I was out at the KR Training ranch all day today. Much to tell.
Month: April 2009
Sunday Metal – Metallica
Is Metallica metal? I would (still) say so. 🙂
Without question, Metallica is the most successful metal band the world has ever known. They have been through a lot, they have changed, and some old school fans refuse to even acknowledge them these days… or if they do, won’t call them “metal” but maybe just a “rock” band. This I can understand. After the black album the band changed their look and their song style. The whole Napster fiasco. St. Anger. Lars and James getting in touch with their feelings (banana stickers!). I can agree with this. When you have millions of dollars, when a big emotional moment in your life is auctioning off your artwork collection for millions of dollars… well… not that I have any problem with them being rich and enjoying success (I do think that’s awesome), I think it has detracted from what makes Metallica Metallica. Where’s the anger? Wanting your anger to be healthy? What happened to Alcoholica? How healthy was that? 🙂 There’s no question the Metallica of today is not the Metallica of old, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing.
I’m still a fan of Metallica. I see nothing wrong with their evolution and change. Any musical artist that has endured has changed. They change their look, their sound, their direction. Nothing too majorly radical (I don’t think we’ll see Metallica go country), but still they change. If things are the same over and over, then what’s to care about? Even if you hate it, at least you’re still caring about it… apathy is worse than dislike.
I recently picked up their new album, Death Magnetic. It’s better than St. Anger. It is closer to old-school, but it’s still new school Metallica. The only album I don’t listen to is S&M.
Love them or hate them, they’ll never stop, they’ll never quit, because they’re Metallica.
Convey to the person what you want them to do
I previously wrote an article on how “mindset is everything” and in there discuss the importance of conveying to the person what you want them to do. If you haven’t read that article, you should read it before continuing with this article. It’s brief, go read it. I’ll be here when you’re done and return. 🙂
An interesting report from Force Science News. The relevance here is to the issuance of commands, as I mention in my “mindset is everything” article, to convey to the person what you want them to do. The article discusses a study of how police give commands under stress and how the type of command affects compliance. It mentions two sorts of commands: alpha, and beta.
“Alpha commands,” Lewinski explains, “are simple, direct and explicit, so that even someone in a chemically or emotionally induced fog is likely to understand them.” Examples: “Take your hands out of your pocket,” “Stop talking,” “Quit resisting,” “Don’t leave your vehicle.”
… “[Beta commands] are indirect or imprecise orders that require interpretation by the suspect, based on his or her inference of what the officer intends,” Lewinski says. Examples: “Move,” “Give it up,” “Don’t be stupid,” “Stop screwing around,” “Knock it off,” “Don’t make me kill you.”
In other words, officers in day-to-day interactions generally gave very clear commands about what they wanted, and for the most part they gained compliance. But when they felt themselves threatened, this direct precision tended to be abandoned quickly. While they may have started out issuing alpha commands, in the face of resistance and personal danger they overwhelmingly transitioned to vaguer, less direct beta commands and, in general, gained markedly less compliance.
…
Based on his work with autistic children and others who show resistance in classrooms, he knows that “beta commands are very ineffective and inefficient. They leave people guessing.” When teachers switch from beta to alpha commands, they experience greater compliance even from mentally and emotionally disabled students, Houlihan says. “With the change, you almost immediately see better teachers and better kids.”
He cites an incident from the law enforcement studies in which an officer was in a stand-off with a suspect who was gripping a knife. “The officer told him 5 times, ‘Don’t make me kill you’ before he finally did shoot the suspect. A terrible command! He might have thought he was conveying an order to put down the knife, but that’s not what he said. It was left up to the suspect to interpret what the officer meant and what action was expected. In effect, the suspect was put in the position of having to control the officer’s behavior.
It doesn’t matter the context: police work, self-defense, dealing with your kids, ordering food at a restaurant, talking with your boss or subordinates, whatever. If you wish to increase the level of success regarding compliance with your requests, clearly convey to the person what you want them to do.
Shoot to wound doesn’t make sense
I hear about people that say in a self-defense situation you should shoot someone in the leg or the arm, instead of “center of mass”. There’s many reasons for it, but in the end it’s just not sound reasoning. If someone needs shooting, then they need effective shooting. If they don’t need shooting, they don’t need shooting. So if push comes to shove and you must shoot, you need to shoot at the most effective target (e.g., “center of mass”) and not at some less-effective area like a leg.
I came across this article at Force Science News that discusses the situation in-depth. It approaches it from a police officer standpoint, which is a different situation than a private citizen defending themselves, but it doesn’t take away from the point of the article that shooting to wound doesn’t make sense.
Nyko Perfect Shot for Wii
My mother bought the kids a Wii for Christmas. I have to admit, it’s a lot of fun. Growing up as a child of the video game age, we’ve come a long way from the Atari console’s “stick and one button” interface. Sure some Wii games aren’t very inventive in taking advantage of the platform, but most are and it’s neat to interact with games in a way that isn’t just button mashing.
I hear the kids downstairs playing on it right now, so on a whim I started to Google around to see what’s hot in Wii games right now. After a few clicks, I stumbled upon the Nyko Perfect Shot.
Want. Here’s an IGN review.
Nintendo makes their official Wii Zapper, but it pales. I mean look at the Perfect Shot: 1911-like styling; certainly more realistic in styling and ergonomics to a real pistol; the review reads like the trigger is pretty good; and look! Sights! That rules!
Oo… massive amounts of want.
But then, what game to get to go with it? Ghost Squad? Call of Duty: World at War? Medal of Honor Heros 2? Hrm…. 🙂
Updated: I caved. Went to the local GameStop and they had one in stock. Also a copy of Ghost Squad, which the guy working there (who has worked there a long time, has a trustworthy opinion regarding game stuff) said was a lot of fun. The game was even on sale this weekend, so bonus there. Didn’t cost me much for the two things. I haven’t played with it yet (got other things to do first), but I did take it out of the package and fondle it. The grip is very thick, probably to accomodate/balance the Wiimote’s size. I do like how they did the “pass-through” for the nunchuck. The trigger feels as good as you can expect for a little plastic contraption like this, but what tickled me was while it looks like a little pivot trigger, it actually slides back and forth just like a 1911 trigger would. Nifty. As soon as I get a chance to try it out, I’ll report back.
Shooting, relaxing, and having no mind
I was scheduled to participate in a handgun class today, AT-4 Extreme Pistol. However due to the heavy rains and flooding issues the class has been postponed until tomorrow. Heavy rains, shooting on the move, paper targets… just doesn’t mix well for a safe and productive class. Tomorrow should be better.
Some weeks ago when I was assisting with a class I mentioned to one of the instructors that I was signed up to take AT-4 as a student. He gave me a puzzled look and wondered why I would take the class, saying something to the effect of I shoot better than that and don’t really need the class. While I appreciated the complement, I’m still taking the class. I signed up for it a long time ago, back when I was still unsure of my skills. While I apparently underestimated myself, I know I can still learn a lot by taking the class. Plus it’s good to just take it as a “résumé” builder — the more formal training the better.
I’ve been thinking about how to approach the class. What do I want to get out of it, what do I want to focus on for myself apart from the class curriculum. I think I’m coming back to something I’ve spent a long time trying to improve about myself:
Being relaxed.
Some years ago I injured myself in some way and so I wasn’t sure how I could keep up my empty-hand martial arts training while I healed from the injury. My teacher at the time suggested to me to work on forms and utter relaxation. To use only those muscles that had to be used and nothing more. For instance, if you’re in a horse stance, your leg muscles certainly need to be at work… but all of them? Your quadriceps sure, but your hamstrings not so much so ensure they’re not tight. Certainly in a horse stance your shoulders aren’t involved so why should there be any tension in them? You’d be surprised how much we involve muscles that have no true reason to be involved, and all that does is consume energy and tire us out quicker. The more I worked on being relaxed, while that in and of itself was difficult, the end result was making things a lot easier. Endurance went up merely because I wasn’t wasting energy.
I still have to work on the physical aspects of this. I guess it’s in my genes to be a tense “type A” person, so it’s an effort to relax (ironic eh?). It’s even in little things, like noticing during a workout or even just sitting here right now at the computer as I type this and I furrow my brow. There’s no need. If the brow is furrowed, I’m not relaxed. The more relaxed I am, the better I move, the better I work. Plus, it telegraphs. Can’t have a relaxed poker-face.
So back to the handgun class. I think the key thing I want to focus on is being relaxed. The class is about pushing your skills further, so if I really want to shoot well the more relaxed I am the better I will perform, the faster I can perform. But that’s just the physical side of it. I need to be mentally (and emotionally) relaxed as well.
No Mind. The Japanese would call it mushin. Chinese, wu-hsin. In Kuk Sool’s hyung bup, “mind clear”. I don’t want to have a gazillion things racing through my head. Maybe “front sight front sight front sight” but I don’t even want that. I want my mind to just be. Just let things flow. Be one with the gun, the target, myself, everything. Harmony.
This will be my personal goal for the class. We’ll see how I do. 🙂
Tao Te Ching #39
In harmony with the Tao,
the sky is clear and spacious,
the earth is solid and full,
all creature flourish together,
content with the way they are,
endlessly repeating themselves,
endlessly renewed.When man interferes with the Tao,
the sky becomes filthy,
the earth becomes depleted,
the equilibrium crumbles,
creatures become extinct.The Master views the parts with compassion,
because he understands the whole.
His constant practice is humility.
He doesn’t glitter like a jewel
but lets himself be shaped by the Tao,
as rugged and common as stone.Translation by Stephen Mitchel.
Are we interfering with the Tao?
Meme time
At first I resisted memes, and I don’t do all that come around, but there’s merit in letting readers know about you… let’s them know where you’re coming from. So with that, two memes:
ABC’s of me
- Age — in my 30’s
- Bed Size — queen (want a king, want a master bedroom big enough to hold a king)
- Chore you hate — yes
- Dire phobia — not a fear of heights, but probably a fear of falling or more so, landing
- Essential start your day item — hug and kiss from my wife
- Favorite color — blue
- Gold or silver — prefer gold, but silver apparently looks better on me
- Height — 6’3″
- Instruments you play(ed) — piano, violin, trumpet, french horn, guitar
- Job title — Grand Pooh-Bah
- Kids — yes, 3
- Living arrangements — in my house with my wife and kids, and various animals
- Mom’s name — yes she has one
- Nicknames — Hsoi
- Overnight hospital stay other than birth — none
- Pet peeve — lack of consistency
- Quote from a movie — If it’s a Monty Python movie, too many to list.
- Siblings — yes
- Time you wake up — 5:00 AM or so
- Underwear — yup
- Vegetable you dislike — bitter gourd
- Ways you run late — OK, maybe running late is my pet peeve… I try to avoid it. If I’m running late, typically it’s induced by external factors (e.g. whomever is going with me, and they are the ones running late)
- X-rays you’ve had — both feet/ankles, chest, hand/wrists, probably others that I can’t recall right now
- Yummy food you make — all food I make is yummy
- Zoo favorite — depends on the zoo. Austin Zoo? nothing. Henry Doorly Zoo? everything.
44 Odd Things
- Do you like blue cheese? – it’s OK now and again
- Have you ever smoked a cigar? — yes
- Do you own a gun? — yes
- What flavor of Kool Aid is your favorite? — Obama’s media hype? 😉 But if we’re talking drink, haven’t had Kool-Aid in years. Probably a “berry” flavor. I always loved that artificial raspberry flavor is mandated to be blue in color.
- Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? — generally no, but it might depend upon what I was seeing the doctor about.
- What do you think of hot dogs? — Evil wonderful food. Wrap it in bacon, even better!
- Favorite Christmas movie? — maybe Charlie Brown. Grinch. A Christmas Story is fun too (love the lamp)
- What do you prefer to drink in the morning? — water
- Can you do push-ups? — yes
- What is your favorite piece of jewelry? — probably the only one that I wear, my wedding band
- Favorite hobby? — martial arts, motorcycle riding
- Do you have A.D.D.? — don’t think so
- What’s the one trait you hate about yourself? — often doing things to 90-95% completion then not finishing for whatever reason. Often due to loss of interest because my brain has conquered the thing and is ready to move onto the next thing. It’s one reason I was bent on getting my black belt.
- Middle name? — yes I have one
- Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? — why am I bouncing my leg? hope the hamster is OK. hope we get more rain today.
- Name 3 drinks you regularly drink. — water, milk, beer
- Current worry? — that Daughter’s hamster will be OK. Not so much for the hamster itself (he’s cute, but he’s a hamster), but more so for Daughter and her learning about life, caring for things, and all the wonderful ups and downs that mothers go through when their child is sick. 🙂
- Currently hate right now? — the direction my country seems to be headed in. But hate doesn’t do much good, so I just use it as motivation to do what I can to improve upon things.
- Favorite place to be? — home, with my family
- How did you bring in the New Year? — sleeping. It’s just another day.
- Where would you like to go? — for a motorcycle ride. Storms are too intense today so no go.
- Name 3 people who will complete this? — don’t know, don’t care
- Do you own slippers? — no
- What shirt are you wearing right now? — none
- Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? — not really. too slippery
- Can you whistle? — yes, tho my embouchure isn’t what it used to be when I played brass instruments.
- Favorite color? — blue
- Red or white wine? — beer. But if I have to drink wine, bold reds (e.g. cab) tend to be a preference.
- What songs do you sing in the shower? — whatever is in my head
- Favorite girls name? — I guess my daughter’s
- Favorite boys name? — I guess my sons’
- What’s in your pocket right now? — stuff
- Last thing that made you laugh? — probably one of my children
- Worst injury you ever had? — I’ve been lucky and haven’t had any too major injuries, but I guess the constant destruction of the ligaments in my left ankle is probably one of the worst things I’ve done. MRI’s are fun….
- Do you love where you live? — yes
- How many TVs do you have in your house? — 2
- Who is your loudest friend? — I think I’m the loudest of all the people I know. One of those “lose your hearing, you speak louder” sorts of things. Plus I have a deep voice and know how to project it.
- Do you have any pets? — yes, cats, hamster, fish. Dog is coming once the elderly cats move on.
- Does someone have a crush on you? — Hopefully my wife.
- Your favorite book(s) — many
- Favorite sports team — Don’t really have one, tho I guess this household would root for Texas A&M. I tend to prefer individual sports, like MMA/UFC/WEC.
- Who is your least favorite sports team — see 41
- How many cell phones do you carry? — are there people that carry more than 1?
- What’s your favorite casual place to eat? — home, my wife’s an awesome cook. If we’re talking restaurant, Sonic is about as casual as you can get tho the food is evil. Wife likes Texican Cafe. I guess I tend to like Asian foods, like Thai, Vietnamese, Korean.
Firsts
This seems a fun little meme.
- Who was your first prom date?
- Maggie O. It was her senior prom. I was a junior.
- Do you still talk to your first love?
- Nope. Probably was some crush when I was a little kid, so no I don’t. I do remember the first “true” love that I had, and I don’t know what ever happened to her. Try to look for her now and again because last we did talk she wasn’t on a good road in life… so yeah, always been concerned and curious, just hoping she’s OK.
- What was your first alcoholic drink?
- Probably a Budweiser, taking a sip of Dad’s and hating it.
- What was your first job?
- Either babysitting or lawn mowing. I did have a paper route too.
- What was your first car?
- Ford Escort 3-door hatchback.
- Who was the first person to text you today?
- No one.
- Who is the first person you thought of this morning
- Person? I guess my daughter, being concerned about her hamster.
- Who was your first grade teacher?
- Mrs. Schuman. She was so sweet. I recall accidentally calling her “Mom” a few times, which tells you what a caring and loving person she was, and how much fun class was. I actually have a lot of fond memories from 1st grade, but not many from other grades. For whatever that’s worth.
- Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane?
- I can’t recall for sure (maybe this was my first), but one of the earliest plane rides I can remember was flying to South Korea. I believe I received my first LEGO kit (just a box of bricks) to keep me amused on the plane. I also seem to recall “snapper turtle soup” being served and thinking it was the most disgusting thing.
- Who was your first best friend, and do you still talk to them?
- I really don’t remember, but it was probably someone from growing up back in Omaha and most of those folks I lost touch with many many years ago.
- Where was your first sleepover?
- Not sure, but one of the earliest ones I can remember was I think maybe in 4th grade? Some kid’s birthday party.
- Who was the first person you talked to today?
- My wife.
- Whose wedding were you in the first time?
- Maybe Bill’s, from college. Usher.
- What was the first thing you did this morning?
- Came upstairs and checked on the hamster.
- What was the first concert you ever went to?
- I don’t remember.
- First tattoo?
- Only tattoo. On my outer right calf.
- First piercing?
- Right ear lobe. Freshman year of undergrad. Have 3 in my right, 2 in my left, haven’t worn earrings since I started studying martial arts. Don’t care to, but I do it now and again to weird out my kids.
- First foreign country you’ve been to?
- South Korea
- First movie you remember seeing in the theater?
- My mom loves to tell the story of me yelling “RUN BENJI RUN!!” at the screen, but I don’t remember that so I must have been pretty young. While this wasn’t my first movie to see in the theater, I do remember going to see Ghandi in the theater, being totally lost, didn’t understand it, and groaned heavily when the words “intermission” came on the screen. I’m sure I could appreciate the movie now, but back then it was just looooooong.
- When was your first detention?
- Never.
- What was the first state you lived in?
- Nebraska
- Who was your first roommate?
- Brian… I forgot his last name (I think I remember it, but either way I’m not going to print it here), but I can recall his face. Freshman year, undergrad dorms. Good guy, tho we never got close.
- If you had one wish, what would it be?
- For more wishes. 😉
- What is something you would learn if you had the chance?
- Just one? There’s so many things….
- Who do you think will be the next person to post this?
- Don’t know. Don’t care.
The server is down
So… the company email server goes down. No problem. These things happen.
The server comes back up. All the backlogged email comes gushing through.
What’s one of the first emails that we receive?
An email telling us that the email server is down.
*sigh*
Reminds me of The Website Is Down, sales guy vs. web dude. NFSW, but damn hilarious.
Stuff From Hsoi 