Category: scott (Page 8 of 10)

This weekend, Katie and I watched 7 episodes of Veronica Mars. It was pretty awesome.

We also went a Giants/Phillies game at AT&T park, which was also pretty awesome but very hot (as the seats were directly in the sun the whole game). Noah Lowry pitched a very good game and sealed my fantasy baseball team’s fate to being the only 0-5 team in the entire league right now.

Then we played Hoggy.

Hoggy is played on a baseball diamond with a backstop, although other similar areas could potentially be used. We played with 3 people, although the game could be tuned for more (or could be played with 2). One playground ball is used. A bottle, or something that can stand upright but be knocked over, is placed on the ground between the two defenders. This is called “the dazzle.”

There is one kicker and two defenders. The defenders position themselves near the backstop, while the kicker stands a little behind the pitchers mound with the ball. Certain areas of the backstop are designated as “goal” areas, while others are “out” areas. Certain areas may also be designated to have no effect. The kicker then moves towards the defenders, either holding the ball or rolling it on the ground. Before reaching a predetermined point somewhere between the mound and home plate, the kicker must kick the ball in an attempt to hit the backstop “goal” areas before the defenders can stop it. The defenders must stay within a certain range of the backstop (unless Boot Rush is called – see below).

A hit on a goal area counts as a point for the kicker. Knocking the dazzle over counts at 10 points. A hit on the out areas counts as an out for the kicker. Should the defenders deflect the ball (either back toward the kicker or into an out area), it is an out. Should a defender catch the ball, it is two outs. Should the ball fly over the backstop, the kicker must retrieve it and it counts as 4 outs. The defenders may alternately kick the incoming ball, if they can. Should the kick leave the infield before the kicker and retrieve the ball, it counts as 3 outs. However, should the kicker catch the kicked ball before it bounces, it counts as 1 out and 1 point. When the kicker has 6 outs, he moves to a defender spot, the defenders rotate, and one of them becomes the kicker.

When the kicker is ready to proceed before a kick, he must say aloud “volley,” to which the defenders each respond “trapper” or “keeper.” If and only if both defenders say “keeper,” out areas on the backstop have no effect and catching the ball will result in 3 outs instead of 2.

There are several additional things which may be yelled once the ball is in motion:

• Boot Rush – yelled by the defenders once the kicker crosses the pitcher’s rubber. If both defenders manage to reach home plate before the kicker kicks the ball, it is an automatic out. Backstop out areas have no effect.
• Cyclone – yelled by kicker before kicking the ball. If the ball hits a defender, it is a run. Otherwise, it is an out.
• Hoggy – yelled by defender at any point before catching a ball. If the ball is caught off a deflection against the backstop, the Hoggy yeller gets a free kick (i.e. one kick against no defenders). If the Hoggy yeller does not catch the ball off a deflection after yelling, he now has a Hoggy Point. Each HP adds an automatic out for any time following where that player is the kicker. If someone manages to accrue 5 HPs, he loses the game and everyone else wins.

Additional kicker calls may be added later, as well as the ability to hold on to the ball and throw it if such a call is made (such as Cyclone).

I saw the midnight showing of Spider-Man 3 last night, which was entertaining and a bit tiring. I’ve been feeling tired most of today, but I think it was worth it. Now, to get on my soapbox for a little bit.

I’ve been following this story about this student in Texas who was weeks away from graduating from Clements High School was expelled for having created a Counter-Strike map based on the layout of his high school. For those not in the know, Counter-Strike is a first-person-shooter computer game where you can play as a soldier in a terrorist situation (either as a good or bad guy). Like most PC games of its type, Counter-Strike allows players to make their own levels with an editor.

To some degree, this is ridiculous. The fact that the punishment given to this kid: police detainment, a search of his house and computer, being expelled from school (or at least being moved to an “alternative education center,” not being able to graduate, and being treated as a potential killer is beyond anything he should have to endure for simply being technically savvy enough to create a map using the level editor of Counter-Strike.

Here’s the order of events as far as I can figure it out: kid creates the level, shares it with some friends, a parent of one of the friends sees it and calls the school. The school looks up the kid’s website, finds the map, deems it a “threat” and call the police. The school immediately removes him from the school and the police investigate. Here’s the catch – it seems like the police used their common sense. The story details how the police talked to the kid in a rational manner, and the kid admitted that in light of recent events, he could see how the map could be construed in a manner he had not intended. He then deleted the map and said he would never make a map of a school or public place again. The police decided, at that point, not to press charges.

So why is the school still convinced this kid is dangerous? Why did an emergency board meeting called by the school board fall through because they couldn’t meet quorum when 4 board members simply didn’t show up? Is it because he’s Chinese, like the Virginia Tech student? Is it because it was Counter-Strike, a game that was initially and mistakenly attributed as a game the Virginia Tech student played (although later investigation found this to be false)?

In many ways, this story kind of hits close to home. I play games, and I’m sure that I talked to my friends in high school about how awesome it would be if we could make a Doom 2 map of our school that we could deathmatch on. I’m not in high school anymore, and it was possibly a different time back then, but this kid could have been me. He did nothing wrong (confirmed by the police dropping charges after talking to him and searching his home), and yet he’s been branded as dangerous and removed from his school. Sure, his timing couldn’t be worse, but I’m sure that talking-to he got from the police helped.

To sum up, I wish we lived in a slightly different world. Where taking the time and creative effort to create a Counter-Strike map was equated to taking the time and effort to create a Google SketchUp model, and not with preparing to kill a bunch of fellow students. I wish more of the school board members could understand why the police investigation ended up like it did. Most of all, I wish we could bridge the communication gap between those of us who play and love video and computer games and those who are afraid of them and see them as habits of dangerous people without it turning into an argument.

I gave blood today for the first time since high school. It felt nice, even though I felt nauseous and lightheaded at the end of it.

I got some Oreos and peanuts, and was able to watch E! news while the blood was siphoning out of me. I guess I have really nice veins that are big and just aching to spill. I got fashionable red medical tape wrapped around my right elbow now and feel like a hero. Isn’t that what’s it all about anyway?

I’m adding a twitter badge to my page. Twitter is a rather silly idea, but I thought I’d try it out. Also, there’s a Woot twitter bot, so that might turn out to be useful.

Nothing else interesting to report. I think tonight is steaks and games night. I hope my fantasy baseball team breaks out of its 0-3 slump.

Most of my free time goes into video games or TV, which sounds like I’m frittering away my free time on frivolous things. Regardless, I figured I’d give a little insight on what I do spend my time on, in case you have similar interests.

PC games (which I’ve started playing a lot more recently):

• World of Warcraft – I recently started playing this pretty regularly, so if you want to play together, let me know
• Command and Conquer 3 – Still getting through the single player campaigns
• Battlefield 2 – Still getting the hang of it, but let me know if you play regularly on certain servers
• TrackMania Nations – Free and has a pretty slick track editor for a free game, which is really the core of its appeal

Console games:

• Okami (PS2) – impressive art style, fun mechanics
• Godfather (Wii) – the closest I’ll ever get to beating someone up
• Tiger Woods (Wii) – makes me want to learn golf

I’ll need to finish Twilight Princess for the Wii too at some point, which is why I think I’m going to take a break from playing new console games for a while.

TV:

• Lost – still a big fan of this show, that always excites me week after week
• Survivor – still my favorite reality show; this season’s been particularly entertaining
• Veronica Mars – working through the first 2 seasons on DVD, but worth a try if you’ve never seen it
• Drive – forgettable but has Nathan Fillion in it!
• America’s Next Top Model – fierce, fluffy filler

Other than that, not much going on. Work is going well, and I like it a lot. My fantasy baseball team is doing less well, but I still have faith in my players. I ordered 40 DVDs worth of Buffy the other day. And…I’m hungry. Off to lunch!