Alex Sirkman

To anybody I may have missed on Facebook...

2009-10-14T22:01:06Z

As I have a new phone, I am bereft of my old numbers. So! If you'd ever like to pick up your cell and hear my dulcet tones pouring forth, leave me a comment with your number (and e-mail address, if you'd like).

All comments are screened, by the way, which should keep them private, in case you are worried about anyone hunting through every comment you have made in case you posted a cell number.

Livejournal, I still love you, I promise!

2009-10-07T16:12:31Z

So, changes/non-changes in my life recently...

I still spend my days working (and non-working)

I still spend my nights fighting crime (and cooking)

I now have a functional phone (an I-phone!)

I now have a twitter account (AtALossNYC)

And.... ummm.... that's it? Phone number is the same, and I can receive textual messages and electronic mails and everything. Twitter is twitter. Expect little.

Tonight, toniiiight, the world is....coughcough. I mean, Tonight! Boys Night Out! (girls welcome)

2009-09-25T15:10:00Z

If anybody were so inclined, tonight will be a night of relaxation and quietude, followed by the debauchiest debauching ever to bauch and then de-bauch.

The plans are as follows:

1) Go to Russian and Turkish Baths. Soak in the heat, let out the stress, cleanse the system.

2) Go bar-hopping in the village, fill the system back up with toxins, possibly grab some pomme frites or dumplings further along into the evening.

3)All those still conscious can return to my humble domicile for further adventures, misadventures, non-adventures, and venture capitalists.

So, any takers?

alexsirkman @ 2009-09-16T15:56:00

2009-09-16T20:03:52Z

Tonight! Anybody interested in going to the Russian and Turkish Baths (On 10th, between 1st and A)? Fun, relaxing, and a neat experience for those who've never been. I'm probably going to be there by seven (at which point my phone will be off), and I can offer discounted entry for a few people, on the order of about $20 instead of $30.

Personality Tests...

2009-08-25T16:58:58Z

So, I was invited to take a Myers-Briggs test on Facebook, which I had already taken... I looked at my results again, and thought to myself, "this doesn't seem too accurate".

So I took three more tests. And my results... confuse me.

ESTJ - Facebook

INFJ - HumanMetrics (All "slight" preferences, apparently, except for "moderate" feeling")

Strength of the preferences %
Introverted 22 Intuitive 12 Feeling 38 Judging 11

ENFP - Personality Test Center

And finally...

ES(T/F)P - SimilarMinds

With the following proportions:
Extroverted (E) 66.67% Introverted (I) 33.33%
Sensing (S) 54.17% Intuitive (N) 45.83%
Thinking (T) 50% Feeling (F) 50%
Perceiving (P) 58.33% Judging (J) 41.67%

So... what the hell? Am I doing something wrong with these? How can I ever hope to understand myself if I don't get consistent results on free internet personality tests?

Inebriated Yodeling Go Yay!

2009-06-25T17:46:14Z

Anybody interested in doing karaoke this weekend? I'm thinking of going to Duet 48 this ~~saturday~~ sunday, I meant sunday, starting some time around nine, and going until... well, they close up shop at 6:00am, so, whenever people are sung out. Maybe dinner beforehand?

Spec's

What: More fun than you can shake a reasonably sized stick at

Where: Duet 48 (48th and 2nd, a little bit to the east of 2nd on the south side of 48th)

When: This impending ~~saturday~~ sunday, definitely sunday, around nine (unless people suggest otherwise)

How: Through luck and daring

Why: Because we have no other options left

So, any questions? Anybody interested?

alexsirkman @ 2009-06-19T11:44:00

2009-06-19T15:46:31Z

Is it possible for low-level ADHD to spontaneously blossom? Because I feel like my abilities to focus have trickled out of my ears while I wasn't looking.

existential narcissism

2009-06-06T01:15:16Z

I think I'm usually happy because I almost never feel like I'm choosing between something I'm going to enjoy, and something I'll enjoy less, or not enjoy at all. Usually, I just think about what I'll enjoy, and what I'll enjoy more.

Do you care? If you do, let me know by not responding. I assume those who don't give a shit will take the time to say so.

alexsirkman @ 2009-06-04T19:41:00

2009-06-04T23:42:31Z

Second day of work after being sick? Leaving the office at about eight? Yes, and yes.

Still, that was great pasta the other night.

In brief...

2009-06-03T20:53:24Z

I've been sick the past two days, and trying yet failing to keep up with my own life for god knows how long, but after feeling slightly better last night, I made a pasta dish to blow your mind ("your" referring to you, the internet peoples):

Fusili, with fresh ramps and smoked hungarian bacon, in a fancy bleu cheese (Aaron bought it) cream sauce. Shared with friends! And then we played Go!

I tell you, internet peoples, this must be a pretty good life, if it has all that in it.

alexsirkman @ 2009-05-14T16:38:00

2009-05-14T20:42:57Z

I had a draft of something that would mostly bore or depress those who read it; I have foregone finishing that post in favor of this EARTHSHAKING REVELATION!

You know that candy, Circus Peanuts? They're yummy, with an oddly creamy and fluffy texture, but they don't taste like peanuts... but what do they taste like?

Well, they taste like artificial banana flavoring!

Your prayers of thanks to my glorious self may be directed to the normal address.

alexsirkman @ 2009-05-01T14:48:00

2009-05-01T18:53:34Z

I find the inexorable march of time and the seasons, and the apparent speed thereof, highly disturbing. To all those in agreement, help me research ways to end this unnecessary waste of our most precious resource by halting the flow of time.

alexsirkman @ 2009-04-22T10:15:00

2009-04-22T14:18:39Z

I have returned from Barcelona, alive and well! (for a given value of well... I actually picked up some sort of bronchial infection or something while I was there).

I'll give a full update later on, and I'll post some of the pictures I took on facebook, but suffice to say that Barcelona is a very cool place; great architecture, great food, and more Concha Velasco than you can shake a stick at.

alexsirkman @ 2009-04-19T02:15:00

2009-04-19T00:17:27Z

In Barcelona. Nice place. Having fun. More to follow when I have time + energy.

Adios. (Or Adéu, to go with the catalan)

alexsirkman @ 2009-04-10T09:39:00

2009-04-10T13:40:04Z

What. The. Fuck.

alexsirkman @ 2009-04-07T18:48:00

2009-04-07T21:51:19Z

Headline of a recent news article:

Rare Shark Caught, Eaten in Philippines

I'm not even bothering with linking. That's all you need right there.

alexsirkman @ 2009-04-01T19:51:00

2009-04-02T00:00:48Z

The entire Scion Companion is now out.... and it includes a bonus pantheon, in the section offering a story set during WWII.

The Yankee Pantheon.

One's choice of divine parent includes: Betsy Ross, Br'er Rabbit, Columbia (not the one from RHPS, sadly), John Henry, Johnny Appleseed, Pecos Bill, Rosie the Riveter, and of course, Uncle Sam.

So, yeah. Back to your regularly scheduled Internets. And I'll get back to work.

On studying Go problems

2009-03-26T14:14:58Z

Studying problems is like learning words when mastering a foreign language. The more words you add to your vocabulary the more comfortable you feel speaking the language. Solving Go problems has nothing to do with sitting behind a Go board in a cold and dark attic, sweating for hours while trying to solve one position. Again it is quite similar to learning foreign words: you go over them, read the translation (solution) and once the whole list is completed you check how many you actually remembered. You repeat this as long as you feel like it.

-Jan van der Steen
1998-07-13

alexsirkman @ 2009-03-04T13:46:00

2009-03-04T18:47:25Z

Franken Fran... Not a bad definition of Chaotic Neutral

The End Times?

2009-03-03T14:38:50Z

Check another one off the list.

alexsirkman @ 2009-02-19T13:05:00

2009-02-19T18:11:14Z

So, I was thinking... assuming I get over my crippling bout of coughing, hiccuping, and burping that has only paused for precious few moments within the last 24 hours;

Would anyone like to go with me to the NY Go center tomorrow, and then go to Yuka afterwards? I'm guessing Yuka around 9:30, 10:00, if people just want to show up for sushi.

So, anybody interested? People will of course also be welcome back to the apartment after to chill and maybe play further games (not necessarily Go, for those who fear my obsession)

A silly meme from pegasus_01

2009-02-15T02:00:32Z

By the way, anybody who likes is welcome to do the meme, of course

1. Make a list of 5 things you can see without getting up:
- Aaron
-Rob's Go board
-big tv
-Venture Bros season two disc
-flowers my mom left for us in the apt. on wednesday

2. How do you style your hair?
I brush it, back, then try to keep it out of my face, for the most part

3. What are you wearing now?
blue jeans, boxers, socks, and my favorite TMBG t-shirt, which my little brother bought me for my birthday

4. What's your occupation?
paralegal/baby lawyer

5. Do you nap a lot?
very infrequently.... usually only if I'm jet-lagged

6. Who was the last person you hugged?
I think I gave jlc a hug when I saw him yesterday

7. What's your current fandom/obsession/addiction?
welll, I try to stay out of the field of obsession; but I have started re-reading Rave Master recently, as a little bit of light entertainment

8. What was the last thing you ate today?
four 50 cent hot dogs from Ikea, with some lingonberry juice

9. What was the last text message you received?
from my cousin, telling me he would try to visit NYC and see my new apartment soon

10. What websites do you always visit when you go online?
LJ, aol mail, facebook

11. What was the last thing you bought?probably those hot dogs and the juice, as well as eight other hot dogs and three cinnamon buns to be split between basement_gnome, cbreakr, and myself

12. What are you listening to right now?
The sound of basement_gnome playing Crystal Chronicles

13. What do you think about before you go to bed at night?
Honestly? I usually think about how I wish I had someone to cuddle up to, if I'm conscious enough. So I try not to be too conscious.

14. What was the last CD you bought?
Possibly Power to Believe, by King Crimson?

15. What is your favorite weather, and why?
I love early fall weather, where it's still fairly warm, but crisper out, with a nice breeze... you can wear shorts or jeans, a sweatshirt or just a t-shirt, and I don't sweat like a beast

16. If you could play any musical instrument, which one would you play?
Didgeridoo. Because.... Didgeridoo.

17. How are you?
pretty relaxed...many of my greater concerns in life right now have been recently alleviated; of course, one of my major concerns has also been made all the more evident by the current date ^^;;

18. What's something you'd like to say to someone right now?
erm....I'd like to say hello to my little brother. In person. i.e. I'd like to visit him in Barcelona. That would be totally sweet.

19. Say something about the person who tagged you:
Oh my... despite what I may have said in the past, she is not constructed 100% out of unholy obsessions. It's more like 95% unholy obsessions. But that last 5%, what a great friend ^^

OHGODITSOVER

2009-02-13T00:55:08Z

So, some of you may have noticed that I have been incommunicado for the past.... months. I have my reasons! My reasons were mostly going to israel, going insane from moving, and then finishing my law school applications. I am happy to say that, as of this moment, I am firmly ensconced in my new residence and my applications are DONE!

I would love to see so very many of you, and have you all come see the new place; any formal party will still have to wait until there is some more planning done, but if anybody wants to hang out this weekend, let me know. I'm hoping that people haven't forgotten about the Scion game I was running... I made a post a while back on epically_epic, but I don't think anyone responded ^^;; I'd love to start up again, if you guys are willing to take the plunge.

As it is, I'm now home, in my PJs, with a big pot of kale, cannelini and smoked ham hock soup bubbling away on the stove. My plans for the night? I'm going to render myself insensible and sit in a comfy chair, watching Aaron play Crystal Chronicles; and I won't have to worry about anything!

Except for waking up for work tomorrow...and whether I'll get in to any schools...and whether I'll meet a nice girl...and the state of the economy...and...and...

Time to render myself insensible, I think.

alexsirkman @ 2009-02-09T22:16:00

2009-02-10T03:19:22Z

The new episode of No Reservations is entitled "Food Porn"

Silly clip episode, or video essay deconstructing modern food fandom by comparing it to classic porn, point after point?

Maybe a bit of both.

(glad I made it home from work before ten tonight)

NY Go Center!

2009-02-03T14:17:59Z

So, anybody interested in coming to the NY Go Center tonight?