Imported From Livejournal

I’ve been trying to try out a new game called Second Life. I finally managed to run it today after taking one of ‘s somewhat-older video cards to use instead of my wonderful-for-CAD-but-doesn’t-work-on-games FireGL E1. The game is basically like an old-fashioned MUX, but a 3D MMORPG world. The basic account is free. You interact with others in this virtual community, in a world made up primarily of what its participants created. Participants create objects and script them to do things. It seems pretty neat. My name there is Peter Newchurch if anyone else wants to jump on as well. (And apparently I may get some bonus if you sign on using my referrer link.)

While “Southern Hospitality” is a stereotypical expression, we found it to be quite true on our venture to Virginia. Basically, the quality of the service at a restaurant was directly proportional to how far South we were. The service at the Olive Garden in Richmond (which we went to Friday night since we were too late for the GPT) was the best service I have ever had in a restaurant. It was just, very, very, impressive. Have others who’ve traveled found the same to be true, or were we just lucky and happened to find a great server?

So, I think I’ve learned that I’m much more likely to succeed as a professional judge than as a professional Magic player. Jessi and I went to Grand Prix Richmond, and lost a lot, but had a good amount of fun. We headed down Friday, but it took a bit longer to get there than I (or AAA) had expected, and so we missed the Grand Prix Trial that evening. On Saturday, we played in the main event, and lost horribly. On Sunday, we played in the side-event Pro Tour Qualifier, where Jessi lost quite a bit. I had a very nice deck and was very much thinking I could do well, but in some very close matches I ended up losing 2 and drawing 1 in the first 4 rounds. So, we dropped, and went back to our hotel room where we played some more casually before going to bed and driving home on Monday.

Tomorrow, we leave for Grand Prix Richmond. The plan is to have a lot of fun. I tend to doubt we’ll win anything, but you never know. You should be able to see our ranking in the main event at the MagicTheGathering.com tournament center if you’re so inclined. However, if we don’t do well in the main event, we’ll likely drop and play in some of the numerous side events.

(This is from memory, so I’m paraphrasing, but this is pretty close.)

“You must make the following declaration: You swear under penalty of perjury that the information you’ve provided here is correct. To make this declaration, press 1.” — The Massachusetts Telefile system

I have to wonder just how legally enforceable that is.

Also, for federal taxes, I’d like to recommend TaxAct, because they’re free (without the income limits the other online providers have for free services). They just really, really, really try to upsell you to their “deluxe” and state tax products. I had a pretty good experience with them. And, I just can’t bring myself to pay any money, to anybody, just to get back what’s already mine, and been mine all along.

The 2006 Network Stress Test at our house has been postponed indefinitely due to lack of interest.

Last Saturday, we went to the Guidpact magic prerelease. I judged there, and it was enjoyable, but there wasn’t anything particularly exciting from a judging perspective. (Which is okay.)

This coming Friday & Saturday is the 2006 Network Stress Test at our house. I haven’t heard from many people, so please let me know if you’re coming (by emailing me per the directions on that page).

The following weekend, the first weekend in February, we’re going to Grand Prix Richmond, as players, which hopefully will be a lot of fun.

Warning! Individuals whom you invite to view your designs will receive your username and password via e-mail.
— The “invite a friend to see your designs” feature of a competitor’s web site

There are a lot of electronic money transactions nowadays. My “paycheck” gets electronically transferred from my employer’s bank account to my bank account, from where it is electronically transferred to merchants I do business with.

My question is, is there traditional cash (in the form of dollar bills) somewhere that is associated with all this electronic money? Or is there some currency in circulation that just begins and stays electronic?