10 posts tagged “yo-yo”

Those of you who know me, know that I actually have made efforts to cut down on caffeine as much as I can.  For awhile, I was doing very well.  Not so much these days.

I started drinking again when I got a job, since it involved a massive overhaul to my sleeping schedule.  Then, I started noticing that even on my new schedule, I am still rather tired.  The thing is, I know that it is partly due to the caffeine.  It doesn't matter though, because I also know that when you decide to cut off of caffeine, you get really tired for a good solid few weeks while your body gets used to not having it.  That isn't something I can afford to do.

I get the impression that caffeine is a huge problem.  Worse really then anything else.  I mean, obviously fat intake is a huge issue (pardon the pun there) in America, but look at caffeine consumption.  We even add it to candy now.  There is a lot of debate over how bad it is for you, but I don't think there is any question that it is indeed bad for you.

I know that it does all kinds of bad to me.  I can't sleep when I want to.  It makes it significantly harder to concentrate (which is not something I need).  Lastly, it gives me high acidity sometimes.

I think my best bet may well be to just bite the bullet and ween off it again.

Anyway, in other news.  Not much is going on.  Work is still fine, perhaps even better in some cases (since I am starting to get more comfortable with handling things).  Programming is slow.  I am working on some plans for a new project.  I am having a difficult time figuring out how to pursue it though.  Some of the tools I thought about using don't work real well in Windows as it turns out.  Lastly, I am still sick, but not as much so.

I've been yo-yoing more.  I still don't have any great tricks down, but I am getting better at binding, and that is important.

I think my Christmas shopping is nearly done, not completely, but close.  I've got 2 days off from work to (hopefully) do some programming.  Lastly, my shoulder hurts...I have no idea why either.  Time for yet another short run down.  I'm not sure why it seems to come to this so much lately, but hey, it's a good way to get information across.

Programming:
My biggest project for now is pretty much KSP, because I want to get it working well so that I can make it portable and use it.  Mcl-keys is effectively on hold until I can figure out my next move.  To be specific, the current work on KSP is on the database back-ends.  It uses SQLite for storage, and I have never worked with SQL, so it has been interesting.

Yo-yoing:
Sadly, I have been doing a bit less lately.  I've just been busy.  I have single lacerations down fairly well.  I am getting very good at plastic whips as well.  I think my next tasks will be iron whip and maybe Hidemasa Hook.  MAYBE.

Network:
The network is working great, having been slightly altered.  I think I am done with it until I get more stuff to add to it.

Website:
Not presently in the mood to write HTML or CGI.  May have to update it for KSP if I can get it to a good usable status.

and lastly

Job:
It has been going well.  I feel like I am not having to ask as many questions.  This is most certainly not to say that I don't still ask a lot of them, but maybe less then a few weeks ago.  I think I am getting a bit more proficient with our processes and tools too.  I was only hired as seasonal, but I really like it here.  I am thinking about talking to my boss(es) about staying on as a part-timer after the holidays.

Well, that's all for now.  As always, if anyone out there has interest in the actual programming end of my hobbies, check out Kain Research. 

I figure this page has been void of yo-yo relates posts for long enough.  I took a bunch of pictures of my collection for my site.  Until I get the pages done though, here is an open directory:

Yo-Yo Collection

There is a bit more then 50 images in there, if you have any requests, let me know.

I got a new yo-yo.  I know Tiffany is thrilled to see another yo-yo related post, yeah, I know, i'm a dork...

Anyhow, I bought a Tom Kuhn Pocket Rocket, from a guy on the YoYoNation Forum.  It's used, but was taken care of nicely.  I'm psyched, I have wanted one of these since I first saw one online.  To my knowledge they are no longer made.

I took some pictures of it, some pictures of it compared to my Pyro, and some pictures of it compared to my Pyro and a Freehand Keychain.

Front:

Pocket Rocket, Front Face

Another better front:

Pocket Rocket, Angle Front

Yep, I got another one.  Most likely the last one for awhile...until I get a job anyway.  When the Milk was first released I wanted one, but didn't have the money, and they sold out instantly.  When I heard that this next batch would likely be the last big batch made, I decided to grab one while I can.  I picked the black one, and it arrived 2 days ago.  I'm pretty lucky I got one too, the batch was about 180, and they sold out in a day and a half!

Here's some pics of the yo-yo and the awesome package it comes in:

The Yo-yo

Born Crucial's Milk

Here's the front of the packaging, and a view of the corner of the yo-yo

Milk, Front of package, side of yo-yo

And here's the back of the packaging, and a side view showing the gap....which is massive.  It plays great.  On here you can also see one of the Gsimian strings that I put on it (it comes stock with a Highlite).

Milk, Back of package, side of yo-yo

Some people have complained about wobble in their 2nd run Milk's, but I haven't noticed any.  It plays super smooth, and is very responsive right out of the package.  If you get the chance to get one, and like 1A play, I would definatly recommend one.  So far they are only available at YoYoNation, which is alright because they are awesome, as per my previous post. :-)

I thought I would post a quick picture of my current yo-yo collection.  I have named it off in the past, but I just wanted to throw a picture online anyway.  You can see my massive bunch of slick 8 string in here too, I ordered it only to discover that i'm more of a fan of slick 6 and poly 10.  Oh well, I slowly use it anyway.

Yo-Yo Collection 06182007

The bottom tray is for yo-yos and the top tray is for everything else (string, stickers, spare parts, etc.)  I have half a drawer in my dresser just for yo-yos!

I haven't been doing a ton of stuff lately.  I saw PoE2 off a while back, he's going on a mission to Macon Georgia.  Then I went and hung out with Ira for a few days. 

One of my biggest time devouring activities has been Burnout 3 Takedown.  Ira let me play his copy, and I liked it enough that I bought it.  Now me and my little sister (PoE3) play it pretty much daily.  Theres just something so satisfying about a game where the purpose is to run people off the road in the most spectacular way you can.

Past those things not a ton has gotten done.  I have started working on the Monocle project a bit more, and have worked on some programming side-projects.  I haven't really done any yo-yoing since I pretty much don't do it in my room anymore (I had a very close call with a rather expensive ceiling fan, now i'm afraid I wouldn't be so lucky next time).  I am pretty close to getting my room all back together.

I am looking forward to having my sister Tiffany and her boyfriend Mike down here for a week, it's always cool hanging out with them.

I also put in an app at the local Gamestop, since I heard they were hiring, but the employee I handed it to informs me that they just finished.  Here's hoping anyway.

One last thing, I found a person I was friends with in elementary on Myspace.  Awesome.  I'm not a big fan of Myspace, but there is no doubt that it is good for that sort of thing.  You wouldn't believe who you can find if you just poke around there for awhile.

Plans for this week include: drive to AZ for dentistry work, and hang out with Tiff and Mike.  Maybe program more if I run out of ther things to do.

I decided to really study towards getting my A+ certification.  I took a practice test today and got 75%, which I am pretty happy with (considering that I am not real far into my study guide).  I am thinking I will take the 220-601(essentials) and the 220-602(IT Technician).  When I have them, I am aiming to apply at CompUSA.  So that has been taking up some of my day.

Other then that I am still practicing yo-yoing, and am definatly getting better.  I now land a trapeze more then half the time, actually, it's rare that I miss them.  The trouble is that my hand keeps hurting.  Since I have coninually dry skin, it likes to break and bleed.  It's even worse in the winter, so when I throw a couple times, I have to put on a bandage.  When I go to bed I bandage every place that is bad so that it has a nice long time to recover overnight.  Last night it took 5 bandages to do it.  It looks pretty funny, I may post some pics soon.

Anyway, I am starting to work on binds, but have a ways to go.

I mentioned in a previous post that I would eventually get around to writing down my yo-yo collection, here goes:

Duncan:

• Avenger (Yellow)
• Freehand Zero (Black)
• Freehand Zero (Yellow)
• Freehand Zero (Red)
• Flying Squirrel (Blue and Gray)
• ProYo (Purple)
  
• ProFly (Blue)
  
• Imperial (Green)
• Hyper Imperial (Red)
• Tournament (Red with black) (Remake)
  

• Lyn Fury (Red and Black)
• X-Convict (Black)

• Sonic Spin II (Clear)
  
• Another Sonic Spin II (Clear)
  

• Fast 201 (Red) (Stock)
• Fast 201 (Blue) (Starburst removed, 1 thick diff)
• Fast 201 (Green) (No Starburst, not yet siliconed)
• Fast 201 (Green) (Stock, with counterweight)

• Old MetLife yo-yo

I am still working on my trapeze, but my hand-eye coordination isn't great.  I am defiantly getting better though, once I can land 8/10 trapezes, I am moving on the binding.

Anyhow, thats how things are for now..

Some, most people know that I am into yo-yoing.  I'm not good at it mind you, but I am into it.  I've been in and out since about 4th grade, when a professional came and did an assembly at my school.  In fact, that is when I got my first ball bearing yo-yo (A Super Yo Sonic Spin II).  I couldn't do much more then walk the dog back then, and eventually, they got banned at school, and my interest kinda ebbed away.

Several times over the years, I have come across that Sonic Spin and have gotten interested, only to kinda lose it awhile later (I hope from interest to interest, computers being the ONLY consistent one).

Finally, now I have gotten really interested, and have gotten several yo-yos.  I am trying to learn better tricks, and doing ok.  I can do a trapeze sometimes, I can do stop-and-go sometimes.  Stuff like that.

I especially enjoy watching videos of other people (who know what they are doing) do tricks.  Many of them are right within my same age, maybe a couple years above or below.  I figure a lot of people probably got into it around the same time I did.  Actually, I read somewhere that yo-yo popularity seems to be on a 7 year cycle.  Weird.

Anyhow, I was looking around on YoYoing at the videos yesterday, and came across a little girl that is WAYYYY in the heck better then I am.  I showed the video to my sister Crissy (PoE3) figuring that they were about the same age, and showing how good someone in her age bracket was (since Crissy is interested in yo-yoing too).  After a bit of research, I am apparently quite off.  The video is this one in case anyone wants to see it.  Turns out, the kid is in the 10 and under bracket.  Crissy is 15.  Holy crap, a 10 year old totally beats my skills...by a long shot...and makes it look easy.

It would seem I have some serious practice (not that I didn't know that anyway of course, trapeze is a pretty early trick, and I still don't have it down).

Anyway, just though I would share.

Anyone interested in yo-yoing, a good start is the popular yo-yo forums.

YoYoNation
TheYo.com
Extremespin