Quest for Muscle: The Return of the Pump

[AgileGrrl]

Bees, have any of you struggled with impostor syndrome? I kind of overlooked it in my self-inventory, but I check a lot of the boxes. Self-effacing, don't like to take credit, believe that my achievements are more down to luck than anything else. It's a terrible thing to live with, and it ties into my existing struggles with depression too closely for my comfort.

Majorly! In the amateur sport I compete in, I have been ranked number #1 in my division in Canada for many years in a row, and across multiple divisions too. I have won a multitude of national, along with world, championships, but every time someone hires me for a seminar/teaching gig I go in thinking that they've hired the wrong person, that people will realise I'm a fraud, etc. I am always downplaying my achievements, yet when I see and hear others overinflate theirs to the point of absurdity I wonder how they can do that with a straight face. I keep saying it's just luck, not skill, that has made me so successful in that sport, yet I can recognise that luck actually plays a tiny portion in it overall. I still haven't figured out how to overcome imposter syndrome, so I just keep trudging onward and try to graciously accept any compliments thrown my way while heaping praise on others around me to deflect. I'm all ears if anyone has found a solution.

 

[GentleOx]

The first day began without any fuss. The very first round, or "evolution" as they called it was a physical fitness test. Ox, Simmi and Jackal had discussed the standards they wanted the candidates to hold up to. It looked like this:

50 push-ups, lowered to a fist on the ground.
100 bodyweight squats non-stop.
10 pull-ups.
50 sit-ups, non-stop.
A hex-bar deadlift of 100 kg for reps.

There, in the square next to the observatory, they put each and every person through their paces. There were no verbal taunts or cajoling from the three of them. Based on published information, traditional selection for the NFTA Rangers incorporated plenty of heckling and derision, which was cited to be an additional stress factor for the candidates. Perhaps even a motivator. Instead, the three of them ran the candidates through the exercises in stoney silence. They wanted individuals who could push themselves without needing a reaction or form of initiative.

Even with this being the first hour, it was obvious that many of the candidates were struggling. Many could not do a push up properly, let alone a pull-up, and found themselves easily gassed by the gauntlet of exercises. Standards aside, that in and of itself was not reason for disqualification; every individual struggled with the relentless pace and minimal rest times. Instead, they wanted to see what candidates would do when they reached discomfort, and whether they could push past it.

Ox was watching from the side as Simmi ran the gang through another round of burpees when the Trejo came up to him to quit. It was an hour in. Ox dismissed them with a nod of his head, and Trejo wandered off, relieved. They were the first of five to voluntarily quit that day. After hours of exhaustion and physical exertion, the bedraggled, exhausted candidates stood at attention as Jackal read off the names of those who had not performed up to par. That left 25.

And it was only the first day.

Great gonzos, Bees! I'm back for another workout, this time a Push day.

I deliberately dialed back the weight and worked on form. If all goes well, I'll increase the weights over time.

Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 80 x 3.
Romanian Deadlifts: 80 x 3.
Barbell Rows: 80 x 8.
Wide Grip Pulldowns: 60 x 7.
Meadows Rows: 65 x 5. Ugh.
Neutral Grip Chins: 26 in total.
Lying Leg Curls: 30 x 12.

35 sets of exercise. Now I'm dead.

@LiteraryMatcha @AgileGrrl Thank you for sharing a bit. It's definitely a work in progress kind of thing.

Super sleepy!

It was cool today, so it was nice to throw on the ol' hoodie and enjoy the rainy weather for a spell.

Not sure what this weekend is looking like? Maybe a visit to my great aunt, and some noodles.

Oh yeah, it's Mother's Day on Sunday! Yay! Will treat mom to a nice meal.

Take care of yourselves, Bees!

Playing: So I seem to have delayed my KCD2 playthrough for more podcast-gaming shenanigans with Witchfire. I throw on a back episode EHMON (a shame they are no more), then embark on an expedition to exterminate the Witch's minions! Fun times!

DId not game much last night apart from that. KCD2 is calling tonight, however.

Baldur's Gate III is on sale! But I'm likely going to pass it up, as I'm meaning to scrimp this month, and even on discount, it's almost 300 HKD.
Watching: I watched a Canadian indie-horror called The Interior. Here's a summary, synopsis, and review!

James is not having a very good time of it. Stuck in a job he hates, and struggling to record a rap song, things really come to a head at when he attends his doctor's appointment: stoned, no less. Clearly suffering from some sort of serious ailment, he leaves behind his job, girlfriend, and civilization itself to spend some time in the woods. Unfortunately for him, he finds himself harassed by strange forces in the woods...

Summary: A clever scare or two aside, this one has little to offer in a crowded genre.

Again, this is a film of two parts. The first, which is like a 25 minute introduction to the main character, is mildly comical and amusing. We follow James' nervous breakdown as he finds it hard to cope with his (privileged) life. He is fired from his job, gets a new one which seems like a downgrade, has some sort of diagnosis that spells trouble, and then splits. And that's all you need to know, because the next fifty minutes of the film oscillates between James roughing it out in the woods (and doing a piss-poor job of it, natch), and him being inexplicably attacked and troubled by some...thing. I'm a big fan of woodsy horrors, so it seemed like this segment in the woods, which was admittedly beautifully filmed and staged, would strike a chord with me, but... it didn't happen.

At the end of the day, there's no connective tissue between the parts of the movie (even between the first, dialogue-present part, and the sojourn in the woods), and it doesn't help that there's almost no character or human element (well, maybe not that) to the majority of the film. While the nightly attacks take a toll on James, there's really not enough to hang your hat on. The film takes a gonzo pride in tormenting its protagonist, but it doesn't care enough to provide any semblance of explanation or reason, so why should I care? Spoiler: I didn't. Why do these periodic harassments matter if there's no reason for them, beautifully shot as they are? This is why films like The Blair Witch Project are successful woodland horror films; they understand that you can tease the mystery and provide character enough to support the movie: something absent in The Interior.

I give the Interior one and a half broken compasses out of five.

Now I'll resume my watch of The Fuzzies (how did I even get derailed in the first place??).

Listening to: Decade Defector - Renegade. Have I seriously never posted this one before? It's a synth classic and a slice of excellence that has a pounding, insistent beat, and smooth vocals. And the samples from The Warriors (anyone remember that classic?) are the icing on top!

"Who are the Warriors? There must be some word! I want them all! I want all the Warriors! I want them alive, if possible. If not, wasted! But I want them! Send the word!"

 

[PetiteSheWolf]

Thank you for continuing to review movies ; looks like interior won't be in my next one!
I recently caught a really nice, atmospheric taiwanese one, "mudborn" - with a clay statue of a baby wrecking havock around it. The themes were nice. I'll be curious to hear your opinion!
Also watching "Midnight mass", and really enjoying it a good deal! I remember you specially like it. There are some points I can't make sense of (can you start an AA chapter, specially one that can "validate" courts requirements, like that, poof ? From what little I saw from the Salvation Army equivalent program, ahem...) ; but the themes are also well developed, and intelligently enough that , at least personally and as a believer, it makes me ponder without feeling insulted / looked down on. The actors for Riley and Father Paul are doing an excellent job. The setting, this run-down island where even fishing is drying off, it very very appealing to me too, more than any old haunted house. And I like that the "monster" / more gory parts are well and truly hidden until nearly mid-way. Only recrimination : all the dead bodies of kitties early in episode 2, and that poor dog - I hope they stop the animal horror there!

 

[GentleOx]

Inkspot watched from her perch on a crate as the candidates continued through evolution after evolution. Licking her paw daintily, she seemed blissfully oblivious to their trials and travails. "Stop!" Called Ox. "Food break. You have five minutes to consume an MRE and rehydrate." It seemed like ample time, but most of the candidates were hurting by now. Not long after the second day had dawned, three more had voluntarily withdrawn. Ox conferred briefly with Simmi and Jackal during this intermission. Some of the most trying exercises were on the docket for later, but Simmi insisted that their current rate of attrition was acceptable. So Ox shrugged, the timer on his watch beeped, and he gathered the candidates once more, leading them to the dock.

Next up was a shuttle run. Ox pointed to a pyramid of sandbags that weighed 25 kg each. "Candidates, carry these to the main Freelancer camp and back here. Get started."

By now thoroughly gassed, most of the candidates performed this laboriously, walking rather than running. Some of them dropped the bag on the track, and a few collapsed outright. One cocky fellow sprinted his way through the exercise and pointedly dumped his sandbag once he'd returned to the starting point. While his athleticism was outstanding, Ox found his manner and arrogance off-putting. Ox made a note on his clipboard. Some of the group who'd dropped their bags or veered off course gathered their last reserves and managed to make it back to the starting point. Again, Ox made notes.

By now most of the group was back, dumping their sandbags, and wheezing for dear life. Fist bumps and hugs were traded all around. "An amazing display of athleticism..." He let the remark hang in the air. "Now into the drink. Swim to that buoy - " he pointed it out, " - and back." Groans and bellyaching. Ox saw Howie dive in, uncomplaining, and he made a note. The rest of the gang dropped in, shocked by the temperature of the freezing waters, and begin to make their way over to the buoy.

The end was not in sight.

Salutations, Bees! The Ox is back in town.

I wanted to take a day off today, but instead, I headed to the gym for a Push workout.

Bench Press: 125 x 3. Went off without a hitch. I've adjusted my technique; I'm no longer arching my back so much and digging in my feet in powerlifter style. Why? I just kind of got sick of it. And it took up way too much time. Before I learned the powerlifting style of doing things, my benching was just fine. So call it a return to form of sorts.
Incline Press: 75 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 5 x 8.
Rope Pushdowns: 11 x 6.
Dual Dumbbell Curls: 12 x 8.

Kind of took it easy on the accessory exercises.

I didn't walk many steps today, but I was still super sleepy after gymming.

Just now I spent forty-five minutes just reading about Asians, accents, and stereotypes. I... don't... really know why? Just boredom. I guess. I think my own accent is... peculiar.

Here's some Cantonese I learned today: Lam4 Gap1 Pouh5 Fat4 Goek3 臨急抱佛腳 - To hug Buddha's foot in a time of crisis. Colloquially, it means you're making a last ditch attempt to save yourself, and haven't prepared adequately.

@AgileGrrl Your achievements sound amazing! It's proof that even the very accomplished among us still suffer from inner doubts. I hope you continue to believe in yourself.

@LiteraryMatcha Yes, we deserve to treat ourselves with respect and love. Did you change your profile pic to feature Zagreus?

@PetiteSheWolf Mudborn looks interesting, for sure. It reminds me of another horror involving a golem? I forgot what that one was called.

As you astutely noted, I am indeed a big fan of Midnight Mass. It wasn't the scariest Flanagan work, but it still resonates with me a lot. Speaking of the AA meeting set up by the priest, and Riley, from what I remember attending them myself, it's very easy to setup an AA meeting. Whether or not it would stand up to legal scrutiny is another question, I suppose. It's a very well-written series, and I think that the actors you mentioned did an absolutely fantastic job (Hamish Linklater is amazing). I feel that the religious themes are treated thoughtfully. I do not remember the scene involving the perished kitties! Maybe that's a good thing. Keep watching, it's a great series!

Going to cook some dinner now.

Take care, Bees! We're halfway done with the week!

Playing: More Witchfire madness! I'm going to give The Division 2 a shot, once more, as I never delved into the DLCs. Of course, I might change my mind and go back to Witchfire, but we'll see.

AIming to continue KCD2 tonight... assuming I don't stay up too late. I'm going to explore more, and get into more swordfights (hopefully!).

Watching: Really will try to resume The Fuzzies. No Mortal Kombat 2 in Hong Kong yet, and we have to wait until next week.

Listening to: Enzo Van Baelen - Fireball! An absolutely nostalgic and catchy treat, and the breakdancing theme just makes this one so sublime.

"No one can compete 'cuz I heat like fireball!"

 

[LiteraryMatcha]

Here's some Cantonese I learned today: Lam4 Gap1 Pouh5 Fat4 Goek3 臨急抱佛腳 - To hug Buddha's foot in a time of crisis. Colloquially, it means you're making a last ditch attempt to save yourself, and haven't prepared adequately.

This is so visual. I love it.
Like this gif:

@LiteraryMatcha Yes, we deserve to treat ourselves with respect and love. Did you change your profile pic to feature Zagreus?

Exactly!
And yeah. Hades and Hades II are probably my favourite games ever, and the soundtrack is to die for.

This made me chuckle out loud xD

Have a good one, man. I hope the week treats you kindly.

 

[PetiteSheWolf]

I'll tell you when I will have finished. dear Ox!

 

[GentleOx]

"The NFTA have abducted one of our own, who has important intel that we can't allow to be extracted. Your mission is thus: you have to enter the building and neutralize all resistance, while avoiding all friendly casualties."

Three days in. Everyone was well and truly exhausted, and some were pushed beyond their breaking points. At this point, they had been assigned to different teams. Twenty were left, which made for four teams of five. Through the several minute-long briefing, he could see the rows of candidates yawning, and some even drifting off into sleep. Ox distributed maps of the target building, which was actually an abandoned building on the docks that he and several others of the support crew had feverishly worked to set up. The final result was a makeshift kill-house, along with catwalks from which they could observe the teams. Ox was proud of this new innovation, which would help trainees develop CQB-related skills. Truly, they were moving up in the world.

His attention came back to the groups of candidates in their groups, seated at the Observatory's open square. Some groups, like Howie's, were proactively making notes on the briefing material and maps, by marking down points of entry, needed equipment, and who was to bear responsibility for different tasks. Others gave the map a brief reading before snatching the opportunity for extra sleep; this was more than a little troubling. Once again, he made notes on his clipboard. To ensure that candidates were not totally unprepared, and were on level ground, Simmi had insisted upon instructing them in basic room-clearing and close quarters battle training even before selection began. Unfortunately, some of the candidates appeared to have figuratively, if not literally slept through that part of their training.

It was interesting to see the candidates interact. Some were obvious team-players, some assertive, and some contributed little. While it was a single event of their selection, it spoke volumes of the trainees' skill and attitude.

If they didn't take such a task seriously, then how would they truly react in the field?

@LiteraryMatcha Thank you friend!
@PetiteSheWolf I await your impressions!

Hello hello, Bees!

Super sleepy, but back for another workout. Today was Leg day. Yikes!

Squats: 80 x 3 for five sets. Starting slow. Will up to 85 next week.
Paused Squats: 60 x 3, also for five sets.
Bulgarian Split Squats: 10 x 6? I should move on, eventually.
Leg Extensions: 50 x 12.

And now my legs are mush. Great.

Some work tomorrow, but looking forward to Mother's Day.

We made it to the weekend, Bees! Huzzah!

Cantonese of the day: 富不過三代. fu3 bat1 gwo3 saam1 doi6: Wealth does not go past three generations.

Playing: I tried a little bit of Kiborg, and then, after a few desultory playthroughs, got tired of it. I'd read of it being compared to the Batman games, and it comes nowhere close to their sublime gameplay. So off my hard drive it goes. Boom! Uninstalled.

One peculiar surprise is Obscure, which is a port of an old PS2-era horror game notable for being set in a high-school. I'm surprised that it supports widescreen and my controller, so even with its dated presentation, it's still very playable. I'll be delving more into the haunted high school as I play more. Totally rad, dudes and dudettes!

I resumed my playthrough of KCD2, though right now, I'm more interested in chopping up bandits than doing anything quest-related. I spent 3000 grosschens on a new sword, which I will use to defeat bandits, plunder their remains, and save up to buy a better sw- wait a minute...

Also, Brigador Killers just uploaded a demo! Squee! I love gaming treats!

Watching: Really want to watch romance-based horror Obsession, but it's coming to a movie theatre nowhere near me. Oh well.

I may put The Fuzzies on hold and watch Youtube horror Milk and Serial, but either way, I win (unless The Fuzzies is crap!).

(Milk and Serial is the likely choice.)

I may have to listen to Big Business - Our Mutant again, depending on how the film(s) pan out. What is Big Business - Our Mutant, you might ask? It's a sludge-metal song that perfectly captures, in two minutes, aggression, defeat, and the vicissitudes of Fate, that fickle mistress. I first heard it over the credits of Creep (2014, which is due for a rewatch from me), and subsequently listen to it as a song to decompress from/play off intense horror movies.

Listening to: Sagittarius V - Alien Nation (feat. Giang Pham). This one is melodic perfection. That piano intro alone is worth the price of admission.

Bow before the Synth! The Power of Synth compels you!

 

[LiteraryMatcha]

Cantonese of the day: 富不過三代. fu3 bat1 gwo3 saam1 doi6: Wealth does not go past three generations.

Bow before the Synth! The Power of Synth compels you!

Man, what a song. I love it. It's perfect for Friday.

Have a good one!

 

[GentleOx]

Ox yawned, and swirled the hot chocolate (courtesy of Simmi) around in his favourite mug. Inkspot was perched on the catwalk (coincidence, not irony!) to his side, and she blinked a time or two in contentment. Despite the gunfire that had sounded in the kill-house below, she didn't seem perturbed in the least. In fact, it was more like she was right at home. Ox welcomed the cat's commitment. He had been up for the last 22 hours, assessing the teams' preparation for the CQB exercise, and resetting the kill house targets, doors, and obstacles each time. He had taken pains to ensure that the layout of the mock house was different each time - he did not want candidates sussing out target locations and details ahead of time.

One more round, and he could retire to his bunk in the observatory and snatch some precious sleep, turning the next phase of selection over to Simmi and Jackal. He took another sip of the sweet, toasty drink, and raised his bullhorn.

"Team Four, you're up."

From his perch above the roof-less house, Ox had a perfect view of the mock operation below. A BANG as the wooden front door of the house blew open, the force of the C2 charge working as planned. The five members of the team clumsily made their way into the room, the second man bumping into the first. The first team member lurched over the ground, and his submachine gun discharged in a burst. Ox winced. Seeing a target in the room, the remaining members unloaded a fusillade of bursts at the target. At least they were shooting in the right direction. The rest of the exercise was a ballet of incompetence. Awkwardly clearing each space, they made their way through the house with the precision of the blind or intoxicated. The final room was of a similar affair. Three targets were in different corners of the room, strategically placed around a mannequin tied to a chair. One of the targets was obscured by a stack of crates - this was of Ox's devising.

The team rushed into the room. Seeing the "hostage" on the chair, they rushed to free it. Two of them had entered the room by this point, and so focused on their task that it took the third member to shout "Target!", advertising the presence of tangos. The two teammates who'd first made entry feverishly sawed at the captive's bonds while the remaining three rushed in and fired at the targets simultaneously. Then, showing as much competence as they had entering the structure, they dashed out, almost bumping into each other. By this point, Ox was descending the ladder to meet the team. They were actually clapping each other on the back and trading high-fives. One of them had the audacity to go up to Ox and ask, "So how'd we do?"

Ox was at a loss for words. A harsher instructor would've berated them for their mistakes and left little doubt in their minds as to how little had gone right. It would've been easy to disabuse them of any doubts, certainly. But they were exhausted, sleep-deprived, and at a disadvantage. Many of them had not heard of CQB or room-clearing techniques until their crash course before the selection had started, and were no doubt preoccupied with other concerns. So he opted to remain stoney-faced. That much was easy.

"You're done with this phase. Go get some rest, and an MRE, and we'll make an announcement."

Hi once more, Bees! It's the start of a new week, and that means another Push day.

Bench Press: 127.5 x 3, AMRAP for 6. Eh, I'll take it.
Incline Press: 77.5 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 7.5 x 8.
Rope Pushdowns: 11 x 24. Time to move up in weight. Egads.
Dumbbell Curls: 14 x 20. Kind of slept on these today.

@LiteraryMatcha Thank you kindly! Hope you're having a good one!

Super sleepy.

Mum's day was quiet for mom and I. We had a nice tsaa chaan teng meal and had a call from my big sister, who was celebrating her own Mother's Day.

Start your week strong, Bees!

Playing: So I may have acted rashly in uninstalling Kiborg. So I swallowed my pride, and decided to give it a second shot, and now, it's redeemed itself as my new podcast game. I'm still learning the ropes, so to speak, and getting beat up lots, but I'm glad there's lots of RPG and combo progression to play through. I even beat the first boss. Hopefully I can repeat that feat... in the second area, I was attacked by sentient viruses, which is as surreal and unpleasant as it sounds. Boom! Reinstalled.

Played a demo for an open-worlder called Order of Wallachia, which prominently figures a three-headed dragon and is conspicuously absent of vampires. It runs embarrassingly crudely on my rig, and isn't exactly generous on the visuals (the dead-eyed facial animations are a hoot, or a nightmare). I set everything to low and it still ran remarkably poorly. Until the developers up their game, I'm hanging cloves of garlic to ward away this one. Boom! Uninstalled.

Going to get back into KCD2 and start a storyline, though those may be famous last words.

Watching: Feast your eyes on this trailer! It's for a film trilogy called Neon Odyssey. It's like the aesthetics and setting of D&D got shifted into the outer reaches of space and pushed forward several millenia. It's so bright and shimmery: I like!

Also watching more Jackass skits, because... why not?

Watched the first six minutes of Milk and Serial. Nothing to report yet except that especially considering its budget, it's well executed so far.

Will watch MORTAL KOMBAT 2!!!! when it comes out here on Thursday.

There are some other horror flicks that won't come to Hong Kong this month, and that makes me sad. So sad.

Listening to: James Jupiter - Madness (Part 2). A bite-sized treat with some heavy beats.

Another batch of new finds I look forward to showcasing one song at a time! I swear, looking through Synth playlists on Youtube is like bargain-bin hunting. Only it's better, because you don't have to chance your dosh on an album - you can listen to music instantly.

 

[GentleOx]

He dreamt of familiar things.

The farm he had long ago left behind, its stern but heartfelt owner, and the family who had given him such love. The work he had put into ploughing the fields, one hot day after another. The musical tones of Cantonese washing through his ears day in, day out. Nosing his favourite red ball around the fields, content and joyful.

Then his dreams took on a stranger turn.

An enormous battlefield that stretched as far as the eye could see - clashes between forces and figures wielding weapons he had never seen before. Standing atop a pile of bodies, victorious. His enemies knelt in supplication, terror in their eyes. Then he was at the wedding altar facing a woman, her cropped orange hair shining vibrantly. There was a strange humming, or maybe it was a buzz, and a warmth on his chest.

"Agh, what..." He opened his eyes. Blinking away sleep, his vision coalesced into the jet-black form of Inkspot perched atop his chest. "Oh hey kitty." The cat's purring was like a gentle motor. Ox gave her a few pets while he glanced out the Observatory window. The soft dawn light was beginning to wash the day in its glow. He checked his watch. Ink was right on time. "Let's go get them started, shall we?"

Ink slowly blinked in agreement.

Greetings, Bees!

The Ox is back on track, with a Back workout for today. I upped the weights a little as part of the program, which hasn't gotten too challenging yet. Anyway...

Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 85 x 3.
RDLs: 85 x 3.
Barbell Rows: 82.5 x 8.
Machine One Armed Rows: 75 x 5. These are back from the dead! For today, anyway.
Lying Leg Curls: 35 x 12, as usual.
Neutral Grip Chins: Five sets of five reps. Was not feeling these today.
Face Pulls: 7 or 8 or whatever, I can't be bothered to check my notes for this one - for sets of 8.

Massive 35 set workout. And it only took an hour and five minutes or so.

Tomorrow I'm going to take in a MKII showing! I'll post a review, of course.

This heat is just something! That cool spell we had last week is fading away, giving way to that famous HK mugginess. Yuck.

Hope you're having a great week, Bees!

Playing: Played mostly Kiborg with a bit of KCD2. In Kiborg, I got pretty far with an exclusively ranged build, which holds promise for future runs.

In KCD2, I've spent a lot of my time looting the looters and snapping up their gear for resale in Kuttenberg.

Really want to buy Alabaster Dawn, which simply looks sublime. Too bad there's not much gameplay in there atm, but my attitude might change...

Also, this not-yet-in-EA game, Beta Decay, looks absolutely amazing! Don't know when it'll enter EA, but I'll absolutely snap up a copy when it does. There's a lot of talk in the forums about how it's a scam, but I can wait. I think my patience will be rewarded eventually.

Kittehs: Wee! A wonderland of kitties! If only it were real.

Watching: I will * try * to resume The Fuzzies tonight. Also jonesing for the Punisher: One Last Kill, which looks absolutely nuts!

Some assorted horror treats that have caught my attention:

There Are Monsters (2013)
Possibly in Michigan (1983)
Fake Documentary Q series (from 2022-ish onwards)

It's a good day for Horror watching! But isn't it always...?

Listening to: Tangerine Dream - Love on a Real Train (Betamaxx remix). Great song. Carries that late night fever that you get when taking the tube back home, the sights outside the window flickering past.

 

[LiteraryMatcha]

Really want to buy Alabaster Dawn, which simply looks sublime. Too bad there's not much gameplay in there atm, but my attitude might change

It reminds me so much of Golden Sun!

Thanks for bringing this game up. I'll keep an eye on it.

Also well done on doing that huge 35 set workout. Respect.

 

[GentleOx]

At this point, there were 18 left. The CQB exercise had shaved away seven of them; they had been deemed careless, inconsistent under pressure, and had made too many technical mistakes to ignore. It was The morning sun was rising as Ox strolled out, and the remaining candidates stood in the Observatory's square, hands clasped behind their backs. Next to them were heavy rucksacks, stuffed with 25 kg's worth of sundry equipment (most of which they wouldn't need to use) and kit. Next to it were FN FAL rifles (Ox could never remember what they were called here); the FALs were chosen for their ungainly profile and weight. Ox stopped in front of them.

"Your next task is simple. You are to carry these packs and rifles, and march to the points indicated on your personal map. If you do not arrive at each checkpoint within time, you will be removed from selection." He did not include that this was the second-last task of selection, or that only he and his fellow instructors knew what times would suffice, or how long they would have to march. He removed a stopwatch and counted down with his arm raised. "Three... two... one... Begin!" The candidates set to the task with differing levels of enthusiasm, which he couldn't fault them for. They had been going through six days of close to non-stop exercise and exertion.

One last push.

Salutations, Bees! Today was another Push workout.

Bench Press: 127.5 x 3. Ungh, these were harder than they should be at this point.
Incline Press: 77.5 x 8. Looking forward to upping the weight.
Weighted Dips: 7.5 x 8. Ditto.
Rope Pushdowns: 12 x 8.
Preacher Curls: 25 x 6.

@LiteraryMatcha Thank you. I haven't heard of Golden Sun, but it certainly looks interesting. Alabaster Dawn for me is a must-buy. The only question is when - right now, we're not getting many hours of gameplay.

I did not watch Mortal Kombat II. I just... couldn't be bothered. I think I'll instead wait until it comes out on streaming.

Rainy today, but my shoes were dry, thankfully.

Spent a lot of time on TVtropes reading up on creators overshadowed by the controversies brought to light. While I have my own skeletons in the closet, some of the stuff I read gives me the will-ies. Brr...

Happy Weekend, Bees.

Playing: Obligatory Kiborg mention. If the games I played were likened to food, I'd consider it fish n chips. Grimy, greasy and tasty stuff.

Played a demo for Mad King: Redemption. Interesting themes aside, its gameplay doesn't stand out, and lacks the punch of beat em ups from decades past. Boom! Uninstalled.

Also downloaded a demo for "Blades of Fire" *snicker*. Risible title aside, tonight I'll give it a go and see how it plays. Even if I liked it, $186 is a lot to ask from an indie title.

Played a touch of heavily-modded Morrowind. Will also find the time to slash and loot in KCD2, of course!

The Inconceivably Terrible: So today I learned what the Maradonia saga is. It's a set of books written by what was the "world's youngest novelist", and it shows. I haven't been able to find an excerpt from the books, but this sample from the movie adaptation (!) is as good as you'd expect. Maybe better!

Watching: Mom and I have been watching this new horror/comedy series together. It's called Widow's Bay, and it's surprisingly quite good, drawing from occult, monster, and supernatural/ghost horror. Looking forward to next week's episode.

So I started watching the Fuzzies in earnest. The cinematography and acting are amateurish so far, though this is somewhat made up for by the production design, which features childlike, colourful sets. I'll keep watching and see where it goes.

Listening to: Yuppie Culture - City Lights. Ah! Rummaging around synthwave channels has borne fruit, as it always does! Synth is like a never-ending wellspring of vibes. This particular number is upbeat, and has a great city feel to it.

 

[GentleOx]

It was hour upon hour later when the last of the candidates made their way back to the Observatory square, shepherded by Simmi and Jackal. The candidates had, in total, hiked their way through a 50 km route that had been devised by Jackal ahead of time. The route took candidates from the Crossroads, North to just shy of the Dead Bridge, next to the M71 hub, and beyond. While out of the way of the assorted monsters that populated West Carcosa, it was not totally safe - Ox and Simmi were concerned about the odd transhuman or creature that candidates might encounter over those desolate mountains and the fickleness of the anomalies, but in the end, Jackal had persuaded them. There was no way to run a selection absent of danger, and if they were to eventually form an elite team, they had to be able to contend with such encounters on their own.

Ox stood before them, Jackal and Simmi to his sides. There was something rectangular behind them draped with a white cloth. The candidates were exhausted, but they stood at attention, nonetheless. Not all of them would be chosen, but Ox was proud of them all the same. It was a monumental task they had undertaken, and most, but not all, had performed with distinction. Ox pointedly reached into his pocket, and the 18 standing straight tensed. What was he reaching for? Some tool to start another test? It was a white cloth, and Ox tied it around his arm. "Selection is over. While not all of you will be chosen, you should be proud of making it this far. And if you haven't made it, pat yourself on the back. Maybe we'll give you a chance down the line." The crowd looked at him, a little bewildered.

Then it sunk through that it was over, and the punishments and exertions of what was close to a week, had ended. Gathering amongst each other, they traded fist bumps and high-fives, pounded each other on the back Jackal stripped the table of its white cloth to reveal their reward: stacks of beer, donuts, coffee, and sandwiches. Simmi had gone to great pains to get her paws on these treats, and the appreciative stalkers crowded the foot and drink table. Now Ox had to confer with Simmi and Jackal as to who hadn't made it.

But for now, they could rest easy.

Hello once more, Bees!

Posting once more from the breach.

Today was a Push workout, in which I upped the weights a little.

Bench Press: 130 x 3. Tough, tough. But I'll stick with it.
Incline Bench Press: 80 x 8. Not bad, not bad.
Weighted Dips: 10 x 8. Best exercise today!
Rope Pushdowns: 12 x 10.
Preacher Curls: Uhh... 30 I think. Sets of six.

It was cool again today. Strange juxtaposition of the sunniness and the brisk weather. But as always, that won't last very long.

Still counting down the days till Comic Con, and reading up on what to expect. Bees, have you ever been to Comic Con? Anything noteworthy to see (or avoid)?

A little anxiety about my lesson tomorrow. But how is that different from how it's always been?

And last to note, I've slept terribly these last few days. Much to do with staying up late. Better when I get to bed earlier, as that doesn't leave me feeling groggy and disoriented through the day.

Hope you're having a great Monday, Bees!

Playing: Uh... I've only been playing ES: Morrowind these past few days. I started off as a measly prisoner aboard a ship, and am jumping and looting my way through the alien lands of Vvardenfall.

Blades of Fire turned out to be a Soulslike, with some interesting mechanics. It would be worth a play, but for the fact that I'm kind of burned on Soulslikes, and the price is too much as of now. Boom! Uninstalled.

Also tried a demo from Divinum, which seems very much like a Metroidvania. It doesn't have much new to offer. Off it goes. Boom! Uninstalled.

So... more Morrowind, maybe some Kiborg and KCD2, for fifteen or twenty minutes.

Watching: Still watching The Fuzzies. Kind of asking myself why, about half an hour in, but I'll try and persist.

Cute: Oh to consume a greasy, artery-clogging wonderland! What an experience that would be.

Listening to: Elliott Smith - Pretty Mary K (Alternate version). A brief break from synthwave tonight. It's been years since I last listened to this one, and it's still as bittersweet as when I first came across it. I'm not sure what it's about, though I like the interpretation of it being about a woman of the night.

Bonus edit: Because I just finished listening to this for the third time. There's so much new music out there to discover, and this is from the inimitable, late Kris Kristofferson. It took me a moment or two to puzzle out the song's meaning, but I think I've got it. That chorus is amazing.

"I was born a lonely singer
And I'm bound to die the same
But I've gotta feed the hunger in my soul
And if I never have a nickel
I won't ever die ashamed
‘Cause I don't believe that no one wants to know"

 

[GentleOx]

The observatory theater was a little crowded, but that did little to detract from the celebratory atmosphere inside. Those of the candidates who had been selected were enjoying drinks on the house, and sharing in their recent experiences. Ox watched the buzz from the side, sipping only a little from his vintage Sauvignon Blanc (where did Simmi keep getting all these goodies?). After all the sturm und drang of selection, it was good to see everyone letting their hair down a little. After a few minutes, Simmi came over to join him where he was seated. "Well, now we have our team."

It was early going, but they did. Out of over 40 candidates, in they end they had selected the eight that were most dependable, determined, and devoted. Skill could come with training. But the essential traits for surviving in the field and working together were present in those they had chosen. He could see Howie deep in conversation with Kramer and Bones, his hands emphatically framing something imaginary. On the other side of the room, the gorgeous Vix and the comparatively more plain, but dogged Asra, were discussing something low-key. Keys, Gross, and Jag were happily bantering about how happy they were it was over, and how they thought they'd never make it. Ox let a slow smile suffuse his face. "That we do."

He unsheathed his combat knife and tapped his wine glass with the flat side of the blade. The chink-chink was a sharp sound that cut through the noise of conversation. They turned to face Ox, who stood up from his chair and cleared his throat.

"I've thrown every physical and mental test at the eight of you. There were likely times where you wanted to give up, and be free from the continuing ardors of selection. You might not believe me when I say I wanted no one to give up and throw in the towel, but that they did is a necessity for forming this team. In the end, you made it through, persisting even after your bodies were aching and your minds exhausted. And now the eight of you are going to form the nucleus of our new special forces unit. Stand proud, as a part of the pack. Let our enemies now that starting from tonight, we are Wolves!"

There was a hushed silence that followed this rhetoric. Ox raised his glass in a toast, the gesture mirrored around the room.

"Roam and grow fat off the land," he said.
"Roam and grow fat off the land," they repeated.

Hey Bees! I'm tired and beat, but I managed to get a good workout in.

Today was a Pull day.

Snatch Grip Deadlift: 90 x 3. I think I hurt my back a little. This is what you get for jumping into exercise without a warmup. Never doing that again!
RDL: 90 x 3. Despite my soreness from the SGDLs, these felt alright.
Barbell Rows: 85 x 8.
Machine One Armed Rows: 75 x 5.
Pull Ups: Five sets of three reps. Going to add weight to these sloooowwwllly.
Lying Leg Curls: 50 x 3. Yuck.
Face Pulls: 8 x 6.

Another gargantuan 35 set workout. May have to give my back some time to recover.

My body is still smarting from all the aches of training I put it through.

Something frustrating that happened these last few nights. I may have mentioned that there are people upstairs revamping the above apartment. They erected a scaffolding outside the window, above my air conditioner, and have been doing work there. You can guess where this is going. One night, I turned on my A/C, to this horrendous rattling sound. I put two and two together; this has literally never happened to the a/c before (c'mon, we've weathered typhoons and heavy rain), and it only started when the folks upstairs started working on the ledge outside. Mom contacted the company overseeing the renovations, and they flippantly suggested that the a/c had broken on its own. Fed up, mom disabused them of any doubt, and made sure they would send someone to repair the problem. Not examine it, but repair it. She was quite severe with them. Hopefully they will show up tomorrow to get it sorted out. Ugh. As mom says, one thing at a time.

Keep going, Bees! The week's nearly over.

Playing: Uhh... mostly Morrowind. I've been zipping around the swamps and marshes, raiding tombs and pillaging Daedric shrines, and amassing a small fortune.

Will be playing a little of Kiborg. Can I make room for KCD 2? We'll see.

Watching: Lee Cronin's The Mummy is out. Maybe devote an evening to grossing myself out on lukewarm Egyptian Evil Dead?

And I *still* haven't completed The Fuzzies yet. I may take to watching The Fuzzies on my desktop if this keeps up.

Listening to: Ludwig Goransson - Quantum Mechanics. When I watched Oppenheimer, the music struck a chord with me, but when I left the theater, I forgot about the soundtrack for awhile. Glad that I revisited it online, as some of the songs are absolutely golden.

 

[GentleOx]

The last of the candidates had left, and a quiet had settled over the camp. He and Simmi sat next to each other in the Observatory's theater room gazing out into the darkness. Her hand was in his, and there clasped hands hung in the space between the seats. Ox was tired, so tired, but the wine had imparted a healthy buzz, and he was more content than he had been in days. It was a strange feeling, to put down roots and call this accursed land his home, but he had invested so much in this strange little community, and his wandering heart had quieted. The least he could do was give back, in his own way. He glanced over at Simmi. Her face was shadowed, the lights from the ceiling above casting odd shapes, but the sharp features he had fallen in love with were still there.

"So what's next?" Simmi looked over at him and smiled. "I was hoping you could tell me, boss man." Her tone was teasing. Ox squeezed her hand gently. "I'm just responsible - partly responsible, correction, for getting the team running. The real question is, what're we going to do with our elite few?" He could practically hear the gears turning in her head. "For starters, they can take on jobs that are more dangerous or require more coordination. I've spoken with the Broker, and he appreciates the need for dedicated team. Regarding the other factions, I'm not keen on necessarily using the team as a kill squad, or to settle grudges." Ox nodded, thinking back to Halloween. But there was that niggling question. "The other factions have done plenty to us, particularly the Innies. And I'm sure the Insurgents are in need of a good spanking." Simmi leaned back, pensive. "Be that as it may, we're here to protect the souls who are new to the zone, and need a helping hand. If needed, we can defend better against any predations. But there had better be a good reason for reprisals." So she was taking a more defensive, though not pacifistic stance. "Let me gather some intel and see what's brewing. I'm sure the others are now more aware of our new team, and likely want to test us." Ox snorted.

"And if they do, we'll be ready for them."

Hey again Bees.

The Ox of Gentle disposition strikes again, though this time was not without effort. I seriously did not want to go to the gym today. I had a bit of a stomach ache. My muscles were sore from yesterday's workout. And I was on the computer in my jammies, lazily browsing the web, when I roused myself and got into my workout togs. The problem is that if I don't go today, I don't know when I'll next have the chance, as this weekend is looking rather busy.

Anyway, today was a Push day.

Bench Press: 130 x 3. Pretty good, to my surprise.
Incline Press: 80 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 10 x 8.
Rope Push Downs: 12 x 10.
Preacher Curls: 62.5 x 8. Not feeling it today.

Comic Con is a little over a week away! Squee!

I have a break from my lesson at the weekend, so I'm going to be visiting our great aunt, and getting a haircut.

Take care, Bees. It's almost Friday!

Playing: Just Morrowind, of course. Did not play anything else last night. Will see if I have the energy to get up to anything else tonight.

Watching: It's a journey involving a chicken. Huh. It also looks adorable and amazing, and has a certain similarity to EO (a heartbreaking film following a donkey).

Still haven't finished The Fuzzies *groan*.

Was curious about watching Passenger, but turns out it's (most likely) crap. Ah well, you win some you lose some.

Very interested in watching Backrooms. Know for a fact that it's going to be worth the price of admission.

Listening to: Vincenzo Salvia feat. Deathwish - Panorama. A return to synthwave! Still have lots of treats I haven't fully catalogued and appreciated, yet.

 

[TopNotch]

What? I didn't make the cut? I am disappointed in myself.

 

[GentleOx]

Today was the final day that Ox was on break after selection. He was enjoying a well-earned nap in the Observatory, away from the grind.

After the running around and logistics of selection for the Wolf Unit (it still sounded a little cheesy to him), things had quieted down. He was a touch worried that those who had not made the final cut would be sore over their failure, but this largely didn't seem to be the case. Apart from one freak incident in which an unsuccessful candidate had taken a swing at Howie, few seemed to hold a grudge. Ox had promised the rest that if they so chose, selection would be open to them again. "They worked pretty hard, didn't they, Inkspot?" The void was cuddled up to his arm, and opened her eyes. Yes, she seemed to say. I would know all about hard work. "Silly kitty, tricks are for kids." He rubbed behind the black cat's ears, in that spot she especially liked.

"Looks like I've got some competition." He looked down at the landing to see Simmi at the top of the stairs, looking up at him with a small smile on her face. "What, jealous?" "I run things around here. I gather intel and make sure our enemies haven't got the upper hand. I'm trained, I'm in excellent shape, and I'm respected by the community here." She paused, tapping a finger on her chin. "But yeah, I'm a little jealous." "Well get in line, 'cuz Ink is my-" The cat looked up at Simmi, and mewed. Simmi approached with both arms outstretched and the blasted moggy actually rose up to clutch Simmi's arms. "Yeah, that naughty Ox doesn't know what he's doing. Come to momma." Ink curled up in her arms and purred. A smirk on her face, Simmi descended down to the landing, leaving Ox feebly reaching up after them.

"Traitor! Now nobody loves me..." Ox whined pathetically.
"Aww... did that cruel Mr. Ox get his filthy paws on you? You deserve better." This was said with barely restrained laughter.

He could not let this go unpunished.
@TopNotch Hard cheese, mate! Gotta work on that bench press max

Hey once more, Bees!

I was supposed to do a lower-body day today, but I worked my upper body (again, I know), because once more, not sure when I'll next get the chance this week.

Bench Press: 132.5 x 3. This absolutely flattened me. Nonetheless, I'll give it another go later this week.
Incline Press: 82.5 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 12.5 x 8.
Rope Pushdowns: 12 x 12.
Preacher Curls: 35 x 8.

Man, that workout really beat me bloody. My brachialis (?) muscle in my forearm has been aching for weeks, so I don't know if I'll work out tomorrow.

Tomorrow is a holiday - it's Buddha's birthday. See below.

We're getting haircuts tomorrow! Hooray! I resemble some shaggy, hirsute beast at the moment, so this Ox is due for a trim.

Hope that you're having a great Sunday, Bees!

The Yummy: I absolutely love watching Chef Jimmy Lee's cooking vids. The energy he puts in is amazing, and the food always looks delicious in the end!

Playing: More of Morrowind, though it might be grating on me a bit? Some of the foibles of retro gaming aren't quite as charming as they seem from afar.

And... what's this? No More Heroes was on sale on Steam? I had no idea there was a PC port of this wild series, let alone that it had three installments available to play! Squee!

To start with, I've installed the first game. It is absolutely bonkers, but I admire the sheer love and energy that was put into this crazy game. I mean, c'mon, you can play with your adorable pet kitty!

Watching: Uhh, some of Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2, which I've been getting into at the gym.

Listening to: Trevor Something - I Don't Care. A downbeat treat from the master of singer-songwriter synthwave. I've heard criticism that his voice is monotonous, but I think his melancholy, heavy, doom-laden vocals are great.

 

[LiteraryMatcha]

Today was the final day that Ox was on break after selection. He was enjoying a well-earned nap in the Observatory, away from the grind.

After the running around and logistics of selection for the Wolf Unit (it still sounded a little cheesy to him), things had quieted down. He was a touch worried that those who had not made the final cut would be sore over their failure, but this largely didn't seem to be the case. Apart from one freak incident in which an unsuccessful candidate had taken a swing at Howie, few seemed to hold a grudge. Ox had promised the rest that if they so chose, selection would be open to them again. "They worked pretty hard, didn't they, Inkspot?" The void was cuddled up to his arm, and opened her eyes. Yes, she seemed to say. I would know all about hard work. "Silly kitty, tricks are for kids." He rubbed behind the black cat's ears, in that spot she especially liked.

"Looks like I've got some competition." He looked down at the landing to see Simmi at the top of the stairs, looking up at him with a small smile on her face. "What, jealous?" "I run things around here. I gather intel and make sure our enemies haven't got the upper hand. I'm trained, I'm in excellent shape, and I'm respected by the community here." She paused, tapping a finger on her chin. "But yeah, I'm a little jealous." "Well get in line, 'cuz Ink is my-" The cat looked up at Simmi, and mewed. Simmi approached with both arms outstretched and the blasted moggy actually rose up to clutch Simmi's arms. "Yeah, that naughty Ox doesn't know what he's doing. Come to momma." Ink curled up in her arms and purred. A smirk on her face, Simmi descended down to the landing, leaving Ox feebly reaching up after them.

"Traitor! Now nobody loves me..." Ox whined pathetically.
"Aww... did that cruel Mr. Ox get his filthy paws on you? You deserve better." This was said with barely restrained laughter.

He could not let this go unpunished.
@TopNotch Hard cheese, mate! Gotta work on that bench press max

Hey once more, Bees!

I was supposed to do a lower-body day today, but I worked my upper body (again, I know), because once more, not sure when I'll next get the chance this week.

Bench Press: 132.5 x 3. This absolutely flattened me. Nonetheless, I'll give it another go later this week.
Incline Press: 82.5 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 12.5 x 8.
Rope Pushdowns: 12 x 12.
Preacher Curls: 35 x 8.

Man, that workout really beat me bloody. My brachialis (?) muscle in my forearm has been aching for weeks, so I don't know if I'll work out tomorrow.

Tomorrow is a holiday - it's Buddha's birthday. See below.

We're getting haircuts tomorrow! Hooray! I resemble some shaggy, hirsute beast at the moment, so this Ox is due for a trim.

Hope that you're having a great Sunday, Bees!

The Yummy: I absolutely love watching Chef Jimmy Lee's cooking vids. The energy he puts in is amazing, and the food always looks delicious in the end!

Playing: More of Morrowind, though it might be grating on me a bit? Some of the foibles of retro gaming aren't quite as charming as they seem from afar.

And... what's this? No More Heroes was on sale on Steam? I had no idea there was a PC port of this wild series, let alone that it had three installments available to play! Squee!

To start with, I've installed the first game. It is absolutely bonkers, but I admire the sheer love and energy that was put into this crazy game. I mean, c'mon, you can play with your adorable pet kitty!

Watching: Uhh, some of Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2, which I've been getting into at the gym.

Listening to: Trevor Something - I Don't Care. A downbeat treat from the master of singer-songwriter synthwave. I've heard criticism that his voice is monotonous, but I think his melancholy, heavy, doom-laden vocals are great.

I see Trevor Something, I give immediate like. They are great.
Have you listened to their cover of "Enjoy the Silence"?

Also, happy Buddha's bday!
I hope your hair trim left you refreshed and ready to conquer those weights.

 

[GentleOx]

"You've been awfully quiet lately." Ox, who was at his locker, whirled around suddenly. "Bwha, I...?" Simmi stood behind him, her arms folded. She was wearing a look of curiosity on her face. They were at the end of the first week of training, which had been going off without a hitch. Today was their day off, which Ox had mostly spent off-site. "I mean, you go somewhere without telling me, then you come back in, tight-lipped and sus." She leaned to the side a little. "I would say you were hiding something, but that would be pretty obvious." Ox sighed. He knew he wasn't going to get anywhere by being evasive. He walked over to his bed on sat on its edge. "Yes. There is something I'm not telling you." She seemed more amused than offended by this. "I knew there was something! Spill it."

"I can't, babe."
"Don't you 'babe' me. You can't weasel your way out of this."
He sighed. "I'm going to have to, for now. Trust me on this one."
Now, she seemed a little hurt. "Just promise me it's not dangerous."
"It's not dangerous or hurtful. I swear it. I'm just not ready to explain, yet."
"Then I'll leave you to your secret, mister man of mystery."

As she left, he fingered the ring in his pocket, and cursed himself.

@LiteraryMatcha My new haircut is definitely more comfortable and compact, and I love how it looks. Will have to scrape up a picture somewhere.

I've been a big fan of Trevor Something for a little more than ten years. Enjoy the Silence is a great song! He gives it the colourful synthwave treatment while respecting the roots of the song. My favourite song of his is of a cover of Grimes' Genesis (he calls it Sega Genesis). But yes, big fan.

So today was a Pull day. I upped the weights a touch and got on with it.

Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 95 x 3.
RDL: 95 x 3.
Barbell Rows: 87.5 (I think!) x 8.
T-Bar Rows: 70 x 5.
Meadows Rows: 65 x 5. Ugh.
Neutral Grip Chins: 5 x 5. Not too difficult today.
Narrow Grip Rows: 55 x 6.

Absolute slugfest.

Today was also mom's birthday! We were going to go to a traditional buffet dinner, but prices apparently ran pretty damn high ($800 at our favourite restaurant was little better than highway robbery). So we settled for the Korean Chef Zone buffet! Mom enjoyed their specialty crabs and sushi, and I chowed down on plenty of seafood and rice cakes. Om nom.
We all get older, but mom is ageing quite gracefully!

Tomorrow is chest day, and I'm definitely heading back to the gym.

Keep going through the week, Bees! You've got this.

Playing: Morrowind, natch. What happened to KCD 2? May also try to get in some of No More Heroes.

Also purchased Cargo Hunters as a treat. Pretty tough going so far, but I do like it.

And then, I dug up my old copy of Kenshi, an RPG which is famous for its staying power and absolutely brutal, pragmatic difficulty. The makers bill it as a world where you're not the hero - just an ordinary person trying to survive. I haven't touched it in close to a decade, so I'm not sure what would impel me to play it again. My playthrough has already witnessed a failed slave insurrection, and it's only going to get worse.

Watching: So I finally, but finally finished my watch of the Fuzzies. Here's a trailer, synopsis, and review below!

Three friends convene at the home of their estranged friend Shirley, an acclaimed puppeteer and children's entertainer who has just passed away. They have been told that if they find Sunny, the puppet Shirley used in her show, then Shirley's estate will be bequeathed to them. Entranced by Shirley's colourful home, the three do not realize that Shirley has skeletons in her closet, and that some of these are alive and malevolent...

Summary: Colourful carnage and amazing special effects are let down by a weak, poorly written story.

What is one of the worst sins a filmmaker can... uh, sin? It's when they shoot themselves in the foot and maybe not bifurcate, but present disparate parts of a movie.

I don't think I'm giving away much by telling you upfront that this film is about puppet carnage. I was promised living, hungry puppets that want to do more than play, and this is what we get. Once the film gets to a certain point, and the uninteresting protagonists have investigated a little, then my attention was riveted. The filmmakers make stunning use of stop motion and assorted puppetry to bring their creatures to life. This is what eventually hooked my interest, and the gore and creature work is colourful and menacing, though not exactly scary. The last few minutes are pretty darned creepy, I admit.

The problem is not necessarily the plot, but the pacing.

To get to the goodies, we have to sit through close to an hour of banal mumblecore interplay between the characters that isn't very interesting. Rocio De La Grana as Rose acts circles around the rest of the cast, but she's underserved by uninteresting writing and a lack of chemistry between the leads. We know that the trio were friends of Shirley, and there are some tantalizing hints as to some catastrophe that happened during childhood, but nothing comes of it. The gang mostly spends their time lounging around the house, taking walks, and generally wasting their time (and ours). There is some gradual ramping up of the creepiness, but when the carnage starts, it feels like a different, better movie takes over. Would that the directors have hired different, better writers.

So is the puppet-fueled madness worth the dragging 45 minutes it takes to get there? If you're a devoted horror-hound like myself, maaayyybbee. Consider this one mostly an exercise in patience.

I give The Fuzzies two and a half monstrous puppets (what else?) out of five.

Listening to: Right Knider - Wasted Years. No relation to the Iron Maiden classic. This is an gloomy electrosynth number with lush keyboards, and more mopey vocals than you could ever want.

 

[JCU]

Happy Birthday to your mom!

 

[CODawn]

Listening to: Right Knider - Wasted Years. No relation to the Iron Maiden classic. This is an gloomy electrosynth number with lush keyboards, and more mopey vocals than you could ever want.

I Iron Maiden's Wasted Years. "Can't ease this pain so easily..."

 

[GentleOx]

The crowd was packed into the Observatory theater, and the mood was jubilant and good-natured without crossing the line into the rowdy. Bottles of beer had been passed out, though cigarettes were forbidden (Simmi had threatened a slow death on any who broke this rule) inside the Observatory itself. Simmi loaded the projector mechanism in the middle of the hall with film, and the gang were all seated on folding chairs, busy carousing and chatting away. Ox had smoked his customary cigarette beforehand, before joining the others in the hall, though he preferred to watch standing in the back. "Hey lovely lady, you gonna show me to my seat?" Someone called at Simmi.

Ox could feel his face turn red, until Simmi responded. "Black Jack, it would be pretty hard to watch a movie with a big black eye," she quipped, not even bothering to turn around. Howls from the crowd, Black Jack cowed in his seat. This was surprisingly unusual. Almost all the stalkers in the camp knew that Simmi and Ox were dating, and even before then, as their supervisor and community head, she had been off-limits. Fantasies of dragging Black Jack from his seat and giving him a good beating danced through Ox's mind, but he cooled himself, and chalked up the catcalling to Jack's excessive consumption. He also knew that Simmi could take care of herself, and wouldn't think well of his stepping in. The screen came to life, the crowd quieted down, and Simmi came over to join him, giving him an affectionate shoulder bump. Before long, the title of the movie came up:

"The Hall"

@JCU Thank you kindly!
@CODawn Yeah, it's a great song!

Hey Bees. Boy, I'm super sleepy, but I got another workout in today.

Today was the second Push day of the week.

Bench Press: 132.5 x 3, 135 x 3. This moved super well today, in contrast to the difficulty I had on Sunday. Usually with my repeated workouts, I tend to be a touch stronger on the second day. Either way, it went well, and I tried out 135 for three reps, which also wasn't a problem. Great stuff.
Incline Press: 82.5 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 12.5 x 8.
Rope Pushdowns: 12 x 14. Working my way to 24 reps.
Preacher Curls: 35 x 5. Wasn't feeling the bicep work today.

There was something of a heat wave going on today, and it got hotter quite quick. While the heat is not suffocating (33 c), it's still an unwelcome change, and a signal that our six months of hot weather have begun. Yuck.

Comic Con is in two days. I'm afraid I will be disappointed, but it's only $158, so seeing the environment and the cosplayers and the exhibits should be worth it. But still, I'm under the impression that what we're getting here in Hong Kong is more of a truncated Comic Con, sadly.
See you round, Bees!

Playing: No Morrowind last night, oddly enough.

Played two minutes of the Resident Evil: Requiem demo, mostly to get a feel for the game and how it runs on my PC. Because I haven't finished the demo yet, it stays on the hard drive.

Tried Dungeons of Dusk, which is a turn-based dungeon crawler spin-off of Dusk. It's a competent little game that's controller friendly, so may or may not purchase when it's finished? I guess it's okay so far, so it stays on the hard drive.

Watching: I intend to get started on watching Lee Cronin's The Mummy. Gods what a stupid title.

Mom and I are still making our way through Widow's Bay. Nice, creepy series.

The "Funny": This is a trailer for Scary Movie 6. Honestly? I kiiiiind of want to watch this one, even if only 1 in 100 jokes land.

Listening to: Timecop1983 - Lovers feat. SEAWAVES (The New Division Remix). Hey! Here's a great, laid back number from Timecop1983, as always. I like the flow of this one more than the original's patented 2 and 4 Timecop1983 rhythm.

 

[GentleOx]

The title card faded and the film began with a panning shot of a city. Okay. But then the panning shot continued for more than half a minute. When the camera had completed its excruciating journey, the scene changed. Okay, thought Ox. It was a slow intro. It happens. But no! The camera again panned over another set of buildings, each excruciating second passing with snail-like haste. Finally, mercifully, the scene changed to the exterior of the apartment building.

Picture a nondescript hallway with faded wallpaper. A row of doors to the left side, a young boy (Ox could swear he was much older than he seemed) fumbling with a set of keys. Then an older gentleman entered the scene, in a baggy sports coat, oversized slacks, and black shoes that were large enough to make a clown envious.

"Oh hi Donny. Are you going home?"
"That's right, Timmy. Did you come home from school?"
"Yeah. Boy, that math class is a tough one."
"It's okay. I was never good in math as a kid."
"That algebra is so challenging..."

The characters were engaging in drivelous banter the likes of which Ox had never heard before, in any movie. Their characters were reciting the lines with the chemistry that came from aliens attempting first contact with humans; which actor was which he couldn't decide. It went without saying that the acting was stilted and beyond terrible; perhaps this scene would be useful as a guide to what not to do when making a movie. Every line came forth from the actor's mouths with a bizarre, amateurish enthusiasm that made Ox cringe.

In short, Ox had never seen such a terrible movie. He poked Simmi with his elbow. "What the hell is this?" He whispered. Simmi chuckled. "Tradition," she whispered back. Indeed, the stalkers who filled the theater room seemed to be enjoying the movie with rancorous devotion, laughing at each line, shouting dialogue at the screen, and throwing plastic forks at it.

That was when it hit Ox.

(This short is a thinly-veiled description of a certain cult movie which is one of my favourites. Any guesses?)

Hey Bees! Today was mostly taken up by the 'Con, but I did manage to sqeeze in a workout afterward (it totally kicked my butt).

Squats: 85 x 3. Felt good. Ready to move on, next week.
Paused Squats: 65 x 3.
Hack Squats: 70 x 8.
Leg Extensions: 14 x 8.
Sissy Squats: Five sets of five reps. Unhg.

Comic Con was fun, even though it was crowded, and mostly set up as a makeshift geek-centred mall. I didn't fork out any money at all; I don't know if that says something about me, or the experience that has been curated to the geeks of the world.

Would I go back? Sure! But hopefully they add more stuff, in addition to the spending experience.

Phew! I'm tuckered out, Bees. Good night!

Playing: A round of Cargo Hunters, though I've gotten my butt handed to me on a few would-be runs.

A little more of the RE demo. Great game, even from the five minutes I've played.

My grueling journey through the world of Kenshi continues. I watched a herd of monsters slaughter a cadre of town guards outside the city. Without shame, I waited for the beasties to pass and looted the guards of all their valuables.

A dash of Morrowind. I learned that I killed an important NPC early on and was booted out of my faction for doing so. I don't even remember unaliving him, to be honest. Oh well. C'est la vie.

Watching: So I watched Lee Cronin's The Mummy in one sitting on Friday. Here's a trailer, synopsis, and review!

Katie, her brother and their parents live in Cairo. One day, she encounters a peculiar stranger and goes missing. Stymied by the lack of leads, the family eventually gives up the search and moves back to the USA. Eight years later, the family has done their best to move on from Katie's disappearance. However, a series of events lead the family back to Cairo where they discover that Katie is alive, albeit heavily scarred, mutilated, and nigh catatonic. In their joy, the family takes her back home to New Mexico and adjust to their new situation, even with the niggling question of what exactly happened to her. Unfortunately for them, whatever happened has done more than inflict wounds on Katie, who prepares to torment the family...

Synopsis: It sacrifices deep characters and clever twists for agonizing gore, contrivances, and excess.

I don't know, Bees. This one didn't do it for me.

It's got the requisite gore and horror, for sure. There are lots of very icky moments involving bodily horror that I can't really go into detail here. But at the end of the day, you have horror by numbers, and LC TM fails to stand out. There's been a lot of talk about how the film was originally an orphaned Evil Dead script that found a new movie, and it's not hard to see why - the final 25 minutes of the film are one big Evil Dead knockoff (director Cronin handled the previous entry in the series), which also happen to be the most exciting part of the film.

The rest of the film, however, drags. And this is where the film falls on its face. We're waiting for Kate to turn fully evil - because, let's face it, she is. Instead, we're served up with minor shocks and jolts, as Kate's evil slowly makes itself known, and plot points that just don't seem very believable. That the family puts up at all with all the scarrings, possessions and other maliciousness speaks not to the human capacity for love, but dumb writing. I get that we're supposed to suspend our disbelief to a degree, but asking to do it while the unsympathetic family ignores their seriously troubled child beggars belief.

So what we have in the end is a lopsided film that struggles to make us care about the characters. Never a good sign.

I give Lee Cronin's The Mummy two fingernail clippers out of five.

Going to watch The Backrooms next week. Or He-Man? Probably Backrooms.

Listening to: Parralox - Are Friends Electric? I never tire of hearing this one in all its different incarnations. Nearly fifty years old, and its basic structure shines through, no matter the arrangement!

 

[JCU]

Thank you for the review! I'm probably going to watch it on double speed as background noise

I hope you enjoy Backroom! My brother just put me onto Kane Pixels and his works. I hope the movie lives up to the expectations!

 

[PetiteSheWolf]

Did not recognise which of the "so bad iy's good" movie you spoofed, but made me chuckle!

 

[GentleOx]

It dawned on Ox that they were watching the worst movie in the world. This world, anyway. It was not merely the case that this was an abysmal film, the likes of which usually elicit jeers and catcalls in any other theatre. Everyone present seemed to take that for granted. Rather, it was entertainingly bad in a way that came across as oddly, more memorable than disposable. The film was a sequence of insipid, hilariously off-kilter scenes that were so unabashedly unremarkable, if not for their quotable and hilarious qualities. Everyone in the theater was repeating the dialogue back at the screen, cheering at certain iconic moments, and calling out spontaneous commentary and questions. One new character made their entrance forty-five minutes into the movie. The crowd adroitly called out "Who the f*ck are you?" at this surprise addition.

Now, they were fifty minutes into the film, at which point a randomly subplot concerning adultery had come to an head. The peculiar Donny and the conniving Liz were having an argument in the titular hallway. Overcome with the emotion of the moment, Donny raised his arms upward like two terrible pillars, his face contorted in the agony of those who needed to be in a better movie. "You are taking me apart, Liz!" Everyone in the theatre howled, mimicing the way he threw his arms down in simultaneous release. Why did this all seem so familiar? The crowd in the Observatory were definitely well-acquainted with this horrendous movie; it must've carried a certain charm (or something else) in the world of cinema. Ox could not bring himself to laugh along with the crowd and quote lines (as he had never seen the film before), dumbstruck as he was with the film's cringe-worthy quality. Simmi nudged him.

"What do you think?" She whispered.
"I can't think. Watching this is the opposite of thinking."
She snickered at this. "These kinds of films are the ones you watch with your brain turned off. If you had one."
He ignored the gibe. "Turned off?? More like lobotomized."
"Well, you can leave your silly comments in your pocket."

Whaaa...?

@JCU Thanks! Are you now a Backrooms fan?
@PetiteSheWolf Hehe, these two posts are basically my love letter to the king of bad movies - The Room. A lot of the details are shamelessly stolen from there!

Hey Bees! Two workouts in three days, not bad.

Today was my patented Push day.

Bench Press: 135 x 3.
Incline Press: 85 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 15 x 8.
Rope Pushdowns: 12 x 15.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 40 x 6. Was probably too much weight for today.

I'm probably going to take tomorrow off, as I have to head to the doctor, and then have a lesson.

My weight has shot up. As in, positively ballooned. Sure, I've been doing lots of eating, and I consume water by the gallon, but I'm also getting rotund. So it's time to implement some (not so) desperate measures.

Plump Ox.

Smooth Tuesdays, Bees!

Playing: Got back into Morrowind, of corpse of corpse of corpse (whoops!). Though I'm getting a touch tired of it.

Thinking of going back into Oblivion. However, that involves a lot of modding, and consummately, a lot of busywork. Hmm.

Will play WWI shooter "Milo" tonight, even if its name is that of a pet's (if I had a catto, I might name them Milo).

Watching: Not much atm. I forgot what I had originally planned.

Listening to: Neil Young - No More. Haven't listened to a Young song in awhile. I always thought this one was one of the more underrated numbers off of the seminal Freedom album.

"Seemed like the easy thing
To let it go for one more day
Like singin' the same old song
And twistin' the words
In a different way"

 

[JCU]

Are you now a Backrooms fan?

I've only dipped my toes in, so far, but I'm liking the world building! Surprised to find out the SCP Foundation is part of it, though that made me much more interested

 

[GentleOx]

"So, what did you think?"

Ox shut his locker and turned to face her. "Hmm? Oh, it was total tosh. The acting? I've seen less wooden performances from a mannequin. The writing? I could write better if I were inebriated. And the cinematography resembled a bad nightmare. I don't know why you all subject yourselves to such a farce." Simmi laughed at this. She was sitting at the edge of his bed, her feet dangling. "I don't remember the last time anyone used that word." Her eyes lit up. "Was it a 'vulgar farce'?" Ox rolled his eyes at this. It was after the movie and after the drinks everyone had had, she was a little tipsy. Ox reminded himself that even tipsy, she had a mind like a... what was it, steel trap? He shoved his thoughts to the side.

"Well, what a surprise, the movie actually gave me a lot to think about."
"I'm glad. Anyway, how's your sex life?" He could feel his face redden.
"I'm trying to discuss something serious here."
"The candles, the music, the sexy dress... what's going on here?" Ox looked down at his grubby fatigues, thrown by this.
"No no no! Liz and Donny. They reminded me of something."
"Did you, uh, know... that chocolate... is the symbol of love?" Ox tried to ignore her teasing. He could say nothing else that would grab her attention, playful as she was being.

This was a dumb idea, but he had to go through with it before he lost his courage. So he slowly sat on the bed next to her, and looked her in the eyes. Then he took it out of his pocket and raised it so that it was between them.

"Simmi, will you marry me?"

(I promise that this Ox tale is not just an excuse to throw in as many stupid Room quotes as I could.)

Hey Bees!

Wow, I beat myself to paste with today's workout. But it's all for a good cause. I think. Anyway...

Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 100 x 3.
RDL: 100 x 3.
Barbell Rows: 90 x 8.
T-Bar Rows: Worked up to 80 x 5, I think.
Machine One Armed Rows:
Neutral Grip Chins: Top set of 7 reps.
Face Pulls: 8 x 10.
Lying Leg Curls: 35 x 12, I think.

40 sets! I don't aim to make this a recurring thing. I guess I just love being in the gym.

@JCU Omg Backrooms lore is awesome! And they're all free online on Youtube. Related, have you ever checked out the SCP wiki?

Better get back to lesson planning in the meantime.

Take good care of yourselves, Bees!

Playing: A new challenger has entered the ring! I've dusted off my old copy of Dungeon Crawl: Stone Soup. I play the same character literally every time: A minotaur berserker with an axe. I don't play any magic or stealth characters, as I am wont to play "dumb" chars instead. I've been playing this game for pretty close to 18 years, and it's never let me down, even if some of the changes are quite unusual (the developers has removed food, for example).

So what else to play? Sulfur just dropped a new update. Still liking Cargo Hunters. Maaaaybe KCD 2 or Morrowind? I find my gaming these days to be restricted to 30-45 minutes anyway, so whenever you're bored or putoff with one, onto the next!

Watching: So in a twist I definitely didn't predict, it turns out that He Man is actually a good movie? Huh. Maybe watch?

This Saturday, probably going to take in Backrooms. Yeah!

Hokum is available for watching, so I'd better get on that. Yeah, eventually.

Mom and I are still making our way through Widow's Bay, one episode at a time. Must say, great series. Balances the humorous, the kooky, and the outright scary very well.

Listening to: Retroglyphs - Wild Road. Hey, I'm always ready to take a trip with The Retroglyphs! Their songs are always catchy, and at times, moody.

 

[JCU]

Related, have you ever checked out the SCP wiki

I have! The rabbit hole is deep on that

 

[GentleOx]

Simmi unceremoniously took the ring from him.

She turned it over, weighed it in her hand, and then examined it. Ox cleared his throat, a little embarrassed by the silence of the moment. Those beautiful eyes narrowed in concentration. She was surely reading the inscription he'd had chiseled into the ring. Finally, after a moment or two, she spoke. "You had this handcrafted, didn't you? Doesn't look like something you'd find off of a stalker's corpse." He raised his eyebrows; she still hadn't responded to the proposal. "Um yes, I know a guy in a small town off the highway..." "I recognize his work. Good, this."

"You don't seem surprised by any of this." This she did smirk at. "Babe, I'm not." Was this going south? "Look, if you don't-" "Yes." Wait, what? Taken off balance, he struggled to rally his thoughts. "Yes, as in you'll be my partner?" She laughed. Unlike her usual smirks and snickers, it was lengthy, rich, and especially pleasing to the ear. "I've been waiting for you to pop the question for some time. And what with you acting weird and all, I knew it would be soon. We're already partners, ya big doof. The way I see it, this is just sealing the deal". He wasn't sure whether to be dismayed or not. Some of that had to be showing on his face, as Simmi clasped his cheek, leaned in, and kissed him gently.

"The answer is yes. Yes I will be your wife, and yes we will take on whatever comes, together."

Wow! Plot twist?

@JCU What I love about the SCP series is that there's so much variety. My favourite ones are the really scary and giant ones, however.

Hey Bees. It's another day in the life, and a day at the gym!

Today was my second Push day of the week.

Bench Press: 135 x 3, 137.5 x 3 to cap it off. Weight moved pretty well. Could I actually be getting stronger?
Incline Press: 85 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 15 x 8.
Rope Pushdowns: 12 x 16. Steadily increasing the volume.
EZ Bar Preacher Curls: 42.5 x 4. Ugh. These sucked. May move away from preacher curls, and try some other variation.

I may take tomorrow off, as I've been beating my body to a pulp this week.

Mom suggested I watch He Man tomorrow, which I may very well do. We're saving Backrooms for a day when both our schedules align, so I will not watch it on Saturday. As usual, if I head to the cinema, I'll have a review ready afterward.

More classes on Sunday, but not Saturday, oddly.

Peace, Bees. This Ox needs his rest.

Playing: A snapshot from my shenanigans down in the dungeon...

My warrior had a promising beginning, only to be slain later on in the depths. Ah, what can you do. PLAY AGAIN!

I've never actually beaten this game, despite playing it sporadically over the last 20 years. Yeesh.

Played some Cargo Hunters last night. Liking it more and more as it goes on, despite getting my rear duly kicked.

Watching: He Man tomorrow? Hokum tonight? Hrm. Also watching Castlevania: Nocturne as I do my cardio at the gym.

Listening to: I have a ton of new finds sitting on my hard drive, waiting for another listen. Due to the size of my synthwave library, there are likely some songs I've downloaded from years back which still haven't queued up in my playlist.

Here's a nostalgic-sounding number from Back to '84. It's titled Heavy Cargo.