info @ the P.Pole 07.23.07

Here I am blogging happily on WordPress. Surprisingly enough, the decision to swap over didn’t take me too long and I’m (so far) glad that I have made the switch.

5 things I like about WordPress:

info @ the P.Pole 07.19.07

This is the big 500th post! Woo! Thank you! Thank you! This place couldn’t have come this far if it weren’t for you (or me, I suppose).

Last night’s LoaH didn’t really go as great as I’d have hoped but I suppose it can’t be helped. Anyway, I still think it was alright (it could’ve been better… or could it?). The amps never came (in time) and I assume they are probably going to arrive between now and next week (right when we’re done “needing” them). I guess it’s probably best though, that we didn’t get new bass and guitar amps to play with in the rain. I think we did what we were decided on doing. I just hope we’ve got some better weather foreknown for us in the weeks/Wednesday evenings to come.

info @ the P.Pole 06.30.07

5 of my PSX games that I’m now rehashing:

• Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage – IMO one of THE best games I’ve ever played/beat. This series has got a special place in my heart because I spent many hours with Grant beating Spyro games (and Crash games) in our childhood days (which are, sadly enough, coming to a close quite quickly).
• Final Fantasy Tactics – I’ve always owned this game but I never took it up seriously because I was either too young or in the process of playing “Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together” which is another RPG/strategy type game that’s about the same in style. Now that I’ve got it on my PSP and I’ve got the energy and mind for it, I’ve taken it up and let me say, this game is amazing. One the best, definitively, that I’ve ever played (and I’ve played a lot).
• Metal Slug X – I technically don’t have this exact game but I do have a few other “Metal Slug” games in my library. I’m generally not a huge fan of arcade-like sidescrollers but this one is one that I enjoyed because I used to play it a lot with my uncle Keith when he was a visa student here (that was WAY back in the day, when I was seven or so). Fun pick-up and play distraction is alright.
• Vagrant Story – This one I’ve yet to actually start but I intend to soon. All I remember about this RPG game is that it had a weird way of doing the battle system. My dad loves this game and used to play it while I watched. It was pretty neat and so I intend on giving it a good thorough whirl myself.
• Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together – Here’s the last title to make the cut so far. I mentioned this game before. To give you an idea of how much I am a fan of this game, on my actual PlayStation game savefile I’ve achieved a 150+ hours of gameplay with all my characters uber’d. This game, I think, was the first of its kind that I seriously ever got into. I remember playing this after school when I went to my grandma’s. I’d blaze through any homework and then get a-crackin’ on the training. Now that I’ve got it portable… well, I don’t see how I’ll be doing much of anything else once I start. That’s why I’ve got to put off starting a new game for as long as I can so I can finish the other games first.

Note: Click the titles to see their pages on Amazon.

info @ the P.Pole 06.20.07

I don’t know why I need to stay up so late but I don’t have anything tomorrow (actually it’s today since it’s 1:30 am).
When I was small, I watched one too many vampire movies and a Discovery Channel special that either disproved or confirmed various urban legends. Their final chilling piece was about vampires and, calling all other urban legends false, the program actually cited real, unexplained cases of what seemed to be vampires roaming the night, hospitals, and whatnot. Needless to say, I was mortified at the thought that a reliable source would confirm my greatest fear, that something out there was out to get me (specifically, get at my neck) and had sharp teeth to boot. Perhaps that explained why for the subsequent years of my life I could not walk through a dark hallway or room without first pausing to weigh the risks and flipping on the light switch whenever possible. I seriously could not take myself around even remotely dark or shadowy places.
I remember one habit of mine was to look over my shoulder every so often and especially right before starting to brush my teeth to check for said vampires. As a foolish child I would look intently at the mirror as I brushed at the spot just above my right shoulder, waiting for something to jump at me from behind. I have since then grown up and I no longer check in the mirror for vampires. Want to know my secret? Well, as one grows up, one learns to overcome one’s own fears, gaining wisdom and rationality. In my case, I grew up and learned that vampires don’t appear in mirrors, which is why it is futile to look for them in mirrors. What a fool I was.
If one were to come at me today, I’d be ready with my beloved wooden Katana (which serves as a stake of sorts I imagine) and my mostly fit physical stature (don’t look at my hips, they really don’t lie). I’ve been preparing mentally for just such an encounter all my life, practically, ever since I decided years ago that I would not allow myself to be run by my fears of something I’ve yet to meet. I’m totally prepared for an attack by a vampire. Either I kick his ass or he bites mine. What’s the worst that could happen? So I get bitten and turn into a vampire, big deal. Now I’ve got an eternity to get revenge and scope out the wicked-awesome fempires lurking around… It’s either bragging rights or undead superpowers. This is what we call a win-win situation.
Of course, I never much bothered thinking on the possibility that the one to attack me might turn out to be a fempire to start… Now that’s an interesting one. Would I even bother fighting back? I mean, winning a fight like that would be like beating up a girl (something I’d readily do in Tekken but not in real life… not again anyway). And I mean, if she wants to bite me that badly I ought to be a gentleman about it and let her have her way with me. A woman’s got to satisfy her cravings right? It’s the only noble thing to do when you think about it.
Now I’m off to bed before my insane nocturnal patterns make you suspicious of my secret night-prowling life… Blah! I vant to suck your blood!

info @ the P.Pole 06.11.07

I’ve finally gotten around to listening to some tracks by The Academy Is… after hearing lots of good things from everyone in the punk-scene. To be honest, they sound a bit like a more melancholy Fall Out Boy but I’m not complaining.

Don’t be so scared, we will not lead you on like you’ve been doing for weeks.
So you’re selfish, and I’m sorry.
When I’m gone you’ll be going nowhere fast.

Would you believe me if I said I didn’t need you?
‘Cause I wouldn’t believe you if you said the same to me.
And near death, last breath, and barely hanging on.
Would you believe me if I said I didn’t need you?

Don’t be so scared to take a second for reflection,
To take a leave of absence, see what you’re made of.
So I’m selfish, and you’re sorry.
When I’m gone you’ll be going nowhere fast.
So who’s selfish, and who’s sorry?

Someone, somewhere said some things that may have sparked some sympathy,
But don’t believe. Don’t believe a word you’ve heard about me.

Don’t be so scared. It’s harder for me.

Would you believe me if I said I didn’t need you?
‘Cause I wouldn’t believe you, wouldn’t believe you now.
- The Academy Is… – Skeptics And True Believers

There’s almost nothing worse than group partners who refuse to do their parts. The only thing I can think of is group members who refuse to do their parts and refuse to pay me back for material costs. I’m not gonna name any names but you people owe me money and time.

info @ the P.Pole 06.04.07

Today’s a special day because it’s the first info post of June as well as it being another 4th of ________ (month). Those have been special for awhile now and I’ve grown fond of commemorating them in small ways.

5 things that made me teary recently:

• watching the Team Hoyt video (see end of the post) that was part of the “ASK” sermon yesterday–I don’t even know how to begin describing how inspiring the story of this father and son is… watch the video and go to their site
• downing a glob of wasabi the size of half a large marshmallow at Starwalk Buffet last Friday to stay in and win an eating contest between myself and Henry
• yawning uncontrollably today during badminton at the club because I didn’t get enough sleep last night
• having to cut open the scrotum to reveal the testes (on my dissection pig at school)–I was the only one who could do it since David was squeamish and Amy, being the innocent little (and little as in petite) girl she is, wouldn’t know her way around these parts
• attending a Sunday baptismal service (Jessica Lu’s, no less) at Morningstar Fellowship church (at Morningside and Sheppard, formerly Churchill Heights Baptist Church)

Something about yesterday’s double whammy of Sunday services (first at TJCAC and then at Morningstar) made for a seemingly endless service. It was a good Sunday, a good day of renewal and refreshing of the soul’s viscera. Morningstar Fellowship has something that I think Jaffray is lacking… but I can’t place it exactly. Anyway, here’s the video I promised.

info @ the P.Pole 05.27.07

Today I woke up with a sharp pain in my right wrist. It felt like the tendon was off or something (like a cracked knuckle gone wrong, if you know what that feels like). I thought it was nothing but I soon found out my grandfather had actually fallen and broken–i.e. completely snapped–his wrist. i think the radius was what snapped. Anyway, this was, without a doubt, many times worse than my fractured wrist in grade eight. I think it was sympathy pains that I was feeling.
The whole family headed for Scarborough Grace Hospital and had him admitted. During the time that I would’ve otherwise spent at church, I kept my grandfather company as he went through the normal paces of a hospital patient. It was particularly sickening (yet undeniably cool) to watch the doctor and nurse literally pull my grandfather’s wrist apart (lengthwise, don’t be scared) and put it back together. What was awesome was that my grandfather took it like a man and never made a sound. Or maybe the localized freezing was just that good… Either way, it looked Fing painful. Cool and painful.
That was my morning. I’m sure my grandfather’s going to be okay (he’s home now, probably watching TV). What was awesome was that moments after getting it wrapped in a cast my he started swinging his arm around exclaiming “Hey! It doesn’t hurt anymore. Let’s go home.” I think that doctor did too good of a job freezing the arm.

info @ the P.Pole 05.20.07

I’ve got approximately 18 hours and 35 minutes before I write my first IB paper. I’m not too bothered about it but it is a pretty noteworthy thing seeing as how this paper is Paper 1 (of 2) for Economics at the Standard Level.

3 days of exams for me this week:

• May 21, 2007 (1:00-2:00 pm) – Economics SL Paper 1
• May 22, 2007 (9:00-11:00 7:30-9:30 am) – Economics SL Paper 2
• May 23, 2007 (7:30-9:00 am, 9:30-11:00 am) – French SL Paper 1, French SL Paper 2

I’ve been reviewing bits and pieces of stuff over the past couple days in preparation for the Economics papers (yeah, Messere’s right, that level 7 is too tempting to pass up). As for the French papers, I haven’t had a proper teacher all year for the course so I started reviewing and reading more about two weeks ago. I’m not sure what to expect for the French exams (since I’ve been scoring either drop-dead terrible or fantastic on the practice exams pretty arbitrarily but I’m almost sure I can take on the Economics papers without too much trouble. Messere was and is a great teacher so I’m gonna thank him in advance for whatever my results end up as. I really feel sorry for the other Economics classes which suffered rounds of crappy supplies much like my French class.
I’ve officially finished all my French and Economics in-class time, and I’m not sure I’m glad. I actually enjoy listening to Messere rant about his “What the f*ck?!” moments on the highway and joking the period away with Yun (and sometimes Amy) in French so it’s almost sad that I’ll have two spares from now until the end of June.

info @ the P.Pole 05.14.07

I was listening to Arthur’s sermon yesterday about… I don’t exactly remember what it was focused on. Nevertheless I recall topics of a cruise, fellowship through the person of Christ, and discipleship. I also remember distinctly hearing the following sentence:

“If Christ is the center, then we will suffer… for each other’s sake.”

Now is it just me or is that really cute? I personally find it amusing to pick at people’s words to find out what they may really mean. First of all, it seemed funny that he paused immediately after saying that we would suffer. It’s almost as if his thought process stopped there and concluded focusing on Christ naturally leads to suffering (which, I do not deny, probably does and should happen), but it shouldn’t stop there. And then I suppose he tagged on the second part about for whose sake we ought to suffer because he realized how awkward the first part of the line sounded. Of course, this would’ve been a good save if only it hadn’t contradicted the first part. Now, I could go hypercritical (or is it hypocritical?) here and start really nitpicking about what this all means, but I’ll that for your skills of deduction (or was it induction?).

On a completely unrelated note, I’ve started using my Vista partition much more lately and that’s probably due to my XP boot getting old and cluttered. I like neatness. I also don’t mind a fresh look. I’ve got my sidebar with my drives and clock running on the right, my recycle bin (only icon deserving of actual space on my desktop) in the corner, and my quicklist of progrmas in my start menu. I’m also rocking a Samurai Champloo background that I played with.

(click the thumb for a larger view)

Here are the links to the individual files, if anyone’s interested:

• The original (by ~joshgotpsed on DeviantART): 1600 x 1200
• The tweaked (by me): 1600 x 1200

info @ the P.Pole 04.05.07

Click for a funny comic my friend from school sent me, titled “Free Your Mind.”
Today Oscar De La Hoya faced off against Floyd Mayweather in what was supposed to be the fight of all fights. I’m not a boxing fan but I got all hyped up from watching the pre-match banter on TSN. Either way, I’m kinda wishing I had pay-per-view so I could’ve watched it…

In other news, I went to see my doctor today to get a physical and to get some medical advice. I don’t know if you know (which you probably should unless you’re blind) but I’ve got quite the acne problem. At first my doctor thought it had to do mainly with stress and relatives thought it had to do with diet. My mom thought it was because I have busy (and I guess bacteria-infested) hands that pick and claw at my face. It turns out, from my doctor’s medical opinion, that my skin problems are a result of firstly, lots of testosterone in my system and reinforced by poor sleeping habits–to be interpreted as “Carl, you’ve got bad skin because you’re just too man.” Sweet deal, doc. I get to have a cool excuse for having really nasty skin… Does this count as making lemonade from life’s lemons? And who doesn’t want to just crush those lemons?

EDIT: It turns out TSN might actually broadcast the fight, meaning I’ll get my fill of violence tonight apart from raping the computer characters in Tekken with Kazuya.