Doom 3
April 22, 2008
I finally finished Doom 3 after weeks of 10-15 minute playing sessions.
Wow, Doom 3 has got to be one of the creepiest games I’ve ever played. There were times that the game really felt demonic – it went beyond a video game and sent chills down my spine. There were a few times when I couldn’t bring myself to play at night when the woman went to sleep.
The Cyberdemon was a beautiful creation. It was much more intimidating than the one back in the original Doom. Still, one begs to ask, where was that loveable thumping noise that he makes when he’s walking around?
Anyway, the game reminded me a lot of System Shock 2 with the PDA audio logs. Unfortunately it didn’t have the scope and the story of SS2. Most of the game was very linear and simple – find the exit by killing everything and trying to conserve ammo.
The shotgun was yet again the bread and butter weapon but I was very glad that my personal favorite Doom weapon, the plasma rifle, was just as cool and devasting as before.
Warm Up
April 19, 2008
There’s nothing manlier than a hip shake or an ankle twist. I reaffirm my heterosexuality with each oscillation.
Lost and Found
April 15, 2008
It hasn’t been a secret that I have gotten back into martial arts with the one that started it all for me: Wing Chun. I was thinking that I’m glad that I found WC again because I’m beginning to see some progress and benefits in just five months’ of training.
I’m beginning to lose some fat and getting into better shape. I’m probably in the best shape I’ve ever been in Japan actually. More importantly I’m beginning to get back into the mental condition needed. I’m a bit calmer, a bit more confident, and I’m beginning to regain some persistance.
On thinking that I’ve found WC again, I also know that I never quite lost it. I remember starting the path when i was 14 with Sifu Lee Man Kit in Vancouver. It was two 1.5 hour classes back to back every Saturday at Chinatown. I stuck at it for about two years. I remember I was one of the first students in the class and I welcomed and bid farewell to many other students during that time. That training and the self-training then changed me forever.
In addition to WC I began to look at other things but none of the other arts ever appealed to me. I took a bit of Hung Gar kung fu, Tae Kwan Do, Kickboxing. They all had a different take on many things. Moreover the one thing that really drove me away from them was the commercialization of the art. The thought of the rainbow belts and prices for just about everything really disgusted me. I understand that these are businesses in addition to the teaching of the art but it got a bit out of hand. The only other art that I stuck with was Yi Chuan, also taught by Sifu Lee. It complemented WC so well plus it taught me relaxation (and brought me many weird experiences actually).
Although I didn’t continue the class around the age of 16 or 17, I did continue to keep training some things by myself. Unfortunately I forgot the WC forms, save, Sil Nim Tau which I still practiced. I forgot the entire wooden dummy movement and am relearning it under Sifu Steve. I am beginning to start some of the Yi Chuan training again at home along with the other supplementary training.
What drives me is not to best the other students but to beat myself – I am seeing the progress I’m making little by little and in many ways it’s a huge addiction. I am finding my limits with Sifu Steve, especially when I’m the only one sometimes, and I feel the burning drive to push those limits each time. I’ve been putting in about an hour of training each day at home and I will definitely keep it up.
It’ll all pay out in the future with interest.
Don’t pee there!
April 12, 2008
We babysat mom-in-law’s new puppy again last Sunday and watching The Woman scream at the dog for peeing over the tatami mat and rug was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. The poor dog even gave the sad puppy dog look. Poor thing just did what was in its nature. He’s also in a bitey stage of life right now which is rather annoying. What is cute though is that he will turn over and expose his belly in that “you’re dominant, I give in” posture to just about anyone and anything.
He’s not used to long walks yet. In the midst of walking he’ll shut down and just lie on the concrete until you come and pick him up and carry him. Dogs are evil!
Modest Beginnings
April 08, 2008
There’s only three of us and Sifu Steve but soon enough I’ll miss these days of small classes. The website is beginning to generate some hits. Ian, on the left there, found us through this page. I’m hoping that the Golden Harvest Wing Chun page will begin to pay off as well.
WordPress 2.5 and the Rewrite
April 01, 2008
WordPress 2.5 looks and feels great. The interface has been simplified somewhat and even loads faster. I like it! The problem that arose though was that Mod Rewrites were going haywire. My photo albums were not displaying.
Anyway the solution was found here at Moonlight Blog.
