Not So Famous…

The New ZBoard Merc (Link Opens in New Window)

I’ve owned and typed on many types of keyboards, and I can basically categorize them into about 3 categories (with regards to feel, not layout):

1. Clicky Keyboards – You remember these, don’t you?  When you typed a key, there was some resistance, and then a click, and then there was less resistance.  These keyboards were noisy as heck, but a lot of people really miss them. They like the feel of them, and they like the noise, apparently.  I am not one of those people.

2. Laptop keyboards – These keyboards are like a little plastic cap that you only need to press down about 1/4″. There’s not much to the feel of these keybaords.  Not much resistance, and not much depth to pressing the keys. I find that I can type faster when I’ve gotten used to the layout of one of these keyboards, but they are somewhat hard on the wrists.

3. All other keyboards – The rest of the keyboards fall into this catch-all category.  Every keyboard has a unique feel to it; some are soft, while others feel like you’re getting a workout just typing your name at the top of a report. My new keyboard falls into this last category, though the layout of all the keys are quite a bit different.

The Ideazon people originally came up with the ZBoard as the gamer’s ideal keyboard.  It was the gamer’s response to the standard QWERTY layout.  There’s no way around it, the QWERTY layout was designed for typing…and SLOW typing at that. Games must use this layout if they want to be keyboard-based games.  First-person shooters and MMORPG’s are uniquely suited to the keyboard rather than the gamepad or joystick. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s comfortable to use a keyboard as an input device for long periods of time.  It’s not.

The ZBoard was unique in that it had keysets that could be purchased for specific games. These keysets totally revamped the layout of keys on the board. Each keyset let the Zboard know what keyset was active, so the remapping of the keys were automatic. All you needed to do to swap keysets was unlatch the keyset and lift it off the keyboard. You could then put another keyset down and latch it in place. The ZBoard came with 2 keysets: Typing, and Gaming. The typing keyset was like a regular keyboard with a numpad on the right except for one notable difference: Due to the layout of the folds in the keyset, the spacebar was split in half.  THIS WAS MADDENING!!!! The Gaming keyset was a seriously JACKED UP QWERTY layout with these nice buttons on the left that were for gaming.  (A nice big forward, backward, left, right, and strafe left and right keys.)  These butterfly buttons were really nice, and for First Person Shooter games, this keyboard rocked.  For MMORPG’s, where typing to your teammates may be your only form of communication, the keyboard sucked.  It was like being drunk and trying to type.  You go to hit a key, and you hit something completely wacked out.  You go to hit Backspace, and you accidentally hit enter, letting the world know that you’re somewhat retarded.  :)

Thus, the ZBoard Merc.  This new keyboard plays on the strengths of both the Typing and Gaming keysets of the old ZBoard at the expense of customizability. You can’t get custom keysets for the Merc, but you can customize the layout of the gaming area on the left using their software.

For my money (and it was cheaper than the original ZBoard), this is a great hybrid gaming/typing keyboard.  This board is infinitely more suited to World of Warcraft, I have found.  I also am typing this review on my new Merc, and aside from a few splutters and stammers as I get accustomed to the new feel, I really like it.

The reason I listed the three categories of “keyboard-feels” above, is because I am becoming increasingly convinced that good keyboard feel is important.  I’ve typed on all kinds.  The worst, I think, is the roll-up keyboard that you can find in many harsh environments. Aside from being spill- and dust-resistant, that keyboard feels like you’re typing on a ziploc bag filled with jello!  Ew. The Merc has a very nice soft feel to it.  It’s not as soft as that roll up thing, but it’s softer than most keyboards out there in the bargain category.

Check out the link, and if you get one and like it, let me know.

 

To be honest, I don’t get colds anything like I used to, but I wish I didn’t get them nearly as much as I do.

Yup, I’m sick again, I think.  And it would figure that I fight this chest-cold thing semi-successfully all week until I decide that I’m going to go to West Coast BrewFest 2006 this weekend.  The following day I end up sick.  Maybe I won’t reserve myself tickets.  I don’t want this thing sticking around any longer than necessary.

In other news, what kind of message does this send to my new employers??  lol.  Freak thing…it happens, you know?

Anyway, I just took some Ny-Quil, so I’d better head to bed soon, before I pass out at the keyboard.  :)

However, you must forgive me…I’m currently typing on a very unfamiliar keyboard, and it’s really messing me up.  :)

If you look at my wife and I in a vacuum, things aren’t going too badly.  Kimmy is having a hard time finding a job, and it’s taking its toll, but if you compare our situation to our situation last year at this time, we are in an infinitely better position. I’m sure I could quantify it for you if pressed, but I’d rather not talk about numbers just now.  Better job, better-looking future, I’m happier, whatever that means.  I think Kim is happy, though frustrated.  But overall, things are looking better.  (I miss my old co-workers a lot, but I still get to talk with them as time permits.)  :)

What I mean to say here is that things could be worse…though that’s not entirely a true statement. Things can only be as bad as God wants them to be and no worse. Things are as they are right now for us because of how God wants our lives to be right now. This is all a bit strange to think about, I know.  However, if God is sovereign, then we must accept that He could change things in the blink of an eye for us, if He wanted to. Because He does not, then we must assume that things are as they are because He is content to leave them so.

However, a couple of my friends are having rough times, and I would like anyone who is reading these blogs to pray for them.  I’ll not mention any names, as names need not be mentioned.  I’ve spoken of some of these problems before…I’m sure I’ll write about them again. One of my friends is having marital problems. Those of you who know me, know that my parents divorced when I was young. I don’t know if it was one of those defining moments that everyone talks about, but I know that to a degree, it defined me. However, my experience as the child of a divorced couple does not give me any insight into what it’s like to go through marital problems myself. I know that my marriage is wonderful, and I’m sure that I could work harder at it.  We all could work harder at things.  But while I’m sure I’m not the greatest husband in the world, I do try.  And so does Kimmy.  All that to say that I can’t do anything for this friend aside from listen and offer him a place to come hang out, and offer him friendship…I suppose that’s all I’m supposed to offer, though I feel I should do more.  That’s neither here nor there.

Another friend of mine has chronic knee problems. They have lost him his original job, and he sits in a job now that he doesn’t like at all.  I don’t know what this is like either.  Not only does he not like his job, but his knee is still racking him sometimes, and that’s gotta suck. Not only can he not do what he originally wanted to do at his company, but the pain that lost that for him is still with him.  All he can do is take pain meds and hope he doesn’t get addicted to something. Apparently, the doctors can’t figure out a way to make anything better.  While I know what it’s like to not like your job, I still can’t say I know what he’s going through.

However, is that what people want? Do they want to be understood?  I used to think so.  I used to think that I should go into Psychology because I understood people.  I used to think that this is what people wanted to go to therapy for…that this is what they wanted from their shrink.  I don’t know what they want, but I don’t think that people want to be understood.  So what do you do when a friend comes to you and tells you that they are going through something that sucks? Do they want you to tell them, “I know what you’re going through, man”? I don’t think so…at least, I don’t think that’s what guys want.  I think they just want to tell someone something. I think they just want to unload what they’re feeling on someone safe…someone who isn’t going to fire them or retaliate in a way that will hurt them.  If they’re going to expose their innermost thoughts, they might as well expose them to someone they can trust.  Someone they know is not storing up ammunition for a counterattack at some point in the near future.

My friends who are going through problems, I’m sorry you’re going through problems. I’ve said before that I can’t say that I know what you’re going through, because I don’t. I have some insight into what it must be like because of what you’ve told me, but I can’t empathize with you.  However, I know you’re going through pain.  Spiritual, physical, emotional pain.  And I have gone through all of these types of pain. For different reasons and varying degrees, of course, but I have felt my own pain.  I know that pain hurts, and it sucks.  My heart weeps for what you’re going through.  Not because I fully understand it, but because I know that it’s causing you pain, and that, I understand.

I guess at some low-level, visceral wavelength, we do want to be understood.  If all we want is our friends to put an arm around us and say, “Man, that sucks”, then I think we DO need them to understand that at its most basic level, there is pain involved.  Whether that’s getting kicked in the t’s, having a broken knee, or having our one true love ripped from us, there’s pain involved, and if there’s one thing the entire human race has in common, it’s some kind of pain.  I may not feel YOUR pain, but I understand that you’re feeling pain, and that sucks, mates.  It sucks.  If there’s anything I can do, please let me know….and I’m not saying that in the “I want to be away from these people” kind of way in which people speak at funerals. I mean that in the “man, I hope they can think of some way for me to be useful or helpful to them, and I DO hope they let me know” kind of way.

I was informed by a friend that I haven’t written in my blog in awhile, and this is definitely true.  There are a couple reasons for it, however.  :)

1. At my work, I am unable to write in my blog.  During lunch a couple times this week, I wanted to do some writing in my blog, as there has actually been a lot going on. However, there is a security setting that is not allowing me to post in my blog, and I’m not entirely sure that I want to turn this setting off.  There are ways around this, of course, as I am currently typing this blog at lunch from my desk at work.  :)

2. I’ve been busy as heck!!!

This new job brought a lot of work to my desk, but I’d like to note that I am less stressed than I used to be.  I’m not going to talk crap about my previous employer, as that’s just not cool, but I will say that even though I am just busy, the stress level at this new job is far less than it was at the old. I am appreciated by upper-management at the new job, and they fully understand the limitations of someone who has to go home and have a life at night. They are very cool people to work for, and I’m very blessed to have been hired on here.

God is faithful, and my wife and I have been praying for something different with regards to my employment for a long time.  (As have a lot of other people I know.)  God is awesome, and He has blessed me more than I expected.  You’d think I’d start expecting more.  :)  O me of little faith.

My beer was finally bottled this last weekend. I again got readings that indicated that this beer was going to be far lower in alcohol content than I had originally hoped.  I think something must be wrong with my measuring, though, because I think this is going to be like the Scotch Ale I brewed last year…big and robust. The Stout sure is pickin’ DARK!!!  (Which is good.)  :)

I also recently started my Wed. Night D&D game. For those of you who don’t know, I got invited by an ex-coworker of mine from Harris Moran to participate in a weekly D&D game with some of his friends. This has turned out to be a great deal of fun, as the guys that I’m playing with are unbelievably cool, and it lets me actually PLAY a Role Playing Game for once. :)  I like GMing as much as the next GM, but it’s really nice to be able to sit on the other side of the screen. And this DM is actually very good.  (GM = Game Master in most games, but in D&D, it’s all about the Dungeon Master, or DM.) He keeps play going very quickly, and it’s almost completely seamless. I attribute much of this to the system of 3rd Edition. While I like the quirks and depth of 1st and 2nd edition, 3e allows the DM to come up with things on the fly, and lets people really play their characters without having to worry so much about the game mechanics. I’m still learning the system, but it’s pretty simple, as far as RPG’s go.  The combat system and attacks of opportunity are a little hard to get used to, but after 1 combat, I’m not doing too bad.  :)

Looks like Kim and I are finally going to get to go to Scotland next year. She’s been putting money in the Scotland Fund account we set up, and she informs me that we’re already most of the way there in terms of our plane tickets. This is very cool because we’re making more money now, and there’s really no reason why we shouldn’t be able to save up enough money to enjoy our stay in Scotland without worrying about money and such.

I guess that’s about it.  If I could ask you all to pray for Kim’s job situation. She’s getting increasingly frustrated with school districts and their clicque-ish ways. Last year she got 2 interviews with our local school district, and this year, she didn’t get a single interview at any public school she applied for. She’s getting really discouraged, because every time she applies and every time she gets rejected, it’s like they’re telling her she’s not a good teacher. Nothing could be further from the truth, of course, but it doesn’t help matters. She’s started applying to Private Schools, now, but that comes with its own set of frustrations, having to do with basic Christian doctrines. Who the heck believes in foot-washing as a 3rd sacrament, anyway???  Well, maybe I’ll write more about that l8er.  I’ve written enough for now.  :)

A whipping whirlwind is my life.
My calm center is my love, my Kim…
She stands when all else around me falls.

When things move so fast they blur,
My only focus on this earth is her, my one true love…friend…m’annsachd
I turn to her, for I cannot walk this path alone…I need her strength…her love.

She is my wife, and I love her more than life itself.

This entire week has been one of sleeplessness. I could attribute it to a lot of things: The weather change, the job change, whatever. The point is that tonight, I am unable to sleep again.

The new job is going well thus far.  No major points of stress.  I didn’t come home afraid for my job, or wondering if I’ll survive. I’ve learned a great deal about the network, and know I’ll learn much more. The real work comes later, and there is some nervousness, as I wonder if I will live up to their expectations of me. I think I will, with God’s grace.

I think tonight, I have not had much time to unwind. At work, I was presented with new thing after new thing. Sign this, read this, look at this, think about this, do this, plan for this…it’s all a bit overwhelming, if I’m being honest. Did I think it would be otherwise? Not really…I expected it.  When I got home, however, I ate, looked at paperwork, and then Bible Study started.

The Word of God should be a balm, shouldn’t it? I mean, I know that the perfection that is the Lord should point me to my own inadequacies, but His choice to extend grace to me is a balm…sure, I’m not perfect, but I’m no less perfect than I was yesterday.  The Word shows me how little I know, and tells me I should know more about the God I serve…and yet, I don’t think I can point to the Word and say “this causes my sleeplessness.”

I think the loss of my comfort zone is the culprit this evening. At my old job, there were stresses…there were hardships to be endured. But I knew my place…I knew my co-workers. The known was everywhere, the unknown was relatively minor. Still, what was tough was known as well. I knew what to expect when I walked into the office.  When I walked into the offie today, no one knew what to expect.  They didn’t know what to expect of me, and I didn’t know what to expect of them.  Everyone was very cool to me, which was great. I think I’m going to like working with these people.  They love to joke around, and they’re very laid back.  But I don’t know them yet, and they don’t know me.  Their humor is much the same as mine, but they don’t know that yet, because I can’t bring myself to be completely open with them.

My old co-workers are my friends, and I miss them.  I could tell them what I was thinking or feeling, and I knew how they’d react. I could tell them what was bothering me, and I knew they’d understand.

I’m ok though.  Today has just been a whirlwind. What I want more than anything else right now is to hug my wife and have her tell me that I’m doing fine.  I really want her comforting embrace around me.  I need her to tell her she loves me…it’s not that I don’t know these things, but she’s good at saying them.  :)  “No man is an island”, I quip ironically. Especially me.

Tomorrow is the first D&D game with my new group. I’m looking forward to it, but I must admit that it’s another new thing. I won’t get to see my wife much until later.  Thursday will be nice and quiet, I hope.  I just want to hang with Kim and share my day.  To feel her arms around me again, and to offer whatever comforts I can give her.  :)

Well, I think I’m going to go back to bed for a little while and see if I can’t get some sleep.  I feel a little better now.  Thank you for reading. :)