Exercise.

So, let's talk about exercise. Being as it's summer. I decided to try and regularly work out everyday and try and get into shape. I've got an exercise bike, some dumbbells, some Tae Bo tapes, and exercise videos on my cable OnDemand system.

In the past, I've tried several times to regularly exercise, with several failed starts. With all the trouble I've had in the last year, I figured I really should make a change in my habits. After all, they say exercising gives you more energy, determination and makes you feel better. Well, after four days, I gotta say I disagree. All my muscles are sore, my shoulders and back hurt in weird ways, I'm exhausted and less motivated to move, and now tend to unexpectedly nap off for hours.

I'm gonna keep at it though. This post is mostly a reminder to myself. Best of luck to myself. Keep at it :)!!!

GTAIV - Virtually Real.

Well, I've recently caught the flu somewhere and also allergy season has started up :(. So what better way to spend some indoor time than running around a virtual version of your very own city :)? In Grand Theft Auto IV you can run around a fictional version of NYC called Liberty City. The game is so detailed as to have several neighborhoods and landmarks approximated in the game. Imagine my surprise when I found my own neighborhood in the game :). I'm not very far into the game, so I'll have to review the game at a later date.

Here's what you missed.

Well, the New York Comic Con was last weekend, and I've been looking up YouTube videos of some panels I might have missed. Found some very cool videos that show the great, fun atmosphere that was present at the show. The cosplayers were great fun :).

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bVJv05B2ypg

http://youtube.com/watch?v=N9FOi8FugsM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_MYN_etpvh4

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q0m8uzbOefg

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zQka6FqJDN8

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OePaBVNQpE8

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fJ6BUTftsyU

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_XTW74o6Bi0

Of course there are many others up on YouTube, too many to list here :). Enjoy!!!

New York Comic Con 2008

Hey folks, I was at the New York Comic Con last weekend. The convention was huge and I had a blast :). Lots to see, lots to buy and the cosplayers make the trip all the more fun.

Notably more present at this con were videogame companies. I got to try out some Warhammer Online by Mythic. I found the graphics to be fantastic. Way better than World of Warcraft. The only problem is the combat seemed dull and boring. Konami had Metal Gear Online available to play in linked multi-player. For a game of this type, it seemed very slow and unrealistic. After Call of Duty 4, the bar has been set very high for these types of games, and I might just have to skip this one. Bandai Namco was showing off the latest Naruto game. Looks very fun as usual, though I'm still waiting for a PS3 version. The people at the booth were nice enough to give me a Naruto Trading Figure pack which contained a Kakashi figure. Thanks :). Square Enix was also present, but did not have Final Fantasy XIII or any of their new games on display :(. Mostly they were there to sell some merch, of which I bought the Aerith Gainsborough figure, and a Shinra Electric Power Company business card holder :). New figures to be released soon are the original FFVII versions of Yuffie, Vincent and Red XIII with Cait Sith.

Notably absent from the con were anime companies ADV, Viz, and Central Park Media. In fact, anime seemed to be very underrepresented at the show, even with the small dealers. This might be due to the fact that New York now has the New York Anime Festival. Manga on the other hand seems to be in a boom. Several mainstream publishers now have manga offerings, including Tor. Even Stan Lee has a manga project in the works. These mainstream publishers really have to do their research and study how to sell to their audience. Most of their booths were quite dull. Tokyopop always gets it right though, since they've been in the game the longest, and Del Rey Manga has a fun group and a really good list of titles.

Table-top gaming has very much been in a decline. Absent this year were Rackham, Privateer Press, WizKids and Games Workshop. The Fantasy Flight Games booth did have the Rackham AT-43 Operation Damocles set, but nothing else in the series. The Wizards of the Coast gaming area had a very weak turnout compared to past years. The booth itself had demos for Star Wars and D&D miniatures, the Magic the Gathering and Maple Story CCGs, and the new Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edtion RPG. I demo'd the new 4th Edition rules and found them to have a radially different feel. Things seem more like videogame or anime powers. Especially the new Adrenaline Rush way of self healing. Too early to tell if this is a good or bad thing. In Star Wars gaming, it is confirmed that there will be miniatures based on the upcoming Clone Wars animation series :).

Gaia Online was there at the con. DJ Helsing ran into me on the show floor and remembered me from last years Today Show meetup :). Went to their panel and seems the MMO is soon to be a reality. Looks very interesting. Also, got to meet Lanzer and get his autograph.

The dealers area was greatly expanded from last year. Though I do wish they would have widened the aisles in some areas. The crowding at some points was unbearable :(. Lots of cool deals and oddities were to be found. I was able to get several Star Wars comics trade paperbacks at $5 each. Not bad since they are normally $18. I found three more Star Wars astromech droids for my collection :).

In other news, there seems to be an Andromeda Strain TV series coming to A&E. Zuda comics looks like the place to be for new artists. Iron Man is going to be awesome. Upper Deck has a Call of Duty CCG coming out. The TMR concert was loud and not really my thing. The Unicorn Table concert at the New York Anime Festival was much better. Though it is really good to see the NYCC doing concerts like other conventions. Makes for a very fun atmosphere. I'm sure there is a lot more I'm forgetting but there was so much to see over three days of the con :).

Well, thus concludes another New York Comic Con and I hope to see everyone at the New York Anime Festival in September :).

Fortune Cookies.

Just another listing of fortunes I've gotten lately in fortune cookies.

"You will enjoy good health; that is your form of wealth."

"A healthy way of living is be good to your health."

"Spring has sprung. Life is blooming."

"Treasure what you have."

"If it is meant to be, who are you to challenge that? It's time to believe it."

The Battle of Hoth.

Me and some friends got together to play the Star Wars Miniatures game and recreate The Battle of Hoth. Here's a picture of the game in progress. I photoshopped this picture for some fun :).

Snow.

Snow. Enjoy :).

Tanks.

Well, I finally bought an air compressor for the airbrush I never used. Tested it out on a Basilisk, Warhammer 40k, tank kit I was working on. Really nothing to see, cause I rushed it and it turned out messy :(. But, eventually I'll get the hang of it. The zoom of the camera and the flash really make all the little mistakes stand out :(. But, it's been awhile since I worked on any kits. It was fun to get back into it again. Next up I'll be working on a Demolisher tank.

Surveying 2007.

Here's a year-end, recap survey. Thanks to Christina :).

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Make friends with a Japanese girl :).

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Not really, though I had many obstacles in the way this year :(.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, an old high school friend and his wife had a kid this year :). Congratulations :).

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my Grandfather :(. May he rest in peace.

5. What countries did you visit?
None :(.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A career.

7.What date(s) from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory?
The months of January and May/June :(. Also, July 4 :(. It was a bad year :(.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Completing my NYU Book Publishing Certificate.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Succumbing to depression and not persevering :(.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes :(.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I honestly don't know. Unless you count my PS3. But, that was a gift :).

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My sister for advancing her career :). Congratulations :).

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A number of people. But, it's all not worth mentioning :(.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Trying to make myself happy with material things :(.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Completing my NYU Book Publishing Certificate :).

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Sorry by Our Lady Peace.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Sadder :(.

ii. thinner or fatter?
Fatter :(.

iii. richer or poorer?
Not sure, depends on how you look at it.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Went out with friends more often.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being depressed :(.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Family get together party :).

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Not really :(.

22. How many one night stands?
None.

23. What was your favourite TV program?
The Office.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not really.

26. What was the best book you read?
Spook Country by William Gibson.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Jonathan Coulton :).

28. What did you want and get?
A PS3 :).

29. What did you want and not get?
A career :(.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Superbad :).

31. What did you do on your birthday?
Went out to eat with family and go shopping :).

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I just want good health and not have any health problems :(.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Black.

34. What kept you sane?
The internet.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Olivia Munn :).

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The war :(.

37. Who did you miss?
My Grandfather :(.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Kaori, a classmate of mine who is from Japan :).

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
That life doesn't last forever and can end at anytime. So, make the best of your time on Earth while you can :(.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Today's a reason for living
Today's the blood from a stone
Today's a light from a candle
Helping us to find our way home
Today we carry each other
Today the past is a freak
Today's a time for forgiveness
You were never that good to me
(Welcome to this world)..."
Sorry by Our Lady Peace

Older Posts.

For older posts, pre-2008, please check out my other blog on Xanga.com.

http://www.xanga.com/lynxswift