Samurai, Without Ever Having Felt Sorry For Itself

[Samraiwise]

You have an outstanding attitude!
Very inspirational!

Reps: you have succeeded at your upward spiral

Thank you for such a kind encouragement. I've checked your home gym photos, which are full of great improvisations!!

--------------

My home gym hasn't changed a bit for the last 20 years or so.....a small room with my beloved 30-year-old bench, a bar stand for chin-up and squat and literally tons of plates.

Just a few old vids there. Almost 10 years ago, you can see young but chubby me, VHS video tapes and tube TV which were all obsolete long time ago!!

You know what, I also eat and sleep there. *shrug*

[HomeGymChains]

Thank you for your nice comment on my home gym pictures, Kaz. I devised the chain safety system after a failed bench press. Unlike your video, however, the bar hit my neck. (I'm lucky to be alive!) Details of the chain system here: https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showt...post1546698821

Also, nice to see someone else who uses standard plates! Over the years, I gradually bought several used standard plate sets and additional 25-pound plates. When I started getting serious again in the past year or so, rather than buying a whole new olympic set, I just bought two vintage standard-plate York powerlifting bars and some 50-pound plates.

[ElrondHubbard]

Thank you for your nice comment on my home gym pictures, Kaz. I devised the chain safety system after a failed bench press. Unlike your video, however, the bar hit my neck. (I'm lucky to be alive!) Details of the chain system here: https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showt...post1546698821

Also, nice to see someone else who uses standard plates! Over the years, I gradually bought several used standard plate sets and additional 25-pound plates. When I started getting serious again in the past year or so, rather than buying a whole new olympic set, I just bought two vintage standard-plate York powerlifting bars and some 50-pound plates.

I started out with standard plates, but the cheap bar I had bent at about 180 lbs. My olympic bar is far from top of the line, but I do feel more secure working with it.

Kaz, that's a masterful technique of getting out from under that failed bench press. Before I built my rack with safety bars I had a great fear of failing at the bench press, so I didn't risk maximum weights very often. When I did fail, rolling down my abdomen was extremely uncomfortable. I'm not so worried about failure nowdays.

And BTW, I'm in awe of the weight hanging on that pullup!

[HomeGymChains]

I started out with standard plates, but the cheap bar I had bent at about 180 lbs. My olympic bar is far from top of the line, but I do feel more secure working with it.

I hear you about the Olympic bar, but I already had over 800 pounds of standard plates and several specialty bars, so I just didn’t want to add a whole additional 300 pound Olympic set, plus additional plates for that.

I was very happy to find those two standard-plate powerlifting bars, since they were supposedly rated for at least 600 pounds. I’ve used 520 so far with no bending.

[Samraiwise]

I devised the chain safety system after a failed bench press. Unlike your video, however, the bar hit my neck. (I'm lucky to be alive!) Details of the chain system here: https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showt...post1546698821

Also, nice to see someone else who uses standard plates! Over the years, I gradually bought several used standard plate sets and additional 25-pound plates. When I started getting serious again in the past year or so, rather than buying a whole new olympic set, I just bought two vintage standard-plate York powerlifting bars and some 50-pound plates.

Oooh, that was really really scary story. Good thing you are still alive and lifting despite that.

I followed your URL link. Your post with photos and explanations is a great one and also that home gym thread itself. Very inspirational too!

I strongly suggest that you should upload a vid to youtube. Let others see and understand how your chain system works in real action.

I started out with standard plates, but the cheap bar I had bent at about 180 lbs. My olympic bar is far from top of the line, but I do feel more secure working with it.

I hear you about the Olympic bar, but I already had over 800 pounds of standard plates and several specialty bars, so I just didn’t want to add a whole additional 300 pound Olympic set, plus additional plates for that.

I was very happy to find those two standard-plate powerlifting bars, since they were supposedly rated for at least 600 pounds. I’ve used 520 so far with no bending.

We call us home gym brothers!!

My small room with a low ceiling doesn't allow me to use a 7ft Olympic bar. Instead I use 6ft(180cm) standard bar. Once you start collecting plates, there is no turning back....just keep buying plates with 28mm hole.

I've never tasted a revolving Olympic bar......

Kaz, that's a masterful technique of getting out from under that failed bench press. Before I built my rack with safety bars I had a great fear of failing at the bench press, so I didn't risk maximum weights very often. When I did fail, rolling down my abdomen was extremely uncomfortable. I'm not so worried about failure nowdays.

Wow! Dave, you build everything you need!!!

Because of my low ceiling and a shorter(6 ft) bar, I couldn't find an orthodox power rack which fits in my room. So I've been doing that from the very start (I had to), when I was using very light weights. More than 30 years of doing it makes me an expert of "failed bench".

And BTW, I'm in awe of the weight hanging on that pullup!

You mean my BALLs? Thanks, I think....(j/k)

I was and still is a strong believer of "Grease The Groove" method especially for chin/pull-ups. It also works weighted chin/pull-ups.

The main reason for it works is that the exercise is the only one which doesn't tax your small back. The catch is it taxes your elbows and tendons.

So if you have weak elbows then you do bent rows more, if you have weak small back then you do chin/pull-ups more.

For me it doesn't matter, for a time span of 30 years, both my small back and elbows now know better. The first sign of pains you don't like means "say when".

[Samraiwise]

Mar 2018 Jogging & walk:

3rd 13km (8 mi) jog & walk without limp
4th 11km (6.8 mi)
10th 15km (9.3 mi)
11th 11km (6.8 mi)
14th 15km (9.3 mi)
17th 14km (8.7 mi)
18th 16km (10 mi))
-----------------
Total 95 km (59 mi)


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[Cantplankwell]

Good to see that running. I love running however going to reduce it to the absolute minimum and LISS instead. Also because soon I have to start getting some miles in on my bike.

Hopefully the weather has improved there? it was -11C here this morning.

[Samraiwise]

good to see that running. I love running however going to reduce it to the absolute minimum and liss instead. Also because soon i have to start getting some miles in on my bike.

Mine was rather LSD (long slow distance) than run. And now since my left leg injury (more than a month passed but still haven't healed) it becomes less jog and more walk. Good luck on your charity ride!!

hopefully the weather has improved there? It was -11c here this morning.

-11c(12f) !!!!!!!!!!!! You live in Toronto. right? I lived in Akita (located in north eastern Japan) when I was young. There I experienced that kind of climate.

Where I live/work now, temperature seldom drops to below freezing so when (Jan. 25th) the temp in central Tokyo hit a record low of -4C (22.8F) in the last 48 years, it made the news!!

Yesterday, it was 18C(64.4F) and already cherry blossoms (somei yoshino) which was the same kind of cherry tree in High Park (Toronto) was starting to bloom!!


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This isn't Somei Yoshino which is the most popular cherry blossom around the world. This one is called Kawazu-zakura, my favorite, one of the earliest blooming cherry blossoms. These photos were shot earlier this month.

Actually I like its color, more brilliant pink than Somei Yoshino's whitish pink.

And you can enjoy this cherry blossoms for almost a month because they bloom in turn not all together while Somei Yoshino trees bloom and fall all at once so they last only for a week.










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[Samraiwise]

"Old Man's War" (2005) OMW 1 by John Scalzi.



Up there among stars and planets, Colonial Union and CDF, its Defense Force are fighting Aliens for human colonies. Down here, on Earth 75-year-old citizens in developed countries could join CDF. Each volunteer is given a new body which is based on one's own DNA but genetically engineered to be a great soldier.

This is a story of John Perry's second life as a CDF soldier. Since he lost his beloved wife, Earth no longer can offer anything to him.

----

There is another great Military SiFi book written by A great author Robert.A.Heinlein, "Starship Troopers (1959)". A former naval officer who served on an aircraft carrier and later also a destroyer wrote the book in the middle of the cold war. Though a few aliens appear in the book, it is really about a bipolar world, an interstellar war between Giant Bugs and Humans.

"Old Man's War"(2005) and the series are about interstellar wars among various alien species. Human is one of many. (I met at least half a dozen aliens in the first two books.)

Starship Troopers:

1) Battles are fought both in the space and on the ground. There is interservice rivalry between spaceship pilots and mobile infantryman.

2) The Mobile Infantry uses various powered armor suits.

3) People join the armed service for citizenship.
(They call a new MI recruit, "fresh meat for the grinder".)

Old Man's War:

1) Battle scenes are mainly fought by foot soldiers on the ground. Space battle scenes are usually short and briefly described. There are two branches of armed forces, realborn CDF soldiers and cloned Special Forces called the Ghost Brigades. The former is over 75 years old, and the latter is usually under ten years old.
(of course, pilots appear in various scenes but most of the time they pilot troop transports to planets surfaces or other bases.)

2) Both CDF soldiers and the Ghost Brigades are given genetically enhanced bodies.

Their main weapon is MP-35 nicknamed "empee", using nanotech material for multipurpose ammunitions (like rifle, shotgun, grenade, missile, flamethrower and microwave beam)

3) Senior citizens join the armed service for a new and longer life.
(What they don't know is their low survival rate during their 10-year service commitment.)

What I like:

Despite a lot of gruesome descriptions and deaths, I like its optimistic tone and humor.

Spoiler!

Also the chemistry between John a 75-year-old CDF realborn soldier, and a 6-year-old clone Ghost Brigades officer who were grown based on DNA of John's late wife. After the incident with John, Jane wants "her real life", the closest to that is John's memory of his wife. She even has John transfer to her Special Forces unit in order to protect John and memory of "her real life".

What I don't like:

Spoiler!

John Perry and his newly made friends are assigned to different ships after finishing their basic training. Except a few, the most of them get killed one by one early part of the story. Each death is described like a war report from the front line, brief and concise without any human touch.

Also their earlier encounters were so brief that I don't remember any real episodes which create strong emotional bonds between the main protagonist and his friends, even though there are a few good humorous scenes (They call themselves as a group, "old farts").

That caused my nonchalance about their death, I want my emotion to purge my heart. Sorrow, anger and happiness are my best companions during my reading.

On the other hand, Starship troopers offers a lot of emotional moments about personal loss and despair.

I give this book 4 stars. But I must admit I doubt there are many books better than this in the genre . 　






Year 2018:

1. Your Heart Belongs to Me" (2008) by Dean Koontz" #30(Audiobook) *Medical thriller
2. "From the Corner of His Eye" (2000) by Dean Koontz #31(Audiobook) *Psychopath and Quantum mechanics
3. "Bird Box" (2014) by Josh Malerman (Kindle)
4. "Phantoms" (1998) by Dean Koontz #32(Audiobook) *SiFi Horror
5. "Prisoner B-3087" (2013) by Alan Gratz (Kindle)
6. "Fear Nothing" (1998) by Dean Koontz #33(Audiobook) *the Moonlight Bay Trilogy Part I
7. "Seize the Night" (1999) by Dean Koontz #34(Audiobook) *the Moonlight Bay Trilogy Part II
8. "The Door to December" (1985) by Dean Koontz #35(Audiobook)
9. "The Dead Town" (2011) by Dean Koontz #36(Kindle) **Frankenstein Series V
10. "Mr. Murder" (2011) by Dean Koontz #37(Audiobook) *Clone Psychopath
11. "Red Rising" (2014) by Pierce Brown (Kindle) *SiFi
12. "Strangers" (1986) by Dean Koontz #38(Audiobook) *Close encounter
13. "Old Man's War" (2005) OMW 1 by John Scalzi (Kindle) *Military SiFi
14. "The Bad Place" (1990) by Dean Koontz #39(Audiobook) *Supernatural

--------currently reading-----------
15. "The Ghost Brigades" OMW 2 by by John Scalzi (Kindle) *Military SiFi
16. "False Memory" (1999) by Dean Koontz #40(Audiobook)

[Samraiwise]

Mar 2018 Jogging & walk:

3rd 13km (8 mi) jog & walk without limp
4th 11km (6.8 mi)
10th 15km (9.3 mi)
11th 11km (6.8 mi)
14th 15km (9.3 mi)
17th 14km (8.7 mi)
18th 16km (10 mi)
22nd 14km (8.7 mi)
24th 15km (9.3 mi)
25th 15km (9.3 mi)
31st ?? km (?? mi)
-----------------
Total 139 km (86 mi)

There's one more day left.

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[Samraiwise]

I like going outside and taking self-portraits under the sun, with a tripod and self-timer.

Outside self-portraits with a tripod and self-timer.

1) Get used to it

To take photos of myself posing with a tripod and self-timer in public places without getting self-conscious is impossible. At first I had a hard time, posing always draws curious looks from passersby and when that happens I wasn't able to pose natural.

But eventually I got used to it, that means everyone could.

2) Take more photos

The more photos I take, the more good ones I can get. If I took 100 photos, likely I could pick more photos I really like than I took only 10.

My compact digital camera can take three photos at a time.

Once you get a knack for using self-timer, it only takes 30- 40 mins to shoot 150 photos.


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[Samraiwise]

Outside self-portraits with a tripod and self-timer.

3) Find your "go-to pose"

Not so long after I started posing for camera I realized there are three types of poses.

The first two types are obvious, always-bad and always-good
In the beginning, I thought all my poses are always-bad and there was no always-good. But things slowly began to change as my knowledge of photo shooting and posing were becoming better. I started finding some always-good among my photos. (not that they look good to everyone else...)

The third type is always-capricious, those get different result each time. This type of pose can be both a disappointment and a plesant surprise. This type of pose needs certain conditions to meet, like lighting or camera angle, both vertical and horizontal. If I can find out exactly what makes that pose to work, it would be no longer capricious.

4) Experiment with new poses

In order to replace my "always-bad" poses, I experiment new ones once in a while. Also because my taste changes from time to time, my favorite poses today may not be the same tomorrow.

To know my own tendency and breaking that pattern can make a great deal of difference in my self-portraits.

Well, the same thing could be said about our attitudes toward physical training.


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[ElrondHubbard]

You give some good advice there, Kaz. I have always been camera-shy, I would much rather be behind the lens than in front of it. But I really like your photos, and the poses you do, so what you're saying rings true.

[Samraiwise]

You give some good advice there, Kaz. I have always been camera-shy, I would much rather be behind the lens than in front of it. But I really like your photos, and the poses you do, so what you're saying rings true.

I really hope somebody reading this could overcome his/her camera-shy.

When the most goal-oriented and determined-to-beat-the-odds guy I know says good things about me, all I can do is to keep doing what I do and smile.

Although the day when I'd get tired of my own stupid pics will certainly come, it's just not today (a wise man once told me so).

Thank you my friend, Dave. *bow*

[Payton1221]

Mar 2018 Jogging & walk:

3rd 13km (8 mi) jog & walk without limp
4th 11km (6.8 mi)
10th 15km (9.3 mi)
11th 11km (6.8 mi)
14th 15km (9.3 mi)
17th 14km (8.7 mi)
18th 16km (10 mi)
22nd 14km (8.7 mi)
24th 15km (9.3 mi)
25th 15km (9.3 mi)
31st ?? km (?? mi)
-----------------
Total 139 km (86 mi)

There's one more day left.

I don't put near the miles in you do (walking, jogging, or biking), but after the ride schedule for this afternoon (55F ), I'll have 150 miles for the year. Trying for 1,000 miles on my bike but keep in mind that I never ride more for an hour at any one time.

Kaz, keep killin' it in the gym (and the dinner table ), because you look great!

[Samraiwise]

I don't put near the miles in you do (walking, jogging, or biking), but after the ride schedule for this afternoon (55F), I'll have 150 miles for the year. Trying for 1,000 miles on my bike but keep in mind that I never ride more for an hour at any one time.

Kaz, keep killin' it in the gym (and the dinner table), because you look great!

Thank you Payton, I'm a sucker for flattery!!

You too, have happy and safe ridings, m'friend!!


=======================


Mar 2018 Jogging & walk:

3rd 13km (8 mi) jog & walk without limp
4th 11km (6.8 mi)
10th 15km (9.3 mi)
11th 11km (6.8 mi)
14th 15km (9.3 mi)
17th 14km (8.7 mi)
18th 16km (10 mi)
22nd 14km (8.7 mi)
24th 15km (9.3 mi)
25th 15km (9.3 mi)
31st 16km (10 mi)
-----------------
Total 155 km (96 mi)

--------------------------------
The Life - Sized Unicorn Gundam Statue in Odaiba
*19.7 m (65 ft)

"The giant model was built to transform from "Unicorn Mode" to "Destroy Mode" with illuminating and moving parts."








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[Samraiwise]

"The Bad Place" (1990) by Dean Koontz. This is my 39th book of DK.



Bobby and Julie are a husband and a wife, who run a private security company.

Frank, their new client is suffering amnesia. Everytime he wakes up there are signs that something inexplicable or terrible happened while he's asleep but he cannot remember anything. Those signs are black sands, the rarest red diamonds, a mysterious otherworldly bug, blood on his hands, and so on.

They find Frank has a few false IDs with himself but when they try to reach the original owner of those IDs find instead that someone has already killed them violently.

A shadow with twisted sense of vengeance from Frank's macabre past is catching up with him.

----

What I like:

Unlike typical protagonists of Koontz, the lead characters in this book are not loaded but making-ends-meet working people, and that is rare in Koontz' books. Julie (wife) has a brother, Thomas who has Down's Syndrome and lives in full care facility with similar children and not with the couple. She and her husband has been saving money with a hope someday to buy a house, take full care of Julie's brother and live together as a family.

Spoiler!

There is one scene worth mentioning. Bobby hates bugs. After Frank has teleported with him from one place to another, he finds part of a roach has merged with his sneaker. He just gets all panicky because he is convinced the rest of the roach's body parts are inside his body.

Frank can teleport but without any control as to where and when. When he gets tired accidents like above mentioned "roach merging" happens. In the final confrontation, dying Frank initiates unstable teleports with Candy and the two persons merge as one creature and dies eventually. It reminds me of the last scene of that movie "The Fly".

Koontz often uses some kind of miracle to defeat impossibly formidable and invinsible villains like Candy at the end. This time he doesn't. While it's not especially original but still a fit ending for this man-monster and I enjoyed it.

What I don't like:

Spoiler!

A hermaphrodite mother who impregnated herself with her own seed, gave births to two boys and twin girls, as a result all of them have some kind of psychic abilities. And the main villain who is a male, has four testicles and no penis. With loaded testosterone, he releases his bottled-up frustration by drinking blood of people he kills instead of sex.

How many villains are there, who were born as a result of incest in books written by Koontz? I stopped counting long time ago. I know that's part of the author's purpose nevertheless I don't like it because it's just creapy and disgusting.

I give this book 4 stars. 　





Year 2018:

1. Your Heart Belongs to Me" (2008) by Dean Koontz" #30(Audiobook) *Medical thriller
2. "From the Corner of His Eye" (2000) by Dean Koontz #31(Audiobook) *Psychopath and Quantum mechanics
3. "Bird Box" (2014) by Josh Malerman (Kindle)
4. "Phantoms" (1998) by Dean Koontz #32(Audiobook) *SiFi Horror
5. "Prisoner B-3087" (2013) by Alan Gratz (Kindle) 
6. "Fear Nothing" (1998) by Dean Koontz #33(Audiobook) *the Moonlight Bay Trilogy Part I 
7. "Seize the Night" (1999) by Dean Koontz #34(Audiobook) *the Moonlight Bay Trilogy Part II 
8. "The Door to December" (1985) by Dean Koontz #35(Audiobook)
9. "The Dead Town" (2011) by Dean Koontz #36(Kindle) **Frankenstein Series V
10. "Mr. Murder" (2011) by Dean Koontz #37(Audiobook) *Clone Psychopath
11. "Red Rising" (2014) by Pierce Brown (Kindle) *SiFi
12. "Strangers" (1986) by Dean Koontz #38(Audiobook) *Close encounter
13. "Old Man's War" (2005) OMW 1 by John Scalzi (Kindle) *Military SiFi
14. "The Bad Place" (1990) by Dean Koontz #39(Audiobook) *Supernatural
15. "The Ghost Brigades" OMW 2 by by John Scalzi (Kindle) *Military SiFi
16. "False Memory" (1999) by Dean Koontz #40(Audiobook) *Mind control
17 "The Taking" (2004) by Dean Koontz #41(Audiobook)
18 "The Voice of the Night" (1980) by Dean Koontz #42(Audiobook)

--------currently reading-----------

19. "The Last Colony" OMW 3 by by John Scalzi (Kindle) *Military SiFi
20. "The Eyes of Darkness" (1981) by Dean Koontz #43(Audiobook)

[Samraiwise]

"The Ghost Brigades" by by John Scalzi. This is Old Man's War series book 2.



The CDF (Colonial Defense Forces) discovered an escaped leading scientist of conscious transfer technology is now instigating three races against humanity. They also found The copy of his consciousness stored in a device created by the scientist.
To learn the traitor's true intentions and his whereabout, the colonial special forces create a body with his DNA and transfer his consciousness to it.

In the meantime the Ghost Brigades try to break up the alliance of the three races (one is supposed to be an ally to the Colonial Union) which are plotting a war against humanity.

----

The title "The Ghost Brigades" is a nickname of Colonial Special Forces. Each GB soldier's body is created from the DNA of dead volunteer (who provided DNA samples at age 65) and consciousness is transferred to the body when clone process is completed. Each body is actually a superhuman hybrid.

The GB first appeared in book 1 "Old Man's War", Lt. Jane Sagan, who was cloned with the DNA of John Perry's dead wife, was one of their team leader. I was a little disappointed when I found out that John Perry wasn't in Book 2. Instead they introduced another character, Jared Dirac who had a body and mind of the traitor (though it still remained latent at first).

The book 1 was a first-person story from John Perry's perspective. It served as an introduction to the universe of "Old Man's War" in general. The second part of it was about John and Jane's relationship development among other special force members in the midst of the most critical mission for the humanity.

The first part of this book 2 is about the character development of each member of special forces surrounding Jared. Their way of thinking and ability is the norm of this story. I can almost hear their drill instructor's yelling, "What are you 12 years old!?". The author described them like a group of mischievous little kids and more like normal people with emotions rather than those very distant super soldiers in book 1.

The second part starts with an actual mission against one of three hostile races on their home planet

Spoiler!

and while the mission succeeds Jared's love interest dies in a heroic self-sacrifice.

Little by little Jared's new-born consciousness starts merging with that of traitor's copy, one by one new shocking facts, the traitor's hidden agenda and looming threat of war against humanity are revealed.

The final battle has two fronts. One is fought between the survivers of Jane's team and Obin, an intelligent race but without any consciousness=soul, another is fought between Jared and the traitor/mastermind, the original Charles Boutin.

"Old Man's War" is full of humor and joy shared by its characters, while "The Ghost Brigades" is filled with non-shareable personal grief and sorrow.

Both books are good and now I finished both, I was truly ready for the next book, the series' climax, "The Last Colony" (book 3 of Old Man's War).

I give this book 5 stars. 　





Year 2018:

1. Your Heart Belongs to Me" (2008) by Dean Koontz" #30(Audiobook) *Medical thriller
2. "From the Corner of His Eye" (2000) by Dean Koontz #31(Audiobook) *Psychopath and Quantum mechanics
3. "Bird Box" (2014) by Josh Malerman (Kindle)
4. "Phantoms" (1998) by Dean Koontz #32(Audiobook) *SiFi Horror
5. "Prisoner B-3087" (2013) by Alan Gratz (Kindle) 
6. "Fear Nothing" (1998) by Dean Koontz #33(Audiobook) *the Moonlight Bay Trilogy Part I 
7. "Seize the Night" (1999) by Dean Koontz #34(Audiobook) *the Moonlight Bay Trilogy Part II 
8. "The Door to December" (1985) by Dean Koontz #35(Audiobook)
9. "The Dead Town" (2011) by Dean Koontz #36(Kindle) **Frankenstein Series V
10. "Mr. Murder" (2011) by Dean Koontz #37(Audiobook) *Clone Psychopath
11. "Red Rising" (2014) by Pierce Brown (Kindle) *SiFi
12. "Strangers" (1986) by Dean Koontz #38(Audiobook) *Close encounter
13. "Old Man's War" (2005) OMW 1 by John Scalzi (Kindle) *Military SiFi
14. "The Bad Place" (1990) by Dean Koontz #39(Audiobook) *Supernatural
15. "The Ghost Brigades" OMW 2 by by John Scalzi (Kindle) *Military SiFi
16. "False Memory" (1999) by Dean Koontz #40(Audiobook) *Mind control
17 "The Taking" (2004) by Dean Koontz #41(Audiobook)
18 "The Voice of the Night" (1980) by Dean Koontz #42(Audiobook)
19. "The Last Colony" (2007) OMW 3 by by John Scalzi (Kindle) *Military SiFi

--------currently reading-----------

20. "The Eyes of Darkness" (1981) by Dean Koontz #43(Audiobook)

[Samraiwise]

Outside self-portraits with a tripod and self-timer.

5) Make friends with the Sun

The position of the sun at a specific time of day and season matters.

I've learned to avoid low front light (in the morning especially winter).

When I am directly facing the sun, strong and bright sunlight tends to wash out what little muscle definition I have. No shadow just flat white silhouette of my body. Also the sun makes me squint my eyes and already slitty eyes of mine get slittier. The good news for us old codgers is that it flatten out wrinkles on your face too, LOL.

So what should I do? Place the camera about 30-45 dgrees away from the sunlight, so I could avoid directly facing the sun.

But for some poses, direct front light could produce the best results. So for light sensitive poses, I take several shots with different light angles.

6) Camera Height



The closer the distance between camera and I, the more camera height matters.

Above Waist (Eye level):
head larger, legs shorter and feet smaller.

Waist level:
My head and feet are the same distance from the camera.

Below Waist:
head smaller, legs longer and feet larger.

*Sorry about my childish illustration.... m(_ _)m


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[Samraiwise]

Apr 2018 Jogging & walk:

1st 16km (10 mi)
7th 15km (9.3 mi)
8th 15km (9.3 mi)
-----------------
Total 46 km (29 mi)









----------------------------


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[Samraiwise]

Roy is the first friend Col*in has ever had, who is bold, athletic and the most popular 14-year-old boy, while Col*in is a shy and non-athletic bookworm who loves comic, horror and SiFi books.

When Col*in finally realizes the real difference between Roy and himself the true horror begins. Everyone believes Roy but not Col*in. Even his own mother thinks Col*in is the one who's lying.

“You ever killed anything?”Now Col*in's nightmare starts.

----

S.King has written many books in which a group of teenagers is at the center of each story. This is the first book (I've read so far) Koontz weaved a story around teenagers.

What I like:

The villain isn't a born killer.

Spoiler!

There was a terrible accident involving a death when he was a little boy. Roy was adopted by a couple who believed at the time they could never have a child of their own. But soon after the adoption they gave a birth to their own baby girl. Then accidentally his step-kid-sister was killed while he was trying to drive his father's car without knowing she was playing behind it. The adoptive mother blamed him for the death of her real daughter. One day when Roy came home with his muddy shoes and stained the carpet, she brutally beat him. After that the boy convinced himself that he was a born killer and killing was good.

What I don't like:

It's Roy's lack of relentlessness which makes the 2nd part of the story like a deflated balloon (but I like the final confrontation between the two boys, it is exciting enough).

Spoiler!

After Col*in betrayed(?) Roy, the evil boy tries only two attempts to kill him before the final confrontation. While Col*in digs into the two murders committed by Roy in the past and conspires with his new girlfriend Heather to trap him, he never follows or spies on them. So Roy knows nothing about their plot and is easily deceived when Heather is offered to him by Col*in as their prey.

Up until then Roy has been described as a cunning, manipulative and devious boy. So how could such a devious boy not notice Col*in and Heather meet at such public places like a library or the beach even to spread their beach towels laying on their backs.........that's nothing but ridiculous.

I give this book 3 stars. 　





Year 2018:

1. Your Heart Belongs to Me" (2008) by Dean Koontz" #30(Audiobook) *Medical thriller
2. "From the Corner of His Eye" (2000) by Dean Koontz #31(Audiobook) *Psychopath and Quantum mechanics
3. "Bird Box" (2014) by Josh Malerman (Kindle)
4. "Phantoms" (1998) by Dean Koontz #32(Audiobook) *SiFi Horror
5. "Prisoner B-3087" (2013) by Alan Gratz (Kindle) 
6. "Fear Nothing" (1998) by Dean Koontz #33(Audiobook) *the Moonlight Bay Trilogy Part I 
7. "Seize the Night" (1999) by Dean Koontz #34(Audiobook) *the Moonlight Bay Trilogy Part II 
8. "The Door to December" (1985) by Dean Koontz #35(Audiobook)
9. "The Dead Town" (2011) by Dean Koontz #36(Kindle) **Frankenstein Series V
10. "Mr. Murder" (2011) by Dean Koontz #37(Audiobook) *Clone Psychopath
11. "Red Rising" (2014) by Pierce Brown (Kindle) *SiFi
12. "Strangers" (1986) by Dean Koontz #38(Audiobook) *Close encounter
13. "Old Man's War" (2005) OMW 1 by John Scalzi (Kindle) *Military SiFi
14. "The Bad Place" (1990) by Dean Koontz #39(Audiobook) *Supernatural
15. "The Ghost Brigades" (2006) OMW 2 by by John Scalzi (Kindle) *Military SiFi
16. "False Memory" (1999) by Dean Koontz #40(Audiobook) *Mind control
17. "The Taking" (2004) by Dean Koontz #41(Audiobook) *Close encounter 
18. "The Voice of the Night" (1980) by Dean Koontz #42(Audiobook) *Psycho teen 
19. "The Last Colony" (2007) OMW 3 by by John Scalzi (Kindle) *Military SiFi
20. "The Eyes of Darkness" (1981) by Dean Koontz #43(Audiobook)

--------currently reading-----------

21. "The Human Division" (2013) OMW 5 by by John Scalzi (Kindle) *Military SiFi
22. "Zoe's Tale" (2008) OMW 4 by by John Scalzi (Audiobook)

[Cantplankwell]

Nice work on the running Kaz, look at the blue sky in those pictures, been awhile since I have seen any blue sky here, and its cold too.

Never was into Koontz

Right now I am reading an older series by Patrick O'Brian;



This is the first book in the series, I am a couple of books in.

[daawhitty]

Fantastic pictures Kaz. Strong and athletic.

Sorry to hear about your hammy pull - I've got one too its been 3 weeks since I pulled mine and its about 75% fixed. Walking and slow jogging is fine its just weak in the deadlift pull position. I have some PT due next week so I hope to learn when it will be close to 100% again.

Good luck and health.

[Samraiwise]

Nice work on the running Kaz, look at the blue sky in those pictures, been awhile since I have seen any blue sky here, and its cold too.

Never was into Koontz

Right now I am reading an older series by Patrick O'Brian;



This is the first book in the series, I am a couple of books in.

Thank you m'friend, yes I know how lucky I am to have those clear sky so often here in Japan.

The series are in my must-read-list, ever since I saw the film. Just maritime jargon combined with age-specific terminology gave me enough excuse for my procrastination.


The contrast between the peace and battle, the beauty of the Galapagos islands (Master and Commander is the first feature film to be shot on the Galapagos islands, so I've heard.) and the ferocious battle scenes, makes it a great movie!!

Fantastic pictures Kaz. Strong and athletic.

Sorry to hear about your hammy pull - I've got one too its been 3 weeks since I pulled mine and its about 75% fixed. Walking and slow jogging is fine its just weak in the deadlift pull position. I have some PT due next week so I hope to learn when it will be close to 100% again.

Good luck and health.

Thank you Darren, m'friend! Almost two months since the injury, but I still feel like something's not right.
My job requires hours of desk work and I have to raise my left knee slightly otherwise sitting impairs blood circulation and causes dull pain afterward.

You too good luck, I hope you get well soon to 100%!

I'll be back when I will have finished reading your journal. My respect. *bow*

[Mark1T]

Hi Big Kazzy. Bringing back the memories. Great to see that your journal is a hit and like I said in 2007, you are a valued member of this forum and you are considered royalty.

Watch out for the ninjas because they are still around.

All the best my friend

[ElrondHubbard]

Nice work on the running Kaz, look at the blue sky in those pictures, been awhile since I have seen any blue sky here, and its cold too.

Never was into Koontz

Right now I am reading an older series by Patrick O'Brian;



This is the first book in the series, I am a couple of books in.

That series almost got me fired some years back. I literally could not put it down. The movie was good, but the books were far, far better. The last couple of books in the series slowed down a bit, as O’Brien himself got older, but that leaves many gripping tales beforehand.

[Samraiwise]

Hi Big Kazzy. Bringing back the memories. Great to see that your journal is a hit and like I said in 2007, you are a valued member of this forum and you are considered royalty.

Watch out for the ninjas because they are still around.

All the best my friend

There are two points in my life I sometimes dream of going back if I could, one is my childhood when my mother read a book each night before I go to sleep and another is when I started my own journal here yet having no friend but you, Mark.

Now those ninjas are old too, maybe we could compete who suffers more from pain of old age, like acid reflux or arthritis........

Good to know we both are still here alive and kicking!!

That series almost got me fired some years back. I literally could not put it down. The movie was good, but the books were far, far better. The last couple of books in the series slowed down a bit, as O’Brien himself got older, but that leaves many gripping tales beforehand.

How's your deloading, Dave? LOL, just take good care of yourself.

You know what!? I've just checked my kindle and there is Patrick O'brian's "Master and Commander" finished 100%.....that says I already read the book years ago though I have no recollection of it.

I really should better start diggin' my grave, wait....what if I can't remember where I dig my grave....or worse the fact I've already dug one........

[ElrondHubbard]

How's your deloading, Dave? LOL, just take good care of yourself.

You know what!? I've just checked my kindle and there is Patrick O'brian's "Master and Commander" finished 100%.....that says I already read the book years ago though I have no recollection of it.

I really should better start diggin' my grave, wait....what if I can't remember where I dig my grave....or worse the fact I've already dug one........

Well, I guess you at least were able to put it down!

First (Friday) workout in the bag, I'm about to make a journal entry now. Second session is tonight.

Hope your pulled muscle is healing well, Kaz. Strange the many unexpected fronts we find ourselves under attack from. Our own bodies more often than not!

[Samraiwise]

Well, I guess you at least were able to put it down!

First (Friday) workout in the bag, I'm about to make a journal entry now. Second session is tonight.

Hope your pulled muscle is healing well, Kaz. Strange the many unexpected fronts we find ourselves under attack from. Our own bodies more often than not!

Welcome back Dave!! I think the book probably is a little too much for my English reading ability and that's why I was able to put down after only one book. *shrug*

At least my injuries are those I could have prevented if I were more careful and patience. I can't blame anyone but myself. *again shrug*

----------------------------


Apr 2018 Jogging & walk:

1st 16km (10 mi)
7th 15km (9.3 mi)
8th 15km (9.3 mi)
11th 15km (9.3 mi)
14th 20km (12.4 mi)
15th 13km (8.1 mi)
-----------------
Total 94 km (58.4 mi)


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[ElrondHubbard]

[QUOTE=Samraiwise;1549289791]Welcome back Dave!! I think the book probably is a little too much for my English reading ability and that's why I was able to put down after only one book. *shrug*

At least my injuries are those I could have prevented if I were more careful and patience. I can't blame anyone but myself. *again shrug*

----------------------------


Apr 2018 Jogging & walk:

1st 16km (10 mi)
7th 15km (9.3 mi)
8th 15km (9.3 mi)
11th 15km (9.3 mi)
14th 20km (12.4 mi)
15th 13km (8.1 mi)
-----------------
Total 94 km (58.4 mi)


----------------------------

The book was definitely written with an accent! I always was interested in the age of sail, and the book is very historically accurate in its depiction of the culture and technology of the times. It's also based (loosely) on a true story, and its obvious the amount of research that went into it. But certainly, it's not for everyone.

Really good set of walk/jogs you have going on there, and the poses do show your build quite well. Lots to be proud of!