When we hear someone is terminally ill we get so shocked and feel sad for them...yet we seem to forget that we are all heading towards death, some faster than others. Death is a certainty beyond all others yet we act as if it is non existent and we will never face it.

On one hand we don't remember the time we will cease to exist and on the other hand we don't remember the time we hadn't existed. We pretend as though we have been here forever, earth our home. While we full well know there was once a time in which we did not exist.

Imagine you suddenly awake in a boat with no idea as to where it's heading. What will you do? Ask questions. Where am I heading? Why am I here? How did I get here? Yet on the boat of life we've become so engrossed on the things within the boat itself that we've forgotten we're even on a boat. No, you did not always exist, nor will you continue to do so. You've awakened to life just as you would be awakened on a random boat. Don't get distracted by the boat itself, for it is insignificant compared to the vast ocean. Figure out your destination before the journey ends.

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” - John F. Kennedy.

formerly: legendofurface. it's insane how quickly time goes by. i wanted to apologize to the people i've hurt in the past. there was no excusing that.

I’ve been thinking about so stuff for a while off and on. Mostly about here.

I don’t really know what to do here anymore. I don’t feel like running my little games. I don’t want to talk to half of the active members on here. I just don’t know anymore. I keep logging on because of habit I guess. I spend downtime at work just refreshing a page that isn’t going to have anything new on it. I get maybe a few notifications a day. I just wonder what the point of all this is anymore.

I know I’m not really wanted around some parts either. It might be best that I get a new hobby away from here. There’s only like 2 or 3 people I like here anyway.


I say this a lot but this time I really just don’t have a clue what more to do to reengage myself here.

Once upon a time, I made a blog. Occasionally I'd post rambling things about politics, sports, and technology here. Then I got busy finishing up my education and totally forgot this was a thing! (I also toyed with putting some longform blog posts on Tumblr, a medium terribly unsuited for such writing.)

COVID-19 has dramatically increased my free time in recent months, giving me an opportunity to catch up on a lot of things near the bottom of my personal backlog. The pandemic - and all the disruption it's caused - has also messed with my sense of time, and it's inspired me to reflect on some things.

There's no denying it: Old blog posts are seriously awkward! Especially things you wrote about when your age started with "1".

I was smarter than a lot of kids - or at least I had impeccable grammar and could fool people into thinking I possessed brain cells! However, I also didn't have a particularly vibrant social life (being home-schooled and living in a neighborhood full of senior citizens isn't too good for this), and I didn't have a clear idea about what I wanted to do next. I was also under the illusion that someone on the Internet actually cared about what I wrote!

I've given some thought to deleting my old blog posts - I don't think anyone's reading them, and since I often talked about politics, I worry about people digging up old posts and quoting things out of context. On the other hand, deleting old content feels like erasing history, and I probably haven't posted anything too horrible by the standards of Ancient Internet Posts.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Awkwardness aside, blogging is still a beautiful thing. While blogging certainly isn't dead (WordPress is the most popular content management system on the Internet, after all), most people doing personal blogging have abandoned it in favor of newer forms of social media. While modern social media is perceived as "easier" in some ways, there's a charm from old-school blogs and forums that's lacking in the generic blue-themed walled gardens of newer social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Blogs are also a lot more searchable than video content.

More importantly, blog posts are usually at least a few paragraphs in length. And that's something we need more than ever. While brevity has its place, one of the reasons why places like Twitter are so toxic is they thrive on controversy - when you only have 140 (or 280) characters to work with, you really can't back up your opinions with solid facts, so short, incendiary posts tend to be the most popular ones. (Politicians, including the current leader of the free world, are not helping in this regard, either!)

I miss the older era of the online world - back when the Internet was more experimental, playful, decentralized, text-based, and desktop-first. I prefer small forums and blogs run by hobbyists, rather than huge social networks focused on selling data to make Silicon Valley rich.

It also feels that the hobbyist user is getting squeezed out of the modern online world. When people aren't coming to blows about politics, everything's about building a brand and monetizing a product. A decade ago, the online world was more experimental and playful, and I miss that. I'm not putting down folks who earn some spending money - or a living - from their online presence. But I also think it's great to have some spaces where people are focused on having fun and not worrying about building a brand.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I miss the optimistic (and naive!) spirit of the older online world. I miss the days when people thought the Internet and social media were going to bring us together, not drive us apart; when the Information Age would usher in a new age of freedom and democracy, instead of becoming a tool for spreading misinformation. And with more people using their real names online, things can get a lot more vicious.

Now, I should be clear - the online world of the aughts had plenty of toxic attitudes. We've also made some progress - faster Internet speeds, far prettier cameras, and a stronger focus on accessibility are all positive steps. However, I miss the days when the online world was more carefree and upbeat.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As previously mentioned, reading old blog posts is seriously awkward! Still, it's interesting to see how things have changed - or haven't.

December 2012: This is still an interesting post! I was wondering whether the Internet truly improve our lives. Modern digital technology now touches pretty much every aspect of our lives, and it's not feasible (or desirable) to try to eliminate PCs, smart phones, and high-speed Internet from our lives. Still, my conclusion to this post does a great job of summarizing how I still feel about this topic:

quote "Vinny"

Even though I've always used the Internet in a relatively responsible way, I find my productivity, creativity, and personal sanity go in a positive direction when I keep my "plugged in" time to a healthy limit.

November 2012: More recent politicians have paid lip service to the declining state of many small towns/Rust Belt big cities. Whether any of their actions have been successful is another story!

April 2010: There's been an increase in Black representation on TV commercials lately, though I still don't see a lot of Hispanic or Asian people. (That said, about the only TV I watch is football and baseball, which may not be a representative sample!)

March 2010: For the first and only time in my life, someone actually listened to one of my ideas. One of my proposals for fixing the old Bowl Championship Series for deciding the college football national champion is exactly what the modern College Football Playoff is now. I think the CFP is a very good model, and I hope they don't don't dilute it by adding another round.

August 2009: My town still isn't laid out well! In some ways it's probably gotten even worse.

May 2009: I wrote about a local leader of a religious organization who said and did some not-very-good things. A decade later, this same organization ran into dire financial straits, in part because they paid their leaders way too much instead of maintaining their buildings (or divesting property they no longer needed). There are so many ways this story could've had a happier ending.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In other news, the pandemic has given me a lot more time to play games - and make some games of my own. Working from home and losing the 45-minute commute each way does wonders! So that's one of the few silver linings we've had in this crazy year.

Maybe I'll write some more stuff later. Or maybe I won't. Either way, thanks for reading this! I hope you're doing well and staying safe and all that good stuff.

- Vinny

My fanart for Pyra (Xenoblade Chronicles 2) and a custom Toyota Supra GT4.
More versions available at my Pixiv and FB pages

The purpose of the title is that's literally what the first Sims for console, or as I'm playing it on PS2, is. It's a test of patience and strong will. As a kid growing up, I've owned every Sims game for the PS2... other than the first one. So around in 2017, I decided to get it to FINALLY complete my collection! And how did I like it? Well, when I first played it in 2017, I only played a small amount -- not even completing the first level (Mom's house) before deciding to stop and not picking the game up again until 2020. Why am I playing it now? Since I own all the Sims games for PS2, I decided to create a challenge for myself and that's to 100% every Sims game for the PS2.

I regretted this decision and that's all because of this game.

Although it plays very similar to it's sequel, The Sims: Bustin' Out. It's far worse. While The Sims: Bustin' Out shares many of the same issues with this first one, which makes it not very fun either. The Sims is almost unbearable. The Sims (2002) does not have the same charm as Bustin' Out. Its graphics are a slight downgrade. The music is TERRIBLE. It doesn't share the same zaniness or iconic and recognizable soundtrack as the other Sims games have. In fact, its soundtrack resembles free stock music. Nothing creative, just boring. Unlike the advantage Bustin' Out does have, The Sims is lacking anything fun in gameplay wise. There's no man-eating plants, no work station to build your own gnomes, no killing your sim by deleting the pool as they jump off the ladder. Literally nothing fun for your sims to interact with. And the game... the game's "Get a Life" mode is sheer hell. I love a challenging game, most people (or "gamers") do. However, The Sims isn't even a satisfying kind of challenge. It's the TEDIOUS, boring kind. Your sims needs is the biggest flaw. The need meters go down FAR TOO QUICKLY. And the game expects you to beat it by: Getting promotions, and completing the goals for each household. It feels almost impossible to: Gain skill points, complete goals, clean the house, make friends, go to work, AND keep your sim happy. It's too many things to juggle at once when the needs drop quicker than flies. This could've been easier had their been days (like Saturday, Monday, etc. etc.) so that way you don't have to go to work literally EVERY DAY. Which your Sim spends so much time at work, you have to take care of your needs again... and also if the need meter just went down GRADUALLY. This is a problem they fixed in the later sims games, notably Urbz and The Sims 2. I recall completing those games and the need system never being that big of a deal.

And the fly sound effect from not cleaning the house because of dirty plates... it could drive me to insanity. More effective than the Chinese water torture.

I almost want to just SKIP this game and move on to Bustin' Out. Which has the same flaws, but also has some pros, at least. But I feel like I would be cheating the challenge I gave myself. So, alas, I must endure.

This game is lacking: Style, fairness, good music, and anything creative. Honestly, it feels JUST like real life. Never enough to do in one day... hard to keep up with everything... you're always miserable. And who wants to play a game that's frustrating in a real life manner? That's just depressing!

A bloke goes to the council to apply for a job in the office.
The interviewer asks him,"Are you allergic to anything"?
He replies, "Yes caffeine."
"Have you ever worked for the public service before."
"Yes I was in the army"he says,I was in Iraq for two tours."
The interviewer says, "That will give you 5 extra points toward employment.
Then he asks,"Are you disabled in any way?"
The guy says "Yes,a mine exploded next to me when I was there and I lost both my testicles." The interviewer grimaces and then says,"O.K.
You've got enough points for me to take you on right away.
Our normal hours are from 8.00am to 4.00pm.......but you can start tomorrow at 10.00am-and carry on starting at 10.00am everyday."
The bloke is puzzled and asks."If the work hours are from 8.00am to 4.00pm ,why don't you want me here until 10.00am?
I'm not looking for any special treatment y'know."
"What you have to understand is that this is a council job,"the
interviewer says, "For the first two hours,we just stand around drinking coffee and scratching our balls.There's no point coming in for that."

There are two statues in a park; one of a nude man and one of a nude woman. They had been facing each other across a pathway for a hundred years, when one day an angel comes down from the sky and, with a single gesture, brings the two to life.

The angel tells them, "As a reward for being so patient through a hundred blazing summers and dismal winters, you have been given life for thirty minutes to do what you've wished to do the most."

He looks at her, she looks at him, and they go running behind the shrubbery. The angel waits patiently as the bushes rustle and giggling ensues.

After fifteen minutes, the two return, out of breath and laughing. The angel tells them, "Um, you have fifteen minutes left, would you care to do it again?"

He asks her. "Shall we?" She eagerly replies, "Oh, yes, let's! But let's change positions. This time, I'll hold the pigeon down, and you shit on its head."

hello, i have finally landed on the planet namek....................and with no time to spare
im fairly new to this kind of stuff so plz dont kill me

It was only moments after Safety the shiny Patrat evolved. I was training her with rustling grass Audinos before battling Roxie and this beauty showed up. Her colour scheme reminds me of the Anastasia doll that comes in a royal purple box, hence the name. This playthrough is unintentionally turning into a shiny badge quest, haha.

QUESTION???:
How many Facebook group members does it take to change a light bulb?

ANSWER:
1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed.

14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently.

7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs.

17 purists who use candles and are offended by light bulb discussions.

6 to argue over whether it's 'lightbulb' or 'light bulb'.

Another 6 to condemn those 6 as stupid.
22 to tell THOSE 6 to stop being jerks.

2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is 'lamp'.

15 know-it-alls who claim that they were in the industry and that 'light bulb' is perfectly correct.

49 to post memes and GIFs (several are of Michael Jackson eating popcorn with the words added: “I’m just here for the comments.”)

19 to post that this page is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a light bulb page.

11 to defend the posting to this page saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts are relevant here.

24 to discuss the merits of LED/swirly fluorescent light bulbs

44 to claim LED and fluorescent bulbs will kill you.

12 to post the letter “F”.

8 to ask what F means.

7 to post 'Following' despite the 3 dots at the top right that mean you don't have to.

3 to say "can't share".

2 to reply "can't share from a closed group".

36 people to post photos of their own light bulbs.

15 people to post "I can't see S$%^!" and use their own light bulbs.

6 to report the post or privately message an admin/moderator because someone said "&^%^%#%@"

4 to say "Didn't we go through this already a short time ago?".

13 to say "Do a Google search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs".

1 to bring politics into the discussion by adding that (insert politician of choice) isn't the brightest bulb. This usually takes place within the first three comments.

50 more to get into personal attacks over their political views.

3 to state sanctimoniously that this is supposed to be a friendly Facebook group and that all of this petty nonsense is a result of people abandoning courtesy.

5 admins to ban the posters who were insulting.

12 who commented just scroll down if you don’t agree/ or have anything positive to say

3 who come up with a conspiracy theory about light bulbs which either involves them catching Coronavirus or that they will fry their brains.

I've been grinding for a while and finally found a special team member. So glad I had a premier ball :'D