Balthassar

Meek vs. Weak

2008-04-11T00:50:42Z

I've been struggling recently separating the above.

This is what I'm aiming for: Quiet and refined in manners; not rough, harsh, or stern; mild; meek; bland; amiable; tender; as, a gentle nature, temper, or disposition; a gentle manner; a gentle address; a gentle voice.

This is what I'm trying to avoid: Not possessing or manifesting intellectual, logical, moral, or political strength, vigor, etc. Specifically: (a) Feeble of mind; wanting discernment; lacking vigor; spiritless; as, a weak king or magistrate.

*shrug*

Live Journal AWOL and lame humour

2007-08-17T02:50:56Z

I've been AWOL for awhile... nuff said.

I found this ditty online today in a 'want ad', it just struck my irony chord the correct way:

"Im looking for any proofreading work that needs doing. Im just starting out, but have a excellent record in previous work. Currently looking for work to build up my CV, I charge minimal rates, but reat assured you will not be disappointed."

I need boots

2007-05-24T00:08:02Z

Herewithin, I intend to post my endeavours to acquire a pair of boots. They need to be Venetian-like things. I've found my first pair, and will be posting a picture once I get them and bring them home.

If they suck. I'll have to make some!! Egads, I've never been so scared in all my life!

Good Laugh

2007-04-23T01:59:03Z

Oh my goodness!

I was cackling uncontrolably on this one: Start at the top and work your way down the page...

http://www.superdickery.com/seduction/3.html

Man that was funny...

Super!

2007-04-23T01:49:39Z

Had a Super-Weekend filled with Super-Gaming on Saturday and Super-Church on Sunday.

Seems like Anything can be Super!
Just check out this website, specifically this page here:

http://www.superdickery.com/stupor/6.html

When I saw this page I couldn't help but think of astemudfoot

Have fun at the Superdidity of those wonderful things called comics!

Bleh

2007-04-19T02:04:35Z

Man, I don't write in here much... My main group is buggs.multiply so I tend to write gaming stuff there.

Hello?

Does anyone read this?

It's my birthday tomorrow, if anyone cares.

Work is very busy since Rowany, gotta get back to the grind.

Cheers.

Twinkies & Tits

2007-03-20T04:20:38Z

What do twinkies & tits have in common?

Lots I'd suggest. I'll let you figure it out.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy, in bed. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Current Gaming Update:

Major expenditure for gaming time: Titan Quest (RPG/action) - Funny thing here is I taught both Willow and Wren to play, so when one is playing I can play a boardgame with the other. Cunning, non?

Re-installed: Rome:Total War (military/strategy) - Still a brilliant game. I quickly played through a short roman campaign to open up the other factions. I'm trying to decide if I should play Carthage with their elephants, Brittania with their chariots, or Germania with their genocidal tendancies...

Tron 2.0 (FPS) - My current shooter. I love the ambiance in this game. It was brilliantly made. Up there with my other favorite for replayability (once every few years): System Shock 2.

Problem is, all these games are keepers. I really need to install/play something that I don't want to keep so I can hock it on eBay as there are a lot of current and upcoming titles I'd love to have... oh well, good thing TQ keeps me pretty occupied.

Ok, now about this memege thing...

2007-03-16T02:43:46Z

I don't get it. where does this strange term come from? C'mon, there are a bunch of SCAers I'm sure you'll all make up something if you don't know the real history.

1. Can you cook?
Yes. I cook very few dishes very well. Which doesn't mean that alot of my dishes suck, just that I only cook a few dishes. Coffee with P&J sandwiches anyone.

2. What was your dream growing up?
To not forget? Can't really remember.

3. What talent do you wish you had?
I've always wanted to be able to drink Coke through my nose.

4. Favorite place?
Buffet in Maui

5. Favorite vegetable?
A Hot Dog.

6. What was the last book you read?
Terry Pratchett - Johnny and the Dead

7. What zodiac sign are u ?
April

8. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings?
No tattoos. Lots of piercings. I'm very clumsy.

9. Worst Habit?
Farting at my kids.

10. Do we know each other outside of lj?
Yes?

11. What is your favorite sport?
Marathon (gaming)

12. Negative or Optimistic attitude?
Very optimistic. Glass is 10% full type.

13. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
Probably scream like a girl.

14. Worst thing to ever happen to you?
Gosh. Today the electricity was out and I had to boil water for my coffee on the stovetop and toast my bread in the griller. Beyond that, see #2 and #12.

15. Tell me one weird fact about you:
ONE!? I blow spit bubbles. Really. Family trait. One time my cousin got me in the mouth with one. Hey, does this count for #14?

16. Do u have any pets?
No, just walking dinners and a dog so round it doesn't run, it rolls.

17. Do u know how to do the macerana?
Man, you realise you just made me sing that damn song?!

18. What time is it where u are now?
Coffee time!

19. Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
Depends how revealing the costume is.

20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
I would look as young as I feel.

21. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
Conscience. I'd be that little angel sitting on your right shoulder. But instead of a harp I'd have a Tommy Gun.

22. What color eyes do you have?
Various. Everyone says something different. Have a look for yourself.

23. Ever been arrested?
For what?

24. If you won $10,000 dollars today, what would you do with it?
How did you *know* I wanted $10,000? Freaky. Reality: It'd visit Mr. Credit Card and I'd never see it again. Dreamworld: Buy $1000 worth of games, a new Car, and musical instruments (drum,bass,electric,keys and piano - Hey I could afford it all, this is my DREAMWORLD!)

25. What kind of bubble gum do you prefer to chew?
Halva. It's pasty, and chewy, but you can swallow it!

26. What 's your favorite bar to hang at?
Spacebar.

27. Do you believe in ghosts?
That's an interesting question. Not in a Casper or Ghostbusters way. So not by any standard definition. But I do believe in spirits.

28. Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
Eat. Drink. Be Merry. Kill computerised pixels in the shape of goblins.

29. Do you swear a lot?
No. I tend not to talk but to listen. *shhyah*

30. Biggest pet peeve?
Dirty hands. Dirty dishes left on the table.

31. In one word, how would you describe yourself?
Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious.

32. Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?
What a stupid rhetorical question. No, I'm going to delete it and waste all the time I spent writing these bloody answers in!

Game Purchase Conundrum

2007-03-05T04:26:36Z

See here...

http://balthassar.multiply.com/journal/item/3

My aparagrahah sirens are going wild. I want them all!!! Time to buy another tatts ticket...

what Super Hero are YOU?

2007-02-21T06:16:04Z

No surprise there really... Quite happy with the #4 Apocalypse as well! :)

Your results:
You are Riddler

Riddler		67%
The Joker		63%
Dr. Doom		63%
Apocalypse		59%
Lex Luthor		58%
Green Goblin		56%
Magneto		54%
Mr. Freeze		53%
Juggernaut		48%
Dark Phoenix		48%
Kingpin		40%
Catwoman		38%
Poison Ivy		38%
Two-Face		32%
Venom		27%
Mystique		24%

Riddle me that, riddle me this, who is obsessed with having a battle of wits??

Click here to take the Super Villain Personality Test

in bed calendar

2007-02-20T00:37:11Z

Damn, that's true...

Mahatma Gandhi "The future depends on what we do in the present, in bed"

TV star

2007-02-20T00:32:17Z

astemudfoot is a TV star! In case you missed her, she was the cute one who came last in the pancake flipping race on Sunrise this morning.

Cannibals

2007-02-13T22:40:30Z

Two cannibals meet one day...

The first cannibal says, "You know, I just can't seem to get a tender Missionary. I've baked them, I've roasted them, I've stewed them, I've barbecued them, I've tried every sort of marinade. Just can't seem to get them tender."

The second cannibal asks, "What kind of Missionary do you use?"

The reply, "You know, the ones that hang out at that place at the bend of the river. They have those brown cloaks with a rope around their waist and they're sort of bald on top with a funny ring of hair on their heads."

"Ah, Ha!" the second cannibal replies, "No wonder - those are fryers!"

balthassar @ 2007-02-05T13:07:00

2007-02-05T02:09:28Z

I often get the general vibe of anti-Christianism from individuals who unite modern day (or even early day) Christianity with Middle Ages Catholicism. Comments which blame/accuse current Christians and their God using the acts of the "Holy" Crusade or the Spanish Inquisition (NO ONE EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION! - Someone had to say it!).

I opine that often the acts of the "Holy Roman Empire" were not very holy, Christian, nor Catholic. Their clergy were, imho, "uneducated" and, from what I can gather, often self-seeking. Consider the quotation from a clergyman hopelessly entrenched in Roman Catholic dogma: “We are better to be without God’s laws than the Pope’s”. This can be evidenced by their zeal to attempt to keep the Bible out of the hands of the common people (and even their own clergy for that matter!) by squashing it's translation into English.

I recently learned the interesting history of William Tyndale. Google him if you like. He was the first person to translate the New Testament into English and was therfore convicted of heresy and consequently strangled and burnt at the stake on Oct. 6, 1536, because of it. Sounds like some higher-ups didn't want the people (and one could assume, even their own clergy) to learn what the Bible really says. Not very Christian of them, eh?

I think many comparisons can be made between the Clergy of those times and the Pharisees of old. They convicted Jesus of blasphemy and put him to death after he had a few choice words to say about them (the Pharisees/Religious Leaders of the day). Read Matthew 23 where Jesus said the following beauties among others (edited for brevity, from the NIV translation):

"But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach."
"Everything they do is done for men to see"
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are."
"Woe to you, blind guides!...You blind fools!"
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness."
"You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel."
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence"
"You snakes! You brood of vipers!"

And my personal favourite:
"You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean."

No wonder the religious leaders were pissed and began plotting how to kill him.

It seems that mankind has often used religion (in virtually every culture) to create their own personal utopia at the expense of others.

I'll close this musing with the Lyrics from Enigma's song "Silent Warrior" (emphasis added)

Long ago, for many years
White men came in the name of GOD
They took their land, they took their lives
A new age has just begun
They lost their GODS, they lost their smile
they cried for help for the last time.
Liberty was turning into chains
But all the white men said
That's the cross of changes
In the name of GOD - The fight for gold
These were the changes.
Tell me - is it right - In the name of GOD
These kind of changes ?
***They tried to fight for liberty
Without a chance in hell, they gave up.
White men won in the name of GOD
With the cross as alibi
There's no GOD who ever tried
To change the world in this way.
For the ones who abuse His name
There'll be no chance to escape
On judgement day ***
In the name of GOD - The fight for gold
These were the changes.
Tell me - Is it right - In the name of GOD
These kind of changes ?
Tell me why, tell me why, tell why
The white men said:
That's the cross of changes ?
Tell me why, tell me why, tell why,
In the name of GOD
These kind of changes.

(footnote: I know some of the above events occured after "pediod" times, but the message is the same)

Tits

2007-01-30T23:06:30Z

Bloody hell. Yesterday when I, macholike, was going to reset the fuse after blowing a circuit, turned the corner too sharply... scraped my nipple on the thorny rose bush! Now it's scratched and beginning to itch. Bugger.

Missing the blog

2007-01-30T05:48:24Z

I miss astemudfoot's Blog. We're having problems with our satellite dish...

Hopefully it will be fixed soon so she can rant. :)

(/Gambit Voice) I should invite her to work with me, non? (/end Gambit Voice)

British Poll

2007-01-29T04:52:41Z

Please don't answer if you know for certain, just smirk at the people guessing.

I came across an interesting discussion on the internet regarding Americans not knowing the difference between a few "labels". So, if you are not completely certain, please put your guess below to the following question: (I won't make fun of you, because, to be honest, was myself just educated on the exact relation of the following, so consider this more of a survey(ing expedition) thingy)

What is the difference between England, Britain, UK, British Isles, if any?

Leo Tolstoy "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself in bed."

I'll close with some quotes from Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

Bob Redding: How's your head?
Elvira: I haven't had any complaints yet.

Elvira: Bloody Mary.
Bartender: No hard liquor served past eight o'clock. Do you want a virgin?
Elvira: Maybe, but, ah... I'll have a couple of drinks first.

Elvira: I have seen the People's Court. I'm entitled to one phone call and a strip search.

Elvira: Grab a tool and start banging.

Elvira: And if they ever ask about me, tell them I was more than just a great set of boobs. I was also an incredible pair of legs. And tell them... tell them that I never turned down a friend. I... never turned down a stranger for that matter. And tell them... tell them that when all is said and done, I only ask that people remember me by two simple words.
[Stops to think]
Elvira: Any two, as long as they're simple.

Cop: Do you know you were doing fifty in a twenty five miles per hour zone?
Elvira: No, but if you hum a few bars I'll fake it.

Surveying Expedition (really not a war)

2007-01-22T22:37:24Z

Have you booked?

If not email me or post below.

Beerwulf - I got your message, see you there.

- Bal

Current Gaming top 10

2007-01-22T04:07:39Z

Hope this works...

alternate work options

2007-01-11T02:14:43Z

I've been pondering my job recently.

I've written a lot of home loans for people and helped them get into their 'house of their dreams'. I have often gotten loans for people who've been knocked back elsewhere and provided a lot of ethical lending and hopefully saved some people from dealing with the sharks in the industry (unfortunately every industy has them, even Yoga apparently...) But, sometimes it feels empty.

Today and yesterday I've had a 10 minute lunch break and ate my pot noodles. Both days I've thrown $10-$12 down at the poker table and 10 minutes later (when I've finished my pot noodles) I was ahead $10. I then log off and get back to the grind. (That's an hourly rate of US$60!)

Quitting my job and playing poker for a living has a few negatives:
1. Poker would lose probably lose it's "fun" status and turn into a "grind" (refer Rounders http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128442/ If you haven't seen this movie, you'll have to come over and visit, because I just picked it up on DVD for $5!)
2. Absolutely no job security or, for that matter, any guarenteed regular income.
3. It would be very very scary financial wise.
4. If I played from home, I'd probably spend most of my day feeding animals, shooting animals, beheading animals, skinning animals, cooking animals and the like. (We've got over 50 young chickens. I'm going to be very busy around Easter as we'll be preparing (probably) 25 roosters (or with our luck 40 roosters) - Can we bring some to Festival so I can run a chicken preparation workshop?
5. Possible social issues. I'd probably never shave (I shaved today honey!), sit around in my underwear all summer (because it's hot in our backroom, and then there are the issues regarding being on the computer all day long...

Perhaps when Little Spice is in schoold and astemudfoot (aside: Look thepurpleempire I can do this now!) gets a wage-earning job and we win $1,000,000 at Tatts it may work?

Well, a friend of mine quit his job to become a part-time busker. I guess anything is possible...

Random Musings

2007-01-10T02:21:16Z

Howdy all,

To whomever is out there perving on my life I offer the following updates:

Well, most of the stuff is in my beloved's live journal here: http://astemudfoot.livejournal.com/

That covers the rabbit, Christmas, Birthdays and all the important stuff.

I'm hoping to make a rabbit hat or something.

I'll let my love tell you about the great Christmas and Birthday gifts I got her!

Christmas was enjoyable and I had a good break from my money-earning job. Although there was still alot to do around the farm. I really enjoyed the time with my 4 girls, as I think so did they. This last weekend felt quite short, as I worked at the office Sat AM and still did a bunch of farm stuff (like cleaning chook house and repairing triangles). Consequently, I feel very bleh at work today (which is probably why I'm writing in my journal instead of being on the phone!)

I'm holding some boardgaming at my house on the 13th and 20th as I'll be lonely in the evenings as my Buffy-Buddy will be galavanting around Melbourne. Call/Email/Post below if you'd like to come over. I'm hoping to play: Goa, Power Grid, Memoir '44, Princes of Florence among others.

For Christmas I also got "Titan Quest" (Action/RPG) which is a Diablo II type game. The girls love it. They made me play a druid who summons a sylph. We've also just started a Earth Pyromancer, whom we'll give Spirit abilities to.
I also plan to make a Paladin (Defense/Storm Masteries) and a Brigand (Rogue/Hunter). It's a very good game.

As I'm already talking computer games, I'm only playing two other games at the moment (finished the other ones in a pre-Christmas flurry where I was trying to get stuff completed so I could begin new games on my new-to-me computer!)

Prey (FPS) - Very good. Very gruesome, and therefore definitely a night-time only game (when the girls are in bed), not good when my love is doing yoga.

Korsun Pocket (Strategy/Wargame) - Also very good and strangely addictive. Bores the pants off of everyone else in the house though, but a good one while my beloved is doing yoga.

I'm about to list my stuff on eBay, but thought I'd give my friends first dibs before it goes to general auction:

If anyone wants to part with $5, you can snaggle:
UFO-Aftermath (strategy in the vein of X-Com - I couldn't get into it though, and the battles felt a bit same-ish after about 10 hours, it was a good 10 hours though...)
Stronghold Deluxe (build castle, grow wheat, grind it up, bake bread, harvest hops, make beer, mine ore, hire soldiers, have babies and set up a maypole). Quite a decent game, a bit dated now.

I'm also planning on listing my FPS games as a 7-game pack, which includes Riddick, Deus Ex2, Painkiller, and 4 older FPS (Red Faction2, Soldier of Fortune, IGI, IGI2)- I'd hope to get $20 for the lot.

Also going to sell Spellforce Platinum DVD - Includes orignal plus 2 expansions. Got probably a good 50 hours ot of this DVD. I sold the orignal campaign on eBay for $7.50+$2 postage, so I'll probalby get $10 for this.

Beerwulf (someone will need to show me how to do those little person tags) - I owe you $5 as a refund of overpayment for the last one.

What else...

Today's in bed is from William Shakespeare, who mixes sexual innuendo in his quotes yet again with "How pooor are they that have not patience in bed!"

Well, my files are calling me...

- Balthassar

RPG Gamer

2006-11-21T00:15:03Z

Just a cross-over from my Multiply group...

What kind of Role-player are you?

You scored as Character Player. The Character Player enjoys creating in-depth characters with distinct and rich personalities. He identifies closely with his characters, feeling detached from the game if he doesn't. He takes creative pride in exploring different characters, often making each new one radically different than others he's played. The Character Player bases his decisions on his character's psychology first and foremost. He may view rules as a necessary evil at best, preferring sessions in which the dice never come out of their bags. For the Character Player, the greatest reward comes from experiencing the game from the emotional perspective of an interesting character.

</td>

Character Player

90%

Storyteller

65%

Weekend Warrior

45%

Tactician

45%

Casual Gamer

40%

Power Gamer

25%

Specialist

20%

What RPG Player (Not Character) Type Are You?
created with QuizFarm.com

Today's In-Bed is pretty good too!

HORACE "Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans: it's lovely to be silly at the right moment, in bed"

My eyes keep blinking.

Does Brennan Bo Memden Fie Fi FO Fennan read these things? casue this next question is specifically for him. Want to see Leita Alexander from Babylon 5 neekid? Ask me how. (Gosh, I should've read Ava's first to see if I stole her thunder, it was she who noticed it, somehow?????)

Bleh

2006-11-03T04:10:50Z

Boy,

It's the end of a stressful week and my stomach is still queesy from Eating Hungry Jack's last night. (This is me being positive, because the alternative is that I got YADD (Yet Another Damn Disease).

Oh well, I have another problem file to work on now. Time to get back to work and stop procrastinating.... nah, I'll stop later.

At least my wallet is full because yesterday was payday! Unfortunately once I pay our Cow Man for the half cow and 7 sheep, I'll be broke again!

We took new work pictures, so I can update my userpic. yeah?

Watched "The Professional" or "Leon" last night. I'm a bit of a Jean Reno & Luc Besson & Gary Oldman fan. Fifth Element is always good for a watch... "Where are my shtones!"

in bed calendar

2006-10-24T01:32:08Z

From yesterday...

Proverb - "First impressions are the most lasting, in bed"

And Today...

Robert Browning "That's the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over, lest you should think he never could recapture the first fine careless rapture!... in bed!"

Remind's me of a Black Adder Episode.... "Again Please!"

in bed calendar

2006-10-18T05:28:49Z

Today's entry is from Pamela Summers

Nothing exacts a more terrible toll,
Than a Raging Bushfire out of control, in bed.

Doesn't rhyme but it's way funnier now. Anyone catch the extra innuendo? BUSHfire.... geddit?! :)

Computer Games

Ava was in Melbourne last night, so I played poker with some friend and then came home to an empty house. I always have problems going to bed when no-one else is home, so I sat infront of the computer for a few hours and finished both SSS and DD (refer previous post). I haven't started anything yet, so I'll keep you posted! BTW- Selling Divine Divinity for $5 posted or pickup (in Australia)!

SSS - 9.5/10 - Premiere squad tactical game currently around. This is one of my few 'keepers' along with Rome:Total War, Titans of Steel, Halflife2 and System Shock2, DiabloII.

Divine Divinity 7.5/10 - Good solid roleplaying game. Not really Diabloesque, way more quests and dialogue and less fighting. Last part was ALOT of combat though, which was a bit anti-climatic considering the first 5/6ths of the game was quest orientated. Hours? Perhaps 50.

Poker

How did I do in my first real life tournament? I was 12th out of 72. Earned myself some APL (Australia Poker League) points!

I was quite stoked with the result. So I played an online tournament (10cent entry fee!) and placed 5th out of 300! Won $6. :) Not a bad return on the investment.

Current balances (US funds):
Pacific Poker: $177
Titan Poker: $78
Total: $255 ($120 deposited)

Can I turn pro yet and quit my job?