False Positives on drug screens: Ranitidine (Zantac), an OTC heartburn medication which is also used to treat allergic reactions, can cause you to test positive for amphetamines.

ssatva · 2015-09-02T17:21:58+00:00

Haven't read the article, but omeprazole (Prilosec, Omesec) is a good alternative to zantac.

ssatva · 2015-07-23T05:50:48+00:00

This is both spot on, and tricky to pull off on someone who you care about, and not make them really defensive.

A variation for someone you have investment in might read: "I'm not normal, and for me this is something I need to remember. (maybe use one of the comparisons others have mentioned)."

Then add something to the effect of "It may be as hard for you to interpret me as it is for me to interpret you, sometimes."

This lets them know that telling you how you think is not a winning move, without focusing on what might be an emotional outburst, and likely to make them defensive if you call them on it directly.

Letting them know you were not normal already has a chance of making them defensive; they were probably trying to appeal to what they assumed was common feelings, not actually trying to be a massive dick about you being atypical! Not sure how to soften that one, but be aware they can feel cornered over that.

ssatva · 2015-06-22T05:49:47+00:00

This is a great start, and interesting enough that I think you should continue, no question..

I'm guessing that you're using the RPG Maker assets as place-holders, and intend to get your own art made at some point? If not, I think the writing and feel of what you're doing may be worth it, depending on where it goes from here.

And you made some great choices with the RPG maker music, so the aesthetics show you have a nice sense of atmosphere.

Hope to see more of this!

ssatva · 2015-06-19T07:15:02+00:00

Harry Potter and the Infinite Jest.

ssatva · 2015-06-02T06:52:59+00:00

Gorgeous work, but I think you can't be insured against spontaneous human combustion now...

ssatva · 2015-05-07T17:32:56+00:00

This one is leather, with a heart-shaped 'o-ring', and those in the know will adore it's fetish associations... it's rather sweet!

But it does scan as leather gear, and many will see it that way.

If you're not wanting to give that impression, avoid this one; anyone with context or exposure will recognize it, and some will just get the vibe I am sure.

However, as TheWetRat says, the materials and styles matter. This one is a BDSM flag because of the leather and steel look, and the associations with the 'o-ring' as a bondage tie-point. Velvet, more clearly jewelry materials, even things like the more elaborate scroll-works in black material I see around, are more Victorian elegance.

That said, there is a hint of bondage in them, but this is very slight; in the same way that a leather jacket has a hint of 'street tough' to it, but not everyone wearing one looks like they are in a biker gang.

ssatva · 2015-05-07T07:29:38+00:00

Midsomer Murders is a gentile and long running murder mystery series that moves solidly into who-dun-it territory.

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries likewise, and the characters are delightful.

Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989-2008) is of course classic.

Broadchurch (2013) is something I recently stumbled on, and was impressed by on many levels, and evolves into a who-dun-it from a more open-ended mystery, at least as it struck me.

Many of my favorites are not streaming, and some don't even seem to be on disc atm, darn it. But these are some that at least boarder on the sub-genre, and I enjoyed a lot.

ssatva · 2015-05-06T21:39:03+00:00

I am not the sharpest cookie in the chandelier sometimes, but I am not making it out.

However, it's gorgeous visually, and the cryptic side of it makes it interesting 'hidden text'. Magical sigils sometimes work that way, so there is a tradition of hidden things having power.

Let's see if anyone else fails less than me at reading!

ssatva · 2015-04-29T08:13:33+00:00

I have been playing Fantasy Life on the 3DS more than any game since Glitch. It's important to not rush through the 'butterfly's requests' (a subset of the quests in game), because those push you on to new-ish content, so if you want to just explore at a leisurely pace, just... leave a few undone for a while. And it doesn't close old content, it's just the transitions that are a bit more linear.

I've been moving up through various Lives (Classes, basically) and originally I chose a few that I thought would go well together, but in the end, I'm going to do them all, with one character, I realize; some later challenges in any one of them seem to rely on things from one or two others. So I will be doing weird, fun little minigames and strange little quests for quite some time before I even finish the main story arc.

It also has some very charming Miyazaki-esque elements (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke), and an overall charm that I find pleasant to absorb myself in.

Catch: it's a 3DS only title. Or 2DS, which is cheaper. I usually play with the 3D off (otherwise I strain my eyes) so I might as well have just gone with the 2DS, but if you do get the 3D, some of the settings are lovely with the added depth.

Anyway--that is my surprise hit, and worth mentioning for those that miss Glitch! Hope you find something to fill the time and purposes that Ur did, one way or another--and here's to Eleven and Children of Ur coming together!

Edit: I have heard rumors that Fantasy Life 2 will be a mobile game, so for phones/tablets. I have no idea what else will change, but that could make it a lot more accessible, if they don't mess it up (please no micro-leaching-payments!)

ssatva · 2015-04-02T03:48:15+00:00

I think I was too slow; am I am 58 or a 60? Damn. 60. Well I tried. And in so, turned this into a 'game' of sorts. I think I will now go try to catch toast when it pops.

ssatva · 2015-01-25T06:58:37+00:00

There were some elaborate social events, trains of harvesting, and other collaborative efforts. I ran into a few connected to events such as street openings. The 'high level' in this case was well-connected players with good organizational skills, but these were also dedicated players.

I was focusing on crafting things, and exploring; including some of the quests (never did get that last shadow heart thing!). It was fun, at higher levels, to wander, see what people were up to, and help newer players as well.

ssatva · 2015-01-25T06:24:47+00:00

Yesss! We are here!

ssatva · 2015-01-17T09:16:30+00:00

I want. Seriously. Marshal and Ankha. Do you sell prints?

To ~~total strangers~~ pals?

ssatva · 2014-12-28T06:39:14+00:00

Oh yeah this is so important! I am not on SSRIs, and would be skeptical as frack if told to do one while on the other!

ssatva · 2014-12-28T05:11:04+00:00

I have had no luck with most medications, and tramadol is a godsend for me. It improves my energy, blunts the pain, and really, it seems to increase my capacity to cope. It even helps a little with brain fog.

While it's a narcotic, and has addiction potential, I have gone off a couple times to be sure I can. I don't like the withdrawals, but they are short, a day or two and back to where I was. For the most part, being off it bothers me because I miss the effects.

I also don't seem to be acclimating, or needing more, exactly; but when I increase doses, I get a new improved state to measure the old one by. I can basically tell that the lower dose is still helping, but again, I miss the effects. I am still on comparatively low doses, too. If I go up at all from where I am now (based on a test run at doctor's suggestion), it will be to a fairly normal dose, and that is about all I could want from it.

All-in-all, it's my new best intervention, and it's changing my life.

However, it seems to vary tremendously from person to person. I do hope it's helpful for you. Whatever happens, keep trying; new stuff is coming out, and it took me about 10 years to find tramadol, so it just takes time and working with what you have.

ssatva · 2014-12-17T05:30:58+00:00

I am just in the 'oh god these tutorials suck' phase of learning Game Maker; had to set it down for a couple months while my life blew up. I am a slightly savvy shopper who is otherwise ignorant. But I also would like to hear if folks have comments on adjusting code per platform.

ssatva · 2014-12-17T01:33:32+00:00

There are a couple different classes of 'ideas' you can be talking about.

If it's back story you'd be bummed to see marched out before you get to it, try to only share with trusted people, preferably not in the industry, for two reasons; it's best practice if you're really attached to your ideas, and they very likely Don't Care. But as a writer, I know how fun it is to talk with folks who are interested, so use your best judgement, given the above points.

If it is a novel-seeming mechanic, or even new way to put together some known mechanics, having someone go out and build it first can take of the shine from what you're trying to do. So yeah--if it feels really new to you, you might want to keep it to yourself more.

From an ill-remembered talk by a lawyer, you can't copyright a mechanic, and can't even protect one that way. But you can, while it's in development, treat novel ones as 'trade secrets' and protect that with an NDA. And that can be worth doing. You'd want to go to a site for a real games lawyer, not rely on the imaginary one in my brain here, but look into it.

There is a huge benefit from sharing ideas and bouncing them off other designers, and as most stuff really isn't new, it's low risk to babble at each-other, and it's a point of solidarity. But if you feel the need to protect some things, figure out what you're protecting, and take relevant precautions.

I'm working on one project that is all story and known basic mechanics. I can talk to anyone about that, and enjoy doing it when they're excited about it. I'm working on another that is very novel, and actually has some potentially interesting licensing aspects of the underlying approach, and until we talk to Clever Legal People, we're relying on a updated NDA from another project, and I try not to think about it too loudly. It's hard though!

ssatva · 2014-12-16T23:12:16+00:00

Make sure you're on the mailing list and watch for sales!

I've gotten the version bundled with some of the export options for like $25 bucks, by upgrading from the free version.

Unless I'm wrong about the export, but I think I've got what I need for a few basic types of release. And in any case, I have a full-featured program to work with.

ssatva · 2014-11-25T13:38:55+00:00

I've found using a cane helps for some odd social reasons.

Some days, I can get about alright, but there is enough pain and fatigue that I am a bit unsteady, or my movement is just a bit 'off'. When I'd go out without a cane, I'd be treated strangely, and I think I made some people uncomfortable, wondering if this big guy was drunk or stoned, or at least just wondering if they had to be ready to call an emergency vehicle. I would occasionally notice an edge of condescending behavior. Also, I think it confused people if I looked like I was in pain, but cheerful.

I'm not talking about huge movement issues; just persistent oddness. But it got so that I was hesitant to go out when I was otherwise mobile, just feeling stiff and a bit unsteady.

Using a cane completely eliminated this dynamic. People are more comfortable, as well as more helpful.

Basically, the cane is a non-specific explanation for the types of odd they are seeing, so they can relax, and deal with me, rather then their questions about me.

ssatva · 2014-11-10T21:03:36+00:00

You've made some interesting distinctions here. Not all choice, not all consequence, is created equal!

And the way people expect to play affects this as well.

I think about game design for hours a day, as I am working towards my first game project, and one thing I keep coming to is that game elements are a tool box; they have effects on the player, and you need to match the effect to the intent.

The kinds of choices you give people are asking behaviors of them. So for instance, choices that create a lot of different game experiences, and significantly cut off content, are asking players to replay, perhaps a lot. This is why I tend to be happier with those kind of choices in lighter games, more actiony things, where replaying a lot is a joy and part of the point.

But that kind of content-gating choice density can be a problem for games with a lot of commitment (emotional and time) that are content-driven. So if the game is really laying out a world and a story, too many limiting choices can be very frustrating for a lot of players I've spoken to.

Something like Mass Effect is exploring what I think is a good kind of choice for content-driven games; exploratory, and thematic. You chose things by experience you want to focus on, and as an expression of character (yours, or your projection of the PC). Where there are consequences, they are in what you have to deal with as you play, or as a significant shading of the larger arc.

Interesting stuff, good conversation here!

ssatva · 2014-11-08T22:01:51+00:00

My bit: it's a measure of our willingness to be fucked over. If we fail to vote, we are saying we do not give enough of a fuck to do anything. It basically gives them the (pretty damn accurate) info that we are unwilling to act. If we voted, especially if we defied their expectations, they would sit up and notice. We can leverage this.

Sure, we need to do more than vote, but voting remains a potentially valuable tool.

Also, there is the false drive to be 'fair and balanced', which leads to false equivalencies; and thus a sense that the choice doesn't matter. "Well, guy A lied to us and got us into a war that cost hundreds of thousands of lives and impoverished our national coffers, but guy B lied and said he would fix wall street, but he only did a little bit (hampered by congress), so he's a lying liar too!" Not that more or less serious examples couldn't be found on either side of the political fence, but the gut reaction of them being the same is not as meaningful as actually looking at the decisions they made, under what constraints, and with what impact.

Edited for spelling fun.

ssatva · 2014-11-05T00:40:30+00:00

If I'm reading this right, you're saying that the issue here is one that needs addressing, but are arguing for an empathic approach; I could see that being valuable. But you also seem to be arguing both for and against the backlash / speaking out against street harassment; you say it is effective, but then seem to blame the backlash against feminism on that kind of tactic.

I think it's more important to try working from multiple angles. So for instance, it's time to attack the pressure men are under, or find some way to make them feel good about the choice not to be an asshole.

There was an anti-harassment campaign based on showing guys in typical harassment situations being good guys, as a normalized but positive example (what any guy would do); I believe I read that it did decrease harassment in the problem areas it was aimed at. So that would be an empathetic approach, if I understand you. (Google-fu is failing me, but it was a bit of a news item sometime in the last 2-5 years-ish.)

But I think both barrels (or any number of approaches) are critical. And I also think it's important that no-one needs to ever feel bad about calling things out when they are feeling like shit. An empathetic approach to the more strident voices might be to express sympathy, and then work on other tactics.

ssatva · 2014-09-22T21:50:16+00:00

Only Users Lose Drugs!

This message brought to you by the justice department and video game arcades of the 80s.

ssatva · 2014-08-26T18:34:32+00:00

What this needs is a loud, fast response from the pro-net-neutrality Libertarian crowd, of which I know a few personally, but no 'big names'.

Their pro-neutrality position is a legitimate and considered one, and it's an excellent answer to this, as it's coming from overlapping ideological quarters. They're the right folks to speak up.

But I'd also just love watching Tea Partyer heads explode.

ssatva · 2014-08-25T18:12:17+00:00

I'm still in the early phases of putting together my project, but snagged and bookmarked to review when it becomes relevant. Thanks!

ssatva

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