The Major

Author: FourMajor

  • Last Night As a MUD

    Here’s part of last night portrayed as a MUD:


    > go party
    You have arrived at a party.
    > look party
    You see several people. You also see several beverages.
    > drink mead
    There is no mead.
    > look beverages
    You see wine, cocktails, and beer.
    > drink wine
    > talk people
    > drink cocktail
    > talk people
    > drink beer
    > talk people
    > drink beer
    You feel slightly inebriated.
    > talk people
    Several people are preparing to go to a bar.
    > go bar
    You arrive at the bar.
    > order cocktail
    You order a cocktail. Your inventory has decreased by $7.
    > talk people
    > go dieselboy
    You arrive at Dieselboy with a party goer. Your inventory has decreased by $20.
    > order 2 beer
    Your inventory has decreased by $12.
    > listen music
    You listen to the music. It is quite enjoyable.
    > dance
    You proceed to get your schwerve on. You go boy.
    > order beer, water
    Your inventory has decreased by $8. You feel slightly inebriated.
    > look watch
    It is 2:15AM.
    > talk party goer
    You talk to the fellow party goer. It is time for him to go home.
    > dance
    You proceed to get your schwerve on. You go boy.
    > dance
    You proceed to get your schwerve on. You go boy.
    > look watch
    It is 3:10AM.
    > go home
    You go home.
    Congratulations, FourMajor! You have leveled up! You have two skill points to allocate.
    > train social
    You train your social skill. Your social skill is now at 9.
    > train confidence
    You train your confidence skill. Your confidence skill is now at 8.
    > exit
    Goodnight, FourMajor! Until next time…

  • Blackwater

    A couple days ago, the mercenary company Blackwater was at the center of a rather large incident in Iraq allegedly involving a dozen or two dead Iraqi civilians. There are conflicting reports, depending on who you want to believe, from the US State Department, the Iraqi government, and eyewitnesses at the scene. Some say the Blackwater employees were fired on first, some say they were responding to an exploded bomb, some say the bomb was too far away for that to be the reason, some say that it was because a civilian car (mother and child) ignored an order from police to stop and was slowing moving into the intersection, prompting the firefight. I have my preferences on who and what to believe, you have yours.

    In the end, it doesn’t matter. What it all boils down to is that the Iraqi government has ordered Blackwater out of Iraq. It’s their country, so it should be up to them, no? Evidently not. The US government and Blackwater are basically saying that the Iraqi government has no jurisdiction to kick Blackwater out. I think this is really going to blow up into a much larger issue than it already is.

    Imagine if an Iraqi mercenary group were in Washington D.C. protecting Iraqi officials, and they were ordered out of the country by the US government and refused. Imagine the uproar that would ensue. Fortunately for the US government, we get what we want and those folks would be out of here and/or imprisoned faster than you can say quagmire.

    For some really great entertainment, listen to or watch yesterday’s Democracy Now. Blackwater expert Jeremy Scahill has a debate, about halfway through the show, with a security/mercenary firm trade group representative. For some decent reading on the issue, I found today’s NY Times article to be quite good (page A12, or I am guessing on their website).

  • Wait, What?

    Holy crap, my Yelp profile has been viewed over 1000 times. Crazy.

  • Non-Focused Post

    I’m watching The Office right now, season 3, and this I’ll have to say that this is a really great show. It is obviously hilarious. The characters are really well thought out. Last but not least, it is really sweet sometimes. Less obvious than the whole Pam and Jim thing, which is a good story to begin with, is the Michael and Jim thing. They obviously care for each other and every once in a while they do something really nice for each other. I think this element is what is missing from the British version. That was a good show, but nowhere near as good.

    On a completely different topic, a white russian (or two) really hits the spot after a day of work and class. And it also helps me write a rambling blog post.

  • Kenneth Foster Lives

    I am glad to hear this one:

    Texas governor calls off execution

    Texas Gov. Rick Perry today spared the life of inmate Kenneth Foster Jr., just hours before he was set to be executed for a murder he did not personally commit.

    Perry’s decision to commute the death sentence of Foster — the getaway driver in a botched 1996 robbery that ended in a shooting — came after he received a rare recommendation to do so from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

    This has been covered extensively on Democracy Now.

  • Recent Run-ins With TV News

    The past two days I have caught a few minutes of Headline News. Once was, I think, here at the newspaper. They were talking about the Michael Vick case. Today was even worse. I was in a small cafe getting a bagel before work and the topic of discussion on Headline News was dieting soap opera stars. Horrible, just horrible.

    I am so glad that I now get my news from sources other than the mainstream press.

  • It Is A Good Day

    Picture from my scale this morning: 165

    New Year’s Resolution: done

  • Week of September 15

    I am really looking forward to the week of September 15. Why, because it’s my birthday? Well, yeah, but that isn’t the main reason.

    The main reason is that September 15 is the start of a week of action in Washington D.C. aimed at stopping the war in Iraq. If it weren’t 3000 miles away, I would really try to make it.

    I am probably dreaming, but I really hope to see things getting shut down. As in, so many people on the streets that the government can’t function effectively. Of course, October 27 is the day for local action and you’d better believe I will be there.

  • For Once, I Agree With Bush

    Of course, actions speak louder than words, but this is the strongest I have agreed with Bush’s words in a LONG time:

    …when asked about Mr. Levin’s assertion that the Iraqi Parliament should oust Mr. Maliki, the president’s answer — with its implicit lack of an endorsement — spoke volumes. “That’s up to the Iraqis to make that decision,” Mr. Bush said, “not American politicians.”

    Source: Bush Takes a Step Away From Maliki – NY Times

  • Beer and a Haircut

    I went to get a haircut today at like, the best barber ever today, who I had raved about earlier, I believe. Except this time it was more awesome. He gave me a beer to drink while I got my haircut. How awesome is that?

    Only downside is I had to hold my finger over the top to prevent hair from getting in.