Other Side of the Planet dot com

TV Shows: Lost

Posted on February 24th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog.

Everybody knows I don’t watch much TV.  Conveniently now, if something is good, it will be available on DVD.  I can watch the shows on my schedule and don’t have to wait that maddeningly long week to see the resolution to a cliff-hanger.  I also don’t have to waste my life watching commercials.

Now ABC offers me something better - I’m stuck watching annoying commercials again, but I no longer have to pay for the DVDs…that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.  And the commercial breaks are limited to a required 30 seconds.  Many commercials actually run a few seconds longer, but out of spite, I make a point of clicking the “Continue” button as fast as I can, even if only to cut off the last second of a commercial.  (We all knew I was bitter, so let’s move on.)

Back on track, I started watching Lost in Taiwan, but my interest dipped when they started building the raft in the latter half of the first season.  Now, my roomie, looking for a buddy to watch season 4 of Lost with, has got me hooked on watching the old episodes of Lost, so as to catch me up.  I’m so horribly addicted, I’ve watched about two seasons worth of episodes in the past few days.

Now I’m so addicted that I’m starting to think about covering my cereal boxes with black and white Dharma Initiative labels.  Or I could do it to my roomie who got me into this…a fitting revenge…I think I’ve got a project for next weekend…

[As usual, I am not the first to have this geeky idea]

LOST QUOTES:

“Don’t get mad at me just because you were dumb enough to fall for the old wookiee prisoner transfer gag.”
- Sawyer

Locke: “Where do you get electricity?”
Ben: “We have two giant hamsters running in a massive wheel at our secret underground layer.”
- John Locke and Ben Linus discussing The Others’ camp

“No offense, dude, but, far as super powers go, yours is kinda lame.”
- Hurley, addressing Desmond

“Don’t recognize it?  Fell out of the purple haze…  We don’t play every 108 minutes, the island’s gonna explode.”
- Sawyer, regarding the newly acquired ping pong table

…and anything involving Sawyer giving an offensive nickname…the names are sinfully hilarious.

0 comments.

Costuming: Stormtrooper Armor: Progress Report

Posted on February 24th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Costumes, Star Wars.

Despite my lack of posting (which I will slowly catch up on over the coming week or two) I have been making progress on my stormtrooper armor - in fact, I’m almost done.

I didn’t finish the thighs yet, though they loosely clamshell shut, so I may just leave that for the time being.  I’m very frustrated by the realization that more than four years after my accident, my left thigh is still significantly smaller than my right, so either I make the armor different sizes for the left and right, or one side fits tight, and the other loose…either way it sucks.

The helmet needs to be finished up, and the shoulders need to be done.  I need to make a few more elastic and velcro connections between front and back pieces, and the drop boxes need to be stuck on.  Then, mod the hand guards, get a pair of gloves, a pair of boots, and I’m done!

[I sometimes suspect that, even in full stormtrooper armor, it may still be obvious that I’m a girl…]

3 comments.

Haircut! (2008.02)

Posted on February 21st, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, NYC.

I’d been needing a haircut since my last disaster.  What I wouldn’t give to go see Eddie again in Taipei.  But, being as I can’t, I decided to find someplace really expensive in the hopes of walking away happy.  So I went to the Irene Dinov Aveda salon in downtown Brooklyn.  I’m not decided yet - it’s a good haircut, but is it $67 (plus tip!) good?  Well, either way, it was worth it to feel good about my appearance again.  And if it looks this good when I wash it and comb my fingers through it, then I’ll give Robert another try this summer.

1 comment.

Costuming: Stormtrooper Armor: Aerators

Posted on February 20th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Costumes, Star Wars.

Alright, the aerators had me confused and frustrated, and for those not accustomed to building things, the directions were none too clear.  So here’s my step-by-step photo instructions for anyone else confused about the stormtrooper helmet aerators.  (I couldn’t find these instructions anywhere on the net, but I can’t be the only person who was confused.)

To start, you need the above.  The big black and gray thing will actually be silver and gray, with a black or red cap on the back.  The big screw thing (see?  I’m not technically skilled in this field) will be necessary, as well as those few other parts - just look for what you only have two of - those are the right parts.

Now, the directions tell you to disassemble the whole thing - which I did, but that’s not necessary.  Take off the red or black cap, pull out the rubber ring thingie, and then remove that shiny flat thing.  (If you need to remove the whole gray thing to do it, that’s fine, and then just pot the remaining parts back in.)

Now, we have all of our pieces!  Let’s put the aerator together!

First, put the screw in, head down, into that little open spot on the white thing.  Then, add the flat thing, with the raised part up, so there’s enough room for the screw head.  Push it down so it locks in place.  Then, put the giant screw thingie on top.  We’re almost there!

From the tiny bits, first add the relatively large, flat washer thingie, followed by the little keychain/spring-like thingie.  Last, add the bolt - just put it on part-way.

Now, put that curved, black decal on - pull it tight as you wind it around so it will go on smooth.  (You will cover the whole thing, including the big screw thingie, unlike me, as unlike me, you have clear directions.) Now your cat will have an amusing toy to play with while you repeat the process with the other aerator.

4 comments.

Costuming: Stormtrooper Armor: Biceps

Posted on February 19th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Costumes, Star Wars.

The armor for the upper arms was pretty easy and straightforward.  Two pieces that glue together on both sides.  No need for velcro as elbows take up less space than heels do, so the bicep armor just slips on.

It was a little big, of course, as I discovered during my pre-fittings (just tape it together and see what works.)  But with the help of the dremmel, I just sliced a bit off each side of the underarm part.  There’s no visible evidence of a modification, but my armor will fit better.

I did make sure to only glue one side together at a time, even though both sides were getting glued together.  As I’d found with a different piece, the extra pressure can warp the plastic, causing the seem you’re gluing to not fit together properly.  So, have patience and do the seems separately.

[Myself, looking stoned, but doing a fine job modeling the bicep armor]

0 comments.

Costuming: Stormtrooper Armor: O2 Canister

Posted on February 19th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Costumes, Star Wars.

Once my my spray painting was done and dry, it was time to put the O2 canister, sometimes referred to as the thermal detonator, together.  The first thing I did was to tape the two halves together, and then run tape along the seams as well.  I then ran the ABS cement along the inside seams, as I thought that’d hold better than hot glue.

When that was dry, I peeled off the tape and got out the long, silver decals that go on the left and right sides.  I put the caps on and drew a line with that pesky green whiteboard marker that does NOT wash off (knowing I would cover it this time) and applied the decal.  Really, as long as you apply it so it’s a good 1/8″ from those protrusions on the back, you’ll be fine.  The line exercise isn’t really necessary.

After that, it was time to add the face plate over the top seam, with the button on the top side (perhaps for the trooper’s convenience?)  The instructions called for hot glue again, but everything I’d seem so far calls for the ABS cement whenever possible, so I cemented the sucker on and clamped it down to set.

The instructions also tell you to glue the caps on…but my camera fits in there.  Keys would fit.  A few credits, a comm unit, and an identicard would fit…  So, those are staying loose.

I did forget to drill some holes or something so I can eventually attach it to the belt…  The instructions say to velcro it on, but word is that doesn’t work.  Maybe people bolt or rivet it on, but then I can’t get at it so easy.  I’d like to find some clips so I could take it off, open it, get at something, and put it back conveniently…we’ll see.

0 comments.

Costuming: Stormtrooper Armor: Spray Painting

Posted on February 19th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Costumes, Star Wars.

I fell behind on my updates yesterday when I started working out of order.  I found that I couldn’t complete the thigh pieces without having the ab and rear armor done, as they hang from those pieces.  I couldn’t finish the ab and rear armor until I’d figured out how to fit the chest and back armor.  This may not have been too frustrating if stormtrooper armor was designed for a woman’s body, but as it’s not, and as I’m working alone, it became a challenging section…

 
[Myself, spray painting stormtrooper armor pieces on the fire escape]

Back on topic, it randomly warmed up to 62*F yesterday.  Of course, there came the question: Where can I paint?  I live in New York City.  I don’t have a yard.  I live above a large intersection, and there are cars parked all up and down both sides on the road.  Can I spray paint on a public sidewalk?  Do I have to drag my stuff all the way to Central Park or, more sensibly, Prospect Park?

“You can paint out on my fire escape,” said my wonderful roomie, who has private access to our apartment’s fire escape.  So I quickly sanded the five parts that need painting (excluding the frown, which I had yet to even cut), ran across his bed, shoes, spray paint, and armor pieces in hand, and crawled out the window, anxious to beat the oncoming rain.

[Unfriendly skies above the fire escape]

Just as I put the last coat on, the first drops of rain began to fall.  I collected my still-wet pieces and crawled back through the window and into the apartment.  (Now, it wouldn’t have needed so many coats if I hadn’t, in my impatience and anxiety, kept touching the paint to see if it was dry.  I recommend against that…though, in my defense, it was about to rain, so I was on an undefined time limit…)

1 comment.

Costuming: Stormtrooper Armor: Shins

Posted on February 17th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Costumes, Star Wars.

The first task I decided to approach was the calf/shin armor.  Having done a lot of biking most of my life, I have pretty strong calf muscles, so they fill out the shin pieces nicely.  (When I get the the forearms, I’m going to have to completely remake them…)

 
[Note: stormtrooper armor does not serve the purpose of a whiteboard.  Do not use whiteboard markers.  The marks will not come off.]

The first task was to do some sanding to ready the surfaces they were going to be glued.  Unwisely, I marked the back of the first shin with a whiteboard marker…which does not wipe off of stormtrooper armor, FYI…so that was sanded off.  The next time, I used blue tape to make any markings I deemed necessary.

    
[I made sure not only to add to the outside seam, but also to the inside seam…I hope it made a difference.]

I had seen warnings against using too much glue…as a result, I don’t think I used enough.  To try to make up for it, I added some glue near the seams on the inside and outside, which I hope will reinforce everything.  The lesson: don’t be cheap like me.

[Unsightly gaps, just like in the movies!]

The next challenge, which I observed in the pre-fittings, was that my shin pieces don’t clamshell together like they’re supposed to.  So I got out the industrial strength Velcro (comes in black and white and is available at your local Home Depot, a terrifying place for me.)

    
[Industrial strength Velcro, applied to the opening in the back, will keep my lower legs safe and secure under the plastic armor.]

Regarding the Velcro, I made sure to place it with the soft/loop side facing in toward me, and the scratchy/hook side facing away.  This is important because the scratchy side of the Velcro will tear up your clothes.  Also, I was advised to add some ABS cement to the sticky backing of the Velcro…I don’t know how this helps, but it seems to have worked.

[Gap in shin armor problem solved!]

Finally, I had solid shin pieces with Velcro in the back.  I slapped them on, and have been walking around in them ever since.  That wasn’t so painful!  Now what piece is going to be next???

[So it begins…]

2 comments.

Costuming: Stormtrooper Armor: In Pieces

Posted on February 16th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Costumes, Star Wars.

So, it seemed like a good idea at the time.  Actually, it’s seemed like a good idea for the past few months.  But I didn’t get my Stormtrooper FX Armor kit until this week.

And then, upon receiving it, I became extremely intimidated, realizing that I have no clue what on Earth I’m doing.  (Good thing this is all taking place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, right?  Surely the magic will kick in soon!)

Magic, as it turns out, comes in the form of some excellent websites, which I will list later, when I am less lazy, maybe, and the wonderful folks over at my local 501st chapter, the Empire City Garrison, some of whom I met at the Big Apple Comic Con in November, which I blogged about. 

Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right?  I’m sure I’ll figure it out…but mistakes will be permanent…the glue actually melts the plastic parts together…  Oy…

1 comment.

Meaningless Rant: My Executive Skills

Posted on February 14th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Meaningless Rants.

I have a cool prof for one of my classes this semester.  She makes the classes more bearable by having various small tasks that get people engaged and working.  I’m not wholly sure how it was related to our topic of the evening, ADHD, but we took an Executive Skills Quiz, and I don’t think anyone will challenge my results (remind me never to show this website to future employers):

Executive Strengths:

1. Flexibility (I go with the flow and adapt quickly.)
2. Stress Tolerance (I work well under pressure.)
3. Working Memory (I have a good memory, particularly for numbers.)

Executive Weaknesses:

1. Task Initiation (I procrastinate…  I’m procrastinating now.)
2. Time Management (I have no clue how long it will take.)
3. Organization (Obvious for anyone who has ever seen my bedroom, my classroom, my cube…)

I think my mom - and really, any of my supervisors - will agree…this is an accurate representation of me.

1 comment.