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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in
Rechan's LiveJournal:
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| Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 | | 7:30 am |
So I didn't get the job. At this point, I honestly have no clue as to where to look. I have tried everywhere I can think of. I watch the job sites, non-profit, etc, religiously. To add insult to injury, I was published in a magazine; my complimentary magazine came in the mail today, but the mailman wedged it in there so severely that there's a huge fucking crease down the middle that I can't bend out. Current Mood:  crushed | | Monday, July 21st, 2008 | | 10:46 pm |
Podcasts annoy me.
They're really interesting and useful, but 99% of them are just so unprofessional. Just listening to people goof off is not what I call "fun". Sure, it must be fun for them, but I cannot stand there being a specific topic on hand, and it just stop every minute because half the people on the recording think they're funny and like interrupting it.
Worse, that it's rambling or full the people have no discipline. "Uh Um Er". I just want to reach through the computer and strangle the speaker.
I would rather listen to a lecture than a "Couple of guys shooting the shit in a general direction". | | Sunday, July 20th, 2008 | | 7:43 pm |
Three men in cheap suits pushed into Don's Deli just before closing time. Don looked up from cleaning the "kitchen" to see the head man - a short, pinch-faced little weasel of a man with enough grease in his hair to fry a chicken.
"'ey there," said Weasel. "Dis here is a nice place."
"Thanks," Don replied, tone dubious. He was paying more attention to the two thick-necked gentleman around Weasel. One was reading a take-out menu, while the other just looked bored, arms crossed tight enough to wrinkle his five dollar suit.
Weasel puts his hands on the counter. "You wouldn't ah, have any Protection, would-ja, Donnie? If you knows what I mean."
It had been a long day. Don did not feel like humoring this man. "I keep a box of condoms beside my bed, why?"
Weasel glares at him. Then he laughs. Then his friends laugh. "He said condoms," says Weasel to the arm-crossed gentleman, smacking him on the stomach. Then they stop laughing, looking at Don.
"I said this was a nice place you got 'ere. Shame if anything... bad happened to it. If you knows what I mean."
There was a ball bat under the counter, beside the register, but Don couldn't go for it. So he just gripped one of the knives for cutting sandwiches. "No, why don't you tell me."
"Guido," said Weasel, "Show him what can happen if he doesn't cooperate." The big man uncrossed his arms, and lifted up a portfolio. Then opened it. Pictures of houses under several feet of water, buildings torn apart, or on fire.
"Wait, what?"
Weasel handed him a card that read Gambino Family Insurance. A Wise Guy knows a Good Investment. "Yous needs Hurricane protection, pal." | | Saturday, July 19th, 2008 | | 7:39 pm |
No word on the job. Also, I am sooo lazy and not accomplishing anything with my professor because she's in Hawaii for two weeks. However, I am trying to put a game together, and things are looking up. I've been putting significant amount of effort into researching material for the setting, coming up with the campaign, etc. If all goes according to plan (which it likely won't), the group will get together next weekend. Two guys were so enthused they pretty much named their entire family, and met me Thursday for a demo. Last night I caught an infomercial, and bought something off the screen. Yes, the horror. Worse yet, it's an exercise regiment. See, Kettlenetics is this thing that combines cardio with a small weight designed for you to swing around, so it works all sorts of muscles as you do cardio. They guarantee visible results in one week. But what really sold me on it was that it came with a calender telling you what days to do what exercises, a detailed guide on every step of the exercise moves, shopping lists for a diet plan that goes with it, workout DVDs (with a hot asian chick as the instructor), etc. It was fairly cheap (compared to the infomercial things). I want to give it a try. However, I could still detect the evil radiating out of it. When I called, it was a completely audio recording process. Worse, they wanted to saddle me with a ton of "Free" stuff that are only "Free" for the first 30 days. Then they start charging you. And of course, the only way to stop that is to go through an annoying process during the ordering sequence, Or call them within 30 days of receiving the "Free stuff" to cancel. Fortunately I managed to weed out all the unnecessary crap. | | Friday, July 11th, 2008 | | 3:43 pm |
So, I went for a job interview. I think it went well. However, there are 30 applicants trying to get three open positions, I won't hear back from them for 2-3 weeks, and the interviewer couldn't tell me how much I'd be paid because that is handled by HR, and she honestly didn't know what the parameters (min-max starting pay) are. I had a fantastic sandwich the other day from this weird hippy deli next to campus. It was lamb and hot pepper cheese on egg bread. The lamb tasted like mild, moist roast beef, and the cheese was all melty and it was just awesome. I called the cook and complimented her. Finally I'm getting to this meme: 1. Leave me a casual comment of no particular significance, like a lyric to your current favorite song, your favorite jelly bean flavor, or maybe your favorite game. Any remark, meaningless or not. 2. I will respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better because I'm nosy. 3. Update your LJ with the answers to the questions. 4. Include this explanation and offer to ask someone else in your own post. 5. When others respond with some sort of comment, you will ask them five questions. ( Questions asked of Me ) | | Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 | | 9:25 pm |
General Update whee There's a meme I need to post, which I will do soon. I wanted to put a positive update here first before I fall asleep. So I'm going to a pool party tomorrow. Being thrown by a GIRL. Granted, she's married, and has a kid, but still, I'm going. Shocking. What's odder is that I knew her when I was a youngin, and she's all atitter that I'm coming. Why ever would she desire to reconnect? Next Thursday I have an interview for a Medical Health Tech at a local mental hospital. That's nice-talk for Orderly. But god I need the job. Speaking of, twice this week I've been on campus, helping a professor of mine with some literature research for a project of hers, and will continue to visit the campus once a week to assist. I'm doing most of the legwork for her. Bugger of it is, I'm no longer a student, so I can neither log into the system from home, nor even order articles from other libraries. Even more interesting, I and her were discussing potential research that I could conduct on my own theories. It's funny; before, I sucked at coming up with research ideas. It wasn't until I started reading non-textbooks that possible research theories started popping up. Lately I've been reading the Five Love Languages and The Definitive Book of Body Language. While they both seem more observation and theory than social science, the latter at least has a lot of actual research in it, and it has spawned a few ideas. Nothing will come of them, but it's nice to get back into the swing of using my brain. | | Monday, June 2nd, 2008 | | 7:44 am |
I went to an interview last week. It was for bill collection. I bombed it. Because no one told me that, when they ask "What are your career goals", you're supposed to lie through your teeth and say "I want to work at this job forever." Using phrases like "stepping stone" just isn't good.
But I feel bad lieing to an employer like that. It just seems rude, to me, to have a plan like "Yes, please spend money training me, rely on me, and then in a few months I shall ditch you when something better comes along."
Otherwise, nothing new, nothing changed.
Although I did post a new story online. It felt very satisfying finally getting that thing off the backburner. | | Sunday, May 25th, 2008 | | 4:52 am |
Indiana Jones and the HOLY SHIT NERD FURY! This evening I went to see Indy 4. Then coming home and clicking on The Internet, apparently I was introduced to some anger I didn't anticipate. Holy insulted fanbase, Batman. So, to those who haven't seen it (and want to), I will give you a word of warning, without spoiling it too much for you. Indy 4 jumps genre. You will find Mythical, Mysterious Action Adventure into History. But you will also fall into Science Fiction. If you do not want Science Fiction in your Pulpy Adventure, do not see it. There is an explanation in a Vanity Faire article: That’s when he had a vision of Indiana Smith (as he originally named him). Here was a film hero who might be able to bring back the cheesy excitement of the 1930s-vintage Republic Pictures serials Lucas had seen on TV as a kid. “Saturday matinee serial—that was the initial thought,” he says. With a little more care, better production values, and a dash of irony, this type of thing could be transformed into something of interest for a 1980s audience.
And then (spoiler warning) Lucas gets a little more (spoiler alert) specific: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull will apparently nudge our hero away from his usual milieu of spooky archaeology and into the realm of (spoiler Code Red) science fiction. “What it is that made it perfect was the fact that the MacGuffin I wanted to use and the idea that Harrison would be 20 years older would fit,” Lucas says. “So that put it in the mid-50s, and the MacGuffin I was looking at was perfect for the mid-50s. I looked around and I said, ‘Well, maybe we shouldn’t do a 30s serial, because now we’re in the 50s. What is the same kind of cheesy-entertainment action movie, what was the secret B movie, of the 50s?’ So instead of doing a 30s Republic serial, we’re doing a B science-fiction movie from the 50s. The ones I’m talking about are, like, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Blob, The Thing. So by putting it in that context, it gave me a way of approaching the whole thing.” Simply, that the genre jumps from pulpy Adventure to pulpy Cheesy 50s Sci Fi because the time period jumps from 30s to 50s, where those genre conventions were. Right down to "Russians are the Bad guys". As for the movie itself, I enjoyed it. It felt like an Indy movie, right down to the campy, over-the-top action. | | Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 | | 4:20 pm |
And college #5 says no.
At least I now have the answers.
The wife of my dad's friend works at the United Way, is going to try and help with the job search. I'm dropping a resume at a temp agency tomorrow, and I'll continue to watch the various job websites. | | Monday, May 12th, 2008 | | 11:11 am |
College #4, Southern Conneticut, rejected me.
I don't think I'm going to hear from Northern Iowa, I'm so far down on the list. | | Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 | | 1:27 am |
There are many stories related to the sinking of the "Titanic." Some have just come to light due to the success of the recent movie. For example, most people don't know that back in 1912 Hellmann's mayonnaise was manufactured in England.
The "Titanic" was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after New York City.
The Mexican people were eagerly awaiting delivery and were disconsolate at the loss. So much so that they declared a national day of mourning which they still observe today.
It is known, of course, as Sinko de Mayo.
Current Mood: n.n | | Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 | | 7:44 pm |
| | Wednesday, April 9th, 2008 | | 5:32 am |
| | Tuesday, April 8th, 2008 | | 5:21 am |
Stole dis meme from ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) rratfox. I don't usually do memes, but! ( Read more... )In unrelated news, I received "Small Favor" in the mail. New book from one of my favorite authors. I pre-ordered it through a website that got me an autographed copy, addressed to me. However, initially I thought it was addressed to someone else, due to the author's doctor-like handwriting. | | Friday, April 4th, 2008 | | 3:51 pm |
Unhelpful news
Got off the phone with School 4.
The guy over the admissions explained to me that the U has a "Rolling Admissions" process. They don't have a deadline, and how it works is that they send acceptance letters out, and wait for a response. If a student turns down going to the U, then they turn to the next-best person on the list. But the list is always refreshing with good applicants, because there's no deadline.
There are four people ahead of me, and the U hasn't received any word on if the four will be accepting. He has Seen people in my position be accepted before, but he just Doesn't Know until they receive word back from the four ahead of me.
Sigh. | | Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 | | 5:16 pm |
Another Rejection
Pittsburg.
Argh. This is really making me start dreading. | | Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 | | 9:12 pm |
Grr arg nugglemugh
Indiana State U just emailed me a rejection letter.
They rejected me on account of my GRE scores and lack of research/work experience. But I was supposed to have an ace in the hole with this school; I had a glowing letter of reference from a teacher who taught there.
Another school, Ball State, rejected me, but that's okay because I hear they are very, very stiff schools to get into.
This leaves three schools left. Bugger, bugger, bugger. | | Saturday, March 29th, 2008 | | 5:10 am |
Occasionally I like to envision myself doing standup. Even though there's no place to really do that around here. So I went ahead and wrote myself some material, absently. ( Tasteless humor ahoy ) | | Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 | | 3:44 am |
Monster - The Game!
An internet associate told me about a game called Vampirism. Sort've a Tag Defending game, except that instead of two teams, it's just one guy versus a team. The guy is the Vampire, and if he bites you, he turns you into another vampire to go after the other teammates. While they try to use resources to build a base to keep the vampire away.
That got me thinking about a game based on Tag and Hide 'n' Seek.
I couldn't think of one. However, I did think of one: Monster.
After looking at typical slasher/monster movies, there's a specific formula. Not only to just the plot, but how it works:
1 monster vs. large (10-5) group.
No one sees the monster until it's right on top of them.
Initial kills = Everyone is spread out. No one knows about monster.
Group bands together, is pounced. Everyone runs.
Monster is "Killed"; it plays possum. Survivors run.
A survivor or two is taken out.
Two remaining survivors kill monster.
The way I see this going down as a computer game, it's simple. Play it like a "Tag and you're out" style. The game starts with all the victims spread out over a map. They are given say, a minute to move around, before the Monster can now move. Every time the monster tags someone, it can't begin moving for twenty, thirty seconds.
After x number of victims have been tagged, now people can Hit the monster. This makes the monster fall down and play dead for two minutes. However, the monster gains the POUNCE ability, where it can basically jump one person in a group before it can get Hit.
After Y number of victims remain, monster loses Pounce. When it tags a victim, it actually 'grapples' the victim; during this time, a victim can Hit the monster, breaking the grapple. The monster can now be Killed. Usually requires getting the monster to go into trap zones, with big things that can fall onto it, flammable things, etc.
The one problem I see is people grouping up too much, and capturing the initial moment where you have more players spread out over the map, and how you get them to stay that way so a few can be picked off before they can group up. | | Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 | | 10:10 am |
Groping in the Dark - A DFRPG character, I think For my regular journal readers, I would've locked this into my custom "Gaming" filter, but I intend to link some people to this journal to let them see it. So, just disregard this nerdiness. :) I've been following the Dresden Files RPG very closely. It's currently in it's first round of alpha playtesting, and I've been scouring playtester blogs. Since I love the DF, the RPG's sister Spirit of the Century, and what I'm seeing of the RPG, I wanted to try my hand at making a character. That's right, I am just piecing this together from what I've seen off of published character sheets. This is not the actual ruleset. It is also incomplete. This is more how it should look. ( Let's give it a try. ) |
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