Please note that I did not add any music as that is a simple process and not something that I feel I need to practice. I also did not create the crawl with the proper scroll speed. I can adjust the timing as needed and re-render to match soundtrack needs. I created this purely to see how close to the original I could get visually.

Let me know how I did if you find the time and have something useful to say. I don’t mind a critical review, so don’t be afraid if that is how you feel.I plan on continuing my research into the large text “Star Wars” opening, but my next goal is to practice a bit of rotoscoping for lightsaber effects.

Interestingly enough, I have been accepted to George Fox University against all my prior expectations. I am awaiting some correspondence from the university that should get the ball rolling. Currently, the ball is moving at a glacial pace. I was beginning to become concerned about my application status, but a quick email to my admissions adviser resulted in a phone call from the same informing of my acceptance status. Good news, to be sure. (I wonder if my email resulted in a review of my application or if it was just some happy coincidence that the two happened nearly simultaneously?) I would be daft if I said I was not excited. Knowing that my time here is now on “limited” status is appealing to say the least.

Working for Comcast has been a financial boon for me, but I hate the job. No really, I do. I am hesitant to state this due to the possibility that someone might come across this and my career would be ended shortly. I feel like I need to get this off my chest though and my family has heard enough from me, I am sure. I don’t want to sound like a whiner as I know most people hate their jobs as well, but the endless promises of change with resulting total inaction from superiors is depressing at the least and maddening at the most. We are constantly reminded not to get overtime if at all possible, and yet are expected to complete 8 or more hours of work (as estimated by Comcast itself!) in 6 hours or less. If we get off of work on time, chances are that we haven’t done 8 hours worth of work. If we complete 8 hours of work, chances are that we got overtime. It’s a frustrating circle to be a part of. Both situations can result in a comment or two from supervisors or a full-blown “coaching” in an office with the door closed.

A quick note, I am currently working on a few small projects. I have purchased and built a small computer to act as a media center. I have it working right now, but not with all the features I eventually want. I still have to install the TV tuner card and tweak a few things in order for it to become the DVR/Media PC of my imagination. I also just ordered a slew of things to construct an electronics workshop of sorts. I am getting a new soldering iron, flux, solder, and various cleaning materials to begin experimentation and dabbling in electronics. I will probably start with some pre-made kits to get the ball rolling and move on from there. If anyone has any ideas, feel free to suggest in the comments.

Trotting on.

Here it is: http://www.freekonline.net/irc

That link points to a java-based, browser IRC client. If you have a separate client that you want to us, here’s the URL.

Have fun. Don’t kill my bandwidth.

I have no defined plot nor characters, but I started typing out some of my ideas for a story. I have been reading a book specifically about plot structure and development amongst all my internet research and have reached a point where I believe I can start putting a good story together. There have been a few ideas that keep on running through my head that I will give the first chance at succeeding, but there are still dozens more that are itching to come out of the depths of my mind.

Here are 3 of my ideas actually, the first 3 that I typed out (i.e. – not necessarily my favorites):

A seemingly normal man gets caught up in a sinister plot to combine 3 ancient relics into a mythical device of massive destructive power. Can he find and destroy the final piece before the Earth becomes just another cold, lifeless rock in space?

The Blood Fountain is just a myth, it has to be. A small group of adventurers on a rock-climbing trip come across a tattered manuscript containing a map and embark on a journey to Hell.

Animals flee from a 10 mile wide circle deep in the jungle where all plant life has mysteriously died. A week ago it was only 1 mile wide, and it continues to increase in size. An unseen adversary rises from the depths to torture Earth, but what can be done to stop the relentless invasion?

Feel free to comment/critique as you wish, I welcome any input.

If you can’t already tell, I want to write an action/adventure novel.

I have set a goal of 2 pages of ideas for today and tomorrow, and I can get about 10 per page. Hopefully I will end up with 40 – 50 ideas that I can use to start developing a good novel.

I am hoping to be of sound enough mind to continue to blog about my novel writing experience.