Asymptomatic

There must be intelligent life down here

Rokugan, Character Development, and Pacing
March 03, 2004

Preface: We're thinking of starting a new game, which Bob will run, that will take place in Rokugan.  Basically, it's oriental D&D. 

I know that a couple of players read this esoteria, and hope that they forward my impressions so that I don't have to start another email blitz diatribe like last time.  And if you're not on the mailing list, you should sign up, darn it!

Web Captures
March 03, 2004

I've been trying to accomplish this for months, maybe years, and I've finally done it!

Well, it's not complete, but I have created a CGI application that will dynamically create a thumbnail of a whole web page.  To better explain, if you typ in the URL to my program, and you give it the URL to some other site, it will create a gif image of that site to the size you specify.  Perhaps an example image is a better explanation (see right).

Essay vs. Scantron
March 02, 2004

I have a test in both classes this week before Spring Break.  I feel I must comment on my teachers' test-giving styles.

My Philosophy teacher likes to give a quiz every couple of weeks to make sure we're absorbing our readings.  The quizzes so far have consisted of a Scantron sheet (one of those "fill in the dots with a number 2 pencil" scorecards) and a page for a short essay.

Invader Zim Ringtone
February 27, 2004

I guess you could say I’ve gone off the deep end.

I used Vegas Video to extract the audio from an Invader Zim episode and convert it to an MP3. Then I used the Kyocera MP3 Ringtone Maker to create a ringtone from that MP3. It doesn’t sound bad. My phone now rings with Invader Zim.