Blog of Josh Hall

This is actually my second foray into the LEGO mosaic realm. The first one was a freehand design of the LEGO logo. A mosaic of Albert Einstein would require a little assistance though.

There are 2 methods for creating mosaics in LEGO bricks, this one is a studs out technique, where the studs face the viewer. It’s probably the easiest to do, because you can match up 1×1 bricks with a square pixel of an image. The other methods is the studs up technique, which involves stacking the plates or bricks vertically. With that method, you lose the ease in design, but you gain the opportunity for resolution since the profile of a plate is 2:5.

For this Albert Einstein design, I knew I wanted to keep it smaller scale. 32×48 studs looked like a nice portrait size and i had 3 16×32 base plates as a great canvas to begin. I took the image, cropped it down to the correct ratio, and then decreased the size down to something I could translate into block. If you just shrink it to 32×48 pixels…well, let’s just say it doesn’t resemble Albert Einstein anymore.

So, after 5 hours of adjusting blocks and trying to get it to resemble the picture, we have this:

I think I might have an easily producible art here, that I’m thinking of entertaining commissioned mosaics if I were to be approached.

Here’s the LEGO logo mosaic, if you were curious:

If someone sends you an email with a question, then respond to it.  Emails are conversations too.  Ignoring it is just like staring at them blankly in the face. for days.

Alright, now that we’re into the summer and for sale signs are posted, here’s a break down of all the houses that are for sale in the Hill District:

113 Erin Street – $143,900 : My neighbor’s house who passed away in February 2011 and now his son is selling it. If you’ve been to my house, it has the same exact floor plan, but has a deck. Listing & County Assessment

117 Erin Street – $63,319 : My neighbor’s house who declared bankruptcy in September 2010. If you’ve been to my house, it has the same exact floor plan, but has a deck.  She also put in expensive tile throughout this house.  You have to do some research on how to get a house on sheriff sale, but come June 6th, this thing will be sold to the highest bidder. Instant equity here. Listing & County Assessment

9 Davenport Street – $93,500 : This house is just across the parking lot from me. If you’ve been to my house, it has the same exact floor plan.  Listing & County Assessment

139, 147, 153 Erin & 129, 139 Davenport = $150, 000 : New constructions in 2010.  Garages and yards.  Listings & County Assessment

There are a bunch more, ranging from older/smaller/cheaper to new/larger/more expensive listed here.  All of these houses are about a mile to downtown and about half a mile from the new Shop n’ Save and YMCA going into the Hill District.

I’ve been away from the game long enough that some of you may not know my involvement in the free online role playing game, Legend of the Green Dragon.  This weekend, June 4th  (6/4), a bunch of players are getting back on as a sort of reunion, and I thought it might be a good time to share the link with you in preparation.

It’s a fun text based game, that is energized a lot by players interacting with one another and taking on the role of the character they set up.  As the creator of the site, I took on the role of the king.  You should join us this weekend if you’ve never played! Here’s the announcement from the site:

Hear ye, Hear ye
In the Sixth month and on the fourth day of this very year…

There shall be a gathering.. a reunion.. of those that once shared a fate,
A fate so epic that it has bound them,
One to the other, throughout all eternity.

They come one by one, from the depths of the sea,
From the heights of the mountains and treetop dwellings.
From castles and keeps, temples and catacombs
From the peaks of mount Olympus
And the hidden shadows of the underdark.

They gather from shore to shore..
To be united once again in the Land of Six.

Yes.. The KING Sixf00t4 has vowed he, himself, would be honored
To make an appearance at such a gathering
Of some of the finest warriors the gods have ever known…
Join us on June 4th!
For this too shall be an Epic Adventure!

When you sign up, enter one of the following codes to receive bonus gold or gems!

‘reuniongold‘ will net you 10k gold
‘reuniongems‘ will net you 10 gems.

if resolution can’t be met over 3 emails, it’s time to escalate to the phone.  Don’t forget rules 161 and 162.

A Mother’s Loss

As my son bends his knees
Under his blanket, enjoying his dreams
I place my head on the doorway
Wanting to tell him that I don’t have the words to say.

Every morning he grabs his bag, and darts for that yellow bus
As I wave farewell, and thank God for how He’s blessed us
With a house, with love, with each other, and so much more.
And a smile smacks me in the face as I step back from the front door.

My day goes on, with images of him at school on my mind
I see him opening the door for ladies, being generous and kind
My son makes me proud, prouder than anything I have done on my own
and before I know it, it’s time to meet him back at our home.

He does his work, has a snack, and tells me about his day
Then it’s right out the door to go out to play
Every day, we do the same routine
And every night, my son comes back to me.

Night brings sheets of black cloth over your eyes
And the silence is broken with bullets and cries
Bullets of blame, hatred, and shame
Cries of mercy, confusion, and pain.

His bed stayed empty that night.
As empty as the gun, that took his life.
As empty as my mouth without the words to say
I love you, I miss you, and I think about you every day.