So I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to do with this now.  I haven’t decided yet if I want to keep the Wordpress blog or transfer over to tumblr.  Tumblr does seem to be a little more along the lines of how I ‘contribute’ to the internet, basically re-posting of interesting, cool, or geeky things I find in my daily perusals.  There are links, videos, and pics on there.  Check it out troysims.tumblr.com.  I’m also on twitter now: @DragonPrez.  And I’ve created an about.me page!  All that to say I may be only contributing original posts here every now and then, thoughts about God, Gadgets, Games and Geekery.

Until next time (hopefully will be sooner than a year)

tiny castle - it’s a well done platform game.  You have to keep going and the level keeps changing as you go.  Thankfully it saves every so often so you don’t loose your place. Try it out it’s fun.

geekyness- iphone 4.0 is releasing an OS upgrade!!! and multitasking here we come.

gadgets - we now have a mac in the house!!! working on transferring data from Windows to Mac… not as easy as I thought.

And finally, one fun game to leave you with Atomic Puzzler.
This is one of those games you say.. just one more level… just one more level…

I was able to meet a favorite cousin and watch the movie with him. It was an Awesome experience!!!

God-
God has been at work in my life for sure the last year, I can’t believe it’s been since June that I actually posted something!
God has a been there to strengthen me and comfort me during the hardest part of my job while I was traveling and working 60-70 hours a week.  I believe that God has given me the perseverance to make it through the hardest part of my job and he kept me away from blogging to keep from being complaining and to be negative.  So now that I’ve almost been at Dell/Perot (What you didn’t know that Dell bought Perot? Yeah that happened back in October) almost a year, I do enjoy my job and I enjoy the people I’m working with and what I’m doing for Dell/Perot.  I have learned a lot and still have a lot more to learn.

games-

Here’s some of my favorite  games I’ve discovered over the last almost year.

*Dynamic Systems*Use-Boxment**Redstar-Fall****Assembler***Demolition City*

*Taberinos**cantyouseeimbusy.com*Blosics2*****Light Up*******Contentric***

-Although not a game I think gamers can suffer from this

On another note, I’m still working my way through Half-Life 2. yeah I know…. how long is it going to take? But I love the story and all the background information you can find… so much that I’ve pretty much read this 2 or 3 times: http://members.shaw.ca/halflifestory/index.htm

I’m also looking forward to this whenever it’s released, it’s a revamping of half-life using the half-life2 engine, and looks amazing!
http://www.blackmesasource.com/

gadgets-
let’s see biggest gadget? iPhone, yep I bought an iPhone and I love it (D’Anna has one too). Here’s the list of can’t live without apps.

• words with friends
• chess with friends
• pandora
• bible
• tiki totem (the only app I’ve actually bought, it’s basically the same as the totem destroyer flash game, it’s even better with touchscreen versus a mouse!)
• facebook
• wootwatch (have to check out the woot deals daily!)
• dictionary.com

PS3 and a new TV (D’Anna found an entertainment center and unfortunately our old tv wouldn’t fit hehe and our dvd player died around the same time.. so PS3 made total sense to me and D’Anna)
games - Lego Batman, Lego Indiana Jones, Wall-E, and Baja

Jacob got a Nintendo DS for Christmas, although I haven’t had a chance to play with it much, he did get N for it and it looks pretty sweet.

geekery-
And just to be totally geeky, here’s the geekiest way I know to check the time….

(explanation-rdp into my work laptop, vpn to work network, vpn to another network, rdp to another windows vm, ssh to an aix machine, execute xclock and wallah up pops an xterm with an analog clock… of course it’s the server time which happens to be in California)

And lastly, I had to rebuild the Desktop because the other one fried after a power outage, lost the mobo and my spare hard drive with all the pics, music, apps etc on it (ended up sending it off for data recovery - expensive, but worth it). I’ll post the specs of the new one later.

This is a great little computer animated short.

Enjoy

E.T.A. by JUNK
http://vimeo.com/1165693

About this video:
“Marvin has the most boring job in the universe - but all is not as it seems…

Director: Henrik Bjerregaard Clausen
Modelling & Character animation: Søren Andersen & Michael la-Cour
Original Music & Sound Editing: Rasmus Kudahl Kaae Munch
Production: JUNK

Originally premiered at BreakPoint ‘08 in Bingen, Germany where it won the 1st prize in the animation competition.”

]]> http://troysims.com/2009/06/geeky-video-of-the-month/feed/ http://troysims.com/2009/06/thoughts-on-india/ http://troysims.com/2009/06/thoughts-on-india/#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:09:51 +0000 TroySims http://troysims.com/?p=356 Kids will be kids.

That’s the great thing about working with kids, acting like a kid, and serving with kids.
This past May I was privileged to be a part of the India VBS team. Nine of us (Steven, Rodney, Keri, Sundae, Jeremy, Jinny, Juanathan, D’Anna and I) partnered with COI to put on a VBS for approximately 600 kids, ranging from the ages of 4 to 18. There was a lot of pre-trip preparation put into the trip; going through curriculum, writing skits, brainstorming crafts and games, and eating Indian food, but that’s what made the trip go so super smooth. We started the VBS days off with large group, where it was so cool to see and hear worship songs we sing yet they were being sung in Hindi, even with different hand motions. There was a skit also, with Hindi translators. Then the kids broke into age appropriate groups throughout the building’s classrooms (it’s also school) for their bible study with the Indian volunteers and teachers. After their bible study the nine of us split into two’s and went to each classroom and shared a craft, many of which were prepared by 121ers. Then it was snack time for the kids where they received a snack and sugar water (their equivalent to kool-aid). After snack it was time for a memory verse activity and game, they loved all of us coming to the rooms and acting silling and playing games with them. The kids I played with really enjoyed the spit-wad game (q-tips and straws). I don’t think they’ve ever experienced spit wads before!!! And finally on the last day there was a huge celebration all done in the large group room. I think every child was able to be on stage to do either a memory verse, a song, or a skit. It was really neat to see what they learned throughout the week, although a bit hot…..

How hot is hot? It was around a 110-120 outside. We were working in a cinderblock building with a metal roof. Add 600 kids jumping around and you’ve got yourself a nice little sauna! But the funny thing is I don’t think any of us really let the heat get to us, (physically that is, not sure odoriferous wise though), we were all so focused on enjoying the kids and interacting with them that it didn’t seem that hot, until that last day of celebration, where the sauna effect was on full force!

Was it only about the kids?No, although that was the main focus of the trip and that did make this trip to India different that previous trips 121 has taken there, we had a chance to do a few things in the evenings. One night we visited the Bundicks and encouraged and hung out with them. We were able to see WildFire Tribe, a worship band ministry started by JoJo. We prayer walked through a Mosque, a Sikh temple and a Hindu temple, praying for the people, praying for God to work miracles. We also visited one of the home churches and one of the pastor’s home.

How did this impact me? The Indian people are so friendly, willing to give a helping hand and serve you their best, and all based on building relationships. I came back with a new appreciation for service, friendliness, humility, and relationship focused encounters with others.

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, O descendants of Israel his servant, O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He remembers [a] his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.” When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. Hallowed no man to oppress them;for their sake he rebuked kings: “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.” Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heaven . Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength, ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!” Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 35 Cry out, “Save us, O God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, that we may glory in your praise.” Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the LORD.” 1 Chronicles 16:8-36

Thank you for your faithful prayers! You are vital to this ministry!

We look forward to sharing insights, life changes/challenges, and experiences with you.