Quest for Muscle: The Return of the Pump
- Thread starter GentleOx
- Start date
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Congrats on that paused bench press!
from
Thanks a ton for your encouragement, @TopNotch @Laura Rainbow Dragon @CODawn @Mamatigerj @JCU @MadamMeow and @Fremen!
GentleOx - warrior. An Ox barely alive. We can rebuild him: we have the technology. We have the capabilities to build the world's first bionic Ox. Gentle Ox will be that Ox. Better than he was before. Better; stronger; faster!
Hello again Bees! GentleOx here reporting on the eve of the Lunar New Year. Because the gym will be closed for the rest of the week, I took the time to come in and hit a Pull workout.
Deadlifts: 155 x 6, 160 x 6. Good numbers, but I kept scraping against the boo boo on my knee repeatedly, which was a pain. Literally.
Barbell Rows: 100 x 6. Zzzz...
Machine One Arm Rows: 70 x 6.
Alternating Dumbbell Rows: 26 x 12. Just starting slow.
Lat Pulldowns: 60 x 8. I've never been a fan of these, to be honest.
Behind the Neck Machine Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
+21000 steps.
Nice big workout for the end of the year.
Tomorrow is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and we'll be visiting relatives and taking in the holidays. I want a ton of red packets stuffed with cash. Kidding!
Comically enough, I have a habit of referring to the New Year's custom of visiting relatives as "bai saan", which my mom always scolds me for. This is because I'm supposed to be saying "bai nihn", which is mistake enough, but "bai saan" refers to visiting the dead and paying your respects: bad luck to confuse the two.
Even though we're very much a secular, westernized family, it's funny how we still hew to bits of Chinese tradition. Ah well.
Even if you don't celebrate the Lunar New Year, I wish you have good blessings and good health in the Year of the Snake. Gung Hei Fat Choi, Bees!
Playing: So... Fallout 4 was more than a little crash-happy, so I've uninstalled it (to reinstall it again in half a year, no doubt), and will give more attention to the other open world games on my docket, namely Venetica and Xenus 2. Xenus 2 has that emergent feel to it that scratches that itch. There's nothing like freely attacking enemy bases and going all out Rambo. Meanwhile, Sulfur still waits...
Watching: Haven't been watching as much as I mean to. Will try to watch more of Haunted Ulster, but the nihilistic, grimy and vile "puppet" horror Abruptio is what I'm watching now, mostly out of bile fascination. Let's see where it ends up... Edit: Finished watching Abruptio, so here's a trailer and a review.
Les is a middle-aged loser who lives with his parents, and has been dumped by his girlfriend, all the while stuck in his office-drone job. One day, out of the blue, a bomb is planted in the back of his neck, and a message sent to him: follow our instructions or die. The next few days will see Les perform unspeakable tasks in the name of a threat that's looming over the world, apocalyptic in its scope. Les will take himself to places unknown to see how he fits into the greater scheme of things...
Synopsis: If you have a strong stomach, and can follow the disjointed, over-stuffed plot, then this is a gory psychological treat.
This is basically a psychological thriller with a few surreal elements. We start out with Les being blackmailed to perform violent and outrageous tasks, but the plot gets even weirder from there. I would say it's weird to a fault; not all the elements that are put into story pay off, and many could be left out without impacting the final product. The decision to use puppets/puppet masks is a touch odd, considering that the full body shots are of actual people, but I saw them as a form of detachment from the seemingly endless violence and gore.
The psychological elements of the story are intriguing, even if they don't cohere as subtly as they could. Sobriety and addiction play a huge part in the story, even though I had the impression that the writer only had a surface-level understanding of the 12 Steps, and Recovery. Still, I laud them for including these elements. The strongest part of the film are the side quests and set pieces that Les finds himself encountering, even if they don't always conform to the main plot.
I would have to give Abruptio three and a half revolvers out of five.
Listening to: Rage Against the Machine - The Ghost of Tom Joad. One of those covers which matches up to the original (penned with amazing lyricism by Bruce Springsteen) with aplomb. The alt-metal bent lends a hammer-like intensity to each verse, and brings the song proudly into the modern, divided landscape.
"Now Tom said, “Mom, wherever there’s a cop beatin’ a guy
Wherever a hungry new born baby cries
Where there’s a fight ‘gainst the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me mom I’ll be there.
Wherever somebody’s fightin’ for a place to stand
Or a decent job or a helpin’ hand.
Wherever somebody’s strugglin’ to be free,
Look in their eyes ma you’ll see me"
GentleOx - warrior. An Ox barely alive. We can rebuild him: we have the technology. We have the capabilities to build the world's first bionic Ox. Gentle Ox will be that Ox. Better than he was before. Better; stronger; faster!
Hello again Bees! GentleOx here reporting on the eve of the Lunar New Year. Because the gym will be closed for the rest of the week, I took the time to come in and hit a Pull workout.
Deadlifts: 155 x 6, 160 x 6. Good numbers, but I kept scraping against the boo boo on my knee repeatedly, which was a pain. Literally.
Barbell Rows: 100 x 6. Zzzz...
Machine One Arm Rows: 70 x 6.
Alternating Dumbbell Rows: 26 x 12. Just starting slow.
Lat Pulldowns: 60 x 8. I've never been a fan of these, to be honest.
Behind the Neck Machine Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
+21000 steps.
Nice big workout for the end of the year.
Tomorrow is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and we'll be visiting relatives and taking in the holidays. I want a ton of red packets stuffed with cash. Kidding!
Comically enough, I have a habit of referring to the New Year's custom of visiting relatives as "bai saan", which my mom always scolds me for. This is because I'm supposed to be saying "bai nihn", which is mistake enough, but "bai saan" refers to visiting the dead and paying your respects: bad luck to confuse the two.
Even though we're very much a secular, westernized family, it's funny how we still hew to bits of Chinese tradition. Ah well.
Even if you don't celebrate the Lunar New Year, I wish you have good blessings and good health in the Year of the Snake. Gung Hei Fat Choi, Bees!
Playing: So... Fallout 4 was more than a little crash-happy, so I've uninstalled it (to reinstall it again in half a year, no doubt), and will give more attention to the other open world games on my docket, namely Venetica and Xenus 2. Xenus 2 has that emergent feel to it that scratches that itch. There's nothing like freely attacking enemy bases and going all out Rambo. Meanwhile, Sulfur still waits...
Watching: Haven't been watching as much as I mean to. Will try to watch more of Haunted Ulster, but the nihilistic, grimy and vile "puppet" horror Abruptio is what I'm watching now, mostly out of bile fascination. Let's see where it ends up... Edit: Finished watching Abruptio, so here's a trailer and a review.
Les is a middle-aged loser who lives with his parents, and has been dumped by his girlfriend, all the while stuck in his office-drone job. One day, out of the blue, a bomb is planted in the back of his neck, and a message sent to him: follow our instructions or die. The next few days will see Les perform unspeakable tasks in the name of a threat that's looming over the world, apocalyptic in its scope. Les will take himself to places unknown to see how he fits into the greater scheme of things...
Synopsis: If you have a strong stomach, and can follow the disjointed, over-stuffed plot, then this is a gory psychological treat.
This is basically a psychological thriller with a few surreal elements. We start out with Les being blackmailed to perform violent and outrageous tasks, but the plot gets even weirder from there. I would say it's weird to a fault; not all the elements that are put into story pay off, and many could be left out without impacting the final product. The decision to use puppets/puppet masks is a touch odd, considering that the full body shots are of actual people, but I saw them as a form of detachment from the seemingly endless violence and gore.
The psychological elements of the story are intriguing, even if they don't cohere as subtly as they could. Sobriety and addiction play a huge part in the story, even though I had the impression that the writer only had a surface-level understanding of the 12 Steps, and Recovery. Still, I laud them for including these elements. The strongest part of the film are the side quests and set pieces that Les finds himself encountering, even if they don't always conform to the main plot.
I would have to give Abruptio three and a half revolvers out of five.
Listening to: Rage Against the Machine - The Ghost of Tom Joad. One of those covers which matches up to the original (penned with amazing lyricism by Bruce Springsteen) with aplomb. The alt-metal bent lends a hammer-like intensity to each verse, and brings the song proudly into the modern, divided landscape.
"Now Tom said, “Mom, wherever there’s a cop beatin’ a guy
Wherever a hungry new born baby cries
Where there’s a fight ‘gainst the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me mom I’ll be there.
Wherever somebody’s fightin’ for a place to stand
Or a decent job or a helpin’ hand.
Wherever somebody’s strugglin’ to be free,
Look in their eyes ma you’ll see me"
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Mamatigerj
Well-known member
PetiteSheWolf
Well-known member
Happy new lunar yearh, Gentle Ox ! 
Obsinosterous
Well-known member
The wretched beast has conquered all that is good and sacred and cast a pallor of darkness over the land.
Who has the courage and the good nature to stand against the dark, and bring back the light? None shall stand for the decent and the upright - that is, except for the fabled and soporific Gentle Ox!
Happy Year of the Snake to @Obsinosterous and @Mamatigerj and all you Bees out there!
Hello again! I've made it through much of the Lunar New Year and have headed to the gym for my first workout in several days. Today was a Push day.
Bench Press: 132.5 x 5. Another increase in strength!
Incline Bench Press: 110 x 5.
Lying Dumbbell Extensions: 22 x 8.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 40 x 6.
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 18 x 14.
Got me some lai see!
I ate too much during the New Year, so I am more of a pudgy, prosperous Ox for now. Will try to get in a fuller week of workouts next week.
Enjoy your weekend, Bees!
Playing: I've been playing a lot of Xenus 2, which, per my previous assessment, is still janky as hell and lots of fun (I've made a practice of storming enemy encampments single-handed). I love it when games let you do that. Still having that urge to buy more, but I've still got lots of gaming treats in my library. Will try to give Venetica some more love, and Blade of Darkness.
Humour: Whitest Kids U Know - So we've got it wrong all this time. Hamlet was about vampires, and Lincoln was... well, you can see for yourself. (Warning: Foul language).
Watching: So I finished watching Nosferatu, which inspired my hokey intro for this post. Here's a trailer, synopsis and a review.
A young girl, Ellen, prays for something to comfort her, and the titular Nosferatu responds, claiming her in the process. Some years later, Ellen is grown, and wed to young Thomas, a promising solicitor. Thomas has been assigned to travel to Romania to preside over a transaction with a peculiar, and reclusive lord. This turns out to be the very same monstrous demon that claimed Ellen earlier, and the signing of the deed is a scheme to reach Ellen. Trapped in its curse, Thomas and Ellen must reckon with the Nosferatu, and find a way for their love to survive.
Synopsis: A rich stew of horror that draws from the past and the present, and is only slightly let down by certain elements.
So, I hadn't realized that this one is based off of Bram Stoker's novel (which I haven't read in ages), and was expecting something more original, so no docking of points for following the plot of Dracula or anything like that.
Overall, this sets a more effective and all-encompassing mood that betters practically every other modern horror. It describes itself as a gothic horror, and on that front, it certainly delivers. The use of shadows and lighting is amazing, and the mood of the time can practically be tasted (it is odd that the characters have English accents, but are in Germany, but oh well). I have no issue with the pacing and the way the plot is doled out. To me, the film was not scary, but it was horrific, and evidences this in several brutal moments.
I did not find the vampire Count Orlok that scary. His design, while given a modern, elaborate gussying-up, just wasn't menacing or potent (cf Max Schreck's more inhuman and terrifying embodiment), and his voice felt kind of risible and exaggerated at times - even mom, who watched the movie as well, poked fun at this. And when your horror movie depends upon the strength of its main monster, it can kill your movie (pun not intended) if it doesn't rise to the challenge. I didn't like Lily Rose-Depp's performance as well. It felt like she gave a very limited performance, comprised mostly of repetitive histrionics. It's not that either of them are bad (I feel Depp exerts herself more than Skargard does), but they just didn't gel for me.
Thankfully, you can still enjoy the looming dread in the film even if some of the individual performances are questionable. It doesn't have the colourful chutzpah and melodrama of Bram Stoker's Dracula, but it is more frightening.
I feel that Nosferatu is thus deserving of four and a half bites (what else?) out of five.
Going to start watching Den of Thieves, as the sequel is now available, and I've never watched it completely.
Listening to: Skinny Puppy - Jahya. Been in a Skinny Puppy kind of mood, and this old song scratched my itch. Love those titanic, crushing riffs that seemingly come out of nowhere.
Who has the courage and the good nature to stand against the dark, and bring back the light? None shall stand for the decent and the upright - that is, except for the fabled and soporific Gentle Ox!
Happy Year of the Snake to @Obsinosterous and @Mamatigerj and all you Bees out there!
Hello again! I've made it through much of the Lunar New Year and have headed to the gym for my first workout in several days. Today was a Push day.
Bench Press: 132.5 x 5. Another increase in strength!
Incline Bench Press: 110 x 5.
Lying Dumbbell Extensions: 22 x 8.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 40 x 6.
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 18 x 14.
Got me some lai see!
I ate too much during the New Year, so I am more of a pudgy, prosperous Ox for now. Will try to get in a fuller week of workouts next week.
Enjoy your weekend, Bees!
Playing: I've been playing a lot of Xenus 2, which, per my previous assessment, is still janky as hell and lots of fun (I've made a practice of storming enemy encampments single-handed). I love it when games let you do that. Still having that urge to buy more, but I've still got lots of gaming treats in my library. Will try to give Venetica some more love, and Blade of Darkness.
Humour: Whitest Kids U Know - So we've got it wrong all this time. Hamlet was about vampires, and Lincoln was... well, you can see for yourself. (Warning: Foul language).
Watching: So I finished watching Nosferatu, which inspired my hokey intro for this post. Here's a trailer, synopsis and a review.
A young girl, Ellen, prays for something to comfort her, and the titular Nosferatu responds, claiming her in the process. Some years later, Ellen is grown, and wed to young Thomas, a promising solicitor. Thomas has been assigned to travel to Romania to preside over a transaction with a peculiar, and reclusive lord. This turns out to be the very same monstrous demon that claimed Ellen earlier, and the signing of the deed is a scheme to reach Ellen. Trapped in its curse, Thomas and Ellen must reckon with the Nosferatu, and find a way for their love to survive.
Synopsis: A rich stew of horror that draws from the past and the present, and is only slightly let down by certain elements.
So, I hadn't realized that this one is based off of Bram Stoker's novel (which I haven't read in ages), and was expecting something more original, so no docking of points for following the plot of Dracula or anything like that.
Overall, this sets a more effective and all-encompassing mood that betters practically every other modern horror. It describes itself as a gothic horror, and on that front, it certainly delivers. The use of shadows and lighting is amazing, and the mood of the time can practically be tasted (it is odd that the characters have English accents, but are in Germany, but oh well). I have no issue with the pacing and the way the plot is doled out. To me, the film was not scary, but it was horrific, and evidences this in several brutal moments.
I did not find the vampire Count Orlok that scary. His design, while given a modern, elaborate gussying-up, just wasn't menacing or potent (cf Max Schreck's more inhuman and terrifying embodiment), and his voice felt kind of risible and exaggerated at times - even mom, who watched the movie as well, poked fun at this. And when your horror movie depends upon the strength of its main monster, it can kill your movie (pun not intended) if it doesn't rise to the challenge. I didn't like Lily Rose-Depp's performance as well. It felt like she gave a very limited performance, comprised mostly of repetitive histrionics. It's not that either of them are bad (I feel Depp exerts herself more than Skargard does), but they just didn't gel for me.
Thankfully, you can still enjoy the looming dread in the film even if some of the individual performances are questionable. It doesn't have the colourful chutzpah and melodrama of Bram Stoker's Dracula, but it is more frightening.
I feel that Nosferatu is thus deserving of four and a half bites (what else?) out of five.
Going to start watching Den of Thieves, as the sequel is now available, and I've never watched it completely.
Listening to: Skinny Puppy - Jahya. Been in a Skinny Puppy kind of mood, and this old song scratched my itch. Love those titanic, crushing riffs that seemingly come out of nowhere.
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Congrats for the bench success!
Mamatigerj
Well-known member
Thank you @Laura Rainbow Dragon and @Mamatigerj and of course, fellow Bees for your support!
My esteemed colleagues, it took time, resources, and most of our supply of chocolate and treats, but we finally have accomplished our goal. We have captured the sole remaining specimen of the Mitis Bovis species and currently have it in our lab. Behold the specimen engaged in its primary pursuit:
Zzzzzz...
Greetings, Bees! I took the weekend off, but hit the gym and the streets today for an extended workout, so let's get started. Today was another Controlled Push day.
Paused Bench Press: 130 x 5. Eh, none of the meteoric gains of last week, but I hit my target nonetheless. I have a feeling that doing so again is going to be more difficult (approaching my natural plateau), so will have to be patient with the weights.
Paused Incline Press: 110 x 5. This showed improvement!
Tricep Extension Machine (all the other ones were taken): 45 (? I think) x 10.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 20 x 22. Ogh, but these were a pain. I will shoot for 24 reps next time and try to hit a PR.
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 18 x 12. Are these working yet?
+23000 steps! Haven't walked this many in awhile.
The gym was quite packed today. It was a miracle that the bench press wasn't taken when I got there, but after I finished, the crowds descended.
Cyberpunk-ed around for a bit, but given that the temperature has taken a dip (for what it's worth in a tropical climate!), I headed home to thaw out and type up this post.
Take care of yourselves, Bees!
Playing: Uhh, I only played Sulfur last night. Died, thanks to those pesky doggos. Serves me right for being complacent on another run. Will play a bit more of Xenus 2 tonight, and really should get started on Blade of Darkness.
Watching: Haven't been watching much, even though there's so much to watch. I'll resume Haunted Ulster tonight for Late Night Cinema.
Listening to: This Mortal Coil - Dreams Made Flesh. Don't mind the goth-y name, which is a byproduct of the TMC project (in which 4AD artists collaborated and released some covers, some original songs). Performed by Dead Can Dance, this is probably the best song produced from that project, and it's not hard to see why. Absolutely beautiful quasi-ambient instrumentation, only combined with Lisa Gerrard's inimitable powerhouse vocals. A post-punk classic.
My esteemed colleagues, it took time, resources, and most of our supply of chocolate and treats, but we finally have accomplished our goal. We have captured the sole remaining specimen of the Mitis Bovis species and currently have it in our lab. Behold the specimen engaged in its primary pursuit:
Zzzzzz...
Greetings, Bees! I took the weekend off, but hit the gym and the streets today for an extended workout, so let's get started. Today was another Controlled Push day.
Paused Bench Press: 130 x 5. Eh, none of the meteoric gains of last week, but I hit my target nonetheless. I have a feeling that doing so again is going to be more difficult (approaching my natural plateau), so will have to be patient with the weights.
Paused Incline Press: 110 x 5. This showed improvement!
Tricep Extension Machine (all the other ones were taken): 45 (? I think) x 10.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 20 x 22. Ogh, but these were a pain. I will shoot for 24 reps next time and try to hit a PR.
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 18 x 12. Are these working yet?
+23000 steps! Haven't walked this many in awhile.
The gym was quite packed today. It was a miracle that the bench press wasn't taken when I got there, but after I finished, the crowds descended.
Cyberpunk-ed around for a bit, but given that the temperature has taken a dip (for what it's worth in a tropical climate!), I headed home to thaw out and type up this post.
Take care of yourselves, Bees!
Playing: Uhh, I only played Sulfur last night. Died, thanks to those pesky doggos. Serves me right for being complacent on another run. Will play a bit more of Xenus 2 tonight, and really should get started on Blade of Darkness.
Watching: Haven't been watching much, even though there's so much to watch. I'll resume Haunted Ulster tonight for Late Night Cinema.
Listening to: This Mortal Coil - Dreams Made Flesh. Don't mind the goth-y name, which is a byproduct of the TMC project (in which 4AD artists collaborated and released some covers, some original songs). Performed by Dead Can Dance, this is probably the best song produced from that project, and it's not hard to see why. Absolutely beautiful quasi-ambient instrumentation, only combined with Lisa Gerrard's inimitable powerhouse vocals. A post-punk classic.