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Well my 4^th week with Hiscall is rapidly approaching and I wanted to (finally) do a bit of an update on the ol blog.  Things have been so busy lately . . . I always end up saying that in every post but this is a whole new LEVEL of crazy.  Hiscall is very busy as a copany and trying to get up to speed with a new job position while you’re in the thick of things has been as exciting as it has been draining.  Every day I learn something new about the way Hiscall works, a new code or law about Security or A-V, or something new about a piece of technology that we’re offering.    

Last week I was in London Kentucky working on St. Josephs Hospital (a brand spankin’ new hospital that Hiscall did all the data network, phones, and security for . . . 6 floors worth !).  I took a few pictures and video on my cell and though that it would be the best way to do something approaching a 12 of 12 . . . and yes, I know it’s only the 9^th.  I get to fudge things when I want to !  8- )

And here we have the main entrance to St Josephs Hospital.  Very pretty !

And this is my ‘Sam Fisher’ hard hat . . . for working hands free in the ceiling . . . and for sniping people !

And here is where they trap the zombies for decontamination and incineration . . . once the Zombie Apocalypse arrives you understand. 
Or . . . this is where they wash the gurneys . . . but I like the first explanation better !

One of the Networking Closets for, I think, the 4^th floor.  This one was across the hall from the Pharmacy, which was cool because we needed to run to a couple of wires to motions sensors in the Pharmacy from the security panel . . . which is in the Networking Closet.

A ‘Glow Rod’ with wires attaches to pull through the ceiling of the Pharmacy back to the Networking Closet.

Nice cable management there.  No, I didn’t do it . . . that’s why it looks so nice !

The upper part of a Power over Ethernet Security Camera mounted in a drop ceiling.  Just cool looking up here.

Running cable up some cable up a conduit in an outside lighting pole to a Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) camera in the parking lot.  The taped electrical connections there are 440 volts.  My job was to reach into the pole and fish out the networking wire and run it up the conduit.

The weather called for a chance of rain that day (as we were working with 440 volts in the parking lot).

10 minutes later, the clouds were spinning above the hospital !  We took cover right about now.

We waited inside for about 45 minutes for the storm(s) to pass.  Then, back to work !

Upon arriving back at the office Thursday afternoon, this was setup on my desk !  WOOT !

Chris, Brian and I in the Discovery Lab (at Hiscall) doing a quote for an upcomming project.  The Discovery lab is SUPER cool.

That’s about it.  This comming week (and the week after in fact) I’ll be in Memphis working with Chris and then with Brian . . . in August I have Crestron training in Atlanta . . . and after that who knows ! 

Now I must go learn more about Final Cut Pro 6 . . . which I’m not too keen on so far as it appears to be VERY finickey as to what it likes to edit and just how you go about doing it. 

First, a small recap of the story as the game starts (no spoilers, this stuff is basically on the back of the box).  You play Artyom, a 20 year old man who was born in Moscow just before the nuclear apocalypse (which comes a year late, in 2013).  When the preverbal fecal matter hit the osculating air mover, he and his family (along with about 40 thousand others) took refuge from the radiation in the Moscow Metro stations . . . where they have lived for the past 20 years. 

It is now 2033 (did you pick that up from the title of the game ?) and the various metro stations have become small cities where every inch of space is precious.  Children play in the cramped corridors, pigs are raised in stalls for food, traders from other stations (and even the irradiated surface !) have set up shop selling what they can, people laugh and cry, they sing and tell storied, they get drunk and have arguments with their spouses . . . the rich and lush environment not only makes you feel cramped, but gives you a sense of community.  These aren’t just survivors, these are people doing the best they can in such a harsh environment and dealing with normal everyday problems too. 

There are mutants on the surface and in the tunnels between the stations.  Big mutants . . . and lots of them.  You basically have two classes of ammo . . . Military Grade and Dirty.  Military Grade ammo is from before the war.  It is very effective but in such short supply, it is actually used for currency.  Dirty ammo is made from Military Grade ammo but the power is mixed with fillers . . . so that one Military Grade bullet makes several Dirty bullets.  They tell you that Dirty ammo is less effective . . . but when you play it is MUCH less effective.  Conserving ammo, I can see, is going to play a huge role in the game.

There are a few game mechanics that are pretty unique to Metro 2033.    The environments are dark, like Doom 3 or Dead Space dark (actually . . . Metro is darker then that).  You have a head lamp that you can turn on and off at will, which actually works very well to light your environment.  However, it runs on a battery that will, eventually, run down.  But they give you a ‘Universal Charger’ . . . a little gadget that you pull out and wind (by pulling the right trigger over and over) and that charges the battery for a good 5 to 6 minutes of constant use.  Some people find this annoying, I think it’s an awesome way to not only build suspense (will my light run out before these waves of attacks are done?) but to also make you feel a part of the environment. 

The HUD is very minimal . . . and actually fades away after a few seconds.  Your ‘Journal’, which amounts to a piece of paper with notes scratched on it, has a compass that points to your next objective.  But you have to look at it in real time, no silly pausing of the game here !  When you look at your journal you also whip out your lighter, which you can light so you can see the journal in dark places.  But if you light your lighter, or use your head lamp, near enemies . . . they will see you and come runnin’ strait for ya.  This means you cant just stop in the middle of a fight and check your objectives . . . you have to do so in a safe little corner. 

You also have a gas mask that needs to be used when either on the surface or in radioactive / noxious areas.  But . . . your mask isn’t invincible.  If you get physically hit while wearing it, it starts to break.  And once it’s completely broken, it stops working and you need a new one.  This can be annoying, especially when the relentless mutants gang up on you (which they do a lot) in a radioactive area.  But I have learned that you just have to adapt to your environment, plan ahead, and be very VERY careful.  Your mask also uses filter cartridges, which only filter your air for a limited amount of time.  You can see how much time is left on your current cartridge via your watch (which is always in view while holding a weapon or by pressing Left Bumper to bring it closer to your face).  You can carry multiple cartridges and change them out as needed.  However sometimes the cartridges give you 15 minutes worth of air . . . and sometimes 5.  I don’t know if this is because I’m using an ‘old’ cartridge by accident until it is completely used up, or if there are different quality levels to the cartridges that I have bought.  These game mechanics bother some people, but other then having a bit of trouble remembering what button combination to press to do this or that (which sometimes can be a bit annoyingly complex), I love em !  They bring you into the world more, make you a part of it by reacting to it more. 

The graphics are crisp with high resolution textures on things (especially in the cramped metro stations), the lighting is wonderful (apart from some flame lighting going the color range from red to yellow to orange so fast I want to seize), the sound is superb (apart from the fact that sometimes it’s hard to hear individual people above all the other real time conversations going on) but loading screens are often (though they always have a bit of voice over to move the story along).  The Russian accents are . . . well most are good but some not so much.  The music is kind of strange, a hodgepodge of different musical instruments and sounds . . . but it matches the game’s feel very well . . . acoustic guitar just isn’t a lead instrument in a game very much but I got used to it quickly. 

How’s THAT for a first impression lol.

Well once again Easter is just about here. 

This is just about the only change I’ll get to post anything for a bit as, you know, it’s just that time of the year for churchs !

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So, if you dont know . . . there’s this thing that Chad started called 12 of 12.  You’re suppose to take 12 pictures on the 12th day of the month documenting your day.  There are other similar projects, like project 365 and the like.  But Pete and Bushare doing it, so to fit in with the cool kids, I thought I would too.  Read more

Well finally I have the Co-Ax run through the two buildings for the Youth to watch the ball drop, the Kariokie is set up, the server is not crashing at this second  . . . so I’m getting out of dodge while the getting is good !

 I’m going to visit Matt and Mel in Little Rock AR. for New Years.  Being that it’s 2:30 New Years eve, and I still have to pack and get on the road for a 5 hour drive . . . I had better get going !

Happy New Year everyone ! 

Oh yes, I’m just about caught up from vacation !  What a nice feeling that is.

Tomorrow is the CareNet Banquet at our church. 

CareNet is pro-life organization that tries to help expecting single mothers make the choice to not abort their babies.  CareNet provides a free ultrasound to expecting mothers (so they can see their unborn child) and, if the mothers go through a class and decided to no abort the baby, they also provide help with baby formula, bottles, cribs, diapers, and all the stuff you never knew you needed until you have a child.  They also are in contact with several adoption agencies if the mothers are unable to keep the baby themselves and provide counseling to help single mothers through a time in their life when everything they know is being turned upside down. 

It’s an awesome organization run by several women (and a whole slew of volunteers) who always plan out their banquet months in advance and to the tee.  They are always polite and always contact me months in advance to talk with me about what they want to do.  They are just about the polar opposite of the Communicators for Christ is what I’m trying to say. 

It’s a goodly bit of work to get stuff set up and moved around and cued up and such . . . but it includes free food (and they do have some nice food) and it’s for a good cause.  So who can complain ?

After that, it’s Gears of War 2 Friday.  And to the secret benefactor who purchased the game in advance and paid for it in full and put it in my name . . . thank you very much. 

So a lot of work tomorrow, a bit of stress tomorrow night (just making sure things go well) . . . and then a lot of fun Friday ! 

Joystiq has posted a new trailer for Mirrors Edge (showing how things got the way they are in the city).  It looks very cool, as does the whole game, . . . I just hope it doesnt turn into a soap box instead of a good game. 

I dont want to play a FPCS (First Person Commentary on Society).  However, DICE did pretty well with Battlefield:Bad Company so I have high hopes.  Find it HERE.

 And now . . . A LINK DUMP !

- HERE is a cool story about new fluid behavior equation.  Sounds stupid, but AFFECTS a lot of stuff (or does it EFFECT things ?).

- will the FAA finally upgrade their Air Traffic Control equipment ?  Find out HERE.

- NASA decides to send Opportunity (one of the little Mars rovers that could) on a two year journey to explore a new crater . . . but will it survive !?!?!?!  Read the story HERE.  Not like the little buggers havent out performed all expectations allready. 

- Forget the Space Elevator, the Chinese are doing a manned space mission complete with space walk !  This is a big step for them.  Read about it HERE.

- I keep hearing about Archive.org from different people, but I’ve never truly checked it out.