Kal Ort Por

I picked this up over @ Funny Shit and I couldn’t help but post some of it.

Ever seen a computer being used in the movies? Well, if Hollywood is to be believed, then computing and computers go something like this :

• Word processors never display a cursor.
• You never have to use the space-bar when typing long sentences.
• Movie characters never make typing mistakes.
• All monitors display inch-high letters.
• High-tech computers, such as those used by NASA, the CIA or some such governmental institution, will have easy to understand graphical interfaces. Those that don’t have graphical interfaces will have incredibly powerful text-based command shells that can correctly understand and execute commands typed in plain English. Note: Command line interfaces will give you access to any information you want by simply typing, “ACCESS THE SECRET FILES” on any near-by keyboard.
• You can also infect a computer with a destructive virus by simply typing “UPLOAD VIRUS”. (See “Fortress”.) All computers are connected.
• You can access the information on the villain’s desktop computer even if it’s turned off.
• Powerful computers beep whenever you press a key or the screen changes. Some computers also slow down the output on the screen so that it doesn’t go faster than you can read. (Really advanced computers will also emulate the sound of a dot-matrix printer.)
• All computer panels have operate on thousands of volts and have explosive devices underneath their surface. Malfunctions are indicated by a bright flash of light, a puff of smoke, a shower of sparks and an explosion that causes you to jump backwards.
• People typing on a computer can safely turn it off without saving the data.
• A hacker is always able to break into the most sensitive computer in the world by guessing the secret password in two tries.
• You may bypass “PERMISSION DENIED” message by using the “OVERRIDE” function. (See “Demolition Man”.)

Read more over at Funny Shit

So I haven’t been updating the blog lately, mostly due to how insanely busy the summer is turning out to be for me. With the upcoming NO LAG/BLE event this weekend, SAX the following weekend, and PAX right around the corner.. Well lets just say I’m a little busy. The NO LAG website is coming along well, I’ve still got to get a working gallery up, and I’ve been struggling with a server monitor functioning through the DSS network. Even if we don’t actually have the bandwidth available for an internet BF2 or whatever server.

Things are stagnant over at the PRC, much to my dismay. Perhaps it is because of the season, maybe its because of people being busy. Time will tell. I just haven’t had time to dedicate to the wiki with all the work I’ve been doing over at NO LAG. Maybe after the summer, I really hope so. I have a ton of ideas for the damn thing.

So I was thinking about this the other day while in traffic. One of the large contributers to the size and vitality of the early UO community was the total lack (and slow growth for the first few years) of competing products. As the market grew, and continues to grow the community size dwindles down into .. well.. nothing really.

 I’m sure there are other factors in the decline of the Ultima Online community, but I’m dead sure the huge selection of current MMOs has alot to do with it.

People say PK’ing and griefing “killed” UO. I’m convinced its the other way around, carebear options and the *easy way out* (ala EQ no non consented, WoW no risk, etc) generation of MMOs gave people a quick escape from their UO problems, rather then forcing them to band together and create vibrant alliances and organizations to combat the mutual threat. I look back to days like 1997 and 1998 and see more then just the glory days of the UO community. I see MMO communities at their best, and unfortunately I see their untimely demise. =/

I’ve had my nose to the grindstone for awhile now on this wiki project. I’m glad to say the technical side of things is all but handled, now comes the hard part. DATA ENTRY  - Thats right folks, I said it. It would be time for the slow and dull task of pulling both my own memories, and the memories of old enemies and friends out of the cob webs and into the daylight. I’ve entered about 15 articles so far, and I’m dead set on not going live with the wiki until I hit at least 100.

As I dug around for media and data today, I came across something that made me smile.

So I filled four out of my manditory five positions today, bringing what I believe to be quality community leaders who are already doing the jobs I’d ask them to do onboard. I admit to being a little nervous though, this can easily go either way. We’ve been making sweeping changes at the site, designed specifically to make their jobs easier and generate more traffic. I suppose time will tell.

I’ve done everything I can to make the definition of each job clear to everyone on the team, and as usual the News Team still has zero seats filled. Does no one other then myself understand the power and importance of fresh new content in the face of new users? Images and words together make a massive impression on a first time user. Hell, I still remember the news stories on the front of Crossroads of Britannia back when I was 15 years old and eagerly anticipating my birthday copy of Ultima Online.

Don’t worry, I’m not jinxing myself. The PRC has been here for a long time and we’re going to be here for a long time further.

Y’know, with Jericho barely managing to stay on the air I can’t help but notice the decline in quality TV. Who holds the blame though? The networks for following antiquated ratings methods? I mean how many of us actually *know* a family with a Nielsen box? Now I watched Jericho, religously. I made sure that if for some reason I couldn’t be there, my TV was on and tuned to CBS. Mind you at this time I didn’t realize that if I didn’t have a nielsen box my viewership didn’t count. I just wanted to do my part to keep an amazing show on the air.

I confess to doing the same with Battlestar Galactica, Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Heroes. Oh how little I knew. With Star Trek XI coming soon, and its obvious direction of a franchise reboot for the people who don’t know Trek. I can’t help but notice this burning hole in what I considered to be quality television. It used to be that shows like TNG, Voyager, DS9, Sliders, whatever.. They were successful. These days its all reality TV and gameshows, its almost like America has come down with A.D.D., Either that or we’re all as dumb as Paris Hilton.

Either way, I see the danger of a beloved franchise like Trek being given a so called facelift by the people responsible for films like Transformers, MI:3, and Lost.

I swear, it seems like only a few months ago I was recovering from PAX 06. Two months left, thats not even basic training. 60 Freakin’ Days! I still need to place a reservation with a motel. To be honest I think I’m going to grab something in Ballard and take the bus, its a short ride. Prices are going to be INSANE in downtown Seattle. We’ll see.

I really need to start grabbing for all the swag I can, word is we’re going to need it.