A Peek into a Mind

Not. This weekend was more draining then recharging, and in a few hours I’ll have to wake up and begin another busy week. I love what I do, don’t get me wrong. I study a very interesting field (copywriting), I got an exciting job – developing a mobile game (which I think will rock!) – and basically I don’t even have to worry about bills too much as I’m currently don’t have to pay for a flat, as I sleep at my cousin Sagit. But it stills racing from here to there without any moments to get the head out to breathe some air.
Continue reading ‘High Energies?’

Yes, it’s my birthday today!
28. Damn. It looks there’s a very slim chance now that I’ll be able to land on the moon by 21. I guess I’ll have to adjust to the idea.

Anyway, the Birthday started wonderful, as last night Inbalita and me went to the Molly Blooms, the best Irish pub in Israel, for a live gig and lots of fun. The pub is also celebrating a birthday (3 years) and since the 25th, up until Dec. 2nd, it got a live performance of Sliotar, a band from Dublin. I’m sure going to spend Sunday’s and Monday’s nights over there.

Well, birthday or not, things needs to be done anyway. Shmulik and I have completed the code design of the game and now working on implementing all the needed code. The game is taking shape slowly but constantly. I still have to phone Alex, the graphician, though. Ho well.

A sudden traffic rise today had me looking for the reason. Apparently an Israeli site called KolYom (= “Every Day”) had my site on his front page along with 8 other sites. Ho well.

I’ve updated and sorted the J2ME Development page, so be sure to check it. I’ve started a new project this week, along with Shmulik, developing a new mobile game for Eurofun. We have a meeting with them on Thursday to present the design and see how we’ll have this thing running, as it’s unlikely Shmulik and I will open an independent game studio just yet. I’ve written down the Design Document and I’ll sit with Shmulik on Thursday morning to write the Technical Paper. We’re both the only programmers so I don’t expect many problems with code structure. We’ll have to add at least one graphician, though. Graphics quality is critical.

I also still have too many copywrite works to submit. I’ll try to finish tomorrow as many ads and radio spots that I can before leaving. I also need to meet with Tomer to discuss change of strategy promoting the Reality Traveling TV Show we’ve been working on, meet Adi to discuss the next IGDA Chapter meeting, and there is also a Siggraph Chapter on Tel-Aviv University on Friday morning I’m going to.

Now where am I going to find time to look for a new apartment with such a busy week…

This morning 2 car bombs exploded outside two synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey, at almost the same time. At that time one synagogue (Neve Shalom, the big sinagogue) had about 400 people celebrating a Bat-Mitzva, and the other syangogue had about 100 Sabbath prayers. 146 people wounded, 20 dead (so far), including mostly jews, but also bypassers and Turkish cops securing the area. An official Israeli assistance crew is being sent to Turkey.

And I thought that the news of the jewish school that was set on fire in Paris, France, would be the hightlight…

Updates: Jewish community in Turkey reports that 5 of the dead and 70 of the wounded are from the jewish community. According to AP, there are 20 dead and at least 257 wounded.

News links: Ynet (hebrew), Ynet (Arabic), Google News Sources list, CNN.

I’ve almost completed the 0.6 version of cfx-NewsGrabber script. These are the problems I still deal with and the way I’m planning to solve them.
Continue reading ‘Newsgrabber 0.6 – php problems’

The first reaction of most people when they wake up in the morning to a heavy rain outside is to sink a little more into the warm blanket. For the past 5 years, my first reaction when I wake up to rain is “shit, Leonardo!”.

This morning was no different. I jumped out of bed the minute I realized it’s raining outside. I got my shoes on and my rain coat and hurried outside, to drag the dog’s cabin to the other side of the garden (where we have a roof that protects it from the rain). Leonardo, the cute little furry thing, was buried completely under his blanket with only his nose peeking out.

After making sure he’s ok I went back up and got back to bed. But something still felt missing. Then I realized what – a nice little warm post on the blog. So here, now I can go back to my bed…

P.S. – Music for this morning: Phenomia. Specially Chercher La Lumiere, Faux Prophete, L’heure De Verite (Phen), Loin d’ici (karaoke), Orphelins (karaoke) and of course my personal favorite Ensemble (also found on kazaa as ‘theme karaoke’). Recommended.

Shir got a birthday today. I’m doing the effort and driving to Jerusalem tonight to be in a birthday-dinner. So… Happy Birthday Shir. Hey, look on the bright side! You only got 94 years left!

Update – The party/dinner was great fun. But who the hell buildt that F**k’n Ein-Karm road?! It should be declared an Extreme-Sport zone only! (Specially at night!)

A little tip (unrelated to the post): SMSing with a sleeping person has some disadvantages. Mostly the fact that after a few SMSs you feel like no one listens to you. Go figure.

Past couple of weeks been one long race. and it’s not over yet. Just a little list of things I still should be doing:

Anne
Cassette – Find the current address and send the cassette already.
Letter – Write letter. Long one.

Copywriting
Microsoft:
  - Find concept
  - Create slogan
  - Create Double-spread color ad
  - Write an initial idea for a low budget TV commercial that does not involve human characters.
  - Limitation: No item that have any connection to computers may be involved!

Bolle Sunglasses and Kellogg Cornflakes:
  - For each make a mini-campaign that includes Newspaper Ad and a Radio Spot.
  - Make a different mini-campaign for each of these target audience:
      - Young guys back from the east (backed up in parent’s money)
      - 40 years old babes, married but emotionally available
      - Men, 35-40, urban, looking for assures, stopped smoking, loyal to the family but don’t admit.
  - (total of 6 ads, 6 radio spots)

Head and Shoulders Shampoo or Nine Lives dry cat food:
  - A series of 2 ads and 2 radio spots, that uses the media.
  - Think of a new type of media – invent one.

30″ Radio Text:
  - Write a dramatic, evolving, esthetic, reeks of emotions and moving to tears text.
  - 30″, 60-65 words, but…
  - that have absolutely no meaning. none. on nothing. that doesn’t say anything in the overall meaning.

Mid-Course pre Project: Cebe sunglasses:
  - To complete the analyzing of the stores questionnaires
  - find slogan
  - find creative for street sign ad, paper ad and direct mailing letter.

Computers
Nessicom project:
  - Finish Midlet, Add splash screen with image, Make it work on the cellular phone.
  - Get paid.

Book review:
  - Read Core Techniques and Algorithms in Game Programming
  - Write review.

SIGGRAPH Israeli Chapter Meeting
  - November 21st, Tel Aviv University.

I think I got enough work to keep me busy. I’ll be back to the blog when I’ll find some free time. Like in a year or something!
Continue reading ‘To Do’