Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

YC114.04.19
Now this is just too beautiful, too typical, too James to keep to myself!

I was in the hangar bay the other day inspecting the Itty V, making sure she’s space-worthy - seeing as how the Nice is my only transport after losing the Nice II a few weeks back.  This got the hangar crew talking, and they mentioned the same fate had befallen James as well.

I figured they were talking about him getting Tubby blown to pieces - but nope...  This wasn’t James losing the freighter, but an Itty V of his own even before the Nice II went up in flames!  And in Dodixie no less, just like me.

Now here’s the part that is priceless: not only did CONCORD make short work of the criminal element that blew up the Itty, but James also procured the services of a set of mercs to really drive the point home!

(Hmm, reflecting on it, I guess hiring mercs isn’t exactly “priceless”...  Methinks James may have more ISK than sense sometimes.)

This finally explains this weird communication that showed up in the RECLT offices about that time that I deleted - some rambling plea to call off the vultures...  

Ch-ch-changes

YC114.04.17

Life has been much simpler for RECLT since FCO left Faction Warfare.  Hell, we were able to have quite the little fleet mining op Friday night, and didn’t get disturbed once.  And it’s sooo nice to be able to fly the Itty around picking up supplies without constantly checking for folks who’ve managed to duck the Fed Navy’s ever (un)watchful eyes...

But this got me thinking: we’re loyal to the Federation, and support its goals fully.  But it makes no sense at all that to best serve, we have to hide our allegiance.  Our strengths are industry, mining, building, and supplying materiel for the war effort.  I’ve heard the drunken rants from the fighter pilots in the bars, with their grand plans of “if I wuz in charge, this heres what I’d do...”  But I’ve heard very little about helping those of us who fight with our wallets rather than bullets.

(Full disclosure: I overheard a hot Minmatar pilot mentioning most of these ideas [Big Picture, Docking, Occupancy, Sandbox], and it got me thinking how it would apply to someone who fights with ISK, not bullets.)

(Oh, and I would love to sell you some bullets if you need them!)

System Ownership

Right now, if our brave boys and girls do manage to manage to push the scum out of a system and gain ownership, nothing actually changes.  It seems like ownership is just one more way for the soldiers to whip them out onto the table and compare sizes - ultimately useless and good for nothing but a laugh.

(Um, and I guess the girls compare cup sizes?  I dunno...)

Sure, the Fed Navy is supposed to respond.  James, Tycho, and I have all see just how uber effective that is!  If we control the system, it should make life hell for any enemy trying to operate in-system.  

If they’re able to survive the gates and the valiant freedom fighters defending the system, they sure as hell shouldn’t be able to just dock at any Fed Navy station.

And hey, I have no problem with them being allowed to dock at other stations - after all, they need to be able to buy my goods!  But I see no reason to allow them full station access - or at least not full access at the same prices I pay.  

OHIP: Ownership Hath Its Privileges...  You wanna repair that damage you incurred running the gauntlet?  Fine, but you’re gonna pay one sweet markup!  Clones?  Sure, why not!  Just bend over first so I can get every last ISK - we need to finance the war efforts somehow...

Dedicated Marketplace

I support the Federation.

I also support having a huge balance in my wallet.

But I see no reason why I can’t support the troops and gouge those who choose not to align, or those who actively align against us.

Give me a place where I can fly the flag, and bring my strengths to the effort.  Give me a dedicated FW marketplace, where only other loyalists can list and buy items.  And to make sure it’s not filled with turncoats and folks hiding their true allegiance - make me earn my way in with standings.  If I haven’t proved my worth, than why should the Federation reward me with exclusive market access?

Surely the Fed Navy and others can afford the competition to their LP Stores.  

(Practical note:  any FW member could access and buy from the FW Marketplace.  But to be able to list items, you should need a certain standing.  Or, have fees to list that decrease based on higher standings.  And make those fees actually noticeable, to drive the incentive to improve standings.)

And adding to OHIP:  Have these marketplaces only at the Fed Navy (or other FW “base” stations) in systems, and only allow the marketplaces to exist while we own the system.  Lose ownership?  Permanently lose the goods listed on the market, and the new owners get a portion of the market as loot drops!  

How’s that for linking the industrialist and the soldier, making us actually care about how each is faring?

Cultural Bonuses

One of my biggest bones to pick here...  Gallente technology has so much to offer, but are you really telling me the Industrial Military Complex can’t find a way to eke out a few extra points of armor or damage accessible only to those willing to fight for the cause?

And while we’re at it, can’t they find a way to inhibit the same ships from performing optimally for the enemy?  

We’re fighting for the Federation, the least they can do is reward us.

Let Us Fight Too

I can barely hit the broad side of a planet with my turrets, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to help.  But hey, you gotta make it worth it.  If showing my colors does nothing but cost me ISK and make me a target, then why would I do it?

After all, the Federation is all about free choice and maximizing our potential (earnings)...

We Were Soldiers Once...

YC114.04.13

Sure, we weren’t great soldiers - but we still participated for the Federation.  But no longer!  The politicos have heard our call, and realized FCO can do more for the Federation with our mining lasers than with our rail guns.

The petition for release from active duty has been granted, and we are no longer considered valid war targets.  Not that I really expect the Squids to no longer target us, but hopefully CONCORD will be quicker to defend us than the Fed Navy.

We’re going to take full advantage of our regained neutrality ASAP: alliance mining op planned for tonight!  And then the tough choices, refine and build, or stockpile and see how high the market climbs...

Advancing to the Rear

YC114.04.12
Peace can’t come soon enough for James and me, or at least a tactical withdrawal from this morass in which the Federation finds itself.

In the last week, I lost an Itty V right in the heart of Fed space, leaving station in Dodixie.  The ship was bad enough, but the noxcium and blueprints on board were even worse... Specially with mineral prices reaching new heights daily.

Adding insult to injury (although I’m sure James would say “injury to insult”, the selfish capitalist) James lost a freighter a day later, and a full load of ice products bound for our loyal customers.  Again, right in the midst of supposedly secured Fed space.

James went so far as to demand answers from the Fed Navy as to where they were, I guess any response is better than none...?

It sound like The Drunks have been faring just as poorly.  Hopefully the politicians start listening, and get us some relief, while we still have any assets at all.

All We Are Saying Is Give Peace a Chance

YC114.04.12

A few months ago, and against the wishes of RECLT, FCO voted to join the (seemingly repetitive) battle the Gallente Federation is waging against the oppressors of free markets everywhere.

Um, I mean against the oppressors of freedom, not free markets.  My bad...

Anyway, FCO dragged us kicking and screaming into a battle where suddenly half the market is against us, and we can’t freely travel systems we once did.  Still, we figured we would suddenly have a lot more built-in customers - after all, all those freedom fighters need to get their ships and ammo from somewhere.

Unfortunately, that just isn’t turning out to be the case.  We’ve been unable to make inroads with the new client bases, and our supply lines have proved too long to easily secure or navigate quickly.  As well, politically we’ve had no traction at all with the establishment already in place.

But!

It’s not all doom and gloom - in one of life’s nice little kicks-in-the-arse, FCO is going nowhere with the warriors, but having great luck with the industrialists!  The Drunk and The Brave have signed on with us, adding to our presence in the belts, placing customer orders, and even starting talk about setting up a station for us to build out of.

Hopefully TDATB is able to keep the air on the inside, and not find their ships vented due to FCO’s past political choices...

A Change Gonna Come

YC114.04.11

Well now, things are certainly shaking up around here.  RECLT is growing, and it’s not Tycho that we’ve added!

Earnest and Torvicus have joined the little corner of New Eden where James and I are making our presence felt.  I haven’t had a chance to work much with them yet, but growth can’t be a bad thing - if nothing else I can sell to them at the corporate rate...  Or as I like to call it: “You don’t need to check the prices, of course you can trust me, we’re mates!”

Now, on to more important things...

Scuttlebutt around the systems is heating up, people seem to be gearing up for major changes coming, only no one knows quite what they’ll be, or what impacts they’ll have.

First off, it looks like years of capsuleers thinning the herds of pirates has finally resulted in some evolution among those that are left: indications are they are planning on changing what they carry in easily picked-off crafts.  No longer will there be plenty of easily refined items to fill any mineral gaps I may encounter when building.

And it looks like the machines are learning too... rogue drones are finding safer ways to transport alloys as well!

Second, political unrest is looking to screw with my supply lines even worse.  It may soon become very unsafe to try pulling rocks without a combat patrol keeping watch.  Hopefully I can keep snatching up supplies while the prices are still (relatively) low.

Now, as long as no one tells Tycho the rates for ore are going up...

Everybody’s Working for the Weekend

YC114.04.11

Working vacations are great for two things: poorly completing work, and not getting any relaxation...

Over the past few weeks, I’ve taken a less active role in RECLT to focus on training more skills - chiefly around navigation, ship performance, and weapons management.  Our recent war, and becoming more involved in the sharper end of galactic politics has convinced me I need to be able to protect my own assets, rather than count on the kindness of strangers.

Luckily, this has not completely decimated my ability to produce goods and sell to deserving individuals.  Our allies at GIPA found themselves a fresh grad to take under their wing - Tycho Antus.  Of course, by “take under their wing” I really mean take under my wing - Tycho’s a junior Kat, and I couldn’t be prouder!

He’s been quite the boon for RECLT, a dedicated miner pulling in excellent quantities and selling to us at preferred rates in exchange for a guaranteed market and minimal hauling.  By keeping the tap flowing on ores, I’ve been able to maintain my market presence, branching out into ships and more custom orders.

Speaking of which, I’ve finally completed the huge custom order for Konici!  It looks like I got it done just in time for him - mineral prices have started skyrocketing...  I’m gonna need to look into that further, make sure I’m still charging an appropriate gouge...  

Um, I mean fair and equitable markup allowing profit and goods for all concerned in the transaction.

How I Became a Capsuleer

YC114.02.23

I really need to quit eavesdropping in these station bars...

Like mana from Valhalla (yes I know I'm mixing my religious metaphors), the recent Dev Blog by CCP Legion asks questions which make for perfect Blog Bantering. To quote him,

"...we want to make the first days, weeks and months in EVE enjoyable and not just something ‘you have to plough through in order to get to the good stuff’" and the newly formed Player Experience team will focus on "...where and why people lose interest in EVE...".

"We invite you to pour your heart (or guts) out and tell us what you think is good or bad with the current new player experience and what you think could be done about the problems."

- Seismic Stan, Blog Banter 33: The Capsuleer Experience

This got me thinking back to just what path I took becoming a capsuleer.  It sure as hell wasn’t a spur of the moment thing - I’d been considering taking this path for a few years, anything to escape this rock I was on and get into space. However, the time just never seemed right; and if we're being honest, the learning curve scared me off too!

Even at the bottom of a gravity well, I'd been hearing rumors of the epic lives being lived over my head.  Guiding Hand hitting the big score, and pyramids being built among the stars bankrupting medium-sized planets.  The thought of all that action going on, and me missing out on it, finally got me moving.

I did over 3 months research before I signed up, joining CAS for my formal education.  Before I ever stepped foot in a pod, I had already read the manual.  I knew my existing hardware couldn't handle the demands of a pod, and upgraded.  Even the fact that pod pilots tended to be graduates of the Corp schools attracted me - no sniveling little brats to deal with.

Of all the MMOG I've played Eve appears to have the oldest player base I've seen. Most in my corp are 30-something with wives and kids. Why? Because there isn't the instant gratification that comes with many games and therefore younger players tend not to stick with it.

- Drackarn,  Blog Banter 33

I knew this was where I wanted to be.  Getting resources, refining, building, and selling, selling, selling!  Oh sure, some people are flitting about throwing things at each other.  But real capsuleers know the battlefield is in the board room.


With these bright stars shining in my eyes, I submitted my application to CAS.  (Has it really only been 16 months since I did this...?)  I was so excited to start my classes!  


What was first?  Oh, how to fly?  Well, I guess that makes sense.  And how to blow things up?  OK, fair enough.  Finally!  Industry!  Mining, building, selling!  


Wait?  That was it?  Now we're back to shooting?  Scanning?  I guess scanning could be useful - help me find new materials or markets...  But when are we getting back to the stuff that matters?


Huh?  I've graduated?  And now some biddy wants me to help her?  She ain't my Sister, forget that! 


Why the hell did I even bother attending CAS?  Everything I needed to know, I'd already researched before I ever left home.  If my course load is any indication, this is one blood-thirsty universe...


*********************************************
OOC


Other than the In Character flourishes, the timeline, research, and thoughts above represent my time leading up to- and signing up for- EVE.  I'd heard the crowd was older, more mature - and that's what I wanted.


As well, CCP has done a very good job getting out the word about the Learning Cliff.  Perhaps too good - it may scare off people who would otherwise love the game.  For me, this cliff is what attracted me.  Anyone can hack-and-slash, but to bankrupt an entire corporation?  That takes actual skill, and not just a +5 Sword of Shiny.


CCP, and the gaming media, market EVE as the sandbox to play in - and that's certainly true.  But they also make a huge deal out of the player-driven economy, and the fact that CCP has an actual economist on staff!  This is one of EVE's key differences to other MMO's, and something they market very well. 


The message gets lost once you actually start playing the game.  Everything is set up for pew-pew.  Either I'm blowing up the environment, or blowing up other players.


Rather, getting blowed up by other players.  I can barely spell PvP, let alone conduct it.  But you know what?  That's the way I want it.  I'm an industrialist.  As I said before, things must burn or I won't have a job.  That's cool - I'll sell you the matches and you can actually strike them.


The New Player Experience - at least when I did it in Nov and Dec 2010 - gave me very little to become the tycoon to which I aspire.  The research I did before hand, especially reading the ISK Guide, is what helped me.  I knew there was a grind to get through - and I'm masochistic enough to enjoy those grinds.


The great thing about our sandbox is there's room for everyone, even those of us that don't PvP.  I just wish there was more in the NPE to show me why CCP even bothers to have an economist.  


Unfortunately, in this case I'm a critic rather than a creator.  I know what's missing, but I have no clue what would effectively fill the gaps...

Vagabonds, and the Never-Ending Ladder to Climb

YC114.02.14

Two years ago, I despaired even getting off that damn rock I called home - or at least where I was born and my family called home.  Little did I know what was in store for me - coming through the wormhole, as it were...

I can’t even remember the last time I set foot on a planet now.  Likely when I was still a student with CAS.  I’ve lived in a tower in a wormhole, cut off from everything (everything that matters, that is - like my beloved markets) for weeks at a time.  I’ve bounced around regions, from Verge Vendor, to Sinq Laison, and now to Essence...

I’ve hitched my Iteron to James’ fortunes; and while my liquid ISK doesn’t show it, the assets I’m collecting, and market orders I have pending show that’s a good thing so far!

I still don’t have enough to stay safe, secure, stable, in space, and not stuck on some small, stupid, insignificant speck of a planet somewhere...  But I’m getting there... assuming it’s a catchable target...

And hey, the ladder I’m climbing with RECLT is getting me further from the surface every day - even the alliance is noticing:

Meet the new Communications Director - Diplomacy and Business for Federal Consensus Outreach!

I think I’m gonna need a bigger business card...

Kat Robspierre
Production Chief, RECLT
Chief Operating Officer, RECLT
Communications Director - Diplomacy and Business, Federal Consensus Outreach

Kinda has a nice ring to it!

My God, It’s Full of Customers

YC114.02.10

This political stuff is not a simple path to navigate, that’s for sure...

FCO has made it official - we’re Faction Warriors!  So far, this hasn’t impacted me much.  I’ve had some new allies pop up on the overview - but we’ve just passed like purple ships in the night.  Certainly no threats yet.  And no new business either - yet!

The strangest thing was the hoops the alliance had to endure to prove our worth to the Federation.  Apparently Col Nardieu’s past work was not exactly official - at least not in any way the authorities are willing to recognize formally.  He and his folks are off running some more publicly-palatable work for the Federation.  They’ve assured us they will return...  It’s interesting - the thorniest branches are the ones that needed pruning to prove FCO’s worth to the Federation.

One wormhole closes, another opens...

Looks like FCO is getting some traction, we’ve had a group apply for membership.  They’ve got some history that makes a few in FCO uncomfortable - at one point some of them apparently had anti-Federal leanings.  This is prompting a discussion among the bosses that raises a few interesting thought with me:

1. Us capsuleers are effectively immortal.  Given a long enough time span, we’re all going to get bored and try many different things.  Those million monkeys banging on a million typewriters got nothing on the variety of things we’re going to produce...
2. Employment history is just that: history.  I mean, look at mine - Advent was closely aligned with Sansha sympathizers.  Hell, Kiruss is aligning extremely closely these days.  By the concerns raised about the new organization, that kind of thinking may have kept me out of FCO.
3. FCO is very open about our policies, thoughts, and goals.  The fact that they’re applying shows me that whatever leanings they may have had in the past, it’s the past.  That’s the great thing about people - they change their minds, and that should be allowed.  (Except on contracts!  You signed it, you live by it!  Kat’s gots ta get paid!)
4. If we reject those who may think differently, then how will we ever have the chance to change their minds, show them the errors of their ways, and sell to them?

Speaking of selling, my first Tornado sold!  

The Gears Are Turning

YC114.02.08

Guess who’s qualified on a freighter... This guy!

Things are starting to tick along nicely.  Moved all my assets to the new shop yesterday, just some straggler ships to get hauled over.  Started building my first ship to sell - a Tornado; I may not be able to fly it, but I’m sure willing to soak some poor fool who is able!

Ammo sales are going well too.  Not much margin, but a reasonably steady income there.

Next I gotta start upping my status with FIO...  I really need some jump clones for what James and I have planned.  Specially if the alliance joins up fighting FW.  Great sales opportunities, but a lot more bullets flying at us too.

Met a chap in Gallente Lounge last night - might have some business for us too.  He may need some items built, and other items hauled - no questions asked.  Those are the best kinda questions - the ones not asked cause the cheque cleared!

Even better - the ISK is starting to roll in on the custom build...  Everything’s starting to mesh - time to stop chasing and start catching that ISK!

Second Verse, Same as the First

YC114.02.07

Octirant was quite the problem for us, riling up people and likely getting us into a war with SASPR.

Looks like his replacement thinks a bit bigger...  Nothing like insulting an entire civilization to start things off.  Not to mention pissing off an entire customer base!

All I can hope is that everyone realizes the good Colonel speaks only for himself, and not the entire alliance.  I don’t know if I can handle another interruption to business.  

Time to Rent a Van, I Gotta Move

YC114.02.06

Well,  we’ve escaped relatively unscathed from the war - meaner, leaner, and ready to profit!  As part of this, we’ve realized Ney was not really the best spot for our operations.  Our supply routes to refineries, markets, and customers were just too long.

James has found us a perfect location: Ignebaener.  Lots of material in-system to pull, FIO stations to base out of, manufacturing not too far away, and a few easy jumps to our customers.

Speaking of customers, I hope they can streamline operations soon.  I’ve got a few contracts pending acceptance right now, which unfortunately means I’ve got a lot of non-liquid assets at the moment.

Kinda tough to build more things to sell when I can’t buy raw materials!

Tangled Webs

YC114.02.06

Good lord, is James really this tricky?  He’s been playing things close to the vest lately, but actually taking a hand in offing Octirant?  And worse yet, involving me?

And worst of all, doing it for free and not sharing with me?

I’m not sure if I want to know the truth or not.  I don’t think I could handle knowing that about James...  I mean, is he really that cold blooded?  That ruthless?  To actually do something like this for no profit at all?

I don’t know if I could work with someone like that!

Promotions

YC114.02.02

Speaking of more competent than Octirant, FNP has elected a new Chairman.  Col. Hans Nardieu seems like a good chap so far.  He’s distanced himself from the past very gently and smoothly, ruffling a minimum of feathers - something of which his predecessor was incapable.

More importantly though - I GOT A PROMOTION!

Meet the new Chief Operating Officer for Reclamation Technologies!  

I’m not sure what will actually change, but it’s nice to be recognized for the work I am already performing.  Plus, this should make it easier to deal with other corporations - titles open doors, I tend to find.

I’m not sure if Loreael is going to come back to us now that the war is over, but I hope this doesn’t make things weird if he does...  It can be tough when people get left behind.

Peace in Our Time

YC114.02.02

Find me a nurse to kiss, the war’s over!

Looks like Luc Saldissot has managed to negotiate an end to the business interruptions.  As usual, there may be some lingering “border incidents” over the next few days as people get word; but it’s reasonably safe to start plying the spaceways again.

Which is good - a couple more days and I would have been completely strangled in my ability to produce anything.

I must say, it’s nice to have someone more competent than Octirant dealing with issues that impact the whole alliance.

Why I’m Not a Businessman

YC114.02.01

I call myself an industrialist, although really, I yearn to call myself a businessman.  But, a rose by any other name is still just someone who builds things.

Why am I not a businessman?  Because the powers-that-be have not given me the power to:

Invest in corporations and the stockmarket

Why can I not buy shares in Goonswarm, or even better - short-sell them and cause their market cap to plummet so bad they can’t finance a can of Quafe?

You can tell me all you like that by undercutting someone else by two cents on the cost of a Havoc missile I’m engaging in my own special brand of warfare; but to really wreak havoc - try crashing the economy of New Eden’s largest civilization, and see the blood flow.

Give me the chance to get super-rich, and go super-broke.

Form commercial deals and exclusive contracts

I produce minerals and other refined products.  I have customers who buy these exclusively from me, at established prices.  So why do I have to create a contract each time I deliver goods, and wait for these contracts to be accepted before I see a cent?

Why can’t I have a standing order, where everything I deliver up to the quota is automatically accepted?

Why can’t I make standing orders, where I buy my raw materials from others in the same manner?

See prices everywhere

The powers-that-be don’t trust me with knowledge - that’s all I can figure.  Why else can’t I see the prices in Jita when I’m in Dodixie?  Others have made this data available to me - making me jump through these hoops just make me think the powers are trying to wallpaper over the cracks in their walls.

Sure, I get in my pod so I can increase my balance.  But to call what I do business, well that would just be criminal...

Why Do I Do What I Do?

YC114.02.01

I’m starting to think I need to quit frequenting bars while I’m stuck in a station, or start drinking faster once I get to them...

Are You a Content Seeker?

Firstly, I would like to clarify my definition of "content seeker". These are not necessarily just players who can be labelled and dismissed as "roleplayers" or "carebears" (although I'm sure the skim-readers will still assume that to be the case). There are many null- and low-sec combat pilots with an appreciation for the lore of EVE and the layers of immersion beyond the performance-obsessed powergamers.

From the perspective of a casual player or an outsider there is a beguiling darkness and a sense of wonder in simply moving through New Eden and being overwhelmed by the detail. Roleplayers certainly tap into that and build beyond it, but that is a niche within a niche. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the min/maxers for whom the enjoyment is in the DPS and the kill:death ratios. They don't give a rat's arse about the backstory.

- Seismic Stan, Power Gamers vs. Content Seekers

This time, the talk was about what motivates us capsuleers, keeps us coming back for more, and not just killing the power on the cloning vat and opening the air lock doors.

For many, especially in null space, it’s the thrill of the kill.  (At least that’s what it seems like to me, plying my skills here in high-sec.)  It’s almost like the powers-that-be wish everyone to end up in null, making space for an endless streams of new grads to occupy high-sec for a month or two, before they move on and make room for others.  The circle of capsuleers, to coin a phrase.  (Hell, that would make a great song too!)

But what keeps me going?  What makes me climb into that pod each day, crush rocks each day, build trinkets each day, ply the markets each day?  In truth, it’s the companionship and interaction with my corp mates, my allies - hell, even my enemies.

Cause as an industrialist, I find the powers-that-be don’t leave much other motivation for me.

As I said earlier, if things don’t burn, there’s no reason to do anything else.

Everything I make, goes to the war movements of someone.  Can I produce view screens, or art work, or even clothing for my fellow pilots to enjoy?  Not even close.  Sure, I can move trade goods, and sell them to the powers.  

But New Eden is full of people that never set foot in a pod.  They have ISK that would look just as good in my pockets as theirs.  Why must the powers keep their monopoly on these markets?  

The power-that-be like to trumpet how capsuleers are responsible for the entire economy in New Eden; I wish I had the chutzpah to try feeding my customers such a line.  Sure, we’re responsible for the entire economy - the entire economy consisting of the crumbs they see fit to give us.

I’ve heard rumblings that changes are coming, and even seen press releases and “technology tests” that suggest the rumblings may be true.  It’s possible that one day, I may be able to buy and sell goods that don’t lead to a ship’s crew dying.  Of course, I’ve seen nothing indicating I’ll actually be able to build these goods myself - rather than just playing a shell game moving around consumer goods produced elsewhere, like a glorified courier.

But until that day, even though I call myself an industrialist - I’m just a cog in the war machine, profiteering where ever I can.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that...

What Makes Us Human?

YC114.01.31

And what keeps us human?

There is an interesting discussion underway right now.  Kyber has posted thoughts on what capsuleers are, what we are becoming, and how much are we still human.  

While I continue to abhor the company he keeps and feel there are ulterior motives to his thoughts, this does not keep me from addressing his original question, as he implies.

The machines we put in ourselves are dangerous.  They disconnect us, distort us, distance us, and diminish us from what makes humans human.  They place us in stasis, while the unaltered continue to evolve past us.  

By hitting pause on our natural progress, what do we miss while others hit play?

I’m Still Earning

YC114.01.30

I’ve been unable to poke my nose out of station, what with bullets and missiles flying around, but at least the ISK is still trickling in.  We’ve made our first delivery to I-RED, I’ve got stuff started on the custom order, we continue to get raw material and BPC’s from our manufacturing partner, and I’m bringing in a bit of money myself selling ammunition in-station.

Of course, it would be just my luck that the ammunition I’m selling is being used by SASPR to shoot at us.

I haven’t seen or heard from Loreael in a bit.  I hope he’s doing well; I wonder if he’s heard about the assassination yet - there was sure no love lost there!