Jagged Ice

Dragonforce Pictures!

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:55:12 GMT

I finally got the rest of the Dragonforce photos my friend took during their concert last month. Whee!

Part of the crowd!

Herman & Sam!

Fred!

KEYBOARD OF EPIC DOOM

ZP (lead singer) and I backstage! EEEEEEEE!

Fred (bassist) and I at the bar afterwards!

ZP on stage

Aaaaaaaaand I like this shot of Herman.

Definitely an epic night. Plus, I got a photo in with one of Lizardbeth's pins, which she posted about.

Ok, sleep time. Zzz...

Happy Halloween!

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:11:46 GMT

For Halloween this year, I decided to be Sarah Kerrigan from Starcraft at the last minute.

KILL ALL HUMANS

Hope you guys have a good one! I'm off to get drunk.

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:11:55 GMT

I'm currently reading Robert Fisk's (aka, my hero) book, The Great War For Civilization: Conquest of the Middle East. I'm only 100 pages in, and considering the book is about 1300 pages, I feel that I've barely scratched the surface. Even so, the book is incredibly captivating and the detail is beyond anything I could imagine - especally regarding events that occurred 20+ years ago. I want to quote a few paragraphs from the chapter I'm currently reading. The chapter (and the previous one) is about his experiences in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion 20 years ago. This made me laugh out loud on the bus earlier; however, it's long by internet standards & not ADD-friendly.

"In Kabul, I shopped for carpets in the bazaar among the off-duty Soviet soldiers who still felt safe walking along Chicken Street. [...] I eventually purchased a 2-by-3-metre rug of crimson and gold that had been lying on the damp pavement. Mr. Samadali, who was still free to drive us around within the Kabul city limits, cast his critical eye on my rug, announched that I had paid far too much for it - it is still a function of all taxi-drivers in south-west Asia to depress their foreign clients by assuring them they have been ripped off - and tied it to the roof of his car.

"[...]In the Jalalabad bazaar, I went searching for a satin bag in which to carry my massive carpet out of Afghanistan. [...] No sooner was I back at the Spinghar hotel than the receptionist, in a state of considerable emotion, told me that the Russians were using helicopters to attack the village of Sorkh Rud, 20 kilometres to the west. I hired a rickshaw and within half an hour found myself in a township of dirt streets and mud-walled houses. I told the driver to wait on the main road and walked into the village. There as not a human to be seen, just the distant thump-thump sound of Soviet Mi-25 helicopters which i only occasionally saw as they fitted past the ends of the streets. A few dogs yelped near a stream of sewage. The sun was high and a blanket of heat moved on the breeze down the streets. So where was the attack that had so upset the hotel receptionist? I only just noticed the insect shape of a machine low in the white sky seconds before it fired. There was a sound like a hundred golf balls being hit by a club at the same time and bullets began to skitter up the walls of the houses, little puffs of brown clay jumping into the air as the rounds hit the buildings. One line of bullets came skipping down the street in my direction, and in panic I ran through an open door, across a large earthen courtyard and into the first house I could see.

"I literally hurled myself through the entrance and landed on my side on an old carpet. Against the darkened wall opposite me sat an Afghan man with a greying beard and a clutch of children, open-mouthed with fear and, behind them, holding a black sheet over her head, a woman. I stared at them and tried to smile. They sat there in silence. I realized I had to assure them that I was not Russian, that I was Mrs Thatcher's England, that I was a journalist. But would this family understand what England was? Or what a journalist was? I was out of breath, frightened, wondering how I came to be in such a dangerous place - so quickly, so thoughtlessly, so short a time after leaving the safety of the Spinghar Hotel.

"I had enough wits to remember the Pushtu for journalist and to try to tell these poor people who I was. 'Za di inglisi atlasi kahzora yem!' I triumphantly announced. But the family stared at me with even greater concern. The man held his children closer to him and his wife made a whimpering sound. I smiled. They did not. Fear crackled over the family. Only slowly did I realise that I had not told them that I was a journalist. Perhaps it was the carpet upon which I had landed in their home. Certainly it must have been my visit to the bazaar a few hours earlier. But with increasing horror, I realised that the dishevelled corespondent who has burst in upon their sacred home had introduced himself in Pushtu not as a reporter but with the imperishable statement: 'I am an English satin bag.'

'Correspondent, journalist,' I now repeated in English and Pushtu. But the damage had been done. Not only was this Englishman dangerous, alien, an infidel intruder into the sanctity of an Afghan home. He was also insane."

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:45:48 GMT

Links! I'm too tired/lazy to write anything. =P

Artwork I worked on today:

Yizuden for Hellfire99x! This is LONG overdue.
Garr, for no reason other than I felt like it. Garr = sexy.

Just have to color them both!

Also, I don't normally listen to this kind of music, but I gotta link a video because the sheer level of participation and co-ordination rocks. This is a lipdub done by a local Montreal university, UQAM (Universite de Quebec a Montreal). It took 172 students and was shot in just over two hours. I fucking love seeing amateurs getting together and make something this complex happen. To quote CollegeHumour, "I wonder how the Black Eyed Peas feel knowing that these students made a better music video than they did."

That is all. ^_^

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:20:25 GMT

"Then, after stroking the Iranian pussycat at the Geneva nuclear talks, the US president discovered that the feline was showing its claws again at the end of last week. A Revolutionary Guard commander, an adviser to Supreme Leader Khamenei, warned that Iran would "blow up the heart" of Israel if Israel or the US attacked the Islamic Republic. I doubt it. Blow up Israel and you blow up "Palestine". Iranians – who understand the West much better than we understand them – have another policy in the case of the apocalypse. If the Israelis attack, they may leave Israel alone. They have a plan, I'm told, to target instead only US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and their bases in the Gulf and their warships cruising through Hormuz. They would leave Israel alone. Americans would then learn the price of kneeling before their Israeli masters."

- Robert Fisk, from "Obama, man of peace? No, just a Nobel prize of a mistake"

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:58:55 GMT

Things I have learned recently:

- After peeling about 50 potatoes for over 2 hours, one never wants to see a potato ever again.
- Scientists can't write for shit. I'm correcting my supervisor's research grant application, and... it's starting to get painful. I'm considering overdosing on something.
- Coffee is not a suitable substance on which one can overdose.
- Coffee is tasty.
- Pumpkins are very multi-functional, one of these functions being a bong.
- Dragonforce is an awesome band, and the band members are fun people to drink with. (Photos coming eventually! <3)
- My roommate's boyfriend is going to a "politically incorrect" themed Halloween party this year, and his costume for said event will be a pregnant nun. I suggested to my roommate that she should go as her boyfriend if he were gay, leading to a fit of laughter, and the sprayage of coffee from said roommate's face.
- Coffee stains are annoying to get out of clothes.
- Google street view is one of the coolest things ever.
- Hair, when bleached, appears to burn more slowly than hair that has not been bleached. For a reference, please see the strands on the right side of my face.
- Lighting a cigarette after 5 glasses of wine is more tricky than it seems.
- Long weekends go by too damn fast.

I have to get back to work now. Bah!

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:05:58 GMT

Best. Website. Ever.

Can't stop laughing... oh god... stomach hurts... OH GOD MY EYES WHYYYYYYYY

If you haven't fucking seen this, you need to

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:20:34 GMT

This is. Fucking. Hilarious. Oldie, but good God, so funny. The voices have been altered to protect identities... it takes a little adjusting of the ear at first.

IT Guy Vs Dumb Employees - Watch more Funny Videos

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:04:36 GMT

Now this is an interesting way to advertise:

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:36:08 GMT

So, I moved out a week and a half ago. I bought a new router and modem for the apartment. I brought it to the apartment with the rest of my stuff. A week later, my internet is activated, and it seems that my modem and router grew legs and took off. This is because after 3 hours of ransacking my apartment yesterday, I can't FIND the fucking things. I know I brought it with me; where the fuck did they go? I'm not a happy camper about this because I'm going to have to buy new ones, which is about $100 down the drain. BUt I don't have that to spend right now, so it has to wait. (And of course, once I buy them, the original ones will turn up)

My headphones also broke on Monday after having them for less than a month. Another 50 bucks. Aaaaaaaaaargh.

At least I have the Daily Show to crack me up:
"Yes! Like a ship slowly appearing over the horizon to an island of cast-aways, Sarah Palin has arrived with fresh food, clothing, and, and that little box she keeps by her bed filled with crazy." - Jon Stewart on Sarah Palin's opinion on American Health Care reform (FUCK YEAAAAAAAAH)

Bonnie Bassler is my hero.

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:47:58 GMT

Well, one of many.

Mini-Rant

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:42:16 GMT

Dear Monteal weather: what the FUCK?

It's 15C outside right now (63F). FIFTEEN DEGREES. AND CLOUDY FOR THE 489342809342TH DAY IN THE ROW. This time last year, it was 35 fucking degrees. (95 for you Americans) What the fuck? I want my god damn summer to start. AAAAAAAAAAAAARFGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

/endrant

Edit: Omg it's sunny now! Bitching gets things done =D

Hassai.

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 02:42:03 GMT

I drew tonight! Still very much a work in progress, but so far I'm liking how it's coming out.

I've been working so many hours recently (including weekends and holidays). I do enjoy lab work, but I'm starting to get worn down. I leave my house at 8am and get home at 9pm. (Thursday and Friday this week it was 10pm) Sometimes I really wonder where I would be if I decided to focus on my art instead of going into science. Sciences: the hardest degree for the least amount of money.

Also, I've decided that next year, I'm going to AC. I'm totally kicking myself for not going this year... but I had too much other stuff to worry about.

Lizardbeth > all

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:40:45 GMT

OH MY GOD LIZARDBETH FINISHED MY CON BADGE AND IT CAME OUT SO WELL. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Link :DNow I definitely have to go to AC next year to show it off. =P

Back to following Iranian Twitter updates. R.I.P Neda. =(

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:48:49 GMT

I can't stop reading about the Iran protests. Oh man.

I'm also really hungover from drinking way too much last night, so this is going to be short. I wanted to share a really interesting video about how the internet is changing the media. <3 TED

"While news from Iran streams to the world, Clay Shirky shows how Facebook, Twitter and TXTs help citizens in repressive regimes to report on real news, bypassing censors (however briefly). The end of top-down control of news is changing the nature of politics.

New Job and moving out and Iran, oh my!

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:00:48 GMT

My new job is going well so far. The hours are long - 9 to 10 hour days -but it can go by surprisingly fast. The only thing I didn't like at first, but I'm getting used to now, is how my supervisor is around all the time, as in his office is in the laboratory. This is rare. I can't think of a single professor ever having their office their lab. I can hear him breathing, unless there's a centrifuge going. He's a nice fellow, very dedicated to his work and well, does pretty much nothing but work. He never leaves the lab/office. He uses the laboratory microwave, used to heat solutions like agarose and agar, to heat is own food so he can eat it in his office. Okay, granted agarose is just a sugar and agar is sterile, I would NEVER use a lab microwave to heat my food. Who knows what clueless students from the past have put in there! This work discipline of his means he expects the same from us. =P
The us refers to an RA that was also recently hired, a fellow named Ousama. He's a physiology major... which means he can't find his ass with a map in the lab. He has NO experience, so my supervisor loves to get on his case. He seems to be learning, though. He's also nice... but boring. Who knows, maybe he'll warm up as he gets more comfortable.
I've also been able to "practice" my french a little more, since it's a francophone institution. Good God, does my french need work.

I'm also like really, really disappointed that I won't be able to go to AC this year. The time and financial commitment it would require is just a little too much for me right now and that bugs me. The fact that it's extremely likely that I'll be moving out in August doesn't help either, because that's another big expense too. I think I'll buy a fridge and stove, which is about a grand right there. I'm going to talk to my future roommate next week and work out details, as well as pound the pavement to check out different pads. :D

I've also finally had a chance to catch up on the news, particular about the election in Iran. First of all, wow, hundreds of thousands of people protesting! In a theocracy! AWESOME! I found an interesting video giving a quick analysis of the future of Iran:

I have to admit I'm hella impressed by these massive protests, and not just because I think Ahmadinejad is a fucking crackpot. Iran is by far no democracy, but at this point, I think they deserve it more than we do.

Okay, time to redo my lab notes. Durr. Jagged be tired.

Amazing Artwork.

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:28:21 GMT

Wow. Just wow.

TF2 Guns Orchestra!

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:22:16 GMT

Quickie.

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 03:50:15 GMT

Regarding the 65th anniversary of D-Day, I think the following quote sums up how I feel:
"The respect I hold for those brave soldiers heading for a possibly untimely death for the sake of their beliefs, their country, and ultimately their governmental orders, cannot ever be effectively conveyed in constructive sentence."

I found a bunch of old pictures of my family from 40-60 years ago. I want to scan and post some of them.

I have the day off tomorrow, I plan on enjoying some good time in the sun since it's supposed to be a nice day. I start a new job in a little less than a fortnight, in an immunology lab (I just got my BSc, major in biochemistry). I'm excited yet anxious for that to begin, as I always am whenever I start a new job. I'll likely be pulling 50+ hours a week too. Must have fun now while I still can...

I have been having a lot of fun this past week. I went to La Festival Mondial de la Bière Montreal on Wednesday and Thursday; I wanted to go Friday as well, but I ended up spending the day with a friend instead. I could have gone in the evening, but it's so fucking popular that by 6pm, it's practically impossible to get in, or move if you actually do get in. It's probably better I didn't go because I've dropped over a hundred bucks in two days at that place. God damn, I love Beerfest. I actually have some pictures from Wednesday, I should post a couple.
Friday was fun because the friend I spent time with was hosting a British tourist at her house for about a week, and she flew out to London that evening. We chilled out on the very western tip of the island, and had a beer by the water. When we escorted her to the airport, my friend and I realized we still had two beers left each to drink before I went downtown. Armed with two vide glass iced tea bottles, I semi-subtly filled the bottles with the remaining beers in a bathroom stall. I have the best luck too: just as I start the deed, a security guard walks into the stall next to mine to use the bathroom. I freeze, fearing that any clanging of the glass bottles would arise suspicion, my friend waiting outside the whole time. She took her fucking sweetass time, too. But we made it out safely, caught the bus to the major terminus, and sat outside drining out beers, sharing some smokes, and chatting away. It was amazing. I felt like I was in high school again. Good times. I then ended up downtown and later on crashed a friend's party for a couple of hours.

I finish with Soul Sacrifice: (At the very least, fast forward to 3:05 and watch the drum solo! It's also fun to watch Carlos Santana play his guitar, since he's frying his balls off on LSD)
Edit: Also, thanks to those who wished me well while I was mad sick last week! I still have a cough, but I'm a LOT better. =)

Thu, 28 May 2009 04:10:56 GMT

Oh God. So sick. Can't sleep. Throat so swollen. So much mucus. So tired. God damnit.

Sat, 23 May 2009 03:29:27 GMT

Got home from work not long ago. I forgot to take the night off and now I'm missing a friend's birthday bash. Boo. Oh well.

Screenshot of what I'm doing now before bed. =D <3 That zone! Gotta be one of my favorites.

More TED!

Wed, 20 May 2009 22:14:27 GMT

More TED! So fucking fascinating.

"Behavioral economist Dan Ariely, the author of Predictably Irrational, uses classic visual illusions and his own counterintuitive (and sometimes shocking) research findings to show how we're not as rational as we think when we make decisions."

EDIT: Code is fucked up to embed it, so the link is here.

Wed, 20 May 2009 02:53:53 GMT

This is amazing, adorable, inspiring.

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:40:58 GMT

To AC, or not to AC, that is the question.

Studying FTL.

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:30:03 GMT

Anyone know a good Sega Genesis emulator and subsequent ROM site? I'm in need of more procrastination tools.