Evony: Age I – Browser Based Portable Plundering

Evony Game Screen in your browser

Evony fills your medieval need to divide and conquer from any computer and any browser.

Are you at work on break and need an outlet for your frustration? Are you at home needing an outlet for your competitive and strategic spirit? Evony: Age I is for you.

Since the transition from beta to full release in May, 2009, Evony has millions of players taming the beast of competition and strategy. Some of the key features of the game:

• Free to play
• No installation program or software
• Play from any computer and any browser (that supports flash)
• Challenging Quests (over 220) with hundreds of items and techs.

Evony, with it’s clean interface layout and appealing graphics, make this game of intrigue perfect for kids and adults alike. (click images for detailed views) The style of game is Sim based in that you are responsible for the growth, health, and well being of your castle style city/cities and it’s inhabitants. Take care not to over tax your villagers lest they begin leaving, grieving and rioting in the village streets.

Evony game screen at map level

With so many villagers and army troops to feed you will need to gather resources from the surrounding valleys. Different types of valleys provide different resources such as lumber from forests, stone from deserts, iron from the hills, and food from lakes and swamps. Flat lands are for building another castle/city for the necessary expansion of your domain. Of course these valleys are not free for your taking, as you must defeat any rogue troops that have taken up camp and defend these resources.

Along with the surrounding available resources, you are provided with fields within your castle domain for farming, lumber and iron milling, and quarries for stone production. You decide how many of each and at what level they produce for you. Villagers are required for operating these fields as seen in the town level graphic above.

City level view

Each castle/city will have a need for basic types of construction such as a Town Hall to control the tax rate of your citizens, comforting them when they grieve or riot, levying them for food and gold when production is too low, etc. The level of your town hall and other buildings determine other aspects of the game such as the number of resource fields for production, the size and type of your armies, the number of hero’s you can employ and many other aspects. It is your job to keep all safe by defending your castle/cities and valleys from attackers and starvation while growing in size and strength for domain expansion and success. As your domain grows you will gain prestige, rank and titles. You will also be given the opportunity to either create an alliance or join an existing one which will give you strength and power among other players.

Your Inventory and achievements

You will have a very nice display of your inventory, well organized, at your fingertips. Your achievements, items and awards are all conveniently in one place. If you find you are in need of certain items you have two options. Acquire items from conquering valleys and barbarian cities or purchase what you need from the shop.

Other aspects of the game include reports on your status, your plundering, your attacks on other players, troop movement, scouting efforts and transportation of resources. Chat is convenient and available on all screen views regardless of where you are in the game so that you can talk to your alliance members, chat with friends and other players in world chat and communicate privately for those times you are scheming.

This game is easy to use and easy to learn. You do not have to have experience playing online games or strategy games as Evony comes complete with in game information and help as well as forums.

Your quests and instruction for advancing

The Quest guide is only a click away to get all the detailed information about your progress and next quest accomplishments as well as information regarding your next move up in the conquest for extreme ruler of the land.

Not just a game, there is a vast amount of educational information and history of medieval times incorporated into the game. Hovering your mouse over icons and graphics produce snippets of facts and history as well as background on strategizing and control of your resources. You are given detailed information as to what items, technology, rank, titles, and awards you will need to move up through your quests.

Game play is real time and continues to function 24 hours a day even when you are not playing. Your resources continue to grow (or diminish), your armies continue to march, your wealth continues to grow (or deplete) so that you are not required to be at the keys just to become supreme ruler.

This game is truly enjoyable and easy to play as well as satisfying, challenging and rewarding. Come play with us at http://one20.evony.com

I am WolfSong of the Templars alliance on server 26.

Free Porn Update

This is an update to my “Free Porn” experiment discussing prostitution at Free Porn – Totally 100% Free.

I stated in that post that I would be taking a two week average view at the end of October 2007 to compare how my viewership changes from the presence of the post. I didn’t keep to my word and as of today, seven months have passed (incredibly fast I might add) and I am shocked to find that the following stats from this blog proved me to be wrong. My viewership did increase to an average of 472 views per day but not because of the “free Porn” post.

Top Posts

Soul Mate Scam, 4,063 views

Free Porn – Totally 100% Free, 2,777 views

The Big Picture on Gasoline Prices, 1,967 views

Top Searches

dragons tail, dragon tail, totally free porn

Other search terms used to find The Dragon Tail:
the dragon tail gone wrong
dragons tail
sex for cash free porn
calculate a love prediction
100% free porn
free world wide sex
totally free porn
dragon porn
dragon name on dragon tails
average us gas prices per gallon from 1960
the dragons tail
“evil to triumph” “good men to do nothing”
“gas prices in 1929″
i dont have wireless need my1purelove pi

Needless to say, I am pretty amazed. I have to thank all my visitors who came to view “real content” versus those that got hooked by my experiment. It tells me a lot about the kind of people that are truly interested in what I have to say. Thank you all for your patronage and viewership. Without you, The Dragon tail would be just another blog in the organized chaos we call the Internet.

By the way, although I have been in a state of “grunge” lately, I will be posting much more frequently and hopefully as often as was the norm for a long time

Get Involved – Become a social member of Dragon Tail

Go to http://dragontail.ning.com and become a member of “The Dragon Tail” social network then get your network badge and wear it proudly. (found at the bottom right hand column)

“I Believe in Miracles”

Almost every guy knows that some of the most simple gifts go a long way with women. It’s not the gift, its the thought that counts. Simple pleasures can be more entertaining than elaborate and expensive entertainment. Flash and glitz and glamor can be too much at times, and with this in mind, I thought just a little music and a nice flavorful cheese on crackers might put her in the right mood. Nothing fancy, nothing complicated, just simple and relaxed.

What did I do wrong? What did I say wrong? Does a guy ever know? All I know is I am the mouse in this video.

381 years old and counting

Some things look better with age. This Bonsai, just over 2 feet tall is 381 years old.

Housed at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in the United States National Arboretum, Washington D.C. (see map)

Photo courtesy of the USNA.

Photo courtesy of the USNA.

Left or Right Brain Dominant?

Do you see the dancer turning clockwise or counterclockwise?

If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain. If you see the image rotating counterclockwise, then you are using more of your left brain.

Most of us would see the dancer turning counterclockwise though you can try to focus and change the direction; see if you can do it.

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS

uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
“big picture” oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can “get it” (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking

The author of this blog (me) saw the image rotating clockwise. I could not change it’s direction.

Please remember that we use both sides of our brain switching back and forth. One side does get more exercise than the other which gives us the primarily “dominant” side but we can also train ourselves to switch dominant sides with effort. In a number of tests I have taken, I have been described as either “whole brain” dominant or “right brain” dominant equally. It depends on the type of test, and the mood you are in.

I am not sure who created this particular visual test, but I dare say it was a guy. I am sure just about any silhouetted object would have worked fine, but not many guys would take the test if it didn’t appeal to them visually, which I am sure many women understand already.

Hope you had fun.

NASA TV

I’m a pretty big fan of all things space and space-science, so naturally I follow the schedule of the shuttle and enjoy, immensely, watching the launches, landings and all the events during shuttle time in space. Here is the link to watch NASALiveTV(quicktime)

If you prefer to use the Windows Media Player you can watch NASALiveTV(windows)

I’m not streaming the Show here because of bandwidth limitations on my blog server (since it is a live TV stream). I hope you understand. However, you can view the album of snapshots at my Rocket Website from which you can play as a slide show, view individually, or download any that you like. In the near future I may consider allowing folks to upload photos as well. Here is the link directly to my Video/Photo Gallery

Deleted Scenes

There are just some scenes that don’t make it to the final cut, and for good reason. Some scenes detract from the overall tone of the movie. Below is one example of why. (***Warning, Adult Humor/Language***)

Introducing, Gmail Paper

Is it free?

Yes. The cost of postage is offset with the help of relevant, targeted, unobtrusive advertisements, which will appear on the back of your Gmail Paper prints in red, bold, 36 pt Helvetica. No pop-ups, no flashy animations—these are physically impossible in the paper medium.

How about attachments?

All part of the deal. Photo attachments are printed on high-quality, glossy photo paper, and secured to your Gmail Paper with a paper clip. MP3 and WAV files will not be printed. We recommend maintaining copies of your non-paper Gmail in these cases.

Is there a limit?

You can make us print one, one thousand, or one hundred thousand of your emails. It’s whatever seems reasonable to you.

But what about the environment?

Not a problem. Gmail Paper is made out of 96% post-consumer organic soybean sputum, and thus, actually helps the environment. For every Gmail Paper we produce, the environment gets incrementally healthier.

 

Beta User Testimonials

	“Gmail Paper is a scrapbooker’s dream. I paper archive all of my son’s emails, cut them out in creative shapes, and paste them in my binders.” Anna-Christina D., Lifecoach
	“I’ve always felt uneasy about the whole internet thing. With the help of Gmail Paper, now I’m taking matters back into my own hands, literally.” Kevin S., CEO AdventaStar Inc.
	“Now that I have Gmail Paper, I understand the difference between labels and folders. I had one message with two labels, but when I tried to stick the paper version into two filing cabinets at the same time, it just wouldn’t go.” Mayumi M., Associate
	“It’s paper, plain and easy. I sometimes find myself wondering: what will Google think of next? Cardboard?” Bill K., Armchair Futuris

 

 

 

 

Learn more at Gmail Paper

Orisinal.com

Ferry Halim is an exceptional artist. Creator of stunning web designs, artwork in pencil and digital form, and a pretty dang good web designer. He also creates games.

If you are like me, and you enjoy a simple yet challenging moment of mild relaxation, then you will like the game and artwork at Mr Halim’s website [here].

As a good blogger and following web mastering etiquette, I don’t normally include many links that take you away from my blog, however, this is one of those exceptions that I don’t mind at all.

The theme name to Mr Halim’s site is called “orisinal” (of which I have no idea what the meaning is behind the name) which is a wonderful flash website. As well as the games and artwork, there is an excellent e-card mailer where you create the card and build bouquets of flowers yourself (in digital art form) before sending it on to friends and family. [pictured]

Ferry Halim has created many digital projects [for the web] for company’s such as Lifetime TV, SciFi channel, and ITL-Infoway websites just to name a few. He has also designed many games for the Cartoon Network on the web.

Although the entertainment factor is aimed at the childrens market, his works and games are enjoyed by kids of all ages. This is one site I think you will enjoy both as a child and as an adult. The entertainment factor is a 10 out of 10.

Rocket

http://Zuggart.com

I think Paris has been at the top post for far too long, so I am bumping that whiny spoiled brat with this post about my Web Site called Zuggart.com.

Please feel free to peruse the pages of my website and leave a comment or two. You can send me emails from within my website or comment about it here if you would rather.

I’m going to be adding a page to the site dedicated specifically to Second Life[.com] so check it often to see where I have been in Second Life. The photo gallery of my explorations in Second Life will have descriptions so you wont wonder what you are looking at.

“Swim” as part of driving directions?

Sometimes you just have to “swim it” if you really want to get there bad enough.

As many people have discovered, Google™ maps (or Earth) are great ways to find your way to anywhere. I am a huge fan of Google™ and all of their applications and gadgets, so I find myself playing with and learning all the cool stuff they have. I have always had a lot of fun studying maps and while I was playing around one day, I decided I wanted to know if there were driving directions from one country to another.

I live in Pittsburgh now, and while plugging in various destinations around the country from Pittsburgh, I thought “hmm, I wonder how I would get to London, England”? So I plugged it into Google™Earth and discovered something funny.

When the driving directions got me to the coastline of America, I found it interesting that the port of choice was Long Wharf in Boston (probably because I started in Pittsburgh). When I got there, the driving directions actually said “Swim Across the Atlantic”, (click image to enlarge) to which I had to laugh. You have to admit the humor in this is appropriate since, who besides me, would want driving directions across the big water anyway? The joke was on me, and boy it was good.

Now that I had a good laugh, I wondered, where it took me once I had made this Guinness World Record swim across the Atlantic Ocean. So off I went, around the globe to find my port of entry, (click image to enlarge) and sure enough, there it was. In France!?!? Seems to me that France is getting a bit of tourist traffic out of the deal, but it’s all good as I was able to find my way into England quite easily. After all, after a swim like that, my arms would be tired and I would take just about any port of entry to Europe. Talk about raisin skin.

Rocket

Snigglets

Stooping [stŏŏp' ing] n.
1. sitting on one’s front or back porch stoop and discussing anything and everything with a friend. [This might involve picking at things on the ground, such as maple leaf seeds, or sticks or old gum wrappers and tossing them about or fiddling with them in a carefree manner to show you are enjoying doing nothing with someone who's company you enjoy]

This is my contribution to the world of snigglets. (and it’s not really mine, I was just given permission to use it )
Have you got a snigglet to share with the world?

~Rocket

United States Property for Sale – $18 for 160 acres

Would you like to “own” 160 acres of land in the United States for just $18.00? Not per acre, not per day, not per month, not per year. Just $18.00 total sale price for 160 acres.

what’s the catch? Well, there was no catch, at the time. The Time? If you had filed for your land between 1862 and 1974, you could be the proud owner of 160 acres of land that is YOURS. Not the banks, not a real estate company, not anyone else but you…HAD you known about it.

Unfortunately, I am bringing you this news too late. My apologies. However, why didn’t anyone else mention this to you? Like the United States Government? To be honest, they did tell us in the Homestead Act of 1862, and that was it.

You could file for your 160 acres in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California and Alaska until 1974 with the exception of Alaska which was extended to 1986.

How did it work? The following is a brief summary of all you had to do to be a land owner:

The Filing Process

People interested in Homesteading first had to file their intentions at the nearest Land Office. A brief check for previous ownership claims was made for the plot of land in question, usually described by its survey coordinates. The prospective homesteader paid a filing fee of $10 to claim the land temporarily, as well as a $2 commission to the land agent.

With application and receipt in hand, the homesteader then returned to the land to begin the process of building a home and farming the land, both requirements for “proving” up at the end of five years. When all requirements had been completed and the homesteader was ready the take legal possession, the homesteader found two neighbors or friends willing to vouch for the truth of his or her statements about the land’s improvements and sign the “proof” document.

After successful completion of this final form and payment of a $6 fee, the homesteader received the patent for the land, signed with the name of the current President of the United States. This paper was often proudly displayed on a cabin wall and represented the culmination of hard work and determination.

Homestead Act of 1862 is recognized as one of the most revolutionary concepts for distributing public land in American history. Repercussions of this monumental piece of legislation can be detected throughout America today, decades after the cry of “Free Land!” has faded away.

Homestead Act of 1862 in its entirety.

~Rocket

It’s not new…

Well, it was time to take a step back to basics. One of my earlier blogs at http://dailyrocket.spaces.live.com is just too much for the senses. So today I am breaking new ground in the past of clean and basic.

I am not sure yet whether this will be a continuation of, or separate from the original Daily Rocket. We will just have to see how and where this goes.

It’s amazing all the different chat programs and chat environments that are out these days. I’m a veteran geek from days of old when CyberBabble, Powwow, Freetell, iPhone, and yes, ICQ were in their infancy and among the only few ways to chat outside of telnetting into a BBS, and now I enjoy the chats in a 3D virtual world. www.IMVU.com and www.secondlife.com just to name a few of todays chat technology.

MSN chat, yahoo chat…and many others of the 2d level of text chat has become a thing of the past.

If you would like to link back to some previous topics (including gaming and chat) topics at the other site, just visit The Daily Rocket at the address I gave at the beginning of this post.

I may revisit a few of them here in the near future as well.

~Rocket