Re-live the magic of Lord of the Rings here.
Basically, this guy has taken screen-caps (captures) of scenes from the amazing trilogy, and made a comic out of it.
In this comic, the Dungeon Master (the voice in the narrative), has created a game campaign for a bunch of players, who are role-playing the characters of the Fellowship. And he's frequently frustrated by his players in ways only a DM can relate. All the time and effort to create a rich campaign setting, and writing dialogues, but the only thing the players want is killing Orcs and getting XP.
It might take some RPG-ing experience before you can appreciate some of the humor. But the strips are still funny even if you've never gone geek. And the author has a real knack for finding just the right screen-cap for the punchlines.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Monday, December 04, 2006
Zanussi
Been agonizing for more than a year how to fix up my cooking area.
Didn't want the stove in my house, cos I didn't want a cooking hood. So it has to be in the washing area.
As a temporary solution, I used a crappy table a tenant left behind, lay out the top with ceramic tiles left over from bathroom repair jobs the building engineers did, and tossed a hob on top of it.
Been that way for more than two years. Always had the intention of building up a proper platform and popping a hob in. There's just the question of whether I *CAN* figure out how to work with cement to do up a mini counter top in an alcove in the washing balcony.
Then recently, in a casual perusal of the forums, I came across a garage sale notice.
A Zanussi 4-hob cooker with electric oven.
Very nice condition. And the oven has hardly even been used!
RM550.
Just a pity that the seller realised at the last moment that he had left a gas tank inside. Else it would have been a steal.
Had to get Moses to use his Atoz to help me transport this back. The stove just barely slipped in his boot with half a cm to spare.
This should finally complete my kitchen... After I'm able to toss out the old hob. If I'm able to find the time to clean it up and polish the careless grime on it, I should still be able to fetch a decent price on it.
I'm harbouring no delusions of baking. But I can offer the use of the oven to friends. And exact a tax from whatever they're baking... Ha ha!
And there's a turn-spit for the oven too. So I could ohways woast a wabbit or swomething.
Didn't want the stove in my house, cos I didn't want a cooking hood. So it has to be in the washing area.
As a temporary solution, I used a crappy table a tenant left behind, lay out the top with ceramic tiles left over from bathroom repair jobs the building engineers did, and tossed a hob on top of it.
Been that way for more than two years. Always had the intention of building up a proper platform and popping a hob in. There's just the question of whether I *CAN* figure out how to work with cement to do up a mini counter top in an alcove in the washing balcony.
Then recently, in a casual perusal of the forums, I came across a garage sale notice.
A Zanussi 4-hob cooker with electric oven.
Very nice condition. And the oven has hardly even been used!
RM550.
Just a pity that the seller realised at the last moment that he had left a gas tank inside. Else it would have been a steal.
Had to get Moses to use his Atoz to help me transport this back. The stove just barely slipped in his boot with half a cm to spare.
This should finally complete my kitchen... After I'm able to toss out the old hob. If I'm able to find the time to clean it up and polish the careless grime on it, I should still be able to fetch a decent price on it.
I'm harbouring no delusions of baking. But I can offer the use of the oven to friends. And exact a tax from whatever they're baking... Ha ha!
And there's a turn-spit for the oven too. So I could ohways woast a wabbit or swomething.
Lich Lord Terminus
Starting the most visually stunning of Privateer Press' miniatures.
The idea is to turn it into :
But in a cheerier colour maybe... The effect on the sword is very nice, but I'm afraid I'm no where near the artistic level to replicate that...
Lich Lord Terminus, favoured lieutenant of the DragonFather Turok of the Nightmare Isles. Disfigured and empowered by centuries of immortal service.
Came across an interesting technique using air-brush and glazes to paint and highlight the wings quickly. Will see if it works...
The idea is to turn it into :
But in a cheerier colour maybe... The effect on the sword is very nice, but I'm afraid I'm no where near the artistic level to replicate that...
Lich Lord Terminus, favoured lieutenant of the DragonFather Turok of the Nightmare Isles. Disfigured and empowered by centuries of immortal service.
Came across an interesting technique using air-brush and glazes to paint and highlight the wings quickly. Will see if it works...
Barnyard
Nickleodeon movie. 3-D animation.
A farm where animals walk on two legs and talks when no one is watching.
The protagonist is a cow who protects the farm from coyotes. It could be just me, but there's something obscene about 3-D rendered udders.
The creators of this cartoon is most certainly a Gary Larson fan. Many familiar gags.
Quite a fun watch. Just a funny cartoon with no delusions of grandeur.
Easily accessible visual gags and a moral for the kids.
Yakuza gophers.
A fat possum-like creature wearing lots of bling, singing Shaggy's Boombastic.
That's just too cute.
A farm where animals walk on two legs and talks when no one is watching.
The protagonist is a cow who protects the farm from coyotes. It could be just me, but there's something obscene about 3-D rendered udders.
The creators of this cartoon is most certainly a Gary Larson fan. Many familiar gags.
Quite a fun watch. Just a funny cartoon with no delusions of grandeur.
Easily accessible visual gags and a moral for the kids.
Yakuza gophers.
A fat possum-like creature wearing lots of bling, singing Shaggy's Boombastic.
That's just too cute.
Invisible Tenors
Happened to be in the area around PJ South last week. Lots of workshops there, so I took my car to a random one that does aircon servicing. And also to have the passenger window replaced at the same time.
Aircon died a few months ago. The Daihatsu service centre quoted me 1.2k to repair. Hmm... 1.2k to repair a 7k car. Didn't sound right. So I bore with till I could get a second opinion. These guys, I think a pair of twins with prematurely greying hair, actually took things apart to look for leaks etc.
The compressor was leaking. I needed a new one. And that's that.
Got a reconditioned compressor. Looked shiny.
But after the compressor went on, the car handles like I'm driving the 3 tenors up Genting.
This is crap.
Thought maybe I could re-tune the engine a bit... Took out the kit I bought in Melbourne and spent a few hours on my car.
Think there may be something wrong with my vacuum advancer. Doesn't seem to do anything to the engine timing... According to the manual, the timing should advance a few degrees when I suck on it.
Sheesh...
For all the tuning... The car still feels like there are 3 fat men sitting in the back.
But at least they're quiet.
Aircon died a few months ago. The Daihatsu service centre quoted me 1.2k to repair. Hmm... 1.2k to repair a 7k car. Didn't sound right. So I bore with till I could get a second opinion. These guys, I think a pair of twins with prematurely greying hair, actually took things apart to look for leaks etc.
The compressor was leaking. I needed a new one. And that's that.
Got a reconditioned compressor. Looked shiny.
But after the compressor went on, the car handles like I'm driving the 3 tenors up Genting.
This is crap.
Thought maybe I could re-tune the engine a bit... Took out the kit I bought in Melbourne and spent a few hours on my car.
Think there may be something wrong with my vacuum advancer. Doesn't seem to do anything to the engine timing... According to the manual, the timing should advance a few degrees when I suck on it.
Sheesh...
For all the tuning... The car still feels like there are 3 fat men sitting in the back.
But at least they're quiet.
Friday, December 01, 2006
More Malware…
Office network down...
After some investigation, I've determined that my PC was the source of the problem.
Although being protected by Avast! AV, something snuck in. When I'm connected directly to the iPStar network for tests, it always leaves my PC very vulnerable.
Checking Network traffic:
Note the regular spikes in the middle of the graph.
Something was spamming the upload bandwidth, such that nothing could come in too. Thus, I threw open the Task Manager and removed suspicious processes. When I hit the right one, the bandwidth graph went back to normal, and the purple line finally moved upwards and stuff started coming in.
lsass.exe is the Local Security Authority Service. But lssas.exe is NOT. And it should not be a hidden file either.
In either case, it should never appear in that particular place in the system registry.
Thus killed the lssas.exe in the Task Manager. Removed it from the registry. Deleted it from C:\Windows\System32.
But this may not be the last of it... It's made it's way in once, it can do so again until my AV software gets a new update. Hopefully.
After some investigation, I've determined that my PC was the source of the problem.
Although being protected by Avast! AV, something snuck in. When I'm connected directly to the iPStar network for tests, it always leaves my PC very vulnerable.
Checking Network traffic:
Note the regular spikes in the middle of the graph.
Something was spamming the upload bandwidth, such that nothing could come in too. Thus, I threw open the Task Manager and removed suspicious processes. When I hit the right one, the bandwidth graph went back to normal, and the purple line finally moved upwards and stuff started coming in.
lsass.exe is the Local Security Authority Service. But lssas.exe is NOT. And it should not be a hidden file either.
In either case, it should never appear in that particular place in the system registry.
Thus killed the lssas.exe in the Task Manager. Removed it from the registry. Deleted it from C:\Windows\System32.
But this may not be the last of it... It's made it's way in once, it can do so again until my AV software gets a new update. Hopefully.
Stupid, Stupid Rat Creatures!
Just re-read Out From Boneville, again, this morning.
This is book 1 of 9 of the Bone series by Jeff Smith.
Got into this comic a few years ago, when I won my first and only slogan contest for World Book Day, and got rm500 worth of Kinokuniya Vouchers. Also bought Death: The High Cost Of Living and The Time Of Your Life by Neil Gaiman.
The comic is like, Tolkien doing Calvin and Hobbes.
It's an incredibly brilliant and funny fantasy story. And the art is beautiful.
Some time back, there was some discussion about Bone being made into a movie. The whole thing fell through cos a block-head producer insisted that the Bones have kid voices, and that's bound to be the first of many other changes to make the story "fit for children".
Pity pity pity.
Still missing a few of Jeff Smith's books... Need to do some Christmas shopping for myself.
This is book 1 of 9 of the Bone series by Jeff Smith.
Got into this comic a few years ago, when I won my first and only slogan contest for World Book Day, and got rm500 worth of Kinokuniya Vouchers. Also bought Death: The High Cost Of Living and The Time Of Your Life by Neil Gaiman.
The comic is like, Tolkien doing Calvin and Hobbes.
It's an incredibly brilliant and funny fantasy story. And the art is beautiful.
Some time back, there was some discussion about Bone being made into a movie. The whole thing fell through cos a block-head producer insisted that the Bones have kid voices, and that's bound to be the first of many other changes to make the story "fit for children".
Pity pity pity.
Still missing a few of Jeff Smith's books... Need to do some Christmas shopping for myself.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
The Banquet, 夜宴
Enjoyed this a LOT more than The Promise.
Zhang Ziyi. Zhou Xun. Shakespearean tragedy. Everybody dies. Enough said.
No sucky Japanese nor Korean actors in this one. Definitely a good sign.
A proper period movie with proper Chinese speaking proper Mandarin.
When I'm watching a Chinese period movie, the accent and the dialogue is the most important ingredient that takes me INTO the movie.
And that's why The Promised sucked to high heaven. With a Korean co-lead and a Japanese co-lead with their ridiculous grating accent. That and the Superman theme too.
Back to the Banquet...
If you've never read Hamlet, the story goes something like:
Prince loves Zhang Ziyi, but daddy beats him to the punch and makes her his empress.
Depressed prince goes Emo takes up dancing.
Emperor dies. His brother takes the throne.
The brother wants to kill the prince and marry Zhang Ziyi.
Zhang Ziyi wants to kill her brother-in-law to have her prince.
Prince wants his uncle dead to avenge his father.
Zhou Xun is in there somewhere as an adviser's daughter who's in love with the prince.
Action ensues.
There's a number of sword fighting scenes. But choreographed for style. Very dance-like. Nothing as good as Hero.
The selling point is the dialogue, and the lack of foreign actors. Enjoyed the movie.
Zhang Ziyi. Zhou Xun. Shakespearean tragedy. Everybody dies. Enough said.
No sucky Japanese nor Korean actors in this one. Definitely a good sign.
A proper period movie with proper Chinese speaking proper Mandarin.
When I'm watching a Chinese period movie, the accent and the dialogue is the most important ingredient that takes me INTO the movie.
And that's why The Promised sucked to high heaven. With a Korean co-lead and a Japanese co-lead with their ridiculous grating accent. That and the Superman theme too.
Back to the Banquet...
If you've never read Hamlet, the story goes something like:
Prince loves Zhang Ziyi, but daddy beats him to the punch and makes her his empress.
Depressed prince goes Emo takes up dancing.
Emperor dies. His brother takes the throne.
The brother wants to kill the prince and marry Zhang Ziyi.
Zhang Ziyi wants to kill her brother-in-law to have her prince.
Prince wants his uncle dead to avenge his father.
Zhou Xun is in there somewhere as an adviser's daughter who's in love with the prince.
Action ensues.
There's a number of sword fighting scenes. But choreographed for style. Very dance-like. Nothing as good as Hero.
The selling point is the dialogue, and the lack of foreign actors. Enjoyed the movie.
Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Hmm... perhaps a bit late...
But here's http://www.gamingreport.com/article.php?sid=21543, and the imdb.
A Dragonlance cartoon!
Though, incidentally, I've never read any of the Dragonlance novels. I jumped into the deep end of fantasy fiction, and never took the time to backstroke to the casual end. Might have read something from Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, but was underwhelmed.
But here's http://www.gamingreport.com/article.php?sid=21543, and the imdb.
A Dragonlance cartoon!
Though, incidentally, I've never read any of the Dragonlance novels. I jumped into the deep end of fantasy fiction, and never took the time to backstroke to the casual end. Might have read something from Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, but was underwhelmed.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
The Black Spot #4
Who is a Press Ganger?
This is Norman, your local Press Ganger.
I'm the guy judging tournaments, and being roped in by gamestores to do demos for WARMACHINE and HORDES. [These games kick so much ass, they have to spelt in all CAPS].
"But what is the Black Spot, Captain?" - Jim from Treasure Island
I'm starting up this newsletter as a means to get word out to the small crew of Privateer Press fans out there. I'll use the newsletter to keep everyone updated on the local WARMACHINE and HORDES scene. Especially notices for demos or tournaments happening locally. When new stuff comes in. What kind of new stuff to expect.
Tournament Reports
The last HORDES event had a 50% better showing than the first one.
Yeah, 3 people showed up. So we opted to postpone it to the coming Sunday instead.
Upcoming Tournaments
3/12/06 (Sunday) Wolf's Game Shop
HORDES Box-set Rumble.
Come to WGS this Sunday, before 2pm.
We'll have a HORDES boxset battle. Those of you who have bought your second or third Warlock already, feel free to sub them in. But those who have bought up Dire Troll Maulers, sorry, no dice!
We're playing with the WarBeasts in the boxset only. No solos or infantries yet. I know some of you have furious beasties just raring to see battle, but let's give the community some time to grow. Don't bully those poor factions who haven't got their Titan Cannoneers, or Seraphs, or Woldwardens yet.
Back to the tourney....
Entry fee is RM10.
You'll win store credit, Best of Faction certificates. And the champ will also receive a voucher to redeem Gold bordered stat cards from Privateer Press.
x/12/06 (Saturday) Wolf's Game Shop
750pt WARMACHINE Epic Battle
This event will be moved. I may want to get this to happen at the mini-con at Cineleisure.
Wolf is thinking of inviting the Singaporean players up again. It'll be easier to tempt those guys to come with 750pt games. And we'll need more players to make 750 more interesting anyway.
It'll likely be Steamroller 2.1 format. And I'll want to time the turns to 15min per turn. I'll release the Steamroller rules on request soon.
Players I hope I can count on for this:
Saleem
Brian
Rahman
Khairul
Kuok? or will you be working?
And can somebody get hold of K.J. ?
15-17/12/06 Cineleisure
There'll be a mini-con for the launch of Eragon.
Wolf's Game Shop has already been invited and promised a lot of tables. There'll be a mix of Privateer Press, Games Workshop, Rackham games there. And Dark Age? Even some WWF it seems. And a display case full of dragons.
We'll have meeting soon to plan out event schedules.
One of the days for the 750 Epic Battle. Another day for a 350 Guts and Gears. And demos when I don't have to play.
Help~~~~ too many models to get ready before I'm ready....
The Crow's Nest
Arzmi, our unfaithful Cygnaran, will be leaving for New Zealand in less than a week. He'll be available at Settler's this Thursday, for everyone who wants to meet the dude one last time before he spends his next two years abroad... Possibly without his army transport case.
Also,
Our hobby received some media attention sometime last week. I'll like to draw everyone's attention to The Sun U! on 21st Nov 2006. Page 6. I'm reproducing the article here without permission. Well, they published our Eric's Cygnar Hunter on the papers without permission either, so fair's fair. The link will take you to a pic of the article as it appears in the papers.
Have done a bit of Googling. Lainie is a blogger, and you'll find her blog linked below. She's also a frequent contributor to kakiseni.com. So she is a fairly good writer. But unfortunately, when she was writing about our hobby, her research only scratched the most superficial aspects and completely missed out the underlying passion. So there was an unflattering slant.
Several people have suggested responding with arson. But let's make sure that our responses are mature.
It's not that big a deal that she called us geeks. Which we are. Listen to yourself talk sometimes. We have the taint. But it was still insensitive of her to write about Figmentia. That wasn't her word, nor was it her definition. Don't blame her for that. But it's like, you can't use the word "{insert racial slur}" unless you are {insert racial colour} yourself. If spoken by a person of the wrong colour, it'll cause offense no matter the situation.
If you are calm and mature about this, do write to the editor of The Sun (can someone source me the email?) and let them know how you feel. Lainie also responds to her Blog, so you might be able to voice your objections there. But please watch what you write, and don't make us out to be vicious little rabid hamsters with a burning match up its ass.
Phat Lootz
Some great news for hobbyists.
The P3 paints have finally launched last week.
You may have seen write-ups about these in the last few No Quarter mags, and there has been mostly good buzz going around on the forums and the PodThrall's podcasts.
Wolf is not bringing these paints in yet. But I'm sure if we place a dozen orders with him, that will get him to change his mind.
The official retail price is US$18 for 6 pots. Each pot is 18ml, ie 50% more than GW paints (12ml). At the moment, the only source of GW paints is Games' Circle, selling at RM15 per pot. GW prices have gone up, don't ja know it. I think this is the best value for miniature paints.
In a few days, I plan to order in some of these paints from an online retailer. I'll like to try them out. Particularly piqued by the Blighted Gold in the Cryx set. Maybe even let P.A.W.S. (Painters At Wolf's Shop) try them out, and see if that convinces Wolf to bring in some of these paints.
The Bilge
For those who need a quick rundown of the models in WARMACHINE, without having to slog through the noise in the forums, you'll need to read Battle College, http://www.battlecollege.com.
This goes for those who've just joined WARMACHINE, or have been out of it for a while. This may get you a little bit more up to speed. And even for those of us who never stopped playing, it's still good to read. Our player scene isn't diverse enough yet, there's bound to be a few things we've not seen.
Epilogue
Please help get the Black Spot around. Let our community grow.
Back issues of The Black Spot will now be here.
This is Norman, your local Press Ganger.
I'm the guy judging tournaments, and being roped in by gamestores to do demos for WARMACHINE and HORDES. [These games kick so much ass, they have to spelt in all CAPS].
"But what is the Black Spot, Captain?" - Jim from Treasure Island
I'm starting up this newsletter as a means to get word out to the small crew of Privateer Press fans out there. I'll use the newsletter to keep everyone updated on the local WARMACHINE and HORDES scene. Especially notices for demos or tournaments happening locally. When new stuff comes in. What kind of new stuff to expect.
Tournament Reports
The last HORDES event had a 50% better showing than the first one.
Yeah, 3 people showed up. So we opted to postpone it to the coming Sunday instead.
Upcoming Tournaments
3/12/06 (Sunday) Wolf's Game Shop
HORDES Box-set Rumble.
Come to WGS this Sunday, before 2pm.
We'll have a HORDES boxset battle. Those of you who have bought your second or third Warlock already, feel free to sub them in. But those who have bought up Dire Troll Maulers, sorry, no dice!
We're playing with the WarBeasts in the boxset only. No solos or infantries yet. I know some of you have furious beasties just raring to see battle, but let's give the community some time to grow. Don't bully those poor factions who haven't got their Titan Cannoneers, or Seraphs, or Woldwardens yet.
Back to the tourney....
Entry fee is RM10.
You'll win store credit, Best of Faction certificates. And the champ will also receive a voucher to redeem Gold bordered stat cards from Privateer Press.
x/12/06 (Saturday) Wolf's Game Shop
750pt WARMACHINE Epic Battle
This event will be moved. I may want to get this to happen at the mini-con at Cineleisure.
Wolf is thinking of inviting the Singaporean players up again. It'll be easier to tempt those guys to come with 750pt games. And we'll need more players to make 750 more interesting anyway.
It'll likely be Steamroller 2.1 format. And I'll want to time the turns to 15min per turn. I'll release the Steamroller rules on request soon.
Players I hope I can count on for this:
Saleem
Brian
Rahman
Khairul
Kuok? or will you be working?
And can somebody get hold of K.J. ?
15-17/12/06 Cineleisure
There'll be a mini-con for the launch of Eragon.
Wolf's Game Shop has already been invited and promised a lot of tables. There'll be a mix of Privateer Press, Games Workshop, Rackham games there. And Dark Age? Even some WWF it seems. And a display case full of dragons.
We'll have meeting soon to plan out event schedules.
One of the days for the 750 Epic Battle. Another day for a 350 Guts and Gears. And demos when I don't have to play.
Help~~~~ too many models to get ready before I'm ready....
The Crow's Nest
Arzmi, our unfaithful Cygnaran, will be leaving for New Zealand in less than a week. He'll be available at Settler's this Thursday, for everyone who wants to meet the dude one last time before he spends his next two years abroad... Possibly without his army transport case.
Also,
Our hobby received some media attention sometime last week. I'll like to draw everyone's attention to The Sun U! on 21st Nov 2006. Page 6. I'm reproducing the article here without permission. Well, they published our Eric's Cygnar Hunter on the papers without permission either, so fair's fair. The link will take you to a pic of the article as it appears in the papers.
Have done a bit of Googling. Lainie is a blogger, and you'll find her blog linked below. She's also a frequent contributor to kakiseni.com. So she is a fairly good writer. But unfortunately, when she was writing about our hobby, her research only scratched the most superficial aspects and completely missed out the underlying passion. So there was an unflattering slant.
Several people have suggested responding with arson. But let's make sure that our responses are mature.
It's not that big a deal that she called us geeks. Which we are. Listen to yourself talk sometimes. We have the taint. But it was still insensitive of her to write about Figmentia. That wasn't her word, nor was it her definition. Don't blame her for that. But it's like, you can't use the word "{insert racial slur}" unless you are {insert racial colour} yourself. If spoken by a person of the wrong colour, it'll cause offense no matter the situation.
If you are calm and mature about this, do write to the editor of The Sun (can someone source me the email?) and let them know how you feel. Lainie also responds to her Blog, so you might be able to voice your objections there. But please watch what you write, and don't make us out to be vicious little rabid hamsters with a burning match up its ass.
Scrutinizing Small Toys
A few months ago someone linked U! writer Lainie Yeoh to CoolMiniOrNot.com, a website where users vote on the overall quality of painted miniature models. Since then, she has been exploring this unchartered terrain of geekery.
{Full article not available on the blog.}
Phat Lootz
Some great news for hobbyists.
The P3 paints have finally launched last week.
You may have seen write-ups about these in the last few No Quarter mags, and there has been mostly good buzz going around on the forums and the PodThrall's podcasts.
Wolf is not bringing these paints in yet. But I'm sure if we place a dozen orders with him, that will get him to change his mind.
The official retail price is US$18 for 6 pots. Each pot is 18ml, ie 50% more than GW paints (12ml). At the moment, the only source of GW paints is Games' Circle, selling at RM15 per pot. GW prices have gone up, don't ja know it. I think this is the best value for miniature paints.
In a few days, I plan to order in some of these paints from an online retailer. I'll like to try them out. Particularly piqued by the Blighted Gold in the Cryx set. Maybe even let P.A.W.S. (Painters At Wolf's Shop) try them out, and see if that convinces Wolf to bring in some of these paints.
The Bilge
For those who need a quick rundown of the models in WARMACHINE, without having to slog through the noise in the forums, you'll need to read Battle College, http://www.battlecollege.com.
This goes for those who've just joined WARMACHINE, or have been out of it for a while. This may get you a little bit more up to speed. And even for those of us who never stopped playing, it's still good to read. Our player scene isn't diverse enough yet, there's bound to be a few things we've not seen.
Epilogue
Please help get the Black Spot around. Let our community grow.
Back issues of The Black Spot will now be here.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Friday, November 24, 2006
Superman 2
Just rewatched the movie.
I think the last time I watched it was before puberty. Such a long time ago.
Cos I never remembered that Superman had pre-maritals with Lois Lane.
Small town upbringing, and the all-American eagle-scout...
Such a scandal.
Wonder why I never realised it before? At the time, I probably never understood the context of why Superman was sleeping naked with Lois.
I guess that explains the bastard in Superman Returns.
Except why wasn't Lois pregnant in Superman III & IV...
I think the last time I watched it was before puberty. Such a long time ago.
Cos I never remembered that Superman had pre-maritals with Lois Lane.
Small town upbringing, and the all-American eagle-scout...
Such a scandal.
Wonder why I never realised it before? At the time, I probably never understood the context of why Superman was sleeping naked with Lois.
I guess that explains the bastard in Superman Returns.
Except why wasn't Lois pregnant in Superman III & IV...
Looney Tunes
Just 'got' a whole ton of Looney Tunes cartoons.
Lots of nostalgic moments.
My favourite will always be the Rabbit of Serville, an ingenious 'musical', with Bugs and Elmer, done to the track of Rossini's Barber of Serville.
But sometimes I wonder if watching so much of these in my childhood might have warped me somewhat.
Every character has a speech impediment, and a Brooklyn / Bronx accent, that might have worked itself into my speech pattern during my formative years.
And the RoadRunner physics took a few years to get over too.
Many a times too, I wish I knew where to get hold of some Acme products, like their Dehydrated Boulders. And I think some of my repressed pyromaniacal tendencies come from growing up thinking TNT was cool.
Also the misogyny. There were no female characters, with the possible exception of PePe le Phew's unfortunate targets, or the hens in Foghorn Leghorn's farm. Anytime a female animal is introduced, she's merely a plot device to make the protagonist become hormonally charged or act stupid.
Lots of nostalgic moments.
My favourite will always be the Rabbit of Serville, an ingenious 'musical', with Bugs and Elmer, done to the track of Rossini's Barber of Serville.
But sometimes I wonder if watching so much of these in my childhood might have warped me somewhat.
Every character has a speech impediment, and a Brooklyn / Bronx accent, that might have worked itself into my speech pattern during my formative years.
And the RoadRunner physics took a few years to get over too.
Many a times too, I wish I knew where to get hold of some Acme products, like their Dehydrated Boulders. And I think some of my repressed pyromaniacal tendencies come from growing up thinking TNT was cool.
Also the misogyny. There were no female characters, with the possible exception of PePe le Phew's unfortunate targets, or the hens in Foghorn Leghorn's farm. Anytime a female animal is introduced, she's merely a plot device to make the protagonist become hormonally charged or act stupid.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
The Black Spot #3
Who is a Press Ganger?
This is Norman, your local Press Ganger.
I'm the guy judging tournaments, and being roped in by gamestores to do demos for WARMACHINE and HORDES. [These games kick so much ass, they have to spelt in all CAPS].
"But what is the Black Spot, Captain?" - Jim from Treasure Island
I'm starting up this newsletter as a means to get word out to the small crew of Privateer Press fans out there. I'll use the newsletter to keep everyone updated on the local WARMACHINE and HORDES scene. Especially notices for demos or tournaments happening locally. When new stuff comes in. What kind of new stuff to expect.
Upcoming Tournaments
25/11/06 (Saturday) Wolf's Game Shop
HORDES Box-set Rumble.
Come to WGS this Saturday, before 12pm.
We'll have a HORDES boxset battle. Those of you who have bought your second or third Warlock already, feel free to sub them in. But those who have bought up Dire Troll Maulers, sorry, no dice!
We're playing with the WarBeasts in the boxset only. No solos or infantries yet. I know some of you have furious beasties just raring to see battle, but let's give the community some time to grow. Don't bully those poor factions who haven't got their Titan Cannoneers, or Seraphs, or Woldwardens yet.
As early as next month, I'll give those Maulers a chance to do battle.
Back to the tourney....
Entry fee is RM10.
You'll win store credit, Best of Faction certificates. And the champ will also receive a voucher to redeem Gold bordered stat cards from Privateer Press.
Remember, it's Saturday, 25th November. High noon!
2/12/06 (Saturday) Wolf's Game Shop
750pt WARMACHINE Epic Battle
This will be a tournament for the more veteran players.
We refuse to let 2006 pass us by without establishing a new landmark. And we want to do this by upping WARMACHINE to the next level.
I'm counting on the veterans for this event. We're hoping to get 6-8 people for this.
15-17/12/06 Cineleisure
There'll be some kind of mini-con for the launch of Eragon.
Details are still coming in. But I'll probably be running demos there.
And we may have a Guts & Gears event. A grand melee of both HORDES and WARMACHINE together. Details being ironed out.
Phat Lootz
I'm getting a big fat loot of Cygnar next year. Not counting my chickens yet, but all signs are good for the moment.
So for me, that's like, a bunch of Cryx, a sample of Khador, some Legion, then maybe Trollbloods, and hopefully a buttload of Cygnar and Mercs next year... I think I'm biting off more than I can chew...
The Bilge
http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?cat=14.
Hilarious LOTR comic.
And some lame joke contribution from Saleem.
What Is Politics?
A little boy goes to his dad and asks, "What's politics?"
Dad says, " Well son, let me try to explain it this way:
I'm the breadwinner of the family, so let's call me Capitalism. Your Mom, she's the administrator of the money, so we'll call her the Government. We're here to take care of your needs so we'll call you the People. The nanny, we'll consider her he Working Class. Now your baby brother, we'll call him the Future. Now, think about that and see if that makes sense."
So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said. Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him, he finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper. So the little boy goes to is parent's room and finds his mother fast asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny. He gives up and goes back to bed.
The next morning, the little boy says to to his father " I think I understand Politics now."
The father replies, "Good son, tell me in your own words what you think it is."
The boy promptly answers, "Well, while Capitalism is screwing the Working Class, the Government is asleep, the People are being ignored, and the Future is in deep shit."
Epilogue
Please help get the Black Spot around. Let our community grow.
--
Listen -- strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
This is Norman, your local Press Ganger.
I'm the guy judging tournaments, and being roped in by gamestores to do demos for WARMACHINE and HORDES. [These games kick so much ass, they have to spelt in all CAPS].
"But what is the Black Spot, Captain?" - Jim from Treasure Island
I'm starting up this newsletter as a means to get word out to the small crew of Privateer Press fans out there. I'll use the newsletter to keep everyone updated on the local WARMACHINE and HORDES scene. Especially notices for demos or tournaments happening locally. When new stuff comes in. What kind of new stuff to expect.
Upcoming Tournaments
25/11/06 (Saturday) Wolf's Game Shop
HORDES Box-set Rumble.
Come to WGS this Saturday, before 12pm.
We'll have a HORDES boxset battle. Those of you who have bought your second or third Warlock already, feel free to sub them in. But those who have bought up Dire Troll Maulers, sorry, no dice!
We're playing with the WarBeasts in the boxset only. No solos or infantries yet. I know some of you have furious beasties just raring to see battle, but let's give the community some time to grow. Don't bully those poor factions who haven't got their Titan Cannoneers, or Seraphs, or Woldwardens yet.
As early as next month, I'll give those Maulers a chance to do battle.
Back to the tourney....
Entry fee is RM10.
You'll win store credit, Best of Faction certificates. And the champ will also receive a voucher to redeem Gold bordered stat cards from Privateer Press.
Remember, it's Saturday, 25th November. High noon!
2/12/06 (Saturday) Wolf's Game Shop
750pt WARMACHINE Epic Battle
This will be a tournament for the more veteran players.
We refuse to let 2006 pass us by without establishing a new landmark. And we want to do this by upping WARMACHINE to the next level.
I'm counting on the veterans for this event. We're hoping to get 6-8 people for this.
15-17/12/06 Cineleisure
There'll be some kind of mini-con for the launch of Eragon.
Details are still coming in. But I'll probably be running demos there.
And we may have a Guts & Gears event. A grand melee of both HORDES and WARMACHINE together. Details being ironed out.
Phat Lootz
I'm getting a big fat loot of Cygnar next year. Not counting my chickens yet, but all signs are good for the moment.
So for me, that's like, a bunch of Cryx, a sample of Khador, some Legion, then maybe Trollbloods, and hopefully a buttload of Cygnar and Mercs next year... I think I'm biting off more than I can chew...
The Bilge
http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?cat=14.
Hilarious LOTR comic.
And some lame joke contribution from Saleem.
What Is Politics?
A little boy goes to his dad and asks, "What's politics?"
Dad says, " Well son, let me try to explain it this way:
I'm the breadwinner of the family, so let's call me Capitalism. Your Mom, she's the administrator of the money, so we'll call her the Government. We're here to take care of your needs so we'll call you the People. The nanny, we'll consider her he Working Class. Now your baby brother, we'll call him the Future. Now, think about that and see if that makes sense."
So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said. Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him, he finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper. So the little boy goes to is parent's room and finds his mother fast asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny. He gives up and goes back to bed.
The next morning, the little boy says to to his father " I think I understand Politics now."
The father replies, "Good son, tell me in your own words what you think it is."
The boy promptly answers, "Well, while Capitalism is screwing the Working Class, the Government is asleep, the People are being ignored, and the Future is in deep shit."
Epilogue
Please help get the Black Spot around. Let our community grow.
--
Listen -- strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
Infrared Camera
On the left is the lens housing from my cheapish RM50 Made-In-China webcam. I unscrewed the lens out, and took a knife to it.
In order to remove the small pinkish glass on the bottom. That's the InfraRed filter.
Then on the right, is a piece of fully exposed colour film negative. I cut a small circle of that out, and glued it to the lens, where I removed the IR filter.
Then put the lens back into the digital cam, and took the following picture.
That's my buffish fore arm. Under infrared, all the veins show up on the camera. Under normal lighting, none of those veins show through my well tanned complexion.
Theory of operation:
The electronic sensor in even a cheapish webcam is sensitive enough to pick up infrared light. Thus, an IR filter is put in to block some of the IR, or else the brightness will wash out the picture. When I pried out the IR filter, I let IR light back in. When I added a piece of exposed negative, that blocks out a lot of visible light. So now, the camera captures mostly IR light.
Why do I do this?
Cos I've got that kind of time in the office...
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Unlucky Day
Hoping for a quiet day today, three jobs popped up out of nowhere.
Needed to get all of them wrapped up quick, so I can come back to send my parents to the airport.
First, to Shah Alam.
Call came in just as I arrived at the first site. Stopped car by side of road to answer phone. Grasscutter guy worked his way towards me, and slammed a rock directly into my passenger side window, shattering it!
Argument with the landscaping supervisor about whether my car was illegally parked or not. But finally got his company's phone number and the person to talk to to file a claims. But will need a police report too.
Shit.
And the phonecall? That was from dad. My apartment's power just got cut. I had set up my credit card to auto pay my electric bill a year ago. But had terminated that credit card a few months back... And thus my electric bill had gone unpaid for a couple of months. Cripes. I've got an RM350 deposit with TNB, and the total bill was only half the deposit amount! Where will I find the time to make a police report. Repair my window. And pay the power bill now?
Shit.
Let's get the work finished first.
Nothing wrong with our equipment. All working fine. But someone had been messing around, and two connections were pulled loose. Fixed the connection and done. But who's the retard that generated the unnecessary work? Those things were sitting there working fine for more than a year, and suddenly two connections came loose?!
Found a bunch of traffic cops writing summons for illegally parked cars as I was exiting building. Got one to tell me the nearest station. Headed there to file a report for my damaged car. Quite a simple process. Saw a sergeant. Was instructed to go to a counter to get a camera guy to snap a pic of the damages and I'll be done.
Reached that counter a few minutes before 1pm. No one around. Lunch. They'll be back at 230pm.
Shit.
Settle other jobs first. One more in an industrial area in Shah Alam. Then zoomed off to another one in PJ.
The job at PJ was again not our problem. Their keyphone system was acting up. So I just pulled out our equipment and demonstrated that the fault is ENTIRELY the keyphone's fault. And let them call in those technicians and give them no reason to pin the rap on us.
Shit.
240pm. Zoomed back to Shah Alam. Found cameraman. Received copy of police report. Quickly done.
Zoomed back home to parents and sis.
Cleaned the glass out of the car. Loaded up the luggage, and headed to the airport.
Started raining. And one window missing.
Shit.
My parents flew from the LCCT. And after that, my sister flew from the Main Terminal, many km away.
The Main Terminal has very expensive parking. RM3 /hr. After the string of luck today, didn't dare to tempt it further. So, I sucked it in and parked inside. Paid RM9.
Shit.
Dinner with sis. Lunch for me also. Sent her off. Headed home, and washed off the day's grit and grime in the silent darkness.
Then I took all the perishables out of my fridge. Parents had gone overboard, and bought me a few kg of char siew and siew yok. Too valuable to risk them spoiling. Took them over to Settler's Cafe, to keep them in their big freezer for a day. Their big boss from Singapore was visiting the franchise, so couldn't hang around to chit-chat.
Back home. Parked my car with the side hugging a wall as tightly as possible, so the door with the broken window can't be opened. Not that there's anything inside worth stealing at all.
No internet. Slept without aircon.
Shit.
Needed to get all of them wrapped up quick, so I can come back to send my parents to the airport.
First, to Shah Alam.
Call came in just as I arrived at the first site. Stopped car by side of road to answer phone. Grasscutter guy worked his way towards me, and slammed a rock directly into my passenger side window, shattering it!
Argument with the landscaping supervisor about whether my car was illegally parked or not. But finally got his company's phone number and the person to talk to to file a claims. But will need a police report too.
Shit.
And the phonecall? That was from dad. My apartment's power just got cut. I had set up my credit card to auto pay my electric bill a year ago. But had terminated that credit card a few months back... And thus my electric bill had gone unpaid for a couple of months. Cripes. I've got an RM350 deposit with TNB, and the total bill was only half the deposit amount! Where will I find the time to make a police report. Repair my window. And pay the power bill now?
Shit.
Let's get the work finished first.
Nothing wrong with our equipment. All working fine. But someone had been messing around, and two connections were pulled loose. Fixed the connection and done. But who's the retard that generated the unnecessary work? Those things were sitting there working fine for more than a year, and suddenly two connections came loose?!
Found a bunch of traffic cops writing summons for illegally parked cars as I was exiting building. Got one to tell me the nearest station. Headed there to file a report for my damaged car. Quite a simple process. Saw a sergeant. Was instructed to go to a counter to get a camera guy to snap a pic of the damages and I'll be done.
Reached that counter a few minutes before 1pm. No one around. Lunch. They'll be back at 230pm.
Shit.
Settle other jobs first. One more in an industrial area in Shah Alam. Then zoomed off to another one in PJ.
The job at PJ was again not our problem. Their keyphone system was acting up. So I just pulled out our equipment and demonstrated that the fault is ENTIRELY the keyphone's fault. And let them call in those technicians and give them no reason to pin the rap on us.
Shit.
240pm. Zoomed back to Shah Alam. Found cameraman. Received copy of police report. Quickly done.
Zoomed back home to parents and sis.
Cleaned the glass out of the car. Loaded up the luggage, and headed to the airport.
Started raining. And one window missing.
Shit.
My parents flew from the LCCT. And after that, my sister flew from the Main Terminal, many km away.
The Main Terminal has very expensive parking. RM3 /hr. After the string of luck today, didn't dare to tempt it further. So, I sucked it in and parked inside. Paid RM9.
Shit.
Dinner with sis. Lunch for me also. Sent her off. Headed home, and washed off the day's grit and grime in the silent darkness.
Then I took all the perishables out of my fridge. Parents had gone overboard, and bought me a few kg of char siew and siew yok. Too valuable to risk them spoiling. Took them over to Settler's Cafe, to keep them in their big freezer for a day. Their big boss from Singapore was visiting the franchise, so couldn't hang around to chit-chat.
Back home. Parked my car with the side hugging a wall as tightly as possible, so the door with the broken window can't be opened. Not that there's anything inside worth stealing at all.
No internet. Slept without aircon.
Shit.
Friday, November 17, 2006
You can never please your parents…
Parents have all kinds of expectations for their children. Because they contributed DNA, they have God given rights to make their offsprings jump through hoops their entire life. Offsprings are also bred and trained to seek approval from their parents, thus completing the circle.
During childhood, their expectations were simple.
"Sit down! And shut up!"
Those were simple days...
As you age, the goal posts are pulled ever further away.
"Study hard so you can get into a good school."
"Study hard so you can get into a good University."
"Find a husband/wife."
"Give us some grandchildren."
"Make your boy/girl study hard so he/she can get into a good school."
...ad nauseum...
Last year when my parents came over, I was still in the middle of DIY-ing my kitchen. So there was a small mess in the living room.
I never heard the end of that.
This time around, before they arrived, I did a lot of cleaning. Vacuumed and mopped the floors. Scrubbed the bathrooms. Especially the outside bathroom, which until last month, was used by a tenant. Thankfully, she had moved out end of last month. Less RM220 of rental income, (cheap cheap cos I was helping out an old friend's ex-girlfriend), but I no longer have to worry about the loser boyfriend she brings home every other night. That kind of grief wasn't worth the pittance.
Anyway, the toilet... There were brown stains in the basin, and it looked filthier than my toilet bowl. Enough said.
So, I managed to get my house into some semblance of order. Particularly, I had to hide away some of my toys. Namely the WARMACHINE stuff. Else I won't hear the end of it... ("This is what you've been doing in lieu of giving us a grandchild?!?!").
Anyways, house cleaned. Mom came. Nothing but praises for the first few heartbeats, but praises tainted with grumbling reminders of the previous STY-ish state last year.
By the tenth heartbeat, she ran a finger across the top of the microwave and shoved the grimey finger in my face.
"Look at this oily grime! You have to clean your microwave often. You have to close the door when you cook. Don't let the oil fumes come into the house... etc etc..."
*sigh*
During childhood, their expectations were simple.
"Sit down! And shut up!"
Those were simple days...
As you age, the goal posts are pulled ever further away.
"Study hard so you can get into a good school."
"Study hard so you can get into a good University."
"Find a husband/wife."
"Give us some grandchildren."
"Make your boy/girl study hard so he/she can get into a good school."
...ad nauseum...
Last year when my parents came over, I was still in the middle of DIY-ing my kitchen. So there was a small mess in the living room.
I never heard the end of that.
This time around, before they arrived, I did a lot of cleaning. Vacuumed and mopped the floors. Scrubbed the bathrooms. Especially the outside bathroom, which until last month, was used by a tenant. Thankfully, she had moved out end of last month. Less RM220 of rental income, (cheap cheap cos I was helping out an old friend's ex-girlfriend), but I no longer have to worry about the loser boyfriend she brings home every other night. That kind of grief wasn't worth the pittance.
Anyway, the toilet... There were brown stains in the basin, and it looked filthier than my toilet bowl. Enough said.
So, I managed to get my house into some semblance of order. Particularly, I had to hide away some of my toys. Namely the WARMACHINE stuff. Else I won't hear the end of it... ("This is what you've been doing in lieu of giving us a grandchild?!?!").
Anyways, house cleaned. Mom came. Nothing but praises for the first few heartbeats, but praises tainted with grumbling reminders of the previous STY-ish state last year.
By the tenth heartbeat, she ran a finger across the top of the microwave and shoved the grimey finger in my face.
"Look at this oily grime! You have to clean your microwave often. You have to close the door when you cook. Don't let the oil fumes come into the house... etc etc..."
*sigh*
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Powerpuff Girls
Here's the Witch Coven of Garlgast. With a more interesting colour scheme than the official ones.
It's received a few fair comments here.
They're one of the more interesting Warcasters in the game. Mostly staying back and buff things up, make things ninja, mess with opponent plans and math, and when the opportunity finally presents itself, Checkmate!
A WM fanatic has written up basic strategies for most, if not all, WARMACHINE models at the Battle College.
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