Quest for Muscle: The Return of the Pump
But we will be magnificent.
TopNotch
Motivation is temporary. Discipline is forever.
Congrats on the PR!
Who knows? She might not fancy him at all but just gave him a number to get rid of him. Perhaps she's been watching you in the mirror. All is not lost. You don't need to pursue, but maybe one day, engage in conversation?
Who knows? She might not fancy him at all but just gave him a number to get rid of him. Perhaps she's been watching you in the mirror. All is not lost. You don't need to pursue, but maybe one day, engage in conversation?
- This little shit-heel going by the name 'Spratt' has been stirring up all kinds of trouble.
Some contacts of mine will pay a good little penny to see him dead. -
Ox read through the memo on the corkboard, thinking it over. He was not a pacifist, and had never lost his taste for wetwork. Still, he idly wondered what sort of grudge had arisen between the mysterious 'Krieg', and the troublesome Spratt, and whether it warranted murder. In the economy of Carcosa, anyone could post a job over any petty grievance or slight; still, the fact that the poster was offering close to a thousand dollars made the job more worthwhile, and the fact that the bounty was global meant it was likely that Spratt had offended his fair share of people.
"Is that the Spratt job?" He turned to see Howie still at the war room's table, a small look of concern on his face. "It is. Are you concerned about the Scav angle?" The job mentioned that Spratt had been seen going in and out of the Slums - Scav territory. It was enough to make Ox hesitate. "I just want to make sure it's not a trap, like the last time you entered their neighborhood." "I know better now." But he knew better than to dismiss Howie's concerns out of hand. "Take backup along?" Howie nodded. "That's what we're here for. But I might have to stay and hold down the fort." Taking another gun or two was the prudent choice, and to hell with any sense of machismo, or completing the job solo.
He had a few names in mind.
Edit: Thank you so much @JCU, @TopNotch, and @CODawn! Even as I get older, there's still some life in these bones!
Greetings, Bees!
The Gentle Ox makes an appearance once more! Today was another Push day. No PRs, but that's okay. Still working my way through the second part of my program.
Bench Press: 142.5 x 3, 145 x 2. Glad that I got 145 moving, though I'm not sure I'll be able to handle it for six sets next week.
Incline Press: 92.5 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 22.5 x 8.
Rope Pushdowns:
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 18 x 10. Feels pretty good.
I had an enormous amount of trouble trying to get to sleep last night. Alternated between lying in bed, getting up to use the bathroom, and munching on treats (I know, I know). Tonight will be better, because I always sleep better after exercise tires me out.
Tomorrow we're having a tea buffet/hot pot meal! Om nom nom.
There was a Red rainstorm warning today! And I went to the gym in the middle of it anyway. Skewed priorities, I know.
We made it to the weekend, Bees! Go crazy!
Playing: The Steam sale (SALE!) is upon us, and plenty of worthy titles are vying for my wallet's fair share (yeah right).
Bees, have any of you played Kingdom Hearts (the Disney/Square rpg)? Is it worth playing?
Last night, played some No Man's Home, Sulfur, and... not much else.
Played a demo for a surprisingly ambitious horror/surreal FPS forged in the Doom engine called "Divine Frequency". It's honestly too weird to describe with my ten minutes of playtime, so I'm going to dive in for more. Boom! It stays.
Played a demo for Eyes of the Elderworld, which is a game that seeks to incorporate magery and pew pew and monstrosities at the same time. It felt too clunky for my tastes. Boom! Uninstalled.
Finally, tried a demo for Metamorphosis, which is a grim and foreboding Metrovania-like. It's quite punishing. I'll wait and see how the developers further refine it. Boom! Uninstalled.
Watching: Making my way through Daredevil S2 at the gym. Liking it more than when I watched it for the first time.
Listening to: Jack White - Archbishop Harold Holmes. Holy crap. I heard this in a movie trailer I watched this morning. This song is absolute fire; I'm kind of surprised my ears didn't start smoking from the flames of White's delivery, and those scorching, catchy hooks.
"I realize that you have tried and tried
And are just about ready to give up
But I got good news for you
God has spoken to my mind and told me to
Tell you to get moving in the right direction for a change
I'm gonna put you in the fast lane"
Some contacts of mine will pay a good little penny to see him dead. -
Ox read through the memo on the corkboard, thinking it over. He was not a pacifist, and had never lost his taste for wetwork. Still, he idly wondered what sort of grudge had arisen between the mysterious 'Krieg', and the troublesome Spratt, and whether it warranted murder. In the economy of Carcosa, anyone could post a job over any petty grievance or slight; still, the fact that the poster was offering close to a thousand dollars made the job more worthwhile, and the fact that the bounty was global meant it was likely that Spratt had offended his fair share of people.
"Is that the Spratt job?" He turned to see Howie still at the war room's table, a small look of concern on his face. "It is. Are you concerned about the Scav angle?" The job mentioned that Spratt had been seen going in and out of the Slums - Scav territory. It was enough to make Ox hesitate. "I just want to make sure it's not a trap, like the last time you entered their neighborhood." "I know better now." But he knew better than to dismiss Howie's concerns out of hand. "Take backup along?" Howie nodded. "That's what we're here for. But I might have to stay and hold down the fort." Taking another gun or two was the prudent choice, and to hell with any sense of machismo, or completing the job solo.
He had a few names in mind.
Edit: Thank you so much @JCU, @TopNotch, and @CODawn! Even as I get older, there's still some life in these bones!
Greetings, Bees!
The Gentle Ox makes an appearance once more! Today was another Push day. No PRs, but that's okay. Still working my way through the second part of my program.
Bench Press: 142.5 x 3, 145 x 2. Glad that I got 145 moving, though I'm not sure I'll be able to handle it for six sets next week.
Incline Press: 92.5 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 22.5 x 8.
Rope Pushdowns:
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 18 x 10. Feels pretty good.
I had an enormous amount of trouble trying to get to sleep last night. Alternated between lying in bed, getting up to use the bathroom, and munching on treats (I know, I know). Tonight will be better, because I always sleep better after exercise tires me out.
Tomorrow we're having a tea buffet/hot pot meal! Om nom nom.
There was a Red rainstorm warning today! And I went to the gym in the middle of it anyway. Skewed priorities, I know.
We made it to the weekend, Bees! Go crazy!
Playing: The Steam sale (SALE!) is upon us, and plenty of worthy titles are vying for my wallet's fair share (yeah right).
Bees, have any of you played Kingdom Hearts (the Disney/Square rpg)? Is it worth playing?
Last night, played some No Man's Home, Sulfur, and... not much else.
Played a demo for a surprisingly ambitious horror/surreal FPS forged in the Doom engine called "Divine Frequency". It's honestly too weird to describe with my ten minutes of playtime, so I'm going to dive in for more. Boom! It stays.
Played a demo for Eyes of the Elderworld, which is a game that seeks to incorporate magery and pew pew and monstrosities at the same time. It felt too clunky for my tastes. Boom! Uninstalled.
Finally, tried a demo for Metamorphosis, which is a grim and foreboding Metrovania-like. It's quite punishing. I'll wait and see how the developers further refine it. Boom! Uninstalled.
Watching: Making my way through Daredevil S2 at the gym. Liking it more than when I watched it for the first time.
Listening to: Jack White - Archbishop Harold Holmes. Holy crap. I heard this in a movie trailer I watched this morning. This song is absolute fire; I'm kind of surprised my ears didn't start smoking from the flames of White's delivery, and those scorching, catchy hooks.
"I realize that you have tried and tried
And are just about ready to give up
But I got good news for you
God has spoken to my mind and told me to
Tell you to get moving in the right direction for a change
I'm gonna put you in the fast lane"
-
GentleOx
-
Last edited:
"I'm sick of this shit."
"Yeah? And why would that be."
"I planned the op, picked the people, and when it went off without a hitch, I get the smallest share of the loot."
Butte, yes, that was his name, pulled his balaclava off and pulled a crumpled packet of Maevus cigarettes out his pants pocket. Still grumbling, he offered a smoke to Cast, who declined. Metropole was dark all around them, the looming darkness and intermittent lights casting shadows on the deathly city. Normally, he wouldn't stand in the middle of the street as an easy target, but apart from that Ox idiot, nobody had dared to intrude on the Scav's home turf. Not that Butte was reminding himself; he was still sore over his perceived slight.
"It's not fair. Why does Richter get half of whatever we bring in?"
"Shut up! He might be listening."
"So what if he is? What's he going to do, throw me to the Dentist? Oh wait, we don't have one anymore."
"If he catches you saying that stupid shit, and..." Phoot phoot.
Cast looked down at his chest, two bloody holes having suddenly appeared. It was like his whole chest had collapsed, and he followed suit a moment later. Butte, stupidly, stayed put, and scanned the shadows for the shooter, before another "Phoot", like the report from a pneumatic gun, sounded out. Butte was more fortunate than Cast, the bullet striking him in the forehead and killing him instantly. His corpse fell to the ground, and he no longer needed concern himself with his monetary gains.
From the corner on which he was standing, Ox peered down the street, waiting for further threats. Smoke gently drifted out of his rifle, which he still held at high ready. With none forthcoming, rifle still trained on street, Ox turned his upper body to look behind him and extended his right arm at about shoulder height, palm faced outward. A pause. Ox nodded, then raised his right arm above him and made a circle gesture. Asra and Kramer peeled out from across the street to join him.
So far, so good.
Greetings, Bees. Another stormy Sunday, and another lower body workout.
Squats: 105 x 3. Ugh. Don't know what happened today, but I wasn't feeling these. Oh well, there's always next week.
Paused Squats: 85 x 3. Smoooooth.
Leg Press: I think 150 x 5.
Sissy Squats: 5 sets of 6 reps.
Sled Pushes: 6 lengths. These felt unusually easy until I noticed there were little resistance valves on each side, which I cranked up to the max, as per my usual.
I'm sick of being above 78 kg (I was 83.2 this morning), so I'm trying some different.
Today, the weight loss program begins!
Kind of a sluggish day, post-mass. Kinda waiting for it to be over.
Tomorrow is Push day, hell yeah!
See you tomorrow, Bees!
Playing: A new purchase of mine was Misery, and I played a bit of this punishing (as you might've guessed) extraction/survival game. It's interesting, so far, I'll give it that.
Tried a demo for Vortica, a top-down shooter. It really wasn't up to my speed. Boom! Uninstalled.
Also, and more notably, played a demo for the colourful beat 'em up, Absolum. Even though it's certainly creative and well-made, I confess that my dismal experience playing this one and adapting to it is a signal that beat em ups are no longer my bag, baby. Boom! Uninstalled.
It's strange how my gaming preferences have changed. Elden Ring was the last Soulslike I played, and after the frustration and stress of struggling to see the ending, I kind of... gave up on difficulty in games. Yes, not difficult games, but encountering difficulty in my games. I just don't have the patience anymore; and this kind of dovetails with how, more than ever, I want to jump straight into my games and play. I don't want to sit through three splash scenes and several cutscenes or launchers before I play. What sorts of filler-laden games are these that have such contempt for my time?
Watching: More Daredevil. Stay tuned...
Listening to: TWRP - Believe in Your Dreams. Wow! So this is apparently a completely anonymous, costumed group of musicians out of Toronto who have been putting out funky tunes and good vibes for the last few years. Their sound is bouncy and propulsive. Here's a catchy, hope-inducing tune!
"Yeah? And why would that be."
"I planned the op, picked the people, and when it went off without a hitch, I get the smallest share of the loot."
Butte, yes, that was his name, pulled his balaclava off and pulled a crumpled packet of Maevus cigarettes out his pants pocket. Still grumbling, he offered a smoke to Cast, who declined. Metropole was dark all around them, the looming darkness and intermittent lights casting shadows on the deathly city. Normally, he wouldn't stand in the middle of the street as an easy target, but apart from that Ox idiot, nobody had dared to intrude on the Scav's home turf. Not that Butte was reminding himself; he was still sore over his perceived slight.
"It's not fair. Why does Richter get half of whatever we bring in?"
"Shut up! He might be listening."
"So what if he is? What's he going to do, throw me to the Dentist? Oh wait, we don't have one anymore."
"If he catches you saying that stupid shit, and..." Phoot phoot.
Cast looked down at his chest, two bloody holes having suddenly appeared. It was like his whole chest had collapsed, and he followed suit a moment later. Butte, stupidly, stayed put, and scanned the shadows for the shooter, before another "Phoot", like the report from a pneumatic gun, sounded out. Butte was more fortunate than Cast, the bullet striking him in the forehead and killing him instantly. His corpse fell to the ground, and he no longer needed concern himself with his monetary gains.
From the corner on which he was standing, Ox peered down the street, waiting for further threats. Smoke gently drifted out of his rifle, which he still held at high ready. With none forthcoming, rifle still trained on street, Ox turned his upper body to look behind him and extended his right arm at about shoulder height, palm faced outward. A pause. Ox nodded, then raised his right arm above him and made a circle gesture. Asra and Kramer peeled out from across the street to join him.
So far, so good.
Greetings, Bees. Another stormy Sunday, and another lower body workout.
Squats: 105 x 3. Ugh. Don't know what happened today, but I wasn't feeling these. Oh well, there's always next week.
Paused Squats: 85 x 3. Smoooooth.
Leg Press: I think 150 x 5.
Sissy Squats: 5 sets of 6 reps.
Sled Pushes: 6 lengths. These felt unusually easy until I noticed there were little resistance valves on each side, which I cranked up to the max, as per my usual.
I'm sick of being above 78 kg (I was 83.2 this morning), so I'm trying some different.
Today, the weight loss program begins!
Kind of a sluggish day, post-mass. Kinda waiting for it to be over.
Tomorrow is Push day, hell yeah!
See you tomorrow, Bees!
Playing: A new purchase of mine was Misery, and I played a bit of this punishing (as you might've guessed) extraction/survival game. It's interesting, so far, I'll give it that.
Tried a demo for Vortica, a top-down shooter. It really wasn't up to my speed. Boom! Uninstalled.
Also, and more notably, played a demo for the colourful beat 'em up, Absolum. Even though it's certainly creative and well-made, I confess that my dismal experience playing this one and adapting to it is a signal that beat em ups are no longer my bag, baby. Boom! Uninstalled.
It's strange how my gaming preferences have changed. Elden Ring was the last Soulslike I played, and after the frustration and stress of struggling to see the ending, I kind of... gave up on difficulty in games. Yes, not difficult games, but encountering difficulty in my games. I just don't have the patience anymore; and this kind of dovetails with how, more than ever, I want to jump straight into my games and play. I don't want to sit through three splash scenes and several cutscenes or launchers before I play. What sorts of filler-laden games are these that have such contempt for my time?
Watching: More Daredevil. Stay tuned...
Listening to: TWRP - Believe in Your Dreams. Wow! So this is apparently a completely anonymous, costumed group of musicians out of Toronto who have been putting out funky tunes and good vibes for the last few years. Their sound is bouncy and propulsive. Here's a catchy, hope-inducing tune!
-
GentleOx
-
Last edited:
They wove their way through the erstwhile hotel that was their target. Unfortunately, they were not aware ahead of time exactly which room was Spratt's.
While not the Scav's main headquarters, the building was still populated by a small assortment of Scavs taking a smoke break, shooting the breeze, or playing games of chance. Thus the need to go room by room. They were on the second floor, having cleared the first with little difficulty. The wooden structure creaked as their boots stepped through the dead hallways, and Ox hoped that it hadn't given them away. A door up ahead, likely leading to another hallway. The three of them lined up to the side of the door. Ox felt that telltale squeeze on the shoulder from Asra and peeled through the doorway, pivoting right.
A surprised gentleman in black garb, his weapon hanging. His mouth formed an O. Ox gave him two to the chest, then another to the head. Ox paid no attention as his body collapsed on the wood floor. A single door at the end of the hall on the right. Once Asra and Kramer had caught up again, they repeated the ritual. Ox placed his handle on the doorknob and waited, for a second or so. A squeeze on the shoulder. Ox carefully opened the door into the room and followed suit. Asra and Kramer followed a moment later. It was a sparse, spartan room with a small bed, a desk, and a cabinet. Checkmate. Ox turned to Asra and Kramer.
"Toss the place."
Hey Bees!
Your neighborhood friendly Ox has returned, this time for a Push workout that beat me black and blue.
Bench Press: 145 x 2, for six sets! Possible three reps at the start? Eh, unlikely.
Incline Press: 95 x 8. Ugh, these sucked more than the preceding exercises did. May call it a day and reduce the rep count.
Weighted Dips: 25 x 8. Felt okay.
Rope Pushdowns: 13 x 10.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: Descending, starting with 18 x 20.
Wish me the best, Bees! I may have injured my left pec during that workout (it didn't feel like a tear, at least), which I likely strained. I still made it through my workout okay, however. I'll see how it feels tomorrow.
Day 2 of the health kick. Let's see how it goes. The thinking is... no more grabs at the bakery, no more buying an assortment of stuff. One treat a night. I stocked up on healthy snacks like oatmeal and tuna, so if I get hungry, those'll have to do.
Wednesday is a holiday, so mum and I are celebrating by grabbing some more Peking Duck! Om nom!
Start your Monday strong, Bees!
Playing: I didn't play anything apart from Sulfur last night. Embarked on a run with no ammo: I was foolish enough to forget about withdrawing it from my stash, and this is very dangerous in a game in which ammo drops are not guaranteed: in an especially dangerous locale. Fortunately, I made it through, amazingly enough. Will be playing more tonight.
A new game! I bought Total Chaos, which is a survival horror game. Sometimes, horror games make me jump; this is probably going to be one of those experiences.
I watched some gameplay of Kingdom Hearts and did some "homework". Game is very likely not up my alley. So it stays unpurchased - at least for now.
Watching: Uh... Daredevil? Not much else. A friend did invite me to go see a movie with her, so this Saturday, we'll have to see what's on tap.
Listening to: Nina and Radio Wolf - Tokyo Cowboy. Edited my post to feature this song, which is katana-slice of cyberpunk life from the incomparable Nina, and her recent collaborator Radio Wolf. Perfectly captures that feel of sauntering through a corpo-dominated skyscraper-heavy urban wasteland.
"Evil will devour all
Save us from our last breath
The coins have no currency
Future without a past"
While not the Scav's main headquarters, the building was still populated by a small assortment of Scavs taking a smoke break, shooting the breeze, or playing games of chance. Thus the need to go room by room. They were on the second floor, having cleared the first with little difficulty. The wooden structure creaked as their boots stepped through the dead hallways, and Ox hoped that it hadn't given them away. A door up ahead, likely leading to another hallway. The three of them lined up to the side of the door. Ox felt that telltale squeeze on the shoulder from Asra and peeled through the doorway, pivoting right.
A surprised gentleman in black garb, his weapon hanging. His mouth formed an O. Ox gave him two to the chest, then another to the head. Ox paid no attention as his body collapsed on the wood floor. A single door at the end of the hall on the right. Once Asra and Kramer had caught up again, they repeated the ritual. Ox placed his handle on the doorknob and waited, for a second or so. A squeeze on the shoulder. Ox carefully opened the door into the room and followed suit. Asra and Kramer followed a moment later. It was a sparse, spartan room with a small bed, a desk, and a cabinet. Checkmate. Ox turned to Asra and Kramer.
"Toss the place."
Hey Bees!
Your neighborhood friendly Ox has returned, this time for a Push workout that beat me black and blue.
Bench Press: 145 x 2, for six sets! Possible three reps at the start? Eh, unlikely.
Incline Press: 95 x 8. Ugh, these sucked more than the preceding exercises did. May call it a day and reduce the rep count.
Weighted Dips: 25 x 8. Felt okay.
Rope Pushdowns: 13 x 10.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: Descending, starting with 18 x 20.
Wish me the best, Bees! I may have injured my left pec during that workout (it didn't feel like a tear, at least), which I likely strained. I still made it through my workout okay, however. I'll see how it feels tomorrow.
Day 2 of the health kick. Let's see how it goes. The thinking is... no more grabs at the bakery, no more buying an assortment of stuff. One treat a night. I stocked up on healthy snacks like oatmeal and tuna, so if I get hungry, those'll have to do.
Wednesday is a holiday, so mum and I are celebrating by grabbing some more Peking Duck! Om nom!
Start your Monday strong, Bees!
Playing: I didn't play anything apart from Sulfur last night. Embarked on a run with no ammo: I was foolish enough to forget about withdrawing it from my stash, and this is very dangerous in a game in which ammo drops are not guaranteed: in an especially dangerous locale. Fortunately, I made it through, amazingly enough. Will be playing more tonight.
A new game! I bought Total Chaos, which is a survival horror game. Sometimes, horror games make me jump; this is probably going to be one of those experiences.
I watched some gameplay of Kingdom Hearts and did some "homework". Game is very likely not up my alley. So it stays unpurchased - at least for now.
Watching: Uh... Daredevil? Not much else. A friend did invite me to go see a movie with her, so this Saturday, we'll have to see what's on tap.
Listening to: Nina and Radio Wolf - Tokyo Cowboy. Edited my post to feature this song, which is katana-slice of cyberpunk life from the incomparable Nina, and her recent collaborator Radio Wolf. Perfectly captures that feel of sauntering through a corpo-dominated skyscraper-heavy urban wasteland.
"Evil will devour all
Save us from our last breath
The coins have no currency
Future without a past"
-
GentleOx
-
Last edited:
Ox read through the contents of the manila folder quickly.
Before Spratt had flown the coop, he'd made a poor attempt to hide his whereabouts and belongings. Perhaps he'd somehow offended or betrayed the Scavs. In any event, the floorboards underneath the bed were loose, and upon disturbing them, turned out to hide Spratt's documents, as well as a stash of gold that the three of them had confiscated. Among different assorted documents, bank statements, and copious disorganized notes was a photo. Ox took it between his fingers and examined it closely. It was a picture of a pipe jutting out of a dock. He turned the photo around, to reveal scrawled on the back, "Entrance? By the water. AG-04". He pondered for a moment the location in the photo... that warehouse, could it be... Bingo!
Ox turned to the other two. "He's hiding out in the Cistern in the Crossroads, next to the shipping center." Asra nodded, and Kramer gave a thumbs up. Voices from below. Disbelief and shock evident in their growing murmur. Ox could barely hear what they were saying, but for one word: Alarm! Ox readied his rifle, noting that Asra and Kramer were already ready.
"Heads up. Company. Let's exfil."
Thank you kindly @JCU.
Hey Bees! Did not expect to hit the gym today, but I indeed made my way over after a big meal (Peking duck wraps). Om nom, but I was feeling the need to workout. So I went in for a workout in the afternoon, which was much later than I usually head over. Anyway.
Every exercise was done for five sets.
Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 120 x 3. Pretty easy - this may have been due to using a different barbell than the thick ones I usually use.
RDL: 120 x 3. Okay.
Barbell Rows: 100 x 8. Simple enough!
T-Bar Rows: 100 x 5. Will try for 120 sometime in the future.
Meadows Row: 50 x 5. I dropped the weight; just wanted to feel the pull.
Chin ups: 5 sets of five.
Machine Rows: 50 x 5. Didn't really like the way these felt, I'll drop them next time.
Back Extensions: Top set of 13 reps.
For a total of 40 sets. Yikes! Will make some adjustments for the future.
So I may have done something to my upper pec last workout, and I definitely wore out my lower back today. I may or may not take tomorrow off.
Coincidentally, there is a bench press competition happening next month! Should I do it, on such short notice??
Have a happy Wednesday, Bees!
Playing: Uh, I forgot to play Total Chaos last night. I'll make sure to give it a whirl. Played mostly Sulfur.
May give Misery another whirl, as I may have given it short shrift last time.
Watching: Still no Hokum. But more Daredevil at the gym.
Not sure if I care enough about HotD to watch more... will wait to see how the season progresses (I want to see the Winter Wolves in action).
Listening to: Let 'Em Riot - Don't Stop Running. Was in the mood for another pensive synthwave ballad, and Let 'Em Riot have their pop songcraft as sharp as can be. I don't know when I started listening to this one, though I guess it's been more than ten years. Likely among the very best that the synthwave genre has to offer.
"No one to find you
Never remind you
What there never was
They can't shoot down
Photograph or talk about
What they never saw"
Before Spratt had flown the coop, he'd made a poor attempt to hide his whereabouts and belongings. Perhaps he'd somehow offended or betrayed the Scavs. In any event, the floorboards underneath the bed were loose, and upon disturbing them, turned out to hide Spratt's documents, as well as a stash of gold that the three of them had confiscated. Among different assorted documents, bank statements, and copious disorganized notes was a photo. Ox took it between his fingers and examined it closely. It was a picture of a pipe jutting out of a dock. He turned the photo around, to reveal scrawled on the back, "Entrance? By the water. AG-04". He pondered for a moment the location in the photo... that warehouse, could it be... Bingo!
Ox turned to the other two. "He's hiding out in the Cistern in the Crossroads, next to the shipping center." Asra nodded, and Kramer gave a thumbs up. Voices from below. Disbelief and shock evident in their growing murmur. Ox could barely hear what they were saying, but for one word: Alarm! Ox readied his rifle, noting that Asra and Kramer were already ready.
"Heads up. Company. Let's exfil."
Thank you kindly @JCU.
Hey Bees! Did not expect to hit the gym today, but I indeed made my way over after a big meal (Peking duck wraps). Om nom, but I was feeling the need to workout. So I went in for a workout in the afternoon, which was much later than I usually head over. Anyway.
Every exercise was done for five sets.
Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 120 x 3. Pretty easy - this may have been due to using a different barbell than the thick ones I usually use.
RDL: 120 x 3. Okay.
Barbell Rows: 100 x 8. Simple enough!
T-Bar Rows: 100 x 5. Will try for 120 sometime in the future.
Meadows Row: 50 x 5. I dropped the weight; just wanted to feel the pull.
Chin ups: 5 sets of five.
Machine Rows: 50 x 5. Didn't really like the way these felt, I'll drop them next time.
Back Extensions: Top set of 13 reps.
For a total of 40 sets. Yikes! Will make some adjustments for the future.
So I may have done something to my upper pec last workout, and I definitely wore out my lower back today. I may or may not take tomorrow off.
Coincidentally, there is a bench press competition happening next month! Should I do it, on such short notice??
Have a happy Wednesday, Bees!
Playing: Uh, I forgot to play Total Chaos last night. I'll make sure to give it a whirl. Played mostly Sulfur.
May give Misery another whirl, as I may have given it short shrift last time.
Watching: Still no Hokum. But more Daredevil at the gym.
Not sure if I care enough about HotD to watch more... will wait to see how the season progresses (I want to see the Winter Wolves in action).
Listening to: Let 'Em Riot - Don't Stop Running. Was in the mood for another pensive synthwave ballad, and Let 'Em Riot have their pop songcraft as sharp as can be. I don't know when I started listening to this one, though I guess it's been more than ten years. Likely among the very best that the synthwave genre has to offer.
"No one to find you
Never remind you
What there never was
They can't shoot down
Photograph or talk about
What they never saw"
-
GentleOx
-
Last edited:
Talk about out of the frying pan, and into the fire.
The Scavs were amassing now in numbers, and making their way through the worn-down former hotel. He had been in scrapes like this before, and it wasn't Asra and Kramer's first dance, he knew. Still, better to get going. Their exit was through the fortunately-placed window that overlooked the street; it was large enough to accommodate them. This being the second floor, it was easy enough to drop down from the windowsill to the ground, and maybe they would... "There they are!"
Ox peered out the window. Well, shit. There must've been close to twenty of them, some coming out of the hotel where they'd discovered their casualties. And they were armed... not to the teeth exactly, some having clearly snatched their weapons groggy and in a state of deshabille. But there were a whole lot of them.
A long street ran through the slums, and fortunately their enemies didn't stand in their path. They were going to have to lose them, and withdraw in good order. Kramer, the first one to drop to the ground, hugged the edge of the hotel, and poured fire into the approaching Scavs. A pause in his shots. "Go!" Asra ran past him, headed for the opposite end of the street, just a touch closer to the tunnel, and took up position there. "Go!" She shouted. Kramer turned, running another few meters down the street, and took up cover by another building. Ox could tell the difference between the Scav reinforcements and his squad by sound alone. The Scav mercs let loose wild, untethered bursts of automatic fire. His squad, on the other hand, fired short bursts and single shots.
Ox aimed his rifle at the disparate shapes, barely formed in the darkness, and began firing.
"Go!"
Hello again, Bees!
Another workout after yesterday's (haven't been feeling that much DOMS, which is good).
Today was the second Push day of the week.
Bench Press: 145 x 2, 147.5 x 2. As I live and breathe... The first set was alright, so I bumped up the weight for the second (just the second set), and managed to get it. Perhaps I could even hit 150 x 2 next week after a bit of rest.
Incline Press: 95 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 25 x 8. Still feels pretty good.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 20 x 10. I'll up the weights, but this felt okay.
Rope Pushdowns: 13 x 11.
My students have gone away for the summer, so I've got lots of time on my hands.
Now I can work on my memoir again.
I suggested to my gal pal that we watch The Furious, but she balked at the copious inflictions of violence. So we may end up watching Backrooms instead (I wouldn't mind a second viewing). Better that than Supergirl (ugh) or Disclosure Day (double ugh). I need my aliens evil and ominous, not benevolent or dressed up in stupid costumes.
Likely going to break from the gym tomorrow. Just too tired.
Notetoself: Sign up for compo next week. We're going to make it, baby!
Keep chugging away, Bees! We're almost there.
Rant: I used to watch lots of fitness influencer videos, from Jeff Nippard to Mike Israetel. Now, I couldn't care less.
Who cares what you did, or what you experienced? Who cares what you think I should do in my life? Why should I have to subject myself to another 20 minute video or clickbait fluff?
I know that these apply to the youtube experience writ large, go figure.
I mean who watches this tosh?
This is why I mostly stick to cute animal vids.
Playing: Oodles of stuff. Some Sulfur, as always (at least until Project Silverfish updates), some Misery, and a little bit of Total Chaos. When I'm done with Sulfur, I'll play s'more of the latter.
Watching: Still on Daredevil.
Listening to: Swagbot - Perspective/Demons in the Dressing Room. Another synth treasure unearthed. This is a Swagbot duo of songs which were partially responsible for getting me into synthwave in the first place. I don't know if Swagbot is even still around - so many synth artists have suffered from undeserved obscurity.
I like how the wild, untrammeled feel of the first song gives way to the tense, muscular rave beat of the second. What a song!
The Scavs were amassing now in numbers, and making their way through the worn-down former hotel. He had been in scrapes like this before, and it wasn't Asra and Kramer's first dance, he knew. Still, better to get going. Their exit was through the fortunately-placed window that overlooked the street; it was large enough to accommodate them. This being the second floor, it was easy enough to drop down from the windowsill to the ground, and maybe they would... "There they are!"
Ox peered out the window. Well, shit. There must've been close to twenty of them, some coming out of the hotel where they'd discovered their casualties. And they were armed... not to the teeth exactly, some having clearly snatched their weapons groggy and in a state of deshabille. But there were a whole lot of them.
A long street ran through the slums, and fortunately their enemies didn't stand in their path. They were going to have to lose them, and withdraw in good order. Kramer, the first one to drop to the ground, hugged the edge of the hotel, and poured fire into the approaching Scavs. A pause in his shots. "Go!" Asra ran past him, headed for the opposite end of the street, just a touch closer to the tunnel, and took up position there. "Go!" She shouted. Kramer turned, running another few meters down the street, and took up cover by another building. Ox could tell the difference between the Scav reinforcements and his squad by sound alone. The Scav mercs let loose wild, untethered bursts of automatic fire. His squad, on the other hand, fired short bursts and single shots.
Ox aimed his rifle at the disparate shapes, barely formed in the darkness, and began firing.
"Go!"
Hello again, Bees!
Another workout after yesterday's (haven't been feeling that much DOMS, which is good).
Today was the second Push day of the week.
Bench Press: 145 x 2, 147.5 x 2. As I live and breathe... The first set was alright, so I bumped up the weight for the second (just the second set), and managed to get it. Perhaps I could even hit 150 x 2 next week after a bit of rest.
Incline Press: 95 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 25 x 8. Still feels pretty good.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 20 x 10. I'll up the weights, but this felt okay.
Rope Pushdowns: 13 x 11.
My students have gone away for the summer, so I've got lots of time on my hands.
Now I can work on my memoir again.
I suggested to my gal pal that we watch The Furious, but she balked at the copious inflictions of violence. So we may end up watching Backrooms instead (I wouldn't mind a second viewing). Better that than Supergirl (ugh) or Disclosure Day (double ugh). I need my aliens evil and ominous, not benevolent or dressed up in stupid costumes.
Likely going to break from the gym tomorrow. Just too tired.
Notetoself: Sign up for compo next week. We're going to make it, baby!
Keep chugging away, Bees! We're almost there.
Rant: I used to watch lots of fitness influencer videos, from Jeff Nippard to Mike Israetel. Now, I couldn't care less.
Who cares what you did, or what you experienced? Who cares what you think I should do in my life? Why should I have to subject myself to another 20 minute video or clickbait fluff?
I know that these apply to the youtube experience writ large, go figure.
I mean who watches this tosh?
This is why I mostly stick to cute animal vids.
Playing: Oodles of stuff. Some Sulfur, as always (at least until Project Silverfish updates), some Misery, and a little bit of Total Chaos. When I'm done with Sulfur, I'll play s'more of the latter.
Watching: Still on Daredevil.
Listening to: Swagbot - Perspective/Demons in the Dressing Room. Another synth treasure unearthed. This is a Swagbot duo of songs which were partially responsible for getting me into synthwave in the first place. I don't know if Swagbot is even still around - so many synth artists have suffered from undeserved obscurity.
I like how the wild, untrammeled feel of the first song gives way to the tense, muscular rave beat of the second. What a song!
-
GentleOx
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More shapes running through the darkness. Flashes, the thunder of gunfire. The rituals of battle. Move to cover. Raise rifle. Aim. Shoot. Check the chamber. Eject Mag. Reload a fresh mag. Slap the bolt catch. Raise the rifle again.
They had made an orderly withdrawal out of the slums, and were on the cusp of reaching Metropole's Eastern gate. How many KIAs they'd inflicted on Richter's finest was beyond his reckoning, but the three of them had delivered a drubbing the Scavs wouldn't forget. Unfortunately however, the Scavs could carry on the fight indefinitely, even with the wear on their numbers.
But... there was a pause. The Scav guns had fallen silent. They had fallen back, to recoup their losses, and no doubt prepare another offense to steamroll them. Ox and Asra were on the side of a street corner, with Kramer on the opposite side of the street. He looked down at Asra, who was aiming a rifle at the mouth of the tunnel they'd come from. "Split while the going's good?" She casually shrugged, despite having been the deadliest of the three of them. "Makes sense. FRV?" Ox breathed out. "FRV." Asra disappeared into the city's shadows. Ox turned to Kramer. "FRV!" He shouted. Whether or not the Scavs heard them was irrelevant. Kramer threw a salute his way, then ran the other direction.
And now he was on his own.
@TopNotch This is indeed true. There's only so much you can say about fitness, vast a topic though it may be. And I agree, at some point their end goal is to get punters to "invest" in their programs or online coaching.
Hey bees!
I didn't make it to the gym yesterday, so I made up for that lack with a crunchy leg workout today.
Squats: 110 x 5. Four sets of three preceding. I wanted to commit to my squats today - going down all the way, and taking advantage of stretch reflex. And it seems like it worked.
Paused Squats: 90 x 3. Eh, same as always.
Leg Press: 150 x 5 reps. Easy enough.
Sissy Squats: Five sets of six reps.
Sled Pushes: 6 lengths. Wasn't as hard as last time, should add more pushes next time.
A very windy day, due to the incoming typhoon. It's supposed to be a little rainy, before giving way to the heat that's characterized lots of different countries.
Yesterday night, was out with my pal watching Backrooms (for the second time, with me). No regrets - can confirm it's still a great movie. She's doing a PsyD, so she's super busy, but still a shame that I can't catch up and chat with her much these days.
The new health kick continues. I haven't cut out sugar completely, just mostly. I now snack on healthy protein snacks and tuna. Lots of tuna. Eager to see gains.
Haven't prepared for my competition yet. Tomorrow I'll train normally, though next week I'll make some overtures towards competition training form.
If you celebrate it, then I hope you had a great 4th of July.
Take care, Bees!
Playing: Umm, some Sulfur, a little bit of Misery, and some Total Chaos. I'm inching through the latter inch by spooky inch. Came across my first jump scare part last night.
Watching: Out of bile curiosity, in one sitting I managed to watch 2003 indie docu Overnight, which chronicles the misadventures of Boondock Saints creator Troy Duffy. Here's a synopsis, trailer and review.
It's 1997, and bartender/bouncer Troy Duffy is over the moon. As he should be: the script he's written - for a vigilante-glorifying, Tarantino-aping homage called The Boondock Saints - has been snapped up by Miramax Studios for hundreds of thousands of dollars, with Troy slated to direct. Moreover, Troy's budding rock band The Brood has just been signed to a record deal, not discounting an agreement to provide the soundtrack for the aforementioned film.
Elated and flush with his initial success, Troy invites the managers of his band to document his adventures in Hollywood as he wheels and deals his way to stardom. Or so he hopes; in turning on the cameras, the two filmmakers are able to capture a more repugnant side of Troy's personality, as well as his spiral into self-destruction as he pushes away opportunity after opportunity with his behaviour and ego.
This was not a pleasant watch.
Take an upstart, upjumped young soul and give him more money and responsibility than he knows what to do with, and this fascinating documentary is the result. Unlike other films or dramas where the hero is slowly corrupted by the status-obsessed cesspool that is Hollywood, Troy Duffy is, within spending five minutes on him, unlikeable and abrasive. He greets Hollywood stars to their faces while badmouthing them in private, screws over his friends, and his hubris extends to his believing that his film and band are the best in the business, and that success is a guarantee, rather than a possiblity (which hindsight shows was rather slim from the get go).
The film is a product of its time, in depicting Duffy's first and greatest sin as offending now-notorious sex offender Harvey Weinstein, formerly the boss of the biggest film studio in Hollywood. After The Boondock Saints is dropped by Weinstein's company, we watch as Duffy and his coterie of milder friends stumble from one catastrophe to another. What kind of surprised me was that the filming of The Boondock Saints seems to have gone off without a hitch, though interestingly enough, various stars comment on Duffy's loudmouth, self-defeating tendencies. Doco itself is filmed in very rudimentary fashion, with a bizarre and indulged fixation on female anatomy at certain times.
There is no redemption here, no real happy ending, and no character development or growth for the film's subject. Even though the movie became something of an indie cult classic (Duffy having signed away profits, however), the film never experienced box office success, and a belated sequel years later was maligned. To add insult to injury, Duffy's band only managed to sell 690 copies of their debut, and eventually broke apart. Duffy continues to spin his wheels and promise a second sequel, though that seems more than implausible at this point.
Because it's a compelling, if frustrating watch, I give 2003's Overnight three crappy indie rock band CDs out of five.
Listening to: The New Division - Shallow Play. A classic of 2000s synthpop. Accept no substitutes. Funny enough, the subject matter of the lyrics is pretty morbid, but the melody is lovely, so hey, there's that.
"I'm not afraid of what you'll do
I've seen so many persons worse than you
You think you're brave, you think you're right
But you should know that you will die tonight"
They had made an orderly withdrawal out of the slums, and were on the cusp of reaching Metropole's Eastern gate. How many KIAs they'd inflicted on Richter's finest was beyond his reckoning, but the three of them had delivered a drubbing the Scavs wouldn't forget. Unfortunately however, the Scavs could carry on the fight indefinitely, even with the wear on their numbers.
But... there was a pause. The Scav guns had fallen silent. They had fallen back, to recoup their losses, and no doubt prepare another offense to steamroll them. Ox and Asra were on the side of a street corner, with Kramer on the opposite side of the street. He looked down at Asra, who was aiming a rifle at the mouth of the tunnel they'd come from. "Split while the going's good?" She casually shrugged, despite having been the deadliest of the three of them. "Makes sense. FRV?" Ox breathed out. "FRV." Asra disappeared into the city's shadows. Ox turned to Kramer. "FRV!" He shouted. Whether or not the Scavs heard them was irrelevant. Kramer threw a salute his way, then ran the other direction.
And now he was on his own.
@TopNotch This is indeed true. There's only so much you can say about fitness, vast a topic though it may be. And I agree, at some point their end goal is to get punters to "invest" in their programs or online coaching.
Hey bees!
I didn't make it to the gym yesterday, so I made up for that lack with a crunchy leg workout today.
Squats: 110 x 5. Four sets of three preceding. I wanted to commit to my squats today - going down all the way, and taking advantage of stretch reflex. And it seems like it worked.
Paused Squats: 90 x 3. Eh, same as always.
Leg Press: 150 x 5 reps. Easy enough.
Sissy Squats: Five sets of six reps.
Sled Pushes: 6 lengths. Wasn't as hard as last time, should add more pushes next time.
A very windy day, due to the incoming typhoon. It's supposed to be a little rainy, before giving way to the heat that's characterized lots of different countries.
Yesterday night, was out with my pal watching Backrooms (for the second time, with me). No regrets - can confirm it's still a great movie. She's doing a PsyD, so she's super busy, but still a shame that I can't catch up and chat with her much these days.
The new health kick continues. I haven't cut out sugar completely, just mostly. I now snack on healthy protein snacks and tuna. Lots of tuna. Eager to see gains.
Haven't prepared for my competition yet. Tomorrow I'll train normally, though next week I'll make some overtures towards competition training form.
If you celebrate it, then I hope you had a great 4th of July.
Take care, Bees!
Playing: Umm, some Sulfur, a little bit of Misery, and some Total Chaos. I'm inching through the latter inch by spooky inch. Came across my first jump scare part last night.
Watching: Out of bile curiosity, in one sitting I managed to watch 2003 indie docu Overnight, which chronicles the misadventures of Boondock Saints creator Troy Duffy. Here's a synopsis, trailer and review.
It's 1997, and bartender/bouncer Troy Duffy is over the moon. As he should be: the script he's written - for a vigilante-glorifying, Tarantino-aping homage called The Boondock Saints - has been snapped up by Miramax Studios for hundreds of thousands of dollars, with Troy slated to direct. Moreover, Troy's budding rock band The Brood has just been signed to a record deal, not discounting an agreement to provide the soundtrack for the aforementioned film.
Elated and flush with his initial success, Troy invites the managers of his band to document his adventures in Hollywood as he wheels and deals his way to stardom. Or so he hopes; in turning on the cameras, the two filmmakers are able to capture a more repugnant side of Troy's personality, as well as his spiral into self-destruction as he pushes away opportunity after opportunity with his behaviour and ego.
This was not a pleasant watch.
Take an upstart, upjumped young soul and give him more money and responsibility than he knows what to do with, and this fascinating documentary is the result. Unlike other films or dramas where the hero is slowly corrupted by the status-obsessed cesspool that is Hollywood, Troy Duffy is, within spending five minutes on him, unlikeable and abrasive. He greets Hollywood stars to their faces while badmouthing them in private, screws over his friends, and his hubris extends to his believing that his film and band are the best in the business, and that success is a guarantee, rather than a possiblity (which hindsight shows was rather slim from the get go).
The film is a product of its time, in depicting Duffy's first and greatest sin as offending now-notorious sex offender Harvey Weinstein, formerly the boss of the biggest film studio in Hollywood. After The Boondock Saints is dropped by Weinstein's company, we watch as Duffy and his coterie of milder friends stumble from one catastrophe to another. What kind of surprised me was that the filming of The Boondock Saints seems to have gone off without a hitch, though interestingly enough, various stars comment on Duffy's loudmouth, self-defeating tendencies. Doco itself is filmed in very rudimentary fashion, with a bizarre and indulged fixation on female anatomy at certain times.
There is no redemption here, no real happy ending, and no character development or growth for the film's subject. Even though the movie became something of an indie cult classic (Duffy having signed away profits, however), the film never experienced box office success, and a belated sequel years later was maligned. To add insult to injury, Duffy's band only managed to sell 690 copies of their debut, and eventually broke apart. Duffy continues to spin his wheels and promise a second sequel, though that seems more than implausible at this point.
Because it's a compelling, if frustrating watch, I give 2003's Overnight three crappy indie rock band CDs out of five.
Listening to: The New Division - Shallow Play. A classic of 2000s synthpop. Accept no substitutes. Funny enough, the subject matter of the lyrics is pretty morbid, but the melody is lovely, so hey, there's that.
"I'm not afraid of what you'll do
I've seen so many persons worse than you
You think you're brave, you think you're right
But you should know that you will die tonight"
"Don't f*ckin' move!"
Ox wisely obeyed, hands held high. After evading the Scavs and making his way to the Black Lake bunker that the Broker called HQ, he'd opened the bulkhead door and slipped inside to face the armed guards, a mounted machine gun behind a sandbag barrier, and a harsh spotlight that was now pointed at his face.
"Who the f*ck is it?" Another voice called, clearly addressing the first voice. "Look like a Scav, or a Cultie??" "Nope, it's another stupid stalker." "It's Freelancer Ox!" Ox called over to them. The spotlight shining on him switched off, and after he'd blinked off the glare from the lights, he could see the armed guards the Broker employed ten meters away directing their weapons at him. "It's him," one of the men confirmed, and the group of guards relaxed. "Your friends got here first, they're waiting in the shop."
Ox felt relief suffuse him. "I'll go see to them. Thanks for your hospitality." But the guard wasn't done.
"Not so fast. First, the Broker wants to see you."
Hello Bees!
I come bearing word of my latest (disastrous) lifting exploits. Today was a Push day.
Bench Press: 147.5 x 1, then X! In my first set, I was hoping to do 147.5 twice. Failed on the second rep and nearly smushed my face. Silly Ox. Among other things, it's an obvious signal for me to drop my attempted reps, and come close to peaking. My bench press competition is in a month, so perhaps I can finish the program before then (unlikely though).
Incline Press: 97.5 x 6. Dropped the reps, increased the weight, and increased the sets by 1.
Rope Pushdowns: 13 x 12.
Weighted Dips: 27.5 x 8. About the only thing that went according to plan today.
Flat Dumbbell Curls: 20 x 12. Could probably do 20 if I went for it.
Ugh. Today's workout was disastrous. I don't know what went wrong today - as I noted in my last Push day, I was able to hit 147.5 twice. But I couldn't pull it off today, and nearly got myself killed in the process. I'm not sure why it even happened? Perhaps rushing through my workout had something to do with it.
So I limped through the workout adjusting the weight to push single reps, and my pecs have suffered for it. Oh well, there will be other days. And a workout done, is a workout done. Time for more Progressive Overload next time!
(Do not be like silly Ox and work out with heavy weights with a spotter).
Definitely not working out tomorrow. Body has taken too much punishment.
May watch a(nother) movie tomorrow? Unsure.
Hope your Monday is going great, Bees!
Playing: Played mostly Sulfur, and just a dash of Total Chaos. Very sloooowwwlly making my way through the latter.
Watching: Really need to start watching Obsession, as it looks simply remarkable.
Listening to: Grooveworthy - Panther Force V. The name of the band describes well the badassery of this early synth beat. Listening to it, I have an odd recollection of riding a helicopter through 'Nam, explosions going off behind me...
Ox wisely obeyed, hands held high. After evading the Scavs and making his way to the Black Lake bunker that the Broker called HQ, he'd opened the bulkhead door and slipped inside to face the armed guards, a mounted machine gun behind a sandbag barrier, and a harsh spotlight that was now pointed at his face.
"Who the f*ck is it?" Another voice called, clearly addressing the first voice. "Look like a Scav, or a Cultie??" "Nope, it's another stupid stalker." "It's Freelancer Ox!" Ox called over to them. The spotlight shining on him switched off, and after he'd blinked off the glare from the lights, he could see the armed guards the Broker employed ten meters away directing their weapons at him. "It's him," one of the men confirmed, and the group of guards relaxed. "Your friends got here first, they're waiting in the shop."
Ox felt relief suffuse him. "I'll go see to them. Thanks for your hospitality." But the guard wasn't done.
"Not so fast. First, the Broker wants to see you."
Hello Bees!
I come bearing word of my latest (disastrous) lifting exploits. Today was a Push day.
Bench Press: 147.5 x 1, then X! In my first set, I was hoping to do 147.5 twice. Failed on the second rep and nearly smushed my face. Silly Ox. Among other things, it's an obvious signal for me to drop my attempted reps, and come close to peaking. My bench press competition is in a month, so perhaps I can finish the program before then (unlikely though).
Incline Press: 97.5 x 6. Dropped the reps, increased the weight, and increased the sets by 1.
Rope Pushdowns: 13 x 12.
Weighted Dips: 27.5 x 8. About the only thing that went according to plan today.
Flat Dumbbell Curls: 20 x 12. Could probably do 20 if I went for it.
Ugh. Today's workout was disastrous. I don't know what went wrong today - as I noted in my last Push day, I was able to hit 147.5 twice. But I couldn't pull it off today, and nearly got myself killed in the process. I'm not sure why it even happened? Perhaps rushing through my workout had something to do with it.
So I limped through the workout adjusting the weight to push single reps, and my pecs have suffered for it. Oh well, there will be other days. And a workout done, is a workout done. Time for more Progressive Overload next time!
(Do not be like silly Ox and work out with heavy weights with a spotter).
Definitely not working out tomorrow. Body has taken too much punishment.
May watch a(nother) movie tomorrow? Unsure.
Hope your Monday is going great, Bees!
Playing: Played mostly Sulfur, and just a dash of Total Chaos. Very sloooowwwlly making my way through the latter.
Watching: Really need to start watching Obsession, as it looks simply remarkable.
Listening to: Grooveworthy - Panther Force V. The name of the band describes well the badassery of this early synth beat. Listening to it, I have an odd recollection of riding a helicopter through 'Nam, explosions going off behind me...
"You f*cking idiot!"
Ox could feel himself turning red. "There's no need for this. My men and I have just been to hell and back." The fae hastily grabbed his cigar from its ash tray, took a generous puff, then went back to lambasting Ox immediately. "You think I didn't know about that? You just stirred the hornet's nest with the Scavs; Richter wanted to kill you before, but now he's really got it in for you." Now Ox's blood was starting to, if not boil, then simmer a little. God, he wished he could have a cigarette right about now.
"What happened to the Scavs is on us, and from what I can tell, those assholes needed pruning anyway." A beat. The Broker took another puff of his cigar. "I'm not even worried about Richter's goons." "Then why give me shit?" The Broker thumped his desk with his fist."I'm talking about Simmi, you simpleton! Your fumbling was the likes of which hasn't been seen in generations! What in that pea-brained head of yours thought that it was alright - no, acceptable to release her to the Harkavos??"
The small office seemed smaller than it was, what with the intensity of the Broker's tirade. The two bodyguards flanking the Broker seemed uncomfortable, but they didn't move. Ox fought the urge to lose his temper. "You have no idea how much I miss her, and how much I regret letting her go. The fact of the matter is that I had no choice. It's been a year. You know, if you wanted to criticize me, the time would've been much earlier." "You think I've been sitting here in silent approval?? Things have been getting worse. You're a fool if you haven't spent any of this time preparing for the future like I have." Ox silently held up both hands in placation, and took a breath.
"It's not like the Observatory Freelancers have been sitting around doing nothing. But you have more information on this matter than I do. While I'm a guest here" (he hoped) "--and not entitled to your thoughts, I would still love to hear them. I'm just a pawn in the game, but with your help, we could be more. So let us in. We have a mutual enemy, after all. Tell me what the future is bringing!" The Broker didn't say anything to this at first, and though he hadn't, Ox waited; he knew the don had skin in the game, and was measuring a response.
"Sit your ass down, and keep quiet. I might as well tell you."
Hey again, Bees!
Today was a Pull day. No injuries, though the pads on my hands are sore from all the pulling.
Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 125 x 3. Still chasing that goal of 140; eventually I'll have to give in and use straps.
RDL: 125 x 3. Simple enough.
Barbell Rows: 102.5 x 6. Dropped the reps, upped the sets.
T-Bar Rows: 120 x 3. Uff. This was a tough one. Will work up to it again gradually.
Meadows Rows: 52.5 x 6. Felt pretty good, I thought.
Chins: 6, 5, 5, 5, 5.
Straight Bar Pullovers (I think that's what they're called): 9 x 6. Surprisingly good stretch in my lats, so I'll keep doing these.
Back Extensions: Five sets of six.
Another crazy 40 set workout! I really need to scale it down, or something. I swear it's because I love gymming so much.
Want to watch Evil Dead: Burn, and The Odyssey; screw the naysayers. Nolan is a master of spectacle and I want to see the set pieces in action.
The diet came under fire yesterday... I had too many treats and overate. Today I'm back on track, and bought some (hopefully) delicious Greek Yoghurt to tide me through the night.
The rain and storms have subsided somewhat. There was no water last night, which was about as fun as you'd expect.
I'll see you next time, Bees.
Playing: A little bit of Sulfur, though I'm weaning myself off. Played a little bit of Voin, and some Misery. The latter is especially punishing, in case the name didn't tip you off. Maybe play some Slayers X or Total Chaos tonight, time allowing.
Cantonese of the Day: I stole this from a blog, but it's one I've heard a few times. 我食鹽多過你食米 ngo5 sik6 jim4 do1 gwo3 nei5 sik6 mai5 “I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice” or colloquially, "I have more life experience than you."
Cute and Cuddly: I don't know if I've shared this before, but it's Rambo the GSD begging for Panda Express. Too cute!
Watching: So I got around to watching The Furious (火遮眼, or "fiery eyes" in Chinese). Here's a trailer, synopsis, and review!
A mute Chinese man resides in southeast Asia as a simple handyman. His spirited young daughter, Rainy, is with him during the holidays. After an argument over the man's refusal to return home, his daughter is lured into the street and kidnapped by thugs operating throughout the city with impunity. Using skills learned from his past profession, the man searches for his daughter, and links up with an equally determined journalist whose wife has gone missing while investigating the syndicate. Together, they will fight their way through thick and thin, body after body, to find their loved ones.
Bonkers.
If you watch this through to the end, you'll realize that's the best way to sum up the twenty minute, five man fight scene that employs virtuoso directing, choreography, and bone-breaking crunch. And then you'll realize that this applies just as much to the preceding two hours or so. There may have been minor respites from the action in the form of the plot unfolding, or characters being allowed a scene to shine, but the film really, truly belongs to its fight scenes. I can't remember the last time I saw a film that made the John Wick movies look restrained, and possibly even amateur.
It starts with a relatively simple fight amidst a pickup truck, before truly starting in a multi-body beatdown in a nightclub, and this is then followed by a bloody brawl in an ice block factory. By the time you get to the final showdown, the tally of broken bodies (to say nothing of limbs) is pretty damn hard to count. But it's not just that there're a multitude of participants. There's a beautiful array of fighting styles on display, from classic Kung Fu, to Judo, to Taekwondo and Muay Thai. And it's all held together with the overall defiance of gravity: even when flung to the ground or in a clinch, participants relentlessly shift from position to position with a fluidity that makes Hong Kong's filmmaking traditions proud.
The human elements add charm, and while the actors are two dimensional at best, there's a surprising sense of heart at the center of the film. Through corruption and neglect, by fist and foot, these heroes will fight to save their loved ones. And you'll watch, rapt, as they do so.
For its amazing fight pieces and electrifying spectacle, I will give The Furious five bloody hammers out of five.
Listening to: Days of Yore - Behind. I couldn't decide on a song for the day, so I eventually settled for this new synth find. It has an interesting, almost regretful and melancholic sound to it.
Ox could feel himself turning red. "There's no need for this. My men and I have just been to hell and back." The fae hastily grabbed his cigar from its ash tray, took a generous puff, then went back to lambasting Ox immediately. "You think I didn't know about that? You just stirred the hornet's nest with the Scavs; Richter wanted to kill you before, but now he's really got it in for you." Now Ox's blood was starting to, if not boil, then simmer a little. God, he wished he could have a cigarette right about now.
"What happened to the Scavs is on us, and from what I can tell, those assholes needed pruning anyway." A beat. The Broker took another puff of his cigar. "I'm not even worried about Richter's goons." "Then why give me shit?" The Broker thumped his desk with his fist."I'm talking about Simmi, you simpleton! Your fumbling was the likes of which hasn't been seen in generations! What in that pea-brained head of yours thought that it was alright - no, acceptable to release her to the Harkavos??"
The small office seemed smaller than it was, what with the intensity of the Broker's tirade. The two bodyguards flanking the Broker seemed uncomfortable, but they didn't move. Ox fought the urge to lose his temper. "You have no idea how much I miss her, and how much I regret letting her go. The fact of the matter is that I had no choice. It's been a year. You know, if you wanted to criticize me, the time would've been much earlier." "You think I've been sitting here in silent approval?? Things have been getting worse. You're a fool if you haven't spent any of this time preparing for the future like I have." Ox silently held up both hands in placation, and took a breath.
"It's not like the Observatory Freelancers have been sitting around doing nothing. But you have more information on this matter than I do. While I'm a guest here" (he hoped) "--and not entitled to your thoughts, I would still love to hear them. I'm just a pawn in the game, but with your help, we could be more. So let us in. We have a mutual enemy, after all. Tell me what the future is bringing!" The Broker didn't say anything to this at first, and though he hadn't, Ox waited; he knew the don had skin in the game, and was measuring a response.
"Sit your ass down, and keep quiet. I might as well tell you."
Hey again, Bees!
Today was a Pull day. No injuries, though the pads on my hands are sore from all the pulling.
Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 125 x 3. Still chasing that goal of 140; eventually I'll have to give in and use straps.
RDL: 125 x 3. Simple enough.
Barbell Rows: 102.5 x 6. Dropped the reps, upped the sets.
T-Bar Rows: 120 x 3. Uff. This was a tough one. Will work up to it again gradually.
Meadows Rows: 52.5 x 6. Felt pretty good, I thought.
Chins: 6, 5, 5, 5, 5.
Straight Bar Pullovers (I think that's what they're called): 9 x 6. Surprisingly good stretch in my lats, so I'll keep doing these.
Back Extensions: Five sets of six.
Another crazy 40 set workout! I really need to scale it down, or something. I swear it's because I love gymming so much.
Want to watch Evil Dead: Burn, and The Odyssey; screw the naysayers. Nolan is a master of spectacle and I want to see the set pieces in action.
The diet came under fire yesterday... I had too many treats and overate. Today I'm back on track, and bought some (hopefully) delicious Greek Yoghurt to tide me through the night.
The rain and storms have subsided somewhat. There was no water last night, which was about as fun as you'd expect.
I'll see you next time, Bees.
Playing: A little bit of Sulfur, though I'm weaning myself off. Played a little bit of Voin, and some Misery. The latter is especially punishing, in case the name didn't tip you off. Maybe play some Slayers X or Total Chaos tonight, time allowing.
Cantonese of the Day: I stole this from a blog, but it's one I've heard a few times. 我食鹽多過你食米 ngo5 sik6 jim4 do1 gwo3 nei5 sik6 mai5 “I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice” or colloquially, "I have more life experience than you."
Cute and Cuddly: I don't know if I've shared this before, but it's Rambo the GSD begging for Panda Express. Too cute!
Watching: So I got around to watching The Furious (火遮眼, or "fiery eyes" in Chinese). Here's a trailer, synopsis, and review!
A mute Chinese man resides in southeast Asia as a simple handyman. His spirited young daughter, Rainy, is with him during the holidays. After an argument over the man's refusal to return home, his daughter is lured into the street and kidnapped by thugs operating throughout the city with impunity. Using skills learned from his past profession, the man searches for his daughter, and links up with an equally determined journalist whose wife has gone missing while investigating the syndicate. Together, they will fight their way through thick and thin, body after body, to find their loved ones.
Bonkers.
If you watch this through to the end, you'll realize that's the best way to sum up the twenty minute, five man fight scene that employs virtuoso directing, choreography, and bone-breaking crunch. And then you'll realize that this applies just as much to the preceding two hours or so. There may have been minor respites from the action in the form of the plot unfolding, or characters being allowed a scene to shine, but the film really, truly belongs to its fight scenes. I can't remember the last time I saw a film that made the John Wick movies look restrained, and possibly even amateur.
It starts with a relatively simple fight amidst a pickup truck, before truly starting in a multi-body beatdown in a nightclub, and this is then followed by a bloody brawl in an ice block factory. By the time you get to the final showdown, the tally of broken bodies (to say nothing of limbs) is pretty damn hard to count. But it's not just that there're a multitude of participants. There's a beautiful array of fighting styles on display, from classic Kung Fu, to Judo, to Taekwondo and Muay Thai. And it's all held together with the overall defiance of gravity: even when flung to the ground or in a clinch, participants relentlessly shift from position to position with a fluidity that makes Hong Kong's filmmaking traditions proud.
The human elements add charm, and while the actors are two dimensional at best, there's a surprising sense of heart at the center of the film. Through corruption and neglect, by fist and foot, these heroes will fight to save their loved ones. And you'll watch, rapt, as they do so.
For its amazing fight pieces and electrifying spectacle, I will give The Furious five bloody hammers out of five.
Listening to: Days of Yore - Behind. I couldn't decide on a song for the day, so I eventually settled for this new synth find. It has an interesting, almost regretful and melancholic sound to it.
-
GentleOx
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"So you've been protecting Simmi all this time?"
The Broker's silence said it all. "You're not related to her, or anything like that?" Ox thought his mind would explode if this were the case. The Broker snorted. "Don't be dense. This isn't a TV serial. Let's just say I represent certain interests that work against the Harkavos." "That much I gathered. Why should we side with you and yours over them, anyway?" "You're a newcomer, I recall. So let me educate you. The status quo is abysmal as it is. We have factions that fight, steal, and raid in the interests of certain powerful magnates. Think the Innies and the fascists. The Harkavos are even worse. Did you know that they peddle in slave labour and drug selling?" Ox did not. Still, he was sullen.
"They're criminals. So what. Gangsters gonna gangster. Just tell me how I get my fiance back." The Broker raised a clawed finger. "Not so fast, my boy. Understand that up to now, no one knows what the Harkavos truly desire." "Are you serious? You've been hammering it into my head as to why they're bad and need to be stopped, but don't even know what their end goal is?" "If it's an extension of their crimes against humanity, then it's nothing good. The Innies and fascists are led by those morons Savlo and Kempt, who think they're saving the world. The Harkavos are different - they don't care. Ponder, for a moment, what the crime lords of Ruscov would do with our reality-bending artifacts, unburdened as they are by anything but their perverse sense of honour - which, I might note, resulted in the seizing of your fiance. I for one, don't plan to find out." It was odd how the Broker had such conviction on this topic. Usually he was sly and sarcastic, but now, he seemed... afraid.
"Why didn't you stop them before?" The Broker had been in the midst of smoking his cigar. He paused, and stared at Ox, anger in his eyes through the holes in his mask. "You think I've been sitting here playing cards, this whole time? Fishing? Or maybe I've been working on a tan! You ass, I've been working against them for decades." "And making a tidy profit the whole time." "Perks of the job. Your girlfriend had been secretly working to gather intel on those criminals, document at a time. Did you really think she was a mere coordinator?" Oddly enough, this deflated Ox. "I don't know what to think anymore." "Well then, get the gears in your head spinning, because it isn't over yet! She's been feeding me intel this whole time." Ox did not feel angry at being left out of the loop. More daunted and discouraged. After this talk, he was going for the world's longest smoke break. "So what now?"
"You choose. A fractured, dangerous world, or a boot stamping on a human face: forever."
(There is a reference to a certain famous dystopian novel above. Can you spot it?)
Hey again Bees!
Today was the 2nd Push day of the week, and my aim was to redeem myself for last time's sorry showing.
How did I do?
Bench Press: 147.5 x 1, 150 x 1, 147.5 for eight sets, making ten sets in total. I cannot emphasize enough how taxing this is. But the principles of progressive overload demand that I challenge myself more than last time, so I did my best. I was a little afraid I would almost get smushed again, but it didn't happen this time. I felt powerful, and the reps came consistently, and while difficult, were easier than last time. That said, it was a really time consuming process, as you might expect.
Competition Bench: 100 x 3, with steadily increasing weight. I figured I'd better get my body ready for the compo.
Incline Press: 97.5 x 6. Tough. Was glad to see the back of this one.
Straight Bar Pushdowns: 13 x 6. I was sick of the rope version, so I swapped it out, for fun and profit.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 30 x 6. Just light for today. Will increase as time goes on.
So a much more successful Push day than last time.
Japanese buffet on Saturday! Yum yum yum.
Next week, Odyssey! Mom is kind of reluctant, but she'll watch it with me anyway.
I'm probably going to break from the weights tomorrow and resume on Sunday.
Until next time, Bees!
Playing: Played a little bit of Voin and some Sulfur, of course. I hear tell that Palworld is dropping its v1.0 tomorrow, so I'm going to have to make space on my hard drive for that.
Watching: Currently trying to decide whether to watch Evil Dead Burns in cinema (I had this same mental debate with its predecessor, until it turned up online). Leaning towards no, as it doesn't seem great, just good.
Still haven't started Hokum. Maybe tonight? I keep saying that!
Trailer for Dune Part III: Yes please!
Listening to: ORAX - Blame. Haven't checked out synthwave/electronic artist ORAX's latest release yet. Here's the thunderous second song of the album, which has a galloping, propulsive feel to it.
The Broker's silence said it all. "You're not related to her, or anything like that?" Ox thought his mind would explode if this were the case. The Broker snorted. "Don't be dense. This isn't a TV serial. Let's just say I represent certain interests that work against the Harkavos." "That much I gathered. Why should we side with you and yours over them, anyway?" "You're a newcomer, I recall. So let me educate you. The status quo is abysmal as it is. We have factions that fight, steal, and raid in the interests of certain powerful magnates. Think the Innies and the fascists. The Harkavos are even worse. Did you know that they peddle in slave labour and drug selling?" Ox did not. Still, he was sullen.
"They're criminals. So what. Gangsters gonna gangster. Just tell me how I get my fiance back." The Broker raised a clawed finger. "Not so fast, my boy. Understand that up to now, no one knows what the Harkavos truly desire." "Are you serious? You've been hammering it into my head as to why they're bad and need to be stopped, but don't even know what their end goal is?" "If it's an extension of their crimes against humanity, then it's nothing good. The Innies and fascists are led by those morons Savlo and Kempt, who think they're saving the world. The Harkavos are different - they don't care. Ponder, for a moment, what the crime lords of Ruscov would do with our reality-bending artifacts, unburdened as they are by anything but their perverse sense of honour - which, I might note, resulted in the seizing of your fiance. I for one, don't plan to find out." It was odd how the Broker had such conviction on this topic. Usually he was sly and sarcastic, but now, he seemed... afraid.
"Why didn't you stop them before?" The Broker had been in the midst of smoking his cigar. He paused, and stared at Ox, anger in his eyes through the holes in his mask. "You think I've been sitting here playing cards, this whole time? Fishing? Or maybe I've been working on a tan! You ass, I've been working against them for decades." "And making a tidy profit the whole time." "Perks of the job. Your girlfriend had been secretly working to gather intel on those criminals, document at a time. Did you really think she was a mere coordinator?" Oddly enough, this deflated Ox. "I don't know what to think anymore." "Well then, get the gears in your head spinning, because it isn't over yet! She's been feeding me intel this whole time." Ox did not feel angry at being left out of the loop. More daunted and discouraged. After this talk, he was going for the world's longest smoke break. "So what now?"
"You choose. A fractured, dangerous world, or a boot stamping on a human face: forever."
(There is a reference to a certain famous dystopian novel above. Can you spot it?)
Hey again Bees!
Today was the 2nd Push day of the week, and my aim was to redeem myself for last time's sorry showing.
How did I do?
Bench Press: 147.5 x 1, 150 x 1, 147.5 for eight sets, making ten sets in total. I cannot emphasize enough how taxing this is. But the principles of progressive overload demand that I challenge myself more than last time, so I did my best. I was a little afraid I would almost get smushed again, but it didn't happen this time. I felt powerful, and the reps came consistently, and while difficult, were easier than last time. That said, it was a really time consuming process, as you might expect.
Competition Bench: 100 x 3, with steadily increasing weight. I figured I'd better get my body ready for the compo.
Incline Press: 97.5 x 6. Tough. Was glad to see the back of this one.
Straight Bar Pushdowns: 13 x 6. I was sick of the rope version, so I swapped it out, for fun and profit.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 30 x 6. Just light for today. Will increase as time goes on.
So a much more successful Push day than last time.
Japanese buffet on Saturday! Yum yum yum.
Next week, Odyssey! Mom is kind of reluctant, but she'll watch it with me anyway.
I'm probably going to break from the weights tomorrow and resume on Sunday.
Until next time, Bees!
Playing: Played a little bit of Voin and some Sulfur, of course. I hear tell that Palworld is dropping its v1.0 tomorrow, so I'm going to have to make space on my hard drive for that.
Watching: Currently trying to decide whether to watch Evil Dead Burns in cinema (I had this same mental debate with its predecessor, until it turned up online). Leaning towards no, as it doesn't seem great, just good.
Still haven't started Hokum. Maybe tonight? I keep saying that!
Trailer for Dune Part III: Yes please!
Listening to: ORAX - Blame. Haven't checked out synthwave/electronic artist ORAX's latest release yet. Here's the thunderous second song of the album, which has a galloping, propulsive feel to it.
-
GentleOx
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Last edited:
"Looks like he's got us by the short hairs, boss."
Ox didn't respond to this at first, busy as he was savoring his cigarette. He blew a stream of smoke through his nostrils. Minty. "Normally, I'd reserve that expression for the Broker's numerous power plays and deals? Now, I'm not so sure." "He basically gave you an ultimatum," Kramer said, smoking his own cigarette. The tunnel was quiet. In the past hour a stalker or two had come to the bunker to do business, but otherwise, it was just the three of them and the security staff, who were busy smoking their own cigarettes and talking shit. "Again, I'd use a different expression. I don't think the Broker is forcing us to do anything."
"This is more like a Hobson's choice. Ever heard of that one?" "Who?" Ox sighed. In this strange world, a lot was lost in translation. "It was a guy long ago who offered customers the horse nearest to the door, or none at all." Predictably, this elicited confusion. "How do horses relate to our problem?" "It's more the concept of the thing. Today, the expression refers to what seems like a choice, but is practically not one at all. Meaning, in the end, there is only one choice. The Broker offers the only tangible and clandestine way we can strike back, otherwise it's back to twiddling our thumbs, hoping things work themselves out on their own. If we want to preserve our gang of misfits, and perhaps even save the world in the bargain, we're going to have to give him what he wants." Asra, sitting on the concrete floor, quiet as always, finally spoke. "Which is?"
"Cooperation. Subterfuge. A share of the profits. Above all, he wants our considerable cache of intel." "I don't like it, boss." "I don't like it either. But I miss Simmi, and the Broker's resources may be our only way of our sticking it to the Harkavos."
"Let's just hope it doesn't backfire on us horribly..."
Hello once more Bees.
Two days away from the gym is too long, so here's me coming in with a Leg day.
Squats: 115 x 3. Ugh. These did not move as well as I'd hoped, but they're still in the bag.
Paused Squats: 95 x 3. Moving on up.
Bulgarian Split Squats: 14 x 6. Just starting over with these. They feel pretty good.
Sissy Squats: Top set of 8 reps. May do these at home too!
No sled pushes today, and topped off with 15 mins of elevated walking.
The heat has been absolutely extraordinary as of late. Good thing we're cooling down (a little) starting tomorrow.
I've been a little miserable as of late. Just lots of stuff. What the hell am I doing with my life, how am I going to provide for my parents... the usual angsty stuff. But I'm still doing better than I have in past years, during which I was quite tumultuous and plain angry.
I'll take the uncertain drudgery of today over the explosive, fiery days of yesteryear.
Bees, I know many of you avoid the gym. Have you ever heard of strength standards, or health standards? IE You should bench 2 plates, or do 50 burpees, or whatever. What do you make of them?
Hope you've had a great weekend, Bees!
Playing: Here's my tip of the hat to @PetiteSheWolf, who clued me into Mewgenics. I have no idea how this one passed me by. I remember the name, but little else. I've added it to my wishlist, and here's a suitably kooky trailer. It looks craaaaazy addictive. Turn Based is not usually my thing (I break the rule with stuff as prestigious as X-Com), but this one looks like it might be worth it. @PetiteSheWolf Great catch!
Palworld was just released. I'm torn between starting a new game and continuing my old save.
EDIT: Started a new save. Lord have mercy on me and allow me to moderate my gaming time. Palworld is the closest thing to gaming crack I've encountered in awhile (Sulfur, Binding of Isaac, and Fallout 4 being others).
Here's some tomfoolery about the suspicious resemblance Palworld's "Pals" have to the Pokemon. I love what this short hilariously insinuates.
"I put the gameplays of Palworld and Pokemon next to each other... and realized it was perpendicular..."
Also tried Nuclear Epoch again, via its demo. Right now it's quite underbaked, and comes across as a weaker Palworld, but the gunplay is pretty attractive. I'll give it a wishlist right now.
Watching: Apart from The Odyssey this weekend, not much.
Listening to: Billy Joel - Captain Jack. I've never actually done hard drugs in my life, but the restlessness and unease in this one speaks out to me nonetheless. I'll take it over Piano Man any day.
"And if you can't understand why your world is so dead
Why you've got to keep in style and feed your head
Well, you're twenty-one, and still your mother makes your bed
And that's too long"
Ox didn't respond to this at first, busy as he was savoring his cigarette. He blew a stream of smoke through his nostrils. Minty. "Normally, I'd reserve that expression for the Broker's numerous power plays and deals? Now, I'm not so sure." "He basically gave you an ultimatum," Kramer said, smoking his own cigarette. The tunnel was quiet. In the past hour a stalker or two had come to the bunker to do business, but otherwise, it was just the three of them and the security staff, who were busy smoking their own cigarettes and talking shit. "Again, I'd use a different expression. I don't think the Broker is forcing us to do anything."
"This is more like a Hobson's choice. Ever heard of that one?" "Who?" Ox sighed. In this strange world, a lot was lost in translation. "It was a guy long ago who offered customers the horse nearest to the door, or none at all." Predictably, this elicited confusion. "How do horses relate to our problem?" "It's more the concept of the thing. Today, the expression refers to what seems like a choice, but is practically not one at all. Meaning, in the end, there is only one choice. The Broker offers the only tangible and clandestine way we can strike back, otherwise it's back to twiddling our thumbs, hoping things work themselves out on their own. If we want to preserve our gang of misfits, and perhaps even save the world in the bargain, we're going to have to give him what he wants." Asra, sitting on the concrete floor, quiet as always, finally spoke. "Which is?"
"Cooperation. Subterfuge. A share of the profits. Above all, he wants our considerable cache of intel." "I don't like it, boss." "I don't like it either. But I miss Simmi, and the Broker's resources may be our only way of our sticking it to the Harkavos."
"Let's just hope it doesn't backfire on us horribly..."
Hello once more Bees.
Two days away from the gym is too long, so here's me coming in with a Leg day.
Squats: 115 x 3. Ugh. These did not move as well as I'd hoped, but they're still in the bag.
Paused Squats: 95 x 3. Moving on up.
Bulgarian Split Squats: 14 x 6. Just starting over with these. They feel pretty good.
Sissy Squats: Top set of 8 reps. May do these at home too!
No sled pushes today, and topped off with 15 mins of elevated walking.
The heat has been absolutely extraordinary as of late. Good thing we're cooling down (a little) starting tomorrow.
I've been a little miserable as of late. Just lots of stuff. What the hell am I doing with my life, how am I going to provide for my parents... the usual angsty stuff. But I'm still doing better than I have in past years, during which I was quite tumultuous and plain angry.
I'll take the uncertain drudgery of today over the explosive, fiery days of yesteryear.
Bees, I know many of you avoid the gym. Have you ever heard of strength standards, or health standards? IE You should bench 2 plates, or do 50 burpees, or whatever. What do you make of them?
Hope you've had a great weekend, Bees!
Playing: Here's my tip of the hat to @PetiteSheWolf, who clued me into Mewgenics. I have no idea how this one passed me by. I remember the name, but little else. I've added it to my wishlist, and here's a suitably kooky trailer. It looks craaaaazy addictive. Turn Based is not usually my thing (I break the rule with stuff as prestigious as X-Com), but this one looks like it might be worth it. @PetiteSheWolf Great catch!
Palworld was just released. I'm torn between starting a new game and continuing my old save.
EDIT: Started a new save. Lord have mercy on me and allow me to moderate my gaming time. Palworld is the closest thing to gaming crack I've encountered in awhile (Sulfur, Binding of Isaac, and Fallout 4 being others).
Here's some tomfoolery about the suspicious resemblance Palworld's "Pals" have to the Pokemon. I love what this short hilariously insinuates.
"I put the gameplays of Palworld and Pokemon next to each other... and realized it was perpendicular..."
Also tried Nuclear Epoch again, via its demo. Right now it's quite underbaked, and comes across as a weaker Palworld, but the gunplay is pretty attractive. I'll give it a wishlist right now.
Watching: Apart from The Odyssey this weekend, not much.
Listening to: Billy Joel - Captain Jack. I've never actually done hard drugs in my life, but the restlessness and unease in this one speaks out to me nonetheless. I'll take it over Piano Man any day.
"And if you can't understand why your world is so dead
Why you've got to keep in style and feed your head
Well, you're twenty-one, and still your mother makes your bed
And that's too long"
"So this is the start of a war."
Ox winced, and it wasn't from the assorted gear and BDU digging into his shoulders. They were on their way back to the Crossroads to finish up the Spratt job, though Ox had the sinking feeling that the hardest part of the job was about to start. Still, the statement at hand. "Yeah. Hopefully we'll end up on top." "You don't sound very confident, boss." Ox looked steadily at Kramer, though not balefully. The former marine and NFTA operator was more loquacious and questioning than Asra, though Ox didn't hold it against him. "Gonna share something with the two of you." The road was empty and the sun warming. Just down to good luck that they hadn't run into murderous transhumans or creatures. Ox took Kramer's silence as assent, and as for Asra - well, she was usually quite laconic.
"I'm not confident. We were, against our will, roped into a conflict against the world's cruelest and most powerful criminal syndicate. They want to force us into subservience. We're going to be pooling our resources and trying to figure out a crack in their armour. Meanwhile, the Harkavos are likely aware of this; before she left, Simmi made it very clear that they have eyes and ears everywhere. This fight is not going to come down to firepower. They could flatten us in that arena. Rather, we're going to need every advantage we can leverage, and rely on the cunning of our trusty, if absent, spymaster. I have a sneaky suspicion that we have a distinct advantage in this fight, however." "Which is?"
"We have something they want."
Dear Bees, I come from lands far away to bring you this update.
No, I'm just kidding, I'm still in Hong Kong.
Today was a Push day, marking the last cycle of the GZLP program.
Bench Press: 150 x 1, for ten sets. When I started the first set, I wasn't sure if I would make it out okay. I did so, but decided that this cycle has reached its end.
Competition Bench: 115 x 3. A good start.
Incline Press: 100 x 6. Am going to resort to a Double Progression way of leveling this one because I got sick of doing so many reps.
Rope Pushdowns: 13 x 7.
EZ Bar Curls: 35 x 6.
It was borderline pleasant out today, but strap in, 'cuz we're getting rainy weather once more!
Tomorrow I have to see the shrink again. Bleh.
Dyed my hair tonight, because the white was starting to show. Black black black black number 1!
Still parsing tickets for The Odyssey. Will have a review ready when I've finished watching it.
EDIT: Just realized I was seven years sober yesterday. Sometimes, life is all about these subtle victories.
Take care out there, Bees!
The Funnies: An attempt to flirt with a gym staff member goes terribly awry. "How much do you bench?"
"Ackchually" detail: I will point out that when you sign up for strength competitions, they don't ask you what your current lifts are, or what your first attempt will be (until the day of the compo).
Cantonese of the Day: 回避 or 避 alone - wui4 bei6: To avoid or evade eg Kuih seung wuibei nige mahntai ge zaakjam: They want to avoid responsibility for this problem.
Playing: Mostly Crac-err, Palworld, and a bit of Misery. I'm sloooowwwly making progress with the latter, but man, is it a grind.
Reinstalled Zombi, which is a Wii port that I haven't played in... err, 11 years. Was that really a time? So much has changed since then. Me included lol. Better stop before I go on with one of my nostalgia trips.
Watching: Odyssey is upcoming. Taking in Daredevil in drips and drabs at the gym.
Listening to: Abelard - Dance in Space. Haven't had a groovy number in awhile, and I'm always up for classic, old-school synthwave (a contentious category, I'm sure). Hell yeah! Dig those coloured vibes!
Ox winced, and it wasn't from the assorted gear and BDU digging into his shoulders. They were on their way back to the Crossroads to finish up the Spratt job, though Ox had the sinking feeling that the hardest part of the job was about to start. Still, the statement at hand. "Yeah. Hopefully we'll end up on top." "You don't sound very confident, boss." Ox looked steadily at Kramer, though not balefully. The former marine and NFTA operator was more loquacious and questioning than Asra, though Ox didn't hold it against him. "Gonna share something with the two of you." The road was empty and the sun warming. Just down to good luck that they hadn't run into murderous transhumans or creatures. Ox took Kramer's silence as assent, and as for Asra - well, she was usually quite laconic.
"I'm not confident. We were, against our will, roped into a conflict against the world's cruelest and most powerful criminal syndicate. They want to force us into subservience. We're going to be pooling our resources and trying to figure out a crack in their armour. Meanwhile, the Harkavos are likely aware of this; before she left, Simmi made it very clear that they have eyes and ears everywhere. This fight is not going to come down to firepower. They could flatten us in that arena. Rather, we're going to need every advantage we can leverage, and rely on the cunning of our trusty, if absent, spymaster. I have a sneaky suspicion that we have a distinct advantage in this fight, however." "Which is?"
"We have something they want."
Dear Bees, I come from lands far away to bring you this update.
No, I'm just kidding, I'm still in Hong Kong.
Today was a Push day, marking the last cycle of the GZLP program.
Bench Press: 150 x 1, for ten sets. When I started the first set, I wasn't sure if I would make it out okay. I did so, but decided that this cycle has reached its end.
Competition Bench: 115 x 3. A good start.
Incline Press: 100 x 6. Am going to resort to a Double Progression way of leveling this one because I got sick of doing so many reps.
Rope Pushdowns: 13 x 7.
EZ Bar Curls: 35 x 6.
It was borderline pleasant out today, but strap in, 'cuz we're getting rainy weather once more!
Tomorrow I have to see the shrink again. Bleh.
Dyed my hair tonight, because the white was starting to show. Black black black black number 1!
Still parsing tickets for The Odyssey. Will have a review ready when I've finished watching it.
EDIT: Just realized I was seven years sober yesterday. Sometimes, life is all about these subtle victories.
Take care out there, Bees!
The Funnies: An attempt to flirt with a gym staff member goes terribly awry. "How much do you bench?"
"Ackchually" detail: I will point out that when you sign up for strength competitions, they don't ask you what your current lifts are, or what your first attempt will be (until the day of the compo).
Cantonese of the Day: 回避 or 避 alone - wui4 bei6: To avoid or evade eg Kuih seung wuibei nige mahntai ge zaakjam: They want to avoid responsibility for this problem.
Playing: Mostly Crac-err, Palworld, and a bit of Misery. I'm sloooowwwly making progress with the latter, but man, is it a grind.
Reinstalled Zombi, which is a Wii port that I haven't played in... err, 11 years. Was that really a time? So much has changed since then. Me included lol. Better stop before I go on with one of my nostalgia trips.
Watching: Odyssey is upcoming. Taking in Daredevil in drips and drabs at the gym.
Listening to: Abelard - Dance in Space. Haven't had a groovy number in awhile, and I'm always up for classic, old-school synthwave (a contentious category, I'm sure). Hell yeah! Dig those coloured vibes!
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GentleOx
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Bravo for 7 years, Ox!
And chuckle for the trailer, and yes it is as bonkers as it looks. Including the ... breeding animations, that I turned off, LOL. You'll cross path with Freddy Kruger's hat, Chainsaw massacre's hockey mask, the configuration box from Hellraiser, and so on. Fun!
And chuckle for the trailer, and yes it is as bonkers as it looks. Including the ... breeding animations, that I turned off, LOL. You'll cross path with Freddy Kruger's hat, Chainsaw massacre's hockey mask, the configuration box from Hellraiser, and so on. Fun!
The drainage pipe jutted out of the warehouse docks inconspicuously, but if Spratt's notes were anything to go by, it led somewhere.
Ox eyed the murky water that no doubt teemed with garbage, blood, waste and all sorts of other shit. Still, when necessity comes knocking, you answer. And so he gingerly dropped off the edge of the docks and into the drink with a soft sploop. Soon, he was inundated with that grimy, cumbersome feel when you go into water clothed. Asra and Kramer followed, and Ox, treading water, led them to the pipe entrance. Once entering the large orange pipe, he set his feet down onto its interior and drew his rifle. No ambush awaited, but the interior of the pipe opened up into a room-sized space. A set of stairs were immersed in the water and led up to a catwalk. At the end of the catwalk was a bulkhead door. Bingo.
Ox covered Asra and Kramer as they swam into the pipe, and ascended the rusted stairs. Asra turned, rifle raised, covering the pipe's entrance, though it was unlikely that anyone would swim inside. SOP was SOP. Kramer waited at the side of the bulkhead door, before Ox and Asra stacked up at the opposite side. Kramer looked up at Ox, and held his arm out, palm facing Ox. Ox gave him a thumbs up, and Kramer went to work opening the bulkhead door. Once open, it swung to the side, creaking as it did.
The facility, and whatever it hid, awaited them.
(I'm proud of myself for making up the "necessity comes knocking" part, though it's unlikely I'm the first to think of it).
Hey again, Bees!
Tomorrow is The Odyssey, but today is another Pull workout. I made a concerted effort to drop the number of sets and just get it done.
Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 135 x 5, 140 x 3. I had to use straps for these, but these are PRs nonetheless! Squee!
RDL: 130 x 3.
Barbell Rows: 100 x 6. Resetting back to double progression
Meadows Rows: 55 x 5. Felt pretty tough, but good.
Neutral Chin Ups: Top set of six reps.
No big weight loss results yet, despite altering my diet. I'm mostly trying to keep my weight down so I'll be more competitive for my compo
Alan Thrall's sarcastic, but not incorrect take on how to lose weight:
Thank you kindly for the congratulations @JCU, @aku-chan and @PetiteSheWolf. May there be many more such years.
Playing: More Crackworld, though progress is slow going. I blame my Pals (even though they've served me loyally).
Misery is still going. I'm crafting more, and working out its systems (though some totally confuse me). It's both brutal and surprisingly encouraging at the same time.
There's an intriguing Cthulhu-like called "The Mound" (not the most appropriate title) which is also an FPA. It comes out today, so I'll wait for impressions and see how it is.
Played the demo for Vampire Hunter: Nightrise, which is an interestingly faith-based game (the last time I played a game with explicit Christian themes was back when I was a teenager!) in which you wield a stake-thrower and seek to challenge Dracula (or some facsimile). Still, the gameplay felt quite shallow, and this is borne out by the fact that the full game is apparently only two hours long. Boom! Uninstalled.
@PetiteSheWolf Uh... yeah, those breeding animations...
It does look like a lot of fun, however.
Watching: I received a peculiar message on my phone today. It said,
"GentleOx. We are entrusting you with a mission of the utmost importance. Here is a ticket for a showing of The Odyssey on opening day: tomorrow. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to watch the film and write a review of it on your Darebee thread. Your phone will now self destruct in 5... 4... 3.."
And then my phone started smoking and this funny odor wafted out.
No, most disappointingly, none of that really happened. But I am going to watch The Odyssey tomorrow, and I will have a review ready for my next post. Feeling pretty excited about it!
Listening to: Abstract Void - Joy Night. It's like colours of joy were shone through an icy metal filter. What a beautiful song.
Ox eyed the murky water that no doubt teemed with garbage, blood, waste and all sorts of other shit. Still, when necessity comes knocking, you answer. And so he gingerly dropped off the edge of the docks and into the drink with a soft sploop. Soon, he was inundated with that grimy, cumbersome feel when you go into water clothed. Asra and Kramer followed, and Ox, treading water, led them to the pipe entrance. Once entering the large orange pipe, he set his feet down onto its interior and drew his rifle. No ambush awaited, but the interior of the pipe opened up into a room-sized space. A set of stairs were immersed in the water and led up to a catwalk. At the end of the catwalk was a bulkhead door. Bingo.
Ox covered Asra and Kramer as they swam into the pipe, and ascended the rusted stairs. Asra turned, rifle raised, covering the pipe's entrance, though it was unlikely that anyone would swim inside. SOP was SOP. Kramer waited at the side of the bulkhead door, before Ox and Asra stacked up at the opposite side. Kramer looked up at Ox, and held his arm out, palm facing Ox. Ox gave him a thumbs up, and Kramer went to work opening the bulkhead door. Once open, it swung to the side, creaking as it did.
The facility, and whatever it hid, awaited them.
(I'm proud of myself for making up the "necessity comes knocking" part, though it's unlikely I'm the first to think of it).
Hey again, Bees!
Tomorrow is The Odyssey, but today is another Pull workout. I made a concerted effort to drop the number of sets and just get it done.
Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 135 x 5, 140 x 3. I had to use straps for these, but these are PRs nonetheless! Squee!
RDL: 130 x 3.
Barbell Rows: 100 x 6. Resetting back to double progression
Meadows Rows: 55 x 5. Felt pretty tough, but good.
Neutral Chin Ups: Top set of six reps.
No big weight loss results yet, despite altering my diet. I'm mostly trying to keep my weight down so I'll be more competitive for my compo
Alan Thrall's sarcastic, but not incorrect take on how to lose weight:
Thank you kindly for the congratulations @JCU, @aku-chan and @PetiteSheWolf. May there be many more such years.
Playing: More Crackworld, though progress is slow going. I blame my Pals (even though they've served me loyally).
Misery is still going. I'm crafting more, and working out its systems (though some totally confuse me). It's both brutal and surprisingly encouraging at the same time.
There's an intriguing Cthulhu-like called "The Mound" (not the most appropriate title) which is also an FPA. It comes out today, so I'll wait for impressions and see how it is.
Played the demo for Vampire Hunter: Nightrise, which is an interestingly faith-based game (the last time I played a game with explicit Christian themes was back when I was a teenager!) in which you wield a stake-thrower and seek to challenge Dracula (or some facsimile). Still, the gameplay felt quite shallow, and this is borne out by the fact that the full game is apparently only two hours long. Boom! Uninstalled.
@PetiteSheWolf Uh... yeah, those breeding animations...
It does look like a lot of fun, however.
Watching: I received a peculiar message on my phone today. It said,
"GentleOx. We are entrusting you with a mission of the utmost importance. Here is a ticket for a showing of The Odyssey on opening day: tomorrow. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to watch the film and write a review of it on your Darebee thread. Your phone will now self destruct in 5... 4... 3.."
And then my phone started smoking and this funny odor wafted out.
No, most disappointingly, none of that really happened. But I am going to watch The Odyssey tomorrow, and I will have a review ready for my next post. Feeling pretty excited about it!
Listening to: Abstract Void - Joy Night. It's like colours of joy were shone through an icy metal filter. What a beautiful song.
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GentleOx
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Last edited:
Ox raised a fist, and the three of them took cover behind the wall.
They had cleared out several preceding rooms with no sign of Spratt. Somewhat stupidly, Spratt had written down "AG-04" in his notes, and what did you know, there was a section of the Cistern which had that exact name. Ox hated the place; it had the feel of the dungeon, minus the screams. This made it even creepier. They were lucky in the sense that they hadn't encountered any opposition yet, apart from the ghostly, floating spores in the entrance chamber which they had given a wide berth. Upon finding the AG-04 door shut tight and impenetrable, Asra had astutely suggested that there might be a control console which could open it. Indeed there was, deeper in the belly of the tomb, and after some trial and error, they had entered AG-04 OPEN, and presto!
"Spratt?" Ox called out. He risked a peek around the corner. There was some sort of archival space, which clearly housed -- a flash of movement, a black shape? Ox pulled back instinctively, as a SKRROOM tore through the air and the full force of a shotgun blast hit the wall where his head had been. Ox let out a breath.
"Head count!" He yelled.
"I'm good!" "All good!"
"Spratt!" He yelled. "We know you're there! If you come out, we can work out something!"
"F*CK YOU!" Another shotgun blast. He was cornered, and had to be desperate.
"Suit yourself!" Ox glanced behind him.
"Ready?" Two seconds later, a squeeze on his shoulder.
Ox removed the flashbang from its pocket on his carrier, pulled the pin, and tossed it around the corner toward the office space. Several seconds later, a shrill and shrident bang that rattled his ears and made his eardrums want to hide in the corner. But he imagined it was much worse for Spratt. Steeling himself, he readied his rifle and turned the corner, Asra and Kramer at his heel. Lenny stood in the center of the room -- no, it was Spratt, holding his hands to his ears. His sawed-off shotgun was on the floor, forgotten. He wore the black ballistic face mask that was his identifying characteristic, and that sealed his doom.
Ox raised his rifle, and fired.
Greetings, Bees!
Whew! The above tale kind of got away from me.
Today I maxed out on my Bench Press, though I didn't push myself super hard.
Bench Press: 155 x 1. This'll do. It's a five kg increase from where I was theoretically at, but I feel much stronger than when I started. I intend to continue with GZCLP for the foreseeable future, and that'll continue next week.
Competition Bench: 120 x 3. Now I have to move on to these, and perfect the form. I'll do a single with 135 next week, just to see where I'm at.
Incline Bench: 102.5 x 6. Bah.
Rope Pushdowns: 13 x 8.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 37.5 x 6.
Some guy stole the mini (1.25 kg) plates off of my EZ Bar Preacher Curl after I stepped away. I confronted him, and while he was apologetic, he had an excuse, saying that people in the gym usually just leave their weights on the equipment. I wish I'd given him a piece of my mind, and pointed out that he could've gotten the plates from anywhere else in the gym (I mean, c'mon, use your bloody eyes), but discretion was the better part of valor, I felt.
Anyway, it's the weekend, and tomorrow is Taiwanese Hot Pot for dinner! Om nom nom.
I splurged on some kit kats yesterday, bad Ox. Oh well. The weight loss journey has only just begun.
Have yourselves a great weekend, Bees!
Go watch The Odyssey (kidding - but only a little).
Cantonese of the day - yu san tung hung, mou haan hoh nang: 與神同行, 無限可能. Meaning: When you walk with God, the possibilities are endless.
Playing: What's this? No Crackworld last night?? I played Misery until 2 am instead. Man, it's not good for sleep and productivity, but nonetheless, I love that feeling when a game has you in its grasp.
In Misery, I worked on further establishing my base with power sources, and will continue to refine those tonight. I figured out a way to plant crops, so I'm going to be working on more of that too.
Watching: I did accept the secret mission from above to watch The Odyssey (the phone is a loss, though). In completion of my mission, here is a trailer, synopsis, and review!
The Trojan war is won in a decisive stroke, thanks to the brilliance of Odysseus, king of Ithaca. He and the rest of the men have already spent ten years waging war against Troy, and it is time to go home. Readying their ships and setting sail, they do not realize that their journey home will be met with trial after trial, against beasts and malefactors fantastic. Odyssey reflects on the journey in the company of a strange woman, Calypso, reflecting on his long journey home, his purpose adrift.
Meanwhile, Telemachus, Odysseus' son, chafes at the suitors who come to woo his mother, Penelope, who is absent her husband (the implication being that he is lost for good). They eat their food, and drink their wine, and have little respect for his father's legacy. Penelope, stoic as always, refuses to let the suitors court her, holding out against hope that her husband will one day return home. Telemachus seeks to visit King Menelaus to find clues as to his father's whereabouts, and must contend with the suitors' treacherous machinations. He will learn more of the story of his father that seems to grow with each telling...
Summary: The Odyssey is excellence made flesh.
I did not warm to the film at first. Apart from an intro which sets the scene for this tragedy, the first twenty minutes or so on Ithaca are overtly talky and a little clunky. It took time for the subtleties and the internal emotions to reveal themselves. But when this sucker gets going, it gets going.
I think the encounter with the Cyclops was the bit that really hammered it home for me. Nolan went big, and didn't spare any expense, what with the scale, the practical effects, and the music (more on that later). I enjoyed the "anthology" parts of the movie: id est Odysseus' and his crew's encounters with the fantastic and the terrifying. There is a peculiar intimacy with them; when this is strayed from with the Scylla/Charybdis encounter (which employ, well, silly-looking effects).
Usually I find Nolan's films lacking in emotion and pathos. There is plenty of that here. It's the core of the film, as we follow Odysseus' treacherous journey home. My favourite moment of the film was not what I expected it would be. I gravitated towards the action and the wondrous encounters, but there is a quiet monologue that Odysseus has that absolutely broke my heart. Hearing the music again now brings back a little magic of that moment, and that sense of regret and horror that we can sense from Odysseus. The old ways are gone, the Men from the Sea are coming, and the destruction of Troy was horror and wrongdoing brought to life (and in a bravura sequence, we are shown why).
Regarding the acting, I gotta say, everyone's on their A-game. Damon and Hathway are predictable standouts, and surprise! Pattinson as well. While some performances were better than others, they were all good. The MVP, however, is Samantha Morton, whose acting as Circe is a tour de force (and is the centrepiece of a sequence that was genuinely horrifying).
Suffice to say, I need to watch this one again eventually. It's an absolute embarrassment of riches.
(There's been a lot of hullaballoo over how the film is woke and anachronistic. The American accents take some getting used to, but ultimately don't take away from the film. Helen of Troy is played by a black actor, but you know what? Lupita Nyong'o predictably kills her role. Two of the crew are Asian, but they do a great job. And it deviates from Homerian myth, but why care? This was all made up at the end of the day.)
I give it four and a half Trojan Horses out of five. It's not perfect, but as mentioned above, it certainly is excellent.
Listening to: Ludwig Goransson - Laestrygonians. I'm listening to lots of songs from The Odyssey score. It's simply sublime, and one of the most memorable parts of the movie. The score perfectly matches the adrenaline rush of Odysseus and his crew encountering the titular bloodthirsty giants.
They had cleared out several preceding rooms with no sign of Spratt. Somewhat stupidly, Spratt had written down "AG-04" in his notes, and what did you know, there was a section of the Cistern which had that exact name. Ox hated the place; it had the feel of the dungeon, minus the screams. This made it even creepier. They were lucky in the sense that they hadn't encountered any opposition yet, apart from the ghostly, floating spores in the entrance chamber which they had given a wide berth. Upon finding the AG-04 door shut tight and impenetrable, Asra had astutely suggested that there might be a control console which could open it. Indeed there was, deeper in the belly of the tomb, and after some trial and error, they had entered AG-04 OPEN, and presto!
"Spratt?" Ox called out. He risked a peek around the corner. There was some sort of archival space, which clearly housed -- a flash of movement, a black shape? Ox pulled back instinctively, as a SKRROOM tore through the air and the full force of a shotgun blast hit the wall where his head had been. Ox let out a breath.
"Head count!" He yelled.
"I'm good!" "All good!"
"Spratt!" He yelled. "We know you're there! If you come out, we can work out something!"
"F*CK YOU!" Another shotgun blast. He was cornered, and had to be desperate.
"Suit yourself!" Ox glanced behind him.
"Ready?" Two seconds later, a squeeze on his shoulder.
Ox removed the flashbang from its pocket on his carrier, pulled the pin, and tossed it around the corner toward the office space. Several seconds later, a shrill and shrident bang that rattled his ears and made his eardrums want to hide in the corner. But he imagined it was much worse for Spratt. Steeling himself, he readied his rifle and turned the corner, Asra and Kramer at his heel. Lenny stood in the center of the room -- no, it was Spratt, holding his hands to his ears. His sawed-off shotgun was on the floor, forgotten. He wore the black ballistic face mask that was his identifying characteristic, and that sealed his doom.
Ox raised his rifle, and fired.
Greetings, Bees!
Whew! The above tale kind of got away from me.
Today I maxed out on my Bench Press, though I didn't push myself super hard.
Bench Press: 155 x 1. This'll do. It's a five kg increase from where I was theoretically at, but I feel much stronger than when I started. I intend to continue with GZCLP for the foreseeable future, and that'll continue next week.
Competition Bench: 120 x 3. Now I have to move on to these, and perfect the form. I'll do a single with 135 next week, just to see where I'm at.
Incline Bench: 102.5 x 6. Bah.
Rope Pushdowns: 13 x 8.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 37.5 x 6.
Some guy stole the mini (1.25 kg) plates off of my EZ Bar Preacher Curl after I stepped away. I confronted him, and while he was apologetic, he had an excuse, saying that people in the gym usually just leave their weights on the equipment. I wish I'd given him a piece of my mind, and pointed out that he could've gotten the plates from anywhere else in the gym (I mean, c'mon, use your bloody eyes), but discretion was the better part of valor, I felt.
Anyway, it's the weekend, and tomorrow is Taiwanese Hot Pot for dinner! Om nom nom.
I splurged on some kit kats yesterday, bad Ox. Oh well. The weight loss journey has only just begun.
Have yourselves a great weekend, Bees!
Go watch The Odyssey (kidding - but only a little).
Cantonese of the day - yu san tung hung, mou haan hoh nang: 與神同行, 無限可能. Meaning: When you walk with God, the possibilities are endless.
Playing: What's this? No Crackworld last night?? I played Misery until 2 am instead. Man, it's not good for sleep and productivity, but nonetheless, I love that feeling when a game has you in its grasp.
In Misery, I worked on further establishing my base with power sources, and will continue to refine those tonight. I figured out a way to plant crops, so I'm going to be working on more of that too.
Watching: I did accept the secret mission from above to watch The Odyssey (the phone is a loss, though). In completion of my mission, here is a trailer, synopsis, and review!
The Trojan war is won in a decisive stroke, thanks to the brilliance of Odysseus, king of Ithaca. He and the rest of the men have already spent ten years waging war against Troy, and it is time to go home. Readying their ships and setting sail, they do not realize that their journey home will be met with trial after trial, against beasts and malefactors fantastic. Odyssey reflects on the journey in the company of a strange woman, Calypso, reflecting on his long journey home, his purpose adrift.
Meanwhile, Telemachus, Odysseus' son, chafes at the suitors who come to woo his mother, Penelope, who is absent her husband (the implication being that he is lost for good). They eat their food, and drink their wine, and have little respect for his father's legacy. Penelope, stoic as always, refuses to let the suitors court her, holding out against hope that her husband will one day return home. Telemachus seeks to visit King Menelaus to find clues as to his father's whereabouts, and must contend with the suitors' treacherous machinations. He will learn more of the story of his father that seems to grow with each telling...
Summary: The Odyssey is excellence made flesh.
I did not warm to the film at first. Apart from an intro which sets the scene for this tragedy, the first twenty minutes or so on Ithaca are overtly talky and a little clunky. It took time for the subtleties and the internal emotions to reveal themselves. But when this sucker gets going, it gets going.
I think the encounter with the Cyclops was the bit that really hammered it home for me. Nolan went big, and didn't spare any expense, what with the scale, the practical effects, and the music (more on that later). I enjoyed the "anthology" parts of the movie: id est Odysseus' and his crew's encounters with the fantastic and the terrifying. There is a peculiar intimacy with them; when this is strayed from with the Scylla/Charybdis encounter (which employ, well, silly-looking effects).
Usually I find Nolan's films lacking in emotion and pathos. There is plenty of that here. It's the core of the film, as we follow Odysseus' treacherous journey home. My favourite moment of the film was not what I expected it would be. I gravitated towards the action and the wondrous encounters, but there is a quiet monologue that Odysseus has that absolutely broke my heart. Hearing the music again now brings back a little magic of that moment, and that sense of regret and horror that we can sense from Odysseus. The old ways are gone, the Men from the Sea are coming, and the destruction of Troy was horror and wrongdoing brought to life (and in a bravura sequence, we are shown why).
Regarding the acting, I gotta say, everyone's on their A-game. Damon and Hathway are predictable standouts, and surprise! Pattinson as well. While some performances were better than others, they were all good. The MVP, however, is Samantha Morton, whose acting as Circe is a tour de force (and is the centrepiece of a sequence that was genuinely horrifying).
Suffice to say, I need to watch this one again eventually. It's an absolute embarrassment of riches.
(There's been a lot of hullaballoo over how the film is woke and anachronistic. The American accents take some getting used to, but ultimately don't take away from the film. Helen of Troy is played by a black actor, but you know what? Lupita Nyong'o predictably kills her role. Two of the crew are Asian, but they do a great job. And it deviates from Homerian myth, but why care? This was all made up at the end of the day.)
I give it four and a half Trojan Horses out of five. It's not perfect, but as mentioned above, it certainly is excellent.
Listening to: Ludwig Goransson - Laestrygonians. I'm listening to lots of songs from The Odyssey score. It's simply sublime, and one of the most memorable parts of the movie. The score perfectly matches the adrenaline rush of Odysseus and his crew encountering the titular bloodthirsty giants.
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GentleOx
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Last edited:
Ox was glad that they were finally heading home.
They trudged along on through the Crossroads, weary but alert. Still, apart from the odd faraway cry of beasts best unseen, it seemed that not much was going on. It helped that the brunt of the journey had been completed, and now they were almost at the Observatory.
What had started out as a simple job had proved surprisingly complex and difficult, and while his two squadmates were capable, there was the stress of making sure that they all came home alive. Perhaps he was leaving his lone wanderer days behind, and Kramer and Asra had proven quite effective in battle. And there would be many more to come. But first, he had to get back and do a number of things. Debrief. Log the mission. Change out of his wet, soaked fatigues. Check the terminal for any messages from... well, he didn't know if there would be any. Still, it was something to look forward to. He could hear Asra softly singing to herself: it had a yearning, days of past feel to it. Ox called out to her. "Hey, that melody got any words?" Asra was silent for a second, and then sang louder, for all to hear that beautiful voice.
"When the wagons leave the city
For the forest and futher on
Painted wagon of the morning
Dusty roads where they have gone"
Ox and Kramer were spellbound. Perhaps she'd had a different calling in her past life. The words sounded somewhat familiar to Ox, but he let her continue singing.
Now the Observatory camp was in sight, and there was a figure standing at the gate. Interesting, it... now they drew closer, and he could make out their clothing. It was a woman wearing a business jacket and slacks, which was unusual enough, but he recognized the confident bearing, and the orange hair: allowed to grow longer and styled into a professional haircut. She stood waiting patiently, and wore an unadulterated smile on her face.
It was her. It really was her.
Hey again, Bees.
After church I had my usual Leg day workout, which totally beat the tar out of me, but I made it back in one piece.
Squats: 120 x 3. Ugh. These moved slowwwwly, and were truly taxing. I'm going to knock off a rep next time and let the program do its work. Still, 120 x 3 is nothing to sneeze at.
Paused squats: 100 x 3. Ugh: the second coming.
Bulgarian Split Squats: 16 x 6. These were okay, at least. I'll increase the weight next time.
Sled Push: 4 times.
And after some cardio, that was about it. I'd already depleted my stamina for the day.
Looking forward to the week ahead.
Only two weeks until my competition! Better get cracking.
Hope you've enjoyed the weekend, Bees!
Drumming practice: 85 bpm Double-stroke quarter notes. Practicing old school, back to basics.
Playing: What happened to Crackworld? I don't know, because right now, I've been addicted to playing Crack Misery. Err, I'll stop with the crack jokes now. But Misery is legitimately a lot of fun, and I wouldn't have been to tell that it was still in early access. The last few nights, I've been playing to about 1:30 on average, which was a bad idea today when I had to get up early for church. But for now, it's my mainstay game - at least until I exhaust all the early access content.
I've built up my base with plenty of facilities, work benches and so on, and there's still more room for expansion in my cozy little bunker.
Watching: More of Daredevil at the gym, but not much late night cinema.
Listening to: The Unadored - Song of Our Souls. Gothing it up a bit with a band from the early 2000s - the mp3.com era! Wow, that was some time ago. More suited for Halloween, but that's okay. I can always use more gothy tunes.
They trudged along on through the Crossroads, weary but alert. Still, apart from the odd faraway cry of beasts best unseen, it seemed that not much was going on. It helped that the brunt of the journey had been completed, and now they were almost at the Observatory.
What had started out as a simple job had proved surprisingly complex and difficult, and while his two squadmates were capable, there was the stress of making sure that they all came home alive. Perhaps he was leaving his lone wanderer days behind, and Kramer and Asra had proven quite effective in battle. And there would be many more to come. But first, he had to get back and do a number of things. Debrief. Log the mission. Change out of his wet, soaked fatigues. Check the terminal for any messages from... well, he didn't know if there would be any. Still, it was something to look forward to. He could hear Asra softly singing to herself: it had a yearning, days of past feel to it. Ox called out to her. "Hey, that melody got any words?" Asra was silent for a second, and then sang louder, for all to hear that beautiful voice.
"When the wagons leave the city
For the forest and futher on
Painted wagon of the morning
Dusty roads where they have gone"
Ox and Kramer were spellbound. Perhaps she'd had a different calling in her past life. The words sounded somewhat familiar to Ox, but he let her continue singing.
Now the Observatory camp was in sight, and there was a figure standing at the gate. Interesting, it... now they drew closer, and he could make out their clothing. It was a woman wearing a business jacket and slacks, which was unusual enough, but he recognized the confident bearing, and the orange hair: allowed to grow longer and styled into a professional haircut. She stood waiting patiently, and wore an unadulterated smile on her face.
It was her. It really was her.
Hey again, Bees.
After church I had my usual Leg day workout, which totally beat the tar out of me, but I made it back in one piece.
Squats: 120 x 3. Ugh. These moved slowwwwly, and were truly taxing. I'm going to knock off a rep next time and let the program do its work. Still, 120 x 3 is nothing to sneeze at.
Paused squats: 100 x 3. Ugh: the second coming.
Bulgarian Split Squats: 16 x 6. These were okay, at least. I'll increase the weight next time.
Sled Push: 4 times.
And after some cardio, that was about it. I'd already depleted my stamina for the day.
Looking forward to the week ahead.
Only two weeks until my competition! Better get cracking.
Hope you've enjoyed the weekend, Bees!
Drumming practice: 85 bpm Double-stroke quarter notes. Practicing old school, back to basics.
Playing: What happened to Crackworld? I don't know, because right now, I've been addicted to playing Crack Misery. Err, I'll stop with the crack jokes now. But Misery is legitimately a lot of fun, and I wouldn't have been to tell that it was still in early access. The last few nights, I've been playing to about 1:30 on average, which was a bad idea today when I had to get up early for church. But for now, it's my mainstay game - at least until I exhaust all the early access content.
I've built up my base with plenty of facilities, work benches and so on, and there's still more room for expansion in my cozy little bunker.
Watching: More of Daredevil at the gym, but not much late night cinema.
Listening to: The Unadored - Song of Our Souls. Gothing it up a bit with a band from the early 2000s - the mp3.com era! Wow, that was some time ago. More suited for Halloween, but that's okay. I can always use more gothy tunes.
"It's... you?"
"In the flesh."
Ox stood face to face with her, his body rigid and his heart unbelieving. Simmi stood straight, almost proudly so, but her arms were loose at her side. He could not entirely convince his brain that this was not some trick or ploy. He had never truly grown used to her absence, but every day, there was this expectation that she was gone for good. "I thought... I thought I would never see you again," he said, frozen to the spot.
Perhaps sensing his sense of shock and uncertainty, Simmi slowly walked up to him. Her presence seemed to exude a kind of warmth, and the scent of her exotic perfume clashed with the earthier smells he had endured throughout the mission. Reaching up with both hands to grasp the back of his head gently, she tilted his head forward and at the same time, kissed him on the forehead. His vision was blurry; the last time he had shed tears was the day she had left. The memory broke him out of his stillness, and he put both arms around her, and hugged her tightly. Simmi returned the hug warmly, and he could feel the warmth of her lean physique through the tailored apparel. Then he heard her whisper:
"Assume they are watching and listening."
"Are we going to get them back?"
"In spades."
"How long?" A pause from her.
"Soon."
Whew! Today was quite tiring, but I got in my workout and made it home okay.
Today was a Push day in which I placed the emphasis on my competition lift.
Competition Bench: 135, 140, and 145. Felt tough, but good overall. I feel it makes sense to use these lifts in the competition proper.
Bog-Standard Paused Bench: 125 x 3.
Incline Press: 105x6.
Rope Pushdowns: 9 x 6. I hit the rest button on these. I was sick of grinding out reps for weight that was too damn heavy. So now I'll gradually increase it.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 40 x 6. Pretty tough!
The competition is on the 8th of August, so a little over two weeks from now. I may have peaked too early, but the hell with it.
I'm in it for love of the game.
Feel better today after the listlessness of yesterday. It was a restless, frustrating day.
Hope your week is going well, Bees!
Drumming practice: 86 bpm Double-stroke quarter notes. Took a pause this weekend, but my hands haven't suffered for it.
The Funny: The original dogs with human hands, which started a meme decades later. Absolutely hilarious, and the weimeraners are great stars. That said, filming this must've been a nightmare!
Playing: So it seems to me that lately, I've been butting up against the Early Access limits of my Misery playthrough. I've spawned in all the different areas and explored them (some more thoroughly than others), though I've yet to get the best equipment and weapons. Getting there though. My current build and loadout is pretty buff. I haven't discovered all the weapons and armours, so I'll keep playing for now.
Palworld has been on the back burner.
Just bought a RL named "Pathogenic", which has gotten a lot of positive feedback. Look forward to trying it!
Watching: Not much, apart from Daredevil Season 2. It's been a great watch so far.
Listening to: Big Star - Car. One of the first songs I learned how to drum along to. It combines jangly power-pop melodies with the ardor of youth, and an interesting sense of unease and uncertainty. If you are into classic/70's rock in the slightest, Big Star is simply essential listening.
"Why don't you take me home
It's gone too far
Inside this car
I know I'll feel a lot more
When I get alone"
"In the flesh."
Ox stood face to face with her, his body rigid and his heart unbelieving. Simmi stood straight, almost proudly so, but her arms were loose at her side. He could not entirely convince his brain that this was not some trick or ploy. He had never truly grown used to her absence, but every day, there was this expectation that she was gone for good. "I thought... I thought I would never see you again," he said, frozen to the spot.
Perhaps sensing his sense of shock and uncertainty, Simmi slowly walked up to him. Her presence seemed to exude a kind of warmth, and the scent of her exotic perfume clashed with the earthier smells he had endured throughout the mission. Reaching up with both hands to grasp the back of his head gently, she tilted his head forward and at the same time, kissed him on the forehead. His vision was blurry; the last time he had shed tears was the day she had left. The memory broke him out of his stillness, and he put both arms around her, and hugged her tightly. Simmi returned the hug warmly, and he could feel the warmth of her lean physique through the tailored apparel. Then he heard her whisper:
"Assume they are watching and listening."
"Are we going to get them back?"
"In spades."
"How long?" A pause from her.
"Soon."
Whew! Today was quite tiring, but I got in my workout and made it home okay.
Today was a Push day in which I placed the emphasis on my competition lift.
Competition Bench: 135, 140, and 145. Felt tough, but good overall. I feel it makes sense to use these lifts in the competition proper.
Bog-Standard Paused Bench: 125 x 3.
Incline Press: 105x6.
Rope Pushdowns: 9 x 6. I hit the rest button on these. I was sick of grinding out reps for weight that was too damn heavy. So now I'll gradually increase it.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 40 x 6. Pretty tough!
The competition is on the 8th of August, so a little over two weeks from now. I may have peaked too early, but the hell with it.
I'm in it for love of the game.
Feel better today after the listlessness of yesterday. It was a restless, frustrating day.
Hope your week is going well, Bees!
Drumming practice: 86 bpm Double-stroke quarter notes. Took a pause this weekend, but my hands haven't suffered for it.
The Funny: The original dogs with human hands, which started a meme decades later. Absolutely hilarious, and the weimeraners are great stars. That said, filming this must've been a nightmare!
Playing: So it seems to me that lately, I've been butting up against the Early Access limits of my Misery playthrough. I've spawned in all the different areas and explored them (some more thoroughly than others), though I've yet to get the best equipment and weapons. Getting there though. My current build and loadout is pretty buff. I haven't discovered all the weapons and armours, so I'll keep playing for now.
Palworld has been on the back burner.
Just bought a RL named "Pathogenic", which has gotten a lot of positive feedback. Look forward to trying it!
Watching: Not much, apart from Daredevil Season 2. It's been a great watch so far.
Listening to: Big Star - Car. One of the first songs I learned how to drum along to. It combines jangly power-pop melodies with the ardor of youth, and an interesting sense of unease and uncertainty. If you are into classic/70's rock in the slightest, Big Star is simply essential listening.
"Why don't you take me home
It's gone too far
Inside this car
I know I'll feel a lot more
When I get alone"
"Imsi..."
If Simmi seemed surprised, or objected to the use of her former name, she didn't show it. "So I was once known as." She blew out a stately stream of smoke and tapped the ashes onto the ground. Ox sighed. "It's a pretty name. I'm not sure why you needed a new one." "It wasn't due to anonymity. The Cresente family likely knows where I am." She paused, seemingly staring into the distance, at the vast, peaceful ocean. It was a beautiful day, and the gentle sunlight made the waves glitter. Ox was concerned about eavesdropping, or otherwise being observed, but Simmi waved this away; it was likely that she had brought him to their favourite smoking spot for its privacy, and she had indicated that she wasn't wearing a wire.
"I've told you my story before: parts of it, anyway. Anyway, I was almost out of my teens. I was betrothed to Marco Cresente, the heir to the Cresente Syndicate. They were not, and still are not, the top dogs in the cities they occupy, but I wasn't aware. My dad promised me to the Cresente as means of making an alliance." "I'm guessing you had no say in the matter." She inhaled from the cigarette, and blew out more smoke, some coming out of her nostrils. "I hated him. And I had... we'll call him a star-crossed lover. I was convinced that we would run away together. My dad found out and had him murdered." Ox did not know what was more alarming; the topic, or the casual way she spoke about it. "Marco was a psychopath and inflicted violence left and right. I did not want to be another of his playtoys, and I was enraged. So I turned to the wrong people."
"Harkavos..." Ox spat to the side. He was gratified to note her smirk. "The very same. I'm still not totally sure why they decided to help me; maybe they saw potential in me, or they needed someone else in their pocket. I hated the people in my life so much that I didn't think much when I heard that they disappeared; let alone where I'd be when the Harkavos came knocking. I was young, and wasn't thinking that far ahead. I disappeared too, and got as far away from my old life as possible. But I was still in their debt."
"Which leads us to now."
(Bees, I write about my characters smoking a lot, but even though I miss smoking sometimes, don't take this as endorsement. In the real world, just say no!)
Ouch.
Sometimes I overdo it in the gym. I keep thinking I'm bulletproof, and then I go and injure myself! Anyway.
Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 135 x 3. I pulled this off, and likely strained my lower back in the process. Felt it immediately. Did not want to go home empty-handed, so to speak, so I continued with more deadlifts after this, this time using straps. This is not a good idea in the least. I should've moved on, or more likely gone home, but we oxen are stubborn, and so I powered through the rest of my workout.
RDLS: 135 x 3. Only marginally better. Unexpectedly, this is also a PR! Not that I noticed it at the time (what with the back pain and all).
Barbell Rows: 102.5 x 6.
Meadows Rows: 57.5 x 5.
Neutral Grip Chins: Top set of 6.
This workout took for-ev-er. And now my back hurts, even when I sit in a chair.
Tomorrow, I'll (obviously) take some time off from the gym and see how I'm feeling for Friday.
Stay safe and uninjured, Bees!
Playing: Still on Misery. Rage quit after several of my expeditions ended in dismal failure. Le sigh.
Maybe some Palworld tonight, if I'm not too tired?
I'm on the fence about Pathogenic. Hrmm. That's all I'll say for now.
Watching: Still not much. Apart from Daredevil, of course.
Listening to: Spacelord - Harbinger. How about some lo-fi heavy rock? A shame this band no longer seems to be around. Footage is from the original Night of the Living Dead, wonderfully enough!
If Simmi seemed surprised, or objected to the use of her former name, she didn't show it. "So I was once known as." She blew out a stately stream of smoke and tapped the ashes onto the ground. Ox sighed. "It's a pretty name. I'm not sure why you needed a new one." "It wasn't due to anonymity. The Cresente family likely knows where I am." She paused, seemingly staring into the distance, at the vast, peaceful ocean. It was a beautiful day, and the gentle sunlight made the waves glitter. Ox was concerned about eavesdropping, or otherwise being observed, but Simmi waved this away; it was likely that she had brought him to their favourite smoking spot for its privacy, and she had indicated that she wasn't wearing a wire.
"I've told you my story before: parts of it, anyway. Anyway, I was almost out of my teens. I was betrothed to Marco Cresente, the heir to the Cresente Syndicate. They were not, and still are not, the top dogs in the cities they occupy, but I wasn't aware. My dad promised me to the Cresente as means of making an alliance." "I'm guessing you had no say in the matter." She inhaled from the cigarette, and blew out more smoke, some coming out of her nostrils. "I hated him. And I had... we'll call him a star-crossed lover. I was convinced that we would run away together. My dad found out and had him murdered." Ox did not know what was more alarming; the topic, or the casual way she spoke about it. "Marco was a psychopath and inflicted violence left and right. I did not want to be another of his playtoys, and I was enraged. So I turned to the wrong people."
"Harkavos..." Ox spat to the side. He was gratified to note her smirk. "The very same. I'm still not totally sure why they decided to help me; maybe they saw potential in me, or they needed someone else in their pocket. I hated the people in my life so much that I didn't think much when I heard that they disappeared; let alone where I'd be when the Harkavos came knocking. I was young, and wasn't thinking that far ahead. I disappeared too, and got as far away from my old life as possible. But I was still in their debt."
"Which leads us to now."
(Bees, I write about my characters smoking a lot, but even though I miss smoking sometimes, don't take this as endorsement. In the real world, just say no!)
Ouch.
Sometimes I overdo it in the gym. I keep thinking I'm bulletproof, and then I go and injure myself! Anyway.
Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 135 x 3. I pulled this off, and likely strained my lower back in the process. Felt it immediately. Did not want to go home empty-handed, so to speak, so I continued with more deadlifts after this, this time using straps. This is not a good idea in the least. I should've moved on, or more likely gone home, but we oxen are stubborn, and so I powered through the rest of my workout.
RDLS: 135 x 3. Only marginally better. Unexpectedly, this is also a PR! Not that I noticed it at the time (what with the back pain and all).
Barbell Rows: 102.5 x 6.
Meadows Rows: 57.5 x 5.
Neutral Grip Chins: Top set of 6.
This workout took for-ev-er. And now my back hurts, even when I sit in a chair.
Tomorrow, I'll (obviously) take some time off from the gym and see how I'm feeling for Friday.
Stay safe and uninjured, Bees!
Playing: Still on Misery. Rage quit after several of my expeditions ended in dismal failure. Le sigh.
Maybe some Palworld tonight, if I'm not too tired?
I'm on the fence about Pathogenic. Hrmm. That's all I'll say for now.
Watching: Still not much. Apart from Daredevil, of course.
Listening to: Spacelord - Harbinger. How about some lo-fi heavy rock? A shame this band no longer seems to be around. Footage is from the original Night of the Living Dead, wonderfully enough!
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GentleOx
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Hi Bees.
Just a brief check-in. My lower back is getting better, but it's at about 85% now, and I still feel a few lingering pains. Getting rest has been great for my recovery.
Champing at the bit to hit the gym again, though. Will definitely do so on Monday, as tomorrow will be pretty stormy and difficult to manage.
Also started writing a few more pages of my novel.
See you again soon, Bees!
Just a brief check-in. My lower back is getting better, but it's at about 85% now, and I still feel a few lingering pains. Getting rest has been great for my recovery.
Champing at the bit to hit the gym again, though. Will definitely do so on Monday, as tomorrow will be pretty stormy and difficult to manage.
Also started writing a few more pages of my novel.
See you again soon, Bees!
Good for the writing, and take good care of your back, dear Ox!
"So what the hell is it they want? And why do they need us?"
Ox hazarded a few guesses, eager to keep the conversation going. "Power? Money? More manpower? Territory?" Simmi took another smoke. The cigarette had burned well past the filter, and she dropped it on the ground, before grinding it out with an immaculate dress shoe. "They have all these things, and more. To understand, you have to know how the Harkavos are ruled. There's the first generation: Papa Gregori Harkavos, the original founder of the corporation, and the nominal head of its operations." "The gentleman who originally came to meet you here." "No, that's Scivo, one of his many sons, who takes a more active hand in management." "'Active hand'? 'Nominal head'? So Papa Harkavos isn't truly in control of things?"
"Yes and no. He's something of a figurehead, at this point. He only takes part in the biggest decisions, and is confined to a wheelchair; even so, he still holds power and influence. His numerous heirs and heiresses, children and grandchildren jockey for his favour and butter themselves up to him. It's all a big game. Even with his reduced role in the company's operations, his mind is still sharp, and his desires haven't stopped." "You mentioned that he's confined to a wheelchair: he's infirm. Given his role, he's old?" "Bingo. Which is the crux of his motivation. If you were in your late 80s, the founder of an immense crime syndicate, and on the verge of death, what would you desire above all else?" "A harem of bellydancers, strippers, and other lascivious women?" "Smartass." She smiled a little. "Think of Aidan Savlo, the practical head of the NFTA. What's so notable about him?" Ox was tempted to trot out another smartass remark, but held back, chewing at the question for a moment. "He's lived an inordinately long... I see." "Hit it on the head."
"Papa Harkavos wants to live forever - and he sees us as a means to that end."
Hey Bees! My back is giving me less trouble than before, so I thought I'd head in and get my training back on track.
Today was a Push day.
Competition Bench: 135, 140, and 145 x 1. I wasn't feeling this one today, but I got my reps. It's all about practicing the motion, not trying anything crazy when the day comes.
Incline Press: 107.5 x 6. This was even harder than the bench pressing! I'm likely going to deload soon.
Overhead Press: 60 x 3. Haven't done this one in awhile. Will apply GZCLP principles to it, this time.
Dumbbell Overhead Extensions: 12 x 6. Getting back on these again. Also got kind of sick of cable extensions.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 40 x 6.
Will have a light Back day tomorrow, just to keep the juices flowing. But it's time I moved on from Snatch Grip Deadlifts. So I'm going to try to improve my conventional deadlift this time; injury allowing.
I will conclude my Gentle Ox stories in Project Silverfish after this plotline. I feel like I'm kind of running out of ideas, and I found a new place to take my Ox, anyway.
Wednesday is Jesus Christ Superstar! I'm excited.
Hope your Monday is going well, Bees!
Drumming: At about 91 bpm for double-stroke quarter notes. It's slow, but steady, and I'm going to stick with it. Add a bpm each day.
Playing: Played through a bit of Misery. May put it on the backburner, as I'm bouncing off the edges of its Early Access limitations.
Therefore... it's Palworld time! Lots of innocent critters begging to be captured! Run all you like, Pals, but I'm gonna catch ya!
Playing through Pathogenic, and having a good time. Have been unleashing some crazy builds. Frickin' lazer beams, all over the place!
I've had lots of time off from the gym, and no work, so naturally, I've been playing a lot of demos available on Steam. So bear with me...
Played a demo for Scarlet Deer Inn, which is set in (what is now) the Czech Republic, during medieval times. The graphics are handmade and gorgeous; and the gameplay has the soul of an adventure game. I may pick it up if I'm not occupied with Tormentum 2. Boom! It stays.
Tried the demo for a roguelite called Fleshinside, which takes a lot of inspiration from WH40K in its art style and characters. Polished as it is, I didn't find the gameplay anything particularly special, so Boom! Uninstalled.
Started to run the Everrail demo, which is a survival/snowpiercer mashup, but due to the shoddy performance on my system, didn't get very far. Boom! Uninstalled.
Played the demo for Bonelord, but kind of gave it short shrift. It however doesn't move the needle for me, so Boom! Uninstalled.
And lastly (whew!), played the demo for Zombuds, which is about growing and, naturally, selling weed in a post apocalyptic setting. I... ugh. It just did not get far with me. It felt like a stoner was in charge of the programming. Boom! Uninstalled.
Watching: I *finally* finished watching Daredevil Season 2. Assuming that you haven't watched Daredevil Season 2, which has been out for at least a decade now, here's a trailer, synopsis, and a review
Things seem to be going well in Matt Murdock's life. Nelson and Murdock is off the ground, there's a budding romance between himself and legal assistant Karen Page, and Wilson Fisk is behind bars, where he belongs. But the calm of Hell's Kitchen is about to be shattered by the arrival of a new, destructive vigilante killer, whose ideals and style are diametrically opposed to Daredevil's. Murdock will be pushed to his breaking point in an effort to fight crime, and juggle the responsibilities in his life.
Summary: It's a high point for comic-book television, but it is let down a little by an overstuffed back half.
The status quo from the last season is uprooted with the arrival of Bernthal's Punisher, who sets to work massacring gang members and getting his vengeance. The writing is typically strong, though it gets a bit mawkish and predictable at times. Cox and Bernthal are the standouts, with Elodie Yung's Elektra a seasoned scene stealer as well. The set pieces and production values are pretty high - it's hard not to marvel at the dazzling choreography in the fight scenes. Just don't be surprised when you get bored of them, which happened to me. There are only so many times that you see a spinning kick before it loses its lustre.
The first part of the season, which deals with the Punisher, is arguably the best part of the season; so it's a shame that it's almost completely unconnected with the second part, and when that final half rolls around, it feels like the season has overstayed its welcome. The second half of the season suffers from a bloated plotline that just felt repetitive and uninteresting. What do the ninjas of The Hand, want? When the answer is this strung out and delayed, who really cares? I'm finally glad this season is gone, and I can start on Season 3.
I give Daredevil Season 2 three and a half ninja stars out of five.
Listening to: Hot Chocolate - Every 1's a Winner. Got this one off of Reddit. Amazing song, owing to that powerful guitar hook, and of course, those vocals. It's like strutting through the city, letting your hips do the walking. How many other fire songs have I slept on?
Next up... Roxferry!
Ox hazarded a few guesses, eager to keep the conversation going. "Power? Money? More manpower? Territory?" Simmi took another smoke. The cigarette had burned well past the filter, and she dropped it on the ground, before grinding it out with an immaculate dress shoe. "They have all these things, and more. To understand, you have to know how the Harkavos are ruled. There's the first generation: Papa Gregori Harkavos, the original founder of the corporation, and the nominal head of its operations." "The gentleman who originally came to meet you here." "No, that's Scivo, one of his many sons, who takes a more active hand in management." "'Active hand'? 'Nominal head'? So Papa Harkavos isn't truly in control of things?"
"Yes and no. He's something of a figurehead, at this point. He only takes part in the biggest decisions, and is confined to a wheelchair; even so, he still holds power and influence. His numerous heirs and heiresses, children and grandchildren jockey for his favour and butter themselves up to him. It's all a big game. Even with his reduced role in the company's operations, his mind is still sharp, and his desires haven't stopped." "You mentioned that he's confined to a wheelchair: he's infirm. Given his role, he's old?" "Bingo. Which is the crux of his motivation. If you were in your late 80s, the founder of an immense crime syndicate, and on the verge of death, what would you desire above all else?" "A harem of bellydancers, strippers, and other lascivious women?" "Smartass." She smiled a little. "Think of Aidan Savlo, the practical head of the NFTA. What's so notable about him?" Ox was tempted to trot out another smartass remark, but held back, chewing at the question for a moment. "He's lived an inordinately long... I see." "Hit it on the head."
"Papa Harkavos wants to live forever - and he sees us as a means to that end."
Hey Bees! My back is giving me less trouble than before, so I thought I'd head in and get my training back on track.
Today was a Push day.
Competition Bench: 135, 140, and 145 x 1. I wasn't feeling this one today, but I got my reps. It's all about practicing the motion, not trying anything crazy when the day comes.
Incline Press: 107.5 x 6. This was even harder than the bench pressing! I'm likely going to deload soon.
Overhead Press: 60 x 3. Haven't done this one in awhile. Will apply GZCLP principles to it, this time.
Dumbbell Overhead Extensions: 12 x 6. Getting back on these again. Also got kind of sick of cable extensions.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 40 x 6.
Will have a light Back day tomorrow, just to keep the juices flowing. But it's time I moved on from Snatch Grip Deadlifts. So I'm going to try to improve my conventional deadlift this time; injury allowing.
I will conclude my Gentle Ox stories in Project Silverfish after this plotline. I feel like I'm kind of running out of ideas, and I found a new place to take my Ox, anyway.
Wednesday is Jesus Christ Superstar! I'm excited.
Hope your Monday is going well, Bees!
Drumming: At about 91 bpm for double-stroke quarter notes. It's slow, but steady, and I'm going to stick with it. Add a bpm each day.
Playing: Played through a bit of Misery. May put it on the backburner, as I'm bouncing off the edges of its Early Access limitations.
Therefore... it's Palworld time! Lots of innocent critters begging to be captured! Run all you like, Pals, but I'm gonna catch ya!
Playing through Pathogenic, and having a good time. Have been unleashing some crazy builds. Frickin' lazer beams, all over the place!
I've had lots of time off from the gym, and no work, so naturally, I've been playing a lot of demos available on Steam. So bear with me...
Played a demo for Scarlet Deer Inn, which is set in (what is now) the Czech Republic, during medieval times. The graphics are handmade and gorgeous; and the gameplay has the soul of an adventure game. I may pick it up if I'm not occupied with Tormentum 2. Boom! It stays.
Tried the demo for a roguelite called Fleshinside, which takes a lot of inspiration from WH40K in its art style and characters. Polished as it is, I didn't find the gameplay anything particularly special, so Boom! Uninstalled.
Started to run the Everrail demo, which is a survival/snowpiercer mashup, but due to the shoddy performance on my system, didn't get very far. Boom! Uninstalled.
Played the demo for Bonelord, but kind of gave it short shrift. It however doesn't move the needle for me, so Boom! Uninstalled.
And lastly (whew!), played the demo for Zombuds, which is about growing and, naturally, selling weed in a post apocalyptic setting. I... ugh. It just did not get far with me. It felt like a stoner was in charge of the programming. Boom! Uninstalled.
Watching: I *finally* finished watching Daredevil Season 2. Assuming that you haven't watched Daredevil Season 2, which has been out for at least a decade now, here's a trailer, synopsis, and a review
Things seem to be going well in Matt Murdock's life. Nelson and Murdock is off the ground, there's a budding romance between himself and legal assistant Karen Page, and Wilson Fisk is behind bars, where he belongs. But the calm of Hell's Kitchen is about to be shattered by the arrival of a new, destructive vigilante killer, whose ideals and style are diametrically opposed to Daredevil's. Murdock will be pushed to his breaking point in an effort to fight crime, and juggle the responsibilities in his life.
Summary: It's a high point for comic-book television, but it is let down a little by an overstuffed back half.
The status quo from the last season is uprooted with the arrival of Bernthal's Punisher, who sets to work massacring gang members and getting his vengeance. The writing is typically strong, though it gets a bit mawkish and predictable at times. Cox and Bernthal are the standouts, with Elodie Yung's Elektra a seasoned scene stealer as well. The set pieces and production values are pretty high - it's hard not to marvel at the dazzling choreography in the fight scenes. Just don't be surprised when you get bored of them, which happened to me. There are only so many times that you see a spinning kick before it loses its lustre.
The first part of the season, which deals with the Punisher, is arguably the best part of the season; so it's a shame that it's almost completely unconnected with the second part, and when that final half rolls around, it feels like the season has overstayed its welcome. The second half of the season suffers from a bloated plotline that just felt repetitive and uninteresting. What do the ninjas of The Hand, want? When the answer is this strung out and delayed, who really cares? I'm finally glad this season is gone, and I can start on Season 3.
I give Daredevil Season 2 three and a half ninja stars out of five.
Listening to: Hot Chocolate - Every 1's a Winner. Got this one off of Reddit. Amazing song, owing to that powerful guitar hook, and of course, those vocals. It's like strutting through the city, letting your hips do the walking. How many other fire songs have I slept on?
Next up... Roxferry!
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GentleOx
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"So, I assume you have some master plan in mind, some masterstroke with which to exact our revenge."
"Not yet." Ox would admit that he was a little disappointed to hear this, but not totally surprised. Masterful as Simmi was, there was only so much she could do on a tight leash. The smokes dispensed with, they were leaning over the railing of the Observatory, watching the sea, before Simmi had to go back to her associates. They were taking inventory of all the artifacts they had (to the chagrin and dismay of the stalkers who called the place home). Simmi had assured them that it was just a formality, and they likely wouldn't find what they were looking for. If they endured the auditor's questioning, they would be free to continue as they were.
Some from the camp had called her a traitor, and she and Ox had had to endure a few side-eyes and glares. Simmi had taken this in stride. Ox sensed that she was self-assured because she was never on the side of the Harkavos. Which brought them back to the topic at hand. "I see. Well if there's anything you need from me, I'm all yours." She playfully punched his arm. "As if you weren't, already." "Now that you're here, why not reach out to the Broker? Maybe he can help us find the specific artifact." She nodded in appreciation. "It's a long shot, and the artifact in question may belong to another faction, but it's a start. And what I do next will depend on having it," she said, calmly. A little too calmly. It was almost scary.
"I've assembled compromat and gathered intel left and right. But I'm not sure what to do when we get what Papa Harkavos wants." "He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it," Ox intoned, dramatically. Simmi almost jumped. "What was that? Where did you hear it?" Ox slowly put his hand on your shoulder. "It's nothing, just something I heard while, uhh travelling. You okay?" She leaned over, grabbed his head, and gave him a kiss. Ox's head felt like mush.
"Better than okay. You've given me a idea..."
(What Ox says is a reference to a seminal sci-fi novel).
Hello again, Bees!
'Tis I, the Ox in the Box, giving Alice in Chains a run for their money.
Today was a Pull day. I totally pushed the reset button (coming back after an injury), and just worked on the basics.
Deadlifts: 80 x 3. Obviously will increase this gradually. Done with classic stop and go form.
Underhand Barbell Rows: 80 x 6.
Meadows Rows: 45 x 6.
Chins: Top set of 6.
Behind the Neck Pulldowns: 50 x 6.
Mom brought home some absolutely delicious Chinese takeout for dinner! It was super yummy. I forgot to take a picture though.
Oh well.
Tomorrow is Jesus Christ Superstar! I'll write a review afterward, and this one will be unusual for being my first review of a musical.
Hope your week is going well, Bees!
Playing: Uninstalled Misery, then regretted it, so now it's back on my hard drive. Will also play a bit of Palworld, time allowing, and there're always the adventures of my little bacterium, in Pathogenic.
I played a demo for another game I didn't care for, but I forgot the name. It was a low-budget immersive-sim. Boom! Uninstalled. *sigh*
Watching: Started watching Gangs of London S3. Not as good as Daredevil was, but oh well.
Lookit the doggo bounce the ball! So cute! I confess to never having watched the original Airbud, despite being a kid when it came out.
Listening to: The Comet is Coming - Summon the Fire. I know I said something about posting Roxferry in the last update, but they can wait. Stumbled across another find tonight. It's like a ska/post-punk throwback? It's catchy and dangerous sounding as all hell.
"Not yet." Ox would admit that he was a little disappointed to hear this, but not totally surprised. Masterful as Simmi was, there was only so much she could do on a tight leash. The smokes dispensed with, they were leaning over the railing of the Observatory, watching the sea, before Simmi had to go back to her associates. They were taking inventory of all the artifacts they had (to the chagrin and dismay of the stalkers who called the place home). Simmi had assured them that it was just a formality, and they likely wouldn't find what they were looking for. If they endured the auditor's questioning, they would be free to continue as they were.
Some from the camp had called her a traitor, and she and Ox had had to endure a few side-eyes and glares. Simmi had taken this in stride. Ox sensed that she was self-assured because she was never on the side of the Harkavos. Which brought them back to the topic at hand. "I see. Well if there's anything you need from me, I'm all yours." She playfully punched his arm. "As if you weren't, already." "Now that you're here, why not reach out to the Broker? Maybe he can help us find the specific artifact." She nodded in appreciation. "It's a long shot, and the artifact in question may belong to another faction, but it's a start. And what I do next will depend on having it," she said, calmly. A little too calmly. It was almost scary.
"I've assembled compromat and gathered intel left and right. But I'm not sure what to do when we get what Papa Harkavos wants." "He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it," Ox intoned, dramatically. Simmi almost jumped. "What was that? Where did you hear it?" Ox slowly put his hand on your shoulder. "It's nothing, just something I heard while, uhh travelling. You okay?" She leaned over, grabbed his head, and gave him a kiss. Ox's head felt like mush.
"Better than okay. You've given me a idea..."
(What Ox says is a reference to a seminal sci-fi novel).
Hello again, Bees!
'Tis I, the Ox in the Box, giving Alice in Chains a run for their money.
Today was a Pull day. I totally pushed the reset button (coming back after an injury), and just worked on the basics.
Deadlifts: 80 x 3. Obviously will increase this gradually. Done with classic stop and go form.
Underhand Barbell Rows: 80 x 6.
Meadows Rows: 45 x 6.
Chins: Top set of 6.
Behind the Neck Pulldowns: 50 x 6.
Mom brought home some absolutely delicious Chinese takeout for dinner! It was super yummy. I forgot to take a picture though.
Oh well.
Tomorrow is Jesus Christ Superstar! I'll write a review afterward, and this one will be unusual for being my first review of a musical.
Hope your week is going well, Bees!
Playing: Uninstalled Misery, then regretted it, so now it's back on my hard drive. Will also play a bit of Palworld, time allowing, and there're always the adventures of my little bacterium, in Pathogenic.
I played a demo for another game I didn't care for, but I forgot the name. It was a low-budget immersive-sim. Boom! Uninstalled. *sigh*
Watching: Started watching Gangs of London S3. Not as good as Daredevil was, but oh well.
Lookit the doggo bounce the ball! So cute! I confess to never having watched the original Airbud, despite being a kid when it came out.
Listening to: The Comet is Coming - Summon the Fire. I know I said something about posting Roxferry in the last update, but they can wait. Stumbled across another find tonight. It's like a ska/post-punk throwback? It's catchy and dangerous sounding as all hell.
"Imsi! Braggas tavri!"
The Broker stepped out from behind the desk and enveloped Simmi in a big hug. After they pulled back, Simmi gave a wide smile. "Sellos tavri," she said in return. Ox stared, as did the guards who guarded the Broker's study. In all his interactions with the Broker, Ox had never pictured him as the sentimental type; fact of the matter, the Broker was more intent on being a bully, mafioso, and almost a used-car salesman to his would-be customers. Strange bedfellows. Ox had puzzled at this, and had landed on the idea of the two knowing each other before Simmi had even set foot in Carcosa.
Perhaps remembering himself, the Broker gave a cough, and the two stepped apart. The Broker turned to face Ox. "So you're back, after letting go of this amazing woman." "I'm still kicking myself for it," Ox dryly noted. "But time is short, to business." "Wait! They're listening, aren't they?" The broker barked out a short, diabolical laugh. "They're certainly trying, and not succeeding." Simmi spoke. "Much I would like this to be a casual visit, we're wondering if you can help us find something." The Broker folded his arms against that massive chest.
"So... Papa Harkavos wants *it* now, does he?"
Hey Bees.
Today is the second to last Push day before my competition. It didn't go so well, but oh well.
Competition Bench: 135 x 1, then 140, and 145. The first set moved pretty smoothly, and I was hyped. 140 was okay, then 145 felt like an absolute slog. I could barely summon any explosive power for the rep, though after a grind, I did manage to push it up. Augh, hopefully I'll do better in my compo.
Incline Press: 90 x 3. Pushed the reset button on these.
Overhead Press: 60 x 3.
Dumbbell Extensions: 14 x 6.
Dumbbell Curls: 14 x 22.
So everything was stiff and out of whack. But I'll be glad to be done with this competition and back to training regularly again.
Jesus Christ Superstar was a hit with mom and I. More thoughts below.
Here's a summary, trailer, and review.
In a backdrop of unrest and discontent, fomented by the spiritual teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, we are witness to Jesus' final days alive. His loyal disciple, Judas Iscariot, constantly disagrees with their path, and combined with the plotting of the pharisees, he takes decisive action to capture Jesus and end his life. The final days will culminate with Jesus being crucified, and his sacrifice starting a movement that lasts long after he is gone.
Tagline: Apart from a few hiccups, it was an electrifying performance and a great showcase of musical talent.
So I'm actually already familiar with JCSS. I've watched the Norman Jewison adaptation from the 70s and checked out quite a few of the songs ahead of time. I'm a fan of the music, and I was curious to see how it would be adapted on stage. After a bum note (performance was delayed for about 15 minutes), the performance started, and I was quite impressed. The play hits hard with rock intensity, and when the opening Overture starts, there's no doubt that the energy is there. This is further cemented by dazzling dance numbers, intense vocal performances, and a cleverly used stage. I got more out of my favourite numbers, naturally, but I'd have to say that the cast gave it their all.
It was a surprisingly minimalist production; there were some clever use of props, like silver staining the hand of one character, but I actually felt like more could be used. And the songs flowed from one after another with minimal fuss and fanfare, I thought. I would dock some points, not for the late start, but more for the second half being weaker than the first. This is more of a structural thing; I find the songs in the first half to be much stronger, with some exception. After awhile, it gets to be a bit exhausting, and the numbers and dance performances kind of blur into one another. I think that if you are not like me, and not familiar with the Gospels, then the story would be quite confusing - it's sung through, and to a casual observer, it would feel like there is little cohesion. I do not find any fault with the cast, as I mentioned above. The actors playing the headlining pair - Judas and Jesus - were very strong singers and performers.
Overall, I enjoyed the performance more than I expected. I give JCSS - the musical four pieces of silver out of five.
Get ready for the weekend, Bees!
Playing: Uh, I only played Pathogenic last night. Will try to get in some Palworld tonight, maybe Cargo Hunters?
Watching: Apart from the above, have been watching a bit of Gangs of London at the gym. Late night cinema? I'll try, but I'm not hopeful.
Listening to: Kavinsky - Nightcall. Rest in Peace, Kavinsky. He was one of the originators and pioneers of the synthwave genre, and passed a few days ago. His influence on the genre is impossible to overstate, and the appearance of this song in the movie Drive introduced many people to this once nascent style of music. He will be missed.
"I'm giving you a night call to tell you how I feel
I wanna drive you through the night, down the hills
I'm gonna tell you something you don't want to hear
I'm gonna show you where it's dark, but have no fear"
The Broker stepped out from behind the desk and enveloped Simmi in a big hug. After they pulled back, Simmi gave a wide smile. "Sellos tavri," she said in return. Ox stared, as did the guards who guarded the Broker's study. In all his interactions with the Broker, Ox had never pictured him as the sentimental type; fact of the matter, the Broker was more intent on being a bully, mafioso, and almost a used-car salesman to his would-be customers. Strange bedfellows. Ox had puzzled at this, and had landed on the idea of the two knowing each other before Simmi had even set foot in Carcosa.
Perhaps remembering himself, the Broker gave a cough, and the two stepped apart. The Broker turned to face Ox. "So you're back, after letting go of this amazing woman." "I'm still kicking myself for it," Ox dryly noted. "But time is short, to business." "Wait! They're listening, aren't they?" The broker barked out a short, diabolical laugh. "They're certainly trying, and not succeeding." Simmi spoke. "Much I would like this to be a casual visit, we're wondering if you can help us find something." The Broker folded his arms against that massive chest.
"So... Papa Harkavos wants *it* now, does he?"
Hey Bees.
Today is the second to last Push day before my competition. It didn't go so well, but oh well.
Competition Bench: 135 x 1, then 140, and 145. The first set moved pretty smoothly, and I was hyped. 140 was okay, then 145 felt like an absolute slog. I could barely summon any explosive power for the rep, though after a grind, I did manage to push it up. Augh, hopefully I'll do better in my compo.
Incline Press: 90 x 3. Pushed the reset button on these.
Overhead Press: 60 x 3.
Dumbbell Extensions: 14 x 6.
Dumbbell Curls: 14 x 22.
So everything was stiff and out of whack. But I'll be glad to be done with this competition and back to training regularly again.
Jesus Christ Superstar was a hit with mom and I. More thoughts below.
Here's a summary, trailer, and review.
In a backdrop of unrest and discontent, fomented by the spiritual teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, we are witness to Jesus' final days alive. His loyal disciple, Judas Iscariot, constantly disagrees with their path, and combined with the plotting of the pharisees, he takes decisive action to capture Jesus and end his life. The final days will culminate with Jesus being crucified, and his sacrifice starting a movement that lasts long after he is gone.
Tagline: Apart from a few hiccups, it was an electrifying performance and a great showcase of musical talent.
So I'm actually already familiar with JCSS. I've watched the Norman Jewison adaptation from the 70s and checked out quite a few of the songs ahead of time. I'm a fan of the music, and I was curious to see how it would be adapted on stage. After a bum note (performance was delayed for about 15 minutes), the performance started, and I was quite impressed. The play hits hard with rock intensity, and when the opening Overture starts, there's no doubt that the energy is there. This is further cemented by dazzling dance numbers, intense vocal performances, and a cleverly used stage. I got more out of my favourite numbers, naturally, but I'd have to say that the cast gave it their all.
It was a surprisingly minimalist production; there were some clever use of props, like silver staining the hand of one character, but I actually felt like more could be used. And the songs flowed from one after another with minimal fuss and fanfare, I thought. I would dock some points, not for the late start, but more for the second half being weaker than the first. This is more of a structural thing; I find the songs in the first half to be much stronger, with some exception. After awhile, it gets to be a bit exhausting, and the numbers and dance performances kind of blur into one another. I think that if you are not like me, and not familiar with the Gospels, then the story would be quite confusing - it's sung through, and to a casual observer, it would feel like there is little cohesion. I do not find any fault with the cast, as I mentioned above. The actors playing the headlining pair - Judas and Jesus - were very strong singers and performers.
Overall, I enjoyed the performance more than I expected. I give JCSS - the musical four pieces of silver out of five.
Get ready for the weekend, Bees!
Playing: Uh, I only played Pathogenic last night. Will try to get in some Palworld tonight, maybe Cargo Hunters?
Watching: Apart from the above, have been watching a bit of Gangs of London at the gym. Late night cinema? I'll try, but I'm not hopeful.
Listening to: Kavinsky - Nightcall. Rest in Peace, Kavinsky. He was one of the originators and pioneers of the synthwave genre, and passed a few days ago. His influence on the genre is impossible to overstate, and the appearance of this song in the movie Drive introduced many people to this once nascent style of music. He will be missed.
"I'm giving you a night call to tell you how I feel
I wanna drive you through the night, down the hills
I'm gonna tell you something you don't want to hear
I'm gonna show you where it's dark, but have no fear"
"Wait a minute. How long have you been holding on to this for?"
Ox eye the strange, ball-shaped artifact as it rested on its cushion, emitting a soft, blue glow. It was encased within a glass case, resting upon a pedestal. On closer inspection, there was a keypad affixed to the pedestal; a presumable security measure that was straight out of a heist movie. The Broker ignored him, walking over to the pedestal. Ox could not help but goggle at the interior of the warehouse, stacked as it was with artifacts the likes of which many stalkers would kill for. And dead center in the middle of this enormous room was what was hopefully the solution to their problems. In a funny way, it spoke volumes that it was separate from the rest.
Simmi politely waited, unbothered; Ox guessed that she had been here before. The Broker leaned down and punched in a code. Instantly, a klaxon sounded and the darkened interior promptly lit up like a Christmas tree. Ox shouldered his rifle, scanning the perimeter, before a voice sounded.
"Security measure. Please state your personal passcode."
The Broker spoke, clearly and with articulation, and in a different accent than usual: "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their party."
"Analyzing voice sample. Cadence match. Tone match. Welcome, Broker."
And with that, the cherry-red lights and blaring alarm shut off, once again leaving them in the darkened warehouse. The Broker, unbothered by the no doubt impressive security measures, removed the glass case. Nothing seemed to happen, until Ox realized his body was feeling more content, more spry, more alive... The Broker approached them with the glowing blue sphere in his cupped hands. "I entrust this to you. Put it to good use." Simmi took it in her hands.
"Don't worry, Ivan. We'll do exactly that."
Greetings, Bees!
I bear another workout update from a rainy Hong Kong day.
Today was Leg day, which I put off last week due to a brief injury.
Squats: 125 x 2. I wasn't sure I could pull this off, and it was a real grind. Urgh. I'm still in pain just remembering it. I pulled it off, but I think it's time for another deload down to one rep. How I'm going to pull off ten sets of 130 for one rep is beyond me, so we'll see how it goes next week. On the upside, I managed to do all this without major injury, so that's a plus.
Front Squats: 60 x 3. Bringing these back from the dead.
Bulgarian Split Squats: 16 x 6. Moving up, little by little.
Leg Extensions: 65 or was it 70? x 8. Snooze.
It's been raining all over. I'm surprised mom and I made it to church unscathed. I was going to grab some takeout tonight, but the rain deterred us. We had yummy Phoenix Claw, or chicken feet, for dinner. I know, chicken feet? I was raised on a Cantonese diet, so stuff like that doesn't deter me. Would still like a hamburger one of these days.
Mmm... Hamburgers.
Tomorrow is my final lift prep before Saturday. I don't plan on going hard on the bench press.
Hope this rain stops soon!
Hope you're well, Bees. Enjoy your Sunday.
Playing: Mostly Pathogenic, a dash of Palworld, a little bit of Misery mmm mmm.
Tried a demo for Necesse, a crafting open-worlder. It felt so basic that I couldn't get into it. Boom! Uninstalled.
Playing a demo for Sephiria. Haven't rendered a decision yet. It's a charming little game, and the presence of bunnos as the characters doesn't hurt.
Watching: Still on Gangs of London. A pity the fight scenes are nowhere near as good as they used to be.
Listening to: Gnome - Wenceslas. Some crunchy, catchy, and straight up goofy hard rock for your ears from this Belgian band.
"I see the anger when I look into their eyes
The king's betrayal doesn't come as a surprise
Another chance at life comes at the highest price
If I can stay alive today, I'll kill 'em all and scream, "We are alive!""
Ox eye the strange, ball-shaped artifact as it rested on its cushion, emitting a soft, blue glow. It was encased within a glass case, resting upon a pedestal. On closer inspection, there was a keypad affixed to the pedestal; a presumable security measure that was straight out of a heist movie. The Broker ignored him, walking over to the pedestal. Ox could not help but goggle at the interior of the warehouse, stacked as it was with artifacts the likes of which many stalkers would kill for. And dead center in the middle of this enormous room was what was hopefully the solution to their problems. In a funny way, it spoke volumes that it was separate from the rest.
Simmi politely waited, unbothered; Ox guessed that she had been here before. The Broker leaned down and punched in a code. Instantly, a klaxon sounded and the darkened interior promptly lit up like a Christmas tree. Ox shouldered his rifle, scanning the perimeter, before a voice sounded.
"Security measure. Please state your personal passcode."
The Broker spoke, clearly and with articulation, and in a different accent than usual: "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their party."
"Analyzing voice sample. Cadence match. Tone match. Welcome, Broker."
And with that, the cherry-red lights and blaring alarm shut off, once again leaving them in the darkened warehouse. The Broker, unbothered by the no doubt impressive security measures, removed the glass case. Nothing seemed to happen, until Ox realized his body was feeling more content, more spry, more alive... The Broker approached them with the glowing blue sphere in his cupped hands. "I entrust this to you. Put it to good use." Simmi took it in her hands.
"Don't worry, Ivan. We'll do exactly that."
Greetings, Bees!
I bear another workout update from a rainy Hong Kong day.
Today was Leg day, which I put off last week due to a brief injury.
Squats: 125 x 2. I wasn't sure I could pull this off, and it was a real grind. Urgh. I'm still in pain just remembering it. I pulled it off, but I think it's time for another deload down to one rep. How I'm going to pull off ten sets of 130 for one rep is beyond me, so we'll see how it goes next week. On the upside, I managed to do all this without major injury, so that's a plus.
Front Squats: 60 x 3. Bringing these back from the dead.
Bulgarian Split Squats: 16 x 6. Moving up, little by little.
Leg Extensions: 65 or was it 70? x 8. Snooze.
It's been raining all over. I'm surprised mom and I made it to church unscathed. I was going to grab some takeout tonight, but the rain deterred us. We had yummy Phoenix Claw, or chicken feet, for dinner. I know, chicken feet? I was raised on a Cantonese diet, so stuff like that doesn't deter me. Would still like a hamburger one of these days.
Mmm... Hamburgers.
Tomorrow is my final lift prep before Saturday. I don't plan on going hard on the bench press.
Hope this rain stops soon!
Hope you're well, Bees. Enjoy your Sunday.
Playing: Mostly Pathogenic, a dash of Palworld, a little bit of Misery mmm mmm.
Tried a demo for Necesse, a crafting open-worlder. It felt so basic that I couldn't get into it. Boom! Uninstalled.
Playing a demo for Sephiria. Haven't rendered a decision yet. It's a charming little game, and the presence of bunnos as the characters doesn't hurt.
Watching: Still on Gangs of London. A pity the fight scenes are nowhere near as good as they used to be.
Listening to: Gnome - Wenceslas. Some crunchy, catchy, and straight up goofy hard rock for your ears from this Belgian band.
"I see the anger when I look into their eyes
The king's betrayal doesn't come as a surprise
Another chance at life comes at the highest price
If I can stay alive today, I'll kill 'em all and scream, "We are alive!""
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GentleOx
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"So, we have it. And now, what?"
"We're going to bring the greatest criminal organization in the world to heel."
Ox shivered at that announcement, even though the day was warm and pleasant. He and Simmi were trudging back from the coast where the Broker made his headquarters, and he treasured every step he took with her. Unlike their last, ill-fated outing, they hadn't encountered any significant trouble. The artifact bounced and jostled around the inside of his backpack, but even so, it seemed to have a revitalizing effect on him. The Broker had explained that being in close proximity to the artifact instantly added to one's longevity, though by how much, he didn't know. He turned his attention back to Simmi. "That sounds easier said than done, if you'll pardon my skepticism." "Naturally. If you were blithely accepting of what I'm about to suggest, I'd be quite concerned." "And what would that be, exactly? Lay it on me."
And she did. Over the course of a few minutes, Simmi succinctly explained her plan for extricating herself from the Harkavos. Some elements of it were beyond ballsy, and the temerity of what she was proposing spoke to her deep resentment of them. Ox was shook. "That's a lot. A lot of moving parts." "Yes, love. I'm telling you this now because when the time comes, I'm going to need to rely on you, and the Wolf Unit, for support." That amazing confidence wavered for a moment. "I'm asking a lot from you. I might as well ask you now... Ox, my love and fiance, can I rely on you?"
"Now and always."
Hey Bees.
Today was my final Push day before the competition on Saturday.
Competition Bench: 135, 140, 145 again, each for a single. Pulled off 145 more easily than I expected, but we'll see if it pans out that way come Saturday.
Incline Bench Press: 92.5 x 3. Zzzz...
Overhead Press: 62.5 x 3. More challenging than it should've been.
Dumbbell Extensions: 16 x 5. Pretty difficult, will work on these.
Dumbbell Curls: 16 x 26.
I lifted too heavy again, but to be honest, I already Peaked weeks before the compo, so I'm probably not going to be at my best. Oh well.
Looking forward to getting back to my linear, GZCL program after the competition is done.
At least the rain has stopped!
I hope there is a little less rain falling in your lives, Bees!
Playing: I installed Deep Rock Galactic again, to try to give it a fair shake this time. It's a well-designed game, and I'll start playing solo before moving online. Playing online takes too much energy...
Playing a little more Palworld, as well. Still focusing on harvesting and building - a slow process.
Played a demo for a TPS called Anomalith. It's certainly interesting, but the heavy JRPG overtones kind of soured it for me. I want to jump in and play a game without having to listen to five minutes of hackneyed dialogue. Boom! Uninstalled.
And finally, as a left-field surprise - the 2004 Punisher game! I haven't played it since those turbulent days in LA, 20 years ago. It's a lot more fun without all the worries I had back then, and its workman-like (and morbid) gameplay still holds up!
Watching: Still on Gangs of London, moving briskly along. Evil Dead Burns is now available online, so I'm going to watch that as soon as I get the chance!
Listening to: Cosmic Sand - Find Me. I couldn't think of anything else to post, so here's this catchy, measured song that sounds like it could've come out of a sci-fi flick.
"We're going to bring the greatest criminal organization in the world to heel."
Ox shivered at that announcement, even though the day was warm and pleasant. He and Simmi were trudging back from the coast where the Broker made his headquarters, and he treasured every step he took with her. Unlike their last, ill-fated outing, they hadn't encountered any significant trouble. The artifact bounced and jostled around the inside of his backpack, but even so, it seemed to have a revitalizing effect on him. The Broker had explained that being in close proximity to the artifact instantly added to one's longevity, though by how much, he didn't know. He turned his attention back to Simmi. "That sounds easier said than done, if you'll pardon my skepticism." "Naturally. If you were blithely accepting of what I'm about to suggest, I'd be quite concerned." "And what would that be, exactly? Lay it on me."
And she did. Over the course of a few minutes, Simmi succinctly explained her plan for extricating herself from the Harkavos. Some elements of it were beyond ballsy, and the temerity of what she was proposing spoke to her deep resentment of them. Ox was shook. "That's a lot. A lot of moving parts." "Yes, love. I'm telling you this now because when the time comes, I'm going to need to rely on you, and the Wolf Unit, for support." That amazing confidence wavered for a moment. "I'm asking a lot from you. I might as well ask you now... Ox, my love and fiance, can I rely on you?"
"Now and always."
Hey Bees.
Today was my final Push day before the competition on Saturday.
Competition Bench: 135, 140, 145 again, each for a single. Pulled off 145 more easily than I expected, but we'll see if it pans out that way come Saturday.
Incline Bench Press: 92.5 x 3. Zzzz...
Overhead Press: 62.5 x 3. More challenging than it should've been.
Dumbbell Extensions: 16 x 5. Pretty difficult, will work on these.
Dumbbell Curls: 16 x 26.
I lifted too heavy again, but to be honest, I already Peaked weeks before the compo, so I'm probably not going to be at my best. Oh well.
Looking forward to getting back to my linear, GZCL program after the competition is done.
At least the rain has stopped!
I hope there is a little less rain falling in your lives, Bees!
Playing: I installed Deep Rock Galactic again, to try to give it a fair shake this time. It's a well-designed game, and I'll start playing solo before moving online. Playing online takes too much energy...
Playing a little more Palworld, as well. Still focusing on harvesting and building - a slow process.
Played a demo for a TPS called Anomalith. It's certainly interesting, but the heavy JRPG overtones kind of soured it for me. I want to jump in and play a game without having to listen to five minutes of hackneyed dialogue. Boom! Uninstalled.
And finally, as a left-field surprise - the 2004 Punisher game! I haven't played it since those turbulent days in LA, 20 years ago. It's a lot more fun without all the worries I had back then, and its workman-like (and morbid) gameplay still holds up!
Watching: Still on Gangs of London, moving briskly along. Evil Dead Burns is now available online, so I'm going to watch that as soon as I get the chance!
Listening to: Cosmic Sand - Find Me. I couldn't think of anything else to post, so here's this catchy, measured song that sounds like it could've come out of a sci-fi flick.
"You just came back... and now you have to leave again."
They were at the docks, a ship ready to bring Simmi back to the mainland. That there were no guards tailing her spoke to either the preparedness of the Harkavos, or their breathtaking arrogance. Simmi smiled, sadly. "I know. They've got me on a leash, and since I did what I set out to do here, they're telling me to return to Ruskov." "What are you going to do now." Her gaze was steely; heavens knew what she was thinking. "Prepare. I'm almost done, and soon, I can watch it come together."
Her gaze trailed downward for a second, before she met Ox's eyes again. Hers were moist. "You have no idea how much I've missed you. How hard I've tried to get out from under their heel." Ox clenched his fists. "I have an idea." Simmi reached out and hugged him, and Ox returned the embrace, passionately. Once more she whispered into his ear.
"It won't be long now. And soon, we'll be free."
@JCU Hopefully that downpour is giving you some respite from the endless heat!
Hello, Bees!
Coming at ya from the 852, it is I, Ox, back again for an encore. Or something like that.
Today was a Pull day, and is my final day of working out before the competition.
Deadlift: 100 x 3. Just taking it slow, after what happened with my lower back, and this weight seems to agree with me.
Barbell Underhand Rows: 82.5 x 6.
Meadows Rows: Stopped short of 57.5.
Neutral Grip Chins: Top set of six.
Behind the Neck Pulldowns: 52.5 x 6.
I've done all my preparations for the competition. The next time I post, I'll give an update on how I did.
The rain's all fallen, and it's back to unbearable heat and mugginess. Eep.
Hope your week is going well, Bees! Tomorrow is Friday!
Playing: A little bit of Palworld, but Pathogenic is the true time killer.
Also playing bits and pieces of Deep Rock Galactic. While it takes some getting used to, and is probably more fun with other people, I'm still enjoying it solo. And the dwarves' numerous vocalizations are the icing on the cake.
"I've got big plans for you, Bosco!"
Watching: Gangs of London clumsily barrels through every trope in its path as the end of the series slowly becomes apparent.
In other news, I resurrected late night cinema, finally, but I started watching Evil Dead: Burn, instead of Hokum. Once I finish (in very small chunks) I'll write a review!
Also, here's a three minute action short film with great choreography. WARNING! Some R-rated violence.
Listening to: SHIKIMO and Fractal Man - Ghost Trigger. It's synth time, all the time! In my head, anyway. This one has great downbeat, and slightly forlorn vibes.
They were at the docks, a ship ready to bring Simmi back to the mainland. That there were no guards tailing her spoke to either the preparedness of the Harkavos, or their breathtaking arrogance. Simmi smiled, sadly. "I know. They've got me on a leash, and since I did what I set out to do here, they're telling me to return to Ruskov." "What are you going to do now." Her gaze was steely; heavens knew what she was thinking. "Prepare. I'm almost done, and soon, I can watch it come together."
Her gaze trailed downward for a second, before she met Ox's eyes again. Hers were moist. "You have no idea how much I've missed you. How hard I've tried to get out from under their heel." Ox clenched his fists. "I have an idea." Simmi reached out and hugged him, and Ox returned the embrace, passionately. Once more she whispered into his ear.
"It won't be long now. And soon, we'll be free."
@JCU Hopefully that downpour is giving you some respite from the endless heat!
Hello, Bees!
Coming at ya from the 852, it is I, Ox, back again for an encore. Or something like that.
Today was a Pull day, and is my final day of working out before the competition.
Deadlift: 100 x 3. Just taking it slow, after what happened with my lower back, and this weight seems to agree with me.
Barbell Underhand Rows: 82.5 x 6.
Meadows Rows: Stopped short of 57.5.
Neutral Grip Chins: Top set of six.
Behind the Neck Pulldowns: 52.5 x 6.
I've done all my preparations for the competition. The next time I post, I'll give an update on how I did.
The rain's all fallen, and it's back to unbearable heat and mugginess. Eep.
Hope your week is going well, Bees! Tomorrow is Friday!
Playing: A little bit of Palworld, but Pathogenic is the true time killer.
Also playing bits and pieces of Deep Rock Galactic. While it takes some getting used to, and is probably more fun with other people, I'm still enjoying it solo. And the dwarves' numerous vocalizations are the icing on the cake.
"I've got big plans for you, Bosco!"
Watching: Gangs of London clumsily barrels through every trope in its path as the end of the series slowly becomes apparent.
In other news, I resurrected late night cinema, finally, but I started watching Evil Dead: Burn, instead of Hokum. Once I finish (in very small chunks) I'll write a review!
Also, here's a three minute action short film with great choreography. WARNING! Some R-rated violence.
Listening to: SHIKIMO and Fractal Man - Ghost Trigger. It's synth time, all the time! In my head, anyway. This one has great downbeat, and slightly forlorn vibes.
-
GentleOx
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Just like that, she was once again gone.
Days, no weeks passed, rolling into each other. But unlike with her initial departure, Ox was not willing to wallow in self pity and sink into depression. They had to be sharp - as sharp as knives. And so the Wolves (Ox thought it was kind of cheesy that they were popularly called a "pack", but didn't oppose it) trained and trained, beyond the point at which they would be blue in the face. Ox placed a special emphasis on two types of exercise: one was VIP protection, the other, hostage rescue. These two were not mutually exclusive, and were based on Ox's predictions and what Simmi had personally told him.
If her plan worked out, the Wolves would be there to protect her from any form of reprisal and safely shepherd her out of Ruscov. That said, he guessed that her plan involved some sort of leverage to protect from any blowback. The second possibility was much more dire, and he could picture it: the Harkavos would turn on her, kill the Wolves present, and imprison her indefinitely. This was what they were hoping to prevent, but if they couldn't, they would have to be able to rescue her. This was a dire scenario, and Ox steadfastly hoped it wouldn't come to pass. It all depended on Simmi's plan working out.
A beep from the computer in the corner. Ox examined the monitor.
IT'S TIME. SENDING COORDINATES....
No turning back.
* * *
No turning back.
Simmi’s reflection looked back at her through the mirror. Sometimes you don’t notice the daily changes, until it’s too late. Her appearance was lean, maybe verging on gaunt. She wore a stylish business suit and white linen shirt that she hoped she would never wear again after today. The features that Ox loved her for were still there, albeit stony. Her short orange hair was cropped short, more stylishly than when she was at the Observatory.
But it was her eyes; they fixed her in place with their intense stare. Previously, among the stalkers and the Freelancers, she had smiled genuinely and freely. As a prisoner and hostage, she’d had little to smile about, unless you count her brief return to see Ox. She could see the rage in her eyes when she thought of the past year. Before she left her quarters, she took the wedding ring from the bedside dresser and put it on. Normally, it would be left on the dresser, untouched, but now, she placed it on her finger.
Simmi passed through the numerous corridors of the Sevasta building. Her fashionable but practical dress shoes made a light *click* as she walked, like the cocking of a gun. Her mind raced with possibilities and with an effort, she forced it back to the present. There was no time, or chance for regret. Aides, assistants, and well-dressed foot soldiers intent on their duties crossed paths with her. After a long, less than sedate walk, she reached the final door leading to the massive conference room.
Ox was standing in the middle of the hallway, awaiting her, hands clasped. He was dressed in a finely tailored business suit, though ruining the corporate image was a submachine gun hanging on a sling. Simmi knew he had a sidearm as well. He did not smile upon seeing her, or rush to embrace her. Simmi had no doubt that he wanted badly to do so. His eyes flitted to the gold band on her finger and the briefest of smiles appeared on his face. “Babe. Are you ready?” Her mouth was dry. “I am.” Ox walked with her to the twin doors, and pulled them open.
The Harkavos Corporation’s meeting room was massive and ostentatious, yet also modern and accommodating. A stage was at the end of the room, a giant television mounted upon it. Around the massive rectangular table sat many high up members of the family accompanied by their bodyguards. There were about 15 of them: these were the ones who were either given sinecures, or otherwise painstakingly made their way to the top. Several aides nervously stood behind them, as if before a firing squad. A manila folder had been placed before every place at the table.
At the head of the table, closest to the stage and television screen sat Papa Harkavos, the originator of her misery. One would expect a 94 year old to be senile and infirm, but apart from sitting in a wheelchair, the elder was still cogent and calculating. He was also a human being, which was an almost unheard of rarity in their world. He had been kept alive and relatively vigorous by the most advanced technologies man could devise, but for all the money he threw at the problem: it was not enough. That mudak Reznov stood beside him, watchful of any problem.
Ox walked her past all the squabbling family members, and to the stage, where four familiar faces stood, alert; the Harkavos had accepted her request for outside bodyguards with their typical ignorant arrogance. Ox had picked well; Vix, Gross, Kramer, and Bones were among their very best. They were all decked out in suits (Simmi wished a pox on Vix for making hers look like high fashion), but were as well armed as Ox. Ox took up position, but not before placing a light squeeze on her shoulder. Simmi stood at the podium. She had the most sudden urge to… no, don’t think on that.
Breathe, Simmi. Soon it’ll be over, one way or the other.
“Protiv nikh vsekh,” she intoned into the mic. “Protiv nikh vsekh,” intoned the assorted board members and staff. She went through the generalities of her speech briskly, and in English; some of the family members were middling in Russian, and she needed Ox and his crew to hear her too. Yes, they had found the artifact, and yes, it had been verified with experts. She didn’t say where they had gotten it, and it didn’t matter. Papa leaned forward in his wheelchair eagerly, devouring every word, his leathery skin and posturing perverting him: making him look rapacious. Simmi turned on the screen behind her, revealing a video feed of the artifact, sitting in a glass box. It glowed, as if announcing its otherworldly, magical status. Some of the board members were awed, while others exchanged skeptical looks - she knew why. Why was it not in the room with them? She continued anyway.
“This is the Vitalis artifact; prolonged contact with it results in an increased lifespan and physique. This artifact is the only one of its kind, and with it, the health of lider Harkavos can be restored. And now, I have possession of it.” One of the board members spoke up. “Imsi, surely you mean “we”.” Simmi nodded absently, as if accepting the correction, before she met his eye. “No.”
Murmurs from the board. Some were aghast at her bluntness. Papa was silent; maybe he was in shock. “You heard me correctly. I have the Vitalis artifact. More specifically, I am the only one in this room who knows where it is.” “Suka! Somebody grab her.” Shouted one of them. She could see a flicker of motion from the Wolves as they raised their weapons, and the gathered guards raised theirs in response.” Simmi sighed into her mic as if disapproving of unruly children. “And if a stray bullet hits Papa? Let’s all lower our guns. Besides, I’m not done yet.” She might’ve added some relish to the final word. She could see fury in Papa’s eyes. Reznov was as still as a statue, and had not drawn his own weapon.
“Assume you take me as prisoner, with the intent of interrogating me. I’ve taken measures to ensure that if you harm me, the chamber containing the artifact will be vaporized with explosives.” As if on cue, the live-streaming camera began to pan all around. There was an archaic, but menacing looking device visible behind the case. “This is a nuclear bomb. If my contact receives word that I’ve been harmed, gone missing, remain in Ruscov, or otherwise compromised, they will activate the device.”
“Bozhe Moi!” “Insanity!” After the shouts had died down, someone else spoke, in an effort to siphon some confidence from her. “You’re bluffing.” “I might be. But the question is, are you really willing to find out?” “Don’t.” Papa finally spoke, in his rasp. Of course, he had the most to lose from such defiance. He turned his attention to her, furious. “Ungrateful child. We gave you authority. Sheltered you. Uplifted you from those savages in Carcosa. Saved you from an abusive husband. What more could you want?” He croaked. Those words made her angrier with each syllable. She gripped the podium so tightly her knuckles cracked. “Freedom,” she hissed.
“Today, we make a new agreement, and to hell with the one I made as a child.” She composed herself. “I will allow you full access to the artifact, to use as you please. In return, I leave the Harkavos and never return.” Some laughter. “Such arrogance,” said one of the malevolent board members. “Once we have access to the artifact, we will raze your feckless little outpost and enslave your little friends. No one spits in our face and lives.” Until now. Simmi tapped her cheek, as if deep in thought. “I was concerned about that possibility. So I took out, ah, let’s call it insurance. Notice that you all have a folder in front of you.” A little wary, the Harkavos opened their envelopes, some more slowly than others. Perhaps they sensed what was to come.
Looking at the photographs and documents in front of them, surprise was written all over their faces. Then there was realization, followed by shock for some, but outrage for others. “Yob tvoyu mat!” Shouted one member, grabbing the person next to them. Another lunged over the table at the person opposite them, and was restrained by their security. Yet another shrank in her seat. Others muttered curses and oaths. Only Papa remained unmoved. After watching the drama unfold with no small satisfaction, Simmi finally spoke.
“Investigating your personal lives was fruitful. Some of you take your comrades’ partners as mistresses, some of you have skimmed and embezzled from this very corporation, and some of you have the most unusual interests.” She had knocked them off balance, and it was time to go in for the kill. “There are folders upon folders, vaults upon vaults of such information in my collection, both digital and physical. Threaten my friends again, and the rest will be released.”
“Enough.” Papa Harkavos’ wheeze cut through the mutterings and whispers. “You’ve made your point.” His tone was defeated, the voice of someone who knows he had already lost. “All this time. You have been dismantling our family, brick by brick.” “I haven’t dismantled anything yet. But believe me, I’m ready to.” Simmi responded, icily. “If you don’t let me go, then I’ll tell you what will happen. Your precious family will be exposed. Your peoples and allies... the world will have proof that you of what you really are. Sensing weakness, the NFTV and the Insurgents will move in on you. And you… Papa Grigori Harkavos. You will know death. So what will it be? Death? Or life.”
“As if we have a choice?” Said Papa. “You don’t. Now, my friends and I are going to leave. If we are allowed to leave, then in the future, I will send word to you on how to retrieve the artifact. Afterward, you will stay out of our lives.” They glared at her. It mattered little. She had to hear from the person who had the most authority. Finally, Papa spoke. "You have a deal," he wheezed, as if every word pained him. Maybe they did. A squeeze on her shoulder. She glanced to the side to see Ox nod at her. And now we see if it holds together. She stepped away from the podium, her heart pounding. Ox and the rest took up positions at her sides, their weapons ready. The goons and the board members were frozen in place, watching them leave. But before she strode out of the conference room, she heard Papa speak. “This isn’t over, Imsi.”
“My name is Simmi. Be glad it isn’t.”
So this was the climax of the current story arc, and I'll eventually move on. I meant it to be short, but kind of went overboard (I had inspiration at 23:30 last night). I also contradicted some things I wrote earlier, but eh, c'est la vie.
Hey Bees! The competition is over, and I didn't do as well as before, but that's okay.
Competition Bench Press: 135 o 140 x 140 x.
I'm still trying to decide what went wrong. If you've followed my past workouts, I retained some of my strength leading up to the competition, and could capably do 145. Didn't happen here. I bombed on my second and third attempts. I think it was a number of things: lack of caffeine, a rushed warmup, anxiety, my bench press form... more importantly, the fact that I'm always weaker in a competition setting than at the gym. Also, I peaked way too early, and lifted heavy leading up to the competition, which I'm told is something you try to avoid.
Oh well, I'll prepare better next time. I did get second place in my category, though!
It was pretty hot on our walk to church. I later learned today is Hong Kong's hottest day ever. It was bad, but not that bad, ultimately. Mom and I went out to get some dim sum at a place one of our relatives recommended. It was a bit pricey, but the food was pretty good. We ordered shrimp haar gau, siu mai, pai gwut/ribs, and all sorts of other treats.
Thank you kindly @graoumia and @JCU!
Stay cool out there, Bees! Hope you're having a good Sunday.
Drumming: Currently at 103 bpm for doubles (eighth notes).
Playing: A bit of Pathogenic. That was all, last night.
May play a bit of Misery, Palworld, or Deep Rock Galactic. Hmm...
Tried a demo for Expedition: Into Darkness, which is kinda exactly what it says on the tin. It's an extraction third person game with a bit of influence from Soulslikes. It didn't gel with me... I think the demo needs a lot of technical work before they release it for public consumption, so for now it's going to be a Boom! Uninstalled.
Will try the demo for the indie open worlder Devil Spire: Falls, and see if I can give it a second shot.
Watching: I finished Evil Dead Burns, so here's a trailer, summary, and review.
WARNING! There is violence against a dog in the movie.
Alice, originally from France, lives in America with her husband Will. The two operate a nightclub together, and Alice must endure her husband's emotional immaturity and abuses. After one argument, Will drunkenly drives off, only to die in an accident. At the funeral, we are introduced to Will's dysfunctional family. After a frosty service that paints Will with more compassion than he deserves. Alice joins them at their rural home, and endures the family's ignorant remarks and blind remembrances of Will. By then it is too late; several members of the family are possessed by the malevolent deadites, who torment the family, and are seeking a certain object. Alice must use every tool at her disposal to make it out alive.
Summary: It's a brutal, exhausting watch whose grasp exceeds its reach.
It starts a touch slow. After being introduced to Alice's vile husband and his milquetoast brother, the rest of the family is then brought in. Their qualities I thought were pretty simple; the father was resentful, the mother blind, and the grandmother... old. The film takes a little time to set up the passive-aggressive and expectation-laden ways Will's family regards Alice. I thought the film was striving for deeper meaning, for making a comment on domestic abuse and troubled relationships, but it never succeeds; that is, unless the message is simply that jerks will be jerks, and their loved ones will overlook their flaws. So it's a tenuous premise, propped up with simple writing.
It's also not helped by the fact that the film actively incorporates lore from previous Evil Dead movies. We are told that Will's ancestors were occult researchers searching for some kind of weapon. I thought this plot arc was bolted onto the film and clumsily sewn on. We don't need this nod to past canon; it's extraneous to the film's story, which (given it's an Evil Dead movie) is already extraneous.
I'm a sicko, and regarding horror movies, it takes a lot to shock me. When you watch an Evil Dead film, you come for the cringe-worthy gore, and EDB delivers in spades. Everyday household objects like a dishwasher are given violent qualities you may or may not see coming, and are put to good use in the film's second, more violent half. I liked the horrific parts of this movie, which are filmed with the vigor and technique of an action movie. The bloodshed and kills are suitably gruesome and depraved, but then the story got in the way. The murderous deadites are certainly loathsome, creepy, and terrifying; it's fun to see them gnaw away at the family, so to speak, but why do they need to have an agenda?
Some of the performances are quite strong - Souheila Yacoub sells Alice's determination and discontent, without turning her into a stereotype. Overall, I thought most of the acting was too simplistic to present any real complexities vis a vis family relationships. Any funeral spent with the in laws is going to be a mess, c'mon guys. Anyway, come for the horror, stay for the bloody kills. Don't mind the plot.
I give Evil Dead Burns two and a half burns out of five.
Listening to: Yogscast - Diggy Diggy Hole. How have I slept on this banger for so long? I think I'd heard of the song in another (heavy metal) form, but I didn't pay it much heed. Now that I'm into Deep Rock Galactic, I've rediscovered this catchy little anthem, and it's going to accompany by DRG expeditions from here on out. Rock and Stone!
"Born underground, suckled from a teat of stone
Raised in the dark, the safety of our mountain home
Skin made of iron, steel in our bones
To dig and dig makes us free
Come on brothers sing with me!
I am a dwarf and I'm digging a hole
Diggy Diggy Hole! Diggy Diggy Hole!"
Days, no weeks passed, rolling into each other. But unlike with her initial departure, Ox was not willing to wallow in self pity and sink into depression. They had to be sharp - as sharp as knives. And so the Wolves (Ox thought it was kind of cheesy that they were popularly called a "pack", but didn't oppose it) trained and trained, beyond the point at which they would be blue in the face. Ox placed a special emphasis on two types of exercise: one was VIP protection, the other, hostage rescue. These two were not mutually exclusive, and were based on Ox's predictions and what Simmi had personally told him.
If her plan worked out, the Wolves would be there to protect her from any form of reprisal and safely shepherd her out of Ruscov. That said, he guessed that her plan involved some sort of leverage to protect from any blowback. The second possibility was much more dire, and he could picture it: the Harkavos would turn on her, kill the Wolves present, and imprison her indefinitely. This was what they were hoping to prevent, but if they couldn't, they would have to be able to rescue her. This was a dire scenario, and Ox steadfastly hoped it wouldn't come to pass. It all depended on Simmi's plan working out.
A beep from the computer in the corner. Ox examined the monitor.
IT'S TIME. SENDING COORDINATES....
No turning back.
* * *
No turning back.
Simmi’s reflection looked back at her through the mirror. Sometimes you don’t notice the daily changes, until it’s too late. Her appearance was lean, maybe verging on gaunt. She wore a stylish business suit and white linen shirt that she hoped she would never wear again after today. The features that Ox loved her for were still there, albeit stony. Her short orange hair was cropped short, more stylishly than when she was at the Observatory.
But it was her eyes; they fixed her in place with their intense stare. Previously, among the stalkers and the Freelancers, she had smiled genuinely and freely. As a prisoner and hostage, she’d had little to smile about, unless you count her brief return to see Ox. She could see the rage in her eyes when she thought of the past year. Before she left her quarters, she took the wedding ring from the bedside dresser and put it on. Normally, it would be left on the dresser, untouched, but now, she placed it on her finger.
Simmi passed through the numerous corridors of the Sevasta building. Her fashionable but practical dress shoes made a light *click* as she walked, like the cocking of a gun. Her mind raced with possibilities and with an effort, she forced it back to the present. There was no time, or chance for regret. Aides, assistants, and well-dressed foot soldiers intent on their duties crossed paths with her. After a long, less than sedate walk, she reached the final door leading to the massive conference room.
Ox was standing in the middle of the hallway, awaiting her, hands clasped. He was dressed in a finely tailored business suit, though ruining the corporate image was a submachine gun hanging on a sling. Simmi knew he had a sidearm as well. He did not smile upon seeing her, or rush to embrace her. Simmi had no doubt that he wanted badly to do so. His eyes flitted to the gold band on her finger and the briefest of smiles appeared on his face. “Babe. Are you ready?” Her mouth was dry. “I am.” Ox walked with her to the twin doors, and pulled them open.
The Harkavos Corporation’s meeting room was massive and ostentatious, yet also modern and accommodating. A stage was at the end of the room, a giant television mounted upon it. Around the massive rectangular table sat many high up members of the family accompanied by their bodyguards. There were about 15 of them: these were the ones who were either given sinecures, or otherwise painstakingly made their way to the top. Several aides nervously stood behind them, as if before a firing squad. A manila folder had been placed before every place at the table.
At the head of the table, closest to the stage and television screen sat Papa Harkavos, the originator of her misery. One would expect a 94 year old to be senile and infirm, but apart from sitting in a wheelchair, the elder was still cogent and calculating. He was also a human being, which was an almost unheard of rarity in their world. He had been kept alive and relatively vigorous by the most advanced technologies man could devise, but for all the money he threw at the problem: it was not enough. That mudak Reznov stood beside him, watchful of any problem.
Ox walked her past all the squabbling family members, and to the stage, where four familiar faces stood, alert; the Harkavos had accepted her request for outside bodyguards with their typical ignorant arrogance. Ox had picked well; Vix, Gross, Kramer, and Bones were among their very best. They were all decked out in suits (Simmi wished a pox on Vix for making hers look like high fashion), but were as well armed as Ox. Ox took up position, but not before placing a light squeeze on her shoulder. Simmi stood at the podium. She had the most sudden urge to… no, don’t think on that.
Breathe, Simmi. Soon it’ll be over, one way or the other.
“Protiv nikh vsekh,” she intoned into the mic. “Protiv nikh vsekh,” intoned the assorted board members and staff. She went through the generalities of her speech briskly, and in English; some of the family members were middling in Russian, and she needed Ox and his crew to hear her too. Yes, they had found the artifact, and yes, it had been verified with experts. She didn’t say where they had gotten it, and it didn’t matter. Papa leaned forward in his wheelchair eagerly, devouring every word, his leathery skin and posturing perverting him: making him look rapacious. Simmi turned on the screen behind her, revealing a video feed of the artifact, sitting in a glass box. It glowed, as if announcing its otherworldly, magical status. Some of the board members were awed, while others exchanged skeptical looks - she knew why. Why was it not in the room with them? She continued anyway.
“This is the Vitalis artifact; prolonged contact with it results in an increased lifespan and physique. This artifact is the only one of its kind, and with it, the health of lider Harkavos can be restored. And now, I have possession of it.” One of the board members spoke up. “Imsi, surely you mean “we”.” Simmi nodded absently, as if accepting the correction, before she met his eye. “No.”
Murmurs from the board. Some were aghast at her bluntness. Papa was silent; maybe he was in shock. “You heard me correctly. I have the Vitalis artifact. More specifically, I am the only one in this room who knows where it is.” “Suka! Somebody grab her.” Shouted one of them. She could see a flicker of motion from the Wolves as they raised their weapons, and the gathered guards raised theirs in response.” Simmi sighed into her mic as if disapproving of unruly children. “And if a stray bullet hits Papa? Let’s all lower our guns. Besides, I’m not done yet.” She might’ve added some relish to the final word. She could see fury in Papa’s eyes. Reznov was as still as a statue, and had not drawn his own weapon.
“Assume you take me as prisoner, with the intent of interrogating me. I’ve taken measures to ensure that if you harm me, the chamber containing the artifact will be vaporized with explosives.” As if on cue, the live-streaming camera began to pan all around. There was an archaic, but menacing looking device visible behind the case. “This is a nuclear bomb. If my contact receives word that I’ve been harmed, gone missing, remain in Ruscov, or otherwise compromised, they will activate the device.”
“Bozhe Moi!” “Insanity!” After the shouts had died down, someone else spoke, in an effort to siphon some confidence from her. “You’re bluffing.” “I might be. But the question is, are you really willing to find out?” “Don’t.” Papa finally spoke, in his rasp. Of course, he had the most to lose from such defiance. He turned his attention to her, furious. “Ungrateful child. We gave you authority. Sheltered you. Uplifted you from those savages in Carcosa. Saved you from an abusive husband. What more could you want?” He croaked. Those words made her angrier with each syllable. She gripped the podium so tightly her knuckles cracked. “Freedom,” she hissed.
“Today, we make a new agreement, and to hell with the one I made as a child.” She composed herself. “I will allow you full access to the artifact, to use as you please. In return, I leave the Harkavos and never return.” Some laughter. “Such arrogance,” said one of the malevolent board members. “Once we have access to the artifact, we will raze your feckless little outpost and enslave your little friends. No one spits in our face and lives.” Until now. Simmi tapped her cheek, as if deep in thought. “I was concerned about that possibility. So I took out, ah, let’s call it insurance. Notice that you all have a folder in front of you.” A little wary, the Harkavos opened their envelopes, some more slowly than others. Perhaps they sensed what was to come.
Looking at the photographs and documents in front of them, surprise was written all over their faces. Then there was realization, followed by shock for some, but outrage for others. “Yob tvoyu mat!” Shouted one member, grabbing the person next to them. Another lunged over the table at the person opposite them, and was restrained by their security. Yet another shrank in her seat. Others muttered curses and oaths. Only Papa remained unmoved. After watching the drama unfold with no small satisfaction, Simmi finally spoke.
“Investigating your personal lives was fruitful. Some of you take your comrades’ partners as mistresses, some of you have skimmed and embezzled from this very corporation, and some of you have the most unusual interests.” She had knocked them off balance, and it was time to go in for the kill. “There are folders upon folders, vaults upon vaults of such information in my collection, both digital and physical. Threaten my friends again, and the rest will be released.”
“Enough.” Papa Harkavos’ wheeze cut through the mutterings and whispers. “You’ve made your point.” His tone was defeated, the voice of someone who knows he had already lost. “All this time. You have been dismantling our family, brick by brick.” “I haven’t dismantled anything yet. But believe me, I’m ready to.” Simmi responded, icily. “If you don’t let me go, then I’ll tell you what will happen. Your precious family will be exposed. Your peoples and allies... the world will have proof that you of what you really are. Sensing weakness, the NFTV and the Insurgents will move in on you. And you… Papa Grigori Harkavos. You will know death. So what will it be? Death? Or life.”
“As if we have a choice?” Said Papa. “You don’t. Now, my friends and I are going to leave. If we are allowed to leave, then in the future, I will send word to you on how to retrieve the artifact. Afterward, you will stay out of our lives.” They glared at her. It mattered little. She had to hear from the person who had the most authority. Finally, Papa spoke. "You have a deal," he wheezed, as if every word pained him. Maybe they did. A squeeze on her shoulder. She glanced to the side to see Ox nod at her. And now we see if it holds together. She stepped away from the podium, her heart pounding. Ox and the rest took up positions at her sides, their weapons ready. The goons and the board members were frozen in place, watching them leave. But before she strode out of the conference room, she heard Papa speak. “This isn’t over, Imsi.”
“My name is Simmi. Be glad it isn’t.”
So this was the climax of the current story arc, and I'll eventually move on. I meant it to be short, but kind of went overboard (I had inspiration at 23:30 last night). I also contradicted some things I wrote earlier, but eh, c'est la vie.
Hey Bees! The competition is over, and I didn't do as well as before, but that's okay.
Competition Bench Press: 135 o 140 x 140 x.
I'm still trying to decide what went wrong. If you've followed my past workouts, I retained some of my strength leading up to the competition, and could capably do 145. Didn't happen here. I bombed on my second and third attempts. I think it was a number of things: lack of caffeine, a rushed warmup, anxiety, my bench press form... more importantly, the fact that I'm always weaker in a competition setting than at the gym. Also, I peaked way too early, and lifted heavy leading up to the competition, which I'm told is something you try to avoid.
Oh well, I'll prepare better next time. I did get second place in my category, though!
It was pretty hot on our walk to church. I later learned today is Hong Kong's hottest day ever. It was bad, but not that bad, ultimately. Mom and I went out to get some dim sum at a place one of our relatives recommended. It was a bit pricey, but the food was pretty good. We ordered shrimp haar gau, siu mai, pai gwut/ribs, and all sorts of other treats.
Thank you kindly @graoumia and @JCU!
Stay cool out there, Bees! Hope you're having a good Sunday.
Drumming: Currently at 103 bpm for doubles (eighth notes).
Playing: A bit of Pathogenic. That was all, last night.
May play a bit of Misery, Palworld, or Deep Rock Galactic. Hmm...
Tried a demo for Expedition: Into Darkness, which is kinda exactly what it says on the tin. It's an extraction third person game with a bit of influence from Soulslikes. It didn't gel with me... I think the demo needs a lot of technical work before they release it for public consumption, so for now it's going to be a Boom! Uninstalled.
Will try the demo for the indie open worlder Devil Spire: Falls, and see if I can give it a second shot.
Watching: I finished Evil Dead Burns, so here's a trailer, summary, and review.
WARNING! There is violence against a dog in the movie.
Alice, originally from France, lives in America with her husband Will. The two operate a nightclub together, and Alice must endure her husband's emotional immaturity and abuses. After one argument, Will drunkenly drives off, only to die in an accident. At the funeral, we are introduced to Will's dysfunctional family. After a frosty service that paints Will with more compassion than he deserves. Alice joins them at their rural home, and endures the family's ignorant remarks and blind remembrances of Will. By then it is too late; several members of the family are possessed by the malevolent deadites, who torment the family, and are seeking a certain object. Alice must use every tool at her disposal to make it out alive.
Summary: It's a brutal, exhausting watch whose grasp exceeds its reach.
It starts a touch slow. After being introduced to Alice's vile husband and his milquetoast brother, the rest of the family is then brought in. Their qualities I thought were pretty simple; the father was resentful, the mother blind, and the grandmother... old. The film takes a little time to set up the passive-aggressive and expectation-laden ways Will's family regards Alice. I thought the film was striving for deeper meaning, for making a comment on domestic abuse and troubled relationships, but it never succeeds; that is, unless the message is simply that jerks will be jerks, and their loved ones will overlook their flaws. So it's a tenuous premise, propped up with simple writing.
It's also not helped by the fact that the film actively incorporates lore from previous Evil Dead movies. We are told that Will's ancestors were occult researchers searching for some kind of weapon. I thought this plot arc was bolted onto the film and clumsily sewn on. We don't need this nod to past canon; it's extraneous to the film's story, which (given it's an Evil Dead movie) is already extraneous.
I'm a sicko, and regarding horror movies, it takes a lot to shock me. When you watch an Evil Dead film, you come for the cringe-worthy gore, and EDB delivers in spades. Everyday household objects like a dishwasher are given violent qualities you may or may not see coming, and are put to good use in the film's second, more violent half. I liked the horrific parts of this movie, which are filmed with the vigor and technique of an action movie. The bloodshed and kills are suitably gruesome and depraved, but then the story got in the way. The murderous deadites are certainly loathsome, creepy, and terrifying; it's fun to see them gnaw away at the family, so to speak, but why do they need to have an agenda?
Some of the performances are quite strong - Souheila Yacoub sells Alice's determination and discontent, without turning her into a stereotype. Overall, I thought most of the acting was too simplistic to present any real complexities vis a vis family relationships. Any funeral spent with the in laws is going to be a mess, c'mon guys. Anyway, come for the horror, stay for the bloody kills. Don't mind the plot.
I give Evil Dead Burns two and a half burns out of five.
Listening to: Yogscast - Diggy Diggy Hole. How have I slept on this banger for so long? I think I'd heard of the song in another (heavy metal) form, but I didn't pay it much heed. Now that I'm into Deep Rock Galactic, I've rediscovered this catchy little anthem, and it's going to accompany by DRG expeditions from here on out. Rock and Stone!
"Born underground, suckled from a teat of stone
Raised in the dark, the safety of our mountain home
Skin made of iron, steel in our bones
To dig and dig makes us free
Come on brothers sing with me!
I am a dwarf and I'm digging a hole
Diggy Diggy Hole! Diggy Diggy Hole!"
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GentleOx
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"It's a hell of a thing she attempted."
The voice was audible, piped in through the headsets that they wore, but the helicopter's chopping rotors still made hearing a bit difficult. Ox looked down at Simmi, who had fallen asleep leaning on his shoulder. It was likely the best night's rest she had gotten in a long while. Ox looked back at Kramer, who was seated opposite him.
"We're out of Russo airspace now. I think it's safe to say she succeeded." Gross, seated next to Kramer, spoke. "Do you think she was exaggerating about the threats she made?" The big man asked. "I wouldn't call them threats. Knowing our Simmi, they were more like facts being stated. And if those mafiosos don't leave us alone, I have no doubt she'll make good on them." "Glad she's on our side." That was Vix, in her deep contralto. "All of you did your jobs, and you did them well. When we get back, first round's on me," Ox said.
Outside the chopper door, the darkness was beginning to abate, and the sun was rising.
Hey Bees.
It's still hot as blazes, but I managed to make my way to the gym for a Push workout. I'm starting a new cycle, and I hit the reset button on all my lifts. So, let's see where this takes me.
Bench Press: 115 x 3. Starting small. Five sets of this.
Incline Press: 90 x 3.
Shoulder Press: 60 x 3.
Overhead Triceps Extensions: 14 x 6. May retire these, they seem to wear out my joints.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 14 x 26.
Man, it was hot out there. Stiflingly so. And it won't abate until the rain comes later this week.
Back on my weight loss training, as planned. Ate a bit too much after the competition, but I'm going to dial in my healthy habits again.
A little depressed again. A lot of anxiety rolling around in these bones, and wondering how the hell I'm going to move forward with my life.
But forwards is the only way to go.
Keep cool in this blazing heat, Bees!
Thank you kindly @JCU and @graoumia and @aku-chan!
Playing: Uh, still more Pathogenic. I have some demos to try tonight, like Luminary and Devil Spire: Falls.
And I'll try to play some Deep Rock Galactic as well, and finish that annoying mission that gave me trouble the first time.
Watching: The final Jackass movie. Not sure I'll write a review for this one. Maybe. It starts with classic Jackass footage that features a simple, unbelievably dumb stunt, and the intro made me cringe a few times.
Maybe that's my review!
Listening to: Roxferry - Blinded. I remember listening to the first few seconds of this song and praying, "Please be a kick ass song." And it is! It's strong Australian alternative rock that channels the Foo Fighters, surely among other influences.
The voice was audible, piped in through the headsets that they wore, but the helicopter's chopping rotors still made hearing a bit difficult. Ox looked down at Simmi, who had fallen asleep leaning on his shoulder. It was likely the best night's rest she had gotten in a long while. Ox looked back at Kramer, who was seated opposite him.
"We're out of Russo airspace now. I think it's safe to say she succeeded." Gross, seated next to Kramer, spoke. "Do you think she was exaggerating about the threats she made?" The big man asked. "I wouldn't call them threats. Knowing our Simmi, they were more like facts being stated. And if those mafiosos don't leave us alone, I have no doubt she'll make good on them." "Glad she's on our side." That was Vix, in her deep contralto. "All of you did your jobs, and you did them well. When we get back, first round's on me," Ox said.
Outside the chopper door, the darkness was beginning to abate, and the sun was rising.
Hey Bees.
It's still hot as blazes, but I managed to make my way to the gym for a Push workout. I'm starting a new cycle, and I hit the reset button on all my lifts. So, let's see where this takes me.
Bench Press: 115 x 3. Starting small. Five sets of this.
Incline Press: 90 x 3.
Shoulder Press: 60 x 3.
Overhead Triceps Extensions: 14 x 6. May retire these, they seem to wear out my joints.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 14 x 26.
Man, it was hot out there. Stiflingly so. And it won't abate until the rain comes later this week.
Back on my weight loss training, as planned. Ate a bit too much after the competition, but I'm going to dial in my healthy habits again.
A little depressed again. A lot of anxiety rolling around in these bones, and wondering how the hell I'm going to move forward with my life.
But forwards is the only way to go.
Keep cool in this blazing heat, Bees!
Thank you kindly @JCU and @graoumia and @aku-chan!
Playing: Uh, still more Pathogenic. I have some demos to try tonight, like Luminary and Devil Spire: Falls.
And I'll try to play some Deep Rock Galactic as well, and finish that annoying mission that gave me trouble the first time.
Watching: The final Jackass movie. Not sure I'll write a review for this one. Maybe. It starts with classic Jackass footage that features a simple, unbelievably dumb stunt, and the intro made me cringe a few times.
Maybe that's my review!
Listening to: Roxferry - Blinded. I remember listening to the first few seconds of this song and praying, "Please be a kick ass song." And it is! It's strong Australian alternative rock that channels the Foo Fighters, surely among other influences.
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GentleOx
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Bravo for the second place, and my little softy heart was glad to see Simmy free and with her own favorite ox 
Here in France we are dealing with heatwave after heawave, so sending you some temperate marine air!
Here in France we are dealing with heatwave after heawave, so sending you some temperate marine air!
Ox gently disentangled himself from Simmi, who let out adorable, sleepy murmurs.
He got up from the bed, and dressed, slowly. It was very early in the morning, and he hadn't had a cigarette in days, so he was going downstairs to have one. The observatory meeting room was silent. Upon going inside, Simmi had not even bothered to check her equipment and supplies; Ox had largely left them untouched, and he knew she trusted him. As a guest of the Harkavos, she had been worked to the bone coordinating their operations and resolving emergencies, and sleep had been scant.
Was life going to go back to normal now? Or at least the unpredictable, quasi-apocalyptic situation that constituted normal? He did not know. He was going to have to discuss the future with her. He was more than a little anxious that the Harkavos would attempt some secretive, plausible deniability nonsense, and would have to discuss that with her as well. But for now, she slept.
He hadn't even thought of the wedding yet. They'd gotten engaged a little over a year ago, and then their whole life was thrown into upheaval. A year of doubts. A year of darkness. And now, a new beginning. Outside, the sea air was bracing and cool, but not as brutally frosty as Ruscov had been. Smacking his cigarette pack onto his palm, he extracted a smoke, put it to his mouth, and lit up. Taking in a breath, he watched the cigarette paper slowly burn.
Even the smallest of fires could grown in fury.
(This piece of writing was a bit of a throwaway originally, but I liked how it turned out).
Hey Bees.
After a Tuesday that was agonizing and frustrating, I got back on the beam and headed into the gym for another Push workout.
Bench Press: 115 x 3.
Incline Press: 90 x 3.
Shoulder Press: 60 x 3.
Rope Extensions: 9 x 6.
Dumbbell Hammer Curls: 14 x 24
I will try to do a Pull workout tomorrow, if my trapezius muscle allows. I might've pulled it, and whenever I pull my arm back all the way, it feels very sore. So we'll see how I'm feeling tomorrow.
I had the lousiest day yesterday. I think it boils down to the fact that I had way too much caffeine; I drank coke zero, coffee, and, worst of all, too much preworkout powder. And it made me miserable, I had too much anxiety, and was feeling heavily depressed. I tried listening to feel good music, watched a funny movie, and generally relaxed, but it was absolutely horrible. I also didn't go to the gym, and I tend to feel a bit downcast when I don't.
It's absolutely torrid weather-wise. We'll be getting some respite on Friday, when it starts raining, and can only come too soon.
Thank you @graoumia and @PetiteSheWolf. @PetiteSheWolf I'm happy to see my Ox and his love enjoying some peace and quiet. But for how long?
Dun dun dun...
Stay cool, Bees!
Playing: Didn't play much yesterday; I was too miserable, and busy with doomscrolling, so I'm going to treat myself to some quality gaming tonight.
That means some Pathogenic, Palworld, and Deep Rock Galactic.
I played a demo for a survival horror/JRPG called Sin or Suffer. It's a very unique, very punishing game, in which the player takes the role of a prisoner, and must explore a prison after something horrible happened. I'm not sure it's up my alley, but it's undeniably compelling. I also found out it's the spiritual successor to a punishing RPG... whose name I don't recall. Huh. Anyway, Boom! Added to my wishlist.
Watching: I watched Jackass: Best and last yesterday. Here's a (mostly SFW) trailer, synopsis, and review.
In the Jackass crew's final cinematic outing, awesomely audacious and painfully comedic stunts are married to short segments discussing the crew's reactions and how they come up with their unbelievable ideas. It may be their final time on camera, but the cast is determined to go out with a bang - figuratively, and maybe even literally!
Summary: Hungry Jackass fans may be miffed there there's not as much original content as in previous films, but the new segments are pretty darn funny, obscene, and fitting for the end of an iconic franchise.
I'm not really sure how you review a film like this. If you've watched the past movies, or even seen a snip of the show, then the premise is obvious. It goes sketch by sketch, bit by bit, and there's no narrative thread tying everything together. There's an intro and outro, but what's really on display here are the ridiculous and poor in taste jokes and stunts that the cast endure.
However! This is the final Jackass movie (if you hadn't guessed by the name), and in addiction to being one of the gang's best outings, it happens to be something of a greatest hits and retrospective on the best the show has had to offer. In between the skits, there are slice-of-life interviews with the cast members, giving us insight into the mindset it takes to pull off such insanity.
For the sake of good taste, I can't really recount most of the bits; just know that they're ridiculous, horrifying, cringe-worthy, and often hilarious. One of the more SFW ones involves several members of the cast walking into a room with a ram, provoking it, and being on the business end of its considerable headbutts. Another involves an encounter with a raging bull that Robert De Niro wouldn't stand a chance against. Others push the envelope of good taste, or obliterate it completely.
And it works! The show is generally quite funny, but the rapport and history between the bast members is what really ties it together and keeps it from being just mean-spirited punishment. I don't know how many times I scrunched my face up and cringed at the horrors, on display. Are they (the sketches) all winners? No, but that they aren't just speaks to the variety of ideas and setups on display.
Because it succeeded in making me laugh, and providing a smorgasbord of entertainment, I give Jackass Best and Last four jars of peanut butter (don't ask) out of five.
Also watching a Youtube found-footage horror called On a Cold Dark Night. The jury's out, so far.
Listening to: Sakis Tolis - In Youth We Learn, in Age We Understand. This is... surprisingly positive heavy metal. It's like Melodic Black Metal, with hints of darkness and bombast, but I like the message.
"Youth is a gift of nature but age is a work of art
Never give up on your dreams, no matter how hard it gets
Youth is not about age, Youth is about spirit
The stronger you feel the younger you are"
He got up from the bed, and dressed, slowly. It was very early in the morning, and he hadn't had a cigarette in days, so he was going downstairs to have one. The observatory meeting room was silent. Upon going inside, Simmi had not even bothered to check her equipment and supplies; Ox had largely left them untouched, and he knew she trusted him. As a guest of the Harkavos, she had been worked to the bone coordinating their operations and resolving emergencies, and sleep had been scant.
Was life going to go back to normal now? Or at least the unpredictable, quasi-apocalyptic situation that constituted normal? He did not know. He was going to have to discuss the future with her. He was more than a little anxious that the Harkavos would attempt some secretive, plausible deniability nonsense, and would have to discuss that with her as well. But for now, she slept.
He hadn't even thought of the wedding yet. They'd gotten engaged a little over a year ago, and then their whole life was thrown into upheaval. A year of doubts. A year of darkness. And now, a new beginning. Outside, the sea air was bracing and cool, but not as brutally frosty as Ruscov had been. Smacking his cigarette pack onto his palm, he extracted a smoke, put it to his mouth, and lit up. Taking in a breath, he watched the cigarette paper slowly burn.
Even the smallest of fires could grown in fury.
(This piece of writing was a bit of a throwaway originally, but I liked how it turned out).
Hey Bees.
After a Tuesday that was agonizing and frustrating, I got back on the beam and headed into the gym for another Push workout.
Bench Press: 115 x 3.
Incline Press: 90 x 3.
Shoulder Press: 60 x 3.
Rope Extensions: 9 x 6.
Dumbbell Hammer Curls: 14 x 24
I will try to do a Pull workout tomorrow, if my trapezius muscle allows. I might've pulled it, and whenever I pull my arm back all the way, it feels very sore. So we'll see how I'm feeling tomorrow.
I had the lousiest day yesterday. I think it boils down to the fact that I had way too much caffeine; I drank coke zero, coffee, and, worst of all, too much preworkout powder. And it made me miserable, I had too much anxiety, and was feeling heavily depressed. I tried listening to feel good music, watched a funny movie, and generally relaxed, but it was absolutely horrible. I also didn't go to the gym, and I tend to feel a bit downcast when I don't.
It's absolutely torrid weather-wise. We'll be getting some respite on Friday, when it starts raining, and can only come too soon.
Thank you @graoumia and @PetiteSheWolf. @PetiteSheWolf I'm happy to see my Ox and his love enjoying some peace and quiet. But for how long?
Dun dun dun...
Stay cool, Bees!
Playing: Didn't play much yesterday; I was too miserable, and busy with doomscrolling, so I'm going to treat myself to some quality gaming tonight.
That means some Pathogenic, Palworld, and Deep Rock Galactic.
I played a demo for a survival horror/JRPG called Sin or Suffer. It's a very unique, very punishing game, in which the player takes the role of a prisoner, and must explore a prison after something horrible happened. I'm not sure it's up my alley, but it's undeniably compelling. I also found out it's the spiritual successor to a punishing RPG... whose name I don't recall. Huh. Anyway, Boom! Added to my wishlist.
Watching: I watched Jackass: Best and last yesterday. Here's a (mostly SFW) trailer, synopsis, and review.
In the Jackass crew's final cinematic outing, awesomely audacious and painfully comedic stunts are married to short segments discussing the crew's reactions and how they come up with their unbelievable ideas. It may be their final time on camera, but the cast is determined to go out with a bang - figuratively, and maybe even literally!
Summary: Hungry Jackass fans may be miffed there there's not as much original content as in previous films, but the new segments are pretty darn funny, obscene, and fitting for the end of an iconic franchise.
I'm not really sure how you review a film like this. If you've watched the past movies, or even seen a snip of the show, then the premise is obvious. It goes sketch by sketch, bit by bit, and there's no narrative thread tying everything together. There's an intro and outro, but what's really on display here are the ridiculous and poor in taste jokes and stunts that the cast endure.
However! This is the final Jackass movie (if you hadn't guessed by the name), and in addiction to being one of the gang's best outings, it happens to be something of a greatest hits and retrospective on the best the show has had to offer. In between the skits, there are slice-of-life interviews with the cast members, giving us insight into the mindset it takes to pull off such insanity.
For the sake of good taste, I can't really recount most of the bits; just know that they're ridiculous, horrifying, cringe-worthy, and often hilarious. One of the more SFW ones involves several members of the cast walking into a room with a ram, provoking it, and being on the business end of its considerable headbutts. Another involves an encounter with a raging bull that Robert De Niro wouldn't stand a chance against. Others push the envelope of good taste, or obliterate it completely.
And it works! The show is generally quite funny, but the rapport and history between the bast members is what really ties it together and keeps it from being just mean-spirited punishment. I don't know how many times I scrunched my face up and cringed at the horrors, on display. Are they (the sketches) all winners? No, but that they aren't just speaks to the variety of ideas and setups on display.
Because it succeeded in making me laugh, and providing a smorgasbord of entertainment, I give Jackass Best and Last four jars of peanut butter (don't ask) out of five.
Also watching a Youtube found-footage horror called On a Cold Dark Night. The jury's out, so far.
Listening to: Sakis Tolis - In Youth We Learn, in Age We Understand. This is... surprisingly positive heavy metal. It's like Melodic Black Metal, with hints of darkness and bombast, but I like the message.
"Youth is a gift of nature but age is a work of art
Never give up on your dreams, no matter how hard it gets
Youth is not about age, Youth is about spirit
The stronger you feel the younger you are"
"I don't know how you can tolerate our crappy wasteland food after eating wine and fine dining for the past year."
A smile on Simmi's lips. She leaned down to scoop up more spam from its tin can and forked it into her mouth.Ox opened up his own tin, this one with sardines in it, and rolled the lid open. Simmi paused from her meagre meal. "I've had enough steak tartare and caviar and pinot noir to last me a lifetime: particularly when they forced me to eat it." Ox shuddered. This breakfast conversation was not going as he expected. He had to remind himself that her freedoms had been completely curtailed during her time over there. He bit into his sardines, relishing the salty, oily taste.
"I think I'll stick with spam. And to be honest, I kind of missed the stuff." She looked him in the eye, meaningfully. "Missed a lot of things." He could feel himself turning red, and went back to consuming his fish. "What I really wanted to ask was, what's it like being back again? For good this time." Simmi stopped eating, and he could tell that he had given her cause to question herself. "Give me a day of work, and I'll get back to you." With breakfast finished, she stood up, wiped her hands on the trousers of her fatigues, and looked at him expectantly.
"What's on tap?"
Wow, Bees! It's been forever since I last worked out (really just last week).
I was laid low by low moods and a pulled trap muscle and kind of gave into the urge to sit around and not do anything.
So after church, I hit the gym for my Push workout. This is the second week.
Bench Press: 117.5 x 3. Moved like dried mud.
Incline Press: 87.5 x 3.
Shoulder Press: 60 x 3. Getting into the groove took some sets.
Straight Bar Pushdowns: 10 x 6. These felt great.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 16 x 24.
I'm kind of fond of my new Ox haircut.
A lot of internal mood swings, from crazy thoughts, to depression, to bouts of anxiety last week.
Here's to a happier one, and more days in the gym.
At least it's not as horridly hot than before.
Thank you for your digital hugs, thumbs up, and support reactions Bees. They're always a highlight of my day.
Hope you're having a great Sunday, Bees!
Playing: Meh. Apart from Pathogenic, only bits and bobs.
Misery just dropped a new update, so I'm trying to get the new biome to spawn.
Will try to leave some time for DRG as well.
Watching: I just watched short found footage horror On a Cold Dark Night. Here's a trailer, synopsis, and review.
Two friends are heading for a house party when they get lost in the woods. In short order, somebody begins harassing them, and the pair, armed, decide to chase them down through the thick woods. Unfortunately, it turns out that somebody has made their home there, and is stalking the two men...
Summary: It drags throughout most of its runtime, and a promising premise is not followed through on. Still, if you have 40 minutes, it might be worth a watch.
So this one is a no-budget found footager that packs in some of the feel of the Saw movies, low-budget though it is. I am absolutely a sucker for found footage movie, but such movies usually bump up against the restrictions of their budget. This one is no different. I appreciate one of the duo being armed, though budget restrictions prevent the gun from ever being fired (or maybe something else? See below...)
The acting is okay, we don't get much character out of the two main characters, though I would argue it's not really needed in a film like this. There's a clever scare midway through which is inexplicable, then the characters settle into a house to meet their doom. Again, zero budget horror. It's cleverly done, but the film takes a long time to give us our money's worth - speaking ironically. It was the filmmaker's intent to make a "slow-burn" of a movie, but when the cast isn't that notable, it's kind of just stringing-out the film until the scary parts start.
I confess that I found it hard to follow the twists of the pair's predicament (though to be honest, I may not have been watching as closely as I should've, but anyway). Them being harassed in the woods leads to them stumbling upon traps, fine. Then they suddenly and unwisely hole up in an abandoned house in the woods? Whaaa...? Somehow, their pistol is lost in the ruckus? I get that the finale is a homage to the Blair Witch Project - which I've said before, and will say again, is the best found footager ever - but some more cohesion is needed between the different events, like the villain knocking out and abducting the two.
I give On a Cold Dark Night two and a half bear traps out of five.
Also, started watching Peacemaker. I knew I would enjoy it, and I most certainly am, even though I know what's going to happen (I have a habit of doing this).
Listening to: Polystation - Croma. I've stumbled upon some more absolute synth finds. These are like auditory gold, I swear. The melody is strong, and catchy, and once more, it sounds a bit like something you would get from the 80s.
I absolutely love digging up synth treasures!
(Videos are temporarily not working. Huh.)
A smile on Simmi's lips. She leaned down to scoop up more spam from its tin can and forked it into her mouth.Ox opened up his own tin, this one with sardines in it, and rolled the lid open. Simmi paused from her meagre meal. "I've had enough steak tartare and caviar and pinot noir to last me a lifetime: particularly when they forced me to eat it." Ox shuddered. This breakfast conversation was not going as he expected. He had to remind himself that her freedoms had been completely curtailed during her time over there. He bit into his sardines, relishing the salty, oily taste.
"I think I'll stick with spam. And to be honest, I kind of missed the stuff." She looked him in the eye, meaningfully. "Missed a lot of things." He could feel himself turning red, and went back to consuming his fish. "What I really wanted to ask was, what's it like being back again? For good this time." Simmi stopped eating, and he could tell that he had given her cause to question herself. "Give me a day of work, and I'll get back to you." With breakfast finished, she stood up, wiped her hands on the trousers of her fatigues, and looked at him expectantly.
"What's on tap?"
Wow, Bees! It's been forever since I last worked out (really just last week).
I was laid low by low moods and a pulled trap muscle and kind of gave into the urge to sit around and not do anything.
So after church, I hit the gym for my Push workout. This is the second week.
Bench Press: 117.5 x 3. Moved like dried mud.
Incline Press: 87.5 x 3.
Shoulder Press: 60 x 3. Getting into the groove took some sets.
Straight Bar Pushdowns: 10 x 6. These felt great.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 16 x 24.
I'm kind of fond of my new Ox haircut.
A lot of internal mood swings, from crazy thoughts, to depression, to bouts of anxiety last week.
Here's to a happier one, and more days in the gym.
At least it's not as horridly hot than before.
Thank you for your digital hugs, thumbs up, and support reactions Bees. They're always a highlight of my day.
Hope you're having a great Sunday, Bees!
Playing: Meh. Apart from Pathogenic, only bits and bobs.
Misery just dropped a new update, so I'm trying to get the new biome to spawn.
Will try to leave some time for DRG as well.
Watching: I just watched short found footage horror On a Cold Dark Night. Here's a trailer, synopsis, and review.
Two friends are heading for a house party when they get lost in the woods. In short order, somebody begins harassing them, and the pair, armed, decide to chase them down through the thick woods. Unfortunately, it turns out that somebody has made their home there, and is stalking the two men...
Summary: It drags throughout most of its runtime, and a promising premise is not followed through on. Still, if you have 40 minutes, it might be worth a watch.
So this one is a no-budget found footager that packs in some of the feel of the Saw movies, low-budget though it is. I am absolutely a sucker for found footage movie, but such movies usually bump up against the restrictions of their budget. This one is no different. I appreciate one of the duo being armed, though budget restrictions prevent the gun from ever being fired (or maybe something else? See below...)
The acting is okay, we don't get much character out of the two main characters, though I would argue it's not really needed in a film like this. There's a clever scare midway through which is inexplicable, then the characters settle into a house to meet their doom. Again, zero budget horror. It's cleverly done, but the film takes a long time to give us our money's worth - speaking ironically. It was the filmmaker's intent to make a "slow-burn" of a movie, but when the cast isn't that notable, it's kind of just stringing-out the film until the scary parts start.
I confess that I found it hard to follow the twists of the pair's predicament (though to be honest, I may not have been watching as closely as I should've, but anyway). Them being harassed in the woods leads to them stumbling upon traps, fine. Then they suddenly and unwisely hole up in an abandoned house in the woods? Whaaa...? Somehow, their pistol is lost in the ruckus? I get that the finale is a homage to the Blair Witch Project - which I've said before, and will say again, is the best found footager ever - but some more cohesion is needed between the different events, like the villain knocking out and abducting the two.
I give On a Cold Dark Night two and a half bear traps out of five.
Also, started watching Peacemaker. I knew I would enjoy it, and I most certainly am, even though I know what's going to happen (I have a habit of doing this).
Listening to: Polystation - Croma. I've stumbled upon some more absolute synth finds. These are like auditory gold, I swear. The melody is strong, and catchy, and once more, it sounds a bit like something you would get from the 80s.
I absolutely love digging up synth treasures!
(Videos are temporarily not working. Huh.)
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GentleOx
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