At level 13, my wizard is dressed much more appropriately.

The lack of cosmetic character customization in the Diablo games has always been a quibble for me. I played the rogue in the original because I didn’t want to play a male sorcerer (though I did play though again as the spellcaster). I got lucky in Diablo II and was able to play a female spellcasting character (though I did have objections to her wardrobe). In Diablo III, I am able to choose my class and gender, but the female wizard begins the game wearing nearly nothing while the male wizard gets a complete outfit.
Curious, I looked at the starting gear for each class. The women are definitely more scantily clad. The female demon hunter is in heels. I don’t even know where to begin about the witch doctors.
And I haven’t even started on the gameplay yet. — The lack of cosmetic character customization in the Diablo games has always been a quibble for me. I played the rogue in the original because I didn’t want to play a male sorcerer (though I did play though again as the spellcaster). I got lucky in Diablo II and was able to play a female spellcasting character (though I did have objections to her wardrobe). In Diablo III, I am able to choose my class *and* gender, but the female wizard begins the game wearing nearly nothing while the male wizard gets a complete outfit.

Curious, I looked at the starting gear for each class. The women are definitely more scantily clad. The female demon hunter is in heels. I don’t even know where to begin about the witch doctors.

And I haven’t even started on the gameplay yet.

Just starting the Diablo 3 beta. Immediately, I want more camera flexibility.

For Little Things

I was going through my file cabinet and found this little leaf tucked away in a folder from high school. Three of us wrote this after a day in Honors Biology:

“The Protein Song”
Sung to the tune of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”

Fibrillin, the wacked-out protein,
Had a mutated code,
And if the lymphocytes saw it,
They would’ve engulfed it whole.

All of the other proteins
Used to laugh and call it names.
They wouldn’t let the poor protein
Play any enzyme games.

Then one strange new mitosis,
DNA came to say,
“Protein, with your weird make-up,
Won’t you come mutate with us.”

Then all the cells did love it,
As they evolved through time.
Fibrillin, you wacked-out protein,
I’m so glad that you are mine!

From The Sun To 134340 Pluto »

Since I came to Boston years ago, I wanted to tour the Community Solar System, an exhibit of the planets, each one stationed at a different site around Greater Boston. Finally, last week, a friend and I embarked on this grand, geeky journey. Armed with our T passes and cameras, we met at the Museum of Science for our very first stop.

I didn’t realize the Sun created a shadow.

We were off to a great start.

But our progress was quickly stalled when, much to our dismay, Mercury could not be found. According to the guide, the first planet should had been in the front plaza. Instead, there was a rock garden filled with different specimens from around the world. Fascinating, but none were the rock of our interest.

Luckily, we found a replacement. Near the Planetarium is a newer exhibit of the solar system, but it wasn’t nearly as cool because you didn’t have to brave a celestial expedition to view it.

Definitely not the original, but it would do.

An elevator ride later, we were at the Venus. The light at the roof was bright. The air was hot and crisp. It was so warm, it might have been an early test to see if we would have the courage to journey beyond.

We got this far. We’re moving forward.

To visit Earth we left the museum for on the Green Line. We were a bit confused when we arrive to the site. The third planet was hidden in the back courtyard of the Royal Sonesta, but luckily for us, the gentleman in the lobby didn’t seem fazed when we asked where Earth was.

The planet had definitely seen better days.

Across the street, Mars was surrounded by commercial comfort at the CambridgeSide Galleria. It seemed like an odd place for the patron of war.

Having finished our tour of the inner planets, we headed back to the T to journey into Boston to see the outer planets. Along the way, we passed by a street art presentation along Cambridge Street. Beautiful metal birds fluttered overhead.

It was the last glimpse of hope before we crossed the river.

Jupiter was easy to find. In the middle of the bustle of South Station, it was impossible to miss if you were going from the T to the buses.

The largest planet couldn’t capture the attention of this crowd. This is a sad day for the solar system.

As we journeyed further among the outer planets, we met an unforeseen obstacle: Sunday. Saturn was seated in the Cambridge Public Library, but unthinking of the day, we arrived with the doors closed to us. We could not view the ringed splendor.

Dismayed but not disheartened, we immediately sought a substitute. At the Harvard COOP, we managed to find a suitable likeness.

I don’t think that’s to scale though.

Uranus was also difficult to access, far out in Jamaica Plain. The library was also closed, but we hoped to catch a glimpse of the planet through a window.

Not even a glimmer.

Even worse, Neptune was farther out in Saugus and the bus to its location didn’t run on Sundays. We were prepared for a trek, but for not the four miles by foot.

Lesson learned: The outer planets aren’t very social.

.. except for Pluto. But does it count since it isn’t a planet anymore?

Still, we have explored the entirety of the solar system! Even if the outer planets were unavailable, the journey was exciting. At the end of the day, I learned that 1) I am a better photo editor than photographer, 2) planets are not available for visits on Sundays, and 3) nerdy friends are the best because they will suffer a sweltering summer Sunday to scout the solar system with you.

Would I do this again? Sure! But just so I don’t wait another nine years to travel the solar system, Foursquare should have a special badge for this journey. After doing it twice, I deserve to be a “Master of the Universe”.