Robots IIDX

posted by chip on Monday, the twelfth of March 2007, at a quarter till three in the morning
"Robots play IIDX?" Nancy asks. No, actually, they don't. My weekend was filled with robots of a JSDC nature, and IIDX of a GOLD nature. Those two events are completely separate, but linked by their presence in one awesome weekend.

First, robots. The second weekend of March is always host to UIUC's Engineering Open House. One of the major attractions at this event is the Jerry Sanders Design Competition, where teams create robots that must navigate a course (by remote control) and perform certain tasks. This year's task involved gathering hula hoops and frisbees (oops, I'm sorry, rings and discs) and placing them in/around color-changing bases. Alexei's Avengers did well this year, scoring 6th in a field of over 20, even though they had to forefit two rounds. They also won "Most Creative Design," an award worth $150. You've made me proud, guys.

Saturday evening, Yan and I traveled up to Chicagoland to visit friends and play IIDX. Well, I went to play IIDX. Konami is actually weighing the possibility of releasing a US English version of their IIDX arcade machines. A prototype of this machine made its way to Naperville for an informal location test, so I had to show up to show my support for this idea. But first, a movie.

We had wanted to go see "300" in Imax, but we didn't get there nearly soon enough, and saw The Host at a regular theater instead. We missed the first half hour of the movie, so I can't pass judgement on it right now. Hopefully, I'll be able to find it and give a proper review. (but what I saw was terrible)

After wasting $21 at the Brunswick Zone, we drove back to Chicago for some authentic Korean BBQ. For $15, you get a plate of raw meat and a fire to cook it on. But that's not all. Jen said that you'll get twenty small plates of stuff to eat. She was neither joking, nor using the literary device of hyperbole. We did get over twenty small plates of stuff to eat, including the standard kimchee, bean sprouts, and seaweed, but also spicy mussels, spicy tofu, strange jelly stuff... I wish I'd have been less hungry at the time and taken a picture. Also: you get rice and miso soup. It was a feast, even if some assembly was required. Oh, the name of the place was "San Soo Gap San," IIRC.

I've made it safely back home, and I'm going to sleep.

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300 in Imax

posted by Marty on Thursday, the twenty-second of March 2007, at a quarter past two in the morning
Hey buddy,

I did see 300 in IMAX the other day, and I tell ya it was intense. Not the best movie I've ever seen (in fact, it wasn't anything special at all), but the dismemberment and stylized fake blood pouring out by the drum was a sight to behold on the 6,000 foot wide screen. Check it out if you still can, it definitely made a mediocre movie much more enjoyable.

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