Taken from thinkquest.org's library. Made by Duncan Long

“Live life like you’re gonna die, because you’re gonna.” – William Shatner, You’ll have time

Brief moment of honesty, when I was a teenager, I was convinced I wouldn’t survive to see the age of 30. I now turn 30 in fourteen days, which will mark another point at where I was completely wrong as a teenager.

Recently, a friend’s friend passed away, and their discussion about death got me thinking about death.

There’s a few ways people approach death, they turn to religion, most of which promise a life after death. Or they turn to atheism, which promises a rotting corpse. In these terms, I see myself as an atheist. And honestly, it is a wholly depressing view point. Everything, you, me, the Earth, the Sun, the Universe will eventually come to a screeching halt after which there is no more. Believing that, what the fuck’s the point? Why do you keep going when everything you’ve ever done will amount to a few component atoms?

Because there is also life. Not just my own, but the life of others. Lives worth finding joy, lives worth helping, lives worth doing something that is remembered long after our names have been forgotten. It’s mainly why I enjoy cooking. When people eat, they often are taking pleasure in the smells and the taste of the food. It’s why I like doing random acts of kindness to help fan that flame that “Hey, not everyone’s a douchebag.”

Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of religious texts. It’s not because I’m trying to find God, it’s because I’m trying to find People. Throughout many of these works there is a common thread that says “By following these rules, people will grow and prosper.” I’m hunting these down and weighing them. I see which parts of the ideas are useful, and which parts are slag. I’m cutting out the obvious failures: (Anyone not of our people are less of a people, all women are weaker then men, I’s okay for you to kill people because in doing that you serve X) and finding points that resonate with me. These points are connecting into lines, and they’re taking shape. That shape’s still pretty rough, but it’s at a point where I feel I can start saying that other people would find this useful.

So, in the face of certain death, I find myself wanting to help the lives of others. Of working to make sure that humanity is not just another evolutionary blip in time. And as such, I give you a bit of knowledge.

The purpose of life is something each person must search out for themselves. For some, the purpose is to push the boundaries of success and knowledge. For others, it is to be remembered for centuries past their demise. But for most, it’s to make sure that your children have a better life than you do.

So the next time I talk, it will be about the children.

I’ll admit, I was already on the fence about whether to continue playing when Cata came out. I have a guild I lead, and I was interested to see the new starting zones. On the other hand, I’ve killed Arthas, and The Old Republic is on the horizon. Still, I figured I’d reel it back to extreme casual for the expansion, try out the new areas, quest through the new stuff, maybe raid one night a week.

Now?

Fuck ‘em.

Today, Blizzard announced that any posting done on the Starcraft II forums will show your real name. And any post done on the Cata forums once they go live will also show your real name. And I’m not comfortable with being given the option of not posting on the forums or not letting my real name get out there. As such, I’ll ride out my subscription until Cata arrives, or the 15th of October, whichever comes first (likely, it’ll be the 15th of October).

The sad part is?

I’ll be skipping Diablo III and Starcraft II as well. And I’ve REALLY been looking forward to SC2.

With Arthas down, our sick healer has put in their two week, we’ve lined up a replacement, and are ready to continue on.

But what to do?

I’ve polled folks, and there’s a high interest in farming drakes (Uld, ICC, OS+3, EoE, TK (Yes, Ashes of A’lar is still the best mount in the game and you know it)), doing the ICC hard modes, and a low interest in old content (I’m pushing AQ40, some folks want BWL and MC, others want to take a trip through Burning Crusade to knock out those places. I’ll probably spend one week a month just knocking out the old crap, though that may increase to two, depending on stresses with the ICC hard modes.

Additionally, that depends on people’s accounts not being hacked in order to allow them to raid.

Over the past week, I’ve seen two people get hacked in game. Both friends in other guilds, but enough to cause me to take action. Access to our GB is now on a authenticated account basis. Please, don’t let your guildies have access to your GB without an authenticator. It’ll just end in hurt feelings.

Finally, I revised the Ovale script. I added in the Optimal cat script from EJ, and I added a checkbox for DemoRoar. Turns out, Arthas is immune to DemoRoar. Prick. It’s a little cluttery, but I don’t want to change the EJ script. I’ve added the two versions below, one with the cat and one without.

Define(FFF 16857)
Define(MANGLEBEAR 33878)
Define(SWIPE 779)
Define(LACERATE 33745)
Define(MAUL 6807)
Define(FF 770)
Define(RIP 1079)
Define(MANGLE 33876)
Define(SHRED 5221)
Define(TIGER 5217)
Define(RAKE 59886)
Define(ROAR 52610)
Define(BITE 22568)
Define(BERSERK 50334)
Define(OMEN 16870)
Define(TRAUMA 46857)
Define(DEMOROAR 48560)

SpellInfo(RIP resetcounter=ripshreds)
SpellInfo(SHRED inccounter=ripshreds)
SpellInfo(MAUL toggle=1)
SpellAddBuff(SAVAGEROAR SAVAGEROAR=14)
SpellInfo(BERSERK cd=180)
SpellAddDebuff(DEMOROAR DEMOROAR=30)
AddCheckBox(Manglebot “Manglebot” default)
AddCheckBox(Demobot “Demobot” default)

AddIcon help=main nocd=3
{
if Stance(1) # bear
{
Spell(MANGLEBEAR)

if TargetDebuffExpires(LACERATE 6 stacks=5)
Spell(LACERATE)

unless 1.5s before Spell(MANGLEBEAR)
Spell(FFF)

if CheckBoxOn(Demobot)
unless TargetDebuffPresent(DEMOROAR)
unless 1.5s before Spell(MANGLEBEAR)
Spell(DEMOROAR)

unless 1.5s before Spell(MANGLEBEAR)
Spell(SWIPE)
}

if Stance(3) # cat
{
if ComboPoints(more 0) and BuffExpires(ROAR 0) Spell(ROAR priority=4)

if ComboPoints(more 2) and BuffExpires(ROAR 8) and TargetDebuffPresent(RIP mine=1) and at most 3s from TargetDebuffExpires(Rip mine=1) until BuffExpires(ROAR) and TargetDeadIn(more 8) Spell(ROAR priority=4)

if ComboPoints(more 3) and TargetDeadIn(less 2) Spell(BITE)

if TargetDebuffPresent(RIP mine=1) and TargetDebuffExpires(RIP 4 mine=1) and Counter(ripshreds less 3) Spell(SHRED)

if ComboPoints(more 4)
{
if TargetDeadIn(less 6) Spell(BITE)
unless TargetDebuffPresent(RIP mine=1) Spell(RIP priority=4)
unless TargetDebuffExpires(RIP 8 mine=1) or BuffExpires(ROAR 11) Spell(BITE)
}

if CheckBoxOn(Manglebot) and TargetDebuffExpires (MANGLE 1) Spell(MANGLE)
unless {TargetDebuffPresent(MANGLE) or TargetDebuffPresent(MANGLEB) or TargetDebuffPresent(TRAUMA)} Spell(MANGLE)
unless TargetDebuffPresent(RAKE mine=1) or TargetDeadIn(less 10) Spell(RAKE)

if TargetDeadIn(less 10) Spell(SHRED)
}
}

AddIcon help=main size=small nocd=3
{
if Stance(3) # cat
{
{
if {TargetDebuffPresent(MANGLE 0.6) or TargetDebuffPresent(MANGLEB 0.6) or TargetDebuffPresent(TRAUMA 0.6)} and TargetDebuffPresent(RAKE 0.6 mine=1) and {Mana(more 79) or BuffPresent(OMEN) or {TargetDebuffExpires(RIP 3 mine=1) and ComboPoints(less 5)} or BuffPresent(BERSERK) or 2s before Spell(TIGER) or {ComboPoints(less 1) and BuffExpires(ROAR 2)}} Spell(SHRED)
}
unless {BuffPresent(BERSERK) or 4s before Spell(TIGER) or Mana(more 32)}
{
unless {TargetDebuffPresent(FFF) or TargetDebuffPresent(FF)} Spell(FFF priority=2)
}
}
}

AddIcon help=cd size=small nocd=3
{
if Stance(3) # cat
{
Spell(TIGER priority=4)
}
}

AddIcon help=cd nocd=5
{
if Stance(1) # bear
{
Spell(BERSERK)
}

if Stance(3) # cat
{
Spell(BERSERK)
}
}

AddIcon help=offgcd
{
if Stance(1)
{
Spell(MAUL)
}
}

And the bear only version:

Define(FFF 16857)
Define(MANGLEBEAR 33878)
Define(SWIPE 779)
Define(LACERATE 33745)
Define(MAUL 6807)
Define(BERSERK 50334)
Define(DEMOROAR 48560)

SpellInfo(MAUL toggle=1)
SpellInfo(BERSERK cd=180)
SpellAddDebuff(DEMOROAR DEMOROAR=30)
AddCheckBox(Demobot “Demobot” default)

AddIcon help=main nocd=3
{
if Stance(1) # bear
{
Spell(MANGLEBEAR)

if TargetDebuffExpires(LACERATE 6 stacks=5)
Spell(LACERATE)

unless 1.5s before Spell(MANGLEBEAR)
Spell(FFF)

if CheckBoxOn(Demobot)
unless TargetDebuffPresent(DEMOROAR)
unless 1.5s before Spell(MANGLEBEAR)
Spell(DEMOROAR)

unless 1.5s before Spell(MANGLEBEAR)
Spell(SWIPE)
}
}

AddIcon help=cd nocd=5
{
if Stance(1) # bear
{
Spell(BERSERK)
}
}

AddIcon help=offgcd
{
if Stance(1)
{
Spell(MAUL)
}
}

A few other words before I sign off:

1) After you get your Lacerate to 5, hit Berserk after your next Mangle. I haven’t figured out how to get it to prioritize keeping up Lacerate during Berserk, but I’ll work on that after my vacation.
2) Typically, in fights where I’m tanking one or two mobs, I don’t have enough rage to spam Maul. In those fights, I use Maul when Mangle is up. That tends to keep me good on rage.

Hope that helps you bear tanks out there!

So, in my last post, I detailed all the crap that’s happened over the past few months and how my expenses have been taxed. This week I got my ambulance bill for another 1600 dollars. I can’t figure out a reasonable payment plan, and I can’t afford it, so I need to look into getting another job. The good thing is, when I talked to my boss about it, he’s said to keep him informed on how I need to juggle my schedule so I can handle this. The bad thing is, I’m really not anticipating going to Vegas this week. I expect it’ll be fun, but all the money I’ll be spending would be better spent on my bills, so I’m going to be spending my time there just giving myself a guilt trip, which is not very relaxing, which really defeats the purpose of a vacation.

So, while I’m out there, I’ll attempt to get some extra exercise in, and hope that the sheer heat has a sauna effect. Seeya in a week!

Stop trying to hit me and hit me!

When it comes to WoW, I’ve always been a healer. But, between constant absences, people quitting, and other conditions, I’ve now become a tank. Which is well, odd, but I’m getting used to it. It’s nice, because I had a fair set of Feral gear at the time, so I was quickly able to re-gear my character. But now that that’s been completed. I find myself worrying about threat. Specifically, which buttons to press in which order. But much like I have trouble prioritizing cat  DPS properly, I find myself falling back and wishing that there was something I could fall back on for optimal threat on the druid.

So, I wrote my own OVALE script.

Basically, I took the existing bear script, took a chainsaw to anything that wasn’t a bear. Wondered why the heck that thing wasn’t working properly, removed a few more things, and ended up, with this:

I apologize for the lack of indentation, but I can’t seem to get it to cooperate with the blog post.

Define(FAERIEFERAL 16857)
Define(MANGLEBEAR 33878)
Define(DEMOROAR 99)
Define(SWIPE 779)
Define(LACERATE 33745)
Define(MAUL 6807)

SpellInfo(MAUL toggle=1)
SpellAddTargetDebuff(DEMOROAR DEMOROAR=30)
SpellInfo(BERSERK cd=180)

AddIcon help=main nocd=3
{
if Stance (1) # bear
{
Spell(MANGLEBEAR)

if TargetDebuffExpires(LACERATE 6 stacks=5)
Spell(LACERATE)

unless 1.5s before Spell(MANGLEBEAR)
Spell(FAERIEFERAL)

unless 1.5s before Spell(MANGLEBEAR) if TargetDebuffExpires(DEMOROAR 2)
Spell(DEMOROAR)

unless 1.5s before Spell(MANGLEBEAR)
Spell(SWIPE)
}
}

AddIcon help=offgcd
{
if Stance(1)
{
Spell(MAUL)
}
}

AddIcon help=cd
{
Spell(BERSERK)
}

I believe it properly prioritizes the most threatening powers for druids, though I need to work out a way to get Berserk to integrate with the prioritization for keeping up Lacerate, but I’ll put in more work on that later. For now, I think this is a good start.

Update: The latest version of the script can be found here.

Early on in March, my aunt passed away from cancer. I didn’t bike while I was out of town. I got back, kept putting it off, then came down with the flu.

I got better. Biked a day or two. And was hospitalized from food poisoning.

I got better. Biked a day. Came down with the flu.

I got better. Then came down with a UTI, which made everything unpleasant for about two weeks.

Really, this year has been full of shitty health problem after shitty health problem.

But, I’m getting back to it.

May 16th, 18th, 25th, and 27th, I did 8.5 mi. So, that’s another 34 miles that month. Yesterday I did another 8.5. I’m aiming to spend time on the bike for a half hour three days a week until I get back into the groove. Additionally, starting today, I’m swimming in our pool on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I spent about a half hour out there and did 20 laps. My arms were dead lumps by the time I was done, and I was barely using them. I don’t know what it is, but my shoulders are completely shot and don’t seem too excited about the concept of coming back.

So, that’s where I’m at, health wise. I WILL reach my goal, I just don’t think I’ll do it when I was originally planning. Still. It’s important to not let setbacks become permanent. After all of this time standing still, I’m getting back into it. I hope that if you’ve been side-tracked, you’ll do the same.

Take care, and be excellent to one another.

Courtesy of the guardian.co.uk.

- Paul

To kick Arthas’ ass up and down Icecrown Citadel.

In doing so, I recruited friends across the states and from the local area to help me out. From that start, of the original nine people I recruited, two remain. And I can fault none of them for leaving.

At the end of the day, WoW is a game. It is a way to unwind and to enjoy the company of others. Priorities for everyone are different. Some seek a challenge, orthodox or not, others seek the social aspects, others seek to prove themselves in combat against one another. Not only are each person’s priorities different, they also have different levels of the priorities and are willing to allot more time than others.

Over the past few months, we’ve had a rather constant turn-over of one or two people in addition to absences for varying reasons. As such our progress keeps getting stuck. And what’s worse… is one of our raid members is getting sicker from Lupus.

This person has raided with us for some time. They’ve been a joy to have around. And more and more recently, they’ve been completely incapable of raiding. While I could decide to replace them due to simply not being well enough to play, I can’t do that and look myself in the mirror. So, what do we do? We carry on. Slowly. I know people are frustrated, but I’ve got to stand by certain ethics. I’ve heard before that a good compromise leaves no one happy. I really am starting to understand that now.

Oh, and I’ll be explaining my extended absence shortly. Sorry for that.

The reason I bring up zen is three fold. First, the person who creates these games goes by that as his name. Second, I recently finished reading the Tao Te Ching, and I found it an interesting counter-point to The Analects that I’ll go into more detail later. Third, played without firing a weapon, I find these games to be very relaxing. I consider it a type of zen-like meditation. Which is odd, considering it’s not the proper use of the word, and really…

Taken from the2bears.com

Dodging all of that can be quite focusing. And I would say that when I’m focused I’m more relaxed. So with that out of the way, here’s the progress update.

2/1 – 16.5 km
2/2 – 16.9 km
2/3 – 16.9 km
2/4 – 16.5 km
2/7 – 16.9 km

For those wondering why it’s all so close, the bike I ride measures in quarter miles. And then I have to go and convert that into metric. So, what you’re seeing is 10.25 and 10.5 mi rides. Friday and Saturday I gave my legs a rest and focused on other activities. I haven’t done today’s exercise yet because, well, my stomach was a little upset after last night.

If I keep up this rate, I’m not going to make it, but I won’t be over-working my body so that I have to take time off which will, oddly enough, cause me to not make my goal. So, for the meantime, I’ll keep pedaling.

Oh! I almost forgot February’s playlist!

Rammstein – Reise Reise
Clint Mansell – We Got the Gun
Trent Reznor – You Know What You Are?
JG Thirlwell – Assclamp!
Adam Freeland – Mindkiller
Messiah – Destroy Zeppelin L48
Franka Potente – Running Two
David Arnold – Backseat Driver
Messiah – Thunderdome
Mephisto Oddessey – Crash
Rammstein – Wollt Ihr das Bett in Flammen Sehen
Propellerheads – Spybreak!
Leftfield – Space March

Image taken from Penny Arcade

From things I never expected to say volume twelve:

“I really missed working out these past few weeks.”

But, tomorrow I’m going to start biking again. Instead of doing the hour long sessions I was before, I’ll dial it back to a half hour and pay closer attention to how my knee feels. So what have I done in the meantime? Well, I’ve been knocked out Mass Effect 2 this week. And it was awesome. The final mission of the game had me on the edge of my seat and cursing loudly while I was playing it. Everyone reacts with stress differently. My mouth gets a direct line to the brain and it’s a non-stop curse parade. And when it was over? Hysterical laughter at getting everyone out alive. Yep, that’s how I deal with stress.

Aside from Mass Effect 2, I’ve been doing crunches all week, and my weight’s down under 245 again. Mind you, it’s 244 (10 squared + 12 squared). But under is under. So I’ll take it. Now to get to (10 * 10 + 10 * 10) Yeah I’m bored. Work for it. :- b

I also made the chili this week. Burned out a few co-workers, and had a few co-workers say it was just right. I still wish I could have found a ghost pepper for it, but I don’t know where I would have got one.

Other than that, I don’t have much to talk about. Life is still going by, and it’s still pretty good for me. I know I’ve got emotional gut punches waiting for me later on this year, and I’ll do what I can about them. Until then, I’ll just keep biking.

So, last night, we not only dropped the Blood Queen, we went into Ulduar, sunk an hour of time into Algalon, and then decided to bail and head to TotGC to work on Anub’arak. And there it was proved that we have skills. They may not be mad, but they are skills, nonetheless. Also, fuck you faction champs. Grumble, grumble, 44 attempts remaining grumble.

It’s going to be a while until we head back again, with the Frostwing halls and Arthas dropping next week, and then the hard modes unlock when we finish that, so our time to make up work is limited. So the hard part to figure out is, what do we do with that time?

Do we swing back to TotGC and work on the Tribute to Mad Skills and Insanity? Do we reset Ulduar weekly to work on Algalon? Or do we clear out the rest of Ulduar so we can work on Alone in the Dark and never have to deal with YS again?

TotGC and Algalon are both time dependent. It takes about an hour to properly do TotGC. With Algalon, we need to clear to him, and then deal with the hour timer we have to drop him, which means I need to block out about an hour and a half for him until we drop him. With YS, we need to spend another hour to two hours to clear to him, and then we can leave him up until we clear him.

At this point, I’m tempted to push for YS, simply because once we get to him, we can keep plugging away at him without fear of timers or attempts until we get it. But, because I pretend to care (okay, I DO care) what my guildies think, I’m leaving it open for discussion.

So, in this situation, what would you do?