Personal

Like many creatures of the web, I’ve been known to watch YouTube videos every now and then. For the last year or so, I’ve noticed something strange going on with Google’s advertising approach within YouTube. Initially, I just thought I was witnessing a mistake that their developers made, and I waited to see when they’d fix the issue. To my surprise, that day never came – so today, I’m going to describe the problem, as I perceive it. Let’s start with a screenshot: Notice the message to the bottom right? It says “you can skip to video in,” and then has a countdown, in seconds. There’s nothing wrong with such an approach – in fact, it allows me to move … Read more

Now that I’ve dipped into the topic of Halloween, here’s a picture of me getting kicked by a guy in a SWAT costume: Notice how I’m still holding a glass, despite being cuffed? I’m dressed as Julian from Trailer Park Boys, a character who always walks around with a glass of liquor. Even in the most ridiculous scenarios, he’ll keep his glass in hand. Given my hair color and overall body type, I felt I could do his character justice – the result can be seen below. And finally, here’s a really specific reference to first Trailer Park Boys short that was ever created (which was in black and white). Important: While I’m pointing a toy gun at a cat, I am … Read more

Some of you may remember that I wanted to expand into TV and movie reviews, with video as a delivery format. The idea was to have a review show named “All Too Convenient,” but despite some effort, I never seemed to find the right approach. It wasn’t a total loss, however, as it resulted in one YouTube video that detailed the experience. Today, I’d like to reveal another product of “All Too Convenient” experiments: a written review of The Hunger Games. I originally published it on April 20th, 2012, but it didn’t take long for me to pull the plug. It’s a good review, in my opinion, but I felt it took me too long to write, and I already … Read more

Transcription ??? Credits Filmed by: Joseph Pereira

Transcription Matt Refghi: Alright, we’re at Dragon*Con 2012, and I’ve got four cats right here. So, is it your first time at Dragon*Con? All: No. Matt: Okay, so you’ve been here before. How many times? Kitty 3: This is my third year. Matt: Third year. Kitty 2: This is my sixth, I think. Matt: Sixth year. Kitty 4: Sixth. Matt: Very nice. Kitty 1: Third. Matt: Third? Great. And is this – what kind of costume is this – you just went creative and had a whole bunch of cat costumes? Kitty 3: Well… do you watch Big Bang Theory? Matt: Yes I do. Kitty 2, Kitty 3: Soft kitty? Matt: Oh, soft kitty! Of course! Kitty 3: Yes! Matt: … Read more

Transcription Matt Refghi: Once again at Dragon*Con 2012, and I just had to stop to talk to Link right here because I was particularly impressed with his costume. I remember Ocarina of Time very well, and I know that’s not the standard shield – I remember this shield, it was very useful. I also recall that the tunic is normally green, so if you could tell us a little more about the costume, and your design, your decisions. Aaron Granofsky: Alright. Technically, this is the Twilight Princess Zelda version, but I wanted to make the Ocarina of Time mirror shield, so I built the mirror shield and just added it to the Twilight Princess. But Twilight Princess typically has Zora … Read more

Transcription Matt Refghi: Alright, we’re at Dragon*Con 2012, and I’m here with two cosplayers that I do not recognize, and I’m particularly intrigued because of the plunger. So if you could please tell me about your characters, tell me about yourselves. John: I’m playing the Phantom of the Paradise which is from a 1970s movie directed by Brian De Palma as a musical version of the Phantom of the Opera. Matt: Okay, not familiar, but still very cool. Yes? Clara: I’m playing Major Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell manga, it’s an old school version of her outfit. Matt: Okay, alright. And the plunger, where does that fit in? John: He attacks somebody with a plunger in the middle of the … Read more

Transcription Matt Refghi: Alright, we’re here at Dragon*Con 2012, and I’m here with Jason who’s dressed as Thor. Hello Jason, so how many times have you come to Dragon*Con? Jason: This is my seventh year. Matt: That’s great – what costumes have you worn before? Jason: I’ve been a Hellraiser from Cenobite, or Cenobite from the Hellraiser movie. Matt: Very nice. Jason: Scottish highlander wearing a kilt, and of course Thor, one of my favorites – so this is my second year in a row being Thor. Matt: Right. I noticed that that hammer is not just a regular hammer – Jason: Yes. Matt: I’ve seen many Thors, but that’s one strong hammer. Can you just tell us about the hammer? … Read more

Transcription Matt Refghi: Alright, we’re at Dragon*Con 2012 and I’m here with Justin who decided to dress as Walt Whitman. From Breaking Bad, and yet, he seems to be – Justin: Walt Whitman? It was Walt Whitman? Matt: Wasn’t it? Justin: Uh, I think it was Walter White. Matt: Oh! Justin: Walt Whitman was the writer. Matt: Jesus, Walter White. Justin: Yeah. Matt: That’s right, okay. (to cameraman) We’ll restart? Justin: I think that was good, that was good though. Matt: Yeah, it’s fine, it’s just. Justin: It was a nice gap, I liked it. Matt: Oh, you mean, like a natural mistake? What do you mean? Justin: Well, yeah, you were like, yeah, “Walt Whitman, he made meth too!” … Read more

Transcription Matt Refghi: Hi, everyone, I’m here with a cosplayer, and I’m not entirely sure what his costume is, but it feels like Steampunk. If you could just explain a little more about the costume. Baron Bon Bar: Yes, it is Steampunk. I’m a Steampunk bartender by the name Baron Bon Bar. German, Baron Good Bar. If you can check this out, I’ve got my shotgun. Matt: (laughs) Baron: I carry the bardolier (?) , and the Bar Back – Matt: Oh, wow. (laughs) This is – Baron: – which caries two fluid gallons which is pneumatically displaced through this glove. Matt: That is… community service if I’ve ever seen it. That is excellent. Baron: Well, that’s what Dragon*Con’s all … Read more