News

June 10, 2004
Good-bye Mister President

"And so, good-bye, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America." - Ronald Reagan

Sunday 2, 2003
Disasters of My Time
I was in fifth grade when Challenger exploded and my teachers rolled a little 13 inch TV into the class room of my small town school so we could watch the news. I was shocked. I thought we were better then that. That our technology was good enough that we wouldn't make that kind of mistake. That day is ingrained in my memory like few others.

On 9/11, I came home from work to see smoke pouring out of one of the Twin Towers. I saw the second plane hit. I saw the first tower fall. There was no more surprise when the second one fell. I felt no hate, I felt no anger. Only a sense of sadness that anyone could do anything like that. And a conviction that, in order to save others from that same fate, that we had to act. I will never forget that day.

Now, on Saturday, I woke up to the sounds of the news asking where Columbia was. I saw them show the tapes of the shuttle breaking apart for the first time while I was lying in bed. And while I felt shock at the lose of lives, sorrow at what their families will go through, I no longer can feel surprise at it. I've seen too many mistakes and disasters caused by Man, either on purpose or by accident, to be surprised any longer. But the memory will be with me until I forget all else.

Farewell to those who Challenge the stars.
Farewell to those who fell in Towers.
Farewell to those who rode Columbia's flames.

May it be our mission to create a world where none follow in your paths.

December 19, 2002
Hegemonia
I have added a new link that sends you to Hegemonia, a new 3d space combat game where you explore space, colonize worlds, research technologies, and fight anyone who wishes to destroy you. It looks like a very good game so I decided to link to it.

Hegemonia

September 11, 2002
One Year Ago
One Year Ago, I came home to find a tower hit.

One Year Ago, I saw a plane hit another tower.

One Year Ago, I saw two towers fall.

One Year Ago, I saw my country realize that the world is not the peaceful, "I love me" place that they thought.

One Year Ago, I watched as Americans realized for the first time in their lives that there really is evil in the world.

One Year Ago, I saw flags flying from overpasses.

One Year Ago, I looked at my fellow Americans and actually felt proud of them.

One Year Ago, I saw the reaction of my people to an horrific crime and felt hope for the future.

One Year Ago, I realized that there still was iron buried in the bones of my countrymen and women.

One Year Ago, I was proud to be an American as my fellow Americans picked themselves back up and kept on keeping on.

One Year Later, I am still proud to be an American.

March 3, 2002
Transformers and K'nex 'Mechs

Are you a fan of Transformers? Do you remember when Optimus and Megatron dueled it out hand in hand to rule the world? Well....they're back. Click on the picture to go to the homepage of the company writing the comic.

In other news, K'Nex has released a new set of 'Mechs that you might be interested in getting. This is of course in addition to the three 'Mechs they've already released.

Large Optimus Prime Poster
Dreamwave Homepage

K'nex Uziel
K'nex Firefly
K'nex Vulture
K'nex previous Three 'Mechs, the Cauldron Born, Mad Cat, and Shadowcat
K'nex 'Mechs homepage

Saturday, February 23, 2002
New Sites Added
Yes...I do still keep this site up to date...hehehe. In fact, I've just added two new sites into the Pryde Rock family, my Ad Astra site (a site that I've setup for a roleplaying league), and a Taurian Concordat site also set up for a roleplaying league.

Wednesday, November 21, 2001
E-Mail Changed
With @home going out of business, my e-mail is changing. Yippeekiyeah. It is now medron@pryderock.com.

Thursday, November 15, 2001
The Gateway Moves
Ok...not really...I just got a domain to work on this. www.pryderock.com now works if you want to change your links and have an easier to remember address. Also note the nice new Classic BattleTech link above. Decided to give Warner's new site a nice little pathway through me. Have a good one dudes.

Wednesday, October 10, 2001
PRI Moves
PRI now has a new address and a new look. Check out both at the links to PRI shown above.

Sunday, April 29, 2001
Many Updates
I have built a page for the new Hsien RPG I am co-gming with Orion, so if you are interested in character-style (IE no 'Mechs) RPG, come on down. I have also finally finished my grand update of WolfNet and will now begin uploading the various pictures I have "acquired" through various nefarious and non-nefarious means. Those who helped me, thank you. Those who didn't...shame on you...;-) Anyways, I'm also announcing the end of Civil War. It was good while it lasted, and thank you to all of you who played in it.

Wednesday, March 21, 2001
WolfNet Update
I have incorporated Thumbnails into the pages to make them more modem-friendly. I am planning to bring some new pictures in the near future, but as usual, I'm busy and this is near the end of my "to do list" unless people start helping a bit with character scans. If only I could get the scans from the people who are doing the Sourcebook PDFs that would really help....;-)

Monday, February 5, 2001
MechWarrior 4 Goody Bag
GrooveRider is doing a play-by-email game starting next week that will end with two lucky people get a grab bag with a t-shirt, game, MS game-voice controller, trading cards, and other stuff. The winner will get a mystery prize. This could be a very interesting thing to look at. Note that you should go there with Internet Exploder, not Netscape, as this seems to be one of the increasing number of sites designed to crash Netscape.

Davion House Book
The Davion House Book PDF has been uploaded to the FASA sites. It is suffering from security settings that are odd, and other various settings that make it VERY hard to use. But if you don't have the real thing, it is nice to have this at least.

Friday, January 26, 2001
Pryde Rock Page Updated
I have made many changes/updates/code fixes to the ancient (by web standards) Terra's Pryde/Pryde Rock page. I noticed that many of the links were broken due to an oversite on my part when I redesigned the site and fixed them. I also delled out alot of not-needed or reduntent code that just slowed down dling of the pages and did some just plain general clean up of the site. Also, for those of you who have enjoy the Pryde Rock Industries part of the site (not the PRI where I have programs..hehehe) I have uploaded some new vehicle designs made in HMVee. If you notice, the way it makes html files is very similar to HMP...very nice....hehehe. It should be out of beta soon so people can buy it.

Thursday, January 25, 2001
FASA and BattleTech
FASA is shutting down and closing their doors. Read the Press Release. They are selling BattleTech and Shadowrun to their respective co-creator, Jordan Weisman, founder of Wizkids and the Mage Knight Rebellion game. This is their press release.

WizKids has entered into an agreement, subject to due diligence, to buy the Battletech and Shadowrun properties from FASA corporation. Both WizKids and FASA are pleased that these special properties will be in the capable hands of their co-creator, WizKids CEO Jordan Weisman. WizKids is excited about developing these properties and we will keep the gaming public informed as things develop.

WizKids has enormous respect for FASA and its pioneering role in the gaming industry. WizKids will strive to bring the same type of innovation and creativity that FASA brought to the industry for 20 years.

I'd say it's official...things have just gotten interesting.

Tuesday, January 23, 2001
HeavyMetal Chat
You wanna rock? Well, I just (ok...just is a relative term..hehehe) got the following annoucement from our good ol' buddy Longwalker.

Rick Raisley, creator of HeavyMetal Pro, the official 'Mech creation program from Fasa's boardgame, BattleTech, is going to be available for a public Question and Answer session at 8PM, on February 7th 2001. Mr. Raisley will be answering questions about HeavyMetal Pro and HeavyMetal Vee, the soon-to-be-released official vehicle editor for the BattleTech universe. This chat will be moderated by MGO.NETwork staff, but all comers are welcome. Mr. Raisley will be available on the MGO.NETwork's IRC server, www.maxgaming.net port 6667, Channel #HeavyMetalPro. Everyone is welcome and urged to arrive early, especially if you are new to IRC. MGO.NETwork personnel will be on hand to help those new to IRC.

What: Q&A with Rick Raisley, writer of HMPro and the upcoming HMVee.

When: Wednesday January 31 8pm till 9pm.

Where: MGO.NETwork's IRC server www.maxgaming.net port 6667, Channel #HeavyMetalPro

Why: To answer any and all questions regarding HMPro and HMVee. This chat will be moderated by the staff at MGO.NETwork.

How: Any IRC client or you may use MGO's IRC browser based IRC Chat client at http://www.maxgaming.net

Thursday, January 18, 2001
Would You Join the Army for Powered Armor?
A recent BBC article noted that the US Army is spending 50 million bucks to find out if a powered exoskeletal armor system is possible. Very interesting read. Tech TV's Screensavers has put up their own little rant and a poll asking if you would join for that.

Man.....am I the only person who hears the word "ELEMENTAL" loud and clear? hehehe. Well...go on over and let your voice be heard on this issue.

Wednesday, January 17, 2001
Civil War - edited
(ugh...I really must reread my messages to make sure they say what I think they say...hehehe) The Civil War League has (finally) moved to its new location. The link on the left will take you there. At the movement the redirection url will send you to the old site, which I have setup to autoforward you to the new location since for some reason I can not access my accounts at that service. As soon as I am able, I will update the redirection urls.

Tuesday, January 9, 2001
Pryde Rock Academy
PRA, devoted to discussion of any contemporary issue including politics and religion, has been added to The Gateway. It is a test to see if such issues can be talked about civily...I believe they can based on how well the short conversation we had at The Dropship went. If it turns out that it doesn't work, this site will be delled. Not abandoned or minimally supported as my other non-updated sites become, but wiped off the Net. I believe we can do this but if we can't, I will let nothing remain of the site to let it cause division amongst the BattleTech fans.

Monday, January 8, 2001
Are You Ready For Civil War?
Civil War approaches. With the death of Arthur Steiner-Davion, the looming confrontation between Davion and Steiner has begun at Victor's command. Will you fight for God and Davion to restore lost honor and glory or stand firm to protect hearth and home from your aggressive former allies and paint your 'Mechs Steiner blue?

You decide at the new Civil War homepage located here.

Civil War is a BattleTech league using MechWarrior 4 to decide the battles. It uses rules similar to FASA's Fifth Succession War for deciding planetary ownership rather then a purely planet per battle setup that many leagues use. Designed to allow you as much fun as possible, good clean matches and good clean roleplaying are encouraged. Flame Wars will not be tolerated. If interested, check us out.

Sunday, January 7, 2001
MechWar 3D Needs You!
I just got the following note from An Do over at MechWar 3D.

MechWar3D is in dire need of talented and dedicated programmers, 2D artists, 3D animators, and 3D artists. This is a final push for dedicated talent to make MechWar3D round and move it towards completion. To make things clear, no MechWar project has survived the test of time yet. Since the beginning, strong organization and planning has pushed us thus far. With so much work done, and steps more to completion, we do not want to waste the productive potentials. At the moment, the lack of advanced programming talent on the MechWar3D engine is THE BOTTLENECK that slows down ALL of MechWar3D. Of course, there are more positions than just advanced programmers. Come visit our site at http://mechwar3d.virtualave.net, and hit the Recruitment Section to see how you may help MechWar3D with your technical skills, or how you as a fan of BattleTech can help MechWar3D.

I know there are plenty of you who have time and are burning to do something productive about this. For years, the BattleTech community has been deprived of a translation of the board game to the PC. MechWar3D has mapped out the path to the clear goal, but we lack the proper means. Remember, the BattleTech community deserves nothing less than the best. DO NOT LET THE BATTLETECH COMMUNITY DOWN !!!!

Note: please read the recruitment page at http://mechwar3d.virtualave.net/recruitment.htm before emailing us so that you have all the details.
----------------------------------------------

Thanks for your help.

Sincerely,
An Do, MechWar3D Coordinator

Thursday, January 4, 2001
Civil War League
I am starting a new League set in 3063 that involves the Civil War between Houses Steiner and Davion. If yer interested in playing MechWarrior 4 in a league environment, look at the rules and see if you like them. If ya do, signup for it and get ready to wear spurs or paint your 'Mechs blue.

Friday, December 29, 2000
MechCommander/Gold Patches and Addons
I have opened up a new area of PRI that carries patches and addons (not to mention "tweaks") for some of the various BattleTech games. MechCommander/Gold is the first to get the star treatment. Note that I am missing the patches and one of the map addons. If anyone has them, please e-mail them to me.

PRI

Thursday, December 28, 2000
Boards Again
I have posted the password to the board on the board and have set up a second board that I may or may not use. Feel free to check the new board out as well and tell me what you think.

Second Message Board

Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Message Boards
I have added a new message board to The Gateway. It will be a part of the new Pryde Rock Academy site I am working on now, but because of various connection problems with my Laptop and the internet have been unable to upload. For now, I'm putting this up so people can check it out. It is password protected in a way I've never seen before and it's admin functions aren't all that I would wish, but I like the way it views messages.

I haven't decided yet if I'm going to go with it or not so am just wondering what you guys think. If you want to post, e-mail me for the password.

Pryde Rock Academy Message Board

Monday, December 25, 2000
Left Behind
Today I watched this movie on DVD and was very impressed. One of the top selling books out there and first book of series that has sold over 20 million copies, it has recently been given the movie treatment. It is a very sweet movie. I was impressed. It stars Kirk Cameron, once on Growing Pains, and his wife, also an escapee of that show, and really does show what it could be to be Left Behind.

It is much like Sixth Sense in that even if you don't agree with what it says, it is definately worth seeing. If you want more info, go to Left Behind Film Project.

Wednesday, December 20, 2000
Website Added
I have added the WolfNet Pictoral Archive to the Gateway. It is a site designed to have pictures of any character in the BTech Universe, focusing on the Inner Sphere of course. What else would expect from a Free World's League loyalist? Hehehe.

Anyways, I started work on this site back in September but fan response was lackluster so I stopped working on it. I do have some pictures but it takes a long time to scan pictures in and I stopped. If anyone wants to give me any pictures they may have in their possession, I will gladly except them and put them on the site.

Note that it is best viewed in Internet Explorer but is fully functional in Netscape.

Monday, December 18, 2000
New Format
As you may have noticed, I have changed the format of The Gateway so I can easily make updates and let people know what those updates are. Expect to see new content and two more sites added to The Gateway in the near future.

Other Stuff