About the strangest thing that happens around this house on any given week is the random visit by Carla, one of the downstairs suite's previous tenants. We're on decent terms with her, and she's a nice enough girl, but she's usually stoned when she visits and often has a buddy of hers along. It makes my day more surreal whenever I chat with her. Her buddy (the one driving) parks in the back when they're roaming the area on a weekend and they pay us a courtesy call to inform us of that. We haven't had any problems yet, and I know how difficult it is to park in this neighbourhood on a weekend evening.
I'm somewhat surprised that we get along as well as we do, since we're from very different backgrounds. She's too bohemian and I'm too square, though she did once remark that I was the "coolest square" she knew. I consider that quite the compliment, backhanded though it may be, since it's the truth. In many respects, I'm too much my father's son, needing stability and order in all things. My rebelliousness, at present, consists of dyeing my hair blue... a subtler, darker blue, at that. Ooh, Jesus, break out your divine smiting rod, 'cuz this guy's on fire!! But I'm also an artist, a performer, a geek and a highly sensual and philosophical person. So I have to live vicariously through others, and she's one of the candidates.
But it all works. I can call on her during the summer and hire her to do the yardwork, so it balances out. She's nice, she's smart, she's cute and she's got a whole bunch of plans that I hope she pursues. I see far too many "bohemian" types loitering around Whyte Ave., and I don't want her to become one of them.
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Kow boys, and the women who love them
Tonight, we had not one, but two Apocalypse Kow performances.
The first was for our man Joel, who's a medical laboratory technician (MLT) in the virology department at the University of Alberta hospital. As everyone knows, it's National Medical Laboratory Week and we capped the week off nicely for the U of A hospital by performing for a bunch of Joel's co-workers. I had no idea that medical lab technicians had an agency like the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science overseeing the profession, but then, I'm sure many layman aren't aware that there's an Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences that semi-officially represents the videogaming insustry, either; or that the Oscars/Academy Awards are awarded annually by a similar filmmaker's body, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
We've been performing for Joel's co-workers for a few years now, and each year we seem to get more attention. I mean, this year, everyone actually listened to us! In previous years, we've been the stereo turned on in the background--listened to by some, taken as background music by others, and completely ignored by still others. It felt good to have an actual audience again.
Speaking of audiences, our second performance of the evening was a paying gig for the Edmonton Kinette Club, the female branch of the local Kin Club. The event was a fundraiser for WINGS (Women In Need Growing Stronger) of Providence, a second-stage shelter for those women and their children who are recovering from domestic abuse situations, and it was hosted by local media personality, Seanna Collins. The spiritual/religious aspect of the organization wasn't mentioned in all the time we were there, but it was odd to check on all these links and see nothing but strong spiritual/religious overtones throughout these organizations. Don't get me wrong; it doesn't change the way I think about the good these organizations do, nor do I, an avowed agnostic, feel in any way ashamed or "dirty" for being employed by or entertaining such organizations. It's just unusual, again, that all these organizations exist and the layman is completely unaware of them.
The performance went very well, considering we didn't have the main stage of the Italian Cultural Centre on which to perform. Not knowing the layout or sound setup the Centre had, it was difficult to plan how and where we were going to perform. But we improvised and hooked up our own equipment to a power outlet, and performed in a little alcove (why was there an empty alcove there?) near the podium their speakers had used. After a few songs for the whole gathering, we moseyed from table to table, singing for those who weren't socializing or getting in their bids for the silent auction.
We were a moderate hit, insofar as we had some tables waving us over after we'd finished at one station, or handing out business cards to those interested in perhaps hiring us for later gigs. (Incidentally, y'all can email me for more information on hiring Apocalypse Kow for your next function.) One lady even tipped us a fiver, which was neat; I don't think we've ever been tipped before.
It was a long night, but I think we made a lot of people happy.
***
In other news, various parts of my lower extremities have been making it problematic to walk comfortably for the last two months. If it wasn't gout, it was tendonitis. If it wasn't tendonitis, it was gout. I've gotten used to that--a few days' rest and some truly remarkable anti-inflammatories (they've got their own website) make things so much easier on me. But this last bout of bad-walking-osis that has assailed my appendages has been mysteriously inconsistent. This one's in my heel, which normally doesn't feel the brunt of my medical maladies, and it hasn't been diminished by the anti-inflammatories I normally take, which concerns me. I've had these problems for four years now, but nothing new has cropped up for the last three. I think crunch time at work messed me up far more than I gave it credit for, but I think my general habit of being sedentary contributed far more.
I have a doctor's appointment on Monday, so maybe he can suggest something different I can do to ease the pain and walk comfortably again. At the very least, I can get a new prescription for more medication, since I've been trying to ration out the last of my previous prescription. I don't like being dependent on drugs so I only take them when ibuprofen doesn't work, and even then I only take them until I can drop back to using ibuprofen. Here's hoping I can last the next couple of days being in bed or lying on the couch most of the time.
The first was for our man Joel, who's a medical laboratory technician (MLT) in the virology department at the University of Alberta hospital. As everyone knows, it's National Medical Laboratory Week and we capped the week off nicely for the U of A hospital by performing for a bunch of Joel's co-workers. I had no idea that medical lab technicians had an agency like the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science overseeing the profession, but then, I'm sure many layman aren't aware that there's an Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences that semi-officially represents the videogaming insustry, either; or that the Oscars/Academy Awards are awarded annually by a similar filmmaker's body, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
We've been performing for Joel's co-workers for a few years now, and each year we seem to get more attention. I mean, this year, everyone actually listened to us! In previous years, we've been the stereo turned on in the background--listened to by some, taken as background music by others, and completely ignored by still others. It felt good to have an actual audience again.
Speaking of audiences, our second performance of the evening was a paying gig for the Edmonton Kinette Club, the female branch of the local Kin Club. The event was a fundraiser for WINGS (Women In Need Growing Stronger) of Providence, a second-stage shelter for those women and their children who are recovering from domestic abuse situations, and it was hosted by local media personality, Seanna Collins. The spiritual/religious aspect of the organization wasn't mentioned in all the time we were there, but it was odd to check on all these links and see nothing but strong spiritual/religious overtones throughout these organizations. Don't get me wrong; it doesn't change the way I think about the good these organizations do, nor do I, an avowed agnostic, feel in any way ashamed or "dirty" for being employed by or entertaining such organizations. It's just unusual, again, that all these organizations exist and the layman is completely unaware of them.
The performance went very well, considering we didn't have the main stage of the Italian Cultural Centre on which to perform. Not knowing the layout or sound setup the Centre had, it was difficult to plan how and where we were going to perform. But we improvised and hooked up our own equipment to a power outlet, and performed in a little alcove (why was there an empty alcove there?) near the podium their speakers had used. After a few songs for the whole gathering, we moseyed from table to table, singing for those who weren't socializing or getting in their bids for the silent auction.
We were a moderate hit, insofar as we had some tables waving us over after we'd finished at one station, or handing out business cards to those interested in perhaps hiring us for later gigs. (Incidentally, y'all can email me for more information on hiring Apocalypse Kow for your next function.) One lady even tipped us a fiver, which was neat; I don't think we've ever been tipped before.
It was a long night, but I think we made a lot of people happy.
***
In other news, various parts of my lower extremities have been making it problematic to walk comfortably for the last two months. If it wasn't gout, it was tendonitis. If it wasn't tendonitis, it was gout. I've gotten used to that--a few days' rest and some truly remarkable anti-inflammatories (they've got their own website) make things so much easier on me. But this last bout of bad-walking-osis that has assailed my appendages has been mysteriously inconsistent. This one's in my heel, which normally doesn't feel the brunt of my medical maladies, and it hasn't been diminished by the anti-inflammatories I normally take, which concerns me. I've had these problems for four years now, but nothing new has cropped up for the last three. I think crunch time at work messed me up far more than I gave it credit for, but I think my general habit of being sedentary contributed far more.
I have a doctor's appointment on Monday, so maybe he can suggest something different I can do to ease the pain and walk comfortably again. At the very least, I can get a new prescription for more medication, since I've been trying to ration out the last of my previous prescription. I don't like being dependent on drugs so I only take them when ibuprofen doesn't work, and even then I only take them until I can drop back to using ibuprofen. Here's hoping I can last the next couple of days being in bed or lying on the couch most of the time.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Massive attack!
Jago and I just finished a marathon session of Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft (WoW), a massively multiplayer online role-playing game that has the distinction of being the only one to hook me into not only buying the game, but paying an ongoing monthly fee for it as well. I've tried some of the others--Dark Age of Camelot, Planetside and City of Heroes--but while they were fun, they didn't have the elegant simplicity and progressive rewards that World of Warcraft does.
Mythic Entertainment's Dark Age of Camelot was my first foray into the mysterious world of MMORPGs, a world then dominated by the likes of Ultima Online and Everquest. Not wanting to stigmatize myself with the "Evergeek" label, I took a chance with the newer Dark Age of Camelot. Perhaps it was my unfamiliarity with MMORPGs, perhaps I just wasn't ready for a massive, but I didn't even finish off my free first month and the game languished on my shelf. The various character classes were interesting, and it was a decent fantasy setting, but I just couldn't get into it. The world was just too big and the quest-givers were hard to find. It just seemed like too much "work" to get anywhere.
I got into Sony Online Entertainment's Planetside because everyone else in QA was getting into it. I wasn't very good at it, but it was quite a lot of fun. The problems came after the interest in the game dissipated. When interest in the game waned, I found that I didn't really care for the game at all. My enjoyment stemmed from having everyone around me at the office barking orders at each other and devising tactics on the fly. I suppose that's the appeal of Teamspeak; you have instant voice communication with your teammates, which can enhance realism or even the social aspect of the game.
City of Heroes, by Cryptic Studios and NCSoft, was one of those games I'd anticipated ever since I first heard of it. A superhero MMORPG... what kind of comics geek wouldn't want to live their dream? Character creation in that game is the finest I'd seen in any massive; everything is just so customizable. It's not difficult to have a unique look, even though many just choose to emulate their favourite Marvel or DC character. Names, too, are often based on existing comics characters. I think that City of Heroes would have been my choice of MMORPG if it weren't for one critical flaw: no loot. That's right, City of Heroes, as great a game as it is, has no loot. There's simply nothing to have in that game, not even money! Commerce in the game is based on Influence, which is used to buy and sell Enhancements, which in turn are used to add an extra element to one's powers. Enhancements can increase things like damage, duration, speed, range, area of effect and resistance, or reduce things like endurance cost and refresh time. It's an interesting system, but when I'm fantasy gaming, I want stuff! Stuff to buy, sell, equip, compare, create... stuff! That's pretty much what sole me on World of Warcraft over City of Heroes. There's an actual inventory in WoW, and craft skills besides.
So, if you're a World of Warcraft player, come on in and say hello! Here's where you can find me (and Jago):
Cenarion Circle (RP)
Turbine Entertainment has got a couple of licensed offerings in development, and both seem poised to attract thousands of subscribers, based on the license alone! And, as if that weren't exciting enough, it seems Turbine will be self-publishing both titles, a remarkable effort! The first is Dungeons and Dragons Online, which is an ambitious project not only because it will bring a 30-year-old game into the MMORPG market, but because it will us the new campaign setting of Eberron! I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was set in Dark Sun or Dragonlance, but beggars can't be choosers. D&D Online is scheduled for release in 2005. The second is the recently-announced Middle-Earth Online project! I don't think I should say anymore, lest the Tolkien fans start drooling all over my blog. Suffice to say, Middle-Earth Online is scheduled for release in 2006.
Newcomer developer Perpetual Entertainment is creating a Star Trek Online that should pacify all those rabid Trekkies/Trekkers/Trekkians/Trekkites out there who will be starving for a new Star Trek television series for at least a couple of years. There's not a whole lot of information about it yet, but it does look to have a few innovative gameplay concepts.
There are probably some that I'm missing, and some (like GURPS Online) that have already been cencelled, but time will tell if these projects are as good on release as they sound right now.
Mythic Entertainment's Dark Age of Camelot was my first foray into the mysterious world of MMORPGs, a world then dominated by the likes of Ultima Online and Everquest. Not wanting to stigmatize myself with the "Evergeek" label, I took a chance with the newer Dark Age of Camelot. Perhaps it was my unfamiliarity with MMORPGs, perhaps I just wasn't ready for a massive, but I didn't even finish off my free first month and the game languished on my shelf. The various character classes were interesting, and it was a decent fantasy setting, but I just couldn't get into it. The world was just too big and the quest-givers were hard to find. It just seemed like too much "work" to get anywhere.
I got into Sony Online Entertainment's Planetside because everyone else in QA was getting into it. I wasn't very good at it, but it was quite a lot of fun. The problems came after the interest in the game dissipated. When interest in the game waned, I found that I didn't really care for the game at all. My enjoyment stemmed from having everyone around me at the office barking orders at each other and devising tactics on the fly. I suppose that's the appeal of Teamspeak; you have instant voice communication with your teammates, which can enhance realism or even the social aspect of the game.
City of Heroes, by Cryptic Studios and NCSoft, was one of those games I'd anticipated ever since I first heard of it. A superhero MMORPG... what kind of comics geek wouldn't want to live their dream? Character creation in that game is the finest I'd seen in any massive; everything is just so customizable. It's not difficult to have a unique look, even though many just choose to emulate their favourite Marvel or DC character. Names, too, are often based on existing comics characters. I think that City of Heroes would have been my choice of MMORPG if it weren't for one critical flaw: no loot. That's right, City of Heroes, as great a game as it is, has no loot. There's simply nothing to have in that game, not even money! Commerce in the game is based on Influence, which is used to buy and sell Enhancements, which in turn are used to add an extra element to one's powers. Enhancements can increase things like damage, duration, speed, range, area of effect and resistance, or reduce things like endurance cost and refresh time. It's an interesting system, but when I'm fantasy gaming, I want stuff! Stuff to buy, sell, equip, compare, create... stuff! That's pretty much what sole me on World of Warcraft over City of Heroes. There's an actual inventory in WoW, and craft skills besides.
So, if you're a World of Warcraft player, come on in and say hello! Here's where you can find me (and Jago):
Cenarion Circle (RP)
- Novemberrain (Human Warlock 19)
- November (Night Elf Rogue 22)
- Tesla (Undead Warrior 20)
- Filibuster (Gnome Warrior 10) + Jago's Nexxtech (Gnome Rogue 11)
- Tahg (Tauren Shaman 24) + Jago's Kazmerik (Tauren Hunter 24)
Turbine Entertainment has got a couple of licensed offerings in development, and both seem poised to attract thousands of subscribers, based on the license alone! And, as if that weren't exciting enough, it seems Turbine will be self-publishing both titles, a remarkable effort! The first is Dungeons and Dragons Online, which is an ambitious project not only because it will bring a 30-year-old game into the MMORPG market, but because it will us the new campaign setting of Eberron! I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was set in Dark Sun or Dragonlance, but beggars can't be choosers. D&D Online is scheduled for release in 2005. The second is the recently-announced Middle-Earth Online project! I don't think I should say anymore, lest the Tolkien fans start drooling all over my blog. Suffice to say, Middle-Earth Online is scheduled for release in 2006.
Newcomer developer Perpetual Entertainment is creating a Star Trek Online that should pacify all those rabid Trekkies/Trekkers/Trekkians/Trekkites out there who will be starving for a new Star Trek television series for at least a couple of years. There's not a whole lot of information about it yet, but it does look to have a few innovative gameplay concepts.
There are probably some that I'm missing, and some (like GURPS Online) that have already been cencelled, but time will tell if these projects are as good on release as they sound right now.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
It's blog! It's blog! It's big, it's heavy, it's wood!
This whole blogging phenomenon has really taken off. Many of my close friends have them, some have more than one. It was only a matter of time before one of them integrated a blog and their normal, everyday, geeky activities--namely, role-playing. Yes, friends and neighbours, my dear friend, Scotty Bomb, whose blog is now linked in the sidebar, is taking a group of intrepid, yet doomed adventurers into Alderac Entertainment Group's "World's Largest Dungeon." But wait! There's more!
Apparently, the players are blogging their progress in character, and it looks like a lot of fun. I'm both amused and envious. They've started only recently, so don't scoff at the relatively few entries currently on "The World's Largest Blog!"
Apparently, the players are blogging their progress in character, and it looks like a lot of fun. I'm both amused and envious. They've started only recently, so don't scoff at the relatively few entries currently on "The World's Largest Blog!"
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Smart like Jago!
Jago sent me a link to this fun little game/puzzle. Jago solved it before I did, but kudos to me, I also solved it shortly thereafter. I um smrt.
Can you be smart like Jago?
Can you be smart like Jago?
Cthulhu, your wife is on line 4. Cthulhu, line 4...
So, due to other commitments, I had to miss both the premiere of Pavlov Improv and the Pop Culture Fair this weekend. Saturday night was taken up with rehearsals for Maskerade: The Opera, which opens at the end of June, and a Call of Cthulhu (d20) game at a friend's place.
It's always interesting to start gaming with an entirely new group of people. Like going to a new school or starting at a new job, the interpersonal dynamics can be kind of sketchy for a little while. Gaming is no different, as it's a highly social and interactive pasttime. This new group had been gaming together for a little while, and for once, I was the new guy. I'm not one to shy away from meeting new people or new situations, but gaming is one of my passions, and a bad group dynamic would be a disincentive to game with these folk again.
This new group is younger than I am by an average of 5 or 6 years, and their style of adventuring is far different than mine. With my current group--which includes Jago, Dr. Teeth, Axler and sometimes D!--we are very character-oriented, since we all have extensive theatre, improv or other performing experience. Our stories are long and drawn-out, taking full advantage of character interaction and reaction and reveling in new developments in our characters. Conversely, this new group takes a few character traits and runs with them at top speed. There's a lot of meta-gaming and players giving each other hints, and a lot of crude humour and details about vehicles and weapons (one of them is a potential police officer, and several are car enthusiasts).
This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I felt they were a bit too unfocused on the story that our GM had worked out and tended to do things as much for fun and excitement as to investigate and follow the plot. Today was my second game with this group, and we managed to complete the first story... successfully, I might add, despite one of the characters being turned immortal, another fully coming into his own as a mage, and another finally getting to indulge her "lesbian-ness" by distracting a school secretary. While I have my own critiques on the game, players and GM-ing style, I had a lot of fun. Now that the players are all more comfortable with each other, we got some more character interaction going and people became more focused on the story. By the end of the adventure, everyone had contributed to the big, final plan and carried out their part wonderfully.
I don't know if I'm ready to join these folks for additional games--my schedule is getting far too packed this summer--I think I'm going to enjoy these bi-weekly or so Call of Cthulhu games. It's a wonderful rules system and playing in a modern Lovecraftian setting is quite fun... if a little crazy. One always worries that one will fail their Sanity check at a crucial time. Kind of like real life, neh?
It's always interesting to start gaming with an entirely new group of people. Like going to a new school or starting at a new job, the interpersonal dynamics can be kind of sketchy for a little while. Gaming is no different, as it's a highly social and interactive pasttime. This new group had been gaming together for a little while, and for once, I was the new guy. I'm not one to shy away from meeting new people or new situations, but gaming is one of my passions, and a bad group dynamic would be a disincentive to game with these folk again.
This new group is younger than I am by an average of 5 or 6 years, and their style of adventuring is far different than mine. With my current group--which includes Jago, Dr. Teeth, Axler and sometimes D!--we are very character-oriented, since we all have extensive theatre, improv or other performing experience. Our stories are long and drawn-out, taking full advantage of character interaction and reaction and reveling in new developments in our characters. Conversely, this new group takes a few character traits and runs with them at top speed. There's a lot of meta-gaming and players giving each other hints, and a lot of crude humour and details about vehicles and weapons (one of them is a potential police officer, and several are car enthusiasts).
This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I felt they were a bit too unfocused on the story that our GM had worked out and tended to do things as much for fun and excitement as to investigate and follow the plot. Today was my second game with this group, and we managed to complete the first story... successfully, I might add, despite one of the characters being turned immortal, another fully coming into his own as a mage, and another finally getting to indulge her "lesbian-ness" by distracting a school secretary. While I have my own critiques on the game, players and GM-ing style, I had a lot of fun. Now that the players are all more comfortable with each other, we got some more character interaction going and people became more focused on the story. By the end of the adventure, everyone had contributed to the big, final plan and carried out their part wonderfully.
I don't know if I'm ready to join these folks for additional games--my schedule is getting far too packed this summer--I think I'm going to enjoy these bi-weekly or so Call of Cthulhu games. It's a wonderful rules system and playing in a modern Lovecraftian setting is quite fun... if a little crazy. One always worries that one will fail their Sanity check at a crucial time. Kind of like real life, neh?
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Portico. Politico. Pepsico. Skeptico?
Adding a new link to the "Not Ninjas" sidebar. It's a link to Skeptico, the skeptics and critical thinking blog that does what James Randi, among countless others, has been encouraging people to do for many years: think logically and rationally about what we're told. Think about it. No, really, think about it. We are told many things throughout each and every day: what Jim had for lunch, where Fran got those lovely shoes, why the Hannover account has to be checked, who wins Popular Reality Show, when the super neato gizmo we ordered will arrive. These are pretty simple things to hear, understand and know, because they don't require a whole heck of a lot of independent verification. Jim was at lunch, so he knows what he ate; Fran bought those shoes, and she knows where; the Hannover account is your firm's largest account, so it's checked daily to keep your biggest clients happy; you watch Popular Reality Show and see Miss Harriet take the top prize; and the Gizmo Company website lists a 4-6 week delivery time.
But (and this is where it gets tricky) we are also told many other things throughout each and every day, things which are not so easily verified, and not necessarily by any first-hand source: what gives Super-Water its extra molecule; where the Nigerians are keeping the umpteen jillion dollars; why Brand Acme is better for you; who the folk vetting these homeopathic remedies are; when the world will end. These such things are more difficult to verify because, first off, one has to believe that these things exist or are beneficial. Sure, the Super-Water company can tell you that the trans-systemic E-harmonic vibrations give Super-Water an extra molecule, making it wetter, more liquid and better for the human body. But, honestly... "trans-systemic?" "E-harmonic vibrations?" "Extra molecule???" Does anyone even think about what they're told anymore?
Today's (April 22, 2005) article on Skeptico is on the purported beneficial properties of wheatgrass. You know what I'm talking about. Booster Juice is the wheatgrass dealer 'round these parts, and they can't say enough good things about it. Hell, I've been itching to bite the bullet and down a couple shots of wheatgrass for some time now, just to see if it's really all that and a bag of chips. But after reading up on it, from a biological and chemical point of view, it doesn't seem to be all that great anymore. I mean, from a marketing standpoint, it's a fantastic product that is sure to help everybody who tries it. The cold, bitter truth of it, however, is far less flattering.
So, it turns out that I'm not going to try wheatgrass, after all. I might, anyway, just to see how bad it really tastes and to say that I've done it, but I'm not going to take this here soapbox and use it to laud wheatgrass' effects, any more than I'd praise the benefits of Penta water over the stuff I boil at home or a Kaballah red string over a stale doughnut worn on my wrist (crullers conduct Kirlian energy better, don't you know?). I'm going to think more about the things I'm being sold, especially the "miracle" things, and listen to the learned skeptics and critical thinkers of the world because they know more about physics, medicine and chemistry than I do, and because they've been exposed to more quackery and misrepresentation than I have.
If you'd like more information on the subject, check out my new friend, Skeptico. There are tons of links to skeptic and critical thinking organizations in its sidebar. Also, James Randi and other fine folks at the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) deal with this kind of thing every week.
But (and this is where it gets tricky) we are also told many other things throughout each and every day, things which are not so easily verified, and not necessarily by any first-hand source: what gives Super-Water its extra molecule; where the Nigerians are keeping the umpteen jillion dollars; why Brand Acme is better for you; who the folk vetting these homeopathic remedies are; when the world will end. These such things are more difficult to verify because, first off, one has to believe that these things exist or are beneficial. Sure, the Super-Water company can tell you that the trans-systemic E-harmonic vibrations give Super-Water an extra molecule, making it wetter, more liquid and better for the human body. But, honestly... "trans-systemic?" "E-harmonic vibrations?" "Extra molecule???" Does anyone even think about what they're told anymore?
Today's (April 22, 2005) article on Skeptico is on the purported beneficial properties of wheatgrass. You know what I'm talking about. Booster Juice is the wheatgrass dealer 'round these parts, and they can't say enough good things about it. Hell, I've been itching to bite the bullet and down a couple shots of wheatgrass for some time now, just to see if it's really all that and a bag of chips. But after reading up on it, from a biological and chemical point of view, it doesn't seem to be all that great anymore. I mean, from a marketing standpoint, it's a fantastic product that is sure to help everybody who tries it. The cold, bitter truth of it, however, is far less flattering.
So, it turns out that I'm not going to try wheatgrass, after all. I might, anyway, just to see how bad it really tastes and to say that I've done it, but I'm not going to take this here soapbox and use it to laud wheatgrass' effects, any more than I'd praise the benefits of Penta water over the stuff I boil at home or a Kaballah red string over a stale doughnut worn on my wrist (crullers conduct Kirlian energy better, don't you know?). I'm going to think more about the things I'm being sold, especially the "miracle" things, and listen to the learned skeptics and critical thinkers of the world because they know more about physics, medicine and chemistry than I do, and because they've been exposed to more quackery and misrepresentation than I have.
If you'd like more information on the subject, check out my new friend, Skeptico. There are tons of links to skeptic and critical thinking organizations in its sidebar. Also, James Randi and other fine folks at the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) deal with this kind of thing every week.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Beware of geeks bearing .GIFs...
Okay, the pun in the title only works if you pronounce "GIF" with a hard G. If you pronounce it like the peanut butter ("Jif"), then you'll think I'm an unfunny assclown, which, I'm sad to say, I am. This little postlet is to inform all y'all of the birth of yet another blog: The Edmonton Geek Society (permanent link in the sidebar)! There, you'll find stuff that you'd normally see here: movie reviews, comic reviews, pop culture events. In short, anything that geeks could possibly enjoy.
We're doomed.
We're doomed.
The couple that shaves together...
You know, I've always wondered what it would take for me to shave my head. I mean, I've suggested it to the guys in Apocalypse Kow before, but Dr. Teeth says he wouldn't look good with a shaved head. Hell, I wonder if any of us would look good bald! Gil would, but Gil would look good if he were covered in asphalt with a side of ugly. That's right, girls, he's that good-looking. And he's got a tattoo!
But that's not the point of this post. The point is that people will shave their head for any number of reasons, not the least of which is that it's springtime and soon it will be bloody hot outside, and who wants all that hair to insulate the head? Besides, you can't have an all-over tan without tanning that part of you that sees the least sun. No, I'm not talking about the ass, since it receives quite a lot of exposure in this age of thongs and short-shorts. Mmmm... thongs and short-shorts... No, i'm talking about the head. Very few of us are bald (either voluntarily or not), and fewer of us would become so by choice.
But that's why we have fundraising efforts by Canadian cancer organizations. Even if you don't want to go bald, would you shave your head to raise money for a cancer patient? Put that way, the answer is more likely to be "yes." In fact, these last few years have seen the number of my friends and acquaintances participating in such fundraising events, skyrocket. Guys, girls, it doesn't matter. What matters is that they're doing it for a good cause, and bully for them!
Jo-Jo and Gray-Me are two friends who ended up getting married to each other. They currently live in B.C. He's some sort of high-falutin' managerial type at EA Canada, she's... I don't remember what she's doing now, but she's also known as Plaid Devil, and there's a link to her blog in the sidebar. Together, they fight crime! Okay, maybe not, but they're certainly helping to fight cancer. Both of them shaved their heads for cancer, and gave me permission to post a picture of them here (that's Jo-Jo on the left). They were even able to keep Jo-Jo's long, luxurious hair to make a wig out of it! That's awesome-tacular!
Jo-Jo and Gray-Me
So, if you can spare the hair, please participate in your local cancer organization's fundraising event. Or, if you're squeamish and can't stand scissors and electric shavers, then become a blood donor instead. That way, you only have to deal with needles and highly personal questions about your sex life and possible drug habits (or, in my case, the other way around). This has been a Ninja Service Announcement, which no one can see, because ninjas don't exist. Dang!
But that's not the point of this post. The point is that people will shave their head for any number of reasons, not the least of which is that it's springtime and soon it will be bloody hot outside, and who wants all that hair to insulate the head? Besides, you can't have an all-over tan without tanning that part of you that sees the least sun. No, I'm not talking about the ass, since it receives quite a lot of exposure in this age of thongs and short-shorts. Mmmm... thongs and short-shorts... No, i'm talking about the head. Very few of us are bald (either voluntarily or not), and fewer of us would become so by choice.
But that's why we have fundraising efforts by Canadian cancer organizations. Even if you don't want to go bald, would you shave your head to raise money for a cancer patient? Put that way, the answer is more likely to be "yes." In fact, these last few years have seen the number of my friends and acquaintances participating in such fundraising events, skyrocket. Guys, girls, it doesn't matter. What matters is that they're doing it for a good cause, and bully for them!
Jo-Jo and Gray-Me are two friends who ended up getting married to each other. They currently live in B.C. He's some sort of high-falutin' managerial type at EA Canada, she's... I don't remember what she's doing now, but she's also known as Plaid Devil, and there's a link to her blog in the sidebar. Together, they fight crime! Okay, maybe not, but they're certainly helping to fight cancer. Both of them shaved their heads for cancer, and gave me permission to post a picture of them here (that's Jo-Jo on the left). They were even able to keep Jo-Jo's long, luxurious hair to make a wig out of it! That's awesome-tacular!
Jo-Jo and Gray-Me
So, if you can spare the hair, please participate in your local cancer organization's fundraising event. Or, if you're squeamish and can't stand scissors and electric shavers, then become a blood donor instead. That way, you only have to deal with needles and highly personal questions about your sex life and possible drug habits (or, in my case, the other way around). This has been a Ninja Service Announcement, which no one can see, because ninjas don't exist. Dang!
Monday, April 18, 2005
You got the know when to hold 'em...
Just finished watching "God of Gamblers: The Return," the 1994 sequel of the classic Hong Kong gambling fantadramedy starring Chow Yun-Fat. The film features the return of Chow's "Ko Chun, the God of Gamblers" character and is set four years after the original "God of Gamblers." Here, Ko Chun has retired to Paris where he and his wife are expecting a son. Ko's idyllic life in self-imposed retirement is shattered when Chan Kam-Shing, Ko's final opponent in the original film, brings a new player to help him get revenge on Ko.
This new player is none other than Chao Siu Chi, the Taiwanese Devil of Gamblers, and he doesn't mess around. Within the first few minutes of the movie, Chao double-crosses Chan Kam-Shing when the two gamblers and their entourage invade Ko's mansion. When Ko returns with his faithful bodyguard Lung Wu, our heroes fight their way up to Ko's wife, who has had her unborn child mercilessly ripped from her womb by Chao. Ko makes a deathbed promise to his wife that he will neither gamble nor identify himself to be the God of Gamblers for one year. Of particular note during the firefight is a shot where Ko, with guns in hand, leaps to the side. Lung Wu kicks a couple of clips directly into the guns while Ko is in the air! Neat!
Unable to exact his revenge, Ko travels. 11 months later, he befriends Hoi On, a Taiwanese syndicate member who, unbeknownst to Ko, has ties to Chao Siu Chi (hey, they have to get these plots rolling somehow) through the Wung Tu Group. Due to some strife within the group Hoi dies, but not before making Ko promise to take Hoi's son home.
Along the way, Ko and little Hoi Yuen (Miu Tse) are captured by Chinese police captain Kok Ching-Chung. Ko and the child escape police custody and hole up in a hotel run by a man and his niece and nephew. The niece and nephew, nicknamed "Little Guitar" and "Little Trumpet," respectively, attempt to con Ko and Hoi Yuen but end up aiding and abetting the two fugitives when Captain Kok and the police arrive. Little Guitar, whose real name is Siu Yiu-Yiu, has a girlish crush on the God of Gamblers but doesn't believe a girl like her would ever be lucky enough to meet her favourite celebrity. She does, however, think her new traveling companion looks a bit like her idol when viewed from behind.
The entire group ends up in Taiwan a couple of days early. Minor hijinks ensue; Captain Kok loosens up, being promoted from caricature to sidekick/comedy relief; Siu Yiu-Yiu and Hoi Yuen manage to get themselves kidnapped by Chao's men; and Little Trumpet gets to play God of Gamblers to divert suspicion from Ko and to woo a pretty girl.
This all culminates in the final showdown between the God of Gamblers and the Devil of Gamblers. Two billion dollars, a hijacked US$16 billion children's fund, body parts and very lives of two of the greatest gamblers in the east rest on the table between the gambling duelists.
I found this film to be much more enjoyable than its predecessor. The story was much tighter and tension was higher, but the line between fantasy, comedy and drama is still very vague and transitory. I grew up with these kinds of films, so I didn't find it unusual that a dramatic scene can quickly take a slapstick turn, or a fantasy action sequence turns to comedy then drama, all within a few lines. The character of Ko Chun doesn't get much more development in this film, since it's assumed that the "God of Gamblers" is enough of a character for an audience to grasp. The supporting characters are there to give Ko Chun something to react to, and they are separated into two groups.
The first group is Ko's traveling companions, who are all colourful, dynamic and generally sunshine and lollipops. They are there to elicit sympathy when they're attacked, cheered when they fight, and give the stone cold Ko someone to empathize with. They are also there to provide the comedy. The other group is comprised of the big players: ruthless gamblers and heartless killers. They are there to do the dirty work and provide the dramatic tension. Except for Ko and maybe Hoi Yuen, neither of the two groups ever tread on each other's territory. Never do we see Siu Yiu-Yiu competently kick ass, or Lung Wu slip on a banana peel and fall into the bosom of a large woman. Hilarity never ensues when Chan Kam-Shing's around, and Captain Kok is never taken seriously enough to be considered a threat.
But that's par for the course. Archetypes, outrageously short shooting schedules and overdubbing are Hong Kong movie staples. This film isn't Oscar material, but it's got a little something for everyone. I would highly recommend this film as a stand-alone viewing experience, or in conjunction with its predecessor. Heck, I'd even recommend it as an introduction to the subgenre of fantasy gambling films, where martial arts and gambling combine for high stakes action and unreal gambling duels.
This film is not to be confused with Stephen Chow's similar sounding "Du sheng/All for the Winner" or "Dou hap/God of Gamblers II," which is sequel to both "God of Gamblers" (Andy Lau's "Dagger Chan" character co-stars) and "All for the Winner" (Stephen Chow's "Saint of Gamblers" character co-stars). Weird. The closest that North American films come to that would probably be the first few Quentin Tarantino films, all of which are complete-in-themselves films but are set in the same universe.
This new player is none other than Chao Siu Chi, the Taiwanese Devil of Gamblers, and he doesn't mess around. Within the first few minutes of the movie, Chao double-crosses Chan Kam-Shing when the two gamblers and their entourage invade Ko's mansion. When Ko returns with his faithful bodyguard Lung Wu, our heroes fight their way up to Ko's wife, who has had her unborn child mercilessly ripped from her womb by Chao. Ko makes a deathbed promise to his wife that he will neither gamble nor identify himself to be the God of Gamblers for one year. Of particular note during the firefight is a shot where Ko, with guns in hand, leaps to the side. Lung Wu kicks a couple of clips directly into the guns while Ko is in the air! Neat!
Unable to exact his revenge, Ko travels. 11 months later, he befriends Hoi On, a Taiwanese syndicate member who, unbeknownst to Ko, has ties to Chao Siu Chi (hey, they have to get these plots rolling somehow) through the Wung Tu Group. Due to some strife within the group Hoi dies, but not before making Ko promise to take Hoi's son home.
Along the way, Ko and little Hoi Yuen (Miu Tse) are captured by Chinese police captain Kok Ching-Chung. Ko and the child escape police custody and hole up in a hotel run by a man and his niece and nephew. The niece and nephew, nicknamed "Little Guitar" and "Little Trumpet," respectively, attempt to con Ko and Hoi Yuen but end up aiding and abetting the two fugitives when Captain Kok and the police arrive. Little Guitar, whose real name is Siu Yiu-Yiu, has a girlish crush on the God of Gamblers but doesn't believe a girl like her would ever be lucky enough to meet her favourite celebrity. She does, however, think her new traveling companion looks a bit like her idol when viewed from behind.
The entire group ends up in Taiwan a couple of days early. Minor hijinks ensue; Captain Kok loosens up, being promoted from caricature to sidekick/comedy relief; Siu Yiu-Yiu and Hoi Yuen manage to get themselves kidnapped by Chao's men; and Little Trumpet gets to play God of Gamblers to divert suspicion from Ko and to woo a pretty girl.
This all culminates in the final showdown between the God of Gamblers and the Devil of Gamblers. Two billion dollars, a hijacked US$16 billion children's fund, body parts and very lives of two of the greatest gamblers in the east rest on the table between the gambling duelists.
I found this film to be much more enjoyable than its predecessor. The story was much tighter and tension was higher, but the line between fantasy, comedy and drama is still very vague and transitory. I grew up with these kinds of films, so I didn't find it unusual that a dramatic scene can quickly take a slapstick turn, or a fantasy action sequence turns to comedy then drama, all within a few lines. The character of Ko Chun doesn't get much more development in this film, since it's assumed that the "God of Gamblers" is enough of a character for an audience to grasp. The supporting characters are there to give Ko Chun something to react to, and they are separated into two groups.
The first group is Ko's traveling companions, who are all colourful, dynamic and generally sunshine and lollipops. They are there to elicit sympathy when they're attacked, cheered when they fight, and give the stone cold Ko someone to empathize with. They are also there to provide the comedy. The other group is comprised of the big players: ruthless gamblers and heartless killers. They are there to do the dirty work and provide the dramatic tension. Except for Ko and maybe Hoi Yuen, neither of the two groups ever tread on each other's territory. Never do we see Siu Yiu-Yiu competently kick ass, or Lung Wu slip on a banana peel and fall into the bosom of a large woman. Hilarity never ensues when Chan Kam-Shing's around, and Captain Kok is never taken seriously enough to be considered a threat.
But that's par for the course. Archetypes, outrageously short shooting schedules and overdubbing are Hong Kong movie staples. This film isn't Oscar material, but it's got a little something for everyone. I would highly recommend this film as a stand-alone viewing experience, or in conjunction with its predecessor. Heck, I'd even recommend it as an introduction to the subgenre of fantasy gambling films, where martial arts and gambling combine for high stakes action and unreal gambling duels.
This film is not to be confused with Stephen Chow's similar sounding "Du sheng/All for the Winner" or "Dou hap/God of Gamblers II," which is sequel to both "God of Gamblers" (Andy Lau's "Dagger Chan" character co-stars) and "All for the Winner" (Stephen Chow's "Saint of Gamblers" character co-stars). Weird. The closest that North American films come to that would probably be the first few Quentin Tarantino films, all of which are complete-in-themselves films but are set in the same universe.
Friday, April 15, 2005
Incredible!
Wednesday evening was spent watching "The Incredibles" on DVD, with intermittent Jago accompaniment (he was shuttling back and forth between the couch and the kitchen). It remains one of the best animated films EVAR, and it's one of my two favourite Disney/Pixar animated features. The other is "Finding Nemo." Unlike "Finding Nemo," I saw "The Incredibles" in the theatre shortly after it came out. With "Finding Nemo," I borrowed the DVD from my brother earlier this year. But both films were beautifully rendered, superbly voice acted and even brought a tear to my eye at times. Both are tremendous family films, and the folks at Pixar are to be commended for their intelligent scripts and attention to detail and quality. I don't see why any family film can't be as intelligent or mature as the ones Disney/Pixar creates, and instead has to be mindless fluff with a saccharine screenplay, sunshine-and-lollipops cinematography and a complete lack of danger or maturity.
Perhaps it's because I have a great deal of respect and admiration for the animation medium, or maybe it's because I'm a long-time Pixar fan, but I'm simply not impressed with the quality or content of "family-friendly" films or television these days. I think that the North American audience is being denied quality programming and features because of a highly vocal (and often litigious) "politically-correct" "conservative" "family-values oriented" minority. This minority is represented (in the United States, at least) by powerful lobby groups. You know, the ones who blame the media of today for every little non-PC thing kids do these days. If a kid holds hands with a girl he likes, this minority group views it as one small step below pre-marital, promiscuous, unprotected sex. If a kid pushes down another kid in the schoolyard, the minority group will treat it as the first step in a long life of violent crime. Because, you know, without hyperbole and sensationalism, these people would be dismissed as loudmouthed assbanjos. How does that old adage go? If you lie often enough and loudly enough, it will sound like the truth. I think that's it.
Anyway, I've gone off-topic into rant territory. "The Incredibles" is one of those films I would recommend to any one of my friends, from the gothy subculture-immersed to the church-going pacifists, from the flamboyant artistes to the staid family men, from the near and dear to the casual acquaintance. I think everyone could benefit from the Incredibles and how they present the family dynamic and the problems they frequently run into. Sure, not many families are superheroes, but many have parents who are unhappy with their job, or have kids who are experiencing difficulties socializing or working at their full potential. And the Incredibles doesn't just sugar-coat it with a "be good and pure and faithful and pious and everything will magically be okay" candy. It emphasizes the hard work that's necessary in maintaining a household. The film teaches the benefits of cooperation within the family and the support network the family must have in dealing with external conflict. It is a far more reasonable depiction of family life than, say, the slapstick "Christmas with the Kranks" or the unrealistically banal "New York Minute."
***
In other news, I'm postponing my "Sin City" review until more people have seen it, preferably with me in tow. I'd love to see it again, and unlike most films, it won't be any less spectacular or visceral the second time around. Forget about it being a comic book movie, though it is currently the epitome of such. Calling "Sin City" a mere comic book movie would be like calling "Star Wars" a space opera, or "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" a kung fu classic, or "The Incredibles" a superhero cartoon. In my opinion, all of the movies I listed transcend genre and should be required viewing if one is to consider oneself a movie-discussing ninja, which I most certainly do.
***
Last night, BioWare celebrated their 10-year anniversary and the launch of our latest game, Jade Empire. The shindig was held in the lobby of the Francis Winspear Centre for Music, which was the strangest place I've ever attended a BioWare event--even stranger than the Edmonton Queen riverboat. I showed up a little late with Darth Molly, who was looking very pretty in smart pinstriped pants and a bold, red top. I was in a suit with a bold blue shirt, so we were coordinated quite nicely. Dinner was, as always, a fantastic buffet-style affair which included sushi and the ubiquitous prime rib on the end. I suggested to my table that we go with lobsters at the next party, but I don't think it's going to happen.
Throughout the night, we were entertained by our master of ceremonies, none other than CFRN's Graham Neil! He was very funny and kept the evening moving along smoothly, from drawing for prizes after dinner to ushering people into the auditorium proper for the video and stage festivities. The show in the auditorium was kind of weird. It reminded me of that Steve Ballmer dancing video that made its way round the intarweb a couple years back. Our party felt like that kind of presentation, like we were losing the "garage band" nature of the company and edging towards "corporate." Ray and Greg spoke fondly of the company and Jade Empire, producer Jim Bishop was very sentimental and gracious in his thanks to the company and people that had worked on his project for the last three years, and senior programmer Scott Greig and Senior Artist Mike Sass presented Ray and Greg with "BioWare 10th Anniversary" posters they had made. After more thank-yous, adding some for the Microsoft personnel who had also joined the party, and for the composer for Jade Empire, Jack Wall.
Then came the dancers. That's right, I said dancers. But unlike a "corporate" function, which would surely feature professional dancers and performers, we were treated to traditional dance courtesy of McNally High School's Chinese Cultural Club. There was a Red Fan Dance featuring 8 girls with--you guessed it!--red fans. Then there was a courtship dance which was also fan-centric. The third dance, a Tibetan dance fully ten times more energetic than the previous two, was very impressive. Colourful costumes, energetic movements and long billowing sleeves really impressed the audience. But none of were prepared for the final act: a dragon pearl presentation. A long fabric dragon "controlled" by a dozen students whirled and wended its way all around and across that Winspear stage in pursuit of a pearl held by another student. After 15 minutes of sinuous twists and turns accompanied by a single heavy drum, the entertainment portion of the evening was over. It was kinda neat!
Back in the lobby once again, the company split up into a couple of groups. One group full of Texas holdem poker enthusiasts repaired to the Founder's Room to play their game of choice, while the rest of us stayed in the lobby to have snacks and socialize and take advantage of the open bar (a BioWare event staple).
After the Winspear shut down, the group splintered once again. One group of intrepid partiers went to the home of artist and part-time DJ Sherridon Routley, who goes by the stage name Diabolik. You may have seen him spinning at the old Rebar back in the day. The other group of BioWarians went home to sleep. I was one of the latter group.
Jade Empire looks like it's going to be a huge success, judging by the comments we've received so far on the BioWare message boards. Check it out!
Perhaps it's because I have a great deal of respect and admiration for the animation medium, or maybe it's because I'm a long-time Pixar fan, but I'm simply not impressed with the quality or content of "family-friendly" films or television these days. I think that the North American audience is being denied quality programming and features because of a highly vocal (and often litigious) "politically-correct" "conservative" "family-values oriented" minority. This minority is represented (in the United States, at least) by powerful lobby groups. You know, the ones who blame the media of today for every little non-PC thing kids do these days. If a kid holds hands with a girl he likes, this minority group views it as one small step below pre-marital, promiscuous, unprotected sex. If a kid pushes down another kid in the schoolyard, the minority group will treat it as the first step in a long life of violent crime. Because, you know, without hyperbole and sensationalism, these people would be dismissed as loudmouthed assbanjos. How does that old adage go? If you lie often enough and loudly enough, it will sound like the truth. I think that's it.
Anyway, I've gone off-topic into rant territory. "The Incredibles" is one of those films I would recommend to any one of my friends, from the gothy subculture-immersed to the church-going pacifists, from the flamboyant artistes to the staid family men, from the near and dear to the casual acquaintance. I think everyone could benefit from the Incredibles and how they present the family dynamic and the problems they frequently run into. Sure, not many families are superheroes, but many have parents who are unhappy with their job, or have kids who are experiencing difficulties socializing or working at their full potential. And the Incredibles doesn't just sugar-coat it with a "be good and pure and faithful and pious and everything will magically be okay" candy. It emphasizes the hard work that's necessary in maintaining a household. The film teaches the benefits of cooperation within the family and the support network the family must have in dealing with external conflict. It is a far more reasonable depiction of family life than, say, the slapstick "Christmas with the Kranks" or the unrealistically banal "New York Minute."
***
In other news, I'm postponing my "Sin City" review until more people have seen it, preferably with me in tow. I'd love to see it again, and unlike most films, it won't be any less spectacular or visceral the second time around. Forget about it being a comic book movie, though it is currently the epitome of such. Calling "Sin City" a mere comic book movie would be like calling "Star Wars" a space opera, or "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" a kung fu classic, or "The Incredibles" a superhero cartoon. In my opinion, all of the movies I listed transcend genre and should be required viewing if one is to consider oneself a movie-discussing ninja, which I most certainly do.
***
Last night, BioWare celebrated their 10-year anniversary and the launch of our latest game, Jade Empire. The shindig was held in the lobby of the Francis Winspear Centre for Music, which was the strangest place I've ever attended a BioWare event--even stranger than the Edmonton Queen riverboat. I showed up a little late with Darth Molly, who was looking very pretty in smart pinstriped pants and a bold, red top. I was in a suit with a bold blue shirt, so we were coordinated quite nicely. Dinner was, as always, a fantastic buffet-style affair which included sushi and the ubiquitous prime rib on the end. I suggested to my table that we go with lobsters at the next party, but I don't think it's going to happen.
Throughout the night, we were entertained by our master of ceremonies, none other than CFRN's Graham Neil! He was very funny and kept the evening moving along smoothly, from drawing for prizes after dinner to ushering people into the auditorium proper for the video and stage festivities. The show in the auditorium was kind of weird. It reminded me of that Steve Ballmer dancing video that made its way round the intarweb a couple years back. Our party felt like that kind of presentation, like we were losing the "garage band" nature of the company and edging towards "corporate." Ray and Greg spoke fondly of the company and Jade Empire, producer Jim Bishop was very sentimental and gracious in his thanks to the company and people that had worked on his project for the last three years, and senior programmer Scott Greig and Senior Artist Mike Sass presented Ray and Greg with "BioWare 10th Anniversary" posters they had made. After more thank-yous, adding some for the Microsoft personnel who had also joined the party, and for the composer for Jade Empire, Jack Wall.
Then came the dancers. That's right, I said dancers. But unlike a "corporate" function, which would surely feature professional dancers and performers, we were treated to traditional dance courtesy of McNally High School's Chinese Cultural Club. There was a Red Fan Dance featuring 8 girls with--you guessed it!--red fans. Then there was a courtship dance which was also fan-centric. The third dance, a Tibetan dance fully ten times more energetic than the previous two, was very impressive. Colourful costumes, energetic movements and long billowing sleeves really impressed the audience. But none of were prepared for the final act: a dragon pearl presentation. A long fabric dragon "controlled" by a dozen students whirled and wended its way all around and across that Winspear stage in pursuit of a pearl held by another student. After 15 minutes of sinuous twists and turns accompanied by a single heavy drum, the entertainment portion of the evening was over. It was kinda neat!
Back in the lobby once again, the company split up into a couple of groups. One group full of Texas holdem poker enthusiasts repaired to the Founder's Room to play their game of choice, while the rest of us stayed in the lobby to have snacks and socialize and take advantage of the open bar (a BioWare event staple).
After the Winspear shut down, the group splintered once again. One group of intrepid partiers went to the home of artist and part-time DJ Sherridon Routley, who goes by the stage name Diabolik. You may have seen him spinning at the old Rebar back in the day. The other group of BioWarians went home to sleep. I was one of the latter group.
Jade Empire looks like it's going to be a huge success, judging by the comments we've received so far on the BioWare message boards. Check it out!
Thursday, April 14, 2005
The wonders of the Jade Empire
I know I was saving up my review of Sin City, but something more important came up. "What?" I hear you say. "More important than Sin City? What's more important than Sin City?" Well, very little, is the answer. But this "something" is one of those very little things. Of course, I'm talking about the imminent release of BioWare's action-packed martial arts-themed action-RPG for the XBox: JADE EMPIRE. That's right, the newest addition to the BioWare line of critically-acclaimed role-playing games has finally arrived. After two and a half years of pain-staking labour, with the last year or so being of particular frustration and pain for a certain worst ninja ever, I can finally sit back and see what everyone else thinks of it.
BioWare's done a real good thing with this title, I think. They haven't fallen into the trap of making the martial arts aspect and trivializing it or making it a caricature. Our designers and writers paid a lot of attention to source material spanning 30 years and various levels of quality, from the dime-a-dozen "chop socky" poorly-titled films of the seventies ("Crane Embloodens Five Dragons," or some such) to the glorious, high-budget masterpieces of today ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Hero," etc). While I would have liked to have seen an actual Asian person on the writing or design team, I think our end-product is an immersive, explosive game that will appeal to a mainstream North American audience without offending or alienating the Asian community. It's intelligent, epic, and full of great storytelling. That's not to say that we won't receive our share of complaints, however.
Indeed, on the Jade Empire forums before the game was finished, we got complaints about the game not resembling ancient China enough or the clothing not being authentic enough or the martial arts being all wrong. Our explanation was always that the Jade Empire is inspired by a mythological China that might have been and, as such, we were permitted to take some liberties with the source material. Also, we knew that, were we to try to emulate Chinese art and architecture and clothing precisely, we would fail miserably and we would get even more complaints. Besides, how much fun is poverty, overpopulation and isolation in an RPG, anyway? You want authentic, go play SimSerf or Fiefdom Tycoon or Age of Peons or Caste War Online.
But no, we erred on the side of fun. We've created a oriental fantasy world filled with martial arts, magic, ghosts, demons, flying machines and floating palaces; a world that lives and breathes and kicks a lot of Rat Demon ass; a place where a promising martial arts student in a remote village gets swept up in events that will unravel a 20-year-old puzzle and potentially destroy an entire dynasty.
So far, response has been overwhelmingly positive. We've gotten a spate of highly positive reviews, including a perfect 10/10 score from GamesDomain and numerous scores in the high 9's. Even our "bad" reviews have us in the mid 8's, so the game can't be that bad, right? Even those "low" scores weren't enough to drive down our average score of 93%, according to GameRankings, which collects and averages multiple reviews. Microsoft has been a great help in getting word of this game out to as many people as possible--through print ads in magazines, commercials in front of movies and commercials on television. This has really driven our Google hits to levels that exceed Fable's, and that was a game that was very well anticipated! (Yes, I use the Swedish Chef Google.)
If you haven't already, go and grab the Limited Edition version, which includes an alternate playable character and a different weapon style, as well as a "Making Of" DVD! What are you waiting for? You need more reasons for picking up this game?
Okay, how about tremendous voice-over work from some well-known voices, like Cam Clarke, John Cleese, Nathan Fillion and Armin Shimerman? How about real-time combat? How about BioWare's first original intellectual property? How about minigames? Pit fighting? Vengeful ghost children? 30 different martial arts styles? How's that? Does that do it for you? I certainly hope so!
BioWare's done a real good thing with this title, I think. They haven't fallen into the trap of making the martial arts aspect and trivializing it or making it a caricature. Our designers and writers paid a lot of attention to source material spanning 30 years and various levels of quality, from the dime-a-dozen "chop socky" poorly-titled films of the seventies ("Crane Embloodens Five Dragons," or some such) to the glorious, high-budget masterpieces of today ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Hero," etc). While I would have liked to have seen an actual Asian person on the writing or design team, I think our end-product is an immersive, explosive game that will appeal to a mainstream North American audience without offending or alienating the Asian community. It's intelligent, epic, and full of great storytelling. That's not to say that we won't receive our share of complaints, however.
Indeed, on the Jade Empire forums before the game was finished, we got complaints about the game not resembling ancient China enough or the clothing not being authentic enough or the martial arts being all wrong. Our explanation was always that the Jade Empire is inspired by a mythological China that might have been and, as such, we were permitted to take some liberties with the source material. Also, we knew that, were we to try to emulate Chinese art and architecture and clothing precisely, we would fail miserably and we would get even more complaints. Besides, how much fun is poverty, overpopulation and isolation in an RPG, anyway? You want authentic, go play SimSerf or Fiefdom Tycoon or Age of Peons or Caste War Online.
But no, we erred on the side of fun. We've created a oriental fantasy world filled with martial arts, magic, ghosts, demons, flying machines and floating palaces; a world that lives and breathes and kicks a lot of Rat Demon ass; a place where a promising martial arts student in a remote village gets swept up in events that will unravel a 20-year-old puzzle and potentially destroy an entire dynasty.
So far, response has been overwhelmingly positive. We've gotten a spate of highly positive reviews, including a perfect 10/10 score from GamesDomain and numerous scores in the high 9's. Even our "bad" reviews have us in the mid 8's, so the game can't be that bad, right? Even those "low" scores weren't enough to drive down our average score of 93%, according to GameRankings, which collects and averages multiple reviews. Microsoft has been a great help in getting word of this game out to as many people as possible--through print ads in magazines, commercials in front of movies and commercials on television. This has really driven our Google hits to levels that exceed Fable's, and that was a game that was very well anticipated! (Yes, I use the Swedish Chef Google.)
If you haven't already, go and grab the Limited Edition version, which includes an alternate playable character and a different weapon style, as well as a "Making Of" DVD! What are you waiting for? You need more reasons for picking up this game?
Okay, how about tremendous voice-over work from some well-known voices, like Cam Clarke, John Cleese, Nathan Fillion and Armin Shimerman? How about real-time combat? How about BioWare's first original intellectual property? How about minigames? Pit fighting? Vengeful ghost children? 30 different martial arts styles? How's that? Does that do it for you? I certainly hope so!
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Lost among the girls of Old Town
Just got back from "Sin City," but I'm too wound up from the film and need to rehearse for the opera, so the review will have to wait. Suffice it to say that violence, blood and gore has never seemed so poetic a character as it does in "Sin City."
Monday, April 11, 2005
What's Opera, Doc?
I've spent the last couple of hours rehearsing my part for a brand spanking new opera that will appear on the Citadel Theatre's Shoctor Stage at the end of June! Everybody make way for Maskerade: The Opera. If the name rings a bell, that's because it's based on the Terry Pratchett "Discworld" novel of the same name. The music was written by a friend from choir, Jared Samborski, who balances his job and home in Grande Prairie with his other job as accompanist for various groups in Edmonton (of which the University of Alberta Mixed Chorus is one). It's a great opera, and my part is fantastic, but it's difficult. Due to his tonogeniosity (a word which I made up just now to mean "musical genius"), he finds writing normal-for-you-and-me, melodic recitative to be "boring" so, like Emeril Lagasse, Jared likes to "kick it up a notch." I love singing it, but because I haven't been in any kind of theatre for about a year, I'm a little rusty on my rehearsal and part-learning "skillz." Thankfully, Jared hasn't yet told me to "suck it up" when I bitch at him, but I'm sure it's coming.
In other news, I didn't get to see Sin City last week, because I'd forgotten I was going to see it tomorrow with Morgoid. It's going to be great! I've heard from many different people who mention how faithful the film adaptation is to the comic, though some see it as a negative. I can see their point, since comic book moviedom (good comic book movie adaptations, that is). I remember films like the original Punisher, the unaired Fantastic Four, and the cheesy Dr. Strange. Current adaptations like Spider-Man, Hulk, Fantastic Four, Sin City an the upcoming Ghost Rider leave those in the dust.
In Regional "House of STYLE" news, the guy in the big suite downstairs (Devin's in the smaller one in back) seems to enjoy smoking in his suite, both tobacco and otherwise. I can smell it whenever he lights up, tobacco and otherwise, even if all the windows are closed. It's kind of annoying, but I suppose if our landlady doesn't mind him smoking, tobacco and otherwise, then I don't, either. Though it begs the question: does our landlady know that the guy is smoking, tobacco and otherwise, in the suite? I'll have to ask her one day when I'm not lazy and apathetic.
Now, I'm off to hang out with Jago and Dr. Teeth. We get together every week or so to watch television the only way I can: via entire series on DVD. To date, we've polished off "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (up to Season 5), "Angel" (to Season 2) and the first two seasons of "24." Now, we're making our way through "Monk," which stars one of my favourite actors, Tony Shalhoub. *sigh* He's so dreamy...
With that image in your heads, I bid you adieu.
In other news, I didn't get to see Sin City last week, because I'd forgotten I was going to see it tomorrow with Morgoid. It's going to be great! I've heard from many different people who mention how faithful the film adaptation is to the comic, though some see it as a negative. I can see their point, since comic book moviedom (good comic book movie adaptations, that is). I remember films like the original Punisher, the unaired Fantastic Four, and the cheesy Dr. Strange. Current adaptations like Spider-Man, Hulk, Fantastic Four, Sin City an the upcoming Ghost Rider leave those in the dust.
In Regional "House of STYLE" news, the guy in the big suite downstairs (Devin's in the smaller one in back) seems to enjoy smoking in his suite, both tobacco and otherwise. I can smell it whenever he lights up, tobacco and otherwise, even if all the windows are closed. It's kind of annoying, but I suppose if our landlady doesn't mind him smoking, tobacco and otherwise, then I don't, either. Though it begs the question: does our landlady know that the guy is smoking, tobacco and otherwise, in the suite? I'll have to ask her one day when I'm not lazy and apathetic.
Now, I'm off to hang out with Jago and Dr. Teeth. We get together every week or so to watch television the only way I can: via entire series on DVD. To date, we've polished off "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (up to Season 5), "Angel" (to Season 2) and the first two seasons of "24." Now, we're making our way through "Monk," which stars one of my favourite actors, Tony Shalhoub. *sigh* He's so dreamy...
With that image in your heads, I bid you adieu.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Why I should be kept away from other people's blogs
I was reading my friend LadyWolf's livejournal (the link is on the Non-Ninjas list at right) and came upon an entry which read, simply: " My brain says "eeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" and flies out the window." I, being the bitchy McBitcherton that I am, could not help but respond.
Egads, madam! Will you please keep this thing confined to your own quarters? I was in the bath when this brain of yours careened in through the bathroom window, pranced about on the floor for a moment, then unabashedly peeped in on me in the tub. Thankfully, the only light was from the candles and my beautifully-sculpted nude body was concealed by all the bubbles. I let out a delicate squeal and attempted to cover myself (as modesty demanded), but your brain would have none of it. It challenged me--ME, of all things--to fisticuffs and cast aspersions on my lineage. My honour and masculinity thus impugned, I stood up and beat it senseless with my ENORMOUS PENIS! I gave that brain the what-for, and showed it why they call me Stanley "Enormous Penis" Woo. Pray this doesn't happen again, else that brain shall find out why I am also called "Man of a Thousand Assbanjos." Good day, madam.Calgon, take me away!
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
If I were king of the entire world...
Jago and I are planning to see Sin City tonight. I invited my dear friend and occasional partner-in-silliness Darth Molly to come with, but due to her playing KotOR II when she should have been working, she declined. She declined also because she's not a fan of films with gratuitous violence, but that's where she's wrong. Films with gratuitous violence make you bigger and stronger and faster than your enemies. We just won't tell her, so that I can win the next time I'm on the Running Man game show. Shhhhh...
Anyway, I tried to convince her to come, citing the directors and the faithfulness of the adaptation. When she responded with a simple "yes," I went off on a rant which yielded a couple of interesting ideas that I'd like to explore in the future. Oh, and in case it isn't clear, WNE is "Worst Ninja Ever" and DM is "Darth Molly."
I like imagining, don't you?
Anyway, I tried to convince her to come, citing the directors and the faithfulness of the adaptation. When she responded with a simple "yes," I went off on a rant which yielded a couple of interesting ideas that I'd like to explore in the future. Oh, and in case it isn't clear, WNE is "Worst Ninja Ever" and DM is "Darth Molly."
WNE: Yes? YES?! That's all you have to say? Gadzooks, woman! Did I say yes when aliens threatened my community? Did I say yes when they wanted to make Esperanto Canada's third official language? Did I say yes to Proposition 37? Hellz no!I think that if I were ever to become king of the entire world, I would like one of my detractors to be one of a series of "despotic robotic" political candidates named Murray F. Blankenshipp. Also, I'd like to be featured in one of those political ads that demonize my opponent for not seeing how his contrary position makes him more evil than Stalin. In true episodic form, Murray F. Blankenshipp would be destroyed every once in a while, only to have a brand-new Murray F. Blankenshipp show up at the next morning's press conference, vowing political revengeance (word shamelessly yoinked from a "One Big Happy" strip). Like Brainiac, Computo and Ultron, eaach subsequent Murray F. Blankenshipp would be better and smarter than its predecessor, but somehow, he would always be defeated by the king of the entire world.
DM: I think you did
WNE: *ahem* From a commercial that aired around election time: "It's a matter of public record. King Stanley Woo said no to Proposition 37. Murray F. Blankenshipp said no, but voted yes. Wouldn't you rather vote for someone who isn't a big stinky liar?"
DM: no kidding. I must have gotten you two confused
WNE: you must have. Murray F. Blankenshipp is no good for this province. A bit of trivia: Murray F. Blankenshipp is actually the third "depostic robotic" political candidate to bear that name in the last 10 years.
DM: no kidding. I am enlightened.
I like imagining, don't you?
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Ninja philosophy
Yeah, that looks about right. All ninjas should be all about the existentialism... then about the partying!
What philosophy do you follow? (v1.03) created with QuizFarm.com |
Monday, April 04, 2005
I am the Worst Ninja Ever!
Welcome to the blog of the worst ninja ever: Stanley Woo of 104 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I've finally succumbed to the peer pressure of those closest to me and started up a blog. And in case I haven't mentioned it yet, I'm a ninja. That's right, one of those secret Japanese shadow killers of feudal Japan who uses smoke bombs and peasant weapons and black pyjamas to assassinate folks. Except that I'm Black Irish...
...and out of shape...
...and tell everyone that I'm a ninja...
...all the time...
...and I have "NINJA" tattooed on my back...
...and a ninja blog...
...and I just told everybody where I lived...
Oh well. I suppose you gotta start somewhere!
...and out of shape...
...and tell everyone that I'm a ninja...
...all the time...
...and I have "NINJA" tattooed on my back...
...and a ninja blog...
...and I just told everybody where I lived...
Oh well. I suppose you gotta start somewhere!
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