Quest for Muscle: The Return of the Pump

[GentleOx]

Hello once more! 'Tis I, the Ox of Gentle disposition.

Very tired, but very content. Today was a Push day, and I moved away from my strength program to try something a bit different.

Paused Bench Press: 125 x 3. A good start; I wasn't particularly interested in trying to improve on Monday, so I started my DUP a little early.
Paused Incline Bench: 102.5 x 3. Will be happy when I get to 105 but for now, keep on truckin'.
Overhead Press: 62.5 x 5. Little bit at a time.
Hammer Curls: 16 x 24. My goodness, these felt much easier than they did last week. I took the opportunity to hit them harder.

Afterward, found myself back again in that massive shopping complex, so I bummed around for a bit before my classes.



Harry and Hermione were there to greet me.



The rink was more active than the last time I was there, and it was clear that some of the skaters had been taking lessons!




True to IKEA form, the layout of this deceptively tiny outlet was rather maze-like. The bistro downstairs seemed to be pretty popular, which could perhaps be explained by the affordable prices.

Been intermittently rainy tonight, but I got home before getting soaked. Tomorrow is Korean BBQ! Om nom nom.

Hope you have a great weekend, Bees!

Playing: Resonance of Fate, mostly. While the innovative, gun-fu inflected combat is a highlight, my primary mover is seeing the interactions between the protagonist trio. I'll see if I can see the game through to the end, unlike when I played it on XB360. Dashes of Fallout 4, too.

Watching: Here's a review of Invincible, Season 2.

In the aftermath of his father's world-shattering massacre, Mark Grayson (alias Invincible) is left to grapple with his identity and loyalties. And college, too. And what's this about a guy wandering through alternate timelines, witnessing all the Invincibles that happily partook in massacres uncounted?

Much like the first season, Invincible S2 has excellent storytelling and animation. The voicework is impeccable, and the characters are given a depth that rivals any other comic creation. There are some absolutely shocking revelations that end frustratingly soon, so it's a good thing that Seasons 3 and 4 have been greenlit.

Overall, I give it five Seance Dog figurines out of five.

Will watch Late Night with the Devil tonight... I've been savouring the chance to watch this one for awhile!

Listening to: Inon Zur - Battle against Robots. Comes from the soundtrack to Fallout Tactics. Haven't listened to this song in years, and it showed that even before Fallout 3, Inon Zur was ace at setting a mood (though his skills in ambiance aren't quite as great as Mark Morgan's).

 

[GentleOx]

Hey again Bees! Today's workout was all Lower Body, and I'm still feeling it.

Squats: 90 x 5. Hmm. Started off easy, but got harder.
Paused Deadlifts: 152.5 x 3. Wow. These were possibly even harder than the squats.
Romanian Deadlifts: 100 x 5.
Dumbbell Front Squats: 20 x 5.
Back Extensions: Five sets of ten.

Also, 21000 steps!

Absolutely exhausted afterward.

Had yummy Korean BBQ for dinner, but I just may have eaten too much. My insides are protesting gravely. Oh well.

Tomorrow we're off to watch Abigail! Squee! Assuming we don't get wet on the way there. It's been thundering pretty dramatically tonight!

Playing: More Resonance of Fate, of course! It's harder than I remember. That said, I remember it being rather hard, so now it's prett-ay hard.

Watching: Abigail, of course. Was watching the 2019 Hellboy at the gym, but it's rather disappointing and formulaic, so I might give up on it. Will try to watch some late night horror tonight, if I'm not busy rewatching the Fallout tv series.

Listening to: The Alan Parsons Project - The Cask of Amontillado. I've been craving some Edgar Allen Poe lately, so may have to reread some of his stories (which were big for me growing up). Here's a suitable tribute from the Alan Parsons Project album that is exclusively, and excellently about Poe's works. While this song is not my favourite off the album, it's high time I revisited it, as its melody and mournful atmosphere are amazing.

"By the last breath of the four winds that blow
I'll have revenge upon Fortunato
Smile in his face I'll say, 'Come let us go'
I've a cask of amontillado"

 

[GentleOx]

Hello everyone!

Today is W1D1 of the DUP (self-made) program, so while today was rather light in weight, I'm eager to see how things turn out down the road.

Bench Press: 117.5 x 5. Ugh. Could be better, but patience!
Incline Press: 90 x 5.
Shoulder Press: 65 x 5.
Flat Dumbbell Curls: 16 x 20.

I'm a bit disappointed by my drop in strength, but knowing me, it'll come back eventually.

Mom and I went to watch Abigail last Sunday, and we had a good time. Never thought my mom would be into horror flicks, but she said she doesn't mind the violence when it's campy and exaggerated. I definitely agree!

It's been on and off thundering over here. It started out gloomy and wet today, only to subside into sunshine. Weird...

@PetiteSheWolf Here's another funny cat video I forgot about! But don't show it to your kitty, as it may get ideas...

May your week go smoothly, Bees!

Playing: So I've dusted off Hades, a roguelite classic I haven't played in a few years. I see that Hades 2, the long awaited sequel, has been played by a select few, and so I'm experiencing major FOMO. It does help that there's more to see and do in Hades that I haven't gotten to, yet.

Still playing through Resonance of Fate, and usually getting my arse kicked. Was the game this difficult when I played it years ago? Or did I skip all the optional challenges? Huh.

Want to play Dead Island 2, but I'll wait for a big sale. I am (or can be) a patient man.

Browsing steam for new gems, but it feels like I've found every damn game out there, and that browsing the catalogue brings a slight sense of ennui.

Watching: As mom and I watched Abigail last weekend, here's a review.

Synopsis: A crew of masked, seasoned criminals are brought together on a heist. The goal is to kidnap a daughter of a wealthy man and hold her in a secure location for 24 hours to obtain a ransom. The heist goes off without a hitch, and the gang prematurely celebrate and carouse in the knowledge that they'll be richer in a day's time. However, it turns out that A - the father of the girl is not who they thought he was, and more importantly, B - the girl is not what they thought she was. If you've seen the poster or the trailer (the HK Chinese name of the film gives it away too lol), you'll know that Abigail is a sadistic vampire with a flair for balletic violence. Literally. Stuck inside of an enclosed mansion, they must find a way to survive amidst dwindling odds.

A tip of the hat to @JCU, who has seen this one as well, and who summed up the film perfectly, as opposed to my more florid style. Abigail is not really scary. There are some obligatory jump scares, but in the end, it's silly, overwrought violence that wins the day.

My primary criticism is that the second half of the film is much stronger than the first, and until it rolls along, you don't get your money's worth. The first third of the film is spent on the heist, establishing the crew's backstories and the setting, and throws in some token scares. It kind of drags (and the filmmakers have admitted to this), ticks all the horror boxes (and I don't mean that in the best way), and makes you wonder when the carnival of carnage will begin.

But begin it does! The plot kicks into gear when Abigail's killing spree does; there's a lot of blood, a lot of violence, and more than a little dark humour. I found this part of the film subverted as many horror tropes as it followed. Once you hit this point, you can sit back and enjoy the gory, viscera-soaked ride.

Parting thoughts: I didn't find any of the crooks to have particularly strong acting (Dan Stevens hams it up), perhaps apart from Melissa Barrera, whose character is strongly sketched out through her interactions with the crew, and the girl. But the real star is Alisha Weir, who portrays Abigail and cunning, crazed, and more than a little sympathetic at times. It's no wonder that her portrayal is the star of the film.

I give it four severed heads out of five.

Will try to finally, finally start Late Night with the Devil tonight. My own late night with the devil lol.

Listening to: Destryur - Spellbook. Horror movies demand horror tunes! So here's a darker synth offering, though I'm not particularly a fan of darksynth.

 

[JCU]

I'm always afraid of giving spoilers, so I don't say much. I knew you'd give a great review, so kept mine succinct. Excellent as always!

 

[PetiteSheWolf]

Somehow I think the Tank Kitty survived the bombing Too funny!

 

[GentleOx]

@PetiteSheWolf Even if you get one, there'll be more
@JCU Thank you so much!

Hello again, Bees. Skipped working out yesterday to get my lesson planning done, but hit the gym hard today. Maybe a little too hard?

Deadlifts: 147.5 x 5. These were a mess... it's not like the movement is very hard, and my body knew what to do, but there was this pain in my right quad that kept flaring up every time I did my reps. Four sets means 20 times in total... groan. I'll give it another week and see if the pain goes away.
Barbell Rows: 100 x 5. These were rubbish. I'll do an alternative exercise next time, as it feels like my muscles are missing the point.
Squats: 75 x 8. These were okay.
Reverse Lat Pulldowns: 57.5 x 6. Really like these.

Fewer, but more intense sets.

Super tired now. At least my neck muscles have relaxed.

Looking forward to Japanese buffet on Saturday. Just got to make it through tomorrow!

Keep on going, Bees!

Playing: I uninstalled Fallout 4. Again. A Master's thesis could presumably be written on my relationship with that game. I mean to try Fallout 76 again, and see if I can give it a fair shake this time around; watching the tv series has given me a hankering for more wasteland wandering. Shame there aren't any mods. I also installed another entry in the Fallout series: 2001's Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel. I distinctly remember playing this when it came out, shortly before I left for boarding school. After a bit of elbow grease and some tinkering, it's still lots of fun. Amazing how it brings back different memories when I play it; human memory and nostalgia are funny things. I've played about three missions, so I'll see how I get on. Still playing bits of Hades.

Watching: Watching Fallout at the gym. It's so enjoyable a series that watching it again brings out further details and goodies I missed the first time around. I'll try to finally watch Late Night with the Devil tonight, but who knows.

Also, rewatching Don't Hug Me I'm Scared.

Listening to: DRYVE x Fatherdude - Join the Fight. More synth? Hell yeah!

 

[GentleOx]

Hey Bees! Back again, to see in the weekend with another workout. Today was W1D2 of DUP.

Went into the gym feeling very tired... just couldn't get to sleep last night. So I didn't have high hopes.

Paused Bench Press: 127.5 x 3. A 2.5 increase! Not bad. Not sure if I'm up for 130 x 3, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
Paused Incline Bench Press: 100 x 5. I haven't been feeling up to this in ages!
Shoulder Press: 67.5 x 5. 2.5 increase, again.
Dumbbell Triceps Extensions: 14 x 8.
Hammer Curls: 18 x 20.

+ 26,000 steps. I think that's a new record for me - my pedometer registered this as 17 km. My feet feel like they're going to fall off!

This is the first day of improvements I've had since January, so I'm chuffed as chips.

It amazes me how quickly companies market stuff here, let alone what they market. Case in point:



I'm not the biggest SW fan, but this perked my interest, still.



It would be really cool if several weeks from now, they change this entire display to focus on the Light side instead.



Cool!

Annoyingly, the entire exhibit/display was only open for "advance" fans today, so I wasn't able to peruse the goodies and merch more freely.

Thanks to yesterday's workout, the muscles between my shoulder blades are quite sore, but surely they'll feel better tomorrow.

Tomorrow we're eating Japanese buffet once again! Om nom nom.

Enjoy your weekend, Bees!

Playing: So... Fallout Tactics has taken over my gaming time. Who'da thought that a 23 year old game that I haven't played in over a decade would steal my heart again. There are a lot of imperfections (the pathfinding for your units is defeatist), but it's still a lot of fun.

Also played a bit of F76 last night, but didn't think much of it. Will try it again tonight.

Interestingly, I uninstalled Fallout 4 and all its mods two days ago, just before a content update arrives to "improve" the game. Said content update will also render most mods unusable, so it looks like I got out in time.

Watching: Still rewatching the Fallout tv series, but finally started Late Night with the Devil. Loving the period trappings so far.

Edit: Listening to: Michael Bishop - Steal the Night. Performed for the Jean Claude Van Damme vehicle "Bloodsport". I guess I'll give the synthwave a rest for an actual 80s song.

 

[JCU]

Congratulations on your improvements! And your steps!

 

[MadamMeow]

That is quite a lot of steps. Congrats on a new record!

 

[GentleOx]

Thank you so much @JCU and @MadamMeow.

Hey Bees. Another rainy Sunday, but I went to the gym regardless. Today is W2D1 of the DUP. I may have fudged the plan by waiting only two days after my last workout, but whatever.

Bench Press: 120 x 5. Making sloooowww gains.
Incline Press: 92.5 x 5.
Paused Shoulder Press: 62.5 x 3.
Flat Curls: 14 x 20.

I confess to feeling a bit melancholy today. Had a big call with my family yesterday about life plans, and moving countries, and I feel more than a little overwhelmed. I even dreamed about Canada (where we're planning to move to) last night, though my memories of what happened have failed to coalesce into a comforting whole. It's been bothering me for a long time. But this will pass, and when it comes time to make the big decisions, I'll be okay.

Enjoy the remainder of your weekend, Bees!

Playing: Fallout Tactics took up all my time last night! But I'm at the halfway point of the game. Should get back into Fallout 76 tonight.

Watching: More Fallout. Haven't made much headway with LNWTD, but I'll try to watch more of it tonight.

Listening to: A twofer.

First up: Living Colour - Leave it Alone. Always been a fan of this song. Kind of reflects how I feel today. Living Colour's brief foray into Grunge produced some predictably dark and moody songs, and some absolutely brilliant ones like this one.

"Why are we always talking about peace?
But it's pieces that we find
Tell me what's with all this tension
Tell me what is on your mind!"

Next, Powerglove - Maximum Potential. I'm curious as to which fitness instructor/celebrity supplied the vocals for this. Of course, the song is from Powerglove, so it's good.

 

[PetiteSheWolf]

International moves can be overwhelming, but also great opportunities. wishing you wisdom to make the calls any way, and peace afterwards. I moved twice to the US, second time even selling an appartment before the move, that was ... an experience. I do not regret For Canada, factor the climate difference - I am sure you can handle it But it's better planned (and that's said from someone who lived close to the fronteer with Canada, so I hope I am not speaking from no knowledge).
I also moved to Belgium, before the euro currency kicked in, but that was easier, LOL. (loved Belgium too).

 

[GentleOx]

@PetiteSheWolf Thank you for sharing your experiences. It's interesting to hear about where our experiences take us.

Hey everyone. Had work yesterday, but made up for it with a killer workout today.

Today was a Pull day.

Deadlifts: 150 x 5. Curses! Foiled by my weak grip. Will have to work on strengthening my grip.
Front Squats: 50 x 5. I changed up my routine as I'm not interested in doing squats for 8 reps anymore.
T-Bar Rows: 80 x 5.
Meadows Row: 40 x 5.
Machine Lat Pulldowns: 62.5 x 6. Therapy for the lats.

This is kind of a day off, so I might skip the lesson planning and leave it for tomorrow.

Got some roast duck for dinner, om nom nom.

Have a good Tuesday, Bees!

Playing: Uhh... Fallout Tactics took up most of my time last night. But I'm approaching the end of the game. It's less fun when there's no more levelling to do.

Played a touch of Fallout 76. Will get back to Resonance of Fate tonight.

Watching: Just finished Late Night with The Devil. I'd been wanting to watch this one ever since I heard about it, and it didn't disappoint. Here's a review:

Jack Delroy is unsatisfied with his lot. As the host of the unstably popular "Night Owls" 70s talk show, he's always played second-fiddle to Johnny Carson in ratings. The death of his wife, Madeleine, has left him devastated. However, tonight promises to be different; in order to court ratings during the all-important television "sweeps week", Delroy is hosting a special Halloween-themed show as a form of comeback. To do so, he's invited a number of guests spanning the supernatural, like an (obviously phoney) clairvoyant, a James Randi-inspired skeptic, and most remarkably, a young girl who may be possessed. Little does he realize that he, and the American audience, is in for much more than they bargained for.

This is essentially the successor to Britain's Ghostwatch (if you're even a casual fan of horror, watch this!), in that it purports to show a recording of real events which the supernatural bleeds into, gradually. Thus it is a breed of found-footage film, albeit much more polished and refined.

I don't have much to say, so to get my opinion out of the way, this is simply an excellent film. One of the biggest draws is the astonishing attention to detail in the way this film homages the talk shows of the 70s. Realism is the first thing to entice us, until the film descends into hellishness.

At first, it's a slow burn, as you watch the numerous guests go through their paces, but that makes hell breaking loose that much more compelling. David Dastmalchian is sublime as the grieving show host, and the rest of the cast is suitably believable. Their performances anchor the show.

For being an exercise in authenticity and quality, I give Late Night with The Devil five suitably cheesy commercial breaks out of five.

Listening to: Edit: Mood Robot - Invisible Chains. I think this was a short-lived synth and vocals group that put out some amazing songs. Pop vocals drowned in evocative synth, me likey!

 

[GentleOx]

Greetings Bees, and good morrow to you. Still tired, and still working out, and there ain't no stopping now!

Today was W2D2 of my DUP Push routine.

Paused Bench Press: 130 x 3. A 2.5 increase! Not bad.
Spoto Press: 115 x 3. Why is this so blasted hard?? In appearance, it's no different from what many people do with the bench press (stopping halfway down), but in execution? Ouch.
Paused Incline Press: 105 x 4. Pushed myself pretty hard for this one.
Single Dumbbell Shoulder Press: 26 x 6. Resurrecting an old classic, but I'm not sure I'll keep this one. It's so much easier to do an overhead press in a rack (granted, all the racks were taken up today).
Hammer Curls: 18 x 20.

There was a lot of thundering going on the evening I wrote my last post. The weather has been stormy and rainy all week. I'm thankful for the cooler weather, and it looks like it's going to rain once more.

It's nearly Friday, Bees! You've got this.

Playing: Steadily going through Fallout Tactics; I believe I'm on the third to last mission. If I complete it, or even if I lose interest, I'll write a review anyway, as I've already finished it (a long time ago, in a different life). Still sloooowwwlly getting through Resonance of Fate, and haven't been getting as much into F76 as I'd hoped (as the brunt of my free 1.5 hours is taken up by Fallout Tactics).

I've also been watching footage of retro games, as I'm on a real nostalgia kick. I kind of miss the gaming boom of the 90s, which was one of the fonder parts of my childhood.

Watching: Still making my way through the Fallout tv series (again) at the gym. I shall try to resurrect Late Night Cinema by rewatching Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, which is one of the gems of the found footage genre. Looking forward to it!

Listening to: Sally Dige - Holding On. It's apparently pronounced "dee-ah". I found this to be one of her more accessible songs. Give me those gothy vibes, brooding vocals, and icy synths, drenched in pop hooks!

 

[TopNotch]

Single Dumbbell Shoulder Press: 26 x 6. Resurrecting an old classic, but I'm not sure I'll keep this one. It's so much easier to do an overhead press in a rack

But why do easy?

 

[GentleOx]

@TopNotch Haha, I get you. When I'm more in the mood to lift heavier weights, I leave the dumbbells alone.

Hey Bees! It's Friday. I did *not* want to go to the gym today. Felt it stronger than on most days. Wanted to take a nap until my classes!

Went anyway. Today was leg day.

Squats: 95 x 5. I adjusted my form slightly (more focusing on moving my butt backward, than downward), and these got much easier.
Box Squats: Uhh, I forgot how much weight I used. 75 x 5 I *think*. Will return to these.
Single-Leg Press: 150 (yeah right) x 6.
Lying Leg Curls: 45 x 6.
Back Extensions: 4 sets of 10.

I also beat my old walking record by 1000 steps. The new record is 27,000 steps in a day. Yikes.

Tomorrow is hot pot day! Om nom nom.

Also, some snaps from the Star Wars exhibit at TKS that is now open for public browsing.



Lord Vader visits Hong Kong!



Chibi Maul!



Somewhat interestingly, the detailed figures represented in displays like these weren't for sale. Most of the merchandise were tchochkes and other miscellaneous crap.



An obligatory skating rink pic.

Have a fantastic weekend, Bees!

Playing: Finished Fallout Tactics after smashing my way through mission after mission, which lasted me roughly twenty hours. This is the second time in my life that I've finished it; the first time, I was a teenager. Here's a review.

The Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel grows in power. As an off-shoot of the original Brotherhood of Steel chapter back in California, this new iconoclastic chapter has made it its mission to pacify the wasteland, by annexing new settlements and recruiting new members. A new initiate to the Brotherhood is tasked with taking on increasingly difficult missions, and pacifying enemies that threaten to overcome the wastes.

This is a spin-off of the influential Fallout RPG series; however, the twist is that the SPECIAL character system from Fallouts 1 and 2 has been married with a tactical, squad-command framework. One of the vaunted features of the game is the ability to play in real-time, or turn-based (I've never tried this, and I don't have the patience; I can't imagine the tedium of waiting on one firefight at a time, in a game full of them) mode. Suffice it to say that the combination of tactical features and RPG character builds makes for very strange bedfellows. To put it simply, a roleplaying system was inserted into a game with little to no roleplaying. Half of the skills are useless, as they aren't related to combat. There's no dialogue system as there was with previous games in the series. As the game is quite notorious for being unpolished, there are a lot of features that are unrefined (the lacklustre squad pathfinding is but one example).

And yet, I found the game compelling then, and such is the case now. The game is gorgeous, and features sprites that rival the original games in detail. While this may not quite be an RPG, part of the appeal in the game is building up your characters, and more importantly, scavenging for loot. Even though combat is not exactly thought out (the merging of action points and real time is pretty weird), it's still lots of fun to carve your way through your enemies and watch them die in entertaining ways. If that seems morbid, this is *still* the Fallout world, filled with dark humour and blackly comic violence. So in short, I had a lot of fun playing my way through the game, this time with hindsight.

For its numerous merits, I give Fallout Tactics three and a half wicked-looking power armours out of five.

Thank you Fallout tv series for inspiring me to revisit the game. Maybe I'll do the same with the original Fallouts. Maaayyybe.

Watching: More Fallout tv series. Also got started with Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum.

Here's a blast from the past:

Gumby! I don't remember a single episode from this show, but the intro sticks out.

Listening to: Syst3m Glitch - Thrill Ride. More synth! I don't think I'll ever tire of it. Of course, I said the same thing with prog-rock, new wave, bebop jazz, etc...

 

[GentleOx]

Hello again everyone!

Has it really been only three days since I exercised? Feels like an eternity.

Anyway, I managed to get in another workout today. Today is W3D1 of my Push routine.

Bench Press: 125 x 5. Hit 122.5 easily, so I went up in weight, and just barely got the five reps. Not bad, nonetheless.
Incline Press: 95 x 5.
Paused Shoulder Press: 70 x 3. RPE 8.
Dumbbell Curls: 16 x 20.

The weather has been sunnier these days, with the dreaded humidity back.

Had some yummy noodle soup for dinner.



Hope your week is going well, Bees!

Playing: I've been playing Fallout 76 regularly for about two weeks now. I'm not a big fan of the MMO trappings, and am content to wander off and explore locales solo. It's like Fallout 4, only stretched out to nigh-endless length. I do not know if I wholly approve... yet.

Also, I really want to play Hades 2. It's in early access, and looks fantastic! If there's one thing I'd like to buy this month, it's Hades 2... for heaven's sake, it's my phone wallpaper!

Edit: Bought Hades 2. Regrets? Maybe one or two. But playing the game ain't one of them!

Watching: I finished Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, which I've been watching in bits and pieces, though that isn't a knock against the film. Here's my review!

Taking place in South Korea, the team behind a Youtube channel (Horror Times), (assembled by the team coordinator, Ha-joon) vows to explore the abandoned Gonjiam Asylum, which has been labelled one of CNN's most haunted locations. With state of the art ghost-hunting equipment, they will spend a night livestreaming and "investigating", with the hopes of garnering more views. However, their choreographed proceedings make way for inexplicable mayhem as the night goes on.

Original it ain't. This is possibly the most popular basic premise for found-footage films, so how does South Korea's attempt at fitting into the formula rank?

Pretty high, actually. I found that the film is one of the least-boring FF movies; the pace, while natural, keeps the film going in compelling fashion. It's definitely not boring. We quickly introduce the location, the cast, and then the team are suited up and ready to shoot. In most FF films, there's a lot of build-up, so it's a relief that we hop into the haunted locale relatively quickly (Deadstream does this, as well).

Does it follow some of the FF cliches? Sure. There are spooky noises and doors slamming suddenly. Shaky camera angles abound. But because this all takes place over one night, there's no need for extraneous dreck. And the cast is filming all the time for a reason: they've been fitted with Gopros (why don't more films do this)? I found the scares to be inventive as time goes by and superbly executed.

If you're not into Found Footage films, this won't change your mind, but if you're into them, tune in for a fantastic and creepy treat.

I give it four out of five Gopro cameras.

So now I needs to pick another spooky film! I've heard The Arcadian, with Nicholas Cage, is a good monster flick, but we'll see.

Listening to: Danny Elfman - Sorry. I saw the youtube videos of Elfman's performance at Coachella, one of which showcased this song. It's... pretty weird. Off-kilter, aggressive, oddball... all the things you would associate with Danny Elfman. But it hits like a brick, and it's oddly compelling.

 

[GentleOx]

Hey Bees! Super tired after getting back from the gym, but I had a great Pull workout today.

When I woke up, I was feeling soreness, and once again, did not want to workout.

But one of the best cures for those pre-workout blues is assuring one's self that you'll always feel better afterward. And I almost always have.

Deadlifts: 152.5 x 5, then 155 x 5. Felt good when I hit the gym, so I bumped up the weight slightly to push myself.
Rack Pulls: 125 x 4. Just to practice deadlift form.
Neutral Grip Pulldowns: 70 x 6.
Barbell Rows: 85 x 5. Lighter than usual. Want to get the form, and the pulling feeling in the lats down pat.
Pull ups: Only a max set of three, wasn't feeling these.

Huh. I left out a single armed pulling movement.

It wasn't that hot today... mostly balmy. Still, it was simply draining to walk about with all the humidity. I went to our usual place to buy some Chiuchow duck, but there were no trams headed home nearby. So I ended up walking another 15 minutes to catch a minibus - so glad that there was a spot. Positives and negatives of living in a big city...

I really can't be arsed to work on my lesson plan today... I'll take a break from the gym tomorrow and hammer it out, and do W3D2 of my Push day on Friday. Hades 2 is calling me!

Have a good Wednesday, Bees!

Playing: Hades 2, natch. It's as good as its predecessor (possibly even better), and even though it's in early access, it's still in substantial shape. Stellar voice acting, writing, and gameplay abound. I'm still in the early phases, and learning the ins and outs of the game. Avoiding spoilers is difficult, too, as I have to go against my need to know all the juicy details ahead of time!

Not sure if I should keep on going with Fallout 76, but I'll try to fit in some time.

Watching: Hrmm. Still having trouble finding a movie for late night cinema. I know! Going to go back and finish GDT's CoC (honk if you know what that stands for); there's an episode directed by Panos Cosmatos, which should be entertaining.

Listening to: Darren Korb - The Crossroads. Because of Hades 2. Even though the old leitmotif from the first Hades is there, there's a great new melodic addition (check out those arpeggios!).

 

[PetiteSheWolf]

Honk honk, Guillermo de Toro's Cabinet of curiosities I'll have to hunt it.

 

[GentleOx]

@PetiteSheWolf You are correct! Beep beep. There are more good episodes than there are mediocre ones, so the anthology makes for interesting watching.

Hey again, Bees!

Today was W3D2 of my Push workouts, which didn't quite go as planned.

Paused Bench Press: 132.5 x 2, then 135 x 2. Ugh. I was hoping for 3 reps, but my body just wasn't feeling it. Because I've stalled, I'm going to focus on 2rm for now.
Paused Incline Bench: 110 x 2. At least this was more impressive.
Paused Shoulder Press: 75 x 2. Ugh.
Hammer Curls: 16 x 20.

Oh well. A tough workout, to be sure.

We made it through the week, Bees! Take a load off.

Playing: So, Hades 2 has taken over my gaming life. Little by little, I've pushed farther and farther through the world. I even got to the final boss, and made a dent in him, to boot. Still, I failed in my attempt and was sent back to the Crossroads, once again. I have to remind myself that with a game like this, each run is its own reward. So far, I have 11 hours logged, and that number is definitely growing! Stayed up til' 2 last night gaming away... haven't done that in years. Got my butt kicked by a Cyclops, so I figure tonight it's time for me to return the favour.

Watching: Throughout the day, watched and finished the GDT's CoC episode "The Viewing". Here's a review.

The exorbitantly wealthy and grandiose Landon Lassiter (the iconic Peter Weller) has invited four renowned figures in different professions to his home for an evening of sensuous experimentation and discovery. Excelling in pushing past their inhibitions and limits, he sets his sights on eventually revealing to them an item of unprecedented import.

When I heard the synth-heavy soundtrack, I knew I was in good hands. I couldn't really get invested in Panos Cosmatos' original work, Beyond the Black Rainbow; it was just too dense for me.

However, in a one-hour format, Cosmatos excels by packing each frame with his signature style of lavishly adorned, colourful visuals. The story itself isn't particularly notable (though Weller is excellent as the hedonistic, seemingly zen Lassiter), but it's the visuals that we're here for, and boy, do they deliver. And the payoff? While goopey, admittedly not as much fun as the eclectic journey up to that point. Most of the focus has been on the languid interactions between the group, so to see it all go up in... something, is kind of underwhelming. All-in-all, a trippy, quasi-surreal jaunt into cosmic horror.

I give it three and a half joints out of five. One of the better episodes of CoC.

Listening to: Darren Korb - Into Tartarus. A reprise of a song from the first game's soundtrack, Hades 2's version of the song is given a certain urgency by the fact that it's played in the final area of the game. Loved that dire, nostalgic feeling that hounded me up to the final boss fight.

 

[GentleOx]

Hi everyone. I took the opportunity today to go for another Push workout, though it may have been too soon (I usually wait three days). Anyway, this was W4D1 of my Push routine.

Bench Press: 125 x 5. Nothing big today, but I'm not surprised.
Incline Press: 97.5 x 5.
Paused Shoulder Press: 77.5 x 2. Some minor progress.
Bicep Curls: 14 x 20. Felt like a ton, today.

I didn't get that much sleep, so maybe that had something to do with it. It started raining when I left the gym, and it made my tired footsteps all the more leaden. At least I didn't get drenched!

Had some nice Mother's Day spaghetti with mom, but we're waiting for her birthday to really go out and celebrate.

Hope you got some rest this weekend, Bees!

Playing: Hades 2, naturally. Again, I keep getting farther and farther by little steps. I played a bit of Fallout 76, but it pales in comparison.

Watching: Today, I finished "The Murmuring", which is the final episode of the GDT: CoC anthology. Here's a review.

Daisy and Edgar Bradley are two ornithologists that study the unusual flight patterns of the Dunlin bird. Despite their warmth, it's obvious there is a rift between the two. They decide to spend some time away from New York in an vacated house, all the better to observe the birds. Their relationship and their work will be tested by the ominous history of the house, and the increasingly strange behaviour of the birds.

This was directed by Jennifer Kent (who directed one of my favourite horror movies of recent years, The Babadook), and stars Essie Davis (starring in the same), as well as Rick - err, Andrew Lincoln. I didn't find this one scary, and I suspect that wasn't the point. As a two-hander (it's almost totally dependent on the two leads), it's mostly about the fraying relationship between the grieving, increasingly unstable Daisy, and the increasingly put upon and frazzled Edgar. It's not hard to find out what transpired between them; instead, it's more interesting to see the souring of their relationship.

But was it a good film?? Well, it's well-acted, and shot. Just not at all scary (of the CoC films, this one was more of a supernatural drama with a few token scares). Beautifully shot in a way that makes good usage of its natural setting, but not very experimental (cf The Viewing). It just doesn't amount to much more than a haunted house flick, with some drama on top. Unexpectedly happy ending too, I didn't see that coming.

So all in all, I give it three Dunlin birds out of five.

Listening to: Hmm, what kind of song goes well with a rainy day? Let me reach into my big box of synth...

Essenger - Blood Moon. Very much a city at night kind of tune. And that melody is absolutely killer!

 

[GentleOx]

Hey gang! It's me, Ox.

Today was a Pull day. Could I achieve the same spectacular results from last week?

Deadlifts: 157.5 x 5. Not really. This was honestly a trial. I made the five reps, but the weight felt like a ton, and on subsequent sets, I only hit three reps. May do a bit of double progression and try this weight again next week.
T-Bar Rows: 82.5 x 6.
Meadows Rows: 40 x 5.
Reverse Lat Pulldowns: 57.5 x 5.

Just a brutal workout! Now I'm back home, totally pooped, but satisfied. My hip/girdle is creaky, though. I don't know if it's from old age or lifting... or both.

There's no more rain today. Instead, it was rather sunny, though not so muggy. Pleasant out... until summer kicks in, anyway.

I finished the big teaching course that started back in... March? April? I've been so preoccupied that I don't really remember. Glad it's done, but there's a lot to learn from how it went.

Playing: More Hades 2, of course, but I'm bumping up against the edges of this Early Access build (I've reached the final bosses in the final two areas). I read somewhere that we'll get the next update months(!) from now, which is understandable (I'm guessing they're working on dialogue, art, and gameplay balancing), but I'm still a little bereft.

You know what I'm not playing more of? Fallout 76. Lol. I do need a good podcast game, though... may reinstall Ghost Recon, and I noticed that Mortal Sin got a beefy new update.

Watching: Some Fallout at the gym. Tonight, it's a tossup between Lake Mungo (a found footage favourite), Arcadian, and The ABCs of Death. What to watch...

Listening to: 3Teeth - Drift. I'm not really a fan of this band's Trash-Industrial sound, but this is a catchy, contemplative track that evinces subtlety.

 

[GentleOx]

Hello again, Bees. Yesterday was a holiday, so I didn't go to the gym.

Today was another Push day (I gave up on counting, though I think this would be W4D2). This was a short and simple workout.

Paused Bench Press: 135 x 2. Hit a hard barrier. No progress from last time! So I'm going to switch to 5rm instead.
Paused Incline Press: 110 x 2. Similarly, no PRs here.
Hammer Curls: 18 x 20. Could've gone for a few more reps.

Also, 23000 steps. I am one tired Ox.

Went to Central to get my blood tested, but I'd had a sandwich beforehand (mmm... sandwich) and was told that this would interfere with the test. So I'll get my blood taken tomorrow, instead.

It's almost Friday, Bees! You've got this.

Playing: S'more Hades 2. Played a bit more of Mortal Sin, and for the second time, completed a run (usually the boss wipes the floor with me). Liking the way the game is shaping up.

When I can tear myself away from Hades 2, I'll try a bit of Dread Delusion, which has left early access.

Watching: I meant to watch "The Coffee Table" (a Spanish black comedy) last night, but sleep had me. Today at the gym, I got started on Arcadian, which is a deftly made post-apocalypse drama. May resume Seal Team again.

Listening to: I listened to an album - Pestilence's Consuming Impulse - back to front, out of curiosity (I've never listened to the album in full); it only took a little over half an hour, such was its brevity. So for the first time, this is a review not of a film, but an album.

So right off the bat, if you're not into extreme metal, then this is a miss. Pestilence is a death metal band, and even though they're not an extreme example, their music is still replete with the hair-raising shrieking, buzzsaw guitars, and machine-gun double bass beats that are hallmarks of the genre. Apparently, this record was recorded back in 1989, which would make it a fundamental death metal release, and one of the founders of the genre. While not as crisp as Entombed's Left Hand Path, the raw and scraping audio adds to the intensity. All in all, it is an excellent record, and it's clear that the musicians had chops. The goal of the album was to get in, hit 'em hard, and get out, with most songs clocking in at ~3 minutes, and a few stretching to 4.

For being a stellar example of Death Metal's blasting intensity, I give Consuming Impulse four ants out of five.

Regarding the song of the day, here's my choice.

The Outfield - All The Love. Going back to the 80s for this one. I was just going about my day when the melody from this one popped up in my head. Not a problem, since it lives there rent-free, and it was about high time I listened to it again.

 

[GentleOx]

Hello again, Bees.

I am even more tired than yesterday, if such a thing is possible. Nonetheless, I did an unusual Arm day, as my lower body still needs time to recover before I do another Legs workout.

Close Grip Press: 110 x 5. Ugh, tougher than I remember it being.
Preacher Curls: 30 x 6. These were fun! Will have to do them more.
Overhead Barbell Extensions: 25 x 8.
Goblet Curls: 20 x 10.
+ 26000 steps.

Then off to another part of town to teach, which further drained me. Not sure how I made it back in one piece.

It wasn't a bad day per se; I'm just tired and sick of being anxious. My hands noticeably shake at times; I'm not entirely sure why, though I think it has to do with A. caffeine intake (I drink a ton of coffee and preworkout) and B. anxiety. Now that I'm safe in my room, it's subsided, but I know the shakes will be back.

There was some sort "Urban Jam" street fair going on in Causeway Bay. Always pretty cool when little events like this pop up.











Tomorrow is Japanese buffet day, om nom nom.

Here's looking to a relaxing weekend. Have a great one, Bees!

Playing: Not much gaming last night. A disastrous Hades 2 run was about all, though I'll try to squeeze in a little time tonight. Still haven't tried Dread Delusion. Also saw that PO'ed, a PS1 game from 1995 (!) is making it's way to PC, after nearly thirty years; will have to pick it up now that I have the funds. Never say die!

Watching: A bit of Fallout at the gym. Last night, didn't watch much of anything. Hmm... what to watch...

Listening to: Sturgill Simpson - The Promise. Most people remember When in Rome's crowning hit as a bouncy, propulsive heart-on-its-sleeve hit, but Sturgill Simpson's cover is subtler; nonetheless, it still conveys the original's heartfelt essence. The final verse absolutely soars.

 

[GentleOx]

Hey Bees. Totally beat up and beaten to the punch, but still ticking.

Today was an impulse workout day - went to church, with the weather being cool and drizzling, then off to the Gym. Today is W5D1 of my Push workout, in which I started my three-rep Bench Presses, and set a benchmark.

Bench Press: 125 x 3, 127.5 x 3, 127.5 x 4. Not bad - about as expected. I would clock it at RPE 8 or 9, but not 10. I'll try for 130 next week.
Incline Bench Press: 102.5 x 3.
Rope Pushdowns: 9 x 10.

Short and sweet, or at least it was supposed to - by the time I usually do cardio, my stomach was grumbling, and I had no energy left! This is the first time in recent memory that I've hit a brick wall and cut out the cardio. This is the importance of eating properly before working out. Also, my lower back is killing me, so if I go to the gym tomorrow, deadlifts are off the table. Will just focus on pulling exercises.

Curiously, the gym filled up an hour after I got there. Lots of new faces, in addition to the regulars I've seen before.

Went home and had chicken congee for dinner. Mmm... congee.

Saw a short percussion performance from these three energetic performers, as part of the Urban Jam festival.



Have a great Sunday, Bees!

Playing: More of Hades 2. Getting farther and farther... Delved into Dread Delusion briefly, but didn't get so far. Also playing around with Mortal Sin.

Watching: Alas, haven't watched much of anything today. Will try to *finally* start The Coffee Table tonight.

Listening to: Tonebox - Run. More rainy day synth. Bringing back lost memories as a space marine walking, running, pacing, just any movement, so long as I don't stop.

 

[Obsinosterous]

Love to listen to your music selection of the day while reading your posts, thanks! Wandered off looking for congee recipes while listening to Tonebox a second time, but back now.
Have a great day, GentleOx.

 

[GentleOx]

@Obsinosterous Thank you kindly! I'm glad that someone is getting enjoyment out of my very strange and eclectic tastes in music. I'm sure there are many congee (we say juk) recipes out there, so happy cooking.

Hey Bees. Just a quick update to say that I came down with the flu for the second time in three months. What are the chances? Usually I'm not so predictably ill.

The symptoms were as expected: stuffed nose, coughing, sneezing, fatigue, and general misery. No way I could make it to the gym; I'm hoping I can do it tomorrow, but not holding out hope. Last night and this morning were particularly miserable. I could not, for the life of me, comfortably sleep. The tossing and turning went on for hours, and when I got up this morning, I was totally miserable. I took some meds and had dinner with mom, and I do feel better. Hopefully this will all abate in a day or two.

I hope you're having a great week, Bees!

Playing: A hodgepodge of things. Steadily cutting back on Hades 2, though I have gotten farther than before (beat the first phrase of the final boss). A touch of Dread Delusions. Also a bit of Mortal Sin. Tried the demo for Wizard with a Gun, but I'm not really impressed. I'll wait until it's on sale.

Watching: Not much, these few days. Got started on The Coffee Table. Waiting for Civil War to be available.

Listening to: Dragon's Dogma - Cassardis theme (extended). I was looking for a relaxing song, and remembered this one. Simply beautiful.

 

[JCU]

 

[Fremen]

Healing vibes

 

[graoumia]

take care

 

[MadamMeow]

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[Obsinosterous]

 

[Mamatigerj]

 

[GentleOx]

Just wanted to hop in and give warm thank-yous to @Mamatigerj, @Obsinosterous, @MadamMeow, @graoumia, @Fremen, and @JCU. I am indeed better than I was days ago, but I think I need one more day to fully recuperate. Will be teaching again tomorrow after a week's break.

Also watched The Coffee Table and Dawn of the Dead (one of my favourite movies of all time), but will write reviews for them tomorrow. Itching to get back into the gym!

Safe travels, Bees.

Listening to: The Deb of Night Radio from Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines. So this is an entirely fictional (though it has many topical jabs) radio broadcast written and performed for Vampire: tMB. In contrast with the grim setting, it's absolutely hilarious, pointed, and witty. The faux advertisements are worth the price of admission by themselves. Karis Campbell anchors the show with her sassy dulcet tones.

 

[CODawn]

Get well soon!

 

[GentleOx]

@CODawn Thank you so much! I do feel better.

So, Bees, today is the fifth day I've been sick and while I'm through the worst of it, I've still got the sniffles and a runny nose (are those mutually inclusive?).

But sickness be damned, I made it my mission to head to the gym today and get some reps in.

Since my schedule is out of whack, I'll consider this a Transition Push day.

Paused Bench Press: 115 x 5. It's a start.
Spoto Press: 105 x 5. Urk. My triceps nearly gave way, but nothing embarrassing happened.
Paused Incline Bench Press: 90 x 5. Also a start.
Hammer Curls: 18 x 20. Well done! But tough.

After I was done with the bench press, a gang of young lads showed up and commandeered the bench. They had some peculiar lift-until-failure scheme going on, where one person would do their set to failure, the gang would remove some weights, then they would lift until failure again. When I left the gym, they were still at it!

I felt a bit like my old urban-commando self again as I padded around CWB. Lots of people taking in the new exhibit at Times Square (I'll have a picture up next time), and joining in the urban jam festival. I was a bit tired, so I didn't browse the stalls; maybe next time.

It's mom's birthday on Monday! Yay! She couldn't join me for dinner tonight because she's working late at the office (as a contract and corporate lawyer, she doesn't predictably have downtime), but of course I'll be there to see her when she gets back.

Have a great weekend, Bees!

Playing: Oddly enough, not much. Each of these nights I've only felt well enough to make a single run/night through Hades 2, and not much else. Played a touch of Dread Delusion

Watching: I watched two whole movies while I was sick, the first being The Coffee Table. Here's a review...

Jesus excitedly assembles the gaudy glass coffee table he bought after (yet another) argument with his wife, Maria. Their marriage has been taxed by having to take care of their newborn baby, along with frequent petty bickering. A single act will inextricably warp their relationship, and who can say what'll happen next?

I actually guessed the twist of this one. It's a very simple premise - one crucial thing happens, and the film deals with that act's ramification. The acting is superb, specifically for one actor whose emoting runs the gamut from shock, to despair, to sheer numbness. This is not a horror film, even though there are a few horror-inflected moments. It's a black comedy domestic drama, and interestingly, isn't interested in explicit violence. The film is more interested in dealing with reactions, and makes for an absolutely heart-breaking record of one relationship.

For its bleak, but moving scenes, I give The Coffee Table four shitty coffee tables (what else?) our of five.

The second flick I watched was Dawn of the Dead (the 1978 original). Here's my review.

After the dead begin rising in the cities, and the tumult is felt on a societal scale, four erstwhile city dwellers steal a helicopter and fly away, their destination unknown. That is, until they stumble across a mall that remains well-stocked despite the pandemonium (you'd think malls would be one of the first places to be looted), and decide to settle down. However, they must contend with the remaining dead, and a vicious pack of outlaw bikers that happen across their discovery.

This is one of the original Zombie movie classics (and the successor to the landmark original). There's action, gore, comedy, social commentary, social satire, and of course, enough zombies to make for a decadent horror treat. The often-incisive script is mixed with characters that are distinct and interact well together. Rarely boring, and almost always exciting... I first watched this when I was 14 (but stumbled across the VHS in a store when I was 8 or 9) and it's made a lasting impression on me since.

Because of its towering status in the horror genre, and in my heart, I give Dawn of the Dead five well-deserved severed limbs out of five.

Watched a bit of Civil War last night. While it's not entirely what I expected, I do like it so far. Have to get started on Blood of Zeus, whose Season 2 has just dropped.

Listening to: Goblin - L'Alba dei Morti Viventi (I'm embarrassed to say I couldn't guess the English name of this one). Bringing to mind the eerie, measured, and yet relentless feel of the dead themselves, this is off the soundtrack for DotD (which Goblin scored).

 

[kiracos]

Wow, this is really interesting to read. It gives me more motivation to go to the gym and lift more weight!

 

[GentleOx]

@kiracos Wow, that was from awhile ago, when I was much stronger. If it serves as inspiration, remember to watch your form and take things easy, at least to start.

Hello Bees. Super tired, but happy!

Today was mom's birthday, but before we went out to eat, I went to squeeze in a workout. I decided not to repeat a Push day (I'll do it tomorrow) and go back to my deadlifts instead.

Deadlifts: 150 x 5, 152.5 x 5. Eh, about what I expected after not doing it for awhile. Will go for 155 next time. Shaved off a bunch of the volume; paradoxically, I perform better when I do one lead set of deadlifts.
Paused Deadlifts: 150 x 3.
Barbell Rows: 85 x 5.
Machine One Armed Rows: 55 x 6.
Machine Pulldowns: 62.5 x 6.

Good, thorough workout. Could've added one or two more exercises, but I'm satisfied with it.

Afterwards, made my way over to Wan Chai to meet mom. We had a 70th birthday dinner for her at a buffet restaurant in a nice hotel. I was impressed with the variety of foods available: almost all the beef was wagyu quality, for example. Mom enjoyed the seafood (particularly the piping-hot half lobsters), and after sampling just enough to satisfy myself (the wagyu carpaccio was amazing), I had some yummy mint and chocolate gelato and a brownie cube for dessert. Surprisingly, I didn't stuff myself (as I am wont to do when we go to all-you-can-eat restaurants).

I don't write much about mom on this blog, but I'm definitely grateful to have her in my life. She's (possibly) single-handedly shepherded me through many phases of my life with grace, serenity, and compassion. Love you mom, and here's to more.

I lead us out in the search for the bus to take us home - we nearly missed it, but found the stop (amidst 15 other similar bus stops... yeesh) and got on in time.

Have a great start to your week, Bees!

Playing: Beat the final boss of Hades 2 for the very first time last night. This came after about 7 or 8 previously failed attempts - not quite like the time I beat Elden Ring (I estimate that the final boss took me ~50 tries), but definitely nerve-racking. I swear, I had a craving for a menthol cigarette afterward, even though I haven't smoked in four years. As I've experienced most of the content from Hades 2 early access, here's a review:

The goddess Melinoe, child to Hades, trains, spars, and otherwise prepares for a confrontation with Chronos, the Titan of Time, whose seizure of the underworld by deposing of Hades has caused chaos throughout the Greek pantheon. Longing for a relationship with her family that has been denied by the Titan's victories, Melinoe makes her way through the underworld, piece-by-piece, with one refrain in mind: Death to Chronos.

I was a big fan of Hades, so it was no surprise that I loved Hades 2 pretty much as soon as I booted it up. All the previous elements - slowly developing drama, fast-paced action with plenty of tells, richly-drawn characters - are present, and enriched with a few other elements, like resource-gathering. The banter and the voice-work alone are worth the price of admission. Come for the engaging action, and stay for the engaging story.

Of course, Hades 2 is not finished yet, so I look forward to further expanding on my review in the future. Even so, in its current state, Hades 2 earns five adorable frog familiars out of five.

Also playing dashes of Dread Delusion, Bloodstained: RotN, and I reinstalled Borderlands 3. Again!

Watching: No finished movies as of yet. Started Blood of Zeus season 2 at the gym, and am watching Civil War for late night cinema.

Listening to: Darren Korb - The Titan of Time. This is the dense, loopy, odd time-signature track for the final confrontation of Hades 2. It's been stuck in my head ever since I got to the second phase of the boss fight. While not as catchy as the earlier boss fight track "I Am Gonna Claw Out Your Eyes (and Drown You)", but it's infinitely more foreboding and ominous. When those tom flams kick in, you know things are about to get heavy.

 

[MadamMeow]

Very glad to hear of your mom and I'm happy you got to celebrate such a special birthday with her!

 

[JCU]

Happy Birthday to your mom!

I'm glad you both could have such a good time!

 

[CODawn]

Happy Birthday to your mom

 

[GentleOx]

Thank you kindly for your wishes @CODawn @JCU and @MadamMeow! Mom appreciates them too!

Woke up sleepy (don't we all?), but surprisingly, after having a slightly bigger lunch than usual, I had more energy for my workout.

Today was a Push day. I ballparked 115 for five reps.

Bench Press: 120 x 5, 115 x 7. About what I expected; still, today was about making the reps smooth and easy, and I certainly managed in that regard.
Shoulder Press: 65 x 5. On the other hand, wasn't feeling these today. Always next time.
Lying Dumbbell Extensions: 16 x 6.
Preacher Curls: 32.5 x 6. Ugh, these feel terrible, but they're so good for the biceps.

Also, I got a haircut.



Don't have a before picture, but take my word for it that I was pretty hirsute and shaggy beforehand. Certain smaller barber shops cost around $60ish HKD (close to 8 USD), which is the best deal you're going to get for a simple cut like mine. Most of the other barber shops around where I live charge up to $180 for a haircut/shampoo. Yikes!

Tonight, I have to abstain from my usual snackies as I'm getting my blood drawn tomorrow. Tomorrow I will include pictures of the ridiculous, self-indulgent exhibit that popped up in Times Square, that's dedicated to a local singer. Gag.

See you tomorrow, Bees!

Playing: My motivation to play Hades 2 has petered out at the moment, as I've beaten the final bosses already. I'll give Metro Exodus another shot, as I never finished it, and am happily playing Zero Sievert in the meantime.

Watching: Still watching Blood of Zeus at the gym. It's really weird how easy it is to compare this to a certain other entertainment product (ie Hades) that makes liberal, revisionist (?) use of the Greek pantheon. I was not expecting Zagreus and Melinoe to show up here, and I wonder if the series took some inspiration from Supergiant's baby.

Also, I finished Civil War! It was one of my long-anticipated movies, so I'm excited to deliver this review fresh off the presses:

Sometime in the near future, the President of the USA gives a speech to an audience that isn't listening; as a third-term president and dictator in all but name, he desperately grasps onto power while the forces of different factions and states (key among them the Western Front, a bizarre alliance between California and Texas) advance on the capital. America has been rent in two by the internecine battling, but for veteran photojournalist Lee Smith, it's just another day of covering a conflict. Along with a motley crew of journalistic veterans and neophytes, she travels to Washington DC in a dangerous, seemingly-surreal road trip. The goal? To enter the White House and be the first to interview the imperiled POTUS.

This was not what I thought it would be. The marketing has a heavy action slant (with shades of Black Hawk Down), but what we're given is basically a story about journalism, and its ethics and consequences, with shades of patriotic controversy thrown in. This is a noticeably ambitious effort from Alex Garland, whose previous films push the envelope in asking questions about ethics and morality.

Interestingly, I didn't find this film to be much of a critique about America or its politics. The apolitical structure of the film, even with all its USA set-dressing, is more episodic with a dash of slice-of-life living during times of war. There isn't a single line uttered about political parties or democracy.

The acting is, of course, superb. Kirsten Dunst is excellent as the weathered and cynical Lee, and her real-life husband Jesse Plemons stands out as a frightening, dissonantly calm militia member who threatens the group (I thought it made for the most frightening scene in the film because there are people exactly like that all over the world). The climax of the film gives way to bravura, technically best-in-class action sequences that are indeed exciting, but we never forget that the story is about the journalists and their journey(s).

For giving me food for thought in addition to being satisfying in action, I give Civil War four snaps from an SLR camera out of five.

Listening to: Robots with Rayguns - Area 51. Here's some funky synth, courtesy of the reliably catchy Robots with Rayguns. I don't usually go for upbeat, positive music, but I do make exceptions.

 

[JCU]

Your new haircut looks great!

 

[MadamMeow]

Agreed with JCU, glad your haircut came out stylish!

 

[GentleOx]

Hello again Bees! I had some blood drawn yesterday, so no gym, but today I was back in action.

Today was another DUP Push day, with paused benching.

Paused Bench Press: 117.5 x 5. Eh. Just squeaked by, but I'll try for 120 next time anyway.
Paused Incline Bench: 92.5 x 5.
Paused Shoulder Press: 62.5 x 5.
Preacher Curls: 32.5 x 5.
Hammer Curls: 20(!) x 12.

And that was a wrap. Also, broke my previous steps record by ~300 steps. The new record is 27,500 steps. Curiously charged and full of energy today.

Passed through Times Square on my way to work, only to happen across... pictures will help.



Who is this fool? And why does his life need an entire exhibit??



Athlete's spirit? wtf?



Nobody cares about your crappy taste in music.



So for context, this exhibit is "honouring" Ian Chan, a member of homegrown boy band Mirror (gag). Several members of the group are popular enough to warrant such hubris, but something this gaudy and obvious?

See, this is what my favourite band - Living Colour - meant by their hit song, "Cult of Personality". Yikes.

You made it to the weekend, Bees! Take a load off!

Playing: Some token Hades 2 last night. Was too tired to play anything else. Selaco drops tonight; I've been looking forward to it for ages.

Watching: Some Blood of Zeus at the gym. Haven't picked a spooky flick for late night cinema, but I've just learned that there was a Dungeons and Dragons tv series? Awesome. Edit: The first episode is bringing back serious deja vu. Maybe I have watched it before...

Reminds me that I need to catch up on the tv series (plural) from my youth! Reboot is the only one I've watched through and through...

Listening to: Andrew WK - Music Is Worth Living For. How about some upbeat metal (what a combination!). It's not my favourite of his, but the message certainly shines through.

 

[JCU]

Congrats on your new step goal!

And I agree, that's a lot for one person.

 

[CODawn]

Congratulations on yourcsteps PR!

 

[PetiteSheWolf]

This kind of cult of personality is actually quite hilarious... Just hoping the guy will live it OK when his 15 mins of fame fade away!

 

[GentleOx]

Thank you @JCU and @CODawn.

I too am amused, @JCU and @PetiteSheWolf. Celeb worship in Hong Kong is... well, the same as anywhere else, but the members of Mirror have hit heights of popularity hitherto unseen.

Back at it, Bees. I took the weekend off, so today, I was hungry for the gym. Another Push day, which went quite well!

Bench Press: Started with 117.5 x 5, 120 x 5, then 122.5 x 6. Room for improvement, it seems like. Dunno if I'll hit the same snags as with my last cycle.
Incline Bench Press: 92.5 x 5. Curiously, I found this quite difficult. Usually I go up to 100, but I wasn't feeling it today.
Rope Pushdowns: 10 x 8. Slow and steady.
Preacher Curls: 35 x 5. Still hard, but making progress.

It's been quite rainy the last few days, so I'm looking forward to some sun again.

Start your week off strong, Bees!

Playing: More Hades 2, of course, even though I've exhausted much of the dialogue that is the game's lifeblood. Still, it's so much fun that I don't mind making run after run. Selaco is pretty damned good, I must admit, and I'm making my way through it slowly.

Watching: I had a bit of a craving for Silent Hill, from 2006, so I rewatched it. Review is below.

Rose is troubled; her adopted child, Sharon, frequently sleepwalks and mutters the name "Silent Hill". In what could be charitably described as an ill-considered move, Rose takes Sharon with her on a road trip to the abandoned town whose name Sharon has uttered. However, after running her car off the road, Rose finds herself in an eerily abandoned, otherworldly locale with ashfall, and swarming with nightmarish creatures. She must search the town and find her daughter before others in the town do.

I don't know that this is technically a "good" movie. The script is rubbish, characters paper-thin, plot holes enormous, and much of the acting unremarkable. Partially because it takes place in a surreal setting, and is patterned after the games, the structure of the film is loose and resembles a scavenger hunt, or being lead from one location to the next via happenstance. So it's not hard to see why it was critically drubbed. But I don't care.

There are two goals with this film: A - bring the game to life, and B - scare the pants off of you. Regarding the first, there is a lot of visual fidelity to the first Silent Hill - in fact, I believe director Christophe Gans has stated that this was a priority. The results of this are the striking set pieces of the game brought to life, in vivid and horrifying detail. I often rail against scary movies whose scares take a long time to appear. There's no such problem here - within 20 minutes, you're thrown into the deep end with Rose, and the horrific nature of the town is made clear.

And as for the second part, we've got to answer the question: Is it scary? I sure think so. There's gore galore (the climax is stomach-churning, and almost has to be seen to be believed), but the real stars of the show are the ghoulies and ghosties that Rose encounters. Series stalwart Pyramid Head makes more than a few appearances as franchise mascot, but some equally devilish and disgusting creatures show up as well. The creativity of the horror is what makes it so scary, and when I saw it in cinema back in the day, I was certainly disturbed.

A word of warning: some of the set pieces are really unnerving, and have a level of violence that makes most other horror films very tame by comparison.

This is a gorgeous, graphic, and absolutely memorable film, and the end product overcomes the numerous flaws. I give it three and a half lighters out of five.

Also, coincidentally, they've released teaser footage for the indirect sequel, Return to Silent Hill! I'm very excited.

Listening to: Akira Yamaoka - Piano. This is a piano rendition of the Silent Hill theme. As beautiful and stately as you might expect.

 

[GentleOx]

Hey Bees. I got the chance for another workout, so I found myself back in the gym for another Pull day.

Deadlifts: 155 x 5, 157.5. Still as tough as ever, but they moved acceptably well.
Dual Dumbbell Rows: 34 x 8.
One Armed Cable Rows: 30 x 5.
Neutral Pulldown: 70 x 5. Wasn't feeling it today.

A more muted workout today. Also put in 20000 steps, though that seems to be my average these days.

May or may not work out tomorrow, as Back day always leaves me really tuckered out.

Hope your week is going well, Bees!

Playing: Same as always. A dash of Hades 2, and Selaco, of course.

Watching: Still making my way through Blood of Zeus. I am whelmed, I guess. Also started an indie found-footage flick called Frogman. Looks promising!

I've been meaning to watch In the Mouth of Madness for awhile, since the last time I watched it was nearly 20 years ago. I made some time today, and didn't regret it. Here's a review!

A dishevelled, raving man has just been thrown into an insane asylum. Formerly respected insurance investigator John Trent, he recounts his story to an incredulous physician, with hints that mass chaos has erupted throughout the world. In his previous life, Trent was hired to investigate the whereabouts of reclusive bestselling horror author Sutter Cane (thinly veiled wordplay; guess who he's based on). Cane's novels have a peculiar sanity-warping effect on his readers, and as Trent immerses himself deeper into the mystery, he finds himself questioning his own grasp on reality.

Man, the 90s sure were strange. But you have interesting oddball gems like this, directed by horror master John Carpenter. It's basically a cosmic horror movie which gleefully mixes Lovecraft influences with meta commentary on horror media and fandom. It may very well be the best Lovecraft-esque movie yet.

It's very much worth the watch. The scares are good, of course, with visions of gore, ghoulies, and crazed violence. But the gold beneath the surface is the commentary on reality and insanity, accompanied with suitably gonzo, surreal situations. Many of the performances are suitably crazed and entertaining, with Sam Neill's dodgy accent only being a minor detriment. And a lot of the fun after the movie comes from trying to unravel twist after twist.

As the final entry of Carpenter's apocalypse trilogy, In the Mouth of Madness does not rise to the heights of The Thing, but stands head and shoulders above Prince of Darkness. Fittingly, I award it four and a half trashy horror novels out of five.

Listening to: PO'ed - Main Theme. Going back to the PS1 era, this is the short but sweet opening number for PO'ed. There's a remastered version floating around, but I'll wait until it's on sale.

 

[PetiteSheWolf]

I have to say, I love so much "the thing", I hesitate to watch other Carpenter movies and find them underwhelming. I think I saw one about a fog over a coastal town and ghost pirates, was good though. ETA : checked, it is "the fog". Not unforgettable, but was a good moment. Maybe 3 foghorns out of 5 ?
The Lovecraft references in "mouth of darkness" makes me want to se it too, and if you gave it 4.5/5, that's a good sign, LOL!