Sasha Pixlee’s blog

A Smattering

nobody@vox.com(Sasha Pixlee) — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 12:58:52 -0800

Originally published at Sasha's Den of Iniquity. You can comment here or there.

If any of you tried accessing my Den of Iniquity last week, you no doubt noticed that it was having some problems. Someone exploited a security flaw in my gallery and uploaded some junk scripts. That lead my webhost to shut down the site and then their exceedingly poor customer service kept it offline even longer. I'll be moving to a new host soon, trust me.

Other than that, last week was fairly uneventful. Some inspiration struck while I was in the heart of downtown on my way home from work Friday and I've decided to start carrying my camera around with me again. I may also see if I can arrange to take a day off work, or maybe just spend a Saturday shooting out there.

Speaking of photography, my imminent raise has got be thinking about a new camera and other gear. The Olympus E-500 is looking pretty sweet, and I can get it online for under $600, with a lens. Under $700 with two lenses. After that some real lights, etc. and I'm on a roll.

Which reminds: I'd really like to get more people to photograph, especially out and about downtown. I really want a variety of people to work on challenging my skills and building my portfolio. Help a brother out, yo!

Changing topic entirely, Saturday was Samantha's birthday party. I drank plenty of whisky (It was even Maker's Mark, my preferred brand.), saw plenty of boobies, reconnected with some cool people, and met some new ones. All in all, a complete success. I even gave Sam her hat back before I left for the night. (Okay, morning...)

And while we're talking about parties, I've picked a theme for my birthday party in February. After a few years of pirates, togas, and porn I'm changing things up again with a swanky cocktail party. Gentlemen should wear jackets and ties, and ladies dresses. Go Watch Breakfast at Tiffany's to get some ideas. More details (Including location, since I hope to have a swanky one lined up.) will follow in coming weeks and months.

Don't get so excited about my birthday that you forget Elizebeth's Poker Tournament/Birthday Party, though! And keep your calendars clear for our Holiday Stocking Exchange on December 30th!

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Is that a gun in your pocket?

nobody@vox.com(Sasha Pixlee) — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 01:09:01 -0700

Originally published at Sasha's Den of Iniquity. You can comment here or there.

I just got back from seeing The Departed with John. Man, that was a great show. I think it's quite likely the best film I've seen this year, and is easily Scorsese's best since Goodfellas. I hate saying that, though: This isn't just a rehash of "Scorsese's Gangsters." If it's like anything by him, I'd point at Mean Streets, I guess. Go see it, yo.

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Some People Call Me Maurice

nobody@vox.com(Sasha Pixlee) — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 21:47:14 -0700

Originally published at Sasha's Den of Iniquity. You can comment here or there.

Work has been really draining me this week. I have a cold, see, but there's just too damn much stuff to do. As my boss said, we're trying to finish 4 months of roofing in 6 weeks. The good news, though, I'm about -> < - this close to getting a raise. Today marked six months at the job and JE (the boss I work most closely with, as opposed to my other boss JW) said "Okay, I'm gonna talk to JW and get you taken care of. I don't want you going anywhere else." That was with out me actually asking for more money.

On Saturday, though two of four players were unable to make it, I started off my GURPS 4th Ed. campaign based on Kenneth Hite's "The Madness Dossier" from GURPS Horror, 3rd Ed. While investigating a possible Anunnakku irruption in the Welsh village of Llanddewi Brefi, the PCs found a strange gemstone that revealed a terrible future. A future in which Jerry's character was shot four times by an unknown assailant. Luckily they have back-up on the way. I can only hope my Unknown Armies game on the 28th goes as well.

TV has also been treating me well recently. While I was very disappointed by "Jericho" and "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" has been seeming to flail a bit (I'm still pulling for it), "Veronica Mars" has so far remained superb and I'm really enjoying "Heroes". And don't even get me started on how awesome "The Wire" and "Battlestar Galactica" have been this season. I could go on, but I'll let that stand for now.

Actually, how about this: If you're reading this somewhere other than my Den of Iniquity, head over there to tell me what you're watching these days.

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Research, My Love

nobody@vox.com(Sasha Pixlee) — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 20:35:17 -0700

Originally published at Sasha's Den of Iniquity. You can comment here or there.

One of these days real soon I'm going to write a big long post for you all about the books I've read since I wrote about Carthage Ascendant back in July. Tonight, though, I thought I'd share some of what I'm reading to get ready for my upcoming
Unknown Armies
game. (Question: If the default right-this-minute UA campaign is all about the postmodern occult, should my 1920s throwback then be all about the modern?)

The French Quarter: An Informal History of the New Orleans Underworld - Herbert Asbury

Written back in 1936, this one is from the same author who did The Gangs of New York , upon which Scorsese based his film. I've only just started it, but so far it looks promising.

Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America - John M. Barry

Whether I use this event or not has yet to be decided, but this certainly looks like a great slice of Louisiana's culture and politics from the appropriate era.

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La Vida Posta

nobody@vox.com(Sasha Pixlee) — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 11:44:14 -0700

Originally published at Sasha's Den of Iniquity. You can comment here or there.

You have no doubt noticed by now that I'm posting on the Den of Iniquity in a more blog-like fashion. There are a few reasons for this. The first is that I've really started to neglect this place, even more so than normal. This is due to changes in my online habits and also simple boredom with what I've been doing with the site over the last few years. The books and the drinks haven't really been getting me the feedback I think I need to keep interested in chronicling them. I'll probably still post about choice examples of each, simply because I adore books and booze, but not as organized and regular as I used to aspire to.

The other thing is, online habits being what they have become, I just have less time online than I used to. I can set up the Den to crosspost to LJ and Vox, and so I can keep everyone who may care up to speed in a 1/3 of the time. I can still have posts that are only for a particular community but for the most part, I expect to spam you all. Unless I get some hate mail from you.

Now I just have to start coming up with more interesting things to write about. I figure that as the frequency of my posts go down, the individual quality should go up. So, what sorts of things would you, the public, like to see me write about? Anything? Anything at all?

Here's something, from Wired:

JELLIED GIN AND TONIC
Mixologist: Eben Freeman

1 frozen lime

2 oz. simple syrup

1-1/4 tsp. citric acid

1/4 tsp. bicarbonate of soda

1/4 tsp. confectioner's sugar

1-1/2 sheets of sheet gelatin

1 oz. gin

2 oz. tonic water

Freeze lime and cut into chips with deli slicer. Coat slices in simple syrup and 1 tsp. citric acid; bake at 150 degrees until crisp. Mix bicarbonate of soda, sugar, and remaining citric acid. Soften sheet gelatin in cold water for two minutes. Warm gin and add gelatin. Pour into a shallow baking pan lined with plastic wrap, add tonic, and refrigerate for two hours. Cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Put cube onto lime chip, sprinkle on sugar-soda-acid mixture (the acid combines with the baking soda for a carbonated feeling on the tongue), and serve.

If I don't post again today, have a good weekend.

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The Devil's Broker

nobody@vox.com(Sasha Pixlee) — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 22:36:41 -0700

The Devil's Broker: Seeking Gold, God, and Glory in Fourteenth-Century Italy

Frances Stonor Saunders

If reading about English mercenaries who wander into Italy in the 14th Century and then profoundly effect the politics of the region by doing things like holding the Pope to ransom, then working for the Pope slaughtering innocents, and other scandalous activities sounds at all interesting, read this book.

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Check Yourself

nobody@vox.com(Sasha Pixlee) — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 20:19:07 -0700

Originally published at Sasha's Den of Iniquity. You can comment here or there.

My elbow hurts. Part of me wonders if I have elbow cancer, but most of me thinks that part of me is stupid.

Last night I talked to my boss about a raise. He wants to talk to two other people, his vice president and our controller. I don't know if he knows this but...those two people have been telling me for more than a month now that they want me to get a raise. One of them even said they hope I get a raise to exactly as much as I was planning on asking for.

For those of you in Sacramento, in the next few weeks I'm going to want to host viewings of a few movies (as soon as my DVR records them): Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior, Chopper, and Versus; If you're interested, let me know.

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Up from the 36th Chamber

nobody@vox.com(Sasha Pixlee) — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 21:25:02 -0700

Originally published at Sasha's Den of Iniquity. You can comment here or there.

I know, I know...it's been a while since you saw me post about anything of substance. Like, um, ever.

Seriously, between work, getting two RPG campaigns going, and also trying to chill out and veg sometimes, I just haven't been on the online tip lately. No longer blogging and surfing from work probably has a lot to do with it, too.

Anyway, work is going really well. I'm due for a raise any day now. I have keys to the place, and have been described as "essential" by my boss. Last Friday I bought a forklift. I've been watching a lot of TV, thanks for getting every God-damned channel, and our wonderful, wonderful DVR. The new season of "The Wire" is especially tasty, yo.

I think I finally have my two campaigns sorted out, with character creation done and my first actual roleplay session taking place on the 14th, next weekend. the Spycraft 2.0 game turned into an Unknown Armies game because of the horrible mess the gear system turned out to be in the first printing. Oh well, there are worse things that could happen, especially since the players picked New Orleans in the 1920s for a locale; tasty research, here I come!

Anyway, this is also a test of the crossposting from my Den of Iniquity to Livejournal and Vox.

I'm gonna go watch "Veronica Mars" now.

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QotD: An Unforgettable Home

nobody@vox.com(Sasha Pixlee) — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 20:38:37 -0700

What's the most memorable building you've lived in?
Submitted by Shelly.

Architecturally? None, really. The place on Manlove Road was probably the one with the most memorable memories formed in it.

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