We’re almost 2 weeks into ‘08, so how am I doing on my resolutions?
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photo courtesy of Atanas Entchev licensed via Creative Commons BY-NC

In and around sorting the medical drama that has resulted from Casey taking a punch to the face (more on that later) I had an opportunity to sit down with my friend and former personal trainer Dino Masson. Dino was half the formula that made my last fitness kick a success, where I went from 215 lbs down to 175lbs. He tailored fun workouts, provided ample encouragement, was a confident, and just a great person.

Want an idea of how awesome he is? When I called him for medical advice on Casey’s condition right after the assault, not only did he give wise instructions but also said to call him the next day to provide an update, and even offered to come over and give a physical checkup. And he lived half-an-hour away.

I don’t know if he is taken ladies, so have at him.

Anyway, mid last year he landed an awesome job that takes him around the world so we had to end our sessions together. But he was in Montreal for the holidays and offered to put together a new program with me. When I asked if I could share it online, he was all for it. So here we go.
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photo courtesy of Gary Arndt under Creative Commons License BY-NC-SA

So following yesterday’s events, and a thread that has been running in my head for awhile I have decided to take up a martial art. Which one?
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Today was the closest I ever came to killing a man. And I deeply regret I didn’t.

Casey has the details on her hand on how she was punched in the face by a complete jackass. Yes she slapped him. That in no way justifies the hit he gave her.

And me? I keep reeling with what I did … and what I didn’t do it.
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It seems that at some point every online personality goes vegan. I did it last year though it was not a decision I made lightly; the thought was running in my mind for a few months as a solution to my ballooning weight, having gained 20lbs in a year. Only thing stopping me were my friends and family laughing at the idea that carnivorous Rudy Jahchan could survive a week going vegan.

But then I was lucky to have the brilliant, vegan, (and sexy) Sean Bonner visit us. With his encouragement, inspirational links he provided on others who had done it, and his accompaniment on a grocery shopping makeover experience, I was on my way.
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‘Tis the season and all that for New Year’s Resolutions and there is no better way of making yourself accountable for them than by making them public. This post already fulfills …
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I had the pleasure of meeting Neil Gorman during Podcamp Boston. He’s good people, not only for being a futurist and a comicbook lover, but also for working with troubled kids.

He shared an interesting theory regarding personality and attraction, which has been haunting me recently. I won’t go into all the details ’cause he really should get off his ass and document it on his blog. But the component I keep returning to is that people are somewhere between Superman and Batman.

Superman is invincible, gifted with great powers and spends his time reacting to crisis after crisis. Translated to a real person’s personality it’s someone skilled, but who doesn’t plan. Why should he? Like Superman, his “powers” are sure to help him out of any situation. So when something finally does break through, it hurts tremendously.

Batman on the other hand plans like crazy, 10 steps ahead, counter-measures at the ready, a bat-gadget for every scenario. A person always on top of things, and has complete control. Being human, it’s his best chance of survival in the world.

Neil’s original focus on this was tied to who we find ourselves attracted to. But looking at it as a general “how do you handle life”, can you guess who I am?

I continually am improving myself in terms of skills, sometimes proactively going after them without prompting. But despite this massive war-chest of knowledge, I have spent most of my time reacting. A promotion at work gained by a firing. Sponsorships being brought in by others (which I truly appreciate) instead of actively seeking it myself.

Hell, even the idea of doing a video-podcast was only a theoretical discussion point for me until Casey said she wanted in. I was reacting to what she wanted. Not that I regret it at all.

But I have to change. I need to develop a plan. Where do I want to go, how do I want to get there, and what do I need to make it happen? I am going to start writing it all down, and consult you for your thoughts.

I’m Batman. Or I will be.

Plus, chicks “digg” the car.

Hello again, interweb. We’ve already have had many conversations you and I, through Galacticast, or Twitter, or Facebook. But let’s start another one right here. One about me and the world I live in.

For those who don’t me, I’m Rudy Jahchan, co-creator and executive producer of popular internet shows GALACTICAST, A COMICBOOK ORANGE, and KITKAST. Writing, directing, editing, special effecting on a weekly basis out of my apartment with nothing but the rocketboom kit; a digital camera, a green construction, a few lights, and two computers.

But that’s not all. I am an avid coder, extending WordPress to deliver the content in the way I want, using the killer services of blip.tv, flickr, and feedburner. Oh, and all of this while holding down a day job directing software development.

Yes, I am the Cylon God.

Actually, I am simply the man behind the scenes of some interesting projects. But recent events have made me decide its time to step out of the shadows.

That’s a lie. Recent events have actually made me decide its time to change my life.

So I want to document those changes, and the glorious successes they will assuredly bring. Not just as a promotional tool, or as scrapbook to look back on decades (centuries?) from now, but as a way to return to doing what I love to do; share and learn awesome things.

What’s next? Galacticast will finish Season 2.0 with a couple more episodes until X-Mas, and start planning Season 3.0. I have a seekrit project in ze werks, and hopefully things will move fast enough I can tell you about it without jinxing it. I am hitting the gym again, to tone up. And more.

Hope you stick around.

P.S. - Big thanks to Lan Bui for my awesome new headshot I am using across all of my sites. The man and his brother Vu are talented lense masters. Reach out and say hi.

Originally posted on my old blog coderonin.

The urine ran slow and warm down my leg when I realized who he was.

“Pleased to meet you,” he said, extending a hand. The Devil grinned. “I see you guessed my name.”

He laughed at the joke. A braying honk of laughter passed crooked, yellow teeth. A smell on his breath; not enough to drive you away, just enough to torment you. It finished the job of sobering me up, and I didn’t take his hand. He kept it out there for a few moments before shrugging and grabbing a drink in front of him.

“Another round?” he asked urgently, offering the glass.

So much for sobriety, as my first instinct was to shout “Hell, yeah!” But who knew how The Devil would interpret that. I managed to choke it off to a hesitant grunt that turned into a panicked headshake. The Devil caught the reaction change though. Surprisingly, he looked hurt.

“Oh c’mon,” he urged. “I promise, it’s on me. Won’t cost you a thing.”

He placed the drink in front of me.

“I insist,” he said.

Oh God, he insisted. What was I to do? Literally damned if I did, damned if I didn’t. My focus shifted nervously between the glass and The Devil.

“Won’t cost a thing,” he said again, nodding with that charming, awful smile.

I decided to take the drink. Slugged it back.

“Except your SOUL!” said the Devil.

The drink spewed from my mouth. Coughs wracked my body. The Devil roared with laughter.

“Oh, oh, that’s always classic!” he said. “The look on your face!”

I said nothing. Too scared shitless. Funny thing is I believe that’s what quieted him down so quickly. His laughter died out and he again appeared to be in some pain.

“Hey, hey,” he said. “I was only kidding. Your soul’s fine.”

He stared at me anxiously, waiting for a response. Felt hot under that stare, so I nodded to get it over with. That seemed to please him. He clapped his long, pale hands (a kind of wet sound) and giggled.

“Good, good,” he said. He waved over the horrified bar tender. “Another two for me and my friend here.”

“Sir, I … I think you’ve had enough,” began the bartender.

I will never forget the heat, sight, and sound of that poor man’s head melting in flames. Lucky to have its smoking remains crash turned away from me. The scalded back of his skull was bad enough.

The Devil looked significantly at the other bartender and nodded once. Our drinks were prepared.

I couldn’t stand it any longer.

“What do you want from me?” I said. More like whimpered.

He turned to me with surprise.

“Why, nothing.” An offended tone. More urine down my leg. “You came to me.”

He was right. I did come to him. Drunk from a night of trying to forget her. Looked over to see the first face that seemed to understand the blackness in me now that she was gone. Needed that understanding, so I came over. We shared a few great drinks, shared many great laughs. Until he clued me in to who he was. I wasn’t laughing anymore.

Which was what was irritating him. Nothing had really changed, had it? Just who I knew him as. It was still true that he understood the blackness in me. Who could ever understand it more than The Devil? And it still had been my decision to come over for a drink.

“But I never wanted to drink with the Devil,” was all I could say in the end.

“No one ever does, buddy,” he sighed. “No one ever does.”