I was watching my oldest son (4) "reading" one of his favorite books to his little brother (2) this morning. I write "reading" because he can't read just yet. He recognizes some words and knows his letters, as well as the sounds they make. I've also been trying to get him to sound things out, but he tends to look at the picture a make guesses. Still, pretty neat that he was working from memory.
I hear babies cry...... I watch them growThat man (Louis Armstrong) was a genius. Very simple lyrics, very nice song and very true.
Theyll learn much more.....than Ill never know
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world
My oldest has been a saint the last couple of days, I've been really impressed and happy with him. On the other hand, by youngest has been a bit of a monster.
On another note, less pleasent note, Robert Jordan passed away due to his rare blood condition. If anyone reading is a fantasy fan, they'l likely have known about The Wheel of Time series. I was working my way through book eleven, and it doesn't seem done yet. He might have wrapped it up in the next book, which he was working on, but I doubt it. I suspect he could have continued for at least two more books, though I'm saying this with only being a third of the way through this book.
I don't remember the exact quote, but in the Peaceful Warrior, Socrates says something along the lines of the mind being a reflex organ, reacting to what stimulates it and notes that what you choose to act on makes you what you are, not that you thought it. Well, my reflex organ was saying, "Oh shit, I'll never have closure on that series now." It went on to consider all the fans that are likely thinking the same way. When I saw he was only 58 years old, the reflex organ moved on to thoughts of mortality and how his family will miss him.
My condolences to this family (not that they'd ever read this).
UPDATE: Apparently the members of his family will be looking at finishing up the 12th book scheduled for 2009.
WoW's worst feature is not any single feature, but the sum of all its features.
All its features have combined to make a great game that is easily accessible to the masses. I've realized that I don't really like the masses. Let me tell you of a few initial experiences...
(1) About one hour into the game, I was leaving the dwarf newbie and on my way to Kharanos. Wondering through the tunnel I caught up to a Gnome Rogue who was passing through. He was fighting a couple of Troggs and looking worse for wear. He dropped one and moved on to the other. When it was greyed to me (tapped, locked, whatever you call it), I opened up and finished it off, likely preventing his death.
"Retard" was his response. Delighted, I moved along. I figured a Gnome Rogue named "Assasine" wasn't worth bothering with when the guy proceeded to tells/whispers.
Knowing the run to Kharanos was a bit long I decided I'd hit autorun and engage the Rogue in a conversation. I proceed to explain to him what I did and why I did it, noting nothing was taken from his character (not quite level 7). To which he replied, "ur tard".
Okay, does that mean "your" or "you're"?
I decided to find out and I also asked if he was English. He said he was English and it was "coputer talk". From there he resorted to the age old named calling of "noob". I explained I wasn't a noob and I simply don't have issues with spelling or feel any need for short form.
That elicited the question comparing characters, he said he had a level 70 character with good armor and asked what my highest level character was. I said what point would that serve? For all he knew I could lie and say I had 10 level 70 characters. Further, what accomplishment is it to be level 70 in WoW? It stops being something special when everyone else has it.
He said he raids and because of that he's not a noob like me, capping the comment off with go back to my mom. I explained to the poor child that I had been raiding long before he even knew computers existed. I also mentioned I've raided in numerous MMOs.
I try to be polite and keep my comments clean. I don't feel right about using foul language around kids. I also find it frustrates them to no end. *evil grin*
(2) My next experience was with some Night Elf Druid who noted my Hunter had some goggles on. He asked what they were and where I got them. I said I made them. He asked me if I could make him some. I wasn't sure he could use them and warned him that I think he needs Engineering 100 to use them, but if he wants some, I can make them if he gets the materials. By the way, speaking to this guy was painful. He never used so much as a phrase, let alone a sentence. He asked what were the materials so I listed them... about 20 times in about 20 minutes because shortly after he went to Stormwind to try to get them on the Auction House. I figured I needed to hand some quests in at Stormwind so I would go and wait for him. I eventually ended up logging off because they guy just seemed to be wasting my time. I told him he could mail me the components, I'd mail the completed item back to him.
Hey, it was supper time or "blupper-tyeeem" as my youngest son was calling down to me.
(3) After taking the boys for haircuts and after the wife decided to go to bed, I popped back on. Hey, I was close to level 20 and dual wield - I was dying to see my Dwarf with two huge axes in hand. I was running about Redridge when I got a random invite. Is there any other kind in WoW. Why is it people in that game can't send you a whisper asking if you want a group? I accepted, figuring some company will slaying some more boars, whelps, condors, spiders and gnolls would make things go faster.
The guy doesn't say a word. Okay... I move on to do quests and he follows along - he's another hunter so that should make short work of things. I pull a couple, and start unloading. The guy sends his pet into a throng of gnolls, no less than 10 of them agro. His pet dies and so does he, then they turn their attention to me. By the way, it seems really tough to run from mobs in WoW - I suspect there is something I haven't quite figured out yet but maybe it gets better with Aspect of the Cheetah (which I get at level 20).
We head back and the guy does it again. I say no thanks, drop group and attempt to move on. Only to get spammed with group invites.
World of Warcraft made me do something I haven't done in all my years playing a MMO... I actually put someone on ignore.
So far my play sessions are about 50/50 for having a good session or a session where I have to deal with some asshat. My group experiences are about 2:5, good experiences to negative ones and that isn't counting the people that invite you, send "Buy our gold and powerleveling services at somelamesite.com" then leave the group.
Oh and in case you haven't determined it yet, WoW's worst feature isn't coded, it's the damn community which is a result of the game being accessible and fun. Despite that, I'll continue on because it is fun if nothing else.
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