bwbollom

Burning.Hammer.Press

2008-02-09T19:51:22Z

I've had my first and (so far) only blog hosted through LiveJournal since 2005, but yesterday I switched webhosts and my new one has the option of instantly installing a copy of WordPress and letting me host it locally on my own site, so I'm going to try that for now. I've been wanting to host my own blog for a while and this switch is a good opportunity to let me see if I like it.

I'll still check in here because I like reading the blogs of the people on my friends list and the communities I've joined, but I'll probably be posting mostly over there. Here's the link if you're interested in checking it out:

Burning.Hammer.Press

It has an RSS feed and everything, so if you use any sort of reader, you can just add me like that. I'm going to try to post more regularly than I have been...probably not as often as during NaBloPoMo, but more often anyway.

Thanks!

Adagio ingenuiTEA

2008-01-22T21:04:33Z

I just found out about the Adagio ingenuiTEA personal tea kettle and it looks like a brilliant device!

You fill it with hot water, add loose tea leaves (or a tea bag or what have you), let it steep for the appropriate amount of time, then set it on top of your teacup and a valve on the bottom opens and the tea pours into your cup but the leaves stay put in the kettle! It's also microwave safe, so you can just add regular water and heat it straight up in the kettle, add tea leaves and go from there. It can then be rinsed/washed out for later use or more hot water added for a 2nd cup or whatever. And it's only $19 for the starter kit! I might just have to order one soon. Adagio looks to have a great selection of teas to go along with it as well. Very interesting product!

TNA Wrestling / Austin Chronicle

2008-01-15T07:13:18Z

Richard asked me if I would be interested in shooting the TNA Wrestling show that was coming through Austin last week...he works for the Austin Chronicle and was covering it and needed a photographer. Of course I said yes.

My photos are up on the Austin Chronicle blog...don't know if any will be in this week's printed version yet. Not my best work, but they're ok and a couple I'm actually happy with. The first link is a short recap, second has some of the interview stuff:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Blogs/Sports?oid=oid%3A581160
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Blogs/Sports?oid=oid%3A581185

Apparently everyone there liked the photos (and the previous MMA ones that I shot). Enough so that I'm "on call" for any such future assignments. I think that just basically means that no one else wants to shoot weird stuff like MMA and Pro Wrestling but now they know that they have someone that will do it for a free press pass into the event...and they're right!

Awesome new way to use the Wii!

2007-12-23T00:28:16Z

The New Yankee Workshop Starring Norm Abram

2007-12-22T21:31:27Z

My family and I used to watch The New Yankee Workshop on PBS almost every Sunday while at my great grandma's house waiting for her to finish up the final details on her famously huge Sunday lunch. I was thinking about that one day several months ago and started looking around the internet and found The New Yankee Workshop website and it brought back nice memories. I decided to email the host, Norm Abram, and request an autograph just on a whim. I had forgotten all about it until I got an envelope in the mail today which contained this:

And this:

AWESOME!
:)

Early Christmas

2007-12-20T19:50:59Z

A few days ago I went up to the bedroom to watch a DVD and when I turned on the TV it made a noise that sounded something like "BWAAAAAAAPPPPP!!!" Not cool. So after several days of discussion and several stores worth of TV shopping, Becky and I finally made a decision. Since we hadn't done our Christmas shopping for each other yet, we decided to splurge a little and get an HDTV as a joint Christmas gift and replace the bedroom TV. It was a little more than we had been planning to spend on gifts for each other, but my friend Robert works at Best Buy and was able to get us a deal on a nice looking 32" model (the biggest that would fit in the space that we have). I picked it up today and hooked everything up this afternoon:

I don't really know much about HDTVs...I've been trying to do a little bit of research in the last few days since we've been looking at the possibility of getting one. My big hope is that this one doesn't break down. It came with a 1 year warranty and Becky, being the smart person that she is, suggested putting it on the Cap1 Mastercard which doubles any manufacturer's warranty, so we have it covered for 2 years. Hopefully we won't need to use it.

The picture looks good enough to me...I'm definitely not an HDTV snob at this point and the picture quality looks better than what we had, so I'm happy with it...it's an upgrade. The Wii also looks nice on it, so that's cool :) I picked up a "rabbit ears" antenna that is supposed to pick up over-the-air HD signal for the local channels, but so far it hasn't picked up anything. I'll play around with it a little more...it was just a $10 job, and isn't powered, so I might have to return it and get the $15 plug in variety instead.

So far, I'm pretty pleased...I hope Becky likes it.

Everyday Normal Guy

2007-12-19T18:29:58Z

This song is awesome (warning: contains obscenities):

Everyday Normal Guy by Jon LaJoie

Speed Racer Trailer

2007-12-07T03:42:07Z

Could be fun!

UFC 81 Update + Bats

2007-12-05T01:56:23Z

Just a quick update from yesterday's post...the announcement has been made that Randy Couture has declined the offered title defense at UFC 81. So now the UFC heavyweight belt is again in limbo. No word on if the alternative match will take place yet. It's all to be determined at this point...

Also, just saw this new preview poster of the upcoming Batman/Dark Knight movie posted at Perez Hilton:
Niiiiice...

UFC & Donald Duck vs a kid?!?

2007-12-03T21:14:55Z

Tickets are on sale for UFC 81: Breaking Point...right now, they're hyping Frank Mir vs Brock Lesnar (his first UFC match) as the big fight of the night. I'm surprised that they let Brock pose without a shirt...at least they made him cover that hideous tattoo with his arms. I don't know how they're going to hide it's ridiculousness for an entire match and post-fight interview...

There are rumors that Mir/Lesnar won't be the main event. It will instead either be Randy Couture (HW Champ) vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for the title if Couture agrees to return for the fight as Dana White has offered, or Tim Sylvia vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for the title if Couture will not return and is stripped of the belt. Of course, everyone would much rather see Couture return than watch Nog vs Big Tim, but we don't get a vote. Hopefully it will all work out and there will be a really good main event.

I also saw this picture posted on a blog I read occasionally. There was no real explanation, but I thought it was hilarious and had to post it:

Don't know what that kid did to deserve a Donald Duck foot to the face, but it works for me!

Astros: Matsui deal finalized | Have interest in Tejada?

2007-12-03T03:46:19Z

It looks like the Astros have finalized the deal with 2B Kaz Matsui and are interested in discussing a trade with the Baltimore Orioles for SS Miguel Tejada according to Sports Illustrated. The baseball winter meetings start tomorrow and run all through this next week. It could be an interesting time for the Astros...they are still looking for pitching (starters and a closer), and possibly a 3B (Tejada could move from SS to 3B if they trade for him. Could be a very busy baseball week...

Party Time!

2007-12-02T01:15:12Z

About to run out the door for Brad & Mandy's cocktail party. It's been a crazy day. Will post about it tomorrow or soon. Can't write more now. Sorry, I'm sure you're devastated.

Newest Astro: Kaz Matsui?

2007-12-01T05:16:50Z

The Astros appear to be very close to signing free agent 2B Kaz Matsui (formerly of the Mets, and the Rockies after coming over from the Japanese Leagues in 2004) according to the Houston Chronicle's Jose de Jesus Ortiz. It sounds like it could be a 3 year/$15 million deal which, in this day and age, actually isn't a bad price.

I like this move for a few reasons. Matsui is a very solid defensive 2B. His offensive stats haven't been spectacular since coming to the US, but they've been solid (and according to an online source, the new Bill James abstract has him projected to bat .294 in 2008 which would be fantastic!). He has great speed which should work well batting #2 behind the Astros' other new acquisition Michael Bourn, the speedy lead-off hitter and center fielder.

Additionally, he is (I think) the first Japanese player to be signed by the Astros. This is a big move for potentially breaking further into the Japanese market. Many valuable players have come over from Japan in recent years and it is always good for a team to make the first move and show that they are interested in bringing in Japanese talent. Not that this necessarily means that the Astros will be the new hotbed for signing players out of the Japanese leagues, but it's a good first step.

And on a purely personal note, Matsui was nice enough to sign and return a baseball card that I sent to him this past Spring Training:

That alone puts him a step above those who didn't take the time to reply to fans in my book.

More migraine fun...

2007-11-30T00:05:07Z

So, the Relpax never worked the way it was supposed to, the Depacon only worked the first time I got the injection, and the one I was supposed to take nightly that was supposed to "manage" the migraines apparently didn't work for me either. So, Dr. Howard (and her assistant Carmen) decided that it was time to switch things up and see if we can find something that works. I'm on a steroid for 8 days (guess I won't be able to pass that MLB drug test now) and have a new one that I take nightly for migraine management.

This is great...I'm really hoping it works. There's just one big problem...

I have a final paper due tomorrow morning at 9am with a presentation board, and we have to present our findings. This shouldn't be a big thing...I have 3 papers/presentations this semester and generally have them at this time of year. But with one set of meds not working and on the way out, and a new set on the way in and not working YET...I'm in some fun time pain! I can't take Relpax (the one thing that has worked, though not for the duration that it should) because it will interact with the new stuff. I called Carmen and she got back to me and said Dr. Howard said it would be ok for me to take one dose of 800mg of Ibuprofen! Whoo hoo! I did that about 30 minutes ago...now I'm just hoping it does something. If I still have a migraine tomorrow, I get to go back and try something else in addition to the new meds.

Oh yeah, and lack of sleep from working on the paper last night, and most likely a lack of sleep staying up to work on it tonight. Good times!

From IGN.com..."Wii: 650,000 Sold in Two Weeks"

2007-11-28T17:39:59Z

Click here for complete story.

I really can't believe the Wii is still selling out like crazy everywhere. It was supposed to be the "hot" item LAST CHRISTMAS! I got mine in January after getting up way too early and hanging out outside (and then inside) a local GameStop for several hours for the new shipment to arrive. The news last year was that there would be plenty to go around..."A Wii under every tree" was the motto I was hearing. Then when I started looking for them in January, they were still very difficult to find, but everyone was hearing that they'd be plentiful by March.

March rolled around and no Wiis. Then Summer. Then Fall. Now, we're back to the Christmas buying season and they're saying that it's probably still going to be hard to find one if you are trying to have one under a tree. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime told IGN that he's been checking local retail stores and hasn't had much success finding Wiis on shelves:

"I couldn't find a single Wii system on the shelves - literally as I was walking into a Wal-Mart at 11 a.m., someone was walking out with the last one."

So, they're breaking sales records, but still can't meet demand. It's pretty crazy. Since January, I've actually seen Wiis in various stores about a half dozen times...for a while they were actually seeming to be in stock a little more often. Around the time that Kevin bought his I saw them in 2 Targets and 2 Wal-Marts, but since then they've tapered off again and I've only seen them once in the last several months.

Bizarre stuff...

Pocky Street

2007-11-28T02:31:21Z

I like Pocky...not as much as some nerds, but it's pretty good stuff. Basically just a thin breadstick dipped in chocolate (or another flavor). It seems to be a popular snack food and there are lots of flavors to select from.

Having said all of that, I found a link to this weird Pocky Board where you get access to the little sticks and can rotate and place them to make all sorts of designs out of Pocky:

I made the pink guy with the spear on the left. The interesting thing about Pocky Board is not that you can move the Pocky sticks around to create little pictures...no...the interesting thing is that you have to share with anyone else who is logged into Pocky Board at the same time. I have no idea what the picture on the right was going to be...someone was moving Pocky around like crazy and drawing that. Because there's no chat function on the board, there's no real communication about who gets to use what Pocky...so it's all out Pocky war drawing! Randomly, the other people on the board can change the color (flavor?) of the Pocky, turn, take, move...do whatever they want. And the only thing you can really do is take some of theirs. It's a weird little Pocky Board, but kind of fun to play around on to see what people will create.

...or maybe it's just AI on the other end...I can't tell anymore.

Jinsei Tokei

2007-11-27T05:14:16Z

I want one of these:

Read more about it in English, or at the company's homepage in Japanese. I don't know how much they cost or where you can even get them, but I want one.

UFC 79 Changes...

2007-11-25T18:33:37Z

We read a couple of days ago that current UFC Welterweight Champion, Matt Serra, had to pull out of his upcoming match against Matt Hughes because of a herniated disc in his back. We saw Serra win the title live in Houston way back at UFC 69: Shootout. We even got to meet Serra before the fight in the hotel lobby...Mandy and Becky took a picture with him:

He seemed really nice that day, even though he was just hours away from the biggest match of his life. It was cool to see him win and I was really looking forward to the grudge match against Hughes, but since he can't fight right now, the UFC stepped up with a new challenge for Hughes.

No, not me...GSP! Should be a really good fight!

Akira Kurosawa's Sugata Sanshiro (1943)

2007-11-24T06:29:34Z

Building on yesterday's post where I found that some of Akira Kurosawa's films have fallen into public domain and are available for viewing/download at Archive.org, I just learned (via a post on Japanator) that the films can also be embedded directly onto web pages. So, if you'd care to sit back and watch a movie directly from my blog, just click the link below...

Now I just cross my fingers and hope this works:

[Error: close lj-embed tag without open tag]Pretty cool! (no subtitles unfortunately)

Odds and Ends

2007-11-23T20:55:13Z

Here are some links that I found today that I want to both share and mark for my own use later...

Yahoo has opened a video section of their MMA page. They have some pre/post fight interviews, matches from Strikeforce, and other videos.

Several movies by Akira Kurosawa have fallen into public domain and are available at Archive.org.

Kirainet.com has posted an entry with photos of a Shibuya photowalk that they took recently. This is my favorite picture from the set (taken by Joi Ito with his Hasselblad):

I have it set as my desktop background on my laptop. Such beautiful colors and deep shadows. Really a nice image. Check them out if you have time.

Turkey Day!

2007-11-23T01:58:47Z

1 day...2 meals...2 turkeys...1 stomach.

Now I get to drive 4 hours back to Austin.

Hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!

QR Codes

2007-11-21T19:03:18Z

A QR code is a matrix code (or a 2D barcode)...kind of a second generation of the UPC codes you see on pretty much every product available for purchase. The QR codes have caught on in Asian countries but not so much in the West thus far. One reason is probably because you need a high res cel phone camera to "scan" it and software on the phone to read it. Most cel phone cameras available currently in the U.S. aren't capable of taking pictures with the quality needed to read QR codes.

If you do have a camera that is capable of reading them, you can have quick, easy, portable access to information about any item with a code on it. Scanning a QR code will read the data and then direct the phone to utilize the data appropriately (most often by launching the web browser and opening a web page).

Here's the QR code for BurningHammer.com (created with Kaywa.com's QR code generator):

Now I just need to find a phone that can read it!

Digg: The Candidates

2007-11-21T01:38:10Z

Digg has set up a page for tracking the US Presidential candidates. I'm posting it here so I'll remember to keep track of it during the upcoming primaries, mudslinging, and eventually, election.

Oh yeah, and there's a slice of double cream blueberry pie from Marie Callender's waiting in the fridge for me.

(Yes, I've got nothing to blog about today.)

Heroes

2007-11-19T19:55:47Z

I was talking to Brad a while back about the Heroes (Clerks parody using Marvel superheroes) video, and he said that it somehow always ends up on YouTube. I think it's funny that even though it's several years old now, people are still finding it for the first time and loving it. The comments are pretty positive on the YouTube posting and are as recent as yesterday. This one has over 23k views, has been "favorited" 400+ times and has over 50 comments. I'm sure this version will get pulled eventually, but another one will likely spring up shortly after. The internet is a strange place...

More McD's

2007-11-19T04:58:40Z

On some completely different web surfing today, I again ran across a McDonald's from Japan ad. This time it's for one of the most outrageous burgers I've seen (that's actually on the menu, not some special creation). It's called the Mega Mac and apparently it has been a pretty big hit in Japan since it's introduction earlier this year. The Mega Mac is basically just a Big Mac with double the meat:

It's even spawned variations with three beef patties instead of 4, and in that spot you can get either a big slice of tomato and some bacon, or a fried egg (the hockey puck kind, like on the Egg McMuffin):

Mega Tamago ("egg" in Japanese) and Mega Tomato are the names, I think).

I typically think of Japan as being a healthy place as far as eating goes, but that might change if they keep introducing these atrocities. According to this "What Japan Thinks" survey, it was the top rated item on the question "What trendy items of 2007 could you just not help buying?" The Nintendo Wii came in at number five.

I think I'd rather have a Wii.

So...what do you think the over/under is on how much longer it will be before this Mega Mac is introduced in the U.S.?

**EDIT** I thought this was what it said, but I just looked up the katakana/kanji in the ad right above where it says "MEGA MAC" and that text (LiveJournal isn't letting me post Japanese characters for whatever reason, but it's the text that ends with an exclamation point) translates to "Beef Heaven!" I don't know if that's supposed to mean that the Mega Mac is a paradise for beef lovers, or if Beef Heaven is the place you'll end up if you eat one!