Happy New Years!!

Been a great 2010 here in NYC. Reiko aren't ready for kids, so we did the next best thing and adopted a dog from the local shelter. He's a godsend, and his presence has definitely changed our lives since we both work full time and have to be around to take care of him.

Also was able to see the release of my first video game this year - in Japanese, no less! That's a huge accomplishment for me and very proud of that. Check it out here!

And finally, I started a new job this past spring and am very thankful for all the new friends & co-workers I've met in the process.

All and all, I'd say this year was a hit! Looking forward to hitting the ground running (literally, I'm going running tomorrow!) in 2011.

Cheers and happy new years everyone!

Beefie Social Club

Hi there!

Just wanted to take this opportunity to talk about Beefie Social Club, founded this past weekend at our apartment in Brooklyn. All hail President Kramer and Vice President Reiko, who co-founded the organization after a canine flatulence incident Saturday morning.

We are currently seeking new recruits who would like to join the BSC. If you would like to become a member (and really, who wouldn't?) let us know! Membership is free at this time and we encourage all interested parties to join our club. It's a social club!

As part of our pledge to keep the public informed, below is a link for the audio to our most recent trip to the salon, aka our bathroom. Mr. President got a stylish do and a happy smells bath time!

Here's the audio!

Hats off to all yas,

A

Things I saw Recently around Union Square

Everyday I pass through Union Sq. Rush hour is really fookin' busy. I've got a lot of alternative ways I could go to get to / from work, but as far as I can tell this is still the fastest way to get to work.

Highlights:

- A guy carrying a garbage-bag size clear sack of glazed donuts. Must've been at least 100!
- Two biotches screaming at each other and pulling each other's hair - ha!
- A picture of a sundae on the wall at Dogmatic - only they don't sell sundaes...
- A guy without a nose asking for money. Most people just hand it over because they're freaked out.

Sadly, due to inclement weather, ladies in tight skirts are now on hold until 2011. Wait until then, perverts!

Who's That?

At the Deerhoof show the other night. We met Satomi! Took a few tries to get this - the first guy failed 3 or 4 times to the point where we thought shit! it's over. But! Thanks for patience and a competent second photographer, we got it!

How about their new tune I recorded? Poppy!

All this, at Le Passion rouge

Something I Saw Today

A little bird lying on its side over a sewer grate, breathing its last breaths of air. Gasping for air but losing the fight. Maybe I'll remember to see if he's still there on my way out.

Well, I didn't know what to do, so I just kept on, heading into the office on my day off so I could get a day off when I really wanted to.

Death is weird.

New Umbrella

Over the weekend, Octoberday happened. That's the first day of October. And amazingly, the weather decided to match. Saturday and Sunday were cooler, and by Sunday night it was cold and rainy. Monday was basically rat day, because everyone looks like rodents scurrying about between buildings, hugging the walls as they go. I'm no exception as I haven't had an umbrella in quite some time.

Knowing that I had to pay rent on the way home from work, I saw a street umbrella vendor and decided to pick up one of the larger types. Fuck those small types, they just don't last in the city. I wanted the kind with the curvy wooden handle. And for $10, there were no surprises that this was China's finest (POS). But anyway, it was raining, so up it went. And went and went until wheeeeeeeeeeee it was completely inside out. First opening and failure! I couldn't stop laughing. Fortunately, the issue was that some of the tips had come undone. That I could correct. The bad news is they still can easily come undone, and when that happens, inversion is inevitable. Which is kinda just like watching someone slip and fall - always good for a few laughs, but when it happens to you its just shitty.

Good News, Everybody

Back in early August, I got pulled over for riding my bike on the sidewalk. It's not like it was a habit I had; it was more out of defense. Flushing Ave at rush hour, with its heavy industrial mix of trucks into densely car populated ghetto Bushwick, is not the best time or place to ride a bike, I guess. Anyway! Got pulled over by a full-size fucking police van... full of rookies! Nothing like getting pulled over by kids with braces and uniforms on. Seriously, one was talking about his orthodontist appointment the next day. Give me a break! as my dad might say.

The shittiest part (kid cops aside) was that the ticket was not a payable ticket. Nope. MANDATORY COURT. For riding my bike. I was told to wait a week or two to hear when things would go down. And from there, I'd have to show up to the court in the city before the end of September.

Fast forward to today. Today's the 29th! Still haven't gone to court. Still haven't even gotten a letter. Should I even go to court. Nahhhhhhhhhh....... I said after some research. They didn't hold up their part. I didn't get an invitation, and I'm sure as hell not about to take precious precious time off from work for that.

Got home, and found 3 LETTERS from court. I opened them up. They all stated the same thing: Case dismissed! THEY GAVE ME A BREAK. Awesomesauce.

Cloud Camera

Sitting up high in the sky, we get a great shot of the city.
But I tend not to bring my camera to work.
I should just get a small one here to take pictures on days like today.
And then there will be more photos on here.

But instead of all that, today I offer you a haiku:

Wall of clouds, hanging
Dark wall covers up Midtown
In the misty air

A Million Thoughts

Programming the brain to release the exact amount of chemicals to keep me functioning at maximum efficiency right now. Gotta go.

The Greaser with a Mohawk

Recently there's been this greasy drunk hispanic guy with a mohawk and a really raspy, gritty voice that loiters out in front of my house. He just drinks on the street and talk incomprehensibly. Says stuff in slow motion like "Raahhhh llrreeer vegggell bbbrrrrahhh. " and "Ttrreahhh he he he he ssssrrrrrhhh".

Like someone out of level 4 of Double Dragon. I think he just sleeps on the ground.

He's probably been to jail a lot. But as long as he doesn't harm us, I'm cool with him being around. It's kinda like social comedy.

The I Told You So Card

... is a card I typically do not play. Especially with friends, because its just annoying and easy to have it come right back and smack me upside da head. It also makes me sound like an old man.

But then there are times. Like now, when all the A/C units on my roof flipped the fuck over because of a near tornado here in Brooklyn, yes, Brooklyn. Three of them on the roof itself, and one of the I-Beam (bwahhh!!) supports they sit on also flipped. Had it slipped through, it could have very easily come crashing through my bedroom ceiling. A tad scary thought to think what the results would be had this happened at 5am, not 5:30pm.

And back on the subject of the I Told You So Card, I totally told the management company that they needed to anchor this shit in place when they first installed it. Of course, they didn't listen. And because they didn't, we have an electrical mess in place, and surely this will cost more to fix up than it would have been to anchor it in the first place.

I called up up the landlord and told him so.

My Friend went Dark

Had a good friend who lives nearby who went totally dark. Like Jack Bauer undercover dark. Or the guy from Wired that went off the grid. Not sure why. One day, his phone stopped working and Verizon told me the number had been disconnected. Then he stopped checking his facebook account. Haven't heard a peep via email either.

Hope he's alright and has a really good story to tell about all this.

Good News & Bad News

First, the good news:

On Friday, we were talking about hot sauce at lunch. My coworker Joel was like, hang on, I know someone who can get us free samples, and promptly sent him a text. No joke - his friend responded within a minute and said he was headed to the supply closet. Not only that, but he delivered a box with 6 huge bottles of various flavors of Frank's hot sauce in person over the weekend.

I'm super stoked about receiving one massive bottle of the tried-and-true Frank's, and one sweet chili, which looks amazing.

Here's the full package:



Now, the bad news:

Kramer managed to mangle his front left paw (the bad one) somehow yesterday. Not sure. Probably sprained it, or at least hoping that's all it is. Taking off work today at lunch to take him to the vet to have it checked out. Goodbye, sweet precious paid time off.

Hope the dog's ok!

High Up in the Clouds, Where I Work

Yesterday was Sept 11th. Big day in the city. Actually was surprised to see the two Batman beams in the sky Friday night - they've been saying ever since I moved here they would have to go due to costs.

Anywhoop, I saw someone throw this together - a time-lapse video of the day in the life of construction at Ground Zero. Kinda cool, I like time lapse. And also, I work there now!

So I thought I'd point out where we work. Here it is!


Also, that little squabble about the mosque? Right nearby. Everyday a new camera crew and people with strong opinions. On Friday, they had this mobile Police tower set up to help monitor the expected yahoos that would come out over the weekend.

Original video link here.

Am I a Drag Queen Service Provider? Now that you mention it...

From an exchange with my Aunt via text this morning:

Me: Hello! Just wanted to get a head count for dinner tonight. Any special requests?
Aunt: Cant come thanks
Me: Cool. Have Allyson give of (sic) a call later
Aunt: Who is tbis (sic)?

She thought I was from the Drag Queen service they had called last night and ultimately turned down. Thought I was going to take them out to dinner! Then panicked a bit when I knew her name!

Because that's how I roll - as a stalker type drag queen service provider.

ATP Blast

Just got back from a wild weekend of music, fresh air, and the best view of the stars i've seen in years.

what is ATP? All the Parties, a UK based party / event organizer. This was their third NY show, held this year 9/3~9/5. Very intimate shows, very Shining-esque hotel. Our place was a step above squalor.

But lots of good stuff otherwise!

Here's some quick highlights of this year's ATP:

friday night was intense all around; mudhoney was probably the act i wanted to see the most of those three (and totally lived up to my expectations), but having not listened to sleep much i was pleasantly surprised with their set just the same.

saturday: shellac was above and beyond what i expected; their drummer is amazing live and if it weren't for this website project i'd be at the bell house right now watching them! sonic youth was also really good but i started getting really exhausted during their set and sat down for part of it, closed my eyes, and went to sonic heaven. also talked to Wata of Boris for a brief minute, though it could better be described as a brown moment as I knew she was in a hurry and I was taking her time. bah!

sunday: raekwon made me feel really good inside. never been a big wu tang follower but damn, it sounded really good live. also, boris + sunn was the perfect transformation music for the end of m' twenties into m' thirties. that was the darkest religious ritual i've ever been a part of. think about every dark ritual you've ever seen and you're still nowhere close. yes, it was that dark. it was... DOOM

Prickly Pears No No No

I like fruits. I also like exotic fruits. They're pretty different, really. A coworker just offered me a wedge of prickly pear, and you know what? It was a mushy seed mess, with seeds of steel. I spat most of it back out.

I don't think I'll be eating anymore prickly pears anytime soon.

Instant Karma

Do you know what's awesome? That sweet drum fill that appears in the pre-chorus on Instant Karma. The whole song has this swing-shuffle beat and then the straight fill comes in and sounds so out of place, but yet it still works. I like that. Organized chaos.

Explained as thus:

A distinctive feature of the composition: drum fills and turnarounds were played in a different time signature than the rest of the song.

Did you know that this song was written, recorded and finished all in one day, and pressed up and released 10 days later? Now that's some lightning production. And that George Harrison and Yoko Ono were on it as well?

All about Instant Karma

World Trade Center 7

From today on, I work in World Trade Center 7, 32F. It's chaotic, like the first day of school but everyone's at a new school and no one knows where anything is. Which is awesome. And everything's new except our computers. New desk. New seating arrangements. Garbage cans are at the end of the rows.

And another fun fact: apparently, this is (one of) the building(s) used for Massive Dynamic from Fringe. They did that scene with the guy getting cut up by butterflies and falling out the window here.

iphone shot from our tour a few weeks ago. but today: sunnier! happy times.

A Hostel Situation

My cousin Nick drove out here last night from Youngstown. Couldn't find a hostel anywhere - just super gay ones that wanted way too much for the evenin'. So they decided to stay on my roof instead. It was a clear night! Only, Reiko's mom wouldn't let them, so we ended up taking over the front room whilst the ladies slept in the bedroom. Too chilly up there! (debatable of course). Funny how mom's get there final word in.

Getting Pulled Over ... in a Taxi

So what happens when you get pulled over while riding in a taxi? I'm not sure! But I watched it happen this morning. From where I was I couldn't see if there was a passenger or not, but lets assume there was. Does he get a free lift for being late? Or surely they would stop the meter? Or maybe they only get pulled over when there are no passengers in tow.

D&D game tonight. Hopefully finishing up a dungeon I've been in since February. That's a long time to be stuck in a dungeon!

Words of Wisdom

Traveling somewhere new for the first time is a mission in and of itself. Whether one chooses to take pride and pleasure in that is what makes all the difference.

Came up with this on the long walk with Kramer on Friday. The last part definitely riffs on some Robert Frost. But good stuff to live by.

Got a zipcar yesterday and together with R, her mom, and Kramer, we went to DUMBO and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Muted grays from the rain, and a bit cold. Too early in the morning to do any shopping - stupid Sunday. Front St pizza was excellent and fresh up. Swung down to Manhattan Beach after that and took K to his first dog run, where he met 5 other motley dogs kept by a hippie with a soccer jersey. Also took him on the boardwalk around the beach there which was really windy from the very meh weather, and he loved the wind in his face.

After that, it rained so effing hard. Made getting around kinda crazy, and certainly eliminated the Park Slop portion of the trip, but... it sounded really awesome in the car. Hadn't driven in rain like that in years.

Birds that know Karate

Having Kramer around these days is pretty sweet, because now I walk around the hood a lot more than before. I dig the morning routine of taking him out because at that time of the day, the neighborhood's quiet. I don't even really see that many people going to work, probably because they don't work and gamble instead. But a really cool part about walks is getting to meet all the other animals. Like the Karate bird that chills out down the street. He sits in his house and makes the sounds of a 6-year-old boy throwing punches as I walk by. That's way cool. I'll try and record it.

Resurrection

So I got to thinking today: +3 to all knowledge mathematics checks, so take advantage. And that I should resurrect my thought stream, I'll think about it at a drive thru later in life. 4 sentences at a time. Which brings me to today's post:

Old school Enon!er (<-- the dog typed that last bit!) Found on an old disc my friend Marc burned me before leaving OU. Refreshment Pavilion is so 1998 it makes me want to ride a bus. Early Matt Schulz jams on the first track (though, nothing special)

Enon - Rare old stuff EP

New Hampshire Photos

Neon Indian Show

Well, just got back from my first neon indian show. Brown moment alert: i was asked to leave before i even got in.

there was some promoter in the city that was sponsoring and it was only $1 to get in, as long as you took two seconds to rsvp online. which i did! good deals like this are hard to find. the way i look at these deals is that even if i don't get to see the whole show, who gives a shit. couldn't get r to come out with me, so i was headed solo. my plan was to hang out for a bit, catch the better part of the show, drink a beer or two, and then take off.

i've been to hell today, i spell it dmv. anyone that's been there knows precisely what i mean. only NY, has a worse thing: you don't get your actual id that day; it comes two weeks later. and that it doesn't matter if you brought everything they tell you to but leave your ss card at home - 1 hour round trip right there to go get that guy.

back in hell, i waited in three lines; they took my picture and they confiscated my super-expired ohio dl (this weekend would mark the 6 mos. mark, meaning i'd have to do all the tests over, so i had no choice).and i left with this note card that has my address, DOB, and the NY state seal logo. was told i'll get my new license in two weeks.

(there's a whole side story here about the day at work. worse nightmare if you're in web dev: server was completely down this morning, while i was out, took until 11 to get it back. then, right before i was about to leave, it tanked again. no direct com with the system admin made for an ugly situation that will now certainly continue into next week as we scramble to find a new hosting service.)

and so i had no photo id with me tonight. just this note card that has my address, DOB, and the NY state seal logo. the bouncer wasn't gonna let me in, but the promoter said: "go ahead and let him in. but don't give him a drink bracelet since he doesn't have a photo id".

so whatever, i can't have a drink. already had a good buzz at that point, so if i can't have a drink, so be it.

then:
the promoter decided to be a dick: "since the promotion is for those 21 and up that can drink, and we can't give you a bracelet, i gotta charge you the door price of $15." really. because my expired license was confiscated and i don't have my OU id on me? Yep. That's what the web site said, the promoter reminded me. A Photo ID. Sorry bub. I started to question this but knew it was going nowhere. And just lost all interest in the show.

Pissed, and on my own, I said fuck the show and headed home, where the neon indian is free and brooklyn lager is $1.75 a bottle. and no rascals!!

Japan 2010: The Laptop Incident

Man, I've been quiet on here. Haven't mentioned a peep about my trip to Japan yet, which was totally sweet. Got so absorbed with taking everything in while I was over there I never found the time to write about it. Then! I got back, and had the worst case of RCS (Reverse Culture Shock) I've ever had - clearly, the trip was too short, and it made me depressed to be back here again. Didn't help that I bought this Beatles CD that is all music box songs - even more sad!

Ahhhhh....

Well, I'm better now. Back in to the groove here, and plowing through 2010 with more steam in the boiler than a pressure cooker left on high. The goal: Find a new job that puts my programming skills back to the forefront. The current one just ain't cutting it and I need something more. Put my brain to work again, because currently I'm turning into a zombie.

So next up: Let's talk about Japan. It was a great trip, so many stories to tell! I'll start this off with the story of Andrew's laptop aka The Laptop Incident.

Before leaving for Japan, Andrew asked me to pick him up a new laptop. No problem. Except that the week I tried to go shopping was the week of CES in Vegas, where all the new models are unveiled and all the sellers are clearing their shelves for the new ones: slim pickin's. After about my 4th trip to different places, I settled on a nice Vaio laptop, which had the best rankings for laptops in its class. (Despite most of Sony's stuff being crappy, my Vaio laptop, Marlow, has held up well for me for the past 2 and half years). It came in a nice box, and so I put the nice box in a nice bag.

Our flight to Japan was a straight shot from JFK to Narita. For us, that means hopping on the L train two blocks away, switching it up to the super ghetto A, then the AirTran to the airport. And so we set out around 8:15 in the morning: two huge suitcases and the laptop bag. Reiko's bag in particular was a huge pain in the ass as its wheels only move one way, and that's the wrong way, and there's no easy grip handle to pull the thing, so I basically ended up doing a combination of a lift-pull-skate and straddling myself over the top of it while walking to get it to move.

That suitcase was quickly deemed that Japan would be its final destination. I hope it burns in a large garbage heap.

At the L train station: hundreds of people. Five times the normal amount. Which made sense: due to a police incident down the line, trains were running only every 15~ 20 minutes, as opposed to the normal 3-4 minutes during rush hour. It took a while, but the train finally came. More pains in the ass as large ass suitcases, one of them which didn't really roll, were not designed for the morning commute. Fortunately, we were headed opposite of the city, so it wasn't so bad.

We boarded the train. My mind was a blur from the people, the excitement, the Japan.

We took off. We're moving now. Reiko took a seat and I stood with the luggage.

Then, it dawned on me: I was no longer in possession of the laptop bag. Nor was Reiko.

Somewhere between our apartment and the train, the laptop went missing. A brand new, in-box laptop. Which I bought! AND IT WAS LOST IN BUSHWICK.

I ran out of the train at the Myrtle / Wyckoff stop (2 stops from our place) and told Reiko to wait for me at Broadway Junction aka poverty ghetto central. Poor Reiko. Still not sure where to go or what to do, I figured I'd hop on the opposite, city bound train, go back to start and figure it out from there.

And then I realized: oh yeah, trains aren't running normal today. You have no choice. Better get running.

I don't think I've ever had a more panicked run. Or such an unexpected cold-start sprint. Which was not easy as I was not really in any shape to run with my massive coat and a backpack loaded to the gills. But I didn't have a choice. Time was running out - I wasn't going to miss my flight - and I just HAD to find that laptop.

Sprinting from a cold start: I highly don't recommend it. The massive shot of adrenaline in my system gave me quite a boost but after about 4 or 5 blocks I was already choking. The rest of the way back home (13 blocks) was a combo of run a block or two, catch my breath, rinse and repeat. Though most of the run was also a blur, I remember running past police at one point that I was just sure were going to come and stop me, ask me what was going on. But they didn't.

During my run, I was able to trace my steps: I knew where the package was left. It was on the front stoop of our apartment. Out in the open. I had set it to the side to help Reiko with her luggage. And completely forgot it there. So at least it was not in a station or anything, where it surely would be long gone.

I rounded the corner, and it was there. Untouched. Though: the shady fat guy two doors down was already eyeing it. I didn't say anything, just ran and swooped it up, then ran back to the subway station.

Inside, I fell apart. I tore off my jacket and long sleeves and took a knee. My heart was pounding, my lungs were on fire and I could taste blood in my mouth. I was coughing up massive amounts of gooey phlegm. I had just punished the shit out of my body and put it to its limits. But whatever, I had the lap top back.

Eventually, the train came, and I met Reiko at ghetto central. We had to wait three A trains for the right one that goes to the airport, but made it with plenty of time. Reiko was rightfully pissed at me for making her wait and I felt pretty bad about it. But soon that would all be behind us, as we were about to hop on the big bird. To Japan.

Save States and Emulators

Man. Got to Jefferson station this morning to fire up my DS to continue my progress on the 4th dungeon in Ages. Save state was gone. Fuck, I hadn't saved in a long time, but at least had something in there. Also gone or otherwise corrupt (save game started a new game for me). So back to the start I went. 8 hours or so gone to ... the Ages. Oy vey! Fortunately you can throttle the speed by holding L, so for times you need to move over X number of screens, you can get there really quickly, as well as speed up the time warping animations, dialogs, etc. BUT STILL.