Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Monday, December 04, 2006
Subversive Alternative Pardigms
| You scored as True Alternative. You are a True Alternative! Labels do not suit you well, particularly as you tend to strike your own path and to grow purely via experience. No armchair quarterbacking for you! Originality and creation are your specialities, and sometimes you can even articulate what the hell just happened. Someday you may find yourself drawing the maps for other people... lots of other people. |
What Subversive Alternative Paradigm Are You?
created with QuizFarm.com
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Taking orders? Then listen good...
I have every right to be grumpy these past 2 mornings. I had to wake up at 4am to hitch to work with my brother to save on gas. Normally I wouldn't mind. I've got my contingencies in place. I'd wake up, get to the office at 5:20 or so, then crash on the couch for an hour or so usually bothering to peel myself off the office couch at around 7.
Anyway, I head downstairs to the Local Fast food joint (Jollibee) to grab breakfast.
I enter, and find 2 relatively short queues. Fine. I fall in step and wait for my turn. The fast food service guy holding order slips hovers next to me like a horsefly.
"Sir, may I take your order, sir?"
I smile and give my order:
"One Longganisa Meal with Hot Chocolate to go, please."
"Sir, one Super Breakfast Meal?"
Strike One.
"... Longganisa Meal."
"Ah, and your drinks, sir?"
Strike Two.
"Hot Chocolate."
"Okay, Dine in, Ma'am?"
Strike Three (and Four)
"To go, at lalake ako (and I'm a guy)"
He tears off the order slip and gives it to me, hovering over to the next person in the queue.
Jeez... you'd think that if your job was to take people's orders, you'd listen more closely to what the person is saying.
What a way to ruin a morning.
Anyway, I head downstairs to the Local Fast food joint (Jollibee) to grab breakfast.
I enter, and find 2 relatively short queues. Fine. I fall in step and wait for my turn. The fast food service guy holding order slips hovers next to me like a horsefly.
"Sir, may I take your order, sir?"
I smile and give my order:
"One Longganisa Meal with Hot Chocolate to go, please."
"Sir, one Super Breakfast Meal?"
Strike One.
"... Longganisa Meal."
"Ah, and your drinks, sir?"
Strike Two.
"Hot Chocolate."
"Okay, Dine in, Ma'am?"
Strike Three (and Four)
"To go, at lalake ako (and I'm a guy)"
He tears off the order slip and gives it to me, hovering over to the next person in the queue.
Jeez... you'd think that if your job was to take people's orders, you'd listen more closely to what the person is saying.
What a way to ruin a morning.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Tarot Time again!
You are The Lovers
Motive, power, and action, arising from Inspiration and Impulse.
The Lovers represents intuition and inspiration. Very often a choice needs to be made.
Originally, this card was called just LOVE. And that's actually more apt than "Lovers." Love follows in this sequence of growth and maturity. And, coming after the Emperor, who is about control, it is a radical change in perspective. LOVE is a force that makes you choose and decide for reasons you often can't understand; it makes you surrender control to a higher power. And that is what this card is all about. Finding something or someone who is so much a part of yourself, so perfectly attuned to you and you to them, that you cannot, dare not resist. This card indicates that the you have or will come across a person, career, challenge or thing that you will fall in love with. You will know instinctively that you must have this, even if it means diverging from your chosen path. No matter the difficulties, without it you will never be complete.
What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
It's never too late to play a good game
RIP Troika, I loved your Arcanum and I'm now making my way through your last hurrah, Vampire: the Masquerade - Bloodlines.
I know it's an old game, but thanks to my kitty, I've been able to score a PC that can finally run the thing, and I've installed the latest patch for it (v3.1) to get it running sans bugs.
My overall impression is that it kicks major amounts of ass. The atmosphere of the game perfectly matches White Wolf's famous World of Darkness setting, and as a GM for both the old and the new World of Darkness, I can't help but get a nostalgic vibe off Vampire: the Masquerade.
Then again, people who know me also know that I've always been curious to try a Vampire: the Masquerade tabletop game as a player, but I've never been able to coordinate my schedule to any ones that I've found running.
I tried playing over a Play by Post forum, but that one died on me after two weeks.
Anyway, the PC game, Bloodlines impressed me a lot with it's soundtrack, and very well done voice acting and characters.
Check this out, if this isn't a creepy, missing a few screws vampire to you, then you need to hang out with more normal people.
I know it's an old game, but thanks to my kitty, I've been able to score a PC that can finally run the thing, and I've installed the latest patch for it (v3.1) to get it running sans bugs.
My overall impression is that it kicks major amounts of ass. The atmosphere of the game perfectly matches White Wolf's famous World of Darkness setting, and as a GM for both the old and the new World of Darkness, I can't help but get a nostalgic vibe off Vampire: the Masquerade.
Then again, people who know me also know that I've always been curious to try a Vampire: the Masquerade tabletop game as a player, but I've never been able to coordinate my schedule to any ones that I've found running.
I tried playing over a Play by Post forum, but that one died on me after two weeks.
Anyway, the PC game, Bloodlines impressed me a lot with it's soundtrack, and very well done voice acting and characters.
Check this out, if this isn't a creepy, missing a few screws vampire to you, then you need to hang out with more normal people.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Memes, Memes, Memes
Time to dance to a few memes:
1. Delve into your blog archive.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
From February 5th, 2004
I'll worry about editing later, and then maybe it'll be good enough to consider as even worth submitting.
====
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 4 sentences on your LJ along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.
From Legend of the 5 Rings, 3rd Edition
Though the way of the sword dominated the first true dojo the Crane established, the eway of negotiation and peace was certainly the first art they truly embraced. Lady Doji was a caring and peaceful woman, constantly called upon by the other Kami to settle disputes that arose due to the wildly varied natures of the different clans. With few exceptions, Doji ended such disputes with all sides in agreement and as friends once again. The Crane Clan have followed the example of their founder as leaders of peace and sowers of unity between the Clans.
Why don't you guys give it them a shot? :)
1. Delve into your blog archive.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
From February 5th, 2004
I'll worry about editing later, and then maybe it'll be good enough to consider as even worth submitting.
====
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 4 sentences on your LJ along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.
From Legend of the 5 Rings, 3rd Edition
Though the way of the sword dominated the first true dojo the Crane established, the eway of negotiation and peace was certainly the first art they truly embraced. Lady Doji was a caring and peaceful woman, constantly called upon by the other Kami to settle disputes that arose due to the wildly varied natures of the different clans. With few exceptions, Doji ended such disputes with all sides in agreement and as friends once again. The Crane Clan have followed the example of their founder as leaders of peace and sowers of unity between the Clans.
Why don't you guys give it them a shot? :)
Bible Badassery
I'm not a regular reader of the bible, but with quotes like these, a Bible can do when you're unable to rent a good DVD:
----
From 2 Kings 2
Elisha Is Jeered
23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. "Go on up, you baldhead!" they said. "Go on up, you baldhead!" 24 He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. 25 And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria.
----
I mean think about it. 42 kids mauled by bears for calling god's prophet a baldhead. For some reason I have weird images of dead Peanuts kids and an angry, angry Charlie Brown with a sheperds crook. "Good bears! Show Lucy to make fun of my lack of hair again! Tear Linus a new one!"
----
From 2 Kings 2
Elisha Is Jeered
23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. "Go on up, you baldhead!" they said. "Go on up, you baldhead!" 24 He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. 25 And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria.
----
I mean think about it. 42 kids mauled by bears for calling god's prophet a baldhead. For some reason I have weird images of dead Peanuts kids and an angry, angry Charlie Brown with a sheperds crook. "Good bears! Show Lucy to make fun of my lack of hair again! Tear Linus a new one!"
Monday, September 04, 2006
Why am I not surprised?
Exalted: -What kind of being would you be in the Age of Sorrows?-
SOLAR EXALTED: You are a chosen of the Unconquered Sun. The SOLAR EXALTED are the heroic defenders of justice, the natural rulers of Creation and the bringers of wonders. In the First Age they were betrayed and destroyed, but now, after hundreds of years, they are back to save the world of its many dangers, fighting the enemies of Creation and taking the control back from the Terrestrial Exalted, their betrayers. The SOLAR EXALTED are the ultimate heroes and are here to guide Creation to a new age of resplendent gold and brightness. However, their multiple enemies are prepared to offer a great battle and there are some ancient creatures who still remember why the children of the Sun were killed the first time... the real reason for their purge from Creation.
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Thursday, August 24, 2006
Herding short-sighted, selfish sheep is all part of the job
Change is Good.
At least, that's how the old saying goes. The only thing about it is the fact that a lot of people are inherently resistant to change. It's a known fact, given a perfectly comfortable situation, most people would rather stay and maintain the status quo rather than shake it up with something new and different.
Part of my work is IT consultancy. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not yet that well versed in systems to single-handedly handle a large scale IT system in a company, but I did have the opportunity to join one of my superiors in a foray into the er... exciting world of change management.
We were there to oversee the implementation of a large multi-phase computer system that would help streamline operations of a large company, all the way from their purchasing department, through accounting, inventory and sales. Cool stuff.
Unfortunately, while upper management was eyeing the potential efficiency boost from this, middle management and employees were looking at it as something far simpler: "More Work".
So what we have here is no longer just a simple matter of installing a system and training people to use it. Instead we're being prophets, trying to educate people to the potential usefulness of the system. Sure it's not simple, and certainly it takes training to learn how to use properly, but look past that and see the benefits beyond.
Sometimes people can be short-sighted and selfish. It's all down to "What can it do for me?" rather than "What can it help me do for the company?" The better the company runs, the more it can afford to give to it's people. Unfortunately, people don't see that, and prefer to just go and give the minimum amount of work possible, to scrape up their pay.
But still, as consultants, we have to keep at it. In time we'll get them used to it, we'll put the system into practice and make them see that it'll make their work easier, better, faster, and less stressful. We just have to keep going, pile on the inertia, until we reach a new state of equilibrium... hopefully one that focuses on continual improvement.
At least, that's how the old saying goes. The only thing about it is the fact that a lot of people are inherently resistant to change. It's a known fact, given a perfectly comfortable situation, most people would rather stay and maintain the status quo rather than shake it up with something new and different.
Part of my work is IT consultancy. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not yet that well versed in systems to single-handedly handle a large scale IT system in a company, but I did have the opportunity to join one of my superiors in a foray into the er... exciting world of change management.
We were there to oversee the implementation of a large multi-phase computer system that would help streamline operations of a large company, all the way from their purchasing department, through accounting, inventory and sales. Cool stuff.
Unfortunately, while upper management was eyeing the potential efficiency boost from this, middle management and employees were looking at it as something far simpler: "More Work".
So what we have here is no longer just a simple matter of installing a system and training people to use it. Instead we're being prophets, trying to educate people to the potential usefulness of the system. Sure it's not simple, and certainly it takes training to learn how to use properly, but look past that and see the benefits beyond.
Sometimes people can be short-sighted and selfish. It's all down to "What can it do for me?" rather than "What can it help me do for the company?" The better the company runs, the more it can afford to give to it's people. Unfortunately, people don't see that, and prefer to just go and give the minimum amount of work possible, to scrape up their pay.
But still, as consultants, we have to keep at it. In time we'll get them used to it, we'll put the system into practice and make them see that it'll make their work easier, better, faster, and less stressful. We just have to keep going, pile on the inertia, until we reach a new state of equilibrium... hopefully one that focuses on continual improvement.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Catch phrases don't equate to communication
It's a sad fact in the business world that sooner or later, you will run into a client or boss who'se idea of communication is to slather as many catch phrases into a single sentence as humanly possible.
A co-worker of mine just ran into a client like that and now I'm dealing with the fallout. The culprit catch phrase of today?
"Multi-Tagging"
To which I secretly think to myself... What The Fuck?
As an Information Architect, I'm pretty sure I know what the hell a Tag is in the context of navigation and websites. But hey, for the sake of clarity let's see what Wikipedia has to say about it:
A tag is a keyword or descriptive term associated with an item as means of classification by means of a folksonomy. Tags are usually chosen informally and personally by the author/creator of the item — i.e. not usually as part of some formally defined classification scheme. Tags are typically used in dynamic, flexible, automatically generated internet taxonomies for online resources such as computer files, web pages, digital images, and internet bookmarks (both in social bookmarking services, and in the current generation of web browsers - see Flock and Mozilla Firefox 2.0x). For this reason, "Tagging" has become associated with the Web 2.0 movement.
All well and good. Tags are a very popular feature in most sites right now, YouTube and Flickr being very good examples.
Now let's try our friend's "Multi-Tagging" through Wikipedia...
Huh.
No Results.
That's okay, maybe he's working with a different vocabulary. Let's try Google...
Nothing, but there is a rather interesting article here:
"Electrochemical Multi-Tagging of Cysteinyl Peptides during Microspray Mass Spectrometry: Numerical Simulation of Consecutive Reactions in a Microchannel"
Apparently, our client somehow wants us to apply an extremely sophisticated Chemistry procedure involving Microspray Mass Spectrometry to build a website.
Wonderful.
Seriously though, I can't help but get a tad peeved, but that might just be me.
A co-worker of mine just ran into a client like that and now I'm dealing with the fallout. The culprit catch phrase of today?
"Multi-Tagging"
To which I secretly think to myself... What The Fuck?
As an Information Architect, I'm pretty sure I know what the hell a Tag is in the context of navigation and websites. But hey, for the sake of clarity let's see what Wikipedia has to say about it:
A tag is a keyword or descriptive term associated with an item as means of classification by means of a folksonomy. Tags are usually chosen informally and personally by the author/creator of the item — i.e. not usually as part of some formally defined classification scheme. Tags are typically used in dynamic, flexible, automatically generated internet taxonomies for online resources such as computer files, web pages, digital images, and internet bookmarks (both in social bookmarking services, and in the current generation of web browsers - see Flock and Mozilla Firefox 2.0x). For this reason, "Tagging" has become associated with the Web 2.0 movement.
All well and good. Tags are a very popular feature in most sites right now, YouTube and Flickr being very good examples.
Now let's try our friend's "Multi-Tagging" through Wikipedia...
Huh.
No Results.
That's okay, maybe he's working with a different vocabulary. Let's try Google...
Nothing, but there is a rather interesting article here:
"Electrochemical Multi-Tagging of Cysteinyl Peptides during Microspray Mass Spectrometry: Numerical Simulation of Consecutive Reactions in a Microchannel"
Apparently, our client somehow wants us to apply an extremely sophisticated Chemistry procedure involving Microspray Mass Spectrometry to build a website.
Wonderful.
Seriously though, I can't help but get a tad peeved, but that might just be me.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Blog Dungeon Hack 2
Okay, now that I've gotten some responses, time to get continue this:
====
You light your torch, holding it up and slightly forwards as you make your way down to the corridor to your right. The sounds of water behind you fade as you continue, the path sloping downwards a little bit until you reach a room. The door is left open, and the flickering torchlight reveals that the room inside is some sort of torture chamber.
Rusted shackles hang from the walls, and the rack is rotting away. There's a distinct smell of rotten flesh that hangs in the air, and the door creaks as you open it. To the far end of the room lies a corpse, rotten to the point that makes it difficult to tell what gender the person may have been before. Beside the corpse is a closed door, apparently the only other exit to this room.
====
Anything you guys want to do in the chamber? or do you simply proceed past the door?
====
You light your torch, holding it up and slightly forwards as you make your way down to the corridor to your right. The sounds of water behind you fade as you continue, the path sloping downwards a little bit until you reach a room. The door is left open, and the flickering torchlight reveals that the room inside is some sort of torture chamber.
Rusted shackles hang from the walls, and the rack is rotting away. There's a distinct smell of rotten flesh that hangs in the air, and the door creaks as you open it. To the far end of the room lies a corpse, rotten to the point that makes it difficult to tell what gender the person may have been before. Beside the corpse is a closed door, apparently the only other exit to this room.
====
Anything you guys want to do in the chamber? or do you simply proceed past the door?
Monday, July 24, 2006
Pet Peevery
Little Known Fact: I like Utada Hikaru's songs.
One of the songs I really like is "First Love"
---
Other Little Known Fact: I have no respect for Mimicry
Now while I hardly watch any sort of TV, the promotion for this particular song by Toni Gonzaga triggered an irrational urge to hate. And hate I shall.
Pay special attention to the chorus.
Sounds familiar?
Hand me a shotgun and Toni Gonzaga's songwriter. There will be much violence.
---
Unproven mimicry:
Apparently an "english version" of the song was used for some localized chinese wuxia romance series. I'm a big fan of wuxia but I'm curious if Jessa Zaragoza got permission to use the song, even if it's translated.
One of the songs I really like is "First Love"
---
Other Little Known Fact: I have no respect for Mimicry
Now while I hardly watch any sort of TV, the promotion for this particular song by Toni Gonzaga triggered an irrational urge to hate. And hate I shall.
Pay special attention to the chorus.
Sounds familiar?
Hand me a shotgun and Toni Gonzaga's songwriter. There will be much violence.
---
Unproven mimicry:
Apparently an "english version" of the song was used for some localized chinese wuxia romance series. I'm a big fan of wuxia but I'm curious if Jessa Zaragoza got permission to use the song, even if it's translated.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
So my muse broke into my house again...
smelling of cheap beer and cigarette smoke. I can already feel her influence leeching into my system and finally my brain has a voice again to write in my blog.
After a long period of inactivity this blog is once again online and fully operational. Not a lot of stuff going on in my life as of late, aside from running a demo game of 7th Sea in the recent New World's Sci-Fi and Fantasy Convention held last weekend.
I had a good time, running 2 demo games in a row. The new players seem to have enjoyed themselves as well. Good for them, and I hope they continue gaming. Gamers are scarce enough as is.
I'm beginning to wonder what it will take to get more people to try rpgs and how to get rpg players to try GMing.
It's really not that hard, it's just that most of us GMs are pretty good at making it look like everything is under control.
What do you guys think? Any GMs out there care to share how they got into gaming this way as opposed to just being a regular player?
After a long period of inactivity this blog is once again online and fully operational. Not a lot of stuff going on in my life as of late, aside from running a demo game of 7th Sea in the recent New World's Sci-Fi and Fantasy Convention held last weekend.
I had a good time, running 2 demo games in a row. The new players seem to have enjoyed themselves as well. Good for them, and I hope they continue gaming. Gamers are scarce enough as is.
I'm beginning to wonder what it will take to get more people to try rpgs and how to get rpg players to try GMing.
It's really not that hard, it's just that most of us GMs are pretty good at making it look like everything is under control.
What do you guys think? Any GMs out there care to share how they got into gaming this way as opposed to just being a regular player?
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Blog Dungeon Hack
There is a distinct tone of finality as the rusty gate of the dungeon entrance closes behind you.
"Sorry about this, stranger, but the law is the law." the guardsman said. "Your best hope of proving your innocence is to find your way out of the dungeon with the King's seal."
He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "It wouldn't be sporting to leave you there with nothing but the clothes on your back, now would it? Alright, take these."
He slips a few items through the small barred window of the gate. A Knife, a waterskin, and a torch with some flint and steel to light it with.
"Take care now." The guard said and walked away and up the stairs, leaving you alone by the gate, with the pitch black dungeon ahead of you.
You light up your torch, the light from it illuminating the passageway ahead of you. It seems to stretch ahead for a few paces, then branches off into a T-intersection. To the left, you hear the sounds of gurgling water. There are no clues as to what lies to your right.
Where do you go?
----
Okay guys, let's see if anyone is willing to participate in my little experiment. just click on the comments, and input your next course of action. I'll give it a few days, and I'll post the continuation of the story based on the choice with the most votes.
"Sorry about this, stranger, but the law is the law." the guardsman said. "Your best hope of proving your innocence is to find your way out of the dungeon with the King's seal."
He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "It wouldn't be sporting to leave you there with nothing but the clothes on your back, now would it? Alright, take these."
He slips a few items through the small barred window of the gate. A Knife, a waterskin, and a torch with some flint and steel to light it with.
"Take care now." The guard said and walked away and up the stairs, leaving you alone by the gate, with the pitch black dungeon ahead of you.
You light up your torch, the light from it illuminating the passageway ahead of you. It seems to stretch ahead for a few paces, then branches off into a T-intersection. To the left, you hear the sounds of gurgling water. There are no clues as to what lies to your right.
Where do you go?
----
Okay guys, let's see if anyone is willing to participate in my little experiment. just click on the comments, and input your next course of action. I'll give it a few days, and I'll post the continuation of the story based on the choice with the most votes.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Fundamentalists never cease to amaze me
Not that I'm defending Satan or anything, but since when did being intelligent become the sign of the devil?
Does this have anything to do with Creationism? Intelligent Design?
Or are the Fundamentalists just sick and tired of losing to debates and court cases built on and conducted with the use of proper logic?
Inquiring Nerds need to know!
Friday, May 19, 2006
Witch Hunter Robin
Just finished watching the entire series and I have to say that it's interesting, but doesn't quite get me riled up or anything. What probably killed most of my excitement is the pacing. Somehow the show tends to drag it's feet on a lot of parts, and instead of each episode having something to look forward to, you end up praying that the next episode gives more.
But having said that I do like the gear, and visually the anime is pretty good. Weapon designs, character designs and even the overall mood of the show is consistent and very nice for me.
I wouldn't recommend this as a buy, but renting it would be a pretty good idea. If you've got the patience to last until episode 14, then you get to the actual plot of the anime.
Overall, I'd give this a two out of five. It's watchable, but not that exciting.
Just when I thought I could save a little more money...
New RPGs pop up from nowhere. :p
Qin the Warring States Period is a French RPG about Mythic China during the Qin Dynasty. The art is fantastic, and the system seems to be pretty simple to understand and use.
While I like Weapons of the Gods, this seems to be more up to par with the power levels and wire-fu that I expect from a Wuxia game, rather than what WotG seems to be up to. No god weapons here, just "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" style stunts and physics defying activities similar to those you see in the "Hero" movie.
Here's another image from the game to impress you.
That was the one picture that sealed the deal for me. Now I just have to scrounge up the necessary cash to buy it when it comes out... thankfully, it's scheduled for a US release at around August so I've got time.
Qin the Warring States Period is a French RPG about Mythic China during the Qin Dynasty. The art is fantastic, and the system seems to be pretty simple to understand and use.
While I like Weapons of the Gods, this seems to be more up to par with the power levels and wire-fu that I expect from a Wuxia game, rather than what WotG seems to be up to. No god weapons here, just "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" style stunts and physics defying activities similar to those you see in the "Hero" movie.
Here's another image from the game to impress you.
That was the one picture that sealed the deal for me. Now I just have to scrounge up the necessary cash to buy it when it comes out... thankfully, it's scheduled for a US release at around August so I've got time.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Jeepney by Kala
Here's a video with a college friend of ours Grape, as the lead singer of the band Kala. Enjoy. :)
Kate should remember Grape, she and I fended off some guy's angry girlfriend when Grape got his phone stolen or something. Long story, but a one of the more memorable moments of Neutral Grounds DLSU.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Guilty Anime Pleasures: Aishiteruze Baby
Waking up really early in the morning has it's perks after all. Having been sitting in the office since 5:30 a.m., I stumbled upon a neat little anime called Aishiteruze Baby.
Contrary to what most people believe I actually watch some anime that doesn't involve violence or action. Aishiteruze Baby just happens to be a really neat Comedy/Drama series about Kippei, a playboy teenager who ends up having to take care of his 5 year old cousin, Yuzuyu.
The series is heartwarming and well written. Whoever is doing Yuzuyu's voice is incredible, and her portrayal of an emotionally impressionable 5 year old is enough to set off my own older brother instincts.
Anyway, I'm going back to what I should really be doing... work. But if you guys ever get a chance, you can download the torrent for it over at This Link
Contrary to what most people believe I actually watch some anime that doesn't involve violence or action. Aishiteruze Baby just happens to be a really neat Comedy/Drama series about Kippei, a playboy teenager who ends up having to take care of his 5 year old cousin, Yuzuyu.
The series is heartwarming and well written. Whoever is doing Yuzuyu's voice is incredible, and her portrayal of an emotionally impressionable 5 year old is enough to set off my own older brother instincts.
Anyway, I'm going back to what I should really be doing... work. But if you guys ever get a chance, you can download the torrent for it over at This Link
Monday, April 17, 2006
Lunchtime Rant: Garden Burger
On my way to having lunch out today, I ran into Mexicali. I usually don't pay much attention to it, but for some reason a tiny memory of a menu item I saw there before resurfaced in my mind.
Garden Burger.
I wasn't sure why I was inside Mexicali. Maybe it was fate. Destiny. Anyong meets Garden Burger = what?
I had to know.
And so I ordered the Garden Burger. For a product that didn't really entail chasing after and butchering a massive four legged animal with eight stomachs, it certainly cost a lot more than a regular burger. But meh, so what? That's the paradox of modern existence: Things that are good for you are inevitably more expensive.
That's why mothers insist that children eat all the vegetables on their plates. "Those veggies are damned expensive, child! EAT! EAT! I want to see you shovel those peas in your mouth faster than the Abu Sayaff running for cover!"
Anyway, back on topic.
Garden Burger.
I sat down, and waited for this strange food item to arrive. It was a paradox among paradoxes, a burger with vegetables instead of meat. It was the anti-matter of burger existence.
And so it arrived. And it looked moderately good. There it sat on my plate. In a wheat bread bun with lettuce and tomatoes and a burger patty that wasn't meat. I picked it up, examining it, even as my head pulled another hazy memory from some forgotten instance:
"Real Oats"
Ah, right. The Garden Burger was made of oats... and other vegetable products. Conditioned by modern urban living the thought of oats pulled another word.
Fiber.
Fantastic. Here in my very hands I hold the panacea for every modern man. A hunk of fiber, cleverly disguised as meat, free from the grease and fat of cow corpse grind. Fiber. Amazing how advertising has nearly brought this aspect of food to near sainthood.
So how does it actually taste?
Sadly, it tastes like mashed potatoes, rolled around in oats, flattened into a patty, then fried to a golden brown.
Needless to say it was underwhelming. Sure it was healthy, but that leads to the second paradox of healthy foods.
It must taste bad.
If you find something that's supposed to be good for you and it actually tastes good, then there's obviously something in there that is actually bad for you, or will give you cancer, whichever is worse.
And so I chewed, looking at the rest of my burger. It was odd, the color of the patty inside was the same as the wheat bun. So much so that it didn't look like there was a burger at all, just a bun, with some bread in between, lettuce, tomatoes and another bun.
I downed it with generous amounts of water, hoping that somehow, I would manage the herculean task of actually getting it out of the way and in my gut before lunch hour ends.
Somehow, I do. And I stand, full from water more than burger, and walk out of Mexicali.
Next time, I'm going for the burrito.
Garden Burger.
I wasn't sure why I was inside Mexicali. Maybe it was fate. Destiny. Anyong meets Garden Burger = what?
I had to know.
And so I ordered the Garden Burger. For a product that didn't really entail chasing after and butchering a massive four legged animal with eight stomachs, it certainly cost a lot more than a regular burger. But meh, so what? That's the paradox of modern existence: Things that are good for you are inevitably more expensive.
That's why mothers insist that children eat all the vegetables on their plates. "Those veggies are damned expensive, child! EAT! EAT! I want to see you shovel those peas in your mouth faster than the Abu Sayaff running for cover!"
Anyway, back on topic.
Garden Burger.
I sat down, and waited for this strange food item to arrive. It was a paradox among paradoxes, a burger with vegetables instead of meat. It was the anti-matter of burger existence.
And so it arrived. And it looked moderately good. There it sat on my plate. In a wheat bread bun with lettuce and tomatoes and a burger patty that wasn't meat. I picked it up, examining it, even as my head pulled another hazy memory from some forgotten instance:
"Real Oats"
Ah, right. The Garden Burger was made of oats... and other vegetable products. Conditioned by modern urban living the thought of oats pulled another word.
Fiber.
Fantastic. Here in my very hands I hold the panacea for every modern man. A hunk of fiber, cleverly disguised as meat, free from the grease and fat of cow corpse grind. Fiber. Amazing how advertising has nearly brought this aspect of food to near sainthood.
So how does it actually taste?
Sadly, it tastes like mashed potatoes, rolled around in oats, flattened into a patty, then fried to a golden brown.
Needless to say it was underwhelming. Sure it was healthy, but that leads to the second paradox of healthy foods.
It must taste bad.
If you find something that's supposed to be good for you and it actually tastes good, then there's obviously something in there that is actually bad for you, or will give you cancer, whichever is worse.
And so I chewed, looking at the rest of my burger. It was odd, the color of the patty inside was the same as the wheat bun. So much so that it didn't look like there was a burger at all, just a bun, with some bread in between, lettuce, tomatoes and another bun.
I downed it with generous amounts of water, hoping that somehow, I would manage the herculean task of actually getting it out of the way and in my gut before lunch hour ends.
Somehow, I do. And I stand, full from water more than burger, and walk out of Mexicali.
Next time, I'm going for the burrito.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Quantum Poetry in Motion
Schroedinger, Erwin! Professor of physics!
Wrote daring equations! Confounded his critics!
(Not bad, eh? Don't worry. This part of the verse
Starts off pretty good, but it gets a lot worse.)
Win saw that the theory that Newton'd invented
By Einstein's discov'ries had been badly dented.
What now? wailed his colleagues. Said Erwin, "Don't panic,
No grease monkey I, but a quantum mechanic.
Consider electrons. Now, these teeny articles
Are sometimes like waves, and then sometimes like particles.
If that's not confusing, the nuclear dance
Of electrons and suchlike is governed by chance!
No sweat, though--my theory permits us to judge
Where some of 'em is and the rest of 'em was."
Not everyone bought this. It threatened to wreck
The comforting linkage of cause and effect.
E'en Einstein had doubts, and so Schroedinger tried
To tell him what quantum mechanics implied.
Said Win to Al, "Brother, suppose we've a cat,
And inside a tube we have put that cat at--
Along with a solitaire deck and some Fritos,
A bottle of Night Train, a couple mosquitoes
(Or something else rhyming) and, oh, if you got 'em,
One vial prussic acid, one decaying ottom
Or atom--whatever--but when it emits,
A trigger device blasts the vial into bits
Which snuffs our poor kitty. The odds of this crime
Are 50 to 50 per hour each time.
The cylinder's sealed. The hour's passed away. Is
Our pussy still purring--or pushing up daisies?
Now, you'd say the cat either lives or it don't
But quantum mechanics is stubborn and won't.
Statistically speaking, the cat (goes the joke),
Is half a cat breathing and half a cat croaked.
To some this may seem a ridiculous split,
But quantum mechanics must answer, "Tough @#&!
We may not know much, but one thing's fo' sho':
There's things in the cosmos that we cannot know.
Shine light on electrons--you'll cause them to swerve.
The act of observing disturbs the observed--
Which ruins your test. But then if there's no testing
To see if a particle's moving or resting
Why try to conjecture? Pure useless endeavor!
We know probability--certainty, never.'
The effect of this notion? I very much fear
'Twill make doubtful all things that were formerly clear.
Till soon the cat doctors will say in reports,
"We've just flipped a coin and we've learned he's a corpse."'
So saith Herr Erwin. Quoth Albert, "You're nuts.
God doesn't play dice with the universe, putz.
I'll prove it!" he said, and the Lord knows he tried--
In vain--until fin'ly he more or less died.
Win spoke at the funeral: "Listen, dear friends,
Sweet Al was my buddy. I must make amends.
Though he doubted my theory, I'll say of this saint:
Ten-to-one he's in heaven--but five bucks says he ain't."
...
By Cecil Adams, apparently. (taken from StephenLS's LJ)
Wrote daring equations! Confounded his critics!
(Not bad, eh? Don't worry. This part of the verse
Starts off pretty good, but it gets a lot worse.)
Win saw that the theory that Newton'd invented
By Einstein's discov'ries had been badly dented.
What now? wailed his colleagues. Said Erwin, "Don't panic,
No grease monkey I, but a quantum mechanic.
Consider electrons. Now, these teeny articles
Are sometimes like waves, and then sometimes like particles.
If that's not confusing, the nuclear dance
Of electrons and suchlike is governed by chance!
No sweat, though--my theory permits us to judge
Where some of 'em is and the rest of 'em was."
Not everyone bought this. It threatened to wreck
The comforting linkage of cause and effect.
E'en Einstein had doubts, and so Schroedinger tried
To tell him what quantum mechanics implied.
Said Win to Al, "Brother, suppose we've a cat,
And inside a tube we have put that cat at--
Along with a solitaire deck and some Fritos,
A bottle of Night Train, a couple mosquitoes
(Or something else rhyming) and, oh, if you got 'em,
One vial prussic acid, one decaying ottom
Or atom--whatever--but when it emits,
A trigger device blasts the vial into bits
Which snuffs our poor kitty. The odds of this crime
Are 50 to 50 per hour each time.
The cylinder's sealed. The hour's passed away. Is
Our pussy still purring--or pushing up daisies?
Now, you'd say the cat either lives or it don't
But quantum mechanics is stubborn and won't.
Statistically speaking, the cat (goes the joke),
Is half a cat breathing and half a cat croaked.
To some this may seem a ridiculous split,
But quantum mechanics must answer, "Tough @#&!
We may not know much, but one thing's fo' sho':
There's things in the cosmos that we cannot know.
Shine light on electrons--you'll cause them to swerve.
The act of observing disturbs the observed--
Which ruins your test. But then if there's no testing
To see if a particle's moving or resting
Why try to conjecture? Pure useless endeavor!
We know probability--certainty, never.'
The effect of this notion? I very much fear
'Twill make doubtful all things that were formerly clear.
Till soon the cat doctors will say in reports,
"We've just flipped a coin and we've learned he's a corpse."'
So saith Herr Erwin. Quoth Albert, "You're nuts.
God doesn't play dice with the universe, putz.
I'll prove it!" he said, and the Lord knows he tried--
In vain--until fin'ly he more or less died.
Win spoke at the funeral: "Listen, dear friends,
Sweet Al was my buddy. I must make amends.
Though he doubted my theory, I'll say of this saint:
Ten-to-one he's in heaven--but five bucks says he ain't."
...
By Cecil Adams, apparently. (taken from StephenLS's LJ)
Saturday, April 08, 2006
RPGs, and the Year of the Sequel
The past year or so has been the Year of the Sequel for RPGS on my shelf. Starting with L5R 3rd Edition, to Mage: the Awakening, to finally Exalted 2.0, I haven't really bought any "new" lines as of late.
Not that I mind of course. L5R 3rd Edition is buggier than most Beta Test software, but it still holds a special place in my heart. As such, I'll forgive the hack job of editing that they did, and focus on the positive aspect. It's the most comprehensive rulebook they're released. Outstripping the revered (and still equally buggy) first edition with sheer crunch.
Mage: the Awakening is different from its spiritual predecessor, Mage: the Ascension. So many of the old has been removed, replaced with an admittedly more solid set of mechanics for magic, but the loss of all the Gonzo goodness of the first iteration. Instead, we've got Paradigm in a box, and the secrets of Atlantis. It's definitely a different game, and perhaps, of the three games I'm looking at in this post, the one that is not a true sequel.
Finally, my latest purchase... Exalted 2.0. Exalted is the one game that my current gaming group can't get enough of. High flying Wuxia-esque maneuvers crossed the heroes of myth. But what does this new edition bring to the table that the old one didn't?
New mechanics. A boatload of new mechanics. Mass Combat (cleaned up), Social Combat (new) and an entirely different initative system that runs on "ticks". It's way crunchier than what most people expected, and that made the detractors of Exalted's massive charm trees recoil in horror. Even older players gave pause to the content, but tried it anyway.
I'm going to be off my first game of Exalted 2.0 tomorrow, and I'm hoping it'll be a good experience. Having played HERO for several months in a row, I think Exalted's mechanics won't be that complicated, but I do expect to see some sort of learning curve.
Not that I mind of course. L5R 3rd Edition is buggier than most Beta Test software, but it still holds a special place in my heart. As such, I'll forgive the hack job of editing that they did, and focus on the positive aspect. It's the most comprehensive rulebook they're released. Outstripping the revered (and still equally buggy) first edition with sheer crunch.
Mage: the Awakening is different from its spiritual predecessor, Mage: the Ascension. So many of the old has been removed, replaced with an admittedly more solid set of mechanics for magic, but the loss of all the Gonzo goodness of the first iteration. Instead, we've got Paradigm in a box, and the secrets of Atlantis. It's definitely a different game, and perhaps, of the three games I'm looking at in this post, the one that is not a true sequel.
Finally, my latest purchase... Exalted 2.0. Exalted is the one game that my current gaming group can't get enough of. High flying Wuxia-esque maneuvers crossed the heroes of myth. But what does this new edition bring to the table that the old one didn't?
New mechanics. A boatload of new mechanics. Mass Combat (cleaned up), Social Combat (new) and an entirely different initative system that runs on "ticks". It's way crunchier than what most people expected, and that made the detractors of Exalted's massive charm trees recoil in horror. Even older players gave pause to the content, but tried it anyway.
I'm going to be off my first game of Exalted 2.0 tomorrow, and I'm hoping it'll be a good experience. Having played HERO for several months in a row, I think Exalted's mechanics won't be that complicated, but I do expect to see some sort of learning curve.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
From two.eyes.left
Do you
- remind yourself that you have 20 life?
No, I usually use a d20 to keep track of my life. Takes up less headspace dedicated to figuring out what to do with a crappy hand. :p
- count your successes?
Every time. Always remembering to count Zeroes as 2 successes rather than just one most of the time.
- love 20s, Fear ones?
Ones strike fear in even the bravest d20 players.
- always untap your resources, check for upkeeps, and then draw your next bet before doing anything?
Yep. Been ingrained in my skull from my Magic days. Then again, now it's unbow and check who has the Imperial Favor.
- hope your dice explode?
Exploding dice are great, unless you're a GM. I've seen opponents meant to give 4-6 rounds of combat excitement drop like flies as soon as the PC dice start exploding. *sigh* Now I miss running L5R, it's such a humbling experience. :p
- remember that even peons can kill daimyos?
Of course. Keep Daimyo's safe, dammit!
- try to make your saves?
Is this even a valid question? Jesus Saves! Everyone else takes 6d6 damage.
- delay meeting the first boss?
Always. You're never ready unless you're at least 3 levels over the level you got to the boss door with. Rule of Thumb.
- love your ribbon?
Pretty much, only on female PCs though.
- save your mana?
I consider Mana to be a precious resource until you can get regenerative potions for them. Even then, use Mana wisely.
- avoid base contact?
Most of the time, unless I'm ready to descend on my opponent's unit with a thunderous Brettonnian charge.
- count the clicks?
Only when taking damage from enemy fire in a dogfight of Crimson Skies.
- move your dwarves forward?
They move their dwarves forward. I don't usually play dwarves.
- remember that you need the level you're in times one thousand in experience to get to the next level?
Yep. All the time. *sighs* looks at character sheet experience bar. Got some more killin' an lootin' to do.
- know in you're heart that Gifted plus Skilled isn't worth it?
Yep. I can't imagine getting both... 0_o
- mind your facing? Getting flanked sucks.
Never has this statement been more true.
- count your hexes?
Yep. Hex counting keeps the mind flexible, and insures that the players are applying the correct range penalty, dammit. :p
- remember that you have your drama dice, hero points, blood-pool, pattern, void-point, notch, or gaeas to fall back on?
Can't call yourself an RPG player if you don't remember something as basic as that. :)
- guard your harvesters?
Always. Nothing worse than losing one to a Sandworm.
- bunny hop?
Nah. I never could get the hang of it.
- think you're an expert excrement expeditor?
I don't think I am. I had to be one. $500 ain't half bad, you know?
- build as close to your resources first?
Of course. Less time = more efficiency.
- kill the pylons?
It's a sound tactic to shut down the Protoss.
- rest your tallest finger on W, your thumb on the space bar, your ring finger on A, your pinkie on ctrl or shift, and your index on D, even while typing?
Ah... no. :p
- resolve things Last in First Out?
Yes, lest madness overtake ye.
- save on multiple slots?
You'd be a fool not to. Try playing Persona with just a single save slot.
- avoid spiky poles?
along with whirling blades, smashing walls, laser beams, saw blades, swinging spiked rams, crumbling walls, tumbling electrocuted boulders, mines and various other hazards.
Alright gamers out there, post your answers to this questionnaire. :D
- remind yourself that you have 20 life?
No, I usually use a d20 to keep track of my life. Takes up less headspace dedicated to figuring out what to do with a crappy hand. :p
- count your successes?
Every time. Always remembering to count Zeroes as 2 successes rather than just one most of the time.
- love 20s, Fear ones?
Ones strike fear in even the bravest d20 players.
- always untap your resources, check for upkeeps, and then draw your next bet before doing anything?
Yep. Been ingrained in my skull from my Magic days. Then again, now it's unbow and check who has the Imperial Favor.
- hope your dice explode?
Exploding dice are great, unless you're a GM. I've seen opponents meant to give 4-6 rounds of combat excitement drop like flies as soon as the PC dice start exploding. *sigh* Now I miss running L5R, it's such a humbling experience. :p
- remember that even peons can kill daimyos?
Of course. Keep Daimyo's safe, dammit!
- try to make your saves?
Is this even a valid question? Jesus Saves! Everyone else takes 6d6 damage.
- delay meeting the first boss?
Always. You're never ready unless you're at least 3 levels over the level you got to the boss door with. Rule of Thumb.
- love your ribbon?
Pretty much, only on female PCs though.
- save your mana?
I consider Mana to be a precious resource until you can get regenerative potions for them. Even then, use Mana wisely.
- avoid base contact?
Most of the time, unless I'm ready to descend on my opponent's unit with a thunderous Brettonnian charge.
- count the clicks?
Only when taking damage from enemy fire in a dogfight of Crimson Skies.
- move your dwarves forward?
They move their dwarves forward. I don't usually play dwarves.
- remember that you need the level you're in times one thousand in experience to get to the next level?
Yep. All the time. *sighs* looks at character sheet experience bar. Got some more killin' an lootin' to do.
- know in you're heart that Gifted plus Skilled isn't worth it?
Yep. I can't imagine getting both... 0_o
- mind your facing? Getting flanked sucks.
Never has this statement been more true.
- count your hexes?
Yep. Hex counting keeps the mind flexible, and insures that the players are applying the correct range penalty, dammit. :p
- remember that you have your drama dice, hero points, blood-pool, pattern, void-point, notch, or gaeas to fall back on?
Can't call yourself an RPG player if you don't remember something as basic as that. :)
- guard your harvesters?
Always. Nothing worse than losing one to a Sandworm.
- bunny hop?
Nah. I never could get the hang of it.
- think you're an expert excrement expeditor?
I don't think I am. I had to be one. $500 ain't half bad, you know?
- build as close to your resources first?
Of course. Less time = more efficiency.
- kill the pylons?
It's a sound tactic to shut down the Protoss.
- rest your tallest finger on W, your thumb on the space bar, your ring finger on A, your pinkie on ctrl or shift, and your index on D, even while typing?
Ah... no. :p
- resolve things Last in First Out?
Yes, lest madness overtake ye.
- save on multiple slots?
You'd be a fool not to. Try playing Persona with just a single save slot.
- avoid spiky poles?
along with whirling blades, smashing walls, laser beams, saw blades, swinging spiked rams, crumbling walls, tumbling electrocuted boulders, mines and various other hazards.
Alright gamers out there, post your answers to this questionnaire. :D
Monday, March 20, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Innocence proves NOTHING, Heretic!
Black Industries has just announced that there will be a Warhammer 40k RPG! What's better is the fact that it's actually three games rather than just one.
===Quoted from the Press Release===
Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy will be the first 40KRP game, allowing players to take on the role of an Inquisitor’s retinue. Their task is to uproot the taint of Chaos in Imperial society, to smash dark cults and foil sinister plots. It’s a game of investigation and will be an ideal introduction to the dark and gothic universe of the 41st Millennium. Dark Heresy is just the beginning, however. After this basic game, two further games released eighteen months apart will allow the players to progress and explore the universe first as Rogue Traders and alien pirates, and eventually experienced players will be able to roleplay the devastating warriors of the Adeptus Astartes Deathwatch.
===Quoted from the Press Release===
I can't wait. :D As if setting suspected heretics on fire isn't good enough, you get to eventually play the 8-foot zealots of the Adeptus Astartes Deathwatch.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Johari Windo Washing?
Ever wonder what a Johari window is?
Well, if you try filling out mine, you get a chance to make one for yourself!
To give it a shot, Click HERE, and pick 6 adjectives to describe me and submit!
Then you can go ahead and make your own.
Come on guys, let's spread this meme... :p
Well, if you try filling out mine, you get a chance to make one for yourself!
To give it a shot, Click HERE, and pick 6 adjectives to describe me and submit!
Then you can go ahead and make your own.
Come on guys, let's spread this meme... :p
Friday, March 10, 2006
Persona 3!
Get yourself some coffee, because this takes some loading, but trust me, it's worth it.
Persona 3, one of the creepiest and coolest RPGs to ever grace Playstation Consoles is back with it's latest installment.
ATLUS USA, for the love of god, please port this over with the same quality you guys put into Digital Devil Saga!
Persona 3, one of the creepiest and coolest RPGs to ever grace Playstation Consoles is back with it's latest installment.
ATLUS USA, for the love of god, please port this over with the same quality you guys put into Digital Devil Saga!
Monday, March 06, 2006
Rest in Peace, Nice
Nice passed away early saturday morning, March 4th. She wasn't eating for the past week and didn't have any energy. Then again, it was inevitable, she'd been with us for 13 or so years, well within the life expectancy of a Japanese Spitz.
Nice never really barked much for a dog, reserving it only for special and arcane situations that I've never quite figured out. She had always been demure, standing or sitting in very showdog poise, except for this particular candid shot taken when she just woke up one morning on her back with her hind legs splayed open.
Nice was incredibly friendly, and we used to kid that she couldn't scare anything away. She'd make a very poor guard dog, but that's not why we had her anyway. She was a friend and a family member, and we will miss her dearly.
Friday, March 03, 2006
To all the Rhythm Gamers out there...
Here's a cute little game that you can use to while away your time.
Music Brothers is a simple game, just press the keys in the same order as presented before the time limit runs out. Controls are almost self explanatory: arrow keys for arrows, and the circles are triggered by the space bar.
The circles also grant extra lives and extra time to the player.)
Give it a shot, I'm pretty sure you guys will like it! (click on the picture above to start playing
Music Brothers is a simple game, just press the keys in the same order as presented before the time limit runs out. Controls are almost self explanatory: arrow keys for arrows, and the circles are triggered by the space bar.
The circles also grant extra lives and extra time to the player.)
Give it a shot, I'm pretty sure you guys will like it! (click on the picture above to start playing
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Working People Don't Go to Protests
Times are hard.
Non-Working People take to the streets,
foul up traffic,
make a fuss,
litter,
piss on the sidewalks,
vandalize harmless walls.
They raise red banners, march arm in arm and shout until their voices are hoarse.
The economy shudders, and the investors flee.
Tired Working people try to go home,
stuck in traffic,
deafened by the noise,
sickened by the litter,
nauseated by the piss,
shake their heads at the walls ruined by spray paint.
The Working man raise their pens, their tools, their minds, blood seeping from their pores.
The Tax Man comes,
The Gas Man comes,
The Bill Man comes,
They take the Working man's blood stained money.
To feed the economy, they say
To make us prosper, they say
To usher a new world, they say
The Non-Working man sleeps, fucks and drinks.
Content to blame the ills of his life upon the world.
The Working man tries, ekeing out his existence on scraps from First World Countries.
They meet.
In a dimly lit street.
The Working man is tired, his once crisp shirt, crumpled and worn.
The Non-Working man shirtless, to show off his tatoos, smelling of cheap liquor and cigarettes.
The Non-Working man grins a stained-tooth grin, and takes out a knife
And takes out blood
And takes out hope
And takes out money
And takes out life
Non-Working People take to the streets,
foul up traffic,
make a fuss,
litter,
piss on the sidewalks,
vandalize harmless walls.
Non-Working People take to the streets,
foul up traffic,
make a fuss,
litter,
piss on the sidewalks,
vandalize harmless walls.
They raise red banners, march arm in arm and shout until their voices are hoarse.
The economy shudders, and the investors flee.
Tired Working people try to go home,
stuck in traffic,
deafened by the noise,
sickened by the litter,
nauseated by the piss,
shake their heads at the walls ruined by spray paint.
The Working man raise their pens, their tools, their minds, blood seeping from their pores.
The Tax Man comes,
The Gas Man comes,
The Bill Man comes,
They take the Working man's blood stained money.
To feed the economy, they say
To make us prosper, they say
To usher a new world, they say
The Non-Working man sleeps, fucks and drinks.
Content to blame the ills of his life upon the world.
The Working man tries, ekeing out his existence on scraps from First World Countries.
They meet.
In a dimly lit street.
The Working man is tired, his once crisp shirt, crumpled and worn.
The Non-Working man shirtless, to show off his tatoos, smelling of cheap liquor and cigarettes.
The Non-Working man grins a stained-tooth grin, and takes out a knife
And takes out blood
And takes out hope
And takes out money
And takes out life
Non-Working People take to the streets,
foul up traffic,
make a fuss,
litter,
piss on the sidewalks,
vandalize harmless walls.
Information Architecture: What is it?
Information Architect Lesson 1: Just what is IA?
"Jay, what is it exactly that you do, anyway?" My dad asked me one morning while I was stuffing bread in my mouth for breakfast, zombie-like so early in the morning.
"Mmmuh?" I inquire through a full mouth, his question still qued up in my brain, lost between keeping my heart beating and breathing and chewing.
"What's your job?" he repeated, "I know you're some sort of IT guy, but what do you do? Do you program stuff?"
I swallow, sip my coffee, and smile.
"I'm an Information Architect."
----
Just what is an Information Architect, anyway? I get the same reaction no matter where I go and people ask me what I do. I tell them my job title, they smile, nod, then get this confused look on their face.
Trust me, it's hilarious.
Seriously though, not a lot of people know about Information Architecture, and of us Information Architects. This really isn't meant to be the most extensive of reports on the matter, but this is how I define my work.
Before that, and in the interests of academics, let's take a look at the definition of both words:
in·for·ma·tion (ĭn'fər-mā'shən) pronunciation
n.
1. Knowledge derived from study, experience, or instruction.
2. Knowledge of specific events or situations that has been gathered or received by communication; intelligence or news. See synonyms at knowledge.
3. A collection of facts or data: statistical information.
and
ar·chi·tect (är'kĭ-tĕkt') pronunciation
n.
1. One who designs and supervises the construction of buildings or other large structures.
2. One that plans or devises: a country considered to be the chief architect of war in the Middle East.
Okay, for the purposes of our discussion, I'll concern my self with Information as defined in #1,2,3 and Architect definition 2.
Anyway, to make things easy to understand, my job as an Information Architect entails planning how information should be arranged in such a way that people who need that information can find it easily, and with the least amount of pain possible. This is, of course, usually restricted to website design and projects, but occasionally bleeds over to other uses.
At first glance, my work might seem a little too simple to qualify as being a full fledged job. After all, many people would read the previous paragraph and say, "Psh! I can do that!" How hard could it possibly be?
Well... I wouldn't say that it's too difficult. But I will say that it's tricky.
I think the best way for me to illustrate my point is to give an example.
For your first example for a website challenge, click HERE. (Opens in a new window) Once that page has loaded up, try looking for their customer support hotline.
I'll give you 2 minutes, the average time a person will spend on a website to look for information.
...
...
...
...
...
Done?
If you found it, then good for you! If you didn't that's okay too, because that only means that you've been subjected to a result of bad Information Architecture.
(to those who have been wondering, the way to get there from the page is: Click on the MyGlobe link on the horizontal "websites" bar, then when the MyGlobe page loads, scroll all the way down to where the copyright line is, and click on the tiny "contact us" link)
The problem I ran into when I had to look for their hotline number. I ended up frustrated and angry over it, as the site as it wasn't anywhere, and the most visible "Customer Support" link led to nowhere.
The problem with that experience is that it makes me, the intended audience of the website, feel that I'm not welcome. My calls are not important or unwanted, hence they're hiding their number from me.
You can imagine how this sort of impression will sour your users to your company, all because of a phone number.
To be fair, a good (and common sense) implementation of putting up contact information is done by the same company on a different website HERE (again, opens in a new window)
As you can see, the contact us section is located at the very top, along with FAQs and Search, and clicking on it doesn't lead me to a dead end of links that won't help me. Instead, I get the hotline right there, followed with an email address and even a directory of their service centers.
In the end, Information Architects deal with getting the right kind of data to the right kind of user in the right way. We play around with various widgets and templates and wrack our brains to put "common sense" down onto the screen so that when people sit in front of their computers and go to a website because they need something, they'll find it without having to let loose with a barrage of swearing.
"Jay, what is it exactly that you do, anyway?" My dad asked me one morning while I was stuffing bread in my mouth for breakfast, zombie-like so early in the morning.
"Mmmuh?" I inquire through a full mouth, his question still qued up in my brain, lost between keeping my heart beating and breathing and chewing.
"What's your job?" he repeated, "I know you're some sort of IT guy, but what do you do? Do you program stuff?"
I swallow, sip my coffee, and smile.
"I'm an Information Architect."
----
Just what is an Information Architect, anyway? I get the same reaction no matter where I go and people ask me what I do. I tell them my job title, they smile, nod, then get this confused look on their face.
Trust me, it's hilarious.
Seriously though, not a lot of people know about Information Architecture, and of us Information Architects. This really isn't meant to be the most extensive of reports on the matter, but this is how I define my work.
Before that, and in the interests of academics, let's take a look at the definition of both words:
in·for·ma·tion (ĭn'fər-mā'shən) pronunciation
n.
1. Knowledge derived from study, experience, or instruction.
2. Knowledge of specific events or situations that has been gathered or received by communication; intelligence or news. See synonyms at knowledge.
3. A collection of facts or data: statistical information.
and
ar·chi·tect (är'kĭ-tĕkt') pronunciation
n.
1. One who designs and supervises the construction of buildings or other large structures.
2. One that plans or devises: a country considered to be the chief architect of war in the Middle East.
Okay, for the purposes of our discussion, I'll concern my self with Information as defined in #1,2,3 and Architect definition 2.
Anyway, to make things easy to understand, my job as an Information Architect entails planning how information should be arranged in such a way that people who need that information can find it easily, and with the least amount of pain possible. This is, of course, usually restricted to website design and projects, but occasionally bleeds over to other uses.
At first glance, my work might seem a little too simple to qualify as being a full fledged job. After all, many people would read the previous paragraph and say, "Psh! I can do that!" How hard could it possibly be?
Well... I wouldn't say that it's too difficult. But I will say that it's tricky.
I think the best way for me to illustrate my point is to give an example.
For your first example for a website challenge, click HERE. (Opens in a new window) Once that page has loaded up, try looking for their customer support hotline.
I'll give you 2 minutes, the average time a person will spend on a website to look for information.
...
...
...
...
...
Done?
If you found it, then good for you! If you didn't that's okay too, because that only means that you've been subjected to a result of bad Information Architecture.
(to those who have been wondering, the way to get there from the page is: Click on the MyGlobe link on the horizontal "websites" bar, then when the MyGlobe page loads, scroll all the way down to where the copyright line is, and click on the tiny "contact us" link)
The problem I ran into when I had to look for their hotline number. I ended up frustrated and angry over it, as the site as it wasn't anywhere, and the most visible "Customer Support" link led to nowhere.
The problem with that experience is that it makes me, the intended audience of the website, feel that I'm not welcome. My calls are not important or unwanted, hence they're hiding their number from me.
You can imagine how this sort of impression will sour your users to your company, all because of a phone number.
To be fair, a good (and common sense) implementation of putting up contact information is done by the same company on a different website HERE (again, opens in a new window)
As you can see, the contact us section is located at the very top, along with FAQs and Search, and clicking on it doesn't lead me to a dead end of links that won't help me. Instead, I get the hotline right there, followed with an email address and even a directory of their service centers.
In the end, Information Architects deal with getting the right kind of data to the right kind of user in the right way. We play around with various widgets and templates and wrack our brains to put "common sense" down onto the screen so that when people sit in front of their computers and go to a website because they need something, they'll find it without having to let loose with a barrage of swearing.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Therapy...
I know that it's really mean to laugh at other people's misfortunes, but this one had me in stitches:
I'm pretty sure it's fake, so please, don't restrain your laughter.
I'm pretty sure it's fake, so please, don't restrain your laughter.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
B-Movie Nostalgia: Puppet Master
Puppet master has to be one of the most memorable B-Movies I've watched. Next to such atrociously bad flicks as Trancers, I find that this film from Full Moon Pictures is still the one that my memory keeps pulling up for some reason.
For the uninitiated, here's the general background of the movies (based on Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge):
Andre Toulon, a puppeteer who discovered the secret of reanimating the dead via an ancient Egyptian ritual (involving brain matter and other substances) creates a small army of puppets to avenge himself upon the evil Nazi's who killed his wife.
That being said, all the of the other movies in the series (including the first one and part 2) all give slight variations of this. The most obvious one being that in part 3 (which takes place in the past) Toulon reanimates the Puppet known as Leech Woman with the soul of his murdered wife, Ilsa. While in Part 2, the reanimated Toulon insists that Carolyn is the reincarnation of Isla, all while Leech Woman is there with him. Oh, and he sets fire to Leech Woman there too.
Personally, I'd blame it on the fact that a reanimated Toulon could not possibly be a sane Toulon, but that's hardly an official answer.
So, I've been blathering about the plot for a while, but the actual highlights of the film are the puppets themselves. Here are a few images of the puppets for your viewing pleasure:
Jester:
Jester is the supposed "brains" of the first batch of puppets introduced. He appears to have no special abilities aside from to spin the three component parts of his face around and change his expression. Doesn't sound like much, but he's pretty cool.
Blade and Pinhead
Blade is often the coolest puppet, as he actually has a hook for one hand and a nasty looking blade (hence the name) in the other. He's pretty darn fast for a puppet and he's usually the one the leaves the more gruesom kills.
Pinhead is the direct opposite of Blade. Pinhead is aptly named, and I won't get into that, but his redeeming factor is that he's got very large (human sized) hands that help him do his job of strangling people to death very well. He's also the strongest of the puppets, capable of wrestling full sized people.
Torch
Er... I'm not sure what his backstory is, but his schtick is that he's got a miniature flamethrower for a right arm and it shoots not-miniature sized flames.
Tunneler
Tunneler, the funky drill bit headed puppet of doom rams people head first, digging in and taking the time to leave a chunky mess without even staining his uniform. He's also responsible for my sister not daring to look under the bed, as Tunneler makes his first kill that way.
Leech Woman
The vessel for Ilsa's soul, Leech Woman was created by Andre Toulon to extract revenge on the Nazis. I'm not sure, but if I were to reincarnate my wife as a puppet, I wouldn't choose to make it one that regurgitates leeches.
Six-Shooter
Six-Shooter is six armed cowboy sporting six fully functional(!) miniature pistols. He's got no real story to him, but the bandanna does go up to cover his mouth bandito smile and he's got a funky laugh. Next to Blade, he's my brother's second favorite puppet.
Decapatron
Decapatron is the "secret puppet weapon" that the puppets reanimate in Puppet Master 4. He's got interchangable heads, this one being a strange Tesla-Coil like device that he uses to great effect fighting the ancient puppet sized egyptian monsters they face in the movie.
Apparently there have been no less than nine(!) puppet master movies made, with varying levels of B-movieness. That being said, I still find it to be worth musing about.
Ah, to those who have not heard it, here are a few links to some multimedia sources for you to enjoy:
The Puppet Master Theme Music
And
The Trailer for Puppet Master: The Legacy the latest Puppet Master Movie.
For the uninitiated, here's the general background of the movies (based on Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge):
Andre Toulon, a puppeteer who discovered the secret of reanimating the dead via an ancient Egyptian ritual (involving brain matter and other substances) creates a small army of puppets to avenge himself upon the evil Nazi's who killed his wife.
That being said, all the of the other movies in the series (including the first one and part 2) all give slight variations of this. The most obvious one being that in part 3 (which takes place in the past) Toulon reanimates the Puppet known as Leech Woman with the soul of his murdered wife, Ilsa. While in Part 2, the reanimated Toulon insists that Carolyn is the reincarnation of Isla, all while Leech Woman is there with him. Oh, and he sets fire to Leech Woman there too.
Personally, I'd blame it on the fact that a reanimated Toulon could not possibly be a sane Toulon, but that's hardly an official answer.
So, I've been blathering about the plot for a while, but the actual highlights of the film are the puppets themselves. Here are a few images of the puppets for your viewing pleasure:
Jester:
Jester is the supposed "brains" of the first batch of puppets introduced. He appears to have no special abilities aside from to spin the three component parts of his face around and change his expression. Doesn't sound like much, but he's pretty cool.
Blade and Pinhead
Blade is often the coolest puppet, as he actually has a hook for one hand and a nasty looking blade (hence the name) in the other. He's pretty darn fast for a puppet and he's usually the one the leaves the more gruesom kills.
Pinhead is the direct opposite of Blade. Pinhead is aptly named, and I won't get into that, but his redeeming factor is that he's got very large (human sized) hands that help him do his job of strangling people to death very well. He's also the strongest of the puppets, capable of wrestling full sized people.
Torch
Er... I'm not sure what his backstory is, but his schtick is that he's got a miniature flamethrower for a right arm and it shoots not-miniature sized flames.
Tunneler
Tunneler, the funky drill bit headed puppet of doom rams people head first, digging in and taking the time to leave a chunky mess without even staining his uniform. He's also responsible for my sister not daring to look under the bed, as Tunneler makes his first kill that way.
Leech Woman
The vessel for Ilsa's soul, Leech Woman was created by Andre Toulon to extract revenge on the Nazis. I'm not sure, but if I were to reincarnate my wife as a puppet, I wouldn't choose to make it one that regurgitates leeches.
Six-Shooter
Six-Shooter is six armed cowboy sporting six fully functional(!) miniature pistols. He's got no real story to him, but the bandanna does go up to cover his mouth bandito smile and he's got a funky laugh. Next to Blade, he's my brother's second favorite puppet.
Decapatron
Decapatron is the "secret puppet weapon" that the puppets reanimate in Puppet Master 4. He's got interchangable heads, this one being a strange Tesla-Coil like device that he uses to great effect fighting the ancient puppet sized egyptian monsters they face in the movie.
Apparently there have been no less than nine(!) puppet master movies made, with varying levels of B-movieness. That being said, I still find it to be worth musing about.
Ah, to those who have not heard it, here are a few links to some multimedia sources for you to enjoy:
The Puppet Master Theme Music
And
The Trailer for Puppet Master: The Legacy the latest Puppet Master Movie.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Pointychu!
Last year, Alex and Kate got married, and just a while ago, Kate so graciously gave me a few pictures of me taken during the ceremony.
This is one of them:
The first thing that hit me when I saw it was that it looked like Jesus was pointing at me as if to say either
a) "I'm proud of this little not-so-practicing catholic son of mine"
or
b) "I choose you, Pointychu!" :D
This is one of them:
The first thing that hit me when I saw it was that it looked like Jesus was pointing at me as if to say either
a) "I'm proud of this little not-so-practicing catholic son of mine"
or
b) "I choose you, Pointychu!" :D
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Kicking Down Signs and Taking Names
In the "Webcomic without Pictures" format done by a writer whose work I fear, respect and have no choice but to grovel in front of. Rebecca Bergstrom. Check out her writing at Hitherby Dragons
Ping stared down at the bowl, pasty, pale yellow noodles suspended in weak sweet soup. Cheap, assymetrical chopsticks held loosely in his hand as he chewed on what the fast food stand tried to pass off as a wonton dumpling.
He looked at his food, his half nibbled siopao sporting the same kind of mysterious meat seasoned to an unidentifiable chewy mass.
That was the last straw.
Ping stood, walking over to the stand. The Lady Behind the Counter eyed him suspiciously, her eyes glancing from him to his half-eaten food.
"Yes?" she asked susiciously.
With explosive Kung Fu action, Ping hurtled upwards, his leg smashing into the lighted electric sign that proudly proclaimed "Great Dim sum!". His mighty kick broke the sign in half with a powerful explosion, electrical sparks flying in all directions as other patrons of the dimsum place fled for their lives.
"Your dim sum is no good!" Ping said giving her the thumbs down sign.
The Lady Behind the Counter narrowed her eyes. Around them the dimsum chefs circled around Ping, weilding knives and skewers.
"You dare to dishonor my dim sum stand?" the Lady cried out in a shrill voice, "Face the wrath of my school!"
Ping ignored her threats as he dropped into a fighting stance. Righteousnes shone in his very countenance, his being suffused with the will to win and rid this food court of bad dim sum forever!
The chefs advanced, a whirlwind of aprons and cutlery, each one eager to avenge the name of their dim sum craft upon the body of the arrogant stranger.
Unfortunately, no one in the food court could stand in front of the might of Ping's Righteous Chopstick Stance, coupled with the secrets of the Avenging Soydish Style. The chefs attacked, their knives ringing out loud as their blows fell like rain. Ping deflected each and every slice, cut and thrust with a tiny faux-porcelain soydish, before countering viciouly, using the cheap square cornered chopsticks as his only weapons.
The chefs fell to the ground groaning and clutching a wounded arm here, or a broken leg there. More unfortunate ones fell with broken ribs, crying out in agony.
Finally the battle ended, with only Ping standing, holding a singular chopstick, as he had just used the other to knock out one of the fleeing chefs.
"So you think you can defeat me?" The Lady Behind the Counter said as she stepped out, putting aside her apron.
"Those who wickedly serve substandard slop such as that despoil the reputation of Chinese Cooking!" Ping replied, "And for the wicked, there is no victory."
She laughed, "You are all talk! Show me your best stance. I will defeat you before this siomai touches the ground!" She reached into the steamer with her bare hand, tossing it upwards.
No sooner had the siomai left her fingers did The Lady Behind the Counter launch herself towards Ping, delivering a vicious kick towards his head. Righteous Ping barely deflected the attack with his lone chopstick, staggering backwards with the power of the blow, the marble tiles under his feet breaking at the force of the blow.
Ping found himself falling back, even as The Lady Behind the Counter pressed her attack. Ping tried the Righteous Chopstick Stance, only to be countered, the Lady's nails digging into his chest, drawing blood.
"You cannot win!" She shrieked.
Ping ducked low, under her next strike, before unleashing his Final Technique, raining punches into her midsection, suffused with Fire Chi drawn from the Internal Steamer Technique. Each punch shook the very building, dishes and glasses exploding from the very outporing of internal energy.
The Lady Behind the Counter sailed backwards into the broken sign, electricity coursing through her body.
Ping watched her, convulsing against her cart.
"For bad dim sum, there can be no forgiveness."
Ping stared down at the bowl, pasty, pale yellow noodles suspended in weak sweet soup. Cheap, assymetrical chopsticks held loosely in his hand as he chewed on what the fast food stand tried to pass off as a wonton dumpling.
He looked at his food, his half nibbled siopao sporting the same kind of mysterious meat seasoned to an unidentifiable chewy mass.
That was the last straw.
Ping stood, walking over to the stand. The Lady Behind the Counter eyed him suspiciously, her eyes glancing from him to his half-eaten food.
"Yes?" she asked susiciously.
With explosive Kung Fu action, Ping hurtled upwards, his leg smashing into the lighted electric sign that proudly proclaimed "Great Dim sum!". His mighty kick broke the sign in half with a powerful explosion, electrical sparks flying in all directions as other patrons of the dimsum place fled for their lives.
"Your dim sum is no good!" Ping said giving her the thumbs down sign.
The Lady Behind the Counter narrowed her eyes. Around them the dimsum chefs circled around Ping, weilding knives and skewers.
"You dare to dishonor my dim sum stand?" the Lady cried out in a shrill voice, "Face the wrath of my school!"
Ping ignored her threats as he dropped into a fighting stance. Righteousnes shone in his very countenance, his being suffused with the will to win and rid this food court of bad dim sum forever!
The chefs advanced, a whirlwind of aprons and cutlery, each one eager to avenge the name of their dim sum craft upon the body of the arrogant stranger.
Unfortunately, no one in the food court could stand in front of the might of Ping's Righteous Chopstick Stance, coupled with the secrets of the Avenging Soydish Style. The chefs attacked, their knives ringing out loud as their blows fell like rain. Ping deflected each and every slice, cut and thrust with a tiny faux-porcelain soydish, before countering viciouly, using the cheap square cornered chopsticks as his only weapons.
The chefs fell to the ground groaning and clutching a wounded arm here, or a broken leg there. More unfortunate ones fell with broken ribs, crying out in agony.
Finally the battle ended, with only Ping standing, holding a singular chopstick, as he had just used the other to knock out one of the fleeing chefs.
"So you think you can defeat me?" The Lady Behind the Counter said as she stepped out, putting aside her apron.
"Those who wickedly serve substandard slop such as that despoil the reputation of Chinese Cooking!" Ping replied, "And for the wicked, there is no victory."
She laughed, "You are all talk! Show me your best stance. I will defeat you before this siomai touches the ground!" She reached into the steamer with her bare hand, tossing it upwards.
No sooner had the siomai left her fingers did The Lady Behind the Counter launch herself towards Ping, delivering a vicious kick towards his head. Righteous Ping barely deflected the attack with his lone chopstick, staggering backwards with the power of the blow, the marble tiles under his feet breaking at the force of the blow.
Ping found himself falling back, even as The Lady Behind the Counter pressed her attack. Ping tried the Righteous Chopstick Stance, only to be countered, the Lady's nails digging into his chest, drawing blood.
"You cannot win!" She shrieked.
Ping ducked low, under her next strike, before unleashing his Final Technique, raining punches into her midsection, suffused with Fire Chi drawn from the Internal Steamer Technique. Each punch shook the very building, dishes and glasses exploding from the very outporing of internal energy.
The Lady Behind the Counter sailed backwards into the broken sign, electricity coursing through her body.
Ping watched her, convulsing against her cart.
"For bad dim sum, there can be no forgiveness."
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Previously, in "Jay's Life"
 Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com |
Things have been pretty decent actually. I've managed to submit a short story to Vin's Draconic Fiction Anthology, and I'm eagerly awaiting the results.
Sometimes, being a writer is kind of like being a father waiting outside the operating room while your wife is giving birth. You've done all you can, read up on all the rules, and all you can do now is wait... and pray.
I'm currently in that phase.
Let's hope that God still hasn't grown tired of listening to this insufficiently practicing Catholic boy.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Movie Clip Analysis Rpg Style
First, observe the following video:
For old World of Darkness, I'd give this guy a Dexterity of 4 and Athletics of 5, along with the Daredevil Merit. Maybe with a Specialty: Parkour.
For HERO 5th, This guy would have a DEX of 20, a few levels of Acrobatics and Breakfall, and perhaps a few extra inches of Running and Leaping
For L5R, Definitely a Agility 4 with the Athletics skill, maybe from the Hare Clan.
For old World of Darkness, I'd give this guy a Dexterity of 4 and Athletics of 5, along with the Daredevil Merit. Maybe with a Specialty: Parkour.
For HERO 5th, This guy would have a DEX of 20, a few levels of Acrobatics and Breakfall, and perhaps a few extra inches of Running and Leaping
For L5R, Definitely a Agility 4 with the Athletics skill, maybe from the Hare Clan.
Monday, January 09, 2006
2006: Bluetoothery!
Well sorta.
I've just tested out a bluetooth dongle that my sis bought, moving all the photos out of my phone to the hard drive. Looking over them now, it seems that I've had a good run of strange photos.
Let's start off with some things that don't look very nice out of context:
Er... I live in the Philippines, where some people really do eat dogs. Thankfully, this stand is for rice and viands stuffed into a sausage like casing. I've tried it, and it's really awkward.
Waha! If you're running out of color paper, here's More!
Someone needs fiber... badly.
Next up on the picture's I've got is a pair of photos of me wearing strange headgear.
Holloween me.
And the less flatteringly lighted Christmas me.
This is obviously not me, but rather our Japanese Spitz, Nice. (For "Nice Doggy", don't blame me, I didn't name her.)
Finally, my last picture for this set is something that my Christine and I stumbled upon in a small japanese discount store:
Cats and Dogs should always get along...
I've just tested out a bluetooth dongle that my sis bought, moving all the photos out of my phone to the hard drive. Looking over them now, it seems that I've had a good run of strange photos.
Let's start off with some things that don't look very nice out of context:
Er... I live in the Philippines, where some people really do eat dogs. Thankfully, this stand is for rice and viands stuffed into a sausage like casing. I've tried it, and it's really awkward.
Waha! If you're running out of color paper, here's More!
Someone needs fiber... badly.
Next up on the picture's I've got is a pair of photos of me wearing strange headgear.
Holloween me.
And the less flatteringly lighted Christmas me.
This is obviously not me, but rather our Japanese Spitz, Nice. (For "Nice Doggy", don't blame me, I didn't name her.)
Finally, my last picture for this set is something that my Christine and I stumbled upon in a small japanese discount store:
Cats and Dogs should always get along...
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Happy New Year, Iraq!
Bush pulls the plug on Iraq reconstruction
(From Guardian Unlimited)
The Bush administration has scaled back its ambitions to rebuild Iraq from the devastation wrought by war and dictatorship and does not intend to seek new funds for reconstruction, it emerged yesterday.
In a decision that will be seen as a retreat from a promise by President George Bush to give Iraq the best infrastructure in the region, administration officials say they will not seek reconstruction funds when the budget request is presented to Congress next month, the Washington Post reported yesterday.
The $18.4bn (£10.6bn) allocation is scheduled to run out in June 2007. The move will be seen by critics as further evidence of the administration's failure to plan for the aftermath of the war.
A decision not to renew the reconstruction programme would leave Iraq with the burden of tens of billions of dollars in unfinished projects, and an oil industry and electrical grid that have yet to return to pre-war production levels.
The decision is a tacit admission of the failure of the US rebuilding effort in the face of a relentless insurgency. Nearly half the funds earmarked for reconstruction were diverted towards fighting the insurgency and preparations to put Saddam Hussein on trial.
More Here
----
Wow. I wonder what he plans to do next? I know, he should totally blast Mindanao into the stone age, go "oops!" and leave it to GMA to clean up.
I fear this new year. I really do.
(From Guardian Unlimited)
The Bush administration has scaled back its ambitions to rebuild Iraq from the devastation wrought by war and dictatorship and does not intend to seek new funds for reconstruction, it emerged yesterday.
In a decision that will be seen as a retreat from a promise by President George Bush to give Iraq the best infrastructure in the region, administration officials say they will not seek reconstruction funds when the budget request is presented to Congress next month, the Washington Post reported yesterday.
The $18.4bn (£10.6bn) allocation is scheduled to run out in June 2007. The move will be seen by critics as further evidence of the administration's failure to plan for the aftermath of the war.
A decision not to renew the reconstruction programme would leave Iraq with the burden of tens of billions of dollars in unfinished projects, and an oil industry and electrical grid that have yet to return to pre-war production levels.
The decision is a tacit admission of the failure of the US rebuilding effort in the face of a relentless insurgency. Nearly half the funds earmarked for reconstruction were diverted towards fighting the insurgency and preparations to put Saddam Hussein on trial.
More Here
----
Wow. I wonder what he plans to do next? I know, he should totally blast Mindanao into the stone age, go "oops!" and leave it to GMA to clean up.
I fear this new year. I really do.
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