My Facebook Group

If you are on this blog, you probably came here through the Facebook group. For the small group of people who didn't come here through Facebook and own a Facebook themselves, please feel free to join it. You can find it at the title link.

Sichuan Crisp Calligraphy Brushes

I've been reading the new Fuchsia Dunlop book and I read that a master chef made a dish that looked like calligraphy brushes and a cup of ink. The brushes are actually a pastry filled with minced meat at the end of a bamboo stick and the ink is dipping sauce. I wish I could try it, but there are zero results on a google search. I could try and cook it at home and make a makeshift copy of it, but I don't know what the sauce is and I don't know how the meat inside is made. It sounds so good and so clever, but it seems that for the time being I can't get my hands on them. Maybe I'll someday go to China and seek out this chef/someone else who knows this recipe. Now to learn Mandarin...

Just in Case You Haven't Noticed...

I've been updating the list of the games that I've beaten. I've added LostWinds, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, and Jill of the Jungle. LostWinds I had beaten recently, and today I remembered that I beat the last two. You can find the post at the title link.

Walfas.org

A great blog with flash movies/narratives I just found. Recently they've had acts of Hamlet condensed, so I highly suggest going there. The creator seems to like manga/anime and that's the style of drawing, so go there if you like that too!

Tetris Attack

Tetris Attack is one of my favorite games. You may also know it by its Japanese name, Panel de Pon. It's a puzzle game in which blocks rise slowly from the bottom of the screen, and you must switch pairs of blocks around to get 3 or more in a row, like Bejewled, but they don't go back to their original position if they don't immediately get used. It has a gravity aspect, so if a block is in midair, then it will fall until it hits another block. This can lead to many combos. The point of the game is to make the opponent's blocks hit the ceiling. You attack them by getting combos or four or more blocks in a row. This will make a large block fall on their board. This can get very competitive and addicting. Tetris Attack has a story line with Yoshi, while Panel de Pon has a different one that I haven't played. It is about freeing other characters from a spell by Bowser. It's not amazing, but it gives you a reason to fight a bunch of enemies, then use them yourself as continues. The puzzle mode is extremely hard and fun. It gives you a set number of turns and a board full of blocks. Your mission is to clear all of the blocks in the set number of turns. The first level is just connecting three blocks together, but as you progress, it gets to a point where you must try every different move you can think of, and then some. It gets frustrating, but it always gives you a reason to come back to the game. I have not beaten puzzle mode yet, and I never expect to.

Me and my dad used to play Tetris Attack every week when I was four. It was really the only game my dad enjoyed and I was happy because I was so good at it. We had tons fun together and this game is actually the first thing I can remember.

I can't give this game a score because I have so much sentimental value with it. I feel that it's better than Tetris, Dr. Mario, and Lumines combined. If you've never played this game, pick it up. It's a must-have.

Bellybutton

This is actually the first comic I drew. I made it a while ago, but it still makes me laugh. This is mostly based on a conversation I had with my parents. I think I was 12 at the time... You can find it at the title link.

On Hot Coals

I guess this is kind of a sappy story, but I couldn't figure out a better way to end it without it being morbid.


I close my eyes and take in slow, deep breaths. I can smell the smoldering charcoal. It smells like death. Not like a corpse. It smells like cremation. Like expelling all energy from a living being. Why would anyone be cremated? It would destroy everything human about the body. It would make you admit that we are no more significant than firewood. Nothing but elements and compounds, waiting to be oxidized. Does it free the soul from its earthly body? No. Then people wouldn't be buried. If there is a soul, then cremating the body would likely destroy it. I open my eyes. There's no turning back now. I unlace my shoes and slide them off. I slip off my socks, staying the shape of my foot as I throw it into the wind. That's what I'm basically doing to my feet anyway. They probably won't be usable for a while. I take one more deep breath, then step onto the hot coals. The pain is excruciating. But I can't run. I need to show that I'm tough. I take the other foot and gingerly place it down. I take another step. It is destroying my feet. Screw it. I sprint as fast as I can. Whoop! I slip on a coal and land on my back. My whole body feels like it's on fire. It basically is. I can't get up, but nobody is rushing to help me. The pain recedes. I feel nothing. Is this mind over matter? No. This is losing consciousness...

I wake up in a hospital bed. I can't move. I figure that I'm not going anywhere for a while. What was I thinking? How could I let people egg me on to do this? I'm an idiot.

The doctor tells me that I'll be okay and out fairly soon. I smile. I'm happy I walked on the coals. Now I can finally appreciate being alive.

How Come Nobody Comments?

I know that at least a FEW people read this blog (Probably just my friends and such). How come I've only gotten a few comments? That was a while ago, and I want to get a good idea of who actually cares about what I say. You don't need an account to comment on this blog. Go to comments, type your username in, then put a little comment. A longer one would be preferred, but a small one is better than none. Please comment on this post. Thank you.

Little Big Planet Trailer Impressions

Recently, I've been watching a lot of Little Big Planet trailers. I feel like it's the game to end all games. You can replicate any stage in a traditional platformer, and make it even better. I'd love to see somebody remake all the levels of the original Super Mario Bros. (Or Super Mario Bros. 3 if I'm lucky). Everything seems so lifelike and animated, in a vibrant way. I've spent hours just playing with simple physics engines, throwing balls or boards around. Imagine what it would be like to make ANYTHING. I thought I'd never get bored of Guitar Hero III. I did. I thought I'd never get bored of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. I did. But I can say for a fact that Little Big Planet will never grow old. Just think of the hundreds of songs people have made using Mario Paint's song maker. Think of how many elaborate levels people have made with Line Rider. Many have made custom Guitar Hero songs. People have even made a few levels in Super Mario World in which the levels complete themselves. These examples will be nothing compared to how amazing Little Big Planet is. It's thousands of times more flexible, can be shared online and are FULLY PLAYABLE. You can even edit it yourself! My overactive imagination will finally be of use and fun at the same time. I hope I can make my own sound effects. I could upload my voice onto the PS3 and make a story line to a level. If I could do that, I'd be able to die in peace. The only REAL logical next step to this series is to be able to put my consciousness into the game, then I could experience everything firsthand. I bet that technology will never exist, but if it does, that will be the ideal time to start working on a sequel. My only complaint is that I have to wait for this game. Soon, this ultimate tool of happiness will take the world by storm and I'll be content.

I Feel Better!

Better. Not great. I spent my whole weekend being sick. Why this doesn't happen on weekdays eludes me. Anyway, I can breathe and pay relative attention now, so I'll put up a story or something later. Now, to do that damn homework...