NY
söndag 9 oktober 2011
Transport Nutcases III
The other day when we where heading downtown with the one train another nutcase appeared. This time a woman, again with military background according to hearsay. (Yes we heard her say that she was in the Air force in 1965. Now-days her weapon of choice was a handbag which she promised in a loud choice was an excellent damage dealer and hurt much more than what we would think. She looked like she was between 55 and 65 and had a proper look but her actions where far from proper, looking much more like a kid in the mosh-pit flinging her handbag around her and screaming threats at each and everyone.
Hope and Despair, Giants versus Seahawks
It is a big event. A lot of people, a lot of beer and a lot of dollars. It is super commercialized. And we sit closer to the field than I expected even if we are on the 300rds.
The stronger team in the first half where the Seahawks.
The advertisements are quite funny, completely unintentionally.
The Giants lines both offensive and defensive are playing weakly in the first half.
The score in half time was tied at 14, but did not reflect the dominance by Seattle that was not substantial but enough to shake Giants.
Coming back after half-time it did go worse for Giants before they actually started giving the fans some hope. We where thorn between hope and despair through out the game: everyone wants the big blue to be big but no one wants to be blue after the game. But then the New Yorkers are only happy when the wind blows the right way and are fast to critique their players.
The battle raged back and forth with Seattle at the advantage for the most times
As we where heading in to the 4th quarter the score was again tied at 22 as Seahawks nailed a field goal. New York replied with a score and we where again very hopeful, but during the last minutes of the match Seattle intercepted and scored and then during the last minute intercepted again and killed the match at 25 to 36. And yes I feel disappointment although it was an exciting game.
The stronger team in the first half where the Seahawks.
The advertisements are quite funny, completely unintentionally.
The Giants lines both offensive and defensive are playing weakly in the first half.
The score in half time was tied at 14, but did not reflect the dominance by Seattle that was not substantial but enough to shake Giants.
Coming back after half-time it did go worse for Giants before they actually started giving the fans some hope. We where thorn between hope and despair through out the game: everyone wants the big blue to be big but no one wants to be blue after the game. But then the New Yorkers are only happy when the wind blows the right way and are fast to critique their players.
The battle raged back and forth with Seattle at the advantage for the most times
As we where heading in to the 4th quarter the score was again tied at 22 as Seahawks nailed a field goal. New York replied with a score and we where again very hopeful, but during the last minutes of the match Seattle intercepted and scored and then during the last minute intercepted again and killed the match at 25 to 36. And yes I feel disappointment although it was an exciting game.
söndag 2 oktober 2011
Dave Arneson Memorial Game-day
Yesterday I attended the Dave Arneson Memorial Game-day. For those of you who do not know who Dave Arneson was I will simply say that he was one of the founding fathers of the Dungeons and Dragons legacy. You may read more here.
The day consisted of some possibilities to play mostly D&D stuff and a very interesting panel-debate that might not have been much of a debate but a very interesting insight into what the legacy of Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax actually left behind. How their ideas in many aspects have been the foundation of a modern day multi-million industry: the computer game industry. There was much to hear and learn but two speakers made me extra interested:
The first one was Luke Crane who makes Burning Wheel. He related some interesting insights into the cultural difference of American and Scandinavian role-playing that he acquired when he was a guest of honour at Fasteval in Denmark.
He saw how it all had started with both sides of the Atlantic tried to fix Call of Cthuhu and going different ways: where the Scandinavians have always stressed the simple double rule of: 1 the game-master is always right and 2. When the game-master is wrong see no. 1. The Americans with his own company in the forefront have worked with applying rules and systems for players to co-create parts of the world and plot. It seems to me that Burning Wheel is most known for this open approach plot and story. To me this was very good to hear and helped me make sense of my experiences on thsi side of the Atlantic. There was also a teacher from Parsons named Nicholas Fortugno whos insights spoke to me and made me think that maybe I could study some more... Now he's most important tip as it seems to me was to check out "Facade" for interaction studies. Ad I can tell you that I will. Possibly I will also write about it here.
I also got to play but I will have to relate that in a post of it's own.
Link to the site.
The day consisted of some possibilities to play mostly D&D stuff and a very interesting panel-debate that might not have been much of a debate but a very interesting insight into what the legacy of Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax actually left behind. How their ideas in many aspects have been the foundation of a modern day multi-million industry: the computer game industry. There was much to hear and learn but two speakers made me extra interested:
The first one was Luke Crane who makes Burning Wheel. He related some interesting insights into the cultural difference of American and Scandinavian role-playing that he acquired when he was a guest of honour at Fasteval in Denmark.
He saw how it all had started with both sides of the Atlantic tried to fix Call of Cthuhu and going different ways: where the Scandinavians have always stressed the simple double rule of: 1 the game-master is always right and 2. When the game-master is wrong see no. 1. The Americans with his own company in the forefront have worked with applying rules and systems for players to co-create parts of the world and plot. It seems to me that Burning Wheel is most known for this open approach plot and story. To me this was very good to hear and helped me make sense of my experiences on thsi side of the Atlantic. There was also a teacher from Parsons named Nicholas Fortugno whos insights spoke to me and made me think that maybe I could study some more... Now he's most important tip as it seems to me was to check out "Facade" for interaction studies. Ad I can tell you that I will. Possibly I will also write about it here.
I also got to play but I will have to relate that in a post of it's own.
Link to the site.
The end has begun
This Friday we celebrated the Ladies of the Burg at the soon-not-to-be-their-place. They worked their last day Friday and are leaving NY and the states on Thursday. It was a completely adequate party, saved by Norwegian people when everyone else failed. This means that I have less than 2 weeks left in NY. Then again it also means that I will soon be going west to Oregon and California. So I do have things to look forward to. Still it is sad to end this, it is to early and I would like to come back and work some more/longer here in the future. It also means that I have to plan my goodbye somehow.
The white of Harlem
In Harlem there is predominantly black people or African-Americans as they are called here, and if not black the inhabitants will be Hispanic or Latinos as they are called here. If some one is not black or latino it will most probably be me.
Sometimes you meet a white person though, and very rarely you see an Asian.
One interesting thing I have noticed when encountering whites in Harlem is how they avoid eye-contact as best they can. Otherwise staring is not frowned upon here: there is plenty of people to both stare at and on you. Might also have to do with how I look but I am somewhat used to getting stared at. But when you meet someone white they really go out of their ways not to lock eyes with you by accident, in all cases but one gay man in the grocery store.
I have a theory why this is: I think they do not want to look at a strange white person and there by get the feeling of "us" versus them. They are afraid to be seen as racist. But this idea is a bit of a stretch, even though I have not found any other. So if anyone else has some input here I would be most interested in hearing it!
Sometimes you meet a white person though, and very rarely you see an Asian.
One interesting thing I have noticed when encountering whites in Harlem is how they avoid eye-contact as best they can. Otherwise staring is not frowned upon here: there is plenty of people to both stare at and on you. Might also have to do with how I look but I am somewhat used to getting stared at. But when you meet someone white they really go out of their ways not to lock eyes with you by accident, in all cases but one gay man in the grocery store.
I have a theory why this is: I think they do not want to look at a strange white person and there by get the feeling of "us" versus them. They are afraid to be seen as racist. But this idea is a bit of a stretch, even though I have not found any other. So if anyone else has some input here I would be most interested in hearing it!
the week
Hey, if you sit there thinking, it been a while since he wrote anything, is nothing happening over there then you are wrong. It is the other way around. Even so I manage to be a bit bored at times. This week I have been doing some tricks and fooled a lot of people. Sometimes it is so easy. I really like it as well. Anyway I guess the first thing I have to write about since it happened last weekend is when I befriended the village drug-dealer, Justus. I was just coming out of my apartment on my way to the subway for a night out. Time might have been around ten in the evening. He called me "big man" and seemed to have been attracted to me by way of my dress. This night like a rockstar of some class: black trousers and shirt, white tie, and sunburn from the boat trip.
Anyway Justus started to peddle me drugs but I wasn't really interested. He actually understood "straight edge" and immediately changed tactics asking for a dollar to buy wine instead?! I used my American vocabulary and just said later as I left for the subway.
When I returned to my house the next morning about four or so Justus was there asking for his dollar! This must be the first American that developed listening and also thinks that the words have meaning. So I gave him his dollar straight up, even though the liquor store was closed by then. Then he showed a much worse initiative: he said "give me two dollars and I go home!" I really don't care where Justus goes so I told him and went home to sleep, without anyone giving me 2 dollars.
Anyway Justus started to peddle me drugs but I wasn't really interested. He actually understood "straight edge" and immediately changed tactics asking for a dollar to buy wine instead?! I used my American vocabulary and just said later as I left for the subway.
When I returned to my house the next morning about four or so Justus was there asking for his dollar! This must be the first American that developed listening and also thinks that the words have meaning. So I gave him his dollar straight up, even though the liquor store was closed by then. Then he showed a much worse initiative: he said "give me two dollars and I go home!" I really don't care where Justus goes so I told him and went home to sleep, without anyone giving me 2 dollars.
tisdag 27 september 2011
The rules man... the rules.
Yesterday I was close to the High Line park and decided to see it. And was that a good decision or not!? It is the most interesting park I ever visited, with the possible exception for Mainau in the Boden sea and the roof top of the Ghibli museum in Tokyo.
But this is a public park and so futuristic and well designed, or to be honest it parks and design might not match entirely: lets call it adorned. It is very very very nicely adorned.
Not well kept, but well guarded from rabble such as myself who try to smuggle bikes into the park. Oh, I should not have done that! I need to learn the rules. Not that I tried to use the bike. But they, the bikes that is, are not allowed. Like a dog. So I was showed to an elevator and told to leave.
Well I got to see it at least.
But this is a public park and so futuristic and well designed, or to be honest it parks and design might not match entirely: lets call it adorned. It is very very very nicely adorned.
Not well kept, but well guarded from rabble such as myself who try to smuggle bikes into the park. Oh, I should not have done that! I need to learn the rules. Not that I tried to use the bike. But they, the bikes that is, are not allowed. Like a dog. So I was showed to an elevator and told to leave.
Well I got to see it at least.
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