More witty video on an oh-so-productive Friday. This one is from Mad TV.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Life of a Mii
This is *so* worth watching, especially if you're a tad Wii-obsessed (as I am). It's an ontological examination of the mii.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Wii
I've been meaning to write something about the greatness of Wii since I finally managed to get one in January. But when ever I start thinking about how fun it is, I end up playing on the darn thing, and no blogging occurs.
Believe the hype. This really is the greatest thing to happen to video games since...ever. Now, I haven't been any kind of gamer for over a decade, but that's really the point. Wii is fun for everyone.
It's quite a beautiful machine, with a bit of an Applesque look to it. The remote feels perfect, down to the slight rumble when you pass the pointer over a button on screen. It's responsive and accurate. Just try a bit of bowling or tennis in Wii Sports, and you'll immediately feel what an incredible little device it is.
This week, I finished WarioWare: Smooth Moves. It is basically just a bunch of random microgames strung together by a series of bizarre vignettes, rendered in quite beautiful, cartoonish 2-D graphics. In the last microgame, I just had to hold the remote and dance. I was represented by a figure on screen, the last of four in a line, and I had to follow the others to complete a little routine. Here is how that looks.
And it was most fun I've ever had playing a video game.
Of Wii's numerous built-in features, the one most worth mentioning is miis. A mii is a cute, cartoonish avatar that you can build in the Mii Channel, and then use in Wii title games, like Wii Sports and Wii Play. Here's mine:
You can also use your mii to cast votes in the Everybody Votes Channel. Silly questions appear here, and you choose between two possible answers by placing your mii on the corresponding side of a circle. You can also predict how others will vote. When the results of the poll are announced a few days later, your mii will jump for joy if you are correct, or hang his head dejectedly if you're wrong. The whole thing is ridiculously cute and totally addictive.
Miis have become a hit online, too. You can copy miis onto a Wii remote to play with at a friends' house (you can also just send them to another Wii directly over the 'net). Because the remote is just a standard Bluetooth device, someone was able to write software for transferring miis between a remote and a PC. Now people are sharing their celebrity (and other) miis online, at sites like MiiPlaza.net. Someone else wrote a fantastic flash-based mii editor, which I used to create the image above.
Believe the hype. This really is the greatest thing to happen to video games since...ever. Now, I haven't been any kind of gamer for over a decade, but that's really the point. Wii is fun for everyone.
It's quite a beautiful machine, with a bit of an Applesque look to it. The remote feels perfect, down to the slight rumble when you pass the pointer over a button on screen. It's responsive and accurate. Just try a bit of bowling or tennis in Wii Sports, and you'll immediately feel what an incredible little device it is.
This week, I finished WarioWare: Smooth Moves. It is basically just a bunch of random microgames strung together by a series of bizarre vignettes, rendered in quite beautiful, cartoonish 2-D graphics. In the last microgame, I just had to hold the remote and dance. I was represented by a figure on screen, the last of four in a line, and I had to follow the others to complete a little routine. Here is how that looks.
And it was most fun I've ever had playing a video game.
Of Wii's numerous built-in features, the one most worth mentioning is miis. A mii is a cute, cartoonish avatar that you can build in the Mii Channel, and then use in Wii title games, like Wii Sports and Wii Play. Here's mine:
You can also use your mii to cast votes in the Everybody Votes Channel. Silly questions appear here, and you choose between two possible answers by placing your mii on the corresponding side of a circle. You can also predict how others will vote. When the results of the poll are announced a few days later, your mii will jump for joy if you are correct, or hang his head dejectedly if you're wrong. The whole thing is ridiculously cute and totally addictive.
Miis have become a hit online, too. You can copy miis onto a Wii remote to play with at a friends' house (you can also just send them to another Wii directly over the 'net). Because the remote is just a standard Bluetooth device, someone was able to write software for transferring miis between a remote and a PC. Now people are sharing their celebrity (and other) miis online, at sites like MiiPlaza.net. Someone else wrote a fantastic flash-based mii editor, which I used to create the image above.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Jannada AM
Jann Arden was on Canada AM this morning to promote her new album. Paul is doing a stint as an intern there, and was able to invite me to be in the audience for the broadcast. It was intended to be an intimate performance, and in the end only about 20 people showed up! Metro had held a content to select audience members, but either they messed things up, or none of their winners bothered to trek out to Scarborough.
I ended up sitting right in the front row! As we were walking into the studio, I joked, "Will I be sitting in Jann's lap? Or will she be in mine?"
The mini-concert included just two songs, but it was fantastic! I was literally 6 feet away from Jann the whole time.
Jann kept saying how incredible it was that we had shown up so early to see her. During one of the breaks, she was chatting with Seamus and Marci, the hosts, and somehow, they started talking about me. I guess it was hard to miss me, sitting there in the front with a characteristically huge grin on my face. One of the hosts had pointed me out, and Jann said I had a nice smile!
Marci asked if I was a fan, and I replied, ironically, "a l'il bit." Someone said something about how she has such huge fans, and I said, "it's funny today because you don't have the stage to protect you from us."
I guess Jann was amused. She assuredly said, "nooo...", ran over, and sat in my lap! Of course, I was totally cool about it all. I believe my insightful words were, "ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod." I'm really good with celebrities.
Anyhow, Jann asked what my name was. I was actually able to remember, which was good. She thanked me for coming, and I thanked her...for sitting on me, I guess.
After the show was over, I had the chance to get this picture with Jann. My flash was off, since obviously we had been asked not to take flash photography during the show. So, unfortunately, it's a little grainy. Still, it's a fantastic memento of the day!
I ended up sitting right in the front row! As we were walking into the studio, I joked, "Will I be sitting in Jann's lap? Or will she be in mine?"
The mini-concert included just two songs, but it was fantastic! I was literally 6 feet away from Jann the whole time.
Jann kept saying how incredible it was that we had shown up so early to see her. During one of the breaks, she was chatting with Seamus and Marci, the hosts, and somehow, they started talking about me. I guess it was hard to miss me, sitting there in the front with a characteristically huge grin on my face. One of the hosts had pointed me out, and Jann said I had a nice smile!
Marci asked if I was a fan, and I replied, ironically, "a l'il bit." Someone said something about how she has such huge fans, and I said, "it's funny today because you don't have the stage to protect you from us."
I guess Jann was amused. She assuredly said, "nooo...", ran over, and sat in my lap! Of course, I was totally cool about it all. I believe my insightful words were, "ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod." I'm really good with celebrities.
Anyhow, Jann asked what my name was. I was actually able to remember, which was good. She thanked me for coming, and I thanked her...for sitting on me, I guess.
After the show was over, I had the chance to get this picture with Jann. My flash was off, since obviously we had been asked not to take flash photography during the show. So, unfortunately, it's a little grainy. Still, it's a fantastic memento of the day!
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Gorgeous!
It's pretty fantastic to have funny, creative friends. While I was in Vancouver, Jodi gave me this card. I just had to immortalize it in my blog!
Outside
Inside
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Photo Progress
I'm heading back to Toronto tomorrow.
I've really enjoyed my visit back to Vancouver, especially catching up with friends that I hadn't seen for ages. However, it was a long stay. That gave me some time to make headway on a project that's been sitting on the back burner for far too long.
I've managed to post and tag my photos on flickr up to the end of November, 2005. Alas, this has been a long process, and I'm still quite far from the present day (damn you flickr, and your alluring per-photo tags!). Still, it's a key milestone because I've now exceeded what was on the old Yahoo! photos site. So, I've switched over my photos link on the right, so it now points at flickr: here.
Enjoy them, in all their full resolution beauty!
I've really enjoyed my visit back to Vancouver, especially catching up with friends that I hadn't seen for ages. However, it was a long stay. That gave me some time to make headway on a project that's been sitting on the back burner for far too long.
I've managed to post and tag my photos on flickr up to the end of November, 2005. Alas, this has been a long process, and I'm still quite far from the present day (damn you flickr, and your alluring per-photo tags!). Still, it's a key milestone because I've now exceeded what was on the old Yahoo! photos site. So, I've switched over my photos link on the right, so it now points at flickr: here.
Enjoy them, in all their full resolution beauty!
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Time Warp
[Quick background note: I'm back home in Vancouver for the holidays.]
This evening, I went with Phi to our old high school's Christmas concert.
It's been 11 years since my grade 12 Christmas concert, so it was a little mind-blowing to be there. Most of the songs were familiar, as they were songs I had done in my last two years of school. Mr. O. and Mrs. Roberts were still leading the band and choir, and Mrs. Mulder was in the audience, as always.
The highlight was the last number, Silent Night. The concert always ends with a really beautiful choral arrangement of Silent Night, performed from the balcony at the back of the church. The program said that all alumni of the concert choir were invited to participate, so we went up to join the group, and stood in the back row. I'm pretty sure we were the oldest ones in the lot.
Just like 11 years ago, we had picked up candles which we would be holding during the performance. I shook slightly as I tried to light mine, once again feeling the slight nerves before singing. Then, the most fantastic thing happened. Mrs. Roberts was looking around to make sure that everyone could see her. She noticed me, and mouthed, "oh my God, it's David." I mouthed back, "oh my God, it's Franny."
We performed the song and, of course, I still knew every note. Phi later confirmed that she did, too. The last note rang across the church, ending an amazingly exciting experience: a brief trip back in time.
This evening, I went with Phi to our old high school's Christmas concert.
It's been 11 years since my grade 12 Christmas concert, so it was a little mind-blowing to be there. Most of the songs were familiar, as they were songs I had done in my last two years of school. Mr. O. and Mrs. Roberts were still leading the band and choir, and Mrs. Mulder was in the audience, as always.
The highlight was the last number, Silent Night. The concert always ends with a really beautiful choral arrangement of Silent Night, performed from the balcony at the back of the church. The program said that all alumni of the concert choir were invited to participate, so we went up to join the group, and stood in the back row. I'm pretty sure we were the oldest ones in the lot.
Just like 11 years ago, we had picked up candles which we would be holding during the performance. I shook slightly as I tried to light mine, once again feeling the slight nerves before singing. Then, the most fantastic thing happened. Mrs. Roberts was looking around to make sure that everyone could see her. She noticed me, and mouthed, "oh my God, it's David." I mouthed back, "oh my God, it's Franny."
We performed the song and, of course, I still knew every note. Phi later confirmed that she did, too. The last note rang across the church, ending an amazingly exciting experience: a brief trip back in time.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Friday, December 08, 2006
Mandi, Mandi! You're so grandy!
Once again, I'm motivated to post about jazz with Mandi at Swingin'OUT. I fear that this blog may soon turn into nothing more than a record of these classes, but really, would that be so bad? Anyway, I warned you back at the beginning that the primary purpose of this blog is to act as my personal memory aid. And, I really don't want to forget this stuff.
I'll start with the whole routine, and then explain the new and tricky moves below.
The Routine
Messing around
Trucking (right foot first)
Suzie Q to the left
Trucking (left foot first)
Suzie Q to the right
Fall off the log/cross-over step
3 more cross-over steps
Boogie drops (right then left)
Shorty George with hold on four (finish with right foot on 7)
3 sets of reaches (up first)
Jazz hands break and turn (end with stomp off)
3 sets of Tacky Annie
Break with kick ball change and turn
2 sets of raise leg, hold, triple step (raise right leg first)
2 sets of boogie forward/fishtail back
...repeat from trucking!
Trucking
1. Step inward on heal of right foot.
2. Pivot right foot outward and tap toe. Left foot raises and weight transfers to right.
3. Step inward on heal of left foot.
4. Pivot left foot outward and tap toe. Right foot raises and weight transfers to left.
Left hand on waist, raise and wiggle index figure of right hand.
Fall off the log/cross-over step
8-3. Like regular fall off the log, but focus shifts to cross-over step (right in front of left) on 3.
4. Hold.
5-6. Step left, right.
7. Cross left in front of right.
Reaches
Turn 90 degrees to right.
1. Step on left foot, and reach up to left, with left hand above right.
2. Hold.
3. Step on right foot, and reach down to centre, with hands next to each other.
4. Hold.
5. Up left.
6. Down right.
7. Up left.
8. Hold.
Second time has same rhythm, but down right first. Third time, up right first again.
Jazz hands break and turn
1. Pushing off with right foot, scoot forward onto left.
2. Step forward on to right foot.
3. Bend left leg back at knee. Arms out, with left up right down. Jazz hands!
4. Left foot down, beside right.
5. Cross right foot behind left.
6-7. Turn over right shoulder.
(and) 8. Stomp-off.
Break with kick ball change and turn
8. Step onto right foot.
1. Touch left foot behind right.
2. Step onto right foot.
3-4. Kick ball change with right onto left.
5. Jump into lock step, right foot in front of left.
6-7. Turn over left shoulder.
Raise leg, hold, triple step
8. Raise right foot with straight leg, and slap leg with right hand. Left arm straight up.
1. Hold.
2-3. Triple step on right foot.
4. Raise left foot with straight leg, and slep leg with left hand. Right arm straight up.
5. Hold.
6-7. Triple step on left foot.
Thanks again, Mandi, for a fabulous class! Indirect thanks to Frida Segerdahl of the Harlem Hotshots, from whom Mandi says she "borrowed" most of this routine.
I'll start with the whole routine, and then explain the new and tricky moves below.
The Routine
Messing around
Trucking (right foot first)
Suzie Q to the left
Trucking (left foot first)
Suzie Q to the right
Fall off the log/cross-over step
3 more cross-over steps
Boogie drops (right then left)
Shorty George with hold on four (finish with right foot on 7)
3 sets of reaches (up first)
Jazz hands break and turn (end with stomp off)
3 sets of Tacky Annie
Break with kick ball change and turn
2 sets of raise leg, hold, triple step (raise right leg first)
2 sets of boogie forward/fishtail back
...repeat from trucking!
Trucking
1. Step inward on heal of right foot.
2. Pivot right foot outward and tap toe. Left foot raises and weight transfers to right.
3. Step inward on heal of left foot.
4. Pivot left foot outward and tap toe. Right foot raises and weight transfers to left.
Left hand on waist, raise and wiggle index figure of right hand.
Fall off the log/cross-over step
8-3. Like regular fall off the log, but focus shifts to cross-over step (right in front of left) on 3.
4. Hold.
5-6. Step left, right.
7. Cross left in front of right.
Reaches
Turn 90 degrees to right.
1. Step on left foot, and reach up to left, with left hand above right.
2. Hold.
3. Step on right foot, and reach down to centre, with hands next to each other.
4. Hold.
5. Up left.
6. Down right.
7. Up left.
8. Hold.
Second time has same rhythm, but down right first. Third time, up right first again.
Jazz hands break and turn
1. Pushing off with right foot, scoot forward onto left.
2. Step forward on to right foot.
3. Bend left leg back at knee. Arms out, with left up right down. Jazz hands!
4. Left foot down, beside right.
5. Cross right foot behind left.
6-7. Turn over right shoulder.
(and) 8. Stomp-off.
Break with kick ball change and turn
8. Step onto right foot.
1. Touch left foot behind right.
2. Step onto right foot.
3-4. Kick ball change with right onto left.
5. Jump into lock step, right foot in front of left.
6-7. Turn over left shoulder.
Raise leg, hold, triple step
8. Raise right foot with straight leg, and slap leg with right hand. Left arm straight up.
1. Hold.
2-3. Triple step on right foot.
4. Raise left foot with straight leg, and slep leg with left hand. Right arm straight up.
5. Hold.
6-7. Triple step on left foot.
Thanks again, Mandi, for a fabulous class! Indirect thanks to Frida Segerdahl of the Harlem Hotshots, from whom Mandi says she "borrowed" most of this routine.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Wow, Stephane!
Stephane Dion has just been selected as the new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
I've been watching the convention all day. It's been amazingly exciting, even though it feels like it's been moving in slow motion.
I've been a big fan of Dion since he wrote his open letters to Lucien Bouchard and Jacques Brassard. He has always displayed a clarity of thought and intellectual honesty that's too often lacking in politics. And his embrace of a strong environmental policy is most heartening.
Gerrard Kennedy, of whom I knew nothing before, has earned a lot of my respect, too. By abandoning his own bid after the second ballot and throwing his support behind Dion, he pushed Dion to the head of the pack. For me, that was a clear demonstration of commitment to his values and principles.
With Michael Ignatieff leading throughout the campaign, I was not looking forward to voting in the next election. Now all of a sudden, I can hardly wait!
I've been watching the convention all day. It's been amazingly exciting, even though it feels like it's been moving in slow motion.
I've been a big fan of Dion since he wrote his open letters to Lucien Bouchard and Jacques Brassard. He has always displayed a clarity of thought and intellectual honesty that's too often lacking in politics. And his embrace of a strong environmental policy is most heartening.
Gerrard Kennedy, of whom I knew nothing before, has earned a lot of my respect, too. By abandoning his own bid after the second ballot and throwing his support behind Dion, he pushed Dion to the head of the pack. For me, that was a clear demonstration of commitment to his values and principles.
With Michael Ignatieff leading throughout the campaign, I was not looking forward to voting in the next election. Now all of a sudden, I can hardly wait!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)