Tvindy

Ham at Last

It's been over a year since I posted Ham. No doubt many of you have given up hope that I would ever post a pic. But here it is in all its glory. They don't make 'em like that anymore.

I suppose I should post a disclaimer. Not only am I not the only blogger to have devoted a post to ham. I'm not even the first one to do a ham followup.

22 to Go

Since making it back to Indiana, I've been working hard to take off some of my extra weight. When I weighed myself this morning, I was thrilled to see that I've already lost ten pounds. That's great. Now I just need to lose another 22 pounds before the end of the summer, and I'll be at my ideal weight. The trick seems to be to eat very little and exercise like a fiend.

Mediocre Movies

I went to a drive-in theatre last night, which was the first time I've gone in several years. They had a double-feature of Sharkboy and Lavagirl and The Longest Yard. The first one would have been more enjoyable if the drive-up cashier had actually remembered to give me a pair of 3D goggles (not to mention the correct change). Also, I think there were some plot holes as, for example, in the part where Mr. Electric uses electric eels to knock out Sharkboy. Lavagirl had to nearly sacrifice her own life to save him, saying that he could only hold his breath so long. But it was well established that he had gills! Why would he need to hold his breath at all? And how could he hold his breath if he was unconscious? I also didn't understand what happened to the eels. Why didn't they attack Lavagirl when she entered the water? And who was that disembodied face that commanded Mr. Electric? The second movie was much more straightforward and was actually a remake/sequel of its namesake. It did seem a bit odd that the warden's assistant had such a big change of heart at the end for absolutely no good reason.

Another Cat Pic

This cat was not photoshopped.

More Interesting Links

In the scary christianity department, we have this and this.

In the misguided science department, we have this.

And in the bizarre Japanese electronics department, we have this.

That is all.

New Shoes

I bought some new shoes today. My old ones are completely falling apart, and, now that I've started jogging again, I figure it's time to refresh my footwear. I hope I made the right choice. These are unlike any running shoes I've worn before. (They actually feel a lot like slippers.) My old pair was designed specifically for feet that pronate, and these offer absolutely no support whatsoever. In fact, they're supposed to simulate the effects of running barefoot. I could be in big trouble. But my experience has been that I'm fine when I'm barefoot. Pronation seems to only a problem when I have shoes on.

The other problem is that Nike is evil. In my defense, I must say that I don't buy Nikes because of the brand name. I actually have abnormally narrow heels, and only Nikes fit me snugly and don't ride up the back of my foot whenever I take a step. If other shoe companies had a similar heel design, I would be more than happy to never buy another Nike ever again, but the only company I know of to do this was the short-lived Customatix, which I think was founded by an ex-Nike-executive.

And, of course, there's the issue of leather. I strongly oppose the wearing of it in any form. Leather is evil. Down with leather!

Brazilian Soap Opera Criticism

Of the more than 600 entries I've posted, one of my personal favorites is the one about Brazilian soap operas. Today a Brit by the name of Greg Dixon posted a lengthy contrary view in the comment section, and it was interesting enough that I thought I would share it in today's entry. I won't bother to debate it, since I agree with most of what he says, just not his conclusion. I also have to wonder if Greg has ever had the misfortune of viewing an American soap opera.

To EVERYONE!

You are all either mad or Brazilian! Novelas are absolute rubbish!! I'm from the UK and I have lived in Sao Paulo, Brasil for the past 6 months, and daily have to put up with these OVER-melodramatic episodes of cheesy shite!

Novelas are the spoon-fed media to give hope to Brazilians that they may one day live in Rio and have a house that is furnished properly! If there wasn't so much wrong with the Novelas I would be able to stomach it. But what has lead me to this website is an argument with my (brazilian) girlfriend about the Novelas, so that's it!

Where shall I start!?! Well, firstly the acting is so over the top! Yes they may well feature Brasil's finest screen actors, but every litle thing is exagerated to comic proportions! Someone looks at another person - (long still shot)...(pause)..(words said)...(pause for effect)...(pensive look on face)...(pause)...(response)...(cue music)...Oh my God! IT's so painful! And the amount of times I've watched someone cry and really 'milk it' is just too many to mention!

Second the 'dodgy camera-work' with stupid zoom effect shots (to increase the drama), crap editing, more silly effects, Flashback FX with plenty of Echo, strange angles, shots which start on a random ornament, you name it and it's there! Today I watched one which had 5 minutes of two women having a conversation. One is close to looking diagonally towards the camera, the other woman is behind her, and (very) out of focus, with a second camera cutting to her dialogue. I thought why doesn't the first woman turn around and speak to her face? Why? - cos after questioning and laughing at this for 5 mins, the full shot is revealed and the 1st woman was looking at the other in a mirror! Oh NICE ONE!! So well executed HA!

Thirdly, Most Novelas have crappy cheesy incidental music which gets worse in an action or dramatic scene. Which to me is very strange because the UK soaps don't have music during the episodes - why, because they are supposed to be imitating 'real' life with 'real' people! They are not dramas or feature films, and don't pretend to be! Another thing which is a favourite trick of the makers of the Novelas is to have one 'signature' song which plays every time a certain character is on-screen! Man are the audience so dumb they need this! that they need this drilled into there brains! You see, then the song becomes popular here too..ah it's too easy! The creators must be laughing all the way to the bank!

What can I say, most Brazilians are numb to everything from the melodrama to the dodgy FX and music. I think it's because everything is loud, garish, fast or dramatic here so the TV thinks right, bright colours, lots of movement, fast cuts, keep it busy so not to lose the punter for one second! However, there is no telling them that they are watching rubbish!.. My GF won't have any of it! Mainly she argues that all the actors are good, and the shows are exported around the world. Well, not to the UK for one! and maybe places like Spain and Portugal just have shitty TV anyway! And what else are the Portuguese speaking Brazilian actors going to do? Go to Portugal? Ha! I don't think so! They stay where the money is on the main channel - Globo. It 's never changing programming being Novelas, News, Novelas, Novelas, Dubbed Film every day!

The public here are totally under he influence of Globo (the major TV company) and will suck on whatever is fed to them...so another period Novela Senhor? Oh yes please! Well Art imitates Life, and Life imitates Art, because if the Novelas are supposed to be a reproduction of Brazilian life, then it is a highly dramatised one, thus making many people react the same as in a Novela! - honestly the family dramas explode here! There should be a couple of Oscars for over-acting awarded!

But there is no way out, because Novelas rule the TV - they are on almost every evening, all evening! Even in the day there are re-runs! Which, although people have seen, they still watch and cry the same as the first time! No re-run? Well how about the 'making of a Novela'? or, maybe a star or a Novela giving their thoughts on some random topic perhaps! Jesus! there really is no escape!

Don't get me wrong, I have an open mind, and am trying to like the Novelas for the harmony of my relationship! But, they are just TOO BAD! Oh, and before everyone here goes crazy too, I would ike to say that although I don't call myself an expert, I have had 6 months watching experience and I have a degree in 'Sound & Image Design' which included Film Studies and Cultural Theory so I would hope I know a bit about what I'm talking about! However, any responses welcome :) In fact, bring it on!

Week One Recap

I've been back in Muncie for a week now, and I've managed to get most of the things on my to-do list completed. (Now I need to come up with a list for week two.) One thing I haven't blogged much about over the last year is my house. I had originally planned to rent it out last year but was unable to get everything ready before the end of the summer, so it has remained vacant for the past nine months. Of course, I didn't want to call attention to this fact while I was away, since, for all I know, the local thieves read my blog. This summer I intend to have it rented by the time I leave for Oregon in the fall, and this goal has made me very time-conscious. Hence my to-do lists.

Before working on the house, I'm still winding down some of my Oregon tasks as well as settling-in tasks. In addition it has become painfully obvious to me that I need to lose some weight. And when I say "painfully", I do mean that literally. Because of my herniated disc, every extra pound adds measurably to my level of daily chronic pain. Below a certain weight, I've found that I can actually be pain-free, as when I ran a marathon a few years back, losing nearly thirty pounds in the course of training for it. I've started jogging again on a daily basis (although there's no guarantee it will lead to another marathon). And I'm also on a special diet. Every day I eat one large two-serving bowl of oatmeal prepared without milk or butter, three eggs (either boiled or scrambled without oil), one piece of fruit, and two large glasses of orange juice. Then I wait 24 hours and do it again. As of this morning I've lost five pounds since arriving in Muncie.

Of course, today was Father's Day, so I had to temporarily go off the diet when I and my parents went out to lunch at Welliver's, and I ate for all I was worth. I sure hope I haven't set myself too far back (or is that forward?) in poundage.

Rainbow Invasion

My brother left his fishtank at our parents before going overseas, and everyday in the early evening the sun sends spectacular rainbows into my parents' living room for a few minutes each day. This photo has not been digitally enhanced.

Invasion of the Windmills