Dream Within a Dream

Why couldn't GW designed their assassin armor to look like this, this, or this?

The point being that too much of Guild Wars assassin armor seems to have lost one of the two points in assassin armor:

1. Mobility - armor should not prevent all ranges of movement, thus allowing an assassin to be quick on his/her feet and

2. Protection - both camouflage and shielding of vital areas, such as the stomach and lower ribs. (Quick bionote: The stomach and lower ribs are the least protected areas on the body and contain organs that are necessary to live. The point being, these places should be heavily armored, even if it must come at the sake of mobility.)

/whining


Blah, gotta go work.

I know in a comment to tanithryudo I said I was going to go to sleep, but I couldn't help but do a little more research into this "Disney's Earth" movie after seeing the trailer. To my horror, I found this little tidbit:

But the success of "Planet Earth" could actually prove a stumbling block for "Earth," as the Disney project contains a large amount of repackaged footage from the Discovery Channel miniseries. Indeed, about 60 percent of "Earth" has already been shown repeatedly, free, on Discovery Channel.

- source: Mercury News

Regardless of the exact percentages, I'm horrified to find the large amount of recycled footage, not that I hadn't already guessed this was the case after seeing the trailer. All of the trailer came from the BBC miniseries. (And yes, I do remember my documentary enough to notice the same sequence being repeated, I'm just that much of a biogeek.)

The reason I'm horrified isn't just because Disney has butchered a beautiful nature documentary (although that is a large reason), but that because of this move, ignorant viewers (and I'm sure there are plenty enough who don't have the same kind of passion as I do for Sir David Attenborough's works) will now associate some of these most historical footage that the Planet Earth's team spent years working to film as just some more stupid Disney magic.

Do people realize that the photographers had to spend three months trying to capture a 20 seconds long bird of paradise mating dance? Do people realize that the film crew spent an entire month awake at night to capture the lions who specialized in hunting elephants? Do these viewers realize that what footage that didn't come from Planet Earth actually came from Sir David Attenborough's other documentaries? Do these people even know the mighty Sir David Attenborough?!

No, they do not, because credit was not given where credit was goddamnwell due, and having watched all of the behind the making of documentaries, I am incensed that Disney would simply hand wave all that hard work and time spent in the field as Disney magic. Fuck you, Disney.

Oh Alexander, the movie is so much suck, but at the same time, so pretty...

/blathering

First, Achilles and Paris? Paris? No. Just no fucking way.


Next, tanithryudo said she would read an Alexander review, except I realized that I didn't want to write one. So I made a fanvid in its stead.

( Alexander in 3 1/2 minutes. )

Because I'm a horrible person. XD

Dear Tenipuri,

WTF?

(Full OVA2 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 - Oops, my bad, this is actually the second OVA. Will update when I find the first.)



Okay, that's it, the hiatus on Tenipuri is officially lifted, because Tezuka in a pillow fight? Fuck yes. XD

So, it's been confirmed that the problem is hyperthyroidism. Not a virus or cold or anything like that, but a out of whack thyroid that's driving up my heartrate.

The doctor said it could be Graves' disease.

And I'm going to be sent to Endocrinology to get things checked out, and possibly have surgery if necessary.

Surgery.

;____________________________;

You know what? I'm going to go curl into a ball now. *cries*

The good news, whatever it is that I have is probably not that problematic, as the university health service didn't bother to put me into ICU right away.

The bad news, I have something that warrants going back to the doctor's again. Lovely. =.=

And if they tell me that they need to draw more blood, I'm going to punch a nurse in the face. Grrr...

So, some may know that I've pretty much been running a fever for a week now. Apparently, my temperature is still up and down, my lab mates have confirmed that I'm still a little warm. I saw the doctor on Friday and he said it's possibly the result of hyperthyroidism, since my thyroid apparently feels large. He ordered a blood test to be run, but the lab department was closed, so I had to wait until today to get my blood drawn.

I'm not usually afraid of needles, but it's slightly disturbing to see the nurse lady stick a 7 gauge rod into my skin. *twitches*

Thankfully, the wound has scabbed over, although I still feel slightly lightheaded, which could be because I'm running a fever, or blood loss. Gyah.

@_@

Back when I was watching Alexander (and thus starting to be interested in Alexander the Great's exploits), I remember discussing with tanithryudo that it was a good thing Alexander got stopped short at India, since otherwise he would have arrived in China just in time for the Warring States, and taken over China due to the internal squabbling at the time.

However, a closer look at the timeline suggests otherwise.

First, although China may be squabbling and divided at the time, each state had experience with warfare (and thus prepared for invasion) and had begun using crossbows. This is important because the crossbow was developed as a method to counter the nomadic tribes of the north, and thus specifically as an anti-cavalry weaponry. Because Alexander's warfare depended on elite cavalry to hammer down the opposing army, his methods wouldn't have taken the Chinese military completely by surprise.

Second, Alexander hadn't yet fully pushed through India and had to face Nanda Empire and Gangaridai Empire, with 4000 elephants between India and China. So by the time he got to China, his troops would probably be tired and exhausted. (Or acquired elephants.) So morale wise, China would have a slight upper hand (having only had to deal with neighboring states, instead of fighting all the way from Greece to India).

Third, if Alexander continued to advance as fast as he had in his earlier conquests, his army would have reached China before the Warring States (and Spring and Autumn era) and thus there will still exist a unified China to fight against Alexander's forces.

So maybe China's forces would have been able to hold up against Alexander's army. Who knows these things, right?


Edit:
Oh right, forgot to mention, China also had Art of War on their side. (Untranslated!)

Waiting is Hell

Watching Charon being chewed out by Hades and Alexander and Hephaestion being generic stubborn blockheads cracks me up. It's certainly a comedic take on a tragedy. And just think of the chaos Alexander is going to cause in the afterlife! The Underworld is soooo going to be conquered soon, especially now that he has the likes of Achilles and Herakles in his command! (And let's face it, if any of those Greek heroes are going to lead an army, it's going to have to be Alexander. :P)


On the Sunny Banks of the Cydnus

Alexander is a horrible patient, Hephaestion an exasperated nursemaid, and the Companion Cavalry looking for blood from a poor, poor physician. I'd try to explain why the story rocks but a quote from the story serves that purpose so much the better.

"He went for a swim!" howled one.

"He said it was hot!" bawled another.

"How can we go on without our Alexander! – " And the rest was jumbled in an anguished cacophony.

"You're not telling me anything useful!" Critodemus fumed.

XD

First, I think I've seen my fair share of WTF pairings, but Legolas and Hephaestion? Really? o.O

Second, I'm a little sick of Hephaestion being portrayed as a needy, clingy, overly jealous, petty, and emo goth girl. I'm sorry, the second most powerful man of Babylon is not going to starve himself to death because Alexander is off fornicating with Bagoas. That's just not going to happen. He's also not going to be particularly torn up over having sex with other people that's not Alexander, considering that historically the two of 'em planned to have their children marry so as to produce an heir that is from both their bloodlines. (That has got to be the most complicated mpreg scenario ever.) Hell, Hephaestion was the one who helped make Alexander's marriage possible in the first place, he's not going to get randomly jealous of Alexander's bed partners.

Might I mention Hephaestion's wife was still mourning him even after Alexander died? Yeah, just pointing out that people can still behave in a civil manner even if they're not married to their one true love. (And what the hell is this one true love anyway? This is Ancient Greece we're talking about. =.=)

Third, Hephaestion does not feel like he's stuck in Alexander's shadow. Hell, half the time he's the one who's poking and prodding Alexander into continuing. He's the only one Alexander is willing to entrust half of his army so as to have a two pronged attack. He's the one Alexander chooses for the missions which have vague guidelines and needs someone who can make the same decisions as Alexander would. He's the one who's stuck with the diplomatic missions, because Alexander is an impatient little boy. >.> This is a man who could command Alexander's army as much as Alexander himself could. There is no overshadowing of any sort happening!

Fourth, I realize some of you hate Bagoas for getting in the way of Alexander/Hephaestion porn (hell, I do, too, to some extent), but that's no reason to make Alexander treat Bagoas like trash. He did keep Bagoas with him for the rest of his campaign, after all, he probably had some fondness for the boy. On the other hand, please don't make Bagoas into Alexander's confidante, that role belongs to Hephaestion. Bagoas was an interesting distraction, Hephaestion is the reason Alexander bothers to live. So seriously, less of this Alexander/Bagoas one true love crap, please. (And WTF is one true love in Ancient Greece anyway?)

PETA wishes Obama hadn't swatted that fly

It's like...my brain is leaking from my ears due to the amount of stupid present. =.=

Dear freaking god, how dumb are these people?

From the wikipedia entry:

Dates in the flashbacks and flashforwards use normal historical figures, such as 323 BC and 356 BC, as opposed to referring to time lapses, like "30 years earlier". In his commentary, Stone explains that, for the theatrical release in the United States, he had to refrain from using regular "BC" dates, since (according to data collected from test screenings) there was a significant number of viewers who did not know that 356 BC represented an earlier historical period than 323 BC.

Oh American education, WTF?! ;________;

Edit:
And speaking of Alexander, this clip from Alexander Revisited is so much awwwwwwww. ;_________;

Dear TRC fans,

Stop complaining that the main characters of the series are getting too much screen time. They're main characters. They will be the main focus.

Deal with it or get the fuck out.

No love,
Me

Holy Fuck! I almost called it!

About a few months ago I called the Daddy Syaoran and Junior Syaoran are one and the same and well...

*flails*

Read the fucking chapter yourself and see the development of Holy Shite!

*cackles and cries at the same time* WTF CLAMP, just WTF?! XD

Edit:
Actually, thinking back on it, this totally explained pages 6 through 9 of the manga. So very obvious CLAMP planned this shit from the very goddamn beginning. *flails*

Like the title says, most of f-list is not interested. This is just me rambling.

( How to fix the four non-core professions and Mesmers )

Oh yeah, not gay whatsoever.

I actually laughed out loud once I saw the cover. My side hurts. Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

(So, can we call this canon yet?)

Edit:

So, after listening my response to the tracks is as follows.

ShishiTori duet - Aw, it would be so very gay if it weren't for the fact that Ohtori can't sing. Ever. My ears huuuuurt. But I'm amused that Kusuda took all the hard notes, possibly because, again, Namikawa can't sing.

Shishido solo - Very Shishido, very energetic.

Ohtori solo - It's like a practice in masochism. Ow.

Dear Anet,

It's no secret I'm not pleased with you. But for the most part, I like to be on your side when dealing with Guru because Guru is a fickle, fickle little bitch.

But seriously. Don't tell the community that they're not "the community" when you fucking list them on your official site.

Do yourselves a favor and make a goddamn official forum already. That way people can gather in one place and truly express how much they hate you.

No love,
Me

Because happy Syaoran makes me happy. :p

Searched my car again today. This time I finally found the lost mp3 player, which was wedged between the seat and the cup holders, just far enough to be out of reach so that I did in fact had to remove the passenger seat in order to reach it.

But, not only did I manage to find my mp3 player, I also managed to find the glove that I thought I had lost during the winter. The glove was also wedged in a similar area.

Anyway, fairly productive day. Yay!

Edit: Also, OH CLAMP! ;_______;

Why? Why must you mess with my head so much?! On the other hand, I see that CLAMP can't seem to get over their "must cause separation between OTPs" fetish.