The Pub Discussion Board

Eric, how come the King can not raise a company of rifleman using earth style weapons, as the Verudan's used a sniper rifle in their attempt to assassinate the King. Earlier on.

Update for September 11, 2019:

The Woodward Academy, Year 8, Chapter 5: October has been started.  Finally.

Eric Storm

*snort*

In 2019, what part of my life has gone easily?

Eric Storm

How are the classes assigned?

Last edited by darthel0101 (2019-09-15 16:10:31)

Thanks for the information; I appreciate the assistance.

So, in my ongoing attempt to find ways to reduce the risk of carpal tunnel and other RSIs, I have purchased a new keyboard.  It is a "split" keyboard, called the Freestyle 2 by Kinesis.  Here it is on Amazon:

Kinesis Freestyle 2

As you can see, when I say split keyboard, I'm not talking about the typical wave-style keyboard where the keys angle away from each other a little bit.  The cord between keyboard halves is actually 20" long.  The idea is to put your arms in a more natural position while typing, instead of having them crowd in to the center of your body.  With this, you can put the keyboard in a position where your arms are more or less straight forward, which is a more relaxed posture for typing.

What I can say about it so far is that it feels DAMNED WEIRD to have my hands this far apart while typing.

Still, a typing test run got me up to 77wpm, which is pretty close to what I've tested at with my old keyboard, which I've had for several years, so I imagine I'll be able to adjust to this one.  We'll just have to see.

Damned thing better do SOMETHING for me, given how much it freakin' costs...

Eric Storm

All I can say so far is that it's weirding me out, having my hands so far apart while I type.  Also, the keyboard is just different enough in layout that I have problems from time to time hitting the outlying keys, like Control, or even the Return key.

But I think I'll be able to make it work.  It does seem like it's a little more comfortable this way.  At least my arms aren't squished against my body...

Eric Storm

... in what way would it be a "pain in the ass"?  If you are a touch-typist, your hands each stay on their side of the keyboard to begin with.  The only difficulty so far is that I've been using my old keyboard for more than a decade, and it is turning out to be very difficult to learn the new positions of the non-alphanumeric keys, which are all in new places.  As far as the actual typing of things like this post, or story material, I admit I do still get a bit hand-confused at times, and that causes typos.  But it's growing less by the day.  When I first started with this, there was a distinct "wrong" sensation about typing with my hands nearly two feet apart.  Now, it's fairly comfortable.

And yes, it is actually kind of nice not to be rounding my shoulders all the time to type, which even a normal wave-style ergo keyboard (like I've been using since 1995) makes you do.

The one thing I will say is that the price is misleading.  I don't think I could use this keyboard without the "lift kit", which is an extra... like $35 or something.  And, because I use my keypad a lot, I had to buy that piece extra.  (There is a number pad built in to the keyboard, if you toggle it on, but... ick.  I use the keypad too frequently to be trying to feel my way through that mess.)  So, yeah, this was a significant investment in funds.

But not as bad as the cost of the two new 32" monitors to augment the one I already had.  I am surrounded by screens now.  The two side monitors actually extend past my head.

This will all, I hope, work even better once I get the new desk built, which will accommodate all of these things a lot better.  Right now, they're all crammed on to one of those old flat-pack cheapo computer desks with the hutch on top.  It works, but it's not ideal.  I'm going to build a desk that will be designed from the get-go to use this setup.

Well, I'm going to build a desk TOP.  The desk bottom I had to buy, because it's a variable-height desk.  I've been having significant problems with swelling in my legs, and this can be caused by sitting too much.  Since I spend virtually my entire day at my computer, I figured the best way to sit less is to be able to use my computer standing up.  But standing up all day is bad for you, too, so I had to get a desk that would change heights.

Being fat is a pain in the... well, everything, really. 

Eric Storm

Eric Storm wrote:

I've been having significant problems with swelling in my legs, and this can be caused by sitting too much.  Since I spend virtually my entire day at my computer, I figured the best way to sit less is to be able to use my computer standing up.  But standing up all day is bad for you, too, so I had to get a desk that would change heights.

Being fat is a pain in the... well, everything, really. 

Eric Storm

I have edema in my legs also (damn heart congestion) and I was told by my pulmonary Dr. to get compression socks....they do really help, look into them.

I spend almost all my time sitting also, but that's partly because my back and legs are weak and another reason I have a wheelchair (power chair, but still lol)
and yes, being fat (I weigh 475 lbs.) is a pain in the.....everything

other than that, I just wanted to say good job getting past a part of the story you were having a problem with, and I look forward to the next chapter of any of the stories you have ongoing.

Eric Storm wrote:

PS:  Yes, I stretched out before walking!  I took weight training in high school.  I know how to exercise.  I just don't know how to make myself do so.

As silly as it may sound one thing I found to help with motivation is an app called Habitica. You enter what you want to work on and or a to-do list and as you complete items you level up and unlock new stuff(obviously you can just cheat and say you did things). It gave me that little extra push to at least feel like I was rewarded for doing stuff I should already be doing anyway.

Last edited by adultswim3 (2019-09-30 22:52:47)

I believe in beer curls as the ultimate exercise. how many times can you lift a beer to your lips--a true pro will rep both arms to keep muscle growth constant

I actually like scotch better than beer but beer is good. I have very few vices left without my alcohol life would really be drab