tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140903962024-03-12T23:16:03.551-07:00Keeping In Touch"I have lost friends, some by death... others through sheer inability to cross the street."
Virginia Woolf, The WavesAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.comBlogger244125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-69898664805707458552010-11-03T13:40:00.000-07:002010-12-14T17:51:01.822-08:00Have Yourself A Merry Little SolsticeIt's really hard to start up blogging again, but I continually feel bad about enjoying my friends' blogs and being happy when they update, and yet denying them the <span style="font-style: italic;">enormous </span>pleasure of reading mine. So here we go.<br /><br />I'm actually glad I remembered to take the occasional picture in the last few months; it reminds me of events. Going through my bookmark list also helps. I do think of y'all! I'm just terrible with the follow-through...<br /><br />So in roughly chronological order, a while ago we took in the <a href="http://www.thetech.org/genghis_khan/">Genghis Khan exhibit</a> at the Tech Centre, which was very good. Engineer John happened to be in town (it's so nice to live in a place where people actually get sent on business) so he accompanied us.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQekzOkZmb6-UVJDTmGGgKJM00I_N9ZBNOrLOHHRMMviumg2WZpEBYLwpk31AeE1kpd_hlDEubCly64r-lEFn9nHJOXeUKYZc6-aL2bqjl9iLRPZDFC4xfN1rFU2bTO0YM5TenQ/s1600/genghis.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQekzOkZmb6-UVJDTmGGgKJM00I_N9ZBNOrLOHHRMMviumg2WZpEBYLwpk31AeE1kpd_hlDEubCly64r-lEFn9nHJOXeUKYZc6-aL2bqjl9iLRPZDFC4xfN1rFU2bTO0YM5TenQ/s320/genghis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550651146274276930" border="0" /></a>I have a strange fascination with Mongolia, so I was pleased to learn that there is a <a href="http://www.examiner.com/sf-in-san-francisco/mongolian-naadam-festival-2010-golden-gate-park-san-francisco">Naadam festival held regularly in the area</a>. Maybe next year!<br /><br />We had a Halloween thing at work, but I wasn't organized enough to really do anything elaborate* and didn't want to repeat <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjt5gYHCrNSAsOs-E6_wNMx2sQ-os5X_BV6yr4XorNyQP6pXN_DSc71_we6FKd62zmzYDzB80RSgORO4HLHiUDcMAm3Ofvoj4tzFNNy32ay9i7e8AfX1XZpzgZjcboYaNoKqY1g/s1600-h/zombie.png">last year</a>.** I settled for a joke that I'm not really sure a lot of people got, which surprised me. Usually if <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">I</span> know about something, it's gone past pop culture and into obscure history.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1GpKY9_QKKW5pAPgk8XHxA7Ge2eQHuF9KkDXnaAhweblf5eMCqfe6zGr8Qz800NJlybtxABgKl46e6PfrauHm65zyOzmxXcZMqWdupmpAeo8px6m2F9JcOBWECJ8UynPsDvtog/s1600/Amy_tldr.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1GpKY9_QKKW5pAPgk8XHxA7Ge2eQHuF9KkDXnaAhweblf5eMCqfe6zGr8Qz800NJlybtxABgKl46e6PfrauHm65zyOzmxXcZMqWdupmpAeo8px6m2F9JcOBWECJ8UynPsDvtog/s320/Amy_tldr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550720416520809602" border="0" /></a>(Teal Dear? TL;DR? Geddit?)<br /><br />We had <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/11/03/notes110310.DTL">an election</a>. No pictures. Argh.<br /><br />The local university put on a <a href="http://sanjose.metblogs.com/2010/11/11/why-is-metblogs-so-excited-about-sjsus-steampunk-twelfth-night/">Steampunk version of Twelfth Night</a> so we had to go wave the cog-and-goggles flag. It was very good! I especially liked Orsino; they did him as a mopey emo-goth who kept theatrically collapsing with woe. Malvolio and Sir Toby were also standouts. Malvolio was especially excited that R:tAG also had a clockwork hand (Malvolio's mostly out of costume in this shot, sadly, but he ran backstage to put his hand back on when he saw R:tAG's )<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHjdleRXWbwovG_5gHewdKJ_8e9nzHe_YCjsytzQTkRH2K2-z4f34pheAKgqXptlzJwt9pOTYmbIchp1iPojQCoHLV-_mczHWA3bkzglFHBFYiZODJ09pqgU-6MnO8EElwBbSaw/s1600/twelfth_night.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHjdleRXWbwovG_5gHewdKJ_8e9nzHe_YCjsytzQTkRH2K2-z4f34pheAKgqXptlzJwt9pOTYmbIchp1iPojQCoHLV-_mczHWA3bkzglFHBFYiZODJ09pqgU-6MnO8EElwBbSaw/s320/twelfth_night.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550650283982706898" border="0" /></a><br />R:tAG and I went up to Seattle for <a href="http://www.steamcon.org/">SteamCon II</a> which was great. This year's theme was "Wild Wild West".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQ_j_noJcAwPRZiNkF7LNKIn8nKKBC0QG_5AIeDlhQQ1_zr5QExq7hkEczxoL8BT0Rv0WQedlTDWY7aog3cXnEMWswA0Knw5gPpVy956EHWFUlKVV9S8O0wQYEDKJVkT0hyphenhyphen7jqA/s1600/steamcon_RA.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQ_j_noJcAwPRZiNkF7LNKIn8nKKBC0QG_5AIeDlhQQ1_zr5QExq7hkEczxoL8BT0Rv0WQedlTDWY7aog3cXnEMWswA0Knw5gPpVy956EHWFUlKVV9S8O0wQYEDKJVkT0hyphenhyphen7jqA/s320/steamcon_RA.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550630167235212258" border="0" /></a><br />Next year's is 2,000 Leagues Under the Sea and I have some costume ideas for next year (thanks to <a href="http://www.arcanetimes.com/">Prof. Wright</a> from Polygnostic U.) that will be <span style="font-style: italic;">awesometastic</span>. Perhaps even better than the ostrich, though the ostrich was a lot of fun. Next year, though, I am going to put the costume completely on at least <span style="font-style: italic;">once</span> before the event.*** I spent too long in the morning jury-rigging bits and pieces.<br /><br />And then we visited Arizona to have (American) Thanksgiving with my folks, who were also visiting there. In the theme of "<a href="http://acs-keeping-in-touch.blogspot.com/2009/12/im-changing-my-name-to-chrysler-im.html">R:tAG Re-enacting Scenes From Fallout</a>", he decided to harvest some prickly pear fruit. At least he wasn't shooting Roman legionnaires in the head.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9BeSQhmce50Ov5wb6ThhXSEE63Ec4a0Vlbchgshnbd0KRgERwJ5mdGjKrdc470qe1cz6vQQf6jGP5MOb_BYjgqctOUk3Ubo6FOXLsEy7cduUGcW7LfCF_SxjS_2XVE-x8CWcmQ/s1600/rtag_az.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9BeSQhmce50Ov5wb6ThhXSEE63Ec4a0Vlbchgshnbd0KRgERwJ5mdGjKrdc470qe1cz6vQQf6jGP5MOb_BYjgqctOUk3Ubo6FOXLsEy7cduUGcW7LfCF_SxjS_2XVE-x8CWcmQ/s320/rtag_az.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550649113151212722" border="0" /></a><br />We were staying in a town named "Surprise" which kept me in a constant state of low-level amusement. I think the locals thought I was a bit simple.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBASmo4jbRM5NzFY2pAw98OhugOJ0ZPslrRPMu6cipcuAo0gFpEZojBmnzh8Ks35RqQ56mqSwfDLNIiwPeJujbR_2z_L6KbqVS76nx0uDWnjfO-7PZVTLvw7HWlLIxig8lENhEEg/s1600/surprise.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBASmo4jbRM5NzFY2pAw98OhugOJ0ZPslrRPMu6cipcuAo0gFpEZojBmnzh8Ks35RqQ56mqSwfDLNIiwPeJujbR_2z_L6KbqVS76nx0uDWnjfO-7PZVTLvw7HWlLIxig8lENhEEg/s320/surprise.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550649768878578738" border="0" /></a><br />And finally, we went this weekend to the <a href="http://www.dickensfair.com/">Dickens Fair</a>**** and there saw a production of the Mikado, spoke to Edward Allan Poe and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mysterious_Island">Cyrus Harding</a>***** had some fine English comestibles****** and bought some cool stuff including a fox mask.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFakq5hcgqPfDn-HOMEPWvuIXR5D3GPW8yQWBQg13PvpJxPipvNtGuOsEVOQ2nDCxW_5G4_B_QPUV84v7ptz290f4ZveGqENE_b8hcqQAEdtbrsdLZSxwUNwtSrY9T9mvzNkUKA/s1600/Vicfox.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFakq5hcgqPfDn-HOMEPWvuIXR5D3GPW8yQWBQg13PvpJxPipvNtGuOsEVOQ2nDCxW_5G4_B_QPUV84v7ptz290f4ZveGqENE_b8hcqQAEdtbrsdLZSxwUNwtSrY9T9mvzNkUKA/s320/Vicfox.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550655230600167938" border="0" /></a><br />I only wore the mask for this picture, but it is a great mask.<br /><br />And I think that brings us up to date! How are <span style="font-style: italic;">you </span>doing?<br /><br /><hr /><br />* Also, after about 20 years of ignoring all levels of (in)activity and (un)healthy diet, my body has finally decided to change shape so many of my costumes were no longer an option. Anyone interested in a dark green and black Size 8-ish Italian Renaissance dress (<a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/patterns/sewingpatterns.pl?patternid=5700">Simplicity 8735, View B</a> (lower right))? There's a slim (hah!) chance I'll be able to wear the Edwardian, Regency and Victorian outfits comfortably again, but I think the Italian Ren is a write-off.<br /><br />** The delicate flower of a UI Artist has moved on, alas, so I couldn't even get up the motivation to think up something <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>disturbing.<br /><br />*** The logistics of the costume were complicated by the fact it had to fit into checked luggage (I didn't feel like being a poster child for the <a href="http://www.npr.org/2010/11/15/131328327/new-airport-security-rules-cause-traveler-discomfort">new security procedures</a>). I was explaining this to a mundane in the Seattle hotel elevator, how the costume collapsed and folded, and she said "Oh, you should be an engineer!"<br /><br />**** Not for the Steampunk Day, alas, I was already committed for an all-day gaming marathon that day, but sometimes it's nice to just go straight historical and not have all the serious volunteers give you the side-eye like you're wearing LotR costumes to a Ren Faire.<br /><br />***** Not <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span>.<br /><br />****** "Try our French Onion Soup! Tastes like French people! And onions!"Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-6761575149060221832010-10-13T17:37:00.000-07:002010-10-13T18:15:16.962-07:00Just keep staring at the sun, Pray for Summer's end.More Steampunk goodness, with the <a href="http://handcar-regatta.com/">Handcar Regatta </a>on September 26. It was really really hot, but we found that a nice Italian lunch with lemon gelato takes the edge off the heat quite nicely. In addition to the actual races* there were blocks of stalls with cool stuff** and food and even some DIY-type displays like Makers' Faire.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1frEryBokmglwC9sAJYu1HWC0s5EcfOutN6izPuKsRovmu_C-i5v999x4VPTcPWLxaadqqPuAI6aOT6QlfES3ylw8Yoqcx5dgrpA1RD9Uvcj2cE33XK7bfMGuVhZSdZ4kuxBYYA/s1600/regatta1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1frEryBokmglwC9sAJYu1HWC0s5EcfOutN6izPuKsRovmu_C-i5v999x4VPTcPWLxaadqqPuAI6aOT6QlfES3ylw8Yoqcx5dgrpA1RD9Uvcj2cE33XK7bfMGuVhZSdZ4kuxBYYA/s320/regatta1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527699283147019858" border="0" /></a><br />And then Mr. Tall visited for a bit, which was a pleasure as always. We'll get him to move down here yet! Unfortunately he was here only during the week, which meant we didn't get a chance to do anything very photogenic with him.***<br /><br />Thanksgiving here is called "Columbus Day"**** and we spent it in part assembling our newest impulse buy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaPBqNVD4I0Qu52mIcj9UL88zxO8ocEtJkc2sG37ZlKCOTbP2VZ5EecU9mZMW3eaOhAwU-dCdmoCaXAEj0FeqkQAWYQ1YSwlIg0dz9h5Y5ThN-4fyknj4IkjVZbFDbyjWU7dMcg/s1600/composter.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaPBqNVD4I0Qu52mIcj9UL88zxO8ocEtJkc2sG37ZlKCOTbP2VZ5EecU9mZMW3eaOhAwU-dCdmoCaXAEj0FeqkQAWYQ1YSwlIg0dz9h5Y5ThN-4fyknj4IkjVZbFDbyjWU7dMcg/s320/composter.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527701458490406674" border="0" /></a><br />It's a walking eye! It's a walking eye that <a href="http://www.ecomposter.net">makes compost</a>! It's a walking eye that makes compost and was on sale! Irresistible! It's resting on six upturned caster wheels, so you can rotate it easily in any direction. It was actually kind of fun to put together... it arrived flat-packed, if you can imagine. I think I will have the opposite problem of trying to make compost in Saskatoon; it is harder to get brown material here than green. Difficult to believe right now especially, when I'm sure the lawns of Saskatoon are ankle deep in dead leaves.<br /><br /><hr /><br />* As you can tell from even a cursory examination of the photos, actual speed was not the only consideration in judging the winners. Artistic merit also factored heavily.<br /><br />** I bought a <a href="http://clockworkcouture.com/?q=octopusparasol">parasol with tentacles</a> on it, mainly out of self-defence. The sun was <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">hot</span>!<br /><br />*** Drinking and watching RiffTrax Shorts is really of interest only to the participants, and only at the time.<br /><br />**** This statement is not exactly true.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-28434093905308288632010-09-21T17:18:00.000-07:002010-09-21T18:35:09.449-07:00This train is bound for glory, this trainSo, monthly round-up, I guess.<br /><br />We went on a train. No, I'm not <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nANtbPef8M8">saying it right</a>... We took a train!!!!! And we went with a bunch of very cool Steampunk people from all over.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoW3VPMxzYxe_hFpzg9h1K9rAatG1hFt-p6R6mlHaTnlvNTPtlqMgF3xRYO2r2SWARE-kLAG_RyXHYUYsJv-7_U0dWnbGlb40Oxl7yYU5hJJwHPc-OI-OjhbO2rc9YNsaQLT01w/s1600/train1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoW3VPMxzYxe_hFpzg9h1K9rAatG1hFt-p6R6mlHaTnlvNTPtlqMgF3xRYO2r2SWARE-kLAG_RyXHYUYsJv-7_U0dWnbGlb40Oxl7yYU5hJJwHPc-OI-OjhbO2rc9YNsaQLT01w/s320/train1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519530756150601522" border="0" /></a><br />(Ah, all the high tech in the world can't keep my thumb out of the picture, apparently. Where is my Photoshop Thumb Filter? Better pictures are <a href="http://www.thesteampunkempire.com/photo/albums/steampunk-steamtrain-excursion">here</a>)<br /><br />It's the <a href="http://www.virginiatruckee.com/">V&T Railroad</a>, from Carson City to Virginia City, and it was fun. We went on the steam train (of course!) which uses fuel oil and not coal but which is still very steamy! We had a group picture taken in front of the engine in Virginia City and the engineer obligingly created a big cloud of steam for atmosphere and now the back of my coat doesn't have wrinkles any more.<br /><br />It took about 1.5 hours to go (IIRC) about 20 miles, so we were going slowly enough to appreciate the Nevada scenery. Virginia City was once quite large and active (during the silver rush and the Comstock Lode and all that) but now it pretty much exclusively caters to tourists and shuts down at 6 PM apparently. Still neat, though. We had a beer at the Bucket of Blood (as you do) and saw a couple of museums* and had our pictures taken by (other) tourists who thought we were part of the show.<br /><br />And the next day before we headed back we walked around Carson City for a bit, which seems very small for a state capital but has a disproportionate amount of history and very nice old houses (see above re: profitable holes in the ground).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdolOiY8ei3z_1mudQFwWaTAfsgH4Lo1M6QhJMN3p-ngyJANQwm29MfngCXZDnG0WFqNMOhMImQCN2M_-Xx-JxMuWPLpr6f-rHLqDWhiVZJ3MygaORMpWYNEXvBUJfdHWTD6ynA/s1600/carsoncity.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdolOiY8ei3z_1mudQFwWaTAfsgH4Lo1M6QhJMN3p-ngyJANQwm29MfngCXZDnG0WFqNMOhMImQCN2M_-Xx-JxMuWPLpr6f-rHLqDWhiVZJ3MygaORMpWYNEXvBUJfdHWTD6ynA/s320/carsoncity.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519530729234986290" border="0" /></a><br />A while ago we also saw They Might Be Giants down in Santa Cruz, and I just have to share the decorations from the Rio Theatre:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaj_OT8mYWmp9X86i7Ycwb87b2eKUK4W-wTpHUvkaTDXhZePvG0EBksxyL_tRTY0aaISUESQE1dM4QNo3bvNnqPKgze7fDGp-2VWavIJmKgqxvVSJf9_6kzTz_twdx3fVTao8DVw/s1600/drama.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaj_OT8mYWmp9X86i7Ycwb87b2eKUK4W-wTpHUvkaTDXhZePvG0EBksxyL_tRTY0aaISUESQE1dM4QNo3bvNnqPKgze7fDGp-2VWavIJmKgqxvVSJf9_6kzTz_twdx3fVTao8DVw/s320/drama.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519532479705627458" border="0" /></a><br />I'm pretty sure that Tragedy and Comedy have been replaced by Terror and Psychosis. Should we say anything?<br /><br /><hr /><br />* Including the Red Light District Museum, which is in the dim and ancient basement of a bar and which includes medical implements from the 1850s. Nothing makes me appreciate being born in the late 20th century like seeing the state of the medical art of the mid-19th. Mind you, as one of our new steampunk friends pointed out, people in the next century might say that about this one.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-12822351233549844752010-08-19T11:14:00.000-07:002010-08-19T13:47:00.606-07:00'Cause you were just too busy being fabulous<ul><li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/">Inception</a> was very, very good.</li><li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1190536/">Black Dynamite</a> was very, very good. It's like <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307109/">Lost Skeleton of Cadavra</a> but with a higher budget and for a different genre. An absolutely spot-on... parody? Homage? Affectionate spoof?</li><li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1320253/">The Expendables</a> was pretty disappointing. If it was meant to be to 80's action films what Black Dynamite is to 70's blaxploitation films, I think it failed. It was no A-Team, anyway.<br /></li><li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450405/">Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant</a> was really unexpectedly good. Did that even make the theaters? I remember seeing a preview for it and then bang, it was in the Netflix queue. A pity, I really liked it and hope they make a sequel.<br /></li><li>I do not recommend watching Inception, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0893402/">Franklyn</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0498311/">Re-Cycle</a> within three days of each other either, and not just because I thought Re-Cycle had a pretty banal ending. You will start thinking disturbing thoughts about the nature of reality and end up not getting anything done.</li></ul>We've been watching a lot of movies, haven't we? Never fear, we also did a short hike at <a href="http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/almadenquicksilver.html">Almaden Quicksilver County Park</a>,* saw <a href="http://www.meetup.com/Bay-Area-Mystery-Science-Theater-3000-Fans/calendar/14132731/">Cinematic Titanic live</a> (um, does that count as a movie?), and saw Blondie and the B-52s at the Mountain Winery.**<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdlZjYNhYSHlqfKvWOKpQ9_PtkhksYZwg7xZOy8Zqoa_zqIsaoN1YOYJVZIK_oD9u9qCNg_07rCSUHcPrZczQqPiD9BRqzCOMe05R6F6goulKeKGHz4dB2FfiThbNbZ4ToQ6fTg/s1600/quicksilver_park.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdlZjYNhYSHlqfKvWOKpQ9_PtkhksYZwg7xZOy8Zqoa_zqIsaoN1YOYJVZIK_oD9u9qCNg_07rCSUHcPrZczQqPiD9BRqzCOMe05R6F6goulKeKGHz4dB2FfiThbNbZ4ToQ6fTg/s320/quicksilver_park.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507201794527167666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KBt3RjgcPGB6b9CIuPpy3zVUosVd99dp2zmp3FBiUP1eDYpCkCUzNJJ3YhW27OBIF4Vh6g31Ajj46oemca13kYkP5w2RpTg6qg2cJyfH2Z65SCuq4ckGkffPxx2eehqkD88ZPg/s1600/blondie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KBt3RjgcPGB6b9CIuPpy3zVUosVd99dp2zmp3FBiUP1eDYpCkCUzNJJ3YhW27OBIF4Vh6g31Ajj46oemca13kYkP5w2RpTg6qg2cJyfH2Z65SCuq4ckGkffPxx2eehqkD88ZPg/s320/blondie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507201787981696946" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, and of course Uncle Baby Quinn and his cool pop were here for all-too-short a time on a motorcycle trip. We got up to SF to see the <a href="http://www.asianart.org/">Asian Art Museum</a> and the mandatory Fisherman's Wharf visit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgt92gSCQKQTkY3MyqBHuemtZ5NEqQ3gxQPOw77wKOZ_1NqDrNunL-TiDjh-tgTD46PsjJx-jidmT2ssLbQ4YHoJq-SgitRJp8BHSFM-vvItNo0EZVnRS0SizJtfLzHmx9KGyv1g/s1600/asian_art.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgt92gSCQKQTkY3MyqBHuemtZ5NEqQ3gxQPOw77wKOZ_1NqDrNunL-TiDjh-tgTD46PsjJx-jidmT2ssLbQ4YHoJq-SgitRJp8BHSFM-vvItNo0EZVnRS0SizJtfLzHmx9KGyv1g/s320/asian_art.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507201786350157794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCcK9KGatcNXSswRdEasYU6mKC0-1QClPkP2QK82VGD38behlrmS8d0FVYH_0c3LC-TLhJaK6QcFMzioJ-c9KORf3p2hekf1WHrmjarqYYzzms2oV2q3rccQQL9UH4mjytDgITQ/s1600/quinn.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCcK9KGatcNXSswRdEasYU6mKC0-1QClPkP2QK82VGD38behlrmS8d0FVYH_0c3LC-TLhJaK6QcFMzioJ-c9KORf3p2hekf1WHrmjarqYYzzms2oV2q3rccQQL9UH4mjytDgITQ/s320/quinn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507201800276366050" border="0" /></a><br />(the <span style="font-style: italic;">bottom </span>picture is Quinn. Just in case of confusion).<br /><br />I highly, <span style="font-style: italic;">highly</span> recommend taking a ceramics expert with you on your visit to the Asian Art Museum. Quinn's Cool Pop made the visit about a million times more interesting (um, not that it's not an interesting museum. But having your own personal expert tour guide is great!)<br /><br />And the picture-taking during all this activity raised a bunch of interesting questions thanks to my recent reading of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cognitive-Surplus-Creativity-Generosity-Connected/dp/1594202532">Cognitive Surplus</a>. At the Mountain Winery concert particularly, a sign said "No Professional Photography." What <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> professional these days, when literally anyone with an Internet connection has a "Publish" button?<br /><br />That whole question might be another blog post, but I do highly recommend Cognitive Surplus and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Everybody-Organizing-Organizations/dp/0143114948/ref=pd_sim_b_1">Here Comes Everybody</a>, especially to those people who have read <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blind-Faith-Ben-Elton/dp/0593058003">Blind Faith</a>.*** I guarantee you will thoughtfully put the book down and say "Huh. Never thought about that," at least once.<br /><br /><br /><br /><hr />* Motto: "Our wildlife is so full of mercury that you can tell the temperature by watching the snakes' heads bob up and down!"<br /><br />** A very nice venue, and there's a restaurant up there that we'd like to try out. The view is amazing.<br /><br />*** Well, at least if you found Blind Faith disturbing and dystopic, and want to be reassured of the <span style="font-style: italic;">good </span>side of modern information technology.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-21481934959466094192010-08-11T10:00:00.000-07:002010-08-11T10:52:43.684-07:00Tu meri zindagi hai, tu meri har khushi haiSo <a href="http://cenobyte.ca/">Cenobyte</a> with her writeyness has mentioned this, of course, but a couple of weekends ago was the wedding of my old and dear friend to a lovely woman who I hope will become an old and dear friend. It was a blend of Vedic, Catholic and secular traditions, which provided a constant low-level cognitive dissonance that was really enjoyable. Ganesh was invoked and the sacred fire was kindled under the benevolent gaze of the Christ. I had no idea that Catholics were so ecumenical.* And of course Cenobyte and I still share a brain.**<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8OygkDnOI1Bgep8Fnd57gUojc7pbwAonWZLR5bmyaOVI9v4sHLZHpWj5ZdU0vwS6aS9owYLgmsogaQ4P9sOOMwL-ZMiHL-MlxFNybNQSQVzX_I9IlyZI6mYRkE0hQSRtVd06Iw/s1600/david_lavika.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8OygkDnOI1Bgep8Fnd57gUojc7pbwAonWZLR5bmyaOVI9v4sHLZHpWj5ZdU0vwS6aS9owYLgmsogaQ4P9sOOMwL-ZMiHL-MlxFNybNQSQVzX_I9IlyZI6mYRkE0hQSRtVd06Iw/s320/david_lavika.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504210534497001570" border="0" /></a><br />The reception was in the basement of the Post Office.*** As I believe I said at the time, if someone had told me 28 years ago at a D&D game that one day, I'd be in the basement of the Post Office celebrating the DM marrying a supermodel ninja, I'm not sure I'd have believed it. But there we were, watching the father of the groom in full Highland fig (he had changed from his shalwar kameez), singing an Elvis song to a group of appreciative ladies in saris.<br /><br />(our friends have the <span style="font-style: italic;">best</span> <a href="http://acs-keeping-in-touch.blogspot.com/2009/09/it-was-zombie-jamboree.html">weddings</a>!)<br /><br />We got to see <a href="http://neuba.blogspot.com/">many </a>other <a href="http://www.mmrilla.com/">friends</a> too even though our visit was terribly short. On the bright side, we only had a few days exposure to the mosquitoes, which because of the warm, wet summer are particularly vicious. The event was two weeks ago and my legs still look like a bunch of Smurfs went on a hickey rampage. We've lost all our Saskatchewan-born instincts of self-preservation, as I realized when I paused <span style="font-style: italic;">outside </span>the rental car to text <a href="http://www.aj-effigy.blogspot.com/">Effigy</a> that we were coming. Silly me.<br /><br />Still, a great weekend!<br /><br /><br /><hr />* Not meant to be snarky, honestly. I really was pleasantly surprised. Apparently the Catholic Powers That Be, with the close reasoning that I associate with Jesuits, have carefully thought through how mixed marriages will be performed ("mixed" here being Catholic and non-Catholic, so a hard-shell-Baptist/Catholic wedding uses the same rules as a Hindu/Catholic wedding. This pleases me.) I gather the participants still have to be of different sexes, but baby steps.<br /><br />** I wore a gray dress and decided it needed punching up a bit with a red handknit shawl. Completely independently, she wore a lovely red dress and decided to wear a gray handknit shawl. We looked like the backup singers. And she stole my shoes <span style="font-style: italic;">again</span>!<br /><br />*** Well, in a jazz club that's in the basement of the downtown building that <span style="font-style: italic;">used</span> to be the main Post Office. To me it will always be the Post Office.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-72834339715634728722010-08-05T09:42:00.000-07:002010-08-05T13:58:17.363-07:00Sweet Land of LibertySo there was <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15676312?nclick_check=1">much rejoicing</a>. About the only cogent argument* I've heard is one that unelected judges should not overturn decisions that the majority of people have made. But the question I'd like to ask to that in turn is: Is an unelected judge overturning a majority decision <span style="font-style: italic;">ever </span>right? I think that it is; that <a href="http://open.salon.com/blog/ben_mcclendon/2008/11/11/activist_judges_how_to_destroy_the_lie">judges are <span style="font-style: italic;">supposed</span> to protect the minority from the majority</a>, because no one else can.<br /><br />I seem to have lowered my writers' block a bit; I actually have a couple of other posts fermenting in my brain-juice. But this just seemed worthy of note.<br /><br />ETA: A funny yet accurate summary of the debate is <a href="http://electricsheepcomix.com/infogfx/sameSexMarriageChart.png">here</a><br /><br /><hr /><br />*Some religious book defines marriage differently? Irrelevant to the law. Marriages must be for producing children? Simply untrue. It's a slippery slope that will lead to paedophilia and bestiality? Demonstrably untrue, any more than giving women the vote led to hamsters and babies voting. It will degrade hetero marriages? Bewilderingly untrue. Children must be raised by one mother and one father? Untrue, with disturbing implications for the legal future of divorce and single parenting.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-72171740549243444902010-07-14T09:41:00.001-07:002010-07-14T11:56:06.057-07:00Everybody has a summer holidayI don't know what it is; my writing juices have utterly dried up. There are several things I really need to write, including this, and I am just completely at a loss.<br /><br />It's not as if there aren't things to share; we were back up in S'toon in June (hah!) to see my dad receive an <a href="http://www.usask.ca/archives/history/hondegrees.php?id=540&view=detail&keyword=&campuses=">honorary degree from the U. of S.</a> It was really great to see that, as well as to catch up with many old friends and abuse their hospitality. We were able to get out to see R:tAG's parents, too, which is always a pleasure.* There was harness racing going on, so we went to see that (never having seen it before):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZNFW9wH5aVPgGnd2kwMQO7q7Xi0PYDPUYJQO4CeaAhAY93P5Ja-iXDq6qdpCFCYM05jj_fh02ZS8KOrlOBFy0T6UZK_lceJIIF53Vq9ZwBAwIJTyfeUgjs20pQ_W7Ub38o5vUQ/s1600/racetrack.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZNFW9wH5aVPgGnd2kwMQO7q7Xi0PYDPUYJQO4CeaAhAY93P5Ja-iXDq6qdpCFCYM05jj_fh02ZS8KOrlOBFy0T6UZK_lceJIIF53Vq9ZwBAwIJTyfeUgjs20pQ_W7Ub38o5vUQ/s320/racetrack.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493811187203054002" border="0" /></a><br />I really miss the SK skies.<br /><br />Their town was very, very wet when we visited (an unusual thing by the standards of the past, oh, 20 years) and later, <a href="http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6224604-yorkton-sask-canada-flood-emergency-declared/video/58644316">it got worse</a>. R:tAG's folks, fortunately, live on relatively high ground.<br /><br />And then Mr. Tall visited, and we all went to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half_Moon_Bay,_California">Half Moon Bay,</a> to which none of us had ever been and which we found charming. Mr. Tall had the concept of micro-climates vividly illustrated; you go over the ridge and the temperature plunges and the sun disappears. We went to the beach anyway,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX317afi09JyCCyKXccJ3RgeEbXwA-fy5nCZAPOCG1YfOLl9dvfktKXnIBc784GJM4BY6WNt8Y1P7uA1ngSSpykod4a0tDqiCVIDWeW8FF2LTzAhfesuIF-odZduWLMsOIaenPQw/s1600/halfmoonbay.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX317afi09JyCCyKXccJ3RgeEbXwA-fy5nCZAPOCG1YfOLl9dvfktKXnIBc784GJM4BY6WNt8Y1P7uA1ngSSpykod4a0tDqiCVIDWeW8FF2LTzAhfesuIF-odZduWLMsOIaenPQw/s320/halfmoonbay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493836974362784130" border="0" /></a><br />and had a meal at the <a href="http://www.mossbeachdistillery.com/">Moss Beach Distillery</a> that was awesometastic even though I was still recovering from a bad cold and mainly appreciated the textures.** Then we drove back, out of the dim, chilly fog, and into the warm golden sunshine of a California evening. The transition is quite startling.<br /><br />We saw the Last Airbender movie and I'm not even going to link to it. Just watch the original TV series. The movie was really awful. On the other hand, I really enjoyed <a href="http://www.despicable.me/">Despicable Me</a>. Apparent key to me liking a movie; knowing nothing about it beforehand.<br /><br />And now it's back to work and the never-ending patching and small improvements that are part of building an MMO. I'm finding it's not enough to (finally) learn that hacky shortcuts always come back to bite you, it's being able to persuade everyone <span style="font-style: italic;">else</span> of that that's valuable.<br /><br /><br /><hr /><br />* Best story of that trip; we went with R:tAG's dad to his regular Coffee Row haunt, so that he could show off his son from California, and of course every person we met asked what brought us back to Saskatchewan. I told them that my dad was getting an honorary degree from the U. of S., and on two separate occasions the questioner's eyes got wide and he gasped "You're <a href="http://announcements.usask.ca/news/archive/2010/06/gordie_howe_giv.html">Gordie Howe's</a> daughter!??!" I did not have the presence of mind to say yes.<br /><br />** I don't get sick very often, honestly, but it seems that when I do, it's when <a href="http://acs-keeping-in-touch.blogspot.com/2010/02/sto-is-on-its-way-boldly-going-etc.html">we have houseguests</a>. It's a good thing I am not a paranoid sort.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-32836859880748156022010-05-28T14:10:00.000-07:002010-05-28T14:25:55.276-07:00Travel the world and the seven seasSo normally I only mention comings and goings (mine, ours or others') after the fact because, as I have said, I have weird privacy issues about putting personal information out on Teh IntarWebz.* But our current houseguest is practically famous for writing about not being home, and I just want to brag about having such a cool friend.<br /><br />So go read Pam's blog, <a href="http://goseeruneatdrink.blogspot.com/">Go See Run Eat Drink,</a> and enjoy! We have to figure out a Weird Food for her to try here, and I have to think of a short list of must-see sights that will compete with the best Europe, Asia and Africa have to offer.**<br /><br /><br /><hr /><br />* And yes, I just posted my full birthdate a few days ago. But I could have been lying.<br /><br />** I really need to stock up on guide books; we've been going pretty much completely digital for that sort of thing but there's something about your basic Fodor's Guide that's very reassuring.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-69077204591599682272010-05-25T18:22:00.000-07:002010-05-25T18:43:55.370-07:00Happy Birthday To Me!Hey there.<br /><br />Still here, still reasonably content, no large life changes (apart from turning 41, but that's really not a change. <span style="font-style: italic;">Not </span>turning 41 would have been a change. I would have blogged about that).<br /><br />Also not real reason or explanation for stopping blogging. Sorry about that.<br /><br />So, what did I miss describing? Visitors,* lots of work, nice weather, a few movies, some really quite good meals. And more work. I need a better <a href="http://cenobyte.ca/wp/?p=664">class of dream</a> or something.<br /><br />Oh, and today I saw a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker/id">Nuttall's Woodpecker</a>, which I had never seen before. My new office** has huge windows that look out onto treetops, since the office borders a creek valley, and I therefore have Wildlife TV on pretty much constantly. It's nice, if distracting. Squirrel!<br /><br /><br /><br /><hr /><br />* Wode and Tox C., and then Mr. Too-Tall. It was great to see them all. Having Tox C. around to go yarn shopping with was especially awesometastic. Am I missing anyone? It seems like there might have been more people. My sincere apologies if I'm forgetting about you.<br /><br />** Not due to a promotion; I was serious about the "no changes" thing. After STO released there was a big musical-office rearrangement as the team size changed, and I got shuffled around. I think it's an upgrade on the whole, though.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-26886676610087833292010-03-12T10:54:00.000-08:002010-03-12T19:23:48.656-08:00Communication breakdownComplete blogging fail! OK, point-form précis of the last, oh, month or so.<br /><br />- Knitting Olympics DNF. "Languishing Projects Pentathlon" too ambitious. Only completed 2/5 projects (small ones). Buttons didn't arrive in time for Big Project #1, so it was completed but not on time. Small Project #3 also completed, not on time.* Big Project #2 never even left its bag.<br /><br />- Swarm of house-guests. February apparently popular time to leave Canada. Once again Bne and Ferlak part of our Chinese New Year's Treasure Hunt team, with the lovely addition of The Girl. Won third place for team name ("Bright Lights, Big Kitty") and came in 25th of 111 teams for actual contest. Not bad! Raven arrived later, fun times and much eating.<br /><br />- Current sewing project = the fourth Steampunk Airship uniform. Making the same thing four times is about my limit. <a href="http://www.steampunkexhibition.com/">Nova Albion</a> ahoy!<br /><br />-<a href="http://slacktivist.typepad.com/slacktivist/2010/03/family-feud-politics.html"> Very insightful discussion</a> of the current healthcare megillah.<br /><br />- Work continues. <a href="http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/3/19/">Gabriel's Theory</a> amply borne out by observation.<br /><br />- Not attending <a href="http://www.gdconf.com/">GDC</a>. Oh well.<br /><br /><hr /><br />* Small Project #3 involved randomly placing beads, holes, and ruffles. I'm really not so good with random, to the point where apparently I get hysterical project blindness.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-64724268335637100952010-02-11T17:22:00.001-08:002010-02-11T19:01:47.349-08:00I believeIt's the <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2010/02/10/the_2010_knitting_olympics.html">Knitting Olympics</a> time again already. Four years just fly by! I'll have to find out if <a href="http://acs-keeping-in-touch.blogspot.com/2006/02/live-from-california.html">Bob and Bob</a> are still available and interested in doing the commentary.<br /><br />I'm planning a pentathlon event; I've got five things on the needles that I really ought to finish. This will be a challenge, for sure. I've gotten sick of each of the projects at least once already. One of the projects is actually older than our residence in California* so there's the additional challenge there of figuring out where I left off.<br /><br />And some random links:<br /><br /><a href="http://imgfave.lg1x8z.simplecdn.net/image_cache/1262307816371696.jpeg">Pretty disturbing</a><br />I might get a tattoo... <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2478/3944484855_0b2e45f77f.jpg">this</a> design with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UV_tattoo">this ink</a>. How cool is that?<br /><a href="http://www.troutman.org/humor/startrek.html">Life will NOT be like Star Trek</a><br /><a href="http://www.chrisroberson.net/uploaded_images/Hang_This_Up_In_Your_Time_Machine-715613.jpg">Hang This Up in Your Time Machine</a><br /><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2010/01/back_in_time_in_medicine.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+scienceblogs%2Finsolence+%28Respectful+Insolence%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher">And more time travel musings</a><br /><a href="http://www.dailygifblog.com/2009/12/how-to-avoid-camera-loss.html">How To Avoid Camera Loss </a>(made me laugh, anyway)<br /><a href="http://topcultured.com/where-should-i-eat-fast-food-edition-flowchart/">Where Should I Eat?</a> (First question = are you in Canada? Marvelous.)<br /><br /><hr />* Seeing as how it's a wool sweater for R:tAG, I probably ought to make sure he's still interested.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-57974294966861197972010-02-08T13:07:00.001-08:002010-02-08T13:38:31.851-08:00After the ball is over, after the break of mornSTO is on its way, boldly going etc. etc. etc. Reaction has been favourable on the whole. My personal warm fuzzy review so far is that the UI does not suffer any huge reproach.* The software dev team got an ice-cream cake! **<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvmpV2mLG-v0X1fLFNAd5dE_LYUaCl55tmn6K2uUOW2vhkZvNVfJS6EafYu0MhsusBVfm0_AqG94YbiO9WGO5vJbcI7qbZuBPAOspNzdhFzP75sCd4sdMAaud52ihlsnHS09UuA/s1600-h/sto_cake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvmpV2mLG-v0X1fLFNAd5dE_LYUaCl55tmn6K2uUOW2vhkZvNVfJS6EafYu0MhsusBVfm0_AqG94YbiO9WGO5vJbcI7qbZuBPAOspNzdhFzP75sCd4sdMAaud52ihlsnHS09UuA/s320/sto_cake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435988492648047522" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://kovbasa.blogspot.com/">Kovbasa Steve</a> was just here, which was great even though R:tAG and I were so busy that we didn't have near enough time to spend with him.*** Plus I was completely laid up with some kind of food poisoning for the middle of the week... about 12 hours of violent, erm, "issues" followed by about 24 hours of a healing coma. Thank goodness I was the only one affected, though it happened right after the only meal we all shared. I'd really REALLY feel bad about poisoning a guest with my cooking. I guess I got the lucky E. Coli. lettuce leaf or something.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dundracon.com/">Dundracon </a>is coming up and there are an amazing number of LARPs. It's been a while, the pain has faded, maybe I'll get back on the horse. There's also the <a href="http://www.sftreasurehunt.com/hunts/chinese_new_year/">Chinese New Year's Treasure Hunt</a> and <a href="http://www.knittinguniverse.com/flash/events/Eventportalwest.php">Stitches West</a> to look forward to. I'm glad the crunch of the game has faded to a dull roar and I'm allowed some extracurricular activities.<br /><br /><br /><br /><hr /><br />* OK, literal translations are always funny. It's actually "L'interface, bien plus pratique que celle de Champions Online, ne souffre d'aucun gros reproche," from <a href="http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00012258-star-trek-online-test.htm">this review</a>.<br /><br />** Plus personal handmade trophies from the team manager, who is a stand-up guy. Within a few minutes we'd figured out that the little Enterprise models on the trophies were designed to come off, and we were flying the ships around making "pew-pew" noises at each other. I like the game industry.<br /><br />*** And it rained pretty much all the time. But that's still preferable compared to February in Calgary.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-69274792170326170462010-01-22T10:24:00.001-08:002010-01-22T11:53:47.927-08:00And I don't like to have the rain on my shoesTo forestall any questions about the weather and us, we're fine. It has been a lot of rain, and a lot of wind, though, and even <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/abraham/detail??blogid=95&entry_id=55689">hail and tornadoes.</a> There was a thunderstorm a few days ago too. Very unusual for the Bay Area, but also sort of exciting.<br /><br />(as an indication of how acclimatized I've become, though, I walked out of the office last night and <span style="font-style: italic;">forgot my jacket</span>. That's overcoming a lot of Saskatchewan training, right there.)<br /><br />STO Open Beta is going pretty well, I've managed to sneak fixes in for some of the little things that were bothering me, and most of the big things that broke were not directly my fault.* And right now I'm not allowed to change anything because we're building The Release Version and TPTB** want that to be as simple as possible. So I'm sort of at loose ends today. It's an odd feeling.<br /><br />And I must resist the lure of online shopping. Specifically, I must not go to the Fluevog site.<br /><br />Again.<br /><br />I think I might have a bit of a problem. I've never considered myself a shoe person; for the majority of my life I think I pretty much owned a pair of Sorels, a pair of sneakers and a pair of black pumps.*** But in the past five years... eesh. I'm afraid to count. And there's something specifically about Fluevogs. Like <a href="http://www.fluevog.com/code/?w[0]=search%3Aboot&p=5&pp=1&view=detail&colourID=2391">these</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30051295@N02/3522727731/">these</a> and <a href="http://www.fluevog.com/code/?w[0]=clearance&w[1]=size%3Awomen9.5&p=17&pp=2&view=detail&colourID=2037">these</a> and <a href="http://www.fluevog.com/code/?w[0]=clearance&w[1]=size%3Awomen9.5&pp=1&view=detail&p=12&colourID=2181">these</a>.**** And the boots. Oh, goodness, the <a href="http://www.fluevog.com/code/?w[0]=gender%3Awomen&w[1]=attribute%3ABoot&pp=2">boots</a>. I've managed to talk myself out of any boots because really, where would I wear them? Don't answer that.<br /><br />The other thing I love about Fluevog, by the way, is their confirmation e-mails. From their last one: "It should be noted that when your order came in earlier, a few of us sat around at break and talked about how awesome your taste and decision-making ability was." I know it's boilerplate, but it still makes me feel warm and fuzzy. People are funny.<br /><br /><br /><br /><hr /><br />* Not <span style="font-style: italic;">directly</span>. Some stuff I did broke because some other stuff on which mine depended was updated/fixed, and I'd not done my stuff in as robust a way as I ought to have. But I think that's all sorted out now.<br /><br />** The Powers That Be<br /><br />*** OK, OK, I'm not counting shoes required for specific activities like playing squash, hiking, or getting married.<br /><br />**** Um, yeah. I own them all. In my defense, I never paid more than half price for any of them, and look at the discount on that last pair! 85% off! I was helpless! Stupid Fluevog clearance section. Stupid, stupid Fluevog clearance section.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-16169181192010181482010-01-12T17:39:00.000-08:002010-01-12T18:34:46.399-08:00There's Klingons on the starboard bowFirst day of <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/openbeta">Open Beta</a>, and there are lots and lots of people trying the game out. It was pretty cool to watch the numbers climb this morning. Of course, there are some issues that really only happen when you get above a certain threshold of concurrent users, and they are all happening. Well, that's what Beta's for.<br /><br />I've been working about 14 hours a day for the past five days straight and I'm rather tired. And I <span style="font-style: italic;">still</span> didn't get all the little things fixed that I wanted to get fixed.*<br /><br />Thank goodness for the sea-monkeys. <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Owning-an-Aquarium-Can-Be-a-Natural-Blood-Pressure-Medication&id=3157443">Seriously</a>. They're about 0.75 cm long now and scooting around in such a lively manner that I can't get a count. I think there are about nine of them. And an unexpected side benefit is that I can send my delicate flower of an office-mate into conniptions by pretending to stick a straw into the tank and take a sip.<br /><br />ETA: <a href="http://www.troutman.org/humor/startrek.html">This</a>. What?? It's related!<br /><br /><hr />* And a few big things. But we will not speak of those.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-10575612064469365582010-01-05T13:19:00.000-08:002010-01-05T14:00:36.978-08:00I Love My Brine Shrimp PalsMy second-favourite Christmas present: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea-Monkeys">Sea-Monkeys!</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMn8L1C1wFP12sjgpKcD6YUtWDh_0kUIPh4yvpqVEUFQJMRKD2Y91k-Xo-pCK44uJ11Wmur3nkbDZwg7j6z3V398XM7DCPK3Lhp9bCHHHnOV4w70vFEHd_BT9rYobpi7bpU4FjQ/s1600-h/seamonkeys.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMn8L1C1wFP12sjgpKcD6YUtWDh_0kUIPh4yvpqVEUFQJMRKD2Y91k-Xo-pCK44uJ11Wmur3nkbDZwg7j6z3V398XM7DCPK3Lhp9bCHHHnOV4w70vFEHd_BT9rYobpi7bpU4FjQ/s320/seamonkeys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423369649839745650" border="0" /></a><br />I wanted them to have their birthday on Jan 1, but I didn't read the instructions and the water had to settle* for a day. So their birthday is Jan 2. They're pretty visible now, wiggling around, but I still can't see their little faces and hands and crowns. I can't wait!<br /><br />It is oddly relaxing having an aquarium to stare at at work, even something as tiny as the Sea Monkeys.<br /><br /><br /><hr /><br />* mixed with the Super-duper Wonderful Water Purification Powder!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-40556249474859241632009-12-31T18:55:00.000-08:002009-12-31T19:40:08.181-08:00Should Auld Acquaintance Be ForgotI realized with a start that today was the last day of 2009, Dec 31, and not just Day T-4 to the next milestone. Crunch time is... interesting. Not since university finals have I been so disassociated from the calendar.<br /><br />But we did manage to grab some Christmas cheer; I attended the <a href="http://www.dickensfair.com/">Dickens Faire</a> with my airship crew:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2N3dZzqi7TY/SxxcjSfqzzI/AAAAAAAAJmo/zVrsjIdyUEs/s640/IMG_4845.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2N3dZzqi7TY/SxxcjSfqzzI/AAAAAAAAJmo/zVrsjIdyUEs/s640/IMG_4845.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />More pix <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ThompsonDM/DickensFair20092ndWeekend?authkey=Gv1sRgCNjCxfCCyPPwXA&feat=email#">here</a>, thanks to someone who's a much more dedicated photographer than I am. The uniforms are <a href="http://www.lafnmoon.com/110_ladies_sporting_costumes.html">Laughing Moon #110 </a>(Ladies 1890's Sporting Costumes With Leggings) with some military surplus belts and hats. I made them all (go me!) and it's definitely the most comfortable Victorian costume I've ever worn. A talented friend is working on custom belt buckles and cap pins, so if we're able to attend any other Steampunk events we'll look <span style="font-style: italic;">even better</span>.* <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ThompsonDM/DickensFair20092ndWeekend?authkey=Gv1sRgCNjCxfCCyPPwXA&feat=email#5412302847124776178">Miss Havisham</a> even gave us a £5 bank draft and a dead mouse, we looked so good.**<br /><br />And we went up to Cow-Town to see friends and fambly, and completely missed the horribly cold weather, and had a great time until we had to try to get <span style="font-style: italic;">back </span>to the U.S. after the Crotch Bomber had struck. That was moderately hellish but it could have been a <span style="font-style: italic;">lot </span>worse so I can't really complain too much. At least passengers are still allowed to wear pants, and we got home on the same day we'd planned to.<br /><br />And now we have to go over to our friends' place for a party. You heard it right, we are <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> staying at home and being anti-social this year for New Year's! Amazing!<br /><br /><br /><hr />*And there will be four of us too!<br /><br />** Charles Dickens? Great Expectations? <span style="font-style: italic;">Read a book!</span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-69823169879220208642009-12-10T13:12:00.000-08:002009-12-10T13:19:24.386-08:00Beyoooooond, the rim of star light...So if you are eagerly anticipating <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/splash?redir=frontpage">the game I'm working on</a> (and you should, it's gonna be good*), you should go <a href="http://pc.ign.com/">here</a>, scroll down and look at the "We Want to Know" section at the bottom right, and vote. I'd prefer you vote for Star Trek Online, of course, but do what you want. I won't mind. At all.<br /><br /><br /><hr />* Seriously, very good game. Pretty too. That trailer? That's all <span style="font-style: italic;">in game footage</span>, and I don't think it even shows the ground combat.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-87708736860918291402009-12-08T11:02:00.000-08:002009-12-08T11:34:23.822-08:00I'm changing my name to Chrysler, I'm going down to Washington D.C.(We didn't really change our names to Chrysler. That's just a song.)<br /><br />But over U.S. Thanksgiving we went to the East Coast to see my folks and introduce R:tAG to the Smithsonian, or at least parts of the Smithsonian and other museums*, which count among my favourite places in the world. We stayed in a rental condo** in <a href="http://visitalexandriava.com/">Alexandria</a> and took the Metro into D.C. which was very convenient.<br /><br />It turns out R:tAG is pretty proficient at finding his way around Washington, thanks to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallout_3">Fallout 3</a>. Here he is looking for <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Mirelurk">mirelurks </a>in the Metro:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXzZoMzPUCBtGYgUjceXXbhndJtQkq8mMnNLOiTZ0hCFjHW5kOz5rL8QlS02OYU-UJJWcPQ0IJRu_m9GQIX9sofj0XugtwAmBc4_orgly5BtmjUxrSjhXssosRwWw-fwYrAu3xQ/s1600-h/washington1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXzZoMzPUCBtGYgUjceXXbhndJtQkq8mMnNLOiTZ0hCFjHW5kOz5rL8QlS02OYU-UJJWcPQ0IJRu_m9GQIX9sofj0XugtwAmBc4_orgly5BtmjUxrSjhXssosRwWw-fwYrAu3xQ/s320/washington1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412947895679769202" border="0" /></a><br />The weather was rainy but we were mostly inside anyway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRa4rXtMreLxVnBSXM-V-ZoxcEIpHHrH8sYh_vbM44p5hLmxRTTTEi_BqfwadnifWLuHTa1Y-gSD_7cDAyE8jIzXjX4m12ZoXvzsIO-yn1ZKWGJj3mf7CL0-LGAuakmG4NFUFAfg/s1600-h/washington3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRa4rXtMreLxVnBSXM-V-ZoxcEIpHHrH8sYh_vbM44p5hLmxRTTTEi_BqfwadnifWLuHTa1Y-gSD_7cDAyE8jIzXjX4m12ZoXvzsIO-yn1ZKWGJj3mf7CL0-LGAuakmG4NFUFAfg/s320/washington3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412947904849080386" border="0" /></a><br />This was lava. Some geologist scooped some up with a hammer and let it harden. Note the scorched handle. Geologists are crazy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPX4qqZRtZo6bhv8_dFxhr7ZlgOph3AswfgI5aWDxkJuCiWjv7dE1LatYmFQUrMEPPtRHNAfzuWe0NqrRiTvhHAdt_ec9OGZMl4xcanKv-0_lsWvDLI7ljvJnQNFAE9NHnSPNJdg/s1600-h/washington2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPX4qqZRtZo6bhv8_dFxhr7ZlgOph3AswfgI5aWDxkJuCiWjv7dE1LatYmFQUrMEPPtRHNAfzuWe0NqrRiTvhHAdt_ec9OGZMl4xcanKv-0_lsWvDLI7ljvJnQNFAE9NHnSPNJdg/s320/washington2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412947900571804562" border="0" /></a><br />This is the Hall of Ocean Life. There's a right whale hanging from the ceiling towards the back; I thought I also remembered a blue whale when I was a sprog but maybe it's having a rest. The Natural History museum attendance seems to be benefiting from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1078912/">that movie</a>; anything that gets people into the museum, I suppose (I took this picture just at closing time; the place was actually packed all day)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtgTCVJptkDFURiBB9qII-QkMOVohr8EjFnr-fZyay8I6GQEW28JrTIQu8VC0j9Xohyy-f2mz9Tss5K5x5yCyLbHg-I3oMhA35TnfyElCXmSqI01jD2wYlyZKFOkaRSl9kiZzvg/s1600-h/washington4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtgTCVJptkDFURiBB9qII-QkMOVohr8EjFnr-fZyay8I6GQEW28JrTIQu8VC0j9Xohyy-f2mz9Tss5K5x5yCyLbHg-I3oMhA35TnfyElCXmSqI01jD2wYlyZKFOkaRSl9kiZzvg/s320/washington4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412947906298040546" border="0" /></a><br />No pictures from the National Gallery because they were twitchy about that. But we saw a really interesting exhibit about <a href="http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/armorinfo.htm">Spanish parade armour</a>, as well as a lot of famous paintings and sculptures, of course. It really is better to see them in the flesh, so to speak.<br /><br />And then we went back to my parents' place for a <a href="http://www.arlo.net/resources/lyrics/alices.shtml">Thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat</a>, and a bit of a rest from walking.<br /><br />So it was a good trip, though about an hour after we got back to work I was thinking "Man, I need a vacation." Back to the long days and long work weeks. Le sigh.<br /><br /><hr /><br /><br />* The <a href="http://www.mnh.si.edu/">Natural History Museum</a>, the <a href="http://www.nasm.si.edu/">Air and Space Museum</a>, the <a href="http://www.nga.gov/">National Gallery</a> and very briefly the <a href="http://www.asia.si.edu/">Freer Gallery</a> just to see the <a href="http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/current/peacock.htm">Peacock Room</a>.<br /><br />** One of those old row houses with the floor space of a two bedroom apartment. But it was quite historic and comfortable and the kitchen was nice.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-85564790298244098772009-12-04T18:08:00.000-08:002009-12-04T18:13:35.127-08:00With my imagination I can see it, With my pencil crayons I can draw itI like working with artists. I like going to lunch with artists. They draw all the time, and sometimes what they draw is extra awesome.*<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtu0ZfYOAx9wHu4K2lEXvXCt5PWfqwP4Ji0TpqikfirJON5NEVaD7JAFIcm3uEr090Wv80jEi866DtmeE9wSBO64fZCyYfS2-s_lScQvwpmQrLgXLa8HE0rnNlhAS2dKyeLaxRw/s1600-h/tongue_burn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtu0ZfYOAx9wHu4K2lEXvXCt5PWfqwP4Ji0TpqikfirJON5NEVaD7JAFIcm3uEr090Wv80jEi866DtmeE9wSBO64fZCyYfS2-s_lScQvwpmQrLgXLa8HE0rnNlhAS2dKyeLaxRw/s320/tongue_burn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411568732263689554" border="0" /></a><br />I have a bigger post about going to the East Coast for (American) Thanksgiving, which was very fun, but I do not have the time right now to write it. Soon!<br /><br /><br /><br /><hr /><br />* Yes,I got a lot of hair cut off. I think I look like <a href="http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/gallery/2005/11/01/snape3.jpg">Severus Snape</a> now but people have kindly told me that I don't. Much.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-43055165256510261862009-11-29T19:29:00.000-08:002009-11-29T19:34:05.873-08:00Green is the col... Wait, what?Wow. If somebody proposed the events of the 97th Grey Cup as a movie plot, I suspect it would be rejected for implausability.<br /><br />I have never before seen defeat so comprehensively snatched from the jaws of victory. See you in 25 years, I guess.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-37338599039884495322009-10-30T16:21:00.000-07:002009-10-30T18:20:20.805-07:00I'm under beds makin' some noises, grabbin' some legzA picture-heavy post. It was a pretty good workplace Hallowe'en.<br /><br />My office-mate* does not like creepy contact lenses. At all. He didn't know this picture was being taken; I wish actually we had a picture of a few seconds later, when he turned around. <span style="font-style: italic;">That </span>was funny. I was Zombie Jane Austen, by the way, and I owe <a href="http://www.cenobyte.ca/words/">Cenobyte</a> bigtime for showing me how damn awesome creepy contact lenses can be. Totally worth it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjt5gYHCrNSAsOs-E6_wNMx2sQ-os5X_BV6yr4XorNyQP6pXN_DSc71_we6FKd62zmzYDzB80RSgORO4HLHiUDcMAm3Ofvoj4tzFNNy32ay9i7e8AfX1XZpzgZjcboYaNoKqY1g/s1600-h/zombie.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjt5gYHCrNSAsOs-E6_wNMx2sQ-os5X_BV6yr4XorNyQP6pXN_DSc71_we6FKd62zmzYDzB80RSgORO4HLHiUDcMAm3Ofvoj4tzFNNy32ay9i7e8AfX1XZpzgZjcboYaNoKqY1g/s320/zombie.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398567377821164802" border="0" /></a>And there were punkins:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbI2jvkmRozlUsZAwp3hpZL5j4MNfpRjj504Zz4HPFXQ69y7Ybev7eyf1-92NKDpBnmmoOhVYNhL3bZMZ8-FbEPxvJazv10VkqO_BPkHxCyxq0a0GhZKGvQ7DqRNV6ue9sc66K1Q/s1600-h/punkin3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbI2jvkmRozlUsZAwp3hpZL5j4MNfpRjj504Zz4HPFXQ69y7Ybev7eyf1-92NKDpBnmmoOhVYNhL3bZMZ8-FbEPxvJazv10VkqO_BPkHxCyxq0a0GhZKGvQ7DqRNV6ue9sc66K1Q/s320/punkin3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398555945800400786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-noA8iYnd4uNI7GmH7Ac8gMuNF_L0_dy3G7_g6vwHnSwSazZY-vQWt5-_292D3OF-hI3W7hgrnpaLUGa1VltDvtB92DCBM7BLJAYwcQLEIa0k5Bp_TmG1tnQx3uykNbwpL6PFcg/s1600-h/punkin2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-noA8iYnd4uNI7GmH7Ac8gMuNF_L0_dy3G7_g6vwHnSwSazZY-vQWt5-_292D3OF-hI3W7hgrnpaLUGa1VltDvtB92DCBM7BLJAYwcQLEIa0k5Bp_TmG1tnQx3uykNbwpL6PFcg/s320/punkin2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398555936967772802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgUwmryyvaNjpT2SC2gqoAeR8d4sx5CgsqcIuE2yTmgRrDT0rqwkaI5nZKD-6GfOi8rAaTpc6RO-EdotZT7KvRCwbzGf7oJBDANpL_dypNgz7EvG8O6TehvFbPPYux53hOE7z6g/s1600-h/punkin1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgUwmryyvaNjpT2SC2gqoAeR8d4sx5CgsqcIuE2yTmgRrDT0rqwkaI5nZKD-6GfOi8rAaTpc6RO-EdotZT7KvRCwbzGf7oJBDANpL_dypNgz7EvG8O6TehvFbPPYux53hOE7z6g/s320/punkin1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398555931141086482" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My favourites were the Borg punkin (Cucurbita of Borg!), the skelly-punkin, and the Rorschach punkin. The Borg punkin actually had a little light-and-fog show that was pretty awesome.<br /><br /><br /><hr /><br />* He is a Talented UI Artist, so he is sensitive. <a href="http://www.sketchtheatre.com/?p=3181">This</a> is him, drawring.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-34232012829655118382009-10-29T10:14:00.001-07:002009-10-29T10:46:53.668-07:00October, And the trees are stripped bare, Of all they wearTime for what's become the monthly wrap-up, I suppose. It's not fair that I grumble about people not updating their blogs when I am just as guilty.<br /><br />R:tAG's parents had their 50th anniversary party, and we of course went up for that. We arrived just in time to participate in the first major snow of the season; we exited the airport to horizontal sleet. Luckily things calmed down enough that the drive to the Anniversary Town was fine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefRo4YRXNsiyObCZAQ8WP0sq2zUilfJV_tXDD7kOuTvgK9csR8LUDwh7_OXKYAQcX5j2xBWUcLMu3Yb_YGYOG8cwL2bWEHeuQn7vQ3hxntxFC7M-zkOiPHC6d2_xC1bxkNYDR7g/s1600-h/50th.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefRo4YRXNsiyObCZAQ8WP0sq2zUilfJV_tXDD7kOuTvgK9csR8LUDwh7_OXKYAQcX5j2xBWUcLMu3Yb_YGYOG8cwL2bWEHeuQn7vQ3hxntxFC7M-zkOiPHC6d2_xC1bxkNYDR7g/s320/50th.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398072631112819490" border="0" /></a><br />All but one of the original wedding party were at the head table, pictured above and decorated with a lovely <a href="http://www.nazdorovya.com/korovai.htm">korovai</a>. The celebration was really nice; R:tAG even met some cousins that he didn't even know about (his parents both come from <span style="font-style: italic;">large </span>families) and of course we got to see lots of family again. The Ukrainian genetics are strong; the family resemblances were striking. R:tAG's oldest nephew kept getting mistaken for R:tAG, I kept mistaking one of R:tAG's uncles for his dad.*<br /><br />So it was an impressive event and once again I was danced under the table by people twice my age. I wanna learn the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schottische">Schottische</a>.<br /><br />The anniversary party was in the hall of a large church; I saw this on the grounds and had to take a picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2KilHOO9-iEiFSEjxPYzgK-7vk0YDZG9r2vyv8_R6pFKzal8Nd3Yy-DCtlOogk9xd9kjbl5rWOHglVWWzs3Vu-nw8x1LAKx1Px4AP9EpgvkS8g93_95SE1e4uK4z6RV-KEhGGQ/s1600-h/emergency_angel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2KilHOO9-iEiFSEjxPYzgK-7vk0YDZG9r2vyv8_R6pFKzal8Nd3Yy-DCtlOogk9xd9kjbl5rWOHglVWWzs3Vu-nw8x1LAKx1Px4AP9EpgvkS8g93_95SE1e4uK4z6RV-KEhGGQ/s320/emergency_angel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398072636050663330" border="0" /></a>In case of spiritual emergencies, break glass.**<br /><br />And in more recent news... well, work. Lots of work. We wanted to go to the <a href="http://sfopera.com/press/costumesale/">San Francisco Opera Costume Sale</a> but by all accounts there was a five hour line just to get in, and then a two to three hour line at the checkout. Eesh. We got to see <a href="http://valancymay.livejournal.com/">Cori </a>during her brief visit to the area, which was very nice. We're having the work Hallowe'en party tomorrow, and maybe there will be another blog entry if the costumes and punkins are impressive enough.*** I'm going as Zombie Jane Austen, because I'm <span style="font-style: italic;">still </span>in the undead Regency mood. Thanks, Suz!<br /><br /><br /><br /><hr />* In my defense, only twice, and only from across a room, and I wasn't the only one. We were joking that it was a good thing we pinned a corsage on R:tAG's dad, so that we could tell him and his brother apart.<br /><br />** I assume the protective cover is a winter installation, but it still struck me funny. Cryo-angel!<br /><br />*** A couple years ago, one of the pumpkin carving entries was "Meat Urchin"... a smallish pumpkin covered in hotdogs stuck endwise to the pumpkin on skewers. It was rather horrifying. Many of the other pumpkins involved LEDs and robotics. Game studio employees get <span style="font-style: italic;">weird</span> when it comes to punkin carving.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-34526488193129070512009-09-24T11:07:00.000-07:002009-09-24T12:33:32.563-07:00I Am the Media<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374248/">Strings</a> - Fantastic movie. See it. Thanks, Tall Guy!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472033/">9</a> - Not to be confused with <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1136608/">District 9</a>, which I did for a long time, much to the bewilderment of those to whom I was speaking. It's an interesting contrast to Strings, because while Strings let me have the (to me) supremely satisfying experience of saying "I wonder why that's... oh... oh <i>right</i>, of <i>course</i> things would be that way!", 9 did the opposite. The more I thought about it, the more I was going "Wait a minute, how is that even... why would..." There's also the whole CGI versus "real" thing, and I'm glad people are still experimenting with the real. At the risk of sounding like those audiophile snobs who only ever listen to vinyl on tube amps... I like the real stuff better.<br /><br /><a href="http://games.kidswb.com/scribblenauts/">Scribblenauts</a> - Really quite fun. I can't believe I didn't think of <a href="http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/9/23/">this</a>. For the record, it doesn't work (you get the Starite but it's inert. Though if you throw it at a muskox you will anger the beast and it will trample you).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/node/395">STOnline</a> - Got a good response at PAX. I was very pleased to hear that the space UI isn't as impenetrable as I'd thought.* Friends and Family is going gratifyingly well for what is basically an alpha test... it's good to see that we try and improve on the past. Champions learned a lot from CoX, STO is learning a lot from Champions. Onwards and upwards!<br /><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinkpicturegalleries/6214412/Art-you-can-eat-by-Akiko-Ida-and-Pierre-Javelle.html"><br />Art You Can Eat</a> - Just cool. I think the last one's my favourite. Again, setting up the real thing and taking pictures of it is (to me) more viscerally satisfying than if the whole thing were Photoshopped.<br /><br /><hr /><br />* I'm having to adjust my design principles slightly; having someone say "it was hard at first, but I figured it out eventually" usually triggers a redesign in "grownup" UIs. In games, having someone say this can be a <span style="font-style: italic;">good </span>thing. Which is sort of ironic; people usually <span style="font-style: italic;">have </span>to learn to use a UI for work, yet those UIs tend to be underdesigned (to <a href="http://homepage.mac.com/bradster/iarchitect/shame.htm">say the least</a>) exactly because the user doesn't usually have a choice. People will adapt to just about anything. Games, which are entirely discretionary, have to have UI that carefully steers between hand-holding (insulting) and impossible (why bother?) and tries to hit the sweet spot of overcoming-an-achievable-challenge and giving a sense of accomplishment. It's a challenge.<br /><br /><p></p>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-70156209972477863902009-09-10T09:36:00.000-07:002009-09-10T11:48:18.540-07:00It Was A Zombie JamboreeWe're safe back now from the Pride, Prejudice and Zombie event of the year. It was a veritable hoot and a perfect celebration of the union of two charming and... distinctive people.<br /><br />I really do like driving (or even being a passenger while someone else is driving) across the prairies. I miss being able to see all of the sky. I don't know if the GPS display is visible in the picture, but it's basically a blank white rectangle (the landscape) bisected by a vertical purple line (the road). Between Calgary and Saskatoon it stays that way for about 500 km. As you can see, except for colour it's an exact representation:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFdax4DhgqMKZa_9alJa1F3cD5V9Z8I9c-nhGn3XKuQcugpHOdQnyo7ixmLk7WvDYXHWliFd1OgyAH-et5fppbpDjK_auZWPsckWmojzuTrvXsUhoOBPpw6e3fRK4X7Z_LHzl3w/s1600-h/prairie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFdax4DhgqMKZa_9alJa1F3cD5V9Z8I9c-nhGn3XKuQcugpHOdQnyo7ixmLk7WvDYXHWliFd1OgyAH-et5fppbpDjK_auZWPsckWmojzuTrvXsUhoOBPpw6e3fRK4X7Z_LHzl3w/s320/prairie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379879976287859506" border="0" /></a><br />We unfortunately didn't get to spend as much time in either Calgary or Saskatoon as we could have wished; we have too many other commitments coming up so it was rather a whirlwind tour and mostly taken up by The Wedding. But we did manage to see quite a few people we've been missing, and we <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>appreciate the friends who hosted us in both cities.<br /><br />It was exciting to see so many wedding guests throw themselves into the the Regency theme, the zombie theme, or both. I am the World's Most Neglectful Photographer<b>™</b> even with an iPhone, so I'm glad R:tAG got some good pictures.* You can apparently see more on this "Facebook" thingy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkYAXxeMGfYPVr0UgAN3qaMrEDU843YQ-OUX8lAbk3jZ-auLFmh-PmbPB4QjEz5fxu8dRoqG6iT5qgyDJp5h8ODYGTiJlL2DKn-dEYeP67MOx91zxeBbRKXTZTgct6w6x1wfUsg/s1600-h/regency1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkYAXxeMGfYPVr0UgAN3qaMrEDU843YQ-OUX8lAbk3jZ-auLFmh-PmbPB4QjEz5fxu8dRoqG6iT5qgyDJp5h8ODYGTiJlL2DKn-dEYeP67MOx91zxeBbRKXTZTgct6w6x1wfUsg/s320/regency1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379879985527317810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19GH3UjXz2Bd1Zh15h5OTtFWamLsDDtYVWrID-XrFree5gHp_NHFsIaTDYDDqPwLneoCmmibuWZy-MC_X9q2lEQjQs6dAFeM1Kcknih7K71HjmTbP_vFW5KkIyqNjmMnQTQZ8jA/s1600-h/regency2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19GH3UjXz2Bd1Zh15h5OTtFWamLsDDtYVWrID-XrFree5gHp_NHFsIaTDYDDqPwLneoCmmibuWZy-MC_X9q2lEQjQs6dAFeM1Kcknih7K71HjmTbP_vFW5KkIyqNjmMnQTQZ8jA/s320/regency2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379879988297746610" border="0" /></a><br />Favourite quotes:<br /><br />(Zombie dabbing at his eye) "I always lose flesh at weddings"<br /><br />(Father of the groom beginning his toast to the couple) "Aoooohhh! Uhhh, aaaaooorrrooo uuunnnh!"<br /><br />"I love Regency. If you insult someone all you have to do is nod afterwards, and it's OK"<br /><br />(at the Tim Horton's in Kindersley, from a stranger) "That hand dryer in the washroom is so weak it's like having a mouse fart on you." (stay classy, Saskatchewan)<br /><br /><hr /><br />* Pattern sources: My dress, bodiced petticoat and reticule from <a href="http://www.sewingcentral.com/cgi-bin/Web_store/web_store.cgi?page=lmb001.html">La Mode Bagatelle</a>. The dress is the View D bodice without the mock drop front bit, View C sleeves (the longer ones) and skirt. The pattern is spendy but you can make a complete customized Regency wardrobe from it. I'm wearing white ballet slippers. R:tAG's jacket and trousers are from <a href="http://www.butterick.com/item/B3648.htm">Butterick B3648</a> and his vest is from <a href="http://www.butterick.com/web/shop.cgi?s.item.B3721.x=1">Butterick B3721</a> (View B with an added stand-up collar). His shirt is from <a href="http://jpeterman.com/product%7Ecat%7E%7Esku%7EMSH+2345.asp">J. Peterman's</a> because it was on sale for $25 and that's cheaper and easier than me sewing it. His neckcloth is just a triangle of cotton, 55" at the base, 11" high, and his shoes are <a href="http://www.zappos.com/leos-econo-split-sole-jazz-black">split sole jazz shoes</a>.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14090396.post-46092321210634722422009-09-01T11:38:00.000-07:002009-09-01T12:15:02.738-07:00Some Sweet Blue Bonnet SpringAll planned Regency items complete.* I didn't finish the spencer, but that's probably OK 'cause you don't wear those indoors anyhow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TnmozPN5ply9XoWSDqlDrlpEWBmqtrfme4w0fBcImyXCjSlYm9FQF64hJMHDlpI3SRdvTrtdKZVJqEhYNmgjTYpjX_FWMmP0Vt0cMxkr-PEMwrS4fZCF2c7XmLk8yY6UIDjihA/s1600-h/bonnet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TnmozPN5ply9XoWSDqlDrlpEWBmqtrfme4w0fBcImyXCjSlYm9FQF64hJMHDlpI3SRdvTrtdKZVJqEhYNmgjTYpjX_FWMmP0Vt0cMxkr-PEMwrS4fZCF2c7XmLk8yY6UIDjihA/s320/bonnet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376571130283684610" border="0" /></a><br />I like making bonnets. I regret that one cannot support oneself as a milliner these days, or at least <span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> couldn't. Mind you, that bonnet did take me about 8 hours to make but a lot of that was trial and error and bad language because I seem to be incapable of following instructions as given.** But I was clever and made the permanent bits of the bonnet in a neutral dark beige. The blue ribbons and trimmings are detachable, so as I expand my Regency wardrobe I can re-trim the bonnet to match.<br /><br />Sunday was odd; I woke up early full of jittery energy. My first thought was that I was dying. But I'm still alive, and I managed to get a lot done. Including buying art. Fantastic art. This kind of art that when you see it you think "I will regret forever not making this part of my environment."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gNM0uPeZLCFTTj-2HTKrotw0uSVHqxUxw1wRx6s3cobYqVMKXAYoK3V6Lw_2wuQ0l6_EAgg9oyBIOH0N6Rg4KX0WO-h_O2vhXVpM5hKm6bCxpAF23_oWNY6YQW9kjgHyrQNDWA/s1600-h/millenium_bird1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gNM0uPeZLCFTTj-2HTKrotw0uSVHqxUxw1wRx6s3cobYqVMKXAYoK3V6Lw_2wuQ0l6_EAgg9oyBIOH0N6Rg4KX0WO-h_O2vhXVpM5hKm6bCxpAF23_oWNY6YQW9kjgHyrQNDWA/s320/millenium_bird1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376571138460496578" border="0" /></a><br />It's from a series called "Millennium Birds" by a pair of artists whose names I forget and I don't have the info with me. It's fantastic. It's got so much detail, and all the found objects just mesh so nicely, and it just makes me so happy every time I see it. There are a couple of more pictures <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12060295@N05/sets/72157622083756853/">here</a>.<br /><br />It's my 10th anniversary present to us, and a celebration of <a href="http://champions-online.com/">Champions Online</a> going live and doing pretty well, and just a commemoration of being happy.<br /><br /><br /><hr /><br />* Aw, crap, I forgot I still have to hem R:tAG's neckcloth. OK, 99.9% complete.<br /><br />** And have good ideas at the point when it's almost-but-not-quite too late to implement them. For example, the brim of the base hat I used was too wide; it stuck up like a satellite dish when the hat was on. So I ripped off the three outer rounds of straw braid, but I did that <span style="font-style: italic;">after </span>I'd cut the hat up, so the force of the ripping also ripped apart several other seams that oughtn't to have been ripped (this was not a quality hat) so I had to fix them, which meant undoing other seams and gluings.<br /><br />Also, I used organdy as a lining instead of nice drapy lace, because I had some lying around. But it's a lot poofier, so wrangling that into the hat took some doing. I ended up cutting it into a sort of shallow tombstone shape because it didn't want to gather without a fight. Organdy is the soccer hooligan of fabric.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885327989629063071noreply@blogger.com3