Random Thoughts and Cookies

Blargh, I hates writer’s block.

2010-04-16T22:00:00.001-04:00

Probably why I post in this blog is such random spurts. Because I like to writer and my brain is always full of ideas. But when I go to write, I just draw a blank on how to get the ball rolling. And it gets really, really frustrating. But once I get over the that small hurdle, the words just pour out in a flood that’d put Noah’s to shame. Ok so sometimes it is just a puddle, like this post will be.

Something I hate about myself

2010-04-15T00:15:00.001-04:00

My temper has always been something I have wished I could change. Too often than I care for when I lose my temper I get angry enough to hit something or someone. One of the last times I got that angry, I got into a one-sided fight where I pretty much had to pulled off the other guy. And I almost hit the person who did it. That’s when I started to try and keep it in check. I have been mostly successful in walking away when I feel myself getting that angry. But twice recently I failed to do that. First one was I shoved my step-father because him and my mom had been arguing and he was taking it out on me. I regretted that almost as soon as I did it and I also did something I wasn’t proud of. I don’t want to go into what that was. Second time was a fight with my step-brother. That day was bad for everyone. My step-dad and him had already gotten into a fight earlier in the day because the disrespect he’d shown towards our parents finally came to a head when he brought his motorcycle on the property before he had paid back the money he owed them. Even after I had broken up that fight he still acted like a disrespectful twit. So I just kept getting more and more pissed off. Until I finally punched the fridge (was doing dishes at the time). Of course with that hurting my hand quite a bit (and denting the fridge door) I got more pissed off so I went in the living room and told him off. And then I hit him quite a few times. And that just kicked off a big ol’ brawl. Pretty much ended with him being told to move out. Things have been lessed stressed since he’s moved out. Well except for some lies he has told other about the fight with his dad.

Dude, I have a Dell…

2010-04-14T23:23:00.001-04:00

Ok so that’s not exactly true. The laptop belongs to my parents but I basically have free reign to use it when they aren’t. They bought it two, three weeks ago when their other laptop crapped out on them. Compared to the Vaio, this Dell Inspiron is better. For one thing with it being smaller it is less cumbersome than the old laptop. Tested it how well it streams video online and performed nicely. And the picture quality was great, even at fullscreen. Totally want to steal it from them since the only complaint I have so far is that it attracts fingerprints like mad.

Apple Bread Recipe

2010-03-22T22:08:00.000-04:00

1 cup oil
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups apples, diced
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine and set aside the oil, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Sift flour, cinnamon, soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to oil mixture gradually. Add apples and nuts. Bake in 2 regular loaf pans or 3 foil loaf pans for 1-1/2 hours at 300°F. Cool 10 minutes in the pan. Sprinkle with sugar, if desired.

How I would survive a zombie apocalypse

2010-03-21T23:02:00.000-04:00

Step 1: Establish a base of operations.

My first choice would be a store that carries contruction tools and materials. This would make it easier to build defense. Plus the size of store would make good for holding more people.

Step 2: Acquire a moving van.

Other being a mode transportation, it'd be essential for supply gathering. Plus the size of it would make it hard to be stopped anything but a large group of zombies. Could also help rescue other survivors and transport them back to the base of operations.

Step 3: Find a nearby water source.

While water is more essential to survival than the truck, it'd be easier transport it back with the truck.

Step 4: Acquire gardening supplies.

Lets face it food will be an issue. Sure you can raid a grocery store and such for food for awhile. But what will you do when that food runs out or goes bad? That is why it is part of my plan to get supplies to plant a garden to grow my own food. Plus this would also provide a source for bartering with other survivors. Or I should say another source, given my choice for a base of operations.

Step 5: Raid a pet store.

The reason for this one will make me look callous and evil. Plain and simple it'd be a easy source of meat for starters Especially if you live in a city that isn't close to rural area where you can do hunting. Plus dogs could help in defending the home base.

Step 6: Raid a hunting supply store.

Pretty much would be a good source of weapons. And not just guns but also things like bows which would be easier to make ammo for. An arrow can be reused and is easier to make than a bullet. And can save the guns and bullets for defending against zombies. Plus can get supplies for fishing which would add another food source.

Step 7: Raid a library/book store.

This may seem an odd choice. But it is a smart one. Having the resources to learn things you need learn things you need to survive will be vital. So first priority would be to get various non-fiction works. Then the fiction works for not just for their entertainment value but for also use as tinder when needing to start fires.

Step 8 (sorta): Acquire other less essential supplies (can be done while doing other steps).

When going about the steps you'd see stuff you could possibly need but not as essential And given if there is room in the truck and time it'd be a good idea to pick them up.

Random "I was bored at the time" Pictures

2010-02-21T06:09:00.000-05:00

More "I was drunk at the time" that actual boredom for this one:

A Few Qoutes from Bad But Good Movies

2010-02-21T05:43:00.000-05:00

Starcrash:

Emperor of the Galaxy: You know, my son, I wouldn't be Emperor of the Galaxy if I didn't have a few powers at my disposal. Imperial Battleship, halt the flow of time!

Emperor of the Galaxy: For the space of three minutes, every molecule on this planet will be immobilized. But after the third minute, the green ray loses it's power. Time will flow once more and everything will explode.
Simon: Three minutes are enough, father.

Elric: My lord!
Zarth Arn: What is it, Elric?
Elric: [incredulously] A floating spaceship is about to crash into us.
Zarth Arn: Sultaan! Destroy the floating spaceship approaching us.

Evil Dead 2:

Henrietta: I'll swallow your soul! I'll swallow your soul! I'll swallow your soul!
Ash: [Aims shotgun at Henrietta's face] Swallow this.

Ash: [talking to mirror] I'm fine... I'm fine...
[Mirror Ash jumps out of the mirror and grabs Ash]
Mirror Ash: I don't think so. We just cut up our girlfriend with a chainsaw. Does that sound "fine"?

Annie: The first passage will allow the demon to manifest itself in the flesh.
Ash: Why the hell would we want to do that?

The Monster Squad:

Horace: Wolfman's got nards!

They Live!:

Nada: I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum.

Nada: Brother, life's a bitch... and she's back in heat.

Nada: You? You look like your face fell in the cheese dip back in 1957.

Curse you, lightsaber weilding Hoff!

2010-02-21T05:00:00.000-05:00

Originally was going to post something about the common elements of bad but good b movies. But this has just t otally infected my brain at the moment:

Go read Tales of MU nao!

2010-02-19T06:43:00.000-05:00

The following is a copy of the first chapter of the FREE online story Tales of MU, posted here by invitation of the author. Please note that while this teaser is safe for all ages, the rest of the story is intended for adults. If you enjoy this chapter, the address to read the rest for free is http://www.talesofmu.com ... and please spread the word by sharing the link or copying this entire message to your own journal, blog, forum, or personal webpage! Permission is given to post the first chapter only, without any cuts or edits, and with this entire message attached. Note: e-mailing to friends and printing out copies are also acceptable forms of distribution.

TALES OF MU 1: Welcome to MU
"In Which We Meet Mackenzie"
by Alexandra Erin

Despite the presence of cardboard signs trimmed with crepe paper and balloons, I completely missed the front door of Harlowe Hall and instead ended up in a big spartan lobby/hallway that linked three different residential buildings. I thought that’s where the sign had been pointing... later, I’d find out that Harlowe’s entrance was actually below the ground level, off a sort of sunken patio that was screened from view by the shrubbery I’d walked past. Nobody ever wandered into it by accident. The lobby was full of people, bustling among the front and rear entrances and the three large hallways branching off from it in every combination of to-and-from. Most of them were carrying at least a suitcase. Some of them were trundling luggage trolleys, often with a mini fridge and/or TV.

I stared around blankly, hoping for a sign of where I was supposed to be. Luckily, somebody spotted me and took pity on me.

"Hey, frosh!" a sharp, but not hostile, voice said. I spun around and saw a preppy-looking guy without any baggage. "What you looking for?"

"Harlowe," I said.

I caught a look that was a mixture of surprise, disgust, and fear, but he hid it pretty fast. He pointed to a set of double-doors leading to one of the hallways.

"Thanks," I said, keeping my voice as neutral as I could. He had helped me, after all.

I lugged my suitcase, backpack, and duffel bag down the hall. The staircase was easy to find, and it took me down to a big glass-fronted common room that was positively packed with people. Surprisingly little sunlight reached in through the windows. Most of the people there were sitting around in the second-hand sofas and chairs, or just milling around. It looked like most of them had already checked in. There were three lines of people leading up to the long reception desk, but the longest one only had four students in it and they were all moving quickly.

Fragments of conversation reached me over the general murmur and buzz as I got in line.

"I’m actually taking nineteen hours of classes this semester. That seems like a lot. Does that seem like a lot to you?"

"You know, this was my safety school."

"Can you believe they don’t even let us have candles in our dorm? How are we supposed to..."

"Did you see the weapon policy? They’re pretty strict."

"Name?" the woman asked me when I got up to the counter. She had a nametag which read "Gwendolyn Rodrigues - Resident Advisor."

"Mackenzie Blaise," I said.

"Is Mackenzie your first name or your last?" she asked me, turning away from me to a table against the back wall, covered with large envelopes.

"First," I said, adding unnecessarily, "Blaise is my last name." What can I say? It was my first day at college, and I’d already made what felt like one giant blunder, even if nobody knew about it. I was the tiniest bit nervous.

She found the packet labeled "Blaise, Mackenzie" and handed it to me.

"This is a copy of your class schedule, a calendar of events, coupons for the student union, and emergency listings," she said. "Now, you’ll need to read and sign this statement about compliance with the university’s weapons policy." Even though she was obviously a student and only a few years older than me, she already had the voice and facial expression of an officious bureaucrat. I could tell that being an R.A. was only one step in what would doubtless be a very fulfilling career for her in the field of interfering with others’ lives.

"Of course," I said, barely glancing at the slip of paper before signing it.

"And, of course, I have to see the weapon you’ll be using."

I reached into my coat and pulled out the knife, the twisted bronze hilt protruding from a lambskin sheath, and laid it down on the counter.

"That’s your main weapon?" she asked me, eyebrows raised.

"It’s the only one I’ve got," I said, with a silly grin.

"Only it’s not very big, is it?"

"I’ve never been much impressed with size," I told her.

"It’s barely enchanted," she observed. I wondered if she could tell that at a glance, or if there was something under the counter telling her that.

"The policy I read just said a magical weapon, it didn’t specify how magical it had to be," I pointed out. I’d been expecting this reaction, but it didn’t make it any less irksome.

"It’s just... life on campus can get dangerous..."

"I’ve never needed anything bigger," I said testily.

For a few moments, she looked at me like she wanted to say something... like she was going to invoke some little-known rule to throw me out until I came back with one of those absurdly huge broadswords or big spiky maces, but finally she just said, "All right. But there’s a nice little weapon store in town, if you change your mind."

"I’ll remember that," I said.

She held out a small manila envelope slightly larger than a business card.

"Here’s your room key and a pass card to get in and out of the building after dark," she said. "Though it’s best not to wander around campus too much at night. Stick to the lighted paths, and travel with a friend as much as possible. It’s all in your campus security pamphlet."

"Yes, thank you, I’ve read it," I said, reaching for the packet. She still looked doubtful, but she finally handed it to me.

"You’ll be needing this back, too," she said, handing me my knife, hilt-first.

"I’m actually hoping I won’t."

"Oh, yes, of course," she said. "Welcome to Magisterius University, Ms. Blaise."

READ THE REST OF THE STORY AT http://www.talesofmu.com !

Since I mentioned it here is an untested by me recipe for it:

2010-02-19T04:12:00.002-05:00

Cherry Delight:

20 graham crackers
2 tbsp. powdered sugar
1/4 lb. butter
8 oz. cream cheese
1 c. powdered sugar
2 tbsp. milk
1/2 pt. heavy cream
1 can cherry pie filling

CRUST: Crumble crackers, add 2 tablespoons powdered sugar; stir in melted butter; put into 9x13 inch pan. Bake 10 minutes at 325 degrees.FILLING: Cream cream cheese, sugar, milk. Whip cream and add to cheese mixture.
TOPPING: Top with cherries.

Thing done in honor of my grandparents

2010-02-19T04:10:00.001-05:00

Written for my grandfather after he passed away:

Fallen Hero

Today a great man died
He was my personal hero
I wish I could someday follow
Follow in his footsteps
I hope to be remembered
For as much as he was
I hope to instill as much
Respevt and love as him
In those who knew me
He is immortal for
He lives on in my heart
Who was this great man
He wasn't a world leader
Nor was he a famous athelete
He was a simple man
But far from ordinary
He was my gradnfather
And he is my personal hero

What I did to honor my grandmother after she passed away:

I baked pumpkin bread for my immediate family for Christmas. It was something she did almost every year. It's something my siblings and I always looked forward to each year. Her pumpkin bread was second only to Cherry Delight (pretty much the standard McAdow dessert (I am a black sheep of the family for not being addicted to it)) for being most likely to disappear quickly in our family's stomach.

Pumpkin Bread

3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups pumpkin puree
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large mixing bowl, beat eggs until frothy. Add sugar, oil and vanilla to eggs and beat until thick. Stir in pumpkin puree. Sift together dry ingredients and add to pumpkin mixture; mix well. Pour into two greased and lightly floured 9 x 5 x 3 inch bread pans. Bake 1 hour or until done (wooden toothpick comes out clean when poked in the center of loaf).

(Basically the recipe I use to make it. Though I found, after running out of vanilla once, that it was better without it.)

Random Useless Information

2010-02-19T00:50:00.001-05:00

The slippers in Wizard of Oz were originally silver in the book but changed to ruby to take advantage of coloring technique in the movie.

World Record Distance for a Human Cannonball: 175'

Ginger and peppermint are good cures for upset stomachs.

First Game Intended for Computer Use: Spacewar! in 1962

The "S" in Harry S Truman is not an initial but his middle name.

Mountain Dew gets it's name from anther term for moonshine

Slinkys were created after watching how spring moved after being dropped on the ground.

The lubricating spray WD-40 is so named because it was the product of the 40th attempt at creating a water displacing substance.

Teddy Bears are named after Theodore Roosevelt.

Orcas, aka killer whales, are not whales but the largest members of the dolphin family

The word "zombie was never said in any of Romero's Living Dead movies until Land of the Dead

Though complained about as a recent thing, running, tool using zombies were in the Original Night of the Living Dead. The first zombie that chases Barbara not only runs after her but picks up a rock to smash the window when she locks herself in the car.

A second-hand coat used as part of Proffessor Marvel's costume was later found to by coincidence to once have belonged to L. Frank Baum, the author of Wizard of Oz.

Hawaii has 3 interstate highways.

The Star Trek and M*A*S*H themes have lyrics.

Cookies = Love, or why I love to cook

2010-02-17T21:20:00.001-05:00

Because the whole process of making them makes me think of my maternal grandmother. Some of my best memories from childhood is traveling from where ever we were living at the time to my grandparents' place in southern Illinois. Before moving here to Michigan, the trip usually took a day or two depending on if we stopped in to visit with my dad's side of the family.

And we get there and almost always head right for the cookie jars. Why? Because there was always homemade cookies in the house. When you have like 7 grown kids (not including my mom) with families of their own close enough to visit at anytime, it just makes sense to have some kind of sweets on hand and homemade cookies are the cheap and easy solution. So we'd spend few days down there and catch up with family and enjoy so good homecoked meals (my grandfather once jokingly said "She doesn't cook like this when you guys aren't here. I have to cook my own food")

And finally when it came time to leave, I always said I wanted to hide and stay and live with them. Because I didn't want to miss them so much when we went back home halfway across the country. And because they were the two people I respected and admired the most in the world. But as sad as parting was, there was always the large bag of my grandmother's cookies that wouldn't last the trip home.

Interesting Item descriptions Anarchy Online:

2010-02-17T18:21:00.000-05:00

Remains of AESA 10

AESA stands for Advanced Emotionally Sensitive Andoid. The series was originally designed to be pets for children and elders, but they were soon used also for other purposes, in fields like psychiatry, sociology, zoology, the sex industry, games and sports, hospitals, schools Etc.
The main problem with the AESA was that they soon were 'emotionally burnt out' and did no longer serve their purpose as attentive assistants. The AESA series 10 was supposed to be able to repair this with the introduction of the 'Forgetful Module'. This module would make the robot forget stressfull situations - so that it would never be 'filled up' with impressions.
The prototypes worked well and the series 10 was put into production on Rubi-Ka, but there was a bug with it. The AESA 10 would not only forget stressfull situations - it would also forget factual information, like who its owner was, where its 'home' was and other relative input. The androids became afraid and mad and fled all human community. Many AESA's were lost before the model was recalled, but you only rarely find remains of them.

Dreadloch Remodulator

This bizarre creation was the brainchild of a drinking club that met every Friday evening at the Dreadloch Weapons division mess hall. Known as great lateral thinkers, they came up with this creation after a particularly heavy binge by combining the casing of an OFAB Shark with an experimental flux capacitor. As a combat weapon they managed to lose most of its effectiveness. However, the added technology had the side effect of greatly disrupting the defenses of the target. Due to its complexity it's now more suited for a technician to use rather then any kind of combat trooper.

Lead Pipe

A very cheap, accessible means of crushing skulls and bone. As a bonus, it helps you mingle with plumbers.

Da Taunter!

In battle! Use Item. Monster angry! Doctor safe!

(Manufacturer Note: Many Atroxes found it difficult to develop the psychology skill needed to use the initial Aggression Enhancer. This item uses less Psychology and more Bio skill and does some direct damage on the opponent.
The nano program that does damage to the target, has been sponsored by a level 99 (anonymous) Doctor tired of dying. 'May this entice them to use it!' he is quoted saying.'

Support Beam

This piece of metal is self-explanatory. If you are smart enough to read the instructions, you are probably too smart to use it. Atroxes seem to prefer this weapon for its looks.

My Curiousity leading to "fanboyism"

2010-02-17T05:02:00.000-05:00

Example #1: Gridstream Productions

First heard about GSP while browsing an Anarchy Online related forum. So I headed over to their site and tuned in. Listened to a few shows for a bit before I worked the nerve to attend one. And that has probably been one of my best gaming related decisions to date. For one thing the GSP communtiy has kept me coming back to AO when I get frustrated with playing. Then there is the DJs themselves. Even when they play genres I wouldn't say I am a fan of I still tune in. Why? Because they have never failed to provide an enjoyable experience.

Example #2: Firefly & Serenity

First became curious about this series because of fans within the GSP community. All the talk about how good it was and how they enjoyed it made me curious. So when I saw a marathon of it being run on the SciFi channel I said to myself, "Meh, might as well see what all the fuss is about..." Turns out my opinion fell in with it being a good show. And when I saw the episodes become legally available to watch online I sat down and watched from the beginning to end and enjoyed it even more.

Example #3 Following Wil Wheaton on Twitter

I'll admit right off the bat about the only thing i knew Wil Wheaton for was his role as Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation. I have never been much of a Star Trek fan so never much of a fan of anyone from any of the shows. Then I got hooked on webcomics and from time to time Wil Wheaton's name would pop up in some of them. Most notably this Queen of Wands strip and its commentary. A few months after I joined Twitter, I remembered the QoW's thing and how he's supposed to be a pretty cool/amusing guy. So I started following his tweets and turned into a fan of his (though I was a fan of two movies I didn't realise he was in: Secret of Nimh and Stand By Me).

Well since the first post was a random cookie thought...

2010-02-17T04:02:00.000-05:00

...this one will just be pure cookies! Came across this recipe when I was looking for oatmeal cookie recipes. Because we, at the time, had oatmeal we weren't using and I wanted to use it up before it went bad. Regular oatmeal cookie are good but these ones were so much better.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup each flour and quick cooking oats
1/2 cup golden raisins (optional)

Heat oven to 350°F. Have cookie sheets ready.

In a large bowl with mixer on medium speed, beat butter and peanut butter until creamy. Add sugars, baking powder and baking soda; beat until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla until well blended. With mixer on low speed, beat in flour and oats just until blended. Stir in raisins.

Roll level measuring TBSP of dough into 1 1/4" balls. Place 1 1/2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten with tines of fork or potato masher. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

Why a broken cookie is not a bad thing:

2010-02-17T03:30:00.000-05:00

"It is the fate of all cookies to be broken. A whole cookie is an uneaten cookie and cookies are made to be eaten. So who can really deny fulfilling a cookie's destiny?"

Not such a random thought since one of the gaming names I am most known by is "Brokencookie." And people would tend to comment along the lines of "Why would someone want a broken cookie?" And that's the reason I came up with after a bit of thought. A good cookie is still going to taste good after that first bite and a bad one will still taste bad.

So what leads someone to think that a broken cookie is worse? Well maybe it's the feeling of not having the whole cookie. But a piece of a cookie is better than no cookie at all. Especially if you break off a piece of a good cookie to share with a friend. That way both of you would enjoy a good cookie instead of just one of ya. The other side of coin: the dreaded bad cookie. Well sometimes you just have go: "Dear lord! This tastes terrible. Dude, you have to taste how bad this cookie is!"