First, watch this: Animator vs Animation
When you've regained the ability to breathe, watch this: Animator vs Animation II
Darned brilliant. Brilliant!
That flight I was talking about in my Potter post? That was for a visit back to Ontario to go on a camping trip put together by my good friend Dave. This would be my first encounter with portaging, long canoe paddling, and wilderness camping. This could only be great.
Killarney Provincial Park is a geological marvel, straddling several types of rock formations and types, formerly housing mountains taller than the Rockies that were ground down during successive ice ages, also straddling the line between the Boreal north and the great lakes lowlands. The lakes within the park are high and clear compared to the boggier ones surrounding it. The rugged white rock, the pine trees jutting up and the clear lakes inspired even several artists from the Group of Seven, one of whom was the driving force behind the foundation of what would become the park. Put succinctly, the above is a long way of saying the landscape is one of beauty. It's different than the jutting mountains of the Wudang region of China, different than the great granite cliffs of Yosemite. The La Cloche mountains may be much shorter (shorter than even the hills around the SF Bay area), but they have a quality and a texture that of strong beauty and of impressiveness that is all their own.
The weather could not have been planned for any better. It rained only twice, and each for only a short time (which we spent under a hung tarp). Otherwise it was pretty much clear all the way, with very little wind. Dave had arranged the trip to land during the full moon, and with the clear skies the moon shone brightly our entire trip. We took several moonlight paddles, silently gliding across the perfectly still water under the lunar light was like paddling across deep glass. Very ethereal, very evocative. We also hiked to the top of one of the hills on the night of the full moon proper, casting our eyes over the gently illuminated valleys and lake. During the day the water reflected the surroundings for beautiful tableau after tableau.
Yes, we took pictures -- how could we not, with this beauty surrounding us? Find them here at this link.
I totally enjoyed the paddling (I sat mostly in the front, not yet being familiar with the J-corrective-stroke of the rear paddler), especially as I played with it, trying to find an 'internal' style of paddling, one that felt tai chi-ish. And the portaging was something else I took to -- apparently I like to start things with a bang -- my first portage was a 1400m hike up some of the steepest sections of trail in the park. I ended up doing the following two other portages as well, at 2000m and 1700m respectively.
We took many a swim, both short and swimming out from shore to shore or island, both during the day and even under the moon's light (sans vestments for that one). We saw turtles, snakes, chipmunks, squirrels, mice, (the big game eluded us). We hiked, canoed and camped out in the wilderness. I did tai chi by the water's edge early in the tranquil morning as the mist rose from the lake. I came away with nearly a beard.
In climbing up the rocky ridge one afternoon, I had a remarkable experience: as soon as I began I brought into being a space of peace and assuredness. It was really amazing: every footfall was perfect and sure, and I nearly floated up the hill, and back down again. It was such an amazing state of being that I ran up and down a rock pile several times once I returned to near-water's edge, with no loss of balance, no rock going astray, just revelling in the calm that was there (with likely a big grin on my face).
As for my prediction that black/horse/deer flies and mosquitoes do not come to get me, well... that is apparently no longer accurate.
It was, it goes without saying, an amazing trip. Thanks Dave for making it happen.
More! There is a day-by-day trip diary posted by Averyl here, and if you have Google Earth, you can download this file and follow our trail (double click on the first name, then go under Tools --> Play tour).
This has shades of another destruction... I'm sadfaced. I so like the tomcat... I hope they keep a few flying at least.
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all.
One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, esentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:
"Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
-- Old Cherokee Legend
I really like that, and really love how especially the last line can be expanded beyond the simple organization of good/bad into a greater world of all states of being...
Today was an odd day... last night was an odd night. I felt as though I had one long, continuous, weird dream the whole night. Today, and I venture the two mayyyy be connected, I was sluggish the whole day. Must be some interesting weird/tired ratio going on...
I caught the first track released from Jean Michel Jarre's new album. The video is kinda fun and cute. Not entirely sure how I'll feel about the album, though. I was a bit tepid at first on Metamorphosis (though in listening to it again right now I'll say its grown on me)... while I know that first released track isn't indicative of all the songs on the album (some short clips in an interview video I saw gave a bit of a preview of the rest) I'm not sure if I'll dig it. Certainly for what that first track is it is very well done, but it isn't.... well, it isn't the classic JMJ sound. Isn't that the often quandary, though? An artist that we get to liking a lot begins to verge off artistically, to explore, to even evolve and grow. And in that process their sound changes, and it's jarring to our expectations. We like what we had before... there's that moment of conflict, where one is torn between wanting to like it for the artist you knew and not liking it at first blush, which could very well be just because you were expecting the same as before.
Sometimes it takes some distance from that initial 'shock' for the filters to drop away and to appreciate it (or not) for what it is (rather than what it isn't). When I get a chance I'll definitively give the album a fair whirl. After all, it's not like we've lost all the JMJ we had before. It's always there, waiting to be spun when we want it.
The results are in: ARE division, passed! Woo! Three more to go... I've already started studying for it. Less books this time, I'm taking the last of the graphic divisions. Target date: end of August.
Work's been hopping like crazy, which is good because it means we're growing and there's lots of work out there. Most of the office was driving hard on one project last week, and this week I get to drive hard again (we're on mandatory overtime for a short bit too) on two more projects, including one with much 3D modelling. Amusingly, we just ordered a copy at work of FormZ to use for modelling -- which will be very useful not only for that but also for the 3D Printing project I mentioned a few posts back. I love it when things align like that.
Did some photography for a couple of Sifu's projects over the past week, which was a lot of fun. Also been getting these cool bursts of insight as I practice not only Tai Chi (we did it several times in a row the past few practice sessions, which makes some new things available) but also in Shaolin -- its one thing I love about Kung Fu (among other things): as you unwrap one layer it opens up a whole new layer for discovery (and the discovery never ends). Did some iron palm again last week and the left hand (the one that had been operated on) didn't hurt at all, so I'll start ramping it up again, and Rev and I have been practicing the staff sparring set anew.
Tonight as I stepped outside I got to see the rising very crescent moon (little less so than last night, which was awesome as it was razor sharp thin) with a VERY bright evening star (ie Venus). Beautiful. Aaaand... as it turns out, Saturn was also there! "June16: The crescent Moon hangs in the west-northwest at dusk. Pollux is above it, and Castor is to the right of Pollux. But Venus is much more eye-catching high to the Moon's upper left. Saturn and, farther on, Regulus, are to Venus' upper left."
So there you go, two planets, a star and the moon. It was wild!
Me: WotC's new web presence will be on a website called... gleemax.com? GLEEMAX?
KF: sounds like a condom.
Me: haha, yes, yes it does :P
What's been the news from lynx central since the fabulous Loreena concert, you ask? Studying... lots of studying. I've scheduled my next Architectural Registration Exam for the first of June, so I've been hitting the books (all 2400+ pages of them) pretty consistantly. Work has also been mightly full, with multiple projects on the go, both big and small (plus, of course, ADT implementation). Getting to work on two projects right now that are design heavy, but from two different angles: one is very technical oriented, the other is more artistic oriented. On that latter I haven't been working on the design directly, but I have had my input, and had the great experience of suggesting a direction and having Jose later show me the design opening with "So, I took your idea and totally ran with it." Woo!
The hand continues to heal -- no iron palm for me yet alas -- and I'm back into the Kung Fu swing of things. The past couple of weekends I've pulled off some good Shaolin practice, doing straight sword, all three staff sets, the spear set, the cane set, along with all of the hand sets I know, with the accompanying great feeling of a workout that comes the day next. We've also completed 'learning' the Five Elements form of Xing Yi -- of course, the movements look simple, but to excecute them with all the concepts and energies is where we are developing ourselves, so learning is a somewhat imprecice term. It's neat to take Sun Style Tai Chi and discover the Xing Yi and Bagua influences inside it.
Still on Kung Fu, tuesday Evan brought in his new HD DV cam, which has a rather fun feature: a high-speed mode. That is, the camera records four seconds at a high frame rate, and then plays it back at .33x speed (so the 4 seconds is displayed over 12 seconds). We did some tornado kicks in front of the camera... A) I did some really amazing tornado kicks (and have a very sore left hand as reward) and B) wow the replay is very smooth and very interesting to watch at the slower speed. This could be lots of fun and one heck of a training tool.
In the short bursts of WoW I've been playing in between studying and other things I've been focussing on doing the Battlegrounds, which pretty much constitutes my only foray into the world of PVP. Definitively a different world, and with whom I'm being about it it's been overall quite fun. With my aims there nearly complete however (30 tokens from 3 of the BGs so I can get a nightsabre mount) my PVP time will likely come to a close.
Apart from alllll of that I've managed to hang out much with many friends and visitors, hit the Maker Faire (and find a way to work on a project I've been wanting to do, mmmmm), done some gaming, had BBQs, ridden the bike a bit and all the general goodness.
What I hadn't done was written here... oops! Now I'm up to date(ish).
LotD: Poutine in the New York Times!. "Its going to stick without a doubt," said Mr Bennett. No pun intended indeed...
(http://www.bugmenot.com/view/nytimes.com if you need to...)
"... He wants to be dragged -- kicking and screaming, if necessary -- back to his own idealism, his commitment to a future that works for everyone, with no one and nothing left out." -- David Gerrold
I have so been recreated.
Current Possibility: 100% Alive
Last night Loreena McKennitt was in town, and I would not let this opportunity go by without going to see her (her last concert was 8 years ago...)
For her swing through the SF bay area I chose to attend the concert at the Marin Civic Centre. For one, it was the smaller of the venues, and for two, it is, of course, a Frank Lloyd Wright building. I had never been up close to visit it (having seen it only from Hwy 101 and in film) so I jumped at the chance. Plus seeing her inside an FLW-designed building? Double awesome.
Revvie and I arrived early, and walked around the Civic Centre, taking photos while I sought out interesting architectural details and got a feel for the building (which was quite different from previous FLW buildings I'd been to, not only in its scale). Sadly to say, the building is not in the most excellent of shape, needing some upkeep and having had a few trucks not heed the clearance warnings for the 'bridge' elements. Being a Sunday, the building itself was closed, so we did not get a chance to experience the building on the inside, though we did catch a glimpse through the main entrance... and that was certainly enough to put the bug in my mind to return on a day it is open to experience the space within.
With the outdoor architecture tour complete, we headed back to the theatre proper and settled inside (after our little interior architecture tour -- it is a nice theatre). Our seats were fairly decent, row 11, off the side but in such a small theatre the off-centre seats were not too off-kilter. That's when the remarkableness of the evening began. A gentleman approached us. He and his wife were sitting up in row B, and he was concerned that their proximity to the speakers would give them some trouble. Would we like to trade seats?
OH HECK YES.
We now found ourselves in the second row, off to the side again but still offered a near-well clear view of the whole stage, close enough to nearly reach out and touch some of the performers. Yes, this would be a good evening.
Understatement.
If I were to launch into a string of superlatives, I might still not do justice to the evening. It was phenomenal in every way. The energy of Loreena and the band members was awesome, and well matched by the enthusiasm in the crowd. You could totally tell that everyone on stage was having tonnes of fun during the performance, and they played and sang with passion. The set they played was a mix of tracks from her long history (during her Book of Secrets tour they played the whole new album first, then the second half was older material; this time it was all interspersed) and it was all magical. Every track had its place, and looking back at it as a whole there was a kind of arc to it, especially towards the end.
The music, well, what more can I say? Revvie put it best: Loreena McKennitt has a voice like honey. Clear, piercing, powerful, and that resonates just right that it carries beautifully right into you. I love her material, I love her lyrics, I especially love the rigour she brings to her work, to her craft, to the way she composes through journey, discovery, learning and letting her muse emerge from that all. To hear her create it live, intimately as it were, was more than a treat. It was an evening filled with many shivers down my spine, as only beautiful music can invoke. (A high shiver-content evening, as it were).
(Another comparison to the Book of Secrets tour -- this time they did not try to take the music to fade-out by playing softer and softer. That had struck me as odd last time, so to have the songs end definitively worked better in my book).
Forget Guitar Hero -- the next game aught to be Cello and and Volin/Fiddle Hero. MY GOD. The hands and fingers on those players were incredible. The fiddle player (Hugh Marsh -- he's been with Loreena a while, toured with her for Book of Secrets (others may well have been too but he I recognized)) was insane, his fingers hammering furiously as his bow reversed directions equally as fast. During The Bonny Swans he and the electric guitarist first played in opposition, then together furiously in an amazing complimentary composition with speed and crazyness. At the end of a later song with another amazing solo Loreena said in great jest "We've been thinking of taking up a collection to give him lessons." He was something else.
As one audience member shouted out "Your cellist is amazing!" She (Caroline Lavelle) was indeed. To watch her hand on the bridge was mesmerizing, so fast did it move from the top to the bottom to the top to the middle to 2/3rds down back to the top almost instantly, the hand never stopping to vibrate to create the cello sound. And the way she worked the bow, especially during a couple of passages of the Highwayman, was a sight to behold, with subtle and sharp twists and pulls.
We also saw played a Lyra, which for being such small instrument had one heck of a punch to it, a rich sound that reminded me a bit of the erhu in sound in its simplicity and roughess, but with more range and more fullness. What I also loved about all the performers was their versatility, with most playing several instruments, often what I would consider vastly different. And, of course, there was a Hurdy Gurdy (played by Ben Grossman).
Loreena herself played four different instruments during the night (accordion, keyboard, piano and, of course, her signature harp). And let me say that that I think the harp often gets short shrift in music, this is a beautiful instrument. She also spent time talking to us in the audience, sharing her travels, offering insights into how she came to the songs, made some funny remarks, offered up a quote she had recently read, and the like. Distant as a person she is not, even when on stage in front of thousands of people.
She is also generous -- one thing that struck me when I first saw her I saw again last night, which was that she never literally stole the spotlight. During the music often the light would dim on her and would shine on one of the musicians (and every musician got this treatment). Very nice. And I'll repeat here that they were clearly all enjoying themselves, with each often looking at each other, happy to be creating the music and moreso creating the music together.
At this point you may think I'm going off the deep end as I start to say that even the _lighting design_ was perfectly suited, bold just to the right level to be not overwhelming. Yes, this show really was as perfect as I could say.
In the end, after many the songs I loved (including Dante's Prayer, bliss!) they finished their set. Yet, we were not sated. Not one, but two encores did she play for us, the first being an instrumental version of one of her lyrical songs, the second being one off her new album (Penelope's Song) that just tied the evening to a close beautifully. When she returned for her second encore to thunderous applause and foot stomping she remarked "You guys are great, do you tour? Do you have a bus?" I shouted out "Take us with you!" to which she replied immediately "I wish I could." The last song complete, after much more applause and appreciation, the evening was indeed over.
I'd say again this evening was awesome, but I'd be clearly repeating myself (but it was!). I am hesitant to listen to the album music right now, as to not mar the still-fresh memory of the songs played with such passion. This was a great hall to have seen her in (I made a good choice, methinks, of this one over the show in Oakland), with the architecture a bonus for me.
Simply wow.
PS -- given the release of Nights from the Alhambra, it's unlikely I'll end up on yet another live CD...
Eomer - "My company are those loyal to Rohan, and for that we are banished"
Legolas - "Oh man, sucks to be you."
DM - OH COME ON, you aren't even trying. I know you can do better than that.
Legolas - "Hark, thy fate sucketh?"
DM - That is... much worse.
(taken from The DM of the Rings
Nicely done independant short film: http://alonelysky.com/
I hadn't realized this would be so when I posted my pictures the other day, but it actually lined up with a gallery viewing I went to yesterday. Tiff, Evan and Evan's parents and I (and Jet, of course) went up to the city to the main branch of the SF Public Library to view the exhibit Documenting China: Contemporary Photography and Social Change.
I really enjoyed it. For starters, it was mostly black and white photography of moderate size, punctuated by these huge (3'x4') colour prints. Each of the photographer's (there were about 6 who's work was on display) had a different tact and a different take on what they were shooting and on how, and taken together it was quite evocative, some scenes amazing, some wrenching. Juxtaposition was the word of the day (which is really not surprising), not only in between each photograph, and also not only even in between the elements in the photographs, but sometimes between the emotions and the humanity within. As a purely visual exhibit with no set narrative what each person would take away from it, I would assert, would be different -- which works beautifully.
For myself, the exhibit had a double ring because many of the pictures were taken in Henan province, which is where the bulk of my travels in China have been. Looking at some of the pictures brought nods of knowing from me, simply by recognition of what was depicted (as in "I saw that"), but also as I recognized what I saw and took it in the larger context of the exhibit and viewing the familiar through (pardon the pun) a different lens made possible by the 'big picture' (again, pardon the pun). Let me put that another way: in the context being created by the show, the familiar images gained new layers, new levels of meaning.
Great exhibit that runs until June 24th in San Francisco -- I recommend it.
In the 'you really can find anything on the internet' category, the other week I had the inkling to do a search for some lyrics. While we were in China in 2005, on our daily travel to and from the Wushuguan, our bus' DVD player would start anew. That first video/song shown on the DVD became, over the days, adopted as our group's sort of unofficial anthem. Enough so that several people bought CDs and DVDs with the song on it... but I never knew what exactly the song was about. It was a pretty nifty video, that was for sure. So, I sought it out. And found it (link also contains the video and the song)!.
Link of the Day: Subliminality turned on the Ad Agencies
Since I've had the spint removed on tuesday, I must say: it's GREAT to be able to type with two hands again. (It was so slow...)
Current Possibility: being a yes
This is not how I woke up this morning...
And now it is!
"Those who live deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young."
These times, they are a rockin'
A good week and weekend of Kung Fu. Sunday was a great self-directed practice day. After doing the Sun style set a couple of times we worked on applications and, moreso, linking and power. One thing I have always enjoyed about Kung Fu (or climbing, for that matter) are those moments of insight or discovery, and of delight when you perform something exquisitely for the first time. Had that many times this Sunday, especially on one particular move where literally the only thing I (and others, a bunch of us really got it this weekend) felt with a partner pushing quite hard was the skin on the arm moving from their push. Without doing anything, without even really feeling their push, they were bounced back. We also did some Xing Yi development and got deeper into the movements and concepts of Metal. Afterwards Evan and I did 5, 6, 7 and 8 in rapid succession, which was great, something we hadn't done in a while. I also started up Iron Palm last week, which felt great.
Alas, Sunday evening I stabbed my left palm with a knife -- it wasn't a deep wound and hardly hurt at the time (and even little blood) but overnight it swelled a little and today it hurt like the dickens whenever I tried to straighten or curl my middle finger. Which means no Iron Palm for me this week, and likely no practice either. Nor even some of my morning excercises. Grump!
No gaming, but gearing up for Jason's game next weekend -- character's ready to go, and I'm excited. Also having the mini painted up by our group's resident fantastico mini painter (who sculpted an amazing set of clothes for the mini while we were playing...
certainly talented).
Time to complete on what I took on three months ago, and in both cases I've had some pretty remarkable breakthroughs. Imagine being at the centre of a new accountability, you're just starting out, you're training others who have just started out, you have to get a bunch of tasks done as you learn them, there are things you're discovering as you go along, everything's in motion. Think of holding six reigns at once with horses going all over the place. Now, imagine being at the centre of that and going with calm, with ease, with grace, and even enjoying it. At one with the world and in adventure: check. And last weekend, after a breakdown or two the week prior, I had a remarkable experience of being one within conversation, with a quiet mind, quiet anxiety, flowing and living, not surviving within it. Heart of trepidation and being with discovery: check. Picture big grin on face.
Had this article directed my way today, and thought it very interesting on a variety of levels: read it here. Also, I reccomend to listen to the audio if you have a chance -- the acoustics are pretty good and it's a unique sound with the background going on.
Seems to me I had more to write about, but they've slipped the mind for the moment. A pitfall of writing so infrequently these past weeks!
Current Possibility: going all out
This is very cool. Some years ago an architect had this flash of insight and developed a new theory for the constructions of the great pyramids at Giza. To test his theories, he turns to a realtime 3D model and AI systems... which is precisely what I began to investigate in my own Thesis for my architecture degree (at about the same time he came up with his theory, actually, interestingly enough). Rock on -- I may not have been able to persue the fruits of my thesis, but it is very cool to see the very concepts and hopes I had being put into practice.
Here's the paper you can download: http://khufu.3ds.com/introduction/datas/intro/downloads/Kheops_Story.pdf
Sadly, my own thesis (Maya Visions) is not on the web right now. Hmm. And I'm leaving it that way... because? I might well just rectify that!
(Ok, that's odd -- if you misspell my last name (the missing n) and put my name into google, the first article that comes up is the article about me in the Mountain View Voice... how about that.)
Current Possibility: Being Infectious
Until the next post, here's something for you to max out and burst your ky00tnes capacitors: a video (watch it all).
Current Possibility: Generosity, Love and Vitality
This is the true joy of life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailment and grievance complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it Is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live, and I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no "brief candle" to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before passing it on to future generations. -- George Bernard Shaw
This is who I am. This is what you can count on.
Who'd've thunk this time change would be so brutal to me this year?
A fantastic week capped by a fantastic weekend! Had some great moments last week and especially Friday evening where I felt like I had six reins in my hand at a time, managing, learning, creating and recording all at once, yet done entirely with grace, ease, power, relatedness and ultimately success and accolades. I especially loved the grace and ease part! Also got another book for studying for my next architectural registration exam, brining the total number of pages so far that I would like to read to a cool 2200, with one more book on the way. Um, yeah. Might try to be a bit more discriminating than full-book reads.
We've also started push hands at our Kung Fu/Tai Chi class. Sifu ran a push hands seminar a couple of years ago and it's a bit of a trip to return to it after doing Bagua and learning Sun Style. At the time Sifu said "If you practice every day for two hours, after two years, you could consider yourself ok at push hands." Given I haven't practiced really at all since the seminar, I am certainly not 'ok' at it. But already I feel softer than back then, which is awesome.
Saturday Dave and I headed out for some climbing, which interestingly is the first time I've gone climbing since I went with Dave a couple of visits ago. That time we went to the Planet Granite gym (newly opened then) in Belmont. This time we headed to their newly opened gym in Sunnyvale, which replaces their Santa Clara location.
New gym... this calls for a review!
The new PG in Sunnyvale has seen them move into their own new building, which affords a much greater interior height (and hence greater wall height), along with plenty of space for the other amenities (not all crammed and shimmied into place). This is, obviously, all good. The actual rock, however, when I compare it to what existed at the old location, was lacking for me. Gone is the 'natural rock' of the old gym, which really was a thing of beauty. I don't know how they had done it - I'd only ever seen it done like this at that gym - but the walls there were lovingly crafted to have quite a natural feel to them, with bulbs and dents and smooth edges and just generally looking like large weather-worn cliffs. Coupled with great route-setters (and the setting of holds) allowed for some very interesting climb possibilities, and even some routes where you could climb most if not all of it with nothing but the 'natural' itself. Oddly, the Belmont gym actually has some walls that bear the memory of that type, but the new Sunnyvale has lost it completely. Worse than this, however, is the lack of wicked geometry (at least on the top rope routes -- the leading routes looked like they had more going for them). Shelves, caves, arêtes, even overhangs are in short supply (or lacking entirely). Right off the top of my head I can think of four excellent spots in the older gym that were geometrytastic, whereas here it was all pretty straightforward. There IS some geometry, it's not just flat plywood slabs, but in practice it didn't seem as engaging as the older gym. What's interesting is that I didn't get that feeling from the Belmont Gym, so I'm not sure what happened between the design of those two gyms.
With all that being said it was a great day of climbing, I am totally reminded of why I enjoy climbing immensely (and climbing again with Dave was an added bonus). I didn't tackle anything too strenuous, figuring my hands probably wouldn't hold out well enough and I didn't want to cap out my climbing day early due to tiredness. However my grip stamina continued to surprise me, threatening many a time to give out on the climb yet never actually doing so. That's not to say that I haven't been feeling it ever since then. It's been fun to grab something or even just make a fist and have the arms protest mildly (not to mention raw hands). Surprisingly the wrist also held out just fine throughout all the climbing, which was great.
Sunday was insanely warm, even in SF, and a walk in Golden Gate Park was had by Dave and I, mid-pointing at the Pacific. Also took a quick jaunt through the De Young Museum's lobby and about the outside. Not enough for me to really get a huge sense of the building, but enough to make me want to check it out some more.
Throw in some fine food, some fine films, fine conversation and fine fine, and it was one heck of a weekend and culmination of a visit!
QotD: "It's good, and it's red." -- very succinct wine review spoken this weekend
Skiing last weekend in Tahoe: great! Snow was getting heavy and grabby on sunday afternoon only as I was ready to head off the hills, met a friend of a friend, and managed to carve the universe in a way that I met a couple I knew from the bay area on the chairlift on saturday afternoon, out of 8800 other people on the hill.
Work project: brilliant! Just had an awesome meeting with Jose where we are working on a design with a green bent for a building in Santa Clara. Not only did I have the research down pat, but I put out an idea, and he grabbed it, and I put out another one, and he grabbed it too, then I took something we had done before in a previous iteration, tweaked it, put it out there, and he grabbed that, and he added to it, and we worked back and forth, and came up with something uber kick-ass that rocks in the design and in the green-ness.
Links: nicely done! First This one and then This one.
My book: funnycool! Had the first 'review' from someone who read my NANOWRIMO effort, who proclaimed it 'good' and 'when will the full book come out?'
Aurora: w00t! Next issue is live! Time to start work on the third!
Matress: ZZZZZ! Just got a new one.
Exclamation Marks: Plenty! In this post! Even more!
Current Possibility: immeasurable results
I had some fun this past weekend. A friend of mine participates in the 48 Hour Film Project every year, and organized a similar for-fun-practice this past weekend. The rules were a bit more lax -- for one they were chosing the theme, genre and props and for two they weren't contiguous 48 hours -- but the result was the same: make a movie over a weekend timeframe.
I haven't made any live-action films or shorts since university, and the last film I made really was in high school (44 mins long) so this was fun on several levels: acting! being involved! creating! kung fu!
Indeed, one of the chosen elements was indeed to add in some Kung Fu. After the Taiji lesson on sunday (and some extra practice for me as they got lost finding my location...) the cinematographer scouted and found where he wanted to do the shoot. I had never seen it before, but by the pond there is a fountain/waterfall, in front of which are a series of flat concrete 'paving stones', each about 30" by 42" in size. Five of them are arrayed next to each other, with a 2" gap between them, hovering over the water, each one staggered from the previous. It was indeed a picturesque location. But doing the sets on that uneven and narrow surface? If our sets were perfectly linear maybe...
It was entertaining and a challenge at the same time. Few of our sets really move in such a limited axis, never mind parts of the floor dropping away to water unevenly. So, I made things up! The benefits of future editing helped too of course... I took chunks of sets, strung moves together, ad libbed, mashed shaolin and hung gar together, and generally had fun. Doing tornado kicks on such a small target was, shall we say, interesting in its own right, mostly just for the mind's reaction (landing on such a surface and control is easy, but the mind has a way to shout out 'aiiiee!' -- now I get the whole concept behind plum flower poles!)
We shot several takes from several vantage points -- close ups for hand movements, pulled back more for the kicks, then a wide angle shot looking perpendicular to the axis (with the waterfall in the background). By the end I had basically done kung fu and taiji for about 4 to 5 hours off and on. That was the hardest workout I've done in the new year, evidenced by the soreness of my muscles today (yes, the first sore muscles post in a VERY long time!). Adjusting for the small platforms likely made me more tense too, adding to the muscle soreness. I did have my foot go off a platform at one point during a sweep...
After we finished up there we moved onto the second location for a scene between myself and another antagonist. The scene was originally intended for the same location or flowing from the kung fu practice scene(s), but was re-purposed and even a bit re-dialogued to adapt to changing conditions and participant availability. I really enjoyed this part, not only as I got to do some fun acting, but also I got to choreograph some basic fighting, teaching the actor working with me as we moved along. Combine that with the cinematographer working with us to set up shots, and it was a very organic growth of the scene. There should be enough takes and variations there to satisfy everybody during post and to create something truly wicked.
After a few more scenes and lines delivered (less combat oriented!), I headed off to gaming that night.
Which, in a way, is more acting, non?
I blogged once before that I fell in love with the Pulse many moons ago... and while that dream of owning one may have receded, here's something new that could be equally fun: the VentureOne Hybrid. The Pulse back in its day could already get 100mpg at 55mph, this as an EV and Hybrid vehicle would be doubly awesome. Think I still prefer the body of the Pulse better, but hey, this one is available! (Or will be...)
On a more silly note, here's an idea who's time may have come.
Want to talk about light? In the field of prefab homes here is a particularly cool website that opens with several time-lapse movies of the quality of light within throughout the full cycle of the day. Nice quality of light indeed, and very cool to watch the play of shadows and light as it moves along. And the homes are, of course, sweet as well.
As for things, well, things are going very well. On the boo-side, I didn't get the gun drop yet again in my second run through the instance in WoW last friday (I wonder how raiders manage to stay sane after several hundred runs). Played Eberron this past weekend, got character concepts roughed out for a new campaign, worked on various projects, kung fu was great, and just generally having a blast in all areas and at all times. Now that is remarkable.
Current Possibility: Levity, Grace and Inspiration
My first LEGO set way back when was the original yellow castle. For years afterwords almost anything I built had much yellow in it, due to the number of bricks that came with that castle. It was a great set, lots of fun... but when you've got time and HORDES of bricks, then one apparently can get a little bit more precise and crazy on their castles. That's some intense building there!
Where does he store these things?
Ah Friday, ah WoW. Ah, not as fruitful as I would've liked... I (and thus Ajathka) had one aim that evening: enter an instance and get a particular rifle that drops. Six hours and three instance runs later, I not only had not gotten the rifle (it did not drop) but I had also won (random rolls) only about 3 of the other items that did drop, netting me little gold or upgrades for the eve. Had me actually frustrated for a short bit (I had totally gotten attached to a particular outcome), but I've now sent out feelers for another run through the instance and we'll see what drops this time.
Saturday was truly a day for inquiry. In the afternoon a group of friends and I gathered to watch What the Bleep Do We Know, a film that gets the contemplation going and was much appreciated by all. Then, in the evening Melissa and I headed to see Blue Man Group's "How to Be a Megastar Tour 2.0" which, while certainly a different style and genre, has through it several currents of thought-provoking reflection on society, the media and on modern life. The show was quite different from their permanent show I saw in Vegas -- this one was much more focused on music and actual song (no vocals at the Vegas show), and less on performance acts. Also, much less mess-creating acts; when it's not your stage, you can't throw paint everywhere! Several of the acts and themes were common between both shows, of course. Happily, the music was very fine, the production was impactful, and the crowd was right there with them the whole way, right from the get go. Given that audience participation is a big thing in a Blue Man production, this was fortuitous -- seeing an entire arena of people waving their LCD-lit cell phones in the air in the dark was quite amazing. All the crazy percussion creations were heavily used, which certainly made me happy. Well worth it.
Just a quick note about the opening act (yep, the show had an opening act). An interesting combination of remixed music, with video, coupled with on-stage scratching that not only a) was ridiculously fast but b) also scratched the video track back and forth, (and sometimes the audio from said video track as well) which made for a pretty unique sound and experience. Also they showed a video of the Eepybird guys doing their geyser work on the Blue Man stage in NYC.
When Sunday evening was joined, it was for the last session of The Mines of Bloodstone, the second module in my campaign. The last few sessions were good solid affairs as the party explored the duregar temple carved into the very rock of the Underdark. Soon after the game started on Sunday, my lovingly crafted map was unfurled (hooray for large-format printers!) and the party ascended into a huge temple of the macabre, a summoning ceremony in progress around a large mercury pool. The battle was joined, there was tension, there was tactics, there was moments of resounding shouts of triumph, there was character anguish and anger, there were dirty tricks by the villains, and in the end, with things in the balance, it came down to the wire, and the PCs were victorious. It was a good end to a good set of sessions to a good run through the module. Hard to believe we began it in October of 2005, but it built well and maintained itself pretty well throughout, delays and small hiatuses notwithstanding. I had a good time running it and am now onto working on the third module.
Jason also announced that eve that he would be taking on the GM mantle, and so doth a new campaign begin! I'm excited, and coming up with several character ideas... woo!
Eco-farming 'helps world's poor' -- increases yields by up to 79%. Link to story here and to the scientific paper here.
"I always suspected Captain Feathersword was the one that got passed around amongst the Wiggles like new meat on cell block A." -- spam subject
"The most visible creators I know are those artists whose medium is life itself. The ones who express the inexpressible - without brush, hammer, clay or guitar. They neither paint nor sculpt - their medium is being. Whatever their presence touches has increased life. They see and don't have to draw. They are the artists of being alive." -- Jay Scott
It's been quite the fantastic week; there's been a certain composure there that's making its presence known. No doubt about it, this is going to be quite an unfolding over the next three months.
Saturday evening got a surprise call from Lumi who invited me to a local crab cioppino event, happening literally about a mile from my house. No problem, I ran the whole way there, worked up a bit of an appetite, and enjoyed much crab cooked in an aromatic broth. As we spoke between cracking legs and claws we caught up on our lives, shared some philosophical musings and marveled at the humour of the crab feast. Also got to catch up on something else on Sunday, mainly the staff sparring set. Rev and I learned it a good chunk of years ago - he rode over to our new training spot on Sunday (the Sunday Sifu/Tai Chi group found this great spot to train on Sundays) and we worked on the set for a bunch, managing to get the first half back to pretty good form by the time we were done. Between that, Tai Chi and practicing a few Shaolin forms it was a good 'fu weekend.
Gaming was Sunday night, a good game of the Bloodstone campaign. Some work for DP9, some more exploration in Outland in WoW and some cleaning rounded out the weekend.
Found this link today, which is pretty interesting: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/30/lily_white_and_not_loving_it/. Some food for thought in regards to the composition of online communities, and what that means for what gets created and/or had there. To take what the author says and take it further, it is kind of like, in a way, a giant theme park or fenced community. You have to be this tall to enter this ride... and by that very virtue it sets up a baseline meme that gets reinforced by newcomers who are then influenced by the meme and react according to it and which reinforces it even more. Not quite a direct reflection/representation of FirstLife.
Current Possibility: Being the artist where every situation is a blank canvas
Wow, much time has passed.
The new Hung Gar class is proving to be fun, and we've got a good sized class to boot, with several familiar faces re-joining and getting back into it, which is absolutely fantastic. We've also found a slightly different location for our Sunday practice which has the advantages of being a) sheltered b) receiving the morning sun and c) secluded and hidden in a way that if we wanted to practice weapon sets it would be quite alright to do so there, I'm sure. This was the second weekend we've practiced in that spot and it's great. Had a great lesson today, learning a whole tonne from Sifu, really delving into the concepts and the connections in Sun Style Tai Chi (concepts from Xing Yi mostly today), coupled with him testing us in various positions and having us do the applications so we could feel the power and body linking. I realized it is a lot like riding a bike: someone can tell you all about it, you can understand it, but until you distinguish balance you'll just fall right the heck over. (Some of you reading this might get that quote from a different source too...) So Sifu will test us and give us the chance to distinguish internal power. It's a privilege and very cool.
Afterwards I practiced #6, #7, #9, #3, #1, and #8. It's kinda crazy but in a way makes sense that my understanding and skill in a more external art like Shaolin is being informed by and improved by all the internal work we are doing. Sun Style has made a big difference over the past couple of weeks, and Bagua earlier in the year made a crazy difference in my tornado kicks (even if I get a lousy or tired takeoff I can still turn it into a good powerful kick). Really they all do come together at the higher levels.
Dogged with a bit of a cold right now, but not letting that slow me down. Held a Lofty meeting the other weekend, creating ourselves anew and crafting our game plan for the first quarter. No gaming the past two weekends. Been reading a book, more of which I will share with you later. At work we've 'finally' started our first ADT pilot project, and studying for the next registration exam is underway by me.
And, yes, I have indeed purchased and am playing the Burning Crusade. 2.5 years into it WoW continues for me. I had the rather unfortunate experience of logging in about a month ago and noticing my level 60 character naked -- logging in confirmed that all his stuff had been vendored and the gold transferred out. In short, it quite appears I had been hacked. The GM/Customer Service team was unable to verify it nor to restore my equipment, so they sent me a 'baseline' set of equipment to get me going. Thanks to the in-game generosity of a few friends (thanks to you all!) and the baseline gear I was equipped well enough to take up the reins once again and ride into the Dark Portal with my trusty nightsabre Myrra at my side.
I've only played for a short while in the new realm known as the Outlands but it's been cool so far. The land/sky/etc is quite funktastic, the quests have been slightly more in variety and 'interestingness'. Tones o tones o tones of people there though, which makes for a slightly odd experience (so many running around doing the same quest as you) and a bit of lag in the town. The dropped and reward gear so far has been insane, as in insanely good. Don't know if that will continue the further in I get, but if so... wow. A bit of Rifts-itis. 'Course, we all like nice shiny gear...
Current Possibility: Waist Power
Saturday I snuck away up to a sakery in Berkeley for a surprise party for Patrick's. Which turned out to be amazingly successful. The look on Patrick's face was one of abject shock, confusion, disbelief and of having been hit with a frying pan. Mo did a fantastic job of organizing it all on the sly over the course of a couple of months, and much amusement and merriment was had by all. Oh, and great sake!
(And having been the recipient once of an equally successful surprise party I can totally relate to the frying pan look!)
Alas, the following is not a surprise: ExxonMobil has spent over the past few years around 16 million in a tobacco-company style FUD campaign, giving it to various front groups and the scientists who are members of about 9 to 12 of these groups at the same time. Their aim is delay and stagnation, under the guise of 'sound science.' As I said, not a surprise.
Bloodstone continued apace on Sunday, the party making their way through the heart of the Duregar's realm. Also did some studying, some Kung Fu/Tai Chi, and other weekendy stuff. Much niftyness at work this week that I now return to attend to!
I am finding it most amusing that a good number of my spam over the past couple of days have been about "Fantastic christmas gifts!" or "Special deals to start the holiday season!" Kinda missed the boat there, guys.
Today's LotD: Worst of the Worst video game ads from the late 80's and the second installment about the early 90's. Funny enough on their own, but doubly so with the rather sharp commentary.
"Turn up the volume of life." -- quote of a quote by a friend. Live with gusto!
Is it a dream or is it real? For one man, the two have met: http://www.jet-man.com/actuel_eng.html. Try not to get shivers while watching this, I dare you. This is too cool...
(and spycraftian to boot)
Another year has flown by, another day where we draw a line in the sand to mark where we take stock of things. And the day when I proclaim my amazement at how quickly the year passed!
From my line in the sand, I look back and see that this year has been truly remarkable and extraordinary.
I received not one, but two raises at work this year, with a fantastic review that not only had me receive much praise but in which I was also able to deliver my feedback in a way that was received with no consternation on their part, and thus be able to contribute to the growth and development of the firm. I took to my Job Captain role and duties well throughout the year, and gained new rapports with many of my co-workers.
Of particular note during the year at my job was two things: first was a six to eight week period of intense activity when three projects were all in crunch mode at the same time, wherein I stood and worked inside that vortex, completing tasks and without crazyness. It's the first time I've had what must be the experience of the kung fu masters of lore, calm no matter what's occurring around them. There was much to do and I did what needed to be done, never feeling much stress, not losing control and without overwhelm or anxiety. A privileged place to be, really, and a great feeling that I'm very chuffed to have been able to get to such a state.
Second would be the ADT implementation at work. I managed the project pretty much by myself, speaking to our consultants, managing their work, and then bringing it all to rest inside our office's use. Most importantly was the training, and this is the notable: there were times where I was writing the material in the morning to be delivered at noon (Just-in-time training indeed). I learned at my review my boss was quite worried when he'd come by and discover that was what was occurring -- yet it went off without a hitch. In fact, he acknowledged me during my review that this was the best training that had ever been delivered there and that he was very impressed. I knew I had done well, but that was awesome to hear and be recognized for.
I also took and passed two more of the Architectural Registration Exams this year, leaving me with four more to go. I had planned on three, but I am still well on track for my target completion date of all exams plus the supplementary for end of 2008.
Kung Fu saw great gains this year, and it was an interesting bag with the new format. I learned a great deal, both in the new styles of Bagua, Hung Gar and now Sun Tai Chi, but I continued apace with my Shaolin training as well. It was fun and fantastic to watch as new understanding from the new disciplines made their way to enhance my Shaolin. I was also much able this year to escape from my head and just be with the kung fu, making for greater excellence when performing the sets. Sun style will continue to be a fantastic learning voyage. The year ended on a downward note with the wrist injury, and later with the loss of the school space to practice. Both are well poised to be resolved and worked out in this new year.
Founding a company -- never thought I'd say that yet I did that this year, along with three business partners. Breathe Deep LLC's aim is to make environmentally conscious a natural part of the conversation for housing in the bay area, as in it wouldn't be a unique or separate or unusual thing, just that is what is gotten when housing is thought of. We spent the year learning, investigating, creating, and it has been great, and a joy to work with my business partners. Perhaps one of the most unique and amazing business environments out there, certainly that I have ever worked in.
GMing and gaming this year continued on a great course, with expanded dimensions and life. I got to take a wonderful visit home in the fall, seeing several friends, exploring both Ottawa and Toronto and seeing the changes there, and also, of course, catching the Frantics in a reunion-like way. In November I took on the game, and won said game, of writing a 50,000-word novel from scratch, with no outline. I had feared I might devolve into wacky antics to fill the pages, but didn't, producing a mostly coherent and cohesive storyline that tracked several development arcs. My productivity went up this year, accomplishing a ridiculous amount of things. I also remain proud that I generate hardly any trash (I would guess at most two green garbage bags full each year) and certain months this year I managed to even lower my energy usage from the year prior.
I dated this year for the first time in many years, something that was really great, wild and moving. This year as a whole has been wonderful in that as it closes I am able to just be with people, and that is truly awesome, to be present and open. And the aliveness that comes with that. I really look forward to watching it grow and to see what develops out of it.
Something that really touches me deeply is that I got to make a true difference in the lives of others this year, including in the lives of friends, co-workers, family members and even strangers. It is really tremendous and humbling to see their greatness unbounded, to witness their aliveness. I wouldn't trade those moments for anything in the world.
What truly has this year be extraordinary, however, is that none of this happened by chance, an alignment of stars or being lucky. It has all been a result of taking myself on. I didn't do it alone -- there were others who made a difference in my life. And I got to see who they see me as, and take that on.
I honestly had no bad days this year, not a one, no days with stress, and the number of days I felt frustrated I could count on one hand, yet never feeling I had to suck anything up or just accept it. I've gotten to stand from the amazing position of a freedom to be, in the face of whatever.
My New Years wishes this year continue to express my desire and commitment to harmony, harmony in the lives of everyone and harmony between all beings. Let loose creativity, beauty, love, enrichment and gusto!
Happy new year everyone !
I've gotten an upsurge in spam lately, and it's most interesting -- there seems to be a trend lately for clusters of nearly identical spam messages coming in droves of droves. I'm guessing it's banks of spambots spewing it out in chunks, but it's amusing and weird. Every few days a new batch... most recently it's been of the same word, but with the name of the person in the From: header. As a technique I have to question it, really -- even if you were fairly green, you'd think 10 messages like that would tip someone off, no?
At any rate, I broke down and further set up my procmail rules to sort out my known friends, a whitelist of sorts, to reduce the chance of accidentally deleting messages in a quick scan of 'yes, no, yes yes yes yes, no yes' of my emails.
This post comes post-xmas, and I trust that everyone created for themselves a fantastic holiday. I didn't get a chance to go home this year due to late time-off-requestness and my parents came down to visit instead. We had a fantastic time, and got to hit a couple of very nice restaurants. Food bloggage ahead...
First up of the two places I'll describe is the Slanted Door in San Francisco, recently moved to the Ferry Building. The décor is decidedly modernesque, funky and fresh but not overpowering. Clean lines throughout, with rough touches (such as our table) that cohabited and enhanced each other nicely. Trying to make reservations early in the afternoon was not possible, so we tried our luck in line at opening time. Turns out that was the best thing to do; we not only got a table but got one end of the table in the private room, making for a great view of the bay and a quieter evening (the table was nicely separated by three large candles so they could seat another group).
The fare at The Slanted Door is modern Asian/Vietnamese, and is served 'centre style', ie, sharing style. We started with a beef carpaccio (fine, delicate, but lighter in flavour than I would have expected), and live scallop in a sauce and accompaniment I can't remember but that really made it sing. For main courses we had: wok roasted duck, a whole fish (tail, head, everything, fillet right at the table -- shame I don't remember the exact type), and roasted lobster. Nicely, each dish was served in turn, creating not only a series of courses but giving one time to fully enjoy each dish, on its own, while warm, before the next course came out. Each dish was excellent. The duck is some of the best duck I've had at a restaurant outside China, one of the few places where the duck flavour actually came through. The fish was cooked to perfect doneness and was subtle and delicate, and the lobster was a nice change on the 'usual' of garlic butter et al. Deserts were had, and they were fabulous.
One amazing note is the tea I had -- a combination of a light black tea with a flower. Alas I don't remember the flower type, but it came in a wine glass, all in a large bud. Waiting a few minutes the flower literally bloomed, the tea within along with the flower, slowly steeping and colouring the water. Delicate, remarkable, and many more words of tasteful joy.
After dinner we had the best surprise of the night. The waitress came by and informed us the room was needed for a private function soon -- would we like to go to the bar and she would buy us a drink? That impressed us to no end. She didn't just ask us to leave or shoo us out, she invited us out with an opportunity, which we took. A fine mojito was thereby sampled by myself. Less minty than I would like, but fine nonetheless.
Saturday evening, for our 'xmas dinner', I took my parents out to Chez TJ here in Mountain View. Recently having been rated one star by Michelin, I already had fond memories from my previous (and only) visit. French cuisine of excellence, we each settled on the regular Prix Fixe Menu Gastronomique, fine water and wine at the ready, and the courses commenced.
To say this meal was superb would be an understatement. The textures created, the delicacy, the expert cooking, the presentation, the flavours, both complimentary and contrasting, the route through which the courses took you, each dish described to you as it was brought, it was all there. That I'm writing this so many days later is frustrating because I cannot remember the exactness of everything I had, but I do remember two things in particular:
The foie gras was very interesting; two portions, the first being an ordinary but expertly done fried foie gras, the second being a pate but with a pomegranate glaze atop. They paired excellently, not in any way I can put into words, something about their individual uniquenesses that were just meant for each other.
The "Pheasant, Deconstructed" dish was out of this world: one leg/thigh and one breast, each cooked differently, set apart, contrasting in their colour and texture. The thigh was earthy, robust, with some density (not in a bad way). The breast, however, was unbelievably light, subtle, melt-away, almost sweet. Insanely well prepared and invented.
For xmas day proper, I held a fondue bourguignonne at my house, always fun and a favourite.
And thus ends the tasty foodage recap!
So I went to the ER last night... (how many stories start off that way!) Nothing to worry about, as it turns out (though pain a spot that would give cause to worry) and after diagnosis they gave me some pretty potent anti-inflamatory medication. I have this thing about taking over-medication but thought it prudent to do so in this situation, so I took it last night and went to bed.
This morning, I HAVE NO PAIN IN MY WRIST WHATSOEVER, no matter what angle I've pushed it too. Wow. Amazing stuff... and also good to know that it really is just inflamation/tendonitis there and nothing horribly damaged.
Funny side effect, though.
It's been near 0 the past couple of nights, feeling very fall-like here. Just rode my bike in and woah, awake now! First time I think I've ever ridden more slowly than possible on my way in...
can't... breathe... laughing... too... hard... help...
For original, see here -- it won't be as funny if you don't know it...
"There is nothing external about happiness. The pursuit is all internal." -- Will Smith
'Twas a good weekend for me. Got a chance to take the newly patched WoW for a spin (after I had managed to find all the updated or replacement add-ons, its amusing how 'dependant' I've become on them) and enjoyed all the new paladin talent goodness. Then there was not one but two xmas parties that Melissa and I attended, with Sunday's being a true treat. After missing it for the past couple of years I made a point of working out to be at Patrick and Mo's winter cheer party, complete with amazing baking by Patrick and much xmas tree ornament making that started with a Polaroid of yourself (actually done digitally with a photoprinter now, given Polaroid's bankruptcy) taken by Mo. Much amusement, merriment and discourse was had.
Sun Tai Chi continues to be amazing, and Sunday evening we completed Granite's campaign that ended in a TPK. Honestly I'm ambivalent about the ending. What he set up was not clear cut and led to soul searching and questioning, which was his intent and well handled. That it ended with the destruction of the world is not the outcome I consider good, nor am I completely satisfied with the process that led to its demise.
Today I type with burned fingers after an oops yesterday. Ow, not recommended!
... with still a bit more to go to finish off the story. Wow. I'm a bit amazed I made it. Things truly have shifted. It was fun, though not always forthcoming, sometimes I had to get myself to the keyboard to start, sometimes I found myself already there. I certainly won my game of a) completing it and b) of quantity over quality (ie writing and writing and writing). Woo!
You'll have to excuse me, however, if I say I don't want to do quite that again soon. Next year... ? Maybe!
And they're some of the 'hardest' ones too... onward to completion!
We had frost this morning, with more on the way tonight, which is fantastic. The first feeling of fall is here for me now. Woo!
"But the problem with readers, the idea we're given of reading is that the model of a reader is the person watching a film, or watching television. So the greatest principle is, "I should sit here and I should be entertained." And the more classical model, which has been completely taken away, is the idea of a reader as an amateur musician. An amateur musician who sits at the piano, has a piece of music, which is the work, made by somebody they don't know, who they probably couldn't comprehend entirely, and they have to use their skills to play this piece of music. The greater the skill, the greater the gift that you give the artist and that the artist gives you. That's the incredibly unfashionable idea of reading. And yet when you practice reading, and you work at a text, it can only give you what you put into it. It's an old moral, but it's completely true." -- Zadie Smith
(ganked from madtypist who ganked it from William Gibson's blog, who in turn ganked it form BoingBoing.
25k words reached, and surpassed. Crazy, the halfway point -- feels so short and yet so long away. Prose is not flowing as easily as it had been as I get into the middle and strive to advance an actual story. I'm especially becoming prone to going back and reading what I already have to be sure I'm not repeating literary structure or just plain repeating, and I have to keep giving up doing that, that isn't part of my game. It's write, write, write...
I'm so glad no one has to read this drek, though!
Bloodstone was the game this past Sunday, and it went well. We got off to a late start but it moved along mostly well, and the characters have now entered leading to the most dungeon-y part of this module, woo! Truly the world of 1st edition has now been entered. The crux is near!
As I was idly reading a magazine this past weekend I came across an article that spoke of a new 'genre': the ecosexual. Related to the metrosexual, the ecosexual is one for whom their green-ness is such a part of their 'lifestyle' (and I do understand how loose or imprecise that word can be) that it can inform and influence whom they wish to be with in their lives. This latter point seems apart from the usual metrosexual definition, so I'm not sure if the article author was trying to say it automatically informed it, or the opposite direction, namely that some are quite into it and thus it shows up in their romantic potentials and possibilities. It wasn't a very in-depth or exhaustive article, but interesting nonetheless.
I added a nanowrimo counter to the right sidebar on my page, so you can now follow my follies! Or progress, if you prefer... clicking on the bar will take you to a more detailed breakdown and prediction. So far writing goes well, and I'm exited to see how long the ideas keep flowing and where I really have to start making stuff up.
This weekend, I discovered my gamer weakness, at least in this one campaign. Money, items, goods, they all held little draw for me. But when a fellow party member lucked out to receive a boatload of experience points, I was done for, I was hooked. My mind would think of little else the entire eve! Oh, sweet, sweet XP, how I crave thee! (and we are talking a BOATLOAD) Pulled me right out of character in many ways, oy. For shame!
Put the last Kung Fu class for the year and Halloween together, and you get me going to class in my blue/grey monk robes. Which, I have to say, is extremely fun, the sleeves whipping about adds something to the movement. Plus, you know, the badassery look...
To cap off the evening was heading to WendyL's party in time for the Eye of Argon reading. Much mirth was thenceforth had. Note, don't read the spoilers on the wiki, 'tis much funner to participate in a reading. Also note that the game of reading is made much more difficult as the rest of the audience members are allowed to make comments and act out what you're reading. Making it more than a few sentences or words for some can be quite difficult...
Nanowrimo begins today, and I have added one more goal to my game. As I stated earlier, I intend this to be quantity over quality, and with no premade outline. BUT my intention is not to go so far as to Eye of Argon myself.
Wow... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRZzkrLSXj0. Be sure to watch part 2 as well.
On my ride into work this morning I got really present to something interesting, something that I began toying with and ultimately came out of the Bagua training earlier in the year: a new way to ride my bicycle.
It's hard to describe really what I'm doing, or doing differently. When I began to play around with it I only had the intent to 'use my centre' when riding the bike. What resulted and what I really noticed this morning was interesting to say the least: the bike moving along as fast or faster as the 'old' riding style, with my legs feeling like they're doing almost no work at all (no exertion). I thought originally that with my legs feeling so unused that while comfortable I must be just plodding along, but a look at the speedometer proved that no really, this not only was working but working quite darn well, even uphill.
It's weird, it's effortless (not totally, but by comparison for sure) and fun to play with. And given I realized half way to work this morning that I had forgotten my change of clothes and had to double back I got plenty of time to notice it.
Weekend was mostly great, with a couple of Halloween parties (one local at Tiff's, one not-local with one of Melissa's friends) and a wedding for another of Melissa's friends at a local winery that featured great food, great people and some fantastic wine. The red was a Pinot Noir, but with a twist: a blend from seven vineyard all up and down the California coast. Sure, many wineries will blend like such, but imagine doing a blend sort of in the European model (where all vineyards blend different grape varieties to create their wine, hence most wines being known by region rather than grape type) using different terroirs rather than different varietals. Very nice.
Also within the weekend was a great KF practice with a great run, Tiger Crane, Shaolin and even some Bagua. I need to practice the latter some more, it's been a while.
So my question is... what the heck happened to October? Nanowrimo begins Wednesday! Aie!
It's been a while since my last post as I recently returned from a vacation home, where I had forgotten to bring the URL to update the blog. Oops.
Deep breath time... big post ahead!
But a great trip it was! I got to catch up with many a friend (hi ICE, Su, Murrgon, Averyl, Ruth!), did some work on my campaign, worked on Sifu's book, did some Tai Chi with my mom, practiced the Tiger Crane set, watched a few documentaries and movies, and slept a whole heck of a lot more than I planned -- apparently I needed it. It was odd to be back home without Shadow -- I never noticed how much of a routine or used to what she would do there was, the number of times I would do something and expect to hear/see/have her appear/etc... and then not have that happen was saddening and enough to knock me off stride of the action for a moment. The weather was nice if a bit wet, and being my first trip back home in the fall since I moved here I really appreciated the riotous colours that I so rarely get to see anymore.
I was also fortunate to be able to do some architecture seeking. I had a day in Toronto at the tail end of my trip, and managed to find the OCAD Sharp centre, designed by Will Aslop, walked by the Art Gallery of Ontario (construction not yet begun on Gehry's new entrance), found a new biotech lab at University of Toronto that I had seen in Architectural Record, and then walked up to the Royal Ontario Museum where the construction on the new Michael Lee-Chin Crystal is underway. On my way up there I was thinking to myself "Self, who was the architect again for this addition?" Upon seeing the construction it was obvious: Libeskind.
I also walked down near the SkyDome and the CN Tower (still a fave of mine) and was stunned to see the amount of development along the waterfront, especially just west of the CN Tower. Tonnes and tonnes and tonnes of condo towers, which is, in a way, exciting. Downtowns with lots of residential...
Even greater was earlier in my trip, when I made it to Ottawa, I spent a day visiting the new Canadian War Museum, designed by Raymond Moriyama (also known for designing the Ontario Science Centre and the Canadian Embassy in Japan). It's quite the interesting building from the exterior, angular and with a prow. You can also walk up to the roof (part of which is walkable, part of which isn't but is a green roof, planted with grass). For all its sculpture, I was most interested how it was spatially inside.
To which I say: Great, when it's given the opportunity to do so. Within the main galleries there is nothing to give a sense of the building -- it is really a black box. Before I go on, I'll talk about those galleries, for that is the bulk of the museum. I'm not entirely sure how I would describe them, save to say that they are 'modern'. Think big, continuous, colourful, integral combination of text, images, models, artefacts, equipment, interactive displays, video, projectors, dioramas, life-size recreations, and more. The path within the museum takes you from tribal warfare through the arrival of the Europeans and up to the today's peacekeeping missions. When I started out a part of me thought it was too much -- too glitzy, too theme park, too something, not befitting the topic at hand. But as I went on I realized that whatever it was, it was done well. The history was told and traced, and I was especially pleased with the balance within the exhibit, never shying away from speaking from multiple angles and even (literally) from asking questions from you, the viewer/reader.
Outside of the gallery is where you get to see the building, and it shines well. The entrance hall (bisecting the building) is a rich landscape of materials, angles and cuts that comes together nicely. Within the museum (I didn't see any of the research halls) there is LeBreton hall, a glass-walled large space where the large artefacts/vehicles are kept (including some vehicles damaged in peacekeeping operations, which was sobering to see), and there are two passageways to reach it. And here is where the building's magic really comes through, especially in the narrow Regeneration Hall. Here copper angled walls soar up some 25m, light is supplied by small clerestory windows as well as the glazed end of the hall that aligns itself with the peace tower on parliament hill. The atmosphere is definitively serene and cathedral like, enhanced with plaster work models for the memorial at Vimy Ridge. Coming from the sensory feast of the gallery it was a magical counterpoint.
Though the circulation could have been better to reach Regeneration Hall, the building shines when allowed to do so. Moriyama (who gave a fantastic speech at the dedication of the building) has skilfully woven light (specifically the introduction of light), materials (glass, steel, stone, copper), angled planes and space to create a fantastic place.
In a horrible segue, I'll turn to the main impetus of the trip: a performance by the Frantics. Murgon invited me up to see the show together way back at the start of the year, and there I was, to see the show. And let me tell you, the Frantics haven't lost their touch at all. The show was fantastic, with some classic sketches (I can die happy now, having seen them live) amongst the new material. Equally broad was the style of humour, from topical to juxtaposition to situational to straight up absurdism and surprise. Lots of familiar characters made appearances, including one of which only Murrgon and I seem to know -- least we were the only ones to w00t -- and another who got enough cheers that he proclaimed in his unique accent "Wow, makes me wonder what would occur if I should make a third appearance!" (I'm sure I'll be corrected on the exact quote, as well as the quote used for the title of this post) While I seriously want the episodes of 4 on the Floor to be released to DVD I say... forget that, get these guys back on TV regularly with new shows/stuff!
After the show we got chance to get autographs, and Murgon and I had a good short talk with Rick Green on a somewhat personal level, which was a) awesome and b) was for very cool reasons, linkages and intersections of fate that occurred earlier in the year (and that I won't recount here).
A great trip!
Back I now am in the SF Bay area, and had a fantastic Tiger and Crane class 5h after landing that was an awesome workout and had my legs yelling "Ow, but YES!"
Yep, I have: http://www.nanowrimo.org/userinfo.php?uid=129910. Should be fun! The goal for me will be quantity over quality -- you'd think that'd be easy, yes? Not so sure in my case, for I do tend to be a perfectionist at times when it comes to my writing. So this will be an excercise in getting stuff out, and trusting the outcome. As I said, should be fun!
We finished the Tiger Crane (Fu Hok) set last night -- something I consider quite amazing given the length of the set (and given my last 'Fu entry was before we even started the Tiger part!). But in just over a month we've completed it, leaving us a good chunk of time to review.
What a fun set! Tiger Crane is just one of those sets that, while all the gung fu sets I've learned I enjoy doing, some sets just stand out as being particularly fun. Shaolin #7 is one of those, the cane set is another... and there are more. And now I'll add Tiger Crane to that list. Something about it just makes it a blast to perform, a good combo of 'exoticness' (given my northern focus), some very nifty and funky moves, and, well, you get to make noises while doing it. It's a fairly long set, but once you get going it seems quite short to actually do.
It's also been fun learning a southern set -- I'm sure I still perform the set with a 'horrible' northern accent. One difference Sifu mentioned is the staccato-like movements, with a just discernable pause between each movement (making each movement 'crisp') as opposed to northern where many moves flow seamlessly into each other with continuing momentum. The stances are subtly different too, as is the way you strike (more diagonal or to the side vs northern's straight-on) and add-in the difference in how the arms are treated (the solid forearm of southern versus the rock-and-string model of northern). Tiger vs Dragon claws, Drunken Unicorn steps, Butterfly Palms -- lots of new and lots of nifty.
Of course, having Sifu teach the set was a real treat, as he brought in concept after concept after concept, offering us to test different hand and feet positions for power and stability, demonstrating, inventing and testing applications, tying movements to the basic concepts of all traditional Chinese martial arts ("135 degrees!" was my oft-given answer to his questions about angles) and comparing it specifically to moves from other systems we've learned (Northern, Bagua, Xing Yi), and all the knowledge a life-long TCMA teacher can bring to the table, er the kwoon. Fantastic.
I'll miss some of the upcoming classes for my trip home, but hey, big basement at home = lots of space in which to practice.
Oh, and my wrist is in the 'sorta kinda' phase now, which is proving to be both vexing and frustrating. The injury is mostly healed, now it's the joy of my tendonitis being angry, which leads to moments of perfect clarity and range of movement with no pain at all (hooray!) back to moments of dull pain (boo!) to movements of small twitch equals owie (wtf?) back to mostly good (woo!). This latter is the worst, in some ways, because I'll do things w/o thinking, reaching the point limit movement and then it's ouch. Grrr.
Things at work weren't terribly smooth this week, as my machine decided to start BSODing constantly (this after weeks of being used for heavy rendering with nary a problem). By Wednesday noon the problem seems to have been the PATA drive in the system -- either it is going out, or it was somehow conflicting with the SATA drive, or the OS was getting confused, or something. Basically put, we pulled the PATA drive out and the system's been stable since. Despite that interruption I still did manage to get about 90% of where I wanted to be in terms of being ready to implement Architectural Desktop for the office. No problem, as no job has yet been identified to be the 'test' project, so I've a few days left. Then I get to recreate texture maps and models that were lost during our server's RAID crash. That's not so fun.
Gaming was good last weekend, and we're doing a triple shot of Granite's game this weekend as not to break up my Bloodstone game with my trip home. Two very amusing things happened:
1 - We had to negotiate our way down a narrow ledge into a deep crevasse -- though smart in how we approached it we still needed to make some balance checks on the way down. Removing my armour, quaffing a potion of agility, I wasn't in too bad a chance to make my roll. I then proceeded to roll, on three dice, no lie, six rolls of 4 in a row. It became crazily comical as each successive 4 showed up on the die. Nevermind that I needed a 5 to succeed, the statistical improbability of that happening (1 in 64,000,000) is just too funny.
And no, I didn't buy a lottery ticket. The last time I tried that was after I rolled six 1s in a row (including two 1s at the same time on two separate dice rolled simultaneously) I got zero numbers matched on my ticket. Remember, these were _failures_. Six 20s on the die? I'm buying a ticket!
2 - Locah got his mount. It's one of the paladin powers he's never used -- for one from where he hails riding wasn't a big thing and for two, well, he's never had anyone to follow to know what his conviction in Aathome would grant him. A certain dilemma presented itself to the group: four summoned steeds and five characters. I chose to stay behind to return to our regular steeds and make my way slower to our destination. Shortly after my companions left what should descend from the sky and alight itself next to me but a wonderful gryphon. (Conveniently a gryphon mini was available on the table, hmmm... ) I am one happy paladin and player. (Ok, so Locah's not a dwarf and doesn't use a hammer, and it isn't WoW...)
On tap for this afternoon: 5.5 hours of the next Architectural Registration Exam!
Last weekend I spent with a little visit to that city of excess: Las Vegas. 'Twould be my first visit there, with the plan to meet up with my parents and catch some of the shows. I figured I would be alternately architecturally amazed and horrified.
To sum it up in a word, BIG. The famous Las Vegas strip is all about big. The hotels are big (2000-7000 rooms). The casinos are big. The street is big. The billboards and video screens are big. The buffets are big. The statues are big. The budgets are big. The planned developments are huge. There really is nothing low-key or small on the strip (the costumes in the reviews and cabarets are likely small, but probably not considered low-key). It really was quite more than I expected in that way.
My parents and I, in the end, saw three shows over two days: Cirque Du Soleil's Ka, Blue Man Group, and Cirque Du Soleil's O. The Cirque shows really deserve their own entry, so they'll get that. Blue Man Group was a bit different than I was expecting, but was a very raucous, exciting and fun show with humour and much audience participation. The fact I like percussive music so much (hello Taiko!) of course helps.
I had plenty of walking time to explore, arriving Friday just before my parents went to see a show, and leaving Monday evening post-departure of my parents. I walked up and down (and back up and back down) the strip several times, exploring all the major spots, from the gondola-filled canal of the Shops of Venice to the amazing wine tower of Aureole, and everything in between. To try to cobble some semblance of order to commenting would be almost counter to the whole experience, nay, raison-d'etre of the strip. So I'll take the slot-machine approach and scatter:
(after the cut)
Friday night I walked down (south?) the strip to basically the end of the hotels. As I left New York New York and headed towards the Luxor one thing suddenly struck me: how desolate it suddenly became. Entering the Luxor was like entering a ghost town compared to everywhere else, there were few people to be seen. I remembered hearing much about the Luxor when it opened, it was the hot property, one of the new themed supertels, big hooplah. Now it's as quiet as can be, both outside and in (I swear it felt like there were only 5 of us on the inside of that pyramid). Spatially it's kind of interesting, a very large space inside, with the hallways to the rooms open to this slanting space -- too bad the materials and colours used for these balcony hallways was as uninspired as the Holiday Inn, which really killed the effect (very cheap, bland, beige, with just simple recesses where the doors to the room were). Blah.
Saw the lions at MGM grand a few times, who were always sleeping, and almost always on the same spot. Which was a good spot for us humans, for it was atop the glass hallway that bisected their cage, giving a unique view of lion face pressed onto glass and a good view of their paws. The white tiger at the Mirage was also often sleeping in the pitiful little enclosure they had for him, but once was lying up doing some human watching.
The fountains outside the Bellagio are insane. The smaller ones rotate and spin about, and the large ones have REACH. As in I swear 50'+ of shooting power. Impressive at night when lit from below, but equally impressive during the day even from afar as this mountain of water explodes upwards to reach several stories high and block part of your view of the hotel. All done to music. Niftycrazy.
I was surprised on the emphasis on and at the amount of shopping there was to be had along the strip. Nearly every hotel I entered had some shopping concourse. In retrospect, maybe I shouldn't have been too surprised, given what I saw at the first themed resort I'd been to (Atlantis in the Bahamas), but there's thousands of square feet of high-end shopping on the Strip. From Caesars' to Paris to Aladdin and of course Venice most all followed the same basic idea: barrel vaulted, wide hallways with 'buildings' along the side for each shop. Ie, a series of stores with a theatre-front. Some were more effective than others, and some were quite well done, but after a while it became a bit old.
The shopping concourse at the Wynn, and the overall interior design of the Wynn, was quite different and cool. Rather than being hyper-real it went for a whimsical 'let's see where we can take it' approach. I've always been a fan of 'run with it'-type creative endeavours (if they don't run off a cliff and go boom). This was well done, with some impressive glasswork and planting, nice use of light, and with a shopping concourse that was curving, tall, wide, and looking all the like an Ironforge (from Wow) made by elves.
I managed to reach Aureole at the Mandalay Bay hotel, the restaurant I'd seen in an Architectural Record Magazine some years back, with the centrepiece being a glass wine tower -- some 14foot square and four stories tall, with a set of white, luminous bins within for storing wines. And the wine stewards going up and down on climbing harnesses to fetch the bottle of wine. Slick, modern, sharp, fun, and many pictures taken. The rest of the restaurants at the Mandalay were also nicely appointed, really. Didn't eat at any of them, but design-wise they were cool.
For the most part, the coolest interior design was at and for the restaurants and the nightclubs, interestingly enough. Some pretty wicked stuff there.
There's a new development going in called City Center. It's 68 acres of development (remember: BIG is the word) between the Bellagio and the Monte Carlo, with five towers of hotels and residential by some pretty big name designers, including Lord Norman Foster, Caesar Pelli, Rafael Vinoly, and more, with Gensler in overall charge of coordination. The residential towers looked quite nifty, including a skewed/twisting pair done in green, and Foster's done in blue glass and with curvy ends. A project so big (especially adding in the casino, shopping (of course) and the convention centre (also of course) that it'll have its own people mover/monorail system to tie the two ends together. Want to buy a unit? 800k-1.2M to start for 1 bedrooms...
The roller coaster at NY NY looked kinda fun and had a nice reversal loop on it, but at 12.50 per ride I passed on it this time.
There were a few galleries amongst the shops, including one by Mangelsen and one by Peter Lik, of whom I'd never heard before but absolutely stunning and colourful images of landscapes. I was very impressed and would seriously consider some of them for my loft.
I didn't gamble, but I did walk through quite a few casinos. Hard to say which one was the 'best' of the bunch design-wise. I did like the height in Caesar's, and Paris IIRC also had good height and good design. I can't put my finger on it, but there's something about Caesar's that really worked, though.
Ah, the Vegas sin city. Which mostly meant every 5' one would run into someone (and a very eclectic and odd mix of people types they were) handing out laminated cards for some strip club or another, clicking them and moving the cards back and forth. And then a few table/bar dancers to be seen in some of the bars, and something a bit unusual, a night club named Shadows where behind the bar were two large shadow screens, behind which were the dancers (so all you saw was, of course, the shadow).
And I think I've seen enough public drunkenness and stumbling about for a little while.
Amusing to be back in a place with smoking (and drinking on the street, but that's another amusement) allowed indoors. With all the dry air (it is a desert, after all), dust and smoke both my eyes and nose were in full revolt, the former by being angry and scratchy by the end of the day, the latter always in threat of exploding in a fountain of blood every time I blew my nose (instead I only got shotgun blood).
The food we had was all good. Woo!
I think I'll stop there. Flight home was uneventful, and spent Tuesday/Wednesday catching up at work!
Cirque reviews next...
Hey VW, are you paying attention? The Golf/GTI, this setup, chop chop, get to it! (And as long as I'm making requests, with the A4 not the A5 body styling please...) Then, put me at the top of the waiting list.
This is fun... the TV Tropes Wiki. Not cliches, tropes.
A story of captivity in Baghdad. Chilling, facinating...
QotD: "You peer through the window. In the back of the dimly lit hut you can make out a sleeping... Make a spot check... (player rolls, 18) Orc."
Week in... week out. Busy, fun. Also kicked back for some serious WoWage on Saturday night, and did brunch with Melissa followed by a trek to Mount Umunhum. I'm not making this up!
Today we arrived at work to learn that all four drives in our RAID array died hideous, horrible deaths sometime during this morning. Yes, the redundant nature of RAID kinda loses its 'feature' if very disk in the array dies. So today has been one of zero productivity.
Coming up tomorrow are the 10 Tiger movements - Sifu implored us not to miss the class, so I'm gearing up for some serious nifty-age.
LotD: Not surprising, alas.
Just a quick catch-up from a good weekend. Very good workout/practice Saturday morning (though my wrist is really back on full revolt mode), went out with Melissa and a couple of her friends on sat eve, lazy sunday morning followed by a hike with Melissa, then some Eberron gaming action. Also had some great conversations with a longtime friend.
Got a new chair at work today - ahhhhhhh. Also went out on a team lunch for the big project that had me doing all those renderings. Fighting seeeerious food coma right now, which is why this is written so sedate...
Considering trying to squeeze in the Dwell Conference this coming weekend. Lots of green and lofty goodness seems to be had there!
You ruled our home with a velvet paw
You reigned in our hearts with grace, beauty and affection
You will be missed
"There are two ways to spread happiness; either be the light who shines it or be the mirror who reflects it." -- Anon
Another week went rapidly by!
Last Friday was the big push for the rendering project at work -- with all the horsepower I was rounding up it was done with nary a hitch (at least until our colour printer decided to start streaking the images) and the images look mighty fine, MIGHY mighty fine, if I do say so myself (I guess I just did). Now it's on to the animations... about 2-3 mins worth. Time to round up even more machines to put onto the farm...
The best part about this project, other than the fun factor, is how much I've learned about mental ray and about making good looking stuff. Nicely will come in handy for the next big project(s).
Saturday had a rather light kung fu workout as an old-time student came by to visit. He was a bagua student and Sifu and I caught him up to date with what we'd done with the class, and then he and I and another student did a full circle set. Some running and the stairs (which, all things considered, didn't feel bad at all) and it was time to go. Less than a week until Tiger Crane starts up, and I am totally psyched! We're playing the game to PACK the kwoon with students, and I've got 3-4 new students who'll be starting up, four more who came in and whom I told about the course, and some feelers out, and we're getting in touch with a few who drifted away. This'll be a great class, I can tell already that it will be one of shared growth and much fun. Like Bagua it'll be all learning for me, this time in a similar yet subtly different style. Plus I'll be finishing up Six Harmonies Spear, learning Six Harmonies Broadsword and hopefully Kuan Do.
Wrist, after another Dr Wong visit, is healing nicely, and should be ready to go next week.
Saturday eve, Melissa and I heading over to Frederick and Ofelia's house eat, visit, party and see some slides of their recent trip to Austria before returning home for a rather quiet evening.
Sunday turned out to be a Bloodstone Sunday (the player who was to be absent discovered his trip starts next week), and the party spent much time interacting, searching, figuring things out, planning. A speak with dead upon a deceased svirfneblin brought more information, and his tale of enslavement roused a few party members. The portal (the one guarded by the demons) was eventually activated and the party took themselves deeper into the Underdark. They soon discovered a work detail, dispatching the duregar overseers and learning of a way to reach the svirfneblin kingdom-in-exile. One very amusing trap later as the party reached the city-under-captivity they wend their way down from a waterfall, through a field of fungus to a small passageway that their rescued svirfneblin companions said would take them to the kingdom-in-exile. Given the 1st edition nature of these modules it was a nice break from the majority of combat that has often dominated the sessions, and everyone got into it. Oh, and I think it's safe to say that Sir Barus loves his new hammer...
On a much sadder note, it seems Shadow is not doing all to well. She is 18, which I do understand is old for a cat, but that she was mousing (two mice in as many weeks!) just a couple of months ago makes this turn all the more sudden and harder to take. I called a vet and spoke to him today, and spoke to my parents and got a list of vets in their area who may do house calls. (Shadow could never stand going to the vet, she would get very violent and traumatized -- having someone come over is what I want for sure, having her freak out in this state would not be nice nor good) I should find out soon what the prognosis is, and will make the choices as they come.
That's it for this evening...
Are architects hot? Seen steps above the rest? Passionate? Are presented as having something others do not in their daily lives? The SF Chronicle takes a look at that today in this article, which is fun especially for the cover photo. The number of hollywood stars (and the number of lead roles) would seem to indicate it... though the idea that "Unlike a painter or poet -- to which the adjective "starving" is, for good reason, attached -- architects are assumed to have an earning capacity that would allow them to live large on the screen" is sadly perpetuated though the films (especially in north america where real estate agents often make more for selling the thing than the architect makes for designing, managing, overseeing, and combatting to get it built). Still, it's fun to be part of a 'glamorous' profession.
In another section of the paper today is a rather poignant quote and observation: "Somehow, in an age where technology has made everything instantaneously audible (and visible), we've turned ourselves into insulated eavesdroppers and avid voyeurs who've lost the form and content of genuine discourse. Instead of conversing, listening and considering the context, we're poised to pounce, pass judgment and pile on."
Things to consider.
I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ESOPHAGEAL CANCER WHICH WAS DISCOVERED VERY LATE,DUE TO MY LAXITY INCARING FOR MY HEALTH.IT HAS DEFILED ALL FORMS OF MEDICINE,AND RIGHT NOW I HAVE ONLY ABOUT A FEW MONTHS TO LIVE,ACCORDING TO MEDICAL EXPERTS.
I hate diseases that defile medicine... (and no, I don't normally make a habit of reading 419 spam, in case you're wondering...)
It's been a while, but the return of the QotDs!
"It reactivates synapses you forget you had; it sends you on a KY-lubed waterslide back in time." - Richard Poplack about Pac Man on CBC Online
"Ah cat stance, the BANE OF MY EXISTANCE!" - JimKF, commenting on his recent injuries
Hmm. I seem to be doing lots of 'catching up posts' lately. Much goodness that keeps me from the typing...
Wrist, unfortunetaly, is not quite yet all goodness. I am considering another visit to Dr Wong, there is probably something still not quite right that could use his expertise to set it back in working order. There's only one or so directions of movement that causes pain, though my typing has been rather poor today. What this means is a continuation of what I've been doing at 'fu: lots of running (and the stairs felt pretty good on saturday, woo!) and kicks. My aim to do tonnes of bagua practice and applications during this month off has been totally derailed by this injury, though, which is unfortunate. More practice of practice on top of practice of new stuff in September is all it means.
Ran Bloodstone last night, a solid foray that had the party come face to face with demonic foes for the first time, all done on custom maps created (photoshop) and printed on 30x42 pages, which added a nice flair. The party's dice luck continued (played at JasonKF's place, on his new table, which everyone swore had an "old gypsy curse" on it) which knocked out a few well-needed or timed things and a few spells. But the battle went well for the party overall, and ended at a good breakpoint for the next part of the adventure.
Got a new Core 2 Duo system at work, brand new, very sweet and very speedy which is making the large renderings I'm doing much speedier. Well, that and with the new bucket rendering I've got 7 processors of rendering luuuuv going on per image. And the images are turning out pretty sweet -- due friday, then I can start on the animation. The other irons in the fire at work are also being tended to.
Thats the quick-like overview of some of the physical doings of the past week(s)!
Much to catch up on!
Sunday past was Eberron, and wow, a damn good Eberron game. A great mix of action, investigation, searching, dialogue, interaction, events, mystery, discovery, creepiness, shock, running, fantastic locales (and mental images) and exhausted and taxed out characters. We were short two players/characters and rocked the house. I've never rolled so many diplomacy checks in my life. Good good good stuff.
Tuesday, we had very few in Kung Fu (practice month) so we were going through all the basic sets: Lian Bo, Tan Tuy, Tun Da, Staff, Moi Fa, Broadsword, Bot Bo, Spear, Moi I, Chum Sam. Mid-way through broadsword I fracked up my wrist. I felt it go OW, and I backed off somewhat, but completed the set. Did the rest of class, trying to not go to hard on the wrist. As to be expected, Wednesday it was really not happy. I've been to Dr Wong twice now and am giving it the herbal bag treatment -- let's just say I really whacked it up good. Ow, and much rest I will give it. It must be all healed for Tiger Crane Hung Gar in September...
In other news, the temperature has shot way back up again, I'm still studying, I still get to play with 3D stuff at work, editing Sifu's book, saw Wendy2 on Sunday for an excellent lunch (both food wise and especially company wise), discovered and uncovered some profound things for myself which have shown up in my life immediately, and another packed weekend ahead.
"The joy in journey is not the destination, but the journey itself."
This is truly remarkable. Truth in Advertising -- finally they've come out of the closet and stated just what they're up to.
For the first time evar I wished I had a camera on my cell phone (or a digicam on me, for that matter).
So there I am, last night, pulling onto 101 south at the Shoreline on-ramp. The ramp heads towards the freeway for a bit before turning right to merge with another on-ramp before heading to the freeway. As I get onto the ramp, a tractor-trailer with a flatbed passes before me (perpendicularly) on that other on-ramp. It takes a moment for my brain to register the cargo.
"Holy fuck! That was SpaceShip One!"
AND I'M ABOUT TO MERGE IN RIGHT BEHIND IT!
The on-ramp is a fairly lengthy affair, and for the entire length of it my mind (and mouth) was basically OMFGing. SpaceShip One! The winner of the Ansari X-Prize! On the back of a truck! In full view!
Get onto the freeway, gun it and pull up alongside. There it was, in all its glory, the teardrop shape, uncovered, blue stars and portholes and all, wings off stored behind it (with the SpaceShip One - A Paul Allen project written upon them). Driving down 101. And I'm giddy like, well, like a space geek.
That was a great drive.
Would've been cool to have had a camera.
Some amazing shuttle launch videos like you've never seen before... find them all here. Some choice ones include this one mated to the right SRB (including splashdown), looking up at SRB separation, and more.
This morning I had a meeting with a contractor/builder to discuss the Lofty project (mainly info gathering). I check the address, check the traffic... check what's around the address. Hmm, down by the ballpark, parking could be nasty. Oh, hey, there's the Caltrain station. Oh, double hey, it's a Spare the Air day. Train time!
The meeting was fantastic, lots of good information, good dialogue for what's possible, and the train trip was just a bonus.
A good end to a good week -- more just-in-time create-the-course in the morning, train at noon, tighten up in the afternoon, coupled with the other two projects under deadline at work. Much work, but I'm making it all smooth. Wednesday night's special evening was fantastic. Bagua was good learning, along with the spear set, though the heat (it was 30ish C) made me a bit more sluggish in my after-class workouts. And now, the weekend coming up!
So let's start this weekend right with some ky00teness! http://sfgate.com/n/pictures/2006/06/22/lynx.jpg
Then we'll add in some low-level flying!
Now you're ready for the weekend...
Brush up on your literary skills! Head here for some vocabulary.
Which leads me to, of course, to the utimate necessity: Une Liste des insultes du capitaine Haddock. (For the english books, there's here).
Wild wild days. Much text after the cut!
What has really opened up for me over the past couple of weeks is being calm in the midst of all the plates I'm juggling. Neverminding Lofty, my course and all the other things I've got going on, but just at work I've got three deadline-intense things on my plate. Yet there is no upset, no panic, no franticness, no deer in headlights of what to do next. It's really quite an amazing and new space to be in... and I get to enjoy a rendering project at work, continue to work on the new labs and implement, create and train the ADT deployment. This works for me, I think I'll keep it.
Bagua continues to be a total learning experience. Saturday's workout was a good one, with a not-to-deadly run and stairs, and then a focus on all the short, explosive Shaolin sets (#4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Tong Bei and Emperor Tai) along with the last third of #1. Evan and I have now learned the first four lessons to Six Harmonies Spear (no injury this week!) getting in practice every night. We also did a second workout on Saturday, to practice some two-person Bagua exercises -- quite the full day of exercise.
Then, I indulged in a couple of hours of WoW in the evening and got Khyborr up to 29. Just another 14 levels to go 'till he's back where he was at the end of closed beta!
FoodFu: Picnic! was held on Sunday with the usual gang. It was a good smattering of fare, lots of varied things (fruit, cheeses, breads, meats, hummus, guacamole, southwestern meatless wraps), and I made a Raspberry/Blackberry Gratin (which is an odd name considering it had no cheese, but it was broiled lightly) that met with much praise and appreciation and tastiness. Then, tennis was played by some in the courts nearby. I jumped in, having a good time and not sucking too horribly (I have more fingers on my hand than the number of times I've played), though I had forgotten my sunscreen upon leaving the house and now have quite the red tinge to show for it.
Sunday evening's D&D game was a great conclusion to the sub-story arc as we awoke in the midst of a carnage. Aathome said I wouldn't like the 'hero' who was chosen to wield the sword, and he was right. We faced off against some lizard folk whom we had not seen in two years (their lands being way to the south), we paused, sized up the situation, learned of a language barrier, troops began walking towards two of our party members, actions were taken, combat was joined. We were seriously outclassed (especially given the quite powerful sword). One member fell, but was healed up to 0 (by the mount of the hero, no less), another of our members was attacked repeatedly and fell well beyond our help. A short engagement between myself and the hero led to me backing off, looking/glaring at him as if to reach an understanding. He understood, for he went after Tito, testing him with his smite (and the blunt of his blade) to discover that Tito's aura of evil was just the taint of his fiendish transformation, not of his character.
With that the battle ended. A spell of comprehend languages allowed the hero to speak to us, and with that we learned the carnage around us was caused by an oath/law of their land that for every fallen of their number they extract a price of two upon the offender's race. (I really don't like him!) Further, the mage in our party, who had been slain, radiated enough evil to likely be seen from the high heavens. Quickly I realized it was the wraps he was carrying that he had taken from the fallen Archon. I said this to the hero, who cared not much a whit. What he did care for was that we had killed one of his troops, and a debt had now been incurred. The judgment was to take Tito's life as he was the 'transgressor', unless another would take his place. To which I immediately stepped forward.
And was struck down on the spot. The lizard folk turned and left.
Alexia turned to heal me and was rewarded with an electric shock. Tito was grief-stricken -- he and I were the last of the original band to leave the caulderra (where the campaign began). As Gravax went to check the other bodies, both I and our other dead party member rose into the air on crackles of energy, to be struck by lightning from above. With that, I awoke from the dead for the second time that day. I had taken oath to protect Tito so many moons ago -- the oath fulfilled Aathome brought me back, and once again I was able to commune with the divine (read: my paladin powers are functioning once more).
The rest of the evening was taken by our task to aid the island sisters recover and to destroy the evil magic item (over the protests of the once-again alive mage). The GM had little to do as for an hour+ we self-generated content. All in all, a great evening with some good roleplaying by all.
Great stuff ahead this week, with Wednesday being the current highlight with a special evening led by the most loving, direct and generous person I have ever met. I invite everyone in my life to come Wednesday night to think, to be moved, to see what's possible.
I got a spear injury yesterday! I took one right in the chest, it truly was a vicious battle.
Too bad I was the one holding the spear. Hmm. (Photo to come soon....)
Otherwise the stairs also kicked my butt yesterday, wasn't a good deep breathing day (doubly odd that later on, just walking to run an errand, saw some tightness at the bottom of my chest, could be allergies). Saturday wasn't really an 'on' day. Among other things, the spear was totally misbehaving even before I managed to graze myself, and that was on the third repetition of the set.
Class has moved into Bagua applications, and let me tell you there is nothing like seeing how your form and structure isn't all there than having someone resisting a technique. Bagua's moves are simple, but getting the internal energy and structure is what takes the skill development. I think during these two months I may ramp down on the amount of Shaolin and practice Bagua more, working everything over and over and over again. I was getting rather frustrated on thursday when I wasn't performing a move correctly despite repeated attempts, and I often feel like my alignment is all off and I'm not keeping things neutral when circling the opponent with arms touching (ie I'm losing). Though there have been some instances where we've both felt like we're not neutral or in control -- there's some sensitivity still to be learned, it seems. So, practice, practice, practice!
Of course, that being said, I'm also starting to learn a new Shaolin set. Evan bought the DVD for Six Harmonies Spear, so we're starting to learn that, and it promises to be a very crazy nifty set.
Saturday evening we shuffled gaming to that night to avoid another week off, and returned to Granite's game. When we'd last left our intrepid heroes, we had 'died' (purposfully) to enter the land of the dead. My Paladin has been walking around for quite some time without any divine powers, and following the fortune telling by an old lady in a city we'd made our way to the Green Isles to see the Seer Sisters. Oh, did I mention the fortune said they wouldn't be able to help me, but that I must go see them? Indeed, they couldn't help me, the solution to my ills was beyond their sight. Their suggested recourse was dying to enter the land of the dead to seek out what we could seek out. And there we began on saturday, having already been warned not to cross the river by the boat man (breathe the mists, forever forget your past) and to find the bridge. En route we were assailed by a fallen archon, and after a lengthy battle (due to our etherial nature we were not very combat capable) with much much much healing we were victorious and quite lost on the plains of the dead. Even trailing a line behind us couldn't keep us going straight (though we did at least know when we'd recrossed our steps). I suggested Tito hop up on my shoulders for a look, which through the haze he was able to spot the river, and with Alexia's further suggestion for him to remain there and keep it in sight, we made it to the bridge.
In the gleaming city of the dead we found our way to the library, where I met my diety, Aathome. Seems a sword given to me by one very ancient imprisionned warrior had caused an uproar as the sword was dedicated in the service of another diety. We interacted with Aathome, asked questions, got some answers, I had to ask the GM for some background info on my char (I inherrited him from another player), interacted some more, and then were returned to our bodies in a nice cliffhanger moment. Nicely done.
This week promises to be another packed one. Let the games begin...
QotD: "Yeah. it was bad. well. until you watch the Earthsea miniseries. then you want to stab yourself in the nuts to stop you from remembering it." -- RaV
Wow, I've let this slide, haven't I? My appologies. Much excitement and good stuff all around of late, so much so I know not where to begin, and what to include! So, I'll do neither! Nyeah nyeah! Ok, only for the moment... updates will be forthcoming. With less ! as well, I promise.
In the mean time, check out Kwoon, browse around the site, see some of the episodes, and help this lead to further episodes!
Warning! This page may be... addictive. I've failed my WILL save at least thrice to stop going through it so far!
"Like any giant company suddenly "embracing" the green initiative, [the company's] rationale for all of this, of course, has absolutely zero to do with any sort of deep concern for the planet (though it does make for good PR), nothing at all about actual humanitarian beliefs or honest emotion or spiritual reverence, and has absolutely everything to do with the corporation's rabid manifesto: cost-cutting and profit."
Being green can save you gobs of $. Shock. Awe.
(If there's one thing I find somewhat amusing and confusing is the constant vitriol that states better environmental policies = instant economic meltdown. FOX news and the Drudge Report spent a good chunk of time doing just that the other day. Given that there is usually these 10 year periods+ for targets and reductions and removals and all that -- ok, natch, companies often do @#$! for that time then complain 1 year before the deadline that it's too much hardship and they'll drop into a hole in the earth and they will go bankrupt and the country will die and baby Jesus will cry, but ignoring that for a moment -- what ever happened to their capitalist and entrepreneurial spirit? That the market will produce solutions, that it will create wealth, that it will empower and generate? With less disasters to pay for and clean up, less illness and all other good stuff to boot?)
First up, oh gods, I WANT! 1/48 Stealth VF-J Valkyrie. So sweet! So pricey!
Then, what you can do with your havok-enabled game engines, and much free time: Oblivion Dominos.
I totally agree with Roboblog III's comments about this New Voltron Demo (for a new series?): "Kind of a shame, though, that the clip of representative animation from the Voltron remake looks significantly inferior to the Voltron combination sequence from the original TV series, which was animated in 1981. Something really wrong there." The pre-combination sequence isn't bad per se, but ugh. Give me "Activate Interlock!"
Finally, something special. This is awesome. Mr Rogers in a US Senate hearing on funding for the newly developed Corp for Public Broadcasting, in the most pivotal moment with Senator Pastore. Won't you be my neighbor?
QotW:
Kannik: how the mighty have fallen
Murrgon: They're not mighty, just "super sized" :P
Wow, crazy. Been quite the while! The Lynx update in brief: odd spaces.
It's all after the cut...
Sifu Lam is away this month at the kwoon, so it has been a month of review and practice. I've been leading classes on the tues/thurs class nights, insofar as calling out the basic eight palm routine, then creating with the class what we'll work on for the rest of the night and guiding from there. We've done nights of going slow (and by slow I mean molasses in January slow, it's WAY harder than one would think), doing some two-person drills, some bagwork, and random/quick palm changes. Last class we paused to watch some DVD/VCD/AVIs of other Bagua masters. Sifu had suggested we do so to observe differences in styles, to see what they were doing, and compare to the basic Bagua fundamentals. Just another week before we start onto the next class (application) which will be interesting -- even after five months I feel like I'm only scratching my understanding of Bagua, which is probably an accurate assessment. Easy to learn, difficult to master.
Otherwise, Kung Fu has been somewhat binary (one of those odd spaces) for me, with great nights/weekends followed by nights of low energy and poor performance. I started to run the stairs again, with the first week being not too deadly if not particularly fast, the second weekend being pretty brutal. I also (finally!) got to start up Iron Palm for the year, and in three weeks I'm starting back on the steel without too much problem, which has me happy. Very late start this year, given all the rain.
Amazingly we haven't gamed since the Bloodstone at the start of the month -- various vacations have put a crimp on those plans. I've also only played another smattering of WoW during the time. Did play a game of Settlers of Catan; it was a fine game though I do prefer Carcassonne. The Heavy Gear expansion I did the graphic work for was duly posted to the DP9 website.
I scheduled my latest Architectural Registration Exam (on Contract Documents) and wrote it this past Monday. It was very refreshing, being who I am now, to be calm and composed over it and over my uncertainty about how I fared. A lot to know in that exam about drawings, about law and about contracts and my sense is I could have spent more time reviewing all the material. There were a few questions I hadn't heard material about, a few questions that were in non-related areas but I could've known the answers, and some that were tricky. And some I knew dead-on, of course. I should know in about four weeks if I have a P or X.
There's also been much friend visiting and some visiting friends. Lofty continues albeit somewhat slowly. Did some property scouting both near and afar (well, Vallejo far), had one meeting with a planning official and one coming up with a council member, starting to get some harder numbers on construction, looking into funding.
Really, the last few weeks have been pretty non-stop with my fingers in many pies. I'm amazed how many pies sometimes, and how well they're turning out. Also been a time of some self-discovery and exploration and a lot of observation/noticing, which accounts for much of the odd spaces. I'm definitively getting what I signed up for!
Daily Amusement: http://www.zug.com/gab/index.cgi?func=view_thread&sort=active&head=1&thread_id=64475
Quote of the Day: "Mwaa-Haa-Haa-Haa is the Woot! of all evil."
Well, sore glutes, at any rate. Went for a nice hike on Sunday morning with Christi at the Monte Bello open space preserve, heading up to Black Mountain (I so want to type Black Rock Peak there... especially as it does, indeed, have some spiky black rocks at the summit) which is probably one of the highest points on the ridge at 2800'. Our hike took us down 400' of elevation, then up to 1000' to the summit. Not huge, but enough to give those not-often worked glutes some working out. Total hike around 7 mi, nice and calm. And DAMN was the weather perfect -- 28~ (C, of course), nary a cloud in the sky. Sunscreen was in order, was worn, and protected well.
I think we've jumped right into summer.
Rest of the weekend was busy and good. Good practice Saturday morning at the Kwoon (Run, Straight Sword, Broad Sword, Staff, #1, #4, #5, #7, #8, #9, Tong Bei, Emperor Tai, Bagua), followed by lunch and a Lofty meeting. Sat eve was a bit sedate, many little things taken care of, with a whole 90 mins of WoW playing. Stunning!
Bloodstone was brought into existence once more on Sunday eve, and a good one it was. Still in the Underdark, the party found their way to a carved stone passageway that itself dead to a long bridge crossing a huge deep chasm (lava below for good measure) that lead to the largest stalagmite they had ever laid eyes upon. Inside they entered a small temple of sorts. Much of the evening was carried in combat time, with successive encounters outside, in the outer chamber then the temple's inner chamber. Undead, hideous beasts, human and hobgoblin and ogre guards, a high priest, and one opponent that surprised and shocked (and caused much consternation) for Vex -- all this and more! The whole thing moved along mostly smoothly, with some good flavour and good playing. Though we still finished the combat(s) quite late and into the early morning�
Amusingly, the next couple of weeks finds our varied schedules all jacked up, so it'll be some patchy playing.
This morning, I discovered a screw embedded in my beautiful new tires! Had to get that patched up at lunch... And now, onto the evening!
Beware the dreaded actual content!
I think Einstein should have another look at this (or perhaps Hawkings), but its already the end of April, and thus the advanced Bagua class finishes after thursday. Sifu is offering us who would like to an opportunity to test, just to get a sense of where we are (though, as any good Sifu, he says he already knows for each and every one of us). May will be an 'off' month (Sifu'll be away for half of it) so we'll get a good opportinuty to practicepracticepractice before we do applications class starting in June (which means it'll run June/July, with Tiger Crane Hung Gar starting in August). I've hit my first plateau, with successive classes feeling better or worse in one way or the other -- a month of practice will be very valuable (though I'll probably run a class during that time, kind of a structured practice for those who are there). Sifu spent the last month pointing out what was missing, making adjustments, etc. All stuff easy to understand, but now to put it into the body. woo!
Also, there were way to many ()s in that last paragraph.
You should also know that you now read the words of one of the founders of Breathe Deep LLC. Work on the Lofty-ness has been a bit lax of late, but it does continue! We have a fifth member on our team now (actually, a sixth if you include someone who will assist in some capacities), and if we can find those perfect buildings before they're sold to someone else, we'll be riding high...
Another Bloodstone game this weekend, the second of the usual 2x2x2 arrangement (our next game day was delayed for a few reasons), and I'm all ready to go. Going on a good hike before the game too, so I'll be well energized when we begin (or tuckered out, I guess). Granite's thinking of starting up a Justifiers game on sat nights using StarHERO, which is looking promising. And, I've played about 3h of WoW in the past 6 weeks. That's crazy talk!
I am SO not responsible for the consequences... you have been warned!
This is one of the most amusing 419 mails I've gotten in a long time:
"Dear Friend,
I hope my email meets you well. I am in need of your assistance. My name is SGT. GERALDINE MARCUS, I am in the Engineering military unit here in Ba'qubah in Iraq, we have about $65 Million US dollars that we want to move out of the country. My partners and I need a good partner someone we can trust. It is oil money and legal.
But we are moving it through diplomatic means, to send it to your house directly or a bank of your choice using diplomatic courier service.The most important thing is that CAN WE TRUST YOU?"
And in a totally different vein, I think it's safe to say Tycho didn't like this movie:
"You might have seen people say that this was a good movie, or a faithful representation of the game, and I would urge you to disregard anything those people say in the future about movies or, indeed, any other subject. (...) In the same way that a telescope cannot be made to examine itself, I believe that writing in a way can't be used to examine the dialogue of this movie. There is something foul about language after what this writer has done with it."
The recent bout of rains in the Bay Area has brought with them a very nice side effect -- beauty. As the clouds make their way in from the pacific, the clouds have danced along the mountain tops, providing beautiful tableaux. At times, they hang in wisps, gracing the mountains as though in a Chinese watercolour. Other times they hover, just behind the mountains, rising up as though one great wave, suspended en-masse over the ridgelines. Sometimes they cover half the hills, leaving the other half bare, or lay in strata. Every day brought the chance of a new image of artistry of nature.
After living in Mountain View for many years I've tended, at times, to kinda overlook the mountains. Welcome back to my vision, 'the hills'.
Quote of the Day: I have to say, it does sound pretty darn good, and the fusion of electronics with the 96-piece orchestra make it a wonderful listening experience. The movie, however, is another story.
In a surprise move, Sifu Lam just posted a 2006 Study Tour, for September. Aieee! I love these study tours... but I'd thought there wasn't going to be one this year yet and had thought of other things in its space. Choices! Things to work out! Oh noes!
Also, what not to do to Sifu: either this or this or even this.
(repost as the original was eaten)
An interesting little (bad pun) read about the tiny island of Tikopia, that has been inhabited for 3000 years. Gorgeous in its own right, but its history and its 'choice' is the more facinating part. Read about Tikopia here.
I just received spam for... Green Tea? That's a new one. Maybe it's a sign I need to make some more spam poetry!
Annnnd... if you haven't seen this, it's pretty crazy. Japanese Rube Goldberg-like inventions. Oh, it's after some Anime intro, for some reason (just fast forward through it). Remember that Honda Ad? Little more low tech... :P
Tim Hortons is the largest fast-food joint in Canada, with 2597 outlets -- more than McDs. It was co-founded in 1964 by an NHL player of the same name. It still sees growth potential of another 1500ish locations. It's almost a required campaign starting location for any politician. It's a morning ritual for many. And few south of the border have ever heard of it (though it is owned by a Delaware-based company now).
That is all.
This is amusing, if for no other reason than the phrase/thought "recent string of burglaries of oven doors." Find it here.
LotD: An interesting look at the energy of today's food supply
Ah, this is fun. See a couple of adds from Chevy Tahoe: The Apprentice. Here and here. (this second one had been removed from the official site)
They say lightning never strikes twice. Tell that to my dice!
Will this attain such legendary status as my previous strike(*)? Perhaps not, as this was not the climactic battle with the uber boss. Yet, a good roll is a good roll. 5d6: 6 6 6 6 5. FOOM! The light was strong with Tirron last night.
Actually, it was an amusing amount of good rolling last night, with criticals and power rolls galore (and enough ironic poor rolls to make up for it). We took out about 60-80 enemies and survived. We're queued up for a big fight next week -- tune in to see the thrilling conclusion of our two-parter!
BTW, I have to say, my friends ROCK. I asked Dave if he could stop by the Tea Party to pick up a bit of Monk's Blend tea (a divine black tea), maybe a couple of hundred grams.
He bought me a kilogram.
That rocks.
(*)OMGLAATS = Oh my god, look at all the sixes. Great (in-game )gaming story, a fine triumphant moment worthy of the Star Wars universe.
WOW... HOLY COW. An entire aircraft carrier made out of LEGO.
Insane, intense, many more adjectives, but man, wow.
Oh man, I was very much angry yesterday afternoon, due to some sort of mix-up that threatened to lay all my plans to waste. I can't say I'm through with it yet, but things were worked out and though I still want to talk to some people about it I'm doing great again today. It's so nice to (nowadays) be able to just get off it and get on with it, and not in an ignoring or begrudging way, that is so different from my days of yore.
Things are busy at work and out of work, but the schedule's been rescued. Which is good, because I'm doing all sorts of things I want to be doing (and that includes leasure)!
QotW1: "There is nothing that beats the video card of life." -- Me
Beautiful skies. 72" of recent snow. -2~C. 8200'+ of elevation.
The tradition continues! Dave is down for this year's GDC, and we spent the weekend skiing and boarding in Tahoe. With his CEO's cabin in renovation this year, he found us a nice spot right near Squaw at which to say. Armed with a dual-day pass, we hit the slopes.
What amazing conditions. All the rain we'd been having in the Bay area the past couple of weeks meant oodles and oodles of fresh snow up in the Sierra's. The temperatures stayed below freezing, if just barely, all weekend, which meant the snow never strayed from good, and also meant that we got to experience some different types of snow throughout the day, depending if the snow a) got sun b) was in sun or c) was in sun earlier but now was no longer. It was also fortunate that the weather cooperated for us, given that the majority of Squaw's runs (unlike most other of the local resorts) actually run from one of their 5 peaks down to the valley floor -- having constant cold meant we didn't have nice snow at top, and slush at the bottom.
The first day saw mostly worked powder on the runs, which meant some mild- to heavy- moguls and bumps. Despite only getting out once a year, my skill in negotiating said type of run is returning, which makes me happy. Was quite the bit of work, though, especially given those longer runs (near 2000' drop in some cases). By the second day the runs had been groomed and we played around on those, bringing up the speed. From all the work, though, by the end even just turning on flat runs made my legs wail. Good stuff.
QotW2: "Well, that wasn't so bad...wUAgH!" [falls back into the snow] -- Dave
We had some fun several times diving into areas of looser snow, including a total powder run down the middle of lift lines (which, btw, several were fun chairlifts where one flew 50-odd feet above the ground in certain places) that took us a good 45+ mins of careful work. Most of my wipeouts were during these runs where my bindings would pop (I told the guy at the rental place I wouldn't be doing much powder), during which not once, but twice (once each day) I turned around to beautifully find my ski sticking vertically out of the snow, tip down. I couldn't have planned that better -- nor the fun moment where you realize "I've only got one ski..." before wiping out. During the powder run I had a glorious faceplant, which was truly fun given the softness of the snow. "How's the snow?" cried one person from the lift way above. "Deep! Soft!" I replied.
So we had a weekend of many different experiences, with fast groomed runs and runs of heavy moguls, of scrape and of powder and great snow in between, of long runs and the not-so long. By day's end on Sunday, the shadows were long as we were illuminated from behind, and I could see the shadow of the snow I kicked up as we turned our way down the hills. Again, good stuff.
Despite the great conditions and great weather it wasn't nearly as busy as I feared it would be, with waits at the lifts being rare. Overall, Dave preferred Northstar from a boarding perspective -- a few too many flat sections at Squaw (we tended to traverse quite a bit) and a few other things. Next year we may give Alpine a whirl (perhaps coupled with Northstar again) and I recently heard good things about Kirkwood.
Great great weekend. I may get up to Tahoe but once a year, but it's always a great once a year!
a (social) command line for the web
Thus is described yubnub.org, a search tool/portal with a difference. I discovered it a few weeks ago, and totally love it. Outwardly it looks like just about any other search page, but what's nifty is that it's actually a command interpreter, so that you can create a command string to have it basically perform searches or tasks using other websites.
For example, typing "g blah" will do a Google search for blah, while doing "gi blah" will search the same string using Google images, and "imdb blah" will search IMDB for it. Define (dictionary.com), gm (Google Maps), Allak (Allakhazam's WoW database), wiki (Wikipedia) are just a few more. You can even mash (run different commands and have it open them up in different frames) commands. Lipsum will generate a number of Lorem Ipsum text. It's fun!
Perhaps the most coolness comes from putting it into the search line embedded in Firefox, whereupon it becomes a true command line to a vast array of sites without having to go to that site first.
At any rate, to a geek like myself, this is a grand fun tool.
As in snow. Drove over to Santa Cruz on Sunday morning, and therefore got a taste of snow here in the bay area as we crested the hill, complete with police escort. The trees were delightfully dusted with it, and the novelty of snow this close by made it very fun. For serious snow, I'm heading up to Tahoe this coming weekend where I'll be treated to no less than 60" of fresh powder. MmmmMMmMMMmmmmm....
The purpose of the trip to Santa Cruz was a meeting to further the LoftyOne project; things are moving along. Saturday night saw our most recent FoodFu. The event looked a bit in jeopardy, due to schedules, illnesses, and etc; in a flash of brilliance I re-christened the event as FoodFu Prepackaged/Premade (FoodFu Pre!), and the event was saved, and much tasty food from TJs shared, along with some local small-restaurant tastiness. A joyful lazy extended dinner, with meandering conversation and tied together with several teas. As a bonus, a former Wing Lam KFite was visiting and joined us, so it was an extended KF/FF family eve. Later, a few of us watched the film Ping Pong, amusingly kung fuish and an interesting journey into several themes of competition, satisfaction, happiness, friendship, et al. Also some rather great and understated graphics and effects to tie it all together.
Sunday night gaming was cool, as we were greeted with a pirate ship laid out on the map for the start of our adventure (we had purchased a ship the previous session). Our journey is an important one for my character, who's ties to his deity was severed (disappeared? Blocked? Something else?) and who is following the words of a fortune teller: "They will not be able to help you, but you must go see the Sisters of the Green Isles." We ended having left our bodies and entered the land of the dead -- we're not dead, but we could end up that way if we're not careful. This, by the way, is a surprise to us, we had no idea we'd end up there when we undertook this path, though warned by the Sisters it would be a dangerous one. A couple of weeks of Eberron are next, followed by two of my game before we return to continue this journey.
On the whole I've definitively taken on many things right now, so I'm quite the busy cat. Updates may be a bit more sporadic in the coming weeks, but I'm not abandoning the space of greater conversation. I'll still be here to post and to spur it on.
WOW: http://www.legoland.bubm.de/allianz.htm. Amazingly detailed, with a wicked cutaway section, and it GLOWS AT NIGHT. That's right on.
Also, we got snow on the hills here again! One of our principals took a picture outside of his house, looks like a good 2 cm of the stuff, woo! And I have to drive over the hills this sunday, maybe I'll get a chance to see some of it...
The truth will set you free.
But first it will really piss you off.
"So, is it like an open pit mine or something?"
"Yes, but it's french, so it has baguettes all around it."
I have come to realize that one thing that I would enjoy is to engage in more conversations and discussions in my everyday life. I have plenty of communication, and great communication at that, what I'm aiming for is more exchange, growth and trade of ideas, exploration, construction. Thus it is that I am creating a space and a pursuit for conversation: here, elsewhere online, and everywhere in life I find myself as I travel throughout the day.
[insert mild swear word]. Keep this game away from me. Or you'll never see me again. Ever.
I mean, ever.
Holy cow.
Amazing ship designs, made from small components like colony pods, etc.
This could even be worse than MoO.
Just a quick note to, er, note that my wrist is no longer on fire. Dr Wong, the herbal bag and a night of rest left me feeling pretty good by tuesday. The wrist still feels a bit off and a bit weak, but the tendonitis has pretty much been extinguished, nicely. I did class last night (just Bagua, no Shaolin) and it was fine. Woo!
...Dragon, Bear, Monkey, Unicorn, Phoenix. So are the eight palms of Eight Animal Bagua.
The lessons in learning (that make any sense?) continues. In two months we've essentially learned all the moves to an entire system (think of learning all 10 sets of Shaolin in 2 months, or 10 Hung Gar sets in 2 months) -- but as I say, that's just the moves. To get the energy, rooting, power, sinking, motion, turning, walking, speed, reaction, etc, will take much longer, and the subtleties therein. MMMmmm, internal styles. Even walking has taken on a new meaning (and is a chance to practice). What's fun and a bonus is that I can feel how Bagua's been making a difference in my Shaolin, in certain sets and certain moves. Indeed I've kept up with my Shaolin practice, usually doing eight to twelve sets after class.
Riding into work in 3~ weather these past few days has been fantastic, nice crispness to the air not often felt here. Also a great way to ensure you're awake with all that chill. We had a small spot of rain, but now it's sunny as all-get go and clear skies, which makes for pleasant afternoons and frost overnight... good stuff.
Bloodstone ran its course on sunday, with several important encounters, some individual, some for the whole group. The party's travels through the Underdark led them to the bazzar of Grezneck, where goods were traded, information found out, and much hiding from drow by some of the party members. Mid-way through their visit, one of the players asks me "Wait, what race are these guys again?" (these guys being the majority of the merchants) to which I replied "Goblins." "I should've known, given the voice you were using..." Apparently I do a good WoW goblin impression, woo!
Outside the influence of Goblins, today at 16:40 on our server (Silver Hand) is when the Ahn'Quiraj event can begin, in the sands of Sillithus. Five days prior all the materials were turned in, and the buildup began. At least three, perhaps four, guilds on our server have crafted the staff that can strike the gong outside of the gates. The forces are gathering. The tension is mounting. The war is about to begin. The... servers are likely to implode. It doesn't bode well that our server was brought down for emergency maintenance this morning, and given the strain placed upon them when Eranikus was summoned into Moonglade, this event promises to punish them pretty hard I'm sure. Ajathka will be there with his ever faithful Myrra, lending both claw and gun to the effort. I've been taking many screencaptures of the buildup, and will likely take many more.
If the gong is rung tonight.
Amusingly, this post is similar to the one at the start of the month. LoftyOne, Studying, Work, Bagua... gaming is a bit different. Last sunday it was, in the way of our new 2 session-per rotation, time for Bloodstone to return. The evening passed smoothly, with more progress through the Underdark. I also released a new SilCore Supplement which has netted me not one, not two, not even three, but four nice compliments on the SilCore boards. Woo!
LotD: The Secret Cause of Flame Wars. Good and informative read.
A totally creative drawing of me as a lynxtaur by Averyl:
I like!
No, I hadn't gone completely mad, it was rabbit hole day. But it hasn't been all aliens, all the time at lynx central.
One month into Bagua. Every time I walk into the kwoon, I feel like a total n00b, and it's been GREAT. So very different from what I'd done before, and it's just plain fun to feel myself learning and gaining a deeper understanding every class. Long long long long way to go still, and that is fantasticness in itself.
We made a return jaunt into both Granite's game and into Eberron in the past month's worth of gaming. Continue to walk down the path of LoftyOne, which is an adventure on its own. Saw a Lego exhibit one weekend, pretty fun with lots of local landmarks, ships, aircraft, mecha, structures, cranes, etc, all well made. Also some impressive bridges (including one spanning I swear 12') and some Lego trains -- now this is interesting. I knew of Lego fan groups, I knew of many a model railroading club (with my own interests there), but never had I known until that day about Lego Railroading clubs. Apparently not so rare.
Studying also continues for the next ARE exam, though it seems everyday I learn about more and more I need to study for this particular exam; like the so-called real world, things/exams overlap.
Interestingly, SW:RotS wasn't nominated for F/X at the Oscars this year -- as the granddaddy of modern-day effects, while ILM did get nominated for another film, the lack of SW seems almost odd... the two are almost synonymous (even though I say WETA is the newest gods of F/X).
This has been a life-update post!
13. We go to thirteen the great numbers of the kings. K'awiil and K'inich Ahaw ride the geomancy rings, our tracings, our seals of salvation. Ley lines of St Elmo's fire snakes by on the wings of banshees.
Teotihuacan, Tikal, Uxmal, Altun Ha -- the fire lights up from within.
Long past is the time of thought, long past has the feeling left. Do we become like them? Do we cease to exist? Do our senses dull till we become but a drone?
Snick. Snick. Snick. Snick.
Plum flower patterns of beauty, the arcs of steel swing sweetly in a veritable spirograph of
The RUNE! Blinded though I am, through radiance and through slime, the rune bores into my retina. Could Guan have returned? A certain lightness takes over. Spiral, spiral, spiral, spindle, swerve.
Tuna, trout, turbot, tilapia -- thud goes my foe.
Merely adding to the sludge already caking my eyes, I slide my forearm across my face. No time. I grab the corners, bending them inward, singing silently. Quartic variables dance in the minds eye, an aurora display that splays, alighting the slick eaves in beauty.
Inside out, outside in. Burbling. The conference room lands beneath my feet.
We have gathered, for the last. Now or never.
Transmetamorphography
Forget Tenochitlan. Teotihuacan is the worry. One, one, two, blue.
Praskovya Fyodorovna! The dew rises.
Sitrep! He calls out to his team. Garbles, garbles, garbles.
Geometric! Binary! Curses! The pattern was wrong.
Not six, but eight, eight, the mighty eight, a day so hated that the gods themselves crushed it from existence.
Now they are here. Land as one, they do not.
The blueprints were strewn about. I got a call. "Why aren't they done? Have you moved EFML to maximize their square footage? The pentagram isn't done!" They always scream, always in a hurry. Never enough time to do it right.
Of course, if we don't stop this, it will all be for naught.
Robert says "never too late..." Robert is a dork. Or perhaps blissfully ignorant in this time of great peril.
I hear of worm attacks from agent madcoyote. Jemstone has risen the level to sigma ten. alistairenix prays for Tunguska again. And the moon speaks to herefox. The signs really are all here.
I hug my Guan Do. Tech may be useless, but this will work. I call upon my centre, call upon the calm.
Waiting time.
I lied a bit -- another LotD before a Real(tm) thing comes along.
Goal to create the longest graphic worm on the internet: http://worm.bluesfear.com/?r=ma
A 'real post' coming soon, but until then, this is very very very very very cool:
http://archidose.blogspot.com/2006/01/half-dose-21-schaustall.html
I'll take it!
So I've reinstalled Flight Sim onto my machine. Some of you may remember what happened last time . Well, it's happening again.
The other day I downloaded an available addition that promised to have all the Canadian Roads in it (save those in BC and NS due to licensing issues). Fair enough... that could be fun. It took a bit of work, ending with some batch files I created to move some files out of FS's directories (lest I end up with both its and this new set of roads)but I have it installed. Fired it up, took off from Pearson (YYZ) and flew down to Toronto. From downtown, I followed the Don Valley Parkway north. HOLY COW. The 401/DVP interchange was something else -- no kidding the roads were there, along with all the tangle of ramps. Every one in stark layout.
Well, let's just see how complete, I though to myself. A quick mouse click and I was flying out of Oshawa (YOO). Fly towards the lake, pick up the 401 and fly out towards Bowmanville. Clear as can be, there's the 57 interchange, there's the Liberty St exit. Follow Liberty St north, see where it turns on to Conc. 7. I'm impressed already. Fly along Conc. 7 and there it is -- the dirt road off which my parent's house resides.
It really DOES have all the Canadian roads. YOW! (And I didn't mean Ottawa International Airport)
Dragons, dragons and DRAGONS, oh my!
With the start of the new year is the start of the new format at kung fu, and it's all dragons there. Dragon Hands Swimming Body Bagua began last Tuesday, and by Thursday we've grown to quite the large class. We learned and practiced the basics last week, from the Bagua Wuji stance, Dragon Palm and Single Palm Change, Circle Walking. We've also pushed on each other a bit, done a bit of application, and definitively gotten a taste for the pace. No mistake, this will be nice an intense: Sifu even got rid of the couch that used to grace the kwoon for the parents. There are some students who know they will be missing one class a week, and they're totally jazzed at making it up on Saturdays or just coming in early on Tuesdays to catch up. Good energy, I like it muchly -- and I mean not only the energy of the class, but the energy in doing the Bagua. Circle walking may seem 'oooooook' when you first think about it, but practicing it on Saturday on my own I had no problem keeping focus or it getting tedious. I think this will be a treat.
Sunday had a slight niggle in our gaming plans, so we played Three Dragon Ante, a new (non-collectable, blessedly) card game from WotC tied a bit into the DnD lore. The most any of us had played was J who had played one hand with a store owner to get a feel, so it was all fresh to us. An interesting game that seems to have good potential for tactics as you try to take to both take the gambit (to win the pot), or try to use the special powers on your cards (for advantages, get cards or steal from the pot), maybe try to bid high into the ante to start the turn (but give up a high card to do so), match strengths or dragon colours, and so on. We played three games over the course of about as many hours, and it was good fun had by all.
But what about those DRAGONS?
Last Tuesday saw patch 1.9 come out for WoW, and the start of a world event known as the Gates of Ahn'Quiraj. Ostensibly it's a 20- and 40- man raid area/instance, but the kicker is that to open the gates to Ahn'Quirj requires a world-wide effort. At first glance, to me it didn't seem too complicated of an effort -- both factions have to turn in thousands upon thousands of supplies. Though, even this has gotten people talking about the oncoming war against the Silithids, and even gotten the factions working together to an extent, much like they did in Warcraft3 against the Burning Legion. There's even ambassadors in the other faction's cities, there's visible supplies and activity around the 'warrior' areas of two of the major cities.
Interesting, but I was thinking 'meh, it's just a series of turnin quests, whoop'.
Oh. Gods. No.
Blizzard has implemented something on a MASSIVE scale that is just packed to the brim with lore. I've been seeing web pages with it (http://www.fohguild.org/index.php for example), read about it on the WoW forums, found videos of it and even participated in part of it.
Saturday night I got a message over our guild channel that something BIG was going down in Moonglade. A whack of us hightail it over there, and find the zone just LOADED with people, and the place being attacked by a huge number of LVL 62+ Elite Shades. Apparently, as part of the major quest line Eranikus the corrupted is summoned into the world, is HUGE and is MAD. Alas, by the time I got there Eranikus was no longer seen, and there were so many in the area that lag was horrendous -- at least 20 secs from button pressing to action, and just targetting things was a chore. Soon the Shades were all vanquished, and the zone fell silent. (and the quest may have been bugged and not completed, argh)
But then I started to scour more, seek out videos, and saw one very nifty event where a raid party participates in an event that has the events that led to the sealing of the Ahn'Quiraj gate replayed out in the world in front of said gates in a sort of cutscene (albeit one you are in the midst of, kind of like the Pensive from Potter), with four of the five Dragonflights represented as a dragon in turn flies overhead, sealing the gates, all with much dialogue ensuing.
Some other quests have you chasing after crazy people to gather items, you interact with many dragons, there are hints to the old gods... it's massive, involved, in-depth. I'm seriously impressed with Blizz on this one. They've drawn upon their lore and put forth something that seems appropriate for those who spawned the very acclaimed Warcraft (and Starcraft) games.
My only question is whether many of these quests will be repeatable by others later on. The gates themselves, once opened, will stay open, that's no question. But the replaying of the sealing? The crazy gnome quests? It'd be a shame to let only a few percent of each server have a chance to witness this fine work. One CM has mentioned that they will be repeatable, and I really can't see Blizz throwing out that work and not letting it be reused. It may not make sense anymore, but then, does anything really make sense in a persistent world (where the completion of your quest leaves things just the way they were)?
So, yeah, lots of DRAGONS. For my part, I spent a chunk of the weekend with a reptile of a different sort, doing my first bit of grinding ever to gather materials for the war effort, in an attempt to raise my faction so I can buy a Nightsabre mount. I got to Revered, but I've calculated it would take me another 80 hours to get to Exhalted where I need to get. Ugh.
I did manage to score the new music used in front of the gates of Ahn'Quiraj scene -- very haunting, great depth, evocative. Glad I managed to extract it.
And I hit Lvl 60, the cap, with my main character. Crazy.
Time to start off the new year. As the ever-popular memes don't make it onto this blog very often, I present for you, instead:
Hit the comment button and post away -- any topic and anything you want to say...
In many ways, it is a day like any other. Arbitrary as it may be, the start of a new year is a time many use to take stock of where they've been, and where they're going.
For me, my tradition is to say: "What the heck happened to (insert year here)? Man it went by fast..."
I don't know if I can make the claim that my life compared to 13 months ago is completely unrecognizable, but good sections of it most certainly are. This year has indeed been truly extraordinary for me. Looking at it is almost ridiculous. I regained my enthusiasm in kung fu, increased my skills, became part-head instructor and increased my teaching abilities. This included a rockin' trip to China. At work, after several years of a morass, I not only regained my excitement and interest in work, I have been promoted and have inspired people around me. My gaming and especially GMing has expanded, taking on new dimensions and new life. I took on LoftyHeights.org and am now in the midst of doing LoftyOne. Not just thinking about it, but doing it, and it isn't a big thing; it's just something I'll do. In my everyday life I have way less stress, less resistance, more enjoyment and am closer to people. I have reconnected with some people I haven't spoken to in several years. There are also a tonne of little things that have popped up here and there that have opened up in new (and better) ways.
What's truly amazing is that I actually created this extraordinary year for myself. None of this happened in a vacuum. None of this occurred without taking many things on. It took some intention and work. It's been fantastic.
If I were to boil down my well wishes for the world this year, it would be that of harmony. Harmony speaks on many different levels, it has a depth and pervasiveness everywhere and to everyone.
On this, the first day of 2006, I wish all my friends a fantastic year, one of harmony and growth.
Also updated my page with yet more spam poetry. Enjoy!
Back am I, after a great if quick trip home for the holidays. Passed a fantastic week, visiting my parents and also catching up with some friends whom I'd either hadn't seen for a year or for four+ years. We had some snow, a half-decent amount of snow in fact, when I arrived, but days of rain and high temps made it but a whitewash by the time xmas day rolled around. Shadow (my cat) has gotten quite vocal in her older age, and it was great to spend time with her too. And I continue to be shocked and somewhat dismayed with all the growth as the expansion pushes further out from Toronto every year. I spent most of the vacation relaxing, doing a bit of gaming writing, reading, relaxing, catching up with my parents, fixing computers, relaxing. It was a grand time. }:)
Flying out to Toronto my flight path took me to LAX. We were on a nice Canadair regional jet for the flight, which is a pretty nimble aircraft. As we banked and turned towards the airport, got treated to a few things:
1 - The inky shoreline of LA.
2 - The amusing pattern of skylights, glowing like lanterns in the night, atop all the warehouses.
3 - A great hanging view (we turned right over it) of an illumiated soccer field below that from the air was noticably not square (nor even a parallelogram). Also could see people playing, their shadows moving accross the field. (Wished I had a camera for that one).
4 - The illumination of the sprawl going on and on and on and on to the horizon.
Went back to work today, and learned we will close tommorow. One day workweek, four day weekend! w00t! Gives me time to work on LoftyOne (though the planning dept' I wanted to speak with will also be closed tomorrow...)
As in crazy good. Play by play, starting at lunch on friday: Lunch with friend, LoftyOne, Gaming, Kung Fu, Party (1), Party (2), LoftyOne Meeting, FoodFu, Gaming. Whiew!
In more detail, the FoodFu on Sunday was actually a TeaFu, wherein the fu-gang got together and sampled approximately 6 teas, accompanied with cookies and other sweets. Many of the teas were from China, and half of mine didn't fare very well in a large-pot environment. The famous Monk's Blend tea though (I must get more! I just rediscovered the address of the Tea Party store in Ottawa!) was a huge hit, as it always is. A black tea, but with an added layer of delicate flavour. Evan brought a red chrysanthemum tea that bloomed in the pot and was a great ending. And speaking of cookies, I ate WAY to many this weekend. With the various parties and get togethers I ate a lot this weekend, though I can't say I ate particularly well. Waddling like a penguin, filled to the brim with baked treats (and more).
The return to sunday gaming (been off for many a week) was I continuing the Bloodstone game. Exploration and discovery was at hand that evening, with the environment dishing out some amusement (or, at least, providing an area where amusement was dished into). The encounter that rounded out the evening was a drawn out affair, unhelped by the players' less-than-stellar dice rolls (though amusing for me) and certain events that didn't transpire as they'd planned it to. Tactics were present though, and everyone gave a good showing of their character in action. A good evening, made late only by the late start of the game... I'm looking forward to the next time I run it.
Got a lot of legwork done on LoftyOne, set up more things, researched more things, and things are just happening there. }:) Now, I am preparing to fly home tommorow evening -- I feel so disorganized this year, it's odd, amusing and mildly unsettling. There are gifts I haven't bought, or sent out, not sure I've packed everything, what should I read/bring/work on for the week away, etc. I have a day to figure it out!
Link of the Day: http://gcmr2005.blogspot.com/. Marc Tacchi bought a special $7,000 Air Canada ticket that gave him unlimited flights for 60 days, then set out to fly 1,000,000 miles. He accomplished it, flying 56 out of 60 days. As a million-mile Air Canada flier, he gets vouchers for $70,000 worth of business-class airfares. The kicker is, he's a cargo pilot who flies between North America and Asia for a living.
Quote of the Day:
Why is that everyone posts these multi-page diatribes? I don't think anyone ever reads them. I sure don't.
It's a throwback to an earlier time, when people would string together a long series of written words to convey complicated ideas. Now, of course, we use insults, sarcasm, and pithy quips to get our point across.
How far we've come!
Sometimes, the most opposite things line up to create something wonderful.
Driving up to the city on Thursday night, just after passing SFO, upon the hills (which couldn't be seen as it was dark) are a string of a dozen or so radio towers, all with several aircraft beacons, all going off on their own timer, creating a surreal effect of dancing lights in the sky. Simultaneously, on the radio, was some simple and delectable harp music, the tones sharp yet blending. Either of these on their own would not have drawn a second thought, but together, they worked off each other, creating an effect in harmony that just worked beautifully.
Very nice.
Warning: This is not for the faint of heart. Playing this for others is likely a violation of the UN Anti-Torture treaty. Treat with extreme caution.
O Holy Night [of pain -ed]
I got my absentee ballot from Elections Canada today... that's pretty speedy service.
Hmm. Didn't I just do this a year and a half ago... ?
At long last, my travel Journal from the 2005 Wing Lam Study Tour is now available!
You may find it here: Shaolin Lynx
USB-controlled/powered air darts. The geek in you wants one!
Cat toys, made with recycled materials AND organic catnip... how can you go wrong? http://www.worldwise.com/petproducts1.html
Four day weekend, much to say! I'll put it behind a cut lest this get to long for the front page.
Turkey day this year was spent in a languid manner over at T&Es, with food, lazing, desert, more lazing... very relaxed-like, very nice. I brought over a bottle of Archibald's Oak-Aged Ida Red (Apple) wine, and it was perfect with dinner.
Friday saw me mostly studying furiously for the upcoming Architectural Registration Exam I scheduled (fast approaching this coming Thursday). The evening, however, was dedicated to much WoW playing with my Tauren Shaman, Ahahthurne. JimM and I headed into the Wailing Caverns, joined by a pick-up group of... well, originally three others, including a level 60 shaman, a friend of the orc warlock who had joined. Oddly, this shaman took note at rule one of our group: this will be an RP instance, stating they didn't like to roleplay. Once in the instance, it was gang-crazy with them rushing forward and plowing through things (as a level 60 can in a level 20 instance), making it not very amusing for the rest of us. They agreed to leave, which made Ahathurne happy, for while the warlock had pledged his allegiance to Thrall, those who toy with the burning legion's power leave him rather uneasy. We were later joined by another player from JimM's guild, and the four of us had a fantastic roleplayed instance, culminating in taking out the world's largest murloc. I kid you not.
Saturday I returned to the kwoon for practice, thus ending my Week of Healing (tm). By that point my legs were actually hurting and jittery from _inactivity_, and as was expected it felt odd in the endurance and heart area as I got back into it. I did a double-run, then did mostly weapon sets for the day (with some hand sets for good measure). I also began to work on double-spinning as that came up in the DHS lesson I missed last week. Having never done double-broadsword (where it is usually taught) I am SO not graceful nor even fully capable of doing it w/o thinking, which'll make the DHS part of it very... amusing when we get to it this coming Tuesday. Much practice I will do!
That evening saw me heading off to the Firefly LARP, my first LARP experience ever. Given that, and that it was the third episode of this particular LARP, I didn't know exactly what to expect. I had my character, I had my backstory (4 pages of it! I'm very proud of myself about it), I had a ship image chosen, I had props, costume...
It went FANTASTIC. For the evening, I think I ended up with three compliments on my costume, a compliment on my backstory, a compliment on a previous discussion I had with one of the GMs about the map of the 'verse, I got some compliments from the director's on my RPing, AND to top it off, my accent stayed intact for almost the entire evening, never slipping into that of Cortez (one of JimM's characters in our Friday games). The game was rockin, everyone staying well in character, and the Directors having plotted things out nicely, obviously having read my backstory and incorporating it, timing things so that they could work the story with my character, and also working with what the players were doing in-game and crafting something quite grand. I have to say, I was quite impressed, and I had a blast just RPing for 4 hours straight. Nearly straight -- there's a way to go OOC so you can ask Qs to the GMs.
In short, my character arrived on-station (20 minutes before start of game), was herded along with everyone else onto an Alliance Cruiser, where we were interrogated in turn while the rest of us stewed, got gassed and knocked out, made some contacts for his business (he's a Navigator, and I had made business cards), did Tai Chi, found his ship had been searched, had to make some deals to save his life AND to top it all off had to contend with chickens running amok. Next game is in January.
No DnD tonight, so we're getting together for some Circus Maximus -- which is Renegade Legion, so that's all good (though a beer and pretzels game unlike the other RenLeg games).
Another year, another Potter film? Securely on their 18 month schedule (as the actors really are growing up fast!) a gaggle of us from the office found ourselves once again heading over the bridge for this latest installment of Potter. Last film had me pleasantly surprised -- but this book was even longer, surely they couldn't pull it off again, thought I.
(spoilers?)
But I'll be damned. Yeah, they cheated and made the film 30 minutes longer than the previous one, but again somehow it worked for me. They sat down, went' "Ok guys, we're REALLY screwed", wrote and re-wrote the script 12+ times, and crafted something that really worked as a bare-bones experience. I actually just had a thought, and I think I got it: when scripters/screenplayers KNOW they're paring down a lot, like actually come at it from a space of 'we need to make it work with the time we have allotted' and they know they have to be bare bones and aren't trying to be anything else, they can actually WRITE something that works. I would surmise that most Hollywood movies/writers are coming from a direction of pretending they don't have a thin sham of a script, so they pad or don't write/film from that space, which makes things unfulfilling. By acknowledging the bare bones, and actually working within that structure, they are crafting something that works.
That doesn't mean I wouldn't have loved to see a 2-parter (or more!) where more of the book was included!
So, another film, with another director (which will probably be the route for the next films too, which I think is a grand idea).
1 - Hogwarts seems to get bigger and more elaborate every film, or at least they show more of it (exterior-wise), which is for me a treat. And best of all, they don't even have to worry about continuity! The castle just does kinda change over time...
2 - Which means the dragon scurring around on the roof as it goes after Harry was fun.
3 - Glad they kept that bridge (That showed up in the third film) and got rid of the pendulum (ditto).
4 - The supporting cast really are starting to get the short end of the stick, aren't they? Professor McGonnagall could've practically phoned in her lines.
5 - The F/X have really come into their own in these films, very nicely done, with magic once again with a subtlety that I would expect when it's 'just a part of life'.
6 - As with all the other films, I went back to the book to re-read a few passages that were in the film, and what's interesting is that while there is lots of "well that's a shame that it was changed" there's also an equal amount of "wow, that's actually better in the film!" Not knowing exactly how much a role Rowling plays in writing the film it makes me wonder which of the three it is: working on it a second time she had the chance to smooth things out and improve on them; the director/screenwriter made the changes and she oked them; or that the two worked together to craft something that really works very cool.
7 - Less street clothes, yay!
8 - Something weird were some things that were introduced at the start of the film (such as the foe mirror/glass), that of course show up later in the book but are never approached again in the film.
9 - Equally odd were a few 'not explained' bits -- what does Priori Incancum really mean, forex? (explained in book)
10 - Overt, but still well handled I think was the introduction of the relationship angles.
11 - The director wanted to introduce more of 'British boarding school' to this film -- given that I always pictured it in that manner anyway can't say if he was successful or not.
12 - ...were harmed in the making of this movie. Stay for the credits, near the end. -very big grin-
A good show. But, really, it's book 7 that I truly await, haha!
After class last night, I have begun a JimA-aproved Week of Healing (TM). With a course I'm taking this weekend plus next tuesday evening means no KF on those days, then it's the oddly-timed thanksgiving, and when it's all said and done, it'll be the 26th before I 'fu again. Wonder how jittery and itchin' to kick I'll get...
WOW. That's something... http://www.amyhughes.org/lego/church/photosfirst.html. 18 months, 75000+ bricks, 7x5.5 feet in size, 1300+ capacity... and a pipe organ!
As I posted before, I started a community project titled LoftyHeights.org
I am now taking that to the next level. In October, I began a project that follows the LoftyHeights ideals. I have started a blog for it, as I wish to chronicle the journey as a means of communication, education, interest and for my own remembrance. You can find it here: LoftyOne.
As the project progresses, I will keep it full of what I'm discovering, pictures of the job, resources needed, and the like. Welcome aboard.
... one is in a beautiful space with beautiful light and enveloped in pipe organ music has got to be a good day.
Mine heart pines for mine auto, stuck at the dealership, who's communication is compared onto thee of that a pool of flaming cess. Thy integrity hath been broken! That the work was not done in your estimation is not the dissapointment, no, but that such was not communicated is what has sundered your word. Hote, I do say! On others I thusly depend for transportation, this fine weekend.
And a fine weekend it has been. Yesterday, headning out to KF, it truly felt like a real fall morning. Dry, chill, a bit of crispness on the air. Very nice. Also, Villa Ave is coming into its full riot of colours.
Starting in the new year, the kung fu school will be undergoing quite a shift in the way things will be run. All classes will be collapsed into a twice-per-week seminar-like series, with Sifu teaching a particular style (or its applications) for two months. I'll stop being an instructor (all instructors will), and return to being students as Sifu will literally teach it all in pure training fashion. Definitively a big change from what I've gotten used to in my five years there. I'm somewhat lamenting the loss of conditioning (at least, there may be a loss of conditioning) though I certainly know that two hours straight of forms training, not to mention application and sparring later, can be a workout on its own. I also still want to learn Shaolin #2 and #10. And I'm excited by the prospect of all Sifu all the time. Learning Tiger/Crane promises to be be cool and froody. Tantilized by the depth to which training will be given, along with many months of technique, application and partner drills and sparring. Interested to see the dynamics and the energy. Walking the line, mournful, worried, intrigued, hopeful.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.
- John McCrae
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=books/main/kptribute
http://www.patmedia.net/marklevinson/cool/cool_illusion.html
My reaction: woahgeezwtfyow! Illustrative and informative...
QotD: "I don't want to make you feel nullifigated, but... "
nullifigated -- the act of nullifying and negating at the same time. See also negullifated.
Just read a shocker: Keith Parkinson has died.
To anyone who gamed or was interested in fantasy artwork back in the 80s-90s, Keith's artwork is pretty much ubiquitous with the genre. D&D especially would not have its rich visual history without him, with defining pictures including Draconians, the Great Dragon, Northern Borders, and many many more including seminal Dragonlance images and artwork for the Rifts RPG. His 'high era' style of fantasy art truly defined the magestic feel of the products it touched, contemporary with others such as Larry Elmore, but a style of art that has fallen to the wayside in recent times. Fallen, but for some of us 'old timers', it remains the art that comes to mind when swords, magic, dragons and adventuring comes to mind.
Rest easy, Keith. May your new path lead you to lands of beauty such that you painted for us for so many years.
Wow, basically November already. TWO years of my blog have now elapsed. Ca-razy!
A fairly low-key weekend was had. After a great visit, I drove my parents to the airport early Saturday morning, returned home to nap and head to practice. I didn't do the stairs, but did the main run almost double (the way the route worked out), then did the Shaolin stairmaster of the sets in order (of the ones I know), plus the two sets from shaolin, punctuated by straight sword, cane and DHS. We're but a few moves into the set, and it's already a very good challenge in some coordinated spinning/hooking/curling maneuvers that look anything but coordinated or smooth right now. A good workout, good lunch then... I took a different tact that day and kicked back, set up an athmosphere in the appartment and relaxed for the rest of the day. Woo!
Sunday I caught up with some studying, maintenance et al, and also headed over to Wendy2's place where I querried her about some things to expect for the upcoming Firefly LARP I'll be joining. We also worked our magic and developed a good chunk of my character's background, and I finished choosing stats/skills/etc. Besides the char sheet, I have a bunch of querries for the GMs and have to pin down some solid info on the 'verse...
Of course, there was all the info that came out of BlizzCon this weekend, about WoW and the Burning Crusade expansion pack. I'm still waiting for patch 1.9 (paladin revamp, baby! Khyborr will be back!) but even without the expansion there's nice stuff a-coming -- linked auction houses, weather effects, that sort of thing. My interest in the expansion is there, but I'll wait to see what the new alliance race is before I go ape or just woo about it.
But what would a post be without some architecture. For one, I link to you Foster's new Faculty of Pharmacy at UoT, a building I wouldn't immediatly associate with Foster's name or feel. Also, some very attractive looking prefab by Marmol Radziner, available now, made in their own factories, with renewable and enviro-friendly materials. Wowza!
Not sure if this is a real study or not...
Those who play BattleTech will read the title and think, reflexively, Double Heat Sinks!
However, I refer to Double Hook Swords, which is the set Sifu started to teach us last week, another of my "hey, I bought this weapon in China... can we learn that next?" coups. This will be my second double set -- though in all honesty the double dagger is not a very difficult double set, meaning that this one will really kick my butt. Generally DHS are taught after double broadswords, so I'll have a lot of spinning and groundwork stuff to catch up on when we reach it, neverminding general coordination of the left and right hands.
I chose to forgo falling/throwing practice on saturday at KF in the hopes of giving my back/shoulders time to get used to being re-set after, well, having been re-set by Dr Fuji friday morning. The strategy seems to have worked, and it gave me some time to do some extra sets, meaning I did the run, later cane and #3 three times each, some DHS, #6, #7, #5, Tong Bei Quan and Emperor's Boxing -- a good gaggle of sets and a good workout. I'll catch up with the throwing this week with Evan. And speaking of he, we went to his place after class and spent most of the afternoon with wood, tape and tennis handgrips to wrap up and create good handgrips for the often-mentioned DHSs. (The only boo on this whole thing is that the DHS I bought are, for lack of a better term, crap too-thin-at-end things)
Saturday night saw the arrival of my parents down to visit, and sunday we trucked down to Monterey to the Aquarium and some sight seeing. I'd never been to the Aquarium, and it is quite an interesting building, with some on-site building and materials reused, the rest is poured-in-situ concrete, steel and glass. A display near the entrance chronicles the site's former use as a sardine canning factory (of which contributed to the depletion of the sardine stocks in the bay). Overall, the exhibits are well done, with a moderate focus on local/nearby marine biology. Certainly for me the highlight were the sea otters; I was more partial to river otters but after seeing them swim about amazingly gracefully and all their playfulness, I think I'm a bit more equitable in my like for otters.
For dinner we ended up in Carmel-by-the-sea, where I had the most fantastic braised rabbit dish. The rabbit was crazily tender and tasty, the red cabbage and mango salsa accompaniment was a great counterpoint, and to top it off it a triangle of excellent polenta really rounded it out nicely. Given that the rustic Italian bread was some of the best bread I've eaten in a long time, a very fine dinner.
For Immediate Release
Mountain View, CA -- LoftyHeights.org has gotten it's first notice in the press. I invite you to head over to the Mountain View Voice to read the article on LoftyHeights' mission and its founder, Oliver Bollmann. [LINK]
The rest of the weekend was also shiny. Friday saw the start of a new campaign, this time a Champions game. I haven't played Champions in ages (about the same time as when I'd last GMed, as I GMed the Champions game). Pulling from a humourous picture/situation from China, I've created the character named Zed. His superpower: the ability to generate random stuff and project it at high velocities. Thing is, he really has no control over what he generates. If he's unlucky, he'll create pens and markers. If he's luckier, he'll generate knives, or even swords, maybe heavy books. If he's being lucky, he'll generate a stove, or a safe. And if he's on top of the luck game, he'll generate grenades, rockets and other instruments of hurt. If he's lucky.
Gamer geek: Basically, he's built on a multipower with a limitation: random (-1/4), rolling each time he uses it to see what of the four multipower slots is chosen: EB(P), RKA(P), AoE EB (P) and Entangle. Then, each of those Multipower slots is itself built on a series of nested activation rolls, each adding more damage/dice. The rest is primarily stats and some armour given to him by another team member.
What's interesting is that I have many points left over after building the character. Since FREd (HERO 5th ed) came out, you are now built on 200 base points rather than 100 -- that's quite the increase.
Saturday morning was, as always, Kung Fu practice. I went a bit sluggishly, and did the run, and was in this take it easy funk (with a bit of a stressed inner thigh). Evan was there, and he was starting his training for the next Berkeley competition, and was going to go over Cane and #3 -- so I joined in. A full, solid hour+ of cane and #3, it was awesome. Then the Bagua student showed up and we worked falls for about 40 mins. And sunday all soreness was gone.
After spending the afternoon distinguishing things with Evan, we headed over to Wendy2's place for a b-day party/gathering/shindig that was full of food (yes, the weekend of food!), wine, and the oddest assortment of conversations... very amusing.
Sunday night was Blodstone, as the party ventured to the mines. Not quite as packed or engaged as the previous games. The party is about to hit... the start of some interesting bits. And also about to hit 17th level -- 9th level spells. That'll be interesting for me to see what that does to the game...
And that was the (packed!) weekend. To finish this off, something that'll bust your ky000te glands...
Apparently, I missed Blogcatmas on friday, but better late than never!
Not the best picture of Shadow, my cat, but there she is. Happy blogcatmas!
QotD:
Et vous pourriez vous demander
Comment-je fais ceci?
Et vous pourriez vous demander
Ou est cette grande voiture?
Et vous pourriez vous dire
Ceci n'est pas ma belle maison!
Et vous pourriez vous dire
Ceci n'est pas ma belle femme!
Laissant les jours se passer, laissez l'eau me tenir
Laissant les jours se passer, l'eau coule sous la terre
Dans le bleu encore, apres l'argent est perdu
Une fois dans la vie, l'eau coulant sous la terre
(Toujours le meme qu'avant...)
-- Via Dronon
LotD: Surfing in Montreal. Yes, you read that right.
A little back tweakage after thursday's class (just one muscle too) was still nigging me, so I forwent the stairs on saturday and instead ran the loop twice -- once with another KF-ite and then once on my own, trying to push it faster than normal. Then, as counter-intuitive as it may seem, I did a weapons workout, including picking up the 3SS for the first time in a month. A bit shaky (which is rather unsettling with a flexible weapon) but overall good for the month away from it. The morning still managed to be a pretty good aerobic workout, even without the usual up/down of the hand sets. What was very cool was that, while the other 'saturday regulars' were away, we had 3 others there practicing, which brought back thoughts of saturdays a couple of years ago when a good group of us was there, just working out, doing some sets together, enjoying our KF. Very nice.
The adventure for the weekend began in earnest after KF, as Rev and I trucked up to the city (after stops along the way to check out a fish store and some buildings for sale). From Colma it was BART to the city, walking up (this is SF, after all) to then through SF's Chinatown. We each had our goals: fu dogs to put in a fish tank for him, and a bowl gong/singing bowl for me. Partial aside: that was the one thing on my trip to China I had difficulty finding, the bowl gongs used in the temples. Only found one on the whole trip, and it was bought by another in the group. And it was surprisingly difficult to find them here as well, though in the end I did find a bunch of them... at... rather higher prices than I would have wanted. Of course, I am very partial to the deep resonating tones of the larger bells, so that places me into the higher price ranges. Alas, Chinatown is apparently not like being in China, in that if you try to bargain they throw you out (or so I've heard). I've held off on the purchase for now. Instead, I bought some incense, that turns out to be very nice burning (nearly smokeless) incense. The fu dogs, in jade, and a kite were handily acquired.
The odd thing of the day was that the Blue Angels were in town, and flying all over the place, and I wasn't there to see them (I believe the airshow is actually next weekend, though). I was certainly trying to find them every time I heard them...
Dinner was at the Stinking Rose. Very tasty. Very lingering.
Sunday evening, Bloodstone continued with a session that I dare say was great and had the players generating their characters... and being subtly freaked out. People were engaged with the town, puzzling over things, creating ideas, screaming in rage and anguish, burrying things under piles of rock, and having moments of dawning comprehension that caused the GM (uh, me) to laugh both inwardly and outwardly. Sir Barus also found his journal and has been adding to it once again. Another session this upcomming sunday, then one week break while my parents are in town (and I won't be able to game).
And... a Food Fu next weekend! I must research my recepie. The adventures continue...
It's either a sign of the times, a sign of where I live, or both... but I find it amusing that the Palo Alto public library has a stock of manga in both non- and translated varieties.
Not discriminatory, though -- they also have plenty of other graphic novels (including Bone, hmmm).
Friday's QotD: "And that's usually when the gnomes pull off their stealth win."
Today's QotD: "The sheer depravity of it all inspires cynicism. If the RIAA is found guilty of fraud and extortion, I bet that SCO will sue them for infringement of a business methods patent."
Extraordinary.
Following up on Tuesday's awesomeness, Thursday's class also came off very well, and Saturday's practice felt great after a bit of a slow start. While I haven't, generally speaking, learned anything new (ie, any new sets) since the return from Shaolin, I've learned lots about the sets I know, and presenting that material. I'm creating a framed poster that includes material from the Shaolin temple as well as Wu De, the martial code, for the front of the kwoon, and helping Evan to create a page for every set that includes name in chinese characters, mandarin and cantoneese pronounciation, english translation of the name, the character of the set, the focus of the set (ie, what we're looking for), and the set's lyrics. Things are happening.
Friday was, of course, Serenity, sandwitched between two good friend-food outings. Saturday afternoon was busy getting the car waxed, which is, indeed, shiny.
Sunday saw the return of the Bloodstone campaign, as the players head onto module H-2. One player is out for this one (temporary leave), but we also gained another player, a former instructor from my KF school. The session rocked. Everyone (save the new player) finished up and accomplished what they wanted to in the two months game-time downtime, everyone got a chance to describe what parts of their backstories they wanted known or would have shared during the two months, the new character's introduction went well, the setup went well, and the whole game just generally went off smoothly, with RP present, with the players ready to tackle things, some funny moments, some great ideas by the players, and some shocking in-game events. The only mar was a server problem that took one of the players away for 60% of the evening.
A new week to create now lays before me.
I just want to say that the class I ran tuesday night at KF rocked, it was high energy, very fun, everyone had a blast, and it felt great.
Also, I am very sore from it. Tiger Balm for everybody!
Yesterday I had an interview about LoftyHeights with a reporter for the Mountain View Voice, and I've gotten in contact with someone at the California Report.
And the one-day countdown has begun.
Humour Link of the Day: http://www.satirewire.com/features/satire-jeevesinterview.shtml -- too funny... can't... breathe...
Many moons ago, now, Kel introduced me to the extraordinary auditory experience of Delerium and, more specifically, their album Karma. From that first listen, I was hooked -- the layering of ambient music, the combination of instruments, the unearthly voices... there was much there for me to like and to fall in love with, and similarly so with their previous album. The two artists who comprised Delerium later split up, then got back together, producing albums independant and together. Out of this grew Conjure One, a project by one of the duo, and the self-titled album that recaptured the hauntingly beautiful soundscape.
Today, I learned that he has released a second album. That, in itself, is not the surprising thing. What was interesting was where I learned this: within the pages of Dwell magazine. At first, a seemingly strange place for a music advert, but I guess he knows his audience (I was reading it, wasn't I?).
The second thing I learned today was that a new Asterix book is about to be released. Now you have to realize that reading Asterix formed a good part of my childhood experience as the quad of Banded Dessines that I read religeously, so anything Asterix-related will grab my interest. I am a bit wary about this book, however -- the last 8 books have been written by the illustrator, and while a fine illustrator he is he doesn't quite possess the same magic on the storytelling level.
That doesn't mean I won't be seeking it out when its released. Today is a good day on the arts front.
Robot Performs Taijiquan: http://www.chinanews.cn/news/2005/2005-09-19/11146.html
The apocalypse is here.
Dungeons and Dragons 2: Wrath of the Dragon God. A Sci Fi Pictures Original Movie. Saturday, Oct 8th.
I wish I was making this up.
http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/lostcoast.ars
I'm amazed and impressed. It's not full-on HDR, but for a game environment, it does what it needs to do and looks pretty darn impressive. If only they had videos!
I had a very interesting dream last night. It was a long one, but when we rejoin the dream (the point at which I begin to remember it), the Blue Angels are performing overhead. But, rather than flying F/A-18s, they're in F-14s. Strange F-14s with a third engine between the horizontal stabilizers. Hmm. There's a three-plane formation, doing their thing, doing a slow loop, when they suddenly speed up and drop altitude rapidly, going nose-first into the ground, no, wait, there's like a giant pool there. Some people freak and think 'oh no!' I say to them "nah, they didn't actually hit the ground, it just looks like it from this vantage point," even as I'm walking forward and thinking to myself 'well damn, maybe they did... except they landed into this pool? That's really weird... what's that all about. Wait... could they be?' The pool has now turned into more of a lake, and sure enough, a bit distant away, the three F-14s burst out of the water, flying away, as an announcement (in my head?) describes the action. "So that's what that third engine is for," I say. "Interesting." Another announcement, more like an interview this time (on TV? In my head?) It has visuals of a female officer, and she's describing the installation of their new engines. "Of course, we had an accident and lost half the team last weekend," she says, very very casually. Maybe it is true that the Blue Angels crash often.
Now, I'm later in the dream. I'm walking into a plaza with someone. There's these square bollards at the entrance, that I know check electronically to see if you've bought your ticket to get in. The person with me, I know, hasn't bought a ticket. She hesitates, then heads in anyway, setting off an alarm. She looks unperterbed, and says "I'll just go get money off that guy over there, he's always trying to donate some money anyway." I head over to an amphiteatre, which is a half-cylindrical shell structure, open to the outside. There are many weeping people. It's a gathering of people who are grieved over the loss of half of the Blue Angels. There is a speaker, he's very enrolling.
Then, I remember no more.
Tonight, I learned that my beloved Tomcats are being retired by the end of 2006. The AIM-54 Phoenix has already been retired. Until the F-35 arrives, basically the only aircraft on the deck will be F/A-18Es and Fs (and even versions to replace EA-6Bs), which will be something different, such a lack of variety. These new Hornets are apparently very capable and can take the place of the Tomcats (except for the Phoenix, I guess the navy is going with their AEGIS cruisers for their long-range anti-air), but it's a shame to lose such a beautiful bird.
The Grumman line of 'cats has come to a close.
Six years ago, when I moved to the Bay area, I gave up ever being able to own a home. It just wasn't going to happen on an architect's salary. Earlier this year, I said "hey wait a minute. Oliver, you're an architect. You have an interest in adaptive reuse. Let's see what's possible."
So, I have begun LoftyHeights.org. What we're about is creating the environment for adaptive reuse and green building practices to be alive and present in the SF Bay area. I invite everyone to come visit the site, share it, and contribute to it! With the content management system in place, it's all set for collaboration. I've even had my first comment posted today by a city official(!).
This project is huge for me. Come see what it's all about.
QotD: "MMmm, huge big friesoohhoaohohoh hot hot hot."
A packed yet lazy long weekend, the weekend of the T&E. Saturday saw practice along with T&E, then we went to the largest gathering evar at St Johns with about 18 of us from T&E's families, the KF and the MS crowd. Sat eve was a gathering at T&E's place, as was sunday, only this time in Santa Cruz for a beach party. Korean food with T&E rounded out sunday night.
Today was the culmination with Tiff and Evan's wedding up in San Franciso at the Shakespeare Garden in Golden Gate Park! Very nice, relaxed, serene affair, with perfect weather. We gathered in a semi-circle as they spoke a few words, and gave us (family, friends, guests) an opportunity to speak as well. Many of us accepted their offer and spoke history, accolades and wishes . Then, turning to face each other, they spoke their vows and exchanged rings. Evan spoke a few words in Mandarin, with Tiff translating, and taking a double set of scholar's swords, they bound them together in a single scabbard with a red ribbon to symbolically tie the ceremony and their union together. We then all spread out on the lawn with a picnic basket per pair, and had a very nice 2h lunch as music from their 12 years together played in the background. And once again, I ate a lot of the fantastic cakes there, though not so much this time as to stuff me for 2 days straight.
Rare is the time I've ever uttered one of their names without the other ever since I've met them, and it was wonderful and special to be present for such a special day.
Pun/Groan of the Day
Post 1: Thinking quickly, I responded, "you cracked open the beholder's body like an egg and found the scrolls inside." How convenient is that - monster and treasure in one neat package! Anyway, what are the weirdest places you have found (or placed) treasure?
Reply: Scrolls? That is odd. Wouldn't you find a nymph located in the creature's ocular organ instead? After all .... "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".
QotD: "A California Army veteran and resident of the United States for 51 years was upset with J.P. Morgan Chase for repeatedly getting his name wrong in their credit-card database, misspelling "Sami Habbas" as "Palestinian Bomber." -- ABC News
And... I'm back. Wudangshan, Songshan and Beijing, much training, much travel. Flew in yesterday, two flights, 13 hours in the air, landing 2h after we left (date line and layover in Tokyo). Went to class last night and lead conditioning then taught my students. Jetlag be dammed!
Actually, feeling kinda wonky today as lack of sleep catches up with me, jetlag plays havoc with my rythems, the last of the illness is purged, and I try to catch up on what I missed at home for two weeks.
Journal, photos et al to come soon!
Or so says one of the art house theatres nearby...
I know it's been quiet here on the blogfront, and it'll be quiet again for two weeks as I'm flying off in less than 12h on Wing Lam Kung Fu's 2005 China Study Tour. I am totally excited, it's going to be a blast, we're going to learn lots, and I'll take a tonne of pictures.
To tide you over until my return, you can read about my previous trip in 2002. (Hopefully the server on which the images are stored will be alive again by the time you get there)
Off the Lynx goes...
Dear Microsoft. Please fix your CSS implementation in IE to actually work. Thank you. -- Kannik
Guess its time for a bit of an update on what's new and been going on, for things have been busy these past few weeks.
Kung Fu has been going well, with the classes I've taught feeling very good with energy and interest both present. My own training has also been moderate-to-good, especially saturday mornings. Finished the Broadsword vs Spear set, and started the other side (ie, now learning the Broadsword side) so that we'll know both sides soon enough. I had stopped practicing 3SS for a little while to let the wrist catch up -- what a difference a couple weeks make. Feel like I'm going to bonk my head badly already, it's quick to run from the mind. Iron Palm has been off and on, depending on the condition of my wrists, but when it's on, it's been on, with the steel feeling very good. Lasty, and of course, there's the China trip that's in just over a week -- must finish preparing!
For the trip, I bought myself a Tilley hat to protect myself from the blazing sun while we're over there. Many of you may have heard the elephant story vis-a-vis Tilley hats. Short version: a zookeeper has had his hat eaten 3 times by an elephant, and it's always survived and been wearable after a wash. Well, what's amusing is that this story happened at the Bowmanville Zoo(!). Small world.
I also bought a 12" pre-seasond cast iron pan. But I'm not bringing that to China. Work has also been busy, and I'll be teaching an InDesign primer to everyone this coming thursday. Our Friday Cyberpunk (sorta, see previous entries) game has ended, with brilliance, pizzaz and fun. Jim, Jim and Matt, it's been an awesome game, hats off to you (and now I even have a hat to do that with).
Our Sundays have been full of Eberron as various people are absent, and they've been pretty cool as we've been tooling around the tower-city of Sharn. Assasination attempts, interacting with the Dragonmarked Houses, deals and sub-deals, and to top it all off, the Race of the Eight Winds. The GM and I got together to hash out the rules for it (originally considering Spycraft chase rules, but choosing something simpler), then the GM simplified it even more, made a nice little diagram, had the other players run the other contestants (I managed to kill all three, including two VERY spectacular impacts), and with commentary turned it into an amusing episode. Natch, our party member won, and we finished off the evening with the party arriving together once more (we were all about doing our thing), an ambush that had me nearly depleated in power, and the halfling, with his sling, Natural-20ing an uber-long-range shot to knock out a fleeing mage. Wow.
This weekend, it's time to dust off Locah for Granite's game. Of course, I'll be gone for two weekends in Aug, so I'll miss a couple of Eberron games, but I plan on working on part two of the Bloodstone campaign and should have it ready to go by September. WoW-wise, 56.5, amazingly.
Lasty, been working on a Community Project that has been taking up a lot of time and has been fantastic...
From Cornell University: a study of root-shaking importance.
Quotes of the Day:
Invariably, the argument for having no alignments turns out to mean, "I want to do whatever I want with my character without regard for the character as a person." -Celebrim
"I'faith, the speech most simple and facile to thine ears shall suffice amongst the player who is hardest of core; thou shouldst simply use grammar and spelling most proper." -- Caydiem
Now this is unbelievably cool (and green and unharmful to boot)! Catnip Repels Mosquitoes More Effectively Than DEET
It's been somewhat dry times for the cssZenGarden, not because of nothing new, but nothing truly stand-outish. The latest batch, however, does have some nifty-s, if not mind-blowings:
Different and stylistic, a flute and zen.
Groofy, and maple leafy!
An interesting twist, if utterly busy, but that's illumination for you.
Cities that are sliding and clouds that stay put!
(Of course, the garden has tonnes of nice, clean, simple designs that would be most appropriate for many a site, especially commercial ones.)
Saturday, was Kung Fu. With the long weekend, the school was closed, but Sifu invited us to stop by his house to pick up the key for the kwoon, and also suggested we run on the track at the high school accross from his house if we wanted to. So, we did. Rather than our regular run-and-stairs routine near the kwoon, we did a run-on-track-then-bleachers routine at the school. It was good, running on the track was a bit nicer on the knees (even though it was but a dirt track, not a fancy material thing), and while I thought the longer run/rise of the bleachers would make the drills harder it actually was a slope that made it much nicer. After several sets of high knees, hops and fastascans, plus another lap for good measure, we headed to the kwoon to do all the hand sets.
Sunday, was Food Fu. Compared to the others, it was a hastily arranged one, but the theme fit that well: Tapas. The "Little Plates" meant simply prepared but savoury myriad of dishes. Asparagus, bean & sun-dried tomato salad, corn, cheese and quince, roasted potatoes with garlic aoli, salami, brie and nectarine turnovers, and more, were all passed around. A pinot gris (from Oregon), followed by an apple blackcurrent (from Archibald Orchards in Ontario) accompanied the meal. Casual and befitting the theme the dinner lingered with conversation flowing.
Afterwords, we settled in to watch a film. While the chosen film suffered technical difficulties, our substitute, Donnie Darko, was quite something. A film that is hard to describe, I enjoyed it a lot as it wove many a thread of characters, stories, commentary and exestentialism together. It would fall into the 'not really only a narrative' type/category of films, one that I know upon second or third viewing would reveal ever so much more. Definitively good viewing.
Monday, that wrong-day long weekend, saw me get much work done on some rules for SilCore -- likely nothing official this time, but something I want to finish up. That, and cleaning up from the mess of dishes used to make my tapas... small dishes, large mess o' cookware when I'm in the chef's hat.
"This is our country. This is our time. This is our day." -- Paul Martin
http://www.livescience.com/technology/destroy_earth_mp.htm
QotD: "It may sound strange to call superfluidity at 50 nanokelvin high-temperature superfluidity, but what matters is the temperature normalized by the density of the particles." -- Wolfgang Ketterle, head of the MIT research Group
Tuesday evening saw me leading class. I wanted to have some fun and also focus on, well, focus: sharpness, energy focus, contrast. There were only a few students in the class (about 1/3 normal, perhaps -- I think it's graduation week and the start of the summer holidays) so we created the game that if we stayed focussed and had amazing sharpness, we'd run through the line drills quicker and pull out the mats for some tumbling.
What an intense class. Rather than the usual 'do 30 of this excercise, sit in horse, do 30 of that excercise, run a bunch, etc' we worked on short bursts of activity -- so we ran around the kwoon, stopped, did 10 of something, ran the other way, stopped, did 10 of something, etc, non stop for a while. Then we did squats, leaps, and much kicking -- low snap kicks, high snap kicks with jab, double kicks, tripple kicks, reverse tripple kicks, snap kicks into pads, etc. Ten mins before the end of class, I asked "Have we done a good job tonight of focus?" No one raised their hand. So we did a few more kicks, and did not pull out the mats. We did end the class a little differently, however, with a sort of push/pull excercise that was a simple version of push hands (very simple by comparision) that everyone enjoyed. After a slow return to big ranks, the penalty for which was 10 pushup squats, class ended.
Afterwords, I taught my smaller groups, practiced 6 and 7 combined with a couple of students, did 1, 4, staff sparring, and then practiced three section staff.
My reward: oh my do my quads ever hurt. As in 'touch them and go OW!' Much snap kickness... Class again tonight! China in 2 months!
Quoted for Truth (and since it applies to me): "If you're truly hardcore, you'll be setting it to small for maximum screen estate and the joy of hearing people say "you can read that?""
This one aught to get me some nasty comments....
QotD: "I felt something, a disturbance in the network, as if a million mac zealots cried out in horror and were suddenly silenced."
Last weekend the school was closed, so I went running at Rancho San Antonio instead. It had been a while, and since last time I had great difficulty I was interested in seeing how I'd fare this time.
Let's just say I learned the rule of why one isn't supposed to go swimming for at least an hour after eating. Oy!
This weekend I played the game of doing all my hand sets, and I did. While I still contemplate of registering serialinjury.com, if they keep away, I'm getting back into my game of Endurance/Speed&Power/Weapon weekends.
Then China in two months! Woo!
Good week -- two solid KF classes, a holiday to start the week, marred by more deaths in Granite's game on the weekend from a crazily set up encounter. Some studying, and booked my exam date.
But let's talk about food.
Blah blah Memorial Day blah blah BBQ blah blah. So with that out of the way, that equals, of course, grilling. So I brought along strawberries to grill. Everyone looked at me funny. Then they tried them. Then they looked at me with awe. Muhahahahaha!
Then I busted out the garlic. Skewered the tasty cloves. Grilled. Pulled out a sourdough loaf. More looks of awe.
Simple can be the best sometimes.
for immediate release
Kannik Studios signs three new Zoids
After intense negotiation, transportation and construction, Kannik added three new Zoids to his stable this week. "While we had been very successful with our current five Zoids, we felt it good to expand our capabilities and sign on a few more pilots," he said. "The Liger Zero, Lightning Saix, Shadow Fox, Konig Wolf and certainly the Red Horn have all performed impressively over the past couple of years, and it is they that have given us the opportunity to expand like this."
Known for its speed and it's long-range tail rifle, the Gun Sniper with Wild Weasel also adds impressive conventional firepower and outstanding anti-air detection and capabilities. "Everyone's getting crafty these days, with high speed runs and lighting strikes. With this Zoid we gain ample forewarning as well as a method for taking them down. And one should never discount the boon of a precision sniper rifle."
Kannik Studios does hope to get airpower of its own soon, likely Storm Sworders when they become available.
Also added was a second Konig Wolf, but of the Konig Wolf Mk II variety. "Like the Liger Zero, the Konig Wolf is a very versatile Zoid. We were fortunate to sign on a Mk II that arrives with the CP-22 Cannonry and the CP-23 Missile pods. We needed to do a bit of modification to replace the arena-red with a more suitable black to compliment the desert colours, but that was minor."
Lastly, in an impressive coup, Kannik acquired a Geno Saurer. "I'm real excited about this one," he stated. "The Red Horn has been outstanding for our long-range bombardment needs, but it became obvious the advantages a Charged Particle Cannon would bring us. With the Geno Saurer, which is huge by the way, we now have this tool at our disposal as well as very heavy more conventional direct-fire assets."
What's next for this "must-watch" stable? "Well, I'm not saying exactly, but besides airpower I'm looking to redress the feline/canine imbalance I just created," Kannik said, with a grin.
"According to research published in 2003, kids breakfasting on fizzy drinks and sugary snacks performed at the level of an average 70-year-old in tests of memory and attention." -- New Scientist Magazine
Very cool to hear about/see -- would've gone had I been nearby and known.
Benefit: Hippopotami cannot attack you. In addition, you can rebuke and command hippopotami as an evil cleric rebukes or commands undead.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention our friday Cyberpunk game as well, for it was another amazing evening of unfolding mysteries, of development, but above all, of unbridled cooperative storytelling. With character initiated action of the most mundane sort (we woke up) with one little detail from the GM (you had that dream again [detail]), everything unfolded with character inteactions, the players and the GM making reality, and just being the characters to drive the whole experience.
It was a good weekend of gaming.
Last night, in our Eberron game, the poor rolling streak continued. That this can be bad in combat was something we knew, however, this is not what presented itself last night.
What we learned is that in a game of cities, traders, intrigue and negotiation/diplomacy, bad rolls can be far, far worse.
Kind of in a tight spot now.
QotD: I'm glad Hayden Cristensen seemed to have taken acting lessons.. The dialogue between he and Portman was still so bloody juvenile.. "I love you." "No, I love you." "I love you more!" "No, I love you more!" "I'm pregnant!" "OMGWTFBBQ! JEDI KNOCKOUT PUNCH, zing!!!" -- courtousy of Rev
Episode 3 is here.
SPOILER ALERT! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!
Of all the geek films I've seen, this one had the most rowdy crowd ever. We arrived at 21:30 for the 22:30 showing, and were rewarded by being about 9/10ths of the way to the end of the line. Lightsabres were everywhere. Once inside, the sabres of all colours remained out, there was a Darth Vader or two and one very well done Chewbacca. So were beach balls, about ten of them, all being bounced and bumped and booted around (fortunately, this was in a domed theatre). And this was hardcore geek too -- at the 20th Century Fox drum roll, a cheer, Lucasarts a bigger cheer, A long time ago... a cheer, and STAR WARS was the biggest cheer at all. Cheers throughout the film at nice moments. Otherwise, with the exception of two outbursts of attempted humour, TOTAL SILENCE. Was nice.
Our seats were not the best, getting in late, but after about 10 minutes I stopped noticing the distortion too much.
So, by now you're maybe frothing at the mouth saying "But Kannik, what did you think of it?"
Put simply, I liked it, I enjoyed it, and I want to see it again! Thoughts:
1 - The opening combat sequence was cool. Nice amount of ships, nice long-shots, lots of good mayhem. The druids/Anakin thing wasn't as nifty, or didn't feel as nifty anyway, more long-shot of the battle please!
2 - I have to say, what's with the strange canister-ejecting-energy-weapons-on-manned-turrets-through-holes in the hull thing (shown at the end of the whole sequence)? They did that in Wing Commander as well, this sorta archaic thing (and seriously, shells?).
3 - Nice to give R2 his time in the spotlight at the beginning, but it felt a bit forced.
4 - Compactor effect. There was WAY to much they tried to put into this film. I'd heard 60% of Lucas' original ideas for the films were in this movie. It was like a train with the throttle stuck on full -- once the first third was out of the way the scenes came relentlessly. This meant things that should've had gravity to them were dealt with in 15 seconds of exposition, leaving them feeling hollow and awkward. Take Ep 1 and 2, make that one film, then make Ep 3 into films 2 and 3, and it would've worked out better is my belief. (Also, Lucas could've used some help.)
5 - Some good choice quotes in this film, not only for some dry humour but also 'foreshadowing' some lines said in the original three.
6 - Poor Luke. His sister becomes a princess, he evaporates moisture. Whee!
7 - I was totally surprised to see Palpatine/Sidious whip out a lightsabre. I probably should've expected it, given how I'd thought Yoda perhaps didn't use his much (before seeing Ep2), but like Yoda I'd thought Sidious was more of a 'I've got other powers, thank you very much' kind of guy. Of course, given how stilted he fought, it's likely he didn't actually use it very often.
8 - So glad Yoda did far less bouncing this time around.
9 - WTH is up with them twirling their sabres so much? Obi-Wan was the only one to do it in Ep1 (cocky bastard to be sure! Nice to see he grew up to be Alec Guiness) but EVERYONE seems to do it here, constantly.
10 - Almost too many sabre fights, but hey, it's Star Wars, can't really have too many. They did switch to a much closer-in camera this time 'round, though, and the fighting was so blindingly fast it was hard to appreciate. Watch the Maul/Wan fight in Ep1, it strings together nicely for a half-dozen to dozen moves before cut, this one I can't tell how often they cut, but it was hard to follow. Mind you, all that does is make me want to see it again!
11 - Kinda thought there'd be more force powers use, but.
12 - When the lava planet showed up I was surprised that the film was close to the end, I totally hadn't noticed the time go by.
13 - Nice to see wisdom and tactics do triumph!
14 - Palpatine (well, the actor) did a very good job at his slow seduction of Anakin. He played it well, with just enough urgency, sweetness, slyness and a few other things in his voice.
15 - NARNIA! How about that trailer -- I don't know if it had music from the series or not (since often they don't) but damn, I want the soundtrack and I want to see the film!
16 - And speaking of soundtracks, some very nice choral pieces, and some very nice calling of RotJ voiceless choir during the battle in the throne room.
17 - The CGI was excellent in this episode, I didn't notice any perspective errors like in Ep2, and nothing looked immediately out of place. They've improved a lot, as much as it is a shame the inventor of modern model and prosthetics has gone all digital.
18 - Ok, the dialogue still needed much help, and the acting was wooden (or should I say blue screen -- only one scene was actually filmed on location). The most painful lines still came between Anakin and Padme, but a) nowhere near as bad as the Sand/Smooth from Ep2 and b) it was at the beginning and blessedly short.
19 - The Death Star 1 was stared the 18-20 years before ANH? Da-mn did they ever construct Death Star 2 much quicker, despite it being bigger.
20 - The fact that one needed to see some of the TV/Comic/etc stuff to know who some of the characters were was a bit annoying.
21 - It was very satisfying to see Yoda kicking butt in a much more calm/relaxed manner (like the two guards in Palpatine's office) vs superball mode.
22 - The industrial design in this one was very good, and we even got to see Obi-Wan's sabre from Ep4.
If you ask me does this 'make up' for the first two films, I won't really say. It is a more watchable film, and it IS chock-full of very good powerful stuff, I mean really the CORE of what the entire series is about, rise, fall and redemption of Anakin Skywalker. That this central theme is somewhat buried in the relentless speed (and several cut scenes) is a shame, but it is still there, and ultimately that is what makes the film a success for the Star Wars franchise.
You may remember this post from last year, wherein I had just finished much work for a gaming book. Said book was then delayed, but that allowed some more time for more work, but then said book sat idle for a long time (or, I should say, my part in it ended insofar as I heard nay more).
Well, said book is now coming out, but in a highly different format that will cut just about every single thing I did for it (including all the things mentioned in the post) except for perhaps a few aircraft designs. Now I must find out if I will get store credit or nay for said work.
Phooey.
SMART is finally making its way to the US... or will be Real Soon Now (tm). BUT you can already buy one if you live in Canada! You lucky guys back home...
I haven't linked to this before, and I really should have, because it is just plain brilliant: http://darthside.blogspot.com/
Whomever writes this deserves an award. Amusingly, I knew someone in uni (who ended up being the token 'non architecture student' at our table in the cafeteria) who I can totally see writing something like this... who knows. Amazingly written and very well timed. Read from the start.
Something to keep you occupied before my next post... I really like this guy's work a lot, something about it is very intense and evocative, the "rawness" of the style that allows the content to really come through where a hyper-real wouldn't.
Oh man, I have bought the best dark chocolate ever -- it made me sneeze in 10 seconds flat.
Thanks TJs!
For those who want green lawns in more ways than one... while saving time and money.
BONUS! nice little flash animation!
Never ask me to come up with interview questions for your company.
If the building was on fire, and there was only one fire exit, and you could only take one thing with you, but then you are trapped, would you rip out your drive with all the important code you'd done for work and throw it down to the firefighters?
It's late at night, and the project is behind schedule. Do you approve of leg irons?
There are two trains. If one leaves Pitsburg at 9:45, and travels east at 65mph, and the otehr leaves Los Angeles at 10:00, travelling west at 120 mph, who gets fired?
Please recite any eleven digit prime number.
This post put into the creative commons. Just let me know what answers people come up with. Remember, be serious when asking these questions.
I stood upon the cliffs of Thunder Bluff last night, and I wept.
I wept for Bloodhoof village as it burned.
I wept as smoke rose over the mountains from the remnants of the Crossroads.
I wept for Astranaar, because I knew it would be the closest target in the inevitable retaliation.
I even wept for Tarren Mill, a place I had sworn never to defend again.
I wept for the innocents slaughtered without remorse, the "civilians"... people who posed no threat.
I wept for my friends on both sides of this "war", who suddenly believed that honor was measured in how much blood you had spilled.
I wept at the look in their eyes, that I had only seen before in the eyes of the Scourge.
I wept at the Truth that was revealed, about the nature of Horde and Alliance alike.
I wept because the world I thought I knew was a lie.
And most of all, I wept for the death of Honor.
And my tears were carried away with the wind, like pieces of a dream that would never be whole again.
Yesterday, I ran the stairs, and yesterday, I only 1/4 died. My legs may be tired as smeg from the tues/thurs workout, but the stairs I am near to conquering again, and this makes me happy. Otherwise, I did #6 and #7 a few times, along with #4, and practiced more 3ss. My legs/knees were feeling a bit beat up from the sets this week (and getting back to Iron Palm, who would've thought 15 mins of horse/bow stances would stress them so much so?) so not too brutal a workout yesterday, but the run and stairs felt excellent. Forearms are kinda tight from the 3ss, which is kinda interesting. It was actually pretty quiet at the kwoon, most seemed satisfied with a relaxing day. The sun was out, it was nice... and I'll have to start worrying about sunburn again.
Today equals studying, studying, geting ready for game, studying, Bloodstone.
For your reading pleasure... Kannik's Spampoo has been updated as well.
A good weekend was had, with a couple of instances tackled and under my belt (WoW, what else?) sandwitching a good practice on saturday. Sunday saw the return (gasp!) of the Bloodstone campaign (it's only been, what, 4 months?). The gaming session itself got off toa bit of a rough start, with a forgotten power cord for a laptop and a rapidly dead battery, and two other laptops that just wouldn't work out. So we all trucked out from the infamous kitchen table and into the living room, where we got the game on using the HTPC that was there. Worked out very well, actually, complete with full-screen surround sound paladin action. While I had made (dire?) predictions about this being the last session for this adventure, with the late start and much hijinks from the insanity-ed elven archmage, one more session to go. The game itself was rather jovial and filled with ease, and ended with a perfect montage shot to roll the credits over and set up the next session (cue party coming out of a Windwalk spell, appearing in front of the town's walls, in front of the advancing remnants of the bandit army, in perfect battle poses o' doom, with the paladin flying high above on his dragonel mount... niiice). Been getting a few projects done, also been very powerful at work, banging away on some projects and enjoying myself (though the actual tasks/projects/job itself haven't changed). Busy week again this week, but class tonight was good, I'm loving the three-section-staff (even if I did whack my ear rather nicely) and I practiced a bunch of #9 and #3, both long sets. Also starting up Iron Palm again (after the rain/sore wrist incidents of the past weeks) which is always a good thing. And to cap it off, they poked fun of Frank Ghery on the Simpsons this past weekend (I'm sure Jason will post about Ghery, I swear these last few posts have all been about memories from uni days, interesting...)
Yes, this post was the attack of the ellipses (as if you didn't guess).
http://www.forests-forever.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi
Full screen, marvel at the beauty. And remember, every day, it's all going into the minuses column.
Starting last thursday, we began to learn one of the weapons that have intrigued me for a long time -- the three section staff, the first flexible weapon I've learned. Flexible means, of course, "likes to come back and whack you on the head/shin/elbow", which is what makes training with it such an interesting experience. Using it is a cross between standard staff/spear techniques/moves, and something completely unknown and new. It's when you forget that second part and treat it like the first that the weapon reminds you with a tap to your body. As tough as it may end up being, this will be a very cool set to learn, in part because of the differentness and difficulty factor -- learning how to handle something completely new.
Fortunetally, I went to see Dr Wong this past weekend and he fixed up my wrist pretty good. It started to be irritated near the end of class last night, so I took that as my stopping point, but otherwise fine. And I worked out pretty hard last night, practicing three-section a lot and doing #5, #8 a bunch of times each, as well as #3 and #4.
Silly time change has me feeling a bit 'off' this week, though.
New Yorkers are bothered by the delays in their subway service, which are often announced via old, half-broken loudspeakers making pronouncements like: "Ladies and gentlemen, because of a brflig fraptail at 116th Street, the uptown 6 train will frip deet brak croob." - New York Times
QotD: "It's a dictionary folks, not a gun. Pick it up, play with it, get friendly."
LotD: http://www.themorningnews.org/archives/personalities/roundtable_the_french_paradox.php
Getting back into the swing of things at KF, with the associated body remembrances. Did the stairs for the first time in about 3 months this past weekend, and was duly winded quite horribly and a sense of "Oh man, gotta work this back up". Also did some rolls and kip-ups and ground flowers, and was rewarded with sore neck muscles. The sun does shine again, though (rainy the past week) which means I can continue on the Iron Palm re-start, and that has me very excited. Must remember to put in my deposit for the China trip!
Also did a post-KF dinner with Wendy2 last week which was not only uber-nice, but also intensely rewarding. Have started investigating more seriously commercial properties for my project, though a very-close-by duplex property came, was bid way up and thus went. Thanks to a donated drive from the awesome Mike, I have a working data drive in my FreeBSD server, with a copy-over that somehow started not getting errors and made it easier than I thought it would be, if taking a long time. Did Eberron again this past sunday, with my character being grappled by a carpet (!), along with the usual cacaphony of rolling bizzareness that seems to pervade that game. WoW was... WoW. Studying for the next Architectural Exam is a big brain exploder, strangely, and I'm going over each section several times to get it all in. Drawing more details at work.
Not my usual type of post, but after a couple of weeks, thought I should give an update!
EPA To Drop 'E,' 'P' From Name
WASHINGTON, DC�Days after unveiling new power-plant pollution regulations that rely on an industry-favored market-trading approach to cutting mercury emissions, EPA Acting Administrator Stephen Johnson announced that the agency will remove the "E" and "P" from its name. "We're not really 'environmental' anymore, and we certainly aren't 'protecting' anything," Johnson said. "'The Agency' is a name that reflects our current agenda and encapsulates our new function as a government-funded body devoted to handling documents, scheduling meetings, and fielding phone calls." The change comes on the heels of the Department of Health and Human Services' January decision to shorten its name to the Department of Services.
Yesterday night marked the retun to KF afer the 4-week illness 'break', and as totally expected, soreness is my name today. Which actually makes me a bit relieved -- I felt really good post-workout last night, which usually spells total uber-pain the next day. Add to that the usual 'not sore the next day but the day after' routine, and feeling a bit sore today gives me confidence that I shan't be a wreck tommorow, and may not need to marinate myself in balm yet again.
Its rather amazing how quickly the body forgets. Just a few weeks off (or heck, even a single week off) and workouts seem monstrously ouch. And I could certainly feel the rustiness in the flow and accuracy of my sets, so a good whack of practice I will need to partake to get things back to where they were.
The problem with my server at home, if I may switch focus, is that it is too stable. Running FreeBSD, I've twice had uptimes approaching a year (both times kaiboshed only by a power failure, something hopefully rectified with the purchase of a UPS). Which means that when something does go wrong (almost always hardware related) I have to dig back a year into my memory for the how... and given that I only needed that knowledge for one or two days at that time, and the time prior was a year as well, it isn't easily recalled knowledge. So then did it take me a couple of hours and a phone call to a friend to remember how to edit the fstab in a non-fully booting system (non-fully-booting because a drive sliced listed in fstab was no longer there, as I unplugged the failing HDD until I could get another in there to backup as much as I could).
And no matter how many details I draw at work, I always feel like I'm learning them for the first time.
Damp Diary Page (Day 87)
These months have given me time to ponder, to shuffle loose my old beliefs and bigotries. Alliance? Horde? Good? Evil? The meanings of these words, once so clear, now blur as my eyes gaze across the boundless sea.
I now know what matters. The bananas are after me.
Perched high in their tree, they eye me with cool malevolence. And the last one I tried to eat nearly gagged me! I could almost hear it scream as I smashed it, half bitten, on the sea rocks.
It's war, and I will win it.
-- Found within the "Message in a Bottle" item
I have totally blown my cellphone plan for this month, to the tune of 78 minutes over my peak minutes. This will translate into a fee that will be 125% of my regular basic fee -- so 225% total.
Aiya.
I'd like to report that I am all better -- but that would be a falsehood if I did. I am nearly better, though. The course of medicine ran its course and has done a very good job. While I continue to possess a productive nose, coughing is down to once every few hours which also always proves to be productive, which is good. So I'm thinking that the infection is nearly if not completely gone, and maybe this is just a touch of allergies lingering... my California allergies.
Not was all doom and gloom this past week though. Dave is once again back in town for a visit and to hit up the GDC with his company. Tradition is important, so off we were to the slopes of Tahoe, this year armed with the keys to his CEO's cabin at the base of Northstar. It's a bit earlier in the year this year, plus all the amazing loads of precipitation that have fallen (115" base at the summit), and with not-so-quite-as-warm weather, I was looking forward to some better skiing than last year. (Yes, skiing, with the infection. I know. Now that that's out of the way...)
In the end, it was kinda warmish the days we were up there, with it around 0C the first day, and maybe around 5C the second, which actually made a noticable difference in the snow quality the second day. But overall it was better than the prior year, and felt a bit more like actual skiing. Northstar is set up a bit strangely on the main section, with a total of three lifts to get to the summit, but the backside had a good 2000' drop of run with a single lift, so we did quite a few runs along there. We skiied or boarded casually for the most part, just taking it in. I did one run of moguls on saturday (Polaris run) which was entertaining and fun, with only one string of cursing (ie, only once a loss of some control) but a tiring loooong run of moguls. Didn't help that I haven't done anything for three weeks due to this flu. Sunday saw a bit of fun in the terrain parks, taking the drop-offs quite well, and some slowish attempts at the jumps without problems. At once-per-year it may be a while, but I'll be back to my springy-lynx-skiing self from the days of yore (Mount Kirby! 300' of drop!) soon enough.
Near the end of saturday I had a most beautiful wipeout on a green hill while practicing some technique, whereupon my skiis hit some heavy snow, caught an odd edge, ????, then I found myself with feet above me, and faceplanted into the rough snow. Dave said it must have been at least a 6 (out of 10) as someone on the lift asked if I was fine, and when he heard I'd left my skiis behind it was definitively a 7. Woo!
So, another fine weekend of skiing. With the cabin a mere 300m (tops) from the basecamp too. Being that far out of even the small town of Truckee meant that the celestial sphere was a bit more present than usual (certainly not as dark as it was at Yosemite, of course). Orion et al shone brightly overhead, with a crispness and stillness in the air that just seems so right.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2005/03/02/flu-strains050302.html
Who said the innovation industry was dead in California? Ha!
Let us add a Broncheal Infection to the list of new experiences for the new year! 2005 is shaping up to be quite an introductory one. Whee!
On another front, a crisis was avoided. It seemed that TJ had stopped carrying Quinoa, but fortunetally they had just moved it.... woo!
QotD: "I think I'll have me more of that duck, saussage bean thing..." -- Jason
So was described my cassoulet last night, but a successful Food Fu #2 evening nonetheless. Nine people, lots of good food, and the projector worked out well. I the end, we only watched Bleu (so I still haven't watched Blanc et Rouge) but given how much I love Bleu, I never mind watching it again.
Le Menu: Brie fondue en un bol de "sourdough"; Salade de vollaille a l'orange; Cassoulet; Quiche x 2; Cassoulet; Fondue de Fromage.
I was pretty happy with how the cassoulet turned out, using a recepie from Tiff's mother as well as some Confit de Canard that her mother had sent her. It could have gotten a bit warmer during baking, so the herbs didn't permiate the dish entirely, but the canard more than made up for it. Again, I would make a lousy Iron Chef, given how long it took me to make the one dish (and the equal amount of cleanup afterwords!).
Next up should be Bernadette's pasta making night, woo!
The tail end of my illness continues, with much sore throat, coughing and stuffy nose action. You'd think it would take the hint by now!
I think it's pretty safe to say that I have not had the flu for at least the last 16 years, if not more. I honestly cannot remember a time where I had been that laid flat by an illness that had so many amazing and evolving symptoms. It was that evolution that made this so much... fun. Each new phase bringing new experiences. Let's explore!
Tuesday and Wednesday was the full on-assault, with the symptoms listed in the previous post. Thursday it was limited to an ice pick in the back of the head, along with incredible muscle pains, especially in my quads which felt like they too had many ice picks stuck in them. Let's add a couple of ice picks into my eyes. It's a very strange feeling to be kept awake at night because of intense muscle pain -- especially given I've never had that problem despite all my training. Also sweating like a pig at night. To cope with those days, I took painkillers for the first time in probably over 20+ years. Crazy.
By Friday, the pain had moved to the top of my head, but at least the leg pain and eye pain was going away. However, as the day progressed, my nose was invaded and became quite the stuffy guy. Saturday progressed this way, with some light coughing and stuffed up nose. Sunday saw the nose break free -- everything migrated to my chest, where I cough every now again for some nice congestion relief. And that's pretty much where I stand today, with a bit of stomach upset.
An interesting journey, to say the least. Who would have guessed that I hadn't had the flu in so long?
"You kids today and your "cout" and "cin." In my day, we didn't have those functions. We had to write the output ourselves, with crayons, on the display!
And don't even get me started on your networks! We only had Cat 3. Seriously. We had 3 cats with 0's and 1's taped to their backs running around the room! Spoiled, the lot of you."
Fever of 37.8-40? Check.
Chills/Sweats? Check.
Muscle pain, often severe? Check.
Headache? Check.
Pain when you move your eyes? (!) Check.
Loss of appetite? Check.
Dry cough, runny nose, sore throat? Check.
Flu, thy name is my illness! Begone!
I am a big proponent of 'adaptive reuse'. Slash/Burn and build is not something to aspire to. That being said, grafting onto existing buildings can be the most amazing exercise in frustration, pain, and many trips to field verify. It wouldn't be so hard if builders (and the clients) actually had REAL drawings, shall I say ACCURATE drawings of the buildings, or if the buildings hadn't been added to over many years, sometimes without permits, in a hodgepodge way. Or if columns actually lined up over each other. Or other similar things. And I'll continue to advocate for reuse. But right now, this building, which IS going away in 3 years anyway, could use a good wiping out and let's go for ground up!
(It's not like the building is much material at any rate -- a butler-style prefab mostly. That steel could probably easily be recycled)
Last night I ran class, and in honour of the New Year of the Rooster, I ran a single-leg and bouncy (?) intensive class. Felt a bit rusty, but felt good. Didn't feel so good afterwards, I don't think I'm over my cold yet. And my ankle/leg, ah, pain, I know you too well.
I have received... my new phone. And wow, is this thing small. If I hold it next to my current phone folded up, it's maybe actually bit longer, a bit thinner, and a bit narrower (though egg shaped), but it just feels really really tiny. Its charging right now, so I haven't tried it out yet, but woo, at least I have it. While this one also has a retractable antenna, it fully, completely and entirely sits inside the phone with no protruding bits, so hopefully the days of broken antennas are over. Of course, silly thing doesn't come with a belt clip or nothing, so I will probably have to spend to get one of those.
Don't you just hate it when you know you had stuff to say and share but now can't remember what the smeg it was?
Starting with work, for a change, which has been uber-crazy due to discovering our plans (which mostly derived from as-builts given to us by the client) were, well, kinda wrong. Civil gave us a drawing and showed the building 2 feet shorter than what we had. Much mad field re-verrification ensued to discover where the problem was, and if it affected all the new bits we were adding into and to the sides of the existing building. Even had to rush in to do some work today. Verdict: we're not as screwed as we might have been, and all may be ok.
Also didn't go to KF this morning as I felt like I did last weekend, and I didn't fancy a repeat of last weekend's festivities.
CSSzen garden has been rather placid of late, but this design is kinda neat in some ways.
Now that comments are back, I have something I want to post that I was saving for said occurance -- so stay tuned!
So, feeling a bit under the weather saturday morning. Go to practice, and enjoy it. Do some instructor training, enjoy it. Get to the sparring portion, and I end up with a chest nicely constricted and unable to breathe very well. Fast forward to the evening and find self practically flat-on-back with full-on sore throat, serious constriction, and ughness. Heavy-breathing when coming down with cold = bad. Atop that, my body is very very bloody sore all over from the sparring (nothing like getting your head jarred around) and the various falls and twisty things we were doing during instructor training, as my body is spending energy to fight the cold, not to look after those muscles. Whee for feeling like crap.
In the end, I think I need to replace my cellphone. I like it a lot, but I just can't keep the damn antennas from breaking. I've gone through four, and I have a fifth but I can't get it out of the other phone to install it on this one. Looking at the models, all the clamshells (my preferred form factor) are either a) expensive or b) crap when it comes to features or capabilities (like, say, call clarity). I think I'll have to bite the bullet and get one of the little bricks -- I'm not crazy about them in use (so small!) but I'm thinking of the Nokia 6015i: it's new on the market, is simple (I don't need a camera, seriously), is tri-mode, and etc. Anyone have experiences with Nokias they'd like to chime in with?
Spam of the Day:
Call out Gouranga be happy!!!
Gouranga Gouranga Gouranga ....
That which brings the highest happiness!!
I don't know why I find this so bloody funny, but here you go: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/28/flying_car_all_at_sea/. Be sure to check out the http://tinyurl.com/7x9ba link aswell (listed as "this fantastic high-speed boomerang" near the end the page).
Trying to go to http://www.governor.ca.gov
"Sorry. We are experiencing technical difficulties."
Great. So what really is up with the Governantor?
Well, not really. But the floor at class last night was about as slippery as the Rideau right now. Slab-on-grade next to a ditch, just-rained and not-the-greatest ventilation combined with 30+ students workin' hard to make for a rather slick floor. Jumping and fast movements are kind of a no-no, and as such we did some more stationary drills and cancelled lessons and instead pulled out the mats for more falling and rolling around. It was a low-chi day anyway given the weather, not to mention the nice clammycold feeling with all the condensing humidity.
But a bunch of us went out to a good dinner after, with both Jim AND Wendy2 being there, even though the table length interferred with the latter somewhat.
A date seems to have been set for the next Food Fu event (which I seem to have accidentally usurped the order a bit, as it will take place before Bernadette's Pasta night) for the end of February; obvoiusly our one-per-month is already off. Maybe 6/year is a more reasonable goal. The theme for the festivities this time will be: "Bleu, Blanc, Rouge", with the movies being shown and food enjoyed.
QotD:
"It's like a strange world of Ayn Rand crossed with Spirited Away."
"Oh, that's just like Canada."
(?!?!?)
So, some things.
You can compare apples to oranges.
Libeskind to design again in Toronto.
Weekend passed relatively well, though both games suffered a bit of a late start. Saturday practice was fine (new pants, I still hear thee), and I even got the first (two, actually) 'that looked/was good' I think I've gotten in ages. Also torqued the hell out of my ankle some more, so looks like that'll be on the DL for another X months. Studied a bunch, and found myself borking some questions I was doing for a second or third time, overcomplicating them -- need to step back a bit and realize to take them for what they are.
But of most import is that after some fantastico work by Mike, comments have been turned on anew. I await your pent-up flood!
When I started Kung Fu some four-and-a-bit years ago, I bought two pairs of the then-current black kung fu pants. They were, quite literally, my kung fu pants. With the exception of a few rare occasions where I practiced in shorts, if I was doing kung fu, I was in those pants. They came to China with me to train. They survived all my weapon sets with only a small nick in one. The leg elastic broke on one, and I liked it enough to remove the leg elastics on the rest (but then put my legs into the monk socks and wraps anyway). They turned blue from the frequent washings. They were, in a sense, as much a part of my kung fu as anything else.
Despite this, when it became apparent they were getting a bit thin in places (or I should say when it was pointed out to me) I simply bought a couple of new pairs.
"New pants tonight?" Around a half-dozen or so variations of this was repeated to me last night. As much as they were a fixture for me, for many in the school they were even more so. I probably could have gotten a tattoo and it would've been less noticeable than replacing those pants. For all those that began at the school within the past two years, for all the time they've seen me train and teach, I've been the one in those dark blue pants.
What's funny is that I myself noticed 'new pants' while training. The material on these pants is quite different from the old, more canvas-y and less of pure-cotton-y. Every fast leg movement brought with it a rustle of fabric I was not familiar with, and every time I noticed it and almost paused. Four years of noiseless kicks now hitting fullsteam into swishing fabric.
One of those interesting unexpected things from something one gives little thought to... like your pants.
So, last week it was only the hamstrings that hurt -- this week, the rest of the body decided it better catch up on that hurt department, and in interesting ways. Always a joy, that, but after a few days of rest (with another holiday today, the unfortunate clumping of holidays down here) I'm feeling pretty good. Plus, I see Dr Fuji this friday. I bet he'll love the block of stone that is my lower back.
Otherwise, a weekend like most other, with friends, games, and studying. Well, studying isn't usually in the cards, but with the first exam fast approaching, it is now. And, I guess, with 8 other exams past that one, it will be for the next while.
There's something I like about candles. I know it's not just me, given the exorbanant price many stores charge for them now, but nonetheless, I do like them. So imagine getting a 19" high by 4" dia candle. Yes, it's very nice... and imposing!
While that sounds like part of a poem, it's actually an apt description of my morning
1 - Riding one's bike to work in frosty temperatures is a great way to wake up in the morning.
2 - Discovering that one's pants are ripped just below the left back pocket once one gets to work is a great way to be shocked awake!
I'll have to keep my back next to walls (or stay seated) the whole half-day. Should prove amusing.
NotD: Team Power Forklift -- Name of the owners of an adjacent parcel on one of our projects, Livermore
LotD: http://www.livejournal.com/users/makali/270160.html#cutid1
I may get some interesting spam, and I may try to get creative about it with my poetry, but this friend gets even better spam and is downright side-splittingly funny and witty and intelligent with it and that's why I love him so.
Quote of the Day: "Did I tell you? I went the other day to a used chicken shoppe." -- Vicki
FotD: Model T MPG: 25. Avergae MPG in US last year: 24.
Well, the return to Kung Fu after three weeks off resulted pretty much as one could expect: sorness, especially in the back of the legs from high kicks. Still workable, however. Practice on saturday, after the initial sorness, was a great one! A small run, then just able to work on sets, running through almost all the weapon sets and my most recent hand sets. Nice.
Work was pretty busy in spurts. Was donated a 21" monitor that unfortunetaly just doesn't fit on my desk anywhere (!). Played way to much WoW (no surprise). Decided when I'll take my Lateral Forces exam.
Returned to Peggy's game on friday -- and two very interesting things happened. Other than the two new players. The first was that Keldorn (which I learned today was used in one of the Baldur's Gate games? Gah! I didn't know...) started speaking in a rather amusing accent, likely due to RotK and WoW. The second was that Keldorn's speech and behaviour turned into a sarcastic, biting, banterful pattern. That's what happens when you approach a shard of the gods -- not only does perception of reality get altered, but so too does the dwarf!
With no gaming tonight, I'm off to Vicki's for a dinner making night, the first in a long time! On the menu tonight is a Lamb Stew, and a Thai-inspired Chicken Curry dish. Woo!
FotD: Average MPG of Cadillac in 60s: 16. Average MPG of Cadillac Escalade: 15
So, I certainly got my WoW on after that 10 day drought. Had a good new year party at a friend's place. Did some light KF on saturday. Also discovered one hour before sunday gaming that a) we were gaming and b) that I was to be the one GMing that night. Despite that frustration (and further anger at being belittled for somehow not knowing despite not being present at the deciding committee) the game went off very well. Poor bad dice rolling by the players, though. Seems to be a horrible affliction at that table.
I'd wish I had more to report, but with the WoW addiction action going on this past week/weekend (who would have guessed that I, who rarely even played any computer games, would be sucked in this badly) I haven't really done anything else noteworthy even mundane-worthy. I'll be adding studying back into my shedule this week, with the intent of taking the first exam sometime by the end of the month (must schedule).
Been rendering at work with a fakeosity solution (a dome array of lights) and it's been working really swell. With all textures set to a grey, the renders end up subtle, soft, and very cardboard-model looking, perfect for schematic designs. Woo! Of course, increase your poly count and watch the render time soar...
PS -- Where did 2004 go?
Renew your old system! Aka, too much time on hands.
The flight back was particularly fraught with interesting. Getting to the airport, not a problem. Getting through immigration, most exciting. No problems per se, but the officer was very confused with my request for a new I-94, and even more confused by the documentation from the INS I produced. After he takes off with my passport, papers and I-94 to go into the dark dangerous back room, he returns with a grump, stamps a bunch of things, hands me back my papers in a pile and shoves me (well, not literally) on my way. He didn't give me a new I-94. The flight out of Toronto had, no lie, 12 people on board, or close to that number, but manages to be delayed enough that I rush to the gate in Chicago (of course, the gates weren't exactly near each other). Only to discover that the gate that is listed on the monitors (and should be boarding in a few minutes) has another flight listed at the gate, and is full of people waiting around. While grabbing a hot-dog, I learn that many flights to SF had been cancelled earlier that day (from a different airline) and there are hundreds of people trying to cram onto this flight. Predators start eyeing my boarding pass like hungry piranha. Aggressors begin to sharpen their knives as they see it is an Air Canada boarding pass. Using my powers of stealth (and flight, but not the leaving the ground kind) I make it onto the aircraft. Somehow, duplicate boarding passes have been printed, and spaces double-seated. An hour later, the flight does manage to depart. At least the cockpit chatter was connected, so I got a good listen that whole leg of the flight. Upon arrival, the universe was balanced as my deplaning in Toronto (more specifically, my luggage luck of 3rd onto belt) was replaced by a 40-min wait for the luggage conveyor to even start.
But, I am home. And back at work. What a weird feeling that is.
More later.
It's very surreal trying to return to studying after so many years of, well quite simply not having to study. But studying I am during this vacation and think I'm about ready to take a few of the mock exams. I wish I had access to the UBC to double check which formulae are currently in use (I think one of my study materials is based on the 1991 UBC) but it isn't too much to adjust to should it be different.
Otherwise, this vacation has been quite the nice laid back affair. Been getting some snow, though not very cold yet. As usual I'm working on some game rules, though on a much less broad arc this time (so far it's all been aerial combat). Have also managed to start my parents along the path of Tai Chi, so that they have some basis to continue with Sifu's tapes. Been reading this fantastic (and loaned) novel that I now unfortunately realize is book one of three, where those not book one have not been released yet. Curses!
Wonderfully, by staying put for the full 10 days Shadow has remembered me and is being very affectionate (at least, very affectionate for her!). It's hard to believe how old she is (we actually uncovered video of her when we got her -- truth be told, there is only one thing worse than pictures of when one was a kid... videos of when one was a kid. Aieeee...) but she still seems to be going pretty strong, even got her to chase a few strings. Certainly, like all great cats, she is the true master of the household.
On an amusing note, who would have ever thought my parents would be MST3King a movie? (It was a film loaned to them by a friend, so they felt obligated to watch it. Apparently it was quite painful)
Also, I think I've had it of the 24/7 xmas music on the radio.
One area I have regrettably gone awry is that I reneged on my promise (to myself) not to read the WoW message boards in retail. I tried to explain it away, like "Oh, I'm just trying to see the blue posts" or "Information on the patch" (which is now out) and the like -- but I have to admit I’ve been reading more than just that. And I am reminded every single time just why I vowed not to. So much venom. So much whining. So much stupidity. So much ego. Not necessarily always in that order either.
QotDecade: It was once said that an infinite number of monkeys typing at an infinite number of keyboards would eventually produce all the works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the internet, we know this is not true.
If not an entirely large amount of snow, the ground is at least covered. What ever happened to those wonderful super snowy years I remember as a kid? We used to get a tonne of snow, it was great. Grrr.
Flight back was good, if unfortunate that the cockpit chatter wasn't being broadcast properly over the cabin headsets (didn't turn it on or something). I sat next to a pilot-in-training on the second leg of the journey, so he was also looking forward to hearing the ATC talk. He also was learning the ground signs and the like. Quite cool. Also had the amazing double-whammy of little line at immigration followed by having my bag litterally be the third one to hit the carousel. I was off the plane and into the airport in record time.
It's funny to watch people when boarding the plane. No matter how the airline tries to do it, some people just can't wait to get onto the plane, going before their row is called, rushing up as soon as the announcement is made, pushing past people... all just to get a seat that is already assigned to them. And sit on the plane that much longer. And have to get up to let someone past them into the window seat. I get eager for my rows to be called too (though not in the rush-on way) -- maybe its the thought of getting the trip underway? The giddy 'here we go!' feeling? Dunno, but fun to watch.
Went over to Jeff's tonight for a small get together, and other than that... not much plans for this trip home, save relaxing. Ahh, I can dig that.
That was easier than I thought to fix the site.
Two links to get us going: Dude! & Scrooge Thoughts.
Uber Amusing. It really has become the primary economic generator...
I'm riding into work this morning. My ears are turning red. There is frost on the ground everywhere. The breath, it is visible. Up ahead on the road, is a patch of wet pavement. A sprinkler mis-timed and making snow, I wonder? No. Ahead I see someone spraying his car with his garden hose.
????
In other news... this is funny on so many levels -- but probably only if you are a Canadian.
Ah, glorious frost. Certainly made for a nice brisk ride in this morning. I was quite awake by the time I got in. We could use a few more crisp days like this.
Despite the fact the holiday is at a silly time of the year, I did not argue with the well-needed two days off last week. I headed over to Vicki's place on thursday, where we made a quite fine Duck a l'Orange (after a frantic email to my mother for the recepie), accompanied with asparagus, wild rice and an excellent salad with pommegranite seeds, mandarins, and a few other goodies. Wine, cheese, and, of course, tasty deserts were had all around. It was a low-key affair, and very relaxing, very fun. As I said, well-needed.
Saturday saw my "Music Introduction Extravaganza!" come to fruition. I headed over to Wendy2's place, where she, her husband Jeff and myself each took a turn introducing each other to new music/groups/artists. My original plan was to have 1h per person but -- as can be guessed -- that was just plain impossible. Even limiting myself to 1-2 songs per artist I wished to introduced, I would've had six hours of music (!) to play. Thus did the eve run much later than originally intended, but I think we were all entranced by the music to worry about it. It was quite fun, and I certainly have a few new picks I need to look more into and add to my collection. In addition, just reflecting on my music selections allowed me to discover some common threads on music I liked, and Wendy2 and Jeff both commented and added more insight. Music can be one of those very evocative mediums (I imagine especially so for them, given they are in a band) and the melodies brought back many memories for everyone, spawning a varied range of stories, topics and discussion. If I said the evening rocked, would everyone forgive me for the pun?
The rest of the weekend was dedicated to being on vacation. With that in mind, I played an ashamed-ly way to much WoW. For someone who averages .75 computer games per year normally, who would have thought that I would have been so caught up in this one? No surprise, I created 2 of my 3 characters on the RP server, and have been rewarded with what I feel has been at least a moderately more immersive game than during the closed beta as a whole -- but even on the non-RP server some of my group have managed to RPspeak quite well, so it's been good all-around. I've been taking my time, re-taking in all the sights, the game, talking and interacting, reading, and just enjoying the game with no treadmill in mind. It's been fun. Then again, I'm addicted it seems, so take the word 'fun' and apply appropriately.
I've also bought tickets for my xmas vacation. Dec 17th to the 27th will be the time I'll be back in Ontario, and I am already dancing to the snow gods.
White House Announces Server Name Punishment
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) - Speaking before attending the APEC summit, United States President George W Bush announced his administration's new policies directing the Department of Homeland Security to impose restrictions on the availability of great-named World of Warcraft servers for those living on the Pacific Coast. "Look," said the President, "those guys along the pacific rim all were voted in a direction that was not right with the rest of the goals of the United States. So I am taking steps today to ensure that they do not get their hands on any materials that they should not have." As leaders from other nations bordering the Pacific looked on, the President displayed a chart showing available server names, emphasizing the name benefits of those in eastern half of the country. "I won a lot of capital in the last election from my supporters in those stats, and I intend to spend that capital. And the first step is to secure our playing experience with the best sounding server names. Khadgar, Zul'jin, Durotan , Argent Dawn. What a great name. We should use that for an upcoming action somewhere. Good reminders of Vietnam." The President's aids later clarified he was referring perhaps to Agent Orange, the powerful defoliant.
Reactions from other leaders were mixed. Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin stated, "well, at least those living in our neighbor to the south have their own servers."
Yesterday was the last day of the sparring seminar. I had a bad feeling going into it, feeling a touch of illness, but it was the last day so I went into it. We were doing two rounds of two minutes each. I got really, really tired near the end of the first round, and was really having trouble breathing second round -- and then at the last second was dropped by a good kick to the midsection (toes in solar plexus, rest of foot into liver). That wasn't so bad, I from that quickly enough, but the hard breathing from the match did me in. My chest constricted a bit, and I imagine asthma feels a bit like this, and it's been that way since the match. So I guess I really was getting a bit sick... so much for the bit part now. Cough cough!
The WoW beta servers came down last thursday, and sure enough, they unleased an appocalypse on the world (each server, really, some shots viewable here, images 1177 to 1200). Since I was in class, teaching, I missed it all. Booo! Ah well, game goes live Tuesday. Joy of joys, they've decided to create some RP servers! Ever since my amazing RP encounter, I'd been hoping they'd create a server to cater to the RP crowd. While the ruleset really hasn't changed much (all it really does is postulate more GM oversight), hopefully the name "RP" will gather the RP-crowd together, making experiences like the one I had more prevalant. That, and hopefully scare the 1337s elsewhere. Wile a few tweaks could've helped, it's really the people that can make the RP more immersive, and that I really look forward to.
Of course, I also fear the assholes, jerks and twinkers who will join the RP server, be assholes, jerks and twinkers, and when called on it will simply state "Oh, hey man, I'm just RPing a jerk!" Riiiiiggghhht. Well, in RP, then I say "@#$#@$! off"
After all of yesterday's 'festivities', a bunch of us gathered last night to watch the entirety of Macross Zero... (spoilers ahead, perhaps)
For some it was new (new to Macross in general, even), for others they'd seen some but not all of the Macross Zero episodes. I had not seen the last episode yet, so it was a new conclusion to all of us. And... what a conclusion. It really makes me wonder if Macross Zero is really supposed to be a prequel to the TV series, or the Movie. While the events between the two (TV, Movie) are ostensibly similar, the latter is actually a 'dramatization' made within the TV continuity. So it's not 100% cannon -- but at the same time, the director had a chance to add and elaborate on some themes not covered in the TV show. So to watch MZ, and especially the... strangeness that occurs at the end and the heavy ties into proto-culture, mythology, and spiritual transormation seems a bit more tied to the Movie than the TV series. Especially the latter, with people turning into bird-humans and streaks of light. I'll admit I'm a bit undecided on the ending. It was odd, and even odder in a Macross continuity, but somehow fit nonetheless. Though I'll agree that the tinkerbell appearance of Mao on Shin's shoulders was the writers getting themselves into a tight spot and going "crap, how do we get out of this? he needs to learn some information!"
What's not in doubt are the battles, which were crazy-amazing, with good CG/Classic Animation combo to boot. They got a bit long in the tooth at times, and perhaps a bit too MTV-hyperkinetic, but wild rides, no pun intended. Worth watching the seires for that alone, if you're a mecha fan. (Which, no doubt, I am) That, and there's a hauntingly beautiful choral song that appears many times (and even changes lyrics-wise at the end, if you notice). Mmmmm.
Definitively, if you are a Macross fan this is well worth seeing.
IotD: http://www.casarch.com/oliver/WoWScrnShot_110704_002300.jpg
Evan hosted a get together with a twist on Saturday -- a creative twist. Bring something creative to do, to teach or to share. Many people also brought food and things to bake. Food, wine, and talk was had by all, and various little projects got done. Maybe a little less on the creating side as originally planned (everyone's been so busy lately, that a sudden get together easily devolved into socializing) it was still great, and could see the beginning of a semi-regular event...
Saw the Increadibles on sunday, and well, Pixar can do no wrong, can they? Very amusing and great visuals. Maybe not quite as 'deep' as some previous releases, but still some thematic gems hidden within. My main suggestion would simply be to have not had Edna give the example of a caped hero being digested by an engine -- let the audience use some brain to make the link to the earlier cape discussion at the climax. Other than that, nicely done guys. Marek made the comment it was a not so-PC movie with a theme that could imply "we're not all equal, some are inherently more gifted than others, and intelligence can't compensate" -- to which Tiff & I responded with " i'm not sure i agree with the later -- they did show that intelligence can compensate, but that without the right attitude/approach/ethics it won't always win" and "the 'who you are inside' approach". Go see it.
Sunday's game went off well enough, and I feel they are, for sure, no kidding, this time for real, are maybe getting close to the end of this module. No. Really.
Watched the last three episodes of Mospeada, to catch the difference in themes from the Third Gen or RTech. Somewhat similar, yet somehow different too. Also seemed unbelievably rushed, with some very weird rapid changes in people's actions/attitudes. And damn Stig, you are a harsh case, aren't you?
QotD: "Hooray for peaceful sharing of pastries!" -- Wendy2
Finally. Just a bit more to clean up, and the appt should be back to "normal".
Oy. The good news (to begin positively) is that the pipe is fixed and the slab is repaired, though the flooring won't be fixed until later this week. I've had the patio and front door open sunday (and propped open a hallway door to try to get cross ventilation) and managed to exorcise most of the smell -- for the previous few days I'd been given another appartment (fortunetaly only 2 doors down) to sleep in. The joke? The previous tennant there smoked. Carpet fully steam cleaned, the unit looks pretty spotless, but let me tell you, the smell lingers. And sticks to whatever is brought in there. A choice of foul scents was on the menu.
Speaking of menu, Tiff and Evan invited me to join them and evan's parents for dinner Saturday night. We went to Il Fornaio in Palo Alto, and had one very nice tasty dinner. Been a while since I've been out to a semi-fancy place. Really helped make the weekend better.
Kung Fu practice was also excellent on saturday. While my ankle isn't 100%, I had one of the most fun workouts I've had in a loooong time. I didn't do the stairs (only ran), and with no instructor meeting or sparring class, outside in perhaps one of the last days before it rains continually, I just progressed through a series of sets. It was nice, relaxed, and felt good to work the stiffness out of a bunch of sets.
Quote from the previous weekend:
(Ramstein plays in the background)
Where did this music come from?
My car.
(look of suprise)
Wow, I think we'll have to add some points to your column... didn't know you drove to Ramstein.
Last night's class was... eh.
Basically... that drain problem I was having? Broken pipe. Kitchen waste from 2 appartments (esp the people above) have been leaking out under the slab where my fridge was. Much grease, disposaled food, etc, and water, all festering and growing. They hammered the slab out (my fridge is in my hallway, can hardly get into the main part of my appt) and you can smell it from outside when the doors are open... yuck.
Haven't really felt much like posting... but here I am, to simply note the rise of all-around extremism as the defining trend here at the start of the 2Kx years.
Worrysome.
~music~ "Can't drain this!"
Well, assuming that the plumber actually showed up on time (HA!), they aught to be getting ready to peel up my floor and start jackhammering into the slab. Fun fun fun! I turned off all the computers and threw blankets/sheets/plastic bags over them, moved all I could think of out of my kitchen (I hope they don't unplug the fridge and thaw everything out) and... left not knowing what I'll return home to find.
I may need to eat out a bunch this week -- anyone interested in doing dinner?
So. Drain, from kitchen sink, has had problems in my appartment. Last friday, maintenance comes to check it out -- and the roto-router-like thing breaks inside the pipe. The thing is totally borked up. Plumber comes to look -- total replacement needed. This means they'll have to take apart my cabinet, jackhammer the floor in the kitchen, and quite possibly sawcut the slab right through my appartment until the pipe hits the main line.
As an architect, I know what all of that means.
If the latter comes to pass, it definitively means my appartment will become unlivable while they do that. Carpet removed, concrete slab cut open, pipe dug out, new pipe laid, new concrete poured, new carpet. Even if the pipe goes the other way, ie, towards the hallway near the kitchen, the jackammering into the slab and any cutting back that way will still create one hell of a mess and all sorts of dust and woes. Certainly not an environment for my computers.
Dammit.
I'll find out more on monday as to what will happen -- either I'll have to move temporarily or permanantly to a new appartment or something, along with all the usual crap that goes along with that. J O Y.
If there was ever a time I need that perfect purchasable house (on my bay-area-rather-pathetic salary) to show up, now would be the time!
Forget the silly so-called world series. The F-22 Raptor finally entered service yesterday. I remember reading about the competition between the YF-22 and the YF-23 while back in high school; in fact, I had just assumed for the longest time that they must have had some squadrons equipped already. The name itself points to just what was popular at the time. But no, it's been taking forever, and ballooning in cost to 260 million each. Given that the current crop of fighters cost, I believe, 30-40 million each, that's one hell of a jump up. Plus, there's no denying that the YF-23 was far sexier. With vectored thrust, supercruise and internal bays for some degree of stealth, let's hope it performs crazy-well. I'll dig seeing fly.
It will be interesting to see how the F/A-35 Joint Strike Fighter proceeds after the F-22s long haul. (Interesting -- I just realized I think both prototypes for the JSF had the same designation) With three models (perhaps four, counting export) it could indeed take a while... or maybe they'll have learned a thing or two. Makes me chuckle to remember seeing the amazing renderings produced by Aristomenis Tsirbas at the 3D Conference and Expo back in 2000 for Boeing, for their JSF concept. Un-freakin-beliavable quality 3D animations that to the entire assemblige of 3D enthusiasts looked pretty damn real. I'll also dig seeing it flying.
Of course, he also showed off the intro movie for Mechwarrior IV. That was amusing.
Now, if this isn't today's winner of Best Blog Title, I don't know what is.
As these last days of non-rain (even though it has been raining off and on the past few days), it is tripply frustrating to have my wrists acting up again, for I know that once the rain starts, there goes my Iron Palm schedule out the window. This is definitively one place where having a garage (or basement) would rule. I've done it in the past at the school durng the spring (nov-mar) here, but that's only 3 times per week. Damn wrists!
QotD: "Time is just one dang thing after another."
Wow. One year already, one year of thoughts, all put to, uh, type. Archived for posterity or perhaps humour. Where did the year go? Usually that comment is saved for Jan 1st, but I'll roll it out early, because it's apt all year round.
I'm no the only one who's spent the year blogging away -- I've found my list of 'friend's blogs to read' has grown steadily as I learn about them (the blogs, not my friends, I know them pretty well I think). It's interesting. On the one hand, it's a great way to keep abreast of my friends in a detail that may otherwise not be possible due to reasons of communication, time and time zones. On the other hand, is it surreptitiously usurping other modes of communication? I wonder I have less conversations overall, or if the conversations I have run deeper as the 'daily grind' has been gotten out of the way in another medium. Is it better to type-once, read-everyone rather than say-many, repeat-everyone?
On a different level, it can be a cathartic medium, to sometimes gripe (what, me gripe? never!) or to soapbox (even within the limits I set for the blog). I can ask questions and try to cast a wide net to all my friends at once (or at least those who read my blog). And like email, a blog is asynchronous, which in a hectic day can be a way of reaching everyone easily.
It is also interesting to note not being on the infamous LJ and whether it has an effect on how I and others interact with my blog or with me. And the thoughts about how if blogging is part-exhibitionist. Perhaps most interesting is seeing what google/etc search terms bring people to my blog page. Now that's amusing.
So, yeah. One year later. Whatever philosophical discoveries I may make about it, I'm certainly enjoying it.
(I could see this one sparking some comments -- send via email and I'll transcribe back to the blog)
For the moment, alas, comments must remain offline and you can thank the wonderful world of the spammers for that. Blogspam = DDoS almost. In a month or so upgrades will happen and hopefully things can stabilize itself out, but until then, I'm afraid old-fashioned email will have to do if you want to comment to me. It won't show on the blog per se (I may post it) but it's better than no comments, I guess.
Also, if anyone has any experience with blogspam and ways of dealing with it (more than just a simple blacklist), let me know so I can pass the info along.
QotD: "Some of your stances weren't as stance-y as we'd like them to be."
Testing was held last night at the kwoon. As Justin was out, it fell upon myself, Evan and Phil to run the testing -- a testing that ended up with way more people testing than we thought there would be. Made for some crazy time trying to organize it all. And natch, I'll admit that the above quote is actually said by me...
But I can live with that quote. Unfortunetaly, I said far worse during the evening, mainly the F word: Fail. After the testing it was pointed out to me (by, oh, everyone) that the word "Fail" has never really been used to describe a not-pass result. Instead, it has either been described as "See it again", "Not quite there yet", "Good, but some issues" or "Not a Pass". But never "Failure". It felt weird when I was saying it, and I couldn't figure out why... now I know. And I feel terrible about it. It was an overly harsh assesmet on my part, and a misrepresentation of what testing is supposed to be about, and the fact that I said it given my own feelings about testing makes it that much worse. Wendy and Mike, Bernadette et al said they don't think anyone took it the 'wrong way' but I still think that, well, I failed in that part of the evening. Unfortunetaly, I don't think there's much I can do about it now.
I feel bad about it. Not happy.
We had a power failure yesterday. Good news: I now have my server on a UPS! Bad news: the outage lasted longer than the UPS.
Ah well, no biggie. UPS is there for the hiccups we sometimes get and for added protection. If the power is down, then my server isn't getting anything from the internet anyway.
Laptop sale = 750 off system 1500+. I certainly can't afford a regular 750 laptop, but the temptation to get a 1500 laptop for 750 is excruciating. Think of how much you save!
QotD: "Yes, but the show that leads into mine is a couple of puppets making crank phone calls!"
Sunday's game went off relatively well, which continues the binary pattern.
We had a new camera w/ new built-in sound and it made a world of difference for our telepresence (you could see, and clearly too!), plus I switched to the other end of the table (not in front of window, no backlighting) and we moved the camera so that I and most of the table was in view during non combat -- all with the intent of making it seem more 'live'. I think it worked (but then, he was also working on a UPS problem, so :P). The team did not progress quite as far as I thought they might, and things will have to remain fluid on my end (without giving too much away), and the endgame is definitively fluid, but it seemed fine. Mainly one combat again (whee) though. Real details will be provided to those whom I owe them too.
So, I got my first real QA back today on a set I did basically on my own -- I'm a bit unsure as to whether it was a good QA, a bad QA, or an average QA (as I said, my first). The worst was the graphic issues, seeing that I'm the CAD guy and all so it counts as a major @#$#! up for me, but a some of those I did knowingly due to time contraints. The rest are still painful, since those are the genuine mistakes or oversights. It will take me a few days to fully realize how I feel about it, and hopefully to get some other idea/feedback.
Of course, the fact reviews are upcoming fast doesn't help the feeling of malaise in any way.
Quite the busy week, getting a set out to the city for plan check in the early part of the week, followed by getting the set ready for a QA later in the week (yeah, QA after city submit, not good), sprinkled with work on another job PLUS a missive from an ongoing client to do yet more studies on a particular site. Draining and nerve-wracking week. I don't look forward to the results of the QA on monday, I fear that without a good amount of time to look over the set (I'm not even done all the details yet) it will be brutal.
Gaming tonight, gaming sunday (my game -- worried I am).
Last night's class was supposed to be THE RETURN OF THE STAIRS (cue evil laughter), only instead we ran that way to find one fire truck, one ambulance and three cop cars closing off the station. I don't know what was going on, but it ruined my whole plan! I ran them through the short mile and spent the rest of group class in a pretty normal fashion. Tuesday was also mostly usual, except I drilled and drilled to listen to the instructor already. It is very frustrating to give out the same comments, week after week, and watch people right after you've given the comment not change a thing in what they're doing. We speak these words for a reason! Check yourself, check your movements, check to see if the comments apply to you! Focus!
After 20 (25, because someone groaned) pushup-jump-squats though, I don't think we'll have too many water bottles left around the kwoon anymore.
I'd post some random musings, but been so busy at work (City Submittal) and at play (cv earlier post) that there's been almost no time for musing.
Poignantly, I had a conversation about the power of words, as I do want to note that some may have misinterpreted what I was trying to convey with 'alternative' a couple of posts ago. In this case, I was using the word to convey the idea that I consider all my friends to be special and unique in their ways and their characters. Out of the ordinary and cool. Unconventional. That's the direction I was aiming for, not as a diss to any of my friends or their respective weddings. Silly blog, getting me in trouble.
Otherwise, started up a new campaign last Friday (the DnD Friday game was put on hold) and it's a Cyberpunk romp, which should be fun as it's been ages since I've played a good CP game (and fantasy is closing on burnout). Should be running my game this weekend.
It can be amazingly hard to keep one's own blog-post rules when one of the shan'ts is running rampant all around you�
So, Saturday night my planned Iron Chef party #1 came to fruition. The plan for the evening was a simple one: everyone makes (at least) one dish, preferably something interesting in honour of the IC theme, we all gather at a specified time/place, and after partaking in our fine foods we watch several episodes of Iron Chef. Simple, fun and food! In the end nine participants came to the evening.
Myself, I made two dishes (cue music). To lead off the evening: Tea Poached Duck with Asparagus, accompanied with a Ginger Infused Tea Vinaigrette and Orange Quarters. At the other end was a desert: Rosemary Pastry with Walnuts and Maple. I also brought two wines: Mosel-Saar-Ruwer German Riesling and the very sweet Apple Maple desert wine from Archibald Orchards Winery (who's orchards are near my parent's place).
With everyone quite hungry as the evening began, not too many comments were bandied about as everyone ate. My biggest fear was that the tea did not come through well enough in the duck -- but Bernadette said she thought it came through quite clear, so I'm a bit relieved on that end. Hopefully it came through for everyone else as well. My pastry was also well received, especially by Jason, who found its semi-sweet nature and the unexpected flavour of rosemary to be quite enticing. Very Iron Chef-y -- and the tame sweetness was a plan on my part, knowing it would be paired with the uber-sweet desert wine. The Riesling was a nice surprise to many, being quite different from California Rieslings, which tend to the not-very-flavourful sweet end of things.
All in all, I'm happy with the way my dishes turned out, though I would make a lousy Iron Chef -- it took me far far far too long for them all to be made (and that was after a week of experimentation).
The rest of the food was also excellent: Seared Ahi Tuna with a Wasabi Soy Scallion sauce, Smokey Chipotle Black Beans with Wilted Spinach and Masa Gnocchi, Kung Pao Chicken, Curry Chicken and a Spinach Linguine with Shrimp, with Cranberry Pound Cake and Cr�me Brule for desert.
We ended up watching two.five episodes of Iron Chef -- point five because the tape we were watching only had half of the last episode. Ooops� We saw Battle Taisho Shrimp, the Peach Confront, and the start of Battle Soft-Shell crab. I think this may have been the first real exposure to Iron Chef for a few of the participants, and no one complained so hopefully it meant enjoyment all around.
So, my new-year plan for a dinner party every month or so has turned into two dinner parties for 10 months (and this one took 3 months to get a date organized). But maybe this will get the ball rolling (I do hope). Next up is planned a pasta party, with pasta making... plenty to look forward to.
So, the good on saturday came from going to Patrick and Mo's wedding, held up in the city. First off, Patrick and Mo are two very very cool people, so it came as no surprise that their wedding should be equally cool and decidedly untraditional. Entering the hall to the tune of TMBG's Particle Man, I knew this would be different. They purposefully wished it to be chaotic, so they had no rehearsals prior to the event proper. Everyone gathered 'round (literally!) for the ceremony and there was no procession. Chosen friends spoke prose, history and wishes, and the vows themselves were succinct. Much good cheer ensued.
The dinner was superb. The deserts were even more superb, though I learned something valuable: it is ENTIRELY possible to eat too much cake. I tried 3 of them, and remained feeling ill until 17:00 following day. But the cakes were so damn good. Chocolate Hazelnut cake, a uber-dense chocolate/raspberry torte and a popyseed cake. Mmm. After dancing, mingling and much more cheer, the whole party ended on one song, and the whole thing was packed up and done in about a half-hour. Wow.
So, it was really good time and a good wedding. For all the 'alternative' friends I have, this was the first wedding that truly felt so.
Note to everyone: always do a sanity check on what directions an online map thingee gives you. While what I received didn't lie, it didn't quite tell the whole story and had me go equidistant the wrong way before I could get turned around. It was close.
Note 2: just because I am first, doesn't necessarily mean I know where I'm going. Follow at own risk.
Note the third: for a city that is always accused of being a leftist city, you can't actually turn left anywhere.
I'll start with the weekend negative so I can finish on the positive.
Sunday, I trucked some 75+ miles down to Salinas in order to catch the California International Airshow (CIA). The plan was a simple, and good one: see a cool airshow, including both the Snowbirds and the Blue Angels. After seeing the Thunderbirds earlier this year. The triumverate would be complete. I would have seen all three state-sponsored aerobatic teams from North America, and I would even have had a chance to compare them. I park myself in front of stage centre -- in front of me are two A-10s facing right at me. To my right, the Blue Angels are lined up. To my left, the 11 CT-114s of the Snowbirds are arrayed in their usual precision. Mmmmm.
As I sit in the grey morning at Salinas airport, being quite cold as I failed to bring a jacket, the show starts late with some low-flying stuff -- including two very cool acts. The first being a 3-helicopter aerobatic demonstration team. Very fun to watch, as they did a few formations and some crossing acts that used the unique flight caracteristics of a helicopter. One pilot even demonstrated a dead stick landing onto the field from a mere 600 feet of altitude, landing right between his two teammates (who had landed to form a target zone). Wow. The other nifty show was a couple of comedy routines from a 1942 Interstate Cadet plane that was the most bleeding maneuverable plane I have ever seen, landing atop an RV in motion, doing these crazy maneuvers you swear can only be done if the plane was a toy being handled by a three year old, and later even playing glider with astounding precision. The two solo aerobatic champions were top form as usual as well.
Cue to just past lunch. The clouds break in a chorus of light, the sun warms me up. The Snowbirds taxi, take off, and fly a few passes to warm up. I'm psyched. I'm ready. I laugh.
Bad move.
1200' cloud layer. Rolls right in. Parks right over the flight zone. Stays put. "We have a high show, a flat show and a low show. I'm afraid we can't do either one of those today." says Snowbird #1 over the intercom. 1200' -- not like we could have seen them. Excuse the american: FUCK!
They do a triplet of slow passes in formation, and later on land. The show kind of goes on, but no one can really do much else. I leave early in disgust. No Snowbirds. No Blue Angels (I may have seen their planes in person, but still not seen them in flight). And, as you recall, the Thunderbirds show earlier in the year was botched in all their "we have an entire C5 galaxy following us around for support" glory.
-sigh-
Still. There was some things I was happy to see. Speaking to an RCAF pilot in a modified Dash-8 Navigator Trainer in french was cool. And what little I did see of the Snowbirds gave me chills -- especially seeing their ritual as they walked down the tarmac, saluting to their techs, mounting into the plane, the voice-check, the cockpit closure and roll-out, the 3-abreast formation takeoff. All shiver material. And just seeing them fly in formation is always a fantastically beautiful sight in their impeccable precision and wing overlap. The Snowbirds are beautiful no matter what they do.
Perhaps because of that I don't mind the 16 bucks I paid to get into the show, even if I didn't see much show. The wasted gas and the 10 bucks for freakin parking I do mind a lot, though.
Hote you, universe. So much for my triumverate. And the amazingly lousy traffic on the way home gave me plenty of time to stew about it.
Letter received today from the DHS/INS. Appointment for fingerprinting. Date: tommorow.
Gee, glad they left enough time for it to get to me! </sarcasm>
You know you are too rich when...
The power goes out at your house, and you cannot leave, because you cannot open the gate to your property.
With the Smithsonian's NMAI now open, I wonder how long it will be before american tourists/etc see the Canadian Museum of Civilization and say "Bah, they copied us!"?
As the quote goes, "RAM is not an installation proceedure." I almost wonder if I should make an exception.
RAM was what caused my system to blow up, or more specifically, one stick of RAM going very very bad. The whole story can be found here (sorry to make you go offsite, but it's easier this way as I'd already typed it out) but the short of it is that in the middle of my fighting I switched the sticks of RAM around and it booted, and later I would discover that it was the one stick of RAM (that had been in the first slot) that is totally bad.
Grr, I say, GRR. I've RMA'ed it, so I'll get a new stick, but frustrating, costs me money to fedex it to the RMA point, and did I mention frustrating?
So, I took the weekend and rebuilt the OS/drives/etc. I suppose I was a bit fortunate in that I still have my pre-upgrade machine fully intact, so I was able to transfer anew the data contained on its disks to my new machine. Which means a loss of about 4 months of some data, mostly downloaded stuff (being able to grab my RPG and other recently-worked-on directories before the partition table got screwed up was the most fortunate). I'm pretty much all rebuilt now, with most programs in place and data copied over.
All in all, it could have been worse: like this (or this). Nothing like a tornado to put your data centre out of whack.
Before those servers went down, I was able to try out WoW, and holy cow, what a difference not having the two sticks of RAM. I don't know if it was the dual-channel goodness or the extra 512mb goodness, but now I can't run it at 1600x1200 without watching it stutter. Fortunetaly I didn't have to 'suffer' much, as whether I get my memory back or the servers come back online first is kind of up in the air now (ouch, bad pun).
Still, some things did turn out right. I got my pword on catsden finally reset, so I went ahead and changed over the hardware on my server. No problems there, and I now have an internal case temp of 26~C vs the old 40+~C -- and probably consuming 1/3 the power. So that's nice. Also bought two UPSs and backed up everything again -- I'm on a bit of a security kick, kind of understandably, I think.
Aren't computers fun?
Wrist, still borked. Computer, still borked.
Saturday night, I went to Vicki's with a boxfull of organic vegetables given to me by Mike and Bernadette before they took off for their 2 week vacation to Rome and Greece. We managed to use all the vegetables in one giant Salade Nicoise, which was uber-tasty, very colourful, and had plenty of leftovers.
Game past sunday: Was kind of slow, proceeded somewhat aimlessly, and saw the surprising death of two of the partymembers from what should have been a reasonable encounter (EL 12ish for 6 15th levels). That sank the game for more time as they were raised and adjusted their characters. However, it did provide one of the players with some good character-specific action(s), so at least it was positive on that side.
In the major geek link department, nonetheless fun: Deutsche Welle's site in a new language. Here and Here. Click English to discover what is being said.
An amusing statement of reality: When a guy's parents found out about him working in a porn store, they were OK with it. Quote he: "They're Republicans. As long as I'm making money, they don't care."
On the new Smithsonian Native American Museum: "It was Cardinal, a Blackfoot, who won the original commision ... only to be dismissed from the project five years later... A number of other firms and consultants were eventually brought in to revise and complete Cardinal's scheme, but in its essential outlines the museum still bears his stamp, which is why, for all the turmoil of the design process, it's a superior addition to a mall that has more than its share of Beurocratic Modern."
Missed this past weekend: Jousting. Next year, must remember to go see this.
Pardon my american, but FUCK!
Wrist: still fucked
Cell Phone: got fucked, at least that is now unfucked
Computer: BIOS error/mobo fucked. DAMMIT.
Talk about your great weekend, fuck. At least there was some non-fuck things. More later.
Venting about to happen: fucking stupid universe why won't you leave my body alone and not have random shit happen for no good cause that leaves me in pain and unable to move parts of my body? (tendonitis, left forearm/wrist, major ow)
Comments have been disabled for a few weeks on the server here, which is unfortunate. Email them to me please! I can post'em when the comments are back up.
This area ignored hard summer this year, but we're definitively been getting our hard-fall-summer. Nothing like 30 deg in the apartment!
I had an amazing RP experience this past weekend. Interestingly it wasn't in my regular games. It was in WoW.
Computer RPG games are, by their very nature, different animals than the around-the-table in-person type. I can easily recognize this and my mind adjusts as necessary; I don't expect the usual interaction and my RPgination (RP imagination) can fill in many details, nay, flesh out many details into a more full experience.
World of Warcraft is my first MMORPG - a CRPG where you are in a virtual world with thousands of others all running about and ostensibly working on similar tasks. This presents some interesting hindrances to furthering the RP-nature of a CRPG, of which two are prominent. First, a lack of world persistence, or rather, the fact the world IS persistent to itself no matter what you do. If you wipe out a major foe, wait a few minutes, he will return. If you complete a quest to eliminate the trogg invasion, no matter how many you kill, if you go back later they will be there again, diminishing the sense of accomplishment. I guess I could tag onto this category then the nature of some of the quests: if you must go out and kill X of Y, you are broken from your immersion by having to camp the spawning grounds, waiting for the creatures to return.
Interestingly, though, the second major problem is actually the whole raison-d'etre of an MM, and something you'd think could be a boon: the other people. On the base level, people naming their characters SweetMamaCakes or UbErMaXX or JebusWaffle doesn't exactly create an environment of fantasy. On another level, dialogue like "GP plz u kp 4 trogg k?" may seem like an ancient language, but...
Now, this is beta, so it is a more hardcore MM crowd who are mainly involved, and most of those see and play the Game part of the equation, while the RP is not something they have been exposed to nor understand or want to be involved with. Most of whom I have grouped with in the game fall into the range of total Meta-gamer (run here, do this, run there, do that, get XP, get drops, grind to level, etc) to the lightly-immersed. It is harder, but still possible for my mind to take that kind of input and create a suitable fantasy experience out of it. Only on one occasion have I been jolted continually out by total out of character meta constantness of TXT-messaging speak, calls of "Don't you know how to play your class?", meta thinking, and the like.
But back to yesterday, the day that proves that a like-mind can create an amazing environment.
Khyborr was on a quest to investigate a band of assassins that had taken residence at a farm... investigate and eliminate a number of them. This kind of quest is not uncommon. Once there, I came across a fellow dwarf, and asked if he too was investigating the area (not uncommon) and if he would like to team up (definitively not uncommon). Up to this point, it was fairly typical.
What emerged, though, was that the person on the other end was a fellow-RPer, and what followed was an amazing near-two hours as we completed that quest and proceeded onto another. Nearly everything that was exchanged between us was in character. Meta-game events (lag on the server, needing to do a quick phone call, drinking to restore mana) was translated on the way to the keyboard into in-game explanations, lore and speak. Speaking was not limited to "let's go here, there's one, etc," but was full of musings, sayings and dialogue that evoked the world and our characters and race - flavour text if you want to call it that. But it was more than background fluff, it became part of the story, the experience, the characters.
OOC: In short, it rocked.
Before this, I wondered if an MMORPG could ever contain such an experience. Some filtering still needs to be done with regards to the way the 'world' works, but with an RP-specific server (finding someone with similar intent) the experience can come through. Even something as simple as instituting a naming policy and calling it an RP server with a Writ of Suggested Behaviour may be enough to make RPers congregate there (and others not); tweaking XP in favour of quests and away from mob-killing would probably set it well in stone. The world itself need not change much (nor can't in too many ways, for such is the nature of catering to 1000s rather than the 5 at your gaming group), it is just finding like-minded people to keep the illusion propelled.
And that remains true in all RPG environments, even traditional (ie, non computer) RP gaming. Both 'mediums' provide challenges and oddities and OOC interruptions. Both attract different people (Heck, even some of my current gaming groups experience as much if not more meta-gaming and OOC comments as the usual MMORPG day). I don't think there are necessarily more or less obstacles in either type of game.
It is the shared desire and participation of everyone to create the immersive environment. Everything else fades into the background.
Here's this week's scoop. I actually managed to take it easy and stay out of conditioning this week, hopefully giving my heel some time to rest. It felt better some days, not quite as good on others; I'm hopefull it recovers by next week. I still went to class, though, and practiced my weapon sets a bunch, and taught my individual classes. Meanwhile, I was amazed at the perpetuation of ignorance and untruth by some prominant speeches. I also rolled up my character for the Eberron campaign (whenever it may begin), with the idea of capturing the die rolls as the GM watched others roll their characters. The result is rather funny to watch, mainly because it has the feel of watching something very dirty! I also worked on a new character sheet design (I will post soon), and also worked on some stuff for DP9. Bought a nice teapot today, and some other things to tweak the appartment.
Also, we seemed to have skipped summer but second summer is here, with the high high high temps. I've been wanting to move my server box onto new and less-heat-prone hardware since July, but until I re-get access to the backup box on my MX record I can't, as I'll lose some mail. Seeing the temp in the box, though, aiya.
Ok, for a while I've been making spam poetry, and plan to publish here the choice ones. But this site rocks in an altogether different format!
The Snowbirds will be in Salinas Oct 2nd -- I'm thinking of heading out to see them! Anyone interested in a day trip?
Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the Kwoon... all else is doing fine, but now I've crunched some ligaments inside my right heel. Dr Wong says I need to take it easy and no practice... which really means no practice with feet, of course (upper body workout time!). Still, le sigh. Evan will fill my shoes during conditioning this week, and I'll find something to do for level 2s so that I can still manage that part w/o killing my feet. On a cool note, Wendy C seems to have survived her first week of leading class, and re-joining Sifu's class is great.
Bernadette grabbed herself a D70 this past weekend, which is pretty darn nice. Ok, understatement. I have a good old Pentax K-1000 SLR, but digital backs are still $10k easily right now, and the quality isn't quite as good. Not that I wouldn't get a D70 per se, of course. Wendy C ran out and bought a Sony 4.1 in "retaliation". I'm still thinking that next trip I take I'll be borrowing Vicki's Ixus 330, which is basically the same camera I used on my trip to China and produced quite admirable results.
QotD: "If anyone tries to tell you there are no good new buildings, now you can throw the book at them -- although it might give you a hernia." -- review of this book
I know you're out there... I can hear you breathing. So, for the first time on canadianwilds, I present... the Open Thread (tm)! Go nuts...
Today's practice turned out to be a good one. My legs remain borked, with an odd tightness and pain just above the knee -- but I talked to Sifu pre-practice (went to buy some new monk socks) and he re-instructed me on the pressure points to hit to help loosen them up and to help them heal. I will have to work those over the next week(s) to see if I can get them to stabilize.
However, for today I was actually able to restrain myself and tried to workout in a way not to kill them more. Which meant I forwent the stairs and instead did a double loopback on the run (to make it longer). After working with #6 with W^2 (or should that be U Quad?) I only did #1 once and spent most of the time working on my weapon sets, which, to be frank, I hadn't done recently. Staff, Spear, Broadsword, Double Daggers, Shaolin Staff, Cane. Straight Sword I had done thursday, so I didn't re-do that today. It felt good, very good to go over those again, and I was pleased that, while a bit rusty, they all felt good and nothing forgotten. I left the kwoon feeling accomplished.
Going back in time, Thursday evening I worked Staff Sparring with Phil. I'd never practiced with Phil, and it's been a while since I did the set, let alone with another person. We had some false starts and then false moments, but in the end it seemed to go pretty good.
Also, this past week(s), Lori has returned! She had dissapeared for a while to do some classes, but she's back, and even joining in the conditioning again (along with her teaching technique). Very cool to have her back around!
Today in the kwoon, we had 3 generations of Ox: Myself (Water Ox), then Thomas (Wood Ox), then one of the kids (Fire Ox).
Nah, doesn't make me feel old. Not. In. The. Least.
Really.
An interesting report on NPR, complete with game session recording, which is always funny to listen to: http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3858560.
QotD: "So, now that I am happily equipped with what is undoubtedly my cooking tool with the most history (not to mention the heaviest, try riding the metro on a Saturday afternoon dragging 8 pounds of marble, it's fun)."
QotD: "When your tough military guy texture looks exactly like a naked man smeared with guacamole, it's time to think hard about where you might have gone wrong."
It's interesting. Over time, doing heavy training, one gets to reccoginze and become quite aware of different states in their body, specifically, differentiating between kinds of pain (strain vs sore vs injury) as well as different kinds of energy. Sometimes one just has no energy, sometimes the energy is there, but the muscles just refuse to not be tired. That kind of awareness is cool.
What's not cool is that everything felt like it was going to fall off last night. Iron Palm felt great, but in class, my legs tired out quickly, my shoulders began to tense up, it was a real struggle overall. I had energy -- I didn't feel overly winded. Just my limbs were brutal. And today, OY, I am the walking pain, with legs going badaPAIN! badaPAIN! over and over again.
I hate weeks like this, especially the fact I can't pinpoint the cause. Sure, I worked out hard last week, but after some days off it shouldn't be this bad. Ah well, I'll work through it on thursday... leading the class and working through it.
But this I find funny. Geek!
Saturday was, as indicated, mostly good. Workout began with another private look-over by Sifu, who watched me perform #1 quite poorly (cv dead legs) but didn't riducule me too much for being winded, and just had a few little tucks and suggestions. We also got into talking about power generation and began talking about 'generating power from the ligaments'. I querried him on this, as it seemed a little strange (it had been brought up at the party a few weeks ago) and it turns out there is only one word in Chinese for tendon and ligament. So when he says ligament, he actually means tendon (since ligaments really don't move on their own). More discussion ensued, and then I went to working on what he had taught me. Skipped the full-mile run and just did the stairs, which was killer enough. Worked on #1, #9, Double Daggers and Cane. Of course, by the time I started to get my energy level up, it was time to head to lunch.
At lunch, we had a new inductee it seems. Evan says, "I'm not sure you've met R**lf before, he works with us." Who in turn looks at me and says, "You look very familliar." The name and its pronounciation clicks. "Not that Rolf?" I ask, "The climbing Rolf? From Ottawa? And MediaAge?" Sure enough, it was that Rolf, who has been hiding out at MS for a couple of years. I knew he'd moved to Cali, but never really knew where and had lost touch with him. Turns out he worked about 500m from where I do.
Of course, this does nothing to disprove the "Oh, you're a Canadian, you must know ______" stereotype.
Rest of day was good, even though an item didn't show up in my inventory as it should have, so I couldn't complete a quest and will have to re-do the Stockades instance dungeon. Not too much of a biggee.
Sunday was a different story.
Gaming that night was to be a resumption of my campaign. We'd left the game at a semi-cliffhanger, in the middle of a large battle the previous session, some month+ ago, and it was high time to pick it up again. By now, those who have read this blog before are seeing the warning lights. For whatever reason, combat in this campaign brings whatever happens to a terminal bout of cold molasses. Maybe it's the high-levelness, maybe it's more simply the unfamiliarity with high-level abilities, maybe it's their size, maybe it's this group in this situation. Looking up things, arguing things, fretting (even by my the most trustworthy of my players! gah!) or challenging things... it just goes to poo.
Minutae ends up overwealming the flavour.
Instead of an intense battle of characters it instead felt like an intense battle of effort. This group's combats have often felt flat, but this brings new meaning to the words "pool of mercury flat". (Actually, I just made that up) If this campaign survives into the next module, I'm going to have to make some changes (and some changes are inherrent) to the scale and types of encounters/combat.
Granted, this is an odd module flow-wise (now I see why many groups just play the 4th module of the series), and I guess I wasn't explicit enough in detailing the types of chars appropriate. It's also setting up a nasty task for myself, GMing a high level game right off, with players who take time to get into things in many ways, and with the players not fully versed in their character's abilities. I keep hoping once this turns more narrow in focus things will rectify themselves into a more workable feel, but...
I'm not crazy. Though these are south hemisphere pictures, colour is visible in the Milky Way
Oh, I am just full of links, aren't I?
NPR report on a trip accross China along Route 312. As I noticed on my trip to China, and noted in the subsequent articles, China, as always, is changing. Going 5000km+ is not a bad way to explore some of that change, as well as the disparities. A good 7 part series, worth the listen.
QotD: "That's less surprising. I have had falafel served by certain street vendors that could easily survive a nuclear attack. If war ever breaks out, duck behind a falafel." -- SF Chronicle
QotD: "... hit them with the internet sex hose."
Is it me, or does that conjure up a pretty interesting image? Either way, a new week is here. Good weekend, with a surprisingly productive Spycraft game (very well after the movie), a saturday spent at a good practice followed by rollerblading (to quote Michael 'to do something with you guys that doesn't involve food or TV' -- after the blading we found ourselves out to dinner (Korean) followed by TV (Futurama DVDs). Second time only on rollerblades for me, but I did quite well and didn't try to stop like I was on ice. That, I learned the first time, is a no no.
Sunday's game went well, and I think every time we're improving on the telepresence. It'll be my campaign again next weekend, w00t, and I'm already all prepared so things should go hopefully relatively smoothly. 1st ed feel ratchets up quickly at this point. Farrel also wants to run an Eberron campaign, and I have some 4+ characters I'd be interested in playing, but trying to juggle 4 games (if we include Rev's Spycraft game) on the one day?
Oy, messy it would be.
So, went and saw Bourne Supremacy on friday. I really enjoyed the first one, and had high hopes for this one. While I believe I preferred the first one more (want to see it again now), Bourne Supremacy was a lot of fun.
Just what was needed to get me into the mood for that night's Spycraft game...
Some further (spoiler) thoughts:
1 - Someone call the CIA and put a hit on the director of photography. OY. MTV video styling during fight scenes is bad enough (and I think you all know my thoughts on that already), but gads, the entire movie done like the camera was being held by a three year old drunk robot with motor control problems. There may have been some amazing action, but who could tell with that camera work? Yurk!
2 - Plenty, in fact, surprising number of tense moments in the film (and no, not caused by the camera work).
3 - What I remember of the score was that it was very good!
4 - I know the CIA can't find a decent map of downtown Belgrade, and that they have their 'I want to hear' filters set to high, AND I know there was the subtext of 'He wants us to know, to find', but c'mon. Why did it take some redshirt to have to point out the flaws in the evidence that was sitting in the back of our minds since the first feet of film?
5 - Why oh WHY do authors/filmakers feel it necessary to kill off major characters from previous films in the first three minutes of a sequel? Don't they realize that effectively negates a good chunk of (and the attachment to) the previous film? At least in this case it didn't happen off-camera, but while I understand its purpose (conflict, angst, revenge, etc) it can be still frustrating. If it was a character we'd just been introduced to (ie, no previous film) it is somehow more alright, less attachment, less seeing them work their way and survive a previous film, only to be offed as a plot device.
6 - Nice that they shot everything on location.
7 - I thought there was some great quippy dialogue.
8 - What's needed: Jason Bourne to show up as a guest star on Alias. Hello producers? You listening?
Natch, I don't watch Alias as I don't have a TV, but what I've seen displays how good a show it is and I hopefully will watch the DVDs sometime
Wasn't planning on leading group class this week (I have to remember not to call it conditioning, to, uh, un-condition people who have pre-conceived notions about what it shoud be) but it fell to me to lead on tuesday. Had a very good class and received some positive feedback on the quality of the classes. Also did dinner both nights with Tiff, Evan and the visiting (traitorous) Jim. My knee is in a world of hurt right now, though, I think the calf tightning caused me to change my stride/stance, which caused the whole knee area to go kerblonkers. Dr Fuji worked on it this morning, though, so hopefully I can practice Koy Moon a heck of a lot tommorow.
Gaming tonight, gaming Sunday. Some rollerblading probably on Saturday. Movie with work in about half an hour, followed by shopping and Iron Palm.
Somewhere in there I really do need sometime to a) catch up on my reading b) catch up on my game rules design c) start studying for the Arch Registration Exam d) probably lots of other things too.
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
When I say I am going to register serialinjury dot com, it's not entirely because I'm trying to be cute. It's because it keeps -bleep-ing happening! And the reason for my livid-ness is that the recent batch are completely baffling. Low-Twist-blankety-stance last night while running conditioning, just a normal, everyday, run of the mill low twist stance, and a muscle on outside of my right calf goes into bleep-fits, and decies to completely seize up, which has me hobbling today. I didn't even do anything! Dr Fuji's out of town, so I may try to see Dr Wong, even though it's not really his specialty but it kills me to walk and bleep-dammit, I want to work on Koy Moon a lot tommorow!
At least Iron Palm before class felt blanking amazing, it was a most blissful series of strikes.
Crisis is the word du jour at work. It would appear the structural engineer on this one project, well, quite frankly, blanked-up and placed a column in the wrong place. Now that the foundation has been poured, we can't move it. The radiused beams that are to rest on these columns and support beam now cannot work at the desired readius, as the centroids do not line up. So we have to make a muckery of the whole thing to get it to work. Basically, we were screwed no matter what we did, it was a matter of chosing how we wanted to be screwed. Radius changed, panel has to be modified (and they've already done the entire formwork for the panel too, that'll be fun to re-do), work points moved, gah. Much to fix. Dimtwit!
Edit: Now with photo.
Sometimes, the string of badness can astound.
Jim's in town, so we decided to truck over to Midori for some post-KF suhsi. I go to close up the school, a bit earlier than normal, let those still around know, go change, turn off the lights, and say to those still in the yard "last chance to grab anything out of the kwoon." Ok. Close the door.
"Oh wait," says Jim, "I need my keys." You see, the thing is, I don't have a key to the building -- so it's kinda locked until the next morning.
Driving him to the restauraunt, I put the windows down. Driver down, check. Passenger window, down, down, THUNK. Right down into the door. Rattle, rattle.
Now, this is a known issue for ceratain VWs, and there's even a service bulletin. You'd think, however, that they would have fixed this door/window when they fixed the other door/window the last time it happened on the driver's side. Or when I brought it in for 40k servicing. Or something. At least they didn't feed me any "oh, we'll be nice and fix it for you for free" line this time, acknowledging that it is a problem and that there's the service bulletin.
What is funny, though, is that two other customers nodded, half-smiled, and shared their window dropping stories. As stated, it's a known problem.
Car is ready, so I'll pick it up tonight. Of course, having dropped fire-red salsa onto my grey pants at lunch doesn't mean today is really going any better than last night.
Whee. Now they want them FULL FRONTAL. AFTER I've already had them taken. Again, remind me why I think this is a good idea?
Despite the hiking last weekend, the return to KF was amazingly without soreness. Evan had to work on tuesday so I lead conditioning and Level 1, but on thursday Evan led and I got to do many sweeps in the Level 2 training. Surprisingly I'm about one-half of the way through Koy Moon already, though I'm still working hard to get some of the movements down, especially the reverse tornado kick and the reverse tripple kick. This set will be a good endurance builder, that's for sure -- it may not be the longest, but its one of the most relentless so far. Speaking of which, now that I'm sorta back into the game, I'm hoping to get back to my endurance/speed&power weekend routine. That and making sure I practice all my sets. And start learning how to do rolls again so I can get the double dagger down finally.
Otherwise, this week ended with far to much money going out towards INS crud (remind me why I'm wanting to do this??) and work that was steady and not terribly exciting. The early part of the week, however, was much better being the tail-end of Su's visit. We tried to dine at Dishdash on sunday but it was closed, so we went to another Mediterranean place across the street that was pretty good. Monday night saw us at Elba's (though the owner wasn't there, boo!) and tuesday was the traditional Midori Sushi Boat night. Her visit was all to shortly shortly over as I drove her to the airport on wednesday o-dark-early morning...
Well, now that I have completed this very bizzare string of out-of-chronological-order bits of additions to the blog, maybe I'll get myself back in some semblance of order. It was that kind of heady visit/week coupled with the "balance" of vanilla work.
QotD: "For those of you who don't vote, because you feel it is like voting for the lesser of three evils, I have something to tell you. In politics and the governance of a country, it matters, because if the worse evil wins, that's bad. And if you didn't vote, you voted for evil." -- Rick Mercer (actually an old quote from June 28th, but always relevant)
LotD: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0407.turner.html. Ted Turner has a certain bias, and one may not agree with all his views (even what's said within the confines of this article) but it is a good look into the potential evils of media consolidation.
QotD: "I had to stop at the Cs... and that was after I'd put ten books back on the shelf already" -- Su, reflecting on her visit to the used bookstore downtown Mountain View. Curse those luggage-size restrictions!
Quote: <deadpan> Oops. Wrong way. </deadpan>
Visual: Turn to view Randy in front of burner, flames reaching to the top of the tall pot, igniting the wine within and flames shooting up to above his head.
Is there ever any doubt that a trip to Yosemite will fail to amaze and inspire? I suppose there could be, but so far for me at least they have all been very spectacular, and this past weekend was no exception. Su safely made it down, and Friday noon we trucked down to Frederick's place to grab help transport some supplies, and then we trucked towards Yosemite. 5h+ of driving later (Tuolomne Meadows does have that extra distance!) we arrived, set up camp, and awaited the arrival of everyone else. Once everyone was there and the sun had gone down, dinner began... including the aforementioned 23 lbs of chicken (we had plenty left over).
This year saw only one hike, on Saturday. Our goal: Tanaya lake to Cloud's Rest at 9926 ft of altitude.
Tuolomne Meadows as an area is interesting and somewhat different from elsewhere in the park, mainly for its namesake, the huge meadows that appear out of nowhere as a vast plain of grass in the midst of the white-polished granite that forms the Yosemite area. While not half-dome, this hike is still a strenuous one. There's some fairly constant uphill to begin, followed by a decline, some very nice flat through woods, streams and meadows, followed by a second bout of strenuous uphill culminating at Clouds Rest proper, where a 2.0-3.0 class sorta-scramble gets one to the very top. This last bit was the most amusing, for this scramble takes place along a crest/ridge, with nothing but air on either side of you - creates an interesting perspective to be sure, with a touch of vertigo.
Would it go without saying that the view was spectacular? Clouds Rest looks onto the Yosemite valley from the 'backside', with a view of Half Dome's behind, as well as El Cap, Glacier Peak, and the like. Doing the panorama, though, one sees the 5k foot drop to Tenaya Canyon, spires of mountains towards the north and the Clark Range to the south, mounts Broderick, Star King, Quarter Domes, Waking Pinnacles, Liberty Cap, and a tonne more (just don't ask me to point out exactly which were which). Half dome from the back was quite different compared to the view from the valley floor, looking much more stretched vertically rather than more perfectly spherical. The only boo was that the wildfires were making the air rather smoky, which meant that all was seen through a white haze, but it also added some surrealness seeing the smoke rising almost lazily in the distance.
In the end I made ascent to the top twice; I returned down to meet up the second group and went atop again with them (everyone thus made it to the top). Returning down is when Su's hip and knee really began to bother her (longtime injuries) so we took it quite leisurely; it was nonetheless quite taxing on her. About a quarter of the way back we procured a branch to use for her as a walking stick, and this served her well. The hike in total took perhaps 8.5h or so. At the car, as we exhaustedly climb in the lets the stick fall to the ground, and it breaks neatly in half.
Otherwise, the camping was not to bad (perhaps the group was a bit large, it didn't seem to coalesce much), the food was good (if we had WAY to much). But the HUGE bonus was this: it was two weeks later. Two weeks from the attempted stargazing at the cabin which equals new moon. Su and I got up at 03:30 to head out to the group parking lot (lack of trees) and were rewarded with a perfectly clear sky and the full-blown array of stars. The Milky Way also made its appearance, though oddly only in its greyish guise (I'm not sure why the only time I've seen it in full red/blue glory was that one time at my parent's place, the first time I saw it). I'd brought a guidebook along, but with so many stars it was actually difficult to pick out the constallations. Next time it will be much larger maps, printed on the plotter and more readily defined.
End of quick summary -- I will try to post some pictures soon.
Seems I'm slacking off a bit from my blogging duties. Just been busy. Flight back was uneventful. Busy at work catching up on stuff. Returned to class on thursday with Justin teaching, so that was really good. Learned some new techniques, learned more of #1. Friday, well, it had sorta been 2 weeks off (I practiced one day at home, and some demonstration kicks for a pair of kids at the cottage) so soreness was mine to be had! Muahahaha! Er, ow. Not as bad as it could be though, mainly in the shoulders/arms. The run/stairs was good, didn't work on my sets as much as I would've liked to as there was the instructor meeting/training, where we talked a bit, did some teaching style critiques, and did some training and drills.
What was unusual, and funny, was a rather odd outburst by Jimmy. I'd just finished working on some drill with M, and as I walk over to get a drink he suddenly exclaims "Man Oliver, you are ripped!" -- I'll gladly take any compliments, but it wasn't something I was expecting, it was very amusing.
I realize that I, despite my ATC talk the other day, have neglected to point out some great ATC exchanges/humour: here and here. There are, of course, some repeats between the two (and skip past the first part on the second link, as you've seen it at the bottom of the first link), but spleen-splitting funny.
Gaming this weekend will be of the not-me-as-GM variety, then it's two weeks off as various players are on vacation. Including me as I take off to Yosemite next weekend. Looking forward to it, we're staying at Tuolumne Meadows this year. And, as luck would have it, while my stargazing at the cabin was ruined by the full moon, Yosemite = 2 weeks from cabin = 2 weeks into the lunar cycle from full = new moon = no light. MmmmMMmmmm, soooo looking forward to it. Even niftier is that Su, whom I did attempted the stargazing with at the cabin, took me up on my "you should come down to camp in Yosemite!" invitation and will indeed be joining the gang (30 of us :P) so we'll get our good stargazing in after all. Oh, and we'll do a drive through the valley so she gets a glimse of hard-core climbing.
And just so you know, my machine runs WoW juuuuuuuuuuuuust fine. w00t!
Well, much to catch up on.
Hope everyone had a great Canada Day!
The cabin weekend was, as expected, a fantastic weekend, filled with much decompression and relaxation. Toss in some five hours of canoeing, some swimming, some stars and the moon, some excellent venison, tea, and clean air – well, it becomes rather superfluous to try to say how nice of a few days it was. Hanging out with Dave, Averyl and Su up there (amongst others) was an amazing time. Too short as always...
Coming home every 6 months or so always provides the ‘shock’ – the shock of seeing what has been developed since the last driving-through. This time the shock came not so much in Bowmanville itself, but along north-Oshawa, near the Airport. Subdivision after subdivision after subdivision after subdivision, punctuated by malls and big-box retailers. Ladies and Gentlemen, I’d like to announce that Ontario is becoming LA. 100+ year old horse-breeding and training pastures turned into little cul-de-sacs with cookie cutter houses. Suburbia, while never far away, has arrived with a vengeance. For the gods sake, though, please, can we develop better designed subdivision homes?
Also of shock was the campus formerly known as Durham College, now a full-blown Ontario Institute of Technology / Durham University. To describe the changes as big would be an understatement; we’re talking humungaloid academic and residence buildings replacing the older small-scale classrooms. It looks mighty impressive (with some ok design to boot). Could be interesting to see how it turns out. One thing I didn’t get a chance to go check out was Toronto, where a bunch of relatively high-profile buildings are being built, designed by some rather well-known architects, including Ghery (finally, though he should still have been allowed to do the symphony hall). Again, interesting it will be to see how those turn out in the end.
The wedding was good, if with some very odd weather including tree-bending winds and driving downpour followed not five minutes later by perfect sunshine and clear skies. Fireworks were seen in the evening (Port Hope’s, probably), got to catch up unexpectedly with a friend from French Immersion who was running the catering (and very tasty catering at that), met a bunch of new people, of course saw the bride and groom be all happy, and managed to pass some fast-tips for visiting Paris, where they would spend a few days of their honeymoon.
My cat was the most friendliest thing when I first arrived, which drove my hopes high but oddly for the rest of the visit she remained rather aloof around me. Supposedly she’s becoming more affectionate in her older age, but I didn’t see that side this trip, heh. Otherwise everything else is pretty much in order at home. I can’t believe how many gaming books I own (esp. combined with what I have in cali) and can believe even less the shear amount of paper I’ve kept/have/generated relating to gaming. I know I’m a packrat, but it is a bit silly at times. Though I wasn’t able to throw much out this time... you never know when you may need those notes again! I did re-arrange a few shelves, but that was about it. I scanned some more material, wrote some more material (computer this time, not paper), read some material.
Upgrading my parent’s computer continued my tradition of never having a computer upgrade/build go perfect the first time around. As I pulled out the old components and mobo from the machine, I came to the one obvious thing I overlooked: Modem = ISA. New mobo = No ISA. Oops. One PCI modem purchase later (are there ANY non-winmodems made nowadays? Geez and ick!) the system was ready to go, but wouldn’t handshake to the ISP. Three calls to tech support later, I managed to get some Init Strings, including one that kicked back out of v.92 into v.34, and we’re connecting at 28.8. Silly country phone lines.
Speaking of tech support, agah. I know that Taima slipped further and further as time went on (not due to my training, I’ll tell you that, but moreso because of the call-time/money focus they adopted as they tried to squeeze as much money into their pockets as they could, and customer service (and employee pay) be damned), but the tech support at my parent’s ISP was appalling. It was total checklist city. The modem is not handshaking I say. Do you have the area code in front of the phone number is the return question. If it’s trying to handshake, it is reaching your modems – do you know what handshaking means? At least, it was what I wanted to say. Finally by the third call at least I got someone who seemed to go beyond their checklists, but left me with vast stretches of silence as he searched USR’s site for stuff. Gah. Whatever happened to teaching good troubleshooting skills? In the end I had to suggest the answer to them: have you had problems with USR v.92s connecting? Do you have Init strings to try out to make a better handshake?
The next call would’ve consisted of me saying ‘I’ve been in tech support for 3 years. Give me Level 2.’
Well, about 8h before my flight leaves, so I should really go pack. Next update will be back in the valley Silly.
The flight home was quite neat in many ways. Playing Flight Sim a lot recently helped in that regard. United allows one to tune into the cockpit radio chatter, so I got to listen to all the ATC talk the whole trip home. There’s something fun about hearing a call before the plane goes into motion, made all the more fun in being able to recognize the calls and their meanings due to even the limited FS playing I’ve had.
Takeoff from SFO was fun due to the weather; as we turned onto runway-left to take off, someone was landing on runway-right, streaming vapour trails. As we accelerated and took off, our own plane began sheeting vapour off the wings. Quickly we passed through some clouds to see half the city (microclimates, whee!) gone under said clouds, all save a few cell-towers poking amusingly through the cotton blanket. A short bit into the flight later, we passed over South Tahoe, where I was able to easily pick out and observe the Heaveanly Ski resort, where I had visited only 3 months earlier. It looks rather different from the air than on the ground or on the resort’s map…
Being back home is good. I’ve brought along a mobo/etc to upgrade my parent’s machine (and their old processor will follow me home to go into my server – I love my PPro dearly, but it’s a hot beast), I’ve been re-reading Tigana, and I have a bunch of gaming stuff I wish to attend to, want to use the viddy cam to check out how poorly I do some sets, plus the wedding and the cabin-on-the-lake-weekend...
It's kind of funny. On the nights I feel as though I didn't do enough, I end up quite sore... on the nights I think I'll end up sore, due to work or not stretching out afterwords, I end up not sore. Hmmm. Tuesday's class had me not leading and the class didn't feel all that strenuous (though probably working areas I haven't worked in a while) and good for working on some problem areas. But when I got home I decided to wail on the bag for about 20 mins pretty much non-stop. That did it. Back, shoulders, arms, legs = sore. Which means I should do it more often, those muscles obviously need to be worked out more. Now that my shoulder only hurts during excercise, I'll be able to work that in more.
There are interesting differences between gaming groups in their approach to the game/campaign. Some groups I've been with, when something weird happens, take it in context as 'wow, that's powerful magic' or 'yeeps, that was weird, what was that?' Others take it from a slightly different perspective: 'WTF?' 'what spell could possibly have done that?' It seems to be group dynamics at work -- I don't think I know of any group where some of the players did A, while others did B, and I'm pretty sure my take on situations are coloured how the rest of the table speaks about it.
How come is it that some of the most vocal proponents of 'the oil companies are ripping us off' are the same most vocal proponents of 'free market or death!' ? Also, even if ANWR was opened to so-called exploration 3 years ago, a) nothing would be coming out of the ground yet so no price break b) the amount that would come out when it did is so miniscule (2% daily output of the world) as to impact prices by about 1c per gallon, if even. Production != solution, dimwits.
TJ's got their Soba noodles back! Too bad they're Wheat Flour first, then Buckwheat -- dagnabbit. Speaking of asian foods, I should go hunting for a nice shallow-pot tea set again. The kwoon actually sells one, maybe I should see if it suits me...
My kind of paint job.
Not that this isn't bad either.
Alas, I learned something sad. The 439th was disbanded as a TFG upon their 'return' from Germany. The squadron has been re-activated, but no longer as a CF-18 unit, but instead as a Combat Support Squadron. Together with the 416th they were the desert cats back in '91. What a shame to lose a paint job like this. (Ok, it didn't really fly like that all the time -- but it's funny that the false canopy is still there!)
Malheureusement, le MeetUp Francais n'est pas arrive le mercredi passe -- il n'y avait personne la! Tres etrange... we were at the right place, at the right time, but there was no one there from the group. Hmm. Oh well, Vicki and I spoke a bunch of french to get some practice, then we checked out some FlightSim and she's started thinking of getting some training time on it (cheaper than renting a plane, and she already has a few hours of training/flight time...)
Speaking of FS9, 1.5 gigs worth of additional. Yow. I'm also thinking of playing with some of the plane models and flight characteristics...
Thursday was a normal teaching night, friday game was good. Interestingly, we played some NPCs on one side of a battle that was unfolding near our characters... what went down afterwords had whatever participants were left. And what went down was rather funny, for a character actually told mine to "take them out." -blink- So I pulled a little Lina Inverse moment: "awwww... isn't it nice you're all standing together?" Two energy spells of damage later, the battle was won.
Saturday practice wasn't as intense as I thought it might be, had an instructor/direction-of-school meeting, picked up some shoes, called my dad in the midst of a surprise party for him (surprise for him, not for me). Sunday saw the resumption of my game (for a session, then I'm gone 2 weekends, then back one, then gone again -- it's as bad as the xmas season). It went mostly alright, things are heating-up in game on several fronts. Out of game, I think I have decided to take some of the the disbelief as being a good rat bastard DM (and using the opponent's abilities to the max to pull off stuff the party didn't expect) -- but I'm open to your thoughts on experiences you've had in that vein.
Also tried out the Quick/Dirty DnD module I created for Vassal -- worked rather well I think (hope). Not quite as direct as the miniatures perhaps, but certainly less problematic than the camera. Maybe I'll try to rig something up for the camera to focus well onto the table.
And back at work today, with plans this week mainly to get ready for the trip home, gathering together what to bring, including what I want to work on (RPG wise) while at home, what books to read, etc. One of the stops will be a weekend at Dave's 100+ year old cabin, with no power or intrusions, which made for good relaxingreading environment last time we were there.
A look at Church <-> State stuff. New Version of HeroForge. Score Reviews. Mozilla 1.7. So end the linkees.
Space Ship One has made it sucessfully into suborbital flight, hitting the 100km barrier! Should be re-entering just about now...
Another night, another night of leading KF. A while ago there was the "Summer of Jimmy" -- a period of time (maybe 6-8 weeks) where the gaggle of instructors we had (5 or so at the time) were being quite late, except for Jimmy, thus, it was Jimmy leading class most of the time. This year, it has turned into the Lynx Spring, with myself leading class quite often. Not quite as often as Jimmy, but with Jason, Jimmy and Justin (I need to change my name to something that starts with J, obviously) in and out, it has been me leading class more often than not. Jason is now out for a long time, and Jimmy is sort-of back (when his back isn't causing him grief) and Justin shows up occasionally... though sometimes when the others are there it's fallen on me as 'they don't feel like it'. I love teaching, but there's something about being a student that I miss, the ability to just focus on yourself and work your hardest to improve. That, and I very much enjoy different instructors: each instructor tends to work different things and/or in different ways. It keeps the classes interesting, fresh, and also trains one more roundly.
At any rate, I'm certianly not slacking off by teaching, I do feel it from last night. Also, started learning #1, Koy Moon, Opening the Door. A fun set (I've seen it done many a time) if grueling, looking forward to getting into it.
On the way home from class, on the BBC news (playing on NPR) they're interviewing Philip Glass on a new work of his, to be played for the Olympics. The title: Orion. Of course, that caught my attention (as attributed here), especially his reasoning for the name. For this work, he collaborated with musicians from all over the world (including one piece they sampled, a Chinese pipa with an Australian didgeridoo -- a rather interesting combination that worked out very nicely) and as he travelled to these different countries he realized that you can see and identify Orion from everywhere. Quite nice.
My obsession with Flight Sim continues, with yet more terrain, night effects, config utilities and planes downloaded. Yikes. Not sure if I'll have time tonight, though, as Vicki and I may finally try attending one of the French Language Meetups
. We first thought of checking it out back in, oh, november or something like that last year. Good we're about to get to it. :P
This is an interesting read on the world's most marketed cat, who never sold out because he was never unsold to begin with.
Vacation fast coming up; BTW, to all I know in the Toronto area, if you haven't guessed I'll be there the week of the 1st (though busy on the 1st-5th). Ballot will go into the mail tommorow.
Time to run.
I am downloading FlightSim addons at an insane level. I think I'm fixating. High-resolution terrain maps! Airports! The YF-23! The Avro Arrow! (now that should be fun, natch!) Better Aurora Borealis for cryin' out loud.... thank the gods I'm careful with my credit card because I'd probably have an entire partition on my HDD full of the entire world by now.
And I can't even blow anything up! They really need to combine FS with CFS...
Caught the MSFS2004 bug? http://www.surclaro.com/ and http://www.simviation.com/ are good places to start.
Oh, and for all you computer geeks out there: all about the Mac.
On the way home last night, I had a rather interesting thought.
Has the USA, with their recent action in Iraq, essentially discredited and/or disallowed the foundation of their actions in '91?
Wierd Up: Paintcheck, the Paintball tactical boardgame (?!?)
Report on HC costs
Want some fun with the election?
Speaking of which: www.elections.ca
Quote: "Over the years, there have been many instances when I did not agree with the CBC, but at least the return argument is not wrapped in the flag as the ultimate final response to any debate involved." -- Bill Hrychuk
I think the fondue went alright last night, and I think all had a good time. Much food was consumed, though the meat-eating faction wasn't large. I am ashamed to say my wines were not the perfect accompanyment -- it wasn't that the wines themselves were bad, actually the wines were very good wines, but they were both light. For a fondue (and other similar dishes), one really wants a wine with good body. -le sigh- Hopefully I will be forgiven...
And if I am, though I don't know when the next get together is, but I've got more wine in store for that too.
Well, the hotness has arrived, and with an appartment that gets the morning & noon sun, it's regularly 27~ in my appartment by early afternoon. And no cross-ventilation makes it hard to cool down in the evenings -- grr. Ah well.
I will have to say that Elections Canada has an excellent web site. I've gotten my voter packet, and once the final list of candidates is posted on the 9th, I'll start making my choice. While I have to mail it soon so it arrives before election day on the 28th, I'll actually be home on the 28th (I guess I could've voted in person, d!oh) so I can watch the results on CBC, woo!
Yesterday's practice went rather well. The stairs continue to wind me quite a bit (probably because I keep pushing to my limits, eh?), but I then did all of the hand sets, plus staff and double daggers a few times. The shoulder felt stiff, but not too painful.... this may be promising!
Hope I didn't just jinx it.
Installed FS2004 on my machine last night, to put the pedal to the floor and see what it can do. 1600x1200 w/ AA, Mid-High detail, no sweat. Wow. I like! But I'm even more impressed with some of the add-on packs you can buy for this game -- All of Northern California at 5m resolution, with sat maps for texture maps. Toronto in full detail, including the construction cranes around the new terminal. Plenty of Planes. Virtual Airlines. Amazing -- and unfortunetaly make the included FS scenery soemwhat blasée by comparison. Especially Paris. Where is the hill upon which the Sacre Coeur sits on??
Finally having a fondue night tonight, with WendyW, Jeff, Tiff, Mike and Bernadette. Out comes the good bottles of red wine I've been saving!
Weekend, woo!
My allergies/cold cleared up enough last night for me to lead class, and I had plenty of pep and energy. Justin came in for the last 1/3 and we did some drills that were, uh, slappy in nature. Good for us Iron Palm practicioners, though. }:) I spoke to Sifu before class, and again forgot to give him ideas (that he had asked for) on how to make the kwoon seem less 'industrial-like'. Must email.
I think I just found the most awesome real-time play-by-numbers, er, play over the net game map engine: http://www.vassalengine.org. If the are any issues with the camera during our telepresencing, this should work BEAUTIFULLY.
A good read for all players (and GMs) out there; just some nice reminders.
How to turn a scientific email into a flame.
Must also tap into my selection of fine red wines! It has been too long.
FOOD! All about knives. All about crap.
That latter one also is a segue for me to post quick thoughts on Supersize Me: Despite having read Fast Food Nation, there was still some new information and some unexpected results. It was entertaining and a good slice-of-view. However, as a documentary or an investigative film, it could have done some things differently to bolster the argument more, provide more of a backdrop and to erase some doubts and provide more veracity. A fun film worth seeing, moreso if this is an introduction to the petrochemagrobusiness.
CSS! Weird. Banal, but archi.
Harpers. Last week's had a good opening paragraph especially.
Welcome to another 'weekend in the life of' post. Well, actually, you've already heard part of the weekend, with the Thunderbirds and all...
Sunday saw the resumption of the Bloodstone campaign. We started our usual time, with the plan on continuing the holiday monday. Sunday went quite well, I think. I was worried that a long pause might cause some problem 'getting back into it' but it didn't take long for the characters, nor I to get into the swing of things. Well, except that I continually and continued to forget about the major town NPCs, such as, oh, the Baron. I'm sure the players think he's not doing anything, when in fact he's been very visible and active in the community. Grrrr. I curse myself for that. The telepresence of Sir Barus also worked rather well, save one computer explosion on saturday night which unfortunetaly cut him off from some good inter-character RP. Other than that, sunday was rather smooth, didn't drag, and the characters were getting puzzled -- a good thing.
Monday we started early but a bit too leasurely, and the game sort of went in fits and starts, paused for dinner, had the characters even more frustrated, caused some party friction, the death of an NPC, and then came the battlesystem battle. With so many participants we doubled up each figure (1=2), and began -- and continued on and on and on until late. I think at this point I'm going to declare the Battlesystem experiment a not-success. Even one of the most enthusiastic 'yeah, we should do that!' players is saying 'maybe not' now. It isn't that the battlesystem rules are bad, its mainly a) the length of time it takes b) the lack of space we have and, most importantly, c) the changes in the abstraction that confuse some players and diminish the directness or the immediate obviousness of their abilities. Plus its different enough that they are unsure what to do in the best way. So, I'm modifying from here on in for the rest of this (first) module. No biggie.
In a rather amusing tie in with this post, after that long long battle, I fell into bed drained and spent the whole night in fitful sleep, dreaming about running large-scale combat. Ugh!
Meanwhile, allergies or a cold (or both) have wracked me hard, leading me to not even doing conditioning at KF last night, leaving me downright miserable and getting bloody noses. Combine that with other frustrating this and thats, and though gaming wasn't bad, and the airshow was good, my spirits aren't doing any aerobatics.
There's two things interesting about Memorial day in the USA: 1) It's on the wrong date* 2) It is a day for partying and big sales.
The latter is what seems at the least rather unusual, especially given the constant 'support the troops'ism that is constantly blared. For all the flag-waving movies, the patriotic swells, the mission accomplished banners, my experience of this day in the past 5 years living here has been pretty much the same as Victoria Day: the apptly named May Two-Four weekend. Only they have huge sales here (not surprising, given the land of consumerism). The Remembrance aspect seems very downplayed; the only reason it seems more prevalant this year is due to the WW2 memorial opening on the mall.
A start of summer weekend is excellent (c.v. Victoria Day) so it is no surprise that this holiday has taken on those trappings but it is odd and downright unfortunate that the reason behind it has been subsumed, nay, consumed. It is not a sombre day of reflection. Ignoring or not noticing would almost be better.
* - I realize that this day was instituted on the date likely vis-a-vis the 'Civil War' events.
The Thunderbirds are flying over my appartment during their show this afternoon -- damn they sound beautiful. That's definitively one thing they have -- 4 F-16 engines in harmony.
I am _so_ going to fleet week.
So, about those Thunderbirds.
For one thing, the airshow was run rather oddly. It's a civvy affair, done by a company that does airshows accross the USA. Compared to the other airshows I've been to (all of the others were military organized affairs) this one seems a might shorter and less varied. But the weirdest thing was that they had a break between their second-last act and the final act, that of the Thunderbirds. A break of nearly an hour. Very odd way to run things. Doubly weird for us since we were on a roof at work, rather than at the airshow and could hear announcements...
But back to those Thunderbirds. Their planes were slick, there were 6 of them, they had smoke. Four tended to fly in formation, two were the 'solo artists' who did a few flyby and near-miss maneuvers at centre stage. Both performed their maneuvers well, but nothing was really out of the ordinary. Then, halfway though the show, it stopped. For some 5-10 minutes they circled around and when the show resumed there were only 5 -- some sort of mechanical problem? With a C-5 galaxy following them wherever they go loaded with parts and people they had a mech problem? Who knows.
The rest of the show was, again, technically well done, with a few moves that were very precicely excecuted, with a many 'nicely done' comments, but nothing sock-blowing. Until their last maneuver. Time to get the mental imagery on: four planes fly in formation to centre stage, and go vertical. There, they do an upward bomb burst, one to each cardinal direction. This, in itself, was beautiful. But then the fifth plane flys up the centre at great velocity, rolling as he goes upward (all with smoke). Beautiful. Then the four continue their movement from the bomb burst into a loop (so a loop in each direction, all the while with smoke on) converging once again at centre stage. Very nice. But that's not all! From that, they all peel off in order to re-convene stage right and form up in line once again for a pass down centre stage, where they each peel off one at a time. Nice long sequence, all tied together, all with smoke.
I will have to say that the upward bomburst is one of my favourite maneuvers, and to see it done with only four planes, each heading at 90~ angles to each other was spectacular. That the rest happened afterwords was icing. Best moment of the day for sure.
So, overall the Thunderbirds show was neat (and perhaps abbreviated if a plane did have to drop out, so maybe it couldn've been more), but mostly it made me ever more amazed at the Snowbirds. All the maneuvers I saw the TBirds do were maneuvers I have seen the Snowbirds have done, only with more planes in their formation, slighly more wing overlap, and (most impressive being) with CT-114 trainer airplanes (oy! no fly by wire or 1:1 thrust:weight ratio here), flying to their shows with only the aircraft and the mechanics&parts riding shotgun.
Next, I need to see the Blue Angels. Maybe during Fleet Week this year...
It was really good to see an airshow again. I know some people think the sound of an american V8 engine is somehow sexy; they are so wrong. The sound of two low-bypass turbofan engines with full A/B, now THAT is sexy.
Going to see Supersize Me tonight -- should be good. Looking forward to it.
I cannot hide it. I am a bit of a magazine junkie. It comes part and parcel with being such a knowledge hound; magazines often simply provide an easy fix. That being said, I do remain a somewhat discriminating magazine reader -- there needs to be quality information or exploration. I don't read everything that comes my way (that's what the 'net is for - well, ok, not really).
Right now I'm collecting or receiving magazines on computer game development, digital art and graphics, digital video, some National Geographic, infotechgeek and, of course, architecture and society. Architectural Record, CA and Architecture are the usual core suspects, but supplemented with Dwell. This latter is often very keen, though I do really need to write them a letter to discuss one or two issues (like their aversion to floor plans).
But today I want to talk about Metropolis.
I have glanced through Metropolis a few times, but only recently have I come to discover that there seems to be some really good calibre articles hiding within. I referenced one earlier already, but this month's provides a couple more, including the typical 'here's a design'-type article about a house up near Marin County (the crux of this one is its difficult site including a slope and extreme proximity to a freeway). But what really caught my attention (and my praise) is this article, on a sort-of award for innovative design ideas. Launched by the magazine and actually backed with $$ to pursue the building and/or further exploration of the award winners, this is a pretty keen concept and much kudos for the dollar award to take it beyond competition.
First winner up (they are having multiple) is also a concept that is totally enshrined in a key value of mine: Adaptive Reuse. More than just a archi-speak, this idea of re-inhabitation and urban re-use (rather than sprawl) is a big thing on its own, but to use the detritus from another project and to transform it into something radical and new is even more noteworthy (and worthy of praise).
Taking the now-redundant elevated roadway (and its structure) from Boston's Big Dig, the architects for the project saw in the castoffs a perfect long-span, wide bay structure with the capacity for great loads. Combine and erect together in new ways and you have a curvaceous housing development with high floor-to-ceiling space, cantilevers, total internal bay freedom and enough load capacity for all the pianos, libraries and weight rooms in the world, not to mention a full earth-depth park, pools and the like on the roadway-come-roof. A curtain wall encloses the whole thing, and unless one knew, one would be hard pressed on first glance to think 'Gardner Expressway'.
Obviously, the foundations and the curtain walls are not already there, so the project isn't uber-cheap, but with the structure already taken care of it's a long-way there already (not to mention perfect for loft-type spaces w/o the kitch!). Less landfill, more interesting spaces to live in. Mmmmmm.
Check it out. Myself I'm going to keep checking out Metropolis for articles like these. They may not be on how to solve all the world's problems, but little steps that add to bigger leaps.
Heh, the Thunderbirds are practicing for their weekend show right now. Given the office is right by Moffett field, they're flying right overhead. Jet fighters make a very, very distinct sound. I may need to visit the roof this weekend here to watch their show; never seen a Thunderbird show. See how (if?) they stack up with their fancy F-16s and their C-5 support...
I forgot to mention one of my favourite things about my new machine: the 25 second boot up time from cold to login screen. Woo!
I am happy to report that my new computer is finaly go. Actually, it's been here and running for many weeks now, but I had to RMA my sound card due to, you guessed it, crackles (I seriously have no luck when it comes to sound). Well, it returned today, its installed (crackle free so far), and the computer is now done.
In the end I got: P4 3.2C, Asus P4P800E Deluxe Mobo, ATI 9800 Pro, 1GB Kingston 2.5-3-3 PC3200, and the Audigy 2 ZS. It has been sweet. While I haven't cranked up a game to really try it out yet (waiting for sound issues to be resolved) the system has blown me away with its speed, memory bandwidth, smoothness in multitasking and disk access. Coupled with the slightly modified layout for my systems & speakers, I'm very happy sitting here working away.
Of course, not quite everything is perfect. Heh, nor was it during setup -- did you know the P4 requires an additional 12v connector on the Mobo, requiring a new PSU? Anyway, the problem now is that, no surprise, really, Creative expects you to use their speakers. So in hooking up the analog to my receiver (I can't use digital as SPDIF won't carry more than 2 channel unless it's truly Dolby/DTS encoded, and this card doesn't have the Optical out (nor do I know if that would work anyway)) I'm having to futz around with the various speaker level outputs on the soundcard so that enough goes through the sub chanel to actually kick on my sub. Le sigh.
But otherwise this is a great rig. Now all I need to do is buy a centre speaker.
Last Saturday (yeah, it's been a few days) I was talking with WendyW, and amongst the myriad of topics we covered the subject of dreams came up, or more specifically, the notion of 'adventure' dreams. I call them epic dreams since the best of mine (and the ones I usually remember) are indeed epic in their length and usually feel like the events therein are of great import. These dreams tend to be rare, alas, but they are certainly the most amazing and fun of dreams in my book.
It's more than just the action and adventure that make these dreams fantastic (though I'm definitively not discounting either of those as part of the appeal!) but the often-times elaborate setup that forms the core of these dreams and their plot. Sometimes convoluted, sometimes beautifully intricate, and sometimes just so deceptively simple but taken full-bore. Often something completely different enters the picture mid-way through, shifting reality but building upon the same premise, worked in without a hitch (in a way the ultimate in improv). And, of course, sometimes the absurdist notions/events/reality distortions are present, but seem completely normal and are taken equally completely at face value within the dream.
Because they are long and complex (or so my current theory goes), epic dreams often seem to reflect current events or thoughts. I've had parts of fiction enter my dreams, or bits of what I've been obsessing over (art, stories, people, objects), elements of games or gaming, feelings of powerlessness or powerfulness... a rather large gamut. But noticing this sometimes has lead me into some trouble -- "X was happening, what does that signify??"
The worst part for me is that I have epic dreams all to infrequently, if not downright rarely. Given my hectic schedule it maybe isn't a total surprise (I think I have them more often on longer-sleep nights). And while I'm wishing they'd come around more often, I'll also say it'd be nice if lots of the stuff I really want to dream about would also enter into the epic. All is possible in a dream; if I can have a dream where I do the full splits and it feels great, what about piloting a vehicle I'll never actually get a chance to pilot?
For that matter, why can't I have an epic dream to help me with my design projects? I really could have used that during university... Achem. Moving along...
Actually, I think this is pretty much the end of what I wanted to elucidate. The dream part of the Saturday wasn't really a dream part, it was a very amusing story WendyW was relating to me, which then led off onto another topic rather than delving into that territory. But that small foray obviously got me thinking about it (does this mean I'll have an epic dream about epic dreams? That'd be scary). Also reminds me that maybe I should write some of these down, if not right away but over time (including, uh, archives). I remember a few really good epic dreams, but the rest/most are just snippets now.
And they say a dream diary is the first step to lucid dreaming... out-of-reach vehicles, you will be mine!
Sometimes the net is an amusing entity.
After last night's game (which we ended up playing, I found out about 5h before the fact(!) I thought to look up for some sort of p2p virtual hexmap. We used the whiteboard in messenger, and while it worked so-so, something a bit more precise, not to mention easier to use and made for the purpose, would be good.
Onto Google I hop, and type in "online hexmap" as my opening blow. Second link: http://theminiaturespage.com/new/rlojun197.html
Wow. June 1997. My RenLeg WWW Repository is still going (strong?) but hasn't been updated in some 5 years+, and the mailing list is now on yahoogroups. Just really funny that this would be the 2nd highest link for that search string...
"What did you do? Input CL 2, Setup? What does that even mean?"
"Hey, who's the one holding the remote? [not me]"
More crunching and deep tissue massage in order o get my shoulder into shape. Nothing to pop into place this week, but the pectoral minor, which is attached to the (mumble), pulled the shoulder forward, so that the scapula wasn't moving right, and atop that, I had a rib head out of place pushing up into things, and... in short, much pain this week, much pain this morning trying to get it all back together. Stupid shoulder.
Justin returned this week and taught both conditioning classes. While I enjoy teaching the classes a lot, it was nice to have a break and just be a student again. Plus his workouts being different worked the body in different ways, leading to some soreness as muscles I haven't been using are used once again; this is a good thing. I also did work the shoulder moderatly hard, but why it caused the above-mentioned shoulder-wreck we're not sure.
Imagine the scene: you're in the midst of a long legal-like process, and you switch the process over to a friend at a different firm. Firm1 decides they need to send you an invoice for 'services already rendered'. Suspicious, but how can one determine if they're giving a real number of if they're making you pay for your right of portability?
Doesn't help my recent 'bout of poor spirits, that's for sure.
"Architecture is art produced on the grandest possible canvas." -- Governor General Adrienne Clarkson
Not much to report. Taught contitioning twice last week, both of which went well. Began to use my shoulder again, trying to ramp up; so far it hasn't been too bad, though its certainly caused its own share of post-use pain, albeit nothing as painful as when it first went off. Don't know how this week will go, though I know I have a project celebratory lunch on thursday where they serve really good mohitos, so hopefully I will not be running conditioning on thursday. Work continues along, and I don't have enough time in my day for all I want to do. Chi Na is really starting tonight too. Jim was down visiting this past week/end, so we all hung out, and tried out Talisman (old old game, I'd never played but others had). Theoretically I'm supposed to begin my campaign again next weekend, but one player will be away; two will be away the weekend following, so we'll see. The telepresence went so-so, hampered by poor connections. Explorer got screwed up, but with some registry futzing I got it working right again.
CSSzengarden - somewhat neat
Have some fun with the sloganator! Alas, it appears that the 'show all slogans' option went away, still good, though.
And that's about it for now. Two Yosemite trips coming up, though: one in June, one in July. Given I didn't go last year, this'll bring back up the average.
Since 1990, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control has opened 93 investigations into terrorist finances and 10,683 relating to Cuba.
Hmm. I'm starting to wonder if my 'gaming dramatics' may be misread by others, esp. by those who have not RPGed with me before. I know I've had people in RPGs misread my RPing as being me rather than my character, and I know I sometimes RP even in non-RP games (Master of Orion, forex) so... just something to watch out for.
QotD:
"Pat isn't with God,'' he said. "He's f -- ing dead. He wasn't religious. So thank you for your thoughts, but he's f -- ing dead.''
What? This didn't happen for God, as well as country? A professional athlete turned soldier, and we're supposed to believe that he'd have no use for piety? Robbed of a cliche, where does that leave us? "
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/05/04/SPG5K6FD091.DTL
Actually, the title is a bit misleading, for the main topic of this post is to speak about a lecture I went to last night; this lecture was, however, punctuated by several technical glitches including the afore-mentioned powerpoint which decided to not only be its usual slow bloaty self, but also to force a machine with nothing else running to puke and bemoan its lack of virtual memory, right in the middle of the presentation.
Remember kids, powerpoint is a fat and lazy application that is also ugly, and can reduce your presentations to brain-dead status. At least the show last night was all pictures and not bullet points (ie, replacing the very traditional and nearly ubiquitous slide projector), but in that case... why not just show the images with something small and quick like Irfanview?
At any rate...
Last night I went to see a lecture given by James Polshek, of Polshek Partnership Architects. He's done a lot of interesting work and some pretty nifty designs over the years. This was the first architecture lecture I've attended since last year, when I went to see a presentation by Patkau architects. While there is always a theme to the yearly lecture series at Stanford (who has no scholastic architecture faculty, this is run by the 'building services' architecture department), this was the first one that was in effect a transcription of the theme. Taking Stanford's 'A Decade of Change: Campus Planning and Design' topic, Polshek showed us projects on which he had worked at various campuses around the USA, taking time to give a bit of history, some background to his project, problems on the campus, and sometimes some rather biting criticism. It wasn't really a 'show and tell' of his work, as archi lectures tend to be, but nor was a lecture in the more usual sense of the word. It was more of a survey of conditions and potential solutions that exist at various campuses.
He was great. With humour and decorum (despite the technical difficulties) he led us through the different schools, including Columbia University where he had been Dean of Architecture (and advisor to the president on building, a condition he imposed before taking the deanship as he felt Columbia had many problems) and where I had done work during the Studio '95 project with Carleton (the Harlem project, for those who remember). His final slides were on his work at Stanford, an addition to an art gallery. Most of his work was additions or modifications to existing buildings, and his "big thing" seemed to be circulation through the building for the public/students (ie, using the building as a connecting link between different parts of the campus) as well as their external visage vis-�-vis the public face of the university as well as their relation to existing structures (both in a formal sense and in a contextual sense).
Overall, it was lighthearted and fun, and different. It wasn't a thorough discourse or intellectually overbearing, nor an expose of the architect's work. While those two can both be desirable, this held its own and left one to glean what they may from the campus expos�.
On another amusing note, while walking to the theatre I did a small double-take. Many buildings at Stanford are done in a 'rough face stone block'. Lo and behold, there's someone doing a traverse across the face of the building. Heh. Judging by the amount of chalk along the rock edges, I'm guessing he was not the only one to use that facade for practice. Either that, or he practices quite often.
My Sunday game. Hmm. The first of the Battlesystem battles occured, taking the whole session (as predicted), and on the whole from a rules standpoint I think went off relatively well. Considering it was, for most, the player's first experence with the battlesystem rules (and/or mass combat) it was mostly smooth, with just a bit of confusion about unit formations and movement. It was also the character's first experience with mass combat for the most part (even the most experienced fighter in the group mainly did smaller gladitorial combats), so it worked out well that way. Mechanically the evening was well.
I'm switching to a once-per-two-week schedule for my campaign. That was always my original plan, but I wanted to get as much playing time in before one of the participants moved (he will telepresence in) and I wanted to get the campaign really moving and the character's engaged. Now that the two have occured (effectively), it'll give me some chance to prepare things a bit slower, though it won't equate to much more free time as the Chi Na seminar starts next week at the kwoon, and that'll suck in a few hours of my monday/wednesday again.
When we do more battlesystem, though, it may have to be a one-two shot for my campaign since the next battle(s) have the potential to be bigger, and hence longer. Hopefully the minis can stay on the table all week.
On other fronts, not much else to report yet.
Ever know the feeling of having to hold your tongue (or fingers as the case may be)?
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Warning: Jubilent Vanity (*) ahead.
Workout today began as a not terribly spectacular affair. I did warmup, some kicks, some pretty decent double-kicks. Wendy1 arrived (as opposed to the other Wendy, Wendy2) and we went for a run, a run that my inner shins didn't like too much. Didn't push to hard, went to the stairs, ran some stairs and ramps. Ran back, not totally used to the sudden return of the heat, feeling a bit winded. Which was alright, as I wanted to practice my sets lightly as to not jack up my shoulder more... and we all know how well my attemps at lightly usually turn out. Did all the sets, including Tun Da once with a bunch of the 'kids' class who were there (Jason told 'em to line up and to do it with us, esp. since they'll apparently be lining up with us in the adult class in a few months). So, it was good. Jason later calls "10 minutes and I'm out of here" around noon. I whip out my double daggers to do the set (very lightly!) to remind myself of it.
As I'm practicing a bit, Jason talks to one of the Internal students (who knows Xing Yi and took the push hands class with us) if he wants to try some breaks -- I'm guessing there was a yes, as Jason returns from the warehouse with a few bricks he'd bought. They set up, and the guy tries a few smacks, no go. Jason provides some suggestions, no go. A few more tips, still no. Sounded good, but no break.
Jason then asks if I want to give it a try (I'd asked him some questions earlier about his bricks (*)), and I ask "uh, sure, not warmed up for it or anything." "Best time to do it," Jason replies, "That way if you don't make it, you have an excuse." Good point.
I do about a half-dozen arms swings, and step in behind the brick. Place my hand on it, sink the stance a bit, sink my energy to my tan tien. Raise the hand to head level, and bring it down in a loose slap.
Tink.
Woah.
"Alright," chuckles Jason, "Now try one that hasn't already been weakened by someone before you." He sets up another brick. I step, raise hand.
Tink.
Right through, like it wasn't even there. I'm happy. My first two breaks.
* - OK, some depreciation here. We'd discovered earlier that the structural capacity of the bricks could vary quite a bit between different lots. I'd asked Jason what kind of bricks he'd broken recently, and he mentioned they were the easy ones. I've got some at home that I've tried to break on two earlier occasions without success -- definitively a different lot that seem to have less aggregate and thus is probably stronger in tension (or something similar). I am, of course, now quite interested in going back and trying those bricks again, but didn't get a chance today as I spent the rest of the day at lunch, washing cars, dinner, then hanging out with the gang.
So far this has been, on all acounts, a pretty normal week.
Tuesday's class was a bit unusual in that I taught the first 2/3, and Jimmy actually taught again, teaching the last bit. Given his recovering injury, and my leg-intense workouts, he had the class practice Sam Sing and do about five thousand pushups and some punches for good measure. I did some of the pushups and they didn't feel to bad -- though the shoulder wasn't too happy the next day.
Prior to the Jimmy switch, I had way to much energy. All my kicks were especially high, as were the jumps and jump kicks, all snappy and powerful. And as can be expected, I paid the price by being rather sore the next day(s) for having pushed the legs to their limit. Thus it was when I led conditioning on thursday. Luckily for me, I had planned on less kicks that night, and we did various line and stance drills. Nothing like balancing out the hamstrings by making the quads sore too.
Game tonight, practice saturday, game sunday. As I said, pretty normal.
Quote: "Former employees say morale wasn't helped by Corrado's first presentation to the IT group, in which they say he proclaimed, 'Come in every day and expect to be fired'. Intended to inspire the troops to greater effort, the talk backfired," reports CIO magazine.
Quote: "If they are, then our Universe is curved like a Pringle, shaped like a horn, and named after a Star Trek character. You could not make it up."
What a weekend.
Friday evening and saturday began pretty much as usual, with a game and a practice (albeit restrained due to a shoulder I will refer to as stupid), followed by some good friends-hanging-out-with. The divergence from the norm begins saturday evening, with an invite from a student of mine, whom I have recently discovered is a gamer (and, natch, she also learned my game geekness), to a one-shot Call of Cthulhu game to help playtest an adventure for some friends of hers who will be running it at an upcoming convention. (I think that was a bit of a run-on-sentence) Though never having played CoC before I said "oui!" and off I spent the evening. Neither of us knew what to expect (I for not having played CoC, she as she'd never played CoC under the two GMs who were running); in the end, it turned out to be a lighthearted CoC game (not very CoC-ish, from what I've been told later). The adventure needed a bit more opening up, but to pick up a character and run with it with a bunch of others you'd never gamed with (and who were doing the same thing) was quite refreshing and fun -- I guess one could say it was my first taste of 'con'-style playing. I would give some thought to participating at a con...
Sunday dawned with my preparations for my campaign that evening. I had a bunch of stuff already prepared, but wanted to refresh my memory, make a few more notes, get a bit further ahead in preparation. Noon rolls around, and here comes the invite to truck out with people to see Kill Bill Vol 2. Rushing I finish a few more things and head out the door -- movie -- eat -- to the game.
Here's where the weekend caught up with me.
To begin, it was a bit universal, as the recent inclement weather must have sucked all the Chi out of the air. Many of us were having trouble speaking anywhere near cohesively, let alone eloquently, and some were pretty asleep. But, in my rush out of the house I forgot some notes, some references, a GM screen, and all of the initiative cards. Not good. Without having refreshed my memory meant I had to recall what was to come, and wasn't as quick off the draw as I should've been. Granted, this part of the adventure had its own downside as being the lead up to the coming storm, and as such up there was much prep-work and alliance building and the like to go on. The party was split up, some were busy doing 'training the townspeople', some were off, others were rebuilding walls. Attempts to get more townspeople interaction didn't go very far. But even taking those into account the game still dragged too heavily.
Plus, with the weekend packed, I didn't get any further work done on the DP9 material I was going to double-look-over.
Ah well. I realize after every session I've said I may have killed the momentum. Hopefully there's time to re-rail Sunday's tale.
Plenty of time to re-rail sunday's tale.
Between leaving a task vague so that the performer of said task can learn how to perform that task, and asking for a task that is so vague that the performer has no freakin' clue what the task should entail, what is valid to include or not include, and just leaves said performer to wonder if you really know what it is you are trying to task.
And I'm not even sure if the first possibility, that of teaching/learning, enters into this one.
Last night, Jimmy arrives at the kwoon. Knowing my shoulder is injured, and that he and I are the only instructors are there, he asks if I want him to run conditioning. Thing is, he's still not fully recovered from his own (back) injury, so I ask him if he'd be alright with that -- he thinks so. Hmm. Well, I kind of feel like running it, but not sure if I should to be sure I don't push things. He thinks and feels the exact same way.
So, we flipped a coin. :P And I ran Conditioning of the Legs part VI.
Well, I'll say one thing: this campaign is going to be an interesting ride, if nothing else. Quite the quirkish party indeed. Should be fun to watch it butt with the first edition modules...
CSS Zen Garden this week has again nothing that'll blow one's virtual socks off, but there are the amusing real-world takeoffs (A and B), this one has architecture and is somewhat slick, this one is a simple but effective, and this one tries to do something interesting but it bothers me.
Three weekends, three times to Elbe's. }:) Since Dave's visit, I went the following weekend (as they didn't have the hassenpfeffer when we went and she said 'see you next week!') and she saved me a serving (actually, Rev and I had the last two servings). We ate well. But as we were leaving, she told us to return this weekend as she would have an entirely new menu. So, of course, we went.
It is indeed new. Of course, its not entirely new, it's just revamped somewhat. She's branched out to touch on other offerings from Europe in an effort to entice more people into her restaurant. Lamb Shank Provencal, a very interesting Weiner Goulash (tasty and different veal dish, which I tried tonight), a Spatzle with Prawns, more seafood dishes, etc. But she has kept some of the best dishes from before: the baked brie and black forest ham appetizer that is to die for, the weinerschnitzel and the jagerschnitzel, the rinderrouladen, the spatzle and red cabbagge... No new desserts yet, though (the experiment she gave to me a couple of weeks ago wasn't there forex, so I didn't see what it turned into).
Post-dinner we stopped by Home Depot. NO, DOORS ARE NOT LESS EXPENSIVE. Heh. Well, they kind of are, but they're too long (80") and the cheaper ones are all hollow so wouldn't do as a table and the ones that would do well are about the same price but with a worse finish. Ikea may be using the same techniques as the doors, but they're better than just old doors.
Another class, another conditioning of the leg. Thursday was Jump night, wherein we jumped, did double (jumping) toe kicks, lotus kicks, tornado kicks, and just generally ensured we were airborne as much as possible. Fortunately, I got my shoulder worked on on friday -- it still feels like crap, but hopefully it'll pull itself together. I am considering seeing Dr Wong too, though. While I'm not sure this falls under (what I perceive) his speciality (to be) I'm figuring it may not hurt to get it worked on more often and from different angles. Its really starting to bug me.
I may price my system and put it together today! Or, I should say, order the parts. :P I have started to re-arrange a few things in the apartment in preparation. I visited Ikea to extend my Sten (I don't care if they call it Gorm now and have changed the design slightly, its still Sten!) shelves, considered getting some more Sten shelves to form an area for my new bookshelf speakers, and am considering a new table. I love the table I'm on now (6' long by 3' wide) its just that since its a folding table the legs are a bit obtrusive. Getting something similar with better legs would allow better use of the space underneath. They have exactly what I want -- but really I'm also tempted checking out home depot to get a door, since that's basically a) what I would be buying at Ikea as a desk surface (and then attaching the legs) and b) it may be cheaper to buy an actual door.
This weekend, I'm taking care of Vicki's cat. She has a Maine Coon Cat who exploded into growth a few months ago (I saw it in November -- saw it again in January and it had flipped the Kitten/Cat bit entirely). Iffn' and when I get another cat (I have one back home with my parents right now) I was thinking of maybe getting a Russian Blue, but I'm starting to be very enamoured with the MCCs. Kohai is a wonderful cat, very playful, soft, active, stealthy and cuddly, all in one. And hey, any cat with ear tufts can't be that bad, right?
The scene: WLKF. The personages: One with an injured shoulder, one feeling ill. The story: I ran conditioning again.
And ran is the right word. With the shoulder still fending me off with an icepick like I was some unwashed sock monster, it had to be another leg workout. The bad news was that the stairs are permanantly gone from the nearby Caltrain station. The good news is they've been replaced.
A new tunnel going underneath the tracks has, on each side, a ramp and a set of stairs. The stairs aren't nearly as steep as the old stairs (in fact they're a bit disturbing with a very low rise to run) but the ramp is long with a nice switchback and running up it can add a surprising (to many) amount of effort. Plus with the ramp/stair combo (which forms an H pattern if viewed overhead) there was a plethora of routes/ways to run about. Only problem was some people got confused/lost as to which way to run. Next time, I'll have to spend more time explaining the drill beforehand, so we can get back into the single-leg hops, high steps, etc.
QotD: "Share your bandwidth!" (A poster for Linksys wireless routers at Fry's -- given the unintentional sharing by most wireless users, I'm not so sure that's the greatest marketing slogan.)
"No battle plan survives contact with the enemy."
The laws of combat are a wonderful thing, and apply to many situations. Especially in gaming, when you are the GM. Players (nevermind friends you think you know well) just always manage to surprise by, well, surprising with actions you didn't think they'd do.
Heh, ok, I'm making it sound much more ominous than it was. I don't think it went too badly, though its hard to gauge exactly how the others felt about it.
I do need to be cautious (especially with spoilers), as I know at least one person from the group reads this blog...
My plan was, I thought, a rather inspired one. As I made everyone create a backstory for their characters, I wrote a one-page 'introductory story' for each of them, which summarized their recent past, how they came to the starting city (none of the characters knew each other) and also hooks to involve them in the story that was about to play out. These pages were handed out (all nicely printed) as the game started, followed by some general text that laid out a scene, and began an encounter that would bring the characters together, introduce them to the adventure, and begin a journey to the adventure's main locale. More would ensue there. The idea was to entrance the players with their introduction story, have them deal the encounter, and have them sucked into the game and story (and into character), leaving a powerful impression that would carry through in this otherwise 1e-style module.
Except that the combat took way longer than I thought, leading to some tediousness, and worse leading to not even beginning the journey to the other locale. So I fear that the 'entrancing' didn't root. And some of the characters didn't quite play/do as I thought they would, or play-off what I'd crafted in their intro as I thought they might , and then I got some timing wrong, and those forced other changes... and then you forget something... and you end up driving home cursing yourself and being worried because, for some reason, you actually care how your players feel. Hee.
At any rate, we'll see how this goes from here. Nothing that went awry was horribly detrimental, just out of order or not as 'elegant' as it may have otherwise been. I'm mostly disappointed that the 'entrancing' didn't go (as) well (as it may have).
One week now to prepare for the next!
Ok... maybe the hill did whack my butt more than I thought. Sore glutes... the fun result of running uphill for long periods.
Plan for today: injure the shoulder less. How: go running at Rancho San Antonio rather than going to practice at the school. (Though I did go there after to help someone out). The result? Well, something I unfortunetaly feared. The mountain whacked my butt (not kicked, just whacked).
There's a particular course I like running along the trails there. When I first went during my, er, climbing days, it was not pretty watching me trying to run it. Fast Forward to 2002, after many Jimmy classes etc, and I could run the whole course, non-stop. Practically killed my boss that way one day too. It was fun. Fast forward again to now, after an ankle injury that kept me from conditioning for four months+, and a bunch of other stuff, and I had to walk some stretches. Of course, doing that leg-intense workout thursday didn't help...
Either way, I ,and especially my legs felt, stupid tired.
I injured my shoulder a few weeks ago. Oddly, it went pwang while doing sweeps, but there were probably other circumstances that lead up to it and it just went pwang during some twisting motion in the sweep. I've been getting some treatment, but I've gone skiing, climbing and done push hands with it, since those three were things I couldn't/didn't want to miss.
Still, I understand in theory (if not in practice) that I need to let it rest a bit to heal. Tuesday I went to class, trying to not work it much, doing conditioning but avoiding any serious arm exercises. As usual, that didn't work very well in practice. So, last night I hmmmed and haaed and tried to think what to do, whether I should skip conditioning and just go in to teach my students later, or practice some kicks/etc at home and go in... eventually settling on going in, going for a run when conditioning starts, then kicking the bag and the like.
19:00 rolls around, I'm finishing up my warmups. The children's class ends. I look around. "Uh, Tom, is Jason here?" "No, he's home sick today." I look some more. No other instructors. Looks like I'm running conditioning. Heh.
In the end, it worked out damn well. I ran a leg-intense workout with running and jumps and kicks and pad work. I also had tonnes of energy and felt great after class.
Ironically, I taught my students and just that little bit of form work left my shoulder sore. Grrrrrr. Sigh.
California needs to change its name.
The full name, as evidenced on the flag, is California Republic. A republic is a state where the supreme power rests in all the citizens entitled to vote for representatives, and this power is then exercised by those representatives. In other words, you vote for your representatives (who should have experience, knowledge and wisdom) and they then make policy in your name.
Right now, every election there is a never-ending stream of so-called Ballot Initiatives: resolutions that are given an up-or-down vote in a direct referendum by the voters. When this many issues are being decided by direct votes, you no longer have a republic. You're bypassing the very idea of a republic. Heck, even the current gropenator is constantly threatening (and already has) to bypass the "legislators in sakramento" and "go to the people of kalifornia."
There's nothing wrong with initiatives, referendums, etc per se -- but it can get out of hand, there can be to many, and bad policy can be created by either poor initiative writing or downright misleading the public as to what the initiative will really do. With so few actually voting, how many are actually taking the time to know the initiatives inside and out, and thus able to make informed decisions?
Whatever the case may be, if this keeps up, it is time for a name change.
As part of their exhibitor status, Dave's company got a few passes to the expo, providing me the opportunity to check things out at the GDC last Friday. It'd been two years since I last saw the expo and four years since I first attended. Biggest changes I noticed this year were three. For start, the rise of professional training programs, be they four-year degree programs or one-year-super-intense-training models. Next was the 'come work here' contingent, for Maryland, for Singapore, for Korea... Lastly was the loss of the big black box of doom, aka Microsoft's rather imposing edifice that anchored one corner of the GDC floor in years past. In fact, ATI was the only booth with two stories this year. Having AMD and Intel's pavilions be literally right next to each other was another interesting touch. Otherwise, nothing too knock-your-socks-off-ish. Next year the GDC is being held at the Moscone centre, which either means they are expecting huge growth or... um. Not sure what else it could mean; it'll certainly cost them more for the space.
Saturday offered us a chance to head out for some climbing, my first time out climbing since I climbed with Dave and co when I visited Ottawa over the holidays. We trucked out to the Belmont Planet Granite gym as he'd never been. Overall the walls there are not quite as bulbous as the ones at the Santa Clara gym, but there is some very good geometry and the walls are on the whole much higher.
To list off the restaurants he is now acquainted with: E&O (Fusion, San Jose), Midori (Japanese, Sunnyvale), Dishdash (Mediterranean, Sunnyvale), Elba's (German, Palo Alto), Hobbies (Breakfast, Mountain View) and Le Petit Bistro (French, Mountain View). I think we covered a good number of the bases...
Back to the regular routine for both of us this week. My shoulder is giving me some problems so I took the week off from class last week; it is still not feeling that great, but we will see how well it does this week. I'm also working on getting ready to start the campaign I plan on GMing this weekend.
Unfortunately, a friend and Kung Fu brother is looking like he may be moving out of the area in the very near future. I haven't seen him much lately due to conflicting schedules and the lack of gaming, but with both of those changing soon that should have rectified itself. It does mean that some netmeeting-type setup may have to be worked out to keep him in the campaign...
With Dave down visiting for the Game Developer's Conference, it seemed a natural choice to head up to the slopes of Tahoe and introduce him (as I had a few years earlier) to the bigger hills of the west. Of course, as you've been reading, the temperature here has spiked over recent weeks, threatening the very idea of skiing...
Fortunately, the snow wasn't as bad as I feared. Heavy and slow to be sure (hard and scrape-y in the shade), but not the slushbath it might have otherwise been. And really, I say, what better way to introduce California skiing then California dude-I-don't-need-my-jacket! skiing? Two new experiences in one! As it turns out, 'twas my introduction to the slopes here as well (though I lucked out and the temp had just turned warm, so the snow was better then) and I remember just how doubly fun it was.
Our destination for this adventure was South Tahoe, to the resort of Heavenly. Straddling the border with Nevada, it was amusing to see the "Welcome to..." signs as one is skiing, not to mention looking at the town from atop the mountain it's easy to see the state line -- that's where the towers indicating the casinos lie. Heavenly itself had quite the altitude with a top-out of 10k+ feet, and a good number of runs. Extra nifty/lucky was that hotel I booked ended up being about a block and a half away from the gondola for the mountain, so on the second day we left the car where it was and walked right to the gondola for the trip to skiing pleasure.
It was a good couple of days, if tiring due to the heaviness of the snow. The slopes were not too crowded, and lift lines were as a rule quite short. We didn't redline anything and just concentrated on having fun in the absurdity of 15 degree (C, of course) skiing. This time out my rentals consisted of 160cm skis, which seems ridiculously short compared not only to the skis when I started skiing, but also what I'd rented previous years. Apparently being wider than the norm and with their uber-contours they are supposed to perform as well or better, and certainly I didn't notice much difference, though with the conditions it may not have been as easy to notice anything unusual or different. Dave's board was a bit too flexible for his taste, so we exchanged it before the second day. And what do you do when SPF 48 isn't enough??
Once a year (well, two days over a weekend, but only one weekend per year) seems strangely little to partake in skiing for someone who used to ski far far more often, but it seems to be the reality these years for me, a tradition that now extends 3 seasons. With the hills rather far away, and the cost so amazingly high it tends not to pan out more often. But at least those few days are a blast. Somehow I have better impressions of some of the hills I've skied in North Tahoe, but I can't put my finger exactly on why (the runs just seemed -- more bland?), and I wouldn't be adverse to returning to Heavenly or trying Kirkwood. There's certainly more options for dining on the South shore...
For those wondering where the title for this post originates (there's at least one of you wondering, I'm sure of it), why, it would be from the most-excellent demo by Future Crew. During one sequence, text crawls along a rolling background/landscape, following the ground as though projected from a great light. Climbing the mountain late afternoon, we found ourselves on a lift with the sun directly behind, projecting our shadows onto the snow below. As the shadows rolled, morphed, washed and warped over the terrain and moguls below, I could only stare, fascinated and entranced of the spectacle and being reminded of that very sequence from the demo.
Wow, I think I am about done with 95% of the design work I was doing for Dream Pod 9's next book -- a whopping 88 planes, 22-odd ships and 8 ground vehicles. They add up fast. Some rules design/commenting in there too, though not as much as I thought there would be (at least, not yet, though there is still a wee bit of time). Certainly I'll never under-value the work of those doing all the stats for games (especially from scratch, and doing design while the rules are changing), and I think I enjoy the whole thing way to much. If that's possible... (nahhhh)
In a reply to a comment to an earlier post I stated that LEED may have a brighter future as public awareness about Architecture (and architecture, as well) is growing due in part to starchitect projects, but just from a general greater treatment in the media and magazines. But thinking about it some more, that is definitively one area the LEED project may well have failed; it may not be specifically in their mandate (perhaps purposfully, so that they aren't attacked or shut down), but they could have done a much better at PR/awareness/advertising or even promotion and a camapaign. Get the word out! "Does the company you do business with believe in LEED?" "Do you know where your consumer dollars are going? Into the trash!" "Oh no mom... we can't buy that! They aren't LEED certified!" and the like. A particular shoe company had to change its wage practices due to their slavedrivingness -- something similar with LEED? At least something to get the word out -- it is the consumer who changes things if the companies don't want to. Of course, then they'd argue it'd cost more, and the deal may very well be off; its how the auto industry operates after all.
At any rate, something to publicize the issue, PSA done by a good advert firm. That's where LEED could do more, to try to advance its cause.
Lastly... only in...
Hehe. Was thinking about it post-class last night, and realized that pre-trip 2002, I kind of kept a blog before realizing there were blogs.
And this, well... this is just too weird for words except maybe for Weirdest. Thing. Ever.
It's the newest TV series.
The doctor speaks to our protagonist, after the results of some tests, and says "As much as tests are all I seem to do, I think we should do one more, as my previous tests show indicators of what could be a chronic condition and it would be good to have foreknowledge."
Cut to the protagonist at home, getting a call from the nurse, saying "We must hold off on the test, as the insurance company may not want to pay for it."
Inner voice: That's interesting. An insurance company that must obviously be full of experts who know more than my doctors -- I wonder why they are not out practicing, they could probably cure the world!
Visited the Asian Arts Museum in SF yesterday with good friends Mike and Bernadette plus a friend of theirs, and met up with more mutual friends. We went to see the Monumental Landscapes of Li Huayi -- all I can say is WOW. These are rather different Chinese landscapes, contemporary but not devoid of tradition, very dense (as in lines and detail and depth, in a good way) and gripping. Impressive to say the least, and hard not to try and distract the guard and, um, accidentally walk out with one.
Worth a visit if you are in the area and have appreication for the style of Chinese Landscape paintings.
One interesting thing about SF Bay Weather I have learned over the years: no matter the temperature outside, if you can find sun, you're warm. It can be cool outside, but step into the sun, all's good, or even too good.
Remember how I said it had gotten warmer? Make that it has gotten hothothot -- 28~ or higher today. Add in that sun, while doing sets, and its "I'm on Fire!" time. At least it doesn't get too humid here.
A couple of weeks ago I decided on a new training pattern for the saturday workouts. They are appropriatly and explanetor-ily named the "Endurance" and "Speed & Power". Endurance is simple: do all the known hand sets w/ only a minute rest between them, followed by various weapon sets. Speed & Power focuses on just a couple of sets (or just one of the longer sets, broken into two) and works them over and over with an eye to increasing speed/power without completing all the moves. (Admittedly, a pet peeve of mine; there are some who do the sets blindingly fast but their form and completion is terrible, sometimes mushing through whole sequences where it was tough to figure out what was supposed to be done. I tend to be a bit slower than others as I enjoy focusing on hitting all the moves; the purpose of this day of training is to thus speed me up w/o killing that aspect).
Today was endurance, in the sun (at least I remembered sunscreen). I did the sets in the order I learned them (6, 7, 8, 5, 4, 9) but later i might mutate the order closer to full numerical. Went quite well, did the weapon sets, worked on some more hand sets with others, then practiced double daggers, doing all the groundwork on the mats to save my poor body from the various bruises I now have (the groundflower just grinds my tailbone and hips). A good workout day.
Last night's gaming was also very good, and surprisingly was held in my smallish appartment w/o much cramping (though we were only 5 last night). Tommorow a bunch of us are trucking up to the Asian Art Museum to check out an exhibit, hopefully we'll be awed and soothed by much beautifulness.
As quickly as the 'colder' weather started last fall, the warmer weather has returned with temps in the low 20s for the past few days and even nights (despite clear skies), which has made both the Push Hands class and the Shaolin class rather perspiration-inducing. Speaking of the latter, good practice on saturday and a good class last night, albeit one that was co-opted by Jason about half-way through for his own brand of kicking drills.
Quote of the day: "Since a paper recount is impossible with the majority of these machines, one has to wonder if touch-screen voting might eventually inspire nostalgia for the hanging chads, political wrangling and mass confusion (...) The old system may have been a nasty business, but at least we know what went wrong with it."
People with sensitve info on 'netserver'puters, beware! (quite interesting read)
Had a LEED seminar today at lunch, which was very interesting. Its not something that is done enough, but it may be something that is gaining some momentum... at least I hope so.
Out for now...
Why the smeg do companies want you to register at their site to download a frikken manual? Provide me the link to the file already, dammit! Is there a reason you desperately need my email address? Do you really think I'm going to believe that it's going to remain private et al?
Something interesting strikes me every now and again: A lot of the utilities/programs I use on a daily basis have one thing in common: they're non-commercial. And they all rock (else why would I be using them?). Why?
It isn't that I don't use commercial software, nor that I'm any rabid free-the-code person. Just that when it comes to getting the tasks done, it seems many out there can write stuff that works better and less obtrusive than the 'true' vendors. Just a nifty.
Just in case you thought we didn't really enter the competition.
It is quite interesting, and quite amazing that they have put all entries online. Given the nature of the boards, they must have used a rather remarkable digital camera setup to capture them all, and in such good lighting (no hot spots) and good resolution. My inner geek says hats off to them for that.
It is also, of course, doubly interesting to peruse the various entries and look them over from various angles including their architectonics, their response, their 'woah out there' and equally important the board itself. Regarding the above-capture process, some are so dark they didn't make it well into this format (and must have been hard to read IRL). There are professional entries, there are entries from people who felt they should enter. There are completed super slick and there are ones with just text and a little post-it-note. There are common themes, and there are the, er, unique.
There are also 5000+ of them. This could take a while to go through. :P
(I already commented on my thoughts on the winner(s) earlier, but let me add the difficulty of making a large, underground cavernous space remain a visitable place, especially in the presence of so much water...)
Quote of the Day: He won't play the (MMORPG) game with us because we're, you know, sane.
Driving to class the other day, I pull in to make a left turn, next to a bus. On the back of the bus is a PSA which states "Want to meet a cop? Drive fast." above a picture of an officer of the law. On the side of the bus is an ad for the film 2 Fast 2 Furious 2.
Oh the irony.
When they say there are 2 seasons here ( brown and green), again I say that is quite true. Most vegetation is green (and brown when dry). With the arrival of rains, however, there seems to have appeared a variety of pinkish-flowering trees, adding a splash of colour to the otherwise green-grey background.
Yesterday's practice went off very well. I managed to do all the hand sets I know in the order I learned them, with only a few minutes rest in between each. Taught me I have a way to go to regain my earlier, er, vitality. I also practiced most of the weapon sets, and focused on a few little nit spots here and there. Overall, I'm happy with how it went, no dramatic insights, but solid.
Whoever said that small towns never have excitement was, well, apparently wrong. I do remember Pine Ridge, it was a bit of a place of mystery for those my age for during our younger years, at least until it was turned into a school for a while.
Work continues along on the RPG book I am doing helping with. I will certainly say that after looking and trying to correlate a whack of designs, tweaking here, having that cascade everywhere, making sure that is reflected over there... I'm starting to appreciate good editing and consistant design much much more.
Where has February gone? I know, I know, I tend to say that at the end of every month, but dang.
Wow! A product returned to the shelves at TJs! With the return of a favoured juice blend, the number now only stands at seven for items I love that have disappeared from their inventory. I'm suitably estatic! Wooot!
I discovered this site sometime last year, and loved its prose and above all else its juxtapositions. Then, mysteriously, the fire went out and while still a fair roundup, it fell flat overall. This week's shows a bit of spark, but it still isn't nearly as good as it was at its best. Where have you gone, oh pen of such sharpness? When witty expos� goes away, it is a loss...
So, yah. Another week of crazy legs, with tightness and soreness and knots and weakness moving from place to place to place, and continuing to baffle and annoy me. Ah well. Teaching conditioning tomorrow night, and I've got some nifty stuff planned.
cssZenGarden wise, there hasn't been anything uber-exciting recently, though this is kinda cute I guess, and Makali's page pointed out this interesting concept piece.
Also trying to organize a ski/board trip for March when Dave comes to visit, hopefully a) it'll work out and b) the conditions will still be good. I've skiied Quebec, and it's great, but the western hills are a wee bit larger. I also stopped my membership at Planet Granite (it had been on hold), for while I really want to get back into climbing regularly it isn't looking like I'll be going often enough to make a membership worthwhile, with KF et al taking up plenty o' time on their own...
Work continues to be busy busy busy!
And that's the haphazard update.
One of the downsides to being a senior student is I rarely ever get any "well done" or "nice!" comments while doing line drills/etc (anymore). -grump-
Tonight a group of us went to see Fog of War (here or here), a film about Robert McNamara. It is the first film I have seen by this film maker, and is best put as a Intermentary -- part documentary, part interview, part lecture. During its running time, it attempts to chronicle bits of wartime history from WW2 and Vietnam, with a small measure of the Ford motor company thrown in, and illustrate those historical revisitations through the man who made the decisions and through 11 'lessons' or 'platitudes' postulated by mr McNamara. Ultimately, the film is about McNamara, and the way he sees himself and his role in the 20th century. But, in a good way, it left me longing to forgo the long montages and just hear Mr McNamara give a full-blown lecture. (The film was taken from 20 hours of interviews, down into 90 minutes) Armed with the better understanding of him through this film, I think it would be provoking to learn his thoughts in full, let him expand on them in a structured way, and then distill it through the appropriate filters (re: knowing more about the man from the film) to gather some ideas. Well done, a definite recommended watch, and a tonal score by Phillip Glass that is somewhat haunting and ominous (as can be expected) that is also surprisingly sticky in the mind. (For the visually and graphically interested, there are some interesting montages and even one or two very well done CG pieces that are very classy).
As I start the car for the drive home, on NPR what should come to my ears but someone talking about the movie Bleu (here and here), the powerful film by Krzystof Kieslowski (the first of the Trois Couleurs series). I truly adore this film, and even more so the score by Zbiegnew Priesner. Totally in a different vein than the docu-view I just saw, it is an evocative journey into the meaning of liberty that goes beyond the headline and sound-bite meaning. It is not a complex tale, but it unfolds without saying to much or too little as we follow the main character's (Juliette Binoche -- absolutely wonderful, the first film I saw of hers) struggle. Music takes centre stage several times, including scenes where the image fades away leaving only the music; you have to give a film director credit for guts when he turns off the images.
I'm giving both films somewhat of the short shrift by such a short overviews here; reading the reviews from the linked pages above can give a more complete sense of the films, but I definitively recommend both of them; for completely different reasons, yet both are mind-engaging in their own way.
I still need to watch Blanc and Rouge, though.
Happy to say that yesterday's practise went pretty good. I stayed away from the hand forms, due to the continuing string of weird aches and tightness that is my legs, and instead focused on the weapon sets that I have been neglecting. It certainly showed that I needed to brush up on them, and also allowed me to have a pretty full workout w/o worrying about my legs giving out during a kick. I also practised some rolls and groundwork stuff that will be coming up in the double dagger set to finish off. All in all, a good practise.
Otherwise, as usual, I haven't been getting done as much stuff as I'd like to get done. As a case in point, take a look at my grand 3D project, which has languished for about a year now. Not due to lack of interest, just lack of time -- I'd work on it every 6 months or so, and spend the first 3h re-learning LightWave (since I need to use other 3D packages for the rest of my work). Still, one day I'd like to complete it, and so much more...
And I really should get out for some skiing one of these weekends.
I will admit, it makes little sense, and the logic still escapes me. Back in Nov, when I bought the TLK DVD, I was... frustrated by the quality of the set (platinum edition my !). Ironically, it was the 'cleanliness' of the transfer (digital, so no film grain) which made the JPEG artifacts so unbearably noticeable, and the turbulence/effects muddled. To you bozos: next time, use the whole disk, and compress as little as possible. Gods does that remind me how gorgeous the LD was.
Anyway, seeing that made me so annoyed that I bought TLKoB tickets to the travelling show here in SF. Yes, I'm annoyed at them, so I'll give the franchise more money. I said it didn't make any sense.
Especially given the fact that I have seen the broadway show once already, in Toronto. But, I'm a TLK freak in many ways (and many will attest to it in comments, I'm sure) so I went up to the city to enjoy the show. (Yes, it's not Macbeth at Stratford, but still can enjoy it).
What. The. Hell.
When I first saw the show at the 'permanent' location, I swear it was much better. While the 'generic' animal and landscape scenes were good (think Circle of Life at the beginning), for the most part there was a total lack of conviction by the performers. No energy, tentative and not very evocative. They just weren't moving. The action was overall understated, be it the dances or the character interactions. The fights were limper than a wet noodle, with either excruciatingly slow movements, or very unconvincing movements. Simba pouncing, or being pinned was similarly slow. And the choreography for the dances themselves was pretty limp, with a few jumps back and forth and a bit of running around. A) If you were auditioning people for this kind of show, you'd hire people who could dance, no? B) Did they 'tone down' dances in case they only got a small stage to perform on?
Also, if you've got these swords as a metaphor for claws, use it everywhere or not at all. And get a better fight coordinator! Do something with the sword/staff, hire some wushu martial artists, or something.
Amusingly, Mufasa and Scar both were overacting when it came to their dialogue. Scar was particularly annoying, there was just some particular way that he was delivering his lines, with a particular inflection that I just can't put my claw on. Very flat "a"s, kind of nasally. Feh. The rest of the actors were mostly ok, except that Young Nala couldn't sing. Adult Nala and Simba were both good, though, and Zazu and Timon were both excellent in their delivery. And Rafiki, well, she did an excellent job all over (except for her staff work, ugh).
At some times, I think the fact they tried to stay as close as possible to the film hurt them in a lot of ways. The birdie boiler, Rafiki "drawing" Simba on the tree, etc. IJCWtbK just DID NOT WORK, and couldn't be salvaged by an excellent Ikea Shower Curtain joke (even if it is a contemporary reference). Some of the better parts were the changes or additions: a Simba Flashback to the stampede when Timon gets swept away in a river, Rafiki hearing Simba's song on the wind (though then they went back to the 'snatch/sniff/draw'). "You've already bucked up royally, sire."
And the new songs, not being from the loins of Rice/EJ, were also for the most part the best pieces of music (most adaptation of Lebo M's work from Rhythm of the Pridelands). Of the original songs, CoL worked the best, I've already mentioned IJCWtbK, they ruined BP with this rhino dung sudden change in tempo and style (discoish??) to add in some lame dancing, CYFtLT had some odd plant costumes, and very horrible and strange Cirque-inspired aerial hanging twirlers and dancers that did some lame stuff while the two main characters stood off to the side and did nothing. Bleah. And speakers played an important role in the delivery of the sound (though not for drums/bongos, which were off to the side and very nicely live) which made it sound flat.
This really makes me question my memory. I really enjoyed the show, I still do like the new music pieces a lot (and if you found the original songs somewhat tame, the french lyrics are actually much better), I do like most of the costumes a whole tonne. I don't remember having some of these downside impressions of the show the first time, and while I know travelling shows can be just as good or better than static ones, I wonder if this one was a victim.
Still, at least there was no JPEG artifacts.
Really and truly, I'm not hiding out, I've just found myself especially busy -- especially work, where it was crunch time to finish off the drawing set for a building submittal, followed by some fast-pumped-out 3D massing studies for another project. Now onto checking the consultant's drawings for the submitted set, and see what needs to be fixed. I already know that structural has footings that are floating above the ground. This would be considered a very bad thing.
More content to come, when all the projects and socials align just right...
The broohaha continues over the 1/2 second boobage exposure during the halftime show of the superbowl (refereed to as a "Wardrobe Malfunction"). Boobies = ohmyfuckinggod. War, death and dismemberment = whatever. Commercials for beating up the elderly, dogs biting crotch, misogyny, etc = ok. Boobage = bad.
Anyone else find it fucking ironic that 50% of the adds were for fucking ERRECTILE ENHANCEMENT and BIG TRUCKS/CARS? But mustn't show boobies! Boobies bad! My PENIS ENHANCING TRUCK = GOOD! 4 hour + errections = EXCELLENT!
(actually, they did finally say "errections lasting over 4 hours, while rare, require immediate medical attention." Ha.)
Well, I can't promise to be less caustic than on the 29th. Its not that I didn't have a very good sunday, for I did, and its not that I didn't have a great pair of leading conditioning last week, for I did (running a good techniques conditioning on tuesday, and a never-stop-go-go-go conditioning on thursday). No, those are not the problems. That I missed a brush-up course on Iron Palm during the instructor's meeting I missed on friday (and wouldn't have known about it happening at all had Evan not mentioned it) is disappointing. I think my IP is doing quite well, but a) it never hurts to have it looked over and b) it just reminded me that I have been unable to do IP for a couple of weeks now.
But the worst was saturday morning. We ran, and ran well. Couldn't do the stairs due to construction. Then, the sides of my shins, right by the bone, decide to smegging CATCH FIRE. Such pain I have known almost at no other time. No reason, they just decided to hurt like distilled and concentrated hell, and continue to be as uncooperative as possible. WTF? Not happy.
So, I can't promise any sunshine and roses. Maybe its good that work is so insanely busy right now, what with finishing up a submittal for building permit and bid-set, that I can't post more.
BTW -- I realize what I said last time may be a bit redundant, as one could argue they are already fucking their children, or at least grand-children or grand-grand-children, or other children. But maybe seeing it first hand, starkly in front of them, would make them think differently.
Workout saturday wasn't the best, but I was expecting it since I was sick (actually, given Gan Mao didn't stomp it, I think it was my california allergies). But this brings up the question: was the workout not the best because I was expecting it not to be? Or was the cause/effect the other way (sick = bad)? Hard to know. At any rate, still managed to do the run-and-stairs routine, so that was good.
This seems Stranger Than Fiction (tm).
My professor for my second thesis has done this paper. Dr Loten is very cool, having worked at Tikal during the early days of its discovery, looked at some of the codex in detail, excavated and drawn other sites (including Altun Ha, the subject of my thesis), etc. But -- this paper seems to share a lot of base elements of my thesis. Is he allowed to do that?
It may be a tricky and cunning year, but here's to hoping it will be a good year in the end. Mine is starting not too auspiciously, with what I think now is allergies bogging me down (the Gan Mao can't wipe those out, alas, which means 2 weeks of ugh), which portends a year of not-so-good. Hmm.
Amnesty International has decried the execution of convicted felons who were minors at the time of the crime, calling upon China, Congo, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the USA to end the practise.
Texas was the USA state fingered for executing the most minors. Asked for comment, Texan leaders stated: "Foreign countries [ed note: Amnesty International is not a country] should stay out of our domestic affairs and policies."
Bush Jr, current USA president, is from Texas. The lines of irony and aiya are pretty easy to draw from there.
Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao!
Hit it before it sets in!
Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao! Gan Mao!
Saturday's workout wasn't bad at all, as it turns out. I started with a run, which I wanted to, but a bunch of us also went and did the stairs (there's a Caltrain station nearby and they have a set of those stairs that goes up one side of the tracks, over, then down the other. We run up and down them, sometimes fast, sometimes with knees high, sometimes hopping) for the first time in a while, which proved quite the more exerting than I thought. This may be partially to blame for my not-as-hard-as-I-wanted-to workout for the rest of the morning, but nevertheless I did manage to do all of my hand sets twice and most of my weapon sets once, which is what I wanted. So it's good.
Wow, what a night last night. The usual pattern is this: arrive at class feeling good = lousy class. Arrive at class feeling lousy = good class. Ie, in odd fashion the amount of energy and staying power and competence I have seems inversely proportional to how good I feel when I arrive there. Except for last night. Arriving feeling good, went for a 1 mi run. Then, called upon to teach conditioning, my body rose very admirably and I had pretty good energy the whole way through, and ran a pretty intense class. I was bouncy and feeling good.
Alas, post-teaching (my forms classes) I didn't work out quite as hard as I should have, a disappointment given how much better I did on tuesday. Et bien. I'm just hoping this upswing in energy and feeling is an indicator of better training ahead. 2003 was a letdown on that front (especially after 2002 which rocked pretty much all the way through). Getting 'back into it' in good fashion would probably help my mood in a big way.
Yep, to quasi-quote: "end US involvement in the ISS in 5 years." Now then, if the USA cannot get a space station in earth's orbit working properly, how the smeg are they going to get one working on the moon properly? Not to mention the potential for real science, especially in the field of materials and metallurgy, if they had finished developing the the lifeboat and put up all the modules. But no. Silly asses. Instead, they'll make everyone dream big, kill off the various other projects, then say "Feh, the moon is too hard, Mars is harder, sorry." Then NASA won't have any budget, and the Elephants will be happy.
No, I'm not cynical at all.
Quote: "The hotel didn't have an elevator ... which made it a bit of a pain when we arrived, as we had to carry our luggage up ... in which we had two cast-iron pots."
So, there's all set to be a biiiig announcement of 'the return to spaaaaace!' -- or, more correctly, to the space race -- by this administration. Never mind the fact that the ISS isn't funded worth anything already, and that the country is on a massive deficit budget and that the Apollo missions, as grand and amazing as they were, involved a huge amount of luck. Woah, you say, Mr Lynx, I thought you were a huge fan and supporter of NASA??! And I am. Before the Columbia accident, I would watch the live feeds from the ISS as they were building it. I watch ever launch I can. I have read countless books. I love the space programmes. But coming from an administration where information has just surfaced about pre-pre-emptive strike discussions, I am worried about exactly what will come out of it. Will the ISS be thrown to the space wolves? Will the planetary explorer probes be curtailed? Will engineering research (such as on the ion engine) be kaiboshed, all in a great 'patriotic' push?
All because the Chinese became the third space faring nation (the election year doesn't hurt either). But, given the right Push Hands master, they wouldn't even need a booster. (how's THAT for a segue) I started learning push hands tonight, and like most soft internal styles, the movements are easy, doing them right isn't. Ever try to unlearn using your muscles? I'm sure, like everything, there are people out there who grasp it w/o problem, but while I think I did a job of not overdoing it, I could feel the tension where there should not have been. Sifu says it takes 2 years of 2h practise every day to become a push hands 'master', so I don't feel too bad. I'm really looking forward to learning how to relax and flow more, hopefully it will carry over into my climbing (if I actually start climbing more regularly again, grrr) and into my shaolin sets.
Over the xmas break I read Tad William's latest novel, The War of the Flowers. Tad read us a chapter during a book signing when his previous novel (the end of the Otherland trilogy) came out, and it was very cool and very exciting and sounded very fascinating -- he is an excellent reader. The book was interesting, but unfortunately I (and other friends who have read it) found it was not as gripping as Tad's reading was. I can't quite place my finger on why -- it wasn't a bad book, nor was it devoid of action or twists, and it avoided the pitfall that made the end of Otherland drag a bit. A fun read without the ohmygodIcan'tputthisdown pull.
Sometimes, its better off not knowing.
I ran into a (former) co-worker, from my previous employment. Turns out ... a) the company which had seemed relatively stingy (even so far as one of the upper upps saying how much money we'd (they'd) made in a year where the employee's had found conditions more and more strict) suddenly began giving stock to the high-placed employees (of which I think I would have been part of)... b) the company was later bought by a larger company... c) those stock notes suddenly became Real Money (tm). I lost/missed out.
How much? Well, while this guy was already making good cash in salary, and later went on to contract for insanely good compensation, he was able to take a 4 month climbing vacation. Then get his commercial fixed-wing license. And get his rotor-wing license (@ $24,000+). And now he's moving to BC to be a 'copter pilot, climb, etc, at a young age.
What have I accomplished?
Unknown to most, the Buddhism known as 'Zen' in Japan and now around the world is a transplant from China. Ch'an Buddhism, as it is known, was developed by the eminent monk Bodhidharma (perhaps refined is a better verb, as parts of it existed in China prior to his arrival). Ch'an merges Buddhist teachings with Taoist theory, with meditation at the heart of Ch'an practise.
The borders in Bonsai Sky are a very interesting touch, as are the 'inscriptions' into the rock.
CS(S) Monk doesn't have any 'whizzbang!', befitting a monk, but is a nice overall clean composition.
On the opposite side of the scale, Focus & Shoot is image heavy and heavily stylized, but ends up still being pretty clear and visually interesting.
Indeed groovy, New Groove demonstrates the 'arrow next to the link' trick nicely under its Select a Design section. Ballade also has a similar feature, but is nifty primarily for the path/connections between sections.
Last, there is A Silent Strength, which features nothing funky, nifty, unusual or anything... but the colour scheme and the sort of acetone-transfer-onto-leaves look of the image and borders appeals to me.
Quote: "Uuuuaarrgh! It just keeps getting worse and worse!" (quoted by speaker while trying 100% (minimum, according to the package) coco -- I actually kinda liked it, colour me strange)
As can be expected, the soreness from the tuesday return-to-workout has arrived. Interestingly, though, is being sore in places I wouldn't expect to be sore, like my sides, or the calves. Hopefully its the 'able to be worked out' kind of sore so that I can indeed 'work it out' in tonight's class.
More to say, at a later time.
And indeed, work was quite the weird feeling today, post-two-weeks-off. After wading through 800 spam messages (our spam filters were so junk that we turned them off), the staff meeting, some small errands, catching up, etc, I feel as though I got little done for the full day.
Trip back wasn't all to terrible, if we don't count the delays at both take offs (the first for no discernable reason, the second due to snow in Detroit), the dry sandwitch that at least had the semblance of real food (obviously better caterer's in Toronto) and the children behind me who decided that seat kicking and seat manipulation was an official sport until they fell asleep.
It was really good to see everyone I managed to see while home, even if for a short time. Hopefully every one had a good and relaxing holiday! Back to the routine... with a few plans and hopes of routine-breaking changes in this new year.
Finally -- SNOW! One desire for the trip finally fulfilled.
Did manage to go climbing twice while visiting, which was also good, though certainly a bit hard to see what the cumulative months of climb-less-ness has done...
Going to work again on monday is going to feel... strange, among other things.
-toasts- A new year is beginning. This particular moment may be an arbitrary division point, but it still provides a moment when we may hang our hat on 'new' and 'change' and hope for 'the better' to come. So, here's to a good year for everyone, and a hope for a world changing for the better.
Quote: "They look like quadruped bunnies without hoppy legs." (describing a sculpture in Toronto)
Fact: Young Street is nearly 1900km (1187mi) long (!)
Going home to visit my parents always presents a bonus on nights of crystal clarity.
Bowmanville, where I grew up, couldn't exactly be called a city by any stretch. But one needn't be in a city to be enveloped in the glow of artificial lighting. So it was that until we moved north a few dozen km my view of the night sky had always been unknowingly tempered. Until one summer evening I returned from work around midnight, sitting in the car post-arrival to finish listening to a song on the radio. Stepping out into the darkened driveway, I looked up.
And nearly fell to my knees as I experienced the Milky Way for the first time, in its unbelievable intense and layered polychromatic glory.
Last night was another night of very clear sky, and while the Milky Way does not make an appearance during the winter months, away from the lights I am used to in the SF Bay area, I re-acquainted myself with the celestial sphere.
Yes... Orion has many friends.
Well, my first message posted from afar, using the web interface. [trumpets]
Though not much to say, save yes, there is some snow on the ground here [cheers!], and that Northwest Airlines have unfriendly staff and their in-flight meal consisted of the worst sandwitch I have ever had the misfortune of having to eat. Dry styrofoam white bun (I think wonder bread would have more to it), and cheeze so heavily processed I think they got it from degreasing the plane's axels.
On a better note, the Detroit airport has either undergone construction/renovation, or the terminal I went through the last time I flew through Detroit (which was 7ish years ago) was specifically designed as a dungeon to scare away furriners.
Also, when was the last time you got off your plane, and found your connecting flight right accross the hall? No running? Amazing.
I'm so used to seeing something akin to MCXVIII or similar on movies -- it's rather funny to see something as short as MMIII (or MMIV next year).
You may have heard that fruitcake is being disallowed on some flights in carry-on luggage. And for good reason! The stuff is like depleted uranium in density, only without the nasty radiation. Get it going at a good clip -- like dropping it out the window at the right time -- you could take out a building.
And I hurt myself laughing reading these. Brilliance.
There are a few songs on the RotK soundtrack that I am becoming particularly addicted too. There are so many great chorale tracks, and the Lennox track at the end is really growing on me (like a fungus). When the first soundtrack, to FotR, was released, I wasn't very happy. In fact, I thought the soundtrack was quite sucky. "There are only three themes on this soundtrack, and they are repeated over and over and over! It's a three hour movie! Three themes for a three hour movie??" Listening to the film again (ie watching it again) I noticed that there were indeed more than just three themes to the score, in fact the music in the film didn't seem repetitive at all (though it was spread over 3h, not 70 mins). With the release of all 3 soundtracks, I understand a bit better what they were doing: each soundtrack only features the 'primary' themes of the movie. That, and releasing only the 'major' movements means that each one is repetitive on its own (though the RotK one feels far less so).
Note to Peter Jackson: While you bide your time on other movies before you make the 15h all-one-movie cut (re-arranging scenes, removing some, etc to make it one real film), how about a DVD-Audio soundtrack of basically the score as it is in the film? Just remove the sound effects and the voices... mmmmmmmmm
Or so claims my sports medicine/chiropractor doctor. My quads have been feeling odd for a few months, feeling rather tight but worse (and more odd) is that they feel very tired very quickly, as in when I begin class within a few minutes they feel as though they have been working already for an hour. Turns out they are indeed rather borked, and have a lot of scar tissue that needs to be worked off. Painfully. With the thumbs of doom. Did I mention painfully?
So the message to me is 'ice those suckers up!' after class, and also being sure that after teaching class I should be sure to warm up again and stretch out a bit before beginning to kick the ceiling. But then the ice. Freezing body parts. It may have to be my friend, but I don't think he told me I have to find it enjoyable, which is good. Since I know I won't. :P
Otherwise, it'll feel a bit strange not to do class for the next couple of weeks as I take off on vacation, though it will give me time to practice Shaolin #9 (Lien Wan (Continuation)), which we finished last night. Very esoteric set, lots of things I have not encountered before, lots of interesting transitions and moves. Plus a very different experience to be in the 'advanced' class taught by Sifu, a very different method of teaching (kind of much more traditional, thinking about it). I'll need the time to begin work through the movements and appropriate them for myself, begin to feel what's behind them.
Its a good thing my parents have a very large downstairs I can practice in.
Opening quote to this post: (highlight to see, spoiler protected)
Yes, but do you remember Gandalf's words: Even Gollum may have something yet to do? But for him, Sam, I could not have destroyed the Ring. The Quest would have been in vain, even at the bitter end. So let us forgive him! For the Quest is achieved and all is now over. I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam.
I don't know what quite to write about the last instalment of the film trilogy. Certainly seeing the three movies back to back was an interesting experience, not only for the story-arc-ness of it all, but also for several blemishes one picks up on that may have gone unnoticed otherwise. Minor items, like the overuse of certain imagery or technique. But on the other end, to grasp better the way PJ wanted to have the character's evolve (vis-a-vis the books), or the evolution of the musical themes as the score traces its path across the three films, and similar made the films shine better than before in other ways. Of course, we'll all have to wait for the uber-7-disk-all-one-film-uber-edit-version to get the real feeling. };) (before the geek-IPO funded 48-disk, everything-literally-translated version in 2012).
By the time this film rolled around, my memory of the books has gotten a bit shaky and I was able to view it more in isolation. It's also gotten to the point where I (and others) can guess where things were cut and that will likely appear in the extended editions (of which the extra scenes in Two Towers were excellent, amazing, helping the film immensely, though not fully rectifying it). The above quote is one thing I think was one very uber-key missed opportunity, as it is the redemption of Frodo's pity on Gollum, of heeding Gandalf's words, and also of Gollum's own semi-redemption. Still, on the other hand, PJ did use the same last line from the book in the film -- a nice touch. On the third hand, without the burning of the Shire, the rapid succession of endings was too much and not very smooth flowing.
The soundtrack is wonderful to have, there are many, many choral tracks (which I love) and one in particular that takes place in a very well crafted scene and is sung in a large empty hall for that full cathedral effect. And speaking of which, sort of, the architectural design in RotK was magnificent and a bonus for me.
Most of the major nits I have are nits I have with all the films (or with modern hollywood films in general) and some issues with PJ's directions and character decisions. }:)
So, while the thought of watching RotK again scares the living crap out of me since I'm still living the films now after so long in the theatre yesterday -- well, I will be seeing it again on the 23rd -- one week later. We'll see how my impressions change. }:)
After all my recent talk about all-nighters, today I realize those days are long past. I may be a bit like Aragorn's army (the walking dead) right now, but the filmfest yesterday was most enjoyable, for my part.
There are 88 people already signed up for a line party. We're going to have to get there extra early just to hope for good seats.
Yes, I am going to the Trillogy Tuesday, the big one-day extended Fellowship, extended Towers, premiere of Return. 12+h of movie! Sauron's eye(s) won't be the only thing burning by the time its all done.
Quote: "When you start mentioning Mrs God and the beach to the old rabbi, it is just not a good thing."
This is brilliant.
Want to make Winamp sound better? A new mp3 decoder plugin may be what you're looking for. Between it and the new SSRC output (plus grabbing an AISO output plugin if you can support it) some of my crunchiness is gone. This guy has a few screenshots of how to set it all up.
More humour.
TAG! You're it forever.
That is all. }:)
So Jason posted a comment about our time in studio, especially the late-nights. Studio is one of those times I think most architects look back upon with a mixture of amazement, fondness and horror. There was a reason the entrance to our 2nd year studio bay was spray painted with the phrase "Abandon all hope ye who enter here". On the other hand, it was also a time where one (at our school) could be most free to explore.
Getting back to Jason's comment, though, if there's one thing architects chuckle about when getting together to reminisce about studio it is most likely the long hours and late nights. If someone had told me, before I entered architecture, that I would be pulling the number of all-nighters that I did in first year (and these are real all nighters, not the B.Arts-I-stayed-up-until-02:00 kind), I would've told them they were insane. Once there, I realized I was insane, because I was pulling these quite voluntarily; or, at least, I enjoyed it enough to do so.
Getting that little sleep will lead to some interesting... side effects, of course. Over my studio years I had several interesting hallucinations, similar but different from those of Jason. Let's explore...
I think the picture has been painted. The hallucinations actually mostly stopped later on. Starting in 3rd year I cut back sleep almost every night, with only a few all-nighters (3A I spent 4 months at less than 4h sleep a night, 3B and there-on I had burned out and had to do a 6h sleep schedule).
Then you get to thesis. 4 months of general confusion punctuated by amazing moments of pure brilliant clear terror. }:)
Soon after I first moved to the area, I had a simple wish. I wished that my upstairs neighbour would get better at the video game they were playing, and finish the damn level they were playing so that the deep-sounding repetitive music would at least change to some other repetitive tune. I would hear the tune over and over and over and over... how could they not be getting better? Or did the game only have one tune of music? That was a scary thought.
One day, both our windows happened to be open, and I happened to be by my window, and made a discovery. What I didn't discover was something that I already knew: it is very hard to isolate low frequency sound. High frequency sound can be stopped by insulation and air pockets, but lower frequencys can often need good solid mass to isolate them. Back in Ottawa, in apartments made from poured-in-situ concrete, enough mass existed to quite effectively sound isolate the apartments for most volume levels; in this wood-framed apartment no such mass exists. I was not hearing was not the base line from a video game at all. With my head near the open windows, I discovered that I was hearing a real song, with real acoustics and real voices. Discovery: All Mexican music has the same base line.
This is, of course, an exaggeration, but it does at time seem very, very much like it. And now, after moving into a different apartment (same complex, different unit) and being quite bass-line-free for some time, my (new?) upstairs neighbours have discovered music and I am again enveloped by the repetitive monotone tones. Wheeeeee!
A few posts back, I mentioned that there are two seasons only in the SF Bay area, Green and Brown (or Wet and Dry), and that there was not really a fall. With the arrival of spring in November, it does get chilly and the deciduous trees do go into cool weather action. I am fortunate that my short commute takes me down Villa St, thoughtfully planted with real trees that do change colour at this time of the year. Everything around may be grey, the hills may be brown, and the evergreens their dark green, but at least one road is awash in a riot of colour to brighten things up every morning and evening.
Just an update to let all know that it was a good 4-days off, and a post will be forthcoming, just writing a lot right now that may end up being pared down but I want to get out thoughts on Sunday's experience. Stay tuned :P
Last night was an exceptionally clear night down here (and kinda crisp to boot, which was nice). I got to see Orion (the constellation) for the first time this season. There's no shortage of light pollution here, but without the airpoop to throttle incoming light, enough stars were visible to make it nice.
Orion has always been my favourite constellation. Not entirely sure why. One could be cynical and say that its only because its so easy to recognize and find, but I think there's something geometrically or pattern-wise that appeals to my sense of aesthetic(s) and artistry. Maybe its the imagery behind the constellation and/or the fact that in two of the major cultures separated by half a globe (or so) it held the same basic archetype.
Whatever the reason, Orion is my constellation to look out for. It marks the beginning of winter, a time of shorter days and (not here, but) snow and cold nights and crisp mornings and colourful leaves to start it all off (again, not here). If it's winter, and it's night, and it's clear, I look for Orion. While at university, when I would walk home from the studio at 03:00 to grab a few hours of sleep*, Orion would be hovering right over our apartment, listening to me as I would talk about the project at hand, or whatever was on my mind. The cold night air, with a stillness not often found in a city, and Orion guarding the way, provided a brief respite from the intensity of studio, provided a bit of unwinding time, and helped set the body ready for a quick nap before it began anew.
* I tried to make it a point not to sleep in studio, even though we were allowed to; I did end up sleeping there a few times of course and I spent many a night there not sleeping at all, but if I could go grab a shower and some sleep away from the studio, I did it. Gotta keep some humanity in an art meant for people.
So, I wander into TJs today, with the intent of buying, for the first time, Soba noodles after doing some reading on buckwheat. They've had soba noodles at TJs forever, and I know some people who have bought them, and I want to try them out.
Preemptive strike policy strikes even at TJs! Not on the shelves, and no longer on the order sheet. Gah!
So I heard an interesting exchange from an interview of Walter Cronkite. The interviewer asked him if he was a liberal, and his response is what is very interesting, and illustrative. He replied, "That depends on how you define a liberal." A liberal, by his assertion of the true meaning of the word, is someone who is "unbeholden to any specific belief or party" and looks at all the information, the reactions, the consequences, the background and the bases behind an issue, and then puts forth their viewpoint (and their policy, if that is within their sphere of influence) based on "facts and the presentation of those facts at the time." To further quote Cronkite: "[I am a] Liberal, but not in the form that a lot of people use liberal -- as a dirty word."
Indeed, it is something that I have always done while living here in the USA that I never really took specific notice of. Anytime I mentioned the Liberal Party (whether Federal or Provincial) I always amended to it that they were a centralist party. Without being fully conscious of it (back of my mind sort of thing) I realized what a dirty word 'liberal' is when it is bandied about in discussions down here. "Liberal Media", "Liberal Pundits", "Liberal Democrats", "Special Interest Groups" -- oops, that last one is a topic for another rant. But 'liberal' down here is often equated, during speeches and sound bites, with 'super-freaking-leftist-commie-pinko-hippies'.
So, yes, I too do my best to be a liberal. In the true sense of the word.
... it is.
Perhaps its no surprise. But there was always hope. Ok, in reality, I figured if we had been one of the finalists we would've been contacted by now, and indeed that does seem to be true, for the finalists on the above page all have animations, something that is quite impossible to submit on a poster board. Add to that the 'original submission' link, and you know they were asked to provide extra material. But, given that nothing had publically been announced and the fact there was some 5k+ entries, there was always a chance. Et bien.
Some of the statements are really funny to read, though -- waxing poetic to the Nth degree. Though I respect that...
I'll try to post our entry somewhere so you can see it sometime.
When doing troubleshooting, one is supposed to change only one thing at a time. That way, if the problem is fixed, you know what fixed the problem and can thus use that information later on if need be. Plus, you don't risk mucking something up that was working.
Tonight, I broke that rule. I installed another replacement soundcard (the same as what is in my other machine, which works fine) and moved the card to the last slot (the recommended place to solve many Sound Blaster issues).
Turns out, I could've made a hundred changes, for the sound still crackles like a witch en route to a dastardly deed. This mobo doesn't like sound cards. As much as I like this machine (dual processor goodness!), I think its time to think about an upgrade...
So, I've seen two movies over the past two days... Matrix: Revolutions and Disney's Brother Bear. And it is the latter that I will talk about, because I feel more of a need to do so.
Disney is a film making company that can invoke a surprising amount of emotion from people, for a myriad of reasons, be it evoked during their movies, or from childhood memories, for seeing a particular film in a particular circumstance or with a person, or calling Disney the epitome of crapshlock and soul-sucking evil american empire -- and sometimes we may have conflicting feelings with some or all of those in our emotions. For myself, there is a bit of nostalgia, but my bigger interest in Disney began in their 'rebirth' years, and for those who know me TLK was a rather profound film for me. So while I certainly think that Disney isn't the pinnacle of animated films, I do have some feelings for the big D.
The best way to sum up Brother Bear is probably this: it has 5 writers.
There is some nice stuff in Brother Bear. The scenery is beautiful. There's an aspect ratio change that is inspired. There is some lovely animated special effects. There is some not-great stuff in BB. Some of the character animation is plain wrong (perspective, bad motion). Some illogic. But for the most part, the big thing about BB is that there is a LOT of stuff that falls in the range of neither good, nor bad. It's just there.
The story has plenty of potential, I think. It is certainly not unsimilar to many other Disney films (a valid criticism of so many D films) but it has the potential to go through the motions in a new and powerful way. But while one of the central themes in the movie is all about Storytelling, this is the one thing the film fails to do in a spectacular fashion: to tell a good story, and tell it well. And that is a huge shame.
What ends up happening is the story plods along on its own, with this and that happening, with the necessary check boxes of plot development coming up, but it is very disjointed, it doesn't engage, and thus feels like a string of vignettes. Everything is a bit too raw, to much show for showy-ness sake.
It's great to see the McKenzie brothers, but there is really no point for them to be in the film (their brotherly discussion near the end does not excuse their inclusion in the film). The echoing goats are amusing, but that's about it. The strangeness of some of the bears at the salmon run seemed odd. What gets lost with these inclusions is a greater sense of journey, of discovery, of learning. Even for a D film, at less than 90 mins, this film felt super short and devoid.
Nicely, there are no musical numbers by the characters; I'm still undecided how I feel about the songs overall. They were not particularly strong, but I would want to hear them on their own before passing judgement.
In the end, I am very disappointed with the film. This will not surprise to many of my friends or acquaintances who will argue I am always disappointed by films (which is not true), but there are some beautiful themes and animation in here, and it is the flaccid-ity of the movie as a whole that brought a tear to my eye as much as the strength of those moments of themes/animation.
So I've found a new nifty food to try out: Quinoa. It's a non-grain grain that hails from the Andes mountains and was a major foodsource for the Incas. Very high in nearly complete protein, high iron, high fibre, and low glycemic index. A quick rinse, pop in the rice cooker, done (in a basic form). Bit bitter taste, but complex, and lots of goodness in it. Mixing in with rice could be cool (or instead of rice, as the case may be), breakfast on sundays with some maple syrup (the real stuff, of course), pilafs, the possibilities are just beginning.
Of course, this would be even better if this stupid stomach problem was gone. I thought maybe I had kicked it. I stopped taking the chlorophyll on sunday since I thought it was giving me urfles, and monday was mostly good, and tuesday was almost perfect... I rejoiced. Then came the night. Post-fu, close to bedtime, it returned. As usual, I woke up feeling fine, but today has been minorly upset pretty much all day. I think its back to the chlorophyll, but maybe one tablet per day this time.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this excellent css-zengarden example.
So, I get a mail from the author of a gaming product that I like a lot -- he is working on a revised edition and found an addition I wrote for his product, but the link to it was dead. I check, and it turns out where I'm hosting my files is currently in transit and unavailable. Aiya! Figures, bad timing like that. Must put it up on another server tonight so its accessible and email him back...
A quote as a title... very appropriate for me, and expect to see that more often.
So I'm currently taking Chlorophyl for my stomach upset, in the thought it may be a parasite and Chlorophyl is supposed to help in this situation. And yes, it does make it green. Not sure if it is working or not -- I thought it might be, but today my stomach is not happy again, though it feels a bit different than the previous week's upset (less bloaty, less intense) so I'm actually wondering if the Chlorophyl is what is making it be testy. Whee. I think I'll cut back on the amount of the green stuff and see what happens.
Otherwise, my legs are still sore and I have to test this coming thursday, I booked my trip home for xmas and made plans for new years, this month is looking busy as is the next, I'm about to go record some voice-overs for a DVD for the kwoon, the new catalogue from the kwoon is out (with Part 2 of my trip article), CSS Zen garden has an amazing new layout that works best in Mozilla, I'm working on some more stuff for the Silhouette system, and, no surprise, I am gaming tonight.
But I am SO ready to be done with this stomach thing and with this soundcard thing.
Quote from Jimmy last night (our resident drill Sergeant-like instructor): "Harder everyone, we're playing the touching game!"
I am going to have to marinate my legs in tiger linament before going to class tonight.
I hurt.
For a couple of months, I have been an instructor at the Kung Fu school, teaching some of the beginning students their basics and the first form (Lian Bu Chuan). There is an interesting thing about teaching, that I hadn't really paid attention to before. But first, let me expound with a small aside...
I loved fall back home. It was an excellent season (actually, I loved all the seasons except for spring): the temperature would begin to drop, slowly at first then picking up speed, but always at a pretty constant rate, the air would become crisp and the leaves turned colour and the hills would be awash in a vibrant display. It was wonderful. But not so here in the SF Bay Area. There's really only two seasons here: summer and spring (curses! spring!). And gradient transitions? Forget about it! Last week, we had 35~ weather. This week, its 4~ in the morning. Sure, it doesn't get below zero very often, but when the rains come, that matters little. (BTW, that's 308K and 277K)
So, back to Shaolin. Teaching is 'interesting' as we do our conditioning (one hour of warm up, running, drills, stance training, strength training, exercises, and a bit of stretching), and one becomes very warm and sweaty (and steaming when the weather turns cool enough). Now, as a simple student, you then receive your individual instruction, where you continue to work hard learning and practising your sets. As an instructor, however, you, well, instruct. Which, while you do demonstrate moves and do some work nevertheless means a lot of standing around as you watch your students and correct them. In the cold air. Muscles tighten up, body cools down. THEN you have your lesson, for which you must re-gain your flexibility and try to re-warm your muscles, pretty much as you're doing your set and trying to kick high.
As I said before, now I hurt. At the time, the muscles seem to perform well enough, but the next day, despite some pretty heavy-duty stretching post-workout, my muscles seriously feel like they've been ravaged. Tomorrow, I get to do it all over again. It may be time to start wearing some thermals I fear, fear only because I'm not sure how that will affect me during class (I feel hot enough already!).
Kung Fu: Skill attained through hard work. And the trials and tribulations of your body.
Just a quick entry, relating the results of the GodBox test last night (the GodBox is my formerly-uber-powerful other computer). It too has an SB Live, it too is running win2k (though it also has 98 to test with if need be), so I pulled over the mp3 giving me problems, and fired it up. Narry a crunch, crackle or a pop. Tried both sets of speakers, and no problems. Looks like I either a) have a very dead SB Live or b) I have a MoBo that doesn't like SB cards. Since this latter seems rather, well, unusual and odd to me, I'm going to have to assume it is a). Which still pretty much means I need to go out and buy a new soundcard. At least it means I don't need to get new speakers...
On a blog-related note, categories are working now, and soon the stuff on the side will be re-designed (for all those people actually reading this site :P)
So, IE 6 still screws some things up. -sigh- Grab Mozilla and give it a whirl. Of course, many sites are coded for IE's deficiencies, so you'll need to keep it around too. Grab Avant to wrap your IE in tabbed pop-up blocking goodness!
So I've come to the conclusion that my SB Live is totally fuxxored. I don't know if it's the Live in my machine specifically, or all SB Lives (I will have to try the Live in my other machine to be sure), or if its even these speakers though I'm kind of doubtful of the latter. The situation is this: whenever I play music with high frequencies it gets distorted to hell. VERY distorted. It's not the MP3 file, that has been tested elsewhere (on an Audigy) and it is beautiful there. It's not the drivers, I have updated those with several versions. So I fear it's the card. I haven't been completely able to test a CD (which I think would bypass the card) vs an MP3 (using the same song) to be sure, first I need to find a song that distorts on the card and that I have the CD handy to do a comparison. Oh well. The new Audigy 2 isn't horribly expensive (though some are still advocating the Turtle Beach as kicking everything's butt?) though I cringe at spending money still. But music is something that I crave and dig and dive into, so, this distortion has GOT TO GO.
Well turns out IE 6 does indeed render CSS more proper, at least when it comes to pixel widths and the like. Amazing that.
Those who've known me for the past few years know I have a love affair with Trader Joe's (a small-chain grocery store, for those who are not familiar with it). I used to pine for the President's Choice products (from the Loblaws grocery chain, back in Canada) but after finding TJs, no more. Their in-house stuff is usually pretty good, and their simple regular fare and staples are not only good quality, but sometimes less expensive than the big chains. And they get these nifty speciality items. The whole history and concept behind TJs is at their web site (if you want to read). So I'm very happy shopping there, and shop there pretty much exclusively for my food needs.
Sometimes, though, I wonder if they don't have a bit of a... well, evil sense of humour or something. Or if I'm just unlucky. Or if they have a series of hidden cameras and they sit in the back breakroom laughing as I search the aisles and have looks of puzzled anguish on my face.
You see, I seem to have the nasty luck of finding an item at TJs that I absolutely adore, only to have it disappear forever from the shelves a scant few weeks later. Now, I know TJs works on what they can get and sometimes that runs out, but it has happened often enough that I just can't help wondering if there isn't something else at work here. Grrrrrr!
To date, here is the perfects that have disappeared:
This last one I just found out about today. It was a great juice blend that was similar to Odwalla's superfood mix, with pear and a bunch of other juices, plus some wheatgrass, royal jelly, etc. I liked the taste, and the juice agreed with me and I figured the spirullina, wheatgrass et al couldn't hurt. But now gone. Along with the others, and probably even more that I have forgotten. I'm almost afraid when I find an awesome new product now. I thought I'd lost the ground Buffalo but it returned in a better patty format (before it was a 2 lb log, which meant to defrost and use, I had to cook the whole thing at once). But if there's anything else new and WOAH!, well, I'd be concerned. Who knows how long it will last. Maybe I should hoard....
For someone who likes interesting not run-of-the-mill food, losing nifty food items is frustrating. Especially the 8th time around. But not mad enough to make this post a rant. Still... curse you cruel twists of (food) fate!
Wow, I had no idea just how broken IE's CSS was. At least in 5, which I have at home -- amazing that it cannot properly handle pure pixel widths. Ah well, once I get enough stuff in here it aught to look ok. If you can't see all the text, try changing your text size to something smaller -- that seems to make it work. I have no idea why.
On another note, I seem to have developed an interesting condition. For the past couple of days, at 16:00 stomach begins to become very annoyed and brings me pain. Come 19:00 or so, it goes away, or at least it did yesterday (right before class, thankfully) and today. Hmmm. Not sure what to make of it, especially why at that particular time and not another or others.
Well, if this is meant to be a stream of consciousness, I'd better start writing things. Server is big, these posts are small... nothing to fear. Still need to do some adjustment to the style sheets here; I just found out that under IE it looks terrible, due to IE not handling some of the CSS right. IE, not rendering w3 standards properly? Say it isn't so! I'm so shocked. Or not. At any rate, whichever browser (and I have learned of a hack to make IE do something that other browsers will ignore) is used, a few changes to make the page more lean and sexy is needed. Of course, if you're reading this sometime in the future, that's already been done, so sexyness needn't be enhanced any more at that point.
Otherwise, things are pretty much normal. Maybe over the next few weeks I'll post enough so that you get a sense of what 'normal' means for me. }:) I don't promise it will be exciting; I feel a bit as though I'm in a rut, an all-too-familiar-routine. Doesn't mean it isn't fun per se, or that I'm not enjoying myself and/or having a good time most of the time, but otherwise it feels too familiar. Time to break into my overflowing wine fridge of... er... some nifty adjective... and see if I can't get some parties and gatherings going. Though the fact I can't hold them in my apartment is a bit rough... big apartment for a studio apartment, but still kinda small overall when it comes to trying to host dinner.
This appears to work, which is always a good thing. Let the consciousness streaming begin.
As another test, here is a link to my main website. (Of course, the server for it is down right now...)
