Had another little day trip yesterday, this time to New Milton and the south coast. I was accompanying a friend who was running errands, but the day had been structured to take food and touristy wandering into account, with the option of some stargazing after dark, if the weather allowed.
We didn't get through as much as we'd hoped, but the day was still quite a fulfilling one. Just getting down to the seafront for a few minutes, as the light faded and the temperature dropped, was amazing... and, going against the traffic, it's less than a couple of hours from London...
On the way in the morning, we stopped off in a small town - Lyndhurst, I think - for a quick browse and a brunch of toasted teacakes and hot chocolate. Later on, we had lunch in a nice little restaurant (can't remember the name, or exactly where it was... we passed through lots of small towns and my memory for names is terrible), before heading off for the main errand.
It was completely overcast almost all day, though, save for a brief break in the clouds mid-afternoon. Once the sun set, it became obvious that we wouldn't be seeing any stars, so tracks were made back to London.
In other news, my eHarmony experience is proving to be roundly positive... But that's all I'm a-sayin' for the moment.
My sister is coming into town with her daughter for the weekend - appointment at Great Ormond Street, then fun times with the family. I'll be popping over on Saturday and, since I haven't done much with today - other than failing to get one of my other projects onto Facebook - that leaves me with a day to kill tomorrow. I may go into town to visit London Zoo, or the Tower of London... or I may laze about again.
Had an email from one of my employment agency contacts, with a contract position... it's well placed, but not particularly well paid... and it's a six month contract. I could do it, and I've asked to be included in the running, but also sent the details to a couple of former colleagues who might be more interested in the placement than I.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Sunday, 23 January 2011
Human Again
No, not continuing to witter on about my apparent return from 'teh mopiez', I refer of course to the new series of Being Human.
And, by God, if I've substituted 'teh mopiez' for 'teh weepies' I shall be so cross. Mitchell's little trip into Purgatory to rescue Annie was so well done, I almost wanted to see him tortured more, just to see more of who he was before he confessed it himself. Lacey Turner, fresh from EastEnders, performed brilliantly in a role which, while predictable and seemingly written for one purpose only, never once strayed into cliché. Normally, Soap actors tend to go from bland role to bland role, offering up bland performances every time. I just hope she doesn't get typecast in future because of her accent... assuming she really talks anything like that...
George and Nina continue to explore the new complications in their relationship, but the sweet scene between them near the start, where a spontaneous night of the intention of passion goes so terribly awry, was hilariously familiar.
And so the new arc begins... Laughs, shocks and thrills to come, in equal measure... and I really cannot understand why this brilliant show is still only on BBC3 on a Sunday night. By its third series, the Beeb should have far more confidence in it.
And, by God, if I've substituted 'teh mopiez' for 'teh weepies' I shall be so cross. Mitchell's little trip into Purgatory to rescue Annie was so well done, I almost wanted to see him tortured more, just to see more of who he was before he confessed it himself. Lacey Turner, fresh from EastEnders, performed brilliantly in a role which, while predictable and seemingly written for one purpose only, never once strayed into cliché. Normally, Soap actors tend to go from bland role to bland role, offering up bland performances every time. I just hope she doesn't get typecast in future because of her accent... assuming she really talks anything like that...
George and Nina continue to explore the new complications in their relationship, but the sweet scene between them near the start, where a spontaneous night of the intention of passion goes so terribly awry, was hilariously familiar.
And so the new arc begins... Laughs, shocks and thrills to come, in equal measure... and I really cannot understand why this brilliant show is still only on BBC3 on a Sunday night. By its third series, the Beeb should have far more confidence in it.
That All Important "Je Ne Sais Quoi"
I seem to be feeling much better in myself at the moment... Due in part, no doubt, to my return to taking Kalms. Whatever is up with me, chemically, is clearly not particularly serious. This can only be a good thing, because I'd hate to think I was heading seriously downhill just because I'm bored and staying at home too much.
Having trekked over to my parents' house for lunch today, I revealed my increasingly hermit-like tendencies, and was offered the opportunity to take a trip to the Barnes Wetlands Centre next time they're thinking of heading that way. Apparently there's a bus from Hammersmith that goes right there, so that should be interesting. The Centre turned up in one of my magazines a few years ago, and I'd been thinking of paying it a visit (perhaps something of an exaggeration - it had occurred to me once in a while) for quite some time.
I also asked if the plan to refurbish my sister's old dolls house was still on the cards - since I have 'spare time' for the time being, it'd be cool to assist, even if it's just replacing the 'brickwork' or 'roofing tile' wallpaper on the externals. I hope the electricals are still working... though I have no reason to doubt it, since it was built from the ground up by my father, a man who is almost obscenely talented when it comes to making things. Last time I saw it, I thought the windows could do with replacing... being fairly basic plastic frames, they have warped over the years.
Hopefully, one or the other of these things will keep me somewhat occupied in the coming weeks.
Another reason I'm pleased to feel an improvement in my humour is that I got a second bite from eHarmony. Strangely, it arrived separately from the main group (which seems to arrive around 3.30am), around lunchtime, and was swiftly followed by what they call an 'icebreaker'. Since I'd already filed a whole bunch of matches, and decided to temporarily disable new matches to give me time to properly process the ones I have, I was half tempted to leave it till after my visit to my parents... but my lightened mood got the better of me.
The matches so far have been very hit-and-miss. Some of the profiles have been almost compelling but, by and large, none of them have really grabbed me, and the photos have appeared in much the same vein. Not to say there have been none that are good looking... just... not what I see myself hanging out with. In several cases, I have been outright put off by the photos - particularly when every one has been taken on the same night out down the pub.
The problem with the profiles is more easily explained - spelling/grammatical errors are just as common in women's profiles as they are in men's (though it's more often complained about in the latter); brevity of answer often reveals little, but in some cases it does reveal a lot (suggesting that 'no one in particular' has been an influential person in their life, for example, bespeaks of arrogance and/or lack of consideration); and I personally find it disturbing to read that so many people could not live without their cellphone or iPod. You're only asked for five 'indispensible' things... a cellphone wouldn't even be in my top twenty.
So anyway. This new match, arriving at an unusual time, after I had disabled new matches, turned out to be concise, yet reasonably revealing, and interesting enough that I wanted to respond. Who'd have thought it?
And so I did. I took my time, wrote out a short email offline, and pasted it into the eHarmony mail window. She doesn't actually have to accept an email, should she prefer the Guided Communication route... but my first, and so far only experience of that was that it's tedious...
Having trekked over to my parents' house for lunch today, I revealed my increasingly hermit-like tendencies, and was offered the opportunity to take a trip to the Barnes Wetlands Centre next time they're thinking of heading that way. Apparently there's a bus from Hammersmith that goes right there, so that should be interesting. The Centre turned up in one of my magazines a few years ago, and I'd been thinking of paying it a visit (perhaps something of an exaggeration - it had occurred to me once in a while) for quite some time.
I also asked if the plan to refurbish my sister's old dolls house was still on the cards - since I have 'spare time' for the time being, it'd be cool to assist, even if it's just replacing the 'brickwork' or 'roofing tile' wallpaper on the externals. I hope the electricals are still working... though I have no reason to doubt it, since it was built from the ground up by my father, a man who is almost obscenely talented when it comes to making things. Last time I saw it, I thought the windows could do with replacing... being fairly basic plastic frames, they have warped over the years.
Hopefully, one or the other of these things will keep me somewhat occupied in the coming weeks.
Another reason I'm pleased to feel an improvement in my humour is that I got a second bite from eHarmony. Strangely, it arrived separately from the main group (which seems to arrive around 3.30am), around lunchtime, and was swiftly followed by what they call an 'icebreaker'. Since I'd already filed a whole bunch of matches, and decided to temporarily disable new matches to give me time to properly process the ones I have, I was half tempted to leave it till after my visit to my parents... but my lightened mood got the better of me.
The matches so far have been very hit-and-miss. Some of the profiles have been almost compelling but, by and large, none of them have really grabbed me, and the photos have appeared in much the same vein. Not to say there have been none that are good looking... just... not what I see myself hanging out with. In several cases, I have been outright put off by the photos - particularly when every one has been taken on the same night out down the pub.
The problem with the profiles is more easily explained - spelling/grammatical errors are just as common in women's profiles as they are in men's (though it's more often complained about in the latter); brevity of answer often reveals little, but in some cases it does reveal a lot (suggesting that 'no one in particular' has been an influential person in their life, for example, bespeaks of arrogance and/or lack of consideration); and I personally find it disturbing to read that so many people could not live without their cellphone or iPod. You're only asked for five 'indispensible' things... a cellphone wouldn't even be in my top twenty.
So anyway. This new match, arriving at an unusual time, after I had disabled new matches, turned out to be concise, yet reasonably revealing, and interesting enough that I wanted to respond. Who'd have thought it?
And so I did. I took my time, wrote out a short email offline, and pasted it into the eHarmony mail window. She doesn't actually have to accept an email, should she prefer the Guided Communication route... but my first, and so far only experience of that was that it's tedious...
With Apologies to Mr. Alan Moore
So, there I am, happily searching the internet for "I Can Haz Cheezburger?" cat images, because I've had a cool idea for a T-shirt based around another of my little projects... And then an even more bizarre thought occurs to me:
I'm sorry. Truly, I couldn't help myself.
Played a bit more WiiFit this morning, and the results seem... unreliable at best. How much of it is carpet-related, I'm not sure... But I surely can't have lost that much weight. My balance seems a bit better, but still not great... and at least I wasn't panting after the 'short distance' jog like last night. How I managed to unlock 'long distance' I cannot say. Shan't be trying it anytime soon...
Popping over to my folks shortly... I'll check my weight there.
Played a bit more WiiFit this morning, and the results seem... unreliable at best. How much of it is carpet-related, I'm not sure... But I surely can't have lost that much weight. My balance seems a bit better, but still not great... and at least I wasn't panting after the 'short distance' jog like last night. How I managed to unlock 'long distance' I cannot say. Shan't be trying it anytime soon...
Popping over to my folks shortly... I'll check my weight there.
Saturday, 22 January 2011
Blue Screen of Death
A short while ago and, admittedly, not for the first time, I saw the Blue Screen of Death on my year-old PC. The timing worries me somewhat...
Yesterday, my friend and former boss was over, so that I could help her build a temporary website for her new venture. When she set up her laptop, she found that she could not only see my 'network' (that is, the Belkin hub/ADSL Modem) but log in unchallenged and surf the interwebs.
The modem claimed to be secure... And much is made on the packaging about its ease of setup and use.
Not so.
I had to go to the Belkin website and search through their technical support resources to find that security is not on my default. One must enter an IP address - which is the hub itself - password protect the whole thing and then switch security on. This I did, eventually, having had to search further for how to set a password when it seemed to think there already was one, and so successfully kicked my friend out of my Broadband connection, until I gave her the password.
At no point in the installation procedure is this explained. It's not even mentioned in the scant instructions packaged with the hardware.
But, here's the thing... I've been using this modem - unsecured - for very slightly less than a year now. I've been complaining bitterly that all the time I spend watching video on the internet has devoured my bandwidth, but it's possible (unlikely, I feel, but still possible) that it's been leeched by someone else. Sure, my boss couldn't access my computer, only my internet connection, but that's still a little worrying.
And then, the very day after I get security working, I get the Blue Screen of Death..?
Everything's back up and running now, and seems to be suffering no ill effects but... who knows?
Still, yesterday went well, apart from me having a bit of a meltdown in the morning. The basic website was put together, and taken to a point where she was confident of being able to finish it herself. We didn't get onto an Wii gaming or watching of movies, but it was a successful day nonetheless.
We spent a bit of time looking over my eHarmony profile (which, she agrees, is almost scarily accurate), some of my matches (after putting matching on hold for a couple of weeks, then turning it back on and finding no new matches, I've been receiving 7 a day for the past couple of days), and generally wondering how Internet Dating of any kind can ever really be successful.
Yesterday, my friend and former boss was over, so that I could help her build a temporary website for her new venture. When she set up her laptop, she found that she could not only see my 'network' (that is, the Belkin hub/ADSL Modem) but log in unchallenged and surf the interwebs.
The modem claimed to be secure... And much is made on the packaging about its ease of setup and use.
Not so.
I had to go to the Belkin website and search through their technical support resources to find that security is not on my default. One must enter an IP address - which is the hub itself - password protect the whole thing and then switch security on. This I did, eventually, having had to search further for how to set a password when it seemed to think there already was one, and so successfully kicked my friend out of my Broadband connection, until I gave her the password.
At no point in the installation procedure is this explained. It's not even mentioned in the scant instructions packaged with the hardware.
But, here's the thing... I've been using this modem - unsecured - for very slightly less than a year now. I've been complaining bitterly that all the time I spend watching video on the internet has devoured my bandwidth, but it's possible (unlikely, I feel, but still possible) that it's been leeched by someone else. Sure, my boss couldn't access my computer, only my internet connection, but that's still a little worrying.
And then, the very day after I get security working, I get the Blue Screen of Death..?
Everything's back up and running now, and seems to be suffering no ill effects but... who knows?
Still, yesterday went well, apart from me having a bit of a meltdown in the morning. The basic website was put together, and taken to a point where she was confident of being able to finish it herself. We didn't get onto an Wii gaming or watching of movies, but it was a successful day nonetheless.
We spent a bit of time looking over my eHarmony profile (which, she agrees, is almost scarily accurate), some of my matches (after putting matching on hold for a couple of weeks, then turning it back on and finding no new matches, I've been receiving 7 a day for the past couple of days), and generally wondering how Internet Dating of any kind can ever really be successful.
Thursday, 20 January 2011
Zoo Days
Popped over to Whipsnade Zoo with a friend yesterday. I haven't been to a zoo in years, and can't remember ever having been to Whipsnade, so it seemed like a good day out all round. On the whole it was probably a bit too cold, both for me and the animals, but I got to see all kinds of wild animals up close - Lions, Tigers, Meerkats (don't say it! just don't fucking say it!), Wolves, Chimpanzees (and, yes, I did see one mother imploring her baby to "look at the monkeys!"), Zebras, Bison, various forms of Deer, Penguins... and even a baby Indian Rhinoceros.
The views from near the Penguins enclosure is incredible - a huge panorama which, on a clear day, would be stunning. The zoo is quite high up... Or perhaps at the top of a valley. My geography is crap.
I have some photos from the day, but haven't got them uploaded yet... I shall probably sort that out over the next few days.
Just to make life more fun - I guess - I had a dream last night which involved the appearance of the same certain someone who sent me that Facebook invite recently. She turned up at my old office, and I started introducing her to folks, then popped off to do some work. Adding insult to injury, the moment I finished thinking "I'd better get back to her, just to make sure I'm not dreaming," was the moment I woke up.
Another part of the dream was my first visit to my former boss's new office... I had trouble finding the place the first time, took a brief turn around to look at the layout, then wandered about the rest of the building, before discovering that I'd lost the entrance to the office... So I started heading home, since I wasn't expected to actually be working there.
Weird.
The views from near the Penguins enclosure is incredible - a huge panorama which, on a clear day, would be stunning. The zoo is quite high up... Or perhaps at the top of a valley. My geography is crap.
I have some photos from the day, but haven't got them uploaded yet... I shall probably sort that out over the next few days.
Just to make life more fun - I guess - I had a dream last night which involved the appearance of the same certain someone who sent me that Facebook invite recently. She turned up at my old office, and I started introducing her to folks, then popped off to do some work. Adding insult to injury, the moment I finished thinking "I'd better get back to her, just to make sure I'm not dreaming," was the moment I woke up.
Another part of the dream was my first visit to my former boss's new office... I had trouble finding the place the first time, took a brief turn around to look at the layout, then wandered about the rest of the building, before discovering that I'd lost the entrance to the office... So I started heading home, since I wasn't expected to actually be working there.
Weird.
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Kapow!
I recently uncovered the existence of yet another geeky convention happening in London this year - the Kapow Comic Con. Now, I'm not massively into comics... but the website's blurb about "bringing 'San Diego Comic Con' to these shores' would normally elicit some form of excitement in me, because that show has always sounded so cool. If Kapow brings along with is some of the cool exclusives, it might be worth a trip.
But I do have to wonder if they're also bringing the whole "getting stabbed in the eye with a pen" thing as well...
But I do have to wonder if they're also bringing the whole "getting stabbed in the eye with a pen" thing as well...
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Ouch
Now that I'm a paid-up member on eHarmony, I have taken their 'Premium Profile' test and, while the resulting report is not perfectly accurate in every way, there are enough 'familiar' details to give me more than a moment's pause.
I basically come across like a judgemental, short-fused anger bomb with a tendency to ditch friends who upset me rather than try to understand why I got upset; to speak far too bluntly than most people would prefer; to avoid any form of 'leadership role' unless there is absolutely no-one better placed to do it (even though I'm perfectly capable); and to be 'effective' rather than 'efficient' - getting things done well, and if that happens before the deadline, great... but not being overly fussed if it does not. Willing to help others, but expecting them to (a) look after themselves to some extent and (b) reciprocate once in a while.
Like I say... not entirely accurate... but where it hits the mark, it cuts to the bone.
I basically come across like a judgemental, short-fused anger bomb with a tendency to ditch friends who upset me rather than try to understand why I got upset; to speak far too bluntly than most people would prefer; to avoid any form of 'leadership role' unless there is absolutely no-one better placed to do it (even though I'm perfectly capable); and to be 'effective' rather than 'efficient' - getting things done well, and if that happens before the deadline, great... but not being overly fussed if it does not. Willing to help others, but expecting them to (a) look after themselves to some extent and (b) reciprocate once in a while.
Like I say... not entirely accurate... but where it hits the mark, it cuts to the bone.
Home Improvements
Not mine, it must be said.
I was awoken, at about 8.30 this ante meridiem, by the sound of hammering. And drilling.
Having ascertained that this was not some bizarre assault upon my property, I decided I might as well get showered, get dressed and start my day. I needed to stock up on fizzy drink and snacks anyway, so why not?
Upon leaving the flat, I found two workmen out on the mezzanine, fitting a new door (and frame) to the flat next door. It's a nice wooden door... but seemed to be unpainted/untreated and, frankly, I would not choose a wooden door myself, if only because of the petrol stains I found on the floor beneath the carpet by the door, when it was all taken up to lay the wooden flooring.
Not that a plastic door would be much more use to me in cases of arson, but hey.
After my shopping, during which I realised I did not, in fact, need to buy cereal because I have a box of muesli in my cupboard, I got off my arse and phoned the Managing Agents (still no news on the roof, but my contact is aware of the increasingly desperate state of it... and the process of taking the ground floor businesses to court over their service charge and - in a couple of cases, it seems - also their rent is "in the hands of the solicitors".
Meaning "expect glacial progress"
He did encourage me to write a letter, detailing the state of things, in an attempt to encourage the Landlord to make some decisions and take some kind of action but, having had to fix a burst sewage pipe above the entrance hall, the funds available for the roof - already inadequate to the cost - have been substantially reduced.
On the upside, it does appear that things aren't getting worse, except perhaps in similarly glacial terms.
I also spoke to the National Insurance helpline, to ascertain my options as a currently-unemployed individual. They suggested I might try to sign on for Jobseekers' Allowance, which would pay those contributions, but that the Pension system has changed, such that one needs only 30 years' worth of payments for the full state pension, so I'm in no immediate danger.
Next task: Lunch, now that I have the fixin's in my cupboards and fridge. After that... Washing up and then possibly a trip to Uxbridge. Depends on whether or not I still feel like potentially spending money on luxuries while I have no actual income...
I actually received a message from one of my eHarmony matches a couple of days ago so, in order to respond, I had to sign up fully (another expensive luxury!). The upshot of this is that I can now do a more detailed psychometric profile, and see photos of the folks they've matched me to. Coincidentally, the message came from the one I was most keen to contact... she has only one photo and, unlike the extensive photo albums on offer from some other members (which, it must be said, often give a glimpse of character that doesn't come out in their self-written profile) the most obviously discernable detail in this one photo is that she wears cool earrings...
I was awoken, at about 8.30 this ante meridiem, by the sound of hammering. And drilling.
Having ascertained that this was not some bizarre assault upon my property, I decided I might as well get showered, get dressed and start my day. I needed to stock up on fizzy drink and snacks anyway, so why not?
Upon leaving the flat, I found two workmen out on the mezzanine, fitting a new door (and frame) to the flat next door. It's a nice wooden door... but seemed to be unpainted/untreated and, frankly, I would not choose a wooden door myself, if only because of the petrol stains I found on the floor beneath the carpet by the door, when it was all taken up to lay the wooden flooring.
Not that a plastic door would be much more use to me in cases of arson, but hey.
After my shopping, during which I realised I did not, in fact, need to buy cereal because I have a box of muesli in my cupboard, I got off my arse and phoned the Managing Agents (still no news on the roof, but my contact is aware of the increasingly desperate state of it... and the process of taking the ground floor businesses to court over their service charge and - in a couple of cases, it seems - also their rent is "in the hands of the solicitors".
Meaning "expect glacial progress"
He did encourage me to write a letter, detailing the state of things, in an attempt to encourage the Landlord to make some decisions and take some kind of action but, having had to fix a burst sewage pipe above the entrance hall, the funds available for the roof - already inadequate to the cost - have been substantially reduced.
On the upside, it does appear that things aren't getting worse, except perhaps in similarly glacial terms.
I also spoke to the National Insurance helpline, to ascertain my options as a currently-unemployed individual. They suggested I might try to sign on for Jobseekers' Allowance, which would pay those contributions, but that the Pension system has changed, such that one needs only 30 years' worth of payments for the full state pension, so I'm in no immediate danger.
Next task: Lunch, now that I have the fixin's in my cupboards and fridge. After that... Washing up and then possibly a trip to Uxbridge. Depends on whether or not I still feel like potentially spending money on luxuries while I have no actual income...
I actually received a message from one of my eHarmony matches a couple of days ago so, in order to respond, I had to sign up fully (another expensive luxury!). The upshot of this is that I can now do a more detailed psychometric profile, and see photos of the folks they've matched me to. Coincidentally, the message came from the one I was most keen to contact... she has only one photo and, unlike the extensive photo albums on offer from some other members (which, it must be said, often give a glimpse of character that doesn't come out in their self-written profile) the most obviously discernable detail in this one photo is that she wears cool earrings...
Monday, 17 January 2011
How The West Has Tamed
Over the weekend, I saw a Wii game in HMV with the most awesome peripheral I have ever seen... A Winchester rifle-inspired Zapper analogue. The game is Western Heroes... This posting is basically a review.
I am a fan of lightgun games - everything from Virtual Cop to the latest arcade gunner, though my tolerance for on-the-rails shooters on Wii has been reduced by the sheer number that are just lazily-developed 'Wii Exclusive' versions of proper first-person shooters for PS3 or XBox (Ubisoft, I'm looking at you). I'm tempted to pick up Gunblade NY/LA Machine Guns, just for the nostalgia value and, one of these days, I really will get House of the Dead 2&3. I like Overkill, but it's a different kettle of zombies compared to Sega's 'true' HotD games.
I am also a fan of ridiculous peripherals. Not for me are the lame simulated golf clubs, tennis raquets, and steering wheels (though, actually, the latter might make driving games a tad easier)... But present me with a bloody great Winchester, and I'm all in.
The peripheral is actually pretty darned excellent, if not positively rootin' tootin'. The cocking lever acts as Reload, making its use a truly wonderful cowboy experience in any game (that uses C as Reload). It's large, quite hefty, and seats the Nunchuck both sensibly and comfortably. The trigger causes the same blistering of my trigger finger that does any lightgun... though it felt as though this Winchester did it a little quicker than most, despite being of a more sensible size/shape. Overall, though, it's really comfortable to use, easy enough to aim, and a rewarding part of the Western Heroes experience.
The game itself is pretty good fun, on the whole... just incredibly easy. It's rated as a 12, but I'd imaging even most 12 year olds would be hard pressed to find any challenge in this game. Until the later levels, it's all remarkably slow, with long periods of empty screen in between short bursts of attacking steampunk cowboys... And then, even in the later levels, it seldom matches the challenge of the earliest stages of the original Virtua Cop, let alone the sequel, the HotD games, or any other arcade lightgun game you'd care to mention. I completed the game on my first attempt though, as I shall explain later, I suspect that should not have happened.
Presentation is a mixed bag, with the cartoonish presentation marred by pop-up, patchy textures, the overly-stylised shading, and even a bit of glitching. The characters - Jesse (cowboy), Chava (I kid you not, this is the name of the token female gunslinger), Corporal Jake (token black Union Army soldier) and Qaletaqa (um, yes, he's the Token Injun... who looks eerily like Mark Dacascos) - take to the plains upon the Justice Rider, a horse-drawn carriage capable of outrunning a speeding locomotive, riding out against the criminal genius Professor Molina, and his SteamBane locomotive (described as 'the scourge of the West') and its supposedly devastating warhead.
Perhaps I'm a little twisted but, when I saw the SteamBane, for some reason, I thought it'd end up transforming into a robot... but it doesn't... that I know of... again, more on that later.
It's yer standard shooting gallery game, with some quite imaginative bits to it, but it can all get a bit repetitive (yes, I know all these games are repetitive, but most hide it better). You trundle round for a bit, shooting folks, then you get cornered and stop, then you trundle on a bit more, then you bust up some important piece of the Professor's machinery - always by shooting it once in each of four locations - before heading off for the next stage. Each of these parts is framed by a brief cut-scene - arrival, getting ready, relaxing, moving on, and saluting - every time. Occasionally, there will be two cut scenes with no action - only a brief bit of 'moving on' - between them. The backgrounds and situations change, but the animation (and normally the camera angles) remain the same. Worse still, there's a sign that this is a lazy port of a 60Hz original - the sound isn't synchronised in the cut-scenes. The worst visual glitch came at the end of the river-based level, where it looks as though the heroes' raft has sunk, because their feet are underwater... and, just before the scene fades out, the raft pops up - partially - above the camera. Right behind that is the fact that, on the train levels, anyone shot outside the train suddenly flies backwards - technically staying in position relative to the ground, rather than relative to the train. Oops. Someone didn't know their physics.
Which brings me to 'the bit I've been saying I'll get to later'. I completed the game on my first go but, as I said, I don't think I should have. The final stage is a running battle against the SteamBane itself. First it pops four cannons out of its back while flying suicide bombers buzz around. Then, as you draw level with the train, it uses roof-mounted cannons and Tesla guns, adding mobile side-mounted cannons, which protect two weak points. I managed to shoot out the first of the weak points, but I'm pretty sure I died under heavy fire while plugging away at the second.
The game disagreed.
It briefly showed me my targets, hovering in mid-air with no sign of the SteamBane, then took me back to the rear carriage... even though the train had separated from its carriages by this point. I took out the Professor's footsoldiers (again?), then it fast-tracked (pardon the pun) back to the train... which immediately exploded and ran off the rails. Just as Professor Molina was captured, SteamBane's warhead triggered. The four protagonists ran for the Justice Rider, apparently leaving Molina behind, but then he appears - tied up - on the roof as they ride off. Game over.
Glitch, anyone? Surely taking out those two weak points was only the first part of the final stage? I'm pretty sure the SteamBane's health bar was more than half full, and I hadn't seen any sign of the Professor. Perhaps I'm spoilt by Sega's lightgun games, but that just doesn't seem right.
Still, it was an awful lot of fun, and using the Winchester was a big part of that. I would hope that the game gets harder and throws more targets at you in a multi-player game, but I have a nasty feeling this is not the case.
I picked this game up when I went to get my Resident Evil boxed set replaced, then came straight home. Naturally, I remembered a couple of other things I was looking for later on, so I shall have to go out again tomorrow... There's a bit of local shopping I should probably do also - not least restocking on fizzy drinks - but I think I'll be leaving that as well.
I'd also intended to contact the JobCentrePlus... but I'm no longer certain which number to call for my purposes - all I need is to ensure my National Insurance contributions are covered. I shall check online this evening and do the necessary tomorrow, if I can.
My former boss had lunch today with another former colleague and, while I haven't yet heard how that went, she did call me to ask about high-end clients in one of our last magazines, and then again to tell me she wanted me to look at a website map and quote for putting it together... It's been years since I did anything like that, but she did say it was quite simple. Need to get some more software for all that, though - what I have access too is woefully inadequate.
I am a fan of lightgun games - everything from Virtual Cop to the latest arcade gunner, though my tolerance for on-the-rails shooters on Wii has been reduced by the sheer number that are just lazily-developed 'Wii Exclusive' versions of proper first-person shooters for PS3 or XBox (Ubisoft, I'm looking at you). I'm tempted to pick up Gunblade NY/LA Machine Guns, just for the nostalgia value and, one of these days, I really will get House of the Dead 2&3. I like Overkill, but it's a different kettle of zombies compared to Sega's 'true' HotD games.
I am also a fan of ridiculous peripherals. Not for me are the lame simulated golf clubs, tennis raquets, and steering wheels (though, actually, the latter might make driving games a tad easier)... But present me with a bloody great Winchester, and I'm all in.
The peripheral is actually pretty darned excellent, if not positively rootin' tootin'. The cocking lever acts as Reload, making its use a truly wonderful cowboy experience in any game (that uses C as Reload). It's large, quite hefty, and seats the Nunchuck both sensibly and comfortably. The trigger causes the same blistering of my trigger finger that does any lightgun... though it felt as though this Winchester did it a little quicker than most, despite being of a more sensible size/shape. Overall, though, it's really comfortable to use, easy enough to aim, and a rewarding part of the Western Heroes experience.
The game itself is pretty good fun, on the whole... just incredibly easy. It's rated as a 12, but I'd imaging even most 12 year olds would be hard pressed to find any challenge in this game. Until the later levels, it's all remarkably slow, with long periods of empty screen in between short bursts of attacking steampunk cowboys... And then, even in the later levels, it seldom matches the challenge of the earliest stages of the original Virtua Cop, let alone the sequel, the HotD games, or any other arcade lightgun game you'd care to mention. I completed the game on my first attempt though, as I shall explain later, I suspect that should not have happened.
Presentation is a mixed bag, with the cartoonish presentation marred by pop-up, patchy textures, the overly-stylised shading, and even a bit of glitching. The characters - Jesse (cowboy), Chava (I kid you not, this is the name of the token female gunslinger), Corporal Jake (token black Union Army soldier) and Qaletaqa (um, yes, he's the Token Injun... who looks eerily like Mark Dacascos) - take to the plains upon the Justice Rider, a horse-drawn carriage capable of outrunning a speeding locomotive, riding out against the criminal genius Professor Molina, and his SteamBane locomotive (described as 'the scourge of the West') and its supposedly devastating warhead.
Perhaps I'm a little twisted but, when I saw the SteamBane, for some reason, I thought it'd end up transforming into a robot... but it doesn't... that I know of... again, more on that later.
It's yer standard shooting gallery game, with some quite imaginative bits to it, but it can all get a bit repetitive (yes, I know all these games are repetitive, but most hide it better). You trundle round for a bit, shooting folks, then you get cornered and stop, then you trundle on a bit more, then you bust up some important piece of the Professor's machinery - always by shooting it once in each of four locations - before heading off for the next stage. Each of these parts is framed by a brief cut-scene - arrival, getting ready, relaxing, moving on, and saluting - every time. Occasionally, there will be two cut scenes with no action - only a brief bit of 'moving on' - between them. The backgrounds and situations change, but the animation (and normally the camera angles) remain the same. Worse still, there's a sign that this is a lazy port of a 60Hz original - the sound isn't synchronised in the cut-scenes. The worst visual glitch came at the end of the river-based level, where it looks as though the heroes' raft has sunk, because their feet are underwater... and, just before the scene fades out, the raft pops up - partially - above the camera. Right behind that is the fact that, on the train levels, anyone shot outside the train suddenly flies backwards - technically staying in position relative to the ground, rather than relative to the train. Oops. Someone didn't know their physics.
Which brings me to 'the bit I've been saying I'll get to later'. I completed the game on my first go but, as I said, I don't think I should have. The final stage is a running battle against the SteamBane itself. First it pops four cannons out of its back while flying suicide bombers buzz around. Then, as you draw level with the train, it uses roof-mounted cannons and Tesla guns, adding mobile side-mounted cannons, which protect two weak points. I managed to shoot out the first of the weak points, but I'm pretty sure I died under heavy fire while plugging away at the second.
The game disagreed.
It briefly showed me my targets, hovering in mid-air with no sign of the SteamBane, then took me back to the rear carriage... even though the train had separated from its carriages by this point. I took out the Professor's footsoldiers (again?), then it fast-tracked (pardon the pun) back to the train... which immediately exploded and ran off the rails. Just as Professor Molina was captured, SteamBane's warhead triggered. The four protagonists ran for the Justice Rider, apparently leaving Molina behind, but then he appears - tied up - on the roof as they ride off. Game over.
Glitch, anyone? Surely taking out those two weak points was only the first part of the final stage? I'm pretty sure the SteamBane's health bar was more than half full, and I hadn't seen any sign of the Professor. Perhaps I'm spoilt by Sega's lightgun games, but that just doesn't seem right.
Still, it was an awful lot of fun, and using the Winchester was a big part of that. I would hope that the game gets harder and throws more targets at you in a multi-player game, but I have a nasty feeling this is not the case.
I picked this game up when I went to get my Resident Evil boxed set replaced, then came straight home. Naturally, I remembered a couple of other things I was looking for later on, so I shall have to go out again tomorrow... There's a bit of local shopping I should probably do also - not least restocking on fizzy drinks - but I think I'll be leaving that as well.
I'd also intended to contact the JobCentrePlus... but I'm no longer certain which number to call for my purposes - all I need is to ensure my National Insurance contributions are covered. I shall check online this evening and do the necessary tomorrow, if I can.
My former boss had lunch today with another former colleague and, while I haven't yet heard how that went, she did call me to ask about high-end clients in one of our last magazines, and then again to tell me she wanted me to look at a website map and quote for putting it together... It's been years since I did anything like that, but she did say it was quite simple. Need to get some more software for all that, though - what I have access too is woefully inadequate.
Sunday, 16 January 2011
The White Knight Complex
It's 6.30am as I start to type now, and I haven't been to bed. My insomnia seems to be getting worse, but then I've had a pretty stressful week in a mountains-out-of-molehills kind of way.
I figured I should try to bash this out - for posterity, perhaps - because my White Knight Complex came up in conversation with a friend last night, it's a theory I've had knocking about it my head for many years now and, well, I've got nothing better to do... Note than I'm using gender specific pronouns that fit the metaphor. I've known plenty of Damsels In Distress who have been male.
So here's the thing: According to all good fairy tales, the White Knight rides out to rescue the Damsel In Distress from the Evil Dragon. That's the way it's supposed to be, right? That's the way it works, isn't it?
Well, perhaps for the purposes of Fairy Tales, yes... But not in real life. Real life basically messes up the definitions of each role.
So the White Knight rides out to fight the Evil Dragon on behalf of the Damsel In Distress, because he sees her distress - perhaps the Damsel In Distress is actually crying out, too, and it's not just his imagination. He sees what he believes is the cause of the distress, and believes he can do something to remove or, at least, alleviate it. He believes his motives are pure - he's protecting a Damsel In Distress from an Evil Dragon... what could be more perfect? For what other reason is he the White Knight? Things start to go wrong when the Damsel In Distress starts attacking the White Knight, seemingly defending the Evil Dragon.
The White Knight cannot save the Damsel In Distress from her Evil Dragon, because it turns out that's what she wants or, at the very least, what she believes she deserves. Nine times out of ten, if not more, any attempt to effect a 'rescue' will only drive her closer to the Evil Dragon, be it a person or a situation. Looking at it another way, her Evil Dragon is herself - the Damsel In Distress, and the belief that she is where she should be, however much she might say otherwise.
The only Evil Dragon the White Knight can truly ride out against and battle is his own which, as it turns out, is himself - the White Knight, the urge to try to 'save' people... and the belief that this is the only way he can validate himself, and be worthy of attention.
And, just to really confuse things, until the White Knight conquers his own Evil Dragon, he might as well be the Damsel In Distress... because, sure as hell, someone will be seeing him that way.
I would like to think that I have confronted and defeated my Evil Dragon, and so my White Knight Complex is no more. I see the urge begin to form, and I realise it's wrong, it's a mistake, there's nothing I can do.
Sure, I can help people out... but I can't save anyone who doesn't want to be - or see the need to be - saved... And, having had my heart broken the last time I tried, it's something I am highly unlikely to repeat.
The reason this came up in conversation with my friend is that she recently asked me to promise not to pursue a mutual acquaintance, even though I had stated quite emphatically that it wasn't going to happen - I thought I liked her before I knew anything about her - because my friend thought she saw in me the beginnings of the urge to 'save' her*.
I'm not that fucking stupid.
Then again, it's now almost an hour later... and I still haven't been to bed...
Addendum 14/5/2012:
In recent weeks, it has occurred to me that this little dissertation is unfinished because, while it deals with the details of the 'White Knight Complex' itself, it doesn't deal with the big question.
I mean, I'd imagine most people who've read this post (and it is in the top three posts on this blog, in terms of popularity) have found it by searching for the phrase 'White Knight Complex', possibly looking for confirmation that what just happened to them - or what is happening to a friend - is the Complex in action.
So, here's the thing (again)... It's human nature to sympathise with someone who's 'in a bad place', literally or figuratively, and I'd suggest that anyone who doesn't feel even the slightest twinge in their conscience may well have something wrong with them. What's unique to White Knights, however, is the deeply-rooted belief that 'rescuing' the Damsel will somehow bring the two of them together.
It's not a cynical belief. It's not "that person will owe me their love/friendship". It's certainly not a desire to take advantage of a weaker person. It's the - frankly, silly - belief that there will be a happy ending for the both of them, and that happy ending includes being together.
The important thing to remember, just to keep things in perspective, is that it's also human nature to cast off the supports once they're no longer needed.
Look at riding a bike: You start with stabiliser wheels, just to keep you upright. Once you're confident enough with your balance and peddling, you get rid of the stabilisers. You don't look at them, full of romantic nostalgia, and think "you know what, these stabilisers were good to me, and I really like them... I'm going to keep them on the bike."
Another example? Say you break a leg. You get a plaster cast, you get crutches... But once the leg is mended, the cast comes off and the crutches are returned to the hospital. Sure, you might have collected loads of 'get well' messages on the plaster cast, and they mean a lot to you. I'd even concede that some people might be tempted to hang on to the cast because of these messages... But the cast will never be worn again. It will never be needed again. It will only ever be kept in a corner, occasionally receiving wistful glances that gradually become rarer, until the owner finally accepts that "it's just taking up space" and gets rid of it. Even if the same leg were to get broken, you'd get a fresh cast, not reuse the same one.
So really, White Knights, it's not that your Damsel is thoughtless and cruel, selfishly using you then casting you off once they're back on their feet. The problem - the real core issue - is that your expectations are terribly, terribly wrong.
I'm not saying "Don't be the shoulder to cry on", I'm saying a certain level of emotional detachment isadvisable required. Just because a Damsel is pouring their heart out to you, doesn't mean you should keep yours wide open to them.
Be strong, be reliable, be there... but don't be a stupid romantic. Injured people are selfish. Deal with it.
(* And, y'know, perhaps it's not my White Knight Complex that's at issue here..?)
I figured I should try to bash this out - for posterity, perhaps - because my White Knight Complex came up in conversation with a friend last night, it's a theory I've had knocking about it my head for many years now and, well, I've got nothing better to do... Note than I'm using gender specific pronouns that fit the metaphor. I've known plenty of Damsels In Distress who have been male.
So here's the thing: According to all good fairy tales, the White Knight rides out to rescue the Damsel In Distress from the Evil Dragon. That's the way it's supposed to be, right? That's the way it works, isn't it?
Well, perhaps for the purposes of Fairy Tales, yes... But not in real life. Real life basically messes up the definitions of each role.
So the White Knight rides out to fight the Evil Dragon on behalf of the Damsel In Distress, because he sees her distress - perhaps the Damsel In Distress is actually crying out, too, and it's not just his imagination. He sees what he believes is the cause of the distress, and believes he can do something to remove or, at least, alleviate it. He believes his motives are pure - he's protecting a Damsel In Distress from an Evil Dragon... what could be more perfect? For what other reason is he the White Knight? Things start to go wrong when the Damsel In Distress starts attacking the White Knight, seemingly defending the Evil Dragon.
The White Knight cannot save the Damsel In Distress from her Evil Dragon, because it turns out that's what she wants or, at the very least, what she believes she deserves. Nine times out of ten, if not more, any attempt to effect a 'rescue' will only drive her closer to the Evil Dragon, be it a person or a situation. Looking at it another way, her Evil Dragon is herself - the Damsel In Distress, and the belief that she is where she should be, however much she might say otherwise.
The only Evil Dragon the White Knight can truly ride out against and battle is his own which, as it turns out, is himself - the White Knight, the urge to try to 'save' people... and the belief that this is the only way he can validate himself, and be worthy of attention.
And, just to really confuse things, until the White Knight conquers his own Evil Dragon, he might as well be the Damsel In Distress... because, sure as hell, someone will be seeing him that way.
I would like to think that I have confronted and defeated my Evil Dragon, and so my White Knight Complex is no more. I see the urge begin to form, and I realise it's wrong, it's a mistake, there's nothing I can do.
Sure, I can help people out... but I can't save anyone who doesn't want to be - or see the need to be - saved... And, having had my heart broken the last time I tried, it's something I am highly unlikely to repeat.
The reason this came up in conversation with my friend is that she recently asked me to promise not to pursue a mutual acquaintance, even though I had stated quite emphatically that it wasn't going to happen - I thought I liked her before I knew anything about her - because my friend thought she saw in me the beginnings of the urge to 'save' her*.
I'm not that fucking stupid.
Then again, it's now almost an hour later... and I still haven't been to bed...
Addendum 14/5/2012:
In recent weeks, it has occurred to me that this little dissertation is unfinished because, while it deals with the details of the 'White Knight Complex' itself, it doesn't deal with the big question.
I mean, I'd imagine most people who've read this post (and it is in the top three posts on this blog, in terms of popularity) have found it by searching for the phrase 'White Knight Complex', possibly looking for confirmation that what just happened to them - or what is happening to a friend - is the Complex in action.
So, here's the thing (again)... It's human nature to sympathise with someone who's 'in a bad place', literally or figuratively, and I'd suggest that anyone who doesn't feel even the slightest twinge in their conscience may well have something wrong with them. What's unique to White Knights, however, is the deeply-rooted belief that 'rescuing' the Damsel will somehow bring the two of them together.
It's not a cynical belief. It's not "that person will owe me their love/friendship". It's certainly not a desire to take advantage of a weaker person. It's the - frankly, silly - belief that there will be a happy ending for the both of them, and that happy ending includes being together.
The important thing to remember, just to keep things in perspective, is that it's also human nature to cast off the supports once they're no longer needed.
Look at riding a bike: You start with stabiliser wheels, just to keep you upright. Once you're confident enough with your balance and peddling, you get rid of the stabilisers. You don't look at them, full of romantic nostalgia, and think "you know what, these stabilisers were good to me, and I really like them... I'm going to keep them on the bike."
Another example? Say you break a leg. You get a plaster cast, you get crutches... But once the leg is mended, the cast comes off and the crutches are returned to the hospital. Sure, you might have collected loads of 'get well' messages on the plaster cast, and they mean a lot to you. I'd even concede that some people might be tempted to hang on to the cast because of these messages... But the cast will never be worn again. It will never be needed again. It will only ever be kept in a corner, occasionally receiving wistful glances that gradually become rarer, until the owner finally accepts that "it's just taking up space" and gets rid of it. Even if the same leg were to get broken, you'd get a fresh cast, not reuse the same one.
So really, White Knights, it's not that your Damsel is thoughtless and cruel, selfishly using you then casting you off once they're back on their feet. The problem - the real core issue - is that your expectations are terribly, terribly wrong.
I'm not saying "Don't be the shoulder to cry on", I'm saying a certain level of emotional detachment is
Be strong, be reliable, be there... but don't be a stupid romantic. Injured people are selfish. Deal with it.
(* And, y'know, perhaps it's not my White Knight Complex that's at issue here..?)
Saturday, 15 January 2011
The Opposite of "I Can't Hear Myself Think"
The trouble with not having a day job, and being alone with my thoughts, is that they tend to take over somewhat. It is, I suspect, not entirely healthy to spend an entire day moping on the sofa... Nevertheless, that was my Friday.
Today was slightly better. Having reconnected the phones, I arranged to meet up with my old mate Paul to go and see The Green Hornet at the new IMAX screen in the Uxbridge Odeon... Sadly, this is looking to be something of a cursed weekend because, when we got there, the shutters were down, and signs had been posted to the effect that a substantial leak had rendered the premises a Health and Safety Risk. They were hoping to open later in the day, but offered no guarantees.
So, after lunch, we headed back to Harrow by train, to try the Vue cinema there... Only to find that the escalators were being shut down. By the time we'd got our tickets, one escalator was open, but not operating, and was being used as stairs up and down. Simultaneously.
On the upside, a quick shopping trip in the remaining time before film yielded a boxed set of the four (so far) Resident Evil films. I liked first, thought the second was a bit lame by comparison, despised the third, and really enjoyed the latest (in - yawn - 3D)... At £24.99 in HMV, it's like paying the standard price for the latest, and getting a 3 for £10 deal on the first three. Not to be sniffed at.
Nor was The Green Hornet. I wasn't sure what to expect, other than that I'd probably loathe Seth Rogen attempting to play a comic book hero, but that expectation was certainly not met. While he didn't quite work as the millionaire playboy son of a newspaper magnate, the idea of him being an initially inept anti-hero, ridding the streets of crime by coming at it as a criminal himself, worked very well... Not least because he spent the majority of the movie being spectacularly bad at doing anything good. The story was funny without resorting to tired toilet humour and, while not necessarily the most exciting thing in the world, it kept my attention the whole way through... and, yes, despite having had very little sleep over the last few days, I stayed awake for the entire movie.
The horseplay between Rogen and Jay Chou (Kato) was pretty good, and it was refreshing to see a hero and his sidekick not getting on very well, and arguing about the way they do things. The only oddity, really, was Cameron Diaz as the non-love-interest (Lenore Case). There was a reference to her being older than the two leads (and, in typical Hollywood fashion, the age difference between actors is nowhere near as pronounced), and not a single kiss ensued, despite the best (useless) efforts of the two leads. As a secretary with a background in journalism and criminology, I suspect she'll play a greater part in the inevitable sequel.
Supplemental: Either I missed something important, or there was something very wrong with the packaging for the Resident Evil boxed set... It seems that the anti-theft tag had not been removed. When I finally got the case open (by breaking the bloody thing), it turned out that said tag has a metal part that had been scratching one of the DVDs. I'll give it a quick look tomorrow, but I think I shall return it for exchange...
Today was slightly better. Having reconnected the phones, I arranged to meet up with my old mate Paul to go and see The Green Hornet at the new IMAX screen in the Uxbridge Odeon... Sadly, this is looking to be something of a cursed weekend because, when we got there, the shutters were down, and signs had been posted to the effect that a substantial leak had rendered the premises a Health and Safety Risk. They were hoping to open later in the day, but offered no guarantees.
So, after lunch, we headed back to Harrow by train, to try the Vue cinema there... Only to find that the escalators were being shut down. By the time we'd got our tickets, one escalator was open, but not operating, and was being used as stairs up and down. Simultaneously.
On the upside, a quick shopping trip in the remaining time before film yielded a boxed set of the four (so far) Resident Evil films. I liked first, thought the second was a bit lame by comparison, despised the third, and really enjoyed the latest (in - yawn - 3D)... At £24.99 in HMV, it's like paying the standard price for the latest, and getting a 3 for £10 deal on the first three. Not to be sniffed at.
Nor was The Green Hornet. I wasn't sure what to expect, other than that I'd probably loathe Seth Rogen attempting to play a comic book hero, but that expectation was certainly not met. While he didn't quite work as the millionaire playboy son of a newspaper magnate, the idea of him being an initially inept anti-hero, ridding the streets of crime by coming at it as a criminal himself, worked very well... Not least because he spent the majority of the movie being spectacularly bad at doing anything good. The story was funny without resorting to tired toilet humour and, while not necessarily the most exciting thing in the world, it kept my attention the whole way through... and, yes, despite having had very little sleep over the last few days, I stayed awake for the entire movie.
The horseplay between Rogen and Jay Chou (Kato) was pretty good, and it was refreshing to see a hero and his sidekick not getting on very well, and arguing about the way they do things. The only oddity, really, was Cameron Diaz as the non-love-interest (Lenore Case). There was a reference to her being older than the two leads (and, in typical Hollywood fashion, the age difference between actors is nowhere near as pronounced), and not a single kiss ensued, despite the best (useless) efforts of the two leads. As a secretary with a background in journalism and criminology, I suspect she'll play a greater part in the inevitable sequel.
Supplemental: Either I missed something important, or there was something very wrong with the packaging for the Resident Evil boxed set... It seems that the anti-theft tag had not been removed. When I finally got the case open (by breaking the bloody thing), it turned out that said tag has a metal part that had been scratching one of the DVDs. I'll give it a quick look tomorrow, but I think I shall return it for exchange...
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Unresponsive
Not sure how much of this is my hangover talking (strange how difficult it is to keep track of alcohol consumed when one's glass is being constantly topped up), but when I offer someone a portion of my spare time in an attempt to help them in any way, I'm very much inclined to withdraw the offer when they say they haven't had time to reply to my email.
I mean, come on, a simple "thanks, will respond more fully when things quieten down" (or, as seems more likely, going by what she said on the subject "thanks, but I'm making plans of my own") would suffice.
And, of course there's the 'other' email... Again, no response, but I have no right to expect one...
I'm actually inclined to eschew any further dinner invitations from last night's crew, on the grounds that, yes, this is what normal friends do... but I really don't consider any of you 'friends'.
Who knows, perhaps I'm just reverting to my hermit-like tendencies.
And it's not as if I got much sleep, in spite of the alcohol - went to bed around 2.30, woke up around 4.30, then got up - please try to contain your surprise - around 9.
I'm feeling exceptionally grumpy. There are things I need/want to do, but I'm not inclined to do any of it... Returning to bed is a tempting option.
I mean, come on, a simple "thanks, will respond more fully when things quieten down" (or, as seems more likely, going by what she said on the subject "thanks, but I'm making plans of my own") would suffice.
And, of course there's the 'other' email... Again, no response, but I have no right to expect one...
I'm actually inclined to eschew any further dinner invitations from last night's crew, on the grounds that, yes, this is what normal friends do... but I really don't consider any of you 'friends'.
Who knows, perhaps I'm just reverting to my hermit-like tendencies.
And it's not as if I got much sleep, in spite of the alcohol - went to bed around 2.30, woke up around 4.30, then got up - please try to contain your surprise - around 9.
I'm feeling exceptionally grumpy. There are things I need/want to do, but I'm not inclined to do any of it... Returning to bed is a tempting option.
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
"Drunk, And So In Love With You", As The Old Song Goes
Or not...
Went to dinner with some former colleagues this evening, and it was among the most uncomfortable experiences of my life so far. It's kind of strange that the bulk of my friends over the years have been female, and yet I can still begin to feel my prudish tendencies take hold when I'm the only male in the group, as I was this evening.
It's probably not PC to acknowledge it these days, but groups of women tend to interact in a particular way, and it's probably not something men are truly intended to be party to... it's not 'girly talk' of the stereotypical kind - nothing like you'd see on those (normally American) TV shows - nevertheless, there's a tendency for a long sequence of conversations for which I have no valuable additions to make and, in many cases, do not necessarily wish to hear.
I know I'm a terrible prude, and most of it really shouldn't bother me... but I should also have a better idea of how the conversations are likely to go, particularly when certain specific individuals are involved. Oh, and alcohol. Never underestimate the power of alcohol to put you in the mood you expect to be in.
Then again, I only really went because one of my friends convinced me that the former colleague who was hosting the evening was keen to see me again... and I'm mildly besotted with her. Not romantically - that would be weird - but, in spite of the many times she annoyed the hell out of me, I really do like her a lot. Her focus was always customer service, and I had nothing but respect for that. Shame some of her subordinates observed her pushiness without ever understanding the reasons for it.
Anyway... For half the evening, I was wondering what I was doing there. Eventually I just put it down to being in a weird mood due to yesterday's unexpected email.
And I really should remember, for future reference, that I should always ask to use the lavatory before I leave, rather than believing I can hold it in all the way home via public transport. Not to say I couldn't just that it was another uncomfortable element to the evening.
Went to dinner with some former colleagues this evening, and it was among the most uncomfortable experiences of my life so far. It's kind of strange that the bulk of my friends over the years have been female, and yet I can still begin to feel my prudish tendencies take hold when I'm the only male in the group, as I was this evening.
It's probably not PC to acknowledge it these days, but groups of women tend to interact in a particular way, and it's probably not something men are truly intended to be party to... it's not 'girly talk' of the stereotypical kind - nothing like you'd see on those (normally American) TV shows - nevertheless, there's a tendency for a long sequence of conversations for which I have no valuable additions to make and, in many cases, do not necessarily wish to hear.
I know I'm a terrible prude, and most of it really shouldn't bother me... but I should also have a better idea of how the conversations are likely to go, particularly when certain specific individuals are involved. Oh, and alcohol. Never underestimate the power of alcohol to put you in the mood you expect to be in.
Then again, I only really went because one of my friends convinced me that the former colleague who was hosting the evening was keen to see me again... and I'm mildly besotted with her. Not romantically - that would be weird - but, in spite of the many times she annoyed the hell out of me, I really do like her a lot. Her focus was always customer service, and I had nothing but respect for that. Shame some of her subordinates observed her pushiness without ever understanding the reasons for it.
Anyway... For half the evening, I was wondering what I was doing there. Eventually I just put it down to being in a weird mood due to yesterday's unexpected email.
And I really should remember, for future reference, that I should always ask to use the lavatory before I leave, rather than believing I can hold it in all the way home via public transport. Not to say I couldn't just that it was another uncomfortable element to the evening.
Voices of a Distant Star
Many years ago, back when I was last 'doing' Internet Dating, I did have one success story... Almost. I met an amazing young woman from the States, who was sparkling company, utterly beautiful and intelligent to the point where I wasn't entirely sure I was keeping up with her. This is a rare combination, in my experience.
Though I could hazard several guesses, I've never been entirely sure why it went wrong but, for whatever reason, she stopped returning my calls and responding to emails a little more than a week after telling me she felt like she'd hit jackpot with me... and the day after telling me she thought we'd gone too far, too soon. It's not even as if I consider that to be 'mixed signals'... turns out, I agree. I can only say that it felt right at the time.
Cut to now, God only knows how many years later (seven? eight?) and I get an email from her, both to my personal account and my Hotmail account. Well, I say 'an email from her', but it was actually just a Facebook invitation.
I've always wondered what would happen if she turned up again... and, going by my reaction to the email, the answer is most likely 'go into cardiac arrest'.
I replied.
I don't believe for a moment I'll get a response. Pretty sure I gave up hoping for that some years ago.
Though I could hazard several guesses, I've never been entirely sure why it went wrong but, for whatever reason, she stopped returning my calls and responding to emails a little more than a week after telling me she felt like she'd hit jackpot with me... and the day after telling me she thought we'd gone too far, too soon. It's not even as if I consider that to be 'mixed signals'... turns out, I agree. I can only say that it felt right at the time.
Cut to now, God only knows how many years later (seven? eight?) and I get an email from her, both to my personal account and my Hotmail account. Well, I say 'an email from her', but it was actually just a Facebook invitation.
I've always wondered what would happen if she turned up again... and, going by my reaction to the email, the answer is most likely 'go into cardiac arrest'.
I replied.
I don't believe for a moment I'll get a response. Pretty sure I gave up hoping for that some years ago.
Monday, 10 January 2011
An Hour and a Half I Won't Get Back
I refer, sadly, to the somewhat extended guest lecture at WOLAS this evening... Probably the most tedious talk I'll ever sit through and, yes, I intended the implication that it extends into the forseeable future, covering lectures I have not yet witnessed.
It was also a prime example of everything one should not do when giving a presentation... Far too much text on the PowerPoint slides, far too many images of essentially the same thing, and far too much of the 'presentation' was simply reading the text from screen, some time after most of the audience would have finished reading it themselves.
These things are meant to be an hour, tops (so the members can make use of the tea/coffee-making facilities on site), and the extra half hour was positively painful.
At least the earlier part of my day was more interesting - a friend and former colleague popped round for lunch and a crash course in Wii gaming. It wasn't the most successful attempt, so I shall have to think carefully about a follow-up. I don't have many multi-player games that aren't rather complicated, so most of the time was spent demonstrating rather than actually playing... Wii Sports Resort was a bust because I only have the one WiiMotion Plus enabled remote, but tennis and bowling were pretty good fun in Wii Sports. Tron Evolution: Battle Grids proved to be just as unrewarding as a two player game as it is single... Many of the games are basically unfathomable, but the Light Cycle battles were good fun, and reasonably easy to control. Okami... looks wonderful, but the controller sensitivity (even without WiiMotion Plus attached) makes it all rather awkward, and demonstrating it rapidly became quite frustrating. Sin and Punishment was much surer ground - an on-the-rails shooter, much like the pirate game she's enjoyed at the Park Royal arcade - but she was upset about being relegated to a support role, with no on-screen character to worry about. Not quite sure why two-player mode works like that...
I was considering an early(-ish) night, but noticed that one of the ill-conceived sequels to John Carpenter's Vampires is on tonight... so I really have to stay up for that. Crappy Horror ahoy!
It was also a prime example of everything one should not do when giving a presentation... Far too much text on the PowerPoint slides, far too many images of essentially the same thing, and far too much of the 'presentation' was simply reading the text from screen, some time after most of the audience would have finished reading it themselves.
These things are meant to be an hour, tops (so the members can make use of the tea/coffee-making facilities on site), and the extra half hour was positively painful.
At least the earlier part of my day was more interesting - a friend and former colleague popped round for lunch and a crash course in Wii gaming. It wasn't the most successful attempt, so I shall have to think carefully about a follow-up. I don't have many multi-player games that aren't rather complicated, so most of the time was spent demonstrating rather than actually playing... Wii Sports Resort was a bust because I only have the one WiiMotion Plus enabled remote, but tennis and bowling were pretty good fun in Wii Sports. Tron Evolution: Battle Grids proved to be just as unrewarding as a two player game as it is single... Many of the games are basically unfathomable, but the Light Cycle battles were good fun, and reasonably easy to control. Okami... looks wonderful, but the controller sensitivity (even without WiiMotion Plus attached) makes it all rather awkward, and demonstrating it rapidly became quite frustrating. Sin and Punishment was much surer ground - an on-the-rails shooter, much like the pirate game she's enjoyed at the Park Royal arcade - but she was upset about being relegated to a support role, with no on-screen character to worry about. Not quite sure why two-player mode works like that...
I was considering an early(-ish) night, but noticed that one of the ill-conceived sequels to John Carpenter's Vampires is on tonight... so I really have to stay up for that. Crappy Horror ahoy!
Alternating Currents (In The Air)
One of these days, I may well look into meteorology in a vaguely serious way. Probably not anytime soon, but recent weather hereabouts has been very confusing: it's alternating, day by day, between cloudy and sunny, and has been for the last few days.
This is set to change by the end of the week, it would appear... the BBC website's weather page reckons heavy rain by the end of the week.
I finally managed to do some tidying up in the flat yesterday - getting up to date on the laundry, the washing up and the vacuuming. Of course, it probably won't take long before it all piles up again, but at least I'm done for now. The lounge, in particular, looks tidier than it has in ages... though the coffee table is still a bit of a mess.
As a byproduct of this, however, there are even more boxes in the bedroom. What I really need to do is either collapse them all and stow them away, or decide which I can just dispose of and recover the space that way. Either is perfectly doable but, while my wardrobe is still full of my father's tools, I haven't an accurate idea of how much space I have, so I'm loathe to do anything just yet.
Next time my folks are over, I really must talk to them about that wardrobe... I'd imagine it's full of tools that my father doesn't need regularly, which is why they're still at my place... but, grateful as I am for all the work they've put in to making my flat truly mine, they really need to get their stuff out.
This is set to change by the end of the week, it would appear... the BBC website's weather page reckons heavy rain by the end of the week.
I finally managed to do some tidying up in the flat yesterday - getting up to date on the laundry, the washing up and the vacuuming. Of course, it probably won't take long before it all piles up again, but at least I'm done for now. The lounge, in particular, looks tidier than it has in ages... though the coffee table is still a bit of a mess.
As a byproduct of this, however, there are even more boxes in the bedroom. What I really need to do is either collapse them all and stow them away, or decide which I can just dispose of and recover the space that way. Either is perfectly doable but, while my wardrobe is still full of my father's tools, I haven't an accurate idea of how much space I have, so I'm loathe to do anything just yet.
Next time my folks are over, I really must talk to them about that wardrobe... I'd imagine it's full of tools that my father doesn't need regularly, which is why they're still at my place... but, grateful as I am for all the work they've put in to making my flat truly mine, they really need to get their stuff out.
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Ripping Stuff
What is it that compels TV executives to throw money at companies who want to investigate the murders perpetrated by Jack the Ripper? Sure, they were never solved, nor was the killer's true identity ever established... Indeed, the name comes from a letter received by the police at the time, which they concluded was actually a fake, and not from the killer at all.
But considering how many times documentaries and dramatisations have already been made, why carry on? Why make another? What possible reason can they have?
Well, if you're Channel 5, it's all about the CSI-style piecing together of evidence almost 120 years old.
Except, even that isn't new. I remember a similar thing happening maybe 20 years ago, presented by Paul Ross (making it a Crime Monthly special). It posited that there had been several suspects, and vowed to reveal the killer's true identity, just as this new Channel 5 show does. One of the suspects was a member of the Royal Family and, for much of the show, he seemed to be the favoured suspect.
Then, the incredible happened...
Out of thin air, a new suspect emerged: a Polish immigrant butcher.
He fitted the scant description and, aside from coming up in various police reports, was basically unknown, whereas the other suspects had some kind of reputation (or were royalty). Reportedly, he ended up in an asylum (which might explain why the killings stopped)... but how he ended his days was not fully established. Some say he hanged himself, some say he lived out his remaining days in his cell.
Still, this unknown immigrant was the stooge they eventually pinned the crime on... Following, as it happens, the lead set by The Secret Indentity of Jack the Ripper, presented by Sir Peter Ustinov, two years before.
I strongly suspect that this new show will do much the same, and 'finally' establish the same identity...
But considering how many times documentaries and dramatisations have already been made, why carry on? Why make another? What possible reason can they have?
Well, if you're Channel 5, it's all about the CSI-style piecing together of evidence almost 120 years old.
Except, even that isn't new. I remember a similar thing happening maybe 20 years ago, presented by Paul Ross (making it a Crime Monthly special). It posited that there had been several suspects, and vowed to reveal the killer's true identity, just as this new Channel 5 show does. One of the suspects was a member of the Royal Family and, for much of the show, he seemed to be the favoured suspect.
Then, the incredible happened...
Out of thin air, a new suspect emerged: a Polish immigrant butcher.
He fitted the scant description and, aside from coming up in various police reports, was basically unknown, whereas the other suspects had some kind of reputation (or were royalty). Reportedly, he ended up in an asylum (which might explain why the killings stopped)... but how he ended his days was not fully established. Some say he hanged himself, some say he lived out his remaining days in his cell.
Still, this unknown immigrant was the stooge they eventually pinned the crime on... Following, as it happens, the lead set by The Secret Indentity of Jack the Ripper, presented by Sir Peter Ustinov, two years before.
I strongly suspect that this new show will do much the same, and 'finally' establish the same identity...
Saturday, 8 January 2011
And Back Again
Yes, up and about again already... Slept quite well, eventually, and remember something of a dream for a change. It all started out with myself and a companion on some kind of tour. We were in a viewing room above some kind of facility with large banks of computers and their operators below us. Then someone or something started shooting everyone from the ceiling. My companion and I escaped, along with the rest of the people in the tour group, and were hustled into a kind of roller coaster train. This train passed through the room we'd just seen getting shot to pieces, and the only concession to our safety made by whoever was running the train was that it went v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y through that room. I was right at the back, naturally, and was looking around for any sign of activity in the room. Just as the last carriage entered the tunnel on the far side of the room, I saw a woman get up from her slumped position, turn straight towards me and go humph... with an unpleasant smile on her face.
Not much more happened after that - bascially, the train followed an improbably spiral track for a while - but I had one of those moments where I realised I was only dreaming just as I woke up, and really wished it had come sooner, so I could have put that knowledge to use within the dream. Oh well.
Anyway. I'm showered, I've had breakfast... all that remains is to decide what I'm going to do with the day...
Not much more happened after that - bascially, the train followed an improbably spiral track for a while - but I had one of those moments where I realised I was only dreaming just as I woke up, and really wished it had come sooner, so I could have put that knowledge to use within the dream. Oh well.
Anyway. I'm showered, I've had breakfast... all that remains is to decide what I'm going to do with the day...
Well, That Didn't Go According To Plan
Yep, it's now quarter past two in the morning, and I'm still up and about. Haven't played any more Wii, haven't watched any more TV or movies... Just been surfing the interwebs.
On the upside, I finally managed to buy a top-up from ClaraNet, so I've got a bit more than 10Gb to last me 19 days now. That's something.
I've also been uploading lots of photos to my Photobucket account(s) in preparation to work on some toy writing updates... Not quite sure where to start, or when I'll put in the effort, particularly since I already have more photos uploaded than I've written about...
Something for the weekend, sir?
On the upside, I finally managed to buy a top-up from ClaraNet, so I've got a bit more than 10Gb to last me 19 days now. That's something.
I've also been uploading lots of photos to my Photobucket account(s) in preparation to work on some toy writing updates... Not quite sure where to start, or when I'll put in the effort, particularly since I already have more photos uploaded than I've written about...
Something for the weekend, sir?
Friday, 7 January 2011
Sinking
And now I'm beginning to get depressed...
The first sign was a slightly over-the-top reaction to misplacing the slip of paper the Pharmacist handed me to confirm that I was owed the remainder of my supply of Lansoprazole. I checked my wallet, I checked the two coats I've used in the last couple of days, I rummaged around on my coffee table, in my bedside chest of drawers, in the miscellaneous piles of crap that tend to accrue wherever I am, and even looked in the bathroom cabinet... And then very nearly broke down in tears.
Eventually I found the bloody thing in the plastic bag I'd carried the prescription home in - I'd put the slip of paper in there despite having already removed the box of capsules, and despite having decided to keep it somewhere safe and sensible once I'd got home. Putting it back into a disposable plastic bag ain't my idea of safe and sensible, so I can only conclude I was in a rush, or had planned to move it elsewhere and just forgotten.
Still, I popped down the road - my only excursion today, because it's been raining a lot - and picked up the remaining box of capsules. The pharmacist asked how it was going (pretty good - my cough is definitely improving again)... his assistant asked me to confirm my address (jobsworth - I'd only been in there a couple of days ago)...
I'm quite impressed by my local pharmacist - not only are they well stocked on the essentials, but they have all kinds of things one might normally have to go to Boots or Superdrug for. Overall, my local shops are pretty awesome.
Even that sure knowledge didn't cheer me up, though... when I got home again, I basically went straight to bed, and wasted a good three or four hours napping. There goes my early night tonight - I won't be tired.
Had another go at WiiFit Plus earlier and, no surprises, it's a lot more sensible once the Balance Board is facing the right way. Tried a tiny bit of Yoga and a couple of the aerobic exercises, but it really does look as though I don't have enough space to make the best of it... and it's rhythm action 'stepping' game is just as unfathomable as every other rhythm action game I've ever tried. It's supposed to help one improve their rhythm... good luck finding mine, Nintendo.
After that, I picked up one of the older games, Twilight Princess, and tried doggedly (no pun intended) to get through the first part where Link has been turned in to a wolf. I think my problem, when I first got stuck in the sewers, was that I didn't realise that one can only attack monsters when out of the water... and I was trying to fight while swimming. It does strike me as something of an oversight that combat is not available while the wolf is swimming, but I'm sure the designers had their reasons.
In the end, I managed to progress quite a way - getting back into 'human' form before calling it a day.
And speaking of calling it a day, it's now twenty past ten... I'll probably turn in soon, despite my nap earlier. I've barely eaten today - another sure sign of depression - and I don't want to be up too late, wasting what little bandwidth I have left... Though I may try again to purchase a top-up...
The first sign was a slightly over-the-top reaction to misplacing the slip of paper the Pharmacist handed me to confirm that I was owed the remainder of my supply of Lansoprazole. I checked my wallet, I checked the two coats I've used in the last couple of days, I rummaged around on my coffee table, in my bedside chest of drawers, in the miscellaneous piles of crap that tend to accrue wherever I am, and even looked in the bathroom cabinet... And then very nearly broke down in tears.
Eventually I found the bloody thing in the plastic bag I'd carried the prescription home in - I'd put the slip of paper in there despite having already removed the box of capsules, and despite having decided to keep it somewhere safe and sensible once I'd got home. Putting it back into a disposable plastic bag ain't my idea of safe and sensible, so I can only conclude I was in a rush, or had planned to move it elsewhere and just forgotten.
Still, I popped down the road - my only excursion today, because it's been raining a lot - and picked up the remaining box of capsules. The pharmacist asked how it was going (pretty good - my cough is definitely improving again)... his assistant asked me to confirm my address (jobsworth - I'd only been in there a couple of days ago)...
I'm quite impressed by my local pharmacist - not only are they well stocked on the essentials, but they have all kinds of things one might normally have to go to Boots or Superdrug for. Overall, my local shops are pretty awesome.
Even that sure knowledge didn't cheer me up, though... when I got home again, I basically went straight to bed, and wasted a good three or four hours napping. There goes my early night tonight - I won't be tired.
Had another go at WiiFit Plus earlier and, no surprises, it's a lot more sensible once the Balance Board is facing the right way. Tried a tiny bit of Yoga and a couple of the aerobic exercises, but it really does look as though I don't have enough space to make the best of it... and it's rhythm action 'stepping' game is just as unfathomable as every other rhythm action game I've ever tried. It's supposed to help one improve their rhythm... good luck finding mine, Nintendo.
After that, I picked up one of the older games, Twilight Princess, and tried doggedly (no pun intended) to get through the first part where Link has been turned in to a wolf. I think my problem, when I first got stuck in the sewers, was that I didn't realise that one can only attack monsters when out of the water... and I was trying to fight while swimming. It does strike me as something of an oversight that combat is not available while the wolf is swimming, but I'm sure the designers had their reasons.
In the end, I managed to progress quite a way - getting back into 'human' form before calling it a day.
And speaking of calling it a day, it's now twenty past ten... I'll probably turn in soon, despite my nap earlier. I've barely eaten today - another sure sign of depression - and I don't want to be up too late, wasting what little bandwidth I have left... Though I may try again to purchase a top-up...
Getting Up To Date
Sheesh... it's the end of the first week of 2011, and it's actually been fairly busy, in a way.
I'm still not working - still haven't contacted Job Centre Plus, for that matter - but life is anything but restful. It's all small stuff that shouldn't be bothering me, but it's all mounting up because I'm not doing anything about any of it... Stupid, as usual.
At first glance, it looks as though the Income Protection insurance I got for my mortgage does not cover anything but health-related loss of income. Pretty bloody stupid of me, if that's the case. I can find records of 'incapacity protection', 'accidental death cover' and 'critical illness cover'... which, sure, where the all-important ones... and maybe I wasn't thinking of the possibility of losing my job two years ago, when I arranged all this... it didn't seem at all likely: I was there for the long haul. Nevertheless... I shall have to contact the people who arranged it, to confirm exactly how bone-headed I was when I first set up the insurance on my mortgage.
Money isn't an issue, really, so I'm not overly concerned by this... Sure, I'd like to save as much of my redundancy payout as possible but, if the worst comes to the worst, it's there to be spent...
Then there's the all-too-typical increase in time spent online and downloading large files, while I'm stuck at home... It's the beginning of the month, and already I have just 2Gb to last me 20 days. I've tried purchasing more, but there seems to be an error... so I shall have to contact my ISP as well...
And I'm back on Lansoprazole... Having visited the doctor a couple of days ago, he's assuming that it was the right prescription, but perhaps the wrong quantity. I have a prescription for two months' supply, and he suggested that, if it does work, I may need to take it for the rest of my life... and if it doesn't, they'll have to look at my ongoing throat problem from a different angle.
In slightly more positive news, I've finally seen TRON Legacy... and it's awesome. I stand by my previous comments about its relevance in the world of today, and also add concerns about the excessive use of real-world physics, the apparent absence of which being one of the defining elements of the original. Sure, there was gravity... but also bikes that could execute instantaneous ninety-degree turns, and vehicles that were made up of pieces that didn't actually connect in any way, and yet stayed together as vehicles. There's also the point that Flynn's residence on the Grid rather too closely resembles the room at the end of 2001... miscellaneous inconsistencies... plot holes... inadequate or absent explanations... and a great big neon sign saying "ANOTHER SEQUEL" running right alongside the action, until the very end, where it suddenly seems to disappear into the sunrise.
I am guilty of overthinking it and, while I was watching it (for just over 2 hours) it kept me utterly enthralled, even though the voice in the back of my mind was saying things like "cliché" or "call that a twist?" or just "what the f...?". It may not be the perfect sequel/follow-up I've been awaiting for 25 years, but it was an amazing spectacle... the IMAX 3D presentation was possibly the finest demonstration of the system you could hope to see... marred only by the videogame-level CGI of the 'young' Kevin Flynn/CLU. It looked great in the trailers, but just isn't detailed or fluid enough on the big screen.
If there is another sequel planned, let's hope they do us the courtesy of not leaving it another 20 years or so before starting.
After the movie, my companion and I ventured to the riverfront branch of Giraffe and, despite a disappointingly long wait for a table (the floor manager popped over to apologise once we were seated), everything was pretty good... though I suspect the menu has been pared down in recent years. We discussed the plans to set up the new business, how much work is assured, and how she's going to go about drumming up more... it's all sounding pretty positive, and I'm keen to get started.
Other movies I've watched recently include the incredible Moon, starring Sam Rockwell, in a role that proves he can actually act. He's essentially alone throughout most of the movie, and his solitude is part of the main thrust of the story. Some elements of the story are almost heartbreaking, particularly the lengths GERTY - the mining station's computer - goes to in executing its primary function: to keep the human operator safe. I was expecting the computer to be another HAL-9000... but nothing could be further from the truth. It's a very small, focused movie, with the shortest cast list I've seen in ages... IMDb estimates its budget at about $5Million... a pittance, by today's standards
My DVD collection is swelling again - aside from Moon, I've picked up Scott Pligrim vs The World, The Brothers Grimm and Inglourious Basterds... quite a mixture.
I recently picked up WiiFit Plus, including the balance board and, after what seemed like a false start with the rechargeable battery pack, and facing the board the wrong way, my biggest worry is that I don't have enough space in the flat to use it. It also reckons I'm overweight, but only just... and so I've set myself the goal of losing a stone in three months... shouldn't be too taxing.
In other news, I'm having the expected second thoughts about eHarmony. This is 'business as usual' for me, and the whole reason I signed up so quickly (though I've yet to subscribe). That little voice in the back of my head is telling me I don't want to meet new people, because they are invariably tedious or stupid or selfish... and that, while I'm great at email communication, I don't make a good first impression, either with the self-written parts of my profile or in person. The funny thing is that the site basically recommends not letting your social life slip in favour of a hoped-for romantic life... good advice, but I tend to let all kinds of things slip... and I'm much more likely to come across as disinterested than overly keen these days.
I'm also coming to terms with the fact that a couple of my colleagues really did like me... and have expressed a wish to keep in touch that was more than mere lip service. I've been invited to dinner with a small group (including my ex-boss and companion from the TRON Legacy/Giraffe excursion) next week, and one of the newest recruits has tentatively suggested meeting ex-boss and I for drinks sometime in the near future. Part of me wonders if I should contact one or two others... but I already get the impression that a couple of those I did choose to send my details aren't as keen to stay in touch as they suggested... This is why I tend to refer to myself as an 'optimistic cynic' - I'll always look on the bright side, but I don't easily trust whoever else is involved.
I'm still not working - still haven't contacted Job Centre Plus, for that matter - but life is anything but restful. It's all small stuff that shouldn't be bothering me, but it's all mounting up because I'm not doing anything about any of it... Stupid, as usual.
At first glance, it looks as though the Income Protection insurance I got for my mortgage does not cover anything but health-related loss of income. Pretty bloody stupid of me, if that's the case. I can find records of 'incapacity protection', 'accidental death cover' and 'critical illness cover'... which, sure, where the all-important ones... and maybe I wasn't thinking of the possibility of losing my job two years ago, when I arranged all this... it didn't seem at all likely: I was there for the long haul. Nevertheless... I shall have to contact the people who arranged it, to confirm exactly how bone-headed I was when I first set up the insurance on my mortgage.
Money isn't an issue, really, so I'm not overly concerned by this... Sure, I'd like to save as much of my redundancy payout as possible but, if the worst comes to the worst, it's there to be spent...
Then there's the all-too-typical increase in time spent online and downloading large files, while I'm stuck at home... It's the beginning of the month, and already I have just 2Gb to last me 20 days. I've tried purchasing more, but there seems to be an error... so I shall have to contact my ISP as well...
And I'm back on Lansoprazole... Having visited the doctor a couple of days ago, he's assuming that it was the right prescription, but perhaps the wrong quantity. I have a prescription for two months' supply, and he suggested that, if it does work, I may need to take it for the rest of my life... and if it doesn't, they'll have to look at my ongoing throat problem from a different angle.
In slightly more positive news, I've finally seen TRON Legacy... and it's awesome. I stand by my previous comments about its relevance in the world of today, and also add concerns about the excessive use of real-world physics, the apparent absence of which being one of the defining elements of the original. Sure, there was gravity... but also bikes that could execute instantaneous ninety-degree turns, and vehicles that were made up of pieces that didn't actually connect in any way, and yet stayed together as vehicles. There's also the point that Flynn's residence on the Grid rather too closely resembles the room at the end of 2001... miscellaneous inconsistencies... plot holes... inadequate or absent explanations... and a great big neon sign saying "ANOTHER SEQUEL" running right alongside the action, until the very end, where it suddenly seems to disappear into the sunrise.
I am guilty of overthinking it and, while I was watching it (for just over 2 hours) it kept me utterly enthralled, even though the voice in the back of my mind was saying things like "cliché" or "call that a twist?" or just "what the f...?". It may not be the perfect sequel/follow-up I've been awaiting for 25 years, but it was an amazing spectacle... the IMAX 3D presentation was possibly the finest demonstration of the system you could hope to see... marred only by the videogame-level CGI of the 'young' Kevin Flynn/CLU. It looked great in the trailers, but just isn't detailed or fluid enough on the big screen.
If there is another sequel planned, let's hope they do us the courtesy of not leaving it another 20 years or so before starting.
After the movie, my companion and I ventured to the riverfront branch of Giraffe and, despite a disappointingly long wait for a table (the floor manager popped over to apologise once we were seated), everything was pretty good... though I suspect the menu has been pared down in recent years. We discussed the plans to set up the new business, how much work is assured, and how she's going to go about drumming up more... it's all sounding pretty positive, and I'm keen to get started.
Other movies I've watched recently include the incredible Moon, starring Sam Rockwell, in a role that proves he can actually act. He's essentially alone throughout most of the movie, and his solitude is part of the main thrust of the story. Some elements of the story are almost heartbreaking, particularly the lengths GERTY - the mining station's computer - goes to in executing its primary function: to keep the human operator safe. I was expecting the computer to be another HAL-9000... but nothing could be further from the truth. It's a very small, focused movie, with the shortest cast list I've seen in ages... IMDb estimates its budget at about $5Million... a pittance, by today's standards
My DVD collection is swelling again - aside from Moon, I've picked up Scott Pligrim vs The World, The Brothers Grimm and Inglourious Basterds... quite a mixture.
I recently picked up WiiFit Plus, including the balance board and, after what seemed like a false start with the rechargeable battery pack, and facing the board the wrong way, my biggest worry is that I don't have enough space in the flat to use it. It also reckons I'm overweight, but only just... and so I've set myself the goal of losing a stone in three months... shouldn't be too taxing.
In other news, I'm having the expected second thoughts about eHarmony. This is 'business as usual' for me, and the whole reason I signed up so quickly (though I've yet to subscribe). That little voice in the back of my head is telling me I don't want to meet new people, because they are invariably tedious or stupid or selfish... and that, while I'm great at email communication, I don't make a good first impression, either with the self-written parts of my profile or in person. The funny thing is that the site basically recommends not letting your social life slip in favour of a hoped-for romantic life... good advice, but I tend to let all kinds of things slip... and I'm much more likely to come across as disinterested than overly keen these days.
I'm also coming to terms with the fact that a couple of my colleagues really did like me... and have expressed a wish to keep in touch that was more than mere lip service. I've been invited to dinner with a small group (including my ex-boss and companion from the TRON Legacy/Giraffe excursion) next week, and one of the newest recruits has tentatively suggested meeting ex-boss and I for drinks sometime in the near future. Part of me wonders if I should contact one or two others... but I already get the impression that a couple of those I did choose to send my details aren't as keen to stay in touch as they suggested... This is why I tend to refer to myself as an 'optimistic cynic' - I'll always look on the bright side, but I don't easily trust whoever else is involved.
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Moving Forward
On the advice of a friend, I'm giving this eHarmony thing a go.
I've tried Internet Dating before, about six or seven years ago. By and large, I found it to be the fastest and most convenient way to meet plenty of people you'd never want to meet. There are those that don't know why they're there, there are those who are merely looking to hook up for sex (including, quite scarily, an old schoolfriend... though, to be fair, she was also looking for a dad for her son, just going about it in entirely the wrong way), there are those who seem to be performing some kind of social experiment (I saw two largely identical profiles that had used the same photo of Jessica Alba, but one had heavy makeup Photoshopped on), and there are those who are clearly just looking to replace their ex with a clone (one even going so far as to specify which brand of aftershave a prospective suitor should use).
eHarmony purports to be something different... all that advertising guff about matching folks based on values and intellect. Certainly, their signup procedure includes some fairly detailed psychometric profiling... and, while I tend to be sceptical of these things, the results were certainly quite impressive in my case. It's almost tempting to ask friends and family to try it themselves, just to see how their profiles turn out. It is sometimes said that these profiles are essentially middle-ground generalisations, true of just about anyone... but this one seems to be something more.
I'm not sure it'll go anywhere... And I have yet to upload any photos (largely because I have virtually none available - while I'm a fairly keen photographer (particularly when it comes to making 3D photos), I'm not keen on being the subject), which seems to be quite an important part of the process.
Then again, I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket... One of my ex-colleagues offered to play matchmaker for me a few weeks before I was made redundant, and I'm hoping to take her up on that offer, in the spirit of Not Dismissing Out Of Hand That Which I Do Not Believe Will Work. And, hey, maybe next time a woman serving me in a shop looks at me a certain way, and says or does something that's not entirely related to the sale at hand, I'll pay a bit more attention and do something about it.
Stranger things have happened, I'm sure... Just don't ask for an example.
Thing is, I often refer to myself (technically for reasons of comedy rather than veracity) as a Bitch Magnet... I have tended, historically, to attract the attention of those who are in some way inherently unstable, because I give the impression of great stability in and of myself. Unfortunately, I can't be a crutch the whole time... eventually it becomes too much and my own stability becomes jeopardised. In recent years, though, and by learning the hard way, I've been able to more easily identify the signs of instability in others... so, were I to become involved, it would be because I chose to become involved, rather than because I've missed the warning signs.
The question, then, becomes "am I the magnet, or the lump of unrefined iron?"
Only time will tell...
Or not, because I'm also consciously deciding not to become involved with anyone who's obviously unstable. What I need - what I'm hoping to get out of eHarmony, matchmaking friends, or my own sluggish efforts - is someone who is independently stable, knows who they are and what they want in life, and who is compatible with me in those ways.
A capacity for tolerating a toy-collecting, sci-fi, horror and videogame geek would be beneficial...
I've tried Internet Dating before, about six or seven years ago. By and large, I found it to be the fastest and most convenient way to meet plenty of people you'd never want to meet. There are those that don't know why they're there, there are those who are merely looking to hook up for sex (including, quite scarily, an old schoolfriend... though, to be fair, she was also looking for a dad for her son, just going about it in entirely the wrong way), there are those who seem to be performing some kind of social experiment (I saw two largely identical profiles that had used the same photo of Jessica Alba, but one had heavy makeup Photoshopped on), and there are those who are clearly just looking to replace their ex with a clone (one even going so far as to specify which brand of aftershave a prospective suitor should use).
eHarmony purports to be something different... all that advertising guff about matching folks based on values and intellect. Certainly, their signup procedure includes some fairly detailed psychometric profiling... and, while I tend to be sceptical of these things, the results were certainly quite impressive in my case. It's almost tempting to ask friends and family to try it themselves, just to see how their profiles turn out. It is sometimes said that these profiles are essentially middle-ground generalisations, true of just about anyone... but this one seems to be something more.
I'm not sure it'll go anywhere... And I have yet to upload any photos (largely because I have virtually none available - while I'm a fairly keen photographer (particularly when it comes to making 3D photos), I'm not keen on being the subject), which seems to be quite an important part of the process.
Then again, I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket... One of my ex-colleagues offered to play matchmaker for me a few weeks before I was made redundant, and I'm hoping to take her up on that offer, in the spirit of Not Dismissing Out Of Hand That Which I Do Not Believe Will Work. And, hey, maybe next time a woman serving me in a shop looks at me a certain way, and says or does something that's not entirely related to the sale at hand, I'll pay a bit more attention and do something about it.
Stranger things have happened, I'm sure... Just don't ask for an example.
Thing is, I often refer to myself (technically for reasons of comedy rather than veracity) as a Bitch Magnet... I have tended, historically, to attract the attention of those who are in some way inherently unstable, because I give the impression of great stability in and of myself. Unfortunately, I can't be a crutch the whole time... eventually it becomes too much and my own stability becomes jeopardised. In recent years, though, and by learning the hard way, I've been able to more easily identify the signs of instability in others... so, were I to become involved, it would be because I chose to become involved, rather than because I've missed the warning signs.
The question, then, becomes "am I the magnet, or the lump of unrefined iron?"
Only time will tell...
Or not, because I'm also consciously deciding not to become involved with anyone who's obviously unstable. What I need - what I'm hoping to get out of eHarmony, matchmaking friends, or my own sluggish efforts - is someone who is independently stable, knows who they are and what they want in life, and who is compatible with me in those ways.
A capacity for tolerating a toy-collecting, sci-fi, horror and videogame geek would be beneficial...
Saturday, 1 January 2011
Gratuitous First Post of 2011
So, yeah... New Year.
Fireworks going off all around... I'm not watching Jools Holland's Hootenanny after all, just considering the question of whether I should go to bed, or play something on the Wii.
My, I know how to celebrate...
Fireworks going off all around... I'm not watching Jools Holland's Hootenanny after all, just considering the question of whether I should go to bed, or play something on the Wii.
My, I know how to celebrate...
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