therewascake.

True Fear: Just bought a new Moleskine. Seeing all of the pages...

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:13:21 -0400

True Fear: Just bought a new Moleskine. Seeing all of the pages for the first time, empty, is really rather frightening. I will try to fill them up with worthy content.

A Sailors Life For Me

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:36:41 -0400

Bijou Fiction |ˈbē zh oō ˈfik sh ən|
Word
1. Short Stories consisting of 140 words or less; small and elegant.
2. Found at therewascake.com

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A Sailors Life For Me

“An explosion somewhere off the starboard shattered the peaceful silence of sailing through the fog as an 8-pound cannonball grazed the top half of the main mast, sending it crashing down on deck, scattering the sailors below.

“At this moment, officers did their duty as best as they could; a junior grade lieutenant could be heard above the din, trying simultaneously to order and calm down the newer men - this was the first time out for some of them. After a few more scuffs like this with the Spanish Armada, they’d be tough as nails like all of the other men aboard that vessel.

There’s nothing in the world like action on the high seas; I wouldn’t have given it up for anything.”

“Tell us another one grandpa!” came the excited reply.

Imitating Design Without Understanding Design

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:09:16 -0400

When I see beautiful design, something that most of us can appreciate without formal training, I have an urge to create something equally as beautiful. Being without any formal training, I often attempt to imitate what I see in the best way that I can. Try as I might, you can’t seem to get that thing right most of the time; the piece that seems to make the design come together into a beautiful whole.

Even though the imitation doesn’t have that completing piece, it’s still something that I’ve created. I tend to think that most people feel as though anything they created is a part of themselves. That by putting their work under the public eye that they’re really putting themselves under the public eye.

Unfortunately, I’m often blinded by being so close to the design - I don’t see the whole picture. Anyone who isn’t close it will most likely immediately notice the faults and failures of an imitation design.

Don’t take it to heart.

I think that’s something that people such as myself have to realize. The person criticizing your design is not criticizing you. Most of the time, they want to improve what you’ve created.

Beautiful design is often about the details; the little things that are missed when trying to copy the whole. Instead of trying to imitate the design, I think it’s a better idea to learn what you can about the details and apply it to whatever you’re trying to do. Without understanding these details, one can never know what failures they’re making and can never learn to fix that mistake.

What about you? Do you often find yourself gawking at beautiful design and getting to work, trying to imitate the feeling of it? How close do you find yourself getting?

Here’s to learning the details.

Red Issue: Really, really cool design for this website. Not only...

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:01:54 -0400

Red Issue: Really, really cool design for this website. Not only does it look fantastic but it acts fantastic too. The navigation is not standard, as you might be able to see from this screenshot. Instead of clicking around, you just use gestures. And each correct gesture is met with silky smooth animation. Visit it for yourself at www.red-issue.com/.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:15:32 -0400

Bijou Fiction |ˈbē zh oō ˈfik sh ən|
Word
1. Short Stories consisting of 140 words or less; small and elegant.
2. Found at therewascake.com

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Rain, Rain Go Away

6:59:57 AM
6:59:58 AM
6:59:59 AM
7:00:00 AM

Small gears whirled as they activated the hammer, pushing it back and forth in a swift motion. Tommy swiftly leapt out of bed and put a stop to that, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes at the same time.

As soon as he looked out the window, his cheery demeanor faded.

Rain.

How could it rain today? Today of all days? Why today?!

He pulled up a chair, stuck his forehead to the glass, and let out a big sigh. Waiting was all he could do.

A Heavy Problem

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:18:00 -0400

It’s been five days since Valve Software released the Heavy update for Team Fortress 2 on the PC. In that time, I’ve had the opportunity to play on most of the new maps which were released (all of which have been fantastic) as well as earn enough achievements to unlock the three new weapons that were included in this update, all being very interesting and useful in the right hands. I applaud Valve for releasing such excellent content so regularly after the launch of the game.

Although Valve has done a wonderful job of releasing said content, I do see a problem with how it is being “unlocked” within the game itself. I mentioned that I had earned enough achievements in order to unlock these three new weapons. Although I have indeed unlocked all three weapons, I didn’t necessarily earn anything. I spent 50 or so minutes on one of hundreds of “achievement” servers, working together with other players who also wanted to have access to the new items in a timely manner.

I simply don’t think I can earn many of these in normal matches, at least not within any reasonable time frame.

The very notion that there are servers with no other purpose than to help players unlock these achievements is just one of many warning signs that something isn’t right.

After thinking through this issue, I’ve come up with a number of potential solutions, some of which are not very good. The one I present is the one I think most viable for the way I want to play the game; it might not be ideal for everyone. My solution: give the weapons to everyone, day one.

The main draw of this game is the team based gameplay, hands down. It’s not the tacked on achievements that some of the gaming community seems to be so fond of. It’s not even the charming character each one of the classes displays. The game is simply a blast to play. Adding great new content to this core experience can only cause players to like it more. Why ruin all that by making some of the most attractive new content unavailable at launch and unlockable with crazy achievements?

If my solution were implemented, I would also tweak the achievement system. As far as I can tell, the over-arching goal of the achievement system for Valve is to have players play in ways they wouldn’t normally play - to think outside the box. Due to the number of achievements that are needed to make these unlockables challenging to get, many of them end up being inane goals like “Kill 100 enemies while you are both underwater”. Why not make fewer, update centric achievements? Focus on skills that are solely based on the new strategies and maneuvers players can perform with the new content. Not only is this a more organic way of earning achievements, it will actually have players learn how to best use these new weapons and even develop new ways of using them.

All that being said, I do see a further problem with Valve releasing just one class update at a time; unfortunately, this problem is very much out of their hands. With each new update - first the medic, then the pyro, now the heavy - players will see the utter proliferation of the updated class on each team. Whether these players are trying to earn achievements (with the current model of unlocking the new content) or just playing around with the new weapons (which would occur under my suggestion), there would be more of the updated class on each team than there should be.

The only solution I can think up - other than purposely limiting classes or punishing teams with too many of one class - is actually built right into the game: the natural ebb and flow of the gameplay. Teams that are more balanced will always come out victoriously, no matter what skill level is present on the other team [ed. note - this is speaking from a pub perspective, not a competitive one.]. If players want to win, they’ll have to balance out their team relative to the other team. One hopes that the team you’re on wants to win.

In any case, I’m thoroughly happy with the effort Valve is putting into each and every one of these content packs and I hope to see more soon!

A cartoon I found in the Toronto Sun today; this depicts the...

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:46:00 -0400

A cartoon I found in the Toronto Sun today; this depicts the Soviet invasion of Checkoslovakia 40 years ago. The contrast between black and white really grabs my eye.

Gully

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:58:52 -0400

This is my friend. His name is Gully.

While waiting alone to be picked up after work, I took notice of the many sea gulls that literally littered the parking lot of Brunswick Bowl. Gully was just one of many gulls that congregating in the parking lot around me; although just one of many, he was different. After hopping around the grass for some time, no doubt looking for something delicious, he decided that he could use some company too and stood next to me on the curb.

We talked about a variety of subjects; I carried on about the smell of rubber in my clothes and he waxed poetic about the taste of garbage.

Being an impatient chap, he grew tired of waiting for my ride. With a nod and a squawk, he extended his large wings, ran along the parking lot, and took off.

I watched him soar in the dusk sky far above, doing what I can only dream of. He would swoop up and up in large circles and then glide downward in what could only feel like an eternity. Again and again he would repeat this pattern, as if saying that he hoped I could do the same with a little instruction.

Eventually, he became dimmer and dimmer as he traveled further away, compelled only by the wind and his wits, until he faded into nothingness.

Here’s to you Gully - hope you had a safe landing.

Selective Memory

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:41:00 -0400

Sometimes I really dislike only remembering the good bits of times past. Although it’s nice to reflect on these times, it also provides a really distorted view of what I’m going to experience in the future.

During my time at my first summer job, things got tough. It was busy, the hours were long, and I had to work really hard - I was exhausted from all of the work and longed for an easier time. In fact, I longed for the previous job I had, where it seemed like all I would do is walk around and talk to a good friend of mine, while putting out products.

Wrong.

Fast forward to going back to my previous job. It’s busy, the hours are sometimes long (although, not always), and I have to work really hard. And I’m exhausted.

I’m not afraid of hard work - I just wish I knew it was coming.

This is my progress in teaching myself Liebestraum by Franz...

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:56:12 -0400

This is my progress in teaching myself Liebestraum by Franz Liszt.

The footage you see here was filmed around 1 week after I started.

The Long Road

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:09:00 -0400

Bijou Fiction |ˈbē zh oō ˈfik sh ən|
Word
1. Short Stories consisting of 140 words or less; small and elegant.
2. Found at therewascake.com

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The Long Road

The silhouette of a young girl could be seen walking down the long dirt road from my window. She wasn’t in any particular hurry; she knew the fate that awaited her at her destination, or so I believed. Her body language told all - head down, feet dragging and kicking the occasional rock, and arms behind her body, each hand grabbing the opposing wrist.

Glancing up briefly, she saw a little plume of smoke across the acres and acres of corn. It was a little chilly today, she must have thought to herself.

The sun cast an orange glow over the smoke, the corn fields, and her tiny frame as it continued to set in the East.

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One of my purposes in writing these is to see if I can convey what image I’m seeing in my head. If you can see what I saw, please @reply to @yuiichi with “I saw it!”

"how i learned to stop being cool and save a ton of money doing so."

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:33:00 -0400

North American culture places an inordinate focus on fashion and style. The fact that a normal person can probably look through old photo albums and identify which decade the photo was taken is a testiment to this fact. The 70’s had bell-bottoms and stripes, the 80s had denim and leg warmers, and the 90s had cargo pants and high-top sneakers.

When the children of my generation look back on old family albums and see what their parents were wearing in 2008, I fear their reaction.

In other words, when did plaid board shorts and those vile “Hollister” t-shirts become so popular? It really struck home with me today when I saw two kids no older than 14 walking through a mall with said outfit, each carrying matching “LaCoste” bags. Seriously?

I’ll never get why looking the same as everyone else (as we all know that Hollister t-shirts only come in two patterns and four bright colours) and paying a hefty premium to do so is popular.

What about you? Does seeing those homogenized teal and lime t-shirts make you fear for this generation?

blakeley: My first video I’ve shot in complete HD, location...

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 09:18:00 -0400

blakeley:

My first video I’ve shot in complete HD, location Gawker rooftop. I dare you to watch this and not fall in like with Allison Weiss.

Thanks to all of these reblogs, I’ve fallen in like with Allison and her music.

Not only a great album, but a great cover too.

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:49:08 -0400

Not only a great album, but a great cover too.

Creativity & You

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:16:00 -0400

While talking to Josh today about a variety of subjects, he brought up the subject of my Bijou Fiction. “Where did the idea come from?”

I responded that it came from a desire deep within myself to be creative. I’m not an artist, a composer, a poet, a coder, a designer, or even a photographer (although I do love to take pictures). But I feel like it’s part of being human - a deep rooted need in the human psyche, if you will - to have a creative outlet. Somewhere where you can show what makes you uniquely you.

I can put words together to form sentences. This is my creative outlet.

What about you?

@reply to @yuiichi if you feel like responding.

The Graduate

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:34:00 -0400

Is it just me? When I watch films that make me feel uncomfortable due to the actions of the characters, I have to pause them and get up for a minute. I sure hope it’s not me.

That said, pretty great movie. Excellent use of really great Simon and Garfunkel music and really great camera work.

The ending really hit it off for me though. At first, I just wanted them to kiss. He had just traveled an incredible distance and went through quite the ordeal finding her and stopping the wedding. She had run out on her parents, friends, family, and fiancee at her own wedding to be with him.

But when I think about it, the ending really tied it up. His motivation throughout the movie was that had no idea what he was going to do with his life. Really rather a sad ending, unfortunately.

Is this what life is like after graduation?

I love Shuffle.

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:27:00 -0400

Thanks to Merlin, I now know that multi-tasking is just a myth.

My first problem: listening to music is something that I do actively; hence a task. Proving his point, I find it extremely hard to concentrate while music is playing. Due to my inability to concentrate, I find myself listening to less music and therefore less of my library. In fact, I’d say that only around 5% of my library gets played on any sort of regular basis. I can tell you for sure that I can’t identify even the artist on quite a few of the songs that I have.

My second problem: I’m a habitual podcast listener. When I have my iPod, chances are I’m listening to one of the many podcasts I subscribe to. This means even less of my music library is being listened to when I have access to it.

Over the last few days, I’ve been trying to reclaim my lost listening time. Here’s the drill: lie down on bed, put in headphones, blissfully re-discover my library on shuffle.

I suggest you try it - it’s thoroughly energizing and refreshing, even if you don’t have my problems.

Fighting Planned Obsolescence

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:17:00 -0400

As my technology continues to grow older and newer, shinier products hit the market, I often find myself dreaming of one day being the owner of this wonder-that-will-change-my-life-forever-oh-my-gosh-it’s-so-sweet-I-want-it. But after a couple of minutes of rational thought (yes, it is possible) that I snap to my senses and think: do I need this?

Sure, a cliche. In fact, you’ve probably heard that suggestion before from the likes of your parents who don’t get the speed at which technology advances. But then again, they have lived longer; that should count for something, right?

Taking a step forward for all old people out there, I plan to buck against the system and keep my technology for more than a year. For example, my iPod (5.5 gen, the last of the white ones) is going on 2 years old. In iPod years, he’s definitely past being a pensioner and is moving on to the old-age home. No matter - he still serves up my tunes hot and fresh when I ask for them. That brand new iPod Touch isn’t going to serve them up any faster.

What about you? Is it worth it for you to avoid upgrading when you don’t need to? Or do you feel that it’s your duty as a citizen of the internet to have the latest and greatest?

—-

Some food for thought: there is another way.

Work is being done!

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:34:22 -0400

I’m currently in the middle of designing and coding a new theme for this blog. From what I’ve done so far, it’s looking pretty awesome and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. At least, I hope that’s the case!

I’ll let you know how it’s going and maybe even post status pictures. We’ll see.

Stay tuned.

Peace on Earth: Sunny informs me that quite a few universities...

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:31:52 -0400

Peace on Earth: Sunny informs me that quite a few universities have this pole somewhere on campus.