Birthday (lack of) Shenanigans
And so another year has rolled by; this one - unlike many that have come before it - an eventful one, from completeing college, to starting university, and all of the random crap inbetween.Alas, this birthday - unlike the previous few - is less than eventful. Last year I was in Surrey for a small birthday shindig, followed by a Bond-themed New Year's Eve party, with much drinking and fun on the Wii. The year before that we were in the Black Forest, partaking in some karaoke (which I haven't done since, but want to as it's fun).
This year, I'm at home, having a beer and preparing to watch some DVDs, bought with some of the money I got off my dad (the rest will likely go towards a night out when I'm back in Cheltenham). Though tempted by a few, I eventually settled on just four: The City of Lost Children (an old favourite), Police Squad: The Complete Series (an older favourite), Sweeney Todd (recent genius) and Iron Man (recent greatness (watch the vid - not just another trailer)).
I also got a fancy shower-gel assortment, a box of posh chocs and a whiskey gift-set off friends.
Speaking of friends; it's a pain in the arse being hundreds of miles away from any of them, again. Hence the quiet night in. But, hey-ho; plenty of time to make for it in the new year...
Lapse
My memory sucks. I think I've mentioned as much before (at least to some of you). Sometimes, however, the most bizarre things are retained: Random conversations; the specifics of long passed events; occasionally phone numbers; song lyrics that I haven't heard for years.The only thing my memory's ever been consistently good for is birthdays.
Unfortunately, one managed to completely slip my mind this year, and it wasn't until I heard a TV link mention the shortest day of the year that I realised today is the winter solstice.
And, more importantly, a certain someone's birthday!
So, to those of you who’ve been as absentminded as me (said in the vain hope that I’m not the only one), join me in wishing a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our very own Pixie.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEL!!
- xXx -
- xXx -
(sorry it’s a little late in coming)
The End is the Beginning is the End is the Middle Bit but a bit further along...and left.
So, just to recap, my laptop had a bit of a fit, then was fine(ish) for a while, then had a bigger fit. I had it checked out and was given the painful news that it was terminal :(Today, its replacement arrived :)
It's good to be back!
Hallo, folks!
Hi, y'all. I is here.The past few weeks have a little busy. I've had a few assignments and a lot of reading to do, as well as a lot of boozing and even a burgeoning relationship.
I've managed to keep up with emails and chess, but my blogging has been notably flagging. I currently have 31 post alerts to catch up on.
That, however, shall have to wait (I'm in at 11:15 this morning). In the mean time:
And Suddenly the World Feels Lighter
It's official: Americans aren't quite as dumb as we all thought.
Good for you.
A (not very) quiet weekend, all on my Lonesome
My house-mates...well, kitchen-mates (3 shared kitchens to each floor) have all buggered off home for the weekend, leaving things rather quiet around here, so I partook of some retail therapy and finally bought myself Metallica's Death Magnetic, marking my first full album download. Until now, I've been something of a CD purist, liking the feeling of having a hard-copy around, I suppose. Here, however, I don't really have room to start stocking CDs and, besides, downloading it was cheaper.I'm impressed. Following the 90s, in which the band took a turn that attracted many new fans, but also turned many off, the band took some time out, went through some stuff, got drunk, shouted at each other, got therapy, went through some more stuff, got some more therapy and put it all out on St. Anger; the result being a lot closer to their thrash routes than before, but somewhat tentatively received given the often over-the-top rage of the album.
Death Magnetic isn't exactly a calmer affair, but it's a lot more balanced and vastly superior in every way. Hetfield has never sounded better, Hammet's fingers have evidently gotten more pliant with age, Ulrich still revels in beating the living excrement out of his drums and new boy Robert Trujilo is an absolute genius on bass.
Bizarrly, while in Primark, the guy at the counter asked me what I was listening to, I told him, and we ended up having a five-minute conversation about the virtues of Metallica in their 40s.
Random.
Anyway, my second iTunes purchase in as many days came with the news that Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog has finally been released in the UK.
I've just watched it again, and it is still genius!
Also, on a tenuously related note, I went 'round to another kitchen last night to drink, play cards and watch some horror movies: The Evil Dead and Slither (which also stars Nathan Fillion). I've never watched horror films with girls who genuinely scream in terror before. Even Metallica can't match the volume these two could produce. It was hilarious (especially when one darted under the table in sheer terror).
Sorry that's all a bit rush, but supposed to be going 'round to that kitchen now as we're all going to the pub to watch the England match.
Hope you're all having a good weekend!
The Fine Art of Debating
In reference to Obama apparently threatening Pakistan, McCain says a president has to be more careful about what he says. Obama responds by repeating exactly what he’d said about Pakistan, which completely flattens McCain’s lazy interpretation, then points out two examples of McCain letting his mouth go - saying North Korea should be wiped off the map and singing Bomb-bomb-bomb, Bomb-bomb Iran. McCain’s response? To once again reiterate his record in the senate (stopping short of certain decisions made regarding Iraq) and telling some irrelevant story about a woman giving him a bracelet at a town-hall meeting commemorating her son who died in Iraq.Less than two minutes after Obama has said the situation in Afghanistan can’t be solved by more troop deployment alone and needs some careful strategy, McCain accuses him of not understanding that it’ll take more than just increased troop-deployment to improve the situation and some careful strategy is needed.
That was pretty much the theme of the whole debate. McCain accuses Obama of something, which Obama casually discredits or puts in context before bringing up two or three examples of McCain doing exactly what he’s accusing Obama of, to which McCain has no reply, or Obama says something that McCain immediately forgets and accuses Obama of having the opposite view.
The only reasoning I can think of for why people can’t decide who won, or even think McCain won, is that McCain appeared to be on the offensive more, while Obama was willing to admit when he was in agreement with McCain, but the fact is McCain was stuck with rehashing his campaign ads, while Obama was responding intelligently and articulately to the questions being posed and the responses from the other side.
Judge for yourselves:
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Usually I would leave the politics to The Big E, but earlier I read a couple of overviews on last night’s presidential debate, which essentially came to the conclusion that both parties handled themselves well enough and it’s difficult to say who came out on top. I’m now halfway through watching said debate and, so far, McCain is having his ass handed to him.Both sides are spewing a lot of rhetoric, avoiding direct questions and criticisms from the other and generally reiterating the agenda’s they’ve been pushing for the last couple of decades (or how ever long this campaign has been running), but the one thing that has become clear is that, while Republicans have commented a few times that a lot of Obama’s proposals are little more than broad-sweeping statements along the lines of ‘This is bad and should better,’ it is, in fact, McCain who’s been spouting words to that effect in the debate.
While McCain talks about keeping up spending in certain broad areas and completely freezing it in others as a result of the recent economic crisis, Obama talks about going through everything with a fine-toothed comb and holding off on the nonessential aspects of some things, while recognising the immediate importance of all of them.
For example, McCain proposes keeping up defence spending, while freezing spending on education, while Obama wants to look at what can be held back on both so he doesn’t have to sacrifice either.
| The problem with spending freeze is you’re using a hatchet where you need a scalpel. |
Obama
I’ve also noticed that, despite prompting from the moderator to do so, McCain is yet to directly challenge Obama on any point, while Obama (after a slow start) has done so a few times to McCain.
I’ll watch the second half tomorrow, but at half-time, McCain’s heading to the locker-room battered and bruised…
I have coffee, Kit-Kats and custard creams!
Mwahahahaha - bow down, fools!*ahem*
I've been aheming a lot lately. 'Fresher's Flu' is in the air and everyone is either coughing, sneezing, sniffling or all of the above. My psychology tutor in college told me that there about 120 variants of the cold virus and once you've had one, you become immune to it. I think everyone's brought their own...
My first week of classes is over and what an interesting mix they are. Monday was Imaginary & Real Worlds in which we read a few creation myths, discussed recurring themes and how they tie in with superhero origin stories (i.e. all’s quiet, something triggers a metamorphoses, there’s a bit of conflict, some kind of resolution, but nothing’s the same again). We were also given a fifteen minute exercise in which to come up with our own creation myth or origin story.
No mean feat!
After that was our first Fiction Workshop, which is essentially the same as what I’ve done in previous creative writing groups, but with a little more specific work involved. That said, last week’s workshop consisted of sharing and discussing our favourite books, films and TV shows. The usual batch was on offer but we then had to think about how those things have influenced us as writers for next week (just a paragraph on each).
We also have to make five observations about anything, just to show that we’re being alert and keeping our eyes open for inspiration.
And we have to take something with us to read aloud and have critically analysed by the group. Fortunately I’ve got a whole portfolio of stuff to choose from :)
Tuesday was Myth, Epic & Folk Tale, which, it turns out, is actually an English Lit module. I left the class kinda daunted by the whole thing. We’ve got quite a long list of stuff that has to be read for the course, the first of which being Homer’s Odyssey for the 7th.
I don’t know if any of you have ever read Homer’s Odyssey. It’s loooong. And I am not a fast reader.
Also, it’s kinda baffling. The whole thing is laid out in a Shakespearean, poetic style and the language and structure make some of the idea hard to follow. All the same, I’m enjoying it so far.
The first assessment for the course is a deep, critical analysis of either that or The Grimm Fairy Tales, involving extensive reading and research. I’ve never been much for research…
Wednesday was something called Learning & Personal Development. Not a lecture, as such, more a way of helping us manage our time when it comes to assessments and seeing how we progress throughout the year.
It is an utter waste of time, which is ironic seeing as the main part of it is aimed at helping us manage what little time we have. They’ve chosen to do this by taking an hour off us every week (two on week three) and giving us an extra assignment to do.
Academics can be such morons.
I was hoping to get to my first mixed martial arts class on Wednesday evening, but GoogleMaps guided me around and around in the wrong direction before leading me to the back of the complex, which was all locked up. On reviewing the map and the satellite photo, I realised I could’ve just walked straight down the main road and found the entrance. GoogleMaps is far more detailed than other map sites (Mapquest didn’t recognise the address I was looking for), but its directions are pathetic)
Thursday’s are my day off. Yay! Every university student gets one, except a select few taking joint courses (that’s joint as in two conjoining courses, not joint as in the first thing that probably crossed a few of your minds on first seeing the word) who don’t plan their timetable well enough.
Thursday was the first Kendo session and I was really looking forward to going along and hitting people (well, being hit more likely) with big sticks, but I was too exhausted from coughing up chunks of lung to make it.
*ahem*
Finally, Friday was Playwriting Fundamentals. Again, this one was a little daunting because quite a few members of the class have done some form of playwriting, performance or drama as part of their A-Levels. I’m one of only two who have no experience in it whatsoever. However, I’m not too scared. As far as I could make out from the class, the trick is to be sparse with details and focus predominantly on dialogue.
I like dialogue :)
Incidentally, I’ve recently been reading R.A. Salvatore’s Vector Prime (the first of the Star Wars: New Jedi Order novels) and have realised that, as good as he is at putting together a good action scene, he sucks at dialogue. Otherwise it’s an enjoyable novel, so far. I hope to have a chance to get back to it at some within the next three years, though my reading lists are telling me it’s unlikely…
Anyway, there are two thing in particular that I find interesting about the playwriting module. First is the performance aspect. Unlike most writing classes where you would read out your own work to be assessed by the class and tutor, we’re essentially required to write scripts that will then be performed by other members of the class, and perform scripts written by other class members.
Secondly, we have no class on the 3rd and 17th of October. Instead we’re off to the theatre to take in a couple of performances. Beyond the odd pantomime when I was young, I’ve never experienced the theatre.
This Monday will be our first Prose Fundamentals lecture, which happens alternate weeks in place of Imaginary and Real Worlds. Hopefully that won’t bring with it it’s own reading list, though I hold out little hope…
In other news, I now have a full compliment of posters adorning my walls. Combined with the vast amount of drinking I did last week and already building stress over the workload, I’m feeling like a true student again!
Fortunate Son
It has been a long time since I had a social life, so it feels kinda strange having my first night off for a week.
As I said previously, last Saturday I was out with friends, Sunday I was driving into the night and Monday I was out with housemates, among others.
Monday was, by some distance, the most exercise I've done for about two years, so Tuesday was spent in some pain. In fact, my calves were sore for two whole days.
Tuesday, my housemates and I stayed in for drinking, chatting and 'getting to know you'.
Wednesday was back out to a club where I got to know one of my housemates particularly well. Before anyone gets any ideas, she has a boyfriend, but we certainly bonded.
Thursday was even more clubbing and bonding, this time involving a stripper-pole. I never knew I could hang upside down from one of those, but I suppose it's something to bare in mind should finances go south...
Returning home at around 2:30, said housemate and I were up for over an hour nattering, eating and nattering, all of which meant I didn't wake up till 8:58 on Friday morning, which, seeing as I was supposed to be at uni to read out the piece I'd written as a result of Wednesday's field-trip at 9:15, wasn't good.
Nevertheless, I somehow made it and all went well. There are some damned good writers on my course...
Eep.
The session fortunately finished early, so I had time to come home and revive myself with a shower before heading back in to take advantage of the free food and drink on offer. Usually these things consist of coke/lemonade and a few sandwiches and canapés. On offer at this one was a free bottle of soft-drink or booze and lasagne (beef or veggie), Chinese or Balti, all piping hot, fresh and beautifully prepared.
I had the lasagne with a bottle of Bud, and a box of popcorn for desert.
With two housemates going home for the weekend, I figured last night would be night off, so settled in with a bottle wine. That was until about 10 when I was invited to one of the kitchens upstairs (there are two on every floor) for a 'Mexican-themed' party (they had rice and and Doritos). The glass or two of wine I planned on relaxing with ended up becoming the whole bottle and it was about 1 when I finally got to bed.
I slept in this morning, did some shopping this afternoon and have just finished eating pizza, drinking coffee and watching Die Hard 4.0 (featuring the above-posted track from Creedence Clearwater Revival). I'm now going to pour myself something alcoholic and watch a DVD before turning in for the night.
No beer and no TV make Bebbet something something...
Fortunately, I have beer, so it ain't all bad.I'm here!
The months of waiting are over and I am, at last, in Cheltenham, ready to start my new life as a student. The past week has been a blur of induction meetings, furniture arranging, quicky-meal 'cooking', getting lost, finding pubs, getting to know people, getting pissed and recovering from getting pissed.
Last Saturday I drove Surrey top stay overnight with friends, to limit the amount of driving I'd have to do on Sunday. Cheltenham is a four-and-a-half hour drive from Sunderland, but only an hour and a half from Surrey. Unfortunately, the overnight stay involved going out for a friend of a friend's birthday, so I wasn't exactly in the fittest of states on Sunday. In fact, I was nursing a splitting headache all day, compounded by not being able to find a petrol (gas) station when the fuel warning light came on, then getting lost in Cheltenham trying to find the campus.
I had hoped to get there early and get away as soon as possible, so I could take my dad's car home.
After moving all of my stuff in and going through a bunch of meetings about accomadation rules, regulations, dos and don'ts, it was 6pm. Stopping off for fuel and something to eat on the way home (I hadn't eaten or had a smidgen of caffeine all day) it was 11:30 when I got home. I had time for a cup of tea and some last second packing before going to bed.
Monday was mostly spent on a train, including a half-hour unscheduled stop thanks to a signal failure. As advised by my head of department, I stopped in at the university as soon as I arrived, which proved to be an unnecessary excursion, but the campus is only a three minute walk from my halls of residence, so it wasn't so bad.
The mess I returned to, however, was bad. I hadn't had a chance to unpack anything on Sunday, so my room was all bags, boxes and lacking floor-space. I made some vacant attempt at unpacking, but once my TV, 360 and 'puter were done, I gave up, made my bed and joined some housmates on a night out.
Several hours of bouncing around a dance-floor and several fewer hours of sleep later, it was time for my first induction session. It was very dull as, it tunrs out, the rest were for the whole week, though Wednesday did see a group trip to the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath to draw some inspiration for a sample project.
There wasn't a lot to see at the gallery, but at least a dozen pieces triggered some form of story in my head. That would have been a good thing if not for the fact we had to deliver the finished piece yesterday morning.
Eventually I settled on a painting called The Bride of Death by Thomas Jones Barker (I've scoured the web for a decent picture, but come up lacking) and wrote this.
It's also worth noting that Bath is, at first glance, a rather beautiful city. When you look a little deeper, that traditional building façades are spoiled somewhat by the over-abundance of corporate logos and construction work, but it's still a very pleasant place to stroll around.
So, here I am. My room's as I want it (though could do with a couple of more posters), I'm getting along well with my housemates (one we never see, but the other four of us have hit it off well), I've been mistaken for Irish three times and everyone thinks I look 22, which is nice.
It's a shame I can't get a TV signal but, with the help of Comedy Central and iPlayer, I'm not missing much, and it does save me having to buy a TV license.
Classes start on Monday. By then I'll have hopefully caught up with alerts...
Pass? Pfft!
I got the official results for my college course today. Gloucestershire required passes (40%) across the board to get onto the Creative Writing course:Psychology - Merit (57%)
English Literature - Credit (67%)
English Language - Distinction (71%)
English Literature - Credit (67%)
English Language - Distinction (71%)
The latter two I already knew (at least, I knew them as preliminary results), but I wasn't so sure about Psychology. I was pretty sure I'd passed, and thought just maybe I might've edged a Merit, so it's good to see I actually got a very comfortable Merit. I've no idea how; I only completed half of the exam...
This afternoon I'm celebrating by going to see The Dark Knight, then possibly taking myself out for a drink.
A Weekend in Brum
Today, Kylie Minogue was honoured with an OBE for ‘services to music’. If ever I do anything deemed worthy on an ‘honour’ I’m going to have to tell them to shove it up their arse. It has become a gesture as worthless as winning a TV talent show.Anyway, it’s Thursday, so it’s about time I got around to posting about my weekend (I blame the weather for my procrastination - it has been far too hot).
Last Friday I went to Birmingham to visit an old friend. I only ever get to see my friends on all-too-rare occasions, so it was, as ever, a big deal for me. We spent the evening having a quiet drink, catching up and playing some pool. No better way to spend an evening :)
Saturday we went into the centre of Birmingham. Other than a brief visit to the Bull Ring (the city’s big shopping complex) on a previous visit, I’d never seen Birmingham. It has a reputation for being a little rundown and somewhat backward, but the only evidence of this I saw was some dip-shit having a rant at a group of Amnesty International people protesting against China’s civil rights violations. I couldn’t hear exactly what his problem was, but the fact that he was so enraged by their humble little protest for what is, to me (and I suspect many others), a very noble cause can only lead me to the conclusion that he was a fucking idiot.
Sole douche aside, the central part of the city was surprisingly beautiful; spacious and clean , with tree-lined streets, new buildings and a grand town-hall in the heart of it, sporting a large, elegant fountain where people could meet and chat and enjoy their take-out. The fact that it was a sunny day would usually mar things for me, but it wasn’t too hot and it helped make the place look all the more pleasant.
In the afternoon we went to the cinema to see The Incredible Hulk. Now, unlike many, I was a big fan of Ang Lee’s Hulk. A lot of people found it plot-heavy and weren’t convinced by his elegant approach to the story telling, but I enjoyed the contrast between Lee’s style of direction and the brutality of the character, which I thought was well represented in the action sequences. Hulk’s flight from the military was particularly impressive. Yes, it was silly in places and yes, the climactic fight was just plain stupid, but overall it was enjoyable.
With The Incredible Hulk, things don’t start well, with an attempt to retell the back-story in the space of the opening credits. Because the characters are being approached differently and are played by different actors, there needed to be some kind of build up where we got to know a little about them and could actually feel something for them in the course of the movie. Because this doesn’t happen, all of the stuff between the action is very thin. Edward Norton is given nothing to do, there is zero chemistry between him and Liv Tyler, and William Hurt’s portrayal of General Ross isn’t a patch on Sam Elliot’s. The only actor to really shine in the film is Tim Roth, though he’s not very convincing as a hard-bitten marine; not because of his performance, but because of his physique. He just looks…odd.
Of course, given everything that was said by producers in pre-production, I knew everything between the action was going to be an after-thought, even with the high-calibre cast. The action itself was spectacular. The Hulk looks better than ever, if still a little cartoony (but then, what can you expect when watching a CGI green giant). There’s an attention to detail that was previously lacking that brings the Hulk to life; at least, as close to it as has ever been.
Hulk’s nemesis, however, is another story. If anything, Abomination was over designed, with random protrudences and weird skeletal details that make the thing look less realistic the more you look at it. That said, the climactic fight between the two is one of the great action set-pieces to so far come out of Marvel Studios.
After the film, we discussed its pros and cons over a quick drink, then sought food. Rinita took me to burger place on the canal. I’ve never paid £7 for a cheeseburger before, but then I’ve never eaten a cheeseburger that was worth £7. YUM!
We then hit the bars. I’m not big on cocktails, but the first place we went to called for the drinking of one and I actually managed to find one - The New Yorker - that appealed. Tasty it was, too.
We tried a few more places, including one that we were turned away from for being ‘too casual’ (snobs), but ended up going back to the first for a final cocktail. This time I had a Rob Roy. Not bad, but I preferred the New Yorker.
Sunday, we went to see Wanted. Although this also a comic-book film, it couldn’t be further removed from The Incredible Hulk. For one thing, the basic set-up - average Joe Nobody lives a dull and pointless existence until the day he finds out his father was some great hero - is the only thing taken from the comic. In the comic version (as I understand it), a bunch of super-villains have all-but wiped out a bunch of super-heroes and are taking over the world, and only this nobody, who is actually the son of one of these heroes, can save the day. In the film, the band of super-heroes is replaced with a band of super-assassins, one of whom has gone rogue as bumping off his former comrades. Step up James McAvoy as the aforementioned nobody, who must learn the tricks of the trade and avenge his father, killed by the rogue. Cue a series of impressive, over-the-top gunfights and set-pieces that would have been laughably silly if they hadn’t been pulled off so well. There’s also enough character development and plot twists to add depth to what could’ve easily been an impressive, but shallow frag-fest.
A word of warning, however: The blood and gore is equally over-the-top. Personally I found much of it hilarious (an original take on the human shield I found particularly giggle-worthy), but Rinita had to cover her eyes once or twice, so it is not for the faint of heart. That said, she still enjoyed it so, if you can stomach it, give it a shot.
We finished the weekend with a quiet night in, watching TV over some take-out Chinese, mocking many of the selections on The Greatest Romantic Movies (whoever voted in 9½ Weeks watches too much soft porn).
Question
I've just posted over something in my portfolio and I had a thought: When you subscribe a blog, do you subscribe to all of that user's blogs or just the one?Could any of my subscribers let me know?
Be I White?
Given my pallor, if this comes out at anything bellow 90%, it is so wrong.Put an X in all that apply. Then, take how many X's you put and multiply it by five. Then post saying, "I’m _% White."
[] You went to a private school
[] You were homeschooled for more than 4 years
[] You watch/watched the show Laguna Beach
[] You watch/watched the show American Idol
[] You watch/watched the show OC
[x] You know what a poncho is
[] You have listened to a band called Fuel
[] You've shopped at Aeropostale, Hollister,Rue 21, Abercrombie &Fitch, Krew, or Hot Topic
[] You have/had a dog that is NOT a pitbull
[] You bend the bill of your hat
[] You own a pair of dc's/converse/etnies/vans
[] You/Your parent(s) drive cars with leather seats
[x] Your main language is English
[] You say the word DUDE a lot
[] You say the word MAN a lot
[x] You think cops are awesome
[] You have absolutely no idea what Twista is saying when he raps
alot.
[x] You listen to some rock
[x] You know who Willie Nelson is
[x] Your parents give you money when you ask
[] Your parents just hand you money for no reason at all [on special occasions]
[]You wear flip flops with a lot of your clothes
[] You know what meatloaf tastes like
[] You have said awesome more than 100 times in a week
Apparently I am 30% white. Show the re-spec', homies 8)
Quote of the Day
"Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."P. J. O'Rourke
Yes Please
Though I've been keeping up with alerts and posting the occasional vid, I realise I've been relatively quiet of late. College work hasn't really gotten on top of me and I haven't been particularly stressed by any of it, but it has been my main focus.
Now, however, it's over!
Yesterday was my English Lit exam, and I think it went quite well; the first half, anyway. The second was a little slap-dash, but I'm pretty sure I've done enough. At the very least, I know I've passed the course.
All of them, in fact. My Psyche exam was last week was a complete bust, but I was going into it with an overall pass already, so anything I do get out of that will be a bonus.
As mentioned a couple of days ago, I also got my last English Language grade, which I think leaves me with an overall distinction :) I might not be able to spell, but at least I can construct a good sentence, it seems.
So, what now?
I'm pondering changing my bank account in my hunt for better student benefits. I have to fill and send off my PN1 form (student loan application) by the 27th and I should have my official grades by the end of this month to send to Gloucestershire uni to secure my place. I could also do with a part-time job...
I need to get back into writing, too. I've barely written anything creative since I started college, with the exception of a couple of Language assignments (three of which were supposed to be researched, but I ended up making the whole thing up - god knows how I've landed a distinction...I guess I'm also good at bullshit). I'm especially eager to get back to some of my novel stuff. The stories and characters are forever swimming around in my head, growing and developing in some form or another, and I need to rein the ideas in and get them down on paper (well, in type) before they get out of hand.
Must also catch up on my cinema-going. I'm still yet to see Ironman or Indiana Jones, and with Hulk and The Happening out this weekend, and so many more coming this month and early next, I'm falling behind.
On the 27th, I'm headed down to Birmingham to visit a friend, and I know we'll get at least one cinema trip in, but there is s much I want to see!
One thing I have watched recently was Silent Hill on the insistance of Del. I've always been in two minds whether or not I wanted to see it. Yes, it's a video-game adaptation, which immediately sets alarm bells ringing, however, it is also a Christophe Gans film. Christophe Gans directed Brotherhood of the Wolf; one of my favourite films of all time and certainly one of the most visually stunning (there are moments when it makes Lord of the Rings look like it was shot in a nursery), so I was undeniably curious.
The first half of the film is brilliant, and captures the mood of the games fantastically. Dark, creepy and mysterious and not in the least bit afraid to shock (a particular scene with ashen children could've been lifted directly from the games). The cast is pretty strong too; most notably the little girl at the centre of the plot who starts out as the standard frightened child, but takes some rather mental turns as things progress. Sean Bean cannot do an American accent, but otherwise it was all good.
The creepy monster thingies were all done extremely well, too; especially if you've played the games. In some cases the film-makers actually succeeded in making them more nuts than they ever were.
Unfortunately, the film loses its way when the background story comes to light. It's quite harrowing, but not particularly inventive and the big climactic scene is a bit silly. That said, the ending was suitably haunting and very well played.
Overall, enjoyable piece of horror fare, which you'll likely get more of a kick out of if you've played the games.
Speaking of games, that's something else I need to catch up with. So far, the only thing I've completed on my shiny new 360 is Halo 3 and I've already got a decent collection to work through. I also need to either get back into World of Warcraft or cancel my subscription (at least for now).
It's good to be free :D
In Case of Emergency
Following yesterday's breakdown, Pixie took this opportunity to bring her alt. blog to everyone's attention, should the unthinkable happen and efx goes the way of dodo. I think it's a good idea that we all do the same, so: http://bebbetmk2.blogspot.com/Today Weren't A Bad Day
Despite having now completed my English Language course at college, I had to drag myself in today to rearrange something on the last assignment I handed in. It wasn't much and it gave an opportunity to get my results back for a half-arsed piece of work I handed in after a month of stressing over it (the work, not the result).After a month of stressing, I threw something together that I thought was at least somewhere near presentable and settled for that in the hope that it was at least enough to get me a pass (40%). In fact, it was enough to get me a high credit (68%). More surprisingly, the presentation that went with it, which I threw together in 20 minutes during the lunch hour before I gave it, scored a distinction (75%).
Eegads, I thought...
Elated, I took myself shopping, picking up a couple of games for my 360 (Kameo and Colin McRae's Dirt) and a couple of DVDs. I did well with the DVDs. From Russia with Love for £3 and the Lethal Weapon collection for £5!
Arriving home, feeling somewhat pleased with my purchases, I was presented with an intriguing looking package of ample size (easy, girls). I wracked my brains trying to think of what I might have ordered over the past month that would fit the size and shape, but couldn't think of a thing, so cut my way into the box quite carefully.
I regularly frequent an internet store call, simply, Play. Play regularly run competitons generally consisting of a simple question and a rather interesting prize, ranging from signed t-shirts to trips to New York, and I regularly enter them, seeing as they're interesting and free and you never know.
I must've entered a coupla dozen of these comps and have forgotten practically everything I've tried for, which is why it was a surprise to receive a signed copy of Korn's latest album, along with signed t-shirt...
...and a signed exclusive canvas-print of the album artwork...
...which looks frelling fantastic!
Now, if only I had somewhere to hang it...
Pratchett on Alzheimer's
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/new...=1&bbcws=1{ Last Page } { Page 1 of 3 } { Next Page }
About Me
Archives
Friends
Manager
Portfolio
Efx2 Home
Register Today!
GamerCard
Links
ChicaNysak
Pixie
Deej
Elentari
Jithra
Twist
PhotStyle
Ogre
Keith
WoF
TMISv2
StrangeCloud
Community
Efx2 Cafe
Dante
PartlyDevine
Jeremy
pd
Categories
Gaming StuffsGeneral Word Stuffs
Grumblings
Movie Stuffs
Music Stuffs
Random Stuffs
TV Stuffs
Writing Suffs
Recent Entries
Crack the ShuttersTwocked from Elentari
Arise
Birthday (lack of) Shenanigans
Friend of a Friend
Friends
saraiChica
WelshPixie
DeeJay
Twist
womanoffeathers
strangecloud
pd
Eclectablog
dantesinferno
texican
birdsnest
cherry
gypsy
Free shoutbox @ ShoutMix
  |
| Push Up Pro |