Quest for Muscle: The Return of the Pump
- Thread starter GentleOx
- Start date
from
Congrats on that paused bench press!
from
Thanks a ton for your encouragement, @TopNotch @Laura Rainbow Dragon @CODawn @Mamatigerj @JCU @MadamMeow and @Fremen!
GentleOx - warrior. An Ox barely alive. We can rebuild him: we have the technology. We have the capabilities to build the world's first bionic Ox. Gentle Ox will be that Ox. Better than he was before. Better; stronger; faster!
Hello again Bees! GentleOx here reporting on the eve of the Lunar New Year. Because the gym will be closed for the rest of the week, I took the time to come in and hit a Pull workout.
Deadlifts: 155 x 6, 160 x 6. Good numbers, but I kept scraping against the boo boo on my knee repeatedly, which was a pain. Literally.
Barbell Rows: 100 x 6. Zzzz...
Machine One Arm Rows: 70 x 6.
Alternating Dumbbell Rows: 26 x 12. Just starting slow.
Lat Pulldowns: 60 x 8. I've never been a fan of these, to be honest.
Behind the Neck Machine Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
+21000 steps.
Nice big workout for the end of the year.
Tomorrow is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and we'll be visiting relatives and taking in the holidays. I want a ton of red packets stuffed with cash. Kidding!
Comically enough, I have a habit of referring to the New Year's custom of visiting relatives as "bai saan", which my mom always scolds me for. This is because I'm supposed to be saying "bai nihn", which is mistake enough, but "bai saan" refers to visiting the dead and paying your respects: bad luck to confuse the two.
Even though we're very much a secular, westernized family, it's funny how we still hew to bits of Chinese tradition. Ah well.
Even if you don't celebrate the Lunar New Year, I wish you have good blessings and good health in the Year of the Snake. Gung Hei Fat Choi, Bees!
Playing: So... Fallout 4 was more than a little crash-happy, so I've uninstalled it (to reinstall it again in half a year, no doubt), and will give more attention to the other open world games on my docket, namely Venetica and Xenus 2. Xenus 2 has that emergent feel to it that scratches that itch. There's nothing like freely attacking enemy bases and going all out Rambo. Meanwhile, Sulfur still waits...
Watching: Haven't been watching as much as I mean to. Will try to watch more of Haunted Ulster, but the nihilistic, grimy and vile "puppet" horror Abruptio is what I'm watching now, mostly out of bile fascination. Let's see where it ends up... Edit: Finished watching Abruptio, so here's a trailer and a review.
Les is a middle-aged loser who lives with his parents, and has been dumped by his girlfriend, all the while stuck in his office-drone job. One day, out of the blue, a bomb is planted in the back of his neck, and a message sent to him: follow our instructions or die. The next few days will see Les perform unspeakable tasks in the name of a threat that's looming over the world, apocalyptic in its scope. Les will take himself to places unknown to see how he fits into the greater scheme of things...
Synopsis: If you have a strong stomach, and can follow the disjointed, over-stuffed plot, then this is a gory psychological treat.
This is basically a psychological thriller with a few surreal elements. We start out with Les being blackmailed to perform violent and outrageous tasks, but the plot gets even weirder from there. I would say it's weird to a fault; not all the elements that are put into story pay off, and many could be left out without impacting the final product. The decision to use puppets/puppet masks is a touch odd, considering that the full body shots are of actual people, but I saw them as a form of detachment from the seemingly endless violence and gore.
The psychological elements of the story are intriguing, even if they don't cohere as subtly as they could. Sobriety and addiction play a huge part in the story, even though I had the impression that the writer only had a surface-level understanding of the 12 Steps, and Recovery. Still, I laud them for including these elements. The strongest part of the film are the side quests and set pieces that Les finds himself encountering, even if they don't always conform to the main plot.
I would have to give Abruptio three and a half revolvers out of five.
Listening to: Rage Against the Machine - The Ghost of Tom Joad. One of those covers which matches up to the original (penned with amazing lyricism by Bruce Springsteen) with aplomb. The alt-metal bent lends a hammer-like intensity to each verse, and brings the song proudly into the modern, divided landscape.
"Now Tom said, “Mom, wherever there’s a cop beatin’ a guy
Wherever a hungry new born baby cries
Where there’s a fight ‘gainst the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me mom I’ll be there.
Wherever somebody’s fightin’ for a place to stand
Or a decent job or a helpin’ hand.
Wherever somebody’s strugglin’ to be free,
Look in their eyes ma you’ll see me"
GentleOx - warrior. An Ox barely alive. We can rebuild him: we have the technology. We have the capabilities to build the world's first bionic Ox. Gentle Ox will be that Ox. Better than he was before. Better; stronger; faster!
Hello again Bees! GentleOx here reporting on the eve of the Lunar New Year. Because the gym will be closed for the rest of the week, I took the time to come in and hit a Pull workout.
Deadlifts: 155 x 6, 160 x 6. Good numbers, but I kept scraping against the boo boo on my knee repeatedly, which was a pain. Literally.
Barbell Rows: 100 x 6. Zzzz...
Machine One Arm Rows: 70 x 6.
Alternating Dumbbell Rows: 26 x 12. Just starting slow.
Lat Pulldowns: 60 x 8. I've never been a fan of these, to be honest.
Behind the Neck Machine Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
+21000 steps.
Nice big workout for the end of the year.
Tomorrow is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and we'll be visiting relatives and taking in the holidays. I want a ton of red packets stuffed with cash. Kidding!
Comically enough, I have a habit of referring to the New Year's custom of visiting relatives as "bai saan", which my mom always scolds me for. This is because I'm supposed to be saying "bai nihn", which is mistake enough, but "bai saan" refers to visiting the dead and paying your respects: bad luck to confuse the two.
Even though we're very much a secular, westernized family, it's funny how we still hew to bits of Chinese tradition. Ah well.
Even if you don't celebrate the Lunar New Year, I wish you have good blessings and good health in the Year of the Snake. Gung Hei Fat Choi, Bees!
Playing: So... Fallout 4 was more than a little crash-happy, so I've uninstalled it (to reinstall it again in half a year, no doubt), and will give more attention to the other open world games on my docket, namely Venetica and Xenus 2. Xenus 2 has that emergent feel to it that scratches that itch. There's nothing like freely attacking enemy bases and going all out Rambo. Meanwhile, Sulfur still waits...
Watching: Haven't been watching as much as I mean to. Will try to watch more of Haunted Ulster, but the nihilistic, grimy and vile "puppet" horror Abruptio is what I'm watching now, mostly out of bile fascination. Let's see where it ends up... Edit: Finished watching Abruptio, so here's a trailer and a review.
Les is a middle-aged loser who lives with his parents, and has been dumped by his girlfriend, all the while stuck in his office-drone job. One day, out of the blue, a bomb is planted in the back of his neck, and a message sent to him: follow our instructions or die. The next few days will see Les perform unspeakable tasks in the name of a threat that's looming over the world, apocalyptic in its scope. Les will take himself to places unknown to see how he fits into the greater scheme of things...
Synopsis: If you have a strong stomach, and can follow the disjointed, over-stuffed plot, then this is a gory psychological treat.
This is basically a psychological thriller with a few surreal elements. We start out with Les being blackmailed to perform violent and outrageous tasks, but the plot gets even weirder from there. I would say it's weird to a fault; not all the elements that are put into story pay off, and many could be left out without impacting the final product. The decision to use puppets/puppet masks is a touch odd, considering that the full body shots are of actual people, but I saw them as a form of detachment from the seemingly endless violence and gore.
The psychological elements of the story are intriguing, even if they don't cohere as subtly as they could. Sobriety and addiction play a huge part in the story, even though I had the impression that the writer only had a surface-level understanding of the 12 Steps, and Recovery. Still, I laud them for including these elements. The strongest part of the film are the side quests and set pieces that Les finds himself encountering, even if they don't always conform to the main plot.
I would have to give Abruptio three and a half revolvers out of five.
Listening to: Rage Against the Machine - The Ghost of Tom Joad. One of those covers which matches up to the original (penned with amazing lyricism by Bruce Springsteen) with aplomb. The alt-metal bent lends a hammer-like intensity to each verse, and brings the song proudly into the modern, divided landscape.
"Now Tom said, “Mom, wherever there’s a cop beatin’ a guy
Wherever a hungry new born baby cries
Where there’s a fight ‘gainst the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me mom I’ll be there.
Wherever somebody’s fightin’ for a place to stand
Or a decent job or a helpin’ hand.
Wherever somebody’s strugglin’ to be free,
Look in their eyes ma you’ll see me"
Last edited:
Mamatigerj
Well-known member
PetiteSheWolf
Well-known member
Happy new lunar yearh, Gentle Ox ! 
Obsinosterous
Well-known member
The wretched beast has conquered all that is good and sacred and cast a pallor of darkness over the land.
Who has the courage and the good nature to stand against the dark, and bring back the light? None shall stand for the decent and the upright - that is, except for the fabled and soporific Gentle Ox!
Happy Year of the Snake to @Obsinosterous and @Mamatigerj and all you Bees out there!
Hello again! I've made it through much of the Lunar New Year and have headed to the gym for my first workout in several days. Today was a Push day.
Bench Press: 132.5 x 5. Another increase in strength!
Incline Bench Press: 110 x 5.
Lying Dumbbell Extensions: 22 x 8.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 40 x 6.
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 18 x 14.
Got me some lai see!
I ate too much during the New Year, so I am more of a pudgy, prosperous Ox for now. Will try to get in a fuller week of workouts next week.
Enjoy your weekend, Bees!
Playing: I've been playing a lot of Xenus 2, which, per my previous assessment, is still janky as hell and lots of fun (I've made a practice of storming enemy encampments single-handed). I love it when games let you do that. Still having that urge to buy more, but I've still got lots of gaming treats in my library. Will try to give Venetica some more love, and Blade of Darkness.
Humour: Whitest Kids U Know - So we've got it wrong all this time. Hamlet was about vampires, and Lincoln was... well, you can see for yourself. (Warning: Foul language).
Watching: So I finished watching Nosferatu, which inspired my hokey intro for this post. Here's a trailer, synopsis and a review.
A young girl, Ellen, prays for something to comfort her, and the titular Nosferatu responds, claiming her in the process. Some years later, Ellen is grown, and wed to young Thomas, a promising solicitor. Thomas has been assigned to travel to Romania to preside over a transaction with a peculiar, and reclusive lord. This turns out to be the very same monstrous demon that claimed Ellen earlier, and the signing of the deed is a scheme to reach Ellen. Trapped in its curse, Thomas and Ellen must reckon with the Nosferatu, and find a way for their love to survive.
Synopsis: A rich stew of horror that draws from the past and the present, and is only slightly let down by certain elements.
So, I hadn't realized that this one is based off of Bram Stoker's novel (which I haven't read in ages), and was expecting something more original, so no docking of points for following the plot of Dracula or anything like that.
Overall, this sets a more effective and all-encompassing mood that betters practically every other modern horror. It describes itself as a gothic horror, and on that front, it certainly delivers. The use of shadows and lighting is amazing, and the mood of the time can practically be tasted (it is odd that the characters have English accents, but are in Germany, but oh well). I have no issue with the pacing and the way the plot is doled out. To me, the film was not scary, but it was horrific, and evidences this in several brutal moments.
I did not find the vampire Count Orlok that scary. His design, while given a modern, elaborate gussying-up, just wasn't menacing or potent (cf Max Schreck's more inhuman and terrifying embodiment), and his voice felt kind of risible and exaggerated at times - even mom, who watched the movie as well, poked fun at this. And when your horror movie depends upon the strength of its main monster, it can kill your movie (pun not intended) if it doesn't rise to the challenge. I didn't like Lily Rose-Depp's performance as well. It felt like she gave a very limited performance, comprised mostly of repetitive histrionics. It's not that either of them are bad (I feel Depp exerts herself more than Skargard does), but they just didn't gel for me.
Thankfully, you can still enjoy the looming dread in the film even if some of the individual performances are questionable. It doesn't have the colourful chutzpah and melodrama of Bram Stoker's Dracula, but it is more frightening.
I feel that Nosferatu is thus deserving of four and a half bites (what else?) out of five.
Going to start watching Den of Thieves, as the sequel is now available, and I've never watched it completely.
Listening to: Skinny Puppy - Jahya. Been in a Skinny Puppy kind of mood, and this old song scratched my itch. Love those titanic, crushing riffs that seemingly come out of nowhere.
Who has the courage and the good nature to stand against the dark, and bring back the light? None shall stand for the decent and the upright - that is, except for the fabled and soporific Gentle Ox!
Happy Year of the Snake to @Obsinosterous and @Mamatigerj and all you Bees out there!
Hello again! I've made it through much of the Lunar New Year and have headed to the gym for my first workout in several days. Today was a Push day.
Bench Press: 132.5 x 5. Another increase in strength!
Incline Bench Press: 110 x 5.
Lying Dumbbell Extensions: 22 x 8.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 40 x 6.
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 18 x 14.
Got me some lai see!
I ate too much during the New Year, so I am more of a pudgy, prosperous Ox for now. Will try to get in a fuller week of workouts next week.
Enjoy your weekend, Bees!
Playing: I've been playing a lot of Xenus 2, which, per my previous assessment, is still janky as hell and lots of fun (I've made a practice of storming enemy encampments single-handed). I love it when games let you do that. Still having that urge to buy more, but I've still got lots of gaming treats in my library. Will try to give Venetica some more love, and Blade of Darkness.
Humour: Whitest Kids U Know - So we've got it wrong all this time. Hamlet was about vampires, and Lincoln was... well, you can see for yourself. (Warning: Foul language).
Watching: So I finished watching Nosferatu, which inspired my hokey intro for this post. Here's a trailer, synopsis and a review.
A young girl, Ellen, prays for something to comfort her, and the titular Nosferatu responds, claiming her in the process. Some years later, Ellen is grown, and wed to young Thomas, a promising solicitor. Thomas has been assigned to travel to Romania to preside over a transaction with a peculiar, and reclusive lord. This turns out to be the very same monstrous demon that claimed Ellen earlier, and the signing of the deed is a scheme to reach Ellen. Trapped in its curse, Thomas and Ellen must reckon with the Nosferatu, and find a way for their love to survive.
Synopsis: A rich stew of horror that draws from the past and the present, and is only slightly let down by certain elements.
So, I hadn't realized that this one is based off of Bram Stoker's novel (which I haven't read in ages), and was expecting something more original, so no docking of points for following the plot of Dracula or anything like that.
Overall, this sets a more effective and all-encompassing mood that betters practically every other modern horror. It describes itself as a gothic horror, and on that front, it certainly delivers. The use of shadows and lighting is amazing, and the mood of the time can practically be tasted (it is odd that the characters have English accents, but are in Germany, but oh well). I have no issue with the pacing and the way the plot is doled out. To me, the film was not scary, but it was horrific, and evidences this in several brutal moments.
I did not find the vampire Count Orlok that scary. His design, while given a modern, elaborate gussying-up, just wasn't menacing or potent (cf Max Schreck's more inhuman and terrifying embodiment), and his voice felt kind of risible and exaggerated at times - even mom, who watched the movie as well, poked fun at this. And when your horror movie depends upon the strength of its main monster, it can kill your movie (pun not intended) if it doesn't rise to the challenge. I didn't like Lily Rose-Depp's performance as well. It felt like she gave a very limited performance, comprised mostly of repetitive histrionics. It's not that either of them are bad (I feel Depp exerts herself more than Skargard does), but they just didn't gel for me.
Thankfully, you can still enjoy the looming dread in the film even if some of the individual performances are questionable. It doesn't have the colourful chutzpah and melodrama of Bram Stoker's Dracula, but it is more frightening.
I feel that Nosferatu is thus deserving of four and a half bites (what else?) out of five.
Going to start watching Den of Thieves, as the sequel is now available, and I've never watched it completely.
Listening to: Skinny Puppy - Jahya. Been in a Skinny Puppy kind of mood, and this old song scratched my itch. Love those titanic, crushing riffs that seemingly come out of nowhere.
Last edited:
Congrats for the bench success!
Mamatigerj
Well-known member
Thank you @Laura Rainbow Dragon and @Mamatigerj and of course, fellow Bees for your support!
My esteemed colleagues, it took time, resources, and most of our supply of chocolate and treats, but we finally have accomplished our goal. We have captured the sole remaining specimen of the Mitis Bovis species and currently have it in our lab. Behold the specimen engaged in its primary pursuit:
Zzzzzz...
Greetings, Bees! I took the weekend off, but hit the gym and the streets today for an extended workout, so let's get started. Today was another Controlled Push day.
Paused Bench Press: 130 x 5. Eh, none of the meteoric gains of last week, but I hit my target nonetheless. I have a feeling that doing so again is going to be more difficult (approaching my natural plateau), so will have to be patient with the weights.
Paused Incline Press: 110 x 5. This showed improvement!
Tricep Extension Machine (all the other ones were taken): 45 (? I think) x 10.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 20 x 22. Ogh, but these were a pain. I will shoot for 24 reps next time and try to hit a PR.
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 18 x 12. Are these working yet?
+23000 steps! Haven't walked this many in awhile.
The gym was quite packed today. It was a miracle that the bench press wasn't taken when I got there, but after I finished, the crowds descended.
Cyberpunk-ed around for a bit, but given that the temperature has taken a dip (for what it's worth in a tropical climate!), I headed home to thaw out and type up this post.
Take care of yourselves, Bees!
Playing: Uhh, I only played Sulfur last night. Died, thanks to those pesky doggos. Serves me right for being complacent on another run. Will play a bit more of Xenus 2 tonight, and really should get started on Blade of Darkness.
Watching: Haven't been watching much, even though there's so much to watch. I'll resume Haunted Ulster tonight for Late Night Cinema.
Listening to: This Mortal Coil - Dreams Made Flesh. Don't mind the goth-y name, which is a byproduct of the TMC project (in which 4AD artists collaborated and released some covers, some original songs). Performed by Dead Can Dance, this is probably the best song produced from that project, and it's not hard to see why. Absolutely beautiful quasi-ambient instrumentation, only combined with Lisa Gerrard's inimitable powerhouse vocals. A post-punk classic.
My esteemed colleagues, it took time, resources, and most of our supply of chocolate and treats, but we finally have accomplished our goal. We have captured the sole remaining specimen of the Mitis Bovis species and currently have it in our lab. Behold the specimen engaged in its primary pursuit:
Zzzzzz...
Greetings, Bees! I took the weekend off, but hit the gym and the streets today for an extended workout, so let's get started. Today was another Controlled Push day.
Paused Bench Press: 130 x 5. Eh, none of the meteoric gains of last week, but I hit my target nonetheless. I have a feeling that doing so again is going to be more difficult (approaching my natural plateau), so will have to be patient with the weights.
Paused Incline Press: 110 x 5. This showed improvement!
Tricep Extension Machine (all the other ones were taken): 45 (? I think) x 10.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 20 x 22. Ogh, but these were a pain. I will shoot for 24 reps next time and try to hit a PR.
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 18 x 12. Are these working yet?
+23000 steps! Haven't walked this many in awhile.
The gym was quite packed today. It was a miracle that the bench press wasn't taken when I got there, but after I finished, the crowds descended.
Cyberpunk-ed around for a bit, but given that the temperature has taken a dip (for what it's worth in a tropical climate!), I headed home to thaw out and type up this post.
Take care of yourselves, Bees!
Playing: Uhh, I only played Sulfur last night. Died, thanks to those pesky doggos. Serves me right for being complacent on another run. Will play a bit more of Xenus 2 tonight, and really should get started on Blade of Darkness.
Watching: Haven't been watching much, even though there's so much to watch. I'll resume Haunted Ulster tonight for Late Night Cinema.
Listening to: This Mortal Coil - Dreams Made Flesh. Don't mind the goth-y name, which is a byproduct of the TMC project (in which 4AD artists collaborated and released some covers, some original songs). Performed by Dead Can Dance, this is probably the best song produced from that project, and it's not hard to see why. Absolutely beautiful quasi-ambient instrumentation, only combined with Lisa Gerrard's inimitable powerhouse vocals. A post-punk classic.
On next week's episode of Ox and Order... *CHA CHUNG*
"And I have shown the court that the suspect's guilt is beyond doubt. Res Ipsa Loqu-"
"OBJECTION! The witnesses have been established to be mendacious and nonsensical!"
"I was established in your mother's chambers last night!"
"How dare you..!. Your honour! Do something!"
ZZzzzzz...
Greetings again, Bees! Was determined to head to the gym for a Pull workout today, so I'm glad I got it done.
Deadlifts: 160 x 6, 165 x 5. I was considering going up to 170, but doubtful that I could hit it today.
Barbell Rows: 105 x 5.
Meadows Rows: 45 x 5. Augh. Need to buy straps so I can properly do these.
Wide Grip Lat Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
Narrow Grip Rows: 60 x 7.
Behind the Neck Machine Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
I wasn't feeling tired on the way home (wanted to get a haircut, but the salon is closed until Friday) but upon getting home and into the shower, the fatigue hit me like a ton of bricks. Super tired now, but it's good to be back, and snug as a bug in a rug. May take tomorrow off, or not, I'll see. Hoping we'll get some siu lap for dinner, though what exactly is TBD.
Also looking forward to a buffet lunch on Saturday in Tseung Kwan O (when you live on HK island, everything in Kowloon is far away lol)! The last time we went there, the food was subpar, I was sick, and we went during Covid, so not the best experience, but I'll give it a second chance.
Keep going, Bees! We're midway through the week!
Playing: Mostly, mostly played Sulfur last night, with a dash of Blade of Darkness (going to have to chuck my controller and play with m and kb like in the old days), but no Xenus 2. I tried some Warframe, which is notoriously dense and newbie unfriendly, and it just bounced off of me. Could not get into it. Also reinstalled Blood 2 (it's never worked on this iteration of my desktop), but after futzing around with cfg files, uninstalled it again in frustration.
Humour: Haven't watched this one in ages. It's YMCA, only in Cantonese, and with clips of skeletons, and a perfectly in-sync Skeletor. Why? Well, why not?
Watching: As promised, watched a bit of Haunted Ulster, but the Zzzs took over pretty quickly. I'll watch more tonight.
Listening to: Jethro Tull - Mountain Men. Most of Crest of a Knave was rubbish, but this was one of the more endearing songs to come off of it. It's both a moving ode to a simpler life, and a heart-breaking antiwar ballad.
"Did my tour, did my duty/I did all they asked of me.
Died in the trenches and at Alamein/died in the Falklands on T.V.
Going back to the mountain kings/where the sound of the piper counts for everything."
"And I have shown the court that the suspect's guilt is beyond doubt. Res Ipsa Loqu-"
"OBJECTION! The witnesses have been established to be mendacious and nonsensical!"
"I was established in your mother's chambers last night!"
"How dare you..!. Your honour! Do something!"
ZZzzzzz...
Greetings again, Bees! Was determined to head to the gym for a Pull workout today, so I'm glad I got it done.
Deadlifts: 160 x 6, 165 x 5. I was considering going up to 170, but doubtful that I could hit it today.
Barbell Rows: 105 x 5.
Meadows Rows: 45 x 5. Augh. Need to buy straps so I can properly do these.
Wide Grip Lat Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
Narrow Grip Rows: 60 x 7.
Behind the Neck Machine Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
I wasn't feeling tired on the way home (wanted to get a haircut, but the salon is closed until Friday) but upon getting home and into the shower, the fatigue hit me like a ton of bricks. Super tired now, but it's good to be back, and snug as a bug in a rug. May take tomorrow off, or not, I'll see. Hoping we'll get some siu lap for dinner, though what exactly is TBD.
Also looking forward to a buffet lunch on Saturday in Tseung Kwan O (when you live on HK island, everything in Kowloon is far away lol)! The last time we went there, the food was subpar, I was sick, and we went during Covid, so not the best experience, but I'll give it a second chance.
Keep going, Bees! We're midway through the week!
Playing: Mostly, mostly played Sulfur last night, with a dash of Blade of Darkness (going to have to chuck my controller and play with m and kb like in the old days), but no Xenus 2. I tried some Warframe, which is notoriously dense and newbie unfriendly, and it just bounced off of me. Could not get into it. Also reinstalled Blood 2 (it's never worked on this iteration of my desktop), but after futzing around with cfg files, uninstalled it again in frustration.
Humour: Haven't watched this one in ages. It's YMCA, only in Cantonese, and with clips of skeletons, and a perfectly in-sync Skeletor. Why? Well, why not?
Watching: As promised, watched a bit of Haunted Ulster, but the Zzzs took over pretty quickly. I'll watch more tonight.
Listening to: Jethro Tull - Mountain Men. Most of Crest of a Knave was rubbish, but this was one of the more endearing songs to come off of it. It's both a moving ode to a simpler life, and a heart-breaking antiwar ballad.
"Did my tour, did my duty/I did all they asked of me.
Died in the trenches and at Alamein/died in the Falklands on T.V.
Going back to the mountain kings/where the sound of the piper counts for everything."
Last edited:
On next week's episode of General Ox-pital...
"I've never heard of an ox in the operating room!"
"Well, this hospital is famous for its radical solutions!"
Later that day...
"The patient's flatlining! We're losing him! Doctor Ox, perform CPR! Doctor?!"
"Zzzz..."
Hey there, Bees! I took yesterday off, but I headed to the gym for another Push day.
Bench Press: 135 x 4, 130 x 5. Failure to hit five reps! I thought I had five in me, but I ended up bailing the bar on the rack, as that fifth rep eluded me. Oh well, I'll carry on working with this weight, and today wasn't a loss - I increased my reps in my support sets, so that's something.
Shoulder Press: 67.5 x 5. I decided to work these again, just for overall development and profit. Starting with light weight, but that's okay.
Rope Pushdowns: 14 x 6.
Flat Dumbbell Curls: 20 x 24. Ugh, these were agony.
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 16 x 15.
I got a new haircut! My old shaggy hairstyle was out of control, so I'm glad the barber trimmed those locks. It took a few days, but it's growing on me.
(No I don't usually take shirtless selfies, but it was an impulsive move lol).
Buffet lunch tomorrow. Hoping it'll be as yummy as it looks online.
Keep bundled up and warm these days, Bees - it's getting cold.
Playing: I didn't play anything in detail yesterday eve, but instead sampled bits of different games. Tried Requiem: Avenging Angel again, but quickly lost interest: the player character feels like a fridge. In response, reinstalled Turok 2, and man does that one feel great. Purchased Soulbringer (the second time in my life I've done so - the first was the pirated version on CD as an adolescent lol) for less than 10 hkd. Tried Dungeon Siege 2, but despite getting it to work with widescreen, was underwhelmed. Finally, played a bit of indie horror anthology Dread X, which I've definitely going to devote more time to - it's an audacious premise usually poorly executed in films, so to see a collection of short horror games like this makes Dread X a steal. Oh, and a dash of Sulfur. All of this gaming was within an hour's time or so.
Watching: Ugh, I've been so sleepy that I haven't watched anything for late night cinema (which may be a good thing, considering the cinematic dreck I've subjected myself to). Really want to watch more of Haunted Ulster, so I'll make an effort tonight. Also, Invincible just dropped online, and it's always had good episodes, so I should check it out. Also, Captain America comes out next Wednesday, so I'm mulling over whether or not to fork over the 60hkd fee attached (this will depend on how well the movie rates).
Listening to: Teenage Fanclub - Everything Flows. Some of the high from working out today has faded, and now I'm left navel-gazing, wondering what the hell is going on with my life. Thankfully, Teenage Fanclub have stepped in (their early sound, anyway) with a gloriously messy melodic salve.
"We get older every year
but you don't change
or I don't notice you're changing
I think about it every day
but only for a little while
and then I feel it"
"I've never heard of an ox in the operating room!"
"Well, this hospital is famous for its radical solutions!"
Later that day...
"The patient's flatlining! We're losing him! Doctor Ox, perform CPR! Doctor?!"
"Zzzz..."
Hey there, Bees! I took yesterday off, but I headed to the gym for another Push day.
Bench Press: 135 x 4, 130 x 5. Failure to hit five reps! I thought I had five in me, but I ended up bailing the bar on the rack, as that fifth rep eluded me. Oh well, I'll carry on working with this weight, and today wasn't a loss - I increased my reps in my support sets, so that's something.
Shoulder Press: 67.5 x 5. I decided to work these again, just for overall development and profit. Starting with light weight, but that's okay.
Rope Pushdowns: 14 x 6.
Flat Dumbbell Curls: 20 x 24. Ugh, these were agony.
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 16 x 15.
I got a new haircut! My old shaggy hairstyle was out of control, so I'm glad the barber trimmed those locks. It took a few days, but it's growing on me.
(No I don't usually take shirtless selfies, but it was an impulsive move lol).
Buffet lunch tomorrow. Hoping it'll be as yummy as it looks online.
Keep bundled up and warm these days, Bees - it's getting cold.
Playing: I didn't play anything in detail yesterday eve, but instead sampled bits of different games. Tried Requiem: Avenging Angel again, but quickly lost interest: the player character feels like a fridge. In response, reinstalled Turok 2, and man does that one feel great. Purchased Soulbringer (the second time in my life I've done so - the first was the pirated version on CD as an adolescent lol) for less than 10 hkd. Tried Dungeon Siege 2, but despite getting it to work with widescreen, was underwhelmed. Finally, played a bit of indie horror anthology Dread X, which I've definitely going to devote more time to - it's an audacious premise usually poorly executed in films, so to see a collection of short horror games like this makes Dread X a steal. Oh, and a dash of Sulfur. All of this gaming was within an hour's time or so.
Watching: Ugh, I've been so sleepy that I haven't watched anything for late night cinema (which may be a good thing, considering the cinematic dreck I've subjected myself to). Really want to watch more of Haunted Ulster, so I'll make an effort tonight. Also, Invincible just dropped online, and it's always had good episodes, so I should check it out. Also, Captain America comes out next Wednesday, so I'm mulling over whether or not to fork over the 60hkd fee attached (this will depend on how well the movie rates).
Listening to: Teenage Fanclub - Everything Flows. Some of the high from working out today has faded, and now I'm left navel-gazing, wondering what the hell is going on with my life. Thankfully, Teenage Fanclub have stepped in (their early sound, anyway) with a gloriously messy melodic salve.
"We get older every year
but you don't change
or I don't notice you're changing
I think about it every day
but only for a little while
and then I feel it"
Looking good, Ox!
Thank you kindly @Laura Rainbow Dragon @JCU and @TopNotch!
And a one and a two and a...
"Ohhhh-h...
Where did you go
When the Ox didn't show
They said that he slept in the field
Then we said, hey hey!
Won't you come my way
But he sleeps there to this day still...
For his labours are vast
And he has many tasks
That leave him tired as can be
But one day he'll come back
at the head of the pack
And we'll have us a grand time, you'll see!"
Hey again Bees! 'Tis the Ox, once more. I may have to retire the themed intros (much as I love writing them) because I'm running out of ideas. We'll see.
Anyway, today was a long-forgotten, long-awaited lower body day!
Squats: Started with 80 x 5, then hit 110 x 6 eventually. Pretty tough, but again, haven't lost strength despite leaving my legs on the back burner.
Front Squats: 60 x 5.
Good Mornings: 70 x 6. Slow and steady. I read somewhere that Bruce Lee himself hurt his back doing these.
Lying Leg Curls: 40 x 11.
Body Extensions: Four sets of 10.
I buzzed through my workout pretty quickly! In and out is the best way to do a lower body heavy workout, considering how taxing they are (doesn't hurt that they need less time to execute than Push ones do).
The buffet lunch was yummy, and mom and I decided that that restaurant has redeemed itself in our eyes (tbf, the last time we went was during Covid, and the logistics were poorly handled). There were lots of treats like oysters, shrimp in cheese (why don't other restaurants do this??), roast beef, dim sum, and Peking duck wraps. I didn't take pictures because I felt it would be weird: my Asian nature grimaces).
So tired. Ah well.
Oh, and I paid a visit to some furry pooches as well.
Doggos doggos doggos, I love the fluffy pooches and they are furry therapy
Have a great Sunday, Bees!
Playing: Man, I have more PC games than I know what to do with (which started ever since I installed Steam lol). I played a dash of Soulbringer last night (which I'm starting to belatedly realize wasn't my best purchase). Sulfur is still my mainstay - there's just something about games you can boot up with no fuss and get down to playing. Speaking of which, restarted my playthrough of Egyptian-themed shooter Powerslave (or is it Exhumed??); I'll try to make some real progress this time.
Watching: Uh, haven't been watching much. Watch this space.
Listening to: Mahoney - Hightower. Another new find! Keep 'em coming. Sometimes restrained songwriting results in absolute winners like this one, which takes its time, but builds with the help of a great melody.
And a one and a two and a...
"Ohhhh-h...
Where did you go
When the Ox didn't show
They said that he slept in the field
Then we said, hey hey!
Won't you come my way
But he sleeps there to this day still...
For his labours are vast
And he has many tasks
That leave him tired as can be
But one day he'll come back
at the head of the pack
And we'll have us a grand time, you'll see!"
Hey again Bees! 'Tis the Ox, once more. I may have to retire the themed intros (much as I love writing them) because I'm running out of ideas. We'll see.
Anyway, today was a long-forgotten, long-awaited lower body day!
Squats: Started with 80 x 5, then hit 110 x 6 eventually. Pretty tough, but again, haven't lost strength despite leaving my legs on the back burner.
Front Squats: 60 x 5.
Good Mornings: 70 x 6. Slow and steady. I read somewhere that Bruce Lee himself hurt his back doing these.
Lying Leg Curls: 40 x 11.
Body Extensions: Four sets of 10.
I buzzed through my workout pretty quickly! In and out is the best way to do a lower body heavy workout, considering how taxing they are (doesn't hurt that they need less time to execute than Push ones do).
The buffet lunch was yummy, and mom and I decided that that restaurant has redeemed itself in our eyes (tbf, the last time we went was during Covid, and the logistics were poorly handled). There were lots of treats like oysters, shrimp in cheese (why don't other restaurants do this??), roast beef, dim sum, and Peking duck wraps. I didn't take pictures because I felt it would be weird: my Asian nature grimaces).
So tired. Ah well.
Oh, and I paid a visit to some furry pooches as well.
Doggos doggos doggos, I love the fluffy pooches and they are furry therapy
Have a great Sunday, Bees!
Playing: Man, I have more PC games than I know what to do with (which started ever since I installed Steam lol). I played a dash of Soulbringer last night (which I'm starting to belatedly realize wasn't my best purchase). Sulfur is still my mainstay - there's just something about games you can boot up with no fuss and get down to playing. Speaking of which, restarted my playthrough of Egyptian-themed shooter Powerslave (or is it Exhumed??); I'll try to make some real progress this time.
Watching: Uh, haven't been watching much. Watch this space.
Listening to: Mahoney - Hightower. Another new find! Keep 'em coming. Sometimes restrained songwriting results in absolute winners like this one, which takes its time, but builds with the help of a great melody.
@TopNotch @JCU They're fantastic fuzzy beasts! But yes, their grooming would take an eternity. In many ways they are more fun to pet and cuddle on the street than to actually take care of.
@OJJJEM I'm glad you liked the video! My love of synthwave likely comes from sheer nostalgia. Thanks for reminding me of Police Academy, I need to watch it again sometime.
And a one and a two and...
"Just one time I saw the Ox
For he came to our town
Journeyed here from pastures far
He'd made his way around
For the Ox sought a place to sleep
and friends along his way
He'd suffered trials that made us weep
We welcomed him that day
Of course the Ox was kind;
He knew us all by name
Gentle in his nature too
He'd treat us all the same
By days end we'd see him go
He ventured on his road
Though we were sad to see him leave
He walked with lighter load"
Hello again Bees! Ox here, with another helping of workout goodness.
Today was another Controlled Push day; no PRs this time, but it was still a good sesh.
Paused Bench Press: 132.5 x 4. I can work with this, as it's a good start. Also did fairly well with my remaining sets.
Shoulder Press: 70 x 6.
EZ Bar Pushdowns: 15 x 8.
Hammer Curls: 20 x 20 I think?
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 16 x 12.
My legs have felt like twigs thanks to the drubbing I gave them on Sunday. Ugh. Hopefully they're recovered enough for my Pull day tomorrow.
Hot Pot on Saturday! Yum yum yum yum...
Playing: Another hodge-podge of stuff. Some Xenus 2, a bit of Blood West, some Sulfur, and made new start in Soulbringer (tough game).
Watching: Not much. Watch this space!
Listening to: Grand Funk Railroad - Paranoid. No, it's not the flagship Sabbath tune, but it's a pretty damn good song in its own right. I was looking for something powerful - sometimes I have these cravings for epic and powerful music, so it's a good thing I've hoarded all these songs for such an instance. This one is a product of its time (69, I think), but the last segment of the song will floor you; just have to make it through the plodding first few verses..
@OJJJEM I'm glad you liked the video! My love of synthwave likely comes from sheer nostalgia. Thanks for reminding me of Police Academy, I need to watch it again sometime.
And a one and a two and...
"Just one time I saw the Ox
For he came to our town
Journeyed here from pastures far
He'd made his way around
For the Ox sought a place to sleep
and friends along his way
He'd suffered trials that made us weep
We welcomed him that day
Of course the Ox was kind;
He knew us all by name
Gentle in his nature too
He'd treat us all the same
By days end we'd see him go
He ventured on his road
Though we were sad to see him leave
He walked with lighter load"
Hello again Bees! Ox here, with another helping of workout goodness.
Today was another Controlled Push day; no PRs this time, but it was still a good sesh.
Paused Bench Press: 132.5 x 4. I can work with this, as it's a good start. Also did fairly well with my remaining sets.
Shoulder Press: 70 x 6.
EZ Bar Pushdowns: 15 x 8.
Hammer Curls: 20 x 20 I think?
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 16 x 12.
My legs have felt like twigs thanks to the drubbing I gave them on Sunday. Ugh. Hopefully they're recovered enough for my Pull day tomorrow.
Hot Pot on Saturday! Yum yum yum yum...
Playing: Another hodge-podge of stuff. Some Xenus 2, a bit of Blood West, some Sulfur, and made new start in Soulbringer (tough game).
Watching: Not much. Watch this space!
Listening to: Grand Funk Railroad - Paranoid. No, it's not the flagship Sabbath tune, but it's a pretty damn good song in its own right. I was looking for something powerful - sometimes I have these cravings for epic and powerful music, so it's a good thing I've hoarded all these songs for such an instance. This one is a product of its time (69, I think), but the last segment of the song will floor you; just have to make it through the plodding first few verses..
"Oh an Ox is hale and sober
His shoulders are immense
In him the fires smolder
We trust in his good sense
But sometimes he has his troubles
Of this we know too well
Life can get real hard sometimes
Though not always you can tell
So onwards does he march
There's no way out but through
Challenges he'll meet head-first
It's all that he can do
For it's not just about brawn
His attitude is key
Don't give up before too long
The end you will soon see"
- Oxen Folk Songs, Canticle 5, Verses 1 - 4
It's been a few days since I hit the gym, so I put my body through the blender today with another Push workout (I never get tired of these, even if they take priority).
Bench Press: 135 x 4. I almost had five, but it was so much of a grind that I had to bail the bar on the rack. Soon...
Spoto Press: 110 x 5. Just for fun and profit.
Shoulder Press: 72.5 x 6. Going up!
EZ Bar 21s: 25 x 7, 7, and 7. These were absolute murder. Had to lighten the weight as I went on.
Forearm Dumbbell Curls: 18 x 16. Getting stronger?
Today is Valentine's Day? Oh well.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow, in which we'll have hot pot! Yum yum...
Was going to watch American Captain, but it's merely lukewarm in quality, apparently.
Enjoy your weekend, Bees! You deserve it!
Playing: Played mostly Sulfur lately. Reinstalled that old warhorse CRPG Fallout 2, as I'm curious about doing a min-max build and blazing my way through the game. Given up on Blood West for the time being (I tolerated it for awhile, thanks to its RPGsy elements, but the need for pinpoint marksmanship and thorough sneaking turned me off).
Also, Borderlands 4 dropped a new trailer. Looks like good bloody fun (assuming my old, old PC can keep up), and a birthday treat for me.
Watching: Made a little bit of progress with Haunted Ulster, though the scary bits have yet to materialize, har har. As mentioned above, going to give American Captain a miss.
Listening to: Tabernis - Dark Hive. What could be better for the Hive than music by Beekeepers? The part of my brain that loves Dead Can Dance - which evokes swirling, folk-ish, darker music of times past - absolutely loves this. Though their faces are not shown, their music is compelling, and surprisingly epic (only two instrumentalists!). I had a hard time picking a song, so here's a fresh one to start.
His shoulders are immense
In him the fires smolder
We trust in his good sense
But sometimes he has his troubles
Of this we know too well
Life can get real hard sometimes
Though not always you can tell
So onwards does he march
There's no way out but through
Challenges he'll meet head-first
It's all that he can do
For it's not just about brawn
His attitude is key
Don't give up before too long
The end you will soon see"
- Oxen Folk Songs, Canticle 5, Verses 1 - 4
It's been a few days since I hit the gym, so I put my body through the blender today with another Push workout (I never get tired of these, even if they take priority).
Bench Press: 135 x 4. I almost had five, but it was so much of a grind that I had to bail the bar on the rack. Soon...
Spoto Press: 110 x 5. Just for fun and profit.
Shoulder Press: 72.5 x 6. Going up!
EZ Bar 21s: 25 x 7, 7, and 7. These were absolute murder. Had to lighten the weight as I went on.
Forearm Dumbbell Curls: 18 x 16. Getting stronger?
Today is Valentine's Day? Oh well.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow, in which we'll have hot pot! Yum yum...
Was going to watch American Captain, but it's merely lukewarm in quality, apparently.
Enjoy your weekend, Bees! You deserve it!
Playing: Played mostly Sulfur lately. Reinstalled that old warhorse CRPG Fallout 2, as I'm curious about doing a min-max build and blazing my way through the game. Given up on Blood West for the time being (I tolerated it for awhile, thanks to its RPGsy elements, but the need for pinpoint marksmanship and thorough sneaking turned me off).
Also, Borderlands 4 dropped a new trailer. Looks like good bloody fun (assuming my old, old PC can keep up), and a birthday treat for me.
Watching: Made a little bit of progress with Haunted Ulster, though the scary bits have yet to materialize, har har. As mentioned above, going to give American Captain a miss.
Listening to: Tabernis - Dark Hive. What could be better for the Hive than music by Beekeepers? The part of my brain that loves Dead Can Dance - which evokes swirling, folk-ish, darker music of times past - absolutely loves this. Though their faces are not shown, their music is compelling, and surprisingly epic (only two instrumentalists!). I had a hard time picking a song, so here's a fresh one to start.
Last edited:
JohnStrong
Well-known member
@JohnStrong Thank you for that song; it's pretty nifty!
"Oh the Ox sat down one summer day
At the edge of a welcome lake
He'd had his fill of cud and hay
And desired his thirst to slake
No sooner had he lapped the edge
Then something skyward came
The Ox was startled at this sight
But sat still all the same
Was a strange and wonderous creature
With tentacles and mist
Its size was massive to be sure
This was a peculiar twist
The creatured stared at the Ox
The Ox sat staring back
They seemed to reach agreement
Sympathies they did not lack
The creature floated on its way
As Ox meant it no harm
Ox stayed awhile, enjoyed the lake
Then headed back, to its farm
For this world has strange things
And sometimes we feel fear
But peace and understanding
Are the things we should hold dear
This is all the time we have
Later we'll tell more
The Ox's many journeys
Form the subject of his lore."
- Ox: The Strange and Wonderful, pg. 230
That was the time Ox stumbled upon an eldritch creature! More silly Ox rhymes to come.
Hey Bees! I have a jam-packed workout update after too many days of inactivity. Today was a Controlled Push day.
To preface this update, I had an absolutely terrible night of sleep. I drowsed in and out of sleep and had multiple sets of dreams (which means I'm waking too often, and not getting consistent sleep), and only slept an hour and a half before I started my day. Here's hoping that today's workout will get me fatigued enough to get some good sleep.
Paused Bench Press: 132.5 x 5. Finally, another PR! I was considering shaking up the programming/rep scheme, but it may not be time just yet. Time to move on to 135; if I stall/fail again (and I most certainly will next week), I'll keep it up for another few weeks.
Larsen Press: 115 x 5. These are always fun, or at least different.
Overhead Press: 75 x 5. Going on up, though not PR territory yet.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 20 x 26. Another PR. An absolute slog, I tells ya.
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 18 x 16.
The gym was totally and absolutely packed. I had to wait fifteen minutes before the bench press was free - though to be fair, I end up hogging it for quite awhile myself.
These machines magically popped up in the gym. As far as I can tell, they're for the Hack Squat and Hip Thrust.
Hot pot night was noms out of ten! I loved the pepper chicken soup base, and we ordered lots of beef as well.
See you tomorrow, Bees!
Playing: I started my much promised Fallout 2 playthrough, and screen resolution issues aside, it's like slipping on a comfortable pair of slippers once more. It's been so long since I Last played F2 (maybe a decade or so), so it's a lot of fun going back to the old SPECIAL system and giving it a whirl again. Yesterday night I beat down a sorry band of slavers (they definitely had it coming), with more adventures to come. Also playing more of Sulfur, though everything else has been on pause for the time being (*cough* *cough* Xenus 2, Venetica).
Watching: After nights of putting it on the backburner, I started watching Haunted Ulster on my PC to try and finish it tonight. Other films that might follow include The Alchemist Cookbook, which sounds reminiscent enough of A Dark Song to pique my interest, or The Order, which is a dynamite crime/Neo-Nazi thriller.
Edit: Finished Haunted Ulster (finally!), so here's a trailer and review.
In Northern Ireland, 1998, Gerry Burns, a washed-up television presenter and a film crew have come to interview the residents of the house. But this is no ordinary house call - it's Halloween, and as part of a special Halloween-themed broadcast, Burns and his usual crew (armed with paranormal "experts") have come to investigate hauntings centered around this house and conducting a paranormal investigation of the house, and its supposed spectral inhabitant, John Newell. However, the investigation goes awry, and amidst ghostly rumblings and tension, the crew may come to regret their venture.
Synopsis: If you're not a fan of found footage flicks, don't bother. Otherwise, take some time to appreciate the craftsmanship with which it was made and produced.
So this is essentially a found-footage flick that styles itself as a live broadcast, with additional ad breaks and behind the scenes drama. It is, of course, not an original idea - the film is a gussied-up, slightly more modern answer to BBC's groundbreaking Ghostwatch (from 1992). The film also traces its lineage from Late Night with the Devil, and The WNUF Halloween Special (this one I hated). The film's ideas and the course it charts, while not being lifted directly from their blueprints, still borrow from the strictures and ideas they possess. It's competently constructed and polished - there's a distinct lack of shakey cam footage - which doesn't hurt.
But is it a good watch?
Yes and no. It's very slow to start. I think this is the reason for me putting it off night after night. It takes forever to get started, and in doing so commits one of the cardinal sins of found footage movies. When it's a slog to get started, you wonder if the payoff will be worth it. I counted one good scare, and that's about it. Like I mentioned, it doesn't do anything new with the formula. There's a killer reveal which I appreciate, but it's not enough to make the film more than... adequate, I guess. It's still bound a little too tightly by the rules of the genre to be scary or very entertaining.
Haunted Ulster is better than WNUF (boo, hiss), but definitely not near the heights of Ghostwatch. I give it three pizzas out of five.
Listening to: The Cybertronic Spree - Logical Lover. They're mostly well-known as a Canadian group cosplaying as Transformers, but every now and again they put out some wicked original music (their usual oeuvre is made up of covers), like this particular number. There's more than a little synthwave in its blood-er, oil, which appeals to me quite a bit, and credit to them for not making it a straight up Valentine's Day love song.
"Oh the Ox sat down one summer day
At the edge of a welcome lake
He'd had his fill of cud and hay
And desired his thirst to slake
No sooner had he lapped the edge
Then something skyward came
The Ox was startled at this sight
But sat still all the same
Was a strange and wonderous creature
With tentacles and mist
Its size was massive to be sure
This was a peculiar twist
The creatured stared at the Ox
The Ox sat staring back
They seemed to reach agreement
Sympathies they did not lack
The creature floated on its way
As Ox meant it no harm
Ox stayed awhile, enjoyed the lake
Then headed back, to its farm
For this world has strange things
And sometimes we feel fear
But peace and understanding
Are the things we should hold dear
This is all the time we have
Later we'll tell more
The Ox's many journeys
Form the subject of his lore."
- Ox: The Strange and Wonderful, pg. 230
That was the time Ox stumbled upon an eldritch creature! More silly Ox rhymes to come.
Hey Bees! I have a jam-packed workout update after too many days of inactivity. Today was a Controlled Push day.
To preface this update, I had an absolutely terrible night of sleep. I drowsed in and out of sleep and had multiple sets of dreams (which means I'm waking too often, and not getting consistent sleep), and only slept an hour and a half before I started my day. Here's hoping that today's workout will get me fatigued enough to get some good sleep.
Paused Bench Press: 132.5 x 5. Finally, another PR! I was considering shaking up the programming/rep scheme, but it may not be time just yet. Time to move on to 135; if I stall/fail again (and I most certainly will next week), I'll keep it up for another few weeks.
Larsen Press: 115 x 5. These are always fun, or at least different.
Overhead Press: 75 x 5. Going on up, though not PR territory yet.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 20 x 26. Another PR. An absolute slog, I tells ya.
Dumbbell Forearm Curls: 18 x 16.
The gym was totally and absolutely packed. I had to wait fifteen minutes before the bench press was free - though to be fair, I end up hogging it for quite awhile myself.
These machines magically popped up in the gym. As far as I can tell, they're for the Hack Squat and Hip Thrust.
Hot pot night was noms out of ten! I loved the pepper chicken soup base, and we ordered lots of beef as well.
See you tomorrow, Bees!
Playing: I started my much promised Fallout 2 playthrough, and screen resolution issues aside, it's like slipping on a comfortable pair of slippers once more. It's been so long since I Last played F2 (maybe a decade or so), so it's a lot of fun going back to the old SPECIAL system and giving it a whirl again. Yesterday night I beat down a sorry band of slavers (they definitely had it coming), with more adventures to come. Also playing more of Sulfur, though everything else has been on pause for the time being (*cough* *cough* Xenus 2, Venetica).
Watching: After nights of putting it on the backburner, I started watching Haunted Ulster on my PC to try and finish it tonight. Other films that might follow include The Alchemist Cookbook, which sounds reminiscent enough of A Dark Song to pique my interest, or The Order, which is a dynamite crime/Neo-Nazi thriller.
Edit: Finished Haunted Ulster (finally!), so here's a trailer and review.
In Northern Ireland, 1998, Gerry Burns, a washed-up television presenter and a film crew have come to interview the residents of the house. But this is no ordinary house call - it's Halloween, and as part of a special Halloween-themed broadcast, Burns and his usual crew (armed with paranormal "experts") have come to investigate hauntings centered around this house and conducting a paranormal investigation of the house, and its supposed spectral inhabitant, John Newell. However, the investigation goes awry, and amidst ghostly rumblings and tension, the crew may come to regret their venture.
Synopsis: If you're not a fan of found footage flicks, don't bother. Otherwise, take some time to appreciate the craftsmanship with which it was made and produced.
So this is essentially a found-footage flick that styles itself as a live broadcast, with additional ad breaks and behind the scenes drama. It is, of course, not an original idea - the film is a gussied-up, slightly more modern answer to BBC's groundbreaking Ghostwatch (from 1992). The film also traces its lineage from Late Night with the Devil, and The WNUF Halloween Special (this one I hated). The film's ideas and the course it charts, while not being lifted directly from their blueprints, still borrow from the strictures and ideas they possess. It's competently constructed and polished - there's a distinct lack of shakey cam footage - which doesn't hurt.
But is it a good watch?
Yes and no. It's very slow to start. I think this is the reason for me putting it off night after night. It takes forever to get started, and in doing so commits one of the cardinal sins of found footage movies. When it's a slog to get started, you wonder if the payoff will be worth it. I counted one good scare, and that's about it. Like I mentioned, it doesn't do anything new with the formula. There's a killer reveal which I appreciate, but it's not enough to make the film more than... adequate, I guess. It's still bound a little too tightly by the rules of the genre to be scary or very entertaining.
Haunted Ulster is better than WNUF (boo, hiss), but definitely not near the heights of Ghostwatch. I give it three pizzas out of five.
Listening to: The Cybertronic Spree - Logical Lover. They're mostly well-known as a Canadian group cosplaying as Transformers, but every now and again they put out some wicked original music (their usual oeuvre is made up of covers), like this particular number. There's more than a little synthwave in its blood-er, oil, which appeals to me quite a bit, and credit to them for not making it a straight up Valentine's Day love song.
Last edited:
Mamatigerj
Well-known member
Cheers! 
Obsinosterous
Well-known member
Congratulations! 
Congratulations on your new PRs, Ox!
Thank you so much @Laura Rainbow Dragon @Obsinosterous @Mamatigerj @JCU @CODawn @Fremen @TopNotch !
"Yeah, yeah mic check one two...
Strong and steady, I lay down these rhymes
I'm telling you now, this is the time
For dope workouts, and building muscle
This rap biz is just my side hustle
Join me in the gym and get your pump on
Before I get to this end of this rockin' song
The Ox is in town, you best beware
'Cuz I got plenty of workout vibes to share"
- Gentle Ox - Party in the Pasture (2025)
Hey again, Bees! After taking it easy yesterday, I headed to the gym for an overdue Pull workout. Here's how it went.
Deadlifts: 165 x 5. Ugh. These felt awful. Shows what I get for taking breaks. If I'm lucky, I'll be able to hit 170 for five. If not, I'll throw in a different version of the lift.
Barbell Rows: 105 x 6. Not bad, not bad.
Meadows Rows: 45 x 5. Same.
Wide Grip Seated Rows: 55 x 6.
Behind the Neck Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
Face Pulls: 8 x 10. Felt it in my upper back.
Not a lot of cyberpunking to be done today. The weather has been fluctuating between warm and chilly, so it's still hoodie time (and when it gets warm again, we'll definitely all know it). May also be because after this workout, I'm totally bushed.
Mom got us a buffet lunch at an excellent place (we were last there for her birthday), so looking forward to super noms on Saturday.
Keep going, Bees! It's almost the weekend.
Playing: I got my butt kicked in Sulfur last night and lost my killer machinegun - again! - so it's back to scavving for equipment once more. In Fallout 2, I fixed a faulty reactor and earned the gratitude of a snobby bunch of erstwhile Vault Dwellers. I'm making my way to the town of Broken Hills to solve a racial dispute (to say the very least). Oooh, and Hades 2 just dropped a new update which I've got my grubby hands on. Now it's time to take ass and kick names (ed - Wait a minute...)!
Watching: Not much, may start on The Alchemist Cookbook, as it looks quite intriguing to me.
Listening to: Garmarna - Varulven. It's not strictly traditional music (I would dub it trip-folk, or thereabouts), but I love the sounds this group puts out nonetheless, and the modern touches are welcome (to my ears, anyway).
"Yeah, yeah mic check one two...
Strong and steady, I lay down these rhymes
I'm telling you now, this is the time
For dope workouts, and building muscle
This rap biz is just my side hustle
Join me in the gym and get your pump on
Before I get to this end of this rockin' song
The Ox is in town, you best beware
'Cuz I got plenty of workout vibes to share"
- Gentle Ox - Party in the Pasture (2025)
Hey again, Bees! After taking it easy yesterday, I headed to the gym for an overdue Pull workout. Here's how it went.
Deadlifts: 165 x 5. Ugh. These felt awful. Shows what I get for taking breaks. If I'm lucky, I'll be able to hit 170 for five. If not, I'll throw in a different version of the lift.
Barbell Rows: 105 x 6. Not bad, not bad.
Meadows Rows: 45 x 5. Same.
Wide Grip Seated Rows: 55 x 6.
Behind the Neck Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
Face Pulls: 8 x 10. Felt it in my upper back.
Not a lot of cyberpunking to be done today. The weather has been fluctuating between warm and chilly, so it's still hoodie time (and when it gets warm again, we'll definitely all know it). May also be because after this workout, I'm totally bushed.
Mom got us a buffet lunch at an excellent place (we were last there for her birthday), so looking forward to super noms on Saturday.
Keep going, Bees! It's almost the weekend.
Playing: I got my butt kicked in Sulfur last night and lost my killer machinegun - again! - so it's back to scavving for equipment once more. In Fallout 2, I fixed a faulty reactor and earned the gratitude of a snobby bunch of erstwhile Vault Dwellers. I'm making my way to the town of Broken Hills to solve a racial dispute (to say the very least). Oooh, and Hades 2 just dropped a new update which I've got my grubby hands on. Now it's time to take ass and kick names (ed - Wait a minute...)!
Watching: Not much, may start on The Alchemist Cookbook, as it looks quite intriguing to me.
Listening to: Garmarna - Varulven. It's not strictly traditional music (I would dub it trip-folk, or thereabouts), but I love the sounds this group puts out nonetheless, and the modern touches are welcome (to my ears, anyway).
I am loving the new post intros, Ox!
@Laura_Rainbow_Dragon That's very kind of you! Thanks!
"Yo yo...
I'm stout and stocky, huge chunk of meat
Almost as beefy and dope as this beat
Everyone be saying, who brings the noise?
Of course it's the Ox, with all his boys
I'm a happy go lucky, buffed out beast
Hailing from the lands out in the East
So if you want a good time, find me fast
'Cuz you know that this party is built to last!"
- Gentle Ox - Chew on This (2025)
Whew! The Ox strikes back.
It's the end of the week, Bees, and though I had those typical thoughts of staying in, eating, and gaming, I managed to get myself out of the house to head for the gym. Today was a regular Push day.
Bench Press: 135 x 5. Finally, a PR on my regular bench press! This took some time to reach, though it's not as bad as other plateaus I've had.
Spoto Press: 112.5 x 5. Slowly increasing this one. Felt good today.
Overhead Press: 77.5 x 5. Pretty tough.
Hammer Curls: 22 x 20. Was I seriously able to do 26 kg for 20 reps at one point?? So say my records, and it looks like I have a ways to go.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 18 x 16.
It was warmer than I thought it would be today, but I'm glad the temperature is still cool. For now, anyway.
Tomorrow we're grabbing super buffet noms! Om nom nom.
Have a great weekend, Bees! You've earned it!
Playing: Didn't get much Hades 2 playtime in last night (I had a small anxiety attack). So I played some comfort food in the form of Sulfur and Fallout 2 instead. Sometimes it's not about making big strides, so much as just taking little steps in the right direction.
Downloaded a demo for Slayer X, a throwback FPS which is more deliberately 90s and cringe-inducing than almost every other game I've played: that it's in on the joke seems to be its saving grace. I've only played for two minutes, but it is pretty amusing and fun so far. Kind of also represents the SUPER COOL WITH ATTITUDE fantasies I had as a youngster back in the day.
Watching: Still haven't found a new movie to watch. Last night was just too tired.
Listening to: Seepage & Queenjazz - Against the Wall (Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath OST). Dude, it's like, totally rad! Booyah! This is the bomb, for real! If you don't like it, then talk to the hand!
Okay, that's as much 90s slang as I can tolerate. I do appreciate that the song brings back that catchy nu-metal feel that's been mostly absent from today's music.
"Yo yo...
I'm stout and stocky, huge chunk of meat
Almost as beefy and dope as this beat
Everyone be saying, who brings the noise?
Of course it's the Ox, with all his boys
I'm a happy go lucky, buffed out beast
Hailing from the lands out in the East
So if you want a good time, find me fast
'Cuz you know that this party is built to last!"
- Gentle Ox - Chew on This (2025)
Whew! The Ox strikes back.
It's the end of the week, Bees, and though I had those typical thoughts of staying in, eating, and gaming, I managed to get myself out of the house to head for the gym. Today was a regular Push day.
Bench Press: 135 x 5. Finally, a PR on my regular bench press! This took some time to reach, though it's not as bad as other plateaus I've had.
Spoto Press: 112.5 x 5. Slowly increasing this one. Felt good today.
Overhead Press: 77.5 x 5. Pretty tough.
Hammer Curls: 22 x 20. Was I seriously able to do 26 kg for 20 reps at one point?? So say my records, and it looks like I have a ways to go.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 18 x 16.
It was warmer than I thought it would be today, but I'm glad the temperature is still cool. For now, anyway.
Tomorrow we're grabbing super buffet noms! Om nom nom.
Have a great weekend, Bees! You've earned it!
Playing: Didn't get much Hades 2 playtime in last night (I had a small anxiety attack). So I played some comfort food in the form of Sulfur and Fallout 2 instead. Sometimes it's not about making big strides, so much as just taking little steps in the right direction.
Downloaded a demo for Slayer X, a throwback FPS which is more deliberately 90s and cringe-inducing than almost every other game I've played: that it's in on the joke seems to be its saving grace. I've only played for two minutes, but it is pretty amusing and fun so far. Kind of also represents the SUPER COOL WITH ATTITUDE fantasies I had as a youngster back in the day.
Watching: Still haven't found a new movie to watch. Last night was just too tired.
Listening to: Seepage & Queenjazz - Against the Wall (Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath OST). Dude, it's like, totally rad! Booyah! This is the bomb, for real! If you don't like it, then talk to the hand!
Okay, that's as much 90s slang as I can tolerate. I do appreciate that the song brings back that catchy nu-metal feel that's been mostly absent from today's music.
Mamatigerj
Well-known member
Cheers for a new PR!
FlowersandPetals
Guest
Congrats on your new PR!
aku-chan
Well-known member
Congrats on the recent PR's! 
Thank you so much @CODawn, @aku-chan, @FlowersandPetals, @JCU, @Fremen, @Mamatigerj, and @TopNotch!
@Laura Rainbow Dragon I love me some cheesy jokes!
"Riot in the streets 'cuz Ox is in town
I need a fine heifer - to show me around!
All these other animals be standing 'round and frontin'
But the Ox stands tall - it's all or nothing!
Beast I am, and this beast slams
I give all the best to my world wide 'fam
Posers be running when they hear my hooves
This is the real Ox: I got nothing to prove!
- Gentle Ox - Hay You! (2020)
I selected an older hit from Ox's catalogue that didn't quite go platinum, but I love it anyway.
Hey again, Bees! It's the start of another week, and I'm back with another Controlled Push workout.
Paused Bench Press: 135 x 4. I expected as much, but the reps moved well enough, and I feel like eventually I'll be able to go heavier.
Larsen Press: 120 x 5.
Overhead Press: 80 x 3. Ugh, this did not work out. I'll try again next time.
Cable Curls: 4 x 8. Trying these out, but may ditch them.
Forearm Dumbbell Curls: 18 x 16.
Have had some of those troubling depressive thoughts lately. But I still have the wherewithal to keep hitting the gym (it's one of those things that keeps me going!).
Still job hunting. Watch this space. Grr...
Hope your week is going great, Bees!
Playing: I haven't played much apart from Sulfur. Lots of juicy demos from the Steam Next fest available. Also tempted to play more Hades 2, after getting my butt kicked by a miniboss.
Watching: I finished watching The Ceremony is About to Begin, which is an indie found-footage fauxmentary/horror. Here's a trailer, synopsis and review.
Synopsis: Documentary filmmaker Keith's latest project involves former members of The Osiris Collective, a cult located near Los Angeles. Lead by the enigmatic, wizened Father Osiris, the Egyptian-themed cult splintered one day and fell apart after Father died on a trip to Mount Shasta. Purportedly becoming Father's heir, Anubis, a newer, controlling member, took over, prompting many members to leave. In the process of interviewing these members, Keith receives an email from an old girlfriend, Maddy, who joined the cult; still possessing feelings for her, he heads down to the compound to ostensibly interview the cult leader, but in fact investigate if Maddy is still present. What he finds will shock and catch him off guard, as he searches for the answers to his questions.
Summation: A surprisingly cohesive and effective little chiller that doesn't outstay its (short) welcome.
So it should be relayed that this one blurs the lines between, initially, faux documentary (with interviews and archival footage), and then found footage that hews close to the genre's formulae. The former is more effective; it's more about show, not tell, as we hear about the cult second hand from those who left.
When the film actually kicks into gear with Keith's arrival at the compound, that sense of mystery prevails, until it's led by Keith meeting Anubis (the current member of the cult) - Where's Maddy? Where is everyone? What happened to Father? The acting is stock standard and the performances weren't very convincing, I thought (it would've been better if Father hadn't left the picture); but it's a good thing they're not what I gravitated towards.
We don't get all the answers (intentionally), and the film doesn't totally cohere (the climax is a little slipshod and formulaic), and shows the its limited budget), but contrary to many negative reviews, I actually liked this one. I found it to be unpretentious and potent found footage, and from start to end, you're along for the ride (when Keith descends into a certain locale, I felt that familiar found footage chill!). There comes a point where the layers are unravelled, much like an unearthed mummy's bandages, but for awhile the performances and mystery stand tall.
As it was a compact and neat little watch, I'm feeling generous, and will give it three and a half cheap Egyptian souvenirs out of five.
In the meantime, mom has suggested I watch Companion, and despite the twist being spoiled for me, it certainly looks interesting, so I'm on it. Edit: Finished Companion. Will write a review for tomorrow's update, though it's safe to say my impressions are quite positive.
Funny: I'd completely forgotten about this shamelessly goofy flick. Yes it's true, here in Hong Kong, even the dogs are out of sync lol.
Listening to: Nile - Sarcophogus. Here's a little ditty to accompany my watching of The Ceremony is About to Begin.
@Laura Rainbow Dragon I love me some cheesy jokes!
"Riot in the streets 'cuz Ox is in town
I need a fine heifer - to show me around!
All these other animals be standing 'round and frontin'
But the Ox stands tall - it's all or nothing!
Beast I am, and this beast slams
I give all the best to my world wide 'fam
Posers be running when they hear my hooves
This is the real Ox: I got nothing to prove!
- Gentle Ox - Hay You! (2020)
I selected an older hit from Ox's catalogue that didn't quite go platinum, but I love it anyway.
Hey again, Bees! It's the start of another week, and I'm back with another Controlled Push workout.
Paused Bench Press: 135 x 4. I expected as much, but the reps moved well enough, and I feel like eventually I'll be able to go heavier.
Larsen Press: 120 x 5.
Overhead Press: 80 x 3. Ugh, this did not work out. I'll try again next time.
Cable Curls: 4 x 8. Trying these out, but may ditch them.
Forearm Dumbbell Curls: 18 x 16.
Have had some of those troubling depressive thoughts lately. But I still have the wherewithal to keep hitting the gym (it's one of those things that keeps me going!).
Still job hunting. Watch this space. Grr...
Hope your week is going great, Bees!
Playing: I haven't played much apart from Sulfur. Lots of juicy demos from the Steam Next fest available. Also tempted to play more Hades 2, after getting my butt kicked by a miniboss.
Watching: I finished watching The Ceremony is About to Begin, which is an indie found-footage fauxmentary/horror. Here's a trailer, synopsis and review.
Synopsis: Documentary filmmaker Keith's latest project involves former members of The Osiris Collective, a cult located near Los Angeles. Lead by the enigmatic, wizened Father Osiris, the Egyptian-themed cult splintered one day and fell apart after Father died on a trip to Mount Shasta. Purportedly becoming Father's heir, Anubis, a newer, controlling member, took over, prompting many members to leave. In the process of interviewing these members, Keith receives an email from an old girlfriend, Maddy, who joined the cult; still possessing feelings for her, he heads down to the compound to ostensibly interview the cult leader, but in fact investigate if Maddy is still present. What he finds will shock and catch him off guard, as he searches for the answers to his questions.
Summation: A surprisingly cohesive and effective little chiller that doesn't outstay its (short) welcome.
So it should be relayed that this one blurs the lines between, initially, faux documentary (with interviews and archival footage), and then found footage that hews close to the genre's formulae. The former is more effective; it's more about show, not tell, as we hear about the cult second hand from those who left.
When the film actually kicks into gear with Keith's arrival at the compound, that sense of mystery prevails, until it's led by Keith meeting Anubis (the current member of the cult) - Where's Maddy? Where is everyone? What happened to Father? The acting is stock standard and the performances weren't very convincing, I thought (it would've been better if Father hadn't left the picture); but it's a good thing they're not what I gravitated towards.
We don't get all the answers (intentionally), and the film doesn't totally cohere (the climax is a little slipshod and formulaic), and shows the its limited budget), but contrary to many negative reviews, I actually liked this one. I found it to be unpretentious and potent found footage, and from start to end, you're along for the ride (when Keith descends into a certain locale, I felt that familiar found footage chill!). There comes a point where the layers are unravelled, much like an unearthed mummy's bandages, but for awhile the performances and mystery stand tall.
As it was a compact and neat little watch, I'm feeling generous, and will give it three and a half cheap Egyptian souvenirs out of five.
In the meantime, mom has suggested I watch Companion, and despite the twist being spoiled for me, it certainly looks interesting, so I'm on it. Edit: Finished Companion. Will write a review for tomorrow's update, though it's safe to say my impressions are quite positive.
Funny: I'd completely forgotten about this shamelessly goofy flick. Yes it's true, here in Hong Kong, even the dogs are out of sync lol.
Listening to: Nile - Sarcophogus. Here's a little ditty to accompany my watching of The Ceremony is About to Begin.
PetiteSheWolf
Well-known member
Hugs and wishing you the best for this job hunting!
Best wishes for your job search, Ox.
Maegaranthelas
Well-known member
from
You introductions are so glorious, thank you for putting in the effort and making me smile every time 
And big hugs for the job search and depressive waves. That's tough to deal with but you're doing great
And big hugs for the job search and depressive waves. That's tough to deal with but you're doing great
Thank you @JCU, @Laura Rainbow Dragon, @PetiteSheWolf, and @Maegaranthelas. The intros are a lot of fun to write, so I'm glad they're appreciated!
In another time, another place...
The valiant Followers Against Robotic Menace struggle to preserve their nature-based, pastoral way of life. They engage in battle with the villainous World Order of Livestock-Vanquishing Enemies, whose leader, the Robotically-Allied Master, will stop at nothing but total subjugation of the planet. Led by the benign Cybernetic Ox-class Warrior, they won't stop fighting until the world is free.
Will FARM succeed in their fight for freedom? Or will the WOLVES be victorious in their villainy?
Tune in every Saturday morning at 10 am to find out!
I still have memories of those cartoons I used to watch as a kid.
Greetings, Bees! I was very strongly thinking of taking a break, but I went to the gym again today, and definitely don't regret it.
Today I pushed the reset button on my Pull routine, as I was getting tired of regular Deadlifting.
Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 70 x 5. Doing these ultralight, just to fully engage the posterior chain
Pendlay Rows: 70 x 5. Slow and steady.
Machine One Armed Rows: 70 x 7.
Seated Neutral Rows: 60 x 6.
Behind the Neck Pulldowns: 62.5 x 6.
Uh I forgot to do Pull ups. Never entered my mind. Oh well, always next time.
Tomorrow is a break. I'm off to see the psychiatrist again (this has been routine for a long time) to get my medication, and am going to grab some yummy duck for dinner.
I'm reading up a lot on fitness for nerds (not the website specifically). I think it's interesting to read why most people are interested in using or avoiding the gym; I myself probably come across as someone who wouldn't, but there's actual appeal in going to the gym for me, oddly enough (I'm a dyed in the wool introvert).
We're at the middle of the week, Bees! Keep going.
Playing: A bit of Sulfur last night, as well as some Fallout 2. Trepang2(?) is on sale, so I might have to get my FEAR on soon.
Watching: So last night, I finished Companion. Before I post my review, I'll say that I found it very hard to write about without giving away the brunt of the plot. So it was necessary to write more obliquely this time. More importantly, if Companion looks intriguing, put down your phone, or get off Darebee and go watch it without reading anymore about it.
Here's a trailer and a review.
Iris is feeling some trepidation; she's going with her boyfriend Josh to visit his friends in an almost palatial-like estate. Despite Josh's reassurances, his friends' interactions with Iris are marked with unease, and perhaps even disdain on their part. Nonetheless, the group enjoy their time together, until the morning of the second day, tragedy arises when one of the group oversteps their bounds. Iris is forced to examine her relationship with her boyfriend and plan her next move.
Summation: An absolute treat of a well-plotted thriller seasoned with a healthy helping of black humour.
Huh, my review kind of makes it sound like a rom-com, which, coincidentally, is exactly what I thought Companion was. It is not; in fact, it's something a minor gender-bending exercise. The marketing makes it seem like it's a horror movie, but the actual film is surprisingly perky and peppy. I would say it is more accurately a thriller, with a lot of dark humour, and it reminded me of Bodies Bodies Bodies in a way.
There's so much to love - the performances are pitch perfect, the plot twists well thought out, and our heroine is quite likeable and easy to follow. I also want to point out that the genre of the film is not apparent at first, but once the film reveals its hand, it's refreshingly absent of the usual cliches found in said genre. There're some great comedic moments in the movie that swerve into "horror" rather deftly.
One of the best recommendations I can give movies is that they hold my attention, and force me to watch them in one go. Companion did that for me; it's a fun, kinetic watch that gently plays with genre trappings.
Because it was an excellent watch, I give Companion four and a half easily remembered passcodes out of five.
Listening to: Dorothy - Gun in My Hand. Featuring a modern video game classic, Fallout New Vegas. Go play it if you haven't yet!
In another time, another place...
The valiant Followers Against Robotic Menace struggle to preserve their nature-based, pastoral way of life. They engage in battle with the villainous World Order of Livestock-Vanquishing Enemies, whose leader, the Robotically-Allied Master, will stop at nothing but total subjugation of the planet. Led by the benign Cybernetic Ox-class Warrior, they won't stop fighting until the world is free.
Will FARM succeed in their fight for freedom? Or will the WOLVES be victorious in their villainy?
Tune in every Saturday morning at 10 am to find out!
I still have memories of those cartoons I used to watch as a kid.
Greetings, Bees! I was very strongly thinking of taking a break, but I went to the gym again today, and definitely don't regret it.
Today I pushed the reset button on my Pull routine, as I was getting tired of regular Deadlifting.
Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 70 x 5. Doing these ultralight, just to fully engage the posterior chain
Pendlay Rows: 70 x 5. Slow and steady.
Machine One Armed Rows: 70 x 7.
Seated Neutral Rows: 60 x 6.
Behind the Neck Pulldowns: 62.5 x 6.
Uh I forgot to do Pull ups. Never entered my mind. Oh well, always next time.
Tomorrow is a break. I'm off to see the psychiatrist again (this has been routine for a long time) to get my medication, and am going to grab some yummy duck for dinner.
I'm reading up a lot on fitness for nerds (not the website specifically). I think it's interesting to read why most people are interested in using or avoiding the gym; I myself probably come across as someone who wouldn't, but there's actual appeal in going to the gym for me, oddly enough (I'm a dyed in the wool introvert).
We're at the middle of the week, Bees! Keep going.
Playing: A bit of Sulfur last night, as well as some Fallout 2. Trepang2(?) is on sale, so I might have to get my FEAR on soon.
Watching: So last night, I finished Companion. Before I post my review, I'll say that I found it very hard to write about without giving away the brunt of the plot. So it was necessary to write more obliquely this time. More importantly, if Companion looks intriguing, put down your phone, or get off Darebee and go watch it without reading anymore about it.
Here's a trailer and a review.
Iris is feeling some trepidation; she's going with her boyfriend Josh to visit his friends in an almost palatial-like estate. Despite Josh's reassurances, his friends' interactions with Iris are marked with unease, and perhaps even disdain on their part. Nonetheless, the group enjoy their time together, until the morning of the second day, tragedy arises when one of the group oversteps their bounds. Iris is forced to examine her relationship with her boyfriend and plan her next move.
Summation: An absolute treat of a well-plotted thriller seasoned with a healthy helping of black humour.
Huh, my review kind of makes it sound like a rom-com, which, coincidentally, is exactly what I thought Companion was. It is not; in fact, it's something a minor gender-bending exercise. The marketing makes it seem like it's a horror movie, but the actual film is surprisingly perky and peppy. I would say it is more accurately a thriller, with a lot of dark humour, and it reminded me of Bodies Bodies Bodies in a way.
There's so much to love - the performances are pitch perfect, the plot twists well thought out, and our heroine is quite likeable and easy to follow. I also want to point out that the genre of the film is not apparent at first, but once the film reveals its hand, it's refreshingly absent of the usual cliches found in said genre. There're some great comedic moments in the movie that swerve into "horror" rather deftly.
One of the best recommendations I can give movies is that they hold my attention, and force me to watch them in one go. Companion did that for me; it's a fun, kinetic watch that gently plays with genre trappings.
Because it was an excellent watch, I give Companion four and a half easily remembered passcodes out of five.
Listening to: Dorothy - Gun in My Hand. Featuring a modern video game classic, Fallout New Vegas. Go play it if you haven't yet!
Last edited:
"Your group is in a deep tomb. The light from your torch slowly illuminates numerous carvings and tombs," intoned Adam, his register dramatic and low pitched. "Suddenly, a mysterious and decrepit corpse rises from the dark, radiating power!" His voice still pitched, he turned to Jesse. "Gentle Ox, your turn." Jesse raised her fist, dice at the ready. "I attack the creature with a Five Finger Death Punch." The rest of the group groaned. "C'mon, Jess," implored Doug. "Has there been a game where Gentle Ox didn't cheese its way out of trouble?" "I care not for your disdain, peasant," Jesse retorted, her arm still in the air. A grin on her face, she continued. "You guys knew that when I joined your group, Ox would be OP." Adam chuckled. "You're not going to beat this guy so easily. But if you roll a natural 20, I'll let it stand." Jesse triumphantly drew back her arm. "Let's do this!" She threw the dice in an arc. They tumbled onto the table, rolling to a stop...
Hey again, Bees! It's been another (relatively) long pause for me, and it's good to get back into the gym and scratch that itch.
Today was a touch and go Push day in which I upped the poundages slightly.
Bench Press: 137.5 x 4. Felt pretty good, and I may aim for five reps next time.
Spoto Press: 115 x 5. A-okay!
Overhead Press: 80 x 5. A PR! This one was absolutely beastly.
Alternating Dumbbell Curls: 18 x 20.
Forearm Curls: 14 x 12. Work on these more.
It was absolutely muggy today! The temperature has unseasonably risen, though I've heard that it will drop down again. Still, can't shake the feeling that we're in the last throes of winter.
Why not just perform on the street? Beats me. At least they were able to draw a small crowd.
Doggies and cuddles! A winning combination!
Doggies doggies doggies they make the world brighter and sunshiney joy
Enjoy your weekend, Bees!
Playing: So the major update in my gaming history is the inclusion of FPS FEAR-like (that seriously needs to become a new genre) Trepang. Money's tight, but it was on sale for about 6 USD, and is proving itself to be a great purchase. Just what the doctor ordered! Also played some Sulfur, and hoping that a new update drops soon. Haven't returned to Fallout 2. Yet.
Watching: Mom has persuaded me to start watching Severance, so I'll get on that sooner or later (and to be fair, it certainly looks intriguing). Haven't found a new late night cinema horror flick yet, but I'll find something. Always do. We may be watching Mickey 17 in the cinema later this week. Watch this space.
Comedy/Cute: Chocodoggy! This is the funniest and cutest thing I've seen all week. The hand gestures alone are hilarious!
Listening to: Machine Head - Now We Die. I've had this one happily renting that musical side of my head for several days now. It's from Groove/Thrash metal group Machine Head, and while the metaphors in the video are a bit silly (the band occupy the role of pseudo-revolutionary martyrs in this one), it's an absolutely gripping song with killer melodies. The second half, which employs clean singing and melodies, is simply amazing. Great listening, and has been a salve for my anxieties lately.
"Ashes to ashes
The ocean crashes
Louder and louder it cries
Over and over
The sands wash over
Facing, embracing the tides"
Hey again, Bees! It's been another (relatively) long pause for me, and it's good to get back into the gym and scratch that itch.
Today was a touch and go Push day in which I upped the poundages slightly.
Bench Press: 137.5 x 4. Felt pretty good, and I may aim for five reps next time.
Spoto Press: 115 x 5. A-okay!
Overhead Press: 80 x 5. A PR! This one was absolutely beastly.
Alternating Dumbbell Curls: 18 x 20.
Forearm Curls: 14 x 12. Work on these more.
It was absolutely muggy today! The temperature has unseasonably risen, though I've heard that it will drop down again. Still, can't shake the feeling that we're in the last throes of winter.
Why not just perform on the street? Beats me. At least they were able to draw a small crowd.
Doggies and cuddles! A winning combination!
Doggies doggies doggies they make the world brighter and sunshiney joy
Enjoy your weekend, Bees!
Playing: So the major update in my gaming history is the inclusion of FPS FEAR-like (that seriously needs to become a new genre) Trepang. Money's tight, but it was on sale for about 6 USD, and is proving itself to be a great purchase. Just what the doctor ordered! Also played some Sulfur, and hoping that a new update drops soon. Haven't returned to Fallout 2. Yet.
Watching: Mom has persuaded me to start watching Severance, so I'll get on that sooner or later (and to be fair, it certainly looks intriguing). Haven't found a new late night cinema horror flick yet, but I'll find something. Always do. We may be watching Mickey 17 in the cinema later this week. Watch this space.
Comedy/Cute: Chocodoggy! This is the funniest and cutest thing I've seen all week. The hand gestures alone are hilarious!
Listening to: Machine Head - Now We Die. I've had this one happily renting that musical side of my head for several days now. It's from Groove/Thrash metal group Machine Head, and while the metaphors in the video are a bit silly (the band occupy the role of pseudo-revolutionary martyrs in this one), it's an absolutely gripping song with killer melodies. The second half, which employs clean singing and melodies, is simply amazing. Great listening, and has been a salve for my anxieties lately.
"Ashes to ashes
The ocean crashes
Louder and louder it cries
Over and over
The sands wash over
Facing, embracing the tides"