KnightErrant: The Musings of a Noble Nobody

So I guess I can still use this space

2009-04-01T23:51:00.001-04:00

Or something like that.

200

2007-12-27T01:39:00.000-05:00

Well, because my good friend Dave was unkind enough to point out my abandoned blog, I felt the need to post something new here.

Thanks a lot, Dave. (jerkfaced idjit.)

So anyway, this is my 200th post, according to the little post counter thingamadoodle on my stats page.

Not that it means anything, because when you post in the wee hours of the morning, nothing much makes sense and if it does, it's still nonsense.

What I SHOULD do is go through and delete just about everything on here (it's all crap anyway) and start fresh... or maybe start a new blog elsewhere. Not sure. I'll get back to you on that.

On Steve Irwin

2006-09-05T00:28:00.000-04:00

I've been gone a while, but I felt obligated to write a brief blurb about the late Steve Irwin, who died Monday of a stingray strike to the heart while filming a television special on marine creatures.

I liked Irwin. I felt he was a bit overexposed, but I felt he had an enthusiasm about nature, including some of the most unloved creatures out there, that was extremely important, and likely turned countless children onto an interest in the animal world.

There are many who did not like Irwin's methods, or felt he acted too juvenile to consider him a real conservationalist. This dislike saddens me, and I feel people in this mindset are missing the point.

To turn an average child onto science, one has to show the exciting parts of it. There are boring parts to every job, but if you show them the rewards of the work then it will outweigh the lackluster. When trying to turn on the average person to Chemistry, one does not pull out a chalkboard and write the equations to show chemical reactions... one rummages through the chemical closet and blows stuff up. Irwin did this for biology, trying to show the interest and the risk of the animal kingdom. And like it or not, Irwin did constantly raise awareness for the conservationalist cause, and not just the “cute” animals either.

Love him or not, the loss of Irwin is a loss to future interest in the field.

Rest in peace, Crocodile Hunter.

CRIKEY!

Last Post on Old Computer... No, Really This Time

2006-06-22T00:33:00.000-04:00

This is also the final time I am using my old computer. I know I said this before, and then ended up looking like a goof after I screwed up the implementation of that one, but seriously this time. After this, I am finally switching fully over to the new machine. It works, got everything up and running, I've just been using both.

But this machine has been acting a bit funky. She's been a good girl, but it's time to retire this one and move onto the next.

So until I finally have something relevant to say... Rock on.

I Hath Returned... Sort Of.

2006-06-22T00:26:00.001-04:00

Okay. Long hiatus, but I have returned.

The reasons for my temporary abandonment of the blog are multitude, but I'll run down the important ones.

I originally intended this to be more or less about politics and philosophy. Soon after I started this, I hit a period where I was absolutely and ridiculously jaded about life. I felt that my nation's politics had entered a point of such ridiculous idiocy, that there was no point in bothering writing about it. So I wrote stupid little things instead, dumb jokes and posts about random girls licking things. It was all very boring. So I quit.

Now I am back. I'll be reevaluating if I even want all my old posts here, but I'll start new stuff in a day or two.

So until then... Rock on, kids.

010203040506

2006-04-05T01:02:00.000-04:00

Using American notation, the time and date was just at:

01:02:03 04/05/06

How cool is that?

One Year of KnightErrant

2006-03-20T01:02:00.000-05:00

It's been one year since I made my first post!

(It has also been almost two months since I posted...but oh well.)

195 posts later, and I still manage to occasionally put stuff up here. Cool.

I'd like to take this anniversery moment to plug Cloudstrider again. Both the old blog at community.livejournal.com/cloudstrider as well as the brand new forum at www.cloudstrider.com!

Rock on, kids, time for a nap.

The Knight Is Confused

2006-01-25T00:43:00.000-05:00

Who's on first!
What's on second!
I don't know!
THIRD BASE!

Another Chapter of Eminent Domain

2006-01-18T00:42:00.000-05:00

Once again, politicians abuse Eminent Domain statutes to take away from the little guy and give to the more-connected and politically favored guy.

KTLA, an LA news source, reports that the city of Los Angeles seized the property of furniture manufacturer Vaughan Benz in South Los Angeles, supposedly to build a new animal shelter.

A year later, there is an effort by Councilman Bernard C. Parks to sell the property to a company called Cisco Bros., which oddly enough is also a FURNITURE MANUFACTURER.

Now, why would the government take property away from a furniture manufacturer, and when they decide they might not want an animal shelter after all, sell it to a different furniture manufacturer?

The possible key difference between Vaughan Benz and Cisco Bros.? Cisco Bros. executives have political connections and have made $17,500 in campaign contributions to city leaders... including $1,000 to Parks and $1,500 to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

If there has been a more blatant display of graft in these Eminent Domain suits, I have not yet seen it. That's just shameful.

And on that sad note, I'm off. Rock on, kids.

I Have A Copyright

2006-01-17T00:23:00.000-05:00

This piece from the Washington Post is somewhat tragically ironic. It notes that Martin Luther King's full "I Have a Dream" speech is often not heard in the classroom, because MLK's family controls and enforces the copyrights on it. It leads to the situation where the poorest institutions - such as minority-populated poor urban schools - cannot hear the speech.

Still Alive, If It Can Be Called Such

2006-01-16T01:39:00.000-05:00

Yes, yes, Lo and Behold Knighterrant is still alive. Whoopdie do.

I got caught up in several things. Firstly, I finished Neverwinter Nights and all the expansions and premium modules. Great game, simply awesome.

Then I got caught up in a few things. One of which was a strange thread over on Cloudstrider where a new member named Ragnarok20 decided that drunk driving should be legal. Needless to say, just about everyone else disagreed with him and it sparked a fierce argument. (Calling it a "Discussion" or "Debate" would be generous.) Read it, if you feel so inclined.

But I'm off. Rock on.

Challenger

2006-01-11T00:51:00.000-05:00

The Dodge Challenger. [Photo at Yahoo! News]

I want one.

Or Not!

2006-01-08T22:54:00.000-05:00

Apparently, the architecture changes were just too much for my old hard drives to run on my old installation. Windows won't load up on my new computer.

Apparently, I'm getting a SATA drive sooner than I thought. And using up some of my precious installation keys. Bummer.

Oh well. No bottlenecks anywhere on my system at least, once I get the fucker running.

Anyway, I'm not big on Newgrounds, but I was directed at this little music video by a buddy of mine. I recommend it, it brightens one's day.

The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny

...Remember when I used to do social-political commentary? What happened? Oh yeah, I had shit to do. Oh well, I'm sure I'll get back to it eventually.

Rock on, kids.

Old Computer Signing Off

2006-01-08T02:59:00.000-05:00

Well, it's served me (sorta) faithfully for five years, but this is the final post made from my old computer... well... if you don't count having to replace the motherboard... and the videocard... and the mouse... and the monitor... and the keyboard... and the freaking hard drive...

Okay, let me rephrase that. After I rebuilt it using non-craptastic non-Compaq parts, it served me reliably for years. However, in the wonderful world of Technology, even the most reliable items eventually have to be replaced due to impending obsolescence. Which makes me sad. :( <- See? That's me sad.

However, I finally got all the wiring/driver/etc. kinks worked out with my brand new, won't-be-obsolete-for-a-few-years-anyway computer. So this shall be the final post from this ole PC. It shall be gifted to my parents, and spend the remainder of it's operational life looking up marthastewart.com for my dear mother. (I feel kinda sorry for it.)

Rock on, Kids.

Proof That People Are Nuts

2006-01-06T01:05:00.000-05:00

This item on the 'Concerned Women For America' website proves that people worry too Goddamn much.

They are expressing concern that the Barbie website having a question about gender, with the available answers being 'I'm a Girl', 'I'm a Boy', and 'I Don't Know' will cause massive gender identity issues in children.

I say these people need to find a fucking hobby other than worry about what might turn their kid into raging homosexuals. It's genetic people. You can't catch homosexuality from something.

I note with much mirth that it’s usually people that crow loud and long about the immorality of it that end up being secretly gay themselves.

Such as this Baptist minister for example. How ironic.

Rock on, kids.

Efficiently Wasting Time

2006-01-04T00:56:00.000-05:00

I ran across the Experimental Gameplay website through another blog I read. Basically, the idea is this group of college folk would take a theme, and then have a week to program a game around it.

All games are simplistic, were programmed in about a week, and most are addictive as hell.

I recommend the classic Tower of Goo, by the way. Crazy stuff.

Have fun with this, but don't say I didn't warn you about it making your time vanish.

Rock on, kids!

Back In The Saddle Again

2006-01-03T01:16:00.000-05:00

First post of 2006! w00t!

I spent my New Year's rather intoxicated. But, as alcohol is wont to do, it wore off. Stupid booze.

Been a fun few couple of days, and now, as depressing as it is, it is time to return to the dreary world of jobs.

Rock on, kids. Don't drink and drive. (And no, I didn't.)

Sexy PC = = Aching Back

2005-12-29T23:07:00.000-05:00

Got all the PC parts in, finally, and spend about four hours wiring it up. I still need to pull my hard drives from this PC and put it in the new one before it all works, though. Bummer. Plus, my back hurts from being hunched over my case for most of the evening putting everything in it's proper place.

I really should wire up some SATA drives instead of reusing my IDE drives to take full advantage of what my new rig has to offer, but I just reinstalled everything a few weeks ago and I don't feel like using up any more of my precious MSDN installation keys (I only get so many, ya know!). In addition, reinstalling on a Dialup connection is a real PITA when it comes time for security patches.

No big rush, though. I still need to figure out how to fit a 20 inch full-tower case in a desk that has a tower hutch of 18 inches.

Fitting 20 inches of case in an 18 inch hutch is problematic, you see. It's 2 inches too big, and that just won't do.

So I can either take a hammer to my existing desk, or purchase myself a new one. Decisions, decisions.

I'm gonna go lie down now. Rock on, kids.

Computational Goodness

2005-12-27T23:44:00.000-05:00

Firstly, I'd like to say I hope everyone had a pleasant Holiday. Welcome to the week where jack shit gets done, because next weekend is New Year's.

It is also apparently a week that is out to get me. You know it's gonna be a good time when everything is so iced over, you literally cannot get out of your driveway. I sat today spinning my wheels, because all the snow and ice melted in the slightly warmer weather and promptly refroze as night fell. It took me forty five minutes, a shovel, two pieces of plywood, and a lot of patience to chip enough ice away that I could get some traction and get out to get to work. As I was doing this, I could think of nothing but the ridiculousness of the situation. (Stupid dirt driveway.)

Also today, I misplaced the RFID keyfob I use to clock into work. Having to knock on windows to get people's attention to get in, while also being very late? Yeah, that's a good time... (Hmm, still need to look for that stupid fob...)

Secondly, I made a post a few days ago reporting that the DHS roughed up some college kid over requesting a copy of the Little Red Book. Well, he's been found out. The story was fraudulent. I WAS TRICKED! Who makes shit up like that? What a dickhead.

I suppose the scariest part about it was how easy it was to believe. We live in a time where our President has admitted that he ordered the NSA to spy on Americans, and expects us to thank him for it. So the idea that DHS agents were checking library book lists for people reading "Un-American" items seemed rather credible.

It's sad it's come to that, really. I wish I had read it and been able to think with a clear conscious that it was a load of bullshit, but so much doubt has been cast upon our government that I didn't even blink. I was outraged, but not even really surprised. It was just so plausible. And the fact that everyone believed it off the bat does not bode well for how America views its government at the current time.

Lastly, I don't really enjoy being perpetually single, but there are benefits. For example, not having to justify myself to anyone when I drop $1600 on a brand spanking new PC. Mwah ha. 3800+ AMD Venice-core processor. 2 gigabytes of Corsair DDR-400 RAM. GeForce GTX 7800 Video Card. 320 Gigabytes of harddrivey goodness. And a power supply that puts off so much juice I could probably use it as a space heater in winter.

I spent $170 on the case. Why the hell did I spend $170 on a gorgeous Fulltower, when I could've gotten a good Midtower for $100 less? Because I could, that's why. The fucker has enough room for six hard drives for God's sake. Two 120 mm fans! Everything lights up! It's awesome! I just wish I had thought to check how tall my hutch was before I bought the case though, because it's actually an inch and a half too big to fit into my desk. Nothing that taking a hammer to my desk won't fix though.

Also, I really don't want to buy a new system for at least five years so this sucker is designed for a bit of adaptability. My current configuration can take up to 4 gigs of ram, and supports SLI if I feel like dropping another $450 on a second GTX. Fulltower leaves me a lot of room to play, and it even has a motherboard tray for ease-of-swapout when it comes time to upgrade the mobo and CPU.

Mmm. SLI. That’s gonna be fun. I think I’ll do that sooner rather than later.

Okay, I know out of my three readers, two of you don't give a shit, so I'll stop rambling about my computer now. Sorry. I'm a big dork and I love my Tech. I figure I buy a new system every five years (and upgrade here and there as time passes), and my next system will be when I'm thirty. By that time, I'll probably be Mr. Family Man, looking for El-Cheepo PC to run spreadsheets on to figure out my mortgage. Brr. Scary.

This is my last Gaming rig, and I wanted it to do everything but make me breakfast in the morning. Don't worry though, I promise I'll try not to do so much upgrading that it becomes self aware and takes over the world. ;)

(What is really sad is five years from now, I will read the specifications I just posted and chuckle. I occasionally chuckle at the computer I bought when I was fifteen. 166 MHz Pentium, man! 16 Megs of RAM... which I promptly upgraded to 32! A 3.1 GB hard drive! Uber1337, man! Uber1337! Ahh, the technology of the mid 1990's. Good times.)

Anyway, I'm done. I need to go look for my keyfob so I can actually get into work without banging on the door tomorrow.

Rock on.

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-24T04:01:00.000-05:00

Ahh, been a few days. The Holidays are a busy time for many people, and that includes me. I don't think I'll be back until after Christmas, so a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays (whatever you prefer) to my few regular readers and also to any poor saps that randomly stumble upon my inane ramblings.

Now, just a bit of commentary about a man named Bill. Bill O'Reilly, to be exact. I have something to say that really must sent off in his direction, in regards to him believing "Secular Forces" are out to "Destroy Christmas." That something being: "Dumbass."

"War on Christmas?" Gee whiz, I don't know if you looked around recently, but I think Christmas is winning. I could do a line-by-line refutation of his pieces, but reading it again and realizing how stupid the whole thing is and that people actually believe him... that would just make me unhappy. So I won't read it again.

Suffice to say: There is no War on Christmas. It is all in Bill O'Reilly's head. I don't think that the 80-85% of Americans who celebrate Christ's birth have anything to worry about from the Secular side of America.

You want to worry about Christmas being destroyed? Blame retailers from ripping out all the good feelings that Christmas was supposed to have and turning it into an angry stressful Consumerfest. Overcommercialization is more of a threat to Christmas than the American atheist minority. So stop fighting battles where they don’t exist.

Okay, that's enough negativity for one evening! Enjoy your weekend, folks!

Merry Christmas!

DHS Investigates College Student for Library Book

2005-12-19T00:35:00.000-05:00

(Link to Story, via South Coast Today/The Standard Times website)

A student at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth requested the book Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, a.k.a. "The Little Red Book" via his school library's interlibrary loan program to help him complete a research paper on Communism.

He was, instead, treated to a visit from a pair of Department of Homeland Security agents.

This is utter bullshit. It's to the point where they're investigating anyone with "Significant Travel Abroad," although who gets to define “Significant” is anyone's guess, and who happens to check out a book that's on a "Watch List?" What happened to freedom of the press, free exchange of ideas, freedom of speech? I personally think it would be nice to NOT have to worry about Federal Agents paying me a little visit just because I read something they don't agree with!

What has our country become?

UPDATE: This story was fake. What an asshole. News article here. My thoughts on the story are posted as the second item on this post

We're Getting a Spaceport!

2005-12-16T04:52:00.000-05:00

Virgin Galactic, the company whose name is kinda cheesy, is building a commercial spaceport in New Mexico. Read the AP Article here at CBS ews.

Nothing really stunning, but we are getting something named Spaceport, officially. My goal of flying around in an Millennium Falcon-esque somethingorother comes one day closer.

Rock on, kids.

Video Game Myths Debunked

2005-12-13T00:37:00.000-05:00

A nice piece on video game myths by Professor Harry Jenkins of MIT. Give it a read.

And in other news...

2005-12-12T01:00:00.000-05:00

...A professor at the University of Kansas had the living bejesus kicked out of him by two guys for calling Intelligent Design "Mythology."

In a related story, two Kansas men proved they were hypocrites for kicking the shit out of a professor in the name of one Jesus of Nazareth, a historical man known for his dedication to pacifism.

Nice job guys. Way to display your lack of intelligence. You can't defeat someone in debate so you assault them to show your devotion to your religion. Congrats!

I hate hypocrites.

Cloudstrider Post

2005-12-09T01:36:00.000-05:00

I put something over on Cloudstrider, a philosophy / debate community blog I'm a member of.

Go ahead on over to CS and read the piece over there.

Join up if you want, as well, we can always use new people.

Rock on, kids.