Author: James McNally

I am happy to say I have found a kind of a home in cyberspace: as a member of a Quake ]I[ Arena Clan called [HEMP]. It’s named after the leader, veganhempman. I don’t know their smoking habits, and I don’t partake, if you’re wondering. For those of you not ensconced in the joys of frags and CTF and all that, you may like to have a peek at Planet Quake.

So I have found another book to read (in addition to The Making of the Atomic Bomb, The Ingenuity Gap, and various programming books for school): The Left Hand of Darkness. Of course I should have read it long ago. Then again, I sometimes think I have good luck at reading a book when I am ready for it. The opening essay had me fall in love with Ms. Le Guin immediately, and inspires me to write more fiction again soon. Or anyway to read more. But then I have all these software and computer game ideas… {bg}

Hey, I discovered a fave writer who also uses Blogger: Neil Gaiman, author of the Sandman comics (official site is nonexistent). Maybe I’ll read his new book this summer. {bg}

I’ve attempted to liven up my previous post with fun links to make up for any other failings you might find. I hope you like ’em. Not much else new to report in the world, but I personally don’t pay much attention. Here’s something non-newsworthy.
Iain M. Banks‘s Consider Phlebas was a disappointment. It was his first attempt at science fiction, and later work gets much better, but I was so hoping, because it was an important influence for Halo, sure to be the biggest, baddest, funnest online multiplayer game ever. (Also see Halo.Bungie.org for discussion and info.) OK, I’ve tested and fixed all the links now. Ugh. {bg}

Gracious, James, I could have recommended better pics, but I suppose you wanted to give em a larf, eh? {bg}

Hello, readers. Excuse me while I’m super-peeved. I’ve just written a nice few hundred words which I promptly dispensed to the ether by hitting TAB and then some other key which stood in for the “back” button. I was quite witty too. Or I thought so.

Here’s the facts: I’m Brent, the friend with blog access to Console-ation Champs (haha, compsci pun) and I’ll be adding daily updates and tidbits and stories etc while Seamus is gallavanting in his new media cowboy boots and chaps down in Austin, hangin’ high those beers, steers and…. ahem, sorry, just a little flashback there… anyone out there have a
Ministry episode? (I mean the band, not a religious calling.)

OK, my humour needs work, fine. I’ll see what I can come up with in class tomorrow in between bouts of coding.

News: for you Mac users who might have missed it, Apple announced that MacOS X has gone golden master as of Mar 6. Just tonight I was getting some sales training in OS X (I work part-time in a Mac reseller, wherein our Mr. McNally once worked before abandoning us to his current employ). In fact, I signed my very first non-disclosure agreement today! I’m sure it bodes well for my future in software development. As I can’t say anything specific, let me summarize: Oh, and OS X kicks muthafeckin arse, no joke.

Ach, it’s past pumpkin hour, and I must abed, though not after playing with some new CD’s from Apple mothership. I will put my best effort into keeping the regular readers amused for the next week. Let’s hope Mr. Connery was not right when he spake, “Your best? Losers always whine about their best!” etc. G-nite. {bg}