Well friends, I didn't make good on my promise to deliver up to the minute reports from Comic Con. It's probably for the better, being that Comic Con was an utter disappointment this year.
I'll spare you the details, I'm weary of relating them as it is.
What have I been up to?
Well, for the last month and a half I've been preparing for Knotts Scary Farm Halloween Haunt! That's right, I'm going to be one of those crazy people running around in a mask. I was originally intended to be placed in a Zombieland scare zone, but as fate would have it, I was pulled out of the area and placed in Ghost Town. Talk about upgrade! I have some big shoes to fill, so I only hope that I'll be able to do my area and fellow monsters proud.
The costume is finished, all I have left are a few props to assemble. I'll be posting some pictures once everything begins on September 24th. I even received my Haunt name, after a rather loquacious conversation, of Syntax. Provided, I may have steered the name in that direction, but it was my skills with vernacular that sealed its endowment.
Tomorrow are the new maze previews, and I'm super tired.
I'll post some pics and such to keep you all occupied!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
On the matter of Comic Con 2009...
I can't believe how long it's been since I last wrote an entry on here. With things as they've been, I've been hard pressed to make the time to do any extracurricular writing. However, life issues have partially stabilized enough to allow me to jot some thoughts down.
Here we are in July, and for those of us that are cool, we know that Comic Con is around the corner. I've talked about the 4 day extravaganza on here before, but never really about what Comic Con truly represents and what it aims to accomplish.
From the outside perspective, it is just a congregation of the nerdiest kind. However, what it is, is a collection of everything remotely associated to comic books. Movies, Video Games, Toys, Books, Art, Memorabilia, and associated businesses are all represented here. If you're interested in the latest Harry Potter installment, chances are there will be a panel on it, with all the actors present. Do you really want to get Hugh Jackman's autograph on your Wolverine Comic, you can accomplish that. Do you want to talk with the developers of an eagerly awaited upcoming console game, you can do that too.
Comic Con 2005 (This is the view from the Marriot Gaslamp. Unfortunately, I don't believe this view exists anymore as the Hard Rock Hotel is right in front of it (you can see the construction starting down there.))
You see, Comic Con's importance goes beyond just merely being able to see spectacles. It's an opportunity to converse with others that are like you with your interests. I can't tell you how many times I've made a Warcraft reference at work, only to gazed back at with blank expressions. You make the same comment at Con, you're guaranteed to make somebody laugh. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find places such as this in your community. Comic stores are going under by the minute. When they are all gone, what will we be left with? The internet? We'll discuss our interests by way of anonymity on nothing more than an impersonal level?
Deadpool: Suicide Kings (this is a very well written series, and I suggest you go pick it up)
I'm a strong advocate of supporting local comic book stores. They provide us so much more than just a store front. They provide us with a venue, a safe haven, to discuss all things geeky without fear of perturbation. While the loss of brick and mortar stores, combined with the severe decline of the print industry, leaves predicaments better left for a later discussion. One matter remains, when we lose all of these stores, the industry will suffer a debilitating blow. With Comic Con becoming a huge force in the industry, I can only hope that its popularity will help spur on new interest and growth in the comic world.
Alakazam Comics in Irvine, CA (My Local Comic Book Store)
On the same note, I'll be doing my best to supply this blog with updates from Con. Last year, I didn't do so well as we had to drive back and forth each day. By the time I actually made it home, I wanted nothing more than to collapse on the floor and rest. By having a room this year, I hope to get a decent amount of updates in.
I know my girl is super excited to go, as many of her favorite industry professionals are going to be in attendance. Unfortunately, some of them have a raffle to get autographs or to meet them. James Jean, for example, incredible artist but not so fantastic to his fans. In other words, I think of him as a douchebag; serves a purpose, but isn't so wonderful to be around.
Soon enough we'll see exactly what wonders Con has in store for us.
Till next time!
Here we are in July, and for those of us that are cool, we know that Comic Con is around the corner. I've talked about the 4 day extravaganza on here before, but never really about what Comic Con truly represents and what it aims to accomplish.
From the outside perspective, it is just a congregation of the nerdiest kind. However, what it is, is a collection of everything remotely associated to comic books. Movies, Video Games, Toys, Books, Art, Memorabilia, and associated businesses are all represented here. If you're interested in the latest Harry Potter installment, chances are there will be a panel on it, with all the actors present. Do you really want to get Hugh Jackman's autograph on your Wolverine Comic, you can accomplish that. Do you want to talk with the developers of an eagerly awaited upcoming console game, you can do that too.
Comic Con 2005 (This is the view from the Marriot Gaslamp. Unfortunately, I don't believe this view exists anymore as the Hard Rock Hotel is right in front of it (you can see the construction starting down there.))
You see, Comic Con's importance goes beyond just merely being able to see spectacles. It's an opportunity to converse with others that are like you with your interests. I can't tell you how many times I've made a Warcraft reference at work, only to gazed back at with blank expressions. You make the same comment at Con, you're guaranteed to make somebody laugh. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find places such as this in your community. Comic stores are going under by the minute. When they are all gone, what will we be left with? The internet? We'll discuss our interests by way of anonymity on nothing more than an impersonal level?
Deadpool: Suicide Kings (this is a very well written series, and I suggest you go pick it up)
I'm a strong advocate of supporting local comic book stores. They provide us so much more than just a store front. They provide us with a venue, a safe haven, to discuss all things geeky without fear of perturbation. While the loss of brick and mortar stores, combined with the severe decline of the print industry, leaves predicaments better left for a later discussion. One matter remains, when we lose all of these stores, the industry will suffer a debilitating blow. With Comic Con becoming a huge force in the industry, I can only hope that its popularity will help spur on new interest and growth in the comic world.
Alakazam Comics in Irvine, CA (My Local Comic Book Store)
On the same note, I'll be doing my best to supply this blog with updates from Con. Last year, I didn't do so well as we had to drive back and forth each day. By the time I actually made it home, I wanted nothing more than to collapse on the floor and rest. By having a room this year, I hope to get a decent amount of updates in.
I know my girl is super excited to go, as many of her favorite industry professionals are going to be in attendance. Unfortunately, some of them have a raffle to get autographs or to meet them. James Jean, for example, incredible artist but not so fantastic to his fans. In other words, I think of him as a douchebag; serves a purpose, but isn't so wonderful to be around.
Soon enough we'll see exactly what wonders Con has in store for us.
Till next time!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
A Blast from the Past
By random chance, I logged into my Google Video account and found a couple of videos that I had forgotten that I uploaded.
This video was taken at a boat party at Comic Con 2006 of my friend Sean, completely wasted, talking about crazy shit.
Another one where he took an Anthropological look at, well, watch the video and you'll find out. In his defense, he had quite a lot to drink that night.
That really was a night to remember, I don't think I've laughed for 5 hours straight before that night.
This video was taken at a boat party at Comic Con 2006 of my friend Sean, completely wasted, talking about crazy shit.
Another one where he took an Anthropological look at, well, watch the video and you'll find out. In his defense, he had quite a lot to drink that night.
That really was a night to remember, I don't think I've laughed for 5 hours straight before that night.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
The Blizzard Authenticator and why you need one
Blizzard brought a nice piece of security technology to the States a while back, a technology that existed in overseas countries like China for a long time already.
This little piece of technology is called the Blizzard Authenticator, essentially a SecureID chip, its purpose is to add another layer of security to your account. It works by pairing it with your account then when logging into the game you'll enter both your login name and password, but afterwards you're prompted to enter a one time code that is generated at a push of a button on the authenticator.
Why would anybody want to be inconvenienced by having to add another password? Or, why what if I go to my friends house or a LAN center and want to play but forgot my authenticator?
Would you rather your account of 4+ years be hacked into, all of your valuables stolen, and your character transfered to another realm because you didn't want to spend $6.50? Personally, I wouldn't leave my account security to chance, no matter how amazing my anti-virus is, long my password is, or that I copy-paste it everytime I enter it.
I have to say, as a former Blizzard Account Investigator, I've seen some interesting hacks. More importantly, I've seen people lose practically everything on their account because we couldn't find their stuff in the logs. Most of these compromises were foreign in nature but a good majority number of them were account sharing. That's right, you're best friend hacks your account and steals all your stuff, such a nice friend.
Just recently my girlfriend had her account hacked by a "gold farmer" and her items were attempted to be filtered through a number of characters to cover the tracks. While most of these types of hacks were people that bought gold, visited gold selling sites, or maybe downloaded the wrong cookies from an untrusted site; I know she didn't do any of that. She doesn't go to those sites and doesn't even use UI mods. So, how did it happen?
Truth is, I have no idea, and it's that uncertainty which is the reason for getting the Authenticator.
The authenticator is not a way for Blizzard to screw you out of a whole $6.50, it's their way of providing you a way to protect your investment better. My girlfriend was able to get her stuff back, but you may not be so lucky.
This little piece of technology is called the Blizzard Authenticator, essentially a SecureID chip, its purpose is to add another layer of security to your account. It works by pairing it with your account then when logging into the game you'll enter both your login name and password, but afterwards you're prompted to enter a one time code that is generated at a push of a button on the authenticator.
Why would anybody want to be inconvenienced by having to add another password? Or, why what if I go to my friends house or a LAN center and want to play but forgot my authenticator?
Would you rather your account of 4+ years be hacked into, all of your valuables stolen, and your character transfered to another realm because you didn't want to spend $6.50? Personally, I wouldn't leave my account security to chance, no matter how amazing my anti-virus is, long my password is, or that I copy-paste it everytime I enter it.
I have to say, as a former Blizzard Account Investigator, I've seen some interesting hacks. More importantly, I've seen people lose practically everything on their account because we couldn't find their stuff in the logs. Most of these compromises were foreign in nature but a good majority number of them were account sharing. That's right, you're best friend hacks your account and steals all your stuff, such a nice friend.
Just recently my girlfriend had her account hacked by a "gold farmer" and her items were attempted to be filtered through a number of characters to cover the tracks. While most of these types of hacks were people that bought gold, visited gold selling sites, or maybe downloaded the wrong cookies from an untrusted site; I know she didn't do any of that. She doesn't go to those sites and doesn't even use UI mods. So, how did it happen?
Truth is, I have no idea, and it's that uncertainty which is the reason for getting the Authenticator.
The authenticator is not a way for Blizzard to screw you out of a whole $6.50, it's their way of providing you a way to protect your investment better. My girlfriend was able to get her stuff back, but you may not be so lucky.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Notice something?
If you didn't catch it, look in the upper left hand corner.
I knew you'd find it! I am now the happy owner of a Jailbroken Iphone 3G. I can now do cool things with my phone, things that I should've been able to do to begin with.
Also, the Qik link on the right hand side is active. Now I can stream live video from anywhere with my Iphone.
UPDATE:
I found a pretty sweet WoW theme for my phone, it looks pretty nice. It's starting to feel like I have much more control over my phone now.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Large Hadron Collider means the end of the world....maybe
My friends and I have been following the development of the Large Hadron Collider that CERN built underneath France and Switzerland.
While there are many great speculations as to what the LHC could unveil by means of science, the best theories are a recreation of the Big Bang or creation of a Black Hole. I personally am cheering for the Black Hole possibility. Could you imagine what would happen if a Black Hole was created? We would have conversations like this, "Hey want to go to Europe for vacation?" My reply, "No, we don't go to that side of the world anymore...."
Anyway, the LHC is set to project its initial beam September 10th, this Wednesday. Despite the lawsuits and the death threats.
Yeah I said lawsuits and death threats. The US filed a lawsuit in Hawaii's US District Court to delay the LHC launch saying that it is a "Doomsday Machine."
As for death threats, scientists working on the LHC have been receiving less than savory messages via email and faxes telling them to stop their research.
Honestly, I don't see why we should stop it. We let the Atomic Bomb get dropped, on people, twice. How many particle accelerators have been used up to this point, provided none of them were this size, but the end of the world never came. We have more to gain by activating the LHC than by letting it sit dormant and becoming a 20 year failure.
Oh, so you know, the LHC is capable of 4 trillion electron-volts at maximum power. Quite a bit of juice which won't be completely used until a little bit after the initial beams are launched.
Live it up people, Wednesday may be the end of the world!
While there are many great speculations as to what the LHC could unveil by means of science, the best theories are a recreation of the Big Bang or creation of a Black Hole. I personally am cheering for the Black Hole possibility. Could you imagine what would happen if a Black Hole was created? We would have conversations like this, "Hey want to go to Europe for vacation?" My reply, "No, we don't go to that side of the world anymore...."
Anyway, the LHC is set to project its initial beam September 10th, this Wednesday. Despite the lawsuits and the death threats.
Yeah I said lawsuits and death threats. The US filed a lawsuit in Hawaii's US District Court to delay the LHC launch saying that it is a "Doomsday Machine."
As for death threats, scientists working on the LHC have been receiving less than savory messages via email and faxes telling them to stop their research.
Honestly, I don't see why we should stop it. We let the Atomic Bomb get dropped, on people, twice. How many particle accelerators have been used up to this point, provided none of them were this size, but the end of the world never came. We have more to gain by activating the LHC than by letting it sit dormant and becoming a 20 year failure.
Oh, so you know, the LHC is capable of 4 trillion electron-volts at maximum power. Quite a bit of juice which won't be completely used until a little bit after the initial beams are launched.
Live it up people, Wednesday may be the end of the world!
Friday, September 5, 2008
The things we take for granted...
Christmas, Thanksgiving, Weddings, Going Away Parties, and Birthdays; all of these things have something in common. They are each a gathering of people, but just any, people whom you have a deep connection with. These events happen each year with certainty. You live long enough you begin to acknowledge these events with no more than a nod.
I remember a time when a birthday was a time of absolute celebration, all eyes were on you; it's your special day. Best of all, you loved the presents. Before you even dug into the brightly colored gifts your mind had already raced through all the possibilities of the fun you could have with them, not even yet knowing what it was. Your heart beat furiously in your chest as you revealed small sections of the prize inside. When the paper was discarded you held up over your head in triumph a treasured item.
Each moment of the ritual as sacred as the next. The games, the cake, the gifts, the pictures.
Yet, through all of this there was another component, easily overlooked at such a young age. A component that is easily forgotten even as you progress in years.
It's the people.
You spend so much time on yourself that you can forget what it is that really makes these days special. The people. Would that party be all that much fun if nobody was there? How would you feel if there wasn't anybody to show your new treasures to? The truth of the matter is, it wouldn't be fun at all.
Tonight on my birthday, I was reminded of the things that truly matter to me. I have forgotten what it was that made these days special. By matter of circumstance all of my family and closest friends were working, in school, or out of town. Which, left me alone. A day where one should feel special, yet I did not. While the texts and emails from friends afar were greatly appreciated, they still could not account for the human element in which we as sentient beings, require.
I above all others am guilty of taking my family and friends for granted. Which to me now, is among the greatest transgressions we as a people can make. In the end, our connection, our relationship with others is all we really have to experience this world, is all we have to make it as special as it should be.
As I sit here, and read birthday cards left for me; I ask that you never take those closest to you for granted. Enjoy every moment with them, cherish the memories you make with them; even something as small as getting coffee on a cold night. For when they are gone, it can be the most crushing feeling to endure.
I remember a time when a birthday was a time of absolute celebration, all eyes were on you; it's your special day. Best of all, you loved the presents. Before you even dug into the brightly colored gifts your mind had already raced through all the possibilities of the fun you could have with them, not even yet knowing what it was. Your heart beat furiously in your chest as you revealed small sections of the prize inside. When the paper was discarded you held up over your head in triumph a treasured item.
Each moment of the ritual as sacred as the next. The games, the cake, the gifts, the pictures.
Yet, through all of this there was another component, easily overlooked at such a young age. A component that is easily forgotten even as you progress in years.
It's the people.
You spend so much time on yourself that you can forget what it is that really makes these days special. The people. Would that party be all that much fun if nobody was there? How would you feel if there wasn't anybody to show your new treasures to? The truth of the matter is, it wouldn't be fun at all.
Tonight on my birthday, I was reminded of the things that truly matter to me. I have forgotten what it was that made these days special. By matter of circumstance all of my family and closest friends were working, in school, or out of town. Which, left me alone. A day where one should feel special, yet I did not. While the texts and emails from friends afar were greatly appreciated, they still could not account for the human element in which we as sentient beings, require.
I above all others am guilty of taking my family and friends for granted. Which to me now, is among the greatest transgressions we as a people can make. In the end, our connection, our relationship with others is all we really have to experience this world, is all we have to make it as special as it should be.
As I sit here, and read birthday cards left for me; I ask that you never take those closest to you for granted. Enjoy every moment with them, cherish the memories you make with them; even something as small as getting coffee on a cold night. For when they are gone, it can be the most crushing feeling to endure.
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