Happy birthday to your Mom
!
!
Quest for Muscle: The Return of the Pump
But we will be magnificent.
For Ow mom
Thank you kindly @graoumia @CODawn @Antheia & Colossus, @Mamatigerj, @JCU! Mom is very grateful for all your good wishes.
@PetiteSheWolf The Ox figured that the jig was up, and it was time to retire to somewhere with lovely beaches!
One month before...
He was in a cell of some sort; that much he'd gathered. One day he had made his way to the precinct to clock in, until he felt a strange sting on his neck. Not an insect; it was a sharp pain that drained his senses and made his legs weak. He remembered falling to the ground, and that was that - until he woke up in some kind of truck with his eyes blindfolded. After a long ride, he had been shepherded out, and led into some sort of building, then down a series of corridors, and into a bare cell, where his blindfold was yanked off, and he was shoved inside. Oddly enough, his prison was dead silent, as if the captors had wanted to prevent the inmates from communicating with one another. He wasn't sure who he'd pissed off this time; the raid on the docks he and Biggs had conducted had surely rubbed a number of syndicates the wrong way. Maybe... the Black Society had caught up with him? No. They would've killed him in an ambush, or hobbled him before sticking him in the pokey to prevent his flight. He looked his cell up and down: a dingy lightbulb cast a wan light, but there was no bed. Odd. The door opened, and a heavily armed guard stood in the doorway. "He's here, sir," the guard said, his voice distorted. The guard withdrew, and another figure stepped through the doorway, and into the cell. It was an imposing raven, or crow, dressed in a minimally elegant suit.
Things were about to get interesting.
Hello, Bees! I took yesterday off to give my neck muscles a chance to recover, but I slept fairly easily, so I made it into the gym today for a Push workout that went even better than I expected.
Bench Press: 135 x 3, 137.5 x 3, 140 x 4! I was not expecting this at all. The fourth rep for 140 was an unbelievable grind, but I made it! This is a new PR! Woohoo!
Spoto Press: 120 I think? For five reps.
Incline Press: 102.5 x 6. Time to move up in weight.
Rope Pushdown: 12 x 8. Taking it easy.
Hammer Curls: 20 x 20.
Forearm Curls: 18 x 15.
Mom's birthday dinner was great! Mom is still ageing gracefully, and I hope that we'll still have many years with her. I don't have the pictures that mom took of us (for now), but I did take some pictures of the food, in true Asian fashion.
People went bananas for the seafood! I'm regretting not trying a little crab, or lobster.
So delicious! So decadent!
The desserts were good, but not as good as the savoury stuff.
And now I'm back to frantically burning those calories
Hope your week is going well, Bees! It's almost Friday.
Playing: Uh, a bit of this and that. I bought a survival game named Surroundead, which is all about that zombie and looting action. I didn't like it that much though. Another game that's caught my eye is Zombpiercer, which seems like a more refined FPS survival mix. Looking forward to playing more of that.
Watching: After watching The Bad Guys (see below), I have a lot of other stuff to watch, so we'll see how this section goes in the coming weeks.
In a break from my usual moribund watching of really bad movies, horror flicks, and war movies, I watched the animated flick The Bad Guys instead, as it kind of intrigued me, and was a nice change of pace from my usual fare. Here's a trailer, synopsis, and review!
The titular Bad Guys have it made: a gang of animal criminals who have heisted for all too long, their only redeeming feature is their ugly form of brotherhood, with all other virtuous traits locked up and stored away like the many treasures they've pilfered. Mr. Wolf, their debonair leader, draws up their next heist: the theft of the golden dolphin award. However, the heist, and the gang itself, come apart. Mr. Wolf experiences a pang of conscience as he helps a little old lady, and unable to pull off the heist, the gang is caught, and is on the verge of being locked up... only to experience a reprieve. Philanthropist Professor Marmalade has a PR transformation in mind for the gang. Can an old dog learn new tricks? Can a gang of incorrigible heisters turn their back on evil and become upstanding citizens? Of course, there's more going on behind the scenes than is apparent...
Summary: The Bad Guys features smooth animation, excellent voice-acting, and capable direction that forms a movie that's as glib and adroit as the eponymous gang is.
As mentioned above, I usually don't go for movies like this, but I think what sold me was the suave sense of style the movie has - a lot of the animation cribs liberally and unabashedly from different sources (among them, I've read, are anime like Lupin III), and adds a bold creative touch that stands out from the pack. The "choreography" of the heist scenes is just exquisite, and makes the various specialties of the gang pop. Again, I don't think that any of the action or story beats are groundbreaking, exactly, but they're just a joy to watch, and that's the whole point. Of particular note is a highway chase that showcases the film's flair and creativity.
Does the story hold up? It's okay, I guess. It takes the unusual step of having anthropomorphic animals living alongside humans (kind of like I did, hehe), but the plot itself is adequate. Thankfully, there's very little of the warm fuzzy crap that infests most kid-friendly shows. It's no surprise that the "Bad Guys" turn good, and use their skills for the benefit of man(and animal)kind. What matters is that they do it with style, and memorably enough. The heisters are pretty distinct in personality, and Diane Foxington steals the show as the governor who is more than she appears to be, and as the (not) love interest. The villain is swiped from Zootopia, I swear. There are also a plethora of references that cement the film's many debts: the opening scene alone is a huge Pulp Fiction reference (without the guns and profanity, of course).
So all in all, The Bad Guys is a solid four suitcases-that-transform-into-motorcycles out of five.
Listening to: Daniel Pemberton - The Crimson Paw. Having already showcased his chops for writing cinematic music with a modern edge in stuff like that King Arthur movie and that Harley Quinn flick, he adeptly composes the funky and driving soundtrack for The Bad Guys. Here's a favourite of mine off of the soundtrack, and to me, it's not hard to see why.
@PetiteSheWolf The Ox figured that the jig was up, and it was time to retire to somewhere with lovely beaches!
One month before...
He was in a cell of some sort; that much he'd gathered. One day he had made his way to the precinct to clock in, until he felt a strange sting on his neck. Not an insect; it was a sharp pain that drained his senses and made his legs weak. He remembered falling to the ground, and that was that - until he woke up in some kind of truck with his eyes blindfolded. After a long ride, he had been shepherded out, and led into some sort of building, then down a series of corridors, and into a bare cell, where his blindfold was yanked off, and he was shoved inside. Oddly enough, his prison was dead silent, as if the captors had wanted to prevent the inmates from communicating with one another. He wasn't sure who he'd pissed off this time; the raid on the docks he and Biggs had conducted had surely rubbed a number of syndicates the wrong way. Maybe... the Black Society had caught up with him? No. They would've killed him in an ambush, or hobbled him before sticking him in the pokey to prevent his flight. He looked his cell up and down: a dingy lightbulb cast a wan light, but there was no bed. Odd. The door opened, and a heavily armed guard stood in the doorway. "He's here, sir," the guard said, his voice distorted. The guard withdrew, and another figure stepped through the doorway, and into the cell. It was an imposing raven, or crow, dressed in a minimally elegant suit.
Things were about to get interesting.
Hello, Bees! I took yesterday off to give my neck muscles a chance to recover, but I slept fairly easily, so I made it into the gym today for a Push workout that went even better than I expected.
Bench Press: 135 x 3, 137.5 x 3, 140 x 4! I was not expecting this at all. The fourth rep for 140 was an unbelievable grind, but I made it! This is a new PR! Woohoo!
Spoto Press: 120 I think? For five reps.
Incline Press: 102.5 x 6. Time to move up in weight.
Rope Pushdown: 12 x 8. Taking it easy.
Hammer Curls: 20 x 20.
Forearm Curls: 18 x 15.
Mom's birthday dinner was great! Mom is still ageing gracefully, and I hope that we'll still have many years with her. I don't have the pictures that mom took of us (for now), but I did take some pictures of the food, in true Asian fashion.
People went bananas for the seafood! I'm regretting not trying a little crab, or lobster.
So delicious! So decadent!
The desserts were good, but not as good as the savoury stuff.
And now I'm back to frantically burning those calories
Hope your week is going well, Bees! It's almost Friday.
Playing: Uh, a bit of this and that. I bought a survival game named Surroundead, which is all about that zombie and looting action. I didn't like it that much though. Another game that's caught my eye is Zombpiercer, which seems like a more refined FPS survival mix. Looking forward to playing more of that.
Watching: After watching The Bad Guys (see below), I have a lot of other stuff to watch, so we'll see how this section goes in the coming weeks.
In a break from my usual moribund watching of really bad movies, horror flicks, and war movies, I watched the animated flick The Bad Guys instead, as it kind of intrigued me, and was a nice change of pace from my usual fare. Here's a trailer, synopsis, and review!
The titular Bad Guys have it made: a gang of animal criminals who have heisted for all too long, their only redeeming feature is their ugly form of brotherhood, with all other virtuous traits locked up and stored away like the many treasures they've pilfered. Mr. Wolf, their debonair leader, draws up their next heist: the theft of the golden dolphin award. However, the heist, and the gang itself, come apart. Mr. Wolf experiences a pang of conscience as he helps a little old lady, and unable to pull off the heist, the gang is caught, and is on the verge of being locked up... only to experience a reprieve. Philanthropist Professor Marmalade has a PR transformation in mind for the gang. Can an old dog learn new tricks? Can a gang of incorrigible heisters turn their back on evil and become upstanding citizens? Of course, there's more going on behind the scenes than is apparent...
Summary: The Bad Guys features smooth animation, excellent voice-acting, and capable direction that forms a movie that's as glib and adroit as the eponymous gang is.
As mentioned above, I usually don't go for movies like this, but I think what sold me was the suave sense of style the movie has - a lot of the animation cribs liberally and unabashedly from different sources (among them, I've read, are anime like Lupin III), and adds a bold creative touch that stands out from the pack. The "choreography" of the heist scenes is just exquisite, and makes the various specialties of the gang pop. Again, I don't think that any of the action or story beats are groundbreaking, exactly, but they're just a joy to watch, and that's the whole point. Of particular note is a highway chase that showcases the film's flair and creativity.
Does the story hold up? It's okay, I guess. It takes the unusual step of having anthropomorphic animals living alongside humans (kind of like I did, hehe), but the plot itself is adequate. Thankfully, there's very little of the warm fuzzy crap that infests most kid-friendly shows. It's no surprise that the "Bad Guys" turn good, and use their skills for the benefit of man(and animal)kind. What matters is that they do it with style, and memorably enough. The heisters are pretty distinct in personality, and Diane Foxington steals the show as the governor who is more than she appears to be, and as the (not) love interest. The villain is swiped from Zootopia, I swear. There are also a plethora of references that cement the film's many debts: the opening scene alone is a huge Pulp Fiction reference (without the guns and profanity, of course).
So all in all, The Bad Guys is a solid four suitcases-that-transform-into-motorcycles out of five.
Listening to: Daniel Pemberton - The Crimson Paw. Having already showcased his chops for writing cinematic music with a modern edge in stuff like that King Arthur movie and that Harley Quinn flick, he adeptly composes the funky and driving soundtrack for The Bad Guys. Here's a favourite of mine off of the soundtrack, and to me, it's not hard to see why.
"Caw?" The crow held out a box of Harlbrus Reds out to him. They even knew his favourite type of cigarette... putting his uneasiness to one side, the Ox gratefully took a cigarette out, sniffed it, savouring the tobacco flavour, and placed it in his mouth. The crow took a silver lighter from out of that elegant jacket and snapped it open deftly, generating a small flame. The Ox held his head towards the lighter and lit the cigarette, inhaling deeply as the end of the cigarette burned. Simply magnificent. All the while, his counterpart watched him, those deep black eyes never wavering. The Ox thought it passing odd that his hooves were uncuffed, and that the guard was outside the interrogation room, leaving him alone with this clearly very important individual, but a more careful examination of said individual squelched that thought: crow was a misnomer - the creature watched him like a hawk, and had the movements to match. "Moo moo moo moo," the Ox said, a touch blithely, and blew some smoke to the side. The crow watched him, patiently. Or not. Then it spoke! "Believe it or not, Ox, certain individuals I work under admire your... accomplishments." In contrast to its shrill "caw", its human voice was like silk being slid over steel. The Ox raised an eyebrow. "Moo moo moo? BoI? CID? SOG?" The crow looked back, still and unbothered.
Thank you kindly @Fremen, @aku-chan, @JCU, @CODawn, and @Mamatigerj.
@aku-chan I understand the trepidation. I have a hard time getting into Pixar movies because the way they structure their worlds, but for some strange reason, I liked The Bad Guys more. Upon reflection, it was quite a coincidence that my short stories here revolve around animals in a human world, just like The Bad Guys.
It's Friday, Bees! I did my usual cyberpunking around for quite a bit, but first, the workout.
Today was another Legs day.
Paused Squats: 75 x 5.
Leg Press: 120 x 5. Or was it 6?
Hack Squats: 80 x 5.
Lying Leg Curls: 35 x 10.
I did three sets for each exercise, but will increase it to four sets. I felt like I wasn't getting enough volume this time, so that's something to try next time.
Went to the other side of the city (Tseung Kwan O) to pick up my China entry permit. Everyone in HK visits the mainland on the weekends, so there's supposedly a ton of stuff to do. Now that I have my permit...
There were a ton of people at the gym today (I went around 12:45), which is weird. Yeah, there were the usual senior citizens, and the kids who get school credit by working out here, but the rest? Inexplicable. I guess it's good that more people are getting in their fitness fix, so who am I to judge?
We made it to the weekend, Bees! Have at it.
Playing: Bleh. Zombpiercer is a wash. Note to self - stop playing survival games, they're just not your thing! And that's okay. So I picked up a fantasy FPS - First Person Slasher called Voin, which I've had my eye on. It's something of a competitor, or complement to Mortal Sin, which I've kind of moved away from. Project Warlock 2 just dropped its full release, so I've been jamming with that for a bit.
Watching: Uh, I didn't watch anything last night. Should really get back on that. Frewaka needs watching! I did watch a bit of Castlevania on the bus today.
Listening to: Tom Waits - Goin' Out West. Probably as listenable as Tom Waits gets. It's dirty, grungy, loud, and outright badass. Like the soundtrack to a Steampunk Western movie filtered through bulletholes and grit!
Thank you kindly @Fremen, @aku-chan, @JCU, @CODawn, and @Mamatigerj.
@aku-chan I understand the trepidation. I have a hard time getting into Pixar movies because the way they structure their worlds, but for some strange reason, I liked The Bad Guys more. Upon reflection, it was quite a coincidence that my short stories here revolve around animals in a human world, just like The Bad Guys.
It's Friday, Bees! I did my usual cyberpunking around for quite a bit, but first, the workout.
Today was another Legs day.
Paused Squats: 75 x 5.
Leg Press: 120 x 5. Or was it 6?
Hack Squats: 80 x 5.
Lying Leg Curls: 35 x 10.
I did three sets for each exercise, but will increase it to four sets. I felt like I wasn't getting enough volume this time, so that's something to try next time.
Went to the other side of the city (Tseung Kwan O) to pick up my China entry permit. Everyone in HK visits the mainland on the weekends, so there's supposedly a ton of stuff to do. Now that I have my permit...
There were a ton of people at the gym today (I went around 12:45), which is weird. Yeah, there were the usual senior citizens, and the kids who get school credit by working out here, but the rest? Inexplicable. I guess it's good that more people are getting in their fitness fix, so who am I to judge?
We made it to the weekend, Bees! Have at it.
Playing: Bleh. Zombpiercer is a wash. Note to self - stop playing survival games, they're just not your thing! And that's okay. So I picked up a fantasy FPS - First Person Slasher called Voin, which I've had my eye on. It's something of a competitor, or complement to Mortal Sin, which I've kind of moved away from. Project Warlock 2 just dropped its full release, so I've been jamming with that for a bit.
Watching: Uh, I didn't watch anything last night. Should really get back on that. Frewaka needs watching! I did watch a bit of Castlevania on the bus today.
Listening to: Tom Waits - Goin' Out West. Probably as listenable as Tom Waits gets. It's dirty, grungy, loud, and outright badass. Like the soundtrack to a Steampunk Western movie filtered through bulletholes and grit!
The origin of the Crow's authority was ultimately irrelevant. Though he refused to tell the Ox which agency (if it was even official!) he represented, it was clear that they were high up, and with unspecified resources at their disposal. So Ox let the question slide, as it wasn't that important anyway. He asked his other question, enunciating his human sounds as fluently as he could. "I don't know who you lot are, but I know that you want something, and a simple e-mail wouldn't do. So what do you want?" The Crow didn't hesitate in his answer. "The neutralization of The Black Society." The Ox bellowed out a laugh at this. "Remember, I tried that, and... lost a partner." It was hard to get out. "And next I'll go down to hell and take out the devil," he sarcastically intoned. "Seriously, isn't there something realistic that you want to do?" The Crow *still* hadn't moved. "I'll restate the objective," he calmly replied. Objective... that was telling. The Crow continued.
"Decapitate the central hub of the Black Society by seizing its leader, Vicious Ram. Without him, the society's activities will diminish, and become more manageable."
Ox snorted. "Why not just kill him?" He would've liked that, of course.
"Seizure is preferred. The intel that could be mined from interrogating the most seasoned enforcer, leader, and quasi-raison d'etre of the triad would be seminal to ending their activities - not only in the continental United States, but in large swathes of Asia as well."
"And if you stop him? What stops a Razor Snake or a Liquid Fly from taking over?"
"With the destruction of their home base, and the hypothetical intelligence we would procure, damage control would be a simple task."
"And you want me to destroy their home base, of course."
"Of course."
The Ox snorted at this. "You probably have a private army at your disposal, plus untold wet workers. Why not do it yourselves?" The Crow blinked at this, and not as a form of surprise. The Ox got the impression that this was exactly what it wanted to do. "Assassinating the Black Society's leaders or conducting wholesale raids will not accomplish our goals. Through factors I don't have the time to enunciate, our direct action would only lead to the fomenting of further gang activity and warfare." The Ox nodded. "Whereas were I to do it, your group has plausible deniability, I'm familiar with the situation in Chinatown, and the arrest would be seen and upheld as legitimate police activity." He paused for a second. Speaking of which... "Why not force the department to do it?" The crow stared at him for a moment, and then squawked, coarsely. It must've been his version of a laugh, and it was an ugly sound. "Your department is mostly compromised, and has worked with the various criminal groups in Polis for years, if not decades." This saddened the Ox to hear. He had joked to Biggs that they were the two most honest cops in the force, and now the department had lost another solid officer. "Except, there is one officer we are sure you can rely on..." The Crow took out a phone, tapped a few buttons, and handed it to the Ox, who looked at the portrait on it closely.
"Rika Stone? I've heard of her. Apparently a damn good officer."
Hello, Bees! It's been a draining and messy weekend, but I'm glad to get back into the swing of things with another Push workout.
Bench Press: 142.5 x 3, 145 x 2, 147.5 x 1. I was hoping for better, but 142.5 x 3 is not bad at all, so I'll take it.
Spoto Press: 125 x 6. A new PR!
Behind the Neck Shoulder Press: 60 x 6. Ooof. This were pretty hard hitting. I had to bring the weight down significantly to get them right.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 14 x 8.
Flat Dumbbell Curls: 20 x 20, then down the rack with the remaining dumbbells until hit 20 reps again. Augh, the agony.
Forearm Dumbbell Curls: 18 x 15.
Been a bit depressed as of late. Just generally feeling like I'm a blob, and not doing much with life, among other nasty thoughts. I feel sometimes like I've tried, and failed, at so many things. Good thing I still have the drive to exercise.
Seeing a movie with a friend on Friday (Bring Her Back), and having yummy hot pot dinner on Saturday.
Have a wonderful day, Bees!
Playing: I'm off to the races with Project Warlock 2. I've finished a third of the campaign, and am taking my time with the second chunk of levels. Haven't played Voin yet, should get on that train...
I also played a demo for a horror adventure game called Tenebris Somnia (Dark Dreams in Latin), which is a well-made little indie. The twist is that while primarily using pixel-art graphics, the game occasionally throws in crisp and professional live-action FMV videos (of the lo-fi scenes you encounter in-game) to chill the blood. Their icy quality is fleeting, and allows for a horrific complement to the throwback adventure gameplay. Here's a trailer that instantly sold me on the premise. Honestly, stuff like this makes me happy to be a gamer.
Watching: So, mom finished watching Sinners (it finally came out online, and to hell with forking over cold hard cash to see it in the cinemas) and she told me I needed to get started, yesterday. So I finished the film over two parts.
Here's a trailer, synopsis, and a review.
It is the 1930s, and the ruthless and business-savvy SmokeStack twins have come home to the Mississippi Delta after working for the crime families in Chicago. Their new business venture involves buying an old mill and transforming it into a juke joint, which they do by rounding up old friends, old loves, and associates (among them their prodigious musician cousin, Sammie). That night, they hold a grand opening that's a rousing success, with assorted performances, foreign liquors, and fried fish that keep the crowd moving. However, an enigmatic Irish man envious of Sammie's transcendent talents takes notice of the gathering, and approaches the brothers. It soon becomes clear that his intentions are nefarious, and that he will stop at nothing to possess his heart's desire.
Summary: This is an absolutely electrifying movie that thanks to its construction and bold vision, deserves watching from fans of horror and film spectacle in general.
I'm more than a little amazed about Sinners, which was directed by Black Panther alum Ryan Coogler, and written by him to boot. There's a lot you can say about it, and I'm going to miss some of the insights.
I will start by saying that this is an extraordinary film. It's just a lot of fun to watch: even though the first 2/3rds of the film are dedicated to watching the brothers set up the juke joint, recruit the Mississippi locals, and throw a party (and what a party it is!), none of it is boring. The final, action-packed third builds on the dramatic strength and the strongly-defined characters we've followed in the first parts of the film, which lends it dramatic weight and stakes (pun not intended). A lot of the fun is seeing the Smokestack twins interact with different characters, and it's clear that they hold a lot of cachet with their community.
All in all, the film is astonishingly well-made. The direction is on point, the settings feel lived-in and authentic, and the acting is simply great. Michael B Jordan takes particular credit as the suave and dangerous Smoke and Stack, but everyone else in the cast holds their own. And that score. The music is just perfect, making profound use of the Blues genre (and dashes of others in an acidic sequence that needs to be seen to be fully grasped), and Ludwig Goransson's score is a perfect complement. It's rare nowadays that a film balances musical numbers with drama in an organic way (Disney is terrible at this, ie), but Sinners pulls it off. The ending is a little protracted, but is charged and emotionally affecting.
If I had even a sliver of a complaint, it would have to be that the final showdown is not as epic and all out as I'd hoped; it's still bloody (and how) and competently staged, but I was hoping for a more protracted sequence. There is less of the ambitious staging you would see in Coogler's work in the Marvel universe, but then again, maybe the grounded and swift resolution the action brings is the point. And the vampires. There's only so much you can do with them in cinema at this point, but at least they're rendered with charm, character, and lots of blood. The villain is... a villain, but at least he's hinted to have a history and character of his own. When what you get is excellent, complaining that it's not perfect is rendered trivial.
(Side note: As a Chinese person, I'm impressed with the depiction of the Chinese family in the film. It's clear that pains were taken to portray them respectfully, and even authentically. Not often I get to say that.)
Befitting my assessment of it as a modern horror classic, I'm pouring Sinners five Irish beers out of five.
Listening to: The Sound - Longest Days. It's funny, I lament the passing of my youth and too-hasty entry into adulthood, but on a day-to-day basis, it feels like each day takes forever to pass. I think it's a by-product of my depression - often I just want those shitty days to pass. This song encapsulates that dragged-out, agonizing feeling.
"These are the longest days I've ever known
Groan out of my bed, look at my watch, way too soon
Too much daylight leads to a night life and the fear
Of another day that's going to last four or five years
Not for often
Now I know how it all shakes
Do you feel that way too?
Now I know how it all breaks
Are you feeling that way too?"
"Decapitate the central hub of the Black Society by seizing its leader, Vicious Ram. Without him, the society's activities will diminish, and become more manageable."
Ox snorted. "Why not just kill him?" He would've liked that, of course.
"Seizure is preferred. The intel that could be mined from interrogating the most seasoned enforcer, leader, and quasi-raison d'etre of the triad would be seminal to ending their activities - not only in the continental United States, but in large swathes of Asia as well."
"And if you stop him? What stops a Razor Snake or a Liquid Fly from taking over?"
"With the destruction of their home base, and the hypothetical intelligence we would procure, damage control would be a simple task."
"And you want me to destroy their home base, of course."
"Of course."
The Ox snorted at this. "You probably have a private army at your disposal, plus untold wet workers. Why not do it yourselves?" The Crow blinked at this, and not as a form of surprise. The Ox got the impression that this was exactly what it wanted to do. "Assassinating the Black Society's leaders or conducting wholesale raids will not accomplish our goals. Through factors I don't have the time to enunciate, our direct action would only lead to the fomenting of further gang activity and warfare." The Ox nodded. "Whereas were I to do it, your group has plausible deniability, I'm familiar with the situation in Chinatown, and the arrest would be seen and upheld as legitimate police activity." He paused for a second. Speaking of which... "Why not force the department to do it?" The crow stared at him for a moment, and then squawked, coarsely. It must've been his version of a laugh, and it was an ugly sound. "Your department is mostly compromised, and has worked with the various criminal groups in Polis for years, if not decades." This saddened the Ox to hear. He had joked to Biggs that they were the two most honest cops in the force, and now the department had lost another solid officer. "Except, there is one officer we are sure you can rely on..." The Crow took out a phone, tapped a few buttons, and handed it to the Ox, who looked at the portrait on it closely.
"Rika Stone? I've heard of her. Apparently a damn good officer."
Hello, Bees! It's been a draining and messy weekend, but I'm glad to get back into the swing of things with another Push workout.
Bench Press: 142.5 x 3, 145 x 2, 147.5 x 1. I was hoping for better, but 142.5 x 3 is not bad at all, so I'll take it.
Spoto Press: 125 x 6. A new PR!
Behind the Neck Shoulder Press: 60 x 6. Ooof. This were pretty hard hitting. I had to bring the weight down significantly to get them right.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 14 x 8.
Flat Dumbbell Curls: 20 x 20, then down the rack with the remaining dumbbells until hit 20 reps again. Augh, the agony.
Forearm Dumbbell Curls: 18 x 15.
Been a bit depressed as of late. Just generally feeling like I'm a blob, and not doing much with life, among other nasty thoughts. I feel sometimes like I've tried, and failed, at so many things. Good thing I still have the drive to exercise.
Seeing a movie with a friend on Friday (Bring Her Back), and having yummy hot pot dinner on Saturday.
Have a wonderful day, Bees!
Playing: I'm off to the races with Project Warlock 2. I've finished a third of the campaign, and am taking my time with the second chunk of levels. Haven't played Voin yet, should get on that train...
I also played a demo for a horror adventure game called Tenebris Somnia (Dark Dreams in Latin), which is a well-made little indie. The twist is that while primarily using pixel-art graphics, the game occasionally throws in crisp and professional live-action FMV videos (of the lo-fi scenes you encounter in-game) to chill the blood. Their icy quality is fleeting, and allows for a horrific complement to the throwback adventure gameplay. Here's a trailer that instantly sold me on the premise. Honestly, stuff like this makes me happy to be a gamer.
Watching: So, mom finished watching Sinners (it finally came out online, and to hell with forking over cold hard cash to see it in the cinemas) and she told me I needed to get started, yesterday. So I finished the film over two parts.
Here's a trailer, synopsis, and a review.
It is the 1930s, and the ruthless and business-savvy SmokeStack twins have come home to the Mississippi Delta after working for the crime families in Chicago. Their new business venture involves buying an old mill and transforming it into a juke joint, which they do by rounding up old friends, old loves, and associates (among them their prodigious musician cousin, Sammie). That night, they hold a grand opening that's a rousing success, with assorted performances, foreign liquors, and fried fish that keep the crowd moving. However, an enigmatic Irish man envious of Sammie's transcendent talents takes notice of the gathering, and approaches the brothers. It soon becomes clear that his intentions are nefarious, and that he will stop at nothing to possess his heart's desire.
Summary: This is an absolutely electrifying movie that thanks to its construction and bold vision, deserves watching from fans of horror and film spectacle in general.
I'm more than a little amazed about Sinners, which was directed by Black Panther alum Ryan Coogler, and written by him to boot. There's a lot you can say about it, and I'm going to miss some of the insights.
I will start by saying that this is an extraordinary film. It's just a lot of fun to watch: even though the first 2/3rds of the film are dedicated to watching the brothers set up the juke joint, recruit the Mississippi locals, and throw a party (and what a party it is!), none of it is boring. The final, action-packed third builds on the dramatic strength and the strongly-defined characters we've followed in the first parts of the film, which lends it dramatic weight and stakes (pun not intended). A lot of the fun is seeing the Smokestack twins interact with different characters, and it's clear that they hold a lot of cachet with their community.
All in all, the film is astonishingly well-made. The direction is on point, the settings feel lived-in and authentic, and the acting is simply great. Michael B Jordan takes particular credit as the suave and dangerous Smoke and Stack, but everyone else in the cast holds their own. And that score. The music is just perfect, making profound use of the Blues genre (and dashes of others in an acidic sequence that needs to be seen to be fully grasped), and Ludwig Goransson's score is a perfect complement. It's rare nowadays that a film balances musical numbers with drama in an organic way (Disney is terrible at this, ie), but Sinners pulls it off. The ending is a little protracted, but is charged and emotionally affecting.
If I had even a sliver of a complaint, it would have to be that the final showdown is not as epic and all out as I'd hoped; it's still bloody (and how) and competently staged, but I was hoping for a more protracted sequence. There is less of the ambitious staging you would see in Coogler's work in the Marvel universe, but then again, maybe the grounded and swift resolution the action brings is the point. And the vampires. There's only so much you can do with them in cinema at this point, but at least they're rendered with charm, character, and lots of blood. The villain is... a villain, but at least he's hinted to have a history and character of his own. When what you get is excellent, complaining that it's not perfect is rendered trivial.
(Side note: As a Chinese person, I'm impressed with the depiction of the Chinese family in the film. It's clear that pains were taken to portray them respectfully, and even authentically. Not often I get to say that.)
Befitting my assessment of it as a modern horror classic, I'm pouring Sinners five Irish beers out of five.
Listening to: The Sound - Longest Days. It's funny, I lament the passing of my youth and too-hasty entry into adulthood, but on a day-to-day basis, it feels like each day takes forever to pass. I think it's a by-product of my depression - often I just want those shitty days to pass. This song encapsulates that dragged-out, agonizing feeling.
"These are the longest days I've ever known
Groan out of my bed, look at my watch, way too soon
Too much daylight leads to a night life and the fear
Of another day that's going to last four or five years
Not for often
Now I know how it all shakes
Do you feel that way too?
Now I know how it all breaks
Are you feeling that way too?"
Grats, and hmmm, maybe sinners will go on my to-watch list.
Thank you @Fremen and @Mamatigerj and @JCU.
@JCU Thank you for the hugs, I do feel a bit better today. Still going through some bad patches, but there's some sunshine coming through.
@PetiteSheWolf Highly recommend it!
Ox sat back and tried to recall the bits and pieces he had heard on Officer Stone. Mid-thirties, and had been on the force for at least a decade. He must've seen her in passing, though they'd never met. Transferred to the Gang Response Unit and spent several years there. Had passed the selection for and requested transfer to the ERD, but for some reason had been turned down. Various meritorious citations for bravery and courage. No longer married, and had no history of addictions or mental health-related issues, or disciplinary issues. In many ways, she would be the perfect form of backup.
But he remembered what had happened to Biggs.
"I'm not sure if I need a partner." If the Crow had eyebrows, it would've raised them. "Inconceivable. You will need assistance for an assignment such as this." The Ox pounded a hoof on the table, and the dull thud echoed round the interrogation room. "I lost one partner already in this fight. Why risk the life of another?" The crow spread its wings in a shrug. "Like you said, I could simply send an assault team into Chinatown and attempt to root out the supposed headquarters of the Black Society by force and terror. But that would lead to distrust in the community, a reiteration of the Black Society, and ultimately, the decay of law and order in Polis." A pause, then it continued. "Your department is in need of legitimacy, and the city is in need of heroes." The Ox leaned forward, unmoved, and a touch suspicious. "This sounds very cynical. Are you using me?" "Yes." The Ox smoked his cigarette for a few seconds, as if pretending to think on it. "Fine. I'll do it. But I have conditions." The crow didn't blink. "Name them."
Hello again, Bees!
Had another one of those Don't Want to Do Anything(tm) days, but I powered through to hit another workout. Today was a Pull day.
Deadlifts: 155 x 6. Seemed okay, will carry on with the weight increases.
Underhand Barbell Rows: 85 x 6. Starting off light.
Machine One Armed Rows: 70 x 8. Not so light. Really wish my gym had dumbbells that go past 34 kilos.
Neutral Grip Chinups: Max set of six reps.
Narrow Grip Rows: 50 x 6.
Behind the Neck Machine Pulldowns: 60 x 5.
So my friend and I are likely not watching Bring Her Back, as the show times are pretty limited, and we just can't make it work. We compromised by agreeing to wait for 28 Years Later in two weeks, as it looks like an absolutely titanic watch.
It's been cool and rainy for most of the day. I like it!
Have a good Wednesday, Bees.
Playing: Still hammering away at the Project Warlock 2 campaign. Just all round good design and gameplay. Also made a start on Voin, and it's... something, all right. I'm not sure if it's a roguelike, Souls-like, extraction slasher, or all of these combined. I do like it so far, though.
Watching: Not much, maybe... nah.
Reading: This is what I stay up night doing. I have the Secure Contain Protect Foundation app on my phone, and I'm reading as many of the spooky SCPs as I can. In the daytime, also reading Judy Blume's Fudge saga. I'm on book three out of five already!
Listening to: Delta Wave - Neon Elegy. Some moody music for a rainy night.
@JCU Thank you for the hugs, I do feel a bit better today. Still going through some bad patches, but there's some sunshine coming through.
@PetiteSheWolf Highly recommend it!
Ox sat back and tried to recall the bits and pieces he had heard on Officer Stone. Mid-thirties, and had been on the force for at least a decade. He must've seen her in passing, though they'd never met. Transferred to the Gang Response Unit and spent several years there. Had passed the selection for and requested transfer to the ERD, but for some reason had been turned down. Various meritorious citations for bravery and courage. No longer married, and had no history of addictions or mental health-related issues, or disciplinary issues. In many ways, she would be the perfect form of backup.
But he remembered what had happened to Biggs.
"I'm not sure if I need a partner." If the Crow had eyebrows, it would've raised them. "Inconceivable. You will need assistance for an assignment such as this." The Ox pounded a hoof on the table, and the dull thud echoed round the interrogation room. "I lost one partner already in this fight. Why risk the life of another?" The crow spread its wings in a shrug. "Like you said, I could simply send an assault team into Chinatown and attempt to root out the supposed headquarters of the Black Society by force and terror. But that would lead to distrust in the community, a reiteration of the Black Society, and ultimately, the decay of law and order in Polis." A pause, then it continued. "Your department is in need of legitimacy, and the city is in need of heroes." The Ox leaned forward, unmoved, and a touch suspicious. "This sounds very cynical. Are you using me?" "Yes." The Ox smoked his cigarette for a few seconds, as if pretending to think on it. "Fine. I'll do it. But I have conditions." The crow didn't blink. "Name them."
Hello again, Bees!
Had another one of those Don't Want to Do Anything(tm) days, but I powered through to hit another workout. Today was a Pull day.
Deadlifts: 155 x 6. Seemed okay, will carry on with the weight increases.
Underhand Barbell Rows: 85 x 6. Starting off light.
Machine One Armed Rows: 70 x 8. Not so light. Really wish my gym had dumbbells that go past 34 kilos.
Neutral Grip Chinups: Max set of six reps.
Narrow Grip Rows: 50 x 6.
Behind the Neck Machine Pulldowns: 60 x 5.
So my friend and I are likely not watching Bring Her Back, as the show times are pretty limited, and we just can't make it work. We compromised by agreeing to wait for 28 Years Later in two weeks, as it looks like an absolutely titanic watch.
It's been cool and rainy for most of the day. I like it!
Have a good Wednesday, Bees.
Playing: Still hammering away at the Project Warlock 2 campaign. Just all round good design and gameplay. Also made a start on Voin, and it's... something, all right. I'm not sure if it's a roguelike, Souls-like, extraction slasher, or all of these combined. I do like it so far, though.
Watching: Not much, maybe... nah.
Reading: This is what I stay up night doing. I have the Secure Contain Protect Foundation app on my phone, and I'm reading as many of the spooky SCPs as I can. In the daytime, also reading Judy Blume's Fudge saga. I'm on book three out of five already!
Listening to: Delta Wave - Neon Elegy. Some moody music for a rainy night.
Detective Rika Stone was in the precinct's cafeteria, seated at one of the long tables. Despite the hustle and bustle around her, she sat alone, as usual. But she was used to it, having few friends here. And it was nice to have some time away from her cubicle, anyway. She took out her lunch for the day - a sandwich wrapped in aluminium foil - and a thermos filled with coffee. Placing the two items in front of her, she carefully unwrapped the aluminium foil to reveal the reuben sandwich she'd carefully prepared that morning, complete with swiss cheese, hand-chopped sauerkraut, and fresh slices of rye bread. Savouring the aroma of the sandwich, she brought it to her mouth and took a big bite. Mmm... tasty as always. Chewing slowly, she heard footsteps behind her. "Moo moo moo?" Stone looked behind her in surprise to see Detective Gentle "The Gent" Ox, standing before her. Slightly annoyed at the interruption of her heavenly lunch, Stone nodded at him, and he took a seat facing her. "Moo moo moo." Stone nodded, mouth still full of tasty ingredients. "I'd offer you a bite but well..." Stone shrugged. There was a pause as she ate a few more bites. Feeling a bit awkward, Stone said, "I'm sorry to hear about Biggs. Good man, great cop." The Ox nodded that large head of his, and Stone could sense his grief. Another moment passed. Stone decided to cut through the silence.
"Seen you around here a few times. Was there something you needed?"
"Moo moo."
"What do you need my help with?
"Moo moo moo, moo moo."
"Wow. You don't waste any time, do you. I mean, you just lost a partner, and you want to jump back into it?"
The Ox grunted. Perhaps Stone had pushed him a bit too far.
"Sorry. But you went outside of command, and... this happened. And you want to do it again! With me! Why?"
"Moo moo moo moo, moo."
"You have someone helping you? So why don't they do it?"
"Moo moo."
"So it has to be you. I kind of understand, but why not the department?" The Ox should his head, adamant. "I shouldn't have asked. Okay, say I trust what you say, say I go out of my way to help you, say I break the rules alongside you, and say we get out of this alive. How would we pull this off?" She chewed on her sandwich a little more. "Moo moo moo moo." Stone laughed a little. "Forget it, Ox. It's Chinatown." Either the reference was lost on him, or her impersonation was rubbish, but the Ox didn't laugh. "Moo moo moo, moo." Stone nodded. The walls had ears.
"Can I finish my lunch first?"
Hey again, everyone. Managed to make it into the gym for Leg day. I've been training my legs more regularly now, so hope they bear fruit in the future. This time I added a working set to my exercises, and my legs are feeling it.
Paused Squats: 80 x 6. Getting tougher now...
Leg Press: 140 x 6.
Hack Squats: I think 90 for 6 reps.
Lying Leg Curls: 42.5 x 8. By Krom, these were tough today.
Body Extensions: 4 x 10.
I'd forgotten all about June 4th. Not that it matters much nowadays...
Super sleepy. Tomorrow is hot pot dinner! Om nom nom.
We made it to Friday! Have a great weekend, Bees.
Playing: Voin is lots of fun. It's like a mix of Elder Scrolls first person combat with Elder Scrolls' jumbo-sized levels, with a dash of weapon building and decorated with an icing of RPG stats. It's been so much fun running around and slaying that I forget at times that it's an early-access game. I almost regretted my purchase, but definitely don't anymore. Very much looking forward to further updates. If I manage to thoroughly finish this early access build (which may never happen, considering the sheer size of the levels, and my novice grasp on the game's mechanics), I'll write a brief review.
Watching: Not Bring Her Back
Just wasn't able to make the cinema times work. I'll definitely watch it when it comes out digitally, of course. Haven't been indulging in late night cinema lately for reasons (which I discuss below). May watch Ballerina, but that one comes across as lukewarm to me.
Reading: So I haven't been watching anything late at night because I'm still reading the Fudge books, vol. 3. They're just good, wholesome fun, and the writing style is simple and engaging. When I'm not reading the Fudge books, I'm reading different SCPs. Most of the curated ones are good, others are just padded tosh. And I have a dislike of SCPs that require you to read up on the lore of other SCPs; I prefer my SCPs self-contained.
Listening to: The Sword - Freya. Here's some Voin-appropriate music that girds the loins, and readies you for glorious battle with your blood-soaked blade! Feel the despair and pain of your enemies wash over you like the rain!
"A sword of fire and an axe of coal
Vision of the sibyl has foretold
Armies gather on the battle-plain
All will fall and Earth will die in flames"
"Seen you around here a few times. Was there something you needed?"
"Moo moo."
"What do you need my help with?
"Moo moo moo, moo moo."
"Wow. You don't waste any time, do you. I mean, you just lost a partner, and you want to jump back into it?"
The Ox grunted. Perhaps Stone had pushed him a bit too far.
"Sorry. But you went outside of command, and... this happened. And you want to do it again! With me! Why?"
"Moo moo moo moo, moo."
"You have someone helping you? So why don't they do it?"
"Moo moo."
"So it has to be you. I kind of understand, but why not the department?" The Ox should his head, adamant. "I shouldn't have asked. Okay, say I trust what you say, say I go out of my way to help you, say I break the rules alongside you, and say we get out of this alive. How would we pull this off?" She chewed on her sandwich a little more. "Moo moo moo moo." Stone laughed a little. "Forget it, Ox. It's Chinatown." Either the reference was lost on him, or her impersonation was rubbish, but the Ox didn't laugh. "Moo moo moo, moo." Stone nodded. The walls had ears.
"Can I finish my lunch first?"
Hey again, everyone. Managed to make it into the gym for Leg day. I've been training my legs more regularly now, so hope they bear fruit in the future. This time I added a working set to my exercises, and my legs are feeling it.
Paused Squats: 80 x 6. Getting tougher now...
Leg Press: 140 x 6.
Hack Squats: I think 90 for 6 reps.
Lying Leg Curls: 42.5 x 8. By Krom, these were tough today.
Body Extensions: 4 x 10.
I'd forgotten all about June 4th. Not that it matters much nowadays...
Super sleepy. Tomorrow is hot pot dinner! Om nom nom.
We made it to Friday! Have a great weekend, Bees.
Playing: Voin is lots of fun. It's like a mix of Elder Scrolls first person combat with Elder Scrolls' jumbo-sized levels, with a dash of weapon building and decorated with an icing of RPG stats. It's been so much fun running around and slaying that I forget at times that it's an early-access game. I almost regretted my purchase, but definitely don't anymore. Very much looking forward to further updates. If I manage to thoroughly finish this early access build (which may never happen, considering the sheer size of the levels, and my novice grasp on the game's mechanics), I'll write a brief review.
Watching: Not Bring Her Back
Just wasn't able to make the cinema times work. I'll definitely watch it when it comes out digitally, of course. Haven't been indulging in late night cinema lately for reasons (which I discuss below). May watch Ballerina, but that one comes across as lukewarm to me.Reading: So I haven't been watching anything late at night because I'm still reading the Fudge books, vol. 3. They're just good, wholesome fun, and the writing style is simple and engaging. When I'm not reading the Fudge books, I'm reading different SCPs. Most of the curated ones are good, others are just padded tosh. And I have a dislike of SCPs that require you to read up on the lore of other SCPs; I prefer my SCPs self-contained.
Listening to: The Sword - Freya. Here's some Voin-appropriate music that girds the loins, and readies you for glorious battle with your blood-soaked blade! Feel the despair and pain of your enemies wash over you like the rain!
"A sword of fire and an axe of coal
Vision of the sibyl has foretold
Armies gather on the battle-plain
All will fall and Earth will die in flames"
"Forget it, Ox, it's Chinatown"...
(nearly put on a gif from the scene where Nicholson slaps Faye Dunaway, and then understanding dawns on him... but it'd have been a spoiler. I think it's one of the hardest-hitting minutes in cinema.
"She's my sister... She's my daughter"...
If you've never seen this movie, run, go see it!)
(nearly put on a gif from the scene where Nicholson slaps Faye Dunaway, and then understanding dawns on him... but it'd have been a spoiler. I think it's one of the hardest-hitting minutes in cinema.
"She's my sister... She's my daughter"...
If you've never seen this movie, run, go see it!)
@PetiteSheWolf I didn't know you were such a fan! I've never actually watched it, and I'm kind of afraid to, as I know it ends very bleakly. But still, your recommendation holds water (which is a reference to the movie, though I hadn't thought of it when I wrote this!).
"...Moo moo moo," the Ox concluded, taking a sip from his mojito. This was the fifth one he had ordered, but the only ill effects on him seemed to be the glares the bartender gave him as he laboured to mix each one. The sky was a warm shade of red that seemed to touch the waters as the beachgoers continued their play. The noodles were indeed lovely, though the two had moved on to catch drinks at a similarly beachside dive nearby. Stone sighed, and swirled her strawberry daiquri by its stem. She had barely drank from it, too entranced by the Ox's account of the last few days. "And that's it? I mean, what about Vicious Ram?" Now it was the Ox's turn to swirl his drink, though this was more for emphasis than anything else. "Stone," he intoned in that rumble of his, "The Vicious Ram is gone, presumably locked up with the key chucked away." Stone slowly nodded. "I know what you mean. After all, we struck a blow to the worst Polis had to offer." The Ox mooed softly at this. There was one lingering question on Stone's mind. "So... I mean, I love being here in Santa Paz, sipping drinks and shooting the shit like people haven't been trying to kill us repeatedly, but... is that it for you?"
"Moo." The Ox drank from his mojito in affirmation.
"I guess it was a dumb question. But there will always be corruption, there will always be a Black Society, and there will always be a Vicious Ram."
"Moo moo moo moo, moo."
"I know, the fight never ends, but we could still use a good Ox on our side."
The Ox inclined his head at her. "My part is finished. I turned in my gun, and it's time to seek peace elsewhere - I'm not staying in Santa Paz."
"Where will you go?"
"For starters, back to Guangdong. Going to check in on the family farm and see if I'm needed. Do something quiet, for a change."
"It would be well deserved."
"Moo moo?"
"Me? I have another officially-sanctioned week off, and then... looking forward to miles of paperwork, and an internal affairs investigation. Not fun."
The Ox made a motion as if snapping his non-existent fingers. "Moo." He produced a business card.
"In case you ever get tired of all that paperwork, give this fellow a call."
Stone accepted the card gently. and turned it over. There was a strange phone number in the middle, and no other details. Strange.
Greetings, Bees! The Ox is back! It's only been four days without exercise, but that feels like an absolute eternity. It's weird going into that void of time where the days tumble past each other... all the more important that I have an exercise regimen. Anyway, today I decided to max out on my lifts, as I sense I'm not getting anywhere just endlessly hammering reps. I also threw in a bunch of other exercises, for fun and profit.
Bench Press: 152.5 x 1. Started with 140, 145, 150, and feeling I was at my limit, 152.5 x 1. It's okay. My workouts these past few weeks have been somewhat inconsistent, so I'll work on more periodization (ie varying up rep and set schemes) and more frequent workouts.
Spoto Press: 127.5 x 3. A PR!
Incline Press: 115 x 3. Ugh. This was tough.
Behind the Neck Press: 135 x 6.
EZ Bar Pushdowns: 16 x 10. Another PR!
Alternating Dumbbell Curls: I dunno, 20 kg? I think? x 20.
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 18 x 12.
It's both really warm and humid here, as well as windy and rainy. Yep, we're in typhoon season.
Hot pot was om nom nom/10, but we're going to have a more laid back meal this Saturday. Oh, and we're getting haircuts. Mine currently resembles a mushroom-like shape, so I'm looking forward to having my hair clean and short again.
Hope to see you again, Bees, tomorrow.
Playing: Mostly more of Voin, though I think I've exhausted the exploration that can be done in early access. Also playing more of Project Warlock 2 - finished two of the campaigns, and onto the third one. Also reinstalled some AAA games like Control and Days Gone, but I'm not sure I'll make a dent in them.
Watching: Seriously thinking about watching Fierce Creatures in full (see below). Blood of Zeus's final season is now available but I haven't watched a second of it. Yet.
The Funnies: Here's a scene from Fierce Creatures, which I heard of as a kid, but never watched in whole. Better rectify that...
Listening to: Da Octopusss - (Untitled, from Banlieue 13). Another one of those songs buzzing around my memory which I decided to follow through on. Great for an adrenaline rush. Was very memorably used in this film in a sequence in which landmark traceur David Belle evades numerous thugs in his apartment building. Probably an introduction to Parkour for much of the world.
"...Moo moo moo," the Ox concluded, taking a sip from his mojito. This was the fifth one he had ordered, but the only ill effects on him seemed to be the glares the bartender gave him as he laboured to mix each one. The sky was a warm shade of red that seemed to touch the waters as the beachgoers continued their play. The noodles were indeed lovely, though the two had moved on to catch drinks at a similarly beachside dive nearby. Stone sighed, and swirled her strawberry daiquri by its stem. She had barely drank from it, too entranced by the Ox's account of the last few days. "And that's it? I mean, what about Vicious Ram?" Now it was the Ox's turn to swirl his drink, though this was more for emphasis than anything else. "Stone," he intoned in that rumble of his, "The Vicious Ram is gone, presumably locked up with the key chucked away." Stone slowly nodded. "I know what you mean. After all, we struck a blow to the worst Polis had to offer." The Ox mooed softly at this. There was one lingering question on Stone's mind. "So... I mean, I love being here in Santa Paz, sipping drinks and shooting the shit like people haven't been trying to kill us repeatedly, but... is that it for you?"
"Moo." The Ox drank from his mojito in affirmation.
"I guess it was a dumb question. But there will always be corruption, there will always be a Black Society, and there will always be a Vicious Ram."
"Moo moo moo moo, moo."
"I know, the fight never ends, but we could still use a good Ox on our side."
The Ox inclined his head at her. "My part is finished. I turned in my gun, and it's time to seek peace elsewhere - I'm not staying in Santa Paz."
"Where will you go?"
"For starters, back to Guangdong. Going to check in on the family farm and see if I'm needed. Do something quiet, for a change."
"It would be well deserved."
"Moo moo?"
"Me? I have another officially-sanctioned week off, and then... looking forward to miles of paperwork, and an internal affairs investigation. Not fun."
The Ox made a motion as if snapping his non-existent fingers. "Moo." He produced a business card.
"In case you ever get tired of all that paperwork, give this fellow a call."
Stone accepted the card gently. and turned it over. There was a strange phone number in the middle, and no other details. Strange.
Greetings, Bees! The Ox is back! It's only been four days without exercise, but that feels like an absolute eternity. It's weird going into that void of time where the days tumble past each other... all the more important that I have an exercise regimen. Anyway, today I decided to max out on my lifts, as I sense I'm not getting anywhere just endlessly hammering reps. I also threw in a bunch of other exercises, for fun and profit.
Bench Press: 152.5 x 1. Started with 140, 145, 150, and feeling I was at my limit, 152.5 x 1. It's okay. My workouts these past few weeks have been somewhat inconsistent, so I'll work on more periodization (ie varying up rep and set schemes) and more frequent workouts.
Spoto Press: 127.5 x 3. A PR!
Incline Press: 115 x 3. Ugh. This was tough.
Behind the Neck Press: 135 x 6.
EZ Bar Pushdowns: 16 x 10. Another PR!
Alternating Dumbbell Curls: I dunno, 20 kg? I think? x 20.
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 18 x 12.
It's both really warm and humid here, as well as windy and rainy. Yep, we're in typhoon season.
Hot pot was om nom nom/10, but we're going to have a more laid back meal this Saturday. Oh, and we're getting haircuts. Mine currently resembles a mushroom-like shape, so I'm looking forward to having my hair clean and short again.
Hope to see you again, Bees, tomorrow.
Playing: Mostly more of Voin, though I think I've exhausted the exploration that can be done in early access. Also playing more of Project Warlock 2 - finished two of the campaigns, and onto the third one. Also reinstalled some AAA games like Control and Days Gone, but I'm not sure I'll make a dent in them.
Watching: Seriously thinking about watching Fierce Creatures in full (see below). Blood of Zeus's final season is now available but I haven't watched a second of it. Yet.
The Funnies: Here's a scene from Fierce Creatures, which I heard of as a kid, but never watched in whole. Better rectify that...
Listening to: Da Octopusss - (Untitled, from Banlieue 13). Another one of those songs buzzing around my memory which I decided to follow through on. Great for an adrenaline rush. Was very memorably used in this film in a sequence in which landmark traceur David Belle evades numerous thugs in his apartment building. Probably an introduction to Parkour for much of the world.
-
GentleOx
-
Last edited:
Another explosion whistled overhead, and the soldiers in the trenches took cover. Sgt G. Ox sat amongst his mates in Dagger squad, his khaki uniform soiled by the dirt, grime, and debris flung all around the trenches by mortar shells. It was daytime, which meant a reprieve from periodic enemy assaults, but the bombs? They never stopped delivering deadly payloads. He took out a Harlbrus Green cigarette and struck a match against the wooden slats reinforcing the trench. Smoking was one of the few pastimes practically universally adopted by their soldiers, remarkable, given that the Western Union drew from a vast pool of countries and recruits. The ox inhaled the smoke from the cigarette and the end smoldered. Minty...
A runner dashing through the trenches stopped to examine the Ox. "Sir, are you Sergeant Gentle Ox?" The Ox stared back at him crankily, cigarette in one hoof, as if willing the glaringly obvious answer into the young man's head. Animal recruits were vanishingly rare here, and as a broadly built ox, he kind of stood out. The runner, unbothered, handed him a dirty, brown piece of paper before dashing past him deeper into the trenches to deliver another message. Corporal Dram was nearby, and had seen the commotion. "Tell me they're not going to send us over the top this time." The ox unfurled the message, read it, crumpled it up, and threw it over the top of the trenches. "Moo," he said with resignation.
Thank you very much @Mamatigerj, @graoumia, @JCU, and @Fremen!
Hello again, Bees! I took yesterday off, but I was due for a Back workout, so I did that today.
Deadlifts: 160 x 6. Ugh, these have become difficult again. My grip keeps giving way, like I can just barely hold the weights. Next week I'll move on to 165, with some luck.
Underhand Barbell Rows: 90 x 6.
Meadows Rows: 41.25 x 5. Gah. My grip gave way again. Recurring theme here.
Neutral Pull Ups: Max set of 7 reps, I think.
Machine One Handed Rows: 60 for three reps, 50 for six.
Behind the Neck Pulldowns: 60 for five.
Just read the news, after seeing updates in passing on the TVs at the gym. World's gone bonkers, if you ask me.
Because a typhoon is passing by, it's been raining fairly heavily at intervals, but I managed to make it home without getting too wet. The rain has been pretty intense at times, and perhaps I'll witness another storm tonight.
We made it to the weekend, Bees! Go nuts!
Playing: Eh, lately been in a bit of a gaming slump. I uninstalled Sulfur, and instantly regretted it, so that's going back on my hard drive. Installed Selaco and want to give 7 Days to Die another chance (which will likely fizzle out, but who knows). And of course, still replaying Voin, despite having bumped up against the edges of early access limits.
Watching: I watched 1997's Fierce Creatures, which is a comedy featuring Monty Python stalwarts Michael Palin and, of course, the inimitable John Cleese, not to mention of bevvy of other stars, like Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Kline (returning from the spiritual predecessor of this film, A Fish Called Wanda).
Here's a trailer, synopsis, and review!
Rollo Lee and the zookeepers of the UK Marwood zoo are in a bit of a pickle. The zoo is owned by multi-billionaire tycoon Rod McCain, who has a seemingly mercurial habit of selling off properties that don't turn a profit. Rollo hatches a scheme to increase the profits of the zoo by 20%, which starts with getting rid of creatures which are not "Fierce". Shenanigans resulting from this scheme are compounded when Cain sends his lickspittle, unloved son Vince and ambitious executive Willa Weston to the zoo to oversee Rollo's management. Madcap insanity ensues as the employees of the zoo fight to keep it open.
Summary: While it doesn't hold up to iconic humour of a Fish Called Wanda, it's still pretty damn funny in its own right, with great gags and farce abound.
I liked this one a lot! It's a great combination of witty jokes, sight gags, and clever dialogue, as well as a none-too-flattering portrayal of a Rupert Murdoch stand-in. An interesting item of trivia is that Cleese wishes he'd never made this film (given extensive studio wrangling and frustrating reshoots), but I think there's a lot to love. And the animals are just adorable (except when they're occasionally fake)!
The zany madcaps oscillate from healthy doses of slapstick (there's a killer gag featuring Cleese licking a woman's bloody leg), but it's the wit and sardonics that save the day. Cleese is awesome, as you might expect, but Curtis and Kline gamely hold their own. It's not totally original comedy, (a lot of the gags are repeated, and there's little we haven't seen before), but a lot of it still lands.
Wow, there were a lot of objects to choose from for my rating, but I'll give Fierce Creatures four animatronic pandas out of five.
Listening to: The Beach Boys - Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder). I'd forgotten about this one! RIP Brian Wilson, for producing some of the sunniest and most memorable music ever known. I'm not an outright fan of The Beach Boys but I admit to enjoying their music - I saw them live when they came to Hong Kong some years ago. Wilson was in the twilight of his life, but his music will live on.
"Come close, close your eyes and be still
Don't talk, take my hand and let me hear your heart beat
Being here with you feels so right
We could live forever tonight
Let's not think about tomorrow
And don't talk put your head on my shoulder"
additionally...
Sly and the Family Stone - Just Like a Baby. From their (some would say his) incendiary first album; arguably one of the best songs of the 60s, for my vote. RIP Sly Stone for all the genius and groundbreaking tunes from across the decades.
"Stand, in the end, you'll still be you
One that's done all the things you set out to do
Stand, there's a cross for you to bear
Things to go through if you're goin' anywhere"
A runner dashing through the trenches stopped to examine the Ox. "Sir, are you Sergeant Gentle Ox?" The Ox stared back at him crankily, cigarette in one hoof, as if willing the glaringly obvious answer into the young man's head. Animal recruits were vanishingly rare here, and as a broadly built ox, he kind of stood out. The runner, unbothered, handed him a dirty, brown piece of paper before dashing past him deeper into the trenches to deliver another message. Corporal Dram was nearby, and had seen the commotion. "Tell me they're not going to send us over the top this time." The ox unfurled the message, read it, crumpled it up, and threw it over the top of the trenches. "Moo," he said with resignation.
Thank you very much @Mamatigerj, @graoumia, @JCU, and @Fremen!
Hello again, Bees! I took yesterday off, but I was due for a Back workout, so I did that today.
Deadlifts: 160 x 6. Ugh, these have become difficult again. My grip keeps giving way, like I can just barely hold the weights. Next week I'll move on to 165, with some luck.
Underhand Barbell Rows: 90 x 6.
Meadows Rows: 41.25 x 5. Gah. My grip gave way again. Recurring theme here.
Neutral Pull Ups: Max set of 7 reps, I think.
Machine One Handed Rows: 60 for three reps, 50 for six.
Behind the Neck Pulldowns: 60 for five.
Just read the news, after seeing updates in passing on the TVs at the gym. World's gone bonkers, if you ask me.
Because a typhoon is passing by, it's been raining fairly heavily at intervals, but I managed to make it home without getting too wet. The rain has been pretty intense at times, and perhaps I'll witness another storm tonight.
We made it to the weekend, Bees! Go nuts!
Playing: Eh, lately been in a bit of a gaming slump. I uninstalled Sulfur, and instantly regretted it, so that's going back on my hard drive. Installed Selaco and want to give 7 Days to Die another chance (which will likely fizzle out, but who knows). And of course, still replaying Voin, despite having bumped up against the edges of early access limits.
Watching: I watched 1997's Fierce Creatures, which is a comedy featuring Monty Python stalwarts Michael Palin and, of course, the inimitable John Cleese, not to mention of bevvy of other stars, like Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Kline (returning from the spiritual predecessor of this film, A Fish Called Wanda).
Here's a trailer, synopsis, and review!
Rollo Lee and the zookeepers of the UK Marwood zoo are in a bit of a pickle. The zoo is owned by multi-billionaire tycoon Rod McCain, who has a seemingly mercurial habit of selling off properties that don't turn a profit. Rollo hatches a scheme to increase the profits of the zoo by 20%, which starts with getting rid of creatures which are not "Fierce". Shenanigans resulting from this scheme are compounded when Cain sends his lickspittle, unloved son Vince and ambitious executive Willa Weston to the zoo to oversee Rollo's management. Madcap insanity ensues as the employees of the zoo fight to keep it open.
Summary: While it doesn't hold up to iconic humour of a Fish Called Wanda, it's still pretty damn funny in its own right, with great gags and farce abound.
I liked this one a lot! It's a great combination of witty jokes, sight gags, and clever dialogue, as well as a none-too-flattering portrayal of a Rupert Murdoch stand-in. An interesting item of trivia is that Cleese wishes he'd never made this film (given extensive studio wrangling and frustrating reshoots), but I think there's a lot to love. And the animals are just adorable (except when they're occasionally fake)!
The zany madcaps oscillate from healthy doses of slapstick (there's a killer gag featuring Cleese licking a woman's bloody leg), but it's the wit and sardonics that save the day. Cleese is awesome, as you might expect, but Curtis and Kline gamely hold their own. It's not totally original comedy, (a lot of the gags are repeated, and there's little we haven't seen before), but a lot of it still lands.
Wow, there were a lot of objects to choose from for my rating, but I'll give Fierce Creatures four animatronic pandas out of five.
Listening to: The Beach Boys - Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder). I'd forgotten about this one! RIP Brian Wilson, for producing some of the sunniest and most memorable music ever known. I'm not an outright fan of The Beach Boys but I admit to enjoying their music - I saw them live when they came to Hong Kong some years ago. Wilson was in the twilight of his life, but his music will live on.
"Come close, close your eyes and be still
Don't talk, take my hand and let me hear your heart beat
Being here with you feels so right
We could live forever tonight
Let's not think about tomorrow
And don't talk put your head on my shoulder"
additionally...
Sly and the Family Stone - Just Like a Baby. From their (some would say his) incendiary first album; arguably one of the best songs of the 60s, for my vote. RIP Sly Stone for all the genius and groundbreaking tunes from across the decades.
"Stand, in the end, you'll still be you
One that's done all the things you set out to do
Stand, there's a cross for you to bear
Things to go through if you're goin' anywhere"
I'll add Fierce Creatures to the list! Thanks!Thank you kindly @CODawn!
@JCU No problem! Are you going to watch 28 Years Later? I don't know when Weapons is coming out here, so 28YL is the summer blockbuster horror I'm looking forward to.
Sgt. Ox clutched his rifle as he crouched low, the dirt of the crater unsteady beneath his boots. They had maneuvered past the floodlights installed by their side to catch unwary infiltrators, and were now creeping their way into the night-covered abyss that was no man's land. All around him were craters, debris, and even more grisly sights that he had wished he'd never seen. A seemingly endless waves of human lives had been sent over the trenches to meet their inevitable, infinitesimal fates.
And now, Dagger Squad was doing it again. Perhaps recognizing that the Ox and his crew were superb at going undetected, the brass had assigned them to do a reconnaissance run. They were to scout the defenses of this sector of the AU's forces and return. Perhaps less than a kilometer away, the trenches, floodlights, and barbed wire of the enemy's trench awaited. Not close enough, though. Ox continued to creep, eyes straining to catch unwelcome surprises such as - he froze, raising his right hoof slightly behind him. He could hear the soft footsteps behind him stop, and he turned to Dram, who he knew was several steps behind him in the dark. "Moo!" He softly called.
Dram came up behind him, slowly. "Mines?" The Ox nodded. "Defuse them? Or go around?" The Ox made a semi-circular motion with his hoof, and Dram got the message, passing the signal down the line...
Hey Bees. I hit the gym today to start my Push routine over again, from the very start.
Paused Bench Press: 120 x 5. This was pretty difficult today. I know from experience that in subsequent weeks, it'll grow again, but it's still a bit deflating when you've already peaked, and are coming back down again. Ah well.
Paused Incline Bench: 80 x 6.
Behind the Neck Press: 60 x 6.
Incline Dumbbell Curls: 14 x 20
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 18 x 16
The world continues to go bonkers.
On a smaller scale, I've had a lot of negative and depressive thoughts rolling around my head - even at the gym. For me, the solution for depression has never been hoping it would go away. It doesn't, and if you entertain its allure for long enough, it gets worse.
So I grit my teeth, bore through it, and made my way home again. Had a shower, munched on some dried cranberries, and continued on with my day. What else can I do? My therapist reminded me that there was always a choice, no matter how I felt. It means that I can decide to curl up in a ball and wish the world away - or live my life, as imperfectly as I can.
Anyway. It's been cloudy and very humid - the sun hasn't even been out, and still the heat is horrid. Hopefully we get another rain swell, as one of life's pleasures is watching the rain fall when you're safe and snug at home.
When you die, pray you don't spend the afterlife hungry!
The triumphant return of calico cat! Still quite shy; even though it meows around me, it won't let me pet them.
Got my hair trimmed, as I was looking rather hirsute!
Enjoy your Sunday, Bees! I hope it's sunnier that ours over here has been.
Playing: So I booted up Selaco again for the first time in a year. While the campaign hasn't been extended (yet), it's still worth replaying, as it was clearly made with a lot of love. Also a bit of Division 2, and will try to make more of a dent in Project Warlock 2 tonight.
Watching: Uh, been doing more reading than watching. We'll see... watch this space. Kind of have a hankering for watching more Backrooms vids.
Reading: More from the SCP Foundation. This one is a recent favourite of mine; the idea is that even Heaven would get boring eventually, and eternity is a very long time.
https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-7179
Also reading up on the feud between erstwhile greatest web creator in the universe, Maddox, and Asterios Kokkinos. Geez, couldn't you just let it go? When lawyers get involved, nobody wins... except for the lawyers.
Listening to: Drab Majesty - Noise of the Void. Discovered another absolute gem from this group! It's nihilistic and wispy, but a great song for all that.
@JCU No problem! Are you going to watch 28 Years Later? I don't know when Weapons is coming out here, so 28YL is the summer blockbuster horror I'm looking forward to.
Sgt. Ox clutched his rifle as he crouched low, the dirt of the crater unsteady beneath his boots. They had maneuvered past the floodlights installed by their side to catch unwary infiltrators, and were now creeping their way into the night-covered abyss that was no man's land. All around him were craters, debris, and even more grisly sights that he had wished he'd never seen. A seemingly endless waves of human lives had been sent over the trenches to meet their inevitable, infinitesimal fates.
And now, Dagger Squad was doing it again. Perhaps recognizing that the Ox and his crew were superb at going undetected, the brass had assigned them to do a reconnaissance run. They were to scout the defenses of this sector of the AU's forces and return. Perhaps less than a kilometer away, the trenches, floodlights, and barbed wire of the enemy's trench awaited. Not close enough, though. Ox continued to creep, eyes straining to catch unwelcome surprises such as - he froze, raising his right hoof slightly behind him. He could hear the soft footsteps behind him stop, and he turned to Dram, who he knew was several steps behind him in the dark. "Moo!" He softly called.
Dram came up behind him, slowly. "Mines?" The Ox nodded. "Defuse them? Or go around?" The Ox made a semi-circular motion with his hoof, and Dram got the message, passing the signal down the line...
Hey Bees. I hit the gym today to start my Push routine over again, from the very start.
Paused Bench Press: 120 x 5. This was pretty difficult today. I know from experience that in subsequent weeks, it'll grow again, but it's still a bit deflating when you've already peaked, and are coming back down again. Ah well.
Paused Incline Bench: 80 x 6.
Behind the Neck Press: 60 x 6.
Incline Dumbbell Curls: 14 x 20
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 18 x 16
The world continues to go bonkers.
On a smaller scale, I've had a lot of negative and depressive thoughts rolling around my head - even at the gym. For me, the solution for depression has never been hoping it would go away. It doesn't, and if you entertain its allure for long enough, it gets worse.
So I grit my teeth, bore through it, and made my way home again. Had a shower, munched on some dried cranberries, and continued on with my day. What else can I do? My therapist reminded me that there was always a choice, no matter how I felt. It means that I can decide to curl up in a ball and wish the world away - or live my life, as imperfectly as I can.
Anyway. It's been cloudy and very humid - the sun hasn't even been out, and still the heat is horrid. Hopefully we get another rain swell, as one of life's pleasures is watching the rain fall when you're safe and snug at home.
When you die, pray you don't spend the afterlife hungry!
The triumphant return of calico cat! Still quite shy; even though it meows around me, it won't let me pet them.
Got my hair trimmed, as I was looking rather hirsute!
Enjoy your Sunday, Bees! I hope it's sunnier that ours over here has been.
Playing: So I booted up Selaco again for the first time in a year. While the campaign hasn't been extended (yet), it's still worth replaying, as it was clearly made with a lot of love. Also a bit of Division 2, and will try to make more of a dent in Project Warlock 2 tonight.
Watching: Uh, been doing more reading than watching. We'll see... watch this space. Kind of have a hankering for watching more Backrooms vids.
Reading: More from the SCP Foundation. This one is a recent favourite of mine; the idea is that even Heaven would get boring eventually, and eternity is a very long time.
https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-7179
Also reading up on the feud between erstwhile greatest web creator in the universe, Maddox, and Asterios Kokkinos. Geez, couldn't you just let it go? When lawyers get involved, nobody wins... except for the lawyers.
Listening to: Drab Majesty - Noise of the Void. Discovered another absolute gem from this group! It's nihilistic and wispy, but a great song for all that.
At least you'll get to see Weapons on the internet before too long? I'm looking forward to your review of 28YL, but I only watched the first one. I very much liked how the story focused so much on the humans in a zombie world, and how the bad guys were most definitely the humans. But I watched it on 2x speed and it was still so slow. Killed any desire to watch the sequels.
Love the haircut!
I hope your days to come are a bit brighter
Love the haircut!
I hope your days to come are a bit brighter
After circumventing the mines, the squad had found the perfect spot to reconnoitre the enemy trench. Ox had used hoof signals to ensure the squad was spread out, even though the uneven, blown-apart ground made for uneven spacing. They would just have to make do. Ox had tasked Lem, squad sniper, with taking notes, as she had the best eyes. Looming before them were the intricate defenses of the Asian Union's western frontlines. Ox did not envy Lem her job, as the nightmarish mishmash of bunkers, barbed wire, spotlights, and machine gun posts with interlocking fields of fire seemed as haphazard as the toys in a toddler's playpen - were such things capable of taking lives. The rich smell of dirt suffused the Ox's nostrils as he lay prone on the ground, and they could hear the voices from the direction of the trench, less than 50 meters away. A "psst!" got his attention, and he slowly rolled his head to the right. Lem was waving (well, just barely) in his direction. Barely moving, she nodded her head in the direction of one of the bunkers. Ox swivelled his eyes in that direction, and noticed two troopers exiting the bunker. Not just any troopers - these soldiers were canines, and were making their way through the assorted trench defences, not a stone's throw away from the squad. Ox tensed his muscles, knowing it was only a matter of time until they were detected...
Thank you kindly @JCU and @graoumia. @JCU I actually liked 28DL a good deal, as it had both action and post-apocalyptic scale on display, even if the image quality was rubbish. *Still* not sure about running zombies, as I'm devoted to Romero's canon. We'll see if 28YL matches it.
Hey again Bees. Super sleepy, but braved the typhoon rains (well, what little there were) to head to the gym and fit in my Pull workout.
Deadlifts: 165 x 6. Was not expecting this, given how difficult 160 was last week. I suppose I can move up to 170 next week, and see how that works out.
Underhand Grip Rows: 92.5 x 6.
Meadows Rows: 40 x 5. Unf, my grip kept giving way. May need to switch to another exercise.
Neutral Grip Pull Ups:
Machine Low Rows: 45 x 6. Going slow.
Gym was super packed today! Everyone getting in their fitness fix, I suppose.
The worst of the rain is past us, and soon it'll be back to getting as hot as it usually does.
Scheduled a time with one of my friends to watch 28 Years Later, this Thursday. Woohoo!
Hope your week is going well, Bees!
Playing: So I installed The Elder Scrolls: Online, after clearing up a not-inconsiderable amount of bytes from my hard drive, and to add insult to a 130 gb injury, the installer says that I need to clear up even more space (about 20gb worth)! Yeesh. I'm on the verge of finishing Project Warlock 2, so I'll play through that and see if I have enough space remaining for this monstrous MMO. Assuming I finish the PW2 campaign, I'll play a little more Voin.
Watching: Uh, not much, as usual. Will have a review ready for 28YL when I see it.
Listening to: Troy Baker and Rob King feat Mary Elizabeth McGlynn - Love Psalm. Great song. While borrowing explicitly from Akira Yamaoka's soundtrack for Silent Hill 2, this song adds some alternative rock fuel (for a series that already borrows from alternative rock) to the Silent Hill oeuvre. It's been featured every time that Silent Hill has been performed live with Yamaoka's band.
"If you could rewrite our life any way that you please
Would you tear out the pages of our memories?
Would you take back the pain and all the hurt we create?
Or could you be satisfied with the promise you made?"
Thank you kindly @JCU and @graoumia. @JCU I actually liked 28DL a good deal, as it had both action and post-apocalyptic scale on display, even if the image quality was rubbish. *Still* not sure about running zombies, as I'm devoted to Romero's canon. We'll see if 28YL matches it.
Hey again Bees. Super sleepy, but braved the typhoon rains (well, what little there were) to head to the gym and fit in my Pull workout.
Deadlifts: 165 x 6. Was not expecting this, given how difficult 160 was last week. I suppose I can move up to 170 next week, and see how that works out.
Underhand Grip Rows: 92.5 x 6.
Meadows Rows: 40 x 5. Unf, my grip kept giving way. May need to switch to another exercise.
Neutral Grip Pull Ups:
Machine Low Rows: 45 x 6. Going slow.
Gym was super packed today! Everyone getting in their fitness fix, I suppose.
The worst of the rain is past us, and soon it'll be back to getting as hot as it usually does.
Scheduled a time with one of my friends to watch 28 Years Later, this Thursday. Woohoo!
Hope your week is going well, Bees!
Playing: So I installed The Elder Scrolls: Online, after clearing up a not-inconsiderable amount of bytes from my hard drive, and to add insult to a 130 gb injury, the installer says that I need to clear up even more space (about 20gb worth)! Yeesh. I'm on the verge of finishing Project Warlock 2, so I'll play through that and see if I have enough space remaining for this monstrous MMO. Assuming I finish the PW2 campaign, I'll play a little more Voin.
Watching: Uh, not much, as usual. Will have a review ready for 28YL when I see it.
Listening to: Troy Baker and Rob King feat Mary Elizabeth McGlynn - Love Psalm. Great song. While borrowing explicitly from Akira Yamaoka's soundtrack for Silent Hill 2, this song adds some alternative rock fuel (for a series that already borrows from alternative rock) to the Silent Hill oeuvre. It's been featured every time that Silent Hill has been performed live with Yamaoka's band.
"If you could rewrite our life any way that you please
Would you tear out the pages of our memories?
Would you take back the pain and all the hurt we create?
Or could you be satisfied with the promise you made?"
The dog soldiers approached. Ox knew that once they got a whiff of the squad's scent, there way no way they'd escape unscathed. Thinking fast, he spied a nearby stone and grabbed it with a hoof. Standing or getting to one knee was a death sentence, so he rolled onto his back, throwing the rock to the left and ahead of the squad a good distance away. There was a heavy thump as the stone smacked into the earth, but louder still were the cries of alarm, followed by weapons cocking, and floodlights being swiveled in the direction of the sound. Several lights converged near the spot where the stone had fallen, and they were too close to comfort for the embattled sergeant. Ox instantly flashed the signal for "retreat", and the members of the squad slowly crawled their way away from the flood of lights - and not a moment too soon. Enemy guns opened up, threshing the earth, and not long after, the sound of mortar shells whistling through the air came from overhead. "Moo moo," the Ox cried, abandoning the silence, and at this point, the members of the squad were running for their lives, plodding their way through the dirt craters, anything, but anything to get them farther away from the awful boom of the explosions. It was after mere minutes that they made it back to their own side, gave the countersign, and leapt safely into their own trenches, but it seemed an eternity. Miraculously, none of the squad members were killed, though Tolt suffered a pulled leg muscle, and Jarrett, a minor concussion.
Greetings, Bees! It's been a solid few days since my last workout, so here's another one, fresh from the oven!
Today was a secondary Push day.
Block Press: 130 x 5. I rarely get the opportunity to bust out the block, and today was one of those days. Nothing big, yet.
Close Grip Press: 100 x 7.
Behind the Neck Press: 65 x 5.
Flat Dumbbell Curls: 20 x 20.
Forearm Dumbbell Curls: 18 x 16. Moving up!
The rain in Spain - err, Hong Kong has been rather up and down lately. Sometimes, like now, it's sunny as all out get, while other times it's been showering rain from the heavens.
Going off to yummy Japanese buffet tomorrow! Om nom noms!
Have a great weekend, Bees!
Playing: Hades 2, ever since the update dropped! It seems like it is now possible to romance several characters! It's not Valentine's Day, but love is in the air! Bwahahaha!
And not much of anything else. Figures.
Watching: So I watched 28 Years Later with my friend at the IFC cinema. Here's what I thought, with a trailer and summary, of course.
It has been 28 years since the outbreak of the Rage virus in the UK. Marked by the loss of all mental faculties and a perverse, single-minded and violent bloodlust, the virus spread through the British isles and resulted in the world's powers placing the UK under quarantine to control its impact. Numerous settlements, peopled by savvy survivors, have been established in the interim. Life in such a settlement is all 12 year-old Spike knows. His father Jamie is a seasoned hunter, and his mother ill from a strange disease. Today is different, and is something of a rite of passage - he will accompany his father to the British mainland to scavenge, and hunt the infected. Spike will struggle to survive amidst the wreckage of British society, and the presence of the unrelenting, savage infected.
Summary: A surprisingly eclectic coming-of-age story that doesn't let up on the horror, and beautiful filming.
It's been awhile since we got a 28 ____ Later film, and there was a lot riding on this one. I call it a return to form. Instead of the nonsensical escalation of its immediate predecessor, this one is a return to more personal horror and bloodletting. In fact, it's safe to call it folk horror, and it's primarily Spike's story. The film takes place from his perspective, and his struggles to adjust to a destroyed world. Spike's story is the heart of the film, and his journey to (REDACTED) is compelling and moving, in equal measures. The last arc of the movie is absolutely heartbreaking, which is definitely not what I expected in such a strange film; depending on how you look at it, it may or may not be the weakest.
Just to be clear, the film is bonkers. Danny Boyle brings his music video sensibility back to the franchise, and the at times schizophrenic hodge-podge of filming techniques, shots, and perspectives will put some off. I thought it was a treat to watch, as the action and the more reflective scenes are quite skillfully captured. The requisite horror is there, courtesy of set piece moments that wring the tension as tightly as it'll go. How scary are the infected? As scary as they were two decades ago! While there's a jump scare or two, the horror is best served by its kinetic set pieces.
I should also say that the ending is a very generous cliffhanger, but we'll find out how it all rolls in 28YL: Part 2.
Because it's an absolute shot in the arm for horror, I give the wild and frenetic 28 Years Later four and a half arrows out of five. Highly recommended.
Listening to: Zetra - So. A most peculiar mix of black metal aesthetics with synthwave melody. I like it!
Greetings, Bees! It's been a solid few days since my last workout, so here's another one, fresh from the oven!
Today was a secondary Push day.
Block Press: 130 x 5. I rarely get the opportunity to bust out the block, and today was one of those days. Nothing big, yet.
Close Grip Press: 100 x 7.
Behind the Neck Press: 65 x 5.
Flat Dumbbell Curls: 20 x 20.
Forearm Dumbbell Curls: 18 x 16. Moving up!
The rain in Spain - err, Hong Kong has been rather up and down lately. Sometimes, like now, it's sunny as all out get, while other times it's been showering rain from the heavens.
Going off to yummy Japanese buffet tomorrow! Om nom noms!
Have a great weekend, Bees!
Playing: Hades 2, ever since the update dropped! It seems like it is now possible to romance several characters! It's not Valentine's Day, but love is in the air! Bwahahaha!
And not much of anything else. Figures.
Watching: So I watched 28 Years Later with my friend at the IFC cinema. Here's what I thought, with a trailer and summary, of course.
It has been 28 years since the outbreak of the Rage virus in the UK. Marked by the loss of all mental faculties and a perverse, single-minded and violent bloodlust, the virus spread through the British isles and resulted in the world's powers placing the UK under quarantine to control its impact. Numerous settlements, peopled by savvy survivors, have been established in the interim. Life in such a settlement is all 12 year-old Spike knows. His father Jamie is a seasoned hunter, and his mother ill from a strange disease. Today is different, and is something of a rite of passage - he will accompany his father to the British mainland to scavenge, and hunt the infected. Spike will struggle to survive amidst the wreckage of British society, and the presence of the unrelenting, savage infected.
Summary: A surprisingly eclectic coming-of-age story that doesn't let up on the horror, and beautiful filming.
It's been awhile since we got a 28 ____ Later film, and there was a lot riding on this one. I call it a return to form. Instead of the nonsensical escalation of its immediate predecessor, this one is a return to more personal horror and bloodletting. In fact, it's safe to call it folk horror, and it's primarily Spike's story. The film takes place from his perspective, and his struggles to adjust to a destroyed world. Spike's story is the heart of the film, and his journey to (REDACTED) is compelling and moving, in equal measures. The last arc of the movie is absolutely heartbreaking, which is definitely not what I expected in such a strange film; depending on how you look at it, it may or may not be the weakest.
Just to be clear, the film is bonkers. Danny Boyle brings his music video sensibility back to the franchise, and the at times schizophrenic hodge-podge of filming techniques, shots, and perspectives will put some off. I thought it was a treat to watch, as the action and the more reflective scenes are quite skillfully captured. The requisite horror is there, courtesy of set piece moments that wring the tension as tightly as it'll go. How scary are the infected? As scary as they were two decades ago! While there's a jump scare or two, the horror is best served by its kinetic set pieces.
I should also say that the ending is a very generous cliffhanger, but we'll find out how it all rolls in 28YL: Part 2.
Because it's an absolute shot in the arm for horror, I give the wild and frenetic 28 Years Later four and a half arrows out of five. Highly recommended.
Listening to: Zetra - So. A most peculiar mix of black metal aesthetics with synthwave melody. I like it!
-
GentleOx
-
Last edited:
@JCU No problem! Hope you like the movie, should you choose to watch it.
The Ox fired his rifle once more, and the enemy soldier fell, but there were so many more replacing him. He signalled for Delta Squad to fall back to the courtyard - there was no way they could hold the pathetic, bombed-out and now rapidly disintegrating church they were camped in. With gunfire ripping the air to shreds, the lads did as he ordered. Good men. Thuggs' machine gun was thundering not five feet away, and the cacophony hammered away at his ear drums. Another enemy soldier not a stone's throw away took aim, and fired. The shot grazed the shoulder of the Ox's uniform, and he returned fire. Phelps was already lost, and the remainder of the squad arrayed in a square-like formation out of the early ages of warfare. The enemy drew close, seemingly blotting out the horizon, and the Ox knew they were going to be stuck in hand to hand combat soon. "Moo MOO," he cried, and the order was sounded around the square. "BAYONETS UP!" The squad affixed knifes to their rifle muzzles and readied themselves as the enemy rushed forward...
Hello once more Bees! I'm back from going to church and then hitting the gym for another Push session.
Paused Bench Press: 122.5 x 5. Easier than last week was. Could've gone six reps on some of those sets, I felt.
Spoto Press: 100 x 5. Ungh. So hard this time!
Paused Shoulder Press: 62.5 x 5.
Alternating Dumbbell Curls: 18 x 20.
Concentration Curls: 16 x 8.
Forearm Curls: 18 x 16, I think.
It was quite sunny out when I headed out to the gym, from church and even so on the way home; but then it started raining! Can't get away with nuthin'.
Have yourselves a great Sunday, Bees!
Playing: Still working on romancing my bestie (not) in Hades 2. Playing drips and drabs of Selaco, and have booted up the ES:O once more, just out of curiosity.
Watching: Not much, recently. There's a lot to watch, but I just haven't made time for it yet.
Replay: One of the scenes from the grimy, slept-on, and exhilarating Way of The Gun. If you're into crime thrillers (with suspiciously authentic firearms handling techniques), check it out.
"Can't you people see there are guns here? Get. The f*ck. OUT!"
Listening to: Dream Reaper and Nightrider 87 - Fever Machine. Wow, this song is the bomb! Music video is pretty swanky too; gotta love that robot action!
The Ox fired his rifle once more, and the enemy soldier fell, but there were so many more replacing him. He signalled for Delta Squad to fall back to the courtyard - there was no way they could hold the pathetic, bombed-out and now rapidly disintegrating church they were camped in. With gunfire ripping the air to shreds, the lads did as he ordered. Good men. Thuggs' machine gun was thundering not five feet away, and the cacophony hammered away at his ear drums. Another enemy soldier not a stone's throw away took aim, and fired. The shot grazed the shoulder of the Ox's uniform, and he returned fire. Phelps was already lost, and the remainder of the squad arrayed in a square-like formation out of the early ages of warfare. The enemy drew close, seemingly blotting out the horizon, and the Ox knew they were going to be stuck in hand to hand combat soon. "Moo MOO," he cried, and the order was sounded around the square. "BAYONETS UP!" The squad affixed knifes to their rifle muzzles and readied themselves as the enemy rushed forward...
Hello once more Bees! I'm back from going to church and then hitting the gym for another Push session.
Paused Bench Press: 122.5 x 5. Easier than last week was. Could've gone six reps on some of those sets, I felt.
Spoto Press: 100 x 5. Ungh. So hard this time!
Paused Shoulder Press: 62.5 x 5.
Alternating Dumbbell Curls: 18 x 20.
Concentration Curls: 16 x 8.
Forearm Curls: 18 x 16, I think.
It was quite sunny out when I headed out to the gym, from church and even so on the way home; but then it started raining! Can't get away with nuthin'.
Have yourselves a great Sunday, Bees!
Playing: Still working on romancing my bestie (not) in Hades 2. Playing drips and drabs of Selaco, and have booted up the ES:O once more, just out of curiosity.
Watching: Not much, recently. There's a lot to watch, but I just haven't made time for it yet.
Replay: One of the scenes from the grimy, slept-on, and exhilarating Way of The Gun. If you're into crime thrillers (with suspiciously authentic firearms handling techniques), check it out.
"Can't you people see there are guns here? Get. The f*ck. OUT!"
Listening to: Dream Reaper and Nightrider 87 - Fever Machine. Wow, this song is the bomb! Music video is pretty swanky too; gotta love that robot action!
Multitudes of species together in one spot notwithstanding, the Saloon at the Edge of the Worlds was a bar like any other. A large open space constructed of wood contained a bar, numerous tables, a few machines opposite the bar, and a second story. A drunk human in technical wear was hitting on a slender and elfin Catro, who regarded the mortal with disdain. Two Greys were entertaining a captive audience of ecletic races in the centre, selling stories for drink. A winged Vigil, drink in one hand, was fruitlessly confronting one of the one-armed bandits, and losing their shirt in the process.
Oh, and there was a poker table too, which was said to be the saloon's deadliest feature. Players passed by the rancor and commotion of the first floor to reach the second, which was were the real money was lost. Here the most established (some would say addicted) patrons of the bar could fritter away their credits in various enterprises - such as Texas Hold 'Em, which was being played at the poker table overlooking the bar.
A Vull sat beside an aquatic Chrr, with its breathing apparatus bubbling away. Next to the sea-dweller sat a Demon from the Fifth Circle of Hell, and beside him, a large humanoid ox. The dealer, a Githyanki employed at the establishment, shuffled the cards adroitly, then passed two hole cards to each of the four players. The players furtively assessed their chances as the dealer opened the first round of bets.
The Vull hissed, and pushed a stack of credits onto the center of the table. The Chrr and the Demon were content to wait, but it was the ox who pushed several stacks of chips forward, eclipsing the Vull's bet.
"Moo," it declared, as if daring all comers to make a move.
I've literally never played poker in my life, so I might've gotten some of the details wrong.
Hey again, Bees! I took a break yesterday, but I was back in action. Today was a Pull day.
Deadlifts: 170 x 6. Ugh, these absolutely crushed me.
Underhand Rows: 90 x 6.
Meadows Rows: 45 x 6. At least these were easier today.
Neutral Pullups: Top set of seven.
Behind the Neck Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
Inverted Rows: For sets of ten.
Boy am I sore after that workout.
Took the long walk home in the heat because - hey, why not. The heat was just sweltering, I swear.
May take tomorrow off, based on how sore my back is.
Hope this hot hot heat isn't keeping you down, Bees!
Playing: A dash of Voin (hopefully that update's dropping soon, though it may be a few days), some Selaco, and got my butt kicked by the big baddie in Hades 2. Ouch! I had a really sweet build going, too. Haven't started on ES:O yet.
Soon, on the 26th, it's going to be... SALE time! Which means I get to use this meme once more!
*SALE*
Watching: Umm... still not much. Always so tired at the end of the day.
Listening to: CONNOR - Living in a Movie (feat Michelle B). It melds sweet synths, an equally sweet vocal, and repeated metaphors about life as a movie, which works surprisingly well.
"I am living in a movie
And the budget is low
They are all looking through me
And I've reached the time to go
There's one last thing to say
Because there's one thing for sure..."
Oh, and there was a poker table too, which was said to be the saloon's deadliest feature. Players passed by the rancor and commotion of the first floor to reach the second, which was were the real money was lost. Here the most established (some would say addicted) patrons of the bar could fritter away their credits in various enterprises - such as Texas Hold 'Em, which was being played at the poker table overlooking the bar.
A Vull sat beside an aquatic Chrr, with its breathing apparatus bubbling away. Next to the sea-dweller sat a Demon from the Fifth Circle of Hell, and beside him, a large humanoid ox. The dealer, a Githyanki employed at the establishment, shuffled the cards adroitly, then passed two hole cards to each of the four players. The players furtively assessed their chances as the dealer opened the first round of bets.
The Vull hissed, and pushed a stack of credits onto the center of the table. The Chrr and the Demon were content to wait, but it was the ox who pushed several stacks of chips forward, eclipsing the Vull's bet.
"Moo," it declared, as if daring all comers to make a move.
I've literally never played poker in my life, so I might've gotten some of the details wrong.
Hey again, Bees! I took a break yesterday, but I was back in action. Today was a Pull day.
Deadlifts: 170 x 6. Ugh, these absolutely crushed me.
Underhand Rows: 90 x 6.
Meadows Rows: 45 x 6. At least these were easier today.
Neutral Pullups: Top set of seven.
Behind the Neck Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
Inverted Rows: For sets of ten.
Boy am I sore after that workout.
Took the long walk home in the heat because - hey, why not. The heat was just sweltering, I swear.
May take tomorrow off, based on how sore my back is.
Hope this hot hot heat isn't keeping you down, Bees!
Playing: A dash of Voin (hopefully that update's dropping soon, though it may be a few days), some Selaco, and got my butt kicked by the big baddie in Hades 2. Ouch! I had a really sweet build going, too. Haven't started on ES:O yet.
Soon, on the 26th, it's going to be... SALE time! Which means I get to use this meme once more!
*SALE*
Watching: Umm... still not much. Always so tired at the end of the day.
Listening to: CONNOR - Living in a Movie (feat Michelle B). It melds sweet synths, an equally sweet vocal, and repeated metaphors about life as a movie, which works surprisingly well.
"I am living in a movie
And the budget is low
They are all looking through me
And I've reached the time to go
There's one last thing to say
Because there's one thing for sure..."
-
GentleOx
-
Last edited:
Hmm, I'd like a peek at this intergalactic Saloon 
Never really played (when I went to Vegas for work, I kept a bit of change for the one-arm bandits, but that was about it, LOL) but the atmosphere is something!
PS : watched "late night with the devil", quite well done, and also, such a throwback / hommage to the late 70es! Thank you for having written about it.
Also watched "Mal de Ojo" (should be a tranlation like "the evil eye", in French it was 'l'oeil du mal"), quite a good scary-witch-story in a modern mexican setting.
Never really played (when I went to Vegas for work, I kept a bit of change for the one-arm bandits, but that was about it, LOL) but the atmosphere is something!PS : watched "late night with the devil", quite well done, and also, such a throwback / hommage to the late 70es! Thank you for having written about it.
Also watched "Mal de Ojo" (should be a tranlation like "the evil eye", in French it was 'l'oeil du mal"), quite a good scary-witch-story in a modern mexican setting.
@PetiteSheWolf I have family in Vegas, so when we visited I'd fool around with the slots from time to time, gain a few bucks, but mostly lose 'em. The atmosphere is indeed something - it has more of a feel to it than Macau does.
The Chrr slapped its two cards down on the table in disgust. "Fold," it burbled. A few bubbles were visible behind its mostly opaque visor.
The visitor from the Burning Hells placed his cards face down on the table, more calmly than the Chrr had. "Fold," it intoned, and picked an imaginary piece of lint from its charcoal-black suit.
The Vull's reptilian face formed an ugly smile. "Raise," it hissed, its beady eyes intent on the Ox.
"Call", the Ox said. The humanoid seemed unbothered by the tension between it and the Vull.
With two players in the game, the Githyanki dealer unveiled the remaining cards. An ace of hearts was uncovered, joining the ace of clubs, eight of spades, seven of diamonds, and an ace of diamonds. A most felicitous hand, if there ever was one.
The Vull triumphantly revealed its hand - seven of clubs, and two of hearts. A Full house! It smugly turned to the Ox, who was awfully quiet. The Ox calmly revealed its cards: the three of diamonds, and the ace of spades: forming a Four of a Kind. The table was startled by this extraordinary turn of events, but the Ox gathered up its winnings, without ceremony or celebration. It only paused when the Vull hissed a word:
"Cheater."
Again, apologies if I fudged some Poker verisimilitude, as I've never played the game.
Greetings, once more, Bees! I come with good tidings, and another workout, of course. Today was my second Push day of the week.
Block Press: 137.5 x 5. Was not expecting this! Surpassed 130, then upped the weight bit by bit, and hit this PR! Yay!
Larsen Press: 120 x 5.
Incline Press: 85 x 5. Slowly but surely.
Reverse Triceps Pressdowns: 12 x 10.
Hammer Curls: 20 x 22.
Forearm Curls: 18 x 16. Nice!
I missed another giant bout of rainfall on the way back from the gym, but there's more rain to come. If all works out, I'll come back to the gym tomorrow for Leg day. Eeeep!
Buffet lunch on Saturday, om nom nom.
Hope your week is going well, Bees!
Playing: The Steam sale did not start last night, but tonight instead. Aww, really? I played bits of different things like Selaco and Caves of Qud, but no AAA releases last night.
Watching: So, in my latest Craptacular Movie fest, I started watching 60's horror "The Creeping Terror", which has, once more, been lambasted as one of the worst movies of all time. Even six minutes in, I can safely say it lives up to its reputation. Not sure if I'll finish this one, as I'm kind of burned out on bad movies (unless they're iconically entertaining like The Room is).
I'm more successfully starting a watch of Way of the Gun, which I haven't done in some years. As always, will have a review ready when I finish.
Listening to: Dead Can Dance - The Carnival is Over. It's one of those rare songs that evokes imagery in every second of its composition. Very autumnal, though I know that we're still in our summer months. Also, I find the music video a little too trippy.
"The procession moved on the shouting is over
The fabulous freaks are leaving town
They are driven by a strange desire
Unseen by the human eye.
The carnival is over"
The Chrr slapped its two cards down on the table in disgust. "Fold," it burbled. A few bubbles were visible behind its mostly opaque visor.
The visitor from the Burning Hells placed his cards face down on the table, more calmly than the Chrr had. "Fold," it intoned, and picked an imaginary piece of lint from its charcoal-black suit.
The Vull's reptilian face formed an ugly smile. "Raise," it hissed, its beady eyes intent on the Ox.
"Call", the Ox said. The humanoid seemed unbothered by the tension between it and the Vull.
With two players in the game, the Githyanki dealer unveiled the remaining cards. An ace of hearts was uncovered, joining the ace of clubs, eight of spades, seven of diamonds, and an ace of diamonds. A most felicitous hand, if there ever was one.
The Vull triumphantly revealed its hand - seven of clubs, and two of hearts. A Full house! It smugly turned to the Ox, who was awfully quiet. The Ox calmly revealed its cards: the three of diamonds, and the ace of spades: forming a Four of a Kind. The table was startled by this extraordinary turn of events, but the Ox gathered up its winnings, without ceremony or celebration. It only paused when the Vull hissed a word:
"Cheater."
Again, apologies if I fudged some Poker verisimilitude, as I've never played the game.
Greetings, once more, Bees! I come with good tidings, and another workout, of course. Today was my second Push day of the week.
Block Press: 137.5 x 5. Was not expecting this! Surpassed 130, then upped the weight bit by bit, and hit this PR! Yay!
Larsen Press: 120 x 5.
Incline Press: 85 x 5. Slowly but surely.
Reverse Triceps Pressdowns: 12 x 10.
Hammer Curls: 20 x 22.
Forearm Curls: 18 x 16. Nice!
I missed another giant bout of rainfall on the way back from the gym, but there's more rain to come. If all works out, I'll come back to the gym tomorrow for Leg day. Eeeep!
Buffet lunch on Saturday, om nom nom.
Hope your week is going well, Bees!
Playing: The Steam sale did not start last night, but tonight instead. Aww, really? I played bits of different things like Selaco and Caves of Qud, but no AAA releases last night.
Watching: So, in my latest Craptacular Movie fest, I started watching 60's horror "The Creeping Terror", which has, once more, been lambasted as one of the worst movies of all time. Even six minutes in, I can safely say it lives up to its reputation. Not sure if I'll finish this one, as I'm kind of burned out on bad movies (unless they're iconically entertaining like The Room is).
I'm more successfully starting a watch of Way of the Gun, which I haven't done in some years. As always, will have a review ready when I finish.
Listening to: Dead Can Dance - The Carnival is Over. It's one of those rare songs that evokes imagery in every second of its composition. Very autumnal, though I know that we're still in our summer months. Also, I find the music video a little too trippy.
"The procession moved on the shouting is over
The fabulous freaks are leaving town
They are driven by a strange desire
Unseen by the human eye.
The carnival is over"
Well done!
Thank you so much @colin @CODawn @Obsinosterous @Fremen and @JCU !
The table was taken aback at this accusation, and none reacted more quickly than the Ox, who scraped his chair backward as he sought to distance himself from the Vull. Violence was strictly forbidden inside of the Saloon's premises, but that often didn't stop outbursts, both sober and inebriated. A beat. The demon and the Chrr remained seated, the former quite calm (possibly even amused), but the latter was perturbed, bubbles frantically flowing through its oxygen tank. The Vull stood, its armored bulk casting a considerable shadow.
"You all know what I'm talking about," it rasped. It pointed a talon at the Ox. "He's known which hands are favourable, and which are trouble, and he's been winning the biggest pots of the night. Have him searched!" It stamped its foot, creating a loud thud. A few patrons from downstairs eyed the second floor with worry. The Githyanki dealer was unperturbed, as if this were business as usual. "Sir, do you level an accusation?" The words had an odd weight to them that hinted at formality. The Vull looked at the thin humanoid, in its pristine dealer uniform as if it were stupid, or stating the obvious. "Yes! Of course! Do whatever you do in this situation!" The gith then cast a glance at the Ox, and turned its palm upward. Fine golden light danced upon its fingers. It spoke:
"Patron, you have been accused of cheating or using undue means to create favour. I will perform an inquiry. If you are found to be in violation of our rules, you will be punished, with consequences to follow. Do you understand this?" The Ox nodded, slowly.
Salutations, Bees! Buffet day is come and gone. The eating was good, but we showed up at the same time as a tour group of about thirty people, so the experience was somewhat marred by the sheer cacophony and chaos of a hungry crowd. Still, the Taiwan-themed food was quite good!
Anyway, before I forget why I'm writing this post, here's my Push workout for this week.
Paused Bench Press: 125 x 7. I went all out for this set, and it's good to see my strength holding up. I've never done this before, so it makes for a PR!
Incline Press: 87.5 x 6.
Behind the Neck Press: 67.5 x 5. A PR!
Flat Dumbbell Curls: 20 x 20.
Forearm Curls: 18 x 20.
Super sleepy.
I'm writing an addiction autobiography that centers around my becoming sober several years ago, I'm also writing to incorporate parts of my childhood back in the day. Here's a sample:
"As the young alien Cosmo, I would leap my way through equally alien worlds collecting gemstones and other treasures. Or, another day I was the musclebound 80’s cliche hero Duke Nukem, gunning my way through numerous enemies from the stars (sorry, Cosmo). Or I was BJ Blascowicz, blasting my way through Nazis unending to escape the Castle Wolfenstein. Or was I a Space Marine, single-handedly holding back the hordes of hell? When I was gaming, I was all these things. When the novelty of one experience wore out, you looked for another - and such were in abundance in those 90s days."
See you during the week, Bees!
Playing: So the System Shock 2 Remaster mysteriously dropped into my Steam library apropos of some contribution I made to a kickstarter campaign, so I've been giving it a go. The Sshock2 gaming experience still holds up resiliently, and the remastered graphics improve the experience, without dragging it into the modern gaming experience. It occurs to me that I'm playing a game I first fell for 25 years ago (the title of the game helpfully points this out). That was a long time ago, and so much has changed.
Played a demo for a promising Early Access called Project Silverfish - it's basically budget STALKER with anthropomorphic lizards. Am tempted to pull the trigger and make a purchase, but we'll see. Edit: I've played more of Project Silverfish, and have modded it to be a more forgiving experience, but I'm not sure I'm ready yet...
And of course, the Steam sale (SALE!) is still going on, so I purchased a horror FPS I've had my eye on called Coven, and it's been gory, juicy fun so far.
I also tried out the free demo for Atomic Heart, the Russian FPS that I've had on my wishlist for awhile. I can say without reservation that after comparing it to the vast library of demos I have played, it is certainly the worst. The crux of the matter is that you have to sit through an (very) extended round of scripted sequences before the demo/action starts proper. I get that the the developers were probably forced at gunpoint to pander to Soviet nostalgia, but putting these scripted sequences in the demo, let alone the full game more than fifteen minutes before actual play is a colossal misstep. You'll leave your gamers thinking that your game is boring and padded - I certainly did. A good demo should do the opposite - whether or not it incorporates sequences from the full game, it should not delay you from jumping into the action. The one good thing to have come out of this twenty minutes of wasted time is that Atomic Heart is now scratched off my wishlist, prospectively saving my precious dollars.
Watching: Still haven't finished Way of the Gun, but getting there.
Listening to: Ross Lara - Mythforce Theme Song. This is the theme song for the FP Roguelite Mythforce. As you can see, it gleefully apes the aesthetic of Saturday morning cartoons from the 80s (He-Man in particular comes to mind). While I'm all for that retro aesthetic preying on nostalgic minds, the game itself is not really good. It feels like someone decided a first person dungeon crawler absolutely needed multiplayer busywork to be a competitive experience, which it really doesn't. Anyway, the neat intro and catchy song deserve attention on their own, so here it is!
"You can try to take a swing at me
I’ll fight you every inch of the way
That's the thing about destiny
I know that I’ll be winning today"
The table was taken aback at this accusation, and none reacted more quickly than the Ox, who scraped his chair backward as he sought to distance himself from the Vull. Violence was strictly forbidden inside of the Saloon's premises, but that often didn't stop outbursts, both sober and inebriated. A beat. The demon and the Chrr remained seated, the former quite calm (possibly even amused), but the latter was perturbed, bubbles frantically flowing through its oxygen tank. The Vull stood, its armored bulk casting a considerable shadow.
"You all know what I'm talking about," it rasped. It pointed a talon at the Ox. "He's known which hands are favourable, and which are trouble, and he's been winning the biggest pots of the night. Have him searched!" It stamped its foot, creating a loud thud. A few patrons from downstairs eyed the second floor with worry. The Githyanki dealer was unperturbed, as if this were business as usual. "Sir, do you level an accusation?" The words had an odd weight to them that hinted at formality. The Vull looked at the thin humanoid, in its pristine dealer uniform as if it were stupid, or stating the obvious. "Yes! Of course! Do whatever you do in this situation!" The gith then cast a glance at the Ox, and turned its palm upward. Fine golden light danced upon its fingers. It spoke:
"Patron, you have been accused of cheating or using undue means to create favour. I will perform an inquiry. If you are found to be in violation of our rules, you will be punished, with consequences to follow. Do you understand this?" The Ox nodded, slowly.
Salutations, Bees! Buffet day is come and gone. The eating was good, but we showed up at the same time as a tour group of about thirty people, so the experience was somewhat marred by the sheer cacophony and chaos of a hungry crowd. Still, the Taiwan-themed food was quite good!
Anyway, before I forget why I'm writing this post, here's my Push workout for this week.
Paused Bench Press: 125 x 7. I went all out for this set, and it's good to see my strength holding up. I've never done this before, so it makes for a PR!
Incline Press: 87.5 x 6.
Behind the Neck Press: 67.5 x 5. A PR!
Flat Dumbbell Curls: 20 x 20.
Forearm Curls: 18 x 20.
Super sleepy.
I'm writing an addiction autobiography that centers around my becoming sober several years ago, I'm also writing to incorporate parts of my childhood back in the day. Here's a sample:
"As the young alien Cosmo, I would leap my way through equally alien worlds collecting gemstones and other treasures. Or, another day I was the musclebound 80’s cliche hero Duke Nukem, gunning my way through numerous enemies from the stars (sorry, Cosmo). Or I was BJ Blascowicz, blasting my way through Nazis unending to escape the Castle Wolfenstein. Or was I a Space Marine, single-handedly holding back the hordes of hell? When I was gaming, I was all these things. When the novelty of one experience wore out, you looked for another - and such were in abundance in those 90s days."
See you during the week, Bees!
Playing: So the System Shock 2 Remaster mysteriously dropped into my Steam library apropos of some contribution I made to a kickstarter campaign, so I've been giving it a go. The Sshock2 gaming experience still holds up resiliently, and the remastered graphics improve the experience, without dragging it into the modern gaming experience. It occurs to me that I'm playing a game I first fell for 25 years ago (the title of the game helpfully points this out). That was a long time ago, and so much has changed.
Played a demo for a promising Early Access called Project Silverfish - it's basically budget STALKER with anthropomorphic lizards. Am tempted to pull the trigger and make a purchase, but we'll see. Edit: I've played more of Project Silverfish, and have modded it to be a more forgiving experience, but I'm not sure I'm ready yet...
And of course, the Steam sale (SALE!) is still going on, so I purchased a horror FPS I've had my eye on called Coven, and it's been gory, juicy fun so far.
I also tried out the free demo for Atomic Heart, the Russian FPS that I've had on my wishlist for awhile. I can say without reservation that after comparing it to the vast library of demos I have played, it is certainly the worst. The crux of the matter is that you have to sit through an (very) extended round of scripted sequences before the demo/action starts proper. I get that the the developers were probably forced at gunpoint to pander to Soviet nostalgia, but putting these scripted sequences in the demo, let alone the full game more than fifteen minutes before actual play is a colossal misstep. You'll leave your gamers thinking that your game is boring and padded - I certainly did. A good demo should do the opposite - whether or not it incorporates sequences from the full game, it should not delay you from jumping into the action. The one good thing to have come out of this twenty minutes of wasted time is that Atomic Heart is now scratched off my wishlist, prospectively saving my precious dollars.
Watching: Still haven't finished Way of the Gun, but getting there.
Listening to: Ross Lara - Mythforce Theme Song. This is the theme song for the FP Roguelite Mythforce. As you can see, it gleefully apes the aesthetic of Saturday morning cartoons from the 80s (He-Man in particular comes to mind). While I'm all for that retro aesthetic preying on nostalgic minds, the game itself is not really good. It feels like someone decided a first person dungeon crawler absolutely needed multiplayer busywork to be a competitive experience, which it really doesn't. Anyway, the neat intro and catchy song deserve attention on their own, so here it is!
"You can try to take a swing at me
I’ll fight you every inch of the way
That's the thing about destiny
I know that I’ll be winning today"
-
GentleOx
-
Last edited:
Thank you again @aku-chan, @CODawn, @JCU, and @Fremen.
The golden light from the dealer's spindly fingers seemed to leap from his outstretched hand to the body of the Ox. The rest of the table watched with baited breath as the Ox sat under the scrutiny of the seemingly living light. A golden outline seemed to form around the Ox, running its way up and down his body. Curiously, it made no sound as it ran its way up and down his heavy-set frame, seeming to wash into every inch of his apparel. After a minute or so, the light leapt back to the hand of the Githyanki, who paused, and seemed to consider something for a moment. Then it spoke. "The player did not cheat during the four games that have taken place." The Vull was outraged. "That's because you haven't searched him prop-" the Ox drew a revolver, placed it on the table, and calmly nudged it so that its barrel faced the reptilian creature. The Vull, startled, raised its talons, and as it did, several playing cards flopped out of the sheathes of its arms. Silence, and the Vull foolishly lowered its arms.
"Insurance?" Snarked the demon.
Hello once more, Bees. I'm back with another workout, and I seem to have reached the end of my current deadlift phase.
Deadlifts: 175 x 4. Augh, my grip gave way before I could hit the fifth rep, and I had it, but it was tough enough for me to question whether or not I should continue with this cycle.
Paused Deadlifts: 140 x 5. Bringing back an old classic.
Underhand Grip Rows: 100 x 6.
Meadows Rows: 46.25 x 5.
Neutral Grip Pullups: Top set of 7 reps.
Incline Dumbbell Rows: 22 x 6. Feels good to do these again.
Narrow Grip Rows: 60 x 6.
30 sets!
My lower back was hit hard by today's exercises, so I may or may not head to the gym tomorrow. When my soreness makes it hard for me to walk around (literally), I may need an extra day or so to recuperate.
Hope your week is starting off on the right foot, Bees!
Playing: A smorgasbord of things. Many game studios have published updates to their early access games, given the Steam summer sale. So on that side, a bit of Sulfur, but mostly Voin. Also dashes of the Project Silverfish demo, which I may very well purchase.
System Shock 2 has taken up most of my gaming time (this will be my fourth playthrough), and it's well deserved, given how great it is, 25 years on.
Also tried the Dead Space remake and (with all the settings turned down) it works like a charm. So I'll try to get more into that tonight, if all goes right.
Watching: A little bit of Frankenstein's Army, and the going is getting good!
Listening to: Catatonia - Lost Cat. We're going back to the 90s for this one. They're a touch too saccharine for my tastes (kinda like the Cocteau Twins), but their melodies are practically untouchable, and the interplay between guitar and vocals is like a peanut butter and chocolate sandwich.
The golden light from the dealer's spindly fingers seemed to leap from his outstretched hand to the body of the Ox. The rest of the table watched with baited breath as the Ox sat under the scrutiny of the seemingly living light. A golden outline seemed to form around the Ox, running its way up and down his body. Curiously, it made no sound as it ran its way up and down his heavy-set frame, seeming to wash into every inch of his apparel. After a minute or so, the light leapt back to the hand of the Githyanki, who paused, and seemed to consider something for a moment. Then it spoke. "The player did not cheat during the four games that have taken place." The Vull was outraged. "That's because you haven't searched him prop-" the Ox drew a revolver, placed it on the table, and calmly nudged it so that its barrel faced the reptilian creature. The Vull, startled, raised its talons, and as it did, several playing cards flopped out of the sheathes of its arms. Silence, and the Vull foolishly lowered its arms.
"Insurance?" Snarked the demon.
Hello once more, Bees. I'm back with another workout, and I seem to have reached the end of my current deadlift phase.
Deadlifts: 175 x 4. Augh, my grip gave way before I could hit the fifth rep, and I had it, but it was tough enough for me to question whether or not I should continue with this cycle.
Paused Deadlifts: 140 x 5. Bringing back an old classic.
Underhand Grip Rows: 100 x 6.
Meadows Rows: 46.25 x 5.
Neutral Grip Pullups: Top set of 7 reps.
Incline Dumbbell Rows: 22 x 6. Feels good to do these again.
Narrow Grip Rows: 60 x 6.
30 sets!
My lower back was hit hard by today's exercises, so I may or may not head to the gym tomorrow. When my soreness makes it hard for me to walk around (literally), I may need an extra day or so to recuperate.
Hope your week is starting off on the right foot, Bees!
Playing: A smorgasbord of things. Many game studios have published updates to their early access games, given the Steam summer sale. So on that side, a bit of Sulfur, but mostly Voin. Also dashes of the Project Silverfish demo, which I may very well purchase.
System Shock 2 has taken up most of my gaming time (this will be my fourth playthrough), and it's well deserved, given how great it is, 25 years on.
Also tried the Dead Space remake and (with all the settings turned down) it works like a charm. So I'll try to get more into that tonight, if all goes right.
Watching: A little bit of Frankenstein's Army, and the going is getting good!
Listening to: Catatonia - Lost Cat. We're going back to the 90s for this one. They're a touch too saccharine for my tastes (kinda like the Cocteau Twins), but their melodies are practically untouchable, and the interplay between guitar and vocals is like a peanut butter and chocolate sandwich.
