How freaking long is it supposed to take???

This is going to be an insane rant posting.

BACK IN JUNE, I got into some online dealing with a girl in Rhode Island selling something. We came to an agreement on price. The first deal came to $80. What I was buying isn't important here. 

June 25, 2012 I bought a United States Postal Money Order for that amount and sent it off. In the envelope was a letter with details of what I was buying from her and as a bonus I included a sheet of laser etched stickers that I had no desire to keep anymore. I printed stuff on the envelope (mainly addresses) and a little square image of a character, somewhat in keeping with what I was buying from her.

2 weeks go by and she's not received the envelope. I mailed it directly from inside my local post office. It's really odd how the envelope managed to be lost by the postal people when it was mailed from inside their facilities. During that time, though, we came to an agreement on a 2nd purchase. Because of the 1st envelope's failure to arrive, I get irritated and buy a 2nd USPS money order and sent it Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation. That arrived in 2 DAYS.

Now, let's fill in a few details. A USPS Money Order for Domestic Use is not refunded or reissused for a minimum of 60 days after purchase. I knew that and was willing to go along with that. Thank goodness I saved the purchaser's stub for this document, like I do for every money order. While I got that 2nd money order at a different post office, the clerk gave me a Money Order Trace form to help me in the process to get an idea where the 1st one is.

IN JULY, I go in to the local post office with my filled out form. Oddly, the clerk who looked at my form remarked they hadn't seen it before. I replied that I hadn't had a USPS Money Order lost before. (To the credit of the USPS, this was my 2nd ever lost envelope that I sent. I had a Free 12-pack Coke coupon not arrive for some reason a while back.) So she does a free status check by calling some phone number and entering the money order serial number. I get told there's no status on it which is good. It's not been cashed.

So I wait another month.

AUGUST 25, I go in to finally file the trace and pay the fee. I have no idea what's supposed to happen after this. 

SEPTEMBER, I finally get to thinking "Where the hell's my resolution letter or whatnot for that money order?" So I get on the USPS website, type in the money order serial number, and I get the message "Refunded." OH WELL THAT'S NICE. Thing is, I didn't have any idea this happened. I HAVE NO LETTER TELLING ME THIS. I HAVE NO REFUND. THE MONEY IS STILL NOT IN MY HANDS.

So earlier in OCTOBER, I go in to find out what's going to happen next. It must have been old info on a webpage, but I'm supposed to get some sort of Resolution Letter that tells me what happened to that lost money order. I don't even have that. So I go in to ask what's up. I want my re-issued money order. The info I found says if you don't have anything, go in to find out what's up. The website says it's been refunded, where's my refund?

I GET TOLD: They don't re-issue them at the post office. They assured me I would get something in the mail, likely a money order made out in my name.

IT'S BEEN 4 FUCKING MONTHS, AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY $80 BACK.

HOW LONG IS THIS SUPPOSED TO TAKE? WHERE IS MY GODDAMNED MONEY, USPS? WHO DO I HAVE TO CONTACT?

I did find the address for the USPS Consumer Advocate, and I may send off a letter about this ridiculous crap and hope to get some resolution. I feel like Michael Banks from Mary Poppins in wanting his tuppence back.

What a morning!

Woke up to 2 things I don't need. Constipated cat and the power out.

boku no ofuro

Dekimashita nyo!

aggravations

So this is the first post now that Google forced the new user interface design on everyone. I don't see the need to change anything because I could already get things done. I don't understand how this makes it better. It's much like a cat food product changing the design on the bag, which the cats eating the food won't give 2 shits about. It doesn't need to be changed.

ANYWAY...

While working on the Black Lady resin kit, she has these earrings pieces that were formed on a piece or square of resin. I do not have the skills to release parts like that off the resin as they were cast. I tried to slice one earring off only to have the blade slip and cut it into 2 pieces which were quickly lost. So with the other earring, I finally have a plan, once I found it again. I had been cleaning up trying to find it, and here it was safe all this time.

The plan of action - using sticky tape, I form walls around the edge of the resin piece the remaining earring is on. I light a candle and get some wax melted in liquid form, and once I get enough, fill up the form over the resin piece - thereby creating a wax mold!

Now, I've already tried using filler putty to fill in one mold (I can create as many as I have to), but it did the odd thing of not wanting to actually fill it in as I've already experienced. Apparently it's more for contours and not filling. So I tried some Elmer's glue and it almost worked. What I need is resin.

I'm not sure what supplies exist around here for making a resin casting such as the kind I'm trying, so I resorted to using the resin in Fix a Windshield. The only limitation is that it needs to cure in direct sunlight... But at least I'll have something!!

 ALSO: When I chose the printer and computer I wanted for my business, I forgot that I did not choose a monitor. I could use something that can do at least 1024x768, but if anyone has a spare 18.5" LCD monitor, let me know.

This might save me time

I ran into an AVI that didn't want to render as a DVD file right as it came out looking corrupted when it wasn't, so after reprocessing in VirtualDub, I have an optimized file. The thing I'm trying is if I can process it like the rest of the original DVD (same bit rate and all), and after it's set up with its set of DVD files (IFO, BUP, etc), can I just rename it, insert it over the bad files and have a new fixed DVD without having to re-generate the entire disk. If this works, it may save me a lot of time in the future, provided I haven't created another project before playing the one I need to fix.

Additional: I found out that I should not copy the IFO or BUP files, just the VOBs. At least that's what I'll try next time.
 

Shock Me lyrics translation and explanation of bits

I'm putting this here due to drama going on elsewhere. This is practically my final say on this translation.

SHOCK ME!  

Translation and roumaji by Andrew Floyd

Shock me Shock me
Shock me Shock me

草木も 眠る 丑三つ に あいつが空を   飛んで来る
kusaki mo nemuru ushimitsu ni aitsu ga sora w(o) tonde kuru
Even as plants go to sleep at midnight, he comes flying in the sky

tonde kuru - present progressive form. the sky is the direct object. It would also be correct to say comes flying through the sky. The precise use of the sky for flying is not exact. We know things can both fly in and through the sky.
kusaki mo nemuru ushimitsu ni - mo is even, used for emphasis that even plants sleep at midnight. ushimitsu ni - at midnight, ni meaning to indicate a specific time the plants sleep. note that the verb nemuru comes before ushimitsu. It makes the first part a relative clause.


十字架なんか かまえる暇ない でしょう
juujika nanka kamaeru himanai deshou
I guess I have no time to set up any kind of cross

juujika - cross, nanka - something like (derogatory), kamaeru - to set up
hima - time, himanai - no time. deshou - I think, I guess, Probably


やさしい愛がすべてだと 誰かが言っていた けれど
yasashii ai ga subete da to dareka ga itte ita keredo
Though someone had said "a gentle love is everything,"

yasashii ai ga subete da to - this is a quote, set off by "to" and the use of the verb itte. it was said by dareka. itte ita - past tense. was said, had said. keredo - but, however, though, also indicates this line is a clause. 'to' in this context does not indicate condition.

このままいけば 純愛 なんか吹き飛ぶわ  
kono mama ikeba jun'ai nanka fukitobu wa
If things go on as they are now, something like pure love will be blown off.

kono mama - things remain as it is now, ikeba - the if or when form of iku - to go.
fukitobu - to be blown off, to blow off. wa - female sentence ending.
This sentence appears to use an adverb of time, so it's not much of stretch to give this a future tense in English.

まして相手はすご腕のドラキュラよ Tokyo だって壊すのよ
mashite aite wa sugo'ude no Dracula yo Tokyo datte kowasu no yo
Not to mention my companion is the almighty Dracula! He'll even break Tokyo!

mashite - not to mention, aite - companion, sugo'ude - almighty. kowasu - to break. datte - even, also, too.


炎 のように 燃えるまなざしで 私 を ああ 誘う
hono'o no you ni moeru manazashi de watashi w(o) aa sasou
With a look that burns like a flame, Aaah, he invites me

The present tense verb moeru before the noun manazashi makes that part the dependent clause.
hono'o - a flame or a blaze. Fire is a different kanji even if it also means a flame or a blaze.
no you ni - so as to be like, moeru - to burn. manazashi - a look. sasou - to invite, seduce, or tempt as suitable definitions. Depends on the mood you want the translation to have.

Shock me Shock me  

黒いマントに 秘められた その魔力 伊達じゃない
kuroi MANTO ni himerareta sono maryoku date ja nai
He was able to hide in a black cape so his magical charm isn't showy.

kuroi manto - a black cape, himerareta - past tense potential form of himeru - was able to hide - himerareru - can hide, date - showy or flaunted.

Shock me Shock me

できることなら これが夢だと 信じたい
dekiru koto nara kore ga yume da to shinjitai
If it's possible, I want to believe "This is a dream."

dekiru koko nara - if it can become possible. kore ga yume da to - this is a quote and a dependent clause, someone putting words to their feelings. shinjitai - I want to believe.

伝説の夜だから
densetsu no yoru dakara
Because it's a legendary night


見つめられると魔女になる あいつの罠が待っている
mitsumerareru to majo ni naru  aitsu no wana ga matte iru
He can gaze at me and turn me into a witch. His trap is waiting.

mitsumeru - to gaze at, the -rareru suffix makes it 'can gaze.' 'to' - and, linking the next thing in this part, majo ni naru. To become a witch. It's acceptable that the singer turns into a witch because Dracula is able to gaze at her and make it happen. matte iru - the present progressive of To wait, is waiting. This is also sometimes matteru. aitsu no wana - his trap.


冗談 じゃない 虜になんかならないわ
joudan ja nai  toriko ni nanka naranai wa
It's not a joke. I won't be something like a captive


だけど相手はミステリアスドラキュラよ マジックだって使うのよ
dakedo aite wa Mysterious Dracula yo Magic datte tsukau no yo
However, he is the Mysterious Dracula! He can even use magic!

妖しい ほど に なれた 手まねきで 私 を ああ 誘う
ayashii hodo ni nareta temaneki de watashi w(o) aa sasou
I became all the more suspicious as he beckons with his hand  Aaah... (and) invites me.

ayashii - suspicious, dubious. hodo ni - to be as _ as, all the more. nareta - became
This explains why the singer isn't a captive. The ever dashing Dracula is supposed to be a ladykiller (pun intended) and looks for women to be his guest for the evening. In the end, he zucks zere bluud.

Shock me Shock me

サイコロジック オールバックに まとめた 黒い髪                                                                                
psychologic All Back ni matometa kuroi kami
His black hair collected all together in the back makes me swoon.
His black hair collected in a 'psychologic' all-in-the-back style

"Psychologic" here is definitely a borrowed word from English, but it doesn't mean the same thing. It indicates that his hair style is intended to influence her emotionally. As we see by the next line, it definitely has an affect.

all back ni - this is used for a name of the "all back hair style." matometa - collected, gathered together, the paste tense of matomeru.


Shock me Shock me  

口づけたなら その腕の中 溶けてゆく
kuchizuketa nara  sono ude no naka tokete yuku
If he kissed me, I'd melt in his arms

満月の夜だから
mangetsu no yoru dakara
Because it's a full moon night

Shock me Shock me  
Shock me Shock me

Shock me Shock me
Shock me Shock me

世紀末だわ 引きさかれた バイブル 地に落ちて
seikimatsu da wa  hikisakareta Bible chi ni ochite
It's the end of the century.  A torn-apart Bible falls to the ground. 

Shock me Shock me  

もう戻れない これが運命と 感じてる
mou modorenai  kore ga sadame to kanjiteru
I can't go back again. I feel "This is fate."

伝説の夜だから
densetsu no yoru dakara
Because it's a legendary night
 
This is my work, and anyone saying otherwise is delusional and needs to get some psychologic help.

Handbrake seems to work!

For a while, people have been touting one piece of software or another for converting MKV video files to other formats more compatible over all. Up to now, I had been using MKVToolsnix to figure out the streams in the file, MediaCoder to tell me the stats of the audio and video streams, making an AVI, then go back extracting the subtitle data, and using AVIRecomp to make a hard subbed AVI.

However, I can use hard subbed MP4 video as well for my purposes. And until I tried Handbrake, I would have stuck to my AVI process.

Here's how to get compatible hard subbed MP4 video.

1. Install VLC 1.1.8 - at least this version for some reason. One guide recommended it.
2. Get Handbrake's install for Windows.
3. Install .NET Framework 4 for Windows (it works on XP). This takes a while but once you have it, you're done.
4. Minimum video resolution for your display for Handbrake to work is 1024x620, otherwise it will complain.
 5. Get a damn MKV. It can even be the 10-bit crap floating around. It's best not to have OGG audio, because it doesn't always convert right. AAC and MP3 work just fine.

Now, you'll have to tell Handbrake to automatically rename the new file with the new extension and where to put them. This is under something like Tools - Options.

Once you have an MKV file opened in Handbrake, here's what I've found works very well for me:

Source Title 1. Length change to Seconds, 0 to (end). The end number will always be the maximum length of the file in seconds. You do not want Chapters.

No need to check Large File or Web Optimized (which is for the h264 profile anyway), but if you need it Web Optimized which allows for progressive download and play, go ahead and check it. I have not checked this, but I do have files like this.

OK, now into the bottom box for things.

Video - Size 720x400. Keep Aspect Ratio. Anamorphic: Custom. Modulus: 16 (It's 16 by default anyway).
Display Width 720. You can't change the rest of this column. Cropping - Custom, but set all to 0, which is the default value.

Filters - none. You may need these at some point, but in general I haven't needed them yet.

Next tab is on compression. 
Video - MPEG4 (ffmpeg). You can choose other profiles though for other purposes.
You want Constant Frame Rate here - Same As Source.
Quality - set to Average Bitrate, 1500, 2-pass. This should be high enough for 720x400 video and have it without being crappy. I have no need at the moment for 1280x720 or anything like that.

Audio - Source - Japanese. You can try passing the AAC through from the source. There's some nice Dolby and Surround options for that, but in general I stick to output in MP3 (LaMe encoder), Stereo, 48K, 128 kbps. If the source is known to be Ogg audio, you may have to pull the stream out and convert it properly with Audacity. I have found this works very well.

Subtitles - yes, even though the stream is in the MKV, if the stream data is there you still have to add it in. Otherwise you can produce a raw for other purposes.
- Track - get it to show the English track, then Add it.
Click on the track in the list now so it's highlighted, and change Forced to Yes, Burn In to Yes, and Default to Yes. Ignore the rest of the settings here.

Chapters and Advanced - change nothing, add nothing at the moment. Maybe later on you'll find tips for what to put here, but I don't mess with them.

You'll need to add the file to the Queue. Now, you can add other files and process them all, but you need to set each one up to those same settings. If your video source is not larger than 720x400, you can encode only to the file's maximum size (like 640x368 which I had one file like that). Handbrake prematurely closed when I tried to edit items in the queue, so I recommend doing one file at a time, which presented no problem.

Click Start, and let Handbrake make a compatible 8-bit MP4 or 8-bit h264 MP4 video file which everyone can play. I realize that Handbrake encodes MP4 video for various crApple devices, but that's not why I use it - it's to convert MKV to MP4. I can take MP4 and turn it into AVI if I am not happy with how the sub stream appears in Handbrake (which can handle stylized subs). In which case I would not resize the source.

I had planned to bring down a multi-sync monitor to use on the computer I installed all this on after Handbrake complained about the monitor resolution (800x600 - it came off a Windows ME system), so I grabbed the one off my P4 tower and in the process jostled the video card on the P4 loose (which set off a lot of anxiety as I had thought I screwed it up - I turned it on and no video and it wasn't proceeding with booting up). I found out the problem by looking at the POST LEDs on the back and the code said there was a problem with the video controller. So I had to re-seat the card. It worked after I did that.

An extra bonus was finding the driver install CD for my USB video capture box!! I cleaned things up in needing to move the P4 tower and there it was. Now to get a replacement CD drive for Mom's Dell since the one I put in there got messed up with me trying to rip tracks off a CD I found on the ground last week or so. I did manage to get some data off it, but the drive didn't fare so well later.

Clubhouses

As a kid, I sometimes wondered about wanting to have a clubhouse. Something in the back yard that was a place I could go and just do clubhouse type things. Of course, that never worked out, but still. 

I mean, isn't that what some kids back in the 1970s wanted? A place you could go when your mom wanted you out of the house (and out of her way), and you didn't really want to go do anything. Depending on the size and what was in there, you could go in there with a few best friends, play games or something. Study or talk about anything. Hide. A place you could go and keep people out just because you wanted to that day. Hopefully keep out of trouble.

I remember seeing that sort of thing on TV and thought wow. A Clubhouse. nothing like a Treehouse, though I'm sure I probably wanted to make one of those, too but never did. It seemed like the greatest thing a kid could ask for and get. A club house to clubhousey stuff.

Of course, what would happen with me is that I would get one and not know what to do with it. "I got one! Now what?" I imagine myself saying. I could end up being (eventually) sitting around with nothing, doing nothing. Never mind that IMAGINATION stuff. Maybe 1 friend who wanted to hang out in there. (Too cold in the winter, mind you.) Spiders to watch out for. It would be fun during summer vacation from school. Maybe. With my luck, I'd go there to read a book and mom would go crazy not being able to find me, call the police and they end up finding me in there.

And it would be fine and dandy until the one kid in the neighborhood who was spoiled beyond belief would somehow end up with his father's cigarette lighter and burn that sucker down because HE wasn't the first one in the area to get a clubhouse.

It's always something.

Not quite what I was expecting

Recent figure kits I've worked on

Cardcaptor Sakura kit - I found the image that inspired this kit.

This is the 2nd Sailor Saturn kit I've worked on, but the first that I got to keep.

I had to mix a custom color for Saturn's bows since in the source images for her, they appear to be a muted reddish brown. There is purple on her eyes for the iris, but you can't see them because of the bright highlights.

Sakura got some pearlized white on the outside of the wings to give them a certain look when photographed. I hope to see if I can put a little LED light in the lamp post.