Bright End of Nowhere

So, as I was zooming around the internet earlier today, I stumbled upon an interesting idea: using Google Wave to run online tabletops. (Apparently, dice rolling bots already exist)

I can totally see how that could work for some circumstances, especially if you're not running a super combat-heavy game. Thing I wonder about, though, is how well you can get dynamic maps working on it. As in, a map where you can move your token around and open up new areas as you explore. Or move around in combat situations.

Can you tell I'm tempted to use it for some of the more roleplaying-heavy games I've got percolating in my brain?

If I could program (which reminds me: need to learn Python), I might be tempted to write an app. Thankfully, my incompetence is keeping me sane for once. Go me?

On that note, I happen to have a couple of Google Wave invites available if anyone wants one. (Yeah, they're probably freely available essentially if you travel in the right circles. Whatever. I've got some and I have no idea what to do with 'em.)

I think I figured out the problem with me and cosplayers at Dragon*Con:

I see the Iron Man suits and think "who the hell machined that?" Which is incorrect, because the answer is "nobody". And I really, really do not want to continue that train of thought because clearly that way lies madness.

I need to find decent shots of the Arc Reactor. (Certain people: Yes, this is for what you think it's for. *facepalm*)

Link finally picked up Continuum yesterday. However, I was elsewhere by the time he got home, so I got told by him and Yarmond that they had "approved it for my viewing pleasure". Thanks guys. Really appreciate that.

We watched last night's SGA as well. ( Cut for commentary )

I have some pictures of various toys in my room that I'm working on uploading. I'd post them now, but they're on a server linked to my rl name, so, uh, I'm working on a separate solution. :) Default is I throw them onto Flickr. In the meantime, here's some plastic army men:

( Plastic Army Man Theater )

Yesterday, some of the Usual Suspects and I decided to have fun with a laser printer. Of course, by "laser printer", I really mean the "multi-thousand dollar 60W laser capable of etching steel in one of the labs on campus".

Photo evidence of our madness. (It's Finals Week. You really can't blame us for this, can you?)

We were there 6 hours, but that's mostly because we etched about 4 Leathermans (Leathersmen? Leathermen?), which are stainless steel, and did a lot of trial-and-error on an extra Thinkpad laptop cover we had. Which was good, because IBM probably came up with the most impossible material that could still take a laser. The rubber kept melting, creating a weird drop-shadow effect. Multiple passes ended up being the answer.

Hopefully, now that there's some idea of how to do this, the process will go faster next time. I know that the one who has the access to this lab is hoping that the "equation on the Leatherman" becomes a meme of sorts, with your favorite or the characteristic equation of your major gracing your Leatherman. Which is why I was forced to quickly LaTeX-up Shrödinger's Equation for his multitool, after I figured out how to do the vector forms for my two equations.

(Unfortunately, I don't think my prof will find it terribly amusing if I whip out the multitool during the final tomorrow. Even though we are allowed equation sheets. I don't think "hunk of stainless steel" counts, though.)

I totally failed a Will save today.

I now have a plastic!Cam and a plastic!RepliCarter.

The question is what to do with them now. I'm seeing either an epic sword fight or Cam and RepliCarter vs. EVA Unit-00.

Also, I think they look lonely. I need to figure out where else I can get them, because today was just random chance (and the only other options were Avalon Vala and Black Ops Daniel). Perhaps I should start scouring the local comic book stores (which would nicely complete my plan to completely fail to resist buying Nextwave). Alternatively, I know Amazon.com has some. My poor, poor wallet.

I do that sometimes. Often, I don't feel like it was anything other than a waste of time. This time, it didn't turn out half-bad.

Teyla, however, has a reminder for all of those tired of wank and people being stupid in general:




See what happens when I get bored?

I mentioned this to dixietwist. I have no idea how many other people would get it, but:

Music video of "Still Alive" (Portal ending song, written by Jonathan Coulton), featuring RepliCarter, from SG-1.

If you know both, just think about it.

I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing I don't know the first thing about vidding.