"To die doing something is better to live doing nothing." -Flame

It’s not a glue at all; it’s a wax.

If you spray water on it, it’ll cool the surface immediately, but the core will still be ‘molten.’ This makes repairing things interesting in that you can quickly use it to do layers for structural integrity.

Some people claim the better the gun, the better your work will turn out. My $1 hot glue gun seems to be doing just fine, so I can only imagine the $10 version’s various spectrum of projects mine can’t do.

The last sentence was sarcasm pieced together with my $1 hot glue gun.

-Flame
Tumblr Post

"The apple is as tasty at the top of the tree as it is on the lowest limb." -Flame

"To forget your sorrows is to lose the good memories that make things bad." -Flame

Okay, that does it. I'm ready to put the hammer to my college and give up on it. I would have a better time counting how many bricks the buildings are composed of than go through another fucking Calculus course one more time.

Here's my thing. With every pass of Calculus I do, there is SOME major issue with the class. First time was because I wasn't supposed to be in it. Second time was because I had a car accident and my college's response to it is 'too bad, guess you lose more money lol!' This time my professor IS GOING TOO DAMN FAST! Jesus christ! 5 weeks in and we are already at derivatives?! What the flying fuck?!

To top it off, I am having more family issues than the latest drama infested shows on TLC that would give any director a boner from hell. So here's my big question: Why the fuck is Calculus SERIOUSLY needed for a degree in computer science, let alone that I also need II and III with a side mixture of Physics?!

The Physics I can understand to a degree, but all I want to do is programming. Not build the next fucking chess machine or invent a new electrical current system or whatever. I just want to be a programmer and that is it. I just seriously am not seeing where Calculus falls into this at all. Algebra I can see greatly because without it, the concept understanding of using variables would make no sense. Pre-Calculus (more like 'Prease go fuck yourself with that overpriced calculator') would be nice for better understanding of some of the earlier taught Algebraic concepts. After that, I just don't see it anymore.

I love how some modern commercials about anything involving college is with the parents almost forcing their kids to go to college like it's a required thing in relation to high school and what not. It just pisses me off. So in other words, because a good chance the parents themselves never went to college they want to enforce such onto the child? Where is the fucking logic in that? 'It'll improve their life style'? Bull shit unless you like paying for depression medication and eating them like it's from a Pez dispenser. It should be a choice, not a requirement, to go to college, especially not directly after high school.

So my question is if Calculus is SERIOUSLY needed for what I'm trying to get into or am I just eating another 'fuck you' sandwich from our current education system?

-Flame

Ultimately, as I am busy with my college education, these past two semesters have truly tested my patience with the whole system. As mentioned in my prior college related journal, I have taken Microeconomics, which resulted in a B+. My class from the previous semester from that was Macroeconomics, which resulted with a B as well. Now I am taking Introduction to Business (starting to notice a pattern here?).

Intro to Business is apparently the precursor class to macroeconomics and microeconomics. After my first 'check' test, I am ready to drop it like a dead baby. Normally I am a decent test taker (in the sense I can properly organize my thoughts and ideas quickly), but if this test is a 'check' test, I don't even want to deal with the midterm, and the final can just suck my-

Now my issue is not that I suck at college. My other classes (the retake of C++ and Web Design, both of which are online, even though Web Design is a hybrid class) are so far in the green. Calculus is just a struggle due to the professor's teaching style (swift and rushing, which is odd in how it is somewhat helpful but makes note taking a nightmare, even with the aid of my CF-T7).

The fact that nearly the WHOLE class failed and the fact I was stuck taking the test with an IDIOT who didn't even read the material was a nailgun to my coffin in this class, and it is only the first quarter! I am growing fearful with the progression of this class since my ONE degree will be met once I have completed it. That means I have one degree on my belt with the other getting near done (after I decide to pick which poison,Discrete Math or Calculus III, to take). I really want to graduate mostly to also get my folks off my back (who keep pushing me on the college ordeal, which has led to loss of actual work since all they care about is the college. I believe that due to this it only makes college seem less and less valuable). Having not taken a single semester off, having the events occur as they have (funerals, car accidents, huge expenses, lack of project completion and loss of clients as a result), and just having mental struggles is really making me question my education as a whole.

So my question involves 'drop solder' classes, or basically classes you already know you are going to drop in the event things go bad so you can focus on the others. My father has a very negative response to me dropping classes (even though I keep at least 10+ credits for completion reasons) and I'm trying to keep my GPA up, but slowly I'm just wanting out of college so much I almost don't care. Likewise, I can't rely on the board to respond to if a whole class fails (or at least a majority fail like 90%) because of their lack of response when I had a car accident just outside their campus (the prior semester). I need this class to graduate, but at the same time, being involved with KZK, having taken the classes this is a precursor to, and seeing how college has only made my life more disheartening as it is, is it REALLY worth it now?

-Flame

Link to mah tumblr post

NO!

THIS

IS

ANTHROCON's REGISTRATION HALF HOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Anyhow, if the phone system wasn't done by a very good robot, I should be registered for Anthrocon2012. If not, then I'm going to be rather annoyed. Yay for the Westin!

-Flame

Originally I was fearful on using potentiometers for some reason. I guess it's because I didn't like working with knobs and all that crazy stuff. I also wanted to avoid analog inputs since they tend to be an annoying pain, at least in theory.

That is until I actually gave it a try.

Now I simply love them! I made a quick fader script that controls the speed via a 10k ohm potentiometer, where I got some inspiration from here (more directly from here). I'm thinking of using it in my eye blink module to control the close angle and to also perhaps start another module for controlling LEDs in a more cool fashion (again, see the above links).

I am hoping to also make use of a (now finally working) tact button to control the modes on the new LED module. As for its name, I have no idea but I'm hoping it'll be a nice, cheap $10 controller that adds epic sauce to anyone's fursuits who want glowing goodness.

To give you an idea on what the potentiometer will do, on my first successful build on it, I stated "It's not fast enough unless I have to put a warning on it for people who can't look at strobe lights!"

Peace.
-Flame

Build 3 is proving to be a migraine inducer like no other. I've been busy trying to remove the jittering bug on my eye blink modules, but to no avail.

To somewhat explain my progress notes, this is how they operate in a simple line.

Build -> Prototype -> Candidate -> Release

The build refers to the coding in the chips and increases with each major revision to that. Prototypes refer to the breadboards I export the builds to. The number for the prototype does not have to increase with each build (as build 1 worked fine on prototype 1 as much as build 2 did). Candidates refer to perf board versions of the breadboard designs. In this case, the one I posted on my FA so far is Candidate 1, Prototype 1, Build 2 (or v0.1.1.2). Release refers to actual market boards (printed PCBs, packaged with instructions, etc). So far I have not built 1 release board yet as I really want to fix the jitter bug first.

On Build 3, I origionally tried to control the power to the servos with a N2222 transistor by applying 5v to it when I want power to flow and take it away when I want to halt power. This would mean during the idle times, the servos would not be powered. With talks with friends, I've tried to instead control the PWM signals instead. This has worked partially, but for some odd reason, the ATTiny85 seems to be doing the OPPOSITE signals I want, but likewise with the transistor.

I seem to be getting 5v on my multimeter from the processor on the pin that is to control the transistor, but none when it's supposed to be sending a HIGH signal (5v). The issue is the actions of the transistor seem to state otherwise, so I'm at a near loss on understanding why that is the case. Either way, it does HEAVILY drop the jittering sound, but until I can truly control the transistor, it is still there, and the last thing I want is to have my first release a product to possibly cause frustration to either end user (the costume designer or the customer of the designer).

I'm curious about the use of capacitors, but I also know they tend to die out over time. The last thing I want is to have a module have a short lifespan, even though that would mean that more profits to me (i.e, people would have to buy replacement modules). I am a firm believer in "do it right the first time so you don't have to do it again." I'd rather be known for sturdy devices and have fewer sales than have to deal with replacing simple parts and sending modules.

Build 4 will focus on using a potentiometer to allow designers to adjust the angle the eyes close down. It will require a small screwdriver so that it won't accidentally be adjusted. I'm thinking about using the jumper to adjust which development mode the module is in by having the jumper inserted to activate 'open' mode (where the eyes remain open) and taking the jumper out and putting it back in before the module blinks again to activate 'closed' mode, where the module will close and stay closed. This will allow the designer to adjust the angle of the module's actions.

I hope to have more updates later on.

-Flame

BE SURE TO CLICK HERE FOR THE BLINK MODULE PICTURES AND HERE FOR THE YOUTUBE VIDEO!

Alright, normally I try to avoid writing drama logs because generally one tries to not contribute to a problem, but at this point, who gives a shit? If there is a sign up for the hypocritical party, please let me jump the front of the line.

Cause and Effect; two things that balance out in near perfect symmetry and normally exist with the other. There are times, however, where there is no need for a cause for an effect to occur. This may not make sense, but this also ties into time.

Take subject A. We'll name him Todd. Todd does a research project about the Apple corporation in relation to Steve Jobs' death. With his research, he analyzes the Apple products of today, which include the iPhone. He watches videos about it and reviews the operation of the platform.

Now tie in Bob. Bob gets an iPhone. Todd recommended a tip he recalls from his research project. Bob laughs at Todd for the idea when Todd does not own an iPhone. Poor Bob, but everyone loves Bob, so Todd is a accomplished fool?

The relation is that while there is a cause (a past event) and the effect (a more present event), the cause and effect are separated from each other in that the cause is not seen, thus making for an effect with no cause. But why does this tie in with anything?

I'll let it be as it is there; Just realize that the advice of an individual should never be ignored or laughed at, but it also doesn't mean you have to follow it. People try to help others for a reason, and for someone to create their own accusations about anyone or a certain group should be cautious in how they do so, for it can and will backfire...

...sometimes with very regrettable results/effects.

-Flame

Time.

Time is a unique thing. We only get so much of it at start, where newborns are the millionaires and by our teenage years, we only slowly begin to realize our spending habits. We soon begin to cherish the times we spend with loved ones and friends, for there is no access to a bank statement telling you how much you have left as much as the next person.

In such economic struggles that we have all been disturbed by, some individuals still continue to spend time as though it is an infinite resource. This even comes down to wasting the time of others. What is so unique about this universal currency is that you can neither take or steal one's currency and add it to yourself directly.

With that, I spend most my time in my room with the humming of my computer, surrounded virtually by what friends I have. Sometimes I listen to Volume Alpha but mostly when trying to sleep, my other common activity. I try to plan things out carefully so that I can attend to as much as I can possibly deal with, but I've always tried to set time aside for family ordeals. The difference between dealing with friends and dealing with family is it seems family prefers to waste while friends seem to show more honest regret in unfortunate situations.

My sister has been back from her college now in winter vacation, and no advice I had given her she has taken, even some advice not originally from myself. I always remind her that we should get things squared away before she leaves where she will only forget again. She gives me a day and I agree. I set that day aside for her alone.

She was never at the house that day. 24 hours wasted.

"Saturday, I'll do it on Saturday." I calmly wait again and dismiss the prior day.

Again, she did not come that day. 48 hours wasted.

My patience is now very thin from all the opportunities I have sacrificed for nothing. Like a puppet on a string, I sit at my desk of harmonic hums and wait for the next day.

These now nearing 72 hours are things I cannot ask for back in any form of payment. Money in a bank is but a temporary thing that will slowly reach nothing soon, but time is the one thing to always know you have only so much of, and what you spend it on is what makes the story of your life and others change. Just because you are fearful of losing your next paycheck or the money left over in your savings, the one bank that always will have something is the one of time.

So if someone asks if they can help you, answer them seriously, because it is in their expense to save you on time, for which neither of you can get back again.

-Flame

...then I took a cheap battery to the knee.

Okay, now that the Skyrim joke is over, I stated that I would test to see how long the eye module would work. With my rechargeable 9v batteries in hand and fully charged, I popped it in at 2:06 PM EST.

I am proud to announce that THESE BATTERIES SUCK! The test ended 8 minutes later, and when I checked the other rechargeable battery on my meter, I watched the amperage go from 34 mA to 0 in a few moments. God damn US seller selling cheap China imports!

So my question is: does anyone know how to measure the usage of an electronic device or where I can get not cheap 9v batteries? If I can measure the usage, I can at least determine the estimated time with a simple math formula.

-Flame

Huzza! Grades are in from the devilish semester! Click... Log-in... wait for slow servers from 1800s to wake up... Okay, cool!

Calculus I: W
Understandable. I had a car accident, needed less stress.

Survey of World Culture I: B
Epic, considering I was doing horrid in that class, though I don't remember the doing bad part.

Micro-Economics: B+
Just goes to show that planning for the future is not that hard!

Programming in C++ - Intro: D
*Record Scratches* Wat?

Okay, so let me get this straight: I can partially remember things, finance my spending properly, still require the use of a calculator, and yet apparently when I competed in Skills USA for computer programming, I was competing against a bunch of idiots? Does that mean my job at Kinzart is a lie?! Is Kinzart a CAKE?! IS IT CHOCOLATE FLAVORED?! DOES IT HAVE FISH SHAPED CRACKERS?!?!?!

In other words: What the fuck?

-Flame

Normally I do not do this sort of thing, but despite having a bad day, I can still lend a hand out to help someone out.

For more information, click here.

Summery: A sister's dog was beaten up by a 'friend' and is in dire need of veterinary help. Things are looking grim, so see if you can help out!

-Flame

Again, for more information, click here (http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3012647).

I find people to be of two primary categories: logical or illogical. If I had to determine a ratio for this, I find the logical on the lower side with a 1 for every 50 illogical individuals. So why is it that I feel the online ratio is much different?

So for this case, we'll use the phrase "The chain is only as strong as its weakest link." We are also all familiar to 'chain of events.' We are also familiar with cause and effect.

As of now, I am ill with a wondrous slew dubbed 'college crud.' This I find interesting in that no matter how many conventions I seem to go to, I never get ill from those visits, yet I go to my local college and my immune system seems to just desert me and party at the conventions' after-shows. I updated Second Life Beta to the next version, and it seems that every other version, Linden Lab feels entitled to use a compressor in their voice systems to block out background news. Cute; if I seriously wanted that feature, I'd use my own set up. Where's the off button for that...?

So I am sipping my tea, talking into my microphone with every other sentence not going through due to the compression. Perfect. So I leave a mentioning of this to everyone because I don't want to create the illusion that I am ignoring them. So they continue to state it is my microphone. I explain to them that the microphone has been the same for the past couple months. They then state I've had this issue all year.

I find the unit of a year an over used unit of time. It is true that I had the issue EARLIER this year when I had a headset, but the issue with that was not the microphone or the software, but a hardware annoyance in the microphone's mute button. This issue was something else. Since I was using the mic, all was well.

So with no one apparently understanding this issue only just came up after I did the recent update, I have to now speak louder into the microphone to ensure the compressor doesn't take action and to apparently make sure they even heard me. This slightly agitates my throat and causes a small amount of pain, but nothing severe. This prompts them to tell me I should stop talking.

As a coder, my hands are busy on the keyboard on a SEPARATE window from the client. Further more, this whole issue wouldn't have even occurred had someone just realized I was trying to just tell them that the compressor was causing issues outside of my control, and that I was not ignoring them. So by being nice, I have to only uncover more of their obvious stupidity?

People just leave me as amazed as I find hopeless. Trying to find people who actually are able to use their heads is an endless walk on a tightrope that has no end. The only reason I continue to work online is because it is the only place I can find a job at this point, and with thanks to our more illogical government, SOPA plans to even stop that.

-Flame

Link to mah tumblr post

Last Updated: 12/12/11

Okay... I am getting so tired of this to the point where I keep feeling I am writing a new novel each time I have to explain it. So here I am, writing it ONCE and just using THIS as a link for my explanations.

In case the title doesn't describe the topic, this is about meshed goods on Second Life and how I don't give two flying f*ck balls about third party viewers! I just want to resolve the myths about meshes and just get it over with so people can seriously stop acting like a bunch of three year old children!

1) Meshes use more power and needs a better PC.
Answer: MYTH!

Meshes can be more efficient than sculpties by a LONG shot! All sculpties use a preset amount of polygons (if I recall, about 2048) and most avatars make use of about 50 or so, so that's over 100k polygons being processed in each frame for just ONE avatar. To give some perspective, a basic cube is composed of 12 polygons. In theory, one avatar would be equal to about 8.5k cubes being rendered at the same time, and that's before we start calculating the avatar mesh (oh, did I just say mesh?) in the first place! Meshes can vary in poly count, but in how they can control this number by still result in better detail means that meshes can have far fewer polygons than a single sculpty. This means that if more meshed goods were used, people wouldn't need such power PCs in the first place!
pointystick wrote:Nyx Linden said that in their testing, rendering mesh and traditional prims cost the same amount in terms of resources per tri. Efficient mesh can be better than traditional prims or sculpties for many things, as the creator now has control over where the detail goes.


2) Meshes cannot be modified.
Answer: MYTH!

Rigged or not, meshes respond and act the same way as any other prim or sculpty. You can still change textures (in fact, meshes can have more than one texture face, so they can be more customizable in that respect), adjust their sizes, and even link other prims to a mesh. Before people begin stating you can't edit the shape of a mesh, ask yourself if you can do the same to a sculpty and come back to me about that.


3) Meshed goods cost more to make.
Answer: MYTH (in most circumstances)!

I uploaded a new mesh body for my crux avatar to improve detail and not require avatar masking (well, now I need to make the whole body invisible, but you tomato tomato). I accidentally left the mesh duplicated in upload, so I was uploading the same thing twice. It only cost me 14L$ for a rigged, 2 texture layered mesh that had the same thing twice! A sculpt map costs 10L$, but to achieve an effect equal to what I got, it'd require several maps! For non avatars, if planned right, I can assume it could be the same, but it depends ultimately on what we are talking about.


4) Rigged meshes deform my avatar.
Answer: MYTH!

Deformation by meshes is optional, and not required to make a rigged mesh avatar.


5) Rigged meshes must be worn and can never be rezzed.
Answer: MYTH!

Rigged meshes are just meshes with more attachment data embedded into them. In heart, they are still just meshes.


6) Rigged meshes that deform my avatar need an undeformer.
Answer: (as of recent) MYTH!

Once a deforming mesh is detached, the deformation is removed. In the past, this wasn't the case, but it is a bug that has since been fixed for the most part.

I'll most likely fill out more as I hear/come to them.

-Flame

Fix your timers. Seriously.

How on EARTH can you call your site a auction site if you can't even get your TIMERS right?! I've been noticing this getting WORSE over time. One minute the timer will state it has 5 minutes left. A refresh LITTERLY (not like I walked away and came back refresh) one second later and suddenly the bid is over.

No. Fucking. Way.

Well, nice to know that if I want to do an auction, for anything, I am NOT using Furbuy OR Furbid (Furbid actually has decent timers, just I've been getting some bad rep reports as of late).

Now before anyone goes off saying "Well, why didn't you JUST place what you intended to spend in the first place?" The reason is because generally if you bid too early, you'll attract a bunch of other bidders to try and outbid you right away. This is just the common nature of any auction website (which, oddly Furbid has solved with the '10 minutes after last bid' deal which I find very clever).

And before anyone goes off saying "Why not just make your own site?" One word: Liability. That and I would want to at least embed PayPal into the system itself so that it is much more secure. Unless there is some deal I can find out that fixes the liability concern, I'd be on my domain holder asking for another site to begin the project.

Oh, and in case I forgot to say it: Fix your stupid timers!

-Flame

Something I just took notice to, in not 100% relation to anything but perhaps related to something.

One thing I realized was I haven't worn my Blue Tiger Therion avatar in a long time on Second Life. I still get reminded of its existence (due to a mysterious bug that ALWAYS attaches my right paw if I crash and relog). In a way, I sorta know the reasons why I haven't bothered to change my avatar, but why I may of stuck with the Crux:

1) MESHES
One big reason I may of kept the avatar on is because of mesh support. This means I can finally make the main body mesh shiny, which I have.

2) 'ACCEPTABLE'
My therion, if anyone has seen it in-world, would know what I mean by this. Normally I waltz around with black camouflage pants on, but sometimes I skip that idea all together. I always get commented on it to the point that perhaps I've unknowingly got tired of it.

3) LESS DRAMA
The stupid drama from when my suit was made still lingers in my mind, and while I love my suit to death, I guess it'll be awhile longer until I can truly get over it.

Just something I didn't take notice of until recently.

-Flame

Ultimately, these past few weeks have felt like being trapped in a vial with the cork on the top; sometimes shaken and sometimes stirred.

Ever since the car accident, and even maybe before, I really have lost appreciation for my college and many other things I am involved in. I don't see value in things anymore and this goes with my own work. This past week I tried to give myself a simple goal of accomplishing at least one part of a big project. This has fallen, like many other things I set to do, unfinished.

At this point, I am simply dragging my feet on the floor to each class (even programming) with a mix of hatred and sadness. The more I try to get through my classes, the more the college seems to loop-back me into staying an additional year. The more money I give them, the more bullshit I get in return. What's the point of getting this degree if it doesn't even guarantee a job? Why do I continue to bother and deal with the insanity that is called this college?

I then ask the same about where I am. The car accident just shows how flawed everything is. I was a victim in where I had done nothing wrong, on a college day, and in a few seconds, it all changed. My car, my last link to my grandparents, is now left immobilized in a junk yard, still operable and repairable except for one flaw. I get nothing in return except a debt and an emotional toll not covered by insurance, like many other things they don't cover. The other driver gets nothing more than an increased premium and walks away with her vehicle intact. So how is this a reward towards driving safely? Doesn't this set an example for that the more bad an individual is, the more they get away, at least to a maximum point where it begins to diminish again?

I seriously just don't understand this world in any form of logic except for against what we are all told from the start. Perhaps the evolution of society has changed so greatly in little time that the shock of it all results in a now unachievable equilibrium point purposely set as it is for the sense of trying to restore things to the way they were. Perhaps it is also set there to form another change, but not in a way that may be desirable for many people, or maybe even everyone.

The more I view and see things, the more worthless things appear. If something doesn't make sense, what is the point of understanding it if no form of logic supports any of the effects? What is the logic of anything, including logic itself? I just don't fully understand any of this.

The only question I have is: "Where is the key?"

-Flame

Link to post

So I open up my email for today and get greeted by something that did NOT get blocked out by my spam filters.

From: Chan Chak Hung <chak.eab9@zoomtown.com>

Subject: RE

To: mail[at]chan.com

Message:

proposition,are you interested?

Uh... alrighty then... Apparently this spam email is new or something since a Google search only pulled up one result, and that was from a Spanish blog. Anyone else getting these?

-Flame

Link to mah tumblr post

Jesus Christ, and I thought I haven't posted in awhile since that car accident, but I seriously take that back!

So I go to the doctor due to losing all hearing in my left ear. I then get informed I haven't been there in a year. I can officially state I now know what they mean by "Time Flying By With Age." I seriously thought it had only bee half a year, not double my estimate, but oh well.

So yeah, I was in a car accident. I was side swiped by a giant Highlander from New York and my poor 94 Honda Accord didn't stand a chance. Both airbags deployed and due to that, the car had to be totaled. It's funny how when you do nothing wrong, you still get f**ked over in the end. Thanks modern day society!

Naverous 2 is looking nice so far, and by nice I mean actually doing something other than being a bunch of CSS code templates smashed into a PHP script. So for now, I'm busy trying to find out how to more effectively convert the older vender data to version 2 information, which I'm hoping doesn't become another 2 year torment.

I'll have to try updating this more often.

-Flame

Link to mah tumblr post

After throwing my 3DS across the room in frustration on what used to be my favorite boss battle, I think I can deliver my verdict.

Ultimately, the graphics look amazing. The game has many things in it visually that are total eye candy to any CaveStory fan who has been waiting for this day. Just seeing the first cave in its remade glory felt wonderful. Seeing all the other famous landmarks also had their moments too.

The new music is fantastic. They feel right for each stage and are literal upgrades of the original classical tracks. Unlike the Wiiware version, there is no (from what I have uncovered for now) option to change the sounds from modern to classic, but I am not complaining too much.

Now that the happy stuff is over, time for the parts that just leave me staring at my 3DS with disgrace.

1) CONTROLS - Okay, the controls from the original to the 3DS are IDENTICAL. There are little to no changes in it and that I am happy with. The problem is the graphics CONFLICT with the controls! I am busy fighting Monster X (a few Cave Story fans most likely just pissed their pants just at the moment, but if I am having a hard time with him on the 3DS, I don't even want to guess on the up coming Core) and I don't have a lot of time to weapon switch with the shoulder buttons. The problem is the bottom screen is your map, and to access inventory, you need to hit the INV button on the bottom left side... right where your controls are. This means you have to SACRIFICE your CONTROLS to have a CHANCE to access your INVENTORY!!! The problem is the 3DS's screen isn't pressure sensitive, so it's either you hit it or you don't. So 90% of my deaths have been PURELY because of being unable to access it. I swear with each attempt, I don't see a game over screen, I see a troll face on the screen saying "Problems?"

2) ANIMATION - UG.... come on people! I understand this is a transition from 2D to 3D, but don't LITTERLY go from 2D to 3D!!! I'll explain: if you know the sprite animations for the original game, you know the animations for the 3D models. No joke. This means when you see Sue get bashed by Igor in the Egg Corridor, each punch is a separate, slow animation. During Sue's final statement even, Igor's animation is cut off short! To refer to an earlier event, I would of liked to at least see a stand up animation or transition for King after getting knocked down. In fact, this goes for many other events where it would of been nice to see a small transition for a character, especially for important ones like King. Oddly this problem doesn't seem to be too present in ONE character, and that would be Balrog! (Who, by the way, still is impersonating the Cool-Aid Man. Que Sad Face.)

3) EASIER?! - You heard me. I am playing on 'Origional' difficulty and I already have 49 LIFE. You heard me, 49! And I am STILL getting my ass kicked!? I guess they had to increase how much LIFE you can get due to the balance with the graphics making the controls feel more odd.

Ultimately, if you are fan of Cave Story who has trolled Ballos more than enough times, you will notice a few quirks that may go against what you would have preferred. You may find times where you scald at the game for making some jumps feel off due to the 2.5D platforming or my issue with no DIRECT inventory button. If you are new to it, you will most likely love it. If you are Metroid fan (I mean the platforming ones...) or a lover of platforming, you will most likely want this on your Christmas wish list.

In the end, Cave Story 3D is a fresh start for anyone and a jewel to the 3DS. There are plenty of hard moments, but for once, that's a good thing. NIS did a fantastic job and when the OST comes out, that's on my to grab list.

-Flame

1) Change morning plans completely. This results in running late.
2) Forgot to charge laptop last night. Battery is nearly dead.
3) Forgot accessories for laptop. Need to use fingers for touchscreen or a mouse.
4) Get into class only to be greeted with a quiz. Fun.
5) Have an interview shortly after class. Great.
6) Have mid term for class due shortly after. Perfect.
7) Got no sleep last night. Tops all the above with a lovely complement.
8) Currently deaf in left ear. Need to now have that checked.
9) Toe surgery failed. Now have to get an appointment done for ANOTHER one.
10) Naverous 2 is still unfinished. Losing patience equal to loss of clients.
11) Returning rental from car accident. Insurance continues to fuck me over even though police report states it wasn't my fault. Spectacular.

Yea, someone just shoot me already.

-Flame

Comic Con... it was interesting, but despite being a much larger convention (My 3DS is begging for a break right now from StreetPass), the value was not anywhere near comparable to Anthrocon.

Friday was interesting. I never used the bus to go into New York City, so that experience really felt rewarding in how I can easily afford trips to the city. Before hand, I was told there would be a huge line for picking up the entry passes. Anthrocon being the only convention I've seen lines with, I was thinking "Huge lines?! Bigger than Anthrocon!?! OH MAH GAWD!!!" So for that day, I wore my partial, in which upon arriving, I soon got through the 'line' in less than 5 minutes.

The atmosphere was a bit mixed. You could feel a lot of energy and the vast amount of people there from many different locations (I got Miis from France and Western Australia) complemented that. Seeing all the cosplayers really added to the amusement and it felt like a more diverse Anthrocon (though it needs moar spies).

As I walked around, blinded by the fact of my fursuit head and already bad vision (I plan to fix that later), there were a few times where the crowded aisles backfired. There was much pushing around and repairs on my suit rather annoying, most of which were done by simply the impatient. The aisles felt too small and that the convention was more concerned about getting as much business as possible as apposed to the comfort of the attenders. This is understandable to a degree, but it made it quite aware that going in suit in the aisles would be very difficult.

Due to having never done it before, dealing with handlers was VERY minor but it did demote the atmosphere. We constantly swapped who handled who (I was suiting with  lunaragk ) and some where TOO protective (to the point where I had to constantly remind that I am not 100% blind) and not informant enough (to the point where I bumped into a few things, but not enough to state was a major issue). I blame lack of planning to that (no one in the group really had been a handler before) so I can't fully put it down as a problem, but it was annoying enough to be left in the back of my head.

Saturday I blame nearly completely for making the experience feel not fulfilled. I met up with  syl for the first time ever, but lack of planning resulted in some chaos. Lunara was intending to go to the costume contest, but plans went heavily downhill since her pass and another friend's was borrowed to allow Syl and a friend of hers entrance. This was no issue, but since  w0lfpawpaw 's phone was having issues, he gave us radios to use. Radios, by the way, are only useful if you listen to them, something he wasn't doing. As the event drew nearer, we were left in the dark about what was going on. Our second group came back and we learned he had passed the radio to them. This meant we had no contact with Wolf, Syl, and her friend. I borrow one of the group's passes and tell Lunara I'll catch up with her to the event (her suit was having claw problems). I soon get lost in the crowed and eventually come back to learn two things:

1) The event's registration ended awhile ago.
2) Stan Lee passed by.

So let's add two groin hits to mix (Yes, that's both balls down, but by the end of this day, my possibility of having kids is now gone).

Soon everyone regroups completely and Wolf, Syl, some friends, and I decide to head to Times Square and go to Bubba Gumps (which would give an ENTIRE view of the area while eating. Before the trip, I was informed the convention can hold your bags, but what seemed to be emphasized was the cost. So I decide to carry the bags with me from the Javits Center ALL the way to Times Square (So yes,  redmoongirl , one of your works has met Times Square). At first, this didn't sound bad, but mid way I tripped and dropped the bags. One of the bags carried a USB Cooler box I made (a design made by HouseHoldHackers that I agree does work very well) got basically destroyed. Upon returning home and inspecting the parts closely, I find parts of the suit damaged as well (tail spine is coming out again and eye screen is starting to go). I soon learn after arriving back to the convention that the cost was $3. $3 versus $20 in repairs.

Add a third kick to the queue.

I was walking with a group of friends to Times Square to head over to Bubba Gumps, which had yet another amazing pantry of food. While talking about the convention and how it was interesting to see everything in it, the subject of Lunara's suit came up. We were told that while my suit looked perfectly fine (I didn't wear it that day but I had pictures), Lunara's appeared baggy and incomplete.

I don't think they realized I paid for her suit, while even that the artist is the same between our suits. To me, that was a giant insult stating that I was wasting my money when I really was happy with how it came out. Since I financed the suit, it was very insulting to be told it wasn't up to par, even though I can assume Lunara holds the same feelings I do in that the suit was beyond well made. Being told this, more importantly, from friends of mine, made it all that more insulting.

Let's add a fourth kick to our overkill list.

Upon returning to the convention, I learned we were going to leave soon, which was understandable. I was tired from walking but continued to look at my suit's bag with disappointment as I had not worn it all day and was carrying it around the whole time. It felt like being a 9 year old staring at his own PS4, not allowed to touch it or even use it at all, but he owned it. Combine this with the fact that I didn't have to carry it around...

Add a final fifth round house kick to the nuts.

In the end, I decided to not go to the convention on Sunday. I walked more than I did that day than on Friday and Thursday combined, with Thursday being college day traveling from building to building on the campus. I felt very insulted to be told, in person, from my own boss, I wasted a large sum of cash. Top this with damages to the suit and having to carry 20 lbs of epic fursuit that never got to see the light of day on Saturday, and my experience was shoved down the drain and pummeled with a sledge hammer to a pulp.

Comic Con was okay in itself, but the other events linked to it really made me regret going there.

-Flame

I decided to really look into the biggest hurdle I can think of...

Myself.

I first used what I could recall that I found out through tests or whatever I could use to form solid anything. The first began back when I took a Myers-Briggs Personality test during my first semester. My type was identified as INTJ. I was given a rough explanation about 'myself' via a small sheet of paper was asked to pair with someone else who had the same type. My own group was formed at that moment, which at the time didn't bother me the slightest bit.

Let's jump 2 years into the future, the now, here. My classes are beginning to fail, with exceptions to skills I am basically doing in my sleep. Even with the handicap, I am beginning to fear that classes involving that are starting to meet a grim fate. To me, this is simply not right and almost an impossibility; but if it was impossible, then why is it happening? So I sit here after attempting to complete yet another assignment when I then begin to remember of past assignments and tests. Soon I begin to draw a few things about them and what they had in common.

All my math work has been just enough to get over the hurdle. No special effects or bloom added. No special lighting or camera angles. Just enough to pass and move on. I abhor my math classes as much as a child loathes medicine; it's good for you but did they have to make it suck this much? My work is spot on and often nails the problem, but are generally only half way done or missed a step somewhere, so points are lost.

History is next in line. I like writing about interests and history is where the true information is at. As we all keep writing and posting on journals, we are writing history and preserving it far better than honey in the tombs. If we had no history, we would have no future. So I have to keep asking myself: Why does my history have to be filled with moderate grades in something where it defines the future?

Computers. Technology. It's my field of expertise, and I admit I'm no god at it. Give me a problem and I'll give you a program. Soon, after I get my servos, I'll be able to step it up into electronics, combining my programming with my past experience in electronics. The past is where it is at, right?

The past. A rather interesting thing. It's carved in stone, but like a painting, seems to always be explained in a thousand words for the same event. The victors of war were the ones who wrote down what happened and destroyed the very image of a civilization from existence by removing its past. Something so fragile and we all still worship it for the beauty. It was right there I spotted what my problem was.

I'm slowly beginning to forget everything.

Not that "Oh woops, I forgot it was on" kind of forget. The forget you do when you lose a skill, a memory, a friend. If it wasn't for Second Life name tags, I'd be doomed to a life of limbo not knowing names. Its here where I spotted the problem, and it is slowly beginning to win. My work isn't half done because of laziness; it is half done because I can't remember the rules for equations or simple math anymore. I am not destroying the Renascence era, I am just not being able to recall it.

The only skill I have left is my programming, and it is slowly beginning to go too. You know that sick feeling you get when you realize something was happening all the time behind your back? Something real bad like a murder just across the street? To make worse, you've had a hunch it was happening, but choose to ignore it.

Well, it feels worse when you realize it wasn't someone else and you choose to ignore the fact it was yourself. This whole time I've been losing my memory and I haven't even bothered to realize it until now. Problem is that I feel what I'd have to do to fix it. Being dubbed 'insane' or 'mentally unstable' have always been a constant fear that I'd wish was a memory long forgotten, but stays fresh all the time. Last place I want to be is anything like 'that,' especially when my mother worked at one and I had to deliver something for her. The smells, sounds, even the taste of the air. I dare not even recall the images. It might as well have been a jail house. It might as well have been hell.

Likewise, even if it wasn't that, how I would be able to adjust my schedule to even compensate any kind of visits or whatever on a college schedule is beyond me. I can still return back to what I was on before, and it isn't anything where I need a prescription (only one thing was, and no it wasn't like Ritalin or whatever, but last I talked with the doctor about that, it wasn't entirely needed. Just assisted with stuff). It wouldn't either, since they're just vitamins, but my concern is if they don't work. My biggest is if this is permanent and won't be resolved.

I guess in the end I'm slowly growing desperate to find out why I can't get my grades to go up and why work has been more of a burden. I refuse to blame depression (never was diagnosed with it, and if a doctor tries to, there will be another person with different kind of depression) and I fear if I should bother seeking professional help considering it took apparently 14 years to find a doctor who could actually 'diagnose' the problem right (according to my parents anyway). I know I don't talk kindly about them that much as of late, but I still would have to thank them for not being like most parents and blaming ADD as the source of the problem when there are individuals who truly do have the problem are forced to being stereotyped because of actions they never did or would have done.

Guess in the end when you lost it all, all you can do is hold your hand out and beg for a pretty penny...

-Flame