An Evening with Sir Patrick Stewart

evening with sir patrick stewart
An incredible dialog with Sir Patrick Stewart about his childhood, family, Shakespeare, and Star Trek.  The appearance was to promote his recently published memoir, “Making it so.”  500 copies were given away at the event, including one to myself.  Amazingly, they only forbid video and flash photography.  I was able to grab some pics and a pretty solid audio recording.  enjoy.

evening with sir patrick stewart

My visit to Nike Missile Site LA-88

Nike Missile Site LA-88

The Nike Missile Site LA-88 is back in the mountains of Chatsworth, not far from Oat Mt.  It’s an impressive 450 foot gain from the parking, but it’s a pretty cool piece of Los Angeles’ Cold War history.  The site includes some great dilapidation if your like that kind of thing.  Ruins of two Buses and a car as well as a few buildings and some very sketchy entrances into dark underground places.

Nike Missile Site LA-88Nike Missile Site LA-88

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Rehashing an old Mario trick

After watching the Mario movie with kids, i dropped original NES Super Mario Bros on them.  They enjoyed the new (to them) gameplay, while marveling at the limitations: you cannot go back?  With me remembering a surprising number of secrets, i got a bug in me to revive this ancient trick.  Unfortunately, i wasn’t able to get it working correctly in the limited lives i had.  Undaunted, i finally completed it just a few days later while waiting on an OS upgrade.

my favorite part was that it overflowed the numerals and became pictures when displaying the remaining lives. if you got too many extra lives, it ended the game.

Super Mario Lives - Crown Blue Square

My visit to Super Nintendo Land!

Super Mario Land - Universal Studios CA
There is just no describing the awe and magistracy of exiting that pipe to see Super Nintendo Land in all it’s glory!  I was very impressed.  However, that impression was short lived after i learned there was only a single attraction.  Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge’ ride was fun and included some novel new interactive play.  However, the interactive elements of the land were few and behind long lines and the required $40 NFC wristband. (my flipper read it as a NTAG I2C Plus 1K ISO 14443-3 NFC-a)  It seems that there is only one quest to do involving the collection of four keys. There also appears to be some interaction with the Mario Kart ride, though the specifics were unclear.  As the primary draw to the the park this visit, it was in turn the biggest disappointment.  i hope this 3D Bowser makes it worth it.

Super Nintendo World - Bowser Anaglyph 3D

It’s starting to look a lot like blackberries!

Blackberries forming on a bush

My blackberries are still a ways off, but this morning they are starting to look a bit like berries.  The bush itself has grown incredibly the past few weeks. I’ve added the recent growth to the time lapse. (flashing lights warning) enjoy. (updated June 17th)