RavenBlog
Black:  ravenblack.net | me | games | books | email | wishlist | rss
Blogs:  Angryblog | As Above | MonkyBlog | Nightshade | Journals
Blimey:  SomethingAwful | Advice
Archives: Last 4 Days | November2008 | October2008 | September2008 | August2008 | July2008 | June2008 | May2008 | April2008 | March2008 | February2008 | January2008 | December2007 | November2007 | October2007 | September2007 | August2007 | July2007 | June2007 | May2007 | April2007 | March2007 | February2007 | January2007 | December2006 | November2006 | October2006 | September2006 | August2006 | July2006 | June2006 | May2006 | April2006 | March2006 | February2006 | January2006 | November2005 | October2005 | September2005 | August2005 | July2005 | June2005 | May2005 | April2005 | March2005 | February2005 | January2005 | December2004 | November2004 | October2004 | September2004 | August2004 | July2004 | June2004 | May2004 | April2004 | March2004 | February2004 | January2004 | December2003 | November2003 | October2003 | September2003 | August2003 | July2003 | June2003 | May2003 | April2003 | March2003 | February2003 | January2003 | December2002 | November2002 | October2002 | September2002 | August2002 | July2002 | June2002 | May2002 | April2002 | March2002 | February2002 | January2002 | December2001 | November2001 | October2001 | September2001 | August2001 | July2001 | June2001
Projects Status
  Robot-Game: 5%
  Solipsism: 3%
  Snowstorm: 28%


Sunday 2 November 2008
About a week ago I finally managed to get my crazy shoes. I was expecting them to maybe be good for climbing, and probably not to be good for running or walking though they were touted as being. But it turns out, the touts were right, these things are awesome for everything. They, as they are supposed to, feel much like being barefoot, very little pressure on the toes (unlike every other shoe ever). About ten steps in to wearing them, I discovered that I've been slamming my left heel a bit when I walk, thus explaining the calf-tendon strain I'd been experiencing. Two days wearing these when I go out, all pain gone. They don't even garner funny looks - I've worn them to the market and to the hardware shop without a second glance. I've worn them in the cold and rain, with no socks, and, yes, my feet were a bit cold, but not noticably colder than they'd have been in boots and socks. And despite the rubberiness, they also breathe better than any shoe I've worn before with the exception maybe of flip-flops. And oh, I stubbed my little toe while wearing them and it was protected.

In conclusion, highly recommended for anyone who isn't in a "dropping heavy objects on toes" zone, and whose foot-shape it looks like they could possibly fit. And who wouldn't be too embarrassed to wear them. [09:54] [4 comments]


Tuesday 28 October 2008
Why are science people so very taken with double-blind testing? Has a double-blind test been performed to see whether double-blind testing really works? Surely it can't be relied on until its effectiveness has been proven that way?

I propose a double-blind study to see whether people can communicate by talking. We'll put two people in separate soundproof boxes, and a deck of 'psychic' cards (the star/squiggles/square/circle sort), shuffled, in the box with the 'speaker'. There will also be the same setup with a 'speaker' who is not going to speak, to provide a control. The 'listener' in each case will have to draw on blank cards the images in the correct order from the deck of cards. The experimenter won't know which pair of boxes is which, nor the order the cards have been shuffled into, until it is revealed after the experiment's conclusion. This is a fair and unbiased double-blind setup, right? [04:53] [0 comments]


Tuesday 21 October 2008
Fuck governments.

A couple of days ago I discovered that I really want to move to Hawaii, for various reasons. Then I discovered that I pretty much could do it, almost right now, on the terms which I would prefer and most people would hate. I was quite excited and enthused, had already started in motion, was planning a test-visit for a month starting in a mere couple of weeks. I felt alive for the first time in a long while.

Then I discovered that a "permanent residency" card is not actually permanent, it expires if you're out of the country for two years, which means I would not be allowed to live in the US after all. There is no acceptable way to change this fact (other than if I somehow acquire $500000, or some fantastic love-luck is involved). Fuck you, government, fuck your immigration stupidness. I'm obviously not coming round there stealing your jawbs, I fucking left before, when I was legal, having paid several thousands of dollars in tax without ever "taking your jawbs". If I wanted in for that reason I'd have stayed last time. What's the justification for not letting me (or anyone else who has previously had a permanent-resident visa) return? It makes no sense.

I miss it, and I've not even been there yet. It's what I was missing before I even knew. I will find a way. [15:54] [5 comments]


Friday 17 October 2008
Mutant Chronicles is rubbish. It made me invent this horrible joke. Why couldn't the irradiated ant speak? Because it was a mute ant.

That joke is better than the movie. You have been warned. [14:10] [0 comments]