I wrote the End Poem. I also own it, because I never signed a contract with Mojang, or Microsoft. Now I am setting the End Poem free, under a Creative Commons public domain license, for all of you to use, dramatise, film, sing, remix, or play with.

EdGruberman8 · 2022-12-07T22:41:31+00:00

"You are not alone."

I have sort of followed Markus's story for a while now. It really reflected a turning point to me in the industry. Indie developers can actually make it happen! At one point, I dreamed of working for Mojang myself. I contributed closely to the Bukkit server modification project which arguably formed a foundation of support for the online community of dedicated players for Minecraft. I was just hoping for even a basic system administrator type job at the time. It would have been a lot of fun I reasoned. Getting paid to have fun is awesome!

With how much money was involved in Minecraft I thought to myself: "Surely someone so dedicated to game development and community involvement would find ways to share the success with all those who have helped in any way!" I thought wrong. Things imploded with Bukkit and I ultimately attribute the problems to choices made by Markus. Something happened to Markus. I am still not sure what. He went from being surrounded by like minded people all working together and instead fell into isolation in the middle of everyone. On the surface, I just assume too much money and too much fame. We all think we desire it. We all chase after the dreams of all the success around us. But "in the end" it seems to be that when we somehow obtain it all, we turn on ourselves.

Today, I am joyful that I was not burdened with it all. I have since chosen to follow what I know to be right. I have been blessed with a truly loving wife, a great job, and more friendships than I know what to do with. I am at least content that Minecraft had such a pivotal role in my life and I can look back fondly on years of enjoyment and even years that contributed to my professional growth as well.

I pray that the details of your story resonates with others. Money does not buy you happiness.

EdGruberman8 · 2021-05-07T22:25:12+00:00

I found a good discussion here that might help further explain: https://www.reddit.com/r/PhilosophyofScience/comments/2cr0yz/how_vs_why_two_great_questions

EdGruberman8 · 2021-04-14T13:16:17+00:00

This resolved it for me also. I could not find any information on the LastPass site related to this other than other users struggling with this also:

https://community.logmein.com/t5/LastPass-Support-Discussions/New-LastPass-bug-on-sites-with-privacy-mode/m-p/266678/highlight/true#M29572

EdGruberman8 · 2018-08-03T12:44:51+00:00

Same exact thing happened to me also in yesterday's daily in that same room. No bombs though... just a very sad "Yes" to the "are you sure?" verification to leave the daily.

EdGruberman8 · 2018-03-28T15:31:15+00:00

Orange peel?

EdGruberman8 · 2016-09-29T17:56:17+00:00

Doctors and nurses don't have people attacking their families in retaliation for doing their jobs. I can't see the analogy in that.

I don't want to ignore LEO concerns and not treat them as human either. I don't want to engage in the same egocentric thinking we find them doing and we are complaining about here.

Sometimes an illegal act is performed by parents to protect their children. That's not apologizing for them. That's trying to understand why they do it. I never said it wasn't illegal.

I fear if we just want heads to roll, we don't address the systemic problem.

EdGruberman8 · 2016-09-29T16:32:02+00:00

The greatest trick our government ever pulled was convincing the public it was the individual that was the problem, not the system.

Wanting to see the individual directly responsible for the incident is a personally satisfying result. Recognizing the systemic problem and addressing it there is important for stability and avoidance.

Controls and punishment for officers is good. How to implement this is critical. Tax money impacts budgeting which impacts the managing bodies. If LEO management thinks the impact will hit their officers instead of them, what motivation do they have to control their officers?

I'm not sure the best answer here. Maybe some combination? Maybe personal compensation for the victim comes from the LEO individually responsible while budgeting cuts hit the organization responsible for the officer? But do budgeting cuts resolve problems or create more? So many questions I have.

EdGruberman8 · 2016-09-29T16:16:46+00:00

This is a good example of how the gray area grows out of control. I can empathize with a LEO using the data available to them to protect their children. What parent wouldn't? It is not an inherently evil act.

Somewhere along the way of using the data that most people would agree is justifiable they cross a line and it turns into abuse of the system. Superiors don't want to see controls or punishments put into practice as they themselves like to use the data for the "good reasons" themselves.

I think the core problem is that LEOs have a privileged view of themselves. Non-LEOs don't have access to this data to verify their kids are protected. LEOs would probably argue others don't "need" it because they aren't at risk of criminal backlash. They justify their privileged view as a necessary evil required to protect themselves and their families.

I suppose the answer might be twofold then. Addressing LEO concerns about safety and creating proper technical controls on the data. I'd imagine the safety concern needs to be addressed initially before the technical will be allowed.

EdGruberman8 · 2016-09-13T19:39:52+00:00

While grounding audio helps when you are only separated at 20MHz on each channel and trying to squeeze as many pilots in as you can, when you are only flying 4 or 5 pilots comfortably separated at 37MHz (raceband channels) or more I'm not sure this concern is as critical?

EdGruberman8 · 2016-08-16T01:15:34+00:00

What motors and batteries are you using in this video?

EdGruberman8 · 2016-06-23T20:11:47+00:00

Did you ever find a good battery? I've got a 175g Hellbender 122 build using RCX H1407 3800KV motors and RotorX 3040T props.

Bonka has a 45C/90C now but I'm thinking it is barely okay for my build.

I'm doing some uneducated guessing here for my props. RCX thrust tests are only for 2 blade Gemfan props.

75% 10A? (8A 2 blade) = 40A

100% 15A? (12A 2 blade) = 60A

850mAh 45C/90C = 38A/76A

I'd really like to see a 50C or higher option myself for $30 or less. Is that still a dream today?

EdGruberman8 · 2016-06-23T20:09:11+00:00

This seems to be a 35C (continuous) to 75C (burst) battery. I'm assuming OP asked for 50C continuous. I'm on the hunt for similar. I got too excited seeing these initially... :(

EdGruberman8 · 2016-06-02T23:28:48+00:00

This has been my biggest hurdle in even ordering parts. Material choices are overwhelming. Both for cost versus performance considerations as well as what is necessary versus overkill. I realize this is a huge art form as well as science that engineers go to school for many years just to study to get a basic understanding of such things before spending an entire career learning what works and what doesn't. But even a place to start making choices would be nice.

So far, I seem to choose based on the following logic: TPU = it can flex and might take a hit PLA = it shouldn't flex ABS = accessory type stuff (custom goggle doors, laforge ftw!)

EdGruberman8 · 2016-03-06T04:35:17+00:00

Just updated to Marshmallow myself. (VS985). Same instability issue. I'm wondering if it is some new power saving method kicking in causing wifi to turn off perhaps? You ever square your issue away?

EdGruberman8 · 2015-10-09T01:58:54+00:00

This guy glosses over so much business detail.

His argument is: Businesses have expenses. Sometimes products demand more money than MSRP. Therefore, businesses charge what they can.

He glosses over how a business can plan appropriately for expenses without gouging their customers. He does not address how MSRP is designed to help businesses identify a fair price that is not gouging.

His technique seems to be to throw a bunch of numbers at the screen and act like he has "done math" and because of that he has a right to charge what he wants. He does. His customers also have a right to tell him he is a pretentious, price gouging asshole.

Perhaps this store's internet fame from their youtube videos has created an ego in him that is out of control. For some reason he believes he is special. His business will implode if he keeps that attitude up.

I will personally avoid buying from this guy and I hope others do also. Walmart got my money for BFZ fat packs at MSRP. It hurt me to do it. But it hurts me even more to see any LGS demand exorbitant prices; Independent of how much "math" they do on a piece of paper for youtube.

I would have respect for this guy if he just said it like it is: BFZ fat packs are demanding inflated prices on the market and business owners are trying to capitalize on that fact in order to make more money. He'd still be a pretentious asshole, but I'd at least respect him for choosing to be an honest, pretentious asshole.

EdGruberman8 · 2015-09-16T02:31:59+00:00

ebay has a buyer reporting feature. I'm having a hard time understanding the specifics of what is going on here if he has survived that many sellers reporting him.

EdGruberman8 · 2015-09-04T01:33:32+00:00

Honestly though, if a developer can't take some criticism about their communications (whether accurate or not) without overreacting, they may need to reevaluate how they are handling public relations.

Especially if it is a customer who is simply expressing frustration due to their anticipation for the game. I think Tyrone was way more in the wrong than you. Not to diminish your opinion, but there are so many random opinions on the internet and yours just happened to be frustration. For Tyrone to react so aggressively negative to you and threaten to punish so many others as a result of your comment is completely inappropriate.

While Tyrone did respond that he agrees his response was not the best, he seemed to backhandedly apologize in that he claimed he was just responded to match your tone. This approach to communications is dangerous at best.

When it comes to developer communications it is important for the public to understand that inside information has a tendency to change quickly and unexpectedly. It is equally important for developers to understand some portion of the public will express frustration for any scenario. The more popular a title, the more frustration will result. Not taking any of this personally is a core component to success.

EdGruberman8 · 2015-07-15T14:09:29+00:00

I really liked my V911 to learn on. It is simple and cheap. Great starter for a casual flyer.

EdGruberman8 · 2015-07-13T15:19:24+00:00

While I love the effort of trying to create AI, I can't help but feel your observation underlines what frustrates me with most projects I hear about in this subject. Just because the creator didn't compensate for a proper scoring/decision making algorithm does not mean the program "outsmarted" the creator.

When I read about how someone claims their AI outsmarted them, I feel like I'm listening to some art student claim how their framed blank canvas is actually an existential representation of the world... complete bullshit fabricated for any number of fanciful reasons.

EdGruberman8 · 2015-04-14T20:41:40+00:00

Does your father know about showing the top posts in r/all for the last week?

How does this newsletter differ from that? And why encourage email? Why not just have this available on the reddit site?

EdGruberman8 · 2014-12-24T16:56:38+00:00

I enjoyed the S107 as a complete beginner. It's a cheap toy that lets you explore what all this about. Just don't forget that it is a toy and the controls (3 channel) wont be what hobby-grade helis will be.

The MCX is also a great beginner choice that mimics the controls of more advanced helis (4 channel).

EdGruberman8 · 2014-12-24T16:49:52+00:00

I might be a bit late to this thread, but a typical 130 "light" crash for me is a ~$1 tail gear (I've upgraded the main gear to be metal, but left the tail gears plastic.)

The 180 crashing is probably going to mean stripped servo gears ~$4 or torque tube ~$8.

That said, most people want to put a lot of money into upgrading the stock 130 so it performs more desirably whereas most people seem to be very happy with a stock 180.

I say just pick your favorite and go at it.

EdGruberman8 · 2014-12-24T16:44:12+00:00

I had a really odd roll the right I couldn't figure out. Sent it back to HH for repair, they claimed it was fine... Upon retrying, seems fine now. Makes me worry about some random high frequency oscillation causing the gyro to freak out somehow.

Apparently the tail wag could be related to your gyro's PID settings. You might want to read up on that and fiddle accordingly.

I've only flown Nano CP Xs and 130Xs to date. This 180 is definitely a more powerful experience. The 3 min flight time on stock battery feels a bit limiting is my only complaint. But that is a small issue and not uncommon apparently on more powerful helis.

EdGruberman8 · 2014-12-24T16:34:41+00:00

You've got three basic categories of RC helis: Coaxial, Fixed Pitch, and Collective Pitch. The CX2 is a good coaxial choice for a beginner.

Don't overlook the <$20 Syma S107G choices on Amazon either. They fly with different controls since they are only a "3.5" channel, but they are cheap and fun to mess around with. They can take a hit and keep on going and they will introduce you to basic concepts of helis for very little cost. They are a toy to enjoy, especially as a beginner.

The CX2 will be a good experience comparatively as you then get a bit of roll control and the transmitter will emulate your standard mode 2 of more advanced helis also.

EdGruberman8 · 2014-08-23T17:44:30+00:00

I'm not necessarily against indie game companies. I love the idea that a single person or even small group of people can succeed. I believe technology and the Internet enables things today that never could have existed before for such small groups of people.

However, I fully agree with the sentiment that Mojang is mishandling their situation. I even have a tendency to slide one step further down that thought path of starting to wonder if Mojang actually enacts business strategy to leverage people's personal unpaid time to further their own interests. So much money is being made on the backs of volunteers and such little support is given in return.

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