this man, we have made officially negative profit from this customer. At the end of it all, he wanted to return an item he ordered from six months ago because he just didn't want it any more. I informed him about our return policy, which disqualifies you for a full refund if an item is returned in used condition or after 30 days from the delivery, and especialy both. He decided against the return.
He literally made me look up each order in his history at the same time he was, "umming" and "ahhing" and even talking about an item that he found for a better price at a different retailer. Whoopity doo. Thank you sir, for wasting my time on a Saturday when I am the only person on my team present to get our work done. Thank you.
He literally made me look up each order in his history at the same time he was, "umming" and "ahhing" and even talking about an item that he found for a better price at a different retailer. Whoopity doo. Thank you sir, for wasting my time on a Saturday when I am the only person on my team present to get our work done. Thank you.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Overlord Network Month of October
Throughout October we will be posting the usual variety of reviews and blog posts, and coming soon, more cartoons and a podcast! The theme of the month however, is haunting. As per usual, make some requests, some suggestions, etc!
If someone can give me an audio file (preferably mp3) of Megosh saying "You boys deserve medals!" I will give you a shoutout on the podcast and maybe even sing a song in your honor.
Haunt on!
If someone can give me an audio file (preferably mp3) of Megosh saying "You boys deserve medals!" I will give you a shoutout on the podcast and maybe even sing a song in your honor.
Haunt on!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Spooky Hidden Item Puzzle Games #2 Puppetshow
I was unaware that the point-and-click genre was thriving. Telltale games have had some success with that Strongbad video game, and that Back to the Future game, but there is a whole genre of hidden item puzzle games in spooky settings. Big Fish Games is the place to go for these.
Today's entry, Puppet Show: Mystery of Joyville was made in 2009. The setting is a gothic steampunk themed village and you play an unnamed detective. A boy has been abducted, but he is only the most recent in a series of disappearances. People talk about evil spirits hanging around the old puppet theatre, and the missing boy's mother and grandfather, who run the local hotel have hired you, the detective, to investigate.
You perform your investigations by completing hidden item puzzles and other puzzles usually involving items gathered in your searching. The cursor will change to let you know that an area is of interest and all of the old school "click around until you find the right pixel" crap is no where to be found.
The artwork is superb and all hand drawn. 4/5.
The music is thematically sound and good, but there are only like two or three tracks. 3/5
The gameplay works and is a great game to play with a partner. That's right, it's a game for couples.
Vampire Hunter Board Game
This game seems cool when you examine the box and learn of the premise. The board has a layout that will change from when it is "daytime" and "nighttime" villagers become werewolves, traps appear, vampires or vampire bats will appear, all sorts of stuff.
The execution of the game falls flat. It plays out like 13 Dead End Drive without the fun. Also without the traps. The traps being the fun. Don't play 13 Dead End Drive. You have to collect three vampire hunting accoutrements and make it to the head vampire's coffin to slay him before his boat departs, thus allowing him to escape and spread his curse further.
This game just isn't very good. It's not terrible, but it leaves much to be desired.
Spooky Hidden Item Puzzle Games #1 Puppetshow 3
Puppet Show 3 Lost Town continues the adventures of our unnamed detective This time, a girl named Suzy was abducted by a large automaton. You as the detective are called to investigate. As you explore the nearby caves you find a hidden entrance to an entire town hidden away, all the inhabitants gone, replaced by puppets and other automatons.
The puzzles are good in this one, and the hand drawn artwork is superb. This is the only entry in the series to feature voices. The music is also good, with that combination of music box and orchestra to create that spooky, steampunk feel that the ladies like so much (right? )
Cheffiepie's thoughts: This game is best played with groups because of the many hidden item sequences. The more eyes looking, the better off you'll be. Also with everyone involved, everyone has more fun. The puzzles can be very challenging, and I was very glad that they have a "skip" button as well as a "hint" button. They are a godsned. I also thought the creepy imagery was done very tastefully. Nothing too scary for me. 4/5
Shadowdancer's Thoughts: I think these games are really fun and stimulating. They are just like the point and click adventure games of old, and yet they are not. The tropes of "The many deaths of you" and "sort the cans" are not present here. All of the puzzles are logical and make sense, not just "adventure game sense". You old school gamers know what I mean with that. Adventure games had their own kind of messed up logic, especially the text-based games. That's another rant, however.
A lot of your obstacles are cleared by using a one-shot tool but some items, such as good ol' crowbar, will be with you to the end of the story. No useless space-fillers or red herrings to be found in these games. This is the best in the series in terms of the balance of play. Some of the puzzles and hidden items in part two (yes the review for that is coming) were downright fiendish, and the first game had a few too many items on the edge of the screen.
4/5
The puzzles are good in this one, and the hand drawn artwork is superb. This is the only entry in the series to feature voices. The music is also good, with that combination of music box and orchestra to create that spooky, steampunk feel that the ladies like so much (right? )
Cheffiepie's thoughts: This game is best played with groups because of the many hidden item sequences. The more eyes looking, the better off you'll be. Also with everyone involved, everyone has more fun. The puzzles can be very challenging, and I was very glad that they have a "skip" button as well as a "hint" button. They are a godsned. I also thought the creepy imagery was done very tastefully. Nothing too scary for me. 4/5
Shadowdancer's Thoughts: I think these games are really fun and stimulating. They are just like the point and click adventure games of old, and yet they are not. The tropes of "The many deaths of you" and "sort the cans" are not present here. All of the puzzles are logical and make sense, not just "adventure game sense". You old school gamers know what I mean with that. Adventure games had their own kind of messed up logic, especially the text-based games. That's another rant, however.
A lot of your obstacles are cleared by using a one-shot tool but some items, such as good ol' crowbar, will be with you to the end of the story. No useless space-fillers or red herrings to be found in these games. This is the best in the series in terms of the balance of play. Some of the puzzles and hidden items in part two (yes the review for that is coming) were downright fiendish, and the first game had a few too many items on the edge of the screen.
4/5
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Lumberjack D&D 3.5 Class
Lumberjacks specialize in killing plants and plantlike monsters and wilderness survival. Saving throw bonus progression is as a Ranger, as well as Base Attack Bonus. Hit Dice are D10. At first level, the lumberjack gets Favored Enemy: Plants (this means that they can score critical hits on plants) and the Diehard feat for free (regardless of prerequites). However, to remain conscious after dropping to 0 or below hit points, the character must proclaim, "I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay!" or lose consciousness as normal. At 6th level, the lumberjack gains Favored Enemy: Fey. At 2nd level, the lumberjack gains an animal companion, usually a dog. At 5th level Lumberjack gains Trackless Step.
Lumberjacks cast no spells. Lumberjacks are proficient with all simple weapons and with all axes including the orcish doule axe, dwarven urgosh and dwarven waraxe regardless of race. Note, halberds do not count as axes, rather they are polearms. Same goes for Poleaxe. Lumberjacks are proficient with all armor but not shields, since they usually have their hands full of axe.
Lumberjacks gain 4 + Int bonus skill points per level, with the Ranger skill list.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
If I were the Tyrant of the U.S.
If I were to run the country, I would have to be elected as a tyrant. Supreme executive power would be needed for my reign to be successful. After seeing things through I would step down and allow another election for a president. Full on democratic vote though. The Electoral College will be dissolved.
My decrees will be as follows:
No more foreign aid until we have settled our debts.
From now on, all citizens will be charged a 7% tax. No tax shelter laws for corporations to not pay their income taxes either.
Charitable donations are no longer tax write offs. Make those donations because you care.
All senators and congressmen will be paid federal minimum wage. All other government employees will continue at their current pay grades and scales. The Tyrant will be tax exempt and receive a small monthly stipend in addition to his family living in the White House.
All congressmen and senators will be required to pay their taxes while in office under pain of incarceration and release from their position. Congressmen and senators will be part time employees and required to balance their schedules with their other employment and given mandated leave like military personnel on duty.
No state will be allowed to cut education budgets period.
The Patriot Act will be dissolved immediately.
All political prisoners will be executed and sent to their country of origin. All political prisons will be disbanded or converted into state or federal prisons.
All countries who object to these edicts will be allowed to have their ambassador challenge the Tyrant to fisticuffs.
Puerto Rico will be the 51st state. Period.
Mexico will be the 52 state. We already have the people, food, and culture, time for the real estate. Find me a better end to illegal Mexican immigration.
Make it easier and less expensive to receive citizenship. This bullshit has gone on for too long.
With all that new tax revenue it will be suddenly easier to have universal health care.
Lobbyists will be banned. Period.
Televising of small claims court cases will be banned. Sorry Judge Judy.
Once a criminal has been convicted and given the death penalty, they will be allowed one appeal. Period. No more ritualistic last meal, no more knowing the date of execution either. We'll do it Japanese way. Death row inmates will be in solitary confinement until one day the warden decides it's time for the execution. Just watch crime rates drop.
Legalization regulation and taxation of marijuana.
Country-wide alcohol and tobacco laws. 18 to purchase tobacco, 19 to purchase alcohol 17 if in the military. If they are old enough to die for your freedom, they're old enough to smoke and drink. No limit on liquor licenses or any of that other Utah bullcrap.
Country-wide reinstatement of the death penalty. The punishment must fit the crime. Lesser sentences for crimes of passion and harsh sentence for killings during robberies and so forth.
Crack down on prescription pill abuse.
After a reign of no longer than eight years, the Tyrant will retire to be a public citizen. The ex Tyrant and ex presidents will not receive secret service protection.
The NSA will be disbanded. The CIA and the FBI do their jobs just fine.
The department of Homeland security will be disbanded. Security at airports will reach an all-time laxness with an increase in air marshalls and other law enforcement officers for the airports and air travel.
These extreme and totalitarian methods are what will ensure the survival of this country while at the same time ensuring they will never ever happen. I can dream though, can't I?
My decrees will be as follows:
No more foreign aid until we have settled our debts.
From now on, all citizens will be charged a 7% tax. No tax shelter laws for corporations to not pay their income taxes either.
Charitable donations are no longer tax write offs. Make those donations because you care.
All senators and congressmen will be paid federal minimum wage. All other government employees will continue at their current pay grades and scales. The Tyrant will be tax exempt and receive a small monthly stipend in addition to his family living in the White House.
All congressmen and senators will be required to pay their taxes while in office under pain of incarceration and release from their position. Congressmen and senators will be part time employees and required to balance their schedules with their other employment and given mandated leave like military personnel on duty.
No state will be allowed to cut education budgets period.
The Patriot Act will be dissolved immediately.
All political prisoners will be executed and sent to their country of origin. All political prisons will be disbanded or converted into state or federal prisons.
All countries who object to these edicts will be allowed to have their ambassador challenge the Tyrant to fisticuffs.
Puerto Rico will be the 51st state. Period.
Mexico will be the 52 state. We already have the people, food, and culture, time for the real estate. Find me a better end to illegal Mexican immigration.
Make it easier and less expensive to receive citizenship. This bullshit has gone on for too long.
With all that new tax revenue it will be suddenly easier to have universal health care.
Lobbyists will be banned. Period.
Televising of small claims court cases will be banned. Sorry Judge Judy.
Once a criminal has been convicted and given the death penalty, they will be allowed one appeal. Period. No more ritualistic last meal, no more knowing the date of execution either. We'll do it Japanese way. Death row inmates will be in solitary confinement until one day the warden decides it's time for the execution. Just watch crime rates drop.
Legalization regulation and taxation of marijuana.
Country-wide alcohol and tobacco laws. 18 to purchase tobacco, 19 to purchase alcohol 17 if in the military. If they are old enough to die for your freedom, they're old enough to smoke and drink. No limit on liquor licenses or any of that other Utah bullcrap.
Country-wide reinstatement of the death penalty. The punishment must fit the crime. Lesser sentences for crimes of passion and harsh sentence for killings during robberies and so forth.
Crack down on prescription pill abuse.
After a reign of no longer than eight years, the Tyrant will retire to be a public citizen. The ex Tyrant and ex presidents will not receive secret service protection.
The NSA will be disbanded. The CIA and the FBI do their jobs just fine.
The department of Homeland security will be disbanded. Security at airports will reach an all-time laxness with an increase in air marshalls and other law enforcement officers for the airports and air travel.
These extreme and totalitarian methods are what will ensure the survival of this country while at the same time ensuring they will never ever happen. I can dream though, can't I?
The End of the Story
Have you ever hesitated to watch the final episode of a series? I do every time lately. When I was younger, I was always eager for the resolution. Nowadays I've been disappointed by too many filler endings, Gainax endings, and the absolute worst, the shoulder shrug non-ending. We see the worst offenders in anime, when the show catches up to the manga and the studio needs to pull off something.
I always hate getting emotionally invested in a story only to find out that some things will have no resolution, or worse, the creators just stopped giving a damn or executives meddled.
I think the journey is more important than the destination. Life isn't composed of one beginning and one end, and a long story is effective because of how we relate it to life. Stories take on lives of their own. I'm not saying that stories should never end. That's just foolish. What I think is that the ending isn't so important. It just causes me distress when a story doesn't have the RIGHT ending, you know?
I always hate getting emotionally invested in a story only to find out that some things will have no resolution, or worse, the creators just stopped giving a damn or executives meddled.
I think the journey is more important than the destination. Life isn't composed of one beginning and one end, and a long story is effective because of how we relate it to life. Stories take on lives of their own. I'm not saying that stories should never end. That's just foolish. What I think is that the ending isn't so important. It just causes me distress when a story doesn't have the RIGHT ending, you know?
Sunday, September 11, 2011
The Why of Shadowdancer
I have been wanting to write reviews and blogs and such for some time. I got the itch originally from reading my first issue of Fangoria. I thought, "That's the way to be. Write about stories and share them with the world." Easier than writing your own, though I am trying that too.
I want especially to find lesser-known, or unknown stories and tell you about them. Maybe you'll like them. My true passion in life is stories. You can learn a lot about people from the stories they tell and the way they tell them. What details they find important, what virtues they hold dear, what they think is interesting. I enjoy cheesy movies as much as I enjoy good ones. I can enjoy a game that brings something different to the table even if it has many other flaws. Sure, a very well made game is more enjoyable, but there is something about a flawed story that has a special spark that attracts me. Perhaps it's my own image of myself reflecting back at me. A deeply flawed and imperfect man with a story to share. Maybe the story has something special that resonates with the audience, hopefully it's still an enjoyable tale, big ugly hairy storyteller and all.
Got a bit introspective there didn't I? I'm glad to see you're still here. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I hope I'm unique. I hope that my ideas and observations are at least slightly new. Maybe even original. I hope you enjoy them. I hope that we can learn about each other through these stories, and maybe even be friends. I'll try to share humor and objectivity in almost equal measures. I'll find some stinkers to laugh with you about, and I'll find some rough gems tool. I hope you'll be there to share them with. My fourth child will be born soon, and you may see little of me in the near future, during a season that's important to me and the stories I like to share, but I hope you can forgive my absences and be there when I'm back, ready to share more stories and share more ideas about stories.
At your service,
Stephen "Shadowdancer21b".
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Nightmare Video Boardgame
I remember VHS boardgames back in the day. My friend had Nightmare AKA Atmosfear, Clue, and a Star Trek: the Next Generation game as well. I liked Clue and Nightmare the best.
Nightmare was a lot of fun because my friends really got into it and the Gatekeeper was so hammy. We loved playing along with the Gatekeeper. Responding to him in funny ways was a real charm for the board game.
Sadly, the game didn't hold up too well with repeated playings. Since it was a VHS game you got the same stuff every time. Now there are DVD games for Atmosfear! I'm going to try to pick one up and let you know how it works out!
Nightmare was a lot of fun because my friends really got into it and the Gatekeeper was so hammy. We loved playing along with the Gatekeeper. Responding to him in funny ways was a real charm for the board game.
Sadly, the game didn't hold up too well with repeated playings. Since it was a VHS game you got the same stuff every time. Now there are DVD games for Atmosfear! I'm going to try to pick one up and let you know how it works out!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Who's the best teacher you ever had?
Mr. Kelly Muncy. An encouraging art teacher and later, a solid German Teacher.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The Scary Larry Show. Funny or Depressing?
Now, this one hits close to home and it really makes me sad, even when I laugh.
Friday, September 2, 2011
About being in the Army
I never got deployed overseas, sadly I never had the opportunity during my career. I had a knee injury and weight problems that prevented me from being deployed. I could easily have gotten in shape while on active duty, but I guess I would have been a liability. I'm very glad that all my brother-soldiers came back. Survivor's guilt would have hit me very hard.
I was a combat engineer. That's the 21B part. When I enlisted combat engineer was still MOS 12B. They changed it while I was at Fort Leonard Wood for Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training. I was at "Fort Lost-in-the-Woods" for 8 months straight. You bet I went crazy. I found Jesus out there too. I had been raised religious but adulthood had made me a less righteous man. The separation from the many temptations of the world facilitated my re-conversion, so to speak. I lost my fighting edge even. When it came time for hand to hand and pugils, I got my butt whupped because I had no aggression in me. I did get it back eventually.
The biggest things that affected my soul were the discrepancies between how I viewed being in the military when I was a civilian, and the reality that confronted me. I was treated like garbage by my home unit because of the knee injury and the failure to meet physical fitness standards that came with it. I admit, there was a time when I tried very hard to get fit and then I just stopped caring. I am to blame as well for my failure. However, I also had a dearth of good leadership. As a young soldier I was not encouraged and given the time and attention needed to get my self together. I was left entirely to my own devices and then berated for my trouble. I am bitter, I admit it.
When I got home from training, I couldn't get a job for six months. This was in 2003 and I graduated high school. No one wanted to hire an Army Reservist, fearing that I would be deployed any minute. Or something. I naively thought that everyone had the same respect and affection for the military that I did. I was proud when I was sworn in. I was on top of the world, 19 years old, and invincible. Poor 2003 me never saw it coming.
I was a combat engineer. That's the 21B part. When I enlisted combat engineer was still MOS 12B. They changed it while I was at Fort Leonard Wood for Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training. I was at "Fort Lost-in-the-Woods" for 8 months straight. You bet I went crazy. I found Jesus out there too. I had been raised religious but adulthood had made me a less righteous man. The separation from the many temptations of the world facilitated my re-conversion, so to speak. I lost my fighting edge even. When it came time for hand to hand and pugils, I got my butt whupped because I had no aggression in me. I did get it back eventually.
The biggest things that affected my soul were the discrepancies between how I viewed being in the military when I was a civilian, and the reality that confronted me. I was treated like garbage by my home unit because of the knee injury and the failure to meet physical fitness standards that came with it. I admit, there was a time when I tried very hard to get fit and then I just stopped caring. I am to blame as well for my failure. However, I also had a dearth of good leadership. As a young soldier I was not encouraged and given the time and attention needed to get my self together. I was left entirely to my own devices and then berated for my trouble. I am bitter, I admit it.
When I got home from training, I couldn't get a job for six months. This was in 2003 and I graduated high school. No one wanted to hire an Army Reservist, fearing that I would be deployed any minute. Or something. I naively thought that everyone had the same respect and affection for the military that I did. I was proud when I was sworn in. I was on top of the world, 19 years old, and invincible. Poor 2003 me never saw it coming.
formspring.me
Anything, military, history, games, movies, books, dance, http://formspring.me/shadowdancer21b
Overlordnetwork
I'm the primary contributor to the Overlordnetwork. http://www.overlordnetwork.com/.
The site is run by my friend Ironfox. He posts the second most. He and I will be making a podcast called the Overcast where we will discuss roleplaying games, video games for couples, and so forth. I need an audio clip of Megosh saying "You boys deserve medals!". If you provide this I will give you a shout out on the podcast and on a Vlog on my youtube channel.
Now, about the Overlordnetwork. We are a group of gamers and reviewers. Users on the site can contribute their own articles and reviews and it is our hope that with that publicly-shared community voice we will bring a lot of voices together and have a mixed bag of entertainment to rival that of other websites with similar structures.
I consider myself to be the court jester of the network.
The site is run by my friend Ironfox. He posts the second most. He and I will be making a podcast called the Overcast where we will discuss roleplaying games, video games for couples, and so forth. I need an audio clip of Megosh saying "You boys deserve medals!". If you provide this I will give you a shout out on the podcast and on a Vlog on my youtube channel.
Now, about the Overlordnetwork. We are a group of gamers and reviewers. Users on the site can contribute their own articles and reviews and it is our hope that with that publicly-shared community voice we will bring a lot of voices together and have a mixed bag of entertainment to rival that of other websites with similar structures.
I consider myself to be the court jester of the network.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
If you were in a fighting game, what would your main attack be?
If you were in a fighting game, what would your main attack be?
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