Does anyone have any good tips for creating a professional online presence? Trying to launch my game Dev career with at the moment such a minimal portfolio.

“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” — J.R.R. Tolkien (The Fellowship of the Ring)

Conan Doyle (LOC)

Oh there must be so many I would choose from - though dinner with the deceased may become more awkward than fascinating. Inanimacy aside, I would probably rank Homer, J.R.R. Tolkien, Theodor Seuss Geisel, Da Vinci, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle among my absolute favourites. Why not a dinner party! Just imagine the rich complexity and imagination a story the group of them could create!

With so many questions and babbling of my absolute respect for them, I don’t know where I’d begin! Of course the notable obvious such as inspiration for some of their literary works, advice on life, writing, and the sciences behind their works - I am most interested in picking their brains on philosophy and life itself.

What author would you love to have lunch with?

There’s something magical about the stars. So distant, yet when in sight I feel so much closer to home.

Starry Sky with Trees

I moved to Toronto about 8 years ago from my home Nova Scotia (Oh how I miss the Atlantic). I still try to go back whenever I can. I must say, despite all the interesting times and experiences I have had here, I have never liked Toronto. I can’t quite figure out why people love it so. What bugs me the most about it (okay, a great deal - maybe not the most) is the bloody light pollution. Being a lover of nature, it bothers me that on the clearest of nights, even in the suburbs where I live I can only see about three stars.

In answer to the question, I guess it would have to be anywhere outside major cities. Every year I go to a camp a couple hours out of Toronto (Though typically only an hour and a half, the highway is usually pretty clear) at least once or twice. Looking up into the great jet black sky riddled with starlight, lying in a field surrounded by the presence and aroma of trees, I feel at home. Combine that with the Ocean and I could get lost in my thoughts for many hours.

Where are your favourite locations for Stargazing? Any particular nostalgic elements?

It’s a good feeling, isn’t it? The warmth you get when you have a young friend, and he (or she) looks up to you like an older sibling. A superhero. We all do when we are young, and the bond you feel when it is returned is quite amazing.

For the most part I didn’t hold any idol of my own for many years, but rather the other way around. We were close with our neighbors, in more than just the physical sense. Their youngest child (of two), Ben, looked up to me like a brother.

I miss him. Having moved neighborhoods after grade 7 made me lose all my old friends, and Ben too. I eventually did hold an idol of my own - Jonathan. Same age as me, I knew him from church. There was just something about him, something different.

He wrote the most amazing stories, though short made you question everything you hold to be true. One of his stories, about this dream he had (the sheer complexity and twisted nature of it was enough to make my jaw drop), was the inspiration for my pen name - Chasms of the Mind (was quoted directly from the story itself). Though I cannot find the story now, I still like to think back to it.

There was more to writing though. He displayed many unique subtleties I found made him stand out. His amazing love for God (without being a tool about it to others). His unfortunate past that forever altered his mind (I too have come from an unfortunate past). His joy he displays for the smallest things in life.

An inspirational man in his own unique manner, I really looked up to him. I still do, and so I let him know that one day (It was never too obvious, I was shy for the most part). Because of his tale of misfortune he… has dark thoughts sometimes. Letting him know my respect for him I’m sure gave him some better hope for tomorrow.

Idolizing someone is never just a child’s habit, it builds bonds.


Cheers,
Leo ‘Radio’ LeBlanc

What should you do in the event of a zombie apocalypse?

Brains…..

Look tasty. Kidding.


1) Get out my Zombie Survival Kit (http://www.zombiehub.com/zombie-survival-kit.html)

People, this requires you to pack yours in advance of the event, but if not you can still use this checklist as a guide for quickly grabbing the essentials. I like to include two very important handbooks with mine, The infamous Zombie Survival Guide, and the SAS Survival guide (great all all wilderness scenarios and situations).

It really helps if you read them beforehand and further your understanding. It’s like the difference between cramming for a test last second, or actually knowing what to do, when to do it. The same rule applies for all your equipment (including stuff like GPS and compass), you need to know in advance just how to use it properly. Familiarize yourself with all your packed equipment.

And remember: Going to stores later in the game for supplies is not likely to happen, too unsafe unless with a trained team. Pack things like batteries if you have electric equipment in excess.


2) Grab a weapon.

Remember the only way to kill them is to damage the brain, as they can operate without ligaments and other organs. If you live outside the United States, finding a firearm just kicking around isn’t likely to happen, but that doesn’t mean you’re at any disadvantage.

Bludgeoning weapons are a possibility (blunt objects designed to smash), and are lying about all over the place. A bat, large piece of wood, anything with weight you could swing, etc. The main problem is, without training yourself beforehand, these types of weapons can be slow (causing you to react to slowly, resulting in your own demise), and wastes a lot of energy. Despite being pumped full of adrenaline at first, you have to preserve your energy efficiently as food will eventually be lacking.

Blades and sharp edged weapons will be a lot more effective (a sword would be ideal, but you’re not likely to find one lying around. At first at least), and you do have a knife inside your zombie survival kit. Be sure to grab this and keep it at hand as soon as you grab your pack.

Truth be told, almost anything can be used as a weapon, but don’t be caught without one. And don’t try to be the zombie slayer, escape is your best bet.


3) Get out of the cities. Zombies are former humans, and humans tend to live in large settlements such as cities and towns. If you can get out of the cities as soon as possible (before the city is completely over-run) and as far as you can. In Canada (where I reside), going up north is your best escape route - the farther up you go less it’s populated.


4) If at a later date (a week in?) you hear of a military base that’s safe for survivors, plan your route carefully, consider your options (if you’re already safe, why risk it?), and go if necessary.


Good luck to you all, I hope to see you among the survivors.

This has to be one of my favourite books of all time. It is not any fast-paced adventure by any means, or full of insane twists at every chapter - but the stylings and the story itself are absolutely captivating.

Take a look at these two videos to peak your curiosity:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h73f3LWZALE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBa737AV9S0

Velcro straps. Darn you Newton, I’ll sleep on the ceiling if I want to.