Miki's TL Blog

You may remember a while back, I posted the "19 Amazing Independent Games You Can Play!" thread located here: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=87794

One of the games I presented, Osmos, was finally released, and apparently the creators of this game stumbled upon my thread and quoted me in their release video under "Mikilatov - Teamliquid.net"

Credit goes to the TheMango for spotting it, it's quite random, haha. =) Check it out!

http://www.hemispheregames.com/osmos/

As of right now I depart for Blizzcon in less than 48 hours. I'm roadtripping from Michigan with Khaymus, a TL dweller, and two other non-TL buddies. 36 hours each way.

This is my third Blizzcon (I didn't get tickets in 2008), and I'm fucking pumped despite the fact I'm not bringing an SC costume this time. =( For those of you who don't know, I was the Marine at Blizzcon 05, and the Ghost at Blizzcon 07. (I may have met/talked to some of you at 05 or 07, but at the time I had only KNOWN of TL and visited here every once in a great while.)

Pictures of me from Blizzcon 05/07





Painfully nerdy, yes, but they're awesome, plus I got some fantastically good loot out of the deal. Alienware PC + Alienware Laptop valued at around 4k each, which I proceeded to instantly sell. I wanted to make a really badass Zergling costume in 08, but didn't have the time to do it, and I ended up not getting tickets anyway. Didn't have the time to tackle it this year, either. =(!

The thing I'm really looking forward to this year is MEETING PEOPLE, for I didn't really belong to any sort of community back in 05/07. So regardless of if you lurk or I know you, if you see me....



.... Be sure to throw me a "Hey Miki!"

I look forward to meeting many of you, and hopefully I'll remember to take lots of pictures for a post-Blizzcon blog for everyone who couldn't make it.

Thanks for reading.

So I'm walking around my supertiny supersafe little town at 4am the night before last, and I happen upon a couple of douchebags in a car. They're your typical cool guys, who go ahead and start yelling things at me and harassing. I just keep walking.

Well one of the douchebags gets out of his car all 'I'm a toughman-like' in the most douchebaggy way possible, and starts walking up to me. I'm not sure what he was planning on doing, but he was charging at me really aggressively, sticking his chest out at me and slobbering his douchebaggy lips about attempting to intimidate me, but I wasn't about to find out.

So I hit him in the head. Not the face, the head. So I messed my hand up because I hit him over his eye, and he falls to the ground. I then proceeded to STOMP HIS FACE with the force of 10 horses. (It was in the grass, not the double-boot cement crush you people are making it out to be, get your panties out of a bunch.) He went completely unconscious on his back, and his arms went stiff into the air. I then proceeded to run away with the speed of 10 horses -- I'm no fighter.

Mikilatov - 1 Bout, 1KO via Head Stomp, 0 Losses.
Bring on Fedor.

My hand is fine, just really bruised and swollen, and that's already starting to go away, so that's good. And the Pride I have from headstomping that useless douchebag fuck makes it all worth it. Like I said, I'm no fighter.

So I've decided it's no longer safe to walk in the middle of the night in my town. Which is, in general, a supertiny supersafe town in which nothing ever happens. With this, this is the second time I've had problems -- But at least this time it wasn't with the COPS.

So after a short stint of attempting to locate a laptop to purchase, I decided I'd be better off seeing what TL has to say about it, because I'm awfully confused.

Basically, I'm looking for an -extremely- cheap low-end laptop. Something for everything -but- games.

Something around this range:
500mhz - 1ghz Processor
256mb - 512mb RAM
32mb - 128mb Video Card
20gb - 80gb Hard Drive
CD/DVD Drive
Wifi
Battery+AC Adapter

It seems like most low-end laptops I find within this range cost just as much as the NEW $300-400 Vista ones you can buy now?... Which doesn't make much sense to me. Why is this?

So more to the point, does anyone know of somewhere I can buy old shitty laptops for like $100 or less?... Or have one laying around they want to get rid of? I've checked craigslist/ebay/google/etc, to not much avail.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Update: Cat has been named 'Bisu'


For those of you who can't read my accidental paint JPEG save:
"Hai, I'm Bisu."
"Thank you TL for help naming me. <3"
"kgottagobeatfreenow,bye"

... shh, I'm allowed to be a loser today, 'cause I'm amped about my kitty. =)

Thanks everyone who participated, with the exception of the blatant troll.


Poll: What should I name my kitten? (See Pictures Below)
(Vote): Nada
(Vote): Bisu
(Vote): Jaedong
(Vote): Something else





So I figured I'd make this blog to show off my new kitty I just rescued from the animal shelter today, and also get some suggestions for naming it. =)

Things not-starcraft related are of course an option.
'Backho' and 'firecathero' are not options. =P
Comments about how adorable my kitty is are highly acceptable. =P

Thanks!

edit:
#1 - No 'generic cat' names either please! (ex. Tigger, Smokey, Oreo, etc.)
#2 - It's a boycat!
#3 - I'm going to name it by the time Bisu plays free tonight.
#4 - Cat has been named 'Bisu' !

Spoiler Warning: May spoil game 1 and part of game 2 of the recent FBH vs. Bisu MSL Quarterfinals which took place on November 6, 2008.

So I'm not sure if anyone else will find this as enormously hilarious as I did, but the MBC commentators have yet again caused me to shoot various liquids out of my nose. I personally found this quite funny, and definitely up there with other classics such as 'Reebareebareebareeba!' and 'PLAGGUUUUUU!'.

I was going to edit it down so you didn't have to scan for it, but apparently my computer doesn't want to cooperate.
=(

SANDWITCHEEEEE!!! - (10:20 - 10:30)

+ Show Spoiler +

So I'm an American. Socialized medicine is a pretty big issue here. I am all for it personally, but many aren't. I don't care if you disagree with me, but I'm going to complain about some things here. Don't flame me, but feel free to voice your opinions about the issue if you wish.

I just want to discuss my situation, as well as the situation of another.

I'm sick. I've eaten (and held down) two pieces of bread and a small amount of potatoes in the past 4.5 days. I've thrown up 8 times in the past few days. Vomits numbered #4-7 contained blood in increasing amounts.

They didn't contain blood because I'm dying or anything, but because I was throwing up so hard in vomits #1-3 that I blew some blood vessels and ripped some things in my throat. (Yeah it hurt like a bitch.) I should probably go to the doctor, but I don't have insurance -- And when you don't have insurance in the United States, you don't go to the doctor unless your life is in danger or you're going to suffer some sort of permanant damage. I can't afford a $300+ doctor bill, nor $100+ medication.

I don't really know what's wrong with me, but I assume it's stomach flu or something that will eventually go away. I want to the go to the doctor and remedy (or at least slightly fix) it, but instead I resort to just DEALING WITH IT and taking vicodin (A very strong painkiller, if you didn't know) from a family member who is perscribed with it for the pain.

I know of others with more serious problems who are fucked because of a lack of insurance. A friend of mine has an eye disease. She no longer has insurance so cannot afford the multiple-thousand dollar treatments (which are needed bimonthly or so) to keep her eye from messing up. Her sight is getting very bad in her eye and will possibly even lose sight completely in it if she does not get these treatments. I don't know how you can expect her to afford thousands of dollars a month, or expensive insurance that will cover her with this pre-existing condition.

Here's the thing. We're NOT poor. We're average. I have MORE than I need. I have an awesome computer, lots of new video games, a fucking MAME MACHINE, I eat well, I sleep well, I'm not rich (not even close), but I get by quite well. I live in a 20-30 thousand dollar a year household with only one other person. We're fine when it comes to money. I find it so wrong that AVERAGE people in the United States cannot recieve treatment.

Now I know I don't have it that bad off. There's other parts of the world who have it WAY worse off. But within the context of the United States, it sucks that people are put in this situation.

I wish we had socialized medicine in the United States, it's a shame that most Americans are so scared of the word 'socialism' that they won't even CONSIDER it as an option. Sometimes I hate being an American.

Once again, please don't flame or get all defensive because you don't agree with me. Feel free to voice your opinion though!

Okay I couldn't resist showing this to everybody.

It's seriously the hardest I've laughed at a news headline... ... Wow.

Check it out below.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/17/palin.glasses.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

For the sake of those who are lazy, or the sake of this link dying, the headline is: "PALIN'S GLASSES DESIGNER LIKES OBAMA"

Wow.

...
.... Seriously?...
like... Really?...

These people report news for a living.. And this is what they come up with? Nobody was like... "Hey.. This is a little far?" during the publishing process?.. It's sad that they're jamming a microscope so far up these people's asses.

Now personally, I think Palin is not suited for VP (Granted, VP doesn't do anything, but McCain's pretty old, and if he croaks, well.. Hello female version of George Bush's incompetence.) But to be honest, I really could care less about this as far as this blog is concerned. This is just an example of how ridiculous the news can get.

I'm willing to bet most fairly standard newswatching people (Whether they give a damn about the election or not) can tell you at least 5 random ass pointless things about each candidate and their running mates, but likely can't tell you anything about their platforms as presidential candidates. Fucking step it up news, you're turning into the new fucking 'Entertainment Tonight.'

...
Wow. Go read the headline again. Just look at it.

... Serious?

So here's the tale of me being harassed by a police officer.

3:00am

My buddies Ricky and Dennis depart from my house. It's 'early' in my normal schedule time. I don't want to sleep. Earlier in the day, I was supposed to bring Tetris Attack to my buddy Murphy. I forgot it and was disappointed, so I figured I'd walk it to her, since she works at the Admiral gas station just a mile or two down the road.

3:00-3:30am

I piss about on the internet for a good half hour, checking out my school to-do list for the following week, and the TL forums. According to my internet history, I last visited a web page at 3:26am.

3:30am

I depart from my home. Destination: Admiral. I walk across High School parking lot 1... Then 2... then one block further. I switch gears and turn towards Main Street.

3:35am

Halfway to main street, a police officer makes the turn and pulls off to the side of the road. This is standard for me. I'm 21 years old wandering about at 3:30am, I roll with it. I expect it, because it always happens, and I simply show them my ID, chitchat, and go along on my way with a "have a good night", "you too" dialog. In fact, I expected it so much that I was reaching into my pocket for my ID as he pulled up. Instead the officer demands I put my hands on the vehicle. I respond questionably, "Are you serious?" He says yes and I proceed to follow his command. He pats me down, and asks me a few basic questions. He takes my wallet and my knife, and orders me to sit in the back of the police car. I follow his instruction, assuming this will end speedily.

3:40am

The officer takes off. Driving to an unknown location, past the police department. I'm confused. He's railing questions at me:

Who are you with?

Where are the other people you were with?

What were you doing on the other side of town?

We saw you doing stuff on the other side of town, you match the description.

I answer all his questions honestly, for I of course have nothing to hide. I was WALKING in the opposite direction people were seen running. I was not 4 people. I was not sweaty or panting from running. I had nothing on me which put me anywhere. He responds like an asshole:

Want to try again? 'what?' Your story.

Well what were you doing on the other side of town?

Where's the other people you were with?

You were with people earlier tonight but don't remember what they were wearing? I respond: "Sorry I'm not the fashion police." Probably a bad choice of words.

A total asshole about everything. So we arrive at Duer Speet (A car dealership) and we meet up with a different officer there. He shines his light into the cop car's window. I smile and nod.

The door opens, I'm continued to be treated like shit. Cop #2 100% ID's me as one of the four people he saw 'commiting a crime', and doing who knows what else. (Yes I still have no idea what I was being accused of.) He says it was a male with a black shirt and 'light' pants. I was wearing camo pants, btw. He continued to question me, and refused to give up. I explained the fact that I was bringing a game to Murphy, and he failed to understand how that proved anything. He didn't even go talk to Murphy and ask. His response was to blow me off and say "My kids carry video games around with them, it doesn't mean anything." After a bunch of this bullshit, he said that I'm their #1 suspect, and that I would be visited by a detective the next day. He gave me my knife and wallet back, and let me go. I walked to Admiral, and gave Murphy her game, talked for a while, and walked home.

6:00am

I'm furious. I'm pissed. I'm worried. I'm annoyed. I'm wondering if they'll press charges. I'm wondering how much that'd cost me. I'm wondering how much worry that would cause me. This was all doomsday scenario of course, but shit, I didn't even know the nature of the crime. I figured it wasn't horrifically serious, because they let me go. But fuck, I've never even had a fucking 8th hour or detention before, let alone accused of a crime. I was overall just plain pissed. I took a shower. I ate. I sat. I stared at the clock. I decided I wasn't going to let this ruin me for three days while I waited for a detective to come grill me and assume I'm guilty. I'm going to go down there and do something about it.

8:00am

I assume the police department opens up at 9am. I was wrong. At 8am I called and asked when it would be okay for me to come speak with an officer. She said anytime. I walked to the police department, ready to bust some heads, and was quickly greeted by a man by the name of 'Detective Heiss.' This dude makes me proud to be a human being. Very few people have this affect on me. I told my story to him, just as I have just told you, and he simply went along with it, not assuming I was guilty, and realized how ridiculous it really was. He joked around about serious things, include the other officers, knowing that I was horrifically upset. He looked through his papers of what was reported by the officers, and pretty much explained that the guy was being a jerk, and Heiss was totally not judgemental about me at all, which is rare in an older guy, let alone a cop. He told me not to worry about it, and that he'd take care of it. He ACTUALLY suggested to ME that I come back in sometime and discuss the officer's behavior with the police chief. He then later asked if HE could have permission to discuss this with the chief himself. He explained the law to me, and explained how each officer not only has a frontal camera, but a back seat camera, and microphones on each one. Detective Heiss stated that he was outranked by the officer who harassed me, but that he would have done things VERY differently. He said that he is unable to do anything about it because of this outranking, so he would take it up with the police chief himself. He ended it all by telling me he'd take care of it and that I should go home and get some sleep. This cop is going to get grilled, and have to send me a letter of apology.

It's good to know that there are cops who would rather defend the people than his fellow officers.

Thanks much to Detective Heiss, a credit to the human race,

Fuck You whichever cop tried to put this shit on me. I hope you get rolled.