Thursday, January 22, 2004

   Goung Hei Faut Choi!
Yes, I spelt it that way on purpose. Frankly, I'm not a big fan of how the "fat" part comes out in the traditional spelling . . .

So yeah, so begins Chinese New Year. Big dinners, lucky money, and lots of performances to be at! For me specifically, my club is doing a big performance Saturday morning - 8 lions AND a dragon! I myself get to be one of the dragon dancers (which is kinda neat and scary at the same time [I missed the practice a couple weeks back]). But yeah, should be nice.

Aside from that, I just beat an hour-long boss fight in FFX-2. I'm very relieved, I must say.

Um . . . . . I feel as though the day warrants no more proclamations, so I'll save the next set piece for next time. Peace . . . . .


Oh, and Sana . . . Okairi nasai!
Comments (14) | Permalink

Wednesday, January 21, 2004

   Two-fold Post . . .
Alright, so from 1993-1996, there was a show. It was played on weekdays at around 6 or 6:30 in the morning, so we had to tape it as we wouldn't be awake for it yet. This show, being a cartoon, had a line of toys that sat on the store shelves while we sat n our couches. Supposedly it was the American answer to Robotech, but regardless, it was an innovative show for its time: it only ran two seasons with a distinct beginning, middle and end; it had a long, involved story involving many characters with very distinct personalities; it had themes about war, slavery, prejudice, and all other things common to such things; its primary characters weren't invincible and were capable of dying at any moment; it invented a new sci-fi species that was cool and memorable; it had insanely cool space battles . . . . . .
. . . . . oh yeah, and it had mechs too!

This was called ExoSquad.

Here is the premise, if you didn't click on the opening credits thing I posted below (which you SHOULD, by the way) . . . in the future, about 150 years or so from now, humans have colonized Venus and Mars with the advent of the E-Frames. Along with this achievement, humans also genetically engineered a new species - super humans, so to speak. Needing little nutrition and no sleep, they were strong, keen-sensed, logical, and effectively emotionless; they were the Neo Sapiens.

After years of doing the hard labour on Venus and Mars, the Neo Sapiens revolt and take over the core worlds of Venus, Earth, and Mars. Humanity is effectively enslaved by their own creations . . . . . as such, there is need for mankind to take back what was lost . . . enter the ExoSquad.

They are a single group of E-Frame pilots among the human ExoFleet. They are the main characters of this insanely epic show. They drive the spearhead of this war, going through many victories, losses, and changes . . . . . in a day where most children's television sang the tune of Inspector Gadget, Captain Planet, or Beetlejuice (which were ALL fine shows, mind you), Exosquad gave a show that made you HAVE to see the next one; though the other shows definitely had their own things going on (Captain Planet was made by Greenpeace, after all), ExoSquad had a storyline that actually went places - this wasn't just a kid's show . . .

Of course, we've lost all those tapes now, so we're very sad . . . and of course, there aren't any DVD sets of it out yet . . . . .

So, if you will, the info can be found here.
And again, a quick link to the 1st season opening credits can be found here.


Now that I've ranted about my lost youth, let's look forward to things to come . . . here are WETA sketches for their work-in-progress: Live-action Evangelion!

http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=16790

Aside from Anglicizing some of the names (poopie), it's coming along quite nicely, I must say . . .
Comments (9) | Permalink

Tuesday, January 20, 2004

   Routers are nuisances . . .
ExoSquad shall have to wait, I'm afraid . . . crimes of passion and all, ya know . . .

For the past hour or so I've been screwing around with this wireless router we have - frankly, it's the most unreliable hunk of defecation to have ever been hooked up to my computers! It conked out routinely, at least twice a week, and recently today just shut out completely - now, when I patched the XP computer through it, it was fine - but that doesn't help the other 2-3 machines in my house, does it?

So yeah, I don't know what we're gonna do about it. For that, I'll probably just leave it to the brother. But man!

"I thought technology was supposed to be our friend!"
Comments (9) | Permalink

Monday, January 19, 2004

   I miss ExoSquad!!!
This is a show from MY youth:

http://tfarchive.com/Exosquad/vidopen.mpg

I need to go watch Gangs of New York on TV right now, so maybe I'll talk about the magic that was ExoSquad tomorrow. 'Til then, here's the opening sequence which pretty much explains everything . . . see ya!
Comments (5) | Permalink

Sunday, January 18, 2004

   Do forgive last day's absence . . .
No, I wasn't hiding out from whatever possible backlash I did or may have received from the previous post - which was still probably better than reposting that Frodo song (which Tigress REALLY hates, by the way).

In any case, I spent all Saturday playing FFX-2. It's been about a week and I'm almost ready to finish it off a second time . . . of course, I'm still quite a ways away from reaching 100% completion . . . . . will probably have to play through it a third time, methinks . . . guhh . . . . .

Oh, funny story! You know how carving sets have the big knife and the big fork, right? Well, someone put the fork in the jar-thingy with all the big spoons and spatulas the other day . . . when I stuck my hand in there to grab a thing for flipping around my lunch, I stabbed myself on it. Yeah, my little pinky has a small hole in it from this blasted carving fork now! Grr . . . JUST when that other cut that I kicked into my hand is starting to finally fully heal up and stuff! Aiya . . .

Which reminds me, Chinese New Year's comin' up pretty soon! Guess I'll talk about that later . . . 'til then, later!
Comments (5) | Permalink

Saturday, January 17, 2004

   Street Philosophy # 8
In honour of my finally getting to talk about the glorious lewdness that is The Canterbury Tales in English, I'm going to talk about gas today . . . that said, um . . . this is gonna hurt my attendance record big time . . . buuuuut . . . . . ah, why not?

Okay, so we all know that our bodies do this thing where they produce methane in our intestines which vents out in a somewhat uncordial-yet-comical fashion. Aside from that, though, I have found extensive evidence that it also stands as a social phenomenon of sorts by testing, gauging, and ultimately encouraging closeness between others . . .

Yes, this does sound rather ridiculous - and yes, I am and arts student, so that probably has something to do with it as well - but think about it: when someone lets one go in a public place, there's a sense of embarassment, right? Now, just like eating and breathing, flatulence is something everyone understands. And yet, we prefer not to let this one out in the open. Aside from the blatant "it's kinda gross" excuse, the fact is, when you're around people you aren't quite as close to, you want to put a good front foward - just like keeping oneself groomed or well-spoken!

This is where the "testing and gauging" part comes into play. Now, for those of you who have been in serious relationships, this may have happened with you (I've certainly seen enough of it first and second-hand): now, I have actually heard this sort of exchange between my brother and his girlfriend . . .
[he farts]
"Did you just fart?"
"Yup."
"I could go for a fart right about now . . ."
[time elapses for a little while . . .]
" . . . did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
[and so on . . .]

She let one rip intentionally! How insane is that?!

As for male-type bonding, well . . . there's only so much one can say here before getting excessively wordy. Let's just say that a brother who comes up to you, says, "Hey, some guy gave me a message for you . . . [poot!] . . . yeah, he was a real asshole . . ." you KNOW you all must be close!
And then there are the bandtrips in which 4 young men are in a hotel room together. When falling asleep consists of each person letting their own respective pops - each followed by their own respective responses to go with them - you know you've got something going.

All in all, if your response to a "pop" goes from a quick cover-up to a relaxed "pardon me" . . . and the other party is able to find the humour in that . . . then ya know, you just might have some friends worth keeping . . .


Now, this argument has MANY holes in it . . . um, I didn't mean it in that way . . . . . but hey, it's been a long day and I'm sure you all have better things to do than read about "the social fart". Heehee . . . see ya . . . . . and do forgive me for this . . .
Comments (15) | Permalink

Friday, January 16, 2004

   Week Which May or May Not Suck . . . . .
So on Monday I FINALLY met up with "The Girl" for a couple seconds so I could give her her Christmas present which had been festering in my backpack for well over a week. It wasn't the plush Inuyasha like I was hoping for, but I guess it'll do for now . . . now, I'm sure I have plenty more story to tell concerning this particular person, but that can wait another day, I'm sure . . .

On Tuesday, as I said, I watched It Happened One Night which rocked ass. What I DIDN'T tell, however, was how after the film was over and we filed out of the lecture room / theater, I left my clipboard on the seat next to me. Now, I didn't neglect to mention that bit because I was mean; truth be told I didn't find out until Wednesday morning, when I was putting my other clipboards into my bag. How foolish, huh?

On Wednesday I suffered the most PAINFUL case of heat-rash I think I have ever suffered! I don't know what it was: dry skin, allergy-inducing laundry detergent, or maybe just getting too warm in general (yeah, temp's come up as of late and I've been walking outside with just a t-shirt sometimes)? In any case, it was perhaps the most painful hour of school ever . . . my arms were kinda red and spotty, and I can only assume my legs and lower back were the same as well (of course I wasn't about to check those in the middle of class!).

Yesterday, I finished my one hour of school and checked that building for my clipboard; it wasn't open yet. Crud. So, instead, I went to the arcade in the Student Union Building (they got Virtua Cop 3 - kinda fun). After that, I went to the mall to browse DVDs. Couldn't find anything, got ANOTHER insurgence of heat-rash . . . . . ick . . .

And that brings us to today. My parents are going to Mexico for a week, leaving their boys in charge of the house. Should be fun, huh? Chat with ya then!
Comments (8) | Permalink

Thursday, January 15, 2004

   CANADIANA: Part 4
KNOW YOUR CELEBRITIES!!!


Today, I'm going to gloss over several Canadian celebrities. I am also going to tell you whether one should be proud of him or her or not. So, let's go!

Adams, Bryan: That one song of his isn't too bad, but this is coming from a guy who likes chick-flicks, so . . . in any case, you can be proud of him a little. You can be proud until you remember that time he screwed up the national anthem at whichever game he was singing before . . . . . baka . . .

Carrey, Jim: Definitely be proud of this guy! He spoke out of his ass on the big screen and people laughed! And let's not forget "Man on the Moon", now - he can actually act sometimes too!

Christensen, Hayden: That's right! Anakin Skywalker is from Vancouver! Haha! Now, granted a lot of people are kinda upset of his work in Ep 2, but hey, he's in the high graces of love/hate, Lucas-style! Go Hayden!

Dion, Celine: Um . . . . . I don't really need to explain this one, do I? Come on, girlie, go eat something and we'll talk . . .

Doohan, James: Now let's see . . . WWII veteran who was at D-Day, lost a finger during it, and STILL went on to play Scotty in "Star Trek"! Oh yeah, he's a keeper . . .

Green, Tom: Okay, he's good for a few laughs, I suppose . . . but seriously! "Freddie Got Fingered"?! Yeah, you don't need to be especially proud of this one . . .

Lee, Pamela Anderson: Well . . . . . on one hand she's been in many a famous thing . . . on the other, she married Tommy Lee . . . . . ick . . . Pamela, what were you thinking?

Moss, Carrie-Anne: Like I need to explain that you should be proud of Trinity? Hello?

Myers, Mike: Again, need I explain that why the acting world's best fake Scottish accent is in need of pride? I think not!

Reeves, Keanu: The dude plays/played hockey, music, AND Neo! Who cares how technically crappy of an actor he is!

Shatner, William: Lotsa old Trekkers, huh? Well, we'll give it to him, as he's definitely made his mark on the world . . . just . . . just forget his rendition of "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" and we'll be good to go . . . . . crap, thought about it . . . damnit Will, you're going down a peg now . . .

Twain, Shania: She sang during half-time for both the Grey Cup AND the Superbowl! That's TWO different national football leagues!!! Go Shania!


Now, there are many, many, many more names, but as I kept remembering more and more, the less and less I wanted to continue this section. Suffice to say, there's some good talent out there - more than enough to downplay the not-so-talented . . . or, the talented-yet-you-wish-they-weren't . . . so there's that. Later, all you Canucks-in-Training!
Comments (11) | Permalink

Wednesday, January 14, 2004

   Headache tonight: this'll be short & sweet
This "Edit Styles" thing is kinda neat. I approve!

Finished FFX-2 today. I'm happy. Now I need to play through again so I can get a better ending! Such are the wonders of "New Game+" . . .

In my film class today we watched It Happened One Night(1934). Supposedly the world's first true "screwball comedy". I'd like to think of it more as the world's first true "chick-flick-that's-okay-for-guys-to-like". Ya know, kinda like Miss Congeniality, I guess. In any case, damn funny movie from a time where people weren't even allowed lie down in the same bed together on-screen. For example, they're trying to hitch a ride to New York; his "thumb-hitchhiking" isn't working, so she tries her "leg-hitchhiking" and gets them a ride. While in the car . . .

Ellie: Aren't you going to give me a little credit?
Peter: What for?
Ellie: Well, I proved once and for all that the limb is mightier than the thumb.
Peter: Why didn't you take off all your clothes? You could have stopped forty cars.
Ellie: Ohh, I'll remember that when we need forty cars.

Wonderful stuff, people! Absolutely wonderful! Totally recommend it if you ever miraculously find it somewhere.

I think I may have miscommunicated what I meant by "tell me what you wanna hear from me" the other day. I simply meant that I wanted to know what you guys wanted me to write about, or whatever - I guess all things considering, it was an honest slip-up. My bad. Buuut, if I can figure out how to chop up mp3's so you only have a partial file of a song, maybe I'll try to find a way to get Billy Boyd's crystalline voice on my page for a little while. In any case, it won't be Frodo (for as we all remember, Tigress REALLY hates that song!) . . .

I'll write cooler stuff tomorrow - so tell me, what would you like me to "write up"? And yes, I realise that "short and sweet" went the way of the Highlander sequel, and that it completely disregarded everything that was said prior.
Comments (9) | Permalink

Tuesday, January 13, 2004

   Week 2, and I'm not through . . .
Well, that work-out definitely worked me out the other day . . . today at school my calves were aching like hell (Chie, I feel for your mile-runs now!). Worst part of it all: ALL my classes today were on the third floors of their respective building wings! Soreness, people! Soreness!

The thumb is still a little tender, but it does feel a little better than last day. As it turns out, right on the joint it's a little red, but I suppose it could be worse. Ah, you don't need thumbs for Lindy Hop anyway . . . . .

And yes, the song is gone now because frankly, having music on my page is just weird, isn't it? I mean, aside from the song itself (which Tigress REALLY hates, by the way), I just don't think music really works for my page . . . I dunno, maybe a neat midi some time in the future . . . but not Frodo, in any case . . . . .
Buuuut . . . . . if anyone still needs the song, my webspace'll still have it at this link here.

So, what do you guys want to hear from me some time this week? I'm very open to suggestions, ya know . . .
Comments (11) | Permalink