They say youth is wasted on the young. As I get older, I start to agree with the wisdom of that saying. My baby daughter is barely 2 weeks old, but I have some advice that hopefully I can keep in my mind to give her that hopefully she will be able to find useful. #1 We don't know what we don't know. The problem for kids, starting in teens and going on through their 20s is that they don't know what they don't know. That's obvious. What's not obvious is that htey often don't realize tha...

So I bought a cottage on the lake. The cottage on there is kind of crummy so we're designing a new one to tear down what's on there and build. The gotcha is that the lot is skinny. It's only 55 feet wide (200 feet deep).  So the house has to take that into account with 10 feet of space on each side (so we're talking about a 35 foot wide house. So here's the lower floor as we try to find ways to squeeze it into 35 feet.  My wife really wants an out door bathroom so that kids w...

We're almost done with 1.3 but we have a new beta that should be available on Stardock Central to all users of Galactic Civilizations II. Here is what is new in beta 3 over beta 2A.   ************************************************************ Changes for v1.3 Beta 3: ************************************************************   + Changed some of the planetary improvement values and costs + Tweaked some of the values in starbase modules + made entry field selection...

Everyone has things that get on their nerves. Things that really bug them.  Here's a list of some of mine: People not taking responsibility for their actions or behavior People who use arrogance as a debate tactic People who think they have leverage when they do not People lacking self control Passive/aggressive people. People who let the slightest obstacle stimey them. People who think other people should take care of them. People who worry too much about what other people make...

For reference, this is where your tax dollars go (at of year 2000 anyway, not much has changed since then since all parts have grown except interest on the debt which has shrunk and military which has grown slightly).

I came across an election year 2004 poll by Rasmussen which asked whether the person thought the United States was a fair and decent country. 3 out of 4 Bush voters said Yes. Only 15% said no. By contrast, Less than half of Kery voters think so. Again, I repeat: Is America a fair and decent country. I may not be happy with Republicans these days but I am not about to vote for people who basically think our country sucks.  

Anyone have a universal remote control that they like?

My ancient 35 inch standard TV finally gave up the ghost and it was time to go out and find a new TV.  Over the past several years, I've been keeping up with how HDTV has been progressing. Presently, there's 3 technologies used to create HDTVs worth mentioning: Plasma screens. DLP. And LCD. Plasmas generally look the best when fairly large but are also very expensive.  LCDs tend to look the best when smaller but lose out at higher resolutions due to being a fixed resoluti...

The Reluctant  A Graphic Novel Outline Brad Wardell, August 2006 Chapter 8: Destinations See Previous Chapters..     DL and Agent Gerard sit around a conference table along with 5 other men. In front of the conference table is General Dyson, who is in charge of covert operations for the United States air force. Dyson: Gentlemen, one of our agents in Beijing has captures one of the henchmen of the Intruders. As you know, the Intruders abruptly disappeared followi...

It is always at night when the darkness comes..

In case anyone's interested, we put up our first video podcast. So if you want to see myself, Kristin Hatcher (who did the voice over for the GalCiv II tutorials and Derek, head on over to the link below).

I don't know about you guys, but I am looking forward to Supreme Commander. For those of you not familiar with it, it's a RTS being made by Chris Taylor's Gas Powered Games.  CT made the game Total Annihilation back in the late 90s which IMO is by far the best RTS that has ever been produced. Rather than relying on a rock-paper-scissors type system, Total Annihilation introduced two pretty innovative concepts -- 1) Damage handled by the physics engine and 2) Pay as you go spending. ...

The Reluctant   A Graphic Novel Outline   Brad Wardell, August 2006   Chapter 7: Legacy Previously... Act I     DL wakes and finds himself laying on a bed.   What should have been a mortal wound has nearly healed and his other cuts and bruises are gone.   It is dark.   An unknown voice in the room says into a communicator “He’s awake.”   Moments later, Agent Bill Gerard, ...

Here's the first set of pictures. Thanks for all your well wishes. Will add more as I get them. Ashley not happy to be on the outside Why am I here? Sweet little girl Daddy feeds Ashley Daddy and Ashley Mommy is relieved ...

Here's a picture of Ashley, less than a day old and she's already got me wrapped around her finger. Our boys are also caught in her spell.  Most of yesterday they took turns holding her as grandparents and neighbors came and visited the newest entry into the family. She's so cuddly and sweet.  We're so very thankful for her.