Every weekend there are new sights, sounds, and taste to consume. There are other sensory inputs that tickle my brain too, but saying there is stuff to feel sounds creepy. This is a weekly journal of my weekend endeavors. Enjoy!
Gravity
I've never had a fear of space before. It is such a foreign concept, so abstract when presented through the lens of a book or television, that it never really occurred to me. Gravity is a fictional take on space that presents story first, but also uses visual effects and sound to make the vast emptiness of space tangible. Bullock and Clooney do a great job in their roles, but the third character is outer space. We saw the film in 3D and for the first time I felt like it actually added something. More stunning spectacle than zero calorie novelty. It was amazing and deserving of the stellar reviews it has received.
The Stanley Parable
What this is, is hard to describe. It's a game for the PC that spawned from a source mod in 2011. That much is easy enough. What the game actually does though is much harder. It is not a puzzle game, as much as it is a mind fuck. Most "gamers" have played enough to know the tropes, language and mechanics of a modern video game. This one turns all of that on it's ear. It constantly breaks the fourth wall and does so in clever and humorous ways. You explore the ins and outs a world that is masterfully narrated and never what you expect it to be. You should play it and will love it when you do. Very much like portal, but not like it at all, it's strange and wonderful.
Boson X
I've spent a surprising amount of time with the endless runner genre. Almost exclusively on mobile devices. Subway Surfers has been my on again off again sweetheart for a year now. So when a new kid shows up on the block I'm willing take a look. Boson X sets you running down the center of a particle accelerator, represented by swirling polygonal shapes. You jump left and right to keep moving and collecting enough research ("collisions") to discover a new particle and finish the level. It is harder than most runners and very akin to Super Hexagon in it's pace and sometimes brutal difficulty.
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Monday, October 28, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
Weekend Review: June 8th & 9th
Every weekend there are new sights, sounds, and taste to consume. There are other sensory inputs that tickle my brain too, but saying there is stuff to feel sounds creepy. This is a weekly journal of my weekend endeavors. Enjoy!
Gunpoint
I've been following allowing with Gunpoint's development since early 2011. Before it had great art and a smooth jazz soundtrack. The core concept stands up on it's own just fine. 2D stealth and puzzle mechanics. More specifically rewiring the electronics in the building you are infiltrating to remove obstacles. The light switch, you know, the one that turns on lights. Now it opens the door you wanted to sneak through or better yet short circuits the socket next to a guard and murders him. If it was just that it would be a good time, but it also has the art and soundtrack mentioned earlier. Plus a story that is worth reading and interactive dialogue that is pretty damn humorous. It's a great game. I just wish there was more of it, I completed it right at three hours. What you get in that three hours though feels like a new experience in gaming. Maybe? Or maybe it is just Elevator Action evolved. It is a marvelous little game either way.
The Man with the Iron Fists
The Rza writing/directing/acting in his own movie, is a piece of information that would have created no pause in me in high school. I was in a full 36 Chambers spiral. I would have been there for the midnight release. Then came Bobby Digital and the downfall of the clan. When he (Rza) popped up producing the Kill Bill soundtrack though, it seemed like a perfect match. 9 years later, after studying under Tarantino, Rza put out his own film. A small part of me wanted to believe. Then the reviews came in and I knew in my heart of hearts that I shouldn't see it. Well over the weekend I did. It was not good. Bad writing, acting and editing. The only thing that kept me watching was decent fight choreography and illogical devotion to the Wu.
Kingdom Rush: Frontiers
A long anticipated sequel to a game I've probably logged near one hundred iPad hours with. I played through the regular game, then three all levels of difficulty and then finally through the DLC. I wrung it dry. So when Frontiers came out this week and was getting mixed reviews for being more of the same, I signed right up. More of the game I already loved, sure. There are slight changes to the formula and plenty of new towers and enemies, but at it's core is the game I wanted. Heroes now have persistent levels/skills and feel more useful on the map. The harder difficulties and challenges are still tough as hell. It is more like a Kingdom Rush expansion than sequel and I am perfectly happy with that.
Gunpoint
I've been following allowing with Gunpoint's development since early 2011. Before it had great art and a smooth jazz soundtrack. The core concept stands up on it's own just fine. 2D stealth and puzzle mechanics. More specifically rewiring the electronics in the building you are infiltrating to remove obstacles. The light switch, you know, the one that turns on lights. Now it opens the door you wanted to sneak through or better yet short circuits the socket next to a guard and murders him. If it was just that it would be a good time, but it also has the art and soundtrack mentioned earlier. Plus a story that is worth reading and interactive dialogue that is pretty damn humorous. It's a great game. I just wish there was more of it, I completed it right at three hours. What you get in that three hours though feels like a new experience in gaming. Maybe? Or maybe it is just Elevator Action evolved. It is a marvelous little game either way.
The Man with the Iron Fists
The Rza writing/directing/acting in his own movie, is a piece of information that would have created no pause in me in high school. I was in a full 36 Chambers spiral. I would have been there for the midnight release. Then came Bobby Digital and the downfall of the clan. When he (Rza) popped up producing the Kill Bill soundtrack though, it seemed like a perfect match. 9 years later, after studying under Tarantino, Rza put out his own film. A small part of me wanted to believe. Then the reviews came in and I knew in my heart of hearts that I shouldn't see it. Well over the weekend I did. It was not good. Bad writing, acting and editing. The only thing that kept me watching was decent fight choreography and illogical devotion to the Wu.
Kingdom Rush: Frontiers
A long anticipated sequel to a game I've probably logged near one hundred iPad hours with. I played through the regular game, then three all levels of difficulty and then finally through the DLC. I wrung it dry. So when Frontiers came out this week and was getting mixed reviews for being more of the same, I signed right up. More of the game I already loved, sure. There are slight changes to the formula and plenty of new towers and enemies, but at it's core is the game I wanted. Heroes now have persistent levels/skills and feel more useful on the map. The harder difficulties and challenges are still tough as hell. It is more like a Kingdom Rush expansion than sequel and I am perfectly happy with that.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Weekend Review: Apr 20th & 21st
Every weekend there are new sights, sounds, and taste to consume. There are other sensory inputs that tickle my brain too, but saying there is stuff to feel sounds creepy. This is a weekly journal of my weekend endeavors. Enjoy!
Django Unchained
Another film we didn't make time for in 2012. What a shame, because I love 99% of Tarantino's work and this one was no exception. It was violent, dealt with race in sometimes uncomfortable, but direct ways and was crammed full of humor to take the edge off. The dialogue is top tier work, Waltz and Sam Jackson execute it masterfully. The soundtrack was killer. Evoking an audible cheer of glee (from me) when a Rick Ross track came on half way through the film, that was otherwise full of great spaghetti western style tracks.
Fire Pit
We had a new patio put in last weekend. We've spent nearly every night the past week hanging out and grilling on it. This weekend we sprung for a fire pit to add to our new outdoor living area. I like a good camp fire and this is a great alternative to building an actual stone pit (which was a consideration). Plus I get to secretly burn up all the branches that I end up piling up over the course of a year. Like a prisoner dumping dirt in the yard. Plus, burning stuff is totally cool.
D&D Podcast: Mines of Madness
Post Eberron game night, I haven't quite been feeling table top gaming. Nothing has gotten me excited to do it again this year or at least go through the preparation time. I needed a muse and got one this weekend. Like the Penny Arcade episodes of the past I wanted to grab some friends, dice and a table and throw down right then and there. The Mines of Madness is an adventure written by Chris Perkins and Scott Kurtz for this years PAX East. The podcast is Kurtz and friends playing through the adventure and it is pretty great.
Django Unchained
Another film we didn't make time for in 2012. What a shame, because I love 99% of Tarantino's work and this one was no exception. It was violent, dealt with race in sometimes uncomfortable, but direct ways and was crammed full of humor to take the edge off. The dialogue is top tier work, Waltz and Sam Jackson execute it masterfully. The soundtrack was killer. Evoking an audible cheer of glee (from me) when a Rick Ross track came on half way through the film, that was otherwise full of great spaghetti western style tracks.
Fire Pit
We had a new patio put in last weekend. We've spent nearly every night the past week hanging out and grilling on it. This weekend we sprung for a fire pit to add to our new outdoor living area. I like a good camp fire and this is a great alternative to building an actual stone pit (which was a consideration). Plus I get to secretly burn up all the branches that I end up piling up over the course of a year. Like a prisoner dumping dirt in the yard. Plus, burning stuff is totally cool.
D&D Podcast: Mines of Madness
Post Eberron game night, I haven't quite been feeling table top gaming. Nothing has gotten me excited to do it again this year or at least go through the preparation time. I needed a muse and got one this weekend. Like the Penny Arcade episodes of the past I wanted to grab some friends, dice and a table and throw down right then and there. The Mines of Madness is an adventure written by Chris Perkins and Scott Kurtz for this years PAX East. The podcast is Kurtz and friends playing through the adventure and it is pretty great.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Weekend Review: Mar 23rd & 24th
Every weekend there are new sights, sounds, and taste to consume. There are other sensory inputs that tickle my brain too, but saying there is stuff to feel sounds creepy. This is a weekly journal of my weekend endeavors. Enjoy!
Skyfall
It is rare that we get to catch movies these days (I repeat this a lot). 2012 is a laundry list of movies we missed on top of the stuff I have not seen from 2011. I decided to tackle Bond first, because I love Bond. After swooning over Casino Royale and taking a swift gut punch from Quantum of Solace, I was ready for another great one. Skyfall is that by a mile. The story moves, but not without giving itself room to breathe. Javier Bardem is an ultra creepy villain, though I already knew that. All around it is a fantastic movie and also a great addition to the Bond series.
Super Stickman Golf 2
I never got down with the first game from Noodlecake Studios. Nothing against them, but "stickman" games are usually throw away flash novelties and just the word golf makes my eyes do back flips. Luckily a drought of iOS games had me looking last week for something new. SSG2 just so happened to come out and get great reviews. It is a golf game, but it is a golf game with a complete disregard for reality. Upside-down swinging from a rotating platform with a magnetized ball kind of disregard. It is great, a perfect fit for the iPad and a lazy afternoon of March Madness watching. There is asynchronous multiplayer too, but I have yet to try it. Get at me!
G.I. Joe: COBRA
My childhood was filled with G.I. Joe toys, shows and pajamas. Outside of the rare return from the past though, I don't have much time for dem Joes these days. Nor would I think to read a comic series about them. The COBRA series is barely Joe story though. After five trade paperbacks I can't remember one red or blue laser. It is set in the world of G.I. Joe, but the story is fully self serious. It focuses on Joes going undercover to infiltrate Cobra and the messed up twist and turns that they face along the way. It is superb writing laid on top of great art, definitely worth a read.
Skyfall
It is rare that we get to catch movies these days (I repeat this a lot). 2012 is a laundry list of movies we missed on top of the stuff I have not seen from 2011. I decided to tackle Bond first, because I love Bond. After swooning over Casino Royale and taking a swift gut punch from Quantum of Solace, I was ready for another great one. Skyfall is that by a mile. The story moves, but not without giving itself room to breathe. Javier Bardem is an ultra creepy villain, though I already knew that. All around it is a fantastic movie and also a great addition to the Bond series.
Super Stickman Golf 2
I never got down with the first game from Noodlecake Studios. Nothing against them, but "stickman" games are usually throw away flash novelties and just the word golf makes my eyes do back flips. Luckily a drought of iOS games had me looking last week for something new. SSG2 just so happened to come out and get great reviews. It is a golf game, but it is a golf game with a complete disregard for reality. Upside-down swinging from a rotating platform with a magnetized ball kind of disregard. It is great, a perfect fit for the iPad and a lazy afternoon of March Madness watching. There is asynchronous multiplayer too, but I have yet to try it. Get at me!
G.I. Joe: COBRA
My childhood was filled with G.I. Joe toys, shows and pajamas. Outside of the rare return from the past though, I don't have much time for dem Joes these days. Nor would I think to read a comic series about them. The COBRA series is barely Joe story though. After five trade paperbacks I can't remember one red or blue laser. It is set in the world of G.I. Joe, but the story is fully self serious. It focuses on Joes going undercover to infiltrate Cobra and the messed up twist and turns that they face along the way. It is superb writing laid on top of great art, definitely worth a read.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Weekend Review: Feb 23rd & 24th
Every weekend there are new sights, sounds, and taste to consume. There are other sensory inputs that tickle my brain too, but saying there is stuff to feel sounds creepy. This is a weekly journal of my weekend endeavors. Enjoy!
The Cabin In The Woods
Horror movies are not my jam. Part of the draw for Cabin in the Woods though, was the buzz created around the film at it's release. Not the normal horror crowd. There were lots of people talking about how good the film was and why it was worth not spoiling he premise/reveal for yourself. Almost two years later I was still in he dark oddly enough. The film plays in the realm of classic horror tropes and then turns them on their head. Saying any more might ruin it. Seek it out and enjoy.
Crysis 2
Far Cry 3 was the last game I really bit my teeth into and that was back in early January. Some how I got it in my head that the folks that spawned the Far Cry series were worth revisiting. Crytek made the first Far Cry game, a technical marvel at the time and then moved on to make Crysis. Crysis at the time was too much game for any PC of it's era to run it at max settings. If you could run it at any level though it was beautiful.The story had very little substance though and the mechanics where akin to turning on a cheat mode. Crysis 2 took that boring ball and ran with it.
D&D Next
Friday night I played DM for 6 of my friends. After not sitting behind the screen since July of last year I felt rusty the whole night. I prepped too much again and by the time I was through the whole thing felt a bit too on the rails. Letting go and not over preparing has been the bane of my DM experience. I think I will eventually get there, but taking off what was pretty much a whole year didn't help. All that said and I still had fun. We rolled dice, drank beer and made dick jokes till midnight. Expect a bonus post later this week.
The Cabin In The Woods
Horror movies are not my jam. Part of the draw for Cabin in the Woods though, was the buzz created around the film at it's release. Not the normal horror crowd. There were lots of people talking about how good the film was and why it was worth not spoiling he premise/reveal for yourself. Almost two years later I was still in he dark oddly enough. The film plays in the realm of classic horror tropes and then turns them on their head. Saying any more might ruin it. Seek it out and enjoy.
Crysis 2
Far Cry 3 was the last game I really bit my teeth into and that was back in early January. Some how I got it in my head that the folks that spawned the Far Cry series were worth revisiting. Crytek made the first Far Cry game, a technical marvel at the time and then moved on to make Crysis. Crysis at the time was too much game for any PC of it's era to run it at max settings. If you could run it at any level though it was beautiful.The story had very little substance though and the mechanics where akin to turning on a cheat mode. Crysis 2 took that boring ball and ran with it.
D&D Next
Friday night I played DM for 6 of my friends. After not sitting behind the screen since July of last year I felt rusty the whole night. I prepped too much again and by the time I was through the whole thing felt a bit too on the rails. Letting go and not over preparing has been the bane of my DM experience. I think I will eventually get there, but taking off what was pretty much a whole year didn't help. All that said and I still had fun. We rolled dice, drank beer and made dick jokes till midnight. Expect a bonus post later this week.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Weekend Review: Feb 16th & 17th
Every weekend there are new sights, sounds, and taste to consume. There are other sensory inputs that tickle my brain too, but saying there is stuff to feel sounds creepy. This is a weekly journal of my weekend endeavors. Enjoy!
The Room
I picked up The Room this weekend. A well reviewed iOS game from the Fall of 2012. A 3D puzzle game that creates very elaborate and beautiful puzzle boxes and sets you at them. So far I really like it. Every time I open it up I get the urge to waste an hour on image searches of actual puzzle boxes. The puzzle aspect of it isn't so much of a puzzle though. I never get the squirt of dopamine I have come to expect from finding a solution. I don't feel like I am solving a puzzle, more like I got to see a creative thing someone designed. It is satisfying in a different way and that is still a good feeling.
Pitch Perfect
I wanted to hang out with my wife Friday night. I gave her the stink eye when she got out her laptop to work and suggested we watch a movie instead. My pick was Skyfall, which would have meant I'd be watching it on my own while she slept. So we watched Pitch Perfect instead. In the vein of college movies that has very little to do with actual college (think Stomp the Yard) this film focuses entirely on an acapella club. It started out with just enough humor for me and enough singing for her. The character arcs where pretty hard to get invested in though. So when the comedy well dried up midway through and the singing covered no new ground, we both considered turning this film off.
Apple Genius Bar
The pretentiously named help desk at every Apple retail store is the butt of many a joke. If you know to schedule an appointment ahead online though, the reality is much different. My speakers blew out on my four month old iPhone 5 Wednesday evening. On Thursday I schedule and appointment for noon on Friday. When I walked in the place was a mad house. To their credit, I walked up, checked in and was talking with some the second my appointment started. They diagnosed my problem and estimated it would take 15 minutes to fix, even handing me a laptop to play on while I waited. Ten minutes later they handed me back my phone, speakers replaced, under warranty and a smile on my face. I stay for the app ecosystem (I'm heavily invested), but it is nice to get stellar customer service too.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Weekend Review: Jan 5th & 6th
Every weekend there are new sights, sounds, and taste to consume. There are other sensory inputs that tickle my brain too, but saying there is stuff to feel sounds creepy. This is a weekly journal of my weekend endeavors. Enjoy!
Far Cry 3
This game missed out on my gaming data love in for 2012. Through no fault of it's own it came out in early December, when I was already a prestige deep into Black Ops 2. That and I had very little expectation for the third entry in the series, despite being pleasantly surprised by the second. The third is the best parts of the seconds emergent open world with none of the fluff. I've described it as Skyrim with submachine guns, if your into that kind of shorthand. Far Cry 3 has more of an "A" plot and less, "B, C, D, E, F" plots than Skyrim did, but they both create great individual stories through their worlds and the systems that live in them.
Looper
It has been a solid three months since we saw a movie. Post kids we hardly see anything. So when we do carve out time, we hope with all our hopin' muscles that it is a good one. Looper is just that, a good one. Great even, if your into time travel brain puzzling, which we are. The trailers set up a great premise and the actual movie exceed it at every turn. Well acted, visually pleasing and an ending that makes good on all that led up to it.
Fitbit Zip
I've never written an Amazon review, I usually like what I get and do a fair amount of research before ordering things. That changed this past week:
"Out of the ten days I wore it, it tracked me at zero steps for two days and sub 100 for two more. The screen doubling as a whack-a-mole button is unreliable and a bit maddening. It was rarely responsive and when it did come on it was usually a emoticon sticking it's tongue out at me. Nothing about this device worked as I expected it too. I wanted to believe it was me. I slogged around Fitbit's site on two separate occasions for something I was doing wrong, but came away with no answers.
Returned it today."
Far Cry 3
This game missed out on my gaming data love in for 2012. Through no fault of it's own it came out in early December, when I was already a prestige deep into Black Ops 2. That and I had very little expectation for the third entry in the series, despite being pleasantly surprised by the second. The third is the best parts of the seconds emergent open world with none of the fluff. I've described it as Skyrim with submachine guns, if your into that kind of shorthand. Far Cry 3 has more of an "A" plot and less, "B, C, D, E, F" plots than Skyrim did, but they both create great individual stories through their worlds and the systems that live in them.
Looper
It has been a solid three months since we saw a movie. Post kids we hardly see anything. So when we do carve out time, we hope with all our hopin' muscles that it is a good one. Looper is just that, a good one. Great even, if your into time travel brain puzzling, which we are. The trailers set up a great premise and the actual movie exceed it at every turn. Well acted, visually pleasing and an ending that makes good on all that led up to it.
Fitbit Zip
I've never written an Amazon review, I usually like what I get and do a fair amount of research before ordering things. That changed this past week:
"Out of the ten days I wore it, it tracked me at zero steps for two days and sub 100 for two more. The screen doubling as a whack-a-mole button is unreliable and a bit maddening. It was rarely responsive and when it did come on it was usually a emoticon sticking it's tongue out at me. Nothing about this device worked as I expected it too. I wanted to believe it was me. I slogged around Fitbit's site on two separate occasions for something I was doing wrong, but came away with no answers.
Returned it today."
Monday, November 19, 2012
Weekend Review: Nov 17th & 18th
Every weekend there are new sights, sounds, and taste to consume. There are other sensory inputs that tickle my brain too, but saying there is stuff to feel sounds creepy. This is a weekly journal of my weekend endeavors. Enjoy!
BLOPs 2
Call of Duty is Call of Duty. I started playing the first COD that wasn't even a COD back in 2002. Made by the group that would eventually leave and form Infinity Ward. It is ten years later, Infinity Ward has left, but people are still making COD games. Black Ops 2 released this week and I have already put heavy hours into the multiplayer. The level of customization continues to get better. The future tech (the game is set in 2025) is fun to play with (Dragonfire) and/or super effective (Guardian) and I love party systems over dedicated servers.
Brave
Now that Kaden has crossed the threshold of watching an entire movie film we are watching more of them. Funny how that works. One day he could not sit still and then another and he sits enraptured. This summer I was hoping Brave might be his first, but we were not there yet. So instead we watched it this weekend. He loved the three younger brothers and all of the bears. Scary ones and otherwise. I loved the CG, stunning set pieces and crazy hair tech. It was a fantastic story that never left him worrying too much about the characters, a reoccurring theme lately, see below.
UFC 154
It had been 18 months since George St.Pierre stepped into the octagon Saturday night. To face a fighter in Carlos Condit that I actually root for as well. Being a long time St. Pierre fan it was tough to parse who I would be pulling for when this fight actually started. I ended up cheering for skill and technique as both fighters put on a grappling and striking clinic. It was a fantastic show from bell to bell. Lots of bloody violence throughout the show and some big knockouts too. Top notch MMA.
Up
Mid-week Kaden threw down two stars (our discipline and reward system) to watch a movie. He picked Up, a movie we have owned for a while, but he never watched. Crystal was concerned that the beginning (super sad) would get him worked up. I assumed he would be fine. He did not seem to comprehend what was going on at first, but then I could see the gears turning in his head:
Him: What happened to that old lady?
Me: His wife? She passed away.
Him: Why?
Me: She got old.
Him: [confused look] Why?
Me: When people get old they eventually die.
Him: [confusion turning to fear/sadness] Does that mean I will grow old and die?
Me: [panicked] Uh, no, no not at all buddy, you will be just fine.
After my three year old faced down him own mortality, the rest of the movie was all talking dogs, funny birds and flying houses.
BLOPs 2
Call of Duty is Call of Duty. I started playing the first COD that wasn't even a COD back in 2002. Made by the group that would eventually leave and form Infinity Ward. It is ten years later, Infinity Ward has left, but people are still making COD games. Black Ops 2 released this week and I have already put heavy hours into the multiplayer. The level of customization continues to get better. The future tech (the game is set in 2025) is fun to play with (Dragonfire) and/or super effective (Guardian) and I love party systems over dedicated servers.
Brave
Now that Kaden has crossed the threshold of watching an entire movie film we are watching more of them. Funny how that works. One day he could not sit still and then another and he sits enraptured. This summer I was hoping Brave might be his first, but we were not there yet. So instead we watched it this weekend. He loved the three younger brothers and all of the bears. Scary ones and otherwise. I loved the CG, stunning set pieces and crazy hair tech. It was a fantastic story that never left him worrying too much about the characters, a reoccurring theme lately, see below.
UFC 154
It had been 18 months since George St.Pierre stepped into the octagon Saturday night. To face a fighter in Carlos Condit that I actually root for as well. Being a long time St. Pierre fan it was tough to parse who I would be pulling for when this fight actually started. I ended up cheering for skill and technique as both fighters put on a grappling and striking clinic. It was a fantastic show from bell to bell. Lots of bloody violence throughout the show and some big knockouts too. Top notch MMA.
Up
Mid-week Kaden threw down two stars (our discipline and reward system) to watch a movie. He picked Up, a movie we have owned for a while, but he never watched. Crystal was concerned that the beginning (super sad) would get him worked up. I assumed he would be fine. He did not seem to comprehend what was going on at first, but then I could see the gears turning in his head:
Him: What happened to that old lady?
Me: His wife? She passed away.
Him: Why?
Me: She got old.
Him: [confused look] Why?
Me: When people get old they eventually die.
Him: [confusion turning to fear/sadness] Does that mean I will grow old and die?
Me: [panicked] Uh, no, no not at all buddy, you will be just fine.
After my three year old faced down him own mortality, the rest of the movie was all talking dogs, funny birds and flying houses.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Weekend Review: Nov 10th & 11th
Every weekend there are new sights, sounds, and taste to consume. There are other sensory inputs that tickle my brain too, but saying there is stuff to feel sounds creepy. This is a weekly journal of my weekend endeavors. Enjoy!
Richmond Marathon 8k
I signed up for this event before Ward showed up. Back when I could get as much sleep as I wanted and plan a workout with relative ease. My training fell apart two months ago and I started regressing. Eating poorly, sleeping poorly and in general feeling poorly. Then I got sick Thursday night. I was all ready to pack it up and skip the whole thing. Except I had already paid and promised to drive Mike to the race. So I chugged NyQuil, went to bed early and reluctantly got up at 5:30a Saturday.
It was cold at 7a when we crossed the start line, but my legs felt surprisingly good. Mile one through three were easy, 3-4 torched me, but the home stretch was the best. One fourth of a mile before the finish was all downhill toward the James. I sucked cold air into burning lungs, as my jog transformed into a controlled sprint. Leaning all my weight into the descent as I started zipping past other runners. It took all of my concentration to not turn my sprint into a tumble of bloody limbs, but it worked. 41:17 at the line. 48th of 157 in my division. 8:15 a mile, my fastest pace in an event all year (prev. 8:25 and 8:20).
Wreck-It Ralph
Sunday afternoon was lazy recovery. Post Saturday run and Sunday morning ride (a poor choice), I took Kaden to see Wreck-It-Ralph. Pixar's newest film about the world of made up arcade game characters. I appreciated the video game references (they go to Tapper for happy hour) and he enjoyed the slap stick comedy. Overall it was not the strongest Pixar film I have seen, but that should not be a knock, they make good shows. He loved it though. I came home Saturday with a medal from the 8k that very much resembled the medal Ralph wants to win in the movie. We played all night. He has Ralph with the medal and I as Fix-It-Felix with a yellow Fisher Price otoscope standing in for my golden hammer.
Update
Thanks to Chuck for a major correction. The film was made by Disney, not Pixar. That explains why it felt more Cars 2 than Ratatouille. Subpar in the story department.
Good Job, Brain!
Not that I want for new Podcast, but somewhere in the 24 hours that were Octoberkast, Will, Norm and guest were discussing podcast they listen to. Good Job, Brain! was the only one that stuck with me. Part quiz show and part interesting fact/history lesson. The host are entertaining and funny. It may end up being something I download à la carte instead of subscribing to though. On a per topic basis. Podcast are getting me through these early baby months and it is nice to have a few extra around.
Richmond Marathon 8k
I signed up for this event before Ward showed up. Back when I could get as much sleep as I wanted and plan a workout with relative ease. My training fell apart two months ago and I started regressing. Eating poorly, sleeping poorly and in general feeling poorly. Then I got sick Thursday night. I was all ready to pack it up and skip the whole thing. Except I had already paid and promised to drive Mike to the race. So I chugged NyQuil, went to bed early and reluctantly got up at 5:30a Saturday.
It was cold at 7a when we crossed the start line, but my legs felt surprisingly good. Mile one through three were easy, 3-4 torched me, but the home stretch was the best. One fourth of a mile before the finish was all downhill toward the James. I sucked cold air into burning lungs, as my jog transformed into a controlled sprint. Leaning all my weight into the descent as I started zipping past other runners. It took all of my concentration to not turn my sprint into a tumble of bloody limbs, but it worked. 41:17 at the line. 48th of 157 in my division. 8:15 a mile, my fastest pace in an event all year (prev. 8:25 and 8:20).
Wreck-It Ralph
Sunday afternoon was lazy recovery. Post Saturday run and Sunday morning ride (a poor choice), I took Kaden to see Wreck-It-Ralph. Pixar's newest film about the world of made up arcade game characters. I appreciated the video game references (they go to Tapper for happy hour) and he enjoyed the slap stick comedy. Overall it was not the strongest Pixar film I have seen, but that should not be a knock, they make good shows. He loved it though. I came home Saturday with a medal from the 8k that very much resembled the medal Ralph wants to win in the movie. We played all night. He has Ralph with the medal and I as Fix-It-Felix with a yellow Fisher Price otoscope standing in for my golden hammer.
Update
Thanks to Chuck for a major correction. The film was made by Disney, not Pixar. That explains why it felt more Cars 2 than Ratatouille. Subpar in the story department.
Good Job, Brain!
Not that I want for new Podcast, but somewhere in the 24 hours that were Octoberkast, Will, Norm and guest were discussing podcast they listen to. Good Job, Brain! was the only one that stuck with me. Part quiz show and part interesting fact/history lesson. The host are entertaining and funny. It may end up being something I download à la carte instead of subscribing to though. On a per topic basis. Podcast are getting me through these early baby months and it is nice to have a few extra around.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Weekend Review: Oct 20th & 21st
Every weekend there are new sights, sounds, and taste to consume. There are other sensory inputs that tickle my brain too, but saying there is stuff to feel sounds creepy. This is a weekly journal of my weekend endeavors. Enjoy!
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
After Dishonored wowed me last weekend I needed another game to play in my off hours. XCOM is that game. It is a tactical and turned based, top down strategy game. Rooted in it's predecessors mechanics from the mid nineties, but modernized for today. The story is simple. Earth is being invaded and it is on you to build a team to stop it. You do so in two parts. Putting troops on the ground and flanking and maneuvering your way across the battlefield. This part is the best. I can see the tabletop game gears spinning underneath it. Dice rolls for hits and all and I love it. The other part is the macro game. Returning to your base with the spoils of victory and spending those resources to upgrade your team and their capabilities. It is all pretty fantastic.
Moneyball
I have been pushing off on this film for months now. Mainly because it was something I thought Crystal would have no interest in. The premise was right up my alley though. Winning with data, not assumptions and gut feel. A subject I have been working on in my career for three years now. Thankfully it was more than just a good premise. The acting was great and it was shot beautifully. Baseball is not my deal, but love a good sports movie. It would have been nice if Billy Beane won a world series, but that is not how it played out. Now everyone is into sabermetrics. I was correct in assuming Crystal would not dig this by the way, just sayin'.
Hawkeye
On a recommendation from Ethan I picked up this book after the second issue was released. I picked up #3 this weekend based on the strength of one and two and was not disappointed. It is more about Clint Barton the man and less about his persona of Hawkeye. There are still loads of bow and arrow bits, but it is really a character piece that is really well written. In one issue Fraction developed a character I care about and want to read more about. From going up against the Russian mafia because his land lord is a jerk to rescuing and falling for a dog he has not interest in keeping. The art is rad too.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
After Dishonored wowed me last weekend I needed another game to play in my off hours. XCOM is that game. It is a tactical and turned based, top down strategy game. Rooted in it's predecessors mechanics from the mid nineties, but modernized for today. The story is simple. Earth is being invaded and it is on you to build a team to stop it. You do so in two parts. Putting troops on the ground and flanking and maneuvering your way across the battlefield. This part is the best. I can see the tabletop game gears spinning underneath it. Dice rolls for hits and all and I love it. The other part is the macro game. Returning to your base with the spoils of victory and spending those resources to upgrade your team and their capabilities. It is all pretty fantastic.
Moneyball
I have been pushing off on this film for months now. Mainly because it was something I thought Crystal would have no interest in. The premise was right up my alley though. Winning with data, not assumptions and gut feel. A subject I have been working on in my career for three years now. Thankfully it was more than just a good premise. The acting was great and it was shot beautifully. Baseball is not my deal, but love a good sports movie. It would have been nice if Billy Beane won a world series, but that is not how it played out. Now everyone is into sabermetrics. I was correct in assuming Crystal would not dig this by the way, just sayin'.
Hawkeye
On a recommendation from Ethan I picked up this book after the second issue was released. I picked up #3 this weekend based on the strength of one and two and was not disappointed. It is more about Clint Barton the man and less about his persona of Hawkeye. There are still loads of bow and arrow bits, but it is really a character piece that is really well written. In one issue Fraction developed a character I care about and want to read more about. From going up against the Russian mafia because his land lord is a jerk to rescuing and falling for a dog he has not interest in keeping. The art is rad too.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Weekend Review: September 1st & 2nd
Every weekend there are new sights, sounds, and taste to consume. There are other sensory inputs that tickle my brain too, but saying there is stuff to feel sounds creepy. This is a journal of my weekend endeavors. Enjoy!
The Campaign
Friday nigtht was date night. I made steaks and asparagus on the grill and we went to a movie. The Campaign trailers looked funny enough and it got two friendly recommendations. Good enough for us. We both like Galifianakis and Ferrell well enough and the film was face achingly funny for the first half. The shine came off, as it does with most comedies, in the back half though. It threw a few funny jabs out here and there near the end and managed to be recommendation worthy overall. It may sound harsh, but it remained funny longer than most movies do and that is an accomplishment in and of itself.
Revival
I read the first two issues of this book Saturday based on a recommendation (Ethan) and really liked it. A select group of residents in a small town find they have the ability to return to life after death. Only a little bit crazier every time. The art is wicked good, the story feels legit creepy and the characters are already fully established. Totally worth a read.
The Once and Future King
I started this back in high school and made it through 2 of the 4 books the compilation contains. While struggling to find a new fantasy book post ASoIF
I went back to the realm of King Arthur. I'm not incredibly far into it yet, but the old memories flooding back. I love White's writing style, humor and occasional word I have to look up. Really glad I returned to finish this some 15 years later.Crossroads
I don't think 52L will make it over to southside anytime soon, so this one is not going to step on any toes. Post Sunday ride our skeleton crew pulled into Crossroads for coffee and scones. I have been to the South of the James truck a few times and really enjoyed it, but never to the actual coffee shop. It was nice enough outside and we were sweaty enough that we sat out on the patio. The iced coffees hit the spot after an ultra humid ride and my scone was super tasty. I'll be going back for sure.
Angry Birds
Heck of late to the party on this one, but my three year old recently became obsessed. Which means I end up playing it a fair amount too. I first played it back when it original blew up on the iPhone and was bored with it pretty quickly. Too much of the success seems to be based on luck and inconsistent physics. That said my son loves it and could care less about the pass/fail portion of it. Win or lose he is off to another level. If I had to say a few nice things about it, I'd go with:
- I hate the free to play model and Angry Birds stands as the shinning example of not free to play (mostly).
- Playing Angry Birds has introduced my son to familiarity with the iPad. Which has let me introduce him to more educational games. He spends as much time with dem birds as he does with Letter School and a matching game that escapes me.
Cycling buddy, Hip Hop aficionado and friend o' mine, Mike got his bee-log up and running again. Give it a visit!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Weekend Review: July 28th & 29nd
Every weekend there are new sights, sounds, and taste to consume. There are other sensory inputs that tickle my brain too, but saying there is stuff to feel sounds creepy. This is a journal of my weekend endeavors. Enjoy!
Lockout
When the opening ceremony failed to catch my attention on three different attempts I looked toward other media when the DVR ran out of the Daily Show. Lockout was merely a blip on the radar back in April of this year and will most likely be yet another blip post this month (DVD release). Rightfully so I'm afraid, it was awful. Horrible special effects, writing, acting. The whole lot was rubbish, I don't know what I expected from a space prison movie. Epicness?
Chew
I read the first trade of Chew maybe a year ago and was underwhelmed, given the hype that surrounded it. I re-read the first trade and second trade on Sunday and was stunned at my change in opinion. I loved it. The writing was great, the premise was refreshing (chicken is outlawed and the FDA act as poultry prohibition officers) and the art has grown on me. Could not recommend it more.
Solo Cycling
I've posted many moons ago that I don't particularly care for solo cycling. I think of cycling as a social activity as much as I do a good form of exercise. Sunday my party of four turned into a party of me when everyone bailed. I was already packed up though so I went out for 28.8 miles of solo spinning. It was nice to have some quiet, just me and the bike. Oh and three deer, they were totally cool though.
Dickey's Barbecue Pit
I won't say much here, because it feels like cheating, but the meats were tender and tasty. Plus free ice cream, pickles and souvenir cups. The sides were mostly a bust, but everything else gets a thumbs up. Expect a longer review on 52L in the near-ish future.
The Bugle
Saturday, I spent the whole day painting the boys room (8+ hours). It sucked, but I got to catch up on loads of podcast in my Downcast back log. The best of which was three episodes of the Bugle. John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman's weekly podcast, lampooning world news. Like the Daily Show, but with more puns, more English accents and more dick jokes.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Phone Movies
Before we left for Boston I decided I would use the trip to experiment with my new phone. It would be invaluable in getting us around the city. Knowing which T to take without wring our hands at posted maps was awesome. Besides being a map, it was my gaming buddy, got us around PAX and feed us, but I wanted it to make movies too. Like I've said, life in the future is good.
I decided I would capture and edit a short film about our trip. There would be lots to see and do and sharing those experiences through video is more appealing. We own a semi fancy HD camera that has a small body, but taking it in and out of a messenger bag the whole trip is a pain. Having the phone in my pocket to take out and record in an instant is a big draw. I've edited 5-6 movies on the computer in the last year. We are both comfortable with the process, so editing on the phone was really just for geeky curiosity.
The product of that experiment is going to end up in two parts, but you can view the first already. Experiment complete I can now reflect on the experience here. Capturing video with the phone can be a shaky affair naturally. Learning to stand with a good base, pace my breathing and holding the phone with a feather touch all helped. The quality was no where near what our HD cam can capture, but I didn't expect it to be. That is the trade off I am willing to make. Vertical video is out too, as it doesn't play nice with any player on the web. We are a horizontal society.
As for editing, the interface of iMovie is great. Cutting and cropping through gesture and touch work really well. The big issue is performance though. I shot everything in 5-15 second intervals. Opting for lots of jumps to try and share a lot of story. Around two plus minutes of edited video the app slowed to a crawl. Taking a second or more between each action. It is why I ultimately split the video into two days. Now that iMovie is a sunk cost though, it will be nice to have around to make quick edits to short video. I have tasted possibility and I like it. Given the current state though, my desktop will still have to do the heavy lifting for the foreseeable future.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Exit Through the Gift Shop
The closest I ever got to street art myself was paint penning small works in notebooks and *cough* other places in high school. I consumed obscure UK based graffiti mags and even hung around folks who were ballsy enough to throw up bigger pieces. Now ten years removed from that fascination and I still appreciate good street art. So I was more than a little geeked to see Exit Through the Gift Shop.
I had heard of Banksy long ago, critics were raving about the film and friends were recommending it. Done and done. I re-upped my Netflix account and dove in. What I got was surprising. I was not expecting the film to be about someone who had attempted to document the next wave of street art. Attempted may be the wrong word. He certainly documented it, he just never did anything with it. Following his path still gave a unique history of street art over the past ten years, but also an interesting narrative.
Where the film starts and ends are two very different places. I was left churning over the meaning of art. Piecing together parts of the film that could be clues to it being a prank and ultimately enjoying it for what it was. It made me think and I believe that was the point in the first place. It is extremely well made and worth your time to sit down and watch it.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Wreck Awards 2010
I did this thing last year, the year before that and the year before that, it is an official annualized tradition now. So without further ado, the Wreck Awards 2010...
Game of the Year: Mass Effect 2
Nothing came close to the story or world that BioWare crafted in their sequel to Mass Effect this year. All of the things that bugged me about the first game were either fixed, removed or sanded to a dull point. No more crappy vehicle combat and no more frustrating inventory management. Everything that could be was streamlined in service of the story they wanted to tell. The combat was more fun and as a shooter it felt less random. Overall it was leaps and bounds ahead of any game this year.
Runner Up: Limbo
Nothing came close to the story or world that BioWare crafted in their sequel to Mass Effect this year. All of the things that bugged me about the first game were either fixed, removed or sanded to a dull point. No more crappy vehicle combat and no more frustrating inventory management. Everything that could be was streamlined in service of the story they wanted to tell. The combat was more fun and as a shooter it felt less random. Overall it was leaps and bounds ahead of any game this year.
Runner Up: Limbo
Game I should have played: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
What I presumed was going to be a cash grab quick follow up to a great game from 2009 apparently wasn't. I skipped it because I was done with Italy as a location for Assassin's Creed. Where is my feudal Japan game?Oh and multi-player crammed into a great single player experience. Yeah like that will work. It did work and quiet well by most accounts. Crap I really need to play this game.
Runner Up: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Movie of the Year: The Town
What I presumed was going to be a cash grab quick follow up to a great game from 2009 apparently wasn't. I skipped it because I was done with Italy as a location for Assassin's Creed. Where is my feudal Japan game?Oh and multi-player crammed into a great single player experience. Yeah like that will work. It did work and quiet well by most accounts. Crap I really need to play this game.
Runner Up: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Movie of the Year: The Town
I heart a good bank robbery film (See: my unhealthy crush on Point Break) and The Town is that and much more. It was beautifully shot, written and directed. The acting was stand out from all involved and specially Jeremy Renner did an amazing job. A great film a great year for movies. See all the ones I didn't pick below...
Runner(s) Up: Toy Story 3, Inception, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Movie I should have seen: True Grit
Missing Coen brother films is a cardinal sin for me. Unfortunately this one came out a week before the end of the year. Everyone I know has seen it and is raving about it. Getting a free weekend to see it before it is out of theaters is a top priority in the coming weeks. Wish me luck.
Runner Up: Exit Through the Gift Shop
Movie I should have seen: True Grit
Missing Coen brother films is a cardinal sin for me. Unfortunately this one came out a week before the end of the year. Everyone I know has seen it and is raving about it. Getting a free weekend to see it before it is out of theaters is a top priority in the coming weeks. Wish me luck.
Runner Up: Exit Through the Gift Shop
TV show of the Year: Boardwalk Empire
In a year where I though the Walking Dead would be an open and shut favorite for me I was surprised by how much I loved Boardwalk Empire. The twenties are an era rarely visited in modern story telling. That may be for a reason, but this show captured it and made it damn entertaining while doing so. Buscemi's performance is outstanding and the cast around him plays out at the same level and in some cases even better. In total it was the best story I watched this year.
Runners Up: The Walking Dead & Spartacus: Blood and Sand
In a year where I though the Walking Dead would be an open and shut favorite for me I was surprised by how much I loved Boardwalk Empire. The twenties are an era rarely visited in modern story telling. That may be for a reason, but this show captured it and made it damn entertaining while doing so. Buscemi's performance is outstanding and the cast around him plays out at the same level and in some cases even better. In total it was the best story I watched this year.
Runners Up: The Walking Dead & Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Podcast of the Year: Smodcast
In a year where I have listened to more podcast than ever this was probably the hardest category to pick. Smodcast is Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier's podcast where they mostly just shoot the shit and comment on interesting news articles. It makes me consistently laugh out loud though. I knew it was going to win my heart when I took 4 episodes to Libya with me this summer and ended up downloading 4 more from the slow as all get out third world wifi at my uncles house. It is that good.
Runner Up: My Brother, My Brother and Me
Comic/Book of the Year: Planetary
Yes a series that ran from 1999 to 2009 is my 2010 book of the year. It is when I read it though that matters. I can't imagine reading only 27 issues over the course of ten years, but the story as a whole delivers. Not being a comics guy in the past some of the references were lost on me early on. Some had to be explained while others took longer that it would for most to get. The package as a whole is stellar though, really glad I got to read it.
Runner Up: Atomic Robo
Recipe of the Year: Talapia Fish Sticks
While probably not the best dish I served up all year it wins with its consistency, healthiness and taste. I'll expound on my original post and say that is still not easy to get an almost two year old to heat a healthy meal. His go to answer is "hot dog" no matter how you ask the question of what he wants to eat. So having this one in my back pocket every week is a the kind of trait that wins you awards. Your invisible placard is in the mail.
Runner Up: Scratch-Made Brownies
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Star Wars Pin-ups
[Via: blastr]
Friday, August 20, 2010
Lego Inception
A brick, with in a brick, with in a brick. Above is an Inception inspired Lego scene by Alex Eylar. A radical take on a rad movie.[Via: LikeCOOL]
Monday, August 16, 2010
Star Wars Rare Photos
As many times as I've watched the original Star Wars films and as much as I know now about how films are made, I still get mind fucked by seeing these kind of shots. A small piece of my brain wants to believe their world is real. Then I just watch the prequels. [Via: Dude Craft]
Friday, July 30, 2010
Sucker Punch
The trailer for Sucker Punch premiered at Comic-Con this year. Some how I was unaware of this film, despite the fact that I heart Zack Snyder and his previous work. Now I'm on the bandwagon though and extending my hand to you. Will you join me?
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Kick-Ass
My relationship with the Kick-Ass movie went through an arc much like a roller coaster. Starting at the top of "I must see this movie" and then plunging to the depths of "I wouldn't watch it at gun point". Then back up to "Meh, I'll see it on DvD". Well after final getting a chance to read the comic I am sold on the movie....Spoilers be warned...
Though short, the story is a fantastic taste of most every comic nerd's fantasy to suit up in cape and cowl. It deals with the harsh realities of what that entails, when the main character is beaten and stabbed to near death the first time he decides to fight crime. The book is not all dark and grime though, there is plenty of humor and fist pumping moments as well.
As you may have noticed from the picture at the top the book is gory, the creators don't pull punches when it comes to fight scenes. Mind you it is about what fighting crime might actually be like, versus what you normally see in comics. Gory or not the art is great, clean lines when they have to be and fast and loose when it is called for.
I'm crossing my fingers and toes that the story continues sooner than later and that the movie can stand up to the comic that spawned it.
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