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The Xyco

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    Final Fantasy XV

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    It'll have to be a really groundbreaking experience to convince me that Square hasn't been overrun with Jpop-obsessed circle jerk drama freaks who can't make a storyline that expands beyond already annoying JRPG character archetypes.

    The trailers haven't helped.

    I suppose I may have to "play" the game rather than hype it?

    Eff this.

    8.9 Magnitude Earthquake in Japan (7.4 aftershock/tsunami - April 7th)

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Some observations following the quake/ tsunami:

    - I live in Osaka which was only lightly shaken by the quake and unaffected by the tsunami. It is very much 'business' as usual here -- no days off work or major interruptions of infrastructure. That said, there is a general specter of despair and worry that sneaks beneath the normalcy. People here have a vivid recollection of 1995 and they are holding their breath...

    - Nevertheless, people are out shopping, partying, laughing, etc. There's an odd patriotism to it: "We must shop to support the economy" they say. I was on Dotonbori last Sunday and it was fucking PACKED.

    - I'm not privy to the nature of conversations outside Japan, but I do think there has been a rush to panic, particularly in the English-speaking media, with fears surrounding the Fukushima plant. Don't get me wrong, it's not be taken lightly -- radiation is scary & scary -- but the nature of news comes in a way that really eclipses the tragedy here: the 10,000+ deaths and devastation of one of Japan's most beautiful regions. I assure you that the quake and the tsunami are (so far) much, much, much worse in realistic terms than the trouble at Fukushima Dai-ichi.

    - The sense I get from the foreign community here is this: There was a massive quake. There was a horrible tsunami. There are thousands of people dead. An entire region is devastated. And yet, in spite of all this -- no one panicked. People looked left and right and wondered where the panic was. There is a "panic to panic" as the crisis at Fukushima develops and afterhsocks keep people up at night. Now people are glued to the news and are getting out while they can. There doesn't seem to be much good news or relief.

    - I knew more than a couple of people that came to Japan and essentially saw it as a playground -- magic anime vidyagame Naruto land. Suddenly the earth shifts and it's a horrific tragedy -- bodies wash up on shore and the world feels likes its fucking ending -- fun's over. This is reality -- this is really, really, really real. "I thought Japan was safe -- but holy shit! Let's GTFO."

    I think this and then I think I'm being too critical, though. Honestly, I can't blame them. It feels lucky enough not to be in the center of such a messy situation -- or to feel any direct, negative impacts. No one I know died, and there isn't much of a chance I'll be irradiated by a windy day. Can't say for sure what I would do if I were in Kanto or further north. My heart goes out to those that are.

    OCR02071 - Final Fantasy IV "Everclear Hangover IV"

    in ReMix Reviews & Comments

    Posted

    "OCR IS SERIOUS BUSINESS. HOW COULD THIS BE POSTED. MY EARS HAVE BEEN BRUTALIZED. CAPS LOCK. BLAHBLAHBLAH. WHAMBLEWHAMBLE, QQ, LYNCH DJP ET CETERA."

    God, lighten up already. This mix isn't brilliance, and I'm certain no one would try to defend as such. But it is hella catchy and rather funny in its self-aware lameness. These are the types of mixes that keep me coming back to OCR.

    Also, anyone actually offended by these lyrics hasn't been on the internet longer than a week.

    OCR Fit club (2010 edition)

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    This is basic stuff that I often find overlooked. Just to spell it out:

    In general, overall health and fitness requires a lifestyle that can support it. If you aren't fit, and want to get in shape, it will take an entire lifestyle shift.

    In terms of importance, altering standard diet and making time for exercise come first and should come concurrently. But before that can happen, you need the confidence and commitment to stick with it.

    A little bit of consistency in anything -- strength gain, weight loss, athletic training -- goes a long, long, long way.

    Progress when training strength and muscle will come quickly, but will taper off if you don't change and alter the routine.

    Muscle gain and fat loss are totally different ideas with completely different approaches. One is not the other, but metabolism relates to both.

    Try at least one new exercise every time you go to the gym.

    Make everyday changes to minimize sedentary time. If you work in an office or similar setting, find a way to spend some time stretching while at work -- you will notice the effects.

    If you can, try to alter your lifestyle to accommodate biking/walking for transport.

    Learn everything you can about the food you normally eat. If it is detestably unhealthy, don't quit cold-turkey, but pace yourself. One bad meal won't ruin you, but consistently fueling yourself with unhealthy things will reverse progress.

    Always, always, always warm up your muscles and stretch before and after exercising (I personally jog one mile before doing weights and job one mile once I am finished).

    Eat breakfast every day within 30min of waking up. Protein is key, but even a tiny meal of carbs will suffice if you are consistent.

    If you are just starting, don't get caught up in the products and commercialization of exercise (protein drinks, bars, pills, energy drinks, etc.). Just focus on developing a consistent and committed lifestyle to fitness. $100 is better spent on a gym membership or some basic equipment than products -- you just have to use it. Eating/drinking something will always be easier than committing to a new a lifestyle, but it won't work in the long run (or even in the short run, really).

    Time at the gym doesn't count unless you are spending it exercising. Work hard, work fast (pace yourself), but concentrate on what you are doing.

    If you are intimidated by a gym, remember this: in the gym, everyone is probably too self-absorbed to notice you.

    If you see someone in the kind of shape you would like to be in, watch what he/she is doing. Some of my favorite and most effective exercises came from observation and experimentation.

    Personal tip: don't be afraid to dramatize exercise in your mind a bit. I find the gym is the one place I can exhibit true extremes of personality (lifting as HARD as I can, running as FAST as I can) and it is completely normal. You don't need to be Ronnie Coleman about it, but it adds to the stress relief factor, and makes the gym a place you WANT to be.

    iPod skips songs

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Don't know if this has been fixed or not, but I encountered this issue with some songs I was trying to play as well.

    Ended up having to do with the number of characters in the ID3 tags of the tracks. Reduced them all and re-uploaded it. Ended up working just fine.

    This may be a different issue though, same symptoms though.

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