My life in France

Filmy-ness

2007-07-29T16:30:59Z

hey hey guys. Just a quick heads up to say that I'm fine and well. Employed for the next 4 months, which should get some cash in if nothing else. Just thought I'd post a few film reviews. Mostly because I can.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Dark, dark and disturbing. Oh, and with Angry Harry. Remarkably good. Could have done more with Cho and her redemption (as I remember it from the book, but it's been a while since I read it so may be wrong on this fact), but Delores Umbridge was genuinely disturbing. The Room of Cats will give me nightmares for a while - as opposed to the Room of Requirement which made me want one! And I think the actors do remarkably well, especially Luna Lovegood.

Transformers: Went to see this with I as a birthday treat for him (same day as N's as it happens). Excellent film. Even if it had a blacker-than-black car and a laughable attempt at a plot. As soon as those vehicles started unfolding I was grinning like a loon (ok, not much of a stretch I realise, but there you go), and Optimus Prime with flame decals made me laugh. I'm just not hugely sure about the whole scanning-something-else-and-turning-into-something-different part, but it worked very nicely I think.

The Simpsons: just saw this this afternoon with a friend back here at home. The move from small to big screen has worked very well I think. It pokes fun at itself ("Why would we pay to see something we can see for free at home" being a notable example of this) and loads of other stuff. The plot is fun, but nothing special. All we really care about is the gags, and they come thick and fast. Whether it's the visual puns or the one-liners, I was laughing lots. Oh, and I now have the Spider-Pig theme tune in my head...

Hope all is well with you guys, and you've not been swept away by the flood waters

Jon Out

Movie reviews

2007-07-02T13:23:42Z

Just realised that there's a few I've seen recently

Spiderman 3. This one, whilst having some pretty effects (oooh shiny and ewwwwww-black-and-sticky being two memorable ones) has definitely suffered the law of trilogies - that the third shall be worse than the second (ok, so I think matrix 2 was better than 3, and that the LOTR films were all great, but they're exceptions that prove the rule). Now given that Spidey 2 wasn't all that great, that should give you a clue to my opinion of this one.
Best moment: the souped up jazz number
Worst moment: far to many to mention. Notable highlights include Peter Parker trying to be emo (and failing miserably), Stan Lee having to get his cameo in, and the posing in front of the American flag.
My advice? Avoid if at all possible

Pirates of the Carribean 3: At World's End. Again, law of trilogies. I've never been a huge Jack Sparrow fan- by that I mean slobber-slobber-drool-zomg-Johnny-Depp-hump-hump Jack Sparrow fan - and this film, despite having numerable topless Jacks, didn't change that at all. The escaping world's end sequence was good though. The plot was more convoluted than a maze designed by M C Escher - probably not aided that we somehow managed to see the showing with an interval which decided to take place halfway through a speech in the pirates council - which meant that by the end of it we were going "ok, we saw what happened. but...why?"
Best bit: Davy Jones loves his bucket - although why he didn't put it on wheels and go on dry land more often I will never know. That and "Don't move, I've dropped my brain"
Worst bit: Plot

Shrek the Third. As a huge fan of the previous two films - a winning combination of plot, music and visuals to my mind - this film just doesn't compare. It's like they knew that they were doing this film, but scribbled the plot down on the back of a napkin during a night out and barely fleshed it out from there. That being said, there were some very memorable moments - absolute comedy gems. It's just a pity that they were surrounded by a load of dross. And Justin Timberlake as Artie? Not the best choice ever. Whiny and rather self obsessed IMHO. And so was the character
Best bits: Girl power! Oh, and the final stage show.
Worst bits: The whole Merlin sequence

Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Well the first wasn't that good really. And this second one doesn't really rise above it. Ok, it's better than the first. Most definitely. By this time the 4 have come to terms with having these strange powers. Tension in the air for a wedding. Strange cosmic disturbances. But the film never manages to make itself rise above mediocre. Large deviations from the comic books really disappoinred me too - Galactus as a giant gas cloud? Come on, you can do better than that! Worth a see if you enjoyed the first one. Not really otherwise.
Best bit: Probably the Fantasticar. Which says a lot about the film...
Worst bit: The power swapping sequence. Funny the first time, not the 15th. Even if it was necessary... Oh, and Stan Lee appearing again.

On the whole, not a great bunch. Looking forwards to Transformers though.

And that's all she wrote...

2007-07-02T11:57:37Z

An era has ended. I've left Bath, possibly for good. The Uni life is left behind.

And this is at the same time fantastic and scary. I'm used to having defined end points (end of A-levels, end of gap year, end of Uni etcetera etcetera). Now the only end point that I can see is death. Well, that and birthdays, but they don't count. There's no end points for phases of life. And that's slightly worrying.

Before I go all depressive, let's recap. It's been 12 weeks or so since I last posted anything here (blame my growing addiction to facebook for that one), so what has happened in the intervening time? Well, lots really.

Health wise: that whole annoying messing about with the hospital? Well it tuned out to be more annoying that just being told I might need bone grafts. All over Easter (and the fact that I've not updated since before then is quite embarrassing) I was messed around by people saying "come in for the dynamisation process", then "no, don't" then "oh, we need to get someone else's opinion on this matter" before I was told that I didn't need it at all. This, however, was enough to cause me to be ever so slightly manic over the Easter holidays, meaning that I got little to no work done whatsoever. Hooray? The check up after that was on Friday just gone, and I've been effectively discharged! This is a *good* thing!

Uni wise: Aside from doing very little work over Easter? Not too bad. The exams were a mixed bag as per usual - won't know the individual module results for a while, but in the end I got a 2:2. Given the circumstances and the fact that I'm not really all that good at Maths, I'm rather pleased by that. And last Wednesday was my graduation ceremony. A chance for me to dress up in gown and cap and look completely ridiculous in the Abbey. It's as much for the parents as us though, and mine seemed to enjoy it. Went for a nice meal afterwards with house mates and associated parents in the Bath Tub - really rather good. Much fun and laughter, especially as this was the first time that my parents had met anyone else's parents.

Speaking of the house mates, the House of Odd is no longer. I moved out on Friday having sent nearly everything home with the parents on Wednesday post graduation. Whilst cleaning up R discovered that the hoover wasn't picking up all that much because the roller was clogged with enough hair to make a wig. N and J, I'm looking at you here. We had enough to clone an army of blonde psychotics and LARPers several times over. Oh and the hoover came back with me as it was mine and no-one else seemed to lay claim to it. hope that clears that one up J. There should have been the old one from the beginning of the year lying around somewhere...

Oh, and things with I are going very *very* well. Movies, meals, spending time watching DVDs. So *this* is what happiness feels like... We've celebrated monthly anniversaries so far, but with both of us moving away that's not going to be immediately possible. Plans are to job hunt in the same area and try to sort something out between us. Next time I'm probably going to see him is around his birthday/graduation (they're only a day apart, so I'll be there for both)

Right then, on with the job hunt!

Toodles

Mixed Bag

2007-03-31T21:44:29Z

Mixed bag of stuff in this post. Firstly, 300. Went to see it tonight with xanthipe and another LARPer called Flo. And we enjoyed it. Mostly because we were laughing. A lot. I mean, guys in tight black leather underwear? A little hard to take them seriously (although much droolage on my part =p).

There were a couple of odd little bits that also caught my eye. A large bottomless pit? In the middle of a city? Obviously I've not been keeping up with Garden Force or Changing Rooms, as this seems to have replaced the water feature as a must have. It just strikes me as...unnecessary I think is the word I'm looking for. Also, major bling on the Persians. Did they also come up with the concept of Burberry while they were at it? If so, I now know who to blame! And somehow, during the course of the film I came up with the idea of an exploding rhino. I tell you, my mind is a very strange place... One other thing that struck me was that I could (and did from time to time) segue quite happily from 300 to another film. Namely, LOTR. As Xan pointed out, you could yell "Orthanc's the other way guys!" and still feel right at home.
The bit that tickled me the most was that, according to Hollywood, Sparta is now in Scotland. I mean, Leonidas has an accent only beaten by Sean Connery! Colour him blue, change the red cloak for tartan and you've got William Wallace from Braveheart!
"Spartans! They may take our Land, but they will never take our Freedom!"
On the whole though, a good time out. Especially as we went out for tapas afterwards ^_^

Also, just to earn the name "mixed bag", this post has
Well, I went to the hospital yesterday for my monthly check up on the leg. The usual routine, sit around, get an x-ray, sit around some more, see the doctor, go home. But not this time. Apparently I have a problem. The bone's aren't healing. The doc said that there wasn't nearly as much callousing of the bone as there should be. Apparently I now have to go in for a procedure called Dynamisation (not involving my leg exploding), which means taking out some of the screws so that the pin can move around. It's only a day op thank goodness. But it's a pain. Oh, and if this doesn't work, then it's time for the bone grafts. Yay. Whoo. Yay. So, trying to remain positive. Here goes nothing...

And because I haven't done one for a while

2007-03-19T13:28:47Z

Personality Inventory

Emotional (69%)	[......\|\|\|\|..........]	Logical (31%)
Concerned about self (20%)	[..........\|\|\|\|\|\|....]	Concerned about others (80%)
Atheist (60%)	[........\|\|..........]	Religious (40%)
Loner (53%)	[.........\|..........]	Dependent (47%)
Laid-back (16%)	[..........\|\|\|\|\|\|\|...]	Driven (84%)
Traditional (51%)	[....................]	Rebel (49%)
Impetuous (100%)	[\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|..........]	Organized (0%)
Engineering mind (47%)	[..........\|.........]	Artistic mind (53%)
Cynical (57%)	[.........\|..........]	Idealist (43%)
Follower (46%)	[..........\|.........]	Leader (54%)
Introverted (34%)	[..........\|\|\|.......]	Extroverted (66%)
Conservative (33%)	[..........\|\|\|.......]	Liberal (67%)
Logical (20%)	[..........\|\|\|\|\|\|....]	Romantic (80%)
Uninterested (16%)	[..........\|\|\|\|\|\|\|...]	Sexual (84%)
Insecure (17%)	[..........\|\|\|\|\|\|\|...]	Confident (83%)

Take the test! brought to you by thatsurveysite

Other short update.

2007-03-19T11:14:30Z

Drat. Should have gone for a slightly longer one last time.

I'm taken ^_^. Cue the squee-ing (or squo-ing. I can pretend...)

Quick update

2007-03-19T10:49:56Z

Oh well.

That is all. (told you this was going to be quick, mostly as otherwise I'll start a-ranting, and no-one wants that...)

I think I'm going mad...

2007-01-31T13:02:41Z

well, madder if you want to be pedantic.

Since going around on these crutches, I try and avoid steps wherever I see them. (Unless they're in the lecture theatres, in which case it's a case of grin and bear it) This means I use the lifts quite a lot. Now, the lifts up here on campus are the sort that tell you what floor you're on, that the doors are closing etc in a rather calm voice. All very well and good if you're partially sighted.

However, for me to thank them? They're not *that* special. And when I've named the different lifts, as they have different voices (the library on is Catherine, the two in Norwood are Janet and Wessex house are Jane. Oh and the one near the bus stop is Mavis), I think we have a compelling arguament to get me committed into a mental institution.

Bring on the men in white coats, I'll take you all on!

Gibber, gibber, gibber...

Grrrrrrr

2007-01-29T10:54:27Z

Now I'm not one to complain usually - in fact, I'll usually stay quiet and grin and bear it. But I'm not happy about the University's decision to remove our Inter Semester Break. OK, I knew it was coming. It's been talked about for ages. But it's not right.
That week off was our reward for persevering, for doing the exams. A pat on the back, if you will, for having completed the first semester and giving us chance to recuperate ready for semester 2. And now we can't. Joyous.
I admit, I've got no real room to talk. Since Wednesday's exams, I've basically done sweet F.A. It's been a very enjoyable few days lying on the sofa with a blanket over me, playing on the internet and watching DVDs on my laptop. Nothing really strenuous (unless you count going to the market on saturday morning, which was by choice so it's my own silly fault). But it's the prinvciple of not having a chance to recharge your batteries and get back in the swing of things that annoys me.
Oh well, it's unlikely to affect me much anymore amyway. If I get the Sabb job (elections soon folks *subtle hint subtle hint*) then I'll be working through it. If not, then I'll like as not be out of here asap. But I hope they bring it back, for everyone else's sakes...

Hope all is well with you lot out there

Jon

updateyness

2007-01-26T17:36:44Z

Right, exams are over, I've been kicked out of uni accommodation, and I'm back in Twerton in a bloody freezing house (even with the heating on!). Oh and I've been to the hospital too.

First things first. The exams were an odd bunch. The two I had since I last posted were both 9:30 exams, so I was quite fresh for them (despite getting hardly any sleep the night before for one of them...). Both went quite well. One was fair to good, the other went very well, which is nice.

After that, it was time to get lunch and then go and pack. Thankfully xanthipe came over to give me a hand with most of it, and then I had a lift with me and all my stuff to twerton from a lovely pink haired friend of mine ^_^

It's good to be back certainly. Even if the house is cold. It's just being around my friends again that makes me realise just how lucky I am to have people I get on with so well. The guys in the Uni accommodation were lovely, but not up to the same league as this lot. Spent all of yesterday sitting on the sofa playing with my laptop and a housemate's external hard drive. Music and anime, you will be mine! Even if I was huddling under a blanket at the time...

And this morning was a lovely taxi trip up to the RUH to see the consultant. Didn't like him particularly, but hey, as long as he fixes me, that's OK. I now no longer have to cross dress (i.e. wear the delightful surgical stockings - also a bonus as they were beginning to smell like a dead animal...) and I can start putting weight on the leg. Only a little, mind, but it's still a start.
Afterwards me and inverselina [who had very kindly agreed to come with me] walked home - not too bad as it was downhill for the most part. I'll tell you something, I'm gonna have wonderful pecs after this... We stopped off at a good bakery on the way to get some lunch, and then made it home. Collapsed for a bit, and then got a phone call from a friend who works in the AWARE (academic welfare and representation) centre up on campus - would I be able to come in for a discussion with people from the national audit office about student retention in higher education? [keeping students in university] Cue a taxi drive to get up there (£8! It's going to cost me a fortune to do this all the time!) and a pleasant hour and a half talk about what's so good about Bath, before another taxi ride home again.

Nothing else to report as yet, except that lectures start again on Monday. Oh what fun?

Toodles
Jon

Quick update

2007-01-20T09:45:03Z

Hey guys, just thought I'd let you know what's happening in my life

Well, I'm back at Uni for the exams (joyous) and I've got Uni accommodation in Osbourne house on campus - the residence furthest away from the centre of campus without actually leaving the campus itself. This means much crutching around which, considering for the previous 2 and a half weeks I'd been basically lying on a bed not doing anything, means that I'm shattered. However, looking for the silver lining, I'm gonna be really buff by the end of this. Well, my top half anyway

Exams wise, 3 down 2 to go. Come Wednesday at 11:30, I'll be freeeeeeeeee. Well, until summer at any rate... And I'm being kicked out of this room on campus that night . Yay.

Outside of exams, I'm missing living with everyone in the house in Twerton. Even Robin, so it must be bad! But I'm seeing them occasionally on campus, and I'm moving back in on Wednesday, so not too long to go.

Oh, before I go, here is a little ideo to keep you entertained. It certainly made me laugh!

Have fun ^_^

Jon

Bugger bugger bugger bugger

2007-01-03T11:47:46Z

Hey guys, and firstly, happy new year! It's been an..."interesting" few days. I've been in Austria skiing since the 23rd. Well, not exactly...

Family holidays are lovely, mainly due to them being free for me to participate in. This one was a Christian group that organises skiing holidays to various places. We went to a place called Schladming, about an hour from Salzburg. There's four mountains side by side which have lots of pistes all over them. Not much snow though, so v icy.

All was going well up until thurs (28th) , when the group I was having lessons with decided to try out blades : these are basically shorter skis which are v firmly attached. And admittedly, it was my suggestion to try them.
Well, the morning was spent with a friend trying them out, seeing what happened. And then, as we were heading across from one mountain to another to get back for our afternoon lesson, I was going down a piste topwards a cable car, slowed down, hit *something* (probably a lump of ice or similar), went spinning up in the air, landed and... *SNAP*

Now, I have never broken anything before, bones wise, so I didn't know what to expect. But when you're in a lot of pain and can *feel* things grinding in your leg when you're moving it, then it seems to point to one conclusion...
So I told my friend. Whose reaction was "you're joking!" Nice to know that I'm believable really... He went to the cable car station (which, ironically, we were about 10m from...) and told them, and they sent a skiddoo out to come and collect me.

You know me, I don't intentionally *try* and be difficult (it just happens =p). But when they had me seated on the back, they couldn't support my leg enough to take me down. So they called the bloodwagon. For those not in the know, this is basically a stretcher on skis that people pull down the slopes after them. And could we get my leg supported properly on that? Fat chance.
So, they called in a helicopter. In order for it to land, they had to close off the entire piste! Just for me ! My first ride in a helicopter! I just wish I could have seen more than the ceiling...

got to the hospital in schaldming (and was videoed by a camera crew as they we taking me off the helicopter for some reason - never did find out why...) and was in the operating theatre in about an hour to an hour and a half. *Much* faster than if I'd tried the NHS... They gave me a spinal anasthetic, so I couldn't feel anything from my waist downwards, and then spent three and a half hours operating. Thankfully, I slept through most of it (though waking up and seeing them wield a drill was enough to persuade me to go back to sleep v quickly!) and then I've spent up until yesterday (tuesday 2nd) morning in an austrian hospital, not understanding the nurses and being pumped full of painkillers on a regular basis!

I've seen the xrays - I managed to break the lower half of my left leg in three seperate places! I'm *special*. Oh, and my leg is truning various odd colours from the mass bruising as well. Joyous...

Still, I'm home now, which is all that really matters. Though when I'll be going back to Bath, I haven't the foggiest...

TTFN

Jon

Personality test

2006-11-27T17:04:51Z

My Personality


Neuroticism	35
Extraversion	57
Openness To Experience	54
Agreeableness	94
Conscientiousness	27

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El labyrintho del fauno

2006-11-26T20:25:17Z

Hey peeps

It's been a busy busy weekend here. Friday night I went clubbing for the first time ever, which was an..."interesting" experience. It's confirmed my suspicion that I wouldn't want to do it every week, but every now and then is fine ^_^ Only problem was getting back home at 4am - not a pleasant experience...

Yesterday was a *very* late start, then doing a bit of work before going out to the cinema to celebrate Cherry's birthday - OK, so her birthday was technically Wednesday, but this was the first chance we had to celebrate. We were going to go and see Casino Royale, but that had sold out by the time we got there. After several attempts to try and organise something else we wanted to see, we ended up going for a drink in the pub and then going for a very nice meal in the Hong Kong Bistro in town. After that, we went home via Sainsburys for some drinks and then had a very nice evening drinking and chatting.

Today was a late start again followed by more work, then inverselina, theodor and I went to see Pan's Laybrinth at the Little Theatre - in the original Spanish (hence El Labyrintho del Fauno) but with English subtitles. A very very very very good film. Quite dark, very gory in places (Someone getting their face smashed in with the blunt end of a bottle amongst other things), but a damn good story. *takes a deep breath...*

A long time ago in the underground kingdom, the princess was seized by a longing to see the outside world, to feel the sunshine warm on her cheek etc etc etc. She slips away, but when she gets to the top she is blinded by the sunshine and looses her memory, eventually dying topside. Her father knows that one day, even in a different body, his daughter will return.
Now the rest of the film takes place during one of the more recent Spanish Civil Wars. Ofelia and her pregnant mother are taken to her step-father, who is a captain in the Spanish military and who is trying to root a group of insurgents out of the surrounding countryside. Ofelia is fascinated by fairy tales and legends, and when a fairy leads her into the old labyrinth near the mill here she is staying, she willingly follows. there she meets a faun, who tells her that she is the lost princess. All she needs to do now is complete three tasks to prove her worth...

It's a brilliant film, highly recommended to all. Except possibly those with weak stomachs...

jon_kun @ 2006-11-22T17:30:00

2006-11-22T15:30:14Z

Good grief, has it really been that long?

Right then, what of interest has been happening over the past few months?

Erm...

erm...

Lets see, my parents came to pick me up from Grenoble - had my sister sleeping in my room on a *very* squeaky air bed while Mum and Dad lived it up in a hotel - and we all went out for a nice Chinese at the usual very nice Chinese restaurant. Didn't see our favourite waiter, but oh well.

After saying goodbye to J, we drove back through France (with Mum leaving her credit card at the hotel in grenoble >_<), staying overnight in a little auberge in the french countryside. Caught the ferry back to england the day after and drove home. rather a long day all in all. All very sad to be leaving the city and the country I've been calling home for a year...

Oh joy of joys, to be back in the bank. Can't complain too much though, as I was being paid. The scary thing is though, I was the most experienced cashier we had working. So guess who got asked all the questions? Yep, muggins here. I also started working the occasional saturday which was...odd. Having a weekend split over a couple of days is a very unusual sensation indeed.

Highlight of the summer was, naturally, going to see inverselina for her birthday. Really nice to see everyone again, especially as there were lots of people from uni there who I haven't seen for aaaaaages ^_^

So now I'm back at Uni. We're in a house in Twerton (supposedly one of the roughest parts of Bath) for 6 - there's Alex, Cherry, theodor, inverselina and xanthipe. And of course me. I'd never seen it before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It's nice enough. Moved in the week before freshers week and met alex who is a lovely guy (even if he's an architect =p).

Everyone else arrived in dribs and drabs - including Cherry needing to be picked up from Brimingham. Cue me driving there and back (getting lost on the way >_<) in a hired car, playing Tetris with her vast number of bags, boxes and odds and ends and still winding up with her balancing various objects around and on her whilst I was barely able to see over the top of the bags, and getting thoroughly confused about what petrol to put in it.

Once freshers week came along, I was issuing the new NUS Extra card (the fancy dancy £10 one) all day long. A little soul destroying, but ok for the most part. Oddest part was a random phone call from one of the people that I'd gone to Uni with in France announcing that he was due into Bath later that afternoon. And that he hadn't got anywhere to stay. I believe my next words after he hung up were "Aaaaarrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh". Cue me going to the train station for 3:30 and waiting. And waiting...

On the theory that he'd missed his connecting train, I went to the tourist information office while I waited for the next train and got the numbers of various youth hostels in Bath. Rang them up and got him a room for a couple of nights (cue sighs of relief) and then waited. And waited. And waited some more. At this point, my ever helpful phone decided to die on me. Joy. Thankfully (and somehow scarily conincidentally) a friend of mine was just getting back from Bristol and agreed to swap phones with me so that i had at least *some* battery. However, I didn't now have any of my numbers. Undaunted by this, i carried on waiting. And waiting. And waiting some more. 3 and a half hours after he was supposed to arrive, my friend turned up. Showed him to his hostel and then went home for tea =p The following day, I got him the accomodation list and set him the task of finding suitable accomodation. Thankfully, he managed that in a couple of days.

Since then, it's been lectures and other fun things. Like adjusting to not being in charge of Sci-fi (which is very odd), joining the lgbt (and being terrified of everyone else) and generally making a nuisance of myself. As per usual, naturally ^_^

Right, that's a decent enough summary. Time to go and do some work u_u

TTFN

Linkylinkylink

2006-06-21T07:21:32Z

Now that the main news is out of the way, here's a couple of links for you. Don't you feel special? ^_^

Now either I'm the victim of a very good marketing campaign or I'm more gullible than I thought, but either way these Genpets disturb me. A lot. The FAQ says they're real flash and blood. I wouldn;t say I'm the most sensitive person ever, but this just made me cringe. A lot...

However, cheering me up significantly is 100 awesome music videos (I love my random link sending sites ^_^). Headphones definitely required for this one.

the weekend that was

2006-06-21T06:49:16Z

well, now that the news has broken I can actually write this up. For those of you who don;t know what I'm talking about, go look at xanthipe. Now! And go awww at the cuteness...

Well, that's what's been happening since Wednesday folks. lawfulstupid turned up. Cue much overwhelming sweetness and general awww moments. J has been ther happiest I've seen her in a long long time. Which is good. Considering all the string-pulling I did to get it to this point, I'd hoped for this result =p

Seriously though, aside from those two being very sweet together (pass the insulin!), we've had a good time. Took R out for his first mexican meal ever on wednesday, which he seemed to enjoy (or rather, wasn't lying on the floor going "It burns, the pain, it burns", which we decided to take as a good sign). Showed him around the town on thurs and had a nice lazy day on friday before inverselina arrived. Was going to climb the via ferrata (basically an easy rock climbing course) up to the bastille (a big hill with a fort on top overlooking the city), but it rained. Not pouring it down, but enough that we didn't want to go out. And then it stopped. And started again. Rinse, repeat all day long. Went out for R's first chinese meal on the saturday to our favourite place. The head waiter (who seems to adore us silly english people =p) was delighted to see us and even asked if Nikki and Judith were sisters. When it came to leaving, they didn't seem to want us to go... Sunday, me and Nikki went to the market and for a walk in the morning and we all watched a dvd or two in the afternoon. Saw Nikki off at the train station and then went to the park after tea to play flux and enjoy the warm weather. R left monday morning - v early, so I woke up to say goodbye, then went back to sleep =p. Great to see him again..

And the meme goes on...

2006-06-20T08:47:20Z

RULES
1. Leave a comment, saying you want to be interviewed.
2. I will respond; I'll ask you five questions.
3. You'll update your journal with my five questions, and your five answers.
4. You'll include this explanation.
5. You'll ask other people five questions when they want to be interviewed

Questions from Liz:
1. Nihilism or apathy?

Lets see. Nihilism is that nothing matters, right? And apathy means that you can't be bothered (or a path to the reason why if you're a Rune-ite). So if I say I can't be bothered to answer this one as it doesn't matter, I'm being a smart arse ^_^. Normally apathy though.

2. This is a classic from Virgin Radio: Would you rather be locked in a cupboard with either a clown or a wounded badger?

Can't I lock the clown and the badger in the cupboard together with me on the outside? No? Drat. Erm.... I'll go for the clown please, as I don;t think they'd injure me. Squirt me with a flower, yes. Attack me and bite my leg, unlikely.

3. Hentai. Why, oh why, oh why? Discuss. :p

Because it's funny? Oh, and because it's also the embodiment of typical male fantasies, thus there's a strong market for it. And because it's anime/manga, you've got situations that could never conceivably happen in the real world, including magical girls, gender changing and all kinds of things along those lines. Not forgetting tentacles a-go-go, which is male phallacisms taken to an extreme. For an expanded version of this potted praecis, see my latest research paper =p

4. If you had the chance to learn only one of the following languages, which would it be: Japanese, Gaelic, Greek, Dutch?

Due to being an anime nerd, japanese. Plus it's be a cool country to go to. Gaelic sounds lovely, and greek would be cool as well. Dutch is a no-no I think though...

5. Worst film you've ever seen?

You mean aside from the recording of a nativity play i was in when I was 4? Well, there have been very few films I have hated. More often than not I manage to mock them mercilessly. However, there has been one that I intensely disliked...
Picture the scene. Mum and dad are going out for the evening and leaving my brother, sister and I at home. They've said we can go and rent a film to watch. So the three of us go to the local rental store and have a look around. I happen to find A.I., so I go over to them and suggest it. However, they've found a film called Gorgeous (and yes, that is the right link). Two to one, we rented that. And it was dire. Jackie Chan in a kung-fu rom-com? I'll let you decide what you think of that... Suffice to say that they both apologised to me afterwards...

Right, anyone for questions?

I am not a number! I am a free man!

2006-06-08T16:40:46Z

Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch

That's what I get for watching the entirity of The Prisoner in under 24 hours. 17 episodes, each at about 50 minutes long of sheer randomness...

For those who don't know what the Prisoner is, let me explain. There is a man who resigns from a very important government job for reasons which he refuses to reveal. He goes home and starts packing things when he passes out. When he comes to, he is no longer in his flat in London. He is in...the Village. He is now Number 6 and meets the boss of the Village, Number 2. Number 2 shows a startlingly deep knowledge of Number 6's life and doings. the only thing he doesn not know is why Number 6 resigned. After refusing to tell No.2, No.6 is shown a tour of the Village. An entirely self-contained community that, as he discovers, is impossible to escape from.
The series deals with No.6's attempts to escape, and to find out who is the mysterious No.1.

And believe it or not, it's absolutely fascinating. There's all kinds of attempts made to get No.6 to reveal information, including altering his dreams, making him think he was a cowboy (it makes sense in context, honest) and using traitors to try and win his confidence, but it all works very well as a plot device. The last episode is hideously confusing (and no, I'm not going to spoil it), which could actually sum up the entire series. Hideously confusing. But, somehow, at the same time incredibly absorbing and very good. This is highly recommended to you all

Be seeing you...

'Cos you've had a bad day...

2006-06-07T13:33:07Z

Nearly there guys, only two days after today until it's all over and the holidays have begun. Well, those at Bath anyway.

Me, I've been chilling this week. I've finally managed to get my marks for most of the modules I've done this year (yes, including the ones I did last semester which I still hadn't got the marks for) and not done too badly.
Last night, there was a free concert in town which I went to with a few friends from Uni. Two people performing. Amel Bent, who was a semifinalist in one of the french versions of Pop Idol or something like that, and Daniel Powter, who is Canadian. Pre-concert, I'd never heard of either of them until I did a websearch for Daniel Powter and found that he'd done a couple of songs I'd heard of before - Bad Day and Jimmy Gets High. The concert itself was...interesting. Loads of people in the open air, lovely clear night. Amel started off and I had no idea what she was singing (aside from a bad cover version of "Eye of the Tiger"). Daniel was a lot better, despite his rather poor attempts at speaking french. At least he tried I suppose. Got home about 11:30 (I know, I'm a dirty stop-out =p)

In other news, I've heard from the Bank in the UK which wants me back either on the 26th or the 19th of June. The thing is that we have Rob here from the 14th to the 19th - do I run out on him and J or not? hmmmm. Choices choices...

Aren't you lucky?

2006-06-02T20:00:13Z

I know, I know. Two updates in one day? I really do spoil you somewhat, don't I?

Nothing hugely important, just some videos that I found on YouTube this afternoon that I, for one reason and another, found amusing.

First off, remember Shakira singing "Whatever, wherever"? Well an american TV show did this as a parody of it, with some very funny lyrics in it.
Also rather good is the Madonna/Britney colaboration mickey take here. Oh, and the Hit Me Baby One More Time ripoff is very funny, if mildly disturbed.

Does anyone else apart from me find James Blunt intensely irritating? Then this and this should make you laugh.

Last of all, I've found the proper music videos to Barbie Girl, Weapon of Choice annd various others. And I can't let you go without this from Sister Act. Say what you will about Whoopi Goldberg, but this song is great!

They think it's all over...

2006-06-02T12:25:25Z

well, it is now

hey guys and girls. Sorry about the long-time-no-update. Things have been a tad crazy over here...

I've been in the midst of exams - all done now thankfully. I've also been job-hunting - without any luck I might add. I may end up going back to the uk mid to late June and see if I can get some work at the bank for the summer...

Oh, and because I love you lot so much, i have a few links for you to enjoy.

This is a rather interesting video inspired by Willian Blake's poem "Tyger Tyger". It combines music, photography, animation, cmoputer graphics and puppetry to create what I think is a truly inspired work. And yes, you are supposed to be able to see the puppeteers. headphones definitely required.

The same goes for this, which I think at least two of you will like. It's cover versions of Pixies songs as sung by various celebrities. Strange but true...

Speaking of pixies, I found this site through one of my aortals. It's technically safe for work, but I was rapidly going between bouts of insane laughter and stunned shock. He's 52 for crying out loud!!!! And yes, there was a link. Pixies = fairies = tinkerbell (and no mention of tinkerbell does never-never land please)

As many of you know, I'm quite a fan of pretty things. I've found some sites which knocked me for six recently. The stuff on here is insanely pretty. I've always been a fan of Salvador Dali and this site showcases just about all his work. And for the scientists among us (and also for the non-scientists), if you haven't seen the Hubble site yet, then for goodness sakes go and look! Fantastic for wallpapers and things like that.

Oh and, I've been pointed towards this site. Clicking on Download Music offers a load of remixed music from various games. Most of it is atmospheric and chilled. Just the thing for revising or relaxing.

Have fun guys. Hope all your exams are soon over and done, and that they go well.

jon_kun @ 2006-05-31T16:40:00

2006-05-31T14:42:57Z

Which Hellsing Character Are You?

Alucard. You are one of the remaining true immortal vampires. You are so powerful, everyone fears you. Even other immortal beings - 'cause you can kill them. And you're possibly the biggest bad ass ever. After being filled with hundreds of assault rifle rounds, you belittle peoples clothing style and complain about boredom and make fun of people's power.
Take this quiz!

I'm bad ass!

I've lost all faith in humanity...

2006-05-21T16:17:19Z

A few links for you lovely people.

This one was very funny, although a couple of other ones on the site were rather... odd

This one however, just annoys me intensely. I stay out of debates like this as I can usually see both side of the fence, good points and bad points for both. However, this is just uncalled for and intensely hypocritical...

This represents the way that national security seems to be heading, whereas this is very sad in itself. I have no idea if it's true or not. But I don;t think I'd be able to do it...

And with another bucketload of memes...

2006-05-21T12:14:04Z

Your LiveJournal Destiny

LiveJournal Username

What is your favorite fruit?

Can you taste the rainbow?

What RPG class would you be?

Mm... Donuts...

Su mama.

Which is the scariest?

How many hours a day do you spend online on average?

Do you fear the random?

Your future job:

Cat Psychologist

This person will be your assistant in your job:

xanthipe

You will make this much money:

$58,171

Suddenly, a rip in the space-time continuum opens and out pops:

xanthipe

Unless you help them, the world will explode in this much time:

To save the world, you need to:

Enter a video game and defeat the ultimate boss

The evil villain who tries to stop you is:

shootingstar198

The chance you succeed is:

89%

This Fun Quiz created by Lynn at BlogQuiz.Net

Which worries me somewhat....

Which somehow manages to get Nikki spot on, Rob as the bisexual captain andthe mutants, and Chris as both Mickey and Jackie... Poor supporting character that he is... =p

LJ anime fiasco
LiveJournal Username
Do you like anime?
If you were an anime character which would you be more like?
Can you speak and/or read Japenese?
Do you draw anime characters for fun?
What do you think of the people who dont like anime?

Is the sex-obsessed boy who is turns out to be a demon and who traveks with the heros:	same_difference
Is the girl who holds the fate of the world in her hands:	theodor
Is the evil monster who'll try to stop the girl from saving everyone:	same_difference
Is the faithful advisor in this LJ anime:	shootingstar198
Is the magical object that the group of heros encounter to help save the world:	theodor
Is one who leaves the group and becomes high evil dude #2:	rebecacaca
Is an innocent by stander whos slaughtered in an epic battle between the heros and bad guys:	enigma_prime
Laughs madly at the heros when they loose and the world ends:	same_difference


This Fun Quiz created by Molly at BlogQuiz.Net

You know, Dom actually got some which make sense as a coherent whole *and* that are somewhat suited... mind you, so did Robin =p

Hah! 71 countries! I rock!

Your LiveJournal Pirate Crew
LiveJournal Username
Fifteen men on a dead man's chest!
Cutlass or pistol?
What is the name of your pirate ship?
Where is your secret pirate base?
What kind of loot do you prefer?
What do you and your crew prefer to be called?
Parrot or monkey?
Argh!

Your capable first mate	xanthipe
Your bumbling cabin boy with a heart of gold	lawfulstupid
The aloof, yet honorable, pirate with a mysterious past	lawfulstupid
Is always the first one into the fray	rebecacaca
Is the naval officer who ruthlessly pursues your ship	inverselina
Is the comical pirate who is always drunk on grog	shootingstar198
Is currently in Davy Jones's locker	xanthipe
The amount of money you make as a pirate	$167,134


This Fun Quiz created by Lynn at BlogQuiz.Net

Well, what can i say? I'm just a vicious pirate obviously

Remind me to never again try this sort of quiz...

Why you should be paranoid
LiveJournal Username
Age
Do you believe in UFOs?
Is the government out to get you?
Have you tried to fight their agents?
Did you win?
Are you aware of what the gremlins are planning?
What do you think of the X-Files?
Are you wearing any underwear right now?

The one who is behind it all is really	xanthipe
On their orders this person will be silenced.	kryis
This person knows the real gremlin password.	kryis
This person has no password, but tries anyway.	time_hawk
The remains of the above will be sent to	jimmyt64
You will have to pay for P&P:	$4
Aliens will abduct you and	theodor
This person will join in with the probing.	jimmyt64


This Fun Quiz created by enigma_prime at BlogQuiz.Net

Well done James on getting one created. Xan, I'm on to you...

Aside from all these menes (and some other filthy filthy ones...), I 'as mostly been a dirty stopout at a housewarming for a friend... Good grief I'm tiredzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz