My favorite approach to new experiences & tools is an "intense thrashing". That is to say, I dive right in, past whatever mere membrane of insubstantiality kept me from understanding it firsthand, then flail around wildly. Feature discovery by way of learn-by-doing is unsubstitutable. Sometimes, I read the manual. Oftentimes not. And more frequently, if there's a video tutorial, I'll prescreen that — even if it's to learn something's not right for my needs.

Then, I'll sleep on it. Something will've been learned, then I awake, with a new layer of knowledge. The second day may not be so intense, or may be even more — but the thrashing continues for only so many weeks, at most. Then, desensitization arises, I become accustomed to what I'm dealing with, and hence, more comfortable. Time and time, I see this pattern again. Like fast food, it comes in different sizes. Also like fast food, I know what to expect.

I recently received an M-Audio Torq Xponent in the post. Quite the fun piece of DJ kit. Nice video tutorials too, haw-haw. I've never been a conventional DJ, but I had a dream to get back into beatmixing in some way. And even if I don't use it for that, it works with VJ apps too.

The first few days have been intense indeed.

Today was sort of like Christmas here, well, the Xmas before Halloween: we also got a new Canon SD1100IS camera, BCF2000 fader box (to use with Sony Vegas and other VJism), and some books. Oh, and a griddle.

(All of which WAS BOUGHT ON SALE. Thank you SlickDeals forums and Amazon.com.)