Baking is awesome.

Me and my mom made a whole mess o’ pies and mini pie tarts yesterday. Seriously man, it was awesome. Check out my Flickr photoset detailing the event <a HREF=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/noblearc/sets/72157604291974838/” title=”Pies March 2008 – a photoset on Flickr”>here</a>.

Originally uploaded by The Lazy Canadian

March 29, 2008 · Filed Under Journal, Projects

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I’ll be the Marth… e.g., noob.

First of all, here’s the video that explains the title:

Now as you might’ve guessed after watching that, I got Super Smash Bros. Brawl, for the Wii.

It’s epic, it’s intense, and I love it. I’ve been playing the Adventure Mode (“The Subspace Emissary”) but have only played about.. 3 hours into it. Now I might just be slower than anyone else who played it, so that means I’ve got Link, Yoshi, Pit, Kirby, and Mario fighting.. something.. And I just saw Ganondorf for the first time. There *is* a percentage that it gives you, but the only one I can remember is 29%. I doubt that’s right. (I saw Snake in a box earlier, but haven’t found him yet.. did I miss him or something? =\)

Anyway, after all that play time, I’ve only unlocked Marth, so I figured the title of this song was fitting.

I read somewhere how to unlock Toon Link you need to beat Classic mode with Link, but after doing that, I didn’t get him, so I dunno. Some people claim you have to beat it on Hard (Normal was hard enough, thank you very much.) or after already completing the Subspace Emissary. Thats bullcrap. I want Toon Link. I’ve never played The Wind Waker, or Phantom Hourglass or anything, so I’d like to see what all the hub-bub is about.

Anyway, I’m still working on getting Snake and Sonic, so tomorrow (after shopping and swimming after school) I’ll probably devote another two hours to it.

March 10, 2008 · Filed Under Announcements, Iðunn, Journal, Projects

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Cleanliness is next to Godliness

You know what they say. (See above.) So I decided to take a proactive stance on fighting messes that seem to accumulate around me. A long while ago I decided to keep my room food free. Not that I don’t eat here, but the plates or garbage that go with said food leave the room after the meal, and in no way do they stay overnight.

I always make sure that after popcorn or pizza, I air out my room to get rid of the smell, and make sure to put away all of the garbage/utensils/plates, etc. If I do this, I seem to get less mice or bugs interested in my house. Ever since last year, when I had a mice die in my wall, and leave a horrendous stench that no amount of opening windows, turning on air purifiers, or air fresheners could get rid of or even mask long enough for me to get some shut-eye.

After that happened, I started making sure that I clean up after myself in regards to food.

I didn’t, however, take up cleaning my bathroom or bedroom… evar.

A month or six ago… (search the blog for “new toilet”, and you’ll see when) I was preparing to have someone come in and install new water-usage-friendly toilets in our house, so I was forced to clean the pig sty/garbage dump that was my bathroom. I had to mop, I had to clean off the gunk that had accumulated behind the toilet, and in the sink, and in the shower. Now let me make clear how disgusting this was. I had lived in the house for 4 years without ever cleaning my bathroom beyond opening a window and putting the tiniest bit of comet in my sink and toilet. Yeah. I’m a lazy bastard, I know.

After fully cleaning it, and getting the new toilet, I vowed to keep it at least habitable by man without developing asthma or some sort of degenerative lung disease. I mostly held true to that vow, and thoroughly cleaned my bathroom once a month for the longest time.. ’til a few months ago when I realized while I had been cleaning the toilet at least once every month or two, and my sink every one to three… (not good, but I’m still lazy) I had neglected my shower, other than the automatic “Scrubbing Bubbles” shower cleaner that was in it.

I spent a day cleaning it out, and airing out the room, and let me tell you, it was DISGUSTING. The amount of black gunk, mildew, and mold that had accumulated… no wonder I dreaded having a shower in the morning… I could hardly breathe in it. But after cleaning it, it was superb, and still is to this day. (Though it has started to smell a li’l again, I don’t know why, as I still thoroughly clean it.. it just smells like soap scum and mildew very slightly when I first run ze water.)

So today I cleaned my bathroom again, as usual, but for some reason, I decided: “Hey, I’mm’a be adventurous.” Now this is not only because I was already cleaning, but because I had seen Nintendo’s warning about dirty Wii’s not being able to play Super Smash Bros. Brawl on Kotaku, Destructoid, Joystiq, and Digg. Not wanting to have to deal with returning my Wii again (I actually have a different one than the one I first bought, as they sent back one with a different serial, and of a slightly heavier weight… I don’t know what the difference is.) I decided to google “get rid of dust”, and was HORRIFIED to find out about dust mites.

Now if you have any problem with the fact that in your every day life there are small microscopic creatures living all around you, and indeed on and in you, that eat dead skin, excess oils, old food, and what not, do not (and I mean DO NOT) search Google for “dust mite.” ‘specially not a Google Images search. Ever since I have, I’ve felt constantly itchy all over and what not, though that could also be from sweating, from cleaning.

Anyway, I (for the first time in about 2 years) brought down the vaccum, and vaccumed my room out thoroughly, and have had my air purifier (with HEPA filter) running all day. I flipped up my bed, took off all the bedding (although there’s only one sheet and one blanket, as I used to sleep just on the mattress, since in my sleep I kick off all manner of sheets, etc.) and washed it in the washing machine on extra hot, and put it in the dryer on extra hot…

It’s not yet dry, but when it is I’m going to be putting on one of those sheets with the elastics on the corner to keep it secured to the mattress, a second fitted (but not secured totally) sheet, my normal sheet on top of that, and my blanket on top of that. Clean pillow cases, and dusted/beaten pillows. That should help me sleep without sneezing/coughing, etc.

I also vacuumed out the hallway leading to my room, and part of my bathroom (not that there’s much dust anyway) and am now about to go take up my bath mat (y’know, the thing in front of the shower, like a towel with rubber on the bottom?) and put it in the washing machine… or rather, I’m going to let my mom do that, and ask her how, because I still don’t know how to wash it.

I’m also going to exchange all of my dirty towels for clean ones, and then put some Drano down the sink drain again, as it has been acting up a li’l again. (There were huge disgusting black gooey balls clogging the drain before. Not hair, as I don’t shave.. or even comb my hair. Ever. So I don’t know what it was.)

Furthermore, I’m going to temporarily go without my beard, as I’ll be getting a haircut on … well some day this week. I was about to say Monday, but that’s when I get Super Smash Bros. Brawl, so that ain’t gonna happen. Tuesday I’m going swimming with my mom, and if we can find ze cash (I was originally supposed to fix someone’s computer to pay for it, and other stuff, but they just never showed up with their PC.) go out to Saffron for butter chicken and naan, because my mom hasn’t ever had the good stuff, just a horrible recipe from her work.

Anyway, when I get my haircut, I’ll be having my beard shaved off (not moustache or anything though.. well, maybe. I look like a complete fool without at least my moustache, but it’ll never grow in thicker if I don’t shave it…) and my moustache, I guess, and let them grow back in. I’m going to go clean shaven for probably a week or so, provided I don’t get too lazy to shave every morning. This is all just to ensure that my face gets a rest from having all that hair, and so I can see which I prefer. (Though I always find I look stupid without a beard, etc, apparently girls do not agree. ;))

—

The following (which could be bullet points) is just a smattering of ideas and happenings from my life that don’t go along with the motif of my post. Think of it as what scrolls along the bottom of the screen when Wolf Blitzer is talking about bombings in Iran.

In other news, I installed Ubuntu (7.10) on Nasir, and it now dual-boots that and XP. After fixing the art teacher’s laptop at school (which runs Ubuntu 6.04, for some reason) I realized how much I miss Linux, and decided to give it another go. Luckily it now fully supports read/write functions with NTFS, so I can store all of my files on the XP partition, and only have a 5 – 10 GB partition for Linux.

I’ve started watching Fullmetal Alchemist. I always wanted to, but just didn’t have access to it. Luckily my friend got me a source, and now it’s pretty good, even though I’ve only seen the first episode.

I got two manga..s? I can’t say comics.. graphic novels? Well it’s Manga, but I got Love Hina Volume 3 (1 is in the mail still) and Ranma 1/2 Volume 8 in English. I would have started at y’know.. 1 for Ranma, and gotten 2 of Love Hina, but when it comes to Bookmooch, you take what you can get. After leaving feedback for my two Garfield books that are still in transit (along with Love Hina Vol. 1) I’ll have enough to mooch another book from out of Canada, or two from in it.. so we’ll see what I get next.

I like Michael Jackson. I bought 9 of his songs, and made my own li’l.. Best Of In NobleArc’s Opinion album. They include: Thriller, The Girl is Mine (with Paul McCartney), Black or White, Billie Jean (Long 12″ Version), Beat It, Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (2003 Edit), Smooth Criminal, Dirty Diana, and Human Nature.

I’m quite happy with ze selection. I also found out that I absolutely hate a song by Michael and Janet Jackson entitled “Scream.” The music video especially bugs me, as you can’t tell who is the woman in it ’til Janet starts fondling herself on ze camera. It’s upsetting.

I get Super Smash Bros. Brawl tomorrow. The video store already has ‘em in stock, but apparently they need to go through processing. I assume that means calling people on ze list (like me) and giving them their copies first, as well as putting for sale stickers on them, with prices.. etc. That’s why tomorrow during the first break (9:50 – 10:05) at school, I’ll be running over to grab a copy. They open at 10 though.. so I might end up waiting ’til lunch, and just calling at break.

I tried playing Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus, but I really don’t like those kinds of games. I agree that Hideo Kojima is a genius, and I love some of the humor I’ve seen from the games, but I don’t like being sneaky. That’s the same reason I hate the Splinter Cell series. I’m still determined to give the original Metal Gear Solid and the two sequels a try too, though.

–

END TRANSMISSION.

March 9, 2008 · Filed Under Announcements, Gleipnir, Iðunn, Journal, Linux, Nasir, Projects, School

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Wii spend money.

I bought a second Wiimote and Nunchuk today. Came to more than I would have liked, ’cause I bought it at that local store that over-charges for everything. They have a reason, though, as they have to buy the stuff, and have it shipped to ‘em, and there’s the o’l convenience factor to think about…

That’s why I pre-ordered/reserved a copy of Super Smash Bros. Brawl through them. They have 30 copies coming in (20, then 10 later) and apparently only ten to fifteen people have reserved a copy, so I’m not too worried about it. They said they will definitely have them by Monday the 10th, but hope to have ‘em on Sunday the 9th. (The release date.)

Anyway, with both BillyBob and Viggy getting the game as well, I can look forward to playing it over Nintendo’s Wi-Fi Connection while the three of us talk on Skype. :D I can’t wait.

Other than that, I’ll also be playing it with Quin, Jeff, Christa, and … myself, at Christa’s apparently, shortly after I buy the game. We’ll of course be using two to three GameCube controllers that Jeff and Christa own, as I don’t own any yet. I don’t know why it has to be at Christa’s, but I don’t really mind either. I don’t want to take it anywhere (I need like a Wii carrying case) ’cause I’m afraid I’ll damage it, but Christa’s is as good as any other friend’s place, since holding it at my house just ain’t gonna happen. (Couldn’t play in my room, it’s too small, and upstairs we’d bother my parents, and they’d bother us.)

After that, Austin and Jason (two kids from my school that are younger than me) want to come over and try the game on ze Wii, so when they do that, hopefully I’ll already have a DS Lite, Pokémon Diamond/Pearl, and Pokémon Battle Revolution for ze Wii, so we can all play that using the DS/Wii connectivity, too.

Anyway, it’s Thursday, which is pizza day, and my pizza should be here any minute now… so… I’mm’a go get it. OOP! I just heard the guy!

There, I have pizza now. He didn’t have coinage, and I was paying with two $20s, so I just gave him …$3 as a tip, maybe. $20 – $16.23 (he gave me a $10 and a $5) is like.. $3.60-$3.70-something.

March 6, 2008 · Filed Under Announcements, Iðunn, Journal, Projects

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Black or White

I was looking up songs by Michael Jackson, as I’m buying a tonne off of iTunes, and I wanted to listen to all of his “hit singles”, to see what I liked from each album, etc. Then I came to “Black or White”, from his album Dangerous from 1991.

I just heard the song, but even better, I saw the music video on YouTube on Michael Jackson’s official.. channel, thing. Anyway, it’s AWESOME. It’s just under 7 minutes long, so set aside some time to watch it, and totally enjoy it. ‘specially the end. :D

Huzzah for racial equality!

March 4, 2008 · Filed Under Announcements, Journal

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