Dampfkraft

Foley Effects

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:35:09 +0900

In professional film recording, while the camera's running the only sound of interest is the dialogue. Incidental sounds, from footsteps to knocked over trash cans to swishing pants, are all dubbed in afterwards. The basic techniques go back to radio, but their application to film, where the timing is more sensitive, is its own discipline. One pioneer (and inventor of the closed captioning symbol) was Jack Foley, and as such people in this line of business are often called Foley Artists

Though adding a depth and dimension to film that is of inestimable value, perhaps the best part about Foley artists is that they're hilarious to watch.

Thought technically not Foley since it's done for radio, the film Rajio no Jikan (English title Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald) has some incredible sound effects sequences.

May all your punches be phone books. Ψ

Programmed by Nasir

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:23:47 +0900

The original Final Fantasy game was programmed by an American-educated Iranian, Nasir Gebelli. He also programmed the second and third games in that series and, after a long break, the wonderful Secret of Mana 2. After that he left the games industry, turning up for interviews in 1998 and 99, and there disappears from history.

1up has a somewhat fluffy article on the development process of Final Fantasy that holds a gem or two, and video of Nasir at the Apple II reunion from '98 is online, though with terrible audio.

An amusing point is that due to an expired Japanese work visa, Final Fantasy II and III were finished in San Francisco since it was easier for the team to move there than sort out Nasir's situation in Japan. Some things change slowly. Ψ

The Dumplings of Terror

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:27:56 JST

This is an old Japanese story. I know it's true because I heard it from someone who knew the man it happened to.

Once a salaryman bought some dumplings on his way home from work.

When he got home he opened the lid on the box and saw ten dumplings. When he went to start tea he put the lid back, so he had to open the box again, but when he opened it, one of the dumplings was missing!

Surprised, he let the box close again. When he raised the lid up again to check... Another dumpling was missing! There were only eight dumplings left in the box.

In his surprise he began closing and opening the lid. Every time he did, one by one the dumplings disappeared.

When he slowly opened the lid and saw only one dumpling left, he was so scared his heart stopped and he died.

In fact, all the dumplings were just stuck to the lid of the box.

* * *

A few days later, his body was put into a coffin to be buried. However, when the moritician opened the coffin to check on the corpse, it had disappeared!

Actually, his corpse had stuck to the lid of the coffin.

* * *

Source for the story is here, with substantial liberties taken. Picture is courtesy of Tomo Yun. Whatever use you intend to put this story to, I think it works better with a very drunk audience. Ψ

Ramenburger

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:43:38 JST

Last week was the Furusato Matsuri at Tokyo Dome, an annual celebration bringing vendors from all over the country to one place to sell regional specialties. While many standard, traditional treats are on exhibit, modern smaller companies come as well, bringing treats new to Japan and the world, like sweet beers for Valentine's Day. However, nothing commands the awe and respect due to the Ramen Burger.

The bun is made of noodles. The contents are traditionally associated with ramen - a smattering of greens, some nori seaweed, a star of naruto kamaboko fish sausage, and thin-sliced pork.

Rice-bun burgers have been around at omnipresent chain Mos Burger for a while now, but it's not entirely clear where the ramen burger comes from. Its obscure origins suggest it was the invention of a small shop rather than a publicity stunt by a large chain, like this Windows 7 burger:

This blog entry is a somewhat incredulous account of a trip to the possible home of the ramen burger in 2006, with an interesting video of the burger being made. It also claims the proper name of the burger is the "seven-ring burger" - it's unclear whether this is some kind of joke, a reference to something traditional about ramen, or entirely serious. This English-language tourism site suggests the burger is unique to Kitakawa, a place completely unmentioned in the other article. No explanation is given for the burger's invention or its association with the particular place (other than the use of quality local ingredients).

If you're feeling really brave, the supposed Kitakawa home of the ramen burger also has details on something called a ramen pizza, but the less said about that the better. Ψ

Piranesi

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:00:21 JST

Giovanni Battista Piranesi was an Italian etcher who paid the bills with prints and architectural ventures, including on one occasion a papal commission (never carried out). What he's best remembered for, though, is a series of engravings that will look very familiar to anyone familiar with the works of M. C. Escher. Carcieri d'invenzione, Imaginary Prisons, published in 1750 and significantly improved in 1761, consists of sixteen places that while not geometrically impossible are certainly odd:

Compare Escher's famous Relativity:

Prisons and other works are hosted in many places online, but unfortunately a commonly-linked resource at Tokyo University appears to be gone. This site seems to have most of Piranesi's work, as well as work by Dore and Durer, though all the text is in Japanese.

Do enjoy. Ψ