OMG, I'm still alive! Some people are under the impression that I haven't updated for a year but, it's only been 75 days since the last time I babbled on the site. Let's see what I have done in that timeframe.

• Both of my 20 gig hdd's crapped out on me. I sent them in for repair and it took ages to get them back. I got one back about 3 weeks ago and a week later, that one died too. I went out and bought 2 new 40 gig hard drives. Now my other 2 have been replaced so, I have 127 gigs of hard drive space (120 gigs free) on this system.
• I took 3 trips. I went to Vancouver for a few days, I went to New York for a week and then I spent some time in Toronto. I had a great time in all three cities.
• I changed positions at work. It's basically the same but, now I manage different people and I have a bit more power and seniority. Oh, and I also got 2 pay raises and my yearly bonus during the last few months so, that's always a treat.

After all that, it's nice to be back. Thanks to all the readers that have sent mail and gave well wishes during chats. I appreciate all the good thoughts and well wishes.

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I want to mention what I consider the best irc prank I have ever seen. A few months ago, our buddy Paul2 was on the  #quake.uk channel and was being his normal self. This of course, means that he's was looking for another victim for his stinging wit. 

On that day, a guy named NeoRage appeared in the channel. Paul2 didn't actually set out to pick on NeoRage but, as circumstances progressed, Paul2 went into action. The #quake.uk channel uses a bot named Crystal. Everybody who is a regular in the channel knows that Crystal is a bot but, doesn't think twice about it. Some of the regulars have access to Crystal just incase it fails. Paul2 is one of these people.

NeoRage had been kicked by Crystal a few times for being a jerk and since he didn't know that Crystal was a bot, this was a perfect opportunity for Paul2 to jump into action. Paul2 started talking to NeoRage as Crystal. He found out all about NeoRage, had a picture taken of him and posted the picture and all chat logs for everybody to see on his www.b0rk.co.uk column.

In the #quake.uk channel, all the regulars kept quiet about what was going on and many of them helped with the prank. NeoRage was falling in love with the non-human Crystal and Paul2 was making sure he was satisfied. NeoRage would stop by every few hours asking if Crystal had been on lately. The #quake.uk regulars would raise their eyebrows and say "huh?". They were quickly shushed by the people in the know.

This prank went on for a few days but, the last two days were priceless. NeoRage was falling over himself trying to get closer to Crystal and Paul2 wasn't letting Crystal play hard to get. The regulars in #quake.uk were giving NeoRage more hints than he should've required to figure things out. However, NeoRage isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer so, he never figured it out.

On the last day, Paul2 told NeoRage to go and read his column to show that he was the butt of a practical joke and that 100 or more people were involved. NeoRage lived up to his name and was in a rage after reading what had happened and seeing his picture posted on Paul2's column. He threatened to file suit against Paul2 (not sure why) but, all he was doing was blowing off steam because he was so angry.

Anyway, you can go and read the humongous logs that Paul2 posted on his site. They are hilarious to read. Kudos to Paul2 and all the people that played along with this joke. It was amazing to see that nobody told NeoRage what was going on. NeoRage, don't worry, I'm sure you'll meet somebody real in the near future. Crystal, you look as lovely today as you ever have. :)

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Lyric O' the Day: (name that tune)

"Childhood living, is easy to do. Things that you wanted, I bought them for you. Graceless lady, you know who I am. You know I can't let you, slide through my hands.

I watched you suffer, a dull, aching pain. Now you've decided, to show me the same."

Previous LOD was "Before I Go Away" by USA group "Rubber Rodeo"

In regards to my injury, I met with the insurance lawyers so that they could get (another) statement from me about what happened the night I was injured. These are the lawyers representing the car insurance company for the family of the other guy. I've talked with them a few times on the phone and they seem quick to settle this incident. 

I spoke with a representative named Susan and she was willing to meet me anywhere (including coming to my house in the evening) so that we could talk. Since I work in a secured building (you need a security pass to even enter the building), I decided to meet her in a restaurant under the building I work in. I arrived at the specified time and she was there waiting for me. Susan didn't look like any lawyer I had ever seen before. She was (approx) 25 years old, nice looking, great body and dressed to kill in a leather skirt. 

Since it was Wednesday (cast came off Monday), I was wearing a tensor bandage and she questioned me about whether or not my arm was actually injured. I told her that I had approximately 1,000 witnesses that have seen me wearing the cast for the last six weeks. This seemed to pacify her and she took my statement. Susan was very friendly to talk with and seemed to be asking some very personal questions along with the "run of the mill" insurance type questions.

After we had finished lunch, she told me that she would be in contact with me at a later time. She gave me her business card after she had written her home phone number on the back of it. She then told me to call her anytime I wanted. I didn't expect to talk with her again until I file a claim against the insurance company. 

When I got home that night from work, there was a message on my answering machine from Susan asking me to call her at home. I had left her business card in my office at work so, I didn't have her home number. I called her from work on Thursday and asked her what she had wanted. She said that she thought it would be nice if we could get together again for a drink and talk some more. I asked her if this was business or personal related and she replied, "a bit of both". The plot thickens...

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The Caligirl interview aftermath was very interesting. The most comments I received from the interview were regarding my list of "Top 10 players that have had the biggest effect on Quake". As I mentioned in the interview, this wasn't my list of 10 favorite players, although many of them (maybe 5) would make that list also.

Griff (from Clan SK and Challenge-eu) and I had a minor falling out when I mentioned a while back that I thought (his brother) Kane's demos were boring. Even though I went out of my way to say that Kane was an awesome player, Griff and others seemed to take the demo comments to heart and figured that I didn't like Kane. In the Caligirl interview, I listed Kane as being 5th in that list and mentioned in the comments, "One of the most dangerous players that has ever played the game". If I had a chance to go back and edit this comment, I would probably change it to "1on1 players" but, the comments are still appropriate.

I was in an IRC channel a couple of days after the interview (I think it was #challenge) and somebody I don't know was giving me grief over my hatred of Clan SK and Kane. I was a bit puzzled by this and I told the person (sorry, I don't remember who it was) that, A) I didn't hate Kane and had never spoken with him other than to say "HI", B) I had only spoken with Griff a couple of times previously and C) I had never spoken with anybody else in SK. Oddly enough, Griff joined the channel about 10 seconds later.

Griff pulled me into a private chat, called me an asshole and I told him to fuck off. Just kidding, we had a nice conversation, he explained that the comments I had made about Kane's demos were "taken to heart". He was surprised to see me mention Kane in the interview with such high regard. We both agreed that the problems were "water under the bridge" and everything is cool now.

The other most common comments I received from that interview were "How could you put Killcreek in that list?" and "Where is Zoid?". Both good questions. Kornelia and KC were in there for the reasons stated. Before them, hardly any females played the game. I think it's a better place when women can play the game too. As for Zoid, his contribution to Quake and QW can't be understated. Zoid re-invented the wheel when he made QW and most of the great QW players wouldn't be in that position if it wasn't for Dave Kirsch. However, I was looking at the list from a players point of view. People like Blue, Zoid, Romero and others, didn't make a huge contribution as players. That being said, they were still a huge part of the Quake community.

The "comments" section for the interview was interesting to read. Only a few of the comments had anything to do with the contents of the interview itself. A few of the comments were about the "Open Letter to id" that I posted 8 months ago. At the time, that letter was a hot topic of discussion. Not because of what was in the letter but, based on whether or not the people (yes, it was people and not person) who wrote the letter should be able to speak for other Quake players. 

I noticed comments on Caligirl's site from the UK Quake2 player (I'll assume that he plays) Durzel. I find it funny that I never hear anything from Durzel unless he is commenting on the 8 month old letter that I posted (and sent to John Carmack). Durzel thinks that the people who wrote the letter wanted Q3A to be like QW. This was far from the truth but, I won't bother trying to convince him of that. I have stated this many times but, he has selective understanding and only comments on what he wants to. I have only seen his editorial page twice (a long time ago) and on both occasions, he made a point of personally attacking and insulting me. This happened even though we have never chatted (as far as I know) and have only talked via e-mail twice (regarding the letter). I'm sure he does some wonderful Quake 2 analysis and commentary on his page so, I wish him the best.

All in all, the interview was fun to do. I answered the questions as best I could. If Cali would've asked me questions regarding the "Letter" or any other topic, I would have answered those too.

Lyric O' the Day: (name that tune) If you can guess this one, you are damn good.

"It's so nice to see you, if only for a while. To spend this time together, with the whiskey & a smile. All our friends are married, all our friends are gone. And soon I will be leaving, it's time for moving on.

To much ground to cover, I don't know where to start. Can't find the words to tell you, the feelings in my heart. So we'll sit here in the silence & watch the sun go down. Then wonder if we'll ever, meet again on higher ground.

I won't be here tomorrow, I'm just here for today. So many things to do and so many things to say..."

Previous LOD was "A Spaceman Came Traveling" by Canadian artist "Chris De Burg"