Playing w/ FreeBSD and Building Stairs One Step at A Time
Posted on August 24th, 2005
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 10:04 pm
Currently blogging from my usual computer, just not on the usual OS. Found a BSD boot CD, decided to play with it. Ah, if only there was a version of Reason for Linux or FreeBSD, and I’d almost gladly drop Windows all together. As far as I can tell, I’ve got everything else I regularly use in this bootCD. Browser, IM, audio, video, bitorrent – the lot of it.
Meanwhile, I’ve been helping my dad build a new set of stairs for the house. The old ones are rotting off, so the only solution is build up a new set. It’s been slow going, but it’s totally been worth while. Besides, it’s really nice to get out and do something, really make something tangible.
And oh yeah, I’ve got PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) on Friday/Saturday/Sunday. Should be fun. Atleast I won’t have to blow off work this year to catch the concert….s.
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You can’t stop the Mahou Shonen.
Posted on August 19th, 2005
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 2:37 pm
An aquintance of mine ended up getting a job at the USA Network, and he’s got various responsibilities, including reviewing “Show Us Your Character” stuff. So I figured, what the hey, and put up up my character. Vote it a 5. Or not. Whatever.
Meanwhile, I still don’t get why I’m getting the traffic. Maybe cause it’s a .com. That or google hasn’t properly filtered on this blog’s noise yet. I feel bad for anyone here who is looking for something other than me, and ends up here. My apologies to y’all.
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More Sealab reviews.
Posted on August 9th, 2005
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 11:04 am
Warning – those of you with out proper popup blocking should be aware that some of these sites have pop ups:
“I was listening to the commentary track from Karl Olson of Toon Zone for the first post-Murphy episode, “Tornado Shanks”, and at first thought he was being ironic in his hate for the ep, but as it went on I realized that his vitriol was genuine and more disturbingly, justified.” – ChromeWaves
“Karl Olson of toonzone.net partakes in the last commentary, and basically discusses his reasoning for disliking “Tornado Shanks” for 15 minutes.” – Entertainment Insiders
“These aren’t the kinds of tracks you’ll listen to more than once, or even all the way through, though the over-the-top negativity of blogger Karl Olson on “Tornado Shanks” and the detours taken during a “cast member”‘s track on “Frozen Dinner” are worth listening to.” – DVDTalk
“Lastly, “Tornado Shanks??? has an internet personality named Karl Olson debating the episode, but who really cares what he thinks.” – N Zone
Maybe this explains the traffic spike? I’m now an internet personality? Couldn’t be.
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You’re Gonna Carry That Weight
Posted on August 8th, 2005
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 1:37 am
So, I just got home (well, I got home about 6 hours ago – I needed some TV time to unwind, and I had some stuff to watch. Kodocha is the awesome for the whole family.) What happened to a Thursday return? My grandfather took a bad fall while looking at (almost in bitter irony) retirement homes where he would be safer than the split level he currently lives in. There was no way we were going to leave early after that. So we stayed, took him to the doctor and he seems to be recovering, however slowly. By Sunday, it was ok to head back. Scared the hell out of me though, and really, I’m still worried. I’m just not ready for this. The whole experience as it stood was more stressful than I could have previously concieved of. I felt sort of useless in the wake of that kind of thing. I hated the fact that if I had just tagged along with my father and grandfather, I could have prevented it, maybe. I loath the hindsight aspect; while I was watching the last of the Gundam TV series I brought with me, my grandfather was taking a tumble that would have atleast been semi-mitigated by having another person walking with him.
Now, all that time I had internet access through both free dial-up and “borrowed” wifi. However, between the dial up being a little slow (to put it mildly) and the wifi being not quite secure enough for my worrisome nature, I didn’t post on the blog. Sorry to all two people who cared. I barely kept up with the more pressing responsibility to Toon Zone, and even that isn’t fully dealt with. I’ve got three DVDs to review, maybe even more like 4 or 5 depending on how you want to cut it (do I just review the stuff that was sent explicitly for review, or do I also shine a few spotlights while I’m at it to give series I know I like exposure?) I’ve got some new lyrics that I wrote while on the trip that need to be smoothed out and have songs written for them too. I should get serious about scheduling time with one of the advisors at BCC so I can figure out whether I should apply for graduation yet or whether I should pick up a couple more courses to ensure I’ve gotten every last ounce I can out of that line of education before moving on to bigger, hopefully better and definitely more expensive things.
Basically, I’ve got things to do, and I’m glad I do cause other I’d probably ruminate way too much on the current events on my life. That’s not to say a little self-analysis probably isn’t healthy, but I’d rather not let it overwhelm me and crush me; I’ve got things to get done, and they are things I want to get done.
BTW, expect a bit of retroactive blogging of some posts I wrote up when I didn’t have access then forgot to post, maybe later today. I’ll probably just condense it into one chunk or something like that.
PS: When did I start getting traffic? I mean, two hundred visits in two weeks. Something I must said must be goofing google up or something.
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Nothing Of Note
Posted on July 26th, 2005
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 7:55 pm
Seriously, today was pretty hohum. Nothing big on the net, nothing big around drifting around Duluth. Only stuff of note is that I’ve got Kodocha and some other stuff waiting at home for me to watch. And I read 5 volumes of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou on my laptop and 3 volumes of Kare Kano. Ambience and Emo in manga… yeah that’s about the right vibe for this.
I’d like to post some grand thing describing the sights or whatever, but even having had lunch at a little restuarant that over looked Lake Superior, there was one little ship puttering around on “World of Endless Blue” (haha… Blue Sub #6.) There is some nice old architecture around here I’d like to get some pictures of for album covers and stuff, but I don’t think I’ll have time to get to that, even though we are gonna be another day (more visiting.) I also really, really, really want write and make some music now. It’s driving me crazy, and the volumes of Kare Kano I read (the Kazuma/Tsubasa arc) only made it way worse. Only thing that would have excerbated it more would have been Beck or Gravitation. When I get home, I’m gonna finish my next nerdcore CD ASAP. I really want to work on it and make it excellent. I want to write some Drum n’ Bass too, or atleast polish my long overdue LPs I’ve been messing with.
I feel refreshed, remotivated, and I guess it’s thanks to nothing. Or something like that.
PS: 500+ hits on the new site. Yay me!
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This Moment of Clarity/This Moment of Honesty
Posted on July 25th, 2005
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 10:14 am
Visited my grandmother’s grave to today (the moment of clarity) and some more friends and relatives who I’m just meeting for the first time, and as such, my dad and grandpa have volumes more to say to them than I. Needless to say, I’ve now finished the 6th HP book again while I’m here, and I must say that reading though it at a more leisurely pace has been much more rewarding and useful. I’ve also cracked into rereading Kare Kano, which in the light of the more recent volumes is quite useful as it makes Soichiro’s actions seem like less of a snap in the later volumes when you read it all in one shot. I’m on volume 7 btw.
On the not done list is sending out a CD I should really send out since it’s been payed for (I’ll get it tomarrow) and reading my friends blogs, but some how I’ll get to it.
Anyway, about time for Ember’s to close up shop, so I’ve got a check to pay. Later 😀
——————-
14 hours later, I’m now sitting in the Lakeview CoffeeHouse in Downtown Duluth. Still haven’t caught up on everyone elses blogs, but I have been enjoying the view and a very nice Raspberry Ice Tea. Ah, nothing like free internet with a cool refreshment. Very relaxing. I should get another ice tea.
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Live From Embers in Duluth, MN
Posted on July 22nd, 2005
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 7:17 pm
So, I’m blogging live from Embers Restaurant in Duluth, MN, in as much as they’ve got free wi-fi. Probably an iffy thing from the security side of things, but sometimes you’ve gotta roll with the punches. Meanwhile, it’s been ok so far out here, and hopefully it’ll only get better. If nothing, I’m still connected, and enjoying a nice, cold, refreshing green tea. Good stuff.
Besides, any place where I can pick up the latest issue of Shojo Beat can’t be that uncivilized (the mall not only had a Barnes and Noble with full manga shelfs, but a Hot Topic too.) Yay for Nana and Absolute Boyfriend. Gotta love the shoujo. 😀
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Since I probably will doing most of my reviews for Toon Zone… Updatedx1
Posted on July 19th, 2005
Filed under: Reviews — Karl Olson @ 2:15 am
…Here’s a big ol’ list of my reviews:
–Someday’s Dreamers Vol.1 – Still agree with this review.
–Astro Boy – I retract my positive review of this since they didn’t release an uncut or even fully air the show.
–Harvey Birdman – SPF – Still agree with this review.
–Grrl Power – Still agree with this review.
–Gravitation Vol.1 – Still agree with this review, and I love the tagline for it to this day.
–Koge Donbo Interview – Ok, this is actually an interview, but I figure I’d include it anyway.
–Kino’s Journey AniMini – Still agree with this review.
–Brandy and Mr. Whiskers – Still agree with this review.
–Sentimental Journey Complete Series – Still agree with this review.
–Gravitation Vol 2. and 3 – Still agree with this review.
–Drawn Together – I can’t believe it got renewed.
–Cyberteam in Akihabara vol.1 – Still agree with this review. I mean, DOS Burger. That’s just awesome.
–HiHiPuffyAmiYumi Pilot – Still agree with this review, but the show never went anywhere, so ultimately, I kinda retract. I mean, even the show itself metareferenced the fact they never do rock star stuff.
–DNAngel Vol.1 – Still agree with this review.
–Stellvia Foundation I – Still agree with this review.
–Gantz Screener – Still agree with this review.
–Fighting Spirit vol.2 – After falling asleep during volume 3, maybe I was too nice. It really only works if you like boxing.
–Stellvia Foundation I – Still agree with this review.
–Petite Princess Yucie vol.1 – Still agree. Someday I’m gonna have to buy the rest of it.
–Cromartie High School Screener – Still agree. I really enjoy the finalized disc too.
–Spiral vol.1 and 2 – Still agree. I hope Funimation sends the rest, though push comes to shove, I’ll buy it.
–Stellvia Foundation II – Still agree with this review.
–Madlax Subtitled Screener – No, it’s worse than I thought cause another two episodes didn’t help it.
–Koi Kaze vol.1 – Still agree with this review.
–Clone Wars Screener – Still agree with this review.
–Stellvia Foundation III – Still agree with this review.
–Princess Tutu vol.1 – Still agree with this review, and I hope that ADV sticks with it.
–Tsukihime Complete Series – Still agree with this review.
–E’s Otherwise vol.1 – Still agree with this review.
–Travis Willingham Interview – Another interview, but that was fun stuff.
–Elfen Lied Screener – Still agree with this review.
–Madlax vol.1 – This is why I don’t agree with my prior review: it doesn’t improve.
–Gunslinger Girl vol.1 – Still agree with this review. 1000%.
–Juniper Lee Screener – Still agree with this review, though half way into the season, I’m still wishing they’d farther.
–Ultramaniac vol.1 – Still agree with this review.
New:
–Kyo Kara Maoh vol.1 – Still agree cause it’s so new. We’ll see whether later volumes hold up.
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Out of Town/Currently Watching
Posted on July 19th, 2005
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 1:48 am
Gonna be in Minnesota for the next couple weeks. Expect my activity online to be spotty at best. To the AK people, you get two weeks sans me and my little bro! I’m certain some of you (all of you?) are ecstatic at that proposition. Who knows, maybe I’ll make it a regular thing. I’ve been feeling out of phase more and more lately anyway. Meanwhile, I’ll be visiting people my father and grandfather know. Note that I made no mention of me knowing people. Yeah, I know of them, but this will be the first time meeting a lot of folks, and the few I have met, I haven’t seen since I turned 7. Basically lots of introductions. Should be interesting. Might even be bloggable if I can find some free wifi or broadband.
Currently Watching (New This Season, Not Continuing):
+KamiChu – Best story this season. Calling it adorable is an understatement, but there is a really bitter sweet quality to it too. Very good writing. TV Asahi gets some pretty good shows through it’s doors. They aired Koi Kaze last year. OTOH, they ran SpeedGrapher this year, so it’s not like they are all gold. KamiChu is very good though, and highly recommended. It’s oddly credit-sequenceless, atleast in the first episode. Very different for a Japanese show.
+Ichigo Mashimaro – Best design this season. Really, insanely cute. A bit too ambient perhaps on the whole, but it works well enough. Prelicenced too, so I can already look forward to a 3 disc release outta Geneon. Besides, it’s does what it does well. “Cute, Pop and Loose(ly Organized)” as Geneon USA promo flyer says. Kinda weird how they aged up one of the characters though. I guess even Japan is getting flinchy about 16-year-olds who smoke and drink, or Geneon USA is worried about it. Not like it’s a mainstream show in either country, so I don’t get why they’d bother.
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Harry Potter 6
Posted on July 17th, 2005
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 1:14 am
Like every other blog on earth, I’m talking about book 6.
This because I’m a nerd, and I already read it.
So as not to spoil, I’ll just say I can’t wait for book 7. That should be enough.
For Now!