More of Vana'diel's Greatest Quotes

"Death comes from above you crazy Porrogo Charmer..."
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"...wait... nvm... sorry boss, 'YOU..ARE MY ... MASTER...' (did i get it right?) >.<"

*sigh busy busy

There are so many things to do in this crazy world, not including those in our virtual crazy world which is Vana'diel. Been waaaay to busy to make any posts here for a while. I've still been playing, still been saving lives (work), but it takes some serious effort and creative juices to flow something here. I think "effort" is a rare drop from VE, and "creative juice" is 185 ...

*ducks the incoming slap

Ok, ok, i know that there's always time if you make time, so.... i will make some time. I'm making it right now ok! I need guild support!

In my "other" spare time i've been helping out the new-old linkshell and xp'ing PUP(iammighty).
Unfortunately, unlike other "responsible" ls c0-leaders, i'm terrible at remembering to take screenies. >.<>

Cerebral thought of the day

Now that i'm sooo thankfully a member of the pup 70+ club, i noticed something very odd. Of course "odd" for us is, "natural" for SE... lol
Not that i would want to wear this gear piece on a normal basis,






...but don't you think this guy would be a perfect fit?













...

Why can't i wear it??? someone fix this... NOW! =P

Cerebral thought of the day

Every time i see these i'm waiting for the "Stallone" mob to come around the corner...

Grandparents.... gotta luv 'em....

I think that whenever you take a stand on something, an issue, a faith, a decision, etc.; there's gonna come a time when what you stood for will be tested. Yes, it's a time when the thing that you fought hard for, and fought to convey to others will place you, the defender, in let's say... an "inconvenient" situation.
Mine seems to be that at the moment, my grandparents are driving me up the #$&^*@$ wall! XD

My original plan was to feel proud of myself for helping them out in their older years. Y'no, doing yardwork, making insurance phone calls for them, moving heavy objects, etc. With verve and enthusiasm i declared to my friends and co-workers that i had been that super-z grandson, even in my twenties, doing what most people would not.

I was feeling good, i was feeling in full Z-form, i was running right into a trap...

See, the problem is, that you can't just say that you are "family" and do a half-assed job in helping out. I mean, you could, but that would kinda defeat the purpose. Only thing is... do you really know what you are getting into when you make your bold declaration of commitment? Do you really know how far the rabbit hole goes?

I bet not...

I sure didn't when i volunteered to help my grandparents (both sides, one is widowed, the other is well... dramatic >.<) clean up their houses. Now when i say "mess" i really mean, "a whole life's worth of junk/trash/miscellaneous items placed randomly throughout the house, none of which the owner wants to give away/discard, which's combined presence causes a danger and a threat to life safety and mental stability."

...

Talk about boxes, talk about clothes from the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Talk about old, rotting, mold-infested food tucked away in nooks and crannies. Talk about stacks and stacks of newspapers, Styrofoam McDonald's coffee cups, and used (YES USED) napkins... Miscellaneous building materials, yard tools, scrap metal, plaster and stucco. Kitchen appliances which haven't been working since the Beatles finished their last recording. Talk about dirt, and mold, and grime. The list goes on and on...

Now don't get me wrong, i luv my grandparents dearly. They do things on a regular basis which are loving and endearing, making me want to come back over and over again. It's just that when i'm there, i want to hit my head across an Aegis over and over again...

To me, it just goes to show that problems don't just "go away" with old age. In fact, many of those problems that we have in our youth can be compounded and worsen in our "golden years" if they're not dealt with. I mean, my grandparents are from a different age and time. Money and resources were scarce, and there were fewer distractions to deal with at that time. I'm sure sometimes there wasn't anything better to do than go through and organize your collection of Spam and Pork'n Beans, or actually sew and repair damaged, worn, or otherwise ruined clothing. Time may have eroded my grandparent's bodily functions, but to a large extent, it has not softened their memories of how hard life was during the World War II days. C'mon my mother's mother came from Japanese garrisoned Guandong province and Hong Kong. She raised rabbits for food cause she couldn't get a regular job. (of course she was 12 yrs old... but that's a mere technicality)

In any case, here we are in 2008, and they live in this day, as if they're supposed to have the strength, energy, and time of 1950. They live under a shadow of belief(delusion) that "they'll get to it," and that "it's not that bad."

So as i trudge through the Pashow Marshlands of junk mail and expired medications, i'm somewhat amused at the lengths and the depths of crap that can build up in a lifetime. Maybe if we hit hard times again in the future, we'll have to go back to that style of living. For now, it's probably better to travel light, to cherish your time, and knock out those things that have been holding you back from living life to your full potential. If not, as hard as it is to admit... there is a chance we may end up old, lonely, and in disorder in what should be the final bomb in the firecracker string of our lives. take care...

If I were Mr. Enix

Inevitably, while playing ffxi for two years now, there have been many occasions where i wish i had the power to change the game, make it more interesting, and cause absolute chaos among the "uppity" players who think the game couldn't exist without them. Here are a few "minor" ammendations (is that a word?) that i would make.

I. Chocobo license revocations
Remember all those times you agreed to take that wayward chocobo back to its home stable, then mercilessly released it into the savage wild? Don't know? The Vana'diel Chocobo Society knows. They've been on you since the day you reneg'd on your first deal. There's only so far you criminals can go, and one day, "BAM!" chocobo license revoked!!! Of course there's that long and irritating quest that takes 5 RL days to complete, taking you all over the world, w/out riding of course, just to get that license back! Now look upon the "return chocobo" quest w/fear and trembling!!!



II. Chocobo aggro
How nice, run all over Vana'diel at 3x run speed, and not a single drop of aggro to speak of as long as you are riding. Well, NO MORE! On secret staging grounds on two of Vana'diel's moons, horrible chocobo aggro'ing monsters have been developed. In that there's good news and bad news. Good news is, they don't like to eat people... Bad news is that if you're a Galka, you don't qualify as a "people."
C'mon! is this humane??!!










III. Critical fishing fails
Tired of RMT bot fishing? New fishing rules apply where with every cast there is a chance for massive critical fail...and not some wussy fail "your pole broke." I mean, think about it. Amateur tarutaru vs. Titanictus... who's gonna win? Fish pulls YOU in, you lost your catch, rod, lure, and gobbiebag... well at least you kept your level! ... nvm you lost that too...

IV. Light's Out Jeuno
Just to remind some n00b about doing that "lighting the torches" quest in lower jeuno, if someone doesn't do it by 2000... "POOF!" lights out... can't see yourself, the AH counter, your mog cave, nuttin! Hopefully you rented a chocobo and haven't sent your Hauby to a char named "Xdtasyfetsed."

V. God bless gobs
Time to get those s back for all those mpk's in the dunes, qufim, the jungles, and taking your month's long farming efforts to give back a measly 5 extra inventory slots (most likely taken up by beastman seals and giga's socks...
New battle system where you /random against the different gobs in Muckvix's shop... Win free RSE! Free the rarab! Bring back Fickie! and push that cooking gob into his poison pot stew! Splat!!!

Split in two

So I've finally done it. My 90 days of world transfer over, I ported my main character back to his home server. I know at one time or another (or many many times over) i'm going to kick myself for splitting my time between two servers. I really don't see any other way though. I mean, this game for me isn't about seeing how powerful i can become, or to say i finished every mission, but to spend time with people (albeit online) that i love and care about. I originally transferred to follow some friends, but to say a final 'goodbye' to my friends on the original server just wouldn't be me. I hate to leave relationships broken. Even in the jobs that i've worked at, i can say that i've fought with almost everyone at one time or another. Spend enough time with people, and fights happen. I am proud to say, however, that i've also made it up to everyone i've fought with. I'm just like that. I can't walk away, can't just say 'goodbye.'
How can you say to one group of people, "You're special to me, important, and valuable," and to another group, who was just as much a part of your life, "Beat it, I found something better." I tried to pick one or the other, and it just doesn't work for me. I value relationships and i value people. I think there's been too many broken and burned bridges in people's lives, and i surely don't want to be more cause for that. It's hard enough for people to put down their protective walls around their personal space and life. I know. I have a hard time myself. It's difficult when you've been let down, disappointed, and hurt your whole life. We all have.
I know it's just a game, but somehow, through it all, we all build a bridge of trust and friendship that comes from communicating and spending time together. (and in some cases, mortal enemies =/) It's crazy i know. Crazy, crazy, crazy. Somehow i'll find a balance in it... somewhere out there. lol

I love bastok but...

There's a lot to be thankful for, being a Bastoker. Beautiful weather, kind and gentle townsfolk, a wise and likeable president, always coming in first in conquest... (hush! It's good to hope y'no...)
One of the things that absolutely drives me crazy though is the darn Bastokan flag. I mean, of all the wonders and marvels associated with this great state, they could have found a way to immortalize something else on what would be displayed on every building and piece of hardware the country controls.
Take a look at the Sandy flag.
Bold, fierce, and regal, you're reminded of the firey elvaan fighting spirit, the majesty of the kingdom, the long history of gallantry and victory, not only snotty-nosed big-headed buffoons with just a little more brains than a Plasma clot.




See the Windy flag.
You can see the prominent Star tree, and you're reminded of the age of magic and wonder, and little pint-sized cinnabuns running around.







Then there's the Bastok flag. I mean... c'mon... of all the technocological advancement. Of all the brilliance and industry and innovation. Was there something that better represents the greatest (stop laughing) nation in all of Vana'diel??!! We could have had a mighty cannon, an airship, a great waterwheel, a burning furnace, but no... we have:


No, we have something that reminds people of how fragile, weak, and lemming-like, we are. See for yourself...










*slaps his own face

Bitten by the loldrg bug... ganfeinniet

So I'm having some of the most fun in my ffxi career. Elvaan dragoon might be the coolest looking melee job ever... as well as being the most apt to cheating. I've leveled it faster than any job i've ever tried, excluding banging out PUP by burning the anniversary ring. First of all, I sware it's the cheapest big banger melee job by far. Basically, I've collected almost all the gear I'll ever need all the way up to lvl 70 by farming part-time. yeah... you can read that again... and laugh... or cry... or swing your fist at the screen... or throw those Wii nunchucks on purpose...
...anyway

It's sooooo cheat... I mean, the most expensive thing I've had to buy is what? Scorpion Harness? Oh yeah, I bought mine from a bazaar of a desperate thf for 185k. Woodsman ring? Price is below 200k on bismark. Err... what else is there? Not much... Everything else was between 50-100k. AF1 is not bad, and other than loading up on accuracy and attack, the weapon and the wyvern does the rest. Not to mention that as elvaan my strength is retarded. Add a little gimped /nin sub, and I've done some of the most successful soloing ever. During parties, I'm really not expected to do much other than hit, hit hard, hit fast, and don't die. There is no pulling, no backup tanking, no multiple gear sets... just plain and simple ass-kicking. ^^

So, with all this good news, certainly it isn't all selbina butter and cream. Certainly, Square Enix couldn't have been so kind to make a job so simple, fun, and easy to play, then divine waltz your butt all the way to 75. It's not possible. You're better off trying to stave off a Marid stampede with an onion sword.

Every job has some sort of major obstacle you need to overcome to get the most out of playing it. Warrior's need to max out their gear at every opportunity, as well as develop an array of subjob selections. Samurai need to somehow obtain a Hagun and an O-kote, as well as play the percent of a percent game with TP building. Blu need to find helpers to learn spells. Ninja need to get past those dreaded pre-Utsusemi: Ni levels. Puppetmaster need to ... to... well.... shutup...

Anyway...

Dragoons have to deal with that dreaded loldrg curse. Now I know most people know the origins of the curse and all that... but somehow... it persists. Persisting to an extent that even new players thing drg sux. I know it might be a pain to keep the pet alive at times... but there's no real reason to down the job. The only other job that's just as maligned that I can think of is beastmaster... XD It's crazy. LFP for hours and hours...I see Sam's and War's in my level range with their flag up, i might as well just log off. lol

Ahh... the challenge. I guess we can't really live without it... and by "can't" i really mean "heart wrenchingly painful acceptance."

I hope my moogle hasn't misplaced my reraise earring again...

/sigh

happy hunting!

Only Human... ; ;

You know, there are some situations in life when you wish people would take back what they might have said or done. This is particularly evident in those who relish in quick, critical judgment. The sad thing is, that even though time may prove or disprove what the judgment was, it's unlikely the naysayers will ever back down, or ever be in short supply. Nearly every decision or action in this day and age has the potential to raise a storm of criticism.
For most people in this country, Sunday's Superbowl LFGXIIF3 was a bitter disappointment. Dreams of a perfect season, dreams of cementing a dynasty, dreams of storybook endings of careers ended with the thump of Tom Brady's butt hitting the unforgiving and bitter desert field of Glendale, Arizona.
Hmmm... reminds me of something else... another team perhaps... perhaps a different previously undefeated team of 2007?

think...

think...

Oh yeah! there was only ONE other previously undefeated football team in 2007, the University of Hawaii Warriors! lol Now don't get me wrong, there are lots of incongruent circumstances that separate the New England Patriots (which may have been considered one of the best NFL teams of all time) and the Warriors from the lowly WAC (western athletic conference). But, but...look at the similarities! Both of course, had perfect records going in to the last game of the season. Both were playing teams that were not only good, but blazing hot during the latter half of the conference schedule and the playoffs. Both teams had record-setting offenses (although UH's record year was last year) lead by superstar quarterbacks (Brennan is a superstar in the Hawaii market, naturally). During the game, both teams' high-powered passing offenses were stifled by a quick, powerful, and relentless pass rush. Both quarterbacks basically got the snot kicked out of them, and were running for their lives the entire game.

So, my deal is this: if Tom Brady, who will arguably be one of, if not the greatest superstar quarterback ever, could look like a mere mortal (29/48 266yds 1 TD) when faced with a fierce and effective pass rush from basically the front four defensive linemen, is it any wonder that the record setting college quarterback Colt Brennan couldn't muster another game-saving comeback in the Sugar Bowl? Why do people rush to judgment? I don't put the Patriots or the Warriors loss on the shoulders of their respective quarterbacks, even though they, being leaders, will probably take them regardless. If anyone thinks someone else can do better, get someone, tie them in a car, crash it about 20-30 times at high speed, then put them behind center and see how they will do.

I put the blame/responsibility squarely upon the collective play or miss-play by the offensive line and the coaching staff. To a certain extent, if the offensive linemen don't have enough in their arsenal to deal with the physicality of pass rushers, well, there's not much that you can do on that side. However, on the coaching side, there are tons of things that you can do to attack that pass rush defense. Hawaii was clearly outmatched on the ends in the area of quickness. There is no way a guy can physically 'get faster' during the game by trying harder. He either has the speed and footwork, or doesn't. As a coach you know this. You see the tape, you know your own player's limitations. I am amazed that neither the June Jones, or Bill Belichick led coaching staffs could not come up with a better game plan to deal with/attack that pass rush. They chose instead to go with much of the same things they had done throughout the season.
I mean, c'mon! this is the LAST GAME! I know there can be something said about dancing with the girl you brought to the party. However, the coaches should have realized that it was a clear possibility that the pass rush would overwhelm the current personnel and tactics. There should have been at least a contingency plan in the books for : "what if" we can't stop their pass rush? what if we can't pick up their blitz package? Pull out all the stops! Run two, three back sets. Crack down with slotbacks, run a different variation of intermediate routes. There is a host of things that can / should have been done.

No, i don't blame Tom Brady or Colt Brennan for their lackluster production in the biggest games of the season. It was disappointing not to have lived to see an undefeated team in the crazy football year of 2007. The shame is that the coaches of the two respective teams, although geniuses in their own right. Let down their teams when it was needed most. June Jones is a winner, Bill Belichick is a winner. Both will be known, respected, and appreciated for all that they have done throughout their coaching careers. I won't remember Tom Brady or Colt Brennan for their final appearances of the season. They did the best they could with the situations which they were dealt. It's a shame those they played for let them down.

It's a shame also that people who are down on players will use those performances to support their negativity. Look deeper, look at the facts, wait for the test of time to take its firm grip. Then we'll see if Tom Brady will ever be the greatest of all time and if Colt Brennan will ever be effective in the NFL. Meanwhile we're lucky. We don't have to strap on pads, get beat up, work endlessly year-round, and sacrifice like they do. Let's be fans and enjoy the show!

Cerebral Trivia: Answer

"Mee" and "Baa"

...

...

Certainly on the All-Name Squad... lol have fun!

Vana'diel History... well sorta

Come to find out, during the Great War, the Anticans originally set out to conquer the vast continent of Mindartia. However, after their first few attempts in watercraft, pwning the Galka didn't seem like such a bad idea...

Cerebral Trivia Vana'diel Style

Taking a look at some of the seldom noticed aspects of this virtual world we live in...See how much of a Vana'diel dork you are!!!
I'll post a question on occasion here about the little-know people and places of Vana'diel. Feel free to take a stab at the answer. Winners will get a .... a .... ... a virtual one at least... unless you don't live on Bismark or Ifrit... in which case... sux for u!
Post answers in the comments if you dare!
...
And no peeking! I saw that!

I'll post the answer a few days later

Question 1:
"You know that Selbina shepherd. Yeah, the one you just traded 5 stacks of moss to. He gave you the wholesale rate on that damn moss when you paid retail. >.< Before you give them three slaps in Z-formation, what were the names of his two sheep? (which incidentally must be gargantuanly overweight or defy the laws of space/time)

Keep outta my wallet!!!

With all of the nonsense the goes on and on about the subject of abortion in America, i think there are a few things that no one seems to mention. Either because they might be massively unpopular, or because people speaking out don't want to be ostracized by the "squeaky wheels" in the pro-death community. Since i'm basically nobody and don't care what those from "People for Assisted Genocide" have to say, here goes...
First of all, i do believe that life begins in conception. Egg + sperm = life yay! It's how we came into being, and it is a miracle of creation....yes, yes, even in Pyro's case.... but i digress.
I am firmly pro-life with lots of compassion for the single, young, and struggling moms out there who have the courage to raise their genetic material into vibrant, virile, and competent members of society both in this world and the next. It's hard. It is. Very, very, very hard.
Y'no what though? So is life... Who is to say pregnancy, childbirth, and child rearing isn't more or less stressful and painful than persecution, imprisonment, war, or one of the myriad other ugly things that happen in this world. At least when a woman gives birth, there is a potential for a life full of excitement, joy, and fulfillment.
Some abortion rights activists take the stand that the "fetus" as they call it, is non-living, or part of the woman's body. If so, the woman has the right to do whatever she wishes. In some ways i agree with that assumption. You CAN do whatever you choose, destroy yourself all you want... if it is your own body.
The problem there is simply this, the child there involves three people. The woman, the man, and itself. It's just one of those things that is inextricably intertwined. It's not just the woman's body, and just as a normal human being, you should be morally obligated to do your best to bring that person into this world without harm. It's easy to determine propriety of care of a child once it has been delivered. You feed, clothe, care for, and nurture the child until he or she is able to fend for themselves. In the United States that means at least an 18 year commitment, barring adoption, if not a lifelong one.

Harsh you say? Well.... DUHHH!

Having sex is a serious thing. It's only extreme irresponsibility to think it not. I know it just takes aim, but it's much more complicated than that. It's why we have to treat our sexuality like a prized possession, with dignity and respect. There are two irrevocable events in life... being conceived, and dying. Once one of those events takes place, there is no turning back. There is no refunds or exchanges... the sale is final!

People want to get all nasty on deadbeat dads, those who refuse to provide for the children that they have fathered, and they should. It is shameful and extremely destructive for the lives of the children and the mother for the father to re neg on his responsibilities as a provider, protector, and leader. Many men in this country rightly get sued and go to jail for that sort of thing.
There is one problem, however. I sure that i won't find the woman's or the child's name on the father's paycheck. If the woman is suing for support, i'm sure her name isn't on the house, the car, the 401k, or the beach house in Maui. If the woman's body is the woman's body, and no one else has a say in what she does or doesn't do with her body, why is it that men can't do what they will with their own? Why does the government have to step in and garnish wages, award monies, and incarcerate? Why can't they just "trust [the men] to have good judgement?"

I think it's perfectly logical to equate the two positions. The woman with her body, and the man with his providing. Both the man and the woman have rights AND duties to a conceived child. It's not fair and equitable to punish one for the refusal to comply, and write off the other's responsibilities.
Will we ever back down on the men? Of course not! The repercussions are too great not to. We should not allow the reckless pollination of the flower of mankind without the due compensation and collaboration of childrearing that gives each child the chance to live, to grow, and to succeed. Neither should we allow reckless slaughter of brand new souls for convenience's sake. I have compassion for those who may have been raped, or face life threats due to pregnancy. I believe we as an astute and thoughtful society can wisely judge these cases on an individual basis, and not subject people to the letter of the law, so much as to the intent of the hearts behind the law, and none more important than the tiny hearts beating behind those cervixial gates of freedom, in a sea of amniotic hope.
It's not an issue of one person's body, it's really three, and it although it may be one of the most difficult changes in life, i know it can be one of the most rewarding, fulfilling, and joyful too.

Cerebral thought of the day

Inspired by American Hip Hop icons, the beastmen of Vana'diel start thier new group called "Beastly Skillz"

Starring from north of the border, all the way in Xarcabad.....

GIGA RIMES!!!

...and chillin' from the swamp of Caedarva Mire....

J-NUN!!!

Vanad'iel's famous quotes

"After the latest wave of account banning, times were looking rough...but with my new cyclical ID processing services I'm living LARGE on 45 cents a day. Thanks IGN!"

More Vana'diel's famous quotes

"Must... not........ fall asleep.... must.... get.... to Sky.......zzzzzz"

More Vana'diel's famous quotes

"AAAAHHH!!! I thought i was invis'd!!!"

Vana'diel's Greatest Quotes

Two players... one NM...... "AAARGH!!!"

Cerebral Alchemy Academy 101.6

Take one stick :









add one pin:









...and what do u get?
....

I don't get it... do you?

Cerebral thought of the day 3

"Eyy and Silent Buxu Strike Back!"

Cerebral thought of the day

MY NAME IS ZHUU BUXU!!! HEAR ME RO...

...

nvm....

...

shhhhh! (quiet)

Dun dun DUNNNN!!!

Here we go!

Since i've been too busy/tired to publish all the wonderful things that are spinning around in my brain like an air elemental on speed, i've decided to publish my "Cerebral Thought of the Day." We'll have a lot of fun, and it won't be the same thought all month like some other ffxi site... ^^

The Cerebral Thought of the Day:
"Shouldn't Castle "O" be the happiest place on Vana'diel?"

Am i really doing this again???

There are two things that i absolutely despise in ffxi.
1) Getting the map of Crawler's Nest.

Of all the retarded quests SE could come up with. This is truly in a class of its own. Long, irritating, expensive(in certain situations), dangerous, and ... oh yeah, LONG! It's no wonder most people just memorize the way down to the basement of Crawler's Nest and get out of there to the desert as fast as possible. Either that or get windower and alt-tab your way to ffxi-atlas.com. ^^ (preferred)

2) Build up Norg fame to quest Utsusemi: Ichi

Of all of the subjobs there are to choose from, there are none as useful situationally for all jobs as ninja. Face it, if you want to play endgame or solo with certain job combinations, you must level ninja. Having shadows which are a guaranteed way to nullify damage in 90% of the situations is a must, not to mention if you plan to level warrior, thief, ranger, bard, and dancer. Unfortunately, there is a matter of getting the spells that will be your greatest asset of the job. Although they are purchasable, in most cases they are cost prohibitive. For most, you must quest those ninja scrolls. (sounds like something out of a bad movie) =/ ... and it is!
The catch is this: you can't just go up to the quest npc's and get the quest. You must attain that elusive and abstract level of acceptance to those virtual characters we like to call "fame." (Like those pixelated bots even care...wtf gimme the darn quest!!!) {side note: people complain about bots... cept SE created them, they're called npc's >.<}
The absolutely retarded part of this story is this, unless you are a high-level job, which isn't the case when you're just starting out getting to level 30, there aren't any quests that you can complete in Norg. What you're left with is (and how the heck would you figure this out) is to go to one of two totally unrelated zones and do and endless amount of repeatable quests there, which are somehow magically linked to Norg. I mean, when's the last time Nana Mhingo set foot in Norg? *shrug
Not only that, but the quest involves getting 4 individually farmed items. They don't stack(which takes up inventory space), they don't drop with every kill, and the zones to acquire these are kinda out of the way. (by "kinda" i mean: a ridiculously irritating run back and forth until you feel like betting on the Chicago Cubs to win the World Series or throwing your Wii controller at the bowling pins you made out of your younger brother and sister)
The only option for a starting character at level 30, with maybe 30 or 35 inventory slots is to spend the most retarded real-life week running back and forth... and back and forth... and back... and forth... and .....

yeah you guessed it... i've got to do it again....*throws the nunchucks....

Vanadi'el's list of things that shouldn't hurt...but do

There's a lot of things in life that can hurt. A car crash, falling out of a 10th story window, eating grandma's fruitcake ala 1975. There are a bunch of things in the virtual world of Vanadi'el, however that just make you scratch your head. By no means is this a complete list... any reader: feel free to add on.



suspect: Treant
location: the forest... (duhh....)
the 'act': Leafstorm

Anyone who has seen this move knows...this attack (should you call it that) resembles a 'storm' as much as Bob Dole resembles N'Sync. At least when mandy's do 'leaf dagger' they actually look like they're shooting the leaves at you. i mean... that could hurt. Especially if you're using those mythril leaves you can grow in those pimp brass flowerpots. In fact...those leaves aren't even big, or heavy, or even have that many of them. It more resembles what happens when you fall out of the tree after getting caught trying to sneak out after curfew. SE... just leaf us alone!

suspect: Manta or Kraken (*hears pyro running away...oh wait, he's dead already... nvm)
location: around the world and on ships at sea
the 'act': Ink Jet

If this hurts in real life, Hewlett Packard should get the next big DoD contract. Ya that'd be rich... make some guns that fire black and multi-colored ink for those social fascist terrorist groups... Al Qaeda would have to fight themselves, or at least ostracize each other for being 'too poofy for the battlefield.' Heck you could make a big profit if you took over making the practice targets with photopaper. "It lasts twice as long and the colors don't fade!"
... maybe these mobs would be better off keeping the ink and throwing the printer at us...im sure they have one somewhere...maybe the manta king has one in mantaland...

suspect: Mandragora
location: any where higher on the evolution tree than a slug
the 'act': Wild Oats

i mean... c'mon... how does this hurt? Maybe if they got a can of oats and threw it at you... or got the Quaker man to do his best Jet Li impression... and does it matter if its steel-cut or instant?

suspect: Crab
location: following random beastmasters throughout the land
the 'act': Bubble shower

Let's see the SE logic here... take two things that are normally enjoyable, put it together, and WHOOP! you have one of the most irritating moves that can be done to a noob in valkurm. I like bubbles, i like showers, i don't like AoE damage and a strength reduction. Maybe Vanadi'el crabs are decended from the rare North American "Indoor Pool Crab."

...more to come ^^

It's hard to be a fan

As i sit looking up in the wind and rain of a Hawaii winter night sky, trying to shake the pain and disappointment of a University of Hawaii football drubbing at the hands of a very talented, well-coached, and yeah... quick University of Georgia team; i'm reminded of why it's so hard to be a fan. i mean, to be a fan is to basically ride the highs and lows of the accomplishments, or lack thereof of other people.

... think about it...

I'm not as rabid a fan as some people may be (and there are... millions of them in every state, county, and country), and i can feel the gut-wrenching agony and shame of defeat, especially when the loss comes on one of the biggest stages in American sports. When it comes down to it, however, there is nothing that i can do about it. lol Not that June Jones (head football coach) would want me out there trying to block Marcus Howard... let's just say i have a different skill set than ANY division 1A athlete. But there really is nothing that i could have done about it. The only thing that i can do is support the team in cheering, in well-wishes, in hoping and believing in them...none of which contributes to a win or a loss in a measurable way the same way running a 'Go' route and hauling in that 50 yard touchdown pass, or making that clean iso-block on a linebacker.

Being a fan is easy when things are good. Victory is as close as the TV remote and DVR. You won without doing anything really. It almost diminishes the time and effort it takes to train oneself to win on that level and on that stage. For example, it takes months of preparation, and years of working at it to get to a certain level. In the information age, we come to find out about stories of victory as they are being won, not during the years those wins have been built. No one sees the endless hours of preparation, or the grueling determination players much summon to prepare for the highest levels of play. As a fan, you win on their merit. You win on their heart. You win because someone has sacrificed....and it feels damn good to win. So good, people go their whole lives supporting causes that will hopefully give them that winning feeling.

The flip side is, that with all the cheering and praying, you feel the same sting of loss along with your team, player, or individual you cherish. Losing, especially in America is very bad socially. Losing denotes that you are a 'loser' and that your worth is somehow diminished because of the lack of performance.

This outlook differs greatly from the way God looks at us. Our worth is rather who we are, than what we can do. If we think about it, every good thing that we do is really attributed to His goodness and divine ability. We do great things because we are great, we are accepted, we are His children. We don't qualify to be accepted, loved, and respected because of the things we do. If it was like that, no one qualifies to go to heaven because we've all fallen short. No one would qualify to get blessings or 'breaks' in life. No matter how few of 'those' we've gotten in our lives, there is no one, who can say they have been non-existent. We should respond from a knowledge of goodness with great deeds, because it comes from us, because it is in us, because it IS us.

Part of the reason i love this crazy game that i play, is because the victories are personal. Yes, so are the losses... but there is nothing like the celebration from something that was personally accomplished. You won because you prepared, you believed, you acted, and you responded. You got that Jujitsu Gi because you camped that darned NM for weeks... you finally beat those mammets after 15 tries because you learned from your past mistakes, grew, evolved, found the weaknesses, and got together with a group of killer people who shared your vision, your goal, your desire. You found a way to afford that Hauby because you searched every site, farmed every worthwhile mob, monitored the prices and the market, and found a way to carve a niche for yourself in the economy.

These things make the game... and life full of excitement and wonder... it makes me want to do better... and I have to/want to believe these things carry over to my life

...as well as the one i live in Vanadi'el

Happy New Year!

Well, folks...it's been one helluva year. I don't know about you, but 2007 for me was filled with a ton of ups and downs and arounds. I can really say i went from a super-high to a super-low and back up again, experienced things i thought i never would have, learned things about myself i thought i knew, explored new things, took new chances, dared to believe, and hung my head in shame.
Honestly, i don't think anyone can wrap up 2007 in a nutshell. It was way to complex, with story lines at home and abroad, which were wide-reaching and inextricably intertwined. Just in my own life i experienced breakthroughs in my family i would have never thought possible. At the same time, my personal life seemed to break down at the most inopportune times. I applaud anyone and everyone who has made it through and hung in there!
I can honestly say that i loved more in 2007. On the flipside i think i've never failed more either...or it could be just that i'm more aware of it. I've seen seasons and people flow through my life. I've seen the leaves in people turn and whither. I've seen newness spring forth.
In all that you've been through this past year, don't forget it. Don't forget the highs and the lows. Don't forget the lessons. Don't forget the memories, upon which's foundation you've built your beliefs, feelings, impressions, and trusts. Right or wrong, to know it, to understand it, puts us above the category of 'animal', beyond the realm of living by our cravings alone. Its part of what makes us human...the 'human' part that God made...and fashioned it after himself.

I write this as a reminder to myself most of all...

Have a happy new year!!!